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MAUREEN NOLAN ‘IS JUST RIGHT’ FOR
ST HELENS EASTER PANTO

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR GOLDILOCKS AND
THE THREE BEARS AT ST HELENS THEATRE ROYAL

Regal Entertainments are delighted to announce the cast for Goldilocks and the Three Bears when the circus rolls into St Helens from 8 – 18 April for the Easter holiday.

Singing sensation Maureen Nolan leads the cast as Baroness Von Vippemall. Maureen rose to fame as a member of The Nolan Sisters and is best known on stage for her role as Mrs Johnstone in West End hit Blood Brothers.

Rebecca d’Lacey plays Goldilocks; with the help of Three Bears she must try and save her Big Top from a rival circus owner. Rebecca recently graduated from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

Conor Barrie will play The Ringmaster. Conor has appeared in a number of pantomimes across the region including playing Genie for five years at The Floral Pavillion.

Pantomime veteran Reece Sibbald plays Silly Billy. Reece has completed 11 consecutive pantomime seasons and can also be seen in Regal Entertainments half term pantomime The Wizard of Oz.

Completing the cast as Dame Gertie is the ever-talented Jamie Greer. Jamie who has almost 20 years pantomime experience is no stranger to the life of a Dame. He recently appeared in Follow the Yellow Breck Road at Liverpool’s Royal Court.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears promises to be just right with its mix of unbelievable circus tricks, madcap comedy capers, and a smash hit selection of chart hits to sing and dance along to.

Get ready for a whole lot of family fun – it promises to be panto GOLD!

St Helens Theatre Royal manager, Chantelle Nolan said: “We are delighted to announce this year’s Easter pantomime as Goldilocks and the Three Bears and to welcome the talented Maureen Nolan to the production.  We can’t wait to get started on rehearsals with this fabulous cast!”

St Helens Theatre Royal invites audiences to roll up and enjoy the magic of this years East pantomime from Wednesday 8 – Saturday 18 April.

Tickets are on sale now! Be sure to book early to avoid disappointment.

For more information, please visit: www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

Like us on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/St-Helens-Theatre-Royal

Follow us on Twitter: @TheatreRoyalStH

LISTING DETAILS

Regal Entertainments Ltd presents Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Dates: Wednesday 8– Saturday 18 April

Times: Various

Tickets: From £12*

*All prices are inclusive of a £1 per seat transaction fee. On-line bookings are subject to an additional 50p per seat on-line processing fee.

THEATRE ROYAL BOOKING DETAILS

Book in person at the Theatre Royal Box Office, Corporation Street, St. Helens, Merseyside WA10 1LQ (Mon – Sat 10am – 5pm). Alternatively, call 01744 756 000 or log on to: www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com.

Special Recognition Award recipients announced for Olivier Awards 2020 with Mastercard

• Jo Hawes, Thelma Holt, Stephen Jameson, Sarah Preece and Peter Roberts to be honoured
• Special Recognition Awards recognise outstanding contributions to the theatre industry
• Awards to be presented at Olivier Awards Nominees’ Celebration on 13 March

Ahead of the Olivier Awards 2020 with Mastercard, five individuals have been announced as this year’s winners of Special Recognition Awards, honouring their outstanding contributions to the theatre industry.

Children’s casting director and chaperone Jo Hawes CDG will receive a Special Recognition Award for driving the industry’s work on child casting and licensing, and her leadership in chaperoning. The award will be presented by actor Jonathan Sayer.

Producer Thelma Holt is being honoured for her long and prolific career and will be presented with her award by producer and theatre owner Nica Burns.

Mountview joint Chief Executives Stephen Jameson and Sarah Preece are awarded for their achievement of moving the school, their dedication to the community and commitment to improving diversity and accessibility. Actor and Mountview alum Giles Terera will present their awards.

Theatre consultant and former Delfont Mackintosh Technical Director Peter Roberts will be recognised for his outstanding skill and effort in helping to consolidate theatre’s access to radio spectrum. The award will be presented to him by producer Nick Allott.

The Special Recognition Awards will be formally presented on Friday 13 March, during an Olivier Awards Nominees’ Celebration at The May Fair Hotel in London (part of Edwardian Hotels London, official hotel partner for the Olivier Awards).

Julian Bird, Chief Executive of Society of London Theatre and Executive Producer of the Olivier Awards, said:

‘It is a privilege to publicly honour the inspirational careers of these five people, all working in very different fields, but who have all had a huge impact behind the scenes and inspired countless theatre industry colleagues.’

The Olivier Awards 2020 with Mastercard will take place on Sunday 5 April at the Royal Albert Hall, hosted by Jason Manford. Nominations will be announced on Tuesday 3 March, and tickets for the ceremony are now on sale through priceless.com. Further details of plans for this year’s Olivier Awards will be revealed soon.

OlivierAwards.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

#OlivierAwards

CURVE ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT CREATIVITY IN THE MIDLANDS

Leicester’s Curve theatre has announced exciting new initiatives to support creativity and performing arts in the Midlands, as well as revealing the selected regional artist who will take their work to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year as part of a partnership with the city’s Pleasance Theatre.

Launched today, Curve Connect is a free membership scheme open to all theatre-makers in the region – from writers to actors, directors, producers, designers, choreographers, dancers and beyond. Curve Connect will act as a central community hub and allow members to network with one another and access a number of benefits, including meetings with staff members at Curve, invitations to workshops, training and events and discounted tickets to Made at Curve productions.

Curve is also actively looking for exceptionally talented individuals and theatre companies of all backgrounds and artforms to become Curve Resident Creatives. The selected theatre-makers will develop their skillset and make new work in partnership with Curve on specific projects of their choice. Curve Resident Creatives will receive bespoke support including access to rehearsal space, financial investment, technical support, expertise from staff members and invites to events at Curve. The Resident Creatives will also have the opportunity to present work at the theatre.

Curve has recently partnered with a number of organisations to develop and forge pathways for theatre-makers in the Midlands. The theatre is currently working with the Pleasance Theatre to support a regional artist in taking their work to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and has revealed that the selected creative is emerging writer Holly Boyden. Further partnerships and opportunities will be announced soon.

These new initiatives are part of Curve’s ongoing commitment to nurturing talent in the region and creating exciting new work for audiences. Speaking about the new initiatives, the theatre’s New Work Associate Beth Shouler said:

“At Curve we recognise new work is made in a variety of ways and no artist has the same career pathway as anyone else. Curve Connect is an opportunity for us to get to know the creatives in the region better. Artists are our industry colleagues who are essential to what we do at Curve. Through this we can share our resources and have a more open dialogue with the brilliant independent artistic community in the region.

“Having Resident Creatives will allow us to find bespoke ways to support and champion exceptional talent, focusing our resources on the individual needs and ambition of an artist or project. As the Resident Creatives will be embedded within the organisation, we hope to develop new audiences and celebrate the extraordinary Midlands talent, stories and culture in our region.

“We’re so thrilled to be working with Holly Boyden to take her work to the Edinburgh Fringe this year. Holly has a really distinctive Midlands voice which is incredibly funny whilst also shining a light on young women growing up in the post-industrial areas away from the cities. We really want to find more brilliant creatives who come from or are creating work in our region who we could support so do get in touch via the website!”

Curve Connect is now open for theatre-makers to join. Applications to become a Curve Resident Creative are open and will close Sun 1 Mar at 11pm, with interviews scheduled for the week commencing 9 Mar.

To find out more about creative opportunities at Curve and apply now, visit www.curveonline.co.uk

Watford Palace Theatre in association with Rifco Theatre Company present:
Abigail’s Party
The classic joyous satire on the aspirations and tastes of a new middle class set against the backdrop of multicultural 1970s Britain
by Mike Leigh | Directed by Pravesh Kumar
Watford Palace Theatre, 29 April – 23 May 2020
@watfordpalace | #AbigailsPartyWatford | watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk

Set against the backdrop of an evolving Britain of the 70s, this fresh production shows the classic Mike Leigh satire in a new light. Performed in traverse with intimate on-stage seating offering audience the chance to join Beverly and Laurence’s soireé, bringing them closer to the experience.

Abigail’s Party stars Harvey Virdi as Beverly, the role famously originated by Alison Steadman, and is directed by Pravesh Kumar, Artistic Director of Rifco Theatre Company, Watford Palace Theatre’s Resident Company.

Welcome to 1970s suburbia and its heady mix of free-flowing drinks, classic disco and cheese & pineapple sticks. Aspirational Beverly and her estate agent husband Laurence are hosting drinks for their newlywed neighbours. They are joined by a very anxious Susan, who has been banished from her daughter Abigail’s party. As the evening goes on, marital tensions rise and tempers flare as the characters’ true natures are hilariously but ruthlessly exposed.

Harvey Virdi leads the cast as Beverly. Harvey is best known as series regular Dr Misbah Maalik in Hollyoaks, Mrs Malik in Citizen Khan and Teetu’s Mum in Bend It Like Beckham. In theatre she has worked extensively at the RSC and Leicester Haymarket, as well as frequently collaborating with Watford’s own Rifco Theatre Company – both as an actress and a writer (Meri Christmas, Miss Meena and the Masala Queens).

Director Pravesh Kumar said, ‘I’m thrilled to be directing one of my favourite plays by Mike Leigh. I wanted to bring a freshness to it by casting Harvey Virdi as Beverly and open the play to whole new audience that may not have seen it. I’m really excited to be bringing this production to the Watford Palace Theatre in traverse, with intimate on-stage seating so that our audiences can get a feel part of the party mayhem.’

Pravesh Kumar is the Artistic Director of Rifco Theatre Company. He started the company in 2000 to make a different kind of theatre for a community that could not see themselves represented on English stages. He has been at the forefront of bringing new British Asian audiences into theatres all over the country. His theatrical directorial debut was in 2000 with a UK tour of Bollywood – Yet Another Love Story. He has gone on to achieve critical acclaim for Rifco’s productions: Dishoom!, Pyar Actually, Miss Meena & the Masala Queens, Laila The Musical, Britain’s Got Bhangra, Happy Birthday Sunita, It Ain’t All Bollywood, There’s Something About Simmy, Airport 2000, Meri Christmas, Where’s My Desi Soulmate?, The Deranged Marriage and Break The Floorboards. His short film, Gods on Mountains was nominated for the Satyajit Ray Short Film Award. Most recently Pravesh wrote the book for the acclaimed rap musical, Mushy: Lyrically Speaking. Pravesh is currently writing a new main stage musical and leads on the Rifco Associates programme finding new British Asian voices of the future.

Mike Leigh OBE is a celebrated English writer and director of film and theatre. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, at Camberwell and Central Art Schools in London, and at the London Film School.

CARRIE HOPE FLETCHER

TO STAR IN TITLE ROLE IN

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S

CINDERELLA

WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION

TO BEGIN PERFORMANCES ON FRIDAY 28 AUGUST

New version of the classic story from Killing Eve’s Emerald Fennell

Further information and exclusive priority purchase for tickets at

www.andrewlloydwebberscinderella.com

Carrie Hope Fletcher will play Cinderella in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s highly anticipated new production at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, with performances confirmed to begin on Friday 28 August, producers have announced today.

Tickets will go on General Sale on Friday 20 March. For all information, including exclusive priority purchase for tickets, see www.andrewlloydwebberscinderella.com

Carrie Hope Fletcher has starred in Heathers (Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Addams Family (UK Tour), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (UK Tour), Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre), and is currently playing Fantine in Les Miserables at the newly named Sondheim Theatre.

Carrie is the recipient of 3 Whatsonstage Awards and a prolific writer of children’s Fiction. Her passionate support for body positivity has, together with her acting, music and writing career, attracted loyal followings across her social media platforms and saw her named in the 2019 Sunday Times Influencer List as one of the top 100 influencers in the United Kingdom.

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.

Fennell’s new film A Promising Young Woman, that she has written and directed and which stars Carey Mulligan, will open this Spring.  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 be directed by Laurence Connor, with choreography from JoAnn Hunter, who previously partnered on School of Rock and the recent, sold out production of Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The London Palladium. 

Andrew Lloyd Webber said: “I’m absolutely thrilled that Carrie will be our Cinderella at the Gillian Lynne Theatre this Autumn.  She has totally wowed my fellow writers and creative team and was a big success at the sing through of the show late last year.

I am hugely confident that she will make this new take on Cinderella very much her own, and I’m looking forward to working and recording with her as soon as possible.”

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, owners LW Theatres will carry out internal upgrade work to the building including the addition of more toilets, refurbishment to areas of the auditorium and Front of House, as well as the potential increase in seating capacity on the circle level of the theatre.

JUDI DENCH

IN CONVERSATION WITH GYLES BRANDRETH

I  REMEMBER IT WELL

13 NIGHTS ONLY AT THE BRIDGE THEATRE

Fane and the London Theatre Company present Judi Dench live at the Bridge Theatre in conversation with Gyles Brandreth.For 13 nights only I Remember It Well runs from 20 March – 4 April 2020. 

Since her theatre debut with the Old Vic over 60 years ago, Dench has gone on to play some of the most iconic roles in theatre, film and television. 

This is a rare opportunity to see one of our best-loved actresses in conversation and performance.

All performances begin at 7.30pm.  Ticket are from £15.   Booking opens today for Bridge Priority members with public booking opening at 10am on 19 February 2020.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Address:                               Bridge Theatre, 3 Potters Fields Park, London, SE1 2SG

Box Office:                           0333 320 0051 or [email protected]

Access:                                0333 320 0051 or [email protected]

Website:                               www.bridgetheatre.co.uk

Twitter:                                @_bridgetheatre

Instagram:                           _bridgetheatre

Facebook:                             facebook.com/bridgetheatrelondon

BARRY & FRAN WEISSLER AND DAVID IAN 
PRESENT THE FIRST EVER UK AND IRELAND
TOUR OF
 THE SMASH HIT MUSICAL
 

OPENING AT 
BORD GÁIS ENERGY THEATRE 
14TH NOVEMBER 2020

Barry & Fran Weissler and David Ian present the first ever UK and Ireland tour of the smash hit Broadway and West End musical Waitress, opening at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on 14th November 2020. Further venue and on-sale details can be found below. Full casting to be announced soon.

Waitress is based on the 2007 movie written by Adrienne Shelley. Music and lyrics are written by GRAMMY award-winning, singer-songwriter sensation Sara Bareilles, who recently appeared on the Graham Norton TV show, performing the hit song from the show She Used To Be Mine. With a book by Jessie Nelson, direction by Tony-award winner Diane Paulus and choreography by Lorin Latarro, Waitress has garnered multiple awards and nominations in both America and the UK, receiving acclaim from both audiences and critics alike.

Waitress opened on Broadway on 24th April 2016 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, where it ran until 5th January 2020. Waitress celebrated its official opening night at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End on 7 March 2019. In addition to London, Waitress is currently on a North American tour, and is set to open in Australia, the Netherlands and Japan.

Waitress tells the story of Jenna, an expert pie maker in a small town, who dreams of a way out of her loveless marriage. A baking contest in a nearby county and the town’s new doctor may offer her a chance at a new life, while her fellow waitresses offer their own recipes to happiness. But Jenna must find the courage and strength within herself to rebuild her life. This beautiful musical celebrates friendship, motherhood, and the magic of a well-made pie.

Book by Jessie Nelson
Music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winner Sara Bareilles
Based upon the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelley
Directed by Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus

Waitress was originally produced by Barry & Fran Weissler and Norton & Elayne Herrick. The tour is produced by Barry & Fran Weissler and David Ian Productions.

LISTINGS

WAITRESS UK & IRELAND TOUR

Saturday 14 November – Saturday 21 November 2020
Bord Gáis Energy Theatre
Grand Canal Square, Docklands, Dublin, Ireland
Public on sale: 21 February

Tuesday 24 November – Saturday 28 November 2020
Churchill Theatre
High St, Bromley BR1 1HA
Public on sale: 21 February

Monday 30 November – Saturday 5 December 2020
Manchester Opera House
3 Quay St, Manchester M3 3HP
Public on sale: 21 February

Tuesday 12 January – Saturday 16 January 2021
Edinburgh Playhouse
18-22 Greenside Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3AA
Public on sale: 21 February

Tuesday 26 January – Saturday 30 January 2021
Sheffield Lyceum Theatre
55 Norfolk St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 1DA
Public on sale: ON SALE SOON

Monday 1 February – Saturday 6 February 2021
Sunderland Empire
4-5 High St W, Sunderland SR1 3EX
Public on sale: 21 February

Monday 8 February – Saturday 13 February 2021
Hull New Theatre
Kingston Square, Hull HU1 3HF
Public on sale: 21 February

Monday 15 February – Saturday 20 February 2021
Cliffs Pavilion
Station Road, Southend on Sea, Essex SS0 7RA
Public on sale: 25 February

Tuesday 23 February – Saturday 27 February 2021
His Majesty’s Theatre
Rosemount Viaduct, Aberdeen AB25 1GL
Public on sale: 28 February

Tuesday 9 March – Saturday 13 March 2021
Bristol Hippodrome
St Augustine’s Parade, Bristol BS1 4UZ
Public on sale: 21 February

Monday 15 March – Saturday 20 March 2021
Eastbourne Theatres
Compton St, Eastbourne BN21 4BP
Public on sale: 21 February

Monday 29 March – Saturday 3 April 2021
Birmingham Hippodrome
Hurst St, Southside, Birmingham B5 4TB
Public on sale: ON SALE SOON

Further dates to be announced soon.

JAY McGUINESS, KIMBERLEY WALSH &

DANIEL CASEY STAR IN THE

WORLD PREMIERE OF

SLEEPLESS, A MUSICAL ROMANCE

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED

Jay McGuiness, Kimberley Walsh and Daniel Casey will star as Sam, Annie and Walter respectively in SLEEPLESS, A Musical Romance, based on the original screenplay Sleepless in Seattle. They are joined by Harriet Thorpe as Eleanor, Tania Mathurin as Becky and Jake Sharp as Rob. SLEEPLESS will premiere in London on 1 April 2020 at the newly opened Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London, with previews from 24 March.

SLEEPLESS is a new musical with a book by Michael Burdette and music and lyrics by new British writers Robert Scott and Brendan Cull and will feature a 12-piece jazz orchestra.

Also in the cast are Charlie Bull, Colin Burnicle, Christie-Lee Crosson, Laura Darton, Leanne Garretty, Matt Holland, Ross McLaren, Gary Murphy, Dominique Planter, Annie Wensak and Benjamin Wong. Theo Collis, Mikey Colville and Jack Reynolds will share the role of Jonah.

Jay McGuiness came to fame as part of the successful boy band The Wanted. His fame widened when he won Strictly Come Dancing in 2015 with professional dancer Aliona Vilani. He and fellow bandmate Siva won the celebrity version of Channel 4’s Hunted in 2018, raising money for Stand Up To Cancer. Jay is also a regular contributor to the BBC’s The One Show and most recently starred in Rip It Up – The 60’s and BIG The Musical in London’s West End.

Kimberley Walsh rose to prominence in the record-breaking girl band Girls Aloud. During their 10 years together, the group achieved twenty consecutive top ten singles in the UK, including four number ones, with over 4.3 million single sales and 4 million albums sold in the UK alone. In 2012, Kimberley was runner up in Strictly Come Dancing. She has starred as series regular Rebecca in Disney’s The Lodge, played Claire Butterworth in the second series of Channel 4’s Ackley Bridge, and appeared in children’s movies Horrid Henry and All Stars. In the West End she starred as Princess Fiona in Shrek The Musical, Jovie in Elf the Musical, joined Denise Van Outen for a week-long run at Cadogan Hall in Sweet Charity and most recently starred in BIG The Musical at the Dominion Theatre.

Daniel Casey is best known for playing DS Gavin Troy in the first six seasons of Midsomer Murders (ITV 1). He most recently played regular characters in Emmerdale (ITV 1), EastEnders (BBC 1) and Coronation Street (ITV 1). His theatre work includes The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (National Theatre), Yes, Prime Minister (Theatre Clwyd) and Abigail’s Party (UK tour)

Harriet Thorpe is best known for her roles as Carole in the BBC’s The Brittas Empire and Fleur in Absolutely Fabulous. Harriet has performed extensively with French and Saunders, in Girls on Top, Mirrorball and The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle. She also worked with Victoria Wood in Victoria Wood’s Mid Life Christmas. She recently finished a critically acclaimed run in Mame opposite Tracie Bennett, which played Hope Mill Theatre Manchester, Northampton Royal & Derngate and Salisbury Playhouse. Her West End credits include The Dresser, Great Britain, Wicked, Cabaret, Crazy for You, Mamma Mia! and Les Misérables. Films include The Writers Group, The Lady in the Van, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Calendar Girls, Zeffirelli’s Young Toscanini, Greystoke: the Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes and Merchant Ivory’s Maurice.

Tania Mathurin most recently appeared in the West End musical Come From Away. Other recent theatre includes Day of the Living (RSC), The Comedy About A Bank Robbery (Criterion), The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales) and Porgy & Bess (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre).

Jake Sharp is currently the alternate Dewey Finn in School of Rock at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. He previously played Bill Austin in Mamma Mia! and Ben in Going Out West (which he co-wrote for the New Diorama, London/Just The Tonic, Edinburgh Fringe).

SLEEPLESS is the enchanting new romantic musical comedy based on the original story and screenplay of the romcom classic Sleepless In Seattle. SLEEPLESS tells the heart-warming tale of Sam, who moves to Seattle with his eight year-old son, Jonah, following the tragic death of his wife. When Jonah phones a radio show, Sam is forced to talk about his broken heart and sleepless nights live on air, and he suddenly finds himself one of the most sought after single men in America and a great news story for feisty journalist Annie on the opposite side of the country. Can Jonah bring the two together on the top deck of the Empire State Building? A fresh and lively book alongside a brand-new musical score bring this most timeless of romantic comedies to life on stage.

SLEEPLESS will be directed by Morgan Young (White Christmas, Elf, Big), with set design by Morgan Large, costume design by Sue Simmerling, lighting by Ken Billington, video design by Ian William Galloway, orchestrations and arrangements by Larry Blank, musical supervision by Stuart Morley, musical direction by Chris Walker, wig and hair design by Richard Mawbey and casting by Sarah Bird CDG and Michael Donovan CSA.

The world premiere of SLEEPLESS will be presented by Michael Rose, Encore Theatre Productions Ltd. David Shor and Marc Toberoff. General Manager will be David Pearson.

For further details, please visit www.sleeplessthemusical.com.

Facebook: @SleeplessLDN

Instagram: @SleeplessLDN

Twitter: @SleeplessLDN

LISTINGS

Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre

3 Fulton Rd

Wembley Park

London HA9 0SP

Booking until 3 May 2020

Box Office:  0844 815 4865

Performances:

Tuesday – Saturday at 7.45pm*

Saturday and Sunday at 3pm

* The performance on 1 April will begin at 7pm

Tickets: from £20

Running Time:  2 hours, 15 minutes, including interval

Age guidance: Recommended for ages 5+

York Theatre Royal – until Saturday 22 February 2020

Reviewed by Marcus Richardson

4****

Virtually everyone must know the story of Oliver Twist, the boy famous for saying “Please Sir, I want some more”. The character was written by the equally famous writer Charles Dickens. Some may know the musical ‘Oliver!’, which also involved a televised competition called ‘I’d do anything‘, to find the new Nancy for the West-End run. Now, although York is no West-End, it still has an impressive amount of theatrical happenings, York Light Opera Company (YLOP) is one of several of York’s Am-Dram groups and has bought its own adaptation to the York Theatre Royal stage. ‘Oliver!’ is one of the several shows that I’ve seen done by YLOP and is a large scale production.

With most shows that YLOP has a hand in, there is always a large cast with a wide variety of ages. With some past shows the stage felt too crowded at times, but luckily this wasn’t the case for this production, it only really hit me how large the cast was when it came to the curtain call. The cast has a fair few children in the ensemble, as well as the speaking roles of Oliver, The Artful Dodger, and Charlie.

The title character Oliver was played in this performance by Alex Edmondson, who alternates the role with Matthew Warry. Edmondson did an amazing job for such a young actor, especially with the amount songs and lines having to be learnt. The Artful Dodger, Jack Hambleton, sharing the role with Sam Piercy, impressed me a lot with his singing talent and with the song Consider Yourself, a true cheeky chappy. The adults in the cast are equally talented with Rory Mulvihill as Fagen, Emma-Louise Dickinson as Nancy, Neil Wood as Mr Bumble and Charlotte Johnson as Bet, being of note.

The whole cast did a wonderful job and bringing the Cockney energy to York. The singing one of the highlights of the show, and I really enjoyed “Who Will Buy” scene, with the four sellers singing in counterpoint, just wow! I’m always amazed at the talent that is around. All the bigger scenes worked well and suited the stage. Not all the cast had two legs, we had a Bull Terrier by the name of Boswell, he shares the role with Roy, playing Bill Sykes dog, Bullseye, definitely a crowd favourite. Make sure you buy the programme as there is a fabulous question and answer section with the two dogs.

My only issue, just a small one, and which I’ve had in the past, is the scene changes taking too long, and being a bit clunky. I would rather have a simpler set than a long wait, for the stage to be ready for the next scene. That being said, the set looked pretty good and was used well. Something that is always nice about these shows, is that they have a live orchestra. This make for a better experience, and the music didn’t drown out the vocals, which is definitely a plus.

It was great to see a packed theatre, and such a buzz. We were up in the gods, but in the front row, our recommendation is to try and not to be seated here as the leg room is at a minimum and a bar across the balcony, plus we had a monitor just to the side, impeding our view. During the interval we moved back several rows, and what a difference, plenty of leg room and a great view, would sit there again.

Oliver is a great family show, perfect for a half-term treat.

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton – until 29 February 2020

Reviewed by Jo Gordon

4****

Having been on the scene for a couple of decades now Mamma Mia certainly keeps the audiences coming back time after time; me included as this is possibly my fourth time, maybe even fifth, and I enjoy it now as much as the first.

Set on a beautiful Greek Island we follow the story of Donna and her soon to be wed daughter, Sophie. Sophie has never known who her father is and on finding her mothers diary from the year she was born discovers there are potentially three possibilities so she secretly invites them all onto the island for the big day. All three turn up and despite trying to hide them Donna soon discovers their arrival and is less than pleased!  

Hilarity ensues as the bride and grooms friends gather en mass to the island and Donna’s lifelong friends arrive to share the big day. As the story of Donna’s relationship with the three men unfolds (it was the 70’s!) they realise why Sophie has invited them, and each one believes they are her father with one still having feelings for the feisty Donna he fell in love with all those years ago.

The story is told throughout using the medium of ABBA; their back catalogue provides a song for every possible scenario in the production, from dancing scuba divers, misty eyed recollection and  broken hearts. Will Sophie get the answers she wants?

The set is very simplistic with an ocean blue background and a white Greek building we all recognise from those holiday programmes that make you wish you were somewhere else other than a rainy (insert your town here)! Its a fun production with lots of bright, sparkly costume changes and dance routines that would leave most of us gasping for air and clutching our chests.

There’s not many people who won’t recognise at least one of the ABBA songs and it wasn’t just me sat in the audience that knew them word for word and found it difficult to not leap to our feet and throw some shapes, especially when Dancing Queen came on…. the favourite one for gaggles of women on dance floors across the lands. However, there is one song that I know brings many a moist eye and if Slipping Through my Fingers leaves yours dusty dry I’m not sure we can be friends! An uplifiting, energetic toe tapping production and a must see. Grab your friends, squeeze into that sparkly jumpsuit and celebrate that inner Dancing Queen!