DISNEY’S WEST END SHOWS ALADDIN AND
THE LION KING ANNOUNCE SUMMER POP-UP EXPERIENCE IN LONDON

Disney’s hit West End musicals Aladdin and The Lion King have today announced that a summer Pop-Up will open its doors to Disney fans old and new in Covent Garden throughout August. Located at 25 Long Acre in the heart of Theatreland, the Pop-Up will be open every day from Tuesday 31stJuly until Sunday 26th August with a host of free interactive experiences and special events to enjoy.

Within this unique space guests will be able to explore the iconic masks, puppets and costumes from the Tony-Award winning The Lion King up-close and learn about the inspiration behind many of the show’s impressive designs. Guests will also have the opportunity to step inside a specially-created ‘Cave of Wonders’, where they will be able to take a photo with the legendary lamp from Aladdin.

The fun continues around Covent Garden’s Piazza where visitors are invited to delve into a treasure hunt to uncover four magic lamps – each offering a clue to an Aladdin themed puzzle. Those who unscramble the message can take home a limited edition poster as their well-earned reward.

In addition to this, a variety of free events will take place daily within the Pop-Up including performances from cast members of the two West End shows, puppetry demonstrations and stage makeup masterclasses, as well as vocal and movement bite-sized workshops to get a first-hand flavour of the shows’ music and choreography. The full schedule is available to view at www.disneyonstage.co.uk and access to events is available on a first-come first-served basis.

This summer Disney UK celebrated the second anniversary of Aladdin in the West End, which opened at the Prince Edward Theatre in June 2016, while The Lion King enjoys its 19th triumphant year at the Lyceum Theatre.

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S OLIVIER AWARD-WINNING

S C H O O L   O F   R O C K  –  T H E   M U S I C A L

YEAR THREE CAST BEGIN TERM AND 350,000 NEW TICKETS RELEASED

WWW.SCHOOLOFROCKTHEMUSICAL.COM

From 22 August 2018, term will begin for the year three cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Olivier award-winning production of School of Rock – The Musical at the newly named Gillian Lynne Theatre. Today sees the release of a further 350,000 tickets for this hit West End production, now booking to 20 October 2019.  Based on the iconic film of the same title, School of Rock – The Musical sees the kids from Dewey’s band compete in the legendary Battle of the Bands and embrace the power of rock!  

 

Craig Gallivan will lead the cast in the role of Dewey Finn with Laura Tebbutt as Rosalie Mullins, Alan Pearson as Ned Schneebly, Michelle Francis as Patty DiMarco and Jake Sharp who will play Dewey Finn at certain performances.  The remaining adult cast comprise John Addison, Nick Butcher, Rob Falconer, Martina Isibor, Claudia Kariuki, Jessica Louise Parkinson, Richard Morse, Andy Rees, Hannah Stratton, Alex Tomkins and James Wolstenholme with swings Paul Kemble, Jessica Kirton, Billy Mitchell, Catherine Morris and Andy Prosser.

 

As well as the show entering its third year in the West End, in October this year an Australian production of School of Rock – The Musical will open at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne.  The Broadway production continues at the Winter Garden Theatre and the US national touring production is currently booking to September 2018.

 

Joining the adult cast are three teams of twelve kids, who make up Dewey’s band, and play live at every performance.  From 22 August 2018 the kids cast comprise Albert Atack (ten years old from Sheffield), Amos Mayland (ten years old from Cornwall) and Oscar Rice (eleven years old from London) who will play Zack; Jamal Ahmed (twelve years old from Surrey), Jasper Bew (eleven years old from London) and Nayan Gupta (ten years old from Sheffield) who will play Freddy; Noah Gupta-Wright (twelve years old from London), Alfie Humphreys (eleven years old from Bedfordshire) and Tom Kochalski (twelve years old from South Wales) who will play Lawrence; Carys John (ten years old from Wiltshire), Amelie Leatherland (twelve years old from Brighton) and Ellie Wilcox (eleven years old from Essex) who will play Katie; Jack Gale (eleven years old from Hertfordshire), Jakub Kopec (eleven years old from Surrey) and Jensen York (twelve years old from Warwickshire) who will play Billy; Amelie Green (eleven years old from London), Anya Hewett (ten years old from County Durham) and Éibhleann Rose McCormack (ten years old from West Sussex) who will play Summer; Kaylah Black (twelve years old from London), Sara Sheen (twelve years old from Manchester) and Charis Claresta Tetteh (twelve years old from Essex) who will play Tomika; Adam Djazel (ten years old from London), Harley Gallacher (twelve years old from Kent) and Stanley Voss (eleven years old from Buckinghamshire) who will play James; Calypso Bailey (twelve years old from Essex), Ellie Kit Jones (ten years old from London) and Shani Roberts (ten years old from Essex) who will play Marcy; Harry Linacre Brown (ten years old from London), Charlie Gallacher (twelve years old from Kent) and Samuelle John-Brown (twelve years old from Buckinghamshire) who will play Mason; Jasmine Brightmore (eleven years old from London), Lia Summer Higgs (eleven years old from Essex) and Shaye Temple (eleven years old from London) who will play Shonelle; Zoe Coleman (twelve years old from London), Aoife Connelly (ten years old from Essex) and Frankie-Mae Garner (eleven years old also from Essex) who will play Sophie.

 

Based on the hit film, this hilarious new musical follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn a few extra bucks by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. There he turns a class of straight-A students into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. While teaching these pint-sized prodigies what it means to truly rock, Dewey falls for the school’s beautiful, but uptight headmistress, helping her rediscover the wild child within.

 

School of Rock – The Musical features music from the movie, as well as new music written by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by Julian Fellowes.  School of Rock – The Musical is directed by Laurence Connor with choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter, set and costume designs by Anna Louizos, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Mick Potter, music supervision by John Rigby with Matt Smith as musical director.

 

Continuing the search for the opportunity to ‘join the band’, further kids open auditions will take place later this year in Plymouth on 8 September, in Manchester on 22 September, in London on 17 and 18 October for musicians, and on 13 and 15 November for ensemble. If you are between 8 – 12 years old and play a rock instrument (guitar, bass, piano, and/or drums) or sing, registration and further details can be found by contacting Jessica Ronane Casting at [email protected] or at www.schoolofrockthemusical.co.uk/auditions.

 

Produced by Paramount Pictures, the 2003 hit film School of Rock was directed by Richard Linklater and starred Jack Black in a career-defining performance.

School of Rock — The Musical is produced in the West End by Andrew Lloyd Webber for The Really Useful Group and Warner Music Group & Access Industries with Madeleine Lloyd Webber as Executive Producer.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Theatre:                    Gillian Lynne Theatre, 166 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5PW

Dates:                       now booking to 20 October 2019

Running time:            approximately 2 hours 30 minutes including interval

Box Office:                020 7087 7750

Performances:           Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm, Sundays at 3pm

                                Captioned performance 20 September 2018 at 7.30pm

                                Signed performance 11 October 2018 at 2.30pm

                                Please check website for Christmas schedule

Prices:                       from £15.00

Student rush tickets for £10 on Wednesday evening

All ticket prices include a £1.50 restoration levy.  No booking fee via official box office channels

Website:                    www.SchoolOfRockTheMusical.co.uk

Twitter & Instagram: @SchoolofRockuk

Facebook:                  facebook.com/schoolofrockmusical

Brockley Jack Studio Theatre – until 14 July 2018.

Reviewed by Antonia Hebbert

4****

Will loves Jane. Jane loves Will. But Will is an Aussie whose UK visa is going to expire because he can’t get the work he wants. So they get married, for convenience, to give themselves time to decide whether they really want to be together. And things start to go wrong.

Back To Where was created through improvisations by Hannah Hawkins (Jane) and Vincent Andriano (Will), with writer-director Colin James. They must have dug deep: the play is very truthful about relationships, at times painfully so. It consists of Will and Jane talking through the night, on a camping trip in the Welsh hills where they are stuck without food or water. (Confession time: due to a snarl-up on the railways, I missed the first 30 minutes so can’t say exactly how they came to be there.)

That might sound rather limited, but for the audience in the tiny Jack Studio Theatre, this is a riveting and intense evening. Will and Jane look back through good times and bad, and express exactly the contradictions and difficulties in relationships even when they are very close: the fun, the awkwardnesses, the way couples can find each other simultaneously lovable and maddening, the crossed wires, the difficulty of listening and expressing oneself. It’s funny, alarming (Vincent Andriano as angry Will), excruciating (because it’s so true) and poignant – Will and Jane won’t find easy answers.

