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The Old Red Lion Theatre 28 June – 16 July.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

It’s a great time to be Welsh right now, and as part of the London Taffia, watching Ugly Lovely was like popping back home for the evening – it’s just lovely to hear people talk tidy.

Ffion Jones’ debut play about Swansea girl Shell (played by Jones) and her longing for an escape from her car crash of a life is loud, lairy, and unashamedly Welsh. The girls are instantly recognisable to anyone who’s walked down Wind Street in Swansea or St Mary Street in Cardiff (am I allowed to use the C word in a piece about Swansea?) and Jones has done a fine job in giving both characters depth, showing the emotional, darker side which explains their choices. Jones never mocks them, or Swansea, instead portraying with great empathy the different attitudes and aspirations of people stuck in unhappy lives.

The fractured state of Shell’s relationships with her boyfriend and her mother are explored with gut wrenching honesty through monologues with her dead nan, Wendy. Wendy looms large in the story, even though she’s simply an urn full of ashes (which Shell carries around in her handbag – providing some of the biggest laughs in the play).

Jones manages to keep the audience’s sympathy even when Shell is being vile and stupid – constantly revisiting melancholy lines from her heart to hearts with Wendy, and never allowing the smiles and laughs to appear completely genuine, more like forced hysteria.

As Shell gets more and more self-destructive, she hooks up with Robyn (Oliver Morgan-Thomas – so convincing as the bullying little git that I almost cheered when he got his come-uppance). Drunken and drug-fuelled nights out with Tash (Sophie Hughes – hysterical and fearless), Shell’s hopeless but loveable school friend are her only escape from her empty house as she dreams of leaving. These nights are full of shrieking, cheap wine and collapsing on toilet floors – well, Swansea was in the running for City of Culture.

Jones’ dialogue is sharp and snappy, and small events are escalated into huge dramas by the bored and unhappy characters – just like in real life. Lizzy Leach’s costume design (spot on) and set are authentic and atmospheric – walking into the theatre felt like walking into any shabby seaside caff in South Wales. I loved the seagulls calling, but the music between scenes did become slightly migraine inducing (but that may just be my age).

Tackling some dark issues, but full of hope and lots of filthy laughs, Ugly Lovely is a cracking debut from Ffion Jones, and well worth a look.

 

STUDIO

Folie à deux Productions and From Ground Up Theatre Company

in association with Sheffield Theatres

OPERATION CRUCIBLE

By Kieran Knowles

Director: Bryony Shanahan; Designer:

6 – 24 September

Press night: 8 September at 7.45pm

Folie à deux Productions and From Ground Up Theatre Company in association with Sheffield Theatrestoday announce the full cast for Kieran Knowles’ Operation Crucible. Bryony Shanahan directs Salvatore D’Aquilla, Kieran Knowles, Paul Tinto and James Wallwork. The production opens on 8 September, with previews from 6 September, and runs until 24 September. Following performances at Sheffield, the productions tours to Oxford Playhouse; Maltings Farnham; Phoenix Arts Centre, Bordon; Library Theatre, Leighton Buzzard; Old Town Hall Arts Centre, Hemel Hempstead; Quarry Theatre, Bedford; Cornerstone, Didcot; Artsdepot; The Hat Factory, Luton; Norwich Playhouse; The Woodville, Gravesend; Arts Centre, Hounslow; Theatre Royal, Margate; and The Cryer, Sutton.

 

‘Sheffield was on fire. It was glowing orange, like hell, like a furnace, like steel.’

Set against the backdrop of the Sheffield Blitz, Operation Crucible is the story of four ordinary men in extraordinary times…

On the 12 December 1940 a single bomb reduced the Marples Hotel, which stood proudly in Fitzalan Square, from seven storeys to just 15 feet of rubble. Only one of the ten compartments in the hotel’s cellars withstood the blast. Within it, trapped, were four men.

This is their story, from beginning to end…

Kieran Knowles, was nominated for Most Promising New Playwright for his first play, Operation Crucible, he is a graduate of Loughborough University, LAMDA and the Royal Court Young Writer’s Programme. As an actor his work includes Toast (UK tour and New York), Operation Crucible (Finborough Theatre and UK tour), The Bear, The Owl and The Angel (New Wimbledon Studio), The Winter’s Tale, The Taming of the Shrew (RSC), The Witches’ Promise (Birmingham REP), Waiting For Lefty (Theatre Royal Haymarket),Darkness (Lakeside Theatre, Colchester, and Edinburgh) and The Exclusion Zone (Southwark Playhouse).

Salvatore D’Aquilla’s theatre work includes Comet (Redbridge Drama Centre), Operation Crucible(Finborough Theatre), War Horse (National Theatre/West End), The Way of The World (Chichester Festival Theatre), and Still Life (Old Red Lion Theatre).

 

Paul Tinto’s theatre credits include Operation Crucible (Finborough Theatre), In Time O’ Strife, international tour of Black Watch (National Theatre of Scotland), Chariots of Fire (Hampstead Theatre/West End), The Odyssey (National Theatre), Claustrophobia, Release (Edinburgh Fringe Festival). For television, his work includes First Light and Outlander; and for film, Tommy’s Honour.

 

James Wallwork’s theatre credits include Operation Crucible (Finborough Theatre), My Beautiful Laundrette(ATS Theatre) Darkness (Lakeside Theatre, Colchester and Edinburgh Fringe Festival) and Last Man Standing(Nursery Theatre). For film, his work includes A Thousand Empty Glasses, V.P. and Nightstand. Wallwork is also a Director and co-founded the award-winning film company Take Cover Films in 2011.

Director Bryony Shanahan is Co-Artistic Director of Snuff Box Theatre. Directing credits include Boys Will Be Boys (National Theatre), Bitch Boxer (Soho Theatre, UK tour and Adelaide Fringe Festival), Quiet Violence(Camden Roundhouse), Macbeth (East 15 Acting School), Chapel Street (national tour), You and Me(Greenwich Theatre and national tour), The Altitude Brothers (national tour), Doctor Faustus (St Mary Magdelene Church, Paddington) and Babies (Southwark Playhouse). In 2014, she won a BBC Performing Arts Award to work at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, where she assisted on Sarah Frankcom’sHamlet with Maxine Peake, as well as developing new Snuff Box piece Weald. She returned to the Royal Exchange Theatre in 2015 as Associate Director on The Skriker as part of the Manchester International Theatre Festival.

Shanahan was also awarded the 2016 Young Vic Genesis Future Directors Award.

First performed at the Finborough Theatre, London under Neil McPherson, Artistic Director.

 

Suitable for age 10+

#OperationCrucible

www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Twitter: @crucibletheatre @SheffieldLyceum

 

NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL ANNOUNCES

AUTUMN ’16 / SPRING ’17 SEASON

 

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

The Woman in Black 24 – 29 Apr ‘17

Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes 2 – 6 May ‘17

Funny Girl 16 – 20 May ‘17

Jane Eyre 3 – 8 July ‘17

 

There’s something to suit every taste with spellbinding dance, madcap comedy and scintillating drama amongst the world-class productions announced by Newcastle Theatre Royal for the Autumn ’16 / Spring ’17 season.  

 

The eagerly-awaited Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes (Tue 2 – Sat 6 May ‘17) is set to dazzle audiences in an intoxicating drama where life imitates art with fateful consequences.  A beloved fairytale and Academy Award-winning movie, The Red Shoeshas seduced audiences and inspired generations of dancers with its tale of obsession, possession and one girl’s dream to be the greatest dancer in the world.  Matthew Bourne’s magical adaptation of the classic Powell and Pressburger film is set to a new score arranged by Terry Davis using the mesmerizing music of golden-age Hollywood composer Bernard Hermann with sumptuous designs by Lez Brotherston (set and costumes), Paule Constable (lighting) and Paul Groothuis (sound).

 

Dance fans are certainly spoilt for choice; unwrap a tasty winter treat with Scottish Ballet’s magical Hansel & Gretel (Wed 1 – Sat 4 Feb ’17).  A carousel of delicious treats from start to finish, Hansel & Gretel is full to the brim with magic and wit, with toys that come to life and a beautiful, bewitching ballerina who is not at all what she seems.  And younger audiences will be delighted byWee Hansel & Gretel (Fri 3 Feb ’17), an enchanting journey into the woods for children aged 3+.

 

Afro Caribbean rhythms, jazzy American modernism and inflections from European ballet come together in Danza Contemporana de Cuba (Tue 21 – Wed 22 Feb ’17) to create an intoxicating blend which evokes the sensual, mystical and raw heart of Cuban spirit from the nation’s flagship contemporary dance troupe.

 

The magic of Ballroom and Latin dance is celebrated in Keep Dancing (Tue 18 – Sat 22 Apr ’17) – a breathtaking dance extravaganza featuring Robin Windsor, professionals and a guest celebrity from Strictly Come Dancing and a host of world-champions in a fast paced, high intensity production.

 

Audiences will laugh out loud at the multi award-winning West End smash hit comedy The Play That Goes Wrong (Tue 17 – Sat 21 Jan ’17) which has won a host of celebrity endorsements from the likes of Joanna Lumley and Ant & Dec.  The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society are putting on a 1920s murder mystery and everything that can go wrong does – this brilliantly funny comedy is guaranteed to leave you aching with laughter!

 

The spine-chilling The Woman in Black (Mon 24 – Sat 29 Apr ’17) returns to Newcastle having continued to captivate audiences in a record breaking run in London’s West End.  Susan Hill’s acclaimed ghost story comes dramatically alive in Stephen Mallatratt’s ingenious adaptation.  This gripping production, directed by Robin Hertford, is a brilliantly successful study in atmosphere, illusion and controlled horror.

 

Hot on the heels of a record breaking, sold out West End run, the new production of the iconic Funny Girl (Tue 16 – Sat 20 May ’17) is set to delight fans of musical theatre.  Funny Girl brought global fame to Barbra Streisand 50 years ago and boasts some of the best-loved songs in film and theatre history including People and Don’t Rain On My Parade.  The critically acclaimed production tells the story of Fanny Brice, whose vocal talents and comedic ability see her rise from Brooklyn music hall singer to Broadway star.  Don’t miss your chance to see it when Funny Girl comes to the Theatre Royal for 1 week only.

 

The innovative drama based on Mark Haddon’s award-winning novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (Tue 30 – Sat 10 June ’17) has been adapted for stage by playwright Simon Stephens and is directed by Olivier and Tony Award-winning director Marianne Elliot.  Returning to Newcastle after a sell-out run in 2015, this smash-hit new production continues to play to sold-out houses in London’s West End and on Broadway and tells the story of 15 year old Christopher whose extraordinary brain – whilst being exceptional at maths – is ill-equipped to interpret everyday life.  This dazzlingly inventive show about the wonders of life is set to enthral audiences on this much anticipated tour.

 

Following a critically acclaimed season at the National Theatre, Jane Eyre (Mon 3 – Sat 8 July ’17) comes to Newcastle.  This innovative re-imagining of Charlotte Bronte’s masterpiece is as inspiring as ever as this bold and dynamic production uncovers one woman’s fight for freedom and fulfilment on her own terms.  Directed by Sally Cookson, this collaboration between the National Theatre and Bristol Old Vic is guaranteed to take the audience on a wave of emotions as the spirited heroine faces life’s obstacles head on before taking the ultimate decision to follow her heart.
And there are plenty of great shows to suit all tastes already on sale in the current season. The magical story of the world’s favourite Nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane is set to delight audiences when Mary Poppins flies onto the Theatre Royal stage (Fri 9 Sept – Sat 29 Oct ‘16).  A jam-packed line up of top-class musicals includes West Side Story (Tue 19 – Sat 23 July ‘16), the sexy and sensational Chicago (Mon 1 – Sat 13 Aug ’16), Dirty Dancing (Mon 23 – Sat 28 Jan ’17), The Commitments (Mon 6 – Sat 11 Feb ’17), the ever-popular Blood Brothers (Mon 13 – Sat 18 Mar ’17), Mamma Mia! (Tue 28 Mar – Sat 15 Apr ’17) and the Broadway and West End smash Sister Act (Mon 19 – Sat 24 Jun ’17).

 

Comedy fans can enjoy a night with Stewart Lee (Sun 6 Nov ’16) and Al Murray (Sun 19 Feb ’17) and there will be laughs a plenty when our show-stopping 16/17 Pantomime Cinderella takes to the stage (Tue 22 Nov ’16 – Sun 15 Jan ’17) bringing fun and adventure for all the family.

 

Special guests, The Overtones will be starring in That’s Entertainment (Tue 5 – Sat 9 Jul) and music fans will be thrilled by the story of rock ‘n’ roll legends Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins coming together in Million Dollar Quartet (Mon 6 – Sat 11 Mar ‘17).

 

The raucous Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour are set to cause havoc (Tue 12 – Sat 16 July ’16) and following their hit run on Broadway, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart star in the brilliantly entertaining No Man’s Land (Mon 15 – Sat 20 Aug ’16).  Jane Austen’s most beloved novel is reborn in Pride and Prejudice (Tue 14 – Sat 18 Feb ’17), Hadaway Harry (Fri 24 – Sat 25 Feb ’17) tells the story of local sporting hero Harry Clasper and spine-tingling drama comes by way of Peter James’ Not Dead Enough(Mon 20 – Sat 25 Mar ’17).

 

Dance fans will be swept away by the magic of Northern Ballet’s Beauty and the Beast (Tue 8 – Sat 12 Nov ‘16), younger ballet fans will be delighted with a special performance of Goldilocks & the Three Bears (Fri 11 Nov ’16) and pre-schoolers will be delighted when Peppa Pig’s Surprise arrives (Wed 27 – Thu 28 Jul ’16).  Opera fans will be mesmerised with a host of performances from Opera North including Der Rosenkavalier (Wed 2 & Sat 5 Nov’ 16), Billy Budd (Thu 3 Nov ’16), Il tabaroo / Suor Angelica double bill (Fri 4 Nov ’16), Hansel and Gretel (Wed 1 & Sat 4 Mar ’17), Cinderella (Tue 2 & Sat 4 Mar ’17) andThe Snow Maiden (Fri 3 Mar ’17).

 

Tickets for all new shows in the Autumn ‘16 / Spring ‘17 season go on sale to the general public at 9am on Friday 8 July 2016 and can be purchased online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge).

 

Friends of the Theatre Royal can book new season shows on Monday 4 July, before the general public on Friday 8 July, and receive discounted tickets as well as other benefits – visit www.theatreroyal.co.uk/support/become-a-friend for more information.

 

 

Dead Sheep Limited in collaboration with Cahoots Theatre Company present

AS THE UK AND ITS POLITICAL PARTIES

TEAR THEMSELVES APART OVER EUROPE…

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR JONATHAN MAITLAND’S

DEAD SHEEP

* PORTRAYS THATCHER’S DOWNFALL AT THE HANDS OF GEOFFREY HOWE

* TOURS THE UK IN AUTUMN 2016

* PLAYS BIRMINGHAM DURING THE TORY PARTY CONFERENCE

* PLAYS EASTBOURNE – IAN GOW MP’S CONSTITUENCY

* PAUL BRADLEY TO PLAY ‘HOWE’ OPPOSITE STEVE NALLON AS ‘THATCHER’

Jonathan Maitland said, “When I wrote Dead Sheep in 2014 I knew it would be resonant. But it now feels uncanny. Then, as now, it was a story of a government split over Europe, agonising conflicts of loyalty, and a fatal miscalculation by a seemingly impregnable Prime Minister. The timing couldn’t be sweeter: especially since we’re playing Birmingham in September, during the week of the Tory party conference. We’re considering a special seating policy for that leg of the tour: Remainers in the circle, Leavers in the stalls…”

After a record-breaking run at Park Theatre, and huge critical and public acclaim, Jonathan Maitland’s debut play, DEAD SHEEP, directed by Ian Talbot OBE, will tour the UK from 6 September – 28 November 2016. Steve Nallon will return to the production to star as ‘Margaret Thatcher’, having portrayed her for many years on the political puppetry satire Spitting Image. Paul Bradley, best known for playing ‘Professor Elliot Hope’ in Holby City, will play ‘Geoffrey Howe’, Carol Royle will play ‘Elspeth Howe’, Graham Seed will play ‘Ian Gow / Nigel Lawson’, Tony Bell will play ‘Bernard Ingham / Alan Clark / Dennis Thatcher’ and John Wark will play ‘Stephen Wall / Brian Walden’.

It is 1989 and a seemingly invincible Prime Minister has sacked her Foreign Secretary Geoffrey Howe, thinking she had nothing to fear from him; his speaking skills had, famously, been compared to those of a dead sheep. But inspired by his wife Elspeth – a formidable and witty feminist, whose relationship with Thatcher was notoriously frosty – Howe overcame his limitations to destroy Mrs Thatcher’s political career…and also his own.

Dead Sheep portrays the true story of how Mrs. Thatcher, the most divisive Prime Minister of modern times, was brought down by her one time friend and political soul mate Geoffrey Howe. Using imagined dialogue to portray private scenes between the main protagonists, it recreates the events leading up to Howe’s famous 1990 speech, in which he criticised Thatcher for undermining policies on economic and monetary union in Europe, ultimately leading to her downfall and resignation. Dead Sheep is the result of two years’ research, during which the playwright gained access to Geoffrey Howe himself and other prominent politicians and advisers of the era.

Jonathan Maitland is a broadcaster and writer. He reported for Radio 4’s Today programme in the 1990s, before co-presenting BBC1’s Watchdog and ITV 1’s House of Horrors. He has presented ITV1’s flagship current affairs show, Tonight, for the last 16 years. He has interviewed, amongst others, Tony Blair, Madonna, Henry Kissinger and Bob Geldof and written for all the national newspapers. He has authored five books, including a best-selling memoir How To Survive Your Mother and Vote For Who?. His co-written screenplay about the footballer Stanley Matthews has been optioned and is in development. Dead Sheep was his debut play at Park Theatre, which was then followed by the highly controversial An Audience with Jimmy Savile, starring Alistair McGowan, which went on to smash his existing box office record. His third play at the venue, Deny Deny Deny, which will tackle doping in sport, will open in November.

Steve Nallon plays ‘Margaret Thatcher’. In 1984 Steve became a founding member of the Spitting Image team and it aired until 1996. Although he became most famous for providing the voice of Thatcher, he also voiced many of the show’s other characters, including ‘The Queen Mother’, ‘Alan Bennett’ and ‘David Attenborough’. His other stage credits include Cissie and Ada, An Hysterical Rectomy (UK tour) and Carnival (Barbican), his television work includes Jonathan Creek and TV Burp and he appeared in the film 51 Degrees North in 2015.

Paul Bradley plays ‘Geoffrey Howe’. Paul played ‘Professor Elliot Hope’ for ten years in Holby City and ‘Nigel Bates’ in EastEnders for six. Other TV includes ; Bradley (his own children’s’ TV show) Bottom, Smith and Jones, Birth Marriages and Deaths, The Kate Robbins Show, Stop That Laughing At The Back, The Young Ones, Murder Most Horrid, Boon, Comic Strip and C.U Byrne ( in Irish !). On the big screen he played ‘Yehuda Zsiskind’ in Roman Polanski’s multi Academy Award and BAFTA winning film, The Pianist. His theatre credits include Journey’s End (Comedy Theatre), Noises Off (ATG), The Relapse (NT), The Threesome (Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Pirates Of Penzance and Twelfth Night (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing, Bulldog Drummond, Around The World in 80 Days (Southampton Nuffield Theatre), Charley’s Aunt (York Theatre Royal), Romeo and Juliet (Young Vic), as well as Rep seasons at Manchester University and Royal Exchange theatres.

Ian Talbot directs. He was Artistic Director of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre until 2008, where his directing credits include Babes In Arms, The Fantasticks, Kiss Me Kate, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Oh, What A Lovely War, High Society, H.M.S. Pinafore (all nominated for Olivier Awards). His other directing credits include The Mousetrap (St Martin’s Theatre), Yeoman of the Guard (Savoy Theatre), High Society (Shaftesbury Theatre and UK tour) and Lend Me A Tenor (Gielgud Theatre). He has also acted at the RSC, Shakespeare’s Globe and in the West End. In 2007 he was awarded OBE for services to drama.

www.deadsheepontour.co.uk/

@DeadSheepPlay

#deadsheepontour

@cahootstc

Facebook.com/ Cahoots Theatre Company

UK TOUR DATES

Tuesday 6 – Saturday 10 September CAST, DONCASTER

Monday 13 – Saturday 17 September WESTCLIFF PALACE THEATRE, SOUTHEND

Monday 19 – Saturday 24 September ROYAL & DERNGATE, NORTHAMPTON

Monday 26 September – Saturday 1 October BIRMINGHAM REP

Monday 3 – Saturday 8 October SHREWSBURY SEVERN THEATRE

Tuesday 11 – Saturday 15 October CARDIFF NEW THEATRE

Wednesday 19 – Saturday 22 October COVENTRY BELGRADE THEATRE

Monday 31 October – Saturday 5 November EXETER NORTHCOTT THEATRE

Tuesday 8 – Saturday 12 November EASTBOURNE DEVONSHIRE PARK

Monday 14 – Saturday 19 November MALVERN FESTIVAL THEATRE

Monday 21 – Saturday 26 November GUILDFORD YVONNE ARNAUD

Wednesday 30 November – Saturday 3 December BROMLEY CHURCHILL THEATRE

Beckman Unicorn presents

The Chilling Production

Darktales

  Spooky, Poe-esque DARKTALES returns to the Fringe after 21 years with a revised script.  

• DARKTALES is written by TIM ARTHUR, previous editor-in-chief of Time Out Magazine.   
• This 21stanniversary production is directed by the twice-Olivier nominated DAN CLARKSON,most famous for being one half of the duo behind Potted Potter.  
• Darktales stars ANDREW PAUL (The Bill, Coronation Street), SEAN WARD (Coronation Street) and CARRIE MARK (Secret Cinema). 

Horror-thriller Darktales is the scariest show at the Fringe! 21 years ago audience members gasped, screamed, fainted or had to leave the theatre. This chilling, creepy play explores the myths and the stories that scare us at night, and the two men who write them. The conversation becomes a sinister exchange, a dark rivalry – but the men are linked by more than their writing – there is a strong smell of sexual jealousy! And the mysterious Lucy looms over their stories. Confronting each other by demonstrating the power of each of their writing styles, slowly reveals a dark secret, leading to a terrifying conclusion.

TIM ARTHUR’s revised version of the script that terrified Fringe audiences updates the story for new audiences, but its haunting tales remain as chilling and as terrifying as before. Drawing inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe and H. P. Lovecraft you may think you know where Darktales is going, but it has scary surprises and twists up its sleeve.

Darktales is written by Tim Arthur, former editor-in-chief of Time Out Magazine and will be directed by the double Olivier Award nominee DAN CLARKSON, one half of the duo behind Potted Potter – an internationally-acclaimed, Harry Potter experience.

ANDREW PAUL, the familiar TV face most famous for his role as P.C. Dave Quinnan in The Bill will take on the role of Alex Crowley, the Professor.

Jack Langton, his ex-student, is played by SEAN WARD, who terrified the residents of Coronation Street as Callum Logan. Although Callum was brutally murdered in September 2015, he is currently haunting the residents of ‘The Street’, the Platt family to crisis as Sarah Platt has just given birth to his baby and believes he is alive!

CARRIE MARX plays the mysterious Lucy – the reason for Alex and Jack’s meeting. Carrie is an actress, singer and writer who has recently taken part in Secret Cinema productions to great acclaim.

LISTINGS INFO

3 – 29 August at 5:50pm (first review date: 5 August)

Pleasance One

Suitable for ages 14+

NTERNATIONAL TRIUMPH BLOOD BROTHERS

 

TO EMBARK ON 2016 UK TOUR THIS AUTUMN

 

LYN PAUL RETURNS TO THE ROLE OF MRS JOHNSTONE

 

WATCH: BLOOD BROTHERS

The international smash hit musical Blood Brothers is set to visit theatres across the UK this autumn. The tour opens in Malvern on Tuesday 13 September. Blood Brothers played its debut performance in Liverpool in 1983; the autumn tour will make a welcome return ‘home’ to the Empire Theatre for two weeks from 19 September.

No stranger to Blood Brothers, ‘The definitive Mrs Johnstone’ (Manchester Evening News) Lyn Paulreturns to the iconic role, one she first played in 1997. Lyn played Mrs Johnstone in the final West End performances at the Phoenix Theatre in 2012. She has also starred in the UK tour of Cabaret in 2013 as Fraulein Schneider, in Boy George’s musical Taboo and in Footloose – the Musical.

Lyn rose to fame in the early 1970s as a member of the New Seekers. She was the featured vocalist on their 1972 Eurovision Song Contest entry, ‘Beg, Steal or Borrow’, in which they came second and lead vocalist on the 1974 number-one hit ‘You Won’t Find Another Fool Like Me’. Among the group’s other works, they recorded the song ‘I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing’, adapted from an advertising jingle for Coca-Cola, which sold over 20 million copies and still remains one of the 100 best-selling singles in the UK.

Hailed as one of the best musicals of all time, Blood Brothers, written by award-winning playwrightWilly Russell has triumphed across the globe. Scooping up no fewer than four awards for best musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway, Blood Brothers is simply unmissable and unbeatable. This epic tale of Liverpool life ran in London’s West End for 24 years and exceeded 10,000 performances. It is one of only three musicals ever to achieve that milestone.

Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving story of twin boys separated at birth, only to be reunited by a twist of fate and a mother’s haunting secret. The memorable score includes A Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True.

When Mrs Johnstone, a young mother, is deserted by her husband and left to her own devices to provide for seven hungry children she takes a job as a housekeeper in order to make ends meet.

It is not long before her brittle world crashes around her when she discovers herself to be pregnant yet again – this time with twins! In a moment of weakness and desperation, she enters a secret pact with her employer which leads inexorably to the show’s shattering climax. A sensational cast, incredible show stopping music, remarkable staging and five star performances make Blood Brothers an enthralling night of entertainment.

Willy Russell is undeniably one of this country’s leading contemporary dramatists. His countless credits include Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine. Educating Rita, originally commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, enjoyed a two year run in the West End and was made into a movie starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters. Shirley Valentine also made the move from stage to screen in an enormously popular film starring Pauline Collins and Tom Conti.

Tickets: From £14

Box Office: 0871 3024

Online Booking: www.atgtickets.com/york

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Bill Kenwright presents

BLOOD BROTHERS

By Willy Russell

Directed by Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright

Designed by Andy Walmsley                                   Sound Designed By Dan Samson

Musical Direction by Kelvin Towse                        Lighting Designed by Nick Richings

 

BLOOD BROTHERS – AUTUMN 2016 TOUR DATES

 

Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 September                                                  Box Office: 01684 892 277

Malvern Theatres                                                                                         Website: www.malvern-theatres.co.uk

Monday 19 September – Saturday 1 October                                  Box Office: 0844 871 3017

Liverpool Empire                                                                                           Website:www.atgtickets.com

Tuesday 4 – Saturday 8 October                                                             Box Office: 028 7126 4455

Londonderry, Millennium Forum                                                           Website:www.millenniumforum.co.uk

Monday 10 – Saturday 22 October                                                        Box Office: 0844 338 5000

Birmingham Hippodrome                                                                          Website:www.birminghamhippodrome.com

Tuesday 25 – Saturday 29 October                                                        Box Office: 01642 551389

Billingham, Forum Theatre                                                                       Website:www.forumtheatrebillingham.co.uk

Tuesday 1 – Saturday 5 November                                                       Box Office: 01305 783225

Weymouth Pavilion                                                                                     Website:www.weymouthpavilion.com

Monday 7 – Saturday 12 November                                                     Box Office: 0844 871 3024

York, Grand Opera House                                                                         Website:www.atgtickets.com

Tuesday 15 – Saturday 19 November                                                   Box Office: 0843 208 6000

The Lowry, Salford Quays                                                                         Website: www.thelowry.com

Monday 21 – Saturday 26 November                                                   Box Office: 01322 220000

Dartford, Orchard Theatre                                                                        Website:www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

Monday 28 November – Saturday 3 December                                               Box Office: 0844 871 7650

Brighton, Theatre Royal                                                                                             Website:www.atgtickets.com

BLOOD BROTHERS – SPRING 2017 TOUR DATES

 

**Monday 16 – Saturday 21 January                                                    Box Office:  0844 871 7645

Woking, New Victoria Theatre                                                                                Website:www.atgtickets.com

 

**Monday 23 January – Saturday 4 February                                   Box Office: 0114 249 6000

Sheffield Theatres, Lyceum Theatre                                                    Website:www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

** Monday 6 – Saturday 11 March                                                        Box Office: 024 7655 3055

Coventry, Belgrade Theatre                                                                     Website:www.belgrade.co.uk

**Monday 13 – Saturday 18 March                                                      Box Office: 08448 112121

Newcastle, Theatre Royal                                                                         Website:www.theatreroyal.co.uk

**Monday 20 – Saturday 26 March                                                      Box Office:  01224 641122

Aberdeen, His Majesty’s Theatre                                                          Website:www.aberdeenperformingarts.com

**Monday 27 – Saturday 8 April                                                            Box Office: 00353 1 677 7999

Dublin, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre                                                          Website:www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie

 

**Monday 10 – Saturday 15 April                                                          Box Office: 0844 871 3012

Bristol Hippodrome                                                                                     Website:www.atgtickets.com

Mark Goucher, Mark Rubinstein and Jonathan Church Productions present
The Dresser
Written by Ronald Harwood
Directed by Sean Foley

• Selina Cadell and Harriet Thorpe will join Ken Stott and Reece Shearsmith
• First images of Ken Stott as ‘Sir’ and Reece Shearsmith as Norman released today
• The Dresser will play at the Duke of York’s Theatre from 5th October, following performances in Richmond, Brighton and Cheltenham

Photo credit: Hugh Glendinning

The first images of Ken Stott and Reece Shearsmith in a new production of Ronald Harwood’sThe Dresser were released today, along with two new cast members: Selena Cadell and Harriet Thorpe.

Selina Cadell most recently starred as Miss Froy in the BBC television film The Lady Vanishes. She is well known for her role as Mrs Tishell in the television series Doc Martin. Her stage work includes Sam Mendes’ productions of The Cherry Orchard on Broadway and Twelfth Night at the Donmar Warehouse.

Harriet Thorpe played the character of Fleur in the BBC TV series Absolutely Fabulous, and has worked extensively with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders on other television projects. Her stage credits include Cabaret at the Lyric Theatre, Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at the Almeida and the hit musical, Les Misérables.

The Dresser tells the heart-breaking story of an ageing actor-manager and his long-suffering dresser as they struggle to keep the show on the road against the backdrop of a down-at-heel regional theatre in wartime. First performed in 1980 in the West End and on Broadway, the play was made into a multi award-winning film starring Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay in 1983, and a BBC television film starring Ian McKellen and Anthony Hopkins last year.

Ken Stott has received four Best Actor Olivier Award nominations for his work at the National Theatre and in the West End in The Recruiting Officer, Broken Glass (for which he won Best Actor in a Supporting Role), Art with Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay, and A View from the Bridge. His film credits include The Hobbit, Charlie Wilson’s War and The Chronicles of Narnia, and his television credits include the critically acclaimed BBC series The Missing, for which he received a BAFTA nomination, and Rebus, the Ian Rankin crime drama in which Ken played the title role.

Reece Shearsmith recently appeared in the Olivier and South Bank Award-winning Hangmen at the Royal Court. His other theatre credits include Absent Friends at the Harold Pinter Theatre,Comedians at the Lyric Theatre and The Producers at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. He is perhaps best known for his starring roles in the multi-award-winning cult television series The League of Gentlemen and its spin-offs Inside No. 9 and Psychoville. His film credits include High Rise, Shaun of the GDead and Birthday Girl.

Ronald Harwood is an Academy Award, Palme d’Or and BAFTA-winning screenwriter and playwright, whose films include The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, The Pianist, Quartet andLove in the Time of Cholera. His plays include The Dresser, Taking Sides, Quartet, Mahler’s Conversion, An English Tragedy and Collaboration and Degenerate Art.

Produced by Mark Goucher who has previously collaborated with Sean Foley on a hugely successful production of Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense in 2013 and 2014, which played in the West End and on tour and is currently under option for a Broadway season. The Dresser is to be co-produced with Mark Rubinstein Ltd and Jonathan Church Productions in the first production for Church’s new company after leaving Chichester Festival Theatre.

 

 

LEEDS LANDMARK VENUE HOSTS A VARIETY OF COMEDY, MUSIC AND CELEBS

THIS AUTUMN

 

Al Murray***Lloyd Cole***Shappi Khorsandi***Divine Comedy***James Acaster***

***Lesley Garrett***Chas & Dave***Gryff Rhys Jones

We’re now halfway through the year which means it will be Autumn before we know it.

But never fear for City Varieties Music Hall has tons of gigs to help shake off the post-holiday blues.

From comedians and singers to singing comedians and bands called (Divine) Comedy; cabaret, magic and a now-legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto, there’s loads on offer.

Book now ensuring you have something to look forward to when the nights start drawing in.

To book online visit cityvarieties.co.uk or call box office on 0113 243 0808

For more information visit cityvarieties.co.uk

 

LISTINGS FROM SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER 2016

 

TUESDAY 6^TH SEPTEMBER

CHRISTINA BIANCO

SINGER/COMEDIAN

********************

THURSDAY 15^TH SEPTEMBER

SOUNDS OF PHILADELPHIA

Classic Motown with original Drifters member Roy G Hemmings

*****************

FRIDAY 16^TH SEPTEMBER

JOHN LODGE

OF MOODY BLUES

*******************

SATURDAY 17^TH (@ 3.30pm and 7.30pm)

SUNDAY 18^TH SEPTEMBER

AL MURRAY

COMEDIAN

*********************

SUNDAY 18^TH SEPTEMBER

AL MURRAY

COMEDIAN

*********************

WEDNESDAY 21^ST SEPTEMBER

SHAPPI KHORSANDI

COMEDIAN

****************

SUNDAY 25^TH SEPTEMBER

MILES JUPP

COMEDIAN

******************

THURSDAY 29^TH SEPTEMBER

AN AUDIENCE WITH LESLEY GARRETT

*******************

WEDNESDAY 5^TH OCTOBER

TIFF STEVENSON

COMEDIAN

******************

THURSDAY 6^TH OCTOBER

LEE MEAD

SINGER

********************

SUNDAY 9^TH OCTOBER

LLOYD COLE

SINGER

*******************

MONDAY 10^TH OCTOBER

GRAEME SWANN & HENRY BLOFELD 

An Evening with the cricketer and commentator

*******************

TUESDAY 11^TH OCTOBER

DIVINE COMEDY

BAND

*******************

WEDNESDAY 12^TH OCTOBER

SEANN WALSH

COMEDIAN

********************

FRIDAY 14^TH OCTOBER

JONATHAN PIE

POLITICAL YOU TUBER

********************

SATURDAY 15^TH OCTOBER

VONDA SHEPHERD

SINGER SONGWRITER

************************

TUESDAY 18^TH OCTOBER

MELANIE

SINGER

**********************

THURSDAY 20^TH OCTOBER

CHERYL, MIKE & JAY

FORMERLY OF BUCKS FIZZ

**********************

FRIDAY 21^ST OCTOBER

JAMES ACASTER

COMEDIAN

*******************

SUNDAY 23^RD OCTOBER

MUSIC HALL TAVERN

CABARET/VARIETY

************************

TUESDAY 25^TH OCTOBER

MARCUS BRIGSTOCKE

COMEDIAN

*********************

THURSDAY 27^TH OCTOBER

PETE FIRMAN

COMEDY MAGICIAN

*********************

FRIDAY 28^TH OCTOBER

JASON BYRNE

COMEDIAN

*********************

SATURDAY 29^TH OCTOBER

TOMMY TIERNAN

COMEDIAN

***********************

SUNDAY 30^TH OCTOBER

TONY CHRISTIE

SINGER

********************

THURSDAY 3^RD NOVEMBER

JIMEOIN

COMEDIAN

******************

SATURDAY 5^TH NOVEMBER

THE ELIS JAMES & JOHN ROBINS EXPERIENCE

RADIO X

**********************

SUNDAY 6^TH NOVEMBER

JERRY SADOWITZ

COMEDIAN

************************

TUESDAY 8^TH NOVEMBER

GRYFF RHYS JONES

COMEDY & CHAT

*********************

THURSDAY 10^TH NOVEMBER

CHAS & DAVE

BAND

**************

FRIDAY 11^TH NOVEMBER

HORNE SECTION

********************

SATURDAY 12^TH NOVEMBER

ANDREW NEWTON

COMEDY HYPNOTIST

***********************

SUNDAY 13^TH NOVEMBER

MATT FORDE

COMEDIAN

************************

SUNDAY 26^TH NOVEMBER TO SUNDAY 8^TH JANUARY

SLEEPING BEAUTY THE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL PANTO

THE FAMOUS ROCK ‘N’ ROLL PANTO RETURNS!

Julian Glover in

 

STRIFE by John Galsworthy

Directed by Bertie Carvel

12 August – 10 September, Minerva Theatre

Full casting has been announced for John Galsworthy’s STRIFE, playing at Chichester’s Minerva Theatre from 12 August – 10 September with a press night on Thursday 18 August. The cast for Bertie Carvel’s production is led by Julian Glover, who is joined by Lucy Black, Antony Bunsee, Jason Cheater, Louise Collins, Alan David, Tomos Eames, Julian Firth, Michael Hodgson, Simon Holland Roberts, Ian Hughes, Trudi Jackson, Rhys Meredith, Mark Quartley, Madhav Sharma, Rosie Sheehy, Nicola Sloane, Cameron Sutherland and Lizzy Watts.

1909, South Wales. There is snow on the ground at the Trenartha Tinplate Works and the furnaces too are cold. The men are on strike and the community is close to breaking point. Amid this bleak winter, the company’s directors have made the journey from London to try and reach a solution and restart production. Fearing their plummeting share price, most of the board members are keen to reach a compromise but the Chairman, old John Anthony, is resolute and hard as iron.

The men are behind their firebrand leader, Roberts, but the union has withdrawn its support and it is only a matter of time before the men do too.

More than a hundred years after it was first performed, Galsworthy’s rarely staged play – voted one of the National Theatre’s 100 most influential plays of the 20^th century – offers a strikingly balanced account of the political spectrum.

 

Julian Glover makes his Festival debut as John Anthony; recent work in his long career on stage and screen includes HBO’s Game of Thrones, John of Gaunt in Richard II for the RSC and The Scottsboro Boys at the Young Vic and in the West End.

Lucy Black plays Annie Roberts; her many television appearances include Jericho, The Durrells, Call the Midwife and Grantchester, while recent theatre credits include Three Winters and Children of the Sun at the National Theatre.

Ian Hughes, who plays Roberts, recently appeared in Guys and Dolls at Chichester and in the West End. His theatre work includes many roles for the RSC, while his television credits include Stella, Torchwood and Holby City.

Lizzy Watts plays Enid Underwood. Her television work includes The Durrells and Midsomer Murders, while recent theatre includes The Angry Brigade (Paines Plough/Bush Theatre), and Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare’s Globe international tour).

 

Bertie Carvel makes his directorial debut at Chichester. As an actor, his recent roles include Doctor Foster and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (both BBC), Coalition (Channel 4), The Hairy Ape (Old Vic), Bakkhai (Almeida), and Matilda The Musical (RSC, West End and Broadway).

Strife will be designed by Robert Jones, with lighting by Rick Fisher and sound by Fergus O’Hare.

Strife is sponsored by Lancing College.

BOOKING INFORMATION

Strife is at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester from 12 August – 10 September. Evenings at 7.45pm (except for Press Night, 18 August at 7pm), matinees at 2.45pm. Tickets from £20.

 

Box Office 01243 781312

Online cft.org.uk

Prologue: £8.50 tickets for 16 – 25s

An allocation of £8.50 tickets will available for 16 to 25 year-olds. These are released on 12 July; sign up free at cft.org.uk/prologue.