Bird&Carrot proudly presents the UK premiere of

Brodsky/Baryshnikov

Apollo Theatre, 31 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 7ES

Wednesday 3rd – Sunday 7th May 2017

An extra performance of Brodsky/Baryshnikov has been added on 7th May due to high levels of interest. Found somewhere between a play, a poetry recital and a piece of performance art, this UK premiere is being staged at the West End’s Apollo Theatre for a limited run.

Brodsky/Baryshnikov is a one-man show, performed by legendary dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, based on the poems of Nobel laureate Joseph Brodsky. The production is an emotional journey deep into the poet’s visceral and complex compositions. Baryshnikov walks onto the stage unmasked and unguarded and tells us the story of their 22 year friendship that began in 1972 in an unnerving expose.

Brodsky/Baryshnikov is conceived and directed by Alvis Hermanis, noted Latvian director of The New Riga Theatre. Performed in Russian with English surtitles, Baryshnikov recites a selection of his long-time friend’s poignant and eloquent works. Hermanis comments Baryshnikov was taken by the idea of using Brodsky’s poetry as a score for the show. Brodsky’s poems strung together as a score to compose a requiem that carries Baryshnikov’s body which reacts to every word and creates movement that transpires either into pain or into a dance, similarly to the artwork of Egon Schiele and the Japanese Butoh dance.

Brodsky/Baryshnikov is Baryshnikov’s nostalgic tribute to his once dear friend.

Brodsky/Baryshnikov is a co-production between The New Riga Theatre and Baryshnikov Productions, presented by Bird&Carrot. Its London run is made possible thanks to the generous support of Norvik Banka and Blavatnik Family Foundation.

Paul Taylor-Mills presents

THE MUSICAL MARATHON

26 miles, 26 Songs and a Marathon of West End Stars

At The Other Palace on Sunday 16th April at 7.00pm

 

 

The Other Palace will host The Musical Marathon on Sunday 16th April 2017, a one-off charity concert bringing together a variety of West End stars in aid of male cancer charity Orchid. All Tickets are £26; £26 for 26 miles, 26 songs and an unmissable night of musical talent.

 

Paul Taylor-Mills, Artistic Director of The Other Palace and producer of shows including In The Heightsand The Wild Party, is running the London Marathon on Sunday 23rd April, and will bring together a host of his theatrical friends to raise vital funds for Orchid, and their fight against male cancer.

 

The evening will be hosted by Caroline Flack and will feature performances from Louise Dearman,Tyrone Huntley, Zizi Strallen, Olivier Saville, Liam Doyle, Nathan Amzi, Kim Criswell, Liam Tamne, Christina Modesto, Emma Kingston, Lockie Chapman, Shaun McCourt and Idriss Kargbo.

Orchid is the UK’s leading charity working on behalf of anyone affected by male cancer. Established in 1996 by testicular cancer patient, Colin Osborne MBE and the oncologist who saved his life, Professor Tim Oliver, Orchid exists to save men’s lives from male cancer through a range of support services, education and awareness campaigns and a pioneering research programme.

The Broadway musical Ballroom receives its European Premier at Waterloo East Theatre

 

Waterloo East Theatre is pleased to announce the The European Premier of this Broadway musical, which has not been produced since it closed on Broadway in March 1979. Originally Directed and Choreographed by Michael Bennett, three years after A Chorus Line, it has a  book by Jerome Kass music by Billy Goldberg and lyrics by Alan & Marilyn Bergman.

Bea Asher who, having lost her beloved husband Morrie, opens a thrift shop that amounts to an ongoing garage sale of her own belongings. When her friend Angie urges her to get out of the shop and start living again by suggesting that she visit the local Brooklyn dance hall, Bea agrees and begins life anew at the Stardust Ballroom. There she meets middle-aged mailman Alfred Rossi and falls in love again. Her dream of a happily-ever-after relationship is shattered when she discovers Alfred hasn’t been as honest about his personal life as she thought, but having found a new life and love decides that “fifty percent” of someone you love is better than “all of anybody else”.

The delightfully humane and moving Broadway production was developed by Tony Award-winning director Michael Bennett co-creator of A Chorus Line. Based on the CBS television movie The Queen of the Stardust Ballroom, with book by Jerome Kass, music by Billy Goldberg, lyrics by Alan & Marilyn Bergman, and features the classic Broadway song Fifty Percent. The Broadway production was nominated for 9 Tony Awards and 7 Drama Desk Awards.

Cast and Creatives TBC

Listings Information:

12^th May to 4^th June 2017

Tues to Sat at 7.30pm. Sun at 4pm

(No Monday performances) No Performance Tuesday 16^th May

Running time approx 110 mins with an Interval

Tickets: £22.50 / £20 (Cons) Previews: May 12^th to 14^th All tickets £15

No Booking Fees. Allocated Seating

Waterloo East Theatre Brad Street London SE1 8TN

Book Online www.waterlooeast.co.uk  Box Office 0207 928 0060

York Theatre Royal – 4 April 2017.  Reviewed by Marcus Richardson

Chekov Shorts is a collection of 5 short comic plays written by the historical theatre icon Anton Chekov, the plays consisted of; Evils of Tobacco, The Dimwit, The Bear, Swan Song and The Proposal.

The plays were written around the late 1800s and early 1900s and were put under his belt as classics, all were originally written in Russian the performance used the English translation but kept the names of the character. The Cast of three made up of two men, Rupert Mason, William Hartley and a women Eva Savage who took on the challenge of portraying a variety of characters between the 5 unrelated Acts, this can be a very hard task to do as there needs to be a difference with each of the characters even if they are played by the same person, with the comical element they were allowed to be more melodramatic with their characters which added to humour and made a clear difference with characters in the scenes.

My favourite act was ‘Act 5: The Proposal’ as it was end of the performance and they chose the scene to be manic with props and the scene had a hilarious story about a man going to propose to a neighbouring woman, but they have their opinions on certain matters, which gives the actors so much leverage to make the moments that will make the grumpiest person laugh, let’s just say the William Hartley gave the stage a shower of water, thank God I wasn’t drinking at the time otherwise the audience would have one as well.

The performance was in the studio with the trust audience, I love they use of a tall box that could be turned around and this showed the different Acts as it suited the scene with a photo of the character in the scene, this box could be opened up to make a long wall, I was rather blown away with simplicity but the genius of this tool, the costumes were also rather detailed and they varied between each play so you can just imagine the quick and many costume changes for them.

The show was very fun to watch and it felt like it ended far too quickly and I didn’t find myself bored at any point as every play was different and you could sink your teeth into each one even if they were small, the tour ends of the 8th of April so I’m glad that I got to watch it before it ended, but if it does go back on tour I would recommend that you go and see this as it’s a good display of 19th century theatre work

Tristan Bates Theatre,

1a Tower Street, London WC2H 9NP

Monday 19th June – Saturday 29th July 2017

Following a highly successful run at Above The Arts, the cult hit rock musical, The Quentin Dentin Show is back. This is The Rocky Horror Picture Show for the new Millennium.

Join the charismatic Quentin Dentin on his mission to make humanity happy. In order to demonstrate his musical therapies on his domestically unsatisfied test subjects Nat and Keith, Quentin Dentin finds his way into their world through the household radio – now a teleport for his sensational signing. Are you ready for him? If not, prepare for an appointment with the Brain Machine…

The Quentin Dentin Show has developed a cult following on its journey from London to the Edinburgh Fringe and back, on a trajectory from humble beginnings to a fully blown Off WestEnd rock musical.

With a brilliant original soundtrack, live rock band and dazzling choreography, The Quentin Dentin Show is guaranteed to make you happy or kill you trying.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ This rock musical is a winner (The Upcoming).

New Director, Adam Lenson comments, I saw The Quentin Dentin Show in its previous production upstairs at the Arts Theatre and was struck by what an original, exuberant and powerful new rock musical it was. I’m thrilled to be able to work with the team to take this revised and enhanced version of the show to its new destination.

The Quentin Dentin Show is a satire on the extremes to which we’ll go to get ahead. Quentin Dentin is on a quest to find personal fulfilment, fuelled by ambition and narcissism. The show combines the song and dance of musical theatre with the really big questions.

King’s Head Theatre and Em-Lou Productions presents:

Ovalhouse’s Summer Season

2017 Ovalhouse, 52-54 Kennington Oval, London SE11 5SW

Friday 5th May – Saturday 29th July 2017

Ovalhouse’s exciting Summer Season explores three powerful themes – migration and what it means to ‘belong’, the nature of violence in our society, and love and loss. By continuing to present challenging and inspirational theatre that speaks to a world beyond the mainstream, Ovalhouse acts as a vital home for boundary-pushing art, artists and audiences with an eye on the future

Home invites audiences with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities into an immersive experience of unfamiliar landscapes; Bound explores the dark underworld of people trafficking; and One Item Only follows one boy’s journey seeking refuge from his troubled homeland. Two powerful new plays examine the pervasive nature of violence in our society: The Believers Are But Brothers explores how young men use the internet to enact violent fantasies while Kieran Hurley’s new play An Injury explores the harm that we do to one another.

The season closes with three plays about loss including Associate Artist Bella Heesom’s much loved antidote to grief My World Has Exploded a Little Bit.

Owen Calvert-Lyons, Ovalhouse’s Head of Theatre & Artist Development, comments, I am very proud to be presenting the work of three of our Associate Artists, Bella Heesom, Donnacadh O’Briain and Koko Brown, this season. We are supporting, developing and nurturing some of the most exciting artists in London and these are the first plays to come out of this programme. I am particularly excited by Trinity this season; we will be taking over the derelict chapel of a former asylum in Peckham to stage this beautiful production. Across the season our artists present you with challenging visions of our present as well as hopeful visions of our future and invite us to reflect on where our own journey will lead us.

The fantastic Summer Season 2017 is as follows:

Home by Frozen Light Theatre, in association with New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich

(5th – 6th May, 11am and 1.30pm)

This exciting production for audiences with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD), explores a new and unknown world. This multi-sensory story of discovery explores a world that is not how Scarlet and Olive remember it. Where are they now and where is their home? Together, they must learn how to survive and create a future in an environment that is full of surprises.

Identity Crisis by Phina Oruche

(9th – 13th May, 7.45pm)

Beginning with the real life story of the sudden death of Phina’s 1-year- old niece in her house in 2011, this show presents us with 60 images of Phina in fashion and provides an illuminating, humorous and candid exposition of life under the glare of the media spotlight. Phina portrays nine characters: Black, White, Old, Young, Male and Female, and explores identity struggles that are common to all.

Bound

(9th – 13th May, 7.30pm)

Inspired by true accounts of human trafficking, Justice in Motion present a compelling tale of dreams and broken promises, of hope and resilience in the face of harrowing circumstances. Driven by the desire for a brighter future, three desperate, but very different people unknowingly take the biggest gamble of their lives. Told through a dynamic fusion of dance, circus, music, projection and spoken word, Bound is a beautifully crafted story of strength in the face of adversity

My World Has Exploded a Little Bit

(23rd – 27th May, 7.30pm)

Bella Heesom’s debut play, directed by Donnacadh O’Briain, is part true story, part farcical performance lecture. It tells a deeply personal story of loss and love, through a darkly comic step-by-step guide to bereavement. Mixing tender intimacy and unflinching honesty with hard hitting philosophy, clownish silliness and an enchanting live piano score, it takes the audience on a powerful emotional journey, shot through with jet black comedy.

The Forever Machine

(30th May – 3rd June, 2pm)

After the success of Eloise and the Curse of the Golden Whisk, award- winning company The Wardrobe Ensemble return to delight families at Ovalhouse during half-term, using bold stagecraft and out of this world soundscapes to bring this curious tale to life. Get carried away on this wild sci-fi adventure. Leap through vortexes in time and space! Fight demons in the past! Dance disco in the future!

One Item Only

(1st – 3 rd June, 11.30am and 2.30pm)

If you had to take a long journey and could only take one item with you – what would it be? Follow one boy’s journey across continents in search of refuge from his troubled homeland, in this eventful and uplifting story of hope and resilience where the human spirit triumphs. Inspired by recent events, and created by Bristol-based Greek artist, Margarita Sidirokastriti, family audiences will share the challenges of his adventurous journey towards an uncertain but ultimately optimistic future.

Trinity by Brave New Worlds

(19th – 22nd, 26th and 27th June, 7.30pm)

Trinity is a visually stunning, design-led performance staged in a beautiful derelict gothic chapel that transports audiences to other worlds. A collaboration with acclaimed international artists, the show explores the aesthetics of gender and female iconography in our society’s visual culture, from pagan and religious artefacts to bedroom selfies, to create a highly visceral visual landscape with an immersive sound experience. This is an offsite event taking place at The Asylum, a ten minute walk from Queens Road Peckham station

The Believers are But Brothers – Edinburgh preview

(12th – 15th July, 7.30pm)

We live in a time where old orders are collapsing and tech savvy and extremist groups rip through twentieth century political certainties. Amidst this, a generation of young men find themselves burning with resentment. This crisis of masculinity leads them into an online world of fantasy, violence and reality. Writer and theatre maker Javaad Alipoor spent time in this digital realm, exploring the blurry and complex world of extremists, spies, journalists and fantasists. This bold one-man show weaves together their stories.

An Injury

(18th – 22nd July, 7.30pm)

After their award-winning collaboration on Heads Up, writer Kieran Hurley (Beats, Hitch) and director Alex Swift (How to Win Against History, Mess) team up once again to create a thrilling new play about violence, love, the distance between us, and the harm we do to each other. Morvern wants to get up and walk away from this desk. Danny wants to write something revolutionary. Joe wants to protect what good we still have left. And then there’s Isma. We don’t know much about Isma. We know she’s twelve. We know she speaks only Arabic. We know she’s here. And we know she’s watching. Here, in this room, four speakers pick through the fragments of four shattered lives.

I am a Tree – Edinburgh preview

(27th – 29th July, 7.30pm)

Writer Jamie Wood presents a show like no other. A show that is something else entirely. A dance party with ghosts, in a forest, in a theatre. A hopping ritual. An invitation to drink deep: to face the shadows that growl on your insides and laugh big. Hold on tight!

As with every Ovalhouse season, the Summer programme also include two exciting new worksin-development, a chance to see raw new ideas that might develop into a bigger piece, or might be a way to explore an idea. The new FiRST BiTES are:

WHITE

(20th – 22nd July, 7.45pm)

Koko Brown considers the concept of mixed-race privilege as she tries to connect clashing cultures and explore what it means to be mixed in contemporary Britain. A show about identity which blends spoken-word with live vocal looping and asks ‘What are you when you are always the other?’

Juliet and Romeo’s work in progress

(25th – 26th July, 7.30pm)

Ben Duke’s Lost Dog will be sharing something of their as yet unstarted and definitely still unfinished version of Shakespeare’s deeply pessimistic teenage love story. A humorous and heartfelt investigation into love, loss and longevity.

FANTASTIC FOXY FUN AT THE LYCEUM THEATRE THIS MAY

Enjoy family fun at its finest when Roald Dahl’s brilliantly witty Fantastic Mr Fox comes to the Lyceum Theatre from Tuesday 2 – Saturday 6 May.

 

Boggis, Bunce and Bean, three greedy, smelly, horrid farmers hate the cunning Mr Fox.
Mr Fox is smart, clever and rather fantastic, but he doesn’t realise how determined the farmers are to get revenge. Can he hatch a plan to save his family and friends? Can they outrun the diggers and outsmart the farmers? And can Rabbit shut up long enough not to give the game away?

A juicy tale of greed, pride and the power of friendship, this brand new flagship production for theRoald Dahl centenary celebrations promises a dahlicious theatrical feast with live music and songs and gloriumptious designs. A wondercrump treat for the whole family!

Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox comes to the Lyceum Theatre from Tuesday 2 – Saturday 6 May. Tickets can be purchased from Sheffield Theatres’ Box Office in-person, by phone on 0114 249 6000 or online at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk and are priced from £9.00  Concessions and group discounts are available.

Ghost – The Musical closes current UK Tour at The Lowry

Mon 24 – Sat 29 April 2017

Bill Kenwright’s production of the timeless story of love, despair and hope, Ghost – The Musical, will close its current UK tour with a visit to The Lowry, Salford from Mon 24 – Sat 29 April 2017. Taking its inspiration from the classic movie, this innovative reimagining features an expanded book, new music and original staging.

Carolyn Maitland will star in the role of Molly alongside Andy Moss as Sam.  Carolyn’s musical theatre credits include ‘Ellen’ in Miss Saigon (Prince Edward Theatre), ‘Joelle’ in Groundhog Day (Old Vic), ‘Rose’ in From Here to Eternity (Shaftesbury Theatre) and ‘Kate’ in Kiss Me Kate (Old Vic, West End & Chichester).

Musician and actor Andy Moss, best known for the role of Rhys Ashworth in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks, one he played for 8 years, will continue to wow audiences around the UK as ‘Sam’. His credits also include Cutting It, Coronation Street and most recently he appeared as Paul Cuthbert in the long running BBC soap opera Doctors.

West End musical theatre star Jacqui Dubois (original London cast of Rent and Children of Eden, other credits include The Lion King, Fela and most recently People, Places and Things ) plays ‘Oda Mae Brown’, the part made famous in the film by Whoopi Goldberg. Sam Ferriday (Jersey Boys, Blue Man Group, The Prodigals) plays ‘Carl’, alongside Leo Sene as ‘Willie’, James Earl Adair haunting proceedings as the ‘Hospital Ghost’, and Gary Lee Netley as the ‘Subway Ghost’. Tarisha Rommick plays ‘Louise’ and Simbi Akande ‘Clara’. Completing the cast is Lori Baker,Ethan Bradshaw, Lauren Drew, Matthew Vinetot, Mike Ward andKelly Hampson.

The Double Academy Award winning movie is a huge success story, both critically and at the box office, where it was the highest grossing film in the year of its release. It starred the late Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Tony Goldwyn and Whoopi Goldberg and was directed by Jerry Zucker. Bruce Joel Rubin’s script won the Oscar® for Best Original Screenplay and Whoopi Goldberg won the Oscar® for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. The film’s most iconic and moving scene was famously performed to The Righteous Brother’s Unchained Melody, which also features in the musical version.

Walking back to their apartment late one night a tragic encounter sees Sam murdered and his beloved girlfriend Molly alone, in despair and utterly lost. But with the help of a phony storefront psychic, Sam, trapped between this world and the next, tries to communicate with Molly in the hope of saving her from grave danger…

Bill Kenwright said; “Ghost is a story full of hope, and is one of those films which never leaves you. The book by Bruce Joel Rubin and score by Dave Stewart and Glenn Ballad come together wonderfully in one of my favourite new musicals in years.”

Bruce Joel Rubin said; “This is a show with such a strong emotional and musical life that it can mould to many visions and interpretations.  It can be performed on any scale, and its vibrant heart will still captivate an audience and allows the imagination to flourish. It is purely theatrical in the greatest sense.  We are very excited by the potential that the new version holds”.

Listings Info
Ghost- The Musical
The Lowry
Mon 24 – Sat 29 April 2017
7:30pm, Wed & Sat 2pm
Box office: 0843 208 6000
Website

The Discarded Nut Theatre Company is touring their acclaimed production of Hamlet – a contemporary, visceral exploration of love, power and insanity.

WEDNESDAY 10TH MAY 2017

THE LIGHTS, ANDOVER

7PM

Based in Winchester, Discarded Nut have created a dynamic small-scale repertory company touring around the South of England reawakening audiences to classic texts and tales through new adaptations, new writing and new music. In addition, our work seeks to breathe life in to curriculum based books, freeing them from the restrictions of the classroom and inspiring a life-long passion in young people for English, live theatre and the performing arts.

We believe that Hampshire and the surrounding area has a rich source of artistic talent so we are committed to engaging local actors and practitioners, newly-qualified or returning to the profession after a career break, both on-stage and as part of our production team. We also offer work-experience placements to young people still in education who are hoping to make a career in the performing arts. This leads to a rich and vibrant company of highly motivated and intensely talented people bringing, emotionally engaging and thought provoking performances to the stage.

“Ed Morris as Hamlet was nothing short of mesmerising,

laugh-out-loud funny and utterly terrifying all in one.”

Full tour list:

WEDNESDAY 10TH MAY THE LIGHTS, ANDOVER

SATURDAY 20TH MAY MICHELDEVER NORTHBROOK HALL

SATURDAY 27TH MAY POUND ARTS, CORSHAM

SUNDAY 4TH JUNE THEATRE ROYAL, WINCHESTER

All shows to commence at 7pm.