CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR GRAEAE’S CULT HIT MUSICAL REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL
- Inclusive cast of 14 actors & musicians announced for fully accessible punk musicalReasons to be Cheerful
- Protest songs for today’s political climate to be submitted across the country
- Part gig, part play, Reasons to be Cheerful celebrates the infectious music of Ian Dury and the Blockheads in this bold and jubilant coming of age tale
- Seven venue UK tour opening with associate producers Belgrade Theatre Coventry in September 2017
- All performances incorporate creative British Sign Language, audio description and captioning
@R2BCheerful @graeae
#Reasons17
Pioneering disabled-led theatre company Graeae has announced the full cast for the upcoming tour of their acclaimed musical Reasons to be Cheerful, which will hit the road one final time this autumn. The extraordinary wit and wisdom of Ian Dury and the Blockheads’ music and lyrics will be brought to life by an inclusive cast of 14 actors and musicians. Graeae’s Artistic Director, Jenny Sealey will direct a mix of performers who originated the show in 2010, those who joined the cast subsequently and newcomers to Reasons to be Cheerful. Beth Hinton-Lever will play Janine in her Graeae debut, while Gerard McDermott (Blood Wedding and Blasted for Graeae), Joey Hickman (The Threepenny Opera for x) and Max Runham (Captain Walker in Tommy for Ramps on the Moon) will also join the company.
The parallels with the show’s 1979 setting are clear. Today, as nationwide cuts continue to impact on the lives of d/Deaf and disabled people, Graeae puts them centre stage. As a prominent disabled activist, Ian Dury was a patron and staunch supporter of Graeae. Protest songs are being written all across the country as part of an extensive community engagement programme inviting original songs for a new generation to be included in the tour.
Reprising their roles from the hugely successful 2010 and 2012 tours, Stephen Lloyd will play Vinnie alongside Stephen Collins as Colin, Dan McGowan as Nick/Dave, Karen Spicer as Pat,Wayne ‘Pickles’ Norman as Pickles and Jude Mahon in the role of Debbie. With John Kelly on lead vocals, the on-stage band is completed by Paul Sirett (Guitar, also writer), Nixon Rosembert (Bass) and Paula Stanbridge-Faircloth (Drums).
This joyful and defiant production will visit seven regions around the country, kicking off at the Belgrade, Coventry, also associate producers, on Friday 8 September before touring to Derby, Southampton, Ipswich, Leeds, Liverpool and ending with a two week run at Theatre Royal, Stratford East in London from 24 October – 4 November. Press night is 13 September at Derby Theatre.
First seen in 2010, Reasons to be Cheerful has gone on to play at theatres and festivals across the UK, in stadiums around the world, and even in front of HRH The Queen. “Spasticus Autisticus”, the Ian Dury-penned disability rights anthem which features in the show, was performed by the cast at the London 2012 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony and, despite being banned by the BBC in 1981, broadcast worldwide in front of an audience of over 1 billion.
This coming of age tale rejoices in the infectious and enduring music of Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Featuring stone-cold classic songs including Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick; Plaistow Patricia; Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll; Sweet Gene Vincent; What A Waste and the titular Reasons to be Cheerful (Part 3), this show is loud, bold and jubilant.
Using Graeae’s signature theatrical language, all performances of Reasons to be Cheerful seamlessly include British Sign Language, audio description and creative captioning.
Jenny Sealey, Artistic Director at Graeae Theatre Company, said: ‘Directing Reasons to be Cheerful remains one of my career highlights. I am delighted that we’re not only reuniting many of the original cast members, but also welcoming the gloriously talented Joey Hickman, Gerard McDermott and Max Runham to the company. We are always aiming to work with Deaf or disabled artists new to Graeae, so are thrilled that Beth Hinton-Lever will also be joining the family. We will be well and truly raising the roof up and down the country with the brilliantly anarchic music of Ian Dury and the Blockheads, whose punk sentiment speaks louder than ever as we fight against the brutal cuts that Deaf and disabled people, and millions of others, have faced in recent years.’
Hamish Glen, Artistic Director for the Belgrade Theatre Coventry (associate producers) said,‘It’s a pleasure to be supporting Graeae with their revival of Reasons to be Cheerful, and to be bringing this acclaimed punk rock musical to new audiences across the UK, starting here in Coventry. Jenny Sealey and her team are creating great theatre that is accessible to all, and the Belgrade is very proud be a part of that. Ian Dury and the Blockheads produced an amazing catalogue of music, which you will hear in this show, but importantly, he also challenged the way we think and talk about disability. Reasons to be Cheerful continues his legacy of showing a fighting rebel spirit.’
