CELEBRATE THE YEAR MARIE ANTOINETTE WAS BORN WITH ALL TICKETS FOR THE FIRST THREE PREVIEWS £17.55
Following electrifying try-out performances at The Lyric Theatre last year, Bill Kenwright Ltd and Paul-Taylor Mills present the brand-new musical, come gig, come ballet, now back for a full reign. This time, one of the most prolific monarchs in history has found her (rightful) home at a palace…The Other Palace, to be exact from 13 September 2024 for a strictly limited season.
In celebration of our central figure, all tickets for the first three performances (Friday 13 and Saturday 14 September) will be priced at £17.55, which was the year Marie Antoinette was born.
Joining the previously announced West End stars Zizi Strallen (Mary Poppins; Strictly Ballroom) as Marie Antoinette and Renée Lamb(Be More Chill; SIX) as Jeanne, the royal court is now complete with star of SIX The Musical and The Cher Show, Millie O’Connell joining the cast as Nicole, and fresh from the Kit Kat Club, reprising his role of the Cardinal, having previously played it during Cake’s 2023 UK Tour, is Travis Ross.
The company is completed by Lila Eccles (Cinderella), Tarik Frimpong (The Drifters Girl), Sunny Lee (Hillsong Carols), Zara MacIntosh (& Juliet), Emma Robotham-Hunt (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) and Manu Sarswat (London Stage Debut) in the ensemble.
From some of the most exciting figures in modern British theatre, Cake: The Marie Antoinette Playlist continues its journey, following a successful UK tour at the start of 2023 and five performances in the West End last September, it now returns for a limited season in London this autumn.
Cake: The Marie Antoinette Playlist has an award-winning creative team, including Morgan Lloyd Malcolm (Emilia – The Globe), Tasha Taylor Johnson (The Cat In The Hat), singer-song writer Jack McManus with Bronagh Lagan(Cruise) and Christopher Tendai(Closer To Heaven) joining as director and choreographer respectively, as they build on Olivier Award winner Drew McOnie (In the Heights; Jesus Christ Superstar)’s original show.
Combining a multi-genre pop score with 18th century France, Cake: The Marie Antoinette Playlist, retells a story that sparked a revolution. Marie Antoinette’s reign was blighted by gossip and scandal. But when she is implicated in a crime to defraud the crown jewellers of a diamond necklace, it is not just her reputation at stake, but the monarchy and France itself.
Cake was originally commissioned by Paul Taylor-Mills (Heathers; In the Heights) and promises to re-define our expectations of what a musical can be.
Cake: The Marie Antoinette Playlist has book by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm and Tasha Taylor Johnson, music and lyrics by Jack McManus and Tasha Taylor-Johnson, directed by Bronagh Lagan based on the original staging by Drew McOnie with additional choreography by Christopher Tendai. Set and costume design by Sami Fendall, lighting design by Joshie Harriette and casting by Will Burton.
LISTINGS
BILL KENWRIGHT LTD & PAUL TAYLOR-MILLS PRESENT
CAKE: THE MARIE ANTIONETTE PLAYLIST
THE OTHER PALACE
13 SEPTEMBER – 10 NOVEMBER 2024
Book by Morgan Lloyd Malcom and Tasha Taylor Johnson Music and Lyrics by Tasha Taylor Johnson and Jack McManus
Directed by Bronagh Lagan based on the original staging by Drew McOnie
Additional choreography by Christopher Tendai Based on an idea by Paul Taylor Mills
Performance Schedule:Tuesday – Friday at 7.30pm Saturday at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
DIRECTED BY STEPHEN JOSEPH THEATRE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR PAUL ROBINSON
SHAKESPEARE NORTH PLAYHOUSE
28 FEBRUARY – 22 MARCH 2025
STEPHEN JOSEPH THEATRE
27 MARCH – 19 APRIL 2025
A stag do in Ibiza. A hen do in Menorca. What could go wrong? Everything…
Shakespeare North Playhouse and the Stephen Joseph Theatre today announce a vibrant new adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies, Love’s Labour’s Lost (More or Less) for 2025. Opening at Shakespeare North Playhouse Friday 28 February to Saturday 22 March, with a national press night on Tuesday 4 March 2025 at 7pm, Love’s Labour’s Lost (More or Less) will then play at the Stephen Joseph Theatre from Thursday 27 March – Saturday 19 April.
The show follows on from the huge success of the two theatres’ co-production of The Comedy of Errors (more or less) in the spring of 2023, which was UK Theatre Award-nominated.
Directed by Stephen Joseph Theatre’s Artistic Director Paul Robinson, this new adaptation, again by Elizabeth Godber and Nick Lane, will set the story of four young men attempting to improve themselves by swearing off sex in mid-90s Ibiza… Shakespeare’s riotous comedy is brought to life in the nineties, featuring belting musical numbers in the era of boy bands and Girl Power.
A new adaptation by Elizabeth Godber and Nick Lane set in mid-90s Ibiza
The stags have made a solemn promise to each other: this is a boys’ weekend. Don’t talk to any girls, don’t even think about any girls and most importantly, do not contact the hens.
The hens are ready for fun in the sun when the resort calls to say they’ve had to relocate them… to a hotel in Ibiza. Both groups of revellers are stuck on the same Mediterranean island. Cue: shoddy disguises, mislaid love letters and theatrical chaos.
Co-writer Elizabeth Godber said, “I’m so excited to be back working with Nick, the SJT and Shakespeare North on another hilarious Shakespeare adaptation. Love’s Labour’s Lost is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays, and to get the chance to play with the language, develop the (already great) female characters, and add in plenty of 1990s pop classics has been an absolute joy! I can’t wait for audiences to come and see the show it’s funny, irreverent, and I’m sure Shakespeare would approve – he would have definitely been a Britpop fan!”
Director Paul Robinson says: “We had the most enormous fun making The Comedy of Errors (more or less) in the spring of 2023, and our audiences did too! We couldn’t resist following it up with another of the Bard’s early comedies, this time set a decade later in the midst of the party era that was the 1990s. We’ll again be including some great music from the period, and just wait until you see those 90s fashions again…”
Laura Collier,Creative Director at Shakespeare North Playhouse, “After the success of our 2023 co-production of Comedy of Errors (More or Less)—a show so entertaining that people kept coming back for more—we knew we had to join forces again.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to be working with the Stephen Joseph Theatre again, alongside the talented writers Nick Lane and Elizabeth Godber. We all share a deep love for Shakespeare and his timeless tales, and a passion for exploring and presenting fresh, exciting perspectives and reworkings. A perfect foundation for an outrageously fun Love’s Labour’s Lost. We can’t wait to see what lies in store when we’re all transported back to the 90s”
Casting and creative team to be announced.
Tickets are available from the Shakespeare North Playhouse box office on 0151 433 7156 and online at www.shakespearenorthplayhouse.co.uk (from Tuesday 20 August) and from the Stephen Joseph Theatre box office on 01723 370541 and online at www.sjt.uk.com from 10am on Wednesday 4 September.
Dreamworks classic ‘Madagascar’ has been adapted to a stage musical, and it is the perfect family treat this holiday!
Following the main plot of the film, 4 animals escape New York Zoo and end up in Madagascar…’The Wild!!’ Alex the Lion (Joseph Hewlett) Marty the Zebra (Francisco Gomes) Gloria the Hippo (Jarnéia Richard-Noel) and Melman the Giraffe (Joshua Oakes-Rogers) are our 4 main characters, each bringing a different element to the show. They work well together, but for me, Melman (Joshua Oakes-Rogers) was the stand out of this quad. He had the hardest job, bringing to life Melman’s puppet as well as singing and dancing with the others – it was fabulous!! Hewlett was superb as Alex, bringing an extremely cat-like personality to the stage. The 4 get shipped off to Madagascar, where they meet the illustrious King Julien (Connor Keetley), king of the inhabitants of the island. When he meets these ‘New York Giants’, he realises they are able to fight the Foosa, the predators attacking Julien’s tribe. Alex, longing for his comfy life in the zoo, dreams of steak and ends up being banished from the island because he is unable to be around the little creatures. However, through loyalty and friendship, he is rescued and comes to love his new life on the island. King Julien sings the iconic ‘I Like to Move It Move It’ and brings the show to a close with the audience on their feet dancing along. Keetley brought such humour and perfection to this role, it was a perfect performance. The penguins, who are known for ‘Smile and wave’ were brought to life by Gabriel Hinchcliffe, Brogan Mcfarlane and Laura Marie Benson – the most amazing ensemble. They didn’t put a foot wrong, made the audience laugh and added an extra zest to the story with their witty additions.
The costumes and staging were fantastic, transporting the audience right into the heart of the story and when accompanied by Fabian Aloise’ choreography made you believe you were right there!!!
This is the perfect summer holiday treat for adults and kids alike – but with seats selling fast, you’d better ‘Move it Move it’ to snag a spot!
Theatres Trust, the national public advisory and advocacy body for theatres has launched a bursary in the memory of its much-missed colleague Ruth Eastwood, who died in May.
Ruth served on Theatres Trust’s board for nine years and was Vice Chair for her last six. She joined the staff team at Theatres Trust in February 2024 as Theatres Adviser, a role which enabled her to share her knowledge from a long career in regional theatre.
The Ruth Eastwood Bursary will be awarded to a theatre management professional working in their first senior leadership role in a regional theatre building, who embodies Ruth’s spirit of collaboration, support of junior colleagues and passionate advocacy for regional theatre where Ruth spent most of her career. The award is open to chief executives, artistic or management leads, or other members of the senior leadership team e.g. department heads, who have been in their role for no more than three years.
The bursary recipient will be invited to Conference 24: Making Theatres Thrive as a guest of Theatres Trust, including travel and accommodation and the opportunity to share their reflections in a blog published by Theatres Trust. The conference takes place on Tuesday 8 October at The Lowry in Salford.
Jon Morgan, Theatres Trust Director says, Attending the conference will be an excellent opportunity for the recipient to be part of important conversations about theatre, which Ruth was passionate about. However, more importantly, there will be the prestige of being recognised as following in the footsteps of Ruth Eastwood, a theatre superstar who had a huge impact across the sector and is sorely missed.
Roger McCann, Ruth’s partner, says, Ruth was committed to professional development and was always looking for opportunities for people to stretch themselves and try new things. She would have been immensely moved to have this opportunity awarded in her name. So am I.
The simple application process involves sending a CV or similar and answering two questions, one of which was Ruth’s preferred icebreaker “What is your superpower?” The Ruth Eastwood Bursary recipient will be selected by Theatres Trust with the help of Ruth’s partner Roger McCann.
The deadline for applications is noon on Tuesday 10 September. Find out more on the Theatres Trust website www.theatrestrust.org.uk
MY FAVORITE THINGS: THE RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN 80TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
PREMIERES TODAY ON STREAMING PLATFORMS
2023 LONDON CONCERT STARRED AUDRA MCDONALD,
AARON TVEIT, PATRICK WILSON AND MORE
The star-studded My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80thAnniversary Concertis now streaming digitally on-demand in the US, UK, Ireland and Canada. The digital version of the film can be purchased or rented from Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and more. Links to all streaming platforms can be found HERE.
My Favorite Things will include the full concert captured in London in December 2023 at Theatre Royal Drury Lane and allow viewers to experience every performance number and segment originally performed onstage. The landmark event celebrates the historic partnership of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, and features iconic songs from The Sound of Music, South Pacific, Oklahoma! and more, performed by stars of the stage and screen.
The concert was headlined by recent R&H leading lady Joanna Ampil (Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific); two-time Olivier Award® winner Michael Ball; television, film and stage actor Daniel Dae Kim; four-time Olivier Award® winner Maria Friedman; Emmy®, two-time GRAMMY® and six-time Tony Award® winner Audra McDonald; Olivier Award® nominee Julian Ovenden; West End sensation Lucy St. Louis; Tony Award® winner Aaron Tveit; two-time Olivier Award® nominee Marisha Wallace; and two-time Tony®, two-time Golden Globe® and Emmy Award® nominee Patrick Wilson. Also featured are Anna-Jane Casey, Lily Kerhoas, Jonny Labey and Jordan Shaw, among others.
++++
About Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II
After long and highly distinguished careers with other collaborators, Richard Rodgers (Composer, 1902-79) and Oscar Hammerstein II (Librettist/Lyricist, 1895-1960) joined forces in 1943 to create the most successful partnership in American Musical Theatre. Prior to joining forces, Rodgers collaborated with lyricist Lorenz Hart on musical comedies that epitomized wit and sophistication (Pal Joey, On Your Toes, Babes In Arms, and more), while Hammerstein brought new life to operetta and created the classic Show Boat with Jerome Kern. Oklahoma!, the first Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, introduced an integrated form that became known as “the musical play.” Their shows that followed included Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music. Collectively, the Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals have earned Tony, Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, Pulitzer, and Olivier Awards. The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization is a Concord Company, www.concord.com.
Following a stellar sell-out run, four of Shakespeare’s (in)famous characters are back for a national tourand gearing up to tell their side of the story! In this radical reimagining of Shakespeare’s works, 20 Stories High will be blowing off thedustand breathing a new lease of life into Shakespeare’s classics. Tackling stories steeped in racism, patriarchy and violence,these old tales will be repurposed with punchy verses and punky attitude sfor the next generation.All shows will be creatively captioned, with one BSL interpreted show per venue, as well as featuring integrated audio description
This fantastic female and non-binary-led cast will star Mary Savage (Richard, My Richard, Shakespeare North Playhouse;The Boy and The Bird, Liverpool Theatre Festival) as Lady Macbeth, alongside North Irish actor Beca Barton (Perverts, Kings Head Theatre; Our Last First, The Space) as Viola. They will be joined by Brummie-born creative Jada-Li Warrican (The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, Birmingham Rep; We Could All Be Perfect, Sheffield Theatre) in the role of Ophelia,alongside Harriett O’Grady (Richard III, Liverpool Playhouse) as Cleopatra
Striving to break down the stigma around Shakespeare, who the f–k is shakespeare? will retell a range of Shakespearean classics to diversify and encourage lovers, haters and newcomers of his work to explore and hear their stories first hand. Audiences will hear stories from Ophelia in Hamlet, Lady Macbeth from Macbeth, Cleopatra from Antony and Cleopatra, and Viola from Twelfth Night-but not as you know them!In this retelling, they are relatable, young and questioning their place in the world. All their lives, they have been told a specific narrative of who they are, but for the first time they will own the space to figure this out for themselves.
Established in 2006, Liverpool’s award winning 20 Stories High are recognised as one of the leading theatre companies in the UK making work with and for young people and adults. They believe that “everybody’s got a story to tell… and their own way of telling it.” Their ambition is simple-to create bold, excellent theatre, music, and art experiences with culturally diverse, working-class communities, emerging artists, and world-class professionals.Telling stories that bring joy, empower, and enable social change that inhabit a wide variety of spaces, from theatres, community centres, and schools to digital spaces, living rooms, and bus stops
Writer and Director for who the f–k is shakespeare? Ameera Conrad comments, I absolutely love Shakespeare-as a lover of language, how couldn’t I? But as a decolonial activist, I also have to question him. who the f–k is shakespeare? is my way of unpacking Shakespeare’s stories to make space for voices which are largely excluded from the canon of theatre. This piece is apolitical occupation; we’re taking these stories and turning them over to see new sides of these characters. I invite you to reconsider their narratives, and yours. This show is an opportunity to recontextualise and take over a language that can feel impossible to wrap your head around. It’s an opportunity to question what we know about these stories, and write new ones too!
FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED (SKI) SEASON AT THE CRITERION THEATRE FROM 11 SEPTEMBER – 12 OCTOBER 2024
“A triumph” -The New York Times
**** ****
-WhatsOnStage -The Stage
Following a successful stint at the Underbelly at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe and with a run of positive reviews in its tracks, the musical comedy of the Hollywood court case that had the internet gripped in 2023 comes to the West End from Wednesday 11 September 2024
I Wish You Well:The Gwyneth Paltrow Ski-TrialMusical is a four-hander that tells the (mostly) true story of the campest celebrity trial in history: Gwyneth vs Terry. Packed full of iconic moments, the questions about Taylor Swift, and the now famous whisper of ‘I Wish You Well‘ – this is a fast-paced parody that sounds as good as Gwyneth’s candles smell.
Having wowed critics at the Fringe, the full cast will continue in their roles forI Wish You Well at the Criterion Theatre this autumn. This includes X factor star Diana Vickers (Dial M for Murder)as Gwyneth, Marc Antolin (Quiz) as Terry, Tori Allen-Martin (Wild About You) asKristin and Idriss Kargbo (Wicked) as Judge Jude.
Academy Award winner, bone-broth drinker and devastating downhill skier Gwyneth Paltrow has arrived in a snoozy Utah courtroom ready to defend her legacy.
I Wish You Well: The Gwyneth Paltrow Ski-Trial Musical is directed by Shiv Rabheru, music and lyrics by Rick Pearson, book with additional lyrics by Roger Dipper and choreography by Arlene Phillips. Musical direction by Debbi Clarke with associate director and choreographer Tinovimbanashe Sibanda, design by David Shield, lighting design by Alex Lewer, sound design by Dan Samson and casting by Seth Mason CDG. On guitar is Dominic Barker and drums is Joel Mulley-Goodbarne. Originally commissioned by Ben Lockwood
The world premiere of I Wish You Well was one of four productions produced by Paul Taylor-Mills at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024. With Come Dine with Me The Musical and SILENCE! The Musicalnow set to play at the Turbine Theatre this September/October and Rob Madge’s joyous, chaotic Olivier nominated autobiographical show My Son’s a Queer (But What Can You Do?) continues its UK Tour.
LISTINGS I Wish You Well 11 September – 12 October 2024
Directed by Shiv Rabheru
Music and Lyrics by Rick Pearson Book with Additional Lyrics by Roger Dipper Choreography by Arlene Phillips
Wessex Grove and Gavin Kalin Productions today announce that Cate Blanchett and Tom Burke will star in Duncan Macmillan and Thomas Ostermeier’s new version of Chekhov’s masterpiece The Seagull. Also directed by Ostermeier, the production will play a limited 6 week run at the Barbican Theatre from February 2025.
Tickets starts at £20, and for every performance there are over 100 tickets at that price.
The Seagull marks a return to the Barbican stage for Cate Blanchett following her performance in Botho Strauss’ Big and Small (Gross und Klein), in 2012, adapted by Martin Crimp and directed by Benedict Andrews for Sydney Theatre Company (STC), where Blanchett was co-Artistic Director alongside Andrew Upton. Early in their tenure at STC they welcomed Thomas Ostermeier to the company with his acclaimed production of Hamlet as part of Sydney Festival.
The production reunites Blanchett and Burke who have recently completed filming on Steven Soderbergh’s Black Bag; and also reunites Ostermeier with Wessex Grove, who collaborated earlier this year on the director’s West End debut – An Enemy of the People with Matt Smith.
Thomas Ostermeier said today, “I have known and admired Cate for many years, and to see her on stage is always a privilege. I am thrilled that we will make our first artistic collaboration with this production of The Seagull at the Barbican, and that London will experience this once in a generation actress in one of the greatest theatrical roles of Arkadina. I’m also very pleased to be forging a new artistic relationship with Tom Burke, who will play the role of Trigorin.”
ON SALE DATES:
7 October 10am Barbican Patrons Priority
4pm Barbican Members Plus Priority
8 October 10am Barbican Members Priority
12pm Wessex Grove Priority
9 October 10amPublic booking opens
Audiences are invited to sign up for more information about The Seagull at www.theseagullplay.co.uk
Full cast and creative team will be announced shortly.
Wessex Grove and Gavin Kalin Productions
in association with the Barbican
present
THE SEAGULL
By Anton Chekhov
A new version by Duncan Macmillan & Thomas Ostermeier
Conceived & Directed by Thomas Ostermeier
Cast includes: Cate Blanchett, Tom Burke
Cate Blanchett and Tom Burke make their return to the stage in Thomas Ostermeier’s new production of Chekhov’s The Seagull.
Blanchett stars as Arkadina, a celebrated actress whose larger-than-life presence dominates both the stage and her personal relationships. Arriving at her family’s country estate for the weekend, she finds herself caught up in a storm of conflicting desires. Her playwright son, Konstantin, struggles to step out of her shadow as he pursues his own artistic ambitions and her lover Trigorin, played by Tom Burke, becomes the object of affection for the aspiring young actress Nina.
As their lives entwine and they each grapple with their desires, ambitions, and disappointments, Chekhov’s timeless story unfolds in a gripping tale of vanity, power, and the sacrifices made in the name of art.
Cate Blanchett plays Arkadina. She served alongside Andrew Upton as co-Artistic Director and co-CEO of Sydney Theatre Company (STC) between 2008-2013, producing 16 shows a year across 4 stages, many of which toured nationally and internationally. Notable productions include Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire directed by Liv Ullman; Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya directed by Tamás Ascher, Steven Soderbergh’s Tot Mom; Benedict Andrews’ productions of The War Of The Roses, Genet’s The Maids and Botho Strauss’ Gross Und Klein; the seminal adaptation of The Secret River by Neil Armfield; numerous productions by director Kip Williams; and Andrew Upton’s The Present directed by John Crowley for which Blanchett earned a Tony Award nomination for its Broadway run. Blanchett’s most recent performance in London was at the National Theatre in Martin Crimp’s When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other directed by Katie Mitchell. Her screen credits include Tár, Nightmare Alley, Don’t Look Up, Ocean’s 8, Thor: Ragnorok, Carol, Blue Jasmine, I’m Not There, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Notes on a Scandal, The Life Aquatic, Indiana Jones and The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, The Lord of The Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit, The Good German, The Aviator, The Talented Mr Ripley and Elizabeth. Blanchett has won numerous awards including two Academy Awards, four BAFTAs, three Golden Globes and four Screen Actors Guild awards. Blanchett is co-Founder and Principal of production company Dirty Films for which she has produced and acted, alongside partners Andrew Upton and Coco Francini, which recently launched PROOF OF CONCEPT, providing support and opportunities to women, trans and non-binary filmmakers. She created and produced the award-winning Audible Original podcast CLIMATE OF CHANGE, and produced EVOLVER, a VR interactive experience which was selected for the first ever Immersive Competition at the Cannes Film Festival. She has presided over festival juries in Cannes and Venice, and The Venice Film Festival has twice awarded her The Volpi Cup for Best Performance. Blanchett holds a BFI Fellowship from the BFI London Film Festival, has received the Stanley Kubrick Award for Excellence in Film and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Numerous other accolades include the Honorary Cesar, International Goya and Chaplin Awards.
Tom Burke plays Trigorin. His theatre work includes Rosmersholm (Duke of York’s Theatre), Don Carlos (UK tour), The Deep Blue Sea, The Doctor’s Dilemma (National Theatre), Reasons to be Happy (Hampstead Theatre), Reasons to be Pretty, Macbeth (Almeida Theatre), Design for Living (The Old Vic), for the Donmar Warehouse, Creditors (also New York, winner of the Ian Charleson Award) and The Cut, and Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare’s Globe). His television work includes Extinction, The Crown,Strike, The Musketeers, War and Peace, Utopia, The Hour, Great Expectations, Casanova, and State of Play; and for film, Furiosa, The Wonder, Klokkenluider, True Things About Me, Mank, The Souvenir, The Invisible Woman,The Libertine, Telstar, Chéri, An Enemy to Die For, Cleanskin, Only God Forgives, The Invisible Woman and The Hooligan Factory.
Since September 1999 Thomas Ostermeier has been resident director and member of the Artistic Direction of the Schaubühne Berlin. His productions for the company include An Enemy of the People, Death in Venice, The Little Foxes – audience award of the Theatergemeinde Berlin, Richard III – Premio della Critica Teatrale, Bella Figura, Professor Bernhardi, Returning to Reims, History of Violence, Italian Night, Abgrund – co-production with Salzburger Festspiele, Youth Without God, Vernon Subutex, Ödipus, Qui a tué mon Père and The Seagull. His other theatre work includes Der starke Stamm, Vor Sonnenaufgang, Die Ehe der Maria Braun, and Susn (Münchner Kammerspiele), The Girl on the Sofa (Edinburgh Festival – Herald Angel Award), The Master Builder (Burgtheater in Vienna), The Seagull (Théâtre-Vidy, Lausanne), Knives in Hens, Nora – Nestroy Prize and Politika Prize, Hedda Gabler – audience award of the Theatergemeinde Berlin, Die Ehe der Maria Braun, Returning to Reims (Theatertreffen Berlin), John Gabriel Borkman – Grand Prix de la Critique of France, Hamlet – Barcelona Critics Prize and critic’s prize as Best International Production 2011 in Chile, The Cut – critic´s prize at the international theatre festival KONTAKT in Torun, Measure for Measure – Friedrich-Luft-Prize for the Best Theatre Performance in Berlin, La Nuit des rois ou Tout ce que vous voulez (Comédie-Française Paris) – Prix Molière for the best Production in France 2022 – as well as productions across the globe. In November 2004 Ostermeier was appointed Artiste Associé for the Festival d’Avignon by the artistic director of the festival, Vincent Baudriller, and has been presenting shows at the Festival regularly since then. In 2023 he opened the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence with his version of Brecht’s/ Weill’s The Threepenny Opera. He has been appointed Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French ministry of Culture, was German president of the Deutsch-Französischer Kulturrat (DKFR) – German-French Council of Culture, was the recipient of the Golden Lion of the Venice Biennale, Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the KYTHERA-Price for Culture, and is a member of the Deutsche Akademie der Künste, of the Académie de Berlin and of the Deutsch-Französischer Kulturrat, as well as receiving honorary doctorates from the Universities of Kent and Gothenberg.
Duncan Macmillan is an award-winning writer and director. His work has been performed throughout the world, including at the National Theatre, the Royal Court, Old Vic, Almeida, Barbican, St Ann’s Warehouse, Melbourne Theatre Company, Berliner Ensemble, Schaubühne Berlin, Hamburg Schauspielhaus, Burgtheater Wien, Vesturport, Kansallisteatteri, Nationaltheatret Oslo, at the Salzburg Festival, in the West End and on Broadway. His screen work has been shown at the London and Berlin film festivals, on the BBC, Netflix and HBO. Plays include People, Places and Things, Lungs; Every Brilliant Thing; Rosmersholm (adapt. Henrik Ibsen); 1984 (adapt. George Orwell, co-written and co-directed with Robert Icke); City of Glass (adapt. Paul Auster) and 2071 (co-written with Chris Rapley); The Forbidden Zone; Wunschloses Unglück (adapt. Peter Handke); and Reise durch die Nacht (adapt. Friederike Mayröcker), which was selected for Theatertreffen and Festival d’Avignon and awarded the Nestroy Preis for Best German Language Production. People, Places and Things, 1984 and Rosmersholm were all nominated for Olivier Awards.
In association with Oxana Symonds and George Fentonfor BEMUSE Performing Arts UK
STOCKARD CHANNING AND MICHAEL PRAED
IN
THE WORLD PREMIERE OF
THE GATES OF KYIV
THEATRE ROYAL WINDSOR
04-14 September 2024
A play for two actors, a pianist, and a dancer
Theatre Royal Windsor is delighted to announce that one of Hollywood and Broadway’s best-loved actors, Stockard Channing, will take the role of Maria Yudina and renowned British stage and TV actor Michael Praed the role of Shostakovich, narrating the world premiere production of The Gates of Kyiv.
The two actors are joining the cast of The Gates of Kyiv – a unique combination of storytelling, music, and dance – alongside the celebrated Italian-based Russian pianist Gala Chistiakova, and international ballet star Xander Parish OBE, for its world-premiere in Windsor next month.
The Gates of Kyiv tells the story of the extraordinary life of the Soviet piano virtuoso Maria Yudina – fearless protestor, disruptor, and ‘dissident.’ Fiercely defiant of the repressive regime of Joseph Stalin, she publicly denounced him and his regime, yet somehow, she lived. The legend is, she and Stalin met…
The Gates of Kyiv is about the power of the live arts in troubled times, using Yudina’s own original repertoire, ending with her famous and furious rendition of Mussorgsky’s Great Gate of Kyiv. The grandiose designs for the gate which the music references, were intended as a symbol of Tsarist dominance in Ukraine, but it was never actually built. On the 150th anniversary of the piece’s writing, Kyiv stands defiant against Russian invasion.
The Gates of Kyiv is written by playwright, actor and historical biographer Ian Kelly and will be directed by Roxana Silbert.
Nottingham Theatre Royal – until Saturday 24 August 2024
Reviewed by Louise Ford
4****
Be careful who you trust!
The penultimate offering in this summer’s Colin Mcintyre’s Classic Thriller Series is Veronica’s Room by Ira Levin. Talking to Lucy (marketing and publicity for the Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall) she asked if I knew the story. I had to confess that I didn’t. She said that they had decided to give the performance a 15 rating. This was intriguing as the shows in the thriller series are, whilst not light weight, usually good wholesome murders and thrillers, ideal summertime watching! Further intrigue is the cast list in the program. The characters are The Woman (Susan Earnshaw), The Man (Jeremy Lloyd Thomas), The Girl (Hannah Blaikie) and The Boy (David Osmond), so no names! The play is in two acts, Susan and Veronica, so perhaps a bit of a clue? However I’m not going to go into any details about the play for fear of spoiling the enjoyment and tension of the story.
However for anyone not familiar with the works of Ira Levin, he has written some intriguing and notorious novels and plays, Rosemary’s Baby and The Stepford Wives amongst many others.
The action all takes place in one room, Veronica’s room (set design by John Goodrum). Initially the space is dark and all of the furniture shrouded in dust sheets. The light and furniture are unveiled and the story unfolds. It’s a spring evening in 1973, in Boston USA, The four actors are each given good strong roles or personas which requires them to change clothes and accents. This is done seamlessly and effortlessly. The story is perhaps a bit slow paced in the first act. However this is the art of a good psychological drama, setting the scene, drawing you in and making you wonder “just where is this going”. The second act moves at a good pace and the nightmare darkens.
The audience were captivated and totally drawn into the acting and the story.
The outstanding performance for me was by Hannah Blaikie who was able to move from carefree to confusion to hysteria without over acting. Having said that all of the cast were strong and believable and guide you through the plot as they pull the wool over your eyes. So enjoy your evening and don’t have nightmares.
