FINAL JUDGES AND GUEST PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED

FOR THE 2019 WEST END GALA OF

THE STEPHEN SONDHEIM SOCIETY STUDENT PERFORMER OF THE YEAR AND STILES + DREWE PRIZE

The Stephen Sondheim Society and Mercury Musical Developments today announce West End Musical Director Gareth Valentine as the final judgefor the 2019 Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year (SSSSPOTY), alongside the previously announced Julia McKenzie, Peter Polycarpou, and Edward Seckerson. Lyricist Charles Hart andOlivier Award-winner Jenna Russell join Nkeki Obi-Melekwe and Stiles + Drewe tocomplete the judging panel for the Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize. Winners will be announced at Theatre Royal Haymarket on Sunday 9 June.

Also announced today, the gala will feature guest performances from host Joanna Riding, and from Andy Coxon and Gabriela Garcia, the stars of the sold-out Royal Exchange Theatre production of West Side Story.

The Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year, co-produced by The Stephen Sondheim Societyand Mercury Musical Developments, sees twelve of the top student performers from musical theatre and drama schools across the UK each perform a song by Stephen Sondheim, and a new musical theatre song written by members of Mercury Musical Developments. The performers are competing for the top prize of £1,000.

The Stiles + Drewe Prizesupports and develops new musical theatre writing, recognising an outstanding song from a new musical, and is supported by The Entertainment Business. The winner of Best New Song receives £1,000 to put towards developing their work.

Wales Millennium Centre to host giant abseil down the front of the building, raising money for its charitable work, to celebrate its 15^th birthday

Staff at Wales Millennium Centre and members of the general public are invited to abseil down The Centre’s iconic building in the heart of Cardiff Bay on Saturday 8^th June 2019.

The Centre was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2004, and this year celebrates its 15^thbirthday. To mark this memorable occasion, The Centre is playing host to a giant abseil and family day of activities for charity.

Those who have signed up and raised funds will either abseil down the slate wall, or the magnificent inscription at the front of the building. With each participant aiming to raise £200, The Centre hopes to reach a target of £15,000 to support their charitable work.

There will also be an array of family entertainment for all to enjoy. Families are invited to come down to enjoy the day: watch the abseil take place, enjoy a barbecue and music led by our youth programmes, enter a raffle, and take part in some free family games and activities.

Wales Millennium Centre as a registered charity works every day to broaden people’s horizons and offer every young person in Wales access to the arts. Working in partnership with organisations like Grassroots and Valleys Kids, The Centre seeks to help those who have tougher lives than most to experience the arts, and the pleasure and life enhancement that it brings.

The Centre creates learning experiences, practical skills, workshops and courses, and gives young people the opportunity to take part in world-class theatre productions.

Since The Centre was opened 15 years ago, over 70,000 people have participated in their learning and engagement programme. The three core areas of learning through creativity are Performance Platfform, Radio Platfform and Behind the Platfform.

With a few spaces left on the abseil, get in contact with Wales Millennium Centre now to book your slot to raise money for charity and get that perfect Instagram shot.

To book your space onto the abseil, please email clwb@wmc.org.uk.

Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough – until 1st June 2019

Reviewed by Sara Garner

4****

Adapted and directed by Nick Lane. This is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s second full length novel and so finds a youthful Holmes and Watson early on in their friendship.

Nick Lane himself says that he didn’t want Holmes to be presented as a pastiche. From the start we focus not on Holmes’s eccentricities, but instead allow his portrayal in a much more serious way. This includes his use of narcotics during the first scene, and a superb example of ingenious deductive reasoning.

Watson and Holmes are introduced together and during this scene Watson turns occasionally to the audience to provide some narration. These small bits of narrative provides some cohesion to the story which helps the flow of the story line

The story moves from location to location, using the same superb set, designed by Victoria Spearing, which is moved around by the actors to great effect. Occasionally just the slightest move of a piece of set provides a visual illusion of a particular setting.

Several of the actors also play a variety of instruments throughout, usually to set the mood of a scene ahead. This is an interesting and highly effective tool.

With exception Luke Barton (Holmes) and Joseph Derrington (Dr Watson) who also briefly plays a minor role in the second half, all the actors play multiple roles. These character changes happen seamlessly in the first half. However as the pace picks up during the second half things can get a bit confusing. Though further narration may have been a possible solution to resolve this. .

Very interestingly the story is set during colonial times and more importantly touches on the early uprisings in India and is a reminder of this countries vulgar brutality and is a stark lesson regarding this countries unsavory past.

Luke Barton portrayal as Holmes and Joseph Derringtons portrayal of Dr Watson are both perfectly balanced and the developing bond between them is clear. Their relationship is both caring and nurturing, and humorous at times.

Stephanie Rutherford plays several female roles including Dr Watson’s future wife Mary Morstan. With a slight costume alteration and accent changes she is able to change skillfully and believable.

Christopher Glover plays a interesting array of characters with his Detective Athelney-Jones quite amusing, but a bit cliché.

Ru Hamilton was brilliant as the neurotic hypochondriac twin Thaddeus Sholto, but this was possibly to the detriment of his other characters.

Finally Zack Lee playing much more serious characters and whose slightly over long monologue as Jonathan Small explained the whole mystery. Zack managed to use the right balance between sinister, bombastic and vulnerable throughout.

It is obvious that a lot of work has gone into this production and that the cast also work very hard throughout.

However unfortunately for me the play misses the mark a bit and only because of the limitations of presenting such a complex piece on the small stage. The actors role changes work very well at times to the benefit of the performance. Unfortunately they also don’t go as well and leads to some confusion especially in the second half.

Despite this it is still a satisfying play to watch being thrilling, humorous, thought-provoking and ingenious at times.

FULL CASTING CONFIRMED FOR

Cast join previously announced Clive Owen, Lia Williams

Anna Gunn & Julia Glover

Season begins Saturday 6 July | Noël Coward Theatre

Final casting is today announced for Tennessee William’s The Night of the Iguana which begins a strictly limited season at the Noël Coward Theatre on Saturday 6^th July.

Alasdair Baker (The Bear, The Strangers) joins the cast as Herr Fahrenkopf; Timothy Blore (Edward II, Ghost About the House) as Wolfgang; Emma Canning (Heart in Cardio, Towers) as Charlotte Goodall; Karin Carlson (Ladies in Waiting) as Hilda; Ian Drysdale (Network) as Jake Latta; Manuel Pacific (West Side Story, The Most Amazing Story Ever Sung) as Pancho; Faz Singhateh (Henry V) as Hank; Finty Williams (A Pack of Lies, The Divide) as Miss Fellowes, and Penelope Woodman (The Last Ship, Mary Poppins) as Frau Fahrenkopf. Madeleine Day, Mufrida Hayes, Andrew McDonald and David Young complete the company.

The newly announced cast members join previously confirmed principals including Golden Globe-winner Clive Owen (Closer, Children of Men) who returns to the West End as Rev. T. Lawrence Shannon for the first time in 18 years; Lia Williams (The Crown, Mary Stuart) as Hannah Jelkes; two-time Emmy Award-winner Anna Gunn(Deadwood, Breaking Bad) in her West End debutas Maxine Faulk and Julian Glover (Game of Thrones) as Nonno.

The Night Of The Iguana will be directed by James Macdonald, (whose West End credits include the acclaimed recent production of Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf, The Father and The Changing Room) and will be designed by Tony, Olivier and OBIE-award winning Rae Smith. Neil Austin is Lighting Designer, and Max Pappenheim isSound Designer.

It will begin performances at the Noël Coward Theatre on Saturday 6 July and play a strictly limited 12-week season.

Thrown together for one eventful night that pulses with conflicting passions and a surprising edge of humour, a group of tourists including Shannon, a disgraced priest and a troubled artist Hannah arrive at a remote coastal Mexican hotel run by the beautifully sensual Maxine. One night brings them together, and will leave them forever altered. What path will they choose?

Tickets are on-sale at www.iguanawestend.com

The Night Of The Iguana is produced by David Richenthal, Fiery Angel, Gavin Kalin and David M. Milch.

Grand Opera House York Wednesday 29th May 2019.

Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

4 Stars

Steve Steinman once again hit the Grand Opera House York, this time with his reworked Meatloaf Story, Anything for Love. Steinman has been touring the UK and beyond with his original Meatloaf Story and Vampires Rock for years, after appearing on Stars in your Eyes as Meatloaf. This brand-new tour has the added attraction of Lorraine Crosby, the original artist who sang with Meatloaf on Anything for Love, off the Bat Out Of Hell II album, she was also managed by Jim Steinman earlier in her career. This show was only the third performance of the tour, which continues right into next year.

I’m so glad to say that the theatre was packed out, not sold out, but enough of a crowd to provide a buzz and excitement with what we were about to experience. Straight away what hits you is the staging, with the huge bat right in the middle. Unexpectantly, for me anyway, the first tune we hear is Anything for Love, Crosby and Steinman’s vocals had me coming out in goose bumps. What followed was a feast of Meatloaf’s tunes from Bat Out of Hell I, II and III. We also get to hear a bit of Bonnie Tyler and Celine Dion. Steinman does the majority of the singing, but Crosby does her fair share, duets and solos, as well as providing us with tales of Bonnie Tyler and being a bad influence.

Steinman surrounds himself with a loyal group of performers, his ever-present side kick John Evans, providing backing vocals. It was strange to see him normal gear and not in his animal print legging and blue pvc pants. Emily Clarke, Trixi Bold and Victoria Hawley, the latter two continuing on from the fabulous Vampires Rock, provide the backing vocals and moves. Once again, the band were awesome, with some spectacular moments. We welcomed backed York’s own Henry Bird, who lapped up all the applause, this time he was joined by another York guitarist Damien Sweeting, Zoe Parr, pianist Andrew Present and the icing on the cake, the drummer, Pete Jean. Towards the end of the performance Jean performs a drum solo which was breath-taking, all I can say is wow!

Steinman is such a people person, interacting with audience, having a laugh at his and our expense, this is what makes his show so good and approachable, no wander he has such a group of loyal fans. Of course, what made the night was the encore of Bat Out of Hell, the absolute whole audience were on their feet singing and dancing.

The only reason I have not given the show 5 stars is unfortunately down to the sound on occasion. Both have such powerful voices and pack a punch, but at times it was just resonating completely through my body and I could not hear the vocals clearly enough. Please don’t let this put you off as this may just be a local issue, or even just me and my hearing.

Again, Steinman has produced a cracker of a show, one not to miss for all, and you even get to see fireworks, what more could one want from a night out. I am now officially one of the fans who so look forward to his shows, bring on the next one.

Bristol Old Vic, Bristol – until 1st June 2019.

Reviewed by Jules Cooke.

4****

Before the show even began I was captivated by the beautiful and vibrant set, surround by a variety of interesting looking costumes and props. Shortly after I arrived, the screen (which served as the backdrop) began to showcase some “amazing deaf people”, which was pleasant to watch as the rest of the audience found their seats.

As the show began, the actors immediately captured the audience with their huge personalities and strong stage presences. The three-strong cast was a mix of hearing and non-hearing artists, which felt fitting for this accessible performance aimed at both deaf and hearing folks. The company used both sign and spoken language, balancing the different forms of communication well, every moment was clear, expressive and engaging.

The actors were consistently entertaining, through a wide variety of stimulating characters. They took us on a journey beginning far away in Ancient Greece, leading us all through history right back to the Greece we know today. The stories they told were educational, funny and heart-warming, carrying us through a whole range of emotions.

The performers shared a wide range of poignant stories focusing on deaf people throughout history, presenting a well balanced and compelling perspective. The topics they dealt with were often difficult ones but were handled sensitively and humorously.

The show ended on a high note, with a positive and empowering message to all deaf people. After the show ended, the screen once again began to show a range of “amazing deaf people”, this time focusing on artists and creatives. I think this was a charming note to leave on, fitting nicely with the theme and message of their show.

This was an extremely engaging, visual show and I would highly recommend it to any audience.

Shakespeare’s The Tempest at Arundel Castle

Arundel Castle in West Sussex is set to host two magical al-fresco performances of Shakespeare’s The Tempest on 16-17 August, kicking off the Arundel Festival.

Set within Arundel Castle’s critically-acclaimed Collector Earl’s Garden, alive with thousands of colourful blooms, these performances offer theatre lovers an experience unlike any other.

The talented actors of Illyria, one of the UK’s oldest outdoor touring theatre groups, will return to the Castle for their first production of the popular play in 15 years.

Illyria’s Artistic Director, Oliver Gray, commented: “We’re so pleased to return to the stunning location of Arundel Castle. Visually, it’s a beautiful space, not to mention an acoustical dream for us, as we don’t have to use any artificial amplification in our performances. It’s the ideal place to be on a lovely English summer evening, down on the balmy south coast surrounded by lush gardens and fresh open air.”

He also teased a completely reimagined presentation of his favourite Shakespearean play: “As it’s been so long since I’ve last directed The Tempest, I’ve been able to come back to it with completely fresh eyes. We will be performing the play in ways that audiences may not have experienced before.”

For example, the play’s Prospero, who is typically depicted as a quintessential father figure, will be portrayed as a female character who is fiercely protective of her daughter from unwanted advances. Furthermore, the rainstorm scene, which Oliver describes as “terminally dull in most productions,” has been reimagined to become an acrobatic vision of a drunkard that is nothing short of hilarious.

Castle Manager Stephen Manion said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Illyria and theatre lovers back to Arundel Castle. The Tempest is one of my favourite Shakespearean plays because it’s so broad in its range. It has dramatic tragedy and raucous comedy, breathtaking poetry and magical stage effects, pure silence and beautiful music.

“Illyria’s unique verse-speaking style has a level of clarity rarely heard. We’re expecting this to be the funniest and most magical performance of The Tempest we’ve ever seen. We urge anyone interested to buy tickets early as we expect these to be sell out shows.”

Tickets for The Tempest are now available from £15 for a child and £20 for an adult. For more information please visit www.arundelcastle.org

THEATRE ARCHIVES OPEN TO ALL

Darlington Hippodrome’s fascinating 112 year history will soon be available to explore online thanks to an army of volunteers who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes for almost 2 years.

As well as historic posters, programmes, playbills, letters and postcards, many of the hundreds of items are rare and previously unseen. Most of the archives have been stored at the Crown Street Library with many other pieces being donated by the public. Each item has been painstakingly recorded, photographed, securely filed and stored electronically with an index of each item soon to be available online.

Cait Baratt, the Hippodrome’s Heritage Learning and Engagement Officer said “Our team of volunteers has been working on this project for nearly two years. They have become true ambassadors for the history of the theatre and have unearthed some amazing documents.”

“A small selection of the archives will be available to the general public on Thursday 6 June at the Hippodrome from 12noon for people to just drop in and experience some of the amazing historical items as well as hearing from the volunteers about their work.”

The team of volunteers will be at the Hippodrome on Thursday 6 June from 11am to 3pm with many items from the archives for the public to look through. The team will also be on hand to discuss any of the items as well as accepting any further items of the theatre’s history that people may have.

A database index of the archives will go live on the theatre’s website on Thursday 6 June. For more information visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

Patrick Kennedy Phenomenological Theatre and Clamour Theatre presents

HALBWELT KULTUR TO PLAY THE OTHER PALACE STUDIO

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ALL-FEMALE QUEER CABARET RETURNS TO LONDON FOR A CENTENARY PRODUCTION CELEBRATING THE WEIMAR ERA

Patrick Kennedy Phenomenological Theatre and Clamour Theatre today announces a specially reworked centenary production of HALBWELT KULTUR, an all-female queer cabaret celebrating the pioneering women of the Weimar Republic, playing at The Other Palace Studio for two performances on Saturday 28 September.

Featuring a live jazz band and songs by Kurt Weill, Hans Eisler, Friedrich Hollaender and Mischa Spoliansky, Halbwelt Kultur immerses audiences in Weimar culture, both artistic and political. It narrates stories of the actresses, singers, writers and revolutionaries who became the icons of their fields and stitches monologues with some of the best cabaret songs of all time to form a rich tapestry of decadent Weimar life. Halbwelt Kultur touches on many of the life-threatening issues confronting women during the Weimar Republic in the face of growing Nazism including the persecution of the gay and lesbian community.

Director Patrick Kennedy said, “We had an overwhelming response from critics and audiences when we officially premiered Halbwelt Kultur at Jermyn Street Theatre in 2013 and since then Steph Martin and myself have been working on an even bigger, even more extravagant edition. We are delighted to be staging this newly reworked production at The Other Palace one hundred years after the Weimar Republic’s founding and the beginning of these women’s extraordinary, groundbreaking stories.”

Originally devised as the VIP pre-show to Rufus Norris’s Cabaret at Churchill Theatre, Bromley in 2012, Halbwelt Kultur, based on an original idea by director Patrick Kennedy (Hotel For Criminals, Elephant Steps, Pain(t), King Cowboy Rufus Rules The Universe!), is written by Stephanie Martin (Joy, Juniper and Jules, Alkaline).

Facebook: www.facebook.com/halbweltkultur

Twitter: www.twitter.com/halbweltkultur

LISTINGS

The Other Palace

Dates: Saturday 28 September; 3.30pm & 8pm

Tickets: £20 floor and upper gallery, £25 gallery

Box Office: 0207 087 7900 | https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/halbwelt-kultur

Soho Theatre – until 1 June 2019

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

5*****

It’s still only May, but Myra DuBois manages to fill the Soho(ho) Theatre Downstairs with Christmas spirit, complete with cardboard tree and the mandatory box of Quality Street. Looking spectacular in a dress resembling a glittery Christmas cracker wrapped in a net curtain, Myra’s on a mission to convert an (un)lucky audience member from Bah Humbug to Christmas jumper-wearing joy, and there are singalongs (including a hysterically chaotic rendition of 12 Days of Christmas showcasing the audience’s gift wishes), anecdotes from Myra’s panto career and glimpses of her childhood.

The joy of the show is Myra’s coruscating wit when weaving snippets of information picked up from the audience into riffs on veganism, mindfulness and her romantic history. Although the whip-smart, hilarious comments all score direct hits, the audience is never intimidated or humiliated – it’s like being teased unmercifully by that wonderfully inappropriate aunt that everyone tries to get drunk at family gatherings. Instead of relief, you end up a little disappointed that you weren’t picked on.

Whether you’re a seasoned AdMyra or you’ve never seen DuBois in action, this clever and face-achingly funny hour in the company of the Siren of South Yorkshire doesn’t seem enough. This is playfully scathing comedy at its best.