It’s Panto season and The Malvern Theatres are hosting this swashbuckling production of Peter Pan and it’s so good…. ‘Oh no it isn’t’ ~ ‘oh yes it is’.
Cleverly written, It’s a follow on story because as we all know Captain Hook was famously forced to walk the plank, but he’s back, and set way in the future, Wendy is in fact 104 and her great granddaughter Emily Darling is bought into the story, played by Jenny Huxley Golden.
West end star Tom Lister is absolutely fabulous As Captain Hook, known of course for his role as Carl King in Emmerdale. He plays an absolute blinder as the Villain, constantly booed by the audience, who really didn’t know whether to laugh or boo because he was often laughing himself!
Lloyd Warbley star of Disney Juniors Art Attack plays Peter and Malvern’s regular pantomime funny man Mark James plays Smee. Clearly loved and adored by the entire audience and an immediate hit Smee had the audience in stitches throughout.
The entire cast were fabulous belting out some great songs and dance routines all of which were current enough for the audience to participate and sing along. The show included acrobatics, performed by The Nitwits, water pistols aimed at the audience of course! Lots of jokes relevant to the time including the all essential Boris jokes, references to Facebook and general silly fun for all of the family to enjoy.
North East theatre company all set to dazzle once more with Priscilla
Get your glitter on and take the ride of your life with the hilarious and heart-warming Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert live on stage at the Darlington Hippodrome in April next year.
Credit Scott Akoz
Following their most recent production, Strictly Musicals 3, Darlington Operatic Society stages this international smash hit musical complete with a dazzling array of over 300 outrageous costumes and head-pieces created by the team at Carry On Costumes who have produced specialist pantomime costumes for Christopher Biggins and Paul O’Grady as well as costumes for the recent West End hit Elf the Musical.
Completing the fun is a hit parade of infectious dance songs from the 70s and 80s by Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper, Donna Summer, The Village People, Kylie Minogue and many others and include “I Will Survive”, “Don’t Leave Me This Way”, “Hot Stuff”, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”, “True Colours” and “I Love The Nightlife.”
Credit Scott Akoz
Casting includes Ben Connor (Tick), George Hurley (Adam), Julian Cound (Bernadette), David Murray (Bob), Jess Harrison (Diva), Claire Willmer (Diva), Jenny Poole (Diva) and Kirsty Furness (Marion), supported by a full company of 25 performers and a live 9 piece band.
Based on the 1994 smash hit movie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert follows the journey of two drag queens, Tick and Adam, and a transgender woman, Bernadette, as they travel across Australia in their bus, named Priscilla. Tick has been asked to perform at a hotel in Alice Springs by his estranged wife, Marion. Taking Adam and Bernadette along with him, the trio drive from Sydney to the remote resort town in the middle of the desert. Tick tells his companions that the trip is a favour to his ex-wife, but does not reveal that he also has a young son he does not know, but who now wants to meet his father. As they head west, Tick, Adam, and Bernadette learn to accept and support each other, whilst encountering a number of strange and colourful characters along the way. After experiencing violent homophobic threats, Adam is forced to realize that not everyone is accepting of his flamboyant lifestyle, whilst Bernadette opens up to the possibility of love again following the death of her husband. Upon reaching Alice Springs, Tick finally meets his son, Benji, who accepts his father’s drag queen persona. The trio perform at the resort and realize that they have forged a bond that will last forever.
Credit Scott Akoz
Priscilla Queen of the Desert is a flamboyant, funny, disco-fuelled musical that is guaranteed to get the audience up on their feet. Don’t miss the bus! Hop on for a journey to the heart of fabulous!
Priscilla Queen of the Desert runs at Darlington Hippodrome from Wednesday 27 April to Saturday 7 May, 2022. Tickets are available now from www.darlingtonos.org.uk or by calling the ticket hotline on 01325 244659. Age recommendation 14+
Telling the story of the future Lord Mayor of London, Dick Whittington and his Cat is a family friendly panto that will have you laughing from start to finish.
Set in London, the panto tells the story of Dick Whittington (Reece Evans) as he travels to London. On his adventures Dick is joined by a pink tiger named Tum Tum (Louise Cielecki), love interest Alice (Rhiannon Bacchus) and the fabulous Sherrie Trifle (Terence Frisch) as they fight the evil Verminia Yobb (Natasha Lewis) and sidekick Garbage (Grace Lai). With a set made to look like the London underground, a flan factory and the Tum Tum’s home island of Xanadu, and amazing outfits, especially for Sherrie, it is clear to see why this production of Dick Whittington is so popular. The scene that gets the most laughs is the scene in the flan factory where Sherrie is explaining to Dick how the flans are made, with flan cases and custard flying everywhere, as you would expect with a panto.
Featuring catchy songs, including Verminia singing Rappers Delight and Tum Tum singing Xanadu, the story works well and the scenes are linked together with narration by Bellvedere (Thomas Fabian Parrish). The best song however is the Trifle song, which Sherrie gets the audience to sing at the end of the show, which is mainly popular with the younger members of the audience.
With lots of traditional panto aspects such as shouting “it’s behind you” and “oh yes it is/oh no it isn’t”, the innuendos, especially with regards Dick’s name, aren’t as common as they are in other versions of this show, this family friendly panto needs to be viewed by everyone this panto season.
Capital Theatres and Pitlochry Festival Theatre to Co-Produce Iconic Edinburgh Story Sunshine on Leith as Final Show in The King’s Theatre Season Before it Closes for a Transformational Redevelopment
L-R Fiona Gibson, CEO of Capital Theatres and Elizabeth Newman, Artistic Director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre in Leith. Photo: Colin Hattersley
Capital Theatres are delighted to announce we are co-producing Sunshine on Leith with Pitlochry Festival Theatre.
Following our Festive Early Years commission of three plays with Aberdeen Performing Arts and Eden Court Theatre; alongside our co-production of James IV with Raw Material in association with National Theatre of Scotland; this collaboration with Pitlochry Festival Theatre continues Capital Theatres’ ambition to have a key creative role in Scottish theatre making and talent development.
Sunshine on Leith will be the final show in the King’s Theatre season before it closes for a transformational £25m Capital Redevelopment, with public fundraising continuing throughout the season and through the redevelopment.
Capital Theatres and Pitlochry Festival Theatre present Sunshine on Leith A Musical written by Stephen Greenhorn Featuring the songs of The Proclaimers New Musical Arrangements by David Shrubsole Original production at Dundee Rep on 18th April 2007 Performed by arrangement with Music Theatre International Directed by Elizabeth Newman and Ben Occhipinti
King’s Theatre, Edinburgh Tue 7 to Sat 18 June 2022 Matinees and Evenings available On sale for priority booking from Monday 13 December 2021: www.capitaltheatres.com | 0131 529 6000
Join us to see the King’s go out on a high before the theatre closes to undergo its exciting capital redevelopment. With a soundtrack from world-renowned Leithers The Proclaimers, Sunshine on Leith is both a funny and moving story about Davy and Ally, two soldiers from Edinburgh returning to their hometown after serving in war-torn countries, who are questioning what ‘home’ really means. This is a fresh new production is an audience favourite which is sure to delight yet again. Featuring hits I’m On My Way, Letter from America, I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) and of course the title song Sunshine on Leith.
Fiona Gibson, Chief Executive of Capital Theatres said: “We’re beyond excited to be co-producing Sunshine on Leith with Pitlochry Festival Theatre as the King’s final show before its transformational redevelopment. What better treat for Edinburgh audiences than a musical which showcases the beauty and brilliance of their hometown to the iconic soundtrack of beloved Leithers The Proclaimers. I know that Elizabeth will give it her signature heartfelt direction to create a show full of joy and poignancy, not to mention a great night out. For Capital Theatres, producing this show expands on our ambition to be at the heart Scotland’s theatre community, developing Scottish talent. Sunshine on Leith will also be a fitting swan-song to The King’s as we know it, before it re-emerges as a re-invigorated world-class theatre and thriving community hub.”
Elizabeth Newman, Artistic Director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre (PFT) said: “We are thrilled to be making Sunshine on Leith with Capital Theatres. It is an important piece for both organisations. It’ll reopen PFT’s main auditorium after it’s had to be closed for two years and it will close the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh before it’s exciting transformation in 2022. On a personal note, I love The Proclaimers and I’ve wanted to direct Stephen’s passionate, funny, moving piece for many years so I am over the moon to get to make it with Ben Occhipinti and the rest of the team. It’s going to be a mighty big adventure. It’s also great to be a part of Fiona Gibson’s exciting new vision for the Theatres and we look forward to making work together that celebrates Edinburgh and Pitlochry.”
Pitlochry Festival Theatre announces 2022 season and opening of new studio
Pitlochry Festival Theatre is delighted to announce today that it will be reopening its doors for the first time in nearly two years to welcome audiences back Inside (and Outside!) with an exciting line- up of world premieres, classic plays, new writing, and a smash- hit musical, as well as a brand-new studio performance space and extension to its front of house.
2022 marks an incredibly exciting time for the Theatre as it continues to emerge from the pandemic with joy and determination to keep bringing live performance to audiences in Pitlochry.
Running from April till October, the 2022 season will kick off in the Theatre’s new studio with the premiere of Helping Hands (21 Apr – 7 May), Cathy Forde’s moving new play about the relationship between an agency care worker and her client. Designed to showcase new writing and touring productions from all around Scotland, the studio will also be home to two further premieres during the season; Sara Saharawi’s (Niqabi Ninja) Sister Radio(25 August – 28 Sept)– an exciting new co-production with Stellar Quines Theatre Company – about the relationship between two sisters who migrate from Iran to Edinburgh in the 1970s, as well as Martin McCormick’s new play The Maggie Wall (9 – 29 September) which asks why humans carry on the ghost story tradition, despite the fact, for most of us, being scared is an unpleasant and discomforting experience.
The season will open in the auditorium in May with a staging of Stephen Greenhorn’s much-loved musical Sunshine on Leith (20 May – 1 October). Set to fantastic songs from world-renowned Scottish band The Proclaimers, Sunshine on Leith is both a funny and moving story about Davy and Ally, two Edinburgh natives returning to their hometown after serving in war torn countries overseas, who are questioning what ‘home’ really means. The production will open in Pitlochry before heading to the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh for a two-week run, and then return to Pitlochry through early October. Sunshine on Leith is a co-production with Capital Theatres.
Other highlights in the Theatre’s auditorium include the premiere, co-produced with Watford Palace Theatre, of Anne-Marie Casey’s adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel Little Women (21 July – 29 September); Michael Frayn’s iconic backstage comedy Noises Off (May 27 – 1 October) which celebrates its 40th anniversary; and a revival of Noël Coward’s classic 1930s comedy of manners, Private Lives (17 June-30 September).
The 2022 season will also see the premiere of two exciting new productions performed in the Theatre’s picturesque amphitheatre, nestled within its Explorers garden and in the shadow of Ben-y- Vrackie. From 8 June – 7 July, the Theatre will stage playwright and actor Lesley Hart’s (The Lemon Tree, Òran Mór) brand new adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic detective tale Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Lipstick, Ketchup and Blood. In August, the Theatre will present the world premiere of David Greig’s (The Adventures with the Painted People) adaptation of Charlotte Higgins’ acclaimed book, Under Another Sky (10 Aug – 23 Sept),which explores how we, as individuals and as a society, relate to a deep and sometimes lost past when the Romans held much of Britain as an imperial possession – through traces and echoes in the landscape, through artefacts, and through the stories we tell ourselves about nationhood.
The 2022 season will also feature a terrific line up of entertainment for all the family. In July, the creative team behind last year’s successful production of The Wind in the Willows will return with an exciting new adaptation, performed on the riverbank, of Jules Verne’s family adventure Around the World in 80 Days (8 July-17 September). The same month, family audiences will also be able to visit the theatre’s beautiful Explorers garden for the wonderful new promenade experience of Peter Rabbit (14 July – 4 Sept). As audiences walk around the gardens, they will enjoy an audio story of one of their favourite Beatrix Potter tales and might even get the opportunity to meet a real-life Peter Rabbit and his sisters Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail.
Throughout the 2022 season, Pitlochry Festival Theatre will also celebrate live music by hosting a series of inside and outside events, featuring music from the great musicals to the splendour of opera, as well as evenings dedicated to Gaelic music.
Elizabeth Newman, Artistic Director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre said:
“I am thrilled that next year we will welcome audiences back inside for our Spring and Summer Programme! Once again, you will be able to experience six plays in six days. In our main auditorium you will be able to watch four big productions including the smash-hit musical Sunshine on Leith and Noises Off, on its 40th Anniversary! For the first time in Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s history, we will have a studio theatre where you will be able to see three cracking new plays. We will also build on the success of our 2021 outdoor summer season and premiere two new productions in our amphitheatre, concerts in the grounds and a family extravaganza on the riverbank alongside our Peter Rabbit Experience in PFT’s Explorers garden. The entire programme Inside and Outside will be supported by our continued work Online.
This season we will also collaborate with Capital Theatres, Watford Palace Theatre and Stellar Quines Theatre Company to make three of our summer productions. This will enable us to reach even more audiences across the UK and to continue to share Pitlochry with the world and the world with Pitlochry.
The commitment from audiences, artists, and participants to Pitlochry Festival Theatre over the past two years has been incredible. We really do want PFT to continue to be a haven where we can continue to celebrate life and make sense of the world. I hope the programme offers an exciting return inside to experience important plays, fun drama, and joyful stories with each other. A big thank you to everyone for sticking with us. I look forward to seeing everyone Onside, Outside and Online in 2022!”
Ahead of the start of the summer 2022 season, Pitlochry Festival Theatre will be staging its annual Winter Words festival (14-20 February), beginning the nation’s Year of Stories with a fantastic celebration of Scotland, storytelling, and the natural world.
The theatre will also be offering a Festival Members scheme in which audiences can unlock great benefits and support the Theatre at the same time. For only £40 a year, members will receive access to priority booking for the 2022 season and discounts on tickets and retail purchases.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre is supported by funding from Creative Scotland and Perth and Kinross Council. It is also grateful to the many individual donors, trusts, and foundations who continue to support the theatre.
Further information about the 2022 season will be announced in the coming months.
Tickets for the 2022 season are now on sale to existing Pitlochry Festival Theatre members and on general sale from Thursday 20 January 2022. For further information on tickets and the Theatre’s membership schemes visit www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com or call 01796 484626.
ATG Productions and Underbelly, the producers of CABARET at the KIT KAT CLUB in London’s West End are delighted to announce that booking has now been extended until 1 October 2022 with tickets available from £30. Kitkat.club. Casting from 21 March 2022 to be announced.
There is also an official daily mobile lottery in partnership with TodayTix for six exceptional £25 seats per performance, including tickets at a cabaret table. https://www.todaytix.com/london/shows/23939-cabaret
Transforming one of London’s most famous theatres with an in-the-round auditorium and reimagined spaces, before the show guests are invited to enjoy and explore the Kit Kat Club with pre-show entertainment, drinks and dining all on offer. When booking, guests will receive a ‘club entry time’ to allow enough time to take in the world of the Kit Kat Club before the show starts. But of course, the show really starts when you first join us in the club…
In a time when the world is changing forever, there is one place where everyone can be free… Welcome to the Kit Kat Club, home to an intimate and electrifying new production of CABARET. This is Berlin. Relax. Loosen up. Be yourself.
The Kit Kat Club has occupied the Playhouse Theatre. The performers have infiltrated the premises. The artists have staked their claim. Who knows for how long they’ll stay, but for now they are enjoying the party. The party at the end of the world.
One of the most successful musicals of all time CABARET features the songs Wilkommen, Don’t Tell Mama, Mein Herr, Maybe This Time, Money and the title number. It has music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Joe Masteroff. Based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood.
CABARET is directed by Rebecca Frecknall, set and costume design is by Tom Scutt, with choreography by Julia Cheng. Musical supervision and direction is by Jennifer Whyte , Lighting design is by Isabella Byrd with sound design by Nick Lidster. The casting director is Stuart Burt and the associate director is Jordan Fein. Angus MacRae is the Prologue composer. Fight direction is by Jonathan Holby. The dialect coach is Michaela Kennen and the voice coaches are Claire Underwood and Mark Meylan.
CABARET at the KIT KAT CLUB is produced by Ambassador Theatre Group Productions and Underbelly.
Sir David Suchet, best known for his long running TV role as Hercule Poirot, will play the role of Alfredo Frassati, alongside West End musical legends Louise Dearman, best known for lead roles in many of the West End’s musicals and for being the only actress to ever perform as both Glinda and Elphaba in Wicked, as Sarah Parker, and Celinde Schoenmaker, best known for her lead roles in Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, and most recently as Renate Blauel in Dexter Fletcher’s Elton John biopic Rocketman, as Mimma Marini.
They will lead the cast in Mimma, a new musical of war and friendship, performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra for one special semi-staged gala concert performance only, at Cadogan Hall, on 28 February 2022.
Orana Productions Ltd, Producer and Presenter of the Mimma Charity Concert, will donate 100% of ticket proceeds to The Prince’s Trust. The total amount donated to The Prince’s Trust is expected to be £65,000. The Prince’s Trust is a registered charity incorporated by Royal Charter in England and Wales (1079675) and Scotland (SC041198).
Mimma’s creative team includes Ron Siemiginowski (Composer & Producer), Giles Watson (Librettist) and Luke Fredericks (Director). The BBC Concert Orchestra will be conducted by renowned British conductor and orchestrator, Richard Balcombe (Musical Director & Orchestrator).
The shadow of Fascism drives Mimma, a young Italian journalist, to take refuge at her Uncle Lorenzo’s nightclub in London. Mimma forges an unassailable friendship with Sarah, an aspiring jazz singer, while her family are increasingly embroiled in resistance against Mussolini.
The coming conflict brings out the best and worst in people as Mimma’s brother is captured, Londoners prepare for Hitler’s Blitz, and fears of betrayal reach fever pitch. Mimma and Sarah are caught in the turmoil as Soho is torn apart by arrests and internments.
As England and Italy face their darkest hours, Mimma is in danger of losing everything. Everything – that is, except the one friend she can trust.
Mimma is a musical that bridges continents and cultures by blending soulful jazz, opera and musical theatre.
Sir David Suchet (Alfredo Frassati) said “When I first read the Mimma script and listened to the beautiful score of soaring operatic arias in Italian followed by smoky jazz numbers, I was fascinated to explore more about this remarkable story of war and heartache set against the rise of fascism in Italy, and the Second World War in London. Mimma touches on many issues of the time, but what resonated with me, was the underlining message of courage, truth, family bonds and the power of friendships. I am very much looking forward to performing the title role of the Narrator, Alfredo Frassati, and sharing the wonderful story of Mimma with the audience.”
Mimma the Musical will be featured as one of the main events in the forthcoming 2022 UK Australia Season program. The UK Australia Season is a joint initiative by the British Council and the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to strengthen and build cultural connections. The Board of Patrons for the UK Australia Season is co-chaired by Sir Lloyd Dorfman CBE, Chairman of The Prince’s Trust International.
Southwark Playhouse announces second venue in London Bridge
Southwark Playhouse today announced plans to double its capacity with a new venue at Colechurch House in London Bridge from 2025. This will enable Southwark Playhouse to significantly expand its award-winning artistic and community programmes. The new Colechurch House venue in London Bridge will join Southwark Playhouse’s new venue in Elephant and Castle which is set to open next year.
A deal with property developer CIT will give Southwark Playhouse a new c.£10m purpose-built venue, with two theatre spaces, a café bar and dedicated front and back of house facilities. The main theatre has a capacity of 250 and the second seats 150.
The theatre is part of CIT’s proposed redevelopment of Colechurch House, a redundant 1960s office block located at the southern end of London Bridge. Architectural designs by Foster + Partners are for a 22 storey zero-carbon office development, floating four storeys above a new landscaped park.
The new venue will be provided by CIT at a genuinely affordable rent for the lifetime of the theatre.
Southwark Playhouse artistic director and CEO, Chris Smyrnios, said:
“The move back to London Bridge has been a long time in the making, with many twists and turns. This deal with CIT brings us back to the London Bridge area and gives us a brand new venue that provides us with much needed capacity, critical to ensuring the future of our organisation.
The new theatre and our involvement has been central to CIT’s plans for Colechurch House from the beginning. They and their architects Foster + Partners have worked tirelessly to get the space and the deal right for us all through the depths of the pandemic.
We get a brilliant new theatre that sits right at the gateway to London Bridge Station. It will mark a step change in our artistic output, and also open up exciting new possibilities for our youth and community programmes.”
Leader of Southwark Council, Kieron Williams, said:
“This is a great deal for the Playhouse and a testament to its strength as an institution. We are pleased to have been able to support them through the pandemic and to help them secure this deal with CIT.
At a time when theatres in London have faced unparalleled challenges it is great to see the Playhouse not just survive, but double in size. This will significantly increase the opportunities the Playhouse can offer to local Southwark residents and new and emerging theatre talent.”
CIT managing director, Steve Riddell, said:
“At CIT we firmly believe the deal with Southwark Playhouse will have a real and lasting cultural and social impact in London Bridge and beyond. This is a new way to approach development that puts people and the planet at its heart.
“Colechurch House aims to set a new benchmark, not just as a zero carbon office development, but for what it gives back to local communities: a new park, culture and community outreach.”
Nottingham Theatre Royal – until Sunday 9 January 2022
Reviewed by Louise Ford
4****
What better way to start the Christmas festivities than to see a pantomime and the perfect choice of Robin Hood, making a welcome return to his home city!
The panto has come to town cue; comedy, extravagant costumes, quick changes, gags, tongue twisters, a colourful set and superb dance routines. This season’s production is brought to Nottingham by Crossroads Pantomimes.
As you would expect the plot is pretty straightforward, whilst our cocky hero is busy robbing the rich to feed the poor his arch nemesis The Sheriff of Nottingham is out to thwart him. The Sheriff has a cunning plan to capture Robin with an archery competition. Fortunately Robin has not only his Merry Men but also his love interest Maid Marion on his side. So all does not go the Shefiff’s way.
The Sheriff of Nottingham (Tristan Gemmill) is the perfect pantomime villain played with just enough menace and dark intent to be scary but not terrifying the younger members of the audience. The hero of our tale Robin Hood (Matt Terry) is a kind and gentle hero. The heroine of the piece Maid Marion (Lucy May Baker) is all pluck and girl power and demonstrates a mean fencing style! The story teller is The Spirit of Sherwood (Jodie Prenger), who is in fine voice.
The comedy is provided by Dame Tilly Tuck ( cross dressing and quick change artiste Matthew Kelly) and her son Silly Simon (Phil Walker), they provide the innuendos for the adults and interaction with the audience (call me later Roger). They are aided and abetted by Alan-A-Dale (ventriloquist Kieran Powell) who does a sterling job! The frenetic and chaotic rendition of the 12 days of Christmas had the audience in hysterics and left the cast a giggling, exhausted pile on the stage.
There are also circus skills at Goose Fair provided by Dennis Remnev .
The stars of the show are the cool hoods played by Flawless who are slick and step perfect with their routines.
It was a packed house and the audience were as excited as the cast to get the panto party started. The odd glitch and word stumble left the cast and audience in stitches. A great evening’s entertainment I’m not sure how they are going to keep up the energy for two performances a day until January. Best of luck and onwards to 2022!
Tickets on sale to priority bookers from 11am on Monday 13 December 2021 and on general sale from 10am on Monday 20 December 2021 via theatreroyal.org.uk
INTO THE WOODS, the legendary Stephen Sondheim musical, with book by James Lapine, is brought to life in a startling new production which opens at Theatre Royal Bath from 19 August 2022.
Presented by Scenario Two and Theatre Royal Bath Productions, this eagerly anticipated production of INTO THE WOODS brings together a world-class, multi award-winning creative team including iconic stage and film director Terry Gilliam, co-director and choreographer Leah Hausman, designer Jon Bausor, costume designer Antony McDonald, video designer Will Duke, sound designer Paul Groothuis, and casting director David Grindrod.
Weaving together many of the Grimm Brothers much-loved tales, INTO THE WOODS takes you deep inside the pages of Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and other stories to see what really happens when we achieve our ‘happy ever after’?
A baker and his wife desperately yearn to have a child but have been cursed by the Witch who lives next door, thanks to the actions of the baker’s father. The only way to lift the curse is to find four obscures yet strangely familiar items – a cow as white as milk, a slipper as pure as gold, a cape as red as blood and a hair as yellow as corn. With only three nights to find them before the curse becomes irreversible, the couple head deep into the mysterious nearby woods only to discover more about themselves than they might ever have expected…
One of the most famous musicals of the modern era, winner of the Tony Awards for Best Score and Best Book, a Tony Award for Best Revival in 2002, an Olivier Award for the best musical revival in the 2011 and in recent years made into a Hollywood movie starring Meryl Streep and Johnny Depp, INTO THE WOODS is a captivating, witty and entertaining musical adventure for audiences of all ages.
Terry Gilliam came to fame as the surreal artist behind many of the Monty Python Flying Circus images of the late sixties and early seventies. In 2009, he was presented with the BAFTA Lifetime Achievement Award for a film career which has included the visually stunning Brazil, Twelve Monkeys, Time Bandits, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and the Oscar-winning The Fisher King. He has also directed to critical acclaim The Damnation of Faust and Benvenuto Cellini for English National Opera, productions which travelled across Europe.
Scenario Two co-director John Berry said: “Stephen Sondheim‘s recent death has led to a worldwide outpouring of love and appreciation for his unique genius. We feel privileged to be working on this wonderful work and we are extremely grateful to Steve and James Lapine for their support as we searched for a new home for this production.
Scenario Two co-director Anthony Lilley said “We are thrilled that this collaboration with our new partners Theatre Royal Bath will mean that this production of Into the Woods can now finally be seen by Stephen Sondheim‘s huge UK fan base”
