BILL KENWRIGHT LIMITED PRESENTS THE OSCAR-WINNING LOVE STORY
ON TOUR ACROSS THE UK
FROM 22 AUGUST 2024
Bill Kenwright Ltd is delighted to announce the triumphant return to the stage of the worldwide sensation Ghost the Musical, opening on 22 August 2024 before embarking on a major national tour across the UK.
Written by multi Brit Award winner Dave Stewart and Grammy award winning Glen Ballard, with a script by Bruce Joel Rubin based on his OSCAR winning screenplay, Ghost the Musical brings all the romance and magic of the classic story to life on stage.
“Walking back to their apartment late one night,
a tragic encounter sees Sam murdered and his girlfriend Molly alone, in despair and utterly lost. With the help of a phony storefront psychic, Sam, trapped between this world and the next, tries to communicate with Molly in the hope of saving her from grave danger…”
Ghost has cemented its place as one of the most significant successes in cinematic history. Starring the late Patrick Swayze alongside Demi Moore, and Whoopi Goldberg (who won the Oscar for Supporting Actress), the film dominated the box office in 1990 and earned an Oscar for screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin, who has skillfully adapted his screenplay into a musical. Premiering in Manchester in 2011, Ghost the Musical has played sell out seasons in the West End and on Broadway as well as numerous international tours.
A smash hit across the globe, Ghost the Musical features The Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody alongside many more terrific songs co-written by Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart.
Ghost the Musical has been adapted by Oscar winning screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin andis directed by Bob Tomson with choreography by Alistair David. Design is by Mark Bailey with lighting design by Nick Richings, sound design by Dan Samson and illusions by Richard Pinner.
Theatre Royal Nottingham – Saturday 16th March 2024
Reviewed by Jill Heslop
5*****
A packed Theatre Royal in Nottingham enjoyed the last leg of the current tour of Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World, the pop musical directed by Amy Hodge. With music by Miranda Cooper and Jennifer Decilveo, this is a lively, joy-filled musical adaptation of Kate Pankhurst’s award winning book series of the same name.
During the one and a half hour show, we meet such icons as: Frida Kahlo, Rosa Parks, Amelia Earhart, Mary Seacole, Marie Curie, Jane Austen and Emmeline Pankhurst. And what fun this history lesson is! Aimed at children 7 years old and above, there is wonderful singing and choreography bringing to life the biographies of these exceptional women and creating a life-affirming show.
Schoolgirl Jade, played with a lovely innocence by Georgia Grant-Anderson, is lost inside the museum on a school trip, feeling a little dejected and confused by life’s challenges. Never fear, Fantasically Great Women of history to the rescue! We have a fun and instructive meeting with Amelia Earhart the solo pilot, played by Leah Vassell with a fab American accent and a dashing costume; Gertrude Ederle, the record beating Channel swimmer played with great sport by Chloe Hart and Sacagawea, Summer Priest, the hero of the American West. But that’s not all! Enter Emmeline Pankhurst, boldly rendered by Jennifer Caldwell, the grand dame of them all, leading the band of women to votes and emancipation. An all-female cast leading us the audience and Jade, Georgia Grant-Anderson, on this fact-filled adventure!
I loved the singing and dancing, the coordinated moves, the colourful costumes: this is a fun musical and a great night out! The warmth and humour spills out between all of the characters as they support each other and young Jade (Georgia Grant-Anderson) as she navigates her journey through the perils and pitfalls of growing up in a world where she feels nobody notices her.
A wonderfully well-spoken Jane Austen, played delightfully by Chloe Hart, introduces us to a feisty Frida Kahlo, played with a beautiful boldness by Summer Priest. There are lots of mischievous jokes for those in the audience who know a little of their lives already, and plenty of entertainment in the on-stage antics.
A sadder, more sombre tone is signalled with the appearance of Rosa Parks, played with suitable dignity by Leah Vassell and Anne Frank, Millie Kiss, where we acknowledge that not every story has a happy ending. This is well handled with the wisdom coming from Leah Vassell in the character of Rosa Parks, the voice of experience and reassurance, speaking to the innocence and confusion in Jade (Georgia Grant- Anderson) which we all feel about such complex and disturbing realities. These complexities and difficulties are important to acknowledge for young people and they do it well.
This is a feel-good musical with the lives of such great women brought to life with vigour and courage leaving us with the message that we all need to go out and live life to the fullest!
Hull New Theatre, Hull – until Saturday 16th March 2024
Reviewed by Anne Walker
5*****
This show is direct from the West End and comes to the Hull New Theatre as part of a major UK and Ireland tour. The Drifters Girl was nominated for Best New Musical at the 2022 Olivier Awards. It includes a phenomenal soundtrack, packed full of iconic drifters hits you will instantly recognise, including, ‘Saturday Night at the Movies,’ ‘Save the Last Dance for Me’ and ‘Stand by Me.’
We discovered the remarkable story of The Drifters and the powerhouse female force that managed the all-male vocal group, Faye Treadwell, played by the incredible Carly Mercedes Dyer. She became one of the first prominent African American woman to enter music management and led the band to greatness with laser-sharp business acumen and determination.
The cast truly delivered stellar performances that brought the iconic music of The Drifters to life, weaving a captivating story in between some great hits. From the moment the fantastic band started playing those familiar tunes, you couldn’t help but tap your toes. The classics from The Drifters had the entire audience in nostalgic bliss while heads were nodding in time to many of the familiar tunes. The four Drifters themselves, played by Miles Anthony Daley, Ashford Campbell, Daniel Haswell and Tarik Frimpong, had voices that seamlessly blended together and were all superb. They never stopped throughout the show, playing multiple roles as well as their phenomenal singing and dance moves.
Carly Mercedes Dryer as Faye Treadwell certainly shone bright on stage and her rendition of ‘Harlem Child’ was breathtaking with power house vocals.
Overall, The Drifters Girl is a must-see for any music lover or theatre enthusiast, the audience certainly showed their appreciation and could not contain themselves as the encore invited us to get up and dance. With catchy familiar tunes, a touching, inspiring story and fantastic performances all round. This show is a true gem that will leave you humming the melodies long after the final curtain
ROYO, UNIVERSAL MUSIC UK, SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT & MIGHTY VILLAGE are delighted to announce that Nina Wadia will star as Gemma in the world premiere of NOW That’s What I Call A Musical, a brand-new British musical written by award-winning comedian Pippa Evans and directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood. NOW That’s What I Call A Musical will begin performances on 6 September 2024 at Aylesbury’s Waterside Theatre before commencing a major UK and Ireland tour.
Joining Nina in 2024 at certain performances will be an array of special guest stars playing themselves and singing the songs that made them NOW icons. Sinitta will perform in Aylesbury, Sheffield, Canterbury, Nottingham and Norwich with Sonia in Newcastle, Cardiff, Milton Keynes and Brighton, Carol Decker in Truro, Belfast and Woking, and Jay Osmond in Bradford and Dartford.
Further guest stars and musical cast members are to be announced.
Nina said “I grew up listening to the NOW tapes so for me being a part of this musical is like going home. When I read the script I immediately fell in love with the characters and Pippa’s story. I can’t wait to get started on my first ever musical and to see you all there later this year.”
Sinitta said “The most exciting thing about being involved in this project is the music. Dust off your spandex, crimp your hair and I’ll see you there.”
Sonia said “We are going to take people back on a nostalgic road of all their favourite songs. Everybody has memories of where they were when that song was out and what they were doing.
Carol added “Being part of the musical is a real compliment. T’Pau are on several of the [NOW] albums, it’s part of my life, part of my career.”
Jay said “I am so excited to be back in the UK and performing live on stage in NOW That’s What I Call A Musical.’ My brothers and I were featured in many NOW albums over the years and it’s an honour to be asked to be a part of this brand-new show.”
NINA WADIA OBE is an award winning actress renowned for her timeless sketch show Goodness Gracious Me, as well as her role as Zainab Masood in BBC One’s Eastenders for which she won ‘Best Comedy Performance’ and ‘Best Onscreen Partnership’ at the British Soap Awards. Nina’s film credits include: Disney’s Aladdin, A Streetcat Named Bob, and its sequel A Gift From Bob. She can also currently be seen in the movies, Repeat, The Stranger in our Bed and I. Her television credits include: Count Abdulla (ITVX) The Sandman (Netflix), The Hitmen (Amazon Prime), The Outlaws (BBC/Amazon Prime) and Still Open All Hours (BBC). Nina’s theatre credits include Bleak Expectations (Criterion Theatre), the Tony Award Winning The Vagina Monologues, Macbeth with Sir Mark Rylanceand Matchbox Theatre (Hampstead Theatre).
SINITTA is an ’80s pop legend, presenter, and a regular fixture on British television. As a mother of two, she began her career as a model and professional dancer, collaborating with top choreographers such as Arlene Phillips, Gillian Gregory, Gillian Lynne, and the formidable Charles Augins. Sinitta rose to fame as a successful recording artist with hits like So Macho, Toy Boy, G.T.O., Right Back Where We Started From, and Cross My Broken Heart. Her debut pop hit So Macho stayed at No. 2 in the UK charts for nine months, securing her a place in the Guinness Book of Records for the biggest-selling single of the year, despite missing the No. 1 position! Throughout her career, Sinitta has released five albums and achieved 14 Top Ten singles worldwide, including No. 1s in the USA, Japan, and all over Europe and the United Arab Emirates. She has garnered over 12 music awards across the globe, from Japan to Australia and the UK, notably being recognised as Best Club Act on the LGBTQIA+ scene and the Japanese Grammy. Sinitta has starred on the West End in The Wiz, Masquerade, Cats, Little Shop of Horrors, Mutiny, Smokey Joe’s Café and Hair and starred as Mamma Morton in the UK Tour of Chicago. Her film and television credits include: Shock Treatment, Foreign Bodies, The Friends, The Wall Game, Would I Lie To You, The X-Factor and I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!
SONIA was just seventeen when she became a pop star. She was spotted by record producer Pete Waterman whilst playing the Liverpool club circuit. Sonia’s catchy debut single You’ll Never Stop Me Loving You shot to number one in the UK and sold a staggering 350,000 copies. The debut album which followed, Everybody Knows, sold a million copies and included a string of top singles such as Can’t Forget You, Listen to Your Heart, Counting Every Minute and End of the World. Sonia became the first female UK artist to achieve five top 20 hit singles from one album. In 1993 Sonia was invited by the BBC to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest where she finished second. Sonia returned to the Eurovision stage in Liverpool in 2023 and performed as a special interval act. Her theatre credits include: A Slice of Saturday Night (Strand Theatre, West End), Grease (Dominion Theatre, West End), What A Feeling (UK and European tour), The Lily Savage Show (Blackpool), The Lily Savage Show (UK tour)and Good Golly Miss Molly (Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool). She also has 20 pantomime credits over the years. Her TV credits include Celebrities Under Pressure, Greasemania, The Lurics Board, The Lily Savage Show and Hollyoaks. In 2023 Sonia was proud to be made a Companion of LIPA (Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts) By Sir Paul McCartney.
CAROL DECKER burst onto the music scene as the lead singer of the band T’pau in 1987 with the hit Heart & Soul which reached No. 4 in both the UK & US charts. T’pau’s next single China In Your Hand stayed at No. 1 for five weeks – the longest serving No. 1 of the year. Simultaneously, their debut album Bridge of Spies occupied the No. 1 album slot for two weeks and went on to become a certified quadruple platinum in the UK – selling 1.2 million copies. In 2017 T’pau proudly promoted The 30th Anniversary Virgin Anthology Boxset. The band are now a regular fixture on the Festival & Arena circuit, annually rocking IOW, Rewind, Let’s Rock, W-Fest, Here and Now, StepBack, Ibiza & Children of the 80’s. Carol starred in the hit stage comedy Mum’s The Word at The Albery Theatre alongside Patsy Palmer, Imogen Stubbs, Jennie Eclair & Cathy Tyson. Her TV credits include Doctors, Star with Nicholas Hoult, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Celebrity Mastermind and Celebrity MasterChef. Her film credits include Nine Dead Gay Guys and Running Time.
