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MAGGIE SMITH TO RETURN TO THE STAGE

IN A NEW PLAY BY CHRISTOPHER HAMPTON

A  G E R M A N   L I F E

DIRECTED BY JONATHAN KENT

Maggie Smith will return to the stage for the first time in twelve years in A German Life, a new play by Christopher Hampton drawn from the life and testimony of Brunhilde Pomsel (1911-2017). Maggie Smith, alone on stage, plays Brunhilde Pomsel.

Directed by Jonathan Kent, previews begin on 6 April 2019 with the opening night on Friday 12 April for a five-week run until 11 May.  All performances are at 7.30pm.  Booking opens today to Bridge priority members and public booking is from 10am (GMT) on 26 February. 

Design is by Anna Fleischle, lighting by Jon Clark with sound by Paul Groothuis.

Brunhilde Pomsel’s life spanned the twentieth century. She struggled to make ends meet as a secretary in Berlin during the 1930s, her many employers including a Jewish insurance broker, the German Broadcasting Corporation and, eventually, Joseph Goebbels. 

Christopher Hampton’s play is drawn from the testimony Pomsel gave when she finally broke her silence shortly before she died to a group of Austrian filmmakers, and from their documentary A German Life (Christian Krönes, Olaf Müller, Roland Schrotthofer and Florian Weigensamer, produced by Blackbox Film & Media Productions).

“I had no idea what was going on. Or very little. No more than most people. So you can’t make me feel guilty.”

Maggie Smith has had an extensive career in theatre, film and television. Her many awards include two Academy awards, five BAFTAs, four Emmys, nine Evening Standard awards and a Tony. She was made DBE in 1990 and a Companion of Honour in 2014.

A German Life

Bridge Theatre

Listings Information

Address:                           Bridge Theatre, 3 Potters Fields Park, London, SE1 2SG

Box Office:                        0333 320 0051 or boxoffice@bridgetheatre.co.uk

Tickets are priced from £15 to £69.50 with a limited number of day seats and premium seats available.  A special allocation of £15 seats are held for Young Bridge, a free scheme for those under 26. 

Access:                            0333 320 0051 or access@bridgetheatre.co.uk

Website:                           www.bridgetheatre.co.uk

Twitter:                            @_bridgetheatre

Instagram:                        _bridgetheatre

Facebook:                         facebook.com/bridgetheatrelondon

Sheffield Lyceum – until 16 February 2019

Reviewed by Lottie Davis-Browne

3***

Now in its 67th year, Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” is the worlds longest running production. It opened in London’s West End in 1952 and remains there to this present day. It began its life as a short radio play entitled “Three Blind Mice” – a theme which runs throughout the plot.

It’s a classic “who dunnit?” – a typical Agatha Christie murder mystery. The story opens with the sound of someone being murdered before the curtain opens – a Mrs. Lyons. The curtains opens to a grand hotel lounge in 1950s Berkshire; snow is starting to fall through the huge ornate stain glassed window. We meet hotel owners Mollie and Giles Ralston (Harriet Hare and Nick Baidon) – a young middle class couple who are soon to be celebrating their first wedding anniversary. They admit to knowing very little about running a hotel, having recently just re opened as the new owners of Monkswell Manor Guest House.

Soon their first guest arrives, a hyperactive young gentleman by the name of Christopher Wren (Lewis Chandler) – who claims he was named after an architect and that he is also himself training to be one. He acts in a very peculiar manner (he is also camper than Brighton Pride and rather humorous with it too!), admitting later on it the plot that he is running away from something but refuses to say what. He also has a strange passion for nursery rhymes….As the rest of the guests arrive – Miss Casewell (Saskia Vaigncourt-Strallen) – a masculine and somewhat mysterious woman who speaks offhandedly regarding her childhood memories, Mrs Boyle (Gwyneth Strong) an older lady who has a snooty manner and is impossible to please, Mr. Paravicini (David Alcock) – the only guest who hasn’t made an advance booking but claims that his car got over turned in the snow and Major Metalf (John Griffiths) – an older gentleman who is retired from the army. Soon the guests discover that they are stuck in Monkswell Manor Guest House following the terrible snow storm. The news of the murder of a Mrs Lyons soon circulates the guest house, with the radio news reader describing the last person seen on the scene of the murder – dark overcoat, dark felt hat and a pale coloured scarf – all of which the hotel guests were wearing on arrival. Everyone is a suspect and nobody is safe…….it isn’t long until a second murder takes place, this time within the guest house itself. Sgt. Trotter (Geoff Arnold) is soon on the case, quizzing each of the guests and Hotel owners in turn to find out whodunnit.

Each scene is set within the cosy lounge of the Guest House; an ornate and typical grand country establishment in 1950s decor (the era the story takes place in); the wooden panelling, the grand open fire, ornate stain glass windows all add to the eerie suspense of this long running suspense drama. It was Rocket Scenery’s set construction and the realistic feel of the grand hotel lounge which maintained my interest in this somewhat exhausted feeling production. Forget “whodunnit” it was more a case of “whydoit”?

The story was flowing at just the right pace until we started to meet the guests, where from then onwards it felt somewhat rushed, not giving us much chance to get a feel for each character. The only exception was that of Christopher Wren (Chandler) who at least brought several laughs to the otherwise worn out storyline.

Whilst I’ve always loved the idea of a murder mystery, being a huge Cluedo fan as a child, this production sadly didn’t quite live up to my expectations, however, older audience members clearly thought otherwise.

Once the answer to whodunnit was revealed, the audience were sworn to keep the secret from those who have yet to see it. However as someone who’d not seen it before, I’d managed to guess well before the end.

If you’re a fan of Agatha Christie then this is a must see, however for the younger generation who aren’t big AC fans my advice is – don’t fall for the (mouse) trap of seeing this touring production.

King’s Theatre, Edinburgh – until 16^th February.

Reviewed by James Knight

5*****

When Serge (Nigel Havers) spends a fortune on a piece of modern art, it sparks a conflict between him and his best friends, brash Marc (Denis Lawson) and tolerant Yvan (Stephen Tompkinson).

‘Art’ first premiered in the UK back in 1996 at the Wyndham’s Theatre in London, and this touring version of the recent Old Vic production has lost none of the biting wit of the original. The performances of all three actors show them at the peak of their abilities, particularly Tompkinson, whose epic five-minute rant about the difficulties of arranging wedding invitations with mothers, step-mothers and his fiancée, was not only a highlight of the show, but resulted in well-earned applause.

The entire show rests on the shifting dynamics of the trio, who has the upper hand in the argument of the painting, and then later, their friendship. Is Marc’s disdain for the painting (a white background, with white diagonal lines) justified, or cannot he not see the effort it took to create the piece? Is Yvan too willing to surrender his opinions to others? Is Serge just trying too hard to seem more important and ‘cultured’ than he is? What does it mean to be ‘cultured’, and how can it have any meaning where opinion of artwork should be subjective?

The dialogue rattles through with extraordinary pace (see the five-minute rant above), a three-way tennis match of comradery and antagonisation, and all three actors are clearly enjoying batting the ball at each other, whether arguing about the meaning of the phrase ‘a man before his time’ or who has changed the most and for the worse over the years. Havers’ delivery of ‘the way she waves away cigarette smoke’ is a masterclass of laidback disdain. It’s clear these men need each other, but how, after all the dust has settled, could they piece it back together?

Everything else in the production is suitably stripped back – an almost blank set and some clever lighting design allow the audience to focus solely on the interactions of the three friends.

Despite playwright Yasmina Reza’s assertion that this play is not a comedy, ‘Art’ is a witty, often profound examination of its characters, and, no doubt like the art depicted within it, will reward audiences with different revelations upon repeat viewings.

Mayflower Theatre Southampton – until 16 February 2019

Reviewed by Jo Gordon

4****

Adapted from the 1997 film of the same name, the musical still stays true to its gritty northern roots following a group of unemployed Sheffield steel workers and the struggles they face from the impact of job loss in the 80’s. With everyone desperate for cash and seeing how popular a visit from the Chippendales was amongst the local ladies, they come up with a plan to put on their own strip event but up the game by promising to go the Full Monty causing many hilarious moments along the way

It covers all bases from sexuality, relationship breakups, mental health issues and body image but with a comedic edge to it that will raise a giggle at what would be a normally inappropriate time to let out a chuckle or two. The language can be fruity at times and the cigarettes they smoke do fill the theatre with quite an aroma but it all adds to its authenticity of that situation in that point in time.

From the second the lead characters Gaz (Gary Lucy) and his son (Fraser Kelly) step onto the stage there is a palpable excitement from the audience and if you look hard enough you may even find a few gents in amongst a mainly female viewing demographic!

After a few auditions Gaz finds his troupe and Gerald (Andrew Dunn), Horse (Louis Emerick), Lomper (Joe Gill), Dave (Kai Owen) and Guy (James Redmond) begin practising for the big night. There is a VERY funny scene that takes us into the interval but I won’t spoil it (bit of an awkward moment sat next to my 21 year old daughter but we eventually made eye contact again!) 

And as the show comes to an end the audience get whipped up into a frenzy to encourage the lads to achieve their goal. And achieve it they do in a spectacular manner.

It has a great musical inventory throughout the show including the original films favourite hit from Hot Chocolate “You Sexy Thing” and with its incredibly clever industrial set makes for a very enjoyable show that means you can forgive the odd dodgy accent. 

A great show to see with a gaggle of friends and despite what the song says – they do not leave their hat on!

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford – until 16th February

Reviewed by Antonia Hebbert

3***

It’s the late 1930’s at an Alpine railway station, assorted British travellers are waiting for their train. As arm banded Nazi types stalk menacingly about, a young English woman Iris (Lorna Fitzgerald) strikes up a friendship with the elderly Miss Froy (Juliet Mills). They get on the train, Iris falls asleep and when she wakes up… her new friend has gone. Everyone denies having seen her, including the people in the same compartment.

Whatever is going on? Is she deluded, due to a head injury? Are they deluded, or in denial? Or could it be that something more sinister is afoot? This play is based on Alfred Hitchcock’s 1938 film of the same name, and it’s a jolly romp. It’s brought to you by the Classic Thriller Theatre Company, which unabashedly aims to entertain rather than challenge your intellect. So as you would hope, the set is fabulous – the station scenes especially give a sense of a cavernous, cast-iron roofed space receding into a smoky, steamy distance (design by Morgan Large, lighting by Charlie Morgan Jones). The train compartments are neatly done, with the space in front serving as the corridor, where actors mostly remember to bob about a bit to give the impression of being on a moving train. Tables and chairs are swiftly brought on and off to transform the space into the buffet car, without interrupting the flow.

Among the characters, we meet a sinister Germanic doctor (Maxwell Caulfield), a flamboyant but dubious Italian magician (Mark Carlisle), two English chaps who are obsessed with cricket (Robert Duncan and Ben Nealon), and an enigmatic nun (Natalie Law). You get the picture. There are jokes about foreigners not understanding English, and the Brits are generally plucky, except for the tetchy solicitor (Philip Lowrie, aka Dennis Tanner in Coronation Street) who gets (spoiler alert) his just deserts. It could be just your cup of tea, but even if you’re not so keen on the cliches, it’s nice to look at. And it will get you looking up the old Hitchcock film, to see what subtle tricks the master used to make it one of the highest-ranked British films ever.

Chapter, Cardiff – until 16 February 2019

Reviewed by Alex Browning

4****

Chippy Lane Productions present Blue in a world premier starting in Cardiff’s Chapter Gallery, a setting close to home, Carmarthenshire.

Upon arrival you are invited into an intimate setting, the set with a traditional homely feel has all the qualities of a traditional lounge-diner, with the addition of a lovely, blue, door. The lighting further added to the experience with a intimate array of lamps and lights, all glowing with a traditional yellow-lighting. A rather soothing setting, accompanied by some tranquil sounds of birds and other elements of the outside.

The show consisted of a 90 minute running time with no intermission, which leads to a very intimate experience of the production, allowing you to form a close bond to the cast with no influence from any other audience member. The cast is comprised of only four actors, Nia Roberts, Sophie Melville, Jordan Bernarde, Gwydion Rhys, all of whom you feel an intimate relationship to through whole performance. In particular Nia Roberts in the role of Lisa, who really excels in her performance and by the end of the production had to wipe the heartfelt tears from her face.

A particular favorite scene would be between the two male characters, Jordan Bernarde as Thomas and Qwydion Rhys as Huw, .This was a very intimate moment in which the two men discuss some very heartfelt topics. This scene provided a turning point from the production being relatable yet funny and happily intimate, to being relatable on a much more emotional level.

As the production is set on the coast of South Wales there are some elements that may leave viewers from other locations a little confused, such as some jokes about inter-city rivalry and mentions of specific locations in the welsh language. However, this is not too largely influenced by this and is still very effortless to follow.

Wether a Welsh local or a London Viewer the production of Blue is a brilliant show to watch, and allows the audience to express some important more troubling issues.

Phil McIntyre and Frederick Warne & Co Limited

proudly present

THE BEATRIX POTTER MUSICAL ADVENTURE

The magical Tales of Peter Rabbit™ and Friends

as you’ve never seen them before!

FEATURING THE VOICES OF

GRIFF RHYS JONES AND MIRIAM MARGOLYES

“Fantastic Puppetry, theatrical family magic”

★★★★

THE TIMES

★★★★

MAIL ON SUNDAY

THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET LONDON

3 – 28 APRIL 2019

TICKET PRE-SALE – 12 FEBRUARY AT 10AM

GENERAL ON-SALE – 15 FEBRUARY AT 10AM

FROM PETERRABBITLIVE.COM

Hop onto your seats and immerse yourself in the magical world of Beatrix Potter. Watch with delight as your favourite stories and most beloved characters are brought to life on the stage in this theatrical spectacular, with beautifully handcrafted puppets, enchanting original songs and a sprinkle of magic. Look out for the ferocious Mr. McGregor, reach heady heights with Jemima Puddle-Duck, do the laundry with Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and of course, fall in love with the mischievous Peter Rabbit.

Opening at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 3 April, the London season of Where is Peter Rabbit™? follows the hugely popular runs at the Old Laundry Theatre in Bowness-On-Windermere which premiered in June 2016 and has enthralled audiences and garnered rave reviews ever since.

Prick up your ears to the delectable voices of Olivier Award-winning actor and comedian Griff Rhys Jones and BAFTA Award-winning actor and national treasure Miriam Margoyles. Marvel at the delightful dancing and entrancing set and shake your tail to the 14 joyful songs, with lyrics by one of Britain’s most beloved playwrights, Sir Alan Ayckbourn and music by Steven Edis.

Handed down from generation to generation, these classic stories hold a special place in our hearts, so whether a warm hug of nostalgia, or the perfect introduction to Beatrix Potter’s Tales, this is a truly charming production for the whole family to cherish and enjoy together. Devised by Roger Glossop, and directed and choreographed by Sheila Carter, this innovative show combines live performance, projection and recording in a thoroughly interactive brand-new magical musical, entirely based on the original Tales by Beatrix Potter.

Griff Rhys Jones said: “The characters and the strange life of animals are so well observed by Beatrix Potter and not just in her beautiful illustrations. I don’t think we cherish things quite as much as we do children’s books, handed down like golden gems; and it’s remarkable to think that these stories are still so loved.”

Miriam Margoyles said: “The characters leap into your heart. There is a directness and a freshness that comes through the text and they will live for all time. It’s a window back into childhood.”

Thomas Merrington, Creative Consultant on behalf of Frederick Warne & Co said “We are so thrilled that this production of Where is Peter Rabbit? will be making it’s West End debut this Easter. Fans of all ages will fall in love with this beautiful production – it really brings the characters to life in the most charming way”.

LISTINGS  INFORMATION

THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET LONDON

Opening Performance: 3 April 2019, 11:00am

Tickets: From £15

Box Office: 020 7930 8800

To book tickets please visit: PeterRabbitLive.com

Twitter: @PeterRabbitLive

Instagram: @PeterRabbitLive

Facebook: @PeterRabbitLive

About Peter Rabbit™ and Beatrix Potter

The Tale of Peter Rabbit is one of the world’s best-loved children’s books and was created by author and illustrator, Beatrix Potter in 1902.  The story has never been out of print since it was first published by Frederick Warne & Co. (today an imprint of Penguin Random House) and has sold in excess of 45 million copies globally.  Beatrix Potter personally oversaw the launch of subsequent products, making Peter Rabbit the oldest licensed character in history.  Today over 2 million of her ‘little books’ are sold globally every year, whilst Peter Rabbit has appeared in books and products in more than 110 countries throughout the world. 

Penguin Ventures (part of the Penguin Random House Group) is committed to growing and protecting The Peter Rabbit™ brand and manages The World of Beatrix Potter™, one of the world’s longest running and largest international literature-based licensing programmes.

www.peterrabbit.com

PETER RABBIT™ © Frederick Warne & Co. 2018. PETER RABBIT and BEATRIX POTTER are trademarks of Frederick Warne & Co., a Penguin Random House Company.  All rights reserved.

LONDON’S FIRST PURPOSE BUILT IMMERSIVE THEATRE

SPACE 18

OPENS IN THE WEST END

LAUNCHING WITH THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED

GROUNDBREAKING IMMERSIVE GAMING EXPERIENCE

OPENING 13 APRIL 2019

FOR ITS DEADLY WORLD PREMIERE

Big Dreamer Productions unveils Space 18, the huge new theatrical complex built specifically to house immersive and experiential theatre. Combining 7 buildings, 35 floors and more than 25,000 square foot, the venue, which is located at 39-41 New Oxford Street, will open on 13 April 2019 with their inaugural production Variant 31, Europe’s largest immersive gaming experience.

The opening production will feature a cast of 120 highly trained professional actors; experienced in parkour, aerial acrobatics, stage combat, fire poi, and intense full contact performances, makingVariant 31 the largest employer of actors and theatrical technicians currently running in the West End.

Dalton Dale, Artistic Director, Big Dreamer Productions and creator of Variant 31 said, “I wanted to create an incredible experience unlike anything that has been seen before, allowing audiences to really get involved in the production. What we’ve created here in Space 18 is the possibility for the future of theatrical entertainment to go further than it has ever gone before.

Everything inside is custom made specifically for this production, from the sets to the lighting, the music, and the technology and it gives me great pleasure knowing you can’t see any part of this anywhere else on Earth.

We will also welcome other artists and companies to use our incredible asset for their own productions, and hope to help foster those relationships and creative innovations for years to come.”

Unlike traditional theatre, Dalton Dale and his co-producers wish to explore clever and innovative techniques to engage today’s audiences who simply crave more than the traditional theatrical experience. By creating this ambitious new venue, they have provided a world of possibilities for audiences to fully immerse themselves and explore the colossal structure, which occupies an entire city block in the heart of London’s West End.

VARIANT 31

Variant 31 is a 90 minute long adrenaline-fuelled live-action game, in which players navigate through the expansive 25,000 square foot labyrinth. Once inside this immaculately detailed hidden world, the aim is simply to survive and escape. Work in teams to solve group challenges and play individually to complete personal objectives and puzzles to forge your own path to freedom. Those seeking safety in numbers are free to work together and find their way through the experience as a group.

Get off the couch, leave the video game behind and star in your own story.

Do you have what it takes to stay alive?

Welcome to Toxico Technologies’ top-secret live demonstration of their latest weapon in modern warfare, ‘Variant 31’; a serum so powerful it allows the user to control death itself.

The demonstration goes horribly awry and turmoil ensues as reanimated cadavers go on the warpath. Their sole mission is to hunt and destroy the invading enemy… you.

Do you have the skills and the stamina to overcome an array of terrifying creatures, and make it out alive? Or will the sheer terror be too much to handle….

Unleash the horror, choose your adventure and #AimForTheHead

Unlike any other immersive experience, audiences have the ability to traverse the massive arena however they so choose, utilizing custom-built state of the art wearable technology. Up, down, left and right – the journey you take through the apocalyptic world truly is your own; with over a thousand possible routes, no two adventures will be the same. From unlocking secrets, finding hidden passageways, interacting with characters in one-on-one experiences and piecing together the story for a narrative gaming experience that is uniquely your own.

In addition to Club Z, the game will feature four expertly themed bars, one in the beginning, and three within the game area. Each ticket includes a complimentary drink, which is redeemable at the start from the Serum Dispensary. We find partaking in a little liquid courage before the terror begins, helps to calm the nerves. Once inside the game, you may stop off at any of the three Quarantine check points as often as you’d like, take a breather, and recharge before you bolt back into the madness.

CLUB Z

In addition to the incredible feat of creating and opening this new venue, and live action game, Dale is breathing new life to a world famous London treasure that has been closed for over a decade. Space 18 is partly comprised from the former nightclub The End, a location that was famous for it’s music raves; featuring such performers as Fatboy Slim and The Scissor Sisters. Alongside Variant 31, the venue will reopen the club space as Club Z, where audiences can continue to delight in the immersive world; featuring immersive performers, stunning set design by Secret Cinema’s Tim McQuillen-Wright, guest DJ’s and a brand new first class cocktail menu.

With every admission to Variant 31, audience members get access to the one of a kind nightlife experience in Club Z, which will host themed nights, guest artists, burlesque and circus. Every part of this experience is a show. The walls move, the bar floats and the drinks bubble and flame like magic. Club Z will also be open to private parties, corporate events, birthday and hen/stag do celebrations.   

LISTINGS

VARIANT 31 – AN IMMERSIVE SURVIVAL EXPERIENCE

FROM 13 APRIL 2019

SPACE 18

Tickets: From £39

Bookings Line: 0844 815 7141 (KX Tickets)

Open from 9am until 9pm every day. Calls cost 7p per minute, plus your standard network rate

Box Office: Onsite box office open from April 2019

Performances:

Thursdays & Sundays – 6pm, 6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm

Fridays – 6pm, 6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm, 8.30pm, 9pm

Saturdays – 6pm, 6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm, 8.30pm, 9pm, 9.30pm

Running Time: 90 Minutes

Address: Space 18, 39-41 New Oxford Street, London, WC1A 1BN

Website: Variant31.com

Twitter/Facebook/Instagram: @Variant31

#AimForTheHead

#TheExperimentBegins

#ControlYourFear

#TheChoiceIsYours

Club Z Opening Hours:

Thursdays & Sundays – 6pm-11pm

Fridays – 6pm-12am

Saturdays – 6pm-12.30am 

Age Requirement: Suitable for 18+

Warning: This experience is only suitable for the brave and adventurous. The production utilizes strong language, simulated violence, actor nudity and is a high adrenaline, fast paced, full contact survival game. This experience is not meant for the faint of heart, expectant mothers, claustrophobic, asthmatic, or those suffering from recent surgery, trauma, phobias, heart conditions, PTSD or any other mental, physical, or medical afflictions. Enter at your own risk.

Variant 31 is produced by Big Dreamer Productions and Stephen McGill Productions, in association with Rachel Kraftman Productions and MDR Productions.

NEW CAST FOR

THE AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL CALENDAR GIRLS

BY GARY BARLOW AND TIM FIRTH

SARAH JANE BUCKLEY, SUE DEVANEY, JULIA HILLS, JUDY HOLT

& LISA MAXWELL

TO JOIN RUTH MADOC AND REBECCA STORM

David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers are delighted to announce the new cast for the UK & Ireland Tour of Gary Barlow and Tim Firth’s musical comedy, CALENDAR GIRLS The Musical, based on the true story, the film and the award-winning play by Tim Firth.

Starring Sarah Jane Buckley (Blood Brothers and Kathy Barnes in Hollyoaks) as Annie, Sue Devaney (the soon to be seen new Russell T. Davies series Years and Years, Jane in Dinnerladies, Liz Harker in Casualty, Debbie Webster in Coronation Street and Rosie in the musical Mamma Mia!) as Cora, Julia Hills (Doctor Kemp in Broadchurch, Annabelle Shrivener in The Archers) as Ruth, Judy Holt (Cold Feet, Scott & Bailey) as Marie and Lisa Maxwell (panellist on Loose Women, Tracey Donovan in Hollyoaks, Samantha Nixon in The Bill and various roles in The Les Dennis Laughter Show and The Russ Abbot Show) as Celia, the new cast will make their debut at Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, on 23 April 2019.

Ruth Madoc and Rebecca Storm will continue to play Jessie and Chris respectively.

Karen Dunbar will return to play Cora when the production visits Glasgow’s King’s Theatre from 11-22 June.

Also in the cast are Derek Elroy as Lawrence, Phil Corbitt as John, Ian Mercer as Rod, Sebastian Aberneri as Colin, Alan Stocks as Denis, Pauline Daniels as Lady Cravenshire, Ellie Leah as Miss Wilson, Danny Howker as Danny, Isabel Caswell as Jenny and Tyler Dobbs as Tommo.

The critically acclaimed and award-winning production played a six-month London season at the Phoenix Theatre in 2017, and, before that, this musical comedy played sold-out seasons in Leeds and Manchester.   

Gary Barlow and Tim Firth grew up in the same village in the North of England and have been friends for 25 years.  With Take That, Gary has written and co-written 14 number one singles, has sold over 50 million records worldwide and is a six times Ivor Novello Award winner.  Tim has won the Olivier Award and UK Theatre Award for Best New Musical, and the British Comedy Awards Best Comedy Film for Calendar Girls.

CALENDAR GIRLS THE MUSICAL is inspired by the true story of a group of ladies, who decide to appear nude for a Women’s Institute calendar in order to raise funds to buy a settee for their local hospital, in memory of one of their husbands, and have to date raised almost £5million for Bloodwise. This musical comedy shows life in their Yorkshire village, how it happened, the effect on husbands, sons and daughters, and how a group of ordinary ladies achieved something extraordinary. 

Bloodwise, the UK’s specialist blood cancer charity, will continue to receive monies from this production.

CALENDAR GIRLS The Musical is directed by Matt Ryan and designed by Robert Jones, with comedy staging by Jos Houben, movement by Lucy Hind and casting by Sarah Bird.

Website: www.calendargirlsthemusical.com

Facebook: @thegirlsmusical

Twitter: @thegirlsmusical

2019 TOUR SCHEDULE

23 – 27 April                           Cliffs Pavilion, Southend                                           01702 351135

                                                www.thecliffspavilion.co.uk

30 April – 11 May                   Wales Millennium Centre                                            02920 636464

                                               www.wmc.org.uk

14 – 25 May                           Grand Opera House, Belfast                                      02890 241919

                                               www.goh.co.uk

28 May – 8 June                     Birmingham Hippodrome                                           0844 338 5000         

                                               www.birminghamhippodrome.com

11 – 22 June                          Glasgow King’s Theatre                                             0844 871 7648

                                               www.atgtickets.com/kings-theatre

25 June – 6 July                     Theatre Royal, Nottingham                                         0115 989 5555         

                                                www.trch.co.uk

9 July – 20 July                      Bristol Hippodrome                                                   0844 871 3012

                                               www.atgtickets.com/bristol

23 July – 3 August                  Theatre Royal Plymouth                                             01752 267222

                                               www.theatreroyal.com

6 – 10 August                         Congress Theatre, Eastbourne                                   01323 412000

                                               www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk

17 – 21 September                 Bournemouth Pavilion                                                0844 576 3000         

                                               www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk

24 – 28 September                 Wolverhampton Grand                                               01902 42 92 12

                                               www.grandtheatre.co.uk

8 – 12 October                       Royal & Derngate Northampton                                  01604 624811

                                               www.royalandderngate.co.uk

15 – 19 October                     Blackpool Opera House                                             0844 856 1111

                                               www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk

22 – 26 October                     Ipswich Regent Theatre                                              01473 433100

                                               www.ipswichregent.com                                            

29 October – 2 November       Chester Storyhouse                                                   01244 409113          

                                               www.storyhouse.com

BIRMINGHAM STAGE COMPANY’S

HORRIBLE HISTORIES: BARMY BRITAIN – PART FOUR! RETURNS TO THE WEST END THIS SUMMER

Birmingham Stage Company Presents

Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – Part Four!     

Apollo Theatre

1 – 31 August 2019

Birmingham Stage Company today announces the return of Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – Part Four! to the Apollo Theatre marking Horrible Histories’ eighth year in the West End.  Barmy Four was the most successful show in the series so far and enjoyed a sell-out summer season. It opens this year on 6 August, with previews from 1 August, and runs until 31 August.

We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone is dead! So it’s time to prepare yourselves for Horrible Histories live on stage with Barmy Britain – Part Four!

Be reduced to rubble by the ruthless Romans! Would you be shaken or stirred by Richard III? Will Queen Elizabeth I endure her terrible teeth? Would you be hanged by King James I for being a witch? Mount a mutiny against King Henry VIII! See Mary Tudor knock the spots off Mary Queen of Scots! Peep into the world of Samuel Pepys and help Georgian detectives find the headless man! Take a trip into the night with the night soil men and discover how to survive the first ever train ride!

After seven sensational years in the West End, Barmy Britain is back!

Terry Deary is the creator of Horrible Histories and one of Britain’s best-selling authors of the 21st Century. He’s also the tenth most-borrowed author in British libraries. There are around 50 Horrible Histories titles with total sales of 25 million in 40 countries. Deary is also the author of over 200 fiction and non-fiction books for young people including his series of books Dangerous Days.

Neal Fosteris Actor/Manager of Birmingham Stage Company which since its foundation in 1992 has staged over eighty productions. The company has become one of the world’s leading producers of theatre for children and their families, including Horrible Histories Live on Stage for fourteen years in the UK, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia. Foster has written and directed all of the most recent Horrible Histories shows including Barmy Britain – Parts One, Two, Three and Four (Garrick Theatre, Apollo Theatre and Sydney Opera House); Groovy Greeks and Incredible Invaders for a national tour and Wicked Warwick at Warwick Castle. His first fictional adaptation was David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny,which transferred to the Garrick Theatre and then the Harold Pinter Theatre following a UK tour and was nominated for a Best Entertainment and Family Olivier Award. He has also adapted and directed David Walliams’ Awful Auntie and the forthcoming Billionaire Boy which will open this autumn. His latest production is the world première of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon which is touring nationally.

Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – Part Four! is directed by Neal Foster, designed by Jackie Trousdale, lighting by Jason Taylor, sound by Nick Sagar and music by Matthew Scott.

BIRMINGHAM STAGE COMPANY is the award-winning producers of David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny and Awful Auntie. The company produce all the Horrible Histories shows live on stage including the West End productions of Barmy Britain. Its latest UK tour is the world premiere of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon. The company also performs internationally, including David Almond’s Skellig on Broadway, George’s Marvellous Medicine in New Delhi and Horrible Histories at the Sydney Opera House.

www.barmybritain.com

Twitter: @HHLiveOnStage

Facebook: birminghamstage

Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – Part Four!                                                                                     Listings

Apollo Theatre

31 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7EZ 

Box Office: 0330 333 4809

www.nimaxtheatres.com

1 – 31 August 2019

Running time: 70 minutes

Horrible Histories shows are recommended for ages 5 to 105 (106 year olds may not like them)