LYRIC HAMMERSMITH THEATRE AND SONIA FRIEDMAN PRODUCTIONS
ANNOUNCE CASTING FOR THE UK PREMIERE OF FANGIRLS

FANGIRLS
A Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and Sonia Friedman Productions co-production
Book, Music and Lyrics by Yve Blake
Directed by Paige Rattray
Saturday 13 July – Saturday 24 August 2024

Lyric Hammersmith Theatre today announces initial casting for the new summer musical FANGIRLS, co-produced by Sonia Friedman Productions. The smash-hit Australian musical will have its UK premiere at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre from 13 July – 24 August.

Making her musical theatre debut in the role of 14-year-old superfan, Edna, is Jasmine Elcock [she/her]. Jasmine, a recent graduate of the Central School of Speech and Drama, is currently performing in The Crucible at Sheffield Theatres and recently starred in the English Touring Theatre’s Macbeth. Jasmine is also known for her performance on Britain’s Got Talent in 2016, for which she received the Golden Buzzer.

Joining Jasmine as fellow superfans are Miracle Chance [she/her] (The Witches, Heathers)as Brianna, Mary Malone [she/her] (Burnt at the Stake, Netflix’s Missing You)plays Jules, Gracie McGonigal [she/her] (The Little Big Things, The Crucible)plays Lily, and Terique Jarrett [he/him] (Daddy, Hulu’s Find Me in Paris)plays Salty.

Eve De Leon Allen [they/them] (The House with Chicken, Sugar Coat) joins the company as Dom/Ensemble, Max Gill [he/she/they] plays Greta/Ensemble after previously performing at the Lyric in Bugsy Malone and Herons,  Lena Pattie Jones [she/her] (She Loves Me, Urinetown – Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts) celebrates her professional debut as Ash/Ensemble,and Nicky Wong Rush [he/him/they/them] (The Wedding Singer – The Urdang Academy) alsomakes their professional debutasDancer.

Further casting to be announced.

Director, Paige Rattray said about the musical:

“The greatest joy of FANGIRLS is always the people in the room. We have created a show that allows us to adapt the roles to people most suited to the spirit of the show. I’m so excited to start work with the new members of our FANGIRLS family – the talent, charisma and great energy we’ve seen in auditions over the last months has been so inspiring that its been hard to make final decisions as we’ve moved closer to rehearsals – it’s always been one of those shows where you wish you could have a cast of thousands.

This cast is really very special. I’m so grateful to Lotte Hines our stunning Casting Director for all of the work and expertise she’s put in to find these exceptional people, I’m beyond excited to share their talents with our audience.”

Meet Edna: she’s 14, she’s a misfit, and she’s in love with Harry. There’s just one problem: Harry’s in the world’s biggest boy band, has 38 million fans, and doesn’t know she exists. When Harry’s band announces a tour stop in Edna’s hometown of Sydney, Australia, she knows this is her destiny – her one chance to meet him. But how on EARTH will she get Harry’s attention?! And exactly how far is she prepared to go in the name of love?

Book, Music and Lyrics for FANGIRLS are by Yve Blake. The musical is directed by Paige Rattray, and the creative team includes David Fleischer as Production Designer, Ebony Williams as Choreographer, Ash J Woodward as Video Designer, Jessica Hung Han Yun as Lighting Designer, Tony Gayle as Sound Designer, Zara Stanton as Music Supervisor, Vocal Arranger and Orchestrator, Candida Caldicot as Musical Director, David Muratore as Music Producer, Lotte Hines CDG as Casting Director, Ardyn Flynt as Associate Choreographer, Laurence Stannard as Associate Musical Director, Kwame Owusu as Associate Director, and Bobbie Chatt as Casting Associate.

THE ICONIC ST. MARTIN’S THEATRE IN LONDON CELEBRATES 50 YEARS PLAYING HOST TO AGATHA CHRISTIE’S
THE MOUSETRAP

uk.the-mousetrap.co.uk

St. Martin’s Theatre, one of London’s most iconic venues in the heart of the West End, celebrates 50 years playing host to Agatha Christie’s genre-defining murder mystery, The Mousetrap.

The Mousetrap,which marked its 70^th anniversary in 2022 and confirmed its standing as the longest running play in the world, premiered at Theatre Royal Nottingham in 1952 and toured the UK, before opening at London’s Ambassadors Theatre. In March 1974, it moved next door to St. Martin’s Theatre where it continues to enthral audiences 50 years on.

St Martin’s Theatre first opened its doors in 1916. Designed by W. G. R. Sprague, it was commissioned by Richard Verney, 19th Baron Willoughby de Broke, together with B. A. (Bertie) Meyer, as one of a pair of theatres, along with the Ambassadors Theatre. The St. Martin’s theatre, which was Grade II listed by English Heritage in March 1973, is still owned by the present Lord Willoughby de Broke and his family.

Lord Willoughby de Broke says of this milestone anniversary:

At St. Martin’s Theatre, we’re thrilled to mark 50 incredible years since ‘The Mousetrap’ first graced our stage on March 25, 1974. As we celebrate this milestone, we also tip our hats to the 22 years it spent captivating audiences next door at the Ambassadors. It’s 72-year run is testament to the enduring charm of Agatha Christie’s masterpiece and the dedicated team on Stage and behind the scenes. Here’s to half a century of theatrical excellence, with ‘The Mousetrap’ continuing to shine brightly in London’s West End.

Adam Spiegel, Producer of The Mousetrap says:

I’m immensely proud that St. Martin’s Theatre as provided a home for The Mousetrap over the past 50 remarkable years, contributing to its illustrious 72-year legacy. Millions of theatregoers have experienced the show in the intimate atmosphere and rich historical backdrop that St. Martin’s provides. It is the perfect setting for our timeless production. I’m deeply grateful for the legacy established before my tenure and eagerly anticipate the milestones yet to unfold.  

The current London cast of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap includes Rachel Summers as Mollie Ralston, Christopher Bonwell as Giles Ralston, Joshua Glenister as Christopher Wren, Gay Soper as Mrs Boyle, Miles Richardson as Major Metcalf, Jessica Temple as Miss Casewell, Sebastien Torkia  as Mr Paravicini, and George Hannigan as Detective Sgt. Trotter, with Clive Marlowe, Sarah Parkins, Ben Riddle, Kieran Seabrook France, Alexander Scrivens, and Cathryn Sherman.

As news spreads of a murder in London, a group of seven strangers find themselves snowed in at Monkswell Manor, a remote countryside guesthouse. When a police sergeant arrives, the guests discover – to their horror – that a killer is in their midst. One by one, the suspicious characters reveal their sordid pasts. Which one is the murderer? Who will be their next victim?

The Mousetrap’s 70^th Anniversary tour opened in Nottingham in September 2022, and continues to travel throughout the UK and Ireland, marking its milestone anniversary by visiting over 70 theatres, including all cities to which it originally played 70 years ago, plus many more.

The Mousetrap is produced by Adam Spiegel with Direction by Ian Talbot OBE and associate direction by Denise Silvey.

MATT CARDLE

TO PLAY SHAKESPEARE

IN AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL

& JULIET UK & IRELAND TOUR

FROM 8 JULY 2024

FURTHER CAST ANNOUNCED

The producers of the global sensation & JULIET are delighted to announce that multi-platinum selling recording artist and award-winning West End actor, Matt Cardle, will play the role of Shakespeare in the upcoming UK and Ireland tour. He joins the previously announced Gerardine Sacdalan as Juliet, Sandra Marvin as Angélique and Lara Denning as Anne. The UK and Ireland tour opens at Manchester Opera House on 8 July 2024. 

Also in the cast are Jack Danson (Mamma Mia, Novello Theatre) as Romeo, Kyle Cox (Crazy For You, Gillian Lynne Theatre & Chichester Festival Theatre) as Francois, Jordan Broatch (42 Balloons, The Lowry & Vaudeville Theatre) as May, Michael Nelson (Dirty Dancing, UK & International Tour) as Henry, Liam Morris (The Bodyguard, UK Tour) as Richard, Jade Johnson (Book of Mormon, Prince of Wales Theatre) as Nell / Lady C, Rosie Singha (Love Never Dies concert, Theatre Royal Drury Lane) as Judith, Nia Stephen (Cinderella, Imagine Theatre) as Imogen, Psalms-Nissi Myers-Reid (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Theatre Royal Drury Lane) as Lucy/Alternate Juliet, Andilé Mabhena (Shrek The Musical, UK & Ireland Tour) as Augustine / Dance Team, Harriet Caplan-Dean (SIX, West End, UK Tour & International Tour), as Eleanor, Alexander Kranz (To Wong Foo, Hope Mill Theatre) as Lennox Aaron Shales (& Juliet, Shaftesbury Theatre) as Gregory / Dance Team, Toni Paise (theatrical debut) as Violet and Samuel Wilson-Freeman (Mrs Doubtfire, Shaftesbury Theatre) as Fletcher / Resident Director and Dance Captain.  

