The mysteries of men, dating, finding Mr Right, and motherhood are explored in Sex In Suburbia, the hilarious new comedy starring Claire Sweeney that will entertain audiences at Darlington Civic Theatre on Wednesday 27 May.

With West End and touring production credits that include Chicago, Guys and Dolls, Educating Rita and September In The Rain and television roles in Brookside, Clocking Off, Merseybeat and Candy Cabs, Claire has established herself as one of the most popular and versatile talents in the UK.

Sex In Suburbia is co-written by Claire Sweeney and Mandy Muden, directed by Ken Alexander (Hormonal Housewives) with set design by Mark Walters (Hot Flush). Packed with revealing and raunchy storylines set to a backdrop of sensational musical anthems including I’m Every Woman, I Want To Break Free and Somebody Else’s Guy, Sex In Suburbia will make you laugh, cry and dance in the aisles!

Penny Crowe (Lindzi Germain) is the host of a late-night radio phone-in and as Britain’s leading Agony Aunt, she takes calls about every date from hell and the occasional one from heaven. She is more than happy to dish out relationship advice, but is she as happy to take it…? Claire Sweeney joins Penny on her show as a ‘relationship expert’ while Carl Patrick revels in multiple roles which take in frigid footie fans, karate chopping kids and outrageous radio host, Rory Reynolds.

And as a way of keeping Sex in Suburbia ‘Real’ with a capital R, sassy and brave audience members, will be invited to share their own personal dating stories live on stage and will be rewarded with an Ann Summers goodie bag!

Sex In Suburbia is at Darlington Civic Theatre on Wednesday 27 May.

Tickets* are priced £23 and £25 To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has announced full casting for Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull, which begins rehearsals today, Monday 11 May. Celebrated as one of the most important plays of the nineteenth century, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre have commissioned a new version by Torben Betts to mark the 120th Anniversary of Chekhov’s original play. The Seagull will run at the iconic theatre from 19 June – 11 July.

Janie Dee will star as Irina Arkadina, with Sabrina Bartlett as Nina and Matthew Tennyson as Konstantin. They will be joined by Tara D’Arquian as Natasha, Lisa Diveney as Masha, Tom Greaves as Yakov, Colin Hoult as Simon Medviedenko, Fraser James as Ilia Shamraev, Lisa Palfrey as Paulina Andreevna, Ian Redford as Peter Sorin, Alex Robertson as Boris Trigorin and Danny Webb as Eugene Dorn.

Directed by Matthew Dunster and with set design by Jon Bausor, The Seagull will have Movement Direction by Charlotte Broom, Lighting Design by Philip Gladwell, Sound Design by Christopher Shuttand casting by Julia Horan and Lotte Hines.

As guests assemble at a country house for the staging of an avant-garde open air play, artistic temperaments ignite a more entertaining drama behind the scenes, with romantic jealousies, self-doubt and the ruthless pursuit of happiness confusing lives, loves and literature.

Janie Dee has previously starred in Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre productions including Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night. Janie won the Olivier, Evening Standard and Critic’s Choice Awards for Best Actress for Alan Ayckbourn’s Comic Potential which she performed in London and New York, and the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical for Carousel, directed by Nicholas Hytner at the National Theatre. She appeared alongside Angela Lansbury in Blithe Spirit, and has just finished a run as Helene Hanff in 84 Charing Cross Road (Salisbury Playhouse). She is currently in Ah, Wilderness!at the Young Vic and, following The Seagull, will play the title role in Mrs Henderson Presents at Theatre Royal Bath.

Sabrina Bartlett has recently been seen as Keren Daniel in BBC1’s drama Poldark and as Katie in BBC1’sPassing Bells. Additional television credits include Midsomer Murders (ITV), Da Vinci’s Demons (FOX),Doctor Who (BBC 1) and Suspects (Channel 5).

Matthew Tennyson won the Milton Shulman Award for Outstanding Newcomer at the Evening Standard Awards for his role in Making Noise Quietly at the Donmar Warehouse. Matthew also won Best Newcomer at the Manchester Theatre Awards in 2011 for Beautiful Thing (Royal Exchange). Additional theatre work includes Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Globe, Flare Path, directed by Trevor Nunn and, most recently, A Breakfast of Eels at the Print Room. Matthew also played the role of Ollie in BAFTA award-winning film Pride.

Tara D’Arquian is a Belgian choreographer, movement director and performer. Tara was awarded the first site-sensitive Compass Commissions supported by Trinity Laban and Greenwich Dance Agency partnership for which she conceived In Situ, the first site-sensitive work of a series on identity. Recently, Tara acted in Mametz for National Theatre Wales, written by Owen Sheers and directed by Matthew Dunster who directs The Seagull.

Lisa Diveney, played Julia Masterson in BBC award winning drama Call the Midwife, and will star in short film Manchego released this year. Recent theatre credits include the critically acclaimed Donkey Heart (Trafalgar Studio 2) and UK tour of Hypochondriac alongside Sir Tony Robinson and Imogen Stubbs.

Tom Greaves who made his theatre debut in Our Boys (Tabard Theatre) in 2009 has theatre credits including Four Nights in Knaresborough (Southwark Playhouse) and Neil LaBute’s This is How it Goes(Kings Head).

Colin Hoult’s television credits include Geoff in Derek (Channel 4), Life’s Too short (BBC2), Being Human (BBC2), Crumb (BBC3) and Benidorm (ITV). Theatre credits include Special Measures (Royal Court Liverpool) and the critical acclaimed trilogy of Edinburgh Fringe Festival shows: Carnival of Monsters; Enemy of the World; and Inferno.

Fraser James has worked with The Seagull director Matthew Dunster on seven previous occasions including Liberian Girl, (Royal Court) and Mogadishu (Lyric Hammersmith). Fraser played Don inWildefire (Hampstead Theatre) and is known on television for playing Dr. Toby Marsh in Law & Order in the UK from 2010-2014.

Lisa Palfrey, winner of the ‘Best Actress’ Theatre Critics of Wales Award for Before it Rains (Bristol Old Vic/Sherman Cymru) has further theatre credits including A Whole Way of Life* my play (National Theatre Wales), Ingredient X (Royal Court), and Canvas (Chichester Festival Theatre). Lisa recently appeared in feature films Pride playing Maureen Barry and Under Milk Wood playing Mrs. Dai Bread. On television, Lisa played Luba Chadwick in Family Tree (BBC).

Ian Redford received a best actor nomination in the Manchester Evening News awards 2010 for his role as Creon in Antigone (Manchester Royal Exchange) and appeared on stage in David Hare’s The Permanent Way, which the UK in 2004, winning the ‘Best Touring Production’ award from the Theatre Management Association. Other credits include Timberlake Wertenbaker’s Our Country’s Good (UK Tour) and on television, New Tricks (BBC) and BBC TV Movie Mary and Martha.

Alex Robertson recently starred as Matthew Thorogood in the film The Suspicious of Mr Whicher: The Tie That Binds and The Village (BBC 1). Theatre credits include critically-acclaimed musical Backbeat (Glasgow’s Citizen Theatre), London Wall (Finborough, transferred to St James’ Theatre) and The Count of Monte Cristo (Webster Theatre).

Danny Webb won the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre for his role as Ian in Blasted at the Lyric Theatre. Theatre credits include The Mistress Contract and The Witness, both at the Royal Court. Television credits include Sgt Dennis Tucker in Land Girls (BBC 1), Sherlock(BBC 1), Henry VIII (ITV) and Doctor Who (BBC 1).

Matthew Dunster’s directing credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, The Love Girl & The Innocent and You Can Still Make a Killing (Southwark Playhouse).  As a playwright, his play Children’s Children premiered at the Almeida Theatre in 2012 and his re-imagining of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Most Incredible Thing, a collaboration with The Pet Shop Boys and choreographer Javier de Frutos, opened at Sadler’s Wells in 2011.

Torben Betts won Best New Play at the Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland for The Unconqueredand was nominated for TMA Best New Play for A Listening Heaven. Further plays include What Falls Apart (Live Theatre, Newcastle), Invincible (Orange Tree Theatre and St James Theatre, London),Muswell Hill (Orange Tree Theatre and Park Theatre, London), The Company Man (Orange Tree Theatre), The Error of their Ways (HERE Arts Center, New York), Lie of the Land (Arcola Theatre, London/Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh), The Swing of Things (Stephen Joseph Theatre), Her Slightest Touch (Stephen Joseph Theatre), Incarcerator (Battersea Arts Centre, London), The Lunatic Queen(Riverside Studios, London), Five Visions of the Faithful (Edinburgh Festival Theatre); Clockwatching(Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond and Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough), The Biggleswades(Southwark Playhouse), Silence and Violence (White Bear Theatre, London) and The Last Days of Desire(BBC Radio 4). He is currently under commission from Northern Stages to adapt Get Carter for a production in early 2016. Torben also wrote the screenplay for the British independent feature filmDownhill, which was released in cinemas in May 2014.

Prior to The Seagull, J.M Barrie’s Peter Pan will open Regent’s Park Open Theatre’s 2015 season, running from 15 May – 14 June 2015. From 16 July – 29 August 2015 Seven Brides for Seven Brotherswill see director Rachel Kavanaugh reunite the creative team behind the theatre’s award-winning production of The Sound of Music. Lord of the Flies will bring this year’s season to a close from 3 – 12 September before embarking on a nationwide tour.

 

 

2015 is the 150th anniversary of the publication of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Casting is today announced for the Manchester International Festival run of wonder.land, a new musical inspired by Lewis Carroll’s iconic Alice in Wonderland, with music by Damon Albarn and book and lyrics by Moira Buffini (Tamara Drewe, Handbagged), directed by National Theatre Director Rufus Norris.

The MIF cast will include Sam Archer, Lois Chimimba, Rob Compton, Rosalie Craig, Ivan De Freitas, Luke Fetherston, Hal Fowler, Anna Francolini, Lorraine Graham, Paul Hilton, Karina Hind, Holly James, Sam Mackay, Daisy Maywood, Enyi Okoronkwo, David Page, Golda Rosheuvel, Cydney Uffindell-Phillips and Witney White.

wonder.land is a Manchester International Festival/National Theatre co-production. Commissioned by Manchester International Festival, National Theatre and the Théâtre du Châtelet.

Award-winning costume designer Katrina Lindsay joins the design team behind War Horse – set designerRae Smith, lighting designer Paule Constable and projection designers 59 Productions – for the new musical.

Damon Albarn and Rufus Norris return to MIF after their acclaimed opera Dr Dee (MIF11, ENO 2012).  Following its premiere at Manchester International Festival 2015, wonder.land plays in repertoire at the NT’s Olivier Theatre from November 2015 until April 2016 and will visit the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris in June 2016.  Casting for these dates is to be announced.

Creative team:

Damon Albarn, Music
Moira Buffini, Book & Lyrics
Rufus Norris, Director
Rae Smith, Set Designer
59 Productions, Projections
Katrina Lindsay, Costume Designer
Paule Constable, Lighting Designer
Paul Arditti, Sound Designer
Javier De Frutos, Choreographer
David Shrubsole, Music Supervisor
James Bonas, Associate Director

LISTINGS
wonder.land
PALACE THEATRE, OXFORD STREET, MANCHESTER, M1 6FT
PRESS NIGHT: THU 2 JULY, 7.30PM
2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 JULY, 7.30PM
5, 8, 11, 12 JULY 2.30PM
PREVIEWS 29, 30 JUNE, 1 JULY 7.30PM

Tickets £45 – £18 (no per ticket booking fee; transaction fee applies)

Concessions available
Box Office: www.mif.co.uk | 0844 817 7654

£12 tickets for Greater Manchester residents on a lower wage, available on a first come first served honesty basis

Age recommendation: 10+

A stage adaptation of the much-loved children’s classic The Tiger Who Came To Tea is heading to Newcastle Fri 3 – Sat 4 July 2015 following a smash-hit West End season and Newcastle Theatre Royal has teamed up with Seven Stories to bring even more fun to this family production.

 

This musical play is adapted from Judith Kerr’s ferociously popular children’s tale, The Tiger Who Came To Tea, which is a favourite on many a bedtime story shelf of children across the country.

 

And families booking to see the show can now enjoy an added dimension of fun thanks to craft sessions that are being provided by the Seven Stories team in the Theatre’s Olivier Suite both before and after the productions.

 

Newcastle Theatre Royal’s Head of Learning Kim Hoffmann said: “We are delighted to be working with Seven Stories to add an extra element of entertainment to families visiting us for this entertaining production of The Tiger Who Came To Tea. The show’s arrival at Newcastle Theatre Royal coincides with a period of refurbishment at Seven Stories, so we are fortunate that the team there have kindly agreed to bring their skills to us for the benefit of local families.”

 

This family-friendly production of The Tiger Who Came To Tea is adapted by David Wood, who ranks among the country’s leading writers and directors of plays and musicals for children. His many successes include: Spot’s Birthday Party; the Olivier Award-winner 2013 for Best Entertainment and Family, Goodnight Mister Tom and eight Roald Dahl adaptations, including West End hits The BFG,The Witches and George’s Marvellous Medicine.

 

The Tiger Who Came To Tea is the perfect slice of teatime mayhem as Sophie and her mummy welcome the hungry Tiger to tea, where he proceeds to eat all the sandwiches, buns, biscuits and even manages to the drink all the water in the tap! The production boasts sing-a-long songs, oodles of magic and interactive fun for children ages 3 plus and their families.

 

This Olivier Award nominated production of The Tiger Who Came To Tea stars Abbey Norman as Sophie, whose theatre credits include a huge range of family and children’s theatre, including Little Nut Brown Hare in Guess How Much I Love You and Mouse inThe Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child in the West End, on tour and in Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore.

 

The role of Mummy is taken by Jenanne Redman who has been part of The Tiger Who Came To Tea team since 2011 and has performed in the Olivier Award nominated show for three West End seasons, a UK tour and further afield in Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and more recently at Australia’s Sydney Opera House. Previous credits include Hetty Feather, Spot’s Birthday Party; and Roald Dahl’s The Twits.

 

Benjamin Wells takes the roles of Daddy, Milkman, Postman and Tiger. Benjamin was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award in 2007 whilst training, and in 2008 was winner of the Sir John Gielgud Award.  His recent credits include: Spot’s Birthday Party; Romeo & Juliet / Macbeth with the Young Shakespeare Company and Oxford Shakespeare Company’s Importance of Being Earnest.

The Tiger Who Came To Tea appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Fri 3 – Sat 4 July 2015. Tickets from £14 (Save 50p per ticket by booking online.) Tickets can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or select your own seat and book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk. Times for the tiger craft sessions can also be found on our website.

 

 

Some beautiful set-up shots of Stephen Wight as Lee McQueen and Dianna Agron as Dahlia in McQueen. With previews starting imminently at the St. James Theatre – next Tuesday 12 May

NEW PLAY EXAMINING HUMAN IMPACT OF CUTS TO THE LEGAL AID SYSTEM

SPONSORED BY THE LAW SOCIETY OF ENGLAND AND WALES

The world premiere production of THE INVISIBLE by Rebecca Lenkiewicz will be directed by Michael Oakley (The Life and Times of Fanny Hill, Bristol Old Vic; Variation on a Theme, Finborough). The production previews from 3 July (press night 8 July).

In a first for both organisations, the Bush Theatre production of THE INVISIBLE will be sponsored by The Law Society of England and Wales, the independent professional body for solicitors. Under its President Andrew Caplen, the Law Society launched its Access to Justice campaign in September 2014, highlighting the human impacts of the cuts and to the legal aid system.

Law Society President Andrew Caplen said:  “We are delighted to be sponsoring this production. The theme of The Invisible chimes very clearly with our Access to Justice campaign. Cuts to legal aid have forced more and more people into ‘do it yourself’ justice where representing themselves is the only option other than to take no action at all for themselves and their families. This creative partnership will raise awareness of the importance of the role of lawyers within our justice system. The fundamental concept of the rule of law is nothing more than an ideal if people cannot obtain access to justice.”

THE INVISIBLE (3 July – 15 August 2015) is a new play by Rebecca Lenkiewicz about the recent changes to the provision of legal aid. Based on interviews with real people at all levels of the British justice system, this play aims to tell the stories of those ordinary people affected by the cuts and to examine how they are driving ever deeper cracks into the fabric of our society.  With cuts currently totalling £350m, the reforms to the legal aid system are arguably one of the biggest threats to human rights in Britain today.

Casting to be announced.

Rebecca Lenkiewicz is an award-winning writer who, in 2008, was the first living female playwright to have her work produced on the Olivier Stage at the National Theatre, London. Rebecca is currently under commission to Out of Joint Theatre Company, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York, and the National Theatre. Rebecca’s screenplay Ida, co-written with Pawel Pawlikowksi, won Best Film at various festivals including the London Film Festival as well as the Oscar for best foreign language film at this year’s awards.

Michael Oakley’s most recent credit is directing Caroline Quentin in The Life and Times of Fanny Hillat Bristol Old Vic Theatre. In 2012 he was Co-Artistic Director of Theatre on the Fly – a pop-up venue at Chichester Festival Theatre – where his productions included the acclaimed Playhouse Creatures. Prior to this, he was Trainee Director in Residence at Chichester Festival Theatre, and a recipient of the prestigious JMK Award for young directors.

James Graham’s political thriller THE ANGRY BRIGADE is currently playing in the main house.

THE INVISIBLE will be followed in the Bush’s autumn season by F*CK THE POLAR BEARS by Tanya Ronder (11 September – 24 October 2015) and FORGET ME NOT by Tom Holloway (8 December 2015 – 16 January 2016), which is a co-production between the Bush Theatre and HighTide Festival Theatre.

RADAR, the Bush Theatre’s annual festival of new writing, will take place in November 2015. Full line-up and ticket information to be announced.

Show And Tell present: So It Goes By On The Run Theatre This profoundly moving, gently funny and near-wordless depiction of grief returns to stages across the UK, following a sell out hit run at the Edinburgh Fringe 2014. TOURING NATIONALLY, 10 March – 5 June 2015 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield 30th May 7.45pm ‘I’ve never seen a depiction of grief that is quite as deft, daring, amusing and moving. An extraordinary debut’ The Times «««««

‘A gorgeous, profoundly moving show… this young company have a very bright future’

Telegraph ««««

So It Goes, the critically acclaimed debut of On The Run, was made seven years after co creator Hannah Moss lost her own father to cancer. Near-wordless, the show uses captions on white boards to explore her own true story, deftly capturing her battle to discuss her Father’s death while navigating a poignant journey of memory, laughter and sorrow.

The performance is the first to come from Lecoq-trained company On The Run, created by Hannah Moss and David Ralfe, whose friendship serves as the foundation for the unraveling of the story. The reality of one friend helping another resonates throughout the performance as the two work through Moss’ childhood, teen years and adulthood, recounting the story with heartfelt honesty, playful touches and a cartoon-esque cardboard set.

Co creator of the show Hannah Moss said, “I was with David at the Edinburgh Festival in 2012, six years after my Dad died, when I had the idea for So It Goes. I was inspired by the shows that didn’t rely on spoken language, and I started to try and talk about my dad and my experience through writing on a whiteboard. Talking about my dad had been hard until then, but I felt freed by the whiteboard and it became the central part of the show, symbolising a universal theme: how difficult it is to talk about grief.”

On The Run presents the work of Hannah Moss and David Ralfe who seek to create visual theatre which is comic, touching and truthful. Formed in 2014, the company also curate No Such Thing, a regular night of short-form visual, physical and experimental theatre, in partnership with Rhum & Clay Theatre Company and the New Diorama Theatre.

David trained at the Jacques Lecoq International Theatre School in Paris, after reading English at Cambridge University. He was invited onto the National Theatre Directors Course in 2013. Directing credits include The Flying Roast Goose (Out of Chaos, Blue Elephant Theatre 2014). As Company Director of Let Slip, David wrote and performed inHamster Town (Camden People’s Theatre 2011) and Machines For Living (Blue Elephant Theatre 2012, Edinburgh Fringe 2012).

Hannah studied English at Manchester University, where she performed regularly in drama and musical theatre. She worked as an Administrator at the Blue Elephant Theatre between 2011-12, during which she also worked as Producer for Machines For Living by Let Slip. Hannah has also taken part in workshops led by Jill Norman, Artistic Associate of Hoipolloi and Thomas Prattki, Founder & Director of London International School of Performing Arts.

ontheruntheatre.co.uk | showandtelluk.com | @ontheruntheatre | #Soitgoes | @Show_And_Tell

Running Time: 60 mins | Suitable for ages: 12+

Development supported by the Blue Elephant Theatre and Kings Head Theatre.

Company Information

Devised and performed by Hannah Moss and David Ralfe

Lighting design by Celia Dugua

Design by Emma Tompkins                                                      

Listings information

10 Mar                                                                   The Arts Centre, Ormskirk

Edge Hill University, St Helens Rd, Ormskirk L39 4QP

£10 (£8 concs) | 7.30pm

www.edgehill.ac.uk | 01695 584480

 

12 – 13 Mar                                                           Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury

The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS

£12 (£11 concs) | 8pm

www.marlowetheatre.com | 01227 787787

 

25 Mar                                                                   Square Chapel, Halifax

10 Square Road, Halifax HX1 1QG

£13 (£11 concs) | 8pm

www.squarechapel.co.uk | 01422 349422

 

26 Mar                                                                   Upstairs at the Carriageworks, Leeds

3 Millennium Square, Leeds LS2 3AD

£10.50 (£8.50 concs) | 7.45pm

www.leeds.gov.uk/carriageworks | 01132 243801

 

27 Mar                                                                   New Wolsey Studio, Ipswich

St Georges Street, Ipswich IP1 3NF

£10, (£5 concs) | 7.45pm

www.wolseytheatre.co.uk | 01132 243801

 

8 – 18 Apr                                                             Shoreditch Town Hall, London

380 Old Street, London EC1V 9LT

£12.50 | 8pm

www.shoreditchtownhall.com | 020 7739 6176

 

23 Apr                                                                    The North Wall, Oxford

South Parade, Oxford OX2 7JN

£13 (£11 concs) | 8pm

www.thenorthwall.com | 01865 319450

 

25 Apr                                                                    Dixon Studio, Palace Theatre, Southend

430 London Road, Southend SS0 9LA

£12.50 (£10 concs) | 8pm

www.southendtheatres.org.uk | 01702 351135

 

25 Apr                                                                    Theatre Royal, Margate

Addington Street, Margate CT9 1PW

£12 (£11 concs) | 7.30pm

www.theatreroyalmargate.com | 01843 292795

 

8 – 10 May                                                            The Basement, Brighton

24 Kensington Street, Brighton

£12.50 (£10.50 concs) | 7.30pm

www.brightonfringe.org | 01273 917272

 

15 May                                                                   The Lowry, Salford Quays

Pier 8, Salford Quays M50 3AZ

£12 | 8pm

www.thelowry.com | 0843 208 6000

 

25 May                                                                   Bike Shed Theatre, Exeter

162/3 Fore Street, Exeter EX4 3AT

£10 (£8 concs) | 7.30pm

www.bikeshedtheatre.co.uk | 01392 434169

 

30 May                                                                   Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 1DA

£12.50 (£10.50 concs) | 7.45pm

www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk | 01142 496000

 

2 Jun                                                                      New Diorama Theatre, London

15 – 16 Triton Street, London NW1 3BF

Times and prices TBC

www.newdiorama.com | 020 7916 5467

 

4 – 5 Jun                                                                                Greenwich Theatre, London

Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ES

Times and prices TBC

www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk | 020 8858 7755

 

Following a sell-out run at The Royal Opera House, BalletBoyz are set to bring their explosive choreography to Darlington Civic Theatre later this month.

theTalent is a superb double bill from BalletBoyz featuring ‘The Murmuring’ choreographed by Alexander Whitley and ‘Mesmerics’ choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon. The programme premiered at the Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House last year to capacity audiences and tours for the first time this spring playing at Darlington Civic Theatre on Tuesday 26 May.

Alexander Whitley has chosen the subject/title of The Murmuring for his new piece; as well as a low, distinctive and continuous sound, murmurings is also the extraordinary undulating flight pattern of flocks of birds, particularly starlings. “I’m delighted The Murmuring is going out on the road,” says Alexander, “and that I’ve had another opportunity to work with the BalletBoyz after having enjoyed so much working with them making the piece.” Set to music by the London based electronic duo Raime (Tom Halstead and Joe Andrews) the precise nature of Alexander’s choreography contrasts arresting group dances with twisting, weighted solos; the company’s ten dancers create a seamless ebb and flow of beautiful movement.

Mesmerics is a piece created by Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, co-founders and artistic directors of BalletBoyz , with Christopher Wheeldon in 2004 for three men and two women. Christopher has reworked the piece and re-created it for eight of theTalent’s dancers. “We’ve always loved the piece,” says Michael Nunn. “The music is a gorgeous score by Philip Glass featuring haunting, hypnotic string sections. We knew it wouldn’t work in the old format because there’s a lot of pointe work and traditional partnering, so Chris has re-invented it and we’ve worked with him in tiny moments through his busy schedule.”

BalletBoyz perform at Darlington Civic Theatre on Tuesday 26 May. Tickets* are priced £21, £19 and for under 16s £11

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy

CONTINUING THE COMPANY’S FIRST ENCOUNTERS WITH SHAKESPEARE SERIES OF PRODUCTIONS FOR 8 – 13 YEAR OLDS ACROSS THE UK

UPDATED WITH CASTING AND FULL PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

From 2 June 2015

Performances in Warwickshire and Stratford-upon-Avon, followed by UK tour playing in schools and theatres in Birmingham, Hull, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke on Trent, Newcastle upon Tyne, Leicester, Cornwall, and a visit to The Ohio State University

Press Performance:
1pm, Thursday 11 June, Clifton Primary School, Birmingham

 

The Royal Shakespeare Company continues its commitment to creating live theatre for young audiences with its First Encounters with Shakespeare production of The Famous Victories of Henry V – a 90 minute adventure condensing the three great plays of Henry IV Parts I and II andHenry V.

Directed by Owen Horsley, and aimed at 8-13 year olds, the production will open in June 2015 in schools in Warwickshire and the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon before embarking on a six week UK tour of schools and regional theatres, then travelling to the US to play at The Ohio State University.  UK locations include Birmingham, Hull, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle upon Tyne, Leicester and Cornwall.

Using Shakespeare’s original language, The Famous Victories of Henry V introduces us to notorious bad boy Prince Hal as he swaps his rebellious life on the streets of London for the battlefields of France to become one of the most famous heroes in British history. Hal’s epic journey into adulthood will lead its young audience through a life of scandal, parties, friendships, family feuds, rebellion and new responsibilities, ending in glorious victory as the once infamous Prince of England becomes the brave and noble King Henry V.

The production takes place in the 600th anniversary year since the battle of Agincourt, and complements the RSC’s recent History plays.  The title of The Famous Victories is taken from an early play that may have inspired Shakespeare to write the Henry plays.

The cast includes: Daniel Abbott (Mistress Quickly/King of France); Martin Bassindale (Henry V);Nicholas Gerard-Martin (Dericke/Constable); Dale Mathurin (John/Warwick); Evelyn Miller(Rakehell/Hotspur/Sheriff/Dauphin); Leigh Quinn (Poins/Prince John/Katherine); and Simon Yadoo(Falstaff/Henry IV/Erpingham), all of whom are part of the acting company appearing in Richard II,Henry IV Parts I and II and Henry V, RSC Artistic Director, Gregory Doran’s productions of Shakespeare’s great history plays (see end of release for further details).

Owen Horsley, making his directing debut for the RSC, said:

“The Famous Victories of Henry V weaves Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part I and II and Henry Vtogether to produce the ultimate coming of age story.  Our production, which tells of how the wayward Prince Hal becomes a heroic and valiant King, is bold, dynamic and fun.  With the help of our young audience we hope to create a lively show that celebrates the power of imagination and the wonder of theatre.  In our school performances we are asking the students to be active parts of the theatre-making process. They will be providing props for the 7 strong acting company to use in performance, impacting on the storytelling and staging, as well as being part of the live action itself.”

Owen was recently Assistant Director on Gregory Doran’s productions of Richard II and Henry IV Parts I and II.  He is Artistic Director of Eyestring Theatre Company, and in 2010 became Associate Director for Cheek by Jowl, after being Declan Donnellan’s Assistant Director on a number of productions.

Other members of the creative team include: Simon Anthony Wells (designer), Jon Lawrence(Sound), Polly Bennett (Movement), and Rachel Bown-Williams and Ruth Cooper-Brown (fights).

The tour of The Famous Victories of Henry V forms part of the RSC’s Learning and Performance Network (LPN), a three year touring and education partnership with ten regional theatres and their local schools including:  Hull Truck Theatre, Hull; New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under Lyme; Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne; Curve, Leicester; and the Hall For Cornwall, Truro.

Erica Whyman, RSC Deputy Artistic Director, said:
“Many of us have our first encounter with Shakespeare at school and that experience can define our attitude to live theatre and to Shakespeare for the rest of our lives.  This tour brings the thrill and excitement of these extraordinary plays right to the heart of schools, regional theatres and communities.  Most importantly, those schools and theatres are long term partners with us here at the RSC, all working to ensure children and young people have vivid, accessible and memorable experiences of theatre and Shakespeare.”

The production will also play at the Drake Performance and Event Centre at The Ohio State University.  The Royal Shakespeare Company in America is presented in collaboration with The Ohio State University.

 

A NEW CAST FOR MAMMA MIA! IN LONDON

AT THE NOVELLO THEATRE

FROM MONDAY 8 JUNE 2015

NOW BOOKING TO 23 APRIL 2016

There will be major cast changes for MAMMA MIA! in London from Monday 8 June.  Mazz Murray will be joining the cast as Tanya, Jo Napthine as Rosie, Gabriella Williams as Sophie Sheridan and James Darch as Sky.  Also joining the cast from 8 June will be Louise Young as Ali, Stephanie Fearon as Lisa, Dan Partridge as Pepper and Rory Phelan as Eddie.  Dianne Pilkington will continue to star as Donna Sheridan, with Richard Trinder as Sam, Alasdair Harvey as Harry and Charles Daish as Bill.  At certain performances, the role of Donna Sheridan will be played by Shona White.

Mazz Murray is the daughter of songwriter Mitch Murray (who won two Ivor Novello Awards and wrote or co-wrote five UK and three US chart-topping records).  She makes up one third of vocal group Woman, who have supported Earth Wind and Fire and Billy Ocean on their UK national tours.  As an actress, Mazz played Killer Queen in We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre for seven years, and other theatre includes Maureen in the UK tour of Rent, the UK tour and West End production ofFame and the UK tour of Smokey Joe’s Café.

Jo Napthine’s theatre credits include Made in Dagenham (Adelphi Theatre), Urinetown (St James Theatre), Sister Act and The Sound of Music (London Palladium), The Woman in White (Palace Theatre), Jerry Springer – The Opera (National and Cambridge Theatre), Kiss Me Kate (Victoria Palace Theatre) and Les Misérables (Palace Theatre).

MAMMA MIA! marks Gabriella Williams’s West End debut.  She will be graduating this summer from Arts Educational Schools.  She made her professional debut in Carrie at Southwark Playhouse.  James Darch’s previous theatre work includesWhite Christmas at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Kiss Me Kate at the Royal Albert Hall and the UK tour of Cats.

Also in the cast from 8 June will be Tom Bowen, Adam Clayton-Smith, Jasmin Colangelo, Kate Coysten, Stephen John Davis, Katy Day, Olivia Kate Holding, George Ioannides, Alex Jordan-Mills, Craig Anthony Kelly, Sorelle Marsh, George Miller, Stacey Leanne Mills, Fergal McGoff, Ella Nonini, Katy Osborne, Robbie Scotcher, Brad Veitch, Caitlin Ward and Sasha Wareham.

The global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! at London’s Novello Theatre is now extending its booking period until 23 April 2016, taking the show through to its 18^th playing year in London.

From West End to global phenomenon, MAMMA MIA! is Judy Craymer’s ingenious vision of staging the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs with an enchanting tale of family and friendship unfolding on a Greek island paradise.  To date, it has been seen by more than 54 million people in 49 productions in 16 different languages grossing more than $2 billion at the box office.

MAMMA MIA! originally opened in London at the Prince Edward Theatre on 6 April 1999, before transferring to the Prince of Wales Theatre in 2004.  The musical re-opened at the Novello Theatre in 2012.

 

The London production of MAMMA MIA!, which celebrated its 16^th birthday on 6 April, has been seen by more than 10% of the entire UK population.  The show has celebrated over 6,500 performances in London and has broken box office records in all three of its London homes.  In 2011, it became the first Western musical ever to be staged in Mandarin in the People’s Republic of China.   

 

Produced by Judy Craymer, MAMMA MIA! The Movie, starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan, is the highest grossing live action musical film of all time.

 

With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch.

 

MAMMA MIA! is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East & Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal.

 

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Novello Theatre

Aldwych

London WC2B 4LD

Monday to Friday Prices:  £65.00, £37.50, £20.00, £15.00

Saturday Prices:  £67.50*, £52.50, £39.50, £25.00, £15.00

*£69.50 from 26 October 2015

Please note: Saturday pricing applies to all performances 25-30 May, 27 July-29 August and 26-30 October 2015, 28 December 2015 – 2 January 2016, 15-20 February and 25 March – 9 April 2016

A £2.25 per ticket booking fee applies to tickets booked online, and a £2.75 per ticket booking fee applies to tickets booked by phone. No booking fee on tickets purchased in person at the Novello Theatre Box Office.

All prices include £1.25 restoration levy.

Early Bird Pricing – anyone booking four months or more in advance of the performance they are attending (Monday to Thursday performances only) will be able to purchase £65 tickets for £45, a saving of £20 on the regular top price, but only through Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, either online, in person at the theatre, or by calling the Novello Theatre Box Office.

Performance Times:

Monday – Saturday 7.45pm

Matinees – Thursday & Saturday 3.00pm*

*extra Tuesday matinees on 11 August & 27 October 2015 & 16 February 2016

Christmas 2015/16 Performance Schedule

Monday 21 December                              7.45pm

Tuesday 22 December                             3.00pm and 7.45pm

Wednesday 23 December                        3.00pm and 7.45pm

Thursday 24 December                            NO PERFORMANCE

Friday 25 December                                 NO PERFORMANCE

Saturday 26 December                            3.00pm and 7.45pm

Monday 28 December                              3.00pm and 7.45pm

Tuesday 29 December                             3.00pm and 7.45pm

Wednesday 30 December                        3.00pm and 7.45pm

Thursday 31 December                            3.00pm

Friday 1 January                                       7.45pm

Saturday 2 January                                  3.00pm and 7.45pm

Currently booking to 23 April 2016

The performance lasts 2 hours and 35 minutes (including a 15-minute interval)

Box Office: 0844 482 5115

http://www.mamma-mia.com/

http://www.facebook.com/mammamiamusical

http://twitter.com/MammaMiaMusical