JAY OSMOND was the instigator on many of the projects that kept the Osmond family together and moving forward during all the years of success. Jay is the youngest of the original Osmond Brothers group, with a career in entertainment that started at the age of two and a half. Jay was eight years old when he learned to play the drums, and went on to be voted one of the top 5 drummers in the country during the 1970s. Jay, along with the brothers, collaborated on many of the hit records. In 1972, Jay sang lead on Crazy Horses, which skyrocketed to be the Osmonds’ best-selling international single. Jay choreographed the shows for the Brothers, as well as Donny & Marie’s. His style was influenced by his karate skills learned from his personal instructor, Chuck Norris. Jay has also worked behind the scenes as a producer. His production credits include the 1970s television programmes, The Donny & Marie Show and The Osmond Family Hour, the 1980s variety show Marie, the movie depicting the life of the Osmond family Side by Side, and the family’s 50th Anniversary PBS special and DVD projects. Jay released a solo CD, It’s About Time Again, in 2009, and his autobiography, Stages. In 2022, The Osmonds: A New Musical told Jay’s story of his and his family’s successes which wowed audiences around the UK. Most recently, Jay is starring in his own show in Branson Missouri.
Get ready to relive the playlist of your life by celebrating 40 years of the iconic and chart-topping compilations brand NOWThat’s What I Call Music, which has sold an estimated 200 million copies worldwide. This fun-filled evening is bursting with hits from Whitney Houston, Wham! Blondie, Tears For Fears, Spandau Ballet and so many more.
It’s Birmingham, 1989. Two school friends, Gemma and April, are busy with very important business – planning their lives based on Number One Magazine quizzes and dreaming of snogging Rick Astley. Cut to Birmingham 2009 and it’s the most dreaded event of their lives– the school reunion. Drama, old flames and receding hairlines come together as friends reunite and everything from the past starts to slot into place. The biggest question is: what was with all that hairspray?
The creative team will include Set and Costume Design by Tom Rogers & Toots Butcher, Musical Supervision and Arrangements by Mark Crossland, Lighting Design by Ben Cracknell, Sound Design by Adam Fisher, Wigs & Hair Design by Sam Cox, Associate Direction by Guy Woolf, Associate Choreography by Aaron Renfree, Associate Sound Design by Ollie Durrant and Casting by Annelie Powell CDG.
NOWis produced by ROYO, Universal Music UK, SONY Music Entertainment and Mighty Village.
Nominations announced for Olivier Awards 2024 with Mastercard
Mastercard Best New Musical nominees are “The Little Big Things”, “Next To Normal”, “Operation Mincemeat” and “A Strange Loop”
The National Theatre garnered the most nominations with 15 nominations recognising “Dear England”, “The Motive And The Cue”, “Till The Stars Come Down” and “The Effect”
“Dear England” leads the way for the most nominated play with 9 nominations
“Sunset Boulevard” is the most nominated production, with the Jamie Lloyd musical starring Nicole Scherzinger and Tom Francis, receiving 11 nominations
Nominees for Best Actress are Laura Donnelly, Sophie Okonedo, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sheridan Smith and Sarah Snook with first time nominations for Sarah Jessica Parker and Sarah Snook
Nominees for Best Actor are Joseph Fiennes, Mark Gatiss, James Norton, Andrew Scott and David Tennant with first time nominations for Joseph Fiennes and James Norton
Haydn Gwynne receives a posthumous nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for “When Winston Went To War With The Wireless” at Donmar Warehouse
The Olivier Awards 2024 with Mastercard, theatre’s most prestigious honours, has announced its nominations. The annual awards will take place on Sunday 14 April at the iconic Royal Albert Hall with a highlights package broadcast on ITV that evening.
The competition for nominations has been fierce during an outstanding year for theatre with significantly more productions than last year. There has been a record-breaking number of new plays gracing the stage and a stunning array of on-screen stars treading the boards – including those in striking one-person performances. The nominees in the craft awards have stunned with their groundbreaking creativity.
The National Theatre has had an excellent year with a total of 15 nominations, with “Dear England” “The Motive And The Cue”, “Till The Stars Come Down” and “The Effect” all in the running for various accolades. The National Theatre’s footballing drama “Dear England” is the most nominated play with a total of nine nominations including Joseph Fiennes for Best Actor, Will Close for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Gina McKee for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Rupert Goold for Best Director and The Londoner Award for Best New Play. This is alongside nominations for the Blue-i Theatre Technology Award for Best Set Design (Es Devlin), White Light Award for Best Lighting Design (Jon Clark) and d&b audiotechnik Award for Best Sound Design (Dan Balfour & Tom Gibbons). “Dear England” is also the only play with a nomination for Best Theatre Choreographer (Ellen Kane & Hannes Langolf).
This year’s most nominated production is Jamie Lloyd’s musical “Sunset Boulevard”, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ballad to Hollywood starring Nicole Scherzinger (Best Actress in a Musical nominee) and Tom Francis (Best Actor in a Musical nominee). The production also received nominations for all acting categories in a musical including Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for David Thaxton and Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Grace Hodgett Young, as well as recognition for Best Musical Revival, the Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director for Jamie Lloyd and an Outstanding Musical Contribution nomination for Alan Williams for Musical Supervision & Musical Direction. Further to these accolades are the production team nominations including Jack Knowles nominated for White Light Award for Best Lighting Design, Adam Fisher nominated for d&b audiotechnik Award for Best Sound Design, Soutra Gilmour nominated for Blue-i Theatre Technology Award for Best Set Design and Fabian Aloise nominated for Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer.
Hollywood has descended on this year’s nominations, with TV, film and music stars receiving recognition including , Sarah Jessica Parker’s first Olivier Award nomination for her razor sharp performance in “Plaza Suite”, James Norton for “A Little Life” and Nicole Scherzinger (previously nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 2015) for the beautiful “Sunset Boulevard”. Further acclaimed performers in the running for Best Actor and Actress follow their remarkable appearances in one-person plays including Sarah Snook’s first Olivier Award nomination for “The Picture Of Dorian Gray”, Andrew Scott for “Vanya” and Sheridan Smith for “Shirley Valentine”.
Haydn Gwynne has been posthumously nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in “When Winston Went To War With The Wireless” at Donmar Warehouse.
Lorraine Ashbourne (“Till The Stars Come Down”), Priyanga Burford (“An Enemy Of The People”), Gina McKee (“Dear England”) and Tanya Reynolds (“A Mirror”) have also been nominated in the category of Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
The Best Musical Revival category has also seen a swell of strong favourites including The Old Vic’s “Groundhog Day” which won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 2017, alongside The Bridge Theatre’s spectacularly immersive “Guys & Dolls”, epic “Hadestown” at Lyric Theatre and the stunning “Sunset Boulevard” at the Savoy Theatre.
Eleanor Worthington-Cox has been nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for her performance in “Next To Normal” at Donmar Warehouse. In 2012, at just 10 years old, Eleanor was the youngest ever Olivier Award winner when she won Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, alongside her co-starring Matildas.
The Olivier Awards nominations were announced from midday, Tuesday 12 March on Official London Theatre’s TikTok. The Olivier Awards on Sunday 14 April will be hosted by Hannah Waddingham and broadcast via ITV. Further details of the ceremony will be announced soon.
Jeffrey Seller and Cameron Mackintosh, producers of the West End production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s HAMILTON at the Victoria Palace Theatre, are delighted to announce that booking is extended until Saturday 29 March 2025. The Christmas performance schedule is also announced.
HAMILTON stars Declan Spaine in the title role of Alexander Hamilton, Simon-Anthony Rhoden as Aaron Burr, Georgina Onuorah as Angelica Schuyler, Shan Ako as Eliza Hamilton, Simbi Akande as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds, Dom Hartley-Harris as George Washington, Lemuel Knights as Marquis De Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, Emile Ruddock as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, Jake Halsey-Jones as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton and Harry Hepple asKing George III. At certain performances the role of Alexander Hamilton will be played by Alex Sawyer. Joel Montague will return to the role of King George III from Monday 8 April 2024.
The cast is completed by Gabriela Acosta, Elizabeth Armstrong, Alishia-Marie Blake, Matthew Elliot-Campbell, Jordan Frazier, Manaia Glassey-Ohlson, Amie Hibbert, Sam Holden, Barney Hudson, Nicolais-Andre Kerry, Christian Knight, Ella Kora, Aaron Lee Lambert, Nathan Louis-Fernand, Stacey McGuire, Lewis Newton, Kerri Norville, Hannah Qureshi, Samuel Sarpong-Broni, Hassun Sharif, Lindsey Tierney, Alex Tranter, Maddison Tyson and Brandon Williams.
HAMILTON has book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, is directed by Thomas Kail, with choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire and is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton. HAMILTON features scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Nevin Steinberg and hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe.
HAMILTON is produced in London by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman, The Public Theater and Cameron Mackintosh.
LONDON CLASSIC THEATRE ANNOUNCES CAST FOR UK TOUR OF
JOE ORTON’S WHAT THE BUTLER SAW
London Classic Theatre today announces the full cast for their UK tour of Joe Orton’s farce What The Butler Saw. Michael Cabot, the founder and Artistic Director of London Classic Theatre, directs
Alex Cardall (Nicholas Beckett), John Dorney (Doctor Prentice), Alana Jackson (Geraldine Barclay), Jack Lord (Doctor Rance), Jon-Paul Rowden (Sergeant Match) and Holly Smith (Mrs Prentice).
Orton’s final play, What the Butler Saw, premiered at Queen’s Theatre on 27 January 1969. London Classic Theatre’s new tour opens at Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne on 24 April and tours to a further 15 venues across the UK, concluding the tour at Civic Theatre, Chelmsford on27 July.
Artistic Director of London Classic Theatre, Michael Cabot said today, “I’m delighted to be directing What The Butler Saw. I’ve always been a massive admirer of Joe Orton’s work and this play in particular. It’s undeniably a ground-breaking, challenging piece. Orton was firmly into his stride as a playwright and determined to push boundaries. Primarily, it’s a brilliantly constructed farce, but it also explores territory that allows Orton’s wicked sense of humour free reign. No one is safe! The play was first performed at the end of the 1960s, causing something of an outcry, so it will be fascinating to see what audiences make of it in 2024. I’m very excited to be working with an ensemble of terrific actors, most of whom are making their LCT debuts. And our fabulous creative team, Designer Bek Palmer and Lighting Designer Hector Murray, are in the process of creating a unique visual feast for our audiences.”
London Classic Theatre presents
WHAT THE BUTLER SAW
By Joe Orton
Cast: Alex Cardall (Nicholas Beckett); John Dorney (Doctor Prentice); Alana Jackson (Geraldine Barclay); Jack Lord (Doctor Rance); Jon-Paul Rowden (Sergeant Match); Holly Smith (Mrs Prentice)
Director: Michael Cabot; Set and Costume Design: Bek Palmer; Lighting Designer: Hector Murray; Sound Design: Chris Drohan; Production Manager: Helen Samways; Videographer: Paul Keeley-Sandys; Producer: Kathryn Cabot.
Within his private psychiatric clinic, Doctor Prentice is interviewing a new secretary. Geraldine wants the position but seems underqualified and uncertain about her parentage. Mrs Prentice appears, flushed and in urgent need of a drink, following an illicit encounter at the Station Hotel. In the meantime, Doctor Rance, a Government Inspector and Sergeant Match, a policeman, arrive amidst increasing chaos with searching questions of their own.
WHAT THE BUTLER SAW is Joe Orton’s most ambitious play, manic farce and masterclass in fearless comic writing. No institution, political view or tradition is safe, as Orton explores comic territory few playwrights have dared to visit.
Joe Orton was born in Leicester in 1933. During a short, dazzling career, he shocked, outraged and delighted audiences with his riotous black comedies, including Loot and Entertaining Mr Sloane.
Alex Cardall plays Nicholas Beckett. His previous theatre credits include The Box of Delights (RSC), Winnie The Pooh: A New Musical Stage Adaptation (Riverside Studios, UK tour), Come Dine With Me: The Musical (Turbine Theatre), The Osmonds: A New Musical (UK tour), Rapunzel (Chipping Norton Theatre), The Wind in the Willows (Australian Shakespeare Company), Housefire (Turbine Theatre, Jermyn Street Theatre), The Season (Royal and Derngate, New Wolsey Theatre, The Other Palace), Evita (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Putting It Together (Hope Mill Theatre), Sweet Charity (Watermill Theatre), Disney Hits-Friday Night Is Music Night (Royal Albert Hall), Jule, Jerry and Steve (Yvonne Arnaud Theatre) and Brass (Leeds City Varieties). His television credits include Ha Ha Land – Comic Relief Opening; and for film, Housefire and Cha Cha Club.
John Dorney plays Doctor Prentice. He returns to London Classic Theatre having previously appeared in Boeing Boeing, Absurd Person Singular, Hysteria, Absent Friends, The Caretaker, and Humble Boy. His previous theatre credits include Coalition (Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Pleasance Theatre), At the Back and Out of Focus (Soho Theatre), Beauty and the Beast (Creation, Oxford), The Revenger’s Tragedy, The Stranger (Southwark Playhouse Borough), Feelgood (English Speaking Theatre of Vienna, English Speaking Theatre of Frankfurt), Volpone (Wilton’s Music Hall), Better Watch Out (Hampstead Theatre), Something Beginning With… (Orange Tree Theatre), Flight, Peter Pan (National Theatre) and Seasons Greetings (Union Theatre). His film credits include Cash Truck, The Plotters, Ghost Story, The 12.40 To Victoria, Pokemon and Hemingway.
Alana Jackson plays Geraldine Barclay. Her previous theatre credits include Medea (National Theatre of Scotland, Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Interiors (Barbican Theatre), Living Newspaper (Royal Court Theatre), Metamorphosis (Tron Theatre, Dundee Rep, Eden Court, Traverse Theatre), Mary and Ada Set the World to Rights (Oran Mor). Her television credits include Scot Squad.
Jack Lord plays Doctor Rance. His previous theatre credits include A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, Romeo & Juliet (Leeds Playhouse), The Book Thief (Leicester Curve, Octagon Theatre Bolton, Coventry Belgrade), The Glee Club (Theatre by the Lake), Treasure Island, AbsurdPerson Singular (Octagon Theatre Bolton), Clybourne Park, Democracy (Rapture Theatre), War Horse (National Theatre, UK tour), Kiss Me Quickstep (New Vic, Salisbury Playhouse, Oldham Coliseum), The Winter’s Tale (Northern Broadsides, National tour), The Mist in the Mirror, Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Oldham Coliseum), Rock of Ages (UK tour), The Jungle Book, Crime and Punishment (Citizens Theatre Glasgow), Cooking With Elvis (Derby Theatre), Twelfth Night (Grosvenor Open Air Theatre), Our Country’s Good (Original Theatre), Ladies’ Night (Royal Court Liverpool), Get Carter (Red Shift), Antony and Cleopatra, Pictures of Clay, Major Barbara, Hobson’s Choice, A Moon for the Misbegotten, King Lear, Rotten Apple, West Side Story (Royal Exchange, