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A RADA Festival commission in association with HOME Manchester
My Darling Christopher
Homemakers, HOME
Available online from Thursday 16th July

Created as part of a wider theatre project in association with RADA, the short film My Darling Christopher will be shared as part of HOME Manchester’s Homemakers Festival. My Darling Christopher has been written, cast, shot and edited all during lockdown by Hot Coals Theatre, who create visual theatre accessible to both hearing and d/Deaf audiences in a shared experience.

My Darling Christopher is based on the true story of Clive, a young boy who lost his sight and hearing due to Meningitis complications. His father Christopher is serving in the Navy when he receives a heartfelt letter from his wife, Dorothy. At the outbreak of World War Two, Clive is 15 years old and attending Goring School, after evacuation from Margate School for the Deaf.

English, British Sign Language and Visual Vernacular weave together to tell the shocking story of a war plane crashing to the ground just metres from Clive’s classroom. The piece will use a unique theatrical language that is highly visual and inclusive. This mixture of forms creates an intricate form of storytelling using forms in innovative ways.

Homemakers is a series of new commissions inviting artists to create new works at home, for an audience who are also at home. These fully funded commissions offer groundbreaking artists a chance to challenge the definition of “live performance”.

Jo Sargeant and Clare-Louise English, Hot Coals Theatre comment, This commission has offered us an exciting opportunity to work in a new medium and experiment with language, combining English, BSL and the visual storytelling language, Visual Vernacular, in a way we’ve not seen or done before. It gives us the unique chance to put the spotlight on a Deaf person’s wartime experience and tell their story.

My Darling Christopher is an exploration as part of a larger project to create a full theatre production entitled A New Way of Life. This wider production exploring Clive’s story has been put on hold due to lockdown measures. Hot Coals Theatre will also be releasing a documentary alongside My Darling Christopher exploring its creation process.

HELEN MIRREN TO APPEAR IN GREENWICH THEATRE’S ONLINE PREMIERE

Oscar winner and Greenwich Theatre patron Dame Helen Mirren is set to support the venue’s debut online production – a new version of Steven Berkoff’s The Secret Love Life of Ophelia – with a special guest appearance.

Written as an exchange of letters between the young Shakespearean lovers Hamlet and Ophelia, Berkoff’s play parallels the events of Shakespeare’s play but gives a new insight into the way that their relationship develops, from first meeting to tragic end. The politics and intrigue of his father’s murder, his mother’s disloyalty in marrying his uncle and all of the dramatic events that follow are referenced, but as a backdrop to the secret relationship unfolding between the two young lovers.

Berkoff also grants Ophelia the kind of voice absent from Shakespeare’s play. Berkoff’s Ophelia is anything but a passive onlooker to Hamlet’s story. Rather, she drives much of the action, her confidence and determination serving as the encouragement that Hamlet needs to challenge his uncle and the social strictures of the court.

Originally conceived as a piece for two actors on stage, Greenwich Theatre has secured Berkoff’s endorsement to reimagine the letters as video messages for this contemporary production, and director James Haddrell has brought together a cast of 39 young, emerging or marginalised actors to each perform one of the letters. Concluding the piece, it has now been confirmed that Helen Mirren will make a special appearance as Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother.

A member of the National Youth Theatre in the 1960s, Mirren was invited to join the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1965 after her performance as Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra. This online production has been designed to offer that same early exposure to a new company of performers.

Greenwich Theatre’s artistic director James Haddrell said, “it is well known that theatres are fighting for their survival following the worldwide impact of COVID-19. Established actors, creative teams, stage management, crew and venue staff are all waiting to discover when their next job will come along. However, there are also thousands of young professional actors who are now graduating from drama school with no potential employment in sight, and thousands more who are routinely overlooked for roles like Ophelia and Hamlet because of long-held expectations about how a piece of Shakespeare should be cast. We are delighted to be able to kick-start so many careers and give access to these major roles to performers who may not have had the opportunity to play a leading Shakespearean character. I could not be more delighted that our patron, Helen Mirren, has agreed to support this production. This will inevitably increase the audience for the piece, and the more people
who see these young actors at work the better – from agents and casting directors who can open up routes to employment, to the audiences that they have all worked for years to be able to entertain.”

The Secret Love Life Of Ophelia is the latest event in Greenwich Connects, Greenwich Theatre’s ambitious online programme launched within days of the COVID-19 UK theatre closures. Supported by Arts Council England and the Royal Borough of Greenwich, the programme has included streamed shows from the theatre archives, weekly industry advice sessions, writer and actor challenges and the online version of the Greenwich Children’s Theatre Festival.

The Secret Love Life Of Ophelia will premiere on Greenwich Theatre’s YouTube channel on Friday 31 July at 7.30pm, and will remain available to watch for free until Friday 14 August

THEATRE SUPPORT FUND + REACHES HUGE MILESTONE WITH ‘THE SHOW MUST GO ON!’ INITIATIVE AS IT RAISES £250,000

FOR CHARITIES:

ACTING FOR OTHERS

THE FLEABAG SUPPORT FUND

NHS COVID-19 URGENT APPEAL

After phenomenal public demand for ‘The Show Must Go On!’ t-shirts, Theatre Support Fund + has reached an incredible milestone by raising a huge quarter of a million pounds for Acting For Others, The Fleabag Support Fund and NHS COVID-19 Urgent Appeal.

Theatre Support Fund + was set up eight weeks ago by theatre industry workers Chris Marcus and Damien Stanton who wanted to form an initiative to help individual workers who are now out of work due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. They created and designed ‘The Show Must Go On!’ t-shirt, the design of which is an amalgamation of the world-famous artwork of 16 of the biggest musicals in the West End. Since Theatre Support Fund’s inception the team have received 20,000 orders and have shipped to 63 countries across the globe. The orders are being packed daily by a small team of volunteers from within the West End theatre community. All profits from merchandise sold goes to Acting for Others, Fleabag Support Fund and the NHS Covid-19 Urgent Appeal.

Chris and Damien said today, ‘We are incredibly overwhelmed with the generosity and support people have given to the theatre industry and with the government announcing arts funding last week, it is all moving in a very positive direction. However there are still individuals out there that need our help and we will continue to unite and work together to raise monies for these charities to help all of those that have been affected from the pandemic until the theatre industry is up and running again’.

Since the charities inception they have also gathered a fantastic celebrity following which includes Michael Ball, Samantha Bond, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Alan Carr, Dame Judi Dench, Todrick Hall, Amanda Holden, Derick Jacobi, Myleene Klass, Kiera Knightly, Beverley Knight, Patti LuPone, Sarah Parish, Melanie Sykes and Denise Welch amongst others.

Pheobe Waller-Bridge who is the figurehead for The Fleabag Fund said today “These shirts must go on!” A massive thank you to Theatre Support Fund for supporting Fleabag Support Fund and other wonderful charities with this incredible range of merchandise’.

The shirt design is an amalgamation of the world-famous artwork of 16 of the biggest musicals in the West End. Shows included on the design are & Juliet, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Everyone’s Talking about Jamie, Hamilton, Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, Matilda The Musical, Six The Musical, Tina, The Tina Turner Musical, The Book of Mormon, The Prince of Egypt, The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera and Wicked.

In addition to the t-shirt, merchandise now includes a re-useable face covering, notebook, mug, badge and tote bag. All profits from merchandise sold goes to Acting for Others , Fleabag Support Fund and the NHS Covid-19 Urgent Appeal. All of ‘The Show Must Go On!’ merchandise continues to be available via the website www.theatresupportfund.co.uk.

The government will be releasing more news shortly regarding the reopening of theatres and I’d like to share a statement from Jon Morgan, director of Theatres Trust in response.  

Jon Morgan comments:

Guidance for reopening of theatres

Alongside the very welcome and much-needed package of government support for the culture sector announced earlier this week, the publication of the performing arts guidance today will give a further degree of clarity to theatres. The publication of details for Stage 3 will allow theatres to move to outdoor performances from 11 July. However, it is disappointing that the guidelines have been published without a ‘not before’ date for Stage 4 and the all-important Stage 5 – the point when theatres will be able to open fully and welcome back audiences without social distancing. For the majority, it means continued delay and uncertainty as to when they will be able to reopen fully and for some, this delay may mean they never reopen.

We appreciate the difficulty in setting a date for Stage 5 as it will always be conditional on circumstances such as the R rate remaining low, further safety tests being conducted and the safety of staff, creatives and audiences must be a priority. But without even an indicative date it is difficult for theatres to plan ahead – and for many theatres this uncertainty will be devastating.

With the furlough scheme ending in October, many theatres will be left in a precarious situation and there is the risk of more theatres being forced to make redundancies or closing permanently. The performing arts will be the last sector to be able to reopen viably and it is therefore critical that the government’s rescue package prioritises theatres across the UK who will be most affected by the delayed reopening.

Planning system changes

Theatres Trust welcomes today’s news of revisions to the planning system, which will help prevent vacant theatres from being demolished or irreversibly changed for other uses. We have been campaigning to strengthen protections for theatre buildings in the planning system and we are pleased that the government has responded to our proposal so positively. The Covid-19 lockdown has rendered otherwise vibrant theatres vulnerable to permanent closure and we have already seen four operators go into liquidation, leaving their theatres empty. These measures will help ensure these vital community assets are protected during the current crisis and can be revived to serve their local communities once again.

It is with great sadness that, as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Birmingham Repertory Theatre has entered a period of redundancy consultations.

Since 16 March 2020, The REP has effectively been unable to trade. As the theatre generates 80% of its income from selling tickets and associated revenue streams, the ongoing loss of earned income is unsustainable.  

Despite the very welcome news earlier this week of the Government’s support package for the cultural sector, and Arts Council England’s emergency funds that partially mitigate our current losses, the reality for The REP is that we simply do not know when we will be able to re-open our doors and welcome audiences back into our building to enjoy live theatre again in a way that is safe for the public and financially viable for the theatre.

Therefore, in order to ensure the survival of The REP during this time of great uncertainty, cost saving measures including redundancy proposals are being considered which may impact up to 40% of roles.

Birmingham Repertory Theatre is the oldest building-based theatre company in the UK and the Second City’s only producing theatre.

Executive Director Rachael Thomas, and Artistic Director Sean Foley, commented “Our role as custodians of this much-loved theatre, with its historic legacy, is to ensure that it survives the COVID-19 pandemic. Even after the new measures are taken into account, we believe that survival is threatened if we do not act now. We could still be facing many months of being unable to trade and must therefore take action to mitigate the loss of income by reducing our costs.

“Whilst we are prioritising our work in creative learning, community engagement, and our wider civic mission during this time, this re-organisation will protect the DNA of The REP as a producing theatre.

“We are incredibly proud of the way our staff have responded to the COVID-19 crisis and want to thank them for their fortitude and spirit at this most difficult of times. We recognise and applaud all those that have volunteered – or are volunteering – in our community to support the NHS or those who are vulnerable in our society.

“We are confident that The REP will be able to continue to make a key contribution to the civic and cultural renaissance of Birmingham over the next few years. We intend to return – when trading conditions permit – and play our full part in the cultural life of this great city and the nation, including the Company’s 50^th anniversary in its current home on Centenary Square in Autumn ’21 and The Commonwealth Games ’22.”

Leading West End stars get green-fingered with
Golden Toad Theatre

Golden Toad Theatre have gone green in collaboration with West End stars, Courtney Stapleton (Six) and Joe Griffiths-Brown (Hamilton), encouraging children to engage in theatre through song, dance, and a little bit of gardening. With their touring musical stage adaptation of Errol’s Garden on hiatus until 2021, the company are keen to still use Gillian Hibbs’ award-winning book to help children’s creativity bloom with exciting and educational content.

Stapleton and Griffiths-Brown have lent their vocal abilities to an upbeat, pop musical track from the production as part of an interactive music video experience. Children are invited to record themselves singing along with Errol and to send in their photos or drawings of what they have been growing at home, in the garden, or at the allotment. The submissions will be edited together to create a final music video, which will be released online.

Courtney comments, I wanted to be a part of Errol’s Garden because I was very much an outdoor child! I loved being outside getting dirty and having loads of fun. I think it’s important to encourage the children of today to enjoy the outdoors, and if we can teach them some sustainable ways to live while we’re at it then even better!

Joe added, I enjoyed the idea of nature thriving in urban environments, and the creativity of children when making their dreams a reality made me want to be 10 all over again.

Alongside the musical project, there are two brilliant animated videos from animator Lee Cooper of fun garden-inspired activities for children, inspired by Hibbs’ original book. From how to decorate a recycled pot to getting crafty with origami flowers, there’s something for all those green fingers out there.

Recognised for creating vibrant and original musical theatre for young audiences and families, Golden Toad Theatre champions high-quality entertainment for children. They have continued to pioneer creativity during lockdown with their Busy Kids Corner, an online initiative providing arts and crafts activities online, as well as colouring-in and song writing competitions

Golden Toad Theatre are thrilled to be supported by the Arts Council emergency funding for the continuation of their work.

MICHAEL HARRISON AND DAVID IAN

ANNOUNCE RESCHEDULED DATES FOR
THE WORLD PREMIERE OF

MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING
THE MUSICAL

STARRING ALEXANDRA BURKE

AS JULIANNE POTTER

SONGS BY BURT BACHARACH AND HAL DAVID

BOOK BY RONALD BASS AND JONATHAN HARVEY

DIRECTED BY RACHEL KAVANAUGH

OPENING AT MANCHESTER PALACE THEATRE

ON 20 SEPTEMBER 2021

AHEAD OF A UK AND IRELAND TOUR

Michael Harrison and David Ian announced today rescheduled dates for the world premiere of MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING THE MUSICAL. Starring Alexandra Burke as Julianne Potter, the show will open at the Manchester Palace Theatre on 20 September 2021 ahead of a UK and Ireland tour. New tour schedule below. Further casting will be announced in due course. www.bestfriendsweddingmusical.com

MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING is based on the wickedly funny film of the same name and features some of the most iconic pop anthems ever written by the legendary Burt Bacharach and Hal David, including I’ll Never Fall in Love Again, I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself, Walk on By, I Say A Little Prayer and What’s New Pussycat.

The musical will have a book by Ronald Bass (My Best Friend’s Wedding, Rain Man, The Joy Luck Club) and Jonathan Harvey (Beautiful Thing, Gimme Gimme Gimme, Coronation Street).

Alexandra Burke most recently played the role of Rachel Marron in the hit musical The Bodyguard having played the role to critical and audience acclaim in both the West End and the subsequent sell out 2015/2016 tour. She first rose to fame after winning the fifth series of The X Factor and her debut number one single Hallelujah sold over one million copies in the UK, a first for a British female soloist. She most recently appeared as Svetlana in Chess at the London Coliseum and as Roxie in Chicago at the West End’s Phoenix Theatre. In 2017 she reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing. Her other theatre credits include Deloris Van Cartier in the national tour of the musical Sister Act. 

Fiery food critic Julianne Potter has always turned her nose up at romance. It’s the reason she broke up with her sweetheart Michael O’Neal.  When she hears he’s about to be married, she vows to win him back for good, but with perfect Kimmy in the way, it’s not as easy as she first thought. Can she derail her best friend’s wedding in time and keep Michael all for herself?

MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING is directed by Rachel Kavanaugh. It has a book by Ronald Bass and Jonathan Harvey and is based on the Tristar Pictures Film, screenplay by Ronald Bass. It Features the songs of Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING – UK and Ireland Tour Listings 2021/2022

www.bestfriendsweddingmusical.com

MONDAY 20 – SATURDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2021

MANCHESTER PALACE THEATRE www.atgtickets.com

ON SALE SOON

TUESDAY 28 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 2 OCTOBER 2021

SUNDERLAND EMPIRE www.atgtickets.com

ON SALE SOON

TUESDAY 12 – SATURDAY 16 OCTOBER 2021

HIS MAJESTY’S ABERDEEN www.aberdeenperformingarts.com

ON SALE

TUESDAY 19 – SATURDAY 23 OCTOBER 2021

MAYFLOWER THEATRE SOUTHAMPTON www.mayflower.org.uk

MONDAY 25 – SATURDAY 30 OCTOBER 2021

NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE www.atgtickets.com

ON SALE SOON

MONDAY 1 – SATURDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2021

THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH www.theatreroyal.com

ON SALE

TUESDAY 9 – SATURDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2021

SHEFFIELD LYCEUM www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

ON SALE SOON

MONDAY 15 – SATURDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2021

REGENT THEATRE STOKE ON TRENT www.atgtickets.com

ON SALE SOON

MONDAY 22 – SATURDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2021

NOTTINGHAM THEATRE ROYAL www.trch.co.uk

ON SALE SOON

MONDAY 29 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 4 DECEMBER 2021

ALHAMBRA THEATRE BRADFORD www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

2022

TUESDAY 4 – SATURDAY 8 JANUARY 2022

CLIFFS PAVILION SOUTHEND www.southendtheatres.org.uk

TUESDAY 11 – SATURDAY 15 JANUARY 2022

MILTON KEYNES THEATRE www.atgtickets.com

ON SALE SOON

MONDAY 17 – SATURDAY 22 JANUARY 2022

DARTFORD ORCHARD THEATRE www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

ON SALE SOON

MONDAY 24 – SATURDAY 29 JANUARY 2022

WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE CARDIFF www.wmc.org.uk

MONDAY 31 JANUARY – SATURDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2022

GLASGOW KING’S THEATRE www.atgtickets.com

ON SALE SOON

TUESDAY 15 – SATURDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2022

THE HAWTH CRAWLEY www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk

ON SALE

MONDAY 28 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 5 MARCH 2022

NEW THEATRE OXFORD www.atgtickets.com

ON SALE SOON

MONDAY 7 – SATURDAY 12 MARCH 2022

LIVERPOOL EMPIRE www.atgtickets.com

ON SALE SOON

MONDAY 14 – SATURDAY 19 MARCH 2022

CURVE, LEICESTER www.curveonline.co.uk

ON SALE

MONDAY 28 – SATURDAY 26 MARCH 2022

EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE www.atgtickets.com

ON SALE SOON

TUESDAY 12 – SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2022

WOLVERHAMPTON GRAND THEATRE www.grandtheatre.co.uk

ON SALE SOON

MONDAY 25 – SATURDAY 30 APRIL 2022

NEW VICTORIA THEATRE WOKING www.atgtickets.com

ON SALE SOON

MONDAY 2 – SATURDAY 7 MAY 2022

BRISTOL HIPPODROME www.atgtickets.com

ON SALE SOON

HULL NEW THEATRE – Dates and on sale details to be announced soon

FURTHER DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON

WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION

WILL NOW BEGIN PERFORMANCES

ON 19 MARCH 2021

New dates and all further information at www.andrewlloydwebberscinderella.com

Producers The Really Useful Group announced today that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical Cinderella will now world premiere at The Gillian Lynne Theatre in London on Wednesday 7 April 2021, with previews from Friday 19 March 2021.

Andrew Lloyd Webber said “Whilst I continue to impress on the government that theatres can reopen safely based on The London Palladium model, it has become clear that we need to move the opening of Cinderella to next Spring.  My teams have been working throughout lockdown to prepare the show and are raring to go, but there are key elements, not least casting and the building of sets and costumes, that take months of forward planning and can only start as we get further down the road to normal.  So the show will absolutely go on, just a little later than I’d hoped.”

Ticket holders will be contacted individually to rearrange their plans and further information is available at www.andrewlloydwebberscinderella.com

Carrie Hope Fletcher will play Cinderella in the highly anticipated new productionat the Gillian Lynne Theatre.  She has starred in Heathers (Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Addams Family (UK Tour), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (UK Tour), Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre), and most recently played Fantine in Les Miserables at the Sondheim Theatre.  She is also a bestselling author and social media personality.

The production, a complete reinvention of the classic fairytale, is based on an original idea by Emerald Fennell, the Emmy Award nominated lead scriptwriter of the second season of international smash hit Killing Eve, with a brand new score from the legendary composer and lyrics by David Zippel.

Cinderella will reunite Andrew Lloyd Webber with director Laurence Connor and choreographer JoAnn M Hunter, who previously worked on the Olivier Award winning international hit School of Rock and the recent, sold out production of Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The London Palladium, which returns to the venue in Summer 21.

Fennell’s new film A Promising Young Woman, that she wrote and directed and which stars Carey Mulligan, will open this Autumn.  As an actress she played Patsy Mount on the BBC’s Call The Midwife and currently depicts Camilla Parker Bowles on the Netflix hit The Crown.

The show’s lyrics are by David Zippel, a multi-award winner for Broadway productions including City of Angels, The Goodbye Girl, The Woman in White and Liza at the Palace, as well as for work on film including Disney’s Hercules and Mulan, both of which received Oscar nominations.

Cinderella will also star Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as the Stepmother. All further creative team and cast announcements regarding Cinderella will be made at a later date.

Ahead of Cinderella’s arrival at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, LW Theatres are carrying out internal upgrade work to the building including the addition of more toilets and refurbishment to areas of the auditorium and Front of House, as well as adopting measures to welcome back audiences safely as soon as restrictions allow. These measures are currently being trialled at The London Palladium and will be rolled out across LW Theatres.  

SWAN LAKE BATH BALLET

Photo credit: Ryan Capstick

·      Swan Lake Bath Ballet film by Corey Baker to be released on BBC iPLAYER and BBC.CO.UK/ARTS  Wednesday 8th July at 9.00 am BST

·      A modern-day Swan Lake filmed entirely remotely in the filled bathtubs of 27 elite ballet dancers from around the world

Corey Baker Dance has created a new short film entitled  Swan Lake Bath Ballet which will receive its world premiere screening on BBC iPlayer and bbc.co.uk/arts on Wednesday 8th July at 9.00 am BST as part of BBC Arts Culture in Quarantine, bringing arts and culture to the homes of the nation under lockdown.

Set to Tchaikovsky’s famous swan theme, 27 elite ballet dancers from renowned dance companies perform a modern-day Swan Lake from their own home filled baths. Award-winning choreographer Corey Baker worked with dancers across the globe to choreograph and film Swan Lake Bath Ballet completely remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the film, Baker’s quirky choreography is performed in baths from New Zealand to South Africa, America to Hong Kong, Australia to the UK. Swan Lake Bath Ballet was filmed on smart phones, directed by Baker from his bathroom in the UK. Dancers found innovative solutions including a child’s scooter, piles of books and even a toilet plunger to help stabilise and enable camera angles.

Baker worked with long-time collaborator producer Anne Beresford as well as Director of Photography Nicola Daley ACS (Harlots, Paradise Lost), Editor Travis Moore, supported by Line Producer Guy Trevellyan. The team combined innovative technological solutions such as the app FiLMiC Pro and Zoom along with household makeshift tripods to make the film remotely.

Dancers filmed themselves, sometimes assisted by their housemates or partners, all directed by Baker and Daley from their separate bathrooms in the UK. Baker says about the experience, ‘It was like trying to hang a picture with your eyes closed from 5 miles away’.

The performers were drawn from a long list of distinguished companies including American Ballet Theatre, Royal Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Staatsballett Berlin, National Ballet of Canada, Dutch National Ballet, Birmingahm Royal Ballet (with whom Baker has a long relationship) and The Royal New Zealand Ballet, where Baker is Choreographer in Residence.

Baker says: ‘I am hugely indebted to the amazing 27 dancers and all the companies who really pulled the stops (plugs?) out to make this film happen. Dancers became camera operators, stage managers, as well as costume and prop department not to mention performing tricky choreography at the same time, all from their bath tubs’.

Corey Baker Dance has an international reputation for creating a diverse array of work across film, TV and theatre, using unusual locations and reaching non-traditional theatre audiences. Antarctica: The First Dance (Channel 4/The Space) was filmed on the icy continent celebrating Antarctica while we still have it. This was the first of three dance films with a ‘green’ focus, the other two being Spaghetti Junction with dancers from Birmingham Royal Ballet and Hong Kong Ballet filmed beneath Birmingham’s (in)famous motorway intersection and Lying Together with Hong Kong Ballet, filmed on location in rural and urban green spaces across Hong Kong. Both Spaghetti Junction and Lying Together were shown on BBC Culture in Quarantine in May/June 2020 for World Earth Day and World Environment Day respectively.

Swan Lake Bath Ballet was commissioned by Arts Council England and BBC Arts as part of Culture in Quarantine. With thanks to Royal Albert Hall.

New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme

 NEW VIC THEATRE RESCHEDULE OPENING OF MARVELLOUS TO SPRING 2021

Marvellous, a brand-new play based on the life of local hero, Neil ‘Nello’ Baldwin, was due to take to the stage in the theatre’s newly refurbished auditorium in September. However, due to the uncertainty around when theatres will be able to safely start rehearsals for shows and also reopen to the public for performances, the New Vic has taken the decision to reschedule the production to a later date and now hopes to stage this inspiring show in April 2021.

Theresa Heskins, New Vic Artistic Director said: “A New Vic production like Marvellous takes months of planning, and many people are involved in its creation. From our in-house team to freelance actors and creatives, and of course Neil himself, it is a huge endeavour – and much of the work happens before we even start rehearsals. Without having certainty as to when we will be able to reopen the New Vic for performances, we have taken the decision to reschedule the production so that we can ensure that when we bring Neil Baldwin’s fantastic story to life on stage, we can do it with confidence, and for the audiences we promised it to. We will just have to wait a little bit longer to be able to share this show with them.”

The theatre still plans to reopen to the public when government guidelines allow and hopes to welcome audiences back for a range of concerts and other shows later in the year.

The New Vic Box Office team are in the process of contacting all customers who had booked for the production to talk through their options. Customers do not need to call the theatre. For further updates on the New Vic’s forthcoming programme, visit newvictheatre.org.uk