LONDON THEATRE WEEK RETURNS FOR 2024

THE LION KING, THE BOOK OF MORMON, LES MISÉRABLES AND MORE GATHERED TO LAUNCH LONDON THEATRE WEEK

THE INITIATIVE, WHICH LAUNCHES MONDAY 19TH FEBRUARY, GIVES THEATRE FANS A CHANCE TO SEE THE HOTTEST SHOWS WITH TICKETS STARTING AT JUST £15, £25 OR £35

London Theatre Week returns for its celebration of the West End for the sixth year running. With over 50 spectacular shows taking part, London Theatre Week gives theatre fans the chance to experience incredible shows from as little as £15. Tickets will be on sale from Monday 19th February and are available via londontheatreweek.com.

To celebrate the launch, stars of some of the West End’s biggest shows made a rare appearance together for the return of the highly anticipated campaign. Performers from Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Matilda The Musical, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical and more came together to showcase the multitude of captivating productions that contribute to London’s vibrant and multifaceted theatrical scene.

Theatre enthusiasts and newcomers alike will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a diverse array of critically acclaimed productions, with captivating performances which showcase London’s top theatre offerings.

In addition to celebrating established West End productions, London Theatre Week will also shine a spotlight on emerging talent and the hottest, most anticipated new shows such as Hello, Dolly!, Mean Girls and Opening Night.

Throughout the years London Theatre Week has continued to grow in scale, creating a new generation of theatregoers while highlighting the best of what the theatre community in the West End and beyond has to offer.

Michael Harrison, Producer of Hello, Dolly! and The Little Big Things said: “It has been so great to see London Theatre Week grow over the years and successfully generate a broader cultural moment – for both theatregoers and producers alike – that drives excitement around London’s remarkable and vibrant West End.”

Tickets are available from as little as £15, £25 or £35, making this the best time to enjoy the West End and continue to support live theatre.

Stephen Crocker, GM UK, TodayTix Group said: “London Theatre Week is the perfect time for anyone who loves theatre – along with anyone who would like to experience more of the West End’s incredible productions – to get tickets for London’s biggest hits. Along with long running smash hits like The Lion King and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, there are tickets for some of London’s newest and upcoming hits, like Stranger Things: The First Shadow and Mean Girls. With over 50 shows to choose from, there is truly something for everybody, at prices to suit everybody too.”

For more information about London Theatre Week and to purchase tickets, visit londontheatreweek.com from Monday 19th February.

The shows available include: A Mirror, Back to the Future, A Chorus Line, Cassie and the Lights, Cirque du Soleil: Alegria, Cruel Intentions, Double Feature, English National Ballet – Johan Inger’s Carmen, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, F**king Men, Faith Healer, FANGIRLS, For Black Boys…, The Forsyte Saga 1 & 2, Frozen the Musical, Guys & Dolls, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Hello, Dolly!, Hir, Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon, Jenufa, Jason Robert Brown, Kathy & Stella Solve A Murder!, Les Misérables, Machinal, Made in Dagenham, Matilda The Musical, Mean Girls, Mind Mangler, Minority Report, Nachtland, Next to Normal, Opening Night, Peanut Butter & Blueberries, Police Cops: The Musical, Priscilla The Party, Red Pitch, Shifters, Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, Shrek the Musical, Side Show, Sister Act, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, The Ballad of Hattie and James, The Book of Mormon, The Choir of Man, The Cord, The Frogs, The King and I, The Lion King, The Little Big Things, The Merchant of Venice 1936, The Mousetrap, The Play That Goes Wrong, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), We’ll Have “Nun” Of It, Wicked, Wild About You, Witness for the Prosecution.

HOPE MILL THEATRE, MANCHESTER – UNTIL SATURDAY 9TH MARCH 2024

REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN

4****

The Hope Mill Theatre, which won the Fringe Venue Of The Year at The Stage in 2018, is a well-known and highly regarded intimate venue. For their latest production, The Gap, they have brought together two exceptional talents who are also long-time friends. Matthew Kelly and Denise Welch, who are both highly respected actors, first met over twenty years ago at Granada Studios. They have returned to Manchester to star in this two-person production. The play has been written by renowned Northwest playwright Jim Cartwright, who is famous for his work on Road and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice.

We are introduced to Walter and Corral, fifty years after they last saw each other, living in sheltered accommodation and a council-run nursing home. The play takes the form of an interview. They are unexpectedly reunited for a magical night due to a chance phone call. They proceed to share with us their life story, of two young friends who makes the decision to leave behind their home in the North and escape to the vibrant atmosphere of 1960’s Soho. They later become estranged but eventually reconcile, albeit reluctantly, just in the nick of time, a nostalgic journey filled with love, loss, heartbreak and comedy.

Kelly and Welch both portray multiple supporting roles in addition to their main characters, effortlessly switching accents and quickly changing costumes. These clever changes not only add to the hilarity of the performance, but also enhance the storytelling and helps indicate the time period in each scene. Cartwright’s sharp script have humorous lines and touching moments, all delivered by these two highly skilled and experienced actors. Their ability to captivate the audience and their impeccable comedy timing are exceptional.

The creative team enriches the immersive quality of the production, effortlessly transporting the audience between the present and the past with evocative musical tracks. The lighting and projections are beautifully done, creating a realistic backdrop against which the narrative unfolds.

A beautiful piece of theatre and fundamentally a story about the lasting strength of human relationships.

Leeds Grand Theatre – On Tour until March 2024

Reviewed by Dawn Smallwood

4****

Cavalleria Rusticana and Aleko is a double bill and part of this Opera North’s season and firstly performed at the Leeds Grand Theatre. Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana (Rustic Chivalry) is a melodrama based on Giovanni Verga’s play and set to Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci’s libretto. This production first performed in 2017 as part of Little Greats seasons. Rachmaninov’s Aleko, a new and first ever production for Opera North, is a one-act opera. It is based on Alexandr Pushkin’s Tsygany (The Gypsies), and the libretto is written by Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko.

First performance is Cavalleria Rusticana, and the melodrama is highly emotive story with strong themes of love, jealously, anger and revenge. It is about Turiddù (Andrés Presno) who dates Lola (Helen Évora), but she subsequently marries Alfio (Robert Hayward). Angry Turiddù seduces Santuzza (Giselle Allen), who is devoutly religious, but he eventually returns to Lola (Helen Évora) and they both pursue an affair. Santuzza confronts the affair and experiencing Turiddù’s denial, she alerts Alfio and tells him of his wife’s infidelity. Strong feelings erupt which leads to Turiddù’s fate.

After the interval, Aleko, in similar vein to Cavalleria Rusticana, is about Aleko and Zemfira, a married couple, who live in a liberal community where the world is in their hands and that love must be free. Zemfira (Elin Pritchard), like her mother, falls in love with another man, a younger one. Zemfira’s affair disturbingly draws Aleko (Hayward) to despair and anger and he seeks revenge. His vengeance fatefully leads him to be an outcast of the community. Aleko intertwines with Cavalleria Rusticana where references from the melodrama are visibly present in the opera with appearances by Lola, Santuzza and Lucia, Turiddù mother (Anne-Marie Owen).

Both operas have a number of similarities particularly the themes and the musical composers composed their works at a similar time, end of the 19th Century, and are of a similar age. Strong emotive and excellent portrayals from Presno as Turiddù (Cavalleria Rusticana), Allen as Santuzza (Cavalleria Rusticana), Hayward as Alfio (Cavalleria Rusticana) and in Aleko, and Pritchard as Zemfira (Aleko). They are harmoniously supported with rest of the cast and the Chorus of Opera North.

The sets and costumes, designed by Charles Edwards and Gabrielle Dalton, are such a contrast. There is the tight knit religious community in Cavalleria Rusticana and in Aleko the liberal and free thinking and loving commune. Both settings are complemented with Charles Edwards’ lighting.

Both Cavalleria Rusticana and Aleko, under the direction of Karolina Sofulak and musically by Antony Hermus, are well put together and excellently interlinked and executed. Both performances are quite different, but the themes and cues are so coincidentally the same

Peacock Theatre – until the 23rd March 2024

Reviewed by Fiona Leyman

4****

There will always be people in this world who will lift you up and those who will bring you down. Jamie’s message is clear: surround yourself with people who want to fan your fire, not put it out. Write your own life story, rather than allowing others to write it for you. There is a place in this world for everyone!

Everyone’s Talking About Jamie returns to London’s West End for a limited season at the Peacock Theatre, following a record-breaking three-year residency, a sold-out tour, and an award-winning film. Jamie is back and ready to tour the country once more.

Jamie New (Ivano Turco – Andrew Lloyd’s Cinderella) is a 16-year-old boy who knows he is different, special and dreams of becoming a Drag Queen. Those who don’t understand are cruel, telling him he’s not worth it or that he must blend in and be ‘normal’. This is a heart-breaking, upbeat (at times) journey of acceptance, self-confidence, and search for a place where you belong.

This cast includes many well-known names. Shobna Gulati, who previously appeared on Coronation Street and Dinner Ladies, returns to play Ray. Shobna’s comedic delivery and timing were a big hit with the audience, providing laugh out loud moments with her well-delivered punchlines. John Partridge, a well-known TV personality and stage star (Eastenders, MasterChef, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats), plays Hugo and the flamboyant Loco Chanelle and does so brilliantly. Newcomer to Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Author and Podcaster Giovanna Fletcher (I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here 2020, 2:22 A Ghost Story) appears as unsupportive, Miss Trunchbull-esque Career Teacher Miss Head. Although not known for singing, they added some familiarity to this new cast. Rebecca McKinnis (Dear Evan Hansen) reprises her role as Margret and was the night’s standout vocalist. Her performance of ‘He’s My Boy‘ drew loud applause and standing ovation from some of the audience due to the sheer strength and emotion she conveyed.

