We had the absolute pleasure of watching ‘Romeo and Juliet’ performed by the Northern Ballet, at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton. From the moment the production started we were captivated by the music and faultless dancing.
The sets were amazing, and cleverly thought out. We particularly liked the balcony scene, which later, cleverly converted into a crypt. We loved the special effects, particularly the rainstorm after the murder scene.
Romeo was played by Joseph Taylor, and Juliet by Dominique Larose. We found the chemistry between these two impeccable, and a joy to watch. The death scene was particularly moving.
The choreography was excellent, and the company were always in perfect unison. The characterisation was very clever, and we particularly enjoyed the humour of the nurse and Mercutio’s characters, played by Heather Lehan and Harris Beattie, respectively.
Although the music was lovely, we really missed the live orchestra. There is nothing quite like watching a live ballet with a live orchestra! That would be our only reservation.
We really enjoyed this modern take of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and thought the Northern Ballet did an exceptional job.
Incredible cast announced for West End Musical Halloween West End Musical Halloween – Monday 28th October 2024, 7.30pm Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 7ES
The incredible cast of West End performers have been announced for West End Halloween, another ghoulishly good evening that promises to haunt audiences.
This spectacular concert is hosted by Shanay Holmes (Miss Saigon, The Bodyguard), currently Nancy in Cameron Macintosh’s Oliver! which transfers to the West End in December. She will be joined by Nathania Ong (Hamilton, Les Misérables), sensation Erin Caldwell (Heathers, SIX the Musical), winner of ITV1 and ITVX’s Mamma Mia! I Have a DreamTobias Turley (Mamma Mia) and Grammy award winner Zachary James (Hadestown).
This is the third instalment of the sell-out concert of freakishly fun show tunes from the darker side of musicals such as Sweeney Todd, Little Shop Of Horrors, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Phantom Of The Opera, Hadestown and Beetlejuice! Get ready to sing and dance and see a host of tricks and treats at this Spooktacular celebration! It’s going to be a SCREAM!
As fans of this sell out series will know, at a West End Musical concert, you not only get incredible performances from the West End’s biggest stars, the audience also ‘become the cast’, so singing and dancing along and even dressing for the occasion is encouraged. Celebrate this Halloween the West End Musical way!
Also coming up is West End Musical Christmas on Monday 16th December which will be hosted by Trevor Dion Nicholas (Hamilton, Disney’s Aladdin) currently starring in Next To Normal. A cast of the West End’s biggest stars will be getting audiences well and truly in the festive mood with an all singing, all dancing extravaganza! Expect a festive feast of heart warming classics and musical theatre crackers building into an all-out Christmas party!
Get ready to sing and dance along and for some extra special gifts at this seasonal celebration. Have yourself a very ‘musical’ Christmas!
Both West End Musical concerts are brought to you by the award-winning producers (Black British Theatre Awards, Best Producer 2021 and Best Musical Production 2021) of West End Musical Celebration, West End Musical Brunch, West End Musical Drive In, West End Musical Love Songs and Musical Con, the world’s biggest musical theatre fan convention.
DAWN SIEVEWRIGHT TO STAR AS ROSE-LYNN HARLAN IN THE
WORLD PREMIERE OF NICOLE TAYLOR’S NEW MUSICAL
WILD ROSE
OPENING AT THE ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE EDINBURGH
DIRECTED BY JOHN TIFFANY
Olivier Award-nominated Dawn Sievewright will star as Rose-Lynn Harlan in the upcoming world premiere of brand-new musical Wild Rose, written by Nicole Taylor (One Day, Three Girls, The C Word, The Nest) and directed by John Tiffany (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Black Watch).
The production begins its life in Scotland where the piece is set, opening The Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh in 2025 as part of the company’s Spring season. Based on the critically acclaimed award-winning film of the same name written by Taylor, directed by Tom Harper and produced by Faye Ward (Fable Pictures), the production opens on 14 March, with previews from 6 March, and runs until 5 April.
Dawn Sievewright returns to The Royal Lyceum Theatre, where she previously appeared in Twelfth Night (also Bristol Old Vic). Sievewright received critical acclaim and an Olivier Award nomination for her role in Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour – a National Theatre of Scotland production which also played at Live Theatre, National Theatre and in the West End at the Duke of York’s Theatre. Her other theatre work includes A Midsummer Night’s Dream (RSC), No Love Songs (Dundee Rep and Traverse Theatre), The Welkin (National Theatre), Spuds (A Play, A Pie and A Pint), My Left/Right Foot (National Theatre of Scotland), Pinocchio (National Theatre), The A-Z of Mrs P (Southwark Playhouse), Glasgow Girls (Theatre Royal Stratford East, National Theatre of Scotland, Citizens Theatre), Legally Blonde (Savoy Theatre) and Quadrophenia (UK tour). Her television work includes The Undertow, Shetland and Star Wars: Andor, and for film Man & Witch and Never Seen the Sea.
