Multi-platinum selling recording artist and songwriter Matt Cardle, who rose to fame winning the seventh series of ITVs The X Factor will join the cast of MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL in London, it is today announced. Cast and company of the award-winning ‘Best Musical’ at the Shaftesbury Theatre are delighted to welcome Matt who will star as radio DJ ‘Huey Calhoun’ from 6 July, taking over from Killian Donnelly who originated the role in the West End.

Matt will join Queen of British Soul, Beverley Knight who extends her run as club singer ‘Felicia Farrell’ in MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL through October 2015.

Matt Cardle says: “I’m thrilled to be making my acting and West End debut in Memphis. From the first time I saw the show I felt I had a real connection with the character of Huey. It’s no secret that I worked for many years before my breakthrough as a musician. I started my first band when I was 12 years old and spent at least 15 years recording albums and sending demos to record companies before finally having my voice heard. It was the united love from family and friends, similar to that at the heart of the Memphis story, that saw me through. I am truly honoured to be sharing the stage with the incredible Beverley Knight, I’ve admired her work for such a long time and can’t wait to get started in the show”.

Beverley Knight says: “I can’t wait to continue my Memphis journey into the autumn with Matt – who will be a fantastic addition to our Memphis family. We all know he has a “fantastical” voice; I think many will be wonderfully surprised by his ability on stage. We are all going to miss Killian when he leaves but his last few weeks will be party time at the show! Bring it all on! Hockadoo!”

Booking for MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL at the Shaftesbury Theatre continues through to the end of its scheduled run in the West End on 31 October 2015 with early plans in progress for a major tour of the UK and Ireland from Autumn 2016.

Written by Grammy® Award-winning David Bryan, a founding member of Bon Jovi, and Joe DiPietro,MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL will continue to star Rolan Bell as ‘Delray’, Tyrone Huntley as ‘Gator’, Claire Machin as ‘Gladys’, Jason Pennycooke as ‘Bobby’ and Mark Roper as ‘Mr. Simmons’, with Keisha Atwell, Arielle Campbell, Mark Carroll, Joseph Davenport, Momar Diagne, Carly Mercedes Dyer, Kimmy Edwards, Hillary Elk, Laura Ellis, Charlotte Gorton, Yasmin Harrison, Benjamin Harrold, Waylon Jacobs, Rachel John, Dean Maynard, Devon McKenzie-Smith, Tim Newman, Simon Ray-Harvey, Jon Robyns, Ashley Rumble, Kyle Seeley, Helen Siveter, Dawnita Smith, and Alex Thomas.

Inspired by true events from the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL follows the fame and forbidden love of a radio DJ who wants to change the world and a club singer who is ready for her big break.

Olivier and Tony® Award-winning MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL, which opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre to huge audience and critical acclaim in October last year, is Directed by Christopher Ashley with Olivier Award-winning Choreography by Sergio Trujillo, Scenic Design by David Gallo, Costume Design by Paul Tazewell, Lighting Design by Howell Binkley, Sound Design by the Olivier Award-winning Gareth Owenand Musical Direction by Tim Sutton.

MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL is produced in London by Junkyard Dog Productions, Marleen and Kenny Alhadeff, Barbara Freitag, Joseph Smith and John Brant.

 

Listings

Where                    Shaftesbury Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8DP
Performances          Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm
Wednesday & Saturday at 2.30pm
Ticket Prices           £20 to £67.50
Box Office               0207 379 5399
Website                  memphisthemusical.com
Twitter                   twitter.com/memphismusical
Facebook                facebook.com/memphisthemusical

Groups information

10+ Best Available £39.50
20+ Best Available £35.00
Group rates valid for all performances.

Education information

10+ Best Available £25.00
Plus 1 Free Teacher Per 10 Paid Pupils (11th ticket is free)
Valid Monday – Thursday performances at 7.30PM
and Wednesday matinees at 2.30PM
During term time
Download FREE production resources, specially developed with teachers for upper KS3, KS4 & KS5 pupils! Each interactive and easy-to-use pack contains resources and lesson plans to help enhance students’ learning, plus additional resources to support classroom activities and provide inspiration for students’ work.

Visit http://www.memphisthemusical.com/schools.asp for more information.

 

FINAL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE NATIONAL TOUR OF

AYUB KHAN DIN’S CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED EAST IS EAST

 

JOINING THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED AWARD-WINNING

ACTRESS PAULINE MCLYNN

 

COMMENCING 11 JUNE 2015 AT THEATRE ROYAL, BRIGHTON

Grand Opera House York

Monday 3 – Saturday 8 August

 

Adam Karim (Sajit Khan), Assad Zaman (Saleem Khan), Dharmesh Patel (Abdul Khan), Salma Hoque(Meenah Khan) and Simon Nagra (George Khan) join the previously announced comedy award-winning actress Pauline McLynn (Ella Khan) and original West End cast members, Ashley Kumar (Tariq Khan) andDarren Kuppan (Maneer Khan) to complete the casting of the Khan family in the national tour of Ayub Khan Din’s critically-acclaimed play East is East. The Khans are joined by Kammy Darweish (Mr Shah), Sakuntala Ramanee (Mrs Shah) and Sally Bankes (Auntie Annie).

East is East, which was part of Jamie Lloyd’s second Trafalgar Transformed season, is directed by Sam Yates, and will embark on a 14 week National Tour from 11 June 2015, commencing at Theatre Royal, Brighton. East is East is designed by Tom Scutt, with lighting by Richard Howell and sound and music by Alex Baranowski.

 

Other confirmed venues for the East is East National Tour include the Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury (22-27 June), New Victoria Theatre, Woking (29 June – 4 July), Churchill Theatre, Bromley (6-11 July), Princess Theatre, Torquay (13-18 July), Regent Theatre, Stoke (20-25 July), Theatre Royal, Nottingham (27 July – 1 August), Grand Opera House, York (3-8 August), Theatre Royal, Glasgow (10-15 August), The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford (31 August – 5 September), Sheffield Lyceum (7 September – 12 September), Bath Theatre Royal (14 September – 19 September) and Oxford Playhouse (21-26 September).

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

 

East is East, Ayub Khan Din’s semi-autobiographical account of British Asian life in the 1970s and the clash of cultures between a multi-cultural family growing up in Salford, is a play that continues to resonate and provoke discussion. Starring award-winning actress Pauline McLynn (Father Ted, Shameless and EastEnders) as Ella and a host of the finest British acting talent completing the Khan family and friends, this critically acclaimed production of a modern comedy classic promises to be unmissable.

MEET THE KHANS!

GEORGE KHAN

Simon Nagra’s stage credits include Dara, The Revenger’s Tragedy, Rafta Rafta, Haroun and The Sea of Stories, all for the National Theatre, Drawing The Line at Hampstead Theatre, Much Ado About Nothing andAnthony and Cleopatra, both for the RSC, Comedians and Rafta Rafta, both at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton,Behna and East is East at Birmingham Rep, The Deranged Marriage for Rifco Theatre Company, The Crime Of The 21^st Century at Theatre 21, Play To Win at Soho Theatre, East is East at Oldham Coliseum Theatre,Aureng-Zebe at the National Theatre Studio and Coriolanus at the Dukes Theatre, Lancaster. Simon’s screen credits include No Offence, Holby City, Dalziel and Pascoe, Doctors, Green Wing, A Thing Called Love, All About Me, Casualty, Popcorn, The Last Detective, Grease Monkeys, EastEnders, The Bill, All In Good Time, Red River and Midnight Feast.

ELLA KHAN

Pauline McLynn is best known for screen roles including Mrs Doyle in Father Ted (for which she won a British Comedy Award), Libby Croker in Shameless and her current role playing Yvonne Cotton in EastEnders. Pauline’s stage credits include most recently The Knight of the Burning Pestle, at The Globe, Happy Days at Sheffield Crucible, Playboy of the Western World at the Donmar Warehouse, The Trojan Women, Comedy of Errors, Yerma and Antigone all at the Abbey Theatre/National Theatre of Ireland, The Double Dealer, Tartuffe, Absurd Person Singular and School for Scandal all at the Gate Theatre, Dublin and Our Country’s Good, The Tempest, Top Girls and The Caucasian Chalk Circle for Rough Magic. Her other television credits includeFather Figure (BBC), Threesome (Comedy Central), The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff (BBC) Pramface (BBC), three seasons of Jam and Jerusalem (BBC), Bremner, Bird and Fortune (Channel 4, six series), High Hopes (BBC), French and Saunders (BBC), TV To Go (BBC), The Dark Ages (ITV), It Happened Last Year, Dalziel and Pascoe, Family, Aristocrats and Ballykissangel (all for BBC).  Pauline’s film credits include Stephen Bradley’s Noble, Helen in Gypo, Sister Hilda opposite Brendan Blethyn in The Calling, Iris directed by Richard Eyre, Heidi directed by Paul Marcus, Angela’s Ashes directed by Alan Parker, The Most Fertile Man in Ireland directed by Dudi Appleton, An Everlasting Piece directed by Barry Levinson and When Brendan met Trudy directed by Kieron J. Walsh.  Other film work includes; Quills, Nora, Her Own Rules, Guilttrip. Pauline most recently completed shooting on Jim Sheridan’s feature Secret Scripture. She has also published eight best-selling novels, Something for the Weekend (1999), Better Than A Rest (2001), Right on Time (2002), The Woman on the Bus (2004), Summer in the City (2005), Bright Lights and Promises(2007), Missing You Already (2009) and The Time Is Now (2010). In 2012 she published her first novel for young people, Jenny Q, Stitched Up! with Puffin Books, and the sequel JENNY Q, Unravelled.

ABDUL KHAN

Dharmesh Patel’s stage credits include Fever Dream Southside at the Citizens Theatre, Albion at Bush Theatre, England Away on UK Tour, Too Clever By Half at Manchester Exchange, The Snow Queen for Trestle, King Lear, Hamlet, Comedy Of Errors, As You Like It, Romeo And Juliet, American Trade, The Grain Store and Morte Arthur all for the RSC, Satyagraha at The Metropolitan Opera, New York and for the English National Opera, Beauty And The Beast at the Lyric, Hammersmith, Coast at Contact Theatre, Manchester, Too Close To Home at the Lyric, Hammersmith and on UK Tour, Accidental Death Of An Anarchist at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton, Slow Time at the National Theatre, Silent Cry on UK Tour and The Happy Prince at the Leicester Haymarket Theatre. Dharmesh’s screen credits include Casualty, Doctorsand Ray’s Daze.

 

TARIQ KHAN

Ashley Kumar’s stage credits include East is East at Trafalgar Studios/UK Tour, Tartuffe at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Commercial Road at the Hackney Empire and The Snow Queen at the Unicorn Theatre. Ashley’s screen credits include A Nice Arrangement, Omid Djalili’s Little Cracker, Summer In Transylvania,EastEnders, Spooks, Benidorm, The Bill, Doctors and MI High.

 

MANEER KHAN

Darren Kuppan’s stage credits include East is East at Trafalgar Studios/UK Tour, Rafta Rafta at the Bolton Octagon and the New Vic Theatre, Stoke, the latter of which he also performed in Arabian Nights, East is Eastat the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, An August Bank Holiday Lark at the Northern Broadsides, Melody Loses Her Mojo at the Liverpool Playhouse, England Street at the Oxford Playhouse, The Bridge at Freedom Studios, Jamaica House at Duke’s Playhouse, Lancaster, Much Ado About Nothing at the RSC, Bollywood Jane at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and Pretend You Have Big Buildings at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. Darren’s screen credits include Spooks, Britannia High, Emmerdale, Coronation Street, The Sweet Stall, Piggy, The Code, Winners And Losers and The Chaos Theory.

SALEEM KHAN

Assad Zaman’s stage credits include Behind The Beautiful Forevers at the National Theatre, Tyne at Live Theatre and the Theatre Royal, Newcastle, Beats North at Northern Stage and Theatre Auracaria and Dark Woods, Deep Snow at Northern Stage. Assad’s screen credits include Cucumber for Red Productions and Channel 4.

MEENAH KHAN

Salma Hoque’s stage credits include Multitudes at the Tricycle Theatre and Drawing The Line at Hampstead Theatre. Salma’s screen credits include FAM and Holby City.

 

SAJIT KHAN

Adam Karim is currently training at Manchester School of Theatre and graduates this summer. Before going to drama school Adam performed in Troilus and Cressida at Shakespeare’s Globe.

Sally Bankes’ (Auntie Annie) stage credits include East is East at Trafalgar Studios/UK Tour, That Day We Sang at The Royal Exchange Manchester (for which she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at The Manchester Theatre Awards), The Winter’s Tale at the RSC, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice at the Octagon Theatre, Waiting for Gateaux on a UK tour, Everybody Loves a Winner at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, and Acorn Antiqueson a UK tour. Her screen credits include Our Zoo, Pompidou!, Mount Pleasant, Prisoners’ Wives, Doctors, World Without End, In With The Flynns, Titanic, Housewife 49, Hollyoaks, White Van Man, Semi-Detached, Hoof and Safety with Nuzzle and Scratch, MI High, Nuzzle and Scratch, Scallywagga, Guantanamo Phil, Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Heartbeat, 2 Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Tittybangbang!, Where the Heart Is, Little Britain, Absolute Power, Twisted Tales, Coronation Street, Fat Friends, Stabat Mater, Line of Fire, Trained, Chicken Tikka Masala (for which she won Best Actress at the OutTakes Dallas Film Festival), Redemption Road and When It All Comes Down.

Kammy Darweish’s (Mr Shah) stage credits include Antony and Cleopatra and Holy Warriors at Shakespeare’s Globe, City Madam, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Marat Sade, Mirror For Princes, The Bottle and Midnight’s Children, all for the RSC, Blood and Gifts, Conduct Unbecoming, Romeo and Juliet,Hiawatha and Peer Gynt, all at the National Theatre and The Merchant of Venice, The Snow Queen, Don’t Drink The Water, Julius Caesar and Woyzeck, all at Bristol Old Vic. Kammy’s screen credits include 50 Ways To Kill Your Lover, Hollyoaks, Doctors, Taggart, Holby City, Britz, Rome, Saddam’s Tribe, The Bill,Casualty, The Message, 55 Degrees North, My Life As A Poppat, Outlaws, Spooks, White Teeth,EastEnders, Murder in Mind, London’s Burning, The Glass, Crusades, Skyfall, 31 North 62 East, The Omen,Pleasure Marriage and Colour Me Kubrick.

Sakuntala Ramanee’s (Mrs Shah) stage credits include The Lighthouse at The Space, Worn at New Diorama, Romeo And Juliet at the Leicester Square Theatre, Our Children Will Be Next at Theatre 503,Harlesden High Street at Tara Arts, John Clare for Eastern Angles, Is Anything Broken for Tristan Bates,King Lear at the King’s Head Theatre, The Man Outside at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, The Blessing Wayat Finborough Theatre, Dead Eyes at Soho Theatre, Maharaja’s Daughter at the Oval House, Amongst Barbarians at the Manchester Royal Exchange and Camille at the Lyric Hammersmith. Sakuntala’s screen credits include Coronation Street, EastEnders, Holby City, Whitechapel, Trial and Retribution, Emmerdale,Casualty, Hustle, Self Made, Indigo and Wish Baby.

LISTINGS

EAST IS EAST

WRITTEN BY AYUB KHAN DIN

DIRECTED BY SAM YATES

JAMIE LLOYD PRODUCTIONS – TRAFALGAR TRANSFORMED

NATIONAL TOUR

 

THEATRE ROYAL BRIGHTON

11 – 20 JUNE

0844 871 7650

WATERSIDE THEATRE, AYLESBURY

22 – 27 JUNE

0844 871 7607

NEW VICTORIA THEATRE, WOKING

29 JUNE – 4 JULY

0844 871 7645

CHURCHILL THEATRE, BROMLEY

6 – 11 JULY

0844 871 7620

PRINCESS THEATRE, TORQUAY

13 – 18 JULY

0844 871 3023

REGENT THEATRE, STOKE

20 – 25 JULY

0844 871 7649

THEATRE ROYAL, NOTTINGHAM

27 JULY – 1 AUGUST

0115 989 5555

GRAND OPERA HOUSE, YORK

3 – 8 AUGUST

0844 871 3024

 

THEATRE ROYAL, GLASGOW

10 – 15 AUGUST

0844 871 7647

THE ALHAMBRA THEATRE, BRADFORD

31 AUGUST – 5 SEPTEMBER

01274 432000

SHEFFIELD LYCEUM, SHEFFIELD

7 SEPTEMBER – 12 SEPTEMBER

0114 249 6000

BATH THEATRE ROYAL, BATH

14 SEPTEMBER – 19 SEPTEMBER

01225 448844

OXFORD PLAYHOUSE

21 – 26 SEPTEMBER

01865 305305

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Creative team:

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

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

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

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

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

Age recommendation: 10+

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

 

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

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

SPONSORED BY THE LAW SOCIETY OF ENGLAND AND WALES

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

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

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

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

Casting to be announced.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Telegraph ««««

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Company Information

Devised and performed by Hannah Moss and David Ralfe

Lighting design by Celia Dugua

Design by Emma Tompkins                                                      

Listings information

10 Mar                                                                   The Arts Centre, Ormskirk

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

£10 (£8 concs) | 7.30pm

www.edgehill.ac.uk | 01695 584480

 

12 – 13 Mar                                                           Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury

The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS

£12 (£11 concs) | 8pm

www.marlowetheatre.com | 01227 787787

 

25 Mar                                                                   Square Chapel, Halifax

10 Square Road, Halifax HX1 1QG

£13 (£11 concs) | 8pm

www.squarechapel.co.uk | 01422 349422

 

26 Mar                                                                   Upstairs at the Carriageworks, Leeds

3 Millennium Square, Leeds LS2 3AD

£10.50 (£8.50 concs) | 7.45pm

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

 

27 Mar                                                                   New Wolsey Studio, Ipswich

St Georges Street, Ipswich IP1 3NF

£10, (£5 concs) | 7.45pm

www.wolseytheatre.co.uk | 01132 243801

 

8 – 18 Apr                                                             Shoreditch Town Hall, London

380 Old Street, London EC1V 9LT

£12.50 | 8pm

www.shoreditchtownhall.com | 020 7739 6176

 

23 Apr                                                                    The North Wall, Oxford

South Parade, Oxford OX2 7JN

£13 (£11 concs) | 8pm

www.thenorthwall.com | 01865 319450

 

25 Apr                                                                    Dixon Studio, Palace Theatre, Southend

430 London Road, Southend SS0 9LA

£12.50 (£10 concs) | 8pm

www.southendtheatres.org.uk | 01702 351135

 

25 Apr                                                                    Theatre Royal, Margate

Addington Street, Margate CT9 1PW

£12 (£11 concs) | 7.30pm

www.theatreroyalmargate.com | 01843 292795

 

8 – 10 May                                                            The Basement, Brighton

24 Kensington Street, Brighton

£12.50 (£10.50 concs) | 7.30pm

www.brightonfringe.org | 01273 917272

 

15 May                                                                   The Lowry, Salford Quays

Pier 8, Salford Quays M50 3AZ

£12 | 8pm

www.thelowry.com | 0843 208 6000

 

25 May                                                                   Bike Shed Theatre, Exeter

162/3 Fore Street, Exeter EX4 3AT

£10 (£8 concs) | 7.30pm

www.bikeshedtheatre.co.uk | 01392 434169

 

30 May                                                                   Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 1DA

£12.50 (£10.50 concs) | 7.45pm

www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk | 01142 496000

 

2 Jun                                                                      New Diorama Theatre, London

15 – 16 Triton Street, London NW1 3BF

Times and prices TBC

www.newdiorama.com | 020 7916 5467

 

4 – 5 Jun                                                                                Greenwich Theatre, London

Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ES

Times and prices TBC

www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk | 020 8858 7755

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy