Author: FairyPoweredProductions

Dame Vera Lynn headlines “We’ll Meet Again”: 

the theatre industry’s morale-boosting music video

– available to watch online from Friday 24 April 12:00 BST – 

Dame Vera Lynn extends her personal message of love and best wishes to the theatre industry in a new and exclusive free online film. “We’ll Meet Again” will premiere on Friday 24 April at 12:00 BST on Official London Theatre’s YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/dTWy9jim7Mw. The video shall then remain on OLT’s platform to be viewed at any time.

Alfie Boe joins the previously announced cast of West End stars featured in this special collaboration produced by Dominic Ferris, with creative direction by Martin Milnes and visual direction by Tom Large.

The video features socially-distanced West End stars united in reassurance that West End and UK theatres shall once more rise and thrive – some sunny day.

“We’ll Meet Again” stars Alfie Boe, BLAKE, Gyles Brandreth, Sharon D. Clarke, Jonah Collier, Bill Deamer, Louise Dearman, Kerry Ellis, Shaun Escoffery, Ferris & Milnes, Maria Friedman, Bradley Jaden, Cassidy Janson, Joe Pasquale, Hannah Waddingham, Layton Williams and Michael Xavier.

The sixteen-strong choir provided by Capital Voices, features John Addison, Katie Birtill, Mary Carewe, David Combes, Yona Dunsford, Lance Ellington, Kate Graham, Matt Little, CJ Neale, Andrew Playfoot, Lucy Potterton, Annie Skates (who also created vocal arrangements), Patrick Smyth, James Spilling, Laura Tebbutt and Stephen Weller.

Musician Léon Charles, grandson of “We’ll Meet Again” composer Hughie Charles, is delighted the song has once again proved an inspiration: “‘We’ll Meet Again’ is about the wonderful optimism in the face of uncertainty that those who were close, but for now, apart, will be together again, ‘some sunny day’. I’m thrilled that my grandfather’s music, with Ross Parker’s lyrics, is being performed in the spirit in which it was intended.”

Pianist and producer Dominic Ferris oversaw the creative collaboration, enlisting the help of producer Anthony Cherry, who rallied his Friday Night Is Music Night team to the cause. Dominic said: “This project started life as a simple idea, uniting this country’s wonderful theatrical talent to boost morale among theatregoers and professionals alike. Compiling a multi-layered recording comprising dozens of audio and video files inevitably brings with it some technical challenges, but it has been a rewarding process to see all these elements come together. I’d like to extend my thanks to Anthony Cherry, Susan Fleet, my fellow creatives and all the artistes involved.”

Creative Director Martin Milnes said “It has been important to convey that the theatre is timeless. Therefore, this film is dedicated to the audiences and professionals of yesterday, today … and tomorrow. Our current theatre owes so much to everything which has gone before. And the theatre of tomorrow will be shaped by what we make of it today.”

“We’ll Meet Again” was developed with The Stay Inn, an online digital entertainment space hosting theatre, comedy and live stream concerts. 

CHEEK BY JOWL OFFERS FREE LIVESTREAM OF

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

“Directorial daring and a constant fleet-footedness”

The Daily Telegraph

Today, onShakespeare’s birthday, Cheek by Jowl offers a free livestream of their production of Measure for Measure on YouTube for 30 days. Directed by Declan Donnellan for Cheek by Jowl and Moscow Pushkin Drama Theatre, the production embarked on an international tour before opening at the Barbican on 16 April 2015.Performed in Russian with English subtitles, Measure for Measure joins the company’s production of The Winter’s Tale (2017) which will now be streamed until 25 May.

Vivid and uncommonly moving”
The New York Times

With his unique brew of laughter and high seriousness, in Measure for Measure, Shakespeare dissects the nature of government, love, and justice – asking unsettling questions about how we are governed, exploring the “complex relationships between those in power, and ordinary citizens” (Kristina Matvienko).

Hailed in Moscow as ‘a shattering portrait of contemporary Russia’ (Novaya Gazeta), a corrupt government policing a chaotic city’s convents, prisons and brothels is explored in Cheek by Jowl’s Measure for Measure. Through ‘a series of swiftly changing spectacular scenes’ (Teatral) the production explodes as ‘a real thriller, piercing the heart of the entire audience’ (Mir 24).

Filmed in April 2015 at the Barbican, London. Produced by Cheek by Jowl and the Moscow Pushkin Drama Theatre.

Measure for Measure is suitable for ages 16+

All performances can be accessed here – https://www.youtube.com/user/CheekbyJowl

 

h CLUB LONDON TO LAUNCH FREE ONLINE MEMBERSHIP FOR MEMBERS OF THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES DURING LOCKDOWN

Leading arts members club h Club London (formerly The Hospital Club), are today pleased to announce the launch of a brand new free online membership for people who work in the creative industries. The initiative will last for the duration of the COVID-19 lockdown period, and will provide much-needed solace for the creative communities, which have been particularly badly impacted by the pandemic. The club, which has suspended all fees for current members, hopes to support and connect individuals during this challenging time.

This new online membership will provide creatives with much needed networking opportunities with new and existing members of the clubs in varying creative industries, both in London and LA. Members will be given access to the club’s content via desktop and app which includes: the members news feed, where people can callout for project collaborators and test new ideas; the members network, where members can directly message each other, and the newsletter, which includes news from the club, helpful content and links to contributor blogs.

Members will also be given access to the specially tailored online members event programme, which includes informative, educational, and fun programming. The first of these events is taking place tonight (Thursday 23^rd April), with the club playing host to celebrities and authors who will read from much loved books for World Book Night. Those interested will need to register at https://hclub.com/general/event/booking/2389 and will be sent a link to virtually attend the event.

The membership is open to people who work in advertising, marketing & PR, architecture & design, digital media, fashion, film, gaming, music, publishing & writing, sports, tech, television broadcast, theatre & performance and visual arts. Interested parties will need to fill out an application via https://bit.ly/hClubOnline, and all successful applicants will be notified within 48 hours of submitting an application.

Rob Seals, MD said:

“We are fortunate to be in a position to be able to reach out and support those in the Creative Industries and give something back in the form of this online membership. In what has been and will continue to be a period of uncertainty for many in our community hopefully this small gesture will see some people gain a big benefit.”

BUTTERFLY THEATRE COMPANY LAUNCHES

WE ARE HUMAN

VIDEO RELEASED TO MARK SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHDAY AND THE START OF THE UK VACCINE TRIALS ON HUMANS

THURSDAY 23 APRIL

Twitter: @ButterflyWeAre

Facebook: facebook.com/wearebutterfly

Instagram: @butterfly_theatre_company

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtPnyxoYNHZoBCwnaPnhVAQ/

www.butterflytheatre.com

“In these unprecedented times, amidst a crisis, there is one thing that unites us. We are all human.”

Butterfly Theatre Company has brought together a community of 150 people from all over the world to create a unique video version of Shylock’s famous monologue from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, to be released across its social media channels to mark Shakespeare’s Birthday on Thursday 23 April, which is also the day that the first Coronavirus human vaccine trials are due to start in the UK.

“I am a Jew. Hath

not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs,

dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed with

the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject

to the same diseases, healed by the same means,

warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as

any human is? If you prick us, do we not bleed?

If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison

us, do we not die?”

Butterfly Theatre Company specialises in site-specific, immersive Shakespeare in the UK, Europe and beyond with the aim to make Shakespeare that authentically connects and is relevant and accessible. Recent projects include an immersive production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in an underground cave complex, Kents Cavern in Torquay, Romeo and Juliet amidst the ruins and gardens at Glastonbury Abbey, and Secrets Unlocked, an immersive telling of Jersey’s history through Shakespeare at 16 New Street, a Georgian Town House in Jersey Town centre.

Aileen Gonsalves, Butterfly Theatre Artistic Director and Company Founder said,

“I went to Terezin concentration camp in Prague. I went with ISTA International School Theatre Association with young people from around the world. To devise and respond and collaborate and make work. We heard from a 92-year-old survivor Doris Grozdanovičová – as we sat in the camp with her it was truly profound, we could not get over how humans had done this to each other.

We explored how easy it is to dehumanise each other. The homeless person who we stop looking in the eye because we’re embarrassed…can’t we just connect and say something- anything? Isn’t not connecting potentially the start that ends in the horrors that happened? Whatever people are they are HUMAN. We explored the Shylock speech and an idea started to grow in me.

I am so happy to do this project NOW as instead of highlighting our great divisions, it’s a time when we must be united, we can’t help but feel our universal suffering, discoveries, revelations, healing and our vulnerability becomes clear as we are all ’subject to the same diseases’. And today the scientists are working from round the world together. Testing on humans to ensure we are ‘healed by the same means’

Butterfly believe that truthful acting is at the forefront of what connects the actors to the audience and so during this time of social isolation, we ask ourselves, what connects us now? Not only are we interacting online with friends, family, and colleagues possibly more than we did before this crisis, but also, ironically, this global suffering has created a global unity. We are all experiencing the same situation, we are all affected, we are all vulnerable. No other Shakespeare speech could be truer to this, at this time, than Shylock’s “I am a Jew” speech. We have created a compilation video that combines individual and unique readings of this famous speech which have been altered depending on how the reader uniquely identifies as a human being.

This video is Butterfly’s response to the unique world we now find ourselves in.”

Aileen Gonsalves trained as an actor at the Central School of Speech and Drama and works professionally in film, theatre, television, and radio. She has worked extensively at the RSC across her career.  Assistant Director to Tim Supple on Midnight’s Children, Greg Doran on All’s Well That Ends Well and also with Greg she was the associate director on the groundbreaking motion capture production of The Tempest in 2017. She also directed The First Encounters The Tempest for The Swan and UK tour. She has been the RSC International and National Youth Ensemble director since 2008, as well as an RSC education associate practitioner.

Aileen teaches her new method of acting The Gonsalves Method at various drama institutions nationally and internationally. She was Head of the MA in Acting at ArtsEd Drama school 2011-2015,  Head of Acting at Drama Studio London 2018-19, Currently teaching actors and directors at RADA and UWL.

She directs the majority of Butterfly productions using The Gonsalves Method and is writing a book due to be published by Bloomsbury at the end of 2020 ‘Shakespeare and Meisner’ for the New Arden Shakespeare Performance Series.

For more info: www.gonsalvesmethod.com

THE NATIONAL THEATRE ANNOUNCES NEW

DIGITAL PROGRAMMING FOR

NATIONAL THEATRE AT HOME

National Theatre Live recordings of Frankenstein with Benedict Cumberbatchand Antony & Cleopatra with Ralph Fiennes to be streamed on YouTube as part of National Theatre at Home

National Theatre at Home Quiz featuring quizmasters from the world of stage and screen

Six additional titles added to the National Theatre Collection providing teachers and students access to 30 titles in partnership with Bloomsbury Publishing and ProQuest

The National Theatre has announced the next two productions that will be streamed live on YouTube every Thursday at 7PM BST via the National Theatre’s YouTube channel as part of National Theatre at Home; the new initiative to bring content to the public accessed from their homes during coronavirus.

Productions announced today include the NT Live broadcast of Danny Boyle’s production of Frankenstein filmed at the National Theatre in 2011. The production sees Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller alternating the roles of Victor Frankenstein and his creation. The two versions will be shown across two nights: 30 April and 1 May.

Simon Godwin’s sell-out production of Shakespeare’s Antony & Cleopatra featuring the Evening Standard Theatre Award-winning performances by Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo as the famous lovers will be streamed on 7 May.

Both productions will be free to stream, premiering at 7.00PM BST and then available on demand for seven days. Further productions to be streamed as part of National Theatre at Home will be announced soon.

Today also sees the launch of the National Theatre at Home Quiz, to be played from home featuring familiar faces from the world of stage and screen as the quizmasters. Each quiz will include rounds of five questions on a wide variety of topics.

On the final Monday of each month people will be able join the virtual quiz directly from their homes via the NT’s YouTube channel and Facebook page live at 7pm. The first quiz will be on Monday 27 April with quizmasters Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Lenny Henry, Lesley Manville, and Sir Ian McKellen asking questions on topics including history, sport, nature, and of course, the National Theatre.  

National Theatre at Home launched in April in response to theatre and cinema closures due to the coronavirus pandemic. The first stream was the award-winning production of One Man Two Guvnors which received over 2.5 million views across the seven days it was available online.

Speaking about National Theatre at Home Rufus Norris Director and Joint Chief Executive of the National Theatre said “We’ve been completely overwhelmed by the response to National Theatre at Home since we launched at the start of April. We know that these are difficult and challenging times for many, and we hope that through this initiative we’re able to supply a weekly slice of entertainment for people to enjoy together, albeit digitally, when each production goes out at 7pm on Thursdays. We’re thrilled to be announcing the next two titles today, Frankenstein and Antony & Cleopatra which both feature award-winning performances and I’m sure will be enjoyed by all. We’re also pleased today to be launching the National Theatre at Home Quiz featuring some familiar faces posing the tricky questions. I’d like to thank all the artists and creatives who have continued to support us in being able to deliver this programme for free and also the public for tuning in every week and sharing their experiences of National Theatre at Home from right across the world.”

Access for students and teachers

The NT also confirmed a further six new productions will now be available for teachers and pupils to access at home via the National Theatre Collection in partnership with Bloomsbury Publishing and ProQuest.

Students and teachers are now able to access the National Theatre Collection from home while schools and theatres are closed due to coronavirus. The Collection consists of high-quality recordings of 30 world-class productions drawing from 10 years of NT Live broadcasts, including productions from a range of renowned British theatres, and never before released recordings from the National Theatre’s Archive now available to students and teachers to access at home. The six new productions are:

• A Streetcar Named Desire (Young Vic) – an adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ timeless masterpiece directed by Benedict Andrews and starring Gillian Anderson, Ben Foster and Vanessa Kirby
• Cat on A Hot Tin Roof (Young Vic) – Sienna Miller stars alongside Jack O’Connell and Colm Meaney in Tennessee Williams’ searing, poetic story of a family’s fight for survival directed by Benedict Andrews
• Consent – Nina Raine’s powerful, painful, funny play which sifts the evidence from every side and puts justice herself in the dock
• Small Island – Andrea Levy’s Orange Prize-winning novel brought to life in an epic new theatre adaptation directed by Rufus Norris
• Translations – Brian Friel’s modern classic directed by Ian Rickson is a powerful account of nationhood, which sees the turbulent relationship between England and Ireland play out in one quiet community
• wonder.land – Alice for the online generation. A new musical created by Damon Albarn, Moira Buffini and Rufus Norris inspired by Lewis Carroll’s iconic story with stunning sets, costumes, video projection and lighting taking everyone on a journey to wonderland.

Teachers can sign up now to National Theatre Collection via

www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ntcollection

The National Theatre is currently closed to audiences and performances won’t resume before July. In coming weeks, there will be more opportunities for audiences to engage with the NT through its National Theatre at Home programme – further details to be announced.

The National Theatre – like theatres around the world – is facing a devastating impact from Coronavirus.  We are delivering NATIONAL THEATRE AT HOME free of charge. Should viewers wish to make a donation to support the National Theatre, we have launched a public appeal on our home page, nationaltheatre.org.uk, where visitors can find full details as to how to donate.

For more information on NATIONAL THEATRE AT HOME go to https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/at-home

AUDIENCES ACROSS THE GLOBE GET CREATIVE FOR SHAKESPEARE’S VIRTUAL BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Download the full #ShareYourShakespeare video here

View the full #ShareYourShakespeare video via You Tube here

In celebration of William Shakespeare’s 456^th birthday, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has today unveiled the results of its largest ever digital celebration by audiences.

Launched in partnership with The Folger Shakespeare Library, the #ShareYourShakespeare campaign challenged audiences everywhere to share their love of Shakespeare in whatever way they chose, whether that be performing a speech, baking a cake, painting a picture, serenading a neighbour over the garden fence or teaching their dog to bark Macbeth.

The campaign has, so far, attracted over 1000 submissions from audiences around the world including community theatre-makers, amateur companies, schools, families and working actors with entries received from as far as the USA, Russia, South Africa and Saudi Arabia.

Notable entries received as part of #ShareYourShakespeare include:

• Romeo and Juliet – An emoji love story
• Lockdown Macbeth – a micro-animated tragedy…featuring baked bean-tin castle and cacti ‘Burnham Wood’
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream performed by George the Cat
• Lego Shakespeare featuring ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by The Kings School, Devon and The Tempest by Finlay Aldridge (age 11)
• A family ‘zoom’ chat with King Lear, Goneril and Regan
• Oeuf-philia and Hamlegg – Creative egg crafts from across the cannon
• Romeo and Juliet meets U2 – A musical rendition of the Prologue set to guitar
• A photograph of HRH The Prince of Wales, President of the Royal Shakespeare Company, performing the role of Macbeth, age 17
• A Shakespearean/Star Wars mash up from The Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust
• All The World’s A Stage…for women too written by Harriet Walter and William Shakespeare
• The Tempest re-imagined as a graphic novel
• An A to Z of Shakespeare…in Scrabble
• The Great Shakespeare Bake Off – Featuring Lady Macbeth’s ‘out damn spot’ biscuits, cookie-cutter Romeo and Juliet and a drowned Ophelia…immortalized in icing!

A selection of the most creative, surprising and inspiring contributions have been collated digitally in a shared celebration of Shakespeare, which can be viewed at the RSC’s website (rsc.org.uk) and You Tube channel.

The #ShareYourShakespeare campaign launched online with a specially-recorded performance of ‘The Seven Ages of Man’ speech by Doctor Who and Broadchurch star David Tennant, who last appeared at the RSC in Gregory Doran’s 2013 production of Richard III. Joining David for the video broadcast were Associate Artists Charlotte Arrowsmith, David Bradley, Stephen Boxer and Paapa Essiedu, who played the title role of Hamlet in Simon Godwin’s 2016 production for the RSC (soon to be broadcast on the BBC). Other RSC alumni and Associate Artists who took part included Fleabag star Ray Fearon, award-winning British stage and film actresses Jane Lapotaire and Katy Stephens and David Threlfall, star of the RSC’s 2016 production of Don Quixote and the long-running Channel 4 TV series Shameless.

New contributors to the campaign include British stage, film and television actress Adjoah Andoh, writer, actor and political activist John Kani (Kunene and the King, 2019) and RSC Associate Artist Harriet Walter, who can currently be found starring in the hit BBC TV series Killing Eve.

Gregory Doran, Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the creativity and resourcefulness of those who have contributed to the Share Your Shakespeare campaign so far.

“Whether re-creating Romeo and Juliet in lego, reciting Hamlet to your cat or re-enacting the Battle of Agincourt in the back garden, we’re thrilled to see so many embracing their inner creativity in quarantine through their shared love of Shakespeare.

“Shakespeare himself was no stranger to self-isolation. When he was just starting as a playwright in London, the theatres were commanded to close, at which point Shakespeare wrote two magnificent narrative poems, Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece. Then again, when the Globe was told to haul down its flag and bolt its doors again in 1609, he published his collection of 154 sonnets.

“For those of us trying to be as creative as possible in lockdown, Shakespeare’s example is a little intimidating. Nevertheless, we can all play our part, big or small, in coming together to celebrate and connect with each other on Shakespeare’s 456^th birthday.

“And as we celebrate, please consider giving a birthday present of a donation to our home learning programme. Every gift will help young people continue to learn, and be inspired by Shakespeare, now as they work from home and, in the future when our theatres reopen. These home learning resources include live lessons, activities and videos and are part of a far-reaching education programme that sees over 500,000 young people every year experience first-hand the extraordinary power of Shakespeare’s language.”

The campaign will continue over the coming weeks. Those who would like to contribute are asked to film or photograph their Shakespeare in any way and upload it to Instagram, Twitter or Youtube, tagging @theRSC and using the hashtag #ShareYourShakespeare. The RSC will continue to share any entries via social media throughout the month of May 2020.

The Royal Shakespeare Company is a charity and our mission is to transform lives through amazing experiences of Shakespeare and great theatre. To make a gift to the RSC, visit https://www.rsc.org.uk/support/make-a-donation/

THEATRE TOGETHER ANNOUNCE FULL PROGRAMME FOR

ALL THE WEB’S A STAGE

Theatre Together, a new collective of over 100 artists and professionals, today announce the full programme for All the Web’s a Stagean online fundraising event featuring a variety of live performances that will be streamed tomorrow, Thursday 23 April from midday to midnight. Audiences will be able to watch the event free on www.theatretogether.co.uk and are invited to donate in support of the performing arts and those who work in the industry.

Highlights include Stephen Fry reading Michael Rosen’s These are the Hands ahead of Clap for Carers at 8pm; songs from Musical Theatre stars including Joanne Clifton, Louise Dearman, Kerry Ellis, David Hunter, and Marisha Wallace; Don Warrington opens the event reading Shakespeare’s All the World’s a Stage monologue; a live Q&A with Danny Mac; poetry from Jade Anouka and Luke Wright; comedy from Ivo Graham and The Yes Queens, a multi-location dance choreographed by Chris Whittaker and closing the event is Evangeline Dickson reading a new monologue, All the Web’s a Stage.

In addition, throughout the week there will be a series of events across Theatre Together’s social media platforms including special performances on Instagram live – details to be announced via Twitter and an auction with the opportunity to bid for exclusive prizes including the company of NOTFLIX performing a personalised musical based on the winners chosen film and performed at a venue of their choice, a three-course dinner for two and overnight stay at a Classic Lodges hotel, a beautiful architectural drawing of the National Theatre and two season tickets for Park Theatre. For more information and to bid please visit www.theatretogether.co.uk/auction.

The funds raised will go towards Acting for Others and Help Musicians to support those in the arts facing hardship now as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, as well as to The Golsoncott Foundation, supporting individuals or organisations who have been impacted by the crisis to return with a piece of work once the industry begins to recover.  To donate please visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/theatre-together

Paul-Ryan Carberry, co-producer of All the Web’s a Stage, said today, “The overnight closure of the performing arts industry – while necessary and important for all of our safety – has meant that thousands of our colleagues are without an income for the foreseeable future. We refuse to stand by whilst so many of our peers are going through hardship and so we’re delighted to be supporting three excellent charities: Acting for Others, Help Musicians and The Golsoncott Foundation, as they help those in need during this time and beyond. We’ve got a huge mix of entertainment planned – from musical theatre to comedy to dance and everything in between and we are really excited to share with you such an eclectic programme of work. At this critical time we ask you to please join our community on the day and support our industry by donating whatever you can. If this crisis has taught us anything, it is that stories and their tellers are intrinsically connected to our shared humanity, stories, no matter the distance, bring us together. The arts will come back swinging after all this is done – but we need your help now to make that happen. Join us on Thursday.”

FULL PROGRAMME

CURTAIN UP – 12pm – 2pm

Hosted by Al & Roddy (12pm – 1pm) and Yassmin Abdel-Magied (1pm – 2pm)

Don Warrington reads All the World’s a Stage monologue from Shakespeare’s As You Like It

Joanne Clifton sings Nobody Does it Like Me from Seesaw

Jess Fostekew performs stand up

Oliver Lansley (Les Enfants Terribles) reads extract from The Terrible Infants

Rebecca Gilliland Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra and Viva La Vida by Coldplay

Robert Rhodes reads an original poem

Cleve September sings Words Fail from Dear Evan Hansen and All I Ever Wanted from The Prince of Egypt

Shona Babayemi reads extract from her original play Blue Zone

Tamaryn Payne reads extract from Letters To The Earth

MATINEE – 2pm – 4pm

Hosted byToby Marlow (2pm – 3pm) and Jon Brittain (3pm – 4pm)

