Metta Theatre and Exeter Northcott Theatre present
FULL CASTING CONFIRMED FOR 
THE NEW MUSICAL

IN THE WILLOWS

Olivier Award-winning actor Clive Rowe MBE to play Mr Badger

The X Factor’s Seann Miley Moore joins the cast as Duck

Featuring deaf street dancer Chris Fonseca & Let It Shine’s Matt Knight

Music video for Easy Life released

Full casting has been confirmed for the UK tour of In The Willows: the explosive brand new musical retelling of The Wind In The Willows, from the award-winning Metta Theatre. Olivier award-winning actor, ‘the nation’s favourite pantomime dame’, and star of BBC’s The Story of Tracey Beaker, Clive Rowe will star as Mr Badger, while X Factor favourite Seann Miley Moore (Duck) and Let It Shine performer Matt Knight (Chief Weasel) join the cast.

The production opens at the Exeter Northcott on 22 February 2019, touring the UK until 1 June, with a press night on Thursday 21 March at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry.

With spectacular street dance choreographed by the award-winning Rhimes Lecointe (Associate choreographer for Zoo Nation, and Artistic Director of Boudicea), the production will also star deaf street dancer Chris Fonseca. In The Willows will incorporate British Sign Language (BSL) into the choreography for aunified experience for D/deaf and hearing audiences alike. There will also be audio description available for all performances across the tour.

Mole’s first day in ‘The Willows’. Her classmates look a bit scary. Surely Mr Badger will look out for her, as streetwise Rattie, rich kid Toad and cheeky Otter teach her the ways of The Riverbank. But when Toad gets locked up for joyriding, the Weasel Clan break into his (lily)pad. It’s now only a matter of time before Chief Weasel reveals Mole’s dark secret…

This classic story is brought leaping into the twenty first century. Featuring ballads, beats and backflips, this new musical will be fun for the whole family.

 Olivier-award winner Clive Rowe MBE has had an illustrious career on stage and screen; best-known to family audiences for his role as ‘Norman “Duke” Ellington in BBC Children’s drama The Story of Tracy Beaker, Clive’s extensive stage credits include Me and My Girl (Chichester), Guys and Dolls (NT and West End), Chicago(Adelphi), The Light Princess (NT), Kiss Me Kate (Chichester and Old Vic), and many appearances in panto, particularly at the Hackney Empire.

Originally from Sydney Australia, Seann Miley Moore stole the nation’s heart as a finalist on the UK’s X-Factor. Mentored by Radio 1’s Nick Grimshaw, he received a standing ovation for his rendition of Queen’s The Show Must Go On. Since then, Seann has toured globally, recently released his second EP 4TrackBitch and last year, with a triumphant return to his home town, sang his original song & Pride anthem We In Luv at the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. Seann’s fearless sense of style and self-expression has inspired many. So much so that he found himself on the cover of the UK’s Gay Times and was chosen as a representative of Missguided’s International Fashion Campaign Keep Being You.

After suffering meningitis, street dancer Chris Fonseca was made deaf in both ears from a very young age. He dances with the use of a Cochlear Implant in one ear, and the sensation of musical vibrations through his body. In 2010, Chris joined the all deaf dance group, Def Motion. In 2014, he joined Studio 68 dance training academy as a teacher and choreographer. He is now a solo dancer.

In The Willows will also be reaching out to young performers across the country to appear onstage in the production at their local theatre. Beginning with a free dance workshop from leading dancer Sheila Attah – open to beginners and performers with access needs – successful performers aged 17-25 will have the chance to perform onstage alongside some of the country’s leading musical performers.

The production will also be encouraging D/deaf performers to apply, given the production’s inclusion of British Sign Language (BSL) into the choreography. The audition process will take place at selected regional workshops, detailed at: www.mettatheatre.co.uk/workshops

FULL CASTING

Victoria Boyce as Mole

Abiola Efunshile as Owl

Chris Fonseca as Otter

Treasure Iyamu as Twitchy Rabbit

Harry Jardine as Toad

Matt Knight as Chief Weasel

Zara Macintosh as Rattie

Seann Miley Moore as Duck

Katherine Picar as Bitchy Rabbit

Clive Rowe as Badger

Victoria Boyce makes her professional debut, having trained at the The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

Abiola Efunshile’s stage credits include: Dynamite Swing in Hairspray (UK & Ireland Tour), 50th anniversary production of Hair (Vaults Theatre), Hero (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Dua Lipa (Dancer BRIT Awards 2018), Jax Jones (Dancer- Capital Jingle Bell Ball 2018) and Dancer in Four Corners Dance Company (dir- Dean Lee).

Harry Jardine theatre credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Lyric Hammersmith), The Secret Seven(Storyhouse), Octagon (Arcola), Shakespeare in Love (West End) and Les Misérables (West End). His film credits include: Mind The Gap (dir: Matt Holt), Dirty Boy (dir: Doug Rao), White Girl (dir: Nadia Latif), Journey’s End(dir: Saul Dibb), The Thief (dir: Esther Baker), Master of Ceremonies (dir: Toby Wharton) and In The Heart of the Sea (dir: Ron Howard).

Treasure Iyamu’s dance credits include the music videos: Shakka’s Sugar Cane, Nile Rodgers’ Sober, Maleek Berry’s Gimme Life, Smokepurpp ft Lil Pump’s Nephew, Kamile ft Louis & Kranium’s Emotional, Korede Bello’s Melanin Popping and Nipah’s Forever. She has also danced on the X Factor Final 2017, with Rak Su and Wyclef Jean.

