FULL CAST REVEALED FOR PREMIERE OF TWOPENCE TO CROSS THE MERSEY SEQUEL AT LIVERPOOL EMPIRE

 

Mark Moraghan, Emma Dears, Eric Potts, Stephanie Dooley and Maria Lovelady amongst the star cast of Helen Forrester’s By The Waters Of Liverpool

The producers of the new stage play sequel of Helen Forrester’s much-loved Twopence To Cross The Mersey have announced the complete cast.

 

By The Waters Of Liverpool will be given its premiere this Autumn in Liverpool, where the famous books are set and staged at the city’s Liverpool Empire from Wednesday 3 October to Saturday 13 October 2018. Tickets are already on sale.

The play follows the smash-hit success of Helen Forrester’s Twopence To Cross The Mersey and is being brought to audiences by the team behind both the musical and stage play versions of the award-winning true story.

The cast of 10 is filled with well-known names from stage and screen and includes three much-loved actors who return to their roles with the Forrester family. The previously announced Maria Lovelady, Emma Dears and Mark Moraghan.

Maria Lovelady who received rave reviews for her portrayal in the lead role of Helen Forrester will resume the part having played the role three times.

 

Emma Dears returns to play Helen’s Mother. Emma performed alongside Maria in the new stage plays of Twopence since 2015. Emma is best known for her West End performances in Les Miserable andMiss Saigon.

Mark Moraghan will play Helen’s Father. Mark previously played the role of Father in 2007 and 2009 when Twopence To Cross The Mersey was a musical. Mark is best known for his roles in Coronation Street and Brookside.

 

Two previous members of the Liverpool Everyman Company join the cast to complete the Forrester family, Emily Hughes will play Fiona and Nathan McMullen will play Alan. Both performed in Paint Your Wagon and The Big I Am.

 

Joining them are Coronation Street and Doctor Who’s Eric Potts and actress and singer Stephanie Dooley, also signed up are Lynn Francis, Roy Carruthers and Liverpool stage actor Danny O’Brien. All of which appeared in the previous Pulse Records production Lennon’s Banjo.

 

More than 170,000 people have seen Twopence since it was premiered and now the long-awaited sequel visits the theatre where it all began for the original musical at the Liverpool Empire.

By the age of 17, Helen had fought and won two bitter battles with her parents – the first to educate herself, the second for the right to go out to work. Her parents are as financially irresponsible as ever, wasting money while their children still lack adequate food and clothing. But for Helen, things are looking up as she begins to make new friends and develop some social life outside the home.

By The Waters Of Liverpool takes us to the next chapter in Helen’s life. It’s now 1939, Britain is on the brink of war, Helen is now aged 20 and has never been kissed by a man. That is until she meets a tall, strong seaman. And falls in love.

Rob Fennah has written both the stage play versions of Twopence To Cross The Mersey and By The Waters Of Liverpool. This next chapter in Helen Forrester’s life story is once again produced by Pulse Records Ltd in association with Bill Elms. The play will be directed by Gareth Tudor Price.

 

By The Waters Of Liverpool by Helen Forrester has sold more than a million books. Now this is your chance to see it come to life on stage in this exciting new stage play adaptation.

 

Website:         www.bythewatersofliverpool.com

Facebook:       https://www.facebook.com/ByTheWatersThePlay

LISTING INFORMATION

 

BY THE WATERS OF LIVERPOOL

Liverpool Empire

Wednesday 3^rd – Saturday 13^th October 2018

PERFORMANCES:

Wednesday 3 October at 2.30pm and 7.30pm

Thursday 4 October at 2.30pm and 7.30pm

Friday 5 October at 7.30pm

Saturday 6 October at 2.30pm and 7.30pm

Sunday 7 October at 5pm

Monday 8 October at 7.30pm

Tuesday 9 October at 7.30pm

Wednesday 10 October at 2.30pm and 7.30pm

Thursday 11 October at 2.30pm and 7.30pm

Friday 12 October at 7.30pm

Saturday 13 October at 2.30pm and 7.30pm

TICKETS:

Tickets from £12 plus booking fees

Concessions and Group Rates available

 

To book visit the Empire’s box office, call 0844 871 3017* or buy online at atgtickets.com/Liverpool*

*fees apply to online and telephone bookings. Calls cost up to 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

WORLD PREMIERE AT DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

The Great Joe Wilson is a must-see comedy drama set in Darlington and is heading for a world premiere here at Darlington Hippodrome on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 September.

The Great Joe Wilson is a play with music about (arguably) the greatest-ever North East singer/songwriter. Wilson’s dramatic life will be told using his tremendous music, which covers everything from lost love through to hard-hitting songs condemning domestic violence and supporting striking workers. Joe performed in Darlington at the Theatre Royal Music Hall.

Joe Wilson died in 1875, aged only 33, but during his brief life wrote 360 songs, many of which are still popular today: The Unthanks recorded Gallowgate Lad in 2011, Keep Your Feet Still, Geordie Hinny has been covered dozens of times and Sally Wheatley is a staple throughout UK folk clubs.

The play stars top North East actors Micky Cochrane, Sarah Boulter and the multi-award winning Jamie Brown. Musician Jordan Miller, who has just finished a European tour with top North East band The Lake Poets, completes the top-class quartet.

The Great Joe Wilson has its world premiere at Darlington Hippodrome on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 September.

For more information or to book call 01325 405405 or visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

DUNCAN JAMES TO STAR AS BILLY FLYNN IN CHICAGO

AT THE PHOENIX THEATRE, LONDON

FROM MONDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2018

JOINING ALEXANDRA BURKE, JOSEFINA GABRIELLE, MAZZ MURRAY & PAUL RIDER

 

From Monday 10 September 2018, Duncan James will join the West End cast of CHICAGO at the Phoenix Theatre, playing the role of Billy Flynn, a role he originally played in 2008.  He will join Alexandra Burke as Roxie Hart, Josefina Gabrielle as Velma Kelly, Mazz Murray as Mama Morton and Paul Rider as Amos Hart.

 

CHICAGO is booking at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End until Saturday 5 January 2019. 

 

Duncan James was most recently seen playing the role of Ryan in the popular Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks.  For his role as Ryan, Duncan was nominated for Most Popular Newcomer for the 2016 NTA’s and is currently nominated for Best Newcomer for the 2017 Soap Awards.  Duncan rose to fame as one quarter of the band Blue, which, to date, has had 40 Number One singles worldwide, three Number One UK albums and sales of over 16 million records.  Duncan’s television roles include being a presenter on Soapstar Superstar, Capital FM’s Party In The Park, City Hospital, T4, The Clothes Show and GMTV’s Entertainment Today.  He was a finalist in ITV’s Dancing On Ice in 2007, and participated in the subsequent sell-out arena tour.  He made his television acting debut in Plus One for Channel 4, and further TV appearances included Grease: The School Musical for Sky 1, Eurovision: Your Country Needs You (as a judge) for BBC1, Eight Out Of Ten Cats for Channel 4, presenting The National Lottery for BBC1 on many occasions, presenting the game show Scream If You Know The Answer on Watch, and being a judge on Channel 5’s Don’t Stop Believing.  His other theatre appearances include Warner Huntington III in the West End production of Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre.

 

The multi award-winning Kander & Ebb musical CHICAGO, winner of six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy, returned to London’s West End on Monday 26 March 2018, with a press night on Wednesday 11 April at the Phoenix Theatre in London. 

 

CHICAGO originally ran in London for 15 years, making it the West End’s longest running revival.  It first opened at the Adelphi Theatre on 18 November 1997 to rave reviews and immediately became a sell-out hit.  CHICAGO won the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for ‘Outstanding Musical Production’ as well as the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for ‘Best Musical’.  CHICAGO transferred from the Adelphi Theatre to the Cambridge Theatre in April 2006, where it ran for five years until 27 August 2011.  The show then opened at the Garrick Theatre on 7 November 2011, where it ran until 1 September 2012.

 

Since it opened in New York in 1996, CHICAGO has played in 36 countries worldwide, and been performed in English, Dutch, German, Swedish, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Italian, French, Danish, Japanese and Korean.  It has grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide and has played over 32,500 performances worldwide, with an estimated 31 million people around the world having seen CHICAGO.  CHICAGO continues to play on Broadway, where it celebrated its 21^st birthday last year, and around the world in multiple languages.  It is the world’s longest running American musical.

 

CHICAGO, which is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.  The 1996 Broadway revival of CHICAGO was choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse, directed by Walter Bobbie, and produced by Barry and Fran Weissler.

 

 

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Phoenix Theatre
110 Charing Cross Road
London WC2H 0JP

Box Office: 0844 871 7629 / www.atgtickets.com/shows/chicago/phoenix-theatre

Ticket Prices: From £20.00

Performances: Monday-Saturday 7.30pm, Wednesday & Saturday 2.30pm

Booking Period:  Booking Until 5 January 2019

Running Time:  2 hours, 25 minutes (with interval)

Website: ChicagoWestEnd.com
Twitter: @ChicagoOnStage

Christmas 2018/19 Performance Schedule

Monday 24 December        NO PERFORMANCE
Tuesday 25 December       NO PERFORMANCE
Wednesday 26 December  7.30pm
Thursday 27 December      2.30pm and 7.30pm
Friday 28 December           2.30pm and 7.30pm
Saturday 29 December       2.30pm and 7.30pm
Monday 31 December        2.30pm
Tuesday 1 January 2019    7.30pm
Wednesday 2 January        2.30pm and 7.30pm
Thursday 3 January            2.30pm and 7.30pm
Friday 4 January                 7.30pm
Saturday 5 January             2.30pm and 7.30pm

Howard Panter for Trafalgar Theatre Productions,

GWB Entertainment, BookMyShow, Tokyu Theatre Orb,

Tulchin/Bartner and David Lazar

in association with KHAM Inc.

andProudly Present

The Lincoln Center Theater

production of

RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S

 THE KING AND I: FROM THE PALLADIUM

WEST END PRODUCTION ANNOUNCES

GLOBAL CINEMA RELEASE

FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY ON

FRIDAY 29 NOVEMBER

*TICKETS ON SALE 23 AUGUST AT 10AM*  

“I doubt I’ll see a better production in my lifetime”

Wall Street Journal 

The multiple Tony award-winning Lincoln Center Theater production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s THE KING AND I – currently enjoying huge West End success – is to be released in cinemas around the world this autumn by Trafalgar Releasing.  THE KING AND I: FROM THE PALLADIUM, filmed on stage at the iconic London Palladium, will open in cinemas for one night only on 29 November*.  Tickets will go on sale from 10am on 23 August.

This unmissable majestic production, directed by Tony Award-winner Bartlett Sher, first opened on Broadway in 2015 for a critically acclaimed 16 month run at The Lincoln Center Theater, this was followed by an unprecedented record-breaking sold out USA tour.  The show then transferred to the London Palladium in June this year, with the three original Broadway lead actors reprising their starring roles – Tony Award-winner (Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for The King and I) Kelli O’Hara, Tony and Oscar nominee Ken Watanabe and Tony Award-winner (Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for The King and I) Ruthie Ann Miles.  The London production continues to draw huge critical acclaim, smash box office records – including the biggest grossing week in the London Palladium’s history, taking £1,058,317.50 for an eight performance week, play to packed houses and receive nightly standing ovations.

With the announcement of November’s cinema release, even more theatre lovers across the globe will be able to watch “Broadway musical’s undisputed Queen” (The Sunday Times) Kelli O’Hara take to the stage as Anna, Ken Watanabe in a “powerhouse” (The Times) performance as The King and the “powerfully moving” (New York Magazine) Ruthie Ann Miles as Lady Thiang in THE KING AND I: FROM THE PALLADIUM.

Also starring in this Rodgers and Hammerstein classic is the multi-award-winning actor, and star of one of Japan’s most popular television series JIN, Takao Osawa as The Kralahome and Dean John-Wilson and Na-Young Jeon as the young lovers, Lun Tha and Tuptim.

Set in 1860s Bangkok, the musical tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna, a British schoolteacher whom the modernist King, in an imperialistic world, brings to Siam to teach his many wives and children.

With one of the finest scores ever written including; Whistle a Happy Tune, Getting to Know You and Shall We Dance, and featuring a company of over 50 world-class performers, THE KING AND I: FROM THE PALLADIUM is a testament to the lavish heritage of gloriously romantic musical theatre – it is the greatest musical from the golden age of musicals.

Director Bartlett Sher says: “The response from the theatre audiences on Broadway, throughout America on tour and now in London at the Palladium has been phenomenal. They have really taken this show into their hearts. I’m delighted that the worldwide cinema release will now give a greater number of people the opportunity to enjoy this production of which we are all so proud.”

Producer Howard Panter says: “This multi award-winning lavish production of The King and I directed by Bartlett Sher is not to be missed. From the three outstanding leading actors – Kelli, Ken and Ruthie – to the amazing supporting company, the sumptuous set design, the incredible choreography and of course the wonderful score, this really is musical theatre at its very best. It’s a visual spectacular, that everyone should experience and I’m thrilled that via this cinema release the show will get an even wider global audience.”

Trafalgar Releasing’s Marc Allenby says:  “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I is one of the most popular and loved musicals still performed today, resonating with multiple generations of fans. Trafalgar Releasing are excited to bring this breathtaking production starring Kelli O’Hara, Ken Watanabe and Ruthie Ann Miles to cinemas around the world.”

WHAT THE UK PRESS HAVE SAID ABOUT THE KING AND I:

“Five stars for a sumptuous King and I.  Book Now.  It’s a hit”

★★★★★

The Times

 “The evening belongs to Kelli O’Hara”

★★★★★

Sunday Express 

 “We left the London Palladium on a bright cloud of music – joyous!”

★★★★

Daily Mail 

“Looks and sounds ravishing.  Complete rapture”

★★★★

Daily Telegraph

 

“Simply spellbounding!”

★★★★

Financial Times

 “Without doubt the big, glitzy musical of the summer!”

 Metro

 “Fit for a King!”

 Daily Express

 

Production Information:

Title: The King and I: From The Palladium

Date: 29 November 2018 (*additional US date: 4^th December 2018)

Starring: Kelli O’Hara, Ken Watanabe, Ruthie Ann Miles 

Runtime: 180 mins TBC 

Certificate: 12A TBC

Central ticketing site: www.kingandimusicalcinema.com

Official Hashtag: #TheKingandI

Official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/KingandIWestEnd/

Official Twitter page: https://twitter.com/KingandIWestEnd 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingandiwestend/

• THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY ANNOUNCES NEW CHILD CASTING FOR THE UK & IRELAND TOUR OF MATILDA THE MUSICAL
• SOPHIA ALLY AND SCARLETT CECIL WILL JOIN ANNALISE BRADBURY AND NICOLA TURNER IN THE TITLE ROLE OF MATILDA FROM 29 AUGUST

The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced new child casting for the Matilda The Musical UK and Ireland Tour with Sophia Ally and Scarlett Cecil joining Annalise Bradbury and Nicola Turner in sharing the title role of Matilda from 29 August. The West End production will continue to play at the Cambridge Theatre, where it is now in its seventh year and is booking until 20 October 2019.

The other young performers announced today will join the UK and Ireland Tour in the three teams who play the roles of Bruce, Lavender, Amanda and the rest of the pupils at Crunchem Hall and are as follows: Evie Allen, Joseph Black, Georgia Mae Brown, Jessica Chalmers, Cuba Kamanu, Tom Lomas, Adam Lord, Maddison Lowe, Ilan Miller, Felicity Mitson, Toby Mocrei, Ashton Murphy, Joely Robertson, Ruaridh Sinnott, Kit Swaddling, Chantelle Tonolete and Harry Wilson.

The previously announced adult cast includes Craige Els who, having played Miss Trunchbull in the West End for three years from 2014 to 2017, reprised the role when the tour began in March and will remain in the company until 12 January. Carly Thoms (Miss Honey), and Sebastien Torkiaand Rebecca Thornhill (Mr and Mrs Wormwood) will continue in their roles until the tour concludes its run at Norwich Theatre Royal on 17 August 2019.

The full adult cast includes Joe Atkinson, Nina Bell, Peter Bindloss, Oliver Bingham, Emily Bull, Samara Casteallo, Matthew Caputo, Craige Els, Matt Gillett, Michelle Chantelle Hopewell, Sam Lathwood, Steffan Lloyd-Evans, Charlie Martin, Anu Ogunmefun, Carly Thoms, Rebecca Thornhill, Sebastien Torkia, Taylor Walker, Adam Vaughan and Dawn Williams.

Winner of over 85 international awards, including 16 for Best Musical, Matilda The Musical opened at Leicester Curve on 15 March 2018 to rave reviews and is currently playing at Birmingham Hippodrome until Saturday 8 September 2018. The tour will play at Manchester Palace(18 September – 24 November), Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre (4 December – 12 January 2019), Theatre Royal Plymouth (15 January – 16 February 2019), the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford (19 February – 23 March 2019), Edinburgh Playhouse (2 – 27 April 2019), TheBristol Hippodrome (7 May – 8 June 2019), Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (11 June – 6 July 2019) and Norwich Theatre Royal (16 July – 17 August 2019).

Matilda The Musical is written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, and direction by Matthew Warchus. The production is designed by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and the special effects and illusions are by Paul Kieve.

Matilda The Musical has now been seen by 8 million people worldwide, having toured to over 65 cities and played more than 6000 performances in the West End, on Broadway and on tour across North America, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Matilda The Musical will have its first non-English language production at the LG Arts Centre in Seoul, South Korea from September 2018.

Inspired by the incomparable Roald Dahl’s beloved book, Matilda The Musical was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and premiered at the RSC’s Stratford-upon-Avon home in November 2010, before transferring to London’s West End in October 2011, where it opened to rave reviews. The New York production of Matilda The Musical opened in April 2013 at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre and was celebrated on 10 “Top Ten” lists for 2013, including TIME Magazine’s #1 Show of the Year.

Matilda The Musical swept the board at the 2012 Olivier Awards, with a record-breaking seven awards, and won four Tony Awards and a Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theater for the four girls sharing the title role on Broadway.

The North America production toured 52 cities. The Australian and New Zealand production won a Sydney Theatre Award for Best Musical in 2015, and played sold-out seasons in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Auckland. The show broke further records in July 2016 by winning all 13 Helpmann Awards for which it was nominated.

Matilda The Musical is produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company with André Ptaszynski and Denise Wood as Executive Producers. The production was developed with the support of Jeanie O’Hare and the RSC Literary Department.

The production is designed by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and the special effects and illusions are by Paul Kieve.

 

TOUR LISTINGS

Birmingham Hippodrome 
Tuesday 3 July – Saturday 8 September 2018
Box Office: 0844 338 5000**
www.birminghamhippodrome.com

Manchester Palace Theatre
Tuesday 18 September – Saturday 24 November 2018
Box Office: 0844 871 3019*
www.atgtickets.com/venues/palace-theatre-manchester

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff / Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru
Tuesday 4 December 2018 – Saturday 12 January 2019
Box Office: 029 2063 6464
www.wmc.org.uk

Theatre Royal Plymouth
Tuesday 15 January – Saturday 16 February 2019
Box Office: 01752 267 222
www.theatreroyal.com

The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
Tuesday 19 February – Saturday 23 March 2019
Box Office: 01274 432 000
www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

Edinburgh Playhouse
Tuesday 2 – Saturday 27 April 2019
Box Office: 0844 871 3014*
www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse/

The Bristol Hippodrome
Tuesday 7 May – Saturday 8 June 2019
Box Office: 0844 871 3012*
www.atgtickets.com/bristol-hippodrome

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
Tuesday 11 June – Saturday 6 July 2019
Box Office: 02380 711 811
www.mayflower.org.uk

Norwich Theatre Royal 
Tuesday 16 July – Saturday 17 August 2019
Box Office: 01603 630 000
www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

* Calls cost 7p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge.
** Calls cost 4.5p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

www.matildathemusical.com
#matildaontour

WEST END LISTING

MATILDA THE MUSICAL
Cambridge Theatre
Earlham Street
London WC2H 9HU

New performance times will take effect from 12 September
Tuesday – Friday 7pm
Wednesday 2pm
Saturday 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Sundays 3pm

Current performance times until 12 September
Tuesdays 7pm
Wednesday – Saturday 7:30pm
Wednesday & Saturday 2:30pm
Sundays 3pm

Box Office: Cambridge Theatre 020 7087 7745 / RSC Ticket Hotline 01789 403493
No booking fee.

Booking until 20 October 2019
www.matildathemusical.com

Twitter: @MatildaMusical
Facebook: @MatildaTheMusical
Instagram: @MatildaTheMusical

People Like Us
By Julie Burchill and Jane Robins
Union Theatre, 204 Union Street, London SE1 0LX
Tuesday 2nd October – Saturday 20th October 2018, 7.30pm

Brexit…it’s the first thing in ages that’s actually made me FEEL something. So BIG – yet so personal. Visceral, even…

This autumn, Emmy-winning writer Julie Burchill (Sugar Rush; Ambition) and acclaimed journalist and writer Jane Robins (Rebel Queen; White Bodies) bring the world premiere of their debut play People Like Us to the Union Theatre. Looking at how politics and Brexit have invaded conversations, Burchill and Robins ask the question – can we only ever really be friends with people like us?

Set in a North London book club, People Like Us follows five friends as they find themselves discussing the unavoidable topic of Brexit. In the two years since the vote to leave, endless discussion has all but eradicated any middle ground. What remains is opposing views and the arguments which have strained relationships between husband and wife, brother and sister, parent and child – and friends.

Although written in support of the Leave campaign, People Like Us will uniquely provide an argument for both sides of the debate. With theatre and the arts predominantly representing a single view of Brexit, this nuanced look presents the politics and views of both sides.

How far would you go to save your closest friendships from being pulled apart by political beliefs? This is the question these friends must answer as the fight for the future of Europe becomes a domestic battleground of secrets and lies. In this London book club, the personal and the political clash and implode.

Julie Burchill comments, Brexit has fascinated me more than any other political phenomenon of recent decades – and having the chance to write this play with the brilliant Jane Robins has truly been the icing on the Victory Cake. As a hardcore Brexiteer, I’m extremely curious as to what will happen and very much hope that People Like Us will add to the lively discussion around this topic

Jane Robins adds, Since Brexit, people seem to be dropping their friends with surprising alacrity. It’s not only the political arguments causing the damage – it’s also the thrill of condemnation and shunning, of pointing fingers at old friends and expelling them from your society. That’s our subject-matter – Julie and I have had tremendous fun with it.

The Pleasance wins eight Comedy
Award Nominations

This afternoon The Edinburgh Comedy Awards announced their thirteen nominees for Best Newcomer and Best Comedy Show including eight of the Pleasance’s performers. Among those nominated for Best Newcomer are Ciarán Dowd, Olga Koch, Sarah Keyworth and Sindhu Vee. Best Comedy Show nominees include Alex Edelman, Kieran Hodgson, Rose Matafeo and Felicity Ward.

Head of Comedy, Ryan Taylor says, It’s another brilliant year for comedy at the Pleasance and we’re thrilled to see so many of our acts nominated – congratulations to them all! Every year at the Pleasance we look to nurture new talent and support them as they develop into household names. With equal recognition in today’s nomination for those who are making their debut with us and acts who have been part of the Pleasance family for years, it’s a wonderful demonstration of how this support can help harness the very best in comedy

After receiving a Herald Angel Award for his new show, Alex Edelman’s Just for Us has been nominated for The Edinburgh Comedy Awards’ Best Comedy Show. Just for Us ricochets through his past year but, at its centre, is an astonishing and unfortunately timely encounter. After a strong anti-Semitic strain of online abuse was directed at Alex, he decided to covertly attend a meeting of those same anti-Semites. The result was an unexpected and revealing confrontation.

Nominated for Best Comedy Show, ’75 is Kieran Hodgson’s dissertation stand-up hour tackling one of the biggest debates in the United Kingdom at the moment: Europe. Following his hilarious attempts to reconcile his mother and her closest friend after they were driven apart by the referendum, Kieran’s masterful storytelling takes us deep into the roots of Brexit, on both a historical and personal level which leaves the audience as informed as they are entertained.

Also nominated is Rose Matafeo: Horndog which sees the New Zealand comic and millennial find humour in everything from break-ups to race to sex drive. Her high-energy hour is unrelenting, painfully relatable and unapologetically fun. With her polished set and equally polished dance moves, Rose’s show makes you feel like you’re watching your best friend on stage.

After appearing in the Pleasance’s Opening Gala, Felicity Ward has burst back on to the Fringe after her two-year hiatus with Busting a Nut which has also been nominated for Best Comedy Show. With real energy and quick-wit, even as she tackles darker and more difficult issues, Felicity is a firecracker on stage: impossible to look away from. The audience are invited to revel with her in the painfully hilarious predicaments she finds herself in.

Nominated for Best Newcomer is character comedian Ciarán Dowd for his solo debut, Don Rodolfo. Total butthead, shameless libertine and incomparable swordsman, Don Rodolfo is the spoof swashbuckler with an uncanny resemblance to Inigo Montoya. A 17th Century Lothario on a mission to avenge his father’s death, he still has time to share his top seduction tips and a
couple of sugar cubes with the audience.

Receiving one of the first Herald Angels of the Fringe, Sarah Keyworth’s semi-autobiographical show, Dark Horse, about discovering her own sexuality and gender identity has today seen her nominated by The Edinburgh Comedy Awards. This refreshingly insightful journey about expectations, gender and self-acceptance makes her debut hour one of the most thought provoking and entertaining at the Fringe.

Also nominated is Olga Koch with Fight. In 2014, Olga’s father got stopped by authorities on the Russian border, which resulted in the most surreal years in her family’s life. In her debut hour, she will try to dissect this real-life spy drama with her projector to take audiences on an insider tour through the making of modern Russia, where the political is always personal. Fight is the battle cry for a generation that takes freedom for granted, inspired by a generation that grew up
without it.

Born and raised in India with degrees from Delhi, Oxford, McGill and Chicago Universities and even half a PHD, Sindhu Vee completes the Pleasance’s nominees with Best Comedy Newcomer for Sandhog. Finally platforming the outrageous and belly-achingly funny transgressions families make in the name of pragmatism, Sindhu Vee takes on the joys of teenage children, the interference of elderly parents and the unenviable position of the sandwich generation caught
between them both.

The Edinburgh Comedy Awards in their various incarnations have been celebrating those who make us laugh since 1981. They present both the Best Comedy Show and Best Newcomer Award every year. The prestigious Panel Award is presented, or not, entirely at the discretion of the panel: everyone is eligible, only the exceptional receive it. All the award winners will be
announced on Saturday 25 August before the ceremony on Sunday 26 August.

Tickets for all the nominated Pleasance shows are available from www.pleasance.co.uk, 0131 556 6550 or Pleasance Box Office.

Organ Showcase Returns to Hull City Hall

Following the summer break, Hull City Hall’s Lunchtime Organ Showcase returns next month with former Beverley Minster Assistant Organist Colin Wright at the keys.

Colin is a well-respected musician who moved to the East Riding of Yorkshire in 1974 after studying organ and choral practice at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. After many years performing and teaching, in 1991 he became Accompanist to the East Riding County Choir and more recently took over as their Musical Director. He is also currently the President of the Hull and East Riding Organ Group (HEROG).

The mighty City Hall instrument, which dates back to 1911, is the third largest in England. Over the years it has entertained a fine roster of guests including Queen Elizabeth and King George VI and continues to attract large audiences.

The Organ Showcase returns to Hull City Hall on Tuesday 4 September at 12.30pm. Tickets priced £4.50 are on sale now. Book at the Hull City Hall Box Office, call 01482 300 306 or visit our website www.hulltheatres.co.uk.

Kings Theatre, Southsea – until 25 August

Reviewed by Nicky Wyatt

4****

What a lovely fun show! Adapted from the DreamWorks motion picture to a new stage musical.

It’s often said that movies to shows is a difficult transition, I have never watched the movie, however all the parents and children around me clearly had as they all knew who was who and what was happening next.

For those that don’t know the story, it’s about a group of animals in New York Zoo. They are used to being fed at a certain time putting on a show at the same time of day and they are bored especially Marty (Antoine Murray-Strachan) who plays the Zebra. It’s his birthday and as all his friends gather around him with a cake, he makes a wish to go to the wild for a trip on the wild side. Now his friends
although a bit bored are used to their routine and are fairly happy where they are, that is until Marty decides tonight’s the night and he escapes. It’s not long before best friend Alex (Matt Perry -X factor winner 2016) the Lion who is the main attraction at the zoo discovers him missing and along with good friends Melman (Jamie Lee -Morgan) the hypochondriac Giraffe and Gloria (Timmika Ramsay) the Hippo with a rear J Lo would be proud of all take off in hot pursuit of their dear friend. This is where the adventure begins.

Throughout the show are some funny quips that had the adults laughing out loud, Melmans gift of a rectal thermometer and talking steaks to name just a couple. Fabulous costumes that must be so hot to wear under theatre lights, brightly coloured sets all make for a wonderful family experience.

Of course things don’t go quite to plan and they are caught and packed in to shipping crates not knowing where they are going, they all blame Marty as he wished for change. Little do they know that their zoo friends the Penguins have also made the trip. The penguins bring extra humour to the show. Reaching their destination Marty is thrilled by what he calls Paradise, Alex is not so impressed
to start with there is no steak! Lions need meat and Marty’s rear end becomes tempting to him, although he does resist. They are of course now on the island of Madagascar!

Every land has it’s ruler and this island is run by King Julian ( Jo Parsons) not only is he king but he also directs this show. As king he knows what he wants and he wants them to stay on his island. He has some brilliant one liners which had the audience roaring at times. The island party including ‘crack a lacking’ and ‘Move it Move’ it’s were full of high energy, crazy dance moves including The
Floss!

Overall I thought this was a fab family show not too long for little ones, a great introduction to theatre for them . My only word of warning is at the start of both acts there are very bright light flashing lights which might cause an issue for some. Other than that it’s a ‘Crack a Lackin’ show

R O Y A L P H I L H A R M O N I C O R C H E S T R A

C O L O U R F U L C L A S S I C S

AT CHURCHILL THEATRE BROMLEY

Sunday 23 September 2018, 7:30pm

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra returns to Churchill Theatre this September for a lovingly-curated program of symphonic gems, titled ‘Colourful Classics’. Audiences can expect to see (and hear!) the full instrumentation of the orchestra perform Grieg’s energetic Holberg Suite and Rimsky-Korsakov’s enchanting May Night Overture. The concert closes with Sibelius’ magnificent Symphony No.5, featuring the elegant, swaying swan motif.

When asked, “why should people come and see the RPO perform in Churchill Theatre?” Elle Docx, Audience Development Manager for the orchestra said “to hear the full-force of a symphony orchestra, like the RPO, is an electrifying experience. From that first note, audiences will experience a real energy behind the music. We’re especially excited to welcome to the stage our guest artist, the esteemed cellist Michael Petrov.” Michael won the Guildhall School of Music gold medal in 2014; first prize in the Trondheim Competition in 2015 and the Wigmore prize in 2017. Nominated by the Barbican as ECHO Rising Star in 2015, Michael has performed all over the world including the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Cité de la Musique Paris, Musikverein Vienna, Budapest Palace of Arts, Kölner Philharmonie, Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Carnegie’s Weill Hall and throughout China.” Michael will take centre stage in the September concert for Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations, full of charm and grandeur.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is the nation’s busiest orchestra. Last year alone they performed 143 concerts across the UK, attended by a staggering 304,226 music lovers. Their concerts ranged from exquisite renditions of Russian Masters; the world premiere of Sony PlayStation in concert featuring soloists from across the globe. The orchestra also participated in 102 audio recording sessions in the last year, including most recently on an album featuring music with The Beach Boys.

Experience the power and beauty of a world-class symphony orchestra for yourself on Sunday 23rd September, 7.30pm at Churchill Theatre, Bromley. Tickets available online at churchilltheatre.co.uk and through the ticket office on 020 3285 6000.