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Above The Stag presents:

Goodbye Norma Jeane

The untold tale from the Golden Age of Hollywood

Written by Liam Burke
Directed by Robert McWhir

16^th March – 7^th April

Tuesday – Saturday 7:15pm, Sunday 5pm

ABOVE THE STAG THEATRE

72 Albert Embankment London, SE1 7TP

“A show you float away from, romanced by a moment in time that would never live again but for the imaginations of such talented artists.” AussieTheatre.com

“…moving, funny and simply brilliant”Theatre Press (AUS)

It’s the early morning hours of August 5, 1962 and, with a gay pool party playing out in his backyard, Hollywood choreographer Jack Cole wakes to devastating news…

The death of Marilyn Monroe.

Norma Jeane’s suicide signalled the death of glamorous Hollywood’s innocence and the fizzling out of Cole’s own prestige. We join him – the now-unknown architect behind many of Golden Age Hollywood’s most iconic leading ladies and largely uncredited father of theatrical jazz dance – on this tragic morning.

Visited by legends of the hour Lana Turner, Betty Grable and Rita Hayworth and his former assistant Gwen Verdon, rather than grieve, Cole obsesses over memories of how hard Norma Jeane was to work with. As audiences watch him slowly accept reality and graciously say farewell, they are treated to an intimate and untold true story, and an insightful glimpse behind the glitz of showbiz, into the life of a figure who made it tick.

A two-hander, the play features Tim English as Cole, and a myriad of female demigoddesses including Lana Turner, Norma Jeane, Martha Graham, Ann Miller, Gwen Verdon, Jane Russell, Betty Grable and Rita Hayworth all convincingly embodied by a single actress, Rachel Stanley.

Featuring Cole’s original choreography from as early as his 1938 club act (at New York’s Rainbow Room), famous routines such as Gwen Verdon’s Egyptian Dance from the 1951 movie ‘David and Bathsheba’ and thrilling, never-seen choreography, ‘Goodbye Norma Jeane’ is an extensively researched and thoughtful ode to one of dance’s under-acknowledged heroes. Its first run, under original name ‘Good-bye Miss Monroe’, was nominated for a Matilda Award in 2014 which was followed by a sold-out season in Melbourne, Australia.

Line-up announced for My White Best Friend and Other Letters Left Unsaid
The Bunker, 53A Southwark Street London SE1 1RU
Monday 18th – Saturday 23rd March 2019

The full line-up of performers for the week-long festival of letters, My White Best Friend and Other Letters Left Unsaid, has been announced. Could you put your white best friend on stage and remind them that they’re part of the problem? Taking to the stage across the week to blindread the letters are Phoebe Fox (A View from the Bridge, Broadway and West End; The Acid Test, Royal Court Theatre), Ben Bailey Smith (David Brent: Life on the Road, BBC Films; as Doc Brown: Live at the Apollo, BBC) and The Bunker’s own Artistic Director, Chris Sonnex.

The exciting line-up also includes George MacKay (Pride, Pathé; Sunshine on Leith, BFI), Nick Holder (The Threepenny Opera, National Theatre; Everyman, National Theatre), Cherelle Skeete (Fun Home, Young Vic; Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Palace Theatre), Danny Lee Wynter (The Maids, Manchester HOME; Cell Mates, Hampstead Theatre), Shvorne Marks (A Profoundly Affectionate…, Royal Court Theatre; House, Clean Break) and Ria Zmitrowicz (Three Girls, BBC; X,
Royal Court Theatre). These join the previously announced Inès de Clercq (Broadchurch, ITV; Jerusalem, Channel 4), Rosie Day (Watership Down, BBC; Outlander, STARZ), Tom Moutchi (Famalam, BBC; Twitstorm, Park Theatre) and Zainab Hasan (Tamburlaine, RSC; Shakespeare Trilogy, Donmar Warehouse).

Originally part of Black Lives Black Words, De-Lahay’s provocative act of letter writing engages with racial tensions, microaggressions and emotional labour. How do you start the conversation with someone you love about how their beliefs, their unthinking actions, their politics undermine, hurt, erase you? Writer Rachel De-Lahay and director Milli Bhatia have commissioned eleven writers to pen letters that say the unsaid to the people that matter most.

Inspired by the original piece, every night new letters will be given to performers to read for the first time onstage. Some of the most exciting voices in the UK have joined De-Lahay and Bhatia to put pen to paper to tackle the most uncomfortable and thorny issues in today’s society with work from Zia Ahmed, Travis Alabanza, Fatimah Ashgar, Nathan Bryon, Matilda Ibini, Jammz, Iman Qureshi, Anya Reiss, Nina Segal and Tolani Shoneye.

Each night’s line-up will be shared on the day through The Bunker’s social media. The performances will be followed by a DJ set in The Bunker with audiences invited to stay and enjoy the space until late.

Rachel De-Lahay comments, These are some of my favourite writers, who we asked to face some of their biggest fears and gripes about the world today. What we have now is a collection of brave and fearless essays of all the things most people tend to shy away from thinking let alone saying. And we’re going to shoot them out into the ether – for one night only – our very own Snapchat or Insta story of theatre

Fighter by Libby Liburd
Stratford Circus Arts Centre, Theatre Square, London E15 1BX
Thursday 25th – Saturday 27th April 2019
I thought about giving up. But then I remembered who was watching.

Inspired by the pioneering British female boxers who fought for their right to fight, Fighter is a raucously visceral show, combining theatre and live boxing, that packs a real punch. Featuring a cast of genuine young boxers, this show blurs boundaries in an unexplored style that will leave you on the edge of your ringside seat!

Single mum Lee is a fighter. She’s used to fighting the world, alone. No one’s in her corner, she’s down but not out – yet. Then she steps into Tommy’s Gym and everything changes: plunged into the world of boxing, Lee’s fight really begins. What happens when all you can do is grit your teeth and keep moving forward?

Capitalising on the Olympic legacy of ‘firsts’ whereby women were allowed to fight competitively in boxing bouts, which were introduced for the first time in 2012, Fighter is pertinent to seeing how both arts and sports can empower women and young people

Exploring ideas around overcoming adversity, Fighter inherently celebrates women’s resourcefulness and courage. It also questions perceptions of masculinity and femininity, more explicitly the perception of the role of boxing as a violent sport ‘against womankind’ and ‘not for a mother’. Fighter draws on the genuine legacy of the professional female boxers of the late 90s who faced discrimination, sexism and court cases in order to be allowed to fight. It was argued that women shouldn’t be allowed to box on the basis that pre-menstrual tension made women ‘unstable’. At the vanguard of professional women’s boxing, Cathy Brown’s biggest fight was dealing with sexism outside the ring, and her first-hand experiences are why she has chosen to become an ambassador for Fighter. Having become the second woman in the UK to receive a professional boxing license in 1998, she now works with passion and determination to promote equality for women in sport, while helping others using the positive combination of boxing and therapy.

Fresh off the back of acclaimed show Muvvahood, writer/performer Libby Liburd and director Julie Addy present this piece of powerhouse theatre, using their trademark mix of hard-hitting facts, humour and lived experience. Having fought in the ring herself, it is Liburd’s own experience that lends such authenticity to the piece.

The production of Fighter will feature young boxers selected from Fight for Peace’s Newham Academy. The young boxers will re-create an authentic boxing gym environment, where they will practice boxing training drills onstage. While giving young boxers a chance to participate in a professional theatre production, audiences are equally being given a unique and exciting opportunity of experiencing an authentic gym environment, and in doing so encouraging the next generation of theatre goers.

In 2016, Libby Liburd’s show Muvvahood, offered a free onsite creche to parents attending the performance at Stratford Circus Arts Centre; this was one of the first performances ever to offer the service. Liburd is delighted to continue this legacy by offering a free creche at the matinee performance of Fighter on Saturday 27th April.

Fighter is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. It is produced with support from Stratford Circus Arts Centre and Fight for Peace. Additional funders are The Lake House Charitable Foundation and Arts Award Access Fund.

The Lowry, Salford- until Saturday 9 March 2019.

Reviewed by Joseph Everton.

4****

The Lowry theatre, an angular and futuristic venue, seemingly crash landed near the water of Salford Quays like a spaceship returned from outer space, is colourfully lit with strips of purple and splashes of blue which reflect across the water. Almost as though they had the Lowry in mind, Opera North’s first production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute for over ten years was made to sparkle and seemed to draw inspiration from its host. Although a classic from 1791, the production was launched in 21st Century theatre using some stunning lighting and almost extra terrestrial projections which took an already excellent set and brought it to life. Was this stage or cinema?

