Home

• BIRMINGHAM REP DIRECTOR SEAN FOLEY IS DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT, FOLLOWING HIS SHOW-STOPPING APPEARANCE IN THE PLAY WHAT I WROTE ON OPENING NIGHT AT THE REP, TOM HIDDLESTON WILL RETURN TO THE SHOW FOR MORE PERFORMANCES AT THE THEATRE ROYAL, BATH
• THE MATINEE AND EVENING PERFORMANCES WILL BE FILMED FOR TRANSMISSION ON THE BBC LATER NEXT YEAR, TRANSMISSION DATE TO BE CONFIRMED IN DUE COURSE
• TICKETS FOR ALL PERFORMANCES ARE ON SALE NOW

Artistic Director of The Rep and director of this 20th Anniversary Production, Sean Foley is delighted to announce that Tom Hiddleston is set to reprise his acclaimed appearance as the special guest star in the critically acclaimed production of The Play What I Wrote at Theatre Royal, Bath, the first venue on the show’s recently announced national tour. Both performances will be filmed for transmission on the BBC later in 2022. The transmission date will be announced in due course. 

Hiddleston first appeared in the show in Birmingham for the opening performance on 6 December and the production received universally glowing reviews.

“One of the most delightful stage comedy shows of the 21^st century – you’ll laugh your head off.” The Telegraph
 

“An avalanche of laughs. Laughing so long and so loudly felt as energising and cleansing as going to the gym” The Guardian

When The Play What I Wrote opened in London’s West End, originally directed by Kenneth Branagh, every single review was a rave, every show a sell-out and it won every major theatre award. The Sunday Times called it “a triumph” and The Observer said “audiences weep with laughter”. Now a brand new production directed by REP Artistic Director Sean Foley and co-written by Hamish McColl, Sean Foley and, of course, Eddie Braben is bringing sunshine to Birmingham this Christmas.  

‘Thom’ has written a play, an epic set in the French Revolution called ‘A Tight Squeeze for the Scarlet Pimple’. ‘Dennis’, on the other hand, wants to continue with their double act. He believes that if they perform a tribute to Morecambe and Wise, Thom’s confidence will be restored and the double act will go on. But first Dennis needs to persuade a guest star to appear in the play what Thom wrote…

With a mystery guest star at every performance, The Play What I Wrote is once again proving a massive hit with audiences and critics alike.

“Pure comic sunshine” The Daily Mail

Previous mystery guest stars have included Ralph Fiennes, Ewan McGregor, Joanna Lumley, Daniel Radcliffe, Kylie Minogue, Nigel Havers, Jerry Hall, Sir Ian McKellen, Dawn French and Sting. 

FAULTY TOWERS THE DINING EXPERIENCE

LONDON’S LONGEST RUNNING IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE

MOVES TO NEW HOME IN LONDON:

PRESIDENT HOTEL
RUSSEL SQUARE

SHOW TO INCREASE WEEKLY PERFORMANCES DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND

WITH TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER 2022

TICKETS ON SALE HERE

Faulty Towers The Dining Experience, the critically acclaimed international immersive phenomenon that has just celebrated its tenth year in London moves to its new home, President Hotel in Russell Square, with performances from 21 January. Due to popular demand, the producers have also announced that they will increase the number of weekly performances to six from February onwards.

A loving tribute to the BBC’s classic TV series, the show has been seen by over a million people worldwide since it was born in Australia in 1997. As London’s longest running immersive show, Faulty Towers The Dining Experience is a highly interactive experience, where audiences enjoy a 3-course meal and 5-star comedy.

When the audience become diners in the ‘Faulty Towers’ restaurant, pretty much anything can happen – because 70% of the show is improvised. The fun starts as guests wait to be seated. It then hurtles along in a 2-hour tour de force of gags and shambolic service as Basil, Sybil and Manuel serve a ‘70s-style 3-course meal together with a good dollop of mayhem.

Expect the unexpected!

President Hotel is situated in the heart of Bloomsbury, just a few minutes’ walk from Russell Square underground and the British Museum, making it a perfect location for visitors to explore central London from. The décor has a vintage sixties theme, inspired by The Beatles, who made the hotel their temporary home in 1963 when they first moved down from Liverpool. Many of the 523 guest rooms overlook Russell Square, with the BT Tower and the British Museum’s glass domed roof peering out in the distance.

Charles Maw, Hotel Manager of the President, said, “As a family hotel business, welcoming guests to London for almost 200 years, we are extremely excited to be hosting the Faulty Towers The Dining Experience at our President Hotel.  Since it first opened in 1962, the President has welcomed many famous guests through its doors, including Cilla Black and the Beatles. We are delighted to be continuing this legacy by welcoming Basil, his wife Sybil and Manuel to the hotel,  and we wish them many more successful years – 200 perhaps!”

Producer Jared Harford said, “We’re so thrilled to be announcing our new, long-term partnership, that sees us cementing our place on London’s West End. After ending our first decade with the horrors of covid, we’re looking forward to leaving that all behind and welcoming back audiences in our new location. The way the audiences have responded to our reopening in 2021 gives us the confidence to open more shows through the week, and we have even more opportunities to keep adding them as demand returns. We’re still yet to meet the Royal Family, but I think the Presidential Family is the next best thing.”

The company of actors (thirteen in total in London) include; Jack Baldwin, Jonathon Saunders, Rob Langston, Benedict Holme, and Dave Tremaine alternating as ‘Basil’; Kat Mary, Nerine Skinner, Suzanna Hughes, Karina Garnett and Rebecca Norris alternating as ‘Sybil’; Oliver Ford, Leigh Kelly, Ben Hood, and Anthony Clegg as ‘Manuel’.

Born in Australia in April 1997, devised by Alison Pollard-Mansergh, the show has been touring the UK and internationally since 2008, having appeared in 41 countries to date, and employing 56 actors per season. The show has toured to over 1000 venues, with approximately 400 shows per year on average in the UK alone. 2021 has already seen runs at Sydney Opera House, Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festival, with tours in Ireland, Scandinavia, and Australia yet to come.

In October 2009, Faulty Towers The Dining Experience played its first performance in London: a sold-out weekend in Covent Garden. The next two years saw sold out summer seasons of six weeks. Then, in 2012, the show opened its first London West End residency at Charing Cross Hotel (now Amba Hotel Charing Cross). Since opening, the cast have performed to notable guests including Fawlty Towers’ very own Andrew Sachs, John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, and England footballer Joe Cole, as well as taking a pop-up version of their restaurant on the London Underground and to a sold-out Royal Albert Hall.

Faulty Towers The Dining Experience is a loving tribute to Fawlty Towers, the BBC TV series written by John Cleese and Connie Booth. Their TV scripts are not used in Faulty Towers The Dining Experience. Faulty Towers The Dining Experience uses its own original scripts and format.

FREE COURSES AT LEEDS PLAYHOUSE AND SHEFFIELD THEATRES OFFER DEAF AND DISABLED ARTISTS EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO THE THEATRE INDUSTRY

FREE COURSES AT LEEDS PLAYHOUSE AND SHEFFIELD THEATRES OFFER DEAF AND DISABLED ARTISTS EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO THE THEATRE INDUSTRY

Deaf and disabled artists interested in pursuing careers in directing, producing and writing are being given an exciting insight into the theatre industry by Leeds Playhouse and Sheffield Theatres in association with Ramps On The Moon.

The organisations are joining forces to host three free introductory courses led by experienced theatre professionals for deaf and disabled people at the beginning of their careers.

The writing and producing courses will both take place at Leeds Playhouse. The writers will be led by the theatre’s Artist for Change and Writer in Residence Leanna Benjamin and Furnace Coordinator Rio Matchett, who plays a key role in the Playhouse’s artistic development programme. The producers will be led by Leeds Playhouse Agent for Change Paul Wilshaw and Freelance Producer Ben Rothera.

The directing course will take place at Sheffield Theatres led by their Agent for Change Ben Wilson and Associate Artistic Director Anthony Lau.

The courses are supported by Ramps on the Moon, a collaborative network of six major regional theatres aimed at normalising the presence of deaf and disabled people both on and off stage. They will run in a staggered calendar from 22 February to 7 June, with a week allocated for the sharing of work from 30 May to 3 June.

Amy Leach, Associate Director at Leeds Playhouse, said: “This is such an exciting opportunity for deaf and disabled artists to explore their passion for writing, directing and producing, and for us to connect with a host of new creatives who are just starting out in the theatre industry.

“Diverse voices, viewpoints and lived experiences are vital in the arts, enriching the work we produce, expanding the breadth of the stories we tell and helping us to reach the widest possible audience. We can’t wait to meet everyone who signs up for the courses – and to set off together on what promises to be a transformative process for us all.”

Anthony Lau, Associate Artistic Director at Sheffield Theatres, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with our friends at Leeds Playhouse and Ramps on the Moon to offer these introductory courses, to support deaf and disabled artists in directing, producing and writing. At Sheffield Theatres we are passionate about developing talent and we can’t wait to start working with this group of early career artists.”

The deadline for applications is 10am on Monday 14 February 2022. All the details on how to apply can be found here.

During the application window, Leeds Playhouse and Sheffield Theatres we will be running two optional Zoom Q&A sessions on Tuesday 18 January from 2–3pm, and Wednesday 19 January from 6.30–7.30pm. The sessions are an opportunity for people to meet the teams running the courses, to ask questions, and to get additional support and information on the application process.

Two short films are available explaining the courses in more detail and giving applicants the chance to meet the writing, producing and directing teams.

THE DOUBLE OLIVIER AWARD-WINNING WEST END AND BROADWAY SMASH-HIT RETURNS TO THE UK AS PART OF A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL TOUR

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY CONOR MCPHERSON

MUSIC AND LYRICS BY BOB DYLAN

TOURING FROM JUNE 2022

The award-winning smash-hit production of Girl From The North Country, written and directed by celebrated playwright Conor McPherson (The Weir, The Seafarer) with music and lyrics by Bob Dylan, will embark on its first UK Tour following an opening 5-week season at 3Olympia Theatre Dublin from 25 June 2022.

The production will tour to Canterbury, Southampton, York, Salford Quays, Newcastle, Bath, Nottingham, Cheltenham, Plymouth, Bradford, Cardiff, Sheffield and Bristol. Further tour dates are to be announced.

Girl From The North Country is an uplifting and universal story about family and love which boldly reimagines the legendary songs of Bob Dylan, like you’ve never heard them before. The Broadway cast recording of Girl From The North Country has been nominated for a 2022 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album.

It’s 1934 in the heartland of America and we meet a group of wayward souls who cross paths in a time-weathered guesthouse. Standing at a turning point in their lives, they realize nothing is what it seems. But as they search for a future, and hide from the past, they find themselves facing unspoken truths about the present.

Writer and Director Conor McPherson said “Collaborating with Bob Dylan has been a unique privilege for me. We have had an amazing journey opening on Broadway and in the West End but I feel particularly excited and moved to finally bring this work to my home town of Dublin and on tour around the UK.”

Bob Dylan said: “To be associated with Conor is one of the highlights of my professional life. It goes without saying the man is a genius for putting this thing together and I’m thrilled to be a part of the experience. My songs couldn’t be in better hands.”

Girl From The North Country first opened at The Old Vic in July 2017 to huge critical acclaim and playing to sold out audiences. It transferred to the Noël Coward Theatre in December 2017 and won the 2018 Olivier Awards for Best Actress in a Musical and Best Supporting Actress in a Musical as well as being nominated in the Best New Musical, Outstanding Achievement in Music and Best Actor in a Musical categories. The production went on to have a sold out run at the Public Theater, New York in 2018. Following a run at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto, in Autumn 2019, the production had a second run in the West End opening December 2019 at the Gielgud Theatre. The Broadway production is currently playing at the Belasco Theatre and the Australian and New Zealand production opens in Sydney in January 2022

“BOB DYLAN’s songs have never sounded so HEARTBREAKINGLY PERSONAL & UNIVERSAL.

AS CLOSE AS MORTALS COME TO HEAVEN ON EARTH”

– Ben Brantley, The New York Times (Critic’s Pick)

★★★★★

“A show that transports the soul. Incredible”

The Times

★★★★★

“Powerful, affecting and original.”

Sunday Express

★★★★★

“Conor McPherson weaves magic with Bob Dylan’s songs”

The Observer

★★★★★

Guardian, Financial Times, Telegraph, Independent, Broadway World, City AM, Whatsonstage.

Casting to be announced

Girl From The North Country features scenic and costume design by Rae Smith; orchestrations, arrangements, and music supervision by Simon Hale, with additional arrangements by Simon Hale and Conor McPherson, lighting design by Mark Henderson; sound design by Simon Baker; movement direction by Lucy Hind and casting by Jessica Ronane CDG.

Girl From The North Country is produced by Tristan Baker & Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment, Steven Lappin, Sony Music Entertainment UK, David Mirvish and The Old Vic

Conor McPherson is an acclaimed writer and director. He was born in Dublin in 1971 and attended University College Dublin where he began to write and direct. Stage plays include Rum & Vodka, The Good Thief, This Lime Tree Bower, St Nicholas, The Weir (Olivier, Evening Standard, and Critics Circle Awards); Dublin Carol, Port Authority, Shining City (Tony Award nominated);The Seafarer (Tony, Olivier and Evening Standard Award nominated); The Veil, and The Night Alive (New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play, Olivier, Evening Standard and Lucille Lortel Award nominated). Adaptations include Franz Xaver Kroetz’s The Nest, August Strindberg’s The Dance of Death and most recently, Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya.

Bob Dylan is one of our culture’s most influential and ground-breaking artists. Born in Duluth, Minnesota in 1941; self-taught on piano, guitar and harmonica, he travelled to New York City in 1961, quickly establishing himself as an explosive performer in the Greenwich Village music scene. More than half a century later, Dylan continues to perform almost 100 concerts each year. He has released more than 50 albums and written over 600 songs. He’s sold more than 125 million records and is the holder of 11 Grammy Awards. His songs have been covered more than 6000 times by artists as diverse as Duke Ellington, Jimi Hendrix, Guns N’ Roses, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley and Adele. He is also an accomplished visual artist and author, and in 2016 was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature – the first songwriter to receive such a distinction.

Website: girlfromthenorthcountryshow.com/

Twitter, Instagram and Facebook: @DylanMusical

Tour Dates

3Olympia Theatre, Dublin

25 June – 30 July 2022

(on sale 3 December)

Canterbury Marlowe

16 – 20 August

Southampton Mayflower Theatre

29 August – 3 September

York Theatre Royal

5 – 10 September

(On sale soon)

Salford Lowry

19 – 24 September

Newcastle Theatre Royal

26 September – 1 October

Bath Theatre Royal

4 – 8 October 2022

(On sale soon)

Nottingham Theatre Royal

11 – 15 October 2022

(On sale 8 December)

Cheltenham Everyman

25 – 29 October 2022

(On sale 30 November)

Plymouth Theatre Royal

1 – 5 November 2022

(On sale 17 December)

Bradford Alhambra Theatre

29 November – 3 December 2022

(On sale 13 December)

Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre

5 – 10 December 2022

(On sale 3 December)

Sheffield Lyceum

17 – 21 January 2023

(On sale soon)

The Bristol Hippodrome 30 Jan – 4 Feb 2023 On sale 10/01/2022 https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/girl-from-the-north-country/bristol-hippodrome/

Further tour dates to be announced.

NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE ANNOUNCE FREE AUDITION WORKSHOPS AROUND THE UK

The National Youth Theatre (NYT) has announced Audition Open Days around the UK – a free workshop giving young people audition advice and introducing them to the NYT ethos and the world of theatre making. National Youth Theatre Audition Open Days will be available across the country including Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Northampton and Southampton, as well as online and at NYT’s Creative Production House in London. All Open Days can be found here.

National Youth Theatre auditions advice from NYT Patron and Alumnus Matt Smith:
“Pick a speech that you like, work as hard as you can and try your absolute best, but don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If you don’t get in this year there’s always next year. It’s a great company and if you work hard, apply yourself and bring the right spirit, it’s a place where you can really learn and develop and a company that will nurture you.”

