Voted the nation’s favourite play, Alan Bennett’s multi award-winning The History Boys will visit Darlington Civic Theatre from Tuesday 16 to Saturday 20 June as part of the current UK tour.
Winner of over 30 major awards including the Olivier and Tony Awards for Best New Play, The History Boys is the story of a group of bright, funny and unruly sixth-formers in pursuit of sex, sport and a place at university. Their maverick English teacher is at odds with the young and shrewd supply teacher, whilst their headmaster is obsessed with results and league tables. Staffroom rivalry and the anarchy of adolescence overflow, provoking insistent questions about history and how you teach it. Their A Levels may be over, but their true education is only just beginning. Widely hailed as one of the greatest theatrical events of the last decade, The History Boys is a hilariously funny and exceptionally moving play about the true purpose of education.
The History Boys premiered at the National Theatre in 2004 directed by Nicholas Hytner, and helped launch the careers of many of its original cast members including James Corden and Dominic Cooper. It went on to open on Broadway in 2006, with a film adaptation featuring the original stage cast released later that year. The History Boys also had two successful West End runs, playing at the Wyndham’s Theatre in 2007 and 2008, and has won countless awards including the Oliver Award for Best New Play, Tony Award for Best Play, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play and Evening Standard Award for Best Play.
The History Boys is at Darlington Civic Theatre from Tuesday 16 to Saturday 20 June. Tickets* are priced £15.80 to £24
To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk
SIMON BIRD, MAREK LARWOOD AND CIARÁN OWENS WILL STAR IN THE WORLD PREMIÈRE OF TOM BASDEN’S ADAPTATION OF THE CROCODILE CO-PRODUCED BY MANCHESTER INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL AND THE INVISIBLE DOT LTD.
Simon Bird will play Zack, Marek Larwood will play Mr Popov (etc) and Ciarán Owens will play Ivan in the world première of The Crocodile at Manchester International Festival.
Co-produced by Manchester International Festival and The Invisible Dot Ltd, The Crocodile will run at the Pavilion Theatre in Festival Square from 14 until 18 July. Written by Tom Basden and directed byNed Bennett, The Crocodile is based on the short story of the same name by Fyodor Dostoevsky, which was published 150 years ago this year.
Having failed to achieve the recognition that he craves and, in his opinion, deserves, self-important actor Ivan discovers that his stock is about to rise dramatically when an afternoon at the zoo with his friend Zack ends with Ivan being swallowed whole by a Crocodile…
Simon Bird is a BAFTA-nominated actor whose previous theatre credits include The House of Windsor (Underbelly) and Niceties (Edinburgh Festival). Simon has starred in critically acclaimed television comedies such as Chickens, Friday Night Dinner and The Inbetweeners and his film credits include The Inbetweeners Movie, The Look of Love, The Harry Hill Movie, The Darkest Universe and The Inbetweeners 2.
Marek Larwood’s previous stage credits include Typecast (Edinburgh Festival) and television credits include Three Kinds of Stupid, Murder in Successville, Drunk History, Man Down, Doctors, Babylon, The Klang Show, Impractical Jokers, Johnny and Inel Show, Fast and Loose, Feliz and Murdo, Hotel Trubble, The Function Room, This is Jinsy, Little Howard’s Big Question, Laura, Ben and Tim, The Wall, Music Hall Meltdown, Roman’s Empire and Extras. Marek has appeared on film in The Inbetweeners 2 and Magicians.
Ciarán Owens theatre credits include Mercury Fur (Trafalgar Studios), Our Country’s Good (Out of Joint), Mad World My Masters, Titus Andronicus (both Royal Shakespeare Company), Oh What A Lovely War (Theatre Royal Stratford East), A Handful of Stars (Theatre 503 & Trafalgar Studios) andKing John (Shakespeare’s Globe). Ciarán has appeared on screen in Wallander, The Inbetweeners, Spotless and Arthur and George.
Manchester International Festival has invited The Invisible Dot to curate a three-part programme of original works in the Pavilion Theatre at Festival Square, which includes the world première of The Crocodile adapted by Tom Basden, Adam Buxton and Friends, and late-night party-show The Invisible Dot Cabaret.
Commissioned by Manchester International Festival. Produced by Manchester International Festival and The Invisible Dot Ltd.
LISTINGS
THE INVISIBLE DOT LTD PRESENTS… THE PAVILION THEATRE AT FESTIVAL SQUARE
ADAM BUXTON & FRIENDS 3, 4, 5 JULY 7.30PM
THE INVISIBLE DOT CABARET
9, 10, 11, 15, 16 & 17 JULY 10PM
THE CROCODILE
14, 15, 16, 17, 18 JULY 7.30PM
BOOK TICKETS Tickets £15 – £20 / concessions £5 off
£12 tickets for Greater Manchester residents on a lower wage
Box office: www.mif.co.uk | 0844 871 7654
On Monday 1 June, following Michael Flatley’s last ever UK television performance on the Final of ITV1’sBritain’s Got Talent, sales for his West End show Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games broke the Dominion Theatre box office records for the highest number of tickets sold and most money taken in one day.
Michael Flatley said, “We’re delighted to have made a little bit of history in the West End. London and the UK in general have been very good to us and we feel very at home here.”
General Manager at the Dominion Theatre, David Pearson, said, “We are delighted that Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games has broken the record for daily sales at the Dominion Theatre Box Office. I know that this phenomenal show will continue to thrill our audiences through until September.”
Flatley’s new show Dangerous Games has exciting and ground-breaking new technology, including holographs, dancing robots, world champion acrobats and the greatest team of Irish Dancers in the world, making it the perfect family entertainment. A new score composed by Gerard Fahy, new costumes and special effects lighting add a breath-taking new dimension to the original masterpiece.
The global phenomenon that is Lord of the Dance is performing concurrently at the Dominion Theatre in London until 5 September and on a UK Tour until 4 July.
Flatley is currently appearing in Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games at the Dominion Theatre on Friday and Saturday evenings only until 27 June. He will also be making a special appearance at the final date of the UK Tour at the Wembley Arena on 4 July.
For further details on the performances at the Dominion Theatre, London and the UK Tour, visitwww.lordofthedance.com.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Until 5 September 2015:
Dominion Theatre
268-269 Tottenham Court Road
London W1T 7AQ
Performances: Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm, Wednesdays* and Saturdays at 2.30pm
*Wednesday matinees only on 15 April, 27 May, 22, 29 July, 5, 12, 19, 26 August
Young people to take over National Railway Museum in annual York Theatre Royal festival
York Theatre Royal launched the first TakeOver Festival in the country in 2009. An annual festival run entirely by 12-26 year olds who, with support from York Theatre Royal staff, plan, program and present a festival of theatre and events. In the last 6 years over 700 young people have been involved in running 5 successful festivals.
It is an ambitious project but this year there were fears it would not be possible due to the theatre’s closure for its £4.1million redevelopment. The theatre has announced however that the ground-breaking festival – which inspired many others around the country and in Europe – will now take place thanks to help from the National Railway Museum and yet another innovative idea.
The first part of the festival will be at the end of October over half-term week with a further week in the newly developed York Theatre Royal studio and auditorium spaces in the spring.
Volunteers aged under 26 are now being sought and will be provided with the opportunity to shadow and receive mentoring from almost every role within the organisation, including senior management. The deadline for all applications is June 5th with a team being put in place shortly afterwards. Like the theatre itself, the festival is directed by a board of directors. The board is also made up of young people aged under 26.
Creative Skills Promoter Paula Clark who co-ordinates those involved said
This is a new and exciting challenge for the TakeOver Festival but, as has always been my experience of the young people we have had work on the festival over the years, the board are not the slightest bit phased and are full of energy and ideas. My job is to make sure all the young people involved get a truly meaningful experience from working as part of the festival, and this year will be no exception.
Half term workshops run by Phoenix Dance at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Chapeltown, Leeds.
Last year, highlights of the festival included the award-winning LipService who presented the Picture of Doreen Gray, with a choir put together of local volunteers, while Actors of Dionysus delighted everyone with extraordinary aerial skills in Helen, a new take on the famous Queen of Troy. Phoenix Dance Theatre brought a triple bill of stunning contemporary dance to the stage. All were programmed, marketed and run by young people volunteering.
If you’re aged under 26 and would like to get involved then please visit yorktheatreroyal.co.uk or email [email protected] Senior Management positions are available to over 18s only but all other positions are available to anyone. No previous experience is necessary so whether people are already involved in theatre or music, or want to try something new they are encouraged to get in touch.
Paul Roseby, artistic director of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain (NYT) has today announced a new season of work for the company including the world premiere of site-specific Homegrown – a response to recent events at Bethnal Green Academy and two brand new shows at the Arcola. Following the huge success of the rep seasons in 2013 and 2014, the NYT is to return to the Ambassadors Theatre with three new productions in October, one of them documented in development as part of a new collaboration with Sky Arts. The company will also return to Latitude Festival on 17 July with Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy’s The World’s Wife. Electricity and My Beautiful City will play at the Arcola Theatre 26 to 27 June, Homegrown will play at Raines Foundation Upper School in Bethnal Green during August with press night on 14 August and the 10-week rep season will start on 25 September 2015, with press performances on 6 and 7 October 2015.
National Youth Theatre – Cast Portraits
The three shows in this year’s West End rep season include: Consensual – a brand new play about consent and sex education written by Evan Placey and directed by Pia Furtado; Wuthering Heights, in a new adaptation of Emily Brontë’s novel by Stephanie Street directed by Emily Lim and The Merchant of Venice– Shakespeare’s play abridged especially for schools by Tom Stoppard, directed by NYT Associate Director Anna Niland.
Roseby also announced that 2015 will see the NYT in collaboration with The Christmas TV & Film Company to create a specially commissioned film for Sky Arts. The film mixes documentary and drama and will star some of Britain’s best young acting talent. SweetSexteen (working title) will follow the NYT as they develop Consensual. Sweet Sexteen will air on Sky Arts this summer as part of the channel’s new ‘Sex Season’ which features a collection of programmes examining the subject through the prisms of art, literature and culture.
Roseby said: “This season will celebrate the diversity, vibrancy and talent of Britain’s youth, with fearless new voices. Much has been said about the current challenges young people from disadvantaged and ‘diverse’ backgrounds face trying to access our industry. We are the only company in the UK putting brave young talent on the West End stage in front of large audiences in a season of this scale. I call on those concerned about access to do something about it by supporting the National Youth Theatre’s free opportunities. They are accessible to all, empower talented young people to learn on stage in front of an audience and lead to professional employment in the creative industries”.
‘PLAYING UP’ DOUBLE-BILL Arcola Theatre
25 – 17 June 2015
Electricity
by Miriam Battye
My Beautiful City by Samuel Evans
Outside the West End, NYT will stage two new plays starring social inclusion participants at the Arcola Theatre as part of ‘Playing Up’. The double-bill continues the work of the NYT’s Playing Up course, now in its sixth year. The course, for 19-24 year olds not in full time education, employment or training, creates productions and commissions new work. It has an 85% success rate of moving young people into higher education, further training or employment. The productions for 2015 will beElectricity by Miriam Battye and Samuel Evans’ debut play My Beautiful City. They will explore mental health & intimacy in contemporary society.
Homegrown created by Nadia Latif and Omar El Khairy
12 – 27 August 2015
Raines Foundation Upper School, Bethnal Green
Press Night: 14 August 2015
In February of this year three regular school girls left Bethnal Green Academy to travel to Syria and join ISIS. As part of the National Youth Theatre’s 2015 season Nadia Latif (Carrot, Even Stillness Breathes Softly Against A Brick Wall) and Omar El-Khairy (The Keepers of Infinite Space, Sour Lips) have responded, creating a brand new site specific piece exploring the implications of radicalism and extremism on the people and communities behind the headlines. The show will take place inside a school in Bethnal Green with a cast of 113. Latif and El-Khairy will work with the one of the biggest casts in London this year to create a theatrical visual spectacle.
2015 REP SEASON
18 September – 4 December 2015
Ambassadors Theatre
Press Nights: 6 & 7 October 2015
Consensual
by Evan Placey
directed by Pia Furtardo
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
adapted by Stephanie Street
directed by Emily Lim
The Merchant of Venice
by William Shakespeare
abridged by Tom Stoppard
directed by Anna Nilaand
Written by Writer’s Guild Award winner Evan Placey (Girls Like That, Holloway Jones), Consensual will be directed by Pia Furtardo (Dirty Great Love Story at Soho Theatre and L’Elisir D’Amore at Opera Holland Park). Exploring teenage testosterone, teacher pupil relationships and the age of consent in the UK, Consensual will examine the relationship between PSHE teacher Diane and her class, specifically fifteen year old Freddie. “Think of Sexual Relationship Education as a war zone and you’re the journalist. Give the facts, show the photos, but don’t get too close unless you want your head blown off”.
Wuthering Heights is adapted by Stephanie Street (Sisters) from the Gothic novel by Emily Brontë and directed by Emily Lim (Brainstorm, The Kilburn Passion and The Wardrobe ). When Heathcliff, a mysterious child is rescued and brought to Wuthering Heights, he develops an inseparable bond to Cathy, a friendship which soon develops into a passionate and iconic love spanning generations and ending with tragedy.
NYT Associate Anna Niland will direct Tom Stoppard’s abridged version of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. Stoppard’s version, originally abridged especially for the NYT to perform at the Shakespeare School’s Festival and the subject of a BBC documentary, is a 90 minute whirlwind which has delighted audiences and schools alike for the past decade.
Roseby also spoke of the success of the 2014 NYT Rep company, most of whom have found professional acting work since graduating from the company at the end of last year.
Among those success stories are: Fabian McCallum, who has recently been cast in new NBC comedy drama You, Me and the End of the World alongside Rob Lowe, Jenna Fischer and Paterson Joseph;Jeremy Neumark Jones, who has recently filmed roles in ITV’s Jekyll and Hyde and Kate Kennedy who was cast in Channel 4’s Catastrophe. Across the country: Grace Chilton is currently appearing in Pride and Prejudice at the Crucible Theatre; Ragevan Vasan is in Hurling Rubbleat the Sun at the Park Theatre and Ellie James appearing in Wildworks’ The Wolf Child at Norfolk and Norwich Festival.
World-class magicians and illusionists astonished audiences today at the launch of brand new West End show IMPOSSIBLE. The biggest magic show London has seen in decades is set to thrill audiences at London’s Noël Coward Theatre this summer when it opens on 24th July. Spectators at the launch event were given taste of what’s to come as the magicians performed a number of dumbfounding stunts, from Houdini’s death-defying water tank escape with a 21st century twist to contemporary street magic.
The show, which runs for just 5 weeks, fuses dazzling grand stage illusions, up-close-and-personal magic, cutting-edge technological tricks and death-defying stunts in a fast-paced, breath-taking spectacular, under the direction of triple BAFTA-winner Anthony Owen, Executive Producer of Channel 4’s Derren Brown.
The event also revealed the additional performers joining the world-class line up will be explosive break-dancing street magician Magical Bones, escapologist and expert magician Ali Cook and world-renowned grand illusionist Luis de Matos. The previously announced line-up includes: modern-day Houdini, daredevil and TV escapologist Jonathan Goodwin; mind-blowing mind-reader Chris Cox;magical mentalist Katherine Mills; boundary breaking magician Ben Hart and spell-binding digital marvel Jamie Allan.
Celebrating its global premiere this July in London, where Harry Houdini and the superstars of illusion stunned Victorian audiences on stage, IMPOSSIBLE will re-establish the UK capital as the epicenter of innovation and spectacle, hosting the greatest magic show on Earth. Directed by Anthony Owen, the multi-award winning producer and magic consultant behind Channel 4’s Derren Brown, IMPOSSIBLEbrings world-leading performers together live on-stage for the very first time. Featuring a stunning range of magical artistry from astonishing acts of epic proportions to dumbfounding up-close sleight of hand, be ready to be mesmerized and baffled by these incredible illusionists.
IMPOSSIBLE is produced in the West End by Jamie Hendry Productions, with scenic design by Andrew D. Edwards, lighting design by Tim Lutkin, video design by Duncan McLean and sound design by Gareth Owen.
Magical Bones
Richard Essien, alias Magical Bones, fuses a unique blend of innovative magic and hip hop that will have audiences spellbound as he seamlessly dances his way of straitjackets. Starting his career as a professional hip-hop dancer, he has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry including Madonna, Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys and Plan B. Now combining dance with magic, Boneshas created a new and challenging form of performance for the entire industry.
Ali Cook
Master of multiple magical trades, Ali Cook is a daredevil escapologist, sleight of hand expert, street magician, stage illusionist and performer of thought control. A pioneer of the alternative magic scene, he has written and starred in various television series including: ITV’s Penn And Teller: Fool Us; BBC 1’sNow You See It; Channel 4’s Dirty Trick’s; and Channel 5;s Psychic Secrets Revealed with Derren Brown.
Luis de Matos
Audiences won’t believe their eyes when Portuguese grand illusionist Luis de Matos takes to the stage. A master magician known for his trail-blazing stunts and ability to make cars disappear, he has won various prizes for his astounding magic. The youngest ever recipient of the distinguished ‘David Devant Award’, given to him by the Magic Circle for a significant contribution to advancing the art of magic, he’s considered by many as the most renowned and distinguished Portuguese magician of all time.
Jonathan Goodwin
Daredevil and TV Escapologist Jonathan Goodwin will have audiences on the edge of their seats as he dances with death on stage. After first appearing on Channel 4’s Dirty Tricks, Jonathan has brought his unique stunts to various TV specials including The Seven Stupidest Things to Escape From and How Not to Become Shark Bait! In his television series The Incredible Mr Goodwin, he pushes the limits of possibility with stunts that range from extreme planking to climbing skyscrapers.
Jamie Allan
You’ll never look at your iPhone the same way again. Modern day Houdini, Jamie Allen fuses magic and technology together to create spell binding stunts that captivate the contemporary audience. Transporting classic magic tricks into the digital age, his phenomenal modern illusions include sawing people in half with lasers and iPad ‘Digital Art’.
Chris Cox
Clear your mind before award-winning mind reading specialist Chris Cox gets his hands on it! Chris stars in BBC 3’s Killer Magic, bewildering audiences with his unique mind reading talent. Illusion consultant for The Bodyguard, he has flummoxed audiences on stages across the country and continues to control minds in his sell-out tour Fatal Distraction.
Ben Hart
Ben Hart invents unique magic which pushes the boundaries of film, theatre and television and tests the limits of illusion, including decapitation, vanishing and levitation At the age of 16 he won the Magic Circle’s ‘Young Magician of the Year’ Award and his most recent show The Vanishing Boy sold-out to astonished audiences. He recently starred in BBC 3’s Killer Magic, where his unique and unorthodox approaches amazed audiences across the country.
Katherine Mills
Prepare for your mind to be warped by magical mentalist and sophisticated up-close trickster Katherine Mills. Combining psychology with trickery and magic, Katherine crosses into her audiences psyche to astound and amaze. The first female magician ever with her own primetime TV series – Mind Games, Katherine is a phenomenon taking the world by storm.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
IMPOSSIBLE Noël Coward Theatre, St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4AU
Friday 24th July – 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 Press Night: Thursday 30 July, 7.30pm Website: www.ImpossibleLive.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImpossibleTheShow Twitter: @ImpossibleShow
Ticket prices: £10, £20, £40, £60. Premium tickets are also available
WITH CHRISTMAS 2015 PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE CONFIRMED
JERSEY BOYS The Musical London
JERSEY BOYS, the smash hit musical, is extending its booking period at the Piccadilly Theatre until 14 February 2016, with tickets now on sale.
JERSEY BOYS stars Michael Watson as Frankie Valli, Edd Post as Bob Gaudio, Jon Boydon as Tommy DeVito and Gary Watson as Nick Massi. Sandy Moffat plays the role of Frankie Valli at certain performances. Also in the cast are Simon Adkins, Nicola Brazil, Matthew Cutts, Stuart Dawes, Lucinda Gill, Thomas Goodridge, Nicky Griffiths, Matthew Hunt, Mark Isherwood, Charlotte Jeffery, Ben Jennings, Joseph Peters, Chris Stoddart, Helen Ternent, Matt Thorpe and Ben Wheeler.
JERSEY BOYS opened in London at the Prince Edward Theatre in 2008 and moved to the Piccadilly Theatre in March 2014. The musical has now been seen by over 22 million people worldwide and is firmly established as one of the West End’s longest running and most popular shows. A second UK production of JERSEY BOYS is currently breaking box office records on its first ever tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
JERSEY BOYS is the remarkable true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and their rise to stardom from the wrong side of the tracks. These four boys from New Jersey became one of the most successful bands in pop history, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and sold 100 million records worldwide, all before they turned 30. The show is packed with their hits, including Beggin’, Sherry, Walk Like A Man, December, 1963 (Oh What a Night), Big Girls Don’t Cry, My Eyes Adored You, Let’s Hang On (To What We’ve Got), Bye Bye Baby, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Working My Way Back to You, Fallen Angel, Rag Doll and Who Loves You.
Winner of Broadway’s Tony, London’s Olivier and Australia’s Helpmann Awards for Best New Musical, JERSEY BOYS is the winner of 57 major awards worldwide. As well as still running on Broadway and in the West End, and on tour in the UK and Ireland, JERSEY BOYS can be seen in Las Vegas and across the United States on its US National Tour.
JERSEY BOYS is written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe. The London production is staged by the entire original Broadway creative team, led by director Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo, with scenic design by Klara Zieglerova, costume design by Jess Goldstein, lighting by Howell Binkley, sound by Steve Canyon Kennedy and projection design by Michael Clark. The orchestrations are by Steve Orich and the music supervision and vocal arrangements by Ron Melrose.
JERSEY BOYS is produced in London by the Dodgers, with Joseph J. Grano, Tamara and Kevin Kinsella, Pelican Group, in association with Latitude Link, Rick Steiner, and a small clutch of UK colleagues.
LISTINGS INFORMATIONPiccadilly Theatre
16 Denman Street
London W1D 7DY
Performances: Tuesdays – Saturdays at 7.30pm, Tuesday & Saturday matinees at 3.00pm, Sundays at 5.00pm
2015-16 CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
An incredible line-up of London’s top musicals will perform at this year’s West End Live in association with MasterCard, the biggest free musical theatre festival in the world that this year returns to two of London’s most iconic squares.
Taking place on 20 and 21 June, West End LIVE is presented by Official London Theatre and Westminster City Council, and will see half a million theatre lovers flock to the capital for two days of sensational entertainment.
In Trafalgar Square, the West End LIVE stage will present a weekend packed full of live performances from the West End’s numerous popular musicals and some of the world’s most talented singers. In Leicester Square the festival will celebrate London’s incredible plays with a unique theatre experience including the chance to pet a dinosaur (yes, really) and have your photo taken with an Olivier Award.
Joining previously announced musicals Billy Elliot The Musical, Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia!, Matilda The Musical and Sunny Afternoon performing over the weekend in Trafalgar Square are a host of new and old favourites.
Returning to the event are The Commitments, Disney’s The Lion King, Les Misérables, Let It Be, Lord Of The Dance: Dangerous Games, Miss Saigon, The Phantom Of The Opera, Stomp, Thriller Live, War Horse and Wicked, plus the touring productions of former West End hits Avenue Q and Shrek The Musical.
Making their West End LIVE debuts are American Idiot, Burt Bacharach – Reimagined, The Dreamers, Dusty, Gypsy, Memphis The Musical and Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s Seven Brides For Seven Brothers.
On Sunday there will be a treat for cabaret fans with the return of the Ben Stock-hosted West End Cabaret, featuring performances from some of the West End’s best loved stars. The public is also invited to have their say as to the show tunes performed by tweeting their suggestions using the hashtag #WestEndLIVE before 10 June.
Over in Leicester Square, theatre fans are invited for the second year running to West End LIVE’s exclusive pop-up theatre experience with the return of its stunning 1920s Spiegeltent.
As well as the chance to meet the stars of Dinosaur Zoo, there’s also plenty of fun for family and adults alike with West End storytelling sessions, appearances from Aliens Love Underpants and Horrible Histories – Barmy Britain, and the chance to take a look at some of the West End’s most iconic costumes up close, watch make-up demonstrations and discover the secrets of shows including the multi Olivier Award-winning hit The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, The 39 Steps and this year’s Best New Comedy Olivier Award winner The Play That Goes Wrong.
Speaking about the 11th ever West End LIVE, Julian Bird, Chief Executive of the Society of London Theatre, the organisation behind Official London Theatre, said: “Theatre is one of the capital’s greatest draws with an international reputation for offering world-class entertainment, and West End LIVE is a unique opportunity to showcase the quality and diversity of shows the London stage has to offer as well as putting on a great free family event for the public to enjoy.”
“Aliens love underpants, of every shape and size.
But there are no underpants in space, so here’s a big surprise!”
A strictly limited West End season of family show ALIENS LOVE UNDERPANTS comes to the Dominion Theatre from 1 August – 5 September 2015, marking its return to London following a highly acclaimed UK tour.
Based on the hugely successful children’s book by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort, the story of the mischievous aliens who come to earth on an important mission to steal everybody’s underpants has stunning effects, madcap action, original music and lots of crazy aliens of course!
This zany and hilarious tale is adapted and directed by Adam Bampton-Smith. Adam Bampton-Smith is the Artistic Director of Big Wooden Horse Theatre Company which he founded in 2004. He has written and produced The Legend of Perseus, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, The Night Before Christmas and The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus as well as adapting for the stage the Oliver Jeffers books The Way Back Home and STUCK.
ALIENS LOVE UNDERPANTS stars Abigail Carter-Simpson as Veronica, Mark Collier as Mr Stevens, Eve Pearson-Wright as Mum and Alex James Ellison as Timmy – and their magical puppetry skills also bring the colourful cast of aliens to life.
First published in 2007, Aliens Love Underpants has sold more than three million copies around the world and it has become a firm family favourite. It was listed as the most borrowed children’s book from UK libraries in 2013, and it has been translated into 46 languages. Claire Freedman and Ben Cort have also enjoyed great success with their books Aliens in Underpants Save the World, Dinosaurs Love Underpants, Pirates Love Underpants, Aliens Love Panta Claus, Monstersaurus!, Monsters Love Underpants and the forthcoming Aliens Love Dinopants which will be published in October. Ben also illustrated the recent children’s edition of Ringo Starr’s Octopus’s Garden.
ALIENS LOVE UNDERPANTS is based on the book by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort, and adapted and directed by Adam Bampton-Smith. Design is by Isla Shaw, lighting by Will Evans and choreography by Emma Clayton. The production is produced by Big Wooden Horse and Nick Brooke Limited.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Dominion Theatre
268-269 Tottenham Court Road
London W1T 7AQ
Prices*: £23.75, £19.75 and £15.75 (plus booking fee)
(*All tickets include a £1.25 restoration levy)
Babes in arms under the age of one year will be admitted free of charge to performances of Aliens Love Underpants, however they will require a ticket which can be collected at the box office upon arrival.
1 August – 5 September 2015
Performance Times*:
Monday – 10.00am, 12.00pm, 2.00pm (except Monday 31 August which is 11.00am, 1.00pm, 3.00pm)
Tuesday – no performances
Wednesday – 10.00am (except no show on 2 September)
Thursday – no performances
Friday – 10.00am, 12.00pm, 2.00pm
Saturday –10.00am
Sunday – no performances
(*days and times may vary; check with Box Office and website for details)
Running time: 55 minutes (no interval) Suitable for ages 3+
As part of its commitment to making theatre accessible to all, West Yorkshire Playhouse is piloting a Pay What You Like performance on Monday 8 June. People will be able to buy tickets for the Playhouse’s latest production The Rise and Fall of Little Voice at a price which they determine. The customer sets the ticket price, deciding how much they would like to pay at that particular performance.
Playhouse Artistic Director James Brining directs Jim Cartwright’s Northern-set Olivier Award-winning play. The cast includes two former Coronation Street regulars, Vicky Entwistle and Chris Gascoyne, with Nancy Sullivan as Little Voice, a shy young girl whose world is transformed through the songs of musical heroines like Judy Garland, Billie Holiday and Marilyn Monroe.
Artistic director James Brining says:
“We believe in access for all. Everyone is welcome at the Playhouse. I hope that our Pay What You Like performance will encourage people who may not be able to afford a night out at the theatre to come along and see this fantastic show.
“I have been delighted by the reception of audiences to the production. People have laughed, cried and been transported in equal measure. This is a modern classic which entertains and thrills as much as it challenges and provokes questions about society.
“It’s been a real privilege to create it for audiences. Now the Playhouse’s Pay What You Like initiative means
everyone can enjoy live theatre at a price that suits them. “
PAY WHAT YOU LIKE NIGHT – HOW IT WORKS
When you book you can pay as little as 50p. A transaction fee of £1.75 will be applied to all phone and internet bookings, but not when you book in person. If you are booking on the night please arrive by 6.30pm. Tickets are strictly subject to availability, pre-booking is advised.
