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Old Red Lion Theatre – until 6 May 2023

Reviewed by Philip Brown

3.5***

This one woman show conceived, written and brilliantly performed by Collette Cooper is an extraordinary portrait of Janis Joplin, perhaps the ultimate American west coast “rock chick”, who shot to fame  in the second half of the 60s but was dead by October 1970 – an early member of the infamous 27 club (Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison & Grateful Dead’s Pigpen – all substance abuse related deaths at the age of 27).  The show’s title reflects her essential balls-out, “carpe diem” attitude to life.

I couldn’t smell patchouli, but the bijou theatre at the top of the Old Red Lion was decked out like a flower power emporium whilst a “head” in a kaftan offered spiritual drugs on entry.  Alongside  a central performance area, is Joplin’s small boudoir full of her iconic stage garb which gets whipped off and on as things progress, along with trolleys of her favourite poison – Southern Comfort.   Completing the picture, at the rear of the “main stage” was a very good three-piece band (the TSP band), playing the Big Brother & Holding Company role, delivering searing acid rock backing (Jack Parry as Sam Andrew on lead guitar, David Malek as James Gurley on bass and Jan Simson as Dave Getz on drums).

The show kicks off with one of Joplin’s later songs – “Tell Mama” – in which Cooper establishes her hard rocking credentials.  Joplin was renowned for her dynamic, uninhibited live performances and Collette Cooper emulates Joplin’s ferocious “on-stage” energy superbly throughout, with a singing voice that is a pretty close match to Joplin’s rasp without being quite as flexible.

Between songs, Cooper moves to the boudoir where we learn about Joplin’s life, from childhood in Port Arthur, Texas to discovering the blues, to Haight Ashbury, San Francisco and back.   Whilst these interludes are generally Southern Comfort fuelled, angst ridden reflection about not fitting in and other insecurities, they feel natural, convincing and surprisingly nuanced – a tribute to Cooper’s writing and performing skills.  Overall, it’s a sad story and despite apparently claiming to be at her happiest at the peak of her fame, and on the verge of a  triumphal return to Port Arthur as the first queen of rock,  deep down, you feel  Cooper as Joplin probably doesn’t fully buy it.

It is testament to Cooper’s magnetic story-telling that this 90 minute show (without interval) kept the audience gripped throughput and passed in a flash.  There were several moments of audience participation which were mostly charming and fun, but therein lies an issue with the show.  It’s attempting to create a feel-good right here right now, party atmosphere from an ultimately tragic story.

As a celebration of Joplin’s music, I could quibble about the choice of songs – no room for “Summertime”, “Down on Me” or “I Need a Man to Love” – and one or two more numbers would have been welcome, but if this show sends the audience back to the source, it will have succeeded.   

Overall, you have to admire Collette Cooper’s fine accomplishment.  In fact it’s a gas. Artistically, “Tomorrow May Be My Last” amounts to her magnum opus – a honed and well-constructed entertainment bringing a pioneering, but, these days, relatively obscure female musician back to life.  Commercially,  it taps right into the burgeoning  music nostalgia market.

Darlington Hippodrome – until 4th March 2023

Review by Stee Leahy

4****

A rock and roll revival for the people of today!

As I took my seat I was transported back to the 1950s with music softly playing from the era. It was a great way you settle the audience and set them up for the treat that was lying ahead. 

As the show starts, we as an audience are introduced to radio host and show narrator, ‘Hippockets Duncan’ played by the wonderfully diverse Thomas Mitchell, respectively.

He tells the tale of the leading chap ‘Buddy Holly’ played by Christopher Week and his two friends, the fun ‘Joe B Mauldin’ played by Joe Butcher and ‘Jerry Allison’, played by Josh Haberfield to great acclaim. The three friends form the band ‘Buddy Holly and the Crickets’. 

The story follows the band as they start off, firstly playing country music, performing for a local radio station in Texas, known as KDAV. However, Buddy sick of playing country and western music takes it upon himself to play his own style of music with the Crickets on a different radio station, Decca Records, this outrages KDAV!

Later Hippockets Duncan recommends Buddy to a new up and coming Record producer, Norman Petty and his wife Vi, played superbly again by Thomas Mitchell and Stephanie Cremona. Vi, a pianists helps Buddy and the Crickets work on smash hits ‘That’ll be the Day’ and ‘Everyday’. This scene in particular was excellently acted and captivating from start to finish. The chemistry was nothing less than perfect. 

As the story moves forward, we watch as Buddy and The Crickets shoot to fame with their smash hit ‘That’ll be the day’, and thanks to their single hitting the charts, the band set off on a national tour. 

Whilst on tour they arrive in Harlem. 

Here we meet two Apollo Performers, portrayed by the incredibly talented Samuelle Durojaiye and Laura-Dene Perryman. We watch as Buddy and the band try and win them both over. 

Later Buddy meets Maria Elena played by the enthrallingly captivating ‘Daniella Agredo Piper’ and asks for her hand in marriage after just 5 hours! 

The show takes a dramatic turn towards the end. 

The last chapter had everyone hooked. It was tense and brilliantly played by all involved. You could hear a pin drop. 

The show itself has a great feel of a concert, with the story being told in such a way that it complimented the hits of ‘Buddy Holly and the Crickets’.

The set was minimalistic but effective to say the least. Themed like a 50s cafe, it complemented the production perfectly. 

The costumes, I can imagine we’re very nostalgic to anyone from or who remembers the era. 

This production is the perfect treat for anyone who is a fan of Buddy Holly, the 50’s or good theatre! 

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR

TONY! [THE TONY BLAIR ROCK OPERA]

BY HARRY HILL & STEVE BROWN

‘Look anyone will tell you, I’m a pretty straight sort of guy.’ Tony Blair

A reckless reappraisal of the life of former Ugly Rumours front man and Britain’s first pop Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The full cast for the London run and UK Tour of Harry Hill and Steve Brown’s hilarious musical, TONY! [The Tony Blair Rock Opera] will be Jack Whittle as Tony Blair, Howard Samuels as Peter Mandelson, Tori Burgess as Cherie Blair, Phil Sealey as Gordon Brown, Martin Johnston as Neil Kinnock, Rosie Strobel as John Prescott, Sally Cheng as Robin Cook, Emma Jay Thomas as Princess Diana and William Hazell as on-stage cover.   Other characters featured in the musical, who are played by the cast, include Saddam Hussein, Liam Gallagher, Alastair Campbell, Osama Bin Laden and many more.

TONY! [The Tony Blair Rock Opera] will play a limited season in London’s West End at the Leicester Square Theatre from 15 April to 21 May, with a press night on 25 April.  The musical will tour the UK from 25 May, including Tony Blair’s previous constituency of Sedgefield and four weeks at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in association with Pleasance, with further dates to be added.

The musical tells the story of how one man went from peace-loving, long-haired hippy and would-be pop star to warmongering multimillionaire in just a couple of decades. Throw in a stellar cast of larger-than-life characters – Cherie Blair, Princess Diana, John Prescott, Peter Mandelson, Alastair Campbell, Osama bin Laden, George W Bush, Saddam Hussein and Gordon Brown – it’s Yes, Minister meets The Rocky Horror Show and a musical like no other.

Please note: Neither Tony Blair, the Tony Blair Institute, nor any other person featured in this production have endorsed the production or its marketing materials and are in no way affiliated with the production.

Jack Whittle’s theatre credits include the West End company of Mischief Theatre’s The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, first playing Sam Monaghan and later Mitch Villiers, the first UK Tour of Laura Wade’s Posh, playing Harry Villiers, and Mischief Theatre’s multi-award winning West End production of The Play That Goes Wrong at The Duchess Theatre. 

Howard Samuels was in the original cast of TONY! [The Tony Blair Rock Opera] when it premiered at Park Theatre last year.His recent credits include Jewish Hollywood (Upstairs at the Gatehouse), Max Detweiler in The Sound of Music (UK Tour), Nigel Bishop in The Cereal Cafe (The Other Palace) and his cabaret Unleashed (The Crazy Coqs).  His West End Theatre credits include Jorge in Tonight’s the Night (Victoria Palace Theatre), Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show (Duke of York’s Theatre) and Fyedka in Rebel in Paradise (Young Vic).

Tori Burgess was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role as Mary Bennet /Mister Collins/Lydia Bennet/Anne in Pride & Prejudice* (*Sort Of) at the Criterion Theatre.  Her other theatre credits include Beryl (Oldham Coliseum), Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh) and Margaret Saves Scotland (Traverse Theatre). 

Phil Sealey’s theatre credits include Robin Hood (Greenwich Theatre), Rehab The Musical (Playground Theatre, London), The Railway Children (Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton), Sounds and Sorcery (The Vaults), Fatbusters The Musical (Park Theatre) and Alice’s Adventures Underground (Les Enfants Terribles). 

Martin Johnston was in the original cast of TONY! [The Tony Blair Rock Opera] when it premiered at Park Theatre last year.  His other credits include Lindsay Turner’s acclaimed production of The Crucible(Olivier Theatre and NT Live), Mike Richards in the feature film Room 7 (won Best Actor in a Feature Film Award at the BSI Film Festival), the original cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I & II (Palace Theatre, London), the original West End cast of Footloose – The Musical(Novello Theatre) and The Postman Always Rings Twice(Playhouse Theatre, West End) opposite Val Kilmer. 

Rosie Strobel was in the original cast of TONY! [The Tony Blair Rock Opera] when it premiered at Park Theatre last year.  Her other theatre credits include Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act, My Fair Lady and Me And My Girl (Kilworth House Theatre) and Katisha in The Mikado, Iolanthe, HMS Pinafore, Trial By Jury (Charles Court Opera).  For eight years, Rosie was the lead vocalist with the London Breakbeat Orchestra, the UK’s first EDM 32-piece orchestra, performing at major UK festivals, recording two ‘Live at Maida Vale’ sessions for BBC Radio 1 and collaborating with superstar DJs, Swedish House Mafia and Goldie.  

Sally Cheng’s theatre credits include A Christmas Carol (RSC), The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 and 3/4 The Musical (Queen’s, Hornchurch), The Play That Goes Wrong (West End), Shadowlands (Chichester Festival Theatre) and Twelfth Night (RSC). 

Emma Jay Thomas has appeared as Cleo/Stuzzi/Emily Greenleaf in The Talented Mr Ripley (Faction Theatre Company: Wilton’s Music Hall, Vaults Festival and tour); Goddess u/s Miranda in The Tempest and Iras u/s Octavia/Charmian (RSC); the original company of Mamma Mia! (Prince Edward Theatre); Mimi and Gigi u/s Ellen in Miss Saigon (Theatre Royal Drury Lane and Tour); Meg in Merrily We Roll Along (Donmar Warehouse and Queen’s Theatre); Sarah in Ragtime (Piccadilly Theatre). 

William Hazell’s theatre credits include The Choir Of Man (NCL), Doctor Who Live (UK arena tour), Bayside The Musical (The Other Palace), Dinosaurs In The Wild (Birmingham NEC) and Titus Andronicus (Shakespeare’s Globe).  He has worked extensively with a number of different vocal harmony groups, most notably The Kings, The Eastcoast Boys, The Brit Tones, The Somebodys and The Four Harmonies.

TONY! [The Tony Blair Rock Opera] is directed by Peter Rowe, with set and costume design by Libby Watson, lighting design by Mark Dymock, sound design by Richard Brooker, choreography by Francesca Jaynes and casting by Debbie O’Brien.  The Park Theatre production of TONY! [The Tony Blair Rock Opera] is produced in the West End and on tour by Nicholson Green Productions.

For more information, visit www.tonyblairrockopera.co.uk

Twitter and Instagram: @tonyrockopera

LISTINGS INFORMATION

15 April – 21 May 2023

Leicester Square Theatre

6 Leicester Place

London WC2H 7BX

Performances vary, so please check the website

Box Office: 020 7734 2222

Website: leicestersquaretheatre.com

Tickets: from £26.50

Running Time at Leicester Square Theatre: 2 hours (inc. interval)

Suitable for 14+

TOUR SCHEDULE

25 May – 3 June             Guildford Yvonne Arnaud                                                                   01483 44 00 00                

                                  www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk                

7 – 10 June                      Birmingham Rep                                                                                  0121 236 4455

                                          www.birmingham-rep.co.uk                                                            

14 – 17 June                    Cardiff New Theatre                                                                             0343 310 0041

                                          www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk                                                        

21 – 24 June                    Richmond Theatre                                                                                 

                                          www.atgtickets.com/Richmond                                                      

27 June – 1 July              Brighton Theatre Royal                                                                        

                                         www.atgtickets.com/Brighton                                                                     

3 – 8 July                           Bath Theatre Royal                                                                              01225 448844

                                          Theatreroyal.org.uk                                                                              

11 – 15 July                      Chester Storyhouse                                                                             01244 409113

                                          storyhouse.com                                                                                      

18 – 22 July                      Malvern Festival Theatre                                                                    01684 892277

                                          www.malvern-theatres.co.uk                                                          

24 – 26 July                      Darlington Hippodrome                                                                      01325 405405

                                          www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk                                               

27 – 29 July                      Sedgefield Parish Hall                                                                          

                                          www.eventbrite.com/e/tony-the-tony-blair-rock-opera-tickets-537360799617   

2 – 27 August                 Edinburgh Pleasance at EICC (Venue 150)                                      020 7609 1800/0131 556 6550 

                                   www.pleasance.co.uk                                                                         

2 – 7 October                 Salford The Lowry                                                                                 0161 876 2015

                                         www.thelowry.com                                                                              

Further dates to be added

ANCHORS AWAY! BIRMINGHAM STAGE COMPANY ANNOUNCE CAST AS THEY SET SAIL FOR THE TERRIBLE THAMES RIVER TOUR

Birmingham Stage Company today announce the cast coming aboard the Terrible Thames. This is a unique immersive theatrical tour taking in prime historical locations such as The Tower of London, Parliament, Shakespeare’s Globe, and the Golden Hinde. It sets sail on Saturday 1 April, with press performances on 11 and 12 April, and voyages until October 29 2023.

Neal Foster captains his crew Jake Addley, Rob Cummings, James Elliot, Andrew Franklin, Harriet Munday, Roger Parkins, Harry Sutherland, Dominic Treacy and Nathan Zammit on this maritime adventure, where audiences learn about the horrible history of London and the Thames.

Actor/Manager of Birmingham Stage Company, Neal Foster said today: “When we launched Terrible Thames in 2021, I could never have imagined it would be become such a popular attraction in such a short time. We have been overwhelmed by the positivity about London it has generated and can’t wait to hit the waves again this year”.

Birmingham Stage Company presents

TERRIBLE THAMES

by Terry Deary and Neal Foster

Directed by Neal Foster;Design by Jackie Trosudale;Music by Matthew Scott; Sound by Nick Sagar; Choreography by Kenn Oldfield 

Saturday 1 April – Friday October 29, 2023

Horrible Histories proudly presents its wicked river tour of the Terrible Thames. Climb aboard and hear the horrible history of the most famous river in the world!

Tremble in terror at the Tower! Sizzle at the Savoy! Give Cleopatra the needle! Be washed away at Westminster! Lose yourself in Lambeth! Get gobsmacked by the Globe! Hold onto your head at London Bridge and escape from Execution Dock!

Dive with Horrible Histories into the stories of King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Julius Caesar, Queen Boudicca, Jack the Ripper and Captain Kidd, in this history of the Thames with the nasty bits left in.

Terry Deary is the creator of Horrible Histories and one of Britain’s best-selling authors of the 21st Century. He’s also the tenth most-borrowed author in British libraries. There are around 50 Horrible Histories titles with total sales of 25 million in 40 countries. Deary is also the author of over 200 fiction and non-fiction books for young people including his series of books Dangerous Days.

Neal Foster directs. He is Actor/Manager of Birmingham Stage Company which since its foundation in 1992 has staged over one hundred productions. The company has become one of the world’s leading producers of theatre for children and their families, including Horrible Histories Live on Stage for eighteen years in the UK, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia. Foster has directed and co-written all of the most recent Horrible Histories shows including Barmy Britain – Parts One, Two, Three, Four and Five, and Terrible Tudors (Garrick Theatre, Apollo Theatre and Sydney Opera House), Groovy Greeks and Incredible Invaders for a national tour and Wicked Warwick at Warwick Castle. His first fictional adaptations were David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, both of which transferred to the Garrick Theatre, and were nominated for an Olivier Award.

Jake Addley’s theatre credits include Peter Pan, Aladdin, and Snow White (South Hill Park), Mother Courage, Teechers, Animalphabet  (UK tour), Cartoon Network (International tour), The Gruffalo,  The Gruffalo’s Child (West End, UK/International tour) & The Gruffalo (West End, UK & International tour), OiFrog! (UK tour).

Rob Cummings’ theatre credits include Treasure Island (EM Forster Theatre), Fear & Misery of the Third Reich (UK schools tour), War of the Worlds (Metal Exchange), Aladdin (Kingdom International Theatre), The Greatest Liar in all the World (Greenwich Theatre, Bristol Old Vic), The Little Mermaid (QE2 Dubai), Only Fools and Horses (West End, Australia tour, Edinburgh Festival), Beauty and The Beast (Woodville Theatre), Peter Pan (Theatre Royal Margate), Dracula (Kings Head Theatre), Fawlty Towers (West End and nationwide tour), The Wizard of Oz (Abney Park), and Tom, Dick & Harry (Dugdale Centre).

James Elliot’s theatre credits include Birmingham Stage CompaniesBillionaire Boy (UK tour).

Andrew Franklin’s theatre credits include Beauty and The Beast (Courtyard, Hereford), Rapunzel (UK tour, Immersion Theatre)

Harriet Munday makes her professional debut in Terrible Thames.

Roger Parkins’ theatre credits include The Lion King (Disneyland Paris), Hamlet (European castle tour), Cinderella (Stephen Joseph Theatre), Next time I’ll Sing to you (Orange Tree Theatre), The Glass Protegé (Park Theatre), Let’s Pause There (The King’s Head Theatre), and Catnip (Arts Theatre).  His film credits include Followers, and Sweet Potatoes. He was nominated for Best Male Narrator for the Audie Awards 2022.

Harry Sutherland’s theatre credits include for Birmingham Stage Company Awful Auntie (UK tour), and Tom Gates (UK tour and UAE tour).  Henry V, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and Twelfth Night (Pendley Shakespeare Festival).For The English Theatre Company, Curious Adventures of Jack Todd, D.I.Y. and Dream On (European tour). And for film, Shadows.

Dominic Treacy’s theatre credits include Buttons in Cinderella (Upstage Productions) Timms in The History Boys (Wolverhampton Grand) The Musical of Musicals, (The Musical!) (Hope Street Theatre).

Nathan Zammit’s theatre credits include The Full Monty and, On Your Feet, (UK tours).

Horrible Histories: Terrible Thames

Listings

Tower Bridge Quay

St Katharine’s Way, London E1W 1LD

https://terriblethames.seetickets.com/

Saturday 1 April – Friday 29 October

Press performance: [xx] and [xx]

Tickets from £15

Family tickets:

£60.00 (1 adult and 3 children)

£70.00 (2 adults and 2 children)

FOLLOWING ITS FINAL PERFORMANCE IN

LONDON’S WEST END AT THE FORTUNE THEATRE

SUSAN HILL’S

THE WOMAN IN BLACK

TO TOUR THE UK

OPENING

WEDNESDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 2023

AT THE

WOLVERHAMPTON GRAND THEATRE

PW Productions is delighted to announce that Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black will embark on a UK Tour, opening at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre on Wednesday 6 September 2023, following the production’s final performance in the West End at The Fortune Theatre tomorrow, Saturday 4 March. Following Wolverhampton, the tour will visit Cardiff, Billingham, Buxton, Aylesbury, Southend, Richmond, Poole, Nottingham, Liverpool, Norwich, Truro, York, Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton, Ipswich, Glasgow, Milton Keynes, Dartford, High Wycombe and Crewe. Further tour dates and casting to be announced.

Over 33-years THE WOMAN IN BLACK has played over 13,000 performances in the West End and been seen by over 7-million people in the UK. In June 2019 the production celebrated its 30^th Anniversary in London’s West End with a special gala performance.

Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s best-selling novel tells the story of a lawyer obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over his family by the spectre of a ‘Woman in Black’. He engages a young actor to help him tell his story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul. It begins innocently enough, but as they delve further into his darkest memories the borders between make-believe and reality begin to blur and the flesh begins to creep.

Following a Christmas production in 1987 at a pub in Scarborough, THE WOMAN IN BLACK was brought to Hammersmith’s Lyric Theatre in January 1989. Reviews were sufficiently encouraging (apart from The Independent, who regretted the production’s inability to incorporate a live dog) to warrant a West End run. Its West End tour started at the Strand (now Novello) Theatre in March and moved to the Playhouse in April, finally lodging at the Fortune on June 7, 1989.

Throughout the production’s run in the West End and during its many tours the producer has been determined to keep ticket prices within the range of students and young people. This policy will continue in whatever form the play and production take in the future.

THE WOMAN IN BLACK is directed by Robin Herford, with designs by Michael Holt and lighting by Kevin Sleep.

CASTING ANNOUNCED

FOR

CURVE AND SADLER’S WELLS PRODUCTION

OF THE MUSICAL
42^nd STREET

STARRING

RUTHIE HENSHALL AS ‘DOROTHY BROCK’

ADAM GARCIA AS ‘JULIAN MARSH’

LES DENNIS AS ‘BERT BARRY’
AND

NICOLE-LILY BAISDEN AS ‘PEGGY SAWYER’

OPENING AT

CURVE, LEICESTER ON

WEDNESDAY 17^th MAY 2023
FOLLOWED BY A SEASON AT SADLER’S WELLS

FROM WEDNESDAY 7^th JUNE 2023

David Ian for Crossroads Live and Jonathan Church Theatre Productions are pleased to announce that Olivier Award-winning actress Ruthie Henshall will star as Dorothy Brock, alongside Olivier-nominee Adam Garcia as Julian Marsh, stage and TV personality Les Dennis as Bert Barry and Nicole-Lily Baisden as Peggy Sawyer in 42^nd STREET at Curve, Leicester and Sadler’s Wells.

They will be joined by Sam Lips as Billy Lawlor, with Erica-Jayne Alden, George Beet, Charlie Bishop, Briana Craig, Ashleigh Graham, Alyn Hawke, Aimee Hodnett, Connor Hughes, Sarah-Marie Maxwell, Ben Middleton, Benjamin Mundy, Anthony Ofoegbu and Jessica Wright.

The production opens at Curve, Leicester on Wednesday 17^th May 2023, followed by a season at Sadler’s Wells, London from Wednesday 7^th June 2023 before embarking on a UK tour. Further casting for the tour will be announced in due course. 42ndstreettour.com

Ruthie Henshall recently appeared as Tosca in a reimagining of Sondheim’s Passion at the Hope Mill Theatre. Her extensive theatrical credits include Grizabella in Cats, Fantine in Les Miserables, Nancy in Oliver!, Roxie Hart, Velma Kelly and Mama Morton in Chicago, Mrs Wilkinson in Billy Elliot and Amalia Balash in She Loves Me, for which she won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Throughout her career she has also appeared in the original London productions of Miss Saigon, Children of Eden, Crazy for You, The Woman in White, Peggy Sue Got Married and Marguerite. Henshall also tours across the UK, USA and Australia as a concert performer, and previously appeared in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! In 2020.

Adam Garcia’s theatre credits include The Artilleryman in The War of the Worlds, Damien Karras in The Exorcist, Fiyero in Wicked, and Bill Calhoun in Kiss Me, Kate and Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever, both of which received Olivier Award nominations for his roles. His film credits include Kenneth Branagh’s Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Coyote Ugly and Riding in Cars with Boys. Adam recently appeared as a finalist in the UK series of The Masked Dancer, finishing in second place.

Les Dennis most recently starred as Grandad Trotter in Only Fools and Horses The Musical. His other West End credits include Wilbur in Hairspray opposite Michael Ball at the London Coliseum, Amos Hart in Chicago and Bill in Me and My Girl. His touring theatre credits include Art, Legally Blonde, High School Musical 2 and Uncle Fester in the musical comedy The Addams Family. His many TV credits include Michael Rodwell in Coronation Street and a fictional version of himself in Extras.

Nicole-Lily Baisden’s theatre credits include the role of Nabulungi in The Book of Mormon, both in the West End and on tour, and Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes at the Barbican Theatre and on tour.

Sam Lips’theatre credits include the role of Don Lockwood in Singin’ In The Rain and Scott Hastings in Strictly Ballroom, both in the UK and Canada. His Broadway credits Cats, Chicago, Pippin, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and The Cher Show.

This new production will be directed by Jonathan Church (Singin’ in the Rain, The Drifters Girl) with choreography and design by Olivier Award winners Bill Deamer and Rob Jones, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Ian Dickinson and Gareth Tucker, video design by Jon Driscoll, musical supervision by Jennifer Whyte and orchestrations by Larry Blank.

This iconic song-and-dance spectacular features a hit parade of toe-tapping songs, including the title number, “We’re In The Money”, “Lullaby of Broadway”, “Shuffle Off To Buffalo” and “I Only Have Eyes For You”. 42^nd STREET is a timeless and inspiring showbiz fairy tale that combines breath-taking tap dance routines, backstage intrigue, classic romance and delightful comedy to dazzling effect.

Fresh off the bus from small-town America, young and beautiful Peggy Sawyer arrives in New York City dreaming of her name in lights. She quickly catches the eye of a big-time director and lands a spot in the chorus line of Broadway’s newest show…and when the leading lady gets injured, Peggy gets her shot at stardom.

42^nd STREET is a larger-than-life, massively entertaining celebration of musicals and the irrepressible spirit of Broadway that’s guaranteed to lift anyone’s spirits. 

42^nd STREET has music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin, and book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, based on the novel by Bradford Ropes. Original direction and dances were by Gower Champion. The show was originally produced on Broadway by David Merrick.

The use of all songs is by arrangement with Warner Bros. and EMI Publishing Ltd.

WORLD PREMIERE 

OF

STRANGER THINGS: 

 THE FIRST SHADOW

A NEW STORY LIVE ON STAGE

TO OPEN IN LONDON’S WEST END, 2023

DETAILS OF PRIORITY ACCESS TO TICKETS ANNOUNCED TODAY

Based on an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne and Kate Trefry, STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW, a new play written by Kate Trefry, will receive its world premiere in late 2023 at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End, directed by Stephen Daldry with co-direction by Justin Martin. 

Produced by Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions,the play will go on sale this spring, details of which will be announced later this month.  The Duffer Brothers act as creative producers, with 21 Laps as associate producer.

Priority access to tickets will be given to fans who register from today at:

strangerthingsonstage.com

This new play by Kate Trefry, a writer and co-executive producer for the TV series of Stranger Things, will be rooted in the mythology and world of the Netflix global phenomenon.  

Hawkins, 1959: a regular town with regular worries. Young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister won’t take his radio show seriously and Joyce Maldonado just wants to graduate and get the hell out of town. When new student Henry Creel arrives, his family finds that a fresh start isn’t so easy… and the shadows of the past have a very long reach.

Brought to life by a multi-award-winning creative team, who take theatrical storytelling and stagecraft to a whole new dimension, this gripping new adventure will take you right back to the beginning of the Stranger Things story – and may hold the key to the end.

Created by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things debuted on Netflix on 15 July 2016. Its fourth season (released in 2022) tops the Netflix Most Popular English TV list at #1 with 1.35 billion hours viewed; the third season released in 2019 still holds at #6 with 582.1 million hours viewed. The series has garnered over 70 awards worldwide including Emmys and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, and has been nominated for over 230 awards. Recently Stranger Things completed its record-breaking fourth season to huge acclaim, becoming the biggest premiere weekend ever for an English-language TV show on Netflix.

Matt and Ross Duffer said: “We are beyond excited about Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Collaborating with the brilliant Stephen Daldry has been nothing short of inspiring, and Kate Trefry has written a play that is at turns surprising, scary, and heartfelt. You will meet endearing new characters, as well as very familiar ones, on a journey into the past that sets the groundwork for the future of Stranger Things. We’re dying to tell you more about the story but won’t – it’s more fun to discover it for yourself. Can’t wait to see you nerds in London!”

Sonia Friedman said: “The world and mythology of Stranger Things has enabled a rich and fertile ground for creating an incredible story for the stage. The Duffer Brothers have built a huge global following for good reason, and a world-class creative team has built on their boundless imagination to dream up an unbelievably exciting theatrical event for our audiences. Set within the canon of Stranger Things, this new play opens in London, with the West End hosting the only place in the world to experience this new story – for now. I’m thrilled to reunite with my visionary long-term collaborator Stephen Daldry. Together, with our brilliant Netflix partners, we can’t wait to welcome Stranger Things fans into theatre, and theatregoers into the realm of Stranger Things.”

Greg Lombardo, VP Live Experiences for Netflix said, “Stranger Things has captured the imagination of fans around the world and we are incredibly thrilled to expand this exciting universe with Netflix’s first live stage production. With the creative talents of Matt and Ross Duffer combined with Sonia Friedman and Stephen Daldry, theatregoers will be swept up in a truly epic event worthy of Stranger Things.”

STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW will be directed by Stephen Daldry with co-director Justin Martin, set design by Miriam Buether, costume design by Brigitte Reiffenstuel, lighting design by Jon Clark, sound design by Paul Arditti, illusions design by Jamie Harrison & Chris Fisher, video design by 59 Productions, movement direction by Coral Messam, wigs, hair and make-up design by Campbell Young Associates, casting by Charlotte Sutton CDG, international casting consultancy by Jim Carnahan, Gary Beestone for Gary Beestone Associates is Technical Director, with further creative team members to be announced.

Further ticket information, on-sale details, performance schedule, full creative team and casting to be announced at a later date.

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Gigglemug Theatre presents

Scouts! The Musical

Premiering at The Other Palace for a limited run from 20th June – 2nd July 2023

Welcome to the annual Scout Games! Scouts from around the world have gathered to compete but when an intruder threatens to sabotage the competition, it is up to Joe and Ayesha to put aside their rivalries and use their newfound skills to save the day!

Created in partnership with The Scout Association, The Stage Award-winning
Gigglemug Theatre (Timpson: The Musical, RuneSical, The Bean Spillers: The Improvised Musical) return to The Other Palace with a brand new actor-musician led comedy musical for the whole family.

Praise for Timpson: The Musical, RuneSical & The Bean Spillers: The Improvised Musical:
★★★★★ LONDONTHEATRE1 ★★★★★ THEATRE WEEKLY

★★★★★ NORTH WEST END

The Scouts are a charity which teach skills for life to 58 million Scouts and Guides
worldwide, whom Team Gigglemug have been working closely with since 2019. Scouts!
The Musical was selected for BEAM2021 and, with a book written by Gigglemug AD Sam
Cochrane and a score by former Scout David Fallon, this heart-warming new musical has
everything from hypnotic tango dance breaks to a rock ballad between the Chief Scout
and his one true love, Mother Nature. To put it simply, this show is sheer FUN.

Praise for Timpson: The Musical, RuneSical & The Bean Spillers: The Improvised Musical:

Absolute bangers ★★★★ THE STAGE Comedic genius ★★★★ BROADWAY BABY

Laugh out loud funny ★★★★ MUSICAL THEATRE REVIEW

In recent years, Gigglemug Theatre has become known for partnering with different
organisations to create family-friendly comedy musicals and, as the company will be
turning five in 2023, this year will be no exception. However, this time Team Gigglemug
have a more important mission on their hands: through staging Scouts! The Musical they
hope to encourage young people to get involved with this incredible charity and go on
real life adventures of their own.

Tickets: https://theotherpalace.co.uk/scouts-the-musical

Twitter, Facebook & Instagram: @TheGigglemug Website: gigglemugcomedy.com

Drayton Arms Theatre – until 11 March 2023

Reviewed by Alisdar (Alec) Legge and Virginia Fick

The plot centred initially on the discovery of a murder victim. The play opened by Lady Honoria , the daughter (Rosalind Blessed) screaming followed by he butler Manning, (Christian Ballantyne) setting the scene by describing the various characters.

What followed was then then a farcical parody of a classic murder mystery play redolent of Agatha Christie et al. It was fast paced with plenty of entrances and exits. There were plenty of laughs ,including belly laughs, very fast paced conversations all in all a very enjoyable play of that genre and without giving the ending away lots of twists and turns.

It should be noted that some of dialogue was of its time, some sexual and mysogenic content included but none of which appeared to shock or upset the audience present and which were relevant to the storyline.

I would perhaps single out the performances of Holly Ashman, as the house girl and Helen Bang as the Lady Susan the dotty mystic, for particular praise. In addition Toby Wynn Davies, as the horrible patriarch, gave a really characterful performance. The other members of the cast, Rosalind Blessed the daughter, Peter Rae, the rake and the writer, together with Duncan Wilkins, the son, also gave tremendous performances.

The performers were well rehearsed and their timing during the play was excellent. The play was set in a pre World War ll country house and shabby period furniture which included a tatty chaise longue as a centrepiece. The lighting and sound effects were effective and on time. The players entered and exited via a black curtain covering the whole of the back of the stage and also by the entrance door to the theatre. The closeness of the actors to the audience gave a really intimate feel and the dialogue was very audible.

All in all a very amusing, funny play performed flawlessly by a very talented and professional cast which made for a n extremely pleasant evening at the theatre.

The Drayton Arms is situated on the 153, Old Brompton Road, SW5 0LJ, a 10 minute walk from either the Gloucester Underground Station, or from the Fulham Road, Beaufort Street bus stop.

The theatre is situated on the first floor of the building and accessed through the bar. There are two flights of steep stairs which lead to the theatre with no obvious disabled access. The theatre itself consists of a sloped seating area of about 50 seats with the performing area being the floor at the front of the seats.

EMPIRE THEATRE, LIVERPOOL – UNTIL SATURDAY 4TH MARCH 2023

REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN

4 ****

It is not often that a pantomime bags a true A-lister but this gleeful production of Mother Goose has accomplished just that with none other than the big screen’s Gandalf and Magneto. Oscar nominated star Sir Ian McKellen, who turns 84 in May, makes a triumphant return to pantomime damehood in this elated and joyous show, which premiered last night in Liverpool.

A fairy tale, with good versus evil, music, topical jokes, slapstick comedy and vibrant costumes. What at first may seem like a regular panto is laced with new ideas, themes and technical mastery, in this new production.

Add a spectacular creative team in the form of the very witty and clever Johnathan Harvey’s (Coronation Street and Gimme, Gimme, Gimme) script and director Cal McCrystal (The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and The Mighty Boosh). The imaginative and traditional sets by Liz Ascroft, who is also responsible for the splendid and expensive looking costumes, especially the animal garb and the ostentatious gowns Mother Goose wears. Along with Lizzi Gee’s spectacular choreography, wait till you see McKellen tap dance, is a winning formula!

Musically the show is impressive, the songs are merry and familiar, with a terrific pit band, directed by James Keay.

Liverpool born, John Bishop, in his West End debut is just charming as Vic, husband to Mother Goose. Together he and McKellen have the style and rapport with the audience that is required and all the chemistry of a comedy duo, who have been working together for years.

The audience is also treated to a little Shakespeare delivered by Ian McKellen, a versatile actor, who has been delivering the Bard’s lines longer then I’ve been alive. But we soon find that Bishop, a long-established staple of the comedy circuit, can navigate his way just as fine through Shakespearean verse, as well – the audience fell silent when they did, you could hear a goose feather drop.

The magic of pantomime never seems to fade, especially not when the new production of Mother Goose is hitting the road until April! It is a joyous celebration of the magic of live theatre.