Waterloo East Theatre 27 July and Venue 405, Edinburgh 7 – 18 August.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

Human trafficking is big business, with estimates of 20,000 people a year being trafficked in the UK. Rah Rah Theatre Company’s My Mind Is Free aims to highlight the plight of victims through stories that will make you realise that they could be working in plain sight, in your neighbourhood.

Four people are travelling, hidden, in the back of a van. They don’t know each other, and they don’t know where they are going, or what will happen when they get there. One by one, they tell their story to the audience, each of them having travelled very different paths to get in the van. Beatritz (Emma Miller), a Brazilian mother from the favelas, who signed up with an agency to work as a cleaner in London in order to raise enough money to allow her son a future other than joining a gang; Giang (Mark Ota), a Vietnamese boy whose family’s lives are threatened if he does not work for a gang growing cannabis in the UK; Violeta (Amy Balmforth), a Romanian teenager whose devotion to her seedy boyfriend has led to her being sold to any man who wants her; and Colin (David Sayers), a homeless army veteran suffering from PTSD.

The characters’ stories unfold gently at first, with increasing physical theatre and rising tempo as their jeopardy grows. This is especially effective in Giang’s story, as he runs back to the gang, away from a safe and happy foster home, in fear of the repercussions for his family in Vietnam. Colin’s story is the most harrowing, recreating the IED explosion in Afghanistan where he is trapped watching his friends die around him. His PTSD is portrayed by the rest of the cast flopping limply to the floor around him as he speaks to them – the only thing that stops him thinking about, and seeing, the dead is drink.

Some of the characters’ choices seem naïve on the surface, but their motivations are all believable, and their actions ARE credible if you imagine yourself in their predicament. Violeta’s continuing devotion to her groomer boyfriend, despite all he’d put her through, caused a lot of discussion after the show, but when only one person in your life has shown you what you think is love, a whole lot of therapy is needed to convince you that it’s a toxic relationship.

Jude Spooner’s astute direction keeps the play from straying into melodrama and preaching. This is a worthy production, about a dreadful issue that needs to be tackled, but it is still highly entertaining – admittedly not a laugh a minute, but a thought-provoking, sobering and stimulating evening’s entertainment.

Darlington Hippodrome unveils a packed spectacular opening season following a multi-million pound restoration.

Following 18 months of expectation the opening season of the newly restored Darlington Hippodrome can finally be revealed. As a curtain-raiser and emotional homecoming we welcome DarlingtonOS with Strictly Musicals 2 – a song and dance extravaganza featuring some of the best-loved musicals of all time including Mamma Mia, Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Jersey Boys and many, many more. Be one of the first to see inside the new venue from Tuesday 21 to Saturday 25 November.

Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without a pantomime, and this year we have the fairest of them all – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Starring boy band and soap star Lee Ryan alongside Darlington’s own West End leading lady Zoe Birkett this year’s pantomime will be packed full of comedy, songs, dance numbers and the usual Darlington pantomime magic between Saturday 9 December and Sunday 14 January.

On Monday 1 January, we usher in the New Year in style with New Year in Vienna 2018 which will whisk you away to a fairy-tale world as a host of singers showcase the very best of popular Viennese music, from waltzes and polkas to uplifting marches.

Just because it’s January it doesn’t mean it’s too late for a party! The music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons is as popular today as it was back in the 60s and 70s. New Jersey Nights is a spectacular show direct from the USA and takes the audience on a nostalgic musical journey through the career of one of the biggest selling groups of all time from Tuesday 23 to Saturday 27 January.

From Friday 2 to Sunday 4 February celebrate the re-opening of Darlington Hippodrome with a specially created show, Anywhere, performed by the theatre’s own acting company. Step through the doors of the theatre and go behind the scenes to explore the amazing stories that lie within the theatre.

A spectacular new musical is heading to Darlington from Tuesday 6 to Saturday 10 February. Son of a Preacher Man is an all-new production directed and choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood who won critical acclaim for his productions of Sister Act, Chess and Sunset Boulevard. This sparklingly funny and touching new musical features the greatest hits of Dusty Springfield including ‘The Look of Love’, ‘I Only Want To Be With You’ and of course, the classic ‘Son Of A Preacher Man’.

If you are a fan of Andy Williams or The Osmonds then we have a real treat on Monday 12 February as Jimmy Osmond presents his own tribute to Andy Williams in Moon River and Me. Featuring award-winning music, nostalgic footage and special memories, this brand new show will touch your heart.

Just in time for Valentines, That’ll Be The Day returns with a brand new show for 2018 for two nights only on Tuesday 13 & Wednesday 14 February. This hugely entertaining line-up of classic gold hits from the 50s, 60s and 70s provides both laughs and nostalgia.

We are delighted to welcome The Russian State Ballet & Orchestra of Siberia back to Darlington with three great ballet masterpieces: Romeo & Juliet (Thursday 15 Feb), the tragic Swan Lake (Friday 16 and Saturday 17 Feb) and family favourite The Nutcracker (Sunday 18 Feb).

Few musicals have received quite such acclaim as the multi award winning Blood Brothers (Tuesday 20 – Saturday 4 February). Written by Willy Russell, this legendary story tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks only to meet again with fateful consequences. The superb score includes ‘Bright New Day’, ‘Marilyn Monroe’ and the emotionally charged ‘Tell Me It’s Not True’.

Having first appeared in Darlington back in the 1960s we welcome back the world class orchestra The Hallé on Monday 26 February.

March strides in with the stage adaptation of Awful Auntie – another classic from David Walliams. When Stella visits London she has no idea her life is in real danger. Waking up three months later only Aunt Alberta can tell her what has happened. Awful Auntie runs from Tuesday 27 February to Saturday 3 March.

The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society is back with their multi award-winning production The Play That Goes Wrong from Tuesday 6 to Saturday 10 March. Hailed a ‘gut-busting hit’ by the New York Times, Mischief Theatre’s sell-out West End comedy is now taking Broadway by storm. Don’t miss this brilliantly funny comedy that’s guaranteed to leave you aching with laughter.

Following recent productions of To Sir, With Love, Brassed Off, A View From The Bridge, Brave New World and Of Mice and Men, The Touring Consortium Theatre Company presents Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde from Tuesday 13 to Saturday 17 March. Phil Daniels (Les Miserables, This House, EastEnders) stars in the title role in a story of human nature, love and the power of pure evil.

On Monday 19 March the world’s official number one Eagles tribute Illegal Eagles returns for another outstanding show promising more of their trademark musical prowess, acute attention to detail and incredible showmanship followed on Tuesday 20 March by a night of comedy with Stewart Lee with his stand-up show Content Provider, his first full-length show since the award-winning Carpet Remnant World.

Ellen Kent returns with Madama Butterfly on Wednesday 21 March and the smash-hit 70s band Smokie will raise the roof on Thursday 22 March. For the younger theatre fans Peppa Pig has a wonderful adventure on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 March. The opening season draws to a close as Middleground Theatre Company bring the Ruth Rendell classic Gallowglass to the stage from Tuesday 27 to Saturday 31 March.

Tickets for the Darlington Hippodrome opening season are on sale now; brochures are available from our Cornmill box office and in venues across the region.

For further information and to book contact the box office on 01325 405405, or visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk to choose your own seats online.

 

CASTING ANNOUNCED TODAY FOR OF KITH AND KIN AND RAMONA TELLS JIM

• Casting is announced today for two new plays as part of the Bush Theatre’s Autumn Winter season by Sophie Wu (Ramona Tells Jim) and Chris Thompson (Of Kith and Kin)

Ramona Tells Jim
Written by Sophie Wu
Directed by Mel Hillyard
Designed by Lucy Sierra

Cast includes: Ruby Bentall (Ramona), Joe Bannister (Jim) and Amy Lennox (Pocahontas).

Bush Theatre Studio
20 September – 21 October 2017

It’s 1998. Ramona, of Englandshire, is 15 and she’s totally cool. Honestly. She’s completely cool.

On a wet, midge-riddles geography field trip she meets Jim, a local laddie wearing an anti-pill fleece. He’s obsessed with hermit crabs, rock erosion and making homemade Irn-Bru cocktails.

Deep in the Scottish Highlands, Ramona falls for Jimmy’s awkward charm but gets caught in a scandal that will haunt them both for years to come.

Fast forward fifteen years and Jim, of the shittest village in Scotland, has got a girlfriend and something like a functional life. But Ramona still can’t shake the consequences of that fateful trip. Determined to clear her conscience, she heads back to the Highlands to find that neither her nor Jim’s lives have turned out how they had planned.

Ramona Tells Jim is a darkly comic play about confession and the gravity of young love, from Bush Theatre Emerging Writers’ Group graduate and actor Sophie Wu (Kick Ass, Wild Child), directed by Mel Hillyard and designed by Lucy Sierra.

Supported by Peter Wolff Theatre Trust.

A Bush Theatre and Sheffield Theatres co-production
Of Kith and Kin
Written by Chris Thompson
Directed by Robert Hastie
Designed by James Perkins

Cast includes: Joanna Bacon (Lydia and Carrie), Donna Berlin (Arabelle), James Lance (Daniel), Chetna Pandya (Priya) and Joshua Silver (Oliver).

Sheffield Theatres
14 September – 7 October
Press Night 19 September, 7.45pm

Bush Theatre
18 October – 25 November 2017

Daniel and Oliver are about to have their first baby. With their best friend, Priya, acting as surrogate, they’ve turned the study into a nursery and the bottles are sterilised. All that’s missing is the bundle of joy they’ve been pining for.

But when Daniel’s chaotic mother gatecrashes the baby shower with a few home truths, the cracks in Daniel and Oliver’s relationship begin to show. Are they as ready for this as they think they are? And more importantly, is Priya?

Sheffield Theatres Artistic Director Robert Hastie (Julius Caesar, My Night With Reg) directs this gripping new comedy by Chris Thompson (Albion).  The pair previously collaborated onCarthage at the Finborough Theatre.  Of Kith and Kin will be designed by James Perkins, with lighting by Prema Mehta, sound by Ella Wahlström and casting by Vicky Richardson.

Of Kith and Kin opens at Sheffield Studio Theatre on 15 September with a press night on 19 September.

CASTING UPDATE FOR OF KITH AND KIN, DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS AND UNCLE VANYA – AS PART OF ROBERT HASTIE’S INAUGURAL SEASON AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres Robert Hastie today announces casting for three productions in his inaugural season – Of Kith and Kin, Desire Under the Elms and Uncle Vanya.

 

Hastie renews his collaboration with playwright Chris Thompson for the world première of Of Kith and Kin – they previously worked together on Thompson’s first full length play Carthage at the Finborough Theatre. Of Kith and Kin is a co-production with the Bush Theatre, and the production will run there after performances at Sheffield Theatres. Hastie directs Joanna Bacon (Lydia and Carrie), Donna Berlin (Arabelle), James Lance (Daniel), Chetna Pandya (Priya) and Joshua Silver (Oliver).

 

Director Sam Yates makes his Sheffield Theatres debut with Eugene O’Neill’s Desire Under the Elms. He directs a cast including Me’sha Bryan (Young Girl), Emma Darlow (Fiddler), Aoife Duffin(Abbie), Matthew Kelly (Ephraim), Theo Ogundipe (Peter), Sule Rimi (Simeon) and Michael Shea(Eben).

 

Tamara Harvey returns to Sheffield Theatres to direct Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya in a new version byPeter Gill. This is a co-production with Theatr Clwyd where Harvey is Artistic Director and will open in Wales ahead of its run in Sheffield. She directs Jamie Ballard (Vanya), alongside Robert Blythe(Telyegin), Oliver Dimsdale (Astrov), Sharon Morgan (Mariya), Sian Owens (Worker), Shanaya Rafaat (Elena), Veronica Roberts (Marina), Rosie Sheehy (Sonia) and Martin Turner (Serebryak).

Studio

World Première

A Sheffield Theatres & Bush Theatre co-production

Of Kith and Kin

By Chris Thompson

Thu 14 September – Sat 7 October

Press night: Tue 19 September at 7.45pm

Cast: Joanna Bacon (Lydia and Carrie), Donna Berlin (Arabelle), James Lance (Daniel), Chetna Pandya (Priya), Joshua Silver (Oliver)

Directed by Robert Hastie; Designed by James Perkins; Lighting Design by Prema Mehta

Sound Design by Ella Wahlström; Casting by Vicky Richardson

‘He can’t call you both Dad. One of you should be Dad and the other one Daddy, surely?’

You can choose your friends… Chris Thompson’s gripping new dark comedy takes us to the heart of what happens when we choose our family too.

Crucible

Desire Under the Elms

By Eugene O’Neill

Wed 20 September – Sat 14 October

Press night: Mon 25 September at 7.00pm

Cast includes: Me’sha Bryan (Young Girl), Emma Darlow (Fiddler), Aoife Duffin (Abbie Putnam),Matthew Kelly (Ephraim), Theo Ogundipe (Peter), Sule Rimi (Simeon), Michael Shea (Eben),

Directed by Sam Yates; Designed by Chiara Stephenson; Lighting Design by Jon Clark

Composer Alex Baranowski; Sound Design by Nick Greenhill; Video Design by Luke Halls;

Movement by Kim Brandstrup; Casting by Vicky Richardson

‘If I could, in my dyin’ hour, I’d set it afire an’ watch it burn…’

Ephraim Cabot’s sons work from morning till night, believing his farm will one day be theirs. But everything changes when the old man returns from town with a new wife. This haunting and erotic tragedy is one of the great American plays from Nobel Prize-winning playwright Eugene O’Neill.

Studio Theatre

A Sheffield Theatres & Theatr Clwyd co-production

Anton Chekhov’s

Uncle Vanya

in a new version by Peter Gill
Wed 18 October – Sat 4 November
Press night: Thu 19 October

Cast: Jamie Ballard (Vanya), Robert Blythe (Telyegin), Oliver Dimsdale (Astrov),

Sharon Morgan (Mariya), Sian Owens (The Worker), Shanaya Rafaat (Elena), Veronica Roberts(Marina), Rosie Sheehy (Sonia), Martin Turner (Serebryak)

Directed by Tamara Harvey; Design by Lucy Osborne; Lighting Design by Ric Mountjoy

Sound Design and Music by Jared Zeus; Casting by Stuart Burt CDG

‘My life has gone completely off course…’ 

 To what, and to whom, do we devote our lives? And what happens when we ask, was it worth it?

LONDON PREMIERE

 

KELSEY GRAMMER

TO STAR AS ‘EDWARD BLOOM’

IN A NEW PRODUCTION OF
JOHN AUGUST AND ANDREW LIPPA’S
BIG FISH

THE MUSICAL

DIRECTED BY NIGEL HARMAN

AT

THE OTHER PALACE

FROM WEDNESDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2017

TO SUNDAY 31 DECEMBER 2017

 

TICKETS ON SALE 31 JULY 2017

Kelsey Grammer will star as ‘Edward Bloom’ in a new production of John August and Andrew Lippa’s BIG FISH THE MUSICAL. Based on the novel BIG FISH by Daniel Wallace and the Columbia Pictures film screenplay by John August, this new production will be the London premiere of the musical and also marks Kelsey’s first time on the London stage.

Directed by Nigel Harman, BIG FISH THE MUSICAL will play at The Other Palace from Wednesday 1 November 2017 – Sunday 31 December 2017, with a Press Night on Tuesday 7 November and a Gala Night on Wednesday 8 November. Tickets on sale 31 July 2017.

The Other Palace opened in February 2017 as a home for musical theatre. Discovering, developing and reimagining musicals is at the heart of what The Other Palace is about. The spaces are used to nurture the next generation of musicals, and the creatives behind them; celebrating the very best of the art form, from the established to the brand new.

Kelsey Grammer played the role of Dr. Frasier Crane in the NBC sitcoms “Cheers” and “Frasier” for which he has won five Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe awards. In 2010 Kelsey made his Broadway musical debut playing the lead role of ‘Georges’ in “La Cage Aux Folles”, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical. He also originated the roles of ‘Charles Frohman’ and ‘Captain Hook’ in the Broadway premiere of the musical “Finding Neverland”.

BIG FISH THE MUSICAL will be directed by Nigel Harman, director of the upcoming tour of “Shrek The Musical” and perhaps better known to audiences for his stage and TV work as an actor. Nigel first met with writers John and Andrew in 2016 and the vision and creativity they shared for this new version was evident.  Nigel said “When I first encountered the piece I was struck by its depth of humanity and it’s zest for life.  A story that celebrates life in all of its wonders and despairs. A simple tale told in the most extraordinary way. It has been wonderful to revisit the music, book and lyrics with John and Andrew”

Joining Kelsey Grammer will be Matt Seadon-Young (Les Misérables, Beautiful, Pride) as ‘Will Bloom’, Frances McNamee (Little Shop of Horrors) as ‘Josephine Bloom’, Forbes Masson (Travesties, Dr.Faustus) as ‘Amos/Don’, Jamie Muscato (Lazarus, Bend it Like Beckham)as ‘Edward’, Laura Baldwin (Shrek, Alice in Wonderland) as ‘Sandra’,  Landi Oshinowo (Shrek, Sister Act) as ‘Witch/Jenny Hill’, Dean Nolan (Fiddler on the Roof) as ‘Karl’, and George Ure (Sweeney Todd, Wicked) as ‘Zaki’. They are joined by Sophie Linder-Lee (The Rocky Horror Show, Wicked), Gemma McMeel (Titanic and Candide) and Jonathan Stewart (Guys and Dolls).

Meet Edward Bloom, an ordinary man, and an extraordinary father. He has always told his son tall tales filled with beauty, love and imagination but when his son confronts him about what is make believe, they both discover that the truth is more wonderful than fiction.

BIG FISH THE MUSICAL is a love story that will take you on an exhilarating and heart-warming journey deep into the heart of what it means to be human. Blending fairy-tale, romance and adventure it celebrates the true meaning of life, and reminds us that the love for our family and friends will live on within them, long after we have gone.

Adapted from the much-loved book by Daniel Wallace and Tim Burton movie, BIG FISH THE MUSICAL has a beautiful score by Tony nominee Andrew Lippa (The Addams Family, The Wild Party) and a new book by John August (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).

BIG FISH THE MUSICAL will be presented at The Other Palace by Big Fish Productions, Selladoor Worldwide and Baiyue Culture Creative with associate producers Dominic May and Underbelly Productions.

Originally produced on Broadway by Dan Jinks, Bruce Cohen and Stage Entertainment with Roy Furman, Broadway Across America/Rich Entertainment Group, John Domo, The Nederlander Organization and Edward Walson in association with CJ E&M, Dancing Elephant Productions, Parrothead Productions, Harvey Weinstein/Carole L. Haber, Peter May/Jim Fantaci, Ted Liebowitz/Joe Piacentile and Columbia Pictures.

LISTINGS

BIG FISH THE MUSICAL – Wednesday 1 November – Saturday 31 December 2017

 

www.theotherpalace.co.uk

Box Office 020 7087 7900

Twitter and Facebook @londonbigfish

Instagram @londonbigfish

THE OTHER PALACE

12 Palace Street, Westminster, London, SW1E 5JA

 

PREVIEWS

Wednesday 1 November        7.30pm

Thursday 2 November             7.30pm

Friday 3 November                  7.30pm

Saturday 4 November             7.30pm

Monday 6 November              7.30pm

FROM THURSDAY 9 NOVEMBER TO SUNDAY 24 DECEMBER

Performance Times      Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm and Sunday at 3.00pm (excluding Sunday 12 November).

FROM WEDNESDAY 27 DECEMBER

Wednesday 27 December      2.30pm             7.30pm

Thursday 28 December                                      7.30pm

Friday 29 December                2.30pm             7.30pm

Saturday 30 December           2.30pm             7.30pm

Sunday 31 December             2.30pm

Summer Festival 2017 at The Other Palace

BACHARACH and SATER’s SOME LOVERS

+ West End stars join FPTS shows & concerts

Ben Richards, Carolyn Maitland, Oliver Tompsett, Shona White, Miranda Wilford

 

Ben Richards returns to musical theatre in the premiere of Burt Bacharach and Steven Sater‘s SOME LOVERS – the head line show for Aria Entertainment’s From Page To Stage (FPTS) Summer Festival at The Other Palace. With just 12 performances, the seats will be some of the hottest musical theatre tickets in Town this summer (Thursday 24 August – 2 September 2017)!

SOME LOVERS is the new musical from Tony and Grammy Award winning writer Steven Sater (Spring Awakening), and Academy Award, Grammy Award winning pop legend Burt Bacharach – his first score for the theatre since 1968’s Promises Promises. A valentine to New York SOME LOVERS is a contemporary parable about the gifts we give one another — a love story, set over twenty years.

Four actors play two characters, Ben and Molly, caught between the present and past. Ben will be played by Ben Richards (The Bodyguard, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert – West End, Footballers’ Wives, Hollyoaks); Molly by Gemma Wardle (Betty Blue Eyes – West End, Eponine in Les Miserables – West End); Young Molly is Jenna Innes (Charlotte Donne in Animus – The Bridewell Theatre); and making his professional debut as Young Ben is Aaron Kavanagh who graduates from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland this month (July 2017.)

Steven Sater says: “Burt and I came to recognise how distinct our love songs were from those ubiquitous pop anthems of young love. Our love songs seemed invariably to express a sort of disaffection, a disappointment, a dark joy, or the renewed determination of a more mature, mid-relationship romance. What if we revisited that Depression-Era classic story, The Gift of the Magi? What became of those young Christmas lovers, twenty years after their happily ever after? And that was the beginning of SOME LOVERS.”

Burt Bacharach says: “Writing songs with Steven has been a different process for me because most of the time it’s the lyrics that come first and then I set them to music. Steven is a very musical lyric writer and it is always a pleasure to take his lyrics with consummate ease and set them and feel very good about the result.”

The creative team for SOME LOVERS: Director – Katherine Hare (Co-founder of Triptic, Resident Dir Sunny Afternoon – West End); MD – Jordan Li-Smith (Ragtime – Charing Cross Theatre); Choreographer – Philip Thomas (Tick Tick Boom! – Park Theatre); Designer – Nik Corrall (Tick Tick Boom! – Park Theatre, Ass Designer Marlowe Theatre); Lighting Designer – James Smith (Ass LD Wind In The Willows – London Palladium); Sound Designer – Chris Bogg (Yank! The Musical – Charing Cross Theatre.) SOME LOVERS is produced in association with SENBLA.

Also confirmed is a terrific cast of West End performers for You Know How To Love Me – A Charles Miller Celebration including: Carolyn Maitland (Ghost, Miss Saigon), Oliver Tompsett (Guys & Dolls, We Will Rock You, Wicked), Shona White (Mamma Mia, Wicked) and Miranda Wilford (Remembering Fred, Thriller Live!) in the Studio (18/08–19/08.) MD/Piano – David Randall and Cello – Sarah Bowler. Co-producer Guy James.

Aria Entertainment’s From Page To Stage (FPTS) – a ground breaking International Summer Musical Festival for new musicals at the start of their musical theatre life, runs for three weeks at The Other Palace from MONDAY 14 AUGUST to SUNDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 2017.

FPTS Summer Festival: Monday 14 August – Sunday 3 September 2017.

The Other Palace – 12 Palace Street, Westminster, London SW1E 5JA.

Ticket prices from £7.50 – £20. (SOME LOVERS: ALL tickets £20)

Box Office: theotherpalace.co.uk / 020 7087 7900

www.frompage2stage.com

FPTS twitter: @FromPage2Stage

SOME LOVERS: Dates and Performance Times – All tickets £20

THURSDAY 24th AUGUST 8pm

FRIDAY 25th AUGUST 8pm

SATURDAY 26th AUGUST 3pm and 8pm

MONDAY 28th AUGUST 8pm

TUESDAY 29th AUGUST 8pm

WEDNESDAY 30th AUGUST 8pm

THURSDAY 31st AUGUST 3pm and 8pm

FRIDAY 1st SEPTEMBER 8pm

SATURDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER 3pm – 8pm

Cast announced for Sid and Viv
Theatre503, The Latchmere, 503 Battersea Park Road, London SW11 3BW
Wednesday 30th August – Saturday 30th September 2017

Charlie Hardwick (Emmerdale, ITV; Cooking with Elves, Live Theatre/Adam Kenwright; Cabaret, Live Theatre) and Patrick Driver (A Tale of Two Cities, Regent’s Park Theatre; The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Apollo Theatre; The Office, BBC) have been announced as the leads in Philip Correia’s exciting, edgy new production Sid and Viv. They will be joined by, Aimee Kelly (Wolfblood and Wolfblood 2 BBC; Care, Warp Films), Joe Blakemore (Stan Lee’s
Lucky Man; Vera, ITV; The Car, Jamie Childs), Ryan Nolan (Neil, Alphabetti Theatre; Sunshine on Leith, Sage Productions; Road, Project A) and Sarah Balfour (Valhalla, Theatre503; Burning Bridges, Theatre503; Herstory 2, N16).

Everyone says Sid and Viv’s house is dangerous, weird and a bit freaky. So why does Dunney think it feels so much like home? Dunney is a young lad who doesn’t fit in and to make matters worse he lives in Blyth, Northumberland, voted ‘the second worse town to live in Britain 1992’. His school, the police, even his parents don’t want him. Nobody does. That is until he meets Sid and Viv. Sid and Viv are pensioners who don’t act their age. They introduce Dunney to a side of life he’s never seen before. Their house has a secret code, a left-wing dog and a 6ft python. Unbeknownst to Dunney, joining the apparently secretive gang at Sid and Viv’s house has consequences he could never have imagined.

Sid and Viv is a story about lost kids and coming of age in an uncertain world – one of post truth, ethical uncertainty, ‘broken’ families and impending war.

This electrifying play premieres at Theatre503 in London before transferring to Northern Stage in Newcastle in October. Producers NorthSEE Theatre create cutting edge productions which provide opportunities for the best in new and established regional talent.

This is the debut play from Philip Correia, best known for his work as an actor with the National Theatre, West End, regionally and on screen. Philip was a member of the Orange Tree Writer’s Collective 2015/16. Sid and Viv was a runner up in the 2015 Papatango Prize and has since been performed as a rehearsed reading at the NT Studio and at the Live Theatre! Newcastle upon Tyne.

Playwright, Philip Correia comments, We’ve gotten so accustomed to the message of division in the U.K. we’ve forgotten how to imagine. We can change the message through inclusion. That’s the story of Sid and Viv. This play is about community. It’s about inclusion and laughter and people. Arts participation in the North East is around 31%. This is a play to change that. Our cast our North Eastern. We’re showcasing them in London and then taking them back home.

Scamp Theatre and Freckle Productions present
Stick Man
Based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
UK Tour: September 2017 – January 2018

Following six consecutive Christmas seasons in London’s West End and multiple UK and international tours, the joyful adaptation of Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s bestselling book, Stick Man, is back on the road again for another enchanting UK tour.

‘Stick Man lives in the family tree with his Stick Lady Love and their stick children three…’.But the world outside the family tree is a dangerous place for Stick Man. What starts off as a morning jog becomes quite the misadventure – a dog wants to play fetch with him, a swan builds a nest with him and he even ends up on a fire! How will Stick Man ever get back to the family tree?

Touching, funny and utterly original, this fantastic production features a trio of top actors and is packed full of puppetry, songs, live music and funky moves.

Stick Man is produced by the recently founded Freckle Productions – the team behind Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales. Freckle’s shows aim to be vigorous and challenging; firing the imaginations of young audiences who may be experiencing theatre for the very first time but also changing the
awareness of what performance can be for regular followers.

Producer Jennifer Sutherland comments, Freckle Productions are delighted to be taking everyone’s favourite stick man back on the road for an exciting autumn and winter tour, in co-production with Scamp Theatre. The Stick Man family will be going north to south and east to west, bringing one of Julia Donaldson’s most loved books to life.

★★★★ Julia Donaldson’s miniature epic. Sally Cookson and her team recreate the book with vigour and imagination (The Times).

Performance Dates
2nd – 3rd September Wycombe Swan
St Mary Street, High Wycombe HP11 2XE

4th – 5th September Cambridge Corn Exchange
2 Wheeler Street, Cambridge CB2 3QB

9th – 10th September Hertford Theatre
The Wash, Hertford SG14 1PS

11th – 14th September Gulbenkian
Gulbenkian, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NB

16th – 17th September Watford Palace Theatre
20 Clarendon Road, Watford WD17 1JZ

18th – 19th September Trinity Tunbridge Wells
Church Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells TN1 1JP

22nd – 23rd September King’s Theatre
297 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4JN

24th – 25th September Alhambra Theatre
33-35 Canmore Street, Dunfermline KY12 7NX

26th – 27th September Falkirk Town Hall
Westbridge Street, Falkirk FK1 5RS

30th September – 1st October The Lowry, Salford
Pier 8, The Quays, Salford M50 3AZ

2nd – 3rd October Tyne Theatre & Opera House
117 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4AG

6th – 7
th October King George’s Hall
Northgate, Blackburn BB2 1AA

8th – 9th October Middlesbrough Theatre
The Avenue, Middlesbrough TS5 6SA

10th – 11th October Nottingham Theatre Royal
Theatre Square, Nottingham NG1 5ND

13th – 15th October Winchester Theatre Royal
Jewry St, Winchester SO23

16th October Spa Pavilion, Warwick
Newbold Terrace, Leamington Spa CV32 4HN

18th – 19th October Marina Theatre
Marina, Lowestoft, NR32 1HH

21st – 22nd October artsdepot
5 Nether Street, North Finchley, London N12 0GA

23rd – 24th October Theatre Royal Portsmouth
20-24 Guildhall Walk, Portsmouth PO1 2DD

26th – 27th October Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds
Westgate Street, Bury Saint Edmunds IP33 1QR

28th – 29th October Palace Theatre
430 London Road, Southend-on-Sea, Westcliff-on-Sea SS0 9LA

1st – 2nd November Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre
Westover Road, Bournemouth BH1 2BU

4th – 5th November Bristol Old Vic
King Street, Bristol BS1 4ED

6th – 7th November Forum Theatre
Grange Road, Malvern WR14 3HB

8th November Roses Theatre
Sun Street, Tewkesbury GL20 5NX

12th – 14th November Theatre Royal
Guildhall Road, Northampton NN1 1DP

17th – 18th November The Atkinson
Lord Street, Southport PR8 1DB

19th November The Forum
Bullamoor Road, Hambleton, Northallerton DL6 1LP

18th – 24th December The Stables
Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes MK17 8LU

26th December – 12th January Birmingham Town Hall
Victoria Square, Birmingham B3 3DQ