The Russian State Ballet of Siberia are currently on a UK tour with a variety of ballets at each venue, and last night at the Hull New Theatre we were privileged to watch The Snow Maiden which was a visual and auditory delight.
The Snow Maiden is one of the lesser performed ballets and the Snow Maiden of the title is based around a character in Russian folklore.
The Snow Maiden (Natalia Bobrova) lives in the frozen forest with her father, Father Frost (Grigorii Botenkov), however, she is not happy and dreams of living in a village. Despite his misgivings Father Frost lets her go to the village of Berendeyevka where she meets a young Shepherd Lel (Yury Kudryavtsev) and falls in love with Mizgir (Georgy Bolsunovskii). Unfortunately, their love is doomed but the ending of this ballet is very upbeat with the villagers celebrating the summer solstice, thus ensuring we left the theatre with a spring in our steps!
The Snow Maiden is a very traditional ballet full of stunning dancing and beautiful music. The synopsis of this ballet by Mark Peretokin is after the play by Alexander Ostrovskiy, with music by Tchaikovsky and choreography by Sergei Bobrov and Mark Peretokin.
The choreography is superb and the dancers take us through a full range of emotions from joy to despair, the dancing is not performed mechanically but with real emotion on show. The dancing of the villagers is a real treat as it is based around traditional Russian dance and in the last act was fast and furious. The costumes, by Sergei Bobrov, are beautiful and are based loosely around traditional Russian costume. Father Frost’s costume was particularly spectacular with the blue shimmering in the lights.
Natalia Bobrova was a beautiful Snow Maiden, her dancing was exquisite full of naughtiness when she was teasing Father Frost, a tenderness as she fell in love with Mizgir and heart-breaking as she faded in the sunlight.
Georgy Bolsunovskii brought an initial arrogance to Mizgir as he searched for a bride but his emotions were clear to see once he saw the Snow Maiden and his dancing displayed raw and utter despair when the Snow Maiden faded away. I was left utterly breathless at times as he soared and turned and his partnering of the Snow Maiden and Kupava (Anna Fedosova) was faultless.
Anna Fedosova was an excellent Kupava, initially delighted to be chosen as the bride, and then jealous as Mizgir began to dance with the Snow Maiden. It was a joy to see her blossom again at the end of the ballet as she fell in love.
The Russian State Ballet Orchestra conducted by Anatoliy Chepurnoy were fabulous, it is always such a treat to have a live orchestra performing for the ballet, it really adds to the experience.
The Snow Maiden is a breathtakingly beautiful ballet, full of joy and despair but leaving you with the clear message that life goes on – perhaps just the message we need at the moment.
Jon Morgan, Director of Theatres Trust – the country’s public advisory body for theatres – has responded to the announcement today that Covid-19 restrictions will ease in Scotland:
Theatres Trust is pleased that capacity caps and social distancing rules will be lifted from 24 January, restrictions which had in effect shut down the majority of theatres in Scotland. It will be a huge relief to theatres, artists and audiences that they will soon be able to reopen
“This Is Me” singer Keala Settle to join company including
Olivier Award winners MIRIAM-TEAK LEE & CASSIDY JANSON
Award-winning musical extends booking through to
Saturday 24 September 2022 at Shaftesbury Theatre, London
www.andjulietthemusical.co.uk
Keala Settle – internationally renowned for her starring role in the global smash hit movie The Greatest Showman – is to make her West End debut in the award-winning & Juliet.
Keala – who shot to worldwide fame performing the iconic song “This Is Me” in the movie alongside Hugh Jackman, and is a Tony Award nominated star on Broadway – will play the role of Nurse in the joyous musical which won 3 Olivier Awards and 6 Whatsonstage Awards.
She will join the production from Tuesday 29 March 2022 through to Saturday 18 June at the Shaftesbury Theatre, where the show has extended its booking period through until Saturday 24 September 2022.
This week, Keala will give a special performance on ITV 1 Loose Women (Wednesday 19 January) before performing on BBC 1’s Big Night of Musicals on Saturday 29 January.
Miriam-Teak Lee – who was awarded the Olivier Award for Best Actress in 2020 for her performance as Juliet – leads a cast including Cassidy Janson, who also won an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Anne Hathaway, Oliver Tompsett as William Shakespeare, Tim Mahendran as Francois and Alex Thomas-Smith as May.
David Bedella continues his Olivier Award-winning performance as Lance until Saturday 26 March, as does Jordan Luke Gage as Romeo. New cast for these roles from Tuesday 29 March will be announced at a later date.
The ensemble includes Roshani Abbey, Jocasta Almgill, Josh Baker, Ivan De Freitas, RhianDuncan, Kieran Lai, Nathan Lorainey-Dineen, Jaye Marshall, Grace Mouat, Antoine Murray-Straughan, Billy Nevers, Kerri Norville, Christopher Parkinson, Kirstie Skivington, Alex Tranter,Sophie Usher and Rhys Wilkinson.
Romeo who?! With her bags packed and ready to escape Verona, Juliet recovers from heartbreak in the best way possible… by dancing the night away with her best friends by her side! But when the sparkle fades, the confetti falls and reality catches up, it’s clear that Juliet needs to face her past in order to find her future. Can she reclaim a story that has been written in the stars? Is there really life after Romeo… or could he be worth one more try?
Come along for the ride as the original Anne Hathaway takes on her husband William Shakespeare to remix his legendary play. As comedy meets tragedy, will Juliet get the ending she truly deserves? And most importantly, can their love survive this battle of wills?
Fabulously fresh and riotously funny, & JULIET explodes with dozens of pop anthems by legendary songwriter Max Martin, including … Baby One More Time, Since U Been Gone, Roar, It’s My Life, I Want It That Way, and Can’t Stop the Feeling! The show also includes the brand new song One More Try, written especially for the show by Max.
Brought to life by an award-winning creative team, this vibrant, colourful and timely musical is directed by Luke Sheppard (In the Heights, Rent and What’s New Pussycat?) with a story by David West Read (Netflix’s Schitt’s Creek), electrifying choreography from Jennifer Weber and stunning set design from Soutra Gilmour.
Max Martin and Tim Headington present & Juliet, which is produced by Martin Dodd, Tim Headington, Max Martin, Jenny Petersson and Theresa Steele Page.
Blood Brothers was written by Willy Russell and Directed by Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright. What an amazing production that has you laughing out loud, smiling from ear to ear as well as putting you through a rollercoaster of emotions and bringing you to tears all in one sitting!
Blood Brothers tells the story of the Johnstone twins separated at birth as their mother is on a low income, struggling with money. She decides to give one away, in order to make her life easier! By doing this it means the twins are brought up on completely different sides of the track then reunited unknown to one another that they really are brothers. Causing two worlds to collide bringing much love and friendship along with tragedy, betrayal and hurt.
Mrs Johnstone’s (Niki Evans) portrayal of her character as a single mum is believable and impressive. She shows so much emotion and passion throughout her acting. As for her singing all I can say is just outstanding and sensational ,especially whilst singing Marilyn Monroe and Tell Me it’s not True.
The Johnstone twins Mickey ( Sean Jones) and Eddie (Joel Benedict) show a great contrast within their acting from both sides. They become best friends, end up falling for the same girl, all these actions leading them to great calamity. Mickey (Sean Jones) plays the development of his character from child to adult incredibly well through his behaviour and costume changes. He had the audience in hysterics with his energetic and playful acting. His downside is that he finds it hard to talk and show his emotions offering some fantastic acting during these scenes. On the other side, Eddie (Joel Benedict) plays a very refined and gentle young man who is particularly able with expressing emotions and feelings. He supports and encourages his twin even if he’s uncomfortable with the situation, during this time he plays a convincing and remarkable act.
The narrator (Robbie Scotcher) plays an ominous and premonish role always lurking in the shadows, constantly reminding the characters of their fate for their wrong doings. As well as having a great song ‘The Devil’s Got Your Number,’ which he delivers with powerful vocals keeping the audience captivated. He offers a magnificent part; without him the show would be incomplete.
The set was extremely detailed to make it look like a street. One side run down, the other affluent with the back drop of the city lights glinting. This created the perfect mood and atmosphere for the whole show, reminding us of the difference between rich and poor. Props were also used on stage in order to create multiple areas and rooms which gave us more of an insight to all scenes.
This show draws upon raw emotion in all aspects, mesmerizing the audience at every moment with some very theatrical scenes keeping us on the edge of our seats. There was laughter and tears all from the superb talent shown from all actors involved. Ending in a well-deserved standing ovation.
The producers and creative team are delighted to announce a new booking period for the West End production of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning smash hit musical JERSEY BOYS. Patrons will be able to book performances through to 2 October 2022. Tickets are now on sale.
The musical opened to rave reviews at the new multi-million pound reinstated Trafalgar Theatre on 28 July 2021.
JERSEY BOYS in the West End stars Ben Joyce as Frankie Valli, Adam Bailey as Bob Gaudio, Karl James Wilson as Nick Massiand Benjamin Yates as Tommy De Vito.
JERSEY BOYS is written byMarshall Brickman & Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe.
Also in the cast are Ben Irish (Bob Crewe), Mark Isherwood (Gyp de Carlo), Elliot Allinson (Swing), Koko Basigara (Lorraine), Melanie Bright (Mary Delgado), Jack Campbell (Swing), Carl Douglas (Norm/Hank), Matteo Johnson (Joe Pesci), Huon Mackley (Swing), Jacob McIntosh (Barry Belson), Bonnie Page (Swing), Andy Smith (Swing) and Helen Ternent (Francine).
Go behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in the Tony and Olivier Award-winning, true-life phenomenon, JERSEY BOYS. They were just four guys from New Jersey, until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard… and the radio just couldn’t get enough of. But while their harmonies were perfect onstage, off stage it was a very different story—a story that has made them an international sensation all over again. From the streets of New Jersey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this is the musical that’s too good to be true. The show is packed with their hits, including Beggin’, Sherry, Walk Like A Man, December, 1963 (Oh What a Night), Big Girls Don’t Cry, My Eyes Adored You, Let’s Hang On (To What We’ve Got), Bye Bye Baby, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Working My Way Back to You, Fallen Angel, Rag Doll and Who Loves You.
Recipient of Broadway’s Tony, London’s Olivier and Australia’s Helpmann Awards for Best New Musical, JERSEY BOYS is the winner of 65 major awards and has been seen by over 27 million people worldwide.
JERSEY BOYS originally opened in New York on 6 November 2005 and, by the time it closed over 11 years later on 15 January 2017, it was the 12th longest running show in Broadway history. It first ran in London’s West End from 18 March 2008 to 26 March 2017 – nine amazing years – and, at the time, was the sixth longest musical running in the West End.
JERSEY BOYS is now on its third UK & Ireland Tour through to April 2023, having previously played two record-breaking UK and Ireland Tours from 2014 to 2016 and from 2017 to 2019.
JERSEY BOYS returned to New York with a new production in November 2017 and resumed performances when Broadway reopened last autumn. The JERSEY BOYS US National Tour is still breaking house records in cities across North America.
JERSEY BOYS at the Trafalgar Theatre is staged by the original Broadway creative team, led by the Tony Award-winning team of director Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo, with scenic design by Klara Zieglerova, costume design by Jess Goldstein, lighting by Howell Binkley, sound by Steve Canyon Kennedy and projections design by Michael Clark. The orchestrations are by Steve Orich and the music supervision and vocal arrangements by Ron Melrose.
JERSEY BOYS is produced in London by the Dodgers and Trafalgar Theatre Productions, with BB Investments, Kevin Kinsella, Pelican Group in association with Latitude Link and Eilene Davidson Productions.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Trafalgar Theatre
14 Whitehall
London SW1A 2DY
Performances:
Monday – Saturday 7.30pm with no performance on Tuesday evening
Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm
Sunday 4pm
Box Office: 0333 009 6690 (calls cost 7p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge)
Cast announced for West End run of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage Dominion Theatre, London Wednesday 2nd February – Saturday 16th April 2022
Return to Kellerman’s this spring, as the cast are announced for Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage in the West End. Coming to the Dominion Theatre for a limited run and exploding with heart-pounding music, breathtaking emotion and sensationally sexy dancing, the multitalented cast is led by Michael O’Reilly (West Side Story, Leicester Curve; Matthew Bourne’s Lord of the Flies, Theatre Royal Plymouth) and Kira Malou (Fame, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre; Penny on Mars, Disney Plus), who return to the roles of Johnny and Baby. O’Reilly made his professional debut straight from drama school in the role of Johnny in the 2018 tour.
The 2022 cast will feature many of those from the touring cast, including Carlie Milner as Penny (Sleeping Beauty, Birmingham Royal Ballet), Lynden Edwards (A Little Night Music, Garrick Theatre) as Dr Jake Houseman, Lizzie Ottley as Lisa Houseman (Evita, Dominion Theatre and UK tour), Colin Charles (We Will Rock You, Dominion Theatre; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, London Palladium) as Tito Suarez and also sees Lori Hayley Fox (Hairspray, London Palladium; Big, Dominion Theatre) return to the role of Mrs Houseman.
This dazzlingly renewed version celebrates 35 years of the iconic hit film, which tells the classic story of two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds who come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives. Featuring the hit songs Hungry Eyes, Hey! Baby, Do You Love Me? and the heart stopping (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life, the production features the much-loved characters and original dialogue from the iconic film, as well as exciting extra scenes.
Featuring the original 1987 script by Eleanor Bergstein and directed by Federico Bellone (West Side Story, Milan; Sunset Boulevard, Milan), the creative team are completed by choreographer Austin Wilks (Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage, Piccadilly Theatre), lighting designer Valerio Tiberi (Ghost the Musical, Italian national tour), sound designer Armando Vertullo (Jersey Boys, Italian national tour) and supervising musical director Richard John (Legally Blonde, Savoy Theatre; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Savoy Theatre).
INITIAL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE FIRST MAJOR REVIVAL OF
BRUCE NORRIS’ AWARD-WINNING CLYBOURNE PARK
Trish Wadley Productions and David Adkin
in association with Park Theatre present
CLYBOURNE PARK By Bruce Norris
Director: Oliver Kaderbhai; Set and Costume Designer: James Turner;Lighting Designer: Alex Lewer; Sound Designer: Will Tonna; Casting Director: Lucy Casson
16 March – 23 April 2022
Having had to shut down the production of Bruce Norris’ seminal play Clybourne Park at final dress rehearsal in March 2020, Trish Wadley Productions and David Adkin, in association with Park Theatre, are delighted to announce that the production, originally planned for the play’s 10th anniversary year, will open at the venue in March. Oliver Kaderbhai reunites Michael Fox (Jim/Tom), Andrew Langtree (Karl/Steve), Richard Lintern (Russ/Dan), Imogen Stubbs (Bev/Kathy) and Eric Underwood (Albert/Kevin) from the 2020 company, with further casting to be announced. The production opens on 21 March 2022, with previews from 16 March, and runs until 23 April.
Winner of both the Tony and Olivier Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for author Bruce Norris, Clybourne Parkis a razor-sharp satire about the politics of race and real estate. The play returns to London following sell out runs at The Royal Court and in the West End.
In 1959, Russ and Bev are moving to the suburbs after the tragic death of their son and have sold their house to the neighbourhood’s first black family.
Decades later, the roles are reversed when a young white couple buys the lot in what is now a predominantly black neighbourhood, signalling a new wave of gentrification. In both instances, a community showdown takes place – are the same issues festering beneath the floorboards fifty years on?
Michael Fox plays Jim/Tom. For theatre his credits include All in a Row, A Lie of the Mind (Southwark Playhouse), An Enemy of the People (Chichester Festival Theatre), As You Like It (Transport Theatre), Leaves of Glass (Alma Tavern) and Edmund Kean (Watford Palace Theatre). For television his credits include Bombing Auschwitz, Endeavour, Downton Abbey, Marvellous, The Ark, New Worlds; and for film, Downton Abbey, Dunkirk, Good People and the forthcoming Downton Abbey: A New Era.
Andrew Langtree plays Karl/Steve. His theatre work includes Stages (The Vaults), A Christmas Carol (The Old Vic), The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole (Ambassador’s Theatre), Troilus and Cressida (RSC), Imperium (RSC and Gielgud Theatre), The Wizard of Oz (Sheffield Theatres), Albert’s Boy (Orange Tree Theatre), The Hypocrite (RSC and Hull Truck), Treasure Island (Birmingham Rep), Groundhog Day (The Old Vic), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Theatr Clwyd) and Oppenheimer (RSC and Vaudeville Theatre). For television, his work includes The Tower, The Royal and Cutting It, and as Jason Gallagher in Emmerdale and Leon in Coronation Street; and for film, Matilda and Delovely.
Richard Lintern plays Russ/Dan. His theatre work includes Blue/Orange (Birmingham Rep), Elephants (Hampstead Theatre), Jumpy, My Night with Reg (Royal Court Theatre), Women Beware Women, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, His Girl Friday, Life after Life (National Theatre), As You Desire Me (Playhouse Theatre), and The Philadelphia Story (The Old Vic). For television his work includes Young Wallander, Stephen, The Outpost, Shakespeare and Hathaway,Silent Witness – as series regular Thomas Chamberlain, Pennyworth, White House Farm, The Crown, Top Boy, Crossing Lines, Le Grand, Threesome, Spies of Warsaw, Hunted, The Minor Character, The Shadow Line, Lead Balloon and Clapham Junction; and for film, The Christmas Ball,Side by Side, The Nanny State, Page Eight, The Domino Effect, Cassandra’s Dream and Lucan.
Imogen Stubbs plays Bev/Kathy. Her extensive theatre experience includes productions at the RSC, National Theatre, The Old Vic, Donmar Warehouse and various West End productions. Recent stage credits include Honour (Park Theatre), The Be All and End All (York Theatre Royal), Things I Know To Be True (Frantic Assembly), Communicating Doors (Menier Chocolate Factory), Elephants (Hampstead Theatre), Alecky Blythe’s Little Revolution (Almeida Theatre) and Strangers On A Train (Gielgud). For the Royal Shakespeare Company, she appeared in Othello, Two Noble Kinsmen, The Rover and Richard II. Additional stage credits include Gertrude in Hamlet (The Old Vic), Orpheus Descending, Private Lives (Royal Exchange), Salt, Root and Roe (Donmar at the Trafalgar) and A Marvellous Year For Plums (Chichester Festival Theatre). Her television work includes Parents, Collusion, Big Kids, Blind Ambition and Anna Lee; and for film, Jack & Sarah, Twelfth Night, True Colours, Deadline, A Summer Story and Sense and Sensibility.
Eric Underwood plays Albert/Kevin. He was a soloist with the Royal Ballet, where he created many roles including in Wayne McGregor’s Chroma, Infra and Raven Girl and in Christopher Wheeldon’s DGV, as well as the Caterpillar in Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. He has worked for the BBC across radio and television presenting shows including Can Hip Hop Save Ballet (BBC R4) and Inside Out – Ballet Boys (BBC One). For film, his work includes Cats.
Bruce Norris is an American playwright who lives in New York. He is the author of Clybourne Park, which premiered at Playwrights Horizons in New York, in 2010, before transferring to the Royal Court Theatre, Broadway, and the West End. His other plays include The Infidel (2000), Purple Heart (2002), We all Went Down to Amsterdam (2003), The Unmentionables (2006), A Parallelogram (2010) and Downstate (2018) which were all first produced by Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago;The Pain and the Itch (Playwrights Horizons, Steppenwolf, 2004, Royal Court Theatre, 2007; The Low Road (Royal Court Theatre, 2013), Domesticated (Lincoln Center, 2013), and The Qualms (Playwrights Horizons, 2014). He is the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (2011), Tony Award (Best Play, 2012), Joseph Jefferson Award (2003, 2005, 2019), the Steinberg Playwright Award (2009) and the Whiting Foundation Prize for Drama (2006). As an actor he can be seen in the films A Civil Action, The Sixth Sense among others.
Oliver Kaderbhai is an actor, director, producer and founding Artistic Director of DELIRIUM. His experience in the UK spans Fringe to the West End working with actors such as Andrew Scott, Kate Fleetwood, James Norton and Orlando Bloom, and he has created six productions with DELIRIUM which have sold out venues across the UK. Director credits include Striking 12 (Union Theatre), Songs of Abdulkarim (59 Productions), Peter Pan (Co-Director, Chichester Festival Theatre), One Minute (The Vaults), The Provok’d Wife (Go People), From Where I’m Standing (Pegasus Theatre), Oranges on the Brain (Pegasus Theatre), Go To Your God Like A Soldier (Old Vic Tunnels) and Your Nation Loves You (Old Vic Tunnels). Movement Director credits include Killer Joe (Trafalgar Studios), The Dazzle (Found 111), BUG (Found 111), Almost Maine (Park Theatre), Phenomena (The Albany), Dhow Under The Sun (KSF/META, UAE); and Assistant or Associate Director credits include Jesus Christ Superstar, Running Wild (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) and Guys and Dolls (Playmakers Rep, USA).
Listings
Clybourne Park
Park Theatre, Park 200
Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London N4 3JP
16 March – 23 April 2022
Box Office: 020 7870 6876*
Mon – Sat from 10am – 6pm (excluding Sunday and public holidays)
DISNEY’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED SELL-OUT PRODUCTION OF
FROZEN EXTENDS DUE TO PUBLIC DEMAND
PUBLIC BOOKING OPENS ON 21 JANUARY AT 10AM
★★★★★
“Frozen is one hot hit”
Daily Mail
Disney Theatrical Productions today announces that their critically acclaimed production of Frozen is extending until October 2022 due to public demand. The production opened at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in August last year, and has been playing to capacity houses since, recently receiving 13 nominations across acting and creative categories in the 2022 WhatsOnStage Awards – including nominations for Best New Musical, for both Samantha Barks and Stephanie McKeon in the Best Performer in a Female Identifying Role in a Musical category, with Oliver Ormson and Obioma Ugoala both nominated for Best Supporting Performer in a Male Identifying Role in a Musical. In addition, the production also received nominations for Best Direction for Michael Grandage, and nominations for Best Set Design, Best Costume Design, Best Choreography, Best Musical Direction, Best Lighting, Best Video Design and Best Graphic Design.
★★★★
“A visual feast to warm even the coldest of hearts.”
The Times
With music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, and book by Jennifer Lee, Frozen is directed by Michael Grandage. The full cast for the production is Samantha Barks (Elsa), Stephanie McKeon (Anna), Obioma Ugoala (Kristoff), Craig Gallivan (Olaf), Oliver Ormson (Hans), Richard Frame (Weselton), and alternating the role of Sven, Mikayla Jade and Ashley Birchall; with Jeremy Batt, Cameron Burt, Lauren Chia, Laura Emmitt, Emily-Mae (Bulda), Hannah Fairclough, Danielle Fiamanya, Chris Fung (King Agnarr), Matt Gillett, Joe Griffiths-Brown, Emily Lane, Justin-Lee Jones, Jason Leigh Winter, Jacob Maynard, Leisha Mollyneaux, Sarah O’Connor, Jemma Revell, Joshua St. Clair (Pabbie), Jacqui Sanchez (Queen Iduna), Jak Skelly (Oaken/Bishop), Jake Small, Kerry Spark, Isabel Snaas, Monica Swayne, and Anna Woodside.
★★★★
“Frozen is an awesome spectacle with more heart, depth and darkness than the film.”
Time Out
Frozen was released in cinemas in 2013, winning multiple awards, including two Academy Awards® for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song (“Let It Go”), the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film and the BAFTA for Best Animated Film. It was written and directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck, withmusic and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Frozen 2, which debuted in November 2019 is the highest grossing animated film of all time.
Frozen has scheduled the following access performances – Audio Described Performance (Sunday 23 January 2022 1pm matinee) and Captioned Performance (Sunday 30 January 2022 at 5.30pm), and an additional Relaxed Performance (Sunday 9 October 12.30pm matinee).
Groups 9 to 19* Stalls & Royal Circle £49.50, Grand Circle £39.50
Groups 20+* Stalls & Royal Circle £45, Grand Circle £35
*Valid on Wednesday and Thursday 7pm performances and Thursday 2pm matinees subject to availability. Excludes school holidays and other blackout dates that may apply.
Education Groups 10+ † Stalls & Royal Circle £29.50 | Grand Circle £22.50
Plus one free teacher ticket for every ten paid tickets
Valid on Wednesday & Thursday 7pm and Thursday 2pm performances subject to availability. Excludes school holidays and other blackout dates that may apply. Minimum group size is 10. Education rate valid for groups up to Year 11.
PERFORMANCES:
Wednesday – Saturday 7pm
Thursday and Saturday 2pm
Sunday 1pm & 5.30pm
ACCESS & RELAXED PERFORMANCES:
Audio Described Performance Sunday 23 January 2022 1pm matinee
Captioned Performance Sunday 30 January 2022 at 5.30pm
Relaxed Performance Sunday 9 October 2022 12.30pm matinee
Belgrade Theatre announces casting for the world premiere of Tom Wright’s I Ain’t Dumb
The Belgrade Theatre is delighted to announce full casting for I Ain’t Dumb, a brand new play from acclaimed playwright and former Belgrade Youth Theatre member Tom Wright. Produced by PlayWell Productions and Epicene, in association with the Belgrade Theatre, I Ain’t Dumb premieres from Weds 9 – Sat 12 Feb in the B2 auditorium.
Following critically acclaimed hits Undetectable, My Dad’s Gap Year, and Very Special Guest Star, Tom Wright brings this electric world-premiere to his hometown of Coventry, as part of UK City of Culture celebrations.
A tough inner-city school, proud of its inclusivity, suddenly explodes in a rapidly escalating culture war.
Leave it to Natasha, grieving student, and Black Lives Matter activist, alongside streetwise gay-bestie Cieren, to try and desperately hold their classmates together. But what if Cieren is the reason everything is falling apart?
Sex secrets, hip-hop and hope fight for centre stage in a vibrant, loud and proud, real talk rollercoaster.
Rikki Beadle-Blair (MBE) directs a cast of young Midlands-based talent, including Simon Castle (Cieren), Harry Rose (Leon), Kavita Viyas (Mary), Sam Butters (Mark), Kimisha Lewis (Ms. Senabo), alongside newcomers Nicole Mbaeri (Natasha) and Vikas Gogana (Vikram), who are excited to be making their professional debuts.
Writer Tom Wright said: “I’m over the moon to be debuting brand new work here at the Belgrade, a theatre that was incredibly formative to me growing up in Coventry. We’re thrilled to also be running an extensive engagement programme. This sees us collaborating with LGBTQ+ young people in Coventry and connecting with local audiences through lively panel talks, as well as offering an LGBTQ+ writer substantial play development and a full staged reading in the B2 space.”
Justine Themen, Co-Artistic Director for the Belgrade’s City of Culture programme said: “We are delighted to have a piece of work written by Tom as part of the Belgrade’s City of Culture year. The Belgrade’s Co-Artistic Directors have been keen to programme a diversity of work that speaks to a broad range of the city’s communities, embedding each show in a context of creative collaboration and debate with the communities themselves. Our young people have been increasingly vocal about gender and sexuality over the last few years and we have been looking for a project to reflect and build on this. Tom’s work provides the perfect opportunity – his work has been a mouthpiece for LGBTQ+ experiences for several years in London where he now lives, and he is by origin a Coventry lad with roots in The Belgrade Youth Theatre. We are excited to see how the work will resonate with Coventry audiences.”
PLACE & NATURE TAKES CENTRE STAGE IN TBTL’S 2022 SEASON
• World Premiere of The Climbers by Carmen Nasr following its 2020 cancellation
• Co-production with Octagon Theatre Bolton of Kes, directed by award-winning Director Atri Banerjee
• Co-production of SWIM with Liz Richardson Productions Ltd, in association with imPOSSIBLE Producing Ltd
• Co-production of Emma Rice’s adaptation of Brief Encounter with Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough and Octagon Theatre Bolton
• Co-production of One Man Two Guvnors with Octagon Theatre Bolton & Liverpool Everyman
• Reprisal of Stockroom’s The Glee Club in association with Theatre by the Lake
Theatre by The Lake (TBTL) – is delighted to announce its eagerly anticipated 2022 season, an ambitious programme of work reprising shows originally planned for 2020’s cancelled season, as well as a whole raft of new collaborations. The yearincludes a World Premiere, an emphasis on nature and place, and a record number of collaborations with other leading northern theatres. Once again TBTL is cementing its reputation for excellence, working with the nation’s most exciting artists, celebrating stories relevant to its community through new collaborations and partnerships.
Themes of nature and place feature in the new season, kicking off the Studio in March with SWIM by Liz Richardson. Liz grew up in the Lake District and has written a beautiful ode to the healing power of nature and outdoor swimming after her community was rocked by tragedy. SWIM is directed by Andy Routledge and will embark on a rural and UK tour following its TBTL run.
The Main House season starts early in late February with TBTL working with Stockroom’s production of The Glee Club by Richard Cameron, before it embarks on a national tour. This is a raucous comedy featuring live music about a bunch of five hard-working, hard-drinking miners and a church organist rehearsing for a local gala.
Swiftly following in April will be a TBTL and Octagon Theatre Bolton co-production of Kes adapted by Robert Alan Evans. Ken Loach’s acclaimed British drama about a troubled teenager whose discovery of a hawk’s nest leads him down a road to freedom, passion and heartbreak will be brought to the stage in an exciting new imagining from award-winning director Atri Banerjee, who promises to weave traditional music through the heart of this production. Banerjee was recently named one of the top theatre-makers to watch out for in 2022 by The Stage, won The Stage Debut Award in 2019 and was nominated for the UK Theatre Award for Best Director for his production of Hobson’s Choice at the Royal Exchange Theatre.
Summer begins in June with the World Premiere of The Climbers by Carmen Nasr and directed by Guy Jones (Creative Associate, Headlong & Literary Associate, Orange Tree). A British-Lebanese writer and winner of Channel 4 Playwrights’ scheme, Carmen has been a member of the Orange Tree’s talent development programme, the Writers Collective, the Royal Court’s Playwright group and is playwright in residence at the Finborough Theatre. The play is a mesmerising exploration of our fascination with the mountains, the drive to conquer and the agony of life or death decisions in extreme situations, fittingly premiering in what is often credited as the adventure capital of England and reputed birthplace of the British rock climbing movement. The play was originally scheduled for Liz Stevenson’s inaugural 2020 season which was later cancelled due to the pandemic.
Next up from July – September TBTL are delighted to stage a Theatre by the Lake, Octagon Theatre Bolton and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse co-production of the smash-hit comedy One Man, Two Guvnors. This raucous new production from Lotte Wakeham will introduce Cumbrian audiences to the hapless Francis Henshall, and his increasingly desperate measures to keep his two ‘guvnors’ from discovering one another. It’s sure to be a laugh-out-loud rollercoaster for audiences this Summer.
Autumn will see the theatre flexing their performance space to in-the-round seating again for Emma Rice’s joyous musical adaptation of Brief Encounter. With glorious musical numbers, physical comedy and maintaining the heady romance of the original, the theatre have teamed up with Stephen Joseph Theatre and Octagon Theatre Bolton to present this show following their successful collaboration on Home I’m Darling, TBTL’s reopening show of 2021.
Finishing the year is The Borrowers by Mary Norton, adapted for the stage by TheresaHeskins (presented with the permission of the deFaria Company).This production saw soaring sales when it was originally programmed for the 2020 cancelled season and will turn TBTL’s stage into an adventure playground for this tiny cast living beneath the floorboards. A festive choice for young hearts of all sizes.
Theatre by the Lake’s Artistic Director, Liz Stevenson, said of her season: “I’m so thrilled to announce our programme for 2022. It feels a long time in the making and a watershed moment as we look to the future after a challenging time for the theatre and our sector. I’m absolutely delighted that we’re producing the world premiere of The Climbers, and co-producing SWIM, maintaining our commitment to new writing and telling stories that have a connection to our unique landscape and local communities. I’m also proud to be partnering with so many fantastic northern theatres and exciting artists to bring top quality theatre to Keswick. Our programme of home-produced work will be surrounded by some fantastic visiting productions and special events that celebrate the creativity of our local communities and emerging theatre-makers, and we look forward to revealing more about our plans soon. We hope that the new season will bring audiences flocking back to experience the magic of live theatre once again.”
The theatre will continue to offer some guaranteed socially distanced performances for shows in its Spring Season including The Glee Club and Kes. For up-to-date Covid measures, please visit theatrebythelake.com/Covid-19
