BILL KENWRIGHT

BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH THE REALLY USEFUL GROUP
PRESENTS

EVITA

Lyrics by TIM RICE      Music by ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER

FOLLOWING A SMASH HIT RUN IN LONDON

THIS EXTRAORDINARY MUSICAL RETURNS

TO THRILL AUDIENCES ACROSS THE UK IN 2017

Following its smash hit run at London’s Dominion Theatre, Bill Kenwright’s production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita is set to thrill audiences once again across the UK. The tour will open inBromley on Thursday 12 January and is set to visit Southampton, Liverpool, Stoke-On-Trent, Edinburgh, Bristol, Wimbledon, Oxford, Salford Quays, Cardiff, York and Sunderland with further dates to be announced.

Telling the story of Eva Peron, wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Peron, Evita follows Eva’s journey from humble beginnings through to extraordinary wealth, power and iconic status which ultimately lead her to be heralded as the ‘spiritual leader of the nation’ by the Argentine people.

With more than 20 major awards to its credit, and an Oscar winning film version starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita is iconic. Featuring some of the best loved songs in musical theatre, including Don’t Cry for Me Argentina, On This Night of a Thousand Stars, You Must Love Me, and Another Suitcase in Another Hall, this spectacular production promises once again to be the theatrical event of the year. Don’t miss the 2017 UK tour of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s extraordinary musical Evita.

Further dates and star casting to be announced.

www.kenwright.com

The Boys in the Band

by Mart Crowley

MUSICAL THEATRE STAR DANIEL BOYS,

EASTENDERS’ HEARTTHROB JACK DERGES,

MIRANDA STAR JAMES HOLMES,

MIDSOMER MURDERS’ JOHN HOPKINS,

PRIMEVAL’S BEN MANSFIELD

AND UNDERCOVER’S NATHAN NOLAN

TO STAR ALONGSIDE

OLIVIER AWARD WINNER MARK GATISS AND IAN HALLARD

AT PARK THEATRE THIS AUTUMN

AND THEN ON UK TOUR

Producers Tom O’Connell and James Seabright are pleased to announce further casting for the first class revival of Mart Crowley’s ground-breaking play, THE BOYS IN THE BAND, opening at Park Theatre in London this autumn, then touring to The Lowry, Theatre Royal Brighton and West Yorkshire Playhouse.

There’s a party about to commence when nine men gather in a New York apartment for a birthday celebration. Harold, a self-confessed ‘Jew fairy’, receives a surprise birthday gift – a beautiful male hustler dubbed Cowboy. Meanwhile, party host Michael gets an unwanted surprise of his own in the shape of a figure from his past. As the booze is drunk and the dope smoked, the mood swings from hilarity to heart-break.

Olivier Award winner Mark Gatiss will star alongside his husband Ian Hallard in this eagerly anticipated production, which sees the pair playing ‘Harold’ and ‘Michael’.

West End musical theatre star Daniel Boys will star as ‘Donald’, Jack Derges, recently seen as the mysterious ‘Andy Flynn’ in EastEnders, will play ‘Cowboy’, Miranda star James Holmes will star as ‘Emory’, Midsomer Murders’ John Hopkins will play ‘Alan’, Primeval’s Ben Mansfield will play ‘Larry’, and Undercover’s Nathan Nolan will play ‘Hank’. Further casting to be announced.

The production is directed by A Small Family Business & One Man Two Guvnors’ director, Adam Penford, and will open at Park Theatre in London from 28 September 2016 – 30 October 2016, with a press night on Tuesday 4 October. The show will then embark on a short UK Tour visiting The Lowry, Salford from 3 – 6 November, Theatre Royal, Brighton from 8 – 12 November, and the West Yorkshire Playhouse from 14 – 19 November.

SARAH HARDING AND ANDY MOSS

GIRLS ALOUD POP SENSATION AND HOLLYOAKS HEARTTHROB

JUST ANNOUNCED FOR THIS YEAR’S NEW PRODUCTION OF

GHOST – THE MUSICAL

UNCHAINED AND REIMAGINED

A NEW MUSICAL PRODUCTION BASED ON THE MUCH-LOVED MOVIE MASTERPIECE

Singer and actress Sarah Harding will make her stage debut this autumn in Bill Kenwright’s new production of the timeless story of love, despair and hope: GHOST – THE MUSICAL. She will star as ‘Molly’ opposite Andy Moss, best known for starring as ‘Rhys Ashworth’ in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks, as ‘Sam’.

Taking its inspiration from the classic movie, this innovative reimagining will feature an expanded book, new music and original staging, and will tour the UK this autumn, opening at the New Wimbledon Theatre on Thursday 1 September, with this year’s dates culminating on 3 December at Theatre Royal Nottingham.  

For over ten years Sarah Harding was part of one of the most successful pop acts in UK history, Girls Aloud. With 20 consecutive Top Ten singles, including 4 Number 1’s, 2 Number 1 albums and 6 Platinum Albums in the UK, Girls Aloud received 5 Brit Award Nominations and became the first girl group since the Spice Girls to achieve 6 consecutive Top 3 singles. Sarah’s acting credits includeBad Day, Freefall, Run For Your Wife, Coronation Street and St Trinians 2: The Legend of Fritton’s Gold.

Sarah Harding said, “I’m absolutely delighted to be making my theatre debut in Ghost – The Musical. The film is one of my all-time favourites, so to get the opportunity to play ‘Molly’ in Bill Kenwright’s new production is a huge honour for me and I can’t wait to get started!”

Joining Sarah on stage is Andy Moss. Andy is best-known for starring as Rhys Ashworth in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks, one he played for 8 years. His credits also include Cutting It, Coronation Street and most recently he appeared as ‘Paul Cuthbert’ in the long running BBC soap opera Doctors.

The Double Academy Award winning movie is a huge success story, both critically and at the box office, where it was the highest grossing film in the year of its release. It starred the late Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Tony Goldwyn and Whoopi Goldberg and was directed by Jerry Zucker. Bruce Joel Rubin’s script won the Oscar® for Best Original Screenplay and Whoopi Goldberg won the Oscar® for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. The film’s most iconic and moving scene was famously performed to The Righteous Brother’s Unchained Melody, which also features in the musical version.

Walking back to their apartment late one night a tragic encounter sees Sam murdered and his beloved girlfriend Molly alone, in despair and utterly lost. But with the help of a phony storefront psychic Sam, trapped between this world and the next, tries to communicate with Molly in the hope of saving her from grave danger…

Bill Kenwright said; “Ghost is a story full of hope, and is one of those films which never leaves you. The book by Bruce Joel Rubin and score by Dave Stewart and Glenn Ballad come together wonderfully in one of my favourite new musicals in years.”

Bruce Joel Rubin said; “This is a show with such a strong emotional and musical life that it can mould to many visions and interpretations.  It can be performed on any scale, and its vibrant heart will still captivate an audience and allows the imagination to flourish. It is purely theatrical in the greatest sense.  We are very excited by the potential that the new version holds and elated it will tour the UK with Bill Kenwright”.

Further casting to be announced.

2016

2017 (Casting to be announced)

The Barricade Boys 

join the concert line-up for this weekend’s fun day

Les Misérables V The Phantom of The Opera 

at Bromley Football Club on Sunday 7th August 2016

Football match and live music from top West End performers

Do you hear the people sing? The Barricade Boys will join the musical line-up for the Les Misérables V The Phantom of The Opera football match and concert this Sunday 7th August.

With fabulous harmonies, incredible vocals, dashing good looks and fantastic personalities The Barricade Boys showcase some of the finest male voices from the world’s longest running musical Les Misérables and other hit West End shows.  Not only do they perform the world’s greatest show tunes but they also celebrate music from some of the most iconic names in the music industry, from powerful ballads and beautiful operatic arias to some of the best pop, rock and swing numbers of all time.

For your chance to see them perform along side other West End and Broadway stars, don’t miss the award-winning charity football match Les Misérables V The Phantom Of The Opera as it returns for The Decider this weekend!  Delicately poised with each team winning two matches in recent years, the two titans of the West End will battle it out for the title of ultimate champions at Bromley Football Club on Sunday 7th August 2016.

Raising money this year for Macmillan Cancer Support and the road safety charity Brake, this year’s event promises to be a great day out for all the family.

The West End teams will be joined on the day by celebrities and professional footballers to add to the excitement.  The afternoon will open with a concert at 1.30pm, with performances from stars of the West End and Broadway including Nathan Amzi, Daniel Boys, Kerry Ellis, Rob Houchen, Eva Noblezada, Lauren Samuels and VOX. Full line-up to be announced, and subject to change.

The match kicks off at 3.00pm and Les Misérables will be managed by England U21 managerGareth Southgate, whilst the Phantom team will be coached by England Ladies manager Mark Sampson.

Alongside the West End performers and backstage crews, famous players in the match will include Hollyoaks stars Danny Mac and Ayden Callaghan, X-Factor winner Sam Bailey, TV presenter Matt Johnson, CBeebies host Andy Day and ex-professional footballers Paul McVeigh, former Arsenal players David Livermore and Omer Riza and Southampton legend, Francis Benali.

Radio 5 Live and BBC TV pundit Mark Clemmit will also be there to bring a lively pitch-side commentary throughout the day.

The day promises to be a fabulous fun day for all the family with face painting, bouncy castle, stalls and a raffle. Food and drink will be available to make for a fabulous summer day out.

For tickets, which range from £5 – £35 (£35 VIP tickets include access to a reserved seating area, private bar and the opportunity to meet and mingle with the players), visitwww.ticketsource.co.uk/lesmisvphantom5.

The charity football match – known to fans as Les Mis v Phantom – has raised over £80,000 for good causes since it was started.  Five years ago, Melanie Oakley-Dow, the wig mistress at Les Misérables was diagnosed with cancer. The match between the 2 titans of the West End Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera was set up by Chris Key to support her and raise money for her chosen charity: Macmillan Cancer Support. Sadly, Melanie passed away in 2014, so this day is now in her memory. It made sense to return this year to Melanie’s chosen charity this year to help them with the great work they do for people suffering from cancer.

A substantial donation will also be made to Brake, the road safety charity. Brake has been chosen as one of the nominated charities this year because of one star’s personal connection with the charity. Jonny Purchase from Les Misérables tragically lost his dad in a road crash. Jonny Purchase, currently staring as Feuilly in Les Misérables, said: “I lost my father in a motorcycle crash in 2002 and Brake did tremendous work for our family, helping and supporting us through that difficult time. The work Brake undertakes is so important in helping those who have been involved or have had loved ones involved in road traffic crashes.”

LISTINGS:

Les Mis v Phantom – “The Decider”

Charity football match, concert and family fun day.

Bromley Arena, Hayes Lane, Bromley, BR2 9EF

Gates open at 12.30

Concert starts 13.30

Kick off 15.00

See how much fun we are having making the show – that’s how much fun you can have watching it.

Buy your tickets now

www.themajestictheatre.nutickets.com/…/Horror+Film+The+M…

The Bread & Roses Theatre announces its Summer & Autumn Season 2016

 9^th August to 18^th October 2016 – www.BreadandRosesTheatre.co.uk

68 Clapham Manor Street, SW4 6DZ Clapham, London

“This venue is quickly shaping up as one of the most exciting ones amongst the London pub theatres!”  – RemoteGoat

The Bread & Roses Theatre in Clapham has another exciting and diverse season lined up this summer and autumn as it is heading towards the end of its second year.

We continue our series of productions commemorating the 400^th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, after multiple 5 star reviews in earlier seasons, this season the long established Festival Players present a three-week-run of the Bard’s most famous play, Hamlet (27^th September to 15^thOctober).  Presented in full costume, an all-male company will bring the excitement of this great thriller; intrigue, ghostly visitations, passion, a play-within-a play, a gripping duel, and humour, in a crystal-clear and fast-paced 2-hour production. Earlier in the season Fentiman Productions also present Will’s Will by Sharon Jennings (9^th to 11^th August) featuring Shakespeare’s last will and testament, interrupted by his family, friends, colleagues and characters.

Other highlights include LUXE bringing their UK premiere of Pablo Picasso’s Desire Caught by the Tail (17^th to 20^th August), a rarely produced play about misery, discomfort, anguish, hunger and passion which is caught in the impossibility of its fulfilment. One week runs this season are: Knock Knock by Floyd Toulet (23^rd to 27^th August), a surprising, powerful and unsettling play which takes you on a journey deep into a mind broken by the past; Bourne West Productions’ Rubyby Jonathan Stephenson (30^th August to 3^rd September), a story in which a woman’s past and present collide in one evening; The Lettuce Dream Theatre Company’s Our Baby by Eleonora Fusco (6^th to 10^th September), an eerie tragicomedy set in contemporary times; Kam Theatre London’sGallows Rope by Mamet Leigh (13^th to 17^th September), capturing the struggles of solitary existence in the overpopulated London in the 21^st century; and the London premiere of Wanting the Moon by Rose Collis (18^th to 24^th September), inspired by real events in the life of Clemence Dane – author, artist and Oscar-winning screenwriter – asked by Noel Coward to revive her acting career and play the famous role he once created for her: the eccentric medium ‘Madame Arcati’ inBlithe Spirit.

As always the season also features a selection of shorter runs and one-off performances including devised piece Don’t Turn the Lights on (11^th to 13^th August), a scratch performance of Sorry, I Killed Your Cat (14^th August), black comedy Thelma and Louise – and Karen (21^st & 22^nd August), a rehearsed reading of new musical The Curse of Love (11^th & 12^th September), one-woman-showBefore Ariel (22^nd to 24^th September), improvisational shows Nighthawks (4^th September & 2^ndOctober) and C.S.I: Crime Scene Improvisation (9^th October) as well as new writing night Spiral(16^th to 18^th October).

Furthermore, the theatre continues its support for playwrights through the Playwrights Circle (26^thSeptember) as well as the launch of The Bread & Roses Playwriting Award 2016 on which further details will be announced later in August.

On Saturday 6^th August the theatre invites also everyone along to their Season Launch Party, an opportunity to meet the team and mingle with companies involved in the upcoming season, and on Monday 5^th September there will be another Bread & Roses Networking Event, for those interested in bringing their work to the venue.

“We’ve started introducing regular afternoon and late-night slots into our programming this season, which means we can program more work and use our space even more efficiently.” – Artistic Director Tessa Hart

“This year so far has been extremely exciting for the theatre and the pub, proving to be one of the finest art hubs in the SW London area.” – Managing Director Rebecca Pryle

2016 OLIVIER AWARDS WINNER

SHOWSTOPPER!

The Improvised Musical

 Extends until December!

at the

Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue

Every night the cast of Showstopper! The Improvised Musical pull off something incredibly ambitious; they create a real musical from scratch, not just an improv night with songs but a full story with characters you can care about, a live band of incredible musicians, and seamless choreography.

This  ingenious, unique blend of comedy, musical theatre and spontaneity.

scooped two awards this year – an Olivier Award in the Best Entertainment and Family category and a Chortle Award in the Character, Improv and Sketch category.

Following a successful season of Monday night shows at the Lyric Theatre since February  Showstopper: The Improvised Musical has announced three more dates for 2016  – 10 October, 14 November and 12 December.

Highlights from the 2015/2016 West End run have included: ‘Peter Panama’ a redemptive tale of off – shore accounting  and tax avoidance featuring the Guys and Dolls – inspired opening number ‘Bring Out Your Money’; ‘Queen of Spades’, set in the gardens of Buckingham Palace and featuring the show’s first ever call for ‘Oh Calcutta’; ‘These Are a Few of My Favourite Pills’ set in  a Nursing Home , ‘Blatt Out of Hell’ from the Fifa HQ, ‘The Lyin’ King’ set in the Daily Mail newsroom; ‘I never tyre of Georgia’ set in Kwikfit in the Deep South and ‘Bricking It’, the sad history of the Guernsey Lego factory.

What the critics said:

★★★★★

“Incredible… so polished, it defies belief.” – Daily Telegraph

★★★★★

“You absolutely have to go” – Mail on Sunday

★★★★

“Crackingly creative… a triumph.”  – The Times

★★★★

“Astounding” – Daily Express

★★★★

“Brilliant” – Financial Times

★★★★

“A success story that could run and run.”  – Evening Standard

★★★★

“Staggeringly good… a must-see.”  – The Stage

★★★★

“The resultant show is a glorious mix of shambolic story and genuinely hilarious songs”

 – Time Out

“Prepare to be wowed… Showstopper! might be the only West End show you ever need.”

– Chortle

Showstopper! was created by Adam Meggido and Dylan Emery.  Duncan Walsh Atkins is Musical Director, with design by Simon Scullion, lighting by Tim Mascall and sound by Tom Lishman.

The cast includes Ruth Bratt, Justin Brett, Dylan Emery, Pippa Evans, Susan Harrison, Sean McCann, Adam Meggido, Philip Pellew, Andrew Pugsley, Lucy Trodd, and Sarah-Louise Young; with seven cast members appearing per performance plus a live on-stage band.

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical is presented by James Seabright, Julie Clare, Keith Strachan and Ray Cooney by arrangement with Suzanna Rosenthal for Showstopper Productions.

Listings information:

 Showstopper! The Improvised Musical

Venue:                                   The Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London

Dates:                                     Dates : 10 October; 14 November and 12 December

Time:                                      7.30pm

Tickets:                                  From £20

Box Office:                              www.nimaxtheatres.com  /  0330 333 4812

Running Time: 90 minutes plus 20 minute interval
Age Limit: 12+ recommended