Home

www.ianonstage.co.uk

Ambassador Theatre Group presents

IAN MCKELLEN ON STAGE

Tolkien, Shakespeare, others …and you!

Ian McKellen is to celebrate his 8oth birthday next year by raising funds for theatres, with a new solo show which will play on 80 stages across the UK.

It all begins in January 2019 with a Tour of London from the National Theatre to the Theatre Royal Stratford East, as well as performances in the West End and Outer London. Then, across the country, he will visit theatres large and small with which he has personal connections, including amateur groups he knew as a child and notable playhouses he has played in as a professional actor over the last half-century.

Accessibly priced tickets will be available everywhere. All profits will benefit specific causes at each theatre.

His intimate show is a mixture of anecdote and acting, including Tolkien, Shakespeare, others…and you the audience.

Ian McKellen says:

“I’m celebrating my 80th birthday by touring a new solo show to theatres I know well and a few that I don’t. The show starts with Gandalf and will probably end with an invitation to act with me on stage. In-between there will be anecdotes and acting. I open at my local arts centre in January and end up by August in Orkney.

Live theatre has always been thrilling to me, as an actor and in the audience. Growing up in Lancashire, I was grateful to those companies who toured beyond London and I’ve always enjoyed repaying that debt by touring up and down the country myself, with the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Prospect Theatre, the Actors’ Company, as well as with commercial productions. Sean Mathias, the director and I have worked together for stage and screen, many happy times.”

A quote from Ian McKellen for each venue can be found HERE

Ambassador Theatre Group’s Executive Producer Adam Speers says:

“ATG is proud to be presenting IAN MCKELLEN ON STAGE and is committed to supporting regional touring. The UK’s regional venues are integral in supporting and developing artists and practitioners across all areas of the theatre, both on and off stage.

All of us in this industry are united by a passion for the arts and love of what we do and this special show is a rare and excellent opportunity to celebrate what’s best in our industry while at the same time celebrating one of its greatest actors and raising vital funds to keep the lifeblood of theatre in this country flowing.” 

IAN MCKELLEN ON STAGE IS PRESENTED BY AMBASSADOR THEATRE GROUP AND DIRECTED BY SEAN MATHIAS.

For further information and tour map, please see the website for more details: www.ianonstage.co.uk

LISTINGS

www.ianonstage.co.uk

25-26 January 2019 | The Space 269 Westferry Road, Isle of Dogs, London E14 3RS

28 January 2019 | National Theatre, Lyttleton Upper Ground, Lambeth, London SE1 9PX

30 January 2019 | Young Vic 66 The Cut, Waterloo, London SE1 8LZ

3 February 2019 | Bridge Theatre 3 Potters Fields Park, London SE1 2SG

4 February 2019 | Richmond Theatre Little Green, Richmond, London TW9 1QJ

6 February 2019 | Above The Stag Theatre 72 Albert Embankment, Lambeth, London SE1 7TP

10 February 2019 | Hampstead Theatre Eton Ave, London NW3 3EU

11 February 2019 | Arts Theatre 6-7 Great Newport St, London WC2H 7JB

12-13 February 2019 | Theatre Royal Windsor 32 Thames St, Windsor SL4 1PS

17 February 2019 | The Old Vic The Cut, Lambeth, London SE1 8NB

19-20 February 2019 | Bristol Old Vic King Street, Bristol BS1 4ED

22 February 2019 | Royal Court Theatre Sloane Square, Chelsea London SW1W 8AS

24-25 February 2019 | The Queen’s Theatre Billet Ln, Hornchurch, London RM11 1QT

26 February 2019 | Jerwood Vanbrugh Theatre, RADA 62-64 Gower Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 6ED [SPECIAL PERFORMANCE FOR STUDENTS: NOT ON SALE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC]

1 March 2019 | Donmar Warehouse 41 Earlham St, London WC2H 9LX [SPECIAL PERFORMANCE FOR YOUNG+FREE MEMBERS: NOT ON SALE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC]

3 March 2019 | Lyric Hammersmith Lyric Square, King St, Hammersmith, London W6 0QL

4 March 2019 | The Questors, Judi Dench Playhouse 12 Mattock Ln, Ealing, London W5 5BQ

7 March 2019 (Mat & Eve) | Duke of York’s Theatre St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4BG

8-9 March 2019 | Ipswich New Wolsey Civic Dr, Ipswich IP1 2AS

10 March 2019 | Theatre Royal Stratford East Gerry Raffles Square, London E15 1BN

13 March 2019 | Swansea Grand Theatre Singleton St, Swansea SA1 3QJ

14-15 March 2019 | Aberystwyth Arts Centre Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DE

16 March 2019 | The Hafren Llanidloes Rd, Newtown, Powys SY16 4HU

18-19 March 2019 |Theatr Clwyd Raikes Ln, Mold CH7 1YA

24 March 2019 | Theatre Royal Bath Saw Close, Bath BA1 1ET

29-30 March 2019 | Maddermarket Theatre St Johns Alley, Norwich NR2 1DR

2 April 2019 | The Leas Cliff Hall The Leas, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2DZ

5 April 2019 | Chichester Minerva Theatre Oaklands Park, Chichester PO19 6AP

12-13 April 2019 | Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds Westgate St, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1QR

14 April 2019 | Royal & Derngate 19-21 Guildhall Rd, Northampton NN1 1DP

17-18 April 2019 | Colchester Mercury Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate , Colchester CO1 1PT

20 April 2019 | Belgrade Theatre Coventry Belgrade Square, Corporation St, Coventry CV1 1GS

24-25 April 2019 | Norwich Playhouse 42 – 58 St Georges St, Norwich NR3 1AB

27-28 April 2019 | King’s Lynn Shakespeare Festival St George’s Guildhall, 29 King St, Kings Lynn PE30 1HA

30 April – 1 May 2019 | Oxford Playhouse 11-12 Beaumont St, Oxford OX1 2LW

3-4 May 2019 | Jersey Opera House 3 Gloucester St, St. Helier, Jersey JE2 3QR

6 May 2019 | Aylesbury Waterside Theatre Exchange St, Aylesbury HP20 1UG

7-8 May 2019 | Cheltenham Everyman Theatre 7 – 10 Regent St, Cheltenham GL50 1HQ

10-11 May 2019 | Cambridge Arts Theatre 6 St Edward’s Passage, Cambridge CB2 3PJ

13-14 May 2019 | Wigan Little Theatre 44 Crompton St, Wigan WN1 3SL

15 May 2019 | The Forum Theatre The Precinct, Romiley, Stockport SK6 4EA

17-18 May 2019 | Liverpool Playhouse Williamson Square, Liverpool L1 1EL

19 May 2019 | Warwick Arts Centre University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL

20 May 2019 | Blackpool Grand 33 Church St, Blackpool FY1 1HT

23 May 2019 | Burnley Youth Theatre Queen’s Park Rd, Burnley BB10 3LB

25 May 2019 | The Albert Halls Theatre Victoria Square, Bolton BL1 1RU

28 May 2019 | The Dukes Moor Lane, Lancaster LA1 1QE

31 May 2019 | Buxton Opera House Water St, Buxton SK17 6XN

1-2 June 2019 | Curve Theatre, Studio 60 Rutland St, Leicester LE1 1SB

3 June 2019 | Sheffield Crucible 55 Norfolk St, Sheffield S1 1DA

4 June 2019 | Theatre Royal Wakefield Drury Ln, Wakefield WF1 2TE

5-6 June 2019 | HOME Manchester 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FN

9 June 2019 | Forum Theatre Billingham Queensway, Stockton-on-Tees TS23 2LJ

11 June 2019 | The Civic Hanson St, Barnsley S70 2HZ

12 June 2019 | CAST Waterdale, Doncaster DN1 3BU

14 June 2019 | The Georgian Theatre Royal Victoria Rd, Richmond, Yorkshire DL10 4DW

16 June 2019 | Hull New Theatre Kingston Square, Hull HU1 3HF

17 June 2019 | Grand Opera House Clifford St, York YO1 9SW

21-22 June 2019 | Birmingham Repertory Theatre Broad St, Birmingham B1 2EP

25-26 June 2019 | Nottingham Playhouse Wellington Circus, Nottingham NG1 5AF

27-28 June 2019 | Cardiff New Theatre Park Pl, Cardiff CF10 3LN

1 July 2019 | Northcott Theatre Stocker Rd, Exeter EX4 4QB

2 July 2019 | Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre For The Arts, 21 Kingland Rd, Poole BH15 1UG

3 July 2019 | Marine Theatre Church St, Lyme Regis DT7 3QA

5 July 2019 | The Watermill Theatre Bagnor, Newbury RG20 8AE

15-19 July 2019 | Theatre Royal Brighton New Rd, Brighton BN1 1SD

21 July 2019 | Royal Shakespeare Theatre & Swan Theatre Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6BB

25-26 July 2019 | Lyric Theatre 55 Ridgeway St, Belfast BT9 5FB

27 July 2019 | Waterside Theatre Glendermott Rd, Derry/ Londonderry BT47 6BG

29 July 2019 | The Braid Arts Centre 1-29 Bridge Street, Ballymena BT43 5AE

31 July – 1 August 2019 | Theatre at the Mill Carnmoney Rd N, Mossley Mill, Newtonabbey BT36 5QA

9 August 2019 | Dundee Rep Theatre Tay Square, Dundee DD1 1PB

11 August 2019 | Pitlochry Festival Theatre Port Na Craig, Pitlochry PH16 5DR

12 August 2019 | Eden Court Bishops Rd, Inverness IV3 5SA

14 August 2019 | Aberdeen Tivoli 34-48 Guild St, Aberdeen AB11 6NB

18 August 2019 | Newcastle Theatre Royal 100 Grey St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6BR

20 August 2019 | Theatre by the Lake Lakeside, Lake Rd, Keswick CA12 5DJ

22-25 August 2019 | Edinburgh International Festival at Assembly Hall, Mound Pl, Edinburgh EH1 2LU

28 August 2019 | The Orkney Theatre Kirkwall Grammar School, The Meadows, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1QN

15 September 2019 | National Theatre, Olivier Upper Ground, Lambeth, London SE1 9PX

THE BEST OF…

ROCK MUSICALS
In aid of The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust

• SAVE THE DATE – SUNDAY 12th MAY, 2019 at 4pm and 8pm

• THE BEST OF… ROCK MUSICALS AT THE EVENTIM APOLLO, HAMMERSMITH, IN AID OF THE CHARLIE WALLER MEMORIAL TRUST

• HOSTED BY SIR TIM RICE AND FEATURING ADAM PASCAL, KERRY ELLIS, ADRIANNA HICKS, KRISTINA LOVE AND DAVID MICHAEL JOHNSON.  DEVISED AND DIRECTED BY HUGH WOOLDRIDGE (THE NIGHT OF 1000 VOICES)

• TICKETS ON SALE TODAY www.eventim.co.uk

On Sunday 12 May 2019 at London’s Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, there will be two concerts of The Best of… Rock Musicals for the benefit of The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust.  It will be the 20th Anniversary production from the same team who for the last 19 years have presented The Night of 1000 Voices at the Royal Albert Hall and elsewhere.

Hosted by Sir Tim Rice, The Best of… Rock Musicals will feature New York’s Adam Pascal (Rent); Europe’s Adrianna Hicks (The Color Purple), Kristina Love (Tina) and David Michael Johnson (Jesus Christ Superstar); and London’s Kerry Ellis (Wicked) together with a host of Broadway and West End talent, the West End Chorus, the City of London Philharmonic AllStars and some very special surprise guests.

Amongst many others, The Best of… Rock Musicals will include songs from Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair, Evita, Chess, Aida, Miss Saigon, RENT, Tommy, We Will Rock You, Spring Awakening, The Rocky Horror Show, Next To Normal, The Little Shop of Horrors, Dear Evan Hansen, Wicked and The Lion King.

The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust was formed in 1997 by the Waller family in memory of their son and brother, Charlie, who took his own life whilst suffering from depression.  The Trust offers support and education to those affected by depression and mental illness.  Its vision is of a world where people understand and talk openly about depression; where young people are educated on the importance of staying mentally well, and where treatment is available to everyone who needs it.

Particularly in musical theatre and the performing arts, depression and mental unhappiness is often masked by a smiling face.  Everyone has a duty to protect each other in a profession where rejection and redundancy are two of the most common words in daily usage.  The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust offers vital information on preventing depression and is producing tailored guidance for performers.

With musical directors Stuart Morley (We Will Rock You) and Kevin Amos (Jesus Christ Superstar), The Best of… Rock Musicals will again be devised and directed by Hugh Wooldridge who says “This event is a must for all who love rock musicals and musical theatre.  With the very best artistes in the world coming together to celebrate the very best in rock musicals from the last 50 years.  Come along again on our 20th birthday and join in the fun and support this most splendid charity in the name of Charlie Waller, whilst raising the roof of the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith.”

Further performers will be announced in due course.  All artistes are subject to their professional commitments.