Director James Brinning’s ambitious reimagining of the original brought a modern twist to the story, opening at a dinner party, with party goers set near the back of the stage and a young girl in bed near the audience. Was she dreaming? I wasn’t really sure, but she was plunged into a world of fantasy, the intricacies of which are challenging to explain. However, there were three all action, Kill Bill inspired ladies played by Lorna James, Helen Evora and Amy J Payne, who slaughtered a monster with swords/ light sabers; soprano, Vuvu Mpofu as Pamina; a talented queen, Samantha Hay; an impressive prince and tenor, Kang Wang, who delivered a perfect vocal; and Papageno who, played by Gavan Ring, delivered a performance which was the highlight of the evening, full of fun and energy.

The first act was playful, lively and blew apart all stuffy opera stereotypes. The stage was always full of colour and movement and over an hour of fun passed in a flash. The story developed nicely, introducing the cult leader and spiteful Sarastro, played with a hint of malice by the run-down John Savournin, who battled on admirably even though struggling with a cold.

The second act was slower and the plot a little confusing but that hardly seemed to matter. The Magic Flute was a feast for the eyes and ears, with Jeremy Sam’s English version of Schikaneder’s libretto making the performance all the more funny and accessible. I was thoroughly entertained.

Richmond Theatre – until 9 March 2019

Reviewed by Prachya Van De Gevel

4****

Art centres on 3 pivotal roles played by 3 middle aged men in a crisis over their viewpoints on a piece of art.

The scenery is very basic with each character defined by a different art or no art installed into their apartment. Curiously I found myself not worrying about the background or scene changes because of the superb acting by the 3 leads. The character of Mark played Denis Lawson sets the first scene in motion and has the most interaction with the audience. We all say that art is subjective and no more so than Mark’s view point on a recent acquisition by Serge, played by Nigel Havers, that seems to cause him great upset and turmoil, almost to the  point that Mark is unable to fathom why he even has a friendship with someone that would consider the 200k masterpiece art. But it’s this relationship I have the biggest issue with.

Whilst I cannot deny the acting is wonderful and the experience of the actors shows to a point of being faultless. I find my mind drifting as to why grown men would take such issues to heart. On further investigation the play is written by a french playwright Yasmina Reza, who, whilst it has moments of wit and clever dialogue, draws out this 1 and a half hour play into an almost tedious back and forth exchange of words and emotions. To the point I kept thinking why are they sharing their deep emotions so much and why is a painting affecting them so much? If I imagine this scenario amongst friends, one would have a laugh at the painting, the other would say well its your money do what you want. Why the need for the painting to be a metaphor of how they perceive each other’s roles in their lives.

Thank goodness the play is lightened by Yvan, the middle man so to speak, played by Stephen Tompkinson. The character is clearly in some crisis and already attending therapy, he has enough on his plate through a crazy bridezilla and a the actions of his mother versus, well, everyone.

Stephen definitely has some of the longest monologues in the play and delivers these brilliantly much to the chagrin of the audience. His whole character is a welcome distraction to the bickering between Mark and Serge, which seemed endless and almost to my sense a bore. Perhaps I am not used to hearing men talk about their feelings so much and in some ways it almost felt uncomfortable. Therein lies the real issue – that perhaps society doesn’t seem comfortable with people airing their feelings and in particular men, and maybe this is why I still rate this 4****

I cannot fault the actors in their commitment and delivery of their lines, but there was plenty of times I was clock watching. I certainly was left stimulated in my thoughts surrounding the staging and the use of the props in their symbolism and how I was interpreting  the scenes. Myself and friend actually discussed more in depth conversation behind the hidden metaphors of the small and subtle nuances that moved each scene along trying to find more to say about that and their relevance to each of the characters perspectives on the painting that had caused all the drama in the first place and all I can say is Art is subjective.

Darlington pantomime favourite Liam Mellor will lead the cast in his #Cracking Easter Show at The Majestic Theatre, Darlington.

Inviting audiences to an action-packed Easter extravaganza with all the aspects of pantomime fun including slapstick comedy, lots of songs and dance with plenty of audience participation – It’s a show that’s suitable for everyone!

Liam is no stranger to the world of Pantomime having already performed in well over 25 Pantomimes, performing alongside some of the biggest stars in showbusiness!

Liam from Redcar will be joined on stage by Top UK Dame Robert Squire as Aunt Annie, singing sensation Rebecca Lake and Funny-Man George Akid, It’s the perfect Easter treat for all the family!

Producer Adam Cookson said: “I’m really looking forward to bringing Liam to Darlington this Easter for an intimate, action packed Easter show, it’s something completely different for the family, who might only get to see Liam at Christmas, I’ve assembled what I believe to be the best pantomime performers in the UK and hope the people of Darlington have an incredible time!”

Liam Mellor said: “I’m excited to be returning to Darlington, I absolutely love the people and the place, everyone is so friendly. I can’t wait for everyone to come along and see this great Easter show, I won’t give too much away but there’s one part in the show that’s going to get VERY messy!”

Performances take place at 11:00am, 2:30pm & 5:30pm on Saturday 20th April 2019 for more information and tickets visit www.majestictheatre-lee.com or call 01325 633296

The best of The Fringe – 3 plays in a week as part of the new Guildford Fringe Weeks.

The Guildford Fringe Weeks launched in February this year and have been a huge success in terms of making theatre more accessible and affordable in the town.

From 8-13 April at The Back Room of The Star Inn you can see three different plays. The themes of these plays include Alzheimer’s, Anorexia and a hilarious take on Shakespeare’s Richard III.

Opening the week is Pip Utton, an Edinburgh Fringe veteran who has performed there for 25 years! This moving and affectionate performance is about the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s disease, not only on the sufferer, but on their family, friends and carers as well.

And Before I forget I love you, I love you is based on Pip and his brother’s experience of seeing their mum deteriorate and die with Alzheimer’s disease and on intensive research and interviews. Pip’s character in the play takes the audience on a journey full of smiles, laughter, respect and tears. Tissues are certainly recommended!

Back by popular demand, The Culture Conspiracy return after their sell-out performance at Guildford Fringe Festival 2018.

When William Shakespeare wrote Richard III he told an epic, dark and nuanced tale. He gave us an enduring and insightful study of deceit, betrayal and the struggle for power. It’s also about four hours long and mightily confusing! That’s why Ian Renshaw and Helen Manners decided to have a bash at tidying up the story and presenting the more… fun side with their Travesty of Richard III.

Fans of the original play will recognise all their favourite goodies and baddies: scheming Richard, bewildered Lady Anne Neville, cursing booze-fiend Queen Margaret D’Anjou, and many more – all played by a cast of two. What could possibly go wrong?!

Newcomers to the piece can expect modern language blended seamlessly with the original Shakespearean text and a couple of songs. Prepare for a great deal of lamenting, dissembling, beholding and cloying (whatever that is). It’s just over an hour long and, frankly, is only slightly less confusing than the original!

Finishing off the trilogy of original theatre is Eat Me by Surrey-born writer Suzanna Walters which deals with the eating disorder Anorexia which played a 4-week season at the acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year.

Eat Me is directed by Birmingham-born actress, writer and director Sally McCormack. It is a thought provoking, often chilling and dramatic exploration of the sensitive subject of eating disorders based on real-life experiences.

Each play is being performed at The Back Room of The Star Inn, Guildford GU1 3TY. And Before I forget I love you, I love you by Pip Utton plays on Monday 8 April, The Travesty of Richard III has two performance on 9 and 10 March and Eat Me runs from 11-13 April.

Tickets range from £10-£12 and can be purchased from GuildfordFringe.com or by calling 01483 361101

Listings

And Before I forget I love you, I love you

Monday 8 April @ 7:30pm

The Back Room of The Star Inn, Quarry Street, Guildford

Tickets £12 + booking fees

Running time is approx. 1 hour

Travesty of Richard III

Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 April @ 7:30pm

The Back Room of The Star Inn, Quarry Street, Guildford

Tickets £10 + booking fees

Running time is approx. 1 hour 15 Minutes

Eat Me

Thursday 11 – Saturday 13 April @ 7:30pm

The Back Room of The Star Inn, Quarry Street, Guildford

Tickets £12 + booking fees

Running time is approx. 1 hour

No refunds or exchanges will be given.

No disabled access to the venue.

You can find the full line-up of Guildford Fringe Theatre Company events here.

Sheffield Lyceum – until 9 March 2019

Reviewed by Lottie Davis-Browne

4****

Welcome to Club Tropicana, where there’s enough for everyone and the drinks are free!*

This brand new 80s themed musical is jam-packed with some of the 80’s biggest hits – from Cyndi Laupers’ Girl’s Just Wanna Have Fun, The Look of Love (ABC), Depeche Modes’ Just Cant Get Enough, Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Relax and many more! The ultimate feel good night out that will have you reaching for your hairbrush, your pointed Madonna bra and that neon lycra hidden away in your attic!

Lorraine’s (Karina Hind) wedding day has finally arrived – but far from being a Fantastic Day, she’s sat at home in tears, comforted by her best friends Tracey (Hairsprays Rebecca Mendoza) and Andrea (Tara Verloop) having got last minute cold feet about the whole thing. However the groom – Olly (Cellen Chugg Jones) is already at the Church by the time Lorraine calls his mobile phone and calls the whole thing off. (Don’t Leave Me This Way).

Mortified, Olly’s friends decide to cheer him up and head off on holiday to help him forget the whole embarrassing day. Lorraine’s friends also decide that maybe heading off to warmer climes will give the would-be-Bride space to clear her head. Without realising the pair have gone and checked into the same hotel……will the vacation be just what the Doctor ordered and save their upcoming wedding or will they decide to call it a day?

With a pending hotel inspection, Club Tropicana resort Entertainments Manager – the outwardly camp and hilarious Garry (2009 X-Factor winner Joe McElderry) – along with receptionists Robert (Neil McDermott) and Serena (ex Sugababe singer Amelle Berrabah in her musical debut) along with the eccentric hotel cleaner Consuela (or Connie as she is often fondly referred to as) are working their socks off (or should that be leg warmers?), to ensure that they are ready for the arrival of the mysterious inspector. However it seems that someone has been tampering with bookings….or someone has just made some really bad booking errors – meaning the hotel is lacking in bookings by the time the Inspector is due. Robert however gets a brainwave and decides to advertise a fancy dress themed few days (or “Fansee Dress Night” as Spanish Consuela wrongly advertises it as!). Connie then has several dress changes to make it appear that there are more guests checked into the hotel – from Toyah Wilcox to Adam Ant – each costume change comes with some very uncanny impressions. Connie may be foul mouthed and have her own “sign” – but she brings in plenty of laughs making it impossible not to love her. When a high maintenance guest checks in under the name of Christine (Emily Tierney) – staff assume that she is the Hotel Inspector – with her demanding ways and her never ending questions about the facilities etc the staff bite their lip and aim to please her every demand. When Robert first meets her he is smitten, and despite secretly being in love with Robert, co-worker Serena tells him to do whatever it takes to make sure the hotel inspection goes smoothly. Christine may be irritating, but as Robert tells her, she’s got “a WICKED sense of humour!” (a joke sadly lost on tonights audience however – for those not lucky enough to have caught Emily in Wicked a few years ago, you missed a treat!)

It’s impossible to single out a particular cast member; McElderry was instantly a hit – getting the audience on their feet with some audience participation right from the start, Tierney, who’s character has one accidentally after the other brings the laughs in along with Kate Robbins as the lovable Connie.

Will the Hotel Inspectors finally get their way and close the resort down once and for all? Can the Club Tropicana staff save the day? Will Lorraine and Olly give love another go?

With twenty of the greatest 80s hits, more lycra than a roller-disco (remember those?), Club Tropicana is the ultimate feel good reminder of what in my opinion was the greatest decade for pop music (I am being slightly bias here as this is my era!). Sure the story line isn’t anything special – and felt far too similar to the recent Benidorm Live tour – as Producer Mark Goucher states “we are not trying to win prizes but to give you a good night out.” Well Mark I can certainly say I didn’t leave disappointed other than feeling it was all over quicker than The Reynolds Girls music career.

*Free drinks not guaranteed!

Festival’s Theatre, Edinburgh – until 9th of March 2019.

Reviewed by Hannah Plumb

3***

Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage comes to the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh to share come of its classic movie magic. It’s the summer of 1963 and Frances “Baby” Houseman travels to Kellerman’s in the Catskill’s with parents and older sister for some summer fun. However when she encounters dance teacher Johnny Castle she is pulled in to a fiery summer romance that will challenge each of their beliefs. Can these two fiercely independent young lovers from different backgrounds be able to survive the most exciting and unexpected summer of their lives? 

The cast of Dirty Dancing is lead by Kira Marlou as Baby and Michael O’ Reilly as Johnny Castle. Their on-stage chemistry is very believable as they play our this tumultuous young love affair, O’Reilly’s portrayal of the bad boy dance instructor is well contrasted by Marlou’s as the bright-eyed ingenue. They play off each other well. The highlight of the piece is Simone Covele as Penny Johnson. Covele’s dance ability is excellent and her movement sequences with O’Reilly really are the standout moments in the piece. 

The band play well as they provide a soundtrack to this crazy summer of love with 80’s hits which will make you want to sing along. The bulk of the vocals are performed by Sian Gentle-Green as Elizabeth and Alex Wheeler as Billy Kostecki which does take you out of the story a bit as you try to pay attention to their developing relationship as well. However, they perform well and their vocals are strong.

Dirty Dancing is a classic. That being said the plot is dated and “of its time” making it hard to connect with for a first time viewer. However, if you are a big fan of the original movie go and see the stage show as it stays very true to the film and who can resist witnessing that legendary lift live. 

James Baker, Tom Chester and Bill Elms for Northern Ricochet present

APPEAL FOR MANCHESTER SINGERS TO JOIN ‘JERRY CHOIR’

Call out for singers to become part of iconic show

Singers in Manchester have a rare and exciting opportunity to become part of the brand-new production of JERRY SPRINGER – THE OPERA, which comes to Manchester in August 2019.

Individuals are being invited to audition for the Jerry Choir. The choir play an instrumental role in the show and will perform alongside the cast of 14 professional actors.

JERRY SPRINGER – THE OPERA will run at Hope Mill Theatre in Ancoats for four weeks from Thursday 8 August through to Saturday 31 August 2019. It is almost 15 years since the show was last performed in the UK. Tickets are on sale now.

The controversial musical is being brought to the stage by new production company Northern Ricochet, recentlyformed by James Baker (Parade, Yank), Tom Chester (Parade, Mamma Mia),andBill Elms (Epstein The Man Who Made The Beatles, Twopence To Cross The Mersey).

Northern Ricochet are passionate about producing quality theatre in the North, for the North and using Northern creatives, actors and voices – and are encouraging and urging local talent to audition for up to 18 places in the Jerry Choir.

JERRY SPRINGER – THE OPERA caused a storm when it came to the UK stage in 2002, and in this new revival it promises the same raucous energy with a revamped and fresh production for 2019!

Casting day for the Jerry Choir is Sunday 24 March 2019 in Manchester city centre. Singers auditioning are urged to ensure they are available on the day. Places in the Jerry Choir are voluntary.

For the audition, singers will be required to prepare two songs of contrasting style, ideally one that suits the style and tone of the show and allows for them to show their ability to act through song – no longer than one minute per song. Singers will be required to take accompanying sheet music.

Successful applicants will be invited to a group workshop at a later date. They will need to commit to rehearsals every Sunday from 12 May to early August; technical rehearsals; and three to four shows per week during the show’s four-week run.

Singers wishing to audition are asked to pre-register by emailing jerryspringerchoir@gmail.com

The first joint venture from Northern Ricochet will see James Baker as director; Tom Chester as musical director; and Bill Elms as co-producer of JERRY SPRINGER – THE OPERA.

Director James Baker commented: “It’s extremely exciting to be looking for Northern talent who will form our Jerry Choir. Whether you have a lust for the stage and never had your chance; a resting pro-performer; a keen player in the amateur circuit; or a graduate needing some exposure; then we want to hear from you.

“Theatre is about the people you make it for – our audiences. It’s so important that we reach out to individuals who want to engage with theatre in a professional context. Jerry Springer is a boldly drawn reflection of our society. It’s a brave show that asks important questions about people and places. It’s so important that we give our theatrical landscape, our city of Manchester, and the people who live in here an opportunity to work with theatre and art on a first-hand basis. This is a fantastic opportunity. All ages, race, gender and sexuality are welcome to join us on this incredible journey.”

JERRY SPRINGER – THE OPERA was written by Richard Thomas, who also wrote the music and lyrics, with the book and additional lyrics by Stewart Lee and Richard Thomas. It is based on The Jerry Springer Show, which was first broadcast on television in 1991 and was on the air for 27 years. It tells the story of America’s favourite talk show host who suffers the worst day in his career when faced with some of the most challenging guests he’s ever met on set.

Full cast to be announced soon for JERRY SPRINGER – THE OPERA.

Website: hopemilltheatre.co.uk

Facebook: /Jerry Springer Manchester      

Twitter: @JSTOMANC #JERRYJERRY

LISTING INFORMATION

JERRY SPRINGER – THE OPERA

Dates: Thursday 8 August – Saturday 31 August 2019

Times: Tue – Sateves 7.30pm| Sat mat 2pm | Sunday 1pm & 5pm |Thu 29 Aug 2pm

Hope Mill Theatre

113 Pollard Street,

Manchester,

M4 7JA

HOW TO BOOK

Tickets: Preview tickets all £20.00 | General tickets £22.50 & £25.00 (concessions available) | Premium VIP On Stage seating £23.00, £25.50 & £28.00 (limited 8 seats per show)

Online: Visit https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/events/jerry-springer-the-opera/