TICKETS GO ON SALE FOR
DREAMGIRLS

Now on sale to priority bookers with tickets going on general sale at 12 noon on Friday 1 April – Dreamgirlswestend.com

At every performance there will be 100 accessibly priced seats, including £20 seats available in advance and £15 day seats available on the day of the performance.

Savoy Theatre, London with reduced ticket price preview performances from 19 November 2016 and Opening Night on 14 December 2016.

The UK stage premiere will star Amber Riley as ‘Effie White’ and will be Directed and Choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, as previously confirmed. Further casting for the production is still to be announced.

Website – Dreamgirlswestend.com
Twitter handle – @DreamgirlsLDN
Facebook page – DreamgirlsLDN
Instagram account – DreamgirlsLDN
Hashtag – #DreamgirlsLDN

Sonia Friedman Productions announces today that tickets for the long awaited UK premiere of Tony Award-winning musical Dreamgirls go on sale this week. The brand new production begins preview performances at the Savoy Theatre from 19 November with Opening Night on Wednesday 14 December 2016.

As previously confirmed, American actress and singer Amber Riley will make her West End debut playing soulful singer ‘Effie White’ in the production, which will be Directed and Choreographed by Olivier and Tony Award-winning Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Disney’s Aladdin and Something Rotten!). Dreamgirls will have Set Design by Tim Hatley, Costume Design by Gregg Barnes, Lighting Design by Hugh Vanstone, Sound Design by Richard Brooker and Hair Design by Josh Marquette. The Musical Supervisor will be Nick Finlow, the Orchestrator will be Harold Wheeler, with Additional Material by Willie Reale.

Inspired by R&B music acts in 1960s America, Dreamgirls transports you to a revolutionary time in American music history. Dreamgirls charts the tumultuous journey of a young female singing trio, from Chicago, Illinois called ‘The Dreams’, as they learn the hard lesson that show business is as tough as it is fabulous, and features the classic songs ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’, ‘I Am Changing’, ‘Listen’ and ‘One Night Only’ .

With Book and Lyrics by Tom Eyen and Music by Henry Krieger, the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls, Directed and Choreographed by Michael Bennett opened in 1981 and subsequently won six Tony Awards®. The original cast recording won two Grammy awards for Best Musical Album and Best Vocal Performance for Jennifer Holliday’s ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.’ In 2006 it was adapted into an Oscar winning motion picture starring Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx.

LISTINGS:

Savoy Theatre, Strand, London WC2R 0ET

Performances

First Performance: 19 November 2016, 7.30pm
Press Performance: 14 December 2016, 7pm

Monday to Saturday evening performances at 7.30pm
Wednesday and Saturday matinee performances at 2.30pm
(No Wednesday matinee performance on 23 November)

Christmas Performance Schedule

Monday 19th December, 7.30pm
Tuesday 20th December, 7.30pm
Wednesday 21st December, 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Thursday 22nd December, 7.30pm
Friday 23rd December, 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Saturday 24th December, 2.30pm only
Sunday 25th December, no performances
Monday 26th December, 7.30pm
Tuesday 27th December, 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Wednesday 28th December, 7.30pm only
Thursday 29th December, 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Friday 30th December, 7.30pm
Saturday 31st December, 2.30pm only
Sunday 1st January, no performances

Box Office

Website:       Dreamgirlswestend.com
Telephone:    0844 871 7687
Prices:          From £20 (from £15 during previews)
At every performance there will be 100 accessibly priced seats, including £20 seats available in advance and £15 day seats available on the day of the performance.

Social Media

Website – Dreamgirlswestend.com
Twitter handle – @DreamgirlsLDN
Facebook page – DreamgirlsLDN
Instagram account – DreamgirlsLDN
Hashtag – #DreamgirlsLDN

Park Theatre 23 March – 23 April.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

Based on Daniel Everett’s book, Don’t Sleep There are Snakes is a wonderful voyage of discovery. Dan (Mark Arends – playing the fish out of water with a deft and light touch) is an earnest missionary and linguist sent to the Brazilian Amazon to convert the Piraha tribe and translate the bible into their language. He is told before he leaves that “you need to make them feel lost before they can feel found”, but instead of influencing the Piraha’s lives, he finds himself becoming more and more uncertain of his faith and values.

Christopher Doyle, Rachel Handshaw, Yuriri Naka, Emily Pennant-Rea and Clifford Samuel play various characters throughout the play, but their portrayal of the Piraha is delightful. The innocence and delight in life shines through, and their lack of inhibitions about sex provides great comedic moments. Arends’ face when Chris offers to tug his penis in the same way a British man would say “Pub?” to his upset friend is fantastic. The running joke about people disappearing doesn’t lose its shine, and when the reason for the words is explained, it makes you love the Piraha even more. The harshness of life in the jungle is brought home during one shocking scene involving a sick baby, and the pragmatic approach of the tribe challenges Dan’s more sentimental values.

Writers Sebastian Armmesto, Dudley Hinton and simple8 have Dan presenting his story in the same way that the Piraha relate their tales, with time “scrunched up” and using simple terms whenever possible. This works brilliantly, both to highlight the linguistic research Dan carries out as he tries and fails to convert the Piraha, and to show the way tribes are patronisingly viewed and treated. As Dan realises that the Piraha’s language is based solely on their experience, with no words for colour or tenses, Arends shows his turmoil and growing self-doubt, and he can only explain his theory by talking about what he has seen, leading to a frustratingly long winded and repetitive section set in a lecture hall, but I can see why this needed to be included.

The Piraha find the idea of suicide hysterical, and they have no word for “worry” (charmingly demonstrated when Dan tries to translate the song “Don’t worry, be happy”); so the horror of their culture and language being lost that Dan feels when the government takes control of the tribe, seen alongside their delight – “we have a television!”- provides a stark reminder of the vast cultural differences that will soon be lost.

The bare set grated at first, but as the beliefs of the Piraha become clearer, believing in only what they see, and living in the here and now, this was obviously a better choice than some hokey jungle set. The scenes where the cast provided vocal sound effects for the jungle were a triumph too, especially Dan’s noisy passage through the undergrowth on a hunt.

Don’t Sleep There Are Snakes tackles cultural diversity, faith and belief in an uplifting but bittersweet play that keeps you giggling and smiling all night. A must see production.

RATTIGAN CLASSIC BEATING A PATH TO DARLINGTON

Graham Seed heads the cast of the Terence Rattigan war-time classic Flare Path which comes to Darlington Civic Theatre in April

The highly acclaimed national tour of Terence Rattigan’s Flare Path, directed by Justin Audibert, comes to Darlington Civic Theatre from Tuesday 12 to Saturday 16 April.

The cast will be led by Graham Seed (The Archers, Yes, Prime Minister) as Squadron Leader Swanson, Lynden

Edwards as Peter Kyle and Hedydd Dylan as Patricia Graham. They will be joined by Claire Andreadis as Countess Skriczevinsky, William Reay as Flying Officer Count Skriczevinsky and Corporal Jones, Jamie Hogarth as Sergeant Miller, Charlie G Hawkins as Percy, Polly Hughes as Mrs Miller and Emma Carter as Betty.

Based on Rattigan’s experiences as a tail gunner during World War II, Flare Path paints an evocative portrait of life in wartime Britain for the life-and-death existence of the RAF bomber crews, and their wives and sweethearts who were left waiting their return.

Set in 1942 against a backdrop of heartache and quiet bravery, Flare Path tells the story of former actress Patricia, the wife of RAF pilot Teddy, whose marriage is tested to the limits by the surprise arrival of Patricia’s ex‐lover and Hollywood idol Peter Kyle. An unexpected and dangerous mission over Germany puts Patricia at the centre of an emotional conflict as unpredictable as the war in the skies.

Flare Path combines highly charged drama with a truly authentic taste of the fear, camaraderie and passion experienced by the men and women who fought to save their country, their families and each other.

Flare Path runs at Darlington Civic Theatre from Tuesday 12 to Saturday 16 April. Recommended age 12+.

Tickets* are £17 to £25.50.

For tickets and more information visit darlingtoncivic.co.uk or call 01325 486555.

There will be a free post show talk on Wednesday 13 April

*All prices include a £1 restoration levy

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE PANTO

Bobby Davro and Dani Harmer star in The Wizard of Oz at Darlington Civic Theatre on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 April.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Darlington Civic Theatre for a fantastic Easter pantomime version of The Wizard of Oz, starring comedy legend Bobby Davro as Scarecrow and Dani Harmer (CBBC’s Tracy Beaker, Strictly Come Dancing) as Dorothy.

Join Kansas farm-girl Dorothy and her pet dog Toto on this magical adventure suitable for all ages. Watch in amazement as they are picked up by a tornado and carried off to the magical land of Oz. With help from their new friends the Munchkins, they travel to the Emerald City where the great Wizard of Oz lives.

On their way they meet a Scarecrow who needs a brain, a Tin Man who wants a heart, and a Cowardly Lion who desperately needs courage. Will the wonderful Wizard of Oz be able to help them before the Wicked Witch of the West captures them in her dungeon?

Come and join in the fun over the rainbow as Enchanted Entertainment presents a wonderful Easter pantomime version of L. Frank Baum’s much-loved fairy-tale. Packed with well-known pop songs, brilliant dance routines, lots of audience participation and plenty of laughter for all the family!

There’s no place like Darlington Civic Theatre for family entertainment, so click those heels together and book your Easter panto tickets now.

The Wizard of Oz is at Darlington Civic Theatre on Friday 8 & Saturday 9 April.

Tickets* are £20 & £18 for adults, £18 & £16 for children, Family Ticket £69, Groups 10+ £1 off, 20+ £2 off.

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

*Includes a £1 restoration levy

SEARCHING FOR A GOOD NIGHT OUT?

The Searchers bring their musical classics to Darlington Civic Theatre on Thursday 7 April.

The Searchers’ remarkable career continues. With such classic hits as Sweets For My Sweet;

Needles and Pins, Don’t Throw Your Love Away, Sugar and Spice and When You Walk In The Room, they have contributed enormously to establishing the UK as the world’s leading nation in the music industry.

There is no doubt that the decade that gave us The Beatles as well as The Searchers and many others was very special and will go down in history as being the most imaginative period of music creativity and expression.

The Searchers in Concert is a highly entertaining show that has been enthusiastically and warmly received throughout the world. Combined with anecdotes and reminiscences, this fully self-contained concert includes all their famous hits, plus many album recordings, B-sides and a selection of other well-known favourites.

The Searchers In Concert is at Darlington Civic Theatre on Thursday 7 April at 7.30pm. Tickets* are £19 & £21.

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

*Includes a £1 restoration levy

WELCOME TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS

Anita Harris heads the line-up in The Good Old Days of Variety at Darlington Civic Theatre on Wednesday April 6.

And now, for your delectation and amusement, a fantastical foray into the magical world of Music Hall and Variety…

The Good Old Days of Variety returns to Darlington Civic Theatre with a fabulous new show suitable for all ages, taking you back to the great days of entertainment and starring legendary entertainer, singer, stage and film star Anita Harris.

Her wonderful career includes appearing in Las Vegas, two years in London’s West End as the star of Cats, Carry On films, seven Royal Variety shows, and she is a pantomime legend. She has worked alongside Morecambe and Wise, Kenneth Williams and Tommy Cooper, to name a few.

She will be joined by very special guests, the UK’s best-loved comedy act, The Grumbleweeds. With a full supporting company, hilarious comedy, live musicians and lots of songs to sing along to this is the perfect family entertainment show.

The Good Old Days of Variety is at Darlington Civic Theatre on Wednesday 6 April at 2pm. Tickets* are £15.50 with discounts available. U16s £11, groups 10+ get 1 free.

Get yourself in the show!

There is also an all-day children’s workshop on Tuesday 5 April working on a song and dance routine to be included in the Wednesday show. Tickets for the workshop are £15 (ArtsSpark Youth Theatre and Dance members £10). Call the box office to book your space.

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

*Includes a £1 restoration levy

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL IS STILL KING

The ELO Experience – a sensational tribute to The Electric Light Orchestra, come to Darlington Civic Theatre on Tuesday 5 April

The legacy left by Jeff Lynne & The Electric Light Orchestra barely needs any introduction – suffice to say that between 1972 and 1986 they achieved more combined UK and US Top 40 hits than any other band on the planet!

10538 Overture, Evil Woman, Living Thing, Don’t Bring me Down and of course Mr Blue Sky went on to become the soundtrack of our lives. With a sensational string section, a stunning light show and large screen projection to further enhance the experience, this incredible show accurately reproduces the songs and sounds and takes you on a magical musical journey through time.

The ELO Experience is at Darlington Civic Theatre on Tuesday 5 April.

Tickets* are priced £21 & £23.

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

*Includes a £1 restoration levy

STRICTLY SPEAKING, IT’S ALL ABOUT PASHA

Strictly Come Dancing star Pasha Kovalev brings his new stage show to Darlington Civic Theatre on Monday 4 April

Following his visit to Darlington Civic Theatre last year with his successful UK tour, Life Through Dance, Pasha Kovalev, the winner of Strictly Come Dancing 2014, welcomes you to his new and exciting dance spectacular – It’s All About You.

With his slick moves and brooding good looks Pasha has become a sensation as a popular dancer. On his fifth UK tour you can expect another evening of your favourite music, spectacular dancing, energy, lights and sparkling costumes, it’s great entertainment for the entire family.

Anya Garnis from Strictly Come Dancing BBC1 and So You Think You Can Dance USA, will be joining Pasha on stage as a special guest star.

After the performance, Pasha will meet and greet audience members to sign souvenir programmes and take selfies with his fans.

Pasha – It’s All About You is at Darlington Civic Theatre on Monday 4 April.

Tickets* are priced £25 & £27.

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

*Includes a £1 restoration levy

“Miss Leading Ladies is an expertly crafted tribute to the (mainly Broadway) female musical theatre stars of the last century.”

-Jonathan Baz 5*

“Ria Jones is a master class in Musical Theatre.”

– London Theatre 5*

“Ceri Dupree is undoubtably the finest female impersonator treading the boards today.”

– Gscene – James Ledward

Promotional Video | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CEm5RutmpY 

Twitter – @MsLeadingLadies
LISTINGS

Fri 20th May @ 8:00pm – Stourbridge Town Hall – Dudley (www.dudley.co.uk/entertainment)

Sat 21st May @ 7:30pm – Gorleston Pavilion – Norfolk (www.gorlestonpavilion.co.uk)

Fri 27th May @ 8:00pm – Fairfield Halls, Arnhem Gallery – Croydon (www.fairfield.co.uk)

Sat 4th June @ 7:30pm – Corn Exchange – Wallingford (www.cornexchange.org.uk)

Sat 11th June @ 7:30pm – Redgrave Theatre – Bristol (www.redgravetheatre.com)