Home

SHIFTERS, BUSH THEATRE’S SMASH HIT PLAY

BY BENEDICT LOMBE STARRING HEATHER AGYEPONG AND TOSIN COLE DIRECTED BY LYNETTE LINTON TRANSFERS TO THE WEST END THIS SUMMER

●AWARD-WINNING WRITER BENEDICT LOMBE’S HIT PLAY TRANSFERS TO THE WEST END THIS  SUMMER FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED 9 WEEK RUN AT THE DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE FROM 12 AUGUST – 12 OCTOBER 2024.

●HEATHER AGYEPONG AND TOSIN COLE REPRISE THEIR ELECTRIFYING ROLES IN THIS INTOXICATING    AND FIERCE NEW ROMANCE.

● LYNETTE LINTON, BAFTA-NOMINATED AND EVENING STANDARD THEATRE AWARD-WINNER DIRECTS.

●TICKETS FROM £20 GO ON GENERAL SALE FROM 9AM ON THURSDAY 20 JUNE 2024 WITH 50% OF            TICKETS FOR THE FIRST FOUR WEEKS AT £40 OR UNDER.

Eleanor Lloyd Productions, Chuchu Nwagu Productions and Sonia Friedman Productions today announce that the Bush Theatre’s production of Shifters, Benedict Lombe’s intoxicating and fierce new romance will transfer to the West End this summer following a sell-out run at the Bush Theatre earlier this year. 

Heather Agyepong (School Girls; or The African Mean Girls Play, Lyric Hammersmith) and Tosin Cole (Netflix’s Supacell, BBC’s Doctor Who), whose electrifying performances received critical acclaim in the original production, will reprise their roles as young lovers Des and Dre for a strictly limited season of nine weeks at the Duke of York’s Theatre, London directed by BAFTA-nominated and Evening Standard Theatre Award-winner Lynette Linton (Blues for An Alabama Sky, National Theatre; Clyde’s Donmar; August in England, Bush Theatre).

Previews are from Monday 12 August and tickets from £20 go on general sale at 9am on Thursday 20 June 2024, with 50% of tickets for the first four weeks available at £40 or under. Audiences will have the opportunity to experience the production from the intimacy of the stage with on-stage seating for every performance. 

This epic and universal love story is about the enduring power of memory and young love. Meet Dre and Des, they are young, gifted, Black. He stayed. She left. Years later they come crashing back into each other’s lives, carrying new secrets and old scars. Caught in the space between memory and reality, they struggle to navigate the shifting borders that threaten to rewrite their past and reshape their future. 

Shifters’ transfer to the Duke of York’s Theatre, St Martin’s Lane, London marks a ground-breaking moment for Benedict Lombe who follows in the footsteps of Natasha Gordon (Nine Night) and Yasmin Joseph (J’Ouvert) as the third Black British female playwright to have her play staged in the history of the West End. 

Benedict Lombe (Susan Smith Blackburn Prize-winner for Lava, 2022, Bush Theatre) comments: “Shifters’ transfer is a big moment. Our dreamy, tender, unrepentantly romantic show about two lost souls finding a connection that can’t be forgotten was a hit with Bush audiences. Now we get to recreate our magic on a bigger stage! I hope what Shiftersdoes – as well as invite new audiences to fall in love with Des and Dre – is accelerate the pace for the next wave of Black British female playwrights in the West End.”

Director and Artistic Director of the Bush Theatre Lynette Linton said: ”We’re incredibly proud that Shifters is moving from the Bush to the West End – our second transfer this year. At the Bush we’re all about supporting writers to build sustainable careers, and we’ve loved working with Benedict over three commissions. Benedict writes dialogue and romance in a way that no one else can, and it is my privilege to get to direct her words and reunite with Heather and Tosin. We are so excited to tell this story of Black love on such a big platform – I can’t wait for audiences to discover the beauty in this tender, funny and relatable show that is the perfect summer romance.”

Heather Agyepong comments: “Shows written by Black British women or plays centering two dark skin leads often don’t reach West End stages so it really feels like we’re part of a legacy. Our stories in all their nuance and beauty have always mattered but it’s great to be on a bigger platform to allow them to shine a little brighter.”

Tosin Cole adds: “It’s an honour to have Shifters transfer to the West End. I’m really excited for a second chance to tell this amazing story and to work with this group of talented people again.”

Set and Costume Design by Alex Berry, Lighting Design by Neil Austin, Sound Design by Tony Gayle, Composition by Xana, Movement and Intimacy Direction by Shelley Maxwell, Production Dramaturg is Deirdre O’Halloran, Voice Coach is Joel Trill and Casting by Heather Basten CDG.

Shifters was originally commissioned by Bush Theatre, supported by Jerwood Foundation

Social Media handles

@ShiftersPlay

LISTINGS

www.shifterstheplay.co.uk/

Shifters

Written by Benedict Lombe and Directed by Lynette Linton

Duke of York’s Theatre, St Martin’s Lane, London, WC2N 4BG

First Performance 12 August 2024

Final Performance 12 October 2024

Mondays to Saturdays at 7.30pm

From 24th August Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm

Thurs 22nd August at 2.30pm

Box Office: www.atgtickets.com

Group Bookings: 020 7206 1174

Access Bookings: 0333 009 5399

Standard Tickets: From £20

AMY HERZOG’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ADAPTATION OF HENRIK IBSEN’S A DOLL’S HOUSE IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PROFESSIONAL AND AMATEUR LICENSING IN UK AND IRELAND

Concord Theatricals today announces that Amy Herzog’s 2023 Tony Award®-nominated adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House is now available for professional and amateur licensing in the UK and Ireland.

A Doll’s House thrust drama firmly into the modern age when it premiered in 1879. Now, nearly a century-and-a-half later, acclaimed playwright Amy Herzog makes freshly relevant a story that shocked audiences and brought forth a new era of theatre. 

Amy Herzog said today, “At a moment where women’s rights are imperilled at home and abroad, I know Concord Theatricals will shepherd this timeless feminist classic and help Ibsen find a new audience for his masterwork.”

Amy Rose Marsh, Vice President of Acquisitions & Artistic Development at Concord Theatricals said, “Amy’s version of A Doll’s House deftly cuts to the heart of the complexity of Nora’s rich, inner conflict. Her masterful use of language makes this influential work feel urgent and remarkably relatable. I am excited to see many more productions of this powerful adaptation throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland.”

Amy Herzog’s A Doll’s House opened at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre on 9 March 2023. Directed by Jamie Lloyd and starring Academy Award® winner Jessica Chastain as Nora Helmer, the show received six 2023 Tony Award® nominations, including one for Best Revival of a Play. The New York Timeslauded the version as “an astonishing, breathtaking coup,” and Deadline and The Hollywood Reporterdeemed the show “hypnotic” and “daring,” respectfully.

Applications for licensing are now open at www.concordsho.ws/PerformADollsHouseHerzogUK

Len Blavatnik and Danny Cohen for Access Entertainment present the Jermyn Street Theatre production of
FARM HALL

THE BEST-SELLING SHOW IN THE HISTORY OF JERMYN STREET THEATRE TRANSFERS TO

THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET
FOR THIRTY PERFORMANCES ONLY

7 – 31 AUGUST 2024

By Katherine Moar

Directed by Stephen Unwin, Designed by Ceci Calf, Lighting by Ben Ormerod,
Sound by John Leonard, Casting by Ginny Schiller

With Alan Cox, David Yelland, Forbes Masson, Julius D’Silva, Daniel Boyd and Archie Backhouse 

The best-selling show in the history of Jermyn Street Theatre, where it ran in Spring 2023, Farm Hall brings an extraordinary true story to life.

It is Summer 1945: Hitler is dead, but the war in the Pacific rages on. The Allies have detained six of Germany’s leading nuclear scientists – including three Nobel Prize winners – at Farm Hall, a country house just outside Cambridge. They entertain themselves with some redacted newspapers, a broken piano and a copy of Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit. But their tranquil summer is shattered by the news that the Americans have succeeded where the Germans failed. The United States has not only built an atom bomb, but has used one against Japan. Unbeknownst to the scientists, during their stay, every inch of Farm Hall was bugged and their every action recorded. This play is inspired by the true events that took place at Farm Hall between July 1945 and January 1946.

The superb ensemble cast bringing this extraordinary true story to life include David Yelland (The Crown, Chariots of Fire, Poirot), who plays the role ofMax Von Laue; Alan Cox(Say My Name, Mrs Dalloway, Housewife, 49) plays the role of Werner Heisenberg. Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker is played by Daniel Boyd (On Chesil Beach, Tiger House); Forbes Masson(EastEnders, Catastrophe), plays the role of Otto Hahn Julius D’Silva (The Crown, The Ten Commandments),plays the role of Kurt Diebner; Archie Backhouse appears as Erich Bagge. An associate artist with Complicité, his recent stage credits include Strategic Love Play with Paines Plough and The Wonderful World of Dissocia at Stratford East.

Playwright Katherine Moar studied history at the University of Edinburgh and Darwin College, Cambridge. She is currently studying for a PhD at King’s College London. Farm Hall is her first play.

Stephen Unwin is an award-winning British theatre and opera director and has directed more than 50 plays and operas. In 1993, he founded English Touring Theatre, for whom he directed more than 30 productions, many of which transferred to London. He was Artistic Director of the new Rose Theatre in Kingston from 2008 to January 2014. 

QUEEN OF BIRMINGHAM, ALISON HAMMOND TO RETURN FOR A SECOND YEAR IN BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME’S PANTOMIME PETER PAN

Birmingham Hippodrome has today, (Thursday 20 June) announced Birmingham’s very own Alison Hammond will be returning to panto for a second year to play the Magical Mermaid in the high-flying panto adventure, Peter Pan (Sat 21 Dec 2024 – Sun 2 Feb 2025). Alison will be starring alongside Hippodrome favourite Matt Slack, seeing the much-loved pair reunite for another year of panto hijinks and hilarity. Featuring a dazzling set and Olivier-nominated costumes from The London Palladium production, plus a boat load of laughter, Peter Pan will take you on a swashbuckling trip to Neverland like never before!

Adored for her quick wit, big heart and infamous laugh, Alison is one of the UK’s most popular TV presenters, famed for her hilarious celebrity interviews! Alison owns the Friday sofa alongside Dermot O’Leary on ITV’s This Morning, gearing viewers up for the weekend. Alison also co-hosts the ultimate televised baking battle, The Great British Bake Off and The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off for C4, receiving a nomination for the ‘Entertainment Performance’ category in the 2024 RTS Programme Awards with Noel Fielding.As a firm family favourite into the evening schedule, Alison is a Team Captain on Sky TV’s Rob Beckett’s Smart TV and earlier this year Alison was honoured to be able to continue the late, great Paul O’Grady’s legacy and host For the Love of Dogs for Battersea Dogs Home and ITV, a role she is delighted to be chosen for.

Alison Hammond said: “Birmingham…..I’m back! I’m SO excited to return to the Hippodrome this Christmas in Peter Pan as the Magical Mermaid alongside the hilarious Matt Slack. I loved every second of Jack and the Beanstalk last year, we had so much fun, but it went by so fast that I had to come back for another. Birmingham is home to the best audiences, and I can’t wait to see them all in Neverland soon!”

Alison once again joins Matt Slack, who has established himself as one of the country’s leading pantomime comics, most recently winning Best Comic at the UK Pantomime Awards for his performance in last year’s production Jack and the Beanstalk. Matt returns to Birmingham Hippodrome for his 11^th consecutive year, with Peter Pan marking his 22^nd pantomime.

Jon Gilchrist, Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer at Birmingham Hippodrome said: “We are extremely excited to welcome back Birmingham legend Alison Hammond to the Hippodrome for our panto this December. The audience reaction to Alison last year was incredible and we know that she is going to be a fantastic addition to the Peter Pan cast as the Magical Mermaid. Panto is such a special time of year, and we love seeing families and friends come together to share in the magic of live performance over the festive season.”

Chief Executive of Crossroads Pantomimes, Michael Harrison, who will produce and direct Peter Pan said: “I’m so pleased that Alison has agreed to join us again at the Hippodrome for a second season. Alison is a born entertainer who was a triumph last year with audiences, and much-loved by all of us involved in making the Birmingham panto. With Alison, the comic talent of Matt Slack and the spectacular set and costumes debuted at The London Palladium last Christmas all in place, we’re set for our biggest and most exciting Birmingham panto yet!” 

Join Peter Pan in this high-flying swashbuckling adventure that will include all your favourites from Neverland including Tinker Bell, Wendy, John and Michael Darling, for a magical journey the whole family will love.

There will be a range of Audio Described, Captioned, BSL interpreted and relaxed performances throughout the season, to find out more, head to the Hippodrome’s accessible performances web page.

Peter Pan runs at Birmingham Hippodrome from Sat 21 Dec 2024 until Sun 2 Feb 2025. Further casting to be announced later in the year.

Tickets can be booked at www.birminghamhippodrome.com or by calling 0844 338 5000*

 *0844 calls will cost you 4.5p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

Kenny Wax Productions
Cast announced for hit musical
Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World
at The Other Palace
Saturday 20th July – Sunday 8th September 2024
Gala Night: Thursday 25th July 2024

The amazing cast has been announced for the empowering hit musical Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World, coming to The Other Palace this summer. This award-winning girl power musical packs a popstar punch with a catchy soundtrack, awe-inspiring characters and TikTok-favourite choreography.

Returning to the show following its successful winter 2024 tour are Georgia Grant-Anderson (David Walliams’ Demon Dentist, UK tour; Beauty and the Beast, Lighthouse Poole; So Awkward, CBBC) as heroine Jade and Elena Breschi (Kindertransport, Nottingham Playhouse; Little Fir Tree, Kings Palace Theatre; SIX, Norwegian Cruise Line). New fantastically great cast members are Meg Hateley (Mamma Mia!, Novello Theatre; Oliver!, Theatre Royal Drury Lane; Cinderella, Hall for Cornwall), Charlotte Jaconelli (Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre; Heathers The Musical, Theatre Royal Haymarket; Call the Midwife, BBC), Anelisa Lamola (Once on This Island, Regent’s Park Theatre; The Color Purple, Leicester Curve; Sunset Boulevard, Alexandra Palace), and Aaliyah Monk (School of Rock, Gillian Lynne Theatre; Kids of the West End, Leicester Square; West End Musical Christmas, Lyric Theatre).

Also returning to the show from the winter tour are the incredible swings Summer Priest (Get Up Stand Up!, West End; Heathers The Musical, UK tour) and Rachel Seirian (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Apollo Theatre; The Land of Might Have Been, Buxton Opera; A Christmas Carol, RSC), who is also Assistant Choreographer.

Remarkable – and often forgotten – women are lifted from the pages of Kate Pankhurst’s beloved book, published by Bloomsbury, and brought vividly to life on stage in this hugely successful hit musical. Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World celebrates historic women and their achievements to a soundtrack of uplifting pop songs – with real-life heroines and pioneers spotlighted including Civil Rights activist Rosa Parks, Nobel Prize-winning scientist Marie Curie, Suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, author Jane Austen, trailblazing pilot Amelia Earhart, innovative artist Frida Kahlo, and many more!

The toe-tapping, sing-along worthy soundtrack by #1 hit single writer Miranda Cooper (Kylie Minogue, Girls Aloud) and Jennifer Decilveo (Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato) is available to stream online

The creative team behind this exhilarating stage show consists of Olivier Award-winning dramatist Chris Bush (Standing at the Sky’s Edge, National Theatre); with music by UK No.1 hit songwriter Miranda Cooper, whose songs for Girls Aloud include Sound of the Underground and The Promise, and Round Round for Sugababes, and Jennifer Decilveo, and live arrangements by Jen Green (Beverley Knight; Pixie Lott). The director is Amy Hodge (Mr Gum and The Dancing Bear – The Musical!, National Theatre), designer Joanna Scotcher (Emilia, Shakespeare’s Globe/Vaudeville Theatre), choreographer Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe (Dick Whittington, National Theatre), musical supervisor and musical director Audra Cramer (Cinderella, Hope Mill Theatre; SIX, West End), lighting designer Zoe Spurr (Emilia, Shakespeare’s Globe/Vaudeville Theatre), sound designer Carolyn Downing (Summer & Smoke, Almeida/Duke of York’s Theatre) and co-sound designer Rob Bettle (Frozen: The Musical, Theatre Royal Drury Lane; Billy Elliot, UK tour; One Man, Two Guvnors, Theatre Royal Haymarket).

Past praise for Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World:

A pop-fuelled, upbeat feminist hit – ★ ★ ★ ★ The Times

A high voltage show with great charisma… a zippy guide to the great women of history that sets toes tapping and young minds alight – The Guardian

Incredibly inspirational, a battle call to women everywhere – ★ ★ ★ ★ Liverpool Echo

A celebration of girl power over the centuries… I’m still singing – ★ ★ ★ ★ Daily Mail

Craig Revel Horwood Announces Debut Solo Album and UK Tour

Craig Revel Horwood has announced he is to release his debut solo album in the autumn, ahead of an extensive UK tour in 2025.

Titled ‘Revelations: Songs Boys Don’t Sing’, the album will be released on 18^th October via the Westway Music label, and is preceded by the release of Craig’s debut solo single, a dance floor update of Dame Shirley Bassey’s classic ‘This Is My Life’, which is out today (Monday, 17^th June).  

In support of his album, Craig will embark on a 53-date UK tour that begins in Eastleigh on 4^th April 2025 and ends in Dunfermline on 28^th June, including a date at London’s Union Chapel on 26^th April.

Tickets are on sale now, available from craigrevelhorwood.com.

Craig is promising fans a “Fab-U-Lous” night of glamour, tall tales and big songs from his album, which features ‘Don’t Rain On My Parade’ from Funny Girl, ‘On My Own’ from Les Miserables and, amongst many others, ‘Little Girls’ from Annie, a song that Craig has sung in many productions playing Miss Hannigan.

As the longest-serving judge on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing, Craig has become the undisputed king of the glitter ball and is now regarded as a national treasure. After starting his career as a dancer, Craig worked on the nation’s biggest musicals before becoming a successful choreographer, director and best-selling author. Also a remarkable singer, Craig has performed in many musicals and shows across the UK.

Craig said, “I am thrilled to announce the release of my debut album! It’s a momentous occasion for me, and I can’t wait to share the songs I’ve carefully chosen. Throughout my musical journey, I’ve had the privilege of performing as both a dancer and a singer in numerous musicals. However, this album holds a special place in my heart as I’ve had the opportunity to select songs that truly resonate with me.

“Each track on the album is traditionally associated with female singers, which presented a delightful challenge. I embraced this opportunity to record these songs, knowing that it might be my only chance to give them my own interpretation. The album is a perfect blend of drama, pathos, romance, and a touch of high camp. I’ve poured my heart and soul into every note, hoping that you will love each and every song.

“Thank you for joining me on this incredible musical journey. I can’t wait for you to experience the magic of my album!”

‘Revelations: Songs Boys Don’t Sing’ and ‘This Is My Life’ are available to pre-order/stream now from https://slinky.to/ThisIsMyLife, with the full list of tour dates as follows:

04 Apr – EASTLEIGH                            Thornden Hall

05 Apr – MILTON KEYNES                  The Stables  

06 Apr – RICHMOND                            Richmond Theatre

09 Apr – BRISTOL                                 St George’s

10 Apr – BRADFORD                            St George’s Hall

12 Apr – BOLTON                                 Alberts Hall

13 Apr – NEWCASTLE                          Theatre Royal

16 Apr – CHELMSFORD                       Civic Theatre  

17 Apr – EASTBOURNE                       Congress Theatre

18 Apr – LICHFIELD                             Garrick Theatre

19 Apr – WREXHAM                            William Aston Hall

20 Apr – BIRMINGHAM                       Town Hall

23 Apr – WELLINGBOROUGH            Castle Theatre

24 Apr – ST HELENS                             Theatre Royal

25 Apr – CHESTER                             Storyhouse

26 Apr – LONDON                                Union Chapel

27 Apr – READING                               The Hexagon

30 Apr – LOWESTOFT                        Marina Theatre

01 May – BURY ST EDMUNDS             The Apex

02 May – LINCOLN                                New Theatre Royal

03 May – HULL                                      City Hall

04 May – BLACKPOOL                      The Grand Theatre

07 May – PETERBOROUGH                  Cresset  

09 May – DUDLEY                                 Town Hall

10 May – CHESTERFIELD                     Winding Wheel

11 May – BEDFORD                               Corn Exchange

16 May – DUNSTABLE                          Grove Theatre

17 May – LEICESTER                             De Montfort Hall

21 May – KING’S LYNN                        Corn Exchange

22 May – IPSWICH                                 Corn Exchange

23 May – CLACTON-ON-SEA               West Cliff Theatre

24 May – WORTHING                            Pavilion

25 May – CRAWLEY                          The Hawth

28 May – CROYDON                             Concert Hall

29 May – PORTSMOUTH                       New Theatre Royal

30 May – NORTHAMPTON                   Royal Theatre

31 May – BASINGSTOKE                      Anvil

01 June – ISLE OF WIGHT                     Shanklin Theatre

04 June – BARRY                                   Memo Arts Theatre

05 June – BATH                                      Forum

06 June – CARMARTHEN                      Lyric

07 June – SWANSEA                              Brangwyn Hall

12 June – BOURNEMOUTH                   Pavilion Theatre

13 June – GRAVESHAM                        The Woodville

14 June – BASILDON                             Towngate

18 June – WHITLEY BAY                      Playhouse

20 June – SCARBOROUGH                    Spa

21 June – LIVERPOOL                           Philharmonic

22 June – NEWARK                            Palace Theatre

25 June – STIRLING                               Albert Halls

26 June – ABERDEEN                            Tivoli Theatre

27 June – DUNDEE                                 Whitehall

28 June – DUNFERMLINE                     Alhambra                    

www.craigrevelhorwood.com

www.x.com/CraigRevHorwood

www.instagram.com/craigrevel

https://www.facebook.com/CraigRevelHorwood

www.westwaymusic.com

Lyceum Theatre Sheffield – until 22nd June 2024

Reviewed by Carol Crann

4****

An Officer and a Gentleman is a romance set in the 1980’s and is based around the latest cohort at a Navy Officer Candidate School, and some of the women at the local factory. Given the time period, there are certainly some outdated values portrated, however it is true to the era and only goes to illustrate just how much the world has changed.

The show looks at the relationship between the candidates in the Aviation Academy and how they interact in an environment where both their mental and physical health is consistently challenged by the Gunnery Sergeant, Emil Foley – a character powerfully played by Jamal Crawford. Foley seems to see it as a personal challenge to try and get them to drop on request (DOR), from the course.

Most candidates are carrying some sort of emotional baggage, but none more so than the two main characters – Zack Mayo (Luke Baker), the son of an alcoholic, petty officer and Sid Worley (Paul French), who was desperately trying to replace his older brother after he sadly died in action. In addition there is Casey Seager (Olivia Foster – Browne) a strong woman striving to become the first female jet pilot.

Zac and Sid meet early on, and start dating two local girls – Paula (Georgia Lennon) and Lynette (Sinead Long). The two women have different motivations for their relationships, different tactics and – more importantly – very different attitudes.

The curtains open to a quite industrial set, one which works brilliantly throughout the show as they utilise a metal, stepped tower and neon lights to reproduce the various locations depicted in the story… The academy, the bar, the factory and the hotel all use the tower in various ways to portray key elements within the story.

I had some concerns regarding how easily and successfully this would convert to a musical, and although sometimes the music chosen didn’t quite fit or enhance the story – the amazing 80’s power ballads clearly delighted the audience. All the cast had incredibly powerful voices, and were able to perform all of the numbers with great success and energy. The choreography, it has to be said, was also excellent – both in the dance numbers as well as the fight scenes.

Despite my initial concerns, I did actually enjoy the show. I would have liked a little more depth to the story and to see more development of the individual characters, but it was definitely worth seeing for the brilliantly performed numbers – which are what earned them a standing ovation at the end.

Magician Jamie Allan prepares to Amaze at Marylebone Theatre

Magician Jamie Allan triumphantly returns to London after a sold-out residency in Chicago, bringing his critically-acclaimed show Amaze to Marylebone Theatre from Thursday 25 July to Saturday 24 August, marking his first UK performances in over seven years. Tickets go on sale today, Wednesday 19 June.

Combining state-of-the-art technology with timeless conjuring techniques, Amaze is a story-driven magic show that puts the wonder directly into the hands of the audience and makes them feel part of the magic. 

Known the world over as an innovative and groundbreaking high-tech magician, Jamie Allan has sold millions of dollars in tickets worldwide and smashed box office records. He premiered his groundbreaking iMagic creation on ITV’s This Morning in 1995 as a teenager, captivating audiences with his innovative approach. Since then, Jamie has continued to push the boundaries of modern illusions, incorporating holograms, laser beams, 3D video mapping, and interactive social media to engage and amaze spectators.

Jamie starred in the West End show Impossible and toured the UK for three consecutive years with his award-winning production iMagician, which opened at the Garrick Theatre in London’s West End in 2015. iMagicianmade its US debut in 2018, becoming the highest-selling magic show ever in Chicago during his residency at the 1,525-seat Harris Theatre.

In 2021, Jamie co-created Illusionarium and Magic Immersive to critical acclaim. His book Everything, published in 2023, received widespread acclaim within the magic industry.

Jamie Allan said: “London boasts a rich tradition of magic, and I am beyond excited to bring Amaze back to my home city after so many years in the USA. My life’s mission has always been to create wonder and escapism, but this show is special; it also deeply touches the emotions. Unusually for a magic show, so much of Amaze is rooted in truth. This is the show and the story I have always dreamed of sharing, and now I am thrilled to finally present it here in London.”

Amaze is co-created by Jamie Allan and Tommy Bond. It is directed by Jonathan Goodwin and produced by Corey Ross with executive producer Steve Sterling. The show’s creative consultant is Harry De Cruz. Clare Nordbruch is senior creative designer, Natalia Love is company stage manager, and Joe Wenborne is The Believer.

“A masterclass in magic performance as emotional engagement” – Chicago Tribune

Age recommendation: Appropriate for ages 5 and up 

The UK Pantomime Association announces the winners of 
The Pantomime Awards 2024 in association with Stagecoach

The UK Pantomime Association (UKPA) has announced the winners of The Pantomime Awards 2024 in association with Stagecoach at a ceremony that took place on 18 June at G Live in Guildford, which was presented by Angellica Bell, Myra DuBois and Ore Oduba, with Rob Madge presenting the coveted Best Pantomime Awards. 

Twins FX received the Outstanding Achievement Award for their exceptional contribution to the pantomime industry. Their special effects have revolutionised pantomime through breathtaking transformation sequences and adding awe-inspiring spectacle from flying double-decker buses to enormous animatronic crocodiles and jaw-dropping illusions. Their creativity knows no bounds and helps create the true magic of pantomime.

The Special Recognition Awards, which celebrate productions and individuals representing the values that the Association seeks to promote, were given to: 

Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling who received the Award for Achievement in Inclusive Practice for their production of Aladdin set in Discotopia which celebrated female empowerment, LGBTQ+ narratives and inclusive casting; 

Cinderella at The Theatre Chipping Norton who won the Award for Achievement in Innovation with their production which relocated the traditional narrative to Latin America, celebrating the culture of carnival and addressing the challenge of deforestation. The production worked with cast and creatives from the Latinx community and engaged a dramaturg; 

Michael J Batchelor who received an award for his contribution to Pantomime History, Tradition and Heritage. A talented designer, as well as Dame himself, his pantomime Dame costumes are regarded as the best in the industry, worn by Dames throughout Pantoland each season. He has perfected the art of costuming the Dame, ensuring impact, comedy and functionality through his inventive and playful designs

Further winners on the night were: 

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY 
Myles Brown: Beauty and the Beast, Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells (Little Wolf Entertainment)

BEST COMIC (Sponsored by Trafalgar Entertainment)

Matt Slack: Jack and the Beanstalk, Birmingham Hippodrome (Crossroads Pantomimes)

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Dawn Allsopp: Snow White, Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds (In-House)

CHRISTOPHER BIGGINS AWARDS FOR BEST DAME (Sponsored by John Good) 

Ben Roddy: Aladdin, Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (Marlowe Theatre and Evolution Productions) 

BEST DIRECTION

Simon Fielding: Cinderella, Towngate Theatre, Basildon (Towngate Theatre and Simon Fielding Ltd)

BEST ENSEMBLE (Sponsored by Drama Kids)

Danielle Cato, Oliver Imeson, Sophie Karaolis, Sarah Jane Lowe, Louis Parkins and Luke Stone: Mother Goose, Cambridge Arts Theatre (In-House)

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN (Sponsored by Production Light and Sound)

Jamie Corbidge: Cinderella, Swansea Grand Theatre (Imagine Theatre)

CARMEN SILVERA AWARD FOR BEST MAGICAL BEING

Amanda Henderson: Jack and the Beanstalk, Rhyl Pavilion (Anton Benson Productions)

BEST CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC (Sponsored by Howden Insurance)

Chris Wong: Aladdin, Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (Marlowe Theatre and Evolution Productions)

BEST EARLY CAREER NEWCOMER (Sponsored by Staffordshire University)

Jewelle Hutchinson: Cinderella, Nottingham Playhouse (In-House)

BEST NEWCOMER TO PANTOMIME

Benjamin Armstrong: Aladdin, Lighthouse Theatre, Poole (In-House)

BARBARA WINDSOR AWARD FOR BEST PRINCIPAL LEAD

Alexandra Mardell: Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Theatre Royal Plymouth (Crossroads Pantomimes)

BEST SCRIPT

Paul Hendy: Aladdin, Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (Marlowe Theatre and Evolution Productions)

BEST SECONDARY LEAD

Lotti Brogan: Dick Whittington, King’s Lynn Corn Exchange (Jordan Productions)

BEST SET DESIGN (Sponsored by Blue i Group)

David Shields: Snow White, Grand Theatre Wolverhampton (In-House)

BEST SISTERS

Iain Lauchlan and Andy Hockley: Cinderella, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry (Belgrade Theatre and Imagine Theatre)

BEST SOUND DESIGN

Nigel Bayliss: Sleeping Beauty, Theatre Royal Bath (UK Productions)

BEST SUPPORTING ARTIST

Ben Tanner: Mother Goose, Derby Arena (Little Wolf Entertainment)

BEST VILLAIN (Sponsored by Breckman & Company)

Wendi Harriott: Sleeping Beauty, Watersmeet Theatre, Rickmansworth (Paul Holman Associates) 

BEST PANTOMIME (UNDER 500 SEATS)

Aganeza Scrooge, Tron Theatre, Glasgow (In-House)

BEST PANTOMIME (500 – 900 SEATS)

Sleeping Beauty, Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage (Jordan Productions)

BEST PANTOMIME (OVER 900 SEATS)

Jack and the Beanstalk, Birmingham Hippodrome (Crossroads Pantomimes)

·     

The Awards ceremony included special guest performances from Rob Madge who sang a number from their Olivier Award nominated show My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) as well as presenting the coveted Best Pantomime Awards, panto Dame Matthew Siviter who caused a buzz with his special rendition of a Beatles classic,entertainment from one of the industry’s top clowns Tweedy and a high-energy routine from Stagecoach Performing Arts students. 

Simon Sladen, Chair of the UK Pantomime Association, said: “Congratulations to all the nominees and winners at The Pantomime Awards 2024! There is such a wealth of talent across the pantomime industry, which these awards truly acknowledge and celebrate. Pantomime is an important and integral aspect of British culture, and one the UK Pantomime Association is proud to champion.”

Andy Knights, CEO of Stagecoach Performing Arts, said: “We are so proud to be the headline sponsor at the Pantomime Awards and wish a huge congratulations to all the winners!”

Founded in 2021, the UK Pantomime Association (https://pantomimeassociation.co.uk) is a charity that explores, shares and celebrates pantomime by investigating the genre’s rich past, engaging with contemporary practice and inspiring the future. During the 2023-24 pantomime season, the third year in which the Awards have taken place, UKPA’s 70 judges had their biggest year ever, collectively visiting 259 venues to see over 728 performances, far and wide across the United Kingdom 

Norwich Theatre Royal – until Saturday 22nd June 2024

Reviewed by Boo Wakefield

5*****

If you were expecting a paean to John Buchan’s novel and Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film, then you came to the wrong show! This is instead a show that will have you laughing uproariously and leaving on a happy, on an emotional high. The plot of the novel provides no more than the period setting and the thread from which this wonderful comedy is. Adapted by Patrick Barlow and directed by Maria Aitken, it is British tongue-in-cheek theatrical comedy at its splendid best, poised somewhere between pantomime, Noel Coward, slapstick and light-hearted satire.

Four actors play an impossible number of roles, each hugely different in stature and style and, often, gender. Tom Bryne playing Richard Hannay fluctuates wonderfully between the urbane and dashing gentleman-about-town in three piece tweed and pencil moustache, admiring every woman he meets, and the stuttering, bashful Hugh Grant-esque Englishman he is reduced to by every woman he meets, each of them played brilliantly by Safeena Ladha. It doesn’t seem fair in the programme to describe Eugene McCoy and Maddie Rice as “Clown 1” and “Clown 2” as they frequently each play two different characters on stage at the same time and are the beating heart of the fun, zipping in and out of character and costume constantly, always with a flourish and a knowing twinkle in their eye.

Peter McKintosh (Set and Costume Design), Ian Scott ( Lighting) and Mic Pool’s (Sound) combined work carried the momentum of this play relentlessly; it never faltered. Clever use of doors on wheels and hand-held window frames allowed the actors’ energy to roll from one set to the next. The theatricality of the steam train journey to Scotland was genius, reducing the audience to laughter and applause, and the use of shadow puppets as Hannay flees over Scottish moors was genius and even afforded a subtle tip-of-the-hat to Alfred Hitchcock. The unexpected entrance stage-left of a lamppost with two stooges lurking beneath it as Hannay peeped from behind a curtain was timing and theatre at it’s funniest and had the audience in stitches.

Filled with “dad jokes” you can see coming but with immaculate timing worthy of Tommy Cooper or Eric Morecambe making them irresistibly funny, there hardly seemed to be a moment without laughter.

So energising to enjoy on an evening free of political or “values-based” messaging or snide mockery masquerading as comedy, and, instead, a play of uplifting, uncomplicated and unbridled fun, fun, fun!