We are watching you…
The production is directed by James Brining, Artistic Director of West Yorkshire Playhouse, and stars Jason Manford (Caractacus Potts), Martin Kemp (the Childcatcher), Michelle Collins (Baroness Bomburst), Phill Jupitus (Baron Bomburst), Amy Griffiths (Truly Scrumptious) and Andy Hockley (Grandpa Potts).
THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY AND OPUS ARTE RELEASE NEW DVDS OF LIVE FROM STRATFORD-UPON-AVON PERFORMANCES OF THE MERCHANT OF VENICE AND HENRY V, AS WELL AS A HISTORIES BOX SET: KING AND COUNTRY
RSC, BRITISH LIBRARY AND OPUS ARTE ANNOUNCE THE RE-RELEASE OF 4 CD BOX-SET THE ESSENTIAL SHAKESPEARE LIVE.
The RSC production of Henry V, directed by Artistic Director Gregory Doran, is now available to pre-order on DVD and Blu Ray. Henry V was broadcast live from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on 21 October 2015. The DVD is priced at £19.99 and the Blu Ray is £24.99.
Henry V is also available as part of a box set entitled King and Country: Shakespeare’s Great Cycle of Kings, also containing Gregory Doran’s productions of Richard II and Henry IV Parts I and II, priced £49.99 in DVD format and £59.99 in Blu Ray format.
Henry V and the King and Country box set will be released on 1 April 2016 and are available to pre-order from www.rsc.org.uk/shop.
On 29 January the DVD and Blu Ray of The Merchant of Venice, directed by Polly Findlay, was released. The Merchant of Venice was broadcast live from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on 22 July 2015. The Merchant of Venice is on sale now from www.rsc.org.uk/shop and through various retailers.
The broadcasts played to over 450 cinemas each across the country, whilst also being available in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Europe. As well as the full stage productions, both DVDs contain extras including a Director’s Commentary and a Cast Gallery.
These are the latest recordings released by the RSC in collaboration with Opus Arte, in an ongoing series of RSC productions filmed live on stage.
CDs of the music and speeches from the plays are also available from iTunes and the RSC online shop.
As part of the 2016 celebrations to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of Shakespeare, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the British Library will also collaborate with Opus Arte to re-release The Essential Shakespeare Live. Originally released in two volumes in 2005 and 2009, the re-release will be packaged as one 4-CD box set with an RRP of £19.99.
Selected by RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran from an extensive collection of recordings made by the British Library Sound Archive, this set features scenes and speeches from some of the most celebrated Shakespeare productions in the history of the Royal Shakespeare Company, including performances by Laurence Oliver, Peggy Ashcroft, Paul Scofield, Paul Robeson, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, David Tennant and many more.
Painting Painting presents:
New theatre company Painting Painting bring two brutally funny pieces of new writing to Theatre N16 this February: Blackhander and F**king Little Elf B*tch.
In Blackhander, an ageing, racist invalid invites a spiritual leader to absolve her of her sins for an obscene amount of money. Only this is not what’s happening.
“Were you planning on saving me from the searing fires of eternal damnation before lunch, only I’ve got the Jews coming at 3. And I hear they’re pretty persuasive.”
Sermons flow, truth deteriorates and she may be justice incarnate, and she may be properly insane, and retaliation is an inaccurate business… and we may not be the good guys. Blackhander is written and directed by Colum David Demirer.
Inspired by 8 years working in a grotto, F**king Little Elf B*tch follows the adventures of Ivy through the dark realities of the Wonderland. As the truth of her situation dawns on her, Ivy makes it her mission to take the make believe out of Christmas.
“You’re not a real elf. You are just a grown up dressed in a stupid costume. There is nothing magic about you.”
If the idea of a festive themed show in February is your idea of humbug hell then perfect, you are already tapped into the mind-set of this disgruntled oversized Elf. F**king Little Elf B*tch is written by Katherine Newman and directed by Dudley Rees.
TV TALENT TO TOP THE GOOD OLD DAYS
This March The Good Old Days variety extravaganza returns to City Varieties Music Hall in Leeds.
BBC4 is currently re-running highlights on Fridays from the original TV light entertainment series which ran for 30 years, was watched by millions
and took the City Varieties into households across the globe.
City Varieties’ live stage revival is now in its 28th year, hosted by legendary Chairman, Mr Johnny Dennis
with the musical accompaniment of The City Varieties “Orchestra” led by Mr David Smith
On Friday 11 and Saturday 12 March, actress, singer and panto legend Anita Harris tops the bill
with the remainder of the performance comprising veteran Music Hall revivalist Peter John, comedian Richard Gauntlett and Scotland’s Cavalier of song, Jimmy McWilliams.
For the following weekend March 18 and 19, local lad Billy Pearce headlines
with Crackerjack’s Jan Hunt, superstar soprano Rebecca Newman and comedy juggler Steve Rawlings rounding out the bill.
Fancy dress not obligatory but highly recommended
Friday 11 March 7pm
Saturday 12 March 12 Noon & 4.30pm
Friday 18 March 7pm
Saturday 19 March 12 Noon & 4.30pm
Tickets from £16*
Online Booking: www.cityvarieties.co.uk
Box Office: 0113 243 0808
THE WARDROBE ENSEMBLE
@WardrobEnsemble / www.thewardrobeensemble.com
Award-winning theatre company The Wardrobe Ensemble will take their production 1972: The Future of Sex on tour across the UK this spring. The production, which won the Stage Award for Acting Excellence in 2015, will begin its UK tour at the Wardrobe Theatre in Bristol where it will play as part of Tobacco Factory Theatres BEYOND from 8 – 26 March. The production will then tour to eight venues across the UK, including a two-week residency at Shoreditch Town Hall.
1972: The Future of Sex is the latest offering from The Wardrobe Ensemble. Devised by the company, the show uses The Wardrobe Ensemble’s trademark inventive theatricality, irreverent humour and spectacular ensemble moments to tell the story of 3 couples having sex for the first time on the night that David Bowie first appeared as Ziggy Stardust on Top of the Pops.
Directors of 1972: The Future of Sex Tom Brennan and Jesse Jones said: “We’re thrilled to take 1972: The Future of Sex on the road to some of our favourite venues across the UK and to see it grow and develop in front of lots of different audiences. Originally, we wanted to make a show about sex because it’s something we all have opinions on and experience of. However, once we started rehearsals it became clear that a conversation about shagging is also a conversation about a whole host of other prickly subjects: power, gender, choice, representation, equality, identity and oppression just to name a few. We decided to use the lens of the seventies to examine the topic because as well as being a pivotal moment in sexual history (a seemingly consequence-free era post-the pill and pre-AIDS) it also gave us the distance to comment on sex and sexuality today. It also gave us a really great soundtrack.”
The Wardrobe Ensemble is a group of theatre artists from Bristol working together to make new plays that dissect the twenty-first century experience. Their previous plays include RIOT, 33, Eliza and the Wild Swans, Edgar and the Land of Lost, Eloise and the Curse of the Golden Whiskand The Star Seekers. They have toured nationally and internationally to venues including the National Theatre, Battersea Arts Centre, Bristol Old Vic, Salisbury Playhouse and Jack, Brooklyn.The full cast for the production includes: Tom Crosley-Thorne, Tom England, Emily Greenslade, Kerry Lovell, Jesse Meadows, Helena Middleton, James Newton and Ben Vardy.
1972: The Future of Sex is commissioned by Shoreditch Town Hall. Supported by Arts Council England, Bristol Ferment, the Kevin Spacey Foundation and Tobacco Factory Theatres Artist Development Fund.
