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Spring into a new season of dance at Leeds’

Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre

Yorke Dance Project | Puss in Boots | Ballet Central

James Cousins Company | Cas Public | Expressions 2019

March – July

The Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds has announced a spectacular new spring season of dance, opening in March 2019. International dance company Cas Public will visit from across the Atlantic, and the popular James Cousins Company and Yorke Dance Project will both return to the Leeds dance scene. The theatre will also host Easter holiday performances of Northern Ballet’s enchanting new production for children, Puss in Boots.

On 20 March 2019 Yorke Dance Project returns to Leeds as they celebrate 20 years of performing exceptional dance. Showcasing pieces from world-renowned choreographers Sir Kenneth MacMillan and Robert Cohan, alongside exciting dance from new artists in the UK and USA, this celebratory programme promises a rare evening of engaging and inspiring contemporary ballet. 

Back by popular demand, families can look forward to the return of Northern Ballet’s Puss in Bootsfrom 02 to 05 April 2019. Following its sell-out success at the World Première in October 2018,Northern Ballet’s storytelling magic, colourful costumes and world-class dancing make this a perfect treat for little ones during the Easter holidays.

On 02 May 2019 James Cousins Company returns to Leeds for the first time since 2015 withEpilogues, weaving three duets into one emotive evening of dance. Featuring two never-before-seen works alongside the astounding Within Her Eyes, in which the female dancer never once touches the floor, this is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

In their debut Leeds performance, international dance company Cas Public will perform 9 at the theatre on 03 June 2019. Visiting from their home city of Montréal, they have earned widespread recognition in both Canada and on the world stage. Their unmissable production of 9 is inspired bycompany dancer Cai Glover’s hearing impairment, and features the music of Beethoven’s iconic 9^thSymphony.

In addition, Northern Ballet & Partners will host Expressions on 10 and 11 July 2019. Returning for its sixth year, this platform showcases exciting dance from community and professional inclusive dance groups from across Yorkshire and beyond, and this year will feature Anjali Dance Company in a hotly-anticipated return to the theatre. More information on these performances will be available soon, see theatreleeds.com for updates.

The season will also host graduate dance company Ballet Central on 14 April 2019, showcasing thenext generation of dancers from London’s Central School of Ballet in a varied programme of classical ballet and contemporary dance.

The Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre’s spring season is an unmissable opportunity to see high quality dance at great value, performed in a local intimate setting. A season multi-buy offer is also available.Tickets can be booked online at theatreleeds.com, by calling the Box Office on 0113 220 8008 or in person at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Northern Ballet, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7PA.

T I N A – T H E   T I N A   T U R N E R   M U S I C A L

and

GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS

PRESENT

FIRST SINGLE FROM UPCOMING ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM

WITH ACCOMPANYING MUSIC VIDEO

The first single from the upcoming TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL cast album is released today, to download and stream, by the Producers of Tina – The Tina Turner Musical andGhostlight Records (5 February 2019) featuring Adrienne Warren performing the iconic song River Deep – Mountain High.  Warren, who has played the role in the hit West End production since its world premiere, is featured on an accompanying music video of the single also released today.  Click here to download and stream the single and here to watch the music video. 

Tina Turner famously recorded River Deep – Mountain High in 1966, produced by Phil Spector as his ground-breaking masterpiece using his trademark Wall of Sound music technique.  Turner would later recall, “I must have sung that 500,000 times. I was drenched with sweat. I had to take my shirt off and stand there in my bra to sing”.  George Harrison, who worked with Spector when he later produced Let It Be for the Beatles, would later call it ‘a perfect record from start to finish’.

River Deep – Mountain High was recorded in January 2019 at Angel Studios and produced byTINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL’s Musical Supervisor, Nicholas Skilbeck.

Tina Turner said: “At that very difficult time in my life, recording this song opened my eyes topossibilities. I felt liberated, excited, ready to challenge myself vocally. River Deep – Mountain High introduced me to the way I wanted to sing. I am thrilled that Adrienne has picked up the mantle and not only risen to the challenge but made this moment one of my very favourites in the musical. It is so right that this is the first single to be released from our cast album. She makes me very proud”.

Tali Pelman, Producer, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical said: ”River Deep – Mountain High is a pivotal moment in the musical where Tina finds her voice as a solo artist. It was a turning point for Tina personally and is an epic moment in our show. It demands not only an extraordinary vocal talent but immense passion and fearlessness. To hear and watch Adrienne perform this song night after night is electrifying, and I am thrilled to have it captured here.”

Kurt Deutsch, Founder of Ghostlight Records said: “Tina – The Tina Turner Musical has taken London by storm and, starting with this single, the world will get to hear what everyone has been talking about. Tina Turner is a music icon and Ghostlight Records is proud to create a cast album of this triumphant musical, its magnificent songs, and of course the star-making performance of leading lady Adrienne Warren.”

Last month over 200,000 new tickets were released for sale for TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL, the show based on the life of legendary artist Tina Turner,with bookings now being taken at the Aldwych Theatre to Saturday 21 December 2019.  

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd and written by Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins,TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is choreographed by Anthony van Laast, with set and costume designs by Mark Thompson, musical supervision by Nicholas Skilbeck, lighting byBruno Poet,sound by Nevin Steinberg, projection design by Jeff Sugg and orchestrations byEthan Popp. 

From humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee, to her transformation into the global Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Tina Turner didn’t just break the rules, she rewrote them. This new stage musical, presented in association with Tina Turner herself, reveals the untold story of a woman who dared to defy the bounds of her age, gender and race. 

The critically acclaimed production received its world premiere in April 2018 in London and subsequently has broken all Box Office records at the Aldwych Theatre.  Next month, the German premiere of TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL begins performances at the Stage Operettenhaus in Hamburg and the musical will have its Broadway premiere in Autumn 2019.

TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is produced by Stage Entertainment, Joop van den Ende and Tali Pelman, in association with Tina Turner.Adrienne Warren is appearing with the support of UK Equity, incorporating the Variety Artistes’ Federation, pursuant to an exchange program between American Equity and UK Equity.

Ghostlight Records has become the leading independent force in Original Broadway Cast Recordings – building a library of over 200 records over the past 19 years, featuring some of the most successful Broadway musicals and solo albums by Broadway’s brightest stars. Founded by Grammy Award winner Kurt Deutsch, Ghostlight has won Grammy Awards for The Book of Mormon, In the Heights and Beautiful – The Carole King Musical.  Recent notable cast recordings include the 2018 Tony winner for Best Musical, The Band’s Visit,and the blockbuster viral sensation Be More Chill. Ghostlight has also released solo albums from Patti LuPone, Kelli O’Hara, Sutton Foster, Billy Porter, and more. The label continues to support the new generation of musical theatre composers and has developed extensive relationships with Jason Robert Brown, Michael John LaChiusa, and David Yazbek, as well as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Pasek & Paul, Tom Kitt, Joe Iconis, and Shaina Taub. Ghostlight Records is part of the Arts Music division at Warner Music Group.

www.GhostlightRecords.com

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Theatre:                           Aldwych Theatre, Aldwych, London WC2B 4DF

Dates:                              now booking to 21 December 2019

Performances:                   Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm, Thursdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm

Box Office:                         0845 200 7981

Website:                           www.tinathemusical.com

Facebook:                         TinaTheMusical

Twitter:                            TinaTheMusical

Instagram:                        TinaTheMusical

BROADCASTER PADDY O’CONNELL HOSTS

POST SHOW Q & A WITH

COMPANY STARS ROSALIE CRAIG & PATTI LUPONE

& AWARD-WINNING

DIRECTOR MARIANNE ELLIOTT

AN EVENING TO CELEBRATE

TWO CRITICS’ CIRCLE AWARDS &

THE RELEASE OF THE COMPANY CAST RECORDING

Monday 11 February 2019

Gielgud Theatre

To celebrate last week’s successful release of the cast recording as well as two prestigious Critics’ Circle Awardsfor Marianne Elliott’s critically acclaimed production of Company, broadcaster Paddy O’Connell will be hosting a post-show Q and A at the Gielgud Theatre, with two of the show’s stars – Rosalie Craig, who plays the central role of Bobbie and Patti LuPone, who plays Joanne.  They will be joined by the Olivier and Tony award-winning director, Marianne Elliott who conceived and directed this extraordinary production, which has also received two Evening Standard Theatre Awards.  Company runs in the West End until 30 March 2019. 

Paddy O’Connell, who presents BBC Radio 4’s Sunday morning programme, Broadcasting House said:   ‘I’m so excited to have the opportunity to speak to these three glorious women, all at the top of their game.  This amazing and unique production of Company has been one of the theatre highlights of my year, and I’m thrilled to be given the opportunity to ask  them questions about the show, their careers and throwing the floor open to the audience.’

The Q & A is free to anyone who attends Company at the Gielgud Theatre on 11 February 2019.

The full cast of Company is: Rosalie Craig as Bobbie, Patti LuPone as Joanne, Mel Giedroyc as Sarah, Jonathan Bailey as Jamie, George Blagden as PJ, Ashley Campbell as Peter, Richard Fleeshman as Andy, Alex Gaumondas Paul, Richard Henders as David, Ben Lewis as Larry, Daisy Maywood as Susan, Jennifer Saayeng as Jenny,Matthew Seadon-Young as Theo and Gavin Spokes as Harry.  Joining them are:  Michael Colbourne, Francesca Ellis, Ewan Gillies, Grant Neal and Jaimie Pruden.

At Bobbie’s 35^th birthday party all her friends are wondering why she isn’t married; why she can’t find the right man and why she hasn’t settled down to have a family. The multi-award winning musical comedy about life, love and marriage includes Stephen Sondheim’s iconic songs include The Ladies who Lunch, Being Alive, Side by Side and You Could Drive a Person Crazy.

Rosalie Craig won the Evening Standard Theatre award for Best Musical Performance for her role as Bobbie inCompany.  Her theatre credits include:  Jez Butterworth’s award-winning play, The Ferryman at the Gielgud Theatre Marianne Elliott’s production of The Light Princess, for which she won the Evening Standard Award for Best Actress in a Musical and was nominated for an Olivier Award, Rosalind in As You Like It, The Threepenny Opera and London Road – all for the National Theatre.  Other theatre includes: City of Angels for the Donmar, Lady Macduff in Macbeth for Manchester International Festival, directed by Kenneth Branagh, Sylvia in the musical Finding Neverland and the title role in Miss Julie at Chichester Festival Theatre.  Her film and TV credits include: London Road, Spooks, and Casanova.

Patti LuPone, who performed Don’t Cry for me Argentina at the Grammy’s last year returned to London to make her first appearance in a West End musical for over 25 years with this production of Company.  Her previous London theatre credits include originating the role of Fantine in Les Misérables, an Olivier-award winning role in The Cradle will Rock and creating the role of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard.  Her numerous Broadway credits  include: originating the role of Eva Peron in Evita, Gypsy,  Sweeney Todd, Anything Goes, and Master Class.  Her many films include: Heist, Driving Miss Daisy and Witness.  TV includes: American Horror Story, Glee, Ugly Betty, Will & Grace (as herself), Frasier (1998 Emmy nomination) and Law & Order.  LuPone, who is a graduate of the first class of the Drama Division of New York’s Juilliard School and a founding member of John Houseman’s The Acting Company, is the author of the The New York Times bestsellerPatti LuPone: A Memoir.

Marianne Elliott, Artistic Director of Elliott & Harper Productions, a company she founded in 2016 with producer Chris Harper, was awarded an OBE in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honour’s List for her services to theatre. Elliott is the first woman in Broadway history to win two Tony Awards for Best Director and her recent Broadway transfer of Tony Kushner’s Angels in America received the 2018 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play.  Angels in America at the National Theatre also received the 2018 Olivier Award for Best Revival of a Play. Marianne’s ground-breaking production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time received 7 Olivier Awards in London, including Best New Play and Best Director and 5 Tony Awards for its run on Broadway, including Best Play and Best Director and is currently running at the Picadilly Theatre.  Her production of Saint Joan earned her the Olivier Award for Best Revival of a Play and Pillars of the Community earned her the Evening Standard Award for Best Director.  War Horse, which she co-directed, and has been seen by over 7 million people world-wide, has now embarked on a new international tour for 2019/20.

Joining director Marianne Elliott on the creative team are:  choreographer Liam Steel, musical supervisor and conductor Joel Fram, designer Bunny Christie, lighting designer Neil Austin, sound designer Ian Dickinson (for Autograph Sound), illusions designer Chris Fisher, orchestrator David Cullen, dance arranger Sam Davis and casting directors Alastair Coomer CDG and Charlotte Sutton CDG.  

Company is  produced by Elliott & Harper Productions, Catherine Schreiber, Grove Entertainment, Jujamcyn Theaters, LD Entertainment, David Mirvish, Aged in Wood Productions/Ricardo F Hornos, Bob Boyett/Tom Miller, Bruno Wang Productions/Salman Al-Rashid, Across the Pond Theatricals/Trio Theatricals and Greek St Productions/Christopher Ketner.

Casting Directors’ Guild presents Special Award to Charlotte Bevan for Outstanding Contribution to Casting

Ahead of its inaugural Casting Awards on Tuesday 12 February 2019, the Casting Directors’ Guild (CDG)announces Charlotte Bevan as the recipient of its Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to Casting. Charlotte is the Director of the Creative Diversity Project at the National Theatre.

The CDG explains: “Charlotte’s tireless determination to advance inclusivity and representation on all of our stages, to provoke as well as enable theatre makers to effect change, has had a remarkable influence on our industry. It is for this reason that we are proud to award Charlotte Bevan the CDG Award for Outstanding Contribution to Casting.”

After setting up and leading the Casting Department at Shakespeare’s Globe, in 2012 Charlotte joined the Casting Department at the National Theatre.  In 2016 she shifted her focus from casting in order to establish the National Theatre’s Creative Diversity Project, which addresses all elements of Creative Diversity at the NT – gender equality, ethnicity, disability and LGBT+ representation amongst actors, directors, writers and other creatives.

In partnership with Spotlight she created ProFile, an online video database for professional d/Deaf and disabled actors to showcase their talents. When ProFile launched in 2017 it hosted the work of 20 actors; two years later it is home to nearly 200 actors and has been viewed by over 4000 industry users in 49 countries around the world. A large number of the actors have been successfully auditioned and cast through the site in film, TV and theatre roles across the UK. This year it is extending its reach by adding a young people’s section and journeying across the UK to meet and film actors locally. 

During her 10-year career in Casting, Charlotte cast over 100 shows, including Henry IV and V, Richard III and Twelfth Night (Shakespeare’s Globe/West End/Broadway) and at the National Theatre, nut, Dara, the James Plays trilogy, Another World: Losing Our Children To Islamic State, her final show as a casting director was Angels in America (NT/Broadway).

The CDG in partnership with Spotlight presents the first Casting Awards on Tuesday 12 February 2019 at Ham Yard Hotel London. This new event will be the first UK Awards ceremony to celebrate the significant achievements of casting in the fields of Theatre, TV, Film and Commercials.

COMMEMORATING THE 210^TH BIRTHDAY OF CHARLES DARWIN

THE WIDER EARTH

TUESDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2019

AT THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

IN THE PRESENCE OF

THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF SUSSEX

IN SUPPORT OF

THE QUEEN’S COMMONWEALTH CANOPY

AND

THE QUEEN’S COMMONWEALTH TRUST

HOSTED BY

JULIA BRADBURY

The Wider Earth – the critically acclaimed drama about the young Charles Darwin’s expedition on HMS Beagle playing at the custom-built theatre in the Jerwood Gallery at London’s Natural History Museum until 24 February – will hold a special VIP Gala Night on 12 February 2019. The gala, hosted by Julia Bradbury, and in the presence of HRH the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will be held to commemorate Charles Darwin’s 210^th birthday, and will support The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and the production’s official charitable partner The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy.

Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will attend the gala performance in the Duke’s official capacity of President of The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust.

Trish Wadley, on behalf of the producers of The Wider Earth, said, “as an Australian production with a global view, we are thrilled to support a Commonwealth initiative that encourages multiple nations to join together and create a meaningful green footprint on the planet for future generations.”

Sir Michael Dixon, Director of the Natural History Museum, said, “We are delighted to welcome TRH the Duke and Duchess of Sussex into the Museum to mark the 210^th birthday of Charles Darwin – and to celebrate the brilliant work of The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy. As a charity ourselves, the Museum acts to inspire the next generation to protect the natural world. Over 150 years since Darwin began working with the Museum’s Collection, it remains home to many of the specimens collected on his expeditions. Today, our 350 scientists continue to use the Collection, and Darwin’s scientific legacy, as we seek solutions to the major issues facing the planet today.”

Julia Bradbury, best known for presenting BBC’s Countryfile and ITV’s Britain’s Best Walks and a forthcoming seriesJulia Bradbury’s Australia, which will first be shown on ITV on 14 February 2019, is a passionate advocate for the conservation of the natural world, and a tireless campaigner against plastic pollution.   She said, “I am thrilled to be hosting The Wider Earth’s gala night. This theatrical celebration of discovery is a testament to the beauty of nature, and a reminder of our duty to protect the landscapes and wildlife that Charles Darwin loved so much.”

Tickets include a pre-show reception hosted by The Australian High Commission and are available atwww.thewiderearth.com or by contacting rsvp@thewiderearth.com  by Monday 4 February 2019

The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy is a unique network of forest conservation initiatives that marks Her Majesty The Queen’s service to the Commonwealth and conserves indigenous forests across the globe. Through their voluntary commitment to this pan-Commonwealth initiative, the nations of the Commonwealth are acting together to address climate change and protect habitats and biodiversity for the future. QCC partner Cool Earth is an award-winning UK-based charity that works alongside indigenous villages to halt rainforest destruction.

Project Coordinator Sophie Kisnorbo commented,

“The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy is honoured to have been chosen as The Wider Earth’s official charitable partner. It is a real privilege to work with The Wider Earth to continue Darwin’s legacy.”

The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust is a new charity that champions, funds and connects young leaders across the Commonwealth who are working hard to change the world. The Commonwealth has a vast talent pool of young leaders but their potential is unseen and their skills underused. The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust shares their stories, gives them a platform to amplify their ideas, and inspires other young people to step up and take action. The charity also offers funding, advice and know-how to grow their projects and create a collaborative network of young change-makers. Their work demonstrates the values of the Commonwealth in action, through the leadership, energy and optimism of its young people.

Featuring a cast of seven people and 30 extraordinary hand-crafted puppets representing the exotic wildlife Darwin encountered, The Wider Earth is an ingenious coming-of-age story which celebrates the incredible complexity of our planet and Darwin’s adventurous spirit as he faced perilous environments and unknown dangers on his bold voyage. Written and directed by Dead Puppet Society’s creative director David Morton, the idea for The Wider Earth was conceived at a residency in Cape Town in 2013 with the Handspring Puppet Company – the creative team behindWar Horse.

Following sold-out seasons in Brisbane and Sydney, The Wider Earth has found the perfect home at the Natural History Museum. The Museum is custodian to many of the specimens Charles Darwin collected on his expeditions and its 350 scientists continue in his footsteps of exploration and discovery, seeking solutions to the major issues facing the natural world. This is the first time a performance-based theatre has been constructed in the Museum and adds an exciting new element to the wide-range of exhibitions and events which already attract over 4.5 million visitors every year.

The Museum’s scientists, led by paleobiologist Professor Adrian Lister, author of Darwin’s Fossils, have worked closely with the creative producers of the show to ensure it is rooted in authenticity.

The Wider Earth is a partnership project between Trish Wadley Productions, Dead Puppet Society, Glass Half Full Productions in association with Queensland Theatre and the Natural History Museum.

For ticket inquiries please contact: rsvp@thewiderearth.com

To purchase tickets: www.thewiderearth.com

Tea For Two series of talks announced for

MT FEST UK

A two-week festival of new musical theatre

Presented by Paul Taylor-Mills

At The Other Palace

From Monday 11 to Saturday 23 February 2019

Paul Taylor-Mills is delighted to announce Tea For Two, a programme of intimate and frank conversations as part of MT Fest UK at The Other Palace. Taking place in the Studio throughout the festival, Paul will be in discussion with some of the industry’s celebrated musical theatre practitioners, with each talk also including an audience Q&A. All tickets are £10.

The Tea For Two lineup features industry leaders including casting director David Grindrod, choreographer Arlene Phillips, producer Danielle Tarento, theatre critic Mark Shenton and director/choreographer Drew McOnie.

The full Tea For Two line-up is:

Monday 11 February, 10.30am

Good Thing Going: The relationship between Agent and Casting Director

David Grindrod (Casting Director) and Alastair Lindsay-Renton (Agent at Curtis Brown) discuss the complex relationship between casting director and agent, sharing their wealth of experience of the casting process. David Grindrod is one of the West End’s leading casting directors, whilst Alastair Lindsay-Renton represents some of the most distinguished figures in musical theatre including Jason Robert Brown, Alfie Boe and Carrie Hope Fletcher.

Tuesday 12 February, 2.00pm

Gotta Get A Gimmick: Marketing a New Musical

James Charrington (Chief Executive of Dewynters), Emma De Souza (Head of Media and Marketing for SOLT), Dawn Farrow (CEO of Boom Ents) and Sita McIntosh (COO for WhatsOnStage) discuss the ways in which branding and marketing can make or break new musicals. Join some of the most influential figures in theatrical marketing as they look at some of the most distinctive campaigns for new musicals, the most common mistakes in marketing new work, and where they see marketing for new work in the future. 

Saturday 16 February, 11.00am

We Can Do It: You’ve Made a New Show… Now How to Get it On

Danielle Tarento (Producer) and Victoria Saxton (Executive Director of Mercury Musical Developments) discuss the often daunting process of reaching out to producers and organisations, sharing their top tips for getting your work in front of the right person, at the right time, in the right way, and how to remain positive and passionate when you get that ‘no’.

Monday 18 February, 10.30am

Dancing Through Life: Making new musicals move

Arlene Philips (Choreographer) and Joanne Clifton (Performer and Writer) call on their wealth of dance experience, from Strictly Come Dancing to their theatre work as choreographer and performer, to discuss their approaches to creating new work and finding distinct physical languages in musicals. Joanne is about to embark on writing her first musical and will speak frankly about the transition from dancer to writer and the crossover of skills. 

Tuesday 19 February, 11.00am

I Can Do That: The Top 10 Do’s and Don’ts in Auditions

Paul Wooller (Head of Casting for Cameron Mackintosh Ltd) has a wealth of experience casting new work and some of the most successful West End musicals, from Hamilton to Les Misérables. In this invaluable session, he will answer all those questions you always wanted to ask about best audition practice.

Wednesday 20 February, 11.00am

Everybody’s Got The Right: The Changing Face of Criticism and How New Musicals are Reviewed

Mark Shenton (Theatre Critic and new musicals advocate) looks at the changing face of theatre criticism, how the digital age has affected the way we read reviews, the shifting ways in which new work is reviewed in the UK.

Saturday 23 February, 11.00am

No One is Alone: The Art of Collaboration

Drew McOnie (Director and Choreographer) shares his experiences of leading creative teams and companies through the challenging process of creating a new musical. He and Paul Taylor-Mills will discuss their past projects together as director and producer (In The Heights, The Wild Party), sharing their thoughts on the collaboration needed to effectively create new work.

MT Fest UK is a two-week festival of new musical theatre at The Other Palace from Monday 11 to Saturday 23 February 2019. The festival will present new work by both emerging and established writers, as well as programming talks and concerts from some of the most celebrated performers, writers and producers currently working in musical theatre. All tickets to events and performances will be between £10-15.

Tickets for all Tea For Two talks are on sale now

www.MTFestUK.co.uk

Twitter @Fest_MT

Instagram MTFestUK

Richmond Theatre – 30 January 2019

4****

Swan Lake is ballet composed by Tchaikovsky, which depicts a tragic love story between a Prince and the Queen of the Swan. Swan Lake is one of the most popular and well known ballets and is being brought to life by Moscow City Ballet. Moscow City Ballet presents Swan Lake at Richmond Theatre.

As a ballet virgin I was excited about seeing this world renowned ballet.

The conductor enter the auditorium to a slight ripple of the string section bow’s tapping against their stands, but no fan fare from the audience. Once the music began I was filled with anticipation for the ballet to begin. The curtain rises and the set was somewhat under whelming, perhaps as the stage is small the space was kept clear of scenery and props for the dancers to fill the stage. They certainly did.

The palace is set for a party to celebrate Prince Siegfield birthday and all the courtiers are there to raise a glass and celebrate. I wasn’t sure initially who the lady in the long dress was but realised she was the Queen informing the Prince it was time to chose a bride. On hearing this the Prince runs off to the lake where he encounters a bevy of swans. The ballet dancers were effortlessly graceful and really en-captured the characteristics of a swan. The Prince is not alone as the evil sorcerer watches his every move. Odette, the Queen of the swans appears and captivates Prince Siegfield. She glided around the stage as if on ice, with delicate legs movements replicating the shiver a swan does with its feathers. Her arms portrayed the neck of a swan, beautiful.

Rothbart the evil sorcerer shadows the Prince’s movements with menace. On returning to the palace the Prince is presented with a number of female suitors from different parts of the world, depicted by the fabulous costumes. This was also a show case for other ballerina’s to shine. I especially liked the Spanish entourage.

I did not know the story and as there are no words spoken I found it a little hard to grasp what was going on. I felt this would of been helped by a little more expression from the dancers, some of the ensemble pieces felt flat as if just going through the motions, with some timings seeming a little off. However, the jester bursts on to the stage and demands your attention. His expressions did convey more of the general plot to me.

The orchestra were faultless and I felt myself drifting away to the lake via the music rather than the dance. The oboe player gave me goose bumps and I was impressed by the harp player, which was in fact a keyboard.

The whole performance was executed with huge talent, expertise and poise. With leaps, lifts and awe-inspiring pirouettes, that left me feeling dizzy just watching. An intriguing introduction to the ballet world, well worth a visit.

York Inspirational Kids Fashion Show

Grand Opera House York

Saturday 30 March 2019 at 2.30pm

A fun afternoon with disabled children & young people and their families who will take you on a journey of creativity, colour and inclusion. Be ready to smile. Fundraising for Stimul8 – to build a leisure and training facility for disabled children and young people in York.

Having a disabled child of her own, Ruth Thompson realises the difficulties faced by many families when trying to access mainstream activities. Her 14 year old daughter was born with a virus called Cytomegalovirus (CMV), which caused to her to have a stroke, attacked her optic nerve causing her to be born blind, though she now has a little bit of vision, severe epilepsy and learning difficulties. As Georgina has grown up Ruth became aware of more and more gaps in provision for play and development. Despite having the vision for Stimul8 7 years ago, with the help of her business partner Jo Rodwell the pair have resurrected the plans and begun fundraising to build a state of the art facility providing nursery care for very complex needs children, fully adapted play centre and NVQ/ training hub plus some paid work for disabled children and young people.

Ruth says ‘As Georgina has grown I’ve become more and more aware of the gaps in provision and just knew I needed to do something about it. With Jo’s help we know this is going to make a difference to so many families.’

Ruth also runs York Inspirational Kids, a support group for families who have a disabled child. They decided to get involved with York Fashion Week to show fashion designers, retailers and others involved within the fashion industry that disabled children also want to be fashionable but need a few adaptations to be made to help them access everyday clothing. Items such as adjustable clothing, adapted fastenings such as magnets or Velcro, fashionable shoes with Velcro fastenings in adult sizes and seamless clothing to accommodate sensory issues.

Jo says ‘at the end of the day they’re just children who want to have fun and dress like their peers. If they need wider legs to help go over splints, higher waists or longer tee shirts to enable wheelchair users not to get cold then it really shouldn’t be too much to ask. Just getting a wheelchair into some of the stores can be impossible. This fashion show will highlight these children’s fashion needs and will showcase what some retailers are doing to accommodate them. We are so grateful that the Grand Opera House also thought this was a priority too and is enabling us to put on this show. ‘

The aim of the show is to raise awareness, encourage inclusivity as well as raising funds to build Stimul8.

Tickets on sale from Friday 1 February at 10am

Ticket Price: Adults £5, Children £2

Box office: 0844 871 3024

Online: www.atgticketrs.com/york

Richmond Theatre- until 3rd February 2019

Reviewed by Sara Garner

4.5****

The Moscow City Ballet received a heart-warming welcome on a cold winters evening in the beautiful Victorian Richmond theatre in their production of Pytor Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Sleeping Beauty. Whilst waiting for the ballet to begin the Hungarian Alba Regia Orchestra (that travels with the ballet) warmed up adding to the anticipation which had reached its peak in my 10-year-old companion for the evening.

The Prologue starts with King Florestan and his Queen celebrating the christening of their daughter Princess Aurora. The master of ceremonies Catalabutte is delightfully camp and comical as he realises that he has forgotten to invite the Fairy Carabosse. Carabosse arrives with an entourage of dark prowling goblins. There is no doubt that the character is an evil fairy wielding a decorative staff intent on retribution and casts her curse predicting that one-day Aurora will prick her finger and die. The Lilac Fairy appears and revokes the curse, promising that Aurora will not die but fall asleep along with the court for 100 years. Aurora will only be awakened by a prince’s kiss after a hundred years.

Act one moves forward to introduce Princess Aurora (Lilia Orekhova) at her 16th birthday party celebrations where the ballerinas capture every small girls dream of being a ballerina in exquisite costumes throughout, accompanied by garlands and flowers intricately incorporated in every movement of their performance. Princess Aurora leads her 4 comical suitors around the stage in a merry dance accompanied by confident and breath-taking dancers conveying their emotions on their faces as well as through their incredible dancing perfectly harmonised with the orchestra. Of course, Aurora receives a gift of a spindle from Carabosse and inevitably pricks her finger which leads Aurora and the court into a sleep for 100 years thus ending Act One.

Act two opens after 100 years has passed, the dancers costumes have changed along with the mannerisms of the court. Prince Florimund (Kozhabayev Talgat) appears in a dreamy sequence dancing hypnotically with Princess Aurora in a forest. The Lilac Fairy guides the Prince to reach King Florestan’s Palace where he defeats Carabosse and awakens the Princess with a kiss and the whole court becomes alive.

Act three opens in the palace ballroom where the court celebrates the wedding of the handsome Prince and beautiful Princess with a grand ball. 15 couples dance in perfect unison and there are appearances from 3 fairy tale characters who attend the wedding to pay their respect which leads to the ballets overall charm and magic.

As the company took their bows the audience showed their understandable appreciation, which was echoed to the orchestra too who reignited my love of classical music. If you get the chance to see this enchanting, magnificent ballet, treat yourself not matter your age.

Sonia Friedman Productions presents
ROSMERSHOLM
By Henrik Ibsen
In a new adaptation by Duncan Macmillan
Directed by Ian Rickson

• IAN RICKSON WILL DIRECT A NEW PRODUCTION OF IBSEN’S CLASSIC STUDY OF A COUNTRY IN POLITICAL FLUX IN A NEW ADAPTATION BY DUNCAN MACMILLAN
   
• TOM BURKE WILL STAR AS JOHN ROSMER AND HAYLEY ATWELL WILL STAR AS REBECCA WEST, WITH FURTHER CASTING TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON
   
• THE PRODUCTION WILL PREVIEW FROM APRIL 24th AT THE DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE, WITH AN OPENING NIGHT ON MAY 2ND
   
• TICKETS GO ON SALE ON FRIDAY 1ST FEBRUARY AT 1PM WITH 20% OF ALL TICKETS ON SALE AT £25 OR UNDER

Henrik Ibsen’s classic examination of a country in state of political flux has been adapted byDuncan Macmillan (People, Places and Things, 1984, Every Brilliant Thing). The sharply prescient play will be directed by Ian Rickson (Jerusalem, The Birthday Party, Translations), with set and costumes by Rae Smith, lighting by Neil Austin, music by Stephen Warbeck,sound by Gregory Clarke and casting by Amy Ball CDG.

‘‘Now I see that love is selfish. It makes you a country of two. At war with the rest of the world.”

An election looming. A country on the brink. A rabid press baying for blood.  At the centre of the storm is Rosmersholm, the grand house of an influential dynasty. This is where the future will be decided by John Rosmer – a man torn between the idealised hope of the future and the ghosts of his past.  

The role of John Rosmer will be played by Tom Burke who was recently seen on the London stage in The Deep Blue Sea at the National Theatre and Reasons to Be Happy at Hampstead Theatre. He is best known for playing the lead role in Strike, the BBC television adaptation of the Cormoran Strike novels by JK Rowling, published under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Other notable television roles include Athos in the BBC series The Musketeers and Dolokhov in the BBC literary-adaptation miniseries War and Peace. His latest film, The Souvenir, premiered at this year’s Sundance Festival.

Hayley Atwell will play the role of Rebecca West. A prolific actress across stage, TV and film, her most recent theatre work includes Measure for Measure at the Donmar, Dry Powder at Hampstead Theatre and The Pride at Trafalgar Studios.  She won great acclaim for her performances in the BBC adaptations of Howards End and The Long Song last year. Widely known as Peggy Carter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and subsequent TV series Agent Carter, she also starred in The Duchess, Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella and most recently Christopher Robin. Her latest filmBlinded by the Light, directed by Gurinder Chadha and based on the book by Sarfraz Manzoor premiered at Sundance 2019.

Further casting will be announced soon.

Rosmersholm is the tenth collaboration between Sonia Friedman Productions and director Ian Rickson following celebrated West End productions of Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party, Old Times and Betrayal, and Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem (West End and Broadway), The River(Broadway) and Mojo (West End). He also worked with SFP on productions of The Children’s Hour(West End), Electra at the Old Vic and The Seagull on Broadway. Rickson was artistic director of the Royal Court from 1998 to 2006.  His recent stage productions include Translations, Evening at the Talk House and The Red Lion (National Theatre), The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? (West End),Against (Almeida Theatre) and The Nest (Lyric Belfast/Young Vic). 

Duncan Macmillan is an award-winning writer and director who previously collaborated withSonia Friedman Productions on the West End and Broadway run of 1984, which he co-adapted/co-directed with Robert Icke. His other plays include People Places and Things which enjoyed huge success in London and New York, Lungs, Every Brilliant Thing, 2071 (co-written with Chris Rapley), The Forbidden Zone and most recently City of Glass adapted from Paul Auster’s novel.

Rosmersholm will play at the Duke of York’s Theatre from April 24th, with an opening night of May 2nd. The run will end on July 20th. Tickets are on sale from Friday 1st February at 1pm with 20% of all tickets available at £25 or less.