CABARET THE AWARD-WINNING PRODUCTION OF KANDER & EBB’S AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL DIRECTED BY RUFUS NORRIS
JOINING THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED JOHN PARTRIDGE AS EMCEE
*****
‘THE MOST STUNNINGLY FRESH
&IMAGINATIVE REVIVAL OF A CLASSIC
MUSICAL THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN’
The Independent
****
‘A SHOW STOPPER’
Daily Mail
****
‘STUNNING’
Sunday Express
****
‘OVERWHELMING’
Evening Standard
Bill Kenwright presents Rufus Norris’ multi award-winning production of Kander and Ebb’s landmark musicalCabaret, which embarks on an extensive 2019 UK tour, opening at Bromley’s Churchill Theatre from 28 August 2019.
Joining the cast in the role of Sally Bowles is Kara Lily Hayworth who recently won rave reviews across the country for her portrayal of Cilla Black in Cilla the Musical, after she was discovered by Bill Kenwright during the show’s nationwide TV auditions.
Kara says, “I owe a huge amount to Bill Kenwright! Back in 2017 when I first decided to go to the open auditions for Cilla, I had no idea how much my life would change. I had been working professionally for a long time, but this was a real turning point in my career, and I am so grateful to Bill for taking a chance on me. And now for him to trust me to take on another leading role (my absolute dream role) I feel so unbelievably lucky!”
Cabaret features show-stopping choreography, dazzling costumes and iconic songs, including ‘Money Makes the World Go Round’, ‘Maybe This Time’ and ‘Cabaret’.
Directed by critically acclaimed Rufus Norris, the production has enjoyed two smash hit West End runs at The Lyric and The Savoy theatres.
It’s 1931, Berlin is a haven of divine decadence and the legendary Sally Bowles is about to take stage at the infamous Kit Kat Klub…
Starring as the enigmatic Emcee is John Partridge, winner of Celebrity MasterChef in 2018, who is well known to TV audiences as EastEnders’ charismatic Christian Clarke, and one of West End theatre’s most prolific leading men (AChorus Line, Chicago, and La Cage Aux Folles).
After Bromley’s Churchill Theatre, the tour will then continue onto Wolverhampton, Nottingham, Crawley, Chester, Dublin, Belfast, Leicester, Shrewsbury, Hull, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Malvern, Peterborough, Sunderland, Oxford, Wimbledon, Manchester, Leeds, Canterbury, Sheffield, Cardiff and Stoke, with further dates and venues to be announced in due course.
DATES & VENUES
Bromley Churchill Theatre churchilltheatre.co.uk
Wed 28 – Sat 31 August 020 3285 6000
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
grandtheatre.co.uk
Tues 03 – Sat 07 September 01902 429 212
Nottingham Theatre Royal trch.co.uk
Tues 10 – Sat 14 September
0115 989 5555
Crawley Hawth Theatre parkwoodtheatres.co.uk
Tues 17 – Sat 21 September
01293 553 636
Chester Storyhouse storyhouse.com
Tues 24 – Sat 28 September
01244 409 113
Dublin Bord Gais Energy Theatre
bordgaisenergytheatre.ie
Tues 01 – Sat 05 October +353 (1) 677 7999
Belfast Grand Opera House
goh.co.uk
Tues 08 – Sat 12 October 028 9024 1919
Leicester Curve curveonline.co.uk
Tues 15 – Sat 19 October 0116 242 3595
Shrewsbury Theatre Severn theatresevern.co.uk
Tuesday 22 – Sat 26 October
01743 281 281
Hull New Theatre hulltheatres.co.uk
Tues 29 October – Sat 02 November
01482 300 306
Edinburgh Festival Theatre capitaltheatres.com
Tues 05 – Sat 09 November
0131 529 6000
Aberdeen His Majesty’s Theatre
aberdeenperformingarts.com
Tues 12 – Sat 16 November
0122 464 1122
Malvern Festival Theatre malvern-theatres.co.uk
Tues 19 – Sat 23 November
01684 892 277
Peterborough New Theatre
newtheatre-peterborough.com
Tues 21 – Sat 25 January
Sunderland Empire atgtickets.com/sunderland
Tues 28 January – Sat 1 February 0844 871 3022
Oxford New Theatre atgtickets.com/oxford
Tues 04 – Sat 08 February 0844 871 3020
Wimbledon New Theatre
atgtickets.com/wimbledon
Tues 18 – Sat 22 February 0844 871 7647
Manchester Palace Theatre
atgtickets.com/Manchester
ANNOUNCE PROPOSALS FOR MAJOR LANDMARK THEATRE REFURBISHMENT PROJECT IN THE CAPITAL
AMBITIOUS REDEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR THE HISTORIC GRADE II LISTED ROYAL BOROUGH HALLS LAUNCHING INTO NEW THEATRE HUB BY LEADING THEATRE ORGANISATION
A WORLD CLASS PRODUCING & PRESENTING THEATRE HUB
FOR SOUTH EAST LONDON
Selladoor Worldwide (one of the UK’s leading touring theatre producers and no. 38 in The Stage 100’s 2019 list of most influential people working in the performing arts industry), are pleased to announce their proposed plans to redevelop the Borough Halls building in Greenwich into a new multi-space theatre and performing arts hub in the heart of Greenwich, named the Greenwich Festival Theatre. The new venue will be a major producing theatre and entertainment hub for South East London, offering diverse, daring and dynamic world class theatre and an artistic mission to create, curate and present a year round live performance programme of both local and national importance in the borough. The former Greenwich Borough Halls,built in 1939, will complete an ambitious and extensive redevelopment potentially as early as autumn 2019 with the aim of opening in Spring 2021.
The development of Greenwich Festival Theatre is now in the final process of a public consultation with Greenwich Borough Council, before the project commences. The consultation goes live on Monday 24th June for 3 weeks, and will enable the Greenwich community to share their views on the future of the Borough Halls and show support for the scheme.
The proposed redevelopment plans for the Borough Halls will comprise of two theatre spaces, a 650-seater main stage and a 240-seater flexible studio/black box space. The plans also include extending the main stage performance footprint and seating capacity of the hall to allow larger and more ambitious musicals, plays and live performance to be presented in the building. The redevelopment will also feature a basement rehearsal suite for creative learning programmes, community use and skills development. A front extension to the building has been planned to facilitate a two-story brasserie bar for all day dining and pre-theatre meals, alongside a rooftop terrace bar for evening drinks and functions.
The plans, which have been in development for the past few years, is focused on providing the South East of London with a year round producing theatre, with it’s own artistic leadership and development teams – modelled on successful producing venues in London such as the Almeida Theatre and Lyric Theatres, to offer a stage for world class work, with ambitions to transfer productions into the West End, or into major arts centres across the UK and internationally. The ‘flagship’, artistically driven building offers the company, who have their HQ in the Borough of Greenwich, to bring the highest caliber of artists and companies into the building to co-produce and present work. The venue will be a launch pad for major national tours, pre-West End and Broadway productions, producing in-house shows, as well as presenting external work hereby bringing artists, creative technicians, stage managers, producers and additional jobs to the borough.
David Hutchinson, CEO, Selladoor Worldwide said: “Selladoor Worldwide has been operating in the borough for the past 10 years and we are therefore extremely proud to announce plans to develop the Borough Halls into our flagship London venue.
The theatre will have it’s own artistic leadership as a producing and presenting house, with a year round curated program of events to build into the exhilarating London theatre ecosystem as the perfect space for launching daring, diverse and dynamic work. The Borough Halls is brilliantly placed, as an iconic building and in the heart of the Borough, and our plans aim to build into the already exhilarating cultural capital in the Borough – building audiences, creating jobs and making Greenwich a destination for daytime and evening economies.”
Phillip Rowntree, CFO, Selladoor Worldwide said: “The Borough Halls site allows Selladoor Venues to create two complimentary spaces – a 650 seater main house for larger scale produced work, as well as a fully flexible studio for a variety of productions and artist development programmes, alongside the important community use – offering a home for a number of key local arts organisations to present work. The studio will also be home to the recently launched Selladoor Creation division of the company – which commissions work from leading artists across the world – giving Greenwich the opportunity to see the major productions of tomorrow, first.
Beyond the traditional theatre spaces, we will also have a number of bar and restaurant spaces– including a top floor jazz and cocktail bar offering evening bar and dining with a panoramic view of some of the most important cultural sites including the Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark and Royal Naval College. Key to our proposals for the Borough Halls is that it is a building open and accessible for all. Whether you want to come in for a coffee, a class or an evening at the theatre – it’s a destination for all and adds to the cultural capital of the Borough for both local residents and visitors to Greenwich.”
Barrie Kelly, Chief Executive, Visit Greenwich said: “This proposed investment in the Borough Halls, Greenwich by Selladoor is great news for our visitor economy. The value of tourism has grown by 31% over the last four years in Greenwich and this supports 16,000 jobs locally. We now have a huge opportunity to boost our evening economy where we still have significant capacity e.g. only 7% of our visitors currently stay overnight.This new cultural events programme will support our events strategy, which is based upon creating new cultural events across the whole Borough filling clear gaps such as off-season and evening time in maritime Greenwich.The new Greenwich Festival Theatre will attract new high spend visitors who will give a huge boost to our growing hotel sector too. And of course local people will have another fantastic venue to enjoy on their doorstep.”
James Heaton, CEO, Woolwich Creative District Trust said: “The plans to bring the wonderful Borough Halls back to life as a festival theatre are hugely exciting. With this and the Creative District contributing to the fantastic community of artistic organisations already working in Greenwich, the Borough is fast positioning itself as a landmark cultural destination.”
Tom Stickland, Theatres Adviser at the Theatres Trust said: “The current state of Greenwich Borough Halls is a great concern for Theatres Trust and Selladoor have here presented a vision for a lively producing hub that will rejuvenate the space and be a great benefit to audiences within Greenwich and beyond. We look forward to working with them to ensure that the plans are complementary to the area’s cultural offer and make the best use of this historic venue.”
The Greenwich Borough Hall is a grade II-listed art deco building located on Royal Hill in the heart of Greenwich. The building is located close to the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage site, which comprises The National Maritime Museum, The Royal Observatory, The Queen’s House and The Cutty Sark. The site is located in The West Greenwich Conservation Area.
The Greenwich Borough Hall is part of a Town Hall complex built close to Greenwich town centre, which was completed in 1939 with designs by Culpin & Son. The building is in the modernist style and the design heavily influenced by W.M. Dudok’s Hilversum Town Hall of 1928-30. It has a solid external massing with fine brick detailing that combines a consistent modern design with a careful use of traditional building materials. The two halls are mostly original with lots of the internal fabric still intact. The original town hall element of the building, now known as Meridian House, which includes the prominent viewing tower and the council chamber, was separately sold by the Council in the 1970s and is now in private ownership and used as offices.
The Borough Halls were last leased to Greenwich Dance Agency (GDA) up until May 2018. Since then the venue has remained empty up until now.
GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY TO RETURN TO THE WEST END FOR EIGHT WEEKS ONLY
Written and Directed by Conor McPherson Music and Lyrics by Bob Dylan Gielgud Theatre Previews from 10 December
The critically-acclaimed hit Girl from the North Country, written and directed by Conor McPherson with music and lyrics by Bob Dylan, is to play at the Gielgud Theatre in the West End for a limited season from 10 December 2019 to 1 February 2020. Girl from the North Country opens in the West End following a run at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto, opening 28 September 2019, and prior to the Broadway production opening in March 2020 at The Belasco Theatre.
‘An instant classic’The Times ***** ‘Piercingly beautiful’ The Independent***** ‘Conor McPherson weaves magic with Bob Dylan’s songs’The Observer ***** ‘A Ravishing Production! Bob Dylan’s songs have never sounded so heartbreakingly personal and universal. As close as mortals come to heaven on earth’New York Times
The full cast for Girl from the North Country at the Gielgud Theatre includes Daniel Bailey (Ensemble), Colin Bates (Gene Laine), Katie Brayben (Elizabeth Laine), Anna Jane Casey (Mrs Burke), Nicholle Cherrie (Ensemble), David Ganly (Mr Burke), Simon Gordon (Ensemble), Steffan Harri (Elias Burke), David Haydn (Ensemble), Rachel John (Mrs Neilsen), Sidney Kean (Mr Perry), Finbar Lynch (Reverend Marlowe), Donald Sage Mackay (Nick Laine), Gloria Obianyo (Marianne), Ferdy Roberts (Dr Walker), Wendy Somerville (Ensemble), Gemma Sutton (Katherine Draper), Shaq Taylor (Joe Scott) and Alan Vicary (Ensemble).
Girl from the North Country opened at The Old Vic in July 2017 to huge critical acclaim and playing to sold out audiences. It transferred to the Noël Coward Theatre in December 2017 and won the 2018 Olivier Awards for Best Actress in a Musical and Best Supporting Actress in a Musical as well as being nominated in the Best New Musical, Outstanding Achievement in Music and Best Actor in a Musical categories. The production went on to have a sold out run at the Public Theater, New York in Girl from the North Country opens at the Gielgud Theatre following a run at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto, from 28 September to 24 November 2019. The Broadway production will open on 5 March 2020, with previews from 7 February, at The Belasco Theatre. Casting for the Broadway production is to be announced.
A time-weathered guesthouse in the heartland of America. Only a song can shake off the dust for one group of wayward souls—and old dreams may hold the promise of new beginnings. As they pass in and out of each other’s lives, their stories awaken with passion, fury and extraordinary beauty.
Reimagining the music of Bob Dylan as roof-raising ensemble pieces and soul-stirring solos, celebrated playwright Conor McPherson (The Weir, The Seafarer) writes and directs this heartbreaking and universal story about family and love.
Girl from the North Country features scenic and costume design by Rae Smith; orchestrations, arrangements, and music supervision by Simon Hale, with additional arrangements by Simon Hale and Conor McPherson, lighting design by Mark Henderson; sound design by Simon Baker; movement direction by Lucy Hind and casting by Jessica Ronane CDG.
Girl from the North Country is produced by Tristan Baker & Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment, Steven Lappin, Sony Music Entertainment UK, David Mirvish and The Old Vic
Daniel Bailey (Ensemble). Theatre includes: Jesus Christ Superstar (Barbican Centre); Wizard of Oz (Pitlochry Festival Theatre); King (Hackney Empire); Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Queens Theatre, Hornchurch); Hair (The Vaults); Motown the Musical (Shaftesbury Theatre); Wheel of Misfortune (The Old Red Lion Theatre); The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre); South Pacific (UK tour); Blues Brothers (Erasmus Theatre) and Hair (Bronowski Productions).
Colin Bates (Gene Laine). Theatre includes: Billy Elliot the Musical (West End); The Effect (OffBroadway); Oliver! (UK Tour); A Picture of Dorian Gray (A Noise Within) and Switzerland (Geffen Playhouse). Film and TV includes: The Good Shepherd, Naked Normandy, La Prière, Pachamama, Nice Talking to You, Dating My Mother, T11 Incomplete, Sneaky Pete, The Show, Children’s Hospital, One Life to Live and Ghost Recon Wildlands 2.
Katie Brayben (Elizabeth Laine). Theatre includes: Honour (The Park Theatre); A Walk on The Moon (The American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco); The Spoils (Trafalgar Studios); My Mother Said I Never Should (St James Theatre); Beautiful -The Carole King Musical (Aldwych Theatre, Winner of Best Actress in a Musical Olivier Award 2015); King Charles III (Almeida and Wyndham’s Theatres); American Psycho (Almeida Theatre); Joking Apart (Nottingham and Salisbury Playhouse); Ragtime The Musical, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); 13 (National Theatre); John and Jen (Landor); Friday 4pm (Arcola Theatre); Company (Southwark Playhouse); Is Everyone OK? (nabakov and NuWrite); Counted? (UK Tour); The Great British Country Fete (Bush); Skin Tight (Riverside Studios); Mamma Mia! (Ten year anniversary cast and International Tour and West End); Return To The Forbidden Planet (UK Tour) and Some Girls are Bigger Than Others (Lyric Hammersmith, Dublin Theatre Festival). Her film and television credits Self Help – A Serial Killer’s Guide To Life, Luther, The Alienist, Doctor Who, King Charles III and Vera.
Anna-Jane Casey (Mrs Burke). Theatre includes: Calendar Girls (UK Tour); Billy Elliot (West End, UK and International Tour); Stepping Out (West End); Annie Get Your Gun, Flowers For Mrs Harris, Sweet Charity, Piaf (Sheffield Theatres); Mack and Mabel (Chichester Festival theatre and UK Tour); Spamalot (Playhouse Theatre, London); Sunday in the Park with George, Forbidden Broadway (Menier Chocolate Factory); Hobson’s Choice, Mack and Mabel (Watermill, Newbury). Film and TV includes: Family Guy, Coronation Street, The Royal, Doctors, EastEnders, The Bill, Heartbeat, Holby City and Beyond the Sea.
Nicholle Cherrie (Ensemble). Theatre includes: Richard II (Shakespeare’s Globe); Leave Taking (The Bush Theatre); Mamma Mia (Cyprus) and Jesus Christ Superstar (Regents Park Open Air Theatre). Television Includes: Doctors. David Ganly (Mr Burke). Theatre includes: Girl from the North Country (Noel Coward Theatre); On Blueberry Hill (Dublin Theatre Festival); Once (Olympia Theatre Dublin); Lonesome West (Tron Theatre); The Plough & the Stars (Abbey Theatre Dublin and Irish & US Tour); Shakespeare in Love (Noel Coward Theatre); Threepenny Opera (Gate Theatre); King Lear (Theatre Royal Bath); Cinderella (Lyric Hammersmith); Macbeth (Sheffield Crucible); The Lonesome West (Druid Theatre, The Royal Court, Sydney Festival and Lyceum, Broadway); Of Mice and Men (The Watermill); The Wizard of Oz (London Palladium); The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Young Vic) for which David received an OFFIE nomination for Best Actor; Chicago (Cambridge Theatre London); The Weir (Gate Theatre); Translations (National Theatre) and The Full Monty (Prince of Wales Theatre). Film and TV includes: Citizen Charlie, Sunset Song, Body of Lies, Hippie Hippie Shake, Dorothy Mills, Widow’s Peak and Space Truckers.
Simon Gordon (Ensemble). Theatre includes: Bat Out Of Hell The Musical (Dominion Theatre, London Coliseum, International Tour); Moulin Rouge!, Julius Caesar, Parade, Alba Nuadh (RADA). Film and TV includes: Scrambled Eggs, Superstar, Roby and The Gates of Nargara and Milk.
Steffan Harri (Elias Burke). Theatre includes: Shrek in Shrek The Musical (UK & Ireland Tour); Les Misérables (Queens Theatre); Monty Python’s Spamalot (Playhouse Theatre); Hollti (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru); Little Shop of Horrors (Aberystwyth Arts Centre) and Children Of Eden (Prince of Wales Theatre). Television includes: Rownd a Rownd.
David Haydn (Ensemble). Theatre includes: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Wedding Singer (Summer Rep Theatre); Gaslight (Ed Mirvish Theatre); Stones in His Pockets (Popular Productions); The Irish Curse (Edinburgh and Dublin Festivals); Jamie the Saxt (Finborough Theatre); Kinky Boots (Adelphi Theatre); The Secret Garden (Barn Theatre); The Burnt Part Boys (Park 90); I Dreamed a Dream (UK Tour); Parade (Southwark Playhouse); Fame (UK Tour) and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK Tour).
Rachel John (Mrs Neilsen). Theatre includes: Hamilton (Victoria Palace Theatre); The Color Purple (Concert – Cadogan Hall); The Bodyguard (Dominion Theatre and Toronto); Memphis (Shaftesbury Theatre); RENT (UK Tour); We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre and UK Tour); Sister Act (London Palladium); The Legend of the Lion King (Disneyland Paris) and The Lion King (Asian Tour and Lyceum Theatre).
Sidney Kean (Mr Perry). Theatre includes: Berberian Sound Studio (Donmar Warehouse), Toby Belch is Unwell a One man show (London, Prague, Bristol & Edinburgh, Fetch Theatre), Fever Chart (Trafalgar Studios, Theatre Royal York), Legal Fictions (Savoy Theatre), Public Interest (New Diorama) Henry1V Part 1(NTC), The Odd Couple (MK Productions). TV work includes: Coronation Street, Silent Witness, The Fear, The Long Firm, Frost, Doc Martin, Poirot, 2Point4 Children, The Bill, EastEnders, Brookside, Lovejoy, Grange Hill, Casualty, Blakes 7, Robin Hood, Raphael The Mortal God, Warship, King Oedipus (Play for Today), Dixon of Dock Green. Film includes: Hatton Garden The Heist, The Village in The Woods, Orthodox, Lifeforce, Queen of Hearts, Revelation Hanuman, Lucas & Albert, Subverted, Gli Zii. Radio includes King Street and King Street Revisited (BBC), The Government Inspector (BBC) Travels With My Aunt (BBC) Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (BBC) and 30 episodes of the highly acclaimed, amusing and comical Mission Improbable as Agent X The Master of Disguise (BBC World Service).
Finbar Lynch (Reverend Marlowe). Theatre includes: Girl from the North Country (Noel Coward Theatre); The Lady from the Sea (Donmar Warehouse); Richard III (Almeida Theatre); Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Hothouse, Antony and Cleopatra, Not About Nightingales, King Lear (National Theatre); Antigone (Barbican Centre / World Tour); The Silence of the Sea (Trafalgar Studios); Desire Under The Elms, The Big Fellah (Lyric Hammersmith); The Fairy Queen (Glyndebourne / Paris / New York); The Duchess of Malfi; Dancing at Lughnasa (The Old Vic); Faith Healer (Bristol Old Vic); The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist (Chichester Festival Theatre / Liverpool Everyman); The Fastest Clock in the Universe (Hampstead Theatre / Leicester Curve); Portrait of a Lady; A Doll’s House (Bath Theatre); Love’s Labour’s Lost (Rose Theatre Kingston); Three Sisters on Hope Street (Hampstead Theatre / Liverpool Everyman); Ghosts (Gate Theatre); The Tempest, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Measure for Measure, Coriolanus, The Alchemist, The Virtuoso, Amphibians, A Woman Killed with Kindness, The Two Gentlemen of Verona (RSC). Film and TV includes: Treadstone, The Mallorca Files, The Devils, The Feed, Foyle’s War, DCI Banks, Breathless, The Musketeers, Game of Thrones, Silk, Inspector George Gently, Richard II, Proof, Dalziel and Pascoe, Waking the Dead, Red Cap, Atilla the Hun, Second Sight, Mind Game, Holby City, Small World, Between the Lines, Glenroe, Adventures of a Mathematician, The World We Knew, Black 47, Property of the State, Suffragette, Child 44, Departure, The Numbers Station, Matilde, To Kill a King, Lost Batallion, King Lear, Scold’s Bridle, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Schooner and Rawhead Rex.
Gloria Obianyo (Marianne Laine). Theatre includes: Antony and Cleopatra (National Theatre); Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); The Grinning Man (Bristol Old Vic); The Wild Party (The Other Palace); The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Donmar Warehouse) and Fanny and Alexander (The Old Vic). Film and TV includes High Life, Dune and Good Omens.
Ferdy Roberts (Dr Walker). Theatre includes: Twelfth Night, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Three Sisters, Water (Lyric Hammersmith); Twelfth Night (Tricycle Theatre); The Caucasian Chalk Circle (National Theatre); Silence (RSC); Faster (London /New York); Fatherland (Royal Exchange); Plaques and Tangles (Royal Court); Lampedusa (Soho Theatre); Shakespeare in Love (Noel Coward Theatre); Open Court, If You Don’t Let Us Dream We Won’t Let You Sleep (Royal Court); Wallenstein, The Sea (Chichester Festival Theatre); The Birthday Party, The Dumb Waiter (Bristol Old Vic); Girl in a Goldfish Bowl (Sheffield Crucible); Frankenstein (Derby Playhouse); Another Country (West End) and The Changeling, Beautiful Thing, The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice (Salisbury Playhouse). Film and TV includes: Dark Angel, Foyles War, Whistleblower, The Bill, Goldplated, Your Mother Should Know, Holby City, Doctors, A Touch Of Frost, What You Will, Mr Nice, Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll and Honest.
Donald Sage Mackay (Nick Laine). Theatre includes: True West (Vaudeville Theatre); Angry Alan (Edinburgh Fringe First Award, Soho Theatre, Aspen Fringe); White Guy on the Bus (Finborough Theatre); Moon for the Misbegotten (Lyric, Belfast); Linda (MTC); Fred’s Diner and The Other Place (Magic), Our Town (ATL), stop. reset. (Signature), Blood & Gifts and His Girl Friday (La Jolla Playhouse); Game’s Afoot (Cleveland Play House) and Six Degrees of Separation (Old Globe). Film and TV includes: Deep State, Treadstone, Looming Tower, Modern Family, Mad Men, Frasier, Masters of Sex, Elementary, Blue Bloods, Good Wife, House, West Wing, NCIS, Law and Order: SVU, Criminal Minds, Weeds, The Shield, Star Trek Enterprise, According to Jim, ER, Scrubs, The Practice, Providence and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
Wendy Somerville (Ensemble). Theatre includes: Local Hero (Royal Lyceum Theatre); School of Rock (Gillian Lynne Theatre); The 306: Day (National Theatre of Scotland); Cinderella (London Palladium); Threepenny Opera (National Theatre); Billy Elliot (Victoria Palace Theatre); Hairspray (Shaftesbury Theatre & UK and Ireland Tour); Sweeney Todd (Adelphi Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre); Les Misérables (Queen’s Theatre) and Writer’s Cramp (Saint-Saëns Festival). Television includes: Classical Brit Awards 2011, Royal Variety Performance and 25th Anniversary Concert 2010 – Les Misérables, Billy Elliott the Musical – Live, Royal Variety Performance 2007 – Hairspray. Recordings include Sweeney Todd London cast recording, Scrapbook and Michael Ball Past and Present
Gemma Sutton (Katherine Draper). Theatre includes: Follies (National Theatre); Sweet Charity (Watermill Theatre); The Rink (Southwark Playhouse) Winner of Offie for Female performance in a Musical; A Christmas Carol the Musical (LMTO); Strictly Ballroom (West Yorkshire Playhouse, Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto); The Go Between (Apollo Theatre); Gypsy (Savoy Theatre); Sound of Music (Cairo), Gypsy (Chichester Festival Theatre); Carousel (Arcola Theatre); Blues in the Night (Hackney Empire); Chicago (Leicester Curve Theatre); Drunk (Leicester Curve Theatre and The Bridewell Theatre, London); Hairspray (UK Tour); Me and My Girl (Kilworth House Theatre); Legally Blonde (Savoy Theatre); Dames at Sea (Union Theatre); The Kissing Dance (Jermyn Street Theatre); Oklahoma! (UK tour), Gone with the Wind, Imagine This (New London Theatre); A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, Lady Be Good and The Boy Friend (Regent’s Park Open Air); Children Will Listen (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane) and Crimes of the Heart (Union Theatre). Film and TV includes: West Side Stories, Doctors, Cilla. Recordings include: Gypsy London Cast Recording, Imagine This Original London Cast Recording.
Shaq Taylor (Joe Scott). Theatre includes: Hadestown (National Theatre); Sweet Charity (Nottingham Playhouse); Les Miserables (Queen’s Theatre). He was runner-Up in the Stephen Sondheim Student Performer of the Year 2017 (Noel Coward Theatre). Film includes: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
Alan Vicary (Ensemble). Theatre includes: Moll Flanders (Mercury Theatre); Kinky Boots (Adelphi Theatre); A Damsel In Distress (Chichester Festival Theatre); The Crucible (The Old Vic); King Lear (Chichester Festival Theatre, BAM New); Goodnight Mister Tom (Phoenix Theatre, UK tour); The Sound Of Music (Manama, Bahrain, London Palladium); The Secret Garden (Birmingham Rep); The Fantasticks (Duchess Theatre); The Power Of Yes (National Theatre); Carousel (Savoy Theatre); Gone With The Wind (New London Theatre); Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre); Les Miserables (Palace Theatre); Kiss Me, Kate (Victoria Palace Theatre); The Phantom Of The Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre, UK Tour); The Duchess Of Malfi (Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh); Brigadoon (Victoria Palace Theatre) and Me And My Girl (Adelphi Theatre). Film and TV includes: London Road, Para Handy, Taggart, Timewatch. Recordings include: Cast albums of Brigadoon, Mary Poppins, The Sound Of Music and the Original West End Cast recording of Kinky Boots.
Conor McPherson is an acclaimed writer and director. He was born in Dublin in 1971 and attended University College Dublin where he began to write and direct. Stage plays include Rum & Vodka, The Good Thief, This Lime Tree Bower, St Nicholas, The Weir (Olivier, Evening Standard, and Critics Circle Awards); Dublin Carol, Port Authority, Shining City (Tony Award nominated);The Seafarer (Tony, Olivier and Evening Standard Award nominated); The Veil, and The Night Alive (New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play, Olivier, Evening Standard and Lucille Lortel Award nominated). Adaptations include Franz Xaver Kroetz’s The Nest, and August Strindberg’s The Dance of Death. Screen credits include the screenplay for the BBC series Paula, broadcast earlier this year.
Bob Dylan is one of our culture’s most influential and ground-breaking artists. Born in Duluth, Minnesota in 1941; self-taught on piano, guitar and harmonica, he travelled to New York City in 1961, quickly establishing himself as an explosive performer in the Greenwich Village music scene. More than half a century later, Dylan continues to perform almost 100 concerts each year. He has released more than 50 albums and written over 600 songs. He’s sold more than 125 million records and is the holder of 11 Grammy Awards. His songs have been covered more than 6000 times by artists as diverse as Duke Ellington, Jimi Hendrix, Guns N’ Roses, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley and Adele. He is also an accomplished visual artist and author, and in 2016 was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature – the first songwriter to receive such a distinction.
NEW CASTING ANNOUNCED, AS MADAGASCAR UK AND IRELAND TOUR EXTENDS INTO AUTUMN 2019 INCLUDING ASIA PACIFIC DATES
Matt Terry to return to role as Selladoor Family confirm Hong Kong, Malaysia and China alongside additional UK wide cities
Selladoor Worldwide announce that their critically acclaimed production of Madagascar – The Musical will tour China, Hong Kong and Malaysia visiting Beijing, Shanghai, Foshan, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur with X Factor Winner Matt Terry reprising his role of Alex the Lion. The critically acclaimed UK tour has been extended in the UK adding China to the itinerary marking Selladoor Worldwide’s 17thInternational tour since 2014 as part of their ongoing international strategy to take world class theatre across the globe.
Additional casting for the next leg of the tour which also travels to 12 UK venues includes Posi Morakinyo (Marty), Connor Dyer (Melman) Anna Barnes (Private/Mort) Esme Laudat (Rico/Lynn) Michael Larcombe (Mason/Lars) Monique Ashe- Palmer (Kowaslki) William Beckerleg (Skipper/Maurice) Hannah Victoria (Gloria) , Kieran Mortell (King Julian), Niko Kaim and Gareth Moran (Off Stage Swings)
Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture, Madagascar – The Musical follows all of your favourite crack-a-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar.
Madagascar has been hailed as a triumphant debut theatre performance for Matt Terry. Receiving 5 star reviews across the tour.
Matt tells us: ‘I’m having such an amazing time touring in Madagascar the Musical, the audiences have been fantastic. The show brings together everything you will know and love from the Dreamworks film with an immense score and amazing sets, costumes and puppets. It’s an awesome night out for the whole family‘
This wacky adventure for the whole family is brought to life by Selladoor Family, the producers behindJames And The Giant Peach, Seussical and The Owl And The Pussycat and Hartshorn – Hook, producers of the Olivier Award winning Rotterdam, Murder Ballad, Urinetown and American Idiot.
Madagascar – The Musical isdirected by award winning Kirk Jameson with choreography from Fabian Aloise. Designed by Tom Rogers, with Lighting design by Howard Hudson, Sound Design by Chris Whybrow, Musical Supervision from Mark Crossland Puppet design by Max Humphries and Puppet Direction from Emma Brunton.
Announces casting and new dates for international tour
Opens in Woking on 11 July 2019
Following the first ever UK & Ireland tour of Titanic The Musical in 2018, casting has been revealed as the productionprepares for its 2019 worldwide tour. After opening at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking on 11 July 2019, the production led by returning director Thom Southerland will tour across the world until 15 December 2019.
In the final hour of 14th April 1912, the RMS Titanic, on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, collided with an iceberg and ‘the unsinkable ship’ slowly sank. It was one of the most tragic and infamous disasters of the 20th Century. 1517 men, women and children lost their lives.
Based on real people aboard the most legendary ship in the world, Maury Yeston and Peter Stone’s stunning musical focuses on their hopes and aspirations. Unaware of the fate that awaits them, the Third Class immigrants dream of a better life in America, the newly-enfranchised Second Class dream of achieving the lifestyles of the rich and famous, and the millionaire Barons of the First Class dream of their mastery lasting forever.
Returning to the Titanic company are Kieran Brown as Murdoch (The Phantom Of The Opera, Chess), Greg Castiglioni as Andrews (Cabaret,Fiddler On The Roof), Alexander Evans as Boxall(Eugenius, The Sound Of Music), James Gant as Pitman/Etches (Violet, Wind In The Willows), Simon Green as Ismay (Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert, The Phantom Of The Opera),Emma Harrold as Lady Caroline Neville (The Sound Of Music, Happy Days), Devon-Elise Johnson as Kate Murphy(Half A Sixpence, Mamma Mia!), Shane McDaid as Jim Farrell (Madagascar, Spamalot), Gemma McMeel as Kate Mullins(Big Fish, Royal Variety Performance), Janet Mooneyas Maid (The Woman In White, The Braille Legacy), Joel Parnis as Fleet (My Fair Lady, Les Misérables), Timothy Quinlan as Edgar Beane (Jersey Boys, Mack & Mabel), Philip Rham as Captain Smith (Scrooge!, The Smallest Show On Earth), Dudley Rogers as Isidor Straus (Parade, Curtains), Niall Sheehy as Barrett (Ghost The Musical, Miss Saigon) and Judith Street as Ida Straus (The Girls, A Catered Affair).
They are joined by Ronan Burns as Bride (Kiss Me Kate, Annie Get Your Gun), Wendy Ferguson as Alice Beane (Mary Poppins,Les Misérables), Luke Harley as Latimer (Cinderella, The Producers), Ryan Heenan as Bellboy/Hartley (Billionaire Boy, Grease), Benjamin Karran as Bell (Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Luke McCall as Lightoller (Man Of La Mancha, The Phantom Of The Opera), Ashley Stillburn as Charles Clarke (The Woman In White, Death Takes A Holiday), Lucie-Mae Sumner as Kate McGowan (Chicago, Barnum) and Eleanor Walsh as Maid (Aspects Of Love, A Little Princess).
The creative team includes direction from Thom Southerland,set and costume design from David Woodhead,lighting design from Howard Hudson, sound design from Andrew Johnson, musical staging from Cressida Carréand musical direction from Leigh Thompson.
Having received its UK premiere in 2013 at Southwark Playhouse, the production returned to London in 2016 for an 11-week season at the Charing Cross Theatre, where it won overwhelming critical acclaim. It then embarked on its first ever UK & Ireland tour in April 2018 (during the 106th anniversary week), visiting the cities and communities whose forebears built, manned and sailed on the famous ship.
“It’s an evening both shattering and gorgeous…
The day after seeing it, I went back to see it again. It’s that good.”
★★★★★ The Times
Titanic The Musical has music and lyrics by Maury Yeston (Nine, Grand Hotel, Phantom) and a book by Peter Stone (Woman of the Year and 1776). The pair have collectively won, including their previous works, an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, an Olivier Award and three Tony Awards for their works. The original Broadway production of Titanic The Musical won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book.
Titanic The Musical is produced by Danielle Tarento, Steven M Levy and Vaughan Williams, in association with Mayflower Theatre, Southampton.
Waitress today announces a new pie partnership with London bakery Bread Ahead which will be making and selling the show’s famous fresh pies each night in association with the original creators, Cute As Cake of New York. Bread Ahead, well known for its Borough Market, Chelsea and Soho bakeries, will be making the delicious Waitress pie jars in apple crumble, chocolate salted caramel and lemon raspberry flavours which will be available to audience members at the Adelphi Theatre. The Waitress pie jars were originally created by Cute As Cake (@cuteascakenyc) for the New York production currently in its 3rd year on Broadway. www.cuteascake.com
London’s new smash hit musical comedy Waitress celebrated its official opening night at the AdelphiTheatre on 7 March and the Tony-nominated musical recently announced it is now extending booking to 7 December.
Waitress tells the story of Jenna, a waitress and expert pie-maker who dreams of some happiness in her life. When a hot new doctor arrives in town, life gets complicated. With the support of her workmates Becky and Dawn, Jenna overcomes the challenges she faces and finds that laughter, love and friendship can provide the perfect recipe for happiness.
Brought to life by a ground breaking, female-led creative team, Waitress features an original score by 7-time Grammy® nominee Sara Bareilles (Love Song, Brave), a book by acclaimed screenwriter Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam) and direction by Tony Award® winner Diane Paulus (Pippin, Finding Neverland) and choreography by Lorin Latarro. The production is currently touring the US and has also announced it will have its Australian premiere in 2020 at the Sydney Lyric Theatre.
Waitress stars Lucie Jones as Jenna, Ashley Roberts as Dawn, Marisha Wallace as Becky,Blake Harrison as Ogie, Peter Hannah as Earl, David Hunter as Dr. Pomatter and Shaun Prendergast as Old Joe.
The full company includes Kelly Agbowu, Piers Bate, Nicole Raquel Dennis, Michael Hamway, Peter Hannah, Blake Harrison, David Hunter, Lucie Jones,Stephen Leask,Chris McGuigan, Olivia Moore, Nathaniel Morrison, Sarah O’Connor, Leanne Pinder, Shaun Prendergast, Charlotte Riby, Ashley Roberts, Marisha Wallace and Mark Willshire. Laura Baldwin will return to the role of Dawn in Waitress at the end of the summer.
On its Broadway opening, Waitress was nominated for four Outer Critics’ Circle Awards, including Outstanding New Broadway Musical; two Drama League Award Nominations, including Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical; six Drama Desk Nominations, including Outstanding Musical; and four Tony Award Nominations, including Best Musical.
The Big Free Fringe Weekend returns to Guildford on 29 and 30 June
with Opera on the Balcony, morris dancers, jazz choirs, comedy theatre and more,
followed by an exciting line-up of Free Fringe shows throughout July
Guildford Fringe Festival is planning a show-stopping, foot-tapping and fun-filled Free Fringe line-up as part of this year’s jam-packed Festival programme. The excitement begins at the Free Fringe Weekend on 29 and 30 June, when you can’t fail to be entertained if you head into the town centre.
On 29 June, join professional caricaturist David Groves on the High Street in the Guildford Fringe Gazebo, and track down Street to the Point Theatre Company who will be roaming the town centre with Fab News – a heart-warming act that aims to transmit a little happiness into the world! Later, The Guildhall on Guildford’s High Street becomes the stage for a free evening ofOpera on the Balcony for the second year running after its huge success in 2018. The cast, who will perform on the balcony whilst the audience watches from the High Street (bring a blanket or chair), includes Roberto Abate (Opera North and Grange Park Opera) and Katie Bird (Opera North and English National Opera) accompanied by Kelvin Lim (The Royal Opera House, English National Opera and Glyndebourne). Expect to hear arias from much-loved operas including Puccini’s La Bohème and Verdi’s La Traviata.
On 30 June, Morris Dance, in its many forms – from the familiar handkerchiefs and bells of the Cotswold style to the dark and pagan Border style – will be part of celebrations. Listen out forGodalming & Guildford jazz choirs performing, and catch them again when they return on 28 July to round off the Festival. In The Back Room of the The Star Inn, Emmerdale meets Monty Python in the deliciously surreal award-winning play Janet and, also at that venue, Tom Toal in Mediocre Boy sees the brains behind the After All This Time Always podcast ask some tough questions of himself and his place in the comedy industry and the world itself. For both Janet and Tom Toal, book your place via the Box Office (£5 refundable deposit applies).
From 3 – 18 July, catch Guildford Arts’ free 24th summer exhibition. Yvonne Arnaud Art at the Mill Studio at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre is an exciting display of contemporary paintings, prints, photography, sculpture, ceramics and glasswork from local and nationally renowned artists.
Musical treats abound throughout July. Guildford’s fabulous Rock Choir, who have been involved with Guildford Fringe Festival since day one, are well known for their wonderful harmonies and amazing versions of the songs everyone knows and loves. Catch them out and about on 6 July. Join popular local singer-songwriter Gavin Thomas on 5 July forAcoustic Request Night and then on 17 July for The GT Live Sessions, a hugely popular showcase night, both at The Britannia Pub. Local favourites The Nefarious Picaroons will deliver stomped up pop-folk on 19 July, weaving unique arrangements of highly selected covers and original material into their set to create a bouncy, joyous, festival experience with a mix of acoustic and electric instruments. Bring friends, family and a picnic to Music in The Meadows at Clandon Wood Natural Burial Ground on 21 July. The afternoon of live music in the beautiful wildflower meadows is free – all funds raised through a raffle and contributions will be donated to The Rainbow Trust and Shooting Star Chase.
Amanda Masters, General Manager for Experience Guildford, said: “Experience Guildford are proud to support Free Fringe once again. The free events give new audiences a taste of the Festival and bring more visitors into the town centre benefitting the wider community, at the time and through future visits.”
Nick Wyschna, Managing Director of Guildford Fringe Festival, said: “The Free Fringe events are so important to me. Although 90% of our income is from ticket sales (so very much needed) the whole idea and ethos of Guildford Fringe Festival is to make the arts accessible. The fact is, not everyone can afford to enjoy the arts, which is heart-breaking for me. The Free Fringe events, which are dotted throughout the Festival, mean that there is something for everyone to enjoy. We have comedy, theatre, street theatre, choirs, crafts and loads more that people can enjoy without spending a penny.”
An exciting programme of over 120 events will be on offer to audiences at this year’s Guildford Fringe Festival, running from 28 June until 28 July across 12 venues from pubs and theatres to a natural burial reserve and the BBC Surrey radio studio. The Festival will offer a month full of top arts picks offering everything from music, visual arts and theatre, through to comedy, cabaret, spoken word, children’s events and more. This will be the third year in which Guildford Fringe Festival opens at G Live with Gag House Comedy Superstars. With a line-up that includes Hal Cruttenden, Chris McCausland, Susan Murray and Paul Sinha it is no surprise that it is selling fast.
Visit the Guildford Fringe Festival website, GuildfordFringeFestival.com, for the full line-up including Free Fringe, and to book tickets. During the Festival, the Fringe Team will be at The Star Inn, Quarry Street, 7 days a week, from 11am-4pm, where they will run a Box Office and be happy to chat about the Festival.
GWEN TAYLOR & ANDREW LANCEL MOTHER & EVIL SON (SHE KILLED!) IN CORONATION STREET ARE REUNITED
BILL KENWRIGHT PRESENTS
THE CLASSIC THRILLER THEATRE COMPANY
THE LADY VANISHES
BASED ON THE CLASSIC ALFRED HITCHCOCK FILM
UK TOUR EXTENDING FROM AUTUMN 2019
OPENING AT WINDSOR THEATRE ROYAL ON 26 AUGUST
After the hugely successful first tour of The Classic Thriller Theatre Company’s stage adaption of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Lady Vanishes,the enjoyable adaptation is extending into the autumn, with a brand-new cast.
Building on the phenomenal decade-long success of The Agatha Christie Theatre Company, The Classic Thriller Theatre Company presents a quick-witted, devilishly fun filled thriller – based on the Hitchcock classic, ranked one of the Best British Films of all time.
When Socialite Iris’ travelling companion disappears, she’s bewildered to find fellow passengers deny ever having seen her. But with the help of musician Max, she turns detective, and together they resolve to solve this perplexing mystery.
The cast is led by BAFTA-nominated actress Gwen Taylor,who for decades was one of Britain’s most celebrated TV stars, including her role as Anne Foster in Coronation Street. Gwen’s other on-screen credits include the title role in ITV’s Barbara, Duty Free, A Bit of a Do and Heartbeat. Joining her is her Coronation Street son and ‘Villain of the Year Award’ winner Andrew Lancel, whose theatrical credits include Twelve Angry Men, The Small Hand and Cilla the Musical.
The show will also feature Denis Lill, star of the highly acclaimed TV drama The Royal and Alan Parry in Only Fools and Horses;Call the Midwife actress Scarlett Archer; theatre and British Hit Parade star Mark Wynter; Nicholas Audsley, best known as the Duke of Monmouth in smash hit TV series Victoria and Ben Nealon who’s credits include Soldier Soldier.
The production is directed by Roy Marsden whois best known as an actor, particularly in his role as Commander Adam Dalgliesh in ITV’s P.D. James series, which he played for 15 years. Roy has had successful West End runs with Noel Coward’s Volcano and Agatha Christie’s (under the pen name Mary Westmacott) A Daughter’s a Daughter. This is Roy’s third Classic Thriller Theatre Company production, having previously directed Rehearsal For Murder and A Judgement In Stone.
The first stop on the tour will be Windsor Theatre Royal on 26 August before calling at: Swindon, Weston-Super-Mare, Bury St Edmonds, Coventry, Derby, Darlington, Horsham, Exeter, Brighton, Yeoville, Torquay and Croydon.
NATIONAL THEATRE WALES AND ROYAL COURT THEATRE ON BEAR RIDGE
CASTING IS ANNOUNCED FOR NATIONAL THEATRE WALES AND ROYAL COURT THEATRE PRODUCTION OF ON BEAR RIDGE BY ED THOMAS
THE CAST WILL BE RAKIE AYOLA, JASON HUGHES, RHYS IFANS AND SION DANIEL YOUNG
ONBEAR RIDGE WILL BE CO-DIRECTED BY VICKY FEATHERSTONE AND ED THOMAS
THE PLAY RUNS AT THE SHERMAN THEATRE, CARDIFF FROM 2o SEPTEMBER – 5 OCTOBER. FOLLOWED BY THE ROYAL COURT THEATRE, LONDON FROM 24 OCTOBER – 23 NOVEMBER
Casting is today announced for the National Theatre Wales and Royal Court Theatre co-production of On Bear Ridge by award-winning writer Ed Thomas (House of America and Gas Station Angel, Royal Court; Hinterland/Y Gwyll BBC/S4C/Netflix). Royal Court Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone (The Cane and Cyprus Avenue, Royal Court) and Ed Thomas will co-direct this semi-autobiographical story about the places we leave behind, the indelible marks they make on us, and the unreliable memories we hold onto.
The cast will include Rakie Ayola as Noni. She is currently performing Strange Fruit at the Bush Theatre. Previous stage credits include Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child(West End), The Half God of Rainfall (Kiln Theatre) and Leave to Remain (Lyric Hammersmith). On television she is best known for her long running role as Kyla Tyson in Holby City (BBC).
Jason Hughes will play The Captain. He returns to the Royal Court where his work has includedViolence and Son, 4:48 Psychosis and A Real Classy Affair. Other recent stage roles include The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia (West End) and Our Country’s Good (National Theatre). On television he played Warren in This Life (BBC) and Detective Sergeant Ben Jones in Midsomer Murders (ITV). Other recent TV credits include Marcella (ITV), Death in Paradise and Three Girls (both BBC).
Rhys Ifans will play John Daniel. On stage he recently played the title role in Exit the King and caused a sensation in the one-man show of Protest Song (National Theatre). He also played the iconic role of Scrooge in A Christmas Carol and also The Fool in King Lear (Old Vic). Rhys’s extensive film work includes Elizabeth (dir. Shekhar Kapur), Greenberg (dir. Noah Baumbach), Nanny McPhee,Harry Potter, Mr Nice, Anonymous, The Amazing Spider-Man, Enduring Love and of course Richard Curtis’ Notting Hill. He won a BAFTA for his performance as Peter Cook in Not Only But Always and will next appear in the new comedy drama film Misbehaviour directed by Philippa Lowethorpe and Matthew Vaughn’s latest film Kingsman: The Great Game.
The cast is completed by Sion Daniel Young as Ifan William. Sion returns to the Sherman Theatre and Royal Court following Killology. His credits for National Theatre Wales include The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning, Mametz and The Village Social. He played leading roles in War Horse and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night (both West End) and last year performed inNightfall (Bridge Theatre). He will next appear in Jellyfish (National Theatre). His TV roles includeHinterland/Y Gwyll BBC/S4C/Netflix also written by Ed Thomas
“One minute we had customers, the next minute there was no-one.”
In a lost village, blurred by redrawn borders, hidden under a crumb on the map, Bear Ridge Stores still stands.
After a hundred years, the family butchers and grocers – a place for odds and ends, contraband goods, and the last petrol pump for 30 miles – is now silent.
But owners John Daniel and Noni are not leaving.
They are defiantly drinking the remaining whiskey and remembering good times, when everyone was on the same side and the old language shone.
Outside in the dark, a figure is making their way towards them.
The play will run at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff (20 September – 5 October) followed by the Royal Court in London (24 October – 23 November).
LISTINGS
National Theatre Wales and Royal Court Theatre ON BEAR RIDGE by Ed Thomas Directors Vicky Featherstone and Ed Thomas Designer Cai Dyfan Composer John Hardy Sound Designer Mike Beer
Running time: TBC Ages 14+
Sherman Theatre, Senghennydd Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4YE First Performance: 20 September 2019 Final Performance: 5 October 2019 Opening Night: 24 September at 7pm Monday – Saturday 7.30pm, matinees on Thursday 3 October and Saturday 5 October at 2pm https://www.shermantheatre.co.uk/performance/theatre/on-bear-ridge/
029 2064 6900
Standard Tickets £20 Previews: £15 on 20, 21 and 23 September Concessions: £18 Under 25s Half Price
Audio Described, Touch Tour and BSL: Friday 4 October 7.30pm and Saturday 5 October 2pm Monday 30 September – Saturday 5 October – All performances Captioned on iPads provided by National Theatre Wales. Post show talks Thursday 26th September, and matinee of Thursday 3rd October.
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS First Performance: 24 October Final Performance: 23 November Opening Night: 28 October at 7pm
Captioned Performances: Wednesday 6, 13 & 20 November, Friday 22 November 2019 Audio Described Matinee: Saturday 23 November 2019, 2.30pm. Touch tour at 1pm Relaxed Environment Performance: Saturday 16 November 2019, 2:30pm The Big Idea: In Conversation with Ed Thomas and Vicky Featherstone Tuesday 5 November post-show
Standard Tickets £12-£49 (Mondays all seats £12 available from 9am online on the day of performance) Concessions* £5 off Band A – C seats for previews and matinees Under 26s Access £15 (plus a companion at the same rate) *ID required. All discounts subject to availability.
Young Court Friends Tickets Young Court Friends is a free membership scheme for Under 26s. We offer a limited number of £15 tickets for all performances to Young Court Friends, as well as advance access to £12 Mondays in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs.
Writers Liz Pichon and Neal Foster have produced a genius script, taking everything that is important in the Tom Gates books and making a play that is more than the sum of its parts. Director Neal Foster has clearly collaborated closely with the writers to get a perfect balance between the animation and the actors. You have great music, great characters, straight out of the 70’s art and fashion – what’s not to love!
Each character is quite distinctive and so I have to commend the actors on their ability to make, sometimes very quick, switches between their different parts. Ashley Cousins is a very funny and believable Marcus Meldrew, a goody two shoes that I am sure we have all experienced in our school lives. Then Cousins flips into the mannerisms of Granny with a feminine flair. Amy Hargreaves carries well two roles that are complete opposites – the bright and ‘always does her best’ Amy Porter and the dark, sulky Delia. Justin Davies makes me laugh the most with Norman’s sugar rush frenzies and manic drumming. Matthew Chase is a great Tom Gates that the young audience loves, leading us through the story, pulling together all the loose ends. Gates brings to life the lyrics with a great 70’s rock tone. Liz Pichon has written lyrics for the songs that speak to the young audience and will be repeated in towns where ever the play is performed. I know I will be humming the biscuit song at work tomorrow!
The genius part of the production is what the Creative Team achieves with the set. A blank screen with strategically placed flaps and doors, springs to life with projected images and interactive doodles. The result is vibrant, energetic and brings the familiar pages of Pichon’s books right on to the stage. Primary school children everywhere are going to love this play, whether they know about the books before or not!
