LAST CHANCE TO SEE ‘FORGET ME NOT’ BY TOM HOLLOWAY AT BUSH THEATRE

• Run ends 16 January
• Two weeks left to see new play about the transport of British orphans to Australia in the 1940s, 50s and 60s
• Production marks Eleanor Bron’s return to the stage after more than a decade

FORGET ME NOT by Tom Holloway, directed by Steven Atkinson will end its run at the Bush Theatre on 16 January 2016.  The production opened at the Bush Theatre in December, starring Eleanor Bron, Russell Floyd, Sarah Ridgeway and Sargon Yelda. 

This European premiere reunites the Bush Theatre with HighTide Festival Theatre as co-producers on FORGET ME NOT.

Under an agreement between the British and Australian Governments, between 1945 and 1968, over three thousand British children were told they were orphans and sent to Australia on a promise of warmth, fresh air, abundant food and boundless opportunity. Instead they arrived to deprived institutions where neglect and abuse were the norm.

Tom Holloway’s tender new play unearths a secret buried by time that, in turn, exposes a world of historical injustices currently in the limelight. This European premiere reunites the Bush Theatre with HighTide Festival Theatre (Incognito by Nick Payne, 2014) and is directed by HighTide’s Artistic Director, Steven Atkinson.

Russell Floyd plays Gerry, Eleanor Bron plays Mary, Sarah Ridgeway plays Sally and Sargon Yelda plays Mark.

Tom Holloway is an award-winning Australian playwright. Plays include Beyond the Neck(Performing Lines, Tasmania, 2008 – winner of the Australian Writers’ Guild award for Writing For The Stage), Don’t Say the Words (Griffin Theatre Company and Tasmania Theatre, 2008),Red Sky Morning (Red Stitch Actors Theatre, 2008 – Green Room Award for Best New Australian Play), And No More Shall We Part (In Australia, Griffin Theatre Company, 2011 Winner of the Australian Writers’ Guild for Writing for the Stage and the Louis Esson Victorian Premier’s Award for Literature, in the UK, Hampstead Theatre London and Traverse Theatre Edinburgh, 2012) and Love Me Tender (Company B Belvoir St/ Griffin Theatre Company and Thin Ice, 2009 & 2010), Gambling (Soho Theatre/ Eleanor Lloyd Productions, London 2010), Fatherland (The Gate Theatre, London 2011 and Munich Yung Og Radikal Festival), Forget Me Not (Co-commissioned by Liverpool Everyman and Belvoir Street Theatre and produced by Belvoir, 2013).

Steven Atkinson is the co-founder and Artistic Director of HighTide Festival Theatre. His directing for HighTide includes Lampedusa (Soho Theatre/HighTide Festival), peddling (Arcola Theatre/Off-Broadway/HighTide Festival), Pussy Riot: Hunger Strike (Bush Theatre/Southbank Centre), Neighbors (Nuffield Theatre/HighTide Festival), Bottleneck (Soho Theatre/UK tour), Clockwork, (HighTide Festival), Bethany (HighTide Festival/Public Theater, New York), Incoming (Latitude Festival/HighTide Festival), Dusk Rings A Bell (Watford Palace Theatre/HighTide Festival), Lidless (Trafalgar Studios/HighTide Festival), Muhmah (HighTide Festival), The Pitch (Latitude Festival). His other direction includes Three Card Trick (Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse), The Afghan and the Penguin (BBC Radio 4), Freedom Trilogy (Hull Truck Theatre) and Sexual Perversity in Chicago (Edinburgh Festival).

FORGET ME NOT will be followed by PINK MIST, the acclaimed Bristol Old Vic Production (21 January – 13 February 2016).

5 STAR WRESTLING

Rey Mysterio v AJ Styles

SHEFFIELD ARENA
Thursday 14th January 2016

And that’s not all. Serious Parody also launched 5 Star Wrestling as a major new wrestling promotion: 5 Star Wrestling The ReGenesis Tour.

Next week, on Thursday January 14th at the Sheffield Arena, for the first time ever, former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Rey Mysterio, will take on the former IWGP and TNA World Heavyweight Champion, AJ Styles, in a truly historic dream match that has never been possible before now.

“AJ Styles is arguably the greatest wrestler on the planet today. Top tier wrestling personalities including Stone Cold Steve Austin, Taz and Jim Ross, have all recently pointed out that he should be applying his trade in the WWE. To have him go one-on-one with Rey Mysterio… there honestly isn’t a bigger match that a wrestling promoter other than Vince McMahon himself could make right now. It’s never been possible before and who knows if it will ever happen again and I’m so excited to be able to give wrestling fans an opportunity to see this match.” said Hinkles.

Tickets for this historic event are on sale now, with a jam packed roster including: Ring of Honor, World Heavyweight Champion: Jay Lethal, Lucha Underground star John Hennigan (Morrison, WWE) and the former WWE United States Champion Carlito, going up against the very best of British wrestlers: including Global Force Champion, Nick Aldis (Magnus, TNA), Jimmy Havoc, Will Ospreay, Joe Coffey, Marty Scurll and MANY, MANY, MORE! (line-up subject to change).

Do not miss out on this record breaking, epic event!

Tickets are available from the Sheffield Arena box office on 0114 256 56 56 or online at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk priced £33 & £49.50 (including booking fee) with a limited number of VIP tickets priced £165 (including booking fee) this includes tickets in front 2 rows, a meet & great with Rey Mysterio plus limited edition signed merchandise from every wrestler on the roster.

BRING ME THE HORIZON
SHEFFIELD ARENA
SUNDAY 6^TH NOVEMBER 2016

The latest home grown band to take to the Sheffield Arena stage are Sheffield rockers Bring Me The Horizon who will perform their biggest hometown gig to date on Sunday 6^th November 2016.

Tickets go on general sale at 9am on Friday 8^th January, available in person at the Arena Box Office, by phone on 0114 256 5656 or online at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk.

Tickets purchased online or by phone are priced £38.50 including booking fee.  Tickets purchased in person at the Arena box office are priced £36.75 including booking fee.

One of the most ambitious of modern metal bands they have toured relentlessly they have conquered the festival scene and provoked extreme reaction both at home & abroad.  BMTH broke out of the metal-core ghetto with their irrepressible tunes, intelligent lyrics and vibrant, untameable spirit bringing in pop fans and alternative kids alike and become the most exhilarating, boundary-smashing rock band on the planet.

The heaviest of bands with a lightness of touch. In a world where too many bands stay safely in their designated lanes, BMTH are busting out of theirs and taking their hardcore fans with them, all the while attracting new listeners.

BMTH will be making their Sheffield Arena debut on Sunday 6th November 2016 with tickets going on general sale at 9am of Friday 8th January available in person at the Arena Box Office, by phone on 0114 256 5656 or online at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk.

NO MUCK, JUST CLASSIC BRASS

The world-renowned Grimethorpe Colliery Band to bring their award-winning sound to Darlington Civic Theatre in January

Formed in 1917, the world-renowned Grimethorpe Colliery Band has become a British institution. Throughout the years, their competition successes include16 Brass in Concert championship titles, 11 times Yorkshire Regional Champions, two English National Championship victories, four times British Open Champions and four times National Champion Brass Band of Great Britain.

Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the film Brassed Off and following their sell-out concert at Darlington

Civic theatre last year, the Grimethorpe Colliery Band returns with a new programme of popular classics, light music favourites and material from the hit movie.

The Grimethorpe Colliery Band is at Darlington Civic Theatre on Saturday 16 January.

Tickets* £19.50 & £21

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

*All prices include a £1 restoration levy

A GHOST TRAIN…WITH ADDED BITE.

Steve Steinman returns to Darlington Civic Theatre in January with the all new Vampires Rock saga, The Ghost Train.

After twelve years and with over a million tickets sold, Steve Steinman returns as Baron Von Rockula in the all-new stage spectacular, Vampires Rock, The Ghost Train.

As Club Live And Let Die burns to the ground, Baron Von Rockula, played by Steve Steinman, flees the ill-fated club with his band of blood sucking vampires in search of a new home. Eventually they come across and old, abandoned fairground ride, The Ghost Train, where they take refuge and make this their new home.

Along with Steinman, a full cast of superb singers, dancers and a formidable band blast their way through some of the greatest ever rock anthems including We Will Rock You, Bat Out Of Hell, Sweet Child Of Mine, Total Eclipse Of The Heart and many more.

“Fantastic, sexy, very funny and fabulously over the top show” Nottingham Post

Vampires Rock, The Ghost Train is at Darlington Civic Theatre on Friday 15 January.

Tickets* £22.50 & £24.50, Groups 10+ get 1 free.

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

*All prices include a £1 restoration levy

THIRD ANGEL EXPLORE THE MYSTERIES OF BIRTH IN NEW SHOW

PARTUS THIS MONTH 

Sheffield’s Third Angel explore birth – one of the most familiar yet mysterious aspects of humanity, in their new production with Sheffield Theatres, Partus at the Studio Theatre from Friday 15 to Wednesday 20 January.

Birth.  It’s a massive life or death thing that happens every minute of every day in every country of the world.  The expectations, the exhaustion, the euphoria. The shock, the sadness, the stupidly long shifts. The joy, the pain, the mess. Oh, and that first cup of tea that tasted better than anything, ever.

Third Angel  delve into the myths, the statistics and the politics of birth, engaging with real people and real stories. Based on conversations with mothers, fathers, midwives and obstetricians, this show examines one of the most familiar aspects of all of our lives – birth – in all its bloody glory.

There will be laughter, hand-gripping tension, dancing, tears, shouting, singing and love – you may never think about birth in the same way again.

Partus comes to the Studio Theatre from Friday 15 – Wednesday 20 January.  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 £5.00 – £14.00 (a transaction fee of £1.50 (£1.00 online) applies to all bookings made at the Box Office, excluding cash).

Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap will continue its record-breaking, and first ever, UK tour into 2016. The beloved murder mystery will begin the 2016 leg of its tour at Nottingham Theatre Royal, where it originally opened in 1952, on 19 January before visiting more than 25 further venues across the UK, including the Grand Opera House York from Monday 22 until Saturday 27 February 2016.

The cast for the 2016 tour includes Anna Andresen (Mollie Ralston), Nick Barclay (Giles Ralston), Tony Boncza (Major Metcalf), Lewis Collier (Sgt Trotter), Gregory Cox (Mr Paravicini), Amy Downham (Miss Casewell) and Oliver Gully (Christopher Wren) who will join the previously announced Louise Jameson (Doctor Who, EastEnders, Doc Martin) as Mrs Boyle.

Anna Andresen trained at The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, her previous theatre credits include The Frozen Scream (Birmingham Hippodrome/Wales Millennium Centre),The 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre)  Above & Beyond, You Once Said Yes (LLLR) Into The Sunlit Uplands (Theatre 80.St Marks, NYC)  Texting From Dachau (Red Bean Studio, NYC) Running On Empty, Lisa Is Looking Into The Mirror (Bennett Media Studio, NYC) , Red Admiral (Soho Studio)The Bald Prima Donna (The Etc) and Crossed Wires (Theatre 503). In addition to her work on stage Anna has also appeared in Fortitude, Miss Marple, Silent Witness and Wire in the Blood.

Nick Barclay trained at Mountview Theatre School and has appeared in more than 240 professional stage productions. Nick’s previous theatre credits include Stone Cold Murder, Dial M for Murder, The 39 Steps, The Titfield Thunderbolt, Strangers on a Train, Dead Funny, Romantic Comedy, Dangerous Corner, House Guest and Kind Hearts and Coronets. He is also a veteran of numerous repertory seasons in places such as Wolverhampton, Bournemouth, Crewe and Sidmouth. He has also written and performed for the world famous NewsRevue in London and directed various productions up and down the country. Nick has toured internationally with productions such as Stones in His Pockets, Art, Private Lives and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).

Tony Boncza originally trained as a journalist before joining The National Youth Theatre and then the Central School of Speech and Drama. Tony’s recent stage appearances have included roles in Great Britain (National Theatre), the South East Asian tour of The Mousetrap, Yes Prime Minister (West End & UK Tour), The Critic and The Real Inspector Hound (both Chichester Festival Theatre). Tony also played Sgt Trotter in the West End’s production of The Mousetrap25 years ago. In addition to his work on stage, Tony has appeared on screen in The Royals, The Sarah Jane Adventures and EastEnders.

Lewis Collier’s previous stage credits include Classic Ghost Stories (UK Tour), The Three Lions(St James Theatre & Tour), Macbeth (Erasmus International Theatre Co. Italy) and Two Noble Kinsmen (Round Pebble Theatre Co.). Lewis has also appeared on film in Checkmate.

Gregory Cox trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and has had an illustrious career on stage beginning with Oliver! (West End) and Little Lies which starred John Mills (Wyndham’s Theatre and Toronto). Gregory’s other theatre work includes Muswell Hill (Park Theatre),Arcadia (UK Tour), Don Juan (Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith), The Picture of Dorian Gray(Windsor and UK tour), Tale of Two Cities (Sheffield Crucible), Hamlet (Rose Theatre), The Devils (Union Theatre) and The Seagull (UK tour). Gregory was also Mr Paravicini in the 2013 cast of The Mousetrap at St. Martin’s Theatre, London.

Amy Downham trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and has appeared on stage in Generation Y (MF Productions), Twelfth Night (Attic Theatre Company), Out of Love(White Bear Theatre), Daisy Pulls it Off (Watermill Theatre) and Every Brilliant Thing(Nabokov). Amy has also appeared on TV in Doctors, EastEnders and Hollyoaks.

Oliver Gully trained at the Guildhall School of Acting; his previous stage credits include Hamlet(The Courtyard Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (UK Tour) and Timebomb (The White Bear).

Louise Jameson is best well-known for her long-running roles as Leela, a companion of Tom Baker’s Doctor in Doctor Who, Susan Young in Bergerac¸ Eleanor Glasson in Doc Martin, and Rosa di Marco in EastEnders. In addition to Louise’s illustrious roles on screen, she has also appeared on stage in Love, Loss and What I Wore (The Mill, Sonning), Noises Off (Mercury Theatre), Gutted (Theatre Royal, Stratford East) and Oedipus (The Liverpool Everyman & Nottingham Playhouse).

The production, which originally opened at Nottingham Theatre Royal in 1952 starring the late Richard Attenborough and his wife Sheila Sim before embarking on its current record-breaking West End run, continues its journey across the breadth of the country, visiting towns and cities including Brighton, Reading, Darlington, York, Portsmouth, Cheltenham, Stoke, Woking, Leicester, Liverpool, Harrogate, Shrewsbury, Dartford, Yeovil, Hereford, Derby, Kings Lynn, Salisbury, Manchester, Aylesbury, Torquay, Llandudno, Jersey and Bristol.

Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap has been the world’s longest running stage production at its London home since breaking the record in 1958 and recently celebrated its 26,000^thperformance. The 60^th Anniversary – and first ever – UK tour of this beloved murder mystery is approaching 1000 performances and has now been seen by nearly 1 million people, having broken box office records in many of its tour venues.

Mousetrap Productions has also licensed 60 productions of The Mousetrap worldwide to mark the 60^th year, and many of these have also broken records, from Cape Town to Philadelphia, Singapore to Sydney. During this period, the world’s longest running show will have been seen in every continent with professional productions in Australia, China, Korea, Turkey, South Africa, Russia, Czech Republic, Hungary, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Poland, Spain, Scandinavia, Venezuela, and across the United States and Canada.

The Mousetrap continues its open-ended run at St. Martin’s Theatre, London. The UK tour is currently booking until August 2016.

Tickets from £14.50, to book call 0844 871 3024 or book online at www.atgtickets.com/york , alternatively call in to our theatre box office, which is open from 12 noon until 5:30pm Monday to Saturday.

Imelda Staunton, Barbara Windsor and Matthew Bourne in New Year Honours list

Acting talent from across stage and screen have been named in the New Year Honours list. EastEnders and Carry On actress Barbara Windsor, 78, has been made a dame, as well as Welsh actress Sian Phillips. The star of recent hit musical revival Gypsy, Imelda Staunton, will also receive a CBE. Luther actor Idris Elba becomes an OBE.

Actor James Nesbitt is made an OBE for services to acting and Northern Ireland. WhileSpooks actor David Oyelowo becomes an OBE.

Elsewhere, Damon Albarn becomes an OBE and playwright and screenwriter Peter Morgan, whose play The Audience starred Helen Mirren, will also received an CBE.

In dance Tamara Rojo, the artistic director of the English National Ballet will receive a CBE while Matthew Bourne has been given a knighthood.

1,196 people have been honoured in the New Year Honours 2016, 15 women become dames and 24 men receive knighthoods.

For the full New Year Honours list click here.

Producers have announced that Penny Downie (Downton Abbey, The Fairy Queen,Judgement Day) will replace Alison Steadman in the role of Nat in Hampstead Theatre’s production of Rabbit Hole. Steadman has withdrawn from the production prior to the start of rehearsals due to personal reasons.

Hampstead Theatre artistic director Edward Hall said:

“We are delighted to welcome Penny Downie to Hampstead Theatre for the UK premiere of Rabbit Hole. The company is looking forward to be working with her and we hope to welcome Alison back to the venue in the future.”

Hall directs the UK premiere of David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play which also stars Claire Skinner, Tom Goodman-Hill, Georgina Rich and Sean Delaney.

Rabbit Hole will run at Hampstead Theatre from 4 February to 5 March.

School Of Rock, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical that has recently smashed Broadway box office records, has moved its West End première to spring 2017.

The stage adaptation of the hit Jack Black film had previously been expected to open at the London Palladium in autumn 2016.

The show’s production team will use the new year to scour the UK in search of the initial cast of 39 child performers who will sing, dance, act and play their own instruments as the hit musical’s unexpectedly talented school class.

School Of Rock, which stars Alex Brightman and Sierra Boggess on Broadway, tells the story of Dewey Finn, a failed wannabe rock star who finds himself out of his depth, teaching at a very posh school. Discovering an unknown musical talent in his pupils, he enrols his new charges in a Battle of the Bands.

The new musical, which features music by Lloyd Webber and a book by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, recently broke records at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre, taking more than US$1.5 million in Christmas week.

Speaking about his new show, Lloyd Webber said: “I had forgotten what it was to have this kind of hit. It is particularly great as we have no star names and we are witnessing personal triumphs for our brilliant kids and for Alex Brightman as Dewey, the role made famous by Jack Black. Now our team will begin searching across the UK for talented children to star in the West End transfer.”