Dawn Sievewright said today, “It’s hard to put into words how I feel about this story, how I feel about Rose-Lynn Harlan. I don’t think there’s ever been a character to come my way that has so perfectly spoken to the world I grew up in. She defies her surroundings and speaks to the wee muddled up lassie in me. To the ‘too aggressive’, to the ‘calm doon!’ and to the massive beating heart of Scotland that sometimes…can only be expressed through music. She scares me – in the best possible way.
“Nicole Taylor has written the guts of Glasgow and woven it so expertly with a soundtrack of such gallus music that the Lyceum audiences are going to be leaping from their seats. I am beyond buzzing to get back into a rehearsal room with the legend that is John Tiffany and his incredible creative team.
“We’re bringing Rose-Lynn home… I can barely keep my heart in my chest.”
John Tiffany added, “In Dawn we have found the perfect alchemy for Rose-Lynn – an extraordinary actress, with an extraordinary voice and she captures perfectly the life-force of Rose-Lynn. I’m looking forward to getting into rehearsals with Nicole and Dawn and reimagining this brilliant story for the stage and bringing this fierce woman to life.”
Released to critical acclaim in 2018, the film, directed by Tom Harper, produced by Faye Ward for Fable Pictures, and blessed with an incredible soundtrack, won the BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Feature Film, Best Writer for Nicole and Best Actress for Jessie Buckley – the latter was also nominated for a BAFTA Film Award. It was nominated and won several other awards, including 10 Independent Film Award nominations, winning the Best Independent Film Award for Best Music; as well as several awards for Best Original Song for Glasgow (No Place Like Home) including the Critics’ Choice Award.
The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Caledonia Productions and Gavin Kalin Productions present
WILD ROSE
A NEW MUSICAL
By Nicole Taylor
Director John Tiffany; Choreography Steven Hoggett & Vicki Manderson; Set Design Chloe Lamford;
Costume Design Katrina Lindsay; Lighting Design Jessica Hung Han Yun; Sound Design Tony Gayle;
Music Supervision, Orchestration and Arrangements Sarah Travis & Davey Anderson;
Casting Charlotte Sutton CDG
Executive Producers: Faye Ward of Fable Pictures and Nia Janis of Playful Productions
6 March – 5 April
SING YOUR OWN SONG.
There is only one thing in Rose-Lynn’s life that has ever made sense: country music.
Fresh out of jail for past mistakes, and bursting with incredible raw talent, charisma and cheek, the free-spirited Rose-Lynn dreams of escaping Glasgow to make it as a singer in Nashville.
But her mother Marion has had a bellyful, insisting that she settle down, ditch the fantasy, and focus on raising her two young kids.
Rose-Lynn reluctantly agrees to take a cleaning job and finds an unlikely champion in her new boss Susannah, bringing her dream closer than ever. Now Rose-Lynn must decide if risking everything will really pave the road to Nashville.
From Nicole Taylor, BAFTA-winning writer of the original film and global sensation One Day, and renowned director John Tiffany (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Once),Wild Rose is an uplifting and heartwarming new musical about motherhood, dreams and finding your three chords and the truth.
This world premiere production will feature songs from country music legends including Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Wynonna Judd, Chris Stapleton, Caitlyn Smith, The Chicks, and Patty Griffin, alongside the film’s award-winning original song Glasgow (No Place Like Home).
Based on the film written by Nicole Taylor, directed by Tom Harper and produced by Faye Ward for Fable Pictures.
Acclaimed screenwriter Nicole Taylor’s credits for television include Three Girls (which won five BAFTAs including for Best Writer and Best Mini Series), The C Word and The Nest. She most recently adapted David Nicholls’ novel One Day into a critically acclaimed smash-hit 14-part series for Netflix. For film, Nicole wrote the multi-award-winning Wild Rose.
John Tiffany studied Theatre and Classics at Glasgow University. He trained at the Traverse Theatre and has been an Associate Director at the National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Court. For his work on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, John received Tony and Olivier Awards. He directed Once at NYTW and on Broadway, for which he received a Tony Award. For the Royal Court, his work includes Road, Hope, and The Pass. For the National Theatre of Scotland his work includes Black Watch, for which he received an Olivier Award, Let the Right One In (also West End and international tour),Macbeth (also Broadway), Enquirer, The Missing, Peter Pan and The Bacchae. Other credits include The Glass Menagerie at American Repertory Theater (also Broadway, EIF and West End) and The Ambassador at BAM. Tiffany was a Radcliffe Fellow at Harvard University in the 2010-11 academic year.
FURTHER CAST, CREATIVE TEAM AND DATES ANNOUNCED FOR
CHEKHOV’S THE SEAGULL IN A NEW VERSION
BY DUNCAN MACMILLAN AND THOMAS OSTERMEIER,
DIRECTED BY OSTERMEIER AT THE BARBICAN THEATRE
Wessex Grove and Gavin Kalin Productions today announce further casting for Duncan Macmillan and Thomas Ostermeier’s new version of Chekhov’s masterpiece The Seagull. Joining the previously announced Cate Blanchett (Arkadina) and Tom Burke (Trigorin) are Priyanga Burford (Polina), Emma Corrin (Nina), Zachary Hart (Medvedenko), Paul Higgins (Shamrayev), Tanya Reynolds (Masha), Kodi Smit-McPhee (Konstantin), and Jason Watkins (Sorin). Further casting and creative team will be announced shortly.
Also directed by Ostermeier, the production will play a limited 6 week run at the Barbican Theatre from February 2025. Tickets starts at £20, and for every performance there are over 100 tickets at that price. The production opens on 6 March, with previews from 26 February, and runs until 5 April.
Completing the creative team are Magda Willi (Set Design), Marg Horwell (Costume Design), Tom Gibbons (Sound Design), and Jim Carnahan CSA & Liz Fraser CSA (Casting).
ON SALE DATES:
7 October: 10am-1pm Premier Patrons, Principal Patrons and Director’s Circle Patrons Priority
1pm-4pm Barbican Patrons Priority
4pm Barbican Members Plus Priority
8 October: 10am Barbican Members Priority
4pm Wessex Grove Priority
9 October: 10am Public booking opens
Audiences are invited to sign up for more information about The Seagull at www.theseagullplay.co.uk
Wessex Grove and Gavin Kalin Productions
in association with the Barbican
present
THE SEAGULL
By Anton Chekhov
A new version by Duncan Macmillan & Thomas Ostermeier
Cast: Cate Blanchett (Arkadina), Priyanga Burford (Polina), Tom Burke (Trigorin), Emma Corrin (Nina), Zachary Hart (Medvedenko), Paul Higgins (Shamrayev), Tanya Reynolds (Masha), Kodi Smit-McPhee (Konstantin), Jason Watkins (Sorin)
Conceived & Directed by Thomas Ostermeier; Set Design by Magda Willi;
Costume Design by Marg Horwell; Sound Design by Tom Gibbons
Cate Blanchett stars as Arkadina, a celebrated actress whose larger-than-life presence dominates both the stage and her personal relationships. Arriving at her family’s country estate for the weekend, she finds herself caught up in a storm of conflicting desires. Her playwright son, Konstantin (Kodi Smit-McPhee), struggles to step out of her shadow as he pursues his own artistic ambitions and her lover Trigorin (Tom Burke), becomes the object of affection for the aspiring young actress Nina (Emma Corrin).
As their lives entwine and they each grapple with their desires, ambitions, and disappointments, Chekhov’s timeless story unfolds in a gripping tale of vanity, power, and the sacrifices made in the name of art.
Cate Blanchett plays Arkadina. She served alongside Andrew Upton as co-Artistic Director and co-CEO of Sydney Theatre Company (STC) between 2008-2013, producing 16 shows a year across 4 stages, many of which toured nationally and internationally. Notable productions include Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire directed by Liv Ullman; Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya directed by Tamás Ascher, Steven Soderbergh’s Tot Mom; Benedict Andrews’ productions of The War Of The Roses, Genet’s The Maids and Botho Strauss’ Gross Und Klein; the seminal adaptation of The Secret River by Neil Armfield; numerous productions by director Kip Williams; and Andrew Upton’s The Present directed by John Crowley for which Blanchett earned a Tony Award nomination for its Broadway run. Blanchett’s most recent performance in London was at the National Theatre in Martin Crimp’s When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other directed by Katie Mitchell. Her screen credits include Tár, Nightmare Alley, Don’t Look Up, Ocean’s 8, Thor: Ragnorok, Carol, Blue Jasmine, I’m Not There, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Notes on a Scandal, The Life Aquatic, Indiana Jones and The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, The Lord of The Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit, The Good German, The Aviator, The Talented Mr Ripley and Elizabeth. Blanchett has won numerous awards including two Academy Awards, four BAFTAs, three Golden Globes and four Screen Actors Guild awards. Blanchett is co-Founder and Principal of production company Dirty Films for which she has produced and acted, alongside partners Andrew Upton and Coco Francini, which recently launched PROOF OF CONCEPT, providing support and opportunities to women, trans and non-binary filmmakers. She created and produced the award-winning Audible Original podcast CLIMATE OF CHANGE, and produced EVOLVER, a VR interactive experience which was selected for the first ever Immersive Competition at the Cannes Film Festival. She has presided over festival juries in Cannes and Venice, and The Venice Film Festival has twice awarded her The Volpi Cup for Best Performance. Blanchett holds a BFI Fellowship from the BFI London Film Festival, has received the Stanley Kubrick Award for Excellence in Film and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Numerous other accolades include the Honorary Cesar, International Goya and Chaplin Awards.
Priyanga Burford plays Polina. Her theatre credits include An Enemy of the People (Duke of York’s Theatre – Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Play), Rapture (Royal Court Theatre), The Winter’s Tale, Eyam (Shakespeare’s Globe), and Consent (National Theatre). Her television work includes Innocent, Industry, Avenue 5, This Time with Alan Partridge, Press, W1A, and King Charles III; and for film, No Time To Die.
Tom Burke plays Trigorin. His theatre work includes Rosmersholm (Duke of York’s Theatre), Don Carlos (UK tour), The Deep Blue Sea, The Doctor’s Dilemma (National Theatre), Reasons to be Happy (Hampstead Theatre), Reasons to be Pretty, Macbeth (Almeida Theatre), Design for Living (The Old Vic), for the Donmar Warehouse, Creditors (also New York, winner of the Ian Charleson Award) and The Cut, and Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare’s Globe). His television work includes Extinction, The Crown,Strike, The Musketeers, War and Peace, Utopia, The Hour, Great Expectations, Casanova, and State of Play; and for film, Furiosa, The Wonder, Klokkenluider, True Things About Me, Mank, The Souvenir, The Invisible Woman,The Libertine, Telstar, Chéri, An Enemy to Die For, Cleanskin, Only God Forgives, The Invisible Woman and The Hooligan Factory.
(Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for IMDb)
Emma Corrin plays Nina. Their theatre work includes Orlando (Michael Grandage Company at the Garrick Theatre) and Anna X (Harold Pinter Theatre – Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress and The Stage Debut Award nomination for Best West End Performer).For television, their credits include playing Lady Diana Spencer in the award-winning The Crown -for which they won a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award, as well as receiving a SAG and Emmy nomination, A Murder at the End of the World (nomination for an Independent Spirit Award in the Best Lead Performance), and the forthcoming Black Mirror. For film, their credits include Deadpool & Wolverine, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, My Policeman, and the forthcoming Nosferatu, and 100 Nights of the Hero.
Zachary Hart plays Medvedenko. His theatre credits include The Constituent (The Old Vic), An Enemy of the People (Duke of York’s Theatre), Julius Caesar (Bridge Theatre). For television, his work includes Slow Horses, Bodies, Peaky Blinders, The Witcher: Blood Origin, Masters of the Air, Sitting in Limbo, and Doc Martin; and for film, Jericho Ridge, and Delia Derbyshire: The Myths and Legendary Tapes.
Paul Higgins plays Shamrayev. For theatre, his work includes Romeo and Juliet, The Doctor, Macbeth, Conversations After a Burial (Almeida Theatre), Local Hero (Chichester Festival Theatre), This is Memorial Device (Royal Lyceum Theatre), The Meaning of Zong (Bristol Old Vic), Aristocrats, Temple, Luise Miller (Donmar Warehouse), The Seagull (Lyric Hammersmith), Twilight Song (Park Theatre), Blackbird, King Lear (Citizens Theatre), Hope, Nightsongs (Royal Court Theatre), Children of the Sun, Caledonia, The White Guard, Paul (National Theatre), Damascus (Traverse Theatre and Tricycle Theatre), Black Watch (National Theatre of Scotland), The Tempest (Tron Theatre), Measure for Measure (RSC), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare’s Globe), Buried Alive (Hampstead Theatre), The Way of the World (Royal Exchange Theatre), An Enemy of the People (National Theatre, Ahmanson Theatre LA), and The Slab Boys (Young Vic). For television, his work includes The Simpsons, Slow Horses, The Ipcress Files, Beep, Cold Call, Line of Duty, Raised by Wolves, The Wrong Mans, Case Histories, Utopia, Hope Springs, Purves and Pekkala, The Last Enemy, The Thick of It, Low Winter Sun, Murder, Lucky Ones, and Staying Alive; and for film, Kill, Greed, Apostle, The Party’s Just Beginning, Couple in a Hole, Victor and Abdul, In The Loop, The Red Road, Complicity, Beautiful Creatures, Bedrooms and Hallways, Goal! and No Holds Bard.
Tanya Reynolds plays Masha. Her theatre credits include A Mirror (Almeida Theatre and Trafalgar Studios – Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role), She Stoops to Conquer (Orange Tree Theatre), The LastWords You’ll Hear (Almeida Theatre), It’s Not Like It’s Illegal (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Scenes with Girls (Royal Court Theatre). Her television credits include The Decameron, 4Stories: OnThe Edge, The Baby, I Hate You, Sex Education, Breeders, and Delicious. And for film, Timestalkers, Harold, The Purple Crayon, Emma, Undergods, Fanny Lye Deliver’d, and The Revenger: an Unromantic Comedy.
Kodi Smit-McPhee makes his professional stage debut as Konstantin. His television work includes the upcoming limited series Disclaimer and previous series Interrogation.His film work includes the upcoming releases Maria and Memoir of a Snail, and previous films The Power of the Dog (New York Critics’ Film Award, and BAFTA and Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor as well as a Golden Globe win for Best Supporting Actor), Dolemite is My Name, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, Alpha, Deadpool 2, X Men: Apocalypse, Slow West, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, All the Wilderness, ParaNorman, Let Me In (nomination for AFI Award for Best Young Actor), The Road and Romulus, My Father (AFI Award for Best Young Actor), and the forthcoming Zealot.
Jason Watkins plays Sorin. He was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in A Servant to Two Masters for the RSC/Young Vic/West End. His other theatre includes Frozen (Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Twits, Boy Gets Girl, Rafts and Dreams, King Lear (Royal Court Theatre), Strange Interlude, Landscape with Weapon, Our Class,Inadmissible Evidence (National Theatre), A Laughing Matter (National Theatre and Out of Joint), The Plantagenets, The Plain Dealer (RSC), Blue Kettle and Hearts Desire (Out of Joint), The Late Henry Moss, A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream (Almeida Theatre), A Farewell to the Theatre (Hampstead Theatre), The Dumb Waiter (Oxford Playhouse), and Arden of Faversham (Old Red Lion). Watkins played the title role in The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies, for which he won the Best Actor BAFTA. Other television includes The Crown (as Harold Wilson – SAG Award for Best Ensemble), McDonald and Dodds (as series regular DS Dodds), Anansi Boys, Des, Archie, Coma, The Catch, The Trick, Line of Duty, Taboo, Inside No 9, A Very English Scandal, Friday Night Dinner, Trollied, W1A, the animated series Batman Caped Crusader (as Pennyworth), Being Human, Housewife 49, Sex Traffic, Little Dorrit, Funland, Are You Being Served, and the documentary – Jason and Clara In Memory of Maudie. His film credits include The Phoenician Scheme, The Nest, Wicked Little Letters, Hampstead, The Children Act, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, Wild Child, Nativity! film series (as Gordon Shakespeare), Bridget Jones – The Edge of Reason, and High Hopes; and the short film, The One Note Man (Greece International Film Festival Best Actor, Richard Harris Best Actor Award).
Since September 1999 Thomas Ostermeier has been resident director and member of the Artistic Direction of the Schaubühne Berlin. His productions for the company include An Enemy of the People, Death in Venice, The Little Foxes – audience award of the Theatergemeinde Berlin, Richard III – Premio della Critica Teatrale, Bella Figura, Professor Bernhardi, Returning to Reims, History of Violence, Italian Night, Abgrund – co-production with Salzburger Festspiele, Youth Without God, Vernon Subutex, Ödipus, Qui a tué mon Père and The Seagull. His other theatre work includes Der starke Stamm, Vor Sonnenaufgang, Die Ehe der Maria Braun, and Susn (Münchner Kammerspiele), The Girl on the Sofa (Edinburgh Festival – Herald Angel Award), The Master Builder (Burgtheater in Vienna), The Seagull (Théâtre-Vidy, Lausanne), Knives in Hens, Nora – Nestroy Prize and Politika Prize, Hedda Gabler – audience award of the Theatergemeinde Berlin, Die Ehe der Maria Braun, Returning to Reims (Theatertreffen Berlin), John Gabriel Borkman – Grand Prix de la Critique of France, Hamlet – Barcelona Critics Prize and critic’s prize as Best International Production 2011 in Chile, The Cut – critic´s prize at the international theatre festival KONTAKT in Torun, Measure for Measure – Friedrich-Luft-Prize for the Best Theatre Performance in Berlin, La Nuit des rois ou Tout ce que vous voulez (Comédie-Française Paris) – Prix Molière for the best Production in France 2022 – as well as productions across the globe. In November 2004 Ostermeier was appointed Artiste Associé for the Festival d’Avignon by the artistic director of the festival, Vincent Baudriller, and has been presenting shows at the Festival regularly since then. In 2023 he opened the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence with his version of Brecht’s/ Weill’s The Threepenny Opera. He has been appointed Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French ministry of Culture, was German president of the Deutsch-Französischer Kulturrat (DKFR) – German-French Council of Culture, was the recipient of the Golden Lion of the Venice Biennale, Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the KYTHERA-Price for Culture, and is a member of the Deutsche Akademie der Künste, of the Académie de Berlin and of the Deutsch-Französischer Kulturrat, as well as receiving honorary doctorates from the Universities of Kent and Gothenberg.
Duncan Macmillan is an award-winning writer and director. His work has been performed throughout the world, including at the National Theatre, the Royal Court, Old Vic, Almeida, Barbican, St Ann’s Warehouse, Melbourne Theatre Company, Berliner Ensemble, Schaubühne Berlin, Hamburg Schauspielhaus, Burgtheater Wien, Vesturport, Kansallisteatteri, Nationaltheatret Oslo, at the Salzburg Festival, in the West End and on Broadway. His screen work has been shown at the London and Berlin film festivals, on the BBC, Netflix and HBO. Plays include People, Places and Things, Lungs; Every Brilliant Thing; Rosmersholm (adapt. Henrik Ibsen); 1984 (adapt. George Orwell, co-written and co-directed with Robert Icke); City of Glass (adapt. Paul Auster) and 2071 (co-written with Chris Rapley); The Forbidden Zone; Wunschloses Unglück (adapt. Peter Handke); and Reise durch die Nacht (adapt. Friederike Mayröcker), which was selected for Theatertreffen and Festival d’Avignon and awarded the Nestroy Preis for Best German Language Production. People, Places and Things, 1984 and Rosmersholm were all nominated for Olivier Awards.
THE LONDON PALLADIUM TO HOST THE 25TH ANNUAL WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS IN ASSOCIATION WITH AUDIENCEVIEW
WhatsOnStage today announces that the ceremony for the 25th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards, in association with AudienceView, will take place at The London Palladium in 2025 – as the awards celebrate turning a quarter of a century.
Taking place at 7pm on Sunday 9 February 2025, the evening will see winners crowned across a range of categories. Theatregoers will also enjoy a host of exclusive live performances from top stage talent, accompanied by a 24-piece orchestra. The event is co-produced with creative directors Alex Parker and Damian Sandys.
Tickets will go on general sale from 11am on 4 October 2024 via LW Theatres.
Now in their 25th year, the WhatsOnStage Awards are the only major theatre awards decided by the theatregoers themselves.
WhatsOnStage’s Darius Thompson and Alex Wood said today: “”As we kickstart the process for the 25th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards in association with AudienceView, we look back at the millions of votes that have been cast over the last quarter of a century. What these awards celebrate, beyond all else, is that brilliant relationship between creatives and audiences – those who have turned up, night after night, to cheer on and applaud performance in all its forms.
“We can’t wait to get back to The London Palladium next year. The team at LW Theatres were so wonderful, patient and collaborative during our first outing there last February, and we’re already cooking up some fantastic surprises to mark our silver anniversary.”
Nominations will open on 7 November, with further information to be announced shortly.
WhatsOnStage is proud that the 2025 awards ceremony is sponsored by industry-leading organisations: 5RB, AKA Promotions Ltd, AudienceView, Avalon, Boulevard Events, Concord, Dewynters, Disney’s Hercules, Edwardian Hotels, Hexagon Print, LOVEtheatre, Music Theatre International, Newman Displays, Outernet Venues, Preevue, Re:Water, RSVP-ify, SINE Digital, Steeldeck Rentals Ltd, Tandem Marketing, Theatrical Rights Worldwide, Ticketmaster, Travelzoo and White Light.
Festival Theatre, Malvern – until 5th October 2024
Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau
5*****
1984. The very title rings down to us like a literary version of the Roman Empire – colossal in scale and influence. I was very much looking forward to seeing what this new adaptation would look like.
Before the play had begun we were drawn into the drama and dystopian world as a giant screen at the rear showed us in the audience shuffling in and waiting expectantly. Big Brother really was watching us, right form the off! This omnipresent feature also conveyed various locations during the play, allowed exchanges with colleagues and the news announcements etc. Just like modern day life – the screen is menacingly always there.
The stage was a stark affair which successfully conveyed the right mood and author’s intentions. There was also (to my eye) a clear nod towards the freedom fighters of the P.O.U.M. era in Barcelona and the stage costumes – especially the red tie around the waist. A big pat on the back to set, costume and video designer Justin Nardella for his work tonight.
Was it my imagination or did the writers put in many other cultural references that weren’t in the original – such as the dehumanizing of immigrants that both harkened back to the dark days of the 1930’s whilst mirroring our own troubled times – evoking thoughts of Gaza for instance? Powerful stuff.
The cast was magnificent with fantastic performances all around! Mark Quartley (playing Winston) gave us every facet of the human condition during the story – from emotionally downtrodden servant of the regime to bon viveur and from defiant to broken man. A powerhouse performance that deserves much credit, he was truly pivotal.
Eleanor Wyld perfectly captured the full panoply of emotions needed to play Julia (Winston’s partner in “crime”). I loved her free spirit where the panic was just below the surface. I was utterly convinced, which made Winston’s journey all the more believable.
Keith Allen was shockingly effective in the role of O’Brien. He showed admirable restraint which made the moments when he unleashed his full tortuous vitriol all the more powerful.
Parsons, Winston’s neighbour, was the real surprise of the evening though with a stunning portrayal from David Birrell. His scenes in captivity were the most impactful of the evening – I’ve rarely seen such a thrillingly real portrayal of panic and terror.
A masterpiece brought to the stage with visceral honesty and sincerity – this is a telling of the tale to savour and all involved should be very proud of themselves. The work is not an easy watch – especially Winston’s interrogation which was so horrific it was hard to fathom how they managed it within the confines of a live, stage performance.
With taut, muscular direction (from Lindsay Posner) and adaptation (from Ryan Craig) and a stellar cast at the top of their game, this is a play that is not to be missed. Not joyous but very enjoyable, it was a thought provoking evening that will live long in the memory of all who witness it and one I wholeheartedly recommend.
Intense, dramatic and spectacular perfectly describes Chris Bush’s adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House which is currently showing at the Crucible, Sheffield. As the mum of an A Level English Literature student, I primarily took my daughter to see this play in order to help her with her studies but have come away astounded by what I witnessed on the stage! I can honestly say there was not a minute went by when either of us weren’t mesmerised and fully engaged in Nora Helmer’s story of self-discovery and transformation.
Siena Kelly, who plays Nora quite simply blew me away with her performance. I loved Nora by the end of the play and she now stands up there as one of my all-time, most favourite and inspirational literary characters. The courage and bravery she finds to step out of the life that her childhood and society have conditioned her to live in was not only moving to watch but the way Kelly plays it – exhilarating! The tension just builds and builds until, without giving too much away, you know you are witnessing not just a life-changing decision but one that comes from the soul and is a paradigm shift in the whole of the world at large.
When Henrik Ibsen first penned A Doll’s House, around one hundred and fifty years ago, it was so shocking for the Victorian audience to watch that the ending was changed for a while to help soothe the public’s reaction. They simply weren’t ready for such a disruptive concept that could shatter households. Furthermore, it’s even crazier to think that what was reflected in that ‘Doll’s House’ is still relevant and playing out in homes today. Torvald, Nora’s husband played by the equally brilliant Tom Glenister, could be called out as being a true villain but he, like Nora, is also just taking on a role that he had been primed to play. His beliefs that his wife is his property and that she must behave like he wants her to was constructed when the term ‘bread-winner’ was invented many years ago. Like other men of that time and indeed even today, he had simply not evolved enough to see a woman as his equal and continued to ‘play’ with her but also continue to be ‘played’ himself by the systems of commerce and materialism.
In complete contrast to the state of the Helmers, who by the end of the play present as a broken couple, are Krogstad (Eben Figueiredo) and Christina (Eleanor Sutton). These two lay their souls bare to one another by admitting their mistakes and misfortunes and from that pure honesty find a freedom that allows true love. Christina tells Nora to ‘have faith’ but that faith comes in place where Nora thought she’d never find it, in herself. Other characters in Ibsen’s masterpiece are Dr Rank (Aaron Anthony) who as the play unfolds turns out to be a foil character to Torvald and Anna (Mel Lowe), Nora’s ill-fated replacement.
This whole production is outstanding and the creative team must also share the well-deserved kudos and praise for devising a most functional and attractive set. The ‘house’ with its soft lighting and simple Christmas theme is a superb back-drop that makes the scene changes faultless and creates interesting shadows that conjure up different moods and atmospheres. When Nora declares that she’s tired of bells and costumes and changes from a glittering fancy dress attire to somber black, the audience knows it’s a key moment in the play. “Aren’t you too old to be playing with dolls?” and “I am a product of your image.” are lines that Nora delivers with heart and soul. These words become a game-changer for her as she shines brightly with a truth which needs no glittering trinkets to reflect her inner light.
A Doll’s House is unforgettable, gripping and electrifying – it takes you on Nora’s sensational and powerful journey and perhaps on reflection your very own too!
Everyman Theatre Cheltenham – until Saturday 5th October 2024
Review by Kathie Hodges
5*****
Ghost the Musical brings the unforgettable 1990 film to life with its iconic soundtrack, emotional depth and supernatural twist. The musical follows the tragic love story of Sam played by Josh St. Clair and Molly played by Rebekah Lowings, whose lives are shattered when Sam is murdered.
Stuck between life and death, Sam must rely on a quirky psychic, Oda Mae Brown played wonderfully by Jacqui Dubois, to protect Molly from potential danger while attempting to say the goodbye they never had.
The heartfelt performances by St. Clair and Lowings manage to capture the intensity of the couples love and tragic loss. St. Clairs singing voice is incredibly powerful and flawless while Lowings is utterly beautiful, and I dare anyone not to cry when she sings ‘With You’. In fact for me in terms of emphasising the grief of the pair, this moment was it. The famous number ‘Unchained Melody’ is a pivotal moment of course, evoking nostalgia for fans of the original film, but for me Lowings singing ‘With You’ was the moment I wished I had stocked up the tissues as advised. It was truly the most heart wrenching vocal performance of the night, showcasing perfectly her angelic voice. Original songs by Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, enriched the production with a mix of pop and rock and a really fun number for the Hospital Ghost played joyfully by Les Dennis.
The set is wonderfully creative and rapidly changing from the New York apartment where the couple lived, to the streets of New York to the famous Underground train scene. The special effects do a great job in representing the ghostly world.
The show’s choreography though competent, was ever so slightly lacking. That said for any small part of the show that may have been lacking, after all it’s incredibly hard to adapt to stage such a hugely successful movie, Jacqui Dubois who plays the psychic Oda Mae Brown makes up for it in boat loads. Her timing is perfect, her sassy personality shines through and the audience are completely captivated by her performance and her outfits.
If you loved the movie, this is one to watch for its blend of romance, drama, and light hearted moments.
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre – until Saturday 5th October 2024
Reviewed by Carly Burlinge
4****
Cluedo 2 the classic boardgame that we all know and love and have played many times comes to life at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford.
The classic who done it story unfolds with the well know characters Colonel Mustard (Jason Durr) Miss Scarlett (Ellie Leach) Mrs Peacock (Hannah Boyce) Mrs White (Dawn Buckland) Professor Plum (Edward Howells) and Reverend Green (Gabriel Paul). Who are also joined by Rick Black (Liam Horrigan) and Wadsworth (Jack Bennett) to name a few. The production opens with all characters in a 17-bedroom Mansion, owned by Rick Black, who has invited them all there for the preview of his new album. Suddenly thunder roars lightning strikes the lights go out and when they come back on all the characters appear holding the famous Cluedo murder weapons and Mr Black jokingly states that “no one gets out of here alive”!!!
As they all come together for his masterpiece to be revealed in his study/studio. They discover that he has been murdered! But when all the guests take a closer look, its not your run of the mill murder it extravagant with the victim having be stabbed, throttled, shot and hit on the head potentially with the weapons they were previously seen holding. Now several motives and suspects come in to play with everybody looking at each other. wondering who’s the guilty party!
Each individual actor played their own parts extremely well, but as an entire cast they all came together brilliantly with on point comedic timing bouncing off each other showing the obvious great connection that they shared on stage.
I particularly loved Mrs Whites character that had attitude, she isn’t afraid to say what’s on her mind whilst putting the fright into them all, before she goes off to steam the veg – very entertaining!
Wadsworth also offers much comedy shown through physical actions by prancing across the stage with much energy bursting into lyrics, as well as his constant insistence that he is an actor playing a butler and not actually a butler!
The stage was set with the boardgame as a backdrop and a model of the 17-bedroom mansion in front. The windows of which lit up showing you which rooms they were in alongside doors being brought onto the set a very simple but effective way to let the audience know where they were situated in the house. Some amazing choreography was used alongside simple props such as portraits and a billiard table to create the illusion of the cast’s movements between rooms causing the audience to laugh out loud.I really enjoyed this production it was very entertaining, and I would recommend going to see it whilst you can.
Richmond Theatre – until Saturday 5th October 2024
Reviewed by Carly Burlinge
5*****
Richmond Theatre brings you the stage version of Birdsong by Rachael Wagstaff, based on the novel written by Sebastian Faulks, celebrating its 30th anniversary.
It tells the story of Stephen Wraysford (James Esler) a young Englishman sent to Amiens France by his Guardian, Pre-World War I, to visit a local factory run by Rene Azaire (Sargon Yelda) to study their methods. Whilst there he stays with the Azaire Family in their home and finds himself falling in love with Isabelle Azaire (Charlie Russell); the unhappy wife of Rene. Stephen and Isabelle embark on a passionate love affair and are ultimately discovered, which makes them flee to be together.
We next meet Stephen engulfed in the horrors of the trenches. Where he’s a changed man, bitter, cynical and no longer full of the hope of youth. During this time, we learn about how his relationship with Isabelle played out, and see the effect that his encounters with fellow soldiers, often as their lieutenant, has on him, especially when dealing with their loss. Stephen strikes up an unlikely friendship with a sapper, Jack Firebrace (Max Bowden), who is working on tunnels deep beneath no-man’s land with his team to lay explosive charges to take out the enemy. Firebrace’s personality is the polar opposite to Stephen’s; a lovable, jack the lad performer, with a large heart, that has also been broken.
James Esler gave an outstanding performance as Stephen Wraysford, wonderfully showing the audience every nuance of his character, from the highs of love and hope to the lows of despair. His performance was complimented and enhanced by the compelling, on-stage connection with Charlie Russell, making their relationship believable and real to the audience. As a professional stage debut for James Esler, this production is a fantastic showcase for his talent. A special mention must go to Brennan (James Findlay) for his inspiring and haunting performance of the folk song “Ned of the Hill”, which was evocative and spine tingling.
The sound effects used created such an atmosphere that transported the audience into the horrific reality of trench life in a dramatic and believable way. The set and props were simple, but effective, enhancing the performance rather than detracting from it. The influence of choreography on the scene changes was subtle and yet impressive, with the attention to detail in the prop placement within the house scenes reminiscent of silver service at a dinner table.
This show draws upon raw emotion in all respects, captivating the audience throughout, with some very dramatic scenes, which kept the audience at the edge of their seats. There was laughter and tears, all from such great talent and a strong connection from all of the actors involved – they were just superb. This is by far one of the best shows I have ever seen, which ended with a standing ovation. What a compelling performance.
