Home

INITIAL PRODUCTION IMAGES RELEASED FOR RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN’S OKLAHOMA!

The Bard SummerScape production of

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s 

Oklahoma! 

In association with Eva Price, Sonia Friedman Productions and Michael Harrison 

Music by Richard Rodgers

Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II 

Based on the play Green Grow the Lilacs by Lynn Riggs 

Original Choreography by Agnes de Mille 

Directed by Daniel Fish and Jordan Fein

27 April – 25 June 2022 

Initial production images are today released forthe UK premiere of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!  Daniel Fish’s striking revival of the classic musical which originally premiered at the Richard B. Fisher Center in 2015 ahead of its New York premiere at St. Ann’s Warehouse in 2018.

This is Oklahoma! as you’ve never seen it before, re-orchestrated and reimagined for the 21st century. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, Daniel Fish’s bold interpretation transfers to the Young Vic, direct from an acclaimed run on Broadway and a U.S. tour. Oklahoma! tells a story of a community banding together against an outsider, and the frontier life that shaped America. Seventy-five years after Rodgers and Hammerstein reinvented the American musical, this visionary production is funny and sexy, provocative and probing, without changing a word of the text. 

Arthur Darvill plays Curly McLain, with James Davis as Will Parker, Stavros Demetraki as Ali Hakim, Anoushka Lucas as Laurey Williams, Olivier Award nominee Liza Sadovy as Aunt Eller, Patrick Vaill as Jud Fry and Marisha Wallace as Ado Annie. The cast is complete with Raphael Bushay as Mike, Greg Hicks as Andrew Carnes, Rebekah Hinds as Gertie Cummings, Ashley Samuels as Cord Elam, and Marie Mence as the lead dancer.

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! is Co-Directed by Daniel Fish and Jordan Fein, with Orchestrations, Arrangements  by Daniel Kluger and Co-Music Supervision by Daniel Kluger and Nathan Koci, Choreography by John Heginbotham, Co-Set Design by Laura Jellinek and Grace Laubacher, Costume Design by Terese Wadden, Lighting Design by Scott Zielinski, Sound Design by Drew Levy, Projection Design by Joshua Thorson, Musical Director Tom Brady and Casting by Jacob Sparrow, with Associate Choreographer Shelby Williams, Assistant Director Nimmo Ismail, Associate Costume Designer Rachel Townsend, Associate Lighting Designer Fiffi Thorsteinsson, Associate Musical Director Huw Evans, Dialect Coach Sam Lilja and Orchestral Manager David Gallagher. 

Socially Distanced performances: 24, 25 May 7.30pm, 25 May, 2.30pm, and 9, 10 June, 7.30pm 

Audio Described performance: 24 May, 7.30pm

Captioned performance: 9 June, 7.30pm

Relaxed performance: 10 June, 7.30pm

This production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! was originally developed, produced and premiered at the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College in July 2015. It was subsequently developed and produced by St Ann’s Warehouse and Eva Price at the Joseph S. and Dianna H. Steinberg Theatre, Brooklyn in 2018.

Festival Theatre, Edinburgh – until 30^th April

Reviewed by James Knight

5***** 

Whether watched on the big screen, live onstage, or curled up on a sofa on Boxing Day, there is no more beloved musical than Singin’ in the Rain, and the latest UK tour fully captures that old Hollywood glamour perfectly. 

Originally released in 1952, starring Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds, it was an instant hit and has consistently been at the top of lists of best musicals ever since. This production, originally performed at Sadler’s Wells, has been entertaining the country and now lands at Edinburgh this week. 

It’s 1927, and Don Lockwood (Sam Lips) and Lina Lamont (Faye Tozer) are the stars of Monumental Pictures. Their positions at the height of Hollywood are pretty much secure, until the arrival of the ‘talkies’. Don should be fine, but Lina has a voice comparable to nails on a chalkboard – something that could spell disaster for everyone’s careers. It’s up to Don, his best friend Cosmo (Ross McLaren) and new rising star Kathy Selden (Charlotte Gooch) to come up with a solution and save the day. 

Packed with classic songs that stick in your head and dance numbers that simply astound for their energy and grace, this production manages to pay homage to the original film while still carving out its own identity. The ensemble shines throughout, with little character moments happening the whole way through, giving the show a lived-in feel. The main trio have real chemistry in their routines together, especially in ‘Good Morning’, although special mention has to go to Alastair Crosswell who joins in performing ‘Moses Supposes’ as an unsuspecting Dialect Coach. Faye Tozer is also clearly having the time of her life as the shrill and caustic Lina, particularly in the various filmed sections the audience is treated to, and frequently left the audience in stitches. 

With the iconic rain, fantastic lighting and a live orchestra, all these elements pull together to make a wonderful evening of entertainment. 

DARLINGTON HIPPODROME IN SEARCH OF SPECIAL GUESTS TO ATTEND V.E. DAY PROMS CELEBRATION

To celebrate V.E. Day on Sunday 8 May – Darlington Hippodrome is looking for some very special guests to attend One Night at the V.E. Day Proms – the ultimate, musical celebration in honour of V.E. DAY which comes to the theatre on Monday 9 May.

The Hippodrome would love to hear from local people who remember celebrating the original V.E. Day in 1945. How did they celebrate? Where did they go and what did they see? How did they feel on that special day?

In return for sharing their experiences, one lucky person will be picked to come along on Monday 9 May with some friends and family to enjoy the incredible concert show.

If you were there, or know someone who was and who’d like to share their story, let us know by emailing [email protected].

One Night at the V.E. Day Proms comes to Darlington Hippodrome on Monday 9 May 2022 and will take you on a musical journey through World War II, providing an insight into how music played a pivotal role throughout the most extraordinary period in modern day history.

Featuring The London Gala Orchestra and exceptional live singers, One Night at the V.E. Day Proms brings back to life such popular war time songs as Vera Lynn’s ‘The White Cliffs of Dover’ and Glenn Miller’s ‘In The Mood’ alongside classical masterpieces such as ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ and ‘Jerusalem’.

Tickets are on sale now. For more information or to book call 01325 405405 or visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE

UK PREMIÈRE OF LUCAS HNATH’S A DOLL’S HOUSE, PART 2

Donmar Warehouse Artistic Director Michael Longhurst and Executive Director Henny Finch today announce the full cast for the UK première of Lucas Hnath’s A Doll’s House, Part 2. Joining Noma Dumezweni as Nora are Patricia Allison (Emmy), Brían F. O’Byrne (Torvald), and June Watson (Anne Marie). James Macdonald’s production, in a reconfigured Donmar in the round, opens on 16 June, with previews from 10 June, and runs until 6 August

A DONMAR WAREHOUSE PRODUCTION

THE UK PREMIÈRE OF

A DOLL’S HOUSE, PART 2

by Lucas Hnath

Cast: Patricia Allison, Brían F. O’Byrne, Noma Dumezweni, June Watson

Director: James Macdonald; Designer: Rae Smith; Lighting Designer: Azusa Ono

10 June – 6 August 2022

(There’s a knock at the door)

Fifteen years after Nora Helmer slammed the door on her stifling marriage, she’s back with an urgent request. But first she must face the family she left behind.

Directed by James Macdonald, with a cast led by double Olivier Award-winner Noma Dumezweni, Lucas Hnath audaciously picks up where Ibsen’s revolutionary masterpiece left off.

And no, you don’t need to have seen Part 1.

Patricia Allison plays Emmy. Her theatre credits include Unprecedented: House Party (Headlong), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Sheffield Theatres), The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Our Town (Royal Exchange Theatre), and Henry V (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre). For television, her credits include Extraordinary, Superworm, as Ola in Sex Education, Behind the Filter, Fame Game, Les Miserables, Moving On and Thanks for the Memories; and for film, Ella and Veronica.

Brían F. O’Byrne plays Torvald. His theatre work includes Outside Mullingar (Manhattan Theatre Club), If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet (Roundabout Theatre Company), The Coast of Utopia – Tony Award nomination for Lead Actor in a Play (Lincoln Center, Broadway), Doubt: A Parable – Tony Award nomination Lead Actor in a Play, Shining City (Manhattan Theatre Club, Broadway), Bedbound (Irish Repertory Theatre), Smelling a Rat (The New Group NY), Frozen – Tony Award for Lead Actor in a Play, The Lonesome West – Tony Award nomination for Lead Actor in a Play, The Beauty Queen of Leenane – Tony Award nomination for Lead Actor in a Play, and The Sisters of Rosenweig (Broadway) and Hapgood (Lincoln Center). For television, his work includes Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector, Nighflyers, Hatton Garden, Manhunt: Unabomber, Little Boy Blue – BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor, The Magicians, Mercy Street, Aquarius, Saints and Strangers, The Bastard Executioner, The Last Ship, Love Hate, Prime Suspect, Mildred Pierce – Emmy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and Brotherhood; and for film, The Wonder, The Salinger Year, Sergio, Jimmy’s Hall, Queen and Country, Medeas, Season of the Witch, The International, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, No Reservations, Million Dollar Baby, Intermission, Bandits and Disco Pigs.

Noma Dumezweni plays Nora Helmer. For theatre, her work includes originating the role of Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Lyric Theatre, Broadway and Palace Theatre – Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Play), A Human Being Died That Night (BAM, Hampstead Theatre, Fugard and Market Theatres), Carmen Disruption (Almeida Theatre), Linda, New Plays from South Africa, Somalia Seaton Play, The Twits, Big Ideas: Collaboration, Open Court, Belong, Highlife (Royal Court Theatre), ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore (Shakespeare’s Globe), Henry V (Noel Coward Theatre), Feast (Royal Court at the Young Vic), Six Characters in Search of an Author (Headlong, Gielgud Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre), The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other, President of an Empty Room (National Theatre), A Raisin in the Sun – Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Play, Skellig (Young Vic), and extensive work for the RSC, including Breakfast with Mugabe. For television, her work includes The Watcher, Pose, The Undoing, Made for Love, Forgiving Earth, Philip K Dick’s Electric Dream, Capital, Doctor Who and Fallout; and for film, Retribution, The Little Mermaid, The Same Storm, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, The Kid Who Would be King, Mary Poppins Returns, The Incident and Dirty Pretty Things.

Veteran of the stage and screen, June Watson plays Anne Marie. Her extensive theatre credits include After Life (National Theatre and Headlong), The Welkin, John (National Theatre), Uncle Vanya, Good People (Hampstead Theatre), Road (Royal Court Theatre), Escaped Alone (Royal Court Theatre, BAM, UK tour), The Father (Trafalgar Studios), The Cripple of Inishmaan – Clarence Derwent Award (Noël Coward Theatre, Broadway), Before the Party (Almeida Theatre), Uncle Vanya (Vaudeville Theatre), Calendar Girls (UK tour), The Children’s Hour (Royal Exchange Theatre), and Mary Stuart (Apollo Theatre). Her television work includes Whitstable Pearl, The Cockfields, All Creatures Great and Small, The Midnight Gang, Chernobyl, Call the Midwife, To Walk Invisible, Agatha Raisin, Thirteen, Unforgotten, A Song for Jenny, The Café, Wallander, Coming Up and Above Suspicion; and for film, Your Christmas or Mine, The Bike Thief, The Death of Stalin, The Lady in the Van, Ghost Hunter, 102 Dalmatians, Highlander IV: Endgame, The Last Yellow, The Knowledge and Bloody Kids.

Lucas Hnath’s work as a playwright includes Hillary and Clinton, Red Speedo, The Christian, A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney, Isaac’s Eye and Death Tax. His work has been produced across the US and internationally, including at Playwrights Horizons, New York Theatre Workshop, Soho Rep, Actors Theatre of Louisville/Humana Festival of New Plays, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, Steppenwolf Theatre, South Coast Repertory, Royal Court Theatre, and on Broadway at the John Golden Theater. Hnath is a recipient of an Obie, Guggenheim Fellowship, Outer Critics Circle Award for Best New Play, Whiting Award, Kesselring Prize, two Steinberg citations from the American Theatre Critics Association, and a 2017 Tony nomination for Best Play.

James Macdonald returns to the Donmar to direct – his previous work for the company includes The Way of the World and Roots. He was an Associate and Deputy Director at the Royal Court for 14 years and was also a NESTA fellow from 2003 to 2006.  For the Royal Court his work includes One For Sorrow, The Children (and MTC/Broadway), Escaped Alone (and BAM, NYC), The Wolf From The Door, Circle Mirror Transformation, Love & Information (and NYTW), Cock (and Duke, NYC), Drunk Enough to Say I Love You (and Public, NYC), Dying City (and Lincoln Center, NYC), Fewer Emergencies, Lucky Dog, Blood, Blasted, 4.48 Psychosis (and St Ann’s Warehouse, NYC/US & European tours), Hard Fruit, Real Classy Affair, Cleansed, Bailegangaire, Harry and Me, Simpatico, Peaches, Thyestes, Hammett’s Apprentice, The Terrible Voice Of Satan, Putting Two and Two Together. Other theatre includes: John, Dido Queen of Carthage, The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other, Exiles (National Theatre), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Changing Room (West End), The Tempest, Roberto Zucco (RSC), Wild, And No More Shall We Part, #AIWW – The Arrest of Ai Weiwei (Hampstead), The Father (Theatre Royal Bath/Tricycle Theatre/West End), Bakkhai, A Delicate Balance, Judgment Day, The Triumph of Love (Almeida Theatre), The Chinese Room (Williamstown Festival), Cloud Nine (Atlantic, NYC), A Number (NYTW), King Lear, The Book of Grace (Public, NYC), Top Girls (MTC/Broadway) and John Gabriel Borkman (Abbey, Dublin/BAM, NYC). For film, his work includes A Number.

DONMAR WAREHOUSE

LISTINGS

41 Earlham Street, Seven Dials, London WC2H 9LX

Box Office: www.donmarwarehouse.com / 020 3282 3808           

PERFORMANCE TIMES

Evenings Mon – Sat: 7.30pm

Matinees Thu & Sat: 2.30pm

TICKET PRICES

A Doll’s House, Part 2

£55 (£50) / £41 (£38) / £21 (£19)

£10 standing tickets

Preview discounts apply to the first 4 performances only

YOUNG+FREE

YOUNG+FREE tickets for 16-25 year olds released by ballot. Sign up at www.donmarwarehouse.com.

Generously supported by IHS Markit.

DONMAR DAILY

New tickets on sale every day at the Donmar. Allocations of tickets will be made available every day for performances 7 days later. Tickets will be available across the auditorium at every price band.

ACCESS

The Donmar Warehouse is fully wheelchair accessible. Guide dogs and hearing dogs are welcome in the auditorium. There is a Loop system and a Radio Frequency system fitted in the main auditorium and there are also hearing loops at all the front of house counters.

ASSISTED PERFORMANCES

If you require a companion to attend the Donmar, their ticket will be free. To book call 020 3282 3808 or email [email protected].

For all other access enquiries or bookings call 020 3282 3808.

SEASON AT A GLANCE:

MARYS SEACOLE

Until 4 June 2022

Captioned: 23 May at 7.30pm
Audio-Described: 21 May at 2.30pm, touch tour at 1pm
British Sign Language Interpreted: 30 May at 7.30pm

A DOLL’S HOUSE, PART 2

10 June – 6 August 2022

Captioned: Monday 25 July 7.30pm
Audio-Described: Saturday 16 July 2.30pm
British Sign Language Interpreted: Friday 29 July 7.30pm

THE TRIALS

12 August – 27 August 2022

Captioned: Thursday 25 August 7.30pm
Audio-Described: Friday 26 August 7.30pm
British Sign Language Interpreted: Saturday 27 August 2.30pm

SILENCE

1 – 17 September 2022

Captioned: Friday 16 September 7.30pm
Audio-Described: Thursday 15 September 2.30pm
British Sign Language Interpreted: Monday 12 September 7.30pm

THE BAND’S VISIT
24 September – 3 December 2022
Captioned: Monday 28 November 7.30pm
Audio-Described: Saturday 26 November 2.30pm
British Sign Language Interpreted: Saturday 19 November 2.30pm

BK STUDIOS TO PRODUCE A MAJOR LIVE CAPTURE OF HEATHERS THE MUSICAL

AT THE OTHER PALACE IN MAY 2022

Bill Kenwright & Paul Taylor-Mills are excited to announce a new project with Steam Motion and Sound, to bring the hit production of Heathers the Musical to the screen.

Performances at The Other Palace have been taken off sale from 3 – 19 May to allow for filming to take place ahead of a future release. Performances will resume on Friday 20 May and will run through to 4 September 2022. 

As part of the shoot there will be two live performances, and a ballot will be held for tickets, with details to be announced. Casting for the live capture is also yet to be announced. 

Director Andy Fickman said “Heathers has captured the hearts and imaginations of so many people in the UK since it was first produced here in 2018. This marks an exciting next step in the show’s journey.”

David Gilbery, CEO BK Studios “This is a brilliant opportunity for us to bring this hit show to so many more audiences on a global scale, and we’re proud to be partnering with such a prolific studio in making that happen.”

The musical started its UK journey with a cult following and was a box office record-breaker at The Other Palace in 2018, before transferring to the Theatre Royal Haymarket for a limited season later that year. Last year the production returned to the Haymarket for another successful West End season, while in parallel with a UK tour, before returning to it is original home, The Other Palace in November 2021 for another record-breaking run.

Steam Motion and Sound is a creative content company founded in 2003 by Brett Sullivan and Clayton Jacobsen in Sydney. They then opened offices in London then New York. Steam are the company of choice for the world’s theatrical producers and entertainment companies to film their productions in the West End and Broadway. Live Theatre Films include: Waitress, Bonnie and Clyde, Prince of Egypt (all currently in post-production); Aladdin (Disney+), Kinky Boots, Newsies, Miss Saigon, Billy Elliot, Love Never Dies, Phantom of the Opera 25th, Les Miserables 25th, Jesus Christ Superstar Arena Spectacular.

With book, music and lyrics by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe, Heathers the Musical isbased on one of the greatest cult teen films of all time, and starred Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. The production is directed by Andy Fickman, withchoreography by Thriller Live’s Gary Lloyd, designs by David Shields, lighting by Ben Cracknell and sound by Dan Samson.

LISTINGS

Bill Kenwright & Paul Taylor-Mills present

HEATHERS THE MUSICAL

Book, Music & Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe & Kevin Murphy

Directed by Andy Fickman

Associate Director and Choreography by Gary Lloyd

Design by David Shields

Lighting by Ben Cracknell

Sound by Dan Samson

Musical Direction by Phil Cornwell

Venue: The Other Palace

Dates: Heathers The Musical on-sale until 04September 2022

Website:         www.theotherpalace.co.uk

                        www.kenwright.com

Address: 12 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JA

RITA SIMONS, HARRIET THORPE, HAYLEY TAMADDON, LEANNE JONES & WENDI PETERS TO STAR IN UK TOUR OF

STEPPING OUT

OPENING 5 SEPTEMBER 2022

David Ball Productions and Paul Woolf for Kings Theatre Portsmouth are delighted to announce the new UK Tour of Richard Harris’s Stepping Out, starring Rita Simons, Harriet Thorpe, Hayley Tamaddon, Leanne Jones and Wendi Peters.  The UK Tour opens on Monday 5 September 2022 at Kings Theatre Portsmouth.

Stepping Out won the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Comedy when it originally opened in London’s West End in 1984 and the film version in 1991 was directed by Lewis Gilbert and starred Liza Minnelli and Julie Walters.  Richard Harris has worked with the team on this new stage production to update the play and set it in the 2020s.  Mavis, a former professional dancer, teaches a troupe of adult would-be tappers, but before the dancing starts, she must mediate the drama that erupts between this group of students of different ages and from disparate backgrounds until love and friendship unites them all. 

Hayley Tamaddon plays Mavis.  She first shot to fame playing Delilah Dingle in Emmerdale.  Other leading roles include Zoe in Waterloo Road, Calista in Shameless and Andrea Beckett in Coronation Street.  Her theatre work includes The Lady Of The Lake in the UK Tour of Spamalot, Roxie Hart in the UK Tour of Chicago, Millie in the UK Tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie and Miss Hedge in Everybody’s Talking about Jamie in London’s West End.

Wendi Peters, who plays Vera, is best known for her role as Cilla Battersby Brown in Coronation Street.  Wendi played the recurring character Cook Jenkins in Hetty Feather (BBC) and her other television credits include Lynda Babbage in Midsomer Murders (ITV), Nicky Connelly in Doctors (BBC), Queen Shania in Hacker Time (BBC), Kelly in Sadie J (BBC), Marion in Crime Stories (ITV) and ‘Podger’ Pam Jolly in Bad Girls (ITV).

Rita Simon plays Maxine and is best known for playing Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders.  Most recently Rita played Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray at the London Coliseum. Previous to this, her credits include Lisa Prescott in The Krays: Dead Man Walking, an untold chapter from the notorious legend of the Kray Twins, Caro Harcourt in the UK Tour of Peter James’s The House in Cold Hill and Miss Hedge in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at London’s Apollo Theatre.

Playing Dorothy is Harriet Thorpe, who is best known for her roles as Carole in The Brittas Empire and Fleur in Absolutely Fabulous.  Work with French and Saunders includes Girls on Top, the French and Saunders series Mirrorball and The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle.  Work with Victoria Wood includes Victoria Wood’s Mid Life Christmas, Victoria Wood’s Short Term Memories and Victoria Wood MoonWalking. 

Leanne Jones, who plays Sylvia, made her professional debut as Tracy Turnblad opposite Michael Ball in Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London’s West End, for which, Leanne won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, the Critics’ Circle Award for Best Newcomer and the Theatregoers Choice Award for Best Actress in a Musical.  On television, she has appeared in Unforgotten.  She also appeared in Tom Hooper’s film musical CATS. 

Also in the cast will be Elizabeth Power as Mrs Fraser, Deborah Tracey as Rose, Charlotte Bloomsbury as Andy, Nicole Deon as Lynne and Tom Kanji as Geoffrey.

Stepping Out will be directed by Dan Phillips and choreographed by Joanna Goodwin, with set and costume design by Cory Shipp and sound design by David Hart for Seventh Wave Audio.

The UK Tour of Stepping Out is produced by David Ball Productions and Paul Woolf for Kings Theatre Portsmouth.

2022 TOUR SCHEDULE

5 – 10 September                            Kings Theatre, Portsmouth                                                      on sale 28 April

                                                           www.kingsportsmouth.co.uk                                                  023 9282 8282

12 – 17 September                          Orchard Theatre, Dartford                                                        on sale May

                                                           orchardtheatre.co.uk                                                                01322 220000

19 – 24 September                          New Theatre, Cardiff                                                                 on sale May

                                                           newtheatrecardiff.co.uk                                                           0343 310 0041

3 – 8 October                                   Hall for Cornwall, Truro                                                            on sale soon

                                                           www.hallforcornwall.co.uk                                                      01872 262466

10 – 15 October                               New Theatre, Peterborough                                                     on sale 29 April

                                                           newtheatre-peterborough.com

17 – 22 October                               Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple                                                    on sale 29 April

                                                           www.queenstheatre-barnstaple.com

24 – 29 October                               Swan Theatre, High Wycombe                                                 on sale May

                                                           wycombeswan.co.uk                                                                 03433 100060

31 October – 5 November              Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham                                              on sale soon

                                                           www.everymantheatre.org.uk                                                 01242 572573

7 – 12 November                             Devonshire Park, Eastbourne                                                   on sale soon

                                                           www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk                                              01323 412000

Further dates to be added.

WICKED EXTENDS BOOKING INTO 2023

New tickets now on sale for all performances

until Sunday 28 May 2023

4 Extra Christmas 2022 Shows Added

www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk

WICKED, the West End and Broadway musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, is pleased to announce the release of 500,000 new tickets, with public booking now extended at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre until Sunday 28 May 2023.

“One of the most successful musicals of all time” (BBC News) and already the 9^th longest running West End musical in history, Wicked plays Tuesday-Saturday evening performances @ 7.30pm with matinees on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday @ 2.30pm. Four extra Christmas 2022 shows have also been added on Tuesday 20 December, Friday 23 December, Tuesday 27 December and Friday 30 December 2022, all @ 2.30pm. Access performances are confirmed as follows – Captioned: Thursday 15 September 2022 @ 7.30pm, Saturday 18 February 2023 @ 2.30pm; Audio Described: Saturday 12 November 2022 @ 2.30pm, Tuesday 14 March 2023 @ 7.30pm; Sign Language Interpreted: Friday 13 May 2022 @ 7.30pm, Saturday 22 October 2022 @ 2.30pm, Friday 21 April 2023 @ 7.30pm. Tickets are now on sale for all performances at  www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk

Wicked currently stars: Lucie Jones (Elphaba), Helen Woolf (Glinda), Ryan Reid (Fiyero), Sophie-Louise Dann (Madame Morrible), Gary Wilmot (The Wizard), Carina Gillespie (Nessarose), Nicholas McLean (Boq), Simeon Truby (Doctor Dillamond), Amy Webb (Standby for Elphaba), Lisa-Anne Wood (Standby for Glinda), Yuki Abe, Kofi Aidoo-Appiah, Meg Astin, Alishia-Marie Blake, Pàje Campbell, Grace Chapman*, Michael Colbourne, Fergus Dale, Nolan Edwards, Nicola Espallardo, Danny Fogarty, Laura Harrison, Amie Hibbert, Lucie Horsfall, Samuel How, Christian Knight, Nick Len, Jasmine Leung, Rhidian Marc, PaddyJoe Martin, Jessica-Alice McCluskey, Stacey McGuire, Harry Mills, Lewis Newton, Natalie Spriggs, Samantha Thomas**, Joe Thompson-Oubari and James Titchener.

* Maternity cover for Maggie Lynne.  **Maternity cover for Joanna Sawyer.  Cast subject to change.

Now seen by more than 10 million people in London alone (and 60 million worldwide), “the global sensation” (Independent) is the winner of more than 100 major international awards, including three Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy Award and ten theatregoer voted WhatsOnStage Awards (including ‘Best New Musical’ and three for ‘Best West End Show’).

Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked imagines a beguiling backstory and future possibilities to the lives of L. Frank Baum’s beloved characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reveals the decisions and events that shape the destinies of two unlikely university friends on their journey to becoming Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Wickedhas music and lyrics by multi-Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy Award winner Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, The Prince of Egypt, Disney’s Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Enchanted and its forthcoming sequel Disenchanted). It is based on the bestselling novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire and written by Emmy and Tony Award nominee Winnie Holzman, creator of the landmark American television series My So-Called Life. Musical staging is by Tony Award-winner Wayne Cilento with direction by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello.

Wicked is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. Executive Producer (UK) Michael McCabe.

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire is published in the UK by Headline (the book is recommended for readers aged 16+). Wicked: The Grimmerie, a behind-the-scenes look at the musical by David Cote, is published in the UK by Hyperion.

Audience Protocols: the Apollo Victoria Theatre, owned and operated by the Ambassador Theatre Group, continues to maintain stringent public health protocols throughout the venue. For full information, please visit www.atgtickets.com/help/health-and-safety/

The Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road, London SW1V 1LG

Official UK website: www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk

Twitter: @WickedUK  |  Facebook: /WickedUK  |  Instagram: @WickedUK

The Grammy Award-winning, Platinum-certified Original Broadway Cast Recording on Decca Broadway

The Rubens at the Palace is the official hotel partner of Wicked London  www.rubenshotel.com

Surrey’s annual multi-arts extravaganza  

Guildford Fringe Festival  

will return from 24 June – 16 July 2022  

Surrey audiences can look forward to the welcome return of Guildford Fringe Festival from Friday 24 June until Saturday 16 July 2022, with a packed programme of more than 100 live performance and arts events now on sale: http://guildfordfringefestival.com/. 

The 2022 Festival programme is as follows (Free Fringe events are marked with a *): 

Comedy: Gag House Comedy Superstars (Laura Lexx, Flo and Joan, Tom Lucy, Dave Fulton), 2 Mouthed Men (Daniel Stanger-Cornwell, James Hawley), Michael Akadiri, Kyle D Evans*, Strangers & Exiles, Sasha Ellen, Robyn Perkins, Nathan Cassidy, Stokes & Summers, Jack Campbell, Russell Arathoon, Alex Hylton, Joe Wells, Alex Lacey, Rob Kemp, Scott McPherson, Jack Barry, Alistair Barrie, Simon Brodkin, Will Preston, Bright Club, Eryn Tett, Katie Pritchard, Nick Hall, The Improlectuals, Sounds Proper Comedy, James Dowdeswell, Juliette Burton,  Pauly F Taylor, Jack Hester, Juliet Meyers, Ali Woods, Dane Baptiste, Glenn Moore, Sallyann Fellowes, Cerys Bradley, Tom Mayhew, Richard Stott, Martian Geeses, No Mad Actors, Alice Fraser, Lew Fitz. 

Theatre: Pinocchio Gets Wood – the Summer Adult Panto (Guildford Fringe Theatre Company), The Magic Hatters Walking Tour (Kelly Robinson and Steve McShane), Grimm’s Sweary Tales (PuppeTails), Ode to Joyce (Apollo Theatre Company), Sex is Another Language – the life, lusts and loves of Elizabeth Taylor (Creaction), A Double Bill from PPA (Performance Preparation Academy), Second Summer of Love (Pants on Fire), Much Ado About Nothing (Immersion Theatre), The Minotaur (All Greek To me). 

Live Music: Surrey Fringe Singers*, Opera on the Balcony*, Gary Jerry: The Piano Man*, Schubert: Journey of love, life and song (Fraser Harrington), Café de Swing, Rock Choir LIVE, Anthony Fort’s Guildford Songbook, Sing-A-Longa Pub Quiz, Mister Meredith, Rob Johnston. 

Cabaret: Burley Bottomless Brunch, Tickled Pink, Griffin & Jones, Laurie Black, Amber Topaz, Drag Bottomless Brunch, The Lock-in Cabaret. 

Other events: poet Robert Garnham, Tanieth Kerr, Guildford Arts Summer Exhibition*, writing workshop with Paul Kerensa, Movie & A Meal series – Moulin Rouge!, Belfast, Minamata.

This year’s festival venues include Clandon Wood Nature Reserve, Guildford High Street, Holy Trinity Church, St Mary’s Church, The Fallen Angel, The Guildhall, The Keep Pub, The Mill Studio at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, The Star Inn and Zero Carbon Guildford. 

Set up by Managing Director Nick Wyschna in 2013, Guildford’s largest independent multi-arts festival which Nick runs with his wife Charlotte Wyschna, is an open-access celebration featuring theatre, comedy, poetry, music, visual arts, family-friendly shows, talks and free events.  

Nick Wyschna said: “We are back! I can’t tell you how excited Charlotte and I are at the prospect of a ‘normal’ Fringe Festival this year. It’s clearly not just us who are excited about getting back to live events as the artists and producers have flooded in and we have a jam-packed programme of entertainment for you to enjoy. We have been away for a while but our values are still the same, we want the arts to be accessible for everyone that wants to enjoy them. With this in mind I am very pleased to say that we have several free events during the Fringe and we have kept the average ticket price at around £9. We hope this means you’ll be able to come out and have some fun with us.” 

Visit GuildfordFringeFestival.com for the full line-up and to book tickets. The Box Office phone number is 01483 361101. During the Festival, the Fringe Team will be at The Star Inn, Quarry Street, 7 days a week, from 6-7pm, where they will run a Box Office for all Festival events and be happy to have a chat.

Freckle Productions present

Tiddler and other Terrific Tales

Adapted from the bestselling books

by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

Returning to London this Summer

At Cadogan Hall from Friday 29 July to Sunday 21 August

Having enchanted audiences all over the world, Tiddler will be swimming back to London this Summer! Adapted from the bestselling books by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Tiddler and other Terrific Taleswill play a limited three-week engagement at Cadogan Hall from Friday 29 July to Sunday 21 August. The production will also play a short run at the New Theatre, Cardiff from Monday 25 to Wednesday 27 July.

Prepare to go under the sea, out on the farm and into the jungle, as four terrific tales are bought to life on stage with live music, puppetry and a whole host of colourful characters from the much-loved titles: Tiddler, Monkey Puzzle, The Smartest Giant in Town and A Squash and a Squeeze. Funky moves, toe tapping tunes and giggles are guaranteed.

Tiddler and other Terrific Tales weaves together four stories byJulia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, the multi award-winning picture book pair behind some of the world’s best loved children’s books, most notably the modern classic The Gruffalo which has been published in over 100 languages. Together their books have sold over 75 million copies.

Tiddler & Other Terrific Tales is brought to the stage by Freckle Productions who return to Cadogan Hall following last summer’s smash-hit run of Zog. Their other adaptations include Stick Man, Tabby McTat and Zog and the Flying Doctors which is on tour now. Tiddler & Other Terrific Tales is directed by Mark Kane with original direction by Sally Cookson, music and lyrics by Benji Bower, designs by Katie Sykes, lighting design by El Higgins and musical direction by Brian Hargreaves.

York Theatre Royal – until 1st May 2022

Reviewed by Aimee Liddington

5*****

Magic holds a tremendous appeal for people of all ages. If you’ve ever seen a magic show then you’ll know how it feels to be sat on the edge of your seat, wondering with a morbid curiosity just what would happen if it all went wrong. Mischief have teamed up with magic superstars Penn & Teller to satisfy our macabre minds and give us just that – a magic show where everything goes wrong.

Magic Goes Wrong follows an unfortunate gang of magicians in their mission to raise money in aid of victims of magic misfortune but they seem to have some misfortune of their own. The tricks of illusion and slight of hand go from bad to worse but the gang are wilful and tenacious and will not put a stop to the hypnotic tragedy that unfolds before them.

Direction from Adam Meggido really maximises on the actors’ skills in comedic timing and slapstick comedy. In particular, Sam Hill, Rory Fairbairn and Kiefer Moriarty shine in their roles: Hill’s portrayal of the great Sophisticato is highly entertaining as he delivers lines with a camp obliviousness to the tragedy of his character, Fairbairn is farcical in his role as the Mind Mangler and proves himself to be spontaneous and flexible in his performance by inviting a variety of audience participation and dealing hilariously with the challenges that it brings, Moriarty brings energy and enthusiasm to his role as The Blade and plays a calamitous but dedicated showman.

Magic Goes Wrong brings all the mystery and exhilaration of a magic show with the absurdity and ludicrousness of a slapstick comedy. It really is a win-win situation – just be aware – you may never enjoy a ‘normal’ magic show again.