RAISING VITAL FUNDS FOR THE MAKE A DIFFERENCE TRUST

AND BECOMING THE CHARITY’S FIRST EVER OFFICIAL RUNNER

ON SUNDAY 26 APRIL 2015

By night, West End star Nadim Naaman inhabits the dark world of Sweeney Todd’s London but each day before the show he dons his trainers to fulfil his final training preparation for this year’s Virgin Money London Marathon, so he will be ready for the challenge of the 26-mile course on Sunday 26 April 2015.

Nadim’s marathon place is extra-special as he is The Make A Difference Trust’s first ever “official” runner (charities are allocated fundraising places). Originally founded as West End Cares in 1990 and later becoming Theatrecares, The Make A Difference Trust (MAD Trust) raises funds for HIV and AIDS Projects that raise awareness and provide care, support and education in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa.

A Londoner born and bred, 29-year old Nadim currently lives in Southfields, and studied Drama at The University of Warwick before training professionally in Musical Theatre at The Royal Academy of Music. Currently starring as Anthony in Sweeney Todd (West End pop-up transfer of the Tooting Arts Club production), his numerous West End credits include One Man, Two Guvnors and The Phantom of The Opera.

Nadim said: “The Make A Difference Trust has spent many years persuading the bigwigs to allocate them a charity place. This year they have finally been successful! I am honoured to run this race for the Trust. The idea of being the sole representative of such a worthy cause in a sea of 40,000 runners, many of whom are in teams of hundreds for bigger charities, is daunting but I know that I will feel hugely proud. What’s more, MAD Trust is the charity at the heart of my profession as a London-based actor. The hard part? Making this single place count. We need to make such a statement that next year MAD Trust is offered 5 places, and eventually, 50. MAD Trust has developed a wonderful reputation for raising funds via top-quality cabarets, concerts and shows, but this is an opportunity to go back to basics – to make the charity and the cause the star – and to take the charity to those who currently don’t know it exists. With your help, we can do this, and more excellent work can be done to help the lives of many who struggle every day because of HIV and AIDS, and many other long-term illnesses.”

Support Nadim’s fundraising by making a donation here – every pound makes a huge difference to the work of The MAD Trust: virginmoneygiving.com/nadimnaaman

Keep up with Nadim’s marathon preparation stories through his Blog:  nadimmarathon.blogspot.co.uk and offer words of encouragement on Twitter @nadimnaaman

For more information about The Make A Difference Trust visit: www.madtrust.org.uk

Civic Theatre, Darlington – 14 April 2015

The English Touring Theatre and The Royal Shakespeare Company bring Thomas Middleton’s 17th century comedy to Darlington this week.  Edited and updated to 1950’s Soho by Sean Foley and Phil Porter, it is a modern update on a classic masterpiece

In this version, Foley has cut the text by a fifth and added some extra jokes but remains true to the original.  It is filthy, ribald and bawdy with double entendres of which a “Carry On” film would be proud.  Using some now outdated words that have lost their original meanings this show brings back such phrases as “venereal blessings” in this context meaning love and desire and not, as we now know it, a dose of the pox.

The plot is twofold, Dick Follywit (Joe Bannister) is trying to get is hands on his uncles fortune.  Disguising himself as a Lord, a burglar, a call girl and an actor in order to do so.  His uncle, Sir Bounteous Peersucker (Ian Redford), gets his kinky kicks from spanking and whipping and the like and is generous to all but his nephew.

And we have Mr Littledick (Ben Deery) who is paranoid about his wife’s fidelity and employs a Private Detective (David Rubin) to watch over her.

In the middle of this we have Truly Kidman (Sarah Ridgeway), the paid mistress of Sir Bounteous, the object of affection for many others and a fake Irish nun confessor for Mrs Littledick (Ellie Bevan) who manages to engineer a liaison between Mrs Littledick and Penitent Brothel (Dennis Herdman) a dog-collared member of the clergy.

In the end, the genius of Middleton’s satire on a world obsessed by money and sex shines through and Foley’s production makes total sense in the final act when all the characters wear Jacobean fancy dress, and there is a unity between word and action

It took me some time to tune my ear to the 17th century prose with the incongruous juxtaposition of the 1950’s set.  If you take away the impurity of the plot you are left with some outstanding acting, in a complicated plot.  The set is outstandingly impressive and works in every scene and the costumes are magnificently glorious.

But for me the star of the show is the music, modern jazz played to carry along the story.  The band – Thomas Allan, Candida Caldicot, Ayse Osman, Tom Peverelle and Ellie Smith compliment deliciously and the singer Linda John-Pierre belts out the rhythm and blues in a voice like molten chocolate and her voice is worth the ticket alone.

In Darlington until Saturday 18th.  It has a 12+ age warning but this show is wonderfully filthy and is not for the easily offended

Hosted by Lenny Henry, The Olivier Awards ceremony took place at London’s Royal Opera House on Sunday night.

Two special awards were also handed out, to groundbreaking dancer Sylvie Guillem and Kevin Spacey.

Dame Judi Dench presented Spacey with his award, given in recognition of his tenure as artistic director at The Old Vic theatre.

“`I love that theatre more than I can begin to express to you,” he said, before he closed the ceremony with a performance of the Simon and Garfunkel song Bridge Over Troubled Water, which he sang with singer and Memphis star Beverley Knight.

The full list is as follows:

BEST ACTOR

Richard Armitage for The Crucible at Old Vic
James McAvoy for The Ruling Class at Trafalgar Studio 1
Tim Pigott-Smith for King Charles III at Almeida Theatre & Wyndham’s Theatre
Mark Strong for A View from the Bridge at Young Vic & Wyndham’s Theatre

BEST ACTRESS

Gillian Anderson for A Streetcar Named Desire at Young Vic
Kristin Scott Thomas for Electra at Old Vic
Imelda Staunton for Good People at Hampstead Theatre & Noël Coward Theatre
Penelope Wilton for Taken At Midnight at Theatre Royal Haymarket

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

John Light for Taken At Midnight at Theatre Royal Haymarket
Nathaniel Parker for Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies at Aldwych Theatre
David Calder for The Nether at Duke of York’s Theatre
Richard Goulding for King Charles III at Almeida Theatre & Wyndham’s Theatre

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

The Girls playing Iris for The Nether at Duke of York’s Theatre
Angela Lansbury for Blithe Spirit at Gielgud Theatre
Lydia Wilson for King Charles III at Almeida Theatre & Wyndham’s Theatre
Phoebe Fox for A View from the Bridge at Young Vic & Wyndham’s Theatre

BEST REVIVAL

The Crucible at Old Vic
My Night with Reg at Donmar Warehouse & Apollo Theatre
Skylight at Wyndham’s Theatre
A View from the Bridge at Young Vic & Wyndham’s Theatre
A Streetcar Named Desire at Young Vic

BEST SOUND DESIGN

Tom Gibbons for A View from the Bridge at the Young Vic & Wyndham’s Theatre
Matt McKenzie for Sunny Afternoon at Hampstead Theatre and Harold Pinter Theatre
Gareth Owen for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Brian Ronan for Beautiful – The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre

WHITE LIGHT AWARD FOR BEST LIGHTING DESIGN

Howard Harrison for City Of Angels at Donmar Warehouse
Jan Versweyveld for A View from the Bridge at the Young Vic & Wyndham’s Theatre
Jon Clark for King Charles III at Almeida Theatre & Wyndham’s Theatre
Paule Constable and David Plater for Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies at Aldwych Theatre

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Rob Jones for City Of Angels at Donmar Warehouse
Christopher Oram for Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies at Aldwych Theatre
Paul Tazewell for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Alejo Vietti for Beautiful – The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre

BEST ENTERTAINMENT AND FAMILY

Dance ‘Til Dawn at Aldwych Theatre
Hetty Feather at Vaudeville Theatre
La Soirée at La Soirée Spiegeltent

XL VIDEO AWARD FOR BEST SET DESIGN

Rob Jones for City Of Angels at Donmar Warehouse
Jan Versweyveld for A View from the Bridge at Young Vic & Wyndham’s Theatre
Bunny Christie for Made In Dagenham at Adelphi Theatre
Es Devlin for The Nether at Duke of York’s Theatre

BEST NEW DANCE PRODUCTION

32 Rue Vandenbranden by Peeping Tom at Barbican
Mats Ek’s Juliet And Romeo by Royal Swedish Ballet at Sadler’s Wells
Tabac Rouge by Compagnie Du Hanneton/James Thiérrée at Sadler’s Wells

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DANCE

Christopher Wheeldon for The Winter’s Tale at Royal Opera House
Crystal Pite for her choreography in the productions of The Associates – A Picture Of You Falling, The Tempest >Replica and Polaris at Sadler’s Wells
Rocio Molina for Bosque Ardora at Barbican
The Elders Project as part of the Elixir Festival at Sadler’s Wells

VIRGIN ATLANTIC BEST NEW PLAY

King Charles III at Almeida Theatre & Wyndham’s Theatre
The Nether at Duke of York’s Theatre
Taken At Midnight at Theatre Royal Haymarket
Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies at Aldwych Theatre

THIS MORNING AUDIENCE AWARD

Billy Elliot The Musical at Victoria Palace Theatre
Jersey Boys at Piccadilly Theatre
Matilda The Musical at Cambridge Theatre
Wicked at Apollo Victoria Theatre

BEST NEW COMEDY

Handbagged at Vaudeville Theatre
The Play That Goes Wrong at Duchess Theatre
Shakespeare In Love at Noël Coward Theatre

MAGIC RADIO BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL

The Gershwins’ Porgy And Bess at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Miss Saigon at Prince Edward Theatre
Cats at London Palladium
City Of Angels at Donmar Warehouse

BEST NEW OPERA PRODUCTION

Benvenuto Cellini at London Coliseum
Dialogues Des Carmélites at Royal Opera House
Die Frau Ohne Schatten at Royal Opera House
The Mastersingers Of Nuremberg at London Coliseum

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN OPERA

Jonas Kaufmann for Andrea Chénier and Manon Lescaut at Royal Opera House
Richard Jones for his direction of The Girl Of The Golden West, The Mastersingers Of >Nuremberg and Rodelinda at London Coliseum
Royal Opera House and Early Opera Company for their offsite programme at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse and Roundhouse
Welsh National Opera Chorus for Moses Und Aron at Royal Opera House

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN AN AFFILIATE THEATRE

Bull at The Maria at Young Vic
Four Minutes Twelve Seconds at Hampstead Downstairs
Juma Sharkah for her performance in Liberian Girl at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court
Tanya Moodie for her performances in Intimate Apparel at Park Theatre and The House That Will Not Stand at Tricycle Theatre

BEST THEATRE CHOREOGRAPHER

Jerry Mitchell for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels The Musical at Savoy Theatre
Annie-B Parsons for Here Lies Love at National Theatre, Dorfman
Josh Prince for Beautiful – The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
Sergio Trujillo for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre

BEST DIRECTOR

Josie Rourke for City Of Angels at Donmar Warehouse
Ivo Van Hove for A View from the Bridge at the Young Vic & Wyndham’s Theatre
Rupert Goold for King Charles III at Almeida Theatre & Wyndham’s Theatre
Jeremy Herrin for Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies at Aldwych Theatre

AUTOGRAPH SOUND AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC

The Orchestra for Beautiful – The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
David Byrne and Fatboy Slim for Here Lies Love at National Theatre, Dorfman
David Bryan, Joe DiPietro, Tim Sutton and the Memphis Band for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Ray Davies for Sunny Afternoon at Hampstead Theatre & Harold Pinter Theatre

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Rolan Bell for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
George Maguire for Sunny Afternoon at Hampstead Theatre and Harold Pinter Theatre
Ian McIntosh for Beautiful – The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
Jason Pennycooke for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Samantha Bond for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels The Musical at Savoy Theatre
Haydn Gwynne for Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown The Musical at Playhouse Theatre
Nicole Scherzinger for Cats at London Palladium
Lorna Want for Beautiful – The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Jon Jon Briones for Miss Saigon at Prince Edward Theatre

John Dagleish for Sunny Afternoon at Hampstead Theatre & Harold Pinter Theatre

Killian Donnelly for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Brandon Victor Dixon for The Scottsboro Boys at Garrick Theatre

BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Gemma Arterton for Made In Dagenham at Adelphi Theatre
Katie Brayben for Beautiful – The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
Tamsin Greig for Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown The Musical at Playhouse Theatre
Beverley Knight for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre

MASTERCARD BEST NEW MUSICAL

Beautiful – The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
Here Lies Love at National Theatre, Dorfman
Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Sunny Afternoon at Hampstead Theatre & Harold Pinter Theatre

NATALIA OSIPOVA, IVAN VASILIEV, EDWARD WATSON and MARCELO GOMES star in

ARDANI 25 DANCE GALA

Friday 17^th and Saturday 18^th July 2015, London Coliseum

This summer’s hot dance ticket will be the ARDANI 25 DANCE GALA at the Coliseum on Friday 17^th and Saturday 18^th July, presented by producer and impresario Sergei Danilian (Ardani Artists). The evening features an all-star line-up including Natalia Osipova, Edward Watson, Ivan Vasiliev, Marcelo Gomes,Denis Matvienko, Joaquín De Luz and Friedemann Vogel in three exciting and diverse contemporary pieces.

The evening opens with the World Premiere of Royal Ballet choreographer Alastair Marriott’s Zeitgeiststarring Natalia Osipova and Edward Watson, who will be reunited following the recent success of Marriott’sConnectome. Set to Philip Glass’ Violin Concerto, the work will feature Royal Ballet dancers Donald Thom, Marcelino Sambé and Tomas Mock. Zeitgeist will tour to the United States and Russia as part of the ‘Solo for Two’ project afterwards.

“London’s own Russian, Natalia Osipova, undulating her torso in tandem with Royal Ballet co-star Edward Watson in an intense, despairing duet…”

Lyndsey Winship, Evening Standard (on Marriott’s Connectome)

The second piece, Tristesse, is created by acclaimed dancer and choreographer Marcelo Gomes, who took his inspiration from French poet Paul Éluard. Gomes will perform in this UK Premiere along with Denis Matvienko, Joaquín De Luz and Friedemann Vogel. Tristesse had its World Premiere as part of ‘Kings of the Dance’ in December 2014 at the Mikhailovsky Theatre.

“…a piece (created by Gomes himself) that finally allows the men to show off their strength while indulging their lyrical, more joyful side.” Debra Craine, The Times (on Ko’D, Kings of the Dance)

Finishing the bill is Arthur Pita’s Facada, which was seen at the Coliseum in ‘Solo for Two’ in August 2014. Pita adapted the piece especially for Osipova and Vasiliev from his original piece God’s Garden. Original music created by Frank Moon will be played live by the composer.

“It’s the kind of satisfying revenge no classical ballet heroine is ever allowed, and Osipova makes it look like a world of fun.” Judith Mackrell, The Guardian (on Facada)

Natalia Osipova graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in 2004 and joined the Bolshoi Ballet the same year, ultimately reaching the position of Principal Dancer. She has been a guest artist with the Mariinsky Ballet, Teatro alla Scala, Paris Opéra, American Ballet Theatre and Zurich Ballet and is currently a Principal with the Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theatre.  At this year’s Critics’ Circle National Dance AwardsNatalia was awarded Outstanding Female Performance (Classical) for her performance in the title role as Giselle for The Royal Ballet, and Best Female Dancer.

English dancer Edward Watson is a Principal of The Royal Ballet. He has won particular acclaim for his interpretation of Principal roles in the works of Kenneth MacMillan, Wayne McGregor and Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon. In 2012 Watson received an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance for his role in Arthur Pita’s The Metamorphosis.

Donald Thom and Tomas Mock are Artists of The Royal Ballet; Marcelino Sambé is a First Artist. All three trained at The Royal Ballet Upper School, graduating into the Company. On graduation, Tomas Mock was awarded the Dame Ninette de Valois Outstanding Graduate of the Year award.

Currently a Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre, Marcelo Gomes has been a guest artist with companies including Kirov Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet and Dutch National Ballet. Gomes has recently begun a successful choreographic career, creating pieces for dancers from American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, La Scala and ‘Kings of the Dance’.

Joaquín De Luz is a principal dancer with New York City Ballet. De Luz has appeared as a guest artist with the Ballet Mediterraneo, Fernando Bujones and American Ballet Stars. He was a member of ‘Kings of the Dance’ and toured Russia and the US in 2008 and 2009.

Denis Matvienko is a principal dancer with the Mariinsky Ballet. As a guest artist he has performed with New National Theatre, Bolshoi Theatre, Teatro alla Scala and Paris Opéra. From 2011-2013 he was Artistic Director of the Ballet Company of the National Opera of Ukraine. Since 2009 he has been a principal dancer with the Mariinsky Ballet.

Friedemann Vogel is a principal dancer with the Stuttgart Ballet. Vogel has been a guest artist with Mariinsky Theater, Bolshoi Ballet, Teatro alla Scala and English National Ballet.

Ivan Vasiliev was praised for his role in English National Ballet’s Swan Lake at the Coliseum earlier this year. Currently a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, Ivan has guested all over the world.  Recent appearances include Romeo and Juliet, Le Spectre de la rose, Rubies and Le Jeune Homme et la Mort with Teatro alla Scala Ballet company; Don Quixote, Coppelia, Spartacus, The Nutcracker and Giselle with the Bolshoi Ballet; and Le Jeune Homme et la Mort and Prodigal Son with the Mariinsky Ballet.

Elizabeth McGorian is a Principal Character Artist with The Royal Ballet. She joined in 1977 and was promoted to Soloist in 1991 and Principal Character Artist in 1997. She will reprise her role in Facada after originating the role in ‘Solo for Two’ in 2014 alongside Natalia and Ivan.

Arthur Pita is a talented and versatile choreographer and director, creating works for dance companies as well as opera and theatre. Most recently he premiered The World’s Greatest Show at Greenwich Dance, Jerwood Dance House and Royal Opera House; The Death of Klinghoffer at The Metropolitan Opera New York; Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny for the Royal Opera; and The Little Match Girl at Sadler’s Wells.

Dancer and choreographer Alastair Marriott is a Principal Character Artist of The Royal Ballet. Marriott’s many works for the Company include Night Falls Fast, Grey Garden, Being and Having Been,Tanglewood, Children of Adam, Sensorium, Trespass (Metamorphosis: Titian 2012, in collaboration with Christopher Wheeldon), In the Hothouse (Diamond Jubilee Gala) and Connectome.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

ZEITGEIST   

Choreography: Alastair Marriott

Music: Philip Glass (Violin Concerto)

Performers: Natalia Osipova, Edward Watson, Donald Thom, Marcelino Sambé and Tomas Mock

– INTERVAL –

TRISTESSE
Choreography: Marcelo Gomes

Music: Frédéric Chopin (Études)

Performers: Marcelo Gomes, Denis Matvienko, Joaquín De Luz and Friedemann Vogel

Musician: Anbrey Gugnin (piano)

– INTERVAL –

FACADA

Director and Choreographer: Arthur Pita

Performers: Natalia Osipova (The Bride), Ivan Vasiliev (The Groom) and Elizabeth McGorian (Lady in Black)

Musician: Frank Moon

Programme subject to change

LISTINGS INFORMATION

ARDANI 25 DANCE GALA

Venue:                           London Coliseum, St. Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4ES

Dates:                            Friday 17^th and Saturday 18^th July 2015, 7.30pm

Press Night:                Friday 17^th July 2015, 7.30pm

Tickets:                         £15 – £79

Box Office:                  020 7845 9300 / www.eno.org

MICHAEL FLATLEY RETURNS TO

LONDON’S DOMINION THEATRE

FOR 16 PERFORMANCES ONLY

Michael Flatley will be returning to the world’s most successful dance show, Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games, at London’s Dominion Theatre to appear on Friday and Saturday evenings only from 8 May to 27 Juneinclusive.  He wanted to come back and give these extra performances, as he had to cancel several appearances when his father passed away in March. 

Flatley will also be making a special appearance at the final date of the UK Tour at the Wembley Arena on 4 July.

Flatley’s new show Dangerous Games has exciting and ground-breaking new technology, including holographs, dancing robots, world champion acrobats and the greatest team of Irish Dancers in the world, making it the perfect family entertainment.  A new score composed by Gerard Fahy, new costumes and special effects lighting add a breath-taking new dimension to the original masterpiece.

The global phenomenon that is Lord of the Dance is bigger than ever in 2015, with Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games on a 200-plus date tour across 15 countries over the next 18 months.  In the UK, the show is performing concurrently in London at the Dominion Theatre until 5 September and on a UK Tour until 4 July.

“My dancers are the real stars,” says Michael of his troupe of dancers, some of whom have been with the company for 10 years.  He is immensely proud of their hard work and dedication.  New young superstar James Keegan performs the lead role of Lord of the Dance at the Dominion Theatre.

For further details on the performances at the Dominion Theatre, London and the UK Tour, visit www.lordofthedance.com.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Until 5 September 2015:

Dominion Theatre

268-269 Tottenham Court Road

London W1T 7AQ

Performances:  Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm, Wednesdays* and Saturdays at 2.30pm

*Wednesday matinees only on 15 April, 27 May, 22, 29 July, 5, 12, 19, 26 August

Ticket Prices:  £29.50, £45, £65, £90 (Premium)

Box Office:  0845 200 7982

Running Time:  2 hours 10 minutes (including interval)

TOUR SCHEDULE

2-5 APRIL                      The Brighton Centre, Brighton

7-12 APRIL                    St. David’s Hall, Cardiff

14-16 APRIL                  Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth

17-19 APRIL                  Venue Cymru Theatre, Llandudno

21-26 APRIL                  Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes

28 APRIL – 2 MAY        Empire Theatre, Liverpool

5-10 MAY                     Opera House, Manchester

12-16 MAY                   Hippodrome, Bristol

22-26 MAY                   Symphony Hall, Birmingham

28-31 MAY                   Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham

2-4 JUNE                       Barbican, York

5-7 JUNE                       Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow

9-11 JUNE                     Opera House, Blackpool

12-14 JUNE                   Playhouse, Edinburgh

15-17 JUNE                   City Hall, Sheffield

19-21 JUNE                   The Sage, Gateshead

23-28 JUNE                   Cliffs Pavilion, Southend

30 JUNE – 2 JULY         G Live, Guildford

4 JULY                           The SSE Arena, Wembley, London

Tour ticketing hotline:  0844 338 0000 / www.BookingsDirect.com

Richard Fleeshman   Summer Strallen

Desmond Barrit   Isla Blair   Nicholas Farrell   Sally Ann Triplett

A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS

Music and Lyrics by
George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin

Book by
Jeremy Sams and Robert Hudson

Based on the novel by
P.G. Wodehouse

and the play by P.G. Wodehouse and Ian Hay

Director and Choreographer Rob Ashford

30 May – 27 June
Festival Theatre, Chichester

Richard Fleeshman and Summer Strallen lead a stellar cast which also includes Desmond Barrit, Isla Blair, Nicholas Farrell and Sally Ann Triplett in a major new stage version of A Damsel in Distress at Chichester this summer.

This musical comedy will be directed and choreographed by the multi-talented Rob Ashford. Based on a novel by P.G. Wodehouse with songs by George and Ira Gershwin which include Nice Work If You Can Get It and A Foggy Day (In London Town), A Damsel in Distress is well-known from the popular 1937 film starring Fred Astaire.

Bringing together a world-weary American composer, a beautiful and irrepressible English socialite, a fierce aunt and lots of other delightfully eccentric characters, the action moves from the glamour of London’s Savoy Theatre to the charm of a castle in the country.

Richard Fleeshman plays the composer George Bevan. Theatre credits include West End productions of Urinetown,Ghost: The Musical (also Broadway) and Legally Blonde.

Summer Strallen plays Maud. Credits include West End productions of Top Hat, Love Never Dies, The Sound of Music, The Boy Friend and The Drowsy Chaperone.

Desmond Barrit plays Keggs. Credits include West End productions of The History Boys, and Wicked, as well as numerous productions for the RSC.

Isla Blair plays Lady Caroline Byng. Credits include West End productions of Made in Dagenham and The History Boys, as well as The Lyons (Menier Chocolate Factory).

Nicholas Farrell plays Lord Marshmoreton. Credits include South Downs and The Browning Version at Chichester (also West End), as well as screen roles in 37 Days, The Iron Lady and Chariots of Fire.

Sally Ann Triplett plays Billie Dore. Credits include West End productions of Follies, Anything Goes, Guys and Dollsand Acorn Antiques: The Musical! She has also represented the UK twice in the Eurovision Song Contest.

The cast features Richard Dempsey as Reggie Byng, whose credits include the West End production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Melle Stewart as Alice, whose credits include Assassins (Menier Chocolate Factory).

The cast also includes Mairi Barclay, Chris Bennett, Stephanie Bron, Sam Harrison, Chloe Hart, Matthew Hawksley, Kirby Hughes, Harry Morrison, David Roberts, Jonathan Stewart, Lucie-Mae Sumner, Laura Tyrer,Alan Vicary and Matt Wilman.

Rob Ashford’s numerous credits include staging for the recent film Cinderella, directed by Kenneth Branagh, and this year’s Academy Awards ceremony, as well as directorial credits for Shrek The Musical, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Scarlett Johansson and Macbeth with Kenneth Branagh and Alex Kingston.

Design is by Christopher Oram whose credits include Bring Up The Bodies and Wolf Hall (RSC and West End), The Cripple Of Inishman (West End and Broadway), as well as West End productions of Henry V, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Peter and Alice.

Musical Supervision is by David Chase whose credits include Broadway productions of Finding Neverland, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Anything Goes and How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Musical Direction is by Alan Williams whose credits include West End productions of A Chorus Line, Shrek The Musical, Monty Python’s Spamalot, as well as Passion and The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (both for Donmar Warehouse).

Orchestration is by Bill Elliot whose credits include Broadway productions of An American in Paris, Anything Goes, as well as arrangements for films such as Independence Day and Wedding Crashers.

Lighting Design is by Howard Harrison whose Chichester credits include An Ideal Husband, The Pajama Game (also West End), The Way of the World, Love Story (also West End) and Macbeth (also West End and New York) for which he won an Olivier Award.

Sound Design is by Paul Groothuis, Chichester’s Associate Sound Designer. Chichester credits include Festival 2014’sGypsy, Sweeney Todd, The Pajama Game, Private Lives, Kiss Me, Kate, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,all of which transferred to the West End.

This new production is based on a novel and subsequent play by much-loved comic author P.G. Wodehouse. Although best known today for his Jeeves and Wooster stories, Wodehouse was also a playwright and lyricist who collaborated with Jerome Kern and Cole Porter among others.

The book for A Damsel in Distress has been co-written by Jeremy Sams who is acclaimed for his work across a range of disciplines as a director, writer and musician. He already features in Festival 2015 as the director and translator of The Rehearsal by Jean Anouilh.

The co-writer is Robert Hudson whose work includes Warhorses of Letters, co-written with Marie Phillips for Radio 4, as well as the novels The Kilburn Social Club and The Dazzle.

Music and Lyrics are by the brothers George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin whose partnership was widely regarded as a major force in American musical theatre. Their songs for the stage and screen include The Man I Love, I Got Rhythm andThey Can’t Take That Away From Me.

A Damsel in Distress is sponsored by Covers, Jackson-Stops & Staff, Oldham Seals Group and Reynolds Fine Furniture.

Events
Join dancing and singing workshops inspired by A Damsel in Distress on 20 and 21 June, 10am – 5pm. Tickets £100 (includes matinee ticket).

Director and choreographer Rob Ashford will be in conversation with novelist and CFT biographer Kate Mosse on Monday 8 June at 5.45pm. Tickets free but advance booking essential.

There will be the chance to meet some of the A Damsel in Distress company at a post-show discussion hosted by author Simon Brett on Monday 22 June.

Booking information
A Damsel in Distress is at the Festival Theatre, Chichester from 30 May – 27 June. Evenings 7.30pm (except for Press Night, Wednesday 10 June at 7pm), matinees 2.30pm. Tickets: Previews/Press Nights from £10, all other performances from £15. To book, visit cft.org.uk or contact the Box Office on 01243 781312.

Special Prices for 16 – 25s
An allocation of tickets for 16 – 25 year olds priced at just £8.50 for all performances of A Damsel in Distress will go on sale on 30 April. These may be booked on 01243 781312, online at cft.org.uk/850 or in person.

Listings

A Damsel in Distress
30 May – 27 June
Festival Theatre, Chichester

Richard Fleeshman and Summer Strallen lead a stellar cast which also features Desmond Barrit, Isla Blair, Nicholas Farrell and Sally Ann Triplett in Chichester’s new stage musical.

Performance times
Evenings: 7.30pm
Matinees: 2.30pm

Tickets
Previews/Press Night: from £10
All other performances: from £15
16 – 25 year olds: £8.50 – on sale for all performances from 30 April

Images from rehearsals of the upcoming production of American Buffalo starring Damian Lewis, John Goodman and Tom Sturridge are released today. The production, which is directed by Daniel Evans, will play for a strictly limited season at Wyndham’s Theatre, with previews from 16 April.

Winning the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for best play, David Mamet’s explosive drama examines the fickle nature of honour among thieves. As three small-time crooks, Walter “Teach” Cole (Damian Lewis), Don Dubrow (John Goodman) and Bobby (Tom Sturridge), plan one big-time heist, a tragedy of errors spins this razor-sharp and darkly funny play into a blistering account of divided loyalties, insatiable greed and a coveted Buffalo nickel.

Considered a classic of the American canon and recognised as one of Mamet’s masterpieces, American Buffalo premiered at the Goodman Theatre, Chicago and opened on Broadway on 16 February 1977. The play was also adapted into a 1996 film starring Dustin Hoffman (Teach), Dennis Franz (Don), and Sean Nelson (Bobby).

American Buffalo is produced in the West End by Matthew Byam Shaw, Nia Janis and Nick Salmon forPlayful Productions, Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Will Trice, Steve Traxler, Bob Bartner andGeorgia Gatti.

LISTINGS INFORMATION:

AMERICAN BUFFALO
16 April – 27 June 2015
Press night 27 April 2015 at 7pm
Wyndham’s Theatre
Charing Cross Road
London
WC2H 0DA

www.AmericanBuffaloThePlay.com

Monday – Saturday 7:30pm
Wednesday & Saturday 2:30pm
No Wednesday matinees W/E 19 April & W/E 26 April
Tickets from £20.00 (booking fees apply to online and telephone bookings).

ORESTEIA
Aeschylus
A new version created by Robert Icke

29 May – 18 July 2015
Press Performance 5 June

Casting is today announced for Oresteia, reimagined for the modern stage by Almeida Associate DirectorRobert Icke (The Fever, Mr Burns, 1984), in its first major London production in more than a decade. 

The cast will include Amelia Baldock, Lorna Brown, Jessica Brown Findlay, Rudi Dharmalingam, AnnFirbank, Ilan Galkoff, Joshua Higgott, Cameron Lane, John Mackay, Clara Read, Eve Salama, Bobby Smalldridge, Luke Thompson, Lia Williams (previously announced), Angus Wright and Hara Yannas.

Orestes’ parents are at war. A family drama spanning several decades, a huge, moving, bloody saga, Aeschylus’ greatest and final play asks whether justice can ever be done – and continues to resonate more than two millennia after it was written.

Oresteia will be directed by Robert Icke, designed by Hildegard Bechtler, with light by Natasha Chivers, sound by Tom Gibbons and video by Tim Reid. Casting is by Julia Horan CDG.

Almeida Associate Director Robert Icke most recently directed the The Fever and Mr Burns.  Other Almeida credits include 1984, a co-production with Headlong and Nottingham Playhouse co-created with Duncan Macmillan, which enjoyed a successful West End run and two UK tours. Robert was previously Associate Director at Headlong where he worked with Rupert Goold to conceive and develop Decade, directed Boys by Ella Hickson and a UK tour of Romeo and Juliet.

Almeida Questions is an eclectic programme of pre-show discussions which consider some of the questions raised by the work on our stage. In each discussion, invited panellists dig into the key issues and ideas emerging from the show. More details to be announced soon.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Access            Oresteia Audio Described performance by VocalEyes Saturday 27 June at 1pm, Touch Tour 11.15am and Friday 10 July at 7pm, Touch Tour 5.30pm
                         Oresteia Captioned performances Friday 3 July at 7pm
Address           Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street, London, N1 1TA

Café Bar          The Almeida Café Bar is open from 11.30am -11.00pm, Monday to Saturday

Box Office       Phone 020 7359 4404 (10am – 7pm Monday – Saturday)
Online almeida.co.uk/event/oresteia
In person 10am – 7pm, Monday – Saturday
Prices £10 – £38, concessions available
Preview prices £10 – £30
Islington First* (if you live or work in Islington) £23, 29 May – 6 June
Under 30s* £19 available for every Monday of the run
*Conditions apply – check website for details

Performances Monday – Saturday at 7pm
Saturday matinees at 1pm from 13 June
Wednesday matinees at 1pm on 24 June & 8 July

Talkback          Post-show discussion with members of the company
Free to same day ticket holders
Wednesday 1 July

Website          almeida.co.uk/event/oresteia