THE LONDON PALLADIUM

W A L L   O F   F A M EANDREW LLOYD WEBBER TOGETHER WITH HONOURED GUESTS

UNVEIL NEW ART INSTALLATION AT ICONIC LONDON LANDMARK

Today (15 October 2018) Andrew Lloyd Webber with honoured artists Des O’Connor, Jimmy Tarbuck, Cliff Richard and Tommy Steele unveiled the Wall of Fame, a new art installation by Lee Simmons commissioned as part of the renovations to the Grade II listed facade of The London Palladium.  Sited at the theatre’s world famous Stage Door on Great Marlborough Street, this ongoing installation is a permanent legacy to the many artists that have headlined at The London Palladium and will provide an intrinsic link between icons of the past and performers of the future.

Further honoured artists depicted on the installation as chosen by an advisory committee of Don Black, Michael Grade and Laurie Mansfield are Arthur Askey, Ronnie Barker, Shirley Bassey, Jack Benny, Cilla Black, Max Bygraves, Nat King Cole, Ronnie Corbett, The Crazy Gang, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis Jr, Ken Dodd, Gracie Fields, Bruce Forsyth, Judy Garland, Bob Hope, Tom Jones, Danny Kaye, Marie Lloyd, Vera Lynn, Liberace, Max Miller, Johnnie Ray, Tommy Trinder, Frankie Vaughan and Norman Wisdom.

Andrew Lloyd Webber said “As part of the theatre’s ongoing refurbishment the opportunity arose to create a Wall of Fame and I am delighted that young artist Lee Simmons agreed to create what is a wonderful tribute to many of the Palladium’s performers throughout its 108 year history.  The London Palladium is a very special theatre for me as it is to millions of people around the world and I hope that our new installation will give as much pleasure to locals and visitors to the West End as it has us.”

 

Lee Simmons said “For this installation, I have been inspired by the history of the rich tapestry of performers that have graced the stage of The London Palladium.  I have used stainless steel to create the portraits which have been cut using digital processes.  My aim was to embrace the presence of the performers and capture an essence of the Palladium stars who have made the theatre what it is today.”

 

An award-winning Royal College of Art graduate, Lee Simmons describes his work as a synthesis that brings together architecture, art and design and exploits the relationship between their blurred peripheries.  Simmons is currently working on a number of high profile projects around the capital and his work can be found in both public and private collections. His recent commissions include a War Memorial for the City of Westminster.

NEW DIORAMA AND UNDERBELLY OPEN APPLICATIONS FOR THE UNTAPPED AWARD 2019, FOLLOWING STAGGERING 2018 SUCCESS

·         New Diorama and Underbelly launch the second year of the Untapped Award for 2019, offering unprecedented support for emerging and mid-career artists

 

·         The Untapped award 2018 was supported by Arts Council England, and Technical Sponsor from The Mandy Network

“theatrical fireworks.”

Lyn Gardner on the Untapped Award-Winning shows 2018

New Diorama Theatre’s award-winning artist development programme, launched in 2016, was described by Exeunt as “the most exciting artist development plan Britain has ever seen”. As part of this continued work, on 15^th October NDT are opening submissions for the second year of the Untapped Award for early and mid-career theatre companies.

The Untapped Award presented by Underbelly and New Diorama supports three companies each year – removing the barriers that prevent some of the most talented groups from showcasing their work at the Fringe. The award opened in 2018 receiving over 300 applications, and will run for three years, offering the opportunity to a total of nine companies.

The 2018 Untapped Award saw winning companies Breach Theatre with It’s True It’s True It’s True, Nouveau Riche with Queens of Sheba and ThisEgg with dressed. receive critical acclaim, totally sell-out their runs, and claim two Fringe First Awards, two awards from The Stage and a Total Theatre nomination.

 

New Diorama Theatre’s Producer, Helen Matravers, says:

“The Untapped Award has proven to be an incredible and game-changing opportunity for the winning companies in 2018, and we cannot wait to work with Underbelly again to open the application process and discover more exciting work from talented emerging and mid-career companies. Alongside a £3,000 investment in each chosen group, each receive a great slot at Underbelly – with no venue deposit or guarantee, press support paid for, a flyering team, free marketing support and an enhanced box office split. We also make it possible for every company to stage accessible performances, covering all costs. It is truly one of the best strands of support that we are able to offer, and we are beyond excited to see what 2019 holds for the Untapped Award”.

 

Underbelly’s Head of Programming and Producer, Marina Dixon said: “Underbelly is delighted to continue our partnership with New Diorama Theatre for Untapped 2019. We both share a commitment and passion for supporting new artists and new work. We are thrilled that the 2018 Untapped companies could present work of such a high standard at the world’s largest arts festival and that these three award-winning shows were so well received by Fringe audiences and critics alike. We are excited to open applications for Untapped 2019 and offer our support to more intriguing ideas and exceptional talent.”

Artistic Director of 2018 winners ThisEgg, Josie Dale-Jones said:

“We wouldn’t have gone to Edinburgh with our show if we hadn’t won the untapped award. It was the 7th year ThisEgg had taken to a show to the Fringe, but being selected and given the opportunity to present our show at the biggest arts festival in the UK (probably actually the world) with support from New Diorama and Underbelly raised the profile of our show & company like nothing else. “

Applications for the Untapped Award presented by Underbelly and New Diorama will open on the 15^th October 2018 and close on 9^th January 2019.

The Mandy Network will be New Diorama’s Technical Sponsor 2018/19. Mandy.com brings together the world’s largest network of actors, backstage and theatre professionals working in the UK today. Continuing a collaboration formed in 2018 Mandy.com will support the Untapped Award submission process by providing a bespoke online application portal.

TO ENTER: stage.mandy.com/uk/new-diorama-theatre/untapped

BIRD COLLEGE – DANCE, MUSIC AND THEATRE PERFORMANCE OPENS NEW BUILDING AND ANNOUNCES

STEPHEN MEAR AS PRESIDENT

 

Bird College – Dance, Music and Theatre Performance today announces the appointment of Stephen Mear as President after an official opening of the new college campus took place yesterday. Mear will be an advocate for Bird College and for the wider dance and musical theatre sector promoting the work of the college as will Gary Avis MBE who was recently announced as a new patron. Both will work alongside existing patrons Christopher Biggins, Baroness Tessa Blackstone, Lara Pulver, Liz Robertson and Dougie Squires OBE.

Principal and Chief Executive, Shirley Coen and Deputy Principal and Artistic Director, Luis De Abreu said today “Stephen Mear is an internationally renowned, award winning director and choreographer. We are so delighted that he has agreed to be the President of Bird College. He has a wealth of knowledge and extensive experience in dance and musical theatre as a performer, director and choreographer.  No one better understands the complexities of recognising talented artists in the first instance and providing them with outstanding and multi-disciplined training which is at the heart of the College’s ethos. He is inspirational and highly respected, and we know that he will be a great support to us individually and the whole college community. It is such a privilege to have such a prestigious President and Doreen Bird, the College Founder, would be so very proud. As we are.’’

 

We are equally proud of internationally acclaimed actor Lara Pulver who graduated from Bird College in 2000 to play the lead role, Peggy Sawyer, in 42^nd Street. This was just the start of her already glittering career. She and Stephen Mear have collaborated on a range of high-profile musical theatre projects including Gypsy, for which they both received great critical acclaim. They are currently working together on Guys and Dolls at the Royal Albert Hall. She has been a Patron of the College since 2010. Lara is equally at home on stage and screen.

 

The opening of the new campus took place in Doreen Bird Foundation Theatre on the 14 October and was an outstanding success. We were delighted that so many friends of the college came to share our special day. This included trustees and directors (past and present), staff and students, graduates, representatives from the University of Greenwich, the London Borough of Bexley (notably the Leader of the Council Teresa O’Neill OBE). It was very special to have so many key individuals from the theatre industry including members of our Employers Advisory Board who continually share their expertise with us. Stephen Mear and Lara Pulver were inspirational and there could be no better advocates for our college community.”

Stephen Mear said today “I am so delighted to become the President of Bird College. It is an organisation which I admire greatly, and I know how committed the team are to providing world class vocational training. I continually work with many of their graduates and I am always impressed by their professionalism, excellent technique and artistry and I am excited to be an advocate for this great College. I am delighted to be able to support Shirley and Luis in their work through which they ensure remains at the forefront of the dance and musical theatre industry. Through my own training in dance and musical theatre, I understand and value the importance of the work undertaken here and I look forward to mentoring emerging talent.

 

Sunday 14 October College marked the official opening of the College’s new Campus – which is the first time in its history that the college has been able to work from one site. It is a former school and it has been very significantly renovated and refurbished and this summer an entirely new teaching block was added. Following on from the college’s RIBA architectural competition, they worked very closely with award winning architects Gareth Hoskins. This exciting project was delivered, on time and on budget – an imaginative and innovative development. The Campus is now fully occupied, and it offers the college community an excellent learning and working environment.

The new campus provides:

• Extensive green spaces
• 12 Dance Studios, 4 Acting Studios, 1 Academic Room, 9 singing rooms
• Wellbeing block with Gym, Counselling room and Physiotherapist room
• Theatre Block 130 Seat (Doreen Bird Foundation Theatre) with dressing rooms, greenroom, production office, band room
• Production Block with scenery store, props Room, set workshop, Wardrobe and Laundry room
• Library and IT facilities, Common room, Refectory (interval cafe) and dressing rooms for all students

‘‘THE WORLD’S MOST PIERCED WOMAN COMES TO DARLO, THIS FRIDAY!’’

Ladies & Gentlemen, Boys & Girls… Roll Up, Roll up… For One Night Only…

 

Elaine Davidson, from Brazil, is The Guinness World-Record Holding ‘Most Pierced Woman in the World’

Elaine, who is a friend of Chris Cross the Magician, is one of the Variety Performers on bill at ‘MAGIC AT THE MAJESTIC’

She’ll be walking bare-foot on broken glass and lying on a bed of nails!

Chris Cross the Magician is The North East’s Greatest Showman & He will be bringing his Top of the Bill Magic & Variety Show

to Darlington’s Majestic Theatre on Bondgate on Friday 19^th October for One Night Only!

Chris Promises ‘Fun for all of the Family in a Proper Old School Variety Show!’

Expect a Splendid Evening of Entertainment by Regional & National Stars of Variety –

The Show is Compered & Hosted by Newcastle’s Favourite Magic Man – Chris Cross the Magician!

Chris has Performed for The British Royals and Many Celebrities – including The Hoff, Boy George, Mike Tyson, The Hairy Bikers & Tulisa!

He’s appeared on National & International TV including CBBC’s The Slammer and The ONE Show on BBC1.

The Audience will be Amazed by Magic with Doves and Big Fancy Props by The Great Aziz from Glasgow,

Sideshow Stunts from Iain Jay of Hartlepool, whilst Charlie Burns from Newcastle will be Juggling Knives & Eating Fire!

Paul Derek (known as ‘The Birdman of Magic’) will be Performing his ‘Animal Magic’ Act

Paul was the Supporting Act for Ken Dodd for many years on Doddy’s ‘Happiness Show’ Theatre Tours…

Artistic Director & Promoter, Chris Cross Says: ‘‘I’m really looking forward to staging my show in Darlington. The Majestic Theatre is such a lush venue – I’d never been inside until I got asked to perform at the re-launch of the theatre earlier this year… It’s a real hidden gem! As soon as I saw the venue I knew I HAD to bring a show there, so that’s what I’m doing!

 

On 19^th October at my Show you’ll laugh, you’ll be amazed and you’ll have a cracking night out with Family & Friends at the Theatre! LIVE Entertainment should be and NEEDS to be supported before it, too, makes a Disappearing Act of itself. This is a proper magic and variety show. The kind of show you just don’t, unfortunately, see anywhere anymore! I’m really passionate about keeping Variety Alive. There are so many Wonderfully skilled and exceptionally talented Performers around and they really do deserve to be seen.

 

So, get yourselves away from your TV screens, put on your best gear & enjoy a more than affordable evening of Magic and Laughter at your Local Theatre! I hope to see you all there!’’

 

See this video of Chris talking about the Darlington Show, here:

https://www.facebook.com/chriscrossentertainment/videos/10160940078365637/

Chris Cross Performs MAGIC AT THE MAJESTIC at The Darlington Majestic Theatre on 19th October 2018

Get YOUR tickets NOW from: Tickets are priced at £10 (£8CONCS) and are available online now from:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/darlington/the-majestic-theatre/magic-at-the-majestic

OR By Calling the Theatre on: 01325 633 296

 

Greater Manchester Dancers in full casting announcement for Matthew Bourne’s ‘Swan Lake’

Swan Lake 
Tue 20 November – Sat 1 December

New Adventures production of Matthew Bourne’s ‘Swan Lake‘ returns to The Lowry from Tue 20 November to Sat 1 December and features a strong line up of local talent.

Greater Manchester dancers Shoko Ito, Andrew Ashton and Isaac Bowry are making their debut with New Adventures. Parsifal James (PJ) Hurst returns to New Adventures having previously performed in Swan Lake in 2013.

Isaac Bowry said today: “I started my training in ballet and contemporary at The Lowry’s Centre for Advanced Training in dance. The Lowry was where I watched my first ‘New Adventures’ production and was the place I saw my first ever professional dance production ‘The Nutcracker.’ Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake is iconic and I can’t wait to perform it on my home stage.”

Prior to joining the company, whilst in her final year of training at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, Shoko Ito performed with the Encore Dance Company UK tour featuring works by Drew McOnie, Kerry Nicholls, Ernst Meisner, Layla Ellison, Gaz Davis and Jodie Blemings.

Andrew Ashton previously performed in the acclaimed New Adventures production of “Lord of the Flies” in 2014 which bought together the New Adventures company with young people, many of whom had never danced before. Having graduated from Laine Theatre Arts this year “Swan Lake” marks his professional debut.

Isaac Bowry also previously performed in “Lord of the Flies” in 2014.  His other career highlights include Principal dancer with Ballet Theatre UK, Principal dancer with Chantry Dance Company, Guest principal dancer for The Japanese International Youth Ballet and guest principal dancer for Midland Theatre Ballet.

As well as performing in the 2013 UK and international tour of “Swan Lake”, Parsifal James (PJ) Hurst has also delivered many workshops for the company, including on the Dance for Life programme for those living with dementia. Other career highlights include: Protein Dance “LOL”, Garsington Opera “Death in Venice”, Fallen Angels Dance Theatre “Upon Awakening & Hell Can Wait” and Gary Clarke’s award-winning “COAL”. On top of all of this, he has remained loyal to his northern connections, where dance began for him, in the company Homegrown Dance Theatre by returning several times per year teaching and choreographing on seasonal projects.

New Adventures’ star Will Bozier, currently dancing to great acclaim as ‘Harry, the Pilot’, in Matthew Bourne’s “Cinderella” and former English National Ballet star Max Westwell, who was also recently seen in the West End in “An American in Paris”, are both making their debuts in the role of ‘The Swan’.

Both returning to the role of ‘The Prince’, two much loved New Adventures Principal dancers, Liam Mower (currently wowing audiences as ‘The Angel’ in “Cinderella”) and Dominic North (acclaimed star of “Edward Scissorhands”, “The Car Man”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “The Red Shoes” and currently “Cinderella”). They are joined by New Adventures’ newcomer, James Lovellwho is making his professional debut.

‘The Queen’ will be performed by two long-time New Adventures favourites,Nicole Kabera and Katrina Lyndon both making their debuts in this role.

‘The Girlfriend’ will also be performed by Katrina Lyndon. She is joined by Freya Field and Carrie Willis who are both returning to the Swan Lake Company.

‘The Private Secretary’ will be played by long-time Company Principal Glenn Graham (recently seen as ‘Grischa’ in “The Red Shoes”) along with Max Westwell and Ashley-Jordon Packer.

Returning to New Adventures are Tom Broderick, PJ Hurst and Alex Sturman.

Making their debuts with New Adventures are: Nicole Alphonce, Leigh Alderson, Jonathan Luke Baker, Alistair Beattie, Benjamin Bazeley,Megan Cameron, João Castro, Zanna Cornelis, Kayla Collymore, Keenan Fletcher, Michaela Guibarra, Bryony Harrison, Nicholas Keegan, Shoko Ito, Courtney Liu, Jack Mitchell, Barnaby Quarendon, Jack William Parry, Sam Salter, Stan West and Milwhynne Williams.

Also making their New Adventures debut are Andrew Ashton from Newcastle, Isaac Bowry from Glasgow and Harry Ondrak-Wright from Birmingham who all performed in the acclaimed New Adventures production of Lord of the Fliesin 2014.

New Adventures is committed to finding and developing diverse young talent from across the UK and their annual open auditions were attended by over 400 dancers. Since Lord of the Flies in 2014 New Adventures has been supporting young dancers from this production on their journey into training and professional work. The company have delivered various initiatives, including Swan School, two week-long intensives designed to prepare graduate level dancers for the audition process. This production of Swan Lake is the first New Adventures production to feature dancers who had their first experience of dance with the company in Lord of the Flies.

New Adventures is delighted to continue its relationship with Central School of Ballet and will this year be joining forces for the third year of our Student Associates Programme. This year making their New Adventures debuts on the Sadler’s Wells stage will be third year students, Lewis Bondu and Alex Fadayiro. The Student Associates are generously sponsored by the Archie Lloyd Charitable Foundation.

Matthew Bourne’s ‘Swan Lake’ returns with a fresh look for the 21^st century.
Retaining the iconic elements of the original production loved by millions around the world, Matthew Bourne and his Associate Artists, award-winning designers Lez Brotherston (Set & Costumes) and Paule Constable (Lighting) will create an exciting re-imagining of the classic production.

Thrilling, audacious, witty and emotive, this ‘Swan Lake’ is perhaps still best known for replacing the female corps-de-ballet with a menacing male ensemble, which shattered conventions, turned tradition upside down and took the dance world by storm.

Collecting over thirty international accolades including an Olivier Award in the UK and three Tonys on Broadway, Matthew Bourne’s powerful interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece is a passionate and contemporary Swan Lake for our times.

New Adventures is a national portfolio organisation supported using public funds by Arts Council England.

Listings Information 
Swan Lake 
Date: Tue 20 November – Sat 1 December
Times: 7.30pm. Thu & Sat 2pm.
Tickets: £33.50 – £47.50. Concessions £3 off (selected performances)
Website

Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Jonathan Church Productions present the West End transfer of 
THE PRICE
By Arthur Miller

• CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED 50TH ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION OF THE PRICE, DIRECTED BY JONATHAN CHURCH, TO ARRIVE IN THE WEST END FOR SPRING 2019
• DAVID SUCHET AND BRENDAN COYLE WILL REPRISE STAR ROLES AS GREGORY SOLOMON AND VICTOR FRANZ WITH ORIGINAL CAST ADRIAN LUKIS AND SARA STEWART
• AT WYNDHAM’S THEATRE FROM 5 FEBRUARY TO 27 APRIL WITH OPENING NIGHT FOR PRESS ON 11 FEBRUARY
• TICKETS ON SALE FROM WWW.DELFONTMACKINTOSH.CO.UK 

The 50th anniversary production of Arthur Miller’s riveting drama The Price is today announced for a West End transfer in February 2019 following a critical and publicly acclaimed reception in Bath earlier this summer. Eminent British actor David Suchet and Olivier Award winner and BAFTA and Emmy nominated Brendan Coyle will both reprise their star roles, as furniture dealer Gregory Solomon and New York cop Victor Franz, respectively, in Jonathan Church’s exemplary revival with Adrian Lukis and Sara Stewart. The Price will run at Wyndham’s Theatre from 5 February to 27 April with opening night for press on 11 February 2019.

Two brothers, Victor and Walter Franz, one a New York cop nearing retirement, the other a successful surgeon, meet for the first time in sixteen years to sell their family furniture stored in the attic of a condemned New York brownstone. Revelation follows stunning revelation as each brother realises the price they have paid for heart breaking decisions made decades earlier. Overseeing the psychological battlefield is the wily veteran appraiser, Gregory Solomon, who has his own demons to conquer as well as securing the best possible price for the Franz family possessions.

David Suchet, revisiting the work of Arthur Miller after his legendary award-winning performance in All My Sons, plays Gregory Solomon. Brendan Coyle, well known as Mr Bates in Downton Abbey,will reprise his role as Victor Franz, and will return to the stage straight from his hit one-man show St Nicholas. Original cast member Adrian Lukis will return to play Victor’s brother, Walter Franz, with Sara Stewart as Esther Franz, Victor’s wife.

First seen on Broadway in 1968, The Price was nominated for two Tony Awards including Best Play. It was also recently revived in New York in 2017, starring Mark Ruffalo and Danny DeVito. This 50th anniversary production of Arthur Miller’s richly affecting play – which, like his better known works, mines his preoccupation with the pleasures and perils of the American Dream – transfers from a sell-out run at the Theatre Royal Bath where it was hugely acclaimed by critics and audiences alike.

Arthur Miller’s plays include All My Sons, Death of a Salesman, The Crucible, A View from the Bridge, After the Fall, The Price and Finishing the Picture. Other works include Focus, a novel, The Misfits, a screenplay, Timebends, an autobiography and the novella, Homely Girl. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1949 for Death of a Salesman.

David Suchet, well known for playing Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie’s Poirot, has credits across film, television and theatre, most recently seen in the BBC 1 drama Press and on stage in the Pinter at the Pinter season.  Theatre highlights include Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Apollo Theatre), All My Sons (Apollo Theatre), as well as The Last Confession (West End, Chichester Festival Theatre) andAmadeus (West End, London and Broadway).  Film credits include Effie, The Bank Job, Act of God, Foolproof, The In-Laws, Live From Baghdad, Sabotage, Wing Commander, A Perfect Murder andSunday. Additional television credits include Great Expectations, Richard II, Hidden, Going Postal, Flood, Henry VIII, Victoria & Albert, RKO281, Seesaw and Solomon.

Brendan Coyle’s extensive television credits include John Bates in Downton Abbey, for which he won 3 SAG Awards for Outstanding Ensemble and received Emmy, BAFTA & IFTA nominations for Best Supporting Actor. Most recently, Brendan starred in BBC and Netflix series Requiem, and on stage in Conor McPherson’s chilling one-man show St Nicholas for the Donmar Warehouse and Dublin Theatre Festival. Other television credits include Spotless, Starlings and Lark Rise To Candleford. Brendan starred in the original production of The Weir (Royal Court, West End and Broadway); winning both the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor & New York Critics’ Circle Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut and has also appeared in Mojo (Harold Pinter), The Late Henry Moss (Almeida) and Buried Child (National Theatre). His film credits include upcoming Working Title epic Mary Queen of Scots and Me Before You.

Adrian Lukis has appeared in several television series, including BBC dramas Collateral, Silk, Silent Witness, Doctors and Spooks. His stage credits include The Seagull (National Theatre), Versailles(Donmar Warehouse), Taming of the Shrew (Royal Shakespeare Company), Pygmalion (Theatre Royal Bath) and Arthur and George and The Winslow Boy at Birmingham Repertory.

Sara Stewart has appeared on screen in Channel 4’s Fresh Meat, the Emmy Award Winning seriesSugar Rush, and most recently in BBC dramas Doctor Foster and The Night Manager. Her film credits include Face of an Angel, Philomena, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Sightseers and the latest Transformers film. Her most recent theatre credits include The Cherry Orchard (Nottingham Playhouse) and Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties (Southwark Playhouse).

Jonathan Church is Artistic Director of the Theatre Royal Bath Summer Season where his directing credits include the upcoming In Praise of Love and, recently, The Price, An Ideal Husband as seen in the West End, Racing Demon and The Lady in the Van. He was previously Artistic Director for the Salisbury Playhouse (1995-99), Birmingham Rep (2001-05) and Chichester Festival Theatre (2006-16). His directing credits include acclaimed productions such as Singin’ in the Rain (Chichester, West End), The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Chichester, West End) and Taken at Midnight (Chichester, West End). He received a CBE for Services to Theatre in 2015.

The Price is presented by Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Jonathan Church Productions, and directed by Jonathan Church with design by Simon Higlett, lighting design by Paul Pyant, sound design by Mike Walker, composition by Matthew Scott, associate direction by Emma Butler and casting by Gabrielle Dawes CDG.

LISTINGS

THE PRICE
By Arthur Miller
Directed by Jonathan Church
Designed by Simon Higlett
Lighting Design: Paul Pyant
Sound Design: Mike Walker
Composer: Matthew Scott
Associate Director: Emma Butler
Casting: Gabrielle Dawes CDG

Wyndham’s Theatre, Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0DA

First performance: Tuesday 5 February
Opening Night: Monday 11 February
Final performance: Saturday 27 April

Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm
Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm

Box Office details:
Website: www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk 
Box office number: 0844 482 5151
Prices from £20

Twitter: @TheatreRBath
Facebook: TheatreRoyalBath

PHOENIX DANCE THEATRE COME HOME THIS WEEK

 

Phoenix at Home Thursday 18^th – Saturday 20^th October

 

Phoenix Dance Theatre’s annual production Phoenix at Home opens this Thursday at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre in Leeds for three nights only.

The Leeds-based company tour internationally, but for eight years have kept a date in the diary for a performance in their home city.

“This last year has been amazing for Phoenix,” says Artistic Director Sharon Watson. “We have toured around the country with Windrush: Movement of the People, been nominated for several awards, we met the Prime Minister, performed at Tilbury Docks, visited China to promote Leeds and Yorkshire as a cultural powerhouse, and now we’re preparing to head home where we always enjoy performing – we were born in Leeds, we live in Leeds and we’re very proud of Leeds.”

This year’s production is a reworked version of a classic, an excerpt from a new piece by Sandrine Monin and a brand new comedic work about modern living.

Described by the New York Times as a ‘funny and sexy romp’ Robert North’s world-renowned Troy Game is a tongue in cheek parody of male machismo. It was originally an all-male cast, but Phoenix have re-worked the piece to include female dancers – the steps remain the same.

Company dancer and choreographer Sandrine Monin makes a welcome return with an excerpt from her new piece Kirke, inspired by the first sorceress in Greek Mythology. Monin has again teamed up with Italian composerRoberto Rusconi with whom she created the much-lauded piece Calyx.

Phoenix Youth Academy take to the stage with colourful and comedic new work Spam choreographed by company dancer Michael Marquez. Billed as ‘a mirror to the complexity of the cluttered world’, Spam relates to the perpetual need and desire to satisfy a temporary sense of happiness.

Phoenix at Home is at Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Quarry Hill, Leeds

Thursday 18^th to Saturday 20^th October 2018 at 7.30pm

2pm matinee on Saturday 20th

 

Tickets: £16 & £13

 

www.phoenixdancetheatre.co.uk / 0113 220 8008

PRINCIPAL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

MENIER CHOCOLATE FACTORY’S

MAJOR REVIVAL OF FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

Music by Jerry Bock          Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick          Book by Joseph Stein

Directed by Trevor Nunn; Choreographer Matt Cole; Set Designer Robert Jones

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

Lighting Designer Tim Lutkin; Sound Designer Gregory Clarke

Musical Supervisor & Director Paul Bogaev; Orchestrations Jason Carr

The Menier Chocolate Factory today announces principal company for its major revival of one of the world’s most-beloved musicals of all time, Fiddler on the Roof, in a new staging by Trevor Nunn. Joining the previously announced Andy Nyman (Tevye) is Judy Kuhn as Golde, with Harriet Bunton (Hodel), Dermot Canavan (Lazar Wolf), Stewart Clarke (Perchik), Matt Corner (Fyedka), Joshua Gannon (Motel), Louise Gold (Yente), Kirsty MacLaren (Chava) and Molly Osborne (Tzeitel).

The production opens on 5 December, with previews from 23 November, and runs until 9 March. Booking is open for supporters of the Menier with public booking opening on 5 September.

This joyous and heart-breaking story of the travails of Tevye the milkman, his wife and five daughters features such classic songs as “Sunrise, Sunset,” “If I Were a Rich Man” and “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and remains a heart-warming celebration To Life – L’chaim!

Fiddler on the Roof sees Trevor Nunn renew his collaboration with the Menier – he previously directed Lettice and Lovage, Love in Idleness (also West End), A Little Night Music (also West End and Broadway) and Aspects of Love for the company.

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. He returns to the Menier Chocolate Factory having previously performed in 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 for Derren 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.

Harriet Bunton plays Hodel. Her theatre credits include Mamma Mia! (Novello Theatre), Sunny Afternoon(Harold Pinter Theatre), The Rocky Horror Show (European tour) and We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre).

Dermot Canavan plays Lazar Wolf. His theatre credits include Oklahoma! (Gordon Craig Theatre), Rehab (Union Theatre), The Last Tango (Phoenix Theatre), West Side Story (Kilworth House), The Ladykillers (The Watermill Theatre), Annie Get Your Gun (UK tour), The Tempest, The Taming Of The Shrew, The 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre), Hairspray (Shaftesbury Theatre), and In The Club (Hampstead Theatre); and for film Like Crazy.

Stewart Clarke plays Perchik. He returns to the Menier Chocolate Factory having previously performed in Assassins. Other theatre credits include The Rink (Southwark Playhouse), A Streetcar Named Desire (Curve), The Return of the Soldier (Jermyn Street Theatre), Godspell in Concert (Lyric Theatre), Cool Rider Live (Duchess Theatre), Ghost the Musical (UK tour) and Loserville (Garrick Theatre). His television credits include The Moonstone; and for film Easy Virtue.

Matt Corner plays Fyedka. His theatre credits include Jersey Boys (Piccadilly Theatre/UK tour), A Day at the Races/A Night at the Opera (Ireland), Jim Caruso’s Cast Party (Birdland Jazz Club, New York). His film credits include Les Miserables and You’re A Musical Star.

Joshua Gannon plays Motel. He graduated from Guildford School of Acting 2017. Since graduating, his credits include Oklahoma! (Gordon Craig Theatre), Cilla – The Musical (UK tour) and The Wind in The Willows (London Palladium).

Louise Gold plays Yente. Her theatre credits include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (London Palladium), Follies (Royal Festival Hall), Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre), Oliver! (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Gypsy(Chichester Festival Theatre/Savoy Theatre), Our Country’s Good, The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Royal Lyceum Theatre), The Cherry Orchard (RSC), Noises Off (Piccadilly Theatre), The Good Person of Szechwan (Young Vic) and The Nap (Sheffield Theatres). Her television credits include Strike Back, The Alan Clarke Diaries, Spitting Image and The Muppet Show; and for film, Muppets Most Wanted, The Muppet Christmas Carol, The Great Muppet Caper, The Dark Crystal, Muppet Treasure Island, The Pirates of Penzance, Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire, Topsy Turvey and Crush.

Kirsty MacLaren plays Chava. Her theatre credits include the Olivier Award-winning Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour (international tour/National Theatre/Duke of York’s Theatre), The Crucible (Royal Lyceum Theatre), Rapunzel (Platform Theatre), Miracle on 34th St, The Admirable Crichton, Mr Bolfry, Yellow on the Broom (Pitlochry Festival Theatre) and Freak Show (Noisemaker Productions).

Molly Osborne plays Tzeitel. She recently graduated from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. This marks her professional stage debut.

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 Information

Fiddler on the Roof

Venue:                                Menier Chocolate Factory

Address:                             53 Southwark Street, London, SE1 1RU

Press performance:         5 December at 8pm

Dates:                                 23 November 2018 – 9 March 2019

Times:                                For the performance schedule, please see the website

Box Office:                         020 7378 1713 (£2.50 transaction fee per booking)

Website:                        www.menierchocolatefactory.com (£1.50 transaction fee per booking)

Tickets:                               Prices vary, as below from discounted preview tickets to premier seats. With the emphasis on ‘the sooner you book, the better the price’:

A meal deal ticket includes a 2-course meal from the pre-theatre menu in the Menier Restaurant as well as the theatre ticket.

www.menierchocolatefactory.com

Twitter: @MenChocFactory

THE LEHMAN TRILOGY WILL TRANSFER TO THE WEST END

Following a sold-out run at the National Theatre, the NT and Neal Street Productions’ critically acclaimed The Lehman Trilogy will transfer to the Piccadilly Theatre in May 2019.

Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley, and Ben Miles will reprise the roles they originated at the National Theatre in The Lehman Trilogy by Stefano Massini, adapted by Ben Power and directed bySam Mendes, when it transfers to the West End from 11 May 2019, for a limited 12-week season at the Piccadilly Theatre.

Tickets for the transfer go on sale to the public from 2 November following a members’ booking period. The Lehman Trilogy is produced in the West End by the National Theatre and Neal Street Productions.

The story of a family and a company that changed the world, told in three parts on a single evening.

Directed by Sam Mendes (The Ferryman, Skyfall), The Lehman Trilogy weaves through nearly two centuries of Lehman lineage. On a cold September morning in 1844 a young man from Bavaria stands on a New York dockside. Dreaming of a new life in the new world. He is joined by his two brothers and an American epic begins. 163 years later, the firm they establish – Lehman Brothers – spectacularly collapses into bankruptcy, and triggers the largest financial crisis in history. Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley, and Ben Miles play the Lehman Brothers, and a cast of characters including their sons and grandsons, in an extraordinary feat of storytelling.

The Lehman Trilogy features set designs by Es Devlin, costume design by Katrina Lindsay, video design by Luke Halls, lighting design by Jon Clark, and music and sound design by Nick Powell. The music director is Candida Caldicot, with movement by Polly Bennett.

The world premiere of Stefano Massini’s The Lehman Trilogy opened at the Piccolo Teatro in Milan in 2015. It turned out to be Artistic Director Luca Ronconi’s final production before his death. A long-term admirer of Ronconi’s, Sam Mendes was inspired to begin planning an English adaptation for Neal Street Productions. Ben Power, Deputy Artistic Director for the National Theatre, was commissioned to create a new version of this epic play, using a literal English translation by Mirella Cheeseman.

Director Sam Mendes said: “The Lehman Trilogy was developed over three years without the constraint of a schedule, or even a destination – I was allowed time to find its form, and to build a wonderful team with which to make it. One of the chief joys has been to work across borders with two great writers, and to invite three of the finest actors of their generation to work with us. We are indebted to the National Theatre and the Park Avenue Armory for their unstinting support throughout, and I couldn’t be more excited to show it to New York audiences and to be extending our London life in the West End.”

Lisa Burger, NT Executive Director said: “The Lehman Trilogy’s West End transfer, with all three of the Lehman brothers – Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley and Ben Miles – continuing their extraordinary feat of storytelling, is a wonderful development in the life of this spell-binding production and a testament to the work created by Stefano Massini, Ben Power and Sam Mendes. The show has been a complete sell-out here, so it’s great to be working with Neal Street Productions to make sure that more people will have the chance to see it at the Piccadilly Theatre next year.”

The Lehman Trilogy transfers to the West End direct from the production’s New York debut, complete with the original cast, at the Park Avenue Armory. The Lehman Trilogy previews at the Piccadilly Theatre from 11 May 2019 and follows the National Theatre’s production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the venue, which opens in November 2018.

For further information contact Susie Newbery on 020 7452 3155 / [email protected]

ENDS
Notes to editors

The Lehman Trilogy
Piccadilly Theatre, 16 Denman St, Soho, London W1D 7DY

From 11 May 2019

Tickets from £18

Tickets go on sale to National Theatre members on 23 October, and to the general public on 2 November.
Book via nationaltheatre.org.uk / 020 7452 3000 or via ATG on 0844 871 7630*. 
*Calls cost 7p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge.

National History Museum – until 30 December

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

Dead Puppet Society’s acclaimed production about the voyage of the Beagle has found the perfect home in the Natural History Museum. Entering through The Darwin Centre, and past a booth selling the familiar gruff bearded image familiar to the world, The Wider Earth presents Darwin as a scientific ingenue, with the wonders that he sees as he journeys across the globe sowing the seeds of his great theory of evolution. Bradley Foster gives Darwin just the right amount of brilliance and naivety in a charming performance, making his conflict and friendship with the prickly Captain FitzRoy (Jack Parry-Jones) believable, and the play is book ended by entertaining scenes establishing Darwin’s relationships with his father and Emma Wedgewood (Melissa Vaughan).

The set consists of a rotating block that serves as a range of rock features over which Darwin clambers looking for specimens, and the hull of the Beagle, which the crew cling to in storms. The hollow reverse side is the deck of the ship and other interiors. The speed at which the sets are redressed as it rotates is awesome and it is a brilliant design choice – the only slight down side is that views of the screen are obstructed from at least the first 10 rows of the flat seating area. Using projections, the huge backdrop shows glorious images of stars and ocean skies, and becomes a sketchbook reminiscent of Warhorse, with ink drawings of maps and colourised views of ports of call on the Beagle’s voyage.

The focus of the play is the clash between the idealistic, open minded abolitionist Darwin and the religious views of FitzRoy and missionary Richard Matthews. The play doesn’t shy away from the distasteful colonial views of the era, with lots of debates about the plight of savages before Christian men of the Empire “saved” them. The fate of Jemmy Button (Marcello Cruz), bought by FitzRoy for a brass button and educated before being returned to Tierra del Fuego as a missionary, allows the audience to discover more about FitzRoy’s character, and also allows Parry-Jones to let rip with a powder keg performance. The whole cast give wonderful performances but, in the end, they are upstaged by the BRILLIANT puppets. As Darwin tries to tempt an armadillo with grass, flicks butterflies and finches off his shoulders and feeds giant tortoises – the beauty and purity of the puppets ensures that the audience experiences the awe and wonder that Darwin must have felt. You are transported back to childhood and opening an intricate pop-up book – I wanted to take the platypus home with me.

The glorious puppetry may attract some parents, but a show with puppets isn’t automatically aimed at young children. The NHM’s website says that “The show is suitable for ages 10+. The puppetry and visual elements will appeal to younger people, but some of the scientific content may go over their heads.” It’s not just the science though; the colonial and religious mindsets and arguments will baffle and possibly bore children. Speaking as a primary school teacher, there is a HUGE difference between a child sitting through something and them being engaged, and most children under 12’s experience of this production would probably be “He’s eaten a beetle!… sailors… rocks… can I go to the loo?… shouty bits about god… PUPPETS!!!!!!… more god stuff… and a notebook.”

The play ends with Darwin in a bit of a pickle about the implications of his developing ideas, and lots of knowing lines about it being the work of a lifetime. Perhaps Dead Puppet Society could work on a companion piece about Alfred Russel Wallace next? I’d love to see their version of Wallace’s flying frog!

The Wider Earth takes the audience on a spell-binding voyage of storytelling and scientific discovery – a thrilling introduction to the wonders of the world and the rewards and joy of curiosity and freethinking. This is like watching Monkman and Seagull travel back in time. A fantastic night at the museum for science geeks, history buffs and theatre lovers.