Matt Knight’s stage credits include: Little Mermaid Circus Musical (UK Tour, Metta Theatre), Peter Pan The Arena Tour (World Biggest Panto) and The Jungle Book (2016 & 2017 UK Tour). His screen credits include: Semi Finalist – Iron Sun in Let It Shine (BBC One), Dancer in Florence Foster Jenkins (Stephen Frears), Actor / Tricker in Tip Of The Wall Script (Red Bee Media), Featured Dancer in Wiley (Music Video), Dancer / Tricker in Ant & Dec’s Text Santa Christmas Show (ITV).

Zara Macintosh’s live credits include: Twelfth Night (Shakespeare Festival, Royal Court Theatre), H20 in Pandemonium (Water and Steam Museum) and Vocalist for Collaborative Orchestra and Singers (Britain’s Got Talent/SYCO). 

Katherine Picar was an original cast member of the West End Revival of Miss Saigon at the Prince Edward Theatre, and she returned to the production for the UK and Ireland tour. As a dancer Katherine appeared in theUnited Kingdom Eurovision Music Video entry in 2015, as Ballet/Pointe Girl in Billy Elliot The Musical directed by Stephen Daldry and as a tap dancer on The One Show for Arlene Phillips.

In The Willows transforms Kenneth Grahame’s well-loved tale into a thrilling new musical, written and directed by Poppy Burton-Morgan (Jungle Book, UK & International Tour), with music from award-winning composerPippa Cleary (The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Chocolate Factory; Prodigy, St James Theatre) and groundbreaking Composer Keiran Merrick, set and lighting design by William Reynolds, costume design by Ryan Dawson Laight (Blak Whyte Gray, Barbican), and with choreography from Rhimes Lecointe.

After their smash hit street-dance Jungle Book and circus-musical Little Mermaid, the award-winning Metta Theatre bring you a bold new take on this much-loved classic. Metta Theatre is at the forefront of cross-art-form theatre practice, known for combining emotionally powerful performances with imaginative theatricality and striking visual style. Metta Theatre is one of the UK’s leading mid-scale touring companies – making exceptional theatre and opera that represents and celebrates the diversity of our world.

In The Willows is produced by Metta Theatre and Exeter Northcott Theatre, supported by the Arts Council Strategic Touring Fund.

www.mettatheatre.co.uk

@mettatheatre

www.facebook.com/mettatheatre

www.inthewillows.co.uk

#MettaTheatre #InTheWillows

IN THE WILLOWS  – UK TOUR DATES 2019

22 February – 2 March                                                                                     Box Office: 01392 726363

Exeter, Northcott Theatre                                                                               Website: exeternorthcott.co.uk

7 – 9 March                                                                                                         Box Office: 023 9264 9000

Portsmouth, New Theatre Royal                                                                   Website: newtheatreroyal.com

20 – 23 March                                                                                                     Box Office: 024 76553055

Coventry, Belgrade Theatre                                                                            Website: belgrade.co.uk

27 – 30 March                                                                                                     Box Office: 0131 529 6000

Edinburgh, Festival Theatre                                                                            Website: capitaltheatres.com

2 – 6 April                                                                                                             Box Office: 017687 74411

Keswick, Theatre by the Lake                                                                         Website: theatrebythelake.com

9 – 10 April                                                                                                           Box Office: 01865 305305

Oxford, Oxford Playhouse                                                                                Website: oxfordplayhouse.com

16 – 20 April                                                                                                        Box Office: 01904 623568

York, York Theatre Royal                                                                                  Website: yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

24 – 27 April                                                                                                        Box Office: 01684 892277

Malvern Forum                                                                                                   Website: malvern-theatres.co.uk

1 – 4 May                                                                                                             Box Office: 01253 290 190

Blackpool, The Grand Theatre                                                                       Website: blackpoolgrand.co.uk

9 – 11 May                                                                                                           Box Office: 0844 871 7646

Wimbledon, New Wimbledon Theatre                                                        Website: atgtickets.com

22 – 26 May                                                                                                         Box Office: 01708 443333

Hornchurch, Queens Theatre Hornchurch                                                  Website: queens-theatre.co.uk

29 May – 1 June                                                                                                 Box Office: 0117 987 7877

Bristol, Bristol Old Vic                                                                                       Website: bristololdvic.org.uk

FOOT-STOMPING NEW MUSICAL NO MIRACLES HERE GETS READY FOR UK TOUR

THE FOUR WEEK COUNTDOWN FOR ACCLAIMED SHOW WHICH STOPS OFF AT ORMSKIRK NEXT MONTH

A dance marathon in a northern town forms the backdrop for a foot-stomping and thought-provoking new musical that promises to have audiences on their feet across the UK.

No Miracles Here is set to embark on a 15-date national tour in spring 2019, opening at Northern Stage in Newcastle on February 15. The show stops off at The Arts Centre in Ormskirk on 25-26 February.

The Letter Room presents a sweat-soaked marathon with a northern soul – a tale of resilience, strength and the need to stay on your feet.

Ray is young man with a big night ahead of him. The music has started, and he can’t leave the floor. He just has to keep going.

Follow the journey of Ray and his band The Raylettes in what is an uplifting and joyful look at how you can overcome depression through dancing.

Packed with live music and dance, No Miracles Here is an anthem to feeling alive and keeping the faith.

The raw and vibrant musical production was made in association with the charity Mind, and developed through support from the RSC, Northern Stage, Shoreditch Town Hall and The New Wolsey Theatre. It is brought to the stage on this new tour by producer Max Emmerson.

Stan Hodgson, co-artistic director of The Letter Room, said: “We’re delighted to be performing No Miracles Here, our music-filled story of resilience and hope set in a dance marathon.

“The show had a wonderful reception when it was initially staged in Edinburgh, Salford and London. We tried to tell a personal story of human struggle, but fill it with music, movement and humour.  And we can’t wait to pick up our instruments, get our sweatbands on and bring it to new audiences across the country in 2019!”

Minimum age recommended: 14+

What reviewers have said about No Miracles Here

“A vibrant, lively, imaginative theatrical experience” – The Scotsman

“A feet-stomping, hand-clapping, spirit-raising show…No Miracles Here will leave you grinning from ear to ear” – Broadway Baby

“This truly original show is at once a moving, original exploration of mental health issues and an electrifying blend of live music and dance” – British Theatre Guide

“Unusual and engaging” – The Stage

Website:         www.theletterroomtheatre.co.uk

Facebook:       wearetheletterroom/

Twitter:           @TheLetterRoom

NO MIRACLES HERE TOUR

NEWCASTLE

Northern Stage

February 15-16

0191 230 5151

www.northernstage.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

ORMSKIRK

The Arts Centre, Edge Hill University

February 25-26

01695 584480

www.edgehill.ac.uk

ON SALE NOW

DURHAM

Gala Theatre

February 28

03000 266 600

www.galadurham.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

HALIFAX

Square Chapel Arts Centre

March 1

01422 349422

www.squarechapel.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

KESWICK

Theatre By The Lake

March 5

01768 774411

www.theatrebythelake.com

ON SALE NOW

IPSWICH

New Wolsey Studio

March 7

01473 295900

www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

NORWICH

The Garage

March 9

01603 283382

www.thegarage.org.uk

ON SALE NOW

DONCASTER

CAST

March 12

01302 303959

www.castindoncaster.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

LONDON

Greenwich Theatre

March 14-16

0208 858 7755

www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

ON SALE NOW

LINCOLN

Lincoln Performing Arts Centre

March 21

01522 837600

www.lpac.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

CREWE

Crewe Lyceum

March 23

01270 368242

www.crewelyceum.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

Proteus Theatre present
Macbeth
The Haymarket, Anvil Arts, Wote Street, Basingstoke RG21 7NW
Thursday 14th – Friday 15th March 2019, 7.30pm

Jackson’s Lane, 269a Archway Road, London N6 5AA
Thursday 21st – Friday 22nd March 2019, 7.30pm

Set in London during the stock market crash of 1987, this new adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth by award-winning theatre company Proteus takes the macabre tale to the trading room floor. The entirely ethnically diverse cast have worked closely with Theatre Ad Infinitum’s George Mann to create a highly physical, major new interpretation of a classic. Directed by Mary Swan, the artistic director of Proteus, this Macbeth is a gripping corporate thriller.

A Great Storm, a Black Monday, a market crash that reverberates across the world – Proteus’ Macbeth is suffused with decadence and aggression as a tormented soul finds the noose of bravado begin to tighten. Exploring the pressures of race, class and identity, sudden betrayal and even more sudden violence shake a society to its core.

Set to an electrifying soundtrack of eighties classics, Macbeth interrogates how Thatcher’s government legitimised behemoth corporations to act above the law – like the feuding Thanes of Scotland. The production joins the ‘greed is good’ corporate landscape where, in the City, success is all and ruthless ambition is rewarded. The only problem is, how do you control it before it consumes you and your family?

Leading the production, Riz Meedin (Reclaimed, UK tour; Intimacy, UK tour; The Bill, ITV) will appear as Macbeth joined by Alexandra Afryea (Care, BBC; Silent Witness, BBC; Macbeth, Rose Theatre) as Lady Macbeth. Also joining the cast are Danny Charles (A Christmas Carol, UK tour; Stripy Tales, Octagon; His Lordships Fancy, Gate Theatre), Jessica Andrade (Around the World in Eighty Days, UK tour; Romeo and Juliet, Secret Theatre; Funk Da Cirque, international tour) and Umar Butt (Alex & Eliza, ARC Stockton; Pinocchio, The Albany; My Name is, Scottish tour).

Director Mary Swan comments, A story of power and corruption within a country divided against itself, Macbeth follows the final death throes of an old political order. To create an exciting and contemporary physical production that speaks to audiences today, we have set the play in 1987 to discuss, through the prism of history, how Thatcher’s Britain and Reaganomics created our modern political and economic landscape. With a cast that is seldom seen in major Shakespearean roles, we seek to highlight the lack of diversity in classical theatre and create theatre accessible to young people.

KANDINSKY TO PREMIERE DINOMANIA – THE TRUE STORY OF THE FIRST PALEONTOLOGISTS – AT NEW DIORAMA THEATRE

·         19 February – 23 March, New Diorama Theatre, London NW1 3BF

·         The fascinating history of Gideon Mantell and Richard Owen, whose bitter rivalry fuelled the discovery of dinosaurs in the 19^th century

·         A new play about progress, evolution, extinction…and terrible lizards

Kandinsky – the acclaimed theatre-makers who blend extensive research with innovative storytelling and devising techniques – will premiere a brand-new show at New Diorama Theatre this February.

Dinomania tells the true story of Gideon Mantell, a country doctor outside of the 19^th century scientific elite, who nonetheless worked tirelessly to reconstruct the structure and life of the Iguanodon, beginning the scientific study of dinosaurs as we now know it. Mantell discovered several of the first dinosaurs, but it was another scientist, Richard Owen, who grouped them together and named them dinosauria.

dino – deinos, Greek: fearfully great; the unknowable

sauria – sauros, Greek: lizard

Owen garnered huge success and acclaim, becoming known as ‘the man who discovered dinosaurs’ and going on to found the Natural History Museum – but his hostility towards progressive science, driven by religious conservatism, and his aggressive rivalry with Mantell, have made him an ambiguous figure in scientific history.

Performed by an energetic ensemble cast, Dinomania will look beyond the story’s 19^th century setting to speak to modern concerns around access to science and who gets to drive progress, as well as exploring humanity’s relationship to death, extinction and climate change.

The show is directed and co-written by James Yeatman (also an associate director for legendary theatre company Complicité), and devised by the company, based on material by Yeatman and co-writer Lauren Mooney.

The company includes acclaimed performers Janet Etuk (credits include Love, National Theatre and UK tour), Hamish MacDougall (credits include Trap Street, also by Kandinsky), Sophie Steer (credits include Lands, Bush Theatre and UK tour) and Harriet Webb (credits include It’s True, It’s True, It’s True, New Diorama Theatre), as well as live music from Zac Gvirtzman.

Kandinsky’s previous productions include: Still Ill, a drama developed with doctors and patients, examining the surprisingly common, little-understood Functional Neurological Disorder; Dog Show,a tragicomic look at people and their pets through the lens of a community assailed by a serial dog murderer; and Trap Street, which explored changing attitudes to social housing and the meaning of home.

PRAISE FOR KANDINSKY

“Fascinating, layered, intelligent”

★★★★ The Stage on Still Ill

“deeply sophisticated, sensitive stuff, with a strong Charlie Kaufman flavour and an aftertaste of Tim Crouch”

★★★★ Time Out on Still Ill

“a timely critique of both the flawed utopianism of the Sixties and the chimera of ‘affordable housing’. Angry yet humane…”

★★★★ Evening Standard on Trap Street

“melds an astonishing complexity of themes, a mastery of form and a deep, deep humanity … another triumph for Kandinsky”

★★★★ Time Out on Trap Street

ARCOLA THEATRE ANNOUNCES THE WORLD PREMIÈREOF KEITH? A COMEDY WITH FULL CAST

Arcola Theatre presents

The World Première of

Keith? A Comedy

By Patrick Marmion

Inspired by Molière

Directed by Oscar Pearce

Arcola Theatre

13 February – 9 March

Arcola Theatre today announces the world première of Keith? A Comedy. Oscar Pearce directs Mark Jax (Morgan), Natalie Klamar (Roxy), Joseph Milson (Keith), Aki Omoshaybi (Mohammed), Sara Powell (Veena) and Lizzie Winkler (Anna). The production opens on 18 February, with previews from 13 February, and runs until 9 March.

A South African gun runner turned Buddhist monk. A gullible start-up millionaire. His radical feminist ex-wife. Their aid worker daughter. The young British Muslim she met in Syria. An ethical Serbian hitman. And an unstable Brazilian cleaner.

Modern Britain.

Moral chaos.

Total nightmare.

Patrick Marmion said today, “I wanted to write a comedy about the head spinning madness and recrimination of life in modern Britain. I thought Moliere might help so I eviscerated him and threw in a supernatural conman inspired by Euripides’s Dionysus. Keith? is what emerged. I hope it goes some way to capturing the way we’re all walking on eggshells, terrified of giving offence…luckily life isn’t nearly as bad as we’re supposed to think it is! It’s great to be back at the Arcola doing a straight comedy; I can’t quite believe what an amazing cast we’ve got. Hopefully, they’ll bring the house down.”

Artistic Director Mehmet Ergen, said today, “We’re thrilled to be welcoming back the team behind last season’s Great Apes and their brilliant new play, making its debut at Arcola. Inspired by Molière’s writing Keith?is a new comedy by Patrick Marmion, directed by exceptionally talented Oscar Pearce. In a time of fake news, chaotic governments and media manipulation, Patrick Marmion’s new play finds comedy in corruption, and forge farce out of deceit and lies we tell each other.”

Patrick Marmion’s theatre credits include Great Apes, The Divided Laing (Arcola Theatre), Terms & Conditions (White Bear) and Pieta – After Chekhov (Finborough Theatre/Print Room). Screenplay credits includeMushroom Soup, Kids FM and Maid Marion.

Mark Jax returns to Arcola Theatre to play Morgan. His credits for the company include Richard III, The Lower Depths and Sons Without Fathers. Other theatre credits include Pressure (Park Theatre/Ambassadors Theatre), Faithful Ruslan – The Story of a Guard Dog (Belgrade Theatre/Citizen’s Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (HOME), A Soldier In Every Son (RSC) and Mansfield Park (Chichester Festival Theatre).

Natalie Klamar plays Roxy. Her theatre credits include Othello (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse), I Want My Hat Back, Cleansed (National Theatre), Future Conditional (The Old Vic) and The Cherry Orchard (Young Vic).

Joseph Millson plays Keith. His theatre credits include Apologia (Trafalgar Studios), The Rover (RSC), Mr Foote’s Other Leg (Hampstead Theatre), Macbeth (Shakespeare’s Globe), Rocket To The Moon (National Theatre), Love Never Dies (Adelphi Theatre), Fear & Misery, The Priory (Royal Court Theatre) and Judgement Day (Almeida Theatre). Television credits as series regular include Luc Hemingway in Holby City. Other television credit include The Last Kingdom, Banished and 24: Live Another Day; and for film, Casino Royale.

Aki Omoshaybi plays Mohammed. His credits include Hairspray (Shaftesbury Theatre), Hair, Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Chariots of Fire (Gielgud Theatre) and The Empress (RSC). His film credits include Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jed and The Riot Club.

Sara Powell returns to Arcola Theatre to play Veena. Her credits for the company include La Peste and Richard III. Other theatre credits include The Madness of George III (Nottingham Playhouse), The Crucible (Bristol Old Vic), Disgraced (Bush Theatre) and A Walk On Part (Soho Theatre). Her television credits include Death In Paradise, Little Boy Blue and Silent Witness.

Lizzie Winkler plays Anna. Her theatre credits include Quiz (Chichester Festival Theatre/Noël Coward Theatre), The Suicide, Frankenstein, The Power of Yes (National Theatre), Rebecca (Oxford Playhouse/UK tour), Boeing Boeing (Sheffield Theatres), The Country Wife (Royal Exchange Theatre) and The Prince of Homburg (Donmar Warehouse).

Oscar Pearce is an actor and director. His directing debut in 2018 won him a Best Director nomination at the Stage Debut Awards for Great Apes at the Arcola Theatre. His acting credits include The Tempest (RSC), Ghosts,All My Sons (Octagon Theatre Bolton) and The Real Thing (Donmar Warehouse/Ethel Barrymore Theatre).

KEITH? A COMEDY                                                                                                                             Listings

Arcola Theatre

24 Ashwin Theatre, Dalston, London E8 3DL

13 February – 9 March 2019

Box Office: 020 7503 1646

www.arcolatheatre.com

Tickets: £10 – £26 (concessions available)

BARRY HUMPHRIES RETURNS TO STAGE TO

HOST SILENT COMEDY SPECTACULAR

• Comedy legend Barry Humphries will return to the stage at the London Palladium this spring  
• Humphries will host the new, star-studded Silent Comedy Spectacular with Barry Cryer and Bernie Clifton
• Event is a celebration of Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and Laurel & Hardy masterpieces

Comedy legend Barry Humphries will return to the stage this spring to host the capital’s first Silent Comedy Spectacular at the London Palladium with a live orchestra.

The multi-award-winning silent comedy aficionado will present a trio of slapstick masterpieces at an event described as “unmissable” by Sir Michael Palin, who added: “If you’ve a shred of a sense of humour – this‘ll be one of the high points of the year.”

Joining Barry for a matinee and an evening screening of classic comedy with orchestra on Sunday April 28 will be national treasure Barry Cryer, with his partner in musical comedy crime Ronnie Golden, and the zany Bernie Clifton.

The evening of laughs, gags and live music will feature three classic silent comedies by cinema stars of yesteryear, including Buster Keaton whose most famous feature film, Steamboat Bill Jr (1927), will be shown on a vast High Definition screen.   

The masterpiece will be accompanied by The Bristol Ensemble, who will perform the London premiere of a new score composed and conducted by maestro Carl Davis.

Humphries will be reunited with Davis after they first appeared together in 1981 for Last Night of the Poms at the Royal Albert Hall, in which Davis conducted the London Symphony Orchestra.

Short comedies from slapstick favourites Laurel & Hardy and Charlie Chaplin will complete the screening, all with live musical accompaniment.

The event has been organised by Chris Daniels, founder and Director of the annual Slapstick Festival that takes place in Bristol. The festival’s mission is to build appreciation of silent and visual on-screen comedy.

Tickets for the first ever Silent Comedy Spectacular at the London Palladium on Sunday April 28 are on sale now and can be purchased from tickets.lwtheatres.co.uk

Chris Daniels, Director of the Silent Comedy Spectacular, commented: “I am absolutely thrilled to welcome the sensational Barry Humphries back to the stage to host London’s very first Silent Comedy Spectacular.

“As far as pioneers of visual comedy go, it is hard to think of anyone better-suited to present such a rip-roaring evening of laughs, gags and antics.

“Slapstick comedy may conjure up memories of grainy, black-and-white images of a bumbling Charlie Chaplin or a haphazard Buster Keaton but contrary to what some might think, it is a sophisticated comedy form that is very much alive and well.

“Visual comedy does not rely on language to be funny, so it is a phenomenon that is loved the world over.

“You only need to look to characters like Mr Bean and Aardman’s Shaun the Sheep to realise slapstick’s enduring appeal still strikes a chord a hundred years on.

“Since we launched Slapstick Festival back in 2005, we have introduced thousands of film-lovers to the very best that the genre has to offer, including the early pioneers whose legacy can still be seen in the films of today.”

THE BRUNTWOOD PRIZE FOR PLAYWRITING LAUNCHES WITH KWAME KWEI-ARMAH LEADING THE 2019 SEARCH FOR NEW STORIES TO DEVELOP FOR THE STAGE  

•  Kwei-Armah chairs judging panel of leading industry names, as well as a new ‘People’s Judge’  
• Judges call for entries from anyone – irrespective of previous playwriting experience – with a story to tell
• Two new £8,000 prizes – for debut plays, and International voices invited from Australia, Canada and the USA – introduced in 2019

Kwame Kwei-Armah, Artistic Director of the Young Vic, is to chair the judges for this year’s Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting, it is announced today, Monday 21st January 2019. The biennial prize is a partnership between property company Bruntwood, a major supporter of the arts, and world-class producing theatre, the Royal Exchange Theatre, in Manchester.

The 2019 prize is now open for entries from anyone aged 16+ in the UK, Ireland and the British Territories with a story to tell. Between now and June 2019, established writers and those who may never have written a play are encouraged to submit scripts through an anonymous judging process, which means that each entry is judged on its own merit. Successful scripts will then be developed for the stage in association with the Royal Exchange Theatre’s creative team.

Kwame Kwei-Armah, whose first performance as an actor took place at the Royal Exchange Theatre, comments: “It’s my absolute pleasure to return to The Bruntwood Prize, particularly having been part of the very first round in 2005, and to chair a panel of brilliant judges who have such a variety of experience, from performers to writers, directors, poets and journalists.

“In my eyes, the Prize has become such a profound and essential part of our cultural ecology for playwrights. It represents a most invigorating opportunity to undertake a leap of faith by virtue of a chosen pseudonym. So, send the thing that is brewing in you… the thing that says, ‘I must tell this story in a theatrical form’. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a first draft, or a final draft. Just send it!” 

Kwei-Armah is joined on the judging panel by co-founders of The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting Sarah Frankcom, Artistic Director, Royal Exchange Theatre and Michael OglesbyCBE DL, founder of the Bruntwood Group and chairman of The Oglesby Charitable Trust. The rest of the nine-strong panel comprises: Anna Jordan, Bruntwood Prize-winning playwright; Bridget Minamore, journalist, poet and critic; Jenny Sealey MBE, Artistic Director, Graeae Theatre Company; Kate Vokes, Director, Bruntwood Culture, and actor Shane Zaza. A new addition to the panel this year is ‘The People’s Judge’, Faith Yianni, selected following a search by the Prize and leading theatre critic Lyn Gardner for a member of the public to bring a fresh, new perspective to the judging process.

Sarah Frankcom comments: “The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting is a genuine endeavour to discover new stories and help playwrights develop their craft, providing everybody and anybody with the opportunity to write a play. It offers a fantastic opportunity to hone your writing skills, whether or not you have written for the stage before (35% of the entrants to the 2017 Prize had never written a play before). In addition to a high proportion of winning and shortlisted plays being produced professionally, each of the top 100 plays receives individual feedback from the Royal Exchange Theatre’s creative team.”

Michael Oglesby adds: “It is clear to see that the Prize has evolved to play a vital role in championing and developing playwriting talent, be they established or new names. As a funder of the arts, and a co-founder of this Prize, this legacy is a great thing to behold.”

The Bruntwood Prize is the richest prize for playwriting in Europe, with its £40,000 fund across four categories. As well as an overall winner, who takes home £16,000, there is a Judges Prize of £8,000 and two new awards in 2019: a prize awarded to debut writers (Original New Voice: £8,000) and voices from Australia, Canada and the USA who will be invited to enter by the Prize’s international partners (International Award: £8,000).

To encourage those who have not previously written for the stage, the Prize will release a 10-week online playwriting programme, developed by experts including Royal Exchange Theatre dramaturg Suzanne Bell and playwright Chinonyerem Odimba (PRINCESS AND THE HUSTLER) featuring tips on how to approach writing a script. In addition to this all writers will be able to follow a series of live-streamed, online workshops run by internationally recognised playwrights like Tanika Gupta and Winsome Pinnock.

The Prize can be a springboard to a writing career. Its alumni include some the UK’s most respected playwrights such as Duncan Macmillan and Alistair McDowall. Anna Jordan’s 2013 Bruntwood Prize-winning play, YEN, was recently produced off-Broadway with Oscar-nominated actor Lucas Hedges; Kendall Feaver’s 2015 Judges’ award-winning play THE ALMIGHTY SOMETIMES is now a multi-award-winning play that has gone on to be produced by the Griffin Theatre Company, Sydney. She is now the Philip Parsons Fellowship for Emerging Playwrights at the Belvoir, Australia.

Bruntwood Prize-winning plays have been produced in the UK and abroad, with 24 productions appearing in 38 UK venues and as far afield as Australia, the USA and Canada since 2005. Partner co-productions mean that plays have gone on to other venues following their Royal Exchange Theatre run, including the Bush Theatre, the Lyric Hammersmith and Sherman Cymru. The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting also works in partnership with the Royal Court Theatre, The Kenyon Institute, Ohio and the National Theatre New Work Department, who all provide winning writers with development opportunities. Nick Hern Books continues to support the Bruntwood Prize as the publishing partner for winning playwrights.

Submissions for the 2019 Prize are open until Wednesday 5th June 2019 via www.writeaplay.co.uk. A shortlist of 10 plays will be announced on Monday 14th October 2019, and the winner of the 2019 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, on Monday 4th November 2019.

LOCAL THEATRE COMPANY PUTTIN ON THE STYLE

Top Hat, winner of three Olivier Awards, for ‘Best New Musical’, ‘Best Choreography’ and ‘Best Costume Design’ from a total of seven nominations and winner of the Evening Standard Award for ‘Best Night Out’, is coming to Darlington Hippodrome presented by local amateur theatre company DarlingtonOS from Wednesday 3 to Saturday 13 April, 2019.

The world premiere stage production of Top Hat opened in the West End at the Aldwych Theatre on 9 May 2012 where it played over 600 performances during its run of nearly two years. Prior to its West End run, the production previously enjoyed a sell-out UK Tour in 2011.

Stepping into the shoes of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the lead roles of Jerry Travers and Dale Tremont are Luke Oldield and Claire Monaghan. They are joined by Julian Cound who plays Horace Hardwick, Samantha Morrison as Madge Hardwick, Andrew Hamilton as Alberto Beddini and Christopher McCann as Horace’s valet, Bates.

Ensemble members are Neil Harland, Stacey Dobson, Hannah Gawthorpe, Lizzie Curwen, Tori McDougall, Sally Cresser, Scott Campbell, Joshua Ashton, Cameron Wallace, Kyra Batty, Zoe Bellamy, Ashleigh Bentham, Alison Brown, Jenny Davis, Caitlin Foster, Estelle Denison French, Eleanor Grainger, Camilla Morris Dowling, Cleo McNiff, Colette Serecchia, Susy Slater and Annika Tang.

Top Hat is directed and choreographed by Joanne Hand who fulfilled both roles in the recent smash hit Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and returning to the role of Musical Director is Nigel Ball who last worked with the company on Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

Jerry Travers, a famous American theatre performer, arrives in London to appear in his first West End show. Travers meets the irresistible Dale Tremont, the girl of his dreams, and follows her across Europe in an attempt to win her heart. Through a maze of mistaken identity their love affair blossoms but not before they encounter a few problems along the way.

Performed by a cast of 28 and accompanied by 15 live musicians, this multi award-winning musical comedy includes Irving Berlin classics from the movie such as Cheek to Cheek, Isn’t It a Lovely Day to be Caught in the Rain and Top Hat, White Tie and Tails. In addition, from Berlin’s 1200 strong back catalogue, a further ten numbers have been introduced including well-loved favourites Let’s Face the Music and Dance and Puttin’ On the Ritz.

Julian Cound, spokesman for DarlingtonOS told us “If you are a fan of classic musical theatre and TV shows such as Strictly Come Dancing then you are going to love Top Hat. Under the direction of Joanne Hand the show will look amazing and, under Nigel Ball’s baton it will sound amazing too.”

Top Hat runs at Darlington Hippodrome from Wednesday 3 to Saturday 13 April. Thursday 11 April is a BSL interpreted performance and both Friday performances will be audio described.

To book call the Ticket Hotline on 01325 244659 or book online at www.darlingtonos.org.uk

HERETIC PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCE THE WORLD PREMIÈRE OF THE D WORD AT VAULT FESTIVAL

Heretic Productions presents

The World Première of

The D Word 

Written by and starring Jordan Waller

Director: Max Gill

VAULT Festival

13 – 17 February 2019

Heretic Productions today announce the world première of Jordan Wallers’ The D Word. The production, directed by Max Gill and produced by Ellie Keel for Heretic Productions, opens as part of the VAULT Festival on 13 February and runs until 17 February.

‘Like Jesus, I have lesbian parents. Most people don’t seem to realise that Joseph was actually a woman, a very successful lady carpenter.’

Jordan Waller was born of lesbian parents in 1992. When one of his birth mothers died, he had an existential crisis. This show is the true story of his hunt for his biological father, even though by law he is not allowed to find out who he is.

A fearless, funny, and deeply autobiographical one-man comedy show.

Jordan Wallersaid today, ‘After one of my lesbian mothers died, so did a part of me. In order to fill the unknowable void left in my life, I tried to track down my sperm donor father. The D Word is a deeply personal and funny story of a boy’s struggle to cope with being different. It’s a celebration of failure. And w*nking off.’

The D Wordmarks Jordan Waller’sstage debut. For television his credits include as series regular Lord Alfred Paget in Victoria. For film, his credits include Darkest Hour and Love & Friendship. His writing credits include the film Flesh and Blood, which he also starred in. 

Max Gill directs. As writer and director, his credits include La Ronde (The Bunker), and the short film Rosemary & Basil. As assistant director, his credits include Plays at The Garrick (Garrick Theatre). Gill is the Artistic Director of Heretic Productions, and was a Story Executive on series 3 of ITV’s Victoria. 

THE D WORD                                                                                                                                  LISTINGS

VAULT FESTIVAL

Pit – The Vaults, Leake Street

13 – 17 February 2019P

Box Office: 07598 676202

https://vaultfestival.com/

Twitter:                @VAULTFestival

Facebook:           /VaultFestival

Times

Wednesday – Sunday: 6.20pm

Saturday: 3.20pm

Prices

Tickets: £12

Mark Goucher and Jason Donovan present
PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT
in association with Nullarbor Productions and MGM on Stage

Book by Stephan Elliot and Allan Scott
Directed by Paul Kerryson

• JOE MCFADDEN TO STAR IN A BRAND-NEW PRODUCTION OF THE CULT CLASSIC PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT
• PRODUCERS MARK GOUCHER AND JASON DONOVAN ANNOUNCE EXTENSION THROUGH TO SPRING 2020
• PAUL KERRYSON WILL DIRECT THE SHOW WHICH WILL OPEN IN DARTFORD IN SEPTEMBER 2019 AHEAD OF A UK AND IRELAND TOUR

Mark Goucher and first-time producer Jason Donovan have today announced that actor andStrictly Come Dancing winner Joe McFadden will star in their brand-new production of the much-loved glittering hit musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. The producers have also announced today that the tour will continue through 2020. The show, which was announced last year, will tour the UK and Ireland from September 2019. It marks Donovan’s first time as a producer, having performed in the cast of the original West End production and two subsequent UK tours. The producing team is completed by Gavin Kalin and Matthew Gale. Priscilla, Queen of the Desertwill preview in Dartford from 5 September 2019.

Joe McFadden’s theatre credits include: House on Cold Hill (UK tour); The Missing (National Theatre of Scotland); Rainbow Kiss (Royal Court); Torch Song Trilogy (Menier Chocolate Factory);Rent (West End); Haunting Julia (Colchester Mercury/ UK Tour); She Loves Me (Chichester Festival Theatre); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (The Edinburgh Playhouse); A Life In The Theatre(Royal Lyceum Edinburgh); How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying; (Chichester Festival Theatre); 15 Seconds (Traverse Theatre ); Aladdin (The Old Vic); Entertaining Mr Sloane(Theatre Clwyd). Television credits include:  Holby City (BBC); Casualty (BBC); Heartbeat(ITV/YTV); Cranford (BBC); Sparkhouse (BBC/Red Productions); A Mortal God (BBC); Reverse Psychology (BBC); Judge John Deed (BBC/One Eyed Dog); The Glass (ITV1/Granada); The Law(ITV1/Pearson); Sex, Chips & Rock n’ Roll (BBC); The Crow Road (BBC/Union Pictures). Film includes:  Small Faces; Dad Savage; Zig Zag Love; The Trouble with Men and Women; Bumping The Odds.

Newly announced cities that the tour will visit include: Southampton; Plymouth; Nottingham; Dublin; Cambridge; Newcastle; Southend; Sheffield; Carlisle; Ipswich; Leeds; Oxford; Birmingham; Glasgow; Cardiff; Bristol.  Full listings are still to be announced.

Joe McFadden said: “I’m over the moon to be taking on this new and exciting challenge in a musical that I have been a massive fan of for such a long time. I’m looking forward to working with this wonderful production team, including Jason whose guidance I feel especially lucky to have given his previous experience with the production.  I can’t wait to take the Priscilla bus on the road and have a bonzer time making the role my own!”

Mark Goucher said: “Joe is great casting for Priscilla. He is a very strong musical theatre performer and will bring great charm and integrity to this new production of a great musical.”

Jason Donovan said: “So pleased to announce Joe be starring in our production. He’s a down to earth, talented guy who will bring enormous warmth to the role of Mitzi. I can’t wait to see him in heels doing those dance routines…. Awesome.”

The iconic hit musical has more glitter than ever before, featuring a dazzling array of stunning costumes, fabulous feathers and a non-stop parade of dance-floor classics including It’s Raining Men, I Will Survive, I Love The Nightlife, Finally and many more.

Based on the Oscar-winning film, PRISCILLA is the hilarious adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus bound for Alice Springs to put on the show of a lifetime. Their epic journey is a heart-warming story of self-discovery, sassiness and acceptance. 

This brand new production comes from the team behind the critically acclaimed UK tours of Hairspray; with direction by Paul Kerryson, choreography by Tom Jackson-Greaves with designs by Phil R Daniels and Charles Cusick Smith, lighting design by Ben Cracknell and sound design by Ben Harrison.

PriscillaUKTour.com & PriscillaUKTour.co.uk 

TOURING SCHEDULE

Thursday 5 September – Saturday 14 September 2019
DARTFORD ORCHARD THEATRE
Tel: 01322 220000
Tickets now on sale

Tuesday 17 September – Saturday 21 September 2019
BRADFORD ALHAMBRA THEATRE
Tel: 01274 432000
Tickets now on sale

Monday 23 September – Saturday 28 September 2019
RHYL PAVILLION
Tel: 01745 330000
Tickets now on sale

Monday 30 September – Saturday 5 October 2019
MILTON KEYNES THEATRE
Tel: 0844 8717652
Tickets on sale 14^th September

Monday 7 October – Saturday 12 October 2019
NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE
Tel: 0844 8717646
Tickets on sale 14^th September

Monday 14 October – Saturday 19 October 2019
MALVERN FESTIVAL THEATRE
Tel: 01684 892277
On sale now

Monday 21 October – Saturday 26 October 2019
BLACKPOOL WINTER GARDENS
Tel: 0844 8561111
Tickets on sale now

Monday 28 October – Saturday 2 November 2019
LEICESTER CURVE
Tel: 0116 2423595
Tickets on sale soon

Monday 4 November – Saturday 9 November 2019
EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE
Tel: 0844 8713014
Tickets on sale 14^th September

Monday 11 November – Saturday 16 November 2019
LIVERPOOL EMPIRE THEATRE
Tel: 0844 8713017
Tickets on sale 14^th September

Monday 18 November – Saturday 23 November 2019
INVERNESS EDEN COURT
Tel: 01463 234234
Tickets now on sale

Monday 25 November – Saturday 30 November 2019
MANCHESTER PALACE THEATRE
Tel: 0844 8713019
Tickets on sale 14^th September

Tuesday 17 December 2019 – Saturday 4 January 2020 
BRIGHTON THEATRE ROYAL
Tel: 0844 871 7650
Tickets now on sale

Please visit www.priscillauktour.com  for details of 2019 touring dates