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Ovalhouse receive £3 million grant from The
Arts Council and offer as National Portfolio
Organisation for their move to Brixton
Ovalhouse, 52-54 Kennington Oval, London SE11 5SW

As Ovalhouse prepare to move from their current small-scale theatre in Oval to a new building in Brixton, this latest good news takes them several steps closer to their opening in late 2019.

The Arts Council has announced that they will confirm an award for a total of £3 million to be invested in the new theatre which comes in tandem with the news that Ovalhouse has secured an offer as a National Portfolio Organisation with a revenue grant for 2018-22. This incredible contribution will allow the company to build an exciting range of activities towards the opening of the new building as they plan to ‘arrive and thrive’.

Designed by Foster Wilson Architects, the building will have seven rehearsal studios and two studio theatres. It will allow disabled users to access all areas and will be built to a high sustainable standard. The balance of the cost of the building will be paid from proceeds from the sale of Ovalhouse’s current site, and additional fundraising.

Ovalhouse has an impressive history; Pierce Brosnan discovered his love of acting in the Youth Theatres and developed his talent as a professional actor with his first performances at Ovalhouse. Additionally, Sanjeev Bhaskar was commissioned by the BBC after a small show upstairs at Ovalhouse and Paulette Randall, the first black woman to take a show into the West End, was a regular as a young person. Ovalhouse alumni also include Jenny Sealey, Director of  Graeae Theatre and co-Director of the 2010 Paralympic Games opening. All these artists are supporting the ambitious move to a new building in their role as patrons.

Ovalhouse’s Director, Deborah Bestwick, comments, We have always known that this is an ambitious project – to build a new theatre in hard times, but we look at the work of our artists, and know that we are investing in the future. This grant unlocks that future.

Joyce Wilson, London Area Director, Arts Council England, said, The Arts Council is pleased to support Ovalhouse’s move to Brixton. The company does excellent work for the development of diverse artists and young people, and this represents a strong opportunity to develop a cultural hub in south London. We welcome the match funding from the London Borough of Lambeth: it is an investment not just in the project, but in a future of arts and culture for their community.

Cllr Sonia Winifred, Lambeth Cabinet Member for Equalities and Culture, added, Having seen first-hand both the quality of work and the social value that Ovalhouse add to our community, I very much welcome news of this significant investment.

Supporting a steady stream of up and coming artists who define a generation, Ovalhouse also welcomes a wide range of community members, from young refugees to the elders of Stockwell Good Neighbours, all working on cutting edge inclusive theatre.

In January 2016, The Arts Council England awarded Ovalhouse a Stage 1 development award of £130,600 and have just received a Stage 2 grant of £2,869,400.

WELCOME TO LOSERVILLE

Following the success of The Addams Family in 2016, The City Varieties Youth Theatre  (CVYT) brings Loserville – ‘the geeklovingcrowdbuzzinggamechaning musical’ to the City Varieties on Friday 28th and 29th July 2017

 

In what will be the company’s sixth full-scale musical at the UK’s most famous music hall, the 40-strong cast, plus live pit band, will have audiences reaching for their air guitars and ‘rocking-out’ to an electric pop-rock score worthy of the seventies.

Originally created by Elliot Davies and James Bourne for Youth Music Theatre UK, Loserville is based on the album, Welcome to Loserville from Bourne’s second band, Son of Dork. It tells the tale of misfit computer geek, Michael Dork, and his sci-fi obsessed, social-misfit friends, who, in 1971, are all set to change the course of history, fashion and dating – it’s just that no one knows it yet. Michael’s also discovered a girl, Holly, a prospect (almost) as exciting as his love of computers. If only he had the courage to talk to her!

CVYT Artistic Director of six years, Lizi Patch said: “I am delighted to be directing the sixth full-scale musical with the City Varieties Youth Theatre. Each year the challenge is to find a musical that both suits the large and very capable cast, and that will work on the beautiful but bijou City Varieties Stage. From the initial idea to the first performance, the cast, creative team, learning team, band and technical crew make my job a pleasure.

 

“After Oliver! and The Addams Family it was time to bring it up-to-date and work on something with a whole different flavour and Loserville ticked all the boxes. I guarantee a few earworms after people leave the theatre!”

Founded in 2012, CVYT continues to wow audiences with their take on classic shows, including Oliver!Return to the Forbidden Planet and Peter Pan – the British Musical.

A platform from which to introduce young people to the world of professional theatre, the CVYT has produced many talented young actors, including those who have gone on to perform with Opera North, train with Pineapple Dance Studios, London, gain a scholarship at Phoenix Dance Theatre, Leeds and even land a role in the new series of Game of Thrones.

