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After eight years, the National Theatre production of War Horse is closing in the West End.Its last performance at the New London Theatre will be 12 March 2016.

Directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, Nick Stafford’s adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s story about a boy and his horse set against the backdrop of the First World War is the most successful play in the National Theatre’s history.

A major UK tour of War Horse will begin in autumn 2017, as the country prepares to mark the final centenary year of the First World War, with details to be announced.

Producer Chris Harper said: “War Horse has wowed audiences around the world, and we are incredibly proud of what the show has achieved over the last eight extraordinary years.”

Morpurgo called it “a show like no other, with puppets at its heart”, adding: “It has moved millions in London and all over the world.”

BIG BAND SWINGS INTO DARLINGTON

The Syd Lawrence Orchestra bring their Swinging Big Band to Darlington Civic Theatre on Wednesday 30 September.

The “Best Big Band in the Land” directed by Chris Dean brings you not only sincere musical virtuosity but as much confidence in the music as when it was the latest smash on the airwaves.

With a different show every night, see a truly hypnotic combination, all presented with a mixture of fun, laughter, excitement and comedy to make for a swinging and memorable evening

Hear the music of the swing era bought back to life with the youthful verve that made it the smash hit pop music of its day. Featuring the music of Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Quincy Jones, Billy May, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and many more.

So come and see this captivating and exciting performance and let it transport you to those glory days of live music.

The Swinging Big Band is at Darlington Civic Theatre on Wednesday 30 September. Tickets* are £18 and £19.50.

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy.

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

SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS

Celebrated mountaineer Doug Scott will visit Darlington Civic Theatre on Tuesday 29 September to share his story of climbing Everest – The Hard Way.

Autumn 2015 will mark the 40th anniversary of the first ascent of ‘Everest: The Hard Way’, when the late Dougal Haston and Doug Scott made the first ascent of the mountain’s massive South West Face. In this special lecture Doug will tell of the epic expedition and climb, how his life led up to this defining moment and where it took him upon his return from the summit.

This is a brand new lecture for the anniversary, lavishly illustrated with Doug’s celebrated mountain photography and will provide a very personal account of this legendary first ascent. Not to be missed by mountaineers and armchair adventurers alike.

Doug Scott’s Everest – The Hard Way is at Darlington Civic Theatre on Tuesday 29 September. Tickets* are £16 and £18.

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy.

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

THE RAT PACK OF OPERA

Tenors Un Limited – the Rat Pack of Opera will visit Darlington Civic Theatre on Monday 28 September at 7.30pm.

Using talents honed in their previous solo careers in the opera, theatre and recording worlds, Tenors Un Limited – The Rat Pack of Opera set out to bring their own unique blend of wit, charm and vocal arrangements to Darlington on Monday 28 September at 7.30pm, as they present classic songs from Venice to Vegas.

Scott, Paul and Jem have performed alongside such notables as Sting, Hayley Westenra, Lionel Ritchie, Simply Red, The Opera Babes, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 2009, the trio had the honour of singing at the memorial service for the football legend, Sir Bobby Robson and performed the traditional anthem ‘Abide With Me’ at a sold out Wembley Stadium for the 2011 FA Cup Final which reached an audience of millions worldwide.

Appearances on Friday Night is Music Night (BBC Radio 2,) Top of the Pops, SKY & ITV Sport, as well as various festivals, proms and UK tours have firmly established the boys as one of the world’s premier classical crossover groups. This is an evening not to miss.

Two local community choirs – Voices of Darlington and STARE Entertainment, will be joining Tenors Unlimited on stage to bring you the best songs from the world’s opera houses, Broadway theatres and concert halls.

Tenors Un Limited – Venice to Vegas is at Darlington Civic Theatre on Monday 28 September. Tickets* are £21 and £23.

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy.

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

Four theatres were removed from this year’s Register. The first three, Felixstowe’s Spa Pavilion, The Cryer and The Secombe in Sutton, have been saved. Recognising the value these theatres bring to their local communities, their local authority owners have transferred these assets, and their future as theatres has been secured.

The fourth theatre removed from the Register is the Curzon Cinema/Redstack Playhouse in Bexhill-on-Sea. Despite huge efforts by its local community to save it as a cultural venue, and listing it as an Asset of Community Value, the Playhouse was sold by its owners to the pub chain, JD Wetherspoon.

For further information and images on each theatre on the Register, please contact[email protected] or visit theatrestrust.org.uk/theatre-buildings-at-risk.

Find out more about the Theatre Buildings at Risk Register 2015

Nominations have been announced for the 2015 UK Theatre Awards, with Gypsy, Mrs Henderson Presents and The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole among the shows in contention.

Gypsy star Imelda Staunton is nominated for Best Performance in a Musical, alongside Laura Pitt-Pulford for The Sound of Music (Curve) and Ashley Day for Oklahoma!(Royal and Derngate).

Other productions on the shortlists this year include the Theatre Royal Bath production of The Father, soon to be seen in the West End, and Anything Goes at Sheffield Crucible.

Formerly known as the TMAs, the awards are identified as the only nationwide awards to honour creative and outstanding achievements through theatre, dance and opera seen throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Full list of nominees

Best new play

– Another Place by DC Moore, a Theatre Royal Plymouth production
– Iphigenia in Splott by Gary Owen, a Sherman Cymru production
– The Father by Florian Zeller, translation by Christopher Hampton, a Theatre Royal Bath production

Best performance in a play

– Joel MacCormack for Each His Own Wilderness, an Orange Tree Theatre production
– Polly Lister for Abigail’s Party, a Theatre by The Lake production
– Grant O’Rourke for Venetian Twins, a Royal Lyceum Theatre production

Best supporting performance

– Alex Hassell for Death of a Salesman, a Royal Shakespeare Company production
– Declan Conlon for Dancing at Lughnasa, a Lyric Theatre, Belfast production
– Justine Mitchell for For Services Rendered, a Chichester Festival Theatre production

Best musical production

– Gypsy directed by Jonathan Kent, a Chichester Festival Theatre production
– Anything Goes directed by Daniel Evans, a Sheffield Theatres production in association with Stage Entertainment
– Mrs Henderson Presents directed by Terry Johnson, a Theatre Royal Bath production

Best performance in a musical

– Imelda Staunton for Gypsy, a Chichester Festival Theatre production
– Laura Pitt-Pulford for The Sound of Music, a Curve Theatre, Leicester production
– Ashley Day for Oklahoma!, a Music and Lyrics and Royal and Derngate production

Best show for children and young people

– Running Wild, a Chichester Festival Youth Theatre production
– Wind in the Willows, a Chester Performs production
– The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 the Musical, a Curve Theatre, Leicester production

Best touring production

– Twelfth Night, an English Touring Theatre and Sheffield Theatres production
– Yer Granny, a National Theatre of Scotland production
– Annie, a Michael Harrison and David Ian production

Best director

– Ned Bennett for Pomona, an Orange Tree Theatre production, and for Yen, a Royal Exchange Theatre production
– Mark Thomson for The Caucasian Chalk Circle, a Royal Lyceum Theatre production
– Max Stafford-Clark for Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage, an Out of Joint, National Theatre Wales and Arcola Theatre, with Sherman Cymru, production

Best design

– Dick Bird, Timothy Bird and Paul Keogan for The Hudsucker Proxy, a Nuffield Theatre, Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse in association with Complicite production
– Stewart Laing and Mimi Jordan Sherin for Titus Andronicus, a Dundee Rep production
– Leslie Travers and Tim Lutkin for Rebecca, a Kneehigh Theatre and Theatre Royal Plymouth production

Achievement in dance

– Candoco Dance Company: for a terrifically entertaining revival of Jerome Bel’s postmodern classic The Show Must Go On
– New Adventures: for integrating professional and non-professional dancers in Matthew Bourne and Scott Ambler’s engrossing Lord of the Flies
– Yorke Dance Project: for Figure Ground – inspired commissions embracing both past and future

Achievement in opera

– Glyndebourne: for an outstandingly well-planned and performed season
– Opera North’s production of The Marriage of Figaro
– Scottish Opera for Annilese Miskimmon’s production of Jenufa, conducted by Stuart Stratford

Ticket holders for An Intimate Evening with Liza Minnelli, that was due to play at the Palladium on Sunday (20 September), have been refunded.

The show was due to be presented by veteran entertainer Bruce Forsyth and would have included an in-depth Q&A and a selection of songs. Tickets were priced up to £175.

Minnelli has a long association with the Palladium stretching back to 1964 when she joined her mother in concert. She performed solo concerts at the venue in 1973, 1978 and 1986.

The show was being produced by Rocco Buonvino, who was behind similar events featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.

There has been no official statement from producers regarding the cancellation.

A representative of the Cabaret star said: “For months Liza has been preparing for these shows and she was devastated to hear of this unfortunate news. She has always thought of London a second home and will miss seeing her friends and devoted fans.”

Minnelli’s dates in Sheffield and Glasgow have also been cancelled.

THE SESSIONS – LIVE RE-STAGING OF THE BEATLES’ ABBEY ROAD RECORDINGS ANNOUNCES UK TOUR
Eleven date tour, April 6 – May 15 2016, follows sell-out Premiere at Royal Albert Hall – Tour also calls at Brighton, Cardiff, Nottingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Manchester, Aberdeen, Leeds, Birmingham, Wembley Arena and The O2.

The Sessions – A live re-staging of the Beatles at Abbey Road Studios will embark on an eleven-date UK Arena Tour in spring 2016.

Following an open-doors charity preview in the Beatles’ home city, Liverpool, and the show’s already-sold-out world premiere at the Royal Albert Hall on April 1st, the production – part blockbuster stage show, part access-all-areas musical documentary – will then travel to arenas in Brighton, Cardiff, Nottingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Manchester, Aberdeen, Leeds and Birmingham, before returning to London for performances at Wembley Arena and the O2.

Set in a state-of-the-art reproduction of the iconic Abbey Road Studio 2, The Sessions will stage breath-taking, musically spectacular new live renditions of the timeless albums recorded there by The Beatles, to take us on a joyous, thrilling, historically authentic voyage through the events that shaped popular music history.

Inspired by Here, There and Everywhere, the memoir of the show’s Creative Consultant and Grammy-winning former Abbey Road sound engineer Geoff Emerick, The Sessions will be the closest an audience can get to experiencing The Beatles live and at the height of their glory.

No fewer than 45 people will take the stage to ensure that the experience is as sonically authentic to the original recordings as it is gloriously euphonic. The seven vocalists will comprise 2 ‘Johns’ 2‘Pauls’ 2 ‘Georges’ and one ‘Ringo’ in order to recreate the albums’ until-now inimitable vocal harmonies. A further seven musicians will use rare, vintage, historically accurate instruments to recapture the Beatles’ renegade multi-instrumentalism, while a twenty-one piece orchestra will help awaken the dramatic, uplifting power of these legendary albums and songs using the exact musical arrangements of the originals, and eight Studio Technicians will help relive the ‘Eureka’ moments that created The Beatles’ era-defining sound and changed recorded music forever.

Each of the albums recorded at Abbey Road will become a ‘Suite’ all of which form part of The Sessions’ definitive Beatles Overture, driving the true story of how they made the records that shaped the next half century of popular music and culture.

This multi-million pound production is set in a painstakingly accurate replica of the world-renowned Abbey Road studio, designed and made by Stufish – the entertainment architects behind emblematic set designs for live shows including The Rolling Stones, AC/DC and U2.

The arena show will place the audience around three sides of the ‘Studio’, with venue capacities limited to place the audience at eye-level with the performers and maintain the fly-on-the-wall intimacy of the piece.

The concept for The Sessions was developed by Stig Edgren (creator of The Elvis Presley – In Concert Show) who also acts as Executive Producer, with Kim Gavin (Creative Director, London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony, Take That Stadium Tour, soon to do Rugby World Cup 2015 Opening Ceremony) on board as Director, and legendary promoter, agent and producer Jef Hanlon as Producer.

Stig Edgren, the Show’s Executive Producer said: “The Sessions – A live re-staging of the Beatles at Abbey Road Studios” will be a ‘musical documentary’ giving audiences an honest, respectful and accurate recreation of how musical history was made.”

Jef Hanlon, the Show’s Producer said: “An incredible amount of research has gone into the show – we wanted to be as true to the original process as possible. All instrumentation, arrangements and vocals will be performed identically to the original recordings – there will even be seven singers to recreate the multi-tracked vocals pioneered by The Beatles. This show does not seek to be a look-a-like show, but rather a sound-a-like, with the singers being the best Beatles imitators in the world. It’s a must for Beatles fans of all ages.”

Kim Gavin, the Show’s Director said: “This is an opportunity of a lifetime to work with such a legendary pop catalogue. It is really exciting to bring to life some of the Beatles most iconic recording sessions, and offer the audience a unique glimpse into the bands creative process.”

Full Title
The Sessions – A Live re-staging of The Beatles at Abbey Road Studios
www.thesessionslive.com / @thesessionsar
Tickets
Tickets go on general sale on Friday 18th September at www.bookingsdirect.com / 0844 338 0000
UK Dates
30 March 2016 – CHARITY PREVIEW – Liverpool, Echo Arena
01 April 2016 – London, Royal Albert Hall – SOLD OUT
06 April 2016 – Brighton, Centre
30 April 2016 – Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena
04 May 2016 – Nottingham, Capital FM Arena
06 May 2016 – Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
07 May 2016 – Glasgow, The SSE Hydro
08 May 2016 – Manchester, Arena
10 May 2016 – Aberdeen, Exhibition & Conference Centre (AECC)
12 May 2016 – Leeds, First Direct Arena
13 May 2016 – Birmingham, Barclaycard Arena
14 May 2016 – London, The SSE Arena Wembley
15 May 2016 – London, The O2

The Creative Team
Executive Producer: Stig Edgren
Producer: Jef Hanlon
Director: Kim Gavin
Creative Consultant: Geoff Emerick

Aloff Theatre presents DAVID HUNTER, REBECCA TREHEARN and STEPHEN RAHMAN-HUGHES in a workshop presentation of MIDNIGHT. A new musical by TIMOTHY KNAPMAN and LAURENCE MARK WYTHE based on the play ‘Citizens of Hell’ by ELCHIN – Directed by MATTHEW GOULD

David Hunter, Rebecca Trehearn and Stephen Rahman Hughes take the lead roles in the world premiere of MIDNIGHT. This haunting new musical thriller by Timothy Knapman and Laurence Mark Wythe matches dark wit with an innovative score.

New Year’s Eve, 1937. Welcome to Baku, Azerbaijan, part of the police state of the Soviet Union where, as the clock ticks towards midnight, a husband and wife nervously raise their glasses to an uncertain future. The past year has been the worst of the Great Terror, in which the paranoid dictator Joseph Stalin unleashed wave upon wave of arrests and executions of ordinary citizens. And then comes the dreaded knock on the door… Is it the Communist state’s ruthless secret police? Or a far more mysterious and terrifying visitor? Dark secrets emerge, time is suspended and the couple are tested to breaking point and beyond.

Directed by Matthew Gould with musical direction by James Cleeve, this three-hander plus actor-musician ensemble is based on an original play, Citizens of Hell by Azerbaijan’s Elchin, with book and lyrics by Timothy Knapman and music and lyrics by Laurence Mark Wythe.

The full cast includes Nick Hayes, Thomas Sutcliffe, Greg Castiglioni, Kiara Jays, Jenny O’Leary.
Please note that the actors will be reading from scripts for this presentation.

CREATIVE TEAM
Book and Lyrics by Timothy Knapman
Music and Lyrics by Laurence Mark Wythe
Based on the play “Citizens of Hell” by Elchin
Director – Matthew Gould
Musical Director – James Cleeve
Casting Director – Benjamin Newsome
Producer – Sanan Aliyev
Company – Aloff Theatre

CAST
David Hunter
Rebecca Trehearn
Stephen Rahman Hughes
Ensemble: Nick Hayes, Thomas Sutcliffe, Greg Castiglioni, Kiara Jays, Jenny O’Leary

St. James Studio, 12 Palace St, London SW1E 5JA
Friday, 9 October 2015, 2PM