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Watford Palace Theatre presents

Absurd Person Singular

By Alan Ayckbourn

Director: Brigid Larmour; Assistant Director: Vedi Roy; Composer: Anne Dudley

Designer: Amy Jane Cook; Lighting Designer: Jamie Platt; Sound Designer: Roger Dudley

7 – 30 March 2019

Watford Palace Theatre todayannounces full cast for Alan Ayckbourn’s Absurd Person Singular. Joining the previously announced Terence Frisch (Sidney) and Jill McAusland (Jane) are Oliver Longstaff (Geoffrey), Emily Tucker (Eva), Sarah Quist (Marion) and Walter van Dyk (Ronald). The production, directed by Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Watford Palace Theatre, Brigid Larmour, opens on 12 March, with previews from 7 March and runs until 30 March.

It’s Britain on the make in 1971 and backstage at the party, three marriages are in the pressure cooker.

Sidney wants to play party games, but he also needs a loan from Ronald. Marion wants to go home, but definitely needs another drink. Eva would (literally) rather be dead, but Geoffrey’s certain she’ll be happier once he’s left her.  Meanwhile Jane’s still in her Marigolds, desperately trying to keep the kitchen ship-shape. A hilarious vintage gem from a master of comedy.

Alan Ayckbourn is a playwright and theatre director who has written 82 plays – his latest, Better Off Dead, premiered in September 2018 at the Stephen Joseph Theatre (SJT). His credits include Relatively Speaking, How The Other Half Loves, The Norman Conquests, Season’s Greetings, Absurd Person Singular and Woman in Mind.His  Inducted into American Theatre’s Hall of Fame, a recipient of the Critics’ Circle Award for Services to the Arts, he became the first British playwright to receive both Olivier and Tony Special Lifetime Achievement Awards. He was knighted in 1997 for services to the theatre.

Terence Frisch returns toWatford Palace Theatre to play Sidney having appeared as the Dame in eight pantomimes for the company. His other credits includeJoy Bubbles (The Other Palace), SeptimusBeanandHisAmazingMachine (Unicorn Theatre), AndyCappThe Musical (Finborough Theatre), Oysters, Faulty Towers – The Dining Experience(UK tour), Women of Troy, The Ring Cycle Plays(The Scoop),TheManualOracle (The Yard Theatre), Jerusalem(Royal Court Theatre), TheLordofthe Rings (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare’s Globe) and The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek (Royal Exchange Theatre); and for film,Hugo.

Oliver Longstaff returnsto Watford Palace Theatre to play Geoffrey – he previously appeared in Sleeping Beauty. Other theatre credits include Crime (Bezna Theatre), Surgeon to the Dead and The Academy of Melancholy (Old Operating Theatre, Southwark); and for television, 1Life.

Jill McAusland returns toWatford Palace Theatre to play Jane, having previously appeared in seven pantomimes for the company.Her other theatre credits include The Moor, Correspondence (Old Red Lion), The Lost Boy (Theatre in the Quarter), Miniaturists 50: Alcatraz (Arcola Theatre), Out of the Cage (Park Theatre),Ghost Town (Pilot Theatre/York Theatre Royal), Jumpy (Royal Court Theatre /Duke of York’s Theatre), Alice in Wonderland (Royal & Derngate Northampton) and The Conspirators (Orange Tree Theatre); and for television,Call the Midwife and Getting Back with Dave Benson Phillips.

Emily Tucker returns to the company to play Eva – she previously appeared in Much Ado About Nothing. Other theatre credits include Head-Rot Holiday (The Hope Theatre), Fortune’s Fool (The Old Vic), A Warsaw Melody (Arcola Theatre), Suddenly Last Summer, Lady of the Lake, Fallen Angels (Theatre by the Lake), Shiver – The Tempest (National Theatre Studio), The Man Who Pays the Piper, The Stepmother (Orange Tree Theatre), After the Ball (The Gatehouse), As You Like It, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden) andThe Importance of Being Earnest (Courtyard Theatre). Her television credits include Not Safe for Work; and for film, Heretiks and The Seasoning House.

Sarah Quist plays Marion. Her theatre credits include King Lear (Royal Exchange Theatre), A Mad World My Masters, Hecuba, Alice in Wonderland (RSC), The Wind in the Willows, The Merry Wives of Windsor (Grosvenor Park), The Amen Corner (National Theatre), Bacchae (National Theatre of Scotland), The Tempest (UK tour), Wimbledon (Tristan Bates Theatre), Come Out Eli (Arcola Theatre/Battersea Arts Centre), Romeo and Juliet(Southwark Playhouse) and Five Buddies in a Box (Savoy Theatre). Her television credits include Stella.

Walter van Dyk returnsto Watford Palace Theatre to play Ronald – he previously appeared in Arms and the Man, Equally Divided, Sleeping Beauty and Dick Whittington. Other theatre credits includeA Flea in Her Ear(The Old Vic), Enter the Guardsman (Donmar Warehouse), Two Gentlemen of Verona, High Society, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), O Moon of Alabama: A Kurt Weill Cabaret (Young Vic), Insufficiency (Riverside Studios), The Importance Of Being Earnest (Rose Theatre Kingston), The Jail Diary of Albie Sachs (Salisbury Playhouse), The Boatswain’s Mate (Finborough Theatre), Sweeney Todd (Theatr Clwyd) and What Now Little Man? (Greenwich Theatre); and for film, The Carrier, The Eagle, Incognito and Abbot’s Approach.

Brigid Larmour is Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Watford Palace Theatre. Her credits for the company include Much Ado About Nothing, Coming Up, Jefferson’s Garden, Love Me Do andWatch, Fourteen, Perfect Match, We That Are Left and Mrs Reynolds and the Ruffian, Equally Divided, Our Father, My Mother Said I Never Should, Time of My Life, Absent Friends,As You Like It, Robin Hood, Sleeping Beauty and Dick Whittington. From 1998 to 2006 she was Artistic Director of West End company Act Productions, and adviser to BBC4 Plays. From 1993 to 1998 she directed a series of promenade Shakespeare’s Shakespeare Unplugged, for RNT Education. From 1989 to 1994 she was Artistic Director of Contact Theatre, Manchester, commissioning the first British plays responding to the rave scene (Excess/XS), and the implications of virtual reality (Strange Attractors, a multimedia promenade production, by Manchester poet Kevin Fegan). She trained at the RSC, and as a studio director at Granada TV.

Watford Palace Theatre                                                                                                                            Listings

20 Clarendon Rd, Watford WD17 1JZ

Absurd Person Singular

7 – 30 March 2019

https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk

Box Office: 01923 225671

Age: 11+

Hull New Theatre – until 2nd February 2019

Reviewed by Catherine McWilliams

5*****

Last night the highly talented cast of Saturday Night Fever strutted their stuff with verve and vitality. The show started with a stunning full cast dance to Stayin’ Alive, setting the scene and giving us an inkling of what was to come.

Saturday Night Fever tells the story of Tony Manero (Richard Winsor), who lives in a working class suburb of Brooklyn, working in a dead end job in but living for Saturday nights when he can go to the disco and dance. He has a talent, but of course this is the 1970’s and there is no way he would be encouraged, but it is dancing that makes him feel alive. The action zips from his home, to work, to the disco, to the dance studio and to hanging out with his friends at the bridge. This production does not pull any punches in showing the rawness of this life.

Accompanying the action is the music of The Bee Gees, but never out of place or just used as filler. All of the music was relevant, at times heartbreakingly so. The music is superbly performed by The Bee Gees (Edward Handoll, Alastair Hill and Matt Faull) who are up above the action on an industrial type walkway.

The dancing throughout is sublime and if there are dances you liked in the film, they are here, but oh so much better when performed live, Jive Talking was a real highlight. The ensemble cast is incredibly talented and quite literally took my breath away a number of times.

Richard Winsor as Tony Manero is the lynchpin of the show and has the walk, the attitude, and oh does he have the moves! He is totally believable as Tony as he draws you into his world, you care what happens to him. It is quite some skill to be able to casually get changed on a stage whilst preening yourself in a mirror that isn’t there! His solo dance to Immortality, performed after the death of his friend, was heartbreaking so full of raw emotion and beautiful to watch. Like his character, Richard Winsor was clearly born to dance!

Kate Parr as Stephanie Mangano and Anna Campkin as Annette are perfect foils to Tony as his dance partners and love interests. Anna Campkin’s rendition of If I Can’t Have You was very poignant. Raphael Pace (Bobbie C), Jared Thompson (Double-J), Owen Broughton (Gus) and Michael Cortez (Joey) provide excellent back up and support as Tony’s friends.

Special mention should go to Faizal Jaye as DJ Monty, a talent to watch for, his moves up on his dance podium were magic. As my friend put it “like watching molten metal.”

Everything comes together in this performance, the scenery and lighting taking us to a believable downtown Brooklyn and the Band (Richard Morris, Jeremy Wootton, Eikel Hernandez, Luke Beirne, Ali McMath and Dan Hayward) providing stunning music. What I particularly enjoyed was that at no time was the music overpoweringly loud, the lyrics came through to add to the story.

At the end the audience was quickly on their feet to join in with the Megamix and give the cast the standing ovation they fully deserved. What can I say, get those flares on and get down to Hull New Theatre to see this show – never mind Staying’ Alive, you will come out feeling alive! Me – I’m off to practice my dance moves…

Underbelly Edinburgh Fringe 2019 charges into action as first shows announced

• First five Underbelly Edinburgh Fringe 2019 shows on sale​​ 
• Heading up the 2019 Fringe herd are Irish comedy sketch actual legends Foil, Arms & Hog, world leading rock star circus performers CIRCA, awarding winning Thinking Drinkers, oceanic acrobats Splash Test Dummies and the masters of late-night Fringe, Spank!
• Tickets go on sale Wednesday 30th January at 10am via www.underbellyedinburgh.co.uk

Underbelly fires its starting pistol for this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe announcing the tantalising first five shows on sale. These shows offer eager fans the chance to milk that early Fringe fix with a fantastic selection from the cream of comedy, circus and cabaret.

Following a smash hit 2018 Fringe, Foil, Arms and Hog, the Irish comic YouTube masters return to Edinburgh’s majestic McEwan Hall with an hour of comedy sketches in their brand-new showSwines from 31st July – 25th August at 9pm.  

Five-star Fringe favourite CIRCA (Closer, Beyond, Wunderkammer) returns to Underbelly’s Circus Hub after its 2017 blockbuster season with Humans. This is thrillingly fearless, boundary-pushing circus at its best. Running from 2nd – 24th August at 7pm, ten acrobats take us on a stirring journey of what it means to be human, and how our bodies, our connections, and our aspirations all form part of who we are. Created by Yaron Lifschitz, Humans asks how much can we take – how much weight can we carry?

Ensuring families are kept entertained and joining CIRCA in The Lafayette tent at Circus Hub, theSplash Test Dummies are back, ready to roll out their beach towels and spring into an hour of circus-filled hilarity for the whole family. See a brilliant array of catch-your-breath stunt work, acrobatics, juggling and the side-splitting, slapstick comedy for which the dummies are famous. Get set to drown in tears of laughter from the 3rd – 24th August at 1pm.

Spank! returns to its spiritual home, Underbelly Cowgate for an incredible 16th year with hilarious hosts, awesome comedians and gratuitous nudity. Showcasing the most exciting comedy and cabaret on the Fringe, don’t miss the ‘best wild night out’ (Scotland on Sunday) at the festival! ‘Comedy and legendary party night… if you haven’t experienced this night, get down there right away!’ (Time Out). It’s raunchy, raucous and ridiculous and runs in The Belly Dancer from 2nd – 25th August at 11.55pm.  

Expanding into Underbelly’s Cowbarn in Bristo Square following a smash hit Fringe 2018, theThinking Drinkers return with a brand-new, hilarious and intoxicating look at history’s greatest drinkers from the 31st July – 25th August at 8.20pm. Enjoy five free drinks as the award-winning experts reveal how alcohol has inspired pioneering explorers, politicians and painters in equal measure, from Plato and Picasso, to Nelson, Napoleon and Norm from Cheers. You’ll learn a lot and laugh a lot!

Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam, directors of Underbelly said; “Edinburgh is our home. The Fringe is where Underbelly started 19 years ago and today as we announce our first five brilliant shows to head up our 2019 programme, we are hugely excited at the prospect of another amazing Underbelly Fringe this year!

“Our first on sale offers just a taste of what we have in store this year, including the return of the mighty Foil, Arms & Hog following their absolute triumph at McEwan Hall last year and of course we have the superhumans of the circus world, CIRCA return with Humans to dazzle audiences at our Circus Hub on The Meadows.”

The Underbelly Edinburgh Fringe runs from the 31 July – 26 August 2019 across 22 venues and 4 sites; George Square, Circus Hub, Cowgate and Bristo Square. Further exciting programme details will be revealed in the coming months.

Live Nation in association with MZA present
JIMEOIN – RESULT!
Tuesday 19 February 2019, 7.30pm
King’s Hall, Ilkley
*Tickets: £18.50
*All prices shown include booking fees but are subject to postage charge if applicable.
Bradford Theatres usual terms and conditions apply.

Expect an evening of world class stand-up as the Irishman from Australia brings his brilliantly observed, ever-evolving and hilarious comedy to a theatre near you. Fresh from his smash-hit, New York offBroadway season and his latest sell out tour JIMEOIN (and his championship eyebrows) are back. RESULT!

JIMEOIN is internationally acclaimed as one of live comedy’s masters. He left his Northern Irish home in Portstewart in the 1990’s and settled in Australia where he fell into his comedy career by chance after a friend dared him to get up at an open mic night in Sydney. His disarmingly relaxed and often nonsensical humour fast led him to becoming a household name. His Edinburgh fringe debut in 1993 completely sold out to rave reviews and he has returned most years ever since. JIMEOIN regularly performs extensive sell-out tours of Australia, UK and Ireland and has written and starred in 2 feature films.

Don’t miss your chance to see this award-winning star of TV shows including Live at the Apollo, Royal Variety Performance, John Bishop Show, CH4’s O2 Gala and Sunday Night at the Palladium – Live!

‘Jimeoin is a true comedy legend… still at the top of his game.’ ★★★★½ Adelaide Advertiser

‘Comedy of the highest order… Inspired!’ The Independent

‘Classic nonsense… Stand-up comedy at its best.’ The Scotsman

‘Exhilarating!… Wickedly funny… genius!’ ★★★★½ The Age

‘Hilarious… If laughter is the best medicine, Jimeoin is a course of steroids…. Don’t you miss it!’ Edinburgh Evening News

Tickets are available from Bradford Theatres Box Office on 01274 432000 or visit bradfordtheatres.co.uk.

BRENDAN COLE RETURNS TO

STORYHOUSE WITH SHOW MAN

Strictly favourite is back with an exciting new show

Brendan Cole is about to embark on his most theatrical live tour production yet, which includes two performances at Storyhouse in Chester.

Show Man takes its inspiration from the magic of theatre and the movies, and Brendan Cole is keen that audiences experience the most exceptional night of entertainment.

Brendan Cole – Show Man comes to Storyhouse on Sunday 24 February, with performances at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale now.

The very first winner of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing is joined by an amazing team of professional dancers, singers and a live band to showcase the superb choreography and dazzling performance that has kept him in the public eye for 15 years.

Show Man is Brendan Cole’s fifth theatrical production, and the new show will see the dancer tour the UK for the 11^th time. Each tour plays to ever increasing audiences, and around 60,000 in total are expected to watch the shows in 2019. The tour will visit 31 towns and cities across the UK and Ireland.

Join charismatic Brendan for a night of beautiful ballroom magic and high energy Latin passion, live music, stunning lighting, special effects, and choreography full of excitement, intimacy, emotion and skill – as well as lots of laughter and chat throughout the show.

MESSAGE FROM BRENDAN COLE – SHOW MAN

I’m very excited to announce my latest production Brendan Cole – Show Man. Anytime I create a new production, I get a real sense of excitement as I start choosing the material, the dancers and the musicians involved, and Show Man feels more exciting than anything I’ve done before.It has a dynamic new feel and will be quite different to my previous four productions.

This new show is more theatrical than ever before. Five male dancers, three female dancers, choirs, a violinist and brand new staging, which will allow the choreography to be exciting and different. Bigger and better lifts, some very strong theatrical numbers, as well as a new look set, this promises to be something special.

When producing any show, my aim is to wow the audience and give them everything they’d expect and much, much more. Whether it be great production values, exciting choreography, spectacular lighting and of course amazing talent from my sensational dancers and musicians, it’s so important to me to create a complete show.

Over the last 10 years we’ve created certain numbers throughout the different productions that have really stood out and we’ve loved performing. Subsequently we have had many requests from audiences asking that we perform them again. With this in mind, I’ve decided to recreate a handful of them for the new show.

One in particular has been a personal favourite for me, Cinderella by Stephen Curtis Chapman. It’s a magical number, telling the story of a father and daughter, which I created with my baby girl Aurélia in mind shortly after her birth. I can’t wait to perform it again along with several other favourites, as well as many very exciting and brand new numbers, all under the Show Man title. This really is becoming a very big show and I can’t wait to get it on the road.

So if you love live music from one of the best touring bands you will ever see, as well as exciting and emotive dance and fancy a great night at the theatre, this show will be for you! I’d suggest you bring a friend as you’ll want to be dancing in the aisles throughout, and if you know any Strictly fans, it might just make the perfect gift. This is going to be the greatest Show Man!

Tickets for Brendan Cole – Show Man are on sale now and range in price from £19 to £39. Each ticket is subject to a £1.50 booking fee.

Storyhouse has a dynamic pricing policy on the majority of shows, ensuring the earlier you book your tickets, guarantees the best seats at the lowest price.

Website:         www.storyhouse.com

Facebook:       www.facebook.com/storyhouselive/

Twitter:           @StoryhouseLive

LISTING INFORMATION

BRENDAN COLE – SHOW MAN

Sunday 24 February 2019

Performance times: 2.30pm and 7.30pm

Tickets from £19 to £39 – each ticket is subject to a £1.50 booking fee

STORYHOUSE

Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR

HOW TO BOOK

Online:            Visit www.storyhouse.com

By Phone:       Call 01244 409 113

In person:       Visit the Ticket Kiosks at Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR

Grand Opera House York until Saturday 2nd Feb 2019

Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

3.5***

Abigail’s Party is a well known Mike Leigh play, if you’re of a certain age. Playing now at the Grand Opera House York, directed by Sarah Esdaile. It’s a flashback to the 70’s with its style and characters.

The play focuses around five characters, Beverly (Jodie Prenger) and husband Laurence (Daniel Casey), Ange (Vicky Binns) and husband Tony (Calum Callaghan), and single mother Sue (Rose Keegan). Beverly is hosting a soirée with nibbles and an endless supply of alcohol, gin and tonic being the favoured tipple. As her guests arrive we get to see the different personalities and relationships, Ange just wants to please, Tony would rather be anywhere else, Sue is rather posh and is too refined to say no and Laurence just seems a bit square. Beverly is a forceful personality, overwhelming a lot of the time, demanding attention from her guests and the audience.

Whilst the action, if you can call it that, is happening on the stage we can hear Abigail, Sue’s daughter, hosting her own, more livelier party, a few doors down. The atmosphere at Beverly’s is awkward and uncomfortable to watch. She has a nasty habit of railroading her guests, forcing Sue to constantly have top ups, flirting outrageously with Tony, with no discretion. With not much happening in terms of action, we bear witness to the agonising, yet comical, attempt to host a successful gathering, constantly stuck in the awkward phase.

Jodie Prenger takes on the role as the overbearing Beverly with power and a great amount of stage presence. She is the star of the show, encapsulating the character fully. My plus one said afterwards that her character reminded him of Gavin’s mother from Gavin and Stacey, not realising that Alison Steadman played Beverley in the tv play. Two great actresses, one character. The others characters are somewhat eclipsed by Beverly, but the actors behind them did a tremendous job, lending to the comedy and quality of the production.

The dialogue provides a lot of the comedic context within the play, by the reuse of certain lines, such as Beverly’s “do you know what I mean?” after every sentence and Sue’s “no (pause and then) thank you”. The constant refilling of glasses, even when not wanted, is quite hilarious, along with arguments over music and olives.

The staging had iconic items from the 70’s, such as a soda syphon and a fibre optic light, the ones that look a bit like a spaceship. I had to laugh at that one because I remember my parents having one. It is a simple, naturalistic set with no major frills, just walls opening up to reveal a sitting room resplendent with 70’s decor. Each character had unique styles reminiscent of the decade, with kaftans, dodgy moustaches and bowl cuts.

The big question is why Abigail’s Party and not Beverly’s?

I enjoyed watching the performance, and it did have some laugh out load moments, however the style of the play and it’s lack of action (I realise that is not what the play is all about) doesn’t quite tick all the boxes for me. It is still worth a watch, especially if you’re 25 or younger, as York Council have teamed up to offer tickets for just £5, giving the opportunity to access the theatre at a truly affordable price.

SARAH HADLAND (MIRANDA)

JOINS CAST OF

ADMISSIONS

THE ACCLAIMED HIT COMEDY DIRECT FROM NEW YORK’S

LINCOLN CENTER THEATER

STARRING ALEX KINGSTON

“Astonishing and daring”

THE NEW YORK TIMES

“Smart, hilarious and provocative”

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Winner of the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards

for Best Play

Written by JOSHUA HARMON

Author of Bad Jews

TRAFALGAR STUDIOS

28 FEBRUARY – 25 MAY

It’s been announced today that Miranda favourite Sarah Hadland will join the cast of Admissions. Hadland will star opposite Alex Kingston (ER, Doctor Who) in the award-winning comedy, which opens at London’s Trafalgar Studios on 28 February.

Best known for playing Stevie in the BBC One BAFTA-nominated comedy television series Miranda, Sarah Hadland is also no stranger to the stage, with theatre credits including Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Grease,Time and the Conways and most recently What’s In a Name? Taking on the role of Ginnie in Admissions, Hadland has also appeared on the silver screen opposite Daniel Craig in the 2008 James Bond film Quantum of Solace.

Admissions, directed by Daniel Aukin, is a bitingly funny new comedy from the writer of acclaimed hit Bad Jewsand transfers to the West End direct from New York’s Lincoln Centre Theater, the producers of Oslo. The play has a strictly limited season until 25 May, before embarking on a UK tour playing at the Richmond Theatre (w/c 27 May 2019), the Cambridge Arts Theatre (w/c 3 June), the Malvern Festival Theatre (w/c 10 June 2019) and the Lyric Theatre at The Lowry in Salford (w/c 17 June 2019).

The New York production received huge critical acclaim during its LCT run, with The New York Times describing the show as “astonishing and daring”, The Hollywood Reporter calling the show “smart, hilarious and provocative”. Theatre Mania hailed it “a scorching new drama… lands like a gut-punch“ and Time Out New York raved about the show. Admissions also won the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Play.

 Other casting announcements include Andrew Wooddall (Bill), Margot Leicester (Roberta) and Ben Edelman (Charlie). Edelman is reprisisng the role of Charlie having first performed it in the Lincoln Centre Theater production where critics hailed his performance as “ardant”  (Time Out NYC) and “raw” (The Hollywood Reporter).

Sherri (Alex Kingston) is the Head of Admissions at a private school, fighting to diversify the student intake and she wants you to know about it. When her son is deferred from his university of choice, and his best friend – who ‘ticks more boxes’ – is accepted, Sherri’s personal ambition collides with her progressive values. Piercing and provocative, Admissions is 90 minutes long, but the debate will take you through the night.

Admissions is produced by Simon Friend, Trafalgar Theatre Productions, Eilene Davidson and Gavin Kalin in association with Anthology Theatre.

Tickets: From £15

Box Office: 0844 871 7632

Performances: Monday – Saturday at 7:30pm, Thursday and Saturday matinee at 2:30pm

To book tickets please visit: admissionsplay.com

Twitter @Admissionsplay
Instagram: @Admissionsplay

Facebook: AdmissionsThePlay

VICKY VOX AND KOBNA HOLDBROOK-SMITH PRESENT THE

19^TH ANNUAL WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS

PERFORMANCES AT THE CEREMONY INCLUDE HEATHERS THE MUSICAL, SIX

AND SPRING AWAKENING

WhatsOnStage today announce that Vicky Vox and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith will present the 19^th annual WhatsOnStage Awards on 3 March 2019 at the Prince of Wales Theatre. Both hosts are nominated at this year’s event – Vox for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her performance in Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s Little Shop of Horrors; and Holdbrook-Smith for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance as Ike Turner in Tina – The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre. 

Also confirmed for this year’s annual Awards concert is Carrie Hope Fletcher performing ‘I Say No’ from Heathers the Musical, the company of Hope Mill Theatre’s Spring Awakening performing ‘Totally F*cked’, and the cast of Six performing the title song. Further performances will be confirmed shortly.

Hamilton continues to dominate awards season, leading the way with 12 nominations including Best Actor in a Musical nominations for Jamael Westman and Giles Terera who previously went head to head for the Olivier Award, with Terera winning; Best Actress in a Musical for Rachelle Ann Go; Best Supporting Actor in a Musical nominations for Cleve September and Jason Pennycooke; and Best Supporting Actress in a Musical nominations for Christine Allado and Rachel John, as well as nominations for Best New Musical, Best Direction, Best Choreography, Best Costume Design and Best Lighting Design. Also performing strongly across the musical categories is Marianne Elliott’s gender swap production of Sondheim’s Company with 9 nominations, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s Little Shop of Horrors with 7 nominations, and Heathers the Musical and Six with six nominations each.

In the play categories, Stephen Daldry’s world première production of Matthew Lopez’s epic two-part masterpiece The Inheritance lead the field with 7 nominations. In addition to Best New Play, Best Director and Best Show Poster, the production dominates in the acting categories with stage veteran Vanessa Redgrave nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Play, Andrew Burnap and Paul Hilton for Best Supporting Actor in a Play, and Kyle Soller for the Best Actor in a Play category. Soller faces stiff competition from Aidan Turner forThe Lieutenant of Inishmore (one of an impressive six nominations for Michael Grandage’s major revival of Martin McDonagh’s play), Arinzé Kene for Misty, Colin Morgan for Translations, and previous WhatsOnStage Award winner Mark Gatiss for The Madness of George III. Both Translations and The Madness of George IIIsecured 5 nominations apiece.

Now in their 19^th year, the WhatsOnStage Awards are the only major theatre awards decided entirely by the theatregoers themselves. Voting opened on 5 December, closing on 31 January 2019, ahead of the winners being announced at the Awards concert on 3 March 2019 at Prince of Wales Theatre.

awards.whatsonstage.com

Twitter @WhatsOnStage #WOSAwards

Instagram @WhatsOnStage

ACTING FOR OTHERS ANNOUNCES

INAUGURAL WEST END FLEA MARKET

Theatrical charity, Acting for Others,today announces an exciting new A4O development in theatreland, West End Flea Market, the pop-up event takes place on Saturday 18 May 2019 at St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden.

The West End Flea Market will host a variety of stalls with showstopping goodies including signed posters, props and photos of some of the West End’s favourite performers.

The shows hosting a stall will compete to win Best Dressed Stall, with judges to be announced. The public are invited to come and cheer on their favourite show and the winner of will be announced at 10:45am. In addition, there will be signings, auctions and all sorts of exciting theatrical memorabilia up for grabs as well as the chance to meet stars from hit shows. The event is free and open from 10.45am to 1pm.

West End Flea Market is organised aid of Acting for Others, a fundraising organisation for 15 UK theatrical and welfare charities.

For those unable to attend the event, Acting for Otherscan still be supported by donating at www.justgiving.com/ctcafo

www.actingforothers.co.uk       

Twitter: @ActingForOthers

#WestEndFleaMarket

West End Flea Market

Saturday 18 May 2019, 10.45am – 1pm

St Paul’s Church, Bedford Street, London, WC2E 9ED

Selladoor Productions and Arcola Theatre present

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR EUROPEAN PREMIERE OF 

21 MARCH – 11 MAY ARCOLA THEATRE, LONDON

The European premiere of Little Miss Sunshine at Arcola Theatre will star Olivier nominee Laura Pitt-Pulford as Sheryl, the matriarch of the eccentric Hoover family, Olivier award winner Gary Wilmot as Grandpa (the role that won Alan Arkin an Academy award), Gabriel Vick as Sheryl’s husband Richard, two-time Olivier nominee Paul Keating as Sheryl’s brother Frank and Sev Keoshgerian as Sheryl’s son Dwayne. The off-Broadway hit musical opens at the Arcola Theatre, London on 21 March 2019 running for a seven-week season before embarking on a UK tour. Further casting for the tour to be announced shortly.

The role of Olive will be shared by Sophie Hartley Booth, Evie Gibson and Lily Mae Denman.

Ian Carlyle is Larry/Buddy, Imelda Warren-Green is Linda/Miss California and Matthew McDonald is Joshua Rose/Kirby.

Completing the cast are the ‘Mean Girls’ who will be performed by Chloe Raphael, Ava Hurley, Ellicia Simondwood, Elodie Salmon, Summer Pelley, Ava Masters, Josselyn Ospina Escobar, Saffia Richards and Yvie Bent.

Based on the Academy Award-winning film by Michael Arndt, Little Miss Sunshine is the off-beat musical comedy created by the Tony Award-winning team of James Lapine (who collaborated with Stephen Sondheim on Into the Woods and Sunday in the Park with George) and William Finn (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Falsettos). This new production is directed by Arcola’s Artistic Director Mehmet Ergen with design by David Woodhead, musical direction by Arlene McNaught, lighting design by Richard Williamson, sound design by Olly Steel, and choreography by Anthony Whiteman.

The Hoover family has more than a few troubles, but young Olive has her heart set on winning the Little Miss Sunshine beauty contest. When an invitation to compete comes out of the blue, the Hoovers must pile into their rickety, yellow VW camper van. Can it survive the 800-mile trip from New Mexico to California – and more importantly, can they? This inventive and uplifting musical celebrates the quirks of every family, the potholes in every road, and the power of overcoming our differences.

The show runs from 21 March – Saturday 11 May 2019 at the Arcola Theatre, London then touring.

Further casting for the tour will be announced shortly. For tour dates go to:

www.littlemisssunshinemusical.com

@LMissSun