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Sheffield City Hall – 27 April 2015. Reviewed by Melanie Torley

Michael breezed in to the Sheffield City Arena with his “If Everyone Was Listening” Tour on Monday 27th April. The venue was intimate and the anticipation in the audience was escalated as first the band came on stage, followed by the backing singers. The music started to play and then over the speakers came that familiar singing voice. The audience erupted as Michael made his entrance to stage.

The first half of the concert consisted of Michael introducing us to songs from his new album ‘If Everyone Was Listening’ before he went on to sing some more familiar love songs from the musicals that earned him his fame.

During the second act Michael sang a mixture of songs from various genres and even gave Farrell Williams a run for his money with a fabulous version of Happy. There were a few goosebump moments too as he sang The Climb and The Rose. Throughout the entire performance Michael charmed the audience with his witty anecdotes and impersonations.

Michael oozes charisma and his voice resonated around the Hall and filled it beautifully. At the end of the evening you left feeling as if you had made a new friend and that friend is Michael Ball. If ever you were under any doubts about seeing Michael live, I would highly recommend you go buy a ticket because you won’t be disappointed.

Civic Theatre, Darlington – 28 April 2015

Darlington Operatic Society prove that You Can’t Stop the Beat this week.  And this phenomenal production proves there is nothing amateur about it at all.

Set in Baltimore and with the swinging 60s as the backdrop, the story follows teenager-on-a-mission Tracy Turnblad in her quest for integration and equality. After auditioning to star on local television, she becomes something of a celebrity and uses her influence to raise awareness of the segregation ethnic minorities receive on television

Rhiannon Walker is the eager Tracy Turnblad, shines during opening number “Good Morning Baltimore”, and sparkles as she belts her way through. Her Tracy is determined and likeable which, by the end of the show, ensures you are rooting for her. Her enthusiasm and energy allows her to command the stage with ease during “I Can Hear The Bells” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat”.

Ellen Johnson is the perfectly clumsy Penny Pingleton, her comedic attitude making for Tracy’s ideal sidekick and Omar Shade takes the part of Seaweed Stubbs, a dancer who executes Joanne Hand’s choreography to a perfect degree.

The show radiates warmth but its real power is to take the critical issue of racial segregation – John Waters’ original film is based on a real incident on a real TV show, when black and white teenagers in Baltimore stormed a live broadcast – and through comedy to demonstrate its utter absurdity. Prejudice and white superiority is embodied in Velma Von Tussle, gleefully played by Sam Morrison and her equally vile daughter Amber (Karen Stone), Latoya Black takes the place by storm as Motormouth Maybelle, with a voice that can do anything and go anywhere and her talented daughter Inez (Cayanne Roberts) who just wants to dance

Every number in Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman’s score is a big one, from ‘Good Morning Baltimore’ to the finale, ‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’. Andrew Hamilton is a delight as Edna Turnblad, standing over the ironing board in sensible shoes and dresses that look as though she’s just run them up on her sewing machine. Hamilton has a gravelly voice that can roar and he doesn’t play it like a Dame. He just plays it like a woman.

The number, ‘(You’re) Timeless to Me’, sung in duet with his much shorter ‘husband’ (Neil Harland) is a comic highlight.

The boys did well to thrive amid the girl power. Ben Connor’s Link Larkin, hiding his vulnerability under an Elvis quiff. With Leighton Taylor upping the cheese quotient as gold-suited telly host Corny Collins. But special mention to Hayley Walker as a tap dancing dominatrix prison matron.

Musical director Michael Trotter and his band were never less than superb. The chorus, including those “nicest kids in town”, hit their harmonies beautifully while dancing with perkiness and style.

Supported by a backstage crew responsible for seamlessly staging a complex show – including fabulously vivid costumes and outstanding sound and lighting to match  – this was a true team effort.

In Darlington until Saturday 2nd May this show is worth every penny, so get a ticket as soon as possible for this outstanding performance.

Sonia Friedman Productions and Eleanor Lloyd Productions
present the Headlong, Nottingham Playhouse and Almeida Theatre production of
1984
By George Orwell
A new adaptation created by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan

• 1984 returns to West End for 12 week run
• Prior to international tour
• 12 June – 5 September 2015

The Headlong, Nottingham Playhouse and Almeida Theatre production of 1984 will return to the Playhouse Theatre  in the West End this summer, where it enjoyed a very successful run in 2014. 1984 will preview from 12 June 2015, with the press night on 18 June 2015.

The production, which premiered at Nottingham Playhouse in September 2013, has since played to sell-out houses at the Almeida Theatre, in the West End, and across the UK on a national tour.

101 seats for every performance will be available for £19.84.

Casting to be announced.

April, 1984. Comrade 6079, Winston Smith, thinks a thought and starts a diary. But Big Brother is always watching, and the door to Room 101 can swing open in the blink of an eye.

The definitive book of the 20th century is re-examined in a radical, award-winning adaptation exploring surveillance, identity and why Orwell’s vision of the future is as relevant now as ever.

1984 is written and directed by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan, set and costume designed by Chloe Lamford, with lighting designed by Natasha Chivers, sound designed by Tom Gibbons and video designed by Tim Reid.

George Orwell’s 1984, published in 1949, is one of the most influential novels in recent history, with its chilling depiction of perpetual war, pervasivegovernment surveillance and incessant public mind-control.  Its ideas have become our ideas, and Orwell’s fiction is often said to be our reality.

 

 

 

Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment, Guy James and Ilai Szpiezak for Szpiezak Productions

in association with Greenwich Theatre

present

 

THE ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO

AT GREENWICH THEATRE

FROM WEDNESDAY 5 TO SUNDAY 23 AUGUST 2015

A new musical adaptation of the classic children’s story The Adventures of Pinocchio will arrive in London this Summer, playing at Greenwich Theatre from Wednesday 5 to Sunday 23 August, with a press performance on Friday 7 August at 3.00pm.

Based on Carlo Collodi’s classic tale, The Adventures of Pinocchio tells the story of a wooden puppet yearning to be a real boy. Carved out of wood by the lonely toymaker Geppetto, Pinocchio tumbles from one disastrous situation to another in search of adventure — only to discover that, in the end, all he really needs is an unselfish heart and the love of his father. 

 

Written by the Broadway and Disney writing duo Neil Bartram and Brian Hill (The Story of My Life,Bedknobs and Broomsticks), this family musical brings a new vision of the timeless story to the stage, springing to life with inventive and awe-inspiring puppetry, live musicians, singers and performers.

Originally produced at the Chicago Shakespeare Festival, this production will be its UK Premiere. It will be directed by Bronagh Lagan (Portia Coughlan, Girlfriends, Rags In Concert) with Musical Direction by Freddie Tapner (Girlfriends, Mr Swallow The Musical, The Sorrows Of Satan). It is produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment, Guy James and Ilai Szpiezak for Szpiezak Productions in association with Greenwich Theatre, by special arrangement with R&H Theatricals.

Recommended age 5+.

Casting is to be announced.

@PinocchioLondon

LISTINGS

WEDNESDAY 5 – SUNDAY 23 AUGUST 2015

GREENWICH THEATRE, Crooms Hill, SE10 8ES

Press Performance: Friday 7 August, 3.00pm

Performances: Tuesday – Friday 3.00pm, Saturday 12.00pm, Sunday 12.00pm and 3.00pm

Tickets: £15, £12.50 (Concessions), £10 (Children), £40 (Family Ticket), £10 (Previews) 
Box Office 020 8858 7755 | www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

ON SALE NOW

With their creative mix of music and comedy, Voca People are set to amaze at Darlington Civic Theatre on 18 May.

With more than 50 million YouTube hits to their credit and a global audience of over 1 million for their live shows, Voca People are a musical comedy sensation. In a show which features 80-plus all-time favourite hits from Madonna to Michael Jackson via Mozart, their fabulous A Cappella and beat-boxing skills are showcased in hilarious comedy skits to create a show that is hugely entertaining for audiences of all ages.

You won’t believe your ears as these amazing vocalists take you on a journey through musical history! Glorious harmonies and an incredible range of sounds are produced without the help of instruments or sound effects – just eight incredibly talented singer-comedians. Created and directed by award-winning Lior Kalfo in collaboration with co-creator, arranger and musical director Shai Fishman, who is an innovative composer of music for film, television and theatre and is currently working on a musical project for NASA, this fun-packed show has been touring the world since 2009, selling out theatres in Europe, North and South America and the Far East. It was performed off-Broadway for over a year, where it won the Lucille Lortel Award for ‘Outstanding Theatrical Experience’.

Full of energy, comedy and fun, Voca People received rave reviews from audience and critics alike when they made their UK début at the 2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe last year and that success has now led to their first tour of the UK. Don’t miss this out-of-this-world show!

Voca People land at Darlington Civic Theatre on Monday 18 May. Tickets* are £18 & £20

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

*Includes a £1 restoration levy

Birmingham Opera Company’s 2014 production of Modest Musorgsky’s KHOVANSKYGATE: A National Enquiry, directed by Graham Vick, was named Best New Production at this year’s International Opera Awards.

Birmingham Opera Company won out over productions from Zurich Opera, the Aix-en-Provence Festival, the Dutch National Opera, the English National Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York to take home the award.

Staged in a 60m x 40m “Big Top” in Birmingham’s Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham Opera Company’sKhovanskygate followed the huge success of their ground-breaking and award-winning production of Stockhausen’s Mittwoch Aus Licht in 2012.

KHOVANSKYGATE: A National Enquiry was performed with Vick’s own company, a cast of international soloists, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Children’s Chorus and over 200 volunteers from Birmingham.

Birmingham Opera Company’s most recent production was Michael Tippett’s The Ice Break, directed by Graham Vick and staged in a disused warehouse in Birmingham, which opened to great public and critical acclaim in April 2015.

The run of The Ice Break was accompanied by Breaking The Ice, a programme of screenings, exhibitions, concerts, lectures and performances  organised in Birmingham to complement the themes of the opera. One highlight was ‘Breaking the Ice: A National Symposium on opera, art and social responsibility’, curated by Oliver Soden and featuring David Edgar, Andrew Gourlay, Mischa Scorer, Graham Vick and others.

The International Opera Awards were founded in 2013 by Harry Hyman and John Allison, Editor of Opera Magazine. The aims of the awards are to provide bursaries for emerging opera talent and to celebrate excellence in the world of opera.

The full list of nominees for Best New Production was as follows:

• Alcina, Zurich Opera
• Ariodante, Aix-en-Provence
• Gurrelieder, DNO
• Benvenuto Cellini, English National Opera
• Khovanskygate, Birmingham Opera Company
• Prince Igor, Metropolitan Opera

KHOVANSKYGATE: A National Enquiry was performed in a new translation by Max Hoehn. It was designed by Samal Blak and Stuart Stratford conducted. Paul Nilon sang The Scribbler, Eric Greene sang Prince Ivan Khovansky, with Keel Watson as Dosifey, Stephanie Corley as Emma and Claudia Huckle as Marfa.

Graham Vick’s other recent productions for Birmingham Opera Company include The Ice Break, Life is a Dream, Othello, which was broadcast on BBC Television, King Idomeneo, La Traviata and Mozart’s He Had It Coming.

Birmingham Opera Company’s triumphant 2012 staging of Stockhausen’s Mittwoch aus Licht, often previously thought to be unstageable, received public and critical acclaim. Featuring camels, a floating orchestra and a string quartet performing from helicopters, it won the Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Opera and Music Theatre and was nominated in the World Premiere category at the inaugural International Opera Awards.

 

STOMP

NOW BOOKING TO 5 JUNE 2016

AT LONDON’S AMBASSADORS THEATRE

WITH CHRISTMAS 2015/16 PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE CONFIRMED

STOMP at London’s Ambassadors Theatre is now extending its booking period until 5 June 2016.  The show, which has broken all previous box office records at the Ambassadors Theatre, will be celebrating its 13^th Birthday in the West End with a Gala Night for Teenagers on Monday 11 May.

STOMP, created by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas was first performed in 1991 in Edinburgh.  The show played Sadler’s Wells Theatre in 1994 and won the Olivier Award for Best Choreography, before opening in New York, where it is now celebrating its 21^st birthday.  The European company was created in 1997 and began its London run at the Vaudeville Theatre in 2002, transferring to the Ambassadors Theatre in 2007.

One of Britain’s greatest exports, STOMP has toured the globe for 22 years, playing over 20 thousand performances to more than 12 million people in 53 countries on 6 continents.  There are currently four STOMP companies performing worldwide: one on tour in North America, another throughout Europe and the rest of the world, one in New York, and one in London.

 

In its 13 years in London’s West End, STOMP has consumed over 10,000 boxes of matches, over 13,500 brooms, almost 9,000 bin lids, over 18,000 drumsticks, over 8,000 wooden poles, over 35,000 newspapers, over 6,500kg of sand, almost 260,000 litres of water and 676 gallons of floor paint.  The cast of STOMP has performed ‘Cecilia’ with Paul Simon and Jimmy Fallon and the production is a firm celebrity favourite, with audience members having included Jodi Foster, Oprah Winfrey, Bob Dylan, Sir Ben Kingsley, Phil Collins and Stephen Fry.

STOMP performed live at the 1996 Academy Awards (the Oscars) to an estimated audience of almost 1 billion worldwide.  The largest assembly of STOMP performers ever (40 performers from 12 different countries) was brought together for a specially choreographed appearance at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The cast of STOMP in London currently includes Omari Carter, Nigel Clarke, Simone Clarke, Hugo Cortes, Paul Gunter, Melanie Joseph, James Lane, Laetitia Lawrence, Serena Morgan, Paul Bend, Rob Shaw, Adam Buckley, Meloné M’Kenzy, Andrew Patrick, Paul Russell, Jasper Valentine and Simeon Weedall.

STOMP is presented in London by Yes/No Productions and Glynis Henderson Productions Limited.

 

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Ambassadors Theatre

West Street

London WC2H 9ND

Box Office: 08448 112 334

Tickets: £26 to £52.50 + a £2.50 transaction fee

Performances: Monday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 6pm, with matinees Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 3pm*

*Extra Performances:  Wednesday 17 February 2016 3pm & 8pm, Wednesday 30 March 2016 3pm & 8pm, Wednesday 6 April 2016 3pm & 8pm, Wednesday 1 June 2016 3pm & 8pm

Christmas 2015/16 Performance Schedule

Monday 21 December                                     8.00pm

Tuesday 22 December                                     NO PERFORMANCE

Wednesday 23 December                              3.00pm and 8.00pm

Thursday 24 December                                   3.00pm

Friday 25 December                                         NO PERFORMANCE

Saturday 26 December                                    3.00pm and 8.00pm

Sunday 27 December                                       3.00pm and 6.00pm

Monday 28 December                                     8.00pm

Tuesday 29 December                                     8.00pm

Wednesday 30 December                              3.00pm and 8.00pm

Thursday 31 December                                   3.00pm and 6.0pm

Friday 1 January                                                NO PERFORMANCE

Saturday 2 January                                           3.00pm and 8.00pm

Sunday 3 January                                              3.00pm and 6.00pm

Running Time: 100 minutes with no interval

Current Booking Period: 5 June 2016

www.theambassadorstheatre.co.uk

www.stomplondon.com

@StompTour

Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and Perfect Pitch present

THE HOUSE OF MIRRORS AND HEARTS

A new British musical by Eamonn O’Dwyer and Robert Gilbert

AT ARCOLA THEATRE FROM THURSDAY 2 JULY TO SATURDAY 1 AUGUST 2015

A new British chamber musical The House of Mirrors and Hearts will play in Studio 1 at Arcola Theatre from Thursday 2 July to Saturday 1 August, with a press night on Tuesday 7 July at 7.30pm.

Keeping secrets is a kind of art…

When Anna’s husband is killed in a tragic accident at their home, her family’s life is changed forever. Seven years pass and, torn apart by grief, Anna has drunk herself numb. Her daughters, Lily and Laura, exist in a world of secrets and lies. They spend their days in bitter silence and suspicion, until Nathan, a new lodger studying the works of a forgotten poet, forces them to confront their past. Tensions within the family build, threatening to shatter this already broken household once and for all.

 

A timeless, atmospheric and intoxicating musical, The House of Mirrors and Hearts is a contemporary British story about a dysfunctional family haunted by their past.

The House of Mirrors and Hearts is presented by Aria Entertainment (Jerry’s Girls, From Page to Stage) and Perfect Pitch (Lift, The Go-Between), two companies dedicated to the development of original British musicals. Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and Andy Barnes for Perfect Pitch said today: “We are so thrilled to be joining forces on this beautiful British chamber musical. Both our companies are known individually for our work with emerging British composers and new writing but The House of Mirrors and Hearts is the first project we have had the wonderful opportunity to partner on. We both feel positive about the current climate of new musical theatre with more and more great initiatives and opportunities arising for new writing. Collaborating with like-minded people has to be the way forward in supporting the evident array of emerging talent.”

The House of Mirrors and Hearts will be directed by Ryan McBryde, whose credits include the current UK Tour ofSaturday Night Fever, Angus, Thongs and Even More Snogging (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Hamlet The Musical(Northampton Royal & Derngate) and A Day at the Racists (Finborough Theatre).

The musical director is David Randall, with design by David Woodhead. Casting is to be announced.

Listen to music from The House of Mirrors and Hearts:

http://www.perfectpitchmusicals.com/HOMAH/music.html

 

Twitter: @HOMAH2015

LISTINGS

 

THURSDAY 2 JULY – SATURDAY 1 AUGUST 2015

ARCOLA THEATRE, 24 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL

Press Night: Tuesday 7 July, 7.30pm

Performance Times: Monday – Saturday 7.30pm, Saturday 3.00pm

West Yorkshire Playhouse presents

JOIN A ONE-OFF EVENT OF INTERNATIONAL FOOD, GLOBAL THINKING, MUSIC AND
IDEAS…

FEAST

PART OF TRANSFORM 15

West Yorkshire Playhouse, Saturday 2 May 2015, 2pm
BOX OFFICE: 0113 213 7700 or www.wyp.org.uk, Tickets £15

As part of Transform 15, this Saturday West Yorkshire Playhouse is
inviting audiences to FEAST, an unforgettable afternoon of delicious
international cuisine, world music and conversation. Taking place on
the Quarry Stage, which will be transformed into an intimate pop-up
restaurant by designer Hannah Wilson, the afternoon includes tasty
courses served by culinary artists alongside a range of speakers
offering their take on the theme: ‘What does it mean to be local and
global in 2015 and beyond?’

The mix of local and international speakers include Lebanese theatre
maker and social activist Lucien Bourjelly, Lucy Neal co-founder of
London International Festival of Theatre, Arthur France founder of
Leeds West Indian Festival, City of Sanctuary’s Rose McCarthy and
Irna Qureshi, Co-Director of Bradford Literature Festival. Adding to
the debate and culinary delights will be music from Leeds based
musician Richard Ormrod playing a mix of all the world music he’s
ever been fortunate enough to come across.

Established by West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2011, this year TRANSFORM
is shifting and inviting artists and audiences to join the
conversation about its future development. The three days of
activities at TRANSFORM 15 include feasting, conversation and
celebration, including an explosive night of performance, music and
intervention at the TRANSFORM PARTY. At the centre of the weekend are
early stage showings of future TRANSFORM projects, presented by local
and international artists. Committed to developing and presenting
adventurous performance and extraordinary experiences in Leeds,
TRANSFORM has presented an array of productions, performances and
events throughout the Playhouse building and outside its doors. Four
years on, with plans to move to a more citywide and international
model – TRANSFORM 15 offers an opportunity to be a part of shaping
the future of TRANSFORM.

FEAST

Saturday 2 May, 2pm, Quarry Theatre, £15 (includes three course
dinner)

Reserve tickets by calling West Yorkshire Playhouse Box Office on 0113
213 7700 or by visiting www.wyp.org.uk ( http://www.wyp.org.uk )
Advance booking highly recommended.

Follow on Twitter #transform15 @wyplayhouse

A brand new colourful production of Rogers and Hammerstein’s popular favourite Oklahoma! is heading with its stellar cast to Newcastle Theatre Royal this summer (Tue 23 – Sat 27 June 2015) as part of its national tour.

 

From the award-winning producers of the highly successful tours of The King and I and Fiddler on the Roof, this new production of one of the great classic American musicals stars Gary Wilmot, famous for his role as Bill Snibson in Me And My Girl in the West End and later as Tony in the world premiere of Barry Manilow’s Copacabana.

 

Starring alongside Gary, the role of Aunt Ella is played by Belinda Lang who many audience members will recognise from her role as level-headed mother, Bill Porter, in the long-running BBC sitcom 2 Point 4 Children.

 

The new production of this Pullitzer Prize-winning show is directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, with new choreography by Drew McOnie. Oklahoma! is based on the Lynn Riggs play Green Grow the Lilacs and was the first musical written by famous duo Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II. It was originally produced on Broadway in 1943 and the Academy Award-winning film was released in 1955.

 

Set in the Oklahoma territory in the early 1900s, the musical tells the story of two sets of star-crossed lovers. Cowboy Curly loves Laurey, Aunt Eller’s niece, but Curly’s rival is the mysterious and dangerous hired hand Jud Fry.  Meanwhile, Ado Annie is torn between cowboy Will and peddler Ali Hakim.  Their stories are told with the help of some of the best loved songs in musical theatre history, including Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’, I Cain’t Say No, The Surrey With the Fringe on Top, Kansas City, People Will Say We’re in Love and the title song Oklahoma!

 

These toe-tapping tunes are accompanied by a live orchestra with musical supervision by Stephen Ridley, set and costumes design is by Francis O’Connor, with lighting by Tim Mitchell and sound by Ben Harrison.

 

Oklahoma! appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tue 23 – Sat 27 June 2015 (Evenings: 7.30pm, Matinees: Thur 2pm and Sat 2.30pm). Tickets from £14.50 (Save 50p per ticket by booking online) Tickets can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or select your own seat and book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk.

 

And why not tempt yourself with Afternoon Tea after the matinees on Thu 25 and Sat 27 June? Served in our exclusive Olivier Suite and accompanied by one of our pianists, you can treat yourself for £14.95 per person or upgrade to Afternoon Tea with Prosecco for £20.90. Book via the Box Office or online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on/afternoon-tea