First Major Stage Production of CAPTAIN CORELLI’S MANDOLIN

FIRST MAJOR STAGE PRODUCTION OF

LOUIS DE BERNIÈRES’ BEST-SELLING NOVEL

CAPTAIN CORELLI’S MANDOLIN

TO TOUR THE UK IN 2019

The first major stage production of CAPTAIN CORELLI’S MANDOLIN, based on the best-selling novel by Louis de Bernières will tour the UK in 2019, 25 years after the book was first published. CAPTAIN CORELLI’S MANDOLIN will be directed by Olivier and Tony Award nominee Melly Still and adapted by Evening Standard Award winner and Golden Globe and BAFTA Award nominee Rona Munro. Casting to be announced.

 

The play will preview at Leicester Curve from 13 – 20 April 2019 and will play Rose Theatre Kingston from 23 April – 12 May 2019, Theatre Royal Bath from 14 – 18 May 2019, Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 29 May – 15 June 2019, King’s Theatre Edinburgh from 18 – 22 June 2019 and Glasgow Theatre Royal from 25 – 29 June 2019. The national press night will be held on Thursday 25 April 2019 at the Rose Theatre Kingston at 7pm.

 

CAPTAIN CORELLI’S MANDOLIN is an epic love story set on the Greek island of Cephalonia. It follows the lives of Dr Iannis, his beautiful, strong-willed daughter Pelagia and the Italian Captain Antonio Corelli, during the Italian and German occupation of the island in World War II. For CAPTAIN CORELLI’S MANDOLIN, Louis de Bernières won the 1995 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize – Overall Winner for Best Book, the 1995 Lannan Literary Award for Fiction and the 1994 Sunday Express Book of the Year. In 2001, the novel was adapted into a film starring Nicolas Cage and Penélope Cruz.

 

Rona Munro has written extensively for stage, radio, film and television and most recently adapted Elizabeth Strout’s My Name is Lucy Bartonfor a new production at The Bridge Theatre, directed by Richard Eyre and starring Laura Linney. Rona received huge critical acclaim for The James Plays (National Theatre of Scotland, Edinburgh International Festival and National Theatre), which won Best Play at the Evening Standard Awards and Writers’ Guild Awards in 2015. Rona’s TV and film work includes Oranges and Sunshine, directed by Jim Loach and starring Emily Watson and Hugo Weaving, Aimee and Jaguar, which won a Silver Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival and also received a Golden Globe nomination, and the BAFTA-nominated Bumping the Odds for the BBC. Rona is currently working on the adaptation of Ian Rankin’s Rebus: Long Shadows for Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

 

Melly Still is currently directing the UK tour of The Lovely Bones. Melly received huge critical acclaim for having directed and co-designed Coram Boy (National Theatre & Broadway) and for which she was a Tony Award nominee for Best Director, Best Set Design and Best Costume Design, and an Olivier Award nominee for Best Director and Best Design. Melly’s other theatre credits for direction include April De Angelis’s adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s tetralogy of Neapolitan novels, My Brilliant Friend (Rose Theatre Kingston), Cymbeline (Royal Shakespeare Company), The Cunning Little Vixen (Glyndebourne Opera Festival), Warhorse Proms (Royal Albert Hall) and Tiger Bay The Musical (Wales Millennium Centre). Melly will direct the upcoming UK and Ireland tour and European stage premiere of Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d.

 

CAPTAIN CORELLI’S MANDOLIN will have set and costume designs by Mayou Trikerioti, lighting design by Malcolm Rippeth, sound design by Jon Nicholls, projection design by Dom Baker for OD Vision and music composed by Harry Blake.

 

CAPTAIN CORELLI’S MANDOLIN is produced by Neil Laidlaw, Rose Theatre Kingston and Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

 

Website: CaptainCorellisMandolin.com

Twitter.com/corellionstage / @CorelliOnStage

Facebook.com/corellionstage

 

 

TOUR SCHEDULE 2019

 

13 – 20 April                              Curve, Leicester                                               0116 242 359

                                                  www.curveonline.co.uk

23 April – 12 May                      Rose Theatre, Kingston                                    020 8174 0090

                                                  www.rosetheatrekingston.org

 

14 – 18 May                              Theatre Royal Bath                                           01225 448844

                                                 www.theatreroyal.org.uk

 

29 May – 15 June                     Birmingham Repertory Theatre                        0121 236 4455.

                                                 www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

 

18 – 22 June                             King’s Theatre Edinburgh                                0131 529 6000

                                                  www.capitaltheatres.com

 

25 – 29 June                             Theatre Royal, Glasgow                                   0844 871 7647

                                                  www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-glasgow

 

Tickets for All About Eve go on sale Friday 28th September at 10am

@AllAboutEvePlay | AllAboutEvePlay.com
Sonia Friedman Productions and Fox Stage Productions present 
ALL ABOUT EVE 
by Joseph L Mankiewicz
Adapted and directed for the stage by Ivo van Hove

  • Tickets go on general sale on Friday 28th September at 10am
  • Gillian Anderson and Lily James to star in strictly limited run of All About Eve at the Noël Coward Theatre alongside Monica Dolan, Sheila Reid and Rhashan Stone with Julian Ovenden recently confirmed to join the cast. Further casting to be announced.
  • The iconic multi-Oscar winning film has been adapted for stage and will be directed by Olivier and Tony Award-winner Ivo van Hove.
  • All About Eve will run for 14 weeks with reduced priced previews beginning on 2nd February 2019.
  • Over 20,000 tickets will be available at £25 or under during the run.

Sonia Friedman Productions and Fox Stage Productions present the world premiere of Ivo van Hove’s highly anticipated stage production of the 1950 Twentieth Century Fox film All About Eve.

The much acclaimed film, based on Mary Orr’s original play “The Wisdom of Eve”, remains the only film to receive four female acting nominations.  The Emmy Award-winning Gillian Anderson (X-Files, The Fall, A Streetcar Named Desire) will return to the stage alongside Lily James (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Downton Abbey, Romeo and Juliet). BAFTA Award-winner Monica Dolan will join the cast in the role of Karen, alongside Sheila Reid as Birdie and Rhashan Stone as Lloyd with performances running from 2nd February at the West End’s Noël Coward Theatre. Recently it has been confirmed that Julian Ovenden will join the cast to play the part of Bill. Further casting to be announced soon.

Ivo van Hove’s direction will be accompanied by set and lighting design from Jan Versweyveld,costume design by An D’Huys and music from double Mercury Prize-winner PJ Harvey, alongside Tom Gibbons’ sound design. Casting is by Julia Horan CDG.

Tickets will go on sale from 10am on 28th September 2018.

“Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.”

Margo Channing. Legend. True star of the theatre. The spotlight is hers, always has been. But now there’s Eve. Her biggest fan. Young, beautiful Eve. The golden girl, the girl next door. But you know all about Eve…don’t you…?

 Ivo van Hove directs Gillian Anderson and Lily James in his new adaptation of All About Eve, a razor-sharp, unsettling exposé of the eternal obsession at the heart of show-business. Lifting the curtain on a world of jealousy and ambition, this new production, from one of the world’s most innovative theatre directors, asks why our fascination with celebrity, youth and identity never seems to get old.

GILLIAN ANDERSON (Margo) is an award-winning film, television and theatre actress who won an Emmy, a Golden Globe and two Screen Actors’ Guild awards for her role as ‘Special Agent Dana Scully’ in the TV series The X-Files.

Her further television credits include critically acclaimed Bleak House (BBC), BAFTA-winning mini-series Great Expectations (BBC), BAFTA-nominated thriller The Fall (BBC), Hannibal (NBC)American Gods (Starz) and the acclaimed mini-series War & Peace (BBC). In 2019 she will play Jean in Netflix’s 8-parter, Sex Education (Netflix).

On stage, Gillian performed at the Young Vic Theatre as Blanche Dubois in Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, which relocated to St Ann’s Warehouse in New York and for which she was nominated for an Olivier Award and won Best Actress at the Evening Standard Awards.

Other UK theatre credits include What The Night Is For (Pinter Theatre); The Sweetest Swing In Baseball (Royal Court Theatre) and A Doll’s House (Donmar Warehouse) in 2009 for which she earned her first Olivier nomination.

Gillian’s film credits include The House of Mirth (Granada Productions); The Mighty Celt (BBC Films); The Last King of Scotland (Film 4); Johnny English Reborn (Universal); Shadow Dancer(Paramount); Sold (2016); Viceroy’s House (20th Century Fox) and Crooked House (Sony). Gillian’s latest films have been The Spy Who Dumped Me (Lionsgate) and The Sunlit Night which will be released in 2019.

LILY JAMES (Eve) graduated from Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2010. Her breakout film role was the iconic ‘Cinderella’ in Disney’s award-winning worldwide hit adaptation directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Lily was most recently seen in Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! (Universal) alongside Meryl Streep, playing ‘Young Donna’. She also appeared in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Studio Canal). Lily’s further film credits include ‘Elizabeth Nel’ in Darkest Hour (Working Title) opposite Gary Oldman, and ‘Debora’ in Baby Driver (Working Title) alongside Jamie Foxx and Jon Hamm.

Lily’s most notable TV credits include ‘Lady Rose’ in Golden Globe and BAFTA winning period drama Downton Abbey (ITV), and ‘Natasha Rostova’ in the much-heralded War & Peace (BBC).

For stage, Lily played ‘Juliet’ in Kenneth Branagh’s acclaimed Romeo and Juliet (Garrick Theatre). Further theatre credits include Vernon God Little (Young Vic Theatre) directed by Rufus Norris, and ‘Desdemona’ in Daniel Evans’ stage production of Othello (The Crucible, Sheffield).

MONICA DOLAN (Karen) is a BAFTA award-winning actress whose work spans stage, television and film. Highlights include Rosemary West in Appropriate Adult (ITV) for which she won a BAFTA, Janet in Witness for the Prosecution (Mammoth Screen), and Tracey Pritchard in W1A (BBC).

Most recently Monica has been seen as Peggy O’Dowd in Vanity Fair (ITV), and Marion in A Very English Scandal (BBC) opposite Hugh Grant.

Further TV credits include Inside No. 9 (BBC), The Casual Vacancy (BBC/HBO), Wolf Hall (BBC), and Call the Midwife (BBC).

For stage, Monica appeared in self-penned B*EASTS (Bush Theatre), Plaques & Tangles, The Twits, Birth of a Nation (Royal Court), King Lear, Seagull (Royal Shakespeare Company), Macbeth (Out of Joint), She Stoops to Conquer, A Laughing Matter (Royal National Theatre/Out of Joint) and The Walls (Royal National Theatre).

JULIAN OVENDEN (Bill) is widely recognised for his role as Charles Blake in season five of Downton Abbey (ITV). Further television work includes The Crown (Netflix); Knightfall (A+E Studios); Major Crimes (Warner Bros. Television); Death in Paradise (BBC) and Person of Interest (CBS/Warner Bros).  His extensive theatre credits include The Treatment (Almeida Theatre); My Night With Reg (Apollo Theatre/Donmar Warehouse); Showboat (New York Philharmonic); Finding Neverland (Leicester Theatre) and Marguerite (Theatre Royal Haymarket).

SHEILA REID (Birdie) spent 7 years in Laurence Olivier’s first permanent company at the Old Vic Theatre, playing, amongst many parts, Bianca in his Othello and Natasha in The Three Sisters – both subsequently filmed. She is a founder member of the Actors Company and spent two seasons with the RSC; notably as the nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Putana in Tis Pity She’s a Whore and Queen Margaret in Richard III.

Theatre credits also include an Olivier Award-nomination for When I Was A Girl I Used To Scream And Shout (Whitehall Theatre), My Mother Said I Never Should (Royal Court), The Importance Of Being Ernest (Haymarket), Pornography (Tricycle), Into The Woods (Donmar), Filomena (Almeida) and more recently Rasheeda Speaking (Trafalgar Studios), Silver Linings (English Touring Theatre), Pericles (Shakespeare’s Globe) and Maurice’s Jubilee (Edinburgh Festival / UK tour). She is currently in rehearsals for Troilus & Cressida at The RSC.

Ingmar Bergman cast her in his film The Touch, having directed her in Hedda Gabler at the National Theatre. Other films include BrazilThe Winter GuestFive Days One Summer and, most recently, the short multi award winning O Be Joyful.

She is probably best known on TV as Madge, in the comedy series Benidorm. Other television includes Call The Midwife Christmas special 2014, three series of Doctor WhoFather BrownHumans III, Psychobitches . She was most recently scene in Murder on The Blackpool Express, and has just wrapped on its sequel, Death On Tyne.

RHASHAN STONE (Lloyd) has appeared on stage in The Strange Death of John Doe and The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism & Socialism (Hampstead Theatre); Our Town (Almeida Theatre); Love and Information and Clubland (Royal Court Theatre); Southwark Fair, The Red Balloon, Sweeney Todd (all National Theatre). He has regularly performed for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

On screen he will appear in the second series of Killing Eve (BBC America) and the third series of Delicious (Sky) with further recent credits including Apple Tree Yard (BBC), Carters Get Rich (Sky 1), The A Word (BBC) and Ballot Monkeys (Channel 4).

IVO VAN HOVE has been director of Toneelgroep Amsterdam since 2001. From 1998 to 2004, he was Artistic Director the Holland Festival, presenting a varied selection of international theatre, music, opera and dance.

Ivo’s theatre credits include the upcoming theatrical adaptation of Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life (International Theatre, Amsterdam); Network (The Cort Theatre, Broadway); starring Bryan Cranston; Network and Hedda Gabler (National Theatre); A View from the Bridge (Young Vic/Wyndham Theatre/Lyceum Theatre, Broadway); The Crucible (Walter Kerr Theatre, Broadway);Lazarus (King’s Cross Theatre/New York Theatre Workshop, Broadway); and Visconti’s The Damned (La Comédie-Française, Paris/The Park Avenue Armory, New York).

Ivo has been awarded two Olivier Awards and two Tony Awards for A View from the Bridge; two Obie Awards for More Stately Mansions and Hedda Gabler. In addition, Ivo is also Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France and King Filip of Belgium awarded him Commander of the Order of the Crown.

Additional directing credits include Angels in America, Roman Tragedies, Kings of War, Opening Night, Taming of the Shrew, Scenes from a Marriage, Othello, The Miser, Mourning Becomes Electra, Long Day’s Journey into Night and The Fountainhead (all Toneelgroep Amsterdam).

JAN VERSWEYVELD is a set and lighting designer and one of the founders of Flemish theatre groups Akt/Vertikaal and Toneelproducties De Tijd. He has been Head of Scenography at Toneelgroep Amsterdam since 2001, has been a guest lecturer at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy and is one of the co-founders of the scenography training programme in Antwerp.

Theatre includes: Angels in AmericaCries and Whispers, Rocco and His Brothers, Antonioni Project,La voix humaine, TeoremaSummer Trilogy, Children of the Sun, And We’ll Never Be Parted, The MiserThe Russians!Husbands, Macbeth, Long Day’s Journey into NightDanton’s Death, The Fountainhead and Mary Stuart (all Toneelgroep Amsterdam; Network (The Cort Theatre, Broadway); NetworkHedda Gabler (National Theatre); A View from the Bridge (Young Vic/Wyndham Theatre/Lyceum Theatre, Broadway); Lazarus (King’s Cross Theatre/New York Theatre Workshop, Broadway);  Obsession, Antigone (Barbican).

Opera includes: Lulu, the complete Ring des Nibelungen (Flemish Opera); I due Foscari (Munt Opera); Fidelio (L’Opéra Palais Garnier); De zaak Makropulos, La clemenza di TitoIolanta (Netherlands Opera).

Versweyveld has been awarded the Bessie Award for Drumming Live, the OBIE Award for Hedda Gabler, and, in 2008, the Prosceniumprijs together with Ivo van Hove. In 2015 he received the Amsterdam Award for the Arts for Proven Quality (with Ivo van Hove) and in 2016 the Knight of Illumination Award for Song from Far Away.

AN D’HUYS studied fashion at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and worked as a designer for fashion house Ann Demeulemeester for over 11 years.

An’s extensive list of theatre credits include Cosi fan tutteBoris Godonuv (Paris Opera); Network, Hedda Gabler (National Theatre); Obsession (London, Paris, Luxembourg) Lazarus (King’s Cross Theatre/New York Theatre Workshop); The Damned (Comédie-Française, Paris); A Little Life, Husbands and Wives, The Things that Pass, Othello, Opening Night, Medea, The Fountainhead, Antigone and Kings of War (Toneelgroep Amsterdam); A View from the Bridge (Young Vic/Wyndham Theatre/Lyceum Theatre, Broadway); The Three Sisters, Poquelin, Summerfolk andThe Cherry Orchard (TG STAN, Antwerp); The Misanthrope (Schaubühne, Berlin), Die Walküre, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung (Flanders Opera, Belgium) and Quartet, Bitches Brew andCassandra (Rosas, Brussels)

PJ HARVEY has released nine critically acclaimed albums, been nominated for six Grammy Awards, and is the only artist to have received the UK’s prestigious Mercury Music Prize twice. From the outset of her career she has commanded global attention as an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, song-writer and composer.

Harvey’s most recent album, The Hope Six Demolition Project, reached #1 in the UK Album Charts upon its release in April 2016. Her theatre collaborations include original scores for Hedda GablerHamlet, the 2014 production of ElectraThe Nest, and 2017’s The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?, all with director Ian Rickson. PJ Harvey has also contributed original music to soundtracks including Mark Cousins’ What’s This Film Called Love?, Tim Robbins’ The Cradle Will Rock, Julian Schnabel’s Basquiat and season 2 of the hit television series Peaky Blinders. Harvey’s first collection of poetry titled The Hollow of the Hand, in collaboration with photographer Seamus Murphy, was published by Bloomsbury UK in 2015.

TOM GIBBONS trained at Central School of Speech and Drama. Recent theatre includes: The Wild Duck (Almeida Theatre); The Woods (Royal Court); Home, I’m Darling (National Theatre/Theatr Clwyd); Oedipus (Toneelgroep Amsterdam); Hamlet (nominated for Best Sound Design, Olivier Award 2018) (Almeida Theatre/West End); Fanny and AlexanderThe Lorax (Old Vic) Hedda Gabler, Sunset At The Villa Thalia, The Red Barn, People, Places and Things (Winner for Best Sound Design, Olivier Awards 2016) (National Theatre/West End); A View From the Bridge (nominated for Best Sound Design, Olivier Award 2015) (Young Vic/West End), Life of Galileo, Happy Days, A Season in the Congo, Disco Pigs (Young Vic); Les Miserables (Wermland Opera, Sweden); The Crucible (Walter Kerr Theater Broadway); Oresteia (Almeida Theatre/Trafalgar Studios); Anna Karenina (Manchester Royal Exchange); The Moderate Soprano, Elephants (Hampstead Theatre);White Devil, As You Like It (RSC); Translations, Plenty (Sheffield Crucible); Mr Burns, 1984(Almeida Theatre/West End/Broadway); The Absence of War, Romeo & Juliet (Headlong); Lion Boy(Complicite); Henry IV, Julius Caesar (Donmar, St Ann’s Brooklyn); Grounded (Gate Theatre); The Spire (Salisbury Playhouse); London, The Angry Brigade, Wasted (Paines Plough); Roundabout Season (Shoreditch Town Hall, Paines Plough); The Rover (Hampton Court Palace); Love Love Love(Royal Court); Dead Heavy Fantastic (Liverpool Everyman).

The Time Travellers’ Ball – A New Immersive Theatrical Experience Opens at The Buzz – London’s Newest Venue

The Time Travellers’ Ball

A new immersive theatrical experience

opens at

THE BUZZ

London’s Newest Venue

THREE DECADES • TWO LOVERS • ONE IMMERSIVE ROMANCE

London’s first ever purpose-built immersive theatre venue, The Buzz, is delighted to announce its opening production The Time Travellers’ Ball, from Wednesday 28 November.

The Time Travellers’ Ball is an evening of dance, decadence and drama through the decades – a time hopping love story to London, and the must-do night out for the festive season.

Audiences are invited to travel through the decades, starting as a flapper in the roaring 1920s, onto the fabulous 1950s as a jive queen and further on to the disco of the groovy 1970s, all through the story of young lovers Edward and Norma (assistants to one Charlie Chaplin). This ninety-minute immersive experience invites audiences to be part of the party and learn the dances of the decades as cocktails flow and the love story flourishes. All are encouraged to dress glamorously in a decade of your choice.

Co-producer, Emma Brünjes said: We’re thrilled to welcome you all to The Time Travellers’ Ball, a show we’ve created specifically to open our new venue, The Buzz. Be prepared to laugh, cry and, of course, dance! We can’t wait to see you in your finery, to sup a cocktail or three and – importantly – to escape through time.”

Created and Produced by Limelight Productions and ebp.

The Buzz is based at the vibrant Mercato Metropolitano, which offers an array of artisanal cuisines for you to enjoy before or after the show. Cocktails can also be purchased at The Buzz.

Written and directed by                Richard Lewis

Designed by                                        Tom Paris

Choreography by                             Jacquie Storey

Lighting Design by                            Peter Small

Sound Design by                               Brvnjes

Associate director                            Hannah Ellis

Cast to be announced.

Psychopath Night/The Bristol Hippodrome/October 19

Jon Ronson’s

PSYCHOPATH NIGHT

with very special guests

At The Bristol Hippodrome on Friday, October 19

Following his total sell-out tour of Psychopath Night, Jon Ronson returns with more UK shows in October, heading to The Bristol Hippodrome on Friday, October 19.

Throughout this highly entertaining evening, Jon recounts the adventure of a lifetime – the funny, terrifying and utterly compelling events that led to his bestselling book The Psychopath Test.

Is it true that psychopaths rule the world? Or have we gone labelling-crazy?

Psychopath Night includes very special guests Mary Turner Thomson and Eleanor Longden. Neither Mary nor Eleanor appear in Jon’s book, but it wouldn’t exist without them.

We’re being oblique because we don’t want to spoil the extraordinary twists and turns in their stories. If you don’t know who they are, don’t Google them. The less you know the better.

Jon Ronson is an award-winning writer and journalist. He is the author of many bestselling books, including The Men Who Stare at Goats, So You’ve Been Publicly ShamedLost at SeaThe Psychopath Test, and Them: Adventures with Extremists. His screenplays include Frank (starring Michael Fassbender) and the recent Okja (directed by Bong Joon-Ho). He lives in London and New York City.

Madagascar The Musical Review

Churchill Theatre, Bromley – until Saturday 29 September 2018

Reviewed by Elizabeth Smith

4****

Madagascar the musical is the tale of captive zoo animals who like this life, being looked after by the humans, not having to worry where their next meal is coming from or who will take care of them when they are sick and the adoration of the visiting humans. However not all the animals are content. Marty the Zebra dreams of live in the wild, running free and having adventures. So also do a gang of penguins who want to get home to Antarctica.

One evening Marty’s curiosity gets the better of him and he ventures into the New York city to get a train to the mid west. Hotly pursued by his best friends Alex the lion, king of New York city, Melman the hypochondriac giraffe, Gloria the sassy hippo and the army like regiment of penguins. When they are captured in the city by tranquilliser gun they awake to find themselves on a slow boat to Africa. The penguins have other ideas and cause a mutiny, taking charge of the boat and heading home. Their navigation skills are zero and the party end up in Madagascar.

Here they meet the flamboyant King Julien, who wants the help of the strangers to defeat the meat eating Fusa. However, being away from their usual civilised surroundings it becomes apparent that a hungry lion and a zebra can’t really
be friends. Meanwhile the penguins made it to the Antarctic realised its too cold and set sail for New York. En route they stop at Madagascar, before anyone gets eaten and they all return home as friends forever.

Matt Terry gives a powerful performance for the self assured Alex the lion king.
Antoine Murray-Staughan dances his way around the character of Marty. Jamie Lee-Morgan is the convincing hypochondriac giraffe, whose puppetry skills have you watching the giraffes head not the human face. Timmika Ramsay, Gloria the hippo, sings like a gospel diva. Jo Parsons brings the house down with his camp version of King Julien and the the crowd dancing in their seats. All the puppeteers were fantastic and bought the creatures to life.

The set of crates on the wings was a little over powering but the scene changes worked well. The music was a little bland with only “Move It” really standing out as a show stopper.

Over all the young audience laughed, clapped and danced their way through the performance and I wouldn’t hesitate in taking a Madagascar fan to see the animation come to life.

My Mother Said I Never Should Review

Royal Theatre, Windsor – until 29th September

Reviewed by Heather Chalkley

3***

My Mother Said is a rebellious play, giving women of that era and today an opportunity to have a voice as creatives, playwrights, directors and actors. Considered one of the most significant plays of the 20th century the production team had big shoes to fill. The Director Michael Cabot makes a valiant attempt, but is sadly lacking in the maintenance of the story line. Keatley is quoted as saying “Our memories aren’t chronological. The order is dictated by what you need to tell.” This is reflected in the constant to-ing and fro-ing between the decades throughout the piece. It is imperative for the audience that these transitions are well sewn together, but I found myself getting lost, having to retrace quickly to connect the storyline.

Having said that, the calibre of acting was very good. I particularly liked Carole Dance’s Doris, presenting a believable, innocent child one moment and a loving grandmother the next, finally an excited young woman in the bloom of first love. Connie Walker presented Margaret as a strong, stoic child, daughter and mother, portraying the martyrdom that so many women have felt no choice over. Kathryn Ritchie’s Jackie was real and tangible, daring to go against the norms set by her parent’s generation, wanting more than to be the dutiful daughter and mother, striving for success in her chosen field. Finally Rosie. Felicity Houlbrooke gave Rosie a depth of understanding that so many young people have and are not credited for. She allowed Rosie to unfold into the story as the glue that kept her family connected.

In the end the play is a vehicle to show that the many layers of truths and untruths wound around the children, out of perceived love and protection, were perpetuated by social conventions to keep women in their place. This came across, although the fast pace left the storytelling wanting at times.

Let It Be Review

Hull New Theatre until 29th September 2018

Reviewed by Catherine McWilliams

4****

The Beatles provided the soundtrack for my childhood and then later as solo artists for my teens. So every song that was played last night brought back happy memories for me and I suspect for a lot of those in the audience.

Let It be is the concert that I never got the chance to see but is also a concert that in actuality never happened. When entering the theatre there were four large “old fashioned” television screens showing black and white news clips. They then played clips and radio clips from the early 1960s about the Beatles before Let It Be, the musicians, appeared on the stage to recreate the Beatles performance at the Royal Variety Performance. More news reel clips were followed by the performance at the Shea stadium, very cleverly staged with feedback from mikes, screaming fans and musicians clearly unable to hear themselves. The Sergeant Pepper era was then recreated with psychedelic backdrops and for Strawberry Fields Forever the gates of the Strawberry Field children’s home being projected as a backdrop. Finally before the interval we were taken to the roof of the Apple building for what was to be the Beatles final live performance. In the second half we were asked to imagine that the Beatles had got back together to play again on the occasion of John Lennon’s birthday in 1980. This “concert” had performances of the music from solo careers, some rock and roll and some Beatles favourites.

Emanuele Angeletti (Paul McCartney), John Brosnan (George Harrison), Ben Cullingworth (Ringo Starr) and Michael Gagliano (John Lennon) were all superb. Each is clearly a very talented musician and as a band they were very tight and together. Liverpudlian accents were a little wobbly at times but this didn’t matter as the music was the star. Michael Bramwell, the Musical Director provided very skillful musical support helping to create a wonderful sound. They very quickly had the theatre audience on their side and up on their feet and received a well-deserved standing ovation at the end. When the lights came up the majority of the audience remained on their feet applauding and clearly wanting more – a first for me!

This show has a real feel good factor and superb musicianship – you will come out with a huge smile on your face and singing a variety of Beatles songs!

Summer Holiday the Musical Review

Darlington Hippodrome – until Saturday 29 September

4****

Summer Holiday has arrived in Darlington, complete with a big, red, double-decker London bus.

Based on the 1963 film starring Cliff Richard; Summer Holiday tells the tale of four London based bus mechanics, who plan to go on holiday to St Tropez in their bus to show how a bus can work as a holiday and place to stay in one.  The boys – Don (Ray Quinn), Cyril (Rory Maguire), Steve (Billy Roberts) and Edwin (Joe Goldie) – bump into the girls after their car breaks down.  Angie (Laura Marie Benson), Alma (Alice Barker) and Mimsie (Gabby Antrobus) are the girl group “Do- Re-Me”, on their way to Athens.  In the middle of this, singing sensation Barbara (Sophie Matthews) runs away from her domineering mother Stella (Taryn Sudding) and manager Jerry (Wayne Smith).  Stowing away on the bus she claims to be a 14 year old boy called Bobby.

The live band led by Rob Wicks sometimes drowned out the sound of the singers – but with most of the audience singing along anyway no one seemed to mind.  The costumes were fabulous and, as always, Racky Plews choreography was superb. Kudos too to the stage crew manoeuvring the bus which clearly had a mind of its own.

If I had to be picky I would ask why Ray Quinn, who seems to have a natural “cheeky chappy” persona was playing Don in a very stiff “Trevor Howard” type style?  But the accent never slipped so well done for that.

Gloriously cheesy, packed full of hit songs and full of nostalgia this is a fun night out and its worth a visit (revisit) if only for the sight of Ray Quinn dressed only in a pair of small white pants singing Bachelor Boy.

In Darlington until Saturday and on tour around the UK  summerholidaythemusical.co.uk 

 

 

October at the Majestic

September is leaving us and we are slipping into October and the shows keep coming at

The Majestic Theatre Darlington

This weekend, Saturday 29 September,  we have comedian Nish Kumar – we are down to the final few tickets for this so if you don’t buy now you’ll miss this hilarious night out

Ticket prices start from £18

Doors open at 6.30 – show starts at 7.30pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

On Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd October the talented students from Darlington College are performing their Induction show Think Outside the Box

This is a Pay What You Decide performance

Doors open at 6.00 – show starts at 7.00pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

Friday 5 October brings us the play Communicate.  This intimate and gripping account of life and death has been developed in association with Cruse Bereavement Care.

Use the codes CRUSE and SPEAKUP for 50% off ticket prices

Ticket prices start from £5

Doors open at 6.30 – show starts at 7.30pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

On Saturday 6 October International Drag Artist Shayanne O’Shea presents Fabulush Cabaret.  The team of talented entertainers will leave you wanting more of a fabulush time

Ticket prices start from £10

Doors open at 7.30 – show starts at 8.30pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

Star of our opening show Chris Cross presents Magic at the Majestic on Friday 19 October.  A world class variety show featuring magic, comedy, sideshow, song, dance and much much more!  Expect the Unexpected!

Ticket prices start from £8

Doors open at 6.30 – show starts at 7.00pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

On Saturday 20 October in the intimate setting of the bar Driven Serious return to the Majestic.  Come and enjoy music and drinks and the brilliant atmosphere

Ticket prices start from £7.00

Show starts at 7.30pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

Apollo Theatre Company and Spike Milligan Productions present The Goon Show on Thursday 25 October.  This acclaimed 5* production is live on stage at the Majestic

Ticket prices start from £15

Doors open at 6.30 – show starts at 7.30pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

Ahoy there ship mates Double Trouble return to the Majestic with Pirates of the Spooky Lagoon.  A brand new show full of swashbuckling fun for all the family and we have twice the fun with two shows at 2.00pm and 6.00pm on Thursday 1 November.

Tickets prices start from £9

Doors open one hour before each show

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

Award winning cabaret star, and the UK’s most successful juggler, Mat Ricardo had run out of tricks – so he bet everyone in the world he could learn any trick they could think of!  Mat Ricardo Vs The World premieres at the Majestic on Friday 2nd November

Ticket prices start from £10

Doors open at 6.30 – show starts at 7.30pm

* AGE 10+

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

Chris Mallon presents his debut show Damfino on Saturday 3 November.  An evening of mind reading, psychological entertainment and psychic illusions. Tickets are selling quickly for this show

Ticket prices start from £6

Doors open at 6.30 – show starts at 7.30pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

On Friday 9 November we are Made in Motown who aim to recreate the classic sound of Detroit in the 60’s and 70’s

*UNDER 18’s MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT

Ticket prices start from £13

Doors open at 6.30 – show starts at 7.30pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

Covering every aspect of Bon Jovl’s career – Bon Giovi perform all the greatest hits at the Majestic on Saturday 10 November

Ticket Prices start from £14

Doors open at 6.45 – show starts at 7.45pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

Saturday 24 November brings us Hazel O’Connor Breaking Glass.  The film, a Q&A and a live performance.  A very special evening with award-winning singer songwriter Hazel O’Connor, featuring a rare screening of the digitally re-mastered uncut version of the film followed by an intimate Q&A and live performance of some of the films best loved songs.  Tickets are selling out fast!

Ticket prices start from £20

Doors open at 6.30 – show starts at 7.30pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

The Majestic Theatre Company and Darlington College Performing Arts Department present Peter Pan: A Christmas Show from Tuesday 11 to Monday 24 December.  A classic on stage – “I do believe in fairies, I do I do”

Ticket prices start from £3

Doors open at 6.00 – show starts at 7.00pm

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

 

Coming in 2019

Comedian Fran Garriety returns on Friday 18 January

 

Spector Detectors on Saturday 19 January

 

Medium Toby Stockwell on Tuesday 5 March

 

Tribute band Coldplace on Friday 22 March

 

Smash hit play Death and the Maiden on Thursday 13 June

 

Tribute act Tina Turner Experience on Saturday 15 June

 

www.majestictheatre-lee.com/box-office.html

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR WATFORD PALACE THEATRE’S ALL-FEMALE PRODUCTION OF MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR WATFORD PALACE THEATRE’S

ALL-FEMALE PRODUCTION OF MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

 

Watford Palace Theatre Company Presents

Much Ado About Nothing

By William Shakespeare

Director: Brigid Larmour; Composer and Sound Designer: Arun Ghosh;

Designer: Rebecca Brower; Lighting Designer: Aideen Malone; Movement Director: Sita Thomas

4 – 27 October

Artistic Director of Watford Palace Theatre, Brigid Larmour, today announces full casting for Watford Palace Theatre’s all-female production of Much Ado About Nothing. Larmour directs Joanna Brookes (Dogberry/ Antonio), Elly Condron (Don Pedro), Rebekah Hinds (Borachio/ Margaret), Emma Lane (Conrade/ Ursula/ Friar), Juliet Leighton-Jones (Musician), Nyla Levy (Hero/ Sexton), Pepter Lunkuse (Claudio), Anna O’Grady (Benedick), Emily Tucker (Beatrice), Tripti Tripuraneni (Don John/ Verges) and Julia Watson (Leonato).

 

Shakespeare’s sparkling comedy of misunderstandings, given a 1940s twist! Beatrice and Benedick love to hate each other, but their friends suspect them of deeper feelings… War hero Claudio is madly in love with Beatrice’s pretty young cousin, but how well does he really know her?

Set at the height of the Battle of Britain, our affectionate homage to the servicewomen of World War Two is a playful salute to the all-male productions of Shakespeare’s own time. Join us and step back in time to a Palace transported to the 1940s, complete with sandbags, Gin and It, and a Home Guard recruitment stall…

Joanna Brookes plays Dogberry/ Antonio. She returns to Watford Palace Theatre having performed in TheDaughter in Law. Other theatre credits include Monster Raving Loony (Theatre Royal Plymouth/ Soho Theatre), The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (West Yorkshire Playhouse/Birmingham Rep), The Importance of Being Earnest(Nottingham Playhouse), The Physicists (Donmar Warehouse), The RivalsSpring and Port Wine and TheAdmirable Crichton (New Vic Stoke), The Biggleswades (Southwark Playhouse), The Waltz of The Toreadors(Chichester Festival Theatre) and Romeo and Juliet (Exeter Northcott). Television credits include The Windsors: Royal Wedding Special, Man Down, We The Jury, Uncle, The Tunnel, Mr Selfridge, Law and Order UKBoomers, Siblings, Taking The Flak, Phoneshop, Dancing on the EdgeMrs Biggs, Bad Girls, Fifteen Storeys High, Jonathan Creek, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Sir Gadabout, Titmuss Regained and Survival of The Fittest; and for film, Their Finest, Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool, Criminal, Pauline, Kid GlovesIn the Loop, Dreams of a Life, The Infidel, Little Dorrit, Under Suspicion and The Fool.

Elly Condron plays Don Pedro. Her theatre credits include Tempest (RSC, Barbican), Jane Eyre (National Theatre, Bristol Old Vic), Some Girls (Park Theatre), Spokesong (Finborough Theatre), Titus Andronicus (Greenwich Theatre), Macbeth (R-ft Theatre, site-specific). Television credits include The Six Wives with Lucy Worsley, and for film, WaspHelping Hand and IT.

Rebekah Hinds plays Borachio/ Margaret. Her theatre credits include Grotty (The Bunker), Humble Boy (Orange Tree), Anita and Me (UK tour), The Government Inspector (Birmingham Rep/Ramps on the Moon UK tour – Olivier Award Nominated), Billy Liar (Royal Exchange), Around the World (Sadler’s Wells & Mint Theater, New York), The Little Prince – Concert (Savoy Theatre) and Sondheim Prom (Royal Albert Hall). For television her credits include TrolliedInside no. 9The Syndicate and Shameless; and for film, The Public Benefits and Woman of the Night.

Emma Lane plays Conrade/ Ursula/ Friar. His theatre credits include PricelessI am the CentreFaustus(Matchstick Theatre), Dark Sides (Rusi), Just Do Right, The Woyzeck Theory (Atramental Theatre). Television credits Uncle Dad; and for film Waiting and Gathering Storm.

Juliet Leighton-Jones (Musician). She returns to Watford Palace Theatre having performed in I Capture the Castle. Other theatre credits include Wind in the Willows (West Yorkshire Playhouse), eight seasons with The New Shakespeare Company (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Sweeney Todd (National Theatre), Kean (Old Vic), The Music Man (Chichester Festival Theatre), Flowers for Mrs Harris (Sheffield Crucible), Arabian Nights (Derby Playhouse) and six seasons with The International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival.

Nyla Levy plays Hero/ Sexton. Her theatre credits include Different is Dangerous (Two’s Company/Theatre 503), Street/Life (Cardboard Citizens), Like Mother, Like Daughter (Battersea Arts Centre), 100 Stories (Hackney Empire), Punjabi Girl (Rich Mix), The Rebel & The Runaway (G.L.Y.P.T), That Isis Play Innit! (The Space), Keywords(Lyric Hammersmith), Does My Bomb Look Big In This? (Battersea Arts Centre), Prevent Tours (Pint Sized Theatre), The Diary of a Hounslow Girl (UK tour), Magna Carter (National Theatre Studio) and Child of the Divide (UK tour); and for television, Guiding Lights.

 

Pepter Lunkuse plays Claudio. Her theatre credits include Holes (Nottingham Playhouse), Nell Gwynn (Globe/ETT), King Lear (Royal Exchange Theatre/Birmingham Rep/Talawa and broadcast), The Crucible (Royal Exchange Theatre), The Vertical Hour (Park Theatre), Liberian Girl (Royal Court at London 2014 Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict)Antony and Cleopatra (Chichester Festival Theatre). For television credits include Father Brown and King Lear; and for film, Sink.

Anna O’Grady plays Benedick. She returns to Watford Palace Theatre after performing in Time of My Life, Family Business and Our Father. Other theatre credits include Sherlock Holmes: The Final Curtain (Theatre Royal Bath & UK tour), The Events (Mercury Theatre Colchester), Sket (PMJ/Park Theatre), My World Has Exploded a Little Bit (Underbelly), Children of the Sun (National Theatre). For television her credits include Flowers; and for film, My Mum Is My Hero, Black Pond, Mars 1001 and Complicit.

 

Tripti Tripuraneni (Don John/ Verges). Her theatre credits include My Homemade Kite (Tristan Bates theatre), The Jungle Book (UK tour), Romeo and Juliet (National Theatre), Macbeth (National Theatre) and Paradise of the Assassins (Tara Arts).

Emily Tucker (Beatrice)For theatre her credits include Fortune’s Fool (Old Vic Theatre), A Warsaw Melody (Arcola Theatre), Suddenly Last Summer, Lady of the Lake, Fallen Angels (Theatre by the Lake), Shiver- The Tempest (National Theatre Studio), Twelfth NightHenry V, King Lear, King Arthur (Guildford Shakespeare Company), The Man Who Pays the PiperThe Stepmother (Orange Tree Theatre), After the Ball (The Gatehouse), The Importance of Being Earnest (Courtyard Theatre). For television his credits include Not Safe For Work; and for film, HeretiksThe Seasoning HouseLady Macbeth, Missed Conceptions and Hush.

Julia Watson plays Leonato. She returns to Watford Palace Theatre having previously performed in The Deep Blue Sea. Other theatre credits include The Seagull and My Family and Other Animals (York Theatre Royal) Amy’s View (Nottingham Playhouse), Handbagged (Theatre by the Lake, Keswick), She Stoops to Conquer, Major Barbara and Wild Honey (National Theatre), Tosca’s Kiss, Love’s Comedy, The Stepmother and The Man Who Pays the Piper (Orange Tree Theatre). Her Television credits include series regular in CasualtyNever the TwainWelcome to Orty-fou, The Yellow Wallpaper and Across the Lake, Not Going Out and Touch of Frost; and for film, Baar Baar Dekho.

Brigid Lamour is Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Watford Palace Theatre. Productions directed for Watford Palace include I Capture the Castle, Arms and the ManComing UpJefferson’s Garden (Writers’ Guild of Great Britain Best New Play 2015), Love Me Do (co-directed with Shona Morris) and Von Ribbentrop’s WatchFourteenPerfect Match (part of WPT’s 2013 ‘Ideal World’ season), We That Are LeftMrs Reynolds and theRuffianEqually DividedOur Father and My Mother Said I Never Should; and five pantomimes Aladdin, Dick Whittington, Sleeping Beauty (co-directed with Shona Morris), Robin Hood, and Mother Goose. From 1998 to 2006 she was Artistic Director of West End company Act Productions, and adviser to BBC4 Plays. From 1993 to 1998 she directed a series of interactive promenade Shakespeares, Shakespeare Unplugged, for RNT Education. Lamour directed the premiere production of My Mother Said I Never Should at Contact Theatre, Manchester in 1987. She was Artistic Director at Contact from 1989 to 1994, commissioning plays including Excess/XS and Strange Attractors.

Watford Palace Theatre

Listings

20 Clarendon Rd, Watford WD17 1JZ

https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk

Box Office: 01923 225671