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INAUGURAL HERETIC VOICES ANNOUNCES EXTENSION UNTIL 20 JANUARY AT ARCOLA THEATRE

 

Heretic Productions today announces an extension of the inaugural Heretic Voices – a new competition which aims to find the best new writing in monologue form, at the Arcola Theatre now running from Tuesday 9 January until Saturday 20 January. The recently announced winners, chosen by Michael Billington, Lolita Chakrabarti, Monica Dolan and Mel Kenyon, will have their monologues produced by acclaimed directors and actors at the Arcola Theatre.

Award-winning director Roy Alexander Weise directs Ted Reilly in Sonya Hale’s Dean McBride; Max Gill directs Lauren Samuels in A Hundred Words for Snow by Tatty Hennessy; and Amanda Boxer performs Woman Caught Unaware by Annie Fox, directed by Jessica Edwards. The three monologues will be performed each evening from 9 January until 20 January and they will also be published as a collection ‘Heretic Voices’ by Nick Hern Books.

 

DEAN McBRIDE

By Sonya Hale

Dean McBride is a vivid and poetic story of loss and redemption set on a Croydon council estate.

Sonya Hale’s other plays include Glory Whispers at Theatre503. As a writer, she has worked with The Outside Edge Theatre Company, Synergy Theatre Project and Clean Break and her plays have been performed at The Southbank Centre, Latitude Festival, E15 University and in prisons and treatment centres.

Ted Reilly is most well-known for his current role Johnny Carter in Eastenders. His theatre credits include Plaques and Tangles and Vera Vera Vera (Royal Court Theatre).

Roy Alexander Weise is the 19th annual winner of the James Menzies-Kitchin Award and is an Associate Director at Harts Theatre Company. His theatre credits include The Mountaintop (Young Vic), Jekyll and Hyde (National Youth Theatre), Dead Don’t Floss (National Theatre), The Ugly One (Park Theatre), The Dark (Ovalhouse), Primetime (Royal Court Theatre), Stone Face (Finborough Theatre). He is also directing the forthcoming productions of Nine Night (National Theatre) and Br’er Cotton (Theatre503).

A HUNDRED WORDS FOR SNOW

By Tatty Hennessy

A Hundred Words for Snow describes a teenage girl’s solo journey to the North Pole with her father’s ashes.

Tatty Hennessy’s previous work includes an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen commissioned by Theatre N16, and All That Lives developed in association with Ovalhouse.

 

Lauren Samuels was previously a contestant on BBC1’s Over the Rainbow. Her theatre credits include La Ronde (Bunker Theatre), Vanities: The Musical (Trafalgar Studios), The Buskers Opera (Park Theatre), Bend It Like Beckham (Phoenix Theatre), Love Story (Octagon Theatre Bolton), Water Babies, Peter Pan A Musical! (Curve), We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre, UK tour), Vampirette (Opera House Manchester), Children of Eden (Prince of Wales Theatre), The Last 5 Years (Tabard Theatre) and Grease (Piccadilly Theatre)

Max Gill directs. He is a director and writer, and the co-founder (with Ellie Keel) of Heretic Productions. He has previously assisted Kenneth Branagh on Plays at The Garrick and has directed for stage in London, Moscow and Tokyo. He was a Finalist in the Royal Theatrical Support Trust Director Award 2016 and 2017 and the Kevin Spacey Artists of Choice Award. He is a screenwriter for film and television and his plays have been published in the UK. His adaptation of Schnitzler’s La Ronde, which he directed at Bunker Theatre in March 2017 has been nominated for the WhatsOnStage award for best Off-West End Production.

 

WOMAN CAUGHT UNAWARE

By Annie Fox

Woman Caught Unaware by Annie Fox is a searing examination of the culture of body shaming. This is Fox’s debut play.

 

Amanda Boxer’s theatre credits include Mosquitoes (National Theatre), Relative Values (Harold Pinter Theatre), Prisoner of Second Avenue (Vaudeville Theatre), The House of Bernarda Alba, The Graduate (Gielgud Theatre), A Touch of the Poet (Young Vic), Blue Heart (Orange Tree Theatre), Medea (Almeida Theatre), The Painter, Macbeth (Arcola Theatre), The Destiny of Me, Many Roads to Paradise (Finborough Theatre), The Arab-Israeli Cookbook (Gate Theatre, Tricycle Theatre), The Pain and the Itch, The Strip (Royal Court Theatre), The Yiddish Queen Lear (Southwark Playhouse), Come Blow Your Horn, The Misanthrope and Absurd Person Singular (Royal Exchange Manchester). Her television credits include Silent Witness, Trial and Retribution and Chalk.

 

Jessica Edwards directs and is Artistic Director of Flipping the Bird. Recent credits include Denim: World Tour (Soho Theatre/Underbelly), Punts (Theatre503), Revolutions (Arcola/Old Vic Lab), The Gulf (Old Vic Lab), Torch (Latitude/Edinburgh Festival 2016), Haters Make You Famous (Almeida Theatre), Queering Marlowe (Duke of York’s Theatre), White Hot & Weak (Old Vic New Voices Festival), The Box (Latitude/Theatre Delicatessen), The Itinerant Music Hall (Lyric Hammersmith/Watford Palace/GDIF/Latitude), Jekyll & Hyde (Southwark Playhouse/Assembly Edinburgh) and  the forthcoming Berlin Non Stop (The Vaults) and Hedi Mohr (BKA Theater Berlin, Spring 2018).

 

Heretic Voices Listings

Arcola Theatre

Tuesday 9 – Saturday 20 January 2018

Tuesday – Saturday 7.30pm

Saturday matinees at 3pm

Tickets: £22 / £19

Box Office: 020 7503 1646 / www.arcolatheatre.com

Heretic Productions is run by Artistic Directors Max Gill and Jordan Waller and Producer Ellie Keel.  Its previous production was an adaptation of Schnitzler’s La Ronde, directed by Gill, which ran at the Bunker Theatre in early 2017.  The company works across stage and screen with a number of short film productions also in development.

Arcola Theatre 

Arcola Theatre is one of London’s leading off-West End theatres. Locally engaged and internationally minded, Arcola stages a diverse programme of plays, operas and musicals. World-class productions from major artists appear alongside cutting-edge work from the most exciting emerging companies. Arcola delivers one of London’s most extensive community engagement programmes, creating over 11,000 opportunities every year. By providing research and development space to diverse artists, Arcola champions theatre that’s more engaging and representative. Its pioneering environmental initiatives are internationally renowned, and aim to make Arcola the world’s first carbon-neutral theatre.

NEW JERSEY NIGHTS RETURNS TO DARLINGTON

The international hit show New Jersey Nights comes to Darlington Hippodrome from Tuesday 16 to Saturday 20 January.

The show is a spectacular celebration of the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, and takes the audience on a nostalgic musical journey through the career of one of the biggest selling groups of all time.

From the back-street studio in New Jersey where it all began, this vibrant production includes all of The Four Seasons’ greatest hits including Sherry, Rag Doll, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like A Man and many more.

Featuring four great singers, perfect harmonies, stylized costumes, a rockin’ live band and amazing dancers, New Jersey Nights has smashed box-office records across the USA and UK and is proving to be one of the most successful touring shows of all time.

If you like the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, you’ll love this show.

New Jersey Nights is at Darlington Hippodrome from Tuesday 16 to Saturday 20 January at 7.30pm with a 2pm matinee on Thursday and a 2.30pm matinee on the Saturday

Tickets* are priced from £22, discounts available.

*All prices include a £2 restoration levy

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 405405 or visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Ballet British Columbia 13-14 March ‘18

Sherlock Holmes 8-12 May ‘18

Dusty the Musical 17-21 July ‘18

Kinky Boots 29 Oct–10 Nov ‘18

 

Newcastle Theatre Royal’s 2018 Spring/Summer season opens a theatrical treasure chest of riches featuring breath-taking dance, thought-provoking drama, feel-good musicals and family shows aplenty.  So resolve to make 2018 your year of theatre!

 

The Grade 1 listed Theatre will be bursting at the seams this year as it welcomes no less than five big musicals, including  Evita (22-26 May), Hairspray (25-30 June), Dusty the Musical (17-21 July), Calendar Girls (18-29 Sep) and Kinky Boots (29 Oct – 10 Nov).

 

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s hit show Evita returns to Newcastle in May, starring Madalena Alberto (Les Misérables) and Gian Marco Schiaretti (Tarzan). Telling the story of Eva Peron – wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Peron – Evita follows Eva’s journey from humble beginnings through to extraordinary iconic status and features some of the most famous songs in musical theatre.

 

Returning for one week only after a sell-out visit in Spring 2016, West End and Broadway hit Hairspray lands 25-30 June. Set in 1962, Hairspray tells the story of Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, who’s on a mission to follow her dreams and dance her way onto national TV. This is a feel-good show with the ultimate dance-in-your-seat and singalong soundtrack.

 

Dusty the Musical (17-21 July) is a landmark new show based on the authorised biography of Dusty Springfield, featuring many of her blazingly soulful pop hits, including I Only Want

to Be with You, Son of a Preacher Man and You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me.  With a fiercely funny and emotionally charged script from BAFTA and Olivier nominated writer

Jonathan Harvey, Dusty celebrates the extraordinary and vivacious woman with the iconic voice.

 

Calendar Girls the Musical (18-29 Sep), by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, is the award winning musical comedy based on the true story of a group of ordinary ladies who achieved something extraordinary. Straight from the West End, this is a glorious new production with an all-star cast.

 

But perhaps the most anticipated of the season is Kinky Boots (29 Oct – 10 Nov), winner of every major Best Musical award, including the 2016 Olivier Award for Best New Musical.  Featuring songs by Grammy and Tony winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper and a book by Broadway legend Harvey Fierstein this dazzling show is a joyous story of Brit grit, taking audiences from the factory floor of Northampton to the catwalks of Milan!

 

Dance fans will delight in three big names this season, starting with the breathtaking Ballet British Columbia (13-14 Mar).  Making its Theatre Royal debut, Canada’s leading national dance company present an exhilarating evening of dance by three internationally celebrated female choreographers. Recognised for their fresh creativity, this 18-strong company of dancers will astound UK audiences with their unique blend of cool, classical elegance, contemporary flair and extraordinary skill.

 

Returning in May due to phenomenal demand is international Irish dance sensation Spirit of the Dance (16-19) on its record-breaking 20 year anniversary tour. One of the world’s most successful dance shows, Spirit of the Dance showcases the heart-pounding rhythms of Irish dance as well as sensual Flamenco and red hot salsa.  Not one dancer steps out of line as their thunderous feet perform in this thrilling and explosive production.

 

Another big name to return this season is Stomp (13-18 Aug), the unstoppable smash-hit but fresher, faster and funnier than ever! Combining dance, comedy and music into a theatrical experience like no other Stomp takes familiar objects like newspapers, bins, plastics bags and even the kitchen sink and uses them to create a universal language of rhythm and movement that’s playful, thrilling and exploding with energy.

 

For drama lovers we are proud to present one riveting new show and one old favourite.   Sherlock Holmes – The Final Curtain (8-12 May) is a gripping new stage show with an all-star cast including Robert Powell and Liza Goddard in celebration of the world’s greatest detective. Holmes lives in retirement on the South Coast and is concerned in his advancing years he may be an easy target for his enemies. So when a new case presents itself Holmes is determined to kill two birds with one stone – solve the mystery and confront his own demons.

 

Following its sell-out success in January, the multi award-winning West End smash hit comedy drama The Play that Goes Wrong returns 2-7 July.  The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society are putting on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong… does! As the accident prone thesps battle on against all the odds to reach their final curtain

call, hilarious results ensue!  Now playing on Broadway and enjoying its 4th year in the West End, the show has secured rave reviews and won a host of celebrity endorsements along the way.

 

Another comedy treat, back once again to warm the hearts of their loyal fans are the incorrigibly Grumpy Old Women (20 May).  Fed up with flogging their guts out and always having to be in charge, the GOW have put their knobbly old feet up in glorious retirement.  Free at last to practise their extreme colouring-in, ukulele orchestra and novelty fudge-making!  But, with the world in a bigger mess than ever before, they will need to unleash their superpowers as only three old Grumpies know how!  Stars Jenny Eclair, Dillie Keane and Lizzie Roper.

 

Also sure to be a sell-out is the official world premiere of ITV’s smash hit comedy Benidorm (7-15 Sep), which opens at Newcastle Theatre Royal prior to a major national tour.  Produced by iconic Newcastle born West End producer Michael Harrison (The Bodyguard; Young Frankenstein) the show features the much loved TV cast and will bring a heady dose of sangria-soaked Solana sunshine to the stage for the very first time!

 

Two great new shows for our smaller customers complete the new season – a brand new live stage show from the Youtube sensation Little Baby Bum (10-11 July) invites pre-schoolers to step into the magical and colourful world of Nursery Rhymes, while August sees the return of everyone’s favourite piggy in Peppa Pig’s Adventure (22-23 Aug) where we welcome back Peppa and friends as they embark on a camping trip full of games, laughter and live music!

 

Tickets for all new shows in the Spring / Summer ‘18 season can be purchased online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge).

Jack Studio Theatre – until 6 January.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

5*****

Joan Aiken’s classic novel is brought to magical life as a fantastic festive feast of villainy, bravery and cheese appreciation.

Russ Tunney’s adaptation, with a cast of five portraying the quirky characters that people Aitken’s alternate 1832 England, is jam-packed with knowing wit and a pervasive sense of jeopardy. Bonnie Green and her cousin Sylvia are left in the care of distant relative Miss Slighcarp when Bonnie’s parents voyage abroad for the sake of her mother’s health. Miss Slighcarp’s motives soon become clear as she sacks the house servants and half starves the girls as she and her oafish companion Mr Grimshaw feast on champagne and oysters. With only footman James and Simon, the goose boy as allies, can the girls escape and bring justice down upon the wicked Slighcarp?

Well, this is Christmas, so obviously – yes. But even though the lucky coincidences of characters appearing in the nick of time and handy secret passages being found are performed with a wink and a glance to the audience, director Kate Bannister manages to keep the danger the children are in feeling urgent and real – even in the increasingly frantic final scenes as the multi-roling male actors excuse themselves to switch characters. The audience are all in on the gag, having been called upon to participate as servants and schoolchildren, and this sense of community and intimacy makes this production thrilling for young and old alike. The movie quotes may be lost on the children, but there is one cartoon reference that had the child next to me howling with laughter.

Speaking of howls, the soundscape and music created by Jack Barton and Elliot Clay is spookily atmospheric, from the ominously ticking clock to the wolfpack in full chase. Add to this Karl Swinyard’s simple but evocative set, with it’s panelled walls and mobile trees, the casts’ shared narration and songs, and Aiken’s England comes to life. The wolves aren’t exactly terrifying, but the puppets are used imaginatively in a very effective chase scene.

Rebecca Rayne and Julia Pagett are delightful as the plucky young heroines, with Pagett excelling in the arch humour as events come to a head, while Andrew Hollingworth is suitably sweet and noble in the roles of James and Simon. Adam Elliott’s Miss Slighcarp is a sneering, preening masterpiece, skewering the audience with disapproving glares, and is a fantastic comic partner to Bryan Pilkington’s cheese loving duo of odious Mr Grimshaw and alt-Dickensian Mrs Brisket.

Wonderfully nostalgic and anarchic at the same time, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase is a warm theatrical hug that is the perfect remedy for the Winter blues. Grab a ticket while you can.

The Majestic Theatre, Darlington opened its doors today (29 December 2017) and welcomed in just under 200 children and families to see Cinderella as part of the charity Cash For Kids.

 

The Majestic gave out free tickets for disadvantaged families, giving them a Christmas treat, with many of the children never attending a pantomime before.  Artistic Director, Matthew Campbell, was on hand to welcome the families to the theatre.  He commented The children are all very excited, this will be a fabulous audience for the cast to play to

 

Donations of chocolate was given from Tesco in Newton Aycliffe and Purity Soft Drinks provided bottles of Juice Burst for every child to enjoy during the interval.  Simon Powell from Purity Soft Drinks said This is such a worthy cause, we are very happy to be helping out and providing a drink for every child. Shirley Cormack the Charity/Community Champion at the Newton Aycliffe Extra said Tesco’s is more than happy to help.

Cash for Kids is currently running its annual Mission Christmas Appeal – The largest annual Christmas toy appeal in the UK.

In 2016 the appeal generated upwards of £2 million in gifts and donations which were distributed to more than 47,000 disadvantaged kids across the North East.

With 1 in 4 children across the North East living in poverty this December, for many families Christmas is simply a luxury they can’t afford. This year’s Mission Christmas aims to beat last year’s fundraising total and help make sure it can help as many children as possible.

Cinderella is playing at the majestic until Friday 5 January and tickets can be purchased here http://themajestictheatre.nutickets.com/event-brand/8173

 

 

 

To wish you all

A Very Merry Fairy Powered Christmas

and

A Fairy Powered New Year

Here’s to lots of lovely shows, fabulous reviews, interesting interviews and magnificent theatre experiences in 2018

Leeds Grand Theatre – until 6 January 2018

10 stars out of 5

The best show of the year is currently in Leeds with Nativity the Musical.  Full of Sparkle and Shine, this is a proper feel good show, a wonderful alternative to pantomime, and full of festive joy.

Simon Lipkin leads the adult cast as Mr Poppy, the teaching assistant with a heart of gold and child like enthusiasm.  Lipkin is a joyful revelation – full of fun and natural comedic timing, he also has pathos and depth especially in his budding friendship with Mr Maddens.

Daniel Boys is primary school teacher Paul Maddens.  Heartbroken after the love of his life Jennifer (the woefully underused Sarah Earnshaw) left him to chase her dream in Hollywood and vowing to never do another school Nativity after critic Patrick Burns (Jamie Chapman) gave minus 2 stars for his last performance.  He finds himself in charge of this year’s show at St Bernadettes Catholic Primary.  An angry exchange with old friend and now teacher at rival school, the private Oakmoor, Gordon Shakespeare (the fabulously snarling Andy Brady) finds Paul bragging that Jennifer and Hollywood are coming to the Nativity.  This then causes mass mayhem as the school and town prepare to be famous.  

The children are the complete stars of the show, 3 groups of 8 youngsters* performing the most elaborate over the top production of the Nativity ever, in the hope to impress Hollywood but also to prove that, despite what everyone thinks, they’re not useless and they can perform and perform they do.  The actual show itself they are magnificent, but Dear Father Christmas is heartbreakingly beautiful and the mother in me wanted to hug them all.

Debbie Issit and Nicky Ager’s songs are wonderfully catchy and you find yourself humming the tunes long after leaving the theatre and Andrew Wright’s choreography is fabulous in its simplicity.

Nativity the Musical is the perfect Christmas show, happy and sad in equal measure, this should become everyone’s new festive tradition

*Oratile Chele, Alexander Hogg, Betsy Jiggins, Zak Lackenby, Jasmine McKenna, Moosa Mostafa, Amy Mulhall, Gerald Ngwenya, Chantelle Jane Tonolete, Chaelissa Gray, Kheiri Isaac-Osmani, Harry Martin, Joshua Millard-Lloyd, Celie Newman, Lyla Peters, Layla Grace Quaid, Katelyn-Janet Rollason, Nicholas Vakis, Jamie Bates, Evie Bennell-Low, Layla Gavin, Grace Green, Angelina Martin, Fintan McGrory, William Redican, Beatrice Scholefield, Archie Turner and Pepper as Crackers the dog

THEATRE ROYAL STRATFORD EAST’S CELEBRATED PANTOMIMERAPUNZEL TO BE LIVE STREAMED TO NEWHAM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND ST FRANCIS AND RICHARD HOUSE HOSPICES

 

Live stream: 28 December 2pm

 

Theatre Royal Stratford East today announces the live-streaming of their acclaimed pantomime Rapunzel to children at Newham University Hospital, St Francis Hospice and Richard House Children’s Hospice on 28 December at 2pm. Using the latest digital technology, the theatre will share this year’s seasonal treat, Rapunzel written by Trish Cooke and Robert Hyman and directed by Associate Director of Theatre Royal Stratford East, Pooja Ghai. This special project has been made possible thanks to generous support from Galliard Homes and follows the success of last year’s production of Sinbad the Sailor which was live-streamed to Newham University Hospital and Richard House Children’s Hospice.

In addition, the cast of the production went to Newham University Hospital (Rainbow Ward) and St Francis Hospice, Romford on Friday 15 December to meet the staff, children and patients who will be receiving the live stream.

The pantomime will be beamed live from Theatre Royal Stratford East to enable children who otherwise would not have opportunity, to enjoy a traditional Christmas pantomime. They will be able to come together in communal spaces at both locations to enjoy together with their families.

Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Stratford East, Nadia Fall said today ‘’We’re thrilled that people from all over London return to see our pantos year after year however it is also important for us to reach children in our local community who are not able to make the journey down to the theatre. By live streaming Rapunzel to local hospices and hospitals, in Christmas week, we’re continuing our aim to reach as many people as possible who otherwise would not get to see it’’.

With a tradition of featuring original music, laugh-out-loud comedy and hilarious audience participation, Theatre Royal Stratford East’s annual pantomime, Rapunzel plays until 13 January.

Pooja Ghai directs Raj Bajaj (Papa bear/Iggy), Michael Bertenshaw (Witch Maddy), Stephen Hoo (Toby/Albert Mouse), Juliet Okotie (Mama bear/Lizzy), Gemma Salter (Baby Bear), Joanne Sandi (Rapunzel), Gary Wood (Egor/Grace) and Julie Yammanee (Goldilocks).

 

Designer: William Fricker; Lighting Designer: Matt Daw

Choreographer: Wayne Parsons; Sound Designers: Andrew Johnson and Chris Murray

Special Effects: Scott Penrose; Fight Director: Rc-Annie

 

Theatre Royal Stratford East Listings

Gerry Raffles Square, London E15 1BN

Until 13 January

Box Office: 020 8534 0310

www.stratfordeast.com

Facebook: theatreroyalstratfordeast 

Twitter: @stratfordeast

Access performances
Audio described: Thursday 21 December at 2pm
BSL interpreted: Saturday 6 January (matinee and evening)
Captioned: Friday 12 January at 7pm
Relaxed: Tuesday 2 January at 1.30pm

TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR

CHICAGO

AT LONDON’S PHOENIX THEATRE

Tickets are now on sale for the West End run of the multi award-winning CHICAGO, the world’s longest running American musical.

Following a successful UK and international tour, CHICAGO will be transferring into London, with performances at the Phoenix Theatre from Monday 26 March 2018.

 

CHICAGO originally ran in London for 15 years, making it the West End’s longest running revival.  It first opened at the Adelphi Theatre on 18 November 1997 to rave reviews and immediately became a sell-out hit.  CHICAGO won the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for ‘Outstanding Musical Production’ as well as the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for ‘Best Musical’.  CHICAGO transferred from the Adelphi Theatre to the Cambridge Theatre in April 2006, where it ran for five years until 27 August 2011.  The show then opened at the Garrick Theatre on 7 November 2011, where it ran until 1 September 2012.

CHICAGO, which is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.  The 1996 Broadway revival of CHICAGO was choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse, directed by Walter Bobbie, and produced by Barry and Fran Weissler.

Website: ChicagoWestEnd.com 

Twitter: @ChicagoOnStage

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Phoenix Theatre

110 Charing Cross Road

London WC2H 0JP

Box Office: 0844 871 7629 / www.atgtickets.com/shows/chicago/phoenix-theatre

Ticket Prices: From £20.00

Performances: Monday-Saturday 8pm, Wednesday & Saturday 3pm

Booking Period:  Currently Booking Until 23 June 2018

Running Time:  2 hours, 25 minutes (with interval)

Website: ChicagoWestEnd.com

Twitter: @ChicagoOnStage

UNITED THEATRICAL and MUSICWORLD (UK)

Announce a special 100 year anniversary UK tour of

ROBERT J. SHERMAN’s
‘A SPOONFUL OF SHERMAN’
The new musical stage show featuring the songs of
the Oscar-winning brothers:
Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
Performed by a highly talented cast led by
Olivier-nominated Sophie-Louise Dann
2018: February 14^th-March 30^th with more to follow at theatres across the UK
Tickets: £18-£23, see individual venues below
Featuring: A Spoonful of Sugar; I Wanna Be Like You;
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers;
Jolly Holiday; Chim-Chim-Cher-Ee and many more all time favourites

The double Oscar-winning Sherman Brothers – Richard M Sherman & Robert B Sherman – wrote more motion picture musical songs and scores than any other songwriting team in film history and became one of the most formidable songwriting teams in family entertainment.  From 1964 onwards their unparalleled partnership produced unforgettable music for dozens of films, particularly many of Disney’s best loved titles includingMary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Jungle Book, Bedknobs & Broomsticks, Charlotte’s Web, and The Aristocats. The highly prolific brothers were the sons of the great Al Sherman (1897-1973) whose own musical talents produced songs for the likes of Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and many singers of the golden American Songbook period of the 1930s-1950s.

Robert J Sherman, son of Robert B. Sherman and a successful composer in his own right brings the utterlycompelling story of one family’s century-long, award-winning musical journey to UK audiences in 2018. Three generations of Sherman songwriters are brought to life in this delightful show which includes songs from Robert J. Sherman’s own charming musical, Love Birds, which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015.

 

February/March: A SPOONFUL OF SHERMAN tour dates 2018 with more to follow:
Feb 14^th-17^th                       Tonbridge, EM Forster Theatre                      www.boxoffice.tonbridge-school.co.uk
Feb 21^st-23^rd                       Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre                      www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk
February 26^th-28^th             St Helens Theatre Royal                                  www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com
March 5^th-7^th                      Aberdeen Tivoli Theatre                                  www.thetivolitheatre.com
March 8^th-10^th                    Inverness Eden Court                                      www.eden-court.co.uk
March 12^th-14^th                  Darlington Hippodrome                                  www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk
March 16^th-17^th                  East Grinstead, Chequer Mead                      www.chequermead.org.uk
March 20^th-21^st                  Guildford, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre                www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
March 22^nd-24^th                 Windsor Theatre Royal                                    www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk
March 26^th-30^th                  London Greenwich Theatre                            www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

Cast:  Sophie-Louise Dann, Glen Facey, Jenna Innes, Mark Read, Ben Stock
Director/choreographer: Stewart Nicholls

SOPHIE-LOUISE DANN: Sophie’s West End credits include: Celia in The Girls (2017 Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical); Bend it Like Beckham and Made In Dagenham (both West End); Lend Me a Tenor (2012 Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Role in a Musical), 42^nd Street, and Jolson.  Sophie recently played Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray, an acclaimed run in Forbidden Broadway and Dot in Sunday In The Park With George (Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris). Sophie is a regular guest on BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night Is Music Night.

 

GLEN FACEY: Glen graduated from The Arts Educational School in 2015.  Theatre credits include The Wizard of Oz (Sheffield Crucible); Mary Poppins (Zurich & Dubai); Moby Dick! The Musical (New Union Theatre); Hairspray! (UK tour) The Olivier Awards (Royal Opera House) and Friday Night Is Music Night for BBC Radio 2.  Credits whilst training include: Billy Smith in Defect, Rexford/Danny in Wonderful Town, Junior in Crazy For You and more.

JENNA INNES: Jenna has just graduated from The MTA London. Whilst training, she was nominated for Best Actress in a New Musical in Broadway World’s West End Awards 2016 for her portrayal of Charlotte Donne in Animus. She has also appeared in the title role in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Waterside, Aylesbury), Young Molly in the London premiere of Some Lovers and An Evening of Webborn and Finn (both at The Other Palace) and MAD Trust West End Christmas (The Actors Church).

 

MARK READ: Musician/songwriter Mark was a member of the smash hit boyband A1, who enjoyed two UK No. 1s, a further 8 Top Ten hits, 3 hit studio albums and the 2001 Brit Award for Best Newcomer. Mark was recently seen on ITV’s The Big Reunion and as part of the show’s major concert tour. Mark has collaborated with Charlotte Church, Jarvis Cocker, Ronan Keating, and Michael Ball and his musical theatre credits include Guys and Dolls (Epsom Playhouse), and Seasons of Love (West End) with Claire Richards (Steps) and Chesney Hawkes.

 

BEN STOCK: Musical Director and performer.  Ben’s many West End credits include Grease, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Dame Edna: The Spectacle and many more.  Ben’s MD credits include Caroline Sheen’s album Raise The Curtain (SimG Records), Stephen De Martin’s One Voice (SimG Records), Gay’s The Word (Finborough, Jermyn Street and TER Records), Over My Shoulder (West End, Sonning, Tour and TER Records), Salad Days (Tour), Hiss And Boo (Tour), Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah! and many more.