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King’s Head Theatre  5 December – 9 January.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

Joe DiPietro’s play is a gay version of La Ronde by Arthur Schnitzler, which caused scandal in the 1920s. The play focuses on the sexual encounters of ten men. Each scene features two men, with each character appearing in two consecutive scenes apart from one character who features in the first and final scenes.  

The characters’ attitudes towards relationships and sex are explored with brutal honesty. From the squaddie who swears he isn’t gay as he pays an escort for a blowjob to the bisexual student (“I have a girlfriend!”) who addictively uses Grindr to hook up with married men, some of the characters are hysterically not self-aware. Meaningless physical encounters contrast with the romantic, verbose playwright who considers his hook-ups a way to create a deep connection and the easy, lazy interactions of the married couple who have an arrangement allowing casual sex. They have a long term view of the relationship, with sex and companionship being separate issues, at least for one of them. Throw in a closeted action hero and a grieving journalist whose long term lover has died, and the audience is put through the emotional wringer.

Even though some of the men insist that as they are gay, they are supposed to screw around, the characters are all searching for happiness and fulfilment in their own way. We see relationships that are just beginning, an established relationship, and the aftermath of relationships that have ended.

The writing is witty and clever, and the cast – Richard De Lisle, Harper James and Haydn Whiteside are all superb, giving each character an innate sense of loneliness and need. The sweetest moments in the play involve the porn star, who has a romantic vision of a future where he lives happily with the love of his life, and the escort, reintroduced in the lovely final scene, who needs money to buy a decent place with his boyfriend.

All of the conversations are wonderfully observed and well judged. There’s no sensationalism or judgement and each character, although not on stage for long, is made real and believable.

F*cking Men is a smart, funny and delicately shaded play with a warm, yearning heart – well worth a look.

King’s Head Theatre 3 December – 9 January.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

Charles Court Operas boutique panto is a fantastic festive treat.

John Savournin and David Eaton have created a magnificently madcap sideways take on Snow White. Snow White (widow of soul legend Barry White) is the live in housekeeper for seven dwarves, who cannot be named for legal reasons. John Savournin is an old hand at panto dames, and his Snow is a hoot. From her insane headgear (don’t laugh, she’ll give you evil looks) to her boat sized red shoes, Snow is one classy lady. Savournin’s facial expressions and banter with the audience are wonderfully arch, and when that fantastic bass-baritone voice lets rip it is much more entertaining than Disney’s weedy soprano version. The dwarves are all played by Matthew Kellett – working up a sweat making multiple quick entrances and trying out every comedy accent known to man.

The wicked queen (Andrea Tweedale) is gleefully evil, with some familiar megalomaniacal plans –

a bridge over the river carpeted with grass and flowers – and is raising taxes to fund them. Tweedale milks every last boo and hiss out of the audience and gets more and more unhinged as the show progresses.

The handsome prince, Larry Black (Amy J Payne) has a codpiece Blackadder would kill for, and his sweet-toothed valet Harry (Nichola Jolley) encourages him to woo the queen. But Larry meets Snow and falls head over heels for her. The jealous queen’s revenge attempts are worthy of Wile E. Coyote, and result in a magical transformation, a dead dwarf and someone needing to be saved by true love’s kiss. I never thought I’d see a funeral in a panto, but this one had an Elton John look-alike dwarf launching into a surreal version of “Candle in the wind”, so it wasn’t all doom and gloom.

The music is what makes this panto so special – an eclectic mix of songs are given a new twist and sung impeccably by the cast. The harmonies are clever and pitch perfect, and the audience sing-along is a Spice Girls classic. What more could you want?

The jokes were corny, the acting was brilliantly over the top (Payne and Jolley’s eyebrows were especially hyperactive) and the audience had a ball.

With child friendly and adult only performances scheduled, Mirror Mirror is a classy, camp delight. THIS is the panto you should see this year.

TOM CONTI AND LAURENCE FOX

TO STAR AS CHARLES DE GAULLE AND PHILIPPE PÉTAIN

IN THE WORLD PREMIERE OF

THE PATRIOTIC TRAITOR

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY JONATHAN LYNN

“You were the sword but I was the shield. I love France. I also love you – as a son”

TOM CONTI and LAURENCE FOX will star in the world premiere production of THE PATRIOTIC TRAITOR, opening at Park Theatre 17 February – 19 March, with a press night on 23 February. The Patriotic Traitor is written and directed by multi-award winning JONATHAN LYNN (‘Yes Minister’/’Yes, Prime Minister’/’My Cousin Vinny’/’Nuns on the Run’), with design by Georgia Lowe, lighting by Mark Howland, and sound by Andrea Cox.

Tom Conti will star as Philippe Pétain and Laurence Fox will star as Charles de Gaulle, alongside Niall Ashdown asLeon Blum / General Weygand, James Chalmers as General Le Gallet / Captain de Courcel, Ruth Gibson as Yvonne de Gaulle and Tom Mannion as Lord Halifax / Pierre Laval.

The Patriotic Traitor tells the extraordinary true story of two close friends Charles de Gaulle and Philippe Pétain, who found themselves on tragically opposing sides in World War II.

This relationship, noble, comic and absurd, changed history: Marshall Pétain, a tough, uncompromising soldier who rose through the ranks to save France in 1916 at the Battle of Verdun, and General de Gaulle, the aristocratic, academic, awkward and equally uncompromising soldier who led France to freedom when Pétain became a Nazi collaborator.

In 1945 de Gaulle had his oldest friend tried for treason. But was it as simple as it seemed?  This extraordinary story is seen as Pétain waits for the verdict.

Jonathan Lynn said, “What is a patriot? Who is a traitor? These questions are with us today, all over the world, just as much as they were in 1940. Is Edward Snowden, for instance, a traitor or a patriot? Is this simply a matter of our point of view, or are there absolute answers?

To keep the people safe is surely the most fundamental duty of every political leader. Few people are given the opportunity to save their country. This awful responsibility fell to two giants, Philippe Petain and Charles de Gaulle – twice to Petain. This is a story of love and betrayal, and their triumph and tragedy has fascinated me for many years. I hope it fascinates you. I am fortunate to have Tom Conti and Laurence Fox to bring these two great men and monstrous egotists to life.”

ALISTAIR MCGOWAN, MAGGIE OLLERENSHAW

AND DANIEL WEYMAN TO STAR IN THE UK PREMIERE OF

PETER QUILTER’S

4000 DAYS

What would you do if you forgot the last decade of your life…?

Maggie Ollerenshaw (Open All Hours, Coronation Street) and Daniel Weyman (Foyles War) will joinAlistair McGowan in the UK premiere of Peter Quilter’s 4000 DAYS, directed by Matt Aston(Bomber’s Moon) at Park Theatre from 14 January – 13 February, with a press night on 19 January.

Michael has been in a coma for three weeks. On waking, he realizes that four thousand days of his memory have been completely erased. He remembers nothing of Paul, his partner. Paul must fight to bring Michael’s memory back, while Michael’s mother Carol, fights to remove him from their lives completely.

Alistair McGowan, who will play ‘Michael’, returns to Park Theatre following his acclaimed performance in An Audience with Jimmy Savile. McGowan is probably best known for the BAFTA-winning series The Big Impression. Most recently, he has been seen living as a Victorian in BBC One’s24 Hours In The Past. He has appeared as a stand-up comic on countless TV shows including Live at The Apollo. He has been a mainstay of Radio 4 comedy for over 20 years. On stage, he has worked for the RSC, twice played ‘Professor Henry Higgins’ in Pygmalion, and received an Olivier Award nomination for his performance as the dentist in The Little Shop of Horrors.  He has also directed light opera, written a book about football, a play about advertising, a radio play about the composer Erik Satie – and all his own jokes (bar three) in 25 years of stand-up comedy.

Maggie Ollerenshaw will play ‘Carol’. Maggie is best known for television roles in Open All Hours,Coronation Street, The House of Elliot, and Last of the Summer Wine (BAFTA Nominated Best Comedy Performance). Her extensive broadcast credits include films such as War Horse, Pierrepoint(BAFTA Nominated Supporting Actress), A Private Function, and TV series such as Lovejoy, Midsomer Murders, Last of the Summer Wine (BAFTA Nominated Best Comedy Performance), Teachers,Heartbeat, Lovejoy, One Foot in the Grave, Victoria Wood, Casualty, Two Point Four Children,Eastenders, This is Personal, Dr Willoughby, Savages, Barbara, Paradise Heights, Bloomin’ Marvellous, A Bit of A Do, All Creatures Great & Small, and many others.

Her theatre credits include Pygmalion (Peter Hall Company) Yours Sincerely (National Tour), My Own Show (Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough) Be My Baby (Salisbury Playhouse) King John,Merry Wives (Northern Broadsides) Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Swan Theatre, Worcester) The Accrington Pals, Kennedy’s Children (Library Theatre Manchester) Joking Apart, One for the Road(Liverpool Playhouse) Bedroom Farce (Crucible Theatre Sheffield) Hay Fever (Welsh National Theatre)

Daniel Weyman will play ‘Paul’. High profile roles include ‘Adam Wainwright’ in the ITV series Foyles War, ‘Arthur Havisham’ in Mike Newell’s film Great Expectations and ‘Reverend Hale’ in the Bristol Old Vic production of The Crucible, directed by Tom Morris. In 2006, Daniel played the title role in Chichester Festival Theatre’s 7 hour production of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nikleby Parts I & II, and was nominated for a TMA award. Other theatre credits include: Murder in the Cathedral(St Stephen’s Church), Comedy of Errors (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), and Kafka’s Dick (Theatre Royal Bath).

STRICTLY COME DANCING
THE LIVE TOUR

RETURNS FOR A FAB-U-LOUS NINTH YEAR
SHEFFIELD ARENA
Tuesday 26th & Wednesday 27th January 2016

HELEN GEORGE, JAY MCGUINESS
AND JAKE WOOD

ARE THE FINAL CELEBRITIES ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2016 TOUR!
PROFESSIONAL DANCERS ON THE TOUR ALSO ANNOUNCED

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Call the Midwife actress Helen George and The Wanted’s Jay McGuiness are confirmed to compete in the 2016 Strictly Come Dancing UK tour, together with EastEnders actor Jake Wood who starred in the 2014 TV series. This completes the line-up for the tour, which stops off at Sheffield Arena for two nights on Tuesday 26th & Wednesday 27th January 2016.

Jay, Helen and Jake join Frankie Bridge from The Saturdays, actress Georgia May Foote from Coronation Street, Celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott and TV presenter Anita Rani. They will be joining the 2016 tour host Mel Giedroyc, together with judges Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood (who also directs the tour) and Bruno Tonioli for the live extravaganza.

The professional dancers from this year’s ratings winning BBC One TV series are also now announced and the pairings are:

Frankie Bridge and Kevin Clifton
Georgia May Foote and Giovanni Pernice
Helen George and Aljaz Skorjanec
Ainsley Harriott and Natalie Lowe
Jay McGuiness and Aliona Vilani
Anita Rani and Gleb Savchenko
Jake Wood and Janette Manrara
Karen Clifton will also join the tour for the professional dances and group numbers.

Helen George is best known for her role of Nurse Trixie Franklin in the multi award winning and hit BBC series Call the Midwife. She has also received critical acclaim for her varied stage credits in productions such as The Woman in White; High School Musical, and also appeared in Paul W S Anderson’s feature film The Three Musketeers.

Helen says: “I had a brilliant time on Strictly, so I’m very excited to continue my journey and have the chance to show off some of my favourite dances to audiences on the UK Tour. I’m sure that it’ll be amazing to dance in front of huge arena audiences with Aljaz! I’m very much looking forward to the audience helping me feel at home on the dance floor each night!”

Jay McGuiness is one fifth of the globally successful band, The Wanted. Since their 2010 debut album was released, they have enjoyed huge success all over the world, including two number one singles in the UK with All Time Low and Glad You Came.

Jay says: “I’m used to performing in front of massive crowds when touring with The Wanted, but performing with Aliona on the Strictly Live Tour will be a totally different experience. I’m loving my time on the TV series, but the idea of being back out in front of live arena audiences is something I’m very much looking forward to.”

Jake Wood has been a part of some of the most memorable storylines on EastEnders for the past decade, performing the role of Max Branning. He impressed the judges and TV audiences alike with his slick dance moves on last year’s BBC One series of Strictly Come Dancing, and now he has the chance to show off his skills to arena audiences on the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour 2016.

Jake says: “I really enjoyed my time on Strictly last year but couldn’t do the tour due to EastEnders’ filming commitments, so it’s great to get the chance to throw myself into the whole experience again as part of the 2016 Strictly tour. I’m so pleased that Frankie is doing the tour as well so we can enjoy reliving it all again together and I’m very happy that I’m being reunited with Janette. I can’t wait to relive some of my favourite dances in arenas across the country!”

Tickets for the 2016 Strictly Come Dancing Live UK Tour, which stops off at Sheffield Arena on Tuesday 26th & Wednesday 27th January 2016 are now on sale.

Tickets purchased by telephone on 0114 256 5656 or online at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk are priced £38.50 – £71.50 (including booking fee). Tickets purchased in person at the Arena Box Office are priced £36.75 – £68.25 (including booking fee).

2016 NATIONAL TOUR AND FULL CAST ANNOUNCED

WILLIAM NICHOLSON’S SHADOWLANDS

THE LOVE STORY OF C.S. LEWIS AND JOY DAVIDMAN

NATIONAL PRESS NIGHT 26 FEBRUARY 2016

The 2016 national tour of William Nicholson’s SHADOWLANDS, directed by Alastair Whatley, will open on 18 February at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, with a national press night on Friday 26 February.

SHADOWLANDS will then tour to Salisbury, Eastbourne, Ipswich, Windsor, Croydon, Malvern, Worthing, Doncaster, Chesterfield, Birmingham, Portsmouth, Cardiff, Exeter and Richmond, with further dates to be announced.

The cast of SHADOWLANDS will be led by Stephen Boxer (Humans, The Iron Lady, Doctors) as C.S. Lewis, Tony Slattery (Peter’s Friends, The Crying Game, Whose Line is it Anyway?) as Major W.H. Lewis ‘Warnie’ and Amanda Ryan (The Forsyte Saga, Shameless) as Joy Davidman. They will be joined by Simon Shackleton as Professor Christopher Riley, Jeffrey Harmer as Rev ‘Harry’ Harrington, Ian Marr as Alan Gregg, Richard Holliday as Dr Maurice Oakley and Shannon Rewcroft as Douglas, with Holly Smith and Alistair Higgins playing multiple supporting roles.

SHADOWLANDS, by William Nicholson, tells the love story of C.S. Lewis, Oxford don and author ofThe Chronicles of Narnia and The Screwtape Letters, and American poet Joy Davidman. What begins as a formal meeting of two very different minds slowly develops into a feeling of connection and love. Lewis finds his quiet life with his brother Warnie disrupted by the outspoken, feisty Davidman, whose uninhibited behaviour offers a sharp contrast to the rigid sensibilities of the male-dominated university. Each provides the other with new ways of viewing the world, but Lewis’s Christian faith is tested when Joy is diagnosed with cancer.

SHADOWLANDS won the Evening Standard Drama Award for Best Play in 1990 and Nicholson was nominated for a Tony Award when it transferred to Broadway.  The film version, which starred Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger, won Best British Film at the 1994 BAFTAs and Nicholson was nominated for a Best Screenplay nomination.

This major revival of SHADOWLANDS is produced by Birdsong Productions, the people behind the recent critically-acclaimed and hugely successful touring productions of Birdsong and Flare Path, in association with Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.

SHADOWLANDS will have Lighting Design by Alex Wardle and Sound Design by Dominic Bilkey.

Official website:  www.shadowlandstour.com

Twitter: @shadowlandstour 

Facebook: shadowlandsthetour

2016 TOUR SCHEDULE

18 – 27 February           Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford                                   01483 44 00 00 

www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk                                  on sale 11 December

29 February – 5 March   Salisbury Playhouse                                          01722 320 333

                                    www.salisburyplayhouse.com

7 – 12 March                 Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne                 01323 412 000

                                    www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk                                 

14 – 19 March               New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich                             01473 295900

                                    www.wolseytheatre.co.uk                                      

29 March – 2 April         Theatre Royal Windsor                                       01753 853 888

www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk                               

4 – 9 April                     Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon                                 020 8688 9291              

                                    www.fairfield.co.uk

11 – 16 April                  Festival Theatre, Malvern                                   01684 892277

www.malvern-theatres.co.uk                      

19 – 23 April                  Connaught Theatre, Worthing                             01903 206 206

www.worthingtheatres.co.uk                                  

26 April – 30 April          CAST Theatre, Doncaster                                   01302 303 959

                                    castindoncaster.com

16 – 21 May                  Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield                     01246 345 222

                                    chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk

31 May – 4 June            Birmingham Repertory Theatre                           0121 236 4455

www.birmingham-rep.co.uk                                    

13 – 18 June                 New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth                         023 9264 9000

www.newtheatreroyal.com     

21 – 25 June                 New Theatre, Cardiff                                          029 2087 8889              

                                    www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk                              on sale 11 January

28 June – 2 July            Exeter Northcott Theatre                                    01392 726363

www.exeternorthcott.co.uk                                     

25 July – 30 July           Richmond Theatre                                             0844 871 7651

www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre     on sale 16 December                             

JAMIE RAVEN

GRAND OPERA HOUSE YORK

Monday 4 July 2016

Jamie Raven burst onto an unsuspecting world during the 2015 series of Britain’s Got Talent. His magic not only amazed everyone, but his humble and charming style also captured the UK public’s hearts. He even made Simon Cowell exclaim, “I now finally believe in magic!”

But it’s not been an overnight success story. Jamie has been perfecting his craft over the past 11 years working as a close up magician for top companies around the world and his ambition was always to take it to a wider audience and BGT finally gave him that chance. His opening audition has now been viewed on YouTube over 12 Million times and over 30 Million people around the world have now seen his BGT video on Facebook, making him one of the most viewed magicians online in the world. On line fans include Ne-Yo, Ashton Kutcher and Drake

Since finishing BGT, as well as being signed to headline in The Illusionists at The Shaftsbury Theatre in London’s West End this Christmas, he’s also about to be launched as the online face for Talk Talk, promoting their latest advertising campaign and in February 2016 he embarks on his own UK Theatre Tour, “Jamie Raven Live”.

So, sit back, relax and let Jamie Raven show you some of the magic that has amazed audiences around the world.

“I NOW ACTUALLY BELIEVE IN MAGIC.” Simon Cowell

“THROW HIM OFF THE ****ING PLANE! YOU SHOULD HAVE WON” Sir Richard Branson

“MR. RAVEN I AM IN AWE OF YOUR GREATNESS!” Ian Wright

The 12^th Annual ‘A West End Christmas’, produced by Theatre MAD in aid of The make A Difference Trust took place on Sunday 6^th December at St Pauls Covent Garden.  A sparkling line-up of stars and song, raised more than £12,000

Featuring some of the West End’s top musicals including The Phantom of The Opera, Wicked, Matilda, and Miss Saigon, the show opened with West End Kids’ homage to the Tiller Girls, a high-kicking routine to We Need A Little Christmas.

There were three songs written especially for the occasion, two by Anderson and Petty and one by Kansley and Lidert, which were perfectly sung by Kieran Brown, Emma Hatton, and The M.T.A and Carolyn Maitland.

With her cool jazz band, Joanna Strand did a Christmas Waltz that had the audience swaying, and Summer Strallen sang a beautiful rendition of The Christmas Song with Oliver Ormson. Sabrina Aloueche and Aaron Sidwell rocked the church, while Ross William Wild sang and played guitar, accompanied by piano and harp, to give a moving version of Hallelujah.

Showstoppers! wowed with their incredible improvisation, and the Blues Brothers donned their shades and shook their tail feathers with the audience clapping along. You can’t keep a good show down, and some of the cast of The Commitments came together to give a hand-clapping rendition of Fairy Tale of New York.

The fabulous piano playing and comedy chat of Worbey and Farrell got the second act off to a fabulous start. The lovely Anton Stephans promised he’d “Be home for Christmas” and Maria Kesselman’s voice soared as she sang The Most Wonderful Birthday of All.

Readings by Michael Pennington, Janie Dee and Michelle Collins complemented the songs beautifully.

Having jumped on the underground, directly from their Sunday show, the cast of In The Heights arrived to close the show. With percussion, brass, guitar and drums they rounded the evening off with a roof-raising, toe-tapping Latin American number Noche De Pas, which was anything but silent.

Originally founded as West End Cares in 1990 and later becoming Theatrecares, The Make A Difference Trust (www.madtrust.org.uk), raises funds for HIV and AIDS Projects that raise awareness and provide care, support and education in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa.

FIRST NAMES ANNOUNCED FOR

SEASONS OF LARSON

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JONATHAN LARSON

MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016

THE LYRIC THEATRE, SHAFTESBURY AVENUE

First names are announced today for Seasons of Larson, a one-off concert celebrating the life and music of legendary Broadway composer Jonathan Larson. The concert will take place on Monday 25 January 2016 at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue.

Debbie Kurup, Krysten Cummings and Damien Flood, all previous cast members of Larson’s hit rock musical Rent, will perform some of his most iconic and lesser known numbers, and reflect on their memories of the show.

Debbie Kurup played Mimi in Rent, both in the West End and on tour. More recent theatre credits include Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes at Sheffield Crucible, Nicki Marron in The Bodyguard at the Adelphi Theatre, for which she received an Olivier Award nomination for her performance, and Velmi Kelly in Chicago at the Adelphi Theatre.

Krysten Cummings played Mimi in Rent on Broadway, and originated the role in the Canadian and West End productions. Krysten was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in London.

Damien Flood played Roger in Rent, both in the West End and on tour. Damien’s professional singing career has included working with artists including Tom Jones and Professor Green. He has performed in concert at The Royal Albert Hall, and regularly performs at legendary jazz venue The 606 Club. As a singer-songwriter, Damien has released his debut album Lucky 7.

Further names will be announced in January.

On 25 January 1996, the day of the first preview of RENT Off-Broadway, its composer Jonathan Larson died unexpectedly at the age of 35. Tragically he would never live to see the impact his work would have, not only on the face of musical theatre but also on a generation of young artists and performers. Nor would he get to hold the numerous awards he posthumously received. 20 years to the day,Seasons of Larson will explore how Larson become a voice for a new generation on the stage, and celebrate his musical legacy that continues to resonate with people all over the world.

Jonathan Larson is best known for his rock musical RENT, for which he posthumously received the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 1996 Tony Award for Best Musical. RENT played on Broadway for 12 years, making it the 10^th longest running show in Broadway history, and has since received productions all over the world. His earlier works include Superbia and tick, tick… BOOM!.

Seasons of Larson will be directed by Hannah Chissick (Marry Me a Little, St. James Studio) with musical direction by Gareth Bretherton, design by Adrian Gee and lighting design by Andrew Ellis.Seasons of Larson is produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and Guy James, whose recent productions include Tommy (Greenwich Theatre), Jerry’s Girls (Jermyn Street Theatre) and Marry Me a Little (St. James Studio).

www.seasonsoflarson.com

@SeasonsOfLarson

LISTINGS

Monday 25th January 2016, 8.00pm
LYRIC THEATRE, Shaftesbury Avenue
Tickets: From £27.50 (booking fees apply)
Box Office: 0844 482 9674 | www.seasonsoflarson.com
ON SALE NOW