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Future brighter for London’s fringe theatres as Soho Estates Director Fawn James announces capital donation

 Fawn James, Director of London property company Soho Estates, announces donation of £125,000 over the next five years to the London Theatres Small Grants Scheme

 Twenty-five small London theatres will receive capital grants of up to £5,000 by 2020

 Fawn James matches first donation from the Mackintosh Foundation and helps build up this new capital funding scheme for London’s fringe theatres

 Protecting the future of London’s fringe theatres following London Assembly ‘Centre Stage’ Report

We’re pleased to announce that Soho Estates Director Fawn James has donated £125,000 to the Theatres Trust’s London Theatres Small Grants Scheme.

The scheme was launched in Spring 2015, working with the London Mayor’s Office, to help small theatres in the city with vital capital funding. It was set up in response to the London Assembly’s ‘Centre Stage’ report into the challenges facing small theatres in London, which identified that 93% of small London theatres had yet to raise the money to carry out significant upgrade or repair to their buildings, with a direct impact on their future.

Fawn James joins Cameron Mackintosh’s Mackintosh Foundation as the second major donor to the London Theatres Small Grants Scheme.

Fawn James, Director of Soho Estates said: “My family has a shared history with some of the most iconic theatres and entertainment venues in the heart of London. My grandfather Paul Raymond started staging revue and variety shows in small venues in Soho in the 1950s and worked with some of the great stars of the age. Our support for the London Theatre’s Small Grants Scheme reflects our continuing commitment to London’s arts scene, and means that small theatres will be able to honour London’s theatrical heritage, and be confident of a bright future.

“Small theatres are often the genesis for bold and innovative productions, helping to foster the next generation of talented artists, and provide an important role in local communities. If we want London to remain a world leader in arts and culture, we have to make sure that small theatres can thrive.”

Tim Eyles, Theatres Trust Chair said, “Fawn’s generous donation is such great news for small theatres across London and I’m really looking forward to working with her. Every time we’re able to announce a new donor to the London Theatres Scheme we’re helping to secure the future of live theatre across London. So many small theatres are working on such tight budgets they struggle to make improvements to their buildings – and we know these grants can make a huge difference.”

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “This is a fantastic investment in the future of London’s smaller theatres, which are a hugely important part of our city’s cultural life. These are places where new and emerging talent can develop and where exciting and radical new work is often staged and I hope many others will follow Fawn’s lead in supporting them.”

Tom Copley, who led the London Assembly’s ‘Centre Stage’ investigation said, “I’m delighted that the London Theatres Small Grants Scheme is going from strength to strength. Five theatres have already received assistance through the scheme, and this generous donation will help even more small London theatres make improvements to their buildings. These improvements will help with things like making theatres more accessible, improving working conditions for staff and performers, and restoring historic buildings.”

Applications for Round 2 of the London Theatres Small Grants Scheme are now open. The application deadline is 17 August, and eligible applications will be reviewed by Trustees in Autumn 2016.

290 (BEAUTY) SLEEPS UNTIL CHRISTMAS*

*AT TIME OF WRITING; FOR YOUR PURPOSES YOU CAN CHECK HERE http://emailsanta.com/clock.asp

Leeds is preparing for another festive frolic as this year’s famous Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto is announced.

City Varieties Music Hall is delighted to present Sleeping Beauty the Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto for Christmas 2016 which goes on sale on Friday 9^th March (which means 288 sleeps from then).

“Our Rock’n’Roll Pantos have been popular since they were first introduced in 2011 thus beginning a whole new tradition for families,” says Ian Sime, General Manager at City Varieties.

“Part music gig, part stage show with stunning staging and colourful costumes it’s a hilarious, high-speed show.  Our only advice is to book early as it’s always very popular.”

This year audiences will find themselves and singing along to The Eagles, Whitney Houston, Marvin Gayeand Cher to name but a few.  With all the familiar characters, corny jokes and the added bonus of a full-blown and now legendary ‘boulder fight’, Sleeping Beauty promises a spectacular show that has something for the whole family.

Sleeping Beauty the Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto is at City Varieties Music Hall from Saturday 26^th November 2016 to Sunday 8^th January 2017

Tickets go on sale on Friday 9^th March priced from £14 to £25

Book online at cityvarieties.co.uk or call box office on 0113 243 08 08

Ground-breaking Greenhive Green by Punchdrunk leads the way in innovative performing arts programme for care homes

• Internationally renowned theatre company Punchdrunk createsGreenhive Green as part of pioneering Artists Residencies in Care Homes programme

• Greenhive Green project marks the first in a two-year programme of residences curated by Magic Me

• Programme will take place across four care homes run by Anchor, in Peckham, Surrey Quays, Westminster and Bethnal Green

Supported by intergenerational arts specialists Magic Me, Punchdrunk Enrichment has brought their signature immersive practice to Greenhive, an award-winning care home run by Anchor in Peckham, South London.

Punchdrunk Enrichment has transformed a room in Greenhive care home into a beautiful village green, complete with a florist’s shop, phone box, real foliage and smells of fresh cut grass. Residents have come together to form the village committee of Greenhive Green, gathering weekly in the fictional world for committee meetings that are part-soap opera, part-game and part-workshop.  Driven by the story of Greenhive Green’s ongoing rivalry with neighbouring village Blarford, residents and care home staff participate in multi-sensory activities which have varied from writing poetry to planting flowers.

The project will culminate in a celebration of the committee and their achievements, with special guests including singer-songwriter Beatie Wolfe who returns for her second performance in Greenhive Green. Each resident will then be invited to their own individual thank you ceremony with Punchdrunk Enrichment’s facilitators.

Peter Higgin, Enrichment Director for Punchdrunk, said:

“We are constantly looking to deliver high impact work which both challenges our practice and challenges notions about what is possible within participatory settings. Our ambition for the project has been to give the residents including those living with dementia an empowering and magical experience. The residents and staff have been the real stars – their energy, humour and willingness to come on the journey with us has been humbling.”

Greenhive Green is the first project in a two year programme of residencies set up by Magic Me, hosted in four London care homes run by Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of care and housing for older people.

Susan Langford MBE, Director of Magic Me said:

” This programme came out of a desire to challenge the ageist notion that older people, including those living with dementia, might not enjoy or be able to participate in cutting-edge work like Punchdrunk’s wonderful immersive worlds.

Having worked in care homes for over 25 years, the programme has allowed Magic Me to support some of the most exciting companies in the country to bring their work to a care home audience for the first time. Together we have helped them develop their practice for this specific audience without dumbing down or diluting their work .”

Other companies taking part in the programme later this year are performance artist and activist Lois Weaver, alt-cabaret collective Duckie and aerialist and circus company, Upswing.  Research from the programme will be published in June 2016 and February 2017. The programme is funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Wakefield and Tetley Trust.

Connie Oppong MBE, Manager of Greenhive, which was the first care home in London to be rated “Outstanding” by the Care Quality Commission said:

This project has proved to be a fantastic addition to the activities we organise here. The residents have thoroughly enjoyed themselves and have been actively looking forward to the sessions each week. We have had positive feedback from residents’ relatives about the impact of this work. One family told us their father has shown a marked difference in his confidence and ability to engage over the weeks he has been involved in Greenhive Green.”

Ms Langford added:

“Care homes aren’t always the depressing places we all fear them to be, Punchdrunk’s Greenhive Green has proved that they can be exciting, forward thinking places where amazing things can happen!”

Theatrum Veritatus and Theatre N16 present:

SHEFFIELD THEATRES SHOW COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY BY GETTING INVOLVED IN DISABLED ACCESS DAY

As part of Disabled Access Day on Saturday 12 March, Sheffield Theatres are hosting accessible performances of David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny at the Lyceum Theatre.

A Relaxed Performance will take place in the morning at 10.30am.  Relaxed Performances enable people to come to the theatre who may not usually feel comfortable in a theatre environment.  Any loud sound effects or extreme lighting is minimised, the conventional ‘rules’ of theatre, such as sitting still throughout and being as quiet as possible are completely relaxed and a quite area is available for anyone who may need to take some time out of the auditorium.  Later in the afternoon at 2.30pm, a signed and audio described performance of the show will also take place.

Disabled Access Day is a nationwide event that encourages disabled people to visit somewhere with friends and/or family that they’ve never been before, whether that’s a coffee shop, cinema, sports centre or theatre. The event takes place on Saturday 12 March with over 200 organisations involved.

The day is sponsored by Euan’s Guide, the disabled access review website and app, and has the support of VisitScotland, VisitEngland and Visit Wales.

Commenting on Sheffield Theatres’ involvement in Disabled Access Day, Claire Murray,Communications and Fundraising Director commented:  ‘We want everyone to be able to enjoy our venues and hope that by getting involved in this event, people will come and discover just how accessible theatre can be!’

Gangsta Granny is at the Lyceum Theatre from Wednesday 9 – Saturday 12 March.  Tickets can be purchased from Sheffield Theatres’ Box Office in-person, by phone on 0114 249 6000 or online at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk and are priced from £12.00 – £22.00 (a transaction fee of £1.50 (£1.00 online) applies to all bookings made at the Box Office, excluding cash).  Family tickets and discounts are available.

HIP-HOP FAIRYTALE HITS THE LYCEUM

ZooNation Dance Company bring a newly revamped production of their award-winning hip-hop fairytale dance show Into the Hoods: Remixed to the Lyceum Theatre from Tuesday 22 – Wednesday 23 March.

The show that took the West End by storm when it debuted in 2008, returns to the stage with all the wit and charm of the original under the direction of Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Kate Prince. Set in the ‘Ruff Endz Estate’, the story follows two lost school children who have been tasked to find an iPhone as white as milk, trainers as pure as gold, a hoodie as red as blood and some weave as yellow as corn. Along the way, they encounter familiar fairytale characters with an urban twist – DJ Spinderella, wannabe singer Lil Red, vivacious rapper Rap On Zel, budding music producer Jaxx and embark upon a storybook adventure into the heart of a pulsating community.

An upbeat feel-good family show Into The Hoods: Remixed, the first ever hip-hop dance show to appear in the West End, will delight with its street attitude, infectious energy and slick moves.

Into the Hoods: Remixed is at the Lyceum Theatre from Tuesday 22 – Wednesday 23 March. Tickets can be purchased from Sheffield Theatres’ Box Office in-person, by phone on 0114 249 6000 or online at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk and are priced from £16.00 – £23.00 (a transaction fee of £1.50 (£1.00 online) applies to all bookings made at the Box Office, excluding cash). Discounts are available.

ROYAL BALLET’S LONGEST-SERVING PRINCIPAL BALLERINA RETURNS HOME TO AUSTRALIAN HONOURS

More than three decades after she left regional Queensland as a teenager to pursue her dreams on the international stage, one of Australia’s most accomplished dancers, Leanne Benjamin, will return home to be appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

The award comes more than a decade after the London resident was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to dance, and two years after she officially hung up her pointe shoes.

Benjamin said: “I am incredibly honoured to receive this award, particularly as I am a proud Australian, and it also recognises all the sacrifices my parents made, who still live in Rockhampton, to enable me to follow my dreams.”

One of the greatest ballerinas Australia has ever produced, Leanne Benjamin was raised in Rockhampton and left Australia to join the Royal Ballet School in London at the age of 16. Within a year she had won two of the most prestigious ballet competitions in the world, the Adeline Genee Gold Medal and Prix de Lausanne.

After graduating into Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet in 1983, where she became a principal and moving to London Festival Ballet in 1988, she joined Deutche Oper Ballet in Berlin in 1990. During her time there Leanne worked with choreographer Kenneth MacMillan – her “mentor” – who convinced her to join The Royal Ballet in 1992. MacMillan died backstage at the Royal Opera House the night before she was due to premiere in his production of Mayerling.

Leanne has performed almost every role in the classical canon and has had an exceptional number of roles created on her by choreographers including Wayne McGregor, Christopher Wheeldon, Twyla Tharp and Alexei Ratmansky. Leanne also worked with Frederick Ashton and Ninette De Valois, one of the last dancers to have first hand experience of working with the founders of The Royal Ballet.

Leanne was twice named Female Dancer of the Year at the UK’s Critics’ Circle Awards and in 2013 won their Lifetime Achievement Award. She retired in 2013 at the age of 49, becoming the Royal Ballet’s longest-serving Principal Ballerina.

After her retirement as a dancer, Leanne graduated from the Chelsea College of Art and Design with a degree in Architectural Design. She mentors and coaches students and professional dancers, is a patron of the Tait Memorial Trust that gives an Australian student financial aid towards training at a Vocational School in London. She is a frequent public speaker represented by Chartwell Speakers and is developing a book.

“I am so grateful and proud to have enjoyed a career as a professional ballet dancer. Since my retirement as a ballerina, I am thrilled to have been able to find new ways to contribute to the ballet world, passing on the knowledge I have, and to pursue new areas of interest I can grow into. I am very excited about what the future holds.”

Leanne was appointed an AM for significant service to the performing arts, as a dancer and role model.  She will receive her award at a ceremony in Sydney on April 6, with her mother and father from Rockhampton and son Thomas in the audience.

STUDENTS ON THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD TO STARDOM

North East dance school pupils to feature in the Easter pantomime, The Wizard of Oz at Darlington Civic Theatre in April.

Aycliffe Dance Academy, based in Newton Aycliffe, has again been selected to star alongside Bobby Davro and Dani Harmer in this year’s Easter pantomime, The Wizard of Oz at Darlington Civic Theatre in April.

Emma Cox, Principal of the Aycliffe Dance Academy said: “I am absolutely delighted for Aycliffe Dance Academy to have been invited to perform in the Easter Panto this year. This will be the third time the dance school has worked with Enchanted Entertainment. This year, six of our senior dancers will be taking to the stage to perform tricky dance routines alongside the professionals and well-loved celebrities. Many of the girls taking part want to dance as their chosen career so this is a fantastic opportunity for them. Their dreams are to be professional dancers, dance teachers and to even work for Disney so taking part in productions like this will help make their dreams come true.”

Emma continued: “Rehearsals are going great so far. The routines this year are more complex and faster so the girls are having to work harder than ever. They are very excited to get to the theatre to meet the production team and cast. They are especially excited to meet Bella, the adorable dog that will be playing the part of Toto. We are very privileged to be involved in The Wizard of Oz and can’t wait to perform to a live audience.”

Come and join in the fun over the rainbow as Enchanted Entertainment presents this wonderful Easter pantomime version on L. Frank Baum’s much-loved fairy-tale. Packed with well-known pop songs, brilliant dance routines, lots of audience participation and plenty of laughter for all the family.

The Wizard of Oz is at Darlington Civic Theatre on Friday 8 & Saturday 9 April.

Tickets* are priced £18 & £20 for adults, £16 & £18 for children. Family tickets £69, group 10+ £1 off, 20+ £2 off.

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

*Includes a £1 restoration levy

Picture: The Aycliffe Dance Academy team appearing in The Wizard of Oz, from L to R:

Katya Seaman, Kennedy Wilson, Emma Sandford, Sarah Murray (Swing Dancer), Rebecca Carney, Chloe Hutchinson, Megan Elvidge.

ARTHUR MILLER’ S FIRST EVER PLAY

NO VILLAIN

TRANSFERS TO THE WEST END

Following the critically acclaimed, sell-out world premiere at The Old Red Lion in 2015, Arthur Miller’s first ever play, No Villain, transfers to the West End, playing at Trafalgar Studios 2 from 14 June – 9 July, with a press night on 20 June. Directed by Sean Turner, with design by Max Dorey, lighting design by Jack Weir and sound design by Richard Melkonian, the cast will include David Bromley as ‘Abe Simon’, Nesba Crenshaw as ‘Esther Simon’, Kenneth Jay as ‘Grandpa Barnett’, Stephen Omer as ‘Roth/Dawson/Man’, and George Turvey as ‘Ben Simon’.

Over six days during spring break 1936 at the University of Michigan, a twenty year old college sophomore wrote his first play, No Villain. His aim was to win the prestigious Avery Hopwood award and, more importantly, the $250 prize he needed in order to return to college the following year. Miller won the award, and the subsequent one, but the play was never produced.

My first attempt at a play, rather inevitably, had been about industrial action and a father and his two sons, the most autobiographical dramatic work I would ever write.

– Arthur Miller

No Villain tells the story of a garment industry strike that sets a son against his factory proprietor father. Here, Miller explores the Marxist theory that would see him hauled before the House Un-American Activities Committee years later.

This remarkable debut play gives us a tantalising glimpse of Miller’s early life, the seeding of his political values and the beginning of his extraordinary career.

Director Sean Turner said, “I am thrilled to be continuing my journey with this remarkable play in the West End, it’s been an absolute pleasure to make and see audiences respond to, I am delighted that many more will be able to discover Miller’s playwriting roots, the same way I did two years ago.”

THE RUMOURS ARE ALL TRUE

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac bring their spectacular new stage show to Darlington Civic Theatre on Saturday 26 March

Having performed to over half a million fans around the world since they formed over a decade ago, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac return to the UK to present a spectacular new stage production, celebrating the music of the legendary rock supergroup Fleetwood Mac.

Recognised internationally as the world’s leading Fleetwood Mac tribute show, the group has the priceless golden seal of approval from founding member Mick Fleetwood.

Replicating perfectly the power and subtlety of Fleetwood Mac at their brilliant best, timeless classics such as Black Magic Woman, Albatross, Go Your Own Way, Dreams, Little Lies and Everywhere will send you on a nostalgic journey of breathtakingly outstanding musicianship; and all performed in the context where the songs work best – a live stage.

“They do Fleetwood Mac better than Fleetwood Mac” Mail on Sunday

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac appear at Darlington Civic Theatre on Saturday 26 March.

Tickets* are priced £21.50 & £23.50. To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

*Includes a £1 restoration levy