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Please find below artwork, press & rehearsal shots for a new production of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST by Ciaran McConville at Rose Theatre Kingston which previews from 3 December.

One of the oldest fairy tales, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is about the power of youth to see beyond prejudice. On her eighteenth birthday, Bella learns that her father is the victim of a terrible curse. She sets out across the mountains to a mysterious valley, determined to face the Beast who condemned her father. Instead, she finds a community confronting its own sorrows with love, laughter and hope. In a race to learn the truth Bella must question everything she’s been told and find humanity in the least expected places.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST stars Amelia Kinu Muus as Bella, Stanton Wright as Beast, Daniel Goode as René / Heureux, Paula James as Marguerite / Rousette and Oliver Senton as Francesco. It has music and lyrics by Eamonn O’Dwyer and is directed by Lucy Morrell.

The cast is completed by a young company comprised of Rose Youth Theatre members. Rose Youth Theatre is one of the largest youth theatres in the country, offering over 1,000 participants training, careers advice and the opportunity to take part in productions alongside professionals.

Casting Announced for Gatsby: The Musical,
Ruby in the Dust Theatre’s Original Adaptation
Wednesday 8th December 2021 – Saturday 8th January 2022
Southwark Playhouse, 77-85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD

Casting has been announced for Gatsby: The Musical; Ruby in the Dust Theatre’s captivating musical adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel. Alongside period glitz and glamour, a smoky jazz score and a sprinkling of wry humour will be a strong cast of West End talent.

Leading on the stage as Daisy Buchanan will be Jodie Steele (Heathers, Theatre Royal Haymarket; Six: The Musical, Kenny Wax) who tells the story through Daisy’s eyes. Jay Gatsby will be played by Ross William Wild (Spandau Ballet; Million Dollar Quartet, Mark Goucher) while Luke Bayer (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Original West End Cast; Rent, Hope Mill Theatre) takes the role of Nick Carraway. Tom Buchanan will be brought to the stage by Bradley Clarkson (Guys and Dolls, Gordon Craig Theatre; Dreamboats & Petticoats, Playhouse Theatre) and Robert Grose (Kinky Boots, Adelphi Theatre; Smokey Joe’s Café, Prince of Wales) will bring to life the notorious gangster Woolfe.

This original retelling is Intertwined with the sophisticated harmony and yearning beat of jazz, skillfully harnessed by Composer Joe Evans and Musical Director Victoria Calver. Arranged and Orchestrated by Henry Brennan, this quintessentially American art form perfectly parallels the novel’s themes of enchantment, heartbreak and optimism.

Julie Yammanee (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, David Ian Productions; Lazarus – The David Bowie Project , King’s Cross Theatre) will be playing the tragic figure of Myrtle Wilson, with Juan Lobo (In the Heights, Bridewell Theatre; Lend Me a Tenor) as George Wilson. Freddie Love (Carmen, Mediterranean Opera Studio & Festival; A Little Night Music, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival) as Jordan Baker and Oliver Mawdsley (Miss Nightingale, Mr Bugg Presents; Peterloo, Thin Man Films) as Owl Eyes also bring the 1920s, Speakeasy atmosphere to the stage, alongside Tristan Pegg (The Merry Wives of Windsor RSC) and Ash Weir, taking on all the other roles.

Gatsby: The Musical saw previous successes as a sell-out concert at Crazy Coqs in Piccadilly and an online streamed concert performance at Cadogan Hall. This production not only revels in the decadence of the period but draws out the story’s relevance to today. Ruby in the Dust Theatre are set to enchant audiences again with decadent music, elegant pacing and a talented cast at Southwark Playhouse this December.

Writer and Director Linnie Reedman comments, “Gatsby has become, over the years, synonymous with glamour, glitz and parties. What a lot of people forget, however, is that the ‘Roaring Twenties’ came immediately after a World War. And a global pandemic. It was a period of upheaval and great change. I think the story of a crushed American dreamed, juxtaposed against individual hope and optimism is essentially pertinent today…”

This production is a fresh understanding of characters and a story made compellingly resonant with the Roaring Twenties we find ourselves in once again.

Praise for previous productions of Gatsby: The Musical

The Stage
Joe Evans’ score manages to capture both the hedonism and the deep despair of the age.

Mail on Sunday
Unlike Baz Luhrman’s emotionless film, Linnie Reedman’s seedy speakeasy production has a real sense of mood…. a cocktail of despair and violence.

Please find below productions images of the cast of the UK and Ireland tour of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A Musical Comedy. The tour opened at Theatre Royal Nottingham on 5 November 2021 and continues to tour through to June 2022.

Starring Joanne Clifton as Morticia Addams, Cameron Blakely as Gomez Addams, Scott Paige as Uncle Fester, Kingsley Morton as Wednesday Addams, Grant McIntyre as Pugsley Addams, Valda Aviks as Grandma, Sean Kingsley as Mal Beineke, Kara Lane as Alice Beineke, Ahmed Hamad as Lucas Beineke and Dickon Gough and Ryan Bennett sharing the role of Lurch. Also in the cast are Abigail Brodie, Sophie Hutchinson, Jessica Keable, Castell Parker, Matthew Ives, Sean Lopeman, Sario Solomon and Ying Ue Li.
THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A Musical Comedy, is directed by Matthew White, with choreography by Alistair David, production design by Diego Pitarch, orchestrations by Richard Beadle, musical direction by Bob Broad, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Richard Brooker and casting by Jane Deitch. Book is by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, based on the characters created by Charles Addams.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2021 UK Tour is produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and Music & Lyrics Limited, and is presented through special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide.

 TANYA MOODIE AND COMPANY IN REHEARSALS FOR TROUBLE IN MIND AT THE NATIONAL THEATRE

Rehearsal imagery for Trouble In Mind by Alice Childress is released today. Opening in the Dorfman on December 2 and running until the 19 January, the production is directed by Nancy Medina with Tanya Moodie performing the role of Wiletta.  

First staged over 60 years ago, Trouble In Mind is widely considered the masterpiece of actress and playwright Alice Childress.  

Trouble in Mind, is set in 1950’s America where protests for racial equality erupt in the face of voter suppression. On Broadway, Wiletta Mayer, a talented black actress, has begun rehearsals for a new play about racism – written and directed by two white men. When Wiletta finds that her arguments to tell the trust of the story are dismissed, she decides to take action.    

Tanya Moodie performs alongside Daniel Adeosun, Naana Agyei-Ampadu, Joe Bannister, Emma Canning, John Hollingworth, Rory Keenan, Gary Lilburn andCyril Nri.  

Set and costume design by Rajha Shakiry, lighting design by Nao Nagai, music by Nubiya Brandon and Raffy Bushman, sound design by Elena Peña and Rachael Nanyonjo as movement director

10/10 “LANCEL IS RIVETTING…

IT’S THOUGHT-PROVOKING AND AT TIMES HEART-RENDING”

WRITEBASE

ONE-MAN COMEDY BY JONATHAN HARVEY TRANSFERS

TO LONDON’S TURBINE THEATRE THIS MONTH

ANDREW LANCEL STARS IN SWAN SONG DIRECTED BY NOREEN KERSHAW

Following its critically acclaimed sell-out at Liverpool Theatre Festival and Northern tour, Swan Song, a revised comedy by acclaimed playwright Jonathan Harvey, is heading to London this month for one week only.  

Swan Song, a one-man play starring acclaimed stage and screen star Andrew Lancel, directed by BAFTA award-winning director Noreen Kershaw and produced by Bill Elms.

The play will open at London’s Turbine Theatre for seven performances from Monday 29 November to Saturday 4 December. The show also performs pre-London dates at The Coro in Ulverston on Friday 19 – Saturday 20 November, a perfect venue due to The Lakes playing an important part within the play.

Swan Song was first staged at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1997, before transferring to Hampstead Theatre with award-winning comedy actress Rebecca Front in the lead role. Jonathan Harvey adapted the 70-minute play specially for Andrew Lancel at Liverpool Theatre Festival to play the solo role of Dave Titswell. 

Producer and the artistic director of Liverpool Theatre Festival, Bill Elms said: “Swan Song is a funny, clever and inspiring production which opened the inaugural Liverpool Theatre Festival.  Andrew Lancel, Jonathan Harvey, and Noreen Kershaw are an incredible blend of creative talent, and the play went down a storm in Liverpool and on its Northern tour. People are excited for the return of live theatre – and I am excited to see the show in front of London audiences.”

Swan Song is a bittersweet comedy written by Jonathan Harvey. Set in Liverpool, it is 1997, the world is changing and in the staff room, gay forty-something, English teacher Dave Titswell finds that not all change is welcome. He has a crush, but life, love, and work are never straight forward for Dave. Will a school trip to The Lakes change things for the better, or make things decidedly worse? Swan Song will make audiences laugh, but equally pull at the heartstrings.

Andrew Lancel is well established on the national theatre scene, he is also widely known for his television roles as DI Neil Manson in The Bill and super-villain Frank Foster in Coronation Street. He was three times nominated for a national TV award and won a British Soap Award in 2012 for Coronation Street. He has twice played Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein on stage to great critical acclaim, first in Epstein – The Man Who Made The Beatles (also produced by Bill Elms) which premiered in Liverpool and went on to play London’s West End, as well as playing Epstein in the national tour of Cilla The Musical, Bill Kenwright’s stage adaptation of the TV series written by Jeff Pope. He recently appeared in the Royal Variety Show and Casualty for BBC and has just finished filming The Thief, His Wife And The Canoe for ITV.

Andrew Lancel commented: “I’m thrilled to be finally taking this wonderful play to London. We are a small team but this play just keeps growing and it’s a constant buzz to do. It’s funny, moving and strangely (and sadly) topical. I can’t wait to see London’s reaction to Dave Titswell.”

Award-winning Jonathan Harvey’s credits include Gimme Gimme Gimme; Murder Most Horrid; Coronation Street; Call The Midwife; and Tracey Ullman’s Show. Hisplays include Beautiful Thing, Corrie, Canary, Hushabye Mountain, Babies, Boom Bang A Bang’ and Rupert Street Lonely Hearts Club. He also wrote the 2001 stage musical Closer to Heaven with the Pet Shop Boys and its sequel Muzik. He has won the John Whiting Award, the George Devine Award, two Manchester Evening News Awards, an Evening Standard Award, two British Soap Awards and a Writers Guild of Great Britain Award.

Jonathan added: “Swan Song is a comedy about a teacher who’s trying to hold onto his dignity while the education system crumbles around him – and I’m thrilled Andrew is playing Dave. I’m delighted to also be working with Noreen again, she directed many of my Corrie scripts and Call The Midwife. As the original Shirley Valentine, Noreen definitely knows a thing or two about one person shows.”

Noreen Kershaw’s directing credits include Our Girl, Moving On, Scott & Bailey, Emmerdale, Shameless, Heartbeat and Coronation Street. She is also known for acting in Life On Mars, Brookside, and Watching. Noreen also originated the title role of Willy Russell’s Shirley Valentine at Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre.

Facebook:       /SwanSongOnStage

Twitter:           @SwanSongPlay

Hashtags:        #DaveTitswell #SwanSong

LISTING INFORMATION

Andrew Lancel in

SWAN SONG

by Jonathan Harvey

THE CORO

County Square, Cumbria, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 7LZ

Friday 19 – Saturday 20 November 2021

Performance times: 7.30pm

Show duration: 70 minutes (no interval)

How to book: www.thecoro.co.uk

TURBINE THEATRE

Arches Lane, Circus West, London, SW11 8AB

Monday 29 November – Saturday 4 December 2021

Performance times: Mon – Sat 8pm / Sat 3pm

Show duration: 70 minutes (no interval)

How to book: www.theturbinetheatre.com

FULL CASTS AND CREATIVE TEAMS ANNOUNCED FOR THE FIRST HALF OF IRIS THEATRE’S WINTER SEASON AT THE POD

Iris Theatre today announces the full casts and creative teams for the first four productions in their inaugural Winter Season. The Winter Season will run at new theatre space The POD at the Actors’ Church, Covent Garden from 20 November – 21 December 2021.

• Yan Toby-Amisi writes, directs and stars in Mansa Musa, with a revised performance date of 20 November.
• Relish Theatre, Poppy Pedder and Guttersnipe Theatre present Shuga Fixx vs. The Illuminati, featuring Grace Church (Brooke), Molly McGeachin (Jude), Poppy Pedder (Gemma) and Jack Sears (Lizard King); with original music from Jac Cooper; movement direction from Cameron Carver and Chloe Young; lighting design by Laura Howard; sound design by Harriet North; videography from Poppy Pedder and Kofi Stone; costume design by Isobel Pellow; and animation by James Rudrum (23 November – 27 November)
• Betwixt-and-Between present Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, featuring Charlotte Ellen (Mary/Peter)and Daniel Arbon (George/Others); with original music by Patrick Neil Doyle; movement direction from Lily Howkins; sound design by Elliott Wallis (29 November – 4 December)
• Eden Tredwell presents The Last Nativity featuring Charlie Archer (Blake), Laura Pigott (Mia) and Sarah Whitehouse (Laura) (6 December – 11 December)

Completing the Winter Season will be A Song for Christmaspresented by Iris Theatre and Gartland Productions, with their casts and creative teams announced in due course.

There will also be a series of one-night events throughout weekends in November and December at The POD, which include New Musical Theatre: Open Mic from Mercury Musical Developments and Musical Theatre Network (21 November), That Could be a Sketch: Festive Editionfrom MonkeyMac (5 December), Bare Essentials: Christmas Crackers from Encompass Productions (20 December) and spoken word night Rhymes with Orange (21 December).

Please note the Winter Season will now begin on 20 November rather than an earlier announced date of 13 November.

MANSA MUSA

By Yan Toby-Amisi

20 November, 7:30pm

With an empire worth $400B in its time, what did the richest black man in history do with his wealth?

On his epic and moving journey from the Mali Empire to the city of Mecca, Mansa Musa endeavours to find a route towards hope and belonging by any means necessary.

Yan Toby-Amisi is an actor and playwright, and a recent graduate of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. His theatre credits as an actor include BLUD. (Iris Theatre). He is also a hip-hop artist under the handle Talla. 

SHUGA FIXX VS. THE ILLUMINATI

Presented by Relish Theatre; Created by Poppy Pedder and Guttersnipe Theatre

23 – 27 November

Cast: Grace Church (Brooke), Molly McGeachin (Jude), Poppy Pedder (Gemma) and Jack Sears (Lizard King)

Video ensemble: James Boswell, Joshan Chana, Lakeisha Lynch-Stevens, Corey Montague-Sholay and Amber Muldoon as Conspiracy Theorists

Original music: Jac Cooper; Movement Direction: Cameron Carver and Chloe Young; Lighting Design: Laura Howard; Sound Design: Harriet North; Videography: Poppy Pedder and Kofi Stone; Costume Design: Isobel Pellow; Animation: James Rudrum

Brooke, Jude and Gemma are three ordinary galz with extraordinary dreamz. After forming girlband SHUGA FIXX and winning the Triple Threat Teen Awards they fly straight to the top of the charts, and unwittingly straight into the cold reptilian hands of… THE ILLUMINATI. And so begins the fight: good vs. evil, gals in glitter vs. men in cloaks, sisters vs. brethren. Who will win in the millennia’s bloodiest, fiercest, spangliest battle to end all battles? 

Featuring tearaways, rhinestoned lizards and original pop hitz, SHUGA FIXX vs The Illuminati, provides a sugar-coated, outrageously silly, high-camp antidote for these strange times.

Grace Church plays Brooke. She is co-founder of Guttersnipe Theatre, Co-Artistic Director of Stumble Trip Theatre and regular collaborator of Frisky Arts. Her theatre credits include BITS (From the Forest Fringe Festival), Moonface (Park Theatre/Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Heather and Harry (Zoo Venues, Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Frills and Spills (Brighton Fringe), Back to the Woods (Wilderness Festival/VAULT Festival), Journey to the North Pole (Bakehouse Factory), You Before Me (The Lantern Theatre), The Question (Latitude Festival) and The Snow Queen (The Garage Theatre).

Molly McGeachin plays Jude. She is co-founder of Guttersnipe Theatre. Her theatre credits include TRIP (Brighton Fringe), Moon, White Girls, Shortcliffs Bed & Breakfast (INK Festival), BITS (From the Forest Fringe Festival), Flood (Tristan Bates Theatre), Moonface (Park Theatre/Edinburgh Fringe Festival), You Before Me (The Lantern Theatre) and The Vagina Monologues (FemTheatre). For film, her credits include The King’s Man.

Poppy Pedder plays Gemma. She is a theatre-maker and actor. Her theatre credits as an actor include King Lear (Bristol Old Vic).Her credits as a producer include KIN (Salisbury Playhouse/UK tour) and short films Chokablok and Pit Stop. Her solo projects and collaborations have been performed at venues such as PULSE Festival Ipswich, Exeter Phoenix, Exeter Bikeshed, Alma Tavern Bristol, Yurt Salon, Camden People’s Theatre, The Garage Norwich, Doña Stoke Newington and Theatre Royal Plymouth. 

Jack Sears plays Lizard King. He is a performer and cabaret theatre maker. He trained under Bourgeois & Maurice on Soho Theatre’s Cabaret and Drag course and was a Roundhouse Resident Artist 2018/19. His debut show Parris Is Dreaming recently played a sell-out run at Pleasance London. As a drag artist performing alongside Jonny Woo, Sears has performed at Alexandra Palace, Clapham Grand and Mighty Hoopla. For film, his credits include The Bower.

Guttersnipe Theatre create and produce fresh feminist performance from page to stage with womxn front and centre, both onstage and off it. The core Guttersnipe Team are Grace Church, Lorna Heap, Lucy Mangan and Molly McGeachin, but they work with a wide range of incredible collaborators to make each of their shows. Previous projects include TRIP (Katzpace, Brighton Fringe: The Warren), BITS (From the Forest Fringe Festival) and Moonface (Park Theatre/Edinburgh Fringe).

Relish Theatre is a London based theatre company who specialise in sustainable new writing, delivered by early-career artists, to develop new audiences. Previous projects include Time and Tide (Park Theatre, nominated for Best New Play, Best Supporting Performance – Off-West End Awards), Cuttings (The Hope Theatre), Unicorn (Theatre N16), A Matter of Life and Debt (Edinburgh Fringe).

Age guidance: 15+

PETER PAN IN KENSINGTON GARDENS

Presented by Betwixt-and-Between; Written and directed by Charlotte Ellen

29 November – 4 December

Cast: Charlotte Ellen (Mary/Peter)and Daniel Arbon (George/Others)

Original music: Patrick Neil Doyle; Movement direction: Lily Howkins; Sound design: Elliott Wallis

Before Pan, there was Peter. Mary doesn’t want to grow up, so has run away to Kensington Gardens where her father, George, tells her the incredible origin story of ‘the boy who wouldn’t grow up’. Through games and songs they take a flight of imagination into Peter Pan’s earliest adventures. 

Betwixt-and-Between’s magical adaptation of J.M.Barrie’s Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens invites you to fly away with them on this 60-minute story-telling adventure. With original music, puppetry and wonderful characters this charming family show is filled with joy, wit and nostalgia that makes it a festive treat for all ages.

Charlotte Ellen plays Mary/Peter. Her theatre credits include Santa’s Christmas Robin (The Woodville), The Princess and The Frog (Nottingham Playhouse), Cinderella, Peter Pan (Easterbrook Hall), The Twelve Pound Look (Pleasure Dome Theatre/Betwixt- and-Between), The Railway Children (Eastern Angles), and The House of The Heroine (Explore the Arch) and The Monster From The Cold (Showcase Festival).

Daniel Arbon plays George/Others. His credits include The Twelve Pound Look (Pleasure Dome Theatre/Betwixt- and-Between), The Wizard of Oz (Tread the Boards Theatre Company). For television, his credits include James McNeill Whistler and the Case for Beauty. Arbon also works as a filmmaker and director, running a production company Middle Realm Productions, producing shorts, drama and corporate videos.

Betwixt-and-Between is an Ayrshire based theatre company specialising in theatre for all ages founded by Charlotte Ellen in 2018.

Age guidance: 3+

THE LAST NATIVITY

Written by Eden Tredwelll; Directed by Jack Bence

6 – 11 December

Cast: Charlie Archer (Blake), Laura Pigott (Mia) and Sarah Whitehouse (Laura).

Musical Direction: Amir Shoenfeld

It’s Christmas and adult siblings Laura, Blake and Mia are returning to the family home. But when the last-minute addition of Nana Sue means they’re a present short, they decide to pull all the stops out and recreate their childhood Nativity play. Tensions arise, comedy ensues, and Powerpoint skills are tested as they try and recapture the magic of a childhood Christmas in The Last Nativity.

This world première new play, featuring a host of wonderful new music, is written and created by Stiles and Drewe award winner, Eden Tredwell, directed by Jack Bence with Musical Direction from Amir Shoenfeld.

Charlie Archer plays Blake. His theatre credits include Hay Fever, The Libertine (Royal Lyceum Edinburgh/Glasgow Citizens), A Mad World By Masters (Royal Shakespeare Company), Inigo (Pleasance Theatre), A Bright Room Called Day, The Illusion (Southwark Playhouse), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Royal and Derngate), Crows on the Wire, Bunny’s Vendetta (Blue Eagle Productions), Ladybird (New Diorama) and The Band, 100 Word Plays (Soho Theatre). For television, his credits include Anne Boleyn, Us, Crazyhead and New Blood; and for film, Mission: Impossible – Fallout.

Laura Pigott plays Mia. She is a recent graduate of the Guildford School of Acting and was the 2020 recipient of the 2020 BA Musical Theatre Award. Her theatre credits include The Show Must Go On Live! (Palace Theatre) and Singin’ in the Rain, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sister Act (Gaiety Theatre).

Sarah Whitehouse plays Laura. Her theatre credits include Nicola (Theatre 503), The Magnificent Death of Henry Fielding (The Sydenham Centre), Same Time Next Year, Two, Romeo and Juliet (EG Productions – various venues), The True Tales of Robin Hoode (Contexture Theatre), Henry V, The Comedy of Errors, Hamlet, Love’s Labours Lost, As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Winter’s Tale (Pendley Shakespeare Festival), Two (Mockingbird Theatre); for television, her credits include The Joy of Non-Sex, and for film, Lapwing and Life Goes On.

Age guidance: 12+

LISTINGS

WINTER SEASON

THE POD

The Actors’ Church

Bedford Street
London
WC2E 9ED

Box Office: 020 7240 0344 / www.iristheatre.com/

Tickets: £10 / £15

Mansa Musa

20 November 2021

New Musical Theatre: Open Mic Night

21 November 2021

Shuga Fixx Vs. The Illuminati

23 – 27 November 2021

Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens

29 November – 4 December 2021

That Could Be A Sketch! Festive Edition

5 December 2021

The Last Nativity

6 – 11 December 2021

A Song for Christmas

13 – 19 December 2021

Bare Essentials: Christmas Crackers

20 December 2021

Rhymes With Orange: Spoken Word Open Mic

21 December 2021

Runaway Entertainment presents

2:22 – A GHOST STORY

The hit play by Danny Robins

Directed by Matthew Dunster

@222AGhostStory #222AGhostStory 

• 2.22 – A GHOST STORY ANNOUNCES CASTING FOR THE TRANSFER TO THE GIELGUD THEATRE

• STEPHANIE BEATRIZ WILL PLAY LAUREN, JAMES BUCKLEY WILL PLAY BEN, ELLIOT COWAN WILL PLAY SAM AND GIOVANNA FLETCHER WILL PLAY JENNY

• THE PRODUCTION IS DIRECTED BY MATTHEW DUNSTER AND WRITTEN BY AWARD-WINNING WRITER DANNY ROBINS

• THE PRODUCTION WILL RUN AT THE GIELGUD THEATRE UNTIL 12 FEBRUARY 2022

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

Producer Runaway Entertainment is delighted to announce the first casting news for the transfer of Danny Robins’ edge-of-your-seat, supernatural thriller 2:22 – A Ghost Story for a new season at the Gielgud Theatre. 

Stephanie Beatriz will play the role of Lauren. Stephanie Beatriz stars as the lead character Mirabel in Disney’s forthcoming animated motion picture Encanto, coming to theatres November 24. Prior to that, Stephanie played Carla in the Warner Bros. feature In The Heights and the tough and loveable detective Rosa Diaz on the hit show Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Stephanie Beatriz said: “Hooked the moment I read 2:22. I was on the edge of my seat reading it, and I hope you will be too when you watch it! I am excited to be playing a Latinx American trying to make sense of this very unusual and intense London setting.”

James Buckley will play the role of Ben. James is an English stand-up comedian, actor, musician, YouTuber and streamer. He is best known for playing Jay Cartwright in the BAFTA-winning E4 sitcom The Inbetweeners.

James Buckley said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the cast of 2.22 and working with director Matthew Dunster on this brilliant play”.

Elliot Cowan will play the role of Sam. Elliot is an English actor, known for portraying Corporal Jem Poynton in Ultimate Force, Mr Darcy in Lost in Austen, and Ptolemy in the 2004 film Alexander. He also starred as Lorenzo de’ Medici in Da Vinci’s Demons and Daron-Vex in Krypton. Cowan most recently is known for playing King Henry Tudor in the STARZ series The Spanish Princess.

Giovanna Fletcher will play the role of Jenny. Giovanna is a Sunday Times bestselling author (her new novel Walking On Sunshine publishes 11.11.2021), actress, blogger, vlogger and presenter. Since 2019, she has presented the CBeebies series The Baby Club. She won series 20 of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!.

Giovanna Fletcher said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the cast of 2:22 A Ghost Story as Jenny. Reading the script the first time gave me chills – that feeling has increased in subsequent readings. It’s such an honour to be putting this play on its feet for a West End audience.”

Matthew Dunster said: “2:22 had an extraordinary effect on audiences. I’ve never experienced anything like it. They loved the play and the surprises in the casting. We now have a completely new cast – again full of rich surprises. I can’t wait for audiences to find out who the new cast are and for us all to relish their new interpretation of the scary and funny phenomenon that is 2:22“

After breaking all box office records for a new play at the Noel Coward Theatre; described as the theatre event of the year and the hottest ticket in the West End; and after weeks of sell-out performances, the show will play at the Gielgud Theatre for ten weeks only until 12 February 2022. 

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

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

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

Danny Robins said “I was blown away by the response to the play this summer, both from the critics and our amazing audiences, so I am hugely chuffed to be able to bring the show back so quickly and to this beautiful, historic theatre. Slipping from Autumn into Winter, it feels the perfect time for a ghost story, so I can’t wait to spook a whole load of new audiences at the Gielgud. I’m hoping you’ll laugh, jump, be on the edge of your seat, and then spend the rest of the night talking about whether ghosts exist!”

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

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

FULL CAST AND COMPANY

ANNOUNCED TO JOIN

JEREMY JORDAN IN

BONNIE AND CLYDE

IN CONCERT

MONDAY 17 AND TUESDAY 18 JANUARY 2022

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE

Fourth Wall Live is delighted to announce the full cast joining Broadway star Jeremy Jordan in the sell-out BONNIE AND CLYDE IN CONCERT at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 January 2022. www.bonnieandclydeconcert.com

Joining the previously announced Jeremy Jordan as ‘Clyde’ will be Olivier-nominated performer Frances Mayli McCann as ‘Bonnie’. The previously announced Laura Osnes is no longer performing in Bonnie and Clyde in Concert.

The principal cast is completed by West End stars including Olivier Award winner George Maguire as ‘Buck’, Natalie McQueen as ‘Blanche’, Trevor Dion Nicholas as ‘Preacher’ and Liam Tamne as ‘Ted’.

The cast is completed by Casey Al-Shaqsy (The Prince of Egypt, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)as ‘Stella’, Simon Anthony (The Wedding Singer, Ragtime) as ‘Cop/Bud/Archie/Deputy Johnson’ Gillian Bevan (Holby City, Into The Woods)as ‘Cummie Barrow/Eleanor’, Eloise Davies (Be More Chill, Grease) as ‘Trish’, Adrian Grove (Follies, Wonder.land)as ‘Henry Barrow’, Olivier Award nominee Debbie Kurup (Girl From The North Country, The Bodyguard)as ‘Governor Miriam Ferguson’, Matthew Malthouse (Matilda, Mrs Henderson Presents) as ‘Bob Alcorn’, Jeremy Secomb (Sweeney Todd, Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera) as ‘Judge/Sheriff Schmid’, Russell Wilcox (Billy Elliot, Annie) as ‘Captain Frank Hamer’and Julie Yammanee (Lazarus, Spamilton) as ‘Emma Parker’.

George Maguire is the winner for the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his performance as ‘Dave Davies’ in Sunny Afternoon. His other theatre credits include 35mm: A Musical Exhibition at The Other Palace Studio, Oliver! at the London Palladium and the European tour of Rent.

Frances Mayli McCann is an Olivier Award nominated actress, who originated the role of Kylah in Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour. Her other West End credits include ‘Heather McNamara’ in Heathers at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, ‘The Mistress’ in Evita at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and Eponine’ in the UK and International Tour of Les Misérables.

Natalie McQueen’s West End credits include playing ‘Doralee Rhodes’ in 9 to 5 The Musical at the Savoy Theatre, Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre and Kinky Boots at the Adelphi Theatre. Her other theatre credits include the UK tour of Wonderland, Murder Ballad at the Arts Theatre and Starlight Express at The Other Palace.

Trevor Dion Nicholas’s West End credits include ‘George Washington’ in Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre and ‘Genie’ in Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre. He also presents on Magic at the Musicals and appears as a panellist on ITV’s All Star Musicals.

Liam Tamne’s West End credits include playing ‘Ramses’ in The Prince of Egypt at the Dominion Theatre, The Light in the Piazza at the Royal Festival Hall, The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre, Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre and Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre.

BONNIE AND CLYDE IN CONCERT has a book by Ivan Menchell (Blended [movie], The Cemetery Club, Death Note The Musical), a Tony Award nominated score by Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll and Hyde, The Scarlett Pimpernel), lyrics by Don Black (Tell Me On a Sunday, Sunset Boulevard, Mrs Henderson Presents) and is directed by Nick Winston (Director of the feature film Tomorrow Morning, MAME, The Royal Variety Performance) with musical direction by Katy Richardson (SIX, Rent, Jersey Boys). The Assistant Director is Alexzandra Sarmiento (Hamilton, Message in a Bottle), Lighting Designer is Zoe Spurr (The Unreturning, Tiny Dynamite), Set and Costume Designer is Philip Whitcomb (Atlantis, Stones In His Pockets, Mame), Sound Designer is Tom Marshall (The Drifters Girl, Nativity! The Musical), Production Manager is Phil McCandlish (Rock of Ages, Elf), Company Stage Manager is Graham Harrison (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Deputy Stage Manager is Anne Baxter (Singin’ in the Rain, Spamalot), Assistant Stage Manager is Tom Fisher (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time), Dialect Coach is Charmian Hoare (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, War Horse) and children’s casting is by Keston and Keston (Nativity! The Musical, A Christmas Carol).  BONNIE AND CLYDE IN CONCERT is produced by Fourth Wall Live and co-produced by DLAP Group, Jason Haigh-Ellery and David Treatman Creative.

The band is made up of Assistant Musical Director Chris Poon (Keys 2), Kate Ingram (Reed 1), Hannah Lawrance (Reed 2), Kobi Pham (Guitar 1), Jack Pennifold (Guitar 2), Zach Okonkwo (Drums), Elliot Lyte (Fiddle)and Annie Blake (Bass).

At the height of the Great Depression, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow went from two small-town nobodies in West Texas to America’s most renowned folk heroes and the Texas law enforcement’s worst nightmares. Fearless, shameless, and alluring, Bonnie & Clyde is the electrifying story of love, adventure and crime that captured the attention of an entire country. The show features the songs “Raise A Little Hell”, “This World Will Remember Me” and “Made In America”.

When Bonnie and Clyde meet, their mutual cravings for excitement and fame, combined with a desperate need to lift themselves out of the endless banality and poverty of West Dallas, set them on a mission to chase their dreams. Their bold and reckless behaviour turns the young lovers’ thrilling adventure into a downward spiral, putting themselves and their loved ones in trouble with the law. Forced to stay on the run, the lovers resort to robbery and murder to survive. As the infamous duo’s fame grows bigger, their inevitable end draws nearer.

Fourth Wall Live is a live entertainment company that produces concerts internationally. It regularly brings Broadway artists to the UK, previous concerts include Broadway and TV regulars Laura Benanti, Sierra Boggess, Kelli O’Hara, Chita Rivera, Laura Michelle Kelly, Megan Hilty, Tituss Burgess, Jeremy Jordan, Matthew Morrison, Erich Bergen, Eden Espinosa, Julia Murney and Cynthia Erivo. Other concerts include West End Stars solo concerts including Michael Ball, Matt Cardle, Kerry Ellis, Oliver Tompsett, Hannah Waddingham, Sharon D Clarke and Bonnie Langford. Upcoming productions at Cadogan Hall include Jenna Russell, Shoshana Bean, Keala Settle and Jessica Vosk.

Tori Amos’s musical The Light Princess was presented to critical acclaim, as a special one-off concert in the summer of 2018. Next year Bonnie & Clyde the musical concert will run for two nights to a sold-out audience at Theatre Royal Drury Lane starring Jeremy Jordan. 

Fourth Wall Live also regularly partners with the Hippodrome Casino, in November-December 2020 they produced 25 nights of socially distanced entertainment, proudly being the first live event post lockdown. The current season of Hippodrome concerts runs from September 2021 to December 2021 and features 20 nights of musical entertainment featuring Alice Fearn, Kerry Ellis, Hayley Tamaddon and David O’Reilly.

Fourth Wall Live is committed to following all relevant UK Government Covid-19 guidelines, creating a safe working environment for our cast, musicians, creatives, crew and their families.

Remember, remember the 5^th of November… 

AND SO, THE PLOT THICKENS… 

   TREASON

THE EXPLOSIVE NEW MUSICAL DRAMA RETURNS WITH NEW UNHEARD TRACKS 

THE NEW BRITISH MUSICAL 

BASED ON ONE OF ENGLAND’S DARKEST & MOST  

SCANDALOUS MOMENTS IN HISTORY 

Treason the Musical returns with a bang this November, with further unheard tracks released today, in anticipation of a workshop later this year, and a full-scale production to be formally announced for 2022.  

The three new acoustically performed tracks are: All We Dreamed & More, Blind Faith and The Inevitable, performed by Cedric Neal, Bradley Jaden and Lucie Jones, all of whom starred in the musical’s online concert earlier this year.  

All three tracks’ studio recordings can be viewed here: The Inevitable, Blind Faith, All We Dreamed & More, and also available to be streamed on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.  

Treason the Musical has already garnered a global following having previously released 5 tracks on streaming platforms and also having enjoyed an online concert, streamed from Cadogan Hall in March 2021, to huge success. 

The pre-released songs from the musical have already had over 100,000 streams online (Spotify/Apple/Amazon), and the online concert was watched across all sides of the globe, from France, Germany, Austria and Denmark, to South Africa and Australia, and Canada and the US, to name just a few.  

Receiving high acclaim from both audiences and critics alike, this highly anticipated new British musical has offered theatre fans and audiences a unique insight into the journey and progression of a new musical. 

Remember, remember the 5th of November,
for its gunpowder, treason, and plot
We’re here to tell you the rest of the tale,
the one that history books forgot
Guy Fawkes remains an anonymous figure, 
we have more to bring to the table
It’s time to meet the rest of the plotters,
in our fiery musical fable 

A historic tale of religious persecution and brutality, ending in an ambitious yet fateful plot to bring down both the monarchy and the government, Treason is an exciting new musical drama based on England’s notorious gunpowder plot of 1605. 

With a fusion of original folk and pop songs, this wonderful new musical tells one of the most intriguing tales in England’s history, and features a stunning score by Ricky Allan, and book and lyrics by Kieran Lynn and Ricky Allan.  

Follow Treason the Musical on all social media platforms @treasonmusical and treasonthemusical.com to be the first to hear the latest news and information.   

 The cast of Treason the Musical In Concert – Cadogan Hall – Photos by Gavin Nugent 

★★★★★ 

West End Best Friend, All That Dazzles 

‘This is an exceptional musical in the making.’ 

West End Best Friend 

★★★★ 

The Reviews Hub, The Upcoming, North West End, Fairy Powered Productions 

‘Treason has lush melodies, a talented young cast, and the historical sweep of a Les Mis.’ 

The American  

‘You will hear the phrase “the British Hamilton” and with good reason as this could be a sensation.’ 

All That Dazzles  

The Cockpit Theatre – until 14 November 2021

Reviewed By Emily Cliff

5*****

When we talk about our heritage we often jump to our ancestral backgrounds – things that relate to our culture and the mosaic of tiles that make up who we are as people. Women have never had the easy end of the bargain, and we have always had to fight hard and strong for our rights. One of the many rights we take for granted today is our right to vote and without the heroic, courageous and valiant efforts of the Pankhurst family girls led by their mother Emmeline, the lives we lead as free women today would probably not exist.

Playwright Beatrice Hyde has captured the pain, struggles and persistence that faced Emmeline Pankhurst in the wake of the first wave of feminism. The story has a truly captivating essence which is brought to life by clever stage designs, costumes and fantastic performances by a fantastic cast. The road to getting women the vote we know is not a short one, yet somehow Beatrice has managed to include well over four decades of struggle and protest into a single night of theatre, without just bypassing important details. There is a lot to cover in a show that covers such issues, yet Beatrice managed to cover it all without giving too much or too little time to any issue covered.

The leading lady of the operation herself, Emmeline Pankhurst, played by National Theatre trained Georgie Rhys, was portrayed in a light that started motherly but sooner got more political as the show went on. Georgie Rhys captured her essence wholeheartedly and ran with it throughout the entire show. Her delivery was powerful and the message was abundantly clear, we are women and we deserve equality. The fiery enthusiasm was also captured in her daughter Christabel Pankhurst, played by Lily-Fleur Bradbury, who was filled with a feminist rage that soared and lit up her performance. The lighting and the costumes displayed throughout this play added to the accuracy of the historical context this play already had.

Much like any period drama, some of the events taking place have been taken in dramatic licence. However, the intensity of the family squabbles and arguments were just adding fuel to the already brightly burning bonfire of fierceness this play exudes. If anything this gave the play a more relatable tone and touch. The display of police brutality and lack of help from politicians was a scene that was all too familiar in today’s society but highlighted the struggles women have and still do face.

Overall this play was brilliant from its costumes to its political messaging and is perfect for any young budding feminist to learn their heritage. Humour was sprinkled throughout at appropriate moments but didn’t change the direction or tone of the play too immensely. This play highlights the importance of having values, and how hard it is to stick to them in trying times (brilliantly highlighted in the character of Sylvia Pankhurst. This was a fantastic debut for Beatrice Hyde with writing on par with that of the National Theatre. Compelling, emotional and captivating, this show deserves a bigger stage and I hope to see it on one soon