Cross Sesame Street with the Muppet Show, give it a 14+ age rating and clap on a government health warning that too much laughter can make your sides ache and you’ve got Avenue Q.

The countdown has begun! With just over a week to go until award winning musical Avenue Q hits Darlington Civic Theatre, the venue is preparing to host the most unholy comic allegiance between humans and puppets the world has ever seen. Following massive success all over the globe and nearly five years of mischief, bad behaviour and political incorrectness in the West End, Avenue Q finally arrives in Darlington from Tuesday 9 to Saturday 13 June as part of its current national tour.

Avenue Q is a musical about the lively and off-the-wall characters on a downtown New York street trying to make sense of life’s burning issues: love, work, relationships, and, above all, just how are you supposed to pay the bills with a BA in English? Hilarious and uproariously entertaining with songs performed by a cast of hugely talented performers and puppets, Avenue Q is a musical like no other.

Avenue Q follows Princeton, a bright-eyed college graduate new to the area, as he desperately tries to follow his dreams and discover his ever-elusive purpose in life. A tiny bank balance, the distraction of a busty blonde, and a variety of weird and wonderful friends and neighbours lead Princeton on a story of self-discovery.

The show has enjoyed enormous success, both on Broadway and in London, proving to be the perfect, contemporary musical. Witty, rude and extremely funny, Avenue Q ingeniously combines a cast of humans and puppets who tackle subjects such as dating, racism, being gay and finding your purpose in life.

Avenue Q is at Darlington Civic Theatre from Tuesday 9 to Saturday 13 June. Tickets* are priced £19 to £30.50

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

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy. Age recommendation 14+

LISTINGS JUNE – JULY 2015

RAT PACK VEGAS SPECTACULAR

3 June 2015, 7.30pm

‘Purveyors of Cool’ return to Sunderland Empire with ‘The Greatest Music Of The 20th Century’. Wonderful memories of classic 60’s Las Vegas – Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis. Come Fly With Me, Sway, Mr Bojangles, Under My Skin and many more favourites. The BBC summed it up – ‘MAGNIFICENT’.

UNDER 16s FREE when accompanying an adult

(Price C only)

THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN

4 June 2015, 7.30pm

Britain’s biggest Motown spectacular returns with an all-new, all-star show. Featuring the music of the Four Tops, Supremes, Temptations, Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie and more. Five-star performances revive over 36 back-to-back hits with all the dazzling dance moves, glittering costume changes and musical brilliance of the original artistes.

AN EVENING OF BURLESQUE

5 June 2015, 8pm (Age Advisory 18+)

Britain’s No1 burlesque show goes global with the world’s biggest burlesque legends. It’s Vaudeville gone volatile: couture costumes, a steamy score, mind-boggling speciality acts and worldwide allstars in a wickedly hilarious extravaganza. As seen from Milan to Minsk, Zurich to St Petersburg, Helsinki to Dresden, join a thrill-a-minute, fun filled frolic into the bizarre world of burlesque, we dare you! Dress up and come to the cabaret.

ROY ORBISON & FRIENDS

6 June 2015, 7.30pm

Barry Steele is recognised as one of the world’s leading tributes to music legend Roy Orbison. He’s stunned audiences with his uncanny visual similarity and his ability to authentically revive the exquisite toe-tapping sound of this music giant. Using original film footage and backed by his fabulous band and big screen, this celebration of The Big O’s musical legacy is unmissable.

Joining Barry is the phenomenal Paul Molloy as Elvis Presley and the mesmerizing talent of Boogie Williams as Jerry Lee Lewis.

DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS

9 – 20 June 2015, various times

Audiences will be transported to the luxurious lap of the French Riviera when the West End spectacular Dirty Rotten Scoundrels graces the Sunderland Empire stage from 9th June. The decadent world of the sophisticated conman Lawrence Jameson (Michael Praed) is set to come crashing down with the arrival of larger-than-life Freddy Benson (Noel Sullivan) – a conman of an entirely different order.

With North East’s Mark Benton as the hilarious Andre, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels has been acclaimed by critics and audiences alike. Undoubtedly one of the biggest new musical openings to hit the West End stage, this indulgent and decedent comedy is a rare chance to return and relive the golden age of the classic musical.

Soon realising the town ain’t big enough for the both of them, Lawrence and Freddy find themselves going head to head in the con of their lives, pulling out all of the stops in a bid for the affections of millionaire soap heiress Christine Colgate (Carley Stenson).  Little do they know what they’ve let themselves in for.

TOP HAT

24 June – 4 July 2015, various times

Direct from its tremendous success in the West End, winning three Olivier awards for Best New Musical, Best Choreography, Best Costumes and the Evening Standard Award for Best Night Out, this spectacular production is making its Sunderland debut this summer.

Top Hat brings the glamour of Hollywood’s golden age and the glorious, tap-dancing magic of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers to the stage in one of the greatest dance musicals of all time. Packed with Irving Berlin’s greatest hits including, Cheek to Cheek, Top Hat, White Tie & Tails, Let’s Face the Music & Dance and Puttin’ on the Ritz, this uplifting and hilarious romantic comedy dazzles with over 200 beautiful costumes, breathtaking dance and a love story that will set the pulse racing!

THE DREAMBOYS

9 July 2015, 7.30pm (Age Advisory 18+)

Following the biggest male strip show tour in UK history in 2014, The Dreamboys are back and hotter then ever with a brand new show. With special guest appearances on some of the UK’s biggest TV shows such as The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, Celebrity Big Brother, Loose Women, This Morning and The Only Way Is Essex and sold out worldwide tours, it’s no wonder they’ve earned themselves celebrity status.

THE CARPENTERS STORY

10 July 2015, 7.30pm

Widely regarded as the first ever ‘Tribute’ show back in its 1989 incarnation, Phil Aldridge’s lavish arrangements, stunning vocal harmonies and Claire Furley’s uncanny representation of Karen Carpenter combine to bring back memories of pop’s most melodic duo.

Featuring all the songs that made The Carpenters a legend in the world of music. Featuring We’ve Only Just Begun, I Won’t Last a Day Without You, Goodbye to Love, Top of the World, Please Mr Postman and lots more.

JIMMY CARR

11 July 2015, 8pm (Age advisory 16+)

Jimmy’s been described as ‘the hardest working man in comedy’, which, let’s face facts, is not that impressive. It’s like being the ‘Tallest Dwarf’ or the ‘Healthiest Glaswegian’. Really not that big a deal. Funny Business is Jimmy’s brand new stand up show. Come for the witty and incisive musings on the human condition; stay for the kn*b gags.

LOVE ME TENDER

13-18 July 2015, various times

From the producers of Hairspray, Midnight Tango, West Side Story and The Rocky Horror Show comes a hilarious, feel-good musical featuring Elvis Presley’s greatest hits. In a small town in 1950’s America, a guitar-playing, hip-swivelling stranger rides his motorbike into town. Is he The Devil In Disguise or a Hound Dog in his Blue Suede Shoes? The townsfolk are about to be All Shook Up

and could be headed for Heartbreak Hotel, but for Natalie, the love-struck, tomboy mechanic, it really is Now or Never.

Packed with 25 of the best loved songs by The King himself, Love Me Tender, by the writer of the award-winning West End and Broadway smash hit Memphis, is a funny and moving tale of hope, second chances and the healing qualities of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

THE DRIFTERS

23 July 2015, 7.30pm

Following on from the success of their recent tours, this new tour defines the evolution of the phenomenal story of The Drifters, through its music from the past to the present. This high energy show brings many of the greatest hits Under The Boardwalk, Saturday Night At The Movies, Up On The Roof, Kissin In The Back Row, Down on the Beach, More Than A Number In My Little Red Book, along with newer songs that have evolved through the first new recordings in over 30 years!

LOCAL PRODUCTIONS

Full details at atgtickets.com/sunderland

THE WORX

1 JUNE 7.15PM

FARRINGDON PRIMARY – THREE BECOME ONE

2 JUNE 6.30PM

NCDTA 90TH ANNIVERSARY SHOWCASE

21 JUNE 2.30PM & 6.30PM

SHAMEEM KARIM – DANCE EXPLOSION

7 JULY 7PM

SUNDERLAND SCHOOLS DANCE FESTIVAL

8 JULY 1.30PM

NORTHERN STAR – GALAXY OF STARS

20 JULY 7PM

KATHLEEN KNOX – 30 YEARS OF DANCE

22 JULY 7PM

KATHLEEN DAVIS – A SUMMERTIME SPECIAL

25 JULY 7.15PM

AUGUST 2015 ONWARDS AT A GLANCE

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME 11-15 August 2015

PRISICLLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT 31 August – 5 September 2015

JERSEY BOYS 8-19 September 2015

SWAN LAKE 22-24 October 2015

SHREK THE MUSICAL 11-22 November 2015

All tickets can be purchased in person from the Box Office on High Street West, Sunderland, the Ticket Centre on 0844 871 3022* and online at www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland*

*A booking/transaction fees apply to telephone and online sales.

Have you ever sung along to your favourite cast recording and dreamt of appearing on an album yourself? Well now is your chance with this amazing opportunity to appear on a forthcoming album of new musical theatre songs, alongside some of the most exciting talent that the West End has to offer.

The album, “To Do. To Be.”, features songs written by West End star Tim Prottey-Jones (Once (Phoenix), Kinky Boots (Adelphi), Superstar (ITV)) and is set for release this Summer.

There’s one song left to record and, with the competition open to all ages, professional or amateur, it could be you singing it.

Entries will be shortlisted by Tim Prottey-Jones and a winner chosen by an esteemed collection of judges including Wicked star Rachel Tucker, Les Mis and Phantom legend Jon Owen-Jones, theatre critic Mark Shenton and What’s on Stage’s features and video editor Ben Hewis.

Artists that have appeared on Tim’s previous albums have included: Louise Dearman, Samantha Barks and Michael Xavier.

To be in with the chance of appearing alongside some of the West End’s finest, you must:

1. Upload a video of you singing a modern song or a piece of new musical theatre (a verse and chorus will be fine), to YouTube.

2. Use the words “TPJ Competition” In the title, along with your name and the song title.

3. Tweet @TimProtteyJones with the link to your video.

4. OR, you can e-mail your video link to [email protected]

The deadline for entries is June 14 at 8pm and the winner will be announced in the week beginning 19 June.

Terms and Conditions

1. Recording will take place in the week beginning 19 June.
2. There is no payment for appearing on the album.
3. The winner will be responsible for any travel and accommodation costs incurred.
4. This prize is non-transferable.
5. By entering into this competition you agree for your entry to be shared online and on social media.

 

BRENDAN SHEERIN AND NIKI EVANS JOIN ASHLEIGH & PUDSEY IN CINDERELLA – THE GREATEST PANTOMIME OF THEM ALL!

Channel 4’s popular TV show Coach Trip’s Brendan Sheerin and X Factor finalist Niki Evans have joined the cast of this year’s spectacular family pantomime Cinderella at Darlington Civic Theatre. The news follows the theatre’s recent announcement that Ashleigh Butler leads the cast as Cinderella, with her talented four-legged friend Pudsey.

Veteran travel expert Brendan Sheerin became a household name through Channel 4’s runaway hit reality programme Coach Trip, having started his travel career in Costa Brava in the late 70s. Coach Trip and Celebrity Coach Trip catapulted Brendan to fame, with more than 300 episodes having aired since the series started in 2005. Brendan’s other TV credits include Brendan’s Magical Mystery Tour and Brendan’s Love Cruise. Brendan has written about his travel adventures in his autobiography titled My Life: A Coach Trip Adventure.

Niki Evans, who rose to fame in the fourth series of ITV’s The X Factor will play The Fairy Godmother. Niki has performed extensively as a solo vocalist and has recently toured the UK as Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers and as Paulette in Legally Blonde the Musical. Most recently she starred in Cool Rider, the concert-production of Grease 2 in the West End and has starred in a number of critically acclaimed pantomimes.

Michael Harrison, executive producer of Cinderella said “Brendan brings his big personality and infectious humour to the stage alongside Niki who has such a fabulous voice and wonderful stage presence. We’re delighted that they have agreed to be part of our spectacular Darlington production this year. With such a strong cast already in place this year’s pantomime is going to be a real treat for all the family.”

Lynda Winstanley, Director of Darlington Civic Theatre said “We are absolutely thrilled to announce this additional casting for Cinderella. With Ashleigh and Pudsey already creating a great buzz around the town, Brendan and Niki will both be a huge hit with audiences of all ages.”

Tickets are already on sale for Cinderella, which runs from Saturday 5 December 2015 to Sunday 16 January 2016. For tickets and more information visit darlingtoncivic.co.uk or call 01325 486555.

Brand new production for 2015 making this without doubt the most dynamic 60’s show touring the UK. This is the must see 60’s extravaganza for all 60’s fan’s. For one night only all the hits performed by five of the most popular artistes of the 60s Starring HERMAN’S HERMITS, CHRIS FARLOWE, STEVE ELLIS the voice of LOVE AFFAIR, UNION GAPuk, NEW AMEN CORNER.  And hosted by Alan Mosca from Freddie and The Dreamers

    

This explosive line up from the 60’s delivers to you nostalgia & hits such as, Hermans Hermits, I’m Into Something Good, Something Is Happening, No Milk Today, I’m Henry The 8th, Silhouettes, Mrs Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter. Steve Ellis, Everlasting Love, Rainbow Valley, Bringing On Back The Good Times, A Day Without Love.Chris Farlowe. Out Of Time, Handbags and Gladrags, Let The Heartaches Begin, Reach Out I’ll Be There. The Union Gapuk , Young Girl, Lady Willpower, Woman Woman. The New Amen Corner, Bend Me Shape Me, If Paradise Is Half As Nice

Don`t miss the ultimate sensational 60s show of 2015 with over 25 hits performed. Step back in time and relive the past during an evening true to the 60s when pop music was at its very best.

Herman’s Hermits

Herman’s Hermits throughout the mid-60’s music scene proved to be a dominating force worldwide.  From 1964 the band chalked up over 23 top 20 singles, 10 hit albums, 3 major movies. Hermans Hermits as of to date have sold 75,000,000 records worldwide.  Their chart breaking hits include,  Mrs Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter, Silhouettes, There’s A Kind Of Hush, Henry V111, Something Is Happening & I’m Into Something Good & many more to numerous to mention.  Hermans Hermits perform over 200 shows a year worldwide & after over 40 years in the business Hermans Hermits are still into something good

 

Chris Farlowe

Originally Chris Farlowe and The Thunderbirds started out in the late fifties. Chris later moved on to perform all over Europe & still does to this day. His hits include classics like Out Of Time, Handbags and Glad Rags (which was also released by Rod Stewart as a single) Let The Heartaches Begin, Mr Pitiful, Midnight hour.

 

Steve Ellis The voice of Love Affair

Formed in 1967 Love Affair stormed into the charts with Everlasting Love. At the time Steve was only 17 years of age but with his distinctive powerful voice he and the band notched up further hits, Rainbow Valley, Bringing On Back The Good Times & A Day Without Love.

 

The Union Gapuk will perform such classics as Young Girl which hit the number 1spot in the UK & number 2 in the USA.  Next came Lady Willpower which again reached number 5 in the UK & again number 2 in the USA.  The next release Woman Woman also proved a major top 10 hit in both the UK & USA. Other hits include Over You & This Girl Is A Woman Now.

 

The New Amen Corner a force to be reckoned with on any stage throughout Europe will keep you entertained with classics such as If Paradise Is Half As Nice, Bend Me Shape Me

 

GRAND OPERA HOUSE YORK

Wednesday 1 November at 7:30pm

Tickets: £26.50 & £28.50

Box Office: 0844 871 3024

Online Booking: www.atgtickets.com/york

 

 

Juma Sharkah and Laura Elsworthy will play Lily and Josie respectively in The Skriker at Manchester International Festival. The production will run at Royal Exchange Theatre from 4 July. The ensemble cast will include Sarah Amankwah, Harry Attwell, Alex Austin, Hannah Hutch, Martins Imhangbe, Kate Jackson, Stuart Overington, Beatrice Scirocchi, Andrew Sheridan, Jessica Walker, Leah Walker and Owen Whitelaw. As previously announced, Maxine Peake will play the eponymous role.

This landmark revival of Caryl Churchill’s extraordinary collision of ancient fairy story and portrait of a fractured England will be directed by Sarah Frankcom and will feature specially commissioned music by Nico Muhly and Antony.

…long before that, long before England was an idea, a country of snow and wolves where trees sang and birds talked and people knew we mattered…

In a broken world, two sisters meet an extraordinary creature. The Skriker is a shapeshifter; an old woman, a child, a death portent. She is a faerie come from the Underworld to pursue and entrap them, through time and space, through this world and her own.

Sarah Amankwah (Ensemble) is making her first appearance for the Royal Exchange Theatre. Other theatre credits include: The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre); De Gabay (National Theatre of Wales); Tiata Tamba Tamba (Tiata Fahodzi);Shakespeare 365, Spring Shakespeare (Orange Tree Theatre); A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Six Characters In Search Of An Author (Aquila Theatre/US Tour); Fair Trade (Latitude Festival); The Early Years and Shadow Companion(Fuse Theatre Company); Rumpelstiltskin & Alice: Through The Looking Glass (Edinburgh Festival Fringe); 24 Hour Plays(Old Vic); Death & The King’s Horseman (National Theatre); ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore (Globe Theatre) and My Hands Are Tied (Afrocats). Television credits include: Damnation Of Darwin. Film credits include: World War Z.

Harry Attwell (Ensemble) has previously appeared at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Orpheus Descending. Other theatre credits include: The Crucible and The Duchess Of Malfi (The Old Vic); Henry V (Michael Grandage Company);King Lear, Richard II, Hamlet and Twelfth Night (Donmar Warehouse) and Hamlet (Broadhurst Theatre, New York). Film credits include: Genius; Testament of Youth; Maleficent; The Riot Club; Playboy and Paid Arrogance. Television credits include: The Night Manager, Mayday, Davinci’s Demons. Radio credits include: Pride and Prejudice.

Alex Austin (Ensemble) has previously appeared for the Royal Exchange Theatre in Yen. Other theatre credits include:Henry V, The Nutcracker and The Greeks Season (Unicorn Theatre); Idomeneus (The Gate Theatre); Pigeons (Royal Court); Hope, Light and Nowhere (Suba Das Company/Underbelly) and Encourage The Others & My City (Almeida Theatre). Film credits include: Life In My Shoes, Legacy, The Christmas Candle, The Hooligan Factory, The World’s Endand The Swarm. Television credits include: The Interceptor, New Tricks, The Musketeers, Misfits and Holby City.

Laura Elsworthy (Josie) has previously appeared for the Royal Exchange Theatre in the Accrington Pals. Other theatre credits include: Our Town (Almeida Theatre); Macbeth (MIF13/Park Avenue Armory, NYC); The Only Way Is Chelsea’s(York Theatre Royal/Soho Theatre); Cooking With Elvis (Derby Theatre); The Kitchen Sink, The Flint Street Nativity andSpacewang (Hull Truck Theatre) and Wedding This, Wedding That (Old Vic Tunnels). Film credits include: Testament of Youth and Cinderella. Television credits include: Doctors and Fresh Meat.

Hannah Hutch (Ensemble) is making her first appearance for the Royal Exchange Theatre. Other theatre credits include:Tis Pity She’s A Whore (Shakespeare’s Globe); The Crucible (The Old Vic); Sans Salome (Edinburgh Festival Fringe);Flood (National Youth Theatre) and The Lazy Elfe (The Arts Theatre London). Television credits include: Doctors. Film credits include: The Invisible Man.

Martins Imhangbe (Ensemble) is making his first appearance for the Royal Exchange Theatre. Other theatre credits include: Lionboy (UK & International Tour); Das Ding (New Diorama Theatre); Romeo And Juliet (Orange Tree Theatre);Cinderella: A Fairytale (Unicorn Theatre); Street Stories (Royal Opera House); A Human Being Died That Night(Hampstead Theatre); Sold. (Edinburgh Fringe) and What Does It Take (The Albany Theatre).

Kate Jackson (Ensemble) is making her first appearance for the Royal Exchange Theatre. Theatre credits include: The Drowned Man (Punchdrunk). Dance credits include: Faust (Royal Opera House); La Nuit Intime, Maeternal and Designer Body (balleyLORENT); Amazing Kate and Back On Track (Frauke Requart); Electric Hotel (Requart and Rosenberg);Chodzenie, Dual and Roam Stray Dogs (Tom Dale); La Sardina, Nightmares In Black And Green And Beyong The Seven Seas (Maresa von Stockert); Pictures From An Exhibition (Sadlers Wells Productions); Plastic and Chodzenie (30 Bird Productions); 16 Revolutions (Troika Ranch); Import Export (Steve Wright) and The Deep, Methods and Madness and Two Men And A Michael (Gary Clarke). Film credits include: World War Z.

Stuart Overington (Ensemble) is a graduate from the Royal Northern College of Music where he studied Vocal and Opera Studies and Conducting and is making his first appearance for the Royal Exchange Theatre. Opera credits includeCompany (Capitol Theatre); Il Ritorno D’ulisse (RNCM Opera Theatre); The Dancing Master (Royal and Derngate Theatre, Northampton) and Manon, Owen Wingrave and Tamerlano (RNCM Opera Theatre). Concert credits include appearing as a soloist at Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and London Jazz Festival.

Beatrice Scirocchi (Ensemble) is making her first appearance for the Royal Exchange Theatre. Theatre credits include:The Magic Flute (Budapest Festival Orchestra); Run and Missing (Engineer Theatre Collective); The Mystae (The Hampstead); Ecstasy (Theatre Collection); Commedia D’argento (True West); The Missing (Engineer Theatre) The House Of Bernada Alba (The Almeida); Banished, The School For Scandal, Macbeth, To Be Taken With Water, The Seagulland Much Ado About Nothing (Central School of Speech and Drama) and Princess Sharon (Scarlet).

Juma Sharkah (Lily) is making her first appearance for the Royal Exchange Theatre and trained at Arts Ed London. Theatre credits include: Liberian Girl (The Royal Court) and Harvest, Macbeth, Punk Rock, All My Sons and Three Sisters.

Andrew Sheridan (Ensemble) has previously appeared at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Blindsided, Antigone, Jonah And Otto, The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice, Across Oka, Port and The Ribcage. Other theatre credits include: A Breakfast of Eels (The Coronet); Henry VI (Shakespeare’s Globe); The Roundabout Season (RNT/Paines Plough);Expectations (GEST); A Thousand Stars Explode In The Sky (Lyric Hammersmith); Holes In The Skin (Chichester Minerva); Skinned (Nuffield/Southampton). Television includes: Peaky Blinders, The Trials Of Jimmy Rose, Homefront, Heartbeat, Kingdom, Cold Blood, Coronation Street, New Street Law, Shameless, Buried, Night Flight, Urban Gothic andClocking Off. Film Credits include: Control.

Jessica Walker (Ensemble) is making her first appearance for the Royal Exchange Theatre. Theatre credits include: The Importance Of Being Earnest (NI Opera); Sunday In The Park With George (Theatre du Chatelet); Gloria And A Pig Tale(The Mahogany Opera Group); One Touch Of Venus, Julietta and Monteverdi’s Orfeo (Opera North); School For Lovers(Glyndebourne and Finnish National Opera); The Mikado (Nationale Reis Opera); Il Re Pastore (Musiektheater Transparant) and Le Nozze Di Fiagaro (Stanley Hall).

Leah Walker (Ensemble) is making her first appearance for the Royal Exchange Theatre. Leah trained at LIPA and is making her professional debut. Credits in training include: Company; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Dorian Gray and Steel Magnolia’s (LIPA). She also represented LIPA during the Sam Wanamaker Festival 2015 at Shakespeare’s Globe.

Owen Whitelaw (Ensemble) is making his first appearance for the Royal Exchange Theatre. Other theatre credits include: Slope (Untitled Projects Ltd); Unfaithful (Traverse Theatre); In Time Of Strife (National Theatre Of Scotland & Tour); Paul Bright’s Confessions Of A Justified Sinner (Untitled Projects Ltd); The Life Of Stuff (Theatre 503); Sleeping Beauty (Citizens Theatre); Wonderland (Vanishing Point, Tour); King Lear (Citizens Theatre);  Knives In Hens (National Theatre Of Scotland, Tour); A Puff Of Smoke (Ignition Festival At Tristan Bates Theatre); Peter Pan (National Theatre Of Scotland); The Snow Queen (Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline) 10,000 Metres Deep (Òran Mór); About A Goth (Paines Plough / Òran Mór); Romeo & Juliet (Òran Mór); Mary Queen Of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off, Our Teacher’s A Troll (National Theatre Of Scotland); Sleeping Beauty (Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline); Cockroach (National Theatre Of Scotland At Traverse Theatre) 365 (National Theatre Of Scotland); Cotton Wool, Nowheresville (Theatre 503); Rupture (National Theatre Of Scotland); Spangle Baby (Poorboy). Film credits include: Dying Light, Score, 7/11 In Repeat, What Would Ridley Do.

Commissioned and produced by Manchester International Festival and the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester.

LISTINGS

THE SKRIKER

ROYAL EXCHANGE THEATRE, MANCHESTER, ST ANN’S SQUARE, MANCHESTER, M2 7DH
PREVIEWS 1, 2, 3 JULY 7.30PM
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17 JULY 7.30PM
11, 18 JULY 8PM
12, 18 JULY 2.30PM

PRESS NIGHT: 4 JULY 8PM

Continues at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester 20 July — 1 Aug

Box Office:
mif.co.uk | 0844 871 7654
royalexchange.co.uk | 0161 833 9833

Tickets £15 — £45 (no per ticket booking fee; transaction fee applies)

Concessions available

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

Creative Team

DIRECTOR: Sarah Frankcom
DESIGNER: Lizzie Clachan
LIGHTING: Jack Knowles
SOUND: David McSeveney
CHOREOGRAPHER: Imogen Knight
COMPOSERS: Nico Muhly & Antony Hegarty
CASTING DIRECTOR: Jerry Knight-Smith CDG
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR: Bryony Shanahan

 

 

Footage from the press nights of McQueen at St.James Theatre on Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 May. This includes interviews with celebrity guests and the McQueen family.
https://youtu.be/d3q5gIchSug

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

The cast for the world premiere production of THE INVISIBLE by Rebecca Lenkiewicz is: Nicholas Bailey, Niall Buggy, Alexandra Gilbreath, Scott Karim and Sirine Saba.

The production, directed by Michael Oakley, previews from 3 July (press night 8 July).

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

Nicholas Bailey’s theatre credits include Macbeth (Mercury Theatre), Soho Streets (Soho Theatre),Breakfast with Mugabe (Theatre Royale Bath), Mela (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Become a Man(Hackney Empire), Blue on Blue (Haymarket Basingstoke), A Sense of Justice (Perth Rep), Mother Courage and Her Children (Shared Experience), Dreaming (Manchester Royal Exchange, West End), Life is a Dream (Barbican), Ease Access (For the Boys) (Drill Hall), Life is a Dream (Edinburgh Royale Lyceum), King Lear (Royal National Theatre), Hamlet (Manchester Library Theatre), The Winter’s Tale(Manchester Library Theatre), and  Julius Caesar (Manchester Royal Exchange). For television, Nicholas is best known for playing Dr Anthony Truman on EastEnders, other credits include Siblings (BBC3),Doctors (BBC), Anubis House (Lime Pictures, Nickelodeon), Law & Order UK (Kudos), and Miranda(BBC).

Niall Buggy is an Oliver Award-winning actor whose best known roles include Uncle Vanya (Lyric Theatre,Belfast), for which he won Best Actor in the Irish Times Theatre Awards, Aristocrats (National Theatre) for which he won a number of awards including the Time Out Award, Obie Award in New York, Drama Desk Award and a Clarence Derwent Award. He was awarded the Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance in Dead Funny. His most recent theatre credits include The Importance of Being Ernest(Harold Pinter Theatre), Translations (Sheffield Crucible), Haunted (The Playhouse Theatre, Sydney),After Play (Gate Theatre), A Girl with a Pearl Earring (Haymarket Theatre) and Guys and Dolls (Donmar Warehouse). Niall’s film credits include Mamma Mia, Casanova, The Butcher Boy, Alien 3 and The Playboys. Some of his television credits include Inspector Lewis, Dalziel and Pascoe, Father Ted, The Bill and The Professionals.

Alexandra Gilbreath is an Olivier Award-nominated actor whose theatre credits include Shakespeare’s Birthday Bash (RSC), The Merry Wives of Windsor (RSC), Playhouse Creatures (Chichester Festival Theatre), Shallow Slumber (Soho Theatre), Othello (Sheffield Crucible Theatre), The Village Bike(Royal Court Theatre), Hay Fever (Rose Theatre Kingston), Twelfth Night (RSC Stratford/ West End),Lucky You (Magic Key Productions), Merry Wives: The Musical (RSC), The Tamer Tamed (RSC), The Taming of the Shrew (RSC), As You Like It (RSC), Romeo and Juliet (RSC), The Winter’s Tale (RSC),Cyrano De Bergerac (RSC/ West End), The House of Bernarda Alba (Gate Theatre), Hedda Gabler(English Touring Co./ Donmar), Ghosts (RSC), Love’s Labour’s Lost (RSC), King Lear (West Yorkshire Playhouse). Alexandra’s television credits include Father Brown (BBC), Casualty (BBC), WPC 56 (BBC),Doctors (BBC), EastEnders (BBC), Midsummer’s Night’s Dreaming (RSC/ Google), Inspector George Gently (Company Pictures) and Not Going Out (BBC). Film credits include A Hundred Streets, Tulip Fever, The All Together, and Dead Babies.

Scott Karim’s theatre credits include The Merchant of Venice (Globe Theatre), Dara (National Theatre), Great Britain (National Theatre/ Theatre Royal Haymarket),  Grand Budapest Hotel (Secret Cinema), and Othello (National Theatre). For television he has appeared in Holby City (BBC).

Sirine Saba’s previous theatre credits include The Keepers of Infinite Space (Park Theatre); The Winter’s Tale, The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night and HMS Pinafore(Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); The Fear of Breathing (Finborough); Scorched (Old Vic Tunnels);Nation, Sparkleshark (NT); The Spiral (Royal Court); Testing the Echo (Out of Joint/Tricycle); Baghdad Wedding (Soho Theatre); Beauty and the Beast, Midnight’s Children, Pericles, The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Tales From Ovid and A Warwickshire Testimony (RSC);Cinderella (Bristol Old Vic) and House/Garden (Northampton).

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

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

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

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

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

 

LISTINGS
3 July – 15 August 2015
THE INVISIBLE
By Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Press night 8 July, 7pm

Mon to Sat at 7.30pm
2.30pm Saturday matinees (from 11 July)
2.30pm Wednesday matinees (from 15 July)

BushGreen Live Debate: In an age of austerity, why defend legal aid?
22 July, post-show

Captioned performance 24 July, 7.30pm
Audio described performance 1 August, 2.30pm

Ticket prices:

Evenings: £20

• £12.50 concessions (registered unemployed and disabled)
• £15.50 for Senior Citizens
• £12.50 for students/under 26s
• 10% off for Bush Local members

Previews: £15.50

• £10.50 concessions (registered unemployed and disabled)
• £12.50 for Senior Citizens
• £10.50 for students/under 26s
• £12.50 for Bush Local members

Matinees: £15

• £10.00 concessions (registered unemployed and disabled)
• £10.00 for students/under 26s
• £10.00 for Senior Citizens
• 10% off for Bush Local members

Season Offers*

Season 3 for 2
See 3 shows for the price of 2. Valid for top price tickets only, shows must be purchased at the same time. Not valid for previews, matinees or RADAR.

Live or work locally – Join our free local membership scheme Bush Local for £12.50 preview tickets, 10% off all other performances and a 10% discount at the Cafe Bar. For more information and to become a member, visit bushtheatre.co.uk

Educational Groups – Schools tickets are £10 (matinees) and £12.50 (evenings), plus one teacher goes free with every 10 pupils. To reserve tickets, please call the Box Office between 12 – 8pm.

Bush Connect scheme – A free membership scheme for students and under 26s, BUSH CONNECT offers its members £10-£12.50 tickets for all Bush Theatre productions, a 10% discount at the Cafe Bar, special offers, giveaways and competitions, and exclusive events and networking opportunities.

Group Bookings – Book for a group of 11 or more people and the 11th person will go for free.

*Terms and conditions apply, see the Bush website for further information.

The cast of the multi-award winning British musical SUNNY AFTERNOON will perform live at two prestigious events in London’s summer music calendar.

On Sunday 13 September, the cast will share a bill with Madness, Kelis and Laura Mvula as they perform at the OnBlackheath Festival.

Before that, on Thursday 11 June, the cast will play the London Music Awards at the Roundhouse in Camden. The Awards are organized by the Mayor’s Music Fund and other performers will include Laura Doggett, Ibibio Sound Machine and Belle Chen.

SUNNY AFTERNOON is a new musical which tells the story of The Kinks, with music, lyrics and original story by Ray Davies, book by Joe Penhall, and directed by Edward Hall. The production won four awards at the 2015 Olivier Awards: Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (John Dagleish), Best Supporting Actor in a Musical (George Maguire), and Outstanding Achievement in Music (Ray Davies).

Sunny Afternoon is currently booking until 24 October 2015, at the Harold Pinter Theatre, London.

John Dagleish and George Maguire play Ray Davies and Dave Davies of The Kinks respectively, alongside Ned Derrington as Pete Quaife and Adam Sopp as Mick Avory, who complete the band.

Full cast: Carly Anderson, Jason Baughan, Philip Bird, John Dagleish, Ned Derrington, Lillie Flynn, Emily Goodenough, Elizabeth Hill, Vince Leigh, George Maguire, Amy Ross, Jo Servi, Adam Sopp, Dominic Tighe and Tam Williams.

Featuring some of The Kinks’ best-loved songs, including You Really Got Me, Waterloo Sunset and Lola,Sunny Afternoon marks the 50th anniversary of the band’s rise to fame.

Following a sold-out run at Hampstead Theatre, this world premiere production, with music and lyrics by Ray Davies, new book by Joe Penhall, original story by Ray Davies, direction by Edward Hall, design by Miriam Buether and choreography by Adam Cooper, opened at the Harold Pinter theatre on 28 October 2014. Lighting is by Rick Fisher, sound by Matt McKenzie and the Musical Supervisor and Musical Director is Elliott Ware.

The official cast recording album, produced by Ray Davies at his Konk studios, is released on BMG Chrysalis and is available to buy at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunny-Afternoon-The-Kinks/dp/B00NH8O7LU.

Sonia Friedman Productions commissioned Joe Penhall in 2011 to write the book based on Ray Davies’s original story. The company developed the production over the next four years, assembling the creative team and cast that presented Sunny Afternoon last year at Hampstead Theatre under the direction of Edward Hall, and now at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

Ray Davies is an influential and prolific rock musician and was co-founder and lead singer and songwriter for rock band The Kinks, and later a solo artist. He has an outstanding catalogue of hits from the earliest 1960s to the present day with estimated record sales in excess of 50 million. He has also acted, directed and produced shows for theatre and television.

Joe Penhall is an award winning playwright and screenwriter. Plays include Some Voices (Royal Court),Blue/Orange (National Theatre and West End), winner of Best New Play at the Evening Standard Awards, Olivier Awards and at the Critics Circle, and Dumb Show, Haunted Child and Birthday (all Royal Court). Screenplays include Enduring Love and The Road.

As Artistic Director of Hampstead Theatre, Edward Hall’s productions include Wonderland, Sunny Afternoon, Raving, Chariots of Fire, No Naughty Bits, Loyalty and Enlightenment. As Artistic Director of Propeller, his work has toured worldwide, played the West End and Broadway and has won numerous awards both in the UK and overseas. Other theatre work includes A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (National Theatre), Edmond with Kenneth Branagh (National Theatre), Macbeth with Sean Bean (Albery), The Constant Wife (Apollo), Julius Caesar (RSC), Henry V (RSC) and The Deep Blue Sea(Vaudeville). Television work includes Downton Abbey, Spooks and Kingdom.  Edward is an Associate of the National Theatre and the Old Vic.

Sonia Friedman Productions
with Tulchin Bartner Productions, Greg Ripley-Duggan for Hampstead Theatre Productions, Tanya Link Productions, Just for Laughs Theatricals/Glass Half Full Productions, Rupert Gavin present
SUNNY AFTERNOON
In association with Hampstead Theatre and Arlon Productions

 

Soap heart throb Jamie Lomas is making the most of starring on stage in the UK’s stag do capital, Newcastle, to explore some of its most famous bachelor party haunts with his fellow cast members.  Dead Simple – a thriller concerning a stag-do gone wrong, is playing all week at Newcastle Theatre Royal.

 

The award-winning actor will be familiar to soap fans as EastEnders’ murderous Jake Stone and before that bad boy Warren Fox from Channel 4’s Hollyoaks.

 

Based on the best-selling novel by Peter James, Dead Simple sees Jamie, who plays groom Michael Harrison, buried in a coffin with everyone who knows his whereabouts dead. Everyone but one person… and Detective Roy Grace must race against the clock to find that person and rescue the victim before it’s too late!

 

Jamie stars alongside Tina Hobley, who returns to the stage having graced TV screens for the last 12 years as ward sister Chrissie Williams in the BBC 1’s Holby City as well as roles in Coronation Street and Harbour Lights before that and was seen earlier this year in Celebrity Master Chef. She currently presents the prime time Sunday morning programme on Smooth Radio.

 

Dead Simple also stars Rik Makarem who played Nikhil Sharma in Emmerdale and previously appeared in Torchwood and Michael McKell who played Dr Nick West in Doctors as well as DC Nick Henshall in Emmerdale.

 

The role of the famous Detective Roy Grace is played by Gray O’Brien, the award-winning star of Coronation Street, TV seriesTitanic, Peak Practice and Casualty as well as Sleuth in the West End. He will follow up his critically acclaimed performance in previous Peter James adaptation, The Perfect Murder, by playing the detective in this gripping, chilling, thriller that has all the classic suspense, twists and turns of a best-selling Peter James novel.

 

Peter James has gone straight in at number one in the Sunday Times bestseller charts seven times in the last four years with his Roy Grace series. The international bestselling crime thriller novelist has won numerous awards both in the UK and in the USA, Peter has sold over 15 million books of his Roy Grace series, and is published in 36 languages. Dead Simple has itself sold over 2 million copies around the word and has been a number one best seller in the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Holland and Russia

 

Dead Simple is the second of James’ novels to be adapted for the stage and Peter said: “From the age of eight, when my parents first took me to the Theatre Royal in Brighton, it had been my dream that one day the curtains would rise in a theatre and a play of my work would be performed.  That dream came true after a chance meeting with my old friend, producer, Joshua Andrews, at a party in November 2012.

“Josh had seen first-hand the success of the recent Agatha Christie stage productions and he joked that I was the nearest thing to a living modern day Agatha Christie – so he asked if I had any novels that I felt might adapt well to the stage. The result was the first run of The Perfect Murder, over 16 weeks from early January this year, and to my delight it played to packed houses, enthusiastic audiences and a great critical response around the country and has just started its second tour this autumn!

“It is a real thrill now for Josh and I to be launching our second collaboration, an adaptation by the brilliant Shaun McKenna, of my first Roy Grace novel, Dead Simple. It’s a tale of treachery and deceit, which seems to touch a nerve in everyone who reads it and has been one of my best-selling books to date.”

 

“I had myself locked in a coffin for 30 minutes as part of my research, and it was one of the scariest moments of my life. It’s so many people’s worst nightmare to be buried alive and I’m looking forward to recreating some of that terror in the theatres soon with another incredible cast of actors!”

 

Dead Simple appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tue 26 – Sat 30 May 2015 (Evenings: 7.30pm, Matinees: Wed and Thur 2.30pm). Tickets from £14 (online price) Tickets can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or select your own seat and book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk.