Author: FairyPoweredProductions

BIRMINGHAM REPERTORY THEATRE SEASON LAUNCH
PLAYFUL, POPULAR, PIONEERING
 

• SEAN FOLEY ANNOUNCES FIRST FULL SEASON AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF BIRMINGHAM REPERTORY THEATRE
   
• WITH A COMMITMENT TO REVITALISING THE REP, FOLEY’S PROGRAMME FOCUSES ON A MAJOR RE-INVESTMENT IN MAKING NEW WORK, RECLAIMING POPULAR THEATRE AND REPRESENTING THE CITY IN ALL ITS DIVERSITY
   
• TANIKA GUPTA IS NAMED AS LITERARY ASSOCIATE, WHILE PIPPA AILION BECOMES THE REP’S CASTING ASSOCIATE. MADELEINE KLUDJE BECOMES ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
   
• THE McONIE COMPANY AND TOLD BY AN IDIOT ARE ANNOUNCED AS ASSOCIATE COMPANIES
   
• LOLITA CHAKRABARTI, TYRONE HUGGINS, MEERA SYAL, IQBAL KHAN, RICHARD THOMAS, SELINA THOMPSON, DEBBIE ISITT, LORNA LAIDLAW, AND MOHAMMED ALI ARE ANNOUNCED AS ARTISTIC ASSOCIATES. ALL ARE BIRMINGHAM/WEST MIDLANDS BORN AND BRED ARTISTS AND/OR ARE BASED IN THE CITY
   
• SIR HOWARD PANTER IS ANNOUNCED AS THE NEW CHAIR OF BIRMINGHAM REPERTORY THEATRE
   
• SEAN FOLEY WILL DIRECT THE UK PREMIERE OF THE HIT BROADWAY MUSICAL COMEDY SOMETHING ROTTEN
   
• THE STUDIO WILL BECOME A HOME FOR AMBITIOUS NEW PLAYS AND CONTEMPORARY CLASSICS, LAUNCHING WITH THE WORLD PREMIERE OF A NEW PLAY BY LOLITA CHAKRABARTI, CALMER, A CO-PRODUCTION WITH THE BELGRADE THEATRE, COVENTRY. DIRECTED BY ADRIAN LESTER MAKING HIS DIRECTORIAL DEBUT
   
• BREAKFAST ON PLUTO, A NEW MUSICAL ADAPTATION OF PATRICK McCABE’S NOVEL, WILL MAKE ITS UK PREMIERE AT THE REP, FOLLOWING ITS WORLD PREMIERE IN GALWAY AS A CO-PRODUCTION WITH LANDMARK PRODUCTIONS AND GALWAY INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL. AFTER BIRMINGHAM THE PRODUCTION WILL TRANSFER TO THE DONMAR WAREHOUSE
   
• KATHERINE CHANDLER, GURPREET KAUR BHATTI, CASEY BAILEY, TANIKA GUPTA, TERRY JOHNSON, ASIF KHAN, ANIL GUPTA AND RICHARD PINTO ALL UNDER COMMISSION TO WRITE NEW PLAYS
   
• BRIGHT PLACES BY RACHAEL MAINWARING, AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL PLAY ABOUT MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, HAS ITS WORLD PREMIERE IN THE DOOR. DIRECTED BY FORMER BIRMINGHAM REPERTORY THEATRE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR TESSA WALKER
   
• TWO SEASONAL CLASSICS MADE IN BIRMINGHAM RETURN TO THE REP: NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL PLAYS A CHRISTMAS SEASON, FOLLOWED BY THE SNOWMAN BASED ON THE BOOK BY RAYMOND BRIGGS WHICH COMES BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL HOME
   
• A BIRMINGHAM REPERTORY THEATRE, BRISTOL OLD VIC, NORTHERN STAGE, ENGLISH TOURING THEATRE, ROYAL AND DERNGATE NORTHAMPTON, LYRIC HAMMERSMITH THEATRE AND OXFORD PLAYHOUSE CO-PRODUCTION OF GATSBY WILL BE DIRECTED BY MARIA ABERG
   

Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s Artistic Director, Sean Foley, alongside Executive Director, Rachael Thomas, and Deputy Artistic Director, Amit Sharma today announced their first full season of work for the theatre. Featuring a commitment to invest in making new work, the season combines comedies, new musicals, new drama and early career artists, in a way that is designed to reflect Birmingham in all its diversity whilst bringing the best of national and international theatre to the city, and creating work in Birmingham that plays nationally and internationally.

Sean Foley said: “I’m excited and honoured to be announcing my first season at Birmingham Repertory Theatre. The REP was the world’s first purpose-built repertory theatre, and has an unrivalled pioneering history in the UK theatre industry – I can only hope to build on its amazing legacy of developing national and international artists, debuting extraordinary new shows, and delivering great nights out for the people of Birmingham and the world.

My own background is in creating and performing in independent, devised, comic theatre, in international touring and European-style physical theatre – as well as more latterly directing comedies and musicals – I hope that The REP can become a home, not just for existing plays and the classic repertory, but for creating great new shows that come from every part of the theatrical and cultural spectrum … artistically ambitious popular theatre in all its forms. 

There is a palpable sense of civic and cultural renaissance in Birmingham which everyone involved in The REP is thrilled to be contributing to. I’m incredibly lucky to be arriving here at a time of such potential for the creative industries in the City. Equally, I’m fortunate to be joining an already extraordinary team of people at the theatre, as well as those who are, like me, new to The REP.  Rachael Thomas, Executive Director, Amit Sharma, Deputy Artistic Director, Sir Howard Panter, our new Chair, and all the other new appointments – together with all the writers, directors and artists in our first season – are thrilled to join those already here and be part of the challenge of creating a new chapter in The REP’s history.”

Sir Howard Panter is announced today as the new Chair of Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

Howard Panter said: “Under the fresh leadership of Sean Foley and Rachael Thomas, this is a very exciting time for the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.  Birmingham is such an important international city with its unrivalled diversity and vibrant creative industries. I believe The REP is central to the flourishing of its cultural life – I’m honored to become the new Chair and look forward to working with such a great theatre.”

As part of a major re-investment in creating work, Birmingham Repertory Theatre announces a range of new Associates who will help revitalise the artistic life of the building. Tanika Gupta is appointed as the theatre’s first Literary Associate, Pippa Ailion becomes Casting Associate, and Madeleine Kludje, who joined the theatre through the RTYDS scheme, becomes Associate Director. A group of Artistic Associates, who will help inform and shape the development of new work – and also work directly with and at The REP – is also announced: Mohammed Ali, Lolita Chakrabarti, Tyrone Huggins, Debbie Isitt, Iqbal Khan, Lorna Laidlaw, Meera Syal, Richard Thomas and Selina Thompson will also be part of a wider group of artistic ambassadors for the theatre.

Two new Associate Companies to The REP are announced: Told by an Idiot and The McOnie Company.

Drew McOnie is a Birmingham born artist whose relationship with The REP began when he was cast as the Boy in the original production of The Snowman over 25 years ago. He has gone on to become an award-winning director and choreographer. The partnership will include major main house work, and new theatre-dance pieces across all 3 auditoria, as well as artist development for Birmingham-based dancers. Told by an Idiot, led by Birmingham born and bred Artistic Director Paul Hunter, has a history of creative collaboration with The REP. Following two co-productions, several touring shows, and working across all three spaces, the company now becomes an Associate Company. As well as developing new shows with The REP, the company will develop its unique and internationally recognised participation programme Taught by an Idiot for the city in partnership with The REP’s own nationally recognised Creative Learning offer.

As part of the commitment to new work Foley announced that new plays are under commission from a raft of writers including: Tanika Gupta, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, Terry Johnson, Asif Khan, Anil Gupta and Richard Pinto, Katherine Chandler and Casey Bailey.

In his first show as Artistic Director, Sean Foley will direct the UK premiere of the hit Broadway musical comedy Something Rotten. Set in 1595, the show follows the hapless brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, who struggle to find success in the theatrical world as they compete with the wild popularity of their contemporary Shakespeare… desperate for success, they invent an entirely new theatrical form – the Musical! The show was nominated for ten Tony Awards.

Landmark Productions returns to The REP in the autumn with a new adaptation of Patrick McCabe’s uplifting coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of the Troubles. Breakfast on Pluto will star Fra Fee in the role of Patrick/Pussy Braden and has been adapted by Bob Kelly and will feature music by Duke Special. It is a co-production with Landmark Productions and Galway International Festival, and is produced in association with the Donmar Warehouse.

Calmer, a new play by Lolita Chakrabarti, will receive its world premiere in The STUDIO in October. Directed by Adrian Lester, who will be making his directorial debut, it is a co-production with Belgrade Theatre Coventry. Bright Places sees local artist Rachael Mainwaring develop a shorter piece created through our nationally recognised artist development scheme, Foundry, into a world premiere new play in The DOOR. In a co-production between Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Northern Stage, English Touring Theatre, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and Oxford Playhouse, a new adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book entitled Gatsby will be directed by Maria Aberg.

Two seasonal favourites created by the theatre also return to The REP as NATIVITY! The Musical and The Snowman play back to back seasons in The HOUSE over the Christmas period.

Full programme information is listed below.

Priority booking for Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s Autumn and Winter 2020-21 season opens on Monday 9 March. General booking opens on Friday 13 March.
 

Bridgewater Hall, Manchester – Friday 6 March 2020

Reviewed by Sarah Cockerill

5*****

German singer Max Raabe greeted Manchester this weekend along with his 12 person entourage, together known as the Palast Orchestra.

Having never seen or heard of this wildly popular singer, at first his stage presence seemed wooden and disengaging, however, having soon realised that his style was actually perfectly choreographed, every nuance, gesture and glance had a purpose, so, before the second song had even finished I was transfixed. 

With plenty of one liner jokes between songs, the audience was just as entertained by Max’s wicked, dry sense of humour as they were by the world class musical talent. 

Every member of the orchestra was given a moment to shine, showing off their individuality and raw talent which was loved by the audience, confirmed by the loud cheers as each musician took a bow at the end of the evening.

The introduction of German sounds of the 1930 coupled with a handful of well know classic tunes, made famous by the likes of Hollywood’s Gene Kelly, made the night a perfect hit.

Both acts flew over, leaving us all wanting more. If you get chance to catch Max Raabe and the Palast Orchestra I would urge you to catch them. This is a guaranteed evening of feel good entertainment.

Blue Elephant Theatre – 4 March 2020

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

3.5 ***

The Blue Elephant’s Elefeet Dance Festival opens with Coalesce Dance Theatre’s exciting exploration and celebration of women. Sharing the stories and experiences of women’s groups in Manchester, Coalesce have devised an uplifting production encompassing the highs and lows of the female experience.

The company, Rachel Maffei and Fern Wareham (who also direct the piece), Jemma Stein, Rebecca Callow and Jenna Nathan, have a glorious sense of unity, with fantastic energy and sisterhood in the group routines, and a sense of sympathetic focus as they watch solo numbers from the side of the stage.

Richard Smithson’s score moves from the soothing soundscape of the seaside to driving high energy Bates seamlessly, matching the mood of each story being told. From the memories of a mother whose job opportunities were so limited in the 60s giving advice to her ambitious daughter to stories of love and being trapped in repetitive behaviours and relationships, the poetic, sparse language compliments the movement of the dancers as they convey more of the emotions of the storyteller than words can through the bold and sometimes hypnotic choreography. Some of the repeated movements representing lack of control and freedom make more and more impact throughout the show, with the company helping each other up and never letting each other fall. There is welcome humour in one section representing the importance of friendship and laughter.

Such powerful stories need powerful dancers, and the entire company are a joy to watch as they demonstrate the pain, joy and strength behind these women’s stories. An inspiring and emotional show.

Leeds Playhouse – until 7 March 2020

Reviewed By Dawn Smallwood

3***

A Little Space has been jointly collaborated by Gecko and Mind The Gap, two unique theatre companies whose aims are to engage many to access theatre and savour experiences. A Little Space literally resonates with the title and explores individual experiences on how they fully take the opportunity to use this spatial opportunity to be free. However one can feel vulnerable and lonely in this space as one never knows what is happening outside the “boundary”.

This one hour production explores individuals’ journeys experiencing the little space through the world of light, sound, movement and voice. This is in true vein to Gecko’s reputation as a physical and visual theatre company and Mind The Gap’s reputation for pioneering learning disability arts and making the arts accessible.

Set in an apartment block A Little Space follows five people’s lives and explores how being dependent and independent is like through choice or circumstantial isolation. The individual characters are portrayed through movement and the use of light and sounds for which the mood and ambiance depict how one feels. Rhys Jarman’s staging works well with Chris Swain’s lighting and Dave Price’s sounds in presenting A Little Space.

Under the direction of Rosalind Wynn (Gecko) and Deborah Dickinson (Mind The Gap) this entertaining, physical and visually appealing production brings out the theme about being alone which can be related in everyday situations. This production is choreographically well performed by the five devising performers. An enjoyable creation to all the senses.

PW PRODUCTIONS IN ASSOCIATION WITH PARK THEATRE PRESENT THE WORLD PREMIERE OF

ANOTHER MOTHER

A RAZOR-SHARP DARK COMEDY

CREATED BY SELINA CADELL

WRITTEN BY JUSTINE MITCHELL

RUNNING AT PARK THEATRE FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED SEASON

FROM 10 JUNE – 11 JULY 2020

The world premiere of the anarchic comedy Another Mother, created by Selina Cadell and written by Justine Mitchell,will open at Park Theatre for a strictly limited season from 10 June – 11 July 2020. The production runs in Park200.

Another Mother stars Selina Cadell and Justine Mitchell alongside Maggie McCarthy and Fleabag’s Jenny Rainsford. The six strong, all-female cast will be directed by Charlotte Peters, and final casting and further creatives will be announced shortly.

Mary has left her sister and niece a million pounds each in her will.  But for the bequest to be released, mother and daughter must run a new business together for a year and a day.  This new commercial enterprise is an agency, for mothers.

You want a mummy. You hire the mummy you want. You have a lovely time …

What could possibly go wrong?

Another Mother explores the commodification of love, where the free market invests in the UK’s loneliness epidemic and the gig economy means you can hire pretty much anyone. But being a mother costs and right here is where she starts getting paid.

Another Mother is produced by PW Productions in association with Park Theatre.

Leeds Playhouse, Leeds – until Saturday 7 March 2020

Reviewed by Aimee Liddington

5*****

Welcome to Smile Club. We have been transported to a dystopian world in the future where there is a government initiative to train and mould disobedient women who are struggling to blend into society. We meet Lisa who is a Smile Club attendee. After an incident at a train station where she was stopped at a barrier until she gave the man a smile, Lisa finds herself being taught how life is much simpler if you just let things go. After all, no one likes a woman who can’t take a joke.

Co-written and performed by Andrea Heaton, Smile Club serves as a warning to us all about where we could find ourselves if we don’t address the troubles in today’s society. Although the play is set in the future, we are pushed to question how much of the necessity to suppress and control others exists in the world that we live in today. Should women really still feel the need to ‘sit down, be silent and look pretty’ or can we all co-exist without some people needing to dominate others?

Alternating between narrative and dialogue, Heaton commands the audience and is impressive in her change of body language and voice to show a change of character. Among these cleverly crafted characters is ‘Positive Paula’ who should really be renamed ‘Patronising Paula’ – we’ve all met someone like this and her overwhelmingly fake positivity provides laughter and anger for the audience simultaneously. Paula has passive aggressiveness down to a tee and her consistent reminders to ‘smile’ and ‘take a compliment’ are enough to drive anyone to the brink of insanity.

Heaton and co-writer Adam Z. Robinson have carefully formed this story using relatable real life events and characters mixed with terrifying fiction that feels not too far from reality. This production from Red Ladder Theatre Company provokes a conversation about human behaviour and interaction. In the time of the ‘#MeToo’ campaign, prolific cases of sexual harassment and the fight for gender equality in the workplace, this show has got potential to get tongues wagging.

PILOT THEATRE’S AWARD-WINNING PRODUCTION OF NOUGHTS & CROSSES TO TOUR IN AUTUMN 2020

Pilot Theatre are delighted to announce that their award-winning production of Sabrina Mahfouz’s adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s critically acclaimed young adult novel of first love in a dangerous fictional dystopia – Noughts & Crosses will be heading back out on tour in the Autumn.

Directed by Pilot Theatre’s Artistic Director Esther Richardson (Brighton Rock and Crongton Knights), the acclaimed production will start its UK tour at York Theatre Royal from 11-19 September and will then embark on a national tour until late November.  

Told from the perspectives of the two teenagers, Noughts & Crosses is a captivating love story set in a volatile, racially segregated society and explores the powerful themes of love, revolution and what it means to grow up in a divided world. 

Sabrina Mahfouz’s adaptation for teenagers is based on Malorie Blackman’s first book in the Noughts & Crosses series for young adults, which has won the Red House Children’s Book Award and the Fantastic Fiction Award among other accolades. A BBC adaptation of Noughts +  Crosses has just started on BBC One.

Noughts & Crosses was originally produced by Pilot Theatre, Derby Theatre, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Mercury Theatre, Colchester and York Theatre Royal who recently formed a new partnership to develop theatre for younger audiences. The consortium is currently touring Emteaz Hussain’s adaptation of Alex Wheatle’s award-winning novel Crongton Knights.

Last year the acclaimed production won the Excellence in Touring award at the prestigious UK Theatre Awards. It was also nominated for Best Show for Children and Young People.

Schools workshops and outreach projects, along with free digital learning resources, will be available alongside each of the productions. 

Director Esther Richardson said “ We’re delighted that this show which was nominated for best show for children and young people at UK Theatre Awards is returning later this year. It’s wonderful that even more young people will be able to experience this production and Pilot will be able to tour to areas of England that we haven’t visited thanks to the support of Arts Council England.”

Noughts & Crosses will open at York Theatre Royal from 11-19 September and will then tour to Richmond Theatre (22-26 September); Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford (29 September – 3 October); Belgrade Theatre Coventry  (7 -10 October); New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich (13-17 October); Birmingham Rep (3-7 November); Nuffield Theatre Southampton (10-14 November) and Liverpool Playhouse (17-21 November). Further dates will be announced in the coming months.

Casting will be announced in the coming months.

For more information on Noughts & Crosses please visit https://www.pilot-theatre.com  

2020 NOUGHTS & CROSSES TOUR LISTINGS

11th – 19th September (except 17th September)  -York Theatre Royal 

Box Office: Tel: 01904 623568 / www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

22nd – 26th September  – Richmond Theatre 

Box Office: 0844 8717651 / https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre/

29th September – 3rd October -The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford  

Box Office: 01483 440000 https://www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/

7th -10th October -Belgrade Theatre Coventry 

Box Office: 02476553055 /  http://www.belgrade.co.uk

13th – 17th October -New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich

Box Office: 01473 295900 /  https://www.wolseytheatre.co.uk/

3rd – 7th November -Birmingham Rep

Box Office: 0121 2364455 /  https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/

10th – 14th November – Nuffield Theatre Southampton 

Box Office: 023 80671771 /  https://www.nstheatres.co.uk/

17th – 21st November -Liverpool Playhouse 

Box Office: 0151 7094776 /  https://www.everymanplayhouse.com/

MARKING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MUCH LOVED BRITISH CLASSIC SERIES YES, MINISTER…

SIMON CALLOW & CLIVE FRANCIS

STAR IN THE WORLD PREMIERE OF

I’M SORRY PRIME MINISTER

I CAN’T QUITE REMEMBER

WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY THE BAFTA AWARD-WINNING JONATHAN LYNN

OPENING SUMMER 2020 AT CAMBRIDGE ARTS THEATRE AHEAD OF A UK TOUR

In celebration of the 40^th anniversary of the razor sharp political satire Yes, Minister, the BAFTA Award winning Jonathan Lynn, one of the original writers of the hit series, has penned and will direct a brand-new stage production, I’m Sorry Prime Minister I Can’t Quite Remember.

The world premiere of I’m Sorry Prime Minister I Can’t Quite Remember stars acclaimed British actors Simon Callow (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Amadeus, Shakespeare in Love) as Jim Hacker and Clive Francis (An Inspector Calls, Les Blancs, The Crown) as Sir Humphrey Appleby. Further casting will be announced in due course.

The final hilarious chapter in the classic Yes, Prime Minister series continues its biting satire on the political classes and provides a fitting farewell to the Hacker years.

Former Prime Minister, Jim Hacker, longs to see out his days from his grand Master’s Lodge at Hacker College, Oxford. The College Fellowship and students have very different ideas and eviction looms large.

Can Sir Humphrey Appleby, the PM’s former Cabinet Secretary, save the day one last time? Will it be Yes, Prime Minister or I’m Sorry, Prime Minister?

The production will premiere at Cambridge Arts Theatre on Thursday 18 June, with press night on Tuesday 23 June, ahead of a UK tour visiting Northampton, Oxford, Cheltenham, Salford and Malvern.

I’m Sorry Prime Minister I Can’t Quite Remember is produced by Cambridge Arts Theatre. Further creatives and casting, along with additional dates and venues will be announced shortly.

DATES & VENUES

Cambridge Arts Theatre                                            cambridgeartstheatre.com

18 June – 27 June 2020                                               01223 503333

Northampton Royal & Derngate                              royalandderngate.co.uk

29 June – 4 July 2020                                                  01604 624811

*On-sale soon*

Oxford Playhouse                                                      oxfordplayhouse.com

6 July – 11 July 2020                                                   01865 305305

Cheltenham Everyman Theatre                                everymantheatre.org.uk

13 July – 18 July 2020                                                 01242 572573

Salford The Lowry                                                      thelowry.com

20 July – 25 July 2020                                                 0343 208 6000

Malvern Theatres                                                       malvern-theatres.co.uk

27 July – 1 Aug 2020                                                   01684 892277

Further dates and venues to be announced.

NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND

JON CULSHAW TO STAR AS ‘BILL BRYSON’
IN A NEW THEATRICAL ADAPTATION OF BRYSON’S AWARD-WINNING BOOK
OPENING AT THE WATERMILL THEATRE NEWBURY
AND THEN TOURING THE UK THIS AUTUMN

Jon Culshaw will star as ‘Bill Bryson’ in a brand-new stage production of Bryson’s award-winning memoir NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND adapted by BAFTA and Olivier Award winning playwright Tim Whitnall. Directed by the Watermill’s Artistic Director Paul Hart, the production will have its world premiere in Newbury on Thursday 24 September and play until Saturday 31 October, with a national press night on Monday 28 September. The production will then tour to Malvern, Cambridge, and Richmond, with further dates to announced.

What makes us love this country we call our own?

Join Bill as he journeys from Calais to Scotland, rediscovering the green and pleasant land he calls his home, before moving back to his native United States. Why does the nation that produced Marmite, Gardener’s Question time and people who say ‘Ooh lovely’ at the sight of a cup of tea, hold such a special place in his heart? And what precisely does he love so much about a country with place names like Farleigh Wallop, Titsey and Shellow Bowells? A witty and insightful tribute to all the head-scratching quirks and idiosyncrasies of our small island, that will leave you feeling positively proud to be British.

Notes from a Small Island spent three years in the Sunday Times bestsellers list, sold over two million copies and was voted on World Book Day by BBC Radio 4 listeners as the book that best represents our British identity.

Bill Bryson said, “I am naturally intrigued and excited to see how Notes from a Small Island will be translated into a theatrical experience. I am especially delighted that Jon Culshaw will be taking the lead role.  I have no doubt that he will be a better me than I am!”

Jon Culshaw said, “It’s a great pleasure and honour to have chance to portray Bill Bryson. His delicious wit makes preparing the role an absolute joy.”

Jon Culshaw is warmly regarded by many as one of Britain’s best impressionists with an unmatched versatility and a catalogue of over 350 voices and impersonations including Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, Professor Brian Cox, Barack Obama, Alan Carr, John Bishop and Michael McIntyre. Jon is a regular guest on current affairs programmes, providing comic relief with impromptu impersonations of politicians and commentators. BBC Radio 4 comedy Dead Ringers is now onto its 19th series and he is also in demand for voicing audio books including ‘The Beautiful Poetry of Donald Trump’ as well as many of the Dr Who releases.

In a further departure from comedy he played the iconic David Bowie in an acclaimed BBC World Service radio drama before turning his hand to a Terry Pratchett audio drama for Audible, The Unseen Academicals.

Following a sold-out debut tour, Jon is about to embark on his third UK tour The Great British Take Off with Dead Ringers producer, Bill Dare, which sees them perform an evening of unscripted, unrehearsed, spontaneous comedy and conversation.

Bill Bryson was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1951. Settled in England for many years, he moved to America with his wife and four children for a few years but has since returned to live in the UK. His bestselling travel books include The Lost Continent, Notes From a Small Island, A Walk in the Woods and Down Under. His acclaimed work of popular science, A Short History of Nearly Everything, won the Aventis Prize and the Descartes Prize, and was the biggest selling non-fiction book of the decade in the UK.

Tim Whitnall wrote the stage plays HARRY’S WEB – Theatre Royal Windsor 2000, THE SOCIABLE PLOVER – Old Red Lion Theatre 2005, THE FABULIST – Old Red Lion Theatre 2006, and ROADKILL– a reading at Paines Plough in 2007. His comedy,MORECAMBE, debuted at the Edinburgh Festival in 2009, winning a Fringe First Award. Transferring to the Duchess Theatre, London the show triumphed in the 2010 Laurence Olivier Awards, winning for Best Entertainment. Published by Samuel French, the play continues to tour in venues across the UK. Through his company, Feather Productions (www.featherproductionss.com) Tim co-produced PAXO – a one-man entertainment starring Jeremy Paxman – which enjoyed a sell-out run at the Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh as part of the 2014 Festival Fringe. ONCE SEEN ON BLUE PETER (Cahoots Theatre Co.), Tim’s “play-within-a-play” celebrating the diamond anniversary of the iconic BBC children’s TV series (and starring six of the programme’s ex-presenters) premiered at the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. LENA, Tim’s drama detailing the rise and fall of former child star Lena Zavaroni, is scheduled to open in autumn 2020 at the newly refurbished Rothesay Pavilion, Isle of Bute, Scotland. His original comedy, FLYING DUCKS, will also premiere at the Theatre Royal, Bury in September this year, presented by the Summerseat Players.

Tim’s first feature film, THE HIDE, was completed in 2008 by Poisson Rouge Pictures/ Solution Films for Film Four, receiving its TV premiere in 2009 and subsequent cinema release at the ICA. The film made the TIMES TOP 100 LIST and was later released on DVD. Tim was nominated for his work in the 2010 Writer’s Guild Awards in the Best First Feature Length Screenplay category. In 2018, Tim’s company, Feather Productions, co-produced GONE, a short film written by Laurence Akers, starring Suranne Jones and Daniel Betts. The work has been screened successfully at several major international film festivals including from Oxford to Manhattan (via San Diego Shorts). Tim has recently been commissioned by Evolution Productions/ Wrekin Hill (LA) to write the screenplay for BRING ME SUNSHINE, a feature-film adaption of his play, MORECAMBE, slated for production later in 2020.

BEST POSSIBLE TASTE: THE KENNY EVERETT STORY, Tim’s BBC Four drama about broadcasting legend ‘Cuddly Ken’, was nominated for several honours, Tim winning the Breakthrough Talent Award in the 2013 BAFTA TV Craft Awards. His feature-length adaptation of GREENSHAW’S FOLLY for Mammoth Screen/ ITV’s AGATHA CHRISTIE’S MARPLE was broadcast in 2013. Tim’s C4/ ITV Studios drama series, TIGER FEET (co-written with Robert Murphy), was recently shortlisted for production in the 2018 UK TV BRIT LIST.

Tim has recently been commissioned by BBC / Cosmopolitan Pictures to write an episode of their BBC One crime drama, THE MALLORCA FILES. He is currently developing a number of major TV projects with several independent production companies including ITV Studios, Various Artists Ltd and Moonriver Content/E1.

Paul Hart is Artistic and Executive Director of The Watermill.

Previous productions for The Watermill include: Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (UK Tour 2019 and Wilton’s Music Hall 2020); Kiss Me, Kate, Macbeth (2019); Sweet Charity, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2018); The Borrowers, Twelfth Night (2017, Wilton’s Music Hall and UK Tour); Romeo and Juliet (2016/17 and UK Tour); Crazy For You (2016 and UK Tour); Journey’s End (2014); The Tempest (2012); Great Expectations (2011); Heroes (2010).

Other credits include: Private Peaceful and Pope Joan (National Youth Theatre/West End); Doctor Faustus (National Theatre Studio); Huis Clos (Donmar Warehouse at Trafalgar Studios); How to Find Love in Three Easy Dreams and Odd Jobs (Pentabus Young Writers Festival).

As Associate Director for Propeller: Pocket Henry and Pocket Merchant. Also: UK andInternational Tours of Henry V, The Winter’s Tale, Richard III, The Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Merchant of Venice.

As resident Assistant Director at The Donmar Warehouse: Red (also Broadway), Life Is a Dream, A Streetcar Named Desire, A Doll’s House and Dimetos.

As Staff Director at the National Theatre: The Captain of Köpenick (NT Olivier).

He has also directed: The Revenger’s Tragedy (LAMDA); Love’s Labour’s Lost and The Fall of the House of Usher (RoseBruford College); Boys (Guildhall Schoolof Speech and Drama). Radio includes: Existentialism in Theatre (The Essay, Radio3). He started his career as an apprentice director at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and as Assistant Director at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Training: Theatre Directing at Rose Bruford College.

NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND is produced by Simon Friend and Hanna Osmolska and the Watermill Theatre. Further casting and creative team to be announced.

Don Black to receive Special Award at Olivier Awards 2020 with Mastercard

Renowned lyricist Don Black will be honoured with this year’s Special Olivier Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to theatre.

In a prolific career spanning six decades, Black has provided lyrics for many musical theatre productions, working with Andrew Lloyd Webber on Tell Me On A Sunday, Aspects Of Love, Whistle Down The Wind and Stephen Ward.

His collaboration with Christopher Hampton on Sunset Boulevard won them a Tony Award for Best Book in 1995. Other stage credits include A. R. Rahman’s musical Bombay Dreams, John Barry’s Billy and Brighton Rock, and Frank Wildhorn’s Dracula, The Musical.

Alongside his theatre work, Black’s output includes numerous film and television themes, as well as hit songs. He has written lyrics for Quincy Jones, Lulu, Meat Loaf, Michel Legrand and Debbie Wiseman, among many others.

Black is particularly known for his long association with the James Bond films, starting with the Thunderball theme in 1965, and continuing with John Barry’s Diamonds Are Forever and The Man With The Golden Gun. A further collaboration with Barry on the title song of the film Born Free won Black a 1966 Academy Award for Best Song.

Kenny Wax, President of the Society of London Theatre, said:

‘The Society of London Theatre is delighted to honour Don Black with the Special Award, marking an extraordinary career encompassing many genres, but particularly musical theatre. Lyricists often do not receive the recognition they deserve, despite their words being known and loved by audiences worldwide – and having personally known Don for over 25 years, it makes it a particular pleasure to celebrate his impact on the face of theatre.’

The Special Award is given each year to recognise an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to theatre over the course of their career. Past recipients include Matthew Bourne, Kenneth Branagh, Stephen Sondheim, Judi Dench, Alan Bennett, Sam Mendes, Maggie Smith, Harold Pinter, Alec Guinness, John Gielgud, Joan Littlewood and Ian McKellen.

The Olivier Awards, widely recognised as Britain’s most prestigious stage honours, take place on Sunday 5 April at the Royal Albert Hall, hosted by Jason Manford. Nominations were announced earlier this week and are available to view on the Olivier Awards website.

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