Tickets are now on sale for the only West Midlands dates to be announced for the first ever world tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Themulti-award-winning hit stage show will be welcomed by Birmingham Hippodrome from Wednesday 15 October until Saturday 15 November 2025.
Enter a world of splendour and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur, and glory! Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. A celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and — above all — Love, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is more than a musical — it is a state of mind.
As in the film, Moulin Rouge! The Musical celebrates over 160 years of music – from Offenbach to Lady Gaga. The stage musical features over 70 iconic songs, many from the movie as well as recent hits released since the movie premiered over 20 years ago.
Set in Paris, 1899, a world of indulgent beauty and unparalleled extravagance, of bohemians and aristocrats, of boulevardiers and reprobates, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is the story of a lovesick American writer, Christian, and Satine, the dazzling star of the Moulin Rouge nightclub.
When their lives collide at the Moulin Rouge, they fall hopelessly in love, only to be thwarted by the nightclub’s host and impresario, Harold Zidler, and The Duke of Monroth, the wealthy and entitled patron of the club who thinks he can buy anything he wants, including Satine. Together with his Bohemian friends – the brilliant and starving artist Toulouse-Lautrec, and the greatest tango dancer in all of Paris, Santiago – Christian stages a musical spectacular in an attempt to save the Moulin Rouge and win the heart of Satine.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical is the winner of ten 2021 Tony Awards including Best Musical, an Olivier Award, two Drama League Awards including Outstanding Production of a Musical, five Drama Desk Awards and ten Outer Critics Circle Award Honor citations including New Broadway Musical.
BASED ON THE BESTSELLING DSI ROY GRACE SERIES BY PETER JAMES TICKETS ON SALE NOW FROM PETERJAMES.COM
A multi star cast has been announced for the World Premiere of the brand new stage production, Picture You Dead – adapted from the bestselling novel of the UK’s number one crime writer Peter James’– which opens on 6 February 2025 at High Wycombe’s Swan Theatre before embarking on a major UK Tour.
2024 National Television Award winning actor, Peter Ash, will return to the stage, following his acclaimed and unforgettably emotional exit from Coronation Street in September. Peter’s other numerous credits include Footballers’ Wives and the lead role in the National Theatre’s War Horse. Joining Peter is Fiona Wade who, following 11 years in Emmerdale, took to the stage earlier this year in the hit 2:22 A Ghost Story and she will soon be seen in the highly anticipated Fox comedy series, Going Dutch. West End favourite Jodie Steele (Bonnie & Clyde, Wicked, Heathers, SIX) will star as Roberta Kilgore and one of the nation’s favourite TV doctors, George Rainsford, (Casualty, Call the Midwife and All’s Well That Ends Well at the National Theatre), will return to reprise the role of Peter James’ famous literary detective, DSI Roy Grace, which he played in the 2023 hit production of Wish You Were Dead. George will also reunite with Fiona, who he starred alongside in 2:22 A Ghost Story. And from 20 May 2025, the week after Peter Ash ends his run, actor, presenter and Strictly Come Dancing champion, Ore Oduba (Pretty Woman and Rocky Horror Show), will join the cast in the role of Stuart Piper
The World Premiere of Picture You Dead is the seventh Peter James book to be adapted for the stage by award-winning writer Shaun McKenna and is directed by Jonathan O’Boyle who has previously directed two Peter James stage adaptations, Wish You Were Dead (2023) and Looking Good Dead (2021-2022).
Peter James said: “It is truly incredible for me to see the seventh stage adaptation of my books coming to theatres in 2025. I am so grateful to the hundreds of thousands of people around the country who have come to their local theatre and enjoyed the plays over the last 10 years, and I am thrilled to tell you all that personally, I think this brand new play, is the best one so far! On top of that, I could not be more delighted by the fantastic cast that we have assembled to star in the World Premiere production of Picture You Dead – they are all brilliant actors and it’s going to be a great and thrilling night at the theatre!”
The story of Picture You Dead was inspired by Peter’s meeting with real life art forger and now acclaimed copyist, David Henty: set in Brighton, DSI Grace investigates a cold case that leads him to the rarified air of fine art, but beneath the respectable veneer lurks a dark underworld of greed, deception and murder. When an unsuspecting couple unwittingly buy a potentially long-lost masterpiece in a car boot sale, they discover that their dream find is about to turn into their worst nightmare and only Grace can stop them from paying the ultimate price.
Roy Grace is a crime fiction phenomenon – the books have sold over 23 million copies worldwide, been previously adapted for six hugely successful stage productions, and transformed into ITV’s critically acclaimed primetime drama about the Brighton-based detective, GRACE. Season four of the crime series was another ratings smash-hit, with season five currently in production. And earlier this year, GRACE was declared by Her Majesty Queen Camilla herself, as her favourite literary detective!
Peter James has 20 Sunday Times number one bestselling crime novels to his name. The world premiere tour of Picture You Dead marks the latest and seventh thrilling theatre adaptation of his books and is once again produced by Joshua Andrews and Peter James cementing the adaptations of James’ Grace books, as the most successful modern-day crime franchise on stage, since Agatha Christie.
‘PICTURE YOU DEAD’ UK TOUR 2025
6 – 8 February High Wycombe, Swan Theatre
10 – 16 February Swindon, Wyvern Theatre
18 – 22 February Woking, New Victoria Theatre
27 February – 1 March Southampton, Mayflower Theatre
4 – 8 March Brighton, Theatre Royal
11 – 15 March Nottingham, Theatre Royal
18 – 22 March Richmond Theatre
25 – 29 March Malvern, Festival Theatre
1 – 5 April Norwich, Theatre Royal
16 – 19 April Salford, The Lowry
29 April – 3 May Shrewsbury, Theatre Severn
6 – 10 May Milton Keynes Theatre
13 – 17 May Newcastle, Theatre Royal
20 – 24 May New Brighton, Floral Pavilion
27 – 31 May Cheltenham, Everyman Theatre
3 – 7 June Sheffield, Lyceum Theatre
10 – 14 June Glasgow, Theatre Royal
17 – 21 June Bath, Theatre Royal
24 – 28 June Birmingham, Alexandra Theatre
1 – 5 July Truro, Hall for Cornwall
8 – 12 July Bradford, Alhambra Theatre
22 – 26 July Southend, Palace Theatre
Please note, Peter Ash’s final scheduled performance is 17 May. Ore Oduba’s first scheduled performance is 20 May
KING’S HEAD THEATRE ANNOUNCES SPECIAL GUEST STARS OF STAGE AND SCREEN FOR THE ADULTS ONLY PERFORMANCES OF
CINDERELLA
5,11,12,19,30 December 2024 & 5 January 2025
King’s Head Theatre, Elphin Productions and Little Angel Theatre, are delighted to announce details of the very special guest stars of stage and screen who will be appearing on and off stage in the adults-only performances of Cinderella, its first ever pantomime in its new and flexible 250-seat auditorium this Christmas, as well as design input from Dame Zandra Rhodes and artist Andrew Logan MBE.
The King’s Head brings you its first ever family pantomime!
Full of comedy, romance, slapstick and sing-a-longs!
In London, it’s hard to find romance these days. Everyone is so busy!
Will love and friendship find our two lost souls?
Cinderella needs help to leave her life of drudgery and explore a world full of adventures.
A shy Prince needs someone to help bring him out of his shell and find his mojo.
Could they help each other to find the courage to change their lives?
The Fairy Godmother thinks so! So, join her on this roller-coaster ride of romance and rock’n’roll!
Boo the selfish step-sisters, Peckham and Dalston.
Cheer on Cinderella and the Prince!
Boogie on down with Buttons and his daffy duck, Quackers!
You’re all invited to the big Disco Ball this Christmas! So wave your hands in the air, like you just don’t care – and have the time of your lives at the King’s Head’s intimate, immersive panto spectacular!
Each of these special one-off performances will include one special guest star, who will have their own featured number as the entertainment at the Prince’s ball. They will also go on to join the cast for the all-singing, all-dancing closing number.
Cassidy Janson (Carole King, Beautiful; Anne Hathaway, &Juliet; Florence, Chess)will perform on Thursday 5 December; Drag Race UK Season 1’s Vinegar Strokes on Wednesday 11 December; Six alumnae Danielle Steers on Thursday 12 December; musical theatre legend and record breaking John Owen-Jones (Les Misérables & Phantom of the Opera) on Thursday 19 December; Fresh from Menier Chocolate Factory’s The Producers, Australian cabaret and drag diva Trevor Ashley will perform on Monday 30 December (original Miss Understanding, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert The Musical); and award-winning artist Christina Bianco on Sunday 5 January (The Narrator, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat). Sunday 5th January also marks the new theatre’s one-year birthday and closing night for the pantomime.
As previously announced, Dame Judi Dench – Patron of Little Angel Theatre – will also feature in the show, lending her vocal talent as ‘The Narrator’. The producers are thrilled to announce that the legendary Miriam Margolyes will now be doing the same, lending hers as the ‘Wicked Stepmother’.
These guest stars will be performing alongside the previously announced main cast: Ugly Stepsisters Drag Race UK Star Ella Vaday (Nick Collier) ‘Peckham’, 2023 OFFIES Best Newcomer Nominee Harry Curley (Buddy Holly and the Cricketers, Christmas in Exeter Street, Oh What A Lovely War) ‘Dalston,’ ITV’s Mamma Mia: I have a Dream contestant Maddy Erzan-Essien as ‘Cinderella’, Joseph Lukehurst (Shatter Box, Enact, Dreamboats and Petticoats: Bringing On Back the Good Times, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Urinetown), as ‘Prince Charming’, Verity Kirk (Pleasance Theatre’s all-female POSH, Cautionary Tales, Much Ado About Nothing, Treasure Island and Twelfth Night/Christmas Carol at the RSC) as ‘Dandini’. Robert Rees (Beirut, Ladies in Lavender, Peter Pan, The Mousetrap) as ‘Buttons’ and Lucia Vinyard (Cinderella, Flora the Red Menace,Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Before (Again)) as ‘Fairy Codmother’.
Executive Producer (Acting CEO) of King’s Head Theatre Sofi Berenger explains, “We are so excited to welcome these wonderfully talented performers to join us for panto joy this Christmas, and to be bringing some West End and Drag royalty to Islington. While the adults-only performances will have the same script as the main pantomime, we’ll be adding a little King’s Head magic with a sprinkle of swearing and innuendo bound to make for a great night out. We’re super pleased to be able to offer both something for families and something a bit naughtier.”
The producers are also delighted to have the input of iconic designers Dame Zandra Rhodes – who’ll be designing Cinderella’s costume in collaboration with Gregor Donnelly – and that artist Andrew Logan MBE will be designing the Fairy Godmother’s wand. These will be auctioned off once the show finishes, as a fundraiser for the King’s Head Theatre.
Produced by King’s Head Theatre Productions, Elphin Productions and Little Angel Theatre in association with the Angels of Angel, with General Management by New Frame Productions, Cinderella will be written and directed by Andrew Pollard (writer of CBeebies’ Robin Hood). During Andrew’s 15-year run as writer, director and Dame at Greenwich Theatre, he won two OFFIE awards and was the winner of Best Ugly Sister at the 2023 British Panto Awards.
Set and costume design is by Gregor Donnelly, with lighting by Aaron J Dootson and puppetry by Little Angel Theatre. Hollie Cassar is musical director, alongside musical supervisor Ben Barrow. The creative team is completed by production manager Dan Weager and casting director Marc Frankum.
Cinderella features puppets from Little Angel Theatre, sensational songs, hilarious slapstick comedy, romance and plenty of audience participation; firmly rooted in Islington, the panto will celebrate the borough’s rich history. Cinderella will play from 30 November to 5 January, with press performances on Friday 6 December at 6pm (all / family friendly) and Thursday 12 December at 7pm (adults only). Tickets are on sale now here.
Announcing Full Cast to Join Jonathan Bailey in Richard II Directed by Nicholas Hytner at the Bridge Theatre
London Theatre Company is delighted to announce the full cast for the brand-new production of Richard II opening 10 February 2025 and running until 10 May 2025 at the Bridge Theatre. Directed by Nicholas Hytner and starring the award-winning screen and stage actor Jonathan Bailey, Richard II will feature a talented cast to illuminate Shakespeare’s powerful work.
The cast features: Royce Pierreson (The Witcher, Judy, Line of Duty) asHenry Bolingbroke, Christopher Osikanlu Colquhoun (Absentia, The Doctor – Duke of York’s Theatre, Comedy of Errors – RSC) as Earl of Northumberland, Olivia Popica (The Wheel of Time, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, The Tattooist of Auschwitz) as Queen Isabel, Amanda Root (Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth – RSC, Persuasion) as Green and the Duchess of York, Phoenix Di Sebastiani (The Great, Top Boy, Anne Boleyn) as Thomas Mowbray and Groom, and Clive Wood (London’s Burning, The Tempest – Theatre Royal Haymarket, Antony and Cleopatra – Shakespeare’s Globe) as John of Gaunt. Returning to the Bridge Theatre is Michael Simkins (Guys & Dolls – Bridge Theatre, The Crown, Silent Witness) as the Duke of York.
In addition, the cast includes Adam Best (Peaky Blinders, The Crown, Twelfth Night – National Theatre) as Sir John Bagot, Seamus Dillane (Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, The Invention of Love – Hampstead Theatre) as Lord Surrey, Vinnie Heaven (Cowbois – RSC, A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Shakespeare’s Globe, Cuckoo – Soho Theatre) as Aumerle, Jordan Kouamé (Wolf Hall 2, The Mirror and the Light – RSC) as Sir John Bushy and Harry Percy, Gerard Monaco (A Small Family Business, Children of the Sun, The Kitchen – National Theatre, A View from the Bridge – Duke of York’s Theatre) as Sir Stephen Scroop and Keeper, George Taylor (The Lady In The Van, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows) as Fitzwater, and Badria Timimi (Our Girl, My Brilliant Friend – National Theatre)as Abbess of Carlisle.
The understudy cast includes Emma Bown (Romeo and Juliet – Original Shakespeare Co, Sex Education), Martin Carroll (Twelfth Night, Richard III –The Apollo, The Royal Hunt of the Sun –National Theatre) and Stephan Boyce (Aladdin –Lyric Hammersmith, The Coloured Valentino –Arcola Theatre).
Richard II is charismatic, eloquent, and flamboyantly witty. And a disastrous King–dishonest, dangerous, and politically incompetent. Echoing down the centuries is the perennial problem: how to deal with a ruler who has a rock-solid right to rule but is set on wrecking the country he leads. Shakespeare’s subtle, ambiguous, and powerful play revolves round two startlingly modern figures: Richard, an autocrat who believes he is divinely sanctioned, and Henry Bolingbroke, a hard-headed pragmatist who has genuine authority.
Richard II will be designed by Bob Crowley (for the Bridge Theatre: Straight Line Crazy; The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage; in the West End: Olivier Award-winning An American in Paris)with Lighting Design by Bruno Poet (for the Bridge Theatre: Julius Caesar; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; in theWest End: Tina – The Tina Turner Musical) and Sound Design by Carolyn Downing (Olivier Award-winning: Chimerica, Summer and Smoke and Life of Pi). Grant Olding (For the Bridge Theatre: The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage, A Christmas Carol; Two Ladies; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Alys, Always and Young Marx) is the Composer. The Casting Director is Robert Sterne (for the Bridge Theatre: Straight Line Crazy; The Southbury Child; for screen: Game of Thrones; The Crown) and Christopher Worral is Casting Associate. Lily Dyble is Associate Director, Jaimie Todd is Associate Designer, Charlie Smith is Associate Sound Designer. Eleanor Dolan is the Costume Supervisor and Lily Mollgaard is the Props Supervisor.
Jonathan Bailey shot to global fame as Lord Anthony in the popular period drama Bridgerton. He has recently starred in the critically acclaimed Showtime series Fellow Travelers. Bailey plays the lead love interest, Fiyero in the highly anticipated Wicked film. Bailey has recently wrapped production on Jurassic World, leading the film alongside Scarlett Johansson. His prolific and acclaimed stage career includes playing Edgar in Ian McKellen’s King Lear and winning an Olivier Award for his portrayal of Jamie in Company.
For the Bridge Theatre, Nicholas Hytner has directed Young Marx; Julius Caesar; Allelujah!; Alys, Always; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Two Ladies; Beat the Devil; The Shrine; Bed Among the Lentils; A Christmas Carol; Bach & Sons; The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage; Straight Line Crazy; The Southbury Child; John Gabriel Borkman; and Guys & Dolls. Previously he was Director of the National Theatre from 2003 to 2015.
Performances are from 10 February until 10 May 2025.
Producers Bradley Bredeweg, Kelley Parker & Brian Pendleton, along with co-producers Lance Bass and Michelle Visage, of SCISSORHANDZ: A Musical Reinvented are delighted to announce Jordan Kai Burnett (Magic Mike Live Las Vegas, Romy & Michele the Musical, Seattle) will star as Scissorhands, a role she originated in the original Los Angeles production, and 4-time Olivier Award nominee, Emma Williams (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mrs Henderson Presents, Half A Sixpence, Love Story all West End) will star as Peg.
SCISSORHANDZ will open at Southwark Playhouse, Elephant from 23 January 2025 for an exclusive 10-week engagement closing on 29 March. There will be an official opening night on Thursday 30 January. Tickets on sale now!
Jordan & Emma will be joined by Dionne Gipson (original Scissorhandz cast member, Los Angeles Pee Wee’s Big Holiday for Netflix) as The Inventor, Lauren Jones (Ragtime, London) as Kim, Annabelle Terry (Who do ya Love?, London West End, Tales from Hans Cristian Anderson, Guilford) as Esmeralda, Ryan O’Connor (original Scissorhandz cast member, Los Angeles) as Helen, Richard Carson (The Hired Man, MAMMA MIA!,Oklahoma!, all West End) as Jim. The Ensemble will be played by Candida Mosoma (Lion King, UK & Ireland Tour,International Tour & South Africa, Pricilla Queen Of The Desert, Johannesburg & Hong Kong), Luke Cairns (Little Women, London), Grace Towning (Mean Girls, West End, 9 to 5, West End).
Jordan Kai Burnett said “This show may have started as a beautiful pipe dream in a bar in Los Angeles, but it quickly grew into something much more: a safe haven where everyone could come together and celebrate their uniqueness. It’s a space for all of us to be exactly who we are, unapologetically. SCISSORHANDZ has this uncanny way of returning just when the world needs it most, and there couldn’t be a better time for me to join the London cast for our European debut. This cast is absolutely wild, with the most insane talent. I think London audiences are about to lose their minds at just how camp, fierce, and electrifying this show is. We are about to set London on fire!”
Emma Williams “I think like many 80’s babies, Edward Scissorhands was one of my first crushes! The outsider, the sublimely unique, the other from another mother, our beloved hero/weirdo…. how could I do anything but say yes to playing Peg? I am beyond excited to delve into this show. Whether you call it a celebration, a tribute, a musical parody, it’s going to be truly EPIC!”
SCISSORHANDZ is a fresh and funny reinvention of Tim Burton’s cult classic Edward Scissorhands. This pop-musical parody extravaganza is a celebration of those who dare to be different, packed with a killer soundtrack featuring the likes of Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga & Alanis Morissette, plus more iconic hits you know and love. This is more than just a musical; it’s a movement!
After a wildly successful, sold-out run in Hollywood, where it captivated audiences and earned rave reviews, SCISSORHANDZ is set to take London by storm.
Further casting to be announced.
SCISSORHANDZ is written and directed by Bradley Bredeweg with choreography by Alexzandra Sarmiento, musical direction by Gregory Nabours, set design by James Pearse Connelly, costume design by Abby Clarke, lighting design by Adam King, sound design by Yvonne Gilbert, casting by Harry Blumenau Casting, production management by James Anderton and general management by Wildpark Entertainment.
Around this time of the year, discussion turns to when is it too early to put up the Christmas decorations? Why are the Christmas lights already up and lit in the town centre and when should the Christmas pantomime season really start? So for me, an invitation to go to the Theatre Royal Windsor and watch Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, in early November, was considered maybe a tad early in the calendar.
However, this was an ‘on air’ production and presented as if from the broadcasting studio of a radio show. So despite having a reasonably good appreciation of the story, I was entertained and pleasantly surprised by the novelty factor as well as some clever interpretations along the way.
We are initially presented with a studio of chairs and microphones presented across the front of the stage, and some more interesting apparatus set behind to provide the sound effects, admirably performed throughout by one of the cast.
Then we are joined by the rest of the cast, yellow scripts in hand and dressed in Victorian fancy dress attire to complement the presentation.
Most of the cast performed multiple roles throughout the play, apart from Roy Marsden who played Ebenezer Scrooge from start to finish. He was joined by Jenny Seagrove playing Mrs Cratchit as well as the ghost of Christmas past, Michael Praed playing Bob Cratchit and Master, Robert Duncan playing Marley’s ghost, Fezziwig, and the ghost of Christmas present, Shannon Rewcroft playing Belle, Mrs Dibler and Tiny Tim, Holly Smith playing Mrs Fezziwig and Martha, Ben Stock playing Fred, Young Scrooge and Belle’s husband, and Micheal Workman playing the foley artist, Dibler, and the Ghost of Christmas future.
There’s no need to explain the story, I’m sure we’re all very familiar with the Charles Dickens novel, so beautifully adapted to this “on-air” format, however I have to admit that I’m now just a little more familiar with some of the characters in that book than I was previously, thanks to this format and the entertaining way in which this admirable cast presented it.
It’s a great story, and wonderfully re-told in this charming performance that plants you firmly into the Christmas spirit. And that Christmas spirit is leveraged by Ben Stock to get the whole audience to sing along with a few Christmas carols before the final curtain.
It’s a show that leaves you with a big grin on your face, having enjoyed a good old Christmas classic in an entirely novel format. But be warned, when you leave the theatre, you’ll wonder where are all the Christmas decorations?
Actress, singer and musical theatre star Sandra Marvin sat down with fairypowered to answer 20 questions. Sandra is currently on tour, playing Angelique in the brilliant & Juliet, which can be seen in Leeds from the 18th to the 30th of November. Tickets can be found here
Let’s start with a few favourites
Favourite show (whether you have been in it or not)?
Ragtime or &Juliet
Favourite book?
The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace Vol 1 by Daisaku Ikeda
Favourite theatre?
Sheffield Crucible or The Donmar
Favourite song?
Evergreen by Barbra Streisand
Favourite music?
All sorts soul, jazz, blues, rnb
Favourite food?
Thai or Japanese
Favourite drink?
Crement / champagne atm
What is your favourite role?
Too hard to say!!! Motormouth Maybelle, Mama Morton, Queenie, Deloris, Becky, Martha Or Angelique?!!’
What was your first role?
My first role was Playing Miss Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray
And what role would you really like to play?
I would love to play Bess in Porgy and Bess
If you weren’t a performer what would you be?
A counsellor or a therapist
What made you decide to be a performer?
I love how we are able to bring joy to others though performance and the arts
Do you enjoy touring?
I love bringing amazing productions to regional theatres and seeing the how the different regions react
What advice would you give 16 year old you?
Don’t be afraid to be unapologetically you! You are enough and the right people will come into your life when you believe it xx
Do you fancy branching out in Producing or Directing?
I’d love to assist a fabulous director
What was the last stage show you saw and really enjoyed?
The last show was Guys and Dolls at the Bridge theatre
Favourite line from any show?
We’re about to go balls out! &Juliet
If you could be anyone else for the day, who would it be?
Hmmmmm not sure…. me having won the lottery on a beach in the Caribbean with my closest friends and loved ones?
What are the nicest/weirdest things you have ever received from fans?
Nicest- I’ve had a beautiful enormous cake made specially for the company by a local cake shop!
Can you tell us what you will be up to next?
Probably going on a long holiday when this finishes!The “Amazing” &Juliet continues its tour around the UK, and I can only advise you to buy a ticket so you don’t miss out. See the tour details at the website
Grease the Musical is based on the 1978 American musical romantic comedy film starring John Travolta and Oliver Newton John. Grease follows the high school romance between Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski. During the summer Danny and Sandy fell in love but said their goodbyes and went their separate ways as they didn’t live near each other. However, Sandy then moves to the area and enrolls in Rydell High for her senior year not knowing that Danny also attends the same school. The pair meet up and Sandy is sad to see the Danny she fell in love with on the beach is not the same Danny at Rydell High.
The main characters Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski are played by Marley Fenton and Hope Dawe who have a very hard act to follow in the footsteps of John Travolta and Oliver Newton John. I particularly liked Hope when she sang the song “It’s raining on Prom Night” and felt that her vocals were better when she sang on her own. Marley had all the fun characteristics of Danny and played the part well.
Some of the scenes had been changed from the original movie and I couldn’t understand why some of these changes had been made, for instance, the dance competition scene when in the movie Danny went with Sandy and then won the competition with Cha Cha (Deena Kapadia) in the stage performance he went with Patty (Phoebe Roberts). I also couldn’t understand why in the cheerleading scene the cheerleaders wore boxing gloves instead of using pom poms.
The hand jive was out of this world and the dancers were all spot on and gave an amazing performance. They certainly had a lot of stamina.
I felt that all the T-birds were stronger as a team in their roles than the pink ladies and that some of the vocals for the females were a bit screechy on the high pitch notes. There were times when the music was a bit too loud to hear the words being sang but if like me you have watched Grease a million times you knew what they were singing anyway.
Ben Nicholas (Kenicie) was really good in the Greased Lightening scene, jumping on and off the car with good vocals too.
Another good song was when Roger (Lewis Day) and Jan (Emerald B) sang “Mooning”, I felt their vocals were good together.
Of course, the musical ended on a high with everyone stood up singing to the remix of songs It was good that everyone managed to respect the show and not sing along to all the favourites that we all know and love.
I have been lucky to watch a number of Northern Ballet productions and I must say that this is probably the best one yet. It had a brilliant set and costumes. fabulous cast and absolutely amazing dancing.
Based on the novel by Charles Dickens this production was based on an original outline by Christopher Gable and developed jointly by Christoper Gable and Carl Davis. Northern Ballet, under Artistic Director Frederico Bonelli, brought this production to life.
Jacob Marley (Andrew Tomlinson) is dead and Scrooge (Jonathan Hanks) is the only person at his business partners funeral. The story then moves to several years later to London, on Christmas Eve, to the counting house that Ebeneezer Scrooge owns and where the long-suffering Bob Cratchit (Harris Beattie) is working along with his miserable boss. Even when the nephew of Scrooge (Jun Ishii) and his wife (Sarah Chun) and try and instil some Christmas spirit in Ebeneezer nothing works. Bob Cratchit leaves for home and Scrooge returns to his lodgings where he visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley who gives him the warning that unless he changes his ways he will be condemned to a life of torment.
Scrooge is visited by three ghosts, The Ghost of Christmas Past (Saeka Shirai), the Ghost of Christmas Present (Joseph Taylor) and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (Andrew Tomlinson).
The Ghost of Christmas Past takes Scrooge to the home of his first employer and he sees the mistakes that he made as a young man.
The Ghost of Christmas Present takes him to the home of his employee Bob Cratchit and he sees that even with very little money or possessions they are very happy and content with each other.
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come see Scrooge back at the Cratchits house where the family are mourning the loss of their son and brother Tiny Tim (George Vernon).
Scrooge is then in a bedroom and on the bed is a corpse and Scrooge realises when he sees a headstone that the corpse is in fact himself.
Scrooge promises to change and indeed he does, from a bitter and lonely old man to someone who regains his lost humanity and begins to love his fellow man.
With the production and costume design by Lez Brotherston OBE the setting of this production was always going to good but it was really good to watch and to see how the set moved from Scrooges lodgings, to his office, to the Cratchit’s house, to the Fezziwig’s and back again.
This is a stunning production of A Christmas Carol and it is definitely a must see, if it’s the first ballet you have seen or if you have seen lots, you certainly will not be disappointed.
TUESDAY 3rd DECEMBER 2024 TO SUNDAY 5th JANUARY 2025
Welcome to the Rock! The international hit musical Come From Away is landing at Lowry, Salford next month for a 4-week festive run – part of its first ever UK tour.
Winner of Best New Musical awards across the globe, Come From Away shares the incredible real-life story of the 7,000 air passengers from all over the world who were grounded in Canada during the wake of 9/11, and the small Newfoundland community that invited these ‘come from aways’ into their lives.
It runs at Lowry from Tuesday 3rd December 2024 to Saturday 6th January 2025.
Steve Cowton, Head of Theatres at Lowry, said: “We are thrilled to be presenting this brilliant feel-good musical this festive season. Come From Away has been a huge hit all over the World and we can’t wait to share it with our audiences.”
Experience the joyous story and soaring music as spirited locals and global passengers come together and forge friendships that will stay with them forever. The first female American Airlines captain, the quick-thinking town mayor, the mother of a New York firefighter and the eager local news reporter are among the many real characters caught at the start of the moment that changed the course of history, and whose stories became a true celebration of hope, humanity, and unity.
The international hit musical has celebrated record-breaking engagements in the West End, on Broadway, in Canada, throughout Australia, and on a 60-city North American Tour.
This critically acclaimed show is on its first ever UK & Ireland tour, direct from the West End where it celebrated over 1,000 performances and played to more than 850,000 people at the Phoenix Theatre.
The Come From Away cast includes Natasha J Barnes (Hex at the National Theatre, The Witches of Eastwick at the Sondheim Theatre) as Janice & others, Daniel Crowder (Mamma Mia UK and International tour, The Mousetrap at St. Martin’s Theatre) as Nick, Doug & others, Mark Dugdale (Previously Come From Away at the Phoenix Theatre in London and Abbey Theatre in Dublin, The Book Thief at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry and Curve in Leicester) as Kevin T, Garth & others, Rosie Glossop (Kinky Boots: The Musical at the Adelphi Theatre and feature film, Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist as part of The Honeybuns) as Bonnie & others, Amanda Henderson (Robyn Miller in BBC’s Casualty, and Oliver! at Theatre Royal Drury Lane) as Beulah & others, Kirsty Hoiles (Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre, Spend, Spend, Spend UK tour) as Diane & others, Oliver Jacobson (The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre and Grease UK tour) as Oz & others, Dale Mathurin (Frankenstein UK tour, Evita at Regents Park Open Air Theatre) as Bob & others, Nicholas Pound (Cats at the formerly named New London Theatreand on UK and international tour, Elf at the Dominion Theatre) as Claude & others, Sara Poyzer (Mamma Mia! Novello Theatre, UK and International tours, Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace) as Beverley, Annette & others, Bree Smith (Titanic The Musical UK tour and The Color Purple UK tour) as Hannah & others, Jamal Zulfiqar (Migrations, a Welsh National Opera UK tour and Tiger Bay at the Wales Millennium Centre) as Kevin J, Ali & others, with Angeline Bell (Matilda at the Cambridge Theatre and Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre), Daniel Cane (The Country Wife at Southwark Playhouse and Spamalot UK tour), Ashleigh Harvey (Mamma Mia! UK and International tour and Heathers at The Other Palace), Alyn Hawke (Disney’s Beauty & the Beast UK tour and 42nd Street UK tour), Kathryn Pemberton (The Sopranos UK and international tour and Catch Me at Upstairs at the Arts), and Kevin Yates (Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations at the Prince Edward Theatre and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical UK tour).
The Come From Away Creative team include Irene Sankoff and David Hein (Book, Music and Lyrics), Christopher Ashley (Director), Kelly Devine (Musical Staging), Ian Eisendrath (Music Supervision and Arrangements), Beowulf Boritt (Scenic Design), Toni-Leslie James (Costume Design), Howell Binkley (Lighting Design), Gareth Owen (Sound Design), David Brian Brown (Hair Design), August Eriksmoen (Orchestrations), Pippa Ailion CDG and Natalie Gallacher CDG (Casting), Tara Overfield Wilkinson (UK Associate Director), Richard J. Hinds (UK Associate Choreographer), Kirsty Malpass (UK Assistant Director), Alan Berry (UK Musical Supervisor), Andrew Corcoran (UK Musical Director), Zoë Hurwitz (UK Associate Set Designer), Sabrina Cuniberto (UK Costume Supervisor) and Marcus Hall Props (UK Props Supervisor).
Come From Away is produced in the UK by Smith & Brant Theatricals in association with Curve.
‘One of the Best Musicals of the Century’ The Times
