WHAT’S ON AT LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

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***BRIAN MAY & KERRY ELLIS***CHICAGO***THE FULL MONTY***ELAINE PAIGE***

ROCKY HORROR SHOW***MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET***GHOST***THE COMMITMENTS***

***SIXTIES GOLD***JANE MCDONALD

Park Theatre 14 July – 6 August.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

Newly engaged Guy sets off on a trip across the US to revisit ex-girlfriends he feels “responsible” for. As any sane man would.

Makes you squirm just thinking about it, and Neil LaBute’s brilliantly observed script continuously ratchets up the squirm intensity to wonderful comic effect. The pauses and looks from the impressive cast are played to perfection. The women on Guy’s list are a varied bunch – high school sweetheart, wild sexual adventuress, older married woman and college sweetheart. Each meeting takes place in a hotel room in a different city – signalled by travelogue projections and stagehands dressed as maids “servicing” the room, changing furniture configurations and artwork with dance like efficiency. In a lovely touch by designer PJ McEvoy, which didn’t hit me until the final scene, the décor matches the women’s costumes.

The awkwardness of each encounter is played beautifully by the entire cast. As Sam, Elly Condron is full of hysterical, twitchy, underlying resentment that comes rushing out when Guy gives his reasons for leaving her; Roxanne Pallett makes the most of the showiest role as Tyler, but reigns it in to shine in the quieter, confessional moments of the encounter. Carolyn Backhouse is almost regal as Lindsay, the woman Guy abandoned when their affair was discovered. Their scene plays out almost as a trial, with prosecution wiping the floor with his defence and sentencing him to very sweet justice. Carley Stenson’s Bobbi is the woman that may be the love of Guy’s life. Stenson allows the fluctuating emotions and frustration to flicker subtly, making her outbursts more powerful and moving as she is the only woman who manages to see the real Guy.

Charles Dorfman as Guy is simply wonderful. He manages to make the character likeable, even when the audience is gasping at the sheer idiocy and selfishness of his words. His reactions as he carries out Lindsay’s “punishment” are fantastic – like a 12-year-old being made to clean his room. As Guy is reeling off psychobabble explanations straight from Dr Phil, but full of self-regard, Dorfman makes it clear that Guy is acting a role. His motivation remains unclear until the (shocking) end of the play – penitence, sadism, masochism? When all is revealed, there is a moment of hope, but will Guy return to type – full of empty promises for a wonderful future that he will never deliver?

Director Gary Condes continues his fine work with Buckland Theatre Company with this polished and provocative production. LaBute’s play produces gasps and laughs in equal measure, exploring the darker side of relationships with a deft hand. If you only see one play this month – make it Some Girl(s).

CAST ANNOUNCED FOR

The 25th Anniversary of

CHILDREN OF EDEN

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz

Book by John Caird

At the Union Theatre

From Wednesday 10th August to Saturday 10th September 2016

Full casting is announced today for Children of Eden, which returns to London 25 years after its original West End production, playing at the Union Theatre from Wednesday 10 August, with a press night on Friday 12 August 2016.

The cast features Natasha O’Brien (A Christmas Carol, Rose Theatre) as Eve / Mama, Stephen Barry(The Beautiful Game, Union Theatre) as Adam / Noah, Joey Dexter (This was the World and I Was King, Brockley Jack Theatre) as Father, Samantha Giffard (Little Shop of Horrors, Aberystwyth Arts Centre) as Aysha, Guy Woolf (The Tempest, Waterloo East) as Cain / Japeth, Nikita Johal (Princess Caraboo, Finborough Theatre) as Yonah, Susie Chaytow (She Loves Me, Landor Theatre) as Aphra,Daniel Miles (Grease, Silja Line Cruises) as Abel / Ham, Kris Marc-Joseph (See Rock City and Other Destinations, Union Theatre) as Seth/ Shem, Verity Burgess (Evita, West End) as Storyteller andGabriel Mokake (Dreamgirls, West End) as Snake.

Inspired by the Book of Genesis, Children of Eden tells the timeless story of what it means to be a parent. From the moment you bring a child into the world everything changes; you learn to protect, cherish, and love unconditionally. But as they grow you have to learn one more thing; to one day let them go. Featuring one of the most beautiful scores in contemporary musical theatre from the composer of Godspell, Pippin and Wicked, Children of Eden is a heartfelt and humorous musical about the unique family bond.

Children of Eden has Music and Lyrics by acclaimed composer Stephen Schwartz, who is perhaps best known for his mega-hit musical Wicked which continues to play on Broadway and in the West End. A big screen adaptation of Wicked is also in development. Stephen has contributed lyrics to films includingPocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre and Enchanted, and his other stage musicals include Godspell andPippin. Schwartz was recently given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame.

Children of Eden has a Book by John Caird, who with Trevor Nunn adapted and directed Les Misérables. His recent directorial credits include McQueen at the Haymarket Theatre, Tosca in Chicago and Houston, La Boheme in San Francisco and his own musical Daddy Long Legs off-Broadway. His work for the RSC included over 20 productions of classic and new plays including a co-production with Trevor Nunn of Nicholas Nickleby for which he received a Tony and Olivier Award.

Children of Eden is directed by Christian Durham, whose productions include Spend Spend Spend(Union Theatre), Just So (Bridewell Theatre), Debbie Does Dallas (Edinburgh Festival, E4 Udderbelly) and Taboo (UK Tour, Best Musical – MEN Awards). It is choreographed by Lucie Pankhurst whose recent work includes The Stripper (St James Theatre), The Toxic Avenger (Southwark Playhouse), The Busker’s Opera (Park Theatre), Shock Treatment (Kings Head Theatre) and Dogfight (Southwark Playhouse). Design is by Kingsley Hall (Once Upon A Mattress, Patience, The Baker’s Wife – Union Theatre), Lighting Design by Nic Farman (The Stripper – St James Theatre, The Toxic Avenger -Southwark Playhouse) and Musical Direction by Inga Davis-Rutter (Spend, Spend, Spend and Love Story – Union Theatre).

Children of Eden has Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and Book by John Caird, based on a concept by Charles Lisanby. It is produced by Union Productions and performed by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) Limited.

www: www.uniontheatre.biz

Twitter: @TheUnionTheatre

Facebook: /TheUnionTheatre

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

• Amber Riley performs ‘I Am Changing’ as she prepares to star in Dreamgirls at the Savoy Theatre from this Autumn.

• Director and Choreographer Casey Nicholaw meets Amber Riley and discusses the role of soulful singer, Effie White

An exclusive new video has been released in advance of the long-awaited UK premiere ofDreamgirls which will have preview performances at the Savoy Theatre from 19 November and Opening Night on Wednesday 14 December 2016.

American actress and singer Amber Riley is joined in the video feature by Dreamgirls Director and Choreographer Casey Nicholaw, as they discuss the joys and challenges of performing the role of ‘Effie White’ before Ms Riley sings ‘I Am Changing’ from the musical’s iconic score.

Ms Riley will be joined in Dreamgirls at the Savoy Theatre by Ibinabo Jack as Lorrell Robinson and Liisi LaFontaine as Deena Jones, making up the soulful singing trio ‘The Dreams’. Nicholas Bailey will play Marty, Adam J. Bernard will play Jimmy Early, Tyrone Huntley will play C.C. White and Joe Aaron Reid will play Curtis Taylor Jr, with Ruth Brown and Karen Mavalternating the role of Effie White at performances when Amber Riley is not scheduled to perform.

The cast of Dreamgirls will also include Jocasta Almgill, Callum Aylott, Hugo Batista, Samara Casteallo, Chloe Chambers, Carly Mercedes Dyer, Joelle Dyson, Kimmy Edwards, Candace Furbert, Nathan Graham, Ashley Luke Lloyd, Gabriel Mokake, Abiola Ogunbiyi, Sean Parkins, Kirk Patterson, Ryan Reid, Rohan Richards, Noel Samuels, Durone Stokes and Tosh Wanogho-Maud.

Full information on performance schedules and further casting will be updated on the official website Dreamgirlswestend.com

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

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

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

Amber Riley and Liisi LaFontaine are appearing with the support of UK Equity, incorporating the Variety Artistes’ Federation, pursuant to an exchange program between American Equity and UK Equity.

ALL NEW DIRTY DANCING REHEARSAL SHOTS – SEXIER THAN EVER –

AHEAD OF THE NEW TOUR STARTING IN BLACKPOOL ON 11 AUGUST

Producers Karl Sydow and Paul Elliott are delighted to announce that due to overwhelming demand for tickets around the country, even more dates have now been added to the UK and Ireland tour of the brand new production of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage. Many performances have already sold out, and since originally going on sale in October 2015, over 150,000 tickets have been snapped up, with over £5million taken.

The classic story of Baby and Johnny, featuring the hit songs ‘Hungry Eyes’, ‘Hey! Baby’, ‘Do You Love Me?’ and the heart stopping ‘(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life’, returns to the UK this summer, following two blockbuster West End runs, two hit UK tours, and various sensational international productions.

Lewis Griffiths will star as ‘Johnny Castle’, one of the most iconic roles in popular culture. Lewis has had a prolific career in musical theatre, most recently starring as ‘Nick Massi’ on the UK tour of Jersey Boys. Other roles in UK tours include Ghostand Legally Blonde, and West End credits include Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Rent and Whistle Down the Wind.

Katie Hartland will make her professional musical theatre debut carrying the watermelons as she takes on the role of ‘Baby Houseman’, having graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2015.

Carlie Milner will star as ‘Penny Johnson’. Carlie is part of the Dirty Dancing family; starting as a member of the ensemble in 2014, she covered and subsequently took over the role of ‘Penny’ in 2015.

Joining Lewis, Katie and Carlie will be Julian Harries as ‘Jake Houseman’, Simone Craddock as ‘Marjorie Houseman’, Roger Martin ‘as Max Kellerman’, Jo Servi as ‘Tito Suarez’, Lizzie Ottley as ‘Lisa Houseman’, Michael Kent as ‘Billy Kostecki’, Greg Fossard as ‘Neil Kellerman’, Tony Stansfield as ‘Mr Schumacher’, and Daniela Pobega as ‘Elizabeth’, and Camilla Rowland as ‘Vivian’. Also joining the company are Gabby Antrobus, Imogen Brooke, Simon Campbell, Robert Colvin, Katie Eccles, Beth Highsted, Samuel John Humphreys, Megan Louch, Ashley Rumble, Callum Sterling, Austin Wilks and Karl James Wilson.

Full of passion and romance, heart-pounding music and sensationally sexy dancing, the record-breaking show has been reconceived in an all new production created by an innovative new creative team; directed by Federico Bellone, choreographed by Gillian Bruce and with design re-imagined by top Italian set designer Roberto Comotti. The production premiered in Milan in July 2015, subsequently packing out the 15,000 seat Roman Arena in Verona, and then played a season in Rome.

www.dirtydancingontour.com

THE ROUNDABOUT

THE FIRST MAJOR REVIVAL IN EIGHTY YEARS

OF A REDISCOVERED COMEDY BY JB PRIESTLEY

DIRECTED BY HUGH ROSS

CAST INCLUDES BRIAN PROTHEROE, RICHENDA CAREY,

BENIDORM’S HUGH SACHS, AND HEARTBEAT’S STEVEN BLAKELEY

WITH BESSIE CARTER MAKING HER PROFESSIONAL DEBUT

“Communism’s all right for a gentleman like yourself, but you’ll get over it.”

The first major revival in eighty years of The Roundabout, a recently rediscovered comedy by one of Britain’s most prolific playwrights JB Priestley – beloved for such classics as An Inspector Calls and Time and the Conways. The Roundabout, directed by Hugh Ross, will play at Park Theatre from 24 August to 24 September, with a press night on 25 August.

The Kettlewells are a dysfunctional family. Richard is a charming old Etonian whose business ventures are failing. Over a crowded weekend, his daughter Pamela, whom he hardly knows, returns from Russia, a passionate communist; his ex-wife and mistress both unexpectedly arrive; and his butler has a big win at the races.

Steven Blakeley will star as ‘Comrade Staggles’, Lisa Bowerman as ‘Lady Kettlewell’, Bessie Carter as ‘Pamela Kettlewell’, Richenda Carey as ‘Lady Knightsbridge, Charlie Field as ‘Farrington Gurney’, Derek Hutchinson as ‘Parsons’, Annie Jackson as ‘Alice’, Ed Pinker as ‘Alec Grenside’, Brian Protheroe as ‘Lord Kettlewell’, Hugh Sachs as ‘Churton Saunders’ and Carol Starks as ‘Hilda Lancicourt’.

Hugh Ross said, “The Roundabout is a funny, touching, highly perceptive look at an England in the 1930s, when it seemed, just possibly, as if the social order might be changing.

My father, Gordon Ross, was a polymath: doctor, homeopath, painter, poet and playwright; he had a vast library of books. About 18 months ago, looking through some of them, I came upon a collection of essays, short stories and plays, which included The Roundabout, which I’d never heard of. I read it, enjoyed it hugely, and was bewildered as to its disappearance from the repertoire. It is a fine comedy, unlike most of Priestley’s other work, and also strangely topical. I also found out that the play was written for Peggy Ashcroft, who was Priestley’s mistress at the time. She played wonderful part of Pamela, and I’m delighted that Bessie Carter will be making her professional debut in the role on her graduation from Guildhall.”

Twitter @roundaboutplay

TOURING CONSORTIUM THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS

THE TOURING CONSORTIUM THEATRE COMPANY AND ROYAL & DERNGATE NORTHAMPTON PRODUCTION

A TALE OF TWO CITIES

·        ADAPTED BY MIKE POULTON

·        WITH ORIGINAL MUSIC BY OSCAR-WINNING COMPOSER RACHEL PORTMAN

·        DIRECTED BY JAMES DACRE

·        TOURING THE UK THIS AUTUMN

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darknesss… It was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair – we had everything before us! We had nothing before us!”

The Touring Consortium Theatre Company and Royal & Derngate Northampton present Charles Dickens’ literary masterpiece A TALE OF TWO CITIES, opening at Royal & Derngate on Saturday 10 September 2016, with a national press night on Wednesday 14 September, and touring the UK until November.

Dickens considered his novel, A Tale Of Two Cities the best story he had ever written.   Interweaving one family’s intensely personal drama with the terror and chaos of the French Revolution, it is an epic story of love, sacrifice and redemption amidst horrific violence and world changing events.

A TALE OF TWO CITIES was first produced in Northampton in 2014, to great critical and public acclaim, and was director James Dacre’s inaugural production at the theatre. Adapted by Mike Poulton (Fortune’s Fool, Old Vic and Broadway, Wolf Hall RSC, West End & Broadway), and with an original score by Oscar-winning composer Rachel Portman (The Cider House Rules, Beloved), and UK Theatre Award nominated design by Mike Britton, with lighting design by Paul Keogan, sound design by Adrienne Quartly, movement direction by Struan Leslie, and fight direction by Terry King. Casting to be announced.

James Dacre said, “Dickens wrote A Tale of Two Cities in 1859 as a meditation on politics and power, the individual versus the system and the private versus the public. Mike Poulton, Rachel Portman and I first mounted this adaptation in the aftermath of the Arab Spring to cast a light on the protests, fanaticism and political unrest that were spreading across the world at that time.

Our decision along with Jenny King, Producer of The Touring Consortium, to revisit the production during this year of elections, referendums and revolutions across the world is motivated by a shared belief that great historical dramas can play an important role in contemporary political conversations by emotionally engaging audiences in human stories, countering the disaffection that seems to dominate so much of today’s political debate. Theatre and music can be imbued with a passion that a novel cannot capture and Royal & Derngate and Touring Consortium’s A Tale of Two Cities aims to focus on the humanity of Dickens’ novel in a way that gives the historical events an immediacy and urgent relevance for today’s audiences.”  

A TALE OF TWO CITIES will play at Oxford, Richmond, Bradford, Blackpool, Wolverhampton, Brighton, Edinburgh, Cheltenham and Nottingham. The professional company will perform alongside a chorus of twelve actors drawn from the local community, to capture the turbulence, anarchy and romance of London and Paris during the tumultuous years of the French revolution.

Here’s the one you’ve been waiting for!

Our ADULT musical…

‘HORROR FILM: THE MUSICAL’…

The Majestic Theatre is proud to host this fabulously funny and gory musical which will leave you howling! Blood, guts, gore & camp musical numbers will tickle your funny-bone as well as being highly entertaining!

Standard tickets are on sale today as well as ‘SPLASHZONE’ tickets for those who want to really get in on the action! Buy now:Http://www.majestic-tickets.co.uk

Waterloo East Theatre 12 – 23 July.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

CandleFire’s adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is enchantingly engaging. Both plotlines and characters have been excised, resulting in a tighter story with less fairy fluff. The absence of Theseus and Hippolyta does make the reasons for the staging of the play by the mechanicals less explicit and takes some of the jeopardy away from Lysander and Hermia’s flight, but, overall, the adaptation is very smart and effective.

Hermia (Marie Isserman) loves Lysander (Robert Fellman), but her mother, Egeus (Caroline Short) orders her to marry Demetrius (Matthew Harrison-James). Lysander and Hermia decide to elope, telling Helena (Leah Lawry-Johns) of their plans. Helena loves Demetrius, and hoping to win his affection, informs on her friends. Meanwhile, in the woods, fairy queen Titania (Hollie Hales) and Oberon (Martin Sales) are having a tiff. With the help of Puck (Joshua Jewkes) he plots to shame her by using a magical plant to make her fall in love with the first creature she sees. Finding the mechanicals rehearsing their play, Puck, in the finest piece of theatrical criticism ever, transforms the overacting Bottom’s head into that of an ass. Titania wakes and is smitten. Unfortunately, Puck isn’t so accurate dispensing the magic on the young lovers, causing both Lysander and Demetrius to fall in love with Helena.

Lysander, Hermia, Helena and Demetrius are all played sensitively. The death sentence is never mentioned in this adaptation, instead Egeus threatens Hermia with life as a nun straight away, much more in keeping with the feminine incarnation. Lawry-Johns’ Helena is feisty and funny. On a couple of occasions, Demetrius almost succumbs to her advances, and this delightful touch helps make it all the more unbelievable that the men want the, frankly wet, Hermia. It’s not Isserman’s fault, it’s the way she’s written. After being enchanted, the transformation of the men into posturing, proclaiming idiots is handled wonderfully.

The mechanicals are one short in this production, causing the hapless Snout (the fantastic Jon Adams) to play both Wall and Lion. David Gurney’s Bottom is suitably overbearing, making the most of his stature to emphasise the Napoleon Complex of the character. Quince (Charlotte Warner), Starveling (Lorna Reed) and Flute (Darren Latham) complete the troupe with Flute’s Monty Python/Kill Bill acting style as Thisbe producing some amazing reactions from the long suffering Quince. Throughout the production, Latham and Warner provide musical accompaniment, giving it the feel of a country fair or festival.

The fairies are fantastic, earthy and physical. Titania looks like she’s just woken up at Glastonbury, whilst Oberon and Puck look like they’ve just woken up on a dump. Thankfully, Peaseblossom and co are absent, so instead of songs and dances, we get Oberon and Puck’s double act, a bit like the two Stooges. They remain onstage, influencing and watching events to great comic effect. Their faces as the four lovers’ quarrel descends into a brawl are a picture.

Jaclyn Bradley has managed to evoke the woodland atmosphere in this black box, simply with judicious application of ivy and fallen leaves. CandleFire’s adaptation remains true to the original, showcasing Shakespeare’s magical lines. It is traditional and pure, but with lots of delicate, modern touches and interactions making it feel more accessible. This is a charming and intelligent adaptation, full of fun and magic. A very exciting production from an exciting new company.