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Ovalhouse’s Summer Season 2017 Ovalhouse,

52-54 Kennington Oval, London SE11 5SW

Friday 5th May – Saturday 29th July 2017

Ovalhouse’s exciting Summer Season explores three powerful themes – migration and what it means to ‘belong’, the nature of violence in our society, and love and loss. By continuing to present challenging and inspirational theatre that speaks to a world beyond the mainstream, Ovalhouse acts as a vital home for boundary-pushing art, artists and audiences with an eye on the future.

Home invites audiences with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities into an immersive experience of unfamiliar landscapes; Bound explores the dark underworld of people trafficking; and One Item Only follows one boy’s journey seeking refuge from his troubled homeland. Two powerful new plays examine the pervasive nature of violence in our society: The Believers Are But Brothers explores how young men use the internet to enact violent fantasies while Kieran Hurley’s new play An Injury explores the harm that we do to one another.

The season closes with three plays about loss including Associate Artist Bella Heesom’s much loved antidote to grief My World Has Exploded a Little Bit.

Owen Calvert-Lyons, Ovalhouse’s Head of Theatre & Artist Development, comments, I am very proud to be presenting the work of three of our Associate Artists, Bella Heesom, Donnacadh O’Briain and Koko Brown, this season. We are supporting, developing and nurturing some of the most exciting artists in London and these are the first plays to come out of this programme. I am particularly excited by Trinity this season; we will be taking over the derelict chapel of a former asylum in Peckham to stage this beautiful production. Across the season our artists present you with challenging visions of our present as well as hopeful visions of our future and invite us to reflect on where our own journey will lead us.

The fantastic Summer Season 2017 is as follows:

Home by Frozen Light Theatre, in association with New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich (5 th – 6 th May, 11am and 1.30pm)

This exciting production for audiences with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD), explores a new and unknown world. This multi-sensory story of discovery explores a world that is not how Scarlet and Olive remember it. Where are they now and where is their home? Together, they must learn how to survive and create a future in an environment that is full of surprises.

Identity Crisis by Phina Oruche (9th – 13th May, 7.45pm)

Beginning with the real life story of the sudden death of Phina’s 1-year- old niece in her house in 2011, this show presents us with 60 images of Phina in fashion and provides an illuminating, humorous and candid exposition of life under the glare of the media spotlight. Phina portrays nine characters: Black, White, Old, Young, Male and Female, and explores identity struggles that are common to all.

Bound (9th – 13th May, 7.30pm)

Inspired by true accounts of human trafficking, Justice in Motion present a compelling tale of dreams and broken promises, of hope and resilience in the face of harrowing circumstances. Driven by the desire for a brighter future, three desperate, but very different people unknowingly take the biggest gamble of their lives. Told through a dynamic fusion of dance, circus, music, projection and spoken word, Bound is a beautifully crafted story of strength in the face of adversity

My World Has Exploded a Little Bit (23rd – 27th May, 7.30pm)

Bella Heesom’s debut play, directed by Donnacadh O’Briain, is part true story, part farcical performance lecture. It tells a deeply personal story of loss and love, through a darkly comic step-by-step guide to bereavement. Mixing tender intimacy and unflinching honesty with hardhitting philosophy, clownish silliness and an enchanting live piano score, it takes the audience on a powerful emotional journey, shot through with jet black comedy.

The Forever Machine (30th May – 3rd June, 2pm)

After the success of Eloise and the Curse of the Golden Whisk, award- winning company The Wardrobe Ensemble return to delight families at Ovalhouse during half-term, using bold stagecraft and out of this world soundscapes to bring this curious tale to life. Get carried away on this wild sci-fi adventure. Leap through vortexes in time and space! Fight demons in the past! Dance disco in the future!

One Item Only (1st – 3rd June, 11.30am and 2.30pm)

If you had to take a long journey and could only take one item with you – what would it be? Follow one boy’s journey across continents in search of refuge from his troubled homeland, in this eventful and uplifting story of hope and resilience where the human spirit triumphs. Inspired by recent events, and created by Bristol-based Greek artist, Margarita Sidirokastriti, family audiences will share the challenges of his adventurous journey towards an uncertain but ultimately optimistic future.

Trinity by Brave New Worlds (19th – 22nd, 26th and 27th June, 7.30pm)

Trinity is a visually stunning, design-led performance staged in a beautiful derelict gothic chapel that transports audiences to other worlds. A collaboration with acclaimed international artists, the show explores the aesthetics of gender and female iconography in our society’s visual culture, from pagan and religious artefacts to bedroom selfies, to create a highly visceral visual landscape with an immersive sound experience. This is an offsite event taking place at The Asylum, a ten minute walk from Queens Road Peckham station.

The Believers are But Brothers – Edinburgh preview (12th – 15th July, 7.30pm)

We live in a time where old orders are collapsing and tech savvy and extremist groups rip through twentieth century political certainties. Amidst this, a generation of young men find themselves burning with resentment. This crisis of masculinity leads them into an online world of fantasy, violence and reality. Writer and theatre maker Javaad Alipoor spent time in this digital realm, exploring the blurry and complex world of extremists, spies, journalists and fantasists. This bold one-man show weaves together their stories.

An Injury (18th – 22nd July, 7.30pm)

After their award-winning collaboration on Heads Up, writer Kieran Hurley (Beats, Hitch) and director Alex Swift (How to Win Against History, Mess) team up once again to create a thrilling new play about violence, love, the distance between us, and the harm we do to each other. Morvern wants to get up and walk away from this desk. Danny wants to write something revolutionary. Joe wants to protect what good we still have left. And then there’s Isma. We don’t know much about Isma. We know she’s twelve. We know she speaks only Arabic. We know she’s here. And we know she’s watching. Here, in this room, four speakers pick through the fragments of four shattered lives.

I am a Tree – Edinburgh preview (27th – 29th July, 7.30pm)

Writer Jamie Wood presents a show like no other. A show that is something else entirely. A dance party with ghosts, in a forest, in a theatre. A hopping ritual. An invitation to drink deep: to face the shadows that growl on your insides and laugh big. Hold on tight!

As with every Ovalhouse season, the Summer programme also include two exciting new worksin-development, a chance to see raw new ideas that might develop into a bigger piece, or might be a way to explore an idea. The new FiRST BiTES are:

WHITE (20th – 22nd July, 7.45pm)

Koko Brown considers the concept of mixed-race privilege as she tries to connect clashing cultures and explore what it means to be mixed in contemporary Britain. A show about identity which blends spoken-word with live vocal looping and asks ‘What are you when you are always the other?’

Juliet and Romeo’s work in progress (25th – 26th July, 7.30pm)

Ben Duke’s Lost Dog will be sharing something of their as yet unstarted and definitely still unfinished version of Shakespeare’s deeply pessimistic teenage love story. A humorous and heartfelt investigation into love, loss and longevity.

New Diorama Theatre 2 – 27 May.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

Engineer Theatre Collective’s new production is a spine-tingling story about fear. The first act takes part in almost total darkness. Being told that before we entered got me a little nervous before anything started, but a charming introduction from Simon Lyshon relaxed and acclimatised the audience.

Two explorers enter a huge sinkhole in Mexico – Ethan, a caving guide, and Hana, a PhD student searching for Mayan pots. Early on, the fact that there should be more than 2 people in an expedition is presented, so you just know this isn’t going to end well. They don’t find pots, but what they do find has a profound effect on Ethan and the first act builds to an almost cinematic climax. The second act feels like a completely different play at first, with Hana, now pregnant recovering from her ordeal and looking to the future with her boyfriend. But her conviction that events signal that something bad is coming builds, and there are some classic horror moments that made the audience jump.

Oscar Wyatt’s lighting design and Dominic Kennedy’ sound design is phenomenal, creating a truly eerie and nerve jarring atmosphere. The use of head torches to downlight the actor’s faces in the cave makes them seem otherworldly, and the glimpses of the audience behind the actors in the torchlight enhances the feeling of a ghostly presence. The physical movement to depict their journey through the narrow passages was a little “mime artist” at first, but you soon bought into the action, and got carried away by the story.

Ellie Isherwood is fantastic as Hana, moving from academic excitement to panic and fear very convincingly in act one, and portraying Han’s torment in act two sensitively but powerfully in act two. Simon Lyshon is completely unnerving as Ethan when he flips out, and Archie Backhouse makes you want to give Daniel a slap – which is just as it should be.

The contrast between Daniel’s rational engineer thinking, and Hana’s intuitive and emotional actions is portrayed cleverly. The concept of life as energy being constantly recycled is explored in an entertaining and thought-provoking way, and the ending led to a lot of debate on the way home about whether Hana should be afraid or accepting.

The Gap in the Light is fringe theatre at its best – intelligent, entertaining, and with some real shocks.

Tristan Bates 2 – 20 May.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

A live TV reunion of a singing duo who haven’t spoken since their divorce 5 years ago. What could possibly go wrong?!

It’s 1968, and America’s Swingin’ Sweethearts, Pete Bartel and Keely Stevens, just can’t quite stick to the script in this celebration of their career and their barbs and bickering escalate as the musical numbers keep coming.

This wonderfully arch and charming musical celebrates and spoofs those cheesy crooners from the 1950s and 60s, with catchy original music by Patrick Brady and some ridiculously entertaining arrangements of old standards that will have you howling with laughter. David Bardsley’s rendition of “Fever” is hysterical, and spot on in its creepily sad attempt at seductiveness – taking you back to 1970s Saturday night TV. *shudder* The story of their career is presented with relentless pace, interspersed with ad breaks where the arguments build brilliantly. The re-enactment of Pete ‘n’ Keely’s attempt to break Broadway is phenomenal, with the characters showing their awareness that they are performing dross to fantastic comic effect. The clever and witty writing reveals the issues that ended their marriage slowly and sensitively, giving these cartoon like characters depth and soul. You start wishing for a happy ending about five minutes into the show, and the unrelenting charm of Matthew Gould’s production will just keep you grinning all night.

Emily Bestow’s set design is colourful and bright, evoking TV shows of the era and the three-piece band are full of energy. The cast are simply amazing. David Bardsley is brilliant as Pete, styling it out in the worst wig you’ll ever see. He has one hell of a voice and is perfect as the faded and jaded star. Katie Kerr is a fantastic comic actor, and fizzles with energy as Keely. Her voice compliments Bardsley’s and it’s easy to believe that they’ve been singing together for years.

Pete ‘n’ Keely is a nostalgic and uplifting romp through the 50s and 60s with a feel-good factor that is off the charts. A little gem of a musical.

COLM MEANEY WILL JOIN

SIENNA MILLER AND JACK O’CONNELL IN

BENEDICT ANDREWS’ YOUNG VIC PRODUCTION OF TENNESSEE WILLIAMS’

C A T   O N   A   H O T   T I N   R O O F

OPENING IN THE WEST END JULY 2017

 

Colm Meaney will join the previously announced Sienna Miller and Jack O’Connell to play Big Daddy in the Young Vic production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof directed by Benedict Andrews. The twelve-week run in the West End at the Apollo Theatre begins previews on 13 July 2017 with press night on 24 July. The last performance is 7 October 2017.  Set designs are by Magda Williwith costume designs by Alice Babidge, lighting by Jon Clark and sound design by Gareth Fry.  Final casting will be announced at a later date.

The truth hurts. On a steamy night in Mississippi, a Southern family gather at their cotton plantation to celebrate Big Daddy’s birthday.  The scorching heat is almost as oppressive as the lies they tell.  Brick and Maggie dance round the secrets and sexual tensions that threaten to destroy their marriage. With the future of the family at stake, which version of the truth is real – and which will win out?

 

For this Young Vic production, there are seats available at £10 for under 25s for each performance booked through the Young Vic Box Office.  Cat On A Hot Tin Roof is the Young Vic’s first production to debut in the West End and is presented by the Young Vic and The Young Ones.  Previously the Young Vic have transferred A View from a Bridge, Golem, Romeo and Juliet, The Scottsboro Boys, Simply Heavenly, Tintin and A Doll’s House.

 

Colm Meaney (Big Daddy) was last on stage in London alongside Kevin Spacey in Moon for the Misbegotten at the Old Vic, with the production subsequently transferring to Broadway. His other theatre credits include Breaking the Code, The Cider House Rules and Juno and the Paycock. Earlier this year, Meaney won the Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role in Film for his portrayal of Martin McGuinness in The Journey, opposite Timothy Spall.  His additional film credits include all three adaptations of Roddy Doyle’s The Barrytown Trilogy (The Commitments, The Snapper and The Van), Die Hard 2, Dick Tracy, The Last of the Mohicans, Far and Away, Con Air, Layer Cake, The Damned United and Halal Daddy, to be released this summer.  He has also appeared in Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa with Steve Coogan, as well as the comedy-drama One Chance, the story of Britain’s Got Talent winner Paul Potts. Meaney voiced the role of the ‘Miles Standish’ in Free Birds and ‘Grandpa’ in Norm of the North. He is best known on television for his long-running role as ‘Chief Miles O’Brien’ in the hit series Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.  Meaney also starred in AMC’s western series Hell on Wheels and will next be seen in TNT’s new period drama Will in the role of James Burbage.

Sienna Miller (Maggie) trained at the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York.  She was last on stage in the West End as Patricia in Flare Path at the Haymarket Theatre and was previously seen at Wyndham’s Theatre as Celia in As You Like It.  Her New York theatre credits include After Miss Julie, Cabaret, Independence and Cigarettes and Chocolate.  Her many film credits include Live by Night, Mississippi Grind, Layer Cake, Alfie, Casanova, Factory Girl, American Sniper, Foxcatcher, The Edge of Love, G.I. Joe, Yellow and the forthcoming The Lost City of Z.  On television her credits include The Girl, Bedtime and Keen Eddie.  

 

Jack O’Connell (Brick) was last seen on stage in The Nap at Sheffield Crucible Theatre.  His other theatre credits include Scarborough for the Royal Court and The Spiderman, The Musiciansand Just for NT Shell Connections.  His film work has garnered him multiple awards, including the 2015 EE BAFTA Rising Star Award, the New Hollywood Award and the Chopard Trophy Award at the Cannes Film Festival.  Most recently, his project Home won the BAFTA for British Short Film in 2017.  His other film credits include Money Monster, 300: Rise of an Empire, Unbroken, ’71, Starred Up, Liability, Private Peaceful, Tower Block, Weekender, Wayfaring Stranger, Eden Lakeand Black Dog.  O’Connell will next be seen on screen in Tulip Fever, The Man with the Iron Heartas well as starring in the Netflix TV series Godless.  His television credits include Skins, United, The Runaway, This is England, Dive and Wuthering Heights.

 

Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer prize winning play received its world premiere in 1955 on Broadway with Barbara Bel Geddes and Ben Gazzara as Maggie and Brick.  The UK premiere, directed by Peter Hall, opened at the Comedy Theatre in 1958 with Kim Stanley and Paul Massie.  The 1958 Academy Award nominated film starred Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman.

For the Young Vic, Benedict Andrews has previously directed his own version of Three Sisters, which won the London Critics’ Circle Best Director Award, and A Streetcar Named Desire, with Gillian Anderson and Ben Foster, which transferred to New York in 2016.  His first production for the Young Vic was Monteverdi’s The Return of Ulysses, a co-production with ENO – where he has also directed La Boheme and Detlev Glanert’s Caligula.  His many directing credits for Sydney Theatre Company include The Maids with Cate Blanchett and Isabelle Huppert, which toured to the Lincoln Centre Festival in New York; and Big and Small which came to the Barbican, also starring Cate Blanchett.  Andrews has also worked extensively at the Schaubühne Berlin, Komische Oper, National Theatre Iceland and Belvoir Street Sydney.  His first feature film, Una, starring Rooney Mara and Ben Mendelsohn, premiered at last year’s Telluride Film Festival and will be released in September.

The Young Vic produces new plays, classics, forgotten works, musicals and opera. It co-produces and tours widely in the UK and internationally while keeping deep roots in its neighbourhood.  It frequently transfers shows to London’s West End and invites local people to take part at its home in Waterloo. In 2016 the Young Vic became London’s first Theatre of Sanctuary. Recent productions include Simon Stone’s multi award-winning new version of Lorca’sYerma which returns to the Young Vic with Billie Piper reprising her performance in July, the premiere of Charlene James’ multi-award-winning play Cuttin’ It and Ivo van Hove’s multi award-winning production of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge (West End & Broadway transfers), as well as Horizons, a season of work exploring the lives of refugees.  David Lan is Artistic Director, Lucy Woollatt is Executive Director.  www.youngvic.org

 

LISTINGS INFORMATION  

 

Theatre:                  Apollo Theatre, 31 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 7ES

Dates:                    13 July – 7 October 2017

Press Night:             Monday 24 July 2017 at 7pm

Performances:          Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm

Prices:                    in previews Monday – Thursday £10-£55, Friday & Saturday £10-£57

From 25 July 2017 Monday – Thursday £10-£65, Friday & Saturday £10-£67

Box Office:                Apollo 0330 333 4809

                             Young Vic 020 7922 2922

Website:                 www.youngvicwestend.com

Twitter/Instagram:    @youngvictheatre

Facebook:               youngvictheatre

Theatre N16 9th-11th May/21st-24th May.  Reviewed By Jessica Brady

Black Sheep Productions return with Madelaine Cunningham’s ‘Full Circle’ after a critically acclaimed run at the Arts Theatre back in 2015, and I for one am thrilled that this wonderful piece of theatre gets to be seen once more.

Full Circle is a brilliantly written play that explores the stories of four of the most notorious woman in Greek mythology and brings them together as they delve into the natures of the woman and their histories. The characters we meet are Phaedra Queen of Athens [played by Niamh Branigan], Helen Of Troy [played by Laura McKee], Medea Princess of Colchis [played by Lucy Avison] and Clytemnestra [played by the writer Madelaine Cunningham]. In the myths these characters are hailed as villains, murderesses and whores and this play discusses what led these women to the actions they undertook in their own words, they push each other’s buttons to get to the truths that lay beneath the legends. Cunningham has cleverly imagined the reasoning behind the woman and what led them to do what they did with an evident extensive knowledge of Greek mythology, and it pays of tremendously.

I was hooked into the format instantly as I walked into the small studio theatre at N16 which was simply staged with an array of fluorescent yellow mirrors with ripped up newspapers [symbolic perhaps to the stories that were told of the woman?] and a bright yellow draped fabric chair with a Game of Thrones style Wooden stick backing. The four actresses stood on stage and performed a Greek chorus style movement to set the tone for the play, with simple long dresses and different accented accessories to represent each character.

Once all the audience were seated the woman dispersed and we are thrown into a distraught and terrified Helen running in and falling to her knees to Clytemnestra. Each characters story unfolds and it seems they are trapped in perjury where, until they fully admit and recognised the true reasoning for what did, they are to remain. The characters intertwine and manipulate each other to get to the truth until they all reach their undoing and we end at the beginning with Helen rushing in to her knees, hence coming Full Circle.

These four actresses are brilliantly directed by Madison Maylin in what could have been a difficult story to follow, but there is clarity and reasoning to every decision which meant as an audience we understood the turmoil and tails perfectly. Each performer is well cast and executes their role with control and elegance and they are all wonderfully captivating to watch. I particularly loved the powerful break down of Medea as she finally shows remorse for killing her children, Avison was brilliant in that moment. I see these four actresses going very far judging by what I watched this evening.

I think Black sheep Productions have produced a gem of a show here and if you have ever been fascinated by Greek Mythology [as I have in the past] then you should go and see Full Circle to help you fill in the gaps of your imagination about these four pivotal figures.

REVIEW: GANGSTA GRANNY (Sunderland Empire) ★★★★★

May 11, 2017 

For: West End Wilma 

https://www.westendwilma.com/review-gangsta-granny-sunderland/

David Walliams’ best selling children’s book has been brought to life on stage by The Birmingham Stage Company. The story is told through the eyes of 11 year old Ben (Ashley Cousins) who every Friday night is sent to his ‘boring’ granny’s house (Gilly Tompkins) for the night while his selfish parents go ballroom dancing. He is subjected to playing scrabble and eating cabbage soup, cabbage cake and everything cabbage, including old granny suffering the effects of too much cabbage, much to the delights of all the children in the audience.

But after a discovery in the biscuit tin he realises there may be a lot more to his boring, cardigan-wearing granny. She is in fact an international jewel thief – The Black Cat – suddenly Granny is no longer seen as the stereotype. Together Ben and Granny go on a journey across London to steal the Crown Jewels. A plan made up of Ben’s knowledge of the London sewers and Granny wanting a final buzz.

On their way to the Tower of London they encounter the police, and they are caught in the act by the Queen who understands that children sometimes find their grandparents boring even when their granny is the Queen.

Ben’s parents (Rachel Stanley and Benedict Martin) are obsessed with Strictly and with dancer Fabio (Devesh Kishore) so much so they fail to notice what Ben and Granny are up to. And only the meddling by Mr Parker (Martin again) that almost foils their plans.

Everything about director/adaptor Neal Foster’s approach is fun, colourful sets unfold like picture-book pop-outs, there’s a lot of music and every comic opportunity is grasped (Granny’s slow-moving mobility scooter is hilarious). The production itself is full of stamina and the cast are rarely offstage, doubling as dancing set-changers even when they are not in a scene. All of them display great energy, which never drops.

This play appeals to all ages and is not gender specific. It is relevant to today’s society where old people can be viewed as insignificant, instead the play has a comical way of dealing with this stereotype, turning it completely on its head. The show pulls at the heart strings as young Ben sees Granny with new eyes and their relationship flourishes up until Granny’s last scene in the hospital. Which dealt with the inevitable loss of a beloved grandparent in a way which was easy to understand but still moving. Filled with laughter and farts, it’s funny and poignant and a fabulous night out.

MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL, DARLINGTON’S PANTOMIME CAST IS THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL!

As the first full-scale production to play the redeveloped and renamed Darlington Hippodrome, this year’s spectacular family pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, will star Lee Ryan, Zoe Birkett, Patrick Monahan, Eric Potts and Liam Mellor in the ultimate festive treat for all ages from 9 December 2017.

Starring as the handsome Prince is boyband and television star Lee Ryan. Since joining the BRIT award-winning boyband Blue in 2001, Lee and his bandmates went on to sell over 14 million records worldwide, releasing five critically acclaimed studio albums and headlined several UK tours. In 2011, to coincide with their tenth year in the music industry, Blue represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest with their entry I Can. In 2013 Blue were a featured addition to the ITV2 reality television show The Big Reunion, which culminated in a sold out performance at the Hammersmith Apollo. Lee is currently starring as Woody Woodward in EastEnders for the BBC.

Pop Idol finalist, West End leading lady and Darlington diva Zoe Birkett will star alongside him as the Wicked Queen. At 16 she auditioned for the first series of Pop Idol for ITV in 2001, finishing fourth in the competition, before continuing to carve out an extensive theatre career with leading roles in Thriller Live, Respect La Diva and as one of the principal vocalists in Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre. Most recently Zoe understudied and performed the lead role of Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard across the UK, stunning audiences and critics alike with her vocal dexterity and stage presence.

Middlesbrough-raised funny man Patrick Monahan will star as the Wicked Queen’s bumbling Henchman. A frequent star on the comedy club and festival circuits, Patrick regularly tours the UK with his unique blend of audience interaction, animated story-telling and quick wit, which has solidified his reputation as one of the nation’s best-loved comedians. In 2011 Patrick entered the ITV stand-up comedy contest Show Me the Funny, beating off stiff competition to be crowned the winner, which led to the release of his debut DVD Patrick Monahan Live, and appearances on Let’s Dance for Comic Relief and the ITV celebrity diving show Splash!

Best-known for his role as Coronation Street’s eccentric baker Diggory Compton Eric Potts stars as Nurse Nelly. No stranger to pantomime Eric has appeared in and written numerous pantomimes over the last two decades, bringing his unique brand of comedy and showmanship, in an array of outrageous costumes to audiences’ delight. His television roles include Doctor Who, Still Game, Peak Practice and Brookside, and he regularly appears on stage across the UK in classical plays, revues and comedies. Eric will also direct this year’s pantomime.

Completing the line-up, Liam Mellor will star as Snow White’s best friend Muddles. As an actor and comedian Liam has starred in numerous stage productions including Chekov and Shakespeare at the Grange Court Theatre, appeared in the feature films Yellow Ribbon, Kick It Out and Jack Falls and numerous pantomimes across the UK.

Staged once again by Qdos Entertainment, the world’s biggest pantomime producer, and the team behind Darlington’s pantomimes since 1999, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will feature all of the traditional pantomime ingredients Darlington audiences have come to expect in a fantastic new production of the well-loved fairy tale when the Hippodrome reopens its doors.

Jonathan Kiley, Executive Producer for Qdos Entertainment said: “We are absolutely delighted to be the first full-scale production to open the all-new Darlington Hippodrome after its exciting building work. Darlington audiences are amongst the very best in the UK and we’re thrilled to be back with a brand-new production featuring so many star names. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will undoubtedly be the ultimate festive treat for all the family”.

Lynda Winstanley, Director of Darlington Hippodrome said “We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Lee, Zoe, Patrick, Eric and Liam will be with us for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and I am sure they will be a great hit with our audiences.”

Audiences should book now for the fairest panto of them all, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which runs from Saturday 9 December 2017 until Sunday 14 January 2018.

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 405405 or visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

 

AFTER A THIRD SENSATIONAL WEST END SEASON,

DIRTY DANCING – THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE

LOOKS AHEAD TO INTERNATIONAL DATES AND A NINE MONTH UK TOUR IN 2017

 

WITH £10MILLION ALREADY TAKEN!

 

Producers Karl Sydow and Paul Elliott are delighted to announce that the new UK production of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage, is mamboing back onto the road after a sensational Christmas season in the West End followed by international dates in Bremen and Cannes. The show tours the UK and Ireland until the autumn of 2017.

 

The UK tour has taken over £10million pounds since it hit the road last August and, due to overwhelming demand for tickets around the country, even more dates have been added, including return visits to Manchester, Blackpool and Liverpool.

 

The classic story of Baby and Johnny, featuring the hit songs ‘Hungry Eyes’, ‘Hey! Baby’, ‘Do You Love Me?’ and the heart stopping ‘(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life’, returns to the UK, following two blockbuster West End runs, two hit UK tours, and various international productions.

 

Full of passion and romance, heart-pounding music and sensationally sexy dancing, this record-breaking all new concept of the show is directed by Federico Bellone, choreographed by Gillian Bruce with set design re-imagined by top Italian designer Roberto Comotti. It premiered in Milan in July 2015, subsequently packing out the 15,000 seat Roman Arena in Verona, and then played a season in Rome.

 

It’s the summer of 1963, and 17 year-old Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman is about to learn some major lessons in life as well as a thing or two about dancing. On holiday in New York’s Catskill Mountains with her older sister and parents, she shows little interest in the resort activities and instead discovers her own entertainment when she stumbles across an all-night dance party at the staff quarters. Mesmerised by the raunchy dance moves and the pounding rhythms, Baby can’t wait to be part of the scene, especially when she catches sight of Johnny Castle the resort dance instructor. Her life is about to change forever as she is thrown in at the deep end as Johnny’s leading lady both on-stage and off, and two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives.

 

Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage originally opened at London’s Aldwych Theatre in 2006 with a record-breaking advance of £15 million, making it the fastest ever selling show in West End theatre history. The production became the longest running show in the history of the Aldwych Theatre and played to over two million people during its triumphant five year run.

 

Since its Australian debut in 2004, Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage, has become a worldwide phenomenon, with productions staged in the USA, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore and throughout Europe, consistently breaking box office records. Recent sell out tours include France, Germany and Australia. The first ever UK tour of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage, launched in 2011 and then returned to the West End in 2013 playing at the Piccadilly Theatre in London, prior to launching a second UK and Ireland tour.

Produced by Karl Sydow, Joye Entertainment and Paul Elliott, in association with Lionsgate and Magic Hour Productions, and written by Eleanor Bergstein, script writer of the phenomenally successful 1987 film, the production features the much-loved characters and original dialogue from the iconic film, as well as exciting extra scenes added in.

 

www.dirtydancingontour.com

#dirtydancing /@ddonstage

 

2017 TOUR DATES

23 – 27 May                            Grimsby Auditorium

29 May – 3 June                      Birmingham Alexandra

5 – 10 June                              Sheffield Lyceum

12 – 17 June                            Edinburgh Playhouse

19 – 24 June                            Glasgow Kings Theatre

26 June – 1 July                       Sunderland Empire

3 – 8 July                                 Bristol Hippodrome

18 – 22 July                             Manchester Palace

24 – 29 July                             Grand Theatre Leeds

31 July – 5 August                   Princess Theatre Torquay

14 – 19 August                        The Hawth, Crawley

21 – 26 August                        Bournemouth Pavilion

29 August – 2 September       Blackpool Opera House

4 – 9 September                     New Victoria Woking

11 – 16 September                 Venue Cymru Llandudno

18 – 23 September                 Liverpool Empire

Dan Looney in association with Paulden Hall Productions, Tom O’Connell Productions, Jason Haigh-Ellery and Tim Lawson present

LUCIE JONES TO JOIN THE CAST OF

THE WEDDING SINGER

 

Welsh musical theatre star and Eurovision hopeful Lucie Jones is to join the cast of The Wedding Singer, (the hilarious musical based on the hit film Adam Sandler film), after she performs in Kiev this weekend where she will represent the UK in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

Lucie joins the show in Aberdeen and will be performing the role of Holly for a limited six week run.  A former X-Factor finalist, Lucie’s theatre credits include Cosette in the West End production of Les Misérables, also appearing in the 25th anniversary concert of Les Misérables at the O2 arena, London. She played Kelly in The Prodigals at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe, was cast as Meat in the We Will Rock You World Arena Tour and originated the role of Victoria in the world premiere of American Psycho the musical, at London’s Almeida Theatre. She also performed the lead role of Molly Jensen in Ghost The Musical’s Asia tour.

It’s 1985. Hair is huge, greed is good and rock-star wannabe Robbie Hart is New Jersey’s favourite wedding singer. When his own fiancée dumps him at the altar a seriously bummed out Robbie makes every wedding as disastrous as his own.

Can sweet natured Julia and her best friend Holly lure Robbie out of the dumpster and back into the limelight?  Or is he going to see her head off down the aisle with Wall Street bad boy Glen. Only Grandma Rosie seems to be able to see that Robbie and Julia are the couple that are meant to be.

Starring alongside Lucie is West End and Musical Theatre star Jon Robyns who plays Robbie Hart. Most recently he starred in Legally Blonde as Emmett Forrest and in Sister Act as Eddie Souther; other theatre credits include Enjolras in Les Misérables, Spamalot, Memphis and Avenue Q.

He is joined by British singer-songwriter Ray Quinn as Glen who shot to fame as the runner-up in ITV1’s The X Factor in 2006 and as champion of Dancing on Ice in 2009. In 2014 he won Dancing on Ice: Champion of Champions. His theatre credits include Danny Zuko in Grease (West End), Dirty Dancing (West End) and Legally Blonde (UK Tour).

West End leading lady and X Factor finalist Cassie Compton plays Julia; her roles include Jean in American Psycho (Almeida, London) and Eponine in Les Misérables.

Comedy veteran Ruth Madoc stars as Grandma Rosie. Ruth became a household name in the Eighties when she played Gladys Pugh in BBC comedy series Hi-De-Hi! More recently we’ve seen her on screen in ITV’s Benidorm, Mount Pleasant (Sky) and Stella (Sky).

 

Samuel Holmes (Mrs Henderson Presents, West End) plays George. Tara Verloop (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Dirty Dancing in the West End) plays Linda. Paris Green, Hannah Jay-Allen, Susie Fenwick, Helen Walsh, Eamonn Cox, Simon Anthony, Ainsley Hall-Ricketts, Andrew Carthy, Mark Pearce, Ryan-Lee Seager and Erin Bell complete the cast.

The Wedding Singer 2017 UK Tour is Directed and Choreographed by Nick Winston. Set and Costumes are by Francis O’Connor. Musical Supervision is by Sarah Travis with Musical Direction and Orchestration by George Dyer. Lighting Design is by Ben Cracknell with Sound Design by Richard Brooker. Video Design is by Jack Henry James and Casting by Jim Arnold. The Wedding Singer is produced by Dan Looney, Paulden Hall Productions, Tom O’Connell, Jason Haigh-Ellery and Tim Lawson.

Don’t miss your chance to join the party of the year – with a musical that promises to get you up dancing faster than your Dad at a wedding, The Wedding Singer is packed with songs which capture all the fun and energy of the Adam Sandler smash hit film.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | [fb.me/WedSingUkTour]FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | #WEDSINGUKTOUR

THE WEDDING SINGER

Music by Matthew Sklar

Book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy

Lyrics by Chad Beguelin

Based upon the New Line Cinema film Written by Tim Herlihy

Directed and Choreographed by Nick Winston

Performances by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) Ltd

THE WEDDING SINGER – REMAINING 2017 UK TOUR DATES

Tuesday 9 – Saturday 13 May

Box Office: 0115 989 5555

Nottingham, Theatre Royal

Website: www.trch.co.uk

Monday 15 – Saturday 20 May

Box Office: 0844 871 3018

Manchester, Opera House

Website: www.atgtickets.com

Tuesday 23 – Saturday 27 May

Box Office: 0844 871 3011

Birmingham, Alexandra Theatre

Website: www.atgtickets.com

Tuesday 30 – Saturday 3 June

Box Office: 0844 871 3017

Liverpool Empire

Website: www.atgtickets.com

Tuesday 6 – Saturday 10 June

Box Office: 0131 529 6000

Edinburgh, King’s Theatre

Website: www.edtheatres.com

Tuesday 20 – Saturday 24 June

Box Office: 01224 641122

Aberdeen, His Majesty’s Theatre

Website: www.aberdeenperformingarts.com

Tuesday 27 June- Saturday 1 July

Box Office: 01463 234 234

Inverness, Eden Court

Website: www.eden-court.co.uk

Tuesday 4 – Saturday 8 July

Box Office: 01253 629600

Blackpool, Winter Gardens                                                     Website:www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk

Tuesday 11 – Saturday 15 July

Box Office: 01494 512 000

High Wycombe, Swan Theatre

Website: www.wycombeswan.co.uk

Monday 17 – Saturday 22 July

Box Office: 0114 249 6000

Sheffield, Lyceum Theatre

Website: www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Tuesday 25 – Saturday 29 July

Box Office: 01492 872000

Llandudno, Venue Cymru

Website: www.venuecymru.co.uk

Tuesday 1 – Saturday 5 August

Box Office: 020 3285 6000

Bromley, Churchill Theatre

Website: www.churchilltheatre.co.uk

Tuesday 8 – Saturday 12 August

Box Office: 01752 267222

Theatre Royal, Plymouth

Website: www.theatreroyal.com

Tuesday 22 – Saturday 26 August

Box Office: 0844 848 2700

Leeds Grand Theatre

Website: www.leedsgrandtheatre.com

Tuesday 29 August – Saturday 2 September

Box Office: 0844 871 7650

Theatre Royal Brighton

Website: www.atgtickets.com

Tuesday 5 – Saturday 9 September

Box Office: 01892 530613

Tunbridge Wells, Assembly Hall Theatre

Website: www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 September

Box Office: 01743 281281

Shrewsbury, Theatre Severn

Website: www.theatresevern.co.uk

Tuesday 19 – Saturday 23 September

Box Office: 01792 475715

Swansea, Grand Theatre                                                                              Website:www.swanseagrand.co.uk

Tuesday 26 – Saturday 30 September

Box Office: 023 9282 8282

Portsmouth, King’s Theatre

Website: www.kingsportsmouth.co.uk

Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 October

Box Office: 01902 429212

Wolverhampton, Grand Theatre

Website: www.grandtheatre.co.uk