SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE ANNOUNCES FULL CAST OF MIDSUMMER MECHANICALS
THURSDAY 9 JUNE 2022
Shakespeare’s Globe is delighted to announce the cast and company for Midsummer Mechanicalsopening in Sam Wanamaker Playhouse 28 July – 21 August.
The is the first time the Globe is premiering a full-scale production for families and young people. Midsummer Mechanicals is a co-production with Splendid Productions, directed by Lucy Cuthbertson and Kerry Frampton and written by Kerry Frampton and Ben Hales.
Midsummer Mechanicals is an hilarious new follow-up to the play-within-a-play from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, following Peter Quince’s troupe’s attempt to recapture the success of their first hit show, Pyramus and Thisbe.
Lucy Cuthbertson is the Co-Director of Education at Shakespeare’s Globe and was Artistic Director of Stantonbury Theatre. Lucy is a founding member of the theatre companies, Ridiculusmus and Kidbrooke Theatre Company – known as the most successful school-based theatre company in the UK, winning many awards including Fringe Report ‘Best Play’ for the world premiere of Hotel World, adapted from Ali Smith’s novel. Kerry Frampton is the Founder and Artistic Director of Splendid Productions and has directed, adapted, and performed in their annual creative adaptations of classic texts since 2004. Ben Hales is the Associate Director of Splendid Productions. Work includes: The Epic Adventures of Robin Hood and Red Riding Hood versus the Wolf (Stantonbury Theatre), Goldilocks and the Three Musketeers (Battersea Arts Centre), Scrooge and the Seven Dwarves’ (Theatre 503).
The Cast:
Melody Brown will play Patience Snout. Melody has recently worked for the RSC in Measure for Measure and The Taming of the Shrew. Previous theatre credits include: Henry V (Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory), House and Garden, Bubbles (Watermill Theatre, Newbury), Tamburlaine (Yellow Earth), Two Pairs of Eyes (Inroads Productions), Last Journey (Pentabus), The History Boys (Selladoor Productions), Freefolk (Forest Forge), Fungus the Bogeyman (Pilot Theatre), The Life of Pi (Twisting Yarns), The Firebird (Bolton Octagon). Screen credits include: Eastenders (BBC).
Sam Glen will play Francis Flute. Sam will appear in Three Day Millionaire (Shush Pictures), set to be released later this year. Previous theatre credits include: The Kitchen Sink, Star Cross’d (Oldham Coliseum), Letter to Boddah, The Visitors Book (Hopemill Theatre), King Lear (Royal Exchange Theatre and Birmingham Rep). Screen credits: Doc Martin (ITV), World’s End (CBBC), Coronation Street (ITV), The Street, Doctors (BBC) and Shameless (Channel 4).
Kerry Frampton will play Nicholas Bottom. Kerry is Artistic Director of Splendid Productions, clown, practitioner, director, theatre maker, writer, designer and musician. Previous theatre credits include I Love You, But… (Camden Peoples Theatre, The Vaults Festival), UBU (Splendid Tour), Wonders Wonders Wonders (Junction Theatre), Red Riding Hood versus The Wolf Hood, The Epic Adventures of Robin Hood (Stantonbury Theatre), The Odyssey, Woyzeck (UK & SE Asia Splendid Tour), Antigone, Medea, The Trial, Dr Faustus, The Good Woman of Szechuan, Animal Farm (Splendid UK Tour), The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (UK Tour/National Theatre’s ‘Watch This Space’ Festival), Carnival Messiah (West Yorkshire Playhouse/Queens Hall, Trinidad), A Change of Mind (Sadlers Wells), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (ADC Theatre). Directing credits include Sleeping Beauty & The Beast (BAC), Goldilocks & the Three Musketeers (BAC), Puss in Moon Boots, and The Legend of Moby Dick Whittington (online Living Room Adventure, from Sleeping Trees). Kerry also works as a visiting lecturer and director at LAMDA, LIPA and Trinity Laban.
Jamal Franklin will play Peter Quince. Previous theatre credits include King Lear (Duke of York’s Theatre), Sleeping Beauty & the Beast (BAC), Little Shop of Horrors (BJW), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Ireland), Lysistrata (Cockpit Theatre), Pornography (Royal & Derngate) and The Limit (Vaults Festival). Screen credits include Giddy Stratospheres (LJM), White Noise (Prism Productions), Crossing the Line (AlterEgo), Plunge (Grizzly Woof), Vloggers (Wild Street Productions), NT Live: King Lear (NT Live) and I’m Ok I Promise (Sun Catcher Productions).
The Company: Casting Director – Nicholas Hockaday Costume Supervisor – Sabia Smith Designer – Rose Revitt Directors – Lucy Cuthbertson and Kerry Frampton Production Manager – Jody Robinson Writers – Kerry Frampton and Ben Hales
World premiere of Bombay Superstar – a VHS generation Bollywood musical goes on tour UK Tour – October to November 2022
Award-winning Phizzical Productions are inviting audiences to hit the dancefloor with the world premiere of Bombay Superstar, a dazzling new Bollywood musical set in the sizzling disco era of the 1970s. This is a glamourous and scandalous story in the heart of the biggest film industry in the world – Bollywood. Bombay Superstar will mark the 50th production from the powerhouse team at Phizzical Productions and is co-produced with Belgrade Theatre Coventry and the New Wolsey Theatre.
Blurring the lines between reel and real-life events, this catchy retro musical is a passionate tale of a star-crossed romance between a fiery rising star and her married co-star which thrills and scandalises their star-struck fans.
Bombay Superstar is written and directed by the master of authentic Bollywood-inspired work Sâmir Bhamra (Bring on the Bollywood; Precious Bazaar), who is also the Artistic Director of Phizzical Productions. He comments, As a child from the VHS and Walkman generation living in Kenya, Bollywood films were more than a source of entertainment. The stories instilled a belief system, and the actors were our role models. These dynamic, melodramatic, and extravagant films were a ticket to dream and to unite South Asians globally. Growing up as a migrant in a working-class family in the UK, these films continued to be a compass, giving people hope to build their aspirations during unjust times. It has taken over 15 years to realise this dream production about the larger-than-life stories from the flamboyant Indian film industry and to have the courage and the belief that it can be presented on stage in a cinematic style. We are adorning it with iconic Bollywood hits from the 70s and 80s when a fusion of orchestral Indian music and international sounds created youthful upbeat rhythms. Infused with nostalgia, Bombay Superstar is a tribute to the grandeur, costumes, choreography, and scandalous secrets of Hindi movies for everyone to enjoy
Bombay Superstar will open in October amidst the global celebrations of the Diwali Festival of Light at the Belgrade Theatre Coventry and then visit Hall for Cornwall, The New Wolsey Theatre, The Lowry and MAST Mayflower Studios. With live music and exhilarating dancing, the production will bring the life of Bollywood to the stage, reinventing and platforming spectacular stories from Asian culture.
Bhamra adds, The romantic tragedy between up-and-coming starlet Laila and the superstar Sikandar is fraught with obstacles. The audience will simultaneously be immersed in the passion between the unlikely couple between the melodious pop and disco music such as Dekha Ek Khwab and Disco Deewane, played live by our talented musicians. Packed with entertainment equivalent to a Bollywood film, it’s the perfect evening out for the family. I sincerely hope everyone enjoys it as much as we have, while creating the show.
Bombay Superstar is delivered in English and sung in Hindi with subtitles throughout the show to allow accessibility for audiences throughout the country.
Phizzical Productions was founded in 2003 and has delighted, inspired, and nurtured people of all ages and backgrounds. As the company approaches its 20th anniversary year the investment in the rebrand and a new website marks an incredible moment as Phizzical Productions continues its mission to tell tomorrow’s stories today and distinguishes itself even more as a leading voice within the arts industry. Phizzical Productions are masters in producing world class entertainment bringing bold and adventurous South Asian arts and cultural experiences to audiences across the country. They are committed to challenging the status quo and promoting equality to bring new perspectives to stories that entertain and engage.
THE THREE SHORTLISTED WINNERS FOR THEIR BRAND-NEW ORGINALS PLAYWRITING AWARD
Original Theatre today announces the three shortlisted winning plays for their brand-new playwriting prize, the Originals Playwriting Award – Drew Hewitt for The Fall, Eilidh Nurse for Milesand Teunkie Van Der Sluijs for Tikkun Olam. Each of those shortlisted receive £2000, with the winner announced post the performances at Riverside receiving a further £5000.
Additional commendations were given to scripts submitted by Jessica Norma, Rachel Jade Tookey, Rebecca Jade Hammond, Tabitha Mortiboy, James Westphal, Timothy James Poultney, and Dave Florez, with each receiving £250.
Launched in collaboration with Riverside Studios, the award targets early career playwrights and aims to innovate theatrical opportunities and build support for a talented group of new voices. From June 30 to July 2 the winning scripts will be performed at Riverside, directed by Michael Boyd, Charlotte Peters, and Amelia Sears. Each will be filmed and streamed live by North South. On 30 June Miles by Eilidh Nurse directed by Amelia Sears, on1 JulyThe Fallby Drew Hewitt, directed by Charlotte Peters and finally, 2July Tikkun Olam by Teunkie Van Der Sluijs directed by Michael Boyd.
Alastair Whatley, Artistic Director of the Original Theatre Company said today “Choosing 3 plays to present from the hundreds of entries has been as challenging as it has been rewarding. However, I couldn’t be more delighted that our judges have chosen 3 superb new plays from 3 very exciting writers which each offer a brilliant new voice exploring big, complex, and human stories with nuance, wit, and empathy. My thanks to all the writers who submitted plays and huge congratulations to Eilidh, Drew and Teunkie our winning writers, I cannot wait to see the plays on stage at Riverside Studios at the end of the month.”
Drew Hewitt: “Winners of open submission Playwriting Awards are very lucky. Not lucky they win, lucky there are companies like Original Theatre who still believe it’s vital to create opportunities for diverse new voices to be heard.”
Eildh Nurse: “The Originals Playwriting Award is an incredible opportunity for writers, and as an emerging writer I feel really honoured to be one of the winners this year. I’m so excited and grateful for the chance to develop my play alongside this team.”
Teunkie Van Der Sluijs:“I never had the guts to write an original piece – let alone in English, which isn’t my first language – until I penned this play in an espresso-fuelled sprint of early mornings and late nights. So having this support from the Original Theatre, Riverside Studios and Michael Boyd is beyond exciting and I’m immensely grateful to all.”
MILES
By Eilidh Nurse
Directed by Amelia Sears
Thursday 30 June 7:15pm
“I feel like I’ve lost all this time.”
Somewhere in Scotland, miles from anywhere, Bobby’s Caravan Park is struggling, in fact it’s crumbling. Janie is the only employee and she’s been stuck out here for longer than she cares to admit – and she’s drinking more than she’s willing to admit, yet frankly who cares anymore? Ed can’t pass the Tesco quiz, he can’t go out in the rain without his cag in a bag, he can’t drive, and he can’t help who he’s related to. But at least he’s got a new job… at Bobby’s Caravan Park. Hopes, dreams and families collide in this searing, tender yet funny play that asks what it means to process our past and the traumas that lie within.
Eilidh Nurse is an emerging writer. She was a member of the Traverse Theatre Young Writers Programme, one of three winners of the Rose Theatre Kingston’s 2019 New Writing Festival, long-listed for the 2020 inaugural Women’s Prize for Playwriting, reached the top ten percent of submissions for the 2020 Verity Bargate Award at Soho Theatre, short-listed for the 2020 Theatre503 International Playwriting Award and reaching the top one percent of Hampstead Theatre’s 2021 Open Script Submissions process. Nurse currently works as New Work Assistant at the National Theatre, having previously held the role of Assistant Producer at both the Watermill Theatre, Newbury, and the Glasgow-based theatre company Wonder Fools.
THE FALL
By Drew Hewitt
Directed by Charlotte Peters
Friday 1 July 7:15pm
“It’s never the fall that kills you…It’s the landing.”
Whoever said that. Is wrong. It’s the fall.’ Janet and Liam are happily married until she stops stalking to him. And everybody else. To diagnose her loss of speech she begins seeing a psychiatrist who starts to probe at a secret buried in the depths of Janet’s psyche, the revelation of which has profound and lasting implications not just for her but the entire family. Drew Hewitt’s masterful play examines with wit, humour, and searing honesty the complex ideas surrounding free will, love and the painful truths of existence.
Drew Hewitt is a writer and visual artist. His playwriting credits include Another Greenland (longlisted for Bruntwood Prize, shortlisted for Papatango New Writing Award), Credo, A Smoking Revolver and Jumbo. His screenwriting credits include Hot Date, No Strings (Commissioned by ITV), Private Lives, If you See Kate, Swipe Right, The Man Who Was Thursday (adapted from the novel by G K Chesterton), The Scent of A Question Burning, White, Like Snow, The Mutt Hour. In 2015 he was invited to become an Open Session Writer at Bristol Old Vic Theatre.
TIKKUN OLAM
By Teunkie Van Der Sluijs
Directed by Michael Boyd
Saturday 2 July 7:15pm
In everything you do, you must seek the opportunity to repair the world. Steve Alexander is preparing to stand as a labour MP for the Westminster constituency. As part of his campaign, he is backing the building of a holocaust memorial near parliament square, to help the campaign gain traction. Steve and his campaign manager Dan invite social influencer Leah on board as a one woman focus group. As Dan, Steve and Leah try and persuade the divided community to back the memorial their own motivations are challenged as the political and personal ties between them are tested to the very limit. A powerful, funny, intelligent political drama, that looks at the stark contrast in views and voices in and around our capital, the ever-growing divisions between the generations, and the challenging task of mending and learning to ensure we do and are better.
“I stand here and try and make sense of all the voices and I can’t hear my own anymore.”
Teunkie Van Der Sluijsis a Dutch-British theatre-maker, working predominantly as a director in the UK and in Europe. He is Head of Artistic Development at the Young Vic, having been Creative Associate there since 2019. His translations and adaptations have been performed Off-Broadway and in a range of festivals, venues and tours in Britain and the Netherlands. Tikkun Olam is his first play. As a director, his work includes the trilogy Clybourne Park, Beneatha’s Place and A Raisin in The Sun (International Theatre Amsterdam for Well Made Productions) for which he received the 2017 Amsterdam Award for the Arts. He also directed the Netherlands premières of The Mountaintop (De Meervaart Theatre), Water Dragers (Het Zuidelijk Toneel), Lungs (Compagnie Theatre) and Motor Town (Rozen Theatre). In the UK, he has directed Hate (Barbican – was shortlisted for the Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Award), Yasser (Assembly Rooms Edinburgh, Arcola London, Chopin Theatre Chicago and Royal Theatre The Hague), Winter (Orange Tree Theatre), and Women Laughing (Old Red Lion, Off West End Award Nomination for Best Director). He was Resident Director for global entertainment company Imagine Nation on Anne: The Diaries of Anne Frank at Theatre Amsterdam, and previously worked at HOME Manchester, as Staff Director at the National Theatre and as Trainee Director at the Orange Tree Theatre.
ORIGINAL THEATRE
Operating and touring since 2004 the Original Theatre Company has toured extensively all over the UK and since 2020 have launched Original Theatre Online, producing a number of acclaimed online productions.
Recent online productions include Birdsong, Apollo 13: The Dark Side of the Moon, The Haunting of Alice Bowles, Barnes’ People, A Splinter of Ice with live streaming of Being Mr Wickham, A Cold Supper Behind Harrods, The System into the Night, and The Red.
Recent stage productions include The Hound of the Baskervilles, A Splinter of Ice, The Croft, Sarah Waters’ The Night Watch, Stephen Jeffreys’ Valued Friends (co-production with Rose Theatre Kingston), Torben Betts’ Caroline’s Kitchen (originally Monogamy), Alan Bennett’s The Habit of Art, Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, Frederick Knott’s Wait Until Dark, Torben Betts’ Invincible, Emlyn Williams’ Night Must Fall, Terence Rattigan’s Flare Path, and the award-winning tours of Sebastian Faulks’s Birdsong adapted by Rachel Wagstaff.
Other productions include Three Men in a Boat (a co-production with the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, 2014 & 2015), the 50th anniversary production of Sir Peter Shaffer’s The Private Ear and The Public Eye, Our Country’s Good, See How They Run, Twelfth Night, Dancing at Lughnasa, Shakespeare’s R&J, Vincent in Brixton, The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Othello, and The Madness of George III – starring the late, great Simon Ward, Journey’s End.
For over 45 years, RIVERSIDE STUDIOS has been the home of an extraordinary mix of theatre, film, comedy, art, dance, music and television. A cultural hub that has attracted some of the world’s best creative talent including Samuel Beckett, David Bowie, Benjamin Zephaniah, Amy Winehouse, Yoko Ono, Allen Ginsberg, Tadeusz Kantor, Lenny Henry and Michael Clark to name but a few, and TV studios that brought us much loved shows including Doctor Who, Top of the Pops and TFI Friday from the past, through to Have I Got News for You and Eggheads today.
Now, after a total redevelopment of our site, we are beginning our next creative chapter, driven by a belief in the power of creativity to bring people together, unlock potential and spark positive change in the world. We are for our community, our artists, and our audiences. We will seek out bold, innovative new ways for audiences to experience the arts, and for artists to tell their stories. Riverside Studios. We’re brand new again.
North South is a production company specialising in stage to screen led by director / producers Matt Hargraves and Sarah Butcher. It makes creative performance capture and original work for live stream, on demand, broadcast and cinema. Its work lives in the intersection of film and live performance, finding opportunities to blend genre and push boundaries to translate stage to screen through a cinematic lens with atmosphere and authenticity.
Credits include: HYMN (Sky Arts), and breathe… and The Tragedy of Macbeth for Almeida Theatre, Constellations for Donmar Warehouse, Shedding a Skin for Soho Theatre, The Rocky Horror Show (European Live Cinema Broadcast – Trafalgar Releasing) for Trafalgar Entertainment, Out West for Lyric Hammersmith, The Bolds (YouTube) for Unicorn Theatre, Lost Paradise for Lost Dog and The Place. For Original Theatre North South filmed live and streamed Into the Night, Being Mr Wickham and A Cold Supper Behind Harrods.
Following three sold-out West End runs and a smash hit UK tour, Death Drop is back! The drag murder mystery sensation is returning with a brand-new show: Death Drop: Back In The Habit. Touring across the UK from this autumn, the new production – written by Rob Evans and directed once again by Jesse Jones – kicks off on 27 October in Bromley. The laugh-a-minute show will then visit Dartford, Wycombe, Cardiff, Crewe and Sheffield until 14 January 2023, with further venues to be announced.
From the producers who brought Courtney Act, Monet X Change, Willam, Jujubee and Latrice Royale to theatres across the country, Death Drop Back In The Habit promises to be another “killer show…that absolutely slays.”
TuckShop Creative Director and Producer Christopher D. Clegg said: “We cannot wait to sashay onto the road again with the next chapter in the ridiculous Death Drop saga, this time with a gaggle of fabulous drag NUNS! Audiences are in for a real treat as this hilarious comedy puts a whole new spin on murder, religion and of course Drag. You will NOT want to miss this outrageous show.”
Death Drop Back In The Habit sees a gaggle of fabulous Nuns trapped in their Convent with a serial slayer slashing their way through the Sisters. As the clues are unearthed by Sis Marple, you’ll be laughing in the pews as the hilarious, fierce, all-drag killer comedy comes to its thrilling and uproarious conclusion.
Casting will be announced soon.
Death Drop Back In The Habit – UK Tour Dates 2022/23
THE 2022 PANTOMIME STARRING RICKY CHAMP, GEMMA HUNT, MARK RHODES & DAVID RIBI 10 – 31 DECEMBER 2022 TICKETS ON SALE & AVAILABLE TO BOOK HERE
With plenty of swash and buckle, Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Tinker Bell take up their residency this Christmas at Fairfield Halls
UK Productions and BH Live are proud to present a super swashbuckling family adventure Peter Pan – The Return of Captain Hook, flying into Fairfield Halls Croydon from the 10th to 31ST December. The star-studded cast, headed up by EastEnders bad boy Ricky Champ as ‘Captain Hook’ and Gemma Hunt as ‘Tinker Bell’, promises to be a fabulous festive production with guaranteed fun, laughs and adventure! With galleons of entertainment, fantastic flying effects, an acrobatic pirate crew, and possibly the hungriest crocodile you’ll ever see, join the adventure this festive season.
Joining Ricky Champ and Gemma Hunt are CBBC and Crackerjack’s Mark Rhodes as ‘Smee’ and Channel 5 Milkshake! presenter David Ribi as ‘Peter Pan’.
Join Peter, Smee, Tinker Bell, Emily and Ethel Mermaid on a brand-new swashbuckling adventure full of fun, laughter … and crocodiles!
After defeating the evil Captain Hook and his crew of prancing pirates, life has been pretty perfect for Peter Pan. But when a stranger arrives in Neverland, he is forced to question his past and face his future. Will Peter ever grow up?
And then there are the rumours …
That a certain someone survived the stormy seas and is seeking revenge! Have you heard them too? People are saying … that Hook is back!
So watch out … he might be behind you!
David Ribi said, “I cannot wait to fly on over to Fairfield Halls and share this brand new adventure with the amazing Croydon audiences! My first ever time playing Peter Pan was at Fairfield Halls back in 2013, and so it seems only fitting to return a decade later with this exciting sequel to the original story! See you all in Neverland!”
Mark Rhodes said, “I can’t wait to get started and am delighted to be playing the role of Smee, what fun! Peter Pan is an iconic story and a show the whole family will enjoy. I’m honoured to be treading the boards at the wonderful Croydon Fairfield Halls, it’s going to be an awesome Christmas!”
Gemma Hunt said, “I’m really looking forward to getting my skates on again to reprise my alter ego Tinker Bell at the Fairfield Halls this Christmas. This glitter-tastic feisty fairy is ready to have some fun in Neverland with my good friends.”
Not to be missed, tickets and group bookings are available from bhlivetickets.co.uk with special early bird rates and super schools offers also available.
The ink is still drying on this contemporary political thriller. Crime writer Hilary Bonner debuts her first play, rewritten four times to keep it relevant, before reaching the stage. The opening scenes could be taken from today’s national news headlines, they are so fresh.
As an audience we enter any thriller, settling into an investigative ‘who dunnit’ mind set. Dead Lies does not disappoint and has the added strength of a daring current political setting. This includes women at front and centre of the story line, providing contrasting dark and light characters, rather than used as a device for a male orientated plot. Portia Booroff (Jo George) develops her character, building Jo into a dangerously passionate, formidable finale. Alicia Charles (Kate Compton) presents integrity and honesty in a murky world of scandal and lies. All through Jeremy Edwards (Peter George) is believable in his portrayal of a politician we all wish for, hope for and want to believe in. Even he in the end is tripped up by his own promises and past indiscretions. Some of Andrew McDonald’s (Alan Parfit) delivery is not 100% clear, which is hard when delivering important dialogue. However, Andrew transports the audience back to an era when tabloids and the paparazzi were at their worst. He is a news editor always after a good story, balancing this with his endeavours to print the truth.
This is a grown up thriller that keeps the audience engaged from start to finish. A great first foray for Hilary Bonner, into the tough world of thriller writing. She manages to raise the bar above your average ‘whodunnit’ murder mystery.
Following its hugely successful run at London’s Dominion Theatre and after numerous successful world wide tours. We Will Rock You returns in a re-imagined production. Purists be warned, it still has all the hits of Queen and it’s still scripted by Ben Elton, but there have been script tweaks and the addition of one or two extra songs.
The storyline is set on the futuristic i-planet, which was formerly known as Earth. All the people are programmed to look, think and dress the same. The planet and everything in it is controlled by the giant corporation Global Soft. Musical instruments are banned and only computer simulated “music” is allowed by Global Soft. But there are rebels searching for their “Dreamer” who will help to restore live music and free thought.
The Dreamer is social outcast, Galileo (Ian McIntosh) and his rebellious and sarcastic girlfriend Scaramouche (Elena Skye). They are pursued by Khashoggi (Adam Strong) the Chief of the Police, who reports directly to the Killer Queen herself (Jenny O’Leary). But the Bohemians find Galileo, leading him and Scaramouche to a place of safety at their Rebel HQ. Brit (David Michael Johnson), his chick Meat (Martina Ciabatti Mennell) and Cliff (Micheal McKell) tell them of the time before with their references to live music, posters, magazines and information from the archives. Cliff (who was previously Pop at the Dominion) holds a “vi-day-o” which features the voices of the freedom fighters Queen.
Queen fans won’t be disappointed by hearing the band’s hits performed live and the futuristic stage set (Tim Blazdell) and video animations and graphics (Stufish Entertainment Architects) were surprisingly stunning and at times hypnotic.
The live band (Zach Flis, Matt Herbert, Meg Cave, James Barber, Simon Croft, Neil Murray and Dave Cotterell) at the back of the set, play the songs of Queen with the reverence the music deserves and sometimes it’s difficult not to sing and clap along
The costumes (Kentaur) have been updated and the script features more up to date acts and cultural references – including covid.
O’Leary shines as the villainous Killer Queen stunning with her killer vocals. I loved her outfits, my favourite being worn during Don’t Stop Me Now, which is now sung in its entirety. Adam Strong is a tad more menacing than previous incarnations and his suit (from M&S) is much better for his rank than the one worn in the west end.
I have seen a number of Galileo’s and Scaramouche in my time (I’ve seen it more than 50 times) so I know a good one when I see one. Skye’s vocals shine from the beginning with her first note of Somebody to Love. But McIntosh, fabulous as he is, finally gets his shining moment towards the end with the titular We Will Rock You and Bohemian Rhapsody. Although he sings everything excellently
I know We Will Rock You is a bit of a marmite musical, you either love it or hate it. I love it and even with the changes I was still happy at the end, when I was finally allowed to sing along. It was fully deserving of its standing ovation at the gloriously restored Globe Theatre in Stockton
Bat Out of Hell celebrates the music of Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman, with hit songs including’ Bat out of Hell’, ‘I Would Do Anything for Love (But I won’t do that)’ and ‘You Took the Words Right out of my Mouth’ this is one not to be missed.
Set in Obsidian we see Strat (Glenn Adamson), the leader of ‘The Lost’ a group of people whose DNA was frozen during chemical wars so they remain 18 forever. Strat falls in love with Raven (Marth Kirby), the daughter of Falco (Rob Fowler), the ruler of Obsidian who is at war with ‘The Lost’ and refuses to let Raven leave Falco Tower. Glenn Adamson as the eccentic Strat deserves a special mention and has a phenomenal voice. The whole cast is wonderful, the singing is fantastic throughout and they all put their all in to the performance.
With the majority of the show taken up with the music Bat out of Hell has to be a top choice for fans of rock’n’roll. With so much going on you sometimes don’t know where to look. There is some very unique staging, a big screen at the back of the stage shows the cast being followed by a video camera inside Falco Tower as other action is taking place at the front of the stage which is something I haven’t seen before.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen an audience on their feet so quickly or heard louder cheers at the end of a show. Bat out of Hell is simply amazing, whether you’re a hardcore Meat Loaf fan or only know the big hits you will be sure to be blown away by this show.
Following priority on-sale from 10am on Wednesday 15 June, tickets will go on sale to the public at 10am on Thursday 16 June for Disney’s NEWSIES, the award-winning Broadway musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman and book by Harvey Fierstein, which will have its UK premiere at London’s Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, where the strictly limited season will open on Thursday 8 December 2022, following previews from 29 November. All preview tickets will be priced at £30.
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.
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 immersive 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.
This new production of NEWSIES will be following on the recent successes of large scale shows at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre such as the National Theatre’s productions of War Horse and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
NEWSIES will be Directed and Choreographed by Olivier nominee Matt Cole, with Set Design by Morgan Large, Musical Supervision, Dance Arrangements & Musical Direction by Nigel Lilley, Costumes by Natalie Pryce, Lighting by Mark Henderson, Sound by Tony Gayle, 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.
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.
HORSE-PLAY – a new comedy by Ian Hallard exploring the kinkier side of life – will premiere this autumn. Directed by Andrew Beckett, with Set and Costume Design by David Shields, and Pearson Casting as Casting Director,HORSE-PLAY will be at The Riverside Studios from 30 August to 24 September, with a press night on 1 September. Full cast and creative team to be announced shortly, and tickets are on sale here.
After ten years of married life, Tom and Tim decide to spice up their sex life by booking an evening in a dungeon with a gorgeous male escort.
Meanwhile, crime-busting superhero, the Stallion, and his intrepid side-kick, Butterfly, have been lured to the secret lair of their arch-nemesis: the dastardly Villainor.
But what connects these two seemingly random events?
One thing’s for sure: a bump on the head and a faulty door lock result in a night none of them will ever forget – for all the wrong reasons!
Ian Hallard says: “I wrote the first draft of ‘Horse-Play’ in less than a week during that strange, hot Spring/Summer of 2020. Why it occurred to me, in the middle of the very first lockdown, to write a play about a middle-aged gay couple trapped in a room together with no possible means of escape is a mystery, but there you go! Who knows where our creative ideas truly spring from?
The two central characters in the play may be a gay couple, but their relationship, and the ups and downs they encounter when they are faced with adversity, are universal.
I wanted to avoid the stereotype that sees anyone over the age of thirty-five who has a less than conventional side to their sexuality depicted as sleazy, unpleasant or often downright villainous. The characters in ‘Horse-Play’ certainly have their kinks, but they’re also loving, lovable and – on the whole – pretty well-adjusted.
More than anything, ‘Horse-Play’ is fun and it’s silly. If you’ve ever been tempted to spend the evening in a sex dungeon surrounded by handcuffs, bananas, spandex bodysuits, and a big tub of gunge, it may well be just the thing for you…
“As it says on the poster: They’re about to have the ride of their lives. I really hope our audiences will too.”