Noah Thomas sings You Don’t Even Know It and The Wall in My Head from Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, and Ordinary People by John Legend and will.i.am

Luke McCall sings Music of the Night from The Phantom of the Opera, Bring Him Home from Les Miserables and Anthem from Chess

Evie Rose-Lane sings Defying Gravity from Wicked, Holding out for a Hero from Footloose and Tomorrow from Annie

Abandoman perform original improvised comedy with audience participation

Gemma Barnett reprises her Offie Award winning role from A Hundred Words for Snow a new monologue, A message from Rory, written specially for the event by Tatty Hennessy

The Yes Queens perform improvised comedy based on audience suggestions

Kerry Ellis sings Your Song by Elton John

THE HALF – 4pm – 6pm

Hosted by Danny Mac – with Live Q&A (4pm – 5pm) and Ivo Graham (5pm – 6pm)

Vocal Xtr3m3 performs You’re the Voice by John Farnham, a TOTO medley and a Journey medley

Daisy Wood-Davis sings Natural Woman, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow and Beautiful from Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

Oliver Savile sings What Say You Meg from The Last Ship and Larger than Life from My Favourite Year

Ella Dacres performs This Sunday, written by Jade Anouka

Jade Anouka performs her original poem Herstory

How Could I?, a multi-location dance choreographed by Chris Whittaker and performed by Michael Afemare, Ben Anderson, Lila Anderson, Simon Anthony, Sian Brown, Nathan Coyne, Marcus Foreman, Mia Graves, Joshua Lay, Claire Lander, Georgie Leckey, Ellis Linford-Pill, Naoimh Morgan, Renee Ocran, Jordan Oliver, Suzy Owen, Amy Oxley, Charise Renouf, Clancy Ryan, Jacqui Sanchez, Adam Scott, Catriona Scott, Hannah Taylor, Christopher Tendai, Christie Whiteley and Magnetic Movement

Kwami Odoom performs an extract fromAnton Chekhov’s The Bear

Louise Dearman sings Songbird by Eva Cassidy

George Readshaw performs Shakespeare’s sonnets 29 and 30

Cast of Fat Rascal Theatre’sUnfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula The Sea Witch perform a medley from the show

Tom Brace performs isolation themed magic show

TWO SHOW DAY – 6pm – 8pm

Hosted by Oscar Conlon-Morrey (6pm – 7pm) and Crystal (7pm – 8pm)

David Hunter sings She Used to be Mine from Waitress and original songs The Farm Song and Hurt

Marisha Wallace sings And I am Telling You from Dreamgirls, I Know Where I’ve Been from Hairspray and a Whitney Houston Medley

Sadie Clark performs an extract from her play Algorithms

Alice Merivale sings Hard to Be the Bard from Something Rotten! and an original monologue To Wee or Not to Wee

Tom Milner sings Waving through a Window from Dear Evan Hansen and Wake Me Up When September Ends from American Idiot

Laura Pick sings a musical theatre medley including songs from Wicked, Hairspray, Billy Elliot, The Lion King and Les Miserables

Daniel York-Loh performs an extract from Shakespeare’s Richard II and an original poem, Wuhan

Amy Vicary Smith performs an extract from Belonging by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm

Stephen Fry reads Michael Rosen’s These are the Hands, as the nation turns to #ClapForCarers

THIRD ACT – 8pm – 10pm

Hosted by Michael Auger and Sooz Kempner (9pm – 10pm)

Caroline Kay performs original music Can’t Get My Love and Always You and Smile by Charlie Chaplin.

Dylan Wynford performs original music Hopeless, Sweat Patches and Cigars

Vikki Stone performs original music Zoological Society and Southbound

Luke Wright performs a new original poem, Boxing Baroness

Bryony Reynolds performs an abridged version of Reclaim the Night by Charlene James

Maimuna Memon performs original music Angry Song, Sitting in my Bed and Wild Lion, and Samson by Regina Spektor

Ray Strasser-King reads Mercutio’s Queen Mab speech from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

Luke Rollason performs a clowning routine

Ben Scheck performs monologue Go Back Home by Steven Kavuma

CURTAIN CALL – 10pm – 12am

Hosted by Martin Joseph (10pm – 11pm) and Sinead Wall (11pm – 12am)

Cordelia O’Driscoll performs original music Invisible and Robot Called Robert and Me

Alin Balascan reads Shakespeare’s sonnets 27 and 28

James McDermott performs poetry from his book, Manatomy

Finn Anderson performs original songs The Wee Hours, A Dancer Stole My Heart and The Garden

Carmel Clavin performs an extract from her show The Marvellous Mechanical Musical Maiden

Daisy Chute and Rebecca Brewer perform extract from Coven – The Musical

Lucie Pohl performs Stand Up Quarantine: How to be Funny When No One’s Laughing

Evangeline Dickson reads All the Web’s a Stage, a new monologue to close the event

‘Theatre Means Business’ website launched to help industry prepare for post-lockdown fightback

Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre have created TheatreMeansBusiness.info, an online platform highlighting a range of live and recorded webinars to equip the theatre industry with the tools to begin rebuilding after the COVID-19 lockdown ends.

Created by SOLT, UK Theatre and partner organisations and hosted by experts in their field, the webinars will cover topics currently front-of-mind to many theatre industry professionals, including business interruption planning, audience development for recovery, and professional and personal resilience.

Sebastian Cater, Head of UK Theatre & Workforce Development, said:

‘Our members are having to take some tough decisions about their organisations at present, and we wanted to help them and the wider sector by creating this website. We’ve curated these webinars to provide the resources and support our workforce needs to plan for the future. We are extremely grateful to all the consultants and agencies we are working with on this project, many of whom have donated their time to help the industry as it rebuilds itself.’

The webinars have been designed to appeal to a range of experience levels. Most do not require SOLT or UK Theatre membership to join, as the aim is to provide advice and support to as many offstage industry professionals as possible – whether someone is working from home on business planning, furloughed and needing inspiration, or new to the industry and wanting professional development.

To make them more accessible, many of the webinars will be free of charge – with some SOLT and UK Theatre sessions giving the option to make a contribution, to be split between the two organisations and the invited speaker. Some partner webinars may have a cost attached.

TheatreMeansBusiness.info has been created by SOLT and UK Theatre’s digital team over the past three weeks as a direct response to the extraordinary events of recent times. More webinars will be programmed in the coming weeks based on feedback and suggestions from the theatre sector.

Full information about each webinar can be found on theatremeansbusiness.info on the webinar event pages. 

TheatreMeansBusiness.info

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The Philharmonia Orchestra announces governance restructure

• Creation of a single unified charity to govern the Orchestra through merger of Philharmonia Ltd and the Philharmonia Trust
• The Philharmonia’s self-governance model, which is retained with player majority on the Board, is enhanced through incoming expertise from the Philharmonia Trust
• The Philharmonia is delighted to welcome Lord King of Lothbury, who will become Chair of the newly constituted merged Board of Trustees during the summer of 2020
• New Development Board, chaired by Board member Julia Zilberman, will work with the Philharmonia’s Development team to focus on both near- and longer-term strategic fundraising
• Newly announced Chief Executive Alexander Van Ingen will report to the Board and work closely with the Chair and President as the leaders of the organisation

The Philharmonia Orchestra today announces a major restructuring of its governance model, implementing a plan that has been developed over the last two years, following a substantive governance review and consultation with Members of the Orchestra and Trustees of the Philharmonia Trust. Philharmonia Ltd (the orchestra) and the Philharmonia Trust (the charity which holds the Philharmonia’s endowments) have agreed to merge, following overwhelming ratification by members of both bodies. The changes went into effect on midnight on 31 March 2020. The result is a unified, streamlined structure which enhances the self-governance model that has defined the Orchestra since it became owned by its player members in 1964. Philharmonia Members will represent a majority of the newly constituted Board, and the elected leader from the player group will now become the President of the Philharmonia. The position of Chair will be held by a non-player. The Chair, President and Chief Executive will be at the core of the Orchestra’s leadership. From summer 2020, Philharmonia Ltd will be chaired by Lord King of Lothbury, Governor of the Bank of England from 2003 to 2013. Lord King said: “I am deeply honoured to be asked to serve as Chair of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Despite present uncertainties, the future of the Orchestra is bright. With a new management team and a new Principal Conductor I am confident that the Orchestra will scale even greater musical heights.
“It will be a daunting task to follow Saul Nathan, and I am very pleased that he has agreed to continue until circumstances permit us all to return to something closer to normal.”
Saul Nathan, Chair of the Philharmonia Trust and inaugural Chair of the Board commented: “In partnership with the players, over the last two years we have designed a bespoke model which marries the best elements of self-governance and stewardship. Together with the formation of a new Development Board, these changes will create enduring opportunities for alignment, resilience, diversity and innovation. I want to thank Michael Fuller, Interim Managing Director, and Victoria Irish for their ceaseless endeavour in achieving this excellent outcome.”Victoria Irish, 1st violin and the first member of the Orchestra to take up the President role, said: “A piece of history is being made with the largest structural change in the Philharmonia for over 55 years. I am genuinely proud of, and excited by, the steps we have taken to allow us to preserve our identity as a self-governing orchestra while significantly strengthening our model. I am very excited and pleased to be taking on the new role of player President.”JuliaZilberman, Board member, said: “A newly formed Development Board will work closely to support the Development Department to build on strategies for operational and tactical engagement with major donors, corporations, Trusts and Foundations. Bringing the two charities together will allow for an integrated approach to fundraising with singular clarity and purpose.” From September 2020, the management of the Philharmonia will be led by Alexander Van Ingen, who joins the Orchestra as Chief Executive from Cambridge-based period-instrument orchestra, the Academy of Ancient Music, where he has been Chief Executive since 2017. Prior to that he was an Executive Producer and A&R lead at Decca Classics for five years, working with artists including Daniel Barenboim, Nicola Benedetti, Janine Jansen and Leonidas Kavakos. Alexander Van Ingen said: “I am delighted to welcome Lord King as the Philharmonia’s new Chair, bringing with him a wealth of expertise and experience. I’m very pleased to be joining the Philharmonia within a newly aligned, strong structure; and working with an exciting, dynamic new Principal Conductor Designate in Santtu-Matias Rouvali. The challenges of the coronavirus outbreak demonstrate just how important the Philharmonia’s sector-leading digital innovation programmes are: these, along with the Philharmonia’s national footprint, make it a symphony orchestra for the 21st Century.” The Philharmonia Orchestra is committed to using these governance and leadership changes as a springboard to strengthen its long-term financial and artistic sustainability, and increase the diversity of its board of trustees, membership and workforce. Joyce Wilson, London Area Director, Arts Council England, said: “We are pleased that the Philharmonia Orchestra has completed the merger successfully and look forward to working productively with the new board, chair and CEO.”

OVER FORTY YOUNG AND ELDERS COMPANY MEMBERS AGED 14 – 82 CREATE SHOW INSPIRED BY THE WAY MUSIC CONNECTS US

A Royal Exchange Theatre World Premiere 

CONNECT FEST

Created by the Elders Company and Young Company
Director: Nickie Miles-Wildin
Writer: Testament 

11 May – 15 May 2020 – episodes released daily at 11.00am 

The Royal Exchange Theatre’s resident Young Company and Elders Company were about to head into rehearsals for their annual inter-generational show when the Government announced its lockdown measures. It was quickly decided that the ‘show would go on’ and that the Company would find a new structure for their story and new ways to rehearse together. Because of the unique way the show is now being made, it has opened-up opportunities for over twice the amount of people who were originally involved. Over forty participants aged between 14 and 82yrs have come together to make a brand-new piece of work reinvigorated by a desire to stay connected.

Carmen Fyfe Paulo – Royal Exchange Theatre, Young Company Member said,
‘With all of the craziness going on in the world right now and everyone being on lockdown, I think it’s awesome that we’re still doing this Intergen Project! We’re managing to stay connected with a huge range of people who all have different stories to tell, and we’re navigating theses weird coronavirus times together in a fun, creative way.’

The result is CONNECT FEST a pioneering new show directed by Nickie Miles-Wildin and written by award-winning rapper, beatboxer and theatre-maker Testament. Created by the Company CONNECT FEST is inspired by the way in which music can transport, uplift and create incredible connections, from singing together at school or in a choir to the energy and power of a massive music festival like Glastonbury. CONNECT FEST is a theatre show, a music festival and a soap-opera rolled into one and will be made up of five individual online episodes. The first episode will be aired on 11 May at 11.00am on the Royal Exchange Theatre website with new episodes released at the same time daily.

Director Nickie Miles-Wildin said…
‘We had always planned to make a piece of interactive work about the feeling of music, the impact it can have on our lives at different times. Then lockdown happened. What became apparent was how music is used to connect people – choirs singing over Zoom, music on balconies across Italy, Spain and here in the UK communities coming together to clap, bang pots and pans for the NHS. Over Zoom we have had the opportunity to be together and create new work. From listening to various songs to developing characters and devising scenes, Testament has created a wonderful thread of stories each with connection at their heart: an 80s band wanting to reform, a family Zoom that doesn’t go according to plan and a long-lost love being found over the internet. At a time when we are all socially distanced our wonderful Inter-gen Company make us feel more connected than before.’

The stage is set and the soundchecks are happening, but the music hasn’t started yet. Five different groups of people, with different passions, tastes and different favourite bands are making their way to the festival. All heading in the same direction with one goal in mind – to make it to the gig on-time, to meet new people, listen to music they’ve never heard before and make memories that will last forever.

Testament added…
‘My work is all about connecting to others – politically spiritually, and socially. Music is one of those connectors that can transcend our backgrounds, social environment, present difficulties and perhaps even time itself. Working online is new for most of us but has given us a chance to see how theatre and music can work across digital platforms. Given the current self-quarantine that much of the world is under, even the process of making the show together has brought the very thing the show celebrates – a sense that we are not alone.’

Following on from the success of past intergenerational productions ADIEU and THE SPACE BETWEEN US the Royal Exchange Young and Elders Companies will collaborate in a uniquely inventive way to create an original piece of online work that celebrates the importance of staying connected.

CONNECT FEST is created with Associate Director: Hannah Sands, with sound and video support by the Young Company Makers and with special thanks to Alexandra Faye Braithwaite and Annie May Fletcher for their sound design and composition.