LISTINGS

THE BEST OF… ROCK MUSICALS

Devised and Directed by Hugh Wooldridge
Musical Directors: Stuart Morley and Kevin Amos
Eventim Apollo Hammersmith
45 Queen Caroline St, Hammersmith, London W6 9QH
020 8563 3800

First performance           Sunday May 12, 2019 at 4.00pm
Final performance         Sunday May 12, 2019 at 8.00pm

Box office details             0844 249 1000

www.eventim.co.uk

Prices from                        £15.00

Websites:

The Night of 1000 Voices                                 www.thenightof1000voices.com

The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust            www.cwmt.org.uk

THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA  

·         All-star cast and creative team set for London premiere of 6-time Tony Award-winning musical by Craig Lucas and Adam Guettel

·         World Renowned Soprano Renée Fleming and star of Disney’s The Descendants Dove Cameron in lead roles

·         Debut production from John Berry & Anthony Lilley’s new company Scenario Two in collaboration with Opera North

·         To be performed at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, 14 June – 5 July 2019 for twenty performances only

·

Scenario Two are proud to announce that their debut production will be the London Premiere of the dazzling musical The Light in the Piazza. With a book by Craig Lucas and music and lyrics by Adam Guettel,The Light in the Piazza is a touching and heartwrenching love story set in Florence during the summer of 1953. It has been described by the New York Times as having “the most intensely romantic score of any musical since West Side Story”.

It will be performed on the stage of the Royal Festival Hall for twenty performances only in the summer of 2019, with a 40-piece symphony orchestra and an all-star cast.

This new production will be directed by multiple Olivier Award-winner Daniel Evans and performed by opera superstar Renée Fleming and film and television star Dove Cameron – both making their London stage debuts in a once-in-a-lifetime theatrical event with the Orchestra of Opera North performing on-stage conducted by Kimberley Grigsby.  

Four-time Grammy winner and Tony nominee Renée Fleming makes her long awaited London music theatre debut as American Margaret Johnson. Dove Cameron makes her UK debut as Margaret’s troubled daughter Clara; she is best known for her role in Disney’s The Descendants trilogy, recently starred as Amber von Tussle in NBC’s Hairspray Live! and is currently starring as Cher in the Off Broadway production of Clueless: The Musical.

Director Daniel Evans, Artistic Director of Chichester Festival Theatre, is a star of British Theatre with recently acclaimed productions of Showboat and Fiddler on The Roof. His award-winning creative team includes set designer Rob Jones (RSC, Royal Opera House, Metropolitan Opera New York), costume designer Brigitte Reiffenstuel (Royal Opera House, The Metropolitan Opera New York), and multi Olivier Award winning lighting designer Mark Henderson (Gypsy). Together they will transform the Royal Festival Hall’s stage into a breathtaking sun-drenched Italian piazza.

The Light in the Piazza’s rich emotional score sets it apart from recent Broadway musicals. Unapologetically lyrical and romantic, it transports us into the world of Margaret Johnson and her daughter Clara. As they take in the wonders of Florence, a fateful gust of wind whisks Clara’s hat into the hands of local dreamer Fabrizio Naccarelli. It’s love at first sight, but Clara isn’t quite what she appears and soon they must all confront a secret that’s been kept in the shadows for far too long. 

Scenario Two is a new company founded by John Berry and Anthony Lilley to focus on commercial theatrical production in London, the rest of the UK and internationally. It is based on Berry’s critically-acclaimed ENO model of bringing together the very best talent from the world of opera and musical theatre, with top performers and creatives from other industries such as film, television and theatre. Following its London premiere The Light in the Piazza will tour major venues in North America and Australia.  

Scenario Two director John Berry said:

“The score of The Light in the Piazza is sensational and we are thrilled that audiences will hear this London premiere in a new expanded version for full symphony orchestra. By bringing together a cast from different genres we hope to appeal to a wide audience and make this limited run of performances a ‘must see event’ before it travels to the USA.”

Renée Fleming said:

“I’m delighted to be a part of the London premiere of The Light in the Piazza. Adam Guettel’s score is ravishing, reaching beyond the boundaries of how we think of musical theatre. For my London theatre debut, to play Margaret Johnson—a fascinating, deeply human character whose predicament I find incredibly moving—this was an opportunity I couldn’t resist.”

LISTINGS

Scenario Two presents

The Light in the Piazza

Book by Craig Lucas

Music and Lyrics by Adam Guettel

14 June – 5 July 2019

Press performance Tuesday 18 June 2019, 8pm

Royal Festival Hall

Southbank Centre

Belvedere Rd,

Lambeth,

London

SE1 8XX

www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Tickets on general sale from 16^th November 2018

More Information

www.LightInThePiazzaTheMusical.com

WWW.MOUSETRAPONTOUR.COM

Adam Spiegel and Stephen Waley-Cohen present
THE MOUSETRAP TOUR

• AGATHA CHRISTIE’S RECORD-BREAKING MURDER MYSTERY THE MOUSETRAP ANNOUNCES MAJOR NATIONAL TOUR FOR 2019 FEATURINGONLY FOOLS AND HORSES STAR GWYNETH STRONG AS MRS BOYLE
• OPENING AT GUILDFORD YVONNE ARNAUD IN JANUARY 2019, THE LEGENDARY WHODUNNIT IS EMBARKING ON AN EXTENSIVE TOUR OF THE UK WHILE CONTINUING ITS RECORD-BREAKING RUN IN THE WEST END
• GWYNETH STRONG WILL PERFORM FOR 24 WEEKS THROUGH TO AND INCLUDING NORWICH, JULY 2019. STAR CASTING WILL SOON BE ANNOUNCED FOR ALL FOLLOWING VENUES.
• FOR BOOKING INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT:WWW.MOUSETRAPONTOUR.COM

The Mousetrap, the legendary whodunnit from Queen of Crime, Dame Agatha Christie, today announces a major national tour opening in January 2019 starring Gwyneth Strong (Only Fools and Horses) as Mrs Boyle, directed by Gareth Armstrong.

This unstoppable West End hit has been delighting theatregoers for 67 years with its macabre murder mystery. Following a record-breaking 60th anniversary debut tour in 2012, this timeless thriller The Mousetrap returns by popular demand, opening at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre on 29 January 2019 launching an extensive new tour that will travel the length and breadth of the country giving audiences all across the UK the opportunity to discover theatre’s best kept secret.

Following Guildford, The Mousetrap will tour to Northampton Royal & Derngate, Sheffield Lyceum, Colchester Mercury, Southport Theatre, Sunderland Empire, High Wycombe Swan,Bromley Churchill, Cheltenham Everyman, Oxford Playhouse, Crewe Lyceum, Coventry Belgrade,Crawley Hawth, Darlington Hippodrome, Exeter Northcott, Salford Lowry, York Grand Opera House, Edinburgh Playhouse, Liverpool Empire, Southend Palace, Nottingham Theatre Royal,Bristol Hippodrome, Stoke Regent, Brighton Theatre Royal, Norwich Theatre Royal, Malvern Festival, Bournemouth Pavilion, Dartford Orchard, Eastbourne Devonshire Park and Cardiff New Theatre. Further venues to be announced.

Gwyneth Strong will perform as Mrs Boyle for 24 weeks through to Norwich, with further star casting to be announced. The cast also includes David Alcock (Mr Paravacini), Geoff Arnold (Detective Sgt. Trotter), Nick Biadon (Giles Ralston), Lewis Chandler (Christopher Wren), John Griffiths (Major Metcalf), Harriett Hare (Mollie Ralston) and Saskia Vaigncourt-Strallen (Miss Caswell).

Gwyneth Strong is best known for her role in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses in which she starred in the role of Cassandra. The role gained Gwyneth mainstream recognition and she appeared in the hit comedy show as well as several Christmas specials between 1989 and 2003. More recently, she joined the cast of EastEnders in the role of Geraldine Clough. Other television credits include The Great Train Robbery, Silent Witness, Casualty, Doctors and Murder in Suburbia. Gwyneth appeared in the UK tour of Our House, in which she played Kath Casey. Her stage credits also include Stand (Oxford Playhouse/Battersea Arts) Monkey Bars (Unicorn Theatre), A Round-Heeled Woman (Aldwych), When You Cure Me (Bush Theatre), Ancient Lights(Hampstead Theatre) and Care (Royal Court).

First seen in Nottingham in 1952 starring Richard Attenborough and his wife Sheila Sim, The Mousetrap went on to become the world’s longest running stage production following its West End transfer to The Ambassadors in 1952 and St Martins in 1973 where it has played ever since, continuing a record-breaking run with over 27,500 performances in London so far. The beloved murder mystery returns to the road following the success of the first ever UK tour in 2012.

The Mousetrap continues its open-ended run at St. Martin’s Theatre, London.

LISTINGS

TOUR DATES

Tuesday 29 January – Saturday 2 February 2019
YVONNE ARNAUD, GUILDFORD
https://www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
Box office: 01483 44 00 00

Monday 4 – Saturday 9 February 2019
ROYAL & DERNGATE, NORTHAMPTON
www.royalandderngate.co.uk
01604 624811

Monday 11 – Saturday 16 February 2019
SHEFFIELD LYCEUM
www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
0114 249 6000

Monday 18 – Saturday 23 February 2019
MERCURY THEATRE, COLCHESTER
www.mercurytheatre.co.uk
01206 573948

Monday 25 – Wednesday 27 February 2019
SOUTHPORT THEATRE AND CONVENTION CENTRE
www.atgtickets.com/venues/southport-theatre-and-convention-centre
0844 871 3021

Thursday 28 February – Saturday 2 March 2019
SUNDERLAND EMPIRE
www.atgtickets.com/venues/sunderland-empire
0844 871 3022

Monday 4 – Saturday 9 March 2019
WYCOMBE SWAN THEATRE, HIGH WYCOMBE
https://wycombeswan.co.uk
01494 512 000

Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 March 2019
CHURCHILL THEATRE, BROMLEY
https://churchilltheatre.co.uk
020 3285 6000

Monday 18 – Saturday 23 March 2019
EVERYMAN THEATRE, CHELTENHAM
www.everymantheatre.org.uk
01242 572573

Monday 25 – Saturday 30 March 2019
OXFORD PLAYHOUSE
www.oxfordplayhouse.com
01865 305305

Monday 1 – Saturday 6 April 2019
CREWE LYCEUM
https://crewelyceum.co.uk
01270 368 242

Monday 8 – Saturday 13 April 2019
BELGRADE THEATRE, COVENTRY
www.belgrade.co.uk
024 7655 3055

Monday 22 – Saturday 27 April 2019
HAWTH THEATRE, CRAWLEY
www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/The-Hawth
01293 553636

Monday 29 April – Saturday 4 May 2019
DARLINGTON HIPPODROME
www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk
01325 405405

Monday 6 – Saturday 11 May 2019
NORTHCOTT THEATRE, EXETER
https://exeternorthcott.co.uk
01392 72 63 63

Monday 13 – Saturday 18 May 2019
LOWRY THEATRE, SALFORD
www.thelowry.com
0843 208 6000

Monday 20 – Saturday 25 May 2019
GRAND OPERA HOUSE, YORK
https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/grand-opera-house-york
0844 871 3024

Monday 27 – Wednesday 29 May 2019
EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE
www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse
0844 871 3014

Thursday 30 May – Saturday 1 June 2019
LIVERPOOL EMPIRE
www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire
0844 871 3017

Monday 3 – Saturday 8 June 2019 (on general sale 27 November)
SOUTHEND PALACE THEATRE
www.palacetheatresouthend.co.uk
01702 351135

Monday 17 – Saturday 22 June 2019
NOTTINGHAM THEATRE ROYAL
https://trch.co.uk
0115 989 5555

Monday 24 – Wednesday 26 June 2019
BRISTOL HIPPODROME
https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome/
0844 871 3012

Thursday 27 – Saturday 29 June 2019
STOKE REGENT THEATRE
https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/regent-theatre/
0844 871 7649

Monday 1 – Saturday 6 July 2019
BRIGHTON THEATRE ROYAL
https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-brighton/
0844 871 7650

Monday 8 – Saturday 13 July 2019
NORWICH THEATRE ROYAL
www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk/
01603 630 000

Monday 15 – Saturday 20 July 2019
FESTIVAL THEATRE, MALVERN
https://www.malvern-theatres.co.uk/
01684 892 277

Monday 5 – Saturday 10 August 2019
BOURNEMOUTH PAVILION
http://www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk/
0844 576 3000

Monday 16 – Saturday 21 September
DARTFORD ORCHARD THEATRE
https://orchardtheatre.co.uk/
01322 220 000

Monday 23 – Saturday 28 September 2019
EASTBOURNE DEVONSHIRE PARK THEATRE
https://www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk/venue/devonshire-park-theatre
01323 412 000

Monday 30 September – Saturday 5 October 2019
NEW THEATRE, CARDIFF
www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk/
02920 878 889

FURTHER VENUES TO BE ANNOUNCED

West End:

THE MOUSETRAP
St Martin’s Theatre
West St, London WC2H 9NZ
www.the-mousetrap.co.uk
Box office 020 7836 1443

The Grand Union Orchestra announces its latest production: Uncharted Crossings

Shoreditch Town Hall, Sunday 9th December, 8pm

The backstory of the Windrush generation

• The event is the culmination of the Grand Union Orchestra’s Autumn/Winter programme supporting Black History Month in Hackney
• Featuring twenty internationally-acclaimed musicians and singers

The Grand Union Orchestra has announced its latest performance, Uncharted Crossings, which concludes its Autumn/Winter programme supporting Black British Music in Hackney. The programme aligns with Hackney Museum’s current exhibition on the same topic.

Uncharted Crossings will tell the backstory of the Windrush generation, of a journey that began over five hundred years ago on the shores of West Africa, with millions transported to Brazil, Cuba, the Caribbean and southern USA in the transatlantic slave trade.

Grand Union Orchestra composer Tony Haynes leads twenty internationally-acclaimed musicians and singers – soaring voices, roaring brass, fiery jazz solos, hypnotic drums – in celebrating the music and contribution of the African heritage diaspora to British culture today.

The Grand Union Orchestra is a pioneer and leading advocate of cross-cultural music-making in the UK. Described as ‘making cultural diversity an art-form’, for over 30 years it has been bringing together singers and instrumentalists from all over the world – many of them first generation migrants themselves – to create spectacular music.

Among the performers appearing in Uncharted Crossings are great jazz players such as South African trumpeter Claude Deppa and saxophonist Tony Kofi, singers Jumoké Fashola and Jonathan André, and an all-star drum section led by Francis Fuster, the late Hugh Masekela’s percussionist.

Tony Haynes says: “Exploring what lies behind the Windrush story with such great musicians is set to be our most powerful show yet, honouring the remarkable legacy and profound influence of Black music and its history.”

He writes all about the project here: https://tonyhaynesmusic.wordpress.com

Uncharted Crossings will be performed at Shoreditch Town Hall on Sunday 9th December at 8pm. Tickets at £16 / £12 concessions are available via:
Web: https://shoreditchtownhall.com/whats-on/grand-union-orchestra-uncharted-crossings
Phone: 020 7739 6176

The Leeds Library – Until Saturday 17th November 2018

Reviewed By Dawn Smallwood

5*****

Written by Emma Adams and directed by Tess Seddon, The Things We Wouldn’t Otherwise Find premieres at The Leeds Library. The Leeds Library was founded in 1768 and is one of the oldest subscription libraries in the country. This library is celebrating 250 years of its existence and what couldn’t be more fitting is for this beautiful library to host this exciting play.

Amid the uncertainty of the libraries’ future and the prominence of the internet and information technology, the play explores how libraries are a place for many, past and present, and how they can be secured in the future. The Leeds Library’s reading room is a fitting space for this two cast play to explore those purposes.

Each of the themes is structured with “chapters” of a book which explore and discuss how “libraries are the past and are the spirit of the present”. Relationships, challenged perceptions, different forms of learning and creativity, community cohesion and issues including social isolation, and value of books are explored, challenged, discussed and analysed.

Sinead Parker and David Judge put on a stellar performance that brings Adams’ unique style of writing alive and they play a multiple of roles that are a contrast to each other and alights the library’s reading room and its walled books. It is felt certainly that libraries today are very important places to many people as concluded that “libraries are a million of things to millions of people”.

Adams writes convincingly and beautifully The Things We Wouldn’t Otherwise Find which brings up multitude of emotions concerning libraries and the emphasis on no prescriptive way to view libraries. It is evident today to see how libraries are evolving, being made more accessible, community focused, and meeting the demands and needs of the 21st Century. A must see play and this production will certainly celebrate and achieve a wider audience when it tours libraries across Leeds. Library lovers will have the opportunity to celebrate such and be reassured that library will have things otherwise wouldn’t be found.

The Union Theatre – until 24th Nov

Reviewed by Elizabeth J Smith

5*****
Benjamin Till has written a poignant piece following the true stories of the young men and woman of Leeds, between 28 Jul 1914 – 11 Nov 1918, the years of World War one.

All the men are members of the local amateur brass band and decide en masse to join the fight for King and Country. The women are left behind to carry on the jobs, in the munitions factory, traditionally done by the men. The ladies decide a great way to keep the home fires burning for their boys is to resurrect the brass band so they can greet the boys when they eventually come home. It is a story of love, courage, loss and deceit. It tells the tale of how the officers treated the
men in their charge. Of how a family is ripped apart because a young lad of 15 lies about his age and joins the furore, only to be shot for cowardice. The young newly weds who discover they are expecting their first child but the husband is shot on the frontline and his wife dies from complications to her health from working in the munitions factory. How gay man couldn’t stand together hand in hand without the threat of prison.

This tale reiterates the futilities of war but also reminds of the incredible sacrifices our ancestors made to keep this country free.

The Union Theatre provides an intimate setting with a definite feeling of darkness. Creating the atmosphere of a Victorian factory and desolation of the trenches.

The music is supplied by a solo pianist, expertly played by Henry Brennan, musical director and some cast members with their brass instruments.

The set is expertly manoeuvred creating the different scenes and when the boys go over top there is a sense of despair.

All the performers created wholesome rounded characters, some with things to hide. The songs provided some great moments of true emotion. With note to “Shone with the sun”, Kelsie-Rae Marshall, “I make the shells”, Emma Harrold and “no man’s land” Sam Kipling.

The playing of the last post by Lawrence Smith brings a lump to the throat and a tear to the eye.

I thoroughly enjoyed the evening and left knowing that as the sun went down I would remember those brave young men and woman who I owe my society freedoms to today.

Award-winning Ballet Cymru brings new

Christmas ballet to Leeds

Ballet Cymru

A Child’s Christmas, Poems and Tiger Eggs by Dylan Thomas

Thursday 29 November

Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds

theatreleeds.com

Making their Leeds debut, the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre will host the award-winning Welshdance company Ballet Cymru as they perform a brand new ballet, narrated by Welsh icon Cerys Matthews, on 29 November 2018 for one night only.

Nominated for Best Independent Company at the 2017 National Dance Awards, and winners of the Best Dance Production at the 2017 Wales Theatre Awards, Ballet Cymru presents this sparkling and refreshing ballet inspired by the Dylan Thomas classic A Child’s Christmas In Wales, a well-loved piece of literature renowned worldwide from Wales’ best-known author.

Featuring choreography by Creative Wales Award winner Darius James and Amy Doughty, Ballet Cymru brings to life this timeless story using a unique blend of classical technique, storytelling and visual projections. With music by Cerys Matthews of Catatonia and Mason Neely, audiences are invited to step into the imagination of a genius and follow the Company on a journey full of snow, cats and dramatic dance, suitable for all ages to enjoy together.

Darius James, Artistic Director of Ballet Cymru, says: ‘We are delighted to be bringing a little bit of Wales to Leeds and can’t wait to share the genius of Dylan Thomas’.

Tickets for Ballet Cymru at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds are on sale now and can be booked online at theatreleeds.com or by calling the Box Office on 0113 220 8008. Tickets are priced at £13.50.

York Theatre Royal until 10th November 2018.

Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

5*****

Directed by York Theatre Royal’s Associate Director, Juliet Forster, Sense and Sensibility is the first of several shows from the summer season at Theatre by the Lake to be playing at York. Four plays, ten actors over twelve days.

Sense and Sensibility sees the entire company performing this fresh, comical adaptation of the Austen classic, by Jessica Swale.

Things look bleak for the Dashwood widow and girls when they are cheated out of their inheritance, by her step-son and daughter in law, forced out of their home with little money or prospects. Finding a roof over their heads in Devonshire, the arrival of a dashing stranger promises to change their fortunes forever. But as the saying goes, best laid plans of mice and men, nothing runs smoothly in this tale of love and marriage.

Elinor, played by the very expressive Sarah Kempton is the serious sister, the sensible one, whilst Marianne, played with such passion by Alice Imelda, is more impetuous, artistic and romantic. Both ladies play their romantic leads perfectly and we can feel their angst when their would be relationships flounder. Their younger sister Margaret, played wonderfully childlike by Lydea Perkins, is very much a tomboy, energetic and a bit wild.

The three suitors who create such turmoil within the Dashwood sisters’ lives are, the cad Willoughby, Oliver Mott; shy and awkward, but loveable, Edward, Toby Vaughan; and the reserved smitten Colonel Brandon.

Christine Entwisle is brilliant as the deplorable Fanny Dashwood, callousness running through her veins, before morphing into the over the top, and extremely excitable, Mrs Jennings. Her comic timing and interactions with Sir John, James Duke, were hilarious, both extremely funny.

The whole cast, including Karen Ascoe and Theo Fraser Steele, do an absolutely amazing job, some taking on numerous roles seamlessly with such ease. In a blink of an eye they can be one character and then have taken on a new completely different, but truly believable role.

I thought I would struggle with the 3 hour running time, but that was certainly not the case, it was so engaging that the time flew by. This production was a joy to watch, one for everyone, not just Austen fans. I am so looking forward to catching their other pieces coming up over the next few days and can only hope they are as good as this, which I have no doubt they will be.