Author: FairyPoweredProductions

BIG TELLY THEATRE PRESENTS

Macbeth

Live. Virtual. Immersive.

Adapted and directed by Zoe Seaton

14th – 31st October

Headlining the Belfast International Arts Festival from 14th to 17th October.

Virtual transfer to Oxford as a co-production with Creation Theatre until 31st October

Tradition requires that a ‘ghost-light’ be left on while the theatre is dark, to ward off restless ghosts and protect its magic from harm.

The lights are off, but the magic is not gone.

A closed theatre is a perfect playground for mischievous spirits intent on wreaking havoc.

Three witches usher, stage manage and execute the tragedy of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, two innocents trapped in a Truman-esque reality which is both virtual and brutal.

This October, Big Telly Theatre Companyinvites audiences to draw their curtains tight, turn off the lights and enter the realm of the witching hour for an up close and personal theatrical reboot of one of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays.

Directed by the theatre company’s founder Zoe Seaton, this atmospheric Macbeth is a timeless blood-soaked tale of murder, lust and power, in a world where reality and illusion are hard to tell apart; a hinterland of hype where fate is twisted, control is remote, and comfort is in entirely another zone.

The world premiere of this fully immersive digital theatrical production will open at the 58^th edition of the Belfast International Arts Festival (BIAF), Ireland’s leading contemporary international arts festival and the highlight of this year’s virtual programme. The show, which has been specifically produced for this socially distanced world, will be performed live on screen for four nights before transferring to Creation Theatre’s platform as a co-production until 31^st October.  A special midnight show will be performed on the 30^th October, the night before All Hallow’s Eve.

Zoe Seaton, who has directed four successful lockdown productions since April 2020, including the critically acclaimed The Tempest – Live, plans to create a heightened sense of suspense and tension for this special production.

She says: “Think of the witches like spyware – a form of malicious behaviour gathering information and infiltrating the system. The show is going to be loaded with technology aimed at playing tricks on the mind, eyes and ears of the spectator. I want them to feel privy to every dilemma and dark corner of this classic text but we also want to be playful and have fun with the characteristics of digital theatre –  garbled audio, inexplicable dropouts, fake locations, special effects – the unpredictability of the internet – exactly what is live and what is not – like in horror films when there seems to be a power cut – what if your connection hasn’t been lost – what if it’s been taken? Constantly shifting between the dark and the light, between horror and comedy.”

The atmospheric Celtic inspired soundtrack has been composed byGarth McConaghie (THE LYRIC THEATRE, BELFAST, NEW VICTORY THEATRE, BROADWAY, NEW YORK, with set and costume design by Ryan Dawson Laight (CHICHESTER THEATRE FESTIVAL, GARY CLARKE COMPANY, DENADA DANCE THEATRE, V&A). Martin Collett, Senior Programme Director at Channel 4 News, is collaborating on the production with Big Telly Theatre as creative consultant, exploring special effects and vision mixing technology to enhance the visual impact of the show. 

Macbeth features a five strong cast which includes Nicky Harley (GAME OF THRONES, HBO),  Lucia McAnespie (THE NATIONAL, TRAFALGAR STUDIOS, LYRIC THEATRE, FINBOROUGH THEATRE, SOHO THEATRE), Dennis Herdman (AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS – TOUR, RSC, REGENT’S PARK, SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE, RSC, NEW VIC THEATRE), Aonghus Og McAnally (PENNY DREADFUL, Showtime, John Boorman’s The TIGER’S TAIL, The BARBICAN) andDharmesh Patel (RSC, SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE).

The show runs for 21 performances across three weeks during the month of October.

Praise for Zoe Seaton’s work  – The Tempest – Live

4 Stars “Magical…The stuff dreams are made on.”  The Guardian

“Magical and awakens our imagination” Front Row, BBC Radio 4

Best Theatre to Watch List Time Out New York

“Messy but in a good way” Lyn Gardner

“You genuinely feel part of a shared experience” Rev Stan

“Leaving us heart-warmed and smiling” A Younger Theatre

Cast

Nicky Harley                                      Lady Macbeth

Dennis Herdman                                 Macbeth         

Aonghus Og McAnally                      Witch, King Duncan, Macduff

Lucia McAnespie                               Witch, Lady Macduff, Malcolm

Dharmesh Patel                                   Witch/Banquo

Creative team

Director and adaptor                           Zoe Seaton

Set/Costume Designer                        Ryan Dawson Laight

Creative Consultant                            Martin Collett

Composer/Sound Designer                 Garth McConaghie

Production Manager                           Giles Stoakley

Technical Stage Manager                   Sinead Owens

Listings:

Ticket: £20 per device

For Ages 14+

14 – 17 October online at the BIAF – Wed – Sat 7pm (Fri & Sat additional 9.30pm show)

Booking link until 17 Oct https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.ticketsolve.com/shows/873621379

17– 31 Oct – online at Creation Theatre. For detailed showtimes go to www.creationtheatre.co.uk. Box office – 01865 766266

               #Macbeth2020 @BigTellyNI @BelfastFestival @Creationtheatre

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We’re back!

#KHTOnline returns next week with both familiar favourites and some brand new sessions and opportunities. As we move forwards, our schedule will feature one session per week working on a four-week alternating rota. 

Still streaming live on Facebook and Instagram at 1pm. Still 30 minutes. Still for free, and still for everyone. Take a look at our new programme… 

Week 1 – Behind the Scenes 

Our doors may currently be closed, but a reduced, remote staff team are still working hard ‘behind the scenes’. Once a month, we will bringing you an update on all things King’s Head Theatre: what we’ve been up to, future plans and announcing further information on upcoming #KHTOnline sessions. Our first Behind the Scenes session will air this Thursday, 10/09, with King’s Head Executive Director Fiona English.

Week 2 – Book Club 

When #KHTOnline first began back in March, we hosted a few Book Club sessions on plays such as Hedda Gabler, Top Girls, Lungs and The Pillowman. We’ve decided to bring Book Club back but hand the reins over to our amazing Trainee Resident Directors. Each month, they’ll present their ideas and responses to a text, discuss its critical reception and past productions and pitch their exciting artistic vision for the script. 

Week 3 – Spotlight On

Our ‘Spotlight On’ company sessions are back! Previously, trailblazing companies such as Nouveau Riche, Graeae, Burn Bright and Papatango have joined us for thirty minutes to discuss their work, aims and upcoming projects and answer your questions. More information on who will be taking the hot seat in September next week. 

Week 4 – Skills Session 

From photography to sound design, festival programming and directing, our Skills Sessions truly cover and represent all aspects of the theatre industry. They have revealed what an abundance of variety and talent our community has and so we will continue to bring these voices to you. Find out who will be joining us this month very soon. 

KHTConnected

KHTConnected is our brand new Facebook community. A small, focused and supportive network for creatives to come together and share ideas and work they are developing. We want to continue to enable discussions, encourage partnerships and provide opportunities to create new work. Let’s keep building and supporting our community. Let’s stay connected.

STEPS – WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS TOUR

with very special guest Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Three years after they staged the UK’s most successful comeback of the decade, enduring pop legends Steps – aka Claire, Faye, H, Lee and Lisa – return once again with their new album, What The Future Holds, to be released on November 27th 2020 and the sure-to-be epic, What The Future Holds 2021 Tour, starting in Sheffield at the FlyDSA Arena on November 2nd 2021.

Kicking off a flurry of exciting news, the five-piece premiere their first single What The Future Holds tomorrow on Zoe Ball’s Radio 2 Breakfast show. Next week, their tour will go on general sale from Friday 18th September 2020 at 10am from aegpresents.co.uk/steps, with an advance pre-sale for fans who pre-order the album from the Steps superstore. Those fans will receive an exclusive access code for the fan tour presale on 15th September. Steps will be joined on tour by the brilliant Sophie Ellis-Bextor as special guest.

Fans will be able to stream and download the brand-new single What The Future Holds after the global premiere on Radio 2, where it will be available on all digital platforms. Built around a typically Steps-esque bittersweet refrain of “one foot in the past and one foot in the future”, the album’s thundering, gloriously dramatic title track was penned by pop queen Sia and is the perfect statement for a band who have taken a wave of nostalgia and alchemised it into an album full of future anthems.

Their sixth studio album, What The Future Holds, will be released on November 27th via BMG, and will be available on all digital platforms plus CD, Vinyl (including a limited edition transparent pink edition) and Cassette. A must for all Steps memorabilia collectors, the album will also be available as part of a Cassette Collection featuring five separate transparent pink solo cassettes with an intro from each band member, all in a special collector’s box.

Their most ambitious album to date, What The Future Holds showcases the big melodic choruses of their top-tier bangers but also brings back the harmony-laden ballads and some atmospheric mid-tempos. What the Future Holds is the best distillation of Steps so far; an album that shows both a deeper shade of blue and a brighter future. Their 6th album sees them reunite with writers such as Fiona Bevan (One Direction, Lewis Capaldi), Ina Wroldsen (Shakira, Britney Spears) and Karl Twigg (who worked on their first three albums) plus experiment with songs written by the likes of Greg Kurstin (Adele, Beyonce), Hannah Robinson (Kylie) and new pop shape-shifters such as Gracey and MNEK.

Speaking of the album and tour, Steps add:

“We will never forget the past with Steps, it’s what made us, but we’ve got to look to the future too. We were so thrilled that the last album was a success and it gave us a new lease of life. Performing live has always been our favourite part of being in Steps – we had the most fun of our career on the last tour and we’re already planning for the next one to be our biggest spectacle yet. We’re also thrilled to have Sophie Ellis-Bextor as our special guest on the What The Future Holds 2021 Tour – her catalogue is full of floor-fillers and she knows how to get any party started. We are so excited for everyone to hear this new album and to come join us on tour.”

Launching during the halcyon days of pop in 1997 with their line-dancing classic 5,6,7,8, Brit award winners Steps set about re-turfing the music landscape via 14 UK top 10 singles and three multi-platinum albums in three years including #1’s Tragedy and Stomp. Fast forward twenty years, the band returned with the mighty Tears On The Dancefloor, which hit #1 on the physical and iTunes album charts and went Gold within a matter of weeks, becoming the second biggest-selling independent album of 2017 behind Stormzy. Their subsequent ‘Party On The Dancefloor’ tour saw the band sell out twenty-two arenas. 23 years on from their debut, 2020 sees them return with What The Future Holds.

Steps with very special guest Sophie Ellis-Bextor will be opening up their UK at the FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield on Tuesday 2^nd November 2021 – tickets go on general sale at 10am on Friday 18^th September 2020

BIRD COLLEGE – CONSERVATOIRE FOR DANCE AND MUSICAL THEATRE ANNOUNCES NEW APPOINTMENTS

Bird College – Conservatoire for Dance and Musical Theatre today announces several new appointments including Sonia Watson-Fowler as a trustee of the Doreen Bird Foundation and Tosh Wanogho-Maud and Kamel Chahal joining the board as Non-Executive Directors.

In addition, Ryan Francois is announced as a new patron joining Gary Avis, Christopher Biggins, Baroness Tessa Blackstone, Cavin Cornwall, Gavin Lee, Lara Pulver, John Reid, Liz Robertson and Dougie Squires OBE MVO.

Joint Principals Shirley Coen (CEO) and Luis De Abreu (Artistic Director)said today, “This is a pivotal time and we are honoured that each of our new appointments are sharing their expertise and experiences with the Bird College community. We are wholly committed to empowering all our students and staff, ensuring they are fairly and equally represented within the structures of the College at every level. Through these vital appointments we are continuing to develop and deliver meaningful change both within the college as well as to the Performing Arts industry more widely.”

Sonia Watson-Fowler, Trustee of the Doreen Bird Foundation commented, “Since founding Inclusive Communication Consultancy, I have worked with various establishments at different stages on the journey to cementing inclusion, equality and diversity in their organisational culture; it was immediately clear that Bird College is galvanised and ready to actively tackle the challenges, have the discussions that really matter and actually implement strategies affecting change – engaging in empathetic reflection and approaching issues of diversity from a human, not tick box perspective – as per my practice. During years of working with young people from diverse backgrounds, an essential truth for me has been the right for all individuals, regardless of their background, to have quality education and for those providing said education to be open to learning and evolving for the good of their students – putting them first. This organisation genuinely seeks to create and serve a more diverse cohort and curriculum. Therefore, I am honoured to be able to use my expertise to assist in this progression and was moved by the openness, appreciation and drive for change encountered in exchanges with staff and students.”

Kamel Chahal, Non-Executive Directorsaid, “Bird College recognises that although racism remains a difficult and highly emotive topic for us all in the UK, the international Black Lives Matter movement has created a pivotal and reflective opportunity for White and BAME communities to engage in developing a far richer and more meaningful dialogue and deconstruct racism in all its covert as well as overt guises. As a member of Bird College’s Board I hope to facilitate and drive our objective of ensuring true equity through critical analysis of our practices and change at all levels of the organisational structure and teaching as required, within a systematic way so Bird College truly develops the fullest potential of all its students by engaging with the richness of their diverse identities.”

Tosh Wanogho-Maud Non-Executive Directoradded, “As a graduate of Bird College, I am absolutely honoured to be given the privilege of becoming a Non-Executive Director. Some of my most cherished years were spent within its walls, sweating, and grafting and slowly but surely becoming the actor I was meant to be. Bird College was always a place that felt to me to promise infinite possibilities, a place where you were held accountable for your successes and failures, a place where the winners were the people who made their losses mean something and a place where you choose what your destiny will look like. For me, it has always been a safe environment that nurtured its students regardless of ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs or gender, and I hope, with my support, that we can continue to put an emphasis on diversity and how we can better serve its students from an ethnic background.”

Ryan Francois, Patron of Bird College commented, “As a teacher and a scholar of the forgotten eras of jazz dance I am without doubt very proud and humbled to be given the honour of Patron of Bird College. For me, the college and its ideals for the future of its students, stands as a beacon of hope, that there will be truth, diversity and equality in the art of musical theatre. Bird College has always been in my opinion a name synonymous with excellence, professionalism and impeccable training for the performance elite. I believe with my support and knowledge of the true history and the physical execution of the vernacular dances. I can help to illuminate the minds and bodies of the present and future faculty and students.”

PARK THEATRE’S ONLINE CREATIVE LEARNING PROGRAMME NOW BOOKING FOR AUTUMN FOLLOWING SUCCESS OF DIGITAL CLASSES IN SPRING AND SUMMER

ACTIVATE YOUR REBELLION

SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2020

Park Theatre has today announced details for the autumn programme of its celebrated and increasingly popular Creative Learning Programme, which went virtual in May 2020.

Activate Your Rebellion is a series of 6 week courses using Zoom video conferencing, running during September and October 2020, with adult classes in acting technique, a script based acting course and devising, as well as drama and performance skills classes for children and young people aged between 4 – 18.

The courses will focus on the study of different performers, practitioners and companies that use their medium as a platform for activism and social change, such as Cardboard Citizens, Graeae, Akala, Kae Tempest and Good Chance Theatre.

Lead by professional actor and creative learning facilitator Amy Allen and professional director and experienced creative learning facilitator Natasha Kathi-Chandra, the courses will be held weekly and will be available to book via https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/creative-learning.

As with all theatres across the UK, Park Theatre had to temporarily close to help prohibit the spread of Covid-19. This meant cancelling all performances, hires and in person classes for the foreseeable future. As a small charity with no regular government or Arts Council funding, this led to a catastrophic loss of income.

The theatre recently released Jury – a brand-new play by Martin Murphy (Bruised Sky) – performed by a previous cohort of Park Theatre Company – Script Class, who worked on together as an online theatre company for 10 weeks during lockdown. The recorded performance was free to view, but audiences had the chance to donate to the theatre’s Park Life Fund, to help secure the future of the theatre. Jury received positive acclaim from critics and audiences alike, had 3.6k views on YouTube, and raised approximately £7k for the fund

Community Engagement Manager Nina Graveney-Edwards said: “We are delighted to be able to continue engaging with our community through our virtual creative learning classes and I am really pleased with the outcome of last terms’ classes, where our participants created a high caliber of work, which was received in such a positive and highly respected way.

We can’t wait to kick start this new term with you!”

Following Andrew Lloyd Webber’s evidence to the DCMS this morning and the news over the weekend regarding re-openings, I’m pleased to share a statement from Jon Morgan, director of Theatres Trust. 

Jon Morgan comments:

Many people in the theatre industry, including Andrew Lloyd Webber, are working hard to find solutions and mitigations so that audiences, performers and staff can return to theatres safely without the need for social distancing. Safety is paramount but with the right mitigating measures for the different scale and style of each theatre, it should be possible to reopen theatres safely and fully. We are encouraged that the government is determined to see more audiences back in theatres in time for Christmas, but we would stress again that theatres will need advance notice of this. Without an early date for theatres to reopen fully and with the furlough scheme ending in October we will see further redundancies and the permanent closure of more theatres.

The government’s £1.57bn investment package, welcome though it is, will not save every theatre nor every job – which is why today we’ve launched the #SaveOurTheatres campaign in partnership with Crowdfunder to enable communities to show their support for the local theatre or help us to protect the UK’s theatres.

BACK TO THE FUTURE THE MUSICAL

OPENS IN THE WEST END

AT THE ADELPHI THEATRE, LONDON

PREVIEWS FROM 14 MAY 2021

Producer Colin Ingram (Ghost – The Musical) and Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the creators of the Back To The Future film trilogy, are delighted to announce that  BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical will transfer to the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End following an out-of-town opening at Manchester Opera House in March 2020, where it was enthusiastically received by critics and the public alike. Previews will begin on 14 May.

Roger Bart and Olly Dobson will reprise the roles of ‘Dr Emmett Brown’ and ‘Marty McFly’ respectively. Also returning are Hugh Coles as ‘George McFly’, Rosanna Hyland as ‘Lorraine Baines’, Cedric Neal as ‘Goldie Wilson’, Aidan Cutler as ‘Biff Tannen’ and Courtney-Mae Briggs as ‘Jennifer Parker’. Further casting to be announced.

Christopher Lloyd, the original Doc Brown, said, “I’m delighted that Back to the Future The Musical will be up and running in London in mid-May. I’ve heard nothing but great things about the show’s run in Manchester, so I’m excited to finally see it for myself. I’ve already heard some of the new songs and met many of the cast members, particularly Roger Bart who plays Doc, so I’m confident the stage version will be exactly what our fans have been hoping for. And, Great Scott — I can’t wait to hear Doc Brown sing!”

Bob Gale said, “Bob Zemeckis and I are over the moon to finally be opening Back to the Future The Musical in the West End at the historic Adelphi Theatre, and we can’t wait for audiences to experience our show.  I promise, everyone will be delighted with how we’ve translated the movie to the stage.  We’ve got all your favourite songs from the movie, and over a dozen news ones, brought to life by an incredible cast, along with some groundbreaking stagecraft, which we firmly believe raises the bar for production design and illusion.  You will be convinced that the DeLorean really does go 88 miles per hour!  I personally cannot wait to get back to Back to the Future in such a fabulous venue!”

Colin Ingram said, “I’m delighted to announce today that Back To The Future will open next year at one of the foremost theatres in the West End. The response we received from audiences and critics in Manchester for this show was incredible – men and women, young and old, film fans and newbies were all blown away by this heartening, hilarious story set to multi-Grammy winners Silvestri and Ballard’s fantastic new songs, alongside the original classics from the movie. We made Hill Valley sing, dance and laugh and, as one audience member said, ‘This is the new standard of spectacle, I feel like people are going to be talking about this for a long time.’ When the West End reopens, we believe people will want to go back to the theatre, with Back to the Future… Great Scott Marty, just don’t set the DeLorean to March 2020!”

Based on the Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment film, BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical has a book by Bob Gale and new music and lyrics by Emmy and Grammy Award-winning Alan Silvestri and six-time Grammy Award-winning Glen Ballard, with additional songs from the film including The Power of Love and Johnny B. Goode.

BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical is directed by Tony Award-winning director John Rando (Urinetown, On The Town), alongside the multi Tony and Olivier Award-winning design team of Tim Hatley (set and costume design), lighting design by Tim Lutkin, lighting consultant Hugh Vanstone, Gareth Owen (sound) and Finn Ross (video), with choreography by Chris Bailey, musical supervision and arrangements by Nick Finlow and Illusions by Chris Fisher. Orchestrations are by Ethan Popp and Bryan Crook, with dance arrangements by David Chase. Casting is by David Grindrod Associates.

Back to the Future the movie was released in 1985, starring Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Dr Emmett Brown. The film grossed $360.6 million (£279 million) at the box office worldwide and the total box office for all three films in the Back to the Future franchise was $936.6 million (over $1.8 billion in today’s money).

Marty McFly is a rock ‘n’ roll teenager who is accidentally transported back to 1955 in a time-travelling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr Emmett Brown.  But before he can return to 1985, Marty must make sure his high school-aged parents fall in love in order to save his own existence.

BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical is produced by Colin Ingram, Donovan Mannato, Frankel/Viertel/Baruch/Routh Group, Gavin Kalin Productions, Hunter Arnold, Crush Music, CJ ENM, Playing Field, Teresa Tsai, Ivy Herman/Hallee Adelman, Ricardo Marques, Augury, Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale, in association with, Kimberly Magarro, Robert L. Hutt, Stage Entertainment, Glass Half Full Productions/ Neil Gooding Productions.

Website: BackToTheFutureMusical.com   

Twitter: @BTTFmusical

Instagram: @BTTFmusical      

LISTINGS INFORMATION

BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical

From 14 May 2021

Adelphi Theatre

Strand

Covent Garden

London WC2R 0NS

Performances: Mondays, Wednesdays – Saturdays at 7.30pm, Wednesday & Saturday matinees at 2.30pm, Sundays at 3pm (N.B. no performances on Tuesdays except 18 May, 25 May & 1 June 2021 at 7.30pm)*

*31 May & 30 August – 2.30pm performance (no 7.30pm performance)

Tickets: from £19.55

Please book via the website: BackToTheFutureMusical.com – no booking fees  

Book with confidence. For maximised flexibility customers can exchange their ticket free of charge up to at least 24 hours prior to the event.

Current booking period to 26 September 2021

A Marvellous Party

Unique Digital Transatlantic Celebration marking the centenary of Noël Coward’s

West End Debut and featuring  a host of West End & Broadway stars

LAUNCHES BROADWAY ON DEMAND’S NEW DIGITAL VENUE STREAM.THEATRE

TO BENEFIT ACTING FOR OTHERS (UK) AND THE ACTORS FUND (US)

SUNDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2020

7.30PM BST/2:30PM EST

The Noël Coward Foundation today announces A MARVELLOUS PARTY, a transatlantic, star-studded collection of performances celebrating the continuing legacy of Noël Coward and coinciding with the 100^th anniversary of his West End debut as a 19-year-old playwright.

This unique celebration features words and music by Noël Coward, performed by Kate Burton, Judi Dench, Stephen Fry, Montego Glover, Derek Jacobi, Josh James, Cush Jumbo, Robert Lindsay, Kristine Nielsen, Bebe Neuwirth, Julian Ovenden, Patricia Routledge, Kate Royal, Emma Thompson, Giles Terera, Indira Varma and Lia Williams.

All the performers have either self-recorded at home or been filmed on location under COVID-19 regulations.

A MARVELLOUS PARTY will be the first of its kind to utilise Broadway on Demand’snew digital venue, www.stream.theatre, whichlaunches this month. Viewers can visit the web address (UK viewers www.stream.theatre / US viewers www.broadwayondemand.com) and register for free in advance to watch the show on Sunday 20September at 7:30PM BST/2.30pm EST and will be available on demand on both sites for 14 days.

A MARVELLOUS PARTY will also be presented on the official Noël Coward You Tube channel. 

Funds raised via A MARVELLOUS PARTY will provide support to theatre workers on both sides of the Atlantic affected by the pandemic and will benefit Acting For Others (UK) and The Actors Fund (USA).

To donate to ACTING FOR OTHERS please go to: 

www.justgiving.com/campaign/amarvellousparty

 To donate to THE ACTORS FUND please go to 

 actorsfund.org/MarvelousParty

Alan Brodie, Chair of the Noël Coward Foundation said:

“Noël Coward, a man of the theatre and one of the first transatlantic theatre celebrities, used his celebrity status to assist others. He galvanised his famous friends into raising considerable sums for charitable causes on both sides of the Atlantic and was also a Founder Member of The Combined Theatrical Charities, the predecessor organisation to Acting For Others.

Noël would have been very distressed by the shutdowns of the West End, Broadway and theatres across the world resulting in hardship for so many. It is therefore imperative, on Noël’s behalf, to help those in need by collaborating with Acting For Others in the UK and the Actors Fund in the US demonstrating just how much his influence and legacy lives on 100 years from that first play. The performers have given their services for free and we are most grateful to them for offering their time and their talent to this important cause”.

AGAINST ALL ODDS 

THEATRE ROYAL WINDSOR WILL CELEBRATE ITS 82ND YEAR OF PANTOMIME! 

Theatre Royal Windsor presents 

Cinderella

• WINDSOR’S TRADITIONAL PANTOMIME TO GO AHEAD WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING
• BRITT EKLAND, MOVIE LEGEND AND STAR OF THE REAL MARIGOLD HOTEL JOINS THE LEGENDARY FUNNY FOX, BASIL BRUSH IN WHAT PROMISES TO BE THE MOST
• MAGICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR!
• EXTRA WEEK OF PERFORMANCES ADDED TO MAKE SURE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE GET TO SEE PANTO THIS YEAR
• WINDSOR FAVOURITES KEVIN CRUISE & STEVEN BLAKELEY, RETURN FOR THEIR 11th and 12th HILARIOUS APPEARANCE IN THE ANNUAL WINDSOR PANTOMIME
• WRITTEN BY STEVEN BLAKELEY & DIRECTED BY CAROLE TODD

“Fast-paced, funny and packed with laughter, it has audiences leaving the auditorium with massive grins on their faces.” Wokingham Paper

“It could not fail to be just the greatest pantomime I have ever attended.” Marlow FM

Grab your tickets to the most magical ball of them all!

In what has been the most challenging of times for theatres across the globe, Theatre Royal Windsor is delighted to announce that we will be going ahead with our traditional annual Pantomime, and CINDERELLA shall go to the ball this Christmas!

Theatre Royal Windsor’s Co-Directors Anne-Marie & Jon Woodley said: “After such a difficult year for all of us, we have been absolutely overwhelmed by the support of our Audiences and are thrilled to be able to repay their kindness by finding a way to present our much-loved Pantomime. It goes without saying, that the safety of our audiences, staff and performers is paramount and we will be following government advice at all times ensuring your enjoyment and peace of mind! Roll on Cinderella!”

With social distanced seating in place to ensure the safety of our audiences, this will limit the usual number of seats available. Theatre Royal Windsor believe Pantomime is such an important and beloved family tradition, and in a year where so many families might miss out, we are adding an additional week of performances so as many people as possible can come and experience that Panto magic!

Featuring Theatre Royal Windsor’s traditional pantomime comedy capers, with a sprinkle of fairy dust, dazzling dancers, colourful costumes and a glittering star cast featuring Movie Legend and star of The Real Marigold Hotel Britt Ekland and not forgetting the little fox with the big laugh … Basil Brush! 

Joining Britt and Basil are Windsor favourites, calamitous comedian Kevin Cruise and dotty Dame Steven Blakeley in their 11th year in Panto together at Theatre Royal Windsor.

About the cast 

BRITT EKLAND 

FAIRY GOODNIGHT 

Britt is probably best known for playing legendary Bond Girl Mary Goodnight in The Man with the Golden Gun alongside Roger Moore. She has also starred in many other iconic movies including The Wicker Man, Get Carter and The Night They Raided Minsky’s amongst others. 

On television Britt can be seen as herself in the latest season of BAFTA nominated series The Real Marigold Hotel.

On stage, Britt’s most recent role was that of Mrs Pleasant in Bill Kenwright’s 2020 UK Touring production of The Cat and The Canary, where Britt received rave reviews for her performance. Britt is thrilled to be back for Cinderella this year, making it her third Windsor Pantomime.

BASIL BRUSH BARON 

HARDUP OF FROGMORE HALL 

Basil Brush came into being in 1962 and celebrated the 50th anniversary of the start of his Basil Brush Show in 2018. 

His humour is able to cross the generations with audiences of all ages captivated by his live shows and TV appearances. He is as popular today as he has ever been bringing chaos, humour and in his own lovable way, a small bit of anarchy to any situation. 

Panto is a favourite time of year for Basil – he is a firm favourite at Theatre Royal Windsor having starred in many Pantos here! Britain’s most lovable fox looks forward to causing mayhem wherever he goes and always an opportunity to include a BOOM! BOOM!

STEVEN BLAKELEY 

WRITER & LAVITIA HARDUP 

Last year Steven Blakeley celebrated his 11th anniversary of appearing in Pantomime at Theatre Royal Windsor and is delighted to be back for his 12th year for Cinderella. 

Steven has written and directed several of Windsor’s pantomimes. Steven is a popular face on television, having appeared in four series of ITV’s long-running drama Heartbeat as PC Geoff Younger (a role which earned him a nomination at the National Television Awards). 

KEVIN CRUISE 

BUTTONS 

Kevin Cruise is an award-winning regular on the UK comedy, cabaret, holiday park and theatre circuit, created by entertainer Martin Cabble-Reid. 

Martin is also Mr Martin in The Basil Brush Show which toured the UK and performed a sell-out run at Edinburgh fringe in 2019. 

Martin is the founder of the Kevin Cruise Foundation providing theatre tickets and workshops to disadvantaged children within the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead. He’s also the founder of Ramble Happy, encouraging fitness through walking, mindfulness & the great outdoors.

2020 marks Martin’s 11th Pantomime season at Theatre Royal Windsor.

The cast will be completed by a team of incredibly talented performers who join Windsor’s Cinderella panto family this year! 

We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be our most magical panto ever!

RUN AT IT SHOUTING ANNOUNCES ONLINE REHEARSED READING OF HAROLD PINTER’S THE DWARFS

IN AID OF THE NIA PROJECT

Run At It Shouting today announces a live online rehearsed reading of Harold Pinter’s The Dwarfs adapted by Kerry Lee Crabbe in aid of The NIA Project – a Hackney-based charity committed to delivering cutting edge service to end violence against women and children – taking place via Zoom on 25 September at 7pm. Harry Burton directs Charlie MacGechan (Mark), Stacy Martin (Virginia), Lewis Rainer (Pete) and Ossian Perret (Len). Tickets will be available via: runatitshouting.co.ukat £15

Adapted from Harold Pinter’s only novel, The Dwarfs follows three old school friends, Mark, Pete and Len who knock about the streets, pubs and cafes of East London arguing the toss about art, life and love. The fourth member of their tight-knit group is Virginia, a young teacher. As autumn draws in, each of the friends finds their perception of one another and themselves irrevocably changed.

Kerry Lee Crabbe’s adaptation of The Dwarfs was originally developed at the National Theatre Studio. It was screened on BBC Four in October 2002, receiving its stage première at the Tricycle Theatre in April 2003.

Harold Pinter (1930 – 2008) is the author of 29 plays including The Birthday Party, The Caretaker, The Homecoming and Ashes to Ashes, and 20 screenplays including The Servant, Accident, The Go-Between and The French Lieutenant’s Woman. He has directed productions in London, New York, Paris and Palermo. His work as an actor includes No Man’s Land at the Almeida, The Hothouse at the Comedy Theatre, The Collection at the Donmar Warehouse and the film Mansfield Park. He is the author of Various Voices – Prose, Poetry, Politics 1948-1998. In 2003 Pinter was made a Companion of Honour for Services to Literature, and in 2005 was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Kerry Lee Crabbe’s playwrighting credits include The Burn (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), The Last Romantic (Wimbledon Theatre) and Rough Magic (New End Theatre). His screenwriting credits for film include Innocent Lies, The Playboys and Memoirs of a Survivor; and for television his credits include The Last Romantic.

Charlie MacGechan plays Mark. His film credits include We Die Young, The Girl From The Song and Deus.

Stacy Martin plays Virginia. Her film credits include Casanova, Last Love, The Night House, High-Rise, Tale of Tales, Jouers (Treat Me Like Fire), All The Money In The World, The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun, The Childhood of a Leader, An Evening Hour, Vox Lux and Nymphomaniac. Her new film Amants is about to open at the Venice Film Festival.

Lewis Rainer plays Pete. His theatre credits include Angus, Thongs and Even More Snogging (West Yorkshire Playhouse); and for television his credits include Grange Hill, Dani’s House, Death Come To Pemberley, Endeavour, After Louise, The Crash. His film credits include Flyspy, A Hologram For The King, And Then I Was French and The Girl From The Song.

Ossian Perret plays Len. His television credits include The Witcher, The First Team, The Last Kingdom and Sanctuary.

Harry Burton’s credits as a theatre director includes The Leisure Society, Out There On Fried Meat Ridge Road, The Dumb Waiter (Trafalgar Studios), Casualties, Positive (Park Theatre), The Room (Royal Court Theatre), I Found My Horn (Chichester Festival Theatre/Hampstead Theatre/Trafalgar Studios), Where I Come From (Kentucky Rep), Barking in Essex (Wyndham’s Theatre), Blue On Blue (Tristan Bates Theatre) and The Dog Walker (Jermyn Street Theatre). He has also directed two films for Channel 4, acclaimed documentary Working With Pinter, and a drama titled Thinspiration