Home

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR ROYAL & DERNGATE AND ENGLISH TOURING THEATRE’S PRODUCTION OF TWO TRAINS RUNNING

Royal & Derngate and English Touring Theatre present

TWO TRAINS RUNNING

by August Wilson

UK tour: 31 August – 27 November 2019

Directed by 2018 RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award winner Nancy Medina

Designer: Frankie Bradshaw; Lighting Designer: Amy Mae; Movement Director: Rachael Nanyonjo

Royal & Derngate and English Touring Theatre today announce the full cast for Nancy Medina’s production of August Wilson’s Two Trains Running. Medina directs Geoff Aymer (West), Ray Emmet Brown (Wolf), Derek Ezenagu (Hambone), Andrew French (Memphis), Leon Herbert (Holloway), Michael Salami (Sterling) and Anita-Joy Uwajeh (Risa). The production opens at Royal & Derngate Northampton on 4 September, with previews from 31 August and runs until 14 September before embarking on a UK tour to Nuffield Southampton Theatres, Oxford Playhouse, Cast Doncaster, New Wolsey Theatre, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and Derby Theatre.

There’s a controversial new president in the White House, and racial tensions are on the rise.

It is Pittsburgh, 1969, and the regulars of Memphis Lee’s restaurant are struggling to cope with the turbulence of a rapidly changing world. The diner is in threat of being torn down, a casualty of the city’s renovation project that is sweeping away the buildings of a community, but not its spirit.

The iconic American playwright August Wilson paints a vivid portrait of everyday lives in this defining moment of American history.

Directed by Nancy Medina, this major revival will introduce this Pulitzer Prize shortlisted modern classic to UK-wide audiences for the first time. Nancy is the recipient of the 2018 RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award, this year hosted by Royal & Derngate, to enable an emerging director of exceptional potential to direct their first regional mainstage production.

August Wilson(1945–2005) was an American playwright. He won a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award for his playFences and earned a second Pulitzer Prize for The Piano Lesson. His other notable works include King Hedley II, Seven Guitars, Gem of the Ocean, Jitney and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

Geoff Aymer plays West. His theatre credits include The Color Purple due to open at Leicester Curve in June, previous credits include Robin Hood and the Arrow of Destiny (Theatre Peckham), The Plague (After La Peste by Albert Camus) (Arcola Theatre), The Importance of Being Earnest (UK tour), A Midsummer Night’s Dream(Young Vic), and To Kill a Mockingbird (Barbican Theatre/ UK tour).

Ray Emmet Brown plays Wolf. His previous theatre credits include Sweet Bird of Youth (Chichester Festival Theatre), Moon on a Rainbow Shawl (National Theatre/UK tour), A Raisin in The Sun (Royal Exchange), and Les Negres (Young Vic). For television, his credits include The Stranger, Mum, The Dumping Ground and Outlaws.

Derek Ezenagu plays Hambone. His previous theatre credits include Perseverance Drive (Bush Theatre), Death and the King’s Horseman (National Theatre), Othello (Keble Reilly Theatre), A Village Without Lights (Crescent Theatre), Mother Courage and Her Children (Nottingham Playhouse/UK tour), Musical Youth (Birmingham Repertory Theatre), Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing (RSC).

Andrew French plays Memphis. His previous theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet (RSC), While We’re Here (Bush Theatre), The Flesh of Mine/When Nobody Returns (Theatre Bay, Acklam Village), The Iphigenia Quartet (Gate Theatre), Bully Boy (Mercury Theatre), and Julius Caesar (RSC). For television, his credits include A Very English Scandal, Marvin Can’t Fail, and Perfect Parents.

Leon Herbert plays Holloway. His previous theatre credits include Gone With The Wind, West Side Story(Coventry Belgrade Theatre), Napoleon Noir, Robeson (Young Vic), The Great White Hope (Tricycle Theatre). Television credits include Outlander, The Paradise Club and The 10^th Kingdom. For film, his credits include Alien 3, Batman, Scandal and Emotional Backgammon as Director.

Michael Salami plays Sterling. Previous theatre credits include The Night Before Christmas (Southwark Playhouse), Housed (The Old Vic), Negril Beach (Bush Theatre), Crosswords (Theatre503), The Grandfathers(Soho Theatre), and Kettled Passions (Lyric Hammersmith). For television, his credits include Temple, Just A Couple, and as series regular Shane Sweeney in Hollyoaks for which he won Best Actor at the UK Entertainment Awards.

Anita-Joy Uwajeh plays Risa. Her previous theatre credits include King Lear (Duke of York’s Theatre), Grotty (Bunker Theatre), Twelfth Night (Shakespeare’s Globe), Girls, Fury (Soho Theatre), and We Wait in Joyful Hope (Theatre503). For television, her credits include Lucky Man, Not Safe for Work and Transporter.

Nancy Medina was the 2018 winner of the RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award and the 2017 Genesis Future Director Award winner for the Young Vic. She is an acting tutor at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and Course Leader for a post-16 Professional Acting Diploma at Boomsatsuma. Her directing credits include Strange Fruit (Bush Theatre), Half God of Rainfall (Kiln Theatre), Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Betties (Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama), When They Go Low (NT Connections/ Sherman Theatre), Yellowman (Young Vic), Curried Goat and Fish Fingers (Bristol Old Vic), Dogtag (Theatre West), Strawberry and Chocolate (Tobacco Factory Theatres), Dutchman (Tobacco Factory Theatres) and Persistence of Memory (Rondo Theatre).

#TwoTrains2019

Two Trains Running is supported by a production grant from The Royal Theatrical Support Trust (RTST)

The production is part of Royal & Derngate’s Made In Northampton season, sponsored locally by Michael Jones Jeweller

Tour Dates

Opens at:

Royal & Derngate Northampton

31 August – 14 September 2019

Box Office: 01604 624811 / www.royalandderngate.co.uk

Before touring to:

Nuffield Southampton Theatres

17 – 21 September 2019

Box Office: 023 8067 1771 / www.nstheatres.co.uk

Oxford Playhouse

24 – 28 September

Box Office: 01865 305305 / www.oxfordplayhouse.com

Cast, Doncaster

1 – 5 October 2019

Box Office: 01302 303 959 / www.castindoncaster.com

New Wolsey Theatre 

8 – 12 October

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

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

15 -19 October 2019

Box Office: 01483 44 00 00 / www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

Derby Theatre

22 – 27 October 2019

Box Office: 01332 59 39 39 / www.derbytheatre.co.uk

BACK!

Professor Goodman will visit the Ambassadors Theatre in the West End to confirm the supernatural is PURELY a trick of the mind…

LIMITED WEST END SEASON RUNS FROM

THURSDAY 3^RD OCTOBER – SATURDAY 4^th JANUARY 2020

Tickets go on sale today (Monday 15^th July)

WARNING

Please be advised that Ghost Stories contains moments of extreme shock and tension. The show is unsuitable for anyone under the age of 15. We strongly advise those of a nervous disposition to think very seriously before attending.

There’s something dark lurking in the theatre. Enter a nightmarish world, full of thrilling twists and turns, where all your deepest fears and most disturbing thoughts are imagined live on stage. A fully sensory and electrifying encounter, Ghost Stories is the ultimate twisted love-letter to horror, a supernatural edge-of-your-seat theatrical experience like no other.

After exhilarating audiences across the globe with record breaking, sell-out productions and a smash hit film, Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson’s worldwide cult phenomenon Ghost Stories returns to the West End this autumn, following a smash-hit extended run at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. More spine-tingling and terrifying than ever, the Olivier Award-nominated show’s strictly limited transferopens at The Ambassadors Theatre on Thursday 3rd October 2019, where it runs until Saturday 4^thJanuary 2020.

Casting to be announced.

Andy Nyman is an award-winning actor, director and writer who has earned acclaim from both critics and audiences for his work in theatre, film and television. On stage Andy is currently playing the iconic role of Tevye in Trevor Nunn’s revival of Fiddler on the Roof. It is playing at the Playhouse Theatre until November 2nd. Andy was also seen in Martin McDonagh’s Hangmen (Wyndham’s Theatre), Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins (Menier Chocolate Factory) and Abigail’s Party (also Wyndham’s Theatre). Other theatre work includes the original production of Ghost Stories (Lyric/Duke of York’s Theatre) which has recently been made into a major motion picture, also written, starred and directed by Andy & Jeremy Dyson. Other film credits include The Commuter, Death at a Funeral and Kick-Ass 2. Hisupcoming films include playing opposite The Rock & Emily Blunt in Disney’s Jungle Cruise plus starring opposite Renee Zellweger in Judy. TV he is best known for Peaky Blinders, Campus & Dead Set, and has recently appeared in BBC 1’s Wanderlust.

Jeremy Dyson is a screenwriter, stage-writer and author, best known as a member of comedy group The League of Gentlemen. With Andy Nyman he co-wrote and co-directed the stage and film versions of Ghost Stories. In addition he co-created and co-wrote the BAFTA-nominated comedy-drama series Funland and co-created, co-wrote and directed the Rose d’Or-winning all-female comedy show Psychobitches.  His second collection of stories, ‘The Cranes that Build the Cranes‘ won the Edge Hill Award for short fiction.

Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, Smith and Brant Theatricals and the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre present the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre’s production of Ghost Stories.

For more information, please see:

www.ghoststorieslive.co.uk

FINAL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR WORLD PREMIERE OF NANCY HARRIS’

T W O    L A D I E S

DIRECTED BY NICHOLAS HYTNER

Lorna Brown, Raghad Chaar and Yoli Fuller join the previously announced Zoë Wanamakerand Zrinka Cvitešić to complete the casting for Two Ladies, a new play by Nancy Harris to be directed by Nicholas Hytner at the Bridge Theatre.

Two Ladies previews from 14 September 2019 with opening night on 25 September.  This strictly limited 6-week run will conclude on 26 October 2019.  Set and costume designs are by Anna Fleischle withlighting by Johanna Town, sound by George Dennis and music by Grant Olding.

As their husbands clash over an international crisis, the first ladies of France and America find themselves alone together in a side room.  Friends, or enemies? When the stakes are so high, can they trust each other?   Can they trust their husbands? 

Zoë Wanamaker (Hélène) was last on stage as Meg in Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party at the Harold Pinter Theatre.  She has had a much-celebrated career working for the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Court Theatre and the Donmar Warehouse as well as in the West End and on Broadway.  Her many television credits include My Family, Poirot and Mr Selfridgeas well as Killing Eve, Britannia and Girlfriends.  Her many film credits include My Week with Marilyn, It’s a Wonderful Afterlife, Wilde and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.  As well as being the recipient of numerous awards and nominations, Wanamaker was appointed a CBE for her services to Drama.

Croatian born Zrinka Cvitešić (Sophia) was last on stage in London playing ‘Girl’ in the UK premiere of Once for which she received the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.  As a member of the Croatian National Theatre her roles have included Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Natasha Rostova in War and Peace, Gwendoline in The Importance of Being Ernest, Irina in Three Sisters and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.  Her television credits include Capital and London Spy.  Her film credits include On the Path for which she was the first Croatian actress to win the Shooting Star Award at the Berlin Film Festival and a nomination for European Film Academy Award for Best Actress, My Beautiful Country for which she won the Bernhard Wicki Award (German Award for Culture) and What Is a Man Without a Moustache for which she won Sarajevo Film Festival Award for Best Actress. In 2017 she was honoured with a Medal of Honour by the President of Croatia.

Lorna Brown (Sandy)was last on stage in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Hamlet. Her other theatre credits include Wings at the Young Vic, Bodies and Torn at the Royal Court Theatre, Medea, Blurred Lines, Damned by Despair at the National Theatre and The Oresteia at the Almeida Theatre and Trafalgar Studios.  Her television credits include The Devils, Chewing Gum, Press, The Catherine Tate Show and French and Saunders. Her film credits include The Jungle Book, The Lady in the Van, Les Misérables and World War Z.

Raghad Chaar (Fatima) made her professional stage debut in How to Hold your Breath at the Royal Court Theatre.  Her television credits include The State and Collateral.

Yoli Fuller (Georges) made his UK stage debut in Mosquitoes at the National Theatre. His previous theatre credits, all in France, include The Tragedy of Hamlet, B.A.B.A.R (Le Transparent Noir),Pushup, Les Trois Mousquetaires, Huckleberry Finn and Espejo.  On television his credits include ITV’sThe Widow, BBC One’s Silent Witness and the Netflix original series No Second Chances.

Playwright Nancy Harris was born in Dublin.  Her plays include The Beacon, No Romance, Our New Girl, Love in a Glass Jar, Baddies: The Musical, Journey to X, The Kreutzer Sonata and an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Red Shoes.  Harris received The Rooney Prize for Irish Literature and The Stewart Parker Award for her debut full-length play No Romance in 2012.  She was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Award.  She has also written for radio and television and was nominated for a BAFTA as a Breakthrough Talent in 2014 for her writing on the Channel 4 seriesDates.

Nicholas Hytner co-founded the London Theatre Company with Nick Starr.  He was Director of the National Theatre from 2003 to 2015, where the productions he directed included The History Boys, Hamlet, One Man, Two Guvnors, and Othello.  His films include The Madness of George III, The Lady in the Van and The History Boys.  Hisbook Balancing Acts is published by Jonathan Cape. For the Bridge, Hytner has directed Young Marx, Julius Caesar, Allelujah! and Alys, Always.  His immersive production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream continues at the Bridge until 31 August.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Address:                           Bridge Theatre, 3 Potters Fields Park, London, SE1 2SG

Box Office:                        0333 320 0051 or [email protected]

Access:                            0333 320 0051 or [email protected]

Website:                           www.bridgetheatre.co.uk

Twitter:                            @_bridgetheatre

Instagram:                        _bridgetheatre

Facebook:                         facebook.com/bridgetheatrelondon

Fiery Angel and Ambassador Theatre Group Productions present the Bristol Old Vic, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, and Fuel production of 
TOUCHING THE VOID
Based on the book by Joe Simpson
Adapted by David Greig

• PRODUCERS ANNOUNCE CASTING FOR THE WEST END TRANSFER OF TOM MORRIS’ PRODUCTION OF TOUCHING THE VOID
• THE PRODUCTION WILL OPEN IN PREVIEWS AT THE DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE ON NOVEMBER 9^TH WITH AN OPENING NIGHT OF NOVEMBER 14^TH
• TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW

Casting has today been announced for Touching The Void. Following critically acclaimed runs at the Bristol Old Vic, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Hong Kong Festival and on Tour in the UK Tom Morris’ production of Touching the Void will see original cast members Fiona Hampton, Patrick McNamee and Josh Williams return to the show, joined by Angus Yellowlees. The show will open in the West End at the Duke of York’s Theatre previewing from November 9^th for a strictly limited season with an opening night of November 14^th.

Fiona Hampton will play Sarah. Her theatre credits include: Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare’s Globe); Tamburlaine (Yellow Earth/Arcola Theatre and UK tour); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (New Wolsey Theatre); Private Lives (Octagon Theatre/New Victoria Theatre); Winter Hill, The Glass Menagerie, Tull, Of Mice and Men, Lighthearted Intercourse (all Octagon Theatre); Don’t Laugh (Cockpit Theatre); Playhouse Creatures (Chichester Festival Theatre); The Changeling (The Production Works/Southwark Playhouse); Roar, Clockheart Boy (Rose Theatre Kingston); The Merchant of Venice (Derby LIVE). Film includes: The Good Neighbour, Revolution, Kingsman: Secret Service, The Windmill, Legacy. Television includes: The Collection (Amazon Prime/BBC Worldwide); Switch (ITV); Holby City (BBC); The Sarah Jane Adventures (DW Productions).

Patrick McNamee will play Richard. His theatre credits include: French Without Tears (Orange Tree Theatre); The History Boys (Selladoor); Sweeney Todd, A Few Good Men, Love and a Bottle, The Way of the World, Three Sisters, Hamlet, Women Beware Women, Iona Rain, For Services Rendered (all LAMDA). Film includes: The Invisible Hours (VR project). Television includes: Series regular on Our Girl, Inspector George Gently (BBC).

Josh Williams will play Joe. His theatre includes: If We Got Some More Cocaine I Could Show You How I Love You (Project Arts Centre); One Night in Miami (Donmar Warehouse); Barbarians (Found 111); New Views: Is There a WIFI in Heaven? (National Theatre); Wendy and Peter Pan (RSC); Love and Information, Our Private Life (Royal Court); Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare’s Globe); Shivered (Southwark Playhouse); Lord of the Flies (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre). Television includes: Doctors, May Day, Holby City (BBC); Agatha Raison (Sky One); Midsomer Murders, Law and Order (ITV).

Angus Yellowlees will play Simon. Angus trained at LAMDA graduating in 2017 where credits whilst training included Bury Fair, Hobson’s Choice and The Cherry Orchard. Screen credits include The Last Commanders (BBC) and We Have Everywhere To Go (NFTS). Radio work includes The Balloaloes and The Gnats. Angus is originally from the Scottish Borders and is a keen climber. Touching the Void will be his professional stage debut.

Bristol Old Vic’s Tom Morris (War Horse, Swallows & Amazons,) directs the first stage version of Touching the Void, adapted by The Lyceum’s David Greig (The Events, The Suppliant Women, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) from the award-winning memoir by Joe Simpson, which also became a BAFTA-winning film. They are joined by Designer Ti Green, Sound Designer and Composer Jon Nicholls, Lighting Designer Chris Davey, Movement Director Sasha Milavic Davies and with casting by Jill Green CDG. This production marks the 30^th anniversary of the publication of Joe Simpson’s best-selling memoir, charting his extraordinary struggle for survival on the perilous Siula Grande mountain in the Peruvian Andes. Alongside this struggle is the appalling dilemma of his climbing partner Simon Yates, perched on an unstable snow-cliff, clinging onto the rope tying him to the severely injured Joe. Unable to recover Joe from the void, Simon is faced with the agonising decision to cut the rope that binds them…

LISTINGS

Touching the Void 
Based on the book by Joe Simpson
Adapted by David Greig
Directed by Tom Morris

Performance Dates:

Duke of York’s Theatre
St Martin’s Lane, Charing Cross, London WC2N 4BG
TouchingTheVoidPlay.com
0844 871 7623
Saturday 9th November 2019 – Saturday 29th February 2020
Monday – Saturday 7:30 pm
Wednesday and Saturday 2.30pm
First Saturday matinee 16th November
First Wednesday matinee 20th November 

@TheVoidPlay
#TouchingTheVoid

Tickets from £15
Groups Bookings: 020 7206 1174
Access Bookings: 0844 871 7677

Full casting announced for the Box of Tricks premiere of Daniel Kanaber’s new play Under Three Moons

Box of Tricks are delighted to announce full casting for the premiere of Daniel Kanaber’s (Shiver,Watford Palace Theatre) new play Under Three Moons which will start its Autumn tour at The Lowry, Salford in late September.

The production’s two-hander will feature Darren Kuppan (Around The World In 80 Days, Hamlet, A Christmas Carol, Road, Europe  (all as part of the Leeds Playhouse Ensemble), Guards At The Taj (Bush Theatre), Cymbeline & The Tempest (Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre), East Is East (Trafalgar Studios & UK Tour) and An August Bank Holiday Lark (Northern Broadsides) as Paul and Kyle Rowe (Eastenders, Coronation Street and Peaky Blinders) as Michael.

Spanning half a lifetime,Under Three Moonstakes place on three nights across three decades of two friends’ lives. From a school trip to France as teenagers, to a surf shack in their twenties, to Christmas in their thirties, Mike and Paul meet up and talk into the night. From boyhood to manhood to fatherhood, these are the nights they share.

The new play tells the story of the two men growing together, a relationship that’s close but often unarticulated. It also explores how that lack of direct expression can become the defining trait in a life and the shifting view of male identity in today’s society from talk of ‘lad culture’ to the ‘metro-sexual’ and now ‘toxic masculinity’.  

The production is directed by Box of Tricks’ Joint Artistic Director and co-founder Adam Quayle (Plastic Figurines, Box of Tricks) and is designed by award-winning designer Katie Scott (Narvik, Box of Tricks and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse Studio Design Prize).

Under Three Moons will open at The Lowry, Salford from the 24-28 September and then tours until the 2 November to Huddersfield, Liverpool, Crewe, Hull, Leeds, Ormskirk, York, Newcastle, Mold and Whitehaven.  

For further information and tickets for Under Three Moons and Box of Tricks, visitwww.boxoftrickstheatre.co.uk.

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

ANGELA’S ASHES – THE MUSICAL

AS IT MAKES UK PREMIERE

AT CROYDON’S FAIRFIELD HALLS

TUESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 5 OCTOBER 2019

The critically acclaimed Irish production of Angela’s Ashes – The Musical will make its UK premiere this autumn, playing the Ashcroft Theatre at Croydon’s Fairfield Halls from Tuesday 24 September – Saturday 5 October.

With music and lyrics by Adam Howell and book by Paul Hurt, this major musical adaptation of Frank McCourt’s best-sellingmemoir is directed by Thom Southerland and tells the remarkable story of the author’s childhood in Limerick and of the McCourt family’s inspirational rise from adversity to triumph.

As his parents struggle to provide for him and his brothers in 1940s Ireland, we follow young Frank’s escapades and experiences in a Dickensian landscape peopled by a drunken father, a helpless mother, pompous priests, bullying schoolmasters and money-lenders culminating in his defiant escape to a new life in America.

Irish musical theatre legend Jacinta Whyte returns to the production to star as ‘Angela’, alongside Eoin Cannon as Frank and Marty Maguire as ‘Malachy’.

The full cast includes Norma Sheahan as ‘Mrs Finucane’, Amanda Minihan as ‘Grandma’, Bryan Burroughs as ‘Quasimodo’,Connor Gormley as ‘Malachy Jnr’, Fiona Browne as ‘Nora’, Michael Joseph as ‘Billy Heffernan’, David O’Meara as ‘Uncle Pat’, Mark O’Regan as ‘Mr Griffin’, Brigid Shine as ‘Theresa Carmody’ and Cáit Moloney as ensemble.

Thom Southerland said, “I’m delighted that Angela’s Ashes is coming to the Fairfield Halls – my local theatre. We worked on the show two years ago in Ireland and did a small tour, but we’ve always had hopes and aspirations that it would come to the UK and I couldn’t be more pleased that it’s making its UK premiere in Croydon!”

Described by The New York Times as a “stunning memoir” back in 1996, the publication of Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes caused a literary sensation. The book climbed quickly to the top of that newspaper’s Bestseller lists and remained there for nearly three years, selling 4 million copies in hardback alone. Since then, sales of over 10 million copies worldwide have become a phenomenon continuing to attract a global readership.

As well as a fixture on the bestseller lists on  both  sides  of  the Atlantic, the book won multiple accolades including the Pulitzer Prize and the US National Critics Circle Book Award in 1997, has been listed in The Guardian as one of the top 50 best-selling books of all time and has been translated into 126 languages.

McCourt’s memoir of growing up in the ‘Lanes of Limerick’ was followed by a 1999 Alan Parker film.

Angela’s Ashes – The Musical is directed by Thom Southerland, with set and costume design by Francis O’Connor, lighting design by Sinead McKenna, movement direction by Ste Clough, and sound design by Jason Fallon. David Hayes is Musical Director and Mike Dixon is Musical Supervisor, with Original Arrangements & Orchestrations by Colm Ó Foghlú and Arrangements & Orchestrations by Joe Csibi. Angela’s Ashes – The Musical is produced by Pat Moylan.

Harold Pinter Theatre – until 31 August 2019

Reviewed by Elizabeth J Smith

5*****

I read the book in 1994, many years ago and remember the first third of the book being a little hard going as many characters were introduced with complex stories and wondering how they would all come together. I nearly gave up but was assured by a friend to persevere and I was so
glad I did. It became one of my all time favourite reads. I was extremely excited years later when the film was released and although I enjoyed it, it lacked the intimacy of the book which I thought was inevitable when condensing a long story. However, Rona Munro’s adaptation has proved me wrong. She encapsulates the tranquil life of the Greek island, Cephalonia, as the locals go about their business with the war raging on in the rest of Europe but had yet to touch them.

The islander’s doctor, Dr Iannis, played by Joseph Long and his daughter Pelagia, Madison Clare, live a simple life dealing with minor medical emergencies and tending their animals. Pelagia dreams of becoming a doctor like her Father while being pursued by suitors who don’t quite come up to her ambitions until Madras, Ashley Gayle, wins her heart. We meet Francesco, Fred Fergus and Carlo, Ryan Donaldson, Italian soldiers far from home and wondering what this war is all about. The friendship develops through the scenes and we learn of the terrible turmoil being at war can do to a man’s sanity. Friendship is everything and when that turns to love so be it. We see the battles that the Greeks and the Italians endured, the horrors of war where both sides seem to win and lose. With the full force of the German army arriving to settle the argument. When finally the villagers are now in the thick of conflict having to share their homes with the enemy, but are they all bad? Captain Corelli’s, Alex Mugnaioni, arrival divides loyalties and wins hearts, as he is more interested in the power of music than winning the war.

And now to the goat, Luisa Guerreiro. This is probably one of the best character interpretation I have seen on any stage. When you walk like a goat, sound like a goat and have the mannerisms of a goat, you are a goat. Well Done. The same can be said for Elizabeth Mary Williams, who plays the Greek cat Psipsina. Twisting and curling her body in very cat like ways.

Congratulations to Mayou Trikerioti for set design and costumes. With a “tin foil” back drop that reflects the beauty of the island and the ugliness of war perfectly.

Rona Munro bought humour where often none would be found and Melley Still bought the characters from the book to life and did not disappoint. Not forgetting the beautiful music composed by Harry Blake, that instantly takes you to a Greek island or Italian opera house.

It is a great story of love, family, friendship, loyalty and loss. Of happy times and sad. Of broken promises and broken dreams.

I left the theatre feeling exactly as I did when I finished reading the book, I wanted more.

If you too, loved the book you will not be disappointed by this play and if you haven’t read the book you will leave loving the character’s, with whom you have travelled through time with each and every one of them.

Then, Now Always: Spectacular gala celebrates 120 years of Birmingham Hippodrome and reveals bold ambitions for the future

Guests from Birmingham and across the region celebrated 120 years of Birmingham Hippodrome in style at a sparkling flagship Gala event this weekend. Hosted by Hippodrome panto favourite Matt Slack and sponsored by Birmingham Conference and Events Centre, the special anniversary evening reflected on the rich heritage of the theatre, showcased its brilliant talent and revealed ambitious plans for the venue’s future.

Hippodrome Associate Artists Motionhouse kicked off the evening with a free public performance of their new Hippodrome-commissioned piece Wild outside the venue at Hippodrome Square. Guests then walked the red carpet to a drinks reception, supported by Champagne sponsor Laurent-Perrier, before being ushered into the auditorium by dhol drummers and a dance and tabla vox performance by another Hippodrome Associate, Sonia Sabri Company.

Taking their seats on the world-famous Hippodrome stage, guests tucked in to a sumptuous three course meal, and were treated to stellar performances from principle cast members of Wicked, Six The Musical and The Phantom of the Opera, alongside Birmingham Hippodrome’s own Zoo Nation Young Company and the cast of West Side Story, the first community musical produced by Birmingham Hippodrome for the main stage.

BBC’s Satnam Rana hosted a lively Q&A session with Artistic Director & Chief Executive Fiona Allan and Glenn Howells, Chair of Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust, where grand ambitions were revealed to further grow the venue’s festivals programme, develop and diversify its programming and audiences work and to open up the building even more with an exciting future vision. Fiona Allan revealed plans to redevelop the front of the building to be more visible, new performances spaces and rehearsal facilities for schools and community us, to upgrade the venue to a truly world-class facility.

As well as marking 120 years since there has been an entertainment venue on the Hippodrome site, the celebratory gala also raised funds towards their education, youth and outreach work and the further development of Hippodrome Projects. Proceeds totalled nearly £40,000, which will further support the work the theatre does with young people inside and outside of schools and the development of further Hippodrome Projects with our city and region’s communities.

The spectacular evening closed with a performance from Midlands-born international star (and previous panto performer) Beverley Knight, followed by an after party in the venue’s Patrick Studio.

Fiona Allan, Artistic Director & Chief Executive said: “Our Gala was a fantastic celebration showcasing all we have to offer, from our talented Zoo Nation Young Company to the cast of our first community musical West Side Story and the best in West-End talent like Phantom of the Opera,arriving here in 2020.

We want the Hippodrome to reflect a city and region as young and diverse as ours is. We’re now open all day and are proud to be a public space in the city. We’ve increased the number of free and low cost activities, curated new visual arts programmes and expanded our free festivals programme. We also want to create a place where future performing artists can make a career, so we will continue to invest in commissioning and presenting the best local artists. We have many more ambitions for the future of the Hippodrome, from the co-commissions we’ve brought to the main stage during our 120th year to the building itself, ensuring Birmingham Hippodrome continues to contribute, and shape, the cultural life of the region over the coming decades .”

Vincent Garrington, General Manager at Holiday Inn Birmingham City Centre and the Birmingham Conference & Events Centre (BCEC), said: “The Birmingham Hippodrome is an iconic venue for arts and culture and we are thrilled to support and mark 120 years of live performances through our recent sponsorship. As a major leisure destination in the heart of the city just like the BCEC, we felt that it was a great partnership.

“The gala evening was a fantastic celebration of the venue’s past, present and future. As I mentioned during my speech at the event, the greatest recognition our city can give to the important role that The Hippodrome plays in our society is to build the long awaited Hippodrome Square. The new square will ensure that Birmingham Southside cements its position as the city’s festival hub.”

Glenn Howells, Chair of Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust added: “Great cities have great cultural centres, and we want to ensure the Hippodrome is the cultural centre for Birmingham. Our ambition to transform the building and its foyer spaces will make the Hippodrome a space in the city that people can be creative in and enjoy without having to pay for a ticket”

The Gala was a highlight of a year-long programme of events celebrating 120 years of Birmingham Hippodrome. Upcoming events include a co-production with Curve Leicester of The Color Purple;,a new production of West Side Story, Birmingham Hippodrome’s first home-grown youth production for the main stage, a new sculpture commission, and some special birthday celebrations in October with trademark Hippodrome surprises and flair.

APPICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR SECOND INTAKE AT

HOPE ARIA ACADEMY IN MANCHESTER – LAUNCHING SEPTEMBER 2019

Applications are now open for the Autumn/Winter intake of theatre students at Hope Aria Academy in Manchester – following a hugely successful inaugural 12-week programme.

Hope Aria Academy is a new and exciting part-time drama course situated in the city of Manchester, which focuses on acting, singing and dancing.

Students can either take classes in all three disciplines or choose single modules in one specific area.

Hope Aria Academy was founded by Katy Lipson, Joseph Houston and William Whelton and came from the need for more opportunities for Northern based performers to specialise in Musical Theatre.

All three founders have backgrounds in Musical Theatre training and are currently full time producers and theatre owners, actively working in the industry – in Manchester they are well known for their ground-breaking and critically-acclaimed productions at Hope Mill Theatre.

The course is tailored for individuals who have either already trained professionally and are looking for a fresh approach to training within a smaller more focused atmosphere, individuals who are not yet ready to make the leap to full time drama training and require further tuition, and mature students who have experience in musical theatre and want to 
re-skill to return to the industry.

Students will also be introduced to the wider creative industry with regular guest teachers in all three disciplines of acting, singing and dance.

The first course concludes soon and applications are now being taken for the second course, which launches in September.

There will be one full scholarship place available, funded by Hope Aria Academy, with auditions for this taking place in August, date TBC.

In addition to the 12-week programme, Hope Aria Academy will also hold a number of industry-style professional workshops, open to non-academy students.

These will include a workshop from casting director Jane Deitch (Thursday 3^rd October) and a producer workshop with Will Whelton, Joseph Houston and Katy Lipson (Sunday 17^th November) – who in 2018 and 2019 were ranked in the UK’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Theatre by The Stage.

Will, Joe and Katy said: “It has always been a passion of ours to nurture and develop home grown talent. Hope Aria Academy was established to fill a much-needed gap in the North West for Musical Theatre training and we were overwhelmed with the response to our first part time course that launched in April this year. And we are delighted to announce our second course that will run this autumn.

“Students will have the opportunity to work on the three disciplines of Acting, Singing and Dance in a safe, supportive and professional environment. With guest teachers active in the Musical Theatre industry imparting wisdom and inspiring our students.”

Stage and screen actress Hayley Tamaddon is patron of Hope Aria Academy and taught a workshop as part of the last programme.

Hayley said: “I’m thrilled to be a patron of Hope Aria Academy. The work they produce is outstanding. Ranging from dance to musical theatre to tv acting, the students here are taught everything to do with this wonderful profession we call show business! And I’ll look forward to doing a spot more teaching there myself in the new term!”  

Students who have recently received instruction at Hope Aria Academy have given positive testimonials to the teaching they received.

“Hope Aria Academy has been an invaluable learning experience for me. I have developed as a performer within a supportive and challenging course focusing on three modules; acting, singing and dance. I am more aware of my strengths as a performer and areas that may need more focus. I have worked with inspirational industry professionals and alongside some amazing like-minded artists. I feel confident in my abilities moving forward into further training or working in the industry.”Katherine Reynolds – Student.

“I joined Hope Aria Academy for their 12-week singing course and it had been an invaluable experience. As someone with little prior knowledge of Musical Theatre and singing in general, it has been a pleasure to be immersed in a new environment. I have discovered just how hard the work is and, equally, just how rewarding.” Daniel Brennan – Student.

Hope Aria Academy’s next intake will launch on Monday 16^th September 2019 and run on Monday (dance), Tuesday (singing) and Wednesday (acting) evenings from 6.30pm to 9.30pm at Hope Aria House, Unit 15 Wellington House, Manchester, M40 7FS. Students can take the full course or can opt for single modules.

For more information on Hope Aria Academy, fees and how to apply, please visithttps://www.hopeariaacademy.com/.

Professional Workshops:

Casting Director Workshop with Jane Deitch – Thursday 3^rd October 2019, 10am – 6pm. £45.

Producing Workshop with Katy Lipson, Joseph Houston and William Whelton – Sunday 17^th November 2019, 2pm – 5pm. £25

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pg/HopeAriaAcademy

Twitter: @HopeAriaAcademy

Instagram: @HopeAriaAcademy

COMPOSERS TENNANT/LOWE OF PET SHOP BOYS TO CREATE MUSIC FOR STAGE ADAPTATION OF

Hanif Kureishi‘s

MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE

OPENS AT CURVE, LEICESTER – 20 SEP – 5 OCT

“Could anyone in their right mind call this silly little island off of Europe their home?”

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe of iconic British pop duo Pet Shop Boys join the production team for upcoming stage adaptation of Hanif Kureishi’s My Beautiful Laundrette, creating music to bring the 80s-set drama to life.

A Curve, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Everyman Theatre Cheltenham and Leeds Playhouse co-production,Tennant/Lowe have composed original music for the play.

Since their first record release in 1984, Pet Shop Boys have sold over 50 million records worldwide. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe are also known for their theatre music, including original stage musical Closer to Heaven (being revived in London this summer) and the ballet The Most Incredible Thing, a collaboration with choreographer Javier de Frutos produced by Sadler’s Wells. This summer at the Edinburgh Fringe, Pet Shop Boys will present the world premiere of MUSIK, a new cabaret show with a script by Jonathan Harvey.

Speaking about composing music for My Beautiful Laundrette, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe said:

“It’s wonderful to be part of the team bringing My Beautiful Laundrette from the screen to the stage and we’ve enjoyed writing mainly instrumental music to be presented within a British Asian context.”

Curve Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster said:

“It is a testament to the extraordinary world and characters Hanif has created, that Neil and Chris have come on board to compose music for our autumn drama. As the Pet Shop Boys, Tennant and Lowe have created some of the greatest pop tunes ever written and we are thrilled they are bringing their astonishing talents to this production.

“Alongside our tremendous acting company and design team led by Grace Smart, it’s shaping up to be a very exciting project!”

Set in London during the Thatcher years, My Beautiful Laundrette tells the story of young British Pakistani, Omar, who transforms his Uncle’s run-down launderette into a thriving business. After being confronted by a fascist gang, Omar recognises school-friend Johnny and uses their history to diffuse the situation. As they renovate the laundrette together, love blossoms between them. This culture clash comedy is also a subversive work of social realism, sprinkled with magic and joy running through the rich veins of Kureishi’s writing.

Playing the role of Omar in this new play is Omar Malik (East is East, Nottingham Playhouse); Jonny Fines (An Officer and a Gentleman at Curve) will play rebellious punk Johnny. Gordon Warnecke, who originally played Omar in Stephen Frears’ 1985 film, joins this new cast as Papa, Omar’s Father.

The cast is completed by Paddy Daly, Kammy Darweish, Hareet Deol, Nicole Jebeli, Balvinder Sopal andCathy Tyson.

This bold new production of Hanif Kureishi’s ground-breaking Oscar-nominated screenplay opens at Curve 20 Sep – 5 Oct. The show will then tour to Everyman Theatre Cheltenham (8 – 12 Oct), Leeds Playhouse (15 – 26 Oct), Belgrade Theatre Coventry (29 Oct – 2 Nov) and Birmingham Repertory Theatre (5 – 9 Nov).

Production Team

Director – Nikolai Foster
Designer – Grace Smart

Composers – Tennant/Lowe
Lighting Designer – Ben Cracknell
Sound Designer – Tom Marshall

Fight Director – Kevin McCurdy
Casting Director – Kay Magson CDG

Tour Listings:

Curve, Leicester
20 Sep – 5 Oct
www.curveonline.co.uk
Tickets on-sale now

Everyman Theatre Cheltenham
8 – 12 Oct
www.everymantheatre.org.uk
Tickets on-sale now

Leeds Playhouse
15 – 26 Oct
www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk
Tickets on-sale now

Belgrade Theatre Coventry
29 Oct – 2 Nov
www.belgrade.co.uk
Tickets on-sale soon

Birmingham Repertory Theatre
5 – 9 Nov
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
Tickets on-sale soon