If you go online to book your tickets for Paranormal Activity in Leeds, all you’ll find is ‘World Premiere, Written by Levi Holloway, Directed by Felix Barrett. We can’t say anything else.’ With this in mind, the review will not give away too much about you can expect. However what I will say is if you like a scary story, go see it!
Based on the Paranormal Activity films which became a phenomenon when they first came out, this play is beginning to have a similar reaction. With an age rating of 15+ and the tag line ‘Places aren’t haunted, people are’ this is a must see for horror fans. It is tense from beginning and end, and you will have a feeling of foreboding, never knowing what’s going to happen next you’ll spend the whole 1hr 40 minutes on the edge of your seat. One thing I will say is look out for the small details, I would love to have a second watch so I can pick up on more of what’s going on in the background where there is added clues and distractions.
With phenomenal effects and lighting, the whole audience where discussing how they made things happen both at the interval and at the end. With a direct quote from an audience member behind us saying ‘Absolutely not, **** this!’ it’s safe to say you’ll leave the theatre feeling thoroughly freaked out! I will go so far as to say this is one of the best horror shows I’ve seen on stage, with jump scares, illusions a feeling of ‘what just happened?’ and ‘how did they do that?!’. Before I give too much away I will just say if you have the opportunity to see this you must take it and I will be shocked if it doesn’t continue elsewhere after it’s run at Leeds Playhouse.
The Mix, Theatr Clwyd, Yr Wyddgrug/Mold – until 20 July 2024
Reviewed by Julie Noller
5*****
Andrew AB
Rope might be originally written in 1920s by Patrick Hamilton, but Director Francesca Goodridge has given this dark crime thriller with mildly amusing comic undertones the Theatr Clwyd Midas touch. Bringing to life a play that Hitchcock himself brought to the silver screen in the late 1940’s the irony that this connection of world wars (written just after the first and filmed just after the second) is not lost on me. Francesca’s hope for her audience is that we take away a version of Rope that we weren’t expecting. My thoughts are that we take away so many versions, its thought provoking, each character is fully rounded and full of hidden depths; many of which are fascinating. We enter The Mix into a darkly lit set, the stage is almost touching the front row; it’s intimate, because we are part and parcel of the evenings proceedings. We are accomplices yet also witnesses. The only light is a central swinging light bulb which curiously throws its shade to the curtain behind giving the appearance of 2 nooses looming warning of consequences yet to happen. Rope is a murder mystery with a twist, in the darkness we hear hushed voices, we squint into this darkness and although you don’t see the actual crime of murder it is hinted at, often with hysterics the details are drip fed to us.
The heavy object hidden inside the antique chest, obviously isn’t a rug, but we are yet to discover the whos and whys. Jack Hammett and Chirag Benedict Lobo are Wyndham Brandon and Charles Granillo two Oxford students currently living in Mayfair, they are deliciously dark and twisted. In times times gone by they would be misunderstood, neighbours scared of their misogynist vibes, old money covering misdemeanours; keeping the lower ends of society in their places. Hamilton was heavily influenced by the true life crimes of Chicago teenagers Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb in 1924 and I’m not sure if I see many films influenced by the same case or is Hamilton a genius whose work has heavily influenced. This isn’t an Agatha Christie murder who done it, we know who carried out the random act, this is about personalities deep and dark. It’s a cat and mouse chase of almost childish proportions a nah nah nah can’t catch me, you don’t know what we did.
Only without trying our fellow party guests almost accidentally stumble upon the truth. Emily Burnett is dazzling as Leila Arden painted as a airhead heiress, yet it is her who firsts suggests the chest contains the rotting bones of a dead body. Kenneth Raglan (Rhys Warrington) is the patsy, a fellow Oxford attendee, younger, assumed dull, bullied, just making up the numbers. Keiron Self as Sir Johnstone Kentley the father of the rotting bones, a collector of books, a gentleman who sees no faults in these 2 genteel young men, even as they push buttons begging to be discovered. His sister Mrs Debenham (Emily Pithon) who along with Felipe Pacheco’s Sabot the boys trusted manservant brought many comic touches to the proceedings.
In Tim Pritchett’s World War 1 veteran and lecturer; Rupert Cadell we sense the first sight of logic but his theories are clouded by the large amount of whiskey he consumes, he is the character who not only feels there has been a crime committed but is a father figure whom Wyndham longs to impress and ultimately is his undoing, once a War hero always a hero.
The choreographed party drinking scenes give the impression of the many drinks drunk, the time warp sense of lost moments, the depravity of a problematic entitled young man. And it ends with everything totally undone, the walls ripped down giving the impression that despite the old system holding firm, eventually barriers and walls all fall down along with covering up a murder.
FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE UPCOMING UK & IRELAND TOUR OF WAR HORSE BEGINNING PERFORMANCES ON 5 SEPTEMBER 2024
The National Theatre today announces the cast for the internationally acclaimed production ofWar Horse,based on Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel, which embarks on a major UK and Ireland tour from 5 September 2024, touring through to 2026.
The full cast of 35 includes: Rianna Ash (Joey/Topthorn head), Alexander Ballinger (Friedrich/Allan), Diany Bandza (Emilie/Baby Joey), Eloise Beaumont-Wood (Baby Joey), Ike Bennett (David Taylor/Thomas Bone), Haydn Burke (Billy Narracott/Heine/Klebb), Sophie Cartman (Matron Callaghan), Jo Castleton (Rose Narracott), Owen Dagnall (Geordie), Alexandra Donnachie (Joey/Topthorn head), Felicity Donnelly (Joey/Topthorn hind), Tom Gilbey (Sergeant Fine), Thomas Goodridge (Joey/Topthorn hind), Karl Haynes (Ted Narracott), Robin Hayward (Joey/Topthorn heart), Michael Larcombe (Joey/Topthorn hind), Matthew Lawrence (Joey/Topthorn head), Madeleine Leslay (Paulette/Sarah Carter), Jack Lord (Klausen), Damian Lynch (Carter/Strauss), Lewis McBean (Joey/Topthorn heart), Chris Milford (Joey/Tophorn heart), Jordan Paris (Baby Joey), Anne-Marie Piazza (Nell Allan/Schnabel), Tea Poldervaart (Joey/Topthorn head), Lucy Thorburn (Jenny Bone/Annie Gilbert), Gareth Radcliffe (Arthur Narracott/Sergeant Thunder), Daniel Rock (Captain Stewart/Ludwig), Tom Sturgess (Albert Narracott), Alistair So (Vet Martin), Simon Stanhope (Manfred), Gun Suen (Joey/Topthorn hind), Sally Swanson (The Singer), Chris Williams (Lieutenant Nicholls/Dr Schewyk) and Rafe Young (Joey/Topthorn heart).
War Horse,adapted by Nick Stafford and originally directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris,has become the most successful play in the history of the National Theatre, winning more than 25 major awards and has been seen by over 8.3 million people worldwide. This new tour is co-produced with Michael Harrison, Fiery Angel, and Playing Field.
War Horse tells the remarkable story of a young boy called Albert and his horse Joey, set against the backdrop of the First World War. This powerfully moving and imaginative drama is a show of phenomenal inventiveness, filled with stirring music and songs, featuring ground-breaking puppetry work by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, which brings breathing, galloping, charging, horses to thrilling life on stage and has inspired a generation of theatre-makers since its premiere in 2007.
The tour will be playing at: New Wimbledon Theatre (5 – 14 September 2024), The Lowry, Salford (18 – 28 September 2024) Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (8 – 19 October 2024), The Marlowe, Canterbury (22 October – 2 November 2024), Sunderland Empire (5 – 16 November 2024), Theatre RoyalPlymouth (26 November – 7 December 2024), New Theatre Oxford (10 December 2024 – 4 January 2025), New Victoria Theatre,Woking (14 – 25 January 2025),Bord GáisEnergy Theatre, Dublin (29 January – 1 February 2025), Grand Opera House, Belfast (4 – 15 February 2025), The Regent Theatre, Stoke (4 – 8 March 2025), Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (11 – 22 March 2025), Theatre Royal Glasgow (25 March – 5 April 2025), Liverpool Empire (8– 19 April), Milton Keynes Theatre (22 April – 3 May 2025), Nottingham Royal Concert Hall (7 – 17 May 2025) and Bristol Hippodrome (3 – 21 June 2025).
Casting for Leeds Grand Theatre (19 August – 6 September 2025), Edinburgh Festival Theatre (2 – 11 October 2025), Wales Millennium Centre (15 – 25 October 2025) and Norwich Theatre Royal (28 October – 8 November 2025) to be announced.
Assisted performances are available throughout the run at each venue. Further tour dates and venues to be announced. For more information and to book tickets visit WarHorseOnStage.com.
At the outbreak of World War One, Joey, young Albert’s beloved horse, is sold to the Cavalry and shipped to France. He’s soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary journey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man’s land. Albert, who remained on his parents’ Devon farm, cannot forget Joey. Though still not old enough to enlist he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home.
This tour of War Horse marks 110 years since the start of the First World War and follows the 40th anniversary of the publication of Michael Morpurgo’s global best-selling novel, which has now sold over 35 million copies world-wide and in 37 different languages.
Creative development for the tour has been led by Tom Morris with revival director Katie Henry, featuring reimagined designs by Rae Smith and additional music by Adrian Sutton. Puppet design and fabrication is by Adrian Kohler for Handspring Puppet Company, lighting design is by Rob Casey, movement and horse choreography is by Toby Sedgwick with puppet direction by Matthew Forbes. Animation and projection design is by Nicol Scott for 59 Productions, John Tams is songmaker and sound design is by Christopher Shutt. Casting is by Jill Green CDG.They are joined by associate designer Will Fricker and associate costume designer Johanna Coe; associate lighting designer Tom Turner; associate sound designer Rob Bettle, assistant sound designer Raffaela Pancucci, musical director Dom Coyote, voice coach Carol Fairlamb, dialect coach Rebecca Daltry, resident director Anna Marshall and assistant puppetry director Lewis Howard.
War Horse received its world premiere on 9 October 2007 at the National Theatre, where it played for two seasons before opening at the New London Theatre in March 2009. Since then, War Horse has been seen in 97 cities in 14 countries, including productions on Broadway, in Toronto and Berlin, with touring productions in the UK and Ireland, North America, the Netherlands and Belgium.
The National Theatre’s Partner for Financial Wellbeing, Charles Stanley, is supporting War Horse on tour. War Horse will visit Theatre Nation Partnerships venues, including The Lowry in Salford, Sunderland Empire, Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent and Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.
Follow on Instagram @WarHorseOnStage Twitter @WarHorseOnStage Facebook War Horse On Stage #WarHorse
MARYLEBONE THEATRE PATRON MARK RYLANCE TO PERFORM VENUS AND ADONIS ALONGSIDE DEREK JACOBI
AS PART OF A GALA FUNDRAISER
17 NOVEMBER 2024
THEATRE CELEBRATES FIRST TWO YEARS WITH DETAILS OF FULL AUTUMN / WINTER SEASON,
PLUS, AN INCREASED SEATING CAPACITY FROM OCTOBER
Marylebone Theatre Artistic Director Alexander Gifford alongside new Executive Director Hannah Henderson are pleased to announce that Mark Rylance – the venue’s Patron – will perform Shakespeare’s Venus and Adonis alongside Derek Jacobi on Sunday 17 November at 7.00pm, as part of a fundraiser in aid of the theatre. Tickets are on sale now via the theatre’s website.
The fundraiser is part of an autumn / winter season which includes The Last Word (5 – 21 September) – a searing multimedia performance based on the last words of women accused of political crimes in Russian courts; What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank (4 October – 23 November) – a serious comedy written by Nathan Englander, directed by Patrick Marber and starring Joshua Malina; and culminating with A Sherlock Carol ‘a winning crossover mystery’ (The Guardian), which returns to Baker street for a third Christmas following two sold-out runs. Singer songwriter Nerina Pallot also brings her first one-woman show, I Digress, to the Marylebone Theatre for two performances only (2 & 9 December). Audiences can also enjoy the exhibition Long Shadows, Bright World, on display until 1 December – a collaboration between Sir Ben Okri and Rosemary Clunie, bringing together the worlds of painting and poetry, image and text.
In response to high demand for tickets and a wish to expand the venue’s commercial potential. the theatre will also be increasing its seating capacity in late September from its current 200 seats up to 266 seats.
Mark Rylance said, “In the early 1990’s I was a month away from performing Venus and Adonis when the production had to be cancelled. Thirty years later, I am excited to be revisiting my plans to play Shakespeare’s first known published work as part of a gala fundraiser for the Marylebone Theatre. This excellent new venue, of which I am a patron, stages original, wonderful plays, often in verse. I am delighted that my dear friend Derek Jacobi will be joining on stage to support a venue with a unique calling to explore and refresh the great classical tradition.”
Since opening in autumn 2022 with Dmitry by Peter Oswald, the Marylebone Theatre has presented an eclectic programme of theatre, spoken word, music and events. To date, it has welcome over 50,000 people through its doors, been awarded the Off West End award for Best Production and received numerous four and five-star reviews for shows including, The Dry House, a world premiere by Eugene O’Hare, the poignant and moving dramas Grenfell: System Failure, and the hit-show, The White Factory. 2024 highlights have included The Most Precious of Goods, translated and directed by Nicolas Kent, The Dream of a Ridiculous Man, starring Greg Hicks, and The Government Inspector, a brand-new adaptation of Gogol’s masterpiece.
Marylebone Theatre Artistic Director Alexander J Gifford said,“As the Marylebone Theatre approaches its second birthday, I am proud to be announcing a season which combines the urgently political with the eternally poetic. Venus and Adonis is perhaps the most exquisite long poem in the English language. Performed by two of Shakespeare’s greatest modern interpreters, Sir Mark Rylance and Sir Derek Jacobi, it will be the centre-piece of a gala fundraiser, whose goal is to secure the Marylebone’s future as a major, new producing house. Alongside it, we will be presenting two UK premieres, delivered by world-class directors, Maxim Didenko and Patrick Marber. I hope our new season consolidates our reputation as an important, new venue and that more and more people come through our doors to enjoy our unique offering of relevant, potent and artistically excellent work.”
PW Productions is delighted to announce the full cast for the 2024-25 UK Tour of Stephen Daldry’s multi award-winning National Theatre production of JB Priestley’s AN INSPECTOR CALLS, opening at Alexandra Palace on Friday 30 August, where it will play for 3 weeks. The tour will then visit Stoke, Darlington, Bristol, Belfast, Leicester, Eastbourne, Liverpool, Aylesbury, Salford, Norwich, Southampton, Shrewsbury, Hull, Cardiff, Blackpool, Wolverhampton, Truro, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Sunderland, Sheffield, Bradford, Birmingham, Llandudno, Milton Keynes and Wimbledon. www.aninspectorcalls.com
Tim Treloar will play ‘Inspector Goole’, alongside Jackie Morrison as ‘Mrs Birling’, Jeffrey Harmer as ‘Mr Birling’, Tom Chapman as ‘Gerald Croft’, Leona Allen as ‘Sheila Birling’, George Rowlands as ‘Eric Birling’ and Alice Darling as ‘Edna’. Katy Dean, Michael Gukas, Pena Iiyambo,Simon Pothecary and Philip Stewart complete the cast.
Tim Treloar’s theatre credits include Richard II, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet, all at the RSC. His other theatre credits include Henry V at the National Theatre, Mountain Language at the Royal Court, Rose Rage at Theatre Royal, Haymarket and King Lear and Twelfth Night at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Tim also appeared in Macbeth at the Chichester Festival Theatre, and when it transferred to the Gielgud Theatre in the West End and the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway.
Jackie Morrison’stheatre credits include the US and Canada Tour of The Last Ship, and West End productions of Dirty Dancing at the Dominion Theatre, and on a UK Tour, After Mrs Rochester at the Duke of York’s Theatre, When We Are Married at the Savoy Theatre and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at the Strand Theatre. Jackie’s other theatre credits include Coriolanus at the RSC, Oh What A Lovely War! at the National Theatre and The Roundhouse, Peribanez at the Young Vic, and Local Hero at the Chichester Festival Theatre.
Jeffrey Harmer returns to An Inspector Calls having played the role of Mr Birling during previous UK and USA tours. His other theatre credits include Bird Song for the Original Theatre Company, Fox on The Fairway, Donkey’s Years, Romeo & Juliet and As You Like It, all at Vienna’s English Theatre, Aladdin at the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford and an international tour of Mamma Mia!.
Tom Chapman’s theatre credits include The Box of Delights and Cymbeline at the RSC, and As You Like It, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Voices In The Dark, all at Shakespeare’s Globe.
Leona Allen’stheatre credits include A Christmas Carol at Alexandra Palace and Nottingham Playhouse, The Meeting at Chichester Festival Theatre, Anansi The Spider, Christmas In The Sunshine and Girls Like That, all at the Unicorn Theatre, Pride and Prejudice at the Crucible and Sheffield Theatres, andUK Tours of After Birth and Holes.
Yellow Belly
George Rowlands returns to An Inspector Calls having previously played the role of Eric Birling during the 2022-23 UK and Ireland tour. George’s previous theatre credits include Parliament Square at The Unicorn Theatre, The Boy With The Bee Jar at The Hope Theatre, As You Like It at Garden Shakespeare and Macbeth at Bromley Churchill Studio.
Alice Darling graduated from The Scottish Institute of Theatre, Dance, Film and Television in 2022. During training, her credits included The Grain in the Blood, Twelfth Night, The Sweet Science of Bruising, and The Comedy of Errors. Since graduating she performed in Hamlet at the Edinburgh Festival.
When Inspector Goole arrives unexpectedly at the prosperous Birling family home, their peaceful dinner party is shattered by his investigations into the death of a young woman. His startling revelations shake the very foundations of their lives and challenge us all to examine our consciences. More relevant now than ever, this is a must-see for a whole new generation.
Since 1992, Daldry’s seminal production of An Inspector Calls has won a total of 19 major awards, including four Tony Awards and three Olivier Awards, and has played to more than 5 million theatregoers worldwide.
Stephen Daldry is an award-winning Theatre, Film and Television Director & Producer. He has directed theatre productions for London’s West End & New York’s Broadway, including Billy Elliot, The Inhertiance & An Inspector Calls, winning multiple Olivier & Tony awards. His latest play Stranger Things: The First Shadow opened at London’s Phoenix Theatre in December 2023.
Stephen has directed 6 feature films which have all been nominated for major industry awards. He served as Executive Producer on Netflix’s The Crown and directed the last episode. Stephen served as Producer on the opening & closing ceremonies for the London 2012 Olympics and was Artistic Director on Vogue World London in 2023.
Stephen is the Chairman of refugee arts charity Good Chance and was the director of their award-winning production The Jungle. He serves on the board of The Perlman Performing Arts Center in NY.
AN INSPECTOR CALLS UK TOUR – 2024/2025 TOUR LISTINGS
Cast announced for Alan Ayckbourn’s ‘Bedroom Farce’ at The Mill at Sonning Theatre The production reunites Director Robin Herford and Designer Michael Holt – the creative team behind The Woman in Black, which ran 33 years in the West End and 13 UK tours
Georgia Burnell, Allie Croker, Antony Eden, Stuart Fox, Rhiannon Handy, Julia Hills, Damien Matthews, Ben Porter
Bedroom Farce by Alan Ayckbourn
Director Robin Herford
1 August – 21 September
Filled with witty dialogue, cleverly constructed situations and Alan Ayckbourn’s signature blend of charm and chaos, Bedroom Farce is a roller-coaster ride of laughter, love, and lunacy.
Director Robin Herford, who most recently helmed How The Other Half Loves and Barefoot in the Park at The Mill at Sonning returns to direct Ayckbourn’s uproarious play – an hilarious and chaotic world of misunderstandings, mishaps and marital mayhem. Together with designer Michael Holt they were the creative team behind The Woman in Black, which ran 33 years in the West End and has completed 13 UK tours. Antony Eden, Damien Matthews and Ben Porter in the cast all starred in The Woman in Black.
Over one night we follow the comically entangled lives of four couples as they navigate an evening of bedroom hopping, heart-to-hearts, and tangled relationships.
Ernest and Delia, a middle-aged couple, are trying to celebrate their wedding anniversary in peace. Malcolm and Kate are dealing with a strained marriage and a malfunctioning bed. Newly engaged Jan and Nick find themselves in the middle of the chaos as they try to navigate the challenges of commitment. Troubled pair Trevor and Susannah are at the centre of the chaos as they meet the other couples, creating havoc wherever they go, leading to a side-splitting cascade of comic events.
Cast:
Georgia Burnell (Jan) was in Alan Ayckbourn’s Constant Companions, Truth Will Out, Family Album and The Girl Next Door (Stephen Joseph Theatre).
Allie Croker (Susannah) was in The Inquisition of Queen Elizabeth and Hitler On Trial (UK Tour), Much Ado About Nothing (Sun and Moon Theatre), Not Half Bard (Hotspur Theatre), Days of Wine and Roses and Around The World in Eighty Days (Theatre By The Lake).
Antony Eden (Malcolm) was in Welcome to The Family (Old Laundry Theatre), Family Album, (Stephen Joseph Theatre) for which he won Best Supporting Performance in a musical or a play at the UK Theatre awards, 2023, The Woman in Black (West End, National and international tour), Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (West End), Ten Times Table (Mill at Sonning). Stuart Fox (Ernest) previously appeared at The Mill at Sonning in How The Other Half Loves, Ten Times Table, The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Educating Rita and Time of My Life.
Rhiannon Handy (Kate) was in 2:22 A Ghost Story (West End), Ten Times Table (UK Tour), The Comedy of Errors (RSC, UK Tour); The Jew of Malta, Love’s Sacrifice and Volpone (RSC); Gaslight, Ten Times Table, Improbable Fiction (The Mill at Sonning).
Julia Hills (Delia) is best known for playing Rona in eight series of the BBC’s 2 Point 4 Children and starring in the C4 comedy sketch show Who Dares Wins. She is an Olivier Award nominee (The Hired Man) and played Ruth in the original cast of Calendar Girls (Chichester Festival Theatre, UK Tour and West End. Theatre includes: Drop The Dead Donkey – The Reawakening (UK Tour), How The Other Half Loves (The Mill at Sonning), The Mirror Crack’d (UK Tour).
Damien Matthews (Nick) was in Sweet Bird of Youth (National Theatre), The Philadelphia Story (The Old Vic), The Mousetrap (St Martin’s), The Woman in Black (Fortune Theatre, UK & international tours).
Ben Porter (Trevor) was in The Indian Queen (Europe), The Woman in Black (West End, New York and US tour), 1984 (West End) Visitors (Oldham Coliseum), Time of My Life, Absurd Person Singular (Stephen Joseph Theatre), Orwell (Trafalgar Studios).
Creative team:
Director Robin Herford Set Designer Michael Holt Costume Designer Natalie Titchener Lighting Designer Graham Weymouth Sound Design The Mill at Sonning Technical Team
The Mill at Sonning Theatre Set majestically on the banks of the River Thames, the Mill at Sonning Theatre is celebrating more than 40 years of entertainment. Uniquely, as one of the only dinner theatres in the United Kingdom, it has gained unrivalled praise both nationally and internationally, winning awards such as the 2023 UK Theatre Award Winner for the Best Musical Production for GYPSY, and The Most Welcoming Theatre 2016, 2017 and 2018. The intimate theatre seats 217. The elegant restaurant, separate from the theatre but within the premises, with views over the river Thames has the friendliest young staff of waiters and waitresses. A spinning waterwheel features in the gorgeous bar. Only a short taxi journey from the Elizabeth Line (Reading Station or Twyford Station), The Mill at Sonning Theatre is the perfect day trip from London. A two-course meal, coffee and tea, and a beautiful programme are included in the price of the tickets
LISTINGS INFO
Bedroom Farce by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed Robin Herford
The Mill at Sonning Theatre Sonning Eye Reading RG4 6TY
AT THE ADELPHI THEATRE IN LONDON ON TUESDAY 30 JULY 2024
Direct from performing to 35,000 people at West End Live in London’s Trafalgar Square the Irish Music Supergroup SHAMROCK TENORS will be “LIVE IN LONDON” at the Adelphi Theatre on Tuesday 30 July.
SHAMROCK TENORS will be joined on stage by a host of guests including Irish actor and singer Fra Fee and the renowned Unity Irish Dance.
Performing classic Irish folk songs as you’ve never heard them before, the SHAMROCK TENORS are Ireland’s most exciting new music sensation. Their infectious energy, combined with bags of Belfast charm, brings new life to classics including Danny Boy, Black Velvet Band, Whiskey in the Jar and The Wild Rover, as well as some original new music.
Fra Fee has most recently been seen on TV in the acclaimed BBC Series Lost Boys & Fairies. Other screen roles include Hawkeye (Marvel), Rebel Moon (Netflix) & Animals. Fee’s numerous stage roles include the world premiere of Jez Butterworth’s The Ferryman directed by Sam Mendes (Royal Court Theatre, West End & Broadway) for which he won a What’s On Stage Award, As You Like It (National Theatre); Romeo & Juliet; My Cousin Rachel (Gate Theatre, Dublin); Candide (Menier Chocolate Factory); Follies (Opera de Toulon) and Les Misérables (West End).
The multi-award-winning Unity Irish Dance Company is based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Founded in 2018 by Irish dance champions; Kevin Goble & Edel Kearney, Unity has quickly become known for its exciting and innovative productions that showcase the beauty and grace of Irish dance.
Other guests are rising star Jasmine Gardiner, a multi-instrumentalist and performer from the North Coast of Northern Ireland and Cara-Gael, an Irish Dance school based in London, showcasing the future talent of Irish Dance.
With their first two debut singles charting at Number 1 on the iTunes World Music Charts and with more than six million views online, the SHAMROCK TENORS are Ireland’s most sensational musical export. “Irish music for the 21st Century” (LoveBelfast).
St Patrick’s Day 2024 saw the group release their debut St Patrick’s Day Concert special on BBC 2 and BBC 4 in the UK ahead of its North American release on PBS in November 2024.
Currently touring the island of Ireland, the SHAMROCK TENORS have headlined festivals in the USA; performed in over 30 countries and sold-out venues including the Ulster Hall, the Grand Opera House (twice) and Birmingham Symphony Hall, England. The group is also set to embark on a 10-week coast to coast American Tour in the spring of 2025, the biggest ever tour for a Northern Irish band.
The five-strong group are performers who represent both sides of the community in Northern Ireland; five extraordinary talents including the country’s best multi-instrumentalists, a champion Irish dancer and musical theatre stars. Created by Belfast performer, Raymond Walsh (Les Misérables – West End/UK Tour/Staged Concert) and proudly supported by Tourism Ireland, the SHAMROCK TENORS are: Tom Brandon (Original Cast – Choir of Man), Matthew Campbell (Choir of Man, Australia), Jimmy Johnston and brothers Jack and Raymond Walsh.
Join them on a journey through Ireland’s most beloved songs, in beautiful five-part harmony, as they share their love of home and their pride in how far it has come in recent years.
Based on the short story Letter from an Unknown Woman by Stefan Zweig, Christopher Hampton’s 70 minute adaptation is more homage than faithful retelling. Hampton sets Visit from an Unknown Woman in 1934, when Austria is in the grip of rising Nazism, and the writer in the story, named Stefan by Hampton, is at odds with his place in the world. Culture is being moulded into something unfamiliar, and as Zweig himself experienced, the books are being burnt and concerts cancelled because Stefan is Jewish. Into his life tumbles a woman whom he has met at a bar. As the story unravels, we discover that she is called Marianne and is not a stranger but someone who has been present in and around his life for years. Even though he is at the centre of this tragedy, it isn’t really about Stefan, but about infatuation, and about being trapped by an obsessive love for someone who doesn’t feel the same way or even know you exist.
Natalie Simpson as Marianne is the intense beating heart of the play, and is skillful in her depiction of someone being both childlike and manipulative in their pursuit of what they want. James Corrigan as Stefan is charming and conflicted, but also mainly there to be on the receiving end of Marianne’s very intense monologue. He is all at once highly likeable and hugely unlikeable, but that is lotharios for you. Nigel Hastings as Johann as the butler/help provided some punctuation and served as a more reliable witness to the timeline of events.
The nature of the adaptation meant that all of the action could take place in one place, Stefan’s Vienna flat. Designed by Rosanna Vize, it is sparingly furnished, and the framed structure in which it sits provides a way for the cast to interact with space, memory and each other. A younger version of Marianne played by Jessie Gattward haunts the stage, wandering the corridors and rooms. She is graceful and though she never utters a word, her silent straight faced torment is unnerving and strangely beautiful. There is a huge pile of dying white roses to one side on which she sits, a reference to the anonymous bouquets sent to Stefan on his birthday every year.
Chelsea Walker’s production of Visit from an Unknown Woman is beautiful and strange, but also slightly frustrating. The cast are excellent, and the set is beautiful, however there a few loose ends. Threads that could do with being trimmed or in some cases pulled out completely.
It’s a snowy December, 1933 when twelve year old Stella Saxby wakes from her bed in Saxby Hall, the families large estate, she discovers that she is wrapped in bandages and her Aunt Alberta informs her that she has been in a coma and that both her parents died following a tragic car accident. Stella is sole heir to Saxby Hall, however Aunt Alberta has other ideas and is plotting to trick Stella to sign the Hall over to her and will stop at nothing to achieve her goal. Along with her trusted companion – Wagner, a giant owl the evil Alberta certainly lives up to her name as being awful, showing no sympathy and lacking morals, having chosen to fight on the German side in World War One, simply because she preferred the colours of their uniforms!
Birmingham Stage Company have done it again. Producing a quality production specifically for children. Anything that brings children into the theatre is always a winner for me. I’ll say it constantly – the children of today are the audiences of tomorrow and we need to give them amazing productions to introduce them to magic of live theatre.
The stage set mainly comprises of three large “pillars” which rotate to change from doors to staircases and the rooms of Saxby Hall. It’s really quite difficult to describe the set (designed by Jacqueline Trousdale) but visually it’s utter genius and whisks you into the weird and wonderful world of eccentric Aunt Alberta and makes you feel like you’ve done a sort of Alice In Wonderland trick and fallen into some magical world. Another favourite in the set, other than the fabulous puppetry of Wagner the owl by Emily Essery and the puppets (Yvonne Stone) of Alberta, Stella and Soot, is the splendid replica vintage Rolls Royce in which Stella attempts to make her escape in.
When Stella meets Saxby Hall ghost Soot, a cockney chimney sweep who ended up “brown bread” (that’s “dead” to you and I!) when someone lit a fire whilst he was cleaning the halls chimney and “burnt mi’ bum!’, the pair, realising something isn’t quite as it seems with the so called accident which resulted in her parents death and her Aunts attempts to get Stella to sign over Saxby Hall to her, the pair decide to turn into their own version of Sherlock Holmes and Watson to solve the mystery once and for all and attempt to break free from the awful Aunt and save Saxby Hall.
The production was made enjoyable by Neal Foster as the title character – the comical tartan bloomers and matching suit jacket and the copper hair which seemed to have a mind of its own who even seemed scary to the adults! Aunt Alberta is a towering inferno of a woman and Foster really brings out the scary wicked side of Aunt Alberta, this deranged cold hearted woman who thinks of her own desires before her family. Her niece and orphan Stella Saxby (Annie Cordoni) – was brilliantly vibrant and the audience loved it. Matthew Allen on the other hand as ghost Soot was loveable, portraying a young boy beautifully, from his voice to his mannerisms you soon forgot that the role was obviously played by somebody much older than the character portrayed.
Full of laughs and fart jokes, it was Zain Abrahams as Gibbon, the eccentric and slightly deranged Butler of Saxby Hall, who gave a few more laughs. Granted not the best Butler in the world, constantly getting things wrong, from hoovering the carpet with a lawn mower .
If you or your child are a fan of David Walliams’ books then this is most certainly worth catching on tour. If you’re not a fan yet, then go and see this and soon become one
SIX THE MUSICAL (UK STUDIO CAST RECORDING) AND BROADWAY’S SIX LIVE ON OPENING NIGHT
The producers of Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s Tony Award®-winning global smash hit musical SIX are proud to announce that SIX the Musical (UK Studio Cast Recording) and the Grammy Award®-nominated SIX: LIVE ON OPENING NIGHT,the first Original Broadway Cast Recording ever recorded live on opening night, have collectively been streamed over 1 billion times.
SIX The Musical (UK Studio Cast Recording) – first recorded in 2018 – features Renée Lamb (Catherine of Aragon), Christina Modestou (Anne Boleyn), Natalie Paris (Jane Seymour), Genesis Lynea (Anna of Cleves), Aimie Atkinson (Catherine Howard), Izuka Hoyle (Catherine Parr). The recording features orchestrations by Tom Curran and is produced by Sam Featherstone, Toby Marlow, Lucy Moss and Joe Beighton, with executive producers George Stiles and Paul Lisberg.
In February 2020, the UK Studio Album hit 100,000 streams, and then one year later, the album was released on vinyl, with the original recording Queens received gold discs at a VIP event at the historic Banqueting House – livestreamed by the global Queendom by TikTok. Album available to stream here or purchase here.
SIX: LIVE ON OPENING NIGHT was nominated for a 2023 Grammy Award® for Best Musical Theater Album. The original Broadway cast recording debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard cast album charts and has been streamed 104 million times to date. SIX: LIVE ON OPENING NIGHT is produced by Paul Gatehouse, Toby Marlow, Lucy Moss, Sam Featherstone, and Tom Curran.
SIX: LIVE ON OPENING NIGHT features 18 tracks, including the original Broadway cast of SIX: Adrianna Hicks, Andrea Macasaet, Abby Mueller, Brittney Mack, Samantha Pauly, and Anna Uzele, plus a bonus track by the original Broadway Alternates: Keirsten Nicole Hodgens, Nicole Kyoung-Mi Lambert, Courtney Mack, and Mallory Maedke. The album also features the band, “The Ladies in Waiting”: Julia Schade (Music Director/Keyboard), Michelle Osbourne (Bass), Kimi Hayes (Guitars), Elena Bonomo (Drums), and Mariana Ramirez (Percussion).
SIX: LIVE ON OPENING NIGHT is available now in streaming and digital formats through Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon Music, and more. The physical CD of the Original Broadway Cast Recording is available online on Amazon, and at select brick and mortar locations. Click here to stream or buy.
From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st century girl power! This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over!
SIX is written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, with direction by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage, Choreography is by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, with set design by Emma Bailey, costume design by Gabriella Slade, lighting design by Tim Deiling, sound design by Paul Gatehouse, musical orchestration by Tom Curran, and musical supervision by Joe Beighton.
Winner of over 35 international awards, including two 2022 Tony Awards, three WhatsOnStage awards, and nominated for five Oliviers, SIX can also be seen live on stage worldwide: SIX is currently playing at the Vaudeville Theatre in London’s West End, on tour in the UK (with new 2025 dates just announced), and on tour throughout Europe. An Australian tour is set to launch in August 2024. An engagement in Manilla begins in October 2024, and in Singapore in November 2024. SIX is currently playing at Broadway’s Lena Horne Theatre (256 W 47th St, NYC). SIX celebrated its official Broadway opening night on Sunday, October 3, 2021. The Boleyn tour of SIX launched in Las Vegas at The Smith Center on September 20, 2022, and is playing cities throughout the US. Earlier this year, the show achieved 1.5million followers globally – across YouTube, Instagram, X, TikTok and Facebook in the UK, US, Australia, Korea and beyond.
