Author: FairyPoweredProductions

Presented by Talawa Theatre Company
Tales from the Front Line
Autumn 2020

Talawa Theatre Company are creating an online experience featuring six brand new short pieces using verbatim interviews from Black key and frontline workers which explore the historic moment of the Covid-19 crisis and its impact on them. The pandemic has had a starkly divergent impact on communities; Black people are four times more likely to die from Covid-19, according to Public Health England’s figures in May for England and Wales.

What has been learned, challenged and changed forever? What might life in the UK look like in a year’s time? Tales from the Front Line will document the contribution of Black workers at the front line of the Covid-19 crisis, creating a lasting historical record. It will explore their relationships with British society and how the pandemic has challenged their perceptions of belonging, especially in the wake of the Windrush Scandal and the global Black Lives Matter movement. With humour and hope, Tales from the Front Line will be an interrogation of the society that is being impacted greatest by Covid-19, and the society that will emerge from it.

Talawa are speaking to people from a wide spectrum of key and frontline workers, including Transport for London employees, supermarket staff, teachers, teaching assistants and delivery drivers, and draws contributors from Talawa’s Croydon home and across the UK. The interviews are intended to provide a space for these workers to share their experiences, and articulate their concerns and hopes for the future.

Artists will be given the freedom to use the testimonies to create a dramatised work featuring music, photography, movement, soundscapes and animations – whatever they feel best conveys the story. With support from Croydon Council’s Culture Relief Fund, the pieces will be available on Talawa’s website this Autumn.

Michael Buffong, Talawa’s Artistic Director, comments, If not for Covid-19, we would find our lives dominated by BREXIT and the Windrush scandal. Covid-19 has exposed the fact those people most affected by these hostilities are the ones who are keeping the country alive, sustained and functioning. We want to gather and share these powerful stories from the front line to ensure that these contributions by Black British people cannot be erased
from the historical record.

Talawa are an Arts Council England NPO.

LAMBERT JACKSON ANNOUNCES VIRTUAL PRODUCTION OF SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD WITH FULL CAST

Lambert Jackson Productions in association with The Other Palace, today announces a “virtual lockdown production” of Jason Robert Brown’s Songs For A New World. Filmed entirely in isolation, Séimí Campbell directs Rachel John (Hamilton), Ramin Karimloo (Phantom of The Opera), Cedric Neal (Motown) and Rachel Tucker (Come From Away), with musical supervision by Adam Hoskins and musical direction from Josh Winstone. The production will be streamed on The Other Palace – Digital Venue, for £12.50.

“It’s about one moment. It’s about hitting the wall and having to make a choice… or take a stand… or turn around and go back.”

Written by Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown and sitting between musical and song cycle, this moving collection of powerful songs examines life, love, and the choices that we make as it transports audiences through time and space.

An exclusive presale for subscribers will take place from midday on Thursday 2 July – please visit www.theotherpalace.co.uk. Tickets will go on general on sale at midday on Friday 3 July

Rachel John plays Woman 1.Her previous theatre credits include Hamilton (Victoria Palace Theatre), The Color Purple – In Concert (Cadogan Hall), The Bodyguard (Dominion Theatre/UK tour), Memphis (Shaftesbury Theatre), Rent (UK tour), We Will Rock You, Sister Act (London Palladium) and The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre/international tour).Ramin Karimloo plays Man 2. Hisprevious concert credits for Lambert Jackson Productions include Dr Zhivago (Cadogan Hall). His other theatre credits include Chess in Concert (Umeda Arts Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar in Concert, Evita (Theatre Orb Tokyo), Chess (The Kennedy Centre), Anastasia (Broadhurst Theatre), Murder Ballad (Arts Theatre), Les Miserables (Imperial Theatre/Princess of Wales Theatre/Queens Theatre/Palace Theatre), The Phantom of the Opera 25^th Anniversary (Royal Albert Hall), Love Never Dies (Adelphi Theatre), Les Miserables 25^th Anniversary Concert (O2 Arena), The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre) and Miss Saigon (UK tour).

Cedric Neal plays Man 1. His previous theatre credits include Back To The Future (Manchester Opera House), The View Upstairs (Soho Theatre), Stagger Lee, Death of a Salesman (Dallas Theater Center), Porgy and Bess (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), and Dreamgirls (Signature Theatre). His credits for television include Friday Night Lights and The Good Guys.

Rachel Tucker plays Woman 2. Her previous theatre credits include Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre), Wicked (Apollo Victoria/The Gershwin Theater), Communicating Doors (Menier Chocolate Factory), The Last Ship (Neil Simon Theatre), Farragut North (Southwark Playhouse), We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre), Dusty (Leicester Square Theatre), The Wizard of Oz, To Be Sure, Merry Christmas Betty Ford (Belfast Lyric Theatre), Tonight’s The Night, Tommy and The Full Monty (UK tour).

Séimí Campbell directs. His previous credits include My Son Pinocchio (Southwark Playhouse). As an assistant director his credits include Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre) and Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); and as resident director credits include Amour (Charing Cross Theatre), Cereal Café (The Other Palace) and Sweeney Todd (Shoreditch Town Hall).

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Malvern Theatres Public Appeal Update

Malvern Theatres is delighted to announce that its Covid public appeal has now reached an astonishing £100,000 thanks to its audiences and supporters. In recognition of this feat, a formal ‘thank you’ page will soon be launched on the theatre’s website to publicly acknowledge every individual who has contributed to the appeal, be it through a donation, a monthly direct debit or through the gift of refunded tickets.

Chief Executive Nic Lloyd said: “This amount has exceeded all of our expectations and we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed so far.

“Your generosity has bought us valuable time and will ensure that we reach the autumn before losing our reserves. With no end to the crisis in sight for theatres however, we cannot relax our efforts and our next target is to secure the theatre through to the New Year.

“We aim to raise a further £100,000 between now and Christmas. Every step that we take now will make a huge difference to our reserves, offering a lifeline to our future sustainability.”

There are a number of ways people can support the theatre without making a donation, including supporting them on social media, setting the theatre as your designated Amazon Smile charity, hosting your own fundraiser, or purchasing a membership or gift voucher for future use.

To donate to the fund, please visit malvern-theatres.co.uk/support-us

Yorkshire based Mikron start fundraising appeal for 50^th anniversary year with future of company at risk

The unique canal-based Yorkshire theatre company, Mikron Theatre, are launching a new fundraising appeal that aims to help them reach their incredible 50th year of touring.  

Mikron Theatre Company, who have been touring the UK’s canals, rivers and roads for the past 48 years, have had to cancel their entire 2020 season, but with help from their supporters and the general public they aim to be back in 2021 for the 50th year of touring. 

In April this year, the Huddersfield based company were due to tour two new plays to over 130 dates and were busy planning their 50th year of touring in 2021. Then the Coronavirus epidemic hit.

Since making the decision not to tour, Mikron took Arts Council England’s advice and have been helping the community in their home village of Marsden, West Yorkshire. They have repurposed their office and van to assist with the village COVID-19 mutual aid group ‘Marsden Help’ and have delivered hundreds of food parcels and prescriptions to self-isolating and vulnerable families.

The company’s Artistic Director Marianne McNamara said:

“We’re so incredibly sad not to be touring. In the early stages of the Coronavirus outbreak we looked at every possible combination, but none of them were practical.

What I would not give to see Mikron performing at a Canalside venue to a large crowd with the sun setting behind us. We see the same faces in different places year on year and we really miss them but the safety of the cast and crew, venues and of course our loyal audiences, had to come first.”

Based in the village of Marsden, at the foot of the Yorkshire Pennines, Mikron Theatre Company are like no other. For starters, they tour for most of the year on board a vintage narrowboat, secondly, they put on their shows in places that other theatre companies wouldn’t dream of; a play about growing-your-own shown in allotments, a play about bees performed next to hives, a play about chips to audiences in a fish and chips restaurant, as well as plays about hostelling in YHA Youth hostels and the RNLI at several Lifeboat stations around the UK.

2021 will, with the success of this appeal, see Mikron tour two brand new shows; Amanda Whittington’s Atalanta Forever which tells the story of Women’s football in the 1920s and Polly Hollman’s  canine comedy caper A Dog’s Tale.

Since they were formed in 1972 they have written 64 original shows, composed and written 384 songs, issued over 236 actor musician contracts, spent 30,000 boating hours on the inland waterways, covered 530,000 road miles, performed over 5060 times and performed to over 428,000 people 

COVID19 has dealt the Yorkshire based theatre company a potentially catastrophic blow and they need help to ensure that they get back on their feet, back on the road, and back on the water.

With no income from shows, no merchandise, no programmes, or raffle in the budget, Mikron are currently looking at a shortfall of £48,337.49. The entire management team is doing as much as they can to reduce costs month by month, but this simply is not enough. On current budgets the company will run out of money before their 50th year of touring in 2021.   

With this in mind the acclaimed and much loved theatre company  had no choice but to launch an appeal to raise £48,337.49 by the end of December 2020 to ensure that their 50th year of touring can go ahead and that Mikron has a future within the theatre industry. 

For further information and to donate please visit www.mikron.org.uk/appeal . Donations can also be sent to Mikron Theatre, Marsden Huddersfield, HD7 6BW).

Blackeyed Theatre streaming popular
Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four
by Arthur Conan Doyle
Adapted by Nick Lane
Sunday 5th July – Wednesday 15th July 2020

As theatres face extended closure due to Covid-19, Blackeyed Theatre is making its acclaimed 2018 production of Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four available to watch online for free, from Sunday 5th July – Wednesday 15th July.

Crammed full of adventure, romance, comedy and of course one or two rather brilliant deductions, The Sign of Four is a breath-taking yarn brough to life in this spectacular stage adaptation. When Mary Morstan arrives at 221B Baker Street to request help with the mystery of her missing father, Holmes takes the case and together with his companion Dr Watson enters a murky world of deception and trickery, unravelling a complex plot involving murder, corruption and stolen jewels. Original live music, stylish theatricality and magical story-telling combine for an unforgettable theatrical experience. The game’s afoot!

The world premiere production, adapted by Nick Lane from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s epic second Sherlock Holmes novel, played to over 50,000 people in 70 towns and cities across the UK, the Netherlands and China between September 2018 and June 2019, ending with a week of performances at the Shanghai Grand

The performance will premiere on YouTube on Sunday 5 July at 19:30 and it will be available to watch free of charge until Wednesday 15 July at 23:30 (BST) –
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeQAlhAAFYu-fW59bug4DZA. While the show will be available to watch free of charge, Blackeyed Theatre welcomes donations – http://www.blackeyedtheatre.co.uk/donate/

Artistic Director Adrian McDougall said, Like any Sherlock Holmes tale, The Sign of Four is so much more than a detective story. As well as being a cracking adventure, it offers audiences today a glimpse of Victorian attitudes towards Empire and ‘otherness’ that have largely (though not entirely) disappeared, lending the play particular resonance in the light of recent world events. I’m delighted that through each of our online shows, we are managing to offer some financial support to our artists, but we need public support in the form of donations to be able to continue doing so. Going forward we will be looking at increasingly sustainable ways to engage and entertain audiences.

LONDON THEATRE RUNWAY

 A NEW GRADUATE THEATRICAL TRAINING PROGRAMME

ANNOUNCED FOR SEPTEMBER  AT TROUBADOUR WEMBLEY PARK THEATRE

London Theatre Runway is a bespoke training and connectivity programme for performing arts graduates which will be based at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.  The first term is due to begin in September and the application process opens today. Full details can be found at www.londontheatrerunway.com.

This brand new training programme is specifically aimed at driven and aspirational professional performers who have recently graduated or those already working in the industry who feel they would benefit from time with leading industry directors, choreographers, musical and casting directors in a supportive, non-competitive environment.  It is also aimed at performers who may find themselves with a gap in a busy schedule and want to use this free time to keep ‘match fit’ and work on their performance skills. Through masterclasses and rigorous classes, London Theatre Runway offers the unique opportunity for attendees to work with a different industry leading professional every weekend and gain their guidance and expert feedback.

 London Theatre Runway consists of 3 terms per year, and each term is ten weekends long. There will be no more than 20 people per class. You can join for the first year now or join London Theatre Runway term by term. The programme is specifically tailored to working performing arts professionals and their lifestyle. If you need to leave the course to accept an offer of employment, the cost of the classes that you have missed will be rolled over into the next London Theatre Runway term, so you can participate when it suits you, giving attendees the flexibility they need.

 The Saturday sessions will be packed full of classes devoted to rigorous training aimed at keeping individual’s performance skills at the best possible level. Expert instructors will advise on technique and provide the opportunity to hone skills or work on areas of practise to perfect – focussing on dance, acting and script work, and singing and vocal techniques. Dance subjects include: ballet, technical jazz, musical theatre jazz, body conditioning and contemporary. In addition to this, each weekend a different guest choreographer will join to take classes in their unique style. Acting classes will include script and sight reading as well as improvisation. Singing classes will include vocal technique, acting through song and repertoire.

 On Sundays, leading directors, casting directors, musical directors or choreographers will host masterclasses, offering valuable advice, tailored feedback and guidance through mock auditions, Q&A’s and observation sessions. Masterclass leaders joining London Theatre Runway’s first year include: Jim Arnold CDG, Karen Bruce, Hannah Chissick, Aletta Collins,  Alistair David, Bill Deamer, Nikolai Foster, Natalie Gallacher CDG, David Grindrod CDG, Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, Lucy Jenkins CDG, Ellen Kane, Rachel Kavanaugh, Nigel Lilley, Rachel O’Riordan, Adam Penford, Jessica Ronane CDG, Jeremy Sams, Sarah Travis, Gareth Valentine, Anne Vosser, Roy Alexander Weise, Tara Wilkinson, Nick Winston and Matthew Xia.

 Matt Cole, leading choreographer and Olivier award Nominee, and one of the founders of London Theatre Runway says “The Saturday sessions are all about training and keeping fit and ready for the next challenge. They are specifically geared towards strength and technique in all disciplines – singing, acting and dance.  The Sunday classes are where this programme becomes very unique as they are geared toward connecting you to the industry and putting you in front of the highest level of industry professionals. They are the best of the best in their field and will be working with you, offering guidance that can help take your skills as a performer and your career to the next level.”

 “This is a tough industry and this bespoke programme is designed to help people who want to help themselves to navigate their way through the maze with leading support and guidance, at a cost which breaks down to less than £9 per hour across the programme”

 Interested applicants should have trained at drama school or a vocational performing arts programme for a minimum of 2 years. To register for a place at London Theatre Runway visit www.londontheatrerunway.com. For an application form.  Applications close on 27 July 2020.

 Please note that in uncertain times around Covid -19 regulations, London Theatre Runway will only open when it is possible to do so in a manner that is consistent with government guidance and safe for all participants and staff.  If you purchase a place on a London Theatre Runway course and it cannot go ahead for safety reasons, your position on the programme will be held until the time when it can go ahead safely and within regulations.

HOPE MILL THEATRE TO LIVE STREAM UK PREMIERE OF NEW DOCUMENTARY CELEBRATING THE CAREER OF OSCAR-WINNING STAGE AND SCREEN ICON OLYMPIA DUKAKIS

FILM TO BE SHOWN FREE OF CHARGE ON HOPE MILL THEATRE’S FACEBOOK PAGE ON FRIDAY 10^TH JULY AT 6PM

Hope Mill Theatre will live stream the UK premiere of a new documentary celebrating the career of stage and screen icon Olympia Dukakis, in collaboration with the producers of the film.

Olympia, directed by Harry Mavromichalis, will be shown on Friday 10^th July at 6pm on Hope Mill Theatre’s facebook page.

The premiere of the US documentary was due to have taken place in New York but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic – so producers have decided to have a one-off online premiere of the film before its wider release. As well as the UK premiere, it is also being streamed in the USA & Europe.

Olympia  is an intimate look at the life and career of one of the greatest actresses to grace the stage and screen. A deeply personal portrait of the actress and her craft and her legacy.

The fly-on-all-wall film features stars including Whoopi Goldberg, Laura Linney and more talking about 89-year-old Dukakis, who won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1988 for her role in Moonstruck and appears in the much-loved film Steel Magnolias.

The documentary will be followed by a pre-recorded Q&A with the actress. 

The documentary will be free to view but Hope Mill Theatre is asking for donations from audiences. 

Joseph Houston, Artistic Director of Hope Mill Theatre, said: “We are honoured to be involved in the live stream of the Premiere of Olympia. So many generations know Olympia’s incredible work from screen, but not many may be familiar with her career on stage, which was her first love and continues to be. It will be an in-depth, personal look into her craft and career and we are thrilled to be sharing it with UK audiences. There will be no cost to view the documentary, but we will be sharing info on how to support us and make a donation to the venue.” 

Olympia is produced and directed by Harry Mavromichalis, Executive Produced by Anthoula Katsimatides and Sid Ganis.

“Olympia delivers an uncommonly personal, cinema verité-style portrait of its fascinating, iconoclastic subject.” — The Hollywood Reporter

For more information on Olympia, visit https://www.olympiathefilm.com/

Twitter: @Hopemilltheatr1

Facebook: Hope Mill Theatre

Budding young presenter Charlie Kristensen

 interviews the stars of stage and screen for his YouTube chat show

Musical Chairs with #CheerUpCharlie! 

Ten-year-old Charlie Kristensen, from Wokingham in Berkshire, won over the hearts of the West End theatre industry and the British public last year when he launched his #CheerUpCharlie campaign, channelling his own traumatic experiences of being bullied, and the support he received afterwards, to help others. Charlie has now taken a step towards his dream of being a television presenter by launching a series of lockdown interviews with high-profile entertainment industry guests on his YouTube channel – Musical Chairs with #CheerUpCharlie!. The chat show is supported by The Theatre Café, and it is hoped that most interviews will be recorded there when it becomes possible.   

As well as chatting to his guests about their own experiences of being bullied, in Charlie’s own words he also asks a mix of “fun, interesting and serious questions” about their life and work. He has set up a steady stream of interviews with actors, musicians and visual artists from the UK and USA, and his recent chat with actress Amanda Henderson (star of Casualty) has already hit nearly 6,000 views.  Others in the Musical Chairs line-up include Iain Armitage, Luke Bayer, Daniel Boys, Kerry Ellis, Dominic Ferris, Jacqueline Hughes, Irvine Iqbal, Nathaniel Morrison, Nadim Naaman, Will Poulter, Sam Retford, Gaby Roslin, Nina West, Nathan Wyburn and Michael Xavier, with many more planned. Actor Matt Lucas not only recorded a Musical Chairs interview but also, to Charlie’s delight, invited him to duet together singing The Baked Potato Song in support of NHS workers, in a video which has also received 100k views on Twitter. 

Sam Retford, star of television show Ackley Bridge, said: “I first met Charlie last year when the campaign was just starting after his bullying came to light. It was such an honour to be Charlie’s interview guinea pig.  Not only did we laugh and get to know each other better, but I was also able to get a better perspective and see just how far this incredible young man has already gone.  His Cheer Up chats are going to be something very special and have grown with such enormity already. I truly cannot wait to see what 2020 has in store for this special young man and feel truly grateful to be watching it unfold. He is one of the most intelligent, charismatic and talented people I have ever met.”

Charlie said: “I love speaking to people and I know that by sharing their experiences of bullying and how they overcome it we can start to make a change. I want everyone to associate #CheerUpCharlie with acceptance and feel confident in just being themselves. The world is full of different people, with different talents and in my eyes that is what makes the world an exciting place. If me talking to people helps just one person then we are doing the right thing. I want to talk to everybody as talking makes it all okay.”

Charlie has come a long way since this time last year. Then, having been mentally and physically bullied severely for over 18 months, in part due to his love of performing, Charlie couldn’t take any more and for a long time his parents ‘lost’ the cheerful boy they recognised. Charlie continued with his singing lessons, and when he opened up to his singing teacher West End actress Jacqueline Hughes and broke down, she comforted him but also rallied support from performers in the theatre industry. She put out a Tweet about the heart-breaking situation and straight away West End performers inundated Charlie with video messages of support, love and solidarity including exciting backstage invitations. This led to national media interviews including live chats on the BBC Breakfast sofa and Michael Ball’s BBC Radio 2 show. It took months for the smile to return to Charlie’s eyes but he is now fighting for others, and keen to see where his presenting talents might lead along the way. 

Charlie’s mother, Kat Kristensen, said: “Charlie is the most selfless, kind, caring and funny boy you will ever meet, and this kid can certainly talk! When The Diana Award invited him to write and deliver a five-minute speech for Anti-Bullying Week last November, he reduced a room of 5,000 to absolute silence and tears. It is something we did not know Charlie could do and he continues to amaze us daily, including now with his chat shows! We have been blown away by the entertainment industry and public support, and would like to thank them for helping him achieve his dreams.”

Future plans which are currently in the pipeline for Charlie and his #CheerUpCharlie campaign, with the support of his West End friends, include a special fundraising show and a musical theatre video – watch this space! 

West End stars direct to your cars
The Drive In, Troubadour Meridian Water, Harbet Road, London, N18 3QQ
From Saturday 25th July – late August

West End Musical Brunch, the UK’s biggest musical theatre party, is going to the drive-in this summer for a socially distanced musical theatre celebration, West End Musical Drive-In, bringing West End superstars direct to your cars. Stage sensations Kerry Ellis (Wicked; We Will Rock You), Alice Fearn (Wicked; Come From Away) and Jon Robyns (Les Miserables; Hamilton) will launch
the outdoor performance spectacular on Saturday 25th July. Further dates and artists will be announced in the coming weeks.

Giving audiences a different way to enjoy the best the West End has to offer at a safe distance, West End Musical Drive-In is an exciting opportunity for musical theatre fans to park up and celebrate with their favourite performers.

Each event will feature live performances from multiple West End stars, showcasing songs from a wide range of musicals. The performers will be live on stage, whilst also being projected onto three huge screens, with sound provided via a bespoke FM radio frequency. Audiences can enjoy the performances from the comfort of their cars or can party with the stars outside in their own designated space, right next to their vehicle.

Advanced measures have been implemented to ensure attendees have a safe and enjoyable experience. Tickets will be scanned through windows, all purchases of food and drink will be contactless and delivered directly to cars, and there’s double the amount of on-site facilities, with on-going sanitisation throughout. It’s like going out to the theatre whilst staying in.

Continuing to find new and innovative ways to keep performance alive mid-pandemic, the West End Musical Brunch team have also been brunching non-stop, providing audiences with entertaining weekly Lockdown Live streamed performances, featuring the West End’s biggest stars.

THE HUGE-HEARTED SHOW

ANNOUNCES 2021 SEASON DATES

Performances to begin on Thursday 22 April 2021

Production stars Olivier Award winning MICHAEL BALL

returning to his legendary role of Edna Turnblad,

alongside PAUL MERTON, who makes his West End debut

19-week season to run until 29 August | London Coliseum

The producers of Hairspray the Musical have announced today rescheduled performance dates for the multi award-winning smash hit musical at the London Coliseum.

The production will now begin performances on Thursday 22 April 2021 and play a strictly limited 19-week season to Sunday 29 August.

Until 26July 2020, all existing ticket holders have priority to move their tickets to a new date. All new ticket purchases can be made from 10am on 27 July. See www.hairspraythemusical.co.uk for all ticket information.

The production will star Michael Ball, who returns to his legendary, Olivier Award winning role of Edna Turnblad, alongside one of the UK’s greatest comedians, Paul Merton, who will be making his West End musical debut as Edna’s husband, Wilbur.

Michael Ball said:

“Just like Edna’s famous roll-on foundation garments, it’s been a struggle but it’s finally going on, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. Hairspray is the perfect show to help the West End rediscover its joy, energy, talent and relevance. Nothing says “we made it through” better than sitting in a theatre, watching a community facing the huge social issues of their day and conquer them with the help of family, friends, commitment and love….oh and some brilliant songs, spectacular dance routines and huge belly laughs. It’s just the antidote we need. See you there.”

Acclaimed West End star Marisha Wallace will take the role of Motormouth. Marisha won rave reviews when she took over from Amber Riley in the smash hit Dreamgirls (Savoy Theatre), and also starred in the original West End cast of Waitress (Adelphi Theatre).

Lizzie Bea will make her West End debut in the role of Tracy Turnblad and Rita Simons (Eastenders’ Roxy Mitchell) and Jonny Amies (Granchester on ITV; Sex Education on Netflix/Eleven Film) will also star as Velma Von Tussle and Link Larkin respectively.

Paul Merton is a founder member of The Comedy Store Players, and still appears at the Comedy Store in London most Sundays. He is a resident guest on BBC Radio 4’s Just A Minute and is an established face on TV shows such as the hugely popular Have I Got News For You, Room 101, Paul Merton Looks at Alfred Hitchcock (BBC4/2), Paul Merton’s Birth of Hollywood (BBC 2) and his travel series for Channel Five, Paul Merton’s Adventures which covered his travels in India, China and Europe. His Autobiography, Only When I Laugh reached the Sunday Times bestseller Top 10.  Paul’s Anthology of funny stories, Funny Ha Ha was named Sunday Times Humour Book of the year in 2019. His first Channel 4 series, Paul Merton The Series, is due to be released on DVD this Spring.

Baltimore, 1962. Tracy Turnblad is a big girl with big hair and big dreams. Can she make it on the local TV dance show, win the heart of teen heartthrob Link Larkin and bring everyone together – whatever their colour, size or hairdo? Well if you want a change, you’ve really got to shake things up!

With the original award-winning creative team of director Jack O’Brien and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, and featuring the infectiously feel-good songs “Good Morning, Baltimore”, “Big, Blonde and Beautiful” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat”, this inspirational, fun-loving and fabulously uplifting musical sensation is back and bigger than ever.

The original New York production of Hairspray won three Tony Awards, including Best New Musical, whilst the original West End production won four Olivier Awards, also including Best New Musical, as well as giving Michael Ball one of his two Olivier Awards for Best Actor in a Musical.

Hairspray is produced by Adam Spiegel Productions & Fiery Angel.