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YOUNG ‘EMERGING COMPANY’ COMPLETE THE CAST OF

EUROPEAN PREMIERE OF

WORKING

A MUSICAL

AT SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE

Completing the cast of the European Premiere of WORKING at Southwark Playhouse are six young performers all making their professional debuts. Patrick Coulter (Bird College of Dance), Nicola Espallardo (Guildford School of Acting), Izuka Hoyle, Luke Latchman, Huon Mackley (all Arts Educational Schools, London) and Kerri Norville (Bird College of Dance) will join the previously announced Gillian Bevan, Dean Chisnall, Krysten Cummings, Siubhan Harrison, Peter Polycarpou and Liam Tamne.

WORKING opens on 7 June 2017, with previews from 2 June, for a strictly limited season ending 8 July 2017, and is directed by Luke Sheppard.

The musical’s creative team has auditioned over 130 drama school students and aspiring young performers, discovering some of the most exciting upcoming musical theatre talent. With the support of Arts Council England and Unity Theatre Trust, the production will also host workshops for young people in Southwark and Lambeth interested in entering the theatre profession.

Luke Sheppard said of the new company members, “I’m thrilled we are able to welcome these graduates to our company. They are integral to the vision of our production. I hope that this opportunity reflects a fundamental theme of the piece: a new generation asking questions of those who have trod the career path that lies ahead, holding a mirror up to the changing landscape of employment.”

Producer Ramin Sabi said, “We are so grateful to Arts Council England for supporting our endeavour to provide professional opportunities to young people who face so many challenges when entering the world of work. Their grant has helped us to include these actors on the same equal footing as the whole cast and creative team, in accordance with our company’s commitment to Equity’s Professionally Made Professionally Paid campaign.”

WORKING is the extraordinary genre-defining musical from Grammy and Academy Award-winner Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell) based on Studs Terkel’s best-selling book of interviews with the American workforce: Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do. The show has been adapted by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, the creators of Godspell and Rags, with additional contributions by Gordon Greenberg.

This highly original and universal portrait of the American workday is told from the perspective of those that the world so often overlooks – the schoolteacher, the housewife, the fireman and the waitress, amongst many – whose daily grind and aspirations reflect the truths of the people that make up a nation. WORKING employs a range of musical styles and genres from contributing composers, including five-time Grammy Award-winner James Taylor and Pulitzer Prize-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, In The Heights), as well as Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Mary Rodgers & Susan Birkenhead.

WORKING first opened on Broadway in 1978, under the direction of Stephen Schwartz, with a cast including Patti LuPone, Bob Gunton, Joe Mantegna, David Patrick Kelly and Rex Everhart. The show has since undergone several revisions, with additional songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda being introduced in 2009. WORKING was last performed off-Broadway in December 2012, under the direction of Gordon Greenberg (Holiday Inn, Guys and Dolls, Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris).

WORKING will have Choreography by Fabian Aloise, Set Design by Jean Chan, Costume Design by Gabriella Slade, Lighting Design by Nic Farman and Sound Design by Tom Marshall, with Musical Supervision by Alex Parker, Musical Direction by Isaac McCullough and Casting by Will Burton CDG.

The new production at Southwark Playhouse is performed by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) Limited.

WORKING is produced by Jack Maple, Ramin Sabi, Christopher Ketner, & D.E.M. Productions.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

2 June – 8 July

Southwark Playhouse

77-85 Newington Causeway

London SE1 6BD

Performance Times:

Monday – Friday 7.30pm

Saturday 3.00pm & 7.30pm

N.B Tuesday 4 July – Additional matinee at 3pm

Tickets: £25 and £20 concessions (from £14 during previews)

Box Office: 020 7407 0234

Website: southwarkplayhouse.co.uk / www.workingthemusical.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SouthwarkPlayhouse

Twitter: @WorkingMusical

MEI Theatrical in association with Polka Theatre

Presents

SARAH & DUCK’S BIG TOP BIRTHDAY

The BAFTA-winning CBeebies duo live on stage at Edinburgh Fringe 2017

At the Underbelly Med Quad from Wednesday 2 to Sunday 20 August

The enchanting world of CBeebies’ hit animated series Sarah & Duck will be brought to life on stage at the Edinburgh Fringe this Summer.

Featuring a host of wonderful characters from the BAFTA Award-winning show, embarking on a brand new adventure, Sarah & Duck’s Big Top Birthday will play at the Underbelly Med Quad from Wednesday 2 to Sunday 20 August. The production first premiered at London’s Polka Theatre in April.

Join Sarah and Duck, along with all their favourite friends including The Ribbon Sisters, The Shallots, John and Flamingo and Umbrella, as they plan a circus-themed birthday party for Scarf Lady in their garden. But when the weather turns windy and the big top is blown away, will Sarah and Duck be able to save the day? Told through a fantastic blend of inventive puppetry, charming storytelling and toe-tapping music, Sarah & Duck’s Big Top Birthday will take families and children on a magical theatrical adventure.

Sarah & Duck’s Big Top Birthday features all the familiar voices from the CBeebies series, includingRoger Allam as the Narrator and Lesley Nicol as Scarf Lady.

Following the gentle adventures of a wide-eyed, 7-year-old girl and her feathered best friend, Sarah & Duck has been a huge hit since its debut in 2013, winning a BAFTA for ‘Best Pre-School Animation’ in 2014 and regularly appearing in CBeebies’ Top Ten programmes for viewers aged 4-15. Now in its third series, it is shown in over 100 counties around the world.

Sarah & Duck’s Big Top Birthday is written by Polka Theatre’s artistic director Peter Glanville andSarah & Duck co-creator Sarah Gomes Harris. It is directed by Roman Stefanski with set and puppet design by Laura McEwen. It is presented by MEI Theatrical in association with Polka Theatre. Sarah & Duck is a Karrot Entertainment production for CBeebies UK and BBC Worldwide.

Recommended for children aged 2-6.

Durration: 55 minutes

★★★★

“Youngsters will delight in the visual spectacle”

OK! Magazine

“Kids’ll go quackers”

Daily Mirror

Website: www.sarahandducklive.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/sarahandduck

Twitter: @Sarah_and_Duck

 

 

LISTINGS

 

Dates: Wednesday 2 – Sunday 20 August 2017

Venue: THE COW BARN at UNDERBELLY MED QUAD

Address: Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG

Performances: Daily at 11.10am (except 14 Aug)

Tickets: Previews (2-4 Aug) £8, Regular £11/£12, Conc £9.50/£10.50

Box Office: www.underbellyedinburgh.co.uk / 03333 444 167

PRODUCTION IMAGES RELEASED FOR RACING DEMON AT THEATRE ROYAL BATH

• PRODUCTION IMAGES RELEASED FOR RACING DEMON BY DAVID HARE, DIRECTED BY JONATHAN CHURCH
• THE PRODUCTION WILL STAR OLIVIER AWARD WINNER DAVID HAIG
• RACING DEMON WILL RUN AT THEATRE ROYAL BATH UNTIL SATURDAY 8 JULY

 

Production images have today been released for David Hare’s Racing Demon, directed byJonathan Church, which plays at Theatre Royal Bath until Saturday 8 July, with opening night this evening.

Olivier Award-winner David Haig will star as Lionel Espy in the multi-award winning play. He will be joined by Sam Alexander, Michelle Bonnard, Anthony Calf, William Chubb, Paapa Essiedu, Andrew Fraser, Ian Gelder, Rebecca Night, Amanda Root and Ashley Russell.

Four clergymen seek to make sense of their mission in inner-city London whilst facing their own personal crises. There’s Lionel Espy, a cleric whose faith is wavering as his parishioners dwindle; tabloid-hounded gay vicar Harry Henderson; ‘Streaky’ Bacon, a genial reverend with a taste for tequila, and a charismatic young curate, Tony Ferris whose arrival is set to fan the flames, whilst his sexual relationship with his lover turns to ash. The day of judgement is at hand for all.

Racing Demon is the first production in Jonathan Church’s inaugural season as Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Bath’s annual Summer Season. The programme of five plays will also include Sand in the Sandwiches by Hugh Whitemore from Tuesday 11 July – Saturday 15 July, the UK Premiere of Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest from Friday 21 July – Saturday 12 August, Looking at Lucian by Alan Franks from Thursday 3 August – Saturday 2 September and Alan Bennett’s The Lady in the Van from Wednesday 16 August – Saturday 2 September.

