“Who in your life would you trust to keep you alive? And who do you know who would risk their own life for yours?”
Full casting has been announced for What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank, a new serious comedy by Nathan Englander, based on his acclaimed 2011 short story in The New Yorker, directed by Patrick Marber, open at the Marylebone Theatre 4 October to 23 November 2024.
Joining the previously announced West Wing, Scandal and The Big Bang Theory star Joshua Malina, making his London theatre debut as ‘Phil’, will be Caroline Catz (best known for her roles as ‘Louisa’ in ITV’s Doc Martin and ‘DI Helen Morton’ in DCI Banks also for ITV) as ‘Debbie’, Dorothea Myer-Bennett (Offie Award-winning actress whose extensive stage credits include Nachtland at the Young Vic and in Leopoldstadt in the West End, both directed by Patrick Marber) as ‘Shoshana’, Simon Yadoo (recently seen in Love’s Labour’s Lost and The School for Scandal on tour for Changeling Theatre) as ‘Yerucham’ and Gabriel Howell (most recently seen in The Unfriend at Chichester and in the West End, and soon to be starring in the live action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon) as ‘Trevor’.
WHAT A serious new comedy.
WE Two Jewish couples; one secular, the other ultra-Orthodox.
TALK The argument none of them meant to have.
ABOUT Identity, Politics, Parenthood and Getting High.
WHEN Present day Florida.
WE A college dropout who claims to be a ‘Pastafarian’.
TALK Provocative, Hilarious, Painful, Honest.
ABOUT Gaza, Israel, the Holocaust, Nazis, Marriage, Sex.
ANNE A nice Jewish girl….
FRANK is not in this play.
From the director of the Olivier and Tony Award-winning Leopoldstadt, and the producer of 2023’s The White Factory, What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank is based on Nathan Englander’s short story collection What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank that was first published in 2012, winning the 2012 Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
Nathan Englander said, “I first wrote What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank as a short story for the New Yorker Magazine in 2011 and I’ve been rewriting it in different ways ever since. I think my obsession with the piece is probably because the setup is something I see as an increasingly rare occurrence in our ever more polarized and personalized-algorithm driven lives. That is, two best friends, now on opposite ends of political, religious, and economic spectrums come together to talk and laugh and cry it all out—and to see if any of the love they’ve long felt for each other can survive.
As for working with Patrick Marber, it’s been a dream. We dove into a rewrite of the play more than a year ago and have not come up for air since. It’s been some of the most intense and joyous and depressing work I’ve ever done, and beyond symbiotic tackling the piece together. As relates to the difference in our own styles of communication, I’d like to take this moment to apologize to Patrick for interrupting every single sentence he’s tried to utter (but I highly doubt I’ll stop).”
Patrick Marber said, “I’ve loved Nathan Englander’s work since I read his astounding debut short story collection, ‘For The Relief Of Unbearable Urges’. I’m very excited to be directing this UK premiere of his new play. It’s a rare thing to find a comedy that is both hilarious and deeply serious. I’m greatly looking forward to rehearsals with this exceptional cast and with the remarkable Mr Englander in attendance.”
What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank will be directed by Patrick Marber, with design by Anna Fleischle, lighting design by Sally Ferguson and sound design by David Gregory. Associate direction is by Natalie Simone, with movement direction from EJ Boyle and costume supervision by Chantal Short. Casting advisor is Helena Palmer.
Blackpool Winter Gardens – until Saturday 7 September 2024
Reviewed by Debra Skelton
5*****
I am so glad that Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers is back in Blackpool, and I can truly say that I was not disappointed, and neither was the rest of the audience with a standing ovation at the end. To see this musical please get down to the Winter Gardens Blackpool as it is running until Saturday 07th September 2024.
Blood Brothers is a musical about twin brothers separated at birth who grow up on opposite sides of the tracks and both never knowing the truth about their relationship until the very end. The story is set in Liverpool during the mid-eighties where working-class families struggled to make ends meet and unemployment levels were high. By presenting the way families had to live back then, this was crucial to truly understanding the life of Mrs. Johnstone and why the lives of both Mickey and Eddie differed so much. It showed the difference in schooling, their financial situations which defines their class which ultimately divides them and is a motivator for their demise.
The show covers themes from superstition to social class and the very different lives the two brothers were set to lead. Throughout the show, the Narrator (Scott Anson) remains on stage, watching and lurking in the background and keeps reminding the characters of the awful fate if the brothers ever discovered the truth. At the start of the show, we see the bodies of the two men being covered and a mother crying which forewarned the audience from the start that something forbidding is going to happen.
Vivienne Carlysle plays the role of Mrs Johnstone to perfection showing how she coped as a single mother with little money and the love and affection for her children. Her amazing voice and presence on the stage was a true pleasure to watch.
Both Sean Jones (Mickey) and Joe Sleight (Eddie) provided an entertaining performance of acting like children shooting guns, pulling their sweaters over their knees, and burying worms, to becoming adults which was truly believable.
The whole cast of this production are incredibly talented and showed their ability to be versatile by playing different characters.
The show also needs special thanks to Andy Walmsley for creating such an adaptable set, Dan Samson for the wonderful sound, Nick Richings for the lighting and Matt Malone for the marvellous music.
National Theatre Live announces The Importance of Being Earnest releasing to cinemas worldwide in 2025
National Theatre Live today announces the cinematic release of the National Theatre’s forthcoming revival of The Importance of Being Earnest, bringing thenew interpretation of the classic play to audiences worldwide in 2025.
Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy The Importance of Being Earnest directed by Max Webster (Life of Pi) will be released to cinemas on 20 February 2025. Three-time Olivier Award-winner, Sharon D Clarke(Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom; Doctor Who) is joined by Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who, Sex Education), Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́ (Rain Dogs, Blues for an Alabama Sky), Eliza Scanlen (Little Women, Sharp Objects), and Hugh Skinner(Fleabag, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again) in this joyful reimagining.
While assuming the role of a dutiful guardian in the country, Jack (Hugh Skinner) lets loose in town under a false identity. Meanwhile, his friend Algy (Ncuti Gatwa) adopts a similar facade. Hoping to impress two eligible ladies, the gentlemen find themselves caught in a web of lies they must carefully navigate.
This production will be filmed live from the National Theatre’s Lyttelton stage where it is playing from 20 November 2024 – 25 January 2025.
The Importance of Being Earnest will be released exclusively in cinemas and audiences can find their nearest screening at theimportanceofbeingearnest.ntlive.com.
Sky Arts is the Headline Sponsor of National Theatre Live in the UK.
Creator and producer Judy Craymer is delighted to announce the new cast of the global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! from Monday 7 October 2024 and the extension of its booking period to Saturday 27 September 2025 at London’s Novello Theatre, with tickets now on sale.
The London cast will continue to star Mazz Murray as Donna, Kate Graham as Tanya, Nicola-Dawn Brook as Rosie, Christopher Dickins as Harry and Stephen Beckett as Bill, with Natalie Langston playing Donna at certain performances. Luke Jasztal moves from Ensemble to play the role of Sam. They will be joined on 7 October by Izi Maxwell (West End debut; Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard in SIX, UK & International Tour) as Sophie, Ben Irish (Frozen the Musical, Jersey Boys and 9 to 5: The Musical, all West End) as Sky, Harriet Samuels (Frozen the Musical, Theatre Royal Drury Lane) as Ali, Zaynah Ahmed (Bhangra Nation at Birmingham Rep, Hex at National Theatre and the films Disenchanted and Wonka) as Lisa, Jamie Landmann (West End debut; Starlight Express in Germany, Hairspray and Grease for Royal Caribbean International) as Eddie and Thomas Walton (West End debut; The Artist, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie UK Tour) as Pepper.
Also continuing in the cast are Matthew Barrow, Lawrence Guntert, Samantha Ivey, Flyn Mullins, Hayley-Jo Murphy and Ella Tweed. They will be joined by Mia Anthony Coffield, Franky Attard, Jack Bromage, Maddy Cameron, Dennis Cousins, Timmy Driscoll, Andrew Gallo, Lauren Hall, Genevieve Jameson, Emma Odell, Tom Parsons, Adam Scotland, Jonah Sercombe and Maisie Waller.
MAMMA MIA! celebrated its 25th birthday on 6 April 2024, making it only the third musical to reach 25 in the history of the West End. It is now the third longest running West End musical of all time.
Since premiering in London’s West End in 1999, the exhilarating smash-hit has become a global phenomenon, with a staggering 70 million people having seen it worldwide.
The sunny, funny tale of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads on a Greek island idyll, all unfolding to the magic of ABBA’s timeless pop masterpieces, has been seen in over 50 productions in 16 different languages grossing more than £4.5 billion at the box office and turned into two record-breaking movies – MAMMA MIA! The Movie and MAMMA MIA! Here We Go Again.
MAMMA MIA! originally opened in London at the Prince Edward Theatre on 6 April 1999, before transferring to the Prince of Wales Theatre in 2004, and then to the Novello Theatre in 2012. The London production of MAMMA MIA! has been seen by over 10 million people, played over 9,500 performances and has broken box office records in all three of its London homes and in February set a new record for the highest ever weekly gross in the musical’s London history.
MAMMA MIA! continues to have great success around the world, with the current UK & International Tour and the North American Tour both selling out.
As part of the 25th year celebrations, Judy Craymer was Executive Producer of ITV’s MAMMA MIA! I Have a Dream, which searched for new young talent to join the stage musical. Host Zoe Ball revealed Stevie Doc and Tobias Turley as the worthy winners and earlier this year they joined the London production in the roles of Sophie and Sky.
Produced by Judy Craymer, MAMMA MIA! The Movie became the highest grossing live action musical film of all time upon its release in 2008. A second film, MAMMA MIA! Here We Go Again, opened in July 2018 and is the most successful live musical movie sequel of all time. Both films starred Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper, with Lily James, Andy Garcia and Cher joining them in the second film.
With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch.
MAMMA MIA! is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East & Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Novello Theatre
Aldwych
London WC2B 4LD
Ticket Prices: from £15*
*All prices include a £2.75 per ticket booking fee and £1.50 restoration levy
Early Bird Pricing – anyone booking 16 weeks or more in advance of the performance they are attending (Monday to Thursday performances only) will save £20 on Band B, Band A and Premium tickets, but only through Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, either online or by calling the Novello Theatre Box Office.
Family Ticket Rate – £199 for a group of four on Band B or Band A tickets (up to a saving of £151), OR £99 for a group of four on Band D and Band C tickets (up to a saving of £111), for Monday to Thursday performances, excluding peak performances, but only through Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, either online or by calling the Novello Theatre Box Office.
Performance Times:
Monday – Saturday 7.30pm
Matinees – Thursdays & Saturdays 3.00pm*
*Extra 3.00pm matinee on Tuesday 29 October, Tuesday 17 December 2024, Tuesday 18 February, Tuesday 15 April, Tuesday 8 July, Tuesday 5 August and Tuesday 19 August 2025
Audio described performance: Saturday 8 February 2025 at 3.00pm
Captioned performance: Saturday 1 February 2025 at 3.00pm
Christmas 2024/25 Performance Schedule
Monday 23 December 3.00pm and 7.30pm
Tuesday 24 December NO PERFORMANCE
Wednesday 25 December NO PERFORMANCE
Thursday 26 December 7.30pm
Friday 27 December 3.00pm and 7.30pm
Saturday 28 December 3.00pm and 7.30pm
Sunday 29 December 2.30pm
Monday 30 December 3.00pm and 7.30pm
Tuesday 31 December NO PERFORMANCE
Wednesday 1 January 2025 7.30pm
Thursday 2 January 3.00pm and 7.30pm
Friday 3 January 7.30pm
Saturday 4 January 3.00pm and 7.30pm
Currently booking to 27 September 2025
The performance lasts 2 hours and 35 minutes (including a 15-minute interval)
The producers of the brand new musical HERE & NOW, presented by UK pop sensation, Steps, are delighted to announce that Finty Williams (The Baker’s Wife, Menier Chocolate Factory, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, National Theatre Tour), Dan Partridge (Danny in Grease, West End and Charlie Price in the upcoming UK & Ireland tour of Kinky Boots), Helen Colby (Sinatra The Musical, Birmingham Rep, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, West End), Gary Milner (Kiss Me Kate, Barbican, Peron in Evita, Curve), River Medway (fan favourite on the third season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, BBC) Edward Baker Duly (The King and I, Broadway & West End, The Third Man, Menier Chocolate Factory) and John Stacey (Kiss Me Kate, Barbican), My Fair Lady, The Coliseum), will join the cast as Patricia, Ben, Tracey, Gareth, Jem, Max and Lesley respectively.
They join the previously announced Rebecca Lock as Caz, Hiba Elchikhe as Neeta, Sharlene Hector as Vel and Blake Patrick Anderson as Robbie.
The cast is completed by Olivia Bella (professional debut), Jabari Braham (Hello Dolly, London Palladium), Michael Carolan (Wolf & Shrek in Shrek, UK Tour), Alex Christian (Disney’s Newsies, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre), Kade Ferraiolo (I Should Be So Lucky, UK Tour), Jemma Geanaus (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Palace Theatre London), Charlie-Jay Johnson (Joanne in Company, Bird College), Serina Mathew (The Time Traveller’s Wife, West End), Jago Mottart (Jesus Christ Superstar, UK Tour), Markus Sodergren (Heathers – the Musical, UK & Ireland Tour) and Genevieve Taylor (Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre).
HERE & NOW will now run in Birmingham from 9 – 30 November 2024 following a recent date extension due to phenomenal demand.
Featuring Steps’ most beloved hit songs, HERE & NOW has an original book by Shaun Kitchener and is produced by the band and ROYO with Pete Waterman. It will be directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, with choreography by Olivier Award winning Matt Cole and Matt Spencer-Smith as musical supervisor, orchestrations and arrangements.
Welcome to seaside superstore Better Best Bargains, where it’s Friday night, the vibe is right, and everyone’s dancing in the aisles. But when Caz discovers the shelves are stocked with lies and betrayal, the summer of love she and her friends dreamed of suddenly feels like a tragedy. Have they all lost their chance of a ‘happy ever after’? Or does love have other plans in store…
Steps (Claire Richards, Faye Tozer, Ian ‘H’ Watkins’, Lee Latchford-Evans and Lisa Scott-Lee) are the UK’s most successful mixed sex pop group of all time, with 14 top five singles, 4 number one albums, 22 million record sales, 500 million streams & 11 sold-out national arena tours under their belts. The band’s hits include #1 singles Tragedy/Heartbeat and Stomp, the gold certified One For Sorrow & Better Best Forgotten, the silver certified 5,6,7,8, Last Thing On My Mind, Love’s Got A Hold Of My Heart, Chain Reaction, all of which will feature in the musical alongside many more.
Steps’ 2017 comeback tour sold out all 300,000 tickets, making it one of the biggest pop tours of the year. The band have since continued to release new music including two further iTunes #1 singles, the Sia-penned What The Future Holds in 2020 and the Michelle Visage duet Heartbreak In This City in 2022. In 2022 Steps celebrated their 25th anniversary with a headline summer tour and released the #1 album Platinum Collection which means they join ABBA, Rolling Stones and Stereophonics as the only groups in UK history to score #1 albums in four consecutive decades.
Set design is by Tom Rogers, costume design is by Gabriella Slade, lighting design by Howard Hudson, sound design by Adam Fisher, wigs, hair and makeup design by Sam Cox, casting by Will Burton for Grindrod Burton Casting, associate direction by Matt Hassall, associate choreography by Jane McMurtrie, associate sound design by Ollie Durrant, Music Technology by Phij Adams with Production Management by Setting Line.
Performances: Tuesdays – Saturdays at 7:30pm, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2.30pm
N.B there will only be a 7:30pm performance on Saturday 9 November, Sunday 10 November and Thursday 28 November, and an additional 2:30pm performance on Wednesday 27 November.
There will also be an audio described performance on Tuesday 19 November and a signed performance on Thursday 21 November.
Tim Edwards will now play Alvin Kelby joining Markus Sodergren as Thomas Weaver in the UK premiere of the Broadway musical
THE STORY OF MY LIFE
Music and Lyrics by NEIL BARTRAM Book by BRIAN HILL
Directed by Robert McWhir
Tim Edwards and Markus Sodergren
The Stage Door Theatre 150-151 Drury Lane London WC2B 5TD
10 September – October 19
Tim Edwards (The Book of Mormon, Wicked) will now co-star in the UK premiere of the intimate two-person Broadway musical The Story of My Life.
The production, with music and lyrics by Neil Bartram and book by Brian Hill, directed by Robert McWhir, will start previews on Tuesday 10 September at the at the Stage Door Theatre in Drury Lane.
Best-selling author Thomas Weaver has come back to his hometown to deliver the eulogy for his childhood friend, Alvin Kelby, but finds himself desperately scrambling for something to say. His reality is shattered by the memory of Alvin who takes him deep into Thomas’s mind cluttered with a lifetime of stories.
Tim Edwards (Alvin) was in The Book of Mormon (West End), Wicked (UK tour,) Grease the Musical (European tour) and played Chandler Bing in Friendsical the Musical (UK tour).
Markus Sodergren (Thomas) returns to The Stage Door Theatre after playing ‘Man’ in the two-hander Stephen Sondheim revue, Marry Me A Little (Offie nomination Best Lead Performance in a Musical). His previous credits include Heathers the Musical (UK tour).
Nominated for four 2009 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Musical, The Story of My Life is a Broadway rarity: an intimate musical that candidly explores the simplicity of human need and the complexity of emotions under which it lies buried. A series of songs – in turn playful, touching and dramatic – The Story of My Life inspires us to reconnect with those who were part of the earliest chapters of our own life stories.
Director Robert McWhir Musical Director Aaron Clingham Designer David Shields Producer LAMBCO Productions
Neil Bartram (Music and Lyrics) Neil is the composer and lyricist of Broadway’s The Story of My Life with book writer Brian Hill (four Drama Desk Award nominations). Other projects with Brian includeThe Adventures of Pinocchio (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), The Theory of Relativity (Canadian Music Theatre Project, Goodspeed Musicals, London Off-West End), Something Wicked This Way Comes (Delaware Theatre Company – 11 Barrymore Award nominations), and You Are Here(Goodspeed Musicals). Neil also wrote the score for Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s and Asolo Repertory Theatre’s productions of Shakespeare in Love. Upcoming projects include Les Belles (the stage adaptation of Michel Tremblay’s Les Belles Soeurs) and the stage adaptation of Disney’s beloved film Bedknobs & Broomsticks. Neil’s awards include the ASCAP Foundation’s Yellen Award, a Jonathan Larson Foundation Award, and a Dramatists Guild Fellowship.
Brian Hill (Book) With composer/lyricist Neil Bartram, Brian has writtenThe Adventures of Pinocchio, The Theory of Relativity and The Story of My Life, which premiered on Broadway in 2009, earning four Drama Desk Award nominations (Outstanding Musical, Music, Lyrics, and Book). Current Bartram and Hill projects include Senza Luce (CMTP), Les Belles, You Are Here,Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Something Wicked This Way Comes (Delaware Theatre Company – 11 Barrymore Award nominations). Brian wrote the new book for the Old Globe’s production of October Sky and the revised book for the Goodman Theatre’s acclaimed production of Brigadoon.
Robert McWhir (Director) Robert McWhir is Artistic Director of the Stage Door Theatre. Robert was previously Artistic Director of the Landor Theatre in Clapham for 16 years, where his many productions included critically acclaimed versions of The Clockmaker’s Daughter, She Loves Me, The Man Inside, Meet Me In St Louis, A Class Act, Curtains, Ragtime, Tomorrow Morning, Into The Woods, I Love You Because and Follies.
LISTINGS INFO
Lambco presents the UK premiere of the Broadway musical
The Story of My Life Music and Lyrics by Neil Bartram Book by Brian Hill
Directed by Robert McWhir
Stage Door Theatre The Prince of Wales pub 150-151 Drury Lane London WC2B 5TD
Tuesday 10 September – Saturday October 19
Tuesday – Friday at 19:30 Saturdays at 20.30pm
Dinner Tickets: £41, Show only: £24 (plus booking fee)
As public booking opens for Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan’s The Producers, the Menier Chocolate Factory today announce initial casting. Tony Award winning director for Leopoldstadt, Patrick Marber directs Andy Nyman (Fiddler on the Roof – Menier, Hello Dolly – London Palladium and creator of Ghost Stories), Marc Antolin (The Band’s Visit – Donmar Warehouse, and Emma Rice’s Romantics Anonymous), Harry Morrison (Beetlejuice – international tour, and The Third Man and Assassins for the Menier) and Joanna Woodward (The Time Traveller’s Wife: The Musical – Apollo Theatre, and Merrily We Roll Along for the Menier), with Charis Alexandra, Michael Franks, Matt Gillett, LeahHarris, Hana Ichijo, Esme Kennedy, Josh Kiernan, Alex Lodge, Kelsie-Rae Marshall, and Chloe Saunders.
The production opens on 9 December, with previews from 26 November, and runs until 1 March 2025.
Full casting for the production will be announced shortly.
THE PRODUCERS
Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks
Direction by Patrick Marber; Choreography by Lorin Latarro; Set Design by Scott Pask; Costume Design by Paul Farnsworth; Lighting Design by Richard Howell; Sound Design by Niamh Gaffney & Terry Jardine for Autograph; Musical Supervision by Gareth Valentine; Musical Direction by Matthew Samer; Orchestrations by Larry Blank & Mark Cumberland
The first major London revival of Mel Brooks’ musical adaptation of The Producers will be staged at the Menier this winter by Tony Award-winning director Patrick Marber and Broadway choreographer Lorin Latarro.
Based on the classic cult film of the same name, the original Broadway production won a record twelve Tony Awards, and skewers Broadway traditions, taking no prisoners as it proudly proclaims itself an “equal opportunity offender!”
Marc Antolin plays Leo Bloom. His theatre credits include I Wish You Well (Edinburgh Fringe/ Criterion Theatre), Quiz (UK tour), The Band’s Visit (Donmar Warehouse), Murder on the Orient Express, Amadeus, Taken at Midnight, Singin’ in the Rain, The Music Man (Chichester Theatre), The Magician’s Elephant (RSC), Camelot (The Watermill Theatre), Romantics Anonymous (Bristol Old Vic/Sam Wanamaker Playhouse/US tour), Cry Havoc (Park Theatre), Hedda Gabler (Sherman Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors, Into the Woods, Hello Dolly (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Flying Lovers of Vitebsk (Edinburgh Festival, Bristol Old Vic, Shakespeare’s Globe), Twelfth Night (Shakespeare’s Globe), Peter Pan (National Theatre), Taken at Midnight (Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Trial (Young Vic Theatre), From Here to Eternity (Shaftesbury Theatre), Matilda (RSC/Cambridge Theatre), Bells are Ringing, Once Upon a Time at the Adelphi (Union Theatre), Billy Liar (UK tour) and Imagine This (New London Theatre). His television credits include The Outlaws, Keeping Faith, Caerdydd and More Than Love; and for film, London Road, Hunky Dory and Love Actually.
Harry Morrison returns to the Menier to play Franz Liebkind – he previously appeared in The Third Man and Assassins. His theatre credits include Beetlejuice (international tour), Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre/Abbey Theatre), Half a Sixpence (Chichester Festival Theatre/Noël Coward Theatre), Guys & Dolls and Kiss Me, Kate (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Wizard of Oz (Theatre Royal, Northampton), Checkley & Bush (Soho Theatre), Oliver! (Larnaca International Festival/ Sheffield Crucible), Crazy For You (Open Air Theatre Regent’s Park/Novello Theatre), The Sound of Music (Open Air Theatre Regent’s Park) and All The Town’s Men (Theatre on the Fly). His television credits include Mongrels and Doc Martin.
Andy Nyman plays Max Bialystock. He is an award-winning actor, director and writer who has earned acclaim from both critics and audiences for his work in theatre, film and television. His work for the Menier includes Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof (also at the Playhouse – Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical), Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins,Abigail’s Party (also Wyndham’s Theatre) and Terrible Advice. Other theatre work includes Hello, Dolly! (The London Palladium), Martin McDonagh’s Hangmen (Wyndham’s Theatre/Broadway), and the original production of Ghost Stories (Duke of York’s Theatre/Arts Theatre) which he starred in, co-wrote and co-directed with Jeremy Dyson – later adapted into a film, in which he also starred. His extensive television credits include Hanna, Wanderlust, The Eichmann Show, Campus, Crooked House, Dead Set as well as his highly acclaimed performance as Winston Churchill in Peaky Blinders. Nyman’s extensive film credits include Jungle Cruise, Judy,The Commuter, Death at a Funeral, Kick-Ass 2, Black Death, The Brother’s Bloom, Severance and Shut Up & Shoot Me, for which he won the Best Actor award at the Cherbourg Film Festival in 2006. In addition, he has collaborated with Derren Brown for almost 20 years, co-writing and co-creating much of Brown’s early TV work. He has also co-written and directed six of Brown’s stage shows, winning the Olivier Award for Best Entertainment for Derren Brown – Something Wicked This Way Comes and a New York Drama Desk Award for Best Unique Theatrical Event 2017 for Derren Brown – Secret.
Joanna Woodward plays Ulla. She previously appeared at the Menier in Merrily We Roll Along (also at the Pinter Theatre). Her theatre credits include The Time Traveller’s Wife: The Musical (Apollo Theatre), Pretty Woman: The Musical (Savoy Theatre), Confessions, Zombies: The Musical (The Other Palace theatre), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Aldwych Theatre), The Life (Southwark Playhouse), Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’Be (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Lost Boy (Finborough/ Charing Cross Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (Kilworth House Theatre), The Adventures of Jason and the Argonauts (Scoop Amphitheatre), Medea and Pages: Promised Land (Union Theatre).
As a director, Patrick Marber’s work includes Habeas Corpus (Menier Chocolate Factory), Leopoldstadt (Wyndham’s Theatre and Broadway – Tony Award for Best Director of a Play and Outer Critics’ Circle Award for Outstanding Director of a Play), Travesties (Menier Chocolate Factory/Apollo Theatre/Roundabout Theatre Company’s American Airlines Theatre, NYC), Steve Coogan/John Thompson in Characters (Edinburgh/Purcell Room/Touring), and his own plays Dealer’s Choice (National Theatre/Vaudeville Theatre), Closer (National Theatre/Lyric Theatre/Broadway), Howard Katz and Three Days In the Country (both National Theatre). Other productions include 1953 (Almeida Theatre), Blue Remembered Hills (National Theatre), The Old Neighborhood (Royal Court at Duke of York’s Theatre), The Caretaker (Comedy Theatre) and I Remember (devised piece at Royal Court). For television, he directed After Miss Julie and The Curator (both for the BBC). As a writer, his other work includes The Musicians (NT Connections) After Miss Julie,Don Juan in Soho (Donmar Warehouse/Wyndham’s) and The Red Lion (National Theatre). For television, his work includes: co-writer of The Day Today,Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge, Paul Calf Video Diaries, The Curator, Natural Born Quizzers (all BBC); for film, The Critic (dir. Anand Tucker), Closer (dir. Mike Nichols), Notes on a Scandal (dir. Richard Eyre) and Love You More (dir. Sam Taylor-Wood); and for radio, Hoop Lane (BBC Radio 3) and Bunk Bed with Peter Curran (BBC Radio 4).
Lorin Latarro choreographed Broadway’s recent Once Upon a Mattress (currently at the Hudson Theatre), The Who’s Tommy, TheHeart of Rock and Roll, Oliver!, Into The Woods, Waitress, Mrs. Doubtfire (also in the West End), Les Liaisons Dangereuse, Waiting For Godot. Her other theatre work includes Merrily We Roll Along (Roundabout); Assassins; Fanny and God Bless You, Mr Rosewater (New York City Center Encores); La Traviata and Rigoletto (The Metropolitan Opera); Chess (The Kennedy Center); Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 21 Chump Street for “This American Life” (Brooklyn Academy of Music); The Visitor (The Public Theater); Twelfth Night;The Odyssey (Public Works, Delacorte Theater) and A Christmas Carol (McCarter Theatre).
LISTINGS INFORMATION
MENIER CHOCOLATE FACTORY
THE BAKER’S WIFE
Until 14 September
THE CABINET MINISTER
21 September – 16 November
THE PRODUCERS
26 November – 1 March 2025
Box Office: 020 7378 1713 (£2.50 transaction fee per booking)
Last night, the Cambridge Arts Theatre audience was eagerly anticipating a good yarn as the curtain rose on “Rebus: A Game called Malice,” a theatrical adaptation of Sir Ian Rankin’s beloved detective series. Directed by Loveday Ingram and penned by Rankin himself alongside Simon Reade, this production brings Rankin’s spiky Jekyll and Hyde detective John Rebus off the gritty streets of Edinburgh and into a posh dinner party. As the lights dimmed and the first scene unfolded, it became clear from the dramatic black out that we were in for a good gripping tale.
Gray O’Brien stepped into the shoes of the iconic John Rebus with a commanding presence that immediately captured the essence of Rankin’s complex protagonist. O’Brien’s portrayal was nuanced, balancing Rebus’s world-weary cynicism with flashes of sharp wit and unwavering determination. His gravelly voice and measured movements brought an authenticity to the character; he portrays to me exactly how I have always imagined John Rebus to be.
Gray O’Brien was supported by a talented cast. I particularly enjoyed Billy Hartman’s turn as Jack Fleming, which added a layer of moral ambiguity to the proceedings. Hartman expertly walked the line between charm and menace, leaving the audience constantly guessing about his true motives. His scenes with O’Brien were particularly riveting, the two actors playing off each other with an enjoyable intensity. Added to this was Jade Kennedy who delivered a standout performance as Candida Jones. Kennedy infused her character with a youthful energy that belied a sharp intelligence, creating some of the play’s most memorable moments. Glamorous as she is, Candida is not what she appears to be!
The two other female characters provide a fine comparison. Abigail Thaw’s performance as Stephanie Jeffries was equally impressive and Teresa Banham brought a quiet dignity to her role as Harriet Godwin. Her understated performance provided a counterpoint to the more volatile characters, and her moments of vulnerability were genuinely touching. Neil McKinven’s portrayal of Paul Godwin was intriguing – he’s been up to something – but what?
Loveday Ingram’s direction kept the pace brisk and the tension high throughout the two-hour runtime. The staging made excellent use of the intimate space, with transitions that maintained the story’s momentum. Ingram’s deft touch was evident in the way the play’s darker elements were balanced with moments of levity, preventing the proceedings from becoming grim.
Of necessity this was quite a convoluted plot. Rankin and Reade’s script ultimately delivered a satisfying and twisty tale though that kept the audience guessing until the final moments. The dialogue crackled with authenticity, capturing the distinctive cadences of Rankin’s prose. And I loved Rebus’ final line. You’ll have to see it to find out what it was!
“Rebus: A Game called Malice” is a great adaptation of the Rebus universe to the stage. How Rebus ends up in such an unexpected setting is utterly credible. With its strong performances, atmospheric staging, and gripping narrative, this production is a must-see for fans of Rankin’s work and newcomers alike. As the final curtain fell, the enthusiastic applause that filled the Cambridge Arts Theatre was a testament to the cast and crew’s achievement in bringing this complex tale of crime and justice to life.
WINTER SEASON 2024/25 AT CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE
A sparkling Winter season has been unveiled at Chichester Festival Theatre, offering a fabulously varied array of some of the best touring productions currently on offer in the UK, and a feast of festive entertainment for Christmas.
West End musical hits coming to Chichester include Come From Away and a return visit for SIX alongside the eagerly-awaited new Dolly Parton musical Here You Come Again.
Drama based on popular and award-winning books includes Birdsong, The Girl on the Train and Never Let Me Go, and another chance to see the hilariously inventive Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of). Fans of classic drama will also relish new productions of A Man for All Seasons starring Martin Shaw, and a Rattigan double-bill, Summer 1954 with Nathaniel Parker and Dame Siân Phillips.
An unmissable selection of new work ranges from the 1980s-inspired musical After the Act to the joyous Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz and the latest production from ThickSkinand Pentabus,Driftwood.
There’s also an enticing array of music (such as Julian Ovenden, Fisherman’s Friends, Radio 3’s Friday Night Is Music Night), comedy (Omid Djalili), poetry (Lemn Sissay), family shows (Dinosaur World Live, The Littlest Yak) and community performances.
And in the centre of it all, of course, is Christmas! We’re going all out again this year to create magical festive moments for everyone, young and old, to make the season truly sparkle. Created especially for CFT by Michael Morpurgo, Hey! Christmas Tree will enchant small children and their families; while Chichester Festival Youth Theatre will be making everyone’s wishes come true with a magical telling of Cinderella. And Father Christmas himself had such a good time in our Santa’s Grotto last year that’s he’s bringing his trusty Elves back for another festive workshop.
Plays and Musicals
Sebastian Faulks’s BIRDSONG
Festival Theatre, 5 – 9 November
Ages 14+
Sebastian Faulks’s epic tale of love and loss returns to the stage in a brand-new production marking the 30th anniversary of the international best-selling novel, adapted by Rachel Wagstaff (The Girl on the Train, Flowers for Mrs Harris) and starring Max Bowden (EastEnders), James Esler (Litvinenko) and Charlie Russell (The Goes Wrong Show, BBC’s And Then There Were None).
In pre-First World 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. Faced with the unprecedented horror of the Battle of the Somme, Stephen clings to the memory of Isabelle as his world explodes around him.
HERE YOU COME AGAIN
Festival Theatre, 12 – 16 November
Ages 11+
For the first time ever, all of Dolly Parton’s biggest hits can be experienced together in a rollicking and joyous new musical comedy. Packed with the iconic songs Jolene, 9 to 5, Islands in the Stream, I Will Always Love You, Here You Come Again and more, this lively and touching new musical tells the story of a diehard fan, Kevin, whose fantasy version of international icon Dolly Parton gets him through trying times.
Here You Come Again was originally written by two-time Emmy award-winning comedy and songwriter Bruce Vilanch with Gabriel Barre (who also directs) and Tricia Paoluccio (who also plays Dolly). After several successful runs across the United States, it has now been adapted for the UK by acclaimed British playwright Jonathan Harvey (Gimme, Gimme, Gimme and Coronation Street), co-starring West End performer Steven Webb (The Book of Mormon, Oliver! West End) as Kevin.
COME FROM AWAY
Festival Theatre, 19 – 23 November
Winner of four Olivier Awards including Best New Musical and the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical on Broadway, this smash hit show shares the incredible real-life story of the 7,000 air passengers from all over the world who were grounded in Canada during the wake of 9/11, and the small Newfoundland community that invited these ‘come from aways’ into their lives with open hearts.
Spirited locals and global passengers come together to forge friendships that will stay with them forever. The first female American Airlines captain, the quick-thinking town mayor, the mother of a New York firefighter and the eager local news reporter are among the many real characters caught at the start of the moment that changed the course of history and whose stories became a celebration of hope, humanity and unity.
Tony Award-winning director Christopher Ashley alongside Olivier Award-winning writers Irene Sankoff and David Hein bring this uplifting true story to the stage in a life-affirming production that has audiences on their feet night after night.
BULLRING TECHNO MAKEOUT JAMZ
Minerva Theatre, 21 – 23 November
Ages 14+
Nathaniel is a serious romantic who sees love as a fine art. He’s looking for the Mona Lisa to his da Vinci, and tonight is the night: his date with Destiny…’s Child.
Winner of the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting 2022, and written and performed by Nathan Queeley-Dennis, Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz is a love letter to Birmingham, exploring Black masculinity through Beyonce lyrics, techno raves and the deeply intimate relationship between a man and his barber. Directed by Dermot Daly.
NEVER LET ME GO
Festival Theatre, 26 – 30 November
Ages 12+
Kazuo Ishiguro’s international best-selling novel arrives on stage in the world premiere of a gripping new stage adaptation by Suzanne Heathcote, directed by Christopher Haydon.
What if you discovered your whole reason for being was not about your life but about making someone else’s possible? Your dreams, your desires, your love for another, all of them irrelevant in a world that values only what you give, without question or condition, to someone you’ve never met and will never know.
Memory and reality collide in this stunning new staging that challenges us to think about what it means to be human; what it means to have hope and heart — to love and to lose.
AFTER THE ACT
Minerva Theatre, 27 – 30 November
Ages 14+
After the Act is a new 1980s-inspired musical about pride, protest… and abseiling lesbians.
Thatcher’s Section 28, which banned the “promotion” of homosexuality in schools, was the landmark legislation that silenced a generation, offered a global blueprint for LGBTQ+ oppression and galvanised a movement. After the Act is funny, camp and unapologetically queer but also a clear-eyed exposure of the political playbook used to enact repressive laws.
A joyously exuberant original live score by composer and musical director Frew, accompanies the inspiring, sometimes heart-breaking, stories of teachers, students and activists impacted by the legislation. This is the story of how a moral panic gripped a nation – and a community decided to fight back, written by Ellice Stevens and Billy Barrett.
CHRISTMAS CONCERTS
Festival Theatre, 3 – 7 December
For ages 7+
The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Collingwood and the uplifting voices of the Chichester Cathedral Choir return for our traditional, much-loved Christmas Concerts – guaranteed to get audiences feeling joyful and triumphant. Brimming with cherished carols and classic Christmas melodies, alongside some enchanting new arrangements, this festive celebration promises to wrap everyone in the warm glow of holiday spirit. Sponsored by ITD Consultants.
HEY! CHRISTMAS TREE
Minerva Theatre, 7 – 29 December
For ages 3 – 7
Morning and matinee performances
Enchanting, funny and heart-warming, this festive story about the importance of finding friendship and somewhere to call home, was created especially for Chichester Festival Theatre by Michael Morpurgo.
Tree is rescued from the forest on Christmas Eve by Mavis, the motorbiking park ranger, who lives with her cheeky cat Winston and 9-year-old Yulia, who doesn’t want to talk and is a long way from home. Tree has never had Christmas before and isn’t sure about all the decorations he has to wear. But he meets Father Christmas and the Snow Woman, and with Yulia to care for him, he starts to dance. The seasons come and go, Tree grows taller, and soon Christmas comes around once again. And alongside the gifts in their stockings is the best present of all.
Inspired by Michael Morpurgo’s book of poems My Heart Was a Tree, and written for the stage by Vicki Berwick, with music and lyrics by Eamonn O’Dwyer, it’s a perfect first festive theatre trip for 3 to 7 year olds.
Dale Rooks, whose Chichester productions include The Butterfly Lion, Running Wild and The Wind in the Willows, directs. The designer will be Lily Arnold, with lighting design by James Whiteside and movement direction by Georgina Lamb.
Recommended for ages 3 – 7. There will be a Relaxed & BSL Performance on 29 December at 10.30am.
Chichester Festival Youth Theatre present Festival Theatre, 17 – 31 December
CINDERELLA
Ages 7+
You are invited to the prince’s ball this Christmas! Transport yourself into a spellbinding new retelling of this classic folk tale, full of wonder and delight. Meet a wicked stepfamily, a handsome prince in search of a wife and a missing slipper… But wait: there are also three magical dresses, a wish-giving tree, and help for Cinderella from a very unexpected source.
Packed with thrilling theatricality and delightful comedy, Cinderella is written by Philip Wilson (Grimm Tales), with original live music and songs by Jason Carr, and directed by Jon Pashley (CFYT’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream).
Chichester Festival Youth Theatre follows five-star versions of Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio and The Jungle Book with another festive feast of magical storytelling.
Cinderella will have set design by Simon Higlett, costume design by Abigail Caywood, musical direction by Audra Cramer, lighting design by Emma Chapman, sound design by Gregory Clarke and movement direction by Julia Cave.
Recommended for ages 7+. There will be a Relaxed Performance on 30 December at 2pm.
Sponsored by Chichester College.
Nathaniel Parker Siân Phillips in
SUMMER 1954 Table Number Seven / The Browning Version
Festival Theatre, 21 – 25 January
Summer, 1954. The atmosphere at The Beauregard Private Hotel, Bournemouth, is marked by a blend of repressed emotions and post-war gentility. Each of the staff and guests has their own reason for seeking the solace of quiet anonymity, but trying to hide from the social and cultural change sweeping over the country is proving impossible.
Meanwhile, in the heart of the Midlands, the end of the school term brings to a climax the intrigues, deceptions and lies in the lives of its teachers. The ensuing implosion of classicist Andrew Crocker Harris’s career triggers the collapse of his marriage. Britain is changing. Nothing will ever be the same again.
Terence Rattigan’s one act masterpieces Table Number Seven (from Separate Tables) and The Browning Version are paired for the first time, capturing one quietly momentous evening seventy years ago. Together, they confirm Rattigan as one of the great 20th-century chroniclers of the paradoxes of the human heart. Directed by Olivier and UK Theatre Award winner James Dacre, an ensemble cast will perform both plays, led by Olivier Award winner Nathaniel Parker (Inspector Lynley) and BAFTA winner Dame Siân Phillips.
Martin Shaw in
A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
Festival Theatre, 28 January – 1 February
The greatest, most powerful and dangerous figures who shaped English history are brought vividly to life in Robert Bolt’s award-winning play. Martin Shaw stars as Sir Thomas More – scholar, ambassador, Lord Chancellor and friend to King Henry VIII. Above all, he is a man of integrity, loved by the common people and his own family. When Henry demands a divorce from Catherine of Aragon, clearing the way for him to marry Anne Boleyn, the staunchly Catholic Thomas is forced to choose between his loyalty and his own conscience, committing an incredible act of defiance for which he eventually pays the ultimate price…
One of the UK’s best-loved actors on stage and screen, Martin Shaw is known to millions for his television roles in Judge John Deed, Inspector George Gently and The Professionals. Director Jonathan Church was Artistic Director of Chichester Festival Theatre 2006 – 2016.
SIX
Festival Theatre, 4 – 8 February
Ages 10+
The crowning glory of Broadway, the West End and beyond, the worldwide smash hit musical SIX is back on UK tour, returning to Chichester after two sell-out previous runs. Written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, this sell-out Tudor take-off has won 35 international awards including the Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Costume Design.
From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power. These Queens may have green sleeves but their lipstick is rebellious red. Divorced. Beheaded. Live!
Sponsored by Harbour Hotel, Chichester.
PRIDE & PREJUDICE* (*SORT OF)
Festival Theatre, 11 – 15 February
Ages 10+
Following its triumph in the West End where it won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy and the Evening Standard Award, Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) – a unique and audacious retelling of Jane Austen’s most iconic love story – returns to Chichester.
Men, money and microphones will be fought over in this irreverent but affectionate adaptation where the stakes couldn’t be higher when it comes to romance. This multi award-winning production, written by Isobel McArthur after Jane Austen, features a string of pop classics including Young Hearts Run Free, Will You Love Me Tomorrow and You’re So Vain.
Giovanna Fletcher in
THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN
Festival Theatre, 25 February – 1 March
Ages 12+
Adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel from Paula Hawkins’s novel – an international phenomenon selling over twenty million copies worldwide – this gripping new play will keep you guessing until the final moment. Multi-talented actor, novelist and podcaster Giovanna Fletcher (2:22 A Ghost Story, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Peter James’s Wish You Were Dead) will star in this brand-new production, following the play’s first sell-out UK tour, directed by Loveday Ingram.
Rachel Watson longs for a different life. Her only escape is the perfect couple she watches through the train window every day, happy and in love. Or so it appears. When Rachel learns that the woman she’s been secretly watching has suddenly disappeared, she finds herself as a witness and even a suspect in a thrilling mystery in which she will face bigger revelations than she could ever have anticipated.
DRIFTWOOD
Minerva Theatre, 25 February – 1 March
Ages 14+
An inspiring story about hope, love and belonging, from the company that produced hit shows Peak Stuff and How Not To Drown.
Two brothers on a beach need to figure out what to do with their dad – but the sea has other ideas. Mark and Tiny walk the shore of Seaton Carew in the North East. Their dad is dying, and their town is crumbling. Family rifts and political divides try to pull them apart, while a figure made of driftwood stalks the shore at night.
ThickSkin and Pentabus are two of the UK’s most prominent theatre companies, joining forces to present Driftwood, a new play by Bruntwood Prize winner, Tim Foley. Directed by a stellar team, Elle While (The Globe’s Hamlet, West End revival The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) and Neil Bettles (How Not To Drown, Disney’s Bedknobs & Broomsticks, Frantic Assembly’s The Unreturning), this play perfectly balances a moving and at times funny story in a physical and visually striking production.
THE LITTLEST YAK
Minerva Theatre, 17 – 22 February
Ages 3+
Morning and afternoon performances
This musical adaptation of the award-winning children’s book will delight audiences young and old with beautiful puppets, catchy tunes and an uplifting tale of self-acceptance for all the family. Join them this half term for a dazzling adventure, into the heart of the Himalayas.
Gertie is great at being The Littlest Yak, with the curliest, whirliest wool and the grippiest of hooves for clip-clopping up cliffs. Only, Gertie doesn’t want to be the littlest. She’s in a rush to grow up and be just like the Big Yaks. But what if there are some things that only a Gertie can do?
Nominated for four Off West End Awards including Best Script, Music, Performance and Design, LAStheatre brings The Littlest Yak to the stage in spectacular fashion. Written and directed by Barra Collins, based on the book written by Lu Fraser and illustrated by Kate Hindley.
DINOSAUR WORLD LIVE
Festival Theatre, 20 – 23 February
Ages 3+
Morning and afternoon performances Dare to experience the dangers and delights of Dinosaur World Live in this roarsome interactive show for all the family – the Olivier Award-winner for Best Family Show 2024.
Grab your compass and join our intrepid explorer across uncharted territories to discover a pre-historic world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs. Meet a host of impressive creatures, including every child’s favourite flesh-eating giant, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, Giraffatitan, Microraptor and Segnosaurus!
A special meet and greet after the show offers all our brave explorers the chance to make a new dinosaur friend.
Music, Performance, Dance and Comedy
JULIAN OVENDEN IN CONCERT
Festival Theatre, 13 October, 3pm
Julian Ovenden returns after his Olivier Award-nominated performance in South Pacific in 2021. Together with his band, Broadway composer Scott Frankel and some very special guests, Julian will perform some of his favourite songs of the last 75 years, including numbers by Bernstein, Rodgers & Hammerstein and Sondheim. (Tickets now on sale.)
SANCHO & ME for one night only Minerva Theatre, 9 & 10 January Paterson Joseph performs an enthralling account of one man’s remarkable life. Part-biography and part-dramatised readings from Paterson’s acclaimed novel The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho, this unmissable evening of storytelling uses Sancho’s compositions and original music by co-creator, composer and musician Ben Park. Ages 14+
Gilbert & Sullivan’s THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE
Festival Theatre, 9 – 11 January
For Gilbert & Sullivan’s brilliant, funny and touching masterpiece The Pirates of Penzance, Tarantara has assembled a 50-strong company with singers of international repute and the perfect Sullivan-sized orchestra. They will bring to vibrant life Donna Stirrup’s fresh new production conducted by Martin Handley.
JUDY CARMICHAEL
Minerva Theatre, 11 January
Grammy-nominated American pianist and vocalist/ songwriter Judy Carmichael is one of the world’s leading interpreters of stride and swing piano. She keeps a busy worldwide touring schedule bringing her joyful stage presence from Carnegie Hall to Ronnie Scott’s and everywhere in between.
BBC CONCERT ORCHESTRA: FRIDAY NIGHT IS MUSIC NIGHT
Festival Theatre, 17 January
Conductor Richard Balcombe, presenter Petroc Trelawny and the BBC Concert Orchestra with a celebration of great British film scores, including classic movie themes by Vaughan Williams and Arthur Bliss, and melodies including 633 Squadron, The Dam Busters, and Walton’s stirring Spitfire Prelude, broadcast live on Radio 3.
OMID DJALILI Namaste
Festival Theatre, 18 January
The Persian Comedy Powerhouse performs his critically acclaimed new show Namaste, where Omid peacefully bows to his inner anger and unleashes a torrent of comedic vitriol upon the current state of this dangerously messed up planet. Ages 16+.
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JELLY ROLL MORTON
Minerva Theatre, 18 January
Ferdinand Lamothe, self-proclaimed inventor of jazz, celebrated pianist and band-leader from New Orleans lived the most extraordinary life on the edge of the edgy world that characterised early 20th century America. His story is narrated by three actors to the music of Jelly Roll performed by a seven-piece band featuring Big House with guests Lana-May Hodge, Don Manson, Mark Swindall and Gabriel Garrick.
JUDIE TZUKE Jude The Unsinkable
Minerva Theatre, 24 January
An intimate evening of beautifully crafted songs with old favourites and songs from Judie’s acclaimed new album. Known all over the world for her timeless song, Stay With Me Till Dawn, Judie will be joined by T.I.G.Y, comprising of Bailey Tzuke and Matt Racher, alongside her long time guitarist Chaz Thorogood and friends.
Lîla Dance FAULT LINES
Minerva Theatre, 25 January
As our planet’s voice grows louder, are we ready to listen? Survivors emerge from the rubble of a scorched earth. Fault Lines explores tensions in our relationship with nature, blending stunning dance, immersive imagery, evocative writing and cinematic music. Free Post-Show Talk after the performance. Ages 12+
THE LAST TRAIN TO TOMORROW
Minerva Theatre, 27 & 28 January
To mark the 10th anniversary of Chichester Marks Holocaust Memorial Day, an opera composed by Carl Davis tells the story of the flight in 1938-39 of 10,000 children from the Nazis on Kindertransport rescue trains to London, such as the ones organised by Sir Nicholas Winton from Prague. Children from local schools will sing and play the parts of the children, accompanied by a professional orchestra conducted by Howard Moody.
POSTING LETTERS TO THE MOON
Minerva Theatre, 30 January
A romantic, funny and touching portrait of life during the Second World War, featuring readings of letters between Oscar-nominated actress Celia Johnson (Brief Encounter) and her husband Peter Fleming, posted to India and the Far East for Military Intelligence. Read by their daughter Lucy Fleming (Love Sarah, Miranda in The Archers) and her husband Simon Williams (Upstairs Downstairs, Justin in The Archers, EastEnders).
LOOKING FOR ME FRIEND – The Music of Victoria Wood
Minerva Theatre, 31 January
Starring Paulus The Cabaret Geek of BBC1’s All Together Now with Michael Roulston of Fascinating Aida on the piano, an evening of pure joy filled with Victoria Wood’s best loved songs. This show is for fans of Victoria and for those yet to discover her, to come together and relish her breath-taking wizardry with words. Ages 12+
PARADISE LOST (lies unopened beside me)
Minerva Theatre, 6 & 7 February A one-man staging of Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost combining theatre, comedy and movement, this is a journey through the story of the creation of everything, condensed into 75 minutes. A single man plays all the characters, creates all the scenes and, despite his best efforts, falls a little short of perfection. Ages 13+
Vaughan Williams’s and JM Synge’s
RIDERS TO THE SEA
Minerva Theatre, 11 February
With a new dramatic prologue by Michael Betteridge and ArtfulScribe’s Community Sirens, Riders to the Sea weaves live performance with projection in a visceral tale of family, grief and love’s enduring power. Award-winning chamber opera company OperaUpClose bring their inimitable style to the Minerva for the first time. Ages 12+
LEMN SISSAY Let the Light Pour
In Minerva Theatre, 12 February
Spend an evening with a master of the spoken word, BAFTA nominated author, activist, performer and Sunday Times number one bestseller, Lemn Sissay OBE as he takes to the stage with this brand-new show. With live readings from his books, Lemn will unravel some of the original stories behind the poems, and how they have been used in people’s lives and his own. Expect the unexpected. A night bursting with light to stave off the dark.
FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS
Festival Theatre, 5 March
The group of old friends first came together in a sitting room in Port Isaac late in 1990, since then there have been ten albums, a BBC Folk Award, a best-selling book, TV documentary and prestigious performances… all while holding down day jobs. Expect a trademark catch of sea shanties and maritime work songs from a repertoire of almost 200 titles as the Fisherman’s Friends return to sing for their supper.
BBC CONCERT ORCHESTRA: FRIDAY NIGHT IS MUSIC NIGHT
Festival Theatre, 7 March
Join the BBC Concert Orchestra, presenter Katie Derham and guests for an evening of popular favourites and unforgettable tunes, broadcast live on the BBC’s popular, long-running radio show. More details to be announced.
More for Families
BABY BROADWAY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
Minerva Bar, 6 December
All ages 10am & 11.15am
A joyful Christmas celebration with favourite holiday songs from Christmas musicals and
films, performed by talented West End singers. Festive fancy dress encouraged!
BRING YOUR OWN BABY COMEDY
Minerva Bar, 24 January, 12 noon
Ages 18+ (with babies up to 15 months)
The UK’s premier baby friendly comedy club. With shows featuring the funniest comedy stars from the circuit and TV, the event is all about the parents! But we take great care of our younger guests too.
CREATION – The Bubble Show
Minerva Theatre, 1 February
Ages 3+ 11.30am & 2.45 pm
Returning with new bubble creations (and a few old favourite tricks too), Creation is a feast for the senses, featuring light displays, fire effects, puppetry and pyrotechnics.
THE GRUFFALO
Minerva Theatre, 4 – 5 February
Ages 3+ 10.30am, 1pm & 4.30pm Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in this magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
PERSEPHONE A Tale of the Seasons
Minerva Theatre, 4 March
Ages 6 – 18 months
10.30am, 1.30pm, 4pm
A gentle sensory exploration of the seasons, perfect for babies and toddlers, from Little Angel Theatre.
Community events
CHILDREN’S CONCERT Festival Theatre, 14 January Southern Pro Musica returns with a perfect introduction to live music played by a full professional orchestra, compered by the brilliant musical magician Neil Henry and conducted by Jonathan Willcocks.
UNITED VOICES Festival Theatre, 15 January Hundreds of children from across the Chichester area come together to sing songs with shared messages and values, celebrating and showcasing the love of singing in harmony together. Conducted by Emily Barden.
CHICHESTER COLLEGE INTERMEZZO Minerva Theatre, 22 & 23 January Dance students from Chichester College present their eclectic new repertoire of works, encompassing a range of styles from jazz to contemporary and commercial.
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES CAREER DAY CFT, 31 January In association with Pallant House Gallery, Chichester College and Creative County West Sussex. We welcome young people and schools to discover more about careers in the creative industries. Meet industry professionals, attend talks and gain valuable advice on pathways and opportunities.
OVATION ROCK SHOW
Minerva Theatre, 7 & 8 March
Talented young musicians return to the Minerva Theatre for the 10th anniversary of Ovation Rock Show, an evening of live music featuring children and young people (ages 8 – 18) from local schools, Chichester Music Academy and Ovation Music.
FestivALL Stephen Pimlott Building, 10 & 11 March A vibrant two-day celebration of the creativity and talent of learning disabled and neurodivergent people, full of captivating performances from local companies including CFT’s own Friday Company.
NT CONNECTIONS Minerva Theatre, 12 – 15 March Connections is the National Theatre’s annual, nationwide youth theatre festival that commissions new plays for young people to perform. The programme brings together some of the UK’s most exciting writers with the theatre-makers of tomorrow, performed by local schools, youth theatre and community groups.
CHICHESTER FESTIVAL FOR MUSIC, DRAMA & SPEECH
Minerva Theatre, 16 March The most outstanding performers from the 2025 Chichester Festival for Music Dance & Speech, chosen from across fifteen sections including dance, musical theatre, piano, strings, voice and many more.
Off-Stage Events
Throughout the Winter season, a multitude of cabaret performances, activities, workshops, pre- and post-show talks and crafts are on offer.
Back for 2024 is Santa’s Grotto, an opportunity to visit the Elves’ Workshop, meet Father Christmas himself and get an early present, from 9 – 23 December. Mistletoe & Melodies in The Brasserie (13 & 14 December) is an enchanting evening of festive dining and musical delight.
CFT Lates continue with live music, drag nights and comedy; join the discussion in Fizz and Feminism; celebrate International Women’s Day; and join our Silent Disco.
Creation Station and The BRICK People are back for October half term craft activities; and Comedy Club 4 Kids returns in November. Pop-up Play Cafés before selected Minerva Theatre family performances, and weekly Family Fun will provide free crafts, colouring in fancy dress and a reading zone.
Mini Makers and Shakers offers early-years classes for 0 – 4 year-olds during termtime (choose from Boogie with Baby, Little Artists, Mini Movers or new Hartbeeps SEN classes) and Little Notes for ages 0 – 4 also returns.
The Nest fundraising events
We are delighted that we have received planning permission to build a new, sustainably-minded theatre space for emerging artistic talent, fringe-like experimentation, community groups and family workshops. We’ve reached 50% of the fundraising target.
EGGShibition 2 – 6 Oct Candida Stevens Gallery; 8 – 20 Oct Pallant House Gallery; 23 Oct – 23 Nov Festival Theatre foyer
One hundred artists have created their own individual, decorative ceramic egg. Enjoy this unique exhibition and bid for your favourite at the online auction. All proceeds go to The Nest Appeal. Online Auction open to all, 23 Oct – 24 Nov.
An evening with Rob Wade Minerva Theatre, 12 January Scriptwriter for the James Bond films including Casino Royale and Skyfall, Rob Wade joins Ian Haydn Smith for this exclusive event. Ticket includes a glass of fizz in the Minerva Bar.
West End’s number one concert series announces its autumn season with West End Musical Halloween and West End Musical Christmas West End Musical Halloween – Monday 28th October 2024, 7.30pm West End Musical Christmas – Monday 16th December 2024, 7.30pm Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 7ES
The West End’s number one concert series is back with another season of spectacular, feel good concerts. As fans of this sell out series will know, at a West End Musical concert, you not only get incredible performances from the West End’s biggest stars, the audience also ‘become the cast’, so singing and dancing along and even dressing for the occasion is encouraged. Celebrate this Halloween and Christmas the West End Musical way!
West End Musical Halloween will be hosted by Shanay Holmes (Miss Saigon, The Bodyguard), currently Nancy in Cameron Macintosh’s Oliver! which transfers to the West End in December while West End Musical Christmas will be hosted by Trevor Dion Nicholas (Hamilton, Disney’s Aladdin) currently starring in Next To Normal.
West End Musical Halloween
West End Musical have another ghoulishly good evening in store for musical theatre lovers! This Halloween a cast of the West End’s biggest stars will once again be haunting audiences at the Lyric Theatre with a third instalment of the sell-out concert of freakishly fun show tunes from the darker side of musicals such as Sweeney Todd, Little Shop Of Horrors, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Phantom Of The Opera, Hadestown and Beetlejuice! Get ready to sing and dance and see a host of tricks and treats at this Spooktacular celebration! It’s going to be a SCREAM!
West End Musical Christmas
And, in December, the biggest festive celebration for musical theatre lovers returns to the Lyric Theatre just in time for Christmas. A cast of the West End’s biggest stars will be getting audiences well and truly in the festive mood with an all singing, all dancing extravaganza! Expect a festive feast of heart-warming classics and musical theatre crackers building into an all-out Christmas party!
Get ready to sing and dance along and for some extra special gifts at this seasonal celebration. Have yourself a very ‘musical’ Christmas!
The cast for both concerts is to be announced. Both West End Musical concerts are brought to you by the award-winning producers (Black British Theatre Awards, Best Producer 2021 and Best Musical Production 2021) of West End Musical Celebration, West End Musical Brunch, West End Musical Drive In, West End Musical Love Songs and Musical Con, the world’s biggest musical theatre fan convention.
