LAST CHANCE TO ENTER BRUNTWOOD PRIZE FOR PLAYWRITING 2015

BRUNTWOOD PRIZE FOR PLAYWRITING 2015

LAST CHANCE TO ENTER BRITAIN’S BIGGEST PLAYWRITING COMPETITION

CLOSES FOR ENTRIES ON 5 JUNE AT 6PM

ae56dba8389c2f2d_800x800arThe 2015 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting 10th anniversary competition is now entering its final two weeks for submissions, the competition closes for entries on 5 June. Writers of all levels of experience have been invited to enter plays, which must be original, unperformed and unproduced. The winner will receive a prize of £16,000 and a full production of their play at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. The competition, which runs every two years, is a unique partnership between the Royal Exchange Theatre and property company Bruntwood.

Two of 2013’s winners – YEN by Anna Jordan, and THE ROLLING STONE by Chris Urch – received their world premieres at the Royal Exchange this year.

The judging panel for this year’s prize is chaired by Nicholas Hytner, former Artistic Director of the National Theatre. The full judging panel is as follows:

  • Nicholas Hytner (former Artistic Director, National Theatre)
  • Sarah Frankcom (Artistic Director, Royal Exchange Theatre)
  • Vivienne Franzmann (playwright and former Bruntwood winner)
  • Ramin Gray (Artistic Director, Actors Touring Company)
  • Bryony Lavery (playwright)
  • Michael Oglesby CBE (Chairman, Bruntwood)
  • Miranda Sawyer (writer and broadcaster)
  • Meera Syal CBE (actor and writer).

The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting is open to writers in the UK and Ireland aged 16 and over.

Entries opened on 30 January 2015 and can be submitted online at www.writeaplay.co.uk  The closing date is 6pm on 5 June 2015.

The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting is Britain’s biggest playwriting competition.  This round will mark the 10th anniversary of the Prize, which has supported the development and productions of a significant number of playwrights since its inception in 2005.  17 playwrights have been awarded a total of £160,000.  There have been thirteen critically acclaimed productions of winning entries, as well as a number of productions of plays elsewhere that were identified through the judging process.

Over 9,000 entries have been generated from across the United Kingdom and winning playwrights have gone on to have work produced at the Royal Court Theatre, Almeida Theatre, on Broadway and in the West End.  It is a significant investment in playwrights and support for new work on stage.  More information about the Prize can be found at www.writeaplay.co.uk/about.

Chief Executive Announced at LGTOH Ltd

image003 (1)image001CHIEF EXECUTIVE ANNOUNCED FORimage002 (1)

LEEDS GRAND THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE LTD

 

Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House Ltd – the Company that manages Leeds Grand Theatre, City Varieties Music Hall and Hyde Park Picture House – has today announced the appointment of a full time, interim Chief Executive.

Chris Blythe has been involved with LGTOH Ltd for over a year as part of his role as Leeds City Council’s Principal Finance Manager thus making him well-placed to use his relationships and contacts at the Council to start the process of the Company’s change of governance to an Independent Trust as announced in March this year.

Theatres’ Director Andrew Macgill will continue to work one day a week on specific projects until the end of the year.

Chris said, “The Management Team at LGTOH Ltd has done sterling work in the last year and has announced a surplus for 2014/15. I am looking forward to working with them to build on those positive foundations.”

As the City prepares its bid for Capital of Culture 2020 it’s important that these three historical venues remain at the heart of the City’s cultural offering, maintaining a good relationship with the Council and continuing to do what they do best – entertaining the people of Leeds and Yorkshire.”

Chris Blythe starts the position with immediate effect.

Pimlico Market Stall The Royal Court Theatre

THE ROYAL COURT LAUNCHES MARKET STALL AT TACHBROOK STREET MARKET, PIMLICO ON 28 MAY 2015

  • The Royal Court Theatre joins Market Stall sellers at TACHBROOK STREET MARKET, Pimlico, every Thursday and Friday until the end of August.

 

  • The Market Stall features PIMLICO PLAYGROUND: new journeying audio plays written by Royal Court writers; and ESPRESSO PLAYS: plays ‘made to order’ by a resident writer.

 

  • The Royal Court Theatre in collaboration with Open Age present SW ONCE: a selection of rehearsed readings written over six introductory playwriting workshops.

The Royal Court Theatre supported by Bloomberg has set up a Market Stall at Tachbrook Street Market in Pimlico as part of its three year engagement with the area. Trading every Thursday and Friday between 10am – 3pm until the end of August the Market Stall hosts a range of events and is an arena to listen to suggestions from local residents on what they would like to see happen in the area.

Your local theatre is now even closer.

For the next three years we’re going to be camped on your doorstep, hanging out on your high street, hawking in your market and generally being a friendly neighbour.

Visitors to the Market Stall will have access to Pimlico Playground, new journeying audio plays written by Royal Court writers, and Espresso Plays, ‘made to order’ plays written by a resident writer.

Visitors have the opportunity to take part in miniature scriptwriting workshops and a chain-written community play, they will also have access to ticket flash sales for Royal Court productions and free copies of Royal Court plays to take home.

Commenting on the project Royal Court Artistic Associate, Ola Animashawun said:

 

“I am delighted to welcome with open arms the people of Pimlico to our Theatre Stall in Tachbrook Street Market. Providing the theatre with a great opportunity to engage with the community and offer something that is at once, novel, unique and creative, to invite interest and ignite curiosity. Simultaneously this will enable us to create the launch pad for our wider ambition of tapping into the creative energy, desires and ambitions of the people in Pimlico.”

 

The launch event will start from 12pm Thursday 28 May with a speech by artistic Associate of the Royal Court Ola Animashawun to celebrate the official opening of the Market Stall at 1pm.

SW Once (Part of South West Fest)
with Ola Animashawun
22 June 2015 2pm
St. James Theatre, Studio Space, 12 Palace Street, London SW1E 5JA
Free but places must be booked in advance

Local actors will be performing a selection of rehearsed readings, as part of this year’s South West Fest. The plays will be written during six introductory playwriting workshops. The workshops will be run by the Royal Court working with Open Age, an organisation that helps older people to develop new and stimulating interests.

To book email [email protected]

_________________________________________________________________________

 

The Espresso Plays
Every Thursday & Friday 10am – 2:45pm
Tachbrook Street Market

Written by a resident writter, the Espresso Plays are inspired by ideas suggested by Market Stall visitors.

Come and chat to our market stall playwrights and within 5 minutes a freshly brewed, personalised play will be written for you, all served in a takeaway coffee cup.

_________________________________________________________________________

 

Pimlico Playground
by Diana Nneka Atuona, Josh Azouz, Olivia Hirst, Sarah Kosar, Simon Longman and Nessah Muthy
directed by Ola
Animashawun, Debbie Hannan and Chris Sonnex
Every last Thu & Fri of the month (28, 29 May, 25, 26 Jun, 30, 31 Jul, 27, 28 Aug)
10am – 2:45pm
Tachbrook Street Market

Short enough to experience on your lunch break, these six location-based audio plays by Royal Court writers will take you on an imaginative journey through your everyday surroundings, animating the space between Tachbrook St. Market and the playground.

Head to our market stall, grab an MP3 player and a map, and have a wander…

The original short plays were recorded by actors from Pimlico Academy and Mulberry Alumni Theatre group, both of which the theatre have been working with over the past year.

The Pimlico Playground plays include:

Untitled by Diana Nneka Atuona
Bike by Josh Azouz
Hopscotch by Olivia Hirst
Big Body Tiny Head by Sarah Kosar
Bricks by Simon Longman
Brides by Nessah Muthy

Running time 30m

Pimlico Playground writers’ biographies:

Diana Nneka Atuona’s credits for the Royal Court include Liberian Girl. As well as winning the Alfred Fagon Award for Playwriting, Liberian Girl was long listed for both the Verity Bargate and the Bruntwood Prize. It was staged at the Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. The summit was hosted by William Hague MP and Special Envoy to the UN, Angelina Jolie. Diana attended the Royal Court’s Peckham Writers Group, as part of Theatre Local. She is currently on commission with the Old Vic Theatre.

Josh Azouz’s Theatre includes The Mikvah Project (The Yard); Bar-Mitzvah Boy (OvalHouse); Sink or Shpin (Bannatyne’s Health Club/Boom Cycle London). As director, theatre includes: The Man Who Almost Killed Himself (Summerhall/BBC iplayer/Odeon release); Spur of the Moment (ALRA North/Home’s Replay Festival); On Dis Ting (OvalHouse); Gargantua (Library Theatre); No! Mr Lawrence! (The Lowry); Harissa(Tricycle) Europe (Contact).

Olivia Hirst’s theatre includes Goodstock and Play for September (Lost Watch); The Longley Viking Museum (Soho); Baby’s Gone (Performance Academy Newcastle College). She is a Writer and Co Artistic Director of Lost Watch Theatre Company.

For the Royal Court Sarah Kosar theatre includes: Spaghetti Ocean (Live Lunch). Other theatre includes Hot Dog (Descent/The Last Refuge/Thinking Cap). Short plays include Runt (Oxford School of Drama/Soho), Ice Cream (Little Pieces of Gold/Southwark), Fox (Descent/Little Pieces of Gold/Southwark),Pineapple and other short plays (Outlines/Old Red Lion), Gynotime (Orange Tea/Amsterdam). Radio includes Hashtag (Roundhouse Radio/Theatre Centre). 

Simon Longman’s theatre includes Milked (Pentabus); Why I Don’t Like the Sea and Popcorn (Arcola). He was a member of the Royal Court Young Writer’s Group in 2013 and is currently under commission for the Royal Court.

For the Royal Court Nessah Muthy’s theatre includes: Beastie (Live Lunch), Gastronauts, Hungry (Lost in Theatre, Open Court). Other theatre includes: This is not a Slog (OvalHouse); IED (HighTide Festival);Sucker (Old Vic New Voices); Sex with Robots & other Devices (Cloakroom); Nazma (Kali); Freya & Mr Mushroom (The Building Site/Southwark).

 

Panto moves to the National Railway Museum

Berwick Kaler’s 37th panto to be staged in 1000 seat theatre at the National Railway Museum

Berwick Kaler credit Colin RichardsonBerwick Kaler’s 37th writing and starring role in Dick Whittington (and his Meerkat) will take place at the 1000 seat purpose built theatre at the National Railway Museum this Christmas. The theatre has been named The Signal Box Theatre. York Theatre Royal have announced the news after recent discoveries at the historic theatre site on St Leonards Place have led to a delay to the major refurbishment of the auditorium and stage.

The tight 27 week schedule always had a back-up plan, and archaeologists and builders are working extended hours to complete necessary work. Over the last few weeks the archaeological finds under the stage and in the auditorium have been staggering and bigger than previously predicted.

It was previously thought that the Victorians destroyed the foundations of St Leonard’s Hospital (one of the largest and most important hospitals in medieval England) when building the theatre on the site. Last week these foundations have been uncovered. They are still intact and located underneath the stalls. This is an important find of great significance to the city.

YAT excavate foundations of 12th century hospitalThe City of York archaeologist has confirmed further excavation is needed. York Archaeological Trust are therefore continuing the required excavation on this unprecedented find. A longer time-frame has now been set to excavate an area of the stalls floor. Architects, De Matos Ryan, are now working on ideas for incorporating the archaeology into the new design of the theatre.

Ben Reeves, Chief Archaeologist on the site said

It is amazing that, considering all the alterations to the theatre since 1764, so much of the medieval hospital has survived under the stalls and elsewhere within the building. The remains are an exciting and important discovery for both archaeologists and the public, offering an opportunity to investigate and understand more about one of the City’s most fascinating and little understood sites.

The in-house panto production team usually begin work on set design and special effects in April and therefore a decision needed to be made to ensure the show is as spectacular as panto-goers expect. By making the decision now it means the set designers can start planning for the new space and the UK’s longest running dame, Berwick Kaler can start writing the script knowing that the environment will be different.

It will be York’s one and only opportunity to see the master of Panto take the well-loved formula, and apply it to this brand new space. After 36 years performing on the York Theatre Royal stage Berwick acknowledged it will be a challenge but said he is raring to go:

Artistic Director Damian Cruden has gone to great lengths to try and get rid of me but his latest effort is quite ingenious. However the laugh is on him because I have found a substitute theatre just a couple of hundred yards away from my beloved Theatre Royal – the one thousand seat NRM’s Signal Box Theatre. So while Cruden is looking for his ancestors below ground, me and ‘me bairns’ will be enjoying Dick Whittington and his Meerkat which promises to be a one-off hilarious and unique experience.

Located at the National Railway Museum, the Signal Box Theatre is a 1000 seat, heated, semi-permanent, purpose built auditorium. This venue, shipped from Toronto, is also hosting the York Theatre Royal, National Railway Museum and Pilot Theatre production In Fog and Falling Snow with George Costigan in the lead role, and the award-winning The Railway Children. The theatre is also delighted to announce that joining The Railway Children team, which includes Martin Barrass as Mr Perks, will be Berwick Kaler as the Old Gentleman.

He continued

The reason I have taken on this classic cameo role is to annoy Damian Cruden who wanted a professional actor to play the part. Even before rehearsals begin I have a shock for Cruden – I’ve already learnt my LINE!

The theatre sits the audience on two sides of a platform (traverse) and with only 10 rows from

front to back, every seat gets a brilliant view of the action and means panto fans will be closer to the cast than ever before. Martin Barrass, Suzy Cooper and David Leonard have all confirmed they will once again be joining the York panto family and are looking forward to an extraordinary panto season.

A similar structure is currently being used at Kings Cross, London where York Theatre Royal’s The Railway Children is currently running. This show opened in December 2014 and has been very warm over the winter months. The theatre will be insulated using a bespoke fabric that will help to keep the space cool during the summer and warm over the winter months. It has an integrated foyer where audiences will be able to purchase drinks at the bar, sweets, programmes, ice creams, cakes and nibbles. There will be space to wait inside and an enchanted entrance way will be created especially for the show. Paul Kirkman, Chief Executive at the National Railway Museum said

We can’t wait to welcome scores of dedicated panto fans to our amazing new addition to our site, the Signal Box Theatre, this Christmas. We’re currently working with the theatre to put together a truly magical festive day out for all the family.  With free entry to our museum, audiences will also be able to steep themselves in the spirit of Christmas past through a collection spanning more than 300 years of social history. With all this to enjoy under one roof, plus lots of available car parking, and some die-hard panto aficionados amongst our own staff, it will certainly be the season to be jolly here at the National Railway Museum.

13500 people have already bought tickets to the popular production. All will receive a personally addressed letter explaining the situation and being asked to trust Box Office staff to ensure they are transferred to a seat of the same value and quality in the Signal Box Theatre.

Liz Wilson, Chief Executive of York Theatre Royal said

Our audience are one of the most loyal I have known and I ask them to bear with us during this period of change. Our official name is ‘York Citizens Theatre Trust’ and we take our role of serving the people of York very seriously. York wouldn’t be York without its annual panto and I’m pleased to confirm Berwick and the panto family are all excited about the new location.

Whilst capacity has increased by moving location, other costs have also risen. Running a temporary theatre space means there are new overheads to consider, and York Theatre Royal will also need to continue to pay for the extension of work at its regular site. The panto run will also be shortened from 7 to 6 weeks, to cope with the extra capacity per performance, and also to ensure the re-opening of the theatre’s auditorium for early Spring productions. Prior to this the theatre’s café and bar area, which has also undergone a major transformation, will open in the new year.

The original closure period gave building landlords York Conservation Trust a limited opportunity to carry out much needed work to the external fabric of the building. Now the extension to development work gives further opportunity to complete work to additional areas not included in the original plans, such as the dressing rooms. Philip Thake, Chief Executive of the trust, said

Recent discoveries by York Archaeological Trust further confirm the importance of this historic site, and our responsibility to look after the Grade II listed building. Whilst we understand the delay will come as a surprise for theatre-goers we are also pleased that the archaeological work can continue, and that this allows us to make further improvements to the building for York Theatre Royal staff and to ensure its sustainability into the future.

Meanwhile, at the Signal Box Theatre, the infamous Last Night of Panto, in which the crew get their own back on cast, will also be moved to a Sunday evening with increased capacity. Dick Whittington (and his Meerkat) will therefore run from Thursday 10 December 2015 – Sunday 24 January 2016. People who already have tickets are being asked to please be patient and wait for their new tickets before contacting the theatre. Those yet to book should note that the show will not be on sale for several days until all bookers have been transferred. Visit www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk for more information.

Someone Magical is Coming to Newcastle

DISNEY AND CAMERON MACKINTOSH

ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE

THE NEW NATIONAL TOUR OF

THEIR INTERNATIONAL SUPERCALIFRAGILISTIC HIT MUSICAL

image002

 

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh are delighted to announce that their multi award-winning musical Mary Poppins is coming to Newcastle Theatre Royal from Thu 8 Sept – Sat 29 Oct 2016 as part of a tour of the UK and Ireland.

 

Mary Poppins by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh
Mary Poppins by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh

Following his recent successes with Barnum and Oliver! at the Newcastle Theatre Royal, Cameron Mackintosh is returning with yet another favourite in Mary Poppins. He said: “It’s hard to believe that it is already 11 years since Mary Poppins first landed on the London stage.  My goodness……time flies even faster than our beloved Nanny!  I’m delighted to bring this wonderful musical to Newcastle after spreading its magic around the world.  Since we originally staged the production we have found even more magical ways to stage this timeless tale and I’m sure you will find our new Mary practically perfect in every way”.

 

The magical story of the world’s favourite Nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane has been triumphantly and spectacularly brought to the stage with dazzling choreography, incredible effects and unforgettable songs. The stage version of Mary Poppins is brilliantly adapted from the wonderful stories by PL Travers and the beloved Walt Disney film.

 

The stage production of Mary Poppins is co-created by Cameron Mackintosh and has a book by Oscar-winning screenwriter andDownton Abbey creator, Julian Fellowes. It has a timeless score by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman including the songs Jolly Holiday, Step in Time, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and Feed the Birds with new songs and additional music and lyrics by the Olivier award-winning British team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. The producer for Disney Theatrical Productions is Thomas Schumacher.

 

Mary Poppins by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh
Mary Poppins by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh

The internationally renowned and multi award-winning creative team assembled for Mary Poppins is led by stage and film director Richard Eyre. Co-direction and choreography is by Matthew Bourne, with co-choreography by Stephen Mear. Set and costume design is by Bob Crowley with lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Paul Groothuis and orchestrations by William David Brohn. The National Tour of Mary Poppins is directed by Anthony Lyn and choreographed by Geoffrey Garratt with musical supervision by Stephen Brooker.
The stage production of Mary Poppins originally opened in 2004 and ran in the West End for three years and over 1,250 performances. During this time it won the Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreography and Best Set Design as well as the Evening Standard Award for Best Set Design and the Variety Club Award for Best Musical. The Broadway production ran for over six years where it won the Tony Award for Best Set Design. The show has subsequently toured Australia, New Zealand, the U.S, the UK, has been seen by over 11 million people and is currently breaking box office records in Vienna.

 

Mary Poppins appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Thur 8 Sept – Sat 29 Oct 2016. Public and online booking opens onSaturday 30 May. Become a Friend of the Theatre Royal and you can book from Tuesday 26 May.  To become a Friend, visit:www.theatreroyal.co.uk or call 08448 11 21 21.

Tickets from £22.50 (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 (from 30 May) at www.theatreroyal.co.uk.

 

 

 

Ministry of Science Live explodes onto the Darlington Civic Theatre stage on Saturday 6 June.

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE – LIVE!

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, please keep your head firmly on your shoulders and your arms and legs inside the ride at all times as Ministry of Science Live explodes onto the Darlington Civic Theatre stage on Saturday 6 June.

This is not your ordinary science show – it comes jam packed with fun, laughter and plenty of amazing science and history which includes a fully operational hovercraft, massive cannons with lots of bangs, a push bike that makes the best smoothie ever and look out for Darth Vader playing with plasma!

Investigating the inventors and engineers who have shaped the modern world we live in, the audience experience everything from liquid nitrogen flowers to hydrogen bottle rockets, Buzz Aldrin to Virgin Galactic, cat food tins to hovercraft and methane to the invention of the battery. Expect loud explosions and more!

Ministry of Science Live is a fully engaging interactive experience that explores energy and engineering using brilliantly designed demonstrations and historical references as a narrative. Combining stimulating live entertainment with the world of education the show’s primary aim is to inspire and educate young people through the medium of live theatre.

Ministry of Science Live was launched at Northern Ireland’s CultureTech festival in 2014 where it played to critical acclaim to over 7,500 people in a week. Since then the show has been to the United Arab Emirates before arriving back in the UK for 60 date national theatre tour. Produced by Mark Thompson with creative credits including Writer and Director of Brainiac Live, which made its West End debut in 2013, and national tours of Science Museum Live, Guinness World Records OA Science Live, Science Museum Live – The Highlights Show and BBC Hidden World Live!

Ministry of Science Live is at Darlington Civic Theatre on Saturday 6 June. Tickets are £14.50 for adults and £12.50 for children

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

PHILIP FRANKS, OLIVIA HALLINAN, LEON OCKENDEN and ALASTAIR WHATLEY to head the cast of 2015 FLARE PATH tour

FLARE PATH_A5_RGBPHILIP FRANKS, OLIVIA HALLINAN, LEON OCKENDEN AND ALASTAIR WHATLEY
TO HEAD THE CAST OF

THE 2015 NATIONAL TOUR OF A NEW PRODUCTION OF

TERENCE RATTIGAN’S EPIC WARTIME ROMANCE

FLARE PATH
DIRECTED BY JUSTIN AUDIBERT

Philip Franks, Olivia Hallinan, Leon Ockenden and Alastair Whatley will head the cast of the 2015 national tour of Terence Rattigan’s FLARE PATH, directed by Justin Audibert. Further casting is to be announced.

Philip Franks, who will play Squadron Leader Swanson, is perhaps best-known for his television roles as Charley in The Darling Buds of May and Sergeant Craddock in Heartbeat, as well as Tom Pinch in Martin Chuzzlewit and Richard in Bleak House. Recent theatre credits includes UK tours of The History Boys and The Rocky Horror Show. Philip has played many leading roles for the Royal Shakespeare Company including Bertram in All’s Well That Ends Well (directed by Trevor Nunn) and the title role in Hamlet (directed by Roger Michell).

Olivia Hallinan will play Patricia Graham. Olivia’s numerous television credits include Laura Timmins in Larkrise To Candleford, Kim in the award-winning series Sugar Rush, Ellie Allard in Girls in Love and Liddy Blakeman in Murder in Suburbia. Recent theatre credits include Olga Prozorov in Three Sisters (Southwark Playhouse), Lotty in Lotty’s War (UK Tour) and Justine in Herding Cats (Hampstead Theatre and Theatre Royal Bath).

Leon Ockenden, who will play Peter Kyle, is best known for his television roles as Prince Serge De Bolotoff in Mr Selfridge, Hector Reid in Waterloo Road, Dr Chris Oakley in Heartbeat and Sam Taylor in Family Affairs. Recent theatre includes Mat in Muswell Hill (Orange Tree Theatre), various roles in The Merchant Of Venice and As You Like It (both for Lamb Players) and Terry Fordham in Plague over England (Duchess Theatre).

Alastair Whatley, who will play Teddy Graham, is currently playing Evans in the UK tour of Birdsong (Birdsong Productions/ Original Theatre Company). Other recent theatre roles include Jerome in Three Men in a Boat and The Reverend Lionel Toop in See How They Run (both for Original Theatre Company), and the title role in Henry V (South Hill Park). Alastair is also the Artistic Director of the Original Theatre Company.
As previously announced, the FLARE PATH tour will open on 18 August at Devonshire Park Theatre in Eastbourne (national press night, 2 September at Richmond Theatre). FLARE PATH will then tour to Richmond, Bath, Malvern, Exeter, Cambridge, Salisbury, Winchester, Ipswich, Coventry, Liverpool and Guildford with further dates to be announced.

Based on Rattigan’s experiences as a tail gunner during World War II, FLARE PATH paints an evocative portrait of life in wartime Britain for the life-and-death existence of the RAF bomber crews, and their wives and sweethearts who were left waiting their return.
Set in 1942 against a backdrop of heartache and quiet bravery, FLARE PATH tells the story of former actress Patricia, the wife of RAF pilot Teddy, whose marriage is tested to the limits by the surprise arrival of Patricia’s ex‐lover and Hollywood idol Peter Kyle. An unexpected and dangerous mission over Germany puts Patricia at the centre of an emotional conflict as unpredictable as the war in the skies.

FLARE PATH combines highly charged drama with a truly authentic taste of the fear, camaraderie and passion experienced by the men and women who fought to save their country, their families and each other.

This new production of FLARE PATH will be directed by Justin Audibert, who is currently directing The Jew of Malta for The Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford. Justin is an Artistic Associate for HighTide Festival Theatre and Red Ladder, and his directing credits include productions at Soho Theatre, the Young Vic and West Yorkshire Playhouse.

FLARE PATH will have Set and Costume Design by Hayley Grindle, Lighting Design by Alex Wardle and Sound Design by Dom Bilkey.
Most recently seen in London’s West End in 2011, in a production directed by Trevor Nunn, this major revival of FLARE PATH comes from the producers behind the current critically-acclaimed and hugely successful touring production of BIRDSONG.

FLARE PATH is produced on tour by Alastair Whatley for The Original Theatre Company and Anne-Marie Woodley and Jon Woodley for Birdsong Productions Ltd.
Official website:  www.flarepaththetour.com

Twitter: @flarepathtour / Facebook: @flarepaththetour

2015 TOUR SCHEDULE

18 – 29 August                          Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne                 Now on sale
www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk                           01323 412000

1 – 5 September                        Richmond Theatre                                             Now on sale
www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre     0844 871 7651

7 – 12 September                      Theatre Royal, Bath                                           On sale in June
www.theatreroyal.org.uk                                     01225 448844

15 – 19 September                    Festival Theatre, Malvern                                   Now on sale
www.malvern-theatres.co.uk                               01684 892277

22 – 26 September                    Exeter Northcott Theatre                                    Now on sale
www.exeternorthcott.co.uk                                 01392 493 493

28 September – 3 October         Cambridge Arts Theatre                                     On sale soon
www.cambridgeartstheatre.com                          01223 503333

5 – 10 October                          Salisbury Playhouse                                          Now on sale
www.salisburyplayhouse.com                            01722 320 333

12 – 17 October                        Theatre Royal Winchester                                   On sale soon
www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk                      01962 840440

19 – 24 October                         The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich                       Now on sale
www.wolseytheatre.co.uk                                   01473 295900

3 – 7 November                         The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry                          On sale soon
www.belgrade.co.uk                                          024 7655 3055

10 – 14 November                     Liverpool Playhouse                                          On sale soon
www.everymanplayhouse.com                           0151 709 4776

23 – 28 November                     Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford                                 On sale soon
www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk                                 01483 440000

Further venues to be announced

Go West, Nik Kershaw, T’Pau together at the Grand Opera House York

Go West & Nik Kershaw Together in Concert

with special guest T’Pau

GRAND OPERA HOUSE YORK

Saturday 14 November at 7:30pm

The 80s are back as three critically acclaimed legends of the era join forces in this major new UK tour. Celebrating their 30th anniversary, Go West together in concert with Nik Kershaw and very special guest Carol Decker fromT’Pau are united for one night only at the Grand Opera House York.

With millions of albums sales and iconic hits such as We Close Our Eyes, Call Me, King Of Wishful Thinking, Wouldn’t It Be Good, The Riddle, I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, Heart and Soul and the classic China in Your Hand, this authentic eighties triple header is not to be missed.

Tickets: £29.50 & £31.50

Box Office: 0844 871 3024

Online Booking: www.atgtickets.com/york

 

5 year celebration of Dirty Dancing

TRIBUTE TO DIRTY DANCING SOUNDTRACK

ANNOUNCES 5TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR & FULL CAST

GRAND OPERA HOUSE YORK

Saturday 10 October 2015

Stage Acts Entertainment’s smash hit tribute to one of the greatest movie soundtracks of all time, An Evening of Dirty Dancing: The Tribute Show this year reaches a milestone achievement. Celebrating 5 years of touring across the UK and internationally, and having visited over 100 theatres, the fully choreographed highly interactive celebration of the music from the iconic movie will embark upon the Hey Baby 5th Anniversary Tour in February

and continue through 2015.

Musical theatre stalwart Julian Essex-Spurrier will return to lead the production having played a number of iconic leading roles including Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever, Rocky in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Riff in West Side Story and Rusty in Starlight Express. He will be joined by Aimie Atkinson, winner of the BBC Radio 2 Voice of Musical Theatre who returns to the production for a third season having recently played the leading roles of Penny inCarnaby Street The Musical and Chloe in the Take That musical, Never Forget.  The cast also includes Christina Cuttell, Jamie Leigh Nelson, Alisha Dee-Flintham, Andy Rees, Ross Russell and Joseph Stribley.

An Evening of Dirty Dancing: The Tribute Show is directed by Paul Spicer with choreography by Leanne Harwood and pays homage to the greatest movie soundtrack of all time.  A high energy emotional roller-coaster with breathtaking choreography and buckets of nostalgia including the classic songs: Big Girls Don’t Cry, Hey Baby, Wipeout, Do You Love Me, Hungry Eyes and the Oscar-winning (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.

 

Paul Spicer said “The atmosphere is always electric. We totally encourage our audiences to get out of their seats and immerse themselves in the summer of ’63. People leave the theatre on a real high. I’ve seen someone burst into tears of happiness! This is a multiaward winning soundtrack steeped in nostalgia. I challenge anyone to come along andnot have a fantastic time.”

Please note this production is not affiliated with Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage in the West End or on tour in the UK or worldwide.

 

“A thoroughly entertaining, visually stunning extravaganza” – The Public Reviews

“All singing, all dancing, highly watchable entertaining” – The Stage

 

Tickets: £18.00, £19.00, £22.00

Box Office: 0844 871 3024

Online Booking: www.atgtickets.com/york

 

www.aneveningofdirtydancing.com

Twitter – @HeyBabyUKTour

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AnEveningofDirtyDancing

King Charles III to embark on UK Tour this Autumn

King Charles III

A future history play by Mike Bartlett
Directed by Rupert Goold

Robert Powell will take on the role of King Charles in the Almeida Theatre’s Olivier Award-winning production of King Charles III, which will embark on a UK tour this autumn following sell-out runs at both the Almeida Theatre and in the West End.

King Charles III previews at Birmingham Repertory Theatre from Friday 4 September. The full tour schedule will be announced shortly.

The Queen is dead: after a lifetime of waiting, the prince ascends the throne.  A future of power.  But how to rule?

Mike Bartlett’s play explores the people underneath the crowns, the unwritten rules of our democracy, and the conscience of Britain’s most famous family.

Directed by the Almeida Theatre’s artistic director Rupert Goold with Whitney Mosery, King Charles III is designed by Tom Scutt, music composed by Jocelyn Pook, with lighting by Jon Clark and sound by Paul Arditti.

King Charles III is co-produced by Birmingham Repertory Theatre and the Almeida Theatre.