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BARRY HUMPHRIES’

WEIMAR CABARET

‘AN EVENING OF DEGENERATE MUSIK’

RETURNS TO LONDON IN 2018 FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED SEASON

FEATURING MEOW MEOW

11 – 29 JULY 2018 AT THE BARBICAN, LONDON

Barry Humphries’ critically acclaimed Weimar Cabaret returns to London in 2018 for a strictly limited season of 22 performances from 11- 29 July 2018 at the Barbican Centre, London. Starring alongside Barry is renowned artist Meow Meow accompanied by Aurora Orchestra, led by Satu Vänskä.

Last seen in London in July 2016 for a brief run at Cadogan Hall before performances at the Edinburgh International Festival, Weimar Cabaret is a celebration of Humphries’ lifelong passion and fascination with the music of the Weimar Republic, the German state that existed in the inter-war period between Germany’s defeat in World War I in 1918 and Hitler’s rise to power in 1933. This period of political, economic and social change gave rise to a cultural explosion of ideas across music, art, drama and literature with many Jewish artists central to this new artistic movement.

Since discovering a collection of sheet music of composers banned by the Third Reich, including Erich Korngold, Kurt Weill and Ernst Krenek in a Melbourne book shop as a teenager in the 1940’s, Humphries has been fascinated with the period’s cultural experimentalism, defiance and unique mix of classical music and jazz.

On stage Barry Humphries narrates in his own inimitable style his very personal journey and obsession with the music of this artistically fertile and experimental period of history. He is joined by the internationally acclaimed performer Meow Meow who brings to life some of the iconic musical numbers of the period by some of its leading composers including Kurt Weill, Ernst Krenek, Erwin Schulhoff, Ernst Toch and Mischa Spoliansky.

Global star and legendary entertainer, Barry Humphries is perhaps best known for his on stage and television alter-egos Dame Edna Everage, Australian cultural attaché the Honourable Sir Les Patterson and Sandy Stone.  Humphries’ characters have brought him international acclaim, and he has appeared in numerous films, stage productions, and television shows.  He is also a film producer and script writer, a star of London’s West End musical theatre, an award-winning writer, actor, satirist, artist, and author.

Australian artist Meow Meow specialises in the Weimar repertoire. She is also a prolific music and theatre creator. Her award-winning solo works have been curated by David Bowie, Pina Bausch, and Mikhail Baryshnikov and numerous international arts festivals. She recently appeared as Titania in Emma Rice’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream season at Shakespeare’s Globe. She has performed with the Berlin Philharmonic with Pink Martini, and Brighton Festival with Souvenir – a fantastical song cycle written with composers Jherek Bischoff and August Von Trapp. She recently performed at the Edinburgh International Festival with her showMeow Meow’s Little Mermaid. 4 December sees her perform Meow’s Pandemonium with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at Royal Festival Hall, and 20 – 31 December Shakespeare’s Globe presentsApocalypse Meow: Crisis is Born at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.

Aurora Orchestra is a British chamber orchestra, co-founded in 2004 by conductors Nicholas Collon and Robin Ticciati. Comprising of some of the finest British instrumentalists, Aurora has embraced an entrepreneurial and risk-taking approach to concert presentation, overturning expectations as to what an orchestra should and can do on the concert platform. Resident Orchestra at King’s Place since 2009, Aurora was resident orchestra at LSO St Luke’s from 2010-2015 and in 2016 became resident orchestra at Southbank Centre. Aurora performs regularly at Wigmore Hall, the Barbican and at the Linbury Studio Theatre at the Royal Opera House. It has also performed at the last eight BBC Proms seasons at the Royal Albert Hall.

Barry Humphries’ Weimar Cabaret is produced by Fiery Angel.

The Mayflower Southampton – until 11 November.  Reviewed by Jo Gordon

5*****

Written by Tim Firth and co produced by David Pugh, Dafydd Rogers, Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams – The Band is the newest jukebox musical to hit the stage.  Gary’s TV talent show, Let it Shine, found the perfect line up of boys to play the part of the productions Boy Band Five to Five ( A J Bentley, Yazdan Qafouri, Curtis T Johns, Sario Solomon and Nick Carsberg) who perfectly fit the bill.

With the opening scenes set in the early nineties, a time where Top of the Pops was king, you couldn’t see your bedroom walls for posters from Smash Hits Magazine (much to my dads disgust!) and you taped the hits off the radio, we follow a group of five friends who share a love for the same band and win a competition to see them.

Rachel (Faye Christall), Heather (Katy Clayton), Debbie (Rachelle Diedericks), Claire (Sarah Howarth) and Zoe (Lauren Jacobs) have the night of their life and on the way home stop to remember that point in time and declare what they hope their future lives to be, however tragedy strikes and the group of friends drift apart and go their separate ways.

Fast forward 25 years and a fortysomething Rachel wins a competition to see the Five to Five comeback tour (sound familiar?).  Despite her partners initial excitement of a trip to Prague, “Beer capital of the world” she explains to Jeff (Martin Miller) that she had contacted the girls as she feels its the perfect chance of a reunion, they agree and hilarity ensues! Their friendship comes back together, they talk about their current lives and how different it turned out to what they had dreamed, the affect of not having each other after they drifted apart, and decide on their futures now they are back in the fold. All of this while the boys are in the background singing what is essentially the theme tune to their lives, with a hit from Take That for every scenario. The set is wonderful, from that 90’s bedroom right through to aeroplanes and the most ingenious fountain I have ever witnessed! Keep an eye out for the comedic “Dave” (Andy Williams) as he is every bus driver, workman and roadie we have ever come across.

Being a fortysomething woman now, it was set bang on target for my own life and mirrored experiences I had back then and now. I laughed, I sang and I sobbed as I saw my 16 year old, Dr Marten wearing, overconfident self on that stage and thought of the dreams I’d had back then and my life and friendships now. You will no doubt do the same!

REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE ANNOUNCE
2018 SEASON

• Timothy Sheader and Liam Steel’s Olivier Award-nominated production of PETER PAN by J. M. Barrie returns in the final year of First World War Centenary Commemorations
• Max Webster directs Shakespeare’s AS YOU LIKE IT, with original music by Charlie Fink
• Maria Aberg directs the mean green monster musical, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken, based on the film by Roger Corman, screenplay by Charles Griffith
• DINOSAUR WORLD LIVE plays daytime performances for ages 3+
• Full creative team confirmed for THE TURN OF THE SCREW including conductor Toby Purser and designer Soutra Gilmour

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre have today announced details of their 2018 season, which includes Peter Pan, As You Like It, Dinosaur World Live, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Turn of the Screw, a co-production with English National Opera.

The season opens on 17 May 2018 with Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie (17 May – 15 June), a revival of their 2015 Olivier Award-nominated production, in the final year of the First World War Centenary Commemorations. For the wounded soldiers of WW1, imagination is their only escape. Yet as they’re transported to the fantastical lagoons and pirate ships of Never Land, allegories of the war they’ve left behind are ever present. George Llewelyn Davies, later killed in action in 1915, was one of the children who inspired J. M. Barrie to create the iconic character of Peter Pan. Remembering him, and a generation of Lost Boys, the production enchanted young and old alike during its original, critically
acclaimed run. Kids go half price at most performances.

Directed by Open Air Theatre Artistic Director Timothy Sheader (Jesus Christ Superstar, To Kill a Mockingbird, Running Wild) and Liam Steel (Lord of the Flies, Into The Woods), set design is by Jon Bausor who recently won the UK Theatre Award for The Grinning Man (Bristol Old Vic). Costume design is by Jon Morrell, puppet design and direction by Rachael Canning, composition and sound score by Nick Powell, lighting design by Rick Fisher, sound design by Nick Lidster for Autograph, fight direction by Kate Waters, casting by Polly Jerrold and musical supervision/musical direction by Candida Caldicot. The Season Associate Director (Voice and Text) is Barbara Houseman.

Also confirmed is the full creative team for The Turn of the Screw (22 June – 30 June), a co-production with English National Opera. Members of the ENO orchestra will be conducted by ENO Mackerras Fellow Toby Purser. Timothy Sheader directs with design by Soutra Gilmour, who previously designed Into the Woods at the Open Air Theatre / Public Theatre, New York. Lighting design is by Jon Clark, sound design by Nick Lidster for Autograph, and casting by ENO Head of Casting, Michelle Williams.

The story of unearthly encounters at a remote country house, and of a young governess desperate to protect her children, finds chilling new levels of suspense in this unique outdoor production of Benjamin Britten’s masterly reworking of Henry James’ classic novella.

Next, Max Webster directs William Shakespeare’s As You Like It (06 July – 28 July). Returning to the Open Air Theatre following his production of Twelfth Night re-imagined in 2014, Max recently directed A Winter’s Tale (Edinburgh Lyceum), The Twits and King Lear (Northampton Royal & Derngate), and
The Lorax, which is currently playing at the Old Vic.

In the mythical Forest of Arden, a world of transformation where anything is possible and anything permissible, two young people discover what it really means to be in love. Design is by Naomi Dawson who recently designed Dr Faustus (Royal Shakespeare Company) and Brave New World (Northampton
Royal & Derngate). Movement direction is by Polly Bennett, original music composed by former ‘Noah and the Whale’ frontman, Charlie Fink (The Lorax), lighting design by Lee Curran (Jesus Christ Superstar) and sound design by Gareth Fry.

This warm, open-hearted production promises adventure, sibling rivalry, mistaken identity and romance – Shakespeare comedy as you like it.

Playing daytime performances, Dinosaur World Live (14 August – 09 September), is a new interactive show for all the family (ages 3+). This 50-minute show is written and directed by Derek Bond (Sweet Charity / Little Shop of Horrors, Royal Exchange Manchester), puppet design is by Max Humphries and
puppet direction by Laura Cubitt who, with Dinosaur World Live puppet consultant Toby Olié, previously worked on Running Wild at the Open Air Theatre. Set and costume design is by James Perkins, lighting design by John Maddox and sound design by Tom Mann.

Grab your compass and join our intrepid explorer across uncharted territories to discover a prehistoric world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs – including every child’s favourite flesh-eating giant, the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Dinosaur World Live will announce further tour dates for 2018 in due course.

The 2018 season concludes with the mean green monster musical Little Shop of Horrors (03 August – 15 September). Book and lyrics are by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken, based on the film by Roger Corman with screenplay by Charles Griffith.

For the misfits of Skid Row, life is full of broken dreams and dead ends. But there’s hope on the horizon for flower shop assistant, Seymour, when he discovers a mysterious new plant with killer potential. Will his newfound fame and fortune win the attention of kind, sweet, delicate Audrey? Can he finally break free and be happy…whatever the consequences?

Making her Open Air Theatre debut, the production is directed by Maria Aberg. Maria’s recent work includes Dr Faustus, The White Devil, As You Like It, King John, The Gods Weep, Days of Significance (all Royal Shakespeare Company), Hotel (National Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing (Royal Exchange Manchester), The Chairs (Theatre Royal Bath), Alaska (Royal Court) and Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox (Nuffield/Lyric Hammersmith). Design is by Tom Scutt whose credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (Open Air Theatre), King Charles III (Almeida/West End/Broadway), The Deep Blue Sea, Medea (National Theatre), Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The Weir (Donmar Warehouse) and Constellations (West
End/MTC New York/Royal Court). Musical supervision is by Tom Deering (Jesus Christ Superstar, On The Town), lighting design by Howard Hudson (On The Town), sound design by Nick Lidster for Autograph and casting by Stuart Burt.

IT’S ALIVE at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre…somewhere that’s green!

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s award-winning production of Jesus Christ Superstar opens at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, USA in April 2018. Timothy Sheader directs with design by Tom Scutt, choreography by Drew McOnie and lighting design by Lee Curran.

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Memberships are on sale now and priority booking for Members will open at 11am, 08 November. Visit www.openairtheatre.com/membership for more information.
Public booking opens at 11am, 06 December.

BOX OFFICE INFORMATION
Box Office 0844 826 4242* | openairtheatre.com
Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4NU
Social Media
Twitter: @OpenAirTheatre / #OAT2018
#PeterPan / #TheTurnoftheScrew / #AsYouLikeIt / #DinosaurWorldLive / #LittleShopOfHorrors
Facebook, Google+: RegentsParkOpenAirTheatre
*Lines open from 9am – 9pm. £1.50 per ticket telephone booking fee applies. Calls cost 7p per minute plus your telephone company’s access charge. A £1.50 per ticket booking fee applies for telephone and online bookings for Dinosaur World Live.

LISTINGS
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre 2018 season:

Peter Pan
By J. M. Barrie
Directed by Timothy Sheader and Liam Steel
By arrangement with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity

Thursday 17 May – Friday 15 June
First preview: 17 May

Performances:
Tuesday – Sunday @ 7.45pm (gates 6.15pm)
Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday @ 2.15pm (gates 12.45pm)
No matinee 19 or 23 May; extra matinee on Thursday 14 June
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Regent’s Park Theatre and English National Opera
The Turn of the Screw
Music by Benjamin Britten Libretto by Myfanwy Piper
After a story by Henry James
Directed by Timothy Sheader

Friday 22 June – 30 June
First preview: 22 June

Performances:
Monday – Saturday @ 7.45pm (gates 6.15pm)
Wednesday & Saturday @ 2.15pm (gates 12.45pm)
No performance on Thursday 28 June; no matinee 23 June
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As You Like It
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Max Webster

Friday 06 July – Saturday 28 July
First preview: 06 July

Performances:
Monday – Saturday @ 7.45pm (gates 6.15pm)
Thursday & Saturday @ 2.15pm (gates 12.45pm)
No matinee 07 July
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Dinosaur World Live
Created by Derek Bond and Max Humphries

Tuesday 14 August – Sunday 09 September
Performances:
Monday – Wednesday: 2.15pm (gates 1.45pm)
Friday & Sunday: 10.30am (gates 10.00am) & 1.00pm (gates 12.30pm)
Saturday: 10.30am (gates 10.00am)
No performances 03 – 06 September; No 1pm performance on Sunday 02 September.
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Little Shop of Horrors
Book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, Music by Alan Menken
Based on the film by Roger Corman, Screenplay by Charles Griffith
Directed by Maria Aberg

Friday 03 August – Saturday 15 September
First preview: 03 August

Performances:
Monday – Saturday @ 7.45pm (gates 6.15pm)
Thursday & Saturday @ 2.15pm (gates 12.45pm)
No matinee 04 or 09 August

TICKETS
Peter Pan, The Turn of the Screw and As You Like It: £25 – £55
Little Shop of Horrors: £25 – £59
Dinosaur World Live: All tickets £16.50 (£15 ticket + £1.50 booking fee)
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Season Ticket
Available when purchasing a ticket for all of the following productions in the same transaction: PeterPan, The Turn of the Screw, As You Like It and Little Shop of Horrors.
Band A Season Ticket: £185 (saving of up to £39)
Band B Season Ticket: £145 (saving of up to £38)
• No per-ticket online or telephone booking fee; a one-off £4.50 telephone transaction fee applies.
• Cannot be combined with any other concession or discount.
• All tickets must be booked in the same transaction and in the same price band.
Previews
Early Bird: £5 off price bands A – C during previews (excluding Dinosaur World Live) when booked before 30 April 2018; thereafter, £2 off all prices during previews (excluding Dinosaur World Live).
Groups 10+
£5 off price bands A – C. Valid all performances, excluding Dinosaur World Live and excluding all Saturday Evening performances. A £4.50 transaction fee applies. This applies on top of the Preview and Early Bird Preview pricing. Call 0844 826 4242*, Monday – Friday, 9am – 9pm.
*Calls cost 7ppm plus your telephone company’s usual access charge.
Senior Citizens Matinees
£25 best available weekday matinees (cannot be combined with any other discount or concession).
U18
Half Price Tickets on all performances excluding Saturday evenings and Dinosaur World Live (£1.50 telephone booking fee applies. No online booking fee).

A full performance schedule is available at www.openairtheatre.com/schedule
All information correct at the time of going to print. For latest information visit
www.openairtheatre.com
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Production photography of The Exorcist – Phoenix Theatre – is released today ahead of opening night tonight (31 October)

The Exorcist is booking to 10 March 2018. Starring Peter Bowles (Father Merrin), Clare Louise Connolly (Regan), Adam Garcia (Father Karras) and Jenny Seagrove (Chris).

Ian McKellen  features  as the voice of the Demon. 

A play by John Pielmeier.
Adapted from the novel by William Peter Blatty.
Directed by Sean Mathias.

LISTINGS

Bill Kenwright presents

THE EXORCIST

A play by John Pielmeier. Adapted from the novel by William Peter Blatty. Directed by Sean Mathias.

By Special Arrangement with Ben Sprecher and Stuart Snyder.

In Association with Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

Phoenix Theatre Charing Cross Rd

London

WC2H 0JP

PLEASE NOTE this production contains material which may shock and offend. Recommended age guidance 18+.

Booking to 10 March 2018 Monday – Thursday 8pm ‘Friday is Fright-Night’ 6pm evening and ‘Fright Night late show’ 9pm Saturday 4pm and 8pm

www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-exorcist/phoenix-theatre/ 0844 871 7629 Facebook: @TheExorcistLIVE Twitter: @TheExorcistLIVE

Last night was the eighth annual star-studded fundraiser, WEST END BARES, which saw over 100 of the hottest performers from the West End stage bare all in RUBY STRIPPERS, alongside an array of celebrity hosts at the Novello Theatre, raising well over £50,000 so far, breaking last year’s record. The final amount will be announced in due course.

This year’s celebrity hosts included Graham Norton, Mark Gatiss, Adam Garcia, Tom Allen and Summer Strallen.

All of the money raised goes to The Make A Difference Trust to fund HIV and AIDS projects that raise awareness, educate and provide care and support in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Audiences joined the much loves characters of Oz for a night combining the naughtiness of burlesque with the magic of the West End at WEST END BARES: RUBY STRIPPERS. www.madtrust.org.uk

November 28th – December 16th, 7.30pm, Theatre N16

In the final show at Theatre N16’s Balham home at the Bedford pub, Tim Crowther’s first full-length play about dealing with grief, ‘tis unmanly grief, looks into the big messages of how men don’t speak about their emotions and the important role women play in the world.

Everyone deals with grief differently, but when Tom returns home with the corpse of his father, denial takes on a whole new meaning. As the body decomposes and Tom retreats further from reality, Katie conceals her recent news of pregnancy and embarks on her first trimester alone.

Tim Crowther originally trained as an actor at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts (Oct ’97 – July ’00). As an actor, Tim also worked extensively at RADA (as actor/ collaborator) on various rehearsed readings of new writing projects. His time at RADA has not only informed his writing but also his collaborative approach in the rehearsal room – he recognizes the importance of all creative voices when gearing up to a production. In 2010, Tim took time out from the acting to train as a teacher at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (Sept ’10 – July ’11). His first job on leaving RCSSD was teaching Theatre at The BRIT School (Sept ’11 – July 15),

Following his stint as Theatre Teacher, he returned back to training, attending Goldsmiths University (Oct ’15 – Jul ’16), where he completed a one-year full time MA in Writing for Performance and Dramaturgy. It was here that, whilst building his portfolio of writing, that ‘tis unmanly grief was conceived. This will be Tim’s first professionally staged full-length play, but it follows a number of staged extracts including: an excerpt taken from ‘tis unmanly grief – staged as part of Pint Sized at the Bunker Theatre towards the end of 2016; Assisted (a monologue), was staged as part of Nothing to Declare and Playground Antics (a short piece) was staged as part of a charity evening in support of Contact-a-Family, at Slam Kings Cross.

Theatre N16 is a trailblazing London fringe venue, focused on producing and programming top quality new writing and selected existing works. Theatre N16 is proud of their commitment to the welfare and development of creatives, operating under an Equity Fringe Agreement. This promoting and nurturing of talent means that Theatre N16 is a bastion for development within the context of a society in which the arts are increasingly struggling to stay afloat.

The Other Palace Studio Theatre – 28 October.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

Monica Salvi invites you to become fellow inmates in her lunatic asylum for this tragi-comic therapy session with her own psychothera-pianist.

After being continuously typecast as the crazy characters in musicals, Salvi’s deliciously dark cabaret celebrates the madwomen that have inspired brilliant songs. Mad-eyed and mischievous, Salvi delights in the quirks of the women, and has a voice that soars through the songs brilliantly.

Carrying on her stories as she changes into ever more bonkers costumes, Salvi channels Norma Desmond and Bertha Rochester with powerhouse vocals, but is equally at home with Sondheim and Kander & Ebb. There’s lots of flirting with musical director Michael Ferreri, who manfully keeps a straight face throughout, and shows his own vocal talent in the lovely duet I Had a Dream About You. Another Maury Yeston number, By the River, is a guaranteed tearjerker, and Salvi is heart-breaking in her vulnerability as she gazes into the distance.

The laughs come fast and hard, along with some disturbing insights into damaged psyches that will set you giggling with a slight twinge of guilt. Salvi is such an energetic and beguiling performer that she even manages to make the old chestnut of audience participation – the percussion band – hysterical and slightly dangerous. Speaking of dangerous, the gentleman chosen to perform the Masochism Tango with Salvi deserves an award for remaining stony-faced as madness reigned all around him.

Monica Salvi’s incredible voice and her perfectly judged repertoire of songs makes Mad Women in My Attic! a stunning cabaret, full of wit and weirdness that will have the audience smiling, singing and squirming in quick succession.

CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT

Bristol Old Vic and Trafalgar Entertainment Group

present the Bristol Old Vic production of

THE GRINNING MAN
A new musical based on the novel by Victor Hugo

Directed by Tom Morris

 “The best puppetry since War Horse” The Mail on Sunday

“The best British score in years” WhatsOnStage

“An extraordinary amalgam of fairytale, puppetry,
romantic drama and black comedy” StageTalk

Trafalgar Studios
Opens 6 December 2017
Tickets on sale now

Full casting has been announced for the critically acclaimed production of The Grinning Man, directed by Tony award-winning Tom Morris (War Horse) and based on the classic Victor Hugo (Les Misérables) novel, The Man Who Laughs, which opens at the Trafalgar Studios on 6 December.

Sean Kingsley (Les Misérables, Billy Elliot) and Ewan Black (Sleeping Beauty, The Merchant of Venice), who previously co-starred in the award-winning Bristol Old Vic production of the musical, have been confirmed to play Ursus and Trelaw in the West End premiere. Sanne den Besten (Les Misérables,Mamma Mia!), new to the cast, will play Dea, a blind woman who is the childhood friend and closest companion to the show’s title character Grinpayne.

This updated production of The Grinning Man follows the critically acclaimed premiere of the show in autumn 2016 at Bristol Old Vic. Louis Maskell (My Fair Lady, West Side Story), who was recently nominated for Best Performance in a Musical for his role in the Bristol production, will again lead the cast in the title role of Grinpayne, the show’s disfigured hero. Julian Bleach (St George in the Dragon,Shockheaded Peter, The Tempest), who also starred in the Bristol season, plays the role of the deliciously corrupt court clown Barkilphedro.

Joining the cast are Mark Anderson (The Toxic Avenger), Julie Atherton (Avenue Q), Jim Kitson (Much Ado About Nothing), Sophia Mackay (The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds her Chameleon Skin) and Amanda Wilkin (Hamlet). Completing the company are James Alexander-Taylor, Christina Bloom, Jonathan Cobb, Leo Elso, Claire-Marie Hall, and Loren O’Dair.

The Grinning Man is a romantic gothic musical love story, set in a fantastical world with a dark heart, and brought to life by Kneehigh writer Carl Grose (Dead Dog in a Suitcase) and “powered by an outstanding score” (Sunday Times) by Tim Phillips and Marc Teitler. Macabre, magical and visually astonishing, this ultimately elating love story is a distinctive delight.

The show reunites Tom Morris with two puppeteers who began their careers inside Joey and Topthorn in the original production of War Horse – Finn Caldwell and Toby Olié – now leading their own brilliant puppetry company Gyre & Gimble. 

When it opened last year as the climax of Bristol Old Vic’s 250^th anniversary programme the critics raved: the Telegraph cited its “blackly comic brilliance”; the Daily Mail hailed it as “weird and wonderful, a dark delight”; the Guardian said the production “deftly walks a tightrope between romantic and grotesque… it defies theatrical convention by keeping its hand on its heart and its tongue in its cheek”.

The Grinning Man is produced by Bristol Old Vic, Trafalgar Entertainment Group, Eilene Davidson, Richard O’Brien, David Adkin and Neil Laidlaw.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Previews:                           From Wednesday 6 December

Press night:                       Monday 18 December at 7.00pm

Performances:                   Monday – Saturday at 7:30pm, Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2:30pm
Box Office:                        www.atgtickets.com/trafalgarstudios / 0844 871 7632

Ticket Prices:                    From £15.00

Website:                           TheGrinningManMusical.com

Twitter:                             @GrinningManLDN

The producers of The Grinning Man are delighted to continue Bristol Old Vic’s commitment to ensuring that tickets to the highest quality productions remain affordable and accessible, particularly to younger audience members, by offering the following special rate:

£25 UNDER 25 RATE: A general under 25 rate of £25 (redeemable for any standard-priced seat, subject to availability at time of booking) will be available throughout the run for every performance Monday – Thursday inclusive.  Meaning that anybody under 25 will be able to see the show during the week at this special accessible rate. This rate will be available through ATG Tickets, the principal ticketing provider for Trafalgar Studios.

BRISTOL OLD VIC

Bristol Old Vic is the longest continuously running theatre in the UK, and celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2016. Under Artistic Director Tom Morris, the historic playhouse aims to inspire audiences with its own original productions, both at home and on tour, whilst nurturing the next generation of artists, whether that be through their 350-strong Young Company, their many outreach and education projects or their trailblazing artist development programme, Bristol Ferment.

Bristol Old Vic uses its funding to support experiment and innovation, to allow access to their programme for people who would not otherwise encounter it, or be able to afford it, and to keep their extraordinary heritage alive and animated.

Since 2016, while the theatre continues to present work, it has simultaneously been undergoing a multi-million pound redevelopment project to transform its front of house space into a warm and welcoming public building for all of Bristol to enjoy, create a new studio theatre and open up its unique theatrical heritage to the public for the first time. The project is due to be completed in autumn 2018.

www.bristololdvic.org.uk  

TRAFALGAR ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Trafalgar Entertainment Group is a live entertainment business that owns and operates distinctive, stylish cultural buildings as well as creating, distributing and live-streaming innovative content. Based at the iconic Trafalgar Studios in London’s West End, it is the latest venture from Sir Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire OBE – two of the most influential entertainment entrepreneurs of the last 20 years.

www.trafalgarentertainment.com