ELYSIAN FILM GROUP have today announced GREATEST DAYS, the highly anticipated cinematic adaptation of Take That’s smash-hit stage musical The Band, will be released in cinemas across the UK and ROI on Friday 16th June. Take That will also be joining a very special Premiere event in London on June 15th to be previewed in cinemas nationwide the same night!
GREATEST DAYS follows five best friends who have the night of their lives seeing their favourite boy band in concert. Twenty-five years later their lives have changed in many different ways as they reunite for one more epic show by their beloved band, to relight their friendship and discover that maybe their greatest days are ahead of them.
GREATEST DAYS is the feel-good, universal story of love and friendship featuring the hit songs of TAKE THAT.Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald are executive producers for the film.
Directed by Coky Giedroyc (How to Build a Girl), written by Tim Firth (Calendar Girls), and produced by Danny Perkins, Kate Solomon, Jane Hooks, and Karl Spoerri and Viviana Vezzani, the film stars Aisling Bea (This Way Up), Alice Lowe (Black Mirror), Jayde Adams (The Outlaws), Amaka Okafor (The Responder) and Marc Wootton (Nativity!). Lara McDonnell (Belfast), Jessie Mae Alonzo (Little Joe), Nandi Hudson (Army of Thieves), Carragon Guest and Eliza Dobson also star in the film, as well as Aaron Bryan(The Little Mermaid), Joshua Jung(Emma Bunton – Tour),Dalvin Cory(Wicked),Mark Samaras(Swan Lake),Mervin Noronha(What’s Love Got to Do with It?)
To celebrate MAMMA MIA!’s 24th birthday today, Thursday 6 April, we’d like to share with you this new drone footage of the show, with some glimpses behind the scenes as well as on stage
The global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! is currently booking to Saturday 2 March 2024 at London’s Novello Theatre.
Since premiering in London in 1999, the irresistible feelgood musical has captured the hearts of millions around the globe. The sunny, funny tale of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads on a Greek island idyll, all unfolding to the magic of ABBA’s timeless pop masterpieces, has now been seen live on stage by 65 million people across the world and turned into two record-breaking movies – MAMMA MIA! The Movie and MAMMA MIA! Here We Go Again.
To date, MAMMA MIA! has been seen in 50 productions in 16 different languages grossing more than $4 billion at the box office. In 2011, it became the first Western musical ever to be staged in Mandarin in the People’s Republic of China.
MAMMA MIA! originally opened in London at the Prince Edward Theatre on 6 April 1999, before transferring to the Prince of Wales Theatre in 2004, and then to the Novello Theatre in 2012. The London production of MAMMA MIA! has been seen by over 10 million people, played over 9,300 performances and has broken box office records in all three of its London homes. It is the fifth longest running musical in West End history.
The London cast is led by Mazz Murray as Donna, Josie Benson as Tanya, Gemma Goggin as Rosie, Norman Bowman as Sam, Christopher Dickins as Harry, Stephen Beckett as Bill, Meg Hateley as Sophie, Miles Henderson as Sky, Natasha Heyward as Ali, Olivia Lallo as Lisa, Lucca Chadwick-Patel as Eddie and Jake Bailey as Pepper, with Jennifer Adab playing Donna at certain performances.
Also in the cast are Zac Adlam, Victoria Anderson, Gemma Atkins, Sinéad Courtney, Ellie-Grace Cousins, Lawrence Guntert, David Haydn, Jennifer Hepburn, Frankie Jones, Olivia Neville, Annell Odartey, Jessie Odeleye, Callum Rose, Jack Rose, Robert Slatter, Michael Storrs, Chloe Way, Simon Willmont, Dan Wilshire and Jacob Young.
Looking For Me Friend: The Music of Victoria Wood,
a nostalgic musical celebration written and performed by Paulus,
has extended its 2023 tour
Looking For Me Friend: The Music of Victoria Wood, a celebration of the music of the late comedy genius and national treasure, has extended its current tour to play throughout 2023.
Performed and written by the star of BBC1’s ‘All Together Now’, Paulus The Cabaret Geek, with accompanist Michael Roulston* (Fascinating Aïda), and directed by multi-award-winning cabaret artist Sarah-Louise Young, the show features a whistle-stop tour of 21 of Victoria’s best-loved songs, including the hilarious ‘Ballad of Barry & Freda’ and the classic ‘It Would Never Have Worked’ (*an alternative pianist plays certain venues).
Confirmed 2023 tour dates are Beccles Public Hall & Theatre (13 Apr), Corn Exchange Newbury (21 Apr), Studio at New Wimbledon Theatre (11-13 May), Norman Bragg Studio, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre (18 May), Junction Goole (19 May), Epstein Theatre, Liverpool (20 May), Astor Theatre, Deal (26 May), Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells (24 June), Old Woollen, Leeds (29 June), Stockton Heath Festival (30 June), Upper Norwood Library Hub (16 July), Garden Theatre Festival, Bath (22 July), Hunters Meet, Bishop’s Stortford (6 Sept), Leiston Film Theatre (17 Sept), Lichfield Garrick Theatre (19 Sept), The Berry Theatre, Hedge End (23 Sept), Northern Stage, Newcastle (28 Sept), The Alnwick Playhouse (29 Sept), Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham (30 Sept), Pocklington Arts Centre (17 Oct), Crazy Coqs, London (22 Oct), Barnfield Theatre, Exeter (24 Oct), Chelmsford Theatre Studio (1 Nov), Sonata Piano & Cabaret Lounge, Manchester (19 Nov), Mercury Theatre, Colchester (30 Nov) and Kitchen Kabaret, Grantham (7 Dec). To find out more, visit: http://www.lookingformefriend.com.
Looking For Me Friend: The Music of Victoria Wood is filled with love, laughter and fabulous memories for Victoria Wood fans as well as being the ultimate ‘beginner’s guide’ for audiences new to her work. This feel-good show has served up nostalgia, music and laughter at Edinburgh Fringe, sold out venues across the UK since 2020 and had the seal of approval from Victoria’s colleagues, school-chums and fans. Dust off your stilettos and oven glove, and don’t forget the custard creams!
Paulus The Cabaret Geek is an entertainer and educator specialising in cabaret, who appeared as a talent judge on BBC1’s primetime show, All Together Now and on Sky Living’s Bigger Than.... For fifteen years, Paulus had close ties to The Battersea Barge, producing many cabarets including Cheese ‘n’ Crackers, Diva Nite and their adult pantomimes. For ten years, Paulus ran the entertainment agency Excess All Areas(formerly Better Chemistry), spearheading the annual Cabaret Convention and London Cabaret Awards. His expertise has been sought to judge many talent competitions including National Burlesque Awards, Drag Idol for Royal Vauxhall Tavern, Pride’s Got Talent, Musical Comedy Awards and Burlesque Idol at The Hippodrome Casino.
IN CRAWLEY, BOURNEMOUTH, NEWCASTLE, CHELTENHAM AND NORWICH
Producers, Michael Harrison and David Ian are delighted to announce that Zoe Birkett will star as Rachel Marron in the award-winning international smash hit musical THE BODYGUARD, when the show plays the Hawth Theatre, Crawley (Monday 24 – Saturday 29 July 2023), Bournemouth Pavilion (Monday 7 – Saturday 12 August 2023), Newcastle Theatre Royal (Tuesday 15 – Saturday 19 August 2023), Cheltenham Everyman Theatre (Monday 21 – Saturday 26 August 2023) and Norwich Theatre Royal (Monday 28 August – Saturday 2 September 2023). www.thebodyguardmusical.com.
Zoe Birkett is no stranger to the role, having previously starred as Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard during the production’s 2015 tour. She can currently be seen as Kim in The Great British Bake Off Musical at the Noël Coward Theatre. Zoe recently played the role of Arabia in the original cast of Moulin Rouge the Musical in London’s West End for which she won the BroadwayWorld award for Best Supporting Performer in a Musical. Other West End credits include Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Dion in Hair, Acid Queen in Tommy, and Thriller Live. At sixteen years old, she became the highest placed female contestant in the first series of ITV’s Pop Idol.
Zoe will star alongside Emmerdale and Hollyoaks star Ayden Callaghan as Frank Farmer, with Emily-Mae as Nicki Marron, John Macaulay as Bill Devaney, Graham Elwell as Tony, James Groom as Sy Spector, Marios Nicolaides as Stalker and Fergal Coghlan as Ray Court. The role of Fletcher will be shared by Kaylenn Aires Fonseca, Iesa Miller, Frankie Keita and Reneo Kusi-Appauh.
The cast is completed by Alexandros Beshonges, Kayne Gordon, Jack Hardwick, Kalisha Johnson, James Lee Harris, Samantha Mbolekwa, Abbie Quinnen, Kellie Rhianne, Charlotte Scally, Yiota Theo and Marco Venturini.
Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don’t expect is to fall in love. A romantic thriller, THE BODYGUARD features a host of irresistible classics including Queen of the Night, So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, Run to You, I Have Nothing, I Wanna Dance with Somebody and one of the biggest hit songs of all time – I Will Always Love You.
Based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Oscar nominated Warner Bros. movie starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, THE BODYGUARD, directed by Thea Sharrock with book by Oscar winning Alex Dinelaris, had its world premiere at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End and was nominated for four Olivier Awards. A sell out 18 month UK and Ireland tour followed, before the show returned to the West End at the Dominion Theatre ahead of a second sell out tour of the UK and Ireland in 2018/19. To date, THE BODYGUARD has played to over 3.6 million people in 15 countries and 45 US cities. Countries include the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, China, Canada, Italy, Australia, Spain, France, the US, Austria and Japan.
The UK Pantomime Association releases further public tickets for
The Pantomime Awards 2023 in association with Butlin’s
taking place on Tuesday 11 April at the Trafalgar Theatre,
and reveals some of the presenters and performers in store
Ahead of The Pantomime Awards 2023 in association with Butlin’s at the Trafalgar Theatre in London’s West End on Tuesday 11April 2023 at 7pm, the UK Pantomime Association (UKPA) has put further public tickets on sale for the Awards ceremony. A limited number of seats (from £30) are available from ATG Tickets, with more due to be released later this week: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-pantomime-awards-2023/trafalgar-theatre/.
Amongst the line-up of awards presenters will be actor, presenter and composer and UKPA’s newly appointed Vice President Derek Griffiths, The Traitors stars Amanda Lovett and Theo Mayne, television, radio and stage performer Debbie McGee and recent Olivier Award-winning writer, composer and musician Vikki Stone. There will be special performances in store, including entertainment from West End leading lady Anna-Jane Casey and international drag performer and theatre artist Gigi Zahir. The ceremony will be hosted by UKPA’s President, Christopher Biggins.
The full list of Award nominees, as announced last month, is available on UKPA’s website: https://pantomimeassociation.co.uk. The Special Recognition Awards, which celebrate productions and individuals representing the values that the Association seeks to promote, as well as the Outstanding Achievement Award are also to be announced at the ceremony on 11 April.
During the 2022/23 pantomime season, the second year in which The Pantomime Awards have taken place, the UK Pantomime Association’s 64 judges attended over 240 venues to see over 700 performances, far and wide across the United Kingdom.
Founded in 2021, the UK Pantomime Association is a charity that explores, shares and celebrates pantomime by investigating the genre’s rich past, engaging with contemporary practice and inspiring the future.
MAYFLOWER THEATRE AWARDS £9,000 IN BURSARY MONIES TO ASPIRING PERFORMERS
Three aspiring performers from Hampshire were chosen to receive £9,000 in bursary money to venture into education to fulfil their career aspirations.
Olivia Davies, Petra Joan-Athene and Thomas Kingman were each given £3,000 by Mayflower Theatre, Southampton as part of its Higher Education Bursary Scheme – an initiative to inspire those with an interest in the arts to undertake accredited training courses to build a career in the industry.
The scheme provides up to £50,000 per year to individuals with an interest in acting, dance, music, writing and other arts-related professions. With a maximum amount of £3,000 per awardee, there are also additional ‘special’ awards of up to £9,000 for those who have exceptional potential or unique talent and ideas.
Olivia Davies (22) from Southampton has a passion for musical theatre and is self-aware of the difficulties in breaking into a performing career. After undertaking a foundation course in Drama and Dance at Royal Holloway and a Master’s degree at Mountview, the money awarded will allow Olivia to transition onto the next stage of living and working in London as a performer.
Dance-lover Petra Joan-Athene (20), from Winchester, has participated in theatre from a young age. She began dancing at the Lewis Allsop Dance Academy in Winchester and joined the Theatre Royal Drama Group. A keen visitor to Mayflower Theatre, Petra will use the awarded money to enable her to move onto the next stage of her career
Having studied Musical Theatre, Thomas Kingman (23) from Southampton realised he had a passion for stage acting and writing as well as having an interest in teaching Drama. He is determined and focused on using the £3,000 bursary to hone his skills in the arts to become a successful actor and writer.
Petra said: “I am incredibly grateful to Mayflower Theatre for awarding me £3,000 from its Higher Education Bursary Scheme. The Performing Arts industry is notoriously difficult to break into and this money will enable to seek the further training and support I need to kickstart my career and provide me with the “armbands” I need to keep me afloat.”
Mayflower Theatre’s Higher Education Bursary Scheme is open for applications to obtain a contribution until Friday 29th April with interviews taking place on 16th, 17th and 18th May. Interested applicants can find out more information about the scheme at the Mayflower Theatre website: https://www.mayflower.org.uk/get-involved/education/higher-education-bursary-scheme
Michael Ockwell, Chief Executive of Mayflower Theatre, said: “It is a privilege to be able to offer initiatives such as our Higher Education Bursary Scheme to aspiring performers and arts lovers in Hampshire. Many previous awardees of our bursary scheme are now enjoying fruitful careers in the performing arts including stage management, actors and musicians. Some of which we are fortunate to see back in our own theatre as they tour the country and come back to Southampton with some of the UK’s most prestigious productions.”
Mayflower Theatre is an independent charity and does not receive any direct external funding. The money it earns from presenting and producing world-class stage productions enables it to provide a variety of schemes intended to engage and inspire young people and the local Southampton and Hampshire communities.
SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE ANNOUNCES CAST FOR THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
Shakespeare’s Globe is delighted to announce the cast of The Comedy of Errors, directed by Globe Associate Artistic Director Sean Holmes (The Winter’s Tale, Globe). Shakespeare’s madcap comedy about long-lost siblings and mistaken identities will transport us 400 years into an Elizabethan past to watch as these families unravel and descend into glorious chaos. This production continues Shakespeare’s Globe’s 400th Anniversary celebrations of the First Folio, without which the play would have been lost to history.
The cast of The Comedy of Errors comprises Claire Benedict as Abbess, Matthew Broome as Antipholus of Ephesus, Philip Cumbus as Duke / Pinch, Michael Elcock as Antipholus of Syracuse, George Fouracres as Dromio of Ephesus, Laura Hanna as Adriana, Hari MacKinnon as Angelo, Jordan Metcalfe as Dromio of Syracuse, Phoebe Naughton as Courtesan / First Merchant / Balthazar, Danielle Phillips as Luce / Second Merchant / Messenger, Paul Rider as Egeon, and Jessica Whitehurst as Luciana.
Director Sean Holmes says: “With The Comedy of Errors, I’m looking forward immensely to creating a pulsating and chaotic Elizabethan world perfectly suited to the Globe’s unique architecture. Though nominally set in Ephesus, the play clearly draws on the energy and chaos of the streets of Shakespeare’s London. The production will strive to recreate that vitality and danger, embracing the specificities of costume, props and design to transport us 400 years into the past, while continuing to speak to now.”
Cast biographies are as follows:
Hari MacKinnon will play Angelo. Hari trained at LAMDA. Theatre credits include Feroze in Vinay Patel’s adaptation of The Cherry Orchard (ETT & The Yard Theatre). Screen credits include Staged S3 (BBC/Britbox). Theatre credits whilst training include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Gloria, Intimate Apparel, and The Wonderful World of Dissocia (all LAMDA).
Claire Benedict will play Abbess. Claire trained at LAMDA. This is her debut season at Shakespeare’s Globe. Theatre includes Tamburlaine, Antony and Cleopatra, The Odyssey, Eastward Ho!, Island Princess, The Malcontent, Canterbury Tales, Richard III, All’s Well That Ends Well (RSC); Hamlet, The Dispute, The Critic, So Special, Death & the King’s Horseman, Medea (The Royal Exchange Theatre); The White Devil, Death & the King’s Horseman, Fix Up (The National); Twelfth Night, Romeo & Juliet (Regent’s Park); Moon on a Rainbow Shawl (dir. Maya Angelou, Claire won the Time Out award for Best Actress, Almeida Theatre); The Bacchae (Shared Experience); Don Juan, Twelfth Night (Actor’s Touring Co.); So Long on Lonely Street (Watford Palace); The Doctor of Honour (Cheek by Jowl); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (English Shakespeare Company); Macbeth (Odyssey Theatre Co.). Screen credits include In the Club, Casualty, Holby City, Waking the Dead, Thorn, Above Suspicion, Unforgiven, Poppy Shakespeare, Eleventh Hour, Feather Boy, Grange Hill, Prime Suspect, Frankenstein Chronicles, Jupiter Ascending, Felicia’s Journey, Seasick.
Paul Rider will play Egeon. Most recently, Paul featured in Dangerous Liaisons for Lionsgate+. Previous work for Shakespeare’s Globe includes The Tempest, Cymbeline, The Oresteia, Measure for Measure, Julius Caesar, Doctor Scroggy’s War, The Knight of the Burning Pestle, The Duchess of Malfi, Henry V, Henry IV Parts 1&2, Love’s Labour’s Lost, We The People, Coriolanus, Under the Black Flag. Other theatre credits include A Woman of No Importance (Vaudeville Theatre, West End & UK Tour); Chicago (Adelphi, Cambridge Theatre, Phoenix Theatre); A Midsummer Night’s Dream, She Stoops to Conquer, Flare Path (Bristol Old Vic); Staircase, The Cutting of the Cloth (Southwark Playhouse); Hairspray (National Tour); Chekhov in Hell (Theatre Royal Plymouth & Soho Theatre); The Merchant of Venice, The Rivals (Derby Theatre); Comedians (Lyric Hammersmith); Dying For It (Almeida); Women Beware Women (RSC); Singer (Tricycle Theatre); Americans (Arcola Theatre); Arsenic and Old Lace (Strand Theatre); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Albery Theatre); The Changing Room (Royal Court at Duke of York’s); Hamlet, King Lear, Edward II (Compass Theatre); Teechers, Bouncers (Arts Theatre); She Stoops to Conquer, Richard II, East (Oldham Coliseum). Screen credits include Dangerous Liaisons (Lionsgate+), The Duchess of Malfi (Globe on Screen), Holby City (BBC), Doc Martin (ITV), Horizon – Einstein (BBC Television), Doctors (BBC), French & Saunders (BBC Television), My Family (DLT Entertainment), Victoria Wood With All The Trimmings (BBC Television), Dinnerladies (Pozzitive), Murder Most Horrid (BBC Television), The Bare Necessities (Granada Television), The Bill (ITV), City Central (BBC Television), Broker’s Man (BBC), The Ritz (BBC), Whose Line is it Anyway (Channel 4), Lion Versus the Little People, The War Below (Netflix), Pond Life (Open Palm Films), Undercliffe, Making Noise Quietly (Open Palm Film), A Cock & Bull Story (Shandy Films), Honest (Pathé Entertainment), and Topsy-Turvy (Thin Man Films).
Phoebe Naughton will play Courtesan / First Merchant / Balthazar. Phoebe Naughton trained at Royal Central School of Speech & Drama. She has most recently performed in Wildfire Road at Sheffield Theatres. Theatre credits include Wildfire Road (Sheffield Theatres), The Wonderful World of Dissocia (Theatre Royal Stratford East), The Key Workers Cycle (Almeida Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Alexandra Palace), Scenes From The End Of The World (The Yard Theatre), Thank You For The Music (Southwark Playhouse). Screen credits include The Third Day (HBO) and Hoard (BBC/BFI).
Laura Hanna will play Adriana. Laura trained at LAMDA and has recently performed in Once Upon A Time In Nazi Occupied Tunisia at the Almeida. Previous work for Shakespeare’s Globe includes Hakawatis (2022). Other theatre credits include Living Newspaper Edition 5 (Royal Court Theatre); Signal Fires (Fuel Theatre); Leave A Message – Isolated But Open Monologues Online (Papatango); Karaokay (Bunker Theatre); A History Of Water In The Middle East (Royal Court Theatre); Give A Man A Bible (Pint Sized/ The Bunker Theatre); Rest Upon The Wind (Matar Ventures); The Sweethearts (The Finborough Theatre/Raising Dark), Palindrome (Miniaturists); A Bright Room Called Day (Southwark Playhouse); Foreplay (King’s Head Theatre); Red Peppers/Still Life (Folie a deux/Old Red Lion); Lean (Strip Theatre/Tristan Bates Theatre); The Warden (Traffic of the Stage); Much Ado About Nothing (Serendipity Productions); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (ASC Random/ The Chelsea Theatre); Beasts And Beauties (The Hampstead Theatre). Screen credits include Heartstopper S2 (Netflix). Radio credits include The Old Man In The Moon (Holy Mountain/BBC Radio 4); The Arabian Nights (Holy Mountain/BBC Radio 4); The Eustace Diamonds (Goldhawk Essential/BBC Radio 4).
Jessica Whitehurst will play Luciana. Jessica Whitehurst trained at Rose Bruford College and appeared at the Globe’s Sam Wanamaker Festival. This is Jessica’s professional debut at Shakespeare’s Globe. Other theatre credits include Cock (The Ambassador) and Nine Night (Leeds Playhouse/Nottingham Playhouse). Screen credits includes The Baby (HBO) and Midsomer Murders (BBC).
Philip_Cumbus photographed by Wolf Marloh
Philip Cumbus will play Duke / Pinch. Philip trained at RADA and has most recently appeared as Charles Spencer in The Crown. Previous work for Shakespeare’s Globe includes: Macbeth, Comus, The Inn at Lydda, Tis Pity She’s A Whore, The Lightning Child, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Mysteries, Love’s Labours Lost, Helen, Romeo & Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, Holding Fire. Other theatre credits include The Best Man (Playhouse Theatre); The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Donmar Warehouse); Richard III (Trafalgar Studios, West End); Moon Tiger (Theatre Royal, Bath & Tour); The Norman Conquests (Liverpool Playhouse); 66 Books (Bush Theatre); The Master Builder (Minerva Theatre Chichester); The Crucible (Regents Park Open Air Theatre); The Man Who Had All the Luck (Edinburgh Lyceum); JL Carr’s ‘A Month In The Country’ (Salisbury Playhouse); Edward II By Christopher Marlowe (JMK Award at BAC); The Notebook of Trigorin (The Seagull By Tennessee Williams) (The Northcott Theatre) Vincent In Brixton (Salisbury Playhouse) The Duchess of Malfi (West Yorkshire Playhouse); In Praise of Love (Chichester Festival); Great Expectations (The Royal Shakespeare Company); The Little Mermaid (Sphinx); The Soldier (Edinburgh Fringe). Screen credits include The Crown (Netflix), Whitstable Pearl (Acorn), The Spanish PrincessSeasons 1 & 2 (Starz), The Rebel Seasons 1 & 2 (Gold), Girlfriends (ITV).
Danielle Phillips will play Luce / Second Merchant / Messenger. Danielle trained at LAMDA. She recently starred in her debut play Children of the Night at CAST Theatre Doncaster. Other theatre credits include The Upstart Crow (Apollo Theatre, West End); Sky Comedy Rep (Birmingham Rep); How to Save a Rock (English Touring Theatre); The Upstart Crow (Giuelgud Theatre, West End), Trying it On (RSC, Royal Court & UK Tour); Ghost Girl // Gwei Mui (Camden People’s Theatre); Dark Winter (Hull Truck); Reared (Theatre 503); Istanbul: YNWA (From the Gut Theatre); E15, The 56 (Lung Theatre & Battersea Arts Centre). Screen credits include Masters of the Air (Apple TV); Father Brown (BBC); Sister Bonifaće Murder Mysteries (Britbox); Ready Player One (WarnerBros); Sandra Gets a New Fringe (BFI). Radio credits include Spice & Trying it On (BBC Radio 4).
George Fouracres will play Dromio of Ephesus. George recently performed at the Globe in Much Ado About Nothing, The Tempest, Hamlet (2022), Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2021). He is a member of critically acclaimed sketch trio Daphne. Other theatre credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Filter Theatre/Lyric Hammersmith); The Diary of a Nobody (Rough Haired Pointer); Scrooge & Marley (Dippermouth). Screen credits include Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared (Channel 4); Spitting Image (Britbox); Semi-Detached (BBC 2); Whiskey Cavalier (ABC); Pls Like Series 2 (BBC Three); Comic Relief (BBC 1), Drunk History Series 3/Series 2 (Tiger Aspect); Raised by Wolves (Channel 4) and Accident Man 2: Hitman’s Holiday. Radio credits include George Fouracres: Black Country Gentlemon,Alexei Sayle’s Absence of Normal, The Lenny Henry Show, Clare in the Community, VIP RIP, Britain in Bits with Ross Noble, Jake Yapp’s Media Circus, The Now Show, Lenny Henry’s Rogues Gallery, Daphne Sounds Expensive, Spotlight Tonight with Nish Kumar, Newsjack (BBC Radio 4 and 4Extra).
Michael Elcock will play Antipholus of Syracuse. Michael trained at Royal Central School of Speech & Drama. Theatre credits include Hex and The Visit (National Theatre); The Meaning Of Zong (Bristol Old Vic); Arthur/Merlin (Iris Theatre); 846 Live (Theatre Royal Stratford East); In A Word (Young Vic); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Regents Park Open Air Theatre). Screen credits include Queens of Mystery – Seasons 1&2 (Sly Fox for Acorn TV) and Kitchen Sink (Channel 4).
Jordan Metcalfe will play Dromio of Syracuse. Jordan trained at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and recently appeared in Accidental Death of an Anarchist at Lyric Hammersmith. Previous work for Shakespeare’s Globe includes: Eyam, The Winter’s Tale. Other theatre credits include Jack Absolute Flies Again, The Pillowman (National Theatre); The Hypocrite, Wendy & Peter (RSC); Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Sheffield Crucible, Lyric Hammersmith); For Love or Money (Northern Broadsides); POSH (Nottingham Playhouse); Hobson’s Choice (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Hypochondriac (Theatre Royal, Bath); Oliver Twist (Lyric Hammersmith); The Dreaming (Royal Opera House); Romeo and Juliet (Hull Truck). Screen credits include Misfits, Utopia (C4); Father Brown, The Afternoon Play, The Last Detective, Maddigan’s Quest, The Iceman Murder, Fungus the Bogeyman, The Last Flight to Kuwait, The Queen’s Nose (BBC); Tommy Cooper: Not Like That, Like This, Ultimate Force, Heartbeat, My Parents are Aliens, Girls in Love (ITV); Pride (Lionsgate); Fractured, These Foolish Things.
Matthew Broome will play Antipholus of Ephesus. Matthew trained at Guildhall School for Music and Drama. He recently completed filming on the upcoming Apple TV series The Buccaneers. Prior to that, he featured in Scandaltown at Lyric Hammersmith.
The Comedy of Errors was cast by Becky Paris, Head of Casting at Shakespeare’s Globe.
Creative team: Naeem Hayat – Associate Director Grant Olding – Composer Megan Cassidy – Costume Supervisor Jackie Orton – Costume Supervisor Paul Wills – Designer Sean Holmes – Director Maisie Carter – Fight Director Glynn MacDonald – Globe Associate – Movement Tamsin Hurtado Clarke – Movement Director Simon Trinder – Text Gary Horner – Voice
The producers of Disney’s NEWSIES are delighted to welcome new cast members joining the production, which must end at London’s Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre on 30 July 2023.
The producers are also thrilled that director and choreographer Matt Cole won the 2023 Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer.
Credit: Johan Persson
The new cast members joining on 19 April are Spencer Darlaston-Jones as Romeo, Morgan Gregory as Swing, Mireia Mambo as Ensemble Forbes Masson as Joseph Pulitzer, Kai Oxley as Swing, Bradley Perret as Elmer, Owen Stringer as Oscar Delancey, Lucy Young as Swing and Ben Dalton and Harry Newby as Les.
They join existing cast members Michael Ahomka-Lindsay as Jack Kelly, Moya Angela as Medda Larkin, Lindsay Atherton as Ensemble, Imogen Bailey as Swing, Samuel Bailey as Specs, Bronté Barbé as Katherine Plumber, Josh Barnett as Race, Jack Bromage as Tommy Boy, Bobbie Chambers as Ensemble, Alex Christian as Buttons, Arcangelo Ciulla as Ike, George Crawford as Morris Delancey, Ross Dawes as Snyder, Joshua Denyer as Mush, Ross Dorrington as Splasher, Matthew Duckett as Crutchie, Jacob Fisher as Albert, Jamie Golding as Wiesel, Damon Gould as Finch, Barry Keenan as Nunzio, Ryan Kopel as Davey, Sion Lloyd as Bunsen, Mukeni Nel as Jo Jo, Mark Samaras as Mike, Rory Shafford as Swing, Matt Trevorrow as Henry, Lillie-Pearl Wildman as Ensemble and Nesim Adnan and Ethan Sokontwe as Les.
Credit: Johan Persson
Based on a true story, NEWSIES is set in New York City at the turn of the 20th century. It’s the rousing tale of a ragged band of teenage newspaper sellers, who dream of a better life far from the hardship of the streets. After newspaper magnate Joseph Pulitzer hikes up the prices for his papers charged to the newsies, Jack Kelly rallies his fellow newsies in an attempt to protest the change, falling in love with young reporter Katherine along the way. These young newsies from across the city come together and rise up against the exploitation of wealthy publishing tycoons and fight for justice using the only power they have – solidarity.
The original production of NEWSIES opened on Broadway in 2012 and was slated to play only 100 performances but went on to play over 1,000 performances before touring and winning two Tony Awards®, including Best Original Score. The original production was filmed live on stage and released in cinemas in 2017.
Credit: Johan Persson
Now for the very first time, audiences in the UK have a chance to enjoy the thrill of one of the biggest Broadway hits of recent years. In an innovative and brand new production at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, theatregoers will be thrust right inside the action as the newsies dance, sing, jump and fly around the streets of a booming 19th century New York City.
NEWSIES is Directed and Choreographed by Olivier winner Matt Cole, with Set Design by Morgan Large, Musical Supervision, New Dance Arrangements & Musical Direction by Nigel Lilley, Costumes by Natalie Pryce, Lighting by Mark Henderson, Sound by Tony Gayle, New Orchestrations by Simon Hale, Performer Flying by John Maddox for Suspended Illusions Ltd, Casting by Lucy Casson, Children’s Casting by Jo Hawes, Fight Directors Rachel Bown-Williams & Ruth Cooper-Brown for RC Annie, Associate Director Rachael Nanyonjo, Associate Choreographer Jane McMurtrie, Associate Musical Director Chris Ma and Production Management by Lee Batty and Andy Fox for Setting Line.
Credit: Johan Persson
NEWSIES is produced by Tristan Baker & Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment, Gavin Kalin, Hunter Arnold, Kater Gordon and Dianne Roberts, by permission of Disney Theatrical Productions.
The smash-hit musical sensation The King & I is set to return to London’s West End next year starring Call The Midwife’s Helen George as Anna Leonowens following its current sold out UK tour.
Directed by Bartlett Sher (South Pacific / My Fair Lady / To Kill A Mockingbird), this Rogers and Hammerstein majestic masterpiece musical will open at London’s Dominion Theatre on 20 January for a strictly limited six-week season.
Helen George, known to millions over the past decade as Trixie in the hugely popular BBC One drama series Call The Midwife, will return to the stage to reprise the lead role she is currently playing to sold out theatres on tour across the UK. She will be reunited on the Dominion stage with her co-star, Broadway and film actor Darren Lee who played The King on Broadway. Both have been receiving rave reviews on tour, which continues until November this year.
Helen George said: “I am so delighted to continue to play the formidable Anna Leonowens in this incredible production of The King and I. I have really enjoyed playing such an incredibly strong character whilst on tour, but to play her on the West End stage is an honour.”
Producer Howard Panter said: “Our last London residency of this multi award-winning production at the London Palladium broke Box Office records, received critical acclaim and enjoyed standing ovations at every show – we were overwhelmed with the rapturous response. So we are thrilled to bring Helen George and Darren Lee who played The King in the Broadway production to the Dominion next year and offer West End audiences the chance to experience this wonderous production once more. This really is musical theatre at its very best.“
Following the original Broadway smash-hit run at the Lincoln Center Theatre, a sold-out season at the London Palladium (which resulted in the biggest live global event cinema release of 2018) and two record-breaking UK and International tours including Japan, this gloriously lavish production will be brought to the West End stage once again by an internationally renowned creative team under Tony Award-winning Bartlett Sher and feature a world-class company of over 50 talented performers and a full-scale orchestra.
The critical acclaim for Bartlett Sher’s production has been phenomenal. When the show opened at the London Palladium in 2018, West End critics heaped praise: the Daily Mail “left the London Palladium on a bright cloud of music”, while the The Times awarded the show “Five stars for a sumptuous King and I” declaring it “a hit” whilst The Daily Telegraph concurred proclaiming the show “looks and sounds ravishing”. Another five stars were awarded from the Sunday Express, Daily Express and the Financial Times called it “simply spellbinding”.
Set in 1860s Bangkok, The King and I tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher whom the modernist King, in an imperialistic world, brings to Siam to teach his many wives and children.
The King and I is a sumptuous, timeless romance from the golden age of musicals, adored by the public and critics alike – and boasting one of the finest scores ever written, including Whistle a Happy Tune, Getting to Know You, and Shall We Dance.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Dominion Theatre, 268/269 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7AQ
Press Night: Wednesday 14th February at 7:30pm
Performances: Tuesday – Saturday evening at 7:30pm
Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm
Theatre Royal Windsor – until Saturday 8 April 2023
Reviewed by Carly Burlinge
5*****
The Valley of Fear tells the story of a coded message received by Sherlock Holmes (Luke Barton) and Dr John Watson (Joseph Derrington). The message reveals that a murder has taken place in an old manor house in the Pennsylvanian Vermissa Valley within a secret society. As they both begin to unravel the clues, it leads them down a path of danger, darkness and deceit. The production opens with a tense beginning of all characters repeating sentences over and over that danger is upon them and Sherlock’s begins with the words ‘Brutal the most Brutal crime I’ve ever seen’ this immediately drawing you straight in to an impressive production.
Holmes plays his character on point going into great detail, he is chaotic at times and explores all aspects of the crime before our eyes with great expression, description and accurate speech. I think he plays a spectacular Holmes, keeping the audience gripped throughout. His partner, Doctor Watson also has much to offer he plays a patient character that’s observant as well as intelligent and together they make a great duo. His character comes across bold as he also narrates, walking us through the story, keeping us up to date with what’s happening as there is a lot going on. He does it fantastically well and is a joy to watch. I also loved how lighting was used during narrating. When interrogation arose, there was music in the background intensifying the moment, cleverly done and intriguing to watch. As the two work their way through crime it’s very apparent that there is emotion between the pair as the words are spoken ‘without Sherlock there is no game but without Sherlock there is no Watson’. This showing the steady friendship whilst fighting and uncovering crime.
With an interlocking story apparent the cast double up in roles and do this exceptionally well.
Although this production is quite intense it does offer the right amount of drama alongside some light comedy giving the show a great balance for viewing.
I really enjoyed watching this performance that offered a great story line with unexpected twists and plots.
I would definitely, recommend this show and if you’re a Sherlock fan you’ll enjoy it just that little bit more.
