THE NATIONAL THEATRE PRODUCTION OF THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME WILL RETURN TO THE WEST END FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED SEASON
The National Theatre announces today that The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,adapted by Simon Stephens from the novel by Mark Haddon, and directed by Marianne Elliott(War Horse, Angels in America, Company) will return to the West End in November 2018 for a limited season. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time begins previews at the Piccadilly Theatreon 29 November, with an opening night on 11 December.

Tickets for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the Piccadilly Theatre go on sale to the general public on Friday 21 September at 9.30am. Casting to be announced.

Curious Incident, which has now been seen by more than three million people worldwide, transferred to London’s West End following a sold-out run at the National Theatre’s Cottesloe Theatre in September 2012. It is the recipient of seven 2013 Olivier Awards, including Best New Play, Best Director, Best Design, Best Lighting Design and Best Sound Design – more Olivier’s than any other play in the history of London’s West End at that time.

Following its New York premiere in September 2014, Curious Incident became the longest-running play on Broadway in over a decade, winning five Tony Awards® including Best Play, six Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Play, five Outer Critics Circle Awards including Outstanding New Broadway Play and the Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off Broadway Play.

The show recently completed a 30 date tour of the USA, and a second 25 city tour of the UK and Ireland ended in September 2017. An international tour visited Amsterdam, Toronto, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney and Perth from 2017 – 18. A schools tour, taking a specially staged in-the-round 90 minute version of the play into 60 schools around the country runs until December.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the Piccadilly Theatre is a co-production with the Ambassador Theatre Group.

Simon Stephens said: “I am stunned and inspired by the return of Curious Incident to the West End. It is a story that means the world to me. Mark Haddon’s exquisite imagination twisted into shape and infused with life by Marianne Elliott and her incredible team. After travelling the country and seeing the world Christopher Boone is coming back home. I’m mainly thrilled because I get to see it again.”

Lisa Burger, National Theatre Executive Director said: “We always felt that there were many more performances of Curious Incident in the West End left to give, and many more audiences who were yet to connect with Christopher Boone and his extraordinary story. We’re absolutely thrilled to be joining with ATG to bring Curious Incident – with its stellar creative team – back to the West End and we can’t wait to share this beautiful and inventive show with a new generation of audiences.”

The show tells the story of Christopher John Francis Boone, who is fifteen years old. He stands besides Mrs Shears’ dead dog, which has been speared with a garden fork, it is seven minutes after midnight and Christopher is under suspicion. He records each fact in a book he is writing to solve the mystery of who killed Wellington. He has an extraordinary brain, and is exceptional at maths while ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched and distrusts strangers. But his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a frightening journey that upturns his world.

The production is designed by Bunny Christie, with lighting designer Paule Constable, and video design by Finn Ross.  Movement is by Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett for Frantic Assembly, music by Adrian Sutton and sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph.

Mark Haddon’s novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time was published in 2003 and was the winner of more than 17 literary awards, including prizes in the US, Japan, Holland and Italy, as well as the prestigious Whitbread Book of the Year Award in the UK in 2004. The novel has been translated into 44 languages and sold more than 5.5 million copies world-wide.

Marianne Elliott, who was recently awarded an OBE for her services to theatre, is the Artistic Director of Elliott & Harper Productions, a company she recently set up with producer Chris Harper. Their latest production is Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s musical comedy, Company, which opens at The Gielgud Theatre in London on 26 September 2018.  Directed by Marianne Elliott and designed by Bunny Christie, the cast includes Rosalie Craig as Bobbie, Patti LuPone as Joanne, Mel Giedroyc as Sarah and Jonathan Bailey as Jamie.

Marianne was an Associate Director of the National Theatre for 10 years, where her work includes Tony Kushner’s Angels in America (which transferred to Broadway in February 2018 and won three Tony® Awards including Best Revival of a Play), War Horse  (Tony®  Award for best director, alongside co-director Tom Morris), Rules for Living, The Light Princess, Port, Season’s Greetings, All’s Well that Ends Well, Harper Regan, Saint Joan (Olivier Award for Best Revival, South Bank Show Award for Theatre), and Pillars of the Community (Evening Standard Award for Best Director).  Marianne was consultant director on The Elephantom for the National Theatre and directed Sweet Bird of Youth for the Old Vic with Kim Cattrall.  Elliott & Harper;s previous productions are: Heisenberg: The Uncertainty Principle, co-producer of Angels in America in New York and The Lion the Witch at the Wardrobe (directed by Sally Cookson) at Leeds Playhouse.

Mark Haddon is an author, illustrator and screenwriter who has written fifteen books for children and won two BAFTAs. His bestselling novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, was published simultaneously by Jonathan Cape and David Fickling in 2003. It won seventeen literary prizes, including the Whitbread Award. His poetry collection, The Talking Horse and the Sad Girl and the Village Under the Sea, was published by Picador in 2005, and his last novel, The Red House, was published by Jonathan Cape in 2012. His latest book is The Pier Falls, a collection of stories. He lives in Oxford.

Simon Stephens’ plays for the National Theatre include  a new translation of The Threepenny Opera,Port (originally produced at the Royal Exchange and directed by Marianne Elliott), Harper Regan (which was also produced at Canadian Stage) and On the Shore of the Wide World (co-production with Royal Exchange, Manchester: Olivier Award for Best New Play).  His many other plays include Carmen Disruption, Heisenberg: The Uncertainty Principle (Broadway and West End), Birdland, Blindsided,

Three Kingdoms, Wastwater, Punk Rock, Seawall, Pornography, Country Music, Christmas,  Herons, and A Thousand Stars Explode in the Sky (co-written with Robert Holman and David Eldridge), an adaptation of Jon Fosse’s I Am the Wind and Motortown.  His version of A Doll’s House for the Young Vic transferred to the West End and then New York in 2014. Simon is an Associate at the Lyric, Hammersmith and the Royal Court Theatre. Simon’s book – Simon Stephens, A working Diary was published in 2016.

 

Box office details
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Piccadilly Theatre, 16 Denman St, Soho, London W1D 7DY
Thursday 29 November 2018 – Saturday 23 February 2019
Media night: Tuesday 11 December

Tickets from £18

Book for Curious Incident 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.

UNDER MILK WOOD
Written by Dylan Thomas
2 – 17 November at Northern Stage

Tickets from £10

Originally written as a BBC radio drama by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, Under Milk Wood gets a contemporary, technological twist under the direction of The War of the Worlds director Elayce Ismail.

An enfolding, haunting and at times unsettling experience, this ‘play for voices’ offers a glimpse of a golden era that may never have existed. It follows 24 hours in the lives of a collection of characters who inhabit the fictional town of Llareggub, and was made into a film starring Richard Burton with Elizabeth Taylor and Peter O’Toole.

Director Elayce Ismail is currently Associate Director at Northern Stage as part of a pilot scheme by the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme (RTYDS) aimed at preparing directors with a strong professional track record for artistic leadership. Elayce has directed theatre and opera for companies including the
National Theatre, Royal Opera House, Young Vic, Gate, Soho Theatre, Royal Court, The Yard and Deutsches Theater Berlin.

Elayce explains, “The fabric of the play allows you to get a glimpse of people’s secret stories – their desires, dreams, and disappointments – whilst conjuring a natural world that is rich, sensual and evocative. For me, the beauty of Thomas’ text lies in the surprising rhythms, tones and textures of his words: he delights in
language, and through it creates characters that are surreal and yet reveal so much about human nature. In this new production, we’re creating a dream-like space that invites you to listen: immersing the audience in a playful soundscape, beautiful layered visuals and imaginative storytelling.”

Taking on multiple roles including Captain Cat, the old blind sea captain who dreams of his drowned shipmates; Myfanwy Price, the sweetshop-keeper lusting after Mog Edwards; Organ Morgan, obsessed with his music; postman Willy Nilly who reads his neighbours’ letters; and Mrs. Ogmore-Pritchard, relentlessly nagging her two dead husbands, the cast are Christina Berriman Dawson (Key Change, Open Clasp) and David Kirkbride (Pinocchio, National Theatre).

Alongside Director Elayce Ismail, the creative team includes award-winning set and costume designer Jen McGinley – Jen has recently worked on The Reluctant Fundamentalist (Prasanna Puwanarajah, National Youth Theatre) and The Secret Life of Humans (David Byrne, New Diorama Theatre); lighting designer, Andy
Purves – a regular with Frantic Assembly and The National Theatre of Scotland; sound designer Richard Hammarton whose work includes the Olivier Award-winning production The Mountaintop and the Ivor Novello award-winning Ripper Street for BBC Television; and film maker Kris Deedigan who worked with Northern Stage’s Young company to create visuals for David Almond’s A Song for Ella Grey

Tickets start at £10; for more details or to book tickets see northernstage.co.uk or call the box office on 0191 230 5151.

DROP EVERYTHING AND CATCH THE FULL MONTY AT DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers’s presentation of the Sheffield Theatres production of Simon Beaufoy’s The Full Monty is currently touring the UK & Ireland for the final time and comes to Darlington Hippodrome for a week-long run from Monday 12 November.

The cast will be led by Gary Lucy (Luke Morgan in Hollyoaks, Danny Pennant in EastEnders, DS Will Fletcher in The Bill, Kyle Pascoe in Footballer’s Wives, winner of Dancing on Ice) as Gaz, along with Andrew Dunn (best known as Tony in Dinnerladies and for his regular appearances playing Alastair Campbell on Bremner, Bird and Fortune) as Gerald, Louis Emerick (Norman the Doorman in Benidorm, Mick Johnson in Brookside, PC Walsh in Last of the Summer Wine and soon to be seen as Mike in Coronation Street) as Horse, Joe Gill (Finn Barton in Emmerdale) as Lomper, Kai Owen (Rhys in Torchwood and Pete in Hollyoaks) as Dave and James Redmond (Finn in Hollyoaks and Abs Denham in Casualty).

The Full Monty is one of the most acclaimed British films ever and this stage play has become one of the most phenomenal theatrical productions ever. This chuffing brilliant production about six out-of-work, impoverished steelworkers from Sheffield with nothing to lose took the world by storm and has become one of Britain’s most successful shows.

Based on his smash hit film and adapted for the stage by Oscar-winning writer Simon Beaufoy, this hilarious and heartfelt production has received standing ovations every night and features the iconic songs from the film by Donna Summer, Hot Chocolate and Tom Jones.

The Full Monty runs at Darlington Hippodrome from Monday 12 to Saturday 17 November.

For more information or to book call 01325 405405 or visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

FROM THE CREATORS OF ALICE’S ADVENTURES UNDERGROUND

LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES

ANNOUNCE CASTING FOR WORLD WAR ONE DRAMA

WRITTEN BY OLIVER LANSLEY

ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK BY ALEXANDER WOLFE

AT SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE

FROM 10 OCTOBER TO 17 NOVEMBER 2018

Les Enfants Terribles are delighted to announce casting for World War One drama “THE TRENCH” which will have a strictly limited run at Southwark Playhouse from Wednesday 10 October to Saturday 17 November 2018. Press Night is Tuesday 16 October 2018.

 

“THE TRENCH” is inspired by the true story of a miner, ‘Burt’ who became entombed in a tunnel during World War One. The full cast is Oliver Lansley as ‘Burt’; Edward Cartwright, Kadell Herida and James Hastings with live music from Alexander Wolfe.

As the horror threatens to engulf him, Burt discovers another world beneath the mud and death. Setting off on an epic journey of salvation, the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur as he questions what’s real, what’s not and whether it even matters? 

 

The play is making its London debut as the country commemorates the First World War Centenary. On Sunday 11 November there will be a special performance at 3.00pm.

 

Written by Oliver Lansley (Les Enfants Terribles’ Artistic Director), “THE TRENCH” blends physical storytelling, verse, puppetry and live music. The play is Co-Directed by Oliver Lansley and James Seager (Les Enfants Terribles’ Producer) with designs by Samuel Wyer, Lighting Designs by Paul Green and original soundtrack written and performed live by Alexander Wolfe.

 

Oliver Lansley is the founder and Artistic Director of Les Enfants Terribles and writes nearly all of their productions. Work includes: “The Game’s Afoot”, “Alice’s Adventures Underground”, “The Terrible Infants”, “The Trench” and “The Vaudevillains”. Oliver has worked across film, television and theatre, as an actor, writer and director. As an actor he notably played Kenny Everett in the BAFTA-winning “The Best Possible Taste” for which he was nominated as Best Actor award at the RTS awards. Other credits include:” Dr Who”; “Vanity Fair” and “Sherlock”.  Theatre credits include: “The Quiet House” (Birmingham Rep); “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” (Park Theatre); and lead roles in many productions with Les Enfants Terribles. A past winner of Channel Four’s Multi-Talented Award and a Broadcast Magazine Hotshot, Oliver is an accomplished film and television writer, co-creating BBC2 series “Whites”, and ITV2 series “FM”. His new television show “Flack”, which his has written and created stars Anna Paquin, Sophie Okenado and Lydia Wilson and will air in the U.K. and USA in January 2019.

Edward Cartwright returns to The Trench having previously appeared in the production at the Edinburgh FringeFestival in 2012.  He has previously performed at the Southwark Playhouse as ‘Dr. Watson’ in “A Study In Scarlet” with Tacit Theatre Company. His other theatre credits include: ‘Laertes’ in “Hamlet” for Backstroke Theatre, in a solo clown show for Familia Del La Noche’s “Beadledom: Alpha at the Fringe” and as ‘God’ in the “Celestial Ape” at the Vaults festival. He has also played ‘Sherlock Holmes’ in “How Sherlock Changed The World” for Love Productions and PBS on American Netflix. Closer to home, he appeared in Julian Fellows’ “Dr. Thorne” on ITV.

James Hastings graduated from Rose Bruford College this year. His theatre credits whilst training include Chazz in “Wondertown”; The Proprietor & Lee Harvey Oswald in “Assassins”; Misha in “Children of the Sun”; “Sunday in the Park with George” (The Other Palace, NYMT); and Antonio in “The Merchant of Venice”.

Kadell Herida trained at the BRIT School and Rose Bruford College, graduating in 2016. He is making his theatrical debut in “The Trench” and will soon appear on TV screens in the popular BBC1 soap “Eastenders”.

 

Alexander Wolfe is a songwriter, composer, artist and long-time collaborator of Les Enfants Terribles.  To date he has released three solo albums, a critically-acclaimed debut (Morning Brings a Flood), an intimate follow-up (Skeletons) & his recent & most ambitious work, 2015’s From The Shallows. The Sunday Times declared his albums ‘Beautiful’, Q and Uncut awarding them 4 stars and The New York Post was evangelical in its praise, stating that his debut was ‘The most beautiful album heard in years, Period’. He has shared stages with illustrious names such as Paul Weller, Feist, Jamie Cullum and Vampire Weekend as well as writing scores for television and film.  His previous work with Les Enfant Terribles includes “Alice’s Adventures Underground” for which he composed and performed ‘The Mock Turtles Lament’. Alexander returns to “The Trench” having previously performed in Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2012 and 2014.

James Seager is Les Enfants Terrible’s Producer and Director.  Involved initially as an actor, he moved to producing and directing shows in 2005.  He has produced many award-winning shows for the company including “The Infant” and “Immaculate”, and “The Terrible Infants” which he also directed and returned for a sell out last year.  In 2009 he produced “Ernest and the Pale Moon” for its UK tour.  In 2010 he directed the award winning “The Vaudevillains” which returned in 2016.  In 2015 he co-directed and produced Les Enfants Terribles most successful show to date, “Alice’s Adventures Underground” which was seen by over 95,000 people and was nominated for an Olivier award.  It returned to London in 2017 in London and opened in Shanghai this year. Other immersive shows include directing” The Game’s Afoot” and producing “Dinner at the Twits”.

 

Les Enfants Terribles’ work includes award-winning, international stage shows such as “The Trench”, “The Terrible Infants” and “The Vaudevillians”; ground-breaking immersive work including Olivier-nominated “Alice’s Adventures Underground”, “Dinner at the Twits” and “Inside Pussy Riot”; innovative outdoor family touring work such as “The Marvellous Imaginary Menagerie” and “The Fantastical Flying Exploratory Laboratory”; and large-scale public events and installations in the corporate and cultural sectors for the likes of The British Library and the V&A. Run by Oliver Lansley and James Seager the company is dedicated to creating original, innovative and exciting theatre.

 

For more information please visit:

Les Enfants Terribles: www.lesenfantsterribles.co.uk

Twitter: @lesenfantsterr #TheTrench

Southwark Playhouse: www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

Twitter: @swkplay

LISTINGS

THE TRENCH

Dates:                          10 October to 17 November 2018 (Press Night 16 October at 7.30pm)

Performances:             Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7.30pm

                                    Tuesday and Saturday at 3.00pm

                                    Special performance Sunday 11 November at 3.00pm

Box Office:                   Southwark Playhouse – 020 7407 0234 or www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

Address:                       77-85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD

ENGLISH TOURING THEATRE ANNOUNCES

FULL TOUR DATES FOR EQUUS

English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East present

Equus

By Peter Shaffer

UK tour: 15 February – 11 May 2019

Director: Ned Bennett; Designer: Georgia Lowe

 

English Touring Theatre today announces full tour dates for Ned Bennett’s bold new production of Peter Shaffer’s critically-acclaimed classic, psychological thriller Equus in a co-production with Theatre Royal Stratford East. The production opens at Theatre Royal Stratford East on 21 February, with previews from 15 February and runs until 23 March. Following this it tours to Cambridge Arts Theatre, Theatre Royal Bath, Bristol Old Vic, The Lowry, Northern Stage and Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.

Inspired by a true story, Peter Shaffer’s gripping psychological thriller, Equus, explores the complex relationships between devotion, myth and sexuality.