Jonathan Butterell, the show’s original director and co-writer, as well as the book and lyrics writer Tom Macrae, should be commended for their writing. They were able to accurately convey societal language despite not adhering to traditional musical theatre writing conventions. They did not shy away from derogatory homophobic and racist language, which is unfortunately common in everyday culture. As a result, this story was more impactful than I had anticipated.

Throughout the Everybody’s Talking About Jamie performance, there were clear sound issues. Unfortunately, the lyrics became inaudible during the larger musical numbers. Most of the upbeat songs were difficult to understand and had a noticeable effect on the entire show. This show’s score is unquestionably second to none. The music and orchestration by The Feelings frontman Dan Gillespie Sells is a modern, relevant, pop earworm that will stick in your head, but these sound issues detracted from the impact they were attempting to make. As someone who had always loved songs like ‘The Wall in My Head‘ and ‘He’s My Boy‘ but had never seen the film or seen it before in the West End, seeing them performed on stage made the context much more poignant.

Aside from the sound issues, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie has a lot of appeal. It’s flamboyant, extravagant, skilfully staged, and over the top in the best way possible!

Arts Theatre, Cambridge – until Saturday 10th February 2024

Reviewed by Steph Lott

5*****

“The Time Machine: A Comedy” at the Cambridge Arts Theatre is a delightful, whimsical romp through time that will leave audiences in stitches while also pondering the deeper science of time travel. Written by the talented duo of Steven Canny and John Nicholson, and expertly directed by Orla O’Loughlin, this production breathes new life into the classic tale of time travel with a fresh comedic twist and a good splash of absurdity.

There are 3 characters on stage: George, Amy and Michael. George (played by George Kemp) brings a blend of charm and wit to the role, whist being very annoying! He manages to combine eccentricity and earnestness, with a good dose of arrogance. Opposite Kemp is Amy (played by Amy Revelle) who is a wonderful feisty counterpart to the 2 men. And rounding out the stellar cast is Michael Dylan, playing Michael. His is a complex role (I won’t say why – no spoilers here!) and Dylan delivers a tour de force performance. All 3 performers are excellent at physical comedy. The action is fast, slick and perfectly timed. And by the end of the play all 3 have managed to endear themselves to the audience.

The production has an apparently simple set design. However, the way that the set works, combined with the lighting and sound is extremely effective. Fred Meller, Colin Grenfell and Greg Clarke have really done an excellent job. The evocative lighting and atmospheric sounds result in a truly immersive theatrical experience that engages the senses and sparks the imagination.

But what truly sets “The Time Machine: A Comedy” apart is its clever and thought-provoking script. Canny and Nicholson expertly balance humour with themes of science and friendship (not often brought together on stage I would say!) weaving together laugh-out-loud moments with considerations of the nature of time, progress, and humanity. While the play never takes itself too seriously, it does manage to leave audiences both entertained and intellectually stimulated.

Director Orla O’Loughlin deserves immense praise for bringing all these elements together into a cohesive and captivating whole. Her vision and attention to detail are evident in every aspect of the production, from the performances to the technical elements to the overall pacing and rhythm of the play. Under her guidance, “The Time Machine: A Comedy” unfolds like a well-oiled machine, seamlessly blending humour, heart, and science into an unforgettable theatrical experience. O’Loughlin seamlessly blends elements of physical comedy, slapstick humour, and heartfelt emotion to create a theatrical experience that is both hilarious and intriguing.

In conclusion, “The Time Machine: A Comedy” at the Cambridge Arts Theatre is a must-see for theatregoers of all ages. With its mighty cast, imaginative staging, and witty script, this production offers a delightful journey through time that is sure to leave a lasting impression. Whether you’re a fan of the original novel or simply looking for a night of laughter and entertainment, . The production has both whimsy and wonder, inviting audiences to suspend their disbelief and join the characters on their fantastical journey through time.

THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR

BRAND NEW PRODUCTION OF GOGOL’S SATIRICAL MASTERPIECE TO OPEN AT THE MARYLEBONE THEATRE

3 MAY – 15 JUNE 2024

 TICKETS ON SALE NOW HERE

A brand-new production of Nikolai Gogol’s satirical masterpiece, THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR, will premiere at the Marylebone Theatre from 3 May – 15 June 2024, with a press night on Wednesday 8 May. The Government Inspector is Nikolai Gogol’s masterful comedy about how corrupt power destroys itself, exposing the tragi-comic consequences of collective delusion and the swindlers who would exploit it. 

“There’s no money in honesty!”

A comedy about hypocrites, hysterics and hustlers.

An over-privileged, vainglorious liar is mistaken for a high-ranking government
inspector by the corrupt local officials of a parochial town. Desperate to cover up their
crimes and escape censure, the town’s Governor and his cronies pull out all the stops
to try and bribe this dishonest buffoon with money, wine and women.

Nikolai Gogol’s The Government Inspector premiered in 1836, in the presence of Tsar Nicholas I, whose enjoyment of the play undoubtedly saved it from the appalled censors, furious at this brazen satire of the country’s corrupt bureaucracy at all levels of government. The Tsar is said to have remarked, “We’ve all taken a bop on the nose from this writer. Me most of all!”

Apparently inspired by a real encounter when the writer Alexander Pushkin was mistaken for a government official in a provincial town and then told his friend Gogol all about it, the play is a landmark in theatrical history for its lack of ethical characters, fearless attack on the ruling classes and groundbreaking cocktail of farce and realism.

The Government Inspector’s themes of hypocrisy, corruption and mass delusion have cemented its reputation as one of the greatest comedies in world literature and ensured that wherever a corrupt and hypocritical government is in power, this play finds its way to a stage.

The Government Inspector is adapted and directed by Patrick Myles, with set and costume design by Melanie Jane Brookes, sound design by Jamie Lu, production management by Alex Firth and casting consultancy by Matilda James.

Producer Alexander “Sandy” Marshall said, “The Government Inspector is a remarkably relevant and hilariously funny account of power, corruption and human folly that is so timely you’ll be laughing through your tears.”

Full casting and creative team will be announced shortly.

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR UK PREMIÈRE OF

KATE ATTWELL’S TESTMATCH

AT ORANGE TREE THEATRE

Orange Tree Theatre (OT) with co-producers ETT (English Touring Theatre) and Octagon Theatre Bolton today announces full casting for the UK première of Kate Attwell’s Testmatch. Diane Page directs Aiyana Bartlett (India Two and Daanya), Aarushi Ganju (India One and Messenger), Haylie Jones (England Three and Two), Tanya Katyal (India Three and Abhi), Bea Svistunenko (England One and One) and Mia Turner (England Two and Memsahib). Testmatch opens at the Orange Tree on 24 April and runs until 18 May, with previews from 24 April and will then tour to Octagon Theatre Bolton from 24 May until 1 June, with previews from 23 May.

Diane Page said today, “I’m really excited to be directing the UK premiere of Kate Attwell’s play Testmatch and to be back again at the Orange Tree. I’m looking forward to working on the play with our fantastic cast and team, and to sharing it with audiences in both Richmond and Bolton.”

Kate Attwell’s

TESTMATCH

Directed by Diane Page

A co-production with ETT and Octagon Theatre Bolton

Director: Diane Page; Designer: Cat Fuller; Lighting Designer: Rajiv Pattani; Sound Designer: Simon Slater

Cast: Aiyana Bartlett (India Two and Daanya); Aarushi Ganju ((India One and Messenger); Haylie Jones (England Three and Two); Tanya Katyal (India Three and Abhi); Bea Svistunenko (England One and One) and Mia Turner (England Two and Memsahib)

20 April – 18 May 2024

Lord’s, present day. The Women’s Cricket World Cup: England versus India. There’s a rain delay. Stuck in the same locker room together, tensions mount, ambitions are laid bare and a whole new tactical game begins.

Calcutta, 1800. Two British administrators encounter challenges on the field of play that threaten the entire regime.

In this game of integrity and power, past and present collide.

Kate Attwell is a playwright, television writer and devised theatre maker. She is currently working on commissions for Manhattan Theatre Club, A.C.T., EST and Playwright’s Horizons. Her previous productions include So Long Willy, and her work has been developed at Portland Centre Stage at the Armory, The Bushwick Starr and New York Theatre Workshop.

Aiyana Bartlett plays India Two and Daanya. This marks her UK debut. Her theatre credits include A Hundred Words for Snow (Gothenburg English Studio Theatre). Her television credits include Piglets.

Aarushi Ganju plays India one and Messenger.Her theatre credits Unlocking Canons House (Canons House), Roobaroo (The Space), Henry VII (The show must go on(line)) and Face Off (The UnDisposables). Her television credits include The Three-Body Problem.

Haylie Jones plays England Three and Two. Her theatre credits include Lear (Hope Mill Theatre, Shakespeare North Playhouse), Romeo and Juliet, Little Women, Stig of the Dump (Grosvenor Park Open Air theatre), and A Brew, A Terrace And The 184 (Oldham Coliseum Theatre). Her television credits include Blind Spot, Stay Close, Coronation Street, and The Cup; and for film Wanderland, Public House and Jamais Vu.

Tanya Katyal plays India Three and Abhi. Her theatre credits include The Empress (RSC); and for television Eternally Confused and Eager For Love.

Bea Svistunenko plays England One and One. Her theatre credits include The Tempest (Shakespeare’s Globe), Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet (Guildford Shakespeare Company), and A Very Expensive Poison (The Old Vic). Her television credits include 3 Body Problem, Litvinenko, Industry; and for film, Beetlejuice 2 and Cost of Living.

Mia Turner plays England Two and Memsahib. Her theatre credits include Boys (Tabard Theatre).

Diane Page returns to the Orange Tree to direct for a third time, following revered productions of Dael Orlandersmith’s Yellowman in 2022, and as the 2021 JMK Award winner, directing Statements After An Arrest Under The Immorality Act. Her other credits include The Tempest, Julius Caesar (Shakespeare’s Globe.), Lost and Found (Royal Opera House), Out West (Co- director, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre). 

ORANGE TREE THEATRE

LISTINGS

1 Clarence Street, Richmond, TW9 2SA

Box Office: 020 8940 3633 (Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm)

orangetreetheatre.co.uk

Ticket prices (NO BOOKING FEES)

In person tickets: from £15, prices increase with demand

Under 30s: £15

OT On Screen: From £15

Access: £15

Recipients of Universal Credit / London Ticket Bank Scheme: limited £1 tickets

SEASON AT A GLANCE

SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER

OT On Screen: Tue 16 – Fri 19 Jan

NORTHANGER ABBEY

20 January– 24 February 2024

Mon – Sat 7.30pm

Thu & Sat 2.30pm (from Thu 25 Jan)

Captioned Performance: Wed 14 Feb 7.30pm

Audio Described Performance: Tue 13 Feb 7.30pm

OT On Screen:  Tue 21 – Fri 24 May 2024

Octagon Theatre Bolton

1 – 23 March 2024

Stephen Joseph Theatre

27 March – 13 April 2024

Theatre by the Lake

27 April – 17 May 2024

Further summer programming includes:

UNCLE VANYA

2 March – 13 April

Press Night: Thursday 7 March 2024 at 7pm

TESTMATCH

20 April – 18 May 2024

Octagon Theatre Bolton

23 May – 1 June

SUITE IN THREE KEYS

24 May – 6 Jul 2024

Primary Shakespeare: HAMLET
3 June – 5 July 2024 (workshops and performances)
Mon, Tue & Fri

RED SPEEDO

13 Jul – 10 Aug 2024

ABOUT THE ORANGE TREE THEATRE 

The Orange Tree (OT) is an award-winning, independent theatre. Recognised as a powerhouse that creates high-quality productions of new and rediscovered plays, it entertains 70,000 people across the UK every year.  

The OT’s home in Richmond, South West London, is an intimate theatre with the audience seated all around the stage: watching a performance here is truly a unique experience. We believe in the power of dramatic stories to entertain, thrill and challenge us; plays that enrich our lives by enhancing our understanding of ourselves and each other. 

As a registered charity (266128) sitting at the heart of its community, we work with 10,000 people in Richmond and beyond through participatory theatre projects for people of all ages and abilities. Our mission is to enable audiences to experience the next generation of theatre talent, experiment with ground-breaking new drama and explore the plays from the past that inspire the theatre-makers of the present. Operating without regular support from Arts Council England, the OT relies on the support of its audiences and funders to raise £500k a year to create this outstanding work on stage and in the community.  

Artistic Director Tom Littler 

Executive Director Hanna Streeter 

Website orangetreetheatre.co.uk | Email [email protected] 

Twitter @OrangeTreeThtr | Facebook/Instagram OrangeTreeTheatre 

ABOUT ETT (ENGLISH TOURING THEATRE)

ETT (English Touring Theatre) are a UK based international touring company currently celebrating their 30^th anniversary. They stage both new and classic productions of outstanding quality, imagination, and ambition; make innovative and pioneering immersive digital experiences; work which interrogates and celebrates contemporary England, reinventing the rules, reflecting the diversity of the nation. You can find our work in your local theatre, online, at festivals, in a field, internationally and in the West End. In the last five years ETT has produced over 50 live productions and pieces of digital work, enjoyed by audiences of over 340,000; and has won the UK Theatre Awards Best Touring Production in 2014, 2015, 2016; Best New Play Revival in 2019; Excellence in Inclusivity and Best Play in 2022; and Excellence in Touring in 2023.

Major productions include a major revival of Equus by Peter Shaffer in a co-production with Theatre Royal Stratford East, directed by award winning director Ned Bennett, which transferred to Trafalgar Studios; Othello, which toured internationally to the Far and Middle East; Trailer Story (a travelling outdoor performance programme that celebrated local creativity); immersive virtual reality experience Adult Children and XR experience Museum of Austerity, directed by Sacha Wares in partnership with Donmar Warehouse, National Theatre Storytelling Studio, ScanLAB Projects and Trial and Error. More recently Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, a co-production with Curve and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, directed by Anthony Almeida, the winner of the 2019 RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award. A national tour of Tonderai Munyevu’s Mugabe, My Dad & Me; A national tour of The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by 2021 RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award winner Denzel Westley-Sanderson; The Cherry Orchard reimagined by Vinay Patel; The Good Person of Szechwan reimagined by Nina Segal and directed by Anthony Lau; and a national tour of I, Daniel Blake, written for stage by Dave Johns; and a national and international tour of Macbeth, directed by Richard Twyman.  

ETT are a limited company and a registered charity, founded in 1993. We are based in London Waterloo.

Website ett.org.uk | Email [email protected]

Twitter @weareETT | Facebook/Instagram EnglishTouringTheatre | YouTube ETT

ABOUT OCTAGON THEATRE

Octagon Theatre Bolton is a regional producing theatre that makes bold, adventurous and popular theatre of the highest quality that is seen locally and nationally. We believe theatre matters because everyone’s story matters. The Octagon inspires engages and entertains thousands every year through theatre and creative activities, contributing to a healthier and happier community. The Octagon reopened in May 2021, following a major redevelopment funded by Bolton Council and Arts Council England and many others. The Octagon receives public funding through Arts Council England, Bolton Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and Principal Sponsorship from the University of Bolton. The Octagon was shortlisted for Theatre of the Year at the 2023 The Stage Awards.

Website: https://www.octagon-theatre.co.uk/

Original Theatre & JAS Theatricals 

in association with Birdsong Productions & Wiltshire Creative present

Sebastian Faulks’s Birdsong

Adapted by Rachel Wagstaff

Directed by Alastair Whatley

There is nothing more than to love and be loved

How far would you go for love? Sebastian Faulks’s epic story of love and loss, Birdsong, returns to the stage in a brand-new production for 2024, marking the 30th anniversary of the international best-selling novel. The critically acclaimed show, adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and directed by Alastair Whatley, tells the story of one man’s journey through an all-consuming love affair and into the horror of the First World War. 

Presented by Original Theatre & JAS Theatricals in association with Birdsong Productions & Wiltshire Creative, Birdsong will tour to Salisbury Playhouse (6 – 14 Sept), Leeds Playhouse (17 – 21 Sept), Cambridge Arts Theatre (23 – 28 Sept), Liverpool Playhouse Theatre (8 – 12 Oct), Theatre Royal Nottingham (15 – 19 Oct), Everyman Theatre Cheltenham (22 – 26 Oct), Chichester Festival Theatre (4 – 9 Nov), Norwich Theatre Royal (12 – 16 Nov) and Malvern Theatre (19 – 23 Nov).

In pre-war France, a young Englishman, Stephen Wraysford, embarks on a passionate and dangerous affair with the beautiful Isabelle Azaire that turns their world upside down. As the war breaks out over the idyll of his former life, Stephen must lead his men through the carnage of the Battle of the Somme and through the sprawling tunnels that lie deep underground. Faced with the unprecedented horror of the war Stephen clings to the memory of Isabelle as his world explodes around him.

Sebastian Faulks’s Birdsong is adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and directed by Alastair Whatley. Design is by Richard Kent, Lighting by Jason Taylor, Sound by Dominic Bilkey and with Casting by Ellie Collyer-Bristow (CDG).

Sebastian Faulks said: “A new version of the play to mark the 30th anniversary of the book’s publication? Can it be even better than the last one?  I can’t wait to see!”  

Rachel Wagstaff said: “I am thrilled that Original Theatre will be bringing Birdsong to the stage again, in this brand new production. I fell in love with Sebastian Faulks’s novel, Birdsong, many years ago and, if anything, that love has only grown stronger over the years – the sign of a true masterpiece. It was such a pleasure going back to the novel and to the script, with everything I have gleaned from previous productions. This new production promises to burst with life, and this remarkable book’s message feels more relevant than ever, at a time when we all hope that love and peace will triumph over the horrors of war.”

Alastair Whatley, Director of Birdsong and Artistic Director of Original Theatre, said: “Birdsong has been part of our lives for over ten years since we first opened the show back in 2013. I am delighted to be returning to Birdsong once again with a brand new production which has been inspired by the response to our online version of the show which came out in the middle of lockdown. It’s an honour and a privilege to return to this story based on Sebastian’s much loved novel and I can’t wait to share it with audiences all over the country.”

Birdsong, a mesmerising story of love and courage, is produced by the award-winning Original Theatre, who presented the smash hit productions of The Mirror Crack’d by Agatha Christie, Murder in the Dark, The Habit of Art and The Interview and Joshua Andrews and Stuart Galbraith of JAS Theatricals, whose current projects include Hadestown which has just started previews in the West End and a major UK tour of Cluedo 2.

The producers of Birdsong are pleased to announce that they will be working in partnership with the Royal British Legion, with associated fundraising details to be announced in due course. 

For more information, visit https://www.birdsongplay.com. 

2024 TOUR DATES

6 – 14 September        Salisbury Playhouse – ON SALE SOON

wiltshirecreative.co.uk/whats-on/category/salisbury-playhouse / 01722320333

17 – 21 September      Leeds Playhouse – NOW ON SALE

leedsplayhouse.org.uk/event/birdsong / 01132137700

23 – 28 September      Cambridge Arts Theatre – ON SALE SOON

cambridgeartstheatre.com / 01223503333

8 – 12 October             Liverpool Playhouse Theatre – NOW ON SALE

https://www.everymanplayhouse.com/whats-on/birdsong / 01517094776       

15 – 19 October           Theatre Royal Nottingham – NOW ON SALE      

trch.co.uk/whats-on/birdsong / 01159895555

22 – 26 October           Everyman Theatre Cheltenham – NOW ON SALE 

https://www.everymantheatre.org.uk/shows/birdsong/  / 01242 572573

4 – 9 November           Chichester Festival Theatre – ON SALE IN SEPTEMBER

cft.org.uk / 01243781312

12 – 16 November       Norwich Theatre Royal – NOW ON SALE

https://www.malvern-theatres.co.uk/whats-on/birdsong-2/  01603630000

19 – 23 November       Malvern Theatre – NOW ON SALE 

https://www.malvern-theatres.co.uk/?s=birdsong  / 01684892277

-LISTINGS-

Show: Birdsong

Running Time: tbc

Website: https://www.birdsongplay.com

Age Guidance: 14+

Access information: check with individual venues

Category: theatre / drama 

WHY AM I SO SINGLE?
Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss’ new big fancy musical is
heading to the West End
Garrick Theatre, 2 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0HH
From Tuesday 27th August 2024

From the multi-award-winning writers of SIX, Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss, comes their all-new, highly anticipated second musical, WHY AM I SO SINGLE? This Big Fancy Musical follows two besties through the ups, and mostly downs, of their dating lives in the era of Tinder (and Bumble and Grindr and Hinge and Feeld). This musical extravaganza about love, dating, friendship – and bees – explores the weird and wonderful hilariousness of being single.

A celebration of friendship and love, WHY AM I SO SINGLE? asks how two super interesting, super cool, super fun pals could possibly still be single?!? This extraordinary and totally unexplainable situation faced by our fabulous duo is made even more complicated by the fact that, on a completely unrelated note, they also need to find a really great topic for their next musical.

Lead casting has been announced.

Jo Foster (& Juliet; Just For One Day, West End;) will return from the show’s early workshop to co-star in this epic musical for the ages. They will be seen alongside the newly cast Leesa Tulley (SIX, UK Tour; Kin, Theatro Technis) as their bff. Together they will navigate the difficult modern dating world and how to flirt with your Deliveroo driver, all with their best friend firmly by their side. They are joined on stage by Noah Thomas (Everything Now, Netflix; Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, West End). The ensemble casting is to be announced.

Featuring epic pop and musical-inspired songs by the dynamic writing team of Marlow & Moss (described by British Vogue as the ‘future of musical theatre’), and high-energy choreography by Ellen Kane (Matilda the Musical, Working Title Films; Dear England, National Theatre/West End), WHY AM I SO SINGLE? is set to dazzle the dating world this autumn.

Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss comment, This is ultimately a musical about two friends, their desire for love, and how they deal with loneliness. We hope people come away feeling super uplifted. And we hope they text someone the second they leave the theatre saying ‘omigosh just fyi i love you soooo much!!!!’

The powerhouse producing team includes Kenny Wax, a past President of the Society of London Theatre (SOLT). He has 25 years of experience working across award-winning and hit shows in the West End, on Broadway and all over the world. His work includes Mischief Theatre productions The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and about to open in the West End, Mind Mangler, Marlow and Moss’ Tony Award-winning global hit SIX currently running in London, New York, Toronto, and on a UK and North American tour, Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World, based on the book by Kate Pankhurst, which continues its UK tour. Kenny’s Olivier Award-winning shows include Top Hat, Once On This Island, Hey Duggee and The Worst Witch. He is thrilled to be a Producer on Toby and Lucy’s second show.

Ameena Hamid is a producer and general manager who was named Best Producer at the Black British Theatre Awards 2022 for her work on the critically acclaimed production of The Wiz. Hamid is just 23 and having started her West End career in 2020, she is the youngest producer to work on the West End. Producer Credits include: Woman Life Freedom! (GDIF); Invisible (59E59TH); The Wiz (Hope Mill Theatre). Co Producer and Associate Producer credits include: Bonnie & Clyde (Garrick Theatre & UK Tour); Dick Whittington (Phoenix Theatre); Death Drop (Criterion Theatre and Garrick Theatre).

George Stiles is a multi-award-winning writer who has worked on Honk! (National Theatre/UK Tour and Worldwide); Mary Poppins (West End, Broadway, International and UK Tour) and Cameron Mackintosh’s new version of Half A Sixpence (Chichester Festival Theatre and West End). George is also one of the producers of SIX, a journey that has brought him deep joy, helping to guide Marlow & Moss’ breakout hit around the world. With his writing partner, Anthony Drewe, his passion for nurturing new musical theatre is celebrated through the annual Stiles+Drewe Prize.

WHY AM I SO SINGLE? is produced by Kenny Wax, George Stiles and Ameena Hamid. The
production is directed by Lucy Moss; the Choreographer is Ellen Kane; the Orchestrator, Vocal Arranger and Musical Supervisor is Joe Beighton; the Set Designer is Moi Tran; Max Johns is the Costume Designer; the Lighting Designer is Jai Morjaria; the Sound Designer is Paul Gatehouse; and the team is completed by Future Cut as music production. The production manager is Phoebe Bath with the casting direction from Harry Blumenau and Sarah-Jane Price from Harry Blumenau Casting.

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR

THE 10^TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT OF

MADE IN DAGENHAM

AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM ON

SATURDAY 16 MARCH 2024

Full casting is announced for the 10^th Anniversary Concert of MADE IN DAGENHAM at the London Palladium on Saturday 16 March 2024.

Joining Pixie Lott (‘Rita O’Grady’), Killian Donnelly (‘Eddie O’Grady’) and Bonnie Langford (‘Barbara Castle’) in this highly anticipated one-off show, directed by Shaun Kerrison are Peter Duncan (Blue Peter, Hairspray, Me and My Girl, The Little Tramp, The Card) as ‘Monty’, Trevor Dion Nicholas (Next To Normal, Hamilton, Aladdin) as ‘Mr Tooley’,and newcomer Gerardine Sacdalan, a third year Urdang Student, as ‘Sandra’.

Actor, film and documentary maker, former Chief Scout and 80’s Blue Peter man, Peter Duncan has a theatre, TV and film career that spans five decades. Peter began his career on stage joining Olivier’s National Theatre and spent the 1970’s working exclusively as actor. He joined Blue Peter in 1980 and became a household name going on to make Duncan Dares, a series that played on his adventurous nature with stunts such as driving across the Irish Sea in a VW Beetle, walking the high wire and cleaning the clockface of Big Ben. After his presenting days he began to appear in musical theatre roles such as Barnum, Me And My Girl and The Little Tramp. In 1995 he was nominated for an Olivier Award as Best Actor in a musical playing Denry Machin in The Card. He has toured in Alan Ayckbourn’s Things We Do For Love, played the twins in Corpse and appeared as Stan Laurel in a production of Laurel and Hardy. He played the roles of Macduff in Macbeth and Fantastic Mr Fox at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park.  Peter went on to tour with the Original Theatre Company production of Birdsong playing Jack Firebrace, for which he garnered much critical acclaim. Peter appeared as Wilbur Turnblad in the UK tour of Hairspray in 2016.  In 2017, Peter premiered a new play at the Edinburgh Festival, called The Dame written by his daughter Katie. It was followed by a run at the Park Theatre in London, where he was nominated for an Offie.

The cast also features Zoë Rainey (An American in Paris, Kiss Me Kate, Kenneth Branagh’s Romeo & Juliet) as ‘Lisa Hopkins’, Richard Dempsey (Old Friends, Tammy Faye, Doctor Who) as ‘Mr Hopkins’, Gerard Carey (Les Misérables, RSC’s A Christmas Carol, The Jungle) as ‘Harold Wilson’, Jenna Boyd (Come From Away, Wind in the Willows, Eastenders) as ‘Beryl’, Katy Secombe (Les Miserables, A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream, I Can’t Sing) as ‘Connie Riley’, Kerry Winter (UK Tours Shrek, Grease, The Rocky Horror Show) as ‘Clare’, Sarah Merrifield (Macbeth, lovesexidentityambition) as ‘Cass’, Oscar Conlon-Morrey (Only Fools and Horses, Nativity, Mother Goose) as ‘Cortina Man & Chubby Chuff’, Kieran Brown (The Phantom of the Opera, Crown Jewels, Heathers) as ‘Ron Macer & Mr Buckton’, Neil Ditt (Emmerdale, Crazy For You, Chicago) as ‘Gregory Hubble & Stan’, Will Hopkins as ‘Barry’, Craig Armstrong (La Cage Aux Folles, Come From Away, Billy Elliot) as ‘Sid’ and Adam Strong (Aladdin, We Will Rock You, Rock of Ages) as ‘Bill’.

Sarah Hills (Les Miserables, The Rocky Horror Show) and Josie Brightwell (The War of the Worlds, Call The Midwife) lead a 30-strong ensemble cast featuring graduates from London School of Musical Theatre, Guildford School of Acting and Emil Dale’s Performing Arts Academy.

Michael Bradley is announced as musical director and James Doughty as assistant musical director.

Inspired by a true story and based on the hit film, MADE IN DAGENHAM is a powerhouse musical comedy about friendship, love and the importance of fighting for what’s right. With a critically acclaimed score, this raucously funny show really is the ultimate feel-good night out.

“If you want something done, ask a busy woman…”

Essex, 1968. When Ford’s Dagenham car plant drops female workers’ pay, mum Rita leads her friends in a battle against the mighty company and the corrupted union supposed to protect them. As the women’s journey grows, so does the pressure. Can Rita keep up the fight and the happy home she’s built?

Enduringly funny, touching and timeless, MADE IN DAGENHAM shows how ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they stand together.

The Concert is produced by Scott Garnham and Simon Schofield for Sisco Entertainment and directed by directed by 2024 WhatsOnStage Award Winner Shaun Kerrison (The Osmonds A New Musical UK Tour, Kiss Me Kate and My Fair Lady for BBC Proms, Resident Director The Lion King West End and Resident Director of Mary Poppins on Broadway).

With a book by Richard Bean and music and lyrics by David Arnold and Richard Thomas, MADE IN DAGENHAM is based on the Woolley/Karlsen/Number 9 Motion Picture and performed by arrangement with Music Theatre International.