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GWEN TAYLOR

TO STAR IN THE NATIONAL TOUR OF

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER

“NIGHT MUST FALL”

BY EMLYN WILLIAMS

NATIONAL PRESS NIGHT ON WEDNESDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 2016

The Original Theatre Company and Salisbury Playhouse in association with Eastbourne Theatres will present the national tour of Emlyn Williams’s psychological thriller, NIGHT MUST FALL, directed by Luke Sheppard and starring Gwen Taylor as Mrs Bramson.  The tour will begin at Devonshire Park Theatre in Eastbourne on 19 August, with a National press night on Wednesday 7 September at Salisbury Playhouse.

Gwen Taylor is best known for playing the title role in the ITV sitcom Barbara, as well as Anne Foster in Coronation Street, Peggy Armstrong in Heartbeat, Rita Simcock in A Bit of A Do, for which she was nominated for a BAFTA TV Best Actress Award, and Amy in Duty Free.  Her film appearances include The Lady in the Van and Monty Python’s Life of Brian.  Gwen is currently playing Daisy Worthen in Driving Miss Daisy at Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre.  Other theatre credits include Calendar Girls (UK Tour), the title role in the national tour of Shirley Valentine, Top Girls (Royal Court and New York), and Gertrude in Sir Peter Hall’s production of Hamlet (London’s Gielgud Theatre and national tour).

Joining Gwen Taylor as Inspector Belsize will be Daragh O’Malley, best known for his role as Patrick Harper in the long-running television series Sharpe.  After a 12-year absence from the stage, O’Malley returned to the British stage in 2012, playing Father Jack in the Original Theatre Company’s production of Dancing at Lughnasa.  In 2014, he played Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at Manchester’s Royal Exchange, for which he was nominated for an MTA Best Actor Award and The Stage selected his performance as one of the Top Five Performances in UK Theatre in 2014.  

Also in the cast are Alasdair Buchan as Hubert, Anne Odeke as Nurse Libby, Mandi Symonds as Mrs Terence and Melissa Vaughan as Dora.  Further casting to be announced.

Director Luke Sheppard most recently directed the Olivier Award-winning production of In the Heights (King’s Cross Theatre and Southwark Playhouse), for which he was nominated for Best Director at the Whatsonstage Awards.  His other directing credits include Stig of the Dump (UK Tour), Casa Valentina (Southwark Playhouse), The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Age 13 ¾ (Curve, Leicester) and the forthcoming European premiere of Peter and the Starcatcher (Royal & Derngate, Northampton).  Luke is the Associate Director of Matilda (Stratford-Upon-Avon, West End, Broadway).

Luke Sheppard said, “It’s a privilege to direct this extraordinary play just over eighty years since the first performance.  It’s a gripping murder mystery with delightfully dark characters.  I’m looking forward to audiences around the country discovering all the chills and thrills this rarely produced classic holds in store.”

When charming, smooth-talking Dan arrives at old Mrs Bramson’s remote woodland home, he soon ingratiates his way into her life and that of her niece, Olivia.  But when a local woman goes missing and is later found murdered, Olivia begins to suspect her aunt’s new private assistant.  She resolves to find out the truth.

Emlyn Williams wrote NIGHT MUST FALL in 1935 and played the lead role in the first stage production.  The play was noted for its exploration of the killer’s complex psychological state, a step forward for its genre.  Robert Montgomery starred in the film version in 1937 and Albert Finney in the 1964 re-make.

Alastair Whatley, Artistic Director of The Original Theatre Company, said, “We are delighted to be working with Salisbury Playhouse and Eastbourne Theatres to present this major revival of Emlyn Williams’s wickedly good thriller, NIGHT MUST FALL.  We could not be more pleased to be welcoming a first class creative team led by director Luke Sheppard, furthering our ambition to produce the highest quality regional theatre and sharing it with our venue partners and audiences across the United Kingdom.”

Gareth Machin, Artistic Director of Salisbury Playhouse, said, “Salisbury Playhouse is delighted to be co-producing with Original Theatre Company, ensuring our work and our outstanding production values are seen and celebrated by an ever wider audience.  As ever, we are thrilled to be working with some of the most exciting young creative talents in the UK who we know will breathe new life into this fine psychological thriller.”

NIGHT MUST FALL will be designed by David Woodhead, with sound and music by Harry Blake and lighting by Howard Hudson.  The national tour is produced by Alastair Whatley and Tom Hackney for The Original Theatre Company and Sebastian Warrack for Salisbury Playhouse, in association with Eastbourne Theatres.

Website: www.originaltheatre.com

Facebook: TheOriginalTheatre 

Twitter: @OriginalTheatre

 

Age guidance 12+

 

TOUR SCHEDULE

19 August – 3 September         Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne          on sale now

                                               www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk                      01323 412000

 

6 – 24 September                    Salisbury Playhouse                                     on sale 20 May                                                                       

                                               www.salisburyplayhouse.com                         01722 320333

 

28 September – 1 October        The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry                     on sale now

www.belgrade.co.uk                                      024 7655 3055

 

17 – 22 October                       New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich                       on sale now

                                              www.wolseytheatre.co.uk                                01473 295900

 

1 – 5 November                       Palace Theatre, Southend                            on sale 1 June

                                               www.palacetheatresouthend.co.uk                 01702 351135

 

8 – 12 November                     Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham                    on sale 1 June

                                               www.everymantheatre.org.uk                         01242 572573

 

15 – 19 November                   York Theatre Royal                                       on sale soon                                                                

                                              www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk                            01904 623568

BALLETBOYZ LAUNCHES MOOVBANK, A BESPOKE DIGITAL PLATFORM HELPING TEACHERS DELIVER DANCE TO STUDENTS AGED 7 – 18

• FILMED IN CLASS WITH THE INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED BALLETBOYZ DANCERS, MOOVBANK FEATURES FILMED LESSONS, PERFORMANCE CLIPS AND INTERVIEWS
• LIVE STREAMED MASTERCLASSES WILL TAKE PLACE FROM THE BALLETBOYZ STUDIO

The internationally celebrated dance company BalletBoyz have launched MoovBank, a brand new site housing filmed lessons, interviews and rehearsal footage to support specialist and non-specialist teachers deliver dance at Key Stages 2, 3 and 4 to students aged 7 – 18.  The free and premium content has been specifically created to aid the teaching of dance as part of the national curriculum, from lesson inspiration to full lesson plans for PE teachers required to deliver dance with little experience or background in the genre. The bespoke content is also available for teachers delivering BTEC, GCSE and A Level Dance. MoovBank will launch in July, ready for use in schools from September 2016.

Filmed in class with dancers from the Company the digital lessons will enable teachers to deliver a selection of creative and choreographic tasks to their groups with a focus on Creativity at KS2, Contact Work at KS3 and Choreography at KS4.   Lessons offer clear, detailed breakdowns of each movement task plus demos, teaching tips and inspiration clips. Each filmed lesson is also accompanied by a detailed lesson plan with learning outcomes, cross curricula links and suggestions for differentiation; all designed to make planning and delivery simple and straight forward.

The lessons are designed to increase physical activity and creativity, as well as help pupils build trust, work together as a team and problem solve through movement.  Teachers and pupils will be able to watch demonstrations performed by the Company, alongside inspirational clips of their stage performances whilst gaining access to behind the scenes rehearsal footage and interviews with choreographers.  Lessons will be accompanied by a selection of contextual videos that introduce the Company dancers and BalletBoyz Artistic Directors, Michael Nunn OBE and William Trevitt OBE. MoovBank will also feature a regular schedule of live streamed events from the Company’s studio in Kingston including masterclasses with the dancers, studio rehearsals and teacher Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities.

‘The provision for dance at Allerton High school was quite poor as we are lacking specialist dance teachers. Moovbank has enabled non-specialists to deliver a high quality scheme of work with confidence’ Janet Sammon, Allerton High School Leeds

“My year 9 drama students absolutely loved the lesson and produced some really brilliant stuff… It knocked my socks off how good they were and how enthusiastic and confident they were with the moves” Karen Lambert, Isca College Exeter

The Key Stage 2 resource features 5 filmed lessons that guide teachers and students through a selection of creative tasks to generate new and unique movement that can then be assembled to form a short piece.  These lessons are themed, based on the City, technology, the sea, jungle and desert with cross-curricula links to geography and technology.  The fun, engaging lessons have been tested with a class of year 8 and 9 year olds with successful results.

The Key Stage 3 resource focuses on Contact work and guides teachers and students through a series of tasks to develop contact work with the floor and a partner.  Tasks include lifting, counterbalance and travelling floor based movement with clear links to and examples of the Company’s repertoire. Students also have the opportunity to assemble tasks learned to create their own short piece of choreography. This resource develops team work, trust, problem solving, the ability to work independently and in pairs and promotes healthy and safe physical contact between both male and female pupils.

The Key Stage 4 resource focuses on the development of dancers and artists at BTEC, GCSE, A level and even first year undergraduate students.  Lessons guide students through a wide range of choreographic and improvisation based tasks and techniques to help generate, develop and structure movement. BalletBoyz repertoire and insightful interviews with leading choreographers are referenced for context and advice.

www.moovbank.com

Twitter: @Moovbank1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moovbank/

https://instagram.com/balletboyz
@BalletBoyz / @BBdancerscourse

www.balletboyz.com

A SENSATIONAL NEW SONG AND DANCE PRODUCTION “THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT” WITH VERY SPECIAL GUEST STARS, THE UK’S NUMBER ONE VOCAL HARMONY GROUP THE OVERTONES TO VISIT NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL

TUESDAY 5 JULY – SATURDAY 9 JULY.

 

From the producers of the smash-hit show Puttin’ On The Ritz comes the dazzling song and dance extravaganzaThat’s Entertainment!  Britain’s favourite vocal harmony group, The Overtones will be joining the tour as they hit the stage at Newcastle Theatre Royal.

 

The much loved vocal group The Overtones have achieved sell-out tours, sold over 1,000,000 albums and have just celebrated their fifth consecutive top 10 album.

 

That’s Entertainment celebrates the biggest hits of the 40’s and 50’s including music by Lerner and Loewe, Rodgers and Hammerstein, as well as Irving Berlin and Cole Porter.

 

With glorious costumes, sumptuous music, stunning dance routines and an award-winning cast of singers and dancers, this is guaranteed to wow the audience and keep their toes-tapping!  That’s Entertainment! Is feel good entertainment at its best for all the family.

 

That’s Entertainment! is produced by David King for Spirit Productions Worldwide Ltd.

 

That’s Entertainment! plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tuesday 5 July – Saturday 9 July. Tickets are from £19.50 and can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge).

Civic Theatre, Darlington – 16 to 21 May.  Reviewed by Audrey McConnell
The Last Tango with Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace, excellent show with fantastic dancing.

The perceptive but very touching storyline told through dance through the memories of the older Vincent played by Teddy Kempner, looking back on his life, from their first meeting in the 30’s through pre and post – war Britain, falling in love, wedding, Christmases, birth of their children and finally the last tango.

Vincent and Flavia have such a rapport as a couple who are exciting to watch, their dance moves are precise and perfectly in unison synchronised and sensual. Their acting shows emotion and passion through facial expressions and movements without the need for speech

The dances are exciting and enchanting, how can these fantastic dancers manage their routine without losing their footing?  When Flavia floats onto the stage for the first time the audience gasped and her union with Vincent in the dances had the audience spellbound.

Vincent and Flavia are supported by a fantastic troupe of dancers who’s energy is outstanding, how they manage some of the very fast numbers without losing their footing is a wonder. The live band and singers did a sterling job through a variety of song genre. When the cast went on stage to perform jive Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy I’m sure many wanted to join in.

The finale was spellbinding a beautiful Rumba followed by the Argentine Tango which was breath-taking

The curtain came down to a standing ovation from a very enthusiastic audience. Lets hope that this is not the last time we see these two on the stage.

Theatre N16 9 – 18 May.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

Frank Sumatra is basically Paddington Bear on steroids. Just imagine a kleptomaniac, chain smoking, web surfing, beer swilling Paddington, transformed into a 14 stone orang-utan.

Bev ( Hannah Walker) and Keith (Pip Chamberlain) are a nice middle class Geordie couple who are trying for a baby. This is put on hold when Frank suddenly appears on their doorstep. They realise that he is the cute baby orang-utan they sponsored years ago, who has come to live with them (he has google maps on his iPad – don’t ask) because his home has been burned down by loggers.

Bev and Keith take him in and soon find themselves suffering through all the worst parts of parenthood – coping with an orang-utan who at first acts like a stroppy toddler, and soon develops into a terrifyingly unmanageable teenage nightmare.

Performed as a live radio show, with Dean Logan as the hapless sound effects guy, and Frank, Mike Yeaman’s sharp script is full of absurd situations, Sinatra and laugh out loud moments. Chamberlain and Walker are fantastic as the unlucky couple, and Logan’s facial expressions as he produces the effects are wonderful. His Speak And Spell voice is quite possibly the most annoying sound on the planet, and makes Chamberlain’s frustrations even funnier.

Playing as part of Wandsworth Fringe Festival, Frank Sumatra is a play well worth seeing – even if you’ll only give one of those adopt a baby animal gifts to your worst enemies from now on.

THE TRIAL OF JANE FONDA

BY TERRY JASTROW

 

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT

OSCAR NOMINEE AND GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER ANNE ARCHER IS JOINED BY

CHRISTIEN ANHOLT, MARTIN FISHER, ALEX GAUMOND, PAUL HERZBERG,
AKO MITCHELL AND MARK ROSE

Casting has been announced for the brand new production of THE TRIAL OF JANE FONDA, written by seven-time Emmy award-winner Terry Jastrow, and directed by Joe Harmston, opening at Park Theatre on 13 July until 20 August, with a press night on 14 July.

As previously announced, Anne Archer (Fatal Attraction; Patriot Games; Clear and Present Danger) will return to the UK to star as ‘Jane Fonda’, having first developed the role at the Edinburgh Festival in 2014. Archer was last seen on the London stage making her West End debut as ‘Mrs Robinson‘ in The Graduate at the Gielgud Theatre in 2001, to critical acclaim.

Musical theatre star Alex Gaumond joins the company as ‘Larry Bonk’. Alex’s extensive West End credits includeMatilda, We Will Rock You, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Top Hat and Legally Blonde, for which he was nominated for the Olivier for Best Actor in a Musical. The Trial of Jane Fonda will mark not only his Park Theatre debut, but also his first major non-musical role in a play.

Alex Gaumond said, “I am very excited to take on the role of Larry in this fascinating play and to work with such a brilliant cast. If the auditions are anything to go by, the group dynamic on stage will be electric. In the few years since its opening, Park Theatre has quickly established a fantastic reputation for great work, so I am delighted to be performing there this summer.”

They are joined on stage by Christien Anholt playing ‘Buzzy Banks’, Martin Fisher as ‘Reverend John Clarke’, Paul Herzberg – returning to Park Theatre after starring in The Dead Wait in 2013, directed by Joe Harmston – as ‘Joe Celano’, Ako Mitchell – returning to Park Theatre after starring in Klook’s Last Stand in 2014, with an Offies Nomination for Best Actor – as ‘Reggie Wells’, and Mark Rose – also returning to Park Theatre after starring inFrozen in 2015 – as ‘Tommy Lee Cook’.

Anne Archer said, “I am utterly thrilled to be working with such a dynamic and talented cast, and look forward to our creative journey together.”

DREAMGIRLS
Savoy Theatre, London
Performances from 19 November
Dreamgirlswestend.com

• Amber Riley will star in the role of ‘Effie White’ for 7 performances per week. Ruth Brown and Karen Mav will rotate performances on Wednesday evenings.

• Singer/songwriters Ruth Brown and Karen Mav have been cast to support star Amber Riley playing the role of ‘Effie White’ for one performance per week between them.

• Further casting for the production is still to be announced.

Sonia Friedman Productions announce today that Ruth Brown and Karen Mav will support  Amber Riley in the role of soulful singer ‘Effie White’ in Dreamgirls when the previously confirmed Ms Riley is not scheduled to perform (Wednesday evenings). Amber will star in the role for seven performances per week when the Tony Award-winning musical has its UK premiere at the Savoy Theatre with preview performances from 19 November and Opening Night on Wednesday 14 December 2016.

American actress and singer Amber Riley is best known for her role as ‘Mercedes Jones’ in the Golden Globe Award-winning musical comedy, Glee. Additional television appearances include playing ‘Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North’ in the NBC live performance of the musical,The Wiz and competing in Dancing with the Stars, which she won in 2013. Riley’s numerous theatre credits include Alice in Wonderland, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Into the Woods andMystery on the Docks with the Los Angeles Opera. In November 2012, she made her New York stage debut to rave reviews in New York City Center’s Duke Ellington’s Cotton Club Parade.

Ruth Brown found fame in the first series of BBC’s The Voice, reaching the semi-finals under the mentorship of Sir Tom Jones. She has since gone on to release her first UK single ‘P.O.P.’ and is soon to debut her new album, Letters of Truth.

Karen Mav was recently a contestant on the 2015 series of ITV’s The X Factor where she wowed TV audiences and judges with her take on Etta James’s ‘I’d Rather Go Blind’ and the Whitney Houston version of the classic ‘I Will Always Love You’.

Sonia Friedman, Producer

“This is fantastic news for the production. Casting Amber Riley is of course thrilling as she is the most extraordinary talent to star in our show, but now to be able to announce that Ruth Brown and Karen Mav will be joining the show, to cover Amber and share performances on the night that Amber will not be on is just fantastic.”

Full information on performance schedules will be updated on the official websiteDreamgirlswestend.com

As previously announced, Dreamgirls will be Directed and Choreographed by Olivier and Tony Award®-winning Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Disney’s Aladdin and Something Rotten!), with Set Design by Tim Hatley, Costume Design by Gregg Barnes, Lighting Design byHugh Vanstone, Sound Design by Richard Brooker and Hair Design by Josh Marquette. The Musical Supervisor will be Nick Finlow, the Orchestrator will be Harold Wheeler, with Additional Material by Willie Reale.

Dreamgirls transports you to a revolutionary time in American music history. Dreamgirls charts the tumultuous journey of a young female singing trio from Chicago, Illinois called ‘The Dreams’, as they learn the hard lesson that show business is as tough as it is fabulous, and features the classic songs ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’, ‘I Am Changing’, ‘Listen’ and ‘One Night Only’ .

With Book and Lyrics by Tom Eyen and Music by Henry Krieger, the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls, Directed and Choreographed by Michael Bennett opened in 1981 and subsequently won six Tony Awards®. The original cast recording won two Grammy awards for Best Musical Album and Best Vocal Performance for Jennifer Holliday’s ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.’ In 2006 it was adapted into an Oscar winning motion picture starring Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx.

LISTINGS:

Savoy Theatre, Strand, London WC2R 0ET

Performances

First Performance: 19 November 2016, 7.30pm
Press Performance: 14 December 2016, 7pm

Monday to Saturday evening performances at 7.30pm
Wednesday and Saturday matinee performances at 2.30pm
(No Wednesday matinee performance on 23 November)

Christmas Performance Schedule

Monday 19th December, 7.30pm
Tuesday 20th December, 7.30pm
Wednesday 21st December, 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Thursday 22nd December, 7.30pm
Friday 23rd December, 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Saturday 24th December, 2.30pm only
Sunday 25th December, no performances
Monday 26th December, 7.30pm
Tuesday 27th December, 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Wednesday 28th December, 7.30pm only
Thursday 29th December, 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Friday 30th December, 7.30pm
Saturday 31st December, 2.30pm only
Sunday 1st January, no performances

Box Office

Website:       Dreamgirlswestend.com
Telephone:    0844 871 7687
Prices:          From £20 (from £15 during previews)
At every performance there will be 100 accessibly priced seats, including £20 seats available in advance and £15 day seats available on the day of the performance.

Social Media

Website – Dreamgirlswestend.com
Twitter handle – @DreamgirlsLDN
Facebook page – DreamgirlsLDN
Instagram account – DreamgirlsLDN
Hashtag – #DreamgirlsLDN

FIRST CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

 

THE UK PREMIERE

OF BROADWAY MUSICAL

SIDE SHOW

From the composer of Dreamgirls

 

AT SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE

FROM FRIDAY 21 OCTOBER TO SATURDAY 3 DECEMBER 2016

 

First casting is announced today for Broadway musical Side Show, which will receive its UK Premiere in a brand new production at Southwark Playhouse, opening on Wednesday 26 October with previews from Friday 21 October.

Conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton will be played by Louise Dearman and Laura Pitt-Pulford.

Louise Dearman (Daisy) is best known for being the first actress to star as both Glinda and Elphaba in the hit musical Wicked, playing both roles to great acclaim in the West End. Her many other theatre credits include Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls (UK Tour), Bianca in Kiss Me Kate (Royal Albert Hall), Mrs D in The Water Babies(Leicester Curve), Eva Peron in Evita (UK Tour) and Jan in Grease (West End).

Laura Pitt-Pulford (Violet) received a 2016 Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Other recent credits includeFlowers for Mrs Harris (Sheffield Crucible), Nancy in Oliver! (Leicester Curve), The Smallest Show on Earth (UK Tour), Follies in Concert (Royal Albert Hall), Maria in The Sound of Music (Leicester Curve) and The Light Princess(National Theatre).

Further casting is to be announced.

Inspired by the true story of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton, Side Show is a remarkable musical about love, acceptance and embracing the unique.

We meet the Hilton Sisters as the headline act at a seedy side show, languishing under the rule of an oppressive ringmaster. But when spotted by a talent agent, they are thrust into the spotlight of the famed 1920’s Orpheum Circuit. They soon become the highest paid vaudeville stars of their time, but whilst Daisy relishes the spotlight, Violet wishes for a quiet life with a man she loves, and who loves her. Can they balance their individual dreams with their inescapable physical connection? Side Show is a heartwarming musical about the search for love and acceptance amidst the spectacle of fame.

 

Side Show first opened on Broadway in 1997, where it was nominated for four Tony Awards; Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, the only time a nomination has been shared by two actresses; Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner.

 

Side Show features a score by Dreamgirls composer Henry Krieger, with both shows making their London debuts a month apart from each other when Dreamgirls opens in the West End in November. Krieger was nominated for Tony Awards for Best Score for Side Show and Dreamgirls, won a Grammy Award for the cast album of Dreamgirls, and received three Academy Award nominations for the additional songs he wrote for the 2006 film.

 

It has a Book and Lyrics by Bill Russell, who received a Tony Award nomination for Best Book, and shared the nomination for Best Score with Krieger. Russell’s other musicals include Elegies for Angels and Punks and Raging Queens. Additional Book material is by Bill Condon, who reworked Side Show for its 2014 Broadway revival. Condon is an Academy Award-winning screenwriter and director, best known for writing the screenplay for the 2002 film Chicago, and directing and writing the critically acclaimed films Gods and Monsters and Dreamgirls, for which he won a Golden Globe.

Side Show is presented by Paul Taylor-Mills, who returns to Southwark Playhouse following his acclaimed productions of In The Heights and Carrie: The Musical. In The Heights won three 2016 Olivier Awards for its transfer to King’s Cross Theatre, whilst Carrie: The Musical won the 2016 WhatsOnStage Award for Best Off West End Production.

 

Side Show will be directed by Hannah Chissick (Down the Dock Road, Royal Court Liverpool, Brass, NYMT,Marry Me a Little, St. James Studio), with choreography by Matthew Cole (Footloose, UK Tour), design by takis(In The Heights, Southwark Playhouse/King’s Cross Theatre) and sound design by Dan Simpson. Casting is byWill Burton. Side Show has music by Henry Krieger and Book and Lyrics by Bill Russell, with additional Book material by Bill Condon.

 

Twitter @Side_ShowUK

 

For Southwark Playhouse press enquiries please contact Susie Safavi

on 07875277913 or [email protected]

LISTINGS

 

FRIDAY 21 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 3 DECEMBER 2016

SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE, The Large

77-85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD

Nearest Tube:               Borough / Elephant and Castle

Press Night:                   Wednesday 26 October, 7.30pm

Performances:               Monday – Saturday 7.30pm, Saturday 3.00pm (additional perf Tues 29 November 3.00pm)

Tickets:                         £14 previews / £25 standard / £20 concessions

Box Office                     020 7407 0234 | www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

Note: Southwark Playhouse has introduced allocated seating in The Large space. Patrons can pick their seats online or will be given best available seats when booking over the phone.

MICHAEL NUNN OBE, WILLIAM TREVITT OBE AND KERRY WHELAN TO BECOME ARTISTIC DIRECTORS FOR BBODANCE (BRITISH BALLET ORGANIZATION)

bbodance, formerly known as the British Ballet Organization, has today announced the appointment of Michael Nunn OBE, William Trevitt OBE and Kerry Whelan as the new Co-Artistic Director consultants of the organisation. Nunn, Trevitt and Whelan, the team behind internationally renowned dance company BalletBoyz join bbodance to provide artistic direction, help grow membership and introduce innovative and exciting projects.

Of their appointment Nunn, Trevitt and Whelan commented: “We are thrilled to be invited to take up the artistic reigns at bbodance at such an exciting time in the organisation’s long history. The heritage and legacy of the British Ballet Organization is second to none and resonates with so many. We feel honoured to be part of that history.

This is a time of significant change for bbodance; a move to state-of-the-art premises, the introduction of a smart new brand identity and a major overhaul of the teaching syllabi. The British Ballet Organization has always stood for excellence, quality and a belief in the shared enjoyment of dance – values that we pursue in our own company, BalletBoyz. 

We are ambitious and excited for the future of bbodance and look forward to helping deliver a bigger and better bbodance, without losing any of the intimacy or qualities that have defined the organisation over the last 86 years.”

Their appointment coincides with a rebrand for the organisation and a move to state of the art studios and offices overlooking the River Thames in Battersea.  The change is part of bbodance’s commitment to improving its services, events and membership benefits across the broad scope of dance services provided by the organisation.  As part of bbodance’s commitment to innovation it also announced the launch of a new musical theatre dance syllabus in 2016.

Nicholas Espinosa, Executive Chairman of bbodance commented: “The foundations for a modernised bbodance are now firmly in place. Our magnificent new riverside headquarters and the ground-breaking vision of our award winning Artistic Directors provide a secure platform to inspire and promote excellence in dance training while retaining the bbodance traditional values. Our brand new headquarters include studios, a library and classrooms in a fantastic location, not to mention the fabulous views overlooking the Thames. These facilities will provide the space to hold bbodance teacher training programme on-site, a base for all future syllabus development and a home for all bbodance members, creating a lasting legacy for future generations. I am excited to see our plans for the future implemented.”