When teenager Alan Strang’s pathological fascination leads him to blind six horses in a Hampshire stable, psychiatrist Dr. Martin Dysart is tasked with uncovering the motive behind the boy’s violent act. As Dysart delves into Alan’s world of twisted spirituality, passion and sexuality, he begins to question his own sanity and motivations in a world driven by consumerism.

Sir Peter Shaffer’s (1926 – 2016) plays include The Salt Land, The Prodigal Father, Balance of Terror, Five Finger Exercise (Evening Standard Drama Award), The Private Ear, The Public Eye, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, Black Comedy, White Lies, The Battle of Shrivings, Yonadab, The Gift of the Gorgon, Lettice and Lovageand Amadeus (Evening Standard Drama Award and Tony Award for Best Play). His plays adapted for film includeFive Finger Exercise, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, Equus and Amadeus (Academy Award for Best Picture), for television The Salt Land and Balance of Terror, and for radio The Prodigal Father and Whom Do I Have the Honour of Addressing?. In 1994, Shaffer was Visiting Professor of Contemporary Drama at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford. He was awarded the CBE in 1987 and was knighted in 2001.

 

Ned Bennett directs Equus. He is an award-winning theatre director, who trained at the Royal Court, the National Theatre and LAMDA. His work includes the Evening Standard Award-winning An Octoroon, which opened at the Orange Tree Theatre in Spring 2017 and transferred to the Dorfman in this year, and Buggy Babywhich opened at the Yard Theatre in March of this year. He directed the Bruntwood Prize-winning Yen at the Manchester Royal Exchange which transferred to the Royal Court in 2016, and Pomona which was commissioned by the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and transferred to the Orange Tree, and then to the National Theatre. Pomona and Yen won Bennett the UKT Best Director award 2015. Pomona won four Off-West End awards: Best Director, Best Production, Best New Play and Best Lighting Design.

Tour Dates

Theatre Royal Stratford East

15 February – 23 March 2019

Press night: Thursday 21 February, 7pm

Box Office: 020 8534 0310 / www.stratfordeast.com

Cambridge Arts Theatre

26 – 30 March 2019

Box Office: 01223 503333 / www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

 

Theatre Royal Bath

2 – 6 April 2019

Box Office: 01225 448844 / www.theatreroyal.org.uk

 

Bristol Old Vic

16 – 20 April 2019

Box Office: 0117 987 7877 / www.bristololdvic.org.uk

 

The Lowry

23 – 27 April 2019

Box Office:  0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

 

Northern Stage

30 April – 4 May 2019

Box Office: 0191 230 5151 / www.northernstage.co.uk

 

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

7 – 11 May 2019

Box Office: 01483 440000 / www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

30^th ANNIVERSARY TOUR FAME – THE MUSICAL ANNOUNCE 2019 TRANSFER TO THE WEST END

 

Fame the Musical, currently on an extensive and critically- acclaimed UK tour celebrating 30 years since the original Miami production, announce a West End transfer to the Peacock Theatre 11 Sep – 19 Oct 2019.

Based on the 1980 phenomenal pop culture film, Fame the Musical is the international smash-hit sensation following the lives of students at New York’s High School For The Performing Arts as they navigate their way through the highs and lows, the romances and the heartbreaks and the ultimate elation of life. This bittersweet but uplifting triumph of a show explores the issues that confront many young people today: prejudice, identity, pride, literacy, sexuality, substance abuse and perseverance.

With a star cast still to be announced. Fame the Musical is presented by Selladoor Productions who have recently toured with of Footloose, Avenue Q, Little Shop of Horrors and Flashdance – The Musical, with Gavin Kalin Productions, Dan Looney & Adam Paulden, Stephen McGill Productions and Jason Haigh-Ellery in association with BrightLights Productions and Big Dreamer Productions.  Fame is Directed and Choregraphed by Nick Winston with Design by Morgan Large and Sound Design by Ben Harrison. Mark Crossland is Musical Supervisor.

David De Silva – the conceiver of Fame, known as ‘Father Fame’ says of this anniversary production;  “what makes a musical ‘a classic’ or a ‘masterpiece’?  It takes time. It passes from one generation to the next. It translates from one language to many.  It entertains an audience with both laughter and tears. It inspires youth with passion and parents with nostalgia. The brilliantly directed and choreographed 30th anniversary Fame Uk production of the show by Nick Winston is the best I’ve ever seen”

Featuring the Oscar-winning title song and a cast of outstanding dancers, singers, musicians and rappers as they transform from star struck pupils to superstars. Fame the Musical will indeed live forever.

Tickets are on sale 01 October www.fameuktour.co.uk  for more information.

LISTINGS

Press Night:                        Thu 12 September 2019 7.30pm

Website:                              www.fameuktour.co.uk

Twitter and Facebook:   @famemusicaluk

Tiny Fires in association with Park Theatre presents
HONOUR

25 October – 24 November| Park Theatre

Henry Goodman, Imogen Stubbs and Katie Brayben have been confirmed to star in Joanna Murray-Smith’s compelling drama Honour at Park Theatre. With a cast boasting three Olivier Awards between them, Honour paints an unflinching portrait of what happens when a secure marriage suddenly stalls, and when the opportunity arises for one life to be revived at the expense of another. 

 

The official press night will take place on Tuesday 30^th October, 7pm.

 

For Honor and George, the arrival of the self-assured Claudia threatens to wreck a 32-year marriage. But as the power balance starts to shift, the husband, wife, daughter and lover together must face the fundamental question – what is love?

 

Originated in Australia, Honour debuted in the UK at the National Theatre in 2003, before a 2006 West End revival at Wyndham’s Theatre. Directed by Paul Robinson, Tiny Fires’ production will be staged in-the-round.

Director Paul Robinson said: “I’ve been burning to direct this incredible play for years now and I couldn’t be more delighted by this stellar cast. I’d always seen it in the round and as such I can’t wait to see how intimate and involving our production is going to be.”

Double Olivier Award-winning Henry Goodman will play George. Henry’s extensive career spans film, television, radio and stage. His screen credits include: Taking Woodstock (Focus Features), The Chosen (Netflix), The Damned United (Columbia Pictures), Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D (ABC Studios) and same role in The Avengers (Marvel) and Yes, Prime Minister (BBC). His stage credits include: at The National Theatre: Angels In America, Guys & Dolls, Merchant Of Venice (Best Actor Olivier Award winner and also made for TV with BBC/HBO), Assassins (Donmar Warehouse, Best Actor in a Musical Olivier Award winner), Hysteria (Royal Court Theatre & West End), Tartuffe (Roundabout, New York), Fiddler on the Roof (Sheffield Crucible, Savoy Theatre), The Winslow Boy (Old Vic) and The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Chichester Festival Theatre, Duchess Theatre).  Henry is also an Associate Artist of The RSC, where principal roles include Richard III, Volpone and Dromio.

Actress and writer Imogen Stubbs will play Honor. Imogen trained at RADA and the London School of Contemporary Dance and gained a First in English at Oxford. Her vast theatre experience includes productions at the RSC, National Teatre, Old Vic, Donmar Warehouse and various West End productions. Recent stage credits include: Things I Know To Be True (Frantic Assembly), Communicating Doors (Menier Chocolate Factory), Elephants (Hampstead Theatre), Alecky Blythe’s Little Revolution (Almeida) and Strangers On A Train (Gielgud). For the Royal Shakespeare Company Imogen appeared in Othello, Two Noble Kinsmen, The Rover and Richard II. Additional stage credits include: Gertrude in Hamlet (Old Vic), Sarah Frankcom’s production of Tennessee Williams’s Orpheus Descending and Private Lives (Royal Exchange Theatre), Salt, Root and Roe (Donmar Warehouse/West End) and A Marvellous Year For Plums (Chichester Festival Theatre). Her film work includes: Jack & Sarah (MGM), Twelfth Night (New Line), True Colours (Paramount), Deadline (BBC), A Summer Story (HBO) and Sense and Sensibility (Columbia Pictures). Television credits includes: Parents (Objective/Sky), Collusion (Third Wave Films), Big Kids (BBC), Blind Ambition (Yorkshire Television) and Anna Lee (London Weekend Television).

 

Olivier Award-winning actress Katie Brayben will play Claudia. Katie’s theatre credits include: A Walk on The Moon (The American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco), Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (Aldwych Theatre, Best Actress in a Musical Olivier Award winner), The Spoils (Trafalgar Studios), King Charles III (Almeida Theatre and Wyndham’s Theatre), American Psycho (Almeida Theatre) and 13 (The National Theatre). Her screen credits include: Doctor Who (BBC), Luther (BBC), The Alienist (TNT), Vera: Changing Tides (ITV), King Charles III (BBC) and the feature film Self Help – A Serial Killer’s Guide To Life which is due for release later this year.

 

Additional casting is yet to be announced.

Writer Joanna Murray-Smith is a Melbourne based playwright, screenwriter and novelist. Her plays, which include Honour, Rapture, Bombshells, Nightfall, Redemption, Love Child and Flame, have been produced around the world. Honour has been produced in over two dozen countries, including productions on Broadway and at the National Theatre in London and in the West End. Honour won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Best Play. Most recently, Bath Theatre Royal produced the UK premiere of Switzerland and her Songs For Nobodies transfers from Wilton’s Music Hall to the West End in 2019. Joanna has also published three novels Truce, Judgement Rock and Sunnyside.

Director Paul Robinson is Artistic Director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre for whom he has directed Build a Rocket, The 39 Steps, Pinocchio, A Christmas Carol, Goth Weekend and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice. Paul trained as a director at The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, The Manchester Royal Exchange and The National Theatre. He was Artistic Director of Theatre503 from 2012 to 2016 where he introduced the Trafalgar Transfer season and the Theatre503 International Playwriting Award. He has been twice nominated for Best Artistic Director at the Off West End Awards. His productions of And Then Come the Nightjars, A Handful of Stars and Land of Our Fathers garnered a total of 12 Off West End Award nominations, including Best Director. Other credits include: Breakfast with Mugabe (Bath Theatre Royal), The Swallowing Dark (TMA Award winner) and My Mother Said I Never Should (St James’ Theatre).

www.parktheatre.co.uk

Box office: 020 7870 6876*

SAMANTHA WOMACK

STARS IN

UK & IRELAND TOUR OF

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN

 

Samantha Womack stars in a new production of The Girl on the Train, a gripping thriller based on the internationally acclaimed number one best-selling novel by Paula Hawkins and the Dreamworks film.  The Girl on the Train begins a major tour of the UK & Ireland on 21 January 2019 in Milton Keynes. (Tour schedule below).

Samantha plays Rachel Watson who longs for a different life. Her only escape is the perfect couple she watches through the train window every day, happy and in love.  Or so it appears. When Rachel learns that the woman she’s been secretly watching has suddenly disappeared, she finds herself as a witness and even a suspect in a thrilling mystery in which she will face bigger revelations than she could ever have anticipated.

Samantha Womack has starred extensively in television, film and theatre.  She is best known for playing Ronnie Mitchell in BBC1’s EastEnders. Other television credits include leading roles in Mount Pleasant and the hugely popular Game On.  Her recent films include: Kingsman: The Golden Circle and Kingsman: The Secret Service alongside Colin Firth.  Samantha recently played Morticia in a tour of The Addams Family.

 

Samantha said:  “Having been thoroughly captivated by the novel, the opportunity to take on a role like this is incredibly exciting. I’ve been fascinated by thrillers for a long time and this kind of storytelling, like Hitchcock’s Rear Window, offers us a voyeurs journey into a world which is dangerous and full of suspense.”

Joining Samantha in the cast is Oliver Farnworth as Scott.  Best known for playing Andy Carver in Coronation Street, Oliver’s other TV credits include Mr Selfridge, The Royal and Hollyoaks.  Further casting is yet to be announced.

Paula Hawkins’ novel is an international phenomenon, selling over twenty million copies world-wide.  Produced by Simon Friend, Amblin Entertainment and Josh Andrews, The Girl on the Train is adapted by Rachel Wagstaff & Duncan Abel and is directed by Anthony Banks with designs by James Cotterill.  Further casting is yet to be announced.

 

Girl on the Train Tour Schedule

21 January – 13 July 2019

Milton Keynes Theatre                                                  www.atgtickets.com/shows/milton-keynes/

21-28 January 2019                                                          0844 871 7652

Cheltenham Everyman Theatre                                 www.everymantheatre.org.uk/box-office/

28 January – 2 February 2019                                      01242 572573

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton                           www.mayflower.org.uk/

4 – 16 February, 2019                                                     023 8071 1811

Richmond Theatre                                                          www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre/

11 – 16 February 2019                                                    0844 871 7651

Southend Palace Theatre                                             www.southendtheatres.org.uk

18 – 23 February 2019                                                    01702 351135. On sale soon.

Leicester Curve                                                                 www.curveonline.co.uk/tickets‎

4 – 9 March 2019                                                              0116 242 3595

Liverpool Playhouse                                                       www.everymanplayhouse.com/whats-on

11 – 16 March 2019                                                         0151 709 4776

Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton                               www.grandtheatre.co.uk/

18 – 23 March 2019                                                         01902 429212

King’s Theatre, Edinburgh                                            www.capitaltheatres.com/your-visit/kings-theatre

25 – 30 March 2019                                                         0131 529 6000

The Lowry, Salford                                                          www.thelowry.com/

1 – 6 April 2019                                                                 0843 208 6000

Theatre Royal, Bath                                                         www.theatreroyal.org.uk/

8 – 13 April 2019                                                               01225 448844

Theatre Royal, Glasgow                                                 www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-glasgow/

15 – 20 April 2019                                                            0844 871 7647

Royal & Derngate, Northampton                               www.royalandderngate.co.uk

22 – 27 April 2019                                                            01604 624811

Theatre Royal, Newcastle                                            www.theatreroyal.co.uk/

29 April – 4 May 2019                                                     08448 11 21 21

Orchard Theatre, Dartford                                           www.orchardtheatre.co.uk/

6 – 11 May 2019                                                                01322 220000

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry                                         www.belgrade.co.uk/

13 – 18 May 2019                                                             024 7655 3055

Theatre Royal, Nottingham                                          trch.co.uk/

20 – 25 May 2019                                                             0115 989 5555

Shrewsbury Theatre Severn                                        www.theatresevern.co.uk/

27 May – 1 June 2019                                                     01743 281281

Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin                             www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie/

3 – 8 June 2019                                                                  +353 (1) 677 7999

Grand Opera House, Belfast                                        www.goh.co.uk

10 – 15 June 2019                                                             028 9024 1919

Theatre Royal, Brighton                                                 www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-brighton/

17 – 21 June 2019                                                             0844 871 7615

Sheffield Lyceum                                                             www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/

24 – 29 June 2019                                                             0114 249 6000

Norwich Theatre Royal                                                  www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk/

1 – 6 July 2019                                                                   01603 63 00 00.  On sale from 9 Nov.

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford                          www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/

8 – 13 July 2019                                                                 01483 440000

SEARCH FOR A LITTLE YORKSHIRE STAR

 

A leading theatre company based in Leeds is looking for children aged four to six to appear in their pantomime this year.

On Stage Productions is to stage Dick Whittington and His Cat at Leeds City Varieties Music Hall in November and is seeking talented youngsters to form the juvenile chorus.

“This is such a great opportunity for Yorkshire youngsters to experience the world of theatre and performance,” says co-Founder and Principal Liz Coggins.

“They will get the chance to experience rehearsals, take  part in training and special pantomime workshops to enhance their performance skills – all alongside industry professionals.”

All the principal actors in the show are adults with professional experience.

Scarborough’s Dale Ibbetson is playing the lead comedy role of Idle Jack for the fifth year; he is regular comic in professional pantomimes throughout the North of England.

The Principal Boy is played by Eloise Peniston; Eloise joined On Stage Academy some 13 years ago aged five and is now on the staff as a trainee teacher and in her final year of drama school.

The production team is also made up of industry experts in technical, costume, hair, make-up and dance.

“On Stage Productions was co-founded by the late Chris Fox – one of the most renowned Pantomime Dames in the country,” Liz continues.

“He started his extensive theatrical career as a child and believed that a young person’s first experience of theatre should be a magical one. He also believed in Pantomime as an art form, and as a company we still embody those ethics today.”

Rehearsals start in early October and budding stars will rehearse every Saturday afternoon at The Carriageworks Theatre in Leeds City Centre; it is expected that more rehearsals will be required in the run up to the production.

If you have a young star in the family let On Stage Productions know by emailing [email protected]

Dick Whittington and His Cat is at City Varieties Music Hall on Saturday 10^th November at 2pm and 7pm.

Tickets are on sale now priced from £19.60.

Book online at cityvarieties.co.uk

or call Box Office on 0113 243 0808

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL AT LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

Hit West End show, Motown The Musical, is set to have Leeds audiences Dancing In The street when it runs at Leeds Grand Theatre from Tuesday 6 to Saturday 17 November 2018 as part of a major UK and Ireland tour.

With over 50 Motown classics, including Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, I’ll Be There, Dancing In The Street, Stop! In The Name Of Love, My Girl and I Heard It through the Grapevine. Motown the Musical tells the story of Motown Founder and heavy-weight music mogul, Berry Gordy, and the legendary record label that changed music history and created the soundtrack of a generation.

With just $800 borrowed from his family, Gordy discovered and launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and many more.

Gordy said: “The UK has always been the gateway for Motown to the rest of the world. While the west end production continues to perform to great audiences, I’m thrilled that we are taking a second production of Motown the Musical to the rest of the UK.”

Motown The Musical is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Tuesday 6 to Saturday 17 November 2018

Tickets are on sale priced from £15

(prices include a £3 booking fee. Postage charge £1 where applicable)

Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700