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ADDITIONAL VENUE ADDED TO UK TOUR OF IAN RANKIN AND RONA MUNRO’S

REBUS: LONG SHADOWS DUE TO PUBLIC DEMAND

Daniel Schumann, Lee Dean and Cambridge Arts Theatre

in association with Birmingham Rep present

Rebus: Long Shadows

By Ian Rankin and Rona Munro

Director: Robin Lefevre; Designer: Ti Green; Lighting Design: Chahine Yavroyan and Simon Bond
Composition and Sound Design: Garth McConaghie; Casting: Ginny Schiller CDG

On tour: 29 January – 16 March 2019

Daniel Schumann, Lee Dean and Cambridge Arts Theatre in association with Birmingham Rep today announce the additional venue of Rose Theatre Kingston to the successful UK tour of Rebus: Long Shadows. The productionwritten exclusively for the stage by author of the original novels, Ian Rankin and playwright RonaMunro toured from September to November 2018, and will tour to a further six cities, starting this week inGlasgow from 29 January. Then visiting Cardiff, Cambridge and Newcastle, Bath before completing its run inKingston on 16 March.

Ron Donachie joins the cast as John Rebus. He is no stranger to the role having created the title role in all the BBC Radio dramatisations of the Rebus novels. He also played Deputy Chief Inspector Gunner in the Rebus TV series and Ser Roderick Cassell in Game of Thrones. Continuing in their roles are Dani Heron (Angela),Eleanor House (Heather/Maggie), Neil McKinven (Mordaunt), John Stahl (Big Ger Cafferty) and Cathy Tyson (Siobhan Clarke). 

Detective Inspector John Rebus is retired but the shadows of his former life still follow him through the streets of Edinburgh. Whisky helped but now he’s denying himself that pleasure. But when the daughter of a murder victim appears outside his flat, he’s back on the case and off the wagon.

Ian Rankin is the internationally bestselling author of the Inspector Rebus and Detective Malcolm Fox novels, as well as a string of standalone thrillers. His books have been translated into 36 languages and are bestsellers on several continents. Rankin has won multiple awards including four The Crime Writers Association Dagger Awards, and in 2004 received America’s celebrated Edgar Award. He is also the recipient of the OBE for services to literature.

Rona Munro has written extensively for stage, radio, film and television. Her theatre credits include The James Plays, Scuttlers, Iron – which won the John Whiting Award, The Last Witch and Little Eagles. Her television credits include Rehab, Bumping the Odds (BAFTA nomination), and Doctor Who; and for film, Ladybird Ladybirdand Oranges and Sunshine.

Robin Lefevre is an award-winning theatre director who has worked extensively in the UK, Ireland and the United States. He directed John Hurt in Afterplay, Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, and John Byrne’s first playWriter’s Cramp. On Broadway his credits include Brian Friel’s The Aristocrats which won him the New York Drama Desk Award for Best Director and George Bernard Shaw’s Heartbreak House. More recently he has worked on Duet For One at Birmingham Repertory Theatre and on tour, Ladies in Lavender at the Royal and Derngate and The Glass Menagerie at the Gate Theatre in Dublin.

Tour Dates

Glasgow Theatre Royal

29 January – 2 February

Box Office: 0844 871 7647

www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-glasgow

Cardiff New Theatre

5 – 9 February

Box Office: 029 2087 8889

www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

Cambridge Arts Theatre

11 – 16 February

Box Office: 01223 503333

www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

Newcastle Theatre Royal

25 February – 2 March

Box Office: 08448 112122

www.theatreroyal.co.uk

Bath Theatre Royal

4 – 9 March

Box Office: 01225 448844

www.theatreroyal.org.uk

Rose Theatre Kingston

12 – 16 March

Box Office: 02081 740090

www.rosetheatrekingston.org/

CASTING UPDATE FOR SHEFFIELD THEATRES’ 2019 SEASON

FULL CASTS ANNOUNCED FOR DEBBIE TUCKER GREEN’S HANG

AND THE WORLD PREMIÈRE OF

RICHARD HAWLEY AND CHRIS BUSH’S STANDING AT THE SKY’S EDGE

Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres Robert Hastie today announces the full casts for the debbie tucker green’s hang; and the world première of his production of the new musical Standing at the Sky’s Edge with music and lyrics by Richard Hawley and book by Chris Bush.

For hang, Taio Lawson directs Diveen Henry (Three), Marianne Oldham (One) and Sid Sagar (Two). The production opens on 26 February, with previews from 21 February, and runs until 9 March.

For Standing at the Sky’s Edge, Robert Hastie directs Darragh Cowley, Nicole Deon, Louis Gaunt, Adam Hugill,Robert Lonsdale, Fela Lufadeju, Maimuna Memon, Johanne Murdock, Damian Myerscough, Alastair Natkiel, Faith Omole, Deborah Tracey, Rachael Wooding and Alex Young.          The production opens on 20 March, with previews from 15 March, and runs until 6 April.

STUDIO

A Sheffield Theatres Production

hang

By debbie tucker green

21 February – 9 March 2019P

Cast: Diveen Henry (Three), Marianne Oldham (One) and Sid Sagar (Two)

Director: Taio Lawson; Designer: Rosanna Vize; Movement Director: Jenny Ogilvie; Lighting Director: Andy Purves; Sound Designer: Dan Balfour; Casting Director: Karishma Balani

‘You want to know my decision’

Nearly now; in a Britain with a radically altered legal system, a woman has made her choice. As the victim of a serious crime, she is in control of the perpetrator’s fate.

Searing and darkly humorous, hang explores morality and a sense of justice through the lens of one victim’s decision.

debbie tucker green is a writer-director and works across theatre, television and film. Her theatre credits include a profoundly affectionate passionate devotion to someone (noun), hang, truth and reconciliation and random (Royal Court), nut (National Theatre) and generations (Young Vic). The film version of random, which she adapted from her stage play and directed for Channel 4, won the BAFTA for Best Single Drama in 2012. Debbie’s first feature film Second Coming won the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2015 Big Screen Award and was BAFTA nominated. She has written and directed several radio plays including an adaptation of Assata Shakur’s biography Assata Shakur – the FBI’s Most Wanted Woman, as well as original work including lament – winner of a gold ARIAS award, gone and freefall.

Diveen Henry plays Three. Her theatre work includes Hamlet (Barbican), Cape (Unicorn Theatre), Helen(Shakespeare’s Globe), The Comedy of Errors, Twelfth Night (RSC), Guts, Sunburn, Out of It, Trying It On, The Carnival King, Stories of War, Get Away from Me (Royal Court Theatre) and The Darker Face of Earth(National Theatre). For television, her work includes Temple, Death in Paradise, Bliss, No Offence, Apple Tree Yard, From the Cradle to the Grave, Dumping Ground, Count Arthur Strong, Coming Up, Misfits andLuther; and for film, Dreams of a Life, London River, Hell’s Pavement and Grown Your Own.

Marianne Oldham plays One. Her theatre work includes A Monster Calls, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (The Old Vic), The Argument (Hampstead Theatre), The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (Chichester Festival Theatre), Sons Without Fathers (Arcola Theatre, Belgrade Theatre Coventry), You Can Still Make a Killing (Southwark Playhouse) and The Real Thing (ETT). For television, her work includes A Very English Scandal, The Living and The Dead, Life in Squares, Obsession, The Musketeers and The Crimson Field; and for film, Finding Your Feet, Absolutely Anything, Silent Girl and Titus.

Sid Sagar plays Two. His theatre credits include White Teeth, The Invisible Hand (Kiln Theatre), Julius Caesar(Bridge Theatre), Queen Anne (RSC/Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Tempest, Cymbeline, The Oresteia, The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare’s Globe), Treasure (Finborough Theatre), The History Boys (UK tour), True Brits (HighTide/Edinburgh/Bush Theatre),and Eternal Love  (Shakespeare’s Globe & English Touring Theatre). His television work includesPress, Strike: Career of Evil,The Hollow Crown and The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies; and for film, Eaten By Troll, Murder on the Orient Express, Karma Magnet. 

Taio Lawson directs. He is Resident Assistant Director at Sheffield Theatres (part of the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme). For Sheffield Theatres, Assistant Director credits include Love and Information, Frost/Nixon, The Wizard of Oz and Desire Under The Elms. As Director credits includeHow To Make Love To A Muslim Without Freaking Out (Rehearsed Reading, Bush Theatre), Face in a Jar (St Paul’s Furzedown Church/Rhoda McGaw Theatre), What We Are, 90’s Kid (ETC Theatre), Gutted ‘n’ Battered (UK/International Tour) and Sexy Buff Ting (Cockpit Theatre). As Assistant Director credits include Life of Galileo, Sizwe Banzi Is Dead (Young Vic),OIL, They Drink It in the Congo (Almeida Theatre), Octagon (Arcola Theatre) and Perseverance Drive (Bush Theatre). Lawson is also a patron for COMMON which is a non-profit arts organisation which exists to support the UK theatre industry in achieving greater socio-economic diversity, and make theatre more accessible to the working-class; whether they be artists, audiences or communities.  

CRUCIBLE

A Sheffield Theatres Production

World Première

STANDING AT THE SKY’S EDGE

Music and Lyrics by Richard Hawley

Book by Chris Bush

15 March – 6 AprilP

Cast: Darragh Cowley, Nicole Deon, Louis Gaunt, Adam Hugill, Robert Lonsdale, Fela Lufadeju, Maimuna Memon, Johanne Murdock, Damian Myerscough, Alastair Natkiel, Faith Omole, Deborah Tracey, Rachael Wooding, and Alex Young.

Director: Robert Hastie; Designer: Ben Stones;Choreographer: Lynne Page

Musical Supervisor: Tom Deering; Musical Director: Will Stuart; Lighting Designer: Mark Henderson

Sound Designer: Simon Baker; Casting Director: Stuart Burt CDG

“Tonight the streets are ours”

Park Hill. To the dreamers who designed it, it’s a streets-in-the-sky paradise for the workers of a great city. To successive governments, it’s a symbol of everything they’d rather ignore. To the people who live there, it’s home. With a soaring score combining new and classic songs by Richard Hawley, Standing at the Sky’s Edgetells the story of three families through 60 turbulent years in a heart-swelling, heart-breaking love song to Park Hill, Sheffield’s concrete utopia, where there’s ‘hope hung on every washing line’.

Richard Hawley is synonymous with his native city of Sheffield. He has released eight studio albums over the last 16 years with two being nominated for the Mercury Music Prize. He is also a Brit nominee and received a South Bank award in 2007. Over the years Richard has become as well known for his guitar playing as his singing and has dueted with Tom Jones, Nancy Sinatra and Shirley Bassey, and also having played with Arctic Monkeys, Elbow, Paul Weller, Manic Street Preachers and Pulp, the band he played guitar with for a number of years. Best known for his mix of classic songwriting, soothing vocals and northern grit realism, Richard is something of a unique artist in British popular music; being able to cross boundaries from one musical style to another whilst keeping intact his own strong identity.

Chris Bush is a Sheffield-born playwright, lyricist and theatre-maker. For Sheffield Theatres, her credits includeSteel, What We Wished For, A Dream and The Sheffield Mysteries. Other work includes Pericles (National Theatre) and The Changing Room (NT Connections 2018) The Assassination of Katie Hopkins (Theatre Clwyd – Best Musical UK Theatre Awards), A Declaration from the People (National Theatre), Larksong (New Vic Theatre), Cards on the Table (Royal Exchange Manchester), ODD (Royal & Derngate concert performance), Sleight & Hand (Summerhall and BBC Arts), TONY! The Blair Musical (York Theatre Royal and UK tour), Poking the Bear (Theatre503) and Wolf (National Theatre Studio reading).

Darragh Cowley plays Gary. Cowley graduated from Guildford School of Acting in 2018. His theatre credits include Spring Awakening (Hope Mill Theatre) and Snow White (London Palladium).

Nicole Deon plays Connie. Her theatre work includes Dreamgirls (Savoy Theatre), The Wind in the Willows(London Palladium and UK tour) and Mack and Mabel (Chichester Festival Theatre and UK tour).

Louis Gaunt returns to Sheffield Theatres to play Kevin  – he previously appeared in Kiss Me, Kate. His theatre work includes Oklahoma! (Grange Park Opera – The Stage Debut Award for Best Actor in a Musical), Sweet Charity (Nottingham Playhouse) and Dick Whittington (London Palladium). For television, his work includesStrictly Come Dancing and The Entire Universe.

Adam Hugill plays Jimmy. He recently graduated from LAMDA and this marks his professional stage debut. His television work includes Pennyworth and World on Fire; and for film, How To Stop a Recurring Dream and The Banishing.

Robert Lonsdale plays Harry. For theatre his credits include A Lie of the Mind (Southwark Playhouse), Plaques and Tangles, Open Court: Piigs and Brilliant Adventures (Royal Court Theatre), Another Place (Plymouth Theatre Royal), From Here to Eternity (Shaftesbury Theatre), A Life (Finborough Theatre), Anna Christie (Donmar Warehouse), Finding Neverland (Curve, Leicester), La Bete (Harold Pinter Theatre) and The Indian Wants the Bronx (Young Vic). For television his credits include Vera, Chewing Gum, Love Sick, The Interceptor, Lost Christmas, A Passionate Woman, Plus One and Decisions; and for film, The Glass House.

Fela Lufadeju plays George. His theatre work includes Guys and Dolls (Manchester Royal Exchange), Room(Theatre Royal Stratford East and Abbey Theatre), The Importance of Being Earnest (Birmingham Rep and Curve Leicester), Beautiful (Aldwych Theatre) and Dessa Rose (Trafalgar Studios).

Maimuna Memon plays Nikki. Her theatre work includes Into the Woods (Manchester Royal Exchange), The Busker’s Opera (Park Theatre), Lazarus (King’s Cross Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) and The Assassination of Katie Hopkins (Theatr Clywd). Most recently she performed in, and composed the score and lyrics for, Electrolyte (Edinburgh Fringe and forthcoming UK tour).

Johanne Murdock plays Vivienne. For theatre, her credits include Leave to Remain (Lyric Hammersmith), King Lear (Duke Of York’s Theatre), Toy Boy Diaries (Hope Mill Theatre), Duffy Beats The Devil (Acorn Theatre, Penzance), The Other Shakespeare (Anne Hathaway’s House and Oxford), Julius Caesar, Wind In The Willows, Taming Of The Shrew, Macbeth, Long Live, Richard III, Merry Wives Of Windsor, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet (Guildford Shakespeare Company) and The Comedy Of Errors (The Globe on Tour). For television, her work includes Hollyoaks, Holby City, EastEnders and Obsession Dark Desires; and for film, My Mother, Postcards From London, Being and Kayleigh’s Love Story.

Damian Myerscough plays Charles, Trevor, Seb, Workman. For theatre, his work includes Romeo and Juliet(HOME Manchester), A Bunch of Amateurs (The Watermill Theatre), Mamma Mia! (international tour), A View From the Bridge (Bolton Octagon), The Play What I Wrote, Arsenic and Old Lace (UK tours), Driving Miss Daisy(Oldham Coliseum) and Night Swimming, A Christmas Carol, Oedipus, Treasure Island, The Tempest, Abigail’s Party and The Count of Monte Cristo (Nuffield Southampton Theatres). For television, his work includesPhoneShop, Missing, Gunpowder Plot, Ivanhoe and Out of the Blue; and for film, Charlotte Gray, Jeremiah and The Man Who Knew Too Little.

Alastair Natkiel plays Marcus. For theatre, his work includes Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown(Playhouse Theatre), Strangers on a Train (Gielgud Theatre), Shrek the Musical (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), The Go Between (Trafalgar Studios), After the Blue (Jermyn Street Theatre), and Closer than Ever, Early Birds andOur Boys (Edinburgh Fringe). For television, his work includes Line of Duty and The Marchioness Disaster; and for film, Mad to be Normal and The Innocent.

Faith Omole plays Joy. Her theatre work includes An Ideal Husband (Classic Spring Theatre Company at the Vaudeville Theatre), Jack and the Beanstalk (Lyric Hammersmith), Bushmeat (HighTide), Twelfth Night (Royal Exchange Manchester), The Rolling Stone (Orange Tree Theatre and Manchester Royal Exchange) and Walk in the Light (National Theatre). For television, her work includes Endeavour; and for film, Dumpee and He Loves Me.

Deborah Tracey plays Grace.  Her theatre work includes Red5, Alice’s Adventures Underground (Les Enfants Terribles), Fever (Birmingham Rep), A Mad World My Masters (RSC), The Last Women (Belgrade Theatre Coventry), as well as writing and performing in her own work Death of a Beauty Saleswoman and Fades, Braids and Keeping It Real. Her television work includes Obsession and Fee Fi Fo… Yum; and for film, Absolutely Fabulous and Patient Zero.

Rachael Wooding returns to Sheffield Theatres to play Rose – she previously appeared in A Chorus Line and My Father’s Son. For theatre her work includes Fat Friends the Musical, Wonderland, Evita, Footloose (UK tours), We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre), Street of Dreams (Manchester Arena), Jersey Boys (Prince Edward Theatre), Bright Lights, Big City (Hoxton Hall), Hairspray (Shaftesbury Theatre), Saturday Night Fever (Apollo Theatre) and Fame (Aldwych Theatre). For television, her work includes Girlfriends; and she was a semi-finalist on Britain’s Got Talent in 2016.

Alex Young returns to Sheffield Theatres to play Poppy – she previously appeared in Show Boat (also New London Theatre) and Anything Goes (also UK tour). Her other theatre work includes Me and My Girl (Chichester Festival Theatre), Follies (National Theatre), Carousel (ENO), Promises Promises (Southwark Playhouse), Bette Midler and Me (The Gilded Balloon), I Can’t Sing (London Palladium) and High Society (UK tour).

Robert Hastie’s recent productions as Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The York Realist (co-production with the Donmar Warehouse – Evening Standard Theatre Award nomination for Best Director), The Wizard of Oz, Of Kith and Kin (co-production with Bush Theatre) and Julius Caesar. Previous directing credits include Macbeth (Shakespeare’s Globe), Breaking the Code (Royal Exchange Manchester), Henry V (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Theatr Clwyd). As an Associate Director of the Donmar Warehouse, his work includes My Night with Reg by Kevin Elyot (Donmar Warehouse/West End – Best Newcomer nomination at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards, and Best Revival nomination at the Olivier Awards) and Splendour by Abi Morgan. His other directing credits include Carthageand Events While Guarding The Bofors Gun (Finborough Theatre), Sunburst (Holborn Grange Hotel), Sixty-Six Books (Bush Theatre) and A Breakfast of Eels (Print Room).

Sheffield Theatres                                                                                                                                    Listings

Crucible Lyceum Studio 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA                              

Box Office 0114 249 6000 –Mon – Sat 10.00am to 8.00pm

On non-performance days the Box Office closes at 6.00pm.

www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Grand Opera House York Friday 25th January 2019

Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

5*****

Steve Steinman once again hit the Grand Opera House York, with his rocktastic musical concert, Vampires Rock on Friday, as part of his spring tour. For the past 15 years this show has been touring, with the promise of guitar Gods and sexy vampettes, playing to over a million people. Attracting an army of loyal fans he must be doing something right.

I have previously seen Vampires Rock, so I knew what to expect, well sort of. This version tells the tale of Baron von Rockula, fed up, after 300 years, with his Vampire Queen (special guest star, former X Factor winner Sam Bailey). He’s on the hunt to find a new virginial wife and as usual, it is up to his ever faithful sidekick Bosley (John Evans) to deliver the victim. Innocent Roxy Honeybox (Hayley Russell) is the prey, set upon by the Baron and his loyal group of sexy vampires. Obviously where there are vampires there has got to be Van Halensing (great 80’s reference there), hunting the Baron down.

The band, The Lost Boys, were excellent again, with local boy Henry Bird getting a bit of attention from the audience, enjoying the York guitarist strutting his stuff. All the musicians (Bird, Jamie Hiscox, Zoe Parr, Pete Dean and Andy Preston) are outstanding, playing and singing with such passion throughout the whole show. They played some great, classic rock anthems from the 80’s, including tracks from Joan Jett, Queen, Journey, Guns n Roses, and of course Meatloaf. Meatloaf is where it all started with Steinman, after an appearance on Stars in Their Eyes. I’ve just had a look on YouTube to see if I could find the appearance, and yes I did, a bit grainy but it’s there, great vocals, not sure about that dodgy ponytail though. I’m glad to say that the hair has now all gone and it’s a vast improvement.

Evans as Bosley, is the perfect foil for Steinman, they share great chemistry. I was glad to see that he was still strutting his stuff in his zebra print leggings with blue pvc pants on top, whilst rocking The Final Countdown.

Dancers and vocalists Russell, Trixi Bold and Victoria Jenkins do a terrific job, dripping with sex appeal. Sam Bailey is really the icing on the cake, her powerhouse vocals and interaction with Steinman is a wonderful addition to this tour. Her portrayal as Queen Vampire is a match for the Baron that is for sure.

There was quite a bit of audience interaction with Steinman delivering one liners outside the supposed script, and by the end of the night all of us were up on our feet dancing and singing away, though I did refrain from jumping to Van Halen. It was great to see all the variation in ages, the youngest that I saw must have only been about 7, complete with headphones, though it didn’t stop him boogying away with his massive red foam hand, and all the different costumes scattered around the theatre.

This vampire pantomime rock concert is still barking mad, but that is why it is so good. It really is corny and cheesy, with a panto feel to it, but it is more than that, it’s a musical extravaganza, packed with exhilarating energy. This is the second time that I’ve seen Vampires Rock, slightly re-vamped, and it is still as fresh, cheesy and thoroughly entertaining as I remembered, even more so with Sam Bailey’s vocals. This is a real fun night out and, as my plus one said, they should prescribe this show on the NHS, it really makes you feel so good, you forget about your worries, aches and pains.

Steinman will be coming back to the Grand Opera House York in May with his brand new show, Anything for Love, the Meatloaf story, so make a date in your diary and get booking, we definitely will!

Soho Theatre – until 9th February 2019

Reviewed by Elizabeth Smith

4****

No Show, directed by Ellie Dubois, is any thing but that. It is a great show depicting the years of training a person has to go through to become a circus performer. Who knew you could get a degree in the discipline.

With wit and extreme talent the five female performers take you on a journey form the initial circus performance with big smiles and “ta-da” arms to the reality of how these performers learn their trade and explain the possible dangers of the skills they perform. With a slip or a wobble leaving them flat on their faces, to bruises and broken bones, if not worse.

Kate Mc William describes how female performers have to contend with the sexist attitude of males in the industry, who get to perform the dynamic moves while the girls show off the splits. She then shows us just what these girlies can do with hands free cartwheels, over and over again, trying to beat a world record, leaving the audience dizzy from the spectacle.

Camille Toyer, an imp of a girl, takes on the Cyr Wheel, that looks like it weights a ton. She spin’s herself all over the black box stage with such grace it looks easy, to the free fall to the ground, as the wheel spins out like a twisting penny.

Alice Gilmartin tries to introduce herself to the audience but is silence each time by her fellow performers to show the world how good she is at hand stands. Not up against the wall like most of us tried in childhood, but suspended on two or one pole, while contorting her body into different shapes.

Francesca Hyde, plays the accordion and then swings from her hair while being balanced by a large barrel of water. The sequence enhanced by her troupe mates dancing out of the way of this swinging pendulum that could knock them into next week.

Michelle Ross performs the final death defying trapeze act, while the audience holds it breath, with great humour.

These girls are incredible strong but as graceful as any contemporary dancer.

A fantastic spectacle of skills, opening our eyes to the hardships and camaraderie of the troupe.

London Coliseum – until 27 January 2019

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

3***

I loved this fête du fromage, but probably for the wrong reasons. I imagine the conception of this bonkers musical went something like this:

The viewing world “Wow! Ireland have created the greatest Eurovision interval act of all time.” France “Hold my beer vin rouge…”

Notre Dame de Paris is the ultimate extended Eurovision feast – a classic of French literature with a message about the treatment of the “other” that producers can throw the kitchen sink at, mixing the ever so slightly edgy with cheesy tradition. All topped off with some insane choreography.

After 20 years of international success, the show returns to London for this short run at the Coliseum, but this time in French with English surtitles. Although I found it best to not read these as it may become a distraction realising how often the same line is repeated in each number. Just let the music carry you away. Fair play to Richard Cocciante, his score does just that, with most songs full of soaring crescendos, although my favourites were the dance numbers of the immigrants with their irresistible drumbeats.

Victor Hugo’s story is dealt with efficiently, making the show appear to be some sort of therapy session for all the sexually frustrated male characters. Esmeralda just seems to be within 100 yards of these men to set them off. The female equivalent of the Lynx effect? Her guardian Clopin is a bit fidgety now she has grown into a woman, and captain of the guard Phoebus, already engaged to one respectable young maiden, longs to possess Esmeralda as part of his unhealthy desire to deflower young virgins. Troubadour Gringoire, great with a rhyme but hopeless with women, marries her in name only, and priest Frollo has a serious existential crisis, getting very hot under his dog collar, teetering around like a tipsy scarecrow and making Esmeralda’s life hell. Quasimodo’s loving protection of her earns her gratitude and friendship, leaving him to moon over her and sing heartfelt love songs as he is wheeled around the stage perched on a gargoyle. It’s hard to emote when your costume makes you look like the Honey Monster dressed by Zandra Rhodes, but Angelo del Vecchio aces it.

The set is simple but creative, with a grey panelled wall full of handholds and opening doors for the cast to clamber over and emerge from. The cast are all extremely talented, with great voices, but sing out to the audience rather than to each other, making all their emoting amusing instead of moving. The staging doesn’t help the cause, having the actors stand in a row of spotlights, belting out the songs, and at the crucial emotional moment as the music surges, raising their arms (sometimes making symmetrical arrangements) like semaphore to signal THIS IS IMPORTANT. I HAVE FEELINGS RIGHT NOW!

Martino Müller’s choreography is batty but brilliant, with the dancers writhing and leaping around to the strong beat in frenzied unison. Acrobats scaling the walls and vaulting crowd barriers add to the organised chaos, and the aerial bell routine is mesmeric. If only the dancers were on stage for the whole show. A completely different style of musical to normal West End fare, and very entertaining, but I fear this glorious cheese is beginning to get a little mouldy with age.

Bridewell Theatre – until 26 January2019

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

3***

Sedos’s production of Baal is brave and bombastic, with a creative flair that makes you forget this is an amateur company.

Unfortunately, Brecht’s first play, translated by Peter Tegl, isn’t the most light-hearted, making the show a bit of a slog at times. The plot follows Baal, a disillusioned poet who rejects the hypocrisy of bourgeois society and wanders around the countryside, drunk and lecherous, murders his friend and lover then dies alone and unrecognised.

The tilted stage serves as Baal’s attic apartment and the countryside, with imaginative use of a water tank. The musician-actors sit either side, chorusing scene descriptions and providing eerie sound effects when not on stage. Baal’s poems become songs from mostly the 80s and 90s, accompanied by the cast, which makes some tunes sound slightly surreal with the eclectic mix of live instruments being played. The songs work well, but a few could be shortened to move things along. The best tunes are played with great energy and abandon at the end of both acts, and instead of sitting and listening, the audience are directed to leave – a nice touch adding to the anarchic feel.

Ben Wooley is a strong, dead-eyed Baal, commanding the stage, but loses all that dynamism when he sings. This may well be the point though. The casting of men in the tricky roles of the women that Baal mistreats was well meant, but the simpering caricatures were even more uncomfortable and insulting than if females were in those roles. Again – this may be what we’re supposed to feel. The strong cast work well together and director Robert J. Stanex keeps the action tight and as fast paced as possible. Which isn’t easy with heavy material like this.

TREVOR NUNN’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED PRODUCTION OF

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

TRANSFERS TO THE WEST END

Over 25,000 tickets at £20 or less across the run

★★★★★
‘This Fiddler raises the roof. A note-perfect production.’
The Guardian

Chocolate Factory Productions, Sonia Friedman Productions and Michael Harrison present

The Menier Chocolate Factory production of

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

Book by Joseph Stein                Music by Jerry Bock         

Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick         

Director Trevor Nunn; Choreographer Jerome Robbins & Matt Cole; Set Designer Robert Jones   

Costume Designer Jonathan Lipman; Hair and Make Up Designer Richard Mawbey

Lighting Designer Tim Lutkin; Sound Designer Gregory Clarke

Musical Supervisor & Director Paul Bogaev; Orchestrations Jason Carr

Trevor Nunn’s critically acclaimed production of Fiddler on the Roof with Andy Nyman and Judy Kuhn transfers to the reconfigured Playhouse Theatre from 21 March for a limited run – with over 25,000 tickets at £20 or less across the run. The production, which opens on 27 March, with previews from 21 March, and is booking until 15 June, is currently running at the Menier, where it completes its sell-out run on 9 March. Public booking opens on 6 February. The full cast for the transfer will be announced shortly.

★★★★
‘A resounding success. This one is pretty perfect.’
Financial Times

Direct from its sold-out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Tony and Olivier award-winning director Trevor Nunn’s ‘exuberant revival’ (Daily Telegraph) of the classic Broadway musical Fiddler on the Roof transfers to the West End for a strictly limited run. The Playhouse Theatre will be specially transformed into an immersive space for this ‘shiveringly intimate chamber musical about family’ (The Times).

Old traditions and young love collide in this joyous and timely celebration of life. Tevye’s daughters’ unexpected choice of husbands opens his heart to new possibilities, as his close-knit community also feel winds of change blowing through their tiny village.

Featuring the iconic score including ‘Tradition’, ‘Matchmaker, Matchmaker’, ‘Sunrise, Sunset’ and ‘If I Were a Rich Man’, and packed with Jerome Robbins’ original Tony award-winning choreography, Fiddler on the Roof‘bursts from the stage’ (Financial Times), bringing new life to one of the most beloved musicals of all time.

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. As well as Fiddler on the Roof, his work for the Menier includes Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins and Abigail’s Party (also Wyndham’s Theatre). Other theatre work includes Martin McDonagh’s Hangmen (Wyndham’s Theatre), and the original production of Ghost Stories (Duke of York’s Theatre/Arts Theatre) which he starred in, co-wrote and co-directed with Jeremy Dyson. His extensive television credits include Wanderlust, The Eichmann Show, Campus, Crooked House, Dead Set as well as his highly acclaimed performance as Winston Churchill in Peaky Blinders. This year he will be seen in the up and coming series Hanna. Nyman’s extensive film credits include The Commuter, Death at a Funeral, Kick-Ass 2, Black Death,The Brother’s Bloom, Severance and Shut Up & Shoot Me, for which he won the ‘Best Actor’ award at the Cherbourg Film Festival in 2006. Upcoming films include Jungle Cruise and playing opposite Renee Zellweger in Judy. This year saw the release of the film version of Ghost Stories. Based on their own play, the film was written and directed by Nyman and Jeremy Dyson. Nyman also stars alongside Martin Freeman and Paul Whitehouse. In addition, he has collaborated with Derren Brown for almost 20 years, co-writing and co-creating much of Brown’s early TV work, he has also co-written and directed six of Brown’s stage shows winning the ‘Best Entertainment’ Olivier Award forDerren Brown – Something Wicked This Way Comes and recently a New York Drama Desk Award for ‘Best Unique Theatrical Event 2017’ for Derren Brown – Secret.

Judy Kuhn plays Golde. A four-time Tony Award nominee, she has released four studio albums, and sang the title role in the 1995 film Pocahontas, including her rendition of the song “Colors of the Wind”, which won its composers the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Her theatre credits include Fun Home (Public Theater/Circle In The Square Theatre), She Loves Me (Brooks Atkinson Theater), Chess, The Mystery of Edwin Drood (The Imperial Theatre), Les Miserables (Broadhurst Theatre), Rags (Mark Hellinger Theatre),Two Shakespearean Actors (Lincoln Center Theatre), King David (New Amsterdam Theater) and Metropolis(Piccadilly Theatre – Olivier Award Nomination), The Visit (The Williamstown Theater Festival), Passion, The Cradle Will Rock (City Center), Three Sisters (Intiman Theatre), Passion (Kennedy Center), Sunset Boulevard, Eli’s Comin’ , Dream True (Vineyard Theatre), The Ballad of Little Jo (Steppenwolf Theater), The Glass Menagerie(McCarter Theatre), Martin Guerre (Hartford Stage) and Endangered Species (BAM). Her film credits include Enchanted, Day on Fire, Pocahontas and Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World.

From 1968 to 1986, Trevor Nunn was the youngest ever Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, directing over thirty productions, including most of the Shakespeare canon, as well as Nicholas Nickleby and Les Misérables.  From 1997 to 2003, he was Artistic Director of the National Theatre, where his productions included Troilus and Cressida, Oklahoma!, The Merchant of Venice, Summerfolk, My Fair Lady, A Streetcar Named Desire, Anything Goes and Love’s Labour’s Lost. He has directed the world premières of Tom Stoppard’s plays Arcadia, The Coast of Utopia and Rock n Roll; and of Cats, Sunset Boulevard, Starlight Express and Aspects of Love by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Other theatre includes Timon of Athens, Skellig (Young Vic); The Lady From The Sea (Almeida Theatre); Hamlet, Richard II, Inherit the Wind (The Old Vic), A Little Night Music (Menier Chocolate Factory, West End and Broadway), Cyrano de Bergerac, Kiss Me Kate (Chichester Festival Theatre); Heartbreak House, Flare Path, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, The Tempest (Theatre Royal, Haymarket); Scenes from a Marriage (Coventry & St James), All That Fall (Jermyn Street & New York); A Chorus of Disapproval and Relative Values (West End).  Work for television includes Antony and Cleopatra, The Comedy of Errors, Macbeth, Three Sisters, Othello, The Merchant of Venice and King Lear, and on film, Hedda, Lady Janeand Twelfth Night. 

Listings                                                                                                                         Fiddler on the Roof

Playhouse Theatre

Northumberland Ave, London WC2N 5DE

Box Office: 0844 871 7631

Tickets from £20

www.fiddlerwestend.com

Twitter: @FiddlerWestEnd

Instagram: @FiddlerWestEnd

Facebook: /FiddlerWestEnd

Performances:

Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm until 30 March (matinees on Saturdays)

Tuesday to Saturday from w/c 2 April (matinees on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

Groups Bookings: 020 7206 1174

Access Bookings: 0800 912 6971

Captioned performance: Wednesday 8 May

Audio Described: Wednesday 15 May

Pleasance Theatre Trust announce new
partnership with VAULT Festival

The Pleasance Theatre Trust have announced a new partnership with VAULT Festival that will strengthen links between both organisations; working together, both Pleasance and VAULT are dedicated to developing and supporting the careers of new and emerging theatre makers, playwrights and comedians.

Pleasance’s annual Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme is one of the largest and most respected in Edinburgh, supplemented by its year-round programme across its three theatre spaces at Pleasance Islington. VAULT Festival has quickly established itself as London’s biggest, boldest and bravest arts and entertainment festival which runs from January – March across Waterloo.

Anthony Alderson, Director of Pleasance Theatre Trust comments, We are delighted to be working in partnership with one of London’s most exciting festivals. There is no doubt that festivals create an environment where artists can take risks, experiment and develop. Although each journey can be a daunting one, it can also be the best challenge where ideas can crystallise and new collaborations, both on and off stage, can flourish. By working in partnership we plan to develop new ways to support artists, both financially and as mentors, and to ensure that the spirit of risk taking, innovation and excellence is joined up across the country, opening up opportunities from Edinburgh to London, across the UK and worldwide

Andy George and Mat Burt, Co-Founders of VAULT Festival say, This new partnership is particularly exciting for us. Our long term aims in the support and development of new work and artists is aligned with that of The Pleasance. We share in generating platforms where artists can launch new ideas and new companies. Be bold and brave, with a support network beneath them. We look forward to working together, supporting both our audiences and artists, and enabling great makers to create new and exciting pieces.

As part of the partnership, The Pleasance and VAULT Festival have both committed to support selected shows transfer between the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and VAULT Festival (Pick of VAULT Festival, and the Pick of Pleasance Edinburgh awards), alongside a wider commitment to sharing work between the two organisations.

This partnership comes after the Pleasance recently announced a refreshed Artist Support Offer across its London and Edinburgh programmes under the Pleasance Futures umbrella, a commitment
of over £150,000 of both in-kind and direct financial support to artists and companies at all stages of their careers. From carpenters, crew, electricians, photographers, reviewers, bloggers and filmmakers Pleasance Futures recognises how important those first opportunities into the creative industries can be and nurtures the Pleasance’s core beliefs about creating opportunities, supporting ambition, encouraging excellence and building reputations.

New schemes announced this year include Pleasance Associates Programme (for companies and artists with a track record of presenting excellent and innovative work at the Fringe), The Partnership Pathways Programme (working with five partner theatres across the UK to identify and support exciting local artists and companies), The COMMON Award (in association with COMMON, a nationwide arts organisation supporting the UK theatre industry in achieving greater socioeconomic diversity) and The Popcorn Writing Award (in association with The Popcorn Group, providing a £2,500 cash prize to a writer in the Pleasance programme).

For 2019 the Pleasance’s Partnership Pathways Programme is working with HOME. Manchester, Leicester Curve, York Theatre Royal, Bristol Old Vic and Royal and Derngate Northampton. Programmes include existing schemes The Young Pleasance, XYP (an associate company comprising of ex-members of the Young Pleasance), The Network with the Scottish Drama Training Network, The Charlie Hartill Special Reserve Fund for Theatre and Comedy, The LET Award – in partnership with Les Enfants Terribles and the Greenwich Partnership Award with Les Enfants Terribles and Greenwich Theatre.

Features the iconic music of globally acclaimed song-writer Max Martin

Award-winning Miriam-Teak Lee to lead brand new musical

Manchester season ahead of West End opening at The Shaftesbury Theatre

EXCLUSIVE: Hear Miriam-Teak Lee singing ….Baby One More Time

at www.andjulietthemusical.co.uk

& Juliet is the joyous, new West End musical that asks: what if Juliet’s famous ending was really just her beginning? What if she decided to choose her own fate?

Soaring with the music of Max Martin, the acclaimed song-writer of some of the biggest pop anthems of the last 30 years, & Juliet is to star the award-winning Miriam-Teak Lee.

Miriam-Teak was awarded Best Actress in a Musical at The Stage Debut Awards for her role of Claire DeLoone in On The Town. She was one of the stars of the Original London Cast of Hamilton and will now take the lead role of Juliet in this vibrant new musical.

The production will play a limited season at
Manchester Opera House, from Tuesday 10 September to Saturday 12 October, before beginning performances in London at
The Shaftesbury Theatre on Saturday 2 November

Tickets go on general sale on Monday 11 February.

Romeo & Juliet final scene. Juliet picks up the dagger and….gets a life.

This vital new musical sees Juliet getting over Romeo by running off to Paris with Nurse and her best friends on a whirlwind trip of romance and self-discovery. You know, like a normal young woman! Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway may have their own ideas but this is Juliet’s story now.  So don’t tell her how it ends.

A timely and timeless tale of one independent young woman writing her own story, & Juliet is a riotous comic blast of fun and glorious pop music that proves when it comes to love, there’s always life after Romeo…

& Juliet includes some of pop music’s most iconic songs, including …Baby One More Time, Everybody, Love Me Like You Do andI Can’t Feel My Face, written over a span of 25 years by internationally renowned song-writer Max Martin along with various collaborators, and all in brilliant new arrangements by the ‘Tony’ and ‘Grammy’ Award-winning orchestrator Bill Sherman.

Brought to life by an award-winning creative team in an explosive fusion of styles, & Juliet will be directed byLuke Sheppard (In the Heights) with a story by David West Read (Schitt’s Creek), electrifying choreography from Jennifer Weber and stunning set design from Soutra Gilmour.

Additional cast and creative team to be announced.

Max Martin and Tim Headington present & Juliet, which is produced by Max Martin, Tim Headington, Theresa Steele, Jenny Petersson and Martin Dodd.

MANCHESTER SEASON INFORMATION

Opera House, Manchester

3 Quay Street

Manchester

M3 3HP

Tickets

On General Sale                Monday 11 February

Box Office                            0844 871 3018* 
*Fees apply. Calls cost 7p per minute, plus your company’s access charge.

Performance Dates & Times

Tuesday 10 September to Saturday 12 October

Monday – Saturday:        7.30pm

Matinees:                            Thursdays & Saturdays at 2:30pm

LONDON INFORMATION

The Shaftesbury Theatre

210 Shaftesbury Avenue

London

WC2H 8DP

Tickets

On General Sale                Monday 11 February

Box Office                            020 7379 5399 

Performance Dates & Times

From Saturday 2 November

Monday – Saturday:        7.30pm

Matinees:                            Thursdays & Saturdays at 2:30pm

Press Night:                        Wednesday 20 November at 7:00pm

SOCIAL MEDIA

www.andjulietthemusical.co.uk

@JULIETMUSICAL

FROM BLOOD BROTHERS TO BLOODY MACBETH

Three renowned stars of Blood Brothers announced for Macbeth at The Epstein Theatre

Following two critically acclaimed seasons of Shakespeare, the award-winning Daniel Taylor Productions returns to The Epstein Theatre this spring with a production of Macbeth that reunites three stars of the international smash-hit musical Blood Brothers.

Following rave reviews for 2018’s productions of Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Daniel Taylor Productions is back at the Hanover Street venue with the Bard’s most brilliant and bloody tale from Thursday 7 – Saturday 16 March.

Producers are excited to announce Sean Jones and Warwick Evans will play Macbeth and King Duncan respectively, along with Daniel Taylor who will both produce and direct the production.

The three actors have all previously starred together in Willy Russell’s iconic musical Blood Brothers.

Sean Jones having played the role of Mickey for almost two decades in both the West End and touring production; Warwick Evans starred as the Narrator in the original production on the West End as well as Toronto, Sydney and on Broadway; whilst Daniel Taylor has played the role of Sammy on both the West End and touring production.

Sean Jones trained at Clywd Youth Theatre in Mold and Guildhall School of Music and Drama. No stranger to Shakespeare, Sean makes a return to the Scottish play having previously played both Macduff and Banquo in a Japanese national tour.

With theatre in his blood, Warwick Evans was born to theatrical parents Howell Evans and Patricia Kane. He made his stage debut in 1961 with a very brief tag line in a sketch in Bridlington. He has since gone on to establish a successful career on stage and screen, including Miff Ferrie in Daniel Taylor Productions’ The Tommy Cooper Show and three periods of repertory theatre at Leicester’s Haymarket Theatre. His tv credits include Strindberg’s Easter, as brother to Felicity Kendal, for the BBC, and most recently as Jake Toniolini in Sky 1’s Stella.

Daniel Taylor was born and lives in Liverpool and in 2016 he toured the UK, Ireland, Canada and the US in the title role of Lennon: Through A Glass Onion. His acting credits also include the role of Mickey in Alan Bleasdale’s 40th anniversary production of Down the Dock Road (Royal Court, Liverpool), as well as playing the title role in and producing The Tommy Cooper Show.

Set in the aftermath of a ruinous civil war in Scotland, this exciting new production of Macbeth explores the damaging psychological effects of war, betrayal and destructive political ambition by those who seek power for its own sake.

Daniel Taylor said: “Shakespeare’s most brilliant and bloody tale has been delighting audiences for over four hundred years.

“I’m thrilled to be working with such a talented cast and crew, many of whom are long-time stars of that other blockbuster of theatre, Blood Brothers.”

This latest offering from Daniel Taylor Productions will be brought to life with the same passion and brilliance that has made his Shakespeare season a highlight of the city’s cultural calendar.

So, whether thunder, lighting, rain or shine, be sure to brave the elements and get tickets for one of their most exciting shows to date!

What The Critics Say (Reviews from 2018 Shakespeare Productions):

North West End ★★★★

“This was an enjoyable production… with strong performances from cast members. Donovan’s Mancunian apothecary was laugh-out-loud funny; Templeton’s good humour is infectious; Wood’s Mercutio captured all aspects of an entertaining albeit complex character.”

(Romeo and Juliet)

The Chester Blog

“This 2-and-a-half-hour production is an accessible piece of ‘Scouse Shakespeare’ If you haven’t been to the Epstein theatre before give it a go”

(Romeo and Juliet)

Liverpool Sound and Vision ★★★★

“Once more Daniel Taylor brings Shakespeare to a new point of overwhelming enjoyment.”

(A Midsummer Night’s Dream)

Wirral Globe ★★★★

“Here we have the type of fresh adaptation I wish had been on offer when I was at school.”

(A Midsummer Night’s Dream)

Catherine Jones, Arts City Liverpool ★★★★

“Whether you’re a seasoned Shakespeare fan or a first time audience member, this Dream is one you’ll be happy to remember when you wake up in the morning.”

(A Midsummer Night’s Dream)

LISTING INFORMATION

MACBETH

Date: Thu 7 – Sat 16 March 
Time: Tue – Sat 7:30pm / Fri 8 Mar, Tue, Wed Thu, Sat Mat 1:30pm 
Tickets: From £16

School Group booking – Workshop and ticket £20 (inc. VAT) plus 1 in 15 goes free

School Group Booking – Ticket only £12 + VAT plus 1 in 15 goes free.

Venue Details

The Epstein Theatre

Hanover House

85 Hanover Street

Liverpool

L1 3DZ

To book tickets please call 0844 888 4411* or go online at www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk * or in person at The Epstein Theatre Box Office from 12pm – 6pm Monday – Saturday.

*Subject to booking fee. All prices include a £1 per ticket venue restoration levy

For more details check out www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk and join our mailing list. Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/EpsteinTheatre and twitter @EpsteinTheatre.