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Royal & Derngate, Northampton, presents 

Ibsen’s                                                    
Ghosts
in a new version by Mike Poulton

Royal & Derngate, Northampton – Friday 19 April to Saturday 11 May 

Royal & Derngate announces full cast and creative team for Ibsen’s Ghosts in a new version by Mike Poulton

• James Wilby and Declan Conlon announced to join Penny Downie and Pierro Niel-Mee
• Directed by Lucy Bailey and designed by Mike Britton, with lighting design by Oliver Fenwick and sound design and music by Richard Hammarton
• World premiere of Mike Poulton’s new adaptation of Ibsen’s masterpiece Ghosts to open in Northampton in April
• Part of Royal & Derngate’s Made in Northampton season
• @RoyalDerngate / #MadeInNorthampton / #GhostsThePlay

The full cast and creative team has been confirmed for Royal & Derngate’s world premiere production of a brand new version by Mike Poulton of Henrik Ibsen’s masterpiece Ghosts, opening in Northampton in April. The cast will be led by Penny Downie, James Wilby, Declan Conlon andPierro Niel-Mee, and the play is directed by Lucy Bailey with Mike Britton as designer, Oliver Fenwick as lighting designer and Richard Hammarton as sound designer and composer.

A shattering story of the consequences of secrets and lies, Ibsen’s Ghosts is a damning comment on the morality and hypocrisy of 19th century life and this searing new version asks if much has changed since it was written over 100 years ago.

Constrained for years by societal expectations, widow Helen Alving is determined to escape the ghosts of her past but when her son Osvald returns home it is clear that some legacies are impossible to avoid. With secrets kept and lies told, the ghosts of her husband’s actions demand bigger sacrifices now than ever before.

As previously announced, Helen will be played by Penny Downie, whose extensive stage and television credits include Hamlet in the West End and ITV’s Downton Abbey. She is joined in the cast by James Wilby, as Pastor Manders. James’ extensive stage credits include work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and Lyric Hammersmith and his screen credits include leading roles inPoldark, Maurice, Gosford Park, Howards End, Regeneration and A Handful of Dust.

Celebrated Irish actor Declan Conlon will play Jakob Engstrand and Pierro Niel-Mee will play Osvald. Declan was recently seen in The Ferryman at the Gielgud Theatre and in Anna Karenina andCome on Home at the Abbey Theatre Dublin, for which he is nominated for the 2019 Irish Times Award for Best Actor. Pierro recently played Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love and appeared at the RSC and in the West End in Imperium. Eleanor McLoughlin (Ah, Wilderness, Young Vic; The Winter’s Tale, Cheek by Jowl) completes the cast as Regina Engstrand.

With Tony nominations for Fortune’s Fool and adaptations of Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies, playwright Mike Poulton’s acclaimed plays also include Imperium for the Royal Shakespeare Company and A Tale of Two Cities for Royal & Derngate. At the Northampton venue, Lucy Baileypreviously directed Gaslight and Love from a Stranger (nominated for the UK Theatre Best Touring Production Award in 2018). Her Olivier Award-nominated production of Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution is still going strong at London County Hall over a year after first opening.

Ghosts is designed by Mike Britton whose previous credits for Royal & Derngate include Love from a Stranger and A Tale of Two Cities (UK Theatre Award nomination for Best Design). Other credits include Henry V at the Royal Exchange Theatre (winner of Manchester Evening News Award for Best Design). Also re-united from the Love from a Stranger creative team are lighting designer Oliver Fenwick, whose other credits include King Lear (Duke of York’s Theatre/Chichester Festival Theatre), and sound designer and composer Richard Hammarton whose credits include The Mountaintop(Theatre503, Trafalgar Studios).

Ghosts can be seen at Royal & Derngate from Friday 19 April till Saturday 11 May, with a national press night on Wednesday 24 April.

#GhostsThePlay

* A charge of £3 applies for all transactions of £15 and over. Does not apply to Groups, Friends or Disabled Patrons, and is per-transaction, not per-ticket.

B-SIDE brings Hip-Hop back to Birmingham

(B-Boy competing at B-Side Hip-Hop Festival 2018)

B-SIDE Hip-Hop Festival is back from Friday 3 – Sunday 12 May, with a phenomenal line up of dance battles, high-energy workshops, live music and DJ sets from legendary names in Hip-Hop.

The explosive festival will feature the best national and international artists plus the city’s finest talent. Already confirmed are Karl ‘Dyzee’ Alba (Canada), Roxy (UK), ChryBaby (New York) and Youth Olympic Bronze medal winner B-Boy Shigekix (Japan), with many more to be announced.

Birmingham Hippodrome is working with festival partners to bring the key elements of Hip-Hop to Birmingham. Break Mission are back with their epic international dance battles andSweat The Technique workshops, Marso Riviere’s popular KRE8! Labs and battles return, as well as DJ Psykhomantus’s Vision Bombing Game Show. Juice Aleem brings hisFluxCon comic convention along with many speakers and performers and once again the Southside streets will be filled with eye-catching live graffiti courtesy of High-Vis Festival.

Expect to see many new performances specially created for the festival with Dance Hub Birmingham commissioning several new exciting pieces including Break Mission’s Dance of Death. Zoo Nation Youth Company Birmingham, one of Birmingham Hippodrome’s Young Companies, will also showcase an exciting piece of contemporary Hip-Hop theatre.

B-SIDE opens during May Bank Holiday Weekend (Friday 3 May) with a Hit the Ode andB-SIDE R.A.P Party special. The poetry and music night will showcase some amazing spoken word artists and Hip-Hop DJs. 

On Saturday 4 May, the festival continues in Bullring & Grand Central, for the first of two take-over days. The team are bringing a host of DJs, dance and rap battles, and live performances to the shopping centre. It also returns on Monday 6 May for a B-SIDE family day, B-SIDE Breakin’ the Bullring, complete with pop-up performances and Fun DMC, a Hip-Hop inspired party for kids and parents.

On Sunday 5 May, High-Vis Festival will lead a graffiti trail beginning at the Hippodrome and ending in Digbeth, a part of Birmingham famous for its street art. Elsewhere, a special screening of Bombin’ will take place at The Mocking Bird as part of Flatpack Festival,. The documentary offers a behind-the-scenes look at UK Hip-Hop and graffiti culture featuring some recognisable locations in Birmingham. 

The festival culminates on Sunday 12 May with the B-SIDE and Break Mission International Dance Championship taking place in Southside. The epic clash will see dancers from all around the world competing in this tense battle.

Graham Callister, Associate Director of Community Engagement and Festivals at Birmingham Hippodrome, commented: “B-Side is fast becoming the UK’s number one Hip-Hop festival for international and national artists alongside the amazing talents we have in the city. 

“We’ve expanded both the length of the festival, from five to 10 days, and locations of our events as we stretch ourselves from Southside to Bullring & Grand Central, and for the first time into Digbeth.  Each of our festival partners brings a different energy and take on what contemporary Hip-Hop culture is, enabling us to offer a truly diverse festival and attract a wider audience year on year.  We’re really hyped about this year’s programme and are already planning the party for our fifth anniversary next year in 2020 so don’t miss it!”

B-SIDE Hip-Hop Festival is a Birmingham Hippodrome Project supported by Arts Council England, Southside BID, Bullring and Grand Central and The Arcadian.

Stay up-to-date with activities and join the conversation on social media using #BSIDE.

For more information, visit: www.birminghamhippodrome.com/bside

• THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY ANNOUNCES NEW CHILD CASTING FOR THE UK & IRELAND TOUR OF MATILDA THE MUSICAL
• OLIVIA JUNO CLEVERLEY, FREYA SCOTT AND SOPHIE WOOLHOUSE WILL JOIN SCARLETT CECIL IN THE TITLE ROLE OF MATILDA FROM 19 MARCH

The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced new child casting for the Matilda The Musical UK and Ireland Tour with Olivia Juno Cleverley, Freya Scott and Sophie Woolhouse joining Scarlett Cecil in sharing the title role of Matilda from today, 18 March. The West End production will continue to play at the Cambridge Theatre, where it is now in its eighth year and is booking until 24 May 2020.

The other young performers announced today will join the UK and Ireland Tour who play the roles of Bruce, Lavender, Amanda and the rest of the pupils at Crunchem Hall are as follows: Aiya Agustin, Elliot Boothroyd, Brooke Burke, Presley Charman, Oliver Dalby, Lillie May Downton, Charlie Garton, Toby Hales, Theo Hanness, Porsha Hoyland-Lau, Darcy Kelly, Noah Leggott, Ben Pike, Erin Rushidi, Alfie Sanderson, Ryan Tayler-Young andLily Van Veen.

Evie Allen, Joseph Black, Georgia Mae Brown, Adam Lord, Felicity Mitson, Toby Mocrei, Chantelle Tonolete and Joely Robertson will continue in the company, playing the roles of Bruce, Lavender, Amanda and the pupils at Crunchem Hall.

After joining the cast in January, Elliot Harper (Miss Trunchbull) will continue to play alongsideCarly Thoms (Miss Honey) and Sebastien Torkia and Rebecca Thornhill (Mr and Mrs Wormwood) until the tour concludes its run at Norwich Theatre Royal on 17 August 2019.

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

Matilda The Musical UK and Ireland tour is currently playing in Bradford where it’ll play until 23 March before touring to Edinburgh Playhouse (2 – 27 April), Bristol Hippodrome (7 May- 8 June), Southampton Mayflower (11 June – 6 July) and Norwich Theatre Royal (16 July – 17 August). 

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

Winner of 94 international awards, including 23 for Best Musical, Matilda The Musical has now been seen by 9 million people worldwide, having toured to over 70 cities and played more than 6600 performances in the West End, on Broadway and on tour across North America, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Matilda The Musical had its first non-English language production at the LG Arts Centre in Seoul, South Korea from September 2018 to February 2019.

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

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

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

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

SHAKESPEARE IN THE SQUARES ANNOUNCES

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM –

TOURING TO LONDON SQUARES AND PARKS THIS SUMMER

Shakespeare in the Squares presents

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

By William Shakespeare

Directed by Tatty Hennessy

19 June – 11 July 2019

Shakespeare in the Squares today announces its annual production – this year, A Midsummer Night’s Dream –which will play across London, opening up the city’s glorious private squares and gardens. Directed by Tatty Hennessy, the production runs from 19 June to 11 July

Shakespeare’s wild play of love and magic is transplanted to 1920s Britain, a country bruised by battle and economic hardship where our lovers chafe against the constraints and conventions of an older generation and seek to find freedom in the forest. There they stumble upon a riotous world untouched by time, still reveling in illusion. Moonlight suffuses this drama, bringing romance and a touch of madness – even in an oppressive world, all manner of things can happen under cover of night.

Sue Fletcher and Martin Neild, founders of Shakespeare in the Squares, said today, “We have been waiting to produce A Midsummer Night’s Dream since starting Shakespeare in the Squares four years ago, it is a story so well suited to the beautiful gardens and parks we visit. This well-loved play is often performed, and we wanted to be sure we could offer a fresh perspective. So when Tatty shared her unique vision of magic, madness and circus, we knew the time had come to bring it to life in London’s squares and gardens both familiar and new.”

Tatty Hennessy is an award-winning playwright, dramaturg and director. She continues her collaboration with Shakespeare in the Squares with A Midsummer Night’s Dream following her productions of As You Like It andRomeo and Juliet for the company. Her previous directing credits include her own adaptation of The Snow Queen (Theatre N16), a revival of her first play All That Lives (Ovalhouse Theatre) and Acorn (The Courtyard Theatre). Hennessy was the Baylis Assistant Director at The Old Vic in 2018, where she assisted on Max Webster’s production of Fanny & Alexander.  As a writer, she won the Heretic Voices competition in 2017 with her play A Hundred Words for Snow, which received an acclaimed production at the Arcola Theatre in 2018 and is currently playing at Trafalgar Studios.

ABOUT SHAKESPEARE IN THE SQUARES

Founded by Sue Fletcher and Martin Neild in 2016, Shakespeare in the Squares is a not-for-profit touring theatre company that stages a Shakespeare play across London squares and parks every summer. The productions are tailored to the individual garden squares, and the company works with the garden committees and other local organisations to create a unique community celebration around the play. The company aims to provide a showcase for talented young theatre practitioners and to introduce audiences to the stars of the future. The company’s previous productions include As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing which performed to sell-out audiences.

www.shakespeareinthesquares.co.uk

Twitter: @shakessquares

Facebook: shakespeareinthesquares

Instagram: @shakespeareinthesquares

Schedule for Summer 2019

All performances at 7pm unless stated

Wednesday 19 June                        Leinster Square, W2

Thursday 20 June                            St James’s Gardens, W11

Friday 21 June                                   Norland Square, W11

Saturday 22 June                            Queen’s Park, NW6

Sunday 23 June                                 Camden Square, NW1      

Tuesday 25 June                               Arundel and Ladbroke Gardens, W11 2EP (press night – nearest tube stations are Ladbroke Grove and Holland Park)

Wednesday 26 June                        Paulton’s Square, SW3

Thursday 27 June                             St James’s Square, SW1

Friday 28 June                                   Paddington Street, W1 (3pm matinee)

                                                           Paddington Street W1 (7pm evening)

Saturday 29 June                             Little Wormwood Scrubs Park, W10

Sunday 30 June                                 Ladbroke Square, W11

Tuesday 2 July                                   Cornwall Gardens, SW7

Wednesday 3 July                            Connaught Square, W2

Thursday 4 July                                 Elgin and Arundel Gardens, W11

Friday 5 July                                       Bedford Square, WC1 (part of the Bedford Square Festival)

Saturday 6 July                                  St Peter’s Square, W6

Sunday 7 July                                     The Courtyard at le Gothique, Royal Victoria Patriotic Building, Wandsworth, SW18 (3pm matinee)

Tuesday 9 July                                   The Courtyard at le Gothique, Royal Victoria Patriotic Building, Wandsworth, SW18 (7pm evening)

Wednesday 10 July                          Formosa Gardens, W9

Thursday 11 July                               Cleveland Square, W2

Shakespeare in the Squares kindly thanks the following sponsors for their support: Domus Nova, Durbar Restaurant , Garden Square News, Harrison Allen, Hayes Parsons, John D. Wood, Knight Frank, Maroush, Melt London, Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Tesco Bags of Help, Vickers and Westbourne Block Management.

FIRST LOOK AT

AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’
The FATS WALLER Musical

Now playing at Mercury Theatre Colchester until Saturday 30 March

Prior to London run at Southwark Playhouse

From Friday 19 April to Saturday 1 June 2019

First production images are released today of Ain’t Misbehavin’ – now playing at Mercury TheatreColchester until Saturday 30 March. The production then transfers to Southwark Playhouse from Friday 19 April to Saturday 1 June, as the first London revival in almost 25 years.

The cast features Adrian Hansel, Renée Lamb, Carly Mercedes-Dyer, Landi Oshinowo andWayne Robinson.

Adrian Hansel originated the role of Seaweed in the West End production of Hairspray, with other credits including Five Guys Named Moe at Marble Arch Theatre. Renée Lamb played Chiffon in Little Shop of Horrors at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and Catherine of Aragon in the original London cast of Six at the Arts Theatre. Carly Mercedes-Dyer was recently seen in Dreamgirls at the Savoy Theatre, with other credits including The Lorax at The Old Vic and Memphis at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Landi Oshinowo recently appeared in Big Fish at The Other Palace, with West End credits including Shrek the Musical and Sister Act. Wayne Robinson returns to Southwark Playhouse having played Benny in In The Heights. He was most recently seen as Jagwire in Bat Out of Hell.

Ain’t Misbehavin’ is directed by Tyrone Huntley, making his directorial debut. Tyroneis best known for his acclaimed performance as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, for which he won the Evening Standard Theatre Award and received an Olivier Award nomination. He recently appeared in Leave to Remain at the Lyric Hammersmith with other performing crediting including Angry (Southwark Playhouse) and Dreamgirls (Savoy Theatre).

Ain’t Misbehavin’ is choreographed by Oti Mabuse, making her debut as a theatre choreographer. Best known as a professional dancer on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing since 2015, Otiis also an 8-time South African Latin American Champion and one of the most successful South African dancers in the world. Oti was most recently a Dance Captain and Mentor on BBC One’s new Saturday night dance and entertainment show The Greatest Dancer.

Completing the creative team are designer takis, lighting designer James Whiteside, sound designerDan Samson and associate choreographer James Bennett. There will be new orchestrations byMark Dickman, and casting is by Will Burton CDG.

Celebrating the legendary jazz musician Fats Waller and his energetic, exuberant and effervescent music, Ain’t Misbehavin’ steps back into the 1920’s and the raunchy nightclubs of Manhattan.Join an extraordinary group of performers on a journey through a defining period of American musical history, the Harlem Renaissance – where musicians were free to experiment with new styles, and joints were jumpin’ with talented dancers, singers and instrumentalists jamming to a new beat known as swing.

Ain’t Misbehavin’ first premiered at Manhattan Theatre Club in 1978 and transferred to Broadway the same year, where it won the Tony Award for Best Musical. The original West End production opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre in 1979, and was followed by a revival at the Tricycle Theatre and Lyric Theatre in 1995. This new production will mark the first London revival in almost 25 years.

Ain’t Misbehavin’ is basedon an idea by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby Jr, with orchestrations and arrangements by Luther Henderson, vocal and musical concepts by Jeffrey Gutcheon and vocal arrangements by Jeffrey Gutcheon and William Elliott.

Twitter:

Southwark Playhouse @SwkPlay

Mercury Theatre Colchester @Mercury Theatre

Instagram:

Southwark Playhouse @SwkPlay

Mercury Theatre Colchester @MercuryTheatreColchester

King Head Theatre – until 6 April 2019

Reviewed by Prachya van de Gevel

5*****

Bradley (Lewis Brown) and Alexis, lex for short (Freddie Hogan), shine out in this amazing play. The writing by Tom Wright takes me on a rollercoaster of emotions, laughs and dare I say strolls down memory lane.

Bradley and Lex have been dating now for 3 months getting to know each other and tonight it appears is the big night as we are greeted by a large bed in the room with the two men intimately entwined with each other.

As things begin to heat up , the conversation turns to use of protection and issue of prep and the role it has in modern dating and overcoming the stigma attached to HIV. The play continues down a path of back and forward laugh emotions and how each has dealt with

Some of the serious issues affecting the LGBTQ community when it comes to dealing with acceptance of their own sexuality, demons of the past and the frantic world of the “chem” fuelled sex parties and the inevitable outcomes. It packs all the punches and certainly does not hold back when it comes to tackling the issues head on. The chemistry between the two leads is astounding and they bring Tom Wrights script to life, with little to no props, it is all about the acting and the writing. I cannot praise this play enough

The talent of the cast in conveying the hot topics with humour, dignity and raw emotion, the setting of the Kings Head Theatre made it a perfect place to showcase the intimacy of the story.

Thank you it was a real privilege to watch and to the writer who I had an opportunity to speak to after the play, thank you I felt a real emotional connection to the story and its characters.

Storyhouse, Chester – 16 March 2019.

Reviewed by Kate Hughes

4****

The English Touring Opera, directed by James Conway, brought their interpretation of Idomeneo to the Storyhouse in Chester this week.

Idomeneo, from Mozart’s ‘Opera Seria’ is based on material from ancient history and tells the story of King Idomeneo of Crete, his son Idamente and the two princesses vying for the affections of Idamente – exiled Trojan princess Illia and Elettra, princess of Argos.

Returning from the Trojan war and caught in the middle of a raging storm, King Idomeneo makes a pact with the seas that he will sacrifice the first person he meets in return for safe passage. The first person he happens to meet? His only son, Idamante, secretly beloved by the exiled Trojan princess Illia and not so secretly beloved by Elettra, princess of Argos.

Idomeneo is a tale of family drama and the cost of war on the younger generation. The rivalry between the princesses and Idomeneo’s ill-fated promise give the opera a rich emotion and the ETO’s set designer Frankie Bradshaw opts for a set design that is minimal and does not distract from the richness and drama of the music. The angled doors are the focal point of the stage design, acting as the austere palace walls which are opened and closed as the opera goes on, to reveal the contrasting danger of the seas.

Christopher Turner was well suited to the title role, offering a commanding presence and a voice dripping in emotion and fire, allowing the audience to truly feel the heartbreak and inner torture of Idomeneo as he realises the fate to which he has led Idamante. A special mention should also be given to Paula Sides as the princess Elettra, a figure from Greek mythology and tragedy, born into the cursed house of Atreus. We see this tragedy come to a head when Elettra sings D’Oreste, d’Ajace, thwarted in both love and ambition and driven mad, delivered in a truly impassioned performance by Sides. John Peter Kenney and his fantastic orchestra, as well as the chorus added depth and weight to the already strong performance.

Overall, the English Touring Opera’s offering of a ‘fuss free’ Idomeneo in terms of staging and costume sometimes felt a little rough around the edges. However the simplicity of everything but the singing allows the audience to truly appreciate the drama of the story and the voices and is something a little different from the operas usually offered to smaller theatres. Idomeneo is running until 1st of June this year at theatres around the country and is well worth a visit.

Storyhouse, Chester- until 16th March 2019 then touring until 31st May.

Reviewed by Joseph Everton

4****

The story of Macbeth is well known and has been recreated and retold countless times. Giuseppe Verdi’s operatic attempt, performed by The English Touring Opera, marched into the historic walled city of Chester with all the ambition of Lady Macbeth herself and pulled off the feat excellently.

Swords and shields were swapped for automatic weapons in James Dacre’s production, cradled by soldiers in the attire of guerrilla fighters from a modern war. The set, more of a cold war bunker than a castle, was adorned with a hanged traitor and topped with a gallery from which Macbeth’s soldiers could point their weapons at an uneasy audience. The staging was as cold and unsettling as the twisted relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, portrayed by Grant Doyle and Madeleine Pierard, who managed to convey a real sense of despair and crippling regret as they began to fall foul of their evil deeds.

The witches, of which there were many more than three, wore gowns more akin to that of a crimean war nurse and lit up a darkened and atmospheric stage with glowing lanterns but did not set hairs on end like you might expect a hag to do, their scenes lacking in witchcraft.

Andrew Porter’s excellent English translation of the text ensured that the storyline was easy to follow, with the subtitles providing only an unnecessary distraction. New Zealander soprano Madeleine Pierard’s vocal stood out and was well appreciated by the audience. Amar Muchhala’s Macduff made more likeable by the tenor’s warm tones.

Macbeth, by the English Touring Opera, provided an interesting departure from a classic version of the story but certainly an entertaining one which, although relatively poorly attended on the night, is more than deserving of a large audience.

Hartshorn – Hook Productions, Selladoor Productions, The Watermill Theatre & Broadway Asia present

DANNY MAC COMPLETES CASTING FOR

UK PREMIERE OF 

Watermill Theatre, Newbury 11 Apr – 18 May | UK Tour 22 May – 21 Sep

West End performer, Strictly Come Dancing favourite and television actor Danny Mac has been confirmed to join the UK tour of Amélie The Musical, based on the much-loved, five-time Oscar®-nominated film. Joining previously announced French-Canadian stage and screen star Audrey Brisson as Amélie Poulain, Danny Mac will play the sweet daydreamer Nino Quincampoix from 22 May. The role of Nino will be played by Chris Jaredduring performances at The Watermill Theatre.

This beloved story of an imaginative and shy romantic with a gift for helping others, will tour the UK in a vibrant, re-conception with new orchestrations. Press night will be held on Wednesday 17 April, 7.30pm at TheWatermill Theatre in Newbury, with a gala performance at the New Wimbledon Theatre on Thursday 23 May, 7:30pm.

Amélie is the story of an astonishing young woman who lives quietly in the world, but loudly in her mind. She secretly improvises small, but extraordinary acts of kindness that bring happiness to those around her. But when a chance at love comes her way, Amélie realises that to find her own contentment she’ll have to risk everything and say what’s in her heart. Although times are hard for dreamers, Amélie is someone to believe in…

Danny Mac captured the nation’s hearts and received overwhelming support during his incredible time on flagship entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing (BBC One) in 2016, with a series of perfect scores taking him to the final. Having begun his performing career at an early age in Cameron Mackintosh’s tour of Les Miserables, he reprised the role a year later in the West End. His other theatre credits include Wicked (West End), Legally Blonde (Curve Theatre), On The Town (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), White Christmas(Leicester Curve) and his award-winning turn in Sunset Boulevard (UK Tour).

Audrey Brisson’s theatre credits include: The Elephantom, Pinocchio and Pericles (National Theatre), Midnight’s Pumpkin and The Wild Bride (Kneehigh), The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Kensington Gardens), Dead Dog in a Suitcase & Other Love Songs (Kneehigh), Romeo and Juliet (Rose Theatre, Kingston), The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk (Kneehigh), The Grinning Man (Bristol Old Vic), The Strada (UK Tour & The Other Palace). Her film credits include: Hereafter directed by Clint Eastwood and W.E. directed by Madonna. Television includes:Outlander (Amazon), Money (BBC Two). Radio includes the title role in Amy Dorrit (BBC Radio).

Chris Jared’s theatre includes: 946 US Tour (Headlong), Duchess Of Malfi (Nottingham Playhouse), 946 (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Late Henry Moss (Southwark Playhouse), Cyrano De Bergerac(Northern Stage/Royal and Derngate), Praxis Makes Perfect (National Theatre Wales), Taming Of The Shrew, All’s Well That Ends Well, As You Like It, Hamlet (Royal Shakespeare Company), A Letter From Shakespeare (Wales Theatre Company), Late At Tate (Pop Up Theatre Event), Revenger’s Tragedy(Independent Productions), Coriolanius (National Theatre Wales), Emperor and Galilean (National Theatre), Marathon (Wales Graduate Theatre Company), Much Ado About Nothing (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Three Sisters (Manchester Royal Exchange). His screen credits include: Agatha Raisin (Mammoth), Robin Hood (Merry Men Films Ltd) and Limbo (Jen X Films).

The full cast also includes Oliver Grant as Lucien / Mysterious Man (War Horse – UK Tour, Twelfth Night – Chichester Festival Theatre), Samuel Morgan-Grahame as Joseph / Fluffy (Sister Act – UK Tour, All My Sons – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Sioned Saunders as Gina (Sunshine on Leith -West Yorkshire Playhouse,Sleeping Beauty – Watermill Theatre), Johnson Willis as Collignon / Dufayel (Harold and Maude – Charing Cross Theatre, Dido Queen of Carthage & Salome – RSC The Swan Theatre), Caolan McCarthy as Hippolito / Elton John (The Plough and the Stars – National Theatre, The Beggar’s Opera/Alice in Wonderland – Storyhouse), Faoileann Cunningham as Georgette / Sylvia (Mary Stuart – Almeida, Ulysses – Abbey Theatre), Kate Robson-Stuart as Suzanne (Crazy For You – UK Tour, Untold Stories (Watermill Theatre), Josh Sneesby as Blind Beggar / Gnome (The Hypocrite & Birthday Bash – Royal Shakespeare Company, One Man, Two Guvnors – Adelphi Theatre/Theatre Royal Haymarket), Jez Unwin as Raphael / Bretodeau (Oliver – Leicester Curve, Once – Phoenix Theatre) and Rachel Dawson as Andamine / Philomene (The Jungle Book – UK Tour, A Little Night Music – The Watermill).

With music by Hem’s Daniel Messé, lyrics by Nathan Tysen and Daniel Messé and book by Craig Lucas, this new musical adaptation of the five-time Oscar®-nominated film written by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Guillaume Laurant, will be directed by Michael Fentiman.

The original film, Le Fabuleux Destin D’Amélie Poulain, was released in 2001, starring Audrey Tautou and Matthieu Kassovitz. Taking over $33 million in a limited theatrical release, it is to date the highest-grossing French-language film released in the United States, and one of the biggest international successes for a French film. Amélie won Best Film at the European Film Awards, four César Awards in 2002 (including Best Film and Best Director), two BAFTA Awards (including Best Original Screenplay), and was nominated for five Academy Awards, including best foreign language film.

Amélie The Musical was first staged in California in 2015 and was described as an ‘enchanting act of theatrical reinvention’ (The Los Angeles Times).

When the UK tour concludes in September 2019 Amélie The Musical will tour internationally, with dates to be announced.

Amélie The Musical, is produced by Hartshorn – Hook Productions, Selladoor Productions, The Watermill Theatre and Broadway Asia.

Greenwich Theatre – until 16th March 2019

Review by Elizabeth J Smith

4****

Suicide in Young men isn’t usually a subject we want to think about let alone spend an evening contemplating it.

No Miracles Here is a musical covering this sad and emotive subject in a humorous, lively and toe tapping way.

We meet Ray, Stan Hodgson, a young man struggling with life. He has no enthusiasm for his dead end job, constantly being pulled up on being late and compared to the confident slightly sleazy top sales man Ross, Michael Blair. Ray feels there is no point in living anymore and tonight he will end his life. He is slightly derailed by his co workers inviting him to an all night dance marathon, he figures “why not” and as the night progresses he learns that all of us have issues we are dealing with and appreciating that may help each of us deal with our own problems in a more compassionate way to our selves.

The stage is set as a live band and all the characters are part of the band and they are all very accomplished musicians. We move from the office of the kitchen company where Ray works, to the dance hall where the marathon dance is taking place and you get a real sense of the exhaustion you may feel if you were dancing all night. The dance moves are slick in their simplicity and the pace of the piece has great tempo. The costumes are very much in the Northern Soul style as is the dance moves.

Ray finds that as he reconnects with others and learns that they too have their issues his decision to commit suicide is put in question.

Written by Meghan Doyle, who also plays Ida. The play is an informed and sympathetic piece of work. With reference to the Samaritans and Mind in the free programme they show a knowledge that anyone could be suffering and if you reach out it may just help you through.

“Tighten your laces, look at the band and don’t let your knees touch the dirty ground” is the anthem of the piece and just like your told when things are tough just keep putting one foot in front of the other and it will take you to a better place eventually. You leave the theatre not sad but uplifted knowing that a little love and friendship can be all it takes to change lives.