This is the first production from the New Tricks Theatre company, which aims to put on new and inspiring works of theatre. It’s a cracking start.

Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield – runs until 14th July 2018.

Reviewed by Sophie Dodworth

5*****

Sheffield theatre fans are lucky enough to be in one of the 4 places that Dusty will be making a stop at. A new musical, but it certainly doesn’t feel that way while you are watching it. The producer, Eleanor Lloyd even asks the audience for feedback in the programme and provides an email address, stating that feedback will shape it’s development, however, this piece feels like it has already been developed and polished to the nth degree.

Whether you are a Dusty fan or not, it really doesn’t matter. You will either find yourself reminded of her colourful but sombre story or find yourself learning about this poignant character. The story starts on her journey to the number 1 spot with huge success and popularity throughout the UK. Dusty’s personal life takes centre stage with her relationship exposing some of her less desirable character traits, fuelled by her alcoholism. The story line is emotive and touching; towards the end you really can start to empathise with Dusty. It is clear how much pressure she was under to always be number one and compete with the young and upcoming stars.

Katherine Kingsley plays Dusty, and what a performance it is… she has perfected her hand movements, mannerisms and her stunning voice is very close to being a duplicate. Kingsley has real stage presence and when on stage, often she is all your eyes are drawn to. Hats off to her for portraying her character through some really tough subject matters which must be challenging as an actress, including some rather shocking racism.

There are some famous names on the stage in the shape of Rufus Hound and Roberta Taylor, both cast excellently. A less well known name comes in the shape of Joanna Francis, playing Lois. Lois is Dusty’s girlfriend and some of the duets that they perform together are just perfection. Francis’ voice is just beautiful and lights up the stage with her sweet sounds.

A real highlight of this show is the impeccably trained, well rehearsed chorus. The dancing is absolutely on point with extreme energy all the way through. Credit to the choreographer, Tim Jackson. Each character on stage has something to offer and during the performance of ‘What Have I Done to Deserve This’ they really do steal the show. It has to be said that this is aided with the magical effects on stage created by Tom Pye (set and costume design).

Dusty comes highly recommended, a truly marvellous, entertaining show packed with all the things that you would hope to find inside a musical.

THE CASE OF THE FRIGHTENED LADY AT LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

Bill Kenwright Productions presents, Edgar Wallace’s The Case Of The Frightened Lady at Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 23 to Saturday 28 July 2018.

Revered as one of the most popular and prolific crime writers of the 20th Century and the brains behind the iconic film, King Kong, Edgar Wallace’s gripping page-turners are regarded as the bedrock of the modern thriller. The Case Of The Frightened Lady remains one of his most celebrated works.

Directed by Roy Marsden, best known for his role as Commander Adam Dalgliesh in ITV’s P.D. James series, The Case Of The Frightened Lady features an all-star cast of Gray O’Brien, one of TV’s most popular actors, known for his memorable roles in The Loch, Peak Practice, Casualty and as Tony Gordon in Coronation Street; Denis Lill from long-running drama The Royal and Only Fools and Horses; and film star Oliver Phelps, who makes his stage debut having played the character of George Weasley in one of the most successful film franchises of all time, Harry Potter. Joining them is Deborah Grant from Not Going Out and Bergerac; Philip Lowrie, best known for playing Dennis Tanner in Coronation Street; April Pearson, star of award-winning drama Skins; Agatha Christie Company stalwart Ben Nealon from the popular series Soldier Soldier, and Glenn Carter, widely recognised as the definitive Jesus in the hit musical and film of Jesus Christ Superstar. The cast is completed by Callum Coates, Owen Oldroyd and Rosie Thomson.

When Inspector Tanner is called in to investigate a ruthless murder at Mark’s Priory, the grand ancestral home of the Lebanon family, he quickly discovers that nothing is quite as it seems. The household is controlled by the family physician, the footmen behave more like guests than servants and the secretary Isla is afraid for her life. As Tanner moves closer to the heart of the mystery he uncovers a shocking and closely guarded secret…

The Case Of The Frightened Lady is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 23 to Saturday 28 July 2018.

Tickets are on sale now priced from £19.50

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

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

COMPLETE CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s musical

COMPANY

Directed by Marianne Elliott

 

JONATHAN BAILEY & ALEX GAUMOND TO PLAY

JAMIE (formerly AMY) & PAUL

Gielgud Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London

Previews from 26 September 2018

Opening Night 17 October 2018

 

The complete cast was announced today for Marianne Elliott’s highly anticipated new production of George Furth and Stephen Sondheim’s COMPANY which opens at the Gielgud Theatre from 26 September 2018.

JONATHAN BAILEY will play Jamie (originally written as the female character, Amy) andALEX GAUMOND will play his devoted fiancée – Paul. 

Stephen Sondheim and Marianne Elliott have been working closely together on the script and have re-imagined these two characters as a gay couple for the very first time.  DirectorMarianne Elliott said: I could not be more thrilled that Stephen Sondheim agreed to turn Amy into Jamie. I hope it makes this production feel very, very now.  We are keeping the existing dialogue, and not changing the famous scene in which the character gets cold feet about their impending marriage and sings the iconic “I’m not getting married today.’  The characters of Jamie and Paul feel like a lot of the contemporary gay male friends I know.’

Jonathan Bailey’s recent television work includes: Broadchurch, WIA, Chewing Gum andDoctor Who.  His theatre credits include The York Realist, King Lear with Ian McKellen for the Chichester Festival Theatre, American Psycho at the Almeida and Othello at the National Theatre.  His films credits include The Mercy, Christ the Lord, Testament of Youth and St Trinians.

Alex Gaumond’s West End musical credits include Miss Trunchbull in the RSC’s Matilda, We Will Rock You, and Legally Blonde – The Musical.  Other theatre credits include ENO’sSweeney Todd with Emma Thompson, Taming of the Shrew at the Globe, Caroline or Changeat the Chichester Festival Theatre and A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic.  His films includeThe Hustle and Hampstead.

Also announced today is DAISY MAYWOOD as Susan.  Daisy’s theatre credits include The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk at Wilton’s Music Hall and on tour, Promises Promises at Southwark Playhouse, Wonder.Land  and Carrie Cracknell’s Medea for the National Theatre and AChorus Line at the London Palladium.  She also appeared in Rufus Norris’ film London Road.

The complete cast for COMPANY is:  Rosalie Craig as Bobbie, Patti LuPone as Joanne,Mel Giedroyc as Sarah, Jonathan Bailey as Jamie, George Blagden as PJ, Ashley Campbell as Peter, Richard Fleeshman as Andy, Alex Gaumond as Paul, Richard Henders as David, Ben Lewis as Larry, Daisy Maywood as Susan, Jennifer Saayeng as Jenny, Matthew Seadon-Young as Theo and Gavin Spokes as Harry.  Joining them are: Michael Colbourne, Francesca Ellis, Ewan Gillies, Grant Neal and Jaimie Pruden.

At Bobbie’s 35^th birthday party all her friends are wondering why she isn’t married; why she can’t find the right man and why she hasn’t settled down to have a family. The multi-award winning musical comedy about life, love and marriage includes Stephen Sondheim’s iconic songs, The Ladies who Lunch, Being Alive, Side by Side and You Could Drive a Person Crazy.

Marianne Elliott, Artistic Director of Elliott & Harper Productions, a company she founded in 2016 with producer Chris Harper, was awarded an OBE in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honour’s List for her services to theatre. Elliott is the first woman in Broadway history to win two Tony Awards for Best Director and her recent Broadway transfer of Tony Kushner’sAngels in America received the 2018 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play.  Angels in America at the National Theatre also received the 2018 Olivier Award for Best Revival of a Play. Marianne’s ground-breaking production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time received 7 Olivier Awards in London, including Best New Play and Best Director and 5 Tony Awards for its run on Broadway, including Best Play and Best Director and continues to tour internationally. Her production of Saint Joan earned her the Olivier Award for Best Revival of a Play and Pillars of the Community earned her the Evening Standard Award for Best Director.  War Horse, which she co-directed, and has been seen by over 7 million people world-wide, and is on its second UK tour.

Joining director Marianne Elliott on the creative team for Company are:  choreographer Liam Steel, designer, musical supervisor and conductor Joel Fram, Bunny Christie, lighting designer Neil Austin, sound designer Ian Dickinson (for Autograph Sound), illusions designer Chris Fisher, orchestrator David Cullen, dance arranger Sam Davis and casting directors Alastair Coomer CDG and Charlotte Sutton CDG.

 

The producers for Company at the Gielgud Theatre are: Elliott & Harper Productions,Catherine Schreiber, Grove Entertainment, Jujamcyn Theaters, LD Entertainment, David Mirvish, Aged in Wood Productions/Ricardo Hornos, Bob Boyett/Tom Miller, Bruno Wang Productions/Salman Al-Rashid, Across the Pond Theatricals/ Trio Theatricals andGreek Street Productions/Christopher Ketner.

INSPIRING THE FUTURE OF THEATRE LAUNCHED WITH SCARBOROUGH SCHOOL EVENT AND NATIONWIDE SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN

Inspiring the Future of Theatre, the initiative to showcase the range of careers available in theatre to young people, officially launched yesterday (11 July) with an event at Northstead Community Primary School in Scarborough and a social media campaign which trended all day in the UK.

150 Year 6 pupils from Northstead Community Primary School and two surrounding schools (Overdale and St Peters) came together for a morning of activities, panel sessions and discussions led by staff from the nearby Stephen Joseph Theatre, as well as representatives from Hull Truck Theatre, Beach Hut Theatre, Northern Ballet and Qdos Entertainment – all based in the region.

A variety of theatre jobs were represented at the event, ranging from Chief Electrician and Theatre Designer to Producer and Box Office Manager. Children got the chance to guess the theatre employees’ jobs via a ‘What’s my Line?’ Q&A session, and learn more about the different roles during a ‘speed networking’ activity.

Stephen Freeman, Chief Executive of the Stephen Joseph Theatre, said:

‘There is a huge range of careers in theatre besides acting: engineers, electricians, marketers, designers, accountants and so many more. It’s really important to show these opportunities to young people as they’re starting to formulate ideas about the world, and events like this one in Scarborough are vital for signposting careers in the creative arts as realistic and attainable possibilities.’

Shaun Hopper, Deputy Head of Northstead Community Primary School, said:

‘Inspiring young people onto career paths they might not have thought possible and providing them with access to a wide range of volunteers from the world of work helps them to see that every lesson and every day of school is a building block to success’

This was the first of 15 flagship Inspiring the Future of Theatre events, focusing on areas of the UK prioritised for social mobility and cultural development. The theatres participating in future events with schools include Oldham Coliseum Theatre, Hastings White Rock Theatre, Staffordshire’s New Vic, Cast in Doncaster, Peterborough’s Key Theatre, Ipswich’s New Wolsey Theatre, Glasgow’s Citizens Theatre and Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre – with more to be announced in different regions of the UK.

A social media campaign also took place on 11 July, with #InspiringFutureTheatre one of the top UK Twitter trends as many of the country’s theatres, arts organisations and industry professionals shared their own inspirations, education work and career success stories.

Inspiring the Future of Theatre is a partnership between Society of London Theatre (SOLT), UK Theatre andInspiring the Future (part of the charity Education and Employers), aiming to nurture new generations of theatre-makers and audiences from school age, and connecting schools with their local theatres to help achieve this.

Over 700 professionals from all areas of the industry have already signed up to be Inspiring the Future of Theatre ambassadors, and the drive to recruit more ambassadors continues.  Theatre professionals who would like to sign up can visit the Inspiring the Future website.

 

#InspiringFutureTheatre / @UK_Theatre / @SOLTNews / uktheatre.org / solt.co.uk /

#InspiringTheFuture / @InspiringTF / @Edu_Employers / educationandemployers.org / inspiringthefuture.org

https://officiallondontheatre.com/inspiring-future-theatre/

ROSE THEATRE KINGSTON ANNOUNCES

SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMME FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Rose Theatre Kingston announces its summer school programme for young people, offering a variety of courses including:

• Two-Day and Three-Day short courses for 7-11 year olds packed with games, storytelling and character work
• Play-in-a-Week for 10-15 year olds, where participants have the opportunity to create a full production
• Rose Academy offers support and guidance for 16-25 year olds preparing to apply for drama schools

All courses are supported by experienced teachers and industry professionals. In previous years this has included practitioners from the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as Olivier Award-winning actress, Laura Michelle Kelly.

All the courses take place in Kingston, either at Rose Theatre Kingston or a local rehearsal venue.

TWO-DAY COURSES

Rose Theatre Kingston’s Two-Day Course for 7-11 year olds offers fun and games, exploring storytelling, character and literacy. In small groups with experienced teachers, children develop skills in team-work, leadership and creativity as well as building self-confidence.

Venue:                 St John’s Warehouse, Church Grove, Hampton Wick, London KT1 4AL

Time:     10am-4pm

Ages:     7-11

Fee:       £100

Dates:

Monday 30 – Tuesday 31 July

Monday 6 – Tuesday 7 August

Thursday 9 – Friday 10 August

Monday 13 – Tuesday 14 August

Thursday 16 – Fri 17 August

Monday 20 – Tuesday 21 August

Thursday 23 – Friday 24 August

Tuesday 28 – Wednesday 29 August

THREE-DAY COURSES

Participants will work on developing storytelling themes and techniques in small groups with experienced teachers. The course will take a creative approach to storytelling whilst working on vocal techniques, focus and character. Children will learn team working skills and build self-confidence. On the final day there will be an invited showing for friends and family.

Venue:                 Richard Mayo Centre, Eden Street, Kingston, London KT1 1HZ

(Drop off and collection from Rose Theatre Kingston)

Time:     10am-4pm

Ages:     7-11

Fee:       £140

Dates:

Monday 30 July – Wednesday 1 August

Wednesday 1 – Friday 3 August

Monday 6 – Wednesday 8 August

Wednesday 8 – Friday 10 August

Monday 13 – Wednesday 15 August

Wednesday 15 – Friday 17 August

Wednesday 22 – Friday 24 August

 

 

PLAYS-IN-A-WEEK

A cast of young people will work with a professional director, assistants and stage management on a specially-adapted sixty-minute script, learning techniques and developing the production for a full, costumed public performance at the end of the week.

 

The Jungle Book (SOLD OUT)

By Rudyard Kipling, adapted by Ciaran McConville

Journey through the forest with man-cub Mowgli, as he learns the law of the jungle from the wolf pack, a wise old panther and a dangerous tiger. Imaginatively designed and staged for a young ensemble.

 

Venue:                 Rose Theatre Kingston

Date:     Monday 30 July – Saturday 4 August

Time:     9.30am-4.30pm

Ages:     10-14

Fee:       £200

Charlotte’s Web

By E.B. White, adapted by Joseph Robinette

A gorgeous adaptation of one of America’s great children’s stories. A young pig has his bacon saved by a selfless spider with a knack for weaving words.

Venue:                 Rose Theatre Kingston

Date:     Monday 6 – Saturday 11 August

Time:     9.30am-4.30pm

Ages:     10-14

Fee:       £200

Alice in Winterland

By Ciaran McConville, based on Lewis Carroll’s books

Follow Alice on a quest to save Winterland, a place of ice and imagination, of mad hatters and cruel queens, strong-minded dodos and friendly knights, inhabited by the mysterious Bandersnatch and the terrible Jabberwock. This is your chance to take part in a studio version of the critically acclaimed play that Rose Theatre Kingston produced for its 2017 Christmas show.

Venue:                 Rose Theatre Kingston

Date:     Monday 13 – Saturday 18 August

Time:     9.30am-4.30pm

Ages:     10-14

Fee:       £200

The Railway Children

By E. Nesbit, adapted by Ciara Morris

After the sudden departure of their father, Bobby, Peter and Phyllis are uprooted to a cottage in Yorkshire with their mother. There they fall in love with the railway and become involved in the lives of people connected to it. This exciting, heartfelt story by E Nesbit is given a fresh adaptation for the stage while remaining faithful in essence to the original.

Venue:                 Rose Theatre Kingston

Date:     Monday 20 – Saturday 25 August

Time:     9.30am-4.30pm

Ages:     11-14

Fee:       £200

Much Ado About Nothing (SOLD OUT)

By William Shakespeare

One of Shakespeare’s best-loved comedies. A group of soldiers returning from abroad rests at the house of Leonato, where best-laid plans seem thwarted by an embittered brother, before a test of true love leads to unexpected unions and a sparkling, hilarious resolution.

Venue:                 Rose Theatre Kingston

Date:     Monday 27 August – Saturday 1 September

Time:     9.30am-4.30pm

Ages:     11-15

Fee:       £200

ROSE ACADEMY

The UK is home to some of the most prestigious drama schools in the world with more than 1000 applicants auditioning for each place. Rose Academy is a unique course that draws on the expertise of leading drama school facilitators, directors and actors to offer an insight into conservatoire training and techniques to support and assist participants’ with the application process. The course is now in its sixth year, with past participants going on to schools including RADA, LAMDA, Guildhall, Central, Oxford and East15.

Rose Academy is by audition only, please email [email protected] to apply.

Venue:                 Rose Theatre Kingston

Date:     Tuesday 28 August – Sunday 2 September

Time:     10am-4pm

Ages:     16-25

Fee:       £250

Rose Theatre Kingston                                                                                                                           Listings

24-26 High Street, Kingston, KT1 1HL

To book a course please contact:

Box Office:  0208 174 0090

For more information about the courses, please contact Sarah Kingsford on 0208 939 4050 or email [email protected].

 

Discounts:

Five-Day Combo Course: book a Two-Day and Three-Day Course and save £40.

Rose Youth Theatre Members: save £20.

Siblings: save £20 for each additional sibling.

 

ABOUT ROSE THEATRE KINGSTON

Founded by Sir Peter Hall, and modelled on the original Elizabethan Rose Theatre on London’s Bankside (where the stage height meant groundlings could stand), Rose Theatre Kingston is the largest producing theatre in South West London.

Since opening in 2008, the Rose has collaborated with a range of directors, playwrights and producing partners to create vibrant, engaging and inspiring productions. Recent works include the first stage adaptation and world première of Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend directed by Melly Still, Zach Helm’s Good Canary directed by John Malkovich, John Barton and Peter Hall’s Shakespeare adaptation The Wars of the Roses directed by Trevor Nunn, David Hare’s The Absence of War directed by Jeremy Herrin and Jacqueline Wilson’s Hetty Feather (West End transfer and Olivier Award nominee) directed by Sally Cookson.

With over 150,000 visitors a year, the Rose enjoys artistic and critical acclaim from its own productions and co-productions as well as from hosting the work of renowned theatre companies including Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare’s Globe, Headlong, English Touring Theatre, Peter Brook, Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, and Sheffield Theatres. With an auditorium that lends itself to both intimate and epic scale productions, the Rose has established itself as one of the most exciting theatres in the UK.

www.rosetheatrekingston.org

 

Twitter:                @Rosetheatre

Facebook:           /RoseTheatreKingston

Instagram:          RoseTheatreKingston

Classroom for budding artists renamed in honour of #FightEB campaigner & photographer James Dunn

A creative space for budding artists at The Lowry in Salford has been renamed in honour of James Dunn, a 24-year-old man from Liverpool who campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).

James sadly passed away in April, just weeks after the #FightEB campaign he launched raised over £250,000 for those suffering with EB – a condition that causes constant pain due to unstoppable internal and external blistering of the skin and for which there is currently no known cure.

‘The James Dunn Classroom’ was the idea of local businessman, Ged Mason, chief executive of Morson Group, a recruitment and design consultancy who has known James and his family for a number of years.

In 2016, James appeared on Big Life Fix, a BBC 2 programme that saw leading inventors create ingenious solutions to everyday problems for people in desperate need.

In James’ case, that was a custom-built camera by award-winning design engineer, Jude Pullen, which made it possible for him to operate the camera by himself via a specially-designed app, thereby allowing him to pursue his passion for photography.

Speaking at the unveiling, Ged Mason said: “James was an inspirational young man who not only campaigned to raise awareness of EB but who also followed his creative passion for photography.

“It was a privilege to know James and it seemed a fitting tribute to name a creative space in his honour. I hope the 9,000 young people who use the classroom each year are inspired by James’ story and follow their dreams regardless of the obstacles they may have to overcome.”

The classroom will be named in his honour until July 2021.

For more information about the FightEB campaign, visit: http://fighteb.org.uk