New cast member Gerard McDermott said: ‘I was bowled over by punk rock when it hit sleepy Scarborough, swapped my flairs for drainpipes and pogo danced with the best. The music of Ian Dury was storytelling, it was jazz; music hall; folk; rock and roll and scintillating word play. The thought of standing on stage and singing the songs of such a talented man, mentor and role model is spine tingling’
New cast member Max Runham said: ‘Working with Graeae never grows old, hearing people’s reactions and seeing the change we’re making on people’s perceptions of disability. Having done a one-off gig version of Reasons to be Cheerful I’m incredibly excited to be part of it. I can’t wait to get out there and sweat myself silly.’
New cast member Joey Hickman said: ‘I saw Reasons to Be Cheerful at the Hackney Empire back in 2012 – I loved it then and fell in love with Graeae’s style. Two years later, I had the pleasure of working with Graeae in their production of The Threepenny Opera and now I can’t wait to be involved in the 2017 tour of Reasons To Be Cheerful’
New cast member Beth Hinton-Lever said: ‘I’ve been an avid fan of Graeae since I saw The Solid Life of Sugar Water and so words really can’t express how thrilled I am to be joining the cast of Reasons to be Cheerful! I already feel excited, overwhelmed, and empowered to be joining this family. Bring on the Dr. Martens!’
All members of the cast and creative team are available for interview. Graeae patron Mat Fraser, who was in the original 2010 company and has recently played the role of Richard III for Hull Truck Theatre, is also available for an interview.
This tour is supported by Arts Council England through their Strategic Touring Fund.
Twitter:@R2BCheerful @graeae
#Reasons17
Facebook: Reasons to be Cheerful – the Musical
YouTube: GraeaeTheatreCompany
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/217014732
Graeae’s media language guide can be viewed here
Stephen Lloyd (Vinnie) is Artistic Director of Amplified Theatre, an inclusive theatre company that focuses on merging live theatre with alternative music genres. His theatre credits include: Henry V (UK Tour), The Deranged Marriage (Watford Palace/West Yorkshire Playhouse/Rifco Arts), Reasons To Be Cheerful (UK Tour/Graeae/New Wolsey/Theatre Royal, Stratford East),, Come Dancing, Red Riding Hood and Cinderella (Theatre Royal, Stratford East) Film and TV credits include: Boycie in Rock and Chips, Holby City, Silent Witness, Gracie! (BBC), Paralympics Opening Ceremony (Channel 4), Seat 25 (Red Kite Films).
Stephen Collins (Colin) is an actor, workshop facilitator and recently debut as a director & Associate Artist for Amplified Theatre. His theatre credits include Summit (Fuel Theatre),Nodus Tollens (DH Ensemble), The Government Inspector (Ramps on the Moon/Birmingham Rep), Threeepenny Opera, The Iron Man (Graeae), Shakespeare Globe’s Love’s Labour’s Lost & Red Flags (Deafinitely Theatre), Hansel & Gretel (Red Earth) & The Winter’s Tale (Taking Flight).
Beth Hinton-Lever (Janine) has recently graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts with an MA in Performance (Musical Theatre). Her choreography of Jason Robert Brown’s Paradewon her the Award for Best Choreography at the National Student Drama Festival, which started her professional performing career. Credits include: Mona/Georgina in Dancehall (CAST Theatre), Princess Aurora/Rosie in Sleeping Beauty (CAST Theatre), and Clara in Welfare (Arts Theatre).
Dan McGowan (Nick/Dave) recently became Academy Director of Hijinx Theatre, overseeing training courses across Wales for adult actors with learning disabilities. Previous roles includeMeet Fred (Hijinx Theatre), Our House (Garrick Theatre). His main focus is in writing and directing which has led to the short films Boat (nominated for Best Welsh Short at Cardiff Independent Film Festival, Best Short at Madrid International Festival 2017l), Triple Word Scoreand the recently-completed The Stand, plus the Unlimited-commissioned online comedyFlatmates.
Gerard McDermott’s (Bill/Bobby) recent theatre credits include; Merry Wives (Northern Broadsides), Blood Wedding (Graeae), Bunny’s Vendetta (Blue Eagle), Being Tommy Cooper(The Old Red Lion), Fool for Love (The Riverside Studios) and Calendar Girls (Tour/Noel Coward Theatre). For Graeae he has appeared in Blasted (Northern Broadsides). Television and film credits include; Doctors, EastEnders, Downton Abbey (BBC), and Eyes and Prize (2017).
Karen Spicer (Pat) has played a variety of roles on screen in Coronation Street (ITV), Emmerdale (ITV), Doctors (BBC) and Clocking off (Channel 4).On stage she has worked with Graeae, Trestle, Red Ladder, Theatre Centre, Roundabout, Quick Silver, Fittings Multimedia, The Nuffield Theatre Southampton, Interplay, and Polka.
Joey Hickman (Uncle Harry) trained as a musical director his MD, assistant MD, band leader & arranger credits include: The Comedy About A Bank Robbery (Mischief Theatre & Criterion Theatre, Piccadilly Circus); Oliver! (Watermill Theatre); Three Minute Heroes (Belgrade Theatre); The Threepenny Opera (Graeae Theatre/UK Tour); Our House (New Wolsey Theatre/UK Tour); Dreamboats and Petticoats (BKL Playhouse Theatre, West End) and Assassins(Rose Bruford). As an actor, Joey has performed in many productions across the country including: Thisbe (Door Ajar Theatre); Cinderella: A Fairytale (Tobacco Factory & Traveling Light) and Made In Dagenham (Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch).).
John Kelly (Lead Vocals) has completed five UK tours as well as many international performances. John is Artistic Director of DaisyFest, National Associate Artist for Drake Music, musician with circus company ExtraOrdinary Bodies and is Policy & Strategy manager at Merton Centre For Independent Living. John sang Spasticus Autisticus, live at the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in London, and has also guested with the Blockheads.
Nixon Rosembert (Bass) is an accomplished musician who has performed/recorded either in the recording studio, on television, or live with Mariah Carey, Ronnie Laws (EWF), Angie Brown, Pete Brown, Reasons To Be Cheerful (band), The Honeyz, Sam Moore (Sam & Dave), Ruby Turner, Jools Holland, Juliet Roberts, Billy Paul, ABC, Cleveland Watkiss, Emmett North Jnr, Clem Curtis & The Foundations and many more. He has written music for theatre and toured with theatre companies as a musician and actor.
Paula Stanbridge-Faircloth (Drums) has been playing the drums for over two decades. Faircloth has performed at intricate math-rock polyrhythms in Quadrilles, the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games, toured with Reasons to be Cheerful and Psycho Delia, in addition to forming a Kate Bush tribute band.
Max Runham (Percussion) has appeared in Graeae’s production of The Threepenny Opera, The Funfair (HOME), The Family Way (Bolton Octagon), Gods are fallen and all safety gone (Camden People’s Theatre) and most recently, Max made his debut with The National Theatre and Complicite in A Pacifist’s Guide to The War on Cancer. Max has recently performed in Ramps on the Moon’s production of The Who’s Tommy.
Jude Mahon (Debbie (SLI) trained as an Actor at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and as a British Sign Language Interpreter at Wolverhampton University. These two skills have worked together in numerous roles on television and in theatre. As a Performance Interpreter Jude won The Best Supporting Actress award from Nottingham Playhouse for her role in Graeae’s The Threepenny Opera.
Wayne ‘Pickles’ Norman (Pickles) has been working professionally for forty years; his first job was the Artful Dodger in the West End production of Oliver! in 1977. Television credits include;Terry and June, Dr Who, Eastenders, Grange Hill, Inspector Morse and The Harry Enfield Show(BBC). Theatre work includes The Merry Wives of Waltham, Welcome Home, The Coming of Gowf, Afters and Counting the Ways. Pickles has been working for Graeae for 15 years as an access worker and also an audio describer appearing in their hit shows Reasons To Be Cheerful, The Iron Man and The Threepenny Opera.
LISTINGS
Reasons to be Cheerful
By Paul Sirrett
Director Jenny Sealey
Lighting Ian Scott
Sound Lewis Gibson
Choreography Mark Smith
Musical Director Joey Hickman
Casting Sarah Hughes CDG
Friday 8 & Saturday 9 September
Belgrade Theatre Coventry
http://www.belgrade.co.uk/
024 7655 3055
Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 September
Derby Theatre
https://www.derbytheatre.co.uk/
01332 59 39 39
Press night: 13 September
Tuesday 26 – Saturday 30 September
Nuffield Theatre, Southampton
https://www.nstheatres.co.uk/
023 8067 1771
Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 October
New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich
https://www.wolseytheatre.co.uk/
01473 295900
Tuesday 10 – Saturday 14 October
West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds
https://www.wyp.org.uk/
0113 213 7700
On Sale Soon
Tuesday 17 – Saturday 21 October
Liverpool Everyman
https://www.everymanplayhouse.com/
0151 709 4776
Tuesday 24 October – Saturday 4 November
Theatre Royal Stratford East
http://www.stratfordeast.com/
020 8534 0310
Press night: 24 October
Age recommendation 14+
All performances include creative British Sign Language, captioning and audio description.