MYSTIFYING MAGICIAN AND DAREDEVIL SWORDSMAN AARON CROW JOINS WORLD CLASS LINE UP FOR FINAL WEEK

LAST CHANCE TO SEE HIT SPECTACULAR IMPOSSIBLE IN THE WEST END: LIMITED SEASON AT THE NOËL COWARD THEATRE MUST END 29TH AUGUST

The producers of hit West End magic spectacular IMPOSSIBLE have announced that Aaron Crow, star of Britain’s Got Talent, will join the show for the final week of its run on Monday 24th August. The hit magic show finishes its limited run at the Noel Coward Theatre on 29th August, before embarking on a worldwide tour.

Aaron Crow, world renowned magician and swordsman, will astound and amaze audiences with his cutting edge tricks and daredevil stunts, tackling swords and crossbows whilst blind-folded! Crow’s unique and compelling approach to magic fuses suspense and dangerous stunts with a winning charm and explores the positive theme of facing and overcoming our fears. His sensational style took him to the semi-finals on Britain’s Got Talent where his nail-biting stunt of chopping a pineapple in half on top of Ant McPartlin’s head, while blind-folded, had audiences on the edge of their seats. Simon Cowell remarked: “That’s a great act. I love the idea of watching something where there is a possibility that someone could actually die”

On joining the show, Aaron Crow said: “I’m thrilled and honoured to be joining Impossible alongside such a talented group of illusionists and magicians, and looking forward to bringing some of my magic to the West End for the last week of the run”

IMPOSSIBLE, the biggest magic show to hit the west end in decades opened at the Noel Coward Theatre on 30th July and has been astounding audiences with a stunning show that encompasses escapology, mind-reading, sleight-of-hand and disappearance, as well as bringing some traditional tricks up to date by using contemporary technologies such as iPads and lasers.

Featuring a stellar line-up of the best magicians and illusionists from around the world including:modern-day Houdini, daredevil and TV escapologist Jonathan Goodwin (until 21 August); grand illusionist Luis de Matos, mind-blowing mind-reader Chris Cox; spell-binding digital marvel Jamie Allan, boundary breaking magician Ben Hart, and sleight of hand master Ali Cook.

IMPOSSIBLE is produced by Jamie Hendry Productions, with creative direction by Anthony Owen, stage direction by Lloyd Wood, scenic design by Andrew D. Edwards, lighting design by Tim Lutkin, sound design by Gareth Owen, video design by Duncan McLean and music by Michael Bradley.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

IMPOSSIBLE
Noël Coward Theatre, St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4AU

Until Saturday 29th August 2015
Monday – Saturday evenings at 7.30pm
Matinee performances: Tuesday and Saturday at 3.00pm
Booking details:  0844 482 5141
Access bookings: 0844 482 5137
Website: www.ImpossibleLive.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImpossibleTheShow
Twitter: @ImpossibleShow

The Grand Theatre, Leeds – 17th August 2015

The superb Kenwright season continues in Leeds with the very talented Agatha Christie Theatre Company presenting And Then There Were None

I love a good murder mystery, and this is a really good one. A true 5* production.  The play stays true to the original novel and does well to build up the suspense, as well as getting the audience to laugh, gasp and sigh throughout as we turn all the different corners in the story.

Set on a small island off the coast of Devon, the guests of a mysterious Mr Owen gather for a weekend away at the millionaire’s mansion, but he never turns up.

Directed by Joe Harmston, who has spearheaded all of the productions of Christie’s plays the Company has toured over the last ten years. His experience shows clearly here. There is no lame attempt to update the play or tinker with it in ways counter to its ingenuity. No. Harmston approaches the staging with respect and considerable care.

A gathering of strangers, separately invited to a weekend house party through letters from a mysterious stranger, soon begin to realise that they have been duped into becoming victims of a twisted and disturbed character. The idyllic island surroundings soon become a terrifying trap as one-by-one, the characters meet their fate.

The first act was a little bit slow, but it works, especially with so many characters playing a vital role it was necessary to make sure they all had a proper introduction – to each other and the audience. The second act was full of suspense and had many audience members on the edge of their seats and debating with their companions who they thought the murderer was.  And the final reveal was genius

Ben Nealon, a veteran of eight Christie plays, is terrific as the good-looking but possibly slightly/completely unhinged Captain Lombard. This is a stock Christie character: the charming rake with a shady past, a good chat up line for the ladies and a revolver. Nealon gets the style precisely right, his accent and delivery spot on and his sense of total investment in the character and situation impeccably judged. His welcome  energy is the pulse of the play.

Deborah Grant, almost unrecognisable as the cantankerous and self-righteous old windbag Emily Brent, is thoroughly believable while Kezia Burrows makes a convincing job of portraying vivacious Vera Claythorne. She wears the stylish clothes of the time to great effect and looks as though she’s stepped straight out of a 1930s fashion magazine (all credit to Amanda Ozdonmez and the costume team for the amazingly realistic-looking apparel). In particular THAT dress is beautiful

The rest of the cast – Neil Stacey, Gary Mavers, Mark Curry, Frazer Hines, Eric Carte, Tom McCarron and Jan Knightley, along with Judith Rae as Ethel Rogers, settle perfectly into their roles as though they lived through the thirties themselves.  Watching the paranoia, suspicion and decent to madness is a joy in itself

Simon Scullion’s excellent Art Deco set, Matthew Bugg’s sound design and  Roberto Surace’s costumes all help to give the production the finishing touches that help make the outstanding actors believable.

With twists and turns to the end this is a classic whodunnit and you need to get to The Grand to see if you can work out the ending before the big reveal

 

Young people aged 16-26 have an unique opportunity to see Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, Romeo & Juliet, for only £5 this autumn. As part of Sheffield Theatres’ Live for 5 scheme there are 1,000 seats – more than ever before – available for this production at this special rate.

 

Undoubtedly William Shakespeare’s most romantic play, Romeo & Juliet bursts onto the Crucible stage from Thursday 17 September to Saturday 17 October in a brand new, vibrant production. This familiar story of love blown apart by tragedy is a perfect introduction to Shakespeare. It follows Sheffield Theatres’ previous highly acclaimed productions of Twelfth Night, The Winter’s Tale and Hamlet. Freddie Fox(Cucumber for Channel 4) plays Romeo whilst Morfydd Clark (The Falling) plays Juliet. Ticket prices for the production range from £17.00 to £25.00 making the £5 ticket deal exceptionally good value.

 

Claire Murray, Sheffield Theatres’ Communications and Fundraising Director commented:

‘We want to welcome everyone to the theatre and we appreciate that for our younger audiences, it can seem an expensive night out. We’re making 1,000 seats available at only £5 for Romeo & Juliet and many hundreds more available across all shows in our autumn season. We believe that it’s important that everyone has the chance to enjoy great theatre on their doorstep and we’re committed to making our productions more accessible – Live for 5 is just one of the ways we’re doing this.’  

 

For more details about Live For 5 please go to: sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

 

Live for 5 tickets can be purchased from Sheffield Theatres’ Box Office in-person or by phone on 0114 249 6000 and are priced at £5.00.  A transaction fee of £1.50 applies to all bookings made at the Box Office (excluding cash).

Sheffield Theatres Listings:

Crucible Lyceum Studio 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA             
Box Office 0114 249 6000 – Mon – Sat 10.00am to 8.00pm
A transaction fee of £1.50 (£1.00 online) applies to all bookings made at the Box Office (excluding cash).
On non-performance days the Box Office closes at 6.00pm.
sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
Twitter: @crucibletheatre @SheffieldLyceum

Romeo & Juliet

By William Shakespeare

Crucible Theatre

Thu 17 September – Sat17 October

Tickets from £17.00, concessions available

 

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

THE LONDON PREMIERE OF

SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE

by Michael John LaChiusa

 

AT JERMYN STREET THEATRE

FROM TUESDAY 8 SEPTEMBER TO SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER 2015

 

 

Casting is announced today for Michael John LaChiusa’s Off-Broadway hit See What I Wanna See, which will receive its London Premiere in a limited 4-week run at Jermyn Street Theatre from Tuesday 8 September to Saturday 3 October, with a press night on Friday 11 September, 7.30pm.

The cast features Jonathan Butterell as The Janitor/The Priest, Marc Elliott as The Thief/A Reporter, Cassie Comptonas Kesa/The Wife/An Actress, Mark Goldthorp as Morito/The Husband/A CPA and Sarah Ingram as The Medium/Aunt Monica.

Jonathan Butterell is a director and choreographer. He choreographed the original production of See What I Wanna Seeat New York’s Public Theater, and directed the premieres of Michael John LaChiusa’s other works Giant and Tres Nińas. Choreography credits include Company, Into The Woods and Nine at the Donmar Warehouse and Assassins, Fiddler on the Roof and Light in the Piazza on Broadway. He has also choreographed several films including Finding Neverland. Jonathan trained as an actor and dancer, and is returning to the stage after more than 20 years.

 

Marc Elliott is best known for playing Syed Masood in EastEnders, a role he played for three years. Other television credits include Midsomer Murders (ITV), Holby City (BBC) and The Bill (ITV). His stage credits include Urinetown (St. James and Apollo Theatres), City of Angels (Donmar Warehouse) and The History Boys (National Theatre).

Cassie Compton’s West End credits include Nessarose in Wicked, Elizabeth in Dirty Dancing and Eponine in Les Misérables, with other recent credits including Jean in American Psycho at the Almeida Theatre. Cassie was a finalist in the 2004 series of X Factor, with recent television work including Call the Midwife (BBC), Mr. Selfridge (ITV) and Casualty(BBC).

Mark Goldthorp’s West End credits include Matilda, Avenue Q, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Woman in White and Les Misérables. Other recent credits include Jekyll and Hyde (Union Theatre), Into the Woods (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) and I love You Because (Landor Theatre). Television credits include Skins (Channel 4) and My Family (BBC).

 

Sarah Ingram’s many West End credits include Oklahoma!, South Pacific, Martin Guerre, Inherit The Wind, Flashdance, Imagine This, Murderous Instincts and Napoleon. Other recent credits include Sweeney Todd (Twickenham Theatre), Road Show (Menier Chocolate Factory), Taboo (Brixton Clubhouse) and Annie (West Yorkshire Playhouse).

 

See What I Wanna See is a vibrant and provocative new musical that explores the nature of truth, and how it is altered by perspective. From medieval Japan where two lovers seek to escape a doomed relationship, to modern day New York where a priest is wrestling with his faith, See What I Wanna See weaves together three remarkable stories of lust, greed, murder, faith and redemption, where truth and lies have become entangled. Michael John LaChiusa’s beautiful and unexpected music blends a plethora of influences from jazz and salsa to classical and pop into a fluid, cinematic score. See What I Wanna See is a fiercely intelligent, heartfelt piece of theatre that calls into question; how pure can the truth ever be?

See What I Wanna See was named one of the Best Musicals of 2005 by New York Magazine, and was nominated for nine Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical. It premiered at New York’s Public Theater in 2005 where it starred Idina Menzel in her first role following her Tony Award-winning performance originating the role of Elphaba in Wicked.

Michael John LaChiusa is a composer, lyricist and librettist, whose shows include The Wild Party, Hello Again, Marie Christine and Giant. Michael was nominated for four Tony Awards in 2000 for his score and book for both Marie Christineand The Wild Party.

 

See What I Wanna See is based on three short stories by acclaimed Japanese writer Ryunosuke Akutagawa. It will be directed by Adam Lenson, who recently directed the 20th Anniversary revival of Songs For A New World at St. James Theatre starring Cynthia Erivo, Damian Humbley, Dean John-Wilson and Jenna Russell. Adam also created the sell-out concert series West End Recast at the Phoenix and Duke of York’s Theatres and was associate director on the Olivier award winning west end production of Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along.

See What I Wanna See is written by Michael John LaChiusa, based on short stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa as translated by Takashi Kojima. It is directed by Adam Lenson with musical direction by Richard Bates and set and costume design by Simon Anthony Wells. It is produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment in association with Jermyn Street Theatre, presented by special arrangement with R&H Theatricals Europe.

Twitter @SWIWS2015

 

LISTINGS

 

TUESDAY 8 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER 2015

JERMYN STREET THEATRE

16b Jermyn Street, London SW1Y 6ST

Previews: Tuesday 8 – Thursday 10 September (All tickets £15)

Performances: Tuesday – Saturday 7.30pm, Saturday and Sunday matinees 3.30pm, extra matinee Thursday 1 October

Press Night: Friday 11 September, 7.30pm

Tickets: £20-25 (Previews £15)

Box Office: www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk | 020 7287 2875

ON SALE NOW

McQUEEN, which received its world premiere in May at St. James Theatre, where it broke box office records, will transfer to London’s West End, opening at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on Thursday 27 August, following previews from 22 August, for a strictly limited season until 7 November.

Written by James Phillips and directed by John Caird, the production stars award-winning actor Stephen Wight in the title role. Janet McQueen, one of Lee Alexander McQueen’s sisters, said of the play and the production at St. James Theatre, “It was as though the play and Stephen’s performance brought Lee back to me again.  I felt as though he was real again for me.” Gary McQueen, Lee’s nephew, added, “It does really hit something in your heart.”

Joining Stephen in the West End run will be Carly Bawden in the role of Dahlia. The role was originated by Dianna Agron who is not participating in the transfer due to filming commitments. Reprising their roles as Isabella Blow and Arabella will be Tracy-Ann Oberman and Laura Rees respectively. Michael Bertenshaw will be joining the cast as Mr Hitchcock. Also in the cast will be Harry Alexander, Sophie Apollonia, Amber Doyle, George Hill, Eloise Hymas, Amelia Jackson, Rachel Louisa Maybank, Jessica Buckby and Andrei Teodor Iliescu.

For the transfer to the West End, scenes have been rewritten and an interval has been added. James Phillips said, “I’m so delighted to have McQueen in the West End, and to take this opportunity to refine some things from the original production. For me, it’s also thrilling that we’re going into the Theatre Royal Haymarket, as it was in this theatre that I had my first ever professional job, a few months after leaving college.  I was a peasant – a silent role! – in Miss Julie starring Christopher Eccleston, Aisling O’Sullivan and Maxine Peake that Thelma Holt produced.  It really is one of the most beautiful theatres I’ve ever been in.”

McQUEEN is a journey into the visionary imagination and dream world of Alexander McQueen, fashion’s greatest contemporary artist.  Set on a single London night, it is more than a bio-play. It is stepping into the fairy story landscape of McQueen’s mind, the landscape seen in his immortal shows, where with a dress an urchin can become an Amazon, where beauty might just help us survive the night.  A girl has watched McQueen‘s Mayfair house for eleven consecutive days. Tonight she climbs down from her watching tree and breaks into his house, to steal a dress, to become someone special. He catches her, but, instead of calling the police, they embark together on a journey through London and into his heart.

Lee Alexander McQueen died on 11 February 2010 aged 40. Born in Lewisham and raised in Stratford, East London, at 16 he served an apprenticeship with Savile Row tailors Anderson & Sheppard. Later, he studied at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design and his graduation collection was bought in its entirety by influential fashion stylist Isabella Blow. He was appointed head designer at Givenchy in 1996, where he remained until 2001. He founded his own Alexander McQueen label, and the Gucci Group acquired 51% of his company in 2000, with McQueen serving as Creative Director. McQueen achieved the title British Designer of the Year four times between 1996 and 2003, and was also awarded the CBE and named International Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers in 2003. New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art hosted a posthumous exhibition of McQueen’s work in 2011 titled Savage Beauty. The exhibition is currently being shown at the V&A until 2 August.

Stephen Wight was named Outstanding Newcomer at the Evening Standard Awards for his performances in Michael Grandage’s production of Don Juan in Soho and Samuel West’s production of Dealer’s Choice. Other theatre includes Nicholas Hytner’s production of The Habit of Art at the National and Sean Foley’s production of The Ladykillers in the West End. On television, he has played Simon in Bluestone 42 (BBC 3), Sam in The Paradise (BBC 1), Mitch in Threesome (Comedy Central), Fletcher in Sherlock and Charles in the BBC mini-series Fingersmith. His films include Wilderness, Highlander: The Source, Weekender with Jack O’Connell, Henry Lloyd-Hughes and Zawe Ashton and Ashes with Jim Sturgess and Ray Winstone.

Carly Bawden’s theatre credits include Assassins (Menier Chocolate Factory), Dead Dog in a Suitcase, Tristan & Yseult and The Beggar’s Opera for Kneehigh, My Fair Lady with Dominic West (Sheffield Crucible), Pippin (Menier Chocolate Factory), The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Leicester Curve and Gielgud Theatre), and the tours of Whistle Down the Wind and Evita, for which she was nominated for TMA Award for Best Supporting Actress 2009.

Tracy-Ann Oberman played Chrissie in EastEnders, Yvonne Hartman in Doctor Who, Lizzie Clapham in Monroe, Aunty Val in Friday Night Dinner, Mrs Purchase in Toast of London and Diana in the film Filth starring James McAvoy and Jamie Bell. In theatre, she has acted with the Royal Shakespeare Company and at the National, including playing opposite Kenneth Branagh in Edmond.

Laura Rees’s theatre credits include Ophelia in Ninagawa’s Hamlet at the Barbican, Christopher Luscombe’s Comedy of Errors, Lucy Bailey’s Titus Andronicus and Kathryn Hunter’s Pericles at Shakespeare’s Globe, and Rupert Gould’s Macbeth and Philip Franks’s Twelfth Night at Chichester.

Michael Bertenshaw’s recent theatre credits include The Merchant of Venice, The Taming of the Shrew, All’s Well That Ends Well and Anne Boleyn, all for Shakespeare’s Globe. His many television credits include playing Ralph Miliband in the documentary drama Miliband of Brothers, two three-part thrillers Murderland and Oktober, and regular appearances in the drama series Seaforth and in the children’s drama series C.A.B..

James Phillips’s first staged play, The Little Fir Tree, was commissioned by and performed, under his direction, at the Sheffield Crucible in 2004. He wrote and directed The Rubinstein Kiss at Hampstead Theatre in 2005. His most recent plays were Hidden in the Sand, which opened at the Trafalgar Studios in 2013, and City Stories, which was staged at the St. James

Theatre Studio during the run of McQueen.

John Caird is an Honorary Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, where his work includes over 20 productions of classic and new plays including co-productions with Trevor Nunn of Nicholas Nickleby, Peter Pan and Les Misérables. His National Theatre productions include Hamlet and Humble Boy, both with Simon Russell Beale, Stanley with Antony Sher, and his own new version of Bernstein’s Candide for which he won a Laurence Olivier Award.

McQUEEN has production design by David Farley, choreography by Christopher Marney, video design by Tim Bird, lighting design by David Howe, sound design by John Leonard, wigs designed by Linda McKnight and casting by Kate Plantin CDG & Jayne Collins CDG.

McQUEEN is produced at the Theatre Royal Haymarket by Robert Mackintosh, AMIR Ltd, Hilary A. Williams, Deborah Negri, with Julian Stoneman as executive producer, for and on behalf of McQ Productions Ltd.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

22 August to 7 November 2015

Theatre Royal Haymarket

18 Suffolk Street

London SW1Y 4HT

Box Office: 020 7930 8800

Performances: Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm* (no performance on Monday 31 August), Thursdays and Saturdays at 3.00pm**

*7.00pm on Thursday 27 August

**No 3.00pm performances on Saturday 22 and Thursday 27 August

Ticket Prices: £15 – £65 (including booking fees); Premium Seats £85; Previews: £15 – £45

Running Time: 2 hours, including interval

Website: www.mcqueentheplay.com

Facebook: facebook.com/McQueenThePlay

Twitter: @McQueenThePlay

 

*We have had to cancel some of the preview performances.  Of the cancelled previews, the producers of McQueen have said, “With all the changes that were being made to the production for the transfer to the Theatre Royal Haymarket, we needed a longer technical rehearsal period than we’d originally allowed in the schedule and, in order to be totally ready to present the production in front of an audience, we took the difficult decision to cancel the first few previews.  The first preview performance will now be on the evening of Saturday 22 August.” *

Following a critically-acclaimed West End run, classic British comedy East is East comes to the Lyceum Theatre from Monday 7 – Saturday 12 September, as part of a limited UK tour, starring Father Ted actress Pauline McLynn.

Pakistani chip shop owner George Khan – “Genghis” to his kids – is determined to give his children a strict Muslim upbringing in 1970s Salford. Household tension reaches breaking point as their selfless English mother, Ella, gets caught in the cross fire – her loyalties divided between her marriage and the free will of her children.

Ayub Khan Din’s semi-autobiographical account of British Asian life in the 1970s and the clash of cultures within a multi-cultural family growing up in the north is a delightful slice of real life drama – with the funny bits left in.   A hugely successful film based on the play was released in 1999 and received many accolades including the BAFTA for Best British Film.

 

Last seen at Sheffield Theatres in Happy Days, Pauline McLynn plays Ella Khan.  The British Comedy award-winning actress and author best known for her iconic role as Mrs Doyle in Father Ted also appearedas Libby Croker in Shameless and Yvonne Cotton in EastEnders.  Pauline is joined by a company of the finest British acting talent including Ashley Kumar (Todd Taylor, EastEnders), Assad Tamar (Cucumber) and Sally Bankes (Coronation Street).

This modern classic promises to be unmissable as it makes its long awaited return to the stage.

Age guidance 12 years +

East is East is at the Lyceum Theatre from Monday 7 – Saturday 12 September.  Tickets can be purchased from Sheffield Theatres’ Box Office in-person, by phone on 0114 249 6000 or online at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk and are priced from £14.00 – £29.00 (a transaction fee of £1.50 (£1.00 online) applies to all bookings made at the Box Office, excluding cash), and discounts are available.

 

Sheffield Theatres Listings:

Crucible Lyceum Studio 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA             
Box Office 0114 249 6000 – Mon – Sat 10.00am to 8.00pm
A transaction fee of £1.50 (£1.00 online) applies to all bookings made at the Box Office (excluding cash).
On non-performance days the Box Office closes at 6.00pm.
sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
Twitter: @crucibletheatre @SheffieldLyceum

Instagram: sheffieldtheatres

East is East

Lyceum Theatre

Mon 7 Sep – Sat 12 Sep

Tickets £14.00- £29.00

Concessions available

LOVE FOR LOVE
By William Congreve
Directed by Selina Cadell
Swan Theatre: 28 October 2015 – 22 January 2016
Press night: Wednesday 4 November, 7pm

QUEEN ANNE
A new play by Helen Edmundson
Directed by Natalie Abrahami
Swan Theatre: 19 November 2015 – 23 January 2016
Press night: Thursday 26 November, 7pm

Full casting is announced for the Royal Shakespeare Company productions of Congreve’s Love for Loveand Helen Edmundson’s new play Queen Anne, both playing in repertory in the Swan Theatre this Winter.

Love for Love is a glorious Restoration comedy, where love for love is stronger than love for money. This will be the first production of this play by the RSC and is directed by Selina Cadell who makes her RSC directorial debut. Playing the main character of Valentine, who finds himself at a standstill faced with his father’s displeasure and financial difficulties, is Tom Turner. Best known for playing Nate in Hollyoaks, Tom is also part of the comedy threesome ‘The Grandees’; his other credits include TV series Pat & Cabbage. Playing his father Sir Sampson Legend is Nicholas Le Prevost, who returns to the RSC having previously played Benedick in the 2002 production Much Ado About Nothing. More recently he appeared in Man & Superman (National Theatre).

As previously announced, the title role of Queen Anne is played by Jodhi May, whose credits include The Other Boleyn Girl, Polar Bears (Donmar Warehouse) and the recent series of Game of Thrones. Joining her as Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough is Natascha McElhone, who is most well-known for the films The Truman Show and Solaris. Playing her husband John Churchill is Robert Cavanah, who recently appeared in Emmerdale in the recurring role of Ian. His recent theatre credits include Men Should Weep (National Theatre) and Macbeth (Octagon Theatre, Bolton).

The full cast for Love for Love includes: Daisy Ashford (Nurse); Jonathan Broadbent (Tattle); Robert Cavanah (Scandal); Jonathan Christie (Servant); Daniel Easton (Ben Legend); Michael Fenton Stevens(Buckram); Hermione Gulliford (Mrs Foresight); Nicholas Le Prevost (Sir Sampson Legend); Justine Mitchell (Angelica); Hywel Morgan (Trapland); Carl Prekopp (Jeremy); Jenny Rainsford (Miss Prue);Elliott Ross (Servant); Michael Thomas (Old Foresight); Anna Tierney (Jenny); Tom Turner (Valentine Legend); Ragevan Vasan (Robin) and Zoe Waites (Mrs Frail).

The full cast for Queen Anne includes: Daisy Ashford (Lady Clarendon); Jonathan Broadbent (Robert Harley); Robert Cavanah (John Churchill); Jonathan Christie (Arthur Maynwearing); Daniel Easton(Colonel Masham); Michael Fenton Stevens (Dr John Radcliffe); Richard Hope (Sidney Godolphin); Jodhi May (Queen Anne); Natascha McElhone (Sarah Churchill); Hywel Morgan (Prince George of Denmark);Beth Park (Abigail Hill); Carl Prekopp (Defoe/William III); Jenny Rainsford (Jezebel/Lady-in-Waiting);Elliott Ross (Jack Churchill); Anna Tierney (Lady Somerset); Tom Turner (Jonathan Swift) and Ragevan Vasan (Groom).

Love for Love set design is by Tom Piper with costume design by Rosalind Ebbutt, lighting by Vince Herbert. The music is composed by Eliza Thompson with sound by Claire Windsor. Movement is byStuart Sweeting.

Queen Anne is designed by Hannah Clark with lighting by Charles Balfour. The music and sound is byBen and Max Ringham. Movement is by Ann Yee and video by Will Duke.

To book tickets call 01789 403493 or online at www.rsc.org.uk

The RSC Ensemble is generously supported by THE GATSBY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION and THE KOVNER FOUNDATION

The RSC Literary Department is generously supported by THE DRUE HEINZ TRUST

Queen Anne is presented with the generous support of RSC Board Member Miranda Curtis

BP £5 tickets and BP Shakespeare Pass for 16-25s
The BP £5 tickets and BP Shakespeare Pass for 16 – 25 year olds gives access to £5 tickets for all RSC productions whether we are performing in Stratford-upon-Avon, London or on tour. The pass enables 16-25 year olds to see five shows in Stratford-upon-Avon for £20 – the cheapest way to enjoy shows at the RSC. Tickets can be booked in advance on the phone, online or in person with some available for sale on the day of the performance.  The scheme is supported by Project Partner, BP.

The Royal Shakespeare Company creates theatre at its best, made in Stratford-upon-Avon and shared around the world.

Everyone at the RSC – from actors to armourers, musicians to technicians – plays a part in creating the world you see on stage. All our productions begin life at our Stratford workshops and theatres and we bring them to the widest possible audience through our touring, residencies, live broadcasts and online activity. So wherever you experience the RSC, you experience work made in Shakespeare’s home town.

We encourage everyone to enjoy a lifelong relationship with Shakespeare and live theatre.  We produce an inspirational artistic programme each year, setting Shakespeare in context, alongside the work of his contemporaries and today’s writers.  We have trained generations of the very best theatre makers and we continue to nurture the talent of the future. We reach 450,000 children and young people annually through our education work across the UK, transforming their experiences in the classroom, in performance and online.

Registered charity no. 212481 www.rsc.org.uk

 

Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre, Walthamstow  – 11 August – 4 September. Reviewed by Claire Roderick

I arrived at this fantastic venue full of excitement about a revival of a show that was new to me. My mood was enhanced by the prices at the bar – no need to take out a loan to buy a round this far from the West End! The theatre is above the pub, and after the audience and the band took their places the performing area is about the size of my grandmother’s front room. Intimate – I was going to enjoy this.

Then the show started, and halfway through the first number my heart sunk. I suddenly realised that I HAD watched this musical before – the 1990s TV version – and I may have begun to twitch a little remembering the horror.

But this didn’t last for long. Tonight I saw how the show SHOULD be performed, and would like to thank All Star Productions and the cast for curing me of my Birdiephobia. The NHS should issue tickets on prescription to any other victims forced to sit through that dreaded DVD.

The plot centres around Rosie, in love with hopeless mama’s boy Albert and their plan to make enough money to leave the music industry by staging a farewell kiss between their recently drafted rock star client, Conrad Birdie, and a fan before he leaves for his army training. The lucky girl is Kim from Sweet Apple, Ohio, but she’s just been pinned by Hugo. Things are complicated further by Albert’s domineering mother, Kim’s family and a horde of teenage fangirls. In 1960 the satire was sharper than today, in our age of social media and self promotion, but the laughs are still big and the Ed Sullivan show section, when even the adults get star struck, is wonderful.

Liberty Buckland’s Rose is full of contradictions – strong and feisty, but oh so weak when it comes to Albert. Buckland has a belter of a voice and a huge future. Ryan Forde Iosco has the difficult job of making Albert likeable. In other hands (the unmentionable DVD) Albert can be a whiny little loser, but Iosco has the right balance of hangdog looks and frustration that keep you rooting for him. He doesn’t overplay the comedy and the audience erupted when Albert takes control of his life. His voice isn’t the strongest, but he conveys the emotion expertly.

Abigail Matthews as Kim is sweet and funny, with a delightfully pure voice. Conrad Birdie (Zac Hamilton) just has to look hot until near the end of the first act, when we finally get to see what all the fuss is about. Great voice and great hips! The best lines of the show go to Jayne Ashley as Mae Patterson – using pet names as a weapon – and Harry Hart as Harry MacAfee – his reactions to Kim’s escapades are hysterical; like a cross between Lou Costello and the Incredible Hulk.

The whole cast work together to create a fantastic 50s world of frothy silliness, but the fangirls steal the show with their shrill hysteria and lovely harmonies.

Strouse and Adams’ songs are jolly rather than memorable, the exceptions being “Put on a happy face” and “Kids”, but this production does great things with the material. Special mention to choreographer Anthony Whiteman for creating such frenetic routines in so tiny a space, although I was glad I wasn’t sitting in the front row at times.

This is a fantastic production and a fun family night out.

Britain’s best-loved dance due perform together in theatres for the very last time

Fresh from their sell-out hit shows Midnight Tango and Dance ’Til Dawn, Strictly superstars Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace have created their most poignant production yet as they prepare to dance in their final ever theatre show. The Last Tango opens in September 2015 ahead of a 32 week theatre tour.

Twenty years of dancing together has seen them become Strictly Come Dancing favourites, World Argentine Tango Champions, and create and star in their own Olivier Award nominated West End productions – but now, as the nation’s favourite dancers prepare to take on new projects, it is time for Vincent and Flavia to say goodbye to audiences across the UK in a brand new, thrilling live performance.

Flavia said; “We have had such a fantastic time creating and dancing in Midnight Tango and Dance ’Til Dawn. It’s an incredible experience to perform live in front of our wonderful audience night after night, but all good things must come to an end, so we’re creating our final ever theatre show. It’s going to be intimate, emotional and full of our award-winning Argentine tango. The Last Tango is going to celebrate our best work and most beautiful dance moves before we finally say farewell to theatre.”

Vincent “The last few years have been intense – we’ve loved it. It may be our final theatre tour but we’re going to go out with a bang! This is going to be our best show yet!”

Vincent and Flavia will be joined on stage by Teddy Kempner, Matthew Gent, Callum Clack, Diana Girbau, Rebecca Herszenhorn, Aaron James, Rebecca Lisewski, Jemima Loddy, Ian Oswald and Grant Thresh.

Don’t miss your last ever chance to see this dynamic duo do what they do best live – in an intimate, passionate and explosive experience. It’s time for The Last Tango.

The Last Tango is directed by Olivier Award winning choreographer and director Karen Bruce and produced by Adam Spiegel Productions (The Producers, Dance ‘Til Dawn, Midnight Tango, Love Me Tender, The Mousetrap on Tour).