Broken Cabaret presents:

Last chance to see The Homecoming by Harold Pinter at Trafalgar Studios

• Run ends 13 February
• Jamie Lloyd’s 50th anniversary production with Keith Allen, Gemma Chan, Ron Cook, Gary Kemp, John Macmillan and John Simm
• Post-show Q&A with Jamie Lloyd and Michael Billington on 28 January

Harold Pinter’s enigmatic masterpiece, The Homecoming, will end its run at Trafalgar Studios on 13 February. The acclaimed production opened in November in the 50th anniversary year of the multi award-winning modern classic, marking a return to the West End for The Jamie Lloyd Company.

Director Jamie Lloyd will interview Michael Billington, theatre critic and author of The 101 Greatest Plays, in a post-show Q&A on 28 January.

Taking place at Trafalgar Studios, the event will see Jamie Lloyd and Michael Billington discussing Harold Pinter’s The Homecoming. Billington is widely considered one of the world’s leading authorities on Pinter and the conversation will cover the play’s history, themes and the playwright himself. The event is one of a series in the Traf Extras season, which is designed to build a deeper understanding of, and connection with, the onstage action. The 30 minute discussion starts at 9.45pm and is free for ticket holders attending the evening’s performance.

Widely regarded as Pinter’s finest play, the dangerous and tantalisingly ambiguous world of The Homecoming is a crackling hotbed of visceral tension. Celebrated as one of the leading interpreters of Pinter’s work, director Jamie Lloyd has assembled an impressive cast in this dynamic production.

The Homecoming stars Keith Allen (Sam), Gemma Chan (Ruth), Ron Cook (Max), Gary Kemp (Teddy), John Macmillan (Joey) and John Simm (Lenny) and is designed by Soutra Gilmour, with lighting design by Richard Howell and sound by George Dennis.

A unique contemporary masterpiece of the 20th Century, the 50th anniversary production continues The Jamie Lloyd Company’s reputation for presenting compelling drama that sparks passionate debate.

As with The Jamie Lloyd Company’s previous productions, all tickets for Monday performances are £15. Half of these have been made available through a special outreach scheme, targeted at schools and first-time theatregoers. The other half are released monthly to the public on the first day of each month, and are available online or at the Trafalgar Studios box office.

When Teddy returns from America to introduce his wife Ruth to his family in London, they discover a claustrophobic and brutal household where his father Max, brothers Lenny and Joey and Uncle Sam live in a state of mutual loathing and festering resentment. Theirs is a motherless, compassionless and lawless home where Ruth immediately becomes the centre of attention. Pinter’s sinister masterpiece simmers with suspense and rings with savage humour as Ruth navigates her way between the roles of predator and prey in an incisive battle of wills.

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY:THE IMAGINATION AWARDS OPEN FOR ENTRIES

• Sir Ken Robinson announced as Patron
• Sam Mendes joins judging panel

Renowned educationalist Sir Ken Robinson will be the Patron of The Imagination Awards, a competition launched by the award-winning West End production of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, to champion creativity and inspire the next generation of theatre makers. The awards open for entries today, and close on Monday 6th June. www.imaginationawards.co.uk

The judging panel for the awards will also include:

• Members of the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory creative team including: Sam Mendes, Director; Caro Newling, Producer; Mark Thompson, Set and Costume Designer
• Jess Moore, Director of Corporate Responsibility, Warner Bros.
• Roma Agrawal, Structural Engineer, WSP Group
• James Anderson, 18 year old entrepreneur and founder of Thinkspace
• Mark Champkins, Inventor in Residence, Science Museum
• Emily Mulhall, Animator

The deadline for entries is Monday 6th June 2016, with a shortlist announced on Monday 20th June, and winners announced on Friday 8th July.

The Imagination Awards are divided into two separate awards:

• Charlie’s Challenge: a national award for 5-15 year olds (in three age categories, 5-7, 8-11, 12-15), looking for creative inventions and ideas which would benefit a family member. It can be an invention or idea that would help one person, or something that will help the whole family. Judges: Roma Agrawal, James Anderson, Mark Champkins, Emily Mulhall. Prize: The winner will receive an Imagination Pack full of prizes to encourage invention and creativity, plus a VIP trip to London to watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The school that submits most entries will receive an Imagination Workshop at their school and a talk from one of the judges.

• The Young Theatre Design Award is open to 16-18 year olds across the UK and is split into two separate categories: Set Design and Costume Design. Young designers are asked to submit an original set or costume design for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Judges: Sam Mendes, Jess Moore, Caro Newling, Mark Thompson. Prize: The winner from each category will be invited to London to meet with the creative team and watch a matinee performance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, before experiencing the production from backstage during the evening performance.

