THEATR CLWYD ANNOUNCE FULL CASTING FOR THE

WORLD PREMIÈRE OF EMMA REEVES ADAPTATION OF

JACQUELINE WILSON’S WAVE ME GOODBYE

Theatr Clwyd present the world première of

WAVE ME GOODBYE

By Jacqueline Wilson

Adapted by Emma Reeves

23 April – 4 May 2019

Director Christian Patterson; Designer Amy Cook; Lighting Designer: Will Evans

Sound Designer: Matthew Williams; Composer/Musical Director Luke Potter

Movement Director: Joanne Bernard; Assistant Director: Francesca Goodridge 

With Home, I’m Darling currently running in the West End, and rehearsals underway for Orpheus Descending, Theatr Clwyd today announce the full cast for the world première of Jacqueline Wilson’s Wave Me Goodbye, adapted by Emma Reeves. Christian Patterson directs Courtney George (Shirley), Victoria John(Chubby/Doris/Mrs Henshaw), Sean Jones (Kevin/Will Waverley/Male Doll), Kerry Peers (Mrs Mad/WVS Volunteer/’Charlie Chaplin’/Marilyn Henderson/Landlady) and Sam C Wilson (Shirley’s Dad (Pete Smith)/Mr Bentley/ Kevin’s Dad (Joe Moffatt), Gerald Pendleton/Uncle Mick). The production opens on 25 April, with previews from 23 April, and runs until 4 May.

September, 1939. As the Second World War begins, ten-year-old Shirley is sent away on a train for ‘a little holiday’. Shirley is billeted in the country to live in the strange, deserted Red House with the mysterious and reclusive Mrs Waverley. Here, alongside two boys from Liverpool, Kevin and Archie, Shirley’s life will change forever.

A new adaptation of bestselling author Jacqueline Wilson’s moving story, directed by Christian Patterson. 

Courtney George plays Shirley. Theatre work includes Mamma Mia! (UK and international tour), 42^nd Street(Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Grease (Leicester Curve) and Peter Pan, Robin Hood (Qdos Pantomimes).

Victoria John returns to Theatr Clwyd to play Chubby/Doris/Mrs Henshaw. Previous work for the company includes The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Cyrano de Bergerac, All My Sons, The Light of Heart, Aristocrats and The Winslow Boy. Other theatre work includes HIR (Bush Theatre), Play (The Other Room), The Frozen Scream(Wales Millennium Centre/Birmingham Hippodrome). Television includes: Gwaith/Cartref (Fiction Factoty/S4C), Miranda, Little Britain (BBC), Cast Offs (Channel 4).

Sean Jones plays Kevin/Will Waverley/Male Doll. His theatre work includes Blood Brothers (UK tour), Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, Cinderella, Snow White (UK Productions). Television includes Emmerdale, The Royal Today and Hollyoaks.

Kerry Peers returns to Theatr Clwyd to play Mrs Mad/WVS Volunteer/’Charlie Chaplin’/Marilyn Henderson/Landlady. Previous work for the company includes Much Ado About Nothing, Jumpy, A Streetcar Named Desire and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. Other theatre work includes The Words Are Coming Now(Theatre503), Pride and Prejudice (Nottingham Playhouse/ York Theatre Royal), The Father, Dead Funny – both Manchester Theatre Awards nominations, Brighton Beach Memoirs – Manchester Theatre Awards Winner (Oldham Coliseum), Peter Pan (Northcott Exeter), and Shirley Valentine (Frinton Summer Theatre). Television work includes Clink, Butterfly, Bulletproof, Hollyoaks and Shameless.

Sam C Wilson plays Shirley’s Dad (Pete Smith)/Mr Bentley/ Kevin’s Dad (Joe Moffatt), Gerald Pendleton/Uncle Mick. Theatre includes Lost Village (Zest), Mood Kill (Snippet Theatre Company), Gorillaz – Demon Dayz Live(Block 9), Romeo and Juliet (Union Theatre) and Crazy Gary’s Mobile Disco, The New World Order (Drama Centre London). Television work includes The Capture, Hanna, Don’t Forget The Driver and Stella.

Christian Patterson directs.He scripted his debut pantomime Dick Whittington for Theatr Clwyd last year, having written award-winning pantomimes at other venues across the UK. As an actor his credits for the company include The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Insignificance, All My Sons and Under Milk Wood. Other credits include The Way of the World (Donmar Warehouse), My Country (National Theatre), Blackbird (The Other Room) and Plays in a Bag – The Knowledge (Royal Court Theatre). His television credits include My Country, Ellen and Mr Selfridge; and for film, Pride and Malice in Wonderland. He won the Best Actor honour at the Wales Theatre Awards in 2016.

Recommended age 5 years+

Listings                                                                                                                                                 Theatr Clwyd

Venue:                                 Theatr Clwyd, Anthony Hopkins Theatre

Address:                              Raikes Lane, Mold CH7 1YA

Dates:                                   15 – 27 April

Times:                                   For the performance schedule, please see the website

Box Office:01352 701521

Website:              www.theatrclwyd.com/en/(no fee)

Tickets                                  From £10

STAGE SIGHT: new network to improve diversity of theatre workforce announced

• Stage Sight showcases good practice and success in making the off stage workforce more representative of society
• Stage Sight calls for organisations and individuals to commit to change
• Over 30 organisations already committed including Disney Theatrical Group, the Young Vic, Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre, the Royal Court, Sheffield Theatres and English Touring Theatre

Stage Sight, a new collaborative network to help create a diverse off stage theatre workforce, has been launched by theatre lighting designer Prema Mehta, supported by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre.

Stage Sight was created by Prema Mehta as a direct response to the industry’s need to widen its workforce and become more reflective of today’s society, and to include people who come from a BAME background, people from a working class background and disabled and D/deaf people.

Theatre organisations and professionals are asked to commit to practical change in one of three areas; recruitment (making hiring practices more open), reaching out (raising public awareness of off stage roles) and new pathways (developing new learning and training experiences), and to share their learning with the Stage Sight network.

The Stage Sight website acts as a showcase for inspiring projects and good practice, and an online community for sharing ideas, resources, progress and learning. Quarterly members’ forums bring Stage Sight members together to share ideas and progress, and to support each other’s projects.

Stage Sight is for those already exploring ways to improve representation who have experience to share, or those keen to start making change and in need of ideas and guidance. 

Prema Mehta, lighting designer and Stage Sight founder, said:

‘Many people don’t know about theatre – we could all do more to reach out to larger pools of our community to widen our workforce and our pool of talent. It is fantastic that so many organisations have already joined Stage Sight, and I hope many more do too. Real change will only happen if the industry comes together to share ideas for opening our doors to everyone.’

Organisations that have already committed to being part of Stage Sight include the Association of British Theatre Technicians, Chichester Festival Theatre, Disney Theatrical Group, English Touring Theatre, Hull Truck Theatre, Mercury Theatre Colchester, the National Theatre, Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre, Sheffield Theatres and the Young Vic.

CHARLOTTE BENNETT AND KATIE POSNER ANNOUNCED AS NEW JOINT ARTISTIC DIRECTORS OF PAINES PLOUGH

www.painesplough.com / @painesplough /#PP2019 / Theatre. Everywhere.

Following news that James Grieve and George Perrin are stepping down after ten years at the helm of Paines Plough, Chair Kim Grant is delighted to announce that Charlotte Bennett and Katie Posner will take over as Joint Artistic Directors in August this year.

Kim Grant said ‘We are really excited about this next new phase in the company’s life. Charlotte and Katie are the perfect duo to pick up the mantle from James and George and to maintain Paines Plough’s long held position at the forefront of touring the very best new writing and creative talents to every inch of the UK. We were especially impressed by their ideas for the future and their desire to continue collaborative leadership through originality, fairness and innovation. On behalf of the board and the whole team at Paines Plough we very much look forward to welcoming them during our Roundabout Edinburgh season ahead of an extensive autumn tour.’

Charlotte Bennett and Katie Posner said ‘It is a great honour to be appointed as the next Artistic Directors of Paines Plough. We are both long admirers of the company and its commitment to making exceptional new plays which reach all the corners of the UK and beyond. We are inspired by all leaders of this company since it started in 1974; incredible role models who have left a great legacy that we are excited to embrace as we begin this next chapter. We have been artistic mentors to one another and been fierce supporters of each other’s work for the past ten years. Inspired by collaborative leadership and in particular the excellent example set by George and James, we wanted to apply to run this company together to fuse our passions for new writing and touring and our shared mission to make great new plays which champion the unheard and reach the overlooked.’

Charlotte is currently Associate Director at Soho Theatre where she leads the new writing department, developing artists and commissions and programming the upstairs studio. For Soho she has directed new work by Jack Rooke, curated a six-month off-site arts festival in Waltham Forest and led playwriting competition the Verity Bargate Award. Prior to this she was Artistic Director of Forward Theatre Project; an artists’ collective she founded. For Forward Theatre Project she made and directed new plays which toured nationally inspired by working in partnership with different communities around the UK and at venues including National Theatre, York Theatre Royal, Northern Stage, Derby Theatre, Live Theatre and The Lowry. As a freelance director she has worked extensively for Open Clasp Theatre Company, creating new plays inspired by marginalised women in the North-East. Charlotte also held the role of Creative Producer for theatre company RashDash where she toured experimental new theatre around the UK.

Katie is an award-winning director currently working freelance. Prior to this she was the Associate Director for Pilot Theatre where she directed a rich and varied amount of new plays which toured regionally, nationally and internationally including working in co-production with Northern Stage, The Tron, The Belgrade and Tamasha. Katie has also directed extensively for York Theatre Royal on a number of productions including several large-scale community shows. As a freelance director she has directed plays for Mercury Colchester, Storyhouse Chester, National Youth Theatre, New Perspectives, Live Theatre and is due to direct My Mother Said I Never Should for Theatre by the Lake this May. As a champion of new writing and discovering new voices, Katie has also established talent development programmes and most recently a large female empowerment project for Jackson’s Lane. She will be directing two new large-scale community productions this Autumn for the Kiln and Theatr Clwyd.

Details of Paines Plough’s Programme 2019 can be found here:-https://www.painesplough.com/

SUNDAY FAVOURITES AT THE OTHER PALACE ANNOUNCED WITH A HOST OF THEATRE STARS

Lambert Jackson present

Sunday Favourites at The Other Palace

The Other Palace

Sundays: 5 & 19 May and 9 & 30 June 2019

Lambert Jackson today announce Sunday Favourites at The Other Palace with Danielle Hope, Joe McElderry, Jamie Muscato and Marisha Wallace performing in a series of solo concerts throughout May and June at The Other Palace.

The new series will see some of the biggest names in theatre headline an exclusive, intimate solo concert, performing a unique set of their favourite songs. This includes Joe McElderry on 5 May, Marisha Wallace on 19 May, Jamie Muscato on 9 June and Danielle Hope on 30 June.

Jamie Lambert and Eliza Jackson, co-founders of Lambert Jackson, said today, “We are thrilled to bring this incredible line up of stars to The Other Palace and offer theatre fans a chance to see exclusive performances from some of the best in musical theatre in such an intimate setting.”

Danielle Hope was the winner of the BBC talent contest Over The Rainbow and as a result played the part of Dorothy in the Andrew Lloyd Webber production of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium in 2011. Her other theatre credits include Les Miserables (Queen’s Theatre), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Sound of Music and Grease (UK tour).

Joe McElderry won the sixth series of The X Factor and went on to have a number one on the UK Singles Charts with his rendition of Miley Cyrus’ The Climb, and his debut album Wide Awake went straight in at number 3 on the UK Albums Chart. He has since gone on to have two more Top 10 albums. His theatre credits include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK tour).

Jamie Muscato’stheatre credits include Heathers The Musical (The Other Palace/Theatre Royal Haymarket),Big Fish (The Other Palace), Lazarus (King’s Cross Theatre), A Subject of Scandal and Concern (Finborough Theatre), Stay Awake Jake (Vault Festival), Bend it Like Beckham (Phoenix Theatre), Sweeny Todd (Welsh National Opera), House of Mirrors and Hearts (Arcola Theatre), Dogfight (Southwark Playhouse) and Les Miserables (international tour). His television credits include Cilla; and for film, Les Miserables and The Euphoria of Drowning.

Marisha Wallace is currently starring in Waitress (Adelphi Theatre). Her other credits include Dreamgirls (Savoy Theatre/Dallas Theater Centre), Something Rotten (St. James Theater), Aladdin (New Amsterdam Theater), Sistas The Musical (Tamika), Oklahoma!, A Night with Janis Joplin (Portland Centre Stage), Chicago, Rent, Best Little Whore House in Texas (PEG Entertainment), Hair (Little Theater on the Square) and The Book of Mormon(US tour).

Sunday Favourites at The Other Palace                                                                                                Listings

The Other Palace, 12 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JA

Box Office: 0207 087 7900

https://lwtheatres.co.uk/theatres/the-other-palace/

On sale dates:                   The Other Palace’s Best Friends – booking open 28 March 2019, 12pm

The Other Palace’s Friends – booking opens 29 March 2019, 12pm

General public – booking opens 1 April 2019, 12pm

Dates

Sunday 5 May – Joe McElderry

Sunday 19 May – Marisha Wallace

Sunday 9 June – Jamie Muscato

Sunday 30 June – Danielle Hope

New Victoria Theatre, Woking – until 30 March 2019

Reviewed by Becky Doyle

3***

What an absolute shame and disappointment that this show was. It took until half way through the second half before I started to actually enjoy myself. The story took too long to get into, and quiet frankly I was bored and wishing for the interval. The second half had a little more umph and I found myself 20 minutes before the end actually getting into the story and enjoying it.

Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t all-bad. The music was catchy and the singing was what you would expect from the cast. There were fantastic singers amongst the cast, to name a few; Karen Dunbar (Cora), Rebecca Storm (Chris) and Phil Corbitt (John). Clearly the story is that of great sadness followed by that of comedy and love. Though what I missed was that feeling of being there and feeling what the actors were feeling. I never felt the emotion of grief, sadness, or emptiness only that of time passing and not a lot transpiring.

The last 20 minutes of the show was where the show came to life, and where the calendar was created. There were laughs and cheers from others in the audience and it was clear that other audience members were loving the show. There was a sense of fun when the creativity of ladies strategically placing items such as iced buns, balls of wool, and trophies were played out whilst the audience clapped and moved along to the music.

The younger actors in the show were fantastic; Isabel Caswell (Jenny), Tyler Dobbs (Tommo) and Danny Howker (Danny) played their parts brilliantly. Danny in particular had the audience in stitches after he witnessed his mum whip her top off and scream “Can you see my nipples?” he truly had you understanding the life of a young school boy who had suddenly been horrified by what he saw on the Yorkshire hills whilst falling for a girl your mother didn’t approve of.

To conclude, the show had its highs and lows. For me there were not enough highs and I felt a little deflated and disappointed when leaving the theatre. However, saying this the cast received a standing ovation and other audience members within a full theatre appeared to enjoy the show.

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR ENGLISH TOURING THEATRE AND THEATRE ROYAL STRAFTORD EAST’S
CO–PRODUCTION OF EQUUS

English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East present
Equus
By Peter Shaffer

Director: Ned Bennett; Designer: Georgia Lowe; Lighting Designer: Jessica Hung Han Yun Composer and Sound Designer: Giles Thomas; Movement Director: Shelley Maxwell Assistant Director: Denzel Wesley – Sanderson; Casting Director: Anne McNulty CDG Casting Associate: Lucy Casson

English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East today announce the full cast for Ned Bennett’s bold new production of Peter Shaffer’s critically-acclaimed classic, psychological thriller Equus. Bennett directs Robert Finch (Frank Strang/Horse), Keith Gilmore (Harry Dalton/Nurse/Horse), Ethan Kai (Alan Strang), Syreeta Kumar (Dora Strang/Horse), Norah Lopez Holden (Jill Mason/Horse), Ruth Lass (Hester Salomon/Horse), Ira Mandela Siobhan (Young Horseman/Nugget) and Zubin Varla (Martin Dysart) completes the cast. The production opens at Theatre Royal Stratford East on 21 February, with previews from 15 February and runs until 23 March prior to embarking on a UK tour 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 and transfixing psychological thriller is re-imagined by award-winning theatre director Ned Bennett in this major new revival for 2019.

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 spiritualty, 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 Lovage and Amadeus (Evening Standard Drama Award and Tony Award for Best Play). His plays adapted for film include Five 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.

Robert Finch plays Frank Strang/Horse. His theatre credits include Jerusalem, Journey’s End (The Watermill Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing (Mercury Theatre Colchester), A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream (Stafford Festival Shakespeare), Anne Boleyn (Shakespeare’s Globe / ETT tour), Edward II (Rose Theatre), Terms of Endearment (York Theatre Royal), The Wings of The Dove (Minerva Theatre), Dangerous Corner (Theatre Royal Windsor) and Wait Until Dark (Garrick Theatre).

Keith Gilmore plays Harry Dalton/Nurse/Horse. His theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare’s Globe). Film credits include Ghost Recon: Future Soldier.

Ethan Kai plays Alan Strang. His theatre credits include Goats (Royal Court Theatre) and Returning to Haifa (Finborough Theatre). His television credits include Emmerdale as series regular Kasim Sabet; and for film, Instrument of War.

Syreeta Kumar plays Dora Strang/Horse. Her theatre credits include The Breakfast Plays (Traverse Theatre), Made in India, The Husbands (Soho Theatre), Twelfth Night, Midnight’s Children, Hamlet, Camino Real, Much Ado About Nothing (Royal Shakespeare Company) and Little Red Riding Hood (Theatre Royal Stratford East). Television credits include Coronation Street as series regular D.C. Leslie.

Norah Lopez Holden plays Jill Mason/Horse. Theatre credits include The Winter’s Tale (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Almighty Sometimes, Our Town (The Royal Exchange), Othello (The Tobacco Factory), Ghosts (HOME).

Ruth Lass plays Hester Salomon/Horse. Theatre credits include The Tempest (Barbican, BITE Festival), Hamlet (LIFT Festival), Wagner Dream (Barbican), Martin Yesterday (Royal Exchange Theatre), Live Like Pigs (Royal Court Theatre) and The House of Bernarda Alba (Young Vic).

Ira Mandela Siobhan plays Young Horseman/Nugget. Theatre credits include Feast (The Young Vic), Lifeguard (The National Theatre of Scotland) and FELA! (The National Theatre).

Zubin Varla plays Martin Dysart. His theatre credits include Fun Home, Bartholomew Fair (Young Vic), The Enchantment, Attempts on Her Life, The Life of Galileo, Cyrano de Bergerac, Celestine, The Hour That We Knew Nothing Of Each Other (National Theatre), Julius Caesar (Lyric Hammersmith), Two Gentlemen of Verona, Faust (Swan Theatre), Midnight’s Children, The Tempest (Barbican), Roberto Zucco (The Other Place), The Painter of Dishonour (Gulbenkian Studio), Twelfth Night (Donmar Warehouse), Paradise Regained (Royal Court Theatre), In the Heart of America (Bush), Teeth ‘n’ Smiles (Sheffield Crucible), Jesus Christ Superstar (Lyceum Theatre), Beautiful Thing (Duke of York’s Theatre), Dr Foster (Menier Chocolate Factory), Hello and Goodbye (Southwark Playhouse), A Connecticut Yankee in the Court of King Arthur, Romeo and Juliet, Lady Be Good (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Antigone for Warehouse Productions (Old Vic) and Amadeus (UK Tour). Television credits include Deep State as Said, Our Girl as Qaseem, Strike Back as Leo Kamali, Saddam’s Tribe, Little Dorrit and Holby City as series regular Rafi Raza.

Ned Bennett directs Equus. He is an award-winning theatre director, who trained at the Royal Court Theatre, 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 last year, and Buggy Baby which opened at the Yard Theatre in March 2018. 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.

 Mikron Theatre Company present the premier of

REDCOATS

A new play by Nick Ahad

Directed by Jonny Kelly

Designed by Celia Perkins

Composer and Musical Director: Rebekah Hughes

Cast: Christopher Arkeston, Elizabeth Robin, Joshua Cosidine and Rachel Benson

Touring: 18 May to 16 October 2019

Following their hugely successful touring productions of Get Well Soon and Revolting Women, the award winning Mikron Theatre are set to guide you through 80 years of Butlins splendour with their trademark mix of fun, pathos and songs in Nick Ahad (Glory,(Dukes Theatre, Red Ladder, Tamasha) new playRedcoats.

The new play will start its national tour at the Marsden Mechanics Hall on the 18 May and will then tour around the UK by road and river until the 16 October.

Billy Butlin used Shakespeare himself to sell a seaside dream to the great British public.

Join us as we delve into holiday huts, bonny babies and knobbly knees with guest appearances from Marlene Dietrich, Gracie Fields and Laurel and Hardy.

Redcoats will be directed by Jonny Kelly (A Princess Undone, Park Theatre and Bismillah!, VAULT Festival 2018), designed by Celia Perkins (Dick Wittington, Oldham Coliseum), with music composed and directed byRebekah Hughes (Cyrano, Northern Broadsides). The cast will featureChristopher Arkeston, Elizabeth Robin, Joshua Cosidine and Rachel Benson.

Nick Ahad is a multiple award winning journalist, writer and broadcaster. His plays include: Glory (Dukes Theatre, Red Ladder, Tamasha) Partition (Leeds Playhouse/BBC Radio Leeds), The Chef Show (Ragged Edge), Coming Home Together (BBC Radio Leeds), Muslamic Love Story (DepArts), Second Gen(DepArts), A Muslim, A Jew and A Christian Walk into A Room; My Mum the Racist; Inner Voices (JB Shorts) and Nor Any Drop (Red Ladder/Peshkar). Nick has also written for Emmerdale and an original series developed by BBC Drama and Avatar Productions. Nick is also a presenter for BBC Radio Leeds and a former Arts Editor at the Yorkshire Post.

Playwright Nick Ahad said:

“I bet lots of people have happy memories of Butlins. I bet none of them have memories of going to the same Butlins (Skegness) 14 years in a row. I do – and not once did I mind. Loved it, in fact. Some of my happiest memories were created in that seaside haven in the eighties and early nineties. What a delight it’s been to revisit those memories while writing Redcoats.

What a delight to write for Mikron too, a company whose work I have admired for years. To have the opportunity to see the work this wonderful company does up close has been a huge privilege. I’m honoured to now be a small part of the Mikron 48 year history and long may it continue.”

Director Jonny Kelly added:

“I’m really chuffed to be back for my second year at Mikron. I directed Revolting Women last year – I had a wonderful time working with Mikron and meeting our audience along the canals. This year promises to be just as good. We have an incredible cast and a fantastically funny play about one of the Great British institutes- Butlins!”  

In 2019, Mikron Theatre Company will embark on their 48th year of touring.  Based in the village of Marsden, at the foot of the Yorkshire Pennines, Mikron Theatre Company The company are like no other. For starters, they tour for most of the year on board a vintage narrowboat, secondly, they put on their shows in places that other theatre companies wouldn’t dream of; a play about growing-your-own shown in allotments, a play about bees performed next to hives, a play about chips to audiences in a fish and chips restaurant, as well as plays about hostelling in YHA Youth hostels and the RNLI at several Lifeboat stations around the UK.

Redcoats, will be touring nationally from April 2018 alongside Vashti McLachlan’s new play about the wrens  – All Hands on Deck: A Tale of Two Wrens.

For further information on both shows please visit http://mikron.org.uk

Announcing the third Thunder Girl

Coleen Nolan to star as ‘Anita’ in The Thunder Girls which will preview at The Lowry Tue 24 – Sat 28 September. 

One more leading British actress to be announced

Coleen Nolan is announced as the third star to be cast in the all-female world premiere preview of The Thunder Girls. Coleen will star alongside Coronation Street’s Beverley Callard and West End’s All About Jamie star, Mina Anwar.

‘The Thunder Girls’ is a true celebration of women.  All four of The Thunder Girls actresses are over 50, one of the most under-represented demographics in the UK entertainment industry.  The show has a female writer, female producer and female director and all from working class roots – another area which is under represented in mainstream media. 

The debut play by Melanie Blake is an adaptation from her first novel of the same name which will be released by Pan Macmillan this summer. The week long premiere preview will run at The Lowry, Salford on Tue 24 – Sat 28 September.

Coleen Nolan takes on the role of Anita, a former pop star who has been in hiding for over thirty years since an international tabloid scandal left her humiliated and tired of the fame game.  Anita’s grudges over the injustice of her downfall have been left to fester for decades and she has a major axe to grind.  When she returns for the reunion dinner showdown from hell, her former band mates will find she is a very different woman from the girl they knew 30 years ago.  If Anita finds out anyone is trying to rip her off or mislead her again, there will be hell to pay.

Coleen Nolan said: “I’ve been lucky enough to have been offered several West End shows as well as tours over my career, but never felt ready to take on my first official acting role until I read The Thunder Girls.  To be cast in the first line-up of The Thunder Girls with such amazing actresses is a dream come true.

“I’ve lived and breathed the ups and downs of girl band life and I knew as soon as I read the script that this is the real deal. The audience will love this show!  It’s like the ultimate sneak peak behind the velvet curtain of showbiz and what really can go on behind closed doors – to say it’s explosive would be an understatement! The Thunder Girls is a bit like the Christmas day episode of a soap when you wait all year for someone to get their comeuppance!  It starts off at a hundred miles an hour and doesn’t stop until the curtain comes down.

“I’ve always had terrible stage fright and never had the confidence to star in a play before but I feel I can do ‘Anita’ justice because I can draw on my past to play her.  I’m also incredibly inspired by the fact that this play has created roles for women who are fabulous over 50.  I am nervous, but Anita was just too delicious to turn down – I can’t wait to play her!”

‘The Thunder Girls’ follows an ‘80s girl group reuniting 30 years after greed, envy and egos tore their friendship and the band apart. The play focuses on what goes on during the night from hell when lead singer Chrissie tries to reunite the band she dumped. Chrissie is desperate to salvage herself from bankruptcy after being conned out of her fortune by her toy boy husband.  But is there a fee which can heal the wounds?  Or maybe some friendships never die, even if you want them to?

They say write about what you know, and as one of the UK’s most powerful music managers, Melanie has lived and breathed The Thunder Girls. Melanie came from nothing but was inspired by Jackie Collins’ books and ‘80s television to believe that she could become whoever she wanted to be.  She started her career at Top of the Pops working with the biggest names in showbiz from Destiny’s Child to The Spice Girls and went on to become a music manager to some of the biggest names in pop.

Angela Squire, Producer, said: “We are thrilled that Coleen Nolan has chosen The Thunder Girls as her first ever acting role and this is a real testament to the script. Coleen has lived this story and her experience adds to the truth and authenticity of the piece.”

Melanie Blake said: “To be returning to my home city 25 years since I left with my debut play premiering at The Lowry is an honour and a privilege – and proof that dreams really can come true. It’s taken nearly two decades to bring The Thunder Girls play and book to the public and I can’t wait to come home and see the audiences’ reaction to this strong female narrative. It’s time we saw more strong female leads in theatre and my play is about four incredibly powerful and empowered women and I can’t wait to see it staged in Salford.”

Listings Information
The Thunder Girls
Dates: Tue 24 – Sat 28 September
Times: 8pm. Wed & Sat 2pm.
Tickets: £20.50 – £28.50
Website

TALL STORIES

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

KENNY WAX FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT

PRESENTS

THE GRUFFALO

LIVE ON STAGE

MONSTROUS FUN IN THE WEST END THIS SUMMER!

AT THE LYRIC THEATRE, SHAFTESBURY AVENUE

FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED WEST END RUN

FROM 3 JULY TO 8 SEPTEMBER 2019

Celebrating the 20^th birthday of the much-loved picture book, Tall Stories’ hit musical adaptation THE GRUFFALO live on stagereturns, with a UK tour and limited ten-week West End season at The Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue from Wednesday 3 July to Sunday 8 September 2019.

THE GRUFFALO written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, published by Macmillan Children’s Book in 1999, was adapted for the stage by Tall Stories in 2001 and has since been delighting audiences around the world. Founded by Artistic Directors Olivia Jacobs and Toby Mitchell, Tall Stories’ other productions include ‘Wilde Creatures’, ‘The Canterville Ghost’, ‘The Gruffalo’s Child’, ‘Emily Brown and The Thing’, ‘The Snail and The Whale’, ‘The Snow Dragon’ and ‘Room on the Broom’.

Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood. Searching for hazelnuts, Mouse meets the cunning Fox, the eccentric old Owl and the high-spirited Snake. Will the story of the terrifying Gruffalo save Mouse from ending up as dinner for these hungry woodland creatures? After all, there is no such thing as a Gruffalo – is there?

Expect songs, laughs and monstrous fun for children aged 3 and up and their grown-ups!

The cast of ‘THE GRUFFALO’live on stage includes Jake Addley as ‘Predators’; Rebecca Newman as ‘Mouse’,Elliot Rodriguez as ‘the Gruffalo’ and Ashley Sean-Cook as Understudy / Assistant Stage Manager.

Toby Mitchell directs the current cast of ‘THE GRUFFALO’live on stage. The creative team includes: Co-Artistic Director Olivia Jacobs, Co-Artistic Director Toby Mitchell,Designer Isla Shaw, Puppet Designer Yvonne Stone, Composers Jon Fiber & Andy Shaw of Jolly Good Tunes and Lighting Designer James Whiteside

Roll up, roll up!

New shows on sale at Birmingham Hippodrome 

The Gruffalo, On Your Feet! and Circus 1903

On sale to Birmingham Hippodrome Friends and Patrons scheme members now.

General on sale at 2pm today.

Continuing their 120^th anniversary celebrations, Birmingham Hippodrome have announced three new productions for 2019, all visiting the theatre for the very first time.

Tickets are now on sale to Birmingham Hippodrome Friends and Patrons members for The Gruffalo, On Your Feet! and Circus 1903 – general booking opens at 2pm today, 27 Mar. These three productions are also joined by a one night only appearance from comedy legend, Ben Elton.

The Gruffalo (25 & 26 Jun) is Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The production is packed full of songs, laughs and monstrous fun for children aged 3 and up and their grown-ups.

The Broadway and West End production of the smash-hit musical, On Your Feet! (3-7 Sep) charts the inspiring true love story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan and their journey from Cuba, to the streets of Miami and finally onto international superstardom. This exhilarating musical features some of the most iconic pops songs of the era, including Rhythm Is Gonna Get You, Conga, Get On Your Feet, Don’t Want To Lose You Now and 1-2-3.

Celebrating the Hippodrome’s roots as a circus 120 years ago, Circus 1903 (25 Oct-2 Nov) rolls into Birmingham for the October half term. Featuring sensational life-sized elephants created by puppeteers from War Horse, this stunning show puts elephants back in the ring as never before. The circus also boasts a huge cast of jaw-dropping and dangerous acts from across the globe including acrobats, contortionists, trapeze and high wire performers, transporting you to the mesmerising Golden Age of circus.

For the first time in 15 years, Ben Elton will bring his brand-new UK tour to Birmingham Hippodrome on 14 Nov. Elton’s new tour promises to be a belly laughter-filled night, as he tries to make sense of the current state of the world.

Tickets are now on sale to Birmingham Hippodrome Friends and Patrons members and general booking opens at 2pm today, 27 Mar. To book tickets visit birminghamhippodrome.com or call 0844 338 5000 (4.5p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge).