Roll up, roll up! 
Half term Family Festival for all ages at The Lowry

Circus inspired Family Arts Festival brings week-long celebration of performances, activities and workshops suitable for the whole family to The Lowry, Sat 21 – Sun 29 October 2017.

Clowns, acrobats and open air theatre form some of the diverse range of performances, activities and workshops at the festival.

In the Lyric theatre a world-renowned company of clowns led by Slava Polunin will present Slava’s Snowshow, a combination of theatrical clowning and stunning visual spectacle. Whilst in the Quays theatre multi-award-winning storyteller Danyah Miller vividly brings to life Michael Morpurgo’s enchanting tale Why The Whales Came.
 
Circus in a Box, a playful duet by international handstand artists and acrobats choreographed in and around a large box, will pop-up in the galleries.
 
For those looking to get more actively involved The Circus House will be hosting free workshops in acrobalance, juggling and plate spinning on Fri 27 October. Whilst on Sat 28 October there will be the opportunity for visitors to put their tight-rope walking skills to the test. 

The variety of performances, workshops and activities on offer will also include Mini Cruises around Salford Quays, interactive sessions with Legoland’s Master Builder, Under 5’s First Steps dance classes and pop-up performances outside on the plaza of How I Hacked My Way in to Space. 

Across the week Pier Eight Restaurant will be offering their popular Kids Eat Free promotion – for every adult that dines in Pier Eight Restaurant a child can eat from the children’s menu free of charge.
 
A full schedule of everything on offer as part of the festival can be found on the Family Festival website.  Visitors can purchase tickets to performances and book places online for the free activities in advance. Tickets can be purchased and places reserved for workshops via the Family Festival website. There will also be a limited number of tickets available on the day.

Grand Opera House York – until Saturday 14th October.  Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

4****

Originally shown in 1969, How the Other Half Loves is an Alan Ayckbourn play, directed here by Alan Strachan. It centres around three couples, an affair, two dinner parties and an intricate web of lies.

Set in the 60’s we have the older, middle-class couple of Frank and Fiona, the brash younger Teresa and Bob and finally the meek and mild, and somewhat dull Mary and William. Fiona and Bob have had a fling, poor Mary and William have been drawn into proceedings in order to hide their infidelity and Frank bumbles along getting the wrong end of the stick.

The very strong cast, Robert Daws, Caroline Langrishe, Charlie Brooks, Leon Ockenden, Sara Crowe and Matthew Cottle played their parts wonderfully, especially Daws, Langrishe and Crowe. I did feel at times that Brooks and Ockenden were a bit over the top, and how anyone could fall for the male chauvinist charms of Bob, is beyond me, though I do suppose he is a bit of eye candy!

Daws play his character Frank with such flare, and you can’t help but love this bumbling old gent who constantly misinterprets everything going on around him and so brings this comedy to life.

Some parts of the play left me with conflicting emotions because of the attitude towards women, historically interesting at times, but also cringingly uncomfortable. I suppose that is only to be expected and it is indicative of the time that the play was originally written.

All of the play is played out with two scenes running simultaneously, though we are treated to several scene changes. I must admit that I was a bit sceptical at first about this, but it worked superbly well. The cast looked like they were having a hoot playing some of the scenes, most notably at the dinner parties. How they all managed to keep a straight face I do not know and their timing was brilliant, especially Crowe and Cottle.

There is one small criticism, the scene change during Act I could have been done a lot quicker and done more seamlessly. The curtain went down and several audience members were a bit unsure what was happening and thought it was the interval, and even got up to get refreshments, only to hastily realise their mistakes.

This is a great adaptation of a classic, a first rate comedy, with laugh out moments abound. Well worth seeing.

Richmond Theatre – until 14th October.  Reviewed by Jess Brady

5*****

If you are a fan of Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat then it will come as no surprise to you that this touring production is a complete treat for all ages. A colourful, wonderful couple of hours with an uplifting score by Andrew Lloyd Webber brings nostalgia and that feel good feeling you hope for.

Based on the story from the Bible’s book of Genesis, we follow Joseph’s tale of being sold by his 11 jealous brothers as a slave as they realise he is their father Jacob’s favourite when Joseph receives a coat of many colours as a gift. The brother’s lie to Jacob and tell him Joseph died and bring him back the coat of many colours in shreds and covered in goat’s blood. We see Joseph hit rock bottom and rise to the top to be the Pharaoh of Egypt’s right hand man. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has stood the test of time making its first performance way back in 1968 and is a firm favourite amongst most musical theatre lovers and it’s not difficult to see why. This heart warming production is bursting at the seams with incredible songs that are easily recognisable and a joy to watch.

2009 X FACTOR winner Joe McElderry leads the cast in the title role of Joseph and plays him perfectly. He has such likeability and outstanding vocals that come effortlessly in particular when singing ‘Close every door’ [a goosebump moment for me] that it’s easy to get swept into the story and not want it to end. Trina Hill plays the Narrator and has that warm and familiar personal touch that lets you know it’s all going to turn out ok in the end as well as belting out some impressive vocals that elevate most of the songs that make this production very special. We get an equally as strong performance from Ben James-Ellis as the Elvis inspired Pharaoh and his breakout number where he explains his troubling dreams to Joseph was a total highlight. The whole cast were spectacular with tight energetic choreography, vocals and humour that leave the audience completely hooked and loving every minute of the show.

The performers, the story, a beautiful set and dazzling costumes, it’s safe to say that this production packs a punch and has you dancing in the aisles. I urge anyone who is feeling a little drab with the dark night’s drawing closer and cold weather coming to see this uplifting production as you can’t help leaving the theatre with a huge smile on your face and enjoying a great musical classic.

LEEDS AT WAR; A TALE OF A CITY OF CULTURE

It is somewhat fitting that on Remembrance Day this year, the City Varieties Music Hall in Leeds will welcome a production that commemorates both Armistice and the theatre’s own starring role during World War 1.

Those Were The Days takes to the stage on Saturday November 11^th – exactly 99 years after the hostilities of WW1 ended. It looks at both the dark days of the war along with the joys of live performance and Yorkshire spirit. Performed by actors ranging from aged 6 to 60, the production brings together history, entertainment and theatrical style with humour, emotion and a large dollop of Leeds.

Leeds writer and director Liz Coggins is the creative behind the piece: “Those Were The Days celebrates this city; its people, its culture and, importantly, its theatres,” she explains.

“In the late 1800s and early 20^th century, there were six theatres in Leeds and a music hall on practically every corner of the city centre; they Music Halls were the heart of the culture of the working classes; people would gather and sing, drink and laugh together and forget their troubles; when war broke out this didn’t stop – in fact it became even more important.”

The City Varieties was one such music hall. It began its life in 1865 as a room above a pub and went on to entertain the people of Leeds through two world wars before becoming world-famous for hosting the BBC programme The Good Old Days which ran every weekend for 30 years from 1953. As other such venues closed, the City Varieties continued and today is the longest running music hall in the country.

“I have such a deep-rooted love of this venue,” says Liz.  “It is steeped in history – a history you feel when you walk through the doors.  The list of stars that have graced those boards is incredible and I have drawn on this within the production.”

In what promises to be a pure celebration of music hall entertainment, the show will introduce audiences to  the stars of the time;  Marie Lloyd, Vesta Tilley, Florrie Ford, Charlie Chaplin and Leeds lass Vesta Victoria each make an appearance, buoyed by the songs and comedy sketches of the era. A live band supports the cast and songs include the famous Marrow Song, Yes! We Have No Bananas, It’s A Long Way To Tipperary and many more.

The Leeds characters that introduce the production and take the audience on their journey may well be fictitious, but their tales are based on real life stories; the story of the famous 15th Service Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment – better known as The Leeds Pals – is honoured in the second half and is based on the accounts of a Leeds Pal called Harry – Liz’s own Grandfather.

“Of course those who lived through WW1 are no longer with us,” says Liz. “I don’t want these stories to die with them. Our history is important to our understanding of the present day.”

The younger cast members are students at On Stage Academy, a drama class based in Leeds city centre. They work with Liz and her team to learn every aspect of theatre and stagecraft.

“It is such a delight to see young people performing pieces from 100 years ago,” says Liz. “Children are never too young to experience live professional theatre and its many genres. The history of this profession is as important as the craft itself.  To this end I would encourage families to come together for an old-fashioned, much-loved evening at the theatre.”

Those Were The Days is at City Varieties Music Hall on Saturday November 11^th at 7pm

Tickets are on sale now priced at £19.60

Book online at cityvarieties.co.uk or call Box Office on 0113 243 0808

Around The World In 80 Days docking at Salford Quays this Christmas.

Around The World in 80 Days
Tue 5 Dec 2017 – Sun 7 Jan 2018

The New Vic Theatre’s celebrated production of Jules Verne’s Around The World in 80 Days adapted by Laura Eason and directed by Theresa Heskinscomes to The Lowry this Christmas (Tue 5 Dec 2017 – Sun 7 Jan 2018).

Theresa Heskins’ production of Around The World in 80 Days first premiered at the New Vic Theatre in 2013 followed by a successful season at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester in 2014. Nominated for both the UK Theatre Awards ‘Best New Production’ and the Manchester Theatre Awards ‘Best Show for Children and Families.’

The mysterious and fabulously wealthy Phileas Fogg wagers his life’s fortune that he can circumnavigate the globe in just 80 days. Join Fogg and his loyal valet, Passepartout, as they voyage from the misty alleys of Victorian London to the exotic subcontinent and the Wild West in a race against the clock.

An ensemble cast of eight play over 125 characters in an imaginative and physically inventive high-spirited escapade including six trains, five boats, four fights, three dances, two circus acts and an elephant!

Marking 10 years as artistic director of the New Vic Theatre, Theresa Heskins’recent directing credits include: ‘The Snow Queen,’ ‘Peter Pan in Scarlet,’ ‘Kiss Me Quickstep,’ ‘Robin Hood & Marian,’ ‘Dracula,’ ‘The Borrowers,’ ‘The Hundred and One Dalmatians,’ ‘Widowers’ Houses,’ ‘A Christmas Carol,’ ‘Far from the Madding Crowd,’ ‘Where Have I Been All My Life?,’ to name a few. In 2015 she was awarded an Honorary Doctor of the Arts for services to theatre and for her cultural contribution to North Staffordshire.

Around The World in 80 Days is directed by Theresa Heskins and designed byLis Evans, with movement direction by Beverley Edmunds, music composed by James Atherton, lighting designed by Alexandra Stafford and sound designed by James Earls-Davis. Kenny Wax Family Entertainment andSimon Friend present The New Vic Theatre Production in association with the Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester

Listings Information 
Around The World in 80 Days
Date: Tue 5 Dec 2017 – Sun 7 Jan 2018
Time: Tue – Sat 7pm. Tue & Sat 2.30pm (exc 5th/26th Dec). Sun 5.30pm (except 24th 2.30pm).
Tickets: £22 – £31. Concessions £2 off (Selected performances)
Website

Access Listings
Audio Described: Tue 12 Dec, 2.30pm
Relaxed Performance: Tue 19 Dec, 2.30pm
Captioned Performance: Fri 22 Dec, 7pm
British Sign Language: Tue 4 Jan, 7pm    

Daniel Boys, Simon Lipkin and Sarah Earnshaw star in the world premiere of Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s production of NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL which opens at Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Friday 20 October 2017. Following the run in Birmingham, the show will play Southend Cliffs Pavilion, Sheffield Lyceum, Manchester Palace, Plymouth Theatre Royal, a London season at the Hammersmith Eventim Apollo and a Christmas season at Leeds Grand Theatre.

Every child in every school has one Christmas wish, to star in a Nativity, and at St Bernadette’s School they’ve decided to mount a musical version! Join teacher Mr Maddens and his crazy assistant Mr Poppy as they struggle with hilarious children, unruly animals and a whole lot of sparkle and shine to make everyone’s Christmas wish come true. Featuring all of your favourite sing-a-long songs from the smash-hit films including Sparkle and Shine, Nazareth and One Night One Moment. NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL promises to be the perfect feel-good comedy for all the family.

www.nativitythemusical.com

ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY?

Able UK confirms £200,000 donation to boost Darlington Hippodrome’s Capital Fundraising

Darlington Hippodrome is celebrating the news that Able UK Ltd has awarded the theatre a grant of £200,000 to help transform the building as part of the major £12.3 million capital works. The generous donation will fund the new heritage seats within the theatre’s auditorium helping to complete the transformation of the Edwardian building in a return to its original opulence.

Able UK is the market leader in the field of demolition and marine decommissioning and is now a significant land developer and port operator. The funding has been made available through their LandTrust Community Fund which provides funding for projects ranging from repair of historical buildings to provision of leisure amenities and reclamation of disused land.

Peter Stephenson, Executive Chairman of Able UK said, ‘As a business owned and manager in Teesside we are naturally committed to support the ongoing development of the area that has been our base for over 50 years. It is particularly pleasing to be able to be associated with such a prestigious project and one that will provide so much entertainment, and comfort, to audiences that, just like our own customers, will be attracted from far and wide.’

The regeneration, made possible by funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, will restore and expand the theatre, which was originally opened in September 1907 as the New Hippodrome and Palace Theatre of Varieties.

Lynda Winstanley, Director of Darlington Hippodrome, said: ‘We are delighted that Able UK has chosen to support Darlington Hippodrome’s restoration in this way. The backing of local partners is vital in making this project a success and we are excited to see the beautiful heritage style seating within the restored auditorium’.

ALL OR NOTHING – THE MOD MUSICAL

BASED ON THE STORY OF THE SMALL FACES

TO PLAY LIMITED WEST END SEASON

AT ARTS THEATRE

6 FEBRUARY TO 11 MARCH 2018

WITH NATIONAL PRESS NIGHT ON THURSDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2018

CAST ALBUM RELEASED TODAY, TUESDAY 10 OCTOBER 2017

Following a third, critically acclaimed, sell-out tour, ALL OR NOTHING – THE MOD MUSICAL,based on the story of the Small Faces, will play a limited West End season at the Arts Theatre, London from 6 February to 11 March 2018, with a press night on Thursday 8 February.  The producers of ALL OR NOTHING are also delighted to announce the release of a 29-track cast recording, as well as a limited edition 15-track blue vinyl LP, available from today, Tuesday 10 October 2017, from venues hosting the show on the current tour, as well as from the show website, www.allornothingmusical.com, and, when it is playing there, from the Arts Theatre.

Written and directed by the award-winning actress Carol Harrison, ALL OR NOTHING is the story of four charismatic young kids from East London with humour, attitude, passion and, above all, talent.  They became the Small Faces and were rocketed into the big time, only to discover the path to success is paved with exploitation, betrayal and, ultimately, tragedy. 

The cast at the Arts Theatre will be led by Carol Harrison as Kay Marriott and Chris Simmons as the older Steve Marriott.  Further casting is to be announced.

In 1965, a new phenomenon erupted out of London’s East End.  It was the essence of all that was cool.  It was Mod.  ALL OR NOTHING follows the rise and demise of the Small Faces, the band who encapsulated all that was Mod – a unique blend of taste and testosterone, clothes-obsessed and street-wise – but most of all, a dedication to rhythm ‘n’ blues.  The musical celebrates the unique sound of this iconic Mod band, with all the Small Faces’ hits, including Whatcha Gonna Do About It, Tin Soldier, Lazy Sunday, Here Comes the Nice, Itchycoo Park and, of course, All or Nothing.

Carol Harrison said of the West End transfer, “I am honoured that ALL OR NOTHING has been embraced by so many wonderful audiences who have laughed, danced, wept and sang with us across the length and breadth of the country.  I am so thrilled that we can now bring the ALL OR NOTHING experience to the West End.  Watch out, ‘cos the Mods are coming ……Or maybe we just never went away!”

Carol Harrison is probably best known for her role as Louise Raymond in EastEnders.  Other television roles include seven years as Gloria in Brushstrokes, Loretta opposite Ray Winstone in Get Back, and Dorothy in two series of London’s Burning.  Carol’s theatre work includes Michael Rudman’s production of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman at the National, Ripen Our Darknessat the Royal Court, Alan Parker’s production of Alfie at the Liverpool Playhouse and Lee Hall’s Cooking with Elvis at the Lyceum Theatre, Crewe.  She was also a founder member of Half Moon Theatre in London’s East End.  Her film credits include The Elephant Man, Quadrophenia and Human Traffic.

Chris Simmons is probably best known for playing the role of DC Mickey Webb for over twelve years in the long running ITV series The Bill.  He has also appeared in EastEnders as Mark Garland and in the Tracy Beaker spin-off CBBC show, The Dumping Ground.  Chris’s theatre credits include Alan Ayckbourn’s Absent Friends (Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage), Entertaining Strangers (Lyric Hammersmith), Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (tour), Iago in Othello(tour) and Epicoene (Tristan Bates Theatre).

The show is endorsed and supported by many of those who feature in its story, including singer P.P. Arnold and Steve Marriott’s daughter, Mollie Marriott, who is the show’s vocal coach and creative consultant.

ALL OR NOTHING – THE MOD MUSICAL is directed by Carol Harrison, with musical supervision by Pat Davey.  ALL OR NOTHING – THE MOD MUSICAL is produced in the West End by Rock ‘n’ Roll Productions.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

ALL OR NOTHING – THE MOD MUSICAL

6 February – 11 March 2018

Arts Theatre

6-7 Great Newport St

London WC2H 7JB

Performances:  Tue – Sat 7.30pm*, Thurs, Sat and Sun matinees 3pm (*Thursday 8 Feb 7pm)

Running Time:  2 hours, 35 mins, including interval

Tickets:  From £19.50

Box Office:  020 7836 8463

N.B.  Contains strong language

www.allornothingmusical.com

@AONTheMusical

FIRST LOOK AT OFFICIAL PRODUCTION PHOTOS FOR

RECORD-BREAKING

CABARET

STARRING WILL YOUNG & LOUISE REDKNAPP

RUFUS NORRIS’ ACCLAIMED TOURING PRODUCTION OF KANDER AND EBB’S MUSICAL MASTERPIECE

Rufus Norris’ CABARET starring WILL YOUNG, who reprises his award-winning performance as the Emcee, and LOUISE REDKNAPP, making her stage debut as Sally Bowles, is breaking records at the box office as the production begins its UK tour.

Playing to packed houses at the New Wimbledon Theatre where the production opened on 21 September and broke box office records for a 12-show run, CABARET is proving a hit with audiences across the country as sales of the landmark musical are exceeding expectations. At Theatre Royal in Brighton, CABARET is officially the highest grossing single week-long musical in the theatre’s history, and at Malvern Theatre, the show’s sales have smashed records as the highest grossing single week-long musical or play.

Currently in Malvern Theatre, CABARET continues its autumn tour until 9 December, and visits Cardiff New Theatre, Leeds Grand Theatre, Milton Keynes Theatre, The Lowry in Salford, Edinburgh Playhouse, Churchill Theatre Bromley, Dublin’s Bord Gáis Energy Theatre and Brighton Theatre Royal.

CABARET features show-stopping choreography, dazzling costumes and some of the most iconic songs in musical theatre including ‘Money Makes The World Go Round’, ‘Two Ladies’ ‘Maybe This Time’ and of course ‘Cabaret’. The production turns Weimar Berlin of 1931 into a sassy, sizzling haven of decadence, and at its dark heart is the legendary and notorious Emcee, who performs nightly at the infamous Kit Kat Klub.

Since its Broadway premiere in 1966 and the famous movie version with Liza Minnelli and Oscar winner Joel Grey, CABARET has won a staggering number of stage and screen awards including 8 Oscars, 7 BAFTAs and 13 Tonys. Norris’ production has enjoyed two smash hit West End runs and has picked up 2 Olivier Awards.

Internationally renowned singer/songwriter, WILL YOUNG, reprises his Olivier Award-nominated performance as the enigmatic Emcee. Ever since winning the inaugural series of Pop Idol in 2001, Will Young has been one of the UK’s most popular and successful music artists. He holds the record for the fastest selling debut single in British chart history, and has enjoyed a phenomenal career in music with four No1 albums, as well as acting alongside Dame Judi Dench in the film Mrs. Henderson Presents.

LOUISE REDKNAPP rose to fame as a member of the girl group Eternal. She left the band to carve out a successful solo career achieving an impressive twelve Top 20 singles, including the hits Naked and Stuck in the Middle and selling over 5 million records with 5 albums. Since then she has rarely left our television screens and most recently wowed the nation with her dancing skills finishing ‘runner up’ in the 2016 series of BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing.

The cast also includes Susan Penhaligon as Fraulein Schneider. Best known from the popular television series Bouquet of Barbed Wire and the sitcom A Fine Romance with Judi Dench, Susan’s film appearances include Under Milk Wood, The Land That Time Forgot and Paul Verhoeven’s Soldier of Orange. Extensive stage credits across the UK include Dangerous Obsession, Mrs Warren’s Profession and The Constant Wife. West End credits include Three Sisters and The Real Thing.

Joining her are: Basienka Blake (Fraulein Kost), Linal Haft (Herr Schultz), Charles Hagerty (Cliff Bradshaw) and Nick Tizzard (Ernst Ludwig). The company is completed by Maria Garrett, Sophie Hirst, Luke Jackson, Katrina Kleve, Jordan Livesey, Liam Marcellino, Alicia Mencia, Jack Mitchell, Hannah Nicholas, Helen Siveter and Matthew Wesley.

Rufus Norris is Director of the National Theatre and a multi-award winning theatre and opera director. For the National Theatre, he has directed The Threepenny Opera, wonder.land, Everyman, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, The Amen Corner, Table, London Road (Critics Circle Award), Death and the King’s Horseman, Market Boy. Other theatre includes Vernon God Little (Young Vic), Les Liasons Dangerouses (Broadway – five Tony Award nominations), Festen (West End and Broadway) The Country Girl (Apollo) and Afore Night Came at the Young Vic (Evening Standard Award). Film credits include London Road and Broken.

Choreography is by Javier De Frutos who won the Olivier Award for his work on this original production of Cabaret.  Named by the Evening Standard as one of 2016 most influential people, he’s one of only three artists in the history of the Olivier Awards to receive nominations in all dance categories. Other awards include an Evening Standard Award for The Most Incredible Thing in collaboration with Pet Shop Boys, Critics’ Circle Awards for Milagros with Royal New Zealand Ballet and Fiction for BalletBoyz named Best of Dance by The Arts Desk and Top 10 by the Guardian for 2016.

BILL KENWRIGHT PRESENTS CABARET

Book by JOE MASTEROFF Music by JOHN KANDER Lyrics by FREDD EBB

Based on the play by JOHN VAN DRUTEN and Stories by CHRISTOPHER ISHERWOOD