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Alhambra Theatre, Bradford – until 19^th March 2022 

Reviewed by Katie Goldsbrough  

5***** 

Jersey Boys has become one of the best and most well-known musicals in recent years and it’s easy to see why. Telling the story of ‘Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’, Jersey Boys starts at the beginning, with four ordinary young men from Jersey. Unlike other jukebox musicals it doesn’t shy away from the hardships faced by the band, being in and out of prison, having money problems and suffering personal losses. We also share in their triumphs of finding the perfect fourth member, having hit after hit and eventually being inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’. With classic hits including ‘December 1963 (Oh What a Night)’, ‘Can’t Take My Off You’ and ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ it’s clear to see why Jersey Boys has become such a phenomenon.  

With each of the four leads bringing something different to their performance they work fantastically well together. Making his theatre debut Luke Suri shone as Frankie Valli having no problem hitting those high notes Frankie Valli was so famous for and having an excellent stage presence. Dalton Wood as petty criminal and gambler, Tommy DeVito has all the confidence and showmanship needed for his character giving an excellent portrayal. Lewis Griffiths as Nick Massi is a humorous and quiet member of the group finally expressing his true thoughts in the second act.  Finally, Blair Gibson as Bob Gaudio fit the role excellently, completing the quartet and truly finding the perfect ‘Four Seasons’. 

Whether you grew up hearing about ‘Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ or you’ve just discovered their music you’re in for a treat. The story is intertwined perfectly with the music and the opportunity to see ‘Jersey Boys’ is one not to be missed.  

Love Your Local Theatre 2-for-1 ticket campaign extends into April with 100s of new shows at participating venues nationwide

Search for 2-for-1 tickets available now for National Lottery players via www.loveyourlocaltheatre.com

Love Your Local Theatre, a campaign run by leading theatre membership body UK Theatre and made possible by the support of The National Lottery, has announced it is extending until 30 April. Over 100,000 tickets have already been sold through the promotion, made possible by £1m of National Lottery subsidy. Due to huge demand, an additional 50,000 2-for-1 tickets have been made available for April performances – with thousands of tickets still available for March at theatres UK-wide.

From Bristol and Birmingham to Newcastle and Nottingham, National Lottery players can get their hands on a bargain for participating shows, as a thank you for the £30 million they raise every week for Good Causes, including support for the performing arts and theatres during the pandemic.

Thousands of people have already booked and seen shows at their local theatre as part of this promotion in March. By extending Love Your Local Theatre into April, UK Theatre and the National Lottery want to give even more people the chance to experience the magic of live entertainment for less this spring. And thanks to support from the National Lottery, there’s still up to £1 million available to subsidise 2-for-1 tickets in this promotion. 

The huge variety of shows just added to the promotion includes everything from dance spectaculars Akram Khan’s The Jungle Book at Curve in Leicester and Remembering the Oscars at Dartford’s Orchard Theatre, to acclaimed plays Private Peaceful at Salisbury Playhouse, The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice at Exeter Northcott Theatre and Kes at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick – not to mention hit musicals like Dreamboats And Petticoats at Newcastle Theatre Royal and Beautiful – The Carole King Musical at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre.

To find out which theatres and shows are part of Love Your Local Theatre, visit www.loveyourlocaltheatre.com

NEW ADVENTURES ANNOUNCE ITS

EMERGING ARTIST APPRENTICES

FOR 2022/23

New Adventures is delighted to announce its next two Emerging Artist Apprentices, Hannah Kremer and Perreira Franque.

The Emerging Artist Apprenticeship is a two-year talent development scheme that supports dancers as they transition from professional training to working in the industry, with a particular focus on developing those who are underrepresented. The first level of the programme takes place during the final year of professional training. The dancers are mentored by New Adventures dance artists throughout the year and take part in company classes, residencies as well as dedicated studio time with principal dancers and dance artists. In the second year their development takes place through a performing apprenticeship contract with a New Adventures touring production.

The apprenticeship is led by New Adventures Resident Artist Kerry Biggin who said: “I’m so proud and excited to lead the Emerging Artist Apprenticeship programme. We are providing pathways into the industry and aim to send out inspired artists, confident to forge their way in the sector. We hope to address the imbalance of representation across our industry and opportunities like these feel vital to support and impact the change we want to see. I’m so excited to be part of the dancers’ journeys and see what the future holds for them”

Hannah Kremer, currently in her third year at Rambert, and Perreira Franque currently in his last year at Performers College, will both make their professional debuts in Matthew Bourne’s “SLEEPING BEAUTY”, opening at Theatre Royal Plymouth on 12 November 2022 ahead of a seven-week Christmas season at Sadler’s Wells, London.

Hannah Kremer first performed with New Adventures as part of the local cast in Matthew Bourne’s “ROMEO AND JULIET” at Sadler’s Wells in August 2019. Since then, she has taken part in Swan School and a number of other residencies within their Talent Development programme.

Perreira Franque’s first involvement with New Adventures was through a mock audition day, designed to support second and third years in training with their audition technique and a deeper understanding of the demands of a professional dance company. He then went on to take part in Swan School in 2021.

They follow in the footsteps of the inaugural apprentice, Enrique Ngbokota who is currently wowing audiences on tour in Matthew Bourne’s “NUTCRACKER!” as ‘Cupid’; having made their professional debut in the role last year. Enrique first worked with New Adventures in “LORD OF THE FLIES”. They were also in the local cast of “ROMEO AND JULIET”.

Enrique’s journey beautifully encapsulates what Matthew Bourne and New Adventures have been championing for so long by providing different opportunities to young dancers and professional dancers. Their path from “LORD OF THE FLIES” to “ROMEO AND JULIET”, to Emerging Artist Apprentice and making their professional debut in “NUTCRACKER!” is testament to New Adventures vision.

Throughout the apprenticeship, Hannah and Perreira will be mentored by New Adventures Associate Artist and principal dancer Glenn Graham: “I’m delighted to be mentoring a new generation of dancers because it’s something I never had. We hope the programme offers rigor and resilience, helping dancers to connect with company members giving them the opportunity to learn all that touring life and company environment has to offer.”

Enrique Ngbokota’s and Perreira Franque’s apprenticeships are supported by the Archie Lloyd Foundation. 

“We are delighted to be supporting the Emerging Artist Apprenticeship Programme. Our involvement with New Adventures over the past four years has enabled us to follow the development of a number of young performers and our sponsorship of Enrique Ngbokota, the inaugural beneficiary of this particular project, has resulted in amazing support for them, their well-being and their development as a young artist. We now look forward to working with our second apprentice, Perreira Franque knowing that he is in very good hands, receiving the best possible mentoring, training and career opportunities.”

Hannah Kremer’s apprenticeship is supported by Romeo and Juliet Legacy Funds, put in place to continue developing the talent from the 2019 production.

For more information about all of the apprentices please see Notes to Editors.

HAMPSTEAD THEATRE EXTENDS RUBY THOMAS’ CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED THE ANIMAL KINGDOM, DIRECTED BY LUCY MORRISON, AT HAMPSTEAD DOWNSTAIRS UNTIL 2 APRIL 2022

★★★★ ‘A thrilling portrait of a family in collapse.A coiled-spring production…Pure theatre.’ The Guardian

★★★★ ‘Fast, furious drama with note-perfect performances’ The Times

Hampstead Theatre is delighted to announce that it is extending Ruby Thomas’ The Animal Kingdom,directed by Lucy Morrison, until Saturday 2 April 2022.  Staged in Hampstead Downstairs, this critically acclaimed new play is an observation of family dynamics featuring Paul Keating, Martina Laird, Jonathan McGuinness, Ashna Rabheru and Ragevan Vasan.  Tickets are on sale now.

The Animal Kingdom’s extension follows the news that Folk, which ran at Hampstead Downstairs prior to The Animal Kingdom, is nominated in the Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre category at this year’s Olivier Awards. 

“We’re bonobos, in our family.  A hundred percent… They can be pretty aggressive actually.”

Sam is struggling.  Being a human has never been simple for him.  He just feels like a different kind of creature.  Sam’s family don’t understand.  But then they barely understand themselves.  Now, trapped in a stuffy inpatient clinic undergoing family therapy, they must find new ways to communicate with each other so that, one way or another, Sam can be released from captivity.

Ruby Thomas returns to Hampstead Theatre, following the premiere of her first full-length play Either in 2019.  In 2020 she was on attachment at the theatre with the Channel 4 Playwrights’ Scheme.  She has recently received a Jerwood Commission from the Royal Court (2021), wrote a piece for the Royal Court’s Living Newspaper (2020), and had short plays performed at the Old Red Lion, Platform Southwark, the White Bear and Theatre503.

Lucy Morrison makes her Hampstead debut.  An Associate Director at the Royal Court, her credits include Scenes with girls (Royal Court), The Woods (Royal Court) and Little on the inside (Almeida Festival/Clean Break).

The Animal Kingdom has been kindly supported by the Godwin family.

TIME LORDS TO TOP OF THE POPS:

A CELEBRATION OF BBC TELEVISION MADE AT RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

Riverside Studios today announces a brand-new photographic exhibition: Time Lords to Top of the Pops: A celebration of BBC Television made at Riverside Studios, running between 21 April and 24 July 2022.

Marking one hundred years of the British Broadcasting Corporation and sixty-five years since The BBC Riverside Television Studios were opened by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, the exhibition celebrates the long and illustrious history of BBC television production at Riverside Studios.

In collaboration with BBC History, Riverside Studios presents a stunning collection of photographs taken behind-the-scenes of the most iconic BBC programmes made in their original building, from Doctor Who and Hancock’s Half Hour to Blue Peter and Top of the Pops.

Complementing the photographic exhibition, Riverside Studios will host a variety of related special events including the unveiling of a BBC Heritage Trail blue plaque and a screening in tribute to the founding producer of Doctor Who, Verity Lambert. Other activities will include special events for children in the May half term break and additional screenings of television from the archive. More details of the event programme will be announced shortly on the Riverside Studios website and via social media.

Rachel Tackley, Creative Director of Riverside Studios, says today:

“I am so excited to be hosting this exhibition. The team here have been working with the BBC for over a year and it is such a delight to see it all finally come together. I have loved choosing the ‘behind-the-scenes’ images, most of which have never been seen before, as well as discovering all the amazing programmes that were made at Riverside.  Now all we need is for the Dalek to get here and I can finally lay my childhood fears to rest!”

Robert Seatter, Head of BBC History, says today:

“In the year of the BBC’s centenary, it’s great to be working with Riverside to showcase some of the iconic and much loved programmes made – and continuing to be made – in these studios. They are revealed in carefully restored images from the BBC Photography Archive, which we know audiences will love seeing in Riverside’s glorious new public spaces, along with a shiny blue plaque as a permanent memento!”

Riverside Studios

LISTINGS 

101 Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith W6 9BN

Thursday 21 April – Sunday 24 July

Box Office: 020 8237 1010

Lyceum, Sheffield – until 19th March 2022

Reviewed by Alison Beaumont

5*****

Dreamgirls is a musical set in the early 1960’s to mid 70’s and follows the rise of 3 women Effie, Deena and Lorrell who have formed a group called the Dreamettes. They enter a talent show and are offered an opportunity to be the backing singers for James Thunder Early. Curtis their manager gradually takes over the Dreamettes who he rebrands as the Dreams and pushes Effie out of the spotlight to focus on Deena. While the Dreams rise to fame without Effie she is left struggling bringing up her daughter. A few years later Effie starts to rise to fame in a solo career. The manager of the Dreams tries to destroy Effie’s new career.

Well what can I say about this musical other than WOW WOW WOW. I will start with the best and most amazing part for me and that has to be when Effie White played by Nicole Raquel Dennis sang “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going”, what a singer, vocals out of this world, I was mesmerised by this performance, she definitely gave Whitney Houston a run for her money with this rendition. The audience certainly felt the same and she even had some members of the audience on their feet showing their appreciation during this song. Absolutely by far the best moment. This to me was when I really felt enraptured by the musical. I was left wondering how the Second Act could possibly match up. I was not left disappointed.

The blow away moment for me in the Second Act was “Listen”, recorded by Beyonce. This song always gets me emotionally and brings a tear to my eye as it personally holds a special place in my heart. This was a duet with Effie and Deena Jones (Natalie Kassanga), Nicole yet again gave an outstanding performance as did Natalie, could not fault them one bit.

The show has lots of emotion which is portrayed exceptionally well by everyone and the story is well performed.

The choreography for the male dancers was good and they certainly did not disappoint playing their parts, this all added to the great performance.

The Dreamgirls (reprise) where Effie joins the Dream girls Deena, Lorrell (Paige Peddie) and Michelle (Brianna Ogunbawo) was the perfect end to a perfect show.

I really feel that everyone deserves a mention in this review as they all played equally good parts and the bond between everyone certainly made this show run smoothly and really enjoyable for the audience. There is nothing I could fault.

The award-winning Original Theatre Company 

adds its acclaimed touring production of The Hound of the Baskervilles 

to its Spring 2022 on demand digital programme 

joining a line-up which includes  

Emily Head’s The System, Adrian Lukis’s Being Mr Wickham and 

Into The Night starring Tom Chambers, Robert Duncan, Susan Penhaligon 

The award-winning Original Theatre Company and Octagon Theatre Bolton’s acclaimed 2021/22 tour of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most celebrated adventure, The Hound of the Baskervilles, will be available on demand online from 14 April at 7.30pm until 31 July 2022 ([https://originaltheatreonline.com)/]https://originaltheatreonline.com). 

The whodunnit for all ages stars Jake Ferretti (The Kitchen, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, The Understudy) as Sherlock Holmes, Serena Manteghi (Welcome To Iran, To Build a Rocket, Mrs Wilson) as Sir Henry and Niall Ransome as Dr. Watson (Mischief Movie Night, The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, Fcuk’d). 

Adapted for the stage by Steven Canny and John Nicholson for Peepolykus, in a production which was first performed at the Octagon Theatre in summer 2021, the classic detective tale gets a brilliantly farcical overhaul in Lotte Wakeham’s acclaimed production which is directed on tour by Tim Jackson. A hit in the West End, this ingenious adaptation combines an exhilarating collision of farce, theatrical invention and wonderfully comic performances to offer a brand-new twist on the greatest detective story of all time. 

One of the first companies to launch online versions of their plays, Original Theatre have produced 13 digital productions since March 2020 and streamed their work globally to 57 countries. Their work has ranged from filming Sebastian Faulks’s Birdsong to Apollo 13 to an award-winning zombie short Viral shot on iPhones in locked-down Peckham. Over lockdown they employed over 200 freelancers. Their work has been widely praised and they have recently been credited with creating “an entirely new dramatic genre” (The Guardian).  In February 2022, the company won a One Off Award at this year’s OFFIES in recognition of its work over the past 18 months. 

Alastair Whatley, Artistic Director of Original Theatre, said, “Necessity forced our hand in 2020 as we took our first steps into making work online. As much as the past two years have been profoundly challenging for all of us in the industry, they have also opened doors to explore a new way of working which in turn has led us to develop a new and exciting hybrid form of theatre. It’s been a period of huge change but also great innovation which is opening up access to theatre like we’ve never been able to do previously.” 

The Hound of the Baskervilles joins Original Theatre’s exciting on demand Spring line-up including: 

The Red (16 March – 16 June): Marcus Brigstocke’s compelling drama of family and addiction, starring real-life father and son Bruce Alexander and Sam Alexander, is based on his own recovery. Originally commissioned for BBC Radio 4 and winner of the BBC Audio Drama Award 2018 for Best Single Drama, the 2019 stage production had acclaimed runs at Omnibus Theatre and Edinburgh Festival Fringe.  

Into The Night (until 31 August): On Saturday 19 December 1981, the Penlee lifeboat ‘Solomon Browne’, was launched in hurricane conditions to go to the aid of the coaster ‘Union Star’ that had engine failure and was being swept towards the southern coast of Cornwall. It was an attempted rescue which ranks not only with the greatest in the history of the RNLI, but with any human achievement. Marking 40 years since the event, Into The Night is a unique theatrical performance being streamed online. The cast includes Tom Chambers, Robert Duncan and Susan Penhaligon.  

THE SYSTEM (until 31 August): Emily Head’s sharp psychological thriller invites the audience into the interrogation room with the murder suspects. As, one by one, the murder suspects give their accounts of that night a dark truth begins to reveal itself. An on-demand recording of Original’s live stream, filmed on stage at the New Wolsey in a single steadicam take, THE SYSTEM is one of Original’s most ambitious undertakings and the longest single take LIVE steadicam shot ever undertaken! 

Being Mr Wickham (until 30 April): Adrian Lukis, who starred in the renowned BBC TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, returns to the role of Mr Wickham. Join Pride and Prejudice’s most roguish gentleman, George Wickham, on the eve of his sixtieth birthday, to lift the sheets on what exactly happened thirty years on from where we left him. This on-demand version was originally streamed live from the stage of the magnificent Regency Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds. 

There is also the final chance to catch the compelling political drama A Splinter Of Ice, starring Oliver Ford Davies, Stephen Boxer and Sara Crowe, before it ends on 31 March 2022.  

For more information about Original Theatre productions, and to book your tickets, visit: https://originaltheatreonline.com.  

Richmond Theatre – until 12^th March  2022

Reviewed by Carly Burlinge  

5***** 

Cluedo – based on the detective board game that we all know and love as well as the film Clue. Is brought back to life at Richmond theatre as a hysterical fun and classic whodunit play. Offering a fun filled and frantic evening well worth a watch. 

When Miss Scarlett (Michelle Collins), Professor Plum (Daniel Casey), Colonel Mustard (Wesley Griffith), Mrs White (Etisyai Philip), Mrs Peacock (Judith Amsenga), and Reverend Green (Tom Babbage) all receive the same Invitation to Boddy Manor a Grand House. Unaware why they have been invited and by whom? Soon the evening starts to unravel and they begin to realise that they might have more in common than what they first thought! With each of them keeping restricted information that they don’t wish others to know about themselves. They soon discover that they are all being blackmailed and when things get heated their secrets become exposed for all to hear. With all doors locked and windows barred and everyone knowing everybody’s business. It soon becomes apparent that the guests of Boddy Manor are starting to be killed off one by one. Turning this play into a chaotic thriller that’s full of excitement lots of laughter and funny Antics. Including lots of twists and turns drawing in the audience to keep them guessing whodunnit! 

Overall, the cast gave an excellent lively ambitious accomplished performance. They worked fabulously well together and their connection on stage was strong as well as humorous and fast paced, making it an excellent show to watch. They showed some very skill full acting with some slow-motion scenes that were just outstanding and gained much clapping and laughing from the audience throughout the whole show. 

The opening stage consisted of a front door going into a large hallway with may doors as like in the game leading to The Library, The Study, The Kitchen, The Dining Room the conservatory and the lounge.  All lit up in the colours of the characters. Each door had a panel that opens wide to reveal each room in more detail very cleverly done and really affective. 

All In all, what a fantastic and fun night. Thoroughly enjoyable to watch and one not to be missed. 

TARON EGERTON,

JONATHAN BAILEY

JADE ANOUKA & PHIL DANIELS

IN

BY MIKE BARTLETT

PRODUCTION PHOTOGRAPHS

RELEASED TODAY

Production photographs of Taron Egerton, Jonathan Bailey, Jade Anouka and Phil Daniels in C O C K at the Ambassadors Theatre – Mike Bartlett’s Olivier award winning play about love and identity are released today. 

The pictures by Brinkhoff Moegenburg 

Directed by Tony and Olivier award winning Marianne Elliott, Cock is currently in preview at the Ambassadors Theatre in London where it will run until Saturday 4 June 2022. 

“The fact is that some of us like women and some like men and that’s fine that’s good in fact that’s good, a good thing, but it seems to me that you’ve become confused.”

In a world full of endless possibilities why must we still limit ourselves with labels?

Taron Egerton, Jonathan Bailey, Jade Anouka and Phil Daniels star in Mike Bartlett’srazor sharp play which redefines the battle of the sexes. 

Marianne Elliott said  ‘I feel so excited to be working on this beautifully crafted and hilarious play by Mike Bartlett. It keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. A truly theatrical piece in that it asks the audience to enter the imagination of the storytelling – as only live theatre can do. It’s also all about the acting so to have such a talented, highly experienced, stellar cast is an absolute dream!’

Mike Bartlett added:  ‘I love Marianne Elliott’s work and have done for a long time, so I’m thrilled to be able to collaborate with her on this revival. Especially with this incredible cast, which I know will bring both a fresh take and vast experience to a play about love, identity and the passionate human being.” 

Taron Egerton won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Sir Elton John in Rocketman and also recorded the original song for the film I’m Gonna Love Again with Sir Elton which went on to win Best Original Song at the Academy Awards. He will next be seen starring in Blackbird, a limited series drama for Apple TV alongside Paul Walter Hauser, Tetris directed by Jon S. Baird and produced by Matthew Vaughn for Apple + and is also set to star in Claire Denis’ romantic drama thriller Stars at Noon, opposite Margaret Qualley. Egerton shot to fame when he played Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin in Matthew Vaughn’s Kingsman: The Secret Service and reprised the role in Kingsman: The Golden Circle.  Other credits include Eddie the Eagle, Testament of Youth, Legend, Sing, Robin Hood, and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. On stage he has appeared in The Last of the Haussmans at the National Theatre and Tommy in No Quarter at the Royal Court Theatre. 

Jonathan Bailey won an Olivier Award for his ground-breaking role of Jamie in Marianne Elliott’s West End revival of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s musical Company.  Jonathan plays Viscount Anthony Bridgerton in the Netflix’ period drama, Bridgerton, a role he is reprising in the second series scheduled for release in 2022.  His other TV credits include the ITV series Broadchurch, Leonardo da Vinci in Leonardo, Me and Mrs Jones, Doctor Who and WIA (all for the BBC) and Crashing and Chewing Gum for Channel 4.  His theatre credits include David Hare’s South Downs, American Psycho at the Almeida Theatre, The York Realist at The Donmar Warehouse, and King Lear (alongside Sir Ian McKellen) for Chichester Festival Theatre.

Jade Anouka’s recent TV credits include Ruta Skadi in BBC/HBO’s His Dark Materials, Channel 5’s The Drowning and ITV’s Cleaning Up. Her film credits include Ear For Eye, Fisherman’s Friends and Last Christmas. In theatre Jade has played the title roles in Hampstead’s Olivier nominated The Phlebotomist and Queen Margaret at The Royal Exchange. Other theatre credits include Moon On A Rainbow Shawl at The National Theatre, Doctor Faustus in the West End and the Donmar Warehouse Shakespeare Trilogy where she played Mark Antony in Julius Caesar, Hotspur in Henry IV and Ariel in The Tempest.  She wrote, directed and co-starred in a short film –  Her & Her for BBC’s Culture In Quarantine series which has since got in to 23 film festivals. 

Phil Daniels’ early films include Anoop and the Elephant, Bugsy Malone, Breaking Glass, Scum and the central role of Jimmy in Quadrophenia. He starred in a 1985 British snooker musical, Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire. More recent films include playing the voice of Fletcher in Chicken Run, Free Jimmy, Freebird, Vinyl and The Hatton Garden Job.  He narrated tracks Parklife and Me, White Noise on the Parklife and Think Tank albums for Blur.  On TV,  he played Kevin Wicks in EastEnders and appeared in Sunnyside Farm, Time Gentlemen Please, and Rock and Chips.  His theatre credits include: The Merchant of Venice, The Jew of Malta and A Clockwork Orange for the RSC, This House for the National Theatre, King Lear at Chichester Festival Theatre and Thenardier in Les Miserables in the West End.

Mike Bartlett is a multi-award-winning writer for both stage and screen. His five part drama series Doctor Foster won the National Television Award for Best New Drama and was seen by almost 10 million viewers. Other television work includes  Life, Doctor Foster series 2, King Charles III,  Sticks and Stones, Trauma, Press, Doctor Who and The Town. Bartlett’s stage plays include: Vassa, Albion and Game for the Almeida Theatre,  Snowflake for Arts at the Old Fire Station; Wild at Hampstead Theatre; the Olivier Award winning King Charles III at the Almeida Theatre, Wyndham’s Theatre and Music Box Theatre in New York (also winner of the Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play 2014);  An Intervention for Paines Plough and Watford; Bull at Sheffield Theatres, Off Broadway and the Young Vic (Winner of Best New Play at the National Theatre Awards 2013); Medea for Headlong, Glasgow Citizens, Watford Theatre and Warwick; Chariots of Fire at the Hampstead Theatre the Gielgud Theatre in the West End; 13 at National Theatre; Cock for the Royal Court; Decade for Headlong; Earthquakes in London for Headlong and the National Theatre; Love, Love, Love for Paines Plough, Plymouth Theatre Royal, the Royal Court, Roundabout Theatre Company, New York and the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre; Contractions for the Royal Court and Crucible Theatre, Sheffield; My Child for the Royal Court; Artefacts for the Bush Theatre and Honest for the Theatre Royal Northampton.

Marianne Elliott recently directed Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Company at the Gielgud Theatre.  It won four Olivier Awards including ‘Best Revival of a Musical’.  Its Broadway transfer will re-open (following the Covid shutdown) in New York this autumn. Her other shows for Elliott & Harper include the Olivier Award winning Death of a Salesman (co-directed with Miranda Cromwell) in the West End and at the Young Vic.  For the National Theatre she directed the Olivier and Tony award-winning Angels in America (in London and on Broadway), the Olivier and Tony-award-winning The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (at the NT, West End, on Broadway and on tour).  She co-directed the world-wide hit War Horse alongside Tom Morris (at the NT, West End on Broadway and on tour).  She received a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play for War Horse. On winning the Tony Award for Curious Incident in New York, Marianne became the first woman in Broadway history to have won two Tony Awards for Best Direction of a Play.  Other productions at the NT include The Light Princess, Women Beware Women, Port, Saint Joan (Olivier Award for Best Revival, South Bank Show Award) and Pillars of the Community (Evening Standard Best Director Award). Elliott recently directed two of the episodes of Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads for the BBC.

Joining Marianne Elliott on the creative team are:  Designer Merle Hensel, Lighting Designer Paule Constable, Sound Designer Ian Dickinson, Composer Femi Temowo, Movement Director Annie-Lunette Deakin-Foster, Casting Director Charlotte Sutton, Vocal Coach Hazel Holder and Associate Director Chloe Christian.

The understudies for C O C K are Joel Harper- Jackson (John/M), Dominic Holmes (y John/M), Jessica Whitehurst (W) and John Vernon (F).

C O C K is produced by Elliott & Harper Productions.

WILTSHIRE CREATIVE ANNOUNCES FULL CAST FOR

                 LUCY KIRKWOOD’S THE CHILDREN AT SALISBURY PLAYHOUSE

Wiltshire Creative today announce the full cast for Lucy Kirkwood’s The Children opening at Salisbury Playhouse next month. Belinda Lang directs Christine Kavanagh (Rose), Joanne Pearce (Hazel) and Brian Protheroe (Robin). The production opens on 8 April 2022, with previews from 7 April and runs until 23 April.

Wiltshire Creative presents

THE CHILDREN

By Lucy Kirkwood

Director: Belinda Lang; Set and Costume Design: Michael Taylor; Lighting Design: Matthew Eagland; Sound Design: Andrea J Cox; Casting Director: Gabrielle Dawes CDG

“Retired people are like nuclear power stations. We like to live by the sea.”

Two retired nuclear scientists in an isolated cottage by the sea as the world around them crumbles. Together they are going to live forever on yogurt and yoga, until an old friend arrives with a frightening request.

Christine Kavanagh plays Rose. Her theatre work includes An Inspector Calls (UK/US tour), Hedda Gabler (NT on Tour), Man and Superman, Albert Speer (National Theatre), The Importance of Being Earnest (Harold Pinter Theatre), Basket Case (Royal and Derngate), A Doll’s House (Lyric, Belfast), All My Sons (Redgrave Theatre), Hamlet (Nottingham Playhouse), June Moon (Stephen Joseph Theatre), Last Easter (Birmingham Rep), Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing (RSC), The Liar (The Old Vic), and The Rehearsal (Almeida Theatre and Garrick Theatre). For television, her work includes Vera, Great Night Out, Titanic, Material Girl, A Very British Coup, Agony Too, Between the Lines, The Glass Virgin, Chimera, Drop the Dead Donkey, Frank Stubbs, In His Life – The John Lennon Story, Island Gardens, Man Child and A Room With a View.

Joanne Pearce plays Hazel. Her theatre credits include What Shadows (Park Theatre), A Room with a View (Theatre Royal Bath and UK tour), Kean (Apollo Theatre), How Love is Spelt, A Place at the Table, Shang-a-Lang, Unsuitable for Adults, Love Field (Bush Theatre), A Woman of No Importance, Arcadia (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Life After George (Duchess Theatre), Ancient Lights (Hampstead Theatre), Thérèse Raquin (Chichester Festival Theatre), Pain of Youth (Gate Theatre), Serious Money (Wyndham’s Theatre and New York), The Entertainer (Shaftesbury Theatre), and extensive work for the RSC including The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Little Eyolf, Cymbeline, Hamlet, Henry IV, The Alchemist, The Theban Plays, The Plantagenets and The Master Builder. Her television work includes Messiah, Murphy’s Law, The Jury, Silent Witness, Shakespeare Workshop, Lovejoy, For the Greater Good and Way Upstream; and for film, Mrs Lowry & Son, Morons from Outer Space, Whoops Apocalypse, and Murder East, Murder West.

Brian Protheroe plays Robin. His theatre work includes Little Women (Park Theatre), Hamlet, An Inspector Calls, Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Bolton Octagon), The Roundabout (Park Theatre New York), Othello, The Merchant of Venice (RSC), Twelfth Night (Sheffield Theatres) This May Hurt a Bit (Out of Joint), The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Kensington Gardens), Broken Glass (Vaudeville Theatre, Tricycle Theatre), Moonlight and Magnolias (The Watermill Theatre), Noises Off (Birmingham Rep), The Convict’s Opera (Out of Joint), The Lord of the Rings (West End), The Birthday Party (Bristol Old Vic), Macbeth (Derby Playhouse), Losing Louis (Hampstead Theatre), The Price (West End), The Cherry Orchard (Oxford Stage Company), The Tempest, The Winter’s Tale, Pericles (RSC), The Iceman Cometh, Long Voyage Home, Larkrise to Candleford, Dispatches (National Theatre), and London Cuckolds, The Duchess of Malfi (Royal Court Theatre). For television, his work includes Scarborough, His Dark Materials, Whitechapel, Hunted, My Family, Spooks, Suburban Shootout, Love Soup, 55 Degrees North, All Yours, Real Women, Dr Willoughby, The Hello Girls, Highlander, Wolverine, Pie in the Sky, Natural Lies, Shrinks, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less, Penny Less, Gentleman and Players, To Have and To Hold, Reilly Ace of Spies, and Leave Him to Heaven; and for film, Hampstead, The Fever, The Biographer, Deceit, The Biggest Bank Robbery, and Superman.

Lucy Kirkwood is a British playwright and screenwriter whose plays include Maryland (Royal Court Theatre), The Welkin (National Theatre), Mosquitoes (National Theatre), The Children (Royal Court Theatre), Chimerica (Almeida Theatre/Harold Pinter Theatre; winner of the 2014 Olivier Award for Best New Play, the 2013 Evening Standard Best Play Award, the 2014 Critics’ Circle Best New Play Award, and the Susan Smith Blackburn Award), NSFW (Royal Court), small hours (co-written with Ed Hime; Hampstead Theatre), Beauty and the Beast (with Katie Mitchell; National Theatre), Bloody Wimmin, as part of Women, Power and Politics (Tricycle Theatre), it felt empty when the heart went at first but it is alright now (Clean Break & Arcola Theatre; winner of the 2012 John Whiting Award), Hedda (Gate Theatre) and Tinderbox (Bush Theatre). Her screenwriting credits include Skins, The Smoke, Chimerica and Adult Material. She won the inaugural Berlin Lee UK Playwrights Award in 2013 and was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2018.

Belinda Lang is an actor and director. Her directing credits include Present Laughter, The Reluctant Debutante (UK tours) and This Was a Man (Finborough Theatre). Her acting credits for theatre include Duet for One, Single Spies, Ladies in Lavender, A Song at Twilight, The Chalk Garden, Alarms and Excursions (UK tours), Oklahoma! (BBC Proms, Royal Albert Hall), The Constant Wife (Gate Theatre, Dublin), The Glass Menagerie (Nuffield Theatre Southampton), The Letter of Last Resort (Tricycle Theatre/ Traverse Theatre), Liberty (Shakespeare’s Globe), The School for Scandal (Park Theatre), The Killing of Sister George (Arts Theatre), Hay Fever (Theatre Royal Haymarket/Royal Exchange Theatre), Forgotten Voices (Riverside Studios), Ring Round the Moon (Playhouse Theatre), The Secret Rapture (Lyric Theatre), What the Butler Saw (Hampstead Theatre/Criterion Theatre), Life x3 (Savoy Theatre/UK tour), My Boy Jack (Hampstead Theatre), The Things We Do For Love (Duchess Theatre), Dead Funny (Savoy Theatre), Three Sisters Two, The Dark River (Orange Tree), Lulu (Almeida Theatre) and Mrs Klein (Apollo). Her television credits include 2 Point 4 Children, The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries, Justice in Wonderland, Second Thoughts, Dear John and To Serve Them All My Days.

LISTINGS

SALISBURY PLAYHOUSE

Salisbury Playhouse, Wiltshire Creative

Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7RA

Ticket Sales: 01722 320333

A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED – A MISS MARPLE MYSTERY
7 – 12 March 2022

THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW
14 – 19 March 2022

PHANTOMS: A TRIPLE BILL

24 – 26 March 2022

THE CHILDREN

7 April – 23 April 2022

Press Night: 8 April 2022, 7:30pm

Tickets: £12+

PRIVATE PEACEFUL

25 –30 April 2022

SHEILA’S ISLAND
3 – 7 May 2022

THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE

9 – 14 May 2022

INTERNATIONAL SALISBURY ARTS FESTIVAL

27 May – 18 June

Group Bookers please contact [email protected] 

New bookings, credit or refunds can be arranged through the box office. 

In person at Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin Street Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 3pm. 

By email [email protected] 

To arrange group or access bookings please phone 01722 320 333 Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 12pm.

Thank you for your patience as we are operating with a reduced box office team.