FREDDIE FOX TO APPEAR IN GO PEOPLE’S A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

Glass Half Full Productions present
The Go People production of

A MIDSUMMER
NIGHT’S DREAM

  • A BRAND NEW, IRREVERANT AND WHIP-SMART TAKE ON SHAKESPEARE’S BELOVED COMEDY, DIRECTED BY SIMON EVANS
  • A CAST OF SEVEN ACTORS WILL BE LED BY FREDDIE FOX AND MADDY HILL
  • PRODUCTION WILL RUN FROM 31 MAY – 1 JULY 2016
  • PRESS NIGHT 6 JUNE 2016

Simon Evans – director of the acclaimed Bug and The Dazzle at London’s Found111 – brings his irreverent, mischievous and wildly creative interpretation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream to Southwark Playhouse for a limited five week run from Tuesday 31 May until Friday 1 July 2016.

Presented by Go People, the company behind the sell-out production of Almost, Maine at the Park Theatre, the production’s seven-strong cast will be led by Freddie Fox, star of The Judas Kiss and Hay Fever in the West End and Cucumber and Parade’s End on television, and Maddy Hill, best known for her role of Nancy Carter in EastEnders and winner of the National Television Award for Most Popular Newcomer.

Alongside Freddie Fox and Maddy Hill will be Lucy Eaton as Helena / Starveling, Freddie Hutchins as Lysander / Flute, Melanie Fullbrook as Puck, Suzie Preece as Hermia / Snug and Ludovic Hughes as Oberon / Theseus.

This 90 minute version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is performed not by the usual 17 actors but instead a troupe of 7 – promising something altogether different, and full of surprises. Audiences will witness the anarchic adventure of this 7 strong company embracing the exhilarating challenge of being in 17 places at once – this is farce meets Shakespeare in the most exciting way.

Just when you think you’ve seen A Midsummer Night’s Dream in every possible way it can be done, Go People are here to mix it up a bit…

Mainly because SOMEONE filled in the casting sheet wrong – it takes 17 actors to play all the parts in Midsummer Night’s Dream, not 7. Which is what we have. 7. Which is 10 fewer than we need. But never mind, the show must go on (and we’ve already paid our deposit) so we’re doing it anyway. With 7 actors. Not 17.

Simon Evans said:

“Go People are amongst the smartest, most talented and tenacious group of actors I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. I’ve been an Ambassador for them since their inception and watched them grow from a fledgling troupe into a thrilling creative company. Our Dream, performed not by the usual 17 actors but instead a troupe of 7, is something very special: the wild, anarchic spirit providing expected comedy and unexpected tenderness to bubble up when you least expect it. With this show I’m proud to do what I can to bring Go People and their unique style into the spotlight they so richly deserve.”

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is co-produced by Glass Half Full Productions, co-founded by producers Gareth Lake and Adam Blanshay. Their current West End credits include Funny Girl,Sunny Afternoon and The End of Longing with Matthew Perry. Their Broadway credits includeThe Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and the Globe’s Twelfth Night / Richard III.

Gareth Lake, co-producer of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, said, “I first saw the production in a smaller venue in London late last year. A Midsummer Night’s Dream like no other, it’s funny, skillful, brilliantly smart – and I’m delighted to be bringing it to a larger London audience”.

New Dates Added to the 2016 National Tour of William Nicholson’s Shadowlands

NEW DATES ADDED TO

THE 2016 NATIONAL TOUR OF

WILLIAM NICHOLSON’S SHADOWLANDS

THE LOVE STORY OF C.S. LEWIS AND JOY DAVIDMAN

 

New dates have been added to the critically acclaimed 2016 national tour of William Nicholson’s SHADOWLANDS, directed by Alastair Whatley and produced by Birdsong Productions. Reading, Cambridge, Plymouth, Colchester, Bury St Edmunds and Aylesbury have all been added to the tour schedule.

The cast of SHADOWLANDS is led by Stephen Boxer (Humans, The Iron Lady, Doctors) as C.S. Lewis, Denis Lill (The RoyalOnly Fools and HorsesRumpole of the Baileyas Major W.H. Lewis ‘Warnie’ and Amanda Ryan (The Forsyte Saga, Shameless) as Joy Davidman. They are joined by Simon Shackleton as Professor Christopher Riley, Jeffrey Harmer as Rev ‘Harry’ Harrington, Ian Marr as Alan Gregg, Richard Holliday as Dr Maurice Oakley and Shannon Rewcroft as Douglas, with Holly Smith and Alistair Higgins playing multiple supporting roles.

SHADOWLANDS, by William Nicholson, tells the love story of C.S. Lewis, Oxford don and author of The Chronicles of Narnia and The Screwtape Letters, and American poet Joy Davidman. What begins as a formal meeting of two very different minds slowly develops into a feeling of connection and love. Lewis finds his quiet life with his brother Warnie disrupted by the outspoken, feisty Davidman, whose uninhibited behaviour offers a sharp contrast to the rigid sensibilities of the male-dominated university. Each provides the other with new ways of viewing the world, but Lewis’s Christian faith is tested when Joy is diagnosed with cancer.

SHADOWLANDS won the Evening Standard Drama Award for Best Play in 1990 and Nicholson was nominated for a Tony Award when it transferred to Broadway. The film version, which starred Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger, won Best British Film at the 1994 BAFTAs and Nicholson was nominated for a Best Screenplay nomination.

This major revival of SHADOWLANDS is produced by Birdsong Productions, the people behind the critically-acclaimed and hugely successful touring productions of Birdsong and Flare Path, in association with Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.

SHADOWLANDS is directed by Alastair Whatley and designed by Anne-Marie Woodley and Alastair Whatley, with lighting design by Alex Wardle for Charcoalblue, sound design by Dominic Bilkey and music by Mia Soteriou.                                                 

Official website:  www.shadowlandstour.com

Twitter: @shadowlandstour 

Facebook: shadowlandsthetour

2016 TOUR SCHEDULE

5 – 9 April                       Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon                                020 8688 9291             

                                      www.fairfield.co.uk

11 – 16 April                   Festival Theatre, Malvern                                  01684 892277

  www.malvern-theatres.co.uk 

                     

19 – 23 April                   Connaught Theatre, Worthing                            01903 206 206

  www.worthingtheatres.co.uk 

                                 

26 – 30 April                   CAST Theatre, Doncaster                                  01302 303 959

                                      castindoncaster.com

*3 – 5 May                       The Hexagon, Reading                                     0118 960 6060                                                           

                                      www.readingarts.com/hexagon

 

16 – 21 May                    Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield                    01246 345 222

                                      chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk

23 – 28 May                    Cambridge Arts Theatre                                    01223 503 333

                                      www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

 

31 May – 4 June              Birmingham Repertory Theatre                          0121 236 4455

  www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

                                   

6 – 11 June                     Theatre Royal Plymouth                                    01752 267 222

  www.theatreroyal.com

 

13 – 18 June                   New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth                        023 9264 9000

  www.newtheatreroyal.com

    

21 – 25 June                  New Theatre, Cardiff                                          029 2087 8889             

                                      www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk 

                                                  

28 June – 2 July              Exeter Northcott Theatre                                   01392 726363

  www.exeternorthcott.co.uk 

                                    

4 – 9 July                        Mercury Theatre, Colchester                              01206 573 948

                                      www.mercurytheatre.co.uk

 

11 – 16 July                    Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds                        01284 769 505

  www.theatreroyal.org/

 

18 – 23 July                    Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury                            0844 871 7607

                                      www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury

 

25 July – 30 July             Richmond Theatre                                            0844 871 7651

  www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre

 

*N.B The role of Major W.H. Lewis ‘Warnie’ will be played by Richard Holliday at this venue

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS TO HOLD OPEN AUDITIONS

JAMIE HENDRY PRODUCTIONS
presents

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH

OPEN AUDITIONS TO BE HELD IN LONDON AND MANCHESTER FOR
THE NEW MUSICAL ADAPTATION OF
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
AHEAD OF ITS WORLD PREMIERE

 

The highly-anticipated major new musical theatre adaptation of THE WIND IN THE WILLOWSwill hold open auditions this month, ahead of its world premiere in Autumn 2016. Auditions will be held at The Lowry in Salford on 22nd April and at Rambert in London on 23rd April. Adapted for the stage by Julian Fellowes, George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS will open at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth from 8th October 2016, followed by The Lowry in Salford and Mayflower Theatre in Southampton.

The producers for THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS are looking for strong character actors, with excellent singing and dancing skills, for principal roles and male and female ensemble. Attendees should be prepared to sing a musical theatre song and must be aged 18 years or older.

Based on Kenneth Grahame’s treasured novel which has captivated generations of readers for over a century, THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS has been adapted for the stage with a book by Oscar-winning screenwriter and Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes and Olivier Award-winning composer and lyricist team George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS marks the first time the three have worked together since their hugely successful collaboration on the international hit musical Mary Poppins which ran for three years in the West End and six years on Broadway.

Developed and produced by Jamie Hendry Productions and presented in association with Theatre Royal Plymouth, THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS is directed by Rachel Kavanaugh with design by Peter McKintosh, choreography by Aletta Collins, lighting design by Howard Harrisonand sound design by Gareth Owen. Casting is by Pippa Ailion Casting.

Kenneth Grahame’s wild tale about the thrill-seeking, lovable menace Mr Toad comes to life in a brand new stage musical. Ratty, Badger and Mole join the exuberant Toad and embark on a series of adventures and misadventures caused by his insatiable need for speed! Imprisoned for theft and with his existence under threat from the inhabitants of the Wild Wood, Toad must attempt a daring escape to defend Toad Hall. Featuring spectacular stagecraft and a company of over fifty, this sparkling new musical with a glorious original score brings this treasured British classic to life in what is set to be 2016’s wildest theatrical adventure.

For national press enquiries, please contact THE CORNER SHOP PR on 0207 831 7657
Lewis Jenkins:
[email protected]|Ben Chamberlain: [email protected]

LISTINGS

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS

Website:       www.windinthewillowsthemusical.com
Facebook:    \WillowsMusical
Twitter:       @WillowsMusical
Instagram:    \WillowsMusical

8th October 2016 – 22nd October 2016
THEATRE ROYAL, PLYMOUTH
www.theatreroyal.com
01752 267 222

26th October 2016 – 6th November 2016
THE LOWRY, SALFORD
www.thelowry.com
0843 208 6000

10th November 2016 – 19th November 2016
MAYFLOWER THEATRE, SOUTHAMPTON
www.mayflower.org.uk
02380 711811

New play about Shakespeare to coincide with 400th anniversary at the Chelsea Theatre

Castlebar Productions presents:

A KINGDOM FOR A STAGE
28 April – 7 May 2016, Chelsea Theatre

In honour of the four hundredth anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, this new play by Tony Diggle (Show Me The Money), directed by West End director Andrew Loudon (Carrie’s War, Gertrude’s Secret, Cool Hand Luke), comes to the Chelsea Theatre, starring Jonathan Coote as William Shakespeare, recently seen in As You Like It and Our Country’s Good at the Royal National Theatre.

William Shakespeare sits in the heavens with his peers, excited by the recreation of his Globe theatre in London and by the four hundredth anniversary of his death. With Puck’s assistance, he returns to London, believing that everything is very much better. When he discovers things are not nearly as rosy as he thought, he decides to “torment them (the people of the present day) for this error”. But Christopher Marlowe and Mephistopheles intervene, pointing out that Shakespeare’s own life was far from rosy itself!

The play compares the Britain of the Elizabethan and Jacobean age with the Britain of Elizabeth II, and contrasts Shakespeare the public man, as expressed through the general line of his plays, with Shakespeare the private man.

Tony Diggle is the author of six unpublished plays, one of which, Show Me The Money, he produced at the Chelsea Theatre in 2013. Andrew Loudon trained at The Drama Studio and made his directorial debut in 1999 at the Pleasance, Edinburgh, with Little Women, the success of which led to further productions at the Sadler’s Wells, and its West End run at the Duchess Theatre. He also directed Carrie’s War at the Lilian Baylis Theatre, Sadler’s Wells, which received 4 and 5 star reviews at its West End transfer to the Apollo Theatre in 2009 and then embarked on a Number One UK tour in 2010. He also directed Gertrude’s Secret with Prunella Scales, Angela Griffin and Natalie Cassidy at Trafalgar Studios, Chichester Minerva and Leeds Grand, and in 2011 directedCool Hand Luke at the Aldwych Theatre with Marc Warren in the lead.

FRAME FESTIVAL SEEKS PUBLIC TO PERFROM AT BIG DANCE BUS STOP

BIG DANCE BUS INVITES PUBLIC TO PERFORM AT FRAMEDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

PRESENTED BY BALLETBOYZ AND DANCESCREEN 2016:FRAME RUNS 9 12 JUNE 2016 IN KINGSTON

Big Dance Bus, the iconic red London double-decker bus that provides a mobile venue for live dance is looking for a range performance groups to celebrate and perform on the Bus when it arrives in Kingston’s town square on 11 June for Frame Dance Film Festival this June. The festival, presented by BalletBoyz and Dancescreen, is a major new event in the annual dance calendar offering opportunities for creative talent in the arts, dance and film worlds to share experience, show work, learn from other artists and for the wider public to enjoy the best that dance and dance film offer. The full programme for the festival is still to be announced on Frame’s website – framefilmfestival.com.

The Big Dance Bus complete with stage, DJ, PA system and dance-floor, will spend the summer touring London and BalletBoyz and Frame are delighted to welcome it to Kingston for the festival before continuing its tour. For Saturday 11 June the Big Dance Bus is calling out to performance groups of all styles, abilities and ages to apply to perform on the Bus’ stage. They are seeking a breadth of dance diversity and wealth of talent in all its forms. Twenty performance slots will be available on the 10x10m dancefloor, each of 3-8 minutes. Groups interested in performing should contact [email protected] by Friday 29 April providing the following information: the name of group; style; age of group; where the group is based; any video links to work; contact number; any access requirements and which dates the group can do. Big Dance Bus will do their best to programme all applicants.

Big Dance Bus also offers additional opportunities in Kingston to screen dance films. Submissions should be sent to email[email protected] with a YouTube or Vimeo link to the dance film.

@BalletBoyz
www.balletboyz.com

1984 Returns to West End for 12 week season at Playhouse Theatre

Sonia Friedman Productions and Eleanor Lloyd Productions
present the Headlong, Nottingham Playhouse and Almeida Theatre production of
1984
By George Orwell
A new adaptation created by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan

@1984ThePlay
#1984play

  • 1984 returns to Playhouse Theatre for 12-week season
  • West End run follows sell-out international tour
  • 14 June – 3 September 2016
  • Tickets on-sale on Friday 8 April at 10am


Following a sell-out international tour, this critically and publicly acclaimed production of1984 will return to the Playhouse Theatre in London’s West End this summer. George Orwell’s dystopian masterpiece, adapted by Olivier Award-winner Robert Icke and Olivier Award-nominee Duncan Macmillan, will preview from 14 June 2016, with the press night on 28 June 2016.

Now seen by over a quarter of a million people, this Headlong, Nottingham Playhouse and Almeida Theatre production premiered at Nottingham Playhouse in September 2013. Since opening, 1984 has played to packed houses at the Almeida Theatre, as well as throughout its two West End runs and in performances across the globe during national and international tours.

101 seats for every performance will be available for £19.84.

April, 1984.13:00. Comrade 6079, Winston Smith, thinks a thought, starts a diary and falls in love. But Big Brother is always watching.

The definitive book of the 20th century is re-examined in a radical, award-winning adaptation exploring surveillance, identity and why Orwell’s vision of the future is as relevant now as ever.

1984 is directed by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan with Daniel Raggett, Set and Costume is designed by Chloe Lamford, with Lighting designed by Natasha Chivers, Sound designed by Tom Gibbons and Video designed by Tim Reid.

George Orwell’s 1984, published in 1949, is one of the most influential novels in recent history, with its chilling depiction of perpetual war, pervasive government surveillance and incessant public mind-control.  Its ideas have become our ideas, and Orwell’s fiction is often said to be our reality.

Robert Icke has directed numerous productions as Almeida Associate Director including his own adaptations of Uncle Vanya and Oresteia (which transferred to Trafalgar Studios, and for which he won the Olivier, Critics’ Circle and Evening Standard Awards for Best Director), The Fever at The May Fair Hotel and Mr Burns. Robert’s work as a director also includes Boys and Romeo and Juliet for Headlong. He will make his National Theatre debut directing The Red Barn at the Lyttleton Theatre in October.

Duncan Macmillan’s plays include People, Places and Things (nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Play) which opened at the National Theatre and has transferred to the Wyndham’s Theatre in the West End; Every Brilliant Thing for Paines Plough on tour in the UK, New York, Australia and New Zealand; and Lungs for Paines Plough and at Schaubühne in Berlin, directed by Katie Mitchell.

THE THEATRE ROYAL WELCOMES THE THREE KINGS

Shoppers and commuters were stopped in their tracks on Friday as the three kings, James I, James II and James III graced the steps of the Theatre Royal before hitting the stage on Saturday and Sunday in the epic trilogy of plays.  The three kings brought a touch of regal to the theatre to give passers-by a sneak peek of what to expect from their epic performance in The James Plays, which plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Mon 15 – Sat 20 Feb 2016.

 

A trilogy of plays described as “better than Shakespeare” by The Telegraph and as “Scotland’s answer to Game of Thrones” by the Daily Record is coming to Newcastle Theatre Royal.

 

The James Plays, by Rona Munro are an exhilarating and vividly imagined trio, bringing to life three generations of Stewart kings who ruled Scotland from 1406 -1488. Each play stands alone as a unique vision of a country tussling with its past and future, with its own distinct theatrical atmosphere. Viewed together they create a complex and compelling narrative on Scottish culture and nationhood. These historical dramas have been written for a contemporary audience and are served up with a refreshing modern directness.

 

In a break from the norm, a select number of seats for the performances are on stage; built into the set, these seats are at heart of the action and allow the audience members sitting there to share the performer’s perspective of the space, and become witness to an ensemble of actors taking the audience through a rarely-explored period of history with playful wit and boisterous theatricality.

 

The James Plays by Rona Munro, and directed by Laurie Sansom played to sell-out houses of over 88,000 people during the opening run at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh and subsequently at the Olivier Theatre, National Theatre, London.

 

Described by The Telegraph as “better than Shakespeare” and “Rona Munro’s thrilling trilogy could be the finest history plays ever penned” the plays went on to win the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best New Play and the Writers Guild Award for Best New Play (James I).

 

Laurie Sansom, Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Scotland and Director of The James Plays says:  “The excitement we all felt at embarking on this journey to bring to life a little known part of Scottish history and stage Rona’s remarkable trilogy, was only matched by the excitement of sharing it with audiences at the EIF and at the National Theatre in London. We now have the chance to share it with audiences across the UK which will be a real privilege. We are indebted to all the partners who have made this possible, including the Scottish Government.”

 

Lisa Burger, Executive Director of the National Theatre of Great Britain, says: “Our collaboration with the National Theatre of Scotland on Laurie Sansom’s unforgettable production of The James Plays was undoubtedly one of last year’s highlights, setting the Olivier Theatre alight with exhilarating energy every evening.  We’re delighted that Rona Munro’s tremendous trilogy will live again for audiences around the country.”

 

The roles of the three James’ will be played by Steven Miller (Casualty, Black Watch) as James I, Matthew Pidgeon (RSC’s Wolf Hall, Edward II, The Wonderful World of Dissocia) as James III, and Andrew Rothney who returns as James II. Other new cast members include John Stahl (Game of Thrones, Being Human), Andrew Still (Black Swan, Hollyoaks), Dani Heron (I Am Me, Casualty), Sally Reid (Rab C. Nesbit, Scot Squad), Brian James, and Rosemary Boyle. They join Blythe Duff, Peter Forbes, Daniel Cahill, David Mara, Andrew Fraser, Fiona Wood, Nick Elliot, and Ali Craig who return to the trilogy from the original cast.

 

The James Plays is at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Sat 30 Apr to Sun 1 May. Tickets from £42.50 (save 50p per ticket online). All tickets can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge) or book online atwww.theatreroyal.co.uk

THE OLIVIER AWARD WINNING STAGE ADAPTATION OF THE CLASSIC NOVEL GOODNIGHT MISTER TOM ARRIVES AT NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL THIS SPRING

Newcastle Theatre Royal are delighted to announce that the Olivier award-winning stage adaptation of Michelle Magorian’s classic novel Goodnight Mister Tom will be visiting the theatre this Spring from Tuesday 17 May – Saturday 21 May.

 

The previously announced David Troughton will play the central role of Mister Oakley joined by an ensemble cast featuring Clark Devlin, Elisa de Grey, Guy Lewis, Simon Markey, Abigail Matthews, Jane Milligan, Martha Seignior, James Staddon, Melle Stewart, Georgina Sutton and Hollie Taylor.

Six talented young performers have been cast in the key roles of William and Zach. Joe Reynolds, Freddy Hawkins and Alex Taylor-McDowall will alternate the role of William and Sonny Kirby, Harrison Noble and Oliver Loades will alternate as Zach.

 

David Wood’s stage adaptation enjoyed great critical acclaim in 2012/13, winning the Olivier Award for Best Entertainment and Family.

 

David Troughton is currently playing the role of Tony Archer on BBC Radio 4’s long-running British contemporary rural drama, The Archers (since 2014). He has performed numerous times with both the RSC (The Shoemaker’s Holiday, Macbeth, Macbett, Henry IV: parts 1 and 2, Richard II and Richard III, The Cherry Orchard, The Tempest, King Lear, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Venetian Twins) and the National Theatre (Season’s Greetings, Playing with Fire, Measure for Measure, Peter Pan and Fool For Love). He is also a regular on TV where his appearances include Grantchester, Unforgotten, The Hollow Crown and many more.

The novel Goodnight Mister Tom is now a modern classic and is celebrating its 35th anniversary. Michelle Magorian’s wonderfully uplifting tale is brought gloriously to life in this magical stage adaptation by David Wood. Set during the dangerous build up to the Second World War, Goodnight Mister Tom follows young William Beech, who is evacuated to the idyllic English countryside and forges a remarkable and heart-warming friendship with the elderly recluse, Tom Oakley.

 

Winner of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and commended for the Carnegie Medal, Goodnight Mister Tom is now a world-wide literary favourite and BAFTA award-winning TV film (starring John Thaw), and continues to inspire audiences and bring generations together.

 

Goodnight Mister Tom comes to Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tuesday 17 – Saturday 21 May. Tickets are from £14.50 and can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge).

Award Winning Theatre Makers premiere Petrification at Live Theatre in May

Award Winning Theatre Makers premiere Petrification at Live Theatre in May

 

Presented by Telltale in association with LittleMighty.  Petrification, a new play written by Zoe Cooper (Nativities, Live Theatre) and directed by Mark Maughan (National Theatre, Paines Plough) will make its premiere at Live Theatre in May.

 

“You can sense the buzz developing from Petrification” – British Theatre Guide

 

Award winning theatre makers Zoe Cooper and Mark Maughan have come together to create a new theatre production Petrificationthat will begin its national tour on Live Theatre’s main stage from Thursday 26 to Saturday 28 May.  The show boasts an engaging and innovative script that recreates the atmosphere of a booze-fuelled night out at the pub.

 

Simon and Sean’s dad is dead. Returning home from London, Simon is shocked to find Sean in a relationship with a man called Aidan. Sean is irritated by Simon’s new cosmopolitan ways. And Aidan? He just wants to be part of the family.

 

Attempting to find common ground, they head for a night out in Gateshead.  But before long they’re arguing. What is it about the memory of a childhood trip to Whitby that sets them off? Darts, pints and fists fly across the room, as past and present collide with dizzying consequences. Joining the characters in the pub, the audience is thrust into the heart of one family’s search for truth.

 

Petrification began its life at the Gateshead International Festival of Theatre (GIFT) in May 2013, originally developed as a thirty-minute piece on a shoestring budget. The show was awarded festival prizes from Northern Stage and Live Theatre, which secured time and space to develop the full-length play. Over the summer of 2013, the company successfully applied for an Arts Council England Grants for the Arts award. This enabled the company to expand the creative team and realise a full-length draft of the script, ready to take to full production.

 

The show was later shortlisted for the Kevin Spacey Foundation Award, making the final round of 6 from over 1000 applications. The show will now premiere at Live Theatre, before heading out on an extensive UK tour.

 

Writer Zoe Cooper and director Mark Maughan lead Telltale’s work, having first met while working at Live Theatre. They then collaborated on the Old Vic New Voices 24 hour plays project, cementing the creative partnership and fuelling the decision to make more work together. They make bold, ambitious theatre telling stories from their native Northeast in extraordinary ways.

 

Zoe’s credits as a playwright include Nativities (Live Theatre), Utopia (Live Theatre / Soho Theatre), The Winter’s Tale (adaptation for The Globe Theatre), Longshore Drift (Old Vic New Voices) and Learning How to Swim (ATC/Root Theatre). She has also had work developed or produced with the RSC and National Theatre Studios, as well as with Ovalhouse, Theatre503, Nabakov and the Tristan Bates Theatre.

 

Mark has recently worked as staff director on the National Theatre’s hugely successful production of Les Blancs. Other credits include Made in China’s Tonight I’m Gonna Be The New Me, How Was It for You? (Brighton Dome), Address Unknown (JW3 for Soho Theatre) and The Money $hot Cabaret. He was resident trainee director at Paines Plough.

 

Director Mark Maughan commented “This is a play for anyone who’s ever left home and come back to find everything changed. And also for anyone who never went away in the first place. We hope the show is immersive, incisive and intoxicating.”

 

Writer Zoe Cooper commentedThe play was partly inspired by my family’s annual holiday growing up. Each year my family returned to the same beach, giving me a host of memories, through toddler tantrums to teenage friendships formed in a day and then forgotten. When I compare my memories to those of my sister’s I was really aware that there are loads of gaps and differences in what we recall. I have also wanted to write something about the north/south divide for a while, as well as the ways class can split a family – especially when everyone is forced to spend too much time together!”

 

The show’s cast will be announced soon.

 

Telltale’s work is produced by LittleMighty. The company works with remarkable artists to make brilliant theatre happen. Recent successes include Move to Stand’s FAT MAN (“For theatre like this I’d follow them anywhere” – The Times); Unfolding Theatre’sLANDS OF GLASS (“charming, harmonizing, enchanting” – The Telegraph) and Testament’s BLAKE REMIXED, a co-production with West Yorkshire Playhouse (“An entertaining fusion of hip-hop, rap and beatboxing that thrusts the Blake mythology into the 21stcentury – The Stage).

 

@we_are_telltale / @littlemightyuk / #Petrification

Running time: 75mins / Suitable for ages 14+

 

Company Information

 

Written by Zoe Cooper

Directed by Mark Maughan

Design by Emma Bailey

Lighting Design by Josh Pharo

Sound Design by Guy Connelly

Produced by LittleMighty

 

Development supported by Live Theatre, Northern Stage, GIFT and the Kevin Spacey Foundation.

 

Listings information

 

Live Theatre, Broad Chare, Quayside, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 3DQ

Thursday 26 – Saturday 28 May, 7.30pm

Saturday 28 May, 2pm

£18 – £10 full, £16 -£12 over 60s, £10 – £6 other concessions

Box Office: (0191) 232 1232

www.live.org.uk

 

Future Tour Dates

 

2 June: The Victorian Craft Beer Cafe

In Association with Halifax Square Chapel Centre for the Arts Plays in Pubs

www.squarechapel.co.uk

 

3 June: Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal

www.brewaryarts.co.uk

 

15 June: Customs House, South Shields

www.customshouse.co.uk

 

16 June: CAST, Doncaster

www.castindoncaster.com

 

18 June: The Lowry, Salford Quays

www.thelowry.com

 

20 – 22 June: Pub gigs with 2’s Company Festival in association with Harrogate Theatre

20 June – The Mitre Inn, Knaresborough

21 June – So Bar, Ripon

22 June – Tap and Spile, Harrogate

www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk

 

26 June: The HUB, Leeds

www.slunglow.org

The Andy Williams Christmas Extravaganza Starring The Osmonds

The Andy Williams Christmas Extravaganza

Starring

The Osmonds

 

with special guests

 

Ventriloquist – Steve Hewlett (Britain’s Got Talent) &

Singer Charlie Green (Britain’s Got Talent)

Plus

The Moon River Singers & Dancers

 

Newcastle City Hall

Friday 30 December

Tickets on sale Friday 15 April from 9am

 

Newcastle City Hall is proud to announce the return of the ‘Andy Williams Christmas Extravaganza’ for the second year running starring The Osmonds to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.  This dazzling, must-see holiday extravaganza comes directly from the historic stage of Branson USA’s beautiful Andy Williams Moon River Theatre. The tour will culminate with a performance at Newcastle City Hall on Friday 30 December.

Jimmy Osmond said, “It’s truly the most wonderful time of the year, and my brothers Jay, Merrill and I are looking forward to once again bringing back some of that Christmas cheer.   Last year’s UK Christmas tour was so much fun, that we are bringing it back following the run in the USA. The Andy Williams Christmas Extravaganza, is an American tradition that started in the 60s and beloved around the world.  It was Andy’s wishes and now my great honor and privilege to continue his amazing legacy of family friendly action-packed variety at its best. This award-winning show has proven to warm hearts and get you in that warm and fuzzy Christmas mood. Come celebrate Christmas with us”.

Treat your entire family to this award winning variety production featuring nostalgic footage of the legendary Andy Williams from Christmases past.  Sing along to your favourite Christmas Classics including “Silent Night”, “Last Christmas”, “Merry Christmas Everybody” and “Sleighride”. The Osmonds will also perform their mega hits made famous during more than five decades of entertaining around the world. Osmond fans will hear “Love Me for a Reason”, “Crazy Horses”, “Down By The Lazy River”, “Goin Home”, “Let Me In”, “The Proud One” and more.

 

Special guest stars from Britain’s Got Talent – ventriloquist Steve Hewlett and one of the show’s stand out young singers Charlie Green complete this unforgettable festive family tradition alongside the Moon River Singers and dancers.

The Andy Williams Christmas Spectacular with The Osmonds plays Newcastle City Hall on Friday 30 December Tickets are £38.50 and can be purchased at www.newcastlecityhall.org or from the Theatre Royal Box office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge.