SARAH HADLAND (MIRANDA)

JOINS CAST OF

ADMISSIONS

THE ACCLAIMED HIT COMEDY DIRECT FROM NEW YORK’S

LINCOLN CENTER THEATER

STARRING ALEX KINGSTON

“Astonishing and daring”

THE NEW YORK TIMES

“Smart, hilarious and provocative”

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Winner of the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards

for Best Play

Written by JOSHUA HARMON

Author of Bad Jews

TRAFALGAR STUDIOS

28 FEBRUARY – 25 MAY

It’s been announced today that Miranda favourite Sarah Hadland will join the cast of Admissions. Hadland will star opposite Alex Kingston (ER, Doctor Who) in the award-winning comedy, which opens at London’s Trafalgar Studios on 28 February.

Best known for playing Stevie in the BBC One BAFTA-nominated comedy television series Miranda, Sarah Hadland is also no stranger to the stage, with theatre credits including Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Grease,Time and the Conways and most recently What’s In a Name? Taking on the role of Ginnie in Admissions, Hadland has also appeared on the silver screen opposite Daniel Craig in the 2008 James Bond film Quantum of Solace.

Admissions, directed by Daniel Aukin, is a bitingly funny new comedy from the writer of acclaimed hit Bad Jewsand transfers to the West End direct from New York’s Lincoln Centre Theater, the producers of Oslo. The play has a strictly limited season until 25 May, before embarking on a UK tour playing at the Richmond Theatre (w/c 27 May 2019), the Cambridge Arts Theatre (w/c 3 June), the Malvern Festival Theatre (w/c 10 June 2019) and the Lyric Theatre at The Lowry in Salford (w/c 17 June 2019).

The New York production received huge critical acclaim during its LCT run, with The New York Times describing the show as “astonishing and daring”, The Hollywood Reporter calling the show “smart, hilarious and provocative”. Theatre Mania hailed it “a scorching new drama… lands like a gut-punch“ and Time Out New York raved about the show. Admissions also won the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Play.

 Other casting announcements include Andrew Wooddall (Bill), Margot Leicester (Roberta) and Ben Edelman (Charlie). Edelman is reprisisng the role of Charlie having first performed it in the Lincoln Centre Theater production where critics hailed his performance as “ardant”  (Time Out NYC) and “raw” (The Hollywood Reporter).

Sherri (Alex Kingston) is the Head of Admissions at a private school, fighting to diversify the student intake and she wants you to know about it. When her son is deferred from his university of choice, and his best friend – who ‘ticks more boxes’ – is accepted, Sherri’s personal ambition collides with her progressive values. Piercing and provocative, Admissions is 90 minutes long, but the debate will take you through the night.

Admissions is produced by Simon Friend, Trafalgar Theatre Productions, Eilene Davidson and Gavin Kalin in association with Anthology Theatre.

Tickets: From £15

Box Office: 0844 871 7632

Performances: Monday – Saturday at 7:30pm, Thursday and Saturday matinee at 2:30pm

To book tickets please visit: admissionsplay.com

Twitter @Admissionsplay
Instagram: @Admissionsplay

Facebook: AdmissionsThePlay

VICKY VOX AND KOBNA HOLDBROOK-SMITH PRESENT THE

19^TH ANNUAL WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS

PERFORMANCES AT THE CEREMONY INCLUDE HEATHERS THE MUSICAL, SIX

AND SPRING AWAKENING

WhatsOnStage today announce that Vicky Vox and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith will present the 19^th annual WhatsOnStage Awards on 3 March 2019 at the Prince of Wales Theatre. Both hosts are nominated at this year’s event – Vox for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her performance in Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s Little Shop of Horrors; and Holdbrook-Smith for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance as Ike Turner in Tina – The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre. 

Also confirmed for this year’s annual Awards concert is Carrie Hope Fletcher performing ‘I Say No’ from Heathers the Musical, the company of Hope Mill Theatre’s Spring Awakening performing ‘Totally F*cked’, and the cast of Six performing the title song. Further performances will be confirmed shortly.

Hamilton continues to dominate awards season, leading the way with 12 nominations including Best Actor in a Musical nominations for Jamael Westman and Giles Terera who previously went head to head for the Olivier Award, with Terera winning; Best Actress in a Musical for Rachelle Ann Go; Best Supporting Actor in a Musical nominations for Cleve September and Jason Pennycooke; and Best Supporting Actress in a Musical nominations for Christine Allado and Rachel John, as well as nominations for Best New Musical, Best Direction, Best Choreography, Best Costume Design and Best Lighting Design. Also performing strongly across the musical categories is Marianne Elliott’s gender swap production of Sondheim’s Company with 9 nominations, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s Little Shop of Horrors with 7 nominations, and Heathers the Musical and Six with six nominations each.

In the play categories, Stephen Daldry’s world première production of Matthew Lopez’s epic two-part masterpiece The Inheritance lead the field with 7 nominations. In addition to Best New Play, Best Director and Best Show Poster, the production dominates in the acting categories with stage veteran Vanessa Redgrave nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Play, Andrew Burnap and Paul Hilton for Best Supporting Actor in a Play, and Kyle Soller for the Best Actor in a Play category. Soller faces stiff competition from Aidan Turner forThe Lieutenant of Inishmore (one of an impressive six nominations for Michael Grandage’s major revival of Martin McDonagh’s play), Arinzé Kene for Misty, Colin Morgan for Translations, and previous WhatsOnStage Award winner Mark Gatiss for The Madness of George III. Both Translations and The Madness of George IIIsecured 5 nominations apiece.

Now in their 19^th year, the WhatsOnStage Awards are the only major theatre awards decided entirely by the theatregoers themselves. Voting opened on 5 December, closing on 31 January 2019, ahead of the winners being announced at the Awards concert on 3 March 2019 at Prince of Wales Theatre.

awards.whatsonstage.com

Twitter @WhatsOnStage #WOSAwards

Instagram @WhatsOnStage

ACTING FOR OTHERS ANNOUNCES

INAUGURAL WEST END FLEA MARKET

Theatrical charity, Acting for Others,today announces an exciting new A4O development in theatreland, West End Flea Market, the pop-up event takes place on Saturday 18 May 2019 at St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden.

The West End Flea Market will host a variety of stalls with showstopping goodies including signed posters, props and photos of some of the West End’s favourite performers.

The shows hosting a stall will compete to win Best Dressed Stall, with judges to be announced. The public are invited to come and cheer on their favourite show and the winner of will be announced at 10:45am. In addition, there will be signings, auctions and all sorts of exciting theatrical memorabilia up for grabs as well as the chance to meet stars from hit shows. The event is free and open from 10.45am to 1pm.

West End Flea Market is organised aid of Acting for Others, a fundraising organisation for 15 UK theatrical and welfare charities.

For those unable to attend the event, Acting for Otherscan still be supported by donating at www.justgiving.com/ctcafo

www.actingforothers.co.uk       

Twitter: @ActingForOthers

#WestEndFleaMarket

West End Flea Market

Saturday 18 May 2019, 10.45am – 1pm

St Paul’s Church, Bedford Street, London, WC2E 9ED

Selladoor Productions and Arcola Theatre present

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR EUROPEAN PREMIERE OF 

21 MARCH – 11 MAY ARCOLA THEATRE, LONDON

The European premiere of Little Miss Sunshine at Arcola Theatre will star Olivier nominee Laura Pitt-Pulford as Sheryl, the matriarch of the eccentric Hoover family, Olivier award winner Gary Wilmot as Grandpa (the role that won Alan Arkin an Academy award), Gabriel Vick as Sheryl’s husband Richard, two-time Olivier nominee Paul Keating as Sheryl’s brother Frank and Sev Keoshgerian as Sheryl’s son Dwayne. The off-Broadway hit musical opens at the Arcola Theatre, London on 21 March 2019 running for a seven-week season before embarking on a UK tour. Further casting for the tour to be announced shortly.

The role of Olive will be shared by Sophie Hartley Booth, Evie Gibson and Lily Mae Denman.

Ian Carlyle is Larry/Buddy, Imelda Warren-Green is Linda/Miss California and Matthew McDonald is Joshua Rose/Kirby.

Completing the cast are the ‘Mean Girls’ who will be performed by Chloe Raphael, Ava Hurley, Ellicia Simondwood, Elodie Salmon, Summer Pelley, Ava Masters, Josselyn Ospina Escobar, Saffia Richards and Yvie Bent.

Based on the Academy Award-winning film by Michael Arndt, Little Miss Sunshine is the off-beat musical comedy created by the Tony Award-winning team of James Lapine (who collaborated with Stephen Sondheim on Into the Woods and Sunday in the Park with George) and William Finn (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Falsettos). This new production is directed by Arcola’s Artistic Director Mehmet Ergen with design by David Woodhead, musical direction by Arlene McNaught, lighting design by Richard Williamson, sound design by Olly Steel, and choreography by Anthony Whiteman.

The Hoover family has more than a few troubles, but young Olive has her heart set on winning the Little Miss Sunshine beauty contest. When an invitation to compete comes out of the blue, the Hoovers must pile into their rickety, yellow VW camper van. Can it survive the 800-mile trip from New Mexico to California – and more importantly, can they? This inventive and uplifting musical celebrates the quirks of every family, the potholes in every road, and the power of overcoming our differences.

The show runs from 21 March – Saturday 11 May 2019 at the Arcola Theatre, London then touring.

Further casting for the tour will be announced shortly. For tour dates go to:

www.littlemisssunshinemusical.com

@LMissSun

Darlington Hippodrome – until 2 February 2019

4****

Maple Tree Entertainments present The Simon and Garfunkel Story direct from its West End run.

Before the show I confessed I was hard pressed to name any songs by the duo other than Bridge Over Troubled Water.  My friend, an avid fan, then started to reel off song names leaving me hoping I would recognise the tunes.

Set out as concert type performance with a potted history between the songs from the very talented performers Sam O’Hanlon (Paul Simon) and Charles Blyth (Art Garfunkel).  Starting with the Sound of Silence the show explores the early days in High School and during their first band name of Tom and Jerry. The end of the first act finishes in 1967, just they were getting to be well known.

The second act begins with Mrs Robinson, the theme from the film The Graduate and runs at breakneck speed through the main hits up to present day, with a musical interlude during a quick change of Paul Simon solo stuff from the 80’s.

We were encouraged to join in the singing and provided the back track to a few songs as we were told to clap in certain patterns.  The boys kept tight harmonies whilst acting their parts – O’Hanlon looking intense and Blyth staring off dreamily to the middle distance.  It was, of course, filled with familiar songs – Homeward Bound, I Am A Rock, A Hazy Shade of Winter, Scarborough Fair, Cecilia, America and The Boxer to name a few.  Simon and Garfunkel always finished their shows with a song by their heroes The Everly Brothers and our show was finished with Bye Bye Love.  

But obviously the show didn’t end there – we had a few more finale songs to go and it was worth the wait to the end for the phenomenal version of Bridge Over Troubled Water that we were treated to.

Whether a fan – like my friend, or someone who enjoys a good tune – like me.  This is a fabulous show. With live musicians, incredible vocals and sublime harmonies this is a show not to be missed

In Darlington until Saturday 2 February and on tour around the UK

MICHEL LEGRAND EVENT TO BECOME TRIBUTE CONCERT

Producers Fane Productions hope that the concert planned for September 20th 2019 at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall will be a fitting tribute following Michel Legrand’s passing at the weekend.
 

In a statement from producers Fane Productions, James Albrecht said: ‘Very sadly, only a week and a half after announcing our September 20th concert with Michel Legrand and the Ronnie Scotts Jazz Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall, we learned of his passing. It is no more than four months since Michel’s unforgettable concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, also at the Royal Festival Hall, co-produced by Fane Productions and Ronnie Scott’s. Aged 86, and certainly physically and vocally a little frail, Michel nonetheless conducted the 68-piece orchestra and rhythm section with total assurance, and his genius at the piano was as evident as ever. In a concert, billed as ‘Michel Legrand: 60 years of Music and Movies’, we were taken on a magical and nostalgic journey through some of the 20th century’s most memorable film scores whilst clips from The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The Thomas Crown Affair, Summer of 42, Yentil and many more screened above the orchestra. The evening had a tangible sense of occasion, even more so in retrospect now that we know it was to be Michel’s last appearance in the UK. What a privilege to have been there.’

The concert in September was to have been a celebration of Michel Legrand’s international standing as a jazz musician, pairing him up with one of the world’s great jazz big bands, in an evening inspired by his legendary 1999 album Big Band. With the full support of Michel’s management team at City Lights, Fane Productions will refashion the concert on September 20th still with the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra and special guests, as a fitting tribute to one of the very last great composers and musicians of his generation. Full details will follow in the coming weeks. 

Current ticket holders for the concert on September 20th have been contacted by Southbank Centre.

The ticketing link for the Michel Legrand Tribute Concert will go live once the details have been confirmed.

LISTINGS

MICHEL LEGRAND TRIBUTE CONCERT (Working title subject to change)

Royal Festival Hall
Southbank Centre
Belvedere Road
London SE1 8XX

September 20th at 7.30PM 

Box office:
www.southbankcentre.co.uk
020 3879 9555
[email protected]
Prices £15 – £70

Leeds Playhouse – until Saturday 16th February 2019

Reviewed By Dawn Smallwood

4****

Barry Hines’ Kes returns to the Leeds Playhouse and marks 2019, an exciting year for the theatre amid the anticipated return to the main building later on in the year after the extensive renovation. Kes makes a return visit after its 2016 run and it is 50 years this year that Ken Loach’s popular film was released. The film and its adaptation has had a massive impact on many people since then.

Kes tells the story about Billy Casper, a teenager from a working-class background in Yorkshire, who rears a kestrel and this is viewed an escapism from the harsh and adverse reality of inequality and hopelessness as far as society and opportunities are concerned.

Robert Alan Evans adapts this production on stage and Max Johns’ staging is cleverly arranged with furniture of chairs, household appliances and buildings’ objects as a background. The stage isn’t cluttered whatsoever and this enables maximum focus and attention on the performance.

Under the direction of Martin Leonard, this production is a two cast performance with Billy (Lucas Button) and the man (Jack Lord) who plays the multiple characters and also acts as a mediator and narrator for Billy. It appears odd at the beginning why there aren’t more actors playing the story’s characters. It is a bold move for this story to be narrated in a simplest and direct way as possible and this certainly aligns the spirit of Hines’ honest writing style and personality. It proves that adaptations aren’t limited just to recreating to what has previously been created.

Button and Lord both give a thorough, emotive and powerful performance and one could feel for Billy and his unfortunate environment he lives in and that he finds hope and solace in a kestrel he loved and cared for. Kes is only a short production of just over an hour but it is packed with content and emotions and none of Hines’ text is abridged and compromised whatsoever. It is certainly a production to go and see, be moved, and be aware of what social inequalities many people face and how many yearn for a better future through imagination and creativity.

MAJOR NEW STAGE PRODUCTION OF

WILLY RUSSELL’S

EDUCATING RITA

STARRING STEPHEN TOMPKINSON

TO TOUR THE UK IN 2019

David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers and Theatre by the Lake are delighted to announce that a major new stage production of Willy Russell’s EDUCATING RITA will tour the UK in 2019. Starring Stephen Tompkinson as Frank, and introducing Jessica Johnson as Rita, the play will be directed by Max Roberts.

EDUCATING RITA will open at Theatre by the Lake, Keswick on 18 April, with a national press night on Tuesday 23 April. The play will then visit The Lowry in Salford, Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre, Nottingham Theatre Royal, Theatre Clwyd in Mold, Bath Theatre Royal, Salisbury Playhouse, Exeter Northcott, Eden Court Theatre in Inverness, Wolverhampton Grand, Theatre Royal Wakefield, and Sheffield Lyceum. Further venues to be announced.

EDUCATING RITA tells the story of married hairdresser Rita, who enrols on an Open University course to expand her horizons, and her encounters with university tutor Frank. Frank is a frustrated poet, brilliant academic and dedicated drinker, who is less than enthusiastic about teaching Rita. However, Frank soon finds that his passion for literature is reignited by Rita, whose technical ability for the subject is limited by her lack of education, but whose enthusiasm Frank finds refreshing. The two soon realise how much they have to learn from each other.

The play was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and played at the Warehouse Theatre, London in 1980, starring Julie Walters and Mark Kingston. Julie Walters reprised her role in the BAFTA, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning film opposite Michael Caine.

Born in Liverpool in 1947, Willy Russell left school at 15 and became a women’s hairdresser and part-time singer/songwriter before returning to education to retrain as a teacher. Russell’s other writing credits include the Olivier Award-winning musical Blood Brothers, and the hugely successful play Shirley Valentine, which won the Olivier Awards for Best New Comedy and Best New Actress, and a  Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play. The play was adapted for film and nominated for a host of BAFTA and Academy Awards. Willy Russell continues to be one of the most celebrated writers of his generation with works constantly in production throughout the world as well as in the UK.

Stephen Tompkinson’s television credits include ITV’s Torvill & Dean, BBC’s The Split, five series of DCI Banks, four series of Trollied, seven series of Wild at Heart, six series of Drop the Dead Donkey (British Comedy Award Winner for Best TV Comedy Actor) and three series of Ballykissangel, and his films include Phil in Brassed Off. His theatre work includes Spamalot, Rattle of a Simple Man and Arsenic and Old Lace in the West End, Cloaca and A Christmas Carol (Old Vic), Art and Tartuffe (National Tours). 

Jessica Johnson’s theatre credits include Call Me Mary Poppins, Goth Weekend, Kings and Queens, Each Piece and Anti-Gravity at the Live Theatre, Newcastle. She previously played Rita in Rebecca Frecknall’s 2017 production of Educating Rita at the Gala Theatre, Durham. Her television credits include Wire In The Blood (ITV), Coronation Street (ITV) and Cuckoo (Channel 4).

Max Roberts is Emeritus Artistic Director of Newcastle’s Live Theatre. Under his direction, the Live Theatre has become one of the country’s most successful theatre companies with an outstanding reputation for developing new work. His Olivier Award-nominated production of Lee Hall’s Cooking With Elvis transferred to the West End’s Whitehall Theatre (now Trafalgar Studios) before touring nationally. He also directed The Pitman Painters, which transferred to the National Theatre and won Best Play at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards before opening on Broadway.

EDUCATING RITA will have set and costume designs by Patrick Connellan, lighting design by Drummond Orr and sound design by David Flynn.

EDUCATING RITA is produced by David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers, and co-produced by Theatre by the Lake.

Website: educatingrita.co.uk

Twitter.com/EducatingRitaUK

Facebook.com/EducatingRitaPlay

TOUR SCHEDULE 2019

18 April – 27 April                    Theatre by the Lake, Keswick                        017687 74411

                                                www.theatrebythelake.com

30 April – 4 May                      The Lowry, Salford                                         0843 208 6000

                                                www.thelowry.com

6 May – 11 May                      Alhambra Theatre, Bradford                           01274 432 000

                                                www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

13 May – 18 May                    Nottingham Theatre Royal                             0115 989 5555

                                                www.trch.co.uk

20 May – 1 June                     Theatr Clwyd, Mold                                        01352 701 521

                                                www.theatrclwyd.com

3 June – 8 June                      Theatre Royal, Bath                                        01225 448 844

                                                www.theatreroyal.org.uk

17 June – 22 June                  Salisbury Playhouse                                       01722 320 333

                                                www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk

24 June – 29 June                  Exeter Northcott Theatre                                01392 726 363

                                                www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

2 July – 6 July                         Eden Court Theatre, Inverness                      01463 234 234

                                                www.eden-court.co.uk

8 July – 13 July                       Wolverhampton Grand Theatre                      01902 429 212

                                                www.grandtheatre.co.uk

15 July – 20 July                     Theatre Royal Wakefield                                01924 211 311

                                                www.theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk                  On sale 18 February

22 July – 27 July                     Sheffield Lyceum Theatre                              0114 249 6000

                                                www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk                          On sale soon

Further venues to be announced

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THEATRE ROYAL BATH’S IN-HOUSE PRODUCTIONS FOR SPRING 2019
 

• SIMON CALLOW, JANE ASHER, JESSICA TURNER AND ASH RIZI IN NOËL COWARD’S A SONG AT TWILIGHT, FROM 13-23 FEBRUARY WITH OPENING NIGHT ON 20 FEBRUARY AND THEN TOURING
   
• OWEN SHARPE AND KEVIN TRAINOR TO STAR IN AWARD-WINNING COMEDY STONES IN HIS POCKETS, CO-PRODUCED WITH ROSE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS, ON NATIONAL TOUR FROM 28 FEBRUARY

Theatre Royal Bath Productions today announces full casting for its 2019 Spring Season in-house productions in the Main House, opening next month with Noël Coward’s A Song at Twilight followed by Marie Jones’ award-winning comedy Stones in His Pockets, in a co-production with Rose Theatre Productions. Simon Callow, Jane Asher, Jessica Turner and Ash Rizi will star in A Song at Twilight directed by Stephen Unwin running in Bath from 13 to 23 February with opening night for press on 20 February and then touring the UK through to mid-April. Stones in His Pockets will preview in Kingston from 28 February and open in Bath in March, ahead of a national tour running through the summer, starring Owen Sharpe and Kevin Trainor and directed byLindsay Posner.

A SONG AT TWILIGHT
Wednesday 13 February – Saturday 23 February


Stephen Unwin directs Noël Coward’s A Song At Twilight starring acclaimed British actorsSimon Callow, as ageing author Hugo Latymer, and Jane Asher, as his former mistress, actress Carlotta Gray. They are joined by Jessica Turner as Hilde, and Ash Rizi as Felix.

Bittersweet, hugely entertaining and full of sharp wit and repartee,  A Song at Twilight is about harbouring secrets and the regret of missed opportunities. Noël Coward himself made his farewell stage appearance playing the semi-autobiographical role of Sir Hugo in the West End production of the play in 1966.

World famous author Sir Hugo Latymer is growing old, rude and haughty. In the private suite of a lakeside hotel where he lives, he is attended to by his long-suffering wife and former secretary, Hilde, and Felix, a handsome young waiter. Here he nervously awaits the arrival of an old flame, actress Carlotta Gray, with whom he had a two-year love affair more than 40 years ago. What can she possibly want now? Revenge for his characterisation of her in his recent autobiography? Money to compensate for a second-rate acting career in the States? But Carlotta is writing her own memoir and wants something much more significant.

Jane Asher (Carlotta Gray) is highly regarded as one of the UK’s most accomplished actresses. Her recent stage credits include Great Expectations, An American in Paris, Pride and Prejudice, Charley’s Aunt and Moon Tiger. TV and films credits include Alfie, The Mistress, Dancing on the Edge, Holby City and The Old Guys.

Simon Callow (Hugo Latymer) is an acclaimed actor, writer and director, best-known for films including Amadeus, Four Weddings and Funeral, A Room With A View and Shakespeare in Love. Recent stage work includes Equus, Waiting For Godot, Shakespeare: The Man From Stratford. He returns to Bath where he previously starred in Noël Coward’s Present Laughter.

Ash Rizi’s (Felix) recent stage credits include East is East (Trafalgar Studios and UK Tour), Bifurcated (Southwark Playhouse) and Blood Wedding (Omnibus Theatre). He has been seen on screen in television series’ Luther, Drifters, Unforgotten, Silent Witness, Doctors, EastEnders and the feature film Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

Jessica Turner (Hilde) most recently performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company in The Fantastic Follies of Mrs Rich. Other stage credits also include All My Sons (Rose Theatre, Watermill), The Second Mrs Tanqueray (Rose Theatre), Waste (Almeida) and King Lear (Old Vic). Jessica has also appeared on screen in Father Brown, Doctors, Midsomer Murders and Law & Order.

Stephen Unwin founded English Touring Theatre and was previously Artistic Director of Rose Theatre Kingston, Resident Director at the National Theatre Studio and Associate Director of the Traverse. Directing credits include The Real Thing, Moon Tiger and Present Laughter at Theatre Royal Bath, All Our Children, which he also wrote, at Jermyn Street Theatre, and Il Barbiere di Siviglia at the Royal Opera House.

Following Bath, A Song at Twilight will tour to Guildford Yvonne Arnaud, Cambridge Arts Theatre, Windsor Theatre Royal, Rose Theatre Kingston, Malvern Theatre, Eastbourne Devonshire Park and Norwich Theatre Royal until mid-April.           

STONES IN HIS POCKETS
Presented by Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Rose Theatre Productions
Monday 11 – Saturday 16 March


This Spring, Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Rose Theatre Productions
present Marie Jones’ Olivier Award-winning comedy Stones in His Pockets directed by Lindsay Posner, one of the UK’s most renowned directors of comedy, who returns to Bath following the recent summer hit God of Carnage. Owen Sharpe and Kevin Trainor will take on a multitude of characters in this hysterically funny, thought-provoking and witty play.

Stones in His Pockets has won numerous awards including the Olivier and Evening Standard Award for Best New Comedy, as well as three Tony nominations on Broadway. The play ran for four years in the West End and has since been performed around the world.

A small village in rural Ireland is turned upside down when a major Hollywood film studio descends to make a historical blockbuster on location. Charlie Conlon and Jake Quinn are employed as extras along with numerous other locals. As cultures clash, it becomes clear that Tinseltown’s romanticised dream of Ireland is a long, long way from reality. Just two talented actors brilliantly bring to life a multitude of extraordinary characters, ranging from the spoilt American starlet to the English director and the village old timer.

Owen Sharpe’s most recent theatre credits include The Pillowman (Gaiety) and Love and Understanding (Theatre des Capucins), and previously The Glass Supper, Observe The Sons of Ulster Marching Towards The Somme (Hampstead Theatre), 66 Books (Bush Theatre), Piaf (Vaudeville Theatre), Oliver Twist (Lyric Theatre), The Recruiting Officer (Garrick) and She Stoops to Conquer(National Theatre). TV includes Titanic and Doctors.

Kevin Trainor recently starred in An Octoroon at the National Theatre and Orange Tree. His previous stage credits include in Dauphin, D’Estivet (Lyric, Belfast), The Lovers of Viorne (Frontier Theatre) and Doctor Faustus (West Yorkshire Playhouse). Television appearances include Houdini and Doyle, Endeavour, Utopia, Vera and London Irish.

Lindsay Posner’s (Director) many acclaimed productions include Noises Off (The Old Vic), Curtains(Rose Theatre Kingston) and Abigail’s Party, Relatively Speaking and Hay Fever (West End).  He was Associate Director of the Royal Court Theatre from 1987 – 1992, where his production of Death and the Maiden won two Olivier Awards.

Stones in his Pockets previews at Rose Theatre, Kingston from 25 February to 9 March and will run at Theatre Royal Bath from 11 to 16 March, with opening night for press on 13 March. The production will then tour to Liverpool, Southampton, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, Malvern, Mold, Eastbourne, Cambridge, Cardiff, Guildford and Nottingham through to July 2019 with further venues to be announced.
 

LISTINGS

Theatre Royal Bath, Sawclose, Bath, BA1 1ET
Box Office: 01225 448844
Website: www.theatreroyal.org.uk
Facebook: TheatreRoyalBath
Twitter: @TheatreRBath

A Song at Twilight
By Noel Coward
Directed by Stephen Unwin

Theatre Royal Bath
Dates: Wednesday 13 February – Saturday 23 February

Performance Schedule (week one): Wed – Sat 7.30pm, Matinee Sat 2.30pm
Performance Schedule (week two): Mon – Sat 7.30pm, Matinees Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets: £23.50 – £39.50 (Preview Perfs and Mondays, all seats £15)

Stones in His Pockets
Presented by Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Rose Theatre Productions
By Marie Jones
Directed by Lindsay Posner

Rose Theatre Kingston
Dates: Thursday 28 February – Saturday 9 March
Performance Schedule: Mon-Thur & Sat 7.30pm, Fri 8pm, Matinees Sat 2.30pm and Thu 7 March 2.30pm
Tickets: £20 – £35 (concessions from £15)
www.rosetheatrekingston.org

Theatre Royal Bath 
Dates: Monday 11 March – Saturday 16 March

Performance Schedule: Mon – Wed 7.30pm, Matinees Wed & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets: £20.50 – £36.50 (Preview Perfs and Mondays, all seats £15)

ENGLISH TOURING THEATRE AND PAPATANGO ANNOUNCE

FULL CAST FOR UK TOUR OF THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR

English Touring Theatre and Papatango present

The Funeral Director
By Iman Qureshi 

UK tour: 7 – 30 March 2019

Director: Hannah Hauer-King;Designer: Amy Jane Cook; Lighting Designer: Jack Weir

Sound Designer: Max Pappenheim

English Touring Theatre and Papatango today announce the full cast for the UK tour of Iman Qureshi’s The Funeral Director,an exploration of a gay Muslim woman coming to terms with her identity. Hannah Hauer-King directs Edward Stone (Tom), Assad Zaman (Zeyd) and Francesca Zoutewelle (Janey), joining returning cast member Aryana Ramkhalawon (Ayesha). Winner of Papatango’s 10^th annual New Writing Prize from 1,384 entries, the original production was premièred by Papatango at Southwark Playhouse and now embarks on a UK tour in a co-production with ETT to Traverse Theatre, Nottingham Playhouse, The North Wall and HOME Manchester in Spring 2019.

“I just thought it would be a secret I’d have to die with. And now – I think it’ll be what kills me.”

Life as the director of a Muslim funeral parlour isn’t always easy, but Ayesha has things pretty sorted. She and Zeyd share everything: a marriage, a business, a future.

Until Tom walks in to organise his boyfriend’s funeral. A snap moral decision, informed by the values of Ayesha’s community and faith, has profound consequences.

Forced to confront a secret she has hidden even from herself, Ayesha must decide who she is – no matter the cost.

The Funeral Director is an incisive and heartfelt story of sexuality, gender and religion in 21st-century Britain.

Iman Qureshi made her full-length debut with The Funeral Director. She has had short plays or limited runs commissioned or produced by Tamasha, Kalí Theatre, Purple Moon Drama and the BBC. As a member of Tamasha Playwrights and Soho Theatre’s Writers Lab her short play His and Hers was produced as part of Tamasha’s New Muslim Voices. Qureshi has also written for the Guardian, Independent, Time Out and the Huffington Post and been writer-in-residence at various schools. She was shortlisted for the Muslim Writer’s Award in 2011 and the Tony Craze Award in 2017.

Aryana Ramkhalawon reprises the role ofAyesha.Her other theatre credits include The Tempest, Swallows and Amazons and Much Ado About Nothing (Storyhouse/Grosvenor Park Rep Company), The Secret Seven(Storyhouse), The Hijabi Monologues (Bush Theatre), Devika, Ode to Leeds (Leeds Playhouse), Glasgow Girls(National Theatre of Scotland/UK tour), Princess Scintilla (Nuffield Southampton Theatres), The Secret Garden(Royal Alexandra Theatre Toronto/Royal Festival Theatre Edinburgh), Twelve Kali Theatre(Watermans/Birmingham MAC/Rich Mix), Half and Half (Welsh Millennium Centre) and The Rose and Bulbul(Kaddam/Pulse Connects).Television credits include Waterloo Road, Lawless – Drama Matters, Crime Stories, Bollywood Carmen and Jamillah and Aladdin.

Edward Stone plays Tom.His theatre credits include Outside (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Julius Caesar (Bristol Old Vic) and All Quiet on the Western Front (Soho Playhouse, New York).

Assad Zaman plays Zeyd. His theatre credits include White Teeth (Kiln Theatre), Coriolanus (RSC/Barbican), Salome (RSC), Arms and the Man (Watford Palace Theatre), A Midsummer Night¹s Dream (New Wolsey Theatre), East is East (UK tour), Behind the Beautiful Forevers (National Theatre), Beats North, Grimm Tales (Northern Stage) and Tyne (Live Theatre/Theatre Royal Newcastle). His television credits include Vera, Apple Tree Yard and Cucumber.

Francesca Zoutewelle plays Janey. Her credits for English Touring Theatre include Twelfth Night (a co-production with Flute Theatre) and Hamlet (Arcola Theatre, in a co-production with Flute Theatre). Other theatre credits include Callisto: A Queer Epic (Arcola Theatre), Into the Woods, Britannia Wave the Rules (Royal Exchange Theatre), The Last Days of Troy (Shakespeare’s Globe/Royal Exchange Theatre) and Merlin (Royal & Derngate Northampton). For film her credits include The Head Hunter and Mr Turner.

Hannah Hauer-King directs. She is the Artistic Director and co-founder of all-female theatre company Damsel Productions. Hauer-King started her London directing career acting as Resident AD at Soho Theatre in 2014. She now works as a freelance theatre director, alongside directing for Damsel Productions, and as a theatre, comedy and cabaret programmer for Fane Productions. Recent productions include Fabric (Soho Theatre), The Swell (Hightide Festival), Grotty and Breathe (Bunker Theatre), Fury and Brute (Soho Theatre), Clay (Pleasance Theatre), Dry Land (Jermyn Street Theatre), Witt ‘n Camp (Assembly Studios, Edinburgh Fringe) andHypernormal (Vaults Festival). Associate/Assistant work includes Romeo & Juliet (Shakespeare’s Globe), Radiant Vermin (Soho Theatre) and Daytona (Theatre Royal Haymarket).

Tour Dates

Traverse Theatre 

7 – 9 March 2019

Box Office: 0131 228 1404 / www.traverse.co.uk

Nottingham Playhouse 

14 – 16March 2019

Box Office: 0115 941 9419 / www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk

The North Wall 

21 March 2019

Box Office: 01865 319450 / www.thenorthwall.com

HOME Manchester 

27 – 30March 2019

Box Office: 0161 200 1500 / www.homemcr.org