Sam Mendes, director of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, explained: “When we were creating Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, one of the key things we always wanted to get across was the importance of the imagination. At the start of the show, Charlie Bucket’s world is grey and cold, but he uses his imagination to transform the world into something wonderful. And Willy Wonka and his factory are the embodiment of the power of imagination. Creating something out of nothing is miraculous – that’s what Roald Dahl did, it’s what Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka do, and it’s what we’re celebrating with this prize.”

Charlie’s Challenge has been designed to be inclusive for all young people. The award encourages creativity in the classroom, and champions invention and imagination as valuable skills for any future career. The production will create resources throughout the awards process which will help unlock the doors to the world of theatre, and showcase the opportunities in the arts that exist for young people interested in the process of theatre making and design.

The Young Theatre Design Award will look for those who have already experimented with set and costume design, and also seek out aspiring artists and those with relevant skills who have not yet considered a career in the theatre industry.

Full details of The Imagination Awards and how to enter can be found at www.imaginationawards.co.uk

Since opening in 2013, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has offered teachers numerous ways to explore the show through an educational ‘Page-to-Stage’ resource that includes activities and exercises for students to bring the musical to life in the classroom. January 2016 has seen the launch of the new official Charlie and the Chocolate Factory school workshops in the areas of drama, singing, dance, musical theatre and storytelling.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has also provided ten one-week paid backstage work experience placements and two eight-week paid internships through the Golden Tickets scheme, part of Warner Bros. Creative Talent, a programme of investment in skills and training for the UK creative industries.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory presented its first ‘relaxed performance’ on 19 January 2016. Presented in association with Mousetrap Theatre Projects, the relaxed performance was aimed at families with one or more children with special needs. It was designed to provide an opportunity for people with autism, learning difficulties or other sensory and communication needs, who require a more relaxed environment, to enjoy the show.

Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has quickly become one of the West End’s most popular and successful stage musicals, and recently celebrated its 1000th performance as well as winning a London Lifestyle Award for Theatre Show of the Year, as voted for by readers of the London Evening Standard. It also won two Olivier awards in April 2014, and has broken records at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, where it has been seen by over 1.7 million people since it opened in June 2013. It is currently taking bookings until December 2016.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is directed by Sam Mendes. Featuring ingenious stagecraft, the wonder of the original story that has captivated the world for almost 50 years is brought to life with music by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, a book by award-winning playwright and adaptor David Greig, set and costume designs by Mark Thompson and choreography by Peter Darling.

The Official Cast Recording album is available on Sony Records, on CD and download.

This world premiere musical is produced by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Neal Street Productions and Langley Park Productions.

www.CharlieandtheChocolateFactory.com

Box Office: 0844 858 8877

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5JF

Booking until December 2016

DOUBLE HELPING OF SINGALONGA SCREENINGS

From the Producers of Sing-a-long-a Sound Of Music and Sing-a-long-a Grease

On Saturday 20 February the team from Sing-a-long-a Productions present two very special screenings at City Varieties Music Hall in Leeds.

The afternoon sees a welcome return for last year’s two-time sell-out Sing-a-long-a Frozen – a full screening of Disney’s Animated blockbuster Frozen with lyrics on screen to help you and your family sing along during the film.   Introduced by a live host who will guide you through this interactive screening by showing you how to use your free prop bag, warm up your singing voices and teach you some dance moves with the help of the Singalonga Princesses.  Watch as the film is brought to life to help you experience it in a whole new light.

On the evening of the same day get ready for the time of your life with Sing-a-long-a Dirty Dancing (15)

The brand new sing-a-long-a screening of the classic film starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.

It’s the Summer of 1963, it’s college boys versus dancing hunks, it’s one of the best loved movies of all time and, yes, there is a guy as great as your dad.

Join Baby and Johnny in a fun-filled screening of the1987 dance classic film where YOU are the stars of the show. The Singalonga host will lead a vocal warm up, show you how to use your ‘magic moments fun pack’ and will no doubt have you dancing really dirty…

Fancy dress not obligatory but highly recommended

Saturday 20 February
Sing-a-long-a Frozen (Cert PG) 2pm

Sing-a-long-a Dirty Dancing  (Cert 15) 8pm

Online Booking: www.cityvarieties.co.uk

Box Office: 0113 243 0808

We are one year old and to celebrate we have a fun competition with a mystery prize

Our first “20 Questions with…..” was the insanely talented Anna Jane Casey and to win you just need to answer this question

What is Anna Jane Casey’s favourite theatre?

To enter send an email with your answer, your name and email address to [email protected] please put the word COMPETITION in the subject line

Competition closes at 11.59pm 31 January and the winner will be announced 1 February

Good Luck

PS Remember to like us on Facebook and Twitter too

DAVID ESSEX   JIMMY NAIL   DANIEL BEDINGFIELD

MICHAEL PRAED  MADALENA ALBERTO and HEIDI RANGE

On screen & in 3D holography

LIAM NEESON

Conducted on stage by

JEFF WAYNE

Bill Kenwright and Jeff Wayne present

THE WEST END DEBUT OF THE MULTI-AWARD WINNING MUSIC PHENOMENON

SPECTACULARLY REIMAGINED FOR THE STAGE

JEFF WAYNE’S MUSICAL VERSION OF

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS

Limited Season starts 8 February 2016

Alongside the onscreen appearance of Liam Neeson and the onstage appearance of Jeff Wayne and his magnificent Black Smoke Band and ULLAdubULLA string orchestra, casting has now been announced for the World Stage Premiere of The War of The Worlds at the Dominion Theatre.

Making his West End debut singer-songwriter, actor, musician, and writer Jimmy Nail plays Parson Nathaniel.

Also making his debut will be Daniel Bedingfield, as The Artilleryman. The New Zealand born, British raised singer-songwriter shot to stardom in 2001. He returns to this country from LA for the first time in many years.

The third cast member to make their West End debut is Heidi Range, playing Beth. Heidi is the longest serving member of the BRIT award winning multi-platinum-selling British girl group Sugababes.

Alongside these debutants are two West End regulars: Michael Praed, as George Herbert, whose first major appearance was at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in Joseph Papp’s production of The Pirates of Penzance, and who has since regularly starred in on Broadway and in the West End; and joining him Madalena Alberto, playing Carrie, fresh from her triumph as Eva Peron in Evita at The Dominion last year.

Finally, as The Voice Of Humanity, and completing possibly the starriest cast the West End has seen, is David Essex. One of the original contributors to Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of The Worlds in 1978, this will be the first time the two men have joined together to work on The War of The Worlds since.

Since its inception in 1978, Jeff Wayne’s original double album has become one of the most ground-breaking and bestselling musical works of all time. With over 15 million copies sold and 330 weeks in the UK Album Charts to date, a number one album in 11 countries, a number-one music DVD, 8 years of world-wide arena tours, and huge critical acclaim across the globe the score includes the two international hit singles The Eve of The War and Forever Autumn.

Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of The Worlds has won two prestigious Ivor Novello Awards, the Best Recording in Science Fiction and Fantasy Award (the judges included Alfred Hitchcock, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg), as well as winning for Jeff, Classic Rock’s Showman of The Year Award.

Wintershall Players presents
The Passion of Jesus
Trafalgar Square
Good Friday, 25 March 2016
12noon & 3.15pm

On Good Friday, Friday 25^th March, the renowned  Wintershall Players return to the heart of London with their awe-inspiring full scale re-enactment of The Passion of Jesus, performed for free in the shadow of the National Gallery.

The story commemorating the day Jesus is believed to have been arrested, tried and crucified by the Romans, two days before miraculously rising from the dead on Easter Sunday is brought to life by a cast of over a hundred, all in resplendent costumes, along with horses, doves and donkeys. Featuring realistic scenes and a heart moving crucifixion and resurrection, The Passion of Jesus is an unforgettable experience.

The Passion of Jesus has grown since the players first came to Trafalgar Square in 2010.  Since then it has become a highly anticipated fixture of Holy Week, attracting more than 20,000 people to its two performances. As well as Trafalgar Square, the Wintershall Players will perform The Passion in Guildford on Easter Saturday.

‘As Londoners across the capital and beyond celebrate Easter I am delighted that The Passion of Jesus

is returning to Trafalgar Square. It is a wonderful event that brings to life the Christian message

and attracts people of all faiths right in the heart of our great city.’

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson

Directed by theatre producer and Chairman of the Guildford School of Acting, Ashley Herman, and starring the actor and artist James Burke-Dunsmore as Jesus, the rest of the company is made up of eager and committed volunteers from in and around London and the South East.

The Passion’s Christian message embraces all denominations and this is highlighted by the active and continued involvement of the ecumenical Christian charity, Bible Society, as well as two of the country’s principal Church leaders, The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster and the Bishop of London.

The Wintershall Players will be performing the Life of Christ at the Wintershall Estate in Surrey from the 21-26 June and the Wintershall Nativity from the 14-18 December.

LISTINGS INFORMATION:

The Passion of Jesus, Trafalgar Square 
Date: Friday 25^th March 2016
Times: 12 noon & 3.15 pm
Tickets: Free admission

Please note: This is an open air event so clothing appropriate for the forecasted weather conditions should be worn. This performance contains a realistic interpretation of the crucifixion. Parental guidance is advised.

Big screens are used so wherever you are you can see and hear the acting.
BSL interpreters will be available for both London performances.

Trick of Light Theatre Company presents: