BSL Interpreted Performance at Spamalot

Director and Choreographer JOANNE HAND

Musical Director JOHN HUDSON

Seven performances only – October 24 to 29

Tickets now available

Local theatre company announce a special British Sign Language Interpreted Performance of their forthcoming production of Spamalot.

In a move to ensure theatre is accessible to as many people as possible, Darlington Operatic Society has announced they will be presenting a British Sign Language Interpreted Performance of their show currently in rehearsal – Monty Python’s Spamalot.

Company spokesman Julian Cound told us “We are delighted to have secured the skills of BSL Interpreter Jenna Johnson to sign a performance of Spamalot. This will truly open up the production to a whole host of people who would otherwise miss out on experiencing live theatre.”

Julian continued “I guess we could have picked an easier show for Jenna to work on than a fast paced musical comedy such as Spamalot, but we are really looking forward to welcoming her to our rehearsals so she can get to know the show inside out before the big day.”

Monty Python’s Spamalot will have seven performances at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium this autumn – Monday 24 to Saturday 29 October at 7.30pm with a 2pm matinee on Saturday 29 October. The BSL interpreted performance will take place on Thursday 27 October.

Monty Python’s Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and their quest for the Holy Grail. The show features lusty maidens, dancing divas, a killer rabbit and a legless knight. It has been honored with dozens of awards, including the Grammy for Best Original Cast Recording and three Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Tickets are priced £16 for adults and £10 for children (aged 14 and under) and can be purchased online at www.darlingtonos.org.uk, or by phone on 01325 244659.

Monty Python’s Spamalot has book and lyrics by Eric Idle and music by John Du Prez & Eric Idle. Lovingly ripped off from the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail, by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, Spamalot had its Broadway debut in 2005, directed by Mike Nichols.

JOANNA LUMLEY TO HOST
SPECIAL GALA PERFORMANCE BY

THE NATIONAL YOUTH BALLET OF GREAT BRITAIN

AT SADLER’S WELLS ON SUNDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 2016

·         The evening will celebrate the legacy of Founder and Artistic Director Jill Tookey, who passed away in March this year

·         Joanna Lumley has been a patron of National Youth Ballet since 1989, and will host the gala in memory of Jill

National Youth Ballet is delighted to announce that Joanna Lumley will host a special Memorial Gala performance at Sadler’s Wells on Sunday 4 September, celebrating the company’s inspirational Founder and Artistic Director Jill Tookey, who passed away in March this year.

Joanna Lumley has been a patron of National Youth Ballet since 1989, when she met Jill at one of the company’s performances at Sadler’s Wells. Joanna has since become a huge supporter of the company, and has narrated two of their ballets. Joanna will host the gala performance on Sunday 4 September, where she will be joined on stage by many returning alumni, who now dance for leading companies including Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures.

Over three decades, Jill Tookey quietly became one of the industry’s most influential dance leaders, inspiring generations of young dancers and choreographers, many of whom have embarked upon successful professional careers after their time with NYB. Jill was appointed a CBE for services to dance in the 2016 New Year Honours, and in June this will be presented at Buckingham Palace to her ten-year-old granddaughter, and 2016 NYB company member, Gabriella Rummery.

The 2016 programme, which also includes performances at the Hawth Theatre, Crawley on Friday 27 and Saturday 27 August, will showcase highlights from National Youth Ballet’s 29-year history through some of Jill’s favourite commissions. These include The Old Man of Lochnagar, a ballet based on the children’s book by HRH The Prince of Wales, choreographed by Olivier Award winner and NYB alumnus Drew McOnie. NYB’s innovative Beyond Ballet platform will also return, showcasing young choreographic talents presenting their own works. The Memorial Gala performance at Sadler’s Wells will also include new commissions and performances from returning alumni including choreographer Andrew McNicol, West End performer Lucinda Lawrence and Birmingham Royal Ballet first artist Ruth Brill.

The 2016 Season is led by Artistic Director in Residence Mikah Smillie, a graduate of the Royal Ballet School’s Teachers Training Course, Associate Artist for Re:Bourne, mentor for NYB’s Beyond Balletchoreographic platform, teacher at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and freelance rehearsal director.

National Youth Ballet involves talented young dancers aged 8 to 18 in every aspect of creating a ballet, from the conception of an idea through to performance on stage at a professional level. The Company also encourages children from all walks of life to become involved with dance through schools and community workshops. NYB utilises the skills of students in associated arts and encourages the talents of young designers, costumiers, musicians and student teachers in the preparation and production of all their work. Through the Beyond Ballet platform, the Company also nurtures young choreographic talent, supporting young choreographers in devising and showcasing their own works at professional level. This year 120 dancers from across the country were offered places with the Company, and will perform in the 2016 season.

Notable NYB alumni include Drew McOnie (choreographer), Sir Gregory Dean (Principal at Royal Danish Ballet), Jessica Brown Findlay (Actress, Downton Abbey) and Tyrone Singleton (Principal at Birmingham Royal Ballet), as well as many alumni working for leading companies including Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures. Patrons include Carlos Acosta, Sir Matthew Bourne, Darcey Bussell, Joanna Lumley, Dame Monica Mason, Wayne Sleep and Sir Peter Wright.

www.NationalYouthBallet.org

Twitter.com/NYBofGB

Facebook.com/NationalYouthBallet

James Seabright presents the King’s Head Theatre and In Your Face production of

TRAINSPOTTING

Based on the novel by Irvine Welsh, adapted by Harry Gibson

Directed by Adam Spreadbury-Maher and Greg Esplin

3rd November – 15th January 2017

The Vaults, Launcelot Street, London SE1 7AD

To celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the release of Irvine Welsh and Danny Boyle’s iconic, generation defining film Trainspotting, and ahead of the 2017 release of its sequel, a no-holds-barred immersive theatrical adaptation opens at The Vaults in Waterloo on 8^th November (previews from 3^rd November). To further mark the anniversary, twenty tickets at £20 will be available for every performance.

This strictly limited eleven-week transfer follows two sell-out seasons at the King’s Head Theatre for the production, which is directed by the venue’s artistic director Adam Spreadbury-Maher in collaboration with Greg Esplin. Against a dynamic soundscape of 80s dance music, the stories of a group of friends living through the Edinburgh heroin scene – Renton, Tommy, Sick Boy, Begbie and Alison – are brought to life with humour, poetry and provocatively graphic scenes across 75 intense, immersive minutes.

“I was shocked.. and I wrote the f*cking thing” – Irvine Welsh

A special performance space is being created within The Vaults’ Smiths Arch for the production, with a capacity of just 200 split between immersive general admission where audience members will be seated all around the space amidst the action, and a limited number of traditional theatre seats.  This transfer marks the first collaboration between the King’s Head Theatre and Seabright Productions, the Olivier Award winning commercial producers behind shows such as Showstopper! The Improvised Musical and Potted Potter.

“Choose us. Choose life. Choose mortgage payments; choose washing machines; choose cars; choose sitting on the couch watching mind-numbing and spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing f*ckin junk food

intae yir mooth. Choose rotting away, pishing and shiteing yerself in a home, a total f*ckin embarrassment tae the selfish, f*cked-up brats ye’ve produced. Choose life.”

The cast are Rachael Anderson (June), Chris Dennis (Begbie), Calum Barbour (Mother Superior), Greg Esplin (Tommy), Michael Lockerbie (Sickboy), Erin Marshall (Alison) and Gavin Ross (Renton).

Listings Information:

Venue              The Vaults, Launcelot Street, London SE1 7AD

Dates:             3rd November 2016 – 15th January 2017 (Tue to Sun, no performances 24-26 Dec / 31 Dec)

Ticket Prices:   £20 – £35

Box Office:       www.TrainspottingLive.com / 020 7183 5942

Running time: 75 minutes – no interval

Warnings:        Contains nudity, very strong language, heavy drug/needle use.

Age guidance:  16+

Riot Act in collaboration with Theatre N16 presents:

WHAT’S ON AT LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

leedsgrandtheatre.com / 0844 848 2700

Twitter: @grandtheatrels1

***BRIAN MAY & KERRY ELLIS***CHICAGO***THE FULL MONTY***ELAINE PAIGE***

ROCKY HORROR SHOW***MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET***GHOST***THE COMMITMENTS***

***SIXTIES GOLD***JANE MCDONALD

Park Theatre 14 July – 6 August.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

Newly engaged Guy sets off on a trip across the US to revisit ex-girlfriends he feels “responsible” for. As any sane man would.

Makes you squirm just thinking about it, and Neil LaBute’s brilliantly observed script continuously ratchets up the squirm intensity to wonderful comic effect. The pauses and looks from the impressive cast are played to perfection. The women on Guy’s list are a varied bunch – high school sweetheart, wild sexual adventuress, older married woman and college sweetheart. Each meeting takes place in a hotel room in a different city – signalled by travelogue projections and stagehands dressed as maids “servicing” the room, changing furniture configurations and artwork with dance like efficiency. In a lovely touch by designer PJ McEvoy, which didn’t hit me until the final scene, the décor matches the women’s costumes.

The awkwardness of each encounter is played beautifully by the entire cast. As Sam, Elly Condron is full of hysterical, twitchy, underlying resentment that comes rushing out when Guy gives his reasons for leaving her; Roxanne Pallett makes the most of the showiest role as Tyler, but reigns it in to shine in the quieter, confessional moments of the encounter. Carolyn Backhouse is almost regal as Lindsay, the woman Guy abandoned when their affair was discovered. Their scene plays out almost as a trial, with prosecution wiping the floor with his defence and sentencing him to very sweet justice. Carley Stenson’s Bobbi is the woman that may be the love of Guy’s life. Stenson allows the fluctuating emotions and frustration to flicker subtly, making her outbursts more powerful and moving as she is the only woman who manages to see the real Guy.

Charles Dorfman as Guy is simply wonderful. He manages to make the character likeable, even when the audience is gasping at the sheer idiocy and selfishness of his words. His reactions as he carries out Lindsay’s “punishment” are fantastic – like a 12-year-old being made to clean his room. As Guy is reeling off psychobabble explanations straight from Dr Phil, but full of self-regard, Dorfman makes it clear that Guy is acting a role. His motivation remains unclear until the (shocking) end of the play – penitence, sadism, masochism? When all is revealed, there is a moment of hope, but will Guy return to type – full of empty promises for a wonderful future that he will never deliver?

Director Gary Condes continues his fine work with Buckland Theatre Company with this polished and provocative production. LaBute’s play produces gasps and laughs in equal measure, exploring the darker side of relationships with a deft hand. If you only see one play this month – make it Some Girl(s).

CAST ANNOUNCED FOR

The 25th Anniversary of

CHILDREN OF EDEN

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz

Book by John Caird

At the Union Theatre

From Wednesday 10th August to Saturday 10th September 2016

Full casting is announced today for Children of Eden, which returns to London 25 years after its original West End production, playing at the Union Theatre from Wednesday 10 August, with a press night on Friday 12 August 2016.

The cast features Natasha O’Brien (A Christmas Carol, Rose Theatre) as Eve / Mama, Stephen Barry(The Beautiful Game, Union Theatre) as Adam / Noah, Joey Dexter (This was the World and I Was King, Brockley Jack Theatre) as Father, Samantha Giffard (Little Shop of Horrors, Aberystwyth Arts Centre) as Aysha, Guy Woolf (The Tempest, Waterloo East) as Cain / Japeth, Nikita Johal (Princess Caraboo, Finborough Theatre) as Yonah, Susie Chaytow (She Loves Me, Landor Theatre) as Aphra,Daniel Miles (Grease, Silja Line Cruises) as Abel / Ham, Kris Marc-Joseph (See Rock City and Other Destinations, Union Theatre) as Seth/ Shem, Verity Burgess (Evita, West End) as Storyteller andGabriel Mokake (Dreamgirls, West End) as Snake.

Inspired by the Book of Genesis, Children of Eden tells the timeless story of what it means to be a parent. From the moment you bring a child into the world everything changes; you learn to protect, cherish, and love unconditionally. But as they grow you have to learn one more thing; to one day let them go. Featuring one of the most beautiful scores in contemporary musical theatre from the composer of Godspell, Pippin and Wicked, Children of Eden is a heartfelt and humorous musical about the unique family bond.

Children of Eden has Music and Lyrics by acclaimed composer Stephen Schwartz, who is perhaps best known for his mega-hit musical Wicked which continues to play on Broadway and in the West End. A big screen adaptation of Wicked is also in development. Stephen has contributed lyrics to films includingPocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre and Enchanted, and his other stage musicals include Godspell andPippin. Schwartz was recently given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame.

Children of Eden has a Book by John Caird, who with Trevor Nunn adapted and directed Les Misérables. His recent directorial credits include McQueen at the Haymarket Theatre, Tosca in Chicago and Houston, La Boheme in San Francisco and his own musical Daddy Long Legs off-Broadway. His work for the RSC included over 20 productions of classic and new plays including a co-production with Trevor Nunn of Nicholas Nickleby for which he received a Tony and Olivier Award.

Children of Eden is directed by Christian Durham, whose productions include Spend Spend Spend(Union Theatre), Just So (Bridewell Theatre), Debbie Does Dallas (Edinburgh Festival, E4 Udderbelly) and Taboo (UK Tour, Best Musical – MEN Awards). It is choreographed by Lucie Pankhurst whose recent work includes The Stripper (St James Theatre), The Toxic Avenger (Southwark Playhouse), The Busker’s Opera (Park Theatre), Shock Treatment (Kings Head Theatre) and Dogfight (Southwark Playhouse). Design is by Kingsley Hall (Once Upon A Mattress, Patience, The Baker’s Wife – Union Theatre), Lighting Design by Nic Farman (The Stripper – St James Theatre, The Toxic Avenger -Southwark Playhouse) and Musical Direction by Inga Davis-Rutter (Spend, Spend, Spend and Love Story – Union Theatre).

Children of Eden has Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and Book by John Caird, based on a concept by Charles Lisanby. It is produced by Union Productions and performed by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) Limited.

www: www.uniontheatre.biz

Twitter: @TheUnionTheatre

Facebook: /TheUnionTheatre

DREAMGIRLS
Savoy Theatre, London
Performances from 19 November
Dreamgirlswestend.com

• Amber Riley performs ‘I Am Changing’ as she prepares to star in Dreamgirls at the Savoy Theatre from this Autumn.

• Director and Choreographer Casey Nicholaw meets Amber Riley and discusses the role of soulful singer, Effie White

An exclusive new video has been released in advance of the long-awaited UK premiere ofDreamgirls which will have preview performances at the Savoy Theatre from 19 November and Opening Night on Wednesday 14 December 2016.

American actress and singer Amber Riley is joined in the video feature by Dreamgirls Director and Choreographer Casey Nicholaw, as they discuss the joys and challenges of performing the role of ‘Effie White’ before Ms Riley sings ‘I Am Changing’ from the musical’s iconic score.

Ms Riley will be joined in Dreamgirls at the Savoy Theatre by Ibinabo Jack as Lorrell Robinson and Liisi LaFontaine as Deena Jones, making up the soulful singing trio ‘The Dreams’. Nicholas Bailey will play Marty, Adam J. Bernard will play Jimmy Early, Tyrone Huntley will play C.C. White and Joe Aaron Reid will play Curtis Taylor Jr, with Ruth Brown and Karen Mavalternating the role of Effie White at performances when Amber Riley is not scheduled to perform.

The cast of Dreamgirls will also include Jocasta Almgill, Callum Aylott, Hugo Batista, Samara Casteallo, Chloe Chambers, Carly Mercedes Dyer, Joelle Dyson, Kimmy Edwards, Candace Furbert, Nathan Graham, Ashley Luke Lloyd, Gabriel Mokake, Abiola Ogunbiyi, Sean Parkins, Kirk Patterson, Ryan Reid, Rohan Richards, Noel Samuels, Durone Stokes and Tosh Wanogho-Maud.

Full information on performance schedules and further casting will be updated on the official website Dreamgirlswestend.com

Dreamgirls will be Directed and Choreographed by Olivier and Tony Award®-winning Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Disney’s Aladdin and Something Rotten!), with Set Design byTim Hatley, Costume Design by Gregg Barnes, Lighting Design by Hugh Vanstone, Sound Design by Richard Brooker and Hair Design by Josh Marquette. The Musical Supervisor will be Nick Finlow, the Orchestrator will be Harold Wheeler, with Additional Material by Willie Reale.

Dreamgirls transports you to a revolutionary time in American music history. Dreamgirls charts the tumultuous journey of a young female singing trio from Chicago, Illinois called ‘The Dreams’, as they learn the hard lesson that show business is as tough as it is fabulous, and features the classic songs ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’, ‘I Am Changing’, ‘Listen’ and ‘One Night Only’ .

With Book and Lyrics by Tom Eyen and Music by Henry Krieger, the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls, Directed and Choreographed by Michael Bennett opened in 1981 and subsequently won six Tony Awards®. The original cast recording won two Grammy awards for Best Musical Album and Best Vocal Performance for Jennifer Holliday’s ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.’ In 2006 it was adapted into an Oscar winning motion picture starring Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx.

Amber Riley and Liisi LaFontaine are appearing with the support of UK Equity, incorporating the Variety Artistes’ Federation, pursuant to an exchange program between American Equity and UK Equity.