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Scamp Theatre and Watford Palace Theatre present

The Scarecrows’ Wedding

Based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

Director Eva Sampson

Designer James Button

Composer and Lyricist Darren Clark

Lighting Designer Elanor Higgins

West Yorkshire Playhouse, Courtyard Theatre

Tuesday 30 May – Saturday 3 June 2017

 

Straight from London’s West End, this truly heart-warming adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s bestselling book is bursting at the seams with Scamp Theatre’s inimitable style (Stick Man, Tiddler & Other Terrific Tales) and promises wit, drama, and wedding bells as you’re invited to Harry O’Hay (played by Halifax, West Yorkshire actor Sam Heron) and Betty O’Barley’s glorious wedding day.

Betty O’Barley and Harry O’Hay are excellent scarecrows (they scare a lot of crows). Harry loves Betty, and Betty loves Harry, so they decide to get married and Harry sets off to search for their wedding day essentials including a dress of feathers, a bunch of flowers and a necklace made from shells

However, when the farmer notices he is missing a scarecrow, he replaces Harry with the devilishly smooth but dangerous Reginald Rake. Dashing, daring and ever so cool, can Reginald persuade Betty that he is the scarecrow for her? Will Harry make it back in the nick of time before Reginald ruins their special day?

Director Eva Sampson said:

“I’m delighted that The Scarecrows’ Wedding will be heading out on tour again this year. It’s a great opportunity to bring the show to new audiences and share Harry and Betty’s epic love story!”

Age guide 3+

The Majestic Theatre on Bondgate in Darlington is under new management and is going from strength to strength – filling the void left when the old Art’s Centre was closed.  One night shows for families and adults alike are filling the diary.  The Bondgate Players have adopted the Majestic as their new home and are performing Allo Allo on stage from 8 June.  The theatre also continues to showcase the talented students on the Performing Arts course from the college – and their end of year show is High School Musical from 30 June.

Today, however, we were reviewing the gorgeous new Majestic Bistro.  The food has been designed around it’s theatrical settings in the heart of the Theatre it sits in, with luxurious lighting, ambient music, stunning bars and its 1920’s Modern Art Deco interior.

Armed with my hard to please sons – one of whom is training to be a chef and the other who is gluten free we went off to investigate.  The menu, which you might call modern British, features small, often complex dishes.

For our starter we shared the Whole Baked Studded Camembert and Antipasti Vegetables with warm bread and tomato chutney.  With an extra portion of gluten free bread.  The cheese was beautiful and creamy and the bread tasted like it was fresh from the oven.  The antipasti vegetables were perfectly pickled without being acidic.  The portion happily fed the three of us with filling us too full so we could still enjoy the main course.

The mains were served with a nice gap from the starter aiding digestion.  We had a chance to enjoy a drink from the well stocked bar and have a chat as the music played in the background.

My boys each had a burger.  My youngest had the 8oz Classical Steak Mince Burger and my oldest the 8oz Steak Mince Chilli and Blue Cheese Burger – both served with chunky chips and whole grain house salad.  Perfectly portioned meals without over-facing the diner. My choice was the Braised Lamb Shank, Bubbly Cabbage, Creamy Pomme Purée and Red Wine Jus.  A stunningly beautiful meal mixed the luxurious with the humble all working harmoniously together.  Nothing was put on the plate haphazardly; all the ingredients have equal billing.  If we can agree that food is fundamentally about flavour, it’s all here on one plate.  With my son declaring that his burger was the best he had ever tasted.

Dessert followed and once again we were presented with food that was beautiful to look at and to taste.  I chose the Chocolate Brownie without cream or ice cream.  Son number 2 the Hot Chocolate Fudge Cake with Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream and son number 1 had a mixture of the Madagascan Ice Cream and Honeycomb Ice Cream.  It was the nicest dessert I had tasted in a long time, my sons were equally as complimentary about their desserts the chocolate fudge cake and brownie,were suitably rich without being sickly. As a chocolate fan I was in food heaven.

The Majestic is a quietly ambitious bistro that deserves the acclaim that should be coming its way, bringing a new style of unpretentious fine dining to foodies.  The staff didn’t hover around our table constantly but was efficient and knowledgeable on the food we ordered. One of the chefs came out and presented some dishes to our table and was detailed in his descriptions.

The relaxed unpretentious feel of this place together with the tremendous skill at work in the kitchen means this place doesn’t need to talk up its credentials. And what’s more it is oh so stunningly priced.  My first visit gives every inkling that if Mattie, Ellis and the talented team continue in this vein, The Majestic Bistro could well emulate the heady heights of its nearby counterparts.

To book for shows or the Bistro contact the team on Tel: 01325 482848

http://www.majestic-theatre.co.uk/

LATITUDE INVITES THEATRE

LINE UP TO JOIN THE REVOLUTION

BLACK HONEY COMPANY: HOT BROWN HONEY

THE NEGRO PROBLEM: NOTES OF A NATIVE SONG

CIRK LA PUTYKA: BATACCHIO INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE

THE OLD VIC LONDON IAW FANE PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS CHARLIE FINK: COVER MY TRACKS

TRAVERSE PRESENTS GARY MCNAIR: LOCKER ROOM TALK
FUEL PRESENTS CLOD ENSEMBLE: ON THE HIGH ROAD
ROYAL COURT THEATRE PRESENTS MANWATCHING WITH SPECIAL GUEST SEANN WALSH

DICKIE BEAU: RE-MEMBER ME | PAUL BARRITT: CAT AND MOUSE

THEATRE RE: THE NATURE OF FORGETTING
HOIPOLLOI & ROYAL COURT THEATRE PRESENT SHON DALE JONES: ME AND ROBIN HOOD
201 DANCE COMPANY: SKIN

MARK THOMAS: PREDICTABLE (WIP)

PAINES PLOUGH: COME TO WHERE I’M FROM

HOLLY BLAKEY: SOME GREATER CLASS ft. GWILYM GOLD & DARKSTAR

SH!T THEATRE: DOLLYWOULD | NABOKOV & BENIN CITY: LAST NIGHT

MIDDLE CHILD: ALL WE EVER WANTED WAS EVERYTHING

BRISTOL FERMENT PRESENTS BERTRAND LESCA & NASI VOUTSAS: PALMYRA

HIGH RISE: MERRYVILLE | DANIELLA ISAACS: HEAR ME RAW

GAGGLEBABBLE, THE OTHER ROOM AND THEATR CLWYD: SINNERS CLUB

OVALHOUSE PRESENTS THE BELIEVERS ARE BUT BROTHERS

FANCY CHANCE: FLIGHTS OF FANCY

VANESSA KISUULE: SEXY | DANIEL BYE: SAFE HOUSE | LUKE WRIGHT: FRANKIE VAH
DASH ARTS: THE DACHA | ARBONAUTS: THE SOARING SKY

FOREST FRINGE | UNLIMITED THEATRE: HOW I HACKED MY WAY INTO SPACE

RICHARD DEDOMENICI: THE LIVE ART TENT OF ILL-REPUTE

DICKIE BEAU: FRUITS OF THE FOREST

HEARING THINGS: PLAYING ON BY PHILIP OSMENT

SBC THEATRE & LEEDS BECKETT: STAND UP AND BE COUNTED

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED
OPERA NORTH: THE UNDERWORLD
FESTIVAL VOICES: DIDO AND AENEAS
BALLETBOYZ
SADLER’S WELLS present
MATTHEW BOURNE’S NEW ADVENTURES: COUNTRY
BBC YOUNG DANCER 2017 FINALISTS | SISTERS GRIMM: VOICES OF THE AMAZON
THE GET-DOWN feat BOY BLUE ENTERTAINMENT
NATIONAL YOUTH DANCE COMPANY: TARANTISEISMIC
FAR FROM THE NORM

The UK’s finest multi-arts festival returns for its 12th edition promising an unrivalled breadth, depth and quality of arts programming. With a spectacular choice of major shows, ground-breaking pieces and the first glance at works in progress, this year’s timely theme of Come The Revolution will be reflected through theatre, spoken-word, cabaret and gig-theatre. Latitude Festival takes place on 13th – 16th July in the stunning grounds of Henham Park, Suffolk. Tickets are available here.

Latitude’s Curator of the Arts, Tania Harrison says “As we launch the Latitude Theatre programme, I’m delighted to share this summer’s festival theme, Come The Revolution. I have invited artists and companies to explore the idea of revolution, from historical social changes to the injustices in our society today; to foster an empowered, revolutionary spirit in our audience. This theme is at the heart of our theatre programme, and emergent and established theatre makers from the UK, Europe, America and Australia, are asking the important questions.

Notes of a Native Song tells the story of James Baldwin’s life, work, and influence on Stew, while Hot Brown Honey is equal parts theatre and social activism. We’re looking at gender politics with the Royal Court Theatre’s Manwatching, 201 Dance Company’s Skin, and Holly Blakey challenging the hyper-sexualised language and dance of the music video. Dickie Beau’sFruits of the Forest and Desmond O’Connor present shows that mark the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality.

Across the festival our bill showcases theatre in its most exciting guises. Fuel’s Clod Ensemblecome to the Theatre Arena, and Cirk La Putyka present the international premiere ofBatacchio. In The Cabaret Theatre, gig-theatre takes centre stage as theatre meets live music, and stories are given new energy. In our shape-shifting Faraway Forest, theatre escapes the black box and brings revolution in both spirit and format. Experience immersive sound-scapes from Opera North; ethereal voices sounding between the trees, plus pop-up Live Art performances in every corner of the forest, appearing when you least expect them.  We’re delighted to welcome Sadler’s Wells back to our Waterfront dance stage, which will host an array of genres, from ballet to contemporary dance to hip-hop. And these are just a few of the magical moments across the festival site this summer; with much more on the bill, there’s something special in the Theatre and Dance bill for everyone, and every taste, to discover.”

Latitude will welcome Black Honey Company to the Theatre stage on Thursday and Friday who promise to bring the temperature to fever pitch with their production of Hot Brown Honey. The show combines the 1920s glamour of Josephine Baker with the hyper-aesthetics of global hip-hop culture and the hot punch of black politics to create a stereotype-smashing show. Hosted by the sumptuous Candy B with music by Busty Beatz and costumes to rival Beyoncé at Madison Square Garden, Hot Brown Honey is a fusion of dance, poetry, comedy, circus strip-tease and song which celebrates our differences as well as our similarities and is guaranteed to get Latitude fighting the power.

Latitude will host the UK Premiere of The Negro Problem’s Notes on a Native Song which will arrive in Suffolk following a sell-out run in New York. Led by singer-songwriter Stew, the show is a rock and roll concert which uses the enduring legacy of James Baldwin to produce a crackling commentary on Trump’s America. Another timely piece, Notes on a Native Song draws on the political potency of the Black Lives Matter movement as well as reaffirming the importance of Baldwin’s life and work.

Drawing inspiration from the poetics of ancient theatre companies, contemporary circus collective Cirk La Putyka will present the international premiere of Batacchio on the Theatre stage. Made up of seven acrobats and actors, Batacchio is an original fusion of contemporary circus, magic tricks and humour.

The Old Vic London in association with Fane Productions will bring Charlie Fink, famed for his work with Noah & The Whale, to Latitude with modern day folk tale Cover My Tracks. With a book by David Greig and direction by Max Webster, theatre and music interweave to tell the story of an idealistic young songwriter who sets out to write a 21st Century pop masterpiece before vanishing without a trace. The first track which will feature in the performance will beFirecracker which can be viewed here.

Edinburgh’s Traverse will present Gary McNair’s Locker Room Talk; a verbatim theatre piece inspired by Donald Trump’s dismissal of controversial comments made during his presidential campaign as ‘locker room talk’, and directed by Traverse Artistic Director, Orla O’Loughlin. To produce Locker Room Talk, Gary McNair spoke with men about women to explore this attitude, with the words of the men he interviewed being performed by a cast of women. Locker Room Talk will be followed by a discussion with psychologist Dr Nina Burrowes.

Fuel’s Clod Ensemble will make their Latitude debut with a first glimpse of their visually captivating show On the High Road which features the company’s characteristic interdisciplinary approach to theatre. Conjuring a feverish end-of-epoch atmosphere, On the High Road is a gripping, vivid piece of theatre, where powerful themes of migration, difference and intolerance are never far away.

London’s Royal Court Theatre will bring Manwatching to Latitude following a sell-out run at Jerwood Theatre Upstairs. Manwatching is a funny, frank and occasionally explicit insight into heterosexual female desire. The show begins with a male comedian being given a script they’ve never seen which they recite for the first time ever in front of a live audience. The unsuspecting comedian for this very special performance of Manwatching will be Seann Walsh.

Meditating on memory will be award-winning performer and lip-syncer Dickie Beau with his show Re-Member Me. This part-documentary theatre and part-séance to ‘re-member’ the ghosts of Hamlet past, Dickie Beau transforms himself into a human Hamlet mix-tape in this ode to the impermanence of personhood and procrastination. Dickie Beau will also be appearing in Latitude’s magical Faraway Forest with Fruits of the Forest.

Evocative animator Paul Barritt will bring his new production Cat and Mouse to the Theatre stage this summer. Well-known for his work with 1927 and their West End hit Golem; Cat and Mouse is an animation adventure featuring big screen cartoons and a rock ‘n’ roll band which follows the familiar dichotomy of anthropomorphic foes.

Theatre RE’s The Nature of Forgetting is inspired by the work of theatre director Tadeusz Kantor. Focused on recent neurobiological research and interviews with people living with dementia, The Nature of Forgetting is a powerful, haunting and beautiful theatre piece about the inability to recollect a life and what is left when memory is gone.

Latitude welcomes Shôn Dale-Jones in Me and Robin Hood; the latest Hoipolloi show about Shôn’s on-going relationship with Mr Robin Hood. Shôn first met Robin as a seven-year-old boy in November 1975, and since then he has been his best-ever fictional friend. As the divide between the rich and poor grows larger, Me and Robin Hood shows the dangerous effects of splitting the world into the wealthy and those living in poverty.

After an acclaimed international tour of their debut show Smother, 201 Dance Company will showcase their hip-hop aesthetic with Skin; an intimate journey of self-discovery which explores one boy’s journey through gender transition, with the strong cast of seven performers exploring what is and isn’t our body.

Following the huge success of Latitude’s co-production With A Little Bit of Luck last year, the festival welcomes the new wave of gig theatre makers to Henham Park. Following their acclaimed production Letters to Windsor House, which wittily explored the housing crisis in London, Sh!t Theatre will return to Latitude with their new work DollyWould. Built on their mutual adoration of Dolly Parton, DollyWould is a riotous and challenging piece on the iconic image of the world’s most famous country singer.

Nabokov and Benin City will team up in Latitude’s The Cabaret Theatre for Last Night, an oral history of London’s rapidly disappearing nightlife featuring live music, poetry and audio interviews with those who danced the night away in the city’s most famous haunts. Directed by Stef O’Driscoll (With A Little Bit of Luck), Last Night is a rhythmic, brass-flavoured snapshot of a city’s fading scene.

Hull’s most exciting theatre company Middle Child will present their epic gig-theatre show, All We Ever Wanted Was Everything in The Cabaret Theatre. From Cool Britannia, to Broken Britain and Brexit Britain, All We Ever Wanted Was Everything follows two kids from Hull raised on Harry Potter, New Labour and a belief that they would be as special as their parents promised. Focusing on what happens when our expectations don’t match reality, Middle Child’s latest production features an original soundtrack inspired by the best British music from the last three decades.

Palmyra invites the Latitude audience to step back from the news, to take a wider view and reflect on what goes on in the Middle East so that we may be able to see things differently. Presented by Bristol Ferment, Palmyra is a new show by Betrand Lesca and Nasi Voutsas who are pioneers in innovative theatre which explores the relationship between live music and the stage.

High Rise will take festival-goers to 2020 with their grime concept concert Merryville. Fast-forwarding three years to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and a coalition between the Conservatives and UKIP, the streets of London are in turmoil and two rappers find themselves in the last ‘affordable’ housing block in London. Dissecting the realpolitik of the past decade through MP rap battles and tactics for revolution, Merryville is an honest account of what it means to be a Londoner when the housing crisis and dodgy politics force people out of the capital.

Suck. Nip. Tuck. Spiralize. Blend. Repeat. Hear Me Raw is a new one-woman show by Daniella Isaacs. Brought to Latitude’s The Cabaret Theatre by the producers of Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho and the creators of Mush and Me, Hear Me Raw is a candid account of a twenty-something’s journey through the wellness world.

Gagglebabble, The Other Room and Theatr Clwyd will join forces in The Cabaret Theatre with an invitation to Sinners’ Club. Based on the life of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in the UK, the live recording of this concept album promises songs inspired by Ruth’s short life washed down with a cocktail of stories about souls lost to sin.

London’s Ovalhouse will come to Latitude with The Believers Are But Brothers. 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 in an exploration of the present crisis of masculinity.

Alternative Miss World Fancy Chance will perform her debut solo show Flights of Fancy. Taking festival-goers from Fancy Chance’s humble origins as a Korean refugee, to becoming the darling of the London cabaret scene, Flights of Fancy contains offbeat comedy, original songs and outrageous film. Joining her in The Cabaret Theatre will be Vanessa Kisuule with Sexy which presents a conflicted woman who loves poetry, smashing the patriarchy with a well-timed slut-drop.

Mark Thomas will return to Latitude in The Speakeasy with his new work-in-progress,Predictable. Following his heart-shattering Red Shed, which won acclaim across the UK for its wit and political anger, Predictable will question the Latitude audience about what they think the future holds. A perfect piece for the turbulence of 2017, Mark will draw on these answers to create a fantastical, hilarious, and perhaps accurate portrait of what our world could look like.

Daniel Bye will take up residence in The Speakeasy with his new political thriller Safe House.  Following a series of interconnected stories, small corners of Britain declare their independence, and complete with live audience interaction Daniel Bye’s unmissable new show should be as unstable as the world it portrays.

Following the multi-award-winning What I Learned From Johnny Bevan; performance poet for a disenfranchised generation Luke Wright will present his new piece Frankie Vah in The Speakeasy. Luke’s second verse play deals with love, loss and belief against the scuzzy backdrop of indie venues and 80s politics with a Morrissey-sized measure of heartache.

Joining the already announced Opera North’s Underworld in the Faraway Forest will be Dash Arts with Dacha. An ever-changing performance venue modelled on the iconic Russian country house, Dacha will return to Latitude exploring life in the summer of 1917 through films, dressing up, board games, political discussions and late night DJs.

Arbonauts will perform The Soaring Sky in the Faraway Forest; a choral multi-sensory experience of live voices inspired by the song of birds, fitting suitably with the forest setting. Singers will take audiences on a reflective journey through a timeless changing landscape between dunes, sea and sky, with a choral score composed by Louise Drewett and Alex Nikiporenko.

The Faraway Forest also welcomes powerhouse new writing company Paines Plough with their nationwide project Come to Where I’m From. Since 2010, more than 100 playwrights have taken part creating a vivid patchwork quilt of accents, experiences and impressions of the UK. We’ve collected all these plays in a giant interactive map of the UK right here at Latitude. Pop on some headphones and discover somewhere new with a tour guide with a difference.

Forest Fringe returns to Latitude and takes up residency in the Faraway Forest, featuring some of the UK’s most innovative and witty performance artists. Appearances will come from Alexandrina Helmsley, Andy Field, Daniel Olver, Afreenz Azaria, Jack Marcus Ellis, Femme Feral, French and Mottershead, Low Stakes, Simone Simone and Eros, Catherine Hoffman and Florence Peake, Simone Kenyan and Neil Callaghan and Verity Standen.

Joining Forest Fringe in the Faraway Forest will be Unlimited Theatre with How I Hacked My Way Into Space, Richard Dedomenici with The Live Art Tent of Ill Repute and SBC Theatreand Leeds Beckett who will stage Stand and Be Counted; their exploration and celebration of youth, protest and activism.

Holly Blakey will bring her emotionally charged dance piece Some Greater Class to the Waterfront Stage. An exploration into the hyper-sexualised language of music videos and dynamics of contemporary pop culture, dancers writhe and contract with explosive energy in a modern day Garden of Eden. Created in collaboration by musicians Gwilym Gold and Darkstar, the live performance lays bare the complexities of voyeurism and the normative ideals promoted in mainstream pop culture.

Written by Writer’s Guild award winner Philip Osment, the Welcome Trust Arena will welcome Hearing Things, a provocative and moving new drama exploring the dilemmas of psychiatry from the points of view of patients, relatives and staff.

TICKET INFORMATION
Adult Weekend tickets £197.50 face value + £8 booking fee per ticket
Accompanied Teen Weekend tickets (13-15 years) £132.50 + £8 booking fee per ticket
Child Weekend tickets – £10

Adult Day tickets £77.50 + £7 booking fee per ticket
Child Day Tickets – £5

Adult Weekend Instalment tickets:
If you purchase your Adult Weekend Ticket  instalment plan between 9am on 1st March and midnight 31st March 2017 your first payment will be of £73 + £8 booking fee on purchase. The second payment of £65 will be on 2nd May and the final payment of £67.50 + £6.50 postage payment will be on 2nd June.

Disabled access requirements and PA/carer ticket applications will open on March 31st. Please refer to the website or contact the access team on [email protected] for more information and guidance.

More ticket information / Tickets available at www.ticketmaster.co.uk/latitude

The Lowry to host a programme of open days across the North West for those seeking a career in dance

North West and was selected to represent the North West at the National Youth Dance Festival in Plymouth in 2015.

Sally Wyatt, Centre for Advanced Training Manager said, “We are looking for young people who demonstrate exceptional commitment and enthusiasm for dance.  We are holding auditions for places on The Lowry CAT course and also The Lowry’s Youth Dance Company and we will be looking closely at the potential of each student regardless of their previous dance experience.”

Further information can be found on the NorthWestDance website.

Places for most open days can be booked through The Lowry Box Office:
0843 208 6000

Application forms for auditions can be downloaded from theNorthWestDance website.

Open Days

The Lowry CAT
Date: Sun 14 May
Times: 10am – 1.30pm
Location: The Lowry, Salford Quays
Age 11-16

The Lowry CAT
(Collaborating with Cumbria Youth Dance Co Audition)
Date: Sun 20 May
Times: 11am – 4pm
Location: Coronation Hall, Ulverston
Age 11-18

The Lowry CAT
(Collaborating with Cumbria Youth Dance Co Audition)
Date: Sun 20 May
Times: 11am – 4pm
Location: Newbiggin Village Hall, Penrith
Age 11-18

The Lowry Youth Dance Company
Date: Sun 21 May
Times: 9.30am – 1pm
Location: The Lowry, Salford Quays
Age 11-18

The Lowry CAT
Date: Sun 21 May
Times: 1.30pm – 5pm
Location: The Lowry, Salford Quays
Age 11-16

The Lowry CAT
Date: Sun 21 May
Times: 12.30pm – 4.30pm
Location: Gymnasium, University of Chester
Age 11-16

Auditions

CAT Auditions
Date: Sun 4 June
Times: 9.30am – 6pm
Location: The Lowry, Salford Quays

Drop in classes
Every Thursday from 4 May until 1 June
Times: 5pm – 6.45pm
Location: The Lowry, Salford Quays

Antic Disposition presents: Richard III

UK Cathedral Tour: 14th July – 28th July 2017

Temple Church, London: 22nd August – 9th September 2017

Award-winning theatre company Antic Disposition present a thrilling new production of Shakespeare’s Richard III. This darkly comic drama will be staged in six of England’s most historic cathedrals and London’s ancient Temple Church.

The tour will include two special performances in Leicester Cathedral – the first production of Richard III to be performed in the building since the king’s remains were discovered buried under a nearby car park and reinterred in the Cathedral in 2015. Antic Disposition’s Richard III also visits Ely, Peterborough, Gloucester, Bristol and Salisbury Cathedrals.

The Wars of the Roses are over and King Edward IV rules England. But his brother, Richard, is in no mood to celebrate. With murder, deceit and dark humour as his weapons, Richard overcomes friends and foes alike to seize the crown. But as the body count rises, he soon learns that a throne founded on blood offers little security.

Richard III concludes at Temple Church in London for a run of fifteen performances. Located in the secluded and tranquil heart of London’s legal quarter between Fleet Street and the River Thames, Temple Church was built by the Knights Templar in the 12th Century and is one of London’s most beautiful and historic buildings. Known for its unusual circular design, Temple Church recently gained fame as a key location in Dan Brown’s novel, The Da Vinci Code.

Directors Ben Horslen and John Risebero comment: After two sell-out cathedral tours with our First World War Henry V, we are delighted to be returning to these spectacular venues with a modern updating of Richard III. The historical Richard had his reputation trashed by his Tudor successors, and Shakespeare’s play is packed with ‘alternative facts’ designed to portray the king as a villain. By bringing our production to Leicester Cathedral, the king’s final resting place, we hope to entertain the audience with Shakespeare’s version of his story, while encouraging them to look beyond it at the more nuanced assessment of Richard that is now emerging.

Award-winning theatre company Antic Disposition, founded by director Ben Horslen and director/designer John Risebero, is best known for presenting innovative and visually striking productions of classic plays and stories in spectacular historic buildings. Past productions include A Christmas Carol in Middle Temple Hall, The Comedy of Errors in Gray’s Inn Hall and Henry V, which recently toured twelve UK cathedrals marking the centenary of the First World War and Shakespeare400.

TRH Productions, Scott Landis, Tulchin Bartner Productions and Zeilinger Productions present the Royal Shakespeare Company Production of

QUEEN ANNE
www.RSCQueenAnne.com / @RSCQueenAnne / #RSCQueenAnne

• FURTHER CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR QUEEN ANNE AT THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET
• QUEEN ANNE WILL PLAY FROM 30 JUNE UNTIL 30 SEPTEMBER 2017, TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE AT WWW.RSCQUEENANNE.COM

Romola Garai will star as Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough alongside Emma Cunniffe as the eponymous monarch in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Queen Anne.

Completing the cast will be Daisy Ashford as Lady Clarendon, Sheena Bhattessa as Lady Somerset, Gabrielle Brooks as Jezebel and Lady Russell, Dave Fishley as King William III and Groom, Jonny Glynn as Jonathan Swift, Chu Omambala as John Churchill and Sid Sagar as Samuel Masham and Inns of Court Singer.

They join the previously announced Jonathan Christie (Arthur Maynwaring), Michael Fenton Stevens (Dr John Radcliffe), James Garnon (Robert Harley), Richard Hope (Sidney Godolphin), Hywel Morgan (Prince George), Beth Park (Abigail Hill) and Carl Prekopp (Daniel Defoe).

Queen Anne originally opened at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in November 2015. It will transfer to Theatre Royal Haymarket for a thirteen week limited run from 30 June until 30 September, with a press night on 10 July. Tickets are now on sale at www.RSCQueenAnne.com.

Written by Helen Edmundson (The Heresy of Love, RSC) and directed by Natalie Abrahami(Happy Days, Young Vic), this gripping new play explores the life of one of England’s little-known sovereigns and her intimate friendship with her childhood confidante Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. A timely production for turbulent political climes, the reign of Queen Anne saw the rise of the free press as well as the Act of Union between England and Scotland.

Daisy Ashford will play Lady Clarendon. Daisy trained at LAMDA and her theatre credits includeLove for Love, Queen Anne (both RSC), The Middlemarch Trilogy, Adam Bede, The Twelve Pound Look, The Skin Game, Diana of Dobson’s, Playgoers and The Beggars Opera (all Orange Tree Theatre), The Rivals (Theatre Royal Bath/ No1 UK Tour), All You Ever Needed(Hampstead/Royal Court), Quality Street (Finborough), Antigone (Southwark Playhouse) and The Norman Conquests (Sherringham). In addition to her work on stage, Daisy’s television credits include Wallander, Spotless, Bonekickers and Like Father Like Son and her film appearances include Jack Ryan, Captain America and The Sweeter Side of Life. In addition to this, Daisy has appeared on radio in Ruth and Love Lessons (Radio 4), and several Doctor Who audio plays (Big Finish).

Sheena Bhattessa will play Lady Somerset. Sheena’s theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet(National Theatre), My Generation (West Yorkshire Playhouse), The Great Game: Afghanistan(The Tricycle – Olivier Award Nomination), Lotus Beauty (The Gate) and The Lemon Tree (The World’s End Theatre). Sheena has appeared on screen in films including Canaries, Love Aaj Kal, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and Take 2. Her television credits include Ransom, Midsomer Murders, Doctors, EastEnders, Whitechapel and The Fixer.

Gabrielle Brooks will play Jezebel and Lady Russell. Gabrielle’s theatre credits include Lazarus(Kings Cross Theatre), Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Sheffield Crucible), Red Snapper(Belgrade Theatre), The Strangers Case (Liverpool Everyman), The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales), I Can’t Sing (London Palladium), Hairspray (UK No 1 Tour/ Stage Entertainment), Our House (Savoy), Avenue Q (UK No 1 Tour/ Cameron Mackintosh). Gabrielle has also appeared in workshops for Synergy Play (Theatre 503), Perfect Pitch (St James Theatre), Becoming Nancy(Playful Productions), Big Fish (ATG), Love Me Tender (Adam Spiegel). Gabrielle has appeared on screen in the film Notes on a Scandal, as well as Paul O’Grady Show and Coming Down The Mountain.

Dave Fishley will play King William III and Groom. Dave’s theatre credits include Macbeth(Theatre Severn), Treasure Island and Of Mice And Men (Birmingham Rep), Hamlet, As You Like It and All’s Well That Ends Well (all RSC), Taming of the Shrew (Southwark Playhouse), Rough Crossings (UK Tour), The Odyssey (Lyric Hammersmith/Bristol Old Vic/Tour), Macbeth (Out of Joint), Paradise Lost (RNT Studio), The Special Relationship (UK Tour), Dido, Queen of Carthage(The Globe), Crime and Punishment in Dalston (Arcola), Caledonia Road (Almeida), The Nativity(Young Vic), Twelfth Night (Nuffield Southampton), Eritrea The Other War (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Marat/Sade (RNT), Silver Face and Ballad of Wolves (Gate), Now You Know(Hampstead), The Tempest (Battersea Arts Centre), Asylum! Asylum! (Abbey Theatre Dublin),Smoke (Royal Exchange), Macbeth and The Tempest (ESC). In addition to his work in theatre, Dave has also appeared on film in Bridget Jones’ Diary, The Man with Rain in His Shoes, The Fifth Element and Solitaire for Two. His television credits include Moses Jones, Casualty, Judge John Deed, Macbeth, Between the Lines (BBC), See How They Run (KEO Films), Buried (World),The Bill (Thames TV), A Touch of Frost (Yorkshire TV).

Jonny Glynn will play Jonathan Swift. Jonny trained at The Drama Centre and his credits for the RSC include Henry IV Parts I & II, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Much Ado About Nothing,Romeo and Juliet, The Blue Angel, Measure for Measure and King John. Jonny’s further theatre credits include Richard II, (Shakespeare’s Globe), Coriolan/Us (National Theatre Wales), Lucky Seven (Hampstead Theatre), Pera Palas (The Gate), Arcadia and Amy’s View (Manchester Library Theatre), Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo (Lyric Hammersmith), Lady Windermere’s Fan(Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Rivals, I Have Been Here Before, Tartuffe, The Count of Monte Cristo and Crimes of the Heart (all Royal Exchange), Hamlet (Birmingham Rep), The Taming of the Shrew (West Yorkshire Playhouse), The Merchant of Venice (English Shakespeare Company),Gawaine and the Green Knight (Royal Opera House), The Broken Heart (Arts Threshold) and The New Apartment (Waterman Arts Centre). In addition to his work on stage, Jonny’s television credits include The Fixer, Clocking Off, The Bill, Heartbeat and Moll Flanders, he has also appeared on film in Submarine and in the Video Game The Witcher.

Chu Omambala will play John Churchill. Chu trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama and his theatre credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hecuba, The Canterbury Tales (all RSC), Intimate Apparel (Theatre Royal Bath/Park Theatre), King Lear (Chichester Festival Theatre/BAM New York), Sunset Baby (Gate Theatre), Danton’s Death, Women Beware Women, Statement of Regret, Candide, The Darker Face of the Earth, The Merchant of Venice, Troilus and Cressida (all National Theatre), Twelfth Night (Liverpool Playhouse), Bedroom Farce (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Macbeth (Out of Joint), Edward II, Richard II, Macbeth (all The Globe) andArabian Nights (Young Vic).  In addition to his work on stage, Chu’s television credits includeMidsomer Murders, Liar, Houdini & Doyle, Lucky Man, Common, Wolfblood, Treasure Island, Spooks, Casualty, Doctors, The Bill, Whistleblower, Doctor Who, Judge John Deed, Holby City, Richard II, White Teeth, Doomwatch. Chu has also appeared on film in The Merchant of Veniceand The Seventh Scroll and his radio credits include Troilus and Cressida, The Duel, Arabian Nights and Old Letters.

Sid Sagar will play Samuel Masham and Inns of Court Singer. Sid trained with the National Youth Theatre and Identity School of Acting and read History at the University of Bristol. Sid’s theatre credits include The Invisible Hand (Tricycle Theatre), The Tempest, Cymbeline, The Oresteia,The Taming of the Shrew (all Shakespeare’s Globe), Treasure (Finborough Theatre), The History Boys (UK Tour), True Brits (HighTide/Edinburgh/Bush Theatre), Eternal Love (English Touring Theatre/Shakespeare’s Globe) and Orpheus and Eurydice (National Youth Theatre). Sid’s short play, Raj, was produced by Little Pieces of Gold at the Southwark Playhouse in 2016. In addition to his work in theatre, Sid has also appeared on screen in EastEnders, Career of Evil, The Hollow Crown and The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies. His film credits include Murder on the Orient Express, Ready Player One and Karma Magnet and Sid has also appeared on radio in ECCo (BBC Radio 4).

*

The RSC Acting Companies are generously supported by THE GATSBY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION and THE KOVNER FOUNDATION.

The work of the RSC Literary Department is generously supported by THE DRUE HEINZ TRUST.

#DL2017

9-11 JUNE 2017

SYSTEM OF A DOWN * BIFFY CLYRO * AEROSMITH ANNOUNCED AS 2017 DOWNLOAD HEADLINERS

SLAYER, ROB ZOMBIE, PROPHETS OF RAGE, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, AFI,

OF MICE & MEN, SLEEPING WITH SIRENS, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE,

SIMPLE PLAN, EVERY TIME I DIE, THE STORY SO FAR,

AND FOZZY ALSO JOIN THE INCREDIBLE BILL

Download Festival, the world’s premier rock and metal event has announced System of a Down, Biffy Clyro and Aerosmith as its 2017 headliners, as well as twelve of the world’s most exciting bands in rock, pop punk, hardcore and metal. The three day festival takes place on 9 – 11 June 2017 at the spiritual home of rock in Donington Park, Leicestershire. Tickets are on sale now at downloadfestival.co.uk/tickets.

Alt rock / metal favourites System of a Down make a welcomed return to headline Download Festival for the third time on Friday 9 June. Always putting on a live performance of epic proportions, the dynamos behind some of the biggest selling metal hits of all time; Toxicity, Chop Suey, B.Y.O.B and Aerials will open the show with their unique blend of disjointed hardcore metal.

Speaking about their return to Download, System of a Down said:

“It’ll have been a couple of years since our memorable Wake Up The Souls show at Wembley, so returning to the UK to headline Download, a festival we always love to play, is really exciting for us. The energy and atmosphere there is always electric.”

The current unstoppable rock force that is Biffy Clyro will step up for their Download headline debut on Saturday 10 June, bringing their full-throttle stadium-sized show to Donington Park. Having scored their second Number 1 album with Ellipsis in 2016, the band are embracing stratospheric success built on a foundation of huge hits such as Wolves Of Winter, Bubbles, Mountains and many more. Biffy Clyro have arrived and Download is theirs for the taking.

Classic rock powerhouse Aerosmith make their spectacular return to headline the Main Stage on Sunday 11 June, in what will be their only UK appearance of 2017. After consistently proving they are one of the best bands in the world, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Joey Kramer, Tom Hamilton, and Brad Whitford will close the festival weekend with style and panache as they rip through Dude (Looks Like a Lady), Walk This Way, Don’t Want to Miss a Thing and more.

Joe Perry of Aerosmith said:

“Every time we go on tour I look at the schedule for cities, towns or events that I look forward to playing. Download Festival is always one of the ones I circle. Donington is like home to us. I have some great memories playing there and I can’t wait to make some more.”

For 35 years Californian thrash giants Slayer have rampaged through the metal world. The genre defining band set the bar for all that followed and are still unmatched with their ferocious brand of infernal aggressive riffs, pounding drums and face melting solos. As well as being masters of darkness, Slayer are masters of their craft and remain as vital as ever. Download 2017 will see these metal royalty legends make a memorable return to Donington, having last performed there in 2007.

Horror rock legend Rob Zombie will turn Download into his trademark twisted carnival with stomp-laden classic and new tracks. With massive hits such as Dragula, Superbeast and Living Dead Girl, both dedicated fans and the uninitiated are in for one hell of a ride when ‘King Astro Creep’ and his monstrous outfit take to the stage.

Also confirmed for the Download line up are the mighty Prophets of Rage. The funk-metal rap elite task force brings together members of Rage Against the Machine, Public Enemy and Cypress Hill. Having only formed this year, the Download crowd will be captivated by the most exciting debut on the line up, as the revolutionary musicians take to the stage to ‘take the power back’.

Alt rock / Punk legends AFI have garnered more than a cult following through 25 years of hard graft. The wildly successful Californian four-piece behind the era defining Miss Murder will be making their debut Download Festival appearance in 2017.

Five Finger Death Punch will tear Download apart with their colossal sound on their fifth appearance at Donington, whilst Orange Country metalcore behemoths Of Mice & Men make their first Download Festival appearance. Joining them are Fozzy, who, led by WWE Superstar Chris Jericho will be bringing punching riffs and huge choruses to the hallowed grounds.

Southern rockers Every Time I Die will hit the Download stage for a third time. Chaotic and grandiose, the hardcore Buffalo natives will bring a set laden with ferociousness and immediacy that is not to be missed. Sleeping With Sirens, the Floridian five-piece who combine melodic vocals with rock sensibilities are set to make the crowd go wild with their infectious anthems. Horror-metal favourites, Motionless in White also join the Download 2017 line up.

Pop punk veterans Simple Plan make a return to Download with their hugely upbeat hits, meanwhile it’ll be fist pumps, posi jumps and stage dives aplenty as pop punk heroes The Story So Far make their Download Festival debut.

Download Festival’s Promoter, Andy Copping said:

“We’re incredibly excited to announce the Download 2017 headliners. We have three giants of rock and metal topping the bill. As always, Download fans can expect world class performances across the weekend. You won’t want to miss a thing.

System of a Down made headline history back in 2011 and 2017 will no doubt see them bigger and better than ever. Saturday’s headliner, Biffy Clyro, have raised the bar for rock music – we’re always looking for bands to make their Download headline debut, and I have no doubt they’ll be worthy of the title. I’m delighted the mighty Aerosmith will be back, and their closing set will be something truly special. The band has a long history with Donington, and having them headline for us again is a real honour.”

Download Festival is the home of rock music and takes place on the sacred grounds of Donington Park, which have been associated with rock since the eighties. The festival attracts icons of rock and metal to its main stage, plus some of the best and hottest new acts in the world. AC/DC, KISS,

Metallica, Black Sabbath, Guns N’ Roses, Rage Against The Machine, Slipknot, Linkin Park and many more have all headlined its main stage.

For further information, please visit downloadfestival.co.uk

Trafalgar Studios 2 May – 3 June.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

I was blown away by Out There on Fried Meat Ridge Rd. at the White Bear earlier in the year, so jumped at the chance to see it again at Trafalgar Studios. This is one of those plays that you want to see over and over again, and under Harry Burton’s assured direction it is a sure-fire hit.

JD (writer Keith Stevenson) lives and works in a tatty motel run by Flip (Michael Wade) – who likes to know where you’re from so that he can direct his racist comments appropriately. After breaking up with his girlfriend and losing his job in the spork factory, Mitchell (Robert Moloney) answers JD’s ad for a roommate and his initial horror at realising he’d be sleeping in the same room as JD is compounded when he meets his neighbours. As well as Flip bursting into the room spouting (very funny) bile, meth head Marlene (Melanie Gray) and New Jersey thug Tommy (Alex Ferns) keep storming in in various states of hysteria and rage. So far, so Jerry Springer. But these stereotypical veneers hide more interesting depths. Marlene is an artist and Tommy is a poet (he thinks). The fantastic cast are all completely believable and are all given moments to steal the show – the production has the feel of an American Father Ted. The set is ludicrously realistic with damp patches, rubbish on the floor, piles of clothes on the bed – and an unescapable smell of tuna in the later stages of the play.

Stevenson’s surreal and farcical plot develops the characters wonderfully in the short running time and reveals the close family that exists in the motel without getting schmaltzy. JD at first appears to be a few sandwiches short of a picnic – he believes his mother’s story about his father being Jesus – but his sweet and simple philosophy of kindness and neighbourliness is infectious, and the realisation that the other characters need him and respect him, rather than take advantage of him, comes quickly. There is a huge warmth and love for these frankly insane characters, and the laughs come thick and fast. There’s even a hostage situation, which JD tries to resolve through the medium of dance. I cried with laughter. And the final reveal is just brilliant. It is just what you are hoping for after falling a little bit in love with the cuddly JD. Everyone needs a neighbour like him.

Just brilliant. And it really stands up to repeated viewing. Knowing what happens, you pick up the smart throw away lines that signpost the truth, and see more and more layers in the actors’ portrayals of this bunch of loons. I am definitely going back for more of this miraculous madness. A must-see production.

Arcola Theatre 2 – 27 May.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

The employees of a multi-national company are never on an equal footing. Most people will have noticed a “Made in …” label and had momentary flashes of guilt imagining dreadful working conditions, shuddered, and got on with their day. Alexandra Badea takes a look at four people around the world, and the dehumanising effects of globalisation on their lives.

None of the characters have names, simply titles. Their overlapping monologues are punctuated by twitching, tortured movements before collapsing to the floor, strewn with pulverised rubber. The set, with various items of broken office furniture poking through the rubber and a damaged wall, was reminiscent of a slag heap, adding to the symbolism of discarded humanity. The timelines and connections between the characters are not clear at first, but the narrative pieces together neatly, although a good 20 minutes could have been shaved off the play to make it a little more coherent.

Richard Corgan’s Quality Assurance of Subcontractors Manager (yep, he didn’t know what it actually meant either) flies around the world making deals and passing judgement. His disorientation and disconnect is initially kept at bay by inane webcam conversations with his family and other webcam activities with “angelofthenight05”, but the conditions he sees at the Shanghai factory finally shatter his illusions about human kindness and love.

One of the workers in the factory is Rebecca Boey, whose life is broken down into moments of time, sequences of movement, and measurements to keep her sane. The company announcements she repeats are hysterical in their brutality – “If you don’t apply yourself to your job today, you’ll be applying for a new job tomorrow!” Workers are fined for leaving the production lines to go to the toilet and sleep in cramped dormitories, but the young girl finds solace in calligraphy at night – enthusing poetically about freedom and wonder.

At the company’s call centre in Dakar, one team leader (Solomon Israel) is full of ambition and snobbery. Even his church has a pecking order of seating. Wearing his fake Versace suit, he spouts corporate nonsense at his team, and cannot understand their resistance to using French names when they answer the phone. He even insists that the canteen serves French dishes, not Senegalese. His initial gleeful connivance in dodgy cost cutting methods comes back to haunt him, and his comedic antics that have delighted the audience suddenly turn sour.

In Bucharest, a Research and Development Engineer (Kate Miles) is busy preparing a presentation for Corgan’s character. She neurotically keeps an eye on her baby and the babysitter on her laptop, and there is a wonderful sequence of opening computer programs as if she was conducting the Mozart piece playing in the background. The measure of how bad her day becomes is the food she chooses. Beginning with gluten free bread and vegan sandwiches, she ends it with microwave ready meals as even her satnav turns against her.

The cast are all impressive, with Miles and Israel having the showiest, funniest roles. They all show their characters’ defeat and despair with subtle well-judged performances and keep the audience engaged throughout.

Lucy Phelps’ translation is fizzing with evocative language and humour, and The Pulverised is a fine attempt to shine a light on the human cost of globalisation. Well worth a look.

Jack Studio Theatre 2 – 13 May.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

The stories of the victims of Chernobyl comes to the Jack Studio Theatre in a moving and powerful bilingual production.

My strongest memories of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 are BBC interviews with academics and farmers worrying about whether Welsh lamb would still be edible, so listening to the accounts of the locals carrying on growing and eating their own vegetables is mindboggling. Germán D’Jesús’s adaptation of Svetlana Alexievich’s book of interviews has a lot to cram into 60 minutes, but the choices made have resulted in a play that feels complete and well-balanced.

The accounts of innocent locals whose faith in the state’s protection are intermingled with the cold and despairing reports of scientists, the bravado of the soldiers brought in to tackle the disaster, and the official party line – creating an emotional whirlwind of sympathy, disbelief, anger and amazement at the strength of the human spirit to carry on.

The words of the victims are often poetic in Keith Gessen’s translation, with some bittersweet moments as the citizens of Pripyat watching Chernobyl burn with the awe of a crowd at a firework display – “We didn’t know that death could be so beautiful”. The casualness of the population because of the lack of immediate visible damage to the environment seems unbelievable now, but the cold war rhetoric spouted by the officials reminds the audience why these people were so naïve and trusting of the state. “It was a conspiracy of ignorance and obedience.” Mind blowing.

The Anglo-Russian cast multirole brilliantly, with Oleg Sidorchik a force of nature as various officials and soldiers. His words are mostly translated using projections, but the scene where his manic, gesture-filled rant is translated coldly in a serene monotone by the luminous Karina Knapinska is fantastically funny. There is a lot of irony and gallows humour in the play, and the pace of the different stories is fast and makes you want to learn more about these characters (I’ve ordered the book already); but the final story changes the tone completely. Kim Christie comes on stage as the young wife of one of the firemen who first tackled the fire, without any protective gear. Christie is phenomenal as she tells of watching her husband die from radioactive poisoning. Her tale is full of well-meaning stupidity by medical staff, her own lies and guilt about her pregnancy, and is given the time to let the horrors and emotion sink in. The play ends with rising anger and despair, but the undercurrent of love and admiration for the sacrifices some of these people made remains.

Voices From Chernobyl is a stunning play that hits hard, reminding us of the human cost of nuclear power, but also celebrates the power of love. Wonderful, just wonderful.