BROS THEATRE COMPANY CELEBRATES 110^TH ANNIVERSARY WITH RETURN TO RICHMOND THEATRE WITH PRODUCTION OF

HIGH SOCIETY

Hot off the heels of its recent Best Musical win at the artsrichmond Swan Awards 2018, BROS Theatre Company returns to Richmond Theatre with its swell-egant, elegant production of Cole Porter’s HIGH SOCIETY.

This all-singing all-dancing family spectacular will sweep into the iconic Richmond Theatre from Tue 30 Oct – Sat 3 Nov, marking the first time a non-commercial company has performed the show in the theatre’s 119-year history. Press are invited to attend for review on Tue 30 Oct at 7.30pm.

And what of the story? It takes place in 1938 in Oyster Bay, Long Island, where a lavish wedding is about to take place. The unexpected arrival of her ex-husband and a potential suitor means that for the bride-to-be, there’s a choice to be made. With an irresistible Cole Porter score including sensational classics ‘True Love’, ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ and ‘Let’s Misbehave’, High Society offers a glimpse into the romances and dramas of the fashionable elite.

For show director Deb McDowell, HIGH SOCIETY is a natural choice for Richmond Theatre. ‘It’s such a pleasure to be bringing this classy show to Richmond Theatre – it’s the perfect venue. What could be better for banishing the blues this Autumn than a brilliantly comic and beautifully romantic Cole Porter musical!’

Past BROS shows at Richmond Theatre include Crazy For You in 2010, Oliver! In 2013 and 42nd Street in 2016 – all of which played to sell-out audiences. The company also have won the artsrichmond Award for Best Musical for two years running, with The Producers(2016) and Made In Dagenham (2017). As of 2018, BROS is the only non-commercial company still performing at Richmond.

BROS Theatre Company is celebrating 110 years of delighting audiences in the borough. BROS’ patron, Alan Titchmarsh, has been a part of the society and its work for many years including undertaking a variety of on-stage roles himself. Of HIGH SOCIETY, Alan says,“BROS Theatre Company’s productions, with their reputation for quality and originality, are eagerly looked forward to by a large audience. High Society is a hit show that offers a wealth of familiar songs, from ‘True Love’ to ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ and ‘Well Did You Evah!’  I can’t wait to see it, and urge all those who love this Hollywood favourite to book a seat now!”

High Society at Richmond Theatre

Tue 30 Oct – Sat 3 Nov

Tickets from: £14.65*

Show Link: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/high-society/richmond-theatre/

BAT OUT OF HELL – THE MUSICAL

WEST END SEASON MUST END

5 JANUARY 2019

The West End season of the award-winning Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical must end at the Dominion Theatre on Saturday 5 January 2019.  Meanwhile, the North American Tour opens in Toronto, Canada on 16 October 2018 and the German language premiere will open in Oberhasuen, Germany on 2 November 2018.

Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical wowed critics and public alike when it played limited seasons at Manchester Opera House, London Coliseum and Toronto’s Ed Mirvish Theatre in 2017, and has been seen by over 650,000 people to date. It began previews at the Dominion Theatre on Monday 2 April, with a gala performance on 19 April 2018.  Earlier this year, the show’s producers announced a wide-ranging global partnership with the Invictus Games Foundation, the governing body of the Invictus Games, and a special Gala Performance of the musical in support of the Invictus Games Foundation will take place on Thursday 6 December 2018.

Bat Out Of Hell became one of the best-selling albums in history, selling over 50 million copies worldwide.  16 years later, Steinman scored again with Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell, which contained the massive hit I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That).

For the stage musical, the legendary and award-winning Jim Steinman has incorporated iconic songs from the Bat Out Of Hell albums, including You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth, Bat Out Of Hell, I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) and Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad, as well as two previously unreleased songs, What Part of My Body Hurts the Most and Not Allowed to Love.

Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical is a romantic adventure about rebellious youth and passionate love, set against the backdrop of a post-cataclysmic city adrift from the mainland.  Strat, the forever young leader of The Lost, has fallen for Raven, daughter of Falco, the tyrannical, ruler of Obsidian.  It scooped the ‘Evening Standard Radio 2 Audience Award’ for Best Musical in 2017.

The cast of Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical at the Dominion Theatre is led by Jordan Luke Gage as Strat and Christina Bennington as Raven, with Rob Fowler as Falco and Sharon Sexton as Sloane.  Also starring are Alex Thomas-Smith as Tink, Danielle Steers as Zahara, Wayne Robinson as Jagwire, Giovanni Spanó as Ledoux and Ryan Anderson as Blake.  At certain performances, the role of Strat will be played by Simon Gordon.  Also in the cast are Kyle Anthony, Emily Benjamin, Christopher Cameron, Georgia Carling, Natalie Chua, Jonathan Cordin, Rob Copeland, Hannah Ducharme, Isaac Edwards, Collette Guitart, Eric Hallengren, Vicki Manser, Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky, Aston Newman Hannington, Eve Norris, Joseph Peacock, Kyle Roberts, Craig Ryder, Dawnita Smith, Courtney Stapleton, Julie Stark, Charlotte Anne Steen, Sam Toland and Barney Wilkinson.

Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical has book, music and lyrics by Jim Steinman, direction by Jay Scheib, choreography by Emma Portner, with musical supervision and additional arrangements by Michael Reed, set design by Jon Bausor, costume design by Jon Bausor and Meentje Nielsen, video design by Finn Ross, lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe, sound design by Gareth Owen, orchestration by Steve Sidwell, casting by David Grindrod CDG, fight direction by Stuart Boother and musical direction by Robert Emery.

Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical is produced by David Sonenberg, Michael Cohl, Randy Lennox & Tony Smith.

Website:  www.BatOutOfHellMusical.com

Twitter & Facebook:  @BatTheMusical

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical

Dominion Theatre

268-269 Tottenham Court Road

London W1T 7AQ

Performances:  Mon-Sat at 7.30pm, Wed & Sat matinee at 2.30pm (N.B. Special Gala Performance on 6 December 2018 at 7.00pm)

Tickets:  from £15.00

Box Office:  0845 200 7982

Booking until 5 January 2019

Running Time:  2 hours 40 minutes (including interval)

Christmas 2018/19 Performance Schedule

Mon 17 December – 7.30pm

Tue 18 December – 7.30pm

Wed 19 December – 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Thurs 20 December – 7.30pm

Fri 21 December – 7.30pm

Sat 22 December – 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Mon 24 December – No Show

Tue 25 December – No Show

Wed 26 December – 7.30pm

Thurs 27 December – 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Fri 28 December – 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Sat 29 December – 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Mon 31 December – 7.00pm (Sing-A-Long Perormance)

Tues 1 January – 7.30pm

Wed 2 January – 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Thurs 3 January – 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Fri 4 January – 7.30pm

Sat 5 January – 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Hull New Theatre – until 13th October 2018

Reviewed by Catherine McWilliams

5*****

What a fabulous Monday night at Hull New Theatre watching Benidorm Live, the audience laughed and whooped and sang and gave the cast a richly deserved standing ovation. The Hotel Solana may be three stars (with a fourth hanging off!) but this was a stunning 5 star performance. Like the rest of the packed Hull New Theatre audience I laughed like a drain and I think my face is now permanently in a smile, what a wonderful feeling!

Rather than use some of the episodes from the TV series Derren Litten has written a brand new story specifically for the stage and in so doing has ensured that Benidorm Live will be as successful as his TV series. His writing is superb, full of the double entendres, innuendo, misunderstandings and throwaway lines that we Brits love, following on the long traditions from saucy seaside postcards to Hancock’s Half Hour to The Two Ronnies (to name but a few).

The story revolves around the Hotel Solana’s manager discovering that a hotel inspector is incognito in the hotel ready to report back to the new owners of the hotel and the inevitable chaos that follows as the staff try to make sure they get a positive review.

This was a joyous performance and the cast were faultless in their timing and the delivery of lines, which I suspect they enjoyed as much as the audience. Sherrie Hewson has hotel manager Joyce Temple-Savage to perfection as she turns her posh voice on and off and tries to keep control of the hotel. Adam Gillen as Liam is the perfect foil for Kenneth (Tony Maudsley) and Liam’s cabaret turn in the second half is brilliant, I’m still smiling as I think about it. Tony Maudsley is wonderfully over the top as Kenneth and his costumes are inspired! Janine Duvitski plays Jacqueline with aplomb, her timing is stunning and watch out for her backing performance to Asa Elliott singing Rubber Ball. Jake Canuso is suitably cheesy as lothario Mateo and his cabaret dancing was fab-u-lous. The rest of the cast do an excellent supporting job and the set design by Mark Walters is stunning.

I have to admit to not having watched the TV series so I was not quite sure what to expect – what I got was a brilliant night out. I’m not sure that Benidorm Live is always PC and if you’re easily offended forget it but my advice would be that if there is a ticket available for Benidorm Live you should grab it with both hands. Benidorm Live is the ideal antidote for a chilly autumn night with such a feel good factor that it should be on prescription from the NHS!

Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Rebecca Stafford Productions present
Witness for the Prosecution
By Agatha Christie

• All rise for Witness for the Prosecution, celebrating a year of site-specific theatre in the spectacular Chamber of London’s County Hall.
• On its first birthday, Lucy Bailey’s production is well placed in the race to become Agatha Christie’s longest-running play, with The Mousetrap a mere 65 years ahead at this stage.
• Holly Willoughby and Jeremy Vine have been among the jurors who have answered the call to consider a verdict in the case of Leonard Vole.  Other luminaries spotted attending the trial include Tess Daly, Isla Fisher, Kelly Holmes, Calvin Klein, Ian McKellen, David Suchet, George Takei and Ronnie Wood. In its first year the show has also welcomed QCs, two High Court Judges and real-life forensics and autopsy teams.
• From 20 November, the production will welcome new cast members including Emma Rigby as Romaine Vole, Daniel Solbe as the accused Leonard Vole, Jasper Britton as Sir Wilfrid Robarts, William Chubb as Mr Myers QC, Christopher Ravenscroft as Mr Justice Wainwright and Ewan Stewart as Mr Mayhew. 
• To celebrate a killer first year, Witness for the Prosecution is offering a new range of gift packages, just in time for Christmas.
• Tickets now on sale until 1 September 2019 from www.witnesscountyhall.com 

Witness for the Prosecution this week celebrates its 1st birthday at London’s County Hall. DirectorLucy Bailey (Love From A Stranger, The Graduate, Titus Andronicus) thrillingly places the audience in the thick of the action in “the comfiest seats in London” (New York Times), or observing from the Press Gallery, as Agatha Christie’s gripping tale of justice, passion and betrayal unfolds around them.

More tickets have been released today for the production, which is now booking until 1 September 2019, available via www.witnesscountyhall.com

New cast members are announced today who will join the company from 20 November; Emma Rigby (Hollyoaks, Once Upon A Time in Wonderland) will play Romaine Vole, Daniel Solbe as the accused Leonard Vole, Jasper Britton (Pack of Lies, The Libertine) as Sir Wilfrid Robarts,William Chubb (Othello, This House) as Mr Myers QC, Christopher Ravenscroft (High Society, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries) as Mr Justice Wainwright and Ewan Stewart (Titanic, Let The Right One In) as Mr Mayhew. The new cast will also include Richard Banks, Chloé Booyens, Joanna Brookes, Miriam Cooper, Liam Lau Fernandez, Phoebe Marshall,Hugh Osborne, Simon Roberts, Leo Turner and Jamie Zubairi.

Leonard Vole is accused of murdering a widow to inherit her wealth. The stakes are high. Will Leonard survive the shocking witness testimony?  Will he be able to convince the jury of his innocence and escape the hangman’s noose?

Witness for the Prosecution has captured the imagination of audiences who have experienced the drama inside the unique setting of County Hall’s ornate Chamber on London’s iconic South Bank, receiving Best Revival nominations at the 2018 Olivier and WhatsOnStage Awards.

The production is designed by William Dudley, with lighting by Chris Davey and sound design by Mic Pool.

LISTINGS

Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Rebecca Stafford Productions present
Witness for the Prosecution
By Agatha Christie
Directed by Lucy Bailey
Designed by William Dudley
Lighting Design by Chris Davey
Sound Design by Mic Pool

London County Hall
The Chamber, County Hall, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 7PB
Currently Booking until 1 September 2019
Box Office: 0844 815 7141
Online: www.witnesscountyhall.com

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Tuesday to Saturday, 7.30pm and matinees on Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm and Sunday at 3pm

See website for the following performances:

17 December 2018 – 6 January 2019
18 – 24 February 2019
15 – 23 April 2019

TICKET PRICES

Tickets from £10

No booking fees if booked via the official website

Our exclusive VIP Jury Ticket will place you in the heart of the courtroom action. Jurors will receive a complimentary programme and 2 complimentary drinks (soft drink, beer or house wine) to be redeemed pre-show or at the interval.

A KILLER CHRISTMAS PRESENT – Gift packages now available. See website for details.

To celebrate a killer first year, Witness for the Prosecution is offering a new range of gift packages, just in time for Christmas.

You simply select which of the three packages you would like to send as a gift, and the date you’d like us to confirm the gift to your recipient, and we’ll send an email that allows them to choose a performance date and time that suits them.

Or if you prefer to present in person, we’ll send you one of our limited-edition Witness for the Prosecution gift boxes, with ticket voucher and information about the show – so you can give your friends and family their day in court.

JURY PACKAGE £210 – Become a member of the Jury, and be prepared to be “sworn to secrecy” as the trial begins. Package includes 2 VIP Jury tickets, programme and drinks before the show and during the interval.

JUDGE PACKAGE £175 – Take your seats in our Premium area, right at the heart of the action. Package includes 2 Premium seat tickets, programme and drinks before the show.

COURTROOM PACKAGE £150 – Watch the trial play out before you as Leonard Vole fights to convince the jury – and you – of his innocence. Package includes 2 Band A tickets, programme and drinks before the show.

Website: www.witnesscountyhall.com

#killer1styear #SeeYouInCourt

Twitter: @WitnessPlayLDN
Instagram: @witnessplayldn
Facebook: /WitnessPlayLDN

MILES JUPP

TO STAR IN

THE LIFE I LEAD

WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION LAUNCHES FEBRUARY 2019

Miles Jupp, one of Britain’s leading stand-up comedians and revered actors (Mock the Week, Balamory, The News Quiz, Rev, The Durrells), will tour the UK in 2019, with the world premiere of THE LIFE I LEAD by James Kettle, directed by Selina Cadell, opening at the Exeter Northcott on 6 February.

Best remembered for playing ‘Mr Banks’ in Disney’s classic film Mary Poppins and ‘Professor Emelius Browne’ in Bedknobs and Broomsticks, British actor David Tomlinson was renowned for playing the classic English gent: forthright, proper, and a loveable fool. His meeting with Walt Disney came to encapsulate his incredible life full of adventure and heartbreak. The Life I Lead sees Miles Jupp bringing David Tomlinson’s remarkable story to life.

As a World War Two fighter pilot, his early life contained action and adventure; but he suffered huge heartbreak with the tragic death of his first wife, and his fight to have his son Willie recognised as one of the first British cases of autism. The man who portrayed one of cinema’s most famous patriarchs was also defined by his relationship with his own father – a remote eccentric, who was hiding an extraordinary tragicomic secret.

THE LIFE I LEAD is a richly comic and moving tale of fathers and sons across the generations and fills in the blanks behind a very well-known face.

Miles Jupp said. “I was attracted to this first because of the character of Tomlinson himself- a man whose acting performances seemed effortless but concealed a great skill beneath the surface and not a little magic. And then by the story of his life, beautifully written by my frequent collaborator James Kettle, which is full of surprises.  It is a script that contains both comedy and moments of extraordinary sadness and pain and I hope that under the direction of Selina Cadell, one of my most favourite people in the world, I can do the play and Tomlinson justice.”

Described by the Telegraph as “a very British tour-de-force”, Miles Jupp has appeared as a performer across a wide range of genres – from stand-up comedy and theatre to major television series and Hollywood films. His extensive screen credits include the award-winning BBC2 sitcom Rev, The Thick Of It, Outnumbered and Gary: Tank Commander as well as the popular children’s TV show, Balamory, The Crown on Netflix, Howards End for the BBC, and The Durrells and Bad Move for ITV, as well as appearances on Have I got News For You, QI, Mock the Week, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Live At the Apollo, James And Jupp. George Clooney’s The Monuments Men, Michael Winterbottom’s The Look Of Love, Nigel Cole’s Made In Dagenham and Jon Stewart’s Rosewater. In 2012, Miles made his National Theatre debut in Alan Bennett’s People and in 2015 went on to perform in the theatre’s critically acclaimed production of Rules for Living alongside Stephen Mangan. He has also appeared in The Way Of The World at Northampton Royal Theatre, A Death In The Death Of Joe Egg at the Glasgow Citizens and Neville’s Island in the West End.

James Kettle is both a narrative and entertainment comedy writer, and a long-time collaborator with Miles Jupp; lead writer of BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, and numerous episodes of In and Out the Kitchen. His other writing credits include four series of the Rose D’Or nominated Tom Wrigglesworth’s Hang ups, three series of Can’t Tell Nathan Caton Nothing, four series of Wordaholics and he also writes live tour material for comedians such as Joe Lycett, Jason Byrne, and Susan Calman.

The Life I Lead is produced by Jonathan Church Productions and Exeter Northcott, directed by Selina Cadell, designed by Lee Newby.

www.lifeileadtour.com/ / www.twitter.com/LifeILeadTour / www.facebook.com/LifeILeadTour/

THE LIFE I LEAD – UK TOUR DATES 2019

Wednesday 6 – Saturday 9 February Box Office: 01392 726363 Exeter, Northcott Theatre Website: https://exeternorthcott.co.uk

Monday 11 – Saturday 16 February Box Office: 01243 781312 Chichester, Minerva Theatre Website: https://www.cft.org.uk/

Monday 19 – Tuesday 20 February Box Office: 01723 370541 Scarborough, Stephen Joseph Website: https://www.sjt.uk.com

Friday 22 – Sunday 24 February Box Office: 0843 208 6000 Manchester, Lowry Website: https://www.thelowry.com/

Tuesday 26 February Box Office: 0115 941 9419 Nottingham, Playhouse Website: https://www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/

Wednesday 27 – Thursday 28 February Box Office: 01302 303 959 Doncaster, CAST (on sale November) Website: https://www.castindoncaster.com/

Friday 1 – Saturday 2 March Box Office: 01603 598598 Norwich, Playhouse (on sale 26th November) Website: http://www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk/

Tuesday 5 – Wednesday 6 March Box Office: 01865 305305 Oxford, Playhouse (on sale soon) Website: https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/

Thursday 7 – Saturday 9 March Box Office: 01284 769505 Bury St. Edmunds, Theatre Royal (on sale soon) Website: https://www.theatreroyal.org/

Monday 11 – Wednesday 13 March Box Office: 0121 236 4455 Birmingham Rep, Studio (on sale soon) Website: https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/

Thursday 14 – Saturday 16 March Box Office: 01722 320 333 Salisbury, Playhouse (on sale soon) Website: https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/

Friday 18 – Saturday 30 March Box Office: 020 7870 6876 Park Theatre London Website: www.parktheatre.co.uk

Tuesday 2 – Wednesday 3 April Box Office: 01483 44 0000 Guildford, Yvonne Arnaud (on sale soon) Website: https://www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/

RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE CHAMPION BIANCA DEL RIO ANNOUNCES ‘IT’S JESTER JOKE’ 2019 UK ARENA TOUR

BIGGEST EVER SOLO DRAG SHOW TO VISIT 13 CITIES INCLUDING EDINBURGH

Following two consecutive sell-out UK tours, including three sold out nights at London’s Eventim Apollo, comedy queen and RuPaul’s Drag Race champion Bianca Del Rio has announced that she will be returning to the UK for an unprecedented arena tour from Sunday 1 – Tuesday 24 September 2019.

The brand new It’s Jester Joke Tour will travel the length and breadth of the country, bringing her irreverent, side-splitting comedy to 13 cities – including a date at the Edinburgh Playhouse on Saturday 7 September 2019 along with appearances at the SSE Wembley Arena, B1 Birmingham Arena, Motorpoint Cardiff Arena and more in what will be the biggest ever solo drag show in the UK.

The self-proclaimed ‘Clown in a Gown’ will tell tales of her world travels and the outrageous circus that is her life on the most ambitious solo drag show tour in history on her brand-new comedy show ‘It’s Jester Joke’.

Irreverent and fierce, Bianca is guaranteed to keep audiences in stitches with her comical ‘tell-it-like-it-is’ views, from politics and travel to family and social media that has seen her become one the biggest drag superstars in the world today.

Don’t miss the chance to see The Queen of Mean in her uncompromisingly funny new show in September 2019.

Bianca Del Rio, the alter ego of seasoned comic Roy Haylock, has well and truly taken the world by storm. After quickly becoming the front-runner on the sixth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Bianca was crowned the winner in May 2014.

The incredibly popular champion has amassed a huge following worldwide, with her Instagram soaring to over one million followers and previous shows ‘The Rolodex of Hate’, ‘Not Today Satan’ and ‘Blame It On

Bianca Del Rio’ selling out globally.

LISTING INFORMATION

BIANCA DEL RIO IT’S JESTER JOKE

EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE

Greenside Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3AA

SAT 7 SEPTEMBER 2019

Time 8.30pm

HOW TO BOOK

Online: www.atgtickets.com/Edinburgh

Box Office: 0844 871 3014*

*fees apply.

★★★★★

“Fresh, subversive, essential”

Daily Telegraph

LEGENDARY MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA

RETURNS FOR MAJOR 12 MONTH UK TOUR

DECEMBER 2018 – NOVEMBER 2019

STARRING

DUNCAN JAMES, JOANNE CLIFTON, BEN ADAMS & STEPHEN WEBB

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Since it first opened in London in June 1973 at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show has become the world’s favourite Rock ‘N’ Roll musical, having been performed worldwide for 45 years in more than 30 countries and translated into over 20 languages. This critically-acclaimed stunning new production is now back by public demand and returns for a 12 month UK tour starting at Theatre Royal Brighton on 13 December 2018.

This classic musical extravaganza will star Blue singer and Hollyoaks actor Duncan James* and West End star Stephen Webb* as Frank, Strictly Come Dancing Champion Joanne Clifton* as Janet and a1’s Ben Adams* as Brad. Kristian Lavercombe will also be reprising his role as Riff Raff, following more than 1300 performances in The Rocky Horror Show around the world. Directed by Christopher Luscombe, the smash hit show features all of the famous musical numbers which have made The Rocky Horror Show such a huge hit for over four decades, including “Sweet Transvestite”, “Science Fiction/Double Feature”, “Dammit Janet” and, of course, the timeless floor-filler, “The Time-Warp”.

Duncan James said: “Frank is such an iconic role, it’s an honour to be able to play him and a role that I have always wanted to do. I’m so excited to be touring with such a fun and vibrant show, and to be working with this fantastic cast.”

Joanne Clifton said: “I’ve always loved Rocky Horror. I learnt the Time Warp in my dance classes in Grimsby when I was 4 years old … 30 years later and I’ll be jumping to the left on the actual Rocky Horror stage, I can’t quite believe it!”

Ben Adams added: “Performing in Rocky Horror is a dream come true – I love the show so much it inspired me to write my own musical Eugenius! Joanne and I make quite a team and I’m sure that the whole cast will be raising the roof night after night as we perform for all the amazingly devoted Rocky fans. Bring on the stilettos!”

Stephen Webb said: “What an incredible opportunity to bring such a bold, energetic show across the UK. Frank is a dream role! I’m so pleased to be a part of the Rocky team, and can’t wait to give it everything I’ve got.”

The Rocky Horror Show tells the story of Brad and his fiancée Janet, two squeaky clean college kids who meet Dr Frank’n’Furter by chance when their car breaks down outside his house whilst on their way to visit their favourite college professor. It’s an adventure they’ll never forget, with fun, frolics, frocks and frivolity, bursting with timeless songs and outrageous outfits.  The Rocky Horror Show is a guaranteed party, which famously combines science-fiction, horror, comedy and music while encouraging audience participation meaning, of course, getting dressed in the most outrageous fancy dress.

The Rocky Horror Show first began life in 1973 before an audience of just 63 people in the Royal Court’s Theatre Upstairs.  It was an immediate success and transferred to the Chelsea Classic Cinema, before going on to run at the Kings Road Theatre, 1973-79 and the Comedy Theatre in the West End, 1979-80.  In 1975 it was transformed into a film called ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’. This film adaptation took over $135 million at the Box Office and is still shown in cinemas around the world more than 40 years after its premiere, making it the longest running theatrical release in cinema history. Many stars including Russell Crowe, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Jerry Springer, Jason Donovan and Meatloaf have appeared in The Rocky Horror Show over the past 45 years.

In 2015, as part of a sold-out season at London’s Playhouse Theatre, a special star-studded Gala charity performance in aid of Amnesty International was broadcast to over 600 cinemas across the UK and Europe. The live screening – featuring a host of celebrities playing The Narrator including Stephen Fry, Mel Giedroyc, Emma Bunton, Ade Edmondson, Anthony Head and Richard O’Brien – smashed box office records and was the biggest grossing film in cinemas across the UK.  The performance was subsequently screened on the Sky Arts channel.

Ready to thrill you with fun and naughty moments, The Rocky Horror Show is the boldest bash of them all. But be warned, this show has rude parts!

What the press have said about The Rocky Horror Show:

“Panto for grown-ups – colourful, in your face, relentlessly energetic and high on audience participation” – The Times

“Hard to think of another musical quite as unique as this. Christopher Luscombe’s affectionate production feels like a genuine blast from the past” – Mail on Sunday

“As delightfully naughty as ever!” – Daily Telegraph

“So fast, so funny, so sexy” – Daily Mail

“Still the sexiest and funniest show in town” – Evening Standard

The Rocky Horror Show 2018 / 2019 UK Tour Dates

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Ticket prices: From £10

Website: www.rockyhorror.co.uk

Twitter: @rockyhorroruk

Facebook: /rockyhorrorshow

Duncan James performs at Oxford, Southampton, Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol, Stoke-On-Trent, Blackpool, Glasgow, Leeds, Nottingham, Edinburgh

Stephen Webb performs at Brighton, Manchester, Sunderland, Milton Keynes, Wimbledon, Sheffield, Torquay, Woking, Belfast, Bromley, York, Dartford

Joanne Clifton performs until 25 May

Ben Adams performs until 25 May

Further cast includes:

Columbia – Miracle Chance

Eddie/Dr Scott – Ross Chisari

Rocky – Callum Evans

Magenta/Usherette – Laura Harrison

Phantom – Reece Budin

Phantom – Shelby Farmer

Phantom – Katie Monks

Phantom – Jake Small

Swing & Resident Choreographer – Andrew Ahern

Swing & Dance Captain – Maddie Hope Coelho

THE ALMEIDA THEATRE & RON FOGELMAN

ANNOUNCE THE WEST END TRANSFER OF THE SELL OUT PRODUCTION OF

BASED ON STORIES BY ROD SERLING, CHARLES BEAUMONT & RICHARD MATHESON

ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE BY ANNE WASHBURN &

DIRECTED BY THE MULTI AWARD-WINNING RICHARD JONES

OPENING AT THE AMBASSADORS THEATRE FROM 4 MARCH 2019

& ALL TICKETS FOR PREVIEWS AVAILABLE FOR £25 AND UNDER

“Washburn wryly posits the seminal sci-fi series as a cycle of legends on which contemporary America is founded.”

TIME OUT

“Richard Jones’s funny & frightening production”

METRO

★★★★★

METRO, ARTS DESK

★★★★

TIME OUT, EVENING STANDARD, INDEPENDENT, THE STAGE, MAIL ON SUNDAY

You are about to enter another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land of imagination. Next stop, The Twilight Zone.

After a sell-out Almeida run, The Twilight Zone will transfer to the West End, and will run at the Ambassadors Theatre from 4 March 2019. Adapted by Anne Washburn (Mr Burns) and directed by the multi award-winning director (winner of 7 Olivier Awards), Richard Jones, this production of the acclaimed classic CBS television series The Twilight Zone is an ingenious mixture of morality tales, fables and fantasy that are as relevant today as when audiences first encountered them.

The Twilight Zone is based on original stories by Rod Serling, and two of the most frequent and celebrated contributors, Charles Beaumont and Richard Matheson from the CBS television series. It is one of television’s most revered and influential science-fiction fantasy shows and ran on American network CBS from 1959 to 1964, winning 3 Emmy Awards during its 156-episode run. Its incisive parables explore humanity’s hopes, despairs, prides and prejudices. The programme has had a seminal influence on popular culture; from Stephen King to Lin-Manuel Miranda, Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan to Steven Spielberg, The Simpsons to Black Mirror.

With the original series celebrating its 60th Anniversary Year, a new version of The Twilight Zone recently began production and is coming to CBS All Access in 2019 with Jordan Peele serving as host and narrator. The upcoming new series is produced by CBS Television Studios in association with Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions and Simon Kinberg’s Genre Films. Jordan Peele and Simon Kinberg serve as executive producers along with Win Rosenfeld, Audrey Chon, Carol Serling, Rick Berg and Greg Yaitanes.

The Twilight Zone stage production is presented under license by CBS Consumer Products.

Ron Fogelman, Producer, said “The impact the production had on the audience at the Almeida Theatre was wonderful, showing just how timeless these stories continue to be.  Anne Washburn and Richard Jones have created a unique experience for the theatre that taps straight into the imagination.”

Rupert Goold, Artistic Director, Almeida Theatre said “Half of the people who booked to see The Twilight Zone at the Almeida were visiting our theatre for the first time so it feels hugely exciting to be giving new audiences another chance to catch this extraordinary, wildly entertaining creation from Anne Washburn and Richard Jones.”

Veronica Hart, Executive Vice President, CBS Consumer Products said “The play captures the thought-provoking, comedic and unnerving essence of the original Twilight Zone, allowing these powerful stories to be enjoyed in an entirely new way by a whole new audience.”

The Twilight Zone has design by Paul Steinberg, with costume design by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting design by Mimi Jordan Sherin, and D.M Wood, composition and sound by Sarah Angliss, sound by Christopher Shutt, movement direction by Aletta Collins, casting by Julia Horan, and illusions by Richard Wiseman and Will Houstoun. Casting to be announced in due course.

The Twilight Zone is produced by Ron Fogelman for Your Next Stop Limited and the Almeida Theatre. Kenny Wax is executive producer.

Anne Washburn’s latest play Shipwreck will make its world premiere at the Almeida Theatre in February 2019, directed by Rupert Goold. Her other plays include the The Twilight Zone, which ran at the Almeida in 2017/18 and her play Mr Burns: A Post Electric Play, which was recently listed as number 4 on The New York Times list of 25 Best American Plays since Angels in America, which premiered at the Woolly Mammoth in DC in 2012 and ran at the Almeida in 2014. Other plays include 10 out of 12 (Premiere: at Soho Rep, NYC), Antlia Pneumatica (Premiere: Playwrights Horizons, NYC), The Communist Dracula Pageant (Premiere: ART, Boston), A Devil at Noon (Premiere: Actors Theater of Louisville, Kentucky), I Have Loved Strangers (Premiere: Clubbed Thumb Summerworks, NYC), The Internationalist (Premiere: 13P, NYC), The Ladies (Premiere: The Civilians, NYC), Little Bunny Foo Foo (Premiere: Actors Theater of Louisville, Kentucky), The Small (Premiere: Clubbed Thumb Summerworks, NYC), and transadaptations of Euripides’ Orestes (Premiere: The Folger, Washington D.C.), and Iphigenia In Aulis (Premiere: Classic Stage Company, NYC). Awards include a Guggenheim, an Alpert, and a Laura Pels for an artist in mid-career. She is an associated artist with The Civilians, Clubbed Thumb, New Georges, and is an alumna of New Dramatists and 13P.

Richard Jones (Director) has directed theatre at the Young Vic, the Old Vic, the National Theatre, the West End, the Royal Court/ Ambassadors, the RSC, in New York at the Public Theatre, and three times on Broadway. He has directed opera at the Royal Opera House, the ENO, Aix en Provence, Paris, Amsterdam, Glyndebourne, La Scala, Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin and at the Met in New York.  In theatre he has been awarded Olivier awards for Too Clever by Half (Old Vic) and Into the Woods (Phoenix Theatre, West End) and the Evening Standard Award for best director for The Illusion (Old Vic). He was nominated for a Tony award for La Bete on Broadway.  He has been awarded three Olivier awards in opera for Hansel and Gretel (WNO), Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk (ROH), and for The Mastersingers of Nuremberg (ENO) –  this production was also awarded a South Bank Show Award. He was given the Evening Standard Award for outstanding artistic achievement for his production of Wagners Ring at the Royal Opera House and last year his Old Vic production of The Hairy Ape played at the New York Park Armory and was nominated for 6 Drama Desk nominations.

He was appointed CBE in the 2015 New Year’s Honours list. 

LISTINGS

THE TWILIGHT ZONE

BASED ON STORIES BY ROD SERLING, CHARLES BEAUMONT & RICHARD MATHESON

ADAPTED BY ANNE WASHBURN

DIRECTED BY RICHARD JONES

AMBASSADORS THEATRE

FROM 4 MARCH 2019

Priority On-sale: Via Almeida Theatre and Encore Tickets from Monday 8 October  

General On-sale: From Thursday 11 October

Performances:           

Monday – Saturday Evening at 7:45pm

Thursday and Saturday Matinee at 3.00pm

Running Time: 2 hours 10 minutes including interval

Ticket Prices: From £19.50 (all tickets for previews priced at £25 and under)

Address: Ambassadors Theatre, West St, London, WC2H 9ND        

Ambassadors Theatre Box Office: 020 7395 5405

www.theambassadorstheatre.co.uk

Almeida Theatre Box Office: 020 7359 4404

www.almeida.co.uk

Website: www.TwilightZoneThePlay.com

Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @TwilightZoneLDN