Matt Cardle rose to fame as the winner of The X Factor’s highest ever rated series in 2010, beating One Direction who came third. His performance with Rihanna on the show has been viewed over 41 million times on YouTube and his debut single When We Collide, taken from his platinum selling debut album, has sold over 1.1 million copies. Since then, Matt has released four studio albums and has collaborated with artists such as Melanie C and Gary Barlow, the latter on Run For Your Life, which has amassed over 22 million streams to date. Matt is also set to release his fifth studio album later this year.

Matt starred as Huey Calhoun in Memphis (Shaftesbury Theatre, Wes End) alongside Beverley Knight, for which he received the WhatsOnStage award for ‘Best West End Debut.’ He also appeared as Wally Strand in Strictly Ballroom (Piccadilly Theatre) and Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar (Barbican Theatre).

There is life after Romeo!

Get whisked away on a fabulous journey as Juliet ditches her famous ending for a fresh beginning and a second chance at life and love—her way. Created by the Emmy-winning writer from “Schitt’s Creek,” this hilarious new musical flips the script on the greatest love story ever told and asks, what would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo?

Juliet’s new story bursts to life through a playlist of pop anthems as iconic as her name, including Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time,” Katy Perry’s “Roar”and chart toppers “Since U Been Gone,” “It’s My Life,” “I Want It That Way,” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” — all from Max Martin, the genius songwriter/producer behind more #1 hits than any other artist this century, and his collaborators. Break free of the balcony scene and get into this romantic comedy that proves there’s life after Romeo. The only thing tragic would be missing it.

& JULIET is a global success and an Olivier and WhatsOnStage Award winning and Tony Award nominated musical. The West End production at the Shaftesbury Theatre thrilled audiences from 2019-2023, with the smash-hit Broadway production, breaking box office records and entering its second year in November 2023 and a US tour set to embark in September 2024. The musical made its North American premiere with the pre-Broadway production opening at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto in 2022. The Australian production opened in Melbourne in February 2023 before heading to Marina Bay Sands in Singapore this summer and is currently playing a return engagement in Australia.

The full creative team for the UK and Ireland tour of & JULIETincludes David West Read (Book), Max Martin & Friends (Music & Lyrics), Luke Sheppard (Direction), Jennifer Weber (Choreography), Bill Sherman (Musical Supervision, Orchestrations and Arrangements), Soutra Gilmour (Scenic Design), Paloma Young (Costume Design), Howard Hudson (Lighting Design), Gareth Owen (Sound Design), Andrzej Goulding  (Video & Projection Design) and Suzy Bennett (Hair, Wig & Makeup Design) and Dominic Fallacaro (Additional Arrangements and Orchestrations). Casting is by Stuart Burt.

& JULIET is presented by Max Martin and Tim Headington and is produced by Max Martin, Tim Headington, Theresa Steele Page, Jenny Petersson, Martin Dodd and Rebecca Quigley.

Website: www.andjulietthemusical.co.uk

Instagram: @julietmusical

Facebook: @julietmusical                                                            

X: @julietmusical

YouTube: @julietmusical1925                                                              

REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE ANNOUNCE FULL CAST FOR

TWELFTH NIGHT or What You Will

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre today announce full cast for Twelfth Night or What You Will, Shakespeare’s comedy of mistaken identities directed by Owen Horsley and set against the heat of the Mediterranean sun. The production runs 3 May – 8 June 2024.

Horsley will direct Raphael Bushay (Orsino), Richard Cant (Malvolio), Sally Cheng (Querelle), Andro Cowperthwaite (Sebastian), Anna Francolini (Olivia), Nicholas Karami(Antonio/Captain), Julie Legrand (Feste),Michael Matus (Toby Belch), Evelyn Miller (Viola), Anita Reynolds(Maria), Matthew Spencer (Andrew Aguecheek), Katherine Toy (Valentine/Priest), Jon Trenchard (Fabian/Musical Director), and Harry Waller (Curio/Officer).

The production marks the first production of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s summer season, and features new original songs in addition to the numerous songs in the text of Twelfth Night or What You Will.

A Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production

Twelfth Night

or What You Will

By William Shakespeare

Basia Binkowska (Set Designer); Rachel Bown-Williams and Ruth Cooper-Brown for Rc-Annie (Fight and Intimacy Directors);Ryan Dawson Laight (Costume Designer); Kate Godfrey(Voice and Text Director); James Hassett Associate Sound Designer); Daniel Hay-Gordon ( Movement Director); Lotte Hines (Casting Director); Cory Hippolyte (Associate Director); Owen Horsley (Director); Sam Kenyon (Composer & Musical Supervisor); Aideen Malone (Lighting Designer); Max Pappenheim (Sound Designer)

3 May – 8 June 2024

‘What country, friends, is this?’

At a moonlit cafe surrounded by the sea, Olivia sings a lament to her lost brother, watched on by faded crowd.

When a shipwreck catapults Viola into their world of abandoned festivities, a web of disguise and deception begins. This new injection of life rocks this melancholic community to the core, but can she finally shake them from their languor and get the party started again? 

Set against the heat of the Mediterranean sun, Shakespeare’s comedy of mistaken identities is a glorious celebration of love. Directed by Owen Horsley (Henry VI: Rebellion, Wars of the Roses, Royal Shakespeare Company) in a marriage of happiness, nostalgia and riotous partying.

CAST

Raphael Bushay, Orsino

For Regent’s Park: Peter Pan and Henry V 

Theatre includes: The Crucible (National Theatre and West End); Oklahoma! (Young Vic and West End); Don Quixote (RSC); Red Riding Hood (Theatre Royal Stratford East); The Tempest and Henry V (Shakespeare’s Rose); Queen of Chapeltown (West Yorkshire Playhouse); As You Like It (Lamb Players); Fantastic Mr Fox (UK and UAE tour); and Kampala (Arcola). 

Television includes: Holby City. 

Richard Cant, Malvolio

Theatre includes: What It Means (The Lot at Wilton’s); The Vortex (Chichester); Orlando (Garrick); The Normal Heart (National); Handbagged/ Wife (Kiln); After Edward (Sam Wanamaker); Henry Sixth Rebellion/Maydays (RSC); Stella (LIFT); Medea (Almeida); Saint Joan/My Night With Reg (Donmar); Salome (Headlong); Cymbeline; As You Like It (Cheek by Jowl); Other People (Royal Court)

Television includes: It’s A Sin; The Crown; Taboo; Mapp & Lucia; Bleak House; Gunpowder, Treason & Plot; The Way We Live Now; Midsomer Murders.

Film includes: Stan & Ollie, Mary Queen Of Scots.

Sally Cheng, Querelle

Theatre includes: The Wizard of Oz (The Watermill Theatre); Tony! The Rock Opera (London and UK Tour); Richard II (GSC); A Christmas Carol (RSC); The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13, 3/4 The Musical (Queen’s, Hornchurch); The Play that Goes Wrong (West End); A Christmas Carol, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Scoot Theatre); The Wind in the Willows (Jermyn Street/GSC); The Last of the Pelican Daughters (The Wardrobe Ensemble/ Complicite/Bristol Old Vic); A Christmas Carol, The Emperor and the Nightingale (Theatre by the Lake); For Services Rendered (Jermyn Street); Shadowlands (Chichester Festival Theatre); A Christmas Carol (RSC); Macbeth (Watermill Theatre); Twelfth Night (RSC); Love’s Labour’s Lost, Robin Hood (Guildford Shakespeare Company); Footprints on the Moon (Finborough Theatre); Singin’ in the Rain (Bolton Octagon/ Salisbury Playhouse/New Vic Theatre).

Andro Cowperthwaite, Sebastian

Theatre includes: Dead Hot (Quay Street Productions); Thong for Europe (Royal Court Liverpool); Incompleteness Theorum (Soho Theatre); Dorian (Reading Rep); Lion Witch and Wardrobe (Bridge Theatre); Salome, Dido: Queen of Carthage (RSC).

Film and Television includes: Cold Blow Lane (Feature); The Agency (Short); Caterpillar (Short film); Lord Of The Rings; Rings of Power (Amazon Prime TV Series); Red, White and Royal Blue (Amazon Prime Feature).

Andro was previously a member of Brit Award Winning music collective JUNGLE. Now a solo artist with two independent released EPs, with support from BBC Sounds, BBC Music Introducing Featured Artist, CLASH and Wonderland magazines and more. 

Anna Francolini, Olivia

Theatre includes: Tom Fool (Orange Tree); Strictly Ballroom (Piccadilly Theatre); Peter Pan (National Theatre), Wonder.land (National Theatre & Theatre du Chatelet), Assassins (Menier Chocolate Factory); Our Town (Almeida Theatre); That Day We Sang, A View From The Bridge (Royal Exchange, Manchester); Mare Rider, How The World Began, Anatol (Arcola Theatre); Victor/Victoria (Southwark Playhouse); Onassis, Daisy Pulls It Off, Mahler’s Conversion (West End); Taking Steps (Orange Tree Theatre); The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (Royal & Derngate Theatre, Northampton/ Edinburgh); Awaking Beauty (Stephen Joseph Theatre); Wolves at the Window (Arcola/59E59 New York); Three Sisters on Hope Street, In The Club (Hampstead Theatre); Into The Woods (Royal Opera House); Caroline, Or Change (National Theatre); Six Pictures of Lee Miller (Minerva Theatre, Chichester); Things You Shouldn’t Say Past Midnight (Soho Theatre); The Ballad of Little Jo, Floyd Collins, Saturday Night (Bridewell Theatre); Merrily We Roll Along, Company (Donmar Warehouse),  Oliver (Palladium); Godspell (National Tour).

Television includes: House of the Dragon (HBO); Sex Education S4 (Netflix); Call The Midwife (BBC); Surface (Apple); Too Much (Netflix); The Diplomat (Netflix); The Ipcress Files (ITV); The Man Who Fell to Earth (Showtime); Roadkill (BBC); Homeland (Showtime); Vera (ITV); New Tricks (ITV); Pixelface (BBC);  Rome (HBO);  Jonathan Creek (BBC). 

Film includes: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny; Emma; Solo, a Star Wars Story; Gun Shy; The Kill Team; The Christmas Candle; Topsy Turvy. 

Anna won the TMA Award for Best Performance in a Play for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and received an Olivier Award nomination for her role in Caroline, Or Change. She has also worked extensively in radio drama. 

Nicholas Karami, Antonio/Captain

Trained at Rose Bruford College.

For Regents Park: A Tale of Two Cities

Theatre includes: Arabian Nights (Bristol Old Vic); Henry VI (parts 2&3); RSC, Adventures with the Painted People (Pitlochry Festival Theatre); The Twilight Zone (West End); A View from the Bridge (Theatre Royal York and Royal and Derngate Theatres, Northampton); The Comedy of Errors (Royal Shakespeare Company); Macbeth, An Oak Tree, Everyman, War Horse (National Theatre and West End); The Arabian Nights (Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh); The Kite Runner (West End, Nottingham Playhouse and Liverpool Playhouse); Any Means Necessary (Nottingham Playhouse); Lardo (Old Red Lion Theatre); The Hairy Ape (The Old Vic); Titus Andronicus (Shakespeare’s Globe); Damascus Aleppo (National Theatre of Scotland at Òran Mór, Glasgow, and Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh); Game of Life (The Yard); The Double (Theatre Royal Bath); I Was A Beautiful Day, Outward Bound and The Fear of Breathing (Finborough Theatre); The Pearl Fisher and Nova Scotia (Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh); Mother Courage (Benchtours); The Dead Fiddler (New End Theatre, Hampstead).

Film includes: Saving Christmas Spirit; Medusa Deluxe (EMU/BFI).

Television includes: The Witcher (Netflix); You Don’t Know Me (BBC/Netflix); Surface (Apple TV)

Radio includes: Welcome To Iran (BBC Radio 3).

Julie Legrand, Feste

For Regent’s Park: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Importance of Being Earnest.

Theatre includes: An American in Paris (The Dominion); Gypsy, Fiddler on the Roof (The Savoy); Wicked (The Apollo, Victoria); My Fair Lady (Naples Opera House); Romeo and Juliet, Cymbeline, The Revengers Tragedy, Oedipus, Beauty and the Beast (all for The Royal Shakespeare Theatre); The Duchess of Malfi, The Cherry Orchard, Remembrance of Things Past, Way Upstream, Don Quixote (all for The National Theatre); Arcadia (The Haymarket); See How They Run (The Duchess); The House of Bernarda Alba (The Gielgud).

TV includes: Ludwig; Romantic Getaway; Doctor Who; Call The Midwife; Footballers’ Wives.

Films include: One For The Road; Prick Up Your Ears.

Michael Matus, Toby Belch

Training: RADA.

For Regent’s Park: The Sound of Music.

Theatre includes: 42^nd Street (Crossroads Live); Aspects of Love (Lyric Theatre); HEX (National Theatre); Singing in the Rain (UK Tour); La Cage aux Folles (Park Theatre); King Lear (West End); Richard III (Headlong); Broken Glass (Watford Palace); The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre); The Return of the Soldier (Jermyn Street Theatre); The Baker’s Wife (The Union); Lend Me a Tenor (West End); ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore (West Yorkshire Playhouse); A Christmas Carol (West End); Oklahoma! (Chichester); The Canterbury Tales and Eastward Ho! (RSC in the West End); A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Timon of Athens (Globe); Rough Crossings (Headlong); Imagine This (New London); The Comedy of Errors and The Wizard of Oz (Sheffield Crucible); Martin Guerre (West End).

Television includes: Suspect (Disney+ / ITV); The Lazarus Project (Sky); Endeavour (ITV);  The Split (ITV); Shakespeare and Hathaway: Private Investigators (BBC); EastEnders (BBC); Invasion (Apple TV); Marilyn Monroe (Netflix).

Film includes: The Crying Game;  A Muppet Christmas Carol.

Michael has been nominated for a TMA Award, a WhatsOnStage Award, a Helen Hayes Award, a BroadwayWorld Award and an Off West End Award, and jointly won an Olivier for Best Acting Ensemble with RSC.

Evelyn Miller, Viola

Theatre includes: Patriots (Noel Coward Theatre); Cyrano de Bergerac (Harold Pinter Theatre / BAM, New York); Deep Night, Dark Night (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse); The Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night, Comedy of Errors, Pericles (Shakespeare’s Globe); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Sheffield Crucible); Jane Eyre (National Theatre, UK Tour); Richard II, Henry IV Part 1, Henry IV Part 2, Henry V, The Famous Victories of Henry V (RSC); Swallows and Amazons (Bristol Old Vic); Peer Gynt (Barbican); Romeo and Juliet (Orange Tree Theatre); The Little Prince (Royal Opera House).

Television includes: The Lovers (Drama Republic/Sky); Foundation (Apple TV), Flowers in The Attic – The Origin (A&E Studios/CBS); Doctors (BBC); Holby City (BBC).

Anita Reynolds, Maria

Theatre includes: Romeo & Julie (NT/Sherman); The Importance of Being Earnest (ETT) A Monster Calls (Old Vic/UK/US Tour); The Merry Wives of Windsor/Bartholomew Fair (Shakespeare’s Globe); Ear For Eye (Royal Court); Absolute Hell (National Theatre); Hang (The Other Room); The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (Sherman Theatre); Arabian Nights (Sherman Theatre); Horrible Histories (Sherman Theatre); Speechless (Shared Experience); Romeo and Juliet (Sherman Theatre); Measure for Measure (Sherman Theatre); The Move (Made in Wales); Carers (Turning Point); Cinderella (Unicorn Theatre); Forbidden Fruit (Nottingham); Wishful Thinking (Hijinx); Dealing with Feelings (London Theatre); How High is Up (Theatre Centre); Mirror Mirror (Theatre Centre).

Television includes: The One That Got Away; Mother’s Day; The Light In the Hall; Somewhere Boy; The Pembrokeshre Murders; In My Skin; Relik; Keping Faith; Casualty; Stella; Holby City; Gwaith Cartef; Talking to the Dead; Being Human; Caerdydd; Belonging; Dau Dy A Ni; Nice Day for a Welsh Wedding; Doctors; The Story of Tracy Beaker;  Does;  Bay College; Nuts and Bolts; Pobol Y Cwm; The Bench; The Hull Project.

Film includes: Grappling; G Flat; Wild Geese; I Used To Be Famous; Telling Tales; Sweet 16; Rain; Paradise Grove.

Radio includes: The Garden Centre; Station Road.

Matthew Spencer, Andrew Aguecheek

Matthew trained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and he has worked extensively throughout Theatre and Screen. His credits include:

Theatre includes: The White Factory (Marylebone Theatre); The Woman in Black (West End, Fortune Theatre); Animal Farm (Birmingham Rep); Amadeus (National Theatre); 1984 (Playhouse Theatre and  International Tour); This Happy Breed (Theatre Royal, Bath); The Invisible Man (Queen’s Theatre); Macbeth (Orange Tree Theatre); Sleuth (Watermill Theatre); Romeo and Juliet (Headlong); The Busy Body (Southwark Playhouse); Tartuffe (Watermill Theatre and Tour); War Horse (National Theatre).

Television includes: Trying (BBC studios/Apple TV); The Girlfriend Experience (Amazon Prime).

Film includes: Magpie (55 films); The Man You’re Not (FMW Films); Alice (Ruby Films/Film 4); The Runner (Emperor’s New).

Katherine Toy, Valentine/Priest

Theatre includes: The Borrowers (Theatre by the Lake, Keswick); The Man in the White Suit (Wyndhams and Bath); Much Ado about Nothing (Rose Theatre, Kingston); Coriolanus, Vice Versa, Salome (RSC); As You Like it, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Stig of the Dump (Storyhouse Chester); The Snow Queen (New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme); Cinderella (Derby Theatre); Brief Encounter (Torch Theatre, Milford Haven); Merlin (Theatre Royal, Northampton); The Goodenoughmumsclub (UK tour); Suitcase 1938 (Hope Street Productions); 3Witches (Hoopla and Belgrade Theatre, Coventry); Othello, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cyrano de Bergerac (Grosvenor Park, Chester); The Prince and the Pauper (Unicorn Theatre); Treasure Island (Watermill Theatre, Newbury); Caucasian Chalk Circle (Shared Experience); Macbeth (Southwark Playhouse); Pool Piece (Oily Cart); Life of Galileo, Cyrano de Bergerac, The False Servant (National Theatre); Wild Orchids (Chichester Festival Theatre).

Music includes: The Virtuosos; Nicetoy; Ideal Condition tour with Paul Hartnoll; The Shtetl Superstars; Table for Sinners; The Johnson Famiy and Anna 254 and the Gardenists.

Jon Trenchard, Fabian/Musical Director

Training:London Academy of Performing Arts

Theatre includes: The Comedy About A Bank Robbery (Mischief Theatre); Vice Versa, Salome, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (RSC); Two Noble Kinsmen (Shakespeare’s Globe); She Stoops To Conquer, A Government Inspector (Northern Broadsides); The Bolds, Baddies The Musical (Unicorn Theatre); Fiddler On The Roof (Music & Lyrics); Swallows & Amazons, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bristol Old Vic); Oh What A Lovely War! (Northern Stage); Sunset Boulevard, Mack & Mabel (The Watermill Theatre); The Taming Of The Shrew, Twelfth Night, The Merchant Of Venice, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Comedy of Errors, Richard III (Propeller).

TV/Film includes: The Da Vinci Code, My Family.

Harry Waller, Curio/Officer

Theatre includes: Oliver! (Leeds Playhouse); Love’s Labour’s Lost, Much Ado About Nothing (RSC/West End); The Christmas Truce, Wendy & Peter Pan (RSC); Puffs (New World Stages, Off-Broadway); America is Hard to See (Life Jacket Theatre, NYC/Underbelly, Edinburgh); King Lear (Shakespeare Forum, NYC); The Way of the World, Hobson’s Choice (Sheffield Crucible); Miss Nightingale (New Wolsey Theatre & tour); Parkway Dreams, The Brontës of Dunwich Heath & Cliff (Eastern Angles); The History Boys (West Yorkshire Playhouse & UK tour); Sondheim’s Saturday Night (Jermyn Street Theatre/Arts Theatre). 

Harry is a Co-Founder of Bard City, with Owen Horsley. Alongside running Shakespeare workshops there, he has composed music for several Shakespeare in a Week projects. 

Voiceover credits include: Talking Bulldog (Bulldog Skincare USA “Goodest Man” commercials).

CREATIVE TEAM

Basia Binkowska, Set Designer

Basia Bińkowska is a theatre designer based between London and Poland.

Before completing theatre design course in the UK, she trained in fine arts in her native Poland. She is the Overall Winner of the Linbury Prize for Stage Design 2017 with the winning design for Lyric Hammersmith’s production of othellomacbeth. 

Upcoming Productions include: Twelfth Night (Regent’s Park Open Air); Bluebeard from Bartok – La Danse des morts (Opera National de Lorr); Women as Lovers (Norrlandsoperan AB).

Recent credits include: Cinderella & Poppea (English Touring Opera); Macbeth (English Touring Theatre); Pagliacci and Gianni Schicchi (Nevill Holt Opera); Watch on the Rhine (Donmar Warehouse); SM – Syn Marnotrawny (touring Poland 2022), Vader en Moedertje (Theatre Bellevue, Amsterdam/Grand Theatre, Groningen, Netherlands); La bohème (Nevill Holt Opera); Il Piccolo Principe (Teatro Alla Scala, Milano); Love and Other Acts of Violence (Donmar Warehouse); Arianie (Narodowy Teatr Start, Kraków); ONGOING (Young Vic : Taking Part); Under my Barbie Duvet, Ivan and the Dogs (Young Vic); Where do we go Next? (Bunker Theatre); Talking Heads (Watford Palace Theatre); Mephisto [a Rhapsody] (Gate Theatre); Crooked Dances (Royal Shakespeare Company); Acts of Resistance (Headlong Theatre & Bristol Old Vic); Wolfie (Theatre503); Blood Knot (Orange Tree Theatre); othellomacbeth (Lyric Hammersmith & HOME Manchester).

Rachel Bown-Williams and Ruth Cooper-Brown for Rc-Annie, Fight and Intimacy Directors

Rc-ANNIE Ltd, established in 2005 by Rachel Bown-Williams and Ruth Cooper-Brown, is the UK’s leading Dramatic Violence and Intimacy Company.

Theatre credits include: The Duchess of Malfi, A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Tempest, Hakawatis, Midsummer Mechanicals, I, Joan, Henry VIII, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Emilia, Othello, Boudica, Lions and Tigers, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night (Shakespeare’s Globe); A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Empress, Julius Caesar, Richard III, Henry VI: Rebellion, The Wars of the Roses, King John, Measure for Measure, The Taming of the Shrew, Tartuffe, The Duchess of Malfi (Royal Shakespeare Company); Bronco Billy (Charing Cross Theatre); Macbeth (Donmar Warehouse); Minority Report (Nottingham Playhouse); Great Expectations (Royal Exchange Manchester); The Boys from the Blackstuff (Liverpool Royal Court/Stockroom and National Theatre); The Pillowman (Duke of York Theatre); It’s Headed Straight Towards Us (The Park Theatre); Linck & Mülhahn, ‘Night Mother (Hampstead Theatre); Noises Off (Theatre Royal Bath/West End); Oklahoma (Young Vic/West End); Newsies (Wesley Troubadour); Baghdaddy (Royal Court Theatre); James IV (Raw Material/Edinburgh Festival Theatre); Never Have I Ever; Crazy for You, The Taxidermist’s Daughter, Plenty (Chichester Festival Theatre); As You Like It (CBBC and Shakespeare’s Globe); The Scandal at Mayerling (Scottish Ballet); Lucia di Lammermoor, Theodora (Royal Opera House); The Father and the Assassin, The Welkin, Three Sisters, Anna, When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other, Peter Pan, The Threepenny Opera, The James Plays (co-production with National Theatre of Scotland/Edinburgh International Festival) and Cleansed (National Theatre); To Kill A Mockingbird (West End)

Ryan Dawson Laight, Costume Designer

For Regent’s Park: La Cage aux Folles (2023). 

Theatre includes: My Son’s A Queer (Lyceum Theatre, Broadway); Burlesque (Manchester Opera House); The Nutcracker for Drew McOnie (Southbank Centre); My Son’s A Queer But What Can You Do (West End – New Ambassadors, Garrick Theatre, Edinburgh and Turbine Theatre); A Sudden Violent Burst of Rain (Gate Theatre); 2022 Roundabout Season (Paines Plough – Edinburgh and Tour); My Brilliant Friend (National Theatre, Associate Costume Design for Soutra Gilmore); 10 shows for CYFT including The Jungle Book (Chichester Festival Theatre); Frankenstein’s Monster Is Drunk And The Sheep Have Jumped All The Fences… and Department Story (Big Telly- Belfast International Arts Festival); Over 25 shows for Creation Theatre as Associate Designer; Torch Song Trilogy (Turbine Theatre, dir. Drew McOnie); for Le Gateau Chocolat: Duckie (Royal Festival Hall), Icons (Edinburgh Festival), Black (Unity Theatre Liverpool/Soho Theatre) and Le Gateau Chocolat (Menier Chocolate Factory); HMS Pinafore, Chess, Blondel and The Mikado (Union Theatre National Tours).

Dance includes: Until We Sleep for Botis Seva (Sadler’s Wells and International Tour); Neighbours for Brigel Gjoka, Rauf “RubberLegz” Yasit & Ruşan Filiztek created in collaboration with William Forsythe (Sadler’s Wells and International Tour); A Tale of Two Cities (Lost Dog/Ben Duke – International Tour), Speak Volumes, Quartier Paradis for Alessandra Seutin (NYDC/Sadler’s Wells), Botis Seva’s Good Youts Walk (Tour), Botis Seva’s BLKDOG (Sadler’s Wells, Olivier Award Best New Dance 2019); Blak Whyte Gray (Boy Blue/Barbican, Olivier Award Nomination 2018); REDD (Boy Blue/Barbican Theatre); Madhead (NYDC/Sadler’s Wells); Wasteland, Coal (Gary Clark Company, UK Theatre Award for Achievement in Dance); Toro, Mariposa, Ham and Passion (DeNada Dance Theatre); Drew McOnie’s Drunk (Leicester Curve/Bridewell Theatre); Je Suis (Aakash Odedra Company/Lillian Baylis Studio, Sadler’s Wells); Ruffle (Carlos Pons Guerra/Rambert Dance/Lowry Theatre); Hear Hear (Deaf Men Dancing, Sadler’s Wells).

Kate Godfrey, Voice and Text Director

Kate was head of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s voice and text department from 2015-2021.

Theatre includes: The Ocean at the end of the Lane (National Theatre and tour); Prima Facie (West End and Broadway); The Crucible (West End, Gielgud); Old Friends (West End, Gielgud);  A Christmas Carol (Nottingham Playhouse and West End); The Enfield Haunting, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (RSC) and The Great Murder Mystery (Lost Estate Productions)

James Hassett,  Associate Sound Designer

For Regent’s Park: La Cage aux Folles; Robin Hood: The Legend. Re-written; Once On This Island; Antigone; 101 Dalmations; Carousel; Romeo and Juliet; Jesus Christ Superstar (also at the Lyric House Chicago/Barbican); Evita; Hansel and Gretel; Little Shop Of Horrors; As You Like It; Turn Of The Screw; On The Town

Theatre includes: Orpheus in the Underworld; The Man of La Mancha; Carousel (ENO); Myth The Rise and Fall of Orpheus (Other Palace); Sunny Afternoon (Harold Pinter); Hetty Feather (Vaudville); We Will Rock You (Dominion); Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens (Leicester Square Theatre); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Palladium). As Sound Designer: A Chorus Line; The Beautiful Game (Arts Ed). As Associate Sound Designer: Jesus Christ Superstar (UK Tour); The Last Five Years (Southwark Playhouse); Aladdin (Churchill Theatre).

Daniel Hay Gordon, Movement Director

Daniel’s work as a movement director and choreographer spans dance, opera, theatre and film. He has collaborated with a broad range of artists and independent organisations as well as companies such as The Royal Ballet (Covent Garden), Staats Opera Berlin, The Hollywood Bowl (Los Angeles), Landestheater Passau (Germany), Nevill Holt Opera, Aldeburgh Music Festival, The Print Rooms, Tanzkompagnie Theater St.Gallen (Switzerland), Blind Summit, Akademi, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Anjali Dance Company, the BBC and The Fritz Koenig Museum of Sculpture (Germany). 

Daniel co-directs Thick & Tight with Eleanor Perry. They have presented their work at Sadler’s Wells, London International Mime Festival, The Place, Royal Festival Hall, Barbican, Wilton’s, V&A and The Tate as well as internationally. Their work continually focuses on queerness and the intersection of marginalised communities. They are currently Associate Artists with The Lowry and Artists in Residence at the Philharmonia Orchestra. Thick & Tight were recently nominated for best Independent Dance Company by the Critics Circle Award. 

Lotte Hines, Casting Director

For Regent’s Park: The Tempest reimagined for everyone aged 6 and over (2023); As You Like It (2018); Pride & Prejudice (2016); To Kill a Mockingbird (2013).

Theatre includes: Macbeth (ETT); Mlima’s Tale (Kiln); Never Have I Ever, The Vortex, Mom, How Did You Meet The Beatles? (Chichester Theatre); Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Haymarket/Lyric Hammersmith/ Sheffield Crucible); Harry Potter and The Cursed Child (Sonia Friedman Productions); Influencer (short film) (Young Vic/Financial Times); Romeo and Juliet; Let The Right One In, Nora – A Doll’s House, The Mountaintop, Glee & Me (Royal Exchange Manchester); Closer, Jack and the Beanstalk (Lyric Hammersmith); The Forest (Hampstead Theatre); Data (Sonia Friedman Productions/Financial Times); Ivan and the Dogs, Things of Dry Hours (Young Vic); The Dark (Oval House/UK Tour); Hole (Royal Court Theatre); The Wolves (Theatre Royal Stratford East); Meek (Headlong).

Lotte worked in Royal Court Casting Department 2008 – 2014.

Cory Hippolyte, Associate Director

For Regent’s Park: The Tempest reimagined for everyone aged 6 and over (2023).

As Director: Cory trained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and since graduating work in theatre includes: for Rutgers Conservatory at Shakespeare’s Globe, Twelfth Night, Comedy of Errors, Anthony and Cleopatra as Assistant Director and will be Directing their upcoming production of Much Ado About Nothing. As Assistant Director  Hansel & Gretel and at Chichester Theatre Festival, Regents Park Open Air and The Unicorn.

Cory also works as a facilitator for The Unicorn Theatre, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Yard, Half Moon, Soho Theatre, writing and co-directing devised shows for The Kiln Youth Theatre Companies.

As an Actor:

Film includes: Wings (selected for London Film Festival 2023).

Television includes: African Queens; Njinga (Netflix)

Theatre: King Lear (Globe).

Owen Horsley, Director

Owen is Associate Artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Associate Director of Cheek By Jowl.

Theatre includes: Henry VI: Rebellion, The War of the Roses, Maydays, Salome, The Famous Victories of Henry V (Royal Shakespeare Company); Linck & Mülhahn (Hampstead Theatre); Dorian (Reading Rep); Diana in Concert (Eventim Apollo); Hamlet (CSC, New York); Miss Littlewood, Boundless as The Sea (RSC/Cunard); Henry V (Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre); The Picture of Dorian Gray (Watermill Theatre); The Richard Project (American Academy); Outside on the Street (Arcola Theatre/Edinburgh Festival); Edward II (St Andrew’s Crypt); See What I See (St Clements); The Duchess of Malfi (Southwark Playhouse/UK Tour); This Restless House (Drama Centre); Into The Woods, Uncle Vanya, The Two Noble Kinsmen (RWCMD); Antony and Cleopatra, Lysistrata, As You Like It (GSMD); All’s Well That Ends Well (Stella Adler); ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore (Co-Director, Cheek By Jowl Tour). 

Opera includes: La Cenerentola (Nevill Holt); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Garsington); Don Giovanni (LaMaMa, New York). 

Owen created Bard City in 2016, offering Shakespeare training in New York and London as well as presenting innovative versions of his plays. 

Sam Kenyon, Composer & Musical Supervisor

Sam Kenyon is a writer, composer and teacher based in London. He wrote the book, music and lyrics for Miss Littlewoodwhich premiered at the RSC in 2018. His first novel, I Am Not Raymond Wallace was published by Inkandescent in 2022. He is currently adapting Les Liaisons Dangereusesas a musical. He read English Literature at Cambridge University before training in Musical Theatre at the Royal Academy of Music.

Composer/Lyricist credits include: Vice Versa, A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Play for the Nation, The Christmas Truce (RSC); Playing for Time (Sheffield Crucible); The Borrowers (Northern Stage, Winner of Best Show for Children & Young People, UK Theatre Awards 2013); The Glass Slipper (Northern Stage); Best Friends & Butterflies (Winner of Best Show for Young People at the 2000 Vivian Ellis Awards). Sam was commissioned by the BBC to write a verse-narration book for Kurt Weill & Ira Gershwin’s The Firebrand of Florence(Barbican Theatre/Capriccio Records).

Directing credits include: How the Vote was Won (Union Theatre); Oh What a Lovely War (Co-director: Northern Stage & National Tour, nominated for Best Musical Production and Best Performances in a Musical TMA Awards 2011).

As Musical Supervisor: Playing for Time (Sheffield Crucible); The Glee Club(Cast in Doncaster); Close the Coalhouse Door (Northern Stage & National Tour); Swallows & Amazons(Bristol Old Vic, West End & National Tour); Oh What a Lovely War (Northern Stage & National Tour).

Performing credits include: Merrily we Roll Along (Watermill Theatre); Amadeus (Wilton’s Music Hall); Sweeney Todd (Watermill & West End); Sunset Boulevard (Comedy Theatre, West End); As You Like It (Young Vic & Wyndham’s); Les Justes, Ion (The Gate); Macbeth, The Othello Music (BAC).

 Film : Victoria & Abdul (Stephen Frears, 2017); Venus (Roger Michell, 2006).

Aideen Malone, Lighting Designer

For Regent’s Park: Carousel (2021).

Theatre includes: Dracula (National Theatre Scotland); Tess of the d’Ubervilles (Peacock Theatre);  Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons (Pinter Theatre);  You Bury Me, Wonder Boy (Bristol Old Vic); Duet For One (Orange Tree);  The Clothes They Stood Up In (Nottingham Playhouse);  Running With Lions (Lyric Hammersmith);  Hamlet (Young Vic); Old Bridge (Bush Theatre);  A Kind Of People (Royal Court); Death of a Salesman (Young Vic & Piccadilly Theatre);  A Monster Calls (Old Vic & Bristol Old Vic); Brighton Rock and A View From A Bridge (York Theatre Royal); La Strada (The Other Palace); Jane Eyre and Peter Pan (National Theatre & Bristol Old Vic); Fiddler On The Roof / Conquest To The North Pole (Liverpool Everyman); Hetty Feather (Duke of York); Napoleon Disrobed and The Strange Tale of Stan Laurel and Charlie Chaplin  (Told By An Idiot); A Raisin in the Sun (Sheffield Theatre).

Musical credits include:  Now Is Good (Storyhouse); Talent (Sheffield Theatre); Worst Witch (Vaudeville).

Dance credits include:  Outwitting The Devil and Kaash (Akram Kahn Co); Darbar Festival (Sadlers Wells); Raft (GED); Unkindest Cut (Sadhana); Time Over Distance Over Time (Liz Roche); La Tete (Jasmin Vardimon).

Opera credits include: Ariodante, Turn of the Screw, The Marriage of Figaro, A Midsummers Night’s Dream, Mary Queen of Scots, Cosi Fan Tutte, Jenufa and Tosca (English Touring Opera).

Architectural credits include: Sadler’s Wells East Foyer.

Max Pappenheim, Sound Designer

Theatre includes The Night of the Iguana (Noel Coward Theatre); Cruise (Duchess Theatre); A Doll’s House Part 2, The Way of the World (Donmar); Henry V (Shakespeare’s Globe); Village Idiot, One Night in Miami (Nottingham Playhouse); Anthropology, Nineteen Gardens, Blackout Songs, Sea Creatures (Hampstead Theatre); Hamlet (Bristol Old Vic/BBC Four); The Children (Royal Court/Broadway); Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen, Old Bridge (Bush Theatre); Ophelias Zimmer (Royal Court/Schaubühne).

Opera and Ballet includes The Marriage of Figaro (Salzburg Festival); Miranda (Opéra Comique, Paris); Hansel and Gretel (BYO/Opera Holland Park); Scraww (Trebah Gardens); Carmen: Remastered (ROH/Barbican). 

Radio includes Home Front (BBC Radio 4). Awards include Off West End Award for Sound Design (Old Bridge). 

Associate Artist of The Faction and Silent Opera.

BOX OFFICE INFORMATION

Box Office 0333 400 3562* | openairtheatre.com                          

Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4NU

* Lines open Monday – Sunday, 10am – 4pm. A £1.80 per ticket telephone booking fee applies. 0333 numbers are charged at the same rate as calls to 01 and 02 numbers as regulated by Ofcom. Please check with your provider for further details.

Visit openairtheatre.com for latest ticket prices, concessions and discounts.

REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE

Established in 1932, the multi-award-winning Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is one of the largest theatres in London (at a capacity of 1,304). Passionate about producing popular, enriching and unexpected theatre that provides a lens into the here and now, the scale and ambition of our productions together with our magical outdoor setting, makes us unique in the capital’s cultural landscape. Every year we welcome over 150,000 people to our 20-week summer season.

Drew McOnie assumed the role of Artistic Director in January 2024, taking over from Tim Sheader, and will programme the 2025 season onwards. James Pidgeon was appointed Executive Director in 2021.

Over the last fifteen years, our productions have won seven Olivier Awards, ten WhatsOnStage Awards, and four Evening Standard Awards. We were named London Theatre of the Year in 2017 by The Stage, and received the Highly Commended Award for London Theatre of the Year in 2021. Our productions have toured the UK, and have transferred to both the West End and the United States. Our 2016 revival of Jesus Christ Superstar​ is currently touring North America for the second time, and commenced a UK tour in September 2023.

As a registered charity that receives no regular public subsidy, we rely entirely on earned income and charitable contributions. Nevertheless, we have introduced 33,000 tickets at £15 across the whole of 2024’s summer season, our BREEZE scheme enables those aged 18-25 to buy tickets for £10, and we regularly work with local charities. Each year, on average, we subsidise tickets for 6,000 school pupils.

Food and drink plays a significant role in the Open Air Theatre experience, with our in-house bars and restaurants including Covered Dining (recently certified as a Sustainably Run Restaurant), The Grill and The Pizza Oven. We also have our own picnic lawn and the West End’s longest bar!

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has become one of the most independently sustainable and financially successful producing theatres in the country, and we’re proud to embark on the next stage of our vision with ever-increasing artistic ambition and entrepreneurial spirit.

X (formerly Twitter): @OpenAirTheatre

Facebook: RegentsParkOpenAirTheatre

Instagram: @RegentsParkOAT

#OAT2024 / #BearSnoresOn / #TheEnormousCrocodile / #TwelfthNight / #TheSecretGarden / #FiddlerOnTheRoof

2024 SEASON AT A GLANCE

A Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production

BEAR SNORES ON
Until 21 April 2024

Access performances:

Relaxed: Saturday 6 April, 2pm and Thursday 11 April, 11am

BSL Interpreted: Tuesday 16 April, 1pm

Age Recommend: 4+

Tickets from: £12.50

A Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production

TWELFTH NIGHT

3 May – 8 June 2024

Access performances:

Captioned: Friday 31 May, 7.30pm

BSL Interpreted: Thursday 6 June,7.30pm

Audio Described & Touch Tour: Saturday 8 June, 2pm

Age Recommend: 12+

Tickets from: £15

A Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Roald Dahl Story Company and Leeds Playhouse production

THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE17 May – 8 June 2024

Access performances:

BSL Interpreted: Wednesday 5 June, 10.15am

Audio Described & Touch Tour: Friday 7 June, 1.45pm

Age Recommend: 4+

Tickets from: £15

A Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production

THE SECRET GARDEN

15 June – 20 July 2024

Access performances:                         

BSL Interpreted: Tuesday 9 July, 7.45pm and Wednesday 17 July, 7.45pm

Relaxed: Sunday 14 July, 5pm

Captioned: Friday 19 July, 7.45pm

Audio Described & Touch Tour: Saturday 20 July, 2.15pm

Age Recommend: 10+

Tickets from: £15

A Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF27 July – 21 September 2024

Access performances:

BSL Interpreted: Tuesday 3 September, 7.45pm

Captioned: Friday 6 September, 7.45pm

Audio Described & Touch Tour: Saturday 7 September, 2.15pm

Age Recommend: 12+

Tickets from: £15

ON TOUR

David Ian for Crossroads Live and Work Light Productions present

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

UK Tour until August 2024

Runaway Entertainment present

101 DALMATIONS

Reimagined from the 2022 Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production

UK Tour from June 2024

FURTHER CASTING ANNOUNCED

ELAINE C. SMITH

TO PLAY THE ROLE OF ‘THE CHILDCATCHER’

JOINING

ADAM GARCIA AS ‘CARACTACUS POTTS’

EMMERDALE STAR LIAM FOX AS ‘GRANDPA POTTS’

AND

ELLIE NUNN AS ‘TRULY SCRUMPTIOUS’

IN

THE NEW PRODUCTION OF THE

MOST FANTASMAGORICAL MUSICAL OF ALL TIME
CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG

OPENING AT

MAYFLOWER THEATRE, SOUTHAMPTON

ON 30 APRIL 2024
AHEAD OF A UK TOUR

David Ian for Crossroads Live is delighted to announce that Elaine C. Smith will play the role of The Childcatcher in the new production of the most fantasmagorical musical of all time, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG opening at Mayflower Theatre, Southampton on Tuesday 30 April 2024 where it plays until 12 May 2024, before embarking on a UK tour. www.chittyontour.com

Casting schedule and listings below. Elaine C. Smith will play the role in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Inverness only. Casting for the role of The Childcatcher in all other venues to be announced soon.

Elaine will join Olivier-nominee Adam Garcia as Caractacus Potts, Emmerdale star Liam Fox as Grandpa Potts, Ellie Nunn as Truly Scrumptious, Martin Callaghan as Baron/Sid, Jenny Gayner as Baroness/Violet, Adam Stafford as Boris, Michael Joseph as Goran and John Macaulay as The Toymaker. The cast also includes Charlie Bishop, Ruaraidh Blackwood, Hadrian Delacey, Belle Kizzy Green, Tia Gyngell, Kirsty Ingram, Bibi Jay, Isabella Mason, Joe Press, Theo UK Rose, Molly Rees Howe, Callum Train and Luke Woollaston.

The roles of Jeremy and Jemima Potts will be shared by Gracie Cochrane, Ayrton English, Isla Ithier, Isabella Manning, Charlie McGuire, Jasmine Nyenya, Roshan Thomson and Louis Wilkins.

Elaine C. Smith is one of Scotland’s best known performers. For over 30 years she has worked extensively in radio, television, film and theatre. She is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Mary Doll, wife of Rab in the six series of the iconic BBC comedy production Rab C Nesbitt which started out as a sketch in Naked Video. Elaine also had leading roles in City Lights and 2000 Acres of Skye. She is one of the few women in the UK to consistently headline in major pantomimes completing eight years at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen and has just finished her 13^th year at the Glasgow Kings for which she won an award as Best Fairy in the British Pantomime Awards in London in 2018. Elaine started out touring in political theatre with 7.84 Theatre CO and then Wildcat but also with Borderline, the Lyceum Theatre, The Tron and also includes being the original Dolly in The Steamie and in her own company’s production of Shirley Valentine. Elaine was Cora in the original UK tour and West End run of Calendar Girls followed by her portrayal of Susan Boyle in the UK musical tour of I Dreamed a Dream which she co-wrote with Alan McHugh. She has recorded three series of her own award winning STV series Burds Eye View and last year appeared again as the outrageous Christine in the seventh series of the hit BBC sitcom Two Doors Down for which she won a Scottish BAFTA for Best Actress in 2018.

Adam Garcia recently received rave reviews as Julian Marsh in Curve and Sadler’s Wells hit production of 42^nd Street. His musical theatre credits include Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever and Bill Calhoun in Kiss Me, Kate, for which he received Olivier Award nominations for both roles. His other theatre credits include Fiyero in Wicked, The Artilleryman in The War of the Worlds and Damien Karras in The Exorcist. His film credits include Kenneth Branagh’s Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Coyote Ugly and Riding in Cars with Boys. Adam recently appeared as a finalist in the UK series of The Masked Dancer, finishing in second place.

Liam Fox is probably best known for playing the role of Dan Spencer in ITV’s Emmerdale, where he featured in more than a thousand episodes. His many other TV credits include Stephen Poliakoff’s Dancing on the Edge, Cold Feet, Coronation Street, Hollyoaks, Clocking Off, A Touch of Frost, Always and Everyone, At Home with the Braithwaites and Dinnerladies. His many theatre credits include The Collector and Tuesday’s Class, both at The Lowry Studio and Iron at Manchester’s Royal Exchange.

Ellie Nunn’s many theatre credits include Identical at Nottingham Playhouse, the UK tour of Posh, Shakespeare in Love at the Noel Coward Theare, Twelfth Night at Leicester Square Theatre, The Game of Love and Chance and Daughter in Law, both at the Arcola Theatre, Honk! at the Union Theatre and on tour and Gatsby at the Arts Theatre.

Based on Ian Fleming’s timeless story for children and later made into the famous 1968 film, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG features the unforgettable songs by the Sherman Brothers including Toot Sweets, Hushabye Mountain, Truly Scrumptious and the Academy Award-nominated title song, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

This new production will be directed by Thom Southerland (Titanic, Parade), choreographed by Karen Bruce (BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, The Bodyguard) with Set and Costume design by Morgan Large (Newsies, Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat), Lighting design by Ben Cracknell, Sound design by Gareth Tucker, Musical Supervision by George Dyer (The Wizard of Oz, Annie, Billy Elliot) and casting by Debbie O’Brien.

In CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG we meet absent-minded inventor Caractacus Potts who restores a broken-down old racing car with the help of his children Jemima and Jeremy. Soon the family discover the car has magical powers, and along with the delectable Truly Scrumptious, the family end up on a hilarious fantastical adventure to far off lands.

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG has Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, Music by Special Arrangement with Sony/ATV Publishing and is Adapted for the Stage by Jeremy Sams. Based on the MGM Motion Picture the Licensed Script is adapted by Ray Roderick. It was Originally produced by Eon Productions, Dana Broccoli, Frederick Zollo, Nicholas Paleologos, Jeffrey Sine, Miriam Productions and Michael Rose at The London Palladium.

This production is presented by permission of Music Theatre International.

CRUSH AND BURN: TWO NIGHTS OF SIZZLING NEW
WRITING AT THE HEN AND CHICKENS THEATRE BAR APRIL 2 AND APRIL 15

A journey from drop-dead gorgeous — to simply drop dead! Along the way, we encounter misogynistic pretzels, a kidnapped vibrator, an app for bad dates, a potentially criminal pet, an AI reincarnated lover, and much much more.

CRUSH AND BURN charts the highs and lows of dating in the 21st century. From the euphoria of new love — to the bitterness of messy endings.

These two anthology shows from Tribe Collective prove that the course of true love runs
no more smooth today than it did in Shakespeare’s time.

The Tribe Collective was founded in 2023 by writer/director, Mandi Riggi.

“I have aspired to create an ensemble theatre in London that brings together writers,
actors and directors who are dedicated to the art of storytelling and driven by a
commitment to diversity,” Riggi said. “We want to inspire audiences with compelling
narratives, beginning with Crush and Burn.”

“The Tribe Collective is a diverse family of wide-ranging talents, who are hungry to bring
positive change to the industry,” said Esmonde Cole, Tribe Collective’s Creative Director.
“I’m so excited to showcase the brilliant and insightful work we do on a weekly basis”.

The two shows are written, directed and performed by members of Tribe Collective. A
total of fourteen new short plays will be performed over the two nights.

Tickets can be booked here: https://www.unrestrictedview.co.uk/wp-content/
uploads/2023/04/crush-and-burn-web-3.jpg

£10 TUESDAYS

FOR THE WEST END RUN OF THE BUSH THEATRE PRODUCTION OF

RED PITCH

TYRELL WILLIAMS’ HIT PLAY, WINNER OF ALL FIVE MAJOR DEBUT AWARDS

• The Producers of Red Pitch (West End) and Charles Holloway are today delighted to announce a new initiative as part of their commitment to outreach and audience accessibility.
• From today, 300 £10 Ticketswill be available for every Tuesday evening performance of the Bush Theatre’s Red Pitch at the West-End’s newest theatre, @SohoPlace.
• This Initiative begins on Tuesday 26 March and continues every Tuesday until Tuesday 30 April.
• £10 Tuesdaysare proudly supported by Charles Holloway, Bush Theatre in the West End Supporter.
• Tickets are on sale now via @sohoplace

“The energy generated from a night out with the cast of Red Pitch could power the national grid. Moving, emotional , funny and adrenalized! Go see it…” Lenny Henry

The production opened for a strictly limited run at @sohoplace, on Thursday 21 March and runs until Saturday 4 May 2024.

“The Bush is grateful to Charles Holloway for ensuring Red Pitch in the West End can offer accessibly priced tickets. Thanks to the support of our generous donors, we’re proud to offer free and discounted tickets to all our productions at the Bush, and excited that through this offer Charles will ensure different audiences can experience this story @sohoplace too.”  Mimi Findlay, Executive Director Bush Theatre 

Kedar Williams-Stirling (Sex Education), Emeka Sesay (The Power) and Francis Lovehall (Small Axe) are directed by Daniel Bailey in the award-winning play about brotherhood, ambition, girls, community, and what it really means to belong.​ ​

What happens when your football pitch, a place you’ve laughed, fought, and forged friendships – the very existence of your closeknit community – is threatened by impending demolition? Can lifelong friends continue to dream of stardom, or will their goals be torn down alongside their home?​

Tyrell Williams is an award-winning writer and director for theatre, film, and television. Red Pitch is currently in development for a screen adaptation with Fudge Park. In addition to another original series in development with Fudge Park, he has written an episode of an upcoming Apple TV+ series. 

Tyrell was named one of Deadline’s 5 rising writers to watch in 2023 and is currently on attachment to the National Theatre Studio. In 2015, Tyrell co-created, co-wrote and directed the viral web series #HoodDocumentary which has had over 4 million views on YouTube. Following its online acclaim, #HoodDocumentary eventually went on to be commissioned for BBC Three which Tyrell directed and co-wrote. Tyrell was on the BAFTA Elevate scheme 2018 and was a Broadcast Hotshot in 2016.

Director Daniel Bailey is a director, dramaturg and writer for stage and screen. He is Associate Artistic Director at the Bush Theatre, London, having joined the team in 2019 alongside Artistic Director Lynette Linton. Prior roles include Associate Director at Birmingham Rep Theatre (after initially joining as part of the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme), Resident Director at the National Theatre Studio, Associate Artist at Theatre Royal Stratford East, Resident Assistant Director at The Finborough Theatre, and on the Young Vic’s directing programme.

Directing work at the Bush Theatre includes Lenny Henry’s August in England (co-directed with Lynette Linton), Red Pitch by Tyrell Williams and Temi Wilkey’s The High Table (Stage Debut Award winner 2020). I Wonder If (presented with YV Taking Part) ran at the Young Vic in 2022 before going on a community tour, and Daniel was the Creative Associate on the UK Premiere of Bootycandy at Gate Theatre. His work at Birmingham Rep includes Joe Penhall’s Blue Orange; Concubine; Stuff; I Knew You Abuelo; Jump! We’ll Catch You; Made In India/Britain and Exhale. His previous directing work includes plays with Talawa Theatre Company, Manchester Royal Exchange, New Heritage Theatre, and the New Vic.

Film and TV director credits include Dropped (Mothers Best Child), On Belonging (Young Vic), Malachi (S.E.D), Floating on Clouds (Kingdom Entertainment Group) and Y.O.L.O. Therapy (S.E.D).

The cast for Red Pitch are Kedar Williams-Stirling (Bilal), Emeka Sesay (Joey) and Francis Lovehall (Omz). Understudies are Shem Hamilton (understudy Joey/Bilal) and Toyin Omari-Kinch (understudy Omz/Bilal).

Bush Theatre

Opened in 1972, the Bush Theatre is internationally renowned as ‘the place to go for ground-breaking work as diverse as its audiences’ (London Evening Standard).

A champion of playwrights and operating in one of the most culturally diverse areas of London, the Bush Theatre has a commitment to its local community and the wider artistic community. Braiding these two strands of work together, the Bush produces an engaging and challenging programme that reflects the world we live in. 

Recent successes include multi-award-winning productions Red Pitch by Tyrell Williams, Lava by Benedict Lombe, Sleepova by Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini, and Invisible by Nikhil Parmar.  Richard Gadd’s Baby Reindeer, Igor Memic’s Old Bridge, and Waleed Akhtar’s The P Word won the Olivier Award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre’ in 2021, 2022 and 2023 respectively. In 2023 the Bush was joint winner of The Stage’s ‘Theatre of the Year’ alongside the Lyric Theatre, Belfast and produced Sir Lenny Henry’s first play August in England which was directed by Bush’s Artistic Director Lynette Linton and Associate Artistic Director Daniel Bailey.

The Bush Theatre’s talent development programmes discover and develop the very best of the UK’s leading artists. The Bush team believes the theatre has a responsibility to programme and generate opportunities for new and established makers and, with long-term residencies, add to the sustainability of their careers.

Since re-opening in March 2017 after a year-long £4.3 million renovation by architects Haworth Tompkins, the Bush has continued to create a space where all communities can be part of its future and call the theatre home.

Apollo Theatre, London – until Sunday 28 April 2024

5*****

The Mind Mangler returns to the West End with his brand new show: The MInd Mangler – Member of the Tragic Circle.  

Originally just part of the Magic Goes Wrong show.  Henry Lewis has taken his creation onto further heights, expanding The Mind Mangler to a 2 hour long show.

Full of his own self importance and brimming with confidence The Mind Mangler (Keith to his friends) performs his show with help from the audience including Brian, Paul and Clive (Jonathan Sayer) who had never met the Mind Mangler before, the show included guessing deep dark secrets, predictions and tricks. Including help from real audience member Jess and singer Sam Bailey, both of which he correctly guessed their deepest secrets

Henry Lewis rattled off his performance with just a touch of magic but this a show that “goes wrong” and it goes wrong in such a clever way. With the Mind Mangler soon going from pompous to irate as the tricks go wrong and things begin to fall apart. Beware audience participation and the shovel-nosed guitar fish! But there’s a lot of heart and poignant moments in the midst of the hilarity.  And at the heart of the it, this show is about friendship

With Ben Hart acting as magic consultant to the show, you know that it’s going to be good and the act carries on from Magic Goes Wrong which was written by Penn and Teller, alongside the genius of Mischief – Henry Lewis, Henry Shields and Jonathan Sayer.  And its produced by Kenny Wax, who always has the golden touch and clearly recognised genius when he produced The Play That Goes Wrong many years ago.  This show is also a tribute to the late Steve Brown who composed the music for lots of Mischief shows

I’m lucky that I saw Magic Goes Wrong on tour and the one hour taster of The Mind Mangler at the Edinburgh Fringe.  Now running at two hours with an interval, the show has grown to total brilliance.  Yes, I am a fan of Mischief and have been since The Old Red Lion, but I think with The Mind Mangler they have reached their zenith. With the chaos, unpredictability and so much laughter I genuinely think that The Mind Mangler might be my favourite Mischief show of the lot

Baron’s Court Theatre, London – 23rd March 2024

Reviewed by Amelia O’Loughlin

3***

X by Alastair McDowall, performed by KDC* 

Delving into the bunker of Baron’s Court Theatre, you really feel you’re leaving the world behind, and that continues to be true when the lights come up on a bleak and minimal set – a spaceship that’s settled on Pluto – and has ceased all contact with earth. Tensions are high from the get go. An X on the wall, in human blood, tells us we’re in for violence, and as fraught conversations ensue it’s clear that insanity is bubbling away beneath their mundane, everyday tasks. A group of scientists who seemingly would never cross paths in the real world attempt to navigate an enclosed space, with an unknown amount of “time” stretched ahead of them. Time has been warped on this spaceship – the comforting structures of time, as we know it on earth, are not to be underestimated. Joanna Mills’ performance as Mattie is one that deserves particular attention; her subtleties and emotional complexities were delivered accurately and measuredly, exhibiting a strong relationship with McDowall’s pacey and punchy writing. 

Frustratingly, the other actors, who were very well cast, were poorly directed. Their physicality and movement on stage was passable but the real problem was their diction. The incessantly high-pitched and high-volume ranting and raving made their journeys impossible to follow or be interested in – they began angry and ended angry, there was no relationship or character arc, and so investment into their lives was lost very early on. That said, the actors gave the performance high energy and much commitment. 

As the crew’s grasp on reality truly wanes, varying levels of conflict and nostalgia erupt from them – one by one – their wishes, wants, dreams, flaws and vulnerabilities come to the surface. They attack one another because they have nowhere else to direct their frustration. They hold onto the past because the future’s so disastrous. Their respective truths are outed. The play closes and we’re left with the questions: how necessary is the (taken-for-granted) system of time to humanity’s sanity & survival? And, will we forever be living in the past and future if the present is not all it was cracked up to be? 

*fairypowered would like to point out that the reviewer did not stay to watch the second half of the production, so this is not a fair review. fairypowered does not condone reviewers leaving a production half way through and would like to apologise to the everyone concerned for the rudeness of the reviewer concerned

Upstairs at the Western, Leicester – 21st March 2024

Reviewed by Amarjeet Singh

5*****

I wasn’t quite sure of what to expect from tonight’s performance but had high hopes as I was informed that Charlotte had been invited back to perform a set, after bowling audiences over. She did not disappoint.

A heady mix of musical delights and memory lane meanderings, Mrs Beaver took us on a poignant journey through her life using the magical mediums of comedy and cracking songs. A soundtrack to her very colourful and interesting life, she drew us in with tales of teenage angst, heartfelt stories of friendship and the bumpy but beautiful road to becoming a Beaver.

From Bassey to Dion, Queen to as many of the musicals she could fit in, Charlotte fully deserved her standing ovation and cries for an encore, which she kindly obliged. Her audience engagement was tremendous, natural, and warm, we were laughing and crying in equal measures. I would not be surprised to see this as a touring show in the future.