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New Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell (Ottoline and the Orange Cat, Goth Girl) will be the headline guest when the hugely popular travelling story circus STORYSTOCK returns to the Bush Theatre this autumn half term. STORYSTOCK is a festival of storytelling for children aged 3-11 and their families.

STORYSTOCK launched at the Bush Theatre in autumn 2013, and the 2014 festival attracted nearly 2,500 visitors.

This year’s STORYSTOCK will again take place over three days – 28th, 29thand 30thOctober.

Confirmed speakers include Chris Riddell (Goth Girl), Judith Kerr (The Tiger Who Came to Tea), Sophy Henn (Where Bear?), Sarah McIntyre, Philip Reeve (Oliver & The Seawigs), Abie Longstaff (FairyTale Hairdresser), Trish Cooke (So Much), Lucy Coats (Beasts of Olympus), John Dougherty (Stinkbomb & Ketchupface), Ed Vere (Mr Big), Kristina Stephenson (Sir Charlie Stinkysocks) and Tamara McFarlane(Amazing Esme and the Sweetshop Circus).

There will also be live literature shows including I Believe in Unicorns, The Harry Potter Show, The Lamb Who Lost His Jump, The Dinosaur That Pooped a Planet, The Molly Maybe Show, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Hip Hop Shakespeare Show, Atticus the Storyteller’s Myth Marathon, and Storystew.

STORYSTOCK workshops include creative coding, creative writing, animation and comic drawing, poetry and letter-writing.

There will be storytelling for children aged 0-4 throughout all three days in the garden story tent with visits from Blue Kangaroo and all the fairy tale characters. There will also be a storytelling celebration of the 150thanniversary of Alice in Wonderland with Alice and her friends.

New this year there will be story events for grown-ups in the evenings with events such as Pushy Parents v The Idle Parent with Toby Young and Tom Hodgkinson, calmer parenting guru Noel Janis-Norton and Parents v Children – a fun new concept in dispute resolution for families!

STORYSTOCK is sponsored by angels & urchins magazine in partnership with the Bush Theatre.

 

Storystock                                                                                    Listings

Bush Theatre

7 Uxbridge Road, London, W12 8LJ

Box Office: 020 8743 5050 / bushtheatre.co.uk

Tickets go on sale at 12pm on 20 July.

Keep up to date with the latest news at storystock.co.uk or follow the festival on twitter @StoryStockFest

 

BLOOMBERG SUMMER AT THE ROUNDHOUSE
UTOPIA  

RUSSELL BRAND & MR. GEE JOIN THE LINE-UP OF LIVE EVENTS AT UTOPIA

The Roundhouse has today announced that Russell Brand is to present a one-off evening event on Wednesday 5 August at their major new installation Utopia, created by Penny Woolcock with designs by Block9. Comedian, actor and author, Brand will be joined by poet Mr. Gee and other special guests to respond to the themes and provocations of Woolcock’s piece from the housing crisis, gentrification, the distribution of wealth to the widening gap of inequality. This live event accompanies the series of ‘Live Lates’ which celebrate and elaborate on the themes of the installation in the Main Space from August 4 – 23. The full line-up of events can be seen here, for all other events in the series the installation will remain open simultaneously.

Alongside the installation, the Roundhouse will become a daily destination where members of the public can enjoy the sunshine at North London’s very own ‘seaside’ resort, Camden Beach, presented by Stoli Vodka. On the terrace, Camden’s biggest outdoor space, there will be 150 tonnes of the finest sand, deckchairs, beach huts, ping-pong, live music, some of the best food pop-ups in the city and the chance to enjoy Stoli’s drink of the summer, the Stoli Lemonade.

***

#RHUtopia

AN EVENING WITH RUSSELL BRAND
Plus Mr Gee & Guests
WEDNESDAY 5 AUGUST, 8PM
Tickets £20
Please note for this event the installation will be closed.

BOOKING
Roundhouse Members priority booking opens Thursday 25 June midday.  Find out more about Roundhouse Memberships.Public booking opens Friday 26 June, 10am.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

 

THE WORLD’S OLDEST STORY, THE WORLD’S ORIGINAL ROCK MUSICAL

 

GLENN CARTER REPRISES ROLE AS JESUS, MUSICAL THEATRE STAR TIM ROGERS AS JUDAS ISCARIOT

X FACTOR FINALIST RACHEL ADEDEJI AS MARY MAGDALENE

 

The explosive new production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ground-breaking rock opera, is set to open in Leeds next month.

Jesus Christ Superstar exploded onto the musical scene in 1971. Stunning audiences, it changed the face of musical theatre forever. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera tells the story of the last seven days in the life of Jesus through the eyes of Judas Iscariot.

Leading performer Glenn Carter returns as Jesus, a role he has played in the West End, on Broadway and on film.  His extensive musical theatre credits include leading roles in Whistle Down the Wind, Les Misérables, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Godspell and Merrily We Roll Along.

Australian star Tim Rogers made his UK stage debut 15 years ago and hasn’t looked back since. Tim’s musical theatre credits include The Man in Whistle Down the Wind (UK Tour and West End), West Side Story, Jersey Boys, The Full Monty, Aspects of Love and the title role in Jekyll & Hyde at the Union Theatre. Most recently he starred in Carousel at the Arcola Theatre London.

X Factor finalist Rachel Adedeji plays Mary Magdalene direct from the UK and European tour of Thriller Live. The cast also includes David Burilin, Alistair Lee, Ed Handoll, Andy Barke, Tim Oxbrow, Richard J Hunt, Johnathan Tweedie, Cellen Chugg Jones, Michael Ward and Lizzie Ottley.

As compelling today as it was at its inception over 40 years ago, Jesus Christ Superstar features some of musical theatre’s most legendary songs from I Don’t Know How to Love Him, Everything’s Alright,Gethsemane and Superstar.

Jesus Christ Superstar is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 6^th to Saturday 11^th July.

 

Tickets are available priced from £18.50 to £40.

 

Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700

 

BATHTIME HAS NEVER BEEN SO MUCH FUN

Rubba-Dubba-Giggle, Rubba-Dubba-Laugh, there’s magic to be found in the Big Red Bath at Darlington Civic Theatre on Sunday 12 July.

It’s the end of a busy day and it is almost time for bed, and Ben and Bella are in the bath.

Splish! Splosh! Splash! Bubbles burst and bubbles rise and a frothy feast of animals jump right in to join in the fun. Come join the fun on a bubbly, barmy bath time adventure around the world and home again celebrating all things bath time.

Adapted from Julia Jarman’s popular children’s picture book, this quirky, vibrant and humorous tale for 2 to 5 year olds features music by We Were Evergreen, an alternative indie-electro-pop trio who bring a blend of folk melodies, electro beats and vocal harmonies.

Big Red Bath is an exciting collaboration between Full House Theatre and Half Moon that will appeal to families as it blends music, song and humorous character-based performances in a unique new take on this well-loved book.

Big Red Bath is at Darlington Civic Theatre on Sunday 12 July. Tickets are £7.50 for Adults, £5.50 for Children.

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

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has today released production images for Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull,which is currently playing at the iconic theatre for a limited run until 11 July.

Celebrated as one of the most important plays of the nineteenth century, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre commissioned this new version by Torben Betts to mark the 120th Anniversary of Chekhov’s original play.

Janie Dee stars as Irina Arkadina, with Sabrina Bartlett as Nina and Matthew Tennyson as Konstantin. They are joined by Tara D’Arquian as Natasha, Lisa Diveney as Masha, Tom Greaves as Yakov, Colin Hoult as Simon Medviedenko, Fraser James as Ilia Shamraev, Lisa Palfrey as Paulina Andreevna, Ian Redford as Peter Sorin, Alex Robertson as Boris Trigorin and Danny Webb as Eugene Dorn.

Directed by Matthew Dunster and with set design by Jon Bausor, The Seagull has Movement Direction by Charlotte Broom, Lighting Design by Philip Gladwell, Sound Design by Christopher Shutt and casting by Julia Horan and Lotte Hines.

As guests assemble at a country house for the staging of an avant-garde open air play, artistic temperaments ignite a more entertaining drama behind the scenes, with romantic jealousies, self-doubt and the ruthless pursuit of happiness confusing lives, loves and literature.

Following on from J.M Barrie’s Peter Pan and The Seagull at Regent’s Park Open Theatre will be Seven Brides for Seven Brothers which will see director Rachel Kavanaugh reunite the creative team behind the theatre’s award-winning production of The Sound of Music. Lord of the Flies will then bring this year’s season to a close from 3 – 12 September before embarking on a nationwide tour.

FULL SEASON LISTINGS INFORMATION

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre 2015 season:

Box Office: 0844 826 4242
Online Bookings: www.openairtheatre.com

The Seagull

By Anton Chekhov
In a new version by Torben Betts
Directed by Matthew Dunster
19 June – 11 July 2015
Press night: 24 June (7.45pm)
Performances: Mon – Sat (7.45pm); matinees Thurs & Sat (2.15pm)

Tickets

The Seagull
£25 – £48.50
(Premium Seats £60, including best seat, programme and glass of wine)

 

 

Star of the show, Lorna Luft to undergo major surgery for breast cancer

The highly-acclaimed UK Tour of Judy – The Songbook of Judy Garland will end earlier than scheduled, in Brighton on July 11, due to the star of the show, Lorna Luft’s imminent treatment for breast cancer.

Lorna was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 and finished her last treatment of chemotherapy in 2013. She has been clear for the last two years. Sadly, it has now returned.

Lorna has now been advised by her medical team that she requires further treatment and extensive surgery. Consequently, Lorna will be returning to her home in the USA to undergo the necessary medical procedures.

Producer David King, of Spirit Productions who brought Lorna to the U.K. for the tour said today; “I am shocked and saddened by this news. Lorna is an incredible performer, and she lights up the stage at every performance. We wish her a full recovery from her surgery and hope and pray that her breast cancer will be gone forever.”

This means the Darlington Civic Theatre leg of the tour, Monday 20 to Wednesday 22 July, will no longer take place.

Anyone who has booked tickets for Judy – The Songbook of Judy Garland at Darlington Civic

Theatre will be offered a ticket swap for the production of Puttin’ On The Ritz which runs from Sunday

11 to Tuesday 13 October. Puttin’ On The Ritz is currently touring the UK and will star Strictly Come Dancing favourites Anya Garnis and Robin Windsor when it comes to Darlington. For every ticket swap, Puttin on the Ritz will pledge £5 to a major Breast Cancer Charity.

Everyone who has booked tickets for Judy – The Songbook of Judy Garland will be contacted personally by Darlington Civic Theatre with full details of how to arrange a ticket swap or alternatively receive a full refund.

 

THE WHO’S
TOMMY

 

AT GREENWICH THEATRE

FROM WEDNESDAY 29 JULY TO SUNDAY 23 AUGUST 2015

 

Full casting is announced today for The Who’s Tommy, which will play a limited run at Greenwich Theatrefrom Wednesday 29 July to Sunday 23 August. The production comes 20 years after Tommy was last seen in London, marking the 40th Anniversary of the original film and the 50th Anniversary of The Who.

 

The title role of Tommy will be played by Ashley Birchall (Starlight Express, Germany), with the cast also featuring John Barr (Sweeney Todd at ENO, Les Misérables) as Uncle Ernie, Carly Burns as Acid Queen,James Sinclair (Duncton Wood, Union Theatre) as Captain Walker, Giovanni Spanó (Dance ‘til Dawn,Mamma Mia!) as Cousin Kevin, Carrie Sutton (The Wizard of Oz, Sister Act) as Sally Simpson and Miranda Wilford (Thriller Live) as Mrs Walker. The cast also includes Danny Becker (Follies at Royal Albert Hall) Scott Sutcliffe (Mamma Mia!) Alice Mogg (We Will Rock You, Grease).

 

The full creative team is also announced today, completed by choreographer Mark Smith. Mark is the founder and artistic director of Deaf Men Dancing, an innovative all-male dance company of dancers and choreographers who, like Mark, are deaf. Mark’s choreography credits include My Silent World (Channel 4 Random Acts in association with BalletBoyz); Noah (Chichester Festival Theatre); The 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony (Olympic Stadium); Reasons To Be Cheerful (Graeae Theatre & UK Tour); The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe (Chichester Festival Theatre) and Shoes as co-choreographer (Sadler’s Wells & Peacock Theatre).

 

Based on the iconic 1969 double-album rock opera, which later became a film of the same title, The Who’s Tommy is an exhilarating musical about hope, healing, and the human spirit. 

 

After witnessing the accidental murder of his mother’s lover by his father, Tommy is traumatized into catatonia, and as the boy grows, he suffers abuse at the hands of his sadistic relatives and neighbours. But as an adolescent, he is discovered to have an uncanny knack for playing pinball, a talent that breaks through his catatonia and puts him on the path to international superstardom. The story of the pinball-playing, deaf, dumb and blind boy who triumphs over his adversities has inspired and amazed audiences for more than 40 years. 

The five-time Tony Award, four-time Drama Desk Award and three-time Olivier Award winning musical was translated to the stage by director Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys) and The Who’s Pete Townshend into a high-energy, one-of-a-kind theatrical event. This brand new production, the first London revival in 19 years, will mark the 40th Anniversary of the original film and the 50th Anniversary of The Who. 

 

The Who’s Tommy is staged and directed by award-winning director Michael Strassen with choreography byMark Smith, musical direction by Kevin Oliver Jones, design by Nik Corral and lighting design by David Howe. It is produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment, Guy James, and Ilai Szpiezak forSzpiezak Productions in association with Greenwich Theatre, by special arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited on behalf of Music Theatre International of New York. The Who’s Tommy has Music and Lyrics by Pete Townshend and Book by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff, with Additional Music and Lyrics by John Entwistle and Keith Moon.

 

@TommyTheMusical

 

LISTINGS

WEDNESDAY 29 JULY – SUNDAY 23 AUGUST 2015

GREENWICH THEATRE, Crooms Hill, SE10 8ES

Press Night: Friday 31st July, 7.30pm

Performances: Tuesday – Sunday 7.30pm, Saturday 3.00pm (No perfs 2/4 August)

Tickets: £25, £20 (Concessions), £15 (Previews) 
Box Office 020 8858 7755 | www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

ON SALE NOW

DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS HEADS TO LEEDS

 

MICHAEL PRAED, NOEL SULLIVAN, CARLEY STENSON AND MARK BENTON STAR

Direct from London’s West End, where it ran for a year to rave reviews, packed houses and was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Choreography, the hit musical DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS is coming to Leeds next week.

 

Based on the legendary 1988 film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with Michael Caine and Steve Martin the comedy-musical is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Tuesday 30^th June to Saturday 4^th July.

Starring Michael Praed (Robin of Sherwood), Noel Sullivan (Hear’Say, We Will Rock You), Carly Stenson (Hollyoaks, Spamalot, Shrek) and Mark Benton (Waterloo Road, Doctor Who, Hairspray), audiences will be transported to the luxurious lap of the French Riviera where the decadent world of sophisticated conman Lawrence Jamieson (Praed) is set to come crashing down with the arrival of larger-than-life Freddy Benson (Sullivan) – a conman of an entirely different order. 

 

Soon realising the town ain’t big enough for the both of them, the two find themselves going head to head in the con of their lives, pulling out all of the stops in a bid for the affections of millionaire soap heiress Christine Colgate (Stenson).  Little do they know what they’ve let themselves in for.

 

Noel Sullivan was last in Leeds with We Will You Rock You also at The Grand. He said:

 

“Leeds Grand is such a beautiful theatre … I like playing up north because in places like Leeds people go out for a good time and you really feel the difference down south where I think people are a bit more reserved.”

 

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Tuesday 30^th June to Saturday 4^th July

 

Tickets are on sale now at £25

 

Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700

 

 

As York Theatre Royal, the National Railway Museum and Pilot Theatre get ready to open their major new community production In Fog and Falling Snow, which stars George Costigan in the role of disgraced Railway King George Hudson, co-producers Pilot Theatre have produced a free, downloadable walking tour of York which follows Hudson’s journey from draper to railway baron.

The most unique feature of the walk is that whilst some characters are fictionalised, many parts of the text are taken from original sources found at the National Railway Museum archive, directly quoting the thoughts and opinions of people from George Hudson’s time. As a result the tour not only allows people to learn more about Hudson’s influence on the city but it comes from voices straight out of the 1800s.

The idea behind the tour was to integrate the living history of George Hudson’s influence on the city with the citizens it affected. We hope that this imaginative tour that runs alongside ‘ In Fog and Falling Snow’ will be a fun and inspiring way of seeing the city from the perspective of one of its most innovative and creative periods.

Said Marcus Romer, Artistic Director of Pilot Theatre.

The walk has been designed to be listened to as you follow the route around the city centre, accompanied by the stories and sounds of the city’s railway heritage. Although no knowledge of George Hudson’s life is needed to enjoy the production, which opens on Friday, the walking tour is designed to give people a better insight into his story before watching the production. The organisations involved also hope people will continue to download the tour long after the 11 July, when the production closes, to keep the story of The Railway King alive.

Members of the community, some of whom are cast members of the production, voiced the tour, which was written and directed by Oliver O’Shea.

He said of working on the project

 

This is now the second project I have directed for the public streets of a city; but it is a special pleasure to create this heritage walk for my home town. York has developed an increasingly adventurous arts scene in recent years, matching the ambition of its past, by finding innovative ways to tell its stories for audiences today. 

 

The York Theatre Royal, Pilot Theatre and National Railway Museum production In Fog and Falling Snow follows in the footsteps of the huge success of the 2012 York Mystery Plays and 2013’s Blood + Chocolate but this time takes place at the National Railway Museum after hours. Telling a pivotal story in the city’s history, audiences will be taken on a journey through the museum’s collections before being seated in the purpose built Signal Box Theatre for the second half.

 

The production opens on Friday 26 June and runs until Saturday 11 July in the Signal Box Theatre at theNational Railway Museum. Tickets for the production are on sale now from the York Theatre Royal Box Office, located on St Leonards Place in the De Grey Rooms, by calling 01904 623568 or online at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk