The Wind in the Willows: The New Musical Comes to UK & Irish Cinemas For Easter

Jamie Hendry and National Amusements presents

The Wind in the Willows: The New Musical comes to UK & Irish Cinemas for Easter

Following a strictly limited summer season at the London Palladium, The Wind in the Willows: The New Musical is set to delight audiences of all ages, as it is screened in cinemas across the UK & Ireland over the Easter period. The multi-camera production of the much-loved musical adventure will be screened in stunning surround sound and in breathtaking high definition, bringing one of the highlights of London’s West End to local multiplexes and giving everyone the best seat in the house. Participating cinemas and booking links can be found at www.willowsmusical.com

Captured live from the London Palladium, The Wind in the Willows stars Rufus Hound as the amazing Mr Toad, Simon Lipkin as Ratty, Craig Mather as Mole, Neil McDermott as Chief Weasel, Denise Welch as Mrs Otter, Gary Wilmot as Badger and the entire West End company.

Based on Kenneth Grahame’s treasured novel, The Wind in the Willows was brought to the stage by producer Jamie Hendry in a new musical adaptation with book by Academy Award-winning screenwriter and Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes and Olivier Award-winning composer and lyricist duo George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.

Audiences will join Ratty, Badger, Mole and the impulsive Toad as they embark on a series of riotous adventures spiralling from Toad’s insatiable need for speed! The production features eye-poppingly beautiful design, exuberant choreography, a gloriously British score, comedy, heart and thrills, sure to delight families across the country.

Rufus Hound is one of the UK’s leading actors, presenters and comedians, his theatre credits include Don Quixote (RSC) and the original West End production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Savoy Theatre). Television credits include Doctor Who (BBC) and Drunk History (Comedy Central). He is also a regular guest on comedy panel shows such as Never Mind the Buzzcocks (BBC) and 8 Out Of 10 Cats (Channel 4).

Denise Welch is best known for her television roles which include Coronation Street (ITV), Waterloo Road (BBC), Boy Meets Girl (BBC) and Soldier Soldier (ITV). Theatre credits include Steel Magnolias (UK Tour) and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Royal Exchange).

Gary Wilmot first rose to fame as a contestant on New Faces, with presenting credits since then including Showstoppers and So You Want To Be Top. His extensive musical theatre credits include Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Savoy Theatre and UK Tour), Oklahoma! (UK Tour), The Pajama Game (Shaftesbury Theatre) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (London Palladium). He recently starred in Dick Whittington (London Palladium).

Simon Lipkin most recently starred in the world premiere of Nativity The Musical (UK tour) and the UK Premiere of Honeymoon in Vegas at the London Palladium. His numerous other theatre credits include Avenue Q (Noël Coward), Rock of Ages (Shaftesbury/Garrick), I Can’t Sing! (London Palladium) and The Lorax (Old Vic).

Neil McDermott is perhaps best known for portraying Ryan Malloy in EastEnders (BBC). His stage credits include Shrek The Musical (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), La Cage Aux Folles (Menier Chocolate Factory) and The Sound of Music (London Palladium).

Craig Mather’s theatre credits include Marius in Les Misérables (West End), Melchior in the German premiere of Spring Awakening, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at Harrington’s Pie Shop (West End) and the UK tour of Tonight’s The Night.

 

The stage production is produced by Jamie Hendry, MJE Productions and Josh Gilinski, in association with Theatre Royal Plymouth, The Wind in the Willows is directed by Rachel Kavanaugh with choreography by Aletta Collins, set and costume design by Peter McKintosh, lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Gareth Owen, wig and makeup design by Linda McKnight, orchestrations by Chris Jahnke and David Shrubsole and musical supervision by Simon Lee.

The Wind in The Willows is in cinemas nationwide from Easter

Tickets can be booked now at www.willowsmusical.com

Broadway HD financed the production and it will be available on the platform from August 2018

Cinderella Review

Theatre Royal, St. Helens – until Sunday April 15th 2018.  Reviewed by Julie Noller

4**** 

Cinderella – who doesn’t love a fairytale? Who doesn’t love Panto? Wait… Panto? In March? You may be confused with the timing but if you’re looking for escapism over the Easter holidays then this is the perfect family show for you. We arrived in St. Helens on a sunny Saturday afternoon. The theatre is ideally situated in the centre of town for both uber cheap car parks and the main bus station directly opposite. There’s a shopping centre should you want to take your little ones for a pre-show meal (as the later performance is 5pm – highly recommended).

We were surrounded by Princesses and Pirates and this was my first visit to St. Helens Theatre Royal, I felt welcomed. All staff are friendly and engaging, the children were encouraged to join in and it was great to see so many local performers on stage and know they were genuinely cheered on. It may be a small town theatre but it’s heart is huge. The speeches by the performers at the end had the audience reaching into their pockets to donate to help with the theatres roof replacement.

Lewis Devine as Buttons with his catch phrase ‘I say But, you say…. Tons’ worked hard from the outset to engage with every audience member. His magic worked and it was fantastic to hear each and every child shouting out with pure enjoyment, not to mention hearing parents giggle at his naughtiness. Special mention must go to Trevor the pony who gave a fantastic interview and even cheekily left a little present on stage much to the children’s delighted squeals. So Buttons is in love with Cinderella played by the delicately petite Georgina Parkinson whose quirky voice and huge smile reminded me of a young Barbara Windsor, especially when Cinders dons her ballgown and pink wig. Alas she loves Buttons only as a Brother and more than anything seeks real love. Poor Buttons. We turn next to the Dames, everyone’s favourites the dastardly evil Kardashian sisters aka Ugly Sisters brilliantly portrayed by Si Foster and Mark Newell, the costumes are superbly cheap and tacky, colours bright and bold in contrast to Cinderellas rags. I couldn’t take my eyes off that strategically placed pink fluffy heart. Of course as with Panto we wait for the slip ups and the loss of that very extravagant wig had us in stitches as did Buttons shouting ‘keep your hair on slap head’. Samantha Palin as our Fairy Godmother with, as usual, the perfect glittery dress (I admit suggesting it for Prom) all those years aboard flagship cruise liners shows as she is more than comfortable up on stage singing and delighting us. My surprise was when Dandini took up the microphone with a voice I just wasn’t expecting, wow. Dandini the Princes right hand man, snobby and highly above his station. He makes you cheer on the Prince who of course is played by Lee Latchford-Evans, famed for being a member of the ever popular Steps. He took all the references to those classic Steps tracks in his thigh slapping stride, his smile never faltering. He was thoroughly enjoying himself on stage, there was joking and sniggering. Solo songs, duets and group dances. And then he gave an impassioned plea to support local theatre, Cinderella at Theatre Royal is perfect for introducing your little ones to live entertaining theatre. Those pennies will be well spent for some great Easter fun, perhaps as an “eggstra” special gift? You never know you may be a lucky recipient of a golden ticket, be called on stage to meet Buttons and even leave with a little gift.

Finally we were encouraged to get our phones out and share the finale over social media, it was the perfect ending and had us all singing and even remembering those dance moves. Of course it was a Steps medley proudly led by Lee. I left with a huge beaming smiling still humming and showing off to my daughter that I remembered and even she got why I giggled over our seat numbers… 5,6,7,8 and kept singing them.

Miss Nightingale Review

Hippodrome Casino London – until 6th May 2018.  Reviewed By Jo Gordon 

3***

Written and directed by Matthew Bugg, Miss Nightingale began back in 2011 with runs at the Lowry Studio, The Kings Head Theatre and doing the rounds nationally, but is now taking its place at the Hippodrome Casino’s glitzy cabaret theatre for a seven week run.

Set in 1942 war weary London we follow four people connected to one show. Maggie Brown/Miss Nightingale (Lauren Chinery) is a brassy northern lass who by day is nursing the returned injured troops and by night trying to find fame as a singer. Her manager and lover Tom Conner (Adam Longstaff) a typical lovable cockney spiv lands her a job in a cabaret club owned by well to do Sir Frank Worthington-Blythe (Oliver Maudsley). Maggie introduces her brothers friend George Nowodny (Matthew Floyd Jones) into the equation. A polish Jewish songwriter who has fled Nazi oppression sadly without his family.

As the stories around each character evolve there is a more serious thread that runs alongside the cheeky double-entendre fuelled (think Carry on films) elements. George and Frank begin a relationship, in a time when homosexuality was still deemed an illegal act and twenty men were prosecuted in Wales for gross indecency and labelled ” the enemy within”, trying to convince Joe Public that if these men risked getting blackmailed they would likely betray Britain. Frank does his utmost to keep it a secret but gets found out and his nightmare comes true as he is blackmailed by someone within his close circle. Mean while Maggie’s personal life takes a turn for the worst but the show must go on

With all for actors not only belting out amusing songs such as The Pussy Song and Sausage Song alongside ones to tug the heart strings like This Man of Mine they can also turn their hand at playing their own musical instruments. The setting is perfect within the Hippodrome Casino’s theatre renamed The Cockpit and arranged with cabaret seating, which I only have one issue with being that once past the far ends of the stage the seats that put the stage behind you do make it incredibly difficult and uncomfortable to watch! However, for a cracking night out in the centre of London that includes a show and war time themed food you can’t go wrong. If nothing else you will come away with a piece of advice we should all take heed of and that is “You’ve got to get your sausage when you can!”…..wise wise words in my opinion.

Three Sisters Review

Jack Studio Theatre – until 14 April 2018.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

This is another impressive Arrows & Traps production – an engaging, atmospheric and intelligent adaptation of Chekhov’s classic.

In a provincial garrison town one year after their father’s death, the Prozorov sisters dream of returning to Moscow. Priding themselves on their cultured and educated upbringing in Moscow, the sisters’ scathing and snobbish attitude to the locals is demonstrated most acutely by their treatment of their brother Andrei’s sweetheart Natasha at the beginning of the play.

The sisters never get to Moscow, instead the city becomes a beacon of hope for a new life of fulfilment, freedom and happiness to each of the sisters as their dreams stagnate over the years. Eldest sister Olga (the always impressive Cornelia Baumann) is gradually squeezed out of running the Prozorov household by Natasha after her marriage to Andrei, middle sister Masha (Claire Bowman, in a passionate performance) is unhappily married to local schoolteacher Kulygin (the wonderful Stephen MacNeice – just watch his eyes when he is insisting that he’s a happy man) but begins an affair with dashing officer Vershinin (Toby Wynn-Davies), and youngest sister Irina (luminous Victoria Llewellyn) looking for meaning in her life through work, but longing to find her true love in Moscow, is courted by two very different officers.

Ross McGregor brings the humour of Chekhov’s story to the forefront, so it’s not all doom and gloom, and there are some lovely musical flourishes, including a singalong guaranteed to get your feet tapping. The different philosophical attitudes of the characters are treated with respect, from Vershinin’s hope that small acts will eventually lead to social change to Chebutykin’s nihilism, and their musings aren’t allowed to become too preachy, thanks to McGregor’s dynamic direction.

ART AT LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

ART AT LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

Nigel Havers, Denis Lawson and Stephen Tompkinson are set to star in Yasmina Reza’s Olivier, Tony and Moliere award-winning comedy ART at Leeds Grand Theatre from Tuesday 3 to Saturday 7 April 2018.

The comedy, which raises questions about art and friendship, concerns three long-time friends, Serge, Marc, and Yvan. Serge, indulging his penchant for modern art, buys a large, expensive, completely white painting. Marc is horrified, and their relationship suffers considerable strain because of their differing opinions about what constitutes ‘art’. Yvan, caught in the middle of the conflict, tries to please and mollify both.

Based on the original production by Matthew Warchus, ART is directed by Ellie Jones and produced by David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers.

David Pugh said: “It is 20 years since Dafydd [Rogers] and I first produced the comedy masterpiece ART in the West End, and the original post-London tour played for 78 weeks. This time, we want to break our own record; in fact, we want to play as many theatres as Sir Ken Dodd played in his wonderful career. With this marvelous cast, we think we have every chance!”

ART is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Tuesday 3 to Saturday 7 April 2018

Tickets are on sale now priced at £14 (RV) to £38.50

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

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

Hull Dancer bags part in acclaimed opera

Hull Girl to Appear in Acclaimed Opera

Skelton Hooper Dancer to appear as Joy in Madama Butterfly at Hull New Theatre

Ellen Kent’s award-winning production of Madama Butterfly returns to Hull New Theatre on 28 March and as always Ellen is making it a community affair with one lucky student from the Skelton Hooper School of Dance and Theatre taking on the role of Sorrow in this exquisite production of Puccini’s masterpiece.

Elicia, aged 3 from Hull, will appear opposite Maria Hee Jung Kim from the National Opera, Seoul, Korea who sings the tragic Cio-Cio San. After being seduced and then deserted by Lieutenant Pinkerton and being shunned by her family and friends, Cio-Cio San names her child Sorrow, ever hopeful that Pinkerton will return so she can rename the child Joy. However when Pinkerton finally does return with his new American wife, Cio-Cio San ends up taking her own life, racked with despair over his betrayal.

Elicia’s mother Suzanne said: “Elicia is really looking forward to being in the opera. She has been reciting her lines every day and has recently done a ballet solo performance so she’s not nervous. She is a very confident and bubbly child; she loves dancing and being the centre of attention”.

Limited tickets for Madama Butterfly are still available. Book at the Hull City Hall Box Office, call 01482 300 306 or visit www.hulltheatres.co.uk.

BOUNDLESS THEATRE: FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR MAJOR REVIVAL OF JUDY UPTON’S CONFIDENCE

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR JUDY UPTON’S CONFIDENCE

 

Boundless Theatre presents

CONFIDENCE

by Judy Upton

Director: Rob Drummer; Designer: Amelia Jane Hankin; Sound: Father; Lighting Designer: Zoe Spurr

Southwark Playhouse

Wednesday 23 May – 16 June 2018

 

Boundless Theatre today announces the full cast for a major revival of Judy Upton’s Confidence. First performed in 1998 at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Artistic Director of Boundless, Rob Drummer, directs the previously announced Tanya Burr in the role of Ella. She is joined by Anna Crichlow (Ruby), Vauxhall Jermaine (Edwin), Will Pattle (Dean) and Rhys Yates (Ben). The production opens at Southwark Playhouse on 25 May with previews from 23 May.

 

Mixtapes, Argos catalogue Christmas lists, VHS. Crop tops, chokers, disposable cameras, Boundless Theatre is bringing the 90s back. As another summer season on the seafront gets underway Ella is turning up the heat in a high stakes game to get as far away as possible. Whilst Ruby keeps the café going and Dean mans the ice cream kiosk, Ella learns there’s no fast track to success.

 

‘If you’re not interested in earning a new pair of Nikes by the end of the day…complete designer wardrobe by the end of the week…all the beers you can drink…if you don’t want to meet Uma Thurman…then okay, stay here, as King of the Slackers, that’s fine by me.’

 

Confidence, will explode back on to stage, for a new generation of dreamers.

 

Judy Upton is an award-winning playwright and her stage plays include Ashes and Sand (George Devine Award), Bruises (Royal Court), Sunspots and People On The River, (Finborough Theatre), To Blusher With Love (Channel Theatre), Know Your Rights (Red Room at Battersea Arts Centre), Sliding With Suzanne (Royal Court/Out Of Joint), Team Spirit (National Theatre), The Girlz (Orange Tree Theatre), Gaby Goes Global (New Wimbledon Theatre), Flick To Kick (Cambridge Hotbed Festival), Noctropia (Hampstead Theatre) and Come To Where I’m From (Paines Plough).

 

Anna Crichlow plays Ruby. Her theatre credits include Common (National Theatre), Pride and Prejudice (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) and The Lost Art of Lost Art (Edinburgh Fringe Festival). For film her credits include Memento Amare.

 

Tanya Burr makes her professional stage debut as Ella. This year, she has starred in Go90’s Love and Cheese as part of the Love, Daily series. She has appeared in pilot series, Making It, appears in the forthcoming Bulletproof and plays the lead in the forthcoming Disconnect – a short film. Tanya also runs a successful YouTube channel.

 

Vauxhall Jermaine plays Edwin. Theatre credits include Old Man and Princess (Soho Theatre)For television his credits include The Attack, The Five, Suspects, This is England ’90 and the forthcoming The Virtues. For film, his credits include Peter Rabbit, 90 Minutes, Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation, Svengali and Weekend.

Will Pattle plays Dean. As a recent graduate of The Brit School this will be Pattle’s professional stage debut.

 

Rhys Yates plays Ben. His theatre credits include Rockstar (Lyric Hammersmith), Table (Stratford Circus). Television credits include Britannia, Stan Lee’s Lucky Man, Plebs; and for film Postcards from London and Common People.

 

Rob Drummer joined Boundless Theatre in July 2016 as Artistic Director and his previous work for the company includes Natives by Glenn Waldron. He previously worked as co-director on the company’s production of Sense by Anja Hilling at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA), alongside Andrea Ferran. He was a mentor to emerging playwrights from the UK, Germany, Netherlands and Norway on the European Writers’ Lab component of the company’s Theatre Café Festival. Prior to becoming Artistic Director of Boundless Theatre he was Associate Dramaturg at the Bush Theatre where he ran the Literary Department, responsible for all playwriting work including the commissioning and development of new plays for production. He has established ongoing partnerships with Playwrights of New York (PoNY), delivered projects with Kudos Film & Television and established a partnership with Drama Centre London and Oberon Books on the Student Guide to Writing: Playwriting. Before joining the Bush he was the first Literary Manager for HighTide Festival Theatre where he supported the expansion of the festival, doubling the number of productions and for HighTide he also directed EisteddfodEndless Poem and Perish. As a Dramaturg and director he has worked with playwrights at theatres including the National Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Contact, York Theatre Royal and Theatre503. He was one of the first recipients of an Artists’ International Development Fund from the Arts Council and British Council and spent time working in South Africa with playwrights and theatre makers at the Baxter and Market Theatres.

 

www.boundlesstheatre.org.uk

@boundlessabound

CONFIDENCE

Listings

Southwark Playhouse 77-85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD

Wednesday 23 May – 16 June

Tickets: £12 – £20

Box office: 020 7407 0234 www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

@swkplay / #boundlessconfidence

Join Cannon and Ball in their Dressing Room

Share Cannon and Ball’s Dressing Room

The legendary comics make a welcome return to the city

Funnymen Cannon and Ball invite audiences to join them backstage as their hit show The Dressing Room returns to Hull New Theatre on Wednesday 11 April, by popular demand.

The hilarious comedy play, written by Bobby Ball, combines sitcom with variety and comedy as Tommy Cannon and Bobby find themselves embroiled in the crazy shenanigans of compere Stu Francis and fellow comic Johnnie Casson.

Cannon and Ball shot to fame in the 1980s when they landed their own ITV series the creatively named The Cannon and Ball Show and the duo continue to bring their unique brand of northern comedy to stages across the country to this day, entertaining multiple generations of families.

The Dressing Room gives a nostalgic nod to a bygone era of comedy genius, a genuine laugh out loud experience that will have the entire family rolling in the aisles. Tickets on sale now. Book at the Hull City Hall Box Office, call 01482 300 306 or visit www.hulltheatres.co.uk.

ROYAL & DERNGATE ANNOUNCES TWO WORLD PREMIERE SHOWS FOR CHRISTMAS 2018

Royal & Derngate announces Christmas double bill of world premieres for its Made in Northampton 2018 season

Jill Murphy’s
The Worst Witch
A new play by Emma Reeves
Directed by Theresa Heskins

Royal stage – Tuesday 27 November to Sunday 30 December 2018

Julia Donaldson and Rebecca Cobb’s
The Everywhere Bear
Directed by Peter Glanville
Composed by Julian Butler

Underground Studio – Thursday 29 November 2018 to Sunday 6 January 2019

As the venue’s Christmas 2017 productions of The Jungle Book and The Singing Mermaid tour the UK, Royal & Derngate’s Artistic Director James Dacre announces two world premiere productions for the venue’s Made in Northampton Christmas line up this year, The Worst Witch and The Everywhere Bear. The Royal’s Christmas Show for 2018 will be an original story for the stage byEmma Reeves (Royal Television Society Award for Best Children’s TV Programme and 2017 British Screenwriters Award for Best Children’s Programme) based upon Jill Murphy’s beloved series of classic novels The Worst Witch. The production will be directed by Theresa Heskins (2017 UK Theatre Award for Best Show for Children and Young People).

The Worst Witch is the story of an ordinary girl who finds herself in an extraordinary place: a school for witches. Now in her final year, accident-prone Mildred Hubble and her fellow pupils leave a trail of mayhem behind them as they find themselves at the centre of a battle that’s being fought for their future.

The Worst Witch will take to Northampton’s Royal stage from Tuesday 27 November to Sunday 30 December 2018, with a national press night on Friday 30 November. This world premiere production is co-produced with Kenny Wax Family Entertainment, Novel Theatre and Nica Burns and will embark on a major national tour after its run at Royal & Derngate.

Jill Murphy’s The Worst Witch stories have sold more than five million copies and been made into films and TV series by HBO, ITV and CBBC. Jill commented: “My first trip to the theatre aged four, opened up a magical world – so real to me, that I had to be restrained from climbing onstage to help the children in peril! My mum was quite cross with me, but I never wanted the show to end and sang the songs loudly all the way home on the bus. Imagine how proud I feel, all these years later, seeing my own Mildred Hubble on stage with all the characters from Miss Cackle’s Academy. I still feel thrilled to bits when I go to the theatre and I just know The Worst Witch is going to be a magical production.”

Emma Reeves added: “We’re creating a brand new story as well as revisiting moments from the books. Jealous Ethel Hallow is out to spoil Mildred’s fun, and Miss Hardbroom is opposed to all fun in general. But, without giving too much away, Mildred faces a greater danger than she ever imagined as an old enemy returns, with a plan for revenge that could threaten not just the Academy, but the whole world… “

Winner of the Royal Television Society Award for Best Children’s Television Programme, and of the 2017 British Screenwriters Award for Best Children’s Programme for the television adaptations ofThe Worst Witch, Emma Reeves’ screen writing credits include EveThe Dumping GroundYoung Dracula and The Story of Tracy Beaker. Her stage work includes the Olivier Award-nominated and critically acclaimed adaptation of Hetty Feather (UK tour and West End).

The production will be directed by Theresa Heskins, Artistic Director of the New Vic Theatre, Staffordshire. Theresa commented: “This year, when we’ve seen the start of a rebalancing of power within our society, it feels like an important time to be creating a play about young women who are learning, collectively and individually, to use their power; and the danger if they decide to use it not for good but for ill.”

Theresa’s past productions include The Snow Queen which won the 2017 UK Theatre Award for Best Show for Children and Young People. Her wonderfully inventive and hugely popular production of Around the World in 80 Days was nominated for the same award, in both 2015 and 2017, and will tour to America in 2019.

Furthering Royal & Derngate’s commitment to making work in their Underground Studio to introduce young audiences to the magic of immersive theatre, the venue will also be staging another world premiere for Christmas 2018, with an adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Rebecca Cobb’sThe Everywhere Bear, which comes to Northampton for the festive season after playing at its co-producing venues Polka Theatre and Little Angel Theatre.

This captivating and beautiful story springs to life with rhyme, original music and delightfully expressive puppets in an exciting production, adapted and directed by Polka Theatre’s Peter Glanville (Moominsummer MadnessWe’re Going on a Bear Hunt, 2014 OFFIE for Best Production for Children for Peter Pan), with music composed by Julian Butler. Aimed at under 7s and their families, the show will run from Thursday 29 November 2018 to Sunday 6 January 2019.

Royal & Derngate’s Christmas 2017 co-production of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, adapted by Jessica Swale with original music by Joe Stilgoe and direction by Max Webster is currently touring the UK. Its upcoming dates include Newcastle Theatre Royal, Plymouth Theatre Royal, Norwich Theatre Royal and Nottingham Theatre Royal. Their production of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’ The Singing Mermaid, adapted and directed by Samantha Lane with original music by Barb Jungr is currently playing a 10 week London season with co-producers Little Angel Theatre ahead of further touring across the UK.

For more information or to book tickets, call Royal & Derngate’s Box Office on 01604 624811 or visitwww.royalandderngate.co.uk.

Made in Northampton is sponsored locally by Michael Jones Jeweller.

@RoyalDerngate / #MadeInNorthampton / #WorstWitchThePlay / #EverywhereBear18

CAROLINE OR CHANGE transfers to the West End starring Sharon D. Clarke

www.carolineorchange.co.uk | @carolinewestend

WEST END TRANSFER ANNOUNCED

STARRING OLIVIER AWARD-WINNER SHARON D. CLARKE

Ambassador Theatre Group, Gavin Kalin Productions, Glass Half Full Productions and Rupert Gavin
In association with Hampstead Theatre 
Present
The Chichester Festival Theatre Production of

CAROLINE, OR CHANGE
Book and lyrics by TONY KUSHNER
Music by JEANINE TESORI
Directed by MICHAEL LONGHURST

  • West End transfer announced for Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori’scelebrated musical, directed by Michael Longhurst.
  • Sharon D. Clarke to reprise the title role of Caroline Thibodeaux.
  • Playhouse Theatre, London from 20 November 2018 to 9 February 2019 following sold out engagements at Chichester Festival Theatre and Hampstead Theatre.

Caroline, Or Change, the celebrated musical written by Tony Kushner, author of Angels in America, with a soaring score from Tony Award-winning Jeanine Tesori, will transfer into the West End’s Playhouse Theatre from 20 November 2018 to 9 February 2019.

Hailed by critics, in a virtuoso performance as Caroline Thibodeaux, Olivier Award-winning actress Sharon D. Clarke will reprise the title role when the production transfers to the West End this autumn. Further casting is to be announced in due course.

Directed by Michael Longhurst, this five-star production received phenomenal critical praise when it opened at Chichester Festival Theatre last year and again following its transfer to Hampstead Theatre, where it is currently sold-out until 21 April.

Louisiana, 1963. Revolution is in the air, though not so much for Caroline, the poorly paid maid toiling endlessly in the sweltering basement of the Gellman household. It’s a fantastical, magical place amidst the piles of laundry and singing washing machines, especially for eight-year-old Noah Gellman who sneaks downstairs to see her whenever he can. Yet a simple gesture to leave more money in Caroline’s pocket is about to test who and how far the winds of change can ever really reach…

Winner of the 2007 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, Caroline, Or Change is a playful, funny, and deeply moving portrait of America at a time of momentous social upheaval, set to an uplifting and profound score of soul, blues, classical and traditional Jewish folk music.

Partly inspired by his own boyhood, the book and lyrics are by Tony Kushner. Kushner is author of the ground-breaking Angels in America, his two-part epic drama about the AIDS epidemic in 1980’s New York which recently ran at the National Theatre, is currently playing at the Neil Simon Theatre in New York, was made into an HBO mini-series and inspired an opera and musical work.Kushner’s film credits include screenplays Fences starring and directed by Denzel Washington, Lincoln, Munich which he co-wrote for Steven Spielberg and forthcoming remake of West Side Story, also for Spielberg. Other credits include The Intellectual Homosexual’s Guide to Capatilism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures, Hydriotaphia, Slavs!:Thinking About the Longstanding Problems of Virtue and Happiness and adaptations of Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children and The Good Person of Szechwan.

Music is by Jeanine Tesori. Tesori wrote the Tony Award-winning Best Original Score to Fun Home, alongside Lisa Kron’s book and lyrics, the music for Broadway, West End and inernational touring Shrek The Musical, eleven new songs for the stage adaptation of Thoroughly Modern Millie and the score for Broadway production, Violet. In addition to Caroline, Or Change, her work with Tony Kushner includes incidential music for Mother Courage and Her Children and their opera A Blizzard on Marblehead Neck. Film scores include Nights in Rodanthe, The Little Mermaid: Ariels Beginning and Mulan II. Tesori’s opera The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me, premiered at the Kennedy Center in 2013.

Michael Longhurst directs. His credits include the recent revival of Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus(National Theatre) and Nick Payne’s Constellations starring Sally Hawkins and Rafe Spall at Royal Court and in the West End and with Ruth Wilson and Jake Gyllenhaal on Broadway. Longhurst also worked with Gyllenhaal on his American stage debut in If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet(Roundabout Theatre, New York). Other credits include Gloria (Hampstead Theatre), Belleville(Donmar), Bad Jews (Theatre Royal Bath/West End), and Linda (Royal Court).

Olivier Award-winner Sharon D. Clarke is to reprise her critically-hailed performance in the role of Caroline Thibodeaux. Clarke has enjoyed a long established stage career with credits including Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and The Amen Corner (National Theatre), Ghost The Musical(Piccadilly Theatre), The Life (Southwark Playhouse), Porgy and Bess (Regents Park Open Air Theatre), Hairspray (Shaftesbury Theatre) and We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre). On TV, Clarke is known for playing Lola Griffin in BBC’s Holby City.

Ambassador Theatre Group, Gavin Kalin Productions, Glass Half Full Productionsand Rupert Gavin, in association with Hampstead Theatre, present the Chichester Festival Theatre production of Caroline, Or ChangeBook and lyrics by Tony Kushner, music by Jeanine Tesori and is directed by Michael Longhurst, with designs by Fly Davis, choreography by Ann Yee, musical direction by Nigel Lilley, lighting by Jack Knowles, sound by Paul Arditti, casting by Charlotte Sutton CDG and children’s casting by Debbie O’Brien.

LISTINGS

CAROLINE, OR CHANGE
Book and lyrics by TONY KUSHNER
Music by JEANINE TESORI
Directed by MICHAEL LONGHURST
Starring SHARON D. CLARKE 

Playhouse Theatre
Northumberland Ave, London WC2N 5DE

www.carolineorchange.co.uk | @carolinewestend

Performance schedule:

First performance: 20 November 2018
Final performance: 9 February 2019

Monday to Saturday performances at 7.30pm
Thursday and Saturday matinee performances at 2.30pm

Running time: 2 hours and 35 minutes including one interval

Box office details:

Website: www.carolineorchange.co.uk
Telephone: 0844 871 7631
Prices from £20