Medea Review

Studio One, Malvern – until 9th August 2024

Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau

5*****

Malvern Theatres incomparable Young Company regales us with Medea – in a presentation intriguingly advertised on the programme as “freely adapted from Euripides” by Robinson Jeffers. I cannot testify to how close it is to the original, but I can bear witness to how fantastic it was.

Performed in Studio One (the theatre’s most intimate performance space), the set was economy personified with some Greek columns scattered around and some evocative lighting and sound effects. Like in previous productions by the company, this focuses the attention on the important part – the actors and the dialogue – and it’s all the better for it.

Our first character enters onto this stark stage; Georgina Sockett (playing the Nurse), alone, delivering her dialogue to helpfully set the scene of this tale from antiquity. I loved Georgina’s acting – it was dramatic without being melodramatic, her delivery was sheer perfection and she was thoroughly convincing as someone who cared deeply but, other than offering sage counsel, was powerless to avert the oncoming disaster. Beautifully pitched.

Mia Field gave us an assured Medea which was even more impressive given that this was her first professional role – I would never have guessed it (but I found myself sat with one of her drama teachers, there to support her, so got some inside knowledge). As the story’s journey took her through despair, anger and revenge onto gleeful madness, by it’s conclusion she had given us genuine passion and weariness in all the right quantities and places. A powerful performance that promises much from this new star in the Malvern firmament.

Toby Burchell is never anything less than a pleasure to watch. In every performance I have seen him in he has commanded the stage and shone – and this production was no exception. He played various unnamed persons from Corinth – and as such his role fell somewhere between narrator and vox populi. Brilliant as ever, I love watching this actor

All the cast were equally assured with Bertie Bird (playing the dual roles of Aegeus and Tutor), Finn Meredith (as Creon and Slave) and Oliver O’Neill (as Jason) all giving convincing, enjoyable portrayals. Oliver’s anguish at the culmination of the play was particularly effective and moving, especially when contrasted against Medea’s total lack of contrition.

Diverse characters were conjured via some skillfully deployed and carefully chosen accessories – like scarves or headgear/masks. The ladies’ costumes were particularly elegant! As with the scenery, this was a study in how to effectively achieve a lot from meagre resources – so kudos to Bridget Lloyd (Costume Designer) and Melissa Sanders (Costume Assistant) for a fantastic job.

This tale of woe is a study in retaliation, retribution and revenge that is loosed like the proverbial Kraken in an unfocused orgy of violence and madness. How sad that its universal truths and lessons are as apt for our own times (with the ongoing Gaza war and the current riots in the UK) as they were nearly 2,500 years ago, when Euripides put pen to papyrus. A salutary lesson through the ages.

Another fantastic evening’s entertainment at Malvern, from this exceptionally talented company giving us the rare chance to catch a bona fide classic. I cannot recommend this highly enough. Μπράβο (that’s Bravo in Greek).

Filumena Tour – Full Cast

MATTHEW KELLY & JULIE LEGRAND TO JOIN FELICITY KENDAL IN
FILUMENA
FULL CAST ANNOUNCED

Matthew Kelly and Julie Legrand will join the previously announced Felicity Kendal in the Bill Kenwright Ltd/Theatre Royal Windsor production of Filumena directed by Sean Mathias. The production will run at Theatre Royal Windsor from 4 to 19 October, with a press night on Wednesday 9 October, and will then tour until 25 November.

Also joining Felicity Kendal as Filumena, Matthew Kelly as Don Domenico and Julie Legrand as Rosalia will be George Banks as Michele, Gavin Fowler as Umberto, Jamie Hogarth as Alfredo, Ben Nealon as Nocella, Lee Peck as Waiter, Fabrizio Santino as Ricardo, Jodie Steele as Diana, Hilary Tones as Teresina and Sarah Twomey as Lucia, with Eliza Le Touzel Teale as the understudy.

Filumena, Eduardo de Filippo’s classic comedy (with English version by Keith Waterhouse & Willis Hall) is set in the balmy heat of Naples and questions the family ties that bind us and whether we can ever escape our past. Often cited as the writer’s best work, the show is a sparkling comedy-drama full of entanglement and intrigue. In a battle of wills between all involved, Filumena mixes de Filippo’s charm and optimism with acerbic wit and a moral examination of how where we come from can define who we become.

Felicity Kendal was an original member of the Actors’ Company, formed by Ian McKellen and Edward Petherbridge. She won the Variety Club’s Best Stage Actress Award for her performance as Marain in Michael Frayn’s Cloudsin the West End in 1978 and, in 1979,she played Constanze Mozart in Amadeus, directed by Peter Hall at the National Theatre. Other theatre credits include the original productions of On the Razzle, The Real Thing and Hapgood and the revival of Jumpers. She won the Evening Standard Theatre Award in 1989 for her performances in Much Ado About Nothing and Ivanov. Later West End roles include Winnie in Happy Days, Esme in Amy’s View, Florence in The Vortex, Mrs Warren in Mrs Warren’s Profession, Sheila in Relatively Speaking and Judith Bliss in Hay Fever. She took her first role in a musical as Evangeline Harcourt in the 2021 London revival of Anything Goes at the Barbican Theatre and last year, she starred as Dotty Otley in the London revival of Noises Off. Felicity’s television work includes Barbara in The Good Life, Gemma Palmer in Carla Lane’s Solo, Maxine in Carla Lane’s The Mistress, Helena Cuthbertson in The Camomile Lawn and Rosemary Boxer in Rosemary & Thyme.

Matthew Kelly’s West End roles include the original Stanley in Funny Peculiar, Waiting For Godot with Ian McKellen and Roger Rees, Tim Firth’s Sign of the Times, the musical Lend Me A Tenor!, Lennie in Of Mice and Men at the Savoy Theatre, for which he won an Olivier Award for Best Actor, Noises Off, Big the Musical and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. Matthew’s television work includes Inside No 9, Murder They Hope, Cold Blood, Benidorm, Bleak House and Moving On. Matthew is also known for his presenting credits, including You Bet! and Stars in their Eyes

Julie Legrand’s theatre credits include The Forest, The Cherry Orchard, The Critic, The Duchess of Malfi, Way Upstream, The Trojan War Will Not Take Place and Don Quixote (all for the National Theatre), Romeo and Juliet, Cymbeline, The Revenger’s Tragedy and Oedipus (all for the Royal Shakespeare Company) and West End musicals An American in Paris, Gypsy, The Fiddler on the Roof and Wicked. Her television credits include Ludwig, Romantic Getaway, Silent Witness, Call the Midwife, Paula Burrow in Holby City, Doctor Who, Nurse Bradshaw in Night and Day, Jeanette Dunkley in Footballers’ Wives, North Square, Bad Girls, Marji in Starting Out, Kavanagh QC, Inspector Morse, The House of
Bernarda Alba
and El CID.

Filumena is directed by Sean Mathias and designed by Morgan Large, with lighting design by Nick Richings.

Filumena is produced by Bill Kenwright Ltd and Theatre Royal Windsor

LISTINGS
Theatre Royal Windsor theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk
04 – 19 October 01753 853888
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
22 – 26 October 01483 440000
Cambridge Arts Theatre cambridgeartstheatre.com
05 – 09 November 01223 503333
Theatre Royal Bath theatreroyal.org.uk
12 – 16 November 01225 448844
Richmond Theatre atgtickets.com/Richmond
19 – 23 November
Website: kenwright.com / theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk

Facebook and Instagram: @BKLProductions / @TheatreWindsor
X/Twitter: @BKL_Productions / @TheatreWindsor

Heathers the Musical Review

Kings Theatre Portsmouth – until 10 August 2024

Reviewed by Lucy Hitchcock

5*****

The closure of Heathers on the West End was a blow to the fans that didn’t get to see it, but Portsmouth has been transported back to 1989 for a weekend of ‘Big Fun’ with this great cast!

Veronica Sawyer, an outcast, integrates into the world of the ‘Heathers’ and finds herself trying to fit in whilst making some wild mistakes. She meets her new beau J.D, who ends up ridding Veronica of the toxic people in her life in some unexpected ways – leading to revelations, changes and some fabulous numbers in the show! Both Veronica and JD played by Jenna Innes and Kieran McAuley were superb-having some explosive chemistry and spectacular vocals that were enough to blow your socks off (and maybe even blow a school up!). McAuley’s portrayal of the psychopathic JD was impeccable and his singing was rippled with the most beautiful vulnerability – which was harmonious when paired with Innes and her fabulous singing which made me smile with joy.

There are some brilliantly well known songs in this show, with Dead Girl Walking, Candy Store and Lifeboat getting rapturous applause. However, my favourite was ‘My Dead Gay Son’ which opened act 2 to a wildly cheering auditorium. Kindergarten Boyfriend, sung by Amy Miles as ‘Martha’ (the unfortunate character who ends up being the butt of every joke) was beautiful and was delivered perfectly.

There are some sensitive subjects featured in this show, such as bullying, suicide and homophobia being featured, alongside some swearing rippled through the script – it may not be suitable for younger members. However, I was brought to tears by the end of the show and had an inane grin when seeing how much fun the cast have. This is definitely not one to miss, so get your tickets Corn Nuts!!!! How Very!

First look? Inside the rehearsal room of the highly anticipated Why Am I So Single?

Rehearsal images from this summer’s hottest new musical Why Am I So Single?, which is premiering at the Garrick Theatre from 27th August. From the multi-award-winning writers of SIX, Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss, this Big Fancy Musical follows two besties through the ups, and mostly downs, of their dating lives in the era of Tinder (and Bumble and Grindr and Hinge and Feeld). 

Credit to Danny Kaan.

This musical extravaganza about love, dating, friendship – and bees – explores the weird and wonderful hilariousness of being single with a soundtrack that is sure to make it to all your summer playlists.

‘People, Places & Things’ and ‘Vanya’ to launch on NT at Home with streaming premiere

Two critically acclaimed productions, People, Places & Things and VANYA, set to stream on National Theatre at Home with back-to-back premiere on 19 September

On 19 September, audiences worldwide can stream the critically acclaimed productions People, Places & Things with Denise Gough (Angels in America), and VANYA with Andrew Scott (All of us Strangers, Fleabag) on National Theatre at Home. The worldwide double streaming premiere is exclusively available for subscribers ofthe pioneering theatre platform by the National Theatre on ntathome.com. Subscriptions are available from £9.99 a month, or £99.99 annually.

At 7pm BST, audiences can tune in on NT at Home to watch Scott brings to life multiple characters in this ‘deeply emotional’ (★★★★★ Time Out) and radical new version of Chekhov’s masterpiece Uncle Vanya, alongside a community watching around the world.  Adapted by Simon Stephens (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time) and directed by Sam Yates, the ‘astonishing’ (★★★★★  WhatsOnStage) production was filmed during its sold-out critically acclaimed run in London’s West End, presented by Wessex Grove, Gavin Kalin Productions and Kater Gordon. It has since been screened through National Theatre Live over 5,000 times in cinemas worldwide.

At 9pm BST, Duncan Macmillan’s (Lungs, 1984) intoxicating hit play People, Places & Things, directed by Jeremy Herrin  (Best of Enemies, Wolf Hall, This House) and designed by Tony Award-winner Bunny Christie will have its digital debut, presented by Seaview Productions, Gavin Kalin Productions, Mark Gordon Pictures/ Eilene Davidson Production and Second Half Productions. Originally co-produced by the National Theatre and Headlong, Denise Gough reprises her Olivier Award-winning role as Emma, a struggling actress whose life is spinning recklessly out of control. Following the premiere, both productions will be available to stream on the platform where subscribers can experience Gough’s ‘blisteringly funny, brilliantly physical and achingly human’ (Financial Times) performance from the comfort of home.

Both titles will be available with captions, Audio Description and British Sign Language on the platform.

Bloomberg Philanthropies is Headline Sponsor of National Theatre at Home.  

National Theatre at Home is also supported by The Linbury Trust. 

LE NAVET BETE BRING THEIR LAUGH-OUT LOUD FAMILY COMEDY ‘KING ARTHUR’ TO THE LOWRY

PHYSICAL THEATRE, FOOLING AND SLAPSTICK –

LE NAVET BETE BRING THEIR LAUGH-OUT LOUD FAMILY COMEDY ‘KING ARTHUR’ TO THE LOWRY

THE LOWRY, SALFORD

24 – 28 SEPTEMBER

Hailed “a slapstick romp crammed with knockabout fun and innuendo” by Weekend Notes. Le Navet Bete, one of the UK’s leading touring physical comedy theatre companies, bring their brand-new laugh- out- loud show King Arthur to The Lowry, Salford from 24th – 28th September as part of its UK tour.

Camelot is in trouble. King Arthur knows that if he doesn’t turn things around, this civilisation will be forgotten, and be known as nothing more than a rather dull time in British history. But when three hapless squires approach him about changing that legacy… a legend is born.

Teaming up with one of UK theatre’s best comedy writers and directors, John Nicholson (Peepolykus), award-winning funny men Le Navet Bete (The Three Musketeers, Treasure Island, Dracula: The Bloody Truth) are back with a brand-new laugh-out-loud show for theatre. A comedy for the whole family, this hilarious retelling of the Arthurian legends will have audiences crying with laughter and becoming part of the legend themselves.

Praise for Le Navet Bete:

“Ingenious and effortlessly Hilarious” – The Stage

“If all theatre was this good we wouldn’t need TV” – BBC

“A company on top form and leagues ahead of anyone else doing this work. Completely outrageous but always on the money. Simply Beautiful” – What’s on Stage

“What Le Navet Bete does, and with such conviction, is persuade us that theatre is not an elite activity. It can, and should be, for everyone.”  – Reviews Hub

Since forming in 2008 Le Navet Bete have produced fifteen critically acclaimed shows with both indoor and outdoor shows including SerendipityZemblanityThe Wonderful Wizard of OzDick TracyRobin Hood and His Merry MenDracula: The Bloody Truth, The Three Musketeers and Treasure Island.  Many of these shows still tour the UK and Internationally with the company also playing outdoor events from the circus fields at Glastonbury Festival and the beautiful gardens of the Herrenhausen Palace in Hanover, Germany, to the picturesque Plaza de Armas in Morelia, Mexico, and high up on the side of the Rock of Gibraltar.

Christmas 2022 saw the troupe perform with other actors for the first time in a co-production of Robin Hood at the Exeter Northcott Theatre. La Navet Bete are Associate Artists at the Exeter Northcott Theatre and Artists in Residence at the Exeter Phoenix.

Al Dunn, Co-Founder of Le Navet Bete said “Making accessible work has been at the centre of our ethos right from the very beginning. It’s our mission to create and tour hilarious, physical and totally accessible comedy theatre using creative and engaging storytelling for absolutely everyone from four to one hundred and four!  We can’t wait to share the Story of King Arthur to audiences across the UK this year in true ridiculously outrageous Le Navet Bete Style, placing physical theatre, fooling and slapstick at the heart of every show”

KING ARTHUR will run at The Lowry, Salford from 24 – 28 September. For more information and tickets visit www.thelowry.com.

Lily Collins and Álvaro Morte Make Their West End Debuts In The UK Premiere of Barcelona – Written by Bess Wohl and Directed by Lynette Linton

LILY COLLINS

ANDÁLVARO MORTE

MAKE THEIR WEST END DEBUTS IN THE UK PREMIERE OF

BARCELONA

WRITTEN BY BESS WOHL
AND DIRECTED BY LYNETTE LINTON

RUNNING AT THE DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE

FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED 12 WEEK SEASON

FROM 21 OCTOBER 2024 – 11 JANUARY 2025

Lily Collins (Emily in ParisMank, To The Bone) and Álvaro Morte (Money Heist, Wheel of Time, Immaculate) swap the big screen for the West End in the UK premiere of Bess Wohl’s explosive two-hander play Barcelona. Directed by Lynette Linton (Shifters, Sweat, Blues for An Alabama Sky), the play runs for a strictly limited season at the Duke of York’s, from 21 October 2024.

Late night in Barcelona. An American tourist goes home with a handsome Spaniard. What begins as a carefree, one-night stand becomes an invitation to danger, as the personal and political catastrophically intertwine.

By turns funny, sexy and surprising, Barcelona is a seductive thriller that will keep audiences guessing – exploring the fantasy of who we pretend to be, versus the truth of who we are.

Lily Collins said, “It has been a childhood dream of mind to perform in the West End and I’m hugely excited to make my stage debut in Bess’ exciting play, Barcelona. Working with this team has truly been a gift and I cannot wait for audiences to be taken on a thrilling journey as the play unravels. I knew the moment I finished reading the script, I had to play Irene.”

Álvaro Morte said, “The London theatre scene is a vibrant and exhilarating canvas for fresh, groundbreaking work. I am thrilled and honoured to be a part of this captivating new play, marking my West End debut. I’m looking forward to bringing ‘Barcelona’ to life and sharing it with audiences.”

Bess Wohl said, “Having my work on the West End with such phenomenal collaborators is a dream come true. I’m honoured to have the chance to share this play with London audiences.”

Lynette Linton said, “What a privilege to be working with this incredible team of artists to bring Bess’ words to life. I can’t wait to get in the room with everyone. Come Through!”

There will be a weekly lottery to secure tickets to Barcelona, with 200 tickets released every week, on Monday (from 14 October), at just £25 (including front row seats). For further information about how to enter the lottery please click HERE.

Barcelona is written by Bess Wohl, andwill be directed by Lynette Linton, with Set & Costume design by Frankie Bradshaw, Lighting by Jai Morjaria, Composition and Sound Design by Duramaney Kamara and Xana, Video Design by Gino Ricardo Green, Wigs, Hair and Makeup Design by Cynthia De La Rosa, UK casting by Heather Basten and US Casting by Jim Carnahan, Movement Director & Intimacy Shelley Maxwell, Vocal Coaching by Hazel Holder and Dramatherapy by Wabriya King. Associate Direction by Katie Greenall, Associate Design by Natalie Johnson, Associate Costume Designer & Supervisor is Caroline Stevens, Production Manager is Kate West, Associate Production Manager is Charlotte Ranson.

It is produced by ATG Productions, Bad Robot Live and Gavin Kalin Productions.

Hope Mill Theatre announces lead casting for the return of rock musical LIZZIE to Manchester this Autumn – Kayleigh McKnight to star

Hope Mill Theatre announces lead casting for the return of rock musical LIZZIE to Manchester this Autumn

Thursday 17th October to Sunday 10th Nov 2024

Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester

 Halloween Gala Night now on sale

Hope Mill Theatre has announced lead casting for the return of its hit production of rock musical LIZZIE in Manchester this October for a strictly limited 3-week run.

The show – which first enjoyed an acclaimed Manchester run in September 2023 – will play at Hope Mill Theatre from Thursday 17th October to Sunday 10th November 2024.

Starring as Lizzie will be Kayleigh McKnight. Kayleigh has performed in productions including SIX (West End), Mandela (Young Vic), Hugh Jackman: The Man. The Music. The Show (World Arena Tour), Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (Aldwych Theatre) and Jesus Christ Superstar (Regents Park).

Further Casting to be announced.

LIZZIEexplores the life of Lizzie Borden, who was accused of murdering her father and stepmother with an axe in the late summer of 1892.

The rock musical, which premiered on Broadway in 2009, delves into Lizzie’s complex psyche and speculates on the motivations she may have had: loss of inheritance, history of sexual abuse, oppression, and madness.

Lizzie, along with her older sister Emma, maid Bridget, and neighbour Alice, bring to life the infamous story supported on stage by an all-female band.

Lizzie is Rage! Sex! Betrayal! Bloody Murder!

Lizzie The Musical will be directed and choreographed by Hope Mill co-founder William Whelton, and has music by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer and Alan Stevens Hewitt, lyrics by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer and Tim Maner and a book by Tim Maner.

William Wheltonsaid: “I am thrilled to be bringing LIZZIE back home to Hope Mill Theatre, where this production was originally rehearsed and created last year. Audiences across the UK fell in love with this show just as much as I have and I can’t wait to share it again with fans and welcome even more new audiences into The House of Borden. I am equally thrilled to have the incredible power-house performer that is Kayleigh McKnight taking on the role of LIZZIE. Kayleigh is an astonishing vocalist and actor and I am so excited to see her bring a fresh take to this iconic role.”

During the run, Hope Mill Theatre will host a special Halloween Fan Event on Thursday 31st October, details of which are announced today. This gala evening will feature a concert sing-along (and dress-up!) version of the show with the full cast (including alternates). Following the performance, the audience will be invited to a post-show rave at the venue with a local Manchester Female DJ. Welcome drinks and an exclusive goodie bag containing a unique piece of LIZZIE merchandise is included in the ticket price and there will be other surprises to come! Join Hope Mill and the cast of LIZZIE for a one night only unforgettable experience!

To book: https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/event/lizzie-halloween/

LIZZIE has swung her axe in over 60 cities, in 6 countries, in 5 languages, across 4 continents and has been honoured with dozens of awards including 8 Best Musical Awards! (and she’s still swinging…)

Music by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer and Alan Stevens Hewitt

Lyrics by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer and Tim Maner

Book by Tim Maner

Additional Music by Tim Maner

Additional Lyrics by Alan Stevens Hewitt

Based on an original concept by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer and Tim Maner

Orchestrations by Alan Stevens Hewit

Produced by Hope Mill Theatre, Director/Choreographer William Whelton, Set and Lighting Design Andrew Exeter, Sound Designer Adam Fisher, Musical Supervision Katy Richardson, Video Designer Dan Light, Dialect Coach Manny Crooks, Costume Designer Rachel Tansey, Associate Choreographer Yandass Ndlovu, Assistant Producer Rhianna Swyer and Casting by Pearson Casting CDG CDA CSA. Artwork by FEAST Creative.

LIZZIE is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC. (www.broadwaylicensing.com).

LISTINGS

LIZZIE

Hope Mill Theatre Manchester

Thursday 17th October to Sunday 11th Nov 2024

Halloween Event on 31st October 2024

Press Night Sunday 20th Oct 5pm

To book visit: https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/event/lizzie/

Casting announced THE BOOK OF MORMON UK and European tour

THE MORMONS ARE BACK!

CASTING ANNOUNCED AS HIT MUSICAL THE BOOK OF MORMON TOURS THE UK AND EUROPE FROM SEPTEMBER 2024

“The best musical of this century.”
Ben Brantley, The New York Times

Casting is announced for the UK and European tour of The Book of Mormon.  Broadway’s smash-hitmusical written by Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez, opens in Manchester in September 2024 before dates in Edinburgh, Bradford, Birmingham, Plymouth, Zurich, Hull and Dublin, with more cities to be announced soon.

The cast will be led by Adam Bailey as Elder Price and Sam Glen as Elder Cunningham, Nyah Nish as Nabulungi, Tom Bales as Elder McKinley, Kirk Patterson as Mafala Hatimbi, Will Barratt as Joseph Smith and Rodney Earl Clarke as the General.

The company will include Tolu Ayanbadejo, Dan Burstow, Hayden Cable, Will Carey, Olympia Curry, Kanoumah Diguet, Daniel David Griffith, Benjamin Cameron, Daniel George-Wright, Savannah Hall, Alex Hayden, Aaron Levi, Eden Lindsay, Zachary Loonie, Ross McKenna, Daniel N’Guessan-Lopez, Jessica Oppong, Jake Reynolds, Kayode Salina, Rory Shafford, Harry Simpson, Elliot Swann, and Harry Winchester.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the creators of the Emmy and Peabody award-winning television show, South Park, and the feature films South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut and Team America: World Police.

@kizzyp1000 @‪JeffreyandWhite

Robert Lopez co-created the Broadway musical Avenue Q and co-wrote the songs for Disney’s Frozen and Coco. He is the first and only double ‘EGOT’ winner having won all four major entertainment awards at least twice – Emmy®, Grammy®, Oscar® and Tony® Awards.  

Since making its world premiere in March 2011 at New York’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre, where it won nine Tony® Awards, including Best Musical, The Book of Mormon has been performed on three continents and won over thirty international awards. The musical has smashed long-standing box office records in New York, London, Melbourne, Sydney and cities across the U.S.

The London production opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre in February 2013 when it set the record for the highest single day of sales in West End history and went on to win four Olivier Awards® including Best New Musical.

Book, Music and Lyrics are by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone.  Directed by Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker, The Book of Mormon has choreography by Casey Nicholaw, set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Ann Roth, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt, sound design by Brian Ronan, orchestrations by Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus and music supervision and vocal arrangements by Stephen Oremus.

The Book of Mormon is produced by Anne Garefino, Important Musicals and Sonia Friedman Productions.

The full cast is announced for the 2024/25 tour of Sebastian Faulks’s BIRDSONG including Max Bowden, James Esler and Charlie Russell

The full cast is announced for the 2024/25 tour of
Sebastian Faulks’s Birdsong

Max Bowden, James Esler and Charlie Russell 

“There is nothing more than to love and be loved”

Original Theatre & JAS Theatricals in association with Joshua Beaumont & Huw Allen, Birdsong Productions & Wiltshire Creative, have announced the full cast of their 2024/25 tour of Birdsong. The epic First World War story of love and loss returns to the stage this Autumn in a brand-new production marking the 30th anniversary of Sebastian Faulks’s international best-selling novel. 

Max Bowden (EastEnders) will play Jack Firebrace as previously announced, and James Esler (Litvinenko) will play Stephen Wraysford alongside Charlie Russell (The Goes Wrong Show, And Then There Were None (BBC)) as Isabelle Azaire. They are joined by Joseph Benjamin Baker as Evans/Levi, Raif Clarke as Tipper, James Findlay as Brennan, Dave Fishley as Turner, Gracie Follows as Lisette, Sulin Hasso as Marguerite, Tama Phethean as Shaw/LeBrun, Natalie Radmall-Quirke as Jeanne, Roger Ringrose as Bérard/Barclay and Sargon Yelda as René Azaire/Gray. 

Birdsong, which tells the story of one man’s journey through an all-consuming love affair and into the horror of the First World War, is adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and directed by Original Theatre’s Artistic Director, Alastair Whatley. Design is by Richard Kent, Lighting by Jason Taylor, Music Composition by Sophie Cotton, Sound by Dominic Bilkey with Casting by Ellie Collyer-Bristow (CDG). 

In pre-war France, a young Englishman, Stephen Wraysford, embarks on a passionate and dangerous affair with the beautiful Isabelle Azaire that turns their world upside down. As the war breaks out over the idyll of his former life, Stephen must lead his men through the carnage of the Battle of the Somme and through the sprawling tunnels that lie deep underground. Faced with the unprecedented horror of the war, Stephen clings to the memory of Isabelle as his world explodes around him.

Birdsong will tour in 2024/25 to Salisbury Playhouse (6-14 Sept), Leeds Playhouse (17-21 Sept), Cambridge Arts Theatre (23-28 Sept), Richmond Theatre (1-5 October), Liverpool Playhouse Theatre (8-12 Oct), Theatre Royal Nottingham (15-19 Oct), Everyman Theatre Cheltenham (22-26 Oct), Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford (29 Oct-2 Nov), Chichester Festival Theatre (5-9 Nov), Norwich Theatre Royal (12-16 Nov), Malvern Theatres (19-23 Nov), Theatre Royal Bath (25-30 Nov),  Theatre Royal Newcastle (21-25 Jan), Birmingham Rep (27 Jan-1 Feb), Theatre Royal Brighton (4-8 Feb), Aylesbury Waterside Theatre (11-15 Feb) and His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen (18-22 Feb). 

The producers of Birdsong are working in partnership with the Royal British Legion during the tour.

For more information about the Birdsong tour, visit: https://www.birdsongplay.com.