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MARIANNE ELLIOTT TO RECEIVE OBE FOR HER SERVICES TO THEATRE

It was announced today (Friday 8 June, 22:30 GMT) in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours list that Marianne Elliott, artistic director of Elliott & Harper Productions, is to be recognised for her services to theatre with an OBE.

Marianne Elliott, who is currently in New York for the 2018 Tony Awards, where her production of Angels in America has been nominated for an unprecedented 11 awards, including Best Director and Best Revival, said: “When I was a child, growing up in Stockport, I never thought it was even possible for a young woman to become a theatre director, let alone be blessed with the career I have had. To be recognised in this way is very moving and I hope an inspiration to other young women that anything is possible.”

Elliott & Harper Productions was formed with producer Chris Harper in 2016.  The inaugural production for her new company was the UK premiere of Heisenberg: The Uncertainty Principle by Simon Stephens followed by a new adaptation of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe directed by Sally Cookson which broke box office records at West Yorkshire Playhouse.  Marianne’s next production will be George Furth and Stephen Sondheim’s musical comedy, Company, opening at Gielgud Theatre on 26 September 2018.  The cast includes Rosalie Craig in the re-gendered central role of Bobbie, Tony award-winning Patti LuPone as Joanne and Mel Giedroyc as Sarah.

Marianne, the first woman to win 2 Tony awards for direction, was an Associate Director at the National Theatre for 10 years where her work has included Angels in America, the multi-award winning War Horse (co-directed by Tom Morris) and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.  War Horse and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time both transferred to the West End and Broadway, have had major success internationally and on tour, and still continue to tour.  Marianne’s many awards received include the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play for both War Horse and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and the Olivier Award and South Bank Show award for Best Director for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time.  Her many other productions for the National Theatre include: Husbands & Sons (a co-production with the Royal Exchange Theatre), Rules for Living, The Light Princess, Port, Season’s Greetings, Saint Joan (Oliver award for Best Revival), Therese Raquin and Pillars of the Community (Evening Standard Best Director Award.)  As Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange Theatre her credits included Port, Design for Living, As You Like it and Deep Blue Sea.  Other theatre includes Sweet Bird of Youth at the Old Vic, Little Foxes for the Donmar and Much Ado about Nothing for the RSC.

NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE’S ARTISTIC DIRECTOR PAUL ROSEBY RECEIVES OBE

• The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain is excited to announce that their Artistic Director and Chief Executive has received an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list today
• In recognition of Paul Roseby’s services to drama and young people in 15 years at the helm of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain

Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the National Youth Theatre, Paul Roseby, has today become an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and receives the prestigious Queen’s award in recognition of his efforts and achievements at the National Youth Theatre.

Paul Roseby has been Artistic Director of the world’s leading youth arts charity, the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, for 15 years and CEO for five of those years. Over this period he has facilitated over 150,000 creative educational opportunities for young people and raised or generated over £33 million of charitable income to support young British talent. He has produced over 200 productions showcasing Britain’s best young talent and commissioned over 170 new plays or adaptations, predominantly by emerging young writers including James Graham (This House), Sarah Solemani (Aphrodite Fry) and Louise Brealey (Pope Joan). Actors who have worked with Roseby and gone on to international success include Sarah Solemani, Zawe Ashton, Rafe Spall, Susan Wokoma, Daisy Lewis, Sope Dirisu, Joe Cole, Karla Crome, Yolanda Kettle and many more. In less than five years since becoming CEO, he has also achieved record box office receipts and successfully fought to establish financial sustainability for the charity, which historically has struggled with funding, increasing its earned income by over 100% and building a significant reserve to support future development.

As Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the National Youth Theatre, Roseby has championed the diversity and complexity of Britain’s youth in all its forms, working tirelessly to provide access to creative opportunities for young people from social, cultural and economic backgrounds underrepresented in the arts and wider creative industries. Norfolk born, as someone who didn’t go to university but instead pursued a highly successful career as a broadcaster straight from college, Roseby has championed alternative routes into the creative industries for those facing financial or cultural barriers preventing them entering higher education.

New initiatives launched during Roseby’s tenure include the NYT REP Company in 2012 to provide a free alternative route into the industry for those who couldn’t afford expensive formal acting training. Over 90 young actors have benefited from this free alternative to formal training and a West End platform over the past six years which collectively would have cost them over £800,000 to train for a year each at drama school. Over 95% of young people who have benefited from this free initiative have gone on to work professionally in the creative industries.

Over 175 young people have also graduated from Playing Up, NYT’s free targeted programme aimed at young people at risk who are not in education, employment or training and often recently out of the criminal justice or care systems or struggling with addiction, homelessness or mental health issues. The NYT has also significantly grown its Bursary Fund during this time, awarding over £2million worth of support to more than 1,500 young people who wouldn’t have been able to engage in these creative opportunities without financial support.

Roseby has been particularly successful in nurturing young actors of colour, as well as pioneering gender diversity in the arts sector and championing LGBTQ+ representation. More than a quarter of actors who have been in the REP company over the past six years are actors of colour and more than 50% of young people who have been on the Playing Up course are actors of colour. Bucking an industry-wide trend that has seen women underrepresented, over 50% of graduates from the NYT REP have been female, and the organisation has also commissioned a female majority of writers and a 50/50 split of male and female directors. Female writers commissioned by Roseby include Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Sarah Solemani, Stella Duffy, Tanika Gupta, Zawe Ashton, Jamila Gavin, Louise Brealey, Molly Davies, Nessah Muthy and Sophie Ellerby. The NYT has also opened up opportunities to more young people by drastically expanding its work outside of London, quadrupling the number of audition venues it tours to each year, to reach further around the country than any other drama school or youth arts organisation.

Paul Roseby said: ‘“I am very honoured to receive this recognition and would like to dedicate it to the inspiring young talent at the National Youth Theatre, to our generous funders and to all those who continue to volunteer their time and expertise alongside our dedicated staff and associate artists. I grew up in a village in Norfolk and when my English teacher introduced me to the National Youth Theatre it transformed my world, introducing me to people and opportunities that have shaped my life and varied career. I will continue to passionately campaign for more drama in schools and the need for National Arts Days to be celebrated on a par with sports days to help prevent the arts increasingly being treated as a second-class option. No matter how small a town or distant a location they are from or what they can or cannot afford, every teenager must get the chance to find their voice, find their tribe and have their world transformed.”

He has also pioneered a ground-breaking international cultural exchange programme and championed mass-ensemble outdoor arts, which led to the NYT being commissioned to produce the first fully theatrical immersive Olympic and Paralympic Team Welcome Ceremonies at London 2012, which he directed. He also secured the opportunity for the company to perform at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Handover, singing the National Anthem to an audience of over 1.5 billion, and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Roseby has also pioneered free performances in unusual and community settings from a disused warehouse in the Isle of Sheppey to Thomas Heatherwick’s Seed Cathedral at the Shanghai Expo in 2010. Roseby’s passion for cultural exchange was instrumental in launching ground-breaking theatre education workshops in Saudi Arabia and Beijing, involving local young people and NYT members.

Critically acclaimed plays that Roseby has conceived and commissioned include James Graham’sTory Boyz tackling homophobia in Westminster, Evan Placey’s Consensual exploring issues around the age of consent and sex education, Tania Gupta’s White Boy about knife crime in London andOur Days of Rage, written by nine emerging writers. His directing credits also include Story of our Youth – a Diamond Anniversary Gala, Generation Sext for Sky Arts, Relish by James Graham, When Romeo Met Juliet for BBC2, Silence by Moira Buffini and Tom Stoppard’s abridgement of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice at the Royal Opera House and the National Centre for Performing Arts in Beijing, where NYT became the first British Theatre company to perform at the theatre.

“Paul Roseby has made such leaps forward in getting the National Youth Theatre producing in regional venues, and making auditions possible for people across the UK. The first person to ever pay to commission me to write a play was Paul Roseby of the National Youth Theatre. I’m now very lucky to be earning a living doing something I love.”

James Graham, Writer

BROOKE MAUCHLINE PRODUCTIONS AND NICOLL ENTERTAINMENT

PRESENT
THE WORLD PREMIERE OF

A BRAND NEW LIVE SHOW OF THE

THE YOUTUBE SENSATION ‘LITTLE BABY BUM’

 

“LITTLE BABY BUM LIVE”

TO TOUR THE UK THIS SUMMER

OPENING AT THE BASINGSTOKE HAYMARKET THEATRE

ON FRIDAY 22 JUNE 2018

 

Brooke Mauchline Productions and Nicoll Entertainment are delighted to present the World Premiere of a brand new live show of the YouTube sensation Little Baby Bum. “LITTLE BABY BUM LIVE” will tour the UK this summer, opening at the Basingstoke Haymarket Theatre on Friday 22 June 2018. Full tour schedule and listings below.

Combining puppetry, live action and animation, audiences are invited to step into the magical and colourful world of “LITTLE BABY BUM LIVE”. Join Mia, Jacus, Twinkle and their Nursery Rhyme friends on their latest adventure.

LITTLE BABY BUM LIVE is written and directed by Miranda Larson. Her most recent credits include the adaptation of Tom Fletcher’s “Christmasaurus” (Hammersmith Apollo); “The Night Pirates” (Rose Theatre, Kingston); “Cartoon Network Live” (International Tour); “Milkshake Live” (UK Tour).

LITTLE BABY BUM LIVE is designed by Barney George and Timothy Bird, with musical direction from Barrie Bignold, choreography from Matthew Cole, lighting design from Dom Jeffrey and sound design from Julian Butler.

The cast of LITTLE BABY BUM LIVE includes; Charlotte Cooper (Tour Guide, Baby Panda, Betsy, Wise Old Owl, Twinkle), Henry James Cox (Tour Guide, BaaBaa, Stan, Pig), Matthew Liptrot (Understudy, ASM), Jack McNeill (Jacus, Old Mac, Incy) and Rebecca Withers (Mia, Mayor, Daisy).

An online and digital TV sensation, ‘Little Baby Bum’ is the world’s largest educational YouTube channel with over 15 million subscribers and 16 billion views.

‘Little Baby Bum’s’ debut YouTube video, ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ was uploaded on 29 August 2011. Since then the channel has gone on to become the world’s largest educational channel on YouTube, winning several awards along the way and holds the Guinness World record for the most-watched educational video of all time. ‘Little Baby Bum’ can now be viewed across a variety of platforms including YouTube and Netflix.

 

LISTINGS

LITTLE BABY BUM LIVE

More dates to be added. Check website for details.

www.littlebabybumlive.com

FRIDAY 22 JUNE – SATURDAY 23 JUNE

Basingstoke, The Haymarket www.anvilarts.org.uk

ON SALE NOW

MONDAY 25 JUNE – TUESDAY 26 JUNE

Dorking Halls www.dorkinghalls.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

THURSDAY 28 JUNE – SATURDAY 30 JUNE

Bromley Churchill Theatre www.churchilltheatre.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

SUNDAY 1 JULY – MONDAY 2 JULY

Leamington Spa, Royal Spa Centre www.warwickdc.gov.uk/royalspacentre

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 3 JULY – WEDNESDAY 4 JULY

New Brighton Floral Pavilion www.floralpavilion.com

ON SALE NOW

FRIDAY 6 JULY – SATURDAY 7 JULE

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre www.grandtheatre.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 10 JULY – WEDNESDAY 11 JULY

Newcastle Theatre Royal www.theatreroyal.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

THURSDAY 12 JULY – SATURDAY 14 JULY

Northampton Royal and Derngate www.royalandderngate.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

MONDAY 16 JULY – TUESDAY 17 JULY

Southend Palace Theatre www.southendtheatres.org.uk

ON SALE NOW

THURSDAY 19 JULY – FRIDAY 20 JULY

Newbury Corn Exchange www.cornexchangenew.com

ON SALE NOW

SATURDAY 21 JULY – SUNDAY 22 JULY

Salford Lyric Theatre www.thelowry.com

ON SALE NOW

MONDAY 23 JULY – WEDNESDAY 25 JULY

Llandudno Venue Cymru www.venuecymru.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

FRIDAY 27 JULY – SUNDAY 29 JULY

Reading Hexagon Theatre www.readingarts.com

ON SALE NOW

MONDAY 30 JULY – TUESDAY 31 JULY

Rose Theatre Kingston www.rosetheatrekingston.org

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER – THURSDAY 13 SEPTEMBER

Leicester Curve www.curveonline.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

FRIDAY 14 SEPTEMBER – SUNDAY 16 SEPTEMBER

Billingham Forum Theatre www.forumtheatrebillingham.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

FRIDAY 21 SEPTEMBER – SUNDAY 23 SEPTEMBER

Edinburgh King’s Theatre www.capitaltheatres.com

ON SALE NOW

FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 29 SEPTEMBER

Dartford Orchard Theatre www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

FRIDAY 5 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER

Guildford G Live www.glive.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

SATURDAY 13 OCTOBER – SUNDAY 14 OCTOBER

Brighton Theatre Royal www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-brighton

ON SALE NOW

MONDAY 15 OCTOBER – TUESDAY 16 OCTOBER

Wycombe Swan www.wycombeswan.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

SUNDAY 21 OCTOBER – MONDAY 22 OCTOBER

Chelmsford Civic Centre www.chelmsford.gov.uk/theatres

ON SALE NOW

FRIDAY 26 OCTOBER – SUNDAY 28 OCTOBER

Poole Lighthouse Theatre www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

MONDAY 29 OCTOBER – TUESDAY 30 OCTOBER

St. David’s Hall Cardiff www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE WORLD PREMIÈRE OF

ALEXIS ZEGERMAN’S HOLY SH!T

– THE OPENING PRODUCTION IN THE NEWLY REFURBISHED KILN THEATRE

 

 

KILN THEATRE PRESENTS

HOLY SH!T

By Alexis Zegerman

 

5 September – 6 October 2018

 

Director: Indhu Rubasingham; Designer: Robert Jones; Lighting Designer: Oliver Fenwick

Composer: David Shrubsole; Sound Designer: Alexander Caplen

 

Artistic Director of Kiln Theatre, Indhu Rubasingham, today announces the cast for her production of Alexis Zegerman’s Holy Sh!t – Daon Broni (Nick), Claire Goose (Juliet), Daniel Lapaine (Sam) and Dorothea Myer-Bennett (Simone). This world première production is the first in the newly refurbished Kiln Theatre, reopening after a major capital redevelopment project with press night on 10 September, previews from 5 September, and running until 6 October.

 

‘I’m the one who has the responsibility of moulding this child into a non-f*cked-up human being.’

 

Simone and Sam will do anything to get their daughter into the local Church of England school. Juliet and Nick agree to show them the ropes.

The bonds of family, faith and friendship are stretched to breaking-point as four forty-somethings wrestle for school places.

Directed by Artistic Director Indhu Rubasingham, Kiln Theatre launches its new season with the world première of this acerbic, dark comedy from Alexis Zegerman.

Alexis Zegerman’s work for the stage includes The Steingolds (workshopped with the National Studio – Finalist, Susan Smith Blackburn Award 2012), Lucky Seven (Hampstead Theatre – Pearson Writer in Residence 2008-2009), Killing Brando (A Play, A Pie and a Pint/ Òran Mór and Young Vic/Paines Plough Wild Lunch), I Ran the World (Royal Court Theatre), Noise (Soho Theatre – Winner of the Soho Theatre/Westminster Prize). For television, her work includes Lake View, Avon Ladies, Silver, Twilight of the Golds and Actresses; and for film,The Lovers’ Guide to Rome, All Inclusive, Dirty Martini and The Honeymoon Suite.

Daon Broni returns to Kiln Theatre to play Nick – he previously appeared in One Under. His other theatre work includes Slaves of Solitude (Hampstead Theatre), Bedlam, Henry IV Parts I and 2 (Shakespeare’s Globe), In Blood: The Bacchae (Arcola Theatre), The Observer (National Theatre), The Changeling (ETT), The Canterbury Tales (RSC) and Blue/Orange (Duchess Theatre). For television, his work includes Serious and Organised, Waterloo Road, Teachers, Eyes Down and Servants; and for film, Now What?, Breaking and Entering, Lives of Saints and Dead Cool.

Claire Goose plays Juliet. Her theatre work includes Twitstorm (Park Theatre), The Perfect Murder (UK tour),Hiding (Watford Palace Theatre), When We are Rich (Nuffield Southampton Theatres) and Addicted (Bristol Old Vic). For television, her work includes Lucky Man, The Coroner, Unforgotten, Death in Paradise, New Tricks, Undeniable, Pat and Cabbage, Mount Pleasant, Exile, The Bill (as series regular Inspector Rachel Weston), Waking the Dead (as series regular DS Mel Silver), Love Lies Bleeding, Secret Smile and Holby City (as series regular Tina Seabrook); and for film, Generation X, Bad Day and Alone.

Daniel Lapaine returns to Kiln Theatre to play Sam – he previously appeared in Rubasingham’s production of The Invisible Hand. His other theatre credits include The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare’s Globe), Other Desert Cities, Hedda Gabler (The Old Vic), The Winter’s Tale (Sheffield Crucible), The Dance of Death (Donmar Trafalgar), All My Sons (Apollo Theatre), Scenes from the Back of Beyond, F***ing Games (Royal Court), Les Parents Terribles, King Lear (Sydney Theatre Company), Island (Belvoir Street Theatre), Romeo and Juliet, Richard III, Hamlet (Bell Shakespeare Company). For television his work includes Versailles, Catastrophe, Critical, Vexed, Lewis, Vera, Black Mirror, Identity, Moonshot, Hotel Babylon; Sex, the City and Me; Jane Hall, Good Housekeeping Guide, Golden Hour, Jericho, Death on the Nile, Redcap, Helen of Troy, I Saw You andTenth Kingdom. Film credits include Dead in Tombstone, Zero Dark Thirty, Gozo, Jack the Giant Killer, Shanghai, Last Chance Harvey, Collusion, Abduction Club, Ritual, Journeyman, Double Jeopardy, Elephant Juice, Brokedown Palace, 54, Say You’ll Be Mine, 1999, Dangerous Beauty, Polish Wedding and Muriel’s Wedding.

Dorothea Myer-Bennett plays Simone. Her theatre work includes The Winslow Boy (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Lottery of Love, The Philanderer (Orange Tree Theatre), The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare’s Globe and Lincoln Center), Pericles (Shakespeare’s Globe), Richard III, Uncle Vanya (West Yorkshire Playhouse), This Was a Man (Finborough Theatre), and As You Like It and Arcadia (Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory). For television, her work includes Plastic People, Jude the Obscure and Dead Man Talking; and for film, The Honourable Rebel, The Payback and The Orchard.

Artistic Director of Kiln Theatre Indhu Rubasingham directs. Her work for the company includes Red Velvet(which transferred to New York and later to the Garrick Theatre as part of the Kenneth Branagh Season) andHandbagged (winner of Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre – also West End, UK tour and Washington DC). Other productions for Kiln Theatre include The Invisible Hand, A Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes,Multitudes, The House That Will Not Stand, Paper Dolls, Women, Power and Politics, Stones in His Pockets,Detaining Justice, The Great Game: Afghanistan, Fabulation and Starstruck. Other theatre credits include The Great Wave,  Ugly Lies the Bone, The Motherf**cker with the Hat (Evening Standard Award for Best Play), TheWaiting Room (all National Theatre), The Ramayana (National Theatre/ Birmingham Rep), Belong, Disconnect, Free Outgoing,  Lift Off, Clubland, The Crutch and Sugar Mummies (Royal Court), Ruined (Almeida), Yellowmanand Anna in the Tropics (Hampstead Theatre), Secret Rapture and The Misanthrope (Minerva, Chichester),Romeo and Juliet (Chichester Festival Theatre ), Pure Gold (Soho Theatre), The No Boys Cricket Club and PartyGirls (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Wuthering Heights (Birmingham REP), Heartbreak House (Watford Palace Theatre), Sugar Dollies and Shakuntala (Gate Theatre), A River Sutra (Three Mill Island Studios), Rhinoceros(UC Davis, California) and A Doll’s House (Young Vic).

www.KilnTheatre.com

Twitter: @KilnTheatre / @KilnCinema

Southwark Playhouse (The Large), 77-85 Newington Causeway,
London, SE1 6BD
Thursday 22nd November – Saturday 29th December 2018

The fantastical world of Dr. Seuss bursts onto the stage in this larger-than-life musical extravaganza from award-nominated Immersion Theatre, brimming with fun and excitement for ‘thinkers’ of all ages. Set to an electric score and co-conceived by Monty Python’s Eric Idle, this raucous and ultimately touching story by Tony Award winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty is a feel-good musical bonanza which dares us to think big and reminds us of the power of loyalty, family, and acceptance. After all, a person’s a person no matter how small!

Join the mischievous Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, and a host of other much-loved characters on a magical, madcap adventure from the Jungle of Nool, to the Circus McGurkus, to the tiniest planet in the sky, Whoville.

Seussical is far from being only a show for children; it is a fantastical, colourful, high-energy musical filled with larger-than-life characters and an incredible and varied score featuring a range of genres from funk, to big band, to rock and roll, to musical theatre. The characters all have something which we can all connect with, be it a sense of mischief, insecurity, that feeling of you against the world, and everything in between.

From bullying, to unrequited love, to being insecure with your body, to inclusivity, Seussical touches on some of today’s most topical issues in a funny and moving way. With choreography from 2018 Off West End award winner Chris Whittaker, this production is an intelligent, hilarious and moving piece of theatre whose themes, plot, characters, and score resonate and entertain audiences of all ages.

Director James Tobias comments, Seussical encapsulates everything Immersion Theatre stands for. We have worked incredibly hard to develop a lovely reputation in the regions and we have chosen this exceptional show as our re-introduction to London’s Off West End circuit. It is no exaggeration to say this has been on my bucket list of shows for Immersion to produce since the company’s creation in 2010. Not only is the music sensational, but the characters are beautifully created, being madcap enough to astound and keep younger audience members mesmerised throughout, but real and relatable enough to give the story heart and substance.

Immersion Theatre’s passion is high quality family theatre which can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. They strive to create shared family experiences which adults can engage with and enjoy as much as their little ones.

Jonathan Church Productions and Theatre Royal Bath Productions in association with Yvonne Arnaud Theatre present
VULCAN 7 
by Adrian Edmondson and Nigel Planer

• NEW COMEDY VULCAN 7 WRITTEN BY AND CO-STARRING ADRIAN EDMONDSON AND NIGEL PLANER
• WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION OPENS ON 19 SEPTEMBER AND WILL EMBARK ON A NATIONAL TOUR FOR AUTUMN 2018 

Jonathan Church Productions and Theatre Royal Bath Productions in association withYvonne Arnaud Theatre are delighted to announce brand new comedy Vulcan 7 written by and starring Adrian Edmondson and Nigel Planer, directed by Steven Marmion which will premiere this autumn before embarking on a UK tour. Vulcan 7 will open on Wednesday 19 September in Guildford and tour to Cambridge, Newcastle, Bath, Richmond, Malvern and Edinburgh.

British actor-comedians Adrian Edmundson and Nigel Planer rose to fame in TV sitcoms The Comic Strip Presents… and the BRIT award-winning cult classic The Young Ones and have performed together in Filthy, Rich and Catflap and in the spoof band Bad News. In their latest comedy Vulcan 7 they will co-star as former drama students, Gary Savage and Hugh Delavois, one a plodding actor, the other a struggling Hollywood star, both in their 60s who are reunited on Icelandic wasteland, on the set of a fantasy movie. The cast is completed by Lois Chimimba who stars as film runner, Leela.

Hugh has landed the role of Vulcan’s butler and he’s making his seventh film for the franchise. Gary is a one-time Hollywood A-lister playing a guest monster with four hours in make-up and one word in the script. Sparks fly inside the trailer as old wounds are opened. Leela, a runner, attempts to keep the peace, but outside the trailer things are not going to plan either: the director’s gone AWOL, the catering truck’s on the wrong side of a ravine, and the volcanic activity is growing more lively by the minute…

Adrian Edmondson (Gary Savage) is well known for his role in TV sitcom Bottom which he wrote and starred in with Rik Mayall. Other television credits include Jonathan Creek, Blackadderand the BBC adaptation of War & Peace. On stage he has appeared in The Rocky Horror Show in the West End and Twelfth Night at the RSC. Film credits include Captain Peavey in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Nigel Planer (Hugh Delavois) is an actor, comedian, novelist and playwright who has worked extensively in the West End with leading roles in original productions  Evita, Chicago, We Will Rock You, Wicked, Hairspray, Feelgood and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for which he received an Olivier Award nomination. Other credits include the spoof actor character Nicholas Craig and Doctor Who: Live tour. He has been nominated for numerous awards and won the BRIT award for Best Comedy Record in 1984 for his appearance in The Young Ones.

Lois Chimimba (Leela) has appeared with the National Theatre most recently in Common, and previously Peter Pan and wonder.land. Other theatre credits include Pitcairn with Shakespeare’s Globe and Chichester Festival Theatre and Nightingale and Chase at the Royal Court. She has appeared on television in the drama series Trust Me and on film in The Proposal.

Steven Marmion (Director) is currently Artistic Director at Soho Theatre where he has been at the helm since 2010. Productions include Only The Brave and the award-winning Madam Butterfly’s Child and Mad Margaret’s Revenge. He has directed workshops for the National Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, Royal Court and the RSC with whom he is an Education Associate Practitioner. Associate director credits include Rupert Goold’s production of Macbeth and its Broadway transfer.

 

Listings

VULCAN 7 2018 AUTUMN TOUR SCHEDULE

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre 
Wednesday 19 – Saturday 29 September
Millbrook, Guildford GU1 3UX
Box Office: 01483 440077
www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

Cambridge Arts Theatre  
Monday  1 – Saturday 6 October
6 St Edward’s Passage, Cambridge CB2 3PJ
Box Office: 01223 503333
www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

Newcastle Theatre Royal
Monday 8 – Saturday 13 October
Grey Street, Newcastle NE1 6BR
Box Office: 0191 244 2500
www.theatreroyal.co.uk
Performance schedule: Mon – Sat 7.30pm, Matinees Thurs 2pm & Sat 2.30pm

Theatre Royal Bath (Tickets on sale on 23 July)
Monday 15 – Saturday 20 October
Sawclose, Bath BA1 1ET
Box Office: 01225 448815
www.theatreroyal.org.uk
Performance schedule: Mon – Sat 7.30pm, Matinees Wed & Sat 2.30pm

Richmond Theatre 
Monday 22 – Saturday 27 October
The Green, Richmond, TW9 1QJ
Box Office: 0844 871 7651
www.atgtickets.com

Malvern Festival Theatre  
Monday 29 October – Saturday 3 November
Grange Road, Malvern, WR14 3HB
Box Office: 01684 569256
www.malvern-theatres.co.uk

King’s Theatre Edinburgh
Monday 5 – Saturday 10 November
2 Leven St, Edinburgh, EH3 9LQ
Box Office: 0131 529 6000
www.capitaltheatres.com/kings
Performance schedule: Mon – Sat 7.30pm, Matinees Wed & Sat 2.30pm

 

ROSE THEATRE KINGSTON MAKES COMMITMENT TO STOP USING SINGLE-USE PLASTIC

 

Rose Theatre Kingston today announces its commitment to stop using single-use plastic within the venue as part of its continued efforts to become a greener organisation.

The company has already made a number of steps towards reducing its single-use plastic within the venue. These include:

·         Replacing all single use plastic bottles with glass bottles.

·         Providing biodegradable, eco-friendly plastic cups with optional biodegradable plant-based covers.

·         Replacing all plastic packaging for sweets with biodegradable plant-based packaging.

·         Replacing all single-use plastic cutlery with biodegradable plant-based plastic.

·         Introduction of biodegradable straws and only giving these out upon request.

Rose Theatre Kingston will also implement further schemes to eradicate single-use plastic in the venue and also with the aim to contribute toward changing staff and audiences’ day-to-day habits. This includes:

·         Selling eco-friendly coffee cups in the venue and the introduction of a money-off scheme when using reusable containers for hot drinks.

·         Encouraging all staff to drink from reusable mugs and water bottles and refrain from using plastic bags.

Robert O’Dowd, Chief Executive at Rose Theatre Kingston, said today, ‘Anyone who has seen the last series of Blue Planet has now realised the shocking impact of plastic in our oceans. The Rose is committed to reducing its contribution and aims to be an organisation that leads in confronting the issue of plastic pollution.’

 

ABOUT ROSE THEATRE KINGSTON

Founded by Sir Peter Hall, and modelled on the original Elizabethan Rose Theatre on London’s Bankside, Rose Theatre Kingston is the largest producing theatre in South West London.

Since opening in 2008, the Rose has collaborated with a range of directors, playwrights and producing partners to create vibrant, engaging and inspiring productions. Recent works include the first stage adaptation and world première of Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend directed by Melly Still, Zach Helm’s Good Canarydirected by John Malkovich, John Barton and Peter Hall’s Shakespeare adaptation The Wars of the Roses directed by Trevor Nunn. Upcoming productions include world première of Nick Dear’s double bill Hogarth’s Progress and a major revival of Friedrich Schiller’s Don Carlos starring Tom Burke.

With over 150,000 visitors a year, the Rose enjoys artistic and critical acclaim from its own productions and co-productions as well as from hosting the work of renowned theatre companies including Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare’s Globe, Headlong, English Touring Theatre, Peter Brook, Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, and Sheffield Theatres. With an auditorium that lends itself to both intimate and epic scale productions, the Rose has established itself as one of the most exciting theatres in the UK.

www.rosetheatrekingston.org

 

Twitter:                @Rosetheatre

Facebook:           /RoseTheatreKingston

Instagram:          RoseTheatreKingston

M O T O W N   T H E   M U S I C A L

NOW BOOKING TO NOVEMBER 2019

OVER 450,000 NEW TICKETS RELEASED FOR WEST END PRODUCTION

 

Motown the Musical today releases over 450,000 new tickets for sale, taking bookings for the hit West End show at the Shaftesbury Theatre to 2 November 2019.  With music and lyrics from the Motown catalogue and book by Motown founder Berry Gordy, Motown the Musical tells the story behind the legendary classic hits, directed by Charles Randolph-Wright.

On 4 July this year Motown the Musical will mark 1000 performances at the Shaftesbury Theatre and in October a tour will play simultaneously around the UK.   In January 2019 Motown the record label will mark its sixtieth anniversary and a month later Motown the Musical will celebrate its third year in London.

The production features a fifteen-piece orchestra playing 50 Motown tracks including Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, I’ll Be There, Dancing In The Street, Stop!  In The Name Of Love, My Girland I Heard It through the Grapevine.  With just $800 borrowed from his family, Motown founder Berry Gordy, goes from featherweight boxer to heavyweight music mogul, discovering and launching the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and many more.  Motown the Musical uncovers the true story of the legendary record label that changed music history and created the soundtrack of a generation.  

The cast is led by Jay Perry as Berry Gordy, Natalie Kassanga as Diana Ross, David Albury as Smokey Robinson and Carl Spencer as Marvin Gaye.   Cruz Lee-Ojo, 12 years old from Uxbridge and Tumo Reetsang, 13 years old from Southwark share the role of Young Michael Jackson, Berry Gordy and Stevie Wonder.

Ensemble members comprise Chanice Alexandra-Burnett, KM Drew Boateng, Timothy Benjamin, Ryan Carter, Ricardo Castro, Amandla Elynah, Livvy Evans, Segun Fawole,Angela Marie Hurst, Cameron Bernard Jones, Cleopatra Joseph, Duane Lamonte, Nathan Lorainey-Dineen, Mireia Mambo, Matt Overfield, Adam Philpott, Ainsley Hall Ricketts,Lawrence Rowe, Nate Simpson, Jaime Tait, Kyle Turner, Anna Van Ruiten, Cherelle Williams, Lashane Williams, Michael Woolston-Thomas, Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli andMitchell Zhangazha.

Motown the Musical has music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Ethan Popp, co-orchestrations and additional arrangements by Bryan Cook and dance arrangements by Zane Mark.  Choreography is by Patricia Wilcox and Warren Adams, scenic design by David Korins, costumes by Emilio Sosa, lighting by Natasha Katz, sound by Peter Hylenski and video by Daniel Brodie.  UK Associate Director is Tara Wilkinson, Conductor & UK Associate Music Supervisor is Gareth Weedon, UK Associate Set Designer is Andrew Edwards and UK Associate Lighting Designer is Alistair Grant and UK Sound Associate is Chris Full. Motown the Musical is produced in the West End by Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris, Berry Gordy and Adam Spiegel.

 

Motown the Musical ‘s online Lottery allows audiences the opportunity to purchase two great seats at £15 each.  Patrons can apply at any time for all performances in a two-week period.  Lucky winners will be notified three-five days before their allocated performance and will have 24 hours to purchase their tickets online before the next winner is selected.

Motown the Musical is proudly supported by Swarovski crystal who originally partnered with the show on Broadway and provided 400,000 Swarovski crystals for costume and set.

NEW ADVENTURES

ANNOUNCE FULL CASTING FOR

MATTHEW BOURNE’S

“SWAN LAKE”

MATTHEW BALL, WILL BOZIER AND MAX WESTWELL

TO PLAY ‘THE SWAN’

LIAM MOWER, DOMINIC NORTH

AND NEWCOMER, JAMES LOVELL

TO PLAY ‘THE PRINCE’

 

New Adventures is delighted to announce casting for the UK tour of Matthew Bourne’s new production of his legendary “SWAN LAKE”. 

The show will tour for 32 weeks to 22 venues throughout the UK and begins at the Theatre Royal Plymouth on Saturday 22 September 2018, ahead of an eight-week Christmas season at Sadler’s Wells from Tuesday 4 December to Sunday 27 January 2019.  “SWAN LAKE” will continue until the end of May 2019, before embarking on a number of international tour dates. UK Tour listings below.

Royal Ballet rising star, Matthew Ball, will be joining New Adventures for the entire London season of Matthew Bourne’s “SWAN LAKE” at Sadler’s Wells in the role of ‘The Swan’. Matthew will be making his debut with New Adventures and will dance four performances each week during the eight-week season at Sadler’s Wells. He is currently making his debut as ‘Prince Siegfried’ in The Royal Ballet’s new production of “Swan Lake” at the Royal Opera House. Matthew Ball joins New Adventures’ star Will Bozier, currently dancing to great acclaim as ‘Harry, the Pilot’, in Matthew Bourne’s “Cinderella” and former English National Ballet star Max Westwell who was also recently seen in the West End in “An American in Paris”. Will and Max are both making their debuts in the role of ‘The Swan’ and will perform throughout the tour. 

Both returning to the role of ‘The Prince’, two much loved New Adventures Principal dancers, Liam Mower (currently wowing audiences as ‘The Angel’ in “Cinderella”) and Dominic North (acclaimed star of “Edward Scissorhands”, “The Car Man”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “The Red Shoes” and currently “Cinderella”). They are joined by New Adventures’ newcomer, James Lovell who is making his professional debut.

‘The Queen’ will be performed by two long-time New Adventures favourites, Nicole Kabera and Katrina Lyndon both making their debuts in this role.

‘The Girlfriend’ will also be performed by Katrina Lyndon. She is joined by Freya Field and Carrie Willis who are both returning to the Swan Lake Company.

‘The Private Secretary’ will be played by long-time Company Principal Glenn Graham (recently seen as ‘Grischa’ in “The Red Shoes”) along with Max Westwell and Ashley-Jordon Packer.

Returning to New Adventures are Tom Broderick, PJ Hurst and Alex Sturman.

Making their debuts with New Adventures are: Nicole Alphonce, Leigh Alderson, Jonathan Luke Baker, Alistair Beattie, Benjamin Bazeley, Megan Cameron, João Castro, Zanna Cornelis, Kayla Collymore, Keenan Fletcher, Michaela Guibarra, Bryony Harrison, Nicholas Keegan, Shoko Ito, Courtney Liu, Jack Mitchell, Barnaby Quarendon, Jack William Parry, Sam Salter, Stan West and Milwhynne Williams.

Also making their New Adventures debut are Andrew Ashton from Newcastle, Isaac Bowry from Glasgow and Harry Ondrak-Wright from Birmingham who all performed in the acclaimed New Adventures production of Lord of the Flies in 2014.

New Adventures is committed to finding and developing diverse young talent from across the UK and their annual open auditions were attended by over 400 dancers. Since Lord of the Flies in 2014 New Adventures has been supporting young dancers from this production on their journey into training and professional work. The company have delivered various initiatives, including Swan School, two week-long intensives designed to prepare graduate level dancers for the audition process. This production of Swan Lake is the first New Adventures production to feature dancers who had their first experience of dance with the company in Lord of the Flies.

New Adventures is delighted to continue its relationship with Central School of Ballet and will this year be joining forces for the third year of our Student Associates Programme. This year making their New Adventures debuts on the Sadler’s Wells stage will be third year students, Lewis Bondu and Alex Fadayiro. The Student Associates are generously sponsored by the Archie Lloyd Charitable Foundation.

Matthew Bourne said today “With the largest cast in our repertory, Swan Lake always gives us the opportunity to bring a wealth of new talent into the Company and I’m excited to welcome so many new dancers into the New Adventures family. I’m particularly thrilled to welcome cast members whose journey to this production came via our production of “Lord of the Flies” or through our “Swan School” which was designed to develop young talent for this company. My thanks also to Royal Ballet Director, Kevin O’Hare, who was as enthusiastic as I was about seeing Royal Ballet star, Matthew Ball, dance this role, and was instrumental in making that happen”.

Matthew Bourne’s “SWAN LAKE” returns with a fresh look for the 21^st century.

Retaining the iconic elements of the original production loved by millions around the world, Matthew Bourne and his Associate Artists, award-winning designers Lez Brotherston (Set & Costumes) and Paule Constable(Lighting) will create an exciting re-imagining of the classic production.

Thrilling, audacious, witty and emotive, this Swan Lake is perhaps still best known for replacing the female corps-de-ballet with a menacing male ensemble, which shattered conventions, turned tradition upside down and took the dance world by storm.

Collecting over thirty international accolades including an Olivier Award in the UK and three Tonys on Broadway, Matthew Bourne’s powerful interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece is a passionate and contemporary Swan Lake for our times.

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

 

LISTINGS

 

SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2018

THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH – www.theatreroyal.com

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 2 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER 2018

CURVE, LEICESTER – www.curveonline.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 9 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 13 OCTOBER 2018

WYCOMBE SWAN, HIGH WYCOMBE – www.wycombeswan.co.uk  

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 16 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 20 OCTOBER 2018

FESTIVAL THEATRE, EDINBURGH – www.capitaltheatres.com

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 23 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 27 OCTOBER 2018

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE, ABERDEEN – www.aberdeenperformingarts.com

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 6 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2018

ALHAMBRA THEATRE, BRADFORD – www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 13 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2018

THEATRE ROYAL, NOTTINGHAM – www.trch.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 20 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 1 DECEMBER 2018

THE LOWRY, SALFORD – www.thelowry.com

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 4 DECEMBER 2018 – SUNDAY 27 JANUARY 2019

SADLER’S WELLS, LONDON – www.sadlerswells.com

ON SALE NOW

 

TUESDAY 29 JANUARY – SATURDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2019

MILTON KEYNES THEATRE – www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre

ON SALE NOW

 

TUESDAY 5 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2019

BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME – www.birminghamhippodrome.com

ON SALE NOW

 

TUESDAY 19 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2019

MAYFLOWER THEATRE, SOUTHAMPTON – www.mayflower.org.uk

ON SALE NOW

 

TUESDAY 5 MARCH – SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2019

THEATRE ROYAL, GLASGOW – www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-glasgow

ON SALE NOW

 

TUESDAY 12 MARCH – SATURDAY 16 MARCH 2019

BRISTOL HIPPODROME – www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome

ON SALE NOW

 

TUESDAY 26 MARCH – SATURDAY 30 MARCH 2019

MARLOWE THEATRE, CANTERBURY – www.marlowetheatre.com

ON SALE SOON

 

TUESDAY 2 APRIL – SATURDAY 6 APRIL 2019

NORWICH THEATRE ROYAL – www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

ON SALE SOON

 

TUESDAY 9 APRIL – SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2019

LIVERPOOL EMPIRE – www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire

ON SALE NOW

 

TUESDAY 16 APRIL – SATURDAY 20 APRIL 2019

NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE – www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre

ON SALE NOW

 

TUESDAY 23 APRIL – SATURDAY 27 APRIL 2019

HULL NEW THEATRE – www.hulltheatres.co.uk

ON SALE SOON

 

TUESDAY 30 APRIL – SATURDAY 4 MAY 2019

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

ON SALE JUNE 2018

 

TUESDAY 7 MAY – SATURDAY 18 MAY 2019

THEATRE ROYAL, NEWCASTLE – Www.theatreroyal.co.uk

ON SALE 6 JULY 2018

 

TUESDAY 21 MAY – SATURDAY 25 MAY 2019

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

ON SALE SOON