New Casting For Chitty Tour

CHARLOTTE WAKEFIELD AND JOS VANTYLER
TO JOIN THE 2016-17 UK TOUR OF
THE SHERMAN BROTHERS’ CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG
FROM 5 OCTOBER 2016

Music & Lyrics and West Yorkshire Playhouse are delighted to announce Charlotte Wakefield in the role of Truly Scrumptious and Jos Vantyler in the role of the Childcatcher in the much-loved Sherman Brothers musical CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, when the production arrives in Edinburgh this October. The tour continues until 4 February 2017.

The producers are thrilled to be working with Charlotte again after Music & Lyrics’ highly acclaimed 2015 tour ofOklahoma! where Charlotte starred as Laurey. She made her West End debut at 18 starring as Wendla Bergman inSpring Awakening, receiving an Olivier Award nomination, and has gone on to play Maria in The Sound of Music at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, receiving critical acclaim and a second Olivier Award nomination. She has alsoplayed Sophie in the West End and International Tour productions of Mamma Mia!. Charlotte’s previous television credits include, Waterloo RoadThe Royal and Holby City.

Jos Vantyler will join Charlotte on tour as the Childcatcher. Jos’s previous theatre credits include Oswald in King Lear(Northern Broadsides, directed by Jonathan Miller), Dead on Her Feet (Arcola, won the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actor in a New Play and was nominated in the Best Male Performance category for the 2012 OffWestEnd Awards), Tom Sawyer in Huck (Southwark Playhouse, nominated for Best Male Performance, 2010 OffWestEnd Awards), Prophecy, Hampstead New End Theatre (nominated in the Critics’ Choice Best Actor category), A View From The Bridge, (Tower Theatre, New York, awarded Best Newcomer, 2005 NYC START Awards) and Oswald in Ghosts (Lincoln Center, New York, received a Best Supporting Actor nomination in NYC Review Awards).

On 5 October, Charlotte and Jos will join the previously announced Jason Manford (The Producers, Sweeney Todd) as Caractacus Pott, Phill Jupitus (The Producers, Hairspray) as Lord Scrumptious and Baron Bomburst, Claire Sweeney(Hairspray, Chicago, Guys and Dolls) as Baroness Bomburst and Andy Hockley (The Phantom of the Opera) as Grandpa Potts. Lee Mead plays Caractacus Potts in the tour until 18 September, Carrie Hope Fletcher plays Truly Scrumptious until 2 October, Shaun Williamson plays Lord Scrumptious/Baron Bomburst until 21 August, and Matt Gillett plays the Childcatcher until 2 October.

Ewen Cummins plays The Toymaker/Mr Coggins, with Sam Harrison as Boris and Scott Paige as Goran, and Kathryn Barnes, Rosanna Bates, Alex Louize Bird, Abigail Climer, Jade Davies, Ewan Gillies, Joanna Goodwin, Nathan Vaughan Harris, Christopher D Hunt, Paul Iveson, Nia Jermin, Kelsie-Rae Marshall, Mollie Melia-Redgrave, Perry O’Dea, Matt Overfield, Ross Russell, Craig Turner and Robert Wilkes.

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG has music and lyrics by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman, who were also responsible for Mary PoppinsThe Slipper and the RoseThe Aristocats and The Jungle Book. The Sherman Brothers have won two Academy Awards with a further nine nominations, two Grammy Awards and they have received 21 gold and platinum albums.

The film made from Ian Fleming’s classic story has been adapted for the stage by Jeremy Sams, based on the MGM Motion Picture Licensed Script adapted by Ray Roderick.

This new production of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG is directed by West Yorkshire Playhouse Artistic Director James Brining, with new choreography by Stephen Mear. There is a live orchestra with Musical Supervision by Stephen Ridley. Set and costume design is by Simon Higlett, lighting design is by Tim Mitchell, sound design is by Ben Harrison and video design is by Simon Wainwright.

There are sensational sets and stunning special effects and, of course, the memorable score by the Sherman Brothers, which includes such standards as Truly ScrumptiousToot SweetsHushabye Mountain and the Oscar-nominated title song Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

The Music & Lyrics Limited and West Yorkshire Playhouse production of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG is presented by permission of JOSEF WEINBERGER LIMITED on behalf of MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL of New York.                                                                                                        

For more information, visit www.chittythemusical.co.uk

Facebook:  Chitty Chitty Bang Bang The Musical       

Twitter:  @ChittyMusical / #chittymusical

LISTINGS INFORMATION for the UK AND IRELAND TOUR

3 – 21 August                              Wales Millennium Centre                029 2063 6464

                                                     www.wmc.org.uk                            

24 August – 3 September            Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury        01227 787787

                                                     www.marlowetheatre.com                         

7 – 18 September                        Birmingham Hippodrome                0844 338 5000

                                                     www.birminghamhippodrome.com 

21 September – 2 October          Royal & Derngate, Northampton      01604 624811  

                                                     www.royalandderngate.co.uk 

5 – 16 October                             Festival Theatre, Edinburgh             0131 529 6000

                                                     www.edtheatres.com                      

19 – 29 October                            King’s Theatre, Glasgow                 0844 871 7648

                                                     www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre            

9 – 19 November                          New Victoria Theatre, Woking          0844 871 7645

                                                     www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre  

6 December – 15 January            The Lowry, Salford                            0843 208 6000

                                                      www.thelowry.com  

25 January – 4 February               Bristol Hippodrome                          0844 871 3012

                                                      www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome  

Richard Madden will not be returning to the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s Romeo and Juliet

Fiery Angel presents

PLAYS AT THE GARRICK
KENNETH BRANAGH THEATRE COMPANY

The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company today sadly announced that due to medical advice, Richard Madden will not be returning to the company of Romeo and Juliet before the production completes its run on 13 August. Richard Madden injured his ankle last month whilst running and has been receiving physiotherapy since. However, although Richard is expected to make a full recovery, the injury to Richard’s ankle has not healed as quickly as hoped, and as a result his doctors have prescribed further rest which makes it impossible for him to return to the stage before the production closes.

Freddie Fox will continue to play Romeo, having joined the company last month after off-stage injuries meant that both Richard Madden and his understudy, Tom Hanson, who in addition has played Paris in the production, were unable to perform.

Freddie Fox joined the company ‪on Tuesday 26 July following a 48 hour period of rehearsals. Freddie recently played the role of Romeo at Sheffield Crucible Theatre. His recent theatre work includes A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Southwark Playhouse and later in the year he will appear in the revival of Tom Stoppard’s Travesties at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

Encore cinema screenings of Romeo and Juliet, in which Richard Madden plays Romeo, are now playing in cinemas across the UK and internationally. For more information see www.branaghtheatrelive.com

The Barricade Boys join the 7th August concert line-up for Les Misérables V The Phantom of The Opera fun day

The Barricade Boys 

join the concert line-up for this weekend’s fun day

Les Misérables V The Phantom of The Opera 

at Bromley Football Club on Sunday 7th August 2016

Football match and live music from top West End performers

Do you hear the people sing? The Barricade Boys will join the musical line-up for the Les Misérables V The Phantom of The Opera football match and concert this Sunday 7th August.

With fabulous harmonies, incredible vocals, dashing good looks and fantastic personalities The Barricade Boys showcase some of the finest male voices from the world’s longest running musical Les Misérables and other hit West End shows.  Not only do they perform the world’s greatest show tunes but they also celebrate music from some of the most iconic names in the music industry, from powerful ballads and beautiful operatic arias to some of the best pop, rock and swing numbers of all time.

For your chance to see them perform along side other West End and Broadway stars, don’t miss the award-winning charity football match Les Misérables V The Phantom Of The Opera as it returns for The Decider this weekend!  Delicately poised with each team winning two matches in recent years, the two titans of the West End will battle it out for the title of ultimate champions at Bromley Football Club on Sunday 7th August 2016.

Raising money this year for Macmillan Cancer Support and the road safety charity Brake, this year’s event promises to be a great day out for all the family.

The West End teams will be joined on the day by celebrities and professional footballers to add to the excitement.  The afternoon will open with a concert at 1.30pm, with performances from stars of the West End and Broadway including Nathan Amzi, Daniel Boys, Kerry Ellis, Rob Houchen, Eva Noblezada, Lauren Samuels and VOX. Full line-up to be announced, and subject to change.

The match kicks off at 3.00pm and Les Misérables will be managed by England U21 managerGareth Southgate, whilst the Phantom team will be coached by England Ladies manager Mark Sampson.

Alongside the West End performers and backstage crews, famous players in the match will include Hollyoaks stars Danny Mac and Ayden Callaghan, X-Factor winner Sam Bailey, TV presenter Matt Johnson, CBeebies host Andy Day and ex-professional footballers Paul McVeigh, former Arsenal players David Livermore and Omer Riza and Southampton legend, Francis Benali.

Radio 5 Live and BBC TV pundit Mark Clemmit will also be there to bring a lively pitch-side commentary throughout the day.

The day promises to be a fabulous fun day for all the family with face painting, bouncy castle, stalls and a raffle. Food and drink will be available to make for a fabulous summer day out.

For tickets, which range from £5 – £35 (£35 VIP tickets include access to a reserved seating area, private bar and the opportunity to meet and mingle with the players), visitwww.ticketsource.co.uk/lesmisvphantom5.

The charity football match – known to fans as Les Mis v Phantom – has raised over £80,000 for good causes since it was started.  Five years ago, Melanie Oakley-Dow, the wig mistress at Les Misérables was diagnosed with cancer. The match between the 2 titans of the West End Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera was set up by Chris Key to support her and raise money for her chosen charity: Macmillan Cancer Support. Sadly, Melanie passed away in 2014, so this day is now in her memory. It made sense to return this year to Melanie’s chosen charity this year to help them with the great work they do for people suffering from cancer.

A substantial donation will also be made to Brake, the road safety charity. Brake has been chosen as one of the nominated charities this year because of one star’s personal connection with the charity. Jonny Purchase from Les Misérables tragically lost his dad in a road crash. Jonny Purchase, currently staring as Feuilly in Les Misérables, said: “I lost my father in a motorcycle crash in 2002 and Brake did tremendous work for our family, helping and supporting us through that difficult time. The work Brake undertakes is so important in helping those who have been involved or have had loved ones involved in road traffic crashes.”

LISTINGS:

Les Mis v Phantom – “The Decider”

Charity football match, concert and family fun day.

Bromley Arena, Hayes Lane, Bromley, BR2 9EF

Gates open at 12.30

Concert starts 13.30

Kick off 15.00

The Bread & Roses Theatre announces its Summer & Autumn Season 2016

The Bread & Roses Theatre announces its Summer & Autumn Season 2016

 9th August to 18th October 2016 – www.BreadandRosesTheatre.co.uk

68 Clapham Manor Street, SW4 6DZ Clapham, London

 

“This venue is quickly shaping up as one of the most exciting ones amongst the London pub theatres!”  – RemoteGoat

 

The Bread & Roses Theatre in Clapham has another exciting and diverse season lined up this summer and autumn as it is heading towards the end of its second year.

We continue our series of productions commemorating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, after multiple 5 star reviews in earlier seasons, this season the long established Festival Players present a three-week-run of the Bard’s most famous play, Hamlet (27th September to 15thOctober).  Presented in full costume, an all-male company will bring the excitement of this great thriller; intrigue, ghostly visitations, passion, a play-within-a play, a gripping duel, and humour, in a crystal-clear and fast-paced 2-hour production. Earlier in the season Fentiman Productions also present Will’s Will by Sharon Jennings (9th to 11th August) featuring Shakespeare’s last will and testament, interrupted by his family, friends, colleagues and characters.

Other highlights include LUXE bringing their UK premiere of Pablo Picasso’s Desire Caught by the Tail (17th to 20th August), a rarely produced play about misery, discomfort, anguish, hunger and passion which is caught in the impossibility of its fulfilment. One week runs this season are: Knock Knock by Floyd Toulet (23rd to 27th August), a surprising, powerful and unsettling play which takes you on a journey deep into a mind broken by the past; Bourne West Productions’ Rubyby Jonathan Stephenson (30th August to 3rd September), a story in which a woman’s past and present collide in one evening; The Lettuce Dream Theatre Company’s Our Baby by Eleonora Fusco (6th to 10th September), an eerie tragicomedy set in contemporary times; Kam Theatre London’sGallows Rope by Mamet Leigh (13th to 17th September), capturing the struggles of solitary existence in the overpopulated London in the 21st century; and the London premiere of Wanting the Moon by Rose Collis (18th to 24th September), inspired by real events in the life of Clemence Dane – author, artist and Oscar-winning screenwriter – asked by Noel Coward to revive her acting career and play the famous role he once created for her: the eccentric medium ‘Madame Arcati’ inBlithe Spirit.

As always the season also features a selection of shorter runs and one-off performances including devised piece Don’t Turn the Lights on (11th to 13th August), a scratch performance of Sorry, I Killed Your Cat (14th August), black comedy Thelma and Louise – and Karen (21st & 22nd August), a rehearsed reading of new musical The Curse of Love (11th & 12th September), one-woman-showBefore Ariel (22nd to 24th September), improvisational shows Nighthawks (4th September & 2ndOctober) and C.S.I: Crime Scene Improvisation (9th October) as well as new writing night Spiral(16th to 18th October).

Furthermore, the theatre continues its support for playwrights through the Playwrights Circle (26thSeptember) as well as the launch of The Bread & Roses Playwriting Award 2016 on which further details will be announced later in August.

On Saturday 6th August the theatre invites also everyone along to their Season Launch Party, an opportunity to meet the team and mingle with companies involved in the upcoming season, and on Monday 5th September there will be another Bread & Roses Networking Event, for those interested in bringing their work to the venue.

“We’ve started introducing regular afternoon and late-night slots into our programming this season, which means we can program more work and use our space even more efficiently.” – Artistic Director Tessa Hart

This year so far has been extremely exciting for the theatre and the pub, proving to be one of the finest art hubs in the SW London area.” – Managing Director Rebecca Pryle

SHOWSTOPPER! THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL EXTENDS UNTIL DECEMBER

2016 OLIVIER AWARDS WINNER

SHOWSTOPPER!

The Improvised Musical

 Extends until December!

at the

Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue

Every night the cast of Showstopper! The Improvised Musical pull off something incredibly ambitious; they create a real musical from scratch, not just an improv night with songs but a full story with characters you can care about, a live band of incredible musicians, and seamless choreography.

 

This  ingenious, unique blend of comedy, musical theatre and spontaneity.

scooped two awards this year – an Olivier Award in the Best Entertainment and Family category and a Chortle Award in the Character, Improv and Sketch category.

 

Following a successful season of Monday night shows at the Lyric Theatre since February  Showstopper: The Improvised Musical has announced three more dates for 2016  – 10 October, 14 November and 12 December.

Highlights from the 2015/2016 West End run have included: ‘Peter Panama’ a redemptive tale of off – shore accounting  and tax avoidance featuring the Guys and Dolls – inspired opening number ‘Bring Out Your Money’; Queen of Spades’, set in the gardens of Buckingham Palace and featuring the show’s first ever call for ‘Oh Calcutta’; ‘These Are a Few of My Favourite Pills’ set in  a Nursing Home , ‘Blatt Out of Hell’ from the Fifa HQ, ‘The Lyin’ King’ set in the Daily Mail newsroom; ‘I never tyre of Georgia’ set in Kwikfit in the Deep South and ‘Bricking It’, the sad history of the Guernsey Lego factory.

What the critics said:

★★★★★

Incredible… so polished, it defies belief.”  Daily Telegraph

★★★★★

“You absolutely have to go”  Mail on Sunday

★★★★

Crackingly creative… a triumph.”   The Times

★★★★

“Astounding” – Daily Express

★★★★

“Brilliant” – Financial Times

★★★★

A success story that could run and run.”   Evening Standard

★★★★

Staggeringly good… a must-see.”   The Stage

★★★★

The resultant show is a glorious mix of shambolic story and genuinely hilarious songs

 – Time Out

  

Prepare to be wowed… Showstopper! might be the only West End show you ever need.”

 Chortle

 

Showstopper! was created by Adam Meggido and Dylan Emery Duncan Walsh Atkins is Musical Director, with design by Simon Scullion, lighting by Tim Mascall and sound by Tom Lishman.

The cast includes Ruth Bratt, Justin Brett, Dylan Emery, Pippa Evans, Susan Harrison, Sean McCann, Adam Meggido, Philip Pellew, Andrew Pugsley, Lucy Trodd, and Sarah-Louise Young; with seven cast members appearing per performance plus a live on-stage band.

 

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical is presented by James Seabright, Julie Clare, Keith Strachan and Ray Cooney by arrangement with Suzanna Rosenthal for Showstopper Productions.

Listings information:

 Showstopper! The Improvised Musical

Venue:                                   The Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London

Dates:                                     Dates : 10 October; 14 November and 12 December

Time:                                      7.30pm

Tickets:                                  From £20

Box Office:                              www.nimaxtheatres.com  /  0330 333 4812

Running Time: 90 minutes plus 20 minute interval
Age Limit: 12+ recommended

Elokay Productions Announce “Musical of the Year”

7b0b3faf-5d3c-471b-8274-97574cfa19d3Elokay Productions Present

Musical of the Year

at the Lost Theatre, October 12-29, 2016

It’s 1955 and college sweethearts Rudy Brown and Lizzy Conlon embark on writing the ultimate award-winning musical.  So begins a 60-year process of adapting the same musical to the styles of My Fair Lady, West Side Story, Cabaret, Les Miserables, Wicked, and virtually every other show in the musical theatre canon.   Will they ever win Musical of the Year?

From the writing team of Stephen Lanigan-O’Keeffe (book, music, and lyrics) and Owain Rose (book), Musical of the Year is being presented for its inaugural theatrical run at The Lost Theatre this autumn. With Direction by Owain Rose (Misterman, Upstairs at the Gatehouse; Silence, The Bull in Barnet), Musical Direction by Stephen Lanigan-O’Keeffe (Beowulf, Travesty Theatre; Fallen Angels, Upstairs at the Gatehouse), and Choreography by Emma Pleass (Cabaret, The Lund Theatre; Scaramouche, the Zany Commedia Musical, Hoxton Hall), the show will run from October 12-29 with a cast of 14 and Design by Frank Turnbull (Blackadder, The Bull Theatre; Frankenstein, Upstairs at the Gatehouse).

Cast include: Chiara Brooke, Miranda Colmans, Jamie Fillery, Rebecca Gilliland, Jessica Hern, Simon Hodson, Mark Houston, Colin Kiyani, Domonic Ramsden, Kevin Rodgers, Robbie Smith, Jennifer Tilley, Andrew Truluck, and Victoria Waddington.

For More Information
Tickets available through: http://www.losttheatre.co.uk/
Website: http://www.elokayproductions.com/musical-of-the-year/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/musicaloftheyear/
Twitter: @ElokayProds

Listings
MUSICAL OF THE YEAR
Wednesday 12 to Saturday 29 October
Tuesday-Friday @7:30, Saturdays @ 2:30 and 7:30, Sundays @ 2:30
at The LOST Theatre, 208 Wandsworth Road, London, SW8 2JU http://www.losttheatre.co.uk/
Ticket Prices:
12/13/14 October £15 (previews)
15-23 October £16/£14
25-29 October £18/£16

Disney princess go bad at LOST Theatre in November

Stuart Saint presents:

PRINCESS
November 15th – November 19th 2016, LOST Theatre


In November, revolutionary and critically acclaimed writer/director Stuart Saint brings a ground-breaking interdisciplinary piece of theatre to LOST Theatre inspired by our twisted relationship with the “princess” – shattering the illusion of happily-ever-afters, banishing the storybook fairytale and finding the feminism in Disney.

Because the once pristine and weak-willed princess can now be a kick-ass Ghostbuster or a magical Snow Queen – our world is moving away from the helpless damsel in distress expected to suffer and serve and await to be rescued, and yet it’s at the heart of many a sexual moré. In Princess, Saint creates a lavish spectacle of movement and expression, gig theatre that blends music, dance and video into a new story of good girls gone bad.

“Stuart Saint knows exactly what the show needs, how to do it well, and he’s made every effort to ensure the show is as fun, energetic, and slick as possible” Grumpy Gay Critic on Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens

Stuart Saint is a director, composer, choreographer and writer best known for his innovate and radical adult pantos at the Leicester Square Theatre. He also directed Oscar Wilde story De Profundis and was a director on the award-winning comedy show Newsrevue.

With an uplifting, celebratory electro-pop soundtrack inspired by Soft Cell and Depeche Mode, Saint’s compositions are strongly defined by his pop music career – as is his choreography, with elements of Madonna and The Who alongside such classic influences as Matthew Bourne and Bob Fosse.

All of these elements combine in Saint’s work to create, in Princess, a unique brand of gig theatre, bringing adult themes, dancers and performers that break the traditional mould of today’s global monoculture, to entertain through energetically crafted dance, original song and resurrected video.

“takes all the glorious smut that has come before, gives it a right good polish and rams home a filth-fest of pure titillation” Broadway Baby on Dick!

Bette Midler and Me… at a theatre near you!

9593a36a-1305-46c7-8ede-e00281be1bafAria Entertainment Concerts presents
Bette Midler… and Me

Writer: Chris Burgess    Director: Paul Foster    Musical Director: Sarah Travis    Choreographer: Matthew Cole

Autumn 2016 TOUR
9th SEPT/ Chipping Norton Theatre –
www.chippingnortontheatre.co.uk

16th SEPT/ Bishop Stortford, Rhodes Complex –
www.rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk

17th SEPT/ Stroud, Subscription Rooms –
www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk

24th SEPT/ London, Finchley Arts Depot –
www.artsdepot.co.uk

25th SEPT/ Manchester, Hope Mill Theatre –
www.hopemilltheatre.co.uk

29th SEPT/ York Theatre Royal –
www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

30th SEPT/ Chelmsford, Cramphorn Theatre –
www.chelmsford.gov.uk/theatres

9th OCT/ Crouch End, London, Arthouse Cinema –
www.arthousecrouchend.co.uk

30th OCT/ Leeds, J Fest

“When I’m on stage – it’s a party!” quipped Bette Midler.  So join in the fun, and catch West End star and leading lady Sue Kelvin’s roller-coaster ride through the Divine Bette Midler’s fabulous career. The show explores how Bette inspired Sue to don seven-inch platform shoes, and become a musical diva herself!  Sue has starred in many West End hits including Wicked, Les Misérables, Fiddler on the Roof and Chicago.

“A great night out”  ***** PUBLIC REVIEWS
“A fantastic tribute”     BROADWAY WORLD
“Top rate musicianship”  **** MICHAEL COVENEY

Sue covers songs such as Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, The Rose, I’m A Woman, From a Distance and Wind Beneath My Wings… Oh, and the show also features an outrageous three minute puppet version of hit tear-jerker movie Beaches… Simply divine!

Sue is accompanied by Tony Award winning musical director (2006 – Sweeney Todd) and long-term collaborator of Craig Revel Horwood (Sunset Boulevard,Chess) Sarah Travis; and is supported by actress and singer Joanna Lee.

“… a show that is heartfelt and hilarious in equal measure.”   BROADWAY WORLD

Twitter:
@BetteMidler2015

a692d4a0-eaca-476d-8f54-a01ec4aede8f

DarlingtonOS offer Spamalot interpreted performance

BSL Interpreted Performance at Spamalot

Director and Choreographer JOANNE HAND

Musical Director JOHN HUDSON

Seven performances only – October 24 to 29

Tickets now available

Local theatre company announce a special British Sign Language Interpreted Performance of their forthcoming production of Spamalot.

In a move to ensure theatre is accessible to as many people as possible, Darlington Operatic Society has announced they will be presenting a British Sign Language Interpreted Performance of their show currently in rehearsal – Monty Python’s Spamalot.

Company spokesman Julian Cound told us “We are delighted to have secured the skills of BSL Interpreter Jenna Johnson to sign a performance of Spamalot. This will truly open up the production to a whole host of people who would otherwise miss out on experiencing live theatre.”

Julian continued “I guess we could have picked an easier show for Jenna to work on than a fast paced musical comedy such as Spamalot, but we are really looking forward to welcoming her to our rehearsals so she can get to know the show inside out before the big day.”

Monty Python’s Spamalot will have seven performances at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium this autumn – Monday 24 to Saturday 29 October at 7.30pm with a 2pm matinee on Saturday 29 October. The BSL interpreted performance will take place on Thursday 27 October.

Monty Python’s Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and their quest for the Holy Grail. The show features lusty maidens, dancing divas, a killer rabbit and a legless knight. It has been honored with dozens of awards, including the Grammy for Best Original Cast Recording and three Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Tickets are priced £16 for adults and £10 for children (aged 14 and under) and can be purchased online at www.darlingtonos.org.uk, or by phone on 01325 244659.

Monty Python’s Spamalot has book and lyrics by Eric Idle and music by John Du Prez & Eric Idle. Lovingly ripped off from the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail, by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, Spamalot had its Broadway debut in 2005, directed by Mike Nichols.