Lizi said: “The City Varieties Youth Theatre explores the notion of theatre as a tool for social change and personal development for a new generation of theatre-makers and theatre goers. We give young people the skills, the time and the support to take creative and personal risks, enabling them to express themselves physically, verbally and through the written word.”

One Youth Theatre member added: “I feel very proud to be a part of the City Varieties Youth Theatre Company because of its professionalism and the amazing shows it puts on. I have enjoyed working with the professional directors and meeting lots of new friends with the same interests and ambitions as me. I think joining the Youth Theatre is the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m learning so much and I’m having the best time ever.”

CVYT will be holding an informal intro-session later this year at Leeds Grand Theatre. For more information contact the Learning Team at [email protected] or call 0113 297 7042.

 

Loserville is at City Varieties Music Hall from Friday 28^th to Saturday 29^th July

 

Tickets are priced from £12 adults and £8 child

(prices include a £1 booking fee and 60p restoration levy. Postage charge £1 where applicable)

 

Book online at cityvarietiesmusichall.co.uk or call box office on 0113 243 0808

 

IN THE RACE FOR POWER THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE WINNER

 

Martin Shaw leads the cast in the UK premiere of The Best Man. Gore Vidal’s award-winning political thriller about the race for the White House goes on sale to Sheffield Theatre members on Sat 15 July and on general sale on Wed 19 July.

 

Vidal’s drama of dirty politics has never seemed more real or relevant. At a time of political chaos,The Best Man mirrors the often surprising results of campaigning and the unscrupulous world of politics.

Two opposing presidential party candidates are neck and neck in an unscrupulous battle for the nomination. The only thing that separates the esteemed ex-Secretary of State and his newcomer populist opponent is an endorsement from a respected ex-President. But where does compromise end and corruption begin? And who in the end will be proven to be ‘the best man’?

The Best Man is directed by Simon Evans and goes on sale to members at 10.00am on Sat 15 July and on general sale at 10.00am on Wed 19 July. The Best Man is at the Lyceum Theatre from Mon 23 October – Sat 28 October.

 

Tickets can be purchased from Sheffield Theatres’ Box Office in-person, by phone on 0114 249 6000 or online at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk and are priced from £16.00. Concessions and group discounts are available.

Charing Cross Theatre 3rd July – 19th August.  Reviewed By Jessica Brady

World War 2, a time in history filled with battles, heart break and heroism amongst many other things, but it was most certainly a time where love was what pulled many people through dark days. To find love in unexpected circumstances is where Yank really tells a story that we may assume existed but wasn’t broadcast in that turbulent time and is full of attitudes that today are thankfully less prevalent. What starts with a young man’s interest in an old journal he finds in a junk shop, ends in a young G.I’s discovery about his sexuality and love for another G.I.

Stu [Played by Scott Hunter] is an 18 year old naive boy when he joins the US Army; he isn’t like the rest of his ultra manly squad who spend their free time thinking about their wives, girlfriends or woman in black and white films of the era. He realises soon after meeting a fellow squad member, Mitch [Played by Andy Coxon] that he is developing feelings that are more than just friendship. Stu struggles to get to grips with army life and is more focused on writing in his journal, documenting daily the thoughts, feelings and encounters he has whilst training. On the night his squad are sent to their first base, Stu opens up to a tipsy Mitch, thanking him for being kind to him and helping him whilst training. Stu admits he loves him and Mitch, surprisingly reciprocates and after a tender kiss quickly retreats and shuns Stu for making him do it. Stu feeling lost and alienated meets Artie [Played by Chris Kiely] who photographs for the Army magazine YANK at a bar, and Artie immediately notices that Stu is gay like him and takes him under his wing. Artie teaches him the ways of the homosexual lifestyle in the army, where it is illegal to be gay, dangerous and with little chance of survival on the frontline, hence his job as an army journalist taking him of the front line with the opportunity to be who he wants to be with the right people. Noticing that Stu has a journal he offers him the chance to become a writer for YANK and takes him out of his squad and away from Mitch. On his 13 months away from his squad Stu discovers who he really is and when he gets a letter from a fellow squad mate saying one of their troop has been killed and that Mitch has gone into himself since, he requests to write a piece on his squad in the hopes that Mitch will finally admit who he really is to himself.

YANK! Is like watching an old war movie that I wish had been made in that time and was one of the classics we know now! The score is like listening to a 1940’s radio show, songs filled with feeling and passion and great musical dance numbers. I was hooked into the story immediately as each member of the cast is outstanding. Scott Hunter leads this show with complete skill and is one of the most talented actors I have seen in a long time and his vocal and dancing talents are simply out of this world. His co star Andy Coxon has such charisma and a voice that could melt butter it’s so smooth and gorgeous that you truly are taken back to that era. The pair has electric chemistry and makes the whole story so believable and heartfelt that you are willing them to pull through each obstacle and live happily ever after but sadly this is not the case. A special mention must go to the fantastic Sarah Louise Young who is the only female in the cast and plays a multitude of roles to perfection and often brings moments of brilliance to an already astounding show. The cast of 12 is utterly spell binding and I left Charing Cross theatre with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes!

This show is one of pure beauty and completely transfixes you the from start to finish and it really puts into perspective the long journey the LGBTQ community has gone through and continues to go through and I think that is such a strong and important message to take from this show, that love is love and no matter who it is you fall in love with, you move mountains to keep that love. PLEASE GO AND SEE YANK! It will blow you away and stick with you for so many reasons. Catch it at the Charing Cross Theatre 3rd July – 19th August.

CentrE17

Address CentrE17, 1 Church Hill,

London E17 3AB

With support of the London Borough of Waltham Forest and the GLA, new performance venue CentrE17, run by the community for the community, is opening in the heart of Walthamstow. CentrE17 will be Walthamstow’s first designated performance space, the multi-purpose venue (120 seats with flexible capacity) is located only a 5 minutes walk from Walthamstow tube station, run and managed by the team behind the Walthamstow Community Production.

CentrE17 is opening its doors in July 2017, and are programming a diverse season of theatre, dance and performances, as well as wellbeing classes and workshops. There are also talks and one off events planned ranging from bike and food lectures, cabaret and comedy nights, beer appreciation talks, and much more!

WHAT’S ON IN JULY

The first season includes one-off Edinburgh previews from Sam Quinn, Rachel Creeger and the Burning Gadulka, as well as PBJ comedy double-bill Edinburgh previews, with sets from established comedians oincluding: Dan Cook, John Luke Roberts, Phoebe Walsh, Sarah Kendall, Kat Bond and Fin Taylor. The venue will officially open with a gala launch event on July 24th, with a PBJ comedy special guest hosting.

WHAT’S ON @ CENTRE17

As a Community Interest Company (CIC), any profit goes back into the company to further support the community, whether through the Time Bank scheme (that allows acts, artists and companies the opportunity to give back while performing at the venue) or through the Pay it Forward programme (that gives time in the venue for free to community projects). CentrE17 provide accessible performance for all, including affordable ticket pricing and community participation projects.

CENTRE17 TEAM:

Founder and Artistic Director Max Peters

Producer and Programmer: Ursula Early

Associate Directors: Chrissy Baxter and Ruth Peters

Marketing Manager: Lizzy Jewall

PR: Chris Hislop

 

OPENING SEASON

July 19th, Sam Quinn

July 20th, Rachel Creeger

July 21st, Dan Cook & John Luke Roberts

July 24th, Opening Gala

July 26th, Phoebe Walsh & Sarah Kendall

July 27th, The Burning Gadulka

July 28th, Kat Bond & Fin Taylor

Address

CentrE17,

1 Church Hill,

London E17 3AB

 

CHRIS ELLISON AND ROBERT DUNCAN

JOIN THE CAST OF

RUTH RENDELL’S

A JUDGEMENT IN STONE

ALONGSIDE SOPHIE WARD, DEBORAH GRANT,

SHIRLEY ANNE FIELD, ANTONY COSTA AND BEN NEALON

 

Continuing a successful UK-wide tour throughout 2017, Chris Ellison and Robert Duncan will join the cast of The Classic Thriller Theatre Company’s A Judgement in Stone. Ellison is well-loved for his longstanding role as ITV’s DCI Frank Burnside in The Bill and Burnside and returns to familiar territory as Detective Superintendent Vetch in celebrated crime authoress Ruth Rendell’s multi-million-selling work. Robert Duncan, best known for Drop The Dead Donkey’s Gus Hedges takes on the role of proud patriarch George Coverdale. The production will begin the second leg of its national tour this autumn from Monday 4^thSeptember when it opens at the Oxford Playhouse.

★★★★★

‘A FIVE STAR ‘WHO DUNNIT’

THE GUILDFORD NEWS

Eunice struggles to fit in. When she joins a wealthy family as their housekeeper the very reason for her awkwardness, long hidden and deeply buried, leads inexorably to a terrible tale of murder in cold blood – on Valentine’s Day. Ruth Rendell’s brilliant plot unravels a lifetime of deceit, despair and cover-ups which, when revealed, brings a shocking revelation almost as grizzly as murder itself.

 

★★★★

‘AN EXCELLENT EVENING’S ENTERTAINMENT’

ESSENTIAL SURREY

Building on the phenomenal decade-long success of The Agatha Christie Theatre Company, which sold over two million tickets and continually played to packed houses around the UK, Bill Kenwright presents A Judgement in Stone adapted from one of the most celebrated works of Ruth Rendell often hailed as the successor to Agatha Christie.

Rendell was first published in 1964 and was awarded a CBE in 1996. Her prolific output included film and TV as well as 80 novels and one of the genre’s most famous characters, Chief Inspector Wexford. A Judgement in Stone is loved for its brilliant rendering of character, plot and motive, and is undoubtedly Rendell at her thrilling best.

CHRIS ELLISON has been a familiar face on our TV screens for over 40 years appearing in programmes such as The Sweeney, Dempsey and Makepeace, The Professionals and Minder. In the late 80’s and throughout the 90’s he became a truly national figure playing the iconic Frank Burnside in the long running police drama The Bill. This led on to the spin off series Burnside and also a separate series Ellington about a sports agent. In recent years, Chris has been busy with a stint in EastEnders and several Brit Gangster movies. Chris recently appeared as the guest star on the Christmas addition of Casualty and is about to appear in a Sky movie with David Walliams, having already worked with David last year on Walliams and Friend. Chris is also well known as a Panto baddie having appeared all over the country. He also starred recently as Magwitch in the West End production of Great Expectations.

 

ROBERT DUNCAN is best known for his role as the as jargon-spouting chief executive Gus Hedges in Drop the Dead Donkey. He has played lead roles in theatres the length and breadth of the country including Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire, Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew, Mr Rochester in Jane Eyre and Frank in Willy Russell’s Educating Rita. More recently, Robert has starred in 12 Angry Men in the West End and on tour. As a member of the Agatha Christie Theatre Company, he starred in Witness for the Prosecution, Verdict and Go Back For Murder and for The Classic Thriller Theatre Company, Rehearsal For Murder.

Continuing in the cast are: SOPHIE WARD who played the beautiful, ill-fated love interest of Young Sherlock Holmes and Dr Helen Trent in long-running ITV drama Heartbeat. She also starred in the acclaimed mini-series, A Dark Adapted Eye, alongside Helena Bonham Carter and as Isabella alongside Juliette Binoche in the 1992 film version of Wuthering Heights.

DEBORAH GRANT has starred in the BBC’s Not Going Out, Bergerac and Roger, Roger. As well as her many TV and film appearances Deborah is a stage veteran; from her first performance on stage at the age of 4, she has performed in many West End and national touring productions and starred opposite Michael Crawford in the West End debut of Barnum at the London Palladium.

Movie icon SHIRLEY ANNE FIELD has had a long and successful career. Her breakthrough role came when she got the part of Tina the Beauty Queen opposite Sir Laurence Oliver in The Entertainer. Her role as Doreen in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning soon followed with her next role as the female lead in the Hollywood title The War Lover opposite Steve McQueen and Robert Wagner. More recently Shirley Anne was in the award winning Beautiful Relics, a short film directed by Adrian Hedgecock, and the touring theatre productions The Cemetery Club and Five Blue-Haired Ladies Sitting on a Green Park Bench.

ANTONY COSTA shot to fame in chart topping boy band Blue in early 2000 becoming a huge commercial success in the United Kingdom and many other countries, selling 15 million records worldwide to date, including 3.3 million albums and 1 million singles in the UK alone. On Stage Antony has starred in the lead role of Mickey Johnstone in the West End production of the long-running musical Blood Brothers, directed and produced by Bill Kenwright as well as starring in the 10th anniversary tour of Boogie Nights, the 40^thanniversary of The Who’s iconic musical Tommy (Blackpool Opera House), Jack and the Beanstalk (Ipswich Regent Theatre), Popstar: The Musical (UK tour) and recently in TV’s Casualty.

 

BEN NEALON is an Agatha Christie Company stalwart. On television Ben is best known as Lt Forsythe in the popular ITV award winning drama series Soldier Soldier, he also featured in the Oscar-nominated Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India. The cast is completed by ROSIE THOMSON, JENNIFER SIMS and JOSHUA PRICE.

 

The production is directed by ROY MARSDEN who is best known as an actor, particularly in his role as Commander Adam Dalgliesh in Anglia TV’s P.D. James series, which he played for 15 years. But he has also been directing plays since he was 15 years old and had two successful West End runs with Noel Coward’s Volcano and Agatha Christie’s (under the pen name Mary Westmacott) A Daughter’s A Daughter. His recent work for Bill Kenwright includes directing a UK tour of Susan Hill’s The Small Hand and the debut production for The Classic Thriller Theatre Company, Rehearsal For Murder, written by the creators of Murder, She Wrote and Columbo, Levinson and Link.

Ruth Rendell who died in May 2015, was an exceptional crime writer and is credited with having revitalised the mystery genre. She won numerous awards in her lifetime, including the Crime Writers’ Association Gold Dagger for best crime novel with A Demon In My View, a Gold Dagger Award for Live Flesh and the Sunday Times Literary Award. She was awarded the Crime Writers’ Association Cartier Diamond Dagger for sustained excellence in crime writing. In addition to the CBE she became a Life Peer in 1997. Her debut novel From Doon With Death introduced Inspector Wexford who went on to feature in twenty-four of her subsequent novels many of which were adapted for television. A Judgement In Stone was also filmed twice, as The Housekeeper (1986) starring Rita Tushingham and as La Cérémonie (1995), directed by Claude Chabrol, starring Sandrine Bonnaire.

 

BILL KENWRIGHT

PRESENTS

THE CLASSIC THRILLER THEATRE COMPANY

Cast (in billing order)

CHRIS ELLISON

SOPHIE WARD

ROBERT DUNCAN

DEBORAH GRANT

SHIRLEY ANNE FIELD

ANTONY COSTA
BEN NEALON

IN

RUTH RENDELL’S

A JUDGEMENT IN STONE

ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE BY SIMON BRETT and ANTONY LAMPARD

DIRECTED BY ROY MARSDEN

DESIGNER JULIE GODFREY

LIGHTING DESIGNER MALCOLM RIPPETH   SOUND DESIGNER DAN SAMSON

 

        A JUDGEMENT IN STONE – UK AUTUMN TOUR DATES 2017

 

Mon 4 – Sat 9 September                                  Box Office: 01865 305305

Oxford Playhouse, Oxford                                Website: www.oxfordplayhouse.com

Mon 11 – Sat 16 September                              Box Office: 0844 871 3023

Princess Theatre, Torquay                                 Website: www.atgtickets.com/torquay

Tues 19 – Sat 23 September                              Box Office: 024 7655 3055

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry                              Website: www.belgrade.co.uk

Mon 25 – Sat 30 September                              Box Office: 01322 220000

Orchard Theatre, Dartford                                 Website: www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

Mon 2 – Sat 7 October                                         Box Office: 01284 755127

Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds                     Website: www.theatreroyal.org

Mon 9 – Sat 14 October                                      Box Office: 01253 290190

Grand Theatre, Blackpool                                  Website: www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk

 

Mon 16 – Sat 21 October                                   Box Office: 08448713024

Grand Opera House, Oct York                         Website: www.atgtickets.com/york

Mon 23 – Sat 28 October                                   Box Office: 01271 316063

Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple                          Website: www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/Queens-Theatre

Mon 30 October – Sat 4 November              Box Office: 01753 853 888

Windsor Theatre Royal, Windsor                   Website: www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk

Mon 6 – Sat 11 November                                Box Office: 0151 666 0000

Floral Pavilion, New Brighton                           Website: www.floralpavilion.com

 

Mon 13 – Sat 18 November                              Box Office: 0844 871 3018

Opera House, Manchester                               Website: www.atgtickets.com/manchester

 

Mon 20 – Sat 25 November                              Box Office: 01225 448844

Theatre Royal, Bath                                             Website: www.theatreroyal.org.uk

 

Mon 27 Nov – Sat 2 December                         Box Office: 0844 871 7650

Theatre Royal, Brighton                                      Website: www.atgtickets.com/brighton

The five-time Tony Award winning musical

Announces first ever UK & Ireland Tour

Opens in Southampton on 12 April 2018, in the week of Titanic’s 106^th anniversary

In the final hour of 14^th April 1912, the RMS Titanic, on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, collided with an iceberg and ‘the unsinkable ship’ slowly sank. It was one of the most tragic and infamous disasters of the 20^th Century. 1517 men, women and children lost their lives.

Based on real people aboard the most legendary ship in the world, Maury Yeston and Peter Stone’s stunning musical focuses on their hopes and aspirations. Unaware of the fate that awaits them, the Third Class immigrants dream of a better life in America, the newly-enfranchised Second Class dream of achieving the lifestyles of the rich and famous, and the millionaire Barons of the First Class dream of their mastery lasting forever.

Opening at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton in April 2018, in the same city and same month in which the RMS Titanic set sail, the critically acclaimed, multi award-winning production will transfer straight to Belfast, where the ship was constructed. From there, Titanic The Musical will visit 12 theatres nationwide.

“It’s an evening both shattering and gorgeous…

The day after seeing it, I went back to see it again. It’s that good.”

★★★★★ The Times

Having received its UK premiere in 2013 at Southwark Playhouse, the production returned to London in 2016 for an 11-week season at the Charing Cross Theatre, where it won overwhelming critical acclaim.

Maury Yeston commented on the announcement of the UK tour: “The idea that a troupe of actors will tour this show in the UK, birthplace of the ship, where the workers of Belfast, the cabin boys and maids and stewards from Liverpool, the officers and crew, the stokers and stevedores from the Midlands all created a miraculous floating city, means more to me than I can say.  I am touched that, musically, Titanic will finally be coming home, sung by the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of its builders – touched, and forever grateful.”

 

Titanic The Musical has music and lyrics by Maury Yeston (Nine, Grand Hotel, Phantom) and a book by Peter Stone (Woman of the Year and 1776). The pair have collectively won, including their previous works, an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, an Olivier Award and three Tony Awards for their works. The original Broadway production of Titanic The Musical won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book.

Titanic The Musical is produced by Danielle Tarento, Steven M Levy, Sean Sweeney and Vaughan Williams, in association with Mayflower Theatre, Southampton.

TITANIC THE MUSICAL – UK TOUR DATES

12 – 21 April 2018                                                                                             Box Office: 023 8071 1811

Southampton, Mayflower Theatre                                                          Website: mayflower.org.uk

23 – 28 April 2018                                                                                             Box Office: 028 9024 1919

Belfast, Grand Opera House                                                                       Website: goh.co.uk

30 April – 5 May 2018                                                                                      Box Office: 029 2063 6464

Cardiff, Wales Millennium Centre                                                             Website: wmc.org.uk

7 – 12 May 2018                                                                                                Box Office: 0843 208 6000

Salford, The Lowry                                                                                          Website: thelowry.com

21 – 26 May 2018                                                                                              Box Office: 0114 249 6000

Sheffield, Sheffield Theatres                                                                      Website: sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

28 May – 2 June 2018                                                                                     Box Office: 0844 871 7648

Glasgow, King’s Theatre Glasgow                                                             Website: atgtickets.com

4 – 9 June 2018                                                                                                  Box Office: 0844 338 5000

Birmingham, Birmingham Hippodrome                                                  Website: birminghamhippodrome.com

11 – 16 June 2018                                                                                             Box Office: 0844 871 3014

Edinburgh, Playhouse                                                                                    Website: atgtickets.com

18 – 23 June 2018                                                                                             Box Office: 01752 267222

Plymouth, Theatre Royal                                                                              Website: theatreroyal.com

25 – 30 June 2018                                                                                             Box Office: 01604 624811

Northampton, Derngate                                                                               Website: royalandderngate.co.uk

2 – 7 July 2018                                                                                                    Box Office: 0115 989 5555

Nottingham, Theatre Royal                                                                         Website: trch.co.uk

9 – 14 July 2018                                                                                                 Box Office: 01253 625252

Blackpool, Winter Gardens                                                                          Website: wintergardensblackpool.co.uk

16 – 21 July 2018                                                                                               Box Office: 020 3285 6000

Bromley, Churchill Theatre                                                                          Website: churchilltheatre.co.uk

Theatre N16 4 – 8 July.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

Monkhead Theatre’s production of Dead Souls is an impressive debut, taking the classic novel and giving it a theatrical kick up the backside to create a sharp and witty examination of class and corruption.

Chloë Myerson’s adaptation focusses on the first part of Gogol’s novel, where Chichikov, a lowly civil servant has discovered a loophole in the law and aims to use it to make as much money as possible to become a landowner. The collection of dead souls, the ownership of serfs that have died since the last census, is a delicate issue, and the reactions of the landowners make for some fine comic moments. As Chichikov rounds up his dead souls, wild rumours about his true purpose spread around the town, aided by the idiotic bragging of gambler Nozdryov. The prosecutor is determined to discover Chichikov’s true purpose and see him face justice. The landowners are wonderful caricatures, all played with panache and fine comic timing by Jules Armana and Toby Osmond. Joshua Jacob brings an increasingly steely determination and sense of injustice to Chichikov, particularly fine as he talks into the machine about his plans and motives.

The machine looms large over the production – centre stage a mike hangs over a cymbal, creating eerie and unsettling reverberations depending on the cast’s positions. Used as a depository for Chichikov’s own soul-searching, it becomes almost unbearable during his confrontation with the prosecutor, ramping up the tension to great effect. Director Nico Pimparé’s use of projected scene captions works well, introducing each character with a light-hearted touch and minimal fuss. The whole building is used, as characters leave the theatre and are filmed in the pub, and toilets, downstairs, interacting with the drinkers and drawing some bemused looks.

Dead Souls is a fantastic play, full of inspired touches and with fine performances. Monkhead Theatre http://www.monkheadtheatre.com/  is definitely a name to look out for in the future.

YORKSHIRE’S OWN NATALIE ANDERSON JOINS CAST OF FAT FRIENDS THE MUSICAL

 

Emmerdale and The Royal star Natalie Anderson is the latest star to be cast in Kay Mellor’s Fat Friends The Musical, which is set to premier at Leeds Grand Theatre on 7^th November 2017.

Bradford born Natalie, who has appeared in numerous television programmes, including Wire in the Blood and The Biz, also appeared as Nessarose in Wicked in the West End as well as Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet at West Yorkshire Playhouse and Tara in Exposure The Musical at St James’ Theatre. She will perform the role of Lauren in Fat Friends The Musical, originated on screen by Emmerdale co-star Gaynor Faye.

The award-winning TV drama has been adapted for the stage by its creator and one of the UK’s most prolific writers, Kay Mellor, whose extensive television credits include hit series Band of Gold, The Chase, The Syndicate, In the Club and whose stage credits include A Passionate Woman. The award-winning Jodie Prenger will lead the company in the beloved role of Kelly Stevenson. She is joined by Sam Bailey, Elaine C Smith and Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff with further casting still to be announced.

Natalie Anderson said: “I’m so thrilled to be playing Lauren in Fat Friends The Musical. I was a huge fan of the original series and cannot wait to bring it to life on stage. I’m also equally excited to be working with the incredible Kay Mellor whom, from an early age, I have greatly admired and been inspired by.”

 

Kay Mellor added: “I am absolutely delighted to be working with fellow northerner Natalie. I thought of her instantly for the role of Lauren and she brought me to tears at her audition with her acting and singing talent.” 

 

Produced by Joshua Andrews and Adam Spiegel, with original music and songs composed by Nicholas Lloyd Webber, Fat Friends The Musical is packed full of warmth, life and weight loss. The brand-new stage show reunites our favourite foodie friends in an original musical bulging with hopes, humour and heart. Join the infamous group of loveable characters as they are put through their Zumba paces at their local branch of Super Slimmer’s by the lovelorn Lauren, whilst Kelly fantasises about fitting into the wedding dress of her dreams. Fat Friends The Musical offers a generous serving of hilarious fun with a sprinkle of romance on top!

Fat Friends hit television screens in October 2000, following the lives of a group of overweight friends as they struggled with the absurdities of modern dieting. Running for five years on ITV, the show starredAlison Steadman, Gaynor Faye and Lisa Riley, and launched the careers of James Corden and Ruth Jones. The show was nominated for multiple awards including the BAFTA for Best Drama Series.

Fat Friends The Musical is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 7^th Nov to Saturday 2^nd Dec 2017

Tickets are priced from £20 (restricted viewing) to £50

Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700

ALL OR NOTHING

THE SMASH HIT UK MUSICAL THEATRE SENSATION

WRITTEN BY AND STARRING AWARD-WINNING ACTRESS CAROL HARRISON

FEATURING CHRIS SIMMONS

CONFIRMS THIRD MAJOR UK TOUR FROM SEPTEMBER 2017

AS TICKET SALES TOP £1 MILLION

ALL OR NOTHING, the Small Faces musical sensation, will tour the UK from September 2017 on its third major outing. The show, which opened to critical acclaim and nightly standing ovations at the Vaults Theatre in London in March 2016 before heading out on the first of two UK tours, announced this week that total ticket sales had topped over £1 million.

The current national tour finishes in Cheltenham on 29 July and the third Autumn tour begins in September at Greenwich Theatre and ends at Harrogate Theatre on 11 November (full list in Listings Information).

Written and directed by the award-winning actress Carol Harrison, ALL OR NOTHING tells the electrifying yet bittersweet tale of Kenney Jones, Ian McLagan, Ronnie Lane and Steve Marriott; 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 fantastic success is paved with exploitation, betrayal and ultimately tragedy.

Carol Harrison plays Kay Marriott, at certain performances, with Stefan Edwards as Kenney Jones, Russell Floyd as Don Arden, Josh Maddison as Ian McLagan, Joseph Peters as Jimmy Winston, Samuel Pope as Young Steve Marriott, Chris Simmons as Steve Marriott and Stanton Wright as Ronnie Lane. The cast also includes Daniel Beales, Sophia Behn, Melissa Brown-Taylor, Daisy Darvill, Fran Dearlove, Katie Faye, Alexander Gold and Danielle Johnson.

The Sunday Express calls it “A smile-inducing night of Mod nostalgia” with The Daily Mail’s Richard Littlejohn adding, “There are some great gags, the music is marvellous” and the Daily Telegraph agreeing that “All or Nothing delivers the goods. At once cheeky and reverential”. “Wow! Just wow! This incredible musical takes your breath away… Harrison directs it beautifully” said The Daily Record.

ALL OR NOTHING celebrates the unique sound of the iconic Mod band. Played live, the musical is packed full of all the timeless hits, including the brilliant Whatcha Gonna Do About It, Tin Soldier, Lazy Sunday, Here Comes the Nice, Itchycoo Park and of course All or Nothing.

In 1964, a new phenomenon exploded on to the dingy British streets. It was the essence of all that was cool. It was Mod. Mods stuck two fingers up at the class-ridden society and its dull redundant culture. They were working-class free spirits who rode sexy streamlined Italian Vespas or Lambrettas. The sharpest Mod of all was known as a ‘face’. The Small Faces encapsulated all that is Mod, a unique blend of taste and testosterone, neat, clothes obsessed, and streetwise. But these cult sophisticates shared another passion, their dedication to ‘Rhythm and Blues.’

Carol Harrison said “It’s a real honour to be able to bring the extraordinary world of the Small Faces back to the fans and to a brand new audience, young and old. Our live band and cast tell the story of the rise and fall of the band, a journey as vivid and colourful as their sound, and get to showcase an amazing catalogue of music – hard edged R&B. This is music which influenced a generation of musicians from Paul Weller and The Jam to Oasis, Blur, The Verve and The Arctic Monkeys, not to mention millions of fans. Book – it’s truly a concert of a lifetime!”

Carol Harrison is an award-winning actress and writer, well known for her theatre and TV work. Carol is probably best known as the exciting, fiery and passionate Louise Raymond in Eastenders. The storyline between her and son-in-law Grant Mitchell gripped the nation and it was for this storyline that Eastenders won the BAFTA for ”Best Soap” for the first time. For seven years she played the incorrigible Gloria in the popular series Brushstrokes, and also starred opposite Ray Winstone as sassy Loretta in the comedy series Get Back. She also starred as Dorothy in two series of London’s Burning. Her latest TV movie Martha, Jac a Sianco for S4C won six BAFTA awards.

Chris Simmons is probably best known for playing the role of DC Mickey Webb for over twelve years in the long running ITV series The Bill. He has also appeared in EastEnders as Mark Garland, a love interest for Kat Moon and in the Tracy Beaker spin-off CBBC show, The Dumping Ground.

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.

www.allornothingthemusical.com

 

LISTINGS INFORMATION

4-7 September Greenwich Theatre

8-10 September Liverpool Philharmonic

12-16 September Palace Theatre, Southend

18-20 September Wyvern Theatre, Swindon

21-23 September Bury St Edmunds Theatre Royal

25-26 September Gala Theatre, Durham

27-30 September Storyhouse Theatre, Chester

2-4 October Stirling McRobert Theatre

5-7 October Dundee Repertory Theatre

10-14 October Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

17-19 October Belfast Waterfront Theatre

20-21 October Dublin Helix

24-25 October Preston Charter Theatre

27-28 October Mayflower Theatre Southampton

30 October-1 Nov Queen’s Theatre Barnstaple

2-4 November Princess Theatre Torquay

6-11 November Harrogate Theatre

ALL OR NOTHING – THE QUOTES

The Daily Star Sunday, “Funny fiery and brave… you’ll have a rocking night out”,

The Mail on Sunday “Entertainingly written… full of energy”.

The Stage, “The group capture that unmistakable mix of anger and arrogance that defined the Mod sound.”

West End Wilma, “If you’re looking for a fun night out and some good old British Pop culture- get your tickets!”

Camden New Journal “Truly memorable”.

UDiscoverMusic.com, “Exuberant, celebratory and enormous fun”

MusicalTheatreReview.com, “It stands proud above the others (despite the band’s diminutive stature)”