1972: THE FUTURE OF SEX
Co-directed by Tom Brennan and Jesse Jones
Design by Georgia Coleman
Lighting design by Rachael Duthie
Dramaturg Edythe Woolley
Composer and musician Tom Crosley-Thorne
Producer Hannah Smith
Anton James Newton
Anna Jesse Meadows
Tessa Emily Greenslade
Christine Kerry Lovell
Rich Ben Vardy
Penny Helena Middleton
Martin Tom England
LISTINGS
1972: THE FUTURE OF SEX
The Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol
8 – 26 March
Press Night: 10 March
www.thewardrobetheatre.com
The Bikeshead Theatre, Exeter
29 March – 9 April
www.bikeshedtheatre.co.uk
Shoreditch Town Hall, London
12 – 23 April
Press Night: 13 April
www.shoreditchtownhall.com
The Marlowe Studio, Canterbury
2 May
www.marlowetheatre.com
The Hub, Leeds
8 May
www.slunglow.org
The Lowry, Manchester
20 May
www.thelowry.com
South Hill Park, Bracknell
25 May
www.southhillpark.org.uk
The Old Market, Brighton
27 – 28 May
www.theoldmarket.com
The Drum, Theatre Royal Plymouth
14 – 18 June
www.theatreroyal.com
HAIRSPRAY
UK TOUR
Matthew Rickson will join the cast of the UK tour of Hairspray as Edna Turnblad, Matthew’s first performance will on 15 March 2016 at New Victoria Theatre, Woking. This new production of the international smash hit Hairspray embarked on a major UK tour in 2015 and continues into 2016 visiting Aberdeen, Sheffield, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Inverness, Bristol, Woking, Cardiff, Norwich, Milton Keynes, Llandudno, Plymouth, Canterbury, Bromley, Stoke and Southend.
Matthew Rickson’s recent theatre credits include The Producers (Theatre Royal Drury Lane),The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (Royal Shakespeare Company), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang(London Palladium), Cinderella (Richmond Theatre), Casa Valentina (Southwark Playhouse), The Ladykillers (New Vic Theatre & UK Tour), Around The World in 80 Days (New Vic & Royal Exchange Theatre), Aladdin (Wimbledon Theatre), See How They Run (York Theatre Royal), The Legend of King Arthur (York Theatre Royal), Aladdin (Theatre at the O2 Arena) and The Governess (UK Tour).
Matthew joins TV and stage actress and presenter Claire Sweeney (Educating Rita, Guys and Dolls) as Velma Von Tussle, Olivier Award nominated actor and much-loved Blue Peter presenterPeter Duncan (BBC1 Tumble) as Wilbur Turnblad and British singer and West End performerBrenda Edwards (Chicago, We Will Rock You, The X Factor) as Motormouth Maybelle.
Freya Sutton will continue in her role of Tracy Turnblad alongside established musical theatre performer Jon Tsouras (A Chorus Line) as Corny Collins. Dex Lee (The Scottsboro Boys) as Seaweed, Ashley Gilmour (Miss Saigon) as Link Larkin, Lauren Stroud (Wicked) as Amber,Monique Young (Top Hat) as Penny, Karis Jack (Urinetown) as Little Inez, Adam Price(Hairspray) as Male Authority Figure, Tracey Penn (Made in Dagenham) as Female Authority Figure and Layton Williams (Bad Education, Billy Elliot) as Duane.
Hairspray is directed by Paul Kerryson, with choreography by Drew McOnie and musical direction by Ben Atkinson. The show has music and lyrics by Academy Award, Tony and Emmy winning duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.
It’s Baltimore 1962, where Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, is on a mission to follow her dreams and dance her way onto national TV. Tracy’s audition makes her a local star and soon she is using her new-found fame to fight for equality, bagging local heartthrob Link Larkin along the way.
Hairspray is a musical based on the 1988 film of the same name which starred Divine and Ricki Lake by cult filmmaker John Waters. With music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, Hairspray originally opened to rave reviews on Broadway in 2002 and subsequently won eight Tony Awards. The production opened in London at the Shaftesbury Theatre in 2007 and won four Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Musical. Proving to be an international success, Hairspray has also opened in South Africa, Japan, South Korea, China and Dubai. Following the musical’s phenomenal success on stage, a film of the musical was released in 2007 which starred John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer and James Marsden.
Hairspray is produced by Mark Goucher and Laurence Myers, Tom O’Connell Productions Ltd., Just for Laughs Theatricals, Gale King Productions, Gary Brown and Curve theatre, Leicester.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
2016 UK Tour
Hairspray
8 – 13 February
The Lyceum, Sheffield
55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA
Box Office: 0114 249 6000
www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
15 – 20 February
Cambridge Corn Exchange
2 Wheeler Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QB
Box Office: 01223 357 851
www.cornex.co.uk
22 – 27 February
Edinburgh Playhouse
18 – 22 Greenside Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3AA
Box Office: 0844 871 7627
www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse
29 February – 5 March
Eden Court, Inverness
Bishops Road, Inverness, IV3 5SA
Box Office: 01463 234 234
www.eden-court.co.uk
7 – 12 March
Bristol Hippodrome
St Augustine’s Parade, Bristol, BS1 4UZ
Box Office: 0844 871 3012
www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome
15 – 19 March
New Victoria Theatre, Woking
The Ambassadors, Peacocks Centre, Woking, GU21 6GQ
Box Office: 0844 871 7645
www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre
21 – 16 March
Cardiff New Theatre
Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3LN
Box Office: 02920 878 889
www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk
29 March – 2 April
Norwich Theatre Royal
Theatre Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 1RL
Box Office: 01603 630 000
www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
4 – 9 April
Milton Keynes Theatre
500 Malborough Gate, Buckinghamshire, MK9 3NZ
Box Office: 0844 871 7652
www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre
11 – 16 April
Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Promenade, Llandudno, LL30 1BB
Box Office: 01492 872 000
www.venuecymru.co.uk
18 – 23 April
Theatre Royal Plymouth
Royal Parade, Plymouth, PL1 2TR
Box Office: 01752 267 222
www.theatreroyal.com
25 – 30 April
The Marlowe, Canterbury
The Friars, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2AS
Box Office: 01227 787 787
www.marlowetheatre.com
2 – 7 May
The Churchill Theatre, Bromley
High Street, Bromley, Kent, BR1 1HA
Box Office: 0844 871 7620
www.atgtickets.com/venues/the-churchill-theatre-bromley
9 – 14 May
Regent Theatre, Stoke
Piccadilly, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 1AP
Box Office: 0844 871 7627
www.atgtickets.com/venues/regent-theatre
16 – 21 May
Southend Palace Theatre
430 London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9LA
Box Office: 01702 351 135
www.southendtheatres.org.uk
LEE BRENNAN JOINS THE CAST OF
FOOTLOOSE: THE MUSICAL
FROM TUESDAY 19 APRIL TO SATURDAY 18 JUNE 2016
911 and The Big Reunion star Lee Brennan will make his musical theatre debut when he joins the cast ofFootloose: The Musical, playing the role of Willard from Tuesday 19 April to Saturday 18 June 2016. Lee will join the UK tour for dates in Oxford, Weston Super Mare, Wimbledon, Liverpool, Belfast, Derry, Torquay andGlasgow.
Lee Brennan is widely recognised as one third of multi-million selling pop group 911. One of the biggest pop acts of the 90’s, 911 were one of only five acts in the decade to achieve ten consecutive UK Top Ten Hit Singles, selling over 10 million records around the world and touring the UK four times. Lee returned to 911 in 2013, when the band reformed for ITV’s smash hit series The Big Reunion. An arena tour followed, where they played to over 200,000 fans alongside acts including Five and Blue.
Lee said today: “I am unbelievably excited about joining the amazing cast of Footloose! It has always been a dream of mine to perform in a musical and I cannot wait to get started in my role as Willard. I loved the film and have seen the current stage version and it blew me away!”
As previously announced, Gareth Gates will continue in the role of Willard until 16 April, returning to the show from 20 June 2016.
Based on the 1984 screen sensation starring Kevin Bacon, Footloose: The Musical tells the story of city boy Ren, who has to move to a rural backwater in America where dancing is banned. All hell breaks out as Ren breaks loose and soon has the whole town up on its feet. Featuring classic 80s hits including Holding Out for a Hero, Almost Paradise, Let’s Hear it for the Boy and the unforgettable title track, Footloose: The Musical is set to take the world by storm once again in this brand new production, bursting with youthful spirit, dazzling dance and electrifying music.
When the film was released in 1984, it became the highest-grossing February release in US film history. The soundtrack album ended the year-long reign of Michael Jackson’s Thriller at number one and went on to top album charts all over the world, eventually selling in excess of 17 million copies. Footloose was nominated for a Golden Globe, and both the title song and Let’s Hear It for the Boy received Academy Award nominations.Footloose: The Musical first opened on Broadway in 1998 where it ran for 709 performances, with a London production following in 2006, opening at the Novello Theatre following a UK Tour.
The cast also features Luke Baker (American Idiot, Sunny Afternoon) as Ren, Maureen Nolan (The Nolans, Blood Brothers) as Vi Moore, Hannah Price as Ariel Moore, Nigel Lister as Reverend Shaw Moore, Nicky Swift as Ethel McCormack, Joanna Sawyer as Rusty, Matthew Tomlinson as Chuck, Natasha Brown as Wendy-Jo, Miracle Chance as Urleen, Thomas Cotran as Jeter and Scott Haining as Bickie. The cast also includes Lauren Storer, Natalie Morton-Graham, Luke Thornton and Alex Marshall.
Footloose: The Musical has music by Tom Snow and lyrics by Dean Pitchford, and is adapted for the stage by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie. It is based on the original screenplay by Dean Pitchford. It is directed by Racky Plews (American Idiot, West End) with choreography by Matthew Cole, design by Sara Perks and musical supervision by Mark Crossland. It is produced by David Hutchinson and Phillip Rowntree for Sell A Door Theatre Company, Tristan Baker and Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment, Jason Haigh-Ellery and Stephen McGill Productions. It is presented by arrangement with R&H Theatricals Europe.
@FootlooseTour
2016 UK TOUR
Monday 8 – Saturday 13 February 2016
DARTFORD Orchard Theatre
Box Office www.orchardtheatre.co.uk | 01322 220000
With Gareth Gates as Willard
Tuesday 16 – Saturday 20 February 2016
EDINBURGH Festival Theatre
Box Office www.edtheatres.com | 0131 529 6000
With Gareth Gates as Willard
Monday 22 – Saturday 27 February 2016
LOWESTOFT Marina Theatre
Box Office www.marinatheatre.co.uk | 01502 533200
With Gareth Gates as Willard
Monday 29 February – Saturday 5 March 2016
CARDIFF New Theatre
Box Office www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk | 029 2087 8889
With Gareth Gates as Willard
Monday 14 – Saturday 19 March 2016
MANCHESTER Palace Theatre
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/palace-theatre-manchester | 0161 245 6600
With Gareth Gates as Willard
Monday 21 – Saturday 26 March 2016
CARLISLE Sands Theatre
Box Office www.thesandscentre.co.uk | 01228 633766
With Gareth Gates as Willard
Monday 28 March – Saturday 2 April 2016
PORTSMOUTH King’s Theatre
Box Office www.kingsportsmouth.co.uk | 023 9282 8282
With Gareth Gates as Willard
Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 April 2016
BOURNEMOUTH Pavilion Theatre
Box Office www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk | 0844 576 3000
With Gareth Gates as Willard
Tuesday 19- Saturday 23 April 2016
OXFORD New Theatre
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford | 0844 871 3020
With Lee Brennan as Willard
Monday 25 – Saturday 30 April 2016
WESTON-SUPER-MARE Playhouse
Box Office www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/theplayhouse | 01934 645544
With Lee Brennan as Willard
Monday 2 – Saturday 7 May 2016
WIMBLEDON New Theatre
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre | 020 8545 7900
With Lee Brennan as Willard
Monday 9 – Saturday 14 May 2016
LIVERPOOL Empire
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire | 0151 702 7320
With Lee Brennan as Willard
Monday 23 – Saturday 28 May 2016
BELFAST Opera House
Box Office www.goh.co.uk | 028 9024 1919
With Lee Brennan as Willard
Tuesday 31 May – Saturday 4 June 2016
DERRY Millennium Forum
Box Office www.millenniumforum.co.uk | 028 7126 4455
With Lee Brennan as Willard
Monday 6 – Saturday 11 June 2016
TORQUAY Princess Theatre
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/princess-theatre-torquay | 0844 871 3023
With Lee Brennan as Willard
Monday 13 – Saturday 18 June 2016
GLASGOW King’s Theatre
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre | 0844 871 7648
With Lee Brennan as Willard
Monday 20 – Saturday 25 June 2016
ABERDEEN His Majesty’s Theatre
Box Office www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/venues/his-majestys-theatre | 01224 641122
With Gareth Gates as Willard
Monday 27 June – Saturday 2 July 2016
BRADFORD Alhambra Theatre
Box Office www.bradford-theatres.co.uk | 01274 432000
With Gareth Gates as Willard
Monday 4 – Saturday 9 July 2016
BIRMINGHAM Alexandra Theatre
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-alexandra-theatre-birmingham | 0844 871 3011
With Gareth Gates as Willard
Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 July 2016
NEWCASTLE Opera House
Box Office www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk | 0191 243 1171
With Gareth Gates as Willard
Monday 18 – Saturday 23 July 2016
WOKING New Victoria Theatre
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre | 0844 871 7645
With Gareth Gates as Willard
Monday 25 – Saturday 30 July 2016
BRIGHTON Theatre Royal
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-brighton | 0844 871 7627
With Gareth Gates as Willard
Monday 1 August – Saturday 6 August 2016
BRISTOL Hippodrome
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome | 0844 871 3012
With Gareth Gates as Willard
Monday 15 – Saturday 27 August 2016
ABERYSTWYTH Arts Centre
Box Office www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk | 01970 62 32 32
Monday 19 – Saturday 24 September 2016
BLACKPOOL Opera House
Box Office www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk | 0844 856 1111
With Gareth Gates as Willard
Monday 3 – Saturday 8 October 2016
IPSWICH Regent Theatre
Box Office 01473 433100
With Gareth Gates as Willard
SHEFFIELD THEATRES EXTENDS WORLD PREMIÈRE OF RICHARD BEAN’S
THE NAP AND SHOW BOAT HEADS DOWNSTREAM TO LONDON’S WEST END
Sheffield Theatres’ Artistic Director Daniel Evans today announces the world première production of Richard Bean’s comedy thriller The Nap will extend its run by one week, alongside news that his recent five star production of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’s musical Show Boat is to transfer to the West End.
Directed by Sheffield Theatres’ Associate Director Richard Wilson, The Nap, written by award-winning Richard Bean (One Man Two Guv’nors) will extend its run by one week on the Crucible stage until Saturday 2 April. This brand new laugh-out-loud comedy thriller is set at the World Snooker Championships and stars a cast including BAFTA award-winning Jack O’Connell(Unbroken, ’71, Starred Up), Mark Addy (The Full Monty film, Game of Thrones, Atlantis) and Ralf Little (Lewis, The Royle Family, Our Zoo).
Daniel Evans’ critically acclaimed production of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’smusical Show Boat will transfer to West End’s New London Theatre in spring 2016. Seen by over 36,000 people during its seven-week run in Sheffield, previews begin at the New London Theatre fromSaturday 9 April. Produced in the West End by David Ian with Bob Bartner and Norman Tulchin, tickets for Show Boat go on sale on Friday 12 February. The cast will be announced shortly.
Daniel Evans said: “Show Boat is often thought to be the mother of all musicals. Hammerstein and Kern’s score continues to blow audiences away, almost 90 years later. As well as being a riveting story, the piece’s themes of family and freedom still speak to us today in a profound way. I feel proud that the production we made in Sheffield will now get to travel further afield and be experienced by yet more audiences in the capital.”
Producer David Ian said: “I am absolutely thrilled, along with my co-producers Bob Bartner andNorman Tulchin, to be bringing Daniel’s ground breaking production of Show Boat to the West End. As soon as I saw the production in Sheffield there was no doubt in my mind that we absolutely had to bring Show Boat in to London, giving West End audiences the opportunity to see this brand new version of such an incredible musical.”
Tickets for The Nap can be purchased from Sheffield Theatres’ Box Office in-person, byphone on 0114 249 6000 or online at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk and are priced from £18.00 (concessions available). A transaction fee of £1.50 (£1.00 online) applies to all bookings made at the Box Office (excluding cash).
For ticket information for Show Boat go to www.ShowBoatMusical.co.uk or call 0844 412 4654
Directed by Alastair Whatley, William Nicholson’s play tells the love story of C.S. Lewis, author ofThe Chronicles of Narnia and The Screwtape Letters, and American poet Joy Davidman. The production opens at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre on Thursday 18 February, prior to a nationwide tour.
SHADOWLANDS will then tour to Salisbury, Eastbourne, Ipswich, Windsor, Croydon, Malvern, Worthing, Doncaster, Chesterfield, Birmingham, Portsmouth, Cardiff, Exeter and Richmond, with further dates to be announced.
The cast of SHADOWLANDS will be led by Stephen Boxer (Humans, The Iron Lady, Doctors) as C.S. Lewis, Denis Lill (The Royal, Only Fools and Horses, Rumpole of the Bailey) as Major W.H. Lewis ‘Warnie’ and Amanda Ryan (The Forsyte Saga, Shameless) as Joy Davidman. They will be 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.
Official website: www.shadowlandstour.com
Twitter: @shadowlandstour
Facebook: shadowlandsthetour
2016 TOUR SCHEDULE
18 – 27 February Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford 01483 44 00 00 www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
29 February – 5 March Salisbury Playhouse 01722 320 333 www.salisburyplayhouse.com
7 – 12 March Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne 01323 412 000 www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk
14 – 19 March New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich 01473 295900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk
29 March – 2 April Theatre Royal Windsor 01753 853 888 www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk
4 – 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 April – 30 April CAST Theatre, Doncaster 01302 303 959
castindoncaster.com 16 – 21 May Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield 01246 345 222
chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk
31 May – 4 June Birmingham Repertory Theatre 0121 236 4455 www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
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
25 July – 30 July Richmond Theatre 0844 871 7651 www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre
Directed by James Brining, Artistic Director of the West Yorkshire Playhouse, the tour of the much loved Sherman Brothers musical kicks off in Southampton on Wednesday 10 February.
Caractacus Potts will be played by Jason Manford (The Producers, Sweeney Todd) from 10 February until 24 April, and he will return to the show from 5 October 2016. Lee Mead (Casualty, Legally Blonde, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat) will play Caractacus Potts from 4 May until 18 September 2016.
Martin Kemp (EastEnders, The Krays) will play the Childcatcher and Amy Griffiths (Everyman, Stephen Ward, The Pajama Game) will play Truly Scrumptious, both until 24 April 2016.
CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG will also feature Phill Jupitus (The Producers, Hairspray) as Lord Scrumptious/Baron Bomburst until 24 April 2016, Michelle Collins (EastEnders, Coronation Street) as Baroness Bomburst, and Andy Hockley (The Phantom Of The Opera) as Grandpa Potts.
Ewen Cummins plays The Toymaker/Mr Coggins, with Sam Harrison as Boris and Scott Paige as Goran, and Kathryn Barnes, Rosanna Bates, Alex Louize Bird, Abigail Climer, Jade Davies, Matt Gillett, Ewan Gillies, Joanna Goodwin, Nathan Vaughan Harris, Christopher D Hunt, Paul Iveson, Nia Jermin, Kelsie-Rae Marshall, Mollie Melia-Redgrave, Perry O’Dea, Matt Overfield, Ross Russell, Craig Turner and Robert Wilkes.
For more information, visit www.chittythemusical.co.uk
Facebook: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang The Musical
Twitter: @ChittyMusical / #chittymusical
10–21 February Mayflower Theatre, Southampton www.mayflower.org.uk 02380 711811
24 February – 13 March Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie 0844 847 2455
16 – 27 March Grand Opera House, Belfast www.goh.co.uk/ 028 9024 1919
30 March – 9 April Regent Theatre, Stoke 0844 871 7649 www.atgtickets.com/venues/regent-theatre
13 – 24 April Cliffs Pavilion, Southend www.thecliffspavilion.co.uk 01702 351 135
4 – 14 May Milton Keynes Theatre 0844 871 7652 www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre/
18 – 29 May Nottingham Theatre Royal www.trch.co.uk 0115 989 5555
1 – 12 June Theatre Royal, Newcastle www.theatreroyal.co.uk 08448 112 111
15 – 19 June Theatre Royal Plymouth 01752 267222 www.theatreroyal.com
29 June – 17 July Sheffield Lyceum www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk 0114 249 6000
20 – 30 July New Wimbledon Theatre 0844 871 7646 www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre
3 – 21 August Wales Millennium Centre www.wmc.org.uk 029 2063 6464
24 August – 3 September Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury www.marlowetheatre.com 01227 787787
7 – 18 September Birmingham Hippodrome www.birminghamhippodrome.com 0844 338 5000
21 September – 2 October Royal & Derngate, Northampton www.royalandderngate.co.uk 01604 624811
5 – 16 October Festival Theatre, Edinburgh www.edtheatres.com 0131 529 6000
19 – 29 October King’s Theatre, Glasgow 0844 871 7648 www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre/
9 – 19 November New Victoria Theatre, Woking 0844 871 7645 www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre/
6 December – 15 January 2017 The Lowry, Salford 0843 208 6000 www.thelowry.com/
Further tour dates to be announced