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The Curve Theatre, Leicester –until 3rd June 2024 then touring

Review by Amanda Allen

3***

I love musicals, I love circus, I love live singing and dancing, so I was really looking forward to seeing Cirque at The Curve in Leicester. Sadly, although each of these elements were present and individually well done the whole didn’t seem to hang together that well. The concept sounded great, but the show was like something I would expect to see at a holiday park as entertainment, Butlins redcoats with a few more sequins. If that is what you are looking for then it’s worth a visit.

The mime artist, Christian Lee was Truly Fantastic. He tied the whole show together, although a bit loosely. With the idea that he was being transported from his black and white life to one of exciting full technicolour through the medium of his new TV, we were treated to some breathtaking circus acts. He even involved two audience members into his act, which was well done, very funny without being embarrassing for them. The best part of the whole show for me was the re-enactment of the famous Titanic scene using the air from a VERY large balloon, it would be worth the ticket money for that one sketch.

My personal favourite was Duo Eclipse, a dynamic skating duo, Steve and Georgia, they truly did defy gravity spinning around in evermore dangerous, fast and unbelievable ways. I half expected Georgia to come flying into the auditorium. The Juggler/ Crossbow act, Thomas Barrandon, was also impressive. Aerialists Jennifer Van Gool was truly spectacular, bending, balancing and moving about beautifully in 3 dimensions.

Although the dancers were all very good, I was a bit disappointed in the lack of imagination in the male dancers costumes, they seemed to think it would be ok to just have bare chested fit dancers and change the colour of their trousers every so often, adding red braces didn’t really help. The female dancers got a bit more imagination but a lot less fabric! There seemed to be sequins on everything. The circus performers had great costumes, all appropriate to the act and the mime doing his quick change from black and white to colour at the end was amazing to see.

The music was great but a bit piecemeal, there seemed to be no thread linking the different song sequences, lots of Greatest Showman, which was well suited to the show, La La Land, Rocket Man and Moulin Rouge not so. I think the show was let down a little by the audio quality, where I was sitting the music drowned out the singers’ voices quite considerably so you couldn’t tell what words they were singing. In one ensemble piece the voice of the female lead Tori Murray was impossible to hear.

There were a lot of children at this performance who all seemed to thoroughly enjoy the show, I can highly recommend it for 6-14 year olds. The magic of circus, song and dance come together to make a good afternoon out for youngsters, however for more experienced theatre goers, I feel that in trying to be the best bits of everything it fell short of being the best of anything by quite a way.

West End LIVE line-up revealed: 

50+ top West End shows will perform for free in Trafalgar Square this June

Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 June 2024

www.westendlive.co.uk

• Hailed as ‘Glastonbury for theatre lovers’, Europe’s largest free musical theatre festival returns on Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 June
• The impressive line-up of shows includes familiar favourites and new shows performing for the first time including The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button; Fangirls; Hadestown; Kathy & Stella Solve A Murder!; Kiss Me, Kate; Mean Girls; MJ The Musical; Mrs Doubtfire; Standing At The Sky’s Edge; Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York); Why Am I So Single? and Your Lie In April.

A packed line-up featuring nearly every musical playing in the West End has been unveiled ahead of this year’s West End LIVE. This free celebration of London’s world-leading theatre scene comes to Trafalgar Square on the weekend of 22 and 23 June.  

Tens of thousands of theatre fans are expected to flock to the capital for this year’s musical theatre spectacular, enjoying free performances from top shows. This unique event, run by Westminster City Council in partnership with the Society of London Theatre (SOLT), and with the support of the Mayor of London, brings people of all ages into central London to experience the best of the West End – from the city’s unparalleled theatre and culture scene to food, drink, fashion, nightlife, retail and more. 

The event this year, would not be possible without the on-going commitment shown by Westminster City Council and the support of TikTok, London Heritage Quarter, Art of London, ATG, ASDA, The Crown Estate, Disney On Stage, Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, FM Conway, FujiFilm, Heart of London Business Alliance, New West End Company, Nimax Theatres, Regent Street and St James’s, LW Theatres, Shaftesbury Capital, Theatre Royal Haymarket, Trafalgar Entertainment, Veolia and Ontix 

Debbie Jackson, Executive Director of Regeneration, Economy and Planning at Westminster City Council, said:  

“We’re thrilled to once again be celebrating West End LIVE in Trafalgar Square for a weekend of top-tier theatrical performances. 

“This free event showcases Westminster City Council’s commitment to making arts and culture accessible to our communities, providing residents and visitors with a unique taste of what the West End has to offer. 

“Theatre productions in the West End attract visitors from all over the world, providing a  

major boost to Westminster’s local economy, supporting jobs within the creative industries and inspiring the next generation into a career within the performing arts.” 

Official London Theatre will be backstage throughout the West End LIVE weekend sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes content across our social channels. 

West End LIVE remains free as in previous years. The event will be BSL interpreted live by Omoyele Davey, Marco Nardi, Caroline Richardson and the weekend’s performances, including with accompanying BSL interpretation for the first time, will be streamed on Official London Theatre’s YouTube after the event. 

List of shows appearing at West End LIVE 2024

42 Balloons  

Babies The Musical 

Back To The Future The Musical 

Baga Chipz 

The Baker’s Wife 

The Book Of Mormon 

Cabaret 

The Choir Of Man 

A Chorus Line 

Closer To Heaven  

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button 

DIVA: Live From Hell!  

Dorian: The Musical  

Emerald Storm 

Fangirls  

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World 

Frankie Goes To Bollywood 

Disney’s Frozen 

Hadestown 

Hamilton 

Heathers The Musical 

I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical 

I Wish You Well – The Gwyneth Paltrow Ski Trial Musical  

John Owen-Jones 

Kathy & Stella Solve A Murder!  

Kiss Me, Kate  

Les Misérables 

Disney’s The Lion King 

Magic Mike Live 

Mamma Mia! 

Marie Curie 

RSC’s Matilda The Musical 

Mean Girls 

MJ The Musical 

Moulin Rouge! The Musical 

Mrs Doubtfire 

Next To Normal 

A Night With Janis Joplin The Musical  

Operation Mincemeat 

The Phantom Of The Opera 

Queenz: Live In London! 

Roles We’ll Never Play  

Shantify – The Show 

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical 

Sister Act 

Six The Musical 

Standing At The Sky’s Edge  

Tina – The Tina Turner Musical 

Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York) 

Westway Music Presents 

Why Am I So Single?  

Wicked 

The Wild Party 

The Wizard Of Oz 

You, Me & The Rest Of The World 

Your Lie In April The Musical 

More shows and acts will be announced in the lead-up to the event.

westendlive.co.uk / @WestEndLIVE / @westendlive / @westendLIVE

First look images released of Wendi Peters as Mother Superior in the UK and Ireland tour of SISTER ACT, currently playing at the Buxton Opera House.

The cast also includes Landi Oshinowo as Deloris Van Cartier, Alfie Parker as Eddie Souther, Ian Gareth-Jones as Curtis Jackson, and Eloise Runnette as Sister Mary Robert, alongside Isabel Canning, Julie Stark, Phillip Arran, Kate Powell, Elliot Gooch, Michalis Antoniou, Callum Martin, Esme Laudat, Amber Kennedy, Harvey Ebbage, Joseph Connor, Ceris Hine, Sheri Lineham, Corrine Priest and Samuel John-Humphreys.

The tour continues to Northampton, Chester, Grimsby, Eastbourne, Blackpool, Canterbury, Bath, Bournemouth, Torquay, Darlington, Nottingham, Swansea and Liverpool.

SISTER ACT has direction by Bill Buckhurst, choreography by Alistair David, Set and Costume Design by Morgan Large, Lighting Design by Tim Mitchell, Sound Design by Tom Marshall and Musical Supervision by Stephen Brooker. Casting is by Stuart Burt. 

SISTER ACT features original music by Tony® and 8-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken(Disney’s Aladdin, Enchanted), lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner with additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane.

https://sisteractthemusical.co.uk

Hull New Theatre – until 1st June 2024

Reviewed by Dawn Bennett

5*****

I’ve seen a lot of the Mischief productions and have loved watching them all. After seeing Magic Goes Wrong on tour and the section with The Mind Mangler in it, I did wonder if it would be possible to fill a full show with just them and the answer is absolutely yes!

Even before the show began the fun started, the audience were given a card to fill in with their name and their darkest secret and hand it back in. Then the voice of the Mind Mangler himself came over the speakers telling us that he would “challenge himself to become a human lie detector” and this really set the tone for the rest of the show.

The show was non-stop fun, from one joke, magic trick and audience interaction to another.

Henry Lewis (The Mind Mangler) and Jonathan Sayer (Mike, “audience member” and Stooge) wrote this show as well as staring in it. It was slick, brilliantly acted and very, very funny.

The audience participation parts were so good, people where on stage, on camera and the Hull audience really had The Mind Mangler on his toes with some of the interactions and comments!

The mind reading and magic tricks were quite impressive and they really worked and even if they hadn’t it really wouldn’t have mattered it was all part of the fun. They did have me wondering how did they do that?

It’s quite hard to do a review and not give much away, people really need to go and see this show. My face hurts this morning from laughing and I’m very tempted to go and watch it again!

From the minute the show started it had me and the rest of the audience laughing, it is a fantastic show and really deserves full houses and standing ovations for the rest of the run.

A very welcome addition to the Mischief family. Just fabulous!

York Theatre Royal – Wednesday 29th May 2024

Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

4****

What musical do you know that has no plot, no lines, and no musical numbers? Showstopper! The Improvised Musical of course. This is a show like no other. An innovative, creative show, where you as the audience, mould the story and the actors on stage improvise.

The stage is stripped back, a desk with a red telephone standing out. The phone rings and a writer of musicals (Sean McCann, who narrates throughout) is given a deadline to create a new musical, he needs help. Encouraging the audience to shout out suggestions of themes, styles and show titles, which ensures that an utterly unique, one-off show is premiered every night.

For one night only our show was ‘I’ve Only Got 10 Candles’, a play on another audience member suggestion of her daughter’s 11th birthday celebration. With a cast of five, how would it unfold, whilst incorporating Shrek, Carousel, the musical styles of Sondheim and Jason Robert Brown, and not forgetting a bit of Beyonce? Set around the BBC of 1964 and the success of the Two Ronnies and their ‘Four Candles’ sketch, of course. A bit of poetic licence with the dates, but who cares as the improvisation was very inspired. A beleaguered scout, wife and kids at home, smitten with a work colleague is searching for new talent. What follows is a madcap, imaginative show where a talented 11-year-old had a 74-year-old brother, the would-be fling is really in love with the wife, and the wife is a fabulous baker and sick and tired of making shepherds pie. You really couldn’t make this up, but they sure did and produced something unique and entertaining.

The improvisers (Justin Brett, Matt Cavendish, Pippa Evans, Ali James and Adam Meggido) show off their skills and talent through teamwork, feeding off each other. They were joined onstage by a two-piece band, consisting of Jordan Clarke and Nathan Gregory. Armed with nothing but their wits and ability, they deliver a humorous, wonderful performance. It is impressive and exciting to watch.

All the requested elements, and then some were weaved into the story. ‘All The Powerful Ladies’, inspired by Beyonce, was a favourite. Performed by Evans and James, it was a masterclass of improv, with both lyrics and dance moves completely in sync. Bravo ladies!

The standout performer for me was Evans. She has a great physical presence on stage and is sharp as a pin. She produced the biggest laugh of the evening, involving cake, marzipan, and Dick Van Dyke. James and Meggido showcased their vocals skills, with lyrics and performance, whilst Cavendish and Brett adapted to any situation with ease, all exhibited fabulous comedic timing. All are clearly passionate about what they do, and this is contagious.

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical is a joy to watch, led by the audience’s imagination and executed by an ever changing, talented cast. You can guarantee that no night will ever be the same. Their infectious comedy and chemistry make for captivating and engaging experience.

Festival Theatre, Malvern – until 1st June 2024

Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau

5*****

All I knew about tonight’s play was that it was exceptionally well regarded. I was to find out how justified that reputation was…

Beginning with Hanif Khan perfectly setting the scene with some fabulous tabla playing engulfing us instantly in the Afghanistan cultural milieu. Music plays a vital part in the proceedings – the singing bowls being particularly affecting (and what a great name for an instrument!).

The lead actor, Stuart Vincent playing Amir, was on stage all the time, always fully engaging with a massive range of emotions conveyed and he did it all perfectly throughout. This role could have been overdone but he was pitch perfect, sweeping us along into his inner turmoil in all it’s dazzling complexity.

The principle relationships orbiting our lead; his friend Hassan (Yazdan Qafouri), father (Dean Rehman) and wife Soraya (Daphne Kouma) were scripted and acted flawlessly, with a degree of compassion that spoke volumes. We genuinely cared about them all as they were wrought with sensitively and intelligence, in full technicolour widescreen. Stunning performances!

Christopher Glover (playing Rahim Kahn and Omar Faisal) had my favourite line in the entire piece: (speaking of a love across the religious divide), “…it was us against the rest of the world”, “what happened?” asked Amir… I won’t spoil the surprise but his answer gave insights into our shared human condition and truly elevates this play into a work of art.

Bhavin Bhatt as bully Assef gave us a masterclass in emotionally turning on a sixpence, going from ingratiating to menacing instantly with the briefest of looks. A shockingly effective performance. In truth, the entire cast was exceptional with all deserving a mention but due to word count limitations… I will highlight Tiran Aakel playing Ali as every scene he was in was graced with his presence.

With its abstract strips transformed with some clever lighting and back projection into an Israeli West Bank or Mexican/US style border or a city skyline, the set was highly inventive. Draped panels that swung down evoked the Afghan world with an admirable simplicity and character all its own.

This story doesn’t shy away from the more disturbing aspects of human nature – especially the way that we can judge someone as inferior due to religious or cultural differences. Also the truly troubling aspects of how the dehumanizing of others can allow for atrocities and mass populous justification causing cultural myopia to the suffering of our brothers (and sisters) aka fellow human beings. It makes one question many of the assumptions we have regarding the big themes of our time – war, refugees, cultural values.. The play has plenty of humour in it too, giving it a balance that did it credit – it never feels heavy, despite the subject matter.

The audience was held riveted in rapt attention throughout! Sparkling performances from the actors, a scintillating production and a tale that needs to be told in these dark times all added up to a vital night at the theatre. Seeing it made me want to read the original novel (by Khaled Hosseini) so all kudos to Matthew Spangler for a masterful adaptation. I cannot recommend this work highly enough. A phenomenal achievement from all concerned.

ONE NIGHT ONLY PERFORMANCE OF

CSI: CRIME SCENE IMPROVISATION

TO MARK 10^TH ANNIVERSARY

ANNOUNCED AT WILTON’S MUSIC HALL

CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation today announces they will be bringing their sell out Fringe show to Wilton’s Music Hall for a one night only on Friday 12 July, marking the 10^th anniversary of the production.

The debut performance of CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation was at The Red Lion Pub, Moorgate in 2014, created and performed by Lee Apsey, Steve Bond, James Cann, Danielle Downey, Sarah Kempton and Nicola Lucey. The production has since enjoyed multiple sold out runs at festivals including Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Brighton Fringe and Leicester Comedy Festival.

CSI: CRIME SCENE IMPROVISATION

Cast and co-creators:

Lee Apsey, Steve Bond, James Cann, Danielle Downey, Sarah Kempton, Nicola Lucey

Friday 12 July at 7:30pm

No one knows who the killer is, not even the cast!

Following multiple five-star sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation returns with another rip-roaring crime comedy made up entirely on the spot.

Who? What? How? The choice is yours in this fully improvised, witty and absurd murder mystery where the audience creates the crime.

Crime Scene Improvisation was winner of the ‘Best Improv’ at Leicester Comedy Festival 2023 and is now in its 10^th year.

Lee Apsey is a writer, director, producer and performer across film, theatre and digital media. His accomplishments range from award-winning feature films and TV pilots to multiple sold-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, Brighton Fringe and Leicester Square Theatre atop a multi-million viewership across online projects. He also co-created Your Flaws: The Musical as well the co-director of Multiverse Musical and tours performing his award-nominated freestyle rap show Slice of Rhyme.

Steve Bond’s theatre credits as an actor include Looking For Normal (Network Theatre), and Copenhagen (Edinburgh Festival Fringe). His own play The Abduction Of Elizabeth Canning was performed at LSE in 2010, and he has also written and performed for sketch group Goes Well With Cheese, in their show Zinfandel at the Camden Fringe in 2012. He has performed short-form improv shows with Spontaneity Shop, has hosted the LSE Improv Show each year since 2012, and co-founded the improv group Agents Improvocateurs.

James Cann has performed with Hoopla Improv, The Spontaneity Shop, David Shore, Brixton Village Idiots, Catfish-Banjo & Stent and the London Improvised Pantomime. He can currently be found improvising with Kerfuffle and Improv the Dead.

Danielle Downey’s credits include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (London Palladium), Annie (UK tour), as well as her sketch show The Jerry Hall Show (Brighton Fringe Festival). Downey also creates short, animated films, several of which have been featured at exhibitions (The National Trust) and screened at film festivals (Annual Horror film Festival Vancouver).

Sarah Kempton has narrated over 100 audiobooks and voiced multiple characters in games from the Warhammer series and Jackbox among others. Kempton has played leading roles in theatre across the UK and Europe and guested in multiple sitcoms.

Nicola Lucey’s previous theatre credits include Laundry (The former Gloucester Street Magdalene Convent), The Importance of Being Earnest (National tour), Riders To The Sea (The Projects Art Centre), and Apples (The New Theatre, Ireland). Lucey is a co-founder of Twisted Focus Theatre Company with whom she has written and produced Work In Progress and Jenny Is A Raver which premiered at Smock Alley Theatre as part of The Collaborations Festival.

CSI: CRIME SCENE IMPROVISATION

LISTINGS

Wilton’s Music Hall

Wilton’s Music Hall, 1 Graces Alley, Shadwell E1 8JB

Box Office: 020 7702 2789

Friday 12 July at 7:30pm

Tickets from: £8 / £6.50 (concessions)

Crime Scene Improvisation

www.crimesceneimpro.com

Facebook: @CrimeSceneImpro

Twitter: @CrimeSceneImpro

Instagram: @CrimeSceneImpro

Full cast announced for Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’
new big fancy West End musical
WHY AM I SO SINGLE?
Garrick Theatre, 2 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0HH
From Tuesday 27th August 2024

The full cast has been announced for Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’ all-new, highly anticipated second musical, WHY AM I SO SINGLE? This new production from the multi-award-winning writers of SIX the Musical follows two best friends through the ups, and mostly downs, of their dating lives in the era of Tinder (and Bumble and Grindr and Hinge). This very relatable musical comedy is the ultimate show for best mates, serial daters and anyone who’s ever wondered why they’re so single?

The three cast already announced are: Jo Foster (& Juliet; Just For One Day, West End) and Leesa Tulley (SIX, UK tour; Kin, Theatro Technis) who play the leading – and eternally single – besties. They are joined by Noah Thomas (Everything Now, Netflix; Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, West End), who plays the honest friend we all love and need in our lives.

The alternate leads are Jordan Cambridge-Taylor (Schwartz at 75, Lyric Theatre) and Collette Guitart (Just For One Day, Old Vic). The ensemble cast are Jemima Brown (Critics’ Circle National Dance Award-nominated, Tom Dale Company), Josh Butler (Bronco Billy, Charing Cross Theatre), Natasha Leaver (Hamilton, West End), Ran Marner (Jack and the Beanstalk, Imagine Theatre), Jamel Matthias and Olivia O’Connor in their professional and West End debuts, Joshian Angelo Omaña (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, West End), Natasha Wilde (42 Balloons, The Lowry) and Rhys Wilkinson (Just For One Day, Old Vic)

The swings are Callum Bell (Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre), Owen McHugh (Clueless The Musical, Churchill Theatre) and Caitlin Redpath in her West End debut, and Ebony Clarke (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, West End), who is also the Resident Choreographer

WHY AM I SO SINGLE? features a score of original songs by the dynamic, award-winning writing team of Marlow & Moss. From catchy pop songs that you won’t be able to stop singing, hilarious pastiches of well-known musicals, dazzling disco anthems and orchestral epics, Marlow & Moss’ score will capture audiences’ hearts – and ears – this autumn.

Marlow & Moss’ new comedy musical will take audiences on a journey through the ups and downs of dating, friendships and love (in all its forms) in the modern world. Told through the eyes of two best friends, whether you’re 22 or 62, you’ll relate to WHY AM I SO SINGLE?. This hilarious, high-octane musical will have West End audiences swiping right this autumn.

The production is directed by Lucy Moss; with choreography by Ellen Kane (Matilda the Musical, Working Title Films; Dear England, National Theatre/West End); orchestrations, vocal arrangements and musical supervision by Grammy and Olivier Award-nominated Joe Beighton (SIX the Musical, West End; 42 Balloons, The Lowry); set design by Moi Tran (A Play for the Living in A Time of Extinction, Barbican; Peaky Blinders, Rambert); costume design by Max Johns (Choir Boy, Bristol Old Vic, As You Like It, Shakespeare’s Globe); lighting design by Jai Morjaria (My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) and Accidental Death of an Anarchist, West End); sound design by Grammy and Tony Award-nominated Paul Gatehouse (The Little Big Things, @SohoPlace; Mandela, Young Vic); and music production and additional orchestrations by Future Cut (Rihanna, Shakira, Lily Allen, Tom Jones). The production manager is Phoebe Bath (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Birmingham Rep; Noises Off, West End and UK tour) with the casting direction from Harry Blumenau and Sarah-Jane Price from Harry Blumenau Casting (Death Note, West End; Derren Brown’s Showman, Apollo Theatre).

WHY AM I SO SINGLE? is produced by Kenny Wax, George Stiles and Ameena Hamid.

Kenny Wax is a past President of the Society of London Theatre (SOLT). He has 25 years of experience working across award-winning and hit shows in the West End, on Broadway and all over the world. His work includes Mischief Theatre productions The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle, Marlow and Moss’ Tony Award-winning global hit SIX currently running in London, New York, Toronto, and on a UK and North American tour, and Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World, based on the book by Kate Pankhurst, about to open at The Other Palace. Kenny’s Olivier Award-winning shows include Top Hat, Once On This Island, Hey Duggee and The Worst Witch. He is thrilled to be a Producer on Toby and Lucy’s second show.

Ameena Hamid is a producer and general manager who was named Best Producer at the Black British Theatre Awards 2022 for her work on the critically acclaimed production of The Wiz. Hamid is just 24 and having started her West End career in 2020, she is the youngest producer to work on the West End. Producer Credits include: Woman Life Freedom! (GDIF); Invisible (59E59TH); The Wiz (Hope Mill Theatre). Co Producer and Associate Producer credits include: Bonnie & Clyde (Garrick Theatre & UK Tour); Dick Whittington (Phoenix Theatre); Death Drop (Criterion Theatre and Garrick Theatre).

George Stiles is a multi-award-winning writer who has worked on Honk! (National Theatre/UK Tour and Worldwide); Mary Poppins (West End, Broadway, International and UK Tour) and Cameron Mackintosh’s new version of Half A Sixpence (Chichester Festival Theatre and West End). George is also one of the producers of SIX, a journey that has brought him deep joy, helping to guide Marlow & Moss’ breakout hit around the world. With his writing partner, Anthony Drewe, his passion for nurturing new musical theatre is celebrated through the annual Stiles+Drewe Prize.

LES DENNIS TO PLAY BILL BRYSON IN MAJOR UK TOUR

OF

OPENING AT RICHMOND THEATRE TUESDAY 14 JANUARY 2025

Simon Friend Entertainment is delighted to announce that Bill Bryson’s smash-hit memoir,                Notes From A Small Island, will journey to the stage in a national UK Tour starring TV favourite Les Dennis as much-loved writer Bill Bryson. The tour opens at the Richmond Theatre on Tuesday 14 January 2025.

This stage adaptation celebrates one of the nation’s most beloved books by one of the country’s most treasured authors. Notes From A Small Island spent three years in The Sunday Times bestsellers list and sold over two million copies. BBC Radio 4 listeners voted it as the book which best represents England. 

“A comic pleasure! In the Watermill’s adaptation of Bryson’s tribute to this sceptred isle, nostalgia and warmth abound.” The Telegraph

First staged at the Watermill Theatre in 2023, after it’s Richmond engagement the national tour will visit: Nottingham, Theatre Royal; Glasgow, Theatre Royal, Norwich, Theatre Royal, Salford; The Lowry; Cardiff, New Theatre; Sheffield, Lyceum Theatre; Shrewsbury, Severn Theatre; Bromley, Churchill Theatre; Malvern, Festival Theatre; Woking, New Victoria Theatre; Birmingham, Alexandra Theatre; Southend, Palace Theatre; Leicester, Curve Theatre;Brighton, Theatre Royal; Milton Keynes,Milton Keynes Theatre; Aberdeen, His Majesty’s Theatre and Leeds, Grand Theatre.

Further dates and full casting to be announced.

From Calais to the Highlands, Bill travels the length and breadth of Britain, but how can the nation that produced Marmite and Gardeners’ Question Time hold such a special place in this American’s heart?

Les Dennis is one of the UK’s best-known entertainers with a career in showbusiness spanning over 50 years. 

Born in Liverpool, Les came to prominence as a comedian in the 1970s after honing his act on the northern Working Men’s Club circuit and turning pro after a winning set on New Faces. 

More success in TV comedies followed in the 1980s when he starred in The Russ Abbot Show and The Les Dennis Laughter Show, and formed a hugely popular double-act with comedy partner Dustin Gee, cut-short by Dustin’s untimely death. 

Les cemented his place as a mainstay of Saturday night television as the host of ITV’s Family Fortunes between 1987 and 2002.  In 2023 he returned to Saturday night TV with a fleeting but fun turn on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.

In recent years Les has enjoyed a thriving career as an actor, starring with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the English National Opera and in numerous hit plays and musicals in the West End and on tour, as well as a regular role on Coronation Street.  A dad of three, Les lives in Cheshire with his wife, his two youngest children, and their menagerie of pets. 

Theatre includes:  Twelfth Night (Shakespeare North Playhouse), 42nd Street (Sadlers Wells & Tour), Spring & Port Wine (Bolton Octagon), Only Fools & Horses The Musical (Theatre Royal Haymarket), HMS Pinafore (ENO, Coliseum), Hairspray (Coliseum), Venice Preserved and The Provoked Wife (RSC), End of the Pier (Park Theatre), The Miracle of Great Homer Street (Liverpool Royal Court), The Addams Family (Tour), She Loves Me (Menier Chocolate Factory), Down the Dock Road (Liverpool Royal Court), The Perfect Murder (Tour), Spamalot (West End), Hairspray (UK tour), Jigsy (Liverpool Royal Court – Best Actor, LPD Arts), When We Are Married (WYP), 

Eurobeat (No. 1 tour/West End), Certified Male (Edinburgh Festival), The Servant of Two Masters (Wales Theatre Company), Misery  (Oldham Coliseum), Neville’s Island (Birmingham Rep), South Pacific (Birmingham Symphony), Art (UK tour), Cherished Disappointments in Love (Soho), Chicago (Adelphi), Just Between Ourselves (Theatre Royal Bath), Skylight (Watermill) Me and My Girl (Adelphi). 

Film includes: Sideshow, Wounded (winner of Best Feature, Marbella Film Festival), Intimate Relations. 

Television includes: Death In Paradise, The Madame Blanc Mysteries, Moving On, Birds of a Feather, Coronation Street, Holby City, Midsomer Murders, Hotel Babylon, New Street Law, Extras, The Quest 2, Casualty, Mersey Beat, Doctors, Brookside, Les Dennis and Dustin Gee’s Laughter Show.

Notes From A Small Island reunites the Watermill Theatre’s original creative team and is Adapted by Tim Whitnall, Directed by Paul Hart, Designed by Katie Lias with Lighting Design by Ali Hunter, Sound Design by Ed Lewis and Projection Design by George Reeve.

Originally produced at The Watermill Theatre.

Notes From A Small Island is produced by Simon Friend Entertainment.

• THE MULTI-AWARD-WINNING WEST END STAR CARRIE HOPEFLETCHER TO LEAD THE MAJOR UK & IRELAND TOUR OF CALAMITYJANE.
• THE WHIP CRACKIN’ MUSICAL COMEDY CLASSIC WILL OPEN AT AYLESBURY WATERSIDE THEATRE ON 14 JANUARY 2025, MARKING 10 YEARS SINCE THE SHOW LAST HIT THE ROAD

Jamie Wilson Productions is delighted to announce the revival of The Watermill Theatre’s whip-crackin’ production of the Broadway and West End hit musical Calamity Jane starring Carrie Hope Fletcher which will tour the UKand Irelandfrom January 2025 prior to the West End.

Calamity Jane will open at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre on 14 January 2025 followed by Manchester Opera House, Southend Cliffs Pavilion, Sunderland Empire, New Victoria ,Woking, Leeds Grand Theatre, Wales Millennium Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome, Nottingham Theatre Royal, Brighton Theatre Royal, Norwich Theatre Royal, Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Liverpool Empire, York Grand Theatre, New Wimbledon Theatre, Canterbury Marlowe, Southampton Mayflower, Sheffield Lyceum, Stoke Regent Theatre, Blackpool Opera House, Glasgow Kings, Curve Leicester, Plymouth Theatre Royal, Milton, Keynes Theatre, Truro Hall For Cornwall, Dublin Bord Gais, Llandudno Venue Cymru, Bradford Alhambra, Wolverhampton Grand and Bromley Churchill Theatre. For the full details please visit www.CalamityJaneMusical.com.

Marking ten years since the show hit the road the production reunites the previous creative team with Direction by Curve Artistic Director, Nikolai Foster (An Officer and a Gentleman, Kinky Boots), Co-Direction and Choreography by Nick Winston (Shrek The Musical, Burlesque The Musical), Orchestration and Music Supervision by Catherine Jayes (The Color Purple, Merrily We Roll Along), and Set and Costume Design by Matthew Wright. This production will have Lighting Design by Tim Mitchell, Sound Design by Ben Harrison and Casting by Debbie O’Brien. 

Carrie Hope Fletcher is athree-time WhatsOnStage Best Actress in a Musical winner.  She most recently originated the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella (Gillian Lynn Theatre, West End). Her previous credits include Veronica in Heathers, Wednesday in The Addams Family and Eponine in Les Misérables. Carrie is a 2022 GRAMMY nominee for two competing albums for Best Musical Theatre Album – Cinderella (Original Concept Album) and Les Misérables: The Staged Concert (Live Album).  Carrie went out on her first solo tour in 2023 which was entitled An Open Book – she toured the UK (including a sold-out performance at the London Palladium) and the show was a huge celebration of her career so far. She embarks on her second solo tour, Love Letters, in Autumn 2024. Alongside theatre, Carrie has also written several best-selling novels and has huge social media presence with over 635,000 subscribers to her YouTube channel with over 1 million views every month.

Carrie Hope Fletcher said “Calamity Jane is one of those roles that doesn’t come around all too often. She’s action, romance and comedy all packed into one character, and I can’t wait to take on the challenge of filling her shoes!”

Producer Jamie Wilson said “With this new version of Calamity Jane first opening at The Watermill Theatre in 2014, I am delighted to be collaborating with them again to finally bring this wonderful production back to theatres all over the country after a 10-year absence.  We have been waiting for the right moment and artist to step into Calamity’s boots and bring this hilarious and joyful musical back to the nation, and we are thrilled that Carrie Hope Fletcher will be leading the company as the iconic Calamity Jane. Carrie is one of the UK’s most talented artists who’s broad fan base will introduce this much beloved musical to audiences across the country.”

Based on the much-loved Doris Day movie, this foot-stomping new production features all the sure-fire classic songs including The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away), The Black Hills of Dakota, Just Blew in from the Windy City, and the Oscar-winning Secret Love.

Meet the fearless, gun slingin’ Calamity Jane – biggest mouth in Dakota territory and always up for a fight. She’ll charm you hog-eyed though, especially when trying to win the heart of the dashing Lieutenant Gilmartin, or shooting insults at the notorious Wild Bill Hickok. But when the men of Deadwood fall hard for Chicago stage star Adelaid Adams, Calamity struggles to keep her jealousy holstered. Her heart’s a thumpin’… but who for?

What are you waiting for, you wild coyotes?  Whip-crack-away!

Full casting will be announced in due course.

Calamity Jane was adapted for the stage by Charles K. Freeman from a screenplay by James O’Hanlon, produced by Warner Bros. With music by Sammy Fain, lyrics by Paul Francis Webster and Orchestral & vocal arrangements by Philip J. Lang.