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AT CHURCHILL THEATRE BROMLEY

Sunday 23 September 2018, 7:30pm

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra returns to Churchill Theatre this September for a lovingly-curated program of symphonic gems, titled ‘Colourful Classics’. Audiences can expect to see (and hear!) the full instrumentation of the orchestra perform Grieg’s energetic Holberg Suite and Rimsky-Korsakov’s enchanting May Night Overture. The concert closes with Sibelius’ magnificent Symphony No.5, featuring the elegant, swaying swan motif.

When asked, “why should people come and see the RPO perform in Churchill Theatre?” Elle Docx, Audience Development Manager for the orchestra said “to hear the full-force of a symphony orchestra, like the RPO, is an electrifying experience. From that first note, audiences will experience a real energy behind the music. We’re especially excited to welcome to the stage our guest artist, the esteemed cellist Michael Petrov.” Michael won the Guildhall School of Music gold medal in 2014; first prize in the Trondheim Competition in 2015 and the Wigmore prize in 2017. Nominated by the Barbican as ECHO Rising Star in 2015, Michael has performed all over the world including the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Cité de la Musique Paris, Musikverein Vienna, Budapest Palace of Arts, Kölner Philharmonie, Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Carnegie’s Weill Hall and throughout China.” Michael will take centre stage in the September concert for Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations, full of charm and grandeur.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is the nation’s busiest orchestra. Last year alone they performed 143 concerts across the UK, attended by a staggering 304,226 music lovers. Their concerts ranged from exquisite renditions of Russian Masters; the world premiere of Sony PlayStation in concert featuring soloists from across the globe. The orchestra also participated in 102 audio recording sessions in the last year, including most recently on an album featuring music with The Beach Boys.

Experience the power and beauty of a world-class symphony orchestra for yourself on Sunday 23rd September, 7.30pm at Churchill Theatre, Bromley. Tickets available online at churchilltheatre.co.uk and through the ticket office on 020 3285 6000.

Declaration
UK Tour: October – November 2018

After winning the ADHD Foundation Partnership Award in 2017, Art with Heart return with a brand new tour of Declaration, a comic and candid look at Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. Developed in consultation with medical professionals and mental health support groups, Declaration challenges the stereotypes of mental health and gender in the 21st century.

Instinctive, curious, bold and bouncy, Sarah is a mighty proud square peg – which wouldn’t be such a problem if the hole wasn’t so damn round. Her childhood doctor thought it was sugar. Her current doctor thinks its ADHD. Sarah still feels different, so what will a label do? Declaration is a vibrant and daring adventure of school day survival tactics, super-hero alter-egos and the stumbling blocks to self-acceptance.

Filled with great tunes, dancing and humour, Declaration is an upbeat autobiographical piece about the challenges Sarah Emmott faced as she sought diagnosis in her 30s. ADHD Action reports that about 1.5 million adults in the UK have the condition but only 120,000 have been formally diagnosed. A complex, frustrating and isolating process, Sarah discovered that you often need to be living in the extremities of the condition to receive support.

With boys nearly 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls, many girls go undiagnosed. Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) reported ‘the lack of appropriate identification and treatment of ADHD in women is a significant public health concern’. Declaration addresses social attitudes and gendered stereotypes, placing ADHD in women on the public agenda.

Director Rachel Moorhouse comments, They say that variety is the spice of life, until they can’t decipher what flavour you are. Then you’re a problem to be solved. Declaration is a celebration of difference, and asks how much society might grow if it made space for diversity and difference. Declaration challenges those who underestimate us square pegs and shares the joy of finding your tribe.

Declaration possesses the power to comfort, evoke joy and help people through a colourful,vibrant and inviting experience. The work of Art with Heart Theatre is a must see, the positive change they are making is incredible. (★★★★★ The Reviews Hub)

Declaration tours with SPACE, a mobile well-being room for audiences to take time to consider their personal well-being. Developed with The Lowry with the 2018 tour produced in association with the ADHD Foundation, a patient-led charity which are the leading provider of training on ADHD in the UK. Funded by Arts Council England and Sir Andrew Martin Trust. Supported by Greater Manchester Combined Authority Culture and Social Impact Fund and Unity Theatre Trust. This project has been made possible by a grant from Postcode Community Trust, a grant giving charity funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery

Performance Dates

12th – 13th October Stratford Circus Arts Centre
Theatre Square, Stratford, London, E15 1BX

16th October Midlands Arts Centre
Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH

18th October Princess Theatre and Arts Centre
Princess Street, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, TA8 1EH

24th October The Met
Market Street, Bury, BL9 0BW

25th October York Theatre Royal
St Leonard’s Place, York, YO1 7HD

27th October The Pound
Pound Pill, Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 9HX

30th October Castle Theatre
Castle Way, Wellingborough, NN8 1XA

2nd November Attenborough Arts Centre
University of Leicester, Lancaster Road, Leicester, LE1 7HA

7th November The Fisher Theatre
10 Broad Street, Bungay, NR35 1EE

9th November Pegasus Theatre
Magdalen Road, Oxford, OX4 1RE

15th November Sheffield Theatres Studio
55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA

17th November Derby Theatre
15 Theatre Walk, St Peter’s Quarter, Derby, DE1 2NF

22nd November Arena Theatre
Wulfruna Street, Wolverhamptom, WV1 1LY

UK PREMIERE ANNOUNCED FOR THE
HIT BROADWAY MUSICAL

Book by Jessie Nelson
Music and lyrics by six-time Grammy Award-nominee Sara Bareilles
Based upon the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelley
Directed by Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus

• Opening at London’s Adelphi Theatre spring 2019
• Waitress serves up the first all-female creative team on a West End musical
• Tickets will go on sale this autumn please visit waitressthemusical.co.uk for more information

It is announced today that the Tony Award-nominated smash hit musical Waitress will have its official UK premiere in the West End next spring. Currently playing its third year on Broadway, the show will bring with it an all-female creative team – a West End musical first – when it begins performances at the Adelphi Theatre in February 2019. The London cast, along with full booking information, will be announced in due course.

Waitress opened on 24 April 2016 at Broadway’s Brooks Atkinson Theater. Based on the 2007 motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly, Waitress is the first Broadway musical in history to have four women in the four top creative team spots, with a book by Jessie Nelson, a score by six-time Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles, choreography by Lorin Latarro and direction by Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus. The production is currently touring the US and has also recently announced it will have its Australian premiere in 2020 at the Sydney Lyric Theatre.

Waitress tells the story of Jenna, an expert pie maker in a small town, who dreams of a way out of her loveless marriage. A baking contest in a nearby county and the town’s new doctor may offer her a chance at a new life, while her fellow waitresses offer their own recipes to happiness. But Jenna must find the courage and strength within herself to rebuild her life. This American musical celebrates friendship, motherhood, and the magic of a well-made pie.

Sara Bareilles said: “I cannot contain my excitement that we will be bringing Waitress to the West End!! This is a dream come true! And I must say, to be hosted in a theatre co-owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber and the Nederlander Group makes this very sweet moment even sweeter. We are so proud of this beautiful show, and can’t wait to share the story of Jenna with a whole new audience and welcome them into the world of Waitress with open arms and plenty of pie.”

Diane Paulus said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Waitress is coming to the beautiful Adelphi Theatre! It is a dream come true to share this musical with London audiences.”

Andrew Lloyd Webber, who co-owns the Adelphi Theatre with the Nederlander Group, said: “I am a massive fan of Sara Bareilles both as a writer and a performer.  I’m thrilled that she has earned an Emmy nomination for her performance as Mary Magdalene in NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Liveearlier this year and absolutely delighted that Waitress is to be seen in the West End.”

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.

Waitress is produced by Barry and Fran Weissler and Norton and Elayne Herrick.

LGBT+ short plays take to the stage at The Lowry

Mon 17 & Tue 18 September 2018

After a sell-out run in 2017, OutStageUs returns to Greater Manchester next month with six new short plays that showcase the region’s unique LGBT+ community.

Produced by Hope Theatre Company, OutStageUs will take place at The Lowry on Mon 18 – Tues 19 September.

This year will feature the latest instalment of Jock Night– Adam Zane’s sexy theatrical soap opera set on the night of Eagle Bar’s legendary club night. It will also premiere short plays by Joel & Anthony Sadler-Puckering, Daniel Waterhouse and Xenia Lily.

Rob Ward will showcase his comedic short, There’s Something I To Say,following critical success at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with Gypsy Queen. An excerpt from Connor Hunt’s play Kings of Idle Land will explore young love set against a backdrop of the 2001 Oldham Race Riots.

Mike Lee, producer of OutStageUs for Hope Theatre Company said: “Greater Manchester is teeming with talented LGBT+ writers and performers; we really want to take this opportunity to showcase how diverse and exciting our community’s stories are.

“We were thrilled with the number of submissions we received and although we can’t present them all, we think we’ve shown the full breadth of the LGBT+ community” he added.

OutStageUs will be Hope Theatre Company’s first production at The Lowry in almost six years.

Commenting on the production Adam Zane, Artistic Director of Hope Theatre Company said: “This is going to be a celebration of Greater Manchester’s rich LGBT+ community; we’ve found six brilliant short plays which highlight the talent we have across the region.

“So many voices are all too often forgotten and we want to allow those voices to be heard and the stories to be told. We’re thrilled we can do this at The Lowry” he concluded.

Listings Information 
OutStageUs
Date: Mon 17 & Tue 18 September
Times: 8pm
Tickets: £12 (£10 Concs)
Website

TROUPE ANNOUNCES FULL CAST FOR THE WORLD PREMIÈRE OF JOY WILKINSON’S THE SWEET SCIENCE OF BRUISING

AT SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE

Troupe presents

The World Première of

THE SWEET SCIENCE OF BRUISING

By Joy Wilkinson

Directed by Kirsty Patrick Ward; Fight and Movement Direction by Alison de Burgh

Designed by Anna Reid; Lighting Design by Tim Deiling

Sound Design and Original Composition by Max Perryment

Southwark Playhouse

3 – 27 October 2018

Troupe today announces the full cast for the World Première of Joy Wilkinson’s The Sweet Science of Bruising.Kirsty Patrick Ward directs Bruce Alexander (Professor Charlie Sharp), James Baxter (Paul Stokes), Sophie Bleasdale (Violet Hunter), Joe Coen (Gabriel Lamb), Ashley Cook (Doctor James Bell), Caroline Harker (Aunt George), Kemi-Bo Jacobs (Anna Lamb), Alice Kerrigan (Emily), Jessica Regan (Matilda ‘Matty’ Blackwell) and Fiona Skinner (Polly Stokes). The production opens at Southwark Playhouse on 5 October, with previews from 3 October, and runs until 27 October.

”When that bell rings, your life is entirely in your hands.”

London, 1869. Four very different Victorian women are drawn into the dark underground world of female boxing by the eccentric Professor Sharp. Controlled by men and constrained by corsets, each finds an unexpected freedom in the boxing ring. As their lives begin to intertwine their journey takes us through grand drawing rooms, bustling theatres and rowdy Southwark pubs where the women fight inequality as well as each other. But with the final showdown approaching only one can become the Lady Boxing Champion of the World…

Based on historical research into 19^th century women’s boxing, The Sweet Science of Bruising is a fascinating new play by Joy Wilkinson (Verity Bargate Award winner). Featuring an ensemble cast and thrilling up-close boxing matches, this is an epic tale of passion, politics and pugilism.

Joy Wilkinson is an award-winning writer working across theatre, film, television and radio. Her stage plays have been widely produced in the UK and internationally, and she has won prizes including Soho Theatre’s Verity Bargate Award and the International Student Playscript Competition. Her plays include Fair (Finborough Theatre/Trafalgar Studios/UK tour), Now is the Time (part of the Tricycle Theatre’s Olivier Award-nominated ‘Afghanistan’ season which toured the USA and was revived in 2017 by Teatro Elfo Puccini, Milan), Acting Leader (‘Women Power and Politics’ season, Tricycle Theatre) and Britain’s Best Recruiting Sergeant (Unicorn Theatre). She has been awarded two attachments at the National Theatre Studio and is published by Oberon Books and Nick Hern Books. For television, Wilkinson was a graduate of the first BBC Drama Writers Academy, and her screen credits include Casualty, Holby City, Doctors and Land Girls. She will also be a writer on the upcoming series of Doctor Who. In addition she wrote Nick Nickleby, a critically-acclaimed five-part modernisation of Nicholas Nickleby for BBC1. Wilkinson’s extensive work for BBC Radio 4 includes a five-part spin-off from the hit Danish drama Borgen as well as numerous adaptations and original plays.

Bruce Alexander plays Professor Charlie Sharp. His theatre credits include Wild Honey, Life After Scandal (Hampstead Theatre), A View from Islington North (Arts Theatre), Accolade (St. James Theatre), A View from the Bridge (Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse Theatres), Ciphers (Bush Theatre), The White House Murder Case, The Company Man, The Beggar’s Opera (Orange Tree Theatre), Plenty (Sheffield Theatres), Waste, The Tempest (Almeida Theatre), The Reporter, The History Boys, The Mandate (National Theatre), Pravda (Chichester Festival Theatre/Birmingham Rep), Carver (Arcola Theatre), Pericles (Lyric Hammersmith), King Lear (Shakespeare’s Globe) and The Knickers (Bristol Old Vic). His television credits include Love and Marriage, Coming Home, Into the Storm, A Short Stay in Switzerland, The Trial of the King Killers, The Innocents, A Christmas Carol, Beyond Fear, Murder in Mind, Head Over Heels, Specials, Thatcher: The Final Days, Waterfront Beat and Tiny Revolutions; and for film, Between Two Women, Dead, Tomorrow Never Dies, Ladybird, Ladybird, Nostradamus, Century and The Long Good Friday.

James Baxter plays Paul Stokes. His theatre credits include Petrification (UK tour), Silk Road (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Old Vic New Voices: The 24 Hour Plays (The Old Vic), Present Tense, Jump!, Swansong (Live Theatre), The Christmas Office Party (Hull Truck Theatre), Scarborough (Live Theatre/Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Pink Floyd’s The Wall (The Customs House, South Shields) and Fine Fine Fine (Gala Theatre, Durham). His television credits as series regular include Leroy in Still Open All Hours and Jake Doland in Emmerdale. Other television credits include Harriet’s Army, Love Life and Joe Maddison’s War.

Sophie Bleasdale plays Violet Hunter. Her theatre credits include A Crazy Little Thing Called Love (RADA Festival), Mr Foote’s Other Leg (Hampstead Theatre/Theatre Royal Haymarket), Mock Tudor (Pleasance London/Latitude Festival/Old Red Lion Theatre/Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Under the Whaleback (Royal Court Theatre) and A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (Harold Pinter Theatre). Her television credits include Close to the Enemy and Six Wives with Lucy Worsley.

Joe Coen plays Gabriel Lamb. His theatre credits include A Dark Night in Dalston (Park Theatre), The Mighty Walzer, Edward II (Royal Exchange Theatre), The Rubenstein Kiss (Nottingham Playhouse/Yvonne Arnaud Theatre), Bad Jews (Theatre Royal Bath/St. James Theatre/Arts Theatre), The Black Diamond (Punchdrunk) and Birdsong (Comedy Theatre). His television credits include The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies; and for film, Son of God and City Rats.

Ashley Cook plays Doctor James Bell. His theatre credits include The Cardinal (Southwark Playhouse), Flowering Cherry and F***ing Men (Finborough Theatre), Absent Friends, The Importance of Being Earnest (UK tour), The White Carnation (Finborough Theatre/Jermyn Street Theatre), The Art of Concealment, How to Cook a Country (Riverside Studios), The Mousetrap (St. Martin’s Theatre), A Doll’s House, The Importance of Being Earnest (New Theatre Royal Lincoln), The Bootmaker’s Daughter (Brighton Festival), Stonewall (Edinburgh Festival Fringe/The Drill Hall), Romeo and Juliet (Derby Playhouse), Love and Understanding (Battersea Arts Centre) and King Lear (The Old Vic/UK tour). His television credits include Patrick Hamilton: Words, Whisky and Women; and for film, Llar and A Mind of Her Own.

Caroline Harker plays Aunt George. Her theatre credits include The Chalk Garden, Entertaining Angels (Chichester Festival Theatre), Sean Hughes’ Blank Book (Soho Theatre), Blithe Spirit (York Theatre Royal), Pride and Prejudice (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), The Village Bike (Sheffield Theatres), Tusk Tusk, The Strip, The Editing Process (Royal Court Theatre), All Mouth (Menier Chocolate Factory), Present Laughter (Theatre Royal Bath), Battle Royal (National Theatre), Falling (Hampstead Theatre), Things We Do For Love (Duchess Theatre), A Mongrel’s Heart (Royal Lyceum Theatre) and Hidden Laughter (Vaudeville Theatre). Her television credits include The Commander: The Devil You Know, The Man Who Lost His Head, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairy Tale, I Saw You, Armadillo, Keeping Mum, Holding On, Harry Enfield and Chums, The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders, Honey for Tea, Middlemarch, Riders and Growing Rich; and for film, Lady Godiva: Back in the Saddle and The Madness of King George.

Kemi-Bo Jacobs plays Anna Lamb. Her theatre credits include Betrayal (Derby Theatre), Hedda Gabler (Salisbury Playhouse) and All My Sons (Royal Exchange Theatre). Her television credits include McMafia,Delicious, Thirteen, The Honourable Woman; and for film, London Has Fallen.

Alice Kerrigan plays Emily. Her theatre credits include Boomerang (Blue Shop Cottage), The Forest (Arcola Theatre) and Julius Caesar (Bristol Old Vic).

Jessica Regan plays Matilda ‘Matty’ Blackwell. Her theatre credits include Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Bristol Old Vic/Wyndham’s Theatre/Brooklyn Academy of Music/Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts), Henry V (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Liolà, The Cherry Orchard, The Kitchen, Blood and Gifts (National Theatre), Coalition (Pleasance, London/Edinburgh Festival Fringe), All That Fall (Jermyn Street Theatre/59E59 Theaters, New York), Stars in the Morning Sky (Belgrade Theatre), The Flags (Liverpool’s Royal Court), and The Yellow Wallpaper and Striking Distance (Granary Theatre). She was series regular Dr Niamh Donoghue in Doctors. Other television credits include Nowhere Fast, Halloween Comedy Shorts: It Should Have Been Me, Ill Behaviour, Execution, No Signal and Ladies and Gentlemen.

Fiona Skinner plays Polly Stokes. Her theatre credits include The Dark Room, My Imaginary Friend Patrick Stewart (Theatre503), The Full Monty (UK tour), Our Ajax (Southwark Playhouse), Old Vic New Voices: The 24 Hour Plays (The Old Vic), Brave New Worlds (Soho Theatre), ‘Ave It (The Old Vic Tunnels) and People Like Us(Vineyard Theatre, New York). Her television credits include Taboo and Our Girl; and for film, A Royal Night Out.

Kirsty Patrick Ward directs. Her credits include Exactly Like You (VAULT Festival Spirit Award at Edinburgh Festival Fringe/The Vaults), Chef (Scotsman Fringe First Award at Edinburgh Festival Fringe/Soho Theatre), I’m Not That Kind of Guy (The Vaults and Paines Plough), Mary Louise (The Vaults), Evita (MT4Uth, Belfast), People Like Us (Pleasance, London), Snow White (UK tour for The Old Vic), A Writer’s Response to ‘Chavs’ by Owen Jones (Lyric Hammersmith), Present Tense (Live Theatre), Brave New Worlds (Soho Theatre), Life Support (York Theatre Royal) and Old Vic New Voices: The 24 Hour Plays (The Old Vic). Work as Associate Director includes The Comedy About A Bank Robbery (Criterion Theatre), Brideshead Revisited (York Theatre Royal/UK tour) and Young Pretender (Edinburgh Festival Fringe/UK tour). Work as Assistant Director includes Othello, King Lear(Shakespeare’s Globe), Our New Girl (Bush Theatre) and Bunny which won a Scotsman Fringe First Award (nabokov/Edinburgh Festival Fringe/UK tour).

Troupe’s recent production of Rasheeda Speaking by Joel Drake Johnson starred Tanya Moodie and Elizabeth Berrington at Trafalgar Studios and was nominated for five Off West End Awards. Troupe returns to Southwark Playhouse after its critically acclaimed productions of Dear Brutus by J. M. Barrie, which starred Miles Richardson, and The Cardinal by James Shirley, which starred Stephen Boxer and Natalie Simpson for which she won the Ian Charleson Award. It was supported by an inaugural MGCfutures Bursary Award. Troupe’s previous rediscoveries at the Finborough Theatre – Rodney Ackland’s After October, Robert Bolt’s Flowering Cherry and R. C. Sherriff’s The White Carnation, which later transferred to Jermyn Street Theatre – have been nominated for a total of five Off West End Awards.

www.troupe.eu

The Sweet Science of Bruising

Listings

Southwark Playhouse

77-85 Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6BD

Nearest Tube: Borough/ Elephant and Castle

Wednesday 3 October – Saturday 27 October 2018

Monday to Saturdays at 8pm
Tuesday and Saturday matinees at 3.30pm

Box Office: 020 7407 0234

www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

Twitter:

@Troupe_Theatre

@swkplay

#SweetSciencePlay

Ticket Prices

Previews 3 and 4 October: all tickets £12
From 5 October: £20, £16 (conc.)

West End Stage celebrates its milestone 10,000th student

with a special visit from Marisha Wallace

star of multi-award winning West End musical Dreamgirls

West End Stage summer school celebrated reaching its milestone 10,000th student with a special visit from West End leading lady Marisha Wallace at the school’s rehearsal space in the theatre at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama on 17 August.

The Broadway actress and singer, who shares the role of Effie White with Moya Angela and Karen Mav, in the multi-award winning musical Dreamgirls, was joined on stage by the school’s 10,000th student, 15 year-old Charlie Plumridge from Hereford, as well as its first ever student, Stuart Thompson from Durham, who is now 21 years old and studying at LAMDA having pursued his passion for performing.

In summer 2006, West End Stage began in a bid to become the UK’s leading theatre summer school. Its aim was, and still is, to ignite a global passion for theatre, uniting young people from all over the world. Throughout the week-long course led by West End stars, the students take part in in an exciting mix of drama, singing and dance classes, as well as enjoying an inspirational trip to a West End musical. The highlight of every student’s week is the chance to make their own West End debut at Her Majesty’s Theatre, the world-famous home of The Phantom of the Opera, in front of a huge audience of family, friends and industry professionals.

Mark Puddle, Founder and Chief Executive of West End Stage, said “I am absolutely delighted that Marisha could join us direct from the West End to celebrate the 10,000 students who have enjoyed once-in-a-lifetime opportunities at the summer school, making friends for life along the way. The course is going from strength to strength, thanks to the hard work and passion of our teachers, staff and supporters who work tirelessly to ensure a safe and exciting experience.”

To find out more about West End summer school, visit: https://www.westendstage.com

To find out more about Dreamgirls visit: https://dreamgirlswestend.com.  The musical, which opened in December 2016 to widespread critical acclaim, will give its final performance at the Savoy Theatre on Saturday 12 January 2019, completing a run of more than two years. Details for a forthcoming UK tour will be announced in due course. 

Freedom Tongues & Naiad Productions in association with Park Theatre present

Bullet Hole

By Gloria Williams

An exploration of the relationship between three Black, British born women who are survivors of Female Genital Mutilation

02 – 27 October 2018 | Park Theatre

‘So I finally got my gift. Gifts are meant to be opened, right?’

Freedom Tongues and Naiad Productions in association with Park Theatre are proud to present Bullet Hole by Gloria Williams, which is set to be performed at Park Theatre from 2^nd to 27^th October during Black History Month. Bullet Hole explores the relationship between three Black, British born women who are survivors of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The piece explores the physical, mental and emotional effects this practice causes and shines a light on the institutions in Britain that can offer support. At its heart, Bullet Hole is a story of hope, love and human rights, played by an all-female cast.

Bullet Hole first premiered at the 2017 Camden Fringe Festival and later was nominated for the Alfred Fagon Audience Choice Award. Freedom Tongues and Naiad Productions are delighted to be working with Park Theatre to present this re-worked version of the script.

The play is directed by Lara Genovese (founder of Naiad Productions) and stars Gloria Williams (who also wrote the play), Doreene Blackstock and Anni Domingo.

What’s in a gift? Young Londoner Cleo was given her ‘gift’ at age seven – except that ‘gift’ left her with type 3 Female Genital Mutilation.

How can Cleo love her body, when she is further scarred by a brutal sexual assault at the hands of her husband? From this hideous act, Cleo resolves to go against her family’s wishes and seek reversal surgery. On her journey of healing, she meets Eve, a fellow FGM survivor who is instantly drawn to her…

Playwright and actress Gloria Williams said:

“I have always been passionate about exposing the issues affecting the black community. My first play ‘Monday’ explored child abuse in a Black British religious family.

I developed ‘Bullet Hole’ as I believed writing a play about Female Genital Mutilation was a good platform to condemn an old tradition which oppresses women. This brutal practice is still present in our current time, worldwide spread and is not spoken about enough. I hope that the production serves to raise awareness, using drama as a tool to educate audiences.

Black History Month is a time to shine a light on issues within the diaspora. However, ‘Bullet Hole’ is not just a celebration of Black arts, but a wake-up call for everyone to acknowledge society’s acts against human/women/children rights”.

Gloria is an alumni of the Royal Court Young Writers Group and Talawa Theatre Company Young Writers Group. She is also an accomplished actress and will be playing the role of Cleo. Theatre credits include: Mules (White Bear Theatre), Medea (The Rose Theatre), Monday – which she also wrote (Manhattan Repertory Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Samuel French Off Broadway Festival Lost One Act Play Festival: Winner of ‘Best Overall Production’), Elefant (Soho Theatre; Playwrights apprenticeship), No More the Wasted Breed (Collective Artists), and You Me BUM BUM Train (Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust prize)​.

Doreene Blackstock plays Eve. Doreene will be a regular at Park Theatre this season, as she is set to star in Distance just before Bullet Hole. Her theatre credits include: Much Ado About Nothing (The Globe), Roundelay (Southwark Playhouse), Cymbeline, Hamlet, Noughts & Crosses (RSC), Antigone, Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (Pilot Theatre Company), Holloway Jones (Synergy Theatre Project), The Container (Young Vic)and Leonora’s Dance (Black Theatre Co-operative).

Completing the cast is Anni Domingo, who is from Sierra Leone, Freetown, where the play is set. Anni plays the role of Winnie. Her theatre credits include Gone With The Wind (Drury Lane), Blood Wedding (National Theatre), The Crucible (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Yerma and The Children’s Hour (both Manchester Royal Exchange), Tartuffe and Suddenly Last Summer (both Theatre Clywd Mold) and No Boys Cricket Club (Theatre Royal, Stratford East).

Naiad Productions will also be hosting an ANTI FMG portrait exhibition (Sept to Nov) in Park Theatre’s foyer, which will include pictures of survivors, activists, volunteers and industry members who support the cause. Additionally, there will be two performances followed by Q&A sessions with Charity and NHS lead representatives (10^th and 18^th of October).

STAGE TRAFFIC PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

THE EUROPEAN PREMIERE OF KEN URBAN’S ARRESTING NEW DRAMA

A GUIDE FOR THE HOMESICK

STARRING DOUGLAS BOOTH & CLIFFORD SAMUEL

DIRECTED BY JONATHAN O’BOYLE

RUNNING AT TRAFALGAR STUDIOS FROM 16 OCTOBER – 24 NOVEMBER

A powerful new play by the award-winning American writer Ken Urban, A Guide for the Homesick will make its European debut at Trafalgar Studios Two from 16 October – 24 November, with press night on 18 October 2018. This gripping thriller will star Douglas Booth (Jupiter Ascending, Speech and Debate) and Clifford Samuel (McMafia, The Events) and is directed by Jonathan O’Boyle.

A tender and bittersweet play about conscience and connection.

Teddy is searching for a friend for the night. Jeremy is searching for a beer. Worlds apart and miles away from home, two strangers, consumed by their own secrets, find each other in a hotel room in Amsterdam.

Can you confess your greatest fear to a stranger?

A Guide for the Homesick has designs by Jason Denvir, lighting by Nic Farman, sound by Max Perryment and is produced by Stage Traffic Productions.

Douglas Booth (Jeremy) most recently starred on stage in Speech and Debate (Trafalgar Studios). His screen credits include: The Dirt (Focus Features); Mary Shelley (BFI); The Limehouse Golem (Number 9 Films); Loving Vincent (Break Thru Productions); Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Cross Creek Pictures); And Then There Was None (BBC/Lifetime); Jupiter Ascending (Warner Bros.); The Riot Club(Film4); Noah (Paramount); Romeo & Juliet (Echo Lake Entertainment); Worried About The Boy (BBC);Christopher and His Kind (BBC); Great Expectations (BBC); LOL (Double Feature Films); The Pillars of the Earth (Tandem); and  From Time to Time (Ealing Studios).

Clifford Samuel’s (Teddy) stage credits include: Boudica (Shakespeare’s Globe); Don’t Sleep There Are Snakes (Park Theatre); The Events (Young Vic); SYP (Soho Theatre); The Lightening Child(Shakespeare’s Globe); Obama the Mamba (Curve Leicester, The Lowry); The Girl in the Yellow Dress(Theatre 503); Mother Courage (National Theatre); Statement of Regret (National Theatre); The Changeling (Barbican); Julius Caesar (Royal Shakespeare Company); and Two Gentlemen of Verona(Royal Shakespeare Company). His screen credits include: McMafia (BBC/AMC); Holby City (BBC);Lock-In (Papercut Productions); Looking for Jacob (Iron Box Films) and Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll(Damian Jones).

Ken Urban’s (Playwright) plays include: The Remains, Sense of an Ending, The Correspondent, A Future Perfect, The Awake and The Happy Sad. His plays have been produced in New York by Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, The Amoralists Theater Company, 59E59 Theatres, The Summer Play Festival at The Public and Studio 42. His work has also been produced at Theatre503 in London, First Floor Theater in Chicago and SpeakEasy Stage Company in Boston. He has developed new plays at Playwrights Horizons, Huntington Theater Company, Theatre @ Boston Court, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Donmar Warehouse (London) and The Civilians R&D Group. Recent productions include:  A Guide for the Homesick (Huntington Theatre Company, Boston); Nibbler (Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre, New York) and The Remains (Studio Theatre, Washington DC). Awards include: The Weissberger Playwriting Award, New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, Huntington Theater Playwriting Fellowship, MacDowell Colony Fellowships, Headlands Artist Residency, Djerassi Artist Residency, Dramatist Guild Fellowship and Virginia Center for the Creative Arts Fellowship. Ken is a Resident Playwright at New Dramatists and an Affiliated Writer at the Playwrights’ Center. He wrote the screenplay for feature-film adaptation of The Happy Sad, which screened internationally at over 25 film festivals, and is now available on iTunes, Hulu and Amazon. His TV pilot The Art of Listeningwas optioned by ITV Studios and David Oyelowo’s production company Yoruba Saxon.

Jonatan O’Boyle’s (Director) director credits include: Rain Man (UK Tour); Aspects of Love (Hope Mill Theatre); This House (Headlong/UK Tour, co-directed with Jeremy Herrin); Rasheeda Speaking (Trafalgar Studios. Off West End Award nomination for Best Director); Pippin (Southwark Playhouse/Hope Mill Theatre. Off West End Award nomination for Best Director); Hair (The Vaults – winner of the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Off-West End Production 2018); Dear Brutus (Southwark Playhouse); Four Play (Off West End Award nomination for Best Director), Sense of an Ending, Water Under the Board (Theatre503); The Surplus, All The Ways To Say Goodbye (Young Vic); The Verb, To Love, Made In Britain (Old Red Lion Theatre); Bash Latterday Plays (Trafalgar Studios); King Lear, Broken Glass (Central School of Speech and Drama); Season’s Greetings (Arts Educational Schools); The Monster Bride (Tristan Bates Theatre). His Associate Director credits include: An American In Paris (Dominion Theatre); The Judas Kiss (Brooklyn Academy of Music/Ed Mirvish Theatre, Toronto); Mack and Mabel (Chichester Festival Theatre/UK Tour); Bull (Sheffield Crucible/Young Vic/59E59); The Scottsboro Boys (Young Vic).

Stage Traffic Productions is a dynamic new UK/US theatre production company founded by Eilene Davidson and Michael Yale. Based in London, but looking at inspiration from around the globe, it is committed to creating productions with a strong emphasis on contemporary storytelling that truly resonates with modern audiences. The company’s last production, the debut play by comedian Katy Brand 3Women, enjoyed a hugely successful run at Trafalgar Studios opening in May 2018 and starred Anita Dobson, Debbie Chazen and Maisie Richardson-Sellers. Other past productions include Late Company, which also ran at Trafalgar Studios in 2017, was met with universal critical acclaim and made the shortlist for Best New Production of a Play at this year’s Broadway World Awards and the company’s inaugural production, the world premiere of new musical This Little Life of Mine, which ran at the Park Theatre in 2016. The show was nominated for many awards, including Best New Musical Production – OffWestEnd Awards and Best Musical, Best Director and Best Actress – Broadway World Awards. Eilene and Michael first met as actors 18 years ago and since then both have worked additionally in the role of writer, director and producer, both in the States and the UK. 

Eilene Davidson’s (Producer) recently produced plays and award nominated work includes: This Little Life of Mine (Park Theatre); Late Company (Trafalgar Studios); 3Women (Trafalgar Studios) and A Guide for the Homesick (Trafalgar Studios), as part of Stage Traffic Productions. As an independent producer, her recent credits include: A Lie of the Mind (Southwark Playhouse); Insignificance(Langham, NYC); WarPaint (Nederland Theatre, NYC); Apologia (Trafalgar Studios); Grinning Man(Trafalgar Studios); Paperdolls (Mosaic Theatre, Washington DC); Monogamy (Park Theatre/UK Tour);Consent (Pinter Theatre, London); Dusty (UK Tour) and Misty (Trafalgar Studios).

LISTINGS

A GUIDE FOR THE HOMESICK

BY KEN URBAN

TRAFALGAR STUDIOS 2

MONDAY 16 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2018

Running Time: 80 Minutes – No Interval

Performances:

Monday – Saturday evenings at 7.45pm

Thursday & Saturday matinees at 3pm

Ticket Prices: £25-£35

Address: Trafalgar Studios 2, 14 Whitehall, Westminster, SW1A 2DY

Box Office: 0844 871 7632

Website: www.stagetraffic.com

    www.trafalgarentertainment.com

THE INHERITANCE
By Matthew Lopez

Directed by Stephen Daldry | Designed by Bob Crowley

• WEST END REHEARSALS BEGIN FOR MATTHEW LOPEZ’S MAJOR NEW PLAY, WHICH HAS PREVIEW PERFORMANCES FROM 21 SEPTEMBER 2018AT THE NOËL COWARD THEATRE.

• DIRECTED BY STEPHEN DALDRY, A LARGE ENSEMBLE CAST IS CONFIRMED FOR THE WEST END AND INCLUDES ANDREW BURNAP, JOHN BENJAMIN HICKEY, PAUL HILTON, SAMUEL H. LEVINE, KYLE SOLLER AND VANESSA REDGRAVE.

Rehearsals are now under way for the highly anticipated West End engagement of The Inheritance, the new play by Matthew Lopez. Sonia Friedman, Tom Kirdahy and Hunter Arnold proudly present the Young Vic production for a strictly limited season in the West End, with previews at the Noël Coward Theatre from Friday 21st September and opening performances on Saturday 13th October.

Directed by multi Olivier Award winner Stephen Daldry, this landmark production held its world premiere at the Young Vic Theatre earlier this year where it ran for a sold out engagement and opened to huge acclaim, with critics recognising Matthew Lopez’s play as a modern classic, and one of the most important plays for many years.

The large ensemble cast of The Inheritance at the Noël Coward Theatre is now confirmed and will include: Hugo Bolton, Robert Boulter, Andrew Burnap, Hubert Burton, John Benjamin Hickey, Paul Hilton, Samuel H. Levine, Syrus Lowe, Michael Marcus, Vanessa Redgrave, Jack Riddiford, Kyle Soller and Michael Walters.

A generation after the peak of the AIDs crisis, what is it like to be a young gay man in New York? How many words are there now for pain and for love? Matthew Lopez’s major new two-part play explores profound themes through the turbulent and often hilarious experiences of a group of young, ambitious New Yorkers.  What is the legacy left to them by previous generations? What do they owe the future and each other?

Spanning generations and many interlinking lives, The Inheritance brilliantly transposes EM Forster’s novel ‘Howards End’ to 21st century New York.

Matthew Lopez’s new play is directed by Stephen Daldry with set and costumes by Bob Crowley, lighting by Jon Clark, sound by Paul Arditti & Christopher Reid, music by Paul Englishby, UK Casting by Julia Horan CDG and US Casting by Jordan Thaler CSA & Heidi Griffiths CSA.

David Lan, who programmed the original production as Artistic Director of the Young Vic, is Executive Producer for the West End production.

Andrew Burnap, John Benjamin Hickey and Samuel H. Levine are appearing with the permission of UK Equity, incorporating the Variety Artistes’ Federation, pursuant to an exchange programme between American Equity and UK Equity.

LISTINGS

The Inheritance is produced by Tom Kirdahy, Sonia Friedman Productions and Hunter Arnold

Co-producers: Elizabeth Dewberry and Ali Ahmet Kocabiyik , 1001 Nights Productions, Greg Berlanti, Rupert Gavin, Robert Greenblatt, Marguerite Hoffman, Mark Lee, Peter May, Oliver Roth, Scott Rudin, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Bruno Wang, Richard Winkler, Bruce Cohen/Scott M. Delman.

the Young Vic production of

THE INHERITANCE
By Matthew Lopez
Director Stephen Daldry
Design Bob Crowley
Lighting Jon Clark
Sound Paul Arditti & Christopher Reid
Music Paul Englishby
UK Casting Julia Horan CDG
US Casting Jordan Thaler CSA & Heidi Griffiths CSA

Executive Producer David Lan

Noël Coward Theatre
St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4AU

First performance: Friday 21 September 2018
Opening Night: Saturday 13 October 2018

Final Performance: Saturday 19 January 2019

Monday to Saturday at 7.15pm
Wednesday & Saturday matinee performances at 1.15pm

For full Part 1 and Part 2 performance schedule see HERE

Audio Described Performance:

Part 1: 22 November 2018

Part 2: 23 November 2018      

Captioned Performance:

Part 1: 08 November 2018

Part 2: 09 November 2018      

Website: InheritancePlay.com
Box Office: 0844 482 5140 Calls cost 7p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge
Group Bookings: 0844 482 5100
Access Bookings: 0844 482 5165

Prices from £15

InheritancePlay.com

Twitter: @InheritancePlay

Facebook: /inheritanceplay

Instagram: @InheritancePlay