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York Theatre Royal – until 2nd April 2022

Reviewed by Ellie Watson

4****

Imagine living in a town where it is illegal to dance! How awful would that be? Well, that is what the musical Footloose is about. Based on the 1984 film starring Kevin Bacon, Footloose tells the story of Ren McCormack who forced to relocate from the lively city of Chicago with his mother, Ethel, after Ren’s father left them. Ren loves all things dance and rock ‘n’ roll but when he arrives to the town of Bomont he is shocked to discover dancing is banned. This is due to a previous accident that occurred in the town, involving Reverend Shaw Moore’s son. With the help of Willard Hewitt, Ren’s best friend and a classic southern American country boy, and the reverend’s rebellious daughter Ariel, with whom he starts a romantic relationship with, Ren is determined to overturn the law so that the senior year can hold a dance and bring back dancing to Bomont once and for all.

Generally, musicals usually display the idea of the triple threat portraying strong acting, dancing, and singing skills but Footloose took this to a new level and added a fourth threat, one which I personally have never experienced before. All the actors would be playing their own instruments! The orchestra of the production was made up from the cast with them playing multiple instruments on stage including, clarinets, saxophones, flutes, guitars, bass, and piano. However, the talent did not stop there! They were not just stood playing their instruments but often dancing simultaneously and even at one point jumping over a skipping rope as well!!! How impressive! This did not affect their vocals either, with most having impeccable vocal technique showing the high standard of the performance.

The standout performance to me was Ariel, played by the recent graduate of Mountview, Lucy Munden. Her portrayal of Ariel was stunning, and it was hard to believe this was her professional debut. Her voice had such a lovely tone and her belting skills throughout ‘Holding Out for A Hero’ showed exceptional technique.

Ren, played by Josh Hawkins, also outstanding performance with his amazing dancing and singing skills. Thoroughly enjoyed watching his performance. When Hawkins and Munden sang their duet together, their voices worked so well together and was lovely to hear.

Reverend Shaw Moore, played by Darren Day, was also a fantastic performance, with flawless vocal technique. However, the more upbeat songs were personally more enjoyable to me.

I also really enjoyed Jake Quickenden’s performance of Willard, very funny and good vocals. I always have been a fan of Jake’s as I watched him on X Factor, I’m a Celeb and voted for him every week in Dancing on Ice. Very much enjoyed watching his performance in Musical Theatre as a huge theatre fan. Also really enjoyed his section in ‘Holding Out for a Hero’ when Ariel and Dusty rip off his dungarees to reveal his gold boxers.

Jess Barker also really stood out for me with her amazing acting. Just fun to watch and had such musical talent. Having said this, everyone in the cast were amazing and stood out for different reasons.

The set for the production was also amazing, with smooth and creative transitions. It was fairly simple with what they had, but it was clear to see how well thought out the design was, especially when shower cubicles were then turned around and revealed a steering wheel, before changing again to depict a car. Very imaginative.

I must say this is a really good production. It is slightly slow at the start and Act One seems to drag slightly but overall is enjoyable. Would 100% recommend seeing this production if you can. The curtain call is very engaging and encourages audience participation making it a fun night for everyone. Everyone was standing, dancing, and having fun at the end which made it the perfect end to the day.

Very enjoyable night. Bomont was dancing again and so was the whole of York Theatre Royal.

Full company announced to join Henry Goodman

in

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS

By Agatha Christie

Adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig

13 May – 4 June, Festival Theatre

The full company has been announced for Chichester Festival Theatre’s spectacular new staging of Agatha Christie’s masterpiece Murder on the Orient Express, adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig, running from 13 May – 4 June.

Joining double Olivier Award-winner Henry Goodman as Hercule Poirot are: Marc Antolin (as Michel the Conductor), Philip Cairns (Colonel Arbuthnot), Samuel Collings (Hector MacQueen), Joanna McCallum (as Princess Dragomiroff), Taz Munyaneza (Mary Debenham), Patrick Robinson (Monsieur Bouc), Laura Rogers(Countess Andrenyi), Sara Stewart (Helen Hubbard), Joanna van Kampen (Greta Ohlsson) and Timothy Watson (Samuel Ratchett), together with Matt Addis, Kelvin Ade, Joelle Dyson, Jacqueline Tate and juvenile actors Sophie Bye and Eleanor Sebastian.

Murder on the Orient Express is directed by former CFT Artistic Director Jonathan Church (Amadeus, Singin’ in the Rain, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui) and designed by Robert Jones (Oklahoma!, Mack & Mabel).

The celebrated detective Hercule Poirot boards the legendary Orient Express, enjoying the prospect of a luxurious rail journey from Istanbul to Calais in the dead of winter.

The train is surprisingly packed for the time of year; only the intervention of the manager secures Poirot a first class berth, alongside an intriguing and glittering company of international travellers.

But just after midnight, the Orient Express screeches to a halt, marooned by a snowdrift. And by morning, one passenger is dead…

Nobody can leave. A guard appears to be missing. A killer is in their midst. And Poirot must deploy his ‘little grey cells’ on the most difficult case of his career: one that will force him to question his deepest beliefs.

Henry Goodman makes a welcome return to Chichester to play Poirot, following his appearances in Yes, Prime Minister (2010) and The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (2012/13), also directed by Jonathan Church, and which both transferred to the West End. His many other roles encompass his Olivier Award-winning Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, Roy Cohn in the UK premiere of Angels in America and Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls (all National Theatre), Volpone for the RSC, and Assassins for which he also won an Olivier Award at the Donmar Warehouse.

Marc Antolin last appeared at Chichester in Taken at Midnight; recent theatre credits include The Magician’s Elephant (RSC), Romantics Anonymous (Bristol Old Vic) and Little Shop of Horrors for which he received an Olivier Award nomination (Regent’s Park).

Philip Cairns’ recent stage work includes Cyrano de Bergerac (West End) and Peer Gynt (National Theatre), and on television Call The Midwife.

Samuel Collings’ TV work includes Hex and Outlander, and on stage, The Great Murder Mystery, and Othello and Macbeth (HOME Manchester/Lyric Hammersmith).

Sara Stewart returns to the Festival Theatre where she last appeared in ENRON and Heartbreak House; recent TV includes Cell 8, Father Brown, Queens of Mystery and State of the Union.

Joanna McCallum’s many Chichester appearances include A Month in the Country, The Merchant of Venice, The Scarlet Pimpernel and Cavalcade, while TV includes Doctors, New Tricks, Holby City and The Gathering Storm.

Taz Munyaneza’s credits include Our Lady of Kibeho (Theatre Royal Stratford East) and on TV The One.

Patrick Robinson appeared in King Lear with Ian McKellen at Chichester in 2017; his many TV credits include The Bill, Casualty, Death in Paradise and The Last Kingdom.

Laura Rogers previously appeared in Pressure at Chichester and on tour; recent theatre work includes The Ocean at the End of the Lane (National Theatre/West End).

Joanna van Kampen is known to a huge radio audience as Fallon in The Archers; recent theatre includes An Ideal Husband (West End) and on TV, The Outlaws.

Timothy Watson – also an alumnus of The Archers as Rob Titchener – was last seen at Chichester in Shadowlands in 2019.

Ken Ludwig has had six productions on Broadway and seven in London’s West End. His 30 plays and musicals are staged around the world and throughout the United States every night of the year. Crazy for You was on Broadway for five years, the West End for three, and won the Tony and Olivier Awards for Best Musical. Lend Me a Tenor won two Tony Awards. He has won the Edwin Forrest Award for Contributions to the American Theater, two Laurence Olivier Awards, two Helen Hayes Awards, the Charles MacArthur Award, and the Edgar Award for Best Mystery. His book How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare won the Falstaff Award for Best Shakespeare Book of the Year. His most recent plays include Pride and Prejudice, Part 2: Napoleon at Pemberley; Lady Molly of Scotland Yard; and Moriarty. For more information, visit www.kenludwig.com.

The production will have lighting by Mark Henderson, music by Adrian Sutton, sound by Christopher Shutt, movement by Lucy Hind, and casting by Gabrielle Dawes CDG.

It is sponsored by Greenwood Wealth Solutions.

Murder on the Orient Express will also run at Theatre Royal Bath from 9 – 25 June, immediately following its Chichester premiere.

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS

Stage Play © 2018 Agatha Christie Limited & Ken Ludwig

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, AGATHA CHRISTIE and POIROT are registered trademarks of Agatha Christie Limited. 

ENDS

Tickets from £10

cft.org.uk       Box Office 01243 781312  

Grand Opera House York – until Saturday 2nd April 2022

Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

3***

Looking Good Dead, a Peter James novel, has been adapted for the stage by Shaun McKenna. James is the UK’s number one best selling author of crime and thrillers.

The first scene sees a woman, in what appears to be a dungeon room with a chair and chains on the wall. She takes off her coat to reveal a leather outfit, that with the chains certainly implies S&M is at play here. A hooded figure, all dressed in black, joins her, but things take a sinister turn, and the mystery starts.

Tom Bryce (Adam Woodyatt, most famous for playing Ian Beale in Eastenders) is a businessman, on the cusp of failure. He’s married to Kellie (Laurie Brett, who just so happened to play Ian’s wife in Eastenders), a former alcoholic who likes to spend, A LOT, and is constantly cleaning. They have a son Max (for this performance played by Mylo McDonald), who is forever playing computer games, wears noise cancelling headphones, so he doesn’t have to hear his parents arguing. He has an older half-brother who has managed to leave home and is now travelling the world.

On his way home on the train, Tom finds a USB memory stick. Instead of handing it in he brings it back home to see if he can find out who it belongs to. With the help of his tech savvy son, he looks to see what information is on the drive. It’s shocking, as before their eyes they are witness to a woman’s murder, it’s a snuff movie. After the police are involved, DSI Grace (Harry Long), DS Branson (Leon Stewart) and DS Moy (Gemma Stroyan), their lives are in grave danger.

At times I couldn’t get the scenes between the officers in their station, it was a bit disjointed and didn’t flow naturally. There were still some funny interactions between Grace and Branson and did make us laugh, overall I felt these scenes needed more substance for the actors to show their craft.

Woodyatt and Brett are obviously used to working together, in fact he even referred to her a Jane at the very start, a minor and understandable slip, and came across as a dysfunctional married couple, not quite gelling together. McDonald as the son had the right mannerisms for a stroppy teenager, though his character was maybe about 20, but looked older.

The set is multi-level, with the Bryce’s lounge on the stage, a police set sliding on an off the right of the stage and the dungeon room at the back, elevated above. The latter is hidden behind a curtain when not in play, only becoming visible with lighting when needed, this was very clever and hugely effective.

Talking about this afterwards, we decided it would make a great film, as the characters could be developed more, and you could better understand the dynamics. I have since found out there has been a television series created around Detective Superintendent Grace and I will certainly look out for that.

Even with the dramatic opening, and shocking revelation at the end that had us all gasping, Looking Good Dead doesn’t have quite enough tension to make it an on the edge of your seats thriller, but it is still an entertaining mystery, worthy of a watch.

ACCLAIMED NEW MUSICAL

RELEASES CAST ALBUM

Production has recently extended booking

to 12 February 2023

Hit songs include Stand By Me, Saturday Night at the Movies,

Under The Boardwalk, Save The Last Dance For Me

and Kissin in the Back Row of the Movies

At Garrick Theatre, Londonwww.thedriftersgirl.com

Following Olivier Award nominations for Best New Musical and Best Actress in a Musical, Michael Harrison and David Ian are thrilled to announce The Drifters Girl World Premiere Cast album, recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios and due for release on Friday 6 May 2022, by Tag8 Music, with BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited, Treadwell Entertainment Group and Showtime Productions Ltd. 

The album features the original cast of the acclaimed new musical: Queen of British Soul, Beverley Knight, with the sensational Adam J Bernard (Dreamgirls), Tarinn Callender (Hamilton), Matt Henry (Kinky Boots) and Tosh Wanogho-Maud (Showboat), who capture the essence of notable members of The Drifters – Clyde Mcphatter, Ben E. King, Rudy Lewis and Johnny Moore, and Beverley Knight reimagines classic Drifters tracks with her striking voice, capturing Faye Treadwell’s story.

The album was produced by the shows arranger and orchestrator, Chris Egan, who along with the creative team, including co-producers Trystan Francis and Will Stuart, took over the iconic Abbey Road Studio 2, with the full show band plus some additional musicans to create an enhanced version of the songs from the show.

The album includes the incredible songs from the show from Stand By Me, Under the Boardwalk, Saturday Night at the Movies to the emotional Harlem Child. 

Pre-Order link  https://TheDriftersGirl.lnk.to/DriftersGirlPR

Tracklisting: 

 1.   Opening Medley (Hello Happiness, Kissin’ In The Back Row Of The Movies, There Goes My First Love)

2. Money Honey

3. Follow Me

4. Whatcha Gonna Do

5. Fools Fall In Love

6. Nobody But Me

7. Save The Last Dance For Me

8. This Magic Moment

9. Stand By Me

10. Sweets For My Sweet

11.I Don’t Wanna Go On Without You / Stand By Me

12.Saturday Night At The Movies

13.There Goes My Baby

14.When My Little Girl Is Smiling

15.Under The Boardwalk

16.In The Land Of Make Believe

17.Harlem Child

18.Kissin’ In The Back Row Of The Movies

19.There Goes My First Love

20.Come On Over To My Place

21.There Goes My Baby – Reprise

22.You’re More Than A Number In My Little Red Book

The Drifters Girl has been thrilling audiences since beginning in Newcastle in October 2021. The show transferred to London in November 2021, and has continued to play to packed houses and nightly standing ovations. It has recently extended its run at Garrick Theatre in London to Sunday 12 February 2023

The musical tells the story of Faye Treadwell, the legendary manager of The Drifters who, alongside her husband, George Treadwell, ground breaking manager and co-founder of The Drifters, fought for three decades to turn Atlantic Records’ hottest vocal group into a global phenomenon.

From the highs of hit records and sell out tours to the lows of legal battles and personal tragedy, The Drifters Girl charts the trailblazing efforts of the world’s first African American, female music manager and how she refused to ever give up on the group she loved. Thirty years, and hundreds of hit songs later, there is no doubt that Faye Treadwell was and always will be, The Drifters Girl.

The UK’s Queen of Soul Beverley Knight plays Faye Treadwell, with Adam J Bernard, Tarinn Callender, Matt Henry and Tosh Wanogho-Maud as the iconic group. Beverley continues in the role through to Saturday 2 July, with casting from that date to be announced.

The cast is completed by Marcus Ayton, Ashford Campbell, Ethan Davis, Vanessa Ela Young, Michael James Stewart, Alanna Leslie, Curtis Scott, and the young actors are Aurora Baptiste, Amari Brown, Savanna Musoni, Savannah Skinner-Henry and Shanyia Tsoto (who play the role of George and Faye’s daughter Tina Treadwell).

The Drifters Girl boasts an incredible soundtrack of some of the most famous songs in history, including Save The Last Dance For Me, Under The Boardwalk, Kissin In The Back Row Of The Movies, Stand By Me, Come On Over To My Place, Saturday Night At The Movies and many more.

The Drifters Girl, with abook by Ed Curtis, based on an idea by Tina Treadwell, and which is co-created by Beverley Knight, Adam J Bernard, Tarinn Callender, Matt Henry and Tosh Wanogho-Maud is directed by Jonathan Church, with set design by Anthony Ward, choreography by Karen Bruce, costume design by Fay Fullerton, orchestrations and musical supervision by Chris Egan lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Tom Marshall and video design by Andrzej Goulding. Associate Director is Tyrone Huntley and Associate Choreographer is Myles Brown with casting by Stuart Burt and children’s casting by Jo Hawes.

The Drifters Girl is produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian.

James L. Nederlander, Jamie Wilson, Hunter Arnold, Crossroads Live, Playful Productions and The English National Opera
present
the Lincoln Center Theater production of

LERNER & LOEWE’S
MY FAIR LADY
Book and Lyrics by ALAN JAY LERNER
Music by FREDERICK LOEWE
Directed by BARTLETT SHER

www.myfairladymusical.co.uk
@MyFairLadyUK

• FULL CASTING LINE UP FOR MY FAIR LADY IS ANNOUNCED AS THE SHOW BEGINS REHEARSALS
  
   
• STEPHEN K AMOS WILL PLAY ALFRED P. DOOLITTLE AND MALCOLM SINCLAIR WILL PLAY COLONEL PICKERING
  
   
• THEY JOIN THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED AMARA OKEREKE AS ELIZA DOOLITTLE, HARRY HADDEN-PATON AS HENRY HIGGINS, VANESSA REDGRAVE AS MRS HIGGINS, MAUREEN BEATTIE AS MRS PEARCE AND SHARIF AFIFI AS FREDDY EYNSFORD-HILL
  
   
• THE FULL COMPANY IS COMPLETED WITH DAMMI AREGBESHOLA, BERNADETTE BANGURA, JOSEPH CLAUS, JORDAN CROUCH, JAMIE CRUTTENDEN, FRANCESSCA DANIELLA-BAKER, BARRY DRUMMOND, BETHANY HUCKLE, HEATHER JACKSON, EMMA JOHNSON, CHARLOTTE KENNEDY, SINEAD KENNY, JENNY LEGG, TOM LIGGINS, REBEKAH LOWINGS, CARL PATRICK, TOM PING, DOMINIQUE PLANTER, JOSEPH POULTON, JOHN STACEY, JOSHUA STEEL, OLIVER TESTER, ADAM VAUGHAN, ANNIE WENSAK AND PAUL WESTWOOD
  
   
• DIRECTED BY BARTLETT SHER, THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED AND MULTI AWARD WINNING PRODUCTION FEATURES 36 MUSICIANS FROM THE ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA’S AWARD-WINNING ORCHESTRA PLAYING FREDERICK LOEWE’S RAVISHING SCORE
  
   
• FULL COMPANY REHEARSALS BEGIN ON 4 APRIL AHEAD OF THE FIRST PREVIEW ON 7 MAY AND OFFICIAL OPENING ON 18 MAY
  
   
• TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW FOR THE STRICTLY LIMITED SEASON AT THE LONDON COLISEUM UNTIL 27 AUGUST FROM WWW.MYFAIRLADYMUSICAL.CO.UK

Producers are delighted to announce the full cast line up for Bartlett Sher’s glorious and lavish production of My Fair Lady at the London Coliseum.

Stephen K Amos will play the role of Alfred P. Doolittle. Stephen is a BAFTA award-winning comedian whose stage work includes My Night With Reg and One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest. Malcolm Sinclairwill play the role of Colonel Pickering. Malcolm has performed in more than 50 theatrical productions and was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 2019 Olivier Awards for his performance in Pressure at The Ambassador’s Theatre. 

They join the previously announced Amara Okereke who will star as Eliza Doolittle, Harry Hadden-Paton who reprises his performance as Henry Higgins, Dame Vanessa Redgrave who will play Mrs Higgins, Maureen Beattie who will play Mrs Pearce and Sharif Afifi who will play Freddy Eynsford-Hill.

The full company is completed with Dammi Aregbeshola, Bernadette Bangura, Joseph Claus, Jordan Crouch, Jamie Cruttenden, Francessca Daniella-Baker, Barry Drummond,  Bethany Huckle, Heather Jackson, Emma Johnson, Charlotte Kennedy, Sinead Kenny, Jenny Legg, Tom Liggins, Rebekah Lowings, Carl Patrick, Tom Ping, Dominique Planter, Joseph Poulton, John Stacey, Joshua Steel, Oliver Tester, Adam Vaughan, Annie Wensak and Paul Westwood. 

New York’s Lincoln Center Theater’s critically acclaimedand multi award-winning production of Lerner & Loewe’s much loved My Fair Lady will transfer to the London Coliseum for a limited summer engagement in what will be the first major West End revival of the show for 21 years. The season comes as part of the ongoing celebrated tradition of summer musicals at the London Coliseum. The perfect way to celebrate London’s theatre scene as it blossoms once more after the pandemic. Performances begin on 7 May 2022 with an opening night on 18 May 2022.

Tickets are on sale now from www.myfairladymusical.co.uk 

Directed by Bartlett Sher, this sublime production, which premiered in the spring of 2018 at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater, was the winner of the Tony Award for Best Costume Design,  5 Outer Critics’ Circle Awards including Best Musical Revival, the Drama League Award for Outstanding Musical Revival, and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Musical Revival and Costume Design. The London production will feature 36 musicians from the English National Opera’s award-winning Orchestra playing Frederick Loewe’s ravishing score making it the largest orchestra in the West End.

My Fair Lady tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a young Cockney flower seller, and Henry Higgins, a linguistics professor who is determined to transform her into his idea of a “proper lady”. But who is really being transformed?

With a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe, MY FAIR LADYboasts a score including the classic songs “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “Get Me to the Church on Time,” “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly,” “On the Street Where You Live,” “The Rain in Spain,” and “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face.” 

“Thrilling! Glorious and better than it ever was! A marvellous and transformative revival.”
New York Times

Adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s play and Gabriel Pascal’s motion picture Pygmalion, Lerner & Loewe’s MY FAIR LADY premiered on Broadway in March 1956, winning 6 Tony Awards including Best Musical, and becoming the longest-running musical in Broadway history at the time. Following this success, the production transferred to London in 1958, where it played in the West End for five and a half years. 

MY FAIR LADY has seen many notable revivals and adaptations, including the acclaimed 1964 film starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison, which won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Most recently on the London stage, Cameron Mackintosh’s 2001 revival at Theatre Royal Drury Lane won three Olivier Awards, and later toured across the UK and Ireland in 2005.

James L. Nederlander, Jamie Wilson, Hunter Arnold, Crossroads Live, Playful Productions and the English National Opera present the Lincoln Center Theater production ofLerner & Loewe’s MY FAIR LADY. Book and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, Music by Frederick Loewe, sets by Michael Yeargan, costumes by Catherine Zuber, lighting by Donald Holder, sound by Marc Salzberg, hair & wigs by Tom Watson, musical direction by Gareth Valentine, musical supervision by Ted Sperling, choreography by Christopher Gattelli, directed by Bartlett Sher.

THE ONLY WAY IS…

GEMMA COLLINS

TO STAR AS ‘MAMA MORTON’

IN THE UK AND IRELAND TOUR OF

THE INTERNATIONAL SMASH HIT MUSICAL

ALONGSIDE FAYE BROOKES AS ‘ROXIE HART’

AND

DJALENGA SCOTT AS ‘VELMA KELLY’

AT THE SUNDERLAND EMPIRE

FROM TUESDAY 31 MAY 2022

David Ian in association with Barry and Fran Weissler are delighted to announce TV personality Gemma ‘The GC’ Collins will star as ‘Mama Morton’ in the acclaimed UK and Ireland tour of the international smash hit musical CHICAGO. Gemma will join the tour at the Sunderland Empire from Tuesday 31 May 2022, ahead of playing Cardiff New Theatre, Blackpool Winter Gardens, Sheffield Lyceum, Norwich Theatre Royal and New Theatre, Oxford.

David Ian said today, “We were completely stunned by Gemma’s audition for the role. She’s an undeniable force both on and off stage, and we can’t wait to see her portrayal of ‘Mama Morton’ on tour. Audiences across the country are in for a treat.”

Gemma Collins is best known as a media personality and businesswoman, having first featured in the reality series The Only Way Is Essex. She was awarded the 2021 winner of the Best Female Personality at the National Reality Television Awards. Since ‘Essex’ Gemma has appeared in numerous television shows including, I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!, Celebrity Big Brother, Dancing on Ice and All Together Now in which she was a finalist. Most recently Gemma was seen on screens with her intimate Channel 4 documentary, Gemma Collins: Self-Harm & Me. Before finding fame on The Only Way Is Essex, Gemma was a keen performer having studied dance and winning a place at the renowned Sylvia Young Theatre School.

Gemma joins Faye Brookes as ‘Roxie Hart’, Djalenga Scott as ‘Velma Kelly’, Jamie Baughan as ‘Amos Hart’ and B.E. Wong as ‘Mary Sunshine’. The role of ‘Billy Flynn’ will be announced soon. Full tour schedule below. www.chicagothemusical.com

The cast is completed by Ishmail Aaron, Michelle Andrews, Gabby Antrobus, Delycia Belgrave, Joel Benjamin, Tanisha-Mae Brown, Daniel Clift, Callum Fitzgerald, Emily Goodenough, Billie Hardy, Aaron Jenkins, Liam Marcellino, Theo Reece, Hollie Jane Stephens and Harrison Wilde. 

Faye Brookes (Roxie Hart) reached the final of last year’s series of ITV’s Dancing On Ice. She is best known for her role as Kate Connor in ITV’s Coronation Street, for which she won a National Television Award. Her theatre credits include Princess Fiona in Shrek and Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, both on national tour, Ann/Edna in That Day We Sang directed by Victoria Wood at Manchester’s Royal Exchange, Liesl in The Sound of Music at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and Frenchy in Grease at the West End’s Piccadilly Theatre. Faye’s other TV credits include Agnes Franklin in Our Girl and Helena in Atlantis, both for the BBC.

Djalenga Scott’s (Velma Kelly) West End credits include Lily St Regis in Annie at the Piccadilly Theatre, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the New London and Chicago at the Adelphi, Cambridge and Garrick Theatres. Her other credits include Anita in the national tour of West Side Story, Rizzo in Grease at Curve Leicester, Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show and Carmen in Fame, both on European tours, the US tour of Batman Live and Bombalurina in Cats at Kilworth House. Djalenga’s screen credits include Scarlett/Esme in Trapped for the BBC and Alexandra in the film I Give It A Year.

Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, CHICAGO is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids.

Created by the musical theatre talents of John Kander, Fred Ebb and legendary choreographer Bob Fosse, CHICAGO’s sexy, sassy score includes the show-stopping songs “Razzle Dazzle”, “Cell Block Tango”, and “All That Jazz”.  Winner of six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy, CHICAGO is the longest running American musical in Broadway and West End history.

Since it opened in New York in 1996, CHICAGO has played in 36 countries worldwide and has been performed in English, Dutch, German, Swedish, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Danish, Japanese and Korean.  Worldwide it has been seen by an estimated 33 million people, grossed over $1.7 billion and played over 32,500 performances.

CHICAGO, which is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.  The 1996 Broadway revival of CHICAGO was choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse, directed by Walter Bobbie, and produced by Barry and Fran Weissler.

Runaway Entertainment presents

2:22 – A GHOST STORY

The hit play by Danny Robins

Directed by Matthew Dunster

@222AGhostStory #222AGhostStory 

• 2.22 – A GHOST STORY ANNOUNCES CASTING FOR THE TRANSFER TO THE CRITERION THEATRE FOR THE SHOW’S THIRD CONSECUTIVE WEST END SEASON

• TOM FELTON WILL PLAY SAM, MANDIP GILL WILL PLAY JENNY, BEATRIZ ROMILLY WILL PLAY LAUREN AND SAM SWAINSBURY WILL PLAY BEN

• THE PRODUCTION IS DIRECTED BY MATTHEW DUNSTER AND WRITTEN BY AWARD-WINNING WRITER DANNY ROBINS
  
   
• THE SHOW WAS RECENTLY NOMINATED FOR 3 OLIVIER AWARDS INCLUDING BEST NEW PLAY AND WON THE WHATSONSTAGE AWARD FOR BEST NEW PLAY

• THE PRODUCTION WILL RUN AT THE CRITERION THEATRE UNTIL 4 SEPTEMBER 2022

• TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW FROM WWW.222AGHOSTSTORY.COM

Producer Runaway Entertainment is delighted to announce casting news for the transfer of Danny Robins’ edge-of-your-seat, supernatural thriller 2:22 – A Ghost Story for a third season to the Criterion Theatre. The run at the Criterion follows two record breaking runs at the Noel Coward and Gielgud Theatres and three Olivier Nominations including Best New Play as well as winning the Best New Play category in the Whatsonstage awards.

Tom Felton will play the role of Sam. Having made his breakthrough as ‘Draco Malfoy’ in the Harry Potter series of films, Tom has gone on to star in award winning films The Rise of the Planet of the Apes, A United Kingdom, and Belle, television series The Flash, Netflix filmThe Forgotten Battle and was most recently seen on screen in SKY’s Save the Cinema. Coming up, he will star in Independent Film Burial.

Tom Felton said: “I’m incredibly excited about getting to play in 2:22. I first started acting age 6 in a local theatre group and I haven’t trodden the boards since. I love the play, I’ve taken all my family to see it & everyone leaves with a smile. I’m thrilled to be part of this summers cast and will have a lot of fun with it.”

Mandip Gill will play Jenny. Mandip played companion Yasmin Khan in series 11, 12 and 13 of Doctor Who opposite Jodie Whittaker. She also played Phoebe McQueen in Hollyoaks and has appeared in Cuckoo, Doctors, The Good Karma Hospital and Casualty.

Mandip Gill said: “I am thrilled to be making my West End debut as part of the new cast of an already successful show. I am equally scared of ghosts so this should be fun” 

Beatriz Romilly will play the role of Lauren. Beatriz was born in Spain. She is best known for her work in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers and War of the Worlds. She has also appeared on stage at Chichester Festival Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe and The Bush Theatre.

Beatriz Romilly said: “I’m delighted to be returning to London and joining the new 2:22 company. I feel very lucky to be working with Matthew Dunster again, and getting a chance to dive into Danny Robins nail biting script with such a wonderful creative team and cast.”

Sam Swainsbury will play Ben. Sam is known best for his roles as Jason in the BBC sitcom Mum and Rowan in the 2019 film Fisherman’s Friends. In 2015, Swainsbury featured in the film Thor: The Dark World, In 2017, Swainsbury appeared on Fearless, In 2019, he appeared in Victoria as Dr John Snow.

Sam Swainsbury said: “It’s such a privilege to be joining the 2:22 company! I was really drawn to the script. It’s engaging, funny, exciting and poignant, but… there was something else. Something I can’t put my finger on. Drawing me to it. Almost like… like a voice. From another place. That’s normal, right?!”

Matthew Dunster said: “Planning our 3rd iteration of 2:22 has been just as exciting as the first two; working with Danny and my Co-Director, Isabel Mar, and our brilliant casting directors to re-imagine the characters once more. It’s such a privilege to do that and to know audiences are excited about ‘who’s next?’  We have a wonderful cast that once again is loaded with surprise, excitement and West End Debuts. People love watching this show and we love making it.”

After breaking all box office records for a new play at the Noel Coward Theatre; described as the theatre event of the year and the hottest ticket in the West End; and after weeks of sell-out performances, the show transferred for another record breaking run at the Gielgud Theatre. The run there ended in February and a third season, this time to the Criterion Theatre, was immediately announced. 

2.22 – A Ghost Story is written by award-winning writer Danny Robins, creator of the hit BBC podcast The Battersea Poltergeist and it is directed by Matthew Dunster. Intriguing, funny and scary, it takes audiences into one adrenaline fueled night where secrets will emerge and ghosts may appear….What do you believe? And do you dare to discover the truth?

“There’s something in our house. I hear it every night, at the same time.”

Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’t having any of it. They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and her new partner Ben. Can the dead really walk again? Belief and scepticism clash, but something feels strange and frightening, and that something is getting closer, so they are going to stay up… until 2.22am… and then they will know.

Danny Robins said “I’m overjoyed to have a cast of this outrageously exciting calibre for our new season. Tom and Mandip are stellar talents who I have admired for years, Sam is awesome and will be known and loved by comedy fans and Beatriz is someone I know is bursting with ability and on the cusp of stardom. Each new cast unlocks new surprises and thrills for me as a writer, each actor bringing their own distinctive take to the play. If you haven’t seen 2:22 before, there’s never been a better reason to come, if you have seen it, come back and see it again with this exciting line-up!” 

2:22 – A Ghost Story features set design by Anna Fleischle, costume design by Cindy Lin, lighting design by Lucy Carter, sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph Sound, co-direction by Isabel Marr, casting by Jessica Ronane CDG and illusions by Chris Fisher.

2:22 – A Ghost Story is produced by Tristan Baker and Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment, Isobel David and Kater Gordon. 

Theatre Royal Brighton – until 2nd April 2022

Reviewed by Sue Bradley

4****

In our world of modern music, we are usually blissfully unaware of the writers – we know (or, at least, know of) the artist, but who creates the songs for them to sing?

Carole King may not be a household name, particularly this side of the Atlantic, but she was a genuine pioneer, and her solo album Tapestry, released in 1971, helped to introduce the concept of the intelligent and articulate singer/songwriter to a much wider audience. I would be willing to bet that a high proportion of the older members of the audience at the Theatre Royal Brighton have had, and probably still have, a copy of Tapestry in their record collection. And King’s achievements are all the more remarkable for her being a woman in the largely male-dominated world of songwriting, especially at that time.

But King’s story started a decade earlier when she, at the age of 17, together with lyricist and future husband Gerry Goffin, wrote Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?, made famous by the Shirelles. King and Goffins’ troubled relationship, and also their friendly rivalry with another songwriting team (Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil) provides the backdrop against which the musical Beautiful delivers a host of familiar songs. Rather than trying to weave a story around the songs, this show lets the songs do a lot of the work.  There are so many that are familiar  – you will be astonished by how many of them were written or co-written by King.

The show eases us in without a grand opening – the house lights are up and the cast drift on, until eventually Carole (played by Molly-Grace Cutler) sits at the grand piano. As soon as she starts to sing we know how good this show is going to be.  We soon come to realise that all the music we hear will be performed by the actors. Playing and singing everything, including an impressive array of brass instruments, they do this with evident enjoyment – many of them swapping instruments with apparent ease.

Of course, since there are groups like the Shirelles and the Drifters represented, there is some fine dancing too  – and, if the dance moves don’t quite have the effortless “cool” of the originals, they are still believable and help to transport us back to earlier times. 

The set is a stylised recording studio and this provides a neat solution to the perennial problem of how to have live drums on stage without them drowning everything else out. In this case the answer is simple – put them in the dedicated drum-booth found in most studios! The sound design for this show, by Tom Marshall, and directed onstage by Dan De Cruz, was excellent and made it a pleasure to listen to the music.

Carole’s journey from talented “Plain Jane” to Carnegie Hall star is affecting and unaffected. Molly-Grace Cutler sings the songs with real heart and holds the centre effortlessly. Particular mention, too, to Jos Slovick as Barry Mann who provides many comic moments with his insecurities and hypochondria and then reveals one of the best voices of the cast.

Closing the show with a rousing version of Beautiful from Tapestry, the cast and this production completely deserved the standing ovation we were more than happy to give. This was an excellent evening and I can only hope that future audiences enjoy the show as much as we did.

Festival Theatre, Edinburgh – until Saturday 2nd April 2022

Reviewed by Ellen Searle

5*****

It takes a lot to get an Edinburgh audience onto its feet, but this multiple award winning musical, with outstanding performances of the entire company, fully deserved the long and heartfelt standing ovation it inspired at the Festival Theatre.

The show, from an original idea by Jonathan Butterell, with songs by Dan Gillespie Sells and Tom MacRae, is based on the true story of aspiring drag queen Jamie Campbell, who wants to go to his high school prom in drag. Jamie (Layton Williams) faces barriers all the way, prejudice, fear and outrage, not least of all from his own father. But Jamie has what we all need when times are tough ~ people who know right from wrong and who are on our side.

Most important of these is his mum Margaret (Amy Ellen Richardson). There is much poignancy in the the show, and particularly in the beautifully portrayed relationship between Jamie and his mother. Margaret is devoted to her son in the way only a mother can be, and the pitch perfect expression of parental pride, pain and joy as she and Jamie both grow through their intertwined experiences is a triumph of writing, directing and performance.  

The other three key allies of Jamie provide lightness and humor to offset this intensity, but they are also realistic and indeed inspiring characters. There is Margaret’s best friend, the indomitable Ray (Sasha Latoya), who supports and rallies, turning up at the right time, saying the right thing and bringing the right chocolate. There’s the steadfast best friend Pritti Pasha (Sharan Phull) standing up to bully Dean Paxton (George Sampson).  And there’s the fabulous Loco Chanelle, the alter ego of Hugo, owner of the drag paraphernalia shop that Jamie nervously enters to buy his first dress (Rhys Taylor replacing Shane Ritchie who was unable to perform on opening night due to illness).  All of these characters ‘get’ Jamie, but they are willing to challenge him, and are true to themselves. We can see ourselves in these characters as well as Jamie and Margaret, who we have been perhaps, and who we would like to be.

The acting and singing is pitch perfect,  delivered with real nuance and depth. There is plenty variety in tone as each scene flows naturally and easy into the next, with the action reflected perfectly in the singing and dancing, from the rousing, bouncy ‘Everyone’s Talking About Jamie’ ensemble number,  to Margaret’s soulful, heartfelt ‘If I Met Myself Again’, mirrored beautifully by a contemporary dance duet. 

I have only one very minor gripe, and that is that we are deprived the joy of seeing Jamie in full drag, which I expected to see in the otherwise fantastic finale.

All in all, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is a delightful experience, and it is art.  It stimulates our minds, opens our hearts, and inspires us. And, it may just provide one of the best evenings of entertainment this year!

Birmingham Hippodrome – until Saturday 2 April 2022

Reviewed by Louise Ford

4****

Being brave in a confusing world…

The Curious Incident is based on the best selling novel by Mark Haddon, which was first published in 2003. This current production is adapted by Simon Stephens and directed by Marianne Elliot. The  original National Theatre production was back in 2012 and has won a whole host of awards over the years. The adaptation stays very true and close to the original novel.

The production opens with the eponymous dog centre stage and a distraught Christopher Boone (David Bremen’s) being confronted by his angry neighbour who calls the police. The story is narrated by Siobhan (Rebecca Root), Christopher’s teacher and champion. She is there throughout the whole story guiding, prompting and steering Christopher through the difficult journey to investigate the incident. 

The set (designed by Bunny Christie) which at first glance is very minimal, just  a few cubes, is cleverly lit and manipulated with light, (Paule Constable) sound ( Ian Dickinson) and video (Finn Ross) to convey a wide range of scenes. From suburban Swindon to the crowded underground. The shock of the sounds combined with flashing lights make for a total sensory overload at times. This cleverly conveys the confusion and distress that surrounds Christopher.

At the heart of the story is a young adolescent who is struggling with the breakdown of his family. He has some “behavioural difficulties “ that his parents  try to understand and deal with. This coupled with his inability to interpret emotions, feelings and situations makes for a complicated and difficult life for both Christopher and his parents. Christopher’s observational and mathematical abilities help him to believe that he “can do anything in the world”. The first step is taking his A level mathematics at only 15. He is of course determined to get an A*.

Whilst the cast consists of just four major characters as well as Christopher and his teacher, there is  Ed, Christopher’s father (Tom Peters ) and Judy, Christopher’s mum (Kate Kordel) the rest of the parts are played by just six actors. And not forgetting the two rodents who play Toby on alternate nights!

The production feels fresh and exciting although the first half feels more energetic than the second. It was great to see an audience really get behind the story and be so enthusiastic. As the book is now a set text for GCSE English  the audience was made up of a large percentage of school pupils who really enjoyed the play, which also gave the performance an additional youthful vibe.