David Haig (Lionel Espy) has previously performed at Theatre Royal Bath in The Madness of George III and King Lear. Other recent theatre credits include Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Old Vic), Blue/Orange (Young Vic), Guys & Dolls (Savoy Theatre) and Our Country’s Good(Royal Court), for which he won the Olivier Award. Notable film and television credits includeFour Weddings and a Funeral, Witness for the Prosecution, The Thick of It and Mo.

Jonathan Church succeeds Peter Hall as Artistic Director, who established the Theatre Royal Bath Summer Season in 2003 with his company’s annual residencies. Church was previously Artistic Director of Chichester Festival Theatre, overseeing over 100 productions including Taken at Midnight, ENRON, Macbeth with Sir Patrick Stewart, Sweeney Todd and Gypsy. Following his departure from Chichester Festival Theatre, Jonathan Church set up his own independent production company, which he will continue to lead alongside his new position at Theatre Royal Bath.

David Hare is one of the UK’s foremost playwrights and screenwriters with plays including The Judas Kiss, Skylight, Amy’s View and Plenty. He received Academy Award nominations for his adaptations of The Hours and The Reader.

REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE ANNOUNCE

COMPLETED CASTING

FOR TIM RICE AND ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

 

• Already announced: Declan Bennett, David Thaxton, Peter Caulfield and Evening Standard Award-winner Tyrone Huntley reprise their roles of Jesus, Pilate, Herod and Judas
• Maimuna Memon takes the role of Mary
• Phillip Browne plays Caiaphas with Sean Kingsley reprising his performance as Annas
• Tim Newman plays Simon Zealotes with Phil King reprising his performance as Peter

 

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has today announced completed casting for Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar, which returns to the theatre from 11 August in an extended run through to 23 September 2017. Already announced are Declan Bennett, Tyrone Huntley (who won the Evening Standard Emerging Talent Award for his performance in 2016), David Thaxton and Peter Caulfield, who reprise their roles of Jesus, Judas, Pilate and Herod. The 2016 production won the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival and Evening Standard Award for Best Musical.

Maimuna Memon takes the role of Mary. Previous credits include Winnie and Wilbur (Birmingham Rep), Lazarus (King’s Cross Theatre), The Busker’s Opera (Park Theatre) and Into The Woods (Royal Exchange Manchester).

 

Phillip Browne and Sean Kingsley play Caiaphas and Annas. Phillip’s previous credits include Ain’t Misbehaving (Sheffield Crucible), Anything Goes (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Piaf (Donmar) and Ragtime (Piccadilly), and he also appeared in the 2012 film Batman, The Dark Knight Rises. Sean, who recently appeared in The Grinning Man (Bristol Old Vic), reprises his 2016 performance as Annas. His previous credits include Jersey Boys (UK Tour), We Will Rock You (European Tour), Little Shop of Horrors (Birmingham Rep) and Mamma Mia! (International Tour).

 

Tim Newman and Phil King play Simon Zealotes and Peter. Tim’s credits include Memphis (Shaftesbury), Mamma Mia! (International Tour), Grease (Piccadilly), Footloose (Novello) and All The Fun of the Fair(Garrick/UK Tour) for which he received a WhatsOnStage Award nomination. Phil, who reprises his performance as Peter, composed the music for, and appeared in, To Kill a Mockingbird at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. His previous credits also include Jane Eyre (Bristol Old Vic/National) and, as a musician, he plays festivals and fayres across the UK, as well as Paris, Berlin, Barcelona and New York.

 

Previous cast members returning to the production are Josh Dever, Rhys Whitfield, Charlotte Riby and Sinead Long. They are joined by Mark Dugdale, Ivan De Freitas, Stevie Hutchinson, Javar Parker, Nuno Queimado, Cleve September, Tinovimbanashe Sibanda, Kirstie Skivington, Christopher Tendai, Tara Young, and Dale White. The Soul Girls are played by Kayleigh McKnight, Lauran Rae and Nicholle Cherrie.

 

With direction by Timothy Sheader, design by Tom Scutt, choreography by Drew McOnie, musical supervision by Tom Deering, lighting design by Lee Curran and sound design by Nick Lidster for Autograph, Jesus Christ Superstar was a sell-out in 2016 and, in addition the Olivier and Evening Standard Award-wins, also received a further five Olivier Award nominations, for Best Theatre Choreography, Best Lighting, Best Sound, Outstanding Achievement in Music, and Best Actor in a Musical (for Tyrone Huntley).

 

The production opens at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in April 2018.

 

The 2017 Open Air Theatre season also includes On The Town, (until 1 July) directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie. This is followed by Dickens Uncovered celebrating the greatest storyteller of London life, Charles Dickens. Artistic Director Timothy Sheader directs A Tale of Two Cities (7 July – 5 August), a new play by Matthew Dunster adapted from the original Dickens novel and, developing their programme of work made especially for families, Caroline Byrne directs a new play version of Oliver Twist created for everyone aged six and over adapted by Anya Reiss (17 July – 5 August).

 

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre was voted London Theatre of the Year in the Stage Awards 2017, and recently announced a collaboration with English National Opera for their 2018 season, with Timothy Sheader directing Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of the Screw (22 – 30 Jun 2018).

NETWORK OF INDEPENDENT CRITICS ANNOUNCES EDINBURGH 2017 PARTICIPANTS

‘FINE DINING WITH A WELCOME DIFFERENCE’ RESTAURANT BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO LEGENDARY LEEDS VENUE TO OPEN THIS AUGUST

HOME is re-imagining the world of fine dining and opening on Kirkgate later this summer, at a city centre location fondly remembered under a number of guises for more than a century.

 

Elizabeth Cottam, from Leeds – much-praised semi-finalist of last year’s BBC MasterChef – and Mark Owens, former Head Chef at the Michelin-starred The Box Tree in Ilkley, have announced the location for their new restaurant as 16-17 Kirkgate in Leeds city centre. HOME – which describes its approach as ‘fine dining, reimagined’ – will be opening its doors in August, and its offer includes a ten-course tasting menu, featuring an impressive range of seasonal and local ingredients.

The concept and name for HOME is inspired by its creators’ love of fine dining – rooted in a strong sense of heritage and provenance – offered with a welcoming atmosphere. The carefully-chosen 3669 sqft venue for HOME has previously been a dance hall, billiard club, cinema and most recently Darbar restaurant, offering Indian cuisine with a fondly remembered welcome from the street.

16-17 Kirkgate is now being transformed into HOME – a 65 cover restaurant with bar area. An additional exclusive chef’s table experience is also being offered for serious foodies with unique insights into the creation of the dishes, and being served by Elizabeth and Mark throughout the evening. The duo have a vision and commitment to bring something completely new to the world of fine dining and the claims and aspirations for HOME are well-grounded.

Elizabeth Cottam explains: “After MasterChef I knew I wanted more from, and for, the Yorkshire restaurant scene. Encouraged by the judges’ recommendations that I had professional potential I sought out more experience, and met Mark Owens at The Box Tree where we quickly found we had lots in common with our approach – not least our shared passion for great food, and even better service. It really got Mark and I thinking that there could be a place for something else in the Leeds restaurant scene.”

Elizabeth secured a residency at The New Ellington hotel in Leeds city centre last year, working with Mark as a consultant, which achieved a raft of five star reviews for their food. Customers also commented about feeling like they’d been invited to someone’s home for dinner, thanks to the passion with which their dishes were described and the warm welcome they received.

Elizabeth continued: “The HOME name was borne out of our diners’ comments and we are delighted to have found the location for its permanent location on Kirkgate. As someone who is Leeds born and bred, I’m really pleased to have found a place with such a rich heritage, and it’s now a part of the city that has been given a a new lease of life thanks to recent developments like the Victoria centre with John Lewis and other high-end outlets. We are very excited to have secured this venue and that major work has now started to create something unique and really special for Leeds.”

The launch ten course tasting menu for HOME is still under wraps but it is confirmed that all of the menus – three course lunch menus and smaller five course evening menus will also be available – will change every month and all will feature the very best in locally, regionally and nationally-sourced ingredients.

Mark Owens commented: “We’re coming at this with a ‘HOME by name, home by nature’ approach and our monthly-changing menus will be a true celebration of everything Great British produce has to offer. We’ve spent a lot of time working together on our first menus and I know that we’ve found the very best that the country has to offer.”

To register for notifications about when first bookings are being taken for HOME and for further information please go to www.homeleeds.co.uk

Elizabeth Cottam concluded: “HOME is being created through our creative and nurturing approach to all elements of our work: From the design of the restaurant to the bringing together of our team of the very best local talent, and from the sourcing of the very best seasonal produce our country has to offer to the creation of some very special treats and surprises for our diners. HOME is something we are really proud of already and we’re looking forward to opening our doors in August with a really warm welcome.”

 

Debbie Hicks and Jesse Romain in association with Park Theatre present

 

The World Premiere of

THE RETREAT

By Sam Bain

Directed by Kathy Burke

 

At Park Theatre

From Thursday 2 November to Saturday 2 December 2017

 

Park Theatre will host the World Premiere of new comedy drama The Retreat, the first play by BAFTA award-winning writer Sam Bain, directed by Kathy Burke, playing in PARK200 from Thursday 2 November to Saturday 2 December 2017.

 

Luke, a former high-flyer from the City, is sitting in a remote stone hut halfway up a mountain in the Scottish Highlands.  He is on a meditation retreat, searching for the inner peace that so far has eluded him. The trouble is, not only will his mind not settle, but an uninvited guest arrives – his obnoxious older brother, Tony. Is Tony everything that’s wrong with Luke’s old life, or is he the only one who can really see into his soul? And is Luke’s quest for spirituality a way of transforming himself, or is it just another form of addiction? The Retreat is a sharp new comedy drama about a world where we can never escape ourselves, or find ourselves either.

Sam Bain, with Jesse Armstrong, has co-created and co-written nine series of the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show, winning BAFTA, British Comedy, Royal Television Society and Writers Guild of Great Britain Awards. Sam is also co-creator of Channel 4 comedy drama Fresh Meat which ran for four series and won a British Comedy Award. Film writing includes Four Lions, co-written with Chris Morris, which premiered at Sundance and won the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut. Sam’s first solo series Ill Behaviour will premiere on BBC iPlayer before being broadcast on BBC Two this Summer.

 

Kathy Burke is a director, actor and writer, well known for television work including Ab Fab, Harry Enfield and Chums and Gimme Gimme Gimme, for which she won a British Comedy Award. Film work includes Absolutely Fabulous the Movie, Pan, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Nil By Mouth, for which she won Best Actress at Cannes.Work as a theatre director includes Betty (Vaudeville Theatre), Kosher Harry (Royal Court), Out in the Open andBorn Bad (Hampstead Theatre), Blue/Orange (Sheffield Crucible), The God of Hell (Donmar Warehouse), Smaller(Lyric Theatre) and The Quare Fellow and Once a Catholic (Tricycle Theatre).

The Retreat is written by Sam Bain and directed by Kathy Burke. Set and Costume Design is by Paul Wills with Lighting Design by Paul Keogan and Sound Design by John Leonard. It is produced by Debbie Hicks and Jesse Romain in association with Park Theatre.

 

Casting is to be announced.

 

Twitter: @TheRetreatPlay

Facebook: /TheRetreatPlay

 

LISTINGS

Thursday 2 November – Saturday 2 December 2017

PARK THEATRE, PARK200

Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London N4 3JP

Performances:    Tue – Sat Evening 7.30pm; Thu and Sat Matinees 3.00pm

                                Parents & Babies performance 1.00pm Wed 22 Nov

Press Night:         Tuesday 7 November, 7.00pm

Tickets:                 Tue – Thu and Sat Matinees £20.00 – £26.50 (Conc £18.50)

Fri and Sat Evening £25.00 – £29.50 (Conc £22.00)

Previews £18.50. Under 16’s £15

Box Office:            www.parktheatre.co.uk | 020 7870 6876

Recommended for ages 14+

REVIEW: DIRTY DANCING (Sunderland Empire) ★★★

June 28, 2017 

For: West End Wilma 

https://www.westendwilma.com/review-dirty-dancing-sunderland-empire/

I have a confession – I’m not a fan of the film version of Dirty Dancing. But this new musical version on tour is actually quite good. Vibrant, exciting and very sensual, Dirty Dancing positively simmers with sexuality and the audience in Sunderland loved it.

