“FERRIS & MILNES – CHRISTMAS CRACKER!”
TO PLAY THE AMBASSADORS THEATRE 
ON 13 DECEMBER 2016
DEBUT WEST END SHOW FOR THE DOUBLE ACT

Musical comedy double act Dominic Ferris and Martin Milnes will perform their debut West End show “Ferris & Milnes – Christmas Cracker!” at the Ambassadors Theatre on Tuesday 13 December 2016.

The fun-packed Christmas variety extravaganza is sure to delight the whole family. Audiences can expect the unexpected, as well as the Christmas favourites they know and love, in a heart-warming, foot-tapping seasonal shindig. Further details are to be announced.

Tickets are now on sale priced £17.50 – £32.50 (booking fees may apply). Book online:https://www.theambassadorstheatre.co.uk, via telephone: 020 7395 5405, or in person at the Box Office.

“Ferris & Milnes – Christmas Cracker!” is produced by The Cahoots Theatre Company Ltd.

Recently playing to sold-out houses at the St. James Studio, Ferris & Milnes mark their debut West End show after thrilling crowds at West End LIVE in Trafalgar Square, The Tower of London, Lytham Festival’s West End Proms, and in Stephen Sondheim’s 85th Birthday Gala at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Described as “Hilarious” (The Telegraph) and “The most exciting musical theatre double act to be discovered in years” (West End Frame), Ferris & Milnes are perhaps best known for their musical mash-ups such as “33 Sondheim Numbers In 5 Minutes” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B08hMm9v9Xg) and their medley of “31 West End Musicals in Under 10 Minutes” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kiIyxYGAsU).

Dominic Ferris and Martin Milnes are a unique combination. Dominic is a pianist extraordinaire, regularly showcasing his skills touring the world as one half of The Piano Brothers – his Steinway & Sons accredited piano duo. Martin has ‘two voices’ – excelling as both a tenor and in his acclaimed falsetto register, having diversely crossed the musical worlds between West End and opera. Together, Dominic and Martin combine comedy, music and vocals in a dynamic cocktail of explosive Broadway glamour and fun.

For more information about Ferris & Milnes visit: www.ferrisandmilnes.com. Follow Ferris & Milnes on Twitter @ferrisandmilnes and on Facebook www.facebook.com/ferrisandmilnes.

LISTINGS
“Ferris & Milnes – Christmas Cracker!”
The Ambassadors Theatre, West Street, London, WC2H 9ND
Nearest tube station: Leicester Square
Tuesday 13 December 2016: 7.30pm
Running time: 2 hours 30 mins approx. (including interval)
Tickets: £17.50 – £32.50; transaction fees apply to online and telephone bookings
Online bookings: https://www.theambassadorstheatre.co.uk
Telephone bookings: 020 7395 5405

Majestic Theatre, Darlington – 23rd to 25th August

Musical and Horror, two genres that already have quite a bit in common. Both tend to invest in stagy, big-time emotions and feature grandiose payoffs, but while musicals deliver vocal triumphs, horror dishes it out in blood and guts, arterial sprays and all that good stuff

Horror Film the Musical combines the two perfectly – a musical about a group of teens, a cabin in the woods, masked evils, guns and rednecks (think Jason, Freddy Kruger, The Hills have Eyes and Blair Witch) – what can go wrong?  It would seem everything!!!  Soon they are being possessed, one at a time, by evil forces.

With special splash zone seats – cascades of fake blood from punctured body parts spout into the first few rows of seats, this is a very “bloody” production – filled with comedy performances, amazing singing, fabulous frenzied choreography it makes for a totally fun filled show.

With a nod to lots of classic cult horror films from the 80’s the show takes the mickey out of everyone and everything.

Collectively directed by the whole cast they have managed to squeeze humour and current affairs into every scene.   A clever mixture of horror, pathos and humour that manifests its perversely dark side rather endearingly,  mocking its source

Megan and Matt Campbell, Dan Harrison, Faye Hall, Abbie Fairless, Stee Leahy, Mackenzie Swash and Dylan Murray all shine in their respective parts, even if they are disguised by make-up for the majority of the show.

Lights and sound by Luke Thomson and Tom Cullen help with the atmosphere of horror and evil

This is a wonderful show with the ability to grow into a cult classic.  Go and see it before it closes

Tickets available from http://www.majestic-tickets.co.uk/

 

NEW CAST ANNOUNCED FOR RICHARD O’BRIEN’S

ROCKY HORROR SHOW

AT LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

 

STARRING

CHARLIE CONDOU & PAUL CATTERMOLE

The Rocky Horror Show has announced a glittering cast when they visit Leeds Grand Theatre this Halloween for one week only from Monday 31^st October to Saturday 5^th November 2016.

Returning to the show to play the iconic role of ‘The Narrator’ will be Coronation Street favourite Charlie Condou.

Charlie said: “I’m so excited to be returning to the cast of the Rocky Horror Show to play The Narrator – I had such a fantastic time playing the role earlier this year so I was thrilled to be invited back. It’s such an iconic show, I’m looking forward to re-joining the  wonderful  cast and to seeing the brilliant audiences – who I am sure will again be keeping me on my toes”

S Club 7 star Paul Cattermole will continue to excite audiences in the roles of ‘Eddie/Dr Scott’.  The title role of ‘Rocky’ is played by Dominic Andersen and ‘Frank n Furter’ by The Voice’s (Series 3) Liam Tamne.  ‘Janet’ will be played by theatre star Haley Flaherty.  Completing the cast are Rocky favourites Sophie Linder-Leeas ‘Columbia’, Kristian Lavercombe as ‘Riff Raff’ and Richard Meek, who plays ‘Brad’.

 

Rocky Horror Show tells the story of Brad and his fiancée Janet, two squeaky clean college kids who meet Dr Frank N Furter by chance when their car breaks down outside his house whilst on their way to visit their former college professor.  It is an adventure they’ll never forget, with fun, frolics, frocks, and frivolity, bursting with timeless songs and outrageous outfits.

Directed by Christopher Luscombe, the Rocky Horror Show is a guaranteed party, which famously combines science-fiction, horror, comedy and music.  Audience participation is encouraged, meaning of course, getting dressed in your most outrageous fancy dress.  This musical extravaganza features all of the famous musical classics including “Science Fiction/Double Feature”, “Dammit Janet” and of course, the timeless floor-filler, “The Time-Warp”.  Ready to thrill you with fun and naughty moments, O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show is the boldest bash of them all.  Be warned, this show has rude parts!

Rocky Horror Show is at Leeds Grand Theatre from

Monday 31^st October to Saturday 5^th November 2016

Tickets are on sale now priced from £22RV to £43

Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700

RV=Restricted View. Prices include £3 booking fee. Calls cost 7p per minute + your company’s access charge.

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

 

A TALE OF TWO CITIES

ADAPTED BY MIKE POULTON

WITH ORIGINAL MUSIC BY OSCAR-WINNING COMPOSER RACHEL PORTMAN

DIRECTED BY JAMES DACRE

TOURING THE UK THIS AUTUMN

 

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darknesss… It was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair – we had everything before us! We had nothing before us!”

 

The Touring Consortium Theatre Company and Royal & Derngate Northampton are pleased to announce full casting for Charles Dickens’ literary masterpiece A TALE OF TWO CITIES, opening at Royal & Derngate on Saturday 10 September 2016, with a national press night on Wednesday 14 September, and touring the UK until November.

 

Jacob Ifan will be making his professional theatre debut as ‘Charles Darnay’. Jacob is best known for playing the lead role of PC Jake Vickers on the BBC’s recent TV series Cuffs.  Joseph Timms, whose credits include Twelfth Nightand Richard III (Donmar on Broadway), Privates on Parade (Noel Coward Theatre) and The Hudsucker Proxy(Nuffield/Liverpool Everyman), will play ‘Sydney Carton’.

 

Shanaya Rafaat who has appeared in Great Expectations (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Around the World in 80 Days(St James Theatre) and King Lear (Shakespeare’s Globe), will play ‘Lucie Manette’ and Sue Wallace, whose National Theatre credits include Husbands and Sons,  Emil and the Detectives and Alan Bennett’s Untold Stories, takes the role of ‘Miss Pross’. Patrick Romer, who has numerous RSC credits to his name, plays ‘Dr Manette’.

 

Harry Attwell, whose credits include The Skriker (Royal Exchange Theatre), The Crucible (Old Vic) and Henry V(Michael Grandage Company) will play ‘Defarge’ and Noa Bodner, whose credits include Testing the Echo/Moving Stories (National Theatre) and Playing for Time (Sheffield Crucible), will play ‘Madame Defarge’. Michael Garner, fresh from Nell Gwynn in the West End, appears as ‘Lorry’.

 

Sean Murray (The Hook and Cat on at Hot Tin Roof, Royal & Derngate) plays ‘Barsad’ and Christopher Hunter (The Surprise of Love and Iphigenia, Theatre Royal Bath; Romeo and Juliet, RSC) will be the ‘Marquis’. The cast is completed by Rebecca Birch, Jonathan Dryden Taylor and Jon Tarcy.

Dickens considered his novel, A Tale Of Two Cities the best story he had ever written.   Interweaving one family’s intensely personal drama with the terror and chaos of the French Revolution, it is an epic story of love, sacrifice and redemption amidst horrific violence and world changing events.

A TALE OF TWO CITIES was first produced in Northampton in 2014, to great critical and public acclaim, and was director James Dacre’s inaugural production at the theatre. Adapted by Mike Poulton (Fortune’s Fool, Old Vic and Broadway, Wolf Hall RSC, West End & Broadway), and with an original score by Oscar-winning composer Rachel Portman (The Cider House Rules, Beloved), and UK Theatre Award nominated design by Mike Britton, with lighting design by Paul Keogan, sound design by Adrienne Quartly, movement direction by Struan Leslie, and fight direction by Terry King.

SEARCH IS ON FOR YOUNG ACTORS FOR SHEFFIELD THEATRES’

CHRISTMAS PRODUCTION OF ANNIE GET YOUR GUN

Sheffield Theatres are searching for three exceptional young local performers to appear in their whip crackin’ Christmas musical, Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun, which runs from Thursday 8 December – Saturday 14 January at the Crucible.

 

Producers are looking for strong singers and dancers who can confidently handle dialogue in an American accent, to take on the roles of Annie Oakley’s sisters Jessie, aged 14, Nellie aged 12 and 10 year old brother Jake. Those auditioning do not need to be the exact age of their character but will have to have reached their 9^th birthday by Monday 5 September 2016.  Two performers will be cast for each role which will be performed on a rota basis.

To secure an audition place, all performers must pre-register their interest by visiting the Sheffield Theatres website www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk and completing a registration form before 2.00pm on Thursday 15 September.

First auditions will take place at the Lyceum Theatre on Friday 16 September where participants will be taught a simple song and work on an extract from the script.

Recall sessions will take place on Saturday 17 September from 10.00am – 4.00pm at the Lyceum Theatre.

 

Sheffield Theatres’ production of Irving Berlin’s musical Annie Get Your Gun will be directed by Paul Foster and choreographed by Alistair David, with musical direction by Paul Herbert.

Auditions for the juvenile roles take place on Friday 16 September at the Lyceum Theatre at 4.30pm and 6.30pm.  Details and registration forms can be found atwww.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk. Tickets for Annie Get Your Gun are on sale now, priced from £20.00 and can be purchased from Sheffield Theatres’ Box Office in person, by calling 0114 249 6000, and online at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk. A transaction fee of £1.50 (£1.00 online) applies to all bookings made at the Box Office, excluding cash.

Bread and Roses 17 – 20 August
V22 Gallery 21 August
Bow Arts 25 – 26 August
Reviewed by Claire Roderick

Award-winning company LUXE’s production of Pablo Picasso’s Desire Caught by the Tail is a curate’s egg of a piece. A curiosity rather than a thing of beauty.
Picasso’s play is absurd, surreal and has no discernible plot. With characters called Bigfoot, Tart and the Onion and PA introductions of each part’s title (“The dismemberment of Bigfoot and the cannibalisation of lust” was particularly memorable), the main themes of the play seem to be hunger, lust and loss. I think.

I did begin to think I wasn’t intelligent enough to be in the audience after the very abrupt ending, but, walking out, one lady admitted that she hadn’t understood a single sentence, and the floodgates of befuddlement opened. The general consensus summed up by “That Picasso, he was having a laugh, wasn’t he?”

Director Cradeaux Alexander’s decision to rotate the roles around the (very game) cast of  four adds to the confusion. Simple props held by the actors show which role they are playing, but rather than make an artistic point, it instead highlighted some weak links in the cast. (Although I am sure that the stumbles will smooth out during the run.)

There are some wonderful poetic lines – “I lit the candle of sin with the match of her charms” and some weirdly hypnotic moments  – monkeys chomping nonchalantly on carrots, and it could well be genius, or a genius taking the mickey.

Part 3 – the edible aspects of lustful musings sees Bigfoot waxing lyrical about the Tart as the cast cut cake and distribute it to the audience. Apparently I was not alone in suffering cake anxiety during this scene. The poor actor could have been reading the telephone directory as we went through jealousy – they have cake!, self-pity – why does everyone have cake but me?,and finally joy – I HAVE my cake. One lady even stopped a passing actor to ask her for a fork! So I suppose that if hunger is a theme, then we actually understood that bit. Phew.

The charmingly shambolic props and design make the production feel like an art school presentation, and it is all very reminiscent of video installations that have puzzled me in galleries.

Perhaps that’s where this belongs.
But then there wouldn’t be cake.
I understood the cake.

SING HALLELUJAH!  

SISTER ACT AT LEEDS GRAND THEATRE NEXT WEEK

DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY CRAIG REVEL HORWOOD

STARRING ALEXANDRA BURKE

 

An all new production of the hit musical comedy SISTER ACT, starring Alexandra Burke, directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood will be at Leeds Grand Theatre for one week only from Monday 22^nd to Saturday 27^th August 2016.

 

Director and Choreographer Craig Revel Horwood said: “I am truly thrilled to be directing and choreographing this all new production of Sister Act, a show I fell in love with when I saw it a few years ago.”

 

Alexandra Burke said: “I’m over the moon to be given the opportunity to play the wonderful Deloris in Sister Act. It’s such an iconic role and a part I’ve always wanted to play. I love touring the UK and I’m thrilled to be working with Craig and his amazing creative team.”

 

Based on the smash hit movie starring Whoopi Goldberg and Maggie Smith, SISTER ACT tells the hilarious story of Deloris Van Cartier, a disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won’t be found – a Convent! Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own.

For more information on Leeds Grand Theatre’s coming season, and to buy tickets, visit leedsgrandtheatre.com.

Sister Act is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 22^nd to Saturday 27^th August 2016

Tickets are on sale now priced from £22.50RV to £48

Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700

RV=Restricted View. Prices include £3 booking fee. Calls cost 7p per minute + your company’s access charge.

NEIL ECKERSLEY

 

presents

 

 

Music by Frank Wildhorn     Lyrics by Jack Murphy

 

Book by Jack Murphy & Gregory Boyd     UK adaptation by Ava Eldred

 

 

WENDI PETERS and DAVE WILLETTS headline WONDERLAND and West

 

End & Broadway leading lady KERRY ELLIS guest stars in select venues…

 

 

 

TV and West End star Wendi Peters, much loved for her acclaimed portrayal of Cilla Battersby-Brown inCoronation Street, will headline the upcoming 2017 UK tour of Wonderland as Queen of Hearts alongside musical theatre favourite Dave Willetts, who has previously starred in tours of South Pacific, 42^nd Street andSeven Brides for Seven Brothers, as White Rabbit.

 

West End and Broadway leading lady Kerry Ellis, best known for playing Elphaba in the West End and Broadway productions of Wicked, will guest star as Alice in select venues around her concert commitments. She will appear in Edinburgh, Sunderland, Birmingham, Bromley, Woking, Manchester, Wimbledon, Bristol, Brighton, Liverpool, Stoke and Milton Keynes.

  

Completing the principal cast are Stephen Webb as Jack / White Knight, Natalie McQueen as Mad Hatter, Kayi Ushe as Caterpillar, Dominic Owen as Cheshire Cat, Ben Kerr as March Hare and Carolyn Maitland as Alternate Alice / Mad Hatter. They are joined by an ensemble comprising Sharif Afifi, Toyan Thomas Browne, Divine Cresswell, Jessica Croll, Francesca Lara Gordon, Benjamin McMillan, Bree Smith, Benjamin Yates and swings Lewis Easter and Collette Guitart.

  

Following sold out seasons in Tampa, Texas and Tokyo, the multi Grammy, Tony and Drama Desk Award nominated Frank Wildhorn’s Wonderland debuts at the Edinburgh Playhouse from Friday 20^th to Saturday 28^thJanuary 2017 ahead of an extensive UK tour.

 

In addition to the previously announced dates, the inaugural UK tour of Wonderland has added Swansea and Bournemouth to its nationwide schedule, both of which will be on sale soon.

 

 

 

Hailed by the New York Times as “inspirational”, Wonderland is an enchanting musical adaption of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, with a huge heart, a medley of magic and a whole lot of wonder. Here a timely and touching story of love in all its forms, it’s an adventurous exploration of who we are, who we want to be and the power of everyday magic in our lives.

 

In the tradition of the best stage musicals, Wonderland boasts a catchy score full of songs from Frank Wildhorn, writer of pop hits including Whitney Houston’s ‘Where Do Broken Hearts Go?’ and theatre classics including ‘This is the Moment’ from his internationally acclaimed show, Jekyll & Hyde.

 

Wendi Peters has worked extensively on both stage and screen, but it was the iconic role of Cilla in Coronation Street which truly made her a household name. Her appearance led to her being asked on numerous TV programmes such as Celebrity Sewing Bee for Children In Need, Celebrity Mastermind, The F Word with Gordon Ramsay and Celebrity Masterchef, where she reached the finals. Wendi currently plays regular character Cook Jenkins in BBC’s Hetty Feather. Alongside her screen work, Wendi is in much demand as a stage actress with recent credits including Hatched ’n’ Dispatched (Park Theatre), Oh What a Lovely War! (UK Tour) and White Christmas (Dominion Theatre).

   

Dave Willetts is one of the UK’s foremost musical theatre stars having played numerous leading roles including Jean Valjean in Les Misérables (London and Australia), Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera(London and Manchester), for which he won the Manchester Evening News Award for Best Performance, Old Deuteronomy in Cats (London), the title roles in Jesus Christ Superstar (London and Europe), Sweeney Todd (UK Tour) and Sunday in the Park with George (UK Tour), Max Von Mayerling in Sunset Boulevard (London), and Adam Pontipee in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Emile de Becque in South Pacific, Julian Marsh in 42nd Street and Professor Callaghan in Legally Blonde (all UK Tours). Dave has also made many international concert appearances, including performances at the concert halls of Monterey, Mexico City, Los Angeles, Rotterdam, Munich as well as the Royal Albert Hall. His latest album, Once in a Lifetime, celebrates 25 years in show business.

  

Kerry Ellis is the leading lady of her generation. Her extensive theatre credits include Grizabella in Cats, Nancy in Oliver!, Fantine in Les Misérables, Ellen in Miss Saigon, Meatloaf in the original cast of We Will Rock Youand Eliza Dolittle in My Fair Lady, as well as Svetlana in Chess in concert at the Royal Albert Hall alongside Josh Groban and Idina Menzel. As well as her theatre career, Kerry performed her own solo tour around the UK culminating in a sell-out performance at the London Palladium and the release of her own self-titled album. She also continues to tour and perform all over the globe with her long time writing and performing partner Queen’s Brian May. The pair are due to release a new album early next year.

 

Produced by Neil Eckersley, Wonderland has music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Jack Murphy, book by Jack Murphy and Gregory Boyd with UK adaptation by Ava Eldred. It is directed by Lotte Wakeham (Associate Director of Matilda, West End & Broadway), with musical supervision by Jason Howland (Beautiful, West End & Broadway), choreography by Lucie Pankhurst (Dogfight at the Southwark Playhouse), set design by Andrew Riley (Songs for a New World at the St James and Flight at Opera Holland Park), costume design by Grace Smart (2015 Linbury Prize winner) and lighting design by Tony Award nominee Nick Richings (current UK tours of Priscilla Queen of the Desert & The Rocky Horror Show).

 

LISTINGS

 

Neil Eckersley presents

 

WONDERLAND

 

Music by Frank Wildhorn

Lyrics by Jack Murphy

Book by Jack Murphy & Gregory Boyd

UK adaptation Ava Eldred

 

Directed by Lotte Wakeham

Musical Supervision by Jason Howland

Choreography by Lucie Pankhurst

Set Design by Andrew Riley

Costume Design by Grace Smart

Lighting Design by Nick Richings

 

UK TOUR 2017

 

 

* Kerry Ellis will guest star as Alice in these venues. The role of Alice for all other venues is yet to be announced.

 

 

For more details & online booking:

 

www.wonderlandthemusical.com

 

 

TWITTER

 

www.twitsdinner.com I @Twitsdinner I @BompasandParr I @TheVaultsUK | #DinnerAtTheTwits

FURTHER FABULOUSLY FOUL MENU DETAILS REVEALED,
INCLUDING BESPOKE BEER CREATED WITH YEAST SWABBED
FROM ROALD DAHL’S WRITING CHAIR, FOR
DINNER AT THE TWITS

• Bompas & Parr and 40FT Brewery are creating a bespoke beer, Mr Twit’s Odious Ale, using yeast swabbed from Roald Dahl’s writing chair
• Brave guests attending Dinner at the Twits can also expect enticing aperitifs by Bompas & Parr garnished with nettles, thistles and scented helium balloons
• The banquet will include Glowing Hug Tight Glue, Treasures of the Compost Heap and Bird Pie – Your Night of a Thousand Claws
• The Muggle-Wumps’ Downside Up Cocktail Cavern will offer questionable cocktails and tantalising tinctures at The Vaults from 6pm daily

 

The award-winning team behind the Olivier Award-nominated smash hit Alice’s Adventures Underground and The Game’s Afoot, in association with gastronomic wunderkinds Bompas & Parr, are delighted to announce further menu details and casting for Dinner at the Twits, a gloriously gruesome interactive theatrical dining experience from 4 September – 30 October at The Vaults, London.

Bompas & Parr are working with 40FT Brewery to create a bespoke beer for Dinner at the Twits, Mr Twit’s Odious Ale. With the permission of the Roald Dahl Estate, they have taken a swab from Roald Dahl’s writing chair, from which they will culture the native yeast and use it to brew all the beer for the event.

Mr Twit’s Odious Ale will be brewed to the Polish Grätzen style with oak smoked wheat malt – but instead of the original Grätzen yeast, the beer will be fermented with a standard ale yeast followed by a wild yeast recovered from Roald Dahl’s writing chair for a secondary fermentation. A light golden colour with a relatively high carbonation, Grätzen is sometimes known as Polish Champagne.

Harry Parr, of Bompas & Parr, said: “A surprising number of our previous activations have been inspired by Roald Dahl in some way or other – from our chocolate waterfall, to our boat ride on a lake built above Selfridges, to our Artisanal Chewing Gum Store – so it’s been a delight to work directly with the Roald Dahl Estate and, indirectly, one of the best loved storytellers of all time, in his centenary year.

“By incorporating wild yeast cultured from inside Roald Dahl’s writing chair in our beer to accompany Dinner at The Twits, it feels like we are injecting his own dark humour and effervescent sense of fun into the brew.”

Steve Ryan, of 40FT Brewery, said: “We’ve been lifelong fans of Roald Dahl and so it’s an honour to be collaborating with our friends Bompas & Parr to create this beer together.”

Oliver Lansley, of Les Enfants Terribles, said: “Creating the world of the Twits is a dream come true for me. Roald Dahl is the reason I fell in love with stories as a child and it’s not hard to spot his influence on all of Les Enfants Terribles’ work. We are thrilled to finally be collaborating with real life Willy Wonkas Bompas & Parr, and we can’t wait to invite you all to this deliciously disgusting dinner party.”

Every guest will be treated to 90 minutes of entertainment from the worst hosts ever, as created by Les Enfants Terribles theatre company. Curious canapes and prickly cocktails will be served straight from Mr Twit’s ghastly garden.

The Twits Garden Spritz consists of wild nettle and thistle-infused Aperol, wild strawberry vermouth, prosecco and soda, garnished with nettles and thistles – straw optional! – while The Terrible Shrinks is a Roly Poly Bird berry and orange vodka topped with soda, garnished with a scented helium balloon.

Internationally renowned for creating compelling, inspiring and highly memorable gastronomic experiences, Bompas & Parr have developed a menu to intrigue the adventurous and tantalise the tastebuds. The banquet will include Wormery LIVE, Glowing Hug Tight Glue, Treasures of the Compost Heap, Bird Pie – Your Night of a Thousand Claws and Bloater Paste, all washed down with half a bottle of superb bag-in-box wine from St. John Wines and followed by perilous puddings.

Premium ticket holders will also receive an additional fizz cocktail on arrival prepared by the mixologists at Bompas & Parr, a bar of Mr Twit’s personally smoked chocolate, a cup of Mrs Twit’s home brew in the Muggle-Wumps’ Downside Up Cocktail Cavern and a copy of the limited edition Dinner at the Twits programme, which includes exclusive recipes from Bompas & Parr.

Artisan chocolate bars will be provided by the renowned chocolatiers Rococo Chocolates, who are creating a very special smoky chocolate bar for Mr Twit. Mr Twit’s Beardy Bar will combine Rococo’s scrumptious house blend of milk chocolate with (freshly beard picked) cereal, banana, yoghurt, lapsang souchong tea and honey. Any Twit would love it!

Mr & Mrs Twit will graciously open up the Muggle-Wumps’ Downside Up Cocktail Cavern in The Vaults to those too timid to try their culinary cornucopia. From 6pm, come in and relax in the Muggle-Wumps’ topsy turvy turnabout world with questionable cocktails and tantalising tinctures.

Mr Twit will be played by Chris Barlow. Chris is a highly skilled actor and puppeteer with a wealth of experience across stage and screen. His theatre credits include Flat Stanley (Hull Truck/Polka Theatre), Pirates of Penzance (Illyria) and Robin Hood (Oxford Playhouse). Most recently, Chris puppeteered various characters for Series 3 of the Working Title productionYonderland and some of his work can also be seen in the Warner Bros. feature film, Jack the Giant Killer.

Mrs Twit will be played by Lizzy Dive. Lizzy has previously worked with Les Enfants Terribles onThe Fantastical Flying Exploratory Laboratory and Alice’s Adventures Underground. Her other theatre credits include Twelfth Night and The Tempest for Aquila (USA No 1 Tour), The Merry Wives of Windsor (Illyria) and The Pier (Oxford Playhouse).

Les Enfants Terribles’ previous work includes multi-award-winning, international stage shows, including The Trench, The Terrible Infants and The Vaudevillains.

Dinner at the Twits is produced by Les Enfants Terribles and ebp, with delicious gastronomy from Bompas & Parr, in association with Creature of London, directed by Emma Earle, adapted by Oliver Lansley and Anthony Spargo, and designed by Samuel Wyer.

 

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Dinner at the Twits
The Vaults, Waterloo
4 September – 30 October 2016
Press performance: Wednesday 14 September at 19:15
Tickets priced at £80-£110 available from www.twitsdinner.com / 0844 248 1215
90 minutes, no interval
Minimum age 16+. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.
Some dietary requirements will be catered for if notified in advance, please contact [email protected]

Prices

Tuesday & Wednesday: Standard: £80 Premium: £100
Thursday: Standard: £85 Premium: £105
Friday & Saturday: Standard: £90 Premium £110
Sunday Brunch: Standard: £75 Premium: £95
All prices will include a £1.50 booking fee on the website

Standard tickets: Over 90 minutes you will be given a prickly cocktail aperitif, eat gruesome hors d’oeuvres, hunt for concealed canapes, brave a baroque bird pie banquet and potentially perilous pudding in the windowless dining room, all served with ½ bottle of wine or non-alcoholic drinks.

Premium ticket: Premium ticket holders will also receive an additional fizz cocktail on arrival prepared by the mixologists at Bompas & Parr, a bar of Mr Twit’s personally smoked chocolate, a cup of Mrs Twit’s home brew in the Muggle-Wumps’ Downside Up Cocktail Cavern and a copy of the limited edition Dinner at the Twits programme, which includes exclusive recipes from Bompas & Parr.

Groups 

Groups of 10 or more benefit from a reduced booking fee of £1 per ticket.

Groups of up to 9 people are able to book their tickets online. Larger groups must be booked by calling 0844 248 1215.

Exclusive bookings

Exclusivity of the show at Premium rate can be booked for 80 people. Tickets must be booked on 0844 248 1215. Tickets include banquet, wine or non-alcoholic drinks with dinner, two cocktails, programme and chocolates.

Timings

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturday evenings:
6pm, 7.15pm and 8.30pm
Saturday matinees:
12pm, 1.15pm and 2.30pm
Sundays:
12pm, 1.15pm, 2.30pm and 3.45pm

The Muggle-Wumps’ Downside Up Cocktail Cavern
The Vaults, Waterloo
4 September – 30 October 2016
Free entry and open to the general public
From 6pm – late
Tuesday – Saturday
18+

SPHINX THEATRE LAUNCHES SECOND WOMEN CENTRE STAGE FESTIVAL

●      After a sell-out first festival in 2015, Women Centre Stage returns to celebrate more and better roles for women in UK theatre.

●      Women Centre Stage: Power Play will take place at Hampstead Theatre on the 20th November 2016.

●      Supporters include Dame Janet Suzman, April de Angelis, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Ann Mitchell, andLucy Kirkwood.

Sphinx Theatre has today announced that WOMEN CENTRE STAGE: POWER PLAY will be taking place on the 20th of November with a full venue takeover of Hampstead Theatre.

 Edward Hall – Artistic Director, Hampstead Theatre says “I’m delighted that Hampstead Theatre can offer its support by providing a platform to keep this urgent and important festival going from strength to strength.”

Women Centre Stage aims to inspire and create mainstage roles for women, re-energising the English theatre repertoire with female-centred and female-driven plays by male and female artists. Recent research shows that just 39% of onstage performers 36% of directors and 28% of writers were female in UK theatre venues between 2012 and 2014* proving the festival is still a vital and practical response by one of the UK’s leading companies in the field.

Women Centre Stage will be taking over every space in Hampstead Theatre on the 20th of November and will feature six programmes throughout the day including leading writers, actors and companies from across the country in curated mixed bills of showcases, scratch and work-in-progress.

Last year’s festival WOMEN CENTRE STAGE: HEROINES included work by Timberlake Wertenbaker, Barney Norris, Rona Munro, Roy Williams, Rachel De-lahay and Charlotte Josephine amongst many others. It also saw partnerships with Bolton Octagon, KALI Theatre, Watford Palace Theatre, GRAEAE and Inspector Sands. This year’s festival will build on 2015’s high-impact, high profile debut with an expanded programme from some of the most exciting emerging and established artists across the UK, all exploring women centre stage.

Long-time collaborator of Sphinx Theatre and acclaimed playwright April de Angelis says “The festival encourages writers to think women into the centre of their stories, to ascribe them agency and to create significant relationships between female characters.”

Founded in 1973 Sphinx Theatre Company has been at the vanguard of promoting, advocating and inspiring women in the arts through productions, conferences and research for over 40 years, led by artistic director Sue Parrish since 1990. Work includes premieres of April de Angelis’ modern classic Playhouse Creatures, Pam Gems’ The Snow Palace & Bryony Lavery’s Goliath, plus the Vamps Vixens and Feminists andGlass Ceiling conferences with the National Theatre, Young Vic, Southbank Centre and West Yorkshire Playhouse.