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Musical proving to be a bit of a drag

With just 4 weeks to opening night a local theatre company is finding that musical theatre can be a bit of a drag. Members of Darlington Operatic Society (DarlingtonOS) are putting the final touched to their latest production Priscilla Queen of the Desert – a show that is quite unlike any other.

Based on the 1994 smash hit movie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert follows the journey of two drag queens, Tick (Nick Holmes) and Adam (Luke Oldfield), and a transgender woman, Bernadette (Julian Cound), as they travel across Australia in their bus, named Priscilla. Tick has been asked to perform at a hotel in Alice Springs by his estranged wife, Marion. Taking Adam and Bernadette along with him, the trio drive from Sydney to the remote resort town in the middle of the desert.

Tick tells his companions that the trip is a favour to his ex-wife, but does not reveal that he also has a young son he does not know, but who now wants to meet his father. As they head west, Tick, Adam, and Bernadette learn to accept and support each other, whilst encountering a number of strange and colourful characters along the way. Adam is forced to realize that not everyone is accepting of his flamboyant lifestyle, whilst Bernadette opens up to the possibility of love again following the death of her husband. Upon reaching Alice Springs, Tick finally meets his son, Benji, who accepts his father’s drag queen persona. The trio perform at the resort and realize that they have forged a bond that will last forever.

The music for Priscilla is a hit parade of infectious dance songs from the 70s and 80s by Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper, Donna Summer, The Village People, Kylie Minogue and many others and includes “I Will Survive”, “Don’t Leave Me This Way”, “Hot Stuff”, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”, “True Colours” and “I Love The Nightlife.”

Priscilla Queen of the Desert is a flamboyant, heart-felt, disco-fuelled musical that is guaranteed to get the audience up on their feet.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert runs at Darlington Hippodrome from Wednesday 18 to Saturday 28 April. Thursday April 26 is a BSL Interpreted performance. There is a 14+ age recommendation on this show. Tickets are available now from www.darlingtonos.org.uk or by calling the ticket hotline on 01325 244659. Tickets for Priscilla are not available through the Hippodrome box office.

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

ALL OR NOTHING – THE MOD MUSICAL

BASED ON THE STORY OF THE SMALL FACES

AT THE AMBASSADORS THEATRE IN LONDON’S WEST END

FROM 28 MARCH TO 2 JUNE 2018

GALA NIGHT ON WEDNESDAY 28 MARCH AT 7.30PM

Full casting is announced for the Ambassadors Theatre run of the critically acclaimed ALL OR NOTHING – THE MOD MUSICAL, with book by Carol Harrison and music and lyrics by the Small Faces. The show transfers to the Ambassadors Theatre in London’s West End on 28 March, following a sell-out season at the Arts Theatre.  The 10-week run at the Ambassadors Theatre will begin with a Gala Night on Wednesday 28 March and will end on Saturday 2 June 2018.  Tickets are now on sale.  

 

Joining the previously announced cast are Mark Newnham as alternate Young Steve Marriott, Rikki Lawton as Jimmy Winston, Tamsin January and Connor Barrister. 

 

Carol Harrison plays Kay Marriott and Chris Simmons plays Steve Marriott, with Samuel Pope as Young Steve Marriott, Stefan Edwards as Kenney Jones, Stanton Wright as Ronnie Lane, Alexander Gold as Ian McLagan, Karis Anderson as P.P. Arnold and Russell Floyd as Don Arden.  Also in the cast are Danielle Johnson, Daniel Beales, Alfie Harrison-Foreman, Dani Acors and Emily Daniels

 

ALL OR NOTHING is the story of four charismatic young kids from East London with humour, attitude, passion and, above all, talent.  They became the Small Faces and were rocketed into the big time, only to discover the path to success is paved with exploitation, betrayal and, ultimately, tragedy. 

 

In 1965, a new phenomenon erupted out of London’s East End.  It was the essence of all that was cool.  It was Mod.  ALL OR NOTHINGfollows the rise and demise of the Small Faces, the band who encapsulated all that was Mod – a unique blend of taste and testosterone, clothes-obsessed and street-wise – but most of all, a dedication to rhythm ‘n’ blues.  The musical celebrates the unique sound of this iconic Mod band, with all the Small Faces’ hits, including Whatcha Gonna Do About It, Tin Soldier, Lazy Sunday, Itchycoo Park and, of course, All or Nothing.

 

The show is endorsed and supported by many of those who feature in its story, including singer P.P. Arnold and Steve Marriott’s daughter, Mollie Marriott, who is the show’s vocal coach and creative consultant.

 

ALL OR NOTHING – THE MOD MUSICAL is directed by Carol Harrison, with set design by Rebecca Brower, lighting design by Peter Small, sound design by Chris Drohan, choreography by Cameron Hall and musical supervision by Pat Davey.  ALL OR NOTHING – THE MOD MUSICAL is produced in the West End by Rock ‘n’ Roll Productions.

A 29-track cast recording, as well as a limited edition 15-track blue vinyl LP, is available now from the show website, www.allornothingmusical.com, and is also available from the Ambassadors Theatre during the show’s run.

 

 

LISTINGS INFORMATION

 

ALL OR NOTHING – THE MOD MUSICAL

 

Ambassadors Theatre:

28 March – 2 June 2018

 

Ambassadors Theatre

West Street

London WC2H 9ND

 

Performances:  Monday – Sat 7.30pm, Thurs & Sat matinee 3pm

Tickets:  From £27.50

Box Office: 020 7395 5405

 

Running Time:  2 hours, 35 mins, including interval

N.B.  Contains strong language

 

www.allornothingmusical.com

@AONTheMusical

FULL CAST CONFIRMED FOR

MOLIÈRE’S TARTUFFE

Featuring GEORGE BLAGDEN (Versailles), SEBASTIAN ROCHÉ (Man in the High Castle) and OLIVIA ROSS (War & Peace)

 

Joining previously announced PAUL ANDERSON (Peaky Blinders) and AUDREY FLEUROT (Spiral)

Theatre Royal Haymarket | 25 May – 28 July 2018

 

George Blagden, Sebastian Roché and Olivia Ross are among the latest actors to have joined the West End cast of Tartuffe, alongside the previously announced Paul Anderson and Audrey Fleurot. In the West End’s first ever dual-language production, Molière’s classic comedy re-imagines Tartuffe as a radical American evangelist who uproots the life of a French film tycoon in Hollywood.

Tartuffe will premiere for a limited ten-week West End run at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from Friday 25^thMay 2018.

Sebastian Roché will make his West End stage debut as Orgon, a French media mogul living in Hollywood, who unwittingly becomes hoodwinked by Tartuffe. Sebastian’s screen credits include the HBO series Young Pope alongside Jude Law, Man In The High Castle (Amazon) and The Vampire Diaries (The CW). His stage credits include Julie Taymor’s Broadway production of The Green Bird (Mandell Weiss Theater) and Salome opposite Al Pacino (Square Theatre). He also co-stars in the upcoming second season of the Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated series Genius.

George Blagden joins the cast as Damis, Orgon’s son. George’s best-known roles to date have included Grantaire in the film adaptation of Les Misérables (Working Title Films), King Louis XIV in Versailles (BBC Two) and Athelstan in Vikings (Amazon), as well as roles in Black Mirror (Netflix) and Wrath of the Titans (Warner Bros. Pictures).

Olivia Ross plays Mariane, daughter of Orgon and brother of Damis. Olivia’s screen credits to date include playing Mademoiselle Bourienne in War & Peace (BBC One) and Queen Joan in Knightfall (History), as well as stage performances in Blue Stockings, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Henry V (The Globe).

The full cast includes Paul Anderson as Tartuffe (Peaky Blinders, The Revenant), George Blagden as Damis (Versailles, Vikings), Jaz Deol as Valère (The Halcyon, Code of a Killer), Zachary Fall as The Officer (Poldark, Versailles), John Faulkner as Monsieur Loyal (Little Boy Blue, Mary Queen of Scots), Audrey Fleurot as Elmire (Spiral, The Intouchables), Paikan Garutti as Laurent (Songe d’une nuit d’été, Courteline), Annick Le Goff as Madame Pernelle (Le Petit Lieutenant), Claude Perron as Dorine (Amélie, Chrysalis), Sebastian Roché asOrgon (Man in the High Castle, Young Pope), Olivia Ross as Mariane (War & Peace, Shakespeare’s Globe: A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Vincent Winterhalter as Cléante (Spiral, Nicolas Le Floch).

L.A. Present day. French media tycoon Orgon has re-located to Tinsel town with his family, his heart set on becoming Hollywood royalty. With a new studio to his name, and a palatial Beverly Hills mansion, his empire seems infallible. But all is not as it seems, as Orgon falls under the seductive spell of Tartuffe, a radical evangelist. So comprehensively has Tartuffe hoodwinked Orgon that he looks set to steal his fortune, drive away his son, seduce his wife and marry his daughter.  

Paul Anderson will make his West End debut as Tartuffe, a duplicitous evangelist who holds Orgon’s family under his seductive spell. As well as starring in the hit drama Peaky Blinders (BBC & Netflix) as Arthur Shelby, Paul Anderson has held leading roles in The Revenant (20^th Century Fox), Legend (Working Title), In the Heart of the Sea (Warner Bros. Pictures) and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Warner Bros. Pictures). Paul Anderson will also appear as Guy of Gisborne in Leonardo DiCaprio’s upcoming Robin Hood film (Summit Entertainment) later in 2018.

Audrey Fleurot will play Elmire, Orgon’s wily wife who endeavours to avoid the beguiling effects of Tartuffe’s charm. Audrey Fleurot’s leading roles have included Joséphine Karlsson in the BAFTA nominated Spiral (Canal + / BBC), Magalie in the multi award-winning international hit film The Intouchables (Quad), Hortense in Un village français (Tétra Média) and as herself in Call My Agent! / Dix pour cent! (Netflix).

As befitting the Theatre Royal Haymarket, which was known to the play-going world as ‘The New French Theatre’ following it’s opening in 1720, this adaptation of Tartuffe will alternate between English with French surtitles and French with English surtitles to reflect the unfolding plot.

Written in 1664, Tartuffe, or The Impostor became regarded as one of Molière’s most celebrated comedies, complete with some of the greatest classical theatre roles. Set present day in Donald Trump’s America, the play’s trenchant mockery of human frailties remains as relevant as ever in this darkly comic adaptation of the classic satire.

www.TartuffePlay.com

HAIRSPRAY THE MUSICAL
UK TOUR
Directed by Paul Kerryson
Choreographed by Drew McOnie
HAIRSPRAY THE MUSICAL TO TOUR AGAIN IN
2020-21

26 March – 7 April 2018
Opera House, Manchester
3 Quay St, Manchester M3 3HP
Box Office: 0844 871 3018
http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/opera-house-manchester/
On Sale Now

9 – 14 April 2018
Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes
500 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 3NZ
Box Office: 0844 871 7652
http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre/
On Sale Now

16 – 21 April 2018
Empire Theatre, Liverpool
Lime St, Liverpool L1 1JE
Box Office:  0151 702 7320
http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire/
On Sale Now

23 – 28 April 2018
Hull New Theatre, Hull
Kingston Square, Hull HU1 3HF
Box Office: 01482 226 655
http://www.hcandl.co.uk/
On Sale Now

30 April – 5 May 2018
Venue Cymru, Llandudno
The Promenade, Llandudno LL30 1BB
Box Office:  01492 872000
https://venuecymru.co.uk/
On Sale Now

8 – 12 May 2018
Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS
Box Office: 01227 787787
http://www.marlowetheatre.com/
On Sale Now

14 – 19 May 2018
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
Station Rd, Southend-on-Sea SS0 7RA
Box Office: 01702 351135
https://southendtheatres.org.uk
On Sale Now

21 May – 26 May 2018
Wycombe Swan
St Mary St, High Wycombe, HP11 2XE
Box Office: 01494 512 000
https://wycombeswan.co.uk
On Sale Now

29 May – 03 June 2018
Cheltenham Everyman
7 – 10 Regent St, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, Cheltenham GL50 1HQ
Box Office: 01242 572573
https://www.everymantheatre.org.uk/
On Sale Now

11 – 16 June 2018
Stoke Regent Theatre
Box Office: 0844 871 7649
http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/regent-theatre/
On Sale Now

18-23 June 2018
Oxford New Theatre
Box Office:
http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford/
On Sale Now

25-30 June 2018
Newcastle Theatre Royal
Box Office: 08448 11 21 21
https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on
On Sale Now

2 – 7 July 2018
Eastbourne Devonshire Theatre
Box Office: 01323 412 000
https://www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk/venue/devonshire-park-theatre
On Sale Now

9 – 14 July 2018
Dublin Bord Gais
Box Office: +353 1 677 7999
http://bordgaisenergytheatre.ie/
On Sale Now

16-21 July 2018
York Grand Theatre
Box Office: 0844 871 3024
http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/grand-opera-house-york/
On Sale Now

23-28 July 2018
Swansea Grand
Box Office: 01792 475715
http://www.swansea.gov.uk/grandtheatrewhatson
On Sale Now

30 July – 4 August 2018
Bournemouth Pavilion
Box Office: 0844 576 3000
https://bhlivetickets.co.uk
On Sale Now

Teletubbies say Eh-Oh to Hull

Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po set for city debut

This April; gaze in wonder at the Hull New Theatre stage as it is transformed into the iconic Tellytubbyland.

For one weekend only, from Saturday 14 to Sunday 15 April, Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po take to the stage in their first ever theatre show, created especially for little ones.

Look out for the Tubby Phone, Noo-noo and Sun Baby in a fun, bright and safe world which captures young children’s imaginations and encourages them to explore the world around them. Join in and enjoy beloved features from the TV series along with brand new songs; it’s never too soon to get young ones involved in the theatre,

Tickets for Teletubbies Live are available now. Book at the Hull City Hall Box Office, call 01482 300 306 or visit www.hulltheatres.co.uk

Tim Minchin paid a visit to Leicester Curve to watch Matilda: The Musical. Tim, who composed original songs for the musical, went to support the musical as it heads on its UK tour. After the show he enjoyed drinks with the cast and crew.

Tim is pictured with Chris Stafford (Chief Executive, Curve) and Nikolai Foster (Artistic Director, Curve)

REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE ANNOUNCE
CASTING FOR PETER PAN

• TIMOTHY SHEADER and LIAM STEEL’S Olivier Awardnominated
production of PETER PAN by J. M. Barrie returns in the
final year of First World War Centenary Commemorations
• Launching the 2018 Season, performances start on 17 May
• FISTON BAREK takes the role of Peter Pan
• DENNIS HERDMAN takes the role of Captain Hook

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre have today announced casting for Peter Pan (17 May – 15 June). A revival of their 2015 Olivier Award-nominated production, Peter Pan launches the 2018 season in the final year of the First World War Centenary Commemorations.

For the wounded soldiers of WW1, imagination is their only escape. Yet as they’re transported to the fantastical lagoons and pirate ships of Never Land, allegories of the war they’ve left behind are ever present. George Llewelyn Davies, later killed in action in 1915, was one of the children who inspired J. M. Barrie to create the iconic character of Peter Pan. Remembering him, and a generation of Lost Boys, the production enchanted young and old alike during its original, critically acclaimed run.

Kids go half price at most performances.
_____________________
Fiston Barek takes the title role of Peter Pan. Recent credits include King Lear (Old Vic) directed by Deborah Warner, and The Rolling Stone (Orange Tree / Manchester Royal Exchange). Other credits include Routes and Truth and Reconciliation (Royal Court) and Love the Sinner (National Theatre).

Dennis Herdman plays the role of Captain Hook. Recent credits include Around the World in 80 Days (UK Tour); The Lounge (Soho Theatre); The Winter’s Tale, Pericles, The Oresteia, Measure for Measure, The Night of the Burning Pestle (Shakespeare’s Globe); A Mad World My Masters (RSC / ETT); The Secret Agent (Theatre O / Young Vic); and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Told by an Idiot / Svenska Teatr). Television credits include: Knightfall (A & E Studios), Brum (Ragdoll/BBC), City Central, Close Up North and The Anorak (BBC).

The roles of Wendy, John and Michael are played by Cora Kirk, Theo Cowan and Omari Douglas. Cora Kirk made her professional debut in 2017 in the lead role of Irina in The People Are Singing (Manchester Royal Exchange) and recently played Lucy in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (West Yorkshire Playhouse). Theo Cowan has appeared in The Secret Garden (Theatre by the Lake); Comus (Shakespeare’s Globe) and Absence of War (Headlong), having previously appeared at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in Lord of the Flies. Omari Douglas has recently appeared in Five Guys Named Moe (Marble Arch); Tristan and Yseult (Kneehigh / Shakespeare’s Globe); The Life (Southwark
Playhouse); Annie Get Your Gun (Sheffield Crucible), and returns to the Open Air Theatre having previously appeared in Jesus Christ Superstar.

Elisa De Grey plays/puppeteers the role of Tinker Bell. Her recent credits include Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons A Reimagining (Sam Wanamaker); Running Wild (UK Tour); Goodnight Mr Tom (West End / UK Tour); No Way Out (Southwark Playhouse) and The Water Babies (Northern Broadsides).

The cast also includes: Sam Angell (Twin), Raphael Bushay (Nibs), Fred Davis (Twin), Caroline Deyga (Smee), Lewis Griffin (Tootles), Willy Hudson (Curly), Arthur Kyeyune (Pirate/Movement Associate), Kyle Lima (Starkey), Tim Preston (Slightly), Louis Quaye (Pirate), John Sandeman (Pirate/Fight Captain) and Ed Wade (Pirate).

Directed by Open Air Theatre Artistic Director Timothy Sheader (Jesus Christ Superstar, To Kill a Mockingbird, Running Wild) and Liam Steel (Lord of the Flies, Into The Woods), set design is by Jon Bausor who recently won the UK Theatre Award for The Grinning Man (Bristol Old Vic). Costume design is by Jon Morrell, puppet design and direction by Rachael Canning, composition and sound score by Nick Powell, lighting design by Rick Fisher, sound design by Nick Lidster for Autograph, fight direction by Kate Waters, casting by Polly Jerrold and musical supervision/musical direction by Candida Caldicot. The Season Associate Director (Voice and Text) is Barbara Houseman and Aerial Artistry and Technical Consultation is by Wired Aerial Theatre.
_____________________
Other productions in the 2018 season at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre include Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of the Screw (22 – 30 June), in a co-production with English National Opera; Shakespeare’s As You Like It (06 July – 28 July); Dinosaur World Live for ages 3+ (15 August – 9 September) and Little Shop of Horrors (03 August – 15 September), book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan  Menken, based on the film by Roger Corman with screenplay by Charles Griffith.

MOREoutdoor events include The Guilty Feminist (15 July); Joe Lycett (22 July); Jimmy Carr (12 August); Simon Amstell (19 August) and The Luna Cinema present outdoor screenings of Spice World (26 August), The Greatest Showman (2 September) and Alien (9 September).

Visit www.openairtheatre.com for more information.

Arcola Theatre – until 21 April 2018.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

3***

When artist Simon Dykes wakes up after a drug-fuelled night of partying, he is horrified to find that his girlfriend, and everyone else, have turned into chimpanzees. Under the care of alpha male psychiatrist Zach Busner, Simon is forced to face his chimpunity and rid himself of the delusion that he is human.

Will Self’s novel has been skilfully adapted for the stage by Patrick Marmion, with Self’s scathing satirical riff on social hierarchy and patriarchy providing plenty of laughs in Oscar Pearce’s production. The final scenes, where a Jane Goodall type chimp naturalist mourns the inevitable extinction of the human species as the chimps observe the humans in the wild provide a wistful, philosophical ending, but the play sometimes feels like a series of sketches lampooning easy targets such as the art world, NHS management and social snobbery. The obsequiousness and self-abasement of the males to their alpha never ceases to amuse, and the reimagining of London life for chimpanzees is sharp and clever.

The fine cast impress as chimps. There are no facial prosthetics – only brown harem pants, the odd use of mini crutches and the coaching skills of chimp expert Peter Elliott. The vocalisation and movement of the cast is utterly convincing, even the use of a frilly pink cushion to represent the females’ swollen oestrus becomes believable. Ruth Lass is outstanding as Dr Busner, full of alpha male posturing and arrogance, and Bryan Dick makes Simon ‘s plight sympathetic with his horrified reactions to chimp society. His transformation into a chimp is slickly subtle in Dick’s nuanced performance.

Great Apes is smart, twisted and thought-provoking fun – well worth a look.

BAT OUT OF HELL – THE MUSICAL stars Andrew Polec as Strat and Christina Bennington as Raven, with Rob Fowler as Falco, Sharon Sexton as Sloane, Danielle Steers as Zahara and Wayne Robinson as Jagwire.

BAT OUT OF HELL – THE MUSICAL is a romantic adventure about rebellious youth and passionate love, set against the backdrop of a post-cataclysmic city adrift from the mainland. Strat, the forever young leader of The Lost, has fallen for Raven, daughter of Falco, the tyrannical, ruler of Obsidian. For the stage musical, the award-winning Jim Steinman has incorporated iconic songs from his Bat Out Of Hell albums, including You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth, Bat Out Of Hell, I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) and Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad, as well as two previously unreleased songs, What Part of My Body Hurts the Most and Not Allowed to Love.

Winner of the Evening Standard Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical 2017, BAT OUT OF HELL – THE MUSICAL has book by Jim Steinman, with early writing by Stuart Beattie, music and lyrics by Jim Steinman, direction by Jay Scheib and choreography by Emma Portner. It is produced by David Sonenberg, Michael Cohl, Randy Lennox and Tony Smith.

Website: www.BatOutOfHellMusical.com

Twitter & Facebook: @BatTheMusical

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical

Dominion Theatre

268-269 Tottenham Court Road

London W1T 7AQ

Performances: Mon-Sat at 7.30pm, Wed & Sat matinee at 2.30pm*

*There is no 2.30pm performance on Wednesday 4 April

Tickets: from £15.00

Box Office: 0845 200 7982

Current Booking Period: 2 April – 28 July 2018

Running Time: 2 hours 40 minutes (including interval)