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World Premiere of The Thunder Girls starring Beverley Callard to preview at The Lowry

Three more leading British actresses to be announced

‘The Thunder Girls,’ is the debut play by Manchester local Melanie Blake, starring four female actors over the age of 50, and will have its will preview run at The Lowry Tue 24 – Sat 28 September.

Blake adapted the play from her debut novel of the same name, which will be published by Pan Macmillan this summer. The play’s all-star female cast will be announced one by one over the next few months and the first ‘Thunder Girl’ to be revealed is Coronation Street star and national treasure Beverley Callard. ‘The Thunder Girls’ is a true celebration of women, with all four of The Thunder Girls actresses, as well as the writer coming from working class roots.  

‘The Thunder Girls’ follows an ‘80s girl group reuniting 30 years after greed, envy and ego tore the band and their friendship apart. The play focuses on what goes on during the night from hell when lead singer Chrissie tries to reunite the band she dumped. Chrissie is desperate to salvage herself from bankruptcy after being conned out of her fortune by her toy boy husband.  But is there a price which can heal the wounds?  Or maybe some friendships never die, even if you want them to?

The soon to be revealed all-female cast are all much loved house hold names. Beverley Callard takes on the role of Roxanne, the former band member who holds the balance of power in the reunion summit – but Roxanne’s wounds are the deepest as Chrissie didn’t just steal her career when she broke up the band, she stole her man.  And Roxanne, who has nothing left to lose, is more than happy to cut off her nose to spite her face.  For her, revenge might be sweeter than reconciliation and it has been a long time coming.

They say write about what you know, and as one of the UK’s most powerful female talent agent and former music manager, Melanie has lived and breathed ‘The Thunder Girls.’

Melanie came from nothing but was inspired by Jackie Collins’ books and ‘80s television to believe that she could become whoever she wanted to be.  She went on to work with the biggest names in showbiz from Destiny’s Child and The Spice Girls while at Top of the Pops before forming her own management company which became the most successful independent agency in the UK.

‘The Thunder Girls’ will have its premiere preview run at The Lowry Tue 24 – Sat 28 September.

Steve Cowton, head of theatre operations at The Lowry, said: “We love being able to host exciting new work. We’re particularly looking forward to welcoming The Thunder Girls premiere as it’s a story that is rooted in the North West and we’re sure our audiences are going to love the show.”

Beverley Callard said: “As an actor, when the scripts for plays land on my doormat – I’m always flattered and read them with relish. Mostly I have to say no because of my commitments to Coronation Street. Often, the lead character is a man, usually in a cast of maybe 10 men, 2 women, if we’re lucky. The females will be 20 something, or 30 something, and if you’re lucky maybe one woman ‘of an age’ max. Then I read ‘THE THUNDER GIRLS’ and WOW! A four strong ensemble of real women with real life experience! Feisty, sexy, funny, not to mention rich in drama, comedy and tragedy. Most important of all, this play is fiercely entertaining, every audience will love it!  I simply could not say no and cannot wait to play Roxanne.”

Melanie Blake said: “To be returning to my home city 25 years since I left with my debut play premiering at The Lowry is an honour and a privilege – and proof that dreams really can come true. It’s taken nearly two decades to bring THE THUNDER GIRLS play and book to the public and I can’t wait to come home and see the audiences’ reaction to this strong female narrative. It’s time we saw more strong female leads in theatre and my play is about four incredibly powerful and empowered women and I can’t wait to see it staged in Salford.”

Listings Information
The Thunder Girls
Dates: Tue 24 – Sat 28 September
Times: 8pm. Wed & Sat 2pm.
Tickets: £20.50 – £28.50
Website

JONATHAN CHURCH, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THEATRE ROYAL BATH’S SUMMER SEASON, ANNOUNCES THE OPENING SHOWS FOR ITS 2019 PROGRAMME  
 

• BAFTA-WINNING COMEDIAN, ACTOR AND SCREENWRITER JENNIFER SAUNDERS TO STAR IN NOËL COWARD’S BLITHE SPIRIT WITH LISA DILLON, FROM 13 JUNE TO 6 JULY, DIRECTED BY RICHARD EYRE
   
• OLIVIER AND GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINATED RUPERT EVERETT WILL MAKE HIS DIRECTORIAL STAGE DEBUT AND LEAD THE CAST IN A NEW VERSION OF UNCLE VANYA BY DAVID HARE, FROM 18 JULY TO 3 AUGUST
   
• JONATHAN CHURCH’S TENURE AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THEATRE ROYAL BATH’S SUMMER SEASON NOW EXTENDED TO 2022
   
• PRIORITY BOOKING OPENS ON 23 FEBRUARY AT 10AM WITH GENERAL ON-SALE FROM 7 MARCH
   

Jonathan Church, Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Bath’s Summer Season, today announces the opening shows for its 2019 programme which will see much-loved British comedian Jennifer Saunders star as Madame Arcati in Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit directed by Richard Eyre, and Rupert Everett making his directorial stage debut in Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanyain which he will also play the title role in a new version by David Hare. Blithe Spirit will run from 13 June to 6 July with opening night for press on 19 June, followed by Uncle Vanya from 18 July to 3 August with opening night for press on 24 July, both in the Main House. Further casting and the full summer programme will be announced in due course.

Theatre Royal Bath is also delighted to announce it is extending its tenure with Jonathan Church as Artistic Director of the Summer Season by a further three years through to 2022. It follows Jonathan Church’s inaugural summer season in 2017 and a hugely successful 2018 programme with two West End transfers including the critically acclaimed production of Arthur Miller’s The Price currently playing at Wyndham’s Theatre, and Switzerland at the Ambassadors Theatre.

BLITHE SPIRIT
Thursday 13 June – Saturday 6 July


Jennifer Saunders, one of the UK’s most popular comic actors, makes her Theatre Royal Bath debut as the preposterous clairvoyant Madame Arcati in Noël Coward’s classic comedy Blithe Spirit. The production brings together a distinguished and multi-award-winning creative team, directed by former National Theatre director Richard Eyre with design by Anthony Ward and lighting by Howard Harrison. Lisa Dillon will also star as Ruth Condomine, with further casting to be announced.

Written in 1941, Coward’s inventive, witty and meticulously engineered comedy proved light relief and a popular distraction at the height of World War II when it was first staged. The show had a record-breaking run in the West End and on Broadway and remains one of the playwright’s most popular works.

Novelist Charles Condomine and his second wife Ruth are literally haunted by a past relationship when an eccentric medium inadvertently conjures up the ghost of his first wife, Elvira, at a séance. When she appears, visible only to Charles, and determined to sabotage his current marriage, life – and the afterlife – get complicated.

Jennifer Saunders is well known as one half of the comedy duo French and Saunders, for which she and Dawn French received a BAFTA fellowship in 2009, and for the hit comedy series and subsequent film, Absolutely Fabulous, which she also wrote and starred in. She has received numerous awards including two Emmys, five BAFTAs and four British Comedy Awards. Other recent credits include Lady Windermere’s Fan (West End) and the BBC series Jam and Jerusalem.

Lisa Dillon starred as Mary Smith in the BBC series Cranford. Her stage credits include Richard Eyre’s Private Lives in the West End, the RSC’s The Roaring Girl and The Taming of the Shrew, A Flea in Her Ear and Design for Living at the Old Vic and The Knot of the Heart and When the Rain Stops Falling at the Almeida. 

Noël Coward was an English playwright, composer, actor, producer and director. His dramas include Hay Fever and Private Lives. For film, he wrote and directed the Academy Award-winning In Which We Serve and the screenplay for Brief Encounter.

Richard Eyre was at the helm of the National Theatre for 10 years and is the winner of five Olivier Awards including a Lifetime Achievement Award. His numerous hugely-acclaimed productions include Guys and Dolls, The Invention of Love and Private Lives. His award-winning film and television work includes Iris, Tumbledown and The Children Act.

Anthony Ward has designed numerous productions including the Tony Award-winning Mary Stuart, the Olivier Award-winning Oklahoma! and What’s on Stage Award winner Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Howard Harrison is a two-times Olivier Award-winning lighting designer whose recent works includeImpossible and Mamma Mia! (London, Broadway and worldwide).

Blithe Spirit is presented by arrangement with Lee Dean.

UNCLE VANYA
Thursday 18 July – Saturday 3 August


Rupert Everett returns to Theatre Royal Bath where he last appeared in The Judas Kiss in 2012 and which went on to transfer to the West End, and following recent critical acclaim as Oscar Wilde in The Happy Prince which he also wrote and directed. Everett will direct his first stage play and lead the cast in Anton Chekhov’s theatrical masterpiece Uncle Vanya, a playful story of unrequited love, loss and misplaced dreams, in a new version by the playwright and screenwriter David Hare. 

It’s late summer, at the close of the nineteenth century. In the heart of the Russian countryside, Vanya and his niece Sonya have worked for years to manage the ramshackle estate on behalf of his brother-in-law, a retired professor. When the professor arrives with his stunningly beautiful young wife and announces his plan to sell the estate, all their lives are thrown into turmoil.

Rupert Everett rose to fame in Another Country which earned him his first BAFTA nomination. Since then he has played many leading roles including in the multi-award-winning film My Best Friend’s Wedding, The Importance of Being Earnest, An Ideal Husband, Dance With A Stranger, The Madness of King George and St Trinian’s. His stage credits include Blithe Spirit on Broadway and Pygmalion andThe Judas Kiss in the West End.

Anton Chekhov was a leading playwright and author of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and is regarded as one of the most influential writers of the Russian realist school. His plays include The Seagull, Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard.

David Hare’s award-winning plays include Racing Demon, Plenty, Skylight, Amy’s View and The Judas Kiss. He received Academy Award nominations for his adaptations of The Hours and The Reader.

LISTINGS

Theatre Royal Bath, Sawclose, Bath, BA1 1ET
Box Office: 01225 448844
Website: www.theatreroyal.org.uk
Facebook: TheatreRoyalBath
Twitter: @TheatreRBath

Blithe Spirit
By Noël Coward
Directed by Richard Eyre
Designed by Anthony Ward
Lighting Design by Howard Harrison
Presented by arrangement with Lee Dean
Thursday 13 June – Saturday 6 July
Press night: Wednesday 19 June, 7pm
Performance Schedule: Mon – Sat 7.30pm, Matinees Thu & Sat 2.30pm (no matinee 13 or 15 June)
Tickets: £25.50 – £39.50 (Preview Perfs and Mondays, all seats £15)

Uncle Vanya
By Anton Chekhov in a new version by David Hare
Directed by Rupert Everett
Thursday 18 July – Saturday 3 August
Press night: Wednesday 24 July, 7pm
Performance Schedule: Mon – Sat 7.30pm, Matinees Wed & Sat 2.30pm (no matinee 20 July)
Tickets: £25.50 – £39.50 (Preview Perfs and Mondays, all seats £15)

KILN THEATRE, FUEL AND BIRMINGHAM REPERTORY THEATRE PRESENT

THE HALF-GOD OF RAINFALL

By Inua Ellams

• CAST ANNOUNCED: RAKIE AYOLA AND KWAMI ODOOM WILL PLAY THE CHARACTERS OF MODUPE AND DEMI DIRECTED BY NANCY MEDINA
• TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW FOR INUA ELLAMS’ NEW PLAY AT BIRMINGHAM REPERTORY THEATRE FROM APRIL 13^th – APRIL 20^th AND KILN THEATRE FROM APRIL 25^th – MAY 17^th.

‘For thousands of years, Gods enjoyed full dominion over the lives of men. As prayers dwindled, Gods felt their power cut’

Casting has been announced for Nancy Medina’s forthcoming production of Inua Ellams’ new play The Half-God of Rainfall. Rakie Ayola (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) will play Modupe, mother to her half-god son Demi who will be played by Kwami Odoom (Barber Shop Chronicles). This world premiere production will be directed by Nancy Medina, designed by Max Johns, with movement direction by Imogen Knight, sound design by Tanuja Amarasuriya, lighting design by Jackie Shemesh and casting by Briony Barnett.

Modupe, cursed with extraordinary beauty, draws the unwanted attention of the Greek and Yoruba gods. Her son Demi, half Nigerian-mortal, half Olympian child, is bestowed with powers; one of them manifests in the game of basketball. When he unknowingly sparks Zeus’ wrath, Modupe tries to protect him from the capricious whims of the gods.

Inua Ellams writes this contemporary saga that weaves poetry with storytelling in a majestic, chaotic journey across mythologies that transports us from a tiny village in Southern Nigeria to the further reaches of our galaxy and beyond.

This production is a collaboration between Kiln Theatre, Fuel and Birmingham Repertory Theatre and is Ellams’ next play since Barber Shop Chronicles.

Rakie Ayola
Rakie’s recent theatre work includes: Leave To Remain (Lyric Hammersmith), Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (The Palace Theatre), The Rest of Your Life (Bush Theatre), King Lear (Royal Exchange/Talawa), Crave/4:48 Psychosis (Sheffield Crucible), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (National at The Apollo), The Winter’s Tale (RSC). Recent television includes:Noughts and Crosses (ITC/BBC), Shetland (ITV/BBC), No Offence (Abbott Vision/Channel 4),King Lear (Talawa/BBC4) Film includes: Been So Long (Netflix), Dredd (DNA Films), Now Is Good(BBC Films), Sahara (Paramount). Rakie is Patron of @ChildhoodTT, @MelqoshM and @eclipsetcl.

Kwami Odoom 
Kwami Odoom’s work in theatre includes: BOYS (The PappyShow/Vaults); A Christmas Carol(Royal Shakespeare Company); Queen Margaret (Royal Exchange); Barber Shop Chronicles(National Theatre); DNA, Pigeon English, and Romeo and Juliet, (National Youth Theatre REP Company). Television includes: The Athena (Sky Kids / Brycoed Productions); The Rook(Lionsgate); and Doctors (BBC).
Film includes: A Family Affair (Florence Keith-Roach)

LISTINGS

The Half-God of Rainfall
By Inua Ellams
Supported by London Community Foundation & Cockayne – Grants for the Arts.

Birmingham Repertory Theatre
13 April – 20 April 2019
7.45pm (except 16 April at 7pm)
Press night: 16 April
Tickets: From £15
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
0121 236 4455

Kiln Theatre
25 April – 17 May 2019
7.30pm / 2.30pm (Wednesday and Saturday)
Press night: 30 April
Tickets: From £10
www.kilntheatre.com
020 7328 1000

Storyhouse, Chester- until Friday 22nd February 2019.

Reviewed by Joseph Everton

4****

The Moscow City Ballet, brainchild of Victor Smirnov- Golovanov and now under the charge of artistic director, Luidmila Neroubachtchenko, has extensively toured the globe since 1988, sharing Smirnov- Golovanov’s interpretation and celebration of the ideas of 19th and 20th century Russian choreographers with the world. The climate of political distrust wasn’t on the minds of the Cheshire audience as this beautiful production brought a welcome distraction and a splash of festive nostalgia to a midweek evening in February.

The emphasis was on storytelling in Act One, where the cast displayed their ability to act, as well as dance with Daniil Orlov impressing as Drosselmeyer. At times, I forgot that it was February as the stage filled with Christmas colour, gifts, a tree and a short cameo for Santa Clause. Certain scenes sometimes felt a little rough around the edges, with an over use of slightly tacky props reminding me more of a low-budget children’s production than a celebrated ballet. However, this did help to provide an easy-to-follow narrative to Nutcracker newbies.

As perhaps Tchaikovsky and original choreographers Petipa and Ivanov had little more to add to the original story of ‘The Nutcracker and the Mouse King’ by E.T.A. Hoffman, Act Two was largely devoted to divertissement after divertissement. This provided a chance for individuals from the corps de ballet to demonstrate their ability with the stage to themselves, flanked by lines of dancers subtly changing position but not distracting from the main event, and they delivered excellently. Kozhabayev Talgat showing he was the full package, delighting with a powerfully precise and athletic display.

The Moscow City Ballet’s The Nutcracker was a testament to Russian artistry and the skill of Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, done justice by an accompanying orchestra. It was enthralling, enjoyable and would provide an excellent introduction to ballet to all who have not yet experienced it.

Rediscover the ‘People’s Palace’ St George’s Hall
Public invited to tour the refurbished Grade ll listed building
Saturday 2 March 11am – 3pm

After an extensive transformational refurbishment, St George’s Hall is throwing its doors wide open for residents of Bradford and beyond to rediscover their ‘People’s Palace.’

The Open Day on Saturday 2 March from 11am-3pm will give people the opportunity to look around the much loved building and find out about its amazing history and recent refurbishment.

Visitors can learn about the early history of the Hall in the Victorian era and discover how the building has evolved over 165 years from its time as a Classical Concert Hall, a Cinema, Rock and Pop Venue and even
an Airport Departure Lounge! Incredibly, in 1964, air travellers were invited to St George’s Hall to check in, leave baggage and relax in the lounge, before taking a coach to the airport in Yeadon.

Self-guided tours will be available on the open day, to provide information on the conservation of the venue, a chance to browse heritage displays across all four levels of the Hall, and view some historic objects found during the refurbishment.

There will be hands on family activities and a chance to dress up as some of the famous faces of St George’s Hall including leading author Charles Dickens, suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst and rock legends
David Bowie and Freddie Mercury! The newly opened ground floor café with its beautifully restored mosaic
floor will be serving refreshments, with hot food available 11am – 2pm.

The extensive refurbishment of St George’s Hall has included major works to the roof, windows, electrics and
stone work. The front-of-house areas have been increased, and seating has been upgraded to improve sight
lines and comfort, whilst ensuring the world class acoustics are unaffected.
Adam Renton, General Manager Bradford Theatres said:
“We are throwing open the doors of St George’s Hall so that everyone can discover just how special
the wonderful St George’s Hall is. This is an informal Open Day for all to enjoy. I’m sure you will
find out some truly fascinating facts!”

Rose Theatre, Kingston – until 23rd February 2019

5*****

Any event which gets children interested in the theatre is always a good thing. Zog, based on the book of the same name by Julia Donaldson (she also wrote The Gruffalo) tells the story of Zog, a Dragon who desperately wants a gold star at school.

Accompanied on his quest for the good star, Zog (played by Elliot MacKenzie) are Princess Pearl (Emily Benjamin), fellow dragons Henry (Dixie McDevitt) and Pip (Robert Ginty) and Dragon teacher Madame Dragon (Euan Wilson).

The story line is simple to follow and at 55 minutes the production is just the right length to keep children engaged, especially as there is audience participation and the dragons “fly” around the audience. The set looks like a giant climbing frame but acts as various things from the woods where the dragons live to Princess Pearl’s prison cell. The use of puppets is well thought out as well as puppet versions of the dragons are used when they are flying but the Dragon costumes worn by the cast being the dragons to live on stage. Pearl is a wonderful character who decides against being a princess and decides to become a doctor. Joining Pearl is Sir Gadabout The Great (Robert Ginty) who becomes the nurse to Pearls doctor. The duo become a trio when Zog offers to be their ambulance and fly them around the world healing people.

All in all Zog is a brilliant production to get children interested in theatre all I’m still not sure if it is a musical or a play with songs but any production that shows that girls can be doctors and boys can be nurses are amazing and every one should go and see this show.

New Victoria Theatre, Woking – until 23rd February 2019

Reviewed by Alexandra Sykes

4****

Over the years I have seen a lot of jukebox musicals and I have loved each and every one of them so The Band is no different. Featuring the music of Take That, The Band has audiences singing and dancing along.

The musical starts with 16 year old Rachel (Faye Christell) explaining that she grew up listening to a boy band, knew all the words to their songs and all her friends – Heather (Katy Clayton), Claire (Sarah Kate Howarth), Zoe (Lauren Jacobs) and Debbie (Rachelle Diedricks) loved them as well. After an unfortunate event after going to see the boy band in Manchester the girls part ways but are brought back together 25 years later after a grown up Rachel (Rachel Lumberg) wins tickets to see the boys on their reunion tour in  Prague. Leaving behind boyfriend Jeff (Martin Miller), she meets up with Heather (Emily Joyce), Claire (Alison Fitzjohn) and Zoe (Jayne McKenna)

The story makes you want to ring your best friend and tell them you love them (which I did) whilst singing along to Take That. With the songs woven well into the story and sung mainly by AJ Bentley, Nick Carsberg, Curtis T Johns, Sario Soloman and Yazdan Qafouri who all won their parts via a TV Talent show. The set works well with the story as do the outfits worn by the characters.

All in all a good innocent girly night out that will be enjoyed for many years to come

Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed production of ‘Les Misérables’ to return to Greater Manchester in May 2020!

Cameron Mackintosh announced that his acclaimed production of the Boublil and Schönberg musical ‘LES MISÉRABLES’ will return to Greater Manchester in May 2020 when it plays The Lowry in Salford from Tue 12 – Sat 30 May 2020. Booking opens to members at 10am on Mon 25 February 2019 with general on sale at 10am on Fri 1 March 2019.

The musical opened its sell out run at the Manchester Palace Theatre last night where it plays until Sat 30 March. The run at The Palace sold out within days.

Since Cameron Mackintosh first conceived this new production of ‘Les Misérables’ in 2009 to celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary it has taken the world by storm. Originally touring the UK throughout 2009/10, and concluding with 22 performances at the Barbican, this production was hailed by audiences and critics alike. This tour opened in Leicester in November last year and has already played sell out runs in Dublin and Edinburgh.

This production inspired the hugely successful movie version starring Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Eddie Redmayne. This brilliant new staging has scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo,and has to date already been seen in North America, Brazil, Mexico, Korea, Japan, Canada, Australia, Spain, France, Manila, Singapore, Dubai and Broadway.

Boublil and Schönberg’s magnificent score of ‘LES MISÉRABLES’ includes the songs, ‘I Dreamed a Dream’, ‘On My Own’, ‘Stars’, ‘Bring Him Home’, ‘Do You Hear the People Sing?’, ‘One Day More’, ‘Empty Chairs at Empty Tables’, ‘Master Of The House’ and many more.  Seen by over 120 million people worldwide in 52 countries and in 22 languages, ‘LES MISÉRABLES’ is undisputedly one of the world’s most popular musicals.

Cameron Mackintosh’s production of ‘LES MISÉRABLES’ is written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg and is based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, additional material by James Fenton and original adaptation by Trevor Nunn and John Caird. The original ‘LES MISÉRABLES’ orchestrations are by John Cameron with new orchestrations by Christopher Jahnke, Stephen Metcalfe and Stephen Brooker. The production is directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell, designed by Matt Kinley inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo with costumes by Andreane Neofitou and Christine Rowland, lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Mick Potter, musical staging by Michael Ashcroft and Geoffrey Garratt, projections by Fifty-Nine Productions and music supervision by Stephen Brooker and Graham Hurman.

DAVID WALLIAMS SCORES A HAT-TRICK AS NEW PRODUCTION OF BILLIONAIRE BOY IS ANNOUNCED

Birmingham Stage Company Presents

David Walliams’ BILLIONAIRE BOY

Tour runs September 2019 – November 2020

National press performance: Wed 30 October 2019, 7pm at Richmond Theatre

The bestselling children’s author David Walliams and the award-winning Birmingham Stage Company have today announced a new production of Billionaire Boy to tour Britain. This will be their third collaboration after the Olivier Award nominated Gangsta Granny and acclaimed Awful Auntie productions. Billionaire Boy started life as a David Walliams novel for children in2010, published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, and was filmed for the BBC in 2016. It will nowembark on a national tour on 26 September 2019 from Horsham’s Capitol Theatre.

Billionaire Boy tells the story of Joe Spud, who is twelve years old and the richest boy in the country. He has his own sports car, two crocodiles as pets and £100,000 a week pocket money. But what Joe doesn’t have is a friend. So he decides to leave his posh school and start at the local comp. But things don’t go as planned for Joe and life becomes a rollercoaster as he tries find what money can’t buy!

David Walliams said today: “I absolutely loved the BSC’s terrific productions of Gangsta Granny and Awful Auntie so I can’t wait to see their brand-new production of Billionaire Boy! It promises to be a brilliant show!”

David Walliams has become one of today’s most influential writers. Since the publication of his first novel,The Boy in the Dress (2008), illustrated by the iconic Sir Quentin Blake, David Walliams has celebrated more than ten years of writing success with global sales exceeding twenty-nine million copies, and his books have been translated into fifty-three languages. David’s titles have spent 138 weeks (non-consecutive) at the top of the children’s charts – more than any other children’s author ever. He closed 2018 as the UK’s biggest-selling author for the second year running. In addition to his fiction, David has worked with Tony Ross on six picture books as well as three bestselling short-story collections, The World’s Worst Children.

Neal Foster is the adapter and director of Billionaire Boy. He is the Actor/Manager of The Birmingham Stage Company which since its foundation in 1992 has staged over eighty productions. The company has become one of the world’s leading producers of theatre for children and their families, including Horrible Histories Live on Stage for fourteen years in the UK, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia. Neal has written and directed all of the most recent Horrible Histories shows including the Barmy Britain series seen in the West End, across the UK, and abroad. Billionaire Boy will be his third David Walliams stage show after Gangsta Granny and Awful Auntie. Last week he opened the world premiere of Tom Gateswhich he adapted with the author Liz Pichon which will be touring the country through to 2020.

Billionaire Boy is adapted and directed by Neal Foster, designed by Jackie Trousdale, lighting by Jason Taylor, sound by Nick Sagar, special effects by Scott Penrose and music by Jak Poore.

Billionaire Boy is suitable for ages 5 +

Twitter: @BillBoy_Live

Facebook: birminghamstage

List of tour dates: billionaireboylive.co.uk

Tour dates currently on sale are:

Capitol Theatre, Horsham                                             26 – 29 Sep 2019

Hull New Theatre                                                             09 – 12 Oct 2019

Derngate Theatre, Northampton                              16 – 19 Oct 2019

Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe                               23 – 26 Oct 2019

Richmond Theatre                                                          30 Oct – 02 Nov 2019

Orchard Theatre, Dartford                                           13 – 16 Nov 2019

Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham                                 20 – 23 Nov 2019

Theatre Royal, Glasgow                                                 15 – 19 Jan 2020

Cliffs Pavilion. Southend-on-Sea                                23 – 26 Jan 2020 [on sale 26 Feb]

De Montfort Hall, Leicester                                          04 – 08 Mar 2020

THE BEST OF…

ROCK MUSICALS
In aid of The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust

• CASTING HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR THE PERFORMANCES ON MAY 12TH
• THE BEST OF… ROCK MUSICALS AT THE EVENTIM APOLLO, HAMMERSMITH, IN AID OF THE CHARLIE WALLER MEMORIAL TRUST
• THE PERFORMERS TAKING PART WILL INCLUDE THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED ADAM PASCAL, KERRY ELLIS, ADRIANNA HICKS, KRISTINA LOVE AND DAVID MICHAEL JOHNSON. THEY WILL BE JOINED BY SABRINA ALOUECHE, ELVIE ELLIS, RACHEL FABRI, CHARLOTTE HARWOOD, ROB HOUCHEN, DEBBIE KURUP, CHRISTIAN LUND, JON ROBYNS, RAY SHELL, NOEL SULLIVAN AND JUDY KUHN.
• DEVISED AND DIRECTED BY HUGH WOOLDRIDGE (THE NIGHT OF 1000 VOICES)
• TICKETS ON SALE NOW www.thebestofmusicals.com

On Sunday 12 May 2019 at London’s Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, there will be two concerts ofThe Best of… Rock Musicals for the benefit of The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust.  It will be the 20th Anniversary production from the same team who for the last 19 years have presented The Night of 1000 Voices at the Royal Albert Hall and elsewhere.

As previously announced The Best of… Rock Musicals will feature New York’s Adam Pascal(Rent); Europe’s Adrianna Hicks (The Color Purple), Kristina Love (Tina) and David Michael Johnson (Jesus Christ Superstar); and London’s Kerry Ellis (Wicked) together with a host of Broadway and West End talent, the West End Chorus, the City of London Philharmonic AllStars. They will be joined by Judy Kuhn (Fiddler on the Roof), Debbie Kurup (The Bodyguard), Ray Shell (Starlight Express), Sabrina Aloueche (We Will Rock You), Elvie Ellis (The Little Shop of Horrors), Rachel Fabri (The Sound of Music), Charlotte Harwood (Loserville), Rob Houchen (Titanic the Musical), Christian Lund (Phantom of the Opera), Jon Robyns (Hamilton) and Noel Sullivan (We Will Rock You).

Amongst many others, The Best of… Rock Musicals will include songs from Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair, Evita, Chess, Aida, Miss Saigon, RENT, Tommy, We Will Rock You, Spring Awakening, The Rocky Horror Show, Next To Normal, The Little Shop of Horrors, Dear Evan Hansen, Wicked and The Lion King.

The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust was formed in 1997 by the Waller family in memory of their son and brother, Charlie, who took his own life whilst suffering from depression.  The Trust offers support and education to those affected by depression and mental illness.  Its vision is of a world where people understand and talk openly about depression; where young people are educated on the importance of staying mentally well, and where treatment is available to everyone who needs it.

Particularly in musical theatre and the performing arts, depression and mental unhappiness is often masked by a smiling face.  Everyone has a duty to protect each other in a profession where rejection and redundancy are two of the most common words in daily usage.  The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust offers vital information on preventing depression and is producing tailored guidance for performers.

With musical directors Stuart Morley (We Will Rock You) and Kevin Amos (Jesus Christ Superstar), and choreographers Kevan Allen and Andrew Wright, The Best of… Rock Musicals will again be devised and directed by Hugh Wooldridge who says “This event is a must for all who love rock musicals and musical theatre.  With the very best artistes in the world coming together to celebrate the very best in rock musicals from the last 50 years.  Come along again on our 20th birthday and join in the fun and support this most splendid charity in the name of Charlie Waller, whilst raising the roof of the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith.”

Further performers will be announced in due course.  All artistes are subject to their professional commitments.

LISTINGS

THE BEST OF… ROCK MUSICALS
Devised and Directed by Hugh Wooldridge
Musical Directors: Stuart Morley and Kevin Amos
Choreographers: Kevan Allen and Andrew Wright
Eventim Apollo Hammersmith
45 Queen Caroline St, Hammersmith, London W6 9QH
020 8563 3800

First performance           Sunday May 12, 2019 at 4.00pm
Final performance         Sunday May 12, 2019 at 8.00pm

Box office details             0844 249 1000

                                                www.thebestofmusicals.com

Prices from                        £15.00

Websites:

The Best of Musicals                                          www.thebestofmusicals.com

The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust            www.cwmt.org.uk