The first act centres on 17-year-old Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman (played by Katie Eccles), on holiday with her sister and parents at Kellermans. Baby is about to learn some major lessons in dancing and life when she meets Johnny Castle (Lewis Griffiths). He’s the resort’s hunky dance instructor who is from the wrong side of the tracks and has never forgotten it. Johnny initiates Baby into rock ‘n’ roll (“dirty dancing” in the eyes of her uber-conservative parents) and other delights of the young and restless as he trains her to take the place of his regular dance partner Penny Johnson (Carli Milner) who has some of the most defined calf muscles ever!) when the latter, who has an illegal termination, can’t participate in the big Sheldrake Hotel Dance.

It takes a brave man to strip down to less than his boxer shorts in front of a Northern crowd but, Griffiths seems happy enough with his bare backside showing on stage and so did the audience. But aside from being a physical spectacle, his portrayal of Johnny Castle is a one of poise, and polished perfection as a dancer. Eccles journey from shy virgin to confident young woman is utterly convincing. There was palpable onstage chemistry between Griffiths and co-star Eccles which no doubt helped.

Lizzy Ottley (Baby’s sister, Lisa) gives a stand-out performance, her hula dancing and off-key singing getting the biggest laugh of the night. Samuel Humphreys pulls off an excellent Neil Kellerman, suitably awkward in his high-waisted pants and starched white shirt, combining hotel management zeal with some inelegant dad dancing.

Some of the more iconic songs are pre recorded — including “Hungry Eyes,” “Hey, Baby!” “Maybe” and “Cry to Me.” Others are played by a live on-stage band under Jo Servi’s superb direction and some, such as “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” are sung by ensemble members Michael Kent as Billy Kostecki and Sophia MacKay as Elizabeth who shine through with their brilliant voices and charismatic performances almost acting like a set of narrators as the show’s vocal leads.

For this musical, the dancing must be, well, dirty, and Gillian Bruce’s choreography does not disappoint. There’s plenty of grinding, sensual stroking and swaying, with some impressive lifts to boot. And some nice effects when Baby and Johnny practice their dance moves on a log in the river, in an expansive grassy field and in a lake.

Roberto Comotti’s set is impressive in its size and versatility, using a rotund to change into many scenes seamlessly.

Of course the end is perfect with Johnny coming back for his love Baby and uttering the immortal lines (along with almost everyone else in the theatre) “No one puts Baby in the corner”.

Dirty Dancing is by no means a ground-breaking piece of a theatre, but it is clearly adored by audiences, who were whooping and clapping throughout (particularly at the iconic lift) and dancing in the aisles at the end. A wonderful party atmosphere and well worth the visit to see this iconic production on stage.

Mayflower, Southampton – until Saturday 8 July 2017.  Reviewed by Karen Millington-Burnet

Well, it wasn’t the film, but Grease in the Mayflower knocked out all the toe tapping tunes we love and launched into a flying start with the on-stage band kicking off with gusto.

What a joy to see Jimmy Osmond back on stage as Teen Angel, though no longer the youngster he once was. He stunned us with his natural humour, empathy with the audience and cracking voice – a star performance as was to expected from such a seasoned campaigner; long may he continue to delight us! He lifted and carried the cast with a slightly miss-cast Tom Parker as Danny who couldn’t quite carry off the Travolta routine – we couldn’t help feeling that Tom Senior and Michael Cortez, who would normally have been understudies, would have made stronger Danny’s.  That said, everyone has to start somewhere and we hope Tom Parker will keep developing.

Danielle Hope’s Sandy made a great partner to Danny and led the girls strongly, lifting Louisa Lytton’s Rizzo to a very strong presence.  Special mention to Callum Evans who made the most of the character, used the full space of the stage and brought the hapless Eugene to life for us.  We did enjoy Ryan Keenan’s Doody and his very able guitar playing.  All in all, a high energy cast with a great feel for complex routines and plenty more potential to offer; well deserving of their standing ovation at the conclusion.

Memorable moments included the transformation of Greased Lightening, the car, from wreck to sparkling glitter ball. Though this was countered by a less than transformative set generally.  As ever we were cheered up with the wonderful Mayflower ice creams at half time!

Slightly worryingly, come the second half, there was a general emptying-out of the seats around us in the Stalls; not quite sure why – the performance didn’t warrant a walk-out in any way.  A slightly disappointing response to the Southampton run which should only get stronger after this first night.  We wish the cast and crew all the best for the next fortnight in town.

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR

2017 NATIONAL TOUR OF

FREDERICK KNOTT’S THRILLER

“WAIT UNTIL DARK”

NATIONAL PRESS NIGHT TUESDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2017

Graeme Brookes and Tim Treloar will play Croker and Roat respectively in Frederick Knott’s thriller, WAIT UNTIL DARK. They join the previously announced Jack Ellis as Mike, Karina Jones as Susy and Oliver Mellor as Sam Henderson. Shannon Rewcroft and Thomas McCarron complete the cast as Gloria and Policeman.

The tour will begin at Devonshire Park Theatre in Eastbourne on 24 August 2017, with a national press night on Tuesday 5 September 2017 in Richmond.

Graeme Brookes has just finished playing Alan in The Original Theatre Company’s production of Invincible in New York City, as part of the Brits Off Broadway festival, and on tour in the UK. Graeme’s other theatre credits include The Tempest (Teatr Modrzejewskiej/Colchester Mercury), A View from the Bridge, The Rivals; A Slight Ache/The Lover, King David – Man of Blood (all Colchester Mercury Theatre) and Transmissions (Birmingham Rep).

Tim Treloar most recently played Teddy in House and Garden at the Watermill Theatre, Newbury. His theatre credits include The Heart Of Robin Hood, Thomas More, Sejanus, Believe What You Will, Back To Methuselah , Richard II , Romeo And Juliet (all for the RSC), Birdsong (UK tour) and Henry V (National Theatre). His television credits include Dark Heart (ITV) and Father Brown, Framed, Casualty, Silent Witness, Doctors, Holby City and The Bench (all BBC).

Set amidst the social turbulence of 1960s London, the play follows the story of Susy, a blind woman who, left alone in her apartment, becomes the victim of an elaborate scam hatched by a group of conmen. Susy is left to fend for herself, and eventually finds a way to turn the tables on the conmen and give them a taste of life in the dark.

Frederick Knott, best known for writing Dial M For Murder, wrote WAIT UNTIL DARK in 1966. Audrey Hepburn starred as Susy in the 1967 film adaptation, for which she was nominated for both the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Actress. The film is often ranked as one of the top 100 scariest films of all time.

WAIT UNTIL DARK will be directed by Alastair Whatley, with designs by David Woodhead, lighting by Chris Withers, sound and music by Giles Thomas, fight coordination by Rc-Annie and casting by Ellie Collyer Bristow. The national tour is produced by Tom Hackney for The Original Theatre Company.

Website: www.originaltheatre.com

Facebook: TheOriginalTheatre 

Twitter: @OriginalTheatre

 

2017 TOUR SCHEDULE

24 August – 2 September        Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne        01323 412000

                                                www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk                         

 

5 – 9 September                      Richmond Theatre                                         0844 871 7651           

                                                www.atgtickets.com/richmond                         

 

12 – 16 September                  Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham                   01242 572573

                                                www.everymantheatre.org.uk                           

 

19 – 23 September                  Cambridge Arts Theatre                                01223 503333

                                                www.cambridgeartstheatre.com                      

 

25 – 30 September                  Salisbury Playhouse                                      01722 320333                                                                                                                 www.salisburyplayhouse.com             

 

3 – 7 October                          Exeter Northcott Theatre                               01392 726 363

                                                www.exeternorthcott.co.uk                               

 

10 – 14 October                       Lichfield Garrick Theatre                              01543 412121

                                                 www.lichfieldgarrick.com                                

 

24 – 28 October                      Malvern Festival Theatre                                01684 892277

                                                www.malvern-theatres.co.uk                           

 

31 October – 4 November       Palace Theatre, Southend                              01702 351135

                                                www.palacetheatresouthend.co.uk                 

 

6 – 11 November                     New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich                        01473 295900

                                                www.wolseytheatre.co.uk                               

 

14 – 18 November                   New Theatre, Cardiff                                       029 2087 8889           

                                                www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk                          

 

21 – 25 November                   York Theatre Royal                                        01904 623568                                                                                                                    www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk                              On sale 17 July

 28 November – 2 December   Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford                            01483 440000
www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk                              On sale 23 July