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Theatre Royal Haymarket – until 20 May

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

The Maly Drama Theatre of St Petersburg’s acclaimed production of Life and Fate is extraordinary. Truth be told, the first half hour feels as long as the three years they spent rehearsing the play, but once the groundwork has been laid, and all characters introduced, the pace quickens and the investment in the characters pays off.

Vasily Grossman’s weighty novel has been adapted by director Lev Dodin, retaining the feel of the series of vignettes onstage with characters from different locations intermingling and watching the action unfold. The stage is dominated by a volleyball net, doubling as the wire fence of the various camps and eerily lit to great effect as prisoners march behind it.

Jewish scientist Viktor Shtrum returns to Moscow with his wife and daughter, but his work and life are threatened as Stalin’s orders force Jewish academics out of their jobs. Luckily for Shtrum, Stalin hears of his work and needs him for the nuclear program. As Shtrum and his family breath a sigh of relief, his wife and her sister Zhenya’s exes are political prisoners in a Siberian Gulag, while Shtrum’s mother writes to him from a Jewish ghetto. Her ex-lover is in a Nazi concentration camp, while Zhenya is having an affair with Russian tank commander Colonel Novikov.

The prisoners discuss philosophy and political ideology, culminating in the old Bolshevik horrified by an SS officer’s insistence that their political beliefs are not so dissimilar, while Shtrum rails against compromising and selling out to Stalin to ensure his family’s safety. Every male character is a fanatic for his own flawed cause, be it Communism, Nazism or academia, with the women, especially Anna, Shtrum’s mother being the heart and conscience of the play. There are moments of surreal humour, especially from Colonel Novikov at the Battle of Stalingrad, but the brutality of Stalin’s regime is all-pervading.

The cast are exceptional, with a classic and contained style that portrays the suspicion of the time brilliantly, and the use of music and dance is both uplifting and tear-jerking. At almost 3½ hours, Life and Fate is an overwhelming experience, but this passionate and haunting production is unforgettable, and disturbingly relevant today.

Blue Elephant Theatre 8-10 May

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

3***

Naked Frank’s show begins as an often-hilarious study of three schoolgirls talking about their useless teachers and lessons. Writer Carleigh-Ann Portelli uses verbatim accounts to develop an ever-darkening story of homophobia and bullying on social media that is sickeningly familiar.

Shannon (Rebecca Briley) is smarter than her grades suggest, but her need to not alienate best friends Rach (Carleigh-Ann Portelli) and Lou (Claire Louise Portelli) sees her making some bad choices. Lou is not the brightest star in the constellation, more of a black hole devoid of any flicker of intelligence or common sense, while Rach at first appears to be merely the alpha of the group, joking and making party plans, but is slowly revealed as every student’s nightmare – a manipulative bully so lacking in empathy and interest in anyone but herself that she is incredulous that people take offence at her “banter”. It is Rachel who hands Lou and Shannon the metaphorical bullets to fire, and they gleefully and naively go along with everything she says.

The girls’ descriptions of their teachers are fantastic; the obsession of their PHSE teacher with her Collins Dictionary is portrayed with great physical comedy. The girls’ plans to set up Shannon’s cousin with new girl in school Christine lead to a revelation about Christine’s sexuality that consumes the school in a group chat tsunami.

The girls’ hatred for PHSE, and their questioning of its worth is amusing, with some great one-liners, but Portelli ensures that the lack of knowledge and emotional and social intelligence of the characters hammer home the importance of these lessons in schools today, especially in Key Stage 2 and 3, so that 17-year-olds like these girls won’t be quite as clueless in the future. Voice overs from politicians preaching about the issues to be tackled in schools will make you roll your eyes, evoking the same response that teachers get from their students. To be honest, classes would probably get more from watching and discussing a more polished version of this play than what the curriculum offers in some schools.

The cast have great chemistry and their physical work is a delight. they are totally convincing as teenagers. The plot is smart, and enough curveballs are thrown in to keep it from being predictable. Scene changes are marked by the cast building up a graffiti wall while politicians talk about homophobia and LGBT rights, which is an interesting idea, but loses its appeal the more often you have to sit through it.

Before it Starts is a show with enormous potential – funny, brutally honest and thought-provoking, with a bleak message that needs to be heard by a wider audience.

NEW ADVENTURES

ANNOUNCE INTERNATIONAL DATES

FOR

TOURING TO CHINA, JAPAN AND AMERICA

FROM AUGUST 2018 – MARCH 2019.

THE UK TOUR CONTINUES UNTIL JUNE 2018,

AND

WILL BE SCREENED IN CINEMAS NATIONWIDE ON TUESDAY 15 MAY 2018

New Adventures is delighted to announce six international tour dates for Matthew Bourne’s “CINDERELLA” spanning China, Japan and America. The tour opens at the Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Centre on Tuesday 7 August 2018 before travelling to Shanghai; Tokyo; Charlotte and Washington, finishing with a five-week season in Los Angeles in March 2019. Full tour schedule below.

“CINDERELLA” is currently touring the UK with just six weeks remaining of the 28-week tour. Next week, “CINDERELLA” will be in Sheffield before travelling to Canterbury, Edinburgh and Glasgow, finishing in Woking on 23 June 2018. Full details below.

In addition, fans around the country will have the opportunity to watch “CINDERELLA” on a big screen near them as the production will be screened at cinemas nationwide on Tuesday 15 May followed by a live Q&A, via satellite with Matthew Bourne.   For more information new-adventures.net/cinema

 

Matthew Bourne said today: “New Adventures is committed to taking our work to as wide an audience as possible. That not only includes our annual nationwide tour to many of the UK’s major venues but also internationally where the company has built up a popular fanbase. It’s also important to reach audiences who perhaps cannot get to a live performance. So our big-screen presentation of “CINDERELLA”, this Tuesday, to over 200 UK cinemas, many in rural areas and towns that do not have a local theatre big enough to house our live show, is particularly exciting”.

Following their triumph playing Victoria Page in “The Red Shoes”, the role of ‘Cinderella’ is performed by Cordelia Braithwaite and Ashley Shaw. Cinderella’s heroic Pilot, ‘Harry’, is performed by Andrew Monaghan and Edwin Ray. ‘The Angel’, Cinderella’s fairy godfather is danced by Paris Fitzpatrick and Liam Mower.

‘Sybil’, Cinderella’s stepmother, is performed by Madelaine Brennan and Anjali Mehra. ‘Robert’, Cinderella’s father is performed by Jack Jones and Alan Vincent.

Cinderella’s step brothers and sisters and the people of 1940’s London complete the cast: Steph Billers; João Carolino; Reece Causton; Jackson Fisch; Sophia Hurdley; Jack Jones; Daisy May Kemp; Kate Lyons; Jamie McDonald; Stephen Murray; Matthew Petty; Danny Reubens;Mark Samaras; Louis Van Leer, Joe Walkling; Katie Webb, Seren Williams and Daniel Wright.

One of New Adventures’ most loved productions Matthew Bourne’s “CINDERELLA” is a thrilling and evocative love story, set in London during the Second World War.

Matthew Bourne’s interpretation of the classic fairy tale has, at its heart, a true war-time romance. A chance meeting results in a magical night for Cinderella and her dashing young RAF pilot, together just long enough to fall in love before being parted by the horrors of the Blitz.

With Lez Brotherston’s sumptuous costumes and sets, which won an Olivier Award for his original designs, and lighting by Olivier Award-winning Neil Austin, “CINDERELLA” will be performed in Surround Sound, designed by Paul Groothuis and featuring a specially commissioned recording played by a 60-piece orchestra.  Matthew Bourne’s vivid story telling has never been more heart-stopping and touching, and will take the audience into the heart of Prokofiev’s magnificent score, and the sights and sounds of war-torn London.

 

New Adventures is a national portfolio organisation supported using public funds by Arts Council England.

 

For more information please visit: www.new-adventures.net

Facebook /MBNewAdventures    Twitter @New_Adventures     Instagram @MBNewAdventures

 

Matthew Bourne’s “CINDERELLA” International Tour Dates 2018 – 2019

www.new-adventures.net

 

TUESDAY 7 AUGUST – SUNDAY 12 AUGUST 2018

TIANQIAO PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE, BEIJING – www.tartscenter.com

ON SALE NOW

THURSDAY 16 AUGUST – SATURDAY 25 AUGUST 2018

SAIC ·  SHANGHAI CULTURE SQUARE, SHANGHAI – www.shculturesquare.com

ON SALE NOW

WEDNESDAY 3 OCTOBER – SUNDAY 14 OCTOBER 2018

TOKYU THEATRE ORB – www.theatre-orb.com

ON SALE 7 JULY

SUNDAY 6 JANUARY – FRIDAY 12 JANUARY 2019

BLUMENTHAL PERFORMING ARTS, CHARLOTTE – www.blumenthalarts.org

ON GENERAL SALE SOON

TUEDSAY 15 JANUARY – SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019

THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, WASHINGTON – www.kennedy-center.org

ON GENERAL SALE 12 SEPTEMBER

TUESDAY 5 FEBRUARY – SUNDAY 10 MARCH 2019

AHMANSON THEATRE, LOS ANGELES – www.centertheatregroup.org

ON GENERAL SALE SOON

Matthew Bourne’s “CINDERELLA” Remaining UK Tour Dates 2018

TUESDAY 15 MAY – SATURDAY 20 MAY 2018

LYCEUM THEATRE, SHEFFIELD – www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

TUESDAY 22 MAY – SATURDAY 26 MAY 2018

THE MARLOWE, CANTERBURY – www.marlowetheatre.com

TUESDAY 5 JUNE – SATURDAY 9 JUNE 2018

FESTIVAL THEATRE EDINBURGH – www.capitaltheatres.com

TUESDAY 12 JUNE – SATURDAY 16 JUNE 2018

KING’S THEATRE GLASGOW – www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre

TUESDAY 19 JUNE – SATURDAY 23 JUNE 2018

NEW VICTORIA THEATRE, WOKING – www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre

ARDENT THEATRE COMPANY ANNOUNCE SACRIFICE AT SOHO THEATRE PERFORMED BY INAUGURAL ARDENT8 COMPANY

 

Ardent Theatre Company present the world première of

Sacrifice

Written and directed by Andrew Muir

 

Soho Theatre, Upstairs
31 July – 4 August 2018

Press performance: 2 August, 7pm

 

Ardent Theatre Company today announce Ardent8, a year-long programme that offers artistic support to eight recent graduates who have found it difficult to make the leap from the regions to London. The inaugural ensemble are Sophie Coulter, Angela Crispim, Clare Hawkins, Henry Holmes, Nathan Linsdell, Jamie Parker, Garry Skimins and Sam Weston. The ensemble will perform the world première of Sacrifice written and directed by Andrew Muir at Soho Theatre, Upstairs from 31 July – 4 August 2018.

Ardent8 is an ensemble of eight young actors selected to participate in the year-long Ardent Theatre Company programme to offer artistic support to recent graduates who have found it difficult to make the leap from the regions to London. Through various workshops with carefully selected practitioners, the ensemble is able to access opportunities within the industry they have otherwise found inaccessible, but which Ardent Theatre Company believes is no more than an equal opportunity. Following a workshop from which a new play is developed specifically for the ensemble, the programme culminates in a two-week residency in London when the company rehearse and perform the word première.

Ardent8 is supported by Cockayne – Grants for the Arts, London Community Foundation, The Foyle Foundation, The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, Arts Council England, Boris Karloff Charitable Foundation and Royal Victoria Hall Foundation, and leading industry figures including Julie Walters.

The inaugural Ardent8 play is Sacrifice written and directed by Andrew Muir at Soho Theatre, Upstairs.

“Six grand a month for one room in the basement of a disused pub on the corner of a dirty high street with no natural light and damp black walls that make it feel more like a coffin than a home?”

“It’s the going rate”

Sacrifice, a play that asks the question, “Is it worth it?” Andrew Muir’s first play for the Ardent8 ensemble explores the sacrifices a group of young outsiders are willing to make in order to survive in a city that only ever seems to embrace the privileged insiders.

 

Andrew Muir said today, “The UK has long needed a programme such as this, which offers an invaluable opportunity to graduating students from colleges around the country, who are too often forced to stop before they’ve even started, especially in the arts industry. This programme is not another false promise of fame and fortune, rather it is a platform and an opportunity that these young people would have otherwise not had access to.”

Julie Walters said today, “It is so refreshing to come across a theatre company aiming to cut through the wall of privilege and provide an equal opportunity for all regardless of background – this is a project I support.”

Writer and director Andrew Muir’s plays include Anniversary Sweet (Finborough Theatre), Push and Green Grass (Union Theatre), Gaugleprixtown (Edinburgh and Studio 42, New York), Double Sentence (Deafinitely Theatre @ Soho Theatre), Gold Dust (Black Country Touring UK tour and Soho Theatre), The Session (Soho Theatre and Inis Nua Theatre Company, Philadelphia) and Take On Me (Dante or Die Theatre Company UK tour). Muir was commissioned by BBC Radio 3 to write a play, A Perfect Non Starter, for the Verb. How Soon is Now, Muir’s first feature screenplay, is currently under option with INRed Films. He is writer in residence at the Bournemouth and Poole College of Further Education, where he writes and directs new contemporary plays for second year degree students, as well as being mentor on the MA in playwriting at Central School of Speech and Drama. His latest piece for the college, Life & Death in an Ocean Full of Hope was presented at the Lighthouse, Poole and has been invited back to take part in the Paines Plough Roundabout Season in Autumn 2018. Muir has run writing workshops for companies including Soho Theatre, OId Vic New Voices, Deafinitely Theatre, Ransom Productions in Belfast, TRON Theatre, Glasgow and is currently in his second term as lead practitioner on a ten-week writing course, Playwriting for Beginners at the National Theatre. Muir’s directing credits include Two (Southwark Playhouse).

Ardent Theatre Company was founded by Andrew Muir and Mark Sands. The company believes theatre is a place where no one feels like an outsider and that theatre should be for everyone, irrespective of their background or economic circumstances. The company set out to achieve this through the stories they choose to tell, the people they employ to tell them and the audience they engage to experience them. They are committed to producing theatre that speaks about the world we live in; both newly commissioned writing and established text with a contemporary relevance. Their work always enables them to have a voice within the mainstream theatre scene or engage audiences on a grassroots, national level. Through their artistic development programme and casting policy they support the careers of young, recently trained artists from outside London. They also work with non-theatre organisations that share similar ambitions to take a sector-wide approach to giving voice to those who struggle to be heard.

Sacrifice 

Listings

Twitter: @ardenttheatre

Soho Theatre, Upstairs

21 Dean Street, London W1D 3NE
Box office: 0207 478 0100

www.sohotheatre.com

 

Performances:

Tuesday 31 July – Saturday 4 August 2018, 7pm

Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm

Press performance: 2 August, 7pm

 

Tickets:

£10 full price / £8 concession

DEAR DIARY, DID YOU HEAR?

 

HEATHERS – THE MUSICAL

 

 ANNOUNCES ITS KILLER NEW CLASSMATES  

JOINING THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED

CARRIE HOPE FLETCHER

 

OPENING AT THE OTHER PALACE FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED RUN
FROM 9 JUNE – 4 AUGUST 2018

WITH EXTRA TICKETS NOW RELEASED

 

Joining the previously announced Carrie Hope Fletcher as Veronica Sawyer, are the most popular girls in school: Jodie Steele (Chandler), Sophie Isaacs (McNamara) and T’Shan Williams (Duke) – The Heathers, with Jamie Muscato playing the mysterious teen rebel Jason Dean (JD).

 

They will be joined by: Chris Chung (Kurt Kelly). Dominic Anderson (Ram Sweeney), Jenny O’Leary(Martha Dunnstock) and Rebecca Lock (Mrs Flemming).

 

Final casting will be announced in due course.

 

To celebrate the new classmates, an additional 2 50 tickets have been released with new seats available at all price bands.

 

Heathers – The Musical, the record breaking and most anticipated UK premiere this year, is opening at The Other Palace for a strictly limited run from 9 June to 4 August 2018.

 

Following a rapturous response to its sell-out 2017 workshop, 80s cult classic HEATHERS – THE MUSICAL is back in class this summer with new songs, new material and new classmates. Produced by Bill Kenwright and Paul Taylor Mills, who produced the award winning Carrie together in 2015, the musical premieres at The Other Palace on 9 June and runs for a limited 8 week season.

 

Based on one of the greatest teen films of all time, the 1988 classic starred Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. The award-winning writing team, Laurence O’Keefe (Legally Blonde, Bat Boy) andKevin Murphy’s (Reefer Madness, Desperate Housewives), hit musical adaptation has enjoyed successful runs in Los Angeles and New York, and finally arrives in the UK for its European Premiere.

 

Greetings, salutations. Welcome to Westerberg High, where popularity is so very a matter of life and death, and Veronica Sawyer is just another of the nobodies dreaming of a better day.

 

But when she’s unexpectedly taken under the wings of the three beautiful and impossibly cruel Heathers, her dreams finally start to come true.

 

Until JD turns up, the mysterious teen rebel who teaches her that it might kill to be a nobody, but it’s murder being a somebody…

 

Heathers – The Musical features a sensational book, music and lyrics by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe, with brand new material exclusively written for this production whilst the team are in London.  The musical is directed by acclaimed screen and stage director Andy Fickman with electrifying choreography by Gary Lloyd (Thriller Live, Carrie, 20^th Century Boy), design by David Shields (Chess, Ice Age Live, End of the Rainbow), lighting by Ben Cracknell (Young Frankenstein, Annie, La Cage Aux Folles), sound by Dan Samson (Evita, Cilla, Joseph) and casting by Will Burton(Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Matilda, The Wild Party).

 

A limited number of £21 tickets for those under the age of 21 will be available at every performance. For more information please visit The Other Palace’s website.

 

TICKETS ON SALE NOW: www.theotherpalace.co.uk

THE PRINCE EDWARD IS FIRST THEATRE IN THE
WEST END TO RECEIVE A NATIONAL AUTISTIC SOCIETY AWARD

DISNEY’S ALADDIN WILL HOLD ITS SECOND AUTISM-FRIENDLY
PERFORMANCE AT 1.30PM ON 28 AUGUST 2018

Disney’s hit musical Aladdin is delighted to announce that the Prince Edward Theatre, which is owned by Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, is the first theatre in the West End to receive an award from The National Autistic Society celebrating its achievements in welcoming autistic guests and their families through training, staff awareness and initiatives such as the hit show’s Autism-Friendly Performances.

Disney works with The National Autistic Society, the UK’s leading charity for autistic people and their families, to deliver the specially staged performances every year which are designed to make the show more accessible for those affected by autism.

The dedicated Autism-Friendly Performances of Aladdin include modifications to the booking process, performance and the theatre environment, including:

• The theatre’s foyer includes designated quiet and activity areas; staffed by experts in autism throughout the performance should anyone need to leave their seats.

• Slight adjustments are made to the performance itself, including the reduction of jarring sounds or strobe lighting that face the audience.

• The cast of Aladdin along with Prince Edward Theatre box office and front of house staff have been given training to understand the needs of an audience made up of adults and children who are autistic.

• A specific website has been set up for this performance, linking to a dedicated booking page. The website includes a downloadable ‘visual story’ to help people with autism understand the process of a visit to the theatre, thus aiding their comprehension of the experience and reducing anxiety by explaining each step from arriving in the foyer to the final curtain call.

The next dedicated Autism-Friendly Performance of Aladdin will take place at 1.30pm on Tuesday 28 August 2018. Audience members can find out more information and purchase tickets atwww.aladdinthemusical/autismfriendly. Tickets are sold at a specially reduced rate and can be selected on a virtual map of the auditorium.

Nancy Shakerley, Education and Outreach Manager for Disney Theatrical Group, said: “We are extremely proud to have worked closely with our colleagues at the Prince Edward Theatre to achieve the Autism Friendly Award. We are excited to be holding another Autism-Friendly performance again this summer – Autistic guests and their families are, of course, welcome at any performance but we understand that this more relaxed environment is preferable for some guests.”

Chris Pike, Autism Access Specialist at the National Autistic Society, said: “We are delighted that the Prince Edward Theatre is the first theatre in the West End to receive our prestigious Autism Friendly Award. It’s very well deserved.

“There are around 700,000 autistic people in the UK, and many struggle to cope with unfamiliar places and everyday sights and sounds which others are able to filter out, such as artificial lighting, background music or traffic noise.

“Autistic people and their families tell us that they would love to visit the theatre, but because of sensory issues and anxiety in unfamiliar surroundings, they are prevented from doing so. Aladdin’s production team have taken great care in adapting the show, including having a ‘visual story’ online which can help autistic people prepare for their visit in advance.  This means that for some of the audience on 28 August, this will be the very first time that they are able to experience the thrill of a live performance.” 

Graham Bradbury, General Manager of the Prince Edward Theatre, said: “I am delighted on behalf of the team here at the Prince Edward Theatre to receive this award. The award reflects the hard work, dedication and commitment to staff training that everybody undertakes to ensure that the Prince Edward Theatre is an all-inclusive venue offering the very best 5-star customer service possible.”

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others. There are around 700,000 autistic people in the UK. Although everyone on the autism spectrum is different, people may be under or oversensitive to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours, which can make everyday life extremely challenging. They can also find social situations and unexpected changes a challenge, which can sometimes lead to extreme levels of anxiety.

Aladdin features the timeless songs from the 1992 animated film as well as new music written byTony®, Olivier© and eight-time Academy Award® winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Little Shop Of Horrors). With lyrics from Olivier Award and two-time Oscar® winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony and Olivier Award, three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (Evita, Aida), and four-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), and a book by Beguelin, Aladdin is directed and choreographed by Tony and Olivier Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon).

Now in its fifth record-breaking year on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre, Aladdin’s global presence has grown to six productions on four continents, seen by  more than 7.2 million people to date. The show opened at Tokyo’s Dentsu Shiki Theatre Umi in May 2015, had its European premiere in December 2015 at the Stage Theatre Neue Flora, Hamburg, began performances in August 2016 in Australia and launched its North American tour in Chicago in April 2017.

LISTINGS

Disney’s Aladdin – an Autism-Friendly Performance
Tuesday 28 August at 1.30pm
Tickets on sale
www.aladdinthemusical.co.uk/autismfriendly/

Prince Edward Theatre
28 Old Compton St
London W1D 4HS

Box Office number: 0844 482 5152
www.aladdinthemusical.co.uk

Facebook: Aladdin London
Twitter: @AladdinLondon
Instagram: @AladdinLondon
#AladdinLondon

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR
MAMMA MIA! INTERNATIONAL TOUR

Full casting has been announced for the sensational feel-good musical MAMMA MIA! which comes to Palace Theatre, Manchester from 3^rd – 14^th July 2018 as part of its international tour. Shona White (Donna Sheridan), Nicky Swift (Rosie), Helen Anker (Tanya), Tamlyn Henderson (Sam Carmichael), Daniel Crowder(Harry Bright), Matthew Rutherford (Bill Austin), Lucy May Barker (Sophie Sheridan), Phillip Ryan (Sky),Leisha Mollyneaux (Ali), Lottie Henshall (Lisa), Matt Jordan-Pidgeon (Pepper) and Michael Nelson (Eddie) will star in the production. At certain performances the role of Donna Sheridan will be played by Natalie Langston.

Completing the cast are Tom Bainbridge, Devon Braithwaite, Ambra Caserotti, Áine Curran, Martin Dickinson, Tilly Ford, Courtney George, Sarah Harlington, Samuel Hawkins, Luke Jasztal, Matt Kennedy, Stacey Leanne Mills, Hollie Nelson, Matthew Ronchetti, Ellie Rutherford, Jaydon Vijn and Jamie Wilkin.

MAMMA MIA! is Judy Craymer’s ingenious vision of staging the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs with an enchanting tale of family and friendship unfolding on a Greek island paradise. To date, it has been seen by more than 60 million people in 50 productions in 16 different languages. In 2008, MAMMA MIA! The Movie became the highest-grossing live action musical film of all time.

From West End to global phenomenon, the London production of MAMMA MIA! has now been seen by more than 10% of the entire UK population. It is one of only five musicals to have run for more than 10 years both on Broadway and in the West End and, in 2011, it became the first Western musical ever to be staged in Mandarin in the People’s Republic of China.

The hugely successful international tour, since premiering in Dublin in September 2004, has visited 85 cities across 38 countries and sold over 5 million tickets.

Shona White plays Donna Sheridan. Training: Royal Academy of Music. Theatre includes: Leda Fox-Cotton in I Capture the Castle (Watford Palace Theatre and Octagon Theatre, Bolton), Woman in The World Goes Around(Stephen Joseph Theatre), Alternate Donna Sheridan in MAMMA MIA! (Novello Theatre, London), Principal Vocalist in Sunny Side Of The Street (Jermyn Street Theatre, London), Florence Vassy in Chess (UK tour and Toronto), standby and played Elphaba in Wicked (Apollo Victoria, London), Betty in Shout (UK tour and Arts Theatre), All the Fun of the Fair with David Essex (Garrick Theatre, London), Usherette/ Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show (UK tour and Playhouse), Lisa and Sophie Sheridan in MAMMA MIA! (Prince Edward Theatre, London), Miss Gordon in Merrily We Roll Along (Donmar Warehouse) and Eponine and Cosette in Les Misérables (UK tour). Other credits include: Solo cabaret and concert artist appearances at the Pheasantry, Pizza on the Park, Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Royal Albert Hall in an Elton John concert, and guest performer on Friday Night Is Music Night (BBC Radio 2). Recordings include: When Midnight Strikes, Zipp! and All the Fun of the Fair cast recordings and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy soundtrack. Shona’s debut album I’ll Bring You a Song was released in 2011. She is also an experienced voiceover artist.

 

Natalie Langston plays Alternate Donna. Training: Guildford School of Acting. Theatre includes: Donna Sheridan in MAMMA MIA! (Royal Caribbean Productions), Alternate Donna Sheridan in MAMMA MIA!(International Tour), Alternate Eva Peron in Evita (Pheonix Theatre, London and UK & European Tour), Ernestine in Perchance to Dream (Finborough Theatre, London), Rizzo in Grease (Piccadilly Theatre, London), Dorcus in Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (UK Tour and Haymarket Theatre, London), Nancy in Jekyll and Hyde (UK Tour) and Lead Female Vocalist in Spirit of Broadway (China Tour). Television includes: Anita in West Side Story in Howard Goodall’s 20^th Century Greats. Rizzo in Grease The School Musical and Backing Singer for Enya appearing on shows such as This Morning and Children In Need.

 

Nicky Swift plays Rosie. Training: National Youth Music Theatre, Birmingham University and The Royal Academy Of Music where she received The Ian Fleming Musical Theatre Award. Theatre includes: Shirley in Shirley Valentine (30th Anniversary UK tour), Ethel/Coach Dunbar/Betty in Footloose (UK Tour), Madame and understudy Madame Thenardier in Les Miserables (Queens Theatre, London), Cynthia/Aunt Mimi in Lennon (Royal Court, Liverpool), Vera Lynn in Songs For Victory (UK Tour), One Night In Istanbul (Echo Arena, Dublin Gaiety and Belfast Grand Opera House), Jack And The Beanstalk, Mother Goose, Aladdin, Dick Whittington, Sleeping Beauty and Red Riding Hood (Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse), Jellylorum in Cats (Arena Tour), Vi in The Buddy Holly Story (Upstairs At The Gatehouse), Alice In The Walled Garden (Brockwell Park), Twelfth Night, Plaza Suite, The Odd Couple and A Slice of Saturday Night (QE Theatre Company on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth), Elizabeth in Richard Taylors’ Whistle Down The Wind, (Edinburgh Festival, Sadler’s Wells and West Yorkshire Playhouse), Charlie, (Buxton Opera House), Creation and Warchild, (National Youth Music Theatre), Her Benny (Liverpool Empire), David Copperfield (UK Tour), Sixteen Gobs (Kings Head, London), Habeas Corpus and City Of Angels (Royal Academy of Music).  Television includes: Hillsborough (ITV), Voices Raised, Blue Peter, Sport Relief and The Olivier Awards (BBC). Radio includes: Loose Ends (BBC Radio 4), New Musicals with Stephen Sondheim (BBC Radio 2). Other credits include: Soloist alongside Dame Judi Dench in An Enchanted Evening at Theatre Royal Drury Lane and performances at charity galas at The Palace Theatre, The Royal Albert Hall, the O2 Arena and for HRH Prince Edward at St James’ Palace. Nicky works as a backing and session singer, supporting names such as Tom Jones, Lesley Garrett, Elaine Paige and Cynthia Erivo.

 

Helen Anker plays Tanya. Training: Royal Ballet School and Doreen Bird College. Theatre includes: Miss Olson in Promises, Promises (Broadway Theatre, New York), Eliza in My Fair Lady (Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis), Guenevere in Camelot (Chanhassen, Minneapolis), The 39 Steps (Milwaukee Repertory Theatre), Mrs Mullin in Carousel (Houston Grand Opera), Georgia in Curtains (Paper Mill Playhouse, New Jersey), Radio Times(Queens Theatre, London) Cats, (New London Theatre, London), Crazy For You (Prince Edward Theatre, London), Oklahoma! (National Theatre and Lyceum Theatre, London), Fame (Cambridge Theatre, London), Hard Times (Theatre Royal, London), Candide in On the Town (English National Opera, London), Contact(Queens Theatre, London), Beautiful and Damned (Lyric Theatre, London), Parade (Donmar Warehouse, London), A Chorus Line, Dames At Sea, Let’s Face The Music and Dance, The Thorn Birds, It’s A Wonderful Lifeand Masterpieces (Regional theatres). Television includes: Holby City, Law and Order, White Collar and The Good Wife. Performed on 4 Tony Awards and at The Oscars. Film includes: Ted 2 and Cinderella.

Tamlyn Henderson plays Sam Carmichael. Training: Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Theatre includes: Stephen in The Dark Room (Theatre 503, London), Factory Foreman, cover Javert/Thenardier in Les Miserables (Australia & International Tour), Frank in Ladies in Black (Queensland Theatre, Brisbane), Herr Zeller/ cover Captain in The Sound of Music (Australia Tour), Wild Bill Hickok in Calamity Jane (Hayes Theatre Co, Sydney),  Marvin in Falsettos (Eternity Playhouse, Sydney), Bobby/ cover Cliff in Cabaret (IMG/Fran & Barry Weissler), cover Galileo/ Britney and Khashoggi in We Will Rock You (Japan Tour), Weasel in Wind in the Willows (Kew Gardens), How to Act Around Cops (Darlingurst Theatre Co, Australia), The Importance of Being Earnest (Seymour Centre, Sydney), The Gruffalo (Australia & UK Tour) and Circumspecto (Sydney Opera House). Film and Television includes: Careless Love, Cedar Boys, Redfern Now, All Saints and the self-produced web series ‘As Actors’-Manila. Other credits include: Tamlyn spent much of the mid to late ‘noughties’ creating and performing as one half of comedy duo Allsopp & Henderson.

Daniel Crowder plays Harry Bright. Training: Rose Bruford College. Theatre includes: Neville’s Island (Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough), The Mousetrap (St Martin’s Theatre, London), The Potsdam Quartet (Jermyn St Theatre, London), Way Upstream (Salisbury Playhouse), Corrie! (UK Tour & New Zealand), The Duchess of Malfi (Theatre Royal, Northampton), Arthur and George (Birmingham Repertory Theatre), Lost in the Stars(Queen Elizabeth Hall, London), High Society (National Tour), The Graduate, Twelfth Night, The Madness of George III, Stig of the Dump and Seeds Under Stones (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Noel Coward Double Bill(Liverpool Playhouse), The Safari Party (Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough and Hampstead Theatre), The Good Samaritan (Hampstead Theatre), Love’s Labour’s Lost, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night and The Merry Wives of Windsor (Regents Park Open Air Theatre), That Woman (Royal Court) and The Red Balloon(National Theatre). Television includes: Urban Myths: Pubic Enemy (Sky Arts), The Job Lot, Ladies of Letters(ITV), Casualty, EastEnders, Doctors, Holby City (BBC), Midsomer Murders (Bentley Productions), Los Dos Bros(Talkback), Randell and Hopkirk Deceased (Working Title), Coronation Street (Granada) and The Bill (Thames). Film includes: Gulliver’s Travels (Fox Searchlight), The Avengers (Warner Bros.) and Reinventing Eddie (BBG Productions). Radio includes: How to have a Perfect Marriage (Radio 4), Jarvis Cocker in My Lighthouse (Radio 2), Lost in the Stars (Radio 3) and The Red Balloon (Radio 4).

 

Matthew Rutherford plays Bill Austin. Training: Chester University. Theatre includes: Joe B in The Buddy Holly Story (Strand Theatre, London), Sweeney Todd (Tour), Merrily We Roll Along (Watermill Theatre, Newbury), The Inland Sea (Oxford Stage Company), Stone Cold Murder (Vienna English Theatre), Carmen (Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough), Marlene (New Vic Theatre), The Hired Man (The Curve, Leicester), James And The Giant Peach (The Mercury, Colchester), Love Beyond (Wembley Arena) and Allotments (Citizens Theatre, Glasgow). Film includes: Kingdom of Heaven, Caregiver, Lion of Judah, Burning Calcutta, Hate Story IV and The Silent Fall. Television includes: Commander and PREMature.

 

Lucy May Barker plays Sophie Sheridan. Theatre includes: Sophie in MAMMA MIA! (UK Tour), Ilse in Spring Awakening (Lyric Hammersmith and Novello Theatre, London), Marina in Earthquakes in London and Millie in Really Old Like Forty Five (National Theatre), Mercy Lewis in The Crucible (Regent’s Park Open Air), Clarissa in The Reluctant Debutant (UK tour), Johanna in Sweeney Todd (Chichester Festival Theatre and Adelphi Theatre, London), Cherry Buck in Ben Travers’ Thark, as part of the inaugural season at the Park Theatre, Baby Belgrave in Ace of Clubs (Union Theatre), Ado Annie in Oklahoma! (UK tour) and Betty in Pine (Hampstead Theatre). Film includes: Nursemaid in The Woman in Black. Television includes: George in The Culshaw & Stephenson Impressions Show, Belinda De Lacey in Scoop! and Chris in Doctors. Other credits include: Lucy can also be heard in the radio dramas Lost in Mexico, The Russian Gambler (BBC Radio 4) and Charlotte Pollard (Big Finish).

 

Phillip Ryan plays Sky. Theatre includes: Sky in MAMMA MIA! (UK Tour), Trainspotting (Edinburgh Festival), Defect for Perfect Pitch and a workshop of Head’s Up for No Fun Productions.

 

Leisha Mollyneaux plays Ali. Training: Arts Educational Schools and The BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology. Theatre includes: Young Stella in Follies (National Theatre), Onstage Swing in Carousel (English National Opera), Ensemble/Assistant Dance Captain in Love Never Dies (Hamburg, Germany) and Ensemble in Jack and the Beanstalk (The Courtyard Hereford). Other credits include: Rags The Musical in Concert (Lyric Theatre), Dancer for What’sOnStage Awards 2014 (Prince of Wales Theatre), Soloist in Friday Night is Music Night (BBC Radio 2), The Olivier Awards 2013 & 2014 (Royal Opera House) and Kerry Ellis in Concert (London Palladium).

 

Lottie Henshall plays Lisa. Training: Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Theatre includes: Our House (UK Tour) and The Braille Legacy (Charing Cross Theatre) and backing singer for Page by Paige (Royal Albert Hall). Television Includes: Doctors (BBC).

 

Matt Jordan-Pidgeon plays Pepper. Training: Wilkes Academy. Theatre includes: Ensemble / 1st cover Pepper in MAMMA MIA! (Novello Theatre, London) and Ensemble in Cinderella and Peter Pan (First Family Entertainment). Other credits include: Dancer in Lucozade and Ribena flash mob, Iceland corporate event (ICC Birmingham), The Arc of Nirvana (Dancers Inc), Dancer Soccer Aid and Mercedes Benz Show. Matt is four times world tap dance champion.

 

Michael Nelson plays Eddie. Training: Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Theatre includes: Our House (UK Tour), An Evening Of Dirty Dancing (UK Tour), The Rink (Workshop), Get Em’ Off (Above The Stag), Alice in Wonderland (St Paul’s Church), Jack And The Beanstalk (Glasgow SEC Hydro), 7Airs (Ledbury Poetry Festival), Potters Theatre Company (Norfolk), Aida Cruises and Aladdin (The Courtyard, Hereford). Television includes:Adidas Commercial for the World Cup and Kenickie in Grease The School Musical (Sky 1).

 

With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material and arrangements by Martin Koch.

The MAMMA MIA! International Tour is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East & Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal and NGM.

THE LAST SHIP

 

• STING TO PERFORM WITH CAST AT SPECIAL
  ONE-OFF OUTDOOR FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE OF HIS DEBUT MUSICAL

 

• SHOW RETURNS TO NEWCASTLE FOLLOWING SELL-OUT, SMASH-HIT RUN AT NORTHERN STAGE EARLIER THIS YEAR

 

• AT SPILLERS WHARF, NEWCASTLE ON MONDAY 28 MAY 2018

 

• TICKETS ON SALE NOW

 

A unique one-off outdoor performance of The Last Ship, that will include its creator Sting who will be performing live alongside the cast, is to be held in Newcastle later this month, alongside the very river that helped inspire and shape the show.

A performance of The Last Ship – which has music and lyrics by Sting – will play at Spillers Wharf, Newcastle Quayside on the banks of the Tyne on Monday 28 May 2018.

Sting is to appear alongside the cast of The Last Ship at the huge event, and will perform previously unreleased music from the production.

This landmark outdoor performance follows a sell-out, critically-acclaimed UK premiere run at Northern Stage in Newcastle earlier this year.

The UK and Ireland tour is running until July, where it will finish at The Lowry, Salford.

Tickets for the Spillers Wharf performance are on sale now and to book tickets visit https://bit.ly/2J4a1YT

 

When a sailor named Gideon Fletcher returns home after seventeen years at sea, tensions between past and future flare in both his family and his town. The local shipyard, around which the community has always revolved, is closing and no-one knows what will come next, only that a half-built ship towers over the terraces. With the engine fired and pistons in motion, picket lines are drawn as foreman Jackie White and his wife Peggy fight to hold their community together in the face of the gathering storm.

 

The Last Ship features an original score with music and lyrics by Sting as well as a few of his best-loved songs; Island of Souls, All This Time and When We Dance.

This personal musical inspired by Sting’s own childhood experiences, shows the collective defiance of a community facing the demise of the shipbuilding industry alongside a poignant and moving romantic tale of childhood sweethearts and the adults they grew up to become.

Featuring an awe-inspiring and impressive set by Olivier Award-winning 59 Productions, this is the UK and Ireland premiere of The Last Ship, Sting’s heartfelt and empowering new musical.

The cast includes Joe McGann (Jackie White), Charlie Hardwick (Peggy White), Richard Fleeshman (Gideon Fletcher) and Frances McNamee (Meg Dawson) and is competed by Michael Blair (Yard Worker), Joe Caffrey(Billy Thompson), Matt Corner (Young Gideon & Yard Worker), Susan Fay (On Stage Swing) Marvin Ford (Ferryman & Yard Worker), Orla Gormley (Cathleen & Yard Worker), Annie Grace (Mrs Dees), Sean Kearns(Freddy Newland & Old Joe), Katie Moore (Ellen Dawson), Charlie Richmond (Adrian Sanderson), Parisa Shahmir (Young Meg), Kevin Wathen (Davey Harrison), James William-Pattison (Yard Worker/On Stage Swing) and Penelope Woodman (Baroness Tynedale).

The show is directed by Lorne Campbell, the artistic director of Northern Stage and has set design by 59 Productions – team behind the video design for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

 

The Last Ship has a new book by Lorne Campbell, original book by John Logan and Brian Yorkey, orchestrations by Rob Mathes, musical direction by Richard John, costume design by Molly Einchcomb, movement direction by Lucy Hind, lighting design by Matt Daw and sound design by Seb Frost. Other members of the creative team are dramaturg Selma Dimitrijevic, associate director Jake Smith, casting director Jenkins McShane Casting and associate musical director Sam Sommerfeld.

 

The Last Ship is produced by Karl Sydow and Kathryn Schenker with Northern Stage.

 

York Grand Opera House – until 12th May
Reviewed By Marcus Richardson
5*****

The Kite Runner is a novel, written by Khaled Hosseini, that a lot of people have heard of; a gripping tale of war, friendship and loyalty. When first adapted to stage in 2007, the play brought to life Amir’s story on a different platform to paper. The story follows a wealthy Afghan boy and his father, we are given the insight into how Amir views his servant and how society has already written their lives out for them.

The story is one demands emotion and attention, from the very start we are given tales of kites in the sky and snow on the ground, the cast beautifully painted a picture of the gusts of wind that sent kites soaring. Amir played by Raj Ghatak, was on stage most of the time switching between his American modern and his history of an Afghan child, we were shown the naivety and shyness of a child and then later the regret of his adult self, it was incredible to see this in the same scene as we watch the character jump in and out of his history. Amir’s relationship with his Servant Hassan played by Jo Ben Ayed is one of the main focuses of the play, their relationship its seen as one-sided loyalty with an adult Amir regretting his own loyalty to Hassan, their relationship as children is one of innocence and adventure, the two actors on stage really brought this bond between the two characters to life. Amir’s relationship to his Father is also an important part of the play, and it is said in the play in Muslim culture blood is one of the most important things about a man, we only know Amir’s father as Baba played by Gary Pillai, we have one of the strongest contrast of characters with his father standing up to any injustice and shows what it means to be a man. The whole cast created this ambience that fitted the scenes so well from parties to weddings and when the time demanded focus and sombreness they added to the scene.

The use of a Tabla drummer (Hanif Khan) who played the drums during scenes and through the use of live music and cultural importance of the instruments made some scenes harrowing with sounds made from singing bowls, the silence of the rest of the stage and audience added to this, it made you think about what was happening on stage and highlights the darker moments of the play. The stage itself has two large kites that hid certain moments of action and then represented Amir’s home, these visuals worked really well and you were given the sense of a hope through the just of projection on these two kites.

For me the play was captivating from start to finish, the injustice of the play really messed with me as a watcher and I just wanted to shout or do something to stop what was happening on stage, it is a very sensitive play, the issues are still very real and the way that they were addressed on stage is very clever, the acting during this production was masterful and I don’t think I’ve been more invoked by a piece of theatre and how it plays with our feelings. At times during the show I was just gawping at the plot, it felt real and relevant. I would recommend this show to anyone, but there are a lot of issues that are not suitable for children. Its important that issues like these are addressed and made aware, this show will play with your emotions and you will take away more than just an amazing night at theatre but you take away insight how war can affect people.