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CASTING AND COMPLETED CREATIVE TEAMS ANNOUNCED FOR
DICKENS UNCOVERED: A TALE OF TWO CITIES AND OLIVER
TWIST CREATED FOR EVERYONE AGED SIX AND OVER

Bringing two of Charles Dickens’s most popular stories out in the open as part of the 2017 season at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre,

 celebrates the greatest storyteller of London life.

Casting and completed creative teams have today been announced for A Tale of Two Cities (7 July – 5 August), a new play by Matthew Dunster adapted from the original novel, and Oliver Twist created for everyone aged six and over (17 July – 5 August) adapted by Anya Reiss especially for families.

“I am delighted that this group of 32 talented performers are coming together to reimagine these two iconic London stories. For those of us who read them alone at home, at school or on the tube, I hope we can reclaim them anew together in the Park. For those who only know them as titles, then let us take you on a trip back to the nineteenth century blockbusters, via 2017. This is Dickens uncovered for everyone.” (Artistic Director, Timothy Sheader)

Director Timothy Sheader has assembled a company of 21 actors to re-tell Dicken’s A Tale of Two Cities: Lydia Bradford, Sean Cernow, Claire-Louise Cordwell, Marième Diouf, Patrick Driver, Nabil Elouahabi, Lorna Gayle, Lewis Griffin, Nicholas Karimi, Nicholas Khan, Andrew Koji, Kevork Malikyan, Francesca Mills, Jude Owusu, Tim Samuels with Aliya Ali, Evie Buxton, Mia Dalley, Foyinsola Ighodalo, Kaitlyn Kou, and Olivea Puci sharing the children’s roles.

Developing their programme of work made especially for families, Caroline Byrne directs Oliver Twist created for everyone aged six and over in daytime performances alongside A Tale of Two Cities. A cast of 8 actors, Robyn Cara, Rina Fatania, Danny-Boy Hatchard, Michael Hodgson, Daniel Hoffmann-Gill, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Shaun Mason and Angela Wynter play multiple roles, with Tia-Lana Chinapyel, Lewis Fernée and Jordan Nash alternating in the title role.

 

Design for both productions is by Fly Davis.

The completed creative teams also include, for A Tale of Two Cities: Liam Steel (Movement Direction), Lee Curran, who received an Olivier Award-nomination for Jesus Christ Superstar (Lighting Design) and Christopher Shutt (Sound Design). For Oliver Twist created for everyone aged six and over, the creative
team includes Lucy Burge (Movement Direction), Joshua Anio Grigg (Sound Design) and Joe Dieffenbacher (Physical Comedy Direction). Casting for both productions is by Polly Jerrold.

The 2017 Open Air Theatre season opens with On The Town, (19 May – 01 Jul) directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie. The cast includes Danny Mac, Fred Haig, Samuel Edwards, Siena Kelly, Lizzy Connolly, Miriam-Teak Lee, Naoko Mori, Mark Heenehan, Rodney Earl Clarke and Maggie Steed. Following A Tale of Two Cities and Oliver Twist created for everyone aged six and over, the 2016 sellout production of Jesus Christ Superstar returns (11 Aug – 23 Sep), directed by Timothy Sheader. The production won the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival and Evening Standard Award for Best Musical, and features Declan Bennett (as Jesus), Evening Standard Award-winner Tyrone Huntley (as Judas), David Thaxton (as Pilate) and Peter Caulfield (as Herod).

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).

Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Rebecca Stafford Productions present
Witness for the Prosecution
By Agatha Christie

BRAND NEW PRODUCTION OF ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ BY AGATHA CHRISTIE TO OPEN ON THE SOUTH BANK THIS AUTUMN

DIRECTED BY LUCY BAILEY IT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE MAGNIFICENT CHAMBER IN LONDON COUNTY HALL

 AUDIENCES WILL BE IN THE HEART OF THE ACTION IN THE SPECTACULAR COURT ROOM SETTING

£10 OFF ALL TICKETS DURING PREVIEWS

Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Rebecca Stafford Productions today announce a major new production of Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution to open on London’s South Bank this October in a unique court room setting inside County Hall.  Lucy Bailey (Comus, The Graduate, Titus Andronicus) will direct this gripping tale of justice, passion and betrayal, with the audience thrillingly placed in the thick of the action in a spectacular location. This will be the first major London production of a play written by Agatha Christie to open since the 1960s.

Witness for the Prosecution will run from 6 October – 11 March with Press Night on 23 October.  The production will be designed by William Dudley, with lighting by Chris Daveyand sound design by Mic Pool.

All tickets during the preview period (6 October – 23 October) will have £10 off.  For the main run, there will be 100 tickets available for every performance at £25 or under.

Leonard Vole is accused of murdering a widow to inherit her wealth. The stakes are high. Will Leonard survive the shocking witness testimony?  Will he be able to convince the jury of his innocence and escape the hangman’s noose?

Witness for the Prosecution was one of Agatha Christie’s favourites of all her works.  In her autobiography, she said: ‘One night at the theatre stands out in my memory especially; the first night of Witness for the Prosecution. I can safely say that that was the only first night I have enjoyed…. It was one of my plays that I like best myself.’

The new production has been developed with the support and involvement of the Christie family. Christie’s Great Grandson and Executive Chair of Agatha Christie Ltd, James Prichard said “It is really exciting to see this innovative approach to one of my great grandmother’s best plays. The amazing setting of County Hall will help raise the production to great heights, and with Lucy Bailey directing it will be a must see theatre event. This show will help demonstrate that Christie’s works are as relevant today as they have ever been, and 21st century London is in for a treat.”

Witness for the Prosecution is part of an exciting new wave of adaptations of Christie’s work on stage and screen that are giving audiences a fresh perspective on her canon. It follows the highly acclaimed BBC One adaptation of the short story which aired last Christmas and starred Toby Jones, Andrea Riseborough and Kim Cattrall, as well as the BBC’s And Then There Were Nonewhich starred Aidan Turner, Charles Dance and Sam Neill. The BBC has commissioned seven new adaptations with the first of these, Ordeal By Innocence going into production this summer. InNovember, 20th Century Fox’s feature film adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express will be released, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh. The all-star cast also includes Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Penelope Cruz, Olivia Colman, Willem Dafoe, Daisy Ridley, Tom Bateman, Derek Jacobi, Josh Gad, Leslie Odom Jr, Sergei Polunin and Lucy Boynton.

 

LISTINGS

Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Rebecca Stafford Productions present
Witness for the Prosecution
By Agatha Christie
Directed by Lucy Bailey
Designed by William Dudley
Lighting Design by Chris Davey
Sound Design by Mic Pool

London County Hall
The Chamber, County Hall, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 7PB
6 October 2017 – 11 March 2018
Press Night 23 October, 7pm
Box Office: 0844 815 7141

Online: www.witnesscountyhall.com

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Until 22 October: Monday to Saturday, 7.30pm and matinees on Thursday and Saturday, 2.30pm

25 October – 11 March: Tuesday to Saturday, 7.30pm and matinees on Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm and Sunday at 3pm

See website for performances 24 December – 9 January

TICKET PRICES
Band A £52.50
Band B £39.50
Band C £25
Band D £10
Premium £75
VIP £95

No booking fees if booked via the official website

Preview Pricing is £10 off all prices above (excluding Band D) up to and including Wednesday 18th October

100 tickets at £25 or under are available for each performance

Our exclusive VIP Jury Ticket will place you in the heart of the courtroom action, with access to a private bar area. Jurors will receive a complimentary programme and 2 complimentary drinks (soft drink, beer or house wine) to be redeemed pre-show or at the interval.

Website: www.witnesscountyhall.com

Twitter: @WitnessPlayLDN

Facebook: /WitnessPlayLDN

ROYAL BALLET FIRST ARTIST

NATHALIE HARRISON

JOINS THE CAST OF

VOICES OF THE AMAZON

AT SADLER’S WELLS THEATRE

Sisters Grimm are delighted that Nathalie Harrison, First Artist at The Royal Ballet will join the cast of VOICES OF THE AMAZON, with kind permission from Kevin O’Hare, Artistic Director of The Royal Ballet. VOICES OF THE AMAZON is receiving its UK premiere at Sadler’s Wells from 4 to 8 July, following sell-out run at the Chekhov International Theatre Festival in Moscow.  The show is directed by Pietra Mello-Pittman, choreographed by Helen Pickett and composed by Ella Spira in collaboration with Brazilian songwriters Danny Nascimento, Dito Martins and Julien Davis and world‐renowned percussionists Olodum. VOICES OF THE AMAZON is narrated by Oscar, Emmy, Golden Globe and Tony Award-winning actor Jeremy Irons.

 

Nathalie has recently returned to The Royal Ballet playing the role of Hermia in Frederick Ashton’sThe Dream, following the birth of her first child. Having trained at The Royal Ballet School, Nathalie joined the Company in 2003 and was promoted to First Artist in 2009. She has created several roles for the Company, including ones in Sensorium and Diana and Actaeon (Metamorphosis: Titian 2012), and, in 2013, completed a course in Ballet Education Practice at the Royal Opera House. Her repertory with The Royal Ballet includes Lady Capulet (Romeo and Juliet), Dulcinea (Don Quixote) and Bathilde (Giselle). Nathalie also appeared in Nicholas Hytner’s 2012 production of Timon of Athens at the National Theatre and provided dance demonstrations for Darcey Bussell’s Ballerina Heroines on BBC2.

 

Darcey Bussell CBE said of VOICES OF THE AMAZON, “Sisters Grimm have fused different dance genres, with a captivating cast from Brazil and London, to create a new show called Voices of the Amazon at Sadler’s Wells. Choreographer Helen Pickett’s foundations are in classical ballet but here she brings together musical theatre, breakdancing, capoeira and live songs, which is truly exciting. The show makes us all think about the importance of accepting differences and protecting our natural world. I highly recommend it.”

 

Nathalie joins the previously announced Michelle Buckley, Liam Burke, Charles Damasio, Stefanos Dimoulas, Kay Elizabeth, Rachel Maybank, Fernanda Muniz, Hicaro Nicolai, Kauê Ribeiro and Leilane Teles, as well as musicians Rob Barron – (Musical Director, Piano & Synths), Adam Kovacs (Percussion 1), Matthew West (Percussion 2), Tina Jacobs (Viola) and Lucy Skinner (Cello).

 

After the run at Sadler’s Wells, VOICES OF THE AMAZON will be part of the line-up for Latitude festival 2017, before the company travels to Singapore to perform at Grand Theatre, Marina Bay Sands from 28 to 30 July.

 

Set amidst the Brazilian rainforest, VOICES OF THE AMAZON follows the story of Beleza; a water spirit from the Amazon, whose search to cure her dying sister takes her on a life-changing journey deep into the rainforest.

 

VOICES OF THE AMAZON features a sensational musical score, containing sounds recorded from the Amazon Rainforest, with music and songs performed in English and Portuguese. Combined with Helen Pickett’s fusion of ballet, contemporary and capoeira, the show aims to highlight the damaging effects of deforestation, the loss of natural medicines and plants, and promises an exhilarating live experience, embracing the true spirit of Brazil.

 

VOICES OF THE AMAZON has lighting design by Ben Cracknell, stage and costume design by Temple Clark and sound design by Adrian Rhodes. WWF, EDEN and Alexander Van Tulleken (CBBC’s Operation Ouch, Channel 4’s How to Lose Weight Well) will provide scientific consultation.

 

VOICES OF THE AMAZON is produced by Sisters Grimm, the creators of the Grammy® Award-nominated show INALA.

 

Website: voicesoftheamazon.co.uk

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/sistersgrimmltd

Twitter: @amazon_voices

Instagram: @voicesoftheamazon

 

Running time: 100 mins (including interval)

UK LISTINGS INFORMATION

4 – 8 July 2017

 

Sadler’s Wells

Rosebery Ave,

London EC1R 4TN

 

Performances: Tuesday – Saturday at 7.30pm and Saturday at 2.30pm

 

Tickets: £12 – £38

Box Office:  020 7863 8000

Website: www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/2017/sisters-grimm-voices-of-the-amazon

THE NATIONAL YOUTH BALLET OF GREAT BRITAIN

ANNOUNCES 30^th ANNIVERSARY SEASON

• The 2017 Season, entitled Time in Motion, incorporates seven ballets in one programme

• Through the Beyond Ballet choreographic programme, new works by three emerging female choreographers will be showcased

• 2017 marks the 30^th Anniversary of The National Youth Ballet of Great Britain

• Performances will take place at the Crescent Theatre, Birmingham on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 August, with a Gala performance at Sadler’s Wells on Sunday 3 September 2017

For its 30th Anniversary Season, The National Youth Ballet of Great Britain (“The NYB”) will present Time in Motion, a mixed programme of ballets choreographed by some of the UKs most eminent professionals and rising talents, performed by a company of young dancers aged 8-18 from across the UK.

Time in Motion will encompass seven short ballets that together will make a compelling journey through time. Highlights include Scottish Ballet Artistic Director Christopher Hampson’s abstract ballet Carnival set to Saint-Saëns’s humorous score; Birmingham Royal Ballet soloist Jonathan Payn’s classical work IKENinspired by the Suffolk landscape; a new narrative work by New Adventures Associate Director Etta Murfittinspired by the Dream Ballet from Oklahoma; and Aspirations, a piece by English National Ballet School’s Director of Dance Samira Saidi.

The Beyond Ballet platform also returns, offering emerging choreographers the opportunity to devise, develop and showcase new works at professional level. This year three female choreographers will create new works. Birmingham Royal Ballet First Artist and choreographer Ruth Brill will present a new work with music by Raymond Fol; Rambert graduate Arielle Smith will present a bold new contemporary piece T-Symmetry, and Louise Bennet will create a new work for the Junior Company set to the wonderful Coppelia score by Leo Delibes.  Beyond Ballet also offers training opportunities in other areas of the industry, with several students this year developing skills as rehearsal directors, projection designers and theatre administrators.

The NYB is also delighted to announce that Patron David Bintley CBE will be the guest Judge for the in-house choreographic competition which will take place at Summer School.  The winning piece will be showcased within the Time in Motion Season.

The 30^th Anniversary Season is led by Mikah Smillie, who last year was appointed as the new Artistic Director of The NYB.  Under her dynamic leadership, The NYB continues to provide a unique opportunity for young performers to perform both newly commissioned works and celebrated masterpieces by the dance industry’s top choreographers.  With a commitment to broadening the reach of the company across the UK, this year NYB held auditions in Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester as well as London. Masterclasses also took place alongside auditions, taught by some of NYB’s professional ambassadors and alumni including Jonathan Payn, Erina Takashashi, James Street and Carrie Johnson.

 

Mikah Smillie said today: “The 2017 NYB Season has seen many exciting new opportunities for the company, in the first steps of our new initiatives to bring NYB to an even greater audience of young dancers.  The excitement created by working professionals, emerging artists and young dance students creating and being inspired by each other is so incredibly exciting.  It not only provides our young dancers with a snapshot into how company life works but it also develops important learning skills, creative partnerships and most importantly, lifelong friendships which are at the beating heart of every dancer’s life.  The team at The NYB look forward to nurturing and developing these alliances, providing performance opportunities for a greater number of young people across the whole of Great Britain.”

The NYB involves talented young dancers aged 8 to 18 in every aspect of creating a ballet, giving them the opportunity to perform on a professional stage at a professional level.  The Company also encourages children from all walks of life to become involved with dance through schools and community workshops.  The NYB utilises the skills of students in associated arts and encourages the talents of young designers, costumiers, musicians and student teachers in the preparation and production of all their work.  Through the Beyond Ballet platform, the Company also nurtures young choreographic talent, supporting young choreographers in devising and showcasing their own works at professional level.  This year 105 dancers from across the country were offered places with the Company, and will perform in the 30^th Anniversary season.

 

Notable NYB alumni include Drew McOnie (choreographer), Sir Gregory Dean (Principal at Royal Danish Ballet), Jessica Brown Findlay (Actress, Downton Abbey) and Tyrone Singleton (Principal at Birmingham Royal Ballet), as well as many alumni working for leading companies including Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures. Patrons include Carlos Acosta, Sir Matthew Bourne, Darcey Bussell, Joanna Lumley, Dame Monica Mason, Wayne Sleep and Sir Peter Wright.

 

 

www.NationalYouthBallet.org

Twitter.com/NYBofGB

Facebook.com/NationalYouthBallet

Instagram.com/NationalYouthBallet

 

 

LISTINGS

 

Friday 25 – Saturday 26 August 2017

THE CRESCENT THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM

Sheepcote Street, Birmingham, B16 8AE

Performances: 2.30pm and 7.30pm

Tickets Adult: £20, Under 16s:  £18

Box Office: 0121 643 5858 / crescent-theatre.co.uk

Sunday 3 September 2017

SADLER’S WELLS

Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4TN

Performance: 7.30pm

Tickets £32 – £55, Students:  £10

Box Office: 020 7863 8000 / sadlerswells.com

Tickets on sale end of June 2017.

NEW ADVENTURES

ANNOUNCE THE TOUR DATES FOR

OPENS SATURDAY 9 DECEMBER 2017

AT SADLER’S WELLS

New Adventures are delighted to announce the tour dates for the much-anticipated return of Matthew Bourne’s “CINDERELLA”. The tour opens on Saturday 9 December 2017 at Sadler’s Wells where it plays a seven-week season until Saturday 27 January 2018.  Press performances are Sunday 17 December at 2.00pm and 7.00pm. Full tour schedule below. www.new-adventures.net.  Full casting to be announced shortly.

One of New Adventures’ most loved productions Matthew Bourne’s “CINDERELLA” is a thrilling and evocative love story, set in London during the Second World War.

Matthew Bourne’s interpretation of the classic fairy tale has, at its heart, a true war-time romance. A chance meeting results in a magical night for Cinderella and her dashing young RAF pilot, together just long enough to fall in love before being parted by the horrors of the Blitz.

With Lez Brotherston’s sumptuous costumes and sets, which won an Olivier Award for his original designs, and lighting by Olivier Award-winning Neil Austin, “CINDERELLA” will be performed in Surround Sound, designed by Paul Groothuis and featuring a specially commissioned recording played by a 60-piece orchestra.  Matthew Bourne’s vivid story telling has never been more heart-stopping and touching, and will take the audience into the heart of Prokofiev’s magnificent score, and the sights and sounds of war-torn London.

2017 marks 20 years since “CINDERELLA” first premiered in the West End and New Adventures’ 16^th consecutive Christmas season at Sadler’s Wells. “CINDERELLA” concludes a year-long celebration of work to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of New Adventures.

 

New Adventures & Re:Bourne is a national portfolio organisation supported using public funds by Arts Council England.

 

For more information please visit: www.new-adventures.net

Facebook /MBNewAdventures    Twitter @New_Adventures     Instagram @MBNewAdventures

 

Matthew Bourne’s “CINDERELLA” Tour Dates 2017-2018

 

SATURDAY 9 DECEMBER 2017 – SATURDAY 27 JANUARY 2018

SADLER’S WELLS, LONDON – www.sadlerswells.com

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 30 JANUARY – SATURDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2018

THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH – www.theatreroyal.com

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 6 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2018

BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME – www.birminghamhippodrome.com

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 13 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2018

MILTON KEYNES THEATRE – www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 27 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 3 MARCH 2018

THEATRE ROYAL NORWICH – www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

ON SALE SOON

TUESDAY 6 MARCH – SATURDAY 10 MARCH 2018

THEATRE ROYAL NOTTINGHAM – www.trch.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 13 MARCH – SATURDAY 17 MARCH 2018

THE LOWRY, SALFORD – www.thelowry.com

ON SALE SOON

TUESDAY 20 MARCH – SATURDAY 24 MARCH 2018

BRISTOL HIPPODROME – www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 27 MARCH – SATURDAY 31 MARCH 2018

MAYFLOWER THEATRE, SOUTHAMPTON – www.mayflower.org.uk

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 3 APRIL – SATURDAY 7 APRIL 2018

WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE, CARDIFF – www.wmc.org.uk

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 10 APRIL – SATURDAY 14 APRIL 2018

LIVERPOOL EMPIRE – www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 17 APRIL – SATURDAY 28 APRIL 2018

THEATRE ROYAL NEWCASTLE – www.theatreroyal.co.uk

ON SALE SOON

TUESDAY 1 MAY – SATURDAY 5 MAY 2018

NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE – www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 8 MAY – SATURDAY 12 MAY 2018

THE ALHAMBRA, BRADFORD – www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 15 MAY – SATURDAY 20 MAY 2018

LYCEUM THEATRE, SHEFFIELD – www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

ON SALE SOON

TUESDAY 22 MAY – SATURDAY 26 MAY 2018

MARLOWE THEATRE, CANTERBURY – www.marlowetheatre.com

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 5 JUNE – SATURDAY 9 JUNE 2018

FESTIVAL THEATRE EDINBURGH – www.edtheatres.com

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 12 JUNE – SATURDAY 16 JUNE 2018

KING’S THEATRE GLASGOW – www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 19 JUNE – SATURDAY 22 JUNE 2018

NEW VICTORIA THEATRE, WOKING – www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre

ON SALE NOW

 

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR TAKE THAT MUSICAL, THE BAND

 

The Band, a new musical featuring the music of Take That, and due to run at Leeds Grand Theatre from Tuesday 20th March to Saturday 31 March 2018, announces full cast line-up.

Joining previously announced AJ Bentley, Nick Carsberg, Curtis T Johns (Leeds-born), Yazdan Qafouri and Sario Solomon, collectively known as 5 to 5, winners of BBC’s Let it Shine, who will play The Band, will be a host of leading actors from TV and the West End, including Katy Clayton who appeared in Casualty,Shameless and Waterloo Road and played series regular Samantha Booth in Where the Heart Is, and Alison Fitzjohn who has just finished as Assistant Director and performer in David Walliams’s tour of Gangsta Granny.

Written by Olivier Award winner, Tim Firth, and produced by David Pugh, Dafydd Rogers and Take That’s Gary Barlow, who recently collaborated on the hit musical The Girls, The Band is a new musical about what it’s like to grow up with a boy band.  For five 16-year-old friends in 1992, ‘The Band’ is everything.  25 years on, the now 40-something women, are reunited as they try once more to fulfil their dream of meeting their heroes. Fellow Take That members Howard Donald, Mark Owen and ex-member Robbie Williams will also produce.

 

The Band is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Tuesday 20th March to Saturday 31 March 2018

 

Tickets are priced from £19.50 (RV) to £49.50

(prices include a £3 booking fee. Postage charge £1 where applicable)

 

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

An Evening Of Mediumship

Saturday 24 June

19.00

 

Our medium for the evening is Ellis Fagan a traditionally trained and fledged medium from the Elite Spiritualist Christian Church in Middlesbrough. With experience of physical mediumship, rostrum work and open circles he has never failed to pass the loving messages that are waiting for his participants.

It’s definitely worth the visit.

 

Tickets £5 available from http://www.majestic-tickets.co.uk/

 

Majestic Theatre

Bondgate

Darlington

DL3 7JT

United Kingdom

Disney Pub Quiz (Fundraiser For Wheelchair Access)

at The Majestic Darlington

Friday 23 June

 

How much do you really know about your favourite Disney movies? We are raising money for our access fund via lots of events so please come along and support us in your mission to make the arts accessible for all!

The fabulous sister duo Meg & Gillian Campbell will be hosting the quiz and keeping the whole evening running smoothly… like a magic carpet ride 😉

Get your team booked in now as this is a strictly registration only event!

Doors open at 6.30pm quiz starts at 8.30pm

Just £1 per person

Register your team here http://www.majestic-tickets.co.uk/

Majestic Theatre

Bondgate

Darlington

DL3 7JT

 Drayton Arms Theatre 13 June – 8 July.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

Exchange Theatre’s production of Molière’s The Misanthrope swaps the salons of 17th century France for a modern-day TV newsroom. Presenter Alceste (director David Furlong), sick of the hypocrisy he sees around him, vows to tell the brutal truth to those around him, much to the horror of his colleague Philinte (Simeon Oakes). This leads to a quarrel with the egotistical and untalented poet Oronte (Palmyre Ligué) which ends up in court. Meanwhile his lover and star presenter Celimene (Anoushka Ravanshad) is enjoying her youth, and toys with most of the men around her.

Setting the play in the world of media, with characters sharing gossip on social media and clips of Trump, Le Pen and Farage spouting soundbites onscreen, works well, with radio panel shows and late-night chat shows replacing the gossipy salons of the original and showing that society hasn’t really moved on. There is no attempt to modernise the courtly language, making the characters feel deeply rooted in the past, however modern their surroundings and media savviness. The game cast do well with the sometimes-clunky dialogue, and give committed and energetic performances. The production starts promisingly, with some fun audience interaction, but it soon becomes clear that the rhythmic delivery of lines in the initial argument isn’t a one-off for comic effect, but continues throughout the play. The stressing of EVERY rhyming word wears thin very quickly, and in some scenes the dumpty dumpty dumpty DUM, dumpty, dumpty, dumpty DUM is almost soporific. The play runs alternately in French and English, so perhaps in French this rhythm might work?

There are a lot of sequences that could be cut to shorten the running time – an interminably long scene where the newsroom staff move around to 9 to 5 being a prime option. Making the sycophantic courtiers coke snorting reporters works well until they begin inexplicably bellowing at each other in a particularly ill-judged scene. Oronte as a media whore wannabe rapper is a fine idea, with some great comedy coming from Ligué’s over the top armography, but this doesn’t carry through to the second act, with each character’s reaction to revelations of Celimene’s feelings muted and token. Unfortunately, the play runs out of steam completely in the second act, saved only by the final musical number, which makes more emotional impact than the previous 40 minutes.

A brave but flawed attempt at modern Molière, which somehow feels more traditional than period productions.

MISS SAIGON tells the story of the last days of the Vietnam War, 17 year-old Kim is forced to work in a Saigon bar run by a notorious character known as the Engineer. There she meets and falls in love with an American GI named Chris but they are torn apart by the fall of Saigon. For 3 years Kim goes on an epic journey of survival to find her way back to Chris, who has no idea he’s fathered a son.

The tour opens at Curve Leicester on 1 July 2017 www.miss-saigon.com

MISS SAIGON UK TOUR 2017/2018 www.miss-saigon.com

MONDAY 3 JULY – SATURDAY 22 JULY 2017

CURVE, LEICESTER www.curveonline.co.uk – 0116 242 3595

ON SALE NOW

WEDNESDAY 26 JULY – SATURDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2017

BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME www.birminghamhippodrome.com – 0844 338 5000

ON SALE NOW

WEDNESDAY 4 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2017

BORD GAIS ENERGY THEATRE, DUBLIN www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie – +353 (1) 677 7999

ON SALE NOW

WEDNESDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2017 – SATURDAY 6 JANUARY 2018

WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE, CARDIFF www.wmc.org.uk – 029 2063 6464

ON SALE NOW

WEDNESDAY 17 JANUARY – SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2018

FESTIVAL THEATRE EDINBURGH www.edtheatres.com – 01315296000

ON SALE NOW

WEDNESDAY 21 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 17 MARCH 2018

MAYFLOWER THEATRE, SOUTHAMPTON www.mayflower.org.uk – 02380 711811

ON SALE NOW

WEDNESDAY 21 MARCH – SATURDAY 12 MAY 2018

MANCHESTER PALACE THEATRE

www.atgtickets.com/venues/palace-theatre-manchester – 0844 871 3019

ON SALE 18 MAY 2017