The Open Day workshop explores self-taping for auditions, ideal for those who have not experienced self-taping before or who want to further explore their approach. Following the workshop there will be a Q&A where participants can learn from National Youth Theatre Associate Artists and Ambassadors about upcoming opportunities and what to expect as a National Youth Theatre Member.

National Youth Theatre Auditions Open Days are ideal for young people aged 13-25 who are interested in taking part in auditions to join the charity in 2022.  Successful auditionees can go on to appear in high-profile NYT productions, which in 2021 included shows at London Fashion Week, COP26 and leading theatres in London and around the UK. This year’s auditions take place online via the National Youth Theatre Hub. You can sign up for the Hub Subscription here for just £2-a-month and free bursary places are available. Over 5,500 young people have subscribed to the NYT Hub since it was launched in November 2020 in response to the pandemic. 

The Hub gives subscribers access to over 24 online interactive workshops and talks a-year with industry leaders and NYT alumni. Recent guests have included NYT Patron Ian McKellen, Daisy Edgar-Jones (Normal People), Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù (Gangs of London) and Emma Rice (Wise Children). Subscribers can also access online resources including a self-tape masterclass with alumnus and Patron Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl, Die Another Day), a writing workshop with playwright and screenwriter James Graham (Quiz, Labour of Love) and a directing workshop with Prasanna Puwanarajah (Ballywalter). On top of this, the scheme includes the opportunity to audition to become an Acting member, to interview to become a Backstage Member and the chance to take part in Creative Leadership training with no extra cost. The Hub platform allows subscribers to connect with a nationwide network of young creatives, access community courses and events and unlock discounts for masterclasses and merchandise. Hundreds of young people around the UK auditioning at their schools also gain access to NYT’s Hub. Young people aged 11-26 can subscribe to the NYT Hub, with 14-25-year-olds eligible to audition or interview for acting or backstage membership.

National Youth Theatre’s (NYT) recently completed a major redevelopment of the north London home with architecture practice DSDHA, transforming the building’s visibility and accessibility from the street and doubling its capacity for professional studio space. Conceived as a national ‘Creative Production House’ for young people, the work will allow the NYT to deliver on its ‘open door’ policy and vastly expand its existing track record of enriching the local community and beyond by providing cultural and social value, as well as enabling the charity’s long-term sustainability. The work also introduces a 250-seat Workshop Theatre to the building for the first time, enabling NYT to  welcome audiences from the local community and beyond.

The charity’s alumni includes some of the world’s most celebrated theatrical and performing talent including Helen Mirren, Daniel Craig, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rosamund Pike, David Oyelowo, Daniel Day Lewis, Andrea Riseborough, Matt Smith, Vanessa Kirby, Ed Sheeran, Colin Firth, Regé-Jean Page, Derek Jacobi, Zawe Ashton, Hugh Bonneville, Lennie James, Matt Lucas, David Harewood and Orlando Bloom. NYT’s Backstage alumni include award-winning talent working globally at leading theatres and stadiums and include fashion designer Gareth Pugh, Olympic Ceremony Technical Director Piers Shepperd, former Unicorn Theatre Artistic Director Purni Morell, lighting designer Howard Harrison and designer Rob Howell. It also includes cultural leaders Rob Hastie (Artistic Director Sheffield Theatres), Lynette Linton (Artistic Director Bush Theatre), Gbolahan Obisesan (Artistic Director Brixton House), Laurie Sansom (Artistic Director Northern Broadsides), Bryony Shanahan (Artistic Director Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester), Michelle Terry (Artistic Director Globe Theatre) and Matthew Warchus (Artistic Director Old Vic Theatre).

LISTINGS
National Youth Theatre Audition Open Days
Book here

Mayflower Studios, Southampton
Saturday 22nd January 2022

HOME, Manchester
Saturday 29th January, 2022

Mac, Birmingham
Sunday 30th January, 2022

Royal & Derngate, Northampton   
Saturday 19 February 2022

Cardiff , Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
Saturday 26 February

Online, Zoom
Saturday 26 February

NYT Creative Production House, London
Saturday 5th March, 2022

Belfast
DATE and Venue TBC

Bristol
Date and Venue TBC

Glasgow        
DATE and Venue TBC

Leeds
DATE and Venue TBC

Sasha Regan’s award-winning Gilbert & Sullivan Company returns to London and Winchester this spring

Sasha Regan’s award-winning all-male Gilbert & Sullivan Company sails into Wilton’s Music Hall for one month, from 16th March – 9th April, before the crew embarks on another nautical adventure to the Theatre Royal Winchester for one week, 21^st April – 27^th April 2022.

Following their smash-hit run of The Pirates of Penzance in the West End, the all-male crew invites landlubbers below deck for a bold re-imagining of W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan’s fourth collaboration and first international blockbuster: H.M.S. Pinafore or The Lass That Loved a Sailor.

With infectious tunes and a beautifully constructed libretto, H.M.S. Pinafore is a charming comic operetta dealing with the age-old conundrum of love between social classes.

Sasha Regan’s inventive production is set on board a World War II battleship where troops create a distraction from the goings-on above board.   The Captain’s daughter, Josephine, falls for lower class sailor Ralph Rackstraw but her father wishes for her to marry the upstanding Sir Joseph Porter, First Lord of the Admiralty.  Will Josephine follow her heart’s desire or will she honour her father’s wish?  Find out in March!

Expect plenty of mischief, mistaken identities and surprises on the high seas from a diverse crew of handsome Popeyes and their gorgeous lasses.

Joyful, witty and fun for all the family.

Boarding passes are available now from Wilton’s.  Don’t miss the boat!

Cast to be announced.

Director – Sasha Regan
Choreographer – Lizzi Gee
Design – Ryan Dawson-Laight
Lighting – Ben Bull
Libretto – W.S. Gilbert
Composer – Arthur Sullivan
Casting Director – Adam Braham Casting
Producers – Regan De Wynter Williams Ltd

TICKETS

Wilton’s Music Hall
Runs: 16^th March – 9^th April 2022
Ticket prices: from £10 – £30.
Tickets online: https://www.wiltons.org.uk/whatson/698-h-m-s-pinafore
Box office:  020 7702 2789
Address: Graces Alley (off Ensign Street), Whitechapel, London E1 8JB

Theatre Royal, Winchester
Runs: 21^st April – 27^th April 2022
Ticket prices: £14 – £28
Tickets online: https://www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk/whats-on/hms-pinafore
Box Office: 01962 840 440
Address: 21 – 23 Jewry Street, Winchester, SO23 8SB 

Other dates for the all-male H.M.S. Pinafore to be confirmed.

FOLLOW OUR SAILORS ON SOCIAL MEDIA: 
Twitter @allmalehms
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allmalehms
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allmalehms/

West End’s biggest stars celebrate Valentine’s
Day with West End Musical Love Songs
Monday 14th February 2022, 8pm
Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 7ES

Whether you’re celebrating Valentine, Galentine or you’re just in love with musical theatre, this concert is for you!

The biggest stars from London’s West End will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with the greatest love songs of musical theatre for one night only at West End Musical Love Songs. This allsinging, all-dancing extravaganza is brought to you by the award-winning producers (Black British Theatre Awards, Best Producer 2021 and Best Musical Production 2021) of West End Musical Brunch, West End Musical Drive In, West End Musical Celebration and West End Musical Christmas.

The all-star line-up includes Les Misérables stars Jon Robyns (currently playing Jean Valjean) and Shan Ako (who previously played Eponine), Wicked stars Emma Hatton and Nikki Bentley who both played the iconic Elphaba, Six stars Natalie Paris and Jodie Steele (who recently reprised her role as Heather Chandler in Heathers), everyone’s favourite swooner Matt Jeans (Joseph, White Christmas) and your host Shanay Holmes (The Bodyguard) who is currently originating the role of Cindy Breakspeare in Get Up Stand Up.

Shanay Holmes comments, We are delighted to announce this special concert under our award winning West End Musical banner. It promises to be the dream date night for fans who want to spend this Valentine with the one they really love… musical theatre!

The set list is a closely guarded secret, but the show will feature some of the most romantic moments from your favourite musicals. Expect iconic ballads from shows like Wicked and Phantom Of The Opera, moving duets from shows like Little Shop Of Horrors and Heathers, as well as up-tempo numbers from shows like &Juliet and Moulin Rouge. Love will most definitely be in the air!

Get ready to sing, dance and be serenaded by the greatest musical love songs ever written!

PRETTY WOMAN THE MUSICAL

ANNOUNCES NEW CAST MEMBERS

JOINING THE PRODUCTION

AT THE SAVOY THEATRE

PRETTY WOMAN THE MUSICAL is delighted to announce that five new cast members, Patrick Barrett, Elly Jay, Annabelle Laing, Will Luckett and Cilla Silvia will be joining the production at the Savoy Theatre.

The complete company for PRETTY WOMAN THE MUSICAL will therefore be Aimie Atkinson as ‘Vivian Ward’ and Danny Mac as ‘Edward Lewis’, Rachael Wooding as ‘Kit De Luca’, Bob Harms as ‘Happy Man/Mr Thompson’, Neil McDermott as ‘Philip Stuckey’ and Mark Holden as ‘James Morse’ alongside John Addison, Jemma Alexander, Andy Barke, Patrick Barrett, Katie Bradley, Oliver Brenin, Olivia Brookes, Erin Caldwell, Alex Charles, Olly Christopher, Ben Darcy, Hannah Ducharme, Nicholas Duncan, Tom Andrew Hargreaves, Antony Hewitt, Elly Jay, Matt Jones, Annabelle Laing, Will Luckett, Serina Mathew, Cilla Silvia, Charlotte Elisabeth Yorke and Tara Young. Full casting from June 2022 onwards to be announced in due course.

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL features original music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, a book by Garry Marshall and the film’s screenwriter J.F. Lawton, it is directed and choreographed by the two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell.

Featured in the musical is Roy Orbison and Bill Dee’s international smash hit song ‘Oh, Pretty Woman’ which inspired one of the most beloved romantic comedy films of all time. PRETTY WOMAN the film (produced by Arnon Milchan – New Regency Productions) was an international smash hit when it was released in 1990.

Atlantic Records’ PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL (ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST RECORDING) is produced by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance and is now available on all DSP’s.

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL has scenic design by David Rockwell, costumes by Tom Rogers from the original Broadway designs by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and Philip S. Rosenberg, sound design by John Shivers, hair design by Josh Marquette, and music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations by Will Van Dyke. 101 Productions, Ltd are the Global General Management Consultant.

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL had its world premiere at Chicago’s Oriental Theatre in March 2018 before transferring to Broadway where it ran at the Nederlander Theatre. The German production opened in Hamburg at the Stage Theater an der Elbe in September 2019 to rave reviews, and a US Tour of the show opened in October 2021. 

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL is produced by Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, Paula Wagner, Nice Productions, LPO, New Regency Productions, Gavin Kalin Productions, Kilimanjaro Theatricals/Joshua Andrews, Hunter Arnold, Caiola Productions & Co., Roy Furman, Edward Walson, deRoy Kierstead and Stage Entertainment.

CAST ANNOUNCED FOR SMALL ISLAND AS REHEARSALS BEGIN

Casting for the revival of the critically acclaimed production Small Island is announced today as the company begin rehearsals. Adapted by Helen Edmundson from Andrea Levy’s prize-winning novel and directed by Rufus Norris, the production will open on 24 February in the Olivier theatre.  

Small Island brings to life the tangled history of Jamaica and the UK. Following the intricately connected stories of Hortense, newly arrived in London, landlady Queenie and servicemen Gilbert and Bernard, hope and humanity meet stubborn reality in their epic revival. 

The role of Hortense will be played by Leonie Elliott, Bernard will be performed by Martin Hutson, Queenie by Mirren Mack and Leemore Marrett Jr is Gilbert.  

The company also includes Elliot Barnes-Worrell, Chereen Buckley, Cavan Clarke, Adam Ewan, David Fielder, Amy Forrest, Andrew Frame, Stephanie Jacob, Sandra James-Young, CJ Johnson, Rebecca Lee, Rachel Lumberg, Alicia McKenzie, Daniel Norford, Tom Page, David Webber, Marcel White, and Flo Wilson.   

The role of Little Michael will be performed by Asad-Shareef Muhammad, Theo-Oliver Townsend and Nasri Thompson and the role of Little Hortense by Ta’lia Harvey, Hosanna-Reine Grimwade and Renee Hart.  

Set and costume design by Katrina Lindsay, projection design by Jon Driscoll and associate projection designer Gino Ricardo Green, lighting design by Paul Anderson, composer and rehearsal music direction by Benjamin Kwasi Burrell, sound design by Ian Dickinson for Autograph, sound associate Jonas Roebuck, movement direction by Coral Messam and fight direction by Kate Waters. Associate Director Denzel Wesley-Sanderson with casting by Isabella Odoffin CDG. 

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED

FOR THE REVIVAL OF PAUL BRADSHAW’S TELL ME STRAIGHT

AT CHISWICK PLAYHOUSE

Following the success of its run at King’s Head Theatre as part of their Queer Season in 2021, the full cast is announced for the return of Paul Bradshaw’s Offie nominated play tell me straight in a new run at Chiswick Playhouse, reuniting original cast members Paul Bradshaw, George Greenland and Stephanie Levi-John. Imogen Frances’ production opens on 16 February, with previews from 15 February, and runs until 26 February 2022.

Paul Bradshaw says “I’m beyond excited to be bringing tell me straight to the brilliant Chiswick Playhouse after our sold-out run at the King’s Head last summer. This play was born during the first lockdown in June 2020 and it’s come a long way since the first reading on Zoom! It’s a piece that’s incredibly close to my heart as it’s based on my real-life experiences, and it’s been such a fantastic ride so far. The whole company are out of this world, everyone involved is either queer or from a working-class background and that’s something I’m super passionate about as it’s important to have a company made up of the people reflected in the work. Representation matters!”

Tickets are on sale now: https://chiswickplayhouse.nliven.co/tickets/series/tellmestraight

TELL ME STRAIGHT
by Paul Bradshaw

Cast: Paul Bradshaw, George Greenland and Stephanie Levi-John

Director Imogen Frances; Assistant Director Hiba Elchikhe

Lighting Designer Chloe Stally-Gibson; Sound Designer Roly Botha

15 February – 26 February

Best friend, Dani has heard it all before – Him, has had a long line of sexual conquests but they’ve all got one thing in common, they’re straight. She thinks he needs to fix up and find ‘a gay man, who actually likes gay men’.

But it seems straight men are like buses…

Paul Bradshaw (he/him) plays Him. As a playwright, his credits include The Barn (OFFIE nominated), Two Cities, Feel More, and West 11.  As an actor, his theatre credits include TEAM! (Doye Mosse Productions), A Christmas Carol (Lyceum Theatre), Candide, State Fair (Cadogan Hall), Retinas (Southwark Playhouse), The Clockmaker’s Daughter (St James Theatre), Miracle on 34^th Street (Pitlochry Festival Theatre). His television credits include Breaking the Band.

George Greenland (he/him) plays Matt, Lee, Ryan, and Others. His theatre credits include Two Cities (Criterion Theatre) and for television; Call the Midwife and Muse.

Stephanie Levi-John (she/her) plays the voice of Dani. Her theatre credits include Medea (Bristol Old Vic), A Winter’s Tale (National Theatre), and My Mother Medea (Unicorn Theatre). Her television credits include The Spanish Princess, Silent Witness and Striking Out.

Imogen Frances (she/they) directs. They are an Associate member of ensemble The Quarter Too who have toured the UK with abridged versions of Shakespeare, and an Associate Director of Chaskis Theatre. Directing credits include: Eight (White Bear Theatre) as an associate director: Two Cities (The Criterion), Macbeth (Churchill Theatre – Bromley), Wojtek: The Happy Warrior (Edinburgh Fringe Fest)

tell me straight

Listings

Chiswick Playhouse

2 Bath Road, Chiswick W4 1LW

Box Office: www.chiswickplayhouse.co.uk / 02089956035

15 – 22 February 2022

Twitter @ChiswickPlay Instagram @chiswickplay Facebook /ChiswickPlay