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THE STAGE 4*

“..galvanising new production”

JONATHAN BAZ 5*

“Tommy is unmissable and up there with the very best of musical theatre on offer in London today. See it, hear it!”

PLAYS TO SEE 4*

“..this is a first rate production which deserves to be seen.”

WEST END WILMA 5*

“..a phenomenal group of talent”

LONDON THEATRE 1 5*

“So, 46 years after being first released as a concept album, does this new production of “The Who’s Tommy” deliver? You bet it does.

Pics by Claire Bilyard

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 CARNS THEATRE PASSION 4*

Pics by Claire Bilyard

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Following yesterday’s tragic incident and as messages come in from around the world, Matthew Bourne, Artistic Director of New Adventures issues the following tribute on behalf of the company:

“Yesterday we lost our “Swan” and our “Car Man” – Jonathan Ollivier was one of the most charismatic and powerful dancers of his generation: An intensely masculine presence tempered with tenderness and vulnerability made him the perfect casting for a string of triumphant roles in the New Adventures repertory including “The Swan”, the enigmatic “Speight” in “Play Without Words” and his final role as Luca in “The Car Man” which he was due to dance at last nights final performance at Sadler’s Wells.

A man of great warmth and charm, Jonny was a true gent, loved and respected by his colleagues and adored by audiences who were mesmerised by his memorable performances on stage as well as his friendly and genuine personality at the Stage Door. He was also an inspiration and role model to several generations of young dancers who strived to emulate his enviable technique and majestic stage presence.

Yesterdays events have ripped at the heart of the New Adventures family and we join together to send our heartfelt condolences to all of Jonny’s family and friends. In our grieving for this irreplaceable artist we take some comfort in the legacy of memories that he has left behind”

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR ‘F*CK THE POLAR BEARS’ BY TANYA RONDER
SURREAL FAMILY DRAMA ABOUT THE POWER OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO AFFECT CHANGES TO OUR PLANET

The cast for the world premiere production of F*CK THE POLAR BEARS by Tanya Ronder is: Jon Foster, Salóme R Gunnarsdóttir, Susan Stanley and Andrew Whipp.

The production, directed by Caroline Byrne, previews from 11 September (press night 16 September).

F*CK THE POLAR BEARS is a raucous new environmental comedy about a family with the world at their feet, but plagued by the everyday hypocrisies and First World Problems of a prosperous life.

Gordon and Serena have worked hard to get where they are. He’s on the verge of a massive promotion at an energy company. She’s preparing for a move into the house of their dreams. The family appear to be cooking on gas.

But behind their perfect front door, light bulbs are blowing, the drains keep blocking, and a phone inexplicably refuses to charge. Not to mention that daughter Rachel’s adored toy polar bear is nowhere to be found.

As Gordon chases the spectres behind these mysterious events, he spirals out of control and the family are forced to ask whether the life they desire is worth its cost.

Andrew Whipp and Susan Stanley will play Gordon and Serena, seemingly the perfect couple. Salóme R Gunnarsdóttir takes the role of Blundhilde, their long-suffering idealistic au pair, with Jon Foster as Gordon’s troubled brother, the black sheep of the family. Bella Anne Padden and Eléa Vicas will share the role of the couple’s young daughter Rachel.

Jon Foster‘s theatre work includes buckets (Orange Tree Theatre), All I Want (Jackson’s Lane)Idomeneus, Trojan Women, Dream Story, Mud (Gate Theatre), Cheese (fanSHEN), A Beginning, A New Way to Please You, Sejanus: His Fall, Speaking Like Magpies, Thomas More (RSC), How to Tell the Monsters from the Misfits (Birmingham Rep), Long Time Dead (Paines Plough) and After Heggarty(Finborough). Television includes Da Vinci’s Demons, New Tricks, Law and Order, The Bill, The IT Crowd, The Last Enemy, Instinct and Silent Witness.

Salóme R Gunnarsdóttir makes her London theatre debut in F*ck the Polar Bears. Orignially from Iceland, theatre work includes The Crucible, Spamalot, Assumblywomen and Óvitar, all at the National Theatre of Iceland. Film and television credits include The Lava Field: Hraunið (Pegasus Pictures),Stelpurnar 5 (Saga Films), Autumn Lights, Bakk (Mystery Island), Paris of the North, Megaphone (Zik Zak Filmworks). She has most recently filmed the role of Toma in Legends for Fox 21.

Susan Stanley most recently played the title role in Portia Coughlan (The Old Red Lion; nominated Best Female Performance, Offies 2015). Other theatre credits include: The Separation (Theatre503), Almost Maine (Park Theatre), The Separation (Project Arts Centre, Dublin), The Last Confessions of a Scallywag (The Mill at Sonning) and Bedbound (The Lion and Unicorn).

Andrew Whipp’s theatre credits include Now This Is Not the End (Arcola), Farragut North (Southwark Playhouse), The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (Belgrade Theatre), Macbeth (Shakespeare’s Globe),Celebration, Arcadia (Gate Theatre, Dublin; The Sunday Times Irish Edition Best Performance 2012),Before the Flood (Royal Court), Much Ado about Nothing (Stafford), Best Men (The Sticking Place), The Misanthrope (Bury St Edmonds), King Lear (Shakespeare’s Globe) and The Child (Gate Theatre).Television includes Death in Paradise, A Song for Jenny, Holby City, EastEnders, Heartbeat,Doctors and Emmerdale.

Tanya Ronder’s adaptations for theatre include Dara and Liolà (National Theatre); Macbett (RSC);Filumena and Blood Wedding (Almeida); Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, 02 and USA tour; Vernon God Little (Olivier nomination for Best New Play, What’s on Stage nom. for Best New Comedy) andPeribanez (Young Vic). Vernon God Little was revived by the Young Vic in 2011 as part of their anniversary season.  Her first original play Table (National Theatre) opened the Shed to critical acclaim in 2013. Films include the short, King Bastard (dir Rufus Norris).  Tanya is currently developing a series for BBC, Big Amy, with co-writer Deborah Bruce.

Caroline Byrne’s directing credits include Electra (RWCMD, Cardiff), Eclipsed (Gate Theatre), Gate 35 Gala (Louise Blouin Foundation), Leaving Home Party (Farnham Maltings Tour), By Mr Farquhar (UK City of Culture 2013), Text Messages (Project, Dublin), Shakespeare in a Suitcase (co-directed with Tim Crouch for RSC),The Recovery Position (Lion and Unicorn), Twizzler Soaked Ecstasy (devised, Bernhard Theatre Studio), The Children (Embassy Theatre), Attempts on her Life (Durham Theatre, Berkeley, USA). As Assistant Director: Adler and Gibb (Royal Court), Wendy and Peter Pan (RSC) and King Lear(RSC Tour). As Associate Director at the Gate Theatre (2014/15): Grounded and Purple Heart.

Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s THE INVISIBLE is currently playing at the Bush until 15 August.

F*CK THE POLAR BEARS will be followed in the Bush’s autumn season by RADAR, the Bush Theatre’s annual festival of new writing (November 2015; on sale September 2015) and FORGET ME NOT by Tom Holloway (8 December 2015 – 16 January 2016), a co-production between the Bush Theatre and HighTide Festival Theatre.

LISTINGS
11 September – 24 October 2015
F*CK THE POLAR BEARS
By Tanya Ronder

Press night 16 September, 7pm

Mon to Sat at 7.30pm
2.30pm Saturday matinees (from 19 September)
2.30pm Wednesday matinees (from 23 September)

BushGreen Live Debate: Can the world economy survive without fossil fuels? 30 September

Captioned performance 9 October, 7.30pm
Audio described performance 3 October, 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.

West End Wilma is the Theatre world’s favourite nana. Running around the West End interviewing stars and reviewing as many shows as she can fit in to her busy OAP lifestyle. Wilma was awarded the 2014 Ticketmaster Blog of the Year Award and has a great engagement with the theatre world through social media.

She launched the hugely succesful Wilma Awards in 2014, and Wilma is delighted to announce that the 2015 awards will take place again this year on Friday 30 October 2015.

Lets start with some favourites

Favourite show (whether you have reviewed it or not)?

Chicago

Favourite book?

The Davinci Code

Favourite theatre?

Any with cheap wine that aren’t too busy!

Favourite song?

I quite like that angry song by Taylor Swift I heard on the radio today. Bad Blood I think it might have been called. I don’t know any of her music but I might give it a little listen now. I know she’s very famous!

Favourite music?

Musicals!!

Favourite food?

Good old fashioned East End London Pie and Mash!

Favourite line from any show?

It’s hard to pick a favourite line. There are so many. I love the words to the song ‘With You’ from Ghost the Musical. It’s like a really sad poem so maybe that can count as one really long line?

What is your favourite role?

I think that there are so many great roles out there. Obviously Elphaba in Wicked is one and I wouldn’t mind having a crack at Momma Rose in Gypsy or Eponine in Les Mis

And, what show would you loved to have written?

Vieux Carre by Tennessee Williams

Do you ever think I really don’t want to review this in case I don’t like it?

Sometimes but it isn’t really about whether I like it. I can watch a show and think it’s not my kind of thing but I can appreciate its merits for the audience it is aimed at.

If you could be anyone else for the day, who would it be?

Meryl Streep (who doesn’t want to be her?!)

What was the last stage show you saw and really enjoyed?

Dear Lupin at the Apollo Theatre. It’s a wonderful book and the stage show was even better as it added layers to it that the book couldn’t.

What advice would you give 16 year old Wilma?

It’s all going to be ok

If you weren’t a reviewer what would you be?

Maybe working in battersea dogs home looking after them. That would be nice and rewarding.

What was your first reviewed show?

MasterClass at the Vaudeville Theatre

Do you go to the theatre purely pleasure any more or is it all reviewing?

Sometimes I do go to the theatre purely for pleasure. Because I see so much I tend to try and go by the rule that if I have paid for the ticket myself then I won’t review it and will just enjoy the show. Sometimes I like to take people to shows that I’ve already reviewed that I think they will like so obviously I wouldn’t review it again. It’s nice to be able to have a few drinks and not worry about what is happening too technically!

How did you end up being a theatre critic?

A friend of mine said that I should start a blog because I see so many shows. It sounded like a fun challenge so I gave it a go. I still don’t really believe anyone reads my reviews. I just tap away at the computer and apparently people are finding it useful!

You have your “Tea with Wilma” section – who would you like to have tea with that you haven’t yet?

Patti Lupone! What a hoot she would be!

What made you decide to have the WILMA Awards?

I just thought ‘why not?’. After putting together a cabaret show I thought it would be a similar thing to arrange and I liked the idea of being able to pick my own categories and deciding on the nominees.

Can you tell me what you will be up to next?

Well the awards are taking up quite a lot of time as you can imagine. I’m also now editing a monthly theatre news magazine for ShowFilmFirst.com which is quite a task! Once the awards are out of the way I’m thinking about possibly putting on another cabaret show with some west end performers but I have no idea when that might be.

St. James Theatre Studio, London  – 5th-30th August 2015.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

I cannot stop smiling!

This revue celebrating female stars of Broadway and Hollywood is a master class in musical comedy. Ria Jones and Ceri Dupree are wonderful performers in their own right, but together they reach whole new levels of brilliance. Between them they have 60 years of experience – and boy does it show. From their first knowing glances, they had the audience in the palm of their hands. Dupree would raise his eyebrows here and wait for the laughs – but the innuendo is never smutty. This is a show that I could happily watch with my friends or my mother. The audience were joining in with the singing, jumping up to applaud and generally having the time of their lives.

The intimate club setting is perfect as every eyelash flutter and lip curl can be seen and appreciated. Dupree’s masterful physical comedy had us in gales of laughter before he even opened his mouth, and Jones is a natural comedienne.

The structure of the show is simple but effective: after the sibling banter begins with a rip roaring rendition of “Sisters” we are introduced to a parade of superstars. Jones and Dupree take the stage alternately, allowing plenty of time for Dupree to be transformed into his next icon. In the second half this had us wiping away tears of laughter as Dupree left the stage, only to be immediately moved to tears by his sister’s Edith Piaf.

Dupree performs songs as Carol Channing, Bette Davis, Mae West, Marlene Dietrich, Eartha Kitt, Danny LaRue – and Louis Armstrong – don’t ask! This is a man at the top of his game – the gloriously OTT costumes, the facial expressions, physical gestures and vocal talent all create hysterical madness.

Ria Jones has one of the best and most versatile voices in the business. This is highlighted by one section where she discusses Broadway actresses who didn’t make it to Hollywood and sings excerpts from a plethora of shows. In just two lines she can portray the emotion of a whole song and capture the essence of that singer. In the second half of the show she lets rip with some heart stopping numbers. On a night when the audience was roaring their appreciation, she gave us a moment of silence – nobody breathed until the final notes had died away. Simply spellbinding.

The musical director, Edward Court, and musician Sally Peerless are a joy to watch on stage. Jones and Dupree are generous performers and give them plenty of comedy opportunities. Director Sarah-Louise Young, Dupree and Jones have created a show that manages to defy expectations. After a high camp and highly emotional double helping of Mama Rose, we were stealing ourselves for a high octane finale where Jones and Dupree raise the roof. But this finale isn’t about Ria and Ceri – it is a final celebration of the fabulous ladies of stage and screen – touching, reverent and uplifting.

Mis-Leading Ladies is a fantastic night of glamour, glitter and giggles. If your partner doesn’t like musical theatre, drag them along anyway. After seeing this show, they’ll be rushing home to download “Hello Dolly”!

The cast has just been announced for the new tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert which kicks off in Manchester on 20th August.

Joining the previously announced Duncan James and Jason Donovan, who share the role of ‘Tick’, are Simon Green as ‘Bernadette’, Adam Bailey as ‘Felicia’ and Philip Childs as ‘Bob’ with Richard Astbury; Rebecca Botterill; Matt Crandon; Peter Cumins; Amy Di Bartolomeo; Martin Harding; Lisa-Marie Holmes; Ricky Lee Loftus; Adam Lyons; Callum MacDonald; Laura Mansell; Catherine Mort; James Paul McAllister; Robin Mills; Craig Ryder; Naomi Slights and Julie Yammanee.

Simon Green’s most recent stage credits include ‘Bruce Ismay’ in “Titanic” both in Toronto and at the Southwark Playhouse; “The World Goes Round” at the Union Theatre and ‘Monsieur André’ in “The Phantom of The Opera” on tour.

Adam Bailey most recently appeared as ‘Espresso’ in the German production of “Starlight Express”. His other theatre credits include ‘Mary Sunshine’ in “Chicago” at Leicester Curve and ‘Alan’ in “Bare” at the Greenwich Theatre.

Philip Childs played the role of ‘Bob’ on the 2013 tour of “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”. He is currently appearing as ‘Doctor Dillamond’ in “Wicked” at the Apollo Victoria. Other recent theatre credits include Alan Bennett’s “People” and “The Habit of Art” at the National Theatre.

After the hugely successful launch of the Wilma Awards in 2014, Theatre Blogger West End Wilma is delighted to announce that the awards will take place again this year on Friday 30 October 2015 at The Hippodrome Casino.

West End Wilma is everyone’s favourite nana in the Theatre world. Running around the West End interviewing stars and reviewing as many shows as she can fit in to her busy OAP lifestyle. Wilma was awarded the 2014 Ticketmaster Blog of the Year Award and has a great engagement with the theatre world through social media.

The nominees for the 2015 Wilma Awards in association with The Hippodrome Casino are:

1.     Best West End Show – sponsored by eStage

·       Gypsy

·       Memphis

·       The Nether

2.     Best Off-West End Show

·       Carrie

·       The Clockmakers Daughter

·       Return of the Soldier

3.     Best Touring Show

·       Wicked

·       Calamity Jane

·       Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

4.     Most Underrated West End Show

·       Urinetown

·       Just Jim Dale

·       Made In Dagenham

5.     Rising Star Award – sponsored by Planet Hollywood

·       Luke Newton

·       Evelyn Hoskins

·       David O’Reilly

6.     Most Welcoming Venue – sponsored by SeatPlan

·       Prince of Wales Theatre

·       Above The Stag

·       Landor Theatre

7.     Best Cabaret/Solo Performance – sponsored by The Hippodrome Casino

·       Rachel Tucker (St James Theatre)

·       Frances Ruffelle (Crazy Coqs)

·       Sheila Simmonds (Leicester Square Lounge)

8.     Best Vocal Performance – sponsored by London Weekly News

·       Killian Donnelly (Memphis)

·       Beverley Knight (Memphis)

·       Gina Beck (I Love You You’re Perfect Now Change)

9.     Best Family Show

·       The Twits (Royal Court)

·       Bugsy Malone (Lyric Hammersmith)

·       Somewhere Very Far Away (Unicorn Theatre)

10.   Best Actor in a Play or Musical

·       Alistair McGowan (An Audience With Jimmy Savile)

·       Killian Donnelly (Memphis)

·       Jon Jon Briones (Miss Saigon)

11.   Best Actress in a Play or Musical

·       Beverley Knight (Memphis)

·       Jenna Russell (Urinetown)

·       Eva Noblezada (Miss Saigon)

West End Wilma and her team of reviewers have shortlisted the nominees in each category from their combined opinions on the past twelve months of Theatre. Those shortlisted will then be put to the public vote to decide on the winners at westendwilma.com 

Public voting will open online on 4 September 2015 and run until 8 October 2015. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at The Hippodrome Casino, Leicester Square at 1.30pm on Friday 30 October 2015.

West End Wilma is delighted to welcome back last year’s host Tm McArthur who will present the ceremony.

Come and join in the fun!

This year, I am delighted to say that a limited number of tickets are for sale at a price of £20.00 each. So come and join in the fun from 1.30-2.30pm. Book tickets here http://www.hippodromecasino.com/whatson/west-end-wilma-theatre-awards/

Follow @WilmaAwards on Twitter and ‘Like’ the Wilma Awards Facebook page

Casting has been announced for ROARING TRADE by Steve Thompson (Dr Who, Sherlock, Upstairs Downstairs), directed by Alan Cohen, at Park Theatre from Wednesday 23 September to Saturday 24 October, 2015 with press night on Wednesday 30th September, 2015

Canary Wharf. As the curtain comes down on the recession, four wildly different bond traders put their limits to the test.

The coarse tactics of top dog Donny are challenged when young, bright Cambridge graduate Spoon arrives and fights to stake his claim in the bank. Savvy young Jess is wrapping clients around her little finger, but seasoned trader PJ lags behind as he struggles to paper over the cracks of a family life in suburbia.

In glass buildings that never sleep, what will it take to shatter the glass ceiling?

Nick Moran will star as ‘Donny’, alongside Michael McKell as ‘PJ’, Melissa Aston-Munslow as ‘Jess’, Timothy George as ‘Spoon’, Melanie Gutteridge as ‘Sandy’, and introducing William Nye as ‘Sean’.

Nick Moran is an actor, writer and director, best known to movie audiences for his lead role as ‘Eddy’ the card sharp in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and as ‘Scabior’ in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Part 2. He wrote and directed the award winning feature films The Kid and Telstar  (an adaptation of his Olivier-nominated stage play). He has appeared in over 25 feature films and TV programs including ITV’s Mr Selfridge,  BAFTA nominated The Wrong Man’s and The Great Train Robbery. He was most recently seen on stage in the sell out West End production of Twelve Angry Men.

Timothy George and Melissa Aston-Munslow co-founded STAMPTheatre in 2015, and Roaring Trade is the company’s debut show. Timothy and Melissa commented, “STAMPTheatre sets out to combine experience with emerging talent. We produce theatre that explores the social expectations placed upon young adults in today’s fast-paced culture. STAMP’s founding members are young people with big ideas who hear the confusion of their contemporaries and the feelings of uncertainty for their futures. We are passionately committed to making theatre that is seen through their eyes.”

Michael McKell is probably best known for his three year starring role in Doctors as well as playing ‘DC Nick Henshall’ in Emmerdale, ‘D.I Trevor Hands’ in ITV’s Murder Investigation Team and Channel 4’s Totally Frank. On stage Michael has starred in Blood Brothers, the role of ‘Stoner’ in Ben Elton’s Tonight’s the Night and the Olivier winning Crazy for You. His film credits include Essex Boys with Sean Bean.

LISTINGS
23 September – 24 October 2015
Tuesday – Saturday @ 7.30pm, Thursday & Saturday matinees @ 3.00pm
Previews: 23, 24, 25, 26, 29 September
Press night: Weds 30 September @ 7.00 pm
Running Time: TBC
Booking: www.parktheatre.co.uk 020 7870 6876

Following on from its immensely successful opening in July and due to popular demand, the critically acclaimed production of Green Day’s explosive award-winning Broadway musical American Idiot is to extend its run at The Arts Theatre, Leicester Square and is now booking until 22nd November 2015.

The entire cast, including X-Factor’s Amelia Lily (Whatsername), Steve Rushton (Will) and Aaron Sidwell (Johnny) will all continue in their celebrated roles within the production throughout the new booking period. The rest of the cast includes Luke Baker (Theo), Natasha Barnes (Heather), Alexis Gerred (Tunny), Llandyll Gove (Gerard), Raquel Jones (Extraordinary girl), Natasha Karp (Alysha) Robyn Mellor (Libby), Lucas Rush (St. Jimmy) and Ross William Wild (Favorite Boy).

The producers of American Idiot said, “We have been overawed by the unbelievable response from audiences and are thrilled to be extending our stay at the Arts Theatre. We look forward to welcoming more members to join our Idiot Nation!”

The musical features the music of Green Day with the lyrics of its lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong, and book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer. The production is directed and choreographed by Racky Plews, with musical supervision by Richard Morris, sound by Chris Whybrow, design by Sara Perks and lighting by Tim Deiling.

American Idiot is the story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9-11 world. Winner of two Tony Awards® and the 2010 Grammy Award winner for Best Musical Show Album, American Idiot premiered at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in September 2009, moving onto a critically acclaimed Broadway run in April 2010.

Its hit songs include “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “21 Guns,” “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” “Holiday” and the blockbuster title track “American Idiot” from Green Day’s 2004 Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum album. Also included are several songs from Green Day’s 2009 release “21st Century Breakdown,” and an unreleased love song, “When It’s Time.”

The musical is produced by David Hutchinson and Philip Rowntree for Sell A Door Theatre Company and Stephen McGill Productions. The Associate Producers are Hartshorn – Hook Productions, London Contemporary Theatre, and Nathan Gardner/Danny Brooke.

American Idiot The Musical is presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited on behalf of Music Theatre International of New York.

AMERICAN IDIOT – THE MUSICAL
ARTS THEATRE
Performances: Tuesday – Friday at 8.00pm
Saturday – 2.30pm & 8.00pm
Sunday – 3.00pm & 6.00pm
Running time: 90 minutes (no interval)
Arts Theatre, Great Newport Street, London, WC2H 7JB

MAGICAL AND MYTHICAL STORYTELLING PREVIEWS IN YORK AHEAD OF EDINBURGH FRINGE

Morgana Le Fey is a new piece of story-telling theatre exploring the myths and legends surrounding the many faces of Morgana who features in the famous legends of King Arthur. A preview of the performance will take place at York Theatre Royal’s De Grey Rooms at 6.00pm on Tuesday 13 August, to an invited audience, before moving to the Scottish Storytelling Centre as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. PHD Story-telling student in residence Catherine Heinemeyer will be hosting a sharing from a group of young people prior to the event.

The piece is a co-production between York Theatre Royal, Xanthe Gresham Knight and Nick Hennessey. It was first performed in York in 2013 as part of the theatre’s summer season which featured King Arthur in the Main House. Morgana Le Fey is being taken to Edinburgh Fringe Festival to further develop the piece in front of an audience. Storytellers do not often have chance to perform their work in long runs making this an ideal opportunity.

Director Juliet Forster, who is also York Theatre Royal’s Associate Director, believes the show is about the quest for love and finding the female voice.

As sister, lover and foster mother to King Arthur, Morgana’s very human passions are rejected time and time again. As Queen, politician, working mother and sorceress, she tries to do it all and fails. Is she trying to do too much? It’s a perennial question.

Storyteller and co-producer Xanthe Gresham Knight explains

The first record of Morgana is as a Water Goddess arriving on a boat with healing herbs for the sick Arthur, then medieval misogyny branded her as the evil force that destroyed Camelot. Morgana’s fate mirrors that of women and the environment. Both were shoved to the margins. Now, in the midst of today’s feminine revolution, Morgana le Fey, lightning rod of Avalon takes centre stage at last.

Nick Hennessey’s harp, luminous songs and theatrical defence of Camelot provide a feisty male voice that adds to the heart and humour of the show.

There has to be some redemption in the battle of the sexes

Nick comments.

Directed by Juliet Forster, Associate Director York Theatre Royal, funded by Arts Council England, produced by York Theatre Royal. Morgana Le Fey opens on Thursday 20 August and runs at 5pm each day until Monday 31st August at 5pm at the Scottish Storytelling Festival.

“Gresham is a truly great storyteller who unwraps each story like the petals of a lotus flower.” British Theatre Review

“A fine voice, pure and unforced. Nick Hennessey’s fluid style and engaging presence is a winning combination”. The Times