HIT MUSICAL HAIRSPRAY BOUNCES INTO NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL

Newcastle Theatre Royal audiences can prepare themselves for a night of feel-good fun as the all-star cast of Hairspray arrives in the city from Tue 19 – Sat 30 Jan 2016.

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.

Based on the 1988 film of the same name, Hairspray the musical originally opened to rave reviews on Broadway in 2002 and subsequently won eight Tony Awards. Later after a run at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre in 2007 the show won four Olivier Awards including Best New Musical.

The 40-week tour boasts a stellar line-up with the role of Edna Turnblad being played by Tony Maudsley, who many will know from his long-running role as Kenneth on ITV1’s Benidorm. Tony has previously appeared on stage in the UK touring production of South Pacific  and is a regular face on TV, having played roles recently in The Job Lot, New Tricks and Doc Martin. On top of Tony’s extensive television credits, his film appearances have included roles in Jack Thorne’s The Scouting Book for Boys, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Vanity Fair and Stephen Fry’s Bright Young Things.

Tony will be joined by TV and stage actress and presenter Claire Sweeney who plays the role of Velma Von Tussle. Claire first came to prominence with her long-running role as Lindsey Corkhill in Brookside. Since leaving the soap in 2003, Claire has gone on to find great acclaim on stage with roles in Chicago, Dirty Dancing, Legally Blonde: The Musical, Educating Rita, Guys and Dolls, Tell Me On A Sunday as well as the world tour of Fosse. Claire has also found great popularity as a television presenter and panellist in shows such as 60 Minute Makeover, Loose Women and more recently as a presenter on Magic FM where she hosts a musical theatre-themed show.

The role of Wilbur Turnblad is played by former Blue Peter star Peter Duncan, who began his career on stage with Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre company at the Old Vic and subsequently went on to be Olivier Award nominated for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in The Card and starred as Barnum in Barnum. Along with roles in several TV series, Peter recently competed in BBC1’s gymnastics competition Tumble alongside Sarah Harding and John Partridge.

Peter is joined by former X Factor contestant Brenda Edwards, who after finishing the ITV competition in fourth place under the tutelage of Sharon Osbourne, went on to star in long-running musicals such as Chicago (Adelphi & Cambridge Theatres) and We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre & UK Tour). Brenda plays the role of Motormouth Maybelle.

Freya Sutton will reprise the role of Tracy Turnblad having played the role in the UK and Ireland 2013 tour. She plays alongside established musical theatre performer Jon Tsouras who will play the role of Corny Collins. Jon’s theatre credits include White Christmas (The Lowry, Salford), A Chorus Line (London Palladium), Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Palace Theatre), Legally Blonde: The Musical (Savoy) and Jesus Christ Superstar (UK Tour).

With music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, Hairspray will be 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.

Hairspray is produced by Mark Goucher and Laurence Myers, Tom O’Connell for QNQ, Just for Laughs Theatricals, Gale King Productions and Curve theatre, Leicester.

Hairspray is at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tue 19 to Sat 30 Jan 2016, playing evenings at 7.30pm, matinees Thurs 2pm and Sat 2.30pm. Tickets from £16.50 (save 50p per ticket online). 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 at www.theatreroyal.co.uk

Oliver Mackwood with Debbie Hicks and Tim Johanson in association with Park Theatre present

DINNER WITH FRIENDS

CASTING ANNOUNCED

HARI DHILLON, SHAUN DOOLEY, SARA STEWART AND FINTY WILLIAMS

TO STAR IN DONALD MARGULIES’ PULITZER PRIZE WINNING DRAMA

Casting has been announced for Dinner with Friends by Donald Margulies, the Pulitzer Prize winning drama directed by Tom Attenborough coming to the Park Theatre this autumn, from Tuesday 27 October to Saturday 28 November, with a press night on Friday 30 October.

Holby City veteran and star of Broadway’s Disgraced Hari Dhillon will play ‘Tom’ opposite Broadchurch’s Shaun Dooley as ‘Gabe’, Batman Begins and West End regular Sara Stewart as ‘Karen’, and Cranford and Born and Bred star Finty Williams as ‘Beth’

Donald Margulies, the play’s multi-award winning writer, says “I’m delighted that such a young, exciting assembly of theatre artists will be bringing Dinner with Friends to a new generation of London theatregoers”.

Karen and Gabe are a steady pair, committed to surviving every marital peak and valley. Tom and Beth are splitting up. Divided by his infidelity, they are forced to re-evaluate connections to their long-term friends… 

Dinner with Friends is the tantalizingly witty portrayal of relationships that explores our dependency on our friends as well as our loved ones.

Underbelly Productions presents
BARBU

CANADIAN CIRCUS COMPANY CIRQUE ALFONSE WILL BRING BARBU TO THE LONDON WONDERGROUND AT SOUTH BANK CENTRE IN SUMMER 2016

BARBU ENJOYED A HUGELY ACCLAIMED, SELL-OUT EUROPEAN PREMIERE AT EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE’S CIRCUS HUB

BARBU WILL RUN FROM WEDNESDAY 15 JUNE UNTIL SUNDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2016

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW

Hot on the heels of a critically acclaimed European premier in Edinburgh this year, Canadian Circus company Cirque Alfonse will headline the London Wonderground with the spectacularly raucous and sexy cabaret BARBU in Summer 2016.

Following a storming run at Underbelly’s new Circus Hub venue this summer, the first major venue dedicated solely to circus at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, BARBU will run fromWednesday 15 June until Sunday 25 September 2016. Tickets are on sale now.

Wowing audiences in 2013 with their London debut of the madcap lumberjack circus Timber!, Cirque Alfonse’s BARBU takes this form of edge-of-your-seat, off-the-wall entertainment to a whole other level with breath-taking performances from a group of the world’s most extraordinary, dare-devil acrobats, all set to a heart thumping score by a frenetic electro-trad band.

BARBU delves into the origins of the circus in Montreal at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. Imagine a fairground, where spectators are left spellbound by astonishing performances and outrageous feats, simple curiosities and unexpected eccentricities. Political correctness has no place in the madness and mayhem of this show.

Since it began, Cirque Alfonse has been exploring traditional iconic Quebec images and integrating them into a truly innovative form of contemporary acrobatics. In the Lanaudière region of Quebec, the Carabinier-Lépine family and their close friends joined forces in 2005, and the following year they created La Brunante which became the foundation for Timber!which premiered in 2010. This highly original production became an undeniable success with more than 300 performances in 13 countries to date.

London’s finest circus party and Cirque Alfonse clan’s third show, BARBU, is an exuberant, bizarre and once-in-a-lifetime extravaganza.

LISTINGS

Cirque Alfonse in
BARBU
at London Wonderground at Southbank Centre
15 June – 25 September 2016
Tickets from £15 – £45
Premium packages available

Previews 15-23 June
Preview Tickets from £10-£35

Suitable for ages 16+
Running time 75 minutes
To book phone: 0844 545 8282
www.londonwonderground.co.uk

@CirqueAlfonse
@LdnWonderground
@southbankcentre
#BARBU

Performance Times:

From 15 June – 17 July 2016

Tuesdays – Fridays at 7.45pm
Saturdays at 6.30pm and 9.30pm
Sundays at 6.30pm
Except Saturday 18 June: 6.30pm
No shows Mondays.

From 19 July – 25 September 2016

Tuesdays – Fridays and Sundays at 7.30pm
Saturdays at 6pm and 8.30pm
No shows Mondays
No shows 26 & 27 July.

London Wonderground
5 May – 25 September

PIGDOG present:

This winter the ultimate family adventure comes to Newcastle Theatre Royal as Northern Ballet returns to the stage with the dazzling tale of one child’s Christmas dreams coming true, in festive season favourite The Nutcracker from 10 – 14 Nov 2015.

In the midst of a festive party, as the fire crackles and the pile of presents grows ever higher, Clara is caught up in the warmth and excitement of Christmas and becomes enthralled by her new Nutcracker doll. But, as the clock strikes midnight, her Nutcracker proves to be no ordinary toy and Clara is whisked away on the magical journey of a lifetime through a winter wonderland of dancing snowflakes and the famous Sugar Plum Fairy.

Set to Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score, played live by Northern Ballet Sinfonia, Northern Ballet’s The Nutcracker features choreography and beautiful costumes by Northern Ballet’s Artistic Director David Nixon OBE, stunning Regency style sets by Charles Cusick Smith and lighting by Mark Jonathan.

David Nixon OBE, said: “The Nutcracker is one of the world’s most popular classical ballets and holds a special place in the hearts of audiences young and old. We are delighted to once again revive this charming story and add that extra bit of sparkle to the festive season for audiences in Newcastle.”

Northern Ballet will also stage a ballet specially aimed at children, when they perform Elves and The Shoemaker on Fri 13 Nov at 12 noon and 2pm. With an original score, composed by Philip Feeney, Elves and The Shoemaker follows the fantastic sell-out success of Ugly Duckling and Three Little Pigs by Northern Ballet

The Nutcracker is at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tue 10 to Sat 14 Nov 2015, playing evenings at 7.30pm, matinees Thurs 2pm and Sat 2.30pm. Tickets from £14.50 (save 50p per ticket online). Elves and The Shoemaker plays on Fri 13 Nov at 12 noon and 2pm. Tickets £8 adults and £6 children. 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 at www.theatreroyal.co.uk

SEVENTH ROUND OF SMALL GRANTS ANNOUNCED
The Theatres Trust is pleased to announce its seventh round of small capital grants to theatres from its UK Small Grants Scheme. Successful theatres in this round are the Upfront Arts Theatre in Penrith, Bristol’s volunteer run Wardrobe Theatre, Colne’s Pendle Hippodrome, the Category B-listed Theatre Royal Dumfries, and the Horse and Bamboo Theatre in Rossendale.

Grants from The Theatres Trust Theatres Protection Fund Small Grants Scheme are awarded as follows:

Upfront Arts Theatre, Penrith receives £4,000 towards its ‘Upfront Grand Staircase’ project to build a linking staircase from the ground to the first floor of its theatre foyer area to significantly improve audience flow around the building.

Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol receives £5,000 towards its ‘New Dressing Room’ project to construct a dressing room within its new premises.

Pendle Hippodrome, Colne receives £5,000 towards its ‘Pendle Hippodrome Trust Ltd extension’ project to repair and fit a new roof to the recently acquired adjacent building, to allow the venue to expand its ancillary facilities.

Theatre Royal Dumfries receives £5,000 towards its ‘Refurbishment and extensions’ project to install sound-proof, custom-made auditorium and studio doors, in-keeping with the category B-listed building, as part of a larger scheme of works to refurbish and reopen the venue.

Horse and Bamboo Theatre, Rossendale receives £5,000 towards its ‘Boo Building Redevelopment Project’ to ensure wheelchair access to its improved theatre space.

Mhora Samuel, Director of The Theatres Trust said: “Our seventh round of small grants includes the Theatre Royal Dumfries, one of the oldest theatres in the country, as well as one of the newest, the Wardrobe Theatre in Bristol. I’m proud that our Theatres Protection Fund is helping to ensure theatres can address urgent repairs and provide long-term benefit.”

The Theatres Trust Small Grants Scheme helps theatres in need and at risk address urgent building repairs, improve their operational viability, introduce environmental improvements, and enhance physical accessibility.

Trustees of The Theatres Trust will meet in spring 2016 to consider further Small Grants Scheme awards. Deadline for Round 8 applications is 12noon Wednesday 3 February 2016.

National tour for multi-sensory show that brings the forest to life for audiences with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties

The Forest
Presented by Frozen Light in association with The New Wolsey

On Thursday 15 and Friday 16 October Frozen Light theatre company present their unmissable new production The Forest in Live Theatre’s fully accessible Studio Theatre. The Forest is created for teenage (13+) and adult audiences with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD). It’s an intriguing multi-sensory tale, which immerses audiences in a world full of new sights, sounds, smells and sensations.
                                                                                               

Part love story, part mythical quest, The Forest places audiences at the heart of the action in a mysterious wooded glade. The immersive, hour-long performance allows everyone to experience the smell of the forest before a storm, the feel of raindrops on their palms and the sounds of birds singing overhead or twigs cracking underfoot.

Theatre company Frozen Light devised the accessible, inclusive production especially for teenagers and adults with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD).

After a premiere in May at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, The Public Reviews described the show as “the ultimate 3D live interactive performance” (see Notes to editors). Colchester based parent Sharon Slade, who saw the premiere with her daughter Lauren, said: “It was a sensory extravaganza…Lauren was totally transfixed”.

For many in the audience, says Frozen Light co-artistic director Amber Onat Gregory, it will be their first time in a mainstream theatre venue. She says:

“We want to enable people who rarely attend high street arts venues to experience the theatre With our 26-date tour, we hope to reach as many people with PMLD as possible.”

Lucy Garland, co-artistic director, adds:

“Through putting accessible theatre into theatre venues we hope to increase the visibility of people with PMLD and create activities for them to access within their local community.”

Frozen Light launched in 2013 as a response to arts venues that rarely cater for audiences with complex disabilities, although theatres are improving accessibility and offering relaxed performances for people who wouldn’t usually access the theatre. The Guardian recently published a good practice piece by Frozen Light on how to stage shows for people with profound disabilities (see Notes to editors).

Helen Moore, Director of Education and Engagement at Live Theatre, says:

“It is common place that theatre work for young people with PMLD often takes place in their school or care centre but once the young person has left, there is very little access to arts and culture available. At Live Theatre we are committed to ensuring that high quality theatre work and Live Theatre as a cultural venue can be enjoyed by everyone. We are delighted to be hosting Frozen Light Theatre Company and look forward to welcoming audiences to see this beautiful piece of work.”

Performing to an intimate audience, the three-strong cast accompanies the audience from the foyer into the performance space, ensuring a smooth transition into the theatre environment.

One-to-one interactions include singing directly to an audience member, or offering a prop to be explored through touch. Specially composed music is integrated throughout the performance.

The plot of The Forest involves a journey of self-discovery for the main characters, Thea (Gregory) and Robin (actor and musician Al Watts). Both dream of escaping their humdrum hometown existence, and a series of unexpected events, explained by caretaker of the forest and storyteller Ivy (Garland), result in an adventure into the forest, which changes their lives forever.

The Forest is currently on a nationwide tour. The 26 date tour from August to December includes venues in England, Wales and Scotland.

The Forest is at Live Theatre on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 October. Tickets cost £8 plus one free ticket for an accompanying carer or companion. Please note that places for this show are limited. There are also additional tickets available for friends and family members. For more information on The Forest and to buy tickets for schools and individuals please call our box office on (0191) 232 1232. For further information about the show including pre-show resources please visit Live Theatre’s websitewww.live.org.uk.

Join the conversation: #TheForest @FrozenTheatre and @LiveTheatre

YORKSHIRE COSPLAY CON 2016
SHEFFIELD ARENA
SATURDAY 11^TH & SUNDAY 12^TH JUNE

This Summer, why not join the thousands of Anime, Cosplay, Comic Book, Sci-Fi and Video Gaming fans, as they embark on the ultimate, fun-packed weekend out at the Sheffield Arena Sturday 11^th & Sunday 12^thJune.

Tickets are now on sale in person at the Arena Box Office, by phone on 0114 256 5656 or online atwww.sheffieldarena.co.uk.

Tickets  are priced from £9.90 for adults & £7.70 for children (including booking fee) when booking by phone or online & from £9.45 for adults & £7.35 for children (including booking fee) when booking in person at the Arena Box Office. Early Bird Entrance & Weekend tickets also available.

Yorkshire Cosplay Con is an action fuelled, family friendly, geek convention like no other. It’s an event where characters (from film, tv, popular culture, anything that can be imagined…) come to life. Cosplaying (or ‘Costume Play’) is for everyone; from little children in fancy dress, to adults who want to embrace an alter-ego; from people who want to pretend to be someone else for a day or just people who like to dress up. From professional costumers, to handcrafted costumes that have taken years to perfect, you are likely to see a whole array of wonderful characters, a collection of which you could never imagine coming together in any other setting.

The event will have an action packed stage schedule with a variety of performances, plus a massive selection of stalls with all sorts of geeky, quirky and unusual items. Over the weekend there will be a range of guests from TV and Movies, as well as authors and graphic novelists. A wide range of activities are planned that are suitable for the entire family, including workshops, card and video gaming events, roleplay games, and more!

Yorkshire Cosplay Con we pride themselves as being the ultimate family friendly convention, so bring along the kids for free face painting and balloon modelling. Children will even get a chance to show off their own outfits in our increasingly popular kids cosplay competition on stage. We will have some amazing photo opportunities across the weekend, with recognisable props from your favourite tv shows and films, vehicles, and costumers – so, come and get your ‘selfies’ involved!

Yorkshire Cosplay Con will be in it’s 6th year and Summer 2016 at Sheffield Arena is set to be the biggest and best yet! From humble beginnings with the intention of bringing like-minded people together, it has grown to be one of the largest, most popular, events in the Yorkshire calendar.

Tickets are now on sale in person at the Arena Box Office, by phone on 0114 256 5656 or online at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk.

RSC ANNOUNCES RECORD FIGURES AT 2014/15 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND CALLS FOR EVERY CHILD TO HAVE A GREAT FIRST EXPERIENCE OF SHAKESPEARE

The Royal Shakespeare Company calls for every child to have a great first experience of Shakespeare, as it announces record figures for 2014/15 at the Company’s AGM in Stratford-upon-Avon today.

During the year, the RSC sold over 1.8m tickets for 28 productions and co-productions, giving 2048 performances and touring for 70 weeks during the year.  Its education programmes reached over 530,000 children and young people.

Gregory Doran, RSC Artistic Director, said: “We know great Shakespeare teaching can inspire young people, building confidence and skills in speaking, writing and listening – all essential for a successful future life.  The RSC approach, drawing on rehearsal room techniques, can change lives. Having had such success working with young people in the last year, we want to invite all schools across the country to join us to make 2016 a year to celebrate Shakespeare’s work with their students.  They can mark the 400th anniversary in the classroom, by watching a free broadcast or a live performance, or taking part in our Dream Team initiative, which runs alongside our 2016 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Play for the Nation.”

Students from Stratford College performed a verbatim theatre piece at the AGM, devised by Aileen Gonsalves, which highlighted the impact of RSC Education’s work across the UK.

Sam Colborne, Director of Creative Learning, Treviglas Community College in Cornwall, one of 400 schools in the RSC’s Learning and Performance Network, reported:  “What has happened has been, quite simply, life-changing. My teaching has been reinvigorated, refreshed and broadened… and the experiences of our students changed beyond anything we (or they) considered before. We have created shows to be proud of, and brought our community a little closer to Shakespeare, and perhaps even to each other. We’ve achieved outstanding lesson gradings from Ofsted, using approaches you have taught us. We have gained a pride we simply would not have discovered without the RSC.”

Gregory Doran continued:  “Shakespeare reminds us so eloquently what it is to be human and gives us a 360 degree view of life.  Our successes in 2014/15 in reaching new audiences show his continuing appeal and the power of live theatre to inspire and challenge us.  We have had a great year, not only with Shakespeare, but new plays like our acclaimed productions of Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies and Tom Morton Smith’s dazzling Oppenheimer, and classics from Shakespeare’s contemporaries, with our ‘Roaring Girls’ strand celebrating great roles for women.

“As we prepare for 2016 and the biggest Shakespeare anniversary ever, we want to reach the widest possible audience, with thrilling, contemporary work – made in Shakespeare’s home town and shared across the world.  From productions in Stratford and a brand new exhibition and studio theatre, to a national tour of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Shakespeare’s ‘Great Cycle of Kings’ playing in London, China and New York, as well as worldwide cinema broadcasts, there is a rich programme on offer. As we look forward to 2016, I am grateful to all our sponsors, donors and friends, for all their support in bringing our work to audiences everywhere.”

The RSC also reported a strong financial year in 2014/15, with income of £63.9m, 75% generated through box office, commercial activities and fundraising, alongside public investment from Arts Council England of £15.8m.  Box office increased by 5% to £34.3m and trading income by 3% to £7m. The Company continued to offer a wide range of ticket discounts to open up theatre to everyone, with over 72,000 schools tickets, 19,000 family tickets and 20,000 BP £5 tickets for 16-25 year olds, and welcomed 570,000 day visitors to its Stratford home.  It also maintained its commitment to accessible performances, offering captioning, audio description, relaxed and signed performances, as well as touch tours.

The success of Matilda The Musical in London and other commercial transfers helped generate a surplus.  Having helped to balance the books in previous years, the profits are allocated to a strategic investment fund, from which they are spent on projects to help sustain the Company’s future, including funding the ‘Live From Stratford-upon-Avon’ cinema broadcasts.  The high quality live screenings have now reached over 420,000 people since they began in 2013, and the RSC screened 5 films for free to schools across the UK last year, alongside live Q&As with the creative teams.

The RSC’s annual review can be found here:

http://www.rsc.org.uk/about-us/our-work/annual-review.aspx