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FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR

THE UK PREMIÈRE OF

MARTIN SHERMAN’S GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM

MARKING THE PLAYWRIGHT’S 80^TH BIRTHDAY YEAR

Directed by Sean Mathias; Designed by Lee Newby; Lighting Designer: Jamie Platt

Sound Designer and Composer: Lex Kosanke; Casting Director: Lucy Casson

at Park Theatre

13 February – 16 March 2019

Robert Fox and Alex Turner, in association with Park Theatre and King’s Head Theatre, today announce the full cast for the UK première of Martin Sherman’s new play Gently Down The Stream, following a critically acclaimed run at the Public Theater in New York. Sean Mathias directs Jonathan Hyde, Ben Allen and Harry Lawtey. The production opens at Park Theatre on 18 February 2019, with previews from 13 February, running until 16 March. 
 
This passionate new play by Olivier and Tony Award nominee Martin Sherman makes its UK debut 40 years after his celebrated modern classic Bent, which subsequently became a major film directed by Olivier and Tony Award nominee Sean Mathias, who directs this production of Gently Down The Stream, marking Martin Sherman’s 80^th birthday. 

The play follows the remarkably moving and brilliantly funny love story of Beau, an older American pianist living in London, and Rufus, an eccentric young lawyer. Coming of age during the 70s, Beau’s attitude to love has been seasoned by a life of loving men in a world that initially refused to allow it. Not looking for a long-term relationship, Beau is naturally cautious when Rufus unexpectedly enters his world.  However, while the age gap feels unorthodox to Beau, it is immaterial to Rufus, who is from a new generation of gay men. Rufus has none of Beau’s doubts about the possibility of attaining happiness and love in the 21^st Century and as he assimilates himself into Beau’s past and present, Beau learns to embrace Rufus as one of the most defining relationships of his life.

As generations intertwine, Gently Down The Stream reveals the journey of gay history and celebrates the men and women who led the way for equality, marriage and the right to dream.

Jonathan Hyde plays Beau. His theatre work includes Frost/Nixon, Julius Caesar (Sheffield Theatres), Travels With My Aunt (Menier Chocolate Factory), The King’s Speech (UK tour and Wyndham’s Theatre), Rattigan’s Nijinsky (Chichester Festival Theatre), King Lear, The Seagull (international tour), Jumpers, Sleep With Me (National Theatre), Antigone (The Old Vic), The Rehearsal, Scenes from an Execution (Almeida Theatre), Julius Caesar, The Alchemist, ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore, Les Liaisons Dangereuses (RSC) and Macbeth (Lyceum Theatre). His recent television work includes A Very English Scandal, The Strain, Trollhunters, Tokyo Trial, Isaan Newton: The Last Magician, Spooks; and for film, Breathe, Crimson Peak, The Mummy, Richie Rich, Jumanji, Anaconda and Titanic.

Ben Allen plays Rufus. His theatre work includes Present Laughter (Chichester Festival Theatre), Antony and Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Oppenheimer, The Shoemaker’s Holiday (RSC), The Seagull (Manchester Library Theatre Company), Twelfth Night, The Taming of the Shrew, The Merchant of Venice, The Winter’s Tale, Henry V(Propeller) and ‘…and the darkness descended’ (Punchdrunk). Television work includes Barbarians Rising andBonekickers.

Harry Lawtey plays Harry. His theatre work includes The Country Wife (Chichester Festival Theatre). For television, his work includes Marcella and Wizards vs Aliens; and for film, City of Tiny Lights, Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Martin Sherman was born in Philadelphia in 1938. His early plays include Passing By, Cracks and Rio Grande, all presented by Playwrights Horizons in New York. His play Bent was first presented at the Royal Court with Ian McKellen, then on Broadway with Richard Gere, revived at the National Theatre, again with Ian McKellen, and in the West End with Alan Cumming. It has since been performed in over sixty countries. Later plays include Messiah, A Madhouse in Goa, When She Danced (the last two starring Vanessa Redgrave in the West End),Some Sunny Day and Onassis. Rose premièred at the National Theatre, with Olympia Dukakis, before transferring to Broadway. He wrote the book for the musical The Boy From Oz. His screenplays include The Summer House, Alive and Kicking, Bent, The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone and Mrs Henderson Presents. He has been nominated for two Tonys, two Oliviers and two BAFTAS.

Sean Mathias is a theatre director, film director and writer. He has worked at the National Theatre, the West End, the Kennedy Centre, The Mark Taper Forum, Off-Broadway and many times on Broadway, as well as Paris, Sydney, Cape Town, Johannesburg, San Francisco and extensively in the UK. He has written a number of plays including the award winning A Prayer for Wings, and the screenplay for the award-winning BBC film The Lost Language of Cranes. In 2009/2010 Mathias was the Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Haymarket and his legendary production of Waiting for Godot played two seasons at the theatre, as well as touring the UK and internationally. In 2013 he directed and co-produced Two Plays in Rep, comprising Beckett’s Waiting for Godotand Pinter’s No Man’s Land on Broadway at the Cort Theatre. His production of No Man’s Land, starring Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, was the highest grossing play in the history of the Wyndham’s Theatre. He has won multiple awards including the Standard Award, the Critics’ Circle Award, a Fringe First at Edinburgh and the Prix de la Jeunesse at Cannes.

Age guidance 14+

Listings                                                                                                                         Gently Down the Stream

Park Theatre, Park 200

Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London N4 3JP

Box Office: 020 7870 6876*

Mon – Sat from 10am – 6pm (excluding Sunday and public holidays)

www.parktheatre.co.uk

In person: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri from 3pm – 8pm and Thu and Sat from 12pm – 8pm. Sun closed (Tickets can be purchased from the ground floor cafe bar during opening times)

* No booking fee online. Telephone booking fee applies.

Tickets:

Previews £18.50

Standard £18.50 – £32.50

Performances: Mon – Sat Evening 19.30, Thu & Sat Matinees 15.00

Concessions are available, for further information, please see the website (£16.50 – £23.50)

Groups – Buy 10 tickets, get the 11^th free

Captioned performance: 15 March at 7.30pm

Twitter: @GentlyThePlay

@parktheatre

FIRST LOOK AT ELLIOT HARPER 
AS MISS TRUNCHBULL IN
THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY’S MATILDA THE MUSICAL UK & IRELAND TOUR 

The Royal Shakespeare Company have released the first images of Elliot Harper as Miss Trunchbull in Matilda The Musical’s UK and Ireland tour. Elliot joined the production on Tuesday 15 January at Theatre Royal Plymouth. The tour will then play at the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford (19 February – 23 March 2019), Edinburgh Playhouse (2 – 27 April 2019),The Bristol Hippodrome (7 May – 8 June 2019), Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (11 June – 6 July 2019) and Norwich Theatre Royal (16 July – 17 August 2019). The West End production will continue to play at the Cambridge Theatre, where it is now in its eighth year and is booking until 24 May 2020.

Carly Thoms (Miss Honey) and Sebastien Torkia and Rebecca Thornhill (Mr and Mrs Wormwood) will continue in their roles until the tour concludes its run at Norwich Theatre Royal on 17 August 2019.

Elliot Harper’s West End theatre credits include Father Joe in The Exorcist at the Phoenix Theatre,Matilda The Musical (Cambridge Theatre), One Man Two Guvnors (National Theatre), Les Misérables (Queens Theatre) and The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre). Other theatre credits include Sweet Charity (Watermill), A Study In Scarlet (Southwark Playhouse), The Silver Tassie (Druid/Lincoln Center NY), Rope, Arsenic and Old Lace (Pitlochry Festival Theatre), The Big Sleep (The Mill At Sonning), As You Like It, Deathtrap, The Taming of the Shrew, The Talented Mr Ripley and Travels with my Aunt (Queens Theatre, Hornchurch), and the UK touring productions ofJesus Christ Superstar and The Buddy Holly Story. Harper’s film and television credits include Howard Goodall’s 20th Century Greats (Tiger Aspect), Showroom, which was a winning film at SXSW Film Festival, and The Egg, Masters of the Universe (Asalva Productions).

The full adult cast includes Richard Astbury, Joe Atkinson, Nina Bell, Peter Bindloss, Oliver Bingham, Emily Bull, Samara Casteallo, Matthew Caputo, Matt Gillett, Michelle Chantelle Hopewell, Sam Lathwood, Steffan Lloyd-Evans, Charlie Martin, Tom Mather, Anu Ogunmefun, Carly Thoms, Rebecca Thornhill, Sebastien Torkia, Adam Vaughan andDawn Williams.

The role of Matilda is shared by Sophia Ally, Scarlett Cecil, Poppy Jones, Emma Moore andNicola Turner. The other young performers in the UK and Ireland Tour in the three teams who play the roles of Bruce, Lavender, Amanda and the rest of the pupils at Crunchem Hall and are as follows:Evie Allen, Louella Asante-Owusu, Joseph Black, Georgia Mae Brown, Isobelle Chalmers, Jessica Chalmers, Madeline Gilby, Sheldon Golding, Cuba Kamanu, Tom Lomas, Adam Lord, Maddison Lowe, Ilan Miller, Felicity Mitson, Toby Mocrei, Ashton Murphy, Joely Robertson, Ruaridh Sinnott, Kit Swaddling, Chantelle Tonolete, Harrison Wilding and Harry Wilson.

Matilda The Musical is written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, and developed and directed by Matthew Warchus. The production is designed by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision byChristopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and the special effects and illusions are by Paul Kieve.

The production is accompanied by Change My Story, a new education programme inspired byMatilda The Musical which will engage young people in towns and cities across the UK and Ireland. With a travelling library of stories led by the musical’s librarian Mrs Phelps and whole school takeovers, the RSC aims to reach over 15,000 children, in collaboration with touring theatre partners. Further details can be found at http://uk.matildathemusical.com/tour/schools/matilda-school-resources/.

Matilda The Musical has now been seen by 8.7 million people worldwide, having toured to over 72 cities and played more than 6500 performances in the West End, on Broadway and on tour across North America, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Matilda The Musical had its first non-English language production at the LG Arts Centre in Seoul, South Korea in September 2018.

Inspired by the incomparable Roald Dahl’s beloved book, Matilda The Musical was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and premiered at the RSC’s Stratford-upon-Avon home in November 2010, before transferring to London’s West End in October 2011, where it opened to rave reviews. The New York production of Matilda The Musical opened in April 2013 at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre and was celebrated on 10 “Top Ten” lists for 2013, including TIME Magazine’s #1 Show of the Year.

Matilda The Musical swept the board at the 2012 Olivier Awards, with a record-breaking seven awards, and won four Tony Awards and a Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theater for the four girls sharing the title role on Broadway.

The North America production toured 52 cities. The Australian and New Zealand production won a Sydney Theatre Award for Best Musical in 2015, and played sold-out seasons in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Auckland. The show broke further records in July 2016 by winning all 13 Helpmann Awards for which it was nominated.

Matilda The Musical is produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company with André Ptaszynski and Denise Wood as Executive Producers. The production was developed with the support of Jeanie O’Hare and the RSC Literary Department.

​The production is designed by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and the special effects and illusions are by Paul Kieve.–

TOUR LISTINGS

Theatre Royal Plymouth
Tuesday 15 January – Saturday 16 February 2019
Box Office: 01752 267 222
www.theatreroyal.com

The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
Tuesday 19 February – Saturday 23 March 2019
Box Office: 01274 432 000
www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

Edinburgh Playhouse
Tuesday 2 – Saturday 27 April 2019
Box Office: 0844 871 3014*
www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse/

The Bristol Hippodrome
Tuesday 7 May – Saturday 8 June 2019
Box Office: 0844 871 3012*
www.atgtickets.com/bristol-hippodrome

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
Tuesday 11 June – Saturday 6 July 2019
Box Office: 02380 711 811
www.mayflower.org.uk

Norwich Theatre Royal 
Tuesday 16 July – Saturday 17 August 2019
Box Office: 01603 630 000
www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

* Calls cost 7p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge.
​** Calls cost 4.5p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

www.matildathemusical.com

#matildaontour

WEST END LISTING

MATILDA THE MUSICAL
Cambridge Theatre
Earlham Street
London WC2H 9HU

Tuesday – Friday 7pm
Wednesday 2pm 
Saturday 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Sundays 3pm

Box Office: Cambridge Theatre 020 7087 7745 / RSC Ticket Hotline 01789 331111    

No booking fee. 

Booking until 24 May 2020
www.matildathemusical.com
Twitter: @MatildaMusical
Facebook: @MatildaTheMusical
Instagram: @MatildaTheMusical

FROM BRIT-AWARD-WINNING SINGERS

A BRAND-NEW CONCERT TOUR

MOVIES AND MUSICALS

Grand Opera House York

Wednesday 27 March at 7.30pm

BLAKE are proud to announce their brand-new UK tour for 2019;  Movies and Musicals.

With their latest (and seventh) album going straight into the charts at number one, BLAKE really stand out as Britain’s number one harmony group. 

For over 10 years BLAKE have performed Classical, Opera and Crossover giving each song a beautiful and unique BLAKE sound.

2019’s exclusive new tour will see them choose music from their favourite movies and musicals and arrange them with their own exclusive harmonies. Songs from all the greats like Morricone, Barry, Bernstein and Bizet will be amongst many that feature in this brand-new tour.    Add to this a beautiful backdrop, incredible choirs and some hilarious stories and it all adds up to the perfect night out.

“This new tour is a tribute to some of the very best that Stage and Screen has to offer”

Since coming together in 2007 BLAKE have had enormous success throughout the World with over a million albums sold, No.1 hits in ten countries and approaching 150 TV appearances around the globe.  Their career has seen them work with some of the industry greats including the magnificent Katherine Jenkins and the spectacular Dame Shirley Bassey.

BLAKE continue to delight audiences with their astounding singing and magnetic stage presence. Their friendship dates back to their school years and because of this their performances are natural and instinctive, which is why audiences come back to see them year after year.

Tickets from £25.15

Box office: 0844 871 3024

Online: www.atgtickets.com/york

Theatre Royal Bath Ustinov – until 26th Jan
Reviewed by Nicky Wyatt
5*****

My first time at the Ustinov , what a lovely theatre space and also my first New Old Friends production. Absolutely brilliant! Crimes on the Nile is a superb comedy theatre with the story of Agatha Christie Death on the Nile rescripted to a cleverly written laugh out loud comedy.

With just 4 actors playing 12 roles it is a fast quick humoured show with some very clever word play. I can only imagine the fun these 4 have off stage rehearsing it.

The infamous lady detective Artemis Ariane (Kirsty Cox) having to use her grey matter to unravel the crimes. She is a cross between Miss Marple and Poirot she even has a Belgium accent. Although on holiday and despite her refusals to get involved she is soon at work trying to solve the mystery.

The quick and clever accent changes are reminiscent of the much loved Allo Allo style comedy complete with innuendo and many double entendres. Along with the amazing use of stage space including clever props, I mean you would never expect to see a Crocodile and a Camel race on stage!

These actors and their quick changes of voice and clothes are hilarious.
Heather Westwell was my favourite with her Mimi, Aurora, Luna and Temperance so very clever. I particularly loved the room scene she must have been shattered. Temperance with her novels and writings had me in stitches especially when her son Feargus Woods Dunlop as Colossus was in the room , such an embarrassing mum!

Feargus so good as the Dr a bit odd and gawky very funny but as Simpkins he was brilliant the mans that sees all and no one notices.

Fergus Leatham the loveable rogue of ships captain , Kirk and Marty was so funny throughout, from hiding his drinking to wooing Temperance.

In Bath for another week or so I urge you to go and laugh the January Blues away – James Farrell director just brilliant!

YAMATO: THE DRUMMERS OF JAPAN

RETURN TO TOUR THE UK

Grand Opera House York

Monday 18 February at 7.30pm

·         BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND THE WORLD RENOWNED TAIKO DRUMMERS COMBINE  TRADITIONAL MUSIC WITH STYLE AND AGILITY

·         NOW IN THEIR 25TH YEAR YAMATO WILL PRESENT THE UK PREMIERE OF “JHONETSU” or “PASSION”, BEGINNING ON 15TH  FEBRUARY AT THE BRIGHTON DOME 

·         YAMATO WILL THEN TOUR TO 18 VENUES IN THREE WEEKS INCLUDING MILTON KEYNES, LIVERPOOL, YORK, COVENTRY, STOKE, MALVERN, POOLE, TORQUAY, OXFORD, FOLKESTONE, READING, GUILDFORD, HIGH WYCOMBE, BIRMINGHAM, MIDDLESBROUGH, SUNDERLAND BEFORE A RUN AT LONDON’S PEACOCK THEATRE

Yamato: The Drummers of Japan perform © Masa Ogawa

Yamato: the Drummers of Japan will return to the UK following their hugely successful 2017 tour. From February 2019 audiences across the country can experience Yamato’s innovative style; combining traditional Taiko drumming with spectacle and athleticism.

Next spring Yamato will bring their unique style of performance back to Britain for a 18 venue tour – from 15th February to 31st March – presenting a production never before seen in the UK. The 12-strong Taiko troupe will make a return visit to some venues as well as stopping off in new cities spanning the country. Press night will be held at the Brighton Dome on 15th February.

Yamato formed in 1993 with the aim of preserving the tradition of Taiko drumming whilst exploring new possibilities for the majestic instrument, the wadiako, and to create endless opportunities for the rich reverberations to be heard worldwide. Recognised as trailblazers in the Taiko world, Yamato has broken from the patriarchal confines of the style by including female drummers in the troupe from inception. Since then, the troupe has performed in front of 7 million people in more than 54 countries across the globe.

Perhaps more physically demanding that any other drumming style, performers must not only learn the traditional technique but also engage in an intensive endurance training programme. Taiko drums can weigh up to half a ton and to strike them effectively requires the full strength of a well-trained body. Yamato’s troupe starts each day with a 10km run and vigorous weight training to keep themselves in peak physical condition and maintain the fitness needed for their nightly 2 hour performances.

In this brand new show “Passion” or “Jhonetsu”, the drummers will challenge themselves to their absolute limits both musically and physically. With a show designed to instil audiences with the exhilarating and explosive energy of Taiko, this promises to be their most ambitious and spectacular show to date.

COME TOGETHER FOR LET IT BE,

BACK WITH NEW UK DATES

FOLLOWING SELL OUT EUROPEAN TOUR

Let It Be returns this Spring due to popular demand

New Act Two features ‘must see’ reunion

Let It Be: A Celebration Of The Music Of The Beatles is returning to the stage in 2019 with a series of new tour dates announced in a year that marks key anniversaries in Fab Four history.

The acclaimed theatrical concert, which features an all-new Let It Be Part II reunion concert, proved such a hit with audiences and critics alike when it was premiered last year and a sell out European Tour, that it is now returning for a new UK Tour through Spring 2019.

After opening in Portsmouth on 22 April, Let It Be will then visit Inverness, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Blackpool, Bath, Bradford and Norwich.

Let It Be is a celebration of the iconic music of The Beatles and has already been seen by more than two million people worldwide, including a run in the West End and two UK tours.

Beatles fans are invited to join John, Paul, George and Ringo for an unforgettable night of live music. The cast will be announced shortly.

Act One takes audiences through the early days of the band as they embarked on theirmusical journey and onwards to the heights of global Beatlemania. The historic Royal Variety Performance, Shea Stadium and those iconic Sergeant Pepper costumes all feature. The first half of the evening features many of their most famous songs including I Want to Hold Your Hand, Day Tripper, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Penny Lane, A Day In The Life, Come Together, Get Back, and The End.

In a twist from the original Let It Be show, Act Two is set a decade after The Beatles went their separate ways. It gives fans a rare glimpse of how the Fab Four could have Come Together once again to perform – and is not to be missed.

Audiences are taken on a memorable and unique step back in time to the reunion concert taking place on 9 October 1980 – it’s John Lennon’s 40^th Birthday. This is the ultimate concert that never was. The band reunite for one night only, just Imagine.

The band’s solo material featured includes Starting Over, Band On The Run, Black Bird, Got My Mind Set On You, My Sweet Lord, Live and Let Die, and Imagine.

The new tour coincides with a number of iconic anniversaries in the history of the most successful band of all time, The Beatles – who started out as just four young lads from Liverpool.

This year marks 50 years since The Beatles took those infamous steps across the pedestrian crossing outside EMI’s Abbey Road Studios in London, which went on to become one of the most famous album covers of all time.

Sadly, it also marks the 50^th anniversaries of the group playing together for the final time with a rooftop performance on top of the Apple Corps building in London’s Savile Row. They also finished recording Abbey Road – and this year also marks half a century since the album was released.

Let It Be producer Jeff Parry said: “The original Let It Be was a hit with Beatles fans all over the world, but UK audiences’ reaction to the new show and the new Act Two reunion concert that never was, has been nothing short of phenomenal.

“It may be almost half a century since The Beatles split, but their popularity and their influence just seems to keep growing, with their incredible and creative catalogue of music attracting a whole new generation of fans. And with so many important anniversaries during 2019, we’re delighted to take this special show to thousands more Beatles fans here in the UK.”

WHAT THE CRITICS SAY ABOUT LET IT BE

‘A masterstroke’

British Theatre Guide

‘A rare glimpse of how the Fab Four could have Come Together once again’

Theatre News UK

“A joy to hear these beloved songs live”

The Mail on Sunday

‘The cast left me in complete awe during the second half of Let It Be’

Lowdown Magazine

Website:         www.LetItBeLive.com

Facebook:       /LetItBeUKTour

Twitter:           @LetItBeUKTour

LET IT BE UK 2019 TOUR

PORTSMOUTH

Kings Theatre

Monday 22 April – Saturday 27 April 2019

023 9282 8282

Home

ON SALE NOW

INVERNESS

Eden Court

Monday 29 April – Saturday 4 May 2019

01463 234234

www.eden-court.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

GLASGOW

SEC Centre

Friday 10 May – Saturday 11 May 2019

0844 395 4000

www.sec.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

ABERDEEN

His Majesty’s Theatre

Monday 13 May – Saturday 18 May 2019

01224 641122

www.aberdeenperformingarts.com

ON SALE SOON

BLACKPOOL

Winter Gardens

Wednesday 22 May – Saturday 25 May 2019

0844 856 1111

www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk

ON SALE SOON

BATH

Theatre Royal

Monday 27 May – Saturday 1 June 2019

01225 448844

www.theatreroyal.org.uk

ON SALE SOON

BRADFORD

Alhambra Theatre

Tuesday 4 June – Saturday 8 June 2019

01274 432000

www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

ON SALE SOON

NORWICH
Theatre Royal

Monday 17 June – Saturday 22 June 2019

01603 630000

www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

ON SALE SOON

THE BOB DYLAN STORY

ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL 50^th ANNIVERSARY – GREATEST HITS SHOW

Wednesday February 20th   7.30pm

GRAND OPERA HOUSE YORK

CELEBRATING THE GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY OF DYLAN’S FESTIVAL FOLKLORE PERFORMANCE – THE BOB DYLAN STORY

The year 2019 marks the golden anniversary of Bob Dylan’s famous comeback performance at the Isle of Wight Festival.

Fifty years ago, resplendent in a sharp cream suit, Dylan strode on to the stage before more than 150,000 music fans to deliver a performance that would go down in rock music history.

This special moment in time is celebrated in The Bob Dylan Story’s Isle of Wight 50^th Anniversary Greatest Hits Show, which hits town in the coming weeks.

The authoritative production is described as a “stunning and definitive live concert celebration of rock music’s greatest icon” by the star of the show Bill Lennon.

“Music lovers are invited to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Dylan’s famous comeback appearance and relive the moment as we feature classics performed on that heady late summer evening,” he says.

“There’s the joyous romance of I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight, the whimsy of Quinn The Eskimo, and the trademark venom of Maggie’s Farm.”

The aural and visual spectacular, which features visual projections and the fascinating stories behind the songs, was written by Bill, a self-confessed Dylan fanatic.     

“You can join ‘Bob’ and ‘The Band’ on a nostalgic trip through and beyond 1960s America as we bring to life all the hits including Like A Rolling Stone, Mr Tambourine Man, Blowin’ In The Wind, Knocking On Heaven’s Door, All Along The Watchtower, The Times They Are A-Changin’, Lay Lady Lay and many more,” says Bill.

Attention to detail is promised as the production presents a specially-written homage to Dylan’s Isle of Wight performance.

“By the summer of 1969 little had been heard from the folk music legend for more than three years,” says Bill. “Following a motorcycle accident, Bob had gone into semi-retirement.

“He was reportedly lured to the UK to appear at the festival with the promise of visiting ‘Tennyson country’ and what occurred was one of the most famous festival performances of all time.”

Four festival recordings were included on his Self Portrait album including Like a Rolling Stone, The Mighty Quinn, Minstrel Boy and She Belongs to Me.

The Bob Dylan Story recreates the hits, along with the tales behind many of the songs, with a story arc that starts with JFK’s inauguration speech and returns almost full circle to his tragic assassination in 1963.

​“You can experience the thrill and energy of a full-blown electric Dylan concert,” he says, “planted firmly in the 1960s, a time when anything seemed possible, in a show that will remind you what REAL nostalgia feels like, and have you digging out your old vinyl to sustain the pleasure just that little bit longer.”

Bill concludes with a reference to the Dylan’s famed Manchester Free Trade Hall concert – when the folk hero plugged in his electric guitar to the chagrin of “folk purists” in the audience: “Oh, and don’t forget to shout Judas!”

Tickets from £20.15

Box Office: 0844 871 3024

Online: www.atgtickets.com

STRICTLY CHAMPION TO STAR IN ROCK OF AGES AT LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

• Strictly Come Dancing champion Kevin Clifton to star in Rock of Ages

Leeds audiences are encouraged to get their ‘rock’ on as the award-winning musical Rock of Ages makes its first ever visit to Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 29 July to Saturday 3 August 2019.

Now a global smash with hit seasons on Broadway, London’s West End and Las Vegas, and a star-studded Hollywood movie version starring (amongst others) Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Tom Cruise, Rock of Ages is an LA love story lavished with over 25 classic rock anthems, including The Final Countdown, I Want To Know What Love Is and We Built This City.

Starring in thelead role of Stacee Jaxx is Strictly Come Dancing champion Kevin Clifton who will swap the ballroom for the ‘Bourbon Club’ when he plays alongside Kevin Kennedy (Coronation Street, Fat Friends The Musical), Zoe Birkett (Pop Idol), Jodie Steele (Heathers The Musical) in the ultimate 80s rock ‘n’ roll musical.

Clifton or ‘Kevin from Grimsby’ is an international Ballroom and Latin dancer having won numerous titles across the world, including the Britain Latin Championships four times. He is best known as a Pro Dancer on BBC One’sStrictly Come Dancing, and having reached the final in four consecutive series, was finally crowned Strictly champion in 2018 with television presenter and journalist Stacey Dooley. Kevin made his musical theatre debut in Dirty Dancing the Musical at the Aldwych Theatre in London’s West End before going on to become a principle dancer for the Burn The Floor Dance Company, performing in the show’s record breaking Broadway run, in London’s West End and across the world. Kevin also toured nationwide with Karen Clifton in 2017 and 2018 in their theatre show Kevin and Karen Dance.

Warning: contains serious rock ‘n’ roll debauchery!

Rock of Ages is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 29 July to Saturday 3 August. Priority Membership tickets onsale from Wednesday 16 January. General onsale is Wednesday 23 January.

Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700

Night Caps concert series announced for

MT FEST UK

A two-week festival of new musical theatre

Presented by Paul Taylor-Mills

At The Other Palace

From Monday 11 to Saturday 23 February 2019

Paul Taylor-Mills is delighted to announce Night Caps, an informal late-night concerts series as part of MT Fest UK at The Other Palace. These informal and intimate solo concerts will take place in the Studio nightly throughout the festival, and will be an opportunity to get to know some of the country’s eminent musical theatre stars through the songs that shaped them, songs they might never get to sing, and songs from new works.

The Night Caps lineup features Nathan Amzi, Luke Bayer, Louise Dearman, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Evelyn Hoskins, Rob Houchen, Sophie Isaacs, Emma Kingston, Claudia Kariuki, Jordan Luke Gage, Laura Pitt-Pulford and Tosh Wanogho-Maud.

Nathan Amzi’s West End credits include Heathers (Haymarket Theatre), Aladdin (Price Edward Theatre) and Urinetown (Apollo Theatre). Luke Bayer is currently appearing as Alternate Jamie in Everyone’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo Theatre). Louise Dearman is best known as the only actress to have played both Glinda and Elphaba in Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre). Victoria Hamilton-Barritt has recently been seen in Murder Ballad (Arts Theatre), for which she received and Olivier Award nomination, and In The Heights (King’s Cross Theatre). Evelyn Hoskins has starred as the title role in Carrie The Musical (Southwark Playhouse) and Liesl in ITV’s The Sound of Music Live. Rob Houchen returns to The Other Palace having starred as Eugene in Eugenius!. Sophie Isaacs most recently starred as Heather McNamara in Heathers The Musical (The Other Palace and Haymarket Theatre). Emma Kingston most recently played the Evita in the Evita International Tour. Other roles include Vanessa in In The Heights(Southwark Playhouse and King’s Cross Theatre). Claudia Kariuki is currently appearing in School of Rock (New London Theatre), with other recent credits including Ragtime (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) and Hairspray (UK & Ireland tour). Jordan Luke Gage has just completed his run starring as Strat in Bat Out Of Hell (Dominion Theatre). Laura Pitt-Pulford recently appeared in Flowers for Mrs Harris(Chichester Festival Theatre) and was Olivier Award nominated for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers(Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre). Tosh Wanogho-Maud recently starred as Jimmy in Dreamgirls, with other West End credits including Show Boat and The Book of Mormon.

MT Fest UK is a two-week festival of new musical theatre at The Other Palace from Monday 11 to Saturday 23 February 2019. The festival will present new work by both emerging and established writers, as well as programming talks and concerts from some of the most celebrated performers, writers and producers currently working in musical theatre. All tickets to events and performances will be between £10-15.

At the centre of the festival is a previously announced Taster Menu series of eight new musicals; AA,Nerds, First Date, Porn the Musical, But I’m a Cheerleader, Bloody Bloody Jessica Fletcher,The Astonishing Return of… The Protagonists and Killer Queen. Ranging from brand new commissions from Paul Taylor-Mills, to re-worked Broadway shows and brand-new musicals that Taylor-Mills has developed in his role as Affiliate Producer at The Other Palace, these will each be presented as a 45-minute semi-staged sharing in the Studio at The Other Palace.

Follow the MT Fest UK Twitter and Instagram pages from 10.00am on Monday 21 January when details of BEAM Brunches will be announced. These will be morning songwriter showcases shining a light on some of the most exciting new creators of musical theatre in the UK. Presented by Musical Theatre Network and Mercury Musical Developments, they will feature writers discovered via BEAM2018.

Further events and casting details will be announced over the coming weeks.

Tickets for all Night Caps concerts go on sale on Monday 21 January at 12.00pm

www.MTFestUK.co.uk

Twitter @Fest_MT

Instagram MTFestUK

NIGHT CAPS  LISTINGS

Monday 11 to Saturday 23 February 2019

THE OTHER PALACE

12 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JA

Performances: 9.00pm Monday – Saturday

Tickets: All tickets £15.00

Box Office: 020 7087 7900 | www.theotherpalace.co.uk

TICKETS ON GENERAL SALE MONDAY 21 JANUARY, 12.00PM

Priority tickets on sale to Friends of The Other Palace Thursday 17 January, 12.00pm

NIGHT CAPS  SCHEDULE

Monday 11 February:               9.00pm            Tosh Wanogho-Maud

Tuesday 12 February:              9.00pm            Evelyn Hoskins

Wednesday 13 February:         9.00pm            Sophie Isaacs

Thursday 14 February:             9.00pm            Luke Bayer

Friday 15 February:                  9.00pm            Louise Dearman

Saturday 16 February:             9.00pm            Rob Houchen

Monday 18 February:               9.00pm            Victoria Hamilton-Barritt

Tuesday 19 February:              9.00pm            Claudia Kariuki

Wednesday 20 February:         9.00pm            Laura Pitt-Pulford

Thursday 21 February:             9.00pm            Emma Kingston,

Friday 22 February:                  9.00pm            Nathan Amzi

Saturday 23 February:             9.00pm            Jordan Luke Gage

The Lowry, Manchester – until Saturday 26th January 2019

Reviewed by Julie Noller

5*****

The Band has arrived in Salford Quays smooching us into 2019 with it’s singalong pop music show tunes, courtesy of Take That, who are also producers. Beating away those January blues. It’s a musical of many angles, foot stomping dance moves, thigh slapping, hand clapping pop songs. But then there’s the stories that interweave alongside, showing us how music doesn’t define us, more it locks moments in time within us which like a sun going supernova can suddenly and unpredictably burst out of us and have us grinning like a Cheshire cat whilst pushing the supermarket trolley up aisle 10.

Arriving at The Lowry it was cold and damp outside but inside it was bustling and brimming with excitement, groups of people were chatting with strangers looking glad to be inside. Women were stripping in the toilets pulling on their Take That tour tshirts, obviously a birthday night of surprises. The auditorium was playing that soft gentle music that twinged in my head as I looked for our seats until my friend blurted ‘OMG Ceefax’ we squealed remembering those dating pages, word searches and not forgetting the holidays! This is all setting the scene 1993; what were we doing? Both of us were in college albeit different ones but we had already been friends for a few years. I hadn’t realised how apt bringing my oldest and closest friend would be until curtain down.

It would be easy to tell the story of The Band but there’s so many parts to dissect I couldn’t do it justice. Instead I’ll sing the praises of the cast, all who do an amazing job and gel together as only best friends do. They say if you find a friend no matter how long you spend apart those years melt away in minutes and this is what we see on stage. It’s 1993 and five young girls are living as we all did posters, pop music and dreams Rachel (Faye Christall) has a group of friends but only one BFF who she shares her fears, hopes and dreams with the engaging Debbie (Rachelle Diedricks) encouraging her with infectious energy and raising many a smile from me especially taping those pop songs. We see the hopes and dreams of each sixteen year old the world is their oyster, dreams are there just within reach Heather (Katy Clayton) wants to be defined as a fashion designer not as a name to be linked with many numerous boys, Claire (Sarah Kate Howarth) as an Olympic Diver looks like Sporty Spice bouncing around continuously and then there’s petite little swot Zoe (Lauren Jacobs) who the girls say will be doing homework for the rest of her life at University. The naming of the pop group as The Band or as Rachel calls them Boys, is a clever move from writer Tim Firth it keeps our focus on the story making the music and songs as secondary more of a backdrop to the lives unfolding. The five boys in The Band who regardless of time never age, remaining stuck in memories forever young. They pop up around the girls linked in memories, helping with laundry, clearing up broken dishes, smoothing worries away, roadsweepers and baggage handlers, just reminding us they are not just pop royalty and superstars but ordinary people too. AJ, Curtis, Yazdan and Nick are joined by understudy Harry Fabulous Brown for tonight’s performance and they do a great job even making me laugh as they dress as statues in Prague.

I must applaude Andy Williams though who plays a great comic role as Every Dave, from school caretaker, bus driver, to Czech Policeman each time badly humming and trying to sing one of those great songs like my Dad would’ve done back in 1993.

It’s not all memories and great music there’s sadness too that takes your breath away. Those moments that make or break us like the death of a very dear friend and how we cope or don’t in some cases. Rachel explains how life dealt her a double blow and she moves separating her from friends and the girls just move on with life. Until 25 years later and a freak chance sees her winning a competition to see The Band in Prague and what would the chances be; she can take 3 friends. What makes her want to share this moment with friends she hasn’t seen since they were sixteen? Would we all try reaching out this way, do they have unfinished friendships and issues to resolve? Rachel is the lynch pin bringing everyone back together but her life is not as rosy inside as she hopes. Martin Millar plays her partner Jeff, steady dependable Jeff who wants to get married, should come with a mascara warning when Rachel explains to him why she won’t. Our young girls are now all older girls brilliantly portrayed with their own strengths and fears; Rachel Lumberg (Rachel), Alison Fitzjohn (Claire), Emily Joyce (Heather) and Jayne McKenna (Zoe). What draws them back together? The Band and those memories. Music doesn’t define us as much as youth doesn’t define us, we may all share our hopes and dreams.

The Band encourages you gently to look inside, did I follow that path my sixteen year old expected, NO. Am I sad for the path I eventually took, absolutely not for this is me, who I am. Memories are fantastic but they just that memories as much as when I was sixteen I was going to marry whoever took my fancy on the cover of Smash Hits, realistically it was never going to happen but without dreams we are nothing life is boring. Life is defined by who we become, never look back with regret… you absolutely won’t get the chance if you’re watching The Band for you will be waving your mobile phone torch feeling like you’re at a pop concert, you may have to squint to imagine Gary, Mark, Robbie, Howard and Jason up onstage but the boys who were discovered via reality TV competition all do a fabulous job in keeping our attention and also blending into the background when times call for subtleness.

But I can guarantee you will end the night up on your feet, clapping and stomping and singing your heart out, what are you waiting for gather your friends and get your funk on.