DARLINGTON SET TO TWIST AND SHOUT

Audiences are gearing up to Twist and Shout as the West End smash hit Beatles musical Let It Be comes to Darlington Civic Theatre in May.

Let It Be celebrates the music of the world’s most successful rock ‘n’ roll band in a spectacular concert charting the band’s meteoric rise from their humble beginnings in Liverpool’s Cavern Club, through the height of Beatlemania, to their later studio masterpieces. They were just four boys from Liverpool who went on to change the world.

The show celebrates music history’s greatest ever worldwide phenomenon and is packed with over 40 of The Beatles’ greatest hits, including Twist and Shout, She Loves You and Drive My Car, as well as global mega hits Yesterday, Hey Jude, Come Together and, of course, Let It Be. Travel back to the Swinging Sixties when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends!

Audiences can look forward to a show lasting more than two hours bursting with timeless hits, showstopping sets, dazzling costumes and a brilliant performance which fans will never forget.

Let It Be is at Darlington Civic Theatre from Monday 9 to Saturday 14 May. Tickets* are priced from £21.80

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

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy

• NEW CAST TO JOIN DISNEY’S THE LION KING IN THE WEST END

• NEW ZEALANDER NICHOLAS AFOA TO STAR AS SIMBA

Disney Theatrical Productions today announced that new cast will join the London production of THE LION KING from May 2016. Alongside changes in the ensemble cast, Nicholas Afoa is to take on the role of Simba at the Lyceum Theatre.

Nicholas Afoa made his stage debut as Simba in the Australian production of THE LION KING in 2013 and played Simba in the Sydney production of the landmark musical between 2013 and 2016 performing more than 860 times over that period. The opportunity to play the role in the West End production will bring Afoa to London for the first time, as he embarks on his second professional theatre engagement.

Not unlike his character in THE LION KING, Afoa has had a journey to take his place on stage. The New Zealand-born, Auckland-raised performer had a promising rugby career with the All Blacks until he was sidelined by injury.  After recovering and dedicating himself to his theatre career, nearly a decade later the 30 year-old beat 400 other hopefuls to the role of Simba in the Australian production.

Afoa is currently in rehearsal and will appear in the production from 10th May 2016. Other new members of the cast include: Etian Almeida, Jonathan Andre, Janique Charles, Zinhle Dube, Sandile Gontsana, Kwesi Jeffers, Stephanie Lo, Sadia McEwen, Khaya Maseko, Daniel Monteiro, Nosipho Nkonqa, Dominique Planter, Antoine Murray-Straughan, Kayode Salina and Ricardo Walker.

Disney’s award-winning musical THE LION KING is now in its 17th triumphant year at London’s Lyceum Theatre. Since the UK premiere in London on Tuesday 19th October 1999, THE LION KING has entertained over 13 million theatregoers and remains the West End’s best-selling stage production. It is currently the sixth longest-running West End musical of all time. Tickets are currently on sale until 2nd October 2016 for individuals and 4th June 2017 for Groups.

Julie Taymor’s internationally-celebrated stage adaptation of Disney’s beloved animated film premiered on Broadway in 1997 and has now been seen by more than 80 million people across six continents. Eight productions are running concurrently around the globe. In addition to the record-breaking productions in London and New York, The Lion King can currently be seen in Hamburg, Madrid, Tokyo, Mexico City; and on tour across North America and Japan.

THE LION KING is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. 

Listings Information

Disney’s THE LION KING
Lyceum Theatre
21 Wellington Street, London WC2E 7RQ

Box Office number: 0844 871 3000
www.thelionking.co.uk

THE LION KING plays Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm with matinee performances on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2.30pm.

There is no performance on a Monday evening.

June 29th – July 23rd 2016, Above the Arts Theatre

The creators behind stylish new drama and love story Savage, which uncovers the tragic tale of a Nazi doctor and his ill-conceived “cure” for homosexuality, are proud to announce the cast for the West End premiere production at the Arts Theatre.

 “Claudio Macor’s writing works a treat” (Tim Walker on The Tailor-Made Man)

The show stars Gary Fannin (The Reduced Shakespeare Company; Spectre; 24: Live Another Day) as Dr

Carl Peter Værnet , Alexander Huetson (Edward Bond’s Dea, Sutton Theatres; Phil Willmott’s Encounter,

Above the Stag) as Nikolai Bergsen and Nic Kyle (The Grand Tour, Finborough Theatre; Closer to Heaven,

Union Theatre) as Zack Travis. The team are also thrilled to be working with Bradley Clarkson (Flames, Waterloo East Theatre; Murderer, Upstairs at The Gatehouse) as General Heinrich Von Aechelman after his role in previous success The Tailor-Made Man. Other cast includes Lee Knight (Much Ado About

Nothing, Wyndham’s Theatre West End; Drama at Inish, Finborough Theatre; Archimedes Principle, Park

Theatre) as Georg Jensen, Emily Lynne (She Loves Me and Romance Romance, Landor Theatre) as Ilse

Paulsen, Christopher Hines (Phil Willmott’s Encounter, Above The Stag; Aladdin, Newbury Corn Exchange;

The Ring Cycle, the Scoop; Doctors, BBC) as Major Ronald Hemingway. Kristian Simeonov (East 15 Acting School) completes the cast, and makes his London stage professional debut as Goran.

In the late 1930s, Danish doctor Carl Peter Værnet discovered what he believed to be “the cure for homosexuality”, and was given a prominent post at the Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald. After the liberation by Allied forces, Dr Værnet was allowed to flee to South America, where he continued to experiment on thousands of live subjects, with the full knowledge of both the British and Danish authorities.

 “easy to imagine on a bigger stage” (The Daily Telegraph on The Tailor-Made

Man)

Savage will uncover the story of Dr Værnet and present it alongside a love story exploring how Dr Værnet’s “cure” might have affected the homosexual men experimented on. He remains largely unwritten about and unresearched, apart from a ground-breaking piece by Guardian journalist Peter Tatchell in 2015, who will be taking part in a post-show Q & A.

 “a compelling story (…) a highly enjoyable evening” (The Arts Desk on The

Tailor-Made Man)

THE MAKE A DIFFERENCE TRUST (MAD TRUST)
APPOINTS STAFF TO TWO NEW ROLES:
ALASTAIR HUDSON AS CHARITY MANAGER AND
CHRIS CLEGG AS EVENTS MANAGER

The Make A Difference Trust (MAD Trust) has appointed Alastair Hudson as Charity Manager and Chris Clegg as Events Manager, in the two newly created positions at the organisation.

With a legacy of over 25 years, the MAD Trust, trading as TheatreMAD, brings together the theatre industry and its supporters to raise funds for HIV and AIDS projects that raise awareness, and provide care, support and education in the United Kingdom and Sub-Saharan Africa. The Trust also supports those in the entertainment industry facing hardship as a result of a long term illness.

Alastair Hudson, who has been appointed Charity Manager, came to London in 1998 from Glasgow to study at London Studio Centre when the HIV/AIDS landscape was a very different one to what we have today. He worked for many years in the performing arts, moving into training and sexual health in his mid-thirties. He has worked with many of the UK’s leading HIV and sexual and reproductive health organisations including The International Planned Parenthood Federation, Brook Young People and the Family Planning Association. More recently he has been coordinating The People Living with HIV Stigma Index in the UK, looking at the stigma and discrimination our community is still experiencing and that affects uptake and retention in HIV services across the cascade.

Alastair said: “I am very excited to be joining The Make a Difference Trust at what I see as being one of the most exciting and critical times in our HIV response. Over the last few years we have seen significant developments in our treatment and prevention options. We have a perfect storm of opportunity to both position and strengthen our unique value add and also impact the conversation as a small but mighty charity committed to ‘Fighting HIV one stage at a time’.”

Chris Clegg, who has been appointed Events Manager, has numerous West End production credits to his name, most recently bringing the cult musical classic Cool Rider to the West End for two sold-out runs, receiving 5-star reviews, 9 Broadwayworld nominations, and a Top Ten album on the iTunes soundtrack charts. He produced the critically-acclaimed musical Betwixt for an extended run at in the West End, with a limited run at the Courtyard Theatre, a two-month run at the King’s Head Theatre, and an all-star West End concert in aid of TheatreMAD starring Sheridan Smith. Chris produced the UK Premieres of Shoshana Bean in the West End, Homemade Fusion, Wolfboy, Zombie Prom, and the first ever full show of YouTube sensation Miranda Sings! live in the West End.

Chris was Production Coordinator for the Whatsonstage.com Awards at the Prince of Wales Theatre in 2009 & 2010, at 25 became the youngest Theatre Manager in the West End when managing The Ambassadors Theatre, runs the successful design blog ‘Minimal Musicals’, and has just finished working for theatre impresario and producer Bill Kenwright as Marketing Manager.

Chris said: “I’m beyond excited to be joining The Make A Difference Trust as Events Manager. One of the first shows I produced, Betwixt! In Concert starring Sheridan Smith and David Bedella, was in aid of the charity and since then I have been to many events, and admired the ethos and aims of the company. I’m very much hoping to build on the history that the MAD Trust has, and to move the charity forward producing more events, making them bigger, more exiting, and more inclusive than ever before, working with incredibly talented and dedicated people on and off stage, and continuing to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS through all the work we do. I’m always about for a chat too – so reach out and let’s Make A Difference!”

To find our more about The Make A Difference Trust, visit: http://www.madtrust.org.uk/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/madtrust
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madtrust.org.uk/

BLOOMBERG SUMMER AT THE ROUNDHOUSE
RON ARAD’S CURTAIN CALL
6 – 29 AUGUST 2016

• RON ARAD’S INCREDIBLE INSTALLATION CURTAIN CALL RETURNS TO THE ICONIC ROUNDHOUSE AS PART OF ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

• IMMERSIVE 360° FLOOR-TO-CELLING ARTWORK WILL FILL THE ROUNDHOUSE’S MAIN SPACE, DISPLAYING NEW BESPOKE COMMISSIONS BY SOME OF RON ARAD’S FAVOURITE ARTISTS

• UNIQUE MUSIC EVENTS INCLUDING BBC PROMS AT THE ROUNDHOUSE, MATTHEW HERBERT, ESKA & DAN DEACON TO TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE INSTALLATION

• ROUNDHOUSE MEMBERS PRE-SALE FROM 10AM ON 28 APRIL, PUBLIC ON-SALE FROM 10AM ON 29 APRIL

Bloomberg Summer at the Roundhouse, the annual season dedicated to introducing new audiences to innovative culture, returns for its fifth consecutive year this summer withCurtain Call by internationally renowned artist, architect and designer Ron Arad. After receiving critical acclaim for the piece in 2011, Arad will reinvent the curtain experience by inviting brand new collaborators to work with him on the 360° immersive installation, alongside returning artists from 2011. Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the work will be showcased at the Roundhouse from 6 – 29 August 2016 as part of the iconic London venue’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

Curtain Call will provide a canvas for films, live performance and audience interaction. Created by Arad in 2011 as a response to the Roundhouse’s dramatic main space, the work is made of 5,600 silicon rods suspended from an 18 metre diameter ring. This summer, Arad will again invite artists, musicians and friends to create unique work for the installation. New artists for 2016 include: Kutiman, Marshmallow Laser Feast and Universal Everything. Returning from 2011 will be: Babis Alexiadis; Mat Colishaw; Ori Gersht; Greenaway & Greenaway; Gabriel & Shira Klasmer; Christian Marclay; Javier Mariscal; SDNA and David Shrigley.

Ron Arad said of Curtain Call: “Walk in, penetrate, cross the moving images to get inside the cylinder. You’ll be engulfed by images –a captive, but also a creator. It’s amazing what exciting things happen on both sides of the curtain.”

Alongside Curtain Call, the Roundhouse will present a series of live music events running as lates in tandem with the installation. With more acts still to be announced, Bloomberg Summer at the Roundhouse will present the return of the BBC Proms to the Roundhouse with music by British composer David Sawyer, critically-acclaimed, Mercury Music Prize nominated Eska, blending folk, choral, soul, electronica and psychedelia, Ivor Novello nominated DJ and musician Matthew Herbert brings ‘Matthew Herbert presents NUDE’with support from Lail Arad, electronic-music iconoclast Dan Deacon and the London Contemporary Orchestra which will feature world premieres of two new commissions by composers Mica Levi and CHAINES. The BBC Proms concert will go on-sale on 24 June.

In 2016 the Roundhouse celebrates 50 years since opening as a groundbreaking arts venue and 10 years of using the arts to transform the lives of young people with its state-of-the-art creative centre.

Marcus Davey, Roundhouse Artistic Director and Chief Executive said: “2016 is a landmark year for the Roundhouse, so it feels fitting to be bringing back Ron Arad’s iconic and much-loved installation as part of our anniversary celebrations. We are thrilled to be presenting acclaimed artists from the worlds of art and music throughout the month of August once again as part of Bloomberg Summer at the Roundhouse.”

Bloomberg Philanthropies has supported the Roundhouse since 2003, including Ron Arad’s original Curtain Call in 2011. The long-term partnership builds on a shared commitment to supporting artistic innovation, ground breaking technologies and access for new audiences in the arts. In addition to Bloomberg Summers and various artistic collaborations, Bloomberg’s support provides a vocational skills-based training programme in broadcasting for young people who are not in employment, education or training. This year, trainees from the Bloomberg Broadcast Programme will have the chance to directly participate and have their work showcased at Curtain Call. In this way, Bloomberg enables new talent in the broadcast sector to connect with the leading practitioners who are active in the arts world today.

#CurtainCall

Mark Puddle sells The Lord Chamberlain’s Men to Peter Stickney for an undisclosed sum

 

In May 2016, Peter Stickney will take over from Mark Puddle as the new owner and Artistic Director of The Lord Chamberlain’s Men.

Mark, who created the company in 2005, will complete the handover in May. Peter, who is about to direct his first production for the company, performed as an actor with The Lord Chamberlain’s Men in 2007 and 2008 and has been the associate producer for the last three years.

Peter said, “Since I first performed with the company in a tour of Romeo and Juliet. I knew that I was part of something special. The venues the company performs at, the strong following the company has and the unique nature of playing Shakespeare as he intended it to be seen, in the open-air with an all-male cast. I was hooked! I returned the following year to perform again and have worked for the company ever since.”

It has been eleven years since Mark Puddle, when aged just 25, convinced Buckingham Palace that he should be allowed to recreate The Lord Chamberlain’s Men (TLCM)*.  In that first year, 2005, TLCM toured to a few venues, a handful of audience members and the odd peacock! They now play to over 40,000 audience members a year at 80 of the most beautiful and historically important venues in the country.

Puddle, 36, is credited with creating an artistically vibrant theatre company that has produced clear, bold storytelling coupled with huge commercial success. All this accomplished without any Arts Council funding or grant aid, surviving on ticket sales alone. One of his proudest achievements, he said, was “that we led the way in creating the outdoor Equity Guidelines and as such the open-air sector is a much safer and more reputable place to work than when we first started.”

Over the last eleven years, TLCM has travelled more than 100,000 miles, to over 200 venues in seven different countries and performed in excess of 1,000 shows to more than 300,000 people. The company travels the whole country from Truro to Inverness and everywhere in between, including an international leg of the tour, which this year takes in France, Holland and Germany. The company have added a few new venues this year as well as returning to all their old favourites.

On what to expect in this next chapter for the company Stickney said, “First and foremost, I’m not going to fix what isn’t broken. Mark has done a fantastic job. To build a theatre company from scratch with no public funding whatsoever, surviving purely on ticket sales, is incredible in this day and age. What I am looking to do is explore new opportunities. We are well known, and rightly so, for our fantastic open-air tour in the summer but I am keen to see us move indoors as well, to theatres or other performance venues to give the company a year-round presence and allow us to tackle other of Shakespeare’s great plays and perhaps, even, other authors. I also aim to raise the international profile of this magnificent company.”

Mark Puddle added, “I am delighted that The Lord Chamberlain’s Men will be owned and managed by a former actor of the company. Peter’s energy, love of Shakespeare and passion to take the company forward means that he is the right person to build on the considerable achievements of the last eleven years. I want to thank our amazing audiences, venues and team for what has been a remarkable eleven years and hope everyone continues to join Peter and The Lord Chamberlain’s Men on the next chapter of this extraordinary journey.”

Peter’s first production as Artistic Director is Much Ado About Nothing. The cast includes James Lavender, Jon Tozzi, Jordan Bernarde, Joshua Meredith, Matthew McFetridge, Nathan Coenen and Oliver Buckner. It opens on 8th June and then tours nationally until 4^th September before heading to France, Holland and Germany and finishing on 25th Spetember.

 

Peter Stickney summed up by saying, “It is a huge honour to be taking over the artistic direction of The Lord Chamberlain’s Men. I look forward to taking the company on into the next decade and beyond!”

ROALD DAHL’S CITY OF THE UNEXPECTED
Wales Millennium Centre & National Theatre Wales
Directed by Nigel Jamieson
17-18 September 2016, Cardiff city centre
http://www.cityoftheunexpected.wales/

Wales Millennium Centre and National Theatre Wales have today called out to the people of Cardiff, Wales and Britain to take part in Roald Dahl’s City of the Unexpected, Cardiff’s landmark celebration of Wales’ foremost storyteller. Director, Nigel Jamieson, leads the search for a cast of 6,000 volunteers, including 2,000 choristers, 1,000 dancers, 50 Morris Minor drivers, 40 bald men, 13 magicians, four brass bands, three excavator drivers, a Spitfire pilot, firemen, circus artists, aerialists, rockclimbers, grandparents, children and a performing mouse. Anyone interested in taking part, whether as a performer, a maker or an organiser, is encouraged to get in touch.

Over the weekend of 17-18 September, Cardiff will celebrate the centenary of one of its most well-known sons, Roald Dahl, with an extraordinary weekend-long event, showcasing both his distinctive voice and the jewels of the city’s buildings, parks and its people. The city will be transformed into a place where the laws of physics and civic predictability will give way to the laws of magic, mischief and the unexpected.

The whole city will be humming with whispers of Roald Dahl; on street corners and from rooftops, in markets and cafés, on lampposts and even on your mobile phone. Some of his best-loved stories will be told in the unlikeliest of places by well-known fans.

Eye-popping visual spectacles will turn heads and madcap events will defy the laws of physics in some of the city’s most iconic locations, including Cardiff Castle and the National Museum. A cast of thousands, from parkour artists to farmers, from pigeon fanciers to puppeteers, will give heart-stopping performances both intimate and epic.

Nigel Jamieson, director, said: “Roald Dahl’s imagination has touched the most extraordinary number of people around the world. For generations, he has been part of our bed times, our childhoods, and the development of our imaginations. It is thus fitting that the weekend celebrating his birth in Cardiff will involve one of the most ambitious mobilisations of a city’s inhabitants ever attempted, together transforming it into a place that will unlock the child in everyone and create a city of wonder and surprise.”

Luke Kelly, Managing Director of the Roald Dahl Literary estate and Roald Dahl’s grandson, said: “Roald Dahl’s City of the Unexpected is undoubtedly going to be one of the highlights of the Roald Dahl 100 celebrations this year. We cannot think of a more fitting or creative way to honour Roald’s Welsh beginnings than by transforming his birth city into a place of magic, cooked up by such a dynamic team in Wales Millennium Centre, National Theatre Wales and Nigel Jamieson. To borrow a phrase from Roald, we will be watching with glittering eyes as the spectacle unfolds. We hope everyone who participates has a wonderful time.”

Phil George, Chair, Arts Council of Wales said: “We’re thrilled to be supporting this fantastic celebration of Roald Dahl’s life and stories in the city of his birth. And what an amazing opportunity for thousands to participate in a playful transformation of a much-loved city. A truly gloriumptious event.”

Anyone keen to take part is invited to register their interest at this website:http://www.cityoftheunexpected.wales/

Nigel Jamieson is one of the world’s leading theatre and large-scale event directors.
He began his career in London, where he worked at the National Theatre, directed Trickster Theatre Company and Odyssey Theatre, and was founding director of both the London International Workshop Festival and the London Festival of New Circus. He was awarded a Greater London Arts Award for his outstanding contribution to London Arts.
Subsequently moving to Sydney, he went on to direct Tin Symphony for the Sydney Olympic Opening Ceremony, the ABC Millennium Broadcast, the Closing Ceremony of the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, the Opening and Closing of the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea, shows for the Hannover and Aichi World Expos, the Opening of European City of Culture celebrations in Liverpool, Jose Careras at Ankor Watt, a historic gathering of two thousand Aboriginal performers in the central desert of Australia, and most recently Clusters of Light, about the life of Mohammed.
His theatre work has toured the world extensively. It has included Minutes of Separation with Cate Blanchett and Joseph Fiennes, the multi-award-winning Theft of Sita, Honour Bound andAll of Me, and many other international collaborations including the ground-breaking arena show How To Train Your Dragon for Dreamworks and the epic aerial production As The World Tipped.

Follow City of the Unexpected on Twitter:
#UnexpectedCity
@thecentre
@ntwtweets

Damien Molony completes casting alongside
Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart
and Owen Teale in
No Man’s Land

Written by Harold Pinter
Directed by Sean Mathias

• Final casting confirmed for Sean Mathias’ production of Harold Pinter’s No Man’s Land.

• Damien Molony joins previously announced cast members Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart and Owen Teale.

• UK tour to include the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield from 3 August, Theatre Royal, Newcastle from 15 August, Theatre Royal, Brighton from 22 August and New Theatre, Cardiff from 29 August.

• Wyndham’s Theatre in London’s West End from 8 September to 17 December with opening night for press on 20 September.

It is announced today that Damien Molony, best known for his roles in BBC’s Being Human andRipper Street, will play the role of ‘Foster’ in Harold Pinter’s No Man’s Land, completing casting for the play. Molony joins the previously announced Ian McKellen as ‘Spooner’, Patrick Stewart as ‘Hirst’ and Owen Teale as ‘Briggs’ in Sean Mathias’ production, which will tour venues across the UK from 3 August prior to a limited engagement at London’s Wyndham’s Theatre from 8 September.

Most recently seen as Anthony in Channel 4’s Crashing, Damien Molony’s other television roles include Hal in BBC’s Being Human, DC Albert Flight in BBC’s Ripper Street, DS Jack Weston in Channel 5’s Suspects and Robert Putnam in HBO’s The Devil You Know. Notable theatre credits include The Hard Problem and Travelling Light for the National Theatre, If You Don’t Let Us Dream, We Won’t Let You Sleep for the Royal Court Theatre, ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore for West Yorkshire Playhouse and The Body of an American for The Gate and Royal & Derngate. Film credits include Tiger Raid and Kill Your Friends.

No Man’s Land will embark on a UK tour, opening in Sheffield from 3 August, followed by dates in Newcastle, Brighton and Cardiff. The production will then head into London’s West End where it will play a limited 14 week engagement at the Wyndham’s Theatre from 8 September with opening night for press on 20 September. No Man’s Land was first performed at the iconic Wyndham’s Theatre in 1975 with Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud, following its premiere at the National Theatre.

Directed by Sean Mathias, this production of No Man’s Land received highly acclaimed reviews at the Cort Theatre in New York whilst in repertory alongside Waiting for Godot, also starring stage and screen friends, McKellen and Stewart and directed by Mathias. The production ofWaiting for Godot had transferred from London where it celebrated a sell-out run at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, the last time McKellen and Stewart shared a West End stage.

One summer’s evening, two ageing writers, Hirst and Spooner, meet in a Hampstead pub and continue their drinking into the night at Hirst’s stately house nearby. As the pair become increasingly inebriated, and their stories increasingly unbelievable, the lively conversation soon turns into a revealing power game, further complicated by the return home of two sinister younger men. 

Sean Mathias  says “Directing No Man’s Land in America proved to be one of the greatest joys in my career. Always challenging but bringing immense rewards too. Like a prospector mining for diamond nuggets. I look forward to working on this new production with Ian, Patrick, Owen and Damian and discovering all kinds of unexpected jewels together.”

No Man’s Land will have set and costume design by Stephen Brimson Lewis and lighting design by Peter Kaczorowski.

This production of No Man’s Land is produced by Stuart Thompson, Flying Freehold Productions and Playful Productions.

LISTINGS

Website: www.NoMansLandThePlay.com

Instagram: instagram.com/nomanslandplay

Twitter: twitter.com/NoMansLandPlay

Facebook: www.facebook.com/No-Mans-Land-358999847603550/

Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield

First performance Wednesday 3 August 2016
Last performance Saturday 13 August 2016

Performances
Monday to Saturday at 7.45pm
Thursday at 2pm and Saturday at 3pm
(No matinee on Thursday 4 August 2016)

Prices
From £19

For full details either visit www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk or call: 0114 249 6000

Theatre Royal, Newcastle

First performance Monday 15 August 2016
Last performance Saturday 20 August 2016

Performances
Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm
Thursday at 2pm and Saturday at 2.30pm

Prices
From £16

For full details either visit www.theatreroyal.co.uk or call: 0844 811 2121

Theatre Royal, Brighton

First performance Monday 22 August 2016
Last performance Saturday 27 August 2016

Performances
Monday to Saturday at 7.45pm
Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm

Prices
From £25

For full details either visit www.atgtickets.com/brighton or call: 0844 871 7650

New Theatre, Cardiff

First performance Monday 29 August 2016
Last performance Saturday 3 September 2016

Performances
Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm
Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm

Prices
From £11

For full details either visit www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk or call: 02920 878889

Wyndham’s Theatre, London

First performance 8 September
Last performance Saturday 17 December
Opening Night for Press on Tuesday 20 September

Performances
Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm
Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30pm
(Wednesday matinee performances at Wyndham’s Theatre begin from 28 September)

Prices
From £10 (No booking fee on all tickets at the Wyndham’s Theatre)

For full details either visit www.NoMansLandThePlay.com or call: 0844 482 5120

THE RAILWAY CHILDREN – LIVE ON STAGE

TO HOLD A RELAXED PERFORMANCE

AT KING’S CROSS THEATRE IN LONDON

AT 2.30PM ON WEDNESDAY 22 JUNE 2016

 

At 2.30pm on Wednesday 22 June, there will be a ‘relaxed performance’ of the Olivier Award-winning The Railway Children – Live on Stage at London’s King’s Cross Theatre. Relaxed performances are designed to benefit those with autism, sensory and communication disorders or a learning disability. 

 

The National Autistic Society has worked closely with the production and advised on adjustments to the show and talked to both front-of-house staff and the cast to increase understanding of autism. There will be volunteers on hand on the day from the National Autistic Society.

 

Some adjustments will be made to the production as necessary including sound and lighting levels and some sound and smoke effects. Audience members will be able to leave and enter the auditorium throughout the show as needed and a chill-out area will be available in the foyer. ‘Visual Stories’ (detailed information and photos) of both the theatre and the show will be sent to all bookers in advance.

 

In addition, Mousetrap Theatre Projects will have 250 seats at £15 each for this performance, which will be offered to all special secondary schools in Greater London – these schools encompass a huge variety of learning needs, not only those on the autistic spectrum.

 

The relaxed performance is open for general sale as usual and there are no restrictions other than the usual age related ones (children under 2 will not be admitted, children under 11 must be accompanied by an adult). There are access rates of either £24.75 or £12.50 (with the usual complimentary companion seats).

The Olivier Award-winning production of Mike Kenny’s stage adaptation of E. Nesbit’s novel The Railway Children is now running at King’s Cross Theatre until 8 January 2017.

The Railway Children opened at King’s Cross Theatre to critical and public acclaim on 14 January 2015, following previews from 16 December 2014. The show will celebrate its 2^nd Anniversary on 16 December 2016.

The cast of The Railway Children includes Martin Barass as Mr Perks, Suzy Cooper as Mother, Sophie Ablett as Bobbie, Matt Jessup as Peter, Beth Lilly as Phyllis, Lindsay Allen as Mrs Perks, Peter Gardiner as Doctor/Butler, Connie Hyde as Mrs Viney, Shaun McCourt as Jim, Blair Plant as Father/Schepansky, Moray Treadwell as the Old Gentleman and Adam Collier, Helen Brampton, Alan Drake and Julie Gilby. The children’s ensemble is made up of four teams of ten children aged between 8 and 16.

A purpose built 1,000-seat theatre, complete with a railway track and platforms, and with a state of the art air conditioning and heating system, was specially created for this production on King’s Boulevard, behind King’s Cross Station, a site which has been loaned to the production for the duration of the run by Google. The York Theatre Royal production, which is in association with the National Railway Museum, features a live steam locomotive and a vintage carriage, originally built in 1896.

The production at King’s Cross Theatre is in support of the Railway Children Charity that aims to help homeless and runaway children throughout the world, with £1 per ticket donated to the charity. To date, £335,000 has been raised by the theatre production since its West End debut in 2010.

The Railway Children is directed by Damian Cruden, the Artistic Director of York Theatre Royal, with design by Joanna Scotcher, lighting by Richard G. Jones, music by Christopher Madin and sound by Craig Vear.

The Railway Children tells the story of Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis, three children whose lives change dramatically when their father is mysteriously taken away. They move from London to a cottage in rural Yorkshire with their mother, where they befriend the local railway porter, Perks, and embark on a magical journey of discovery, friendship and adventure. But the mystery remains – where is Father, and is he ever coming back?

2016 marks the 110^th anniversary of the publication of Edith Nesbit’s much loved classic children’s book The Railway Children, which has subsequently been adapted for the stage and screen, most famously in the 1970 film version directed by Lionel Jeffries and starring Jenny Agutter, Bernard Cribbins, Dinah Sheridan and Sally Thomsett.

The production is presented in London by Tristan Baker & Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment, Oliver Royds for BOS Productions and Sue Scott Davison, in association with York Theatre Royal and the National Railway Museum.

 

LISTINGS INFORMATION

THE RAILWAY CHILDREN – LIVE ON STAGE

King’s Cross Theatre

Goods Way

King’s Cross

London N1C 4UR

Booking until                        8 January 2017

Running Time                       2 hours 10 minutes (including an interval)

Box Office                           0844 871 7604                   

Tickets                                £25.00-£49.50, with 25% off for Under 16s (Premium Seats available from £54.50 + Limited edition show poster)

From 31 October 2016, 5,000 tickets are available from £10 at select performances, with 25% off for Under 16s

 

Website                               www.railwaychildrenlondon.com

Facebook                            www.facebook.com/railwaychildrenlondon

Twitter                                 @TRCKingsCross

Google+                              plus.google.com/+RailwayChildrenLondon

 

Performance Schedule:         Wednesday at 2.30pm & 7.30pm

                                           Thursday at 2.30pm

                                           Saturday at 1pm & 4.30pm

                                           Sunday at 2pm & 6pm

*Extra performances:          1pm on 24 November & 1, 8 December (no 2.30pm performances on these dates)

2016-17 CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

 

Monday 19 December               1pm & 4.30pm

Tuesday 20 December               No performance

Wednesday 21 December          1pm & 4.30pm

Thursday 22 December              1pm & 4.30pm

Friday 23 December                  1pm & 4.30pm

Saturday 24 December              No performance

Sunday 25 December                No performance

Monday 26 December               1pm & 4.30pm

Tuesday 27 December               No performance

Wednesday 28 December          1pm & 4.30pm

Thursday 29 December              1pm & 4.30pm

Friday 30 December                  1pm & 4.30pm

Saturday 31 December               2.30pm

Sunday 1 January                      No performance

Monday 2 January                     1pm & 4.30pm

Tuesday 3 January                     2.30pm

Wednesday 4 January                2.30pm

Thursday 5 January                   No performance

Friday 6 January                        No performance

Saturday 7 January                    1pm & 4.30pm

Sunday 8 January                      2pm