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Birmingham Hippodrome announce new musical theatre associate artists

Birmingham Hippodrome are delighted to announce three exciting, female-led musical theatre companies have joined its Associates programme.

Burnt Lemon Theatre, The Good Enough Mums Club and Fat Rascal are the latest theatre makers to join the programme which is designed to support artistic ambitions and develop work to reach new and wider audiences.

 Chris Sudworth, Director of Artistic Programme at Birmingham Hippodrome said: “We are delighted to welcome these fantastic female-led companies into the Hippodrome Associates family. As one of the UK’s best known venues for musical theatre, we felt it was essential to support the development of new voices telling fresh and different stories in this most popular of styles. All three companies make playful and powerful musical theatre with a contemporary twist.”

Chris added:“It’s just the beginning of our plans in this area, supporting each company to develop their work into a larger scale, explore new areas of practice and develop touring networks to reach new, and wider audiences with work that represents the UK today.

“Each relationship is bespoke, created in response to the shared ambitions between the Hippodrome and the Associate. We can’t wait to see the journey each company takes.”

The multi-award winning Burnt Lemon Theatre will be the first of the new associates to perform at Birmingham Hippodrome with their electrifying new musical – Toyko Rose – this October. First performed at Edinburgh Fringe in 2019, Tokyo Rose tells the true story of how one strong, American-born woman battled through a journey of self-acceptance, only to return home to a dangerously divided nation.

Hannah Benson, Co-Artistic Director of Burnt Lemon Theatresaid: “We’re so grateful and excited to be joining the Hippodrome family as Associate Artists. We strive to tell untold stories that leave a long lasting and far reaching impact. The Hippodrome’s support and belief in us has been just incredible, working with the team has been critical to our growth and an amazing opportunity to hone our craft and lift the musical’s potential.”

Hannah added: “We can’t wait to give back to audiences and artists in Birmingham when we bring Tokyo Rose to Patrick Studio stage this October.”

The Good Enough Mums Club was established in 2013 and all their work is produced, directed, arranged, and performed by mothers. The team create with aim to combat perfectionism and spread a message of self-love, acceptance and community, one mum at a time.

Emily Beecher, Jade Samuels and Sarah Shead of The Good Enough Mums Club, said: “We are delighted that The Good Enough Mums Club are a Birmingham Hippodrome Associate Artist. It’s a great honour to be invited to be a part of a venue so steeped in theatrical history and right here in our back yard.”

The Associates will be bringing their concert show, An Evening With The Good Enough Mums Club to the Patrick Studio on Fri 19 Nov ahead of premiering their full musical The Good Enough Mums Club at the Hippodrome in 2022.

The Good Enough Mums Club team added: “We hope to meet lots of local mums, dads, grannies and, of course, babies for an evening of laughter, tears and music when our concert tour plays Birmingham later this year. We want to remind our audiences that you don’t have to be perfect, and sometimes being good enough is best.”

Finally, Fat Rascal join the Associates Programme following their sell out success with Unfortunate at the Patrick Studio in 2019. They will be working with the Hippodrome team to further develop their hit show into a full length musical that will premiere in late 2022.

 Robyn Grant, Artistic Director of Fat Rascal said: “We are absolutely thrilled to officially join the Hippodrome as Associates. We enjoyed working with the incredible team and performing to roof raising audiences back in 2019 with Unfortunate. We can’t wait to return to Birmingham as we all bounce back by making fresh, exciting and absolutely joyous new musical theatre.”

Robyn added: “We are ready and raring to offer some much needed laughter, and we know the wonderful people of Birmingham are more than up for it!”

 Burnt Lemon Theatre, The Good Enough Mums Club and Fat Rascal join existing Hippodrome Associates Aakash Odedra Company, Break Mission, Motionhouse, Open Theatre, Rosie Kay Dance Company, Sonia Sabri Company and ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company.

Tokyo Rose is at the Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio on Thu 28 – Sat 30 Oct and The Good Enough Mums Club on Fri 19 Nov. Tickets for both shows are on sale today and can be booked at www.birminghamhippodrome.com or by calling 0844 338 5000*

*0844 calls will cost 4.5p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

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• MEET THE FOUR PERFORMERS SHARING THE TITLE ROLE IN THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY’S MATILDA THE MUSICAL IN THIS NEW VIDEO RELEASED TODAY
• MATILDA THE MUSICAL WILL RESUME PERFORMANCES AT THE CAMBRIDGE THEATRE ON THURSDAY 16 SEPTEMBER WITH TICKETS ON SALE FROM WWW.MATILDATHEMUSICAL.COM

Images and a brand-new video have been released today of the four young performers who will share the title role in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Matilda The Musical when it reopens on 16 September at the Cambridge Theatre in the West End. In the video, Imogen Cole, Alyssa D’Souza, Alex Munden and Zoe Simon can be seen getting to grips with their gymnastic ribbon skills under the watchful eye of Elliot Harper (Miss Trunchbull).

Celebrating 10 years since the multi award-winning show opened in London, this iconic British musical has won 99 international awards including 24 for Best Musical and has been seen by more than 10 million people across more than 90 cities worldwide. Matilda The Musical is now booking through to 13 February 2022. For further information visit www.matildathemusical.com.

A tonic for audiences of all ages, this anarchic production about a strong and determined heroine with a vivid imagination has welcomed almost 4 million audience members in London. Matilda The Musical will also visit the Netherlands for the first time, translated into Dutch for a run at the Oude Luxor Theater Rotterdam. The theatre hopes that the musical will bring visitors to the city as it emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic. It has also announced plans to work with partners in Rotterdam to develop an education programme around the show. Tickets are now on sale for Matilda De Musical in Rotterdam visit matilda-demusical.nl

Adapted from Roald Dahl’s much loved 1988 book and commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, the musical premiered at the RSC’s Stratford-upon-Avon home in 2010, before transferring to the West End in October 2011, where it opened to rave reviews.

Matilda The Musical swept the board at the 2012 Olivier Awards, with a record-breaking seven awards, and won four Tony Awards and a Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theater for the four girls sharing the title role on Broadway. It has since toured North America, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Ireland, South Africa and China and played its first non-English language production in Seoul, South Korea in 2018/19.

With the upcoming film adaptation from the same core creative team as the theatre production (direction by Matthew Warchus, adapted for the screen by Dennis Kelly, with the music and lyrics of Tim Minchin), Dahl’s themes of bravery and standing up for what you believe in will continue to inspire young audiences all over the world. Produced by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner of Working Title, Jon Finn, and Luke Kelly of The Roald Dahl Story Company. Sony Pictures U.K. and Tristar Pictures will release Matilda across the U.K. and Ireland exclusively in cinemas on 2nd December 2022 for Christmas. Netflix will release the film in the rest of the world in December 2022.

Written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and developed and directed by Matthew Warchus, the theatre production is designed by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and the special effects and illusions are by Paul Kieve.

Matilda The Musical is the story of an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.

Matilda The Musical is produced by Executive Producers Denise Wood and Griselda Yorke for the Royal Shakespeare Company.  The production was developed with the support of Jeanie O’Hare and the RSC Literary Department.

André Ptaszynski had worked as one of the Executive Producers of the production from 2011 until his untimely death in 2020.  He is much missed by all of his colleagues.

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR

BAT OUT OF HELL – THE MUSICAL

UK & IRELAND TOUR

OPENING SEPTEMBER 2021

The producers of the UK & Ireland Tour of Bat Out of Hell – The Musical, featuring Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf’s greatest hits, are delighted to announce the return of Glenn Adamson (American Idiot) as Strat, Martha Kirby (Grease, Rags the Musical) as Raven and our original leading cast members Rob Fowler (Mamma Mia!, Bat Out of Hell) as Falco and Sharon Sexton (Mamma Mia!, Bat Out of Hell) as Sloane, plus Killian Thomas Lefevre as Tink, Joelle Moses as Zahara, James Chisholm as Jagwire, Kellie Gnauck as Valkyrie, and Danny Whelan as Ledoux.

Also in the cast are Laura Johnson as Kwaiden, Jamie Jukes as Markevitch, Rebecca Lafferty as Scherzzo, James Lowrie as Denym, Rory Maguire as Astroganger, Amy Matthews as Vilmos, Samuel Pope as Hoffman & Alternate Strat, Luke Street as Hollander, Leonardo Vieira as O’Dessasuite, Beth Woodcock as Spinotti, & Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli as Goddesilla.

Bat Out of Hell – The Musical wowed critics and public alike when it played limited seasons at Manchester Opera House, London Coliseum and London’s Dominion Theatre from 2017 to 2019. The musical also ran successfully in Canada, Germany and at New York’s City Centre in 2019.

Bat Out of Hell – The Musical won the Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical at the Evening Standard Awards and was nominated for 8 WhatsOnStage Awards, including Best New Musical.

Bat Out of Hell became one of the best-selling albums in history, selling over 50 million copies worldwide.  16 years later, Steinman scored again with Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell, which contained the massive hit I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That).

For the stage musical, the legendary and award-winning Jim Steinman incorporated iconic songs from the Bat Out of Hell albums, including You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth, Bat Out of Hell, I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That) and Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad, as well as two previously unreleased songs, What Part of My Body Hurts the Most and Not Allowed to Love.

In Bat Out of Hell – The Musical, the electrifying rock songs of Mr Steinman propel an epic story of rebellious youth and passion as Strat, the immortal leader of The Lost, has fallen in love with Raven, the beautiful daughter of the tyrannical ruler Falco.

The UK & Ireland Tour of Bat Out of Hell – The Musical has book, music and lyrics by Jim Steinman, direction by Jay Scheib, choreography adapted by Xena Gusthart, with musical supervision and additional arrangements by Michael Reed, set and costume design by Jon Bausor, original costume designs by Meentje Nielsen, original wig designs by Linda McKnight, video design by Finn Ross, lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe, sound design by Gareth Owen, orchestration by Steve Sidwell, original casting by David Grindrod CDG and UK Tour casting by Anne Vosser.

The UK & Ireland Tour of Bat Out of Hell – The Musical is produced by David Sonenberg, Michael Cohl & Tony Smith, with executive producer Julian Stoneman.

Bat Out of Hell dedicates this tour to the memory of Jim Steinman, who sadly passed away on April 19, 2021.

Website:  www.BatOutOfHellMusical.com

Twitter & Facebook:  @BatTheMusical

2021 – 2022 TOUR LISTINGS INFORMATION

11 September – 2 October 2021                    Manchester Opera House                                                     08448717615*

                                                                        www.atgtickets.com/venues/manchester                      

11 – 16 October                                              New Theatre Oxford                                                             08448717615*                                                                             

                                                                            www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford         

19 – 30 October                                              King’s Theatre Glasgow                                                       0844 871 7615*

                                                                        www.atgtickets.com/glasgow                                          

4 – 15 January 2022                                        The Alexandra, Birmingham                                               0844 871 7615*                                                          

                                                                                          www.atgtickets.com/birmingham                                    

18 – 29 January                                                New Wimbledon Theatre                                                   08448717615*                                                                             

                                                                              www.atgtickets.com/new-wimbledon-theatre

1 – 5 February                                                   Stockton Globe                                                                   0843 904 0071

                                                                           www.stocktonglobe.co.uk                                                

8 – 19 February                                                 Edinburgh Playhouse                                                         08448717615*                                                                             

                                                                               www.atgtickets.com/edinburgh-playhouse

22 – 26 February                                              The Marlowe, Canterbury                                                   01227 787787

                                                                          www.themarlowetheatre.com

12 – 16 April                                                      His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen                                    

                                                                          www.aberdeenperformingarts.com       

26 – 30 April                                                     Stoke Regent Theatre                                                        08448717615*

                                                                              www.atgtickets.com/stoke

3 – 7 May                                                          Sheffield Lyceum Theatre                                                0114 249 6000

                                                                          www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk                                               On sale soon

24 – 28 May                                                       Eastbourne Congress Theatre                                        01323 412 000

                                                                           www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk                                      

14 – 25 June                                                     Milton Keynes Theatre                                                      0844 871 7615*

                                                                          www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre    

28 June – 2 July                                               Mayflower Theatre Southampton                                      02380 711811

                                                                         www.mayflower.org.uk                                                     

12 – 23 July                                                      Theatre Royal Plymouth                                                    01752 267222

                                                                         www.theatreroyal.com                                                      

26 July – 6 August                                           Newcastle Theatre Royal                                                  0844 811 2121

                                                                         www.theatreroyal.co.uk                                                     On sale soon

9 – 20 August                                                  Bristol Hippodrome                                                            08448717615*                                                                             

                                                                             www.atgtickets.com/bristol                                               

23 – 27 August                                                Belfast Grand Opera House                                             028 9024 1919 

                                                                             www.goh.co.uk                                                                  On sale soon

30 August – 10 September                             Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin                                  0818 719 377 (ROI)

                                                                        bordgaisenergytheatre.ie                                              0844 248 5101 (UK NI)                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                        On sale soon                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

13 – 24 September                                         Hull New Theatre                                                              01482300306

                                                                       www.hulltheatres.co.uk

27 September – 1 October                             New Theatre, Cardiff                                                         07925 659065

                                                                       www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

4 – 15 October                                               Liverpool Empire                                                                08448717615*                                                                   

                                                                       www.atgtickets.com/liverpool                                          

25 October – 5 November                              New Victoria Theatre, Woking                                           08448717615*

                                                                        www.atgtickets.com/woking                                            

Further dates to be announced

*Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge

FULL LINE-UP ANNOUNCED FOR THE CAMBRIDGE CLUB FESTIVAL 2021 – A JOURNEY OF DISCO AND DISCOVERY

●      ONE MONTH to go until The Cambridge Club Festival (10-12th September)

●      Rag’n’Bone Man, Jack Savoretti, Shalamar, Soul II Soul & much more

●      Discover podcasts and cutting-edge comedy in The Auditorium of Intrigue

●      A world of family and children’s entertainment in The Imagination Station

●      Celebrate local artisan traders in The Explorer’s Emporium market

●      Drink and eat delicious culinary creations in Food For Thought area

●      Day and Weekend tickets selling out fast: www.thecambridgeclub.co

Having quickly established itself as one of the most loved boutique family festivals in the country, The Cambridge Club is gearing up to ensure this year’s festival is one to remember – by scaling the event to a full weekend and expanding the arts and entertainment on offer.

On top of a stellar musical line-up – including Rag ‘N’ Bone Man, Jack Savoretti, Beverley Knight, Shalamar, Soul II Soul, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Heatwave and many more – the festival have announced a further five amazing on-site areas, completing a 3-day feast of music, family fun, comedy, talks, interactive experiences, and sumptuous food at their new venue.

THE AUDITORIUM OF INTRIGUE is a brand-new podcast and comedy area, featuring one of the world’s top food critics Jay Rayner – who will be bringing his podcast Out To Lunch with Jay Rayner, along with a very special guest (expect cracking anecdotes, blistering chat, and killer cooking). Countdown wordsmith Susie Dent will take to the stage inviting audience members to enhance their vocabulary and share their love of words with her language podcast Something Rhymes with Purple. The University of Cambridge’s world-famous student drama and comedy society, The Cambridge Footlights – oncehome to the likes ofEmma Thompson, Stephen Fry, Olivia Coleman and Sue Perkins – will present stand-up sets from some of the UK’s funniest and most talented up-and-coming comics, including rising star Ali Woods who will win over crowds with his vigour and original material.

THE IMAGINATION STATION invites you to explore a world full of fun for families – with top children’s entertainment, music, games and more activities that will have imaginations running wild all weekend. Featuring its own array of CBBC music stars that will appear on the MAGIC STAR CHILDREN’S STAGE, curated specifically for younger members of its festival crowd – including YolanDa Brown’s Band Jam, the critically acclaimed CBeebies show which has been dubbed “Jools Holland for Kids”, and one of the UK’s most popular children’s bands Andy & The Odds Socks to get little ones laughing and singing. Joining them is BAFTA winning children’s presenter Maddie Moate, who will light up minds as she explores the sounds of science and nature in Maddie’s Sound Explorer, andDiddi Dance who will encourage endless enthusiasm in their jam-packed dance classes. With Elissa Gold Events, children can learn circus skills and skateboarding, become the next graffiti artist, and be part of a theatre troupe. There will also be fairground rides and crazy golf for everyone to enjoy.

THE CAMBRIDGE EXHIBITION will please fans of photography, giving festival goers the chance to be part of The Cambridge Club’s retrospective on the world-famous city. The celebratory exhibition will feature twenty local photographers and artists, inspired by their iconic home. 

THE EXPLORER’S EMPORIUM, new for 2021 will feature a selection of the very best artisan traders from across Cambridge and East Anglia – from glass makers to cheesecake creators.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT will whet the appetites of festival goers with a multitude of tasty stalls and street food options, from the likes of Cambridge favourites Fired Up Pizza, to online cooking platform MOB Kitchen – who’ll be bringing their special truck to the site. Drinks will be served by the likes of Cambridge Wine too,who will make sure no mouths run dry. 

William Young, Co-Founder and MD said: “We’re really excited to be expanding what we’re offering at the festival this year. Beyond the bill of amazing musical artists, there is plenty going on across the site – from family entertainment, to cutting-edge comedy, to live podcasts. Working with the likes of children’s label Magic Star, and the iconic Cambridge Footlights, has helped us add in new dimensions to the event. We have so many wonderful creators and innovators on the line-up, and we can’t wait to share it all with everyone soon!”

For 2021’s edition, The Cambridge Club attendees will truly feel part of an immersive adventure for all ages – inspired by the Creators, Innovators and Explorers to have passed through the city, and taking festival goers on a journey of Disco and Discovery.  The stunning new home of Childerley Orchard – only 10 miles outside of the city centre – will provide an idyllic backdrop for a celebration in the heart of the beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside. 

The Lowry Theatre, Manchester – until 22 August 2021

Reviewed by Wendy Albiston

5*****

A Masterpiece of Magical Mishaps and Mayhem

What an absolute joy to be going to an actual theatre to sit in an actual audience to watch an actual play. The Lowry Theatre seemed relaxed in their return to welcoming back audiences. A few signs around the place recommending mask wearing and the now normal bottles of hand sanitizer dotted about helped reassure that our safety was still a concern.

I had heard great things about this show, so my expectations were high, and they weren’t disappointed.

Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society are putting on a Murder Mystery entitled “Murder At Haversham Manor”. Born from the inflated ego of Chris Bean, the director/designer/prop maker/box office manager/actor/voice coach etc., this play within a play ramps up the horror of the typical actor’s nightmare of not knowing your lines and not knowing what play you’re in, a hundred-fold. If it can go wrong, it does. Someone must have said the name of The Scottish Play many times backstage for things to go this badly!

Winces, gasps, squeals and laughter are constantly expelled from the audience as the hapless characters do their very best to get though the play, come hell or high water. And they do succeed in that, despite everything literally falling around them.

Hats of to the sterling talent and skill of the actors of Mischief. They are an ensemble of fantastic physical performers with spot on comedic timing and boundless energy. It’s a joy to see them working together to create this world of perfectly choreographed madness and mayhem.

A mention must go to the set designer Nigel Cook, for skillfully crafting the health and safety nightmare into a dreamy piece of theatrical engineering. It’s astounding!

This is a family show, it’s hilarious, silly and the perfect way to ease yourself back into going to the theatre. Oh; if you’re a woman of a certain age, make sure you have a Tena Lady in your bag!

MARTIN SHAW JOINS

SEAN MATHIAS’ ACCLAIMED COMPANY FOR

THE CHERRY ORCHARD ALONG WITH ROBERT DAWS AT THEATRE ROYAL WINDSOR 

Martin Shaw and Robert Daws join the Season’s Company

Cast includes Francesca Annis, Ben Allen, Robert Daws, Llinos Daniel, Alis Wyn Davies, Ashley D Gayle, Alison Halstead, Nick Howard Brown, Kezrena James, Asif Khan, Lee Knight, Ian McKellen, Missy Malek, Jenny Seagrove, Martin Shaw.

Directed by Sean Mathias and adapted by Martin Sherman

Following their outstanding performances in Hamlet, Sean Mathias’ company will be joined by Martin Shaw and Robert Daws, to perform Anton Chekhov’s masterpiece – The Cherry Orchard.

The Cherry Orchard is a magnificent comedy drama about a family on the edge of ruin. Madame Ranevskaya has come home to her family estate after a five-year absence, and the cherry orchard is just as magnificent as ever, but debts are beginning to pile up and a significant change is looming…

Led by Francesca Annis in the role of Ranevskaya, the 15-strong season company will perform Martin Sherman’s adaptation which captures the “contemporary feel of the original”, under the directorship of Sean Mathias.

Martin Shaw will be joining the company in the role of Lopakhin, along with Robert Daws who will play Pishchik.

Tickets start at just £25 with discounts available for NHS workers and students. The staging of the season has been designed to offer the unique experience of being up-close and immersed in the performance via Shakespearean wooden bleacher seats on either side of the stage.

The Cherry Orchard runs from Fri 01 October – Sat 13 November 2021

NOEL SULLIVAN, BEN LAMB, 

KRISTIN ATHERTON & CHRISTINE GOMES 

STAR IN THE UK PREMIERE OF ROMANTIC COMEDY 

HOW TO SURVIVE AN APOCALYPSE  

WRITTEN BY JORDAN HALL & DIRECTED BY JIMMY WALTERS 

AT FINBOROUGH THEATRE FROM 28 SEPTEMBER – 23 OCTOBER 2021  

Noel Sullivan, Ben Lamb, Kristin Atherton and Christine Gomes will star in the UK premiere of Jordan Hall’s hit comedy How to Survive an Apocalypse. The play opens at Finborough Theatre, directed by Jimmy Walters for a four-week limited season, running from Tuesday 28 September – 23 October 2021.  

Noel Sullivan, best known for his part in the record-breaking pop group Hear’Say, has gone on to forge a prestigious acting career with numerous West End credits to his name. Noel most recently appeared in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s award-winning musical School of Rock in the lead role of Dewey Finn at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. He also recently appeared in the BBC hit show Years and Years.  

Ben Lamb most notably starred in Netflix’s highly successful film series A Christmas Prince, as well as box office hits Now You See Me 2, Divergent and TV mini-series The White Queen. Ben’s stage work includes productions at the Young Vic and Shakespeare’s Globe. 

Kristin’s screen credits include the highly successful BBC shows Shakespeare & Hathaway and Waterloo Road. How to Survive an Apocalypse also reunites Ben and Kristin on stage following their critically acclaimed portrayals of Mary and Percy Shelley in Shared Experience’s production of Mary Shelley at the Tricycle Theatre in 2012.  

After only graduating from the London Academy of Dramatic Art in 2018, Christine Gomes has since gone on to star as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at the Orange Tree Theatre and Nerissa in The Merchant of Venice for the Stafford Shakespeare Festival. 

“You start planning for the end and you have to start thinking— if you wind up trapped in a 300 square foot fallout shelter, is this really the guy you want to see every day?” 

A romantic comedy for the end of days. 

Jen and Tim are a young and successful millennial couple who become convinced that their urban party lifestyle is coming to an end. They start preparing for the end, hoarding supplies and learning to hunt. But their obsession takes its toll, and both are forced to imagine the apocalypse without the love of their life. 

A tender, hilarious, and touching story about dreams, love and the desire to survive. 

How to Survive An Apocalypse premiered at the Firehall Arts Centre, Vancouver, where it broke all box office records. It was shortlisted for a Tom Hendry Award in Comedy, was an official selection of the La Mama International Playwrights Retreat, and was the winner of the 2016 Flying Start Competition.  

How To Survive An Apocalypse, presented by Proud Haddock in association with Finborough Theatre, has design by Ceci Calf, lighting by Adam King and music and sound by Julian Starr. Further casting will be announced in due course.

COMEDIAN PATRICK MONAHAN TO JOIN FAYE TOZER IN DARLINGTON HIPPODROME PANTOMIME

This Christmas Darlington audiences shall go to the ball as the Hippodrome’s pantomime just got even bigger!

The Parkgate venue has announced that Middlesbrough-raised funny man Patrick Monahan will star as Buttons in their magical family pantomime Cinderella.

A frequent star on the comedy club and festival circuits, Patrick regularly tours the UK with his unique blend of audience interaction, animated story-telling and quick wit, which has solidified his reputation as one of the nation’s best-loved comedians. In 2011 Patrick entered the ITV stand-up comedy contest Show Me the Funny, beating off stiff competition to be crowned the winner, which led to the release of his debut DVD Patrick Monahan Live, and appearances on Let’s Dance for Comic Relief and the ITV celebrity diving show Splash!

Patrick joins Faye Tozer, who the theatre announced earlier this year will play The Fairy Godmother. Faye is best-known as part of the multi award winning pop band Steps.

The theatre has also confirmed that actor and musician Pete Peverley and TV Actor Phil Corbitt will play The Ugly Sisters in the productions which marks the return of pantomime to the Hippodrome after a year’s absence.

Cinderella will be produced by Crossroads Pantomimes, the world’s biggest pantomime producer, and will be packed full of the magical ingredients Darlington audiences have come to expect from their annual festive production, including special effects, hilarious comedy and plenty of audience participation,

Heather Tarran-Jones, Programming and Development Director of Darlington Hippodrome said “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Patrick back as part of our festive Pantomime. Patrick produced fabulous reactions from audiences back in 2018 and, alongside the dream team of Phil and Peter as the ugly sisters, will be another great hit with audiences of all ages.”

Cinderella runs at Darlington Hippodrome from Friday 10 to Friday 31 December 2021. Tickets are on sale now, with early booking advised. For full details and to book visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk or call 01325 405405.

Original Theatre Company and Octagon Theatre Bolton present the 2021/22 tour of The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Adapted for the stage by Steven Canny and John Nicholson for Peepolykus

Directed by Tim Jackson

Original Direction Lotte Wakeham

Cast: Jake Ferretti, Serena Manteghi and Niall Ransome  

The award-winning Original Theatre Company and Octagon Theatre Bolton present the 2021/22 tour of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most celebrated adventure, The Hound of the Baskervilles. Adapted for the stage by Steven Canny and John Nicholson for Peepolykus, in a production which was first performed at the Octagon Theatre this summer, the classic detective ta​le gets a brilliantly farcical overhaul in Lotte Wakeham’s acclaimed production.

The whodunnit for all ages will tour to Cambridge Arts Theatre (16-18 Sept),Theatr Clwyd (21-25 Sept), Exeter Northcott Theatre (28 Sept-2 Oct), Malvern Theatres (5-9 Oct), York Theatre Royal (19-23 Oct), Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne (26-30 Oct), Richmond Theatre (2-6 November), The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich (9-13 Nov), Salisbury Playhouse (15-20 Nov), Theatre Royal Bath (24-28 Jan), The Lowry (31 Jan – 5 Feb) and Belgrade Theatre, Coventry (8-12 February). Further 2022 tour venues are to be announced.

A hit in the West End, this ingenious adaptation combines an exhilarating collision of farce, theatrical invention and wonderfully comic performances to offer a brand-new twist on the greatest detective story of all time.

Mr Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound… World-renowned detective Sherlock Holmes and his colleague Dr. Watson are asked to unravel the mystery surrounding the untimely death of Sir Charles Baskerville. With rumours of a cursed giant hound loose on the moors, they must act fast in order to save the Baskerville family’s last remaining heir.

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

Original Direction is by Lotte Wakeham, Artistic Director of the Octagon Theatre Bolton who has directed sell-out productions in London, New York, and throughout the UK. The UK Tour is directed by Tim Jackson (The Season, Royal & Derngate, New Wolsey, Treasure Island, Bolton Octagon). Frankie Tennant is Associate Director. The Designer is David Woodhead, Lighting Designer is Derek Anderson, Sound Designer is Andy Graham, Costume Supervisor is Chrissy Maddison and Production Manager is Tammy Rose.

Lotte Wakeham said: “I’ve been blown away by the wonderful response to this production of The Hound of the Baskervilles; it’s been a real joy to have audiences back in the theatre, laughing uproariously every night. I’m absolutely thrilled to be teaming up with Original Theatre Company so that this production can now embark on a national tour and be enjoyed even more widely. I think it’s exactly the sort of joyful, energetic and entertaining show that audiences will be hungry for and I’m delighted to be sharing the Octagon’s work across the UK. Our top-notch cast and superb creative and technical team are raring to go, and we’re looking forward to giving our audiences a fantastic night out.”

Alastair Whatley, Artistic Director of Original Theatre Company, said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with Lotte and her team at the Octagon to bring her superb production of The Hound of Baskervilles to audiences all over the UK. After the year we’ve all had, the production is a tonic sure to make theatres buzz with the sound of laughter. It’s a show for all ages to enjoy and we cannot wait to share it with audiences up and down the country.”

For further information, visit the Original Theatre Company website: https://www.originaltheatre.com/our-productions/the-hound-of-the-baskervilles/about-the-show.

Theatres Trust Director Jon Morgan comments on the rule changes for self-isolation that come into effect today, 16^th August and their impact on the theatre industry:

We welcome the news that from today fully vaccinated people will no longer have to isolate if they are ‘pinged’. Although many younger theatre workers may not have yet had their second vaccination, we hope that this news will see far fewer productions close their doors in the coming weeks which will help reboost the industry and keep shows running without further cancellations.