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Palace Theatre, Manchester – until 9 December 2017.  Reviewed by Julie Noller

5*****

If I ever had a theatre bucket list, then Evita would be on it. I’m in my 40’s I know the songs, I watched the film, I cried, I sang into my hairbrush thinking I was Elaine Page. So to say I was excited to see Evita – I didn’t think twice about saying yes to reviewing it, I juggled my childcare in order to drive in the beating rain for over an hour into rush hour Manchester – well excited is an understatement.

Evita would be welcomed I’m sure into any theatre never mind one such as the Palace with it’s old school charm of historical façade. The glittering gold paint of bygone years seamed to rub against the story unfurling in front of us, a tale of determination against all odds, of people breaking free from one oppression and poverty into another rule of oppression and poverty and amongst all this we have the ray of sunshine that was “Santa” Evita to the Argentines.

Evita is the work of two of our greatest musical collaborators, Tim Rice (lyrics) and Andrew Lloyd Webber (music), 40 years later it hasn’t dated the songs still fresh and when delivered with such a polished performance that nears perfection for me then you are left with hairs tingling and a big dopey smile from start to finish.

The set is simple yet striking, visually it’s clever picking the most important eye catching pieces in what is essentially a historical story. We see Evita’s coffin, with a huge portrait above, behind which we first see Evita as a heavenly white dressed saintly angel, whilst her people cry and wail, traipsing past her coffin in despair. I wondered as I watched those people in the background paying their respects would a character walk past twice? They must have done but somehow I never noticed.

Mark Howett is the original lighting designer but its Tim Oliver who uses the stage lights to bring life as this tale is unfurling. The characters we are supposed to be concentrating on are hi-light, lit up, whilst those in the background are dull in comparison. This is Latin America and a time where emotions play a huge role in rebuilding a post war world. Reds of different shades help portray a young Eva driven by emotion, wanting so much more from life to escape her poverty. Madalena Alberto is simply divine, beautiful with a voice to match. She sang each song perfectly with an understanding of her character that was totally believable. I know Evita was a huge fashionista, her costumes were superb, that white diamante dress was stunning, I wish I could dress just like Evita. Cristina Hoey during her solo song as the mistress wears a coat that also had me wishing I could find one just like it. Our story teller for the night is Che (Gian Marco Schiaretti) his cheeky face lit up the stage, essentially we the audience know hes there, yet on stage he blends into the background, just another Argentinian. I bet I wasn’t the only lady (or gent) to swoon when he took his shirt off. Each song is an explanation of 1950s Argentina, Evita and hinting slightly at the politics surrounding those times.

Jeremy Secomb is Peron, the army General who rose to be President, to some he was a dictator to others a saviour. But those events are glossed over for this isn’t a story of politics this is the story of Evita. Her support and love for Peron as well as the people of her Argentina shine out. She understood the masses, despised the upper classes, yet longed to belong and be accepted. That understanding and her support pushed Peron to the top, yet we all know as with all coups it is only a matter of time before they fall and the next dictator comes along. Peron is a dynamic character yet as much as Evita supports him, for this story he is her supporting actor. Evita is the ultimate ‘it’ girl, the original and quite possibly hard to beat. If reality TV had been such a thing in 1950’s Argentina then she would’ve been the brightest star of all. She knew her way to the top was a path laid with rocks and stones and she clambered over every one in the form of various singers, actors, directors and finally military men until she found Peron and there was no one higher. She captivated him body and soul in the same way she captivated the masses she adored as much as they adored her.

I found the dancing invigorating and really wanted to climb up on stage, I came away singing and humming as if I was indeed up on stage singing alongside as part of the choir. When the aristocrats turned to look towards us the audience you had the feeling of those masses stood, waiting, cheering for Evita –”Santa” Evita their self proclaimed Saint. There maybe only one Evita but in a musical with so many solo performances its hard to single one out as each and every one is wonderful. One person however deserved her standing ovation, she doesn’t however have her name in the programme which is unfortunate. She is the child who sang her solo piece and delivered it so beautifully, I’m sure her parents were brimming with pride. So I will name all the children in the programme who are students of Stagecoach Chester (my home city – so I can be proud too) Nicole Owen, Charlie Goodwin, Daisy Cooper, John Brocklebank, Olivia Cooper, Rhys Owen, Rebecca Guy, Rory Flynn, Lily Rackham, Oliver Somauroo, Freya Watson and Jack Golding. Well done I guess we’ll be seeing your names in lights in the future.

We left the theatre and I listened to the conversations, all the same, how fantastic, loved Evita, that dress, that voice. One things for sure I will be seeing Evita again and I know I will be as excited the next time as I was this time. By the sounds of it so will a lot of other people – you should too.

53two, Manchester – until 9 December.  Reviewed by Marcus Richardson

5*****

Eight is a Play by Ella Hickson comprised up of eight character who give eight monologues. Each of which gives insight into what people’s lives are like, from Soldiers to teenage boys in France. But there is a catch the audience has to vote on whose story they hear and only 4 stories can be heard a night. As audience members we are not used to this power and as someone who can’t make their mind up it proved to be a way of torturing me as I didn’t get to see the whole body of the show. But then again will anyone, with it being different each night. Fun fact it could go through 40320 shows with each night being different.

Three of the characters I voted for were chosen and I felt sad that my 4th had to sit and watch, yes all the characters were on stage watching and waiting for their moment uncertain if they were going to be chosen. Only when a small light came on the character would they know their fate. First character Jude, one I voted for, a teenage boy sent to France by his father to become a man, played by Simon Hallman. The character falls in love and we are given this quirky way on how a seventeen deals with these urges. I’ve always found that actors can struggle playing the late teen years as teenagers tend to be very unique but Hallman gave this character life and a good flow. The second character was Miles. The other actor who stood out was Charlie Young who played the character of Bobby a Scottish mum who is struggling to make Christmas work. She controlled the room both with humour and with sorrow, she found that fine line between the two and struck the mother-load having this lasting crying one second and laughing the next. The whole cast (well half of the cast) all gave a stellar performance.

This is the second show that the Manchester Actors Platform have been involved in that I have seen as I was not let down by the cast and the company have gone in my good books giving current and relevant material that you enjoy watching and you take unfounded knowledge of social issues home, proving that contemporary material is engaging to watch.

JAMES GRAHAM’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED PLAY QUIZ

TRANSFERS TO THE WEST END

James Graham, theatre’s golden boy, has hit the jack-pot again.

Daily Telegraph

William Village, Playful Productions and Chichester Festival Theatre present

the Chichester Festival Theatre production of

QUIZ

By James Graham

Director: Daniel Evans; Designer: Robert Jones; Lighting Designer: Tim Lutkin

Music and Sound: Ben and Max Ringham; Video Designer: Tim Reid

Movement Director: Naomi Said; Casting Director: Charlotte Sutton CDG

With Labour of Love and Ink currently running in the West End, James Graham achieves a hat trick as his sell-out ‘major coughing hit’, Quiz, transfers to the Noël Coward Theatre. A provocative re-examination of the conviction of Charles Ingram for cheating on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, Quiz ‘highlights the dangerous blending of entertainment, politics and justice today.’ (Sunday Times). Quiz opens on 10 April 2018, with previews from 31 March, and runs for a strictly limited London season until 16 June.

Daniel Evans’ production marks the second London transfer for Chichester Festival Theatre – and the first to the West End – under the tenure of Daniel Evans as Artistic Director and Rachel Tackley as Executive Director.

James Graham commented, “Being given the chance to share Quiz with more people – and with the opportunity to develop and push our gameshow-meets-theatre concept even further – is beyond exciting for all of us.

“I would never have imagined years ago I’d get a chance to put any of my new plays into the West End. So to be able to return so quickly to the Noël Coward – which has been the happiest of homes for Labour of Love – feels surprising, and properly humbling to have the trust, belief, and support in the show from our producers, the amazing Daniel Evans, and the team of actors and creators who help me tell this gobsmacking story of the so-called Coughing Major and the most successful game show of all time.”

Daniel Evans said today, “It’s been an enormous privilege to have presented James Graham’s Quiz as part of our inaugural season at Chichester.  James is an exceptional writer with a knack for examining our recent history through an alternative lens. We’re thrilled to be able to revisit the production for the West End, and share Chichester’s work with a wider audience.”

James Graham’s theatre work includes Labour of Love (Noël Coward Theatre), Ink (Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre – nominated for Best Play at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards), This House (National Theatre – Olivier Award nomination for Best New Play, and Garrick Theatre – Olivier Award nomination for Best Revival), Monster Raving Loony (Theatre Royal Plymouth and Soho Theatre), The Vote (Donmar Warehouse, broadcast live on More4 on election night and nominated for Best Live Event at the BAFTA TV awards), The Angry Brigade (Theatre Royal Plymouth and Paines Plough), the Broadway musical Finding Neverland, written with Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy, Privacy (Donmar Warehouse), The Man (Finborough Theatre and on tour), The Whisky Taster (Bush Theatre) and Tory Boyz (Soho Theatre). As Writer in Residence at the Finborough Theatre his plays include Albert’s Boy, Eden’s Empire and Sons of York. His television writing includes political drama Coalition (Channel 4), Prisoner’s Wives (BBC1) andCaught in a Trap (ITV1). His first feature film X+Y was released in 2015 after being selected at the Toronto International Film Festival and London Film Festival, winner of the Writer’s Guild Award for Best Debut Screenplay. His forthcoming work includes The Culture – A Farce in Two Acts (Hull Truck as part of Hull UK City of Culture 2017), and the film Gypsy Boy.

Artistic Director of Chichester Festival Theatre Daniel Evans directs. His work for the company includes Forty Years On and Fiddler on the Roof. He was previously Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres, where he directed Flowers for Mrs Harris,  Show Boat (also West End), The Effect, Anything Goes (also UK tour), The Sheffield Mysteries, Oliver! (Best Musical Production, WhatsOnStage Awards 2015), This Is My Family (UK Theatre Award for Best Musical Production – also on tour), The Full Monty (UK Theatre Award for Best Touring Production – also national tour and West End), My Fair Lady (Best Musical Production, WhatsOnStage Awards 2014), Macbeth, Othello, Racing Demon as part of The David Hare Season, and An Enemy of the People – the opening production of his inaugural season. He also recently directed American Buffalo in the West End. As an actor, his work for Sheffield Theatres includes Company, The Pride, Cloud Nine and The Tempest. An award-winning actor and director, Evans’ work includes Sunday in the Park with George (Menier Chocolate Factory, Wyndham’s Theatre and Broadway) – a role for which he won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical (his second Olivier Award, the first being for Merrily We Roll Along in 2001) and a Tony Award nomination.  His extensive credits include work with the Donmar Warehouse, RSC, Royal Court Theatre and National Theatre.  Evans is a Fellow of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Quiz is a fictional imagination based on real events which took place in 2001 following an episode ofWho Wants To Be A Millionaire? It is not in any way connected with the makers of the programme or any of the individuals portrayed.

Quiz  LISTINGS

Noël Coward Theatre

St Martin’s Lane, London WC2H 9LX

www.quiztheplay.com 

www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk

Twitter @quiztheplay

Box Office:                         0844 482 5141(no booking fee)

                                             Personal callers Mon-Sat 10am-curtain up (No booking fee)

                                             Telephone Mon-Sat 9am-8pm

31 March – 16 June

Press night: 10 April at 7pm

Performance times:

Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm

Saturday matinees at 2.30pm (from 7 April)

Wednesday matinees at 2.30pm (from 4 April, except 11 April)

Thursday matinee at 2:30pm on 12 April only

Seat Prices

£15, £27.50, £42.50 & £67.50 with £95 Premium (no booking fee when booked via DMT)

Day Seats

A limited number of tickets will be available daily from 10.30am, to be purchased in person, from the Box Office. Maximum 2 tickets per person. Excludes certain performances.

Standing

£15 tickets available on the day once the performance is sold out

Groups – subject to availability.

Groups 8+ at £45 valid Monday – Thursday

Tel for groups: 0844 482 5100 / Tel for schools: 0844 482 5165

Transport & Parking

Tubes: Covent Garden, Leicester Sq, Charing Cross, Tottenham Court Road

Buses: Destination Leicester Sq.14, 19, 24, 29, 38, 176

Parking:  Masterpark

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR

THE 2018 UK TOUR OF

OSCAR WILDE’S

“THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST”

FROM 24 JANUARY 2018

Kerry Ellis will star as Gwendolen, her first non-singing role, in the 2018 UK tour of Oscar Wilde’s THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford, Courtyard Theatre Hereford, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Belfast Grand Opera House, Theatre Royal Bath and Manchester Opera House. Hannah Louise Howell will play Gwendolen at all other venues. They will be joined by Geoff Aymer, Louise Coulthard, Thomas Howes, Peter Sandys-Clarke and Simon Shackleton, playing Chasuble, Cecily, Algernon, Jack and Lane/Merrimanrespectively.

They join the previously announced Gwen Taylor as Lady Bracknell and Susan Penhaligon as Miss Prism. The tour will begin on 24 January at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, ending on 28 April in Eastbourne.

Renowned theatre star and recording artist, Kerry Ellis is best known for originating the role of Meat, in Queen’s We Will Rock You and was the first British actress to play Elphaba in Wicked, for which Kerry won the 2008 What’s on Stage Award for ‘Best Takeover in a Role’. She then played the role at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway for six months, where she won the Broadway.com Audience Award for ‘Favourite Female Breakthrough Performance’. Her other West End theatre work includes Sara in Murder Ballad at The Arts Theatre, Nancy in Oliver!, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Ellen in Miss Saigon, Fantine in Les Misérables and she took over from Nicole Scherzinger in the role of Grizabella in Cats. Kerry has achieved chart-topping success as a recording artist, releasing four albums and touring the UK and Europe with Brian May of Queen.

Hannah Louise Howell’s theatre credits include The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by Alastair Whatley earlier this year at South Hill Park Arts Centre, Engineers Blue (Brass Works Theatre, Bristol), Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (Ludlow Assembly Rooms), Mermaid (Swan Theatre, Worcester), Much Ado About Nothing (The Regal, Tenbury Wells) and Ghosts (Courtyard Theatre). 

Geoff Aymer most recently appeared in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Young Vic. His other theatre credits include To Kill A Mockingbird(Regents Park Open Air, National Tour, Barbican), The Lightning Child and MacBeth (Shakespeare’s Globe) and Driving Miss Daisy (The Canal Cafe and Frinton Summer Theatre). Geoff’s Television credits include Guerilla (Sky Atlantic and Showtime) and Eastenders (BBC 1).

Louise Coulthard won the Lustrum Award at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe for her play, Cockamamy. Her theatre credits include House and Garden (The Watermill Theatre), The Late Wedding (Theatre Royal Stratford East) and Dreams of Home (Theatre Royal Stratford East).

Thomas Howes is best known for playing William Mason in ITV’s Downton Abbey. He has since appeared as Yashvin in the 2012 film adaptation of Anna Karenina and played Winston Churchill in Murdoch Mysteries (ITV). His theatre credits include Ratty in The Wind in the Willows: The Musical (UK Tour), The Mousetrap (Original UK Tour), The Winslow Boy (Theatre Royal Bath) and The History Boys (National Theatre/ West End).

Peter Sandys-Clarke’s theatre credits include Ronald Storrs in Ross (Chichester Festival Theatre), Peter Gilbert in The Browning Version (Theatre Royal Bath and tour), Gerald in When We Are Married (Garrick Theatre), Jerry in A Daughter’s a Daughter (Trafalgar Studios), Withers in The Letter (Wyndham’s Theatre and tour) and Raleigh in Journey’s End (Playhouse Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre). His TV work includes The Royals (E!), The Crown (Netflix) and Indian Summers (Channel 4).

Simon Shackleton most recently played Professor Christopher Riley in the UK tour of Shadowlands, directed by Alastair Whatley. His other theatre credits include Journey’s End (West End and UK tour), An Ideal Husband (Northampton Repertory Theatre), As You Like It (Bridewell Theatre), Blithe Spirit (Chichester Festival Theatre). Simon has appeared in EastEnders (BBC), Silk (BBC), The Queen (Blast Films), Lewis (ITV) and Torchwood (BBC).

Oscar Wilde’s greatly admired and much loved comedy THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST follows Jack Worthing’s endeavours to marry Algernon’s cousin, the beautiful Gwendolen. But first he must convince the fearsome Lady Bracknell of his respectability. Wilde’s classic play looks at the clash of town and country in a story of romance, identity, perambulators and capacious handbags.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST will be directed by The Original Theatre Company’s Artistic Director, Alastair Whatley, with set and costume designs by Gabriella Slade, sound and music by Giles Thomas and lighting by Alan Valentine. The UK tour is produced by Tom Hackney for The Original Theatre Company.

Website: www.theimportanceofbeingearnest.co.uk

Facebook: TheOriginalTheatre 

Twitter: @OriginalTheatre

2018 TOUR SCHEDULE

24 January – 3 February          Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford                       01483 440000
www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

5 – 10 February                       Courtyard Theatre, Hereford                     01432 340555

                                                 www.courtyard.org.uk                                     

13 – 17 February                     Theatre Royal Plymouth                            01752 267222

                                                 www.theatreroyal.com                                     

20 – 24 February                      Belfast Grand Opera House                       028 9024 1919                                                                                                                        goh.org.uk                                                      

27 February – 3 March            Bath Theatre Royal                                      01225 448844

                                                www.theatreroyal.org.uk                                 

5 – 10 March                           Theatre Royal Winchester                            01962 840440

                                                www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk                  

13 – 17 March                         Manchester Opera House                             0844 871 3018

                                                www.atgtickets.com/manchester                     

20 – 24 March                         Salisbury Playhouse                                      01722 320333                                                                                                                    www.salisburyplayhouse.com                         

27 – 31 March                          Lichfield Garrick Theatre                             01543 412121

                                                 www.lichfieldgarrick.com                                

3 – 7 April                                Churchill Theatre, Bromley                           020 3285 6000                                                                                                                    www.churchilltheatre.co.uk                             

9 – 14 April                              Cambridge Arts Theatre                                01223 503333

                                                www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

17 – 21 April                            York Theatre Royal                                        01904 623568                                                                                                                       www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk                            On sale soon

24 – 28 April                            Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne        01323 412000
www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk        

Worklight Theatre presents
Monster
UK Tour: Friday 12th January – Thursday 22nd March 2018

This is a story about a girl. And a boy. Some of it’s true. And some if it isn’t. And I’m not going to tell you which.

Following a highly successful run at Edinburgh Fringe 2017, Joe Sellman-Leava’s highly acclaimed one man show Monster embarks on an exciting UK tour in 2018. Monster is a dark but humorous exploration of gender and masculinity – with intimate storytelling at its heart, Monster looks at a young man’s struggle to make sense of love and anger.

With its examination of male attitudes towards women, and male role models celebrated in society, the play has gained new relevance since its Edinburgh debut in the wake of recent sexual assault allegations against a string of celebrities. Monster importantly sheds light on our perceptions of gender, violence and aggression

Experimenting with form, Joe Sellman-Leava’s performance includes a play within a play, and a narrative split across multiple characters and timelines converging at the play’s climax. Playing with the very premise of presentation and performance, the play features the words and personas of known figures including Mike Tyson and Patrick Stewart.

Brimming with earnest, intelligent energy and jumping between threads seamlessly, deftly reconstructing scenes, arguments and interviews with nothing but a pair of red steel chairs for a set (★★★★ The Stage).

Sellman-Leava has previously had phenomenal success with Labels, which has been touring nationally and internationally since 2015 and won a Scotsman Fringe First. Monster was critically acclaimed during its Edinburgh Festival Fringe premiere in 2017, and is going to VAULT Festival this January 2018.

Performance Dates
12th – 13th Jan Ustinov Studio, Bath, 8pm
Theatre Royal Bath, Saw Cl, Bath BA1 1ET

Sunday 14th Jan The Tolmen Centre, Falmouth, 7.30pm
Fore St, Constantine, Falmouth TR11 5AA

24th – 28th Jan VAULT Festival, London
Leake St, Lambeth, London SE1 7AD

Thursday 8th Feb The Woodville, Gravesend, 8pm
15A Wrotham Rd, Gravesend DA11 0PA

19th – 22nd March The Bike Shed Theatre, Exeter
163 Fore St, Exeter, EX4 3AT

JIM STEINMAN’S BAT OUT OF HELL – THE MUSICAL

TAKES £350,000 ON FIRST DAY OF ON-SALE

BEATING PREVIOUS BOX OFFICE RECORDS

AT DOMINION THEATRE

Winner of the Evening Standard Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical, Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical has already broken box office records at London’s Dominion Theatre, taking £350,000 on the first day of on-sale.  The musical returns to London’s West End in 2018, with performances at the Dominion Theatre from Monday 2 April.

Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical wowed critics and public alike when it played limited seasons at Manchester Opera House and London Coliseum earlier this year. It currently has audiences rocking out in Toronto, where performances will end on 7 January 2018.

As well as winning the Evening Standard Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical, the show has just been nominated for a phenomenal 8 WhatsOnStage Awards, including Best New Musical.

Andrew Polec, winner of the Joe Allen Best West End Debut in the Stage Debut Awards 2017, and Christina Bennington are in positive negotiations to recreate their roles as the romantic leads, Strat and Raven, at the Dominion Theatre.  Further casting is to be announced.

Bat Out Of Hell became one of the best-selling albums in history, selling over 50 million copies worldwide.  16 years later, Steinman scored again with Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell, which contained the massive hit I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That).

For the stage musical, the legendary and award-winning Jim Steinman has incorporated iconic songs from the Bat Out Of Hell albums, including You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth, Bat Out Of Hell, I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) and Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad, as well as two previously unreleased songs, What Part of My Body Hurts the Most and Not Allowed to Love.

Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical is a romantic adventure about rebellious youth and passionate love, set against the backdrop of a post-cataclysmic city adrift from the mainland.  Strat, the forever young leader of The Lost, has fallen for Raven, daughter of Falco, the tyrannical, ruler of Obsidian.

Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical has book, music and lyrics by Jim Steinman, direction by Jay Scheib, choreography by Emma Portner, with musical supervision and additional arrangements by Michael Reed, set design by Jon Bausor, costume design by Jon Bausor and Meentje Nielsen, video design by Finn Ross, lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe, sound design by Gareth Owen, orchestration by Steve Sidwell, casting by David Grindrod Associates and musical direction by Robert Emery.

Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical is produced by David Sonenberg, Michael Cohl, Randy Lennox & Tony Smith.

Website:  www.BatOutOfHellMusical.com

Twitter & Facebook:  @BatTheMusical

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical

Dominion Theatre

268-269 Tottenham Court Road

London W1T 7AQ

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

*There is no 2.30pm performance on Wednesday 4 April  

Tickets:  from £15

Box Office:  0845 200 7982

Current Booking Period:  2 April – 28 July 2018

Running Time:  2 hours 40 minutes (including interval)