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Newcastle Theatre Royal has announced record sales for next year’s panto before this year’s production has even opened! It follows the announcement that the 2016/17 panto starring seasonal favourites Danny Adams, Clive Webb, and Chris Hayward will be Cinderella – the greatest panto of them all! (22 Nov ’16 – Sun 15 Jan ’17).

Audiences have been going wild for Cinderella ever since the advanced booking date opened last week to Theatre Royal Friends, Groups and Advantage members and with tickets going on sale to the public today, the Theatre is getting its Box Office staff ready for an extra busy period.

Chief Executive Philip Bernays said: “It is wonderful to see that year on year our sales are going from strength to strength andCinderella has already overtaken the sales we had achieved for Dick Whittington at this same point last year.

“The popularity of our panto is testimony to the quality of both the actors and creative team and we are delighted that Danny, Clive and Chris will be joining us again next year under the expert direction of talented West-End producer Michael Harrison, who we are proud to call a close friend of the Theatre Royal.”

Cinderella will see Danny Adams play Buttons, Clive Webb play Baron Hardup and Chris Hayward play The Fairy Godmother in what promises to be a glittering production sure to delight all the family.

Cinderella will be brought spectacularly to life in a sumptuous production packed with special effects, family-friendly comedy, stunning sets, outrageously dazzling costumes, and that most magical pantomime moment when Cinderella is transported to the Prince’s Ball with the help of a pumpkin, some mice and lots of Fairy Godmother magic!

Newcastle Theatre Royal panto-goers can also be certain of an enchanting score, magnificent dance routines and of course all the latest special effects, provided by The Twins FX, for which the panto has become renowned for in recent years.

Cinderella is produced by Qdos Entertainment, the world’s largest pantomime producer, which will stage 24 productions throughout the UK this Christmas.

Cinderella appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tuesday 22 November 2016 – Sunday 15 January 2017. Tickets are available from £13.00 and can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk.

Paul Minx and the So and So Arts Club present:

• THE NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE PLAYS HOST TO ALUMNI AND VIP GUESTS AT FUNDRAISING GALA ‘STARS AND STRIPES THANKSGIVING  FEAST’ AT THE BLOOMSBURY HOTEL
• OVER 80K WAS RAISED AT THE EVENT WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE.
  

On Monday 23 November, The National Youth Theatre hosted a fundraising gala ‘Stars and Stripes Thanksgiving Feast’ at The Bloomsbury Hotel, attended by current NYT performers, past alumni and VIP guests. The event raised more than £80k which will continue to support The National Youth Theatre’s ongoing projects.

Guests included Larry Lamb, Jessica Henwick, Ross Kemp, Olivia Poulet, Daisy Lewis, Spencer Wilding, Charlie Redmayne, Antony Horowitz , Will Tudor, Janet Ellis, Sope Dirisu, Reece Ritchie, Sair Khan, Paula Wilcox, Dawn Airey, Sophie Turner Laing, Russ Lindsay, Tom Allen , Fiona Mollison, David Gilmore, John Robinson, David Pearl and Gemma Oaten.

Lord Harry Dalmeny hosted an auction of very special prizes including tickets for Othellostarring NYT alumni Daniel Craig and David Oyelowo in New York next autumn off Broadway as well as an opportunity to meet the pair and a night in The Park Plaza, an opportunity to make your TV debut on Channel 4’s Humans, a night for two at Soho Farmhouse with a helicopter ride, as well as many exclusive prizes donated by Barbara Broccoli, Matthew Warchus, Annette and Nick Mason and Nick Jones.

Entertainment at the event came from The National Youth Theatre who performed a cabaret of ‘Broadway Turkeys’.

The evening was made possible thanks to the support of The Bloomsbury Hotel where VIP attendees enjoyed a dinner of venison and pistachio terrine with orchard apple and redcurrant relish, traditional roast bronze turkey crown, smoked pancetta, basil and pine nut stuffing served with green beans, cranberries and blue cheese, and sweet potato pie wrapped in filo followed by Pecan and chocolate pie, salted caramel ice cream.

First production images released of 50th anniversary production of The Homecoming by Harold Pinter

• Jamie Lloyd directs Keith Allen, Gemma Chan, Ron Cook, Gary Kemp, John Macmillan and John Simm

The first production photography is released after the press night of Jamie Lloyd’s 50th anniversary production of Pinter’s multi-award winning modern classic The Homecoming. 

The production stars Keith Allen (Sam), Gemma Chan (Ruth), Ron Cook (Max), Gary Kemp (Teddy), John Macmillan (Joey) and John Simm (Lenny).

Widely regarded as Pinter’s finest play, the dangerous and tantalisingly ambiguous world of The Homecoming is a crackling hotbed of visceral tension. Celebrated as one of the leading interpreters of Pinter’s work, director Jamie Lloyd has assembled an impressive cast in what promises to be a dynamic production.

Designed by Soutra Gilmour, with lighting design by Richard Howell and sound by George Dennis.

The Homecoming is a unique contemporary masterpiece of the 20th Century. This 50th anniversary production will continue The Jamie Lloyd Company’s reputation for presenting compelling drama that sparks passionate debate.

As with The Jamie Lloyd Company’s previous productions, all tickets for Monday performances will be £15. Half of these will be made available through a special outreach scheme, targeted at schools and first-time theatregoers. The other half will be released monthly to the public on the first day of each month, and will be available online or at the Trafalgar Studios box office.

When Teddy returns from America to introduce his wife Ruth to his family in London, they discover a claustrophobic and brutal household where his father Max, brothers Lenny and Joey and Uncle Sam live in a state of mutual loathing and festering resentment. Theirs is a motherless, compassionless and lawless home where Ruth immediately becomes the centre of attention. Pinter’s sinister masterpiece simmers with suspense and rings with savage humour as Ruth navigates her way between the roles of predator and prey in an incisive battle of wills.

The Jamie Lloyd Company is a partnership between acclaimed director Jamie Lloyd and Ambassador Theatre Group. Previous productions include Richard III starring Martin Freeman and Gina McKee, East is East featuring Jane Horrocks and Ayub Khan Din (currently on a UK tour with Pauline McLynn), The Ruling Class and Macbeth, both starring James McAvoy, The Hothouse with John Simm and Simon Russell Beale, and The Pride with Hayley Atwell, Mathew Horne, Harry Hadden-Paton and Al Weaver.

Jamie Lloyd has previously directed The Caretaker (Sheffield Crucible and Tricycle), The Loverand The Collection (Harold Pinter Theatre) and The Hothouse (Trafalgar) – all by Harold Pinter. Lloyd’s other theatre credits include The Ruling Class, Rich  ard III, The Pride and Macbeth(Olivier nomination for Best Revival), all for The Jamie Lloyd Company at Trafalgar Studios. Other credits include Assassins (Menier Chocolate Factory), Urinetown (St. James & Apollo), The Commitments (Palace), Cyrano de Bergerac (Roundabout Theatre Company; American Airlines Theatre, Broadway); The Duchess of Malfi (Old Vic); She Stoops to Conquer (National, Olivier; Whatsonstage nomination for Best Revival); The Faith Machine, The Pride (Royal Court; Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre for The Pride), Inadmissible Evidence, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Passion, Polar Bears (all at the Donmar; Evening Standard Award for Best Musical for Passion), Piaf (Donmar, also Vaudeville/Teatro Liceo, Buenos Aires/Nuevo Teatro Alcala, Madrid; Olivier nomination for Best Musical Revival, Hugo Award for Best Director, Clarin Award for Best Musical Production, ADEET Award for Best Production); The Little Dog Laughed (Garrick), Three Days of Rain (Apollo; Olivier nomination for Best Revival, Whatsonstage nomination for Best Revival) and Elegies: a Song Cycle (Arts) in the West End; The School for Scandal (Theatre Royal, Bath); Salome(Headlong) and Eric’s (Liverpool Everyman). He has also directed plays as a part of the Old Vic 24 Hour Plays and the Royal Court International Residencies. Jamie was Associate Director of the Donmar from 2008 to 2011 and Associate Artist of Headlong.

Keith Allen’s theatre credits include Smack Family Robinson (Rose, Kingston and New York),Comedians (Lyric Hammersmith), Treasure Island (Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Celebration & The Room (Almeida and New York) and Teddy in The Homecoming (National Theatre). TV and film credits include Trainspotting, Shallow Grave, three series of Robin Hood (BBC), Uncle(BBC), Treasure Island (Sky) and Death in Paradise (BBC).

Gemma Chan recently played the lead role of Anita in the Channel 4 drama Humans. Her theatre credits include Yellow Face (NT Shed), Our Ajax (Southwark Playhouse), and The Sugar-Coated Bullets of the Bourgeoisie (Finborough). Other TV credits include Fresh Meat, The Game, Mummy’s Boys, Bedlam, and Death in Paradise. Film credits include Belles Familles, London Fields and Jack Ryan.

Ron Cook returns to Trafalgar having appeared in The Ruling Class for The Jamie Lloyd Company. His extensive theatre credits include Henry V (Noel Coward), Trelawney of the Wells, Richard II, King Lear, Hamlet, Twelfth Night (all Donmar), The Seafarer (National). TV credits include four series of Mr Selfridge (ITV), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (BBC), Bert and Dickie(BBC), and Vera (ITV), Little Dorrit (BBC). Film credits include Hot Fuzz, On A Clear Day, 24 Hour Party People, Charlotte Gray, Chocolat, Topsy Turvy and Secrets and Lies.

Gary Kemp’s previous theatre credits include Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’Be (Theatre Royal Stratford East), The Rubenstein Kiss (Hampstead), Pig Night (Menier Chocolate Factory) and Art(Wyndham’s). TV credits include Lewis (ITV), Casualty (BBC), M.I.T (Thames), Murder in Mind(BBC) and The Larry Sanders Show (HBO). Film credits include: Assassin, Molly Moon, Poppies, Dog Eat Dog, American Daylight, The Krays, The Bodyguard, Paper Marriage, Killing Zoe, Hide & Seek and Still Crazy. Gary is a founding member of the band Spandau Ballet.

John Macmillan’s previous theatre credits include In The Red and Brown Water, The Member of the Wedding (both Young Vic), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Almeida), Macbeth (Royal Exchange), Hamlet (nominated for the Ian Charleson Award; Donmar West End and Broadway). TV credits include three series of Silk (BBC), New Tricks (BBC) Critical (Hat Trick) and Hoff the Record (Dave). Film credits include Fury, Maleficent, World War Z and The Dark Knight Rises.

John Simm is reunited with Jamie Lloyd having starred in the Trafalgar production of The Hothouse (The Jamie Lloyd Company). Simm is a well-known presence from such TV and film roles as Everyday, Tuesday, Miranda, 24 Hour Party People, Human Traffic, The Village (BBC), Prey (ITV), Mad Dogs (Sky TV), Dr Who, Life on Mars, State of Play and The Lakes (all BBC TV).Other theatre credits include Three Days in the Country (National Theatre), Speaking in Tongues (Duke of York’s), Hamlet and Betrayal (Sheffield Crucible) and Elling (Bush and West End).

LISTINGS

THE HOMECOMING
A THE JAMIE LLOYD COMPANY PRODUCTION
14 NOVEMBER 2015 – 13 FEBRUARY 2016

For priority information and seat releases follow us on:
Twitter @JamieLloydCo
Facebook /JamieLloydCo

ON SALE TO ATG THEATRECARD HOLDERS ON FRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2015 FROM 10AM AND GENERAL ONSALE ON TUESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER FROM 10AM

Performances:                                       Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm
Thursday & Saturday at 2.30pm

Ticket prices:                                        £15 all tickets on Mondays
£29.50, £39.50, £52.50
Premium Seats Available

All tickets will be £15 on Mondays. Half of these will be made available through a special outreach scheme, targeted towards schools and first-time theatregoers. The other half will be released monthly to the public on the first day of each month and will be available online or at Trafalgar Studios box office.

Address:                                               Trafalgar Studios, 14 Whitehall,
Westminster, SW1A 2DY

Box Office:                                            0844 871 7632

Website:                                                thejamielloydcompany.com

Facebook                                              facebook.com/JamieLloydCo

Twitter                                                  @JamieLloydCo

The triple Tony, double Drama Desk and Golden Globe Award winning Broadway star Bernadette Peters presents her first UK solo concerts in over 15 years, returning to the Royal Festival Hall, London on Friday 3^rd June 2016 and playing her first ever date at the Opera House, Manchester on Sunday 5^th June 2016

The Grammy and Emmy Award nominee will perform timeless, signature songs from the multitude of iconic shows in which she has played some of her greatest stage roles, including Gypsy, Into the Woods and Sunday in the Park with George.

Renowned around the world as one of the foremost interpreters of Sondheim, Bernadette starred in the original Broadway productions of Into the Woods and Sunday in the Park with George and headlined the recent Broadway revivals of A Little Night Music and Follies.

Bernadette has performed at the most prestigious international concert halls, including the Royal Opera House, the Sydney Opera House, the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, Radio City and Lincoln Center. She currently stars in the new hit series, Mozart in the Jungle on Amazon Prime, having previously appeared in no less than 33 films and TV movies, including Annie, Pink Cadillac and Pennies from Heaven.

Bernadette Peters is presented in the UK by Neil Eckersley, with musical direction by Marvin Laird, sound design by Tom Sorce and lighting design by Lenny Cowles.

Friday 3^rd June 2016 7.30pm
Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX
Tickets from £29.50
Box Office 020 7960 4200 *
RFH Members Pre-Sale 10.00am Tue 24^th Nov 2015  | On Sale 10.00am Wed 25^th Nov 2015

Sunday 5^th June 2016 7.30pm
Opera House, Quay Street, Manchester M3 3HP
Tickets from £25.00
Box Office 0844 871 3018 *
ATG Theatre Card Pre-Sale 10.00am Tue 24^th Nov 2015  |  General On Sale 10.00am Wed 25^th Nov 2015

www.bernadetteinconcert.com

^* Subject to booking / transaction fees

Let’s Hang On

The Music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Saturday 5th March 2016

We are pleased to announce the award-winning production of Let’s Hang On is returning to the PLAYHOUSE on Saturday 5th March. Let’s Hang On is a musical journey through the prolific career of one of the most successful bands of all time – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons.

From the beginnings in the early 50’s, the show takes you through hits such as Grease, Bye Bye Baby, December 1963 (Oh What a Night!), Sherry, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Beggin’, Working My Way Back To You, Walk Like A Man, Big Girls Don’t Cry, and many more, climaxing with a spectacular finale of, of course, Let’s Hang On!

We are very proud to have the opportunity to present this recently revamped production to audiences in Whitley Bay which now features brand new sound, lighting and AV screens.

Definitely not a night to be missed!!

Tickets costing £22, £21 conc.

Tickets are available from the Box Office open Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm, Saturday 10.30am -2.30pm plus until show start on event days. Tickets can also be purchased on the booking hotline 0844 248 1588* or online at www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk.

Children and adults connected with charities from across the North East have been invited to see Newcastle Theatre Royal’s spectacular pantomime Dick Whittington before anyone else, in an exclusive Dress Rehearsal performance on Monday 23 November.

Over 1,000 seats will be filled by people connected with some of the North East’s most deserving charities including: Haven Tyneside, which works with homeless people to combat isolation and loneliness; Tickets for Troops, which provides opportunities for members of the Armed Forces and their families; the Barnardo’s Circles 2 Project, which supports women and children who have experienced domestic and sexual abuse and Smile for Life supporting disabled and disadvantaged children from the North East.

Four hundred of these tickets have also been distributed by the panto’s media partner Heart North East, to various local charities including the Tiny Lives Trust, which cares for premature babies at the RVI. Heart is supporting the famous panto all the way – in the run up to opening next week, right through until the final curtain on Sun 17 January 2016.

At the exclusive Dress Rehearsal, the audience enjoys a special sneak preview performance of the show, complete with full costumes and all special effects, before it opens to the general public on Tuesday 24 November.

The Dress Rehearsal is the last full run through the company will do before they unveil the show to the wider public, and as such it is highly polished, yet has all the fresh excitement and anticipation of a rehearsal.

Philip Bernays, Chief Executive of Theatre Royal Newcastle, said:  “Every year we are inundated with requests for dress rehearsal tickets from so many deserving local organisations. Sadly we receive many more requests than we can accommodate, but we are delighted to be able to offer some of those charities tickets, so that people who may otherwise never see the pantomime can get the chance to do so.”

The Theatre Royal pantomime is renowned as one of the best in the country with its reputation for amazing special effects and top quality production values and this year Dick Whittington is no different.

Top West-End producer Michael Harrison once again makes the return to his home town as mastermind of the Theatre Royal pantomime, teaming up for another year with The Twins FX for the latest in high-tech wizardry where special effects and illusions are concerned.

Multi award-winning pantomime legends Danny Adams (Dick Whittington) and Clive Webb (Councillor Fitzfenwick) are back once again by overwhelming popular demand with more of their hilarious comedy antics – as always, expect lots of magic, mayhem, high jinx…oh, and watch out if you’re in the front row! The dastardly duo are supported as always by the North East’s best dressed Dame, Chris Hayward who continues to wow his ‘bonny bairns’ with the most glamorous array of costumes anywhere in panto-land!

Dick Whittington runs at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tuesday 24 November 2015 until Sunday 17 January 2016. Tickets are available from £12.50 (pay less online) and can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (all calls are charged at 7p a minute plus your phone company’s access charge, calls from mobiles may vary, please contact your operator for details).