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CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE FIRST UK TOUR OF

JEREMY DYSON AND ANDY NYMAN’S

WORLDWIDE CULT PRODUCTION

Ghost Stories begins a 16 venue tour at

The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, 8^th January 2020.

Casting is today announced for Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman’s supernatural spectacular, Ghost Stories,which beginsits first ever UK tour atThe Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham on 8^th January 2020 . After exhilarating audiences across the globe with record breaking, sell-out productions and a smash hit film, the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre’s production of Ghost Stories has this year played yet another successful run at its original Hammersmith home and at is currently playing at the Ambassadors Theatre in London’s West End, until Saturday 4^th January.

Joshua Higgott plays Professor Goodman, Paul Hawkyard appears as Tony Matthews, Gus Gordon performs the role of Simon Rifkind and Richard Sutton reprises his role as Mike Priddle (Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and the West End’s Ambassador Theatre).

There’s something dark lurking in the theatre. Enter a nightmarish world, full of thrilling twists and turns, where all your deepest fears and most disturbing thoughts are imagined live on stage. A fully sensory and electrifying encounter, Ghost Stories is the ultimate twisted love-letter to horror, a supernatural edge-of-your-seat theatrical experience like no other.

Joshua Higgott plays Professor Goodman. Theatre credits includes: Robert Ike’s Hamlet (Almeida and Harold Pinter); 1984 (Headlong and Playhouse); The Oresteia (Almeida and Trafalgar Studios); Shakespeare in Love (Noël Coward) and Birdsong (UK Tour). Film includes: Bohemian Rhapsody, The Snowman, Darkest Hour and The Mummy. Television includes: The Witcher and McMafia.

Paul Hawkyard plays Tony Matthews. Theatre credits includes: War Horse (National Theatre); Wonderful Town (Royal Exchange/Kenny Wax Ltd); Birdsong (The Comedy Theatre); Oliver! The Musical (Theatre Clywdd & London Palladium); Mamma Mia (Prince of Wales Theatre); Peter Pan (The Royal Festival Hall); South Pacific (National Theatre); Les Misérables (Palace Theatre); Jesus Christ Superstar (The Lyceum Theatre); Miss Saigon (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane); A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It and Lady Be Good (Regents Park Open Air Theatre); The Railway Children (King’s Cross Theatre); A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth (Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre). Film includes: NT Live War Horse, If I Had You and Everybody Loves Sunshine.
Television includes: Doctors, The Coroner, Holby City, Sirens, The Bill, The Last Detective, Casualty, Where The Heart Is, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Mike Bassett England Manager, Coronation Street, EastEnders, Band of Gold, Maisie Raine, London’s Burning, Residents, Scoop, MI High, In Two Minds, Playdays and Justin’s House.

Gus Gordon plays Simon Rifkind. Gus trained at The Brit School of Performing Arts and Technology & Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. Theatre whilst training includes: The History Boys, Saved and Measure for Measure.
Short films include: Hound (72 Hour National Film Challenge) and Through the Static.
Television includes: Cursed and Jingle Jangle (Netflix). Ghost Stories will be Gus’ professional stage debut.

Richard Sutton plays Mike Priddle. Theatre includes: Ghost Stories (Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Ambassadors Theatre); The Cow Play (Brighton Theatre Festival); Transmissions (Birmingham Rep Theatre); Tall Phoenix (Coventry Belgrade Theatre); Confusions (Canal Café Theatre); Romeo and Juliet (Jamaican tour); Albert Make Us Laugh (Birmingham Library Theatre); The Libertine (Birmingham Library Theatre) and Charley’s Aunt (Stoke Repertory Theatre).Television includes: The Crown, Line of Duty, The Terror, Gigglebiz, Sherlock, Humans, Boomers, Silent Witness, Jekyll and Hyde, Dunkirk, Doctors, Mr Selfridge, Our Girl, The Missing, Hollyoaks, The Tunnel, One Night, Titanic, EastEnders, Miranda, Come Fly With Me, Hustle, Beautiful People, Sugar Rush, The Bill, Dalziel and Pascoe, Derailed, Courtroom, Making Waves, Nuzzle and Scratch, Holby City and ChuckleVision.

Following Birmingham, the tour then continues to Bath,Theatre Royal; Nottingham, Theatre Royal; Woking, New Victoria Theatre;  Aylesbury, Waterside Theatre; Brighton, Theatre Royal; The Lowry, Salford; Cardiff, New Theatre; The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury; York, Grand Opera House; Richmond Theatre; Liverpool Playhouse; Glasgow Theatre Royal; King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, Nuffield Southampton Theatres City and the Sheffield Lyceum. 

WARNING

Please be advised that Ghost Stories contains moments of extreme shock and tension. The show is unsuitable for anyone under the age of 15. We strongly advise those of a nervous disposition to think very seriously before attending.

Andy Nyman is an award-winning actor, director and writer who has earned acclaim from both critics and audiences for his work in theatre, film and television. On stage Andy is currently playing the iconic role of Tevye in Trevor Nunn’s revival of Fiddler on the Roof. It is playing at the Playhouse Theatre until November 2nd. Andy was also seen in Martin McDonagh’s Hangmen (Wyndham’s Theatre), Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins (Menier Chocolate Factory) and Abigail’s Party (also Wyndham’s Theatre). Other theatre work includes the original production of Ghost Stories (Lyric/Duke of York’s Theatre) which has recently been made into a major motion picture, also written, starred and directed by Andy & Jeremy Dyson. Other film credits include The Commuter, Death at a Funeral and Kick-Ass 2. Hisupcoming films include playing opposite The Rock & Emily Blunt in Disney’s Jungle Cruise plus starring opposite Renee Zellweger in Judy. TV he is best known for Peaky Blinders, Campus & Dead Set, and has recently appeared in BBC 1’s Wanderlust.

Jeremy Dyson is a screenwriter, stage-writer and author, best known as a member of comedy group The League of Gentlemen. With Andy Nyman he co-wrote and co-directed the stage and film versions of Ghost Stories. In addition he co-created and co-wrote the BAFTA-nominated comedy-drama series Funland and co-created, co-wrote and directed the Rose d’Or-winning all-female comedy show Psychobitches.  His second collection of stories, ‘The Cranes that Build the Cranes‘ won the Edge Hill Award for short fiction.

Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, Smith and Brant Theatricals and the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre present the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre’s production of Ghost Stories.

Follow Us

Website: www.ghoststorieslive.co.uk

Facebook: @ghoststories

Twitter: @ghoststoriesUK

Instagram: @ghoststoriesLDN

JIM CARTER IN CONVERSATION WITH HELEN MIRREN

KILN CINEMA

16 FEBRUARY AT 5PM

Continuing his series of In Conversation events for Kiln Theatre, Jim Carter will sit down with one of the world’s most celebrated actors Helen Mirren in a special one-off fundraising event on 16 February 2020, where she will discuss her career from stage to screen.

Helen Mirren is one of the best known and most respected actresses with an international career that spans stage, screen and television and has won many awards for her powerful and versatile performances, including the Academy Award in 2007 for her performance in The Queen.  In 2014 she was honoured with the BAFTA Fellowship for her outstanding career in film, and in 2018 was given with the Chaplin Gala career achievement recognition from The Film Society at Lincoln Center, New York. She became a Dame of the British Empire in 2003.

All proceeds from the evening are in aid of Kiln Theatre. This support will help to create innovative productions, to make theatre available to the local community and to connect everyone, whatever their background, through the power of performance.

The priority on-sale for Kiln Card holders is 13 December at 11am; with general on-sale on 16 December at 11am. Kiln Cards are available from £40 per year.

Tickets are £125 and £95 and can be purchased via www.kilntheatre.com and 020 7328 1000.

www.KilnTheatre.com

Twitter: @KilnTheatre / @KilnCinema

Blackeyed Theatre in association with South Hill Park
2020 dates announced for international tour of
Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Brontë
Adapted by Nick Lane
International tour September 2019 – June 2020

Six months of 2020 touring dates have been announced for Blackeyed Theatre’s epic international tour of Nick Lane’s thrilling new adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s masterpiece Jane Eyre. This spectacular world premiere is touring until June 2020, and will make its way across the UK, including a return home to the Yorkshire moors, as well as The Netherlands and China.

A whirlwind of a production that tells the story of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel with beautiful, intimate flair (★★★★ The Skinny)

Heading to Yorkshire, where Charlotte Brontë was born and her famous heroine struggles for freedom, this Gothic masterpiece of tempestuous passions and dark secrets follows Jane Eyre from her orphaned childhood to her life at Thornfield Hall with the mysterious and brooding Mr Rochester. But her newfound happiness is threatened by hidden pasts in the gloomy, forbidding Thornfield Hall and a terrible secret forces her to make a heart-wrenching choice.

Blackeyed Theatre captivatingly brings to life an unforgettable portrayal of Jane’s quest for equality in a patriarchal society. In spite of terrible hardships, Brontë’s heroine perseveres in order to define her own life and happiness, rather than it being defined for her by others. A woman in a man’s world striving to succeed independently, Charlotte Brontë originally published under a male pseudonym. Her and Jane’s search for equality and freedom still hit home today.

The cast features Kelsey Short as Jane Eyre (Class, Spur of the Moment; F*cking Life Mate, JamesArts Productions; Broken, The White Bear), Ben Warwick as Mr Rochester (Pentecost; The Oedipus Plays, National Theatre; The Deep Blue Sea, Watford Palace; Les Liaisons Dangereuses and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, York Theatre Royal; Hamlet, English Touring Theatre), Camilla Simson as Mrs Fairfax (The Merchant of Venice, The Globe, Rome; Thin Toes, Pleasance; Lady Windermere’s Fan, Bill Kenwright national tour; Shakers, Liverpool Playhouse), Eleanor Toms as Blanche Ingram (The Secret Garden, The Minack Theatre; Astley’s Astounding Adventures, New Vic; Blue Stockings, Cockpit Theatre), Oliver Hamilton as St John Rivers (Maggie May, Liverpool Everyman; Crossroads, The Actors Church; A Christmas Carol, Windsor Castle).

In their trademark style, Blackeyed Theatre’s interpretation of Jane Eyre will feature an ensemble cast of actor-musicians. The performance includes live music written specially for the production by award-winning composer George Jennings.

Director and Producer Adrian McDougall says, Bringing Jane Eyre to the stage with such a wonderful group of artists and to see it thrive has been a sheer joy, to say nothing of the incredible reaction from audiences young and old. In 2020 we’ll be bringing Brontë’s masterpiece to many more UK theatres, including first-time visits to Crewe Lyceum and Theatre Royal Bath, and sharing it with audiences across The Netherlands and China. At a time when we feel so divided, it’s comforting to see how much we have in common when it comes to our love of Brontë and, more broadly, literature and theatre.

Writer Nick Lane comments, Plays based on books have to be their own thing, no matter the manner in which their stories are related to an audience, and I think this production looks – and perhaps more importantly feels – both strongly connected to the source material and also is its own thing. I’m still pinching myself that I was given the chance to adapt such an incredible, iconic novel as Jane Eyre and I’m looking forward to seeing how the show has grown. I’ve been reading all the lovely reviews for the cast and for the production and I’m certain they’ll continue

Jane Eyre is produced by Blackeyed Theatre in association with South Hill Park in Bracknell and supported by Arts Council England.

BILL KENWRIGHT PRESENTS THE NEW PRODUCTION FROM

THE CLASSIC THRILLER THEATRE COMPANY

THE CAT AND THE CANARY

THE CREEPY COMEDY THRILLER BY JOHN WILLARD

ADAPTED BY CARL GROSE

STARRING

MARK JORDON, TRACY SHAW, MARTI WEBB

GARY WEBSTER, BEN NEALON, NIKKI PATEL, ERIC CARTE

AND

BRITT EKLAND

ON UK TOUR FROM JANUARY 2020

Building on the phenomenal decade-long success of The Agatha Christie Theatre Company, Bill Kenwright’s Classic Thriller Theatre Company (Rehearsal For Murder, Judgement in Stone, The Case of the Frightened Lady and The Lady Vanishes), returns with their latest chilling whodunit, the creepy comedy thriller The Cat and the Canary.

This new adaptation of the murder mystery by John Willard, which inspired three classic movies starring the likes of Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard, Edward Fox, Honor Blackman and Olivia Hussey, will embark on a nationwide tour from January 2020.

Heading the cast of The Cat and the Canary is silver screen and Bond-girl legend Britt Ekland, whose numerous films include The Man with The Golden Gun with Roger Moore, The Wicker Man with Christopher Lee, and Get Carter with Michael Caine.

Britt stars alongside Mark Jordon, who played the much-loved PC Phil Bellamy in Heartbeat for over 16 years and more recently Daz Spencer in Emmerdale, and Tracy Shaw, best known for her long-running role as Maxine Peake in Coronation Street. They are joined byWest End leading lady Marti Webb, whose credits include Evita and Tell Me On A Sunday; Gary Webster, who played Gary Costello in Family Affairs and Ray Daley opposite George Cole in ITV’s Minder; Classic Thriller Theatre Company veteran Ben Nealon, who played Lt. Forsythe in the drama series Soldier Soldier,  Nikki Patel, known as Amber Kalirai in Coronation Street, and Eric Carte, who played Geoff Roberts in two series of Bouquet of Barbed Wire.

The cast is completed by Joe Reisig, Jack Taylor and Briony Rawle.

Twenty years after the death of Mr. West, his descendants gather at a remote mansion to learn who will inherit his vast wealth and the hidden family jewels.

When the heir is revealed, the heritage hunters turn into prey and a chain of macabre events is set in motion; walls crack open, shadows loom and dark secrets are revealed. Will the heirs dare to face the haunting presence toying with them?

When the cat prowls, the flock takes fright…

The Cat and The Canary is director Roy Marsden’s fifth Classic Thriller Theatre Company production. Other credits include the West End premieres of Agatha Christie’s A Daughter’s a Daughter at the Trafalgar Studios and Noël Coward’s Volcano at the Vaudeville Theatre. As an actor, he is well-known to television audiences as Inspector Dalgliesh in the long-running P.D. James series.

Adaptor Carl Grose is co-artistic director of Kneehigh Theatre. His numerous plays and adaptations include book and lyrics for The Grinning Man, which Tom Morris directed at the Trafalgar Studios in 2017.

Designer takis’s diverse international credits include In the Heights, Gifford’s Circus and the Royal Opera.

Lighting Designer Chris Davey’s work includes Witness for the Prosecution at London’s County Hall and Touching the Void at the Duke of York’s Theatre.

Dan Samson is resident Sound Designer for The Classic Thriller Theatre Company. West End credits include Heathers at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and Evita at the Dominion Theatre.

Several special guests joined FROG, DOG and CAT at the West End premiere of Oi Frog & Friends! this week at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, with Matt Henry, Hannah Waddingham, MC Grammar and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, as well as author Kes Gray and illustrator Jim Field, amongst those attending the brand new family show. 

Oi Frog & Friends! has songs, puppets, laughs and more rhymes than you can shake a chime at. It brings together Kes Gray and Jim Field’s bestselling and award-winning picture books, published by Hachette Children’s Group.  It is created for the stage by Director Emma Earle, Designer Zoe Squire (Co-Artistic Directors of Pins and Needles Productions), Composer Luke Bateman and Lyricist Richy Hughes. Puppet Design is by Yvonne Stone with Lighting Design by Ric Mountjoy. 

Oi Frog & Friends! plays the Lyric Theatre in the West End until 5 January 2020, before heading on a UK Tour from February 2020.  Visit: https://oifrogandfriendslive.com. 

The Riverside Quarter is up and running in York, seeking to match the aspirations of such successful quarters as Micklegate and the Minster.

Launched formally at Plonkers basement bar, in Cumberland Street, on December 5,the new quarter will promote the riverside businesses’ array of offerings that can be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike, as well as looking to improve the presentation of this popular area and hoping to work with charities and organisations to promote safety by the River Ouse.

In attendance were the Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Janet Looker, Town Crier Ben Fry and Cllr Fiona Fitzpatrick, representing Guildhall ward, along with representatives from Visit York and York Bid, the Grand Opera House, the York Dungeon, Plonkers, The Lowther pub, Independent Life, Riding Lights Theatre, York Boats, Eboracum Security, KUDA nightclub and many more.

Stuart Jarman, York Dungeon’s general manager, says:”The York Dungeon has been an integral part of both the visitor and resident offer since 1986. I’m pleased that we’ll be strengthening our relationship with many great businesses in the Riverside Quarter to showcase the unique offering we collectively provide in the city, from theatres, restaurants and bars to accommodation and more. We’ve seen great work from other groups, such as traders on Bishopthorpe Road and the Micklegate Quarter. There’s real appetite to improve the area for all to come and enjoy and I’m excited for what we’re setting out to achieve in 2020.”

Cllr Fiona Fitzpatric says: “As a Guildhall ward councillor, I’m delighted to support the launch of the Riverside Quarter. It’s an important part of the city’s heritage and it’s good to see businesses coming together to develop an exciting experience for residents and tourists alike, while at the same time rejuvenating the city-centre economy.”

100,000th PANTO TICKET WILL BE PURCHASED THIS COMING WEEK

One lucky theatre-goer is set to become the 100,000th visitor to the annual pantomime since the re-opening of Darlington Hippodrome – and it could be you, as the special ticket will be purchased in the coming week.

The annual festive family pantomime is an opportunity to share magical theatre memories with friends and family. It’s a chance to immerse yourself in the zany antics, fun and sheer delight of the annual tradition of pantomime. This year, one lucky visitor will be the 100,000th to attend Darlington Hippodrome’s pantomime since our re-opening in November 2017. The lucky individual will be presented with a whole host of goodies including a signed programme and an opportunity to meet the cast of this year’s pantomime – Jack and the Beanstalk.

Don’t miss out on this fabulous opportunity to be the 100,000th panto visitor – get booking now!

This year Darlington audiences have been spell-bound watching Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas, Britain’s Got Talent winner George Sampson, comedian Phil Walker and comedy actor Daniel Taylor heading the cast of this Hippodrome pantomime spectacular.

Shirley Ballas said “This is only my second pantomime having been encouraged to give it a try last year by fellow Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood. I’m so excited to be appearing in Darlington and this wonderful theatre – the restoration is absolutely stunning and the audiences so far have been amazing, so warm and welcoming.”

Jack and the Beanstalk runs at Darlington Hippodrome right up to Sunday 5 January 2020. To be in with a chance to be the 100,000th pantomime visitor book now at www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk or call 01325 405405.

Relish Theatre in association with Park Theatre present the world premiere of
TIME AND TIDE

By James McDermott

5-29 February 2020 | Park Theatre

Relish Theatre in association with Park Theatre are proud to present the world premiere of award-winning playwright James McDermott’s new play TIME AND TIDE, directed by Rob Ellis. Starring Wendy Nottingham as May (Vera Drake, Peaky Blinders, Mr Selfridge), Paul Easom as Ken, Elliot Liburd as Daz, and Josh Barrow as Nemo, the production runs from 5-29 February 2020, with a national press night on Friday 7 February.

May runs a crumbling caff on the end of Cromer Pier. Her delivery man, Ken, is running out of customers, thanks to Costa. Nemo is desperate to tread the boards in London. His unrequited love, Daz, is burying his head in the sand over his best mate leaving.

This touching LGBT comic drama examines the lives of a Norfolk community struggling with change. TIME AND TIDE was longlisted for The Verity Bargate Award, the Bruntwood and Papatango Playwriting Prizes, and developed as part of Park Theatre’s Script Accelerator Programme.

Wendy Nottingham plays May. Wendy is perhaps best known for her collaborations with Mike Leigh, including the BAFTA award-winning Vera Drake and Grief at the National Theatre. TV credits include: the recurring role of Mrs Crabbe in ITV’s Mr Selfridge, and series regular Mary in Peaky Blinders. Most recently Wendy appeared alongside Emma Thompson on screen in The Children Act, and starred in Diminished at the Hampstead Theatre. Forthcoming film appearances include parts in Francis Lee’s next feature, Ammonite, and Blueprint Picture’s The Last Letter From Your Lover.

Paul Easom plays Ken. Paul’s West End credits include: The Girls, Beyond The Rainbow, Evita, The Boyfriend, Budgie, and The Screen Writers Daughter. He played Lord Byron in Manfred, alongside Rudolph Nureyev (USA tour) and has toured South America with Italian Popstar Raffaella Carra. Other theatre credits include: Resistible Rise Of Arturo Ui,  Gypsy,  Death Of A Salesman, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, The Seagull, Chicken Dust, My Big Gay Italian Wedding,  Canterbury Tales, Dracula, Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Tale Of Two Cities,  Robin Hood with the New Vic Theatre Company, and Hans Christian Andersen with Tommy Steele. His TV credits include: Kids, The Cleopatras, Lifelike, and The Quartermass Experiment. And, film credits include: Lair Of The White Worm, Aria, North West Five, and Anna Karenina. Paul was last seen at Park Theatre in Hamlet.

Elliot Liburd plays Daz. Elliot’s recent theatre credits include: Beasy Baby (Liverpool Unity and The Tobacco Factory), Porthos in The Three Musketeers (Iris Theatre),  Danny in Bismillah: An Isis Tragicomedy (Wound Up Theatre), Valemon in The Girl with the Iron Claws (The Wrong Crowd), and  Arron The Moor in Titus Andronicus (Fourth Monkey Theatre Company). Elliot is Co-Founder of Fools Rush In Theatre Company and recently debuted his first piece, A Murder Most Foley, at the Pleasance Theatre, London.

Josh Barrow plays Nemo. Josh’s theatre credits include: Silk Road – How to Buy Drugs Online (Trafalgar Studios), The Outsider (The Print Room), and If Not Now, When? (National Theatre). Television credits include Sky One’s Temple, and ITV’s Vera. Josh has had film roles in The Trap, and the award-winning short My Brother Is A Mermaid.

James McDermott is a scriptwriter and performance poet based in East Anglia. Plays include: Fast Food starring Jude Law (Lyric Hammersmith), Justice 39 (Luton Culture, co-written with Roy Williams and Atiha Sen Gupta), Street Life (Norwich Theatre Royal) and Rubber Ring (Pleasance Islington; UK Tour; Winner of Pulse Festival’s Suitcase Prize 2017). James is an Associate Artist at HighTide and Norwich Arts Centre, and resident playwriting teacher at Norwich Theatre Royal.

TIME AND TIDEis directed by Rob Ellis. Rob is Artistic Director of Relish Theatre, for whom he has directed Cuttings (Hope Theatre). Other directing credits include: The Merry Wives Of Windsor (Théâtre de Verdure du Jardin Shakespeare, Paris), The Taming Of The Shrew and The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Quite Right Theatre, Albert Square Gardens), Unicorn (Theatre N16), Bluebird (Katzpace), The 39 Steps (Upstairs At The Gatehouse), Six Pack (Leicester Square Theatre), Clybourne Park (St Brides Institute), and A Matter Of Life And Debt (Edinburgh Fringe).

TIME AND TIDE will have set and costume designs by Caitlin Abbott, and sound design by Fizz Margereson.

www.parktheatre.co.uk

Box office: 020 7870 6876*

THE LAST QUIZ NIGHT ON EARTH SET FOR 2020 UK TOUR

WITH GREATER MANCHESTER DATES

Immersive, innovative new play gives audiences

the rare opportunity to get quizzical!

An asteroid is heading towards Earth, so what you would do? Head to your local pub for a quiz of course!

The Last Quiz Night on Earth is an immersive, innovative new play by Alison Carr – and it’sbeing taken on a UK Tourby Box of Tricks theatre company, promising audiences a very different experience of live performance.

The play goes on tour throughout Spring 2020. The Last Quiz Night on Earth will be staged in urban and rural venues across the country, including theatres, community arts centres and local pubs – enabling the play to connect with audiences in their local communities.

The immersive play smashes the fourth wall as audiences are plunged into the drama of the show.

The tour opens at the Welcome Inn in Salford, in association with The Lowry, from Tuesday 11 February to Saturday 15 February 2020, before touring unusual spaces until Saturday 11 April 2020.

Award-winning Box of Tricks is based in Manchester and champions playwrights, producing top quality new plays on local and national stages. The company has recently won critical acclaim with its productions SparkPlug, Narvik and Under Three Moons.

Following two sold-out tours of Chip Shop Chips, Box of Tricks presents this brand new pre-apocalyptic comedy, The Last Quiz Night on Earth.

It’s the final countdown. Landlady Kathy invites audiences to the last quiz night on earth with Quizmaster Rav. He’s the host with the most. But with time ticking, some unexpected guests turn up out of the blue. Bobby wants to settle old scores, and Fran wants one last shot at love. Expect the unexpected to the bitter end and plenty of drama as the show gets quizzical!

The Last Quiz Night on Earth is written by Alison Carr, directed by Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder, associate producer is Max Emmerson, with design by Katie Scott.

Playwright Alison Carr received critical acclaim for her plays Caterpillar and Iris, and her play Tuesday has been commissioned for the National Theatre’s 2020 Connections programme.

Playwright Alison Carr explains the background to the new play: “I wanted to combine the known and the unknown, the safe and the downright terrifying. My vision was to create something that audiences don’t just sit and watch but are part of – but not in a scary way. Personally, the thought of audience participation makes me feel sick but a quiz is something we can all do – whether we’re a general knowledge expert or the neatest so we can do the writing.

“The Last Quiz Night on Earth was so much fun to research and write. I have to admit, I know a lot about asteroids now, and the answers to a fair amount of quiz questions! I am so excited to have Box of Tricks bring it to life and to share it with audiences, we can’t wait to tour the play in Spring 2020.”

Director Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder added: “I’m really excited to be working with Alison Carr on her first play for Box of Tricks. Alison is a writer of real talent, crafting plays of depth, wit and real emotional warmth. The Last Quiz Night on Earth is a unique piece – a pre-apocalyptic comedy bringing people together through the power of trivia for a great night out.

“Following our success touring Chip Shop Chips to the heart of communities, I’m really looking forward to revisiting some wonderful places and spaces as well as discovering new locations with this play.”

Casting will be announced early in 2020.

Website:         www.boxoftrickstheatre.co.uk

Facebook:       www.facebook.com/boxoftrickstheatre
Twitter:           @bottc #LastQuizNight

Instagram:      @boxoftrickstheatre

LISTING INFORMATION

THE LAST QUIZ NIGHT ON EARTH

Running time approximately 120 minutes including interval

Age guidance 14+

THE WELCOME INN, SALFORD (in association with The Lowry)

Tuesday 11 February – Saturday 15 February 2020

HIGHLIGHTS NORTH

Thursday 20 February – Saturday 22 February 2020

THE HOLBECK, SLUNG LOW, LEEDS

Sunday 23 February 2020

ARTS OUT WEST, KIRKGATE

Thursday 27February – Sunday 1March 2020

HOPE MILL THEATRE, MANCHESTER
Monday 2 March – Wednesday 4 March 2020

SPOT ON LANCASHIRE

Thursday 5 March – Sunday 8March 2020

BANK TOP TAVERN (in association with Oldham Library & Oldham Coliseum)

Monday 16 March – Tuesday 17 March 2020

BLACK COUNTRY TOURING

Wednesday 18 March 2020 – Thursday 19March 2020

POCKLINGTON ARTS CENTRE

Friday 20March 2020

NORTHWICH MEMORIAL COURT
Saturday 21 March 2020

STEPHEN JOSEPH THEATRE, SCARBOROUGH
Tuesday 24 March – Wednesday 25March 2020

HIGHLIGHTS NORTH
Thursday 26 March – Sunday 29 March 2020

THE BURNTWOOD PUB, MOLD (in association with Theatr Clwyd)
Tuesday 31 March – Wednesday 1 April 2020

CHESHIRE RURAL TOURING ARTS

Friday 3 April – Sunday 5 April 2020

THE MET, BURY

RADCLIFFE MARKET

RAMSBOTTOM CIVIC HALL (in association with The Met, Bury)

Tuesday 7 April – Thursday 9 April 2020

THE DUKES, LANCASTER

Friday 10 April – Saturday 11 April 2020

Studio cast recording released for
Antic Disposition’s A Christmas Carol
Middle Temple Hall, Middle Temple Lane, London, EC4Y 9AT
Saturday 21st – Monday 30th December 2019

Ahead of their return to the historic Middle Temple Hall this December with the acclaimed sellout musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol, Antic Disposition are delighted to announce the release of a cast album of songs and scenes from the show.

The cast of fourteen multi-talented actor-musicians is led by West End star David Burt (Enjolras in the original cast of Les Misérables; original cast of Evita) in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, Haydn Oakley (An American in Paris; Sunset Boulevard) as Bob Cratchit and – in his first ever appearance in the role – theatrical legend Brian Blessed as the Ghost of Christmas Present.

In a career spanning six decades, Blessed has starred in countless West End productions. He originated the role of Old Deuteronomy in Cats and Baron Bomburst in the musical version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, while his screen credits include I, Claudius, Blackadder and Flash Gordon – but incredibly, he has never before played the jolly, booming Ghost of Christmas Present.

Brian Blessed said, Christmas for me has a magic, and Dickens believes in that magic, which is why of all his novels, A Christmas Carol is my favourite. I first heard it as a child on the radio during the war years, when it gave people great hope. And then I went around acting it at school, being the Ghost of Christmas Present, but I’ve never played him since, so it’s a real treat to be able to do it on this recording.

The album combines Charles Dickens’ much-loved tale with original songs inspired by some of the best-loved Victorian Christmas carols reimagined and rearranged by lyricists Ben Horslen and John Risebero, and composer Nick Barstow. A festive treat for all the family, it’s sure to delight fans of the show and those discovering it for the first time.

The album is available to pre-order from https://www.anticdisposition.co.uk/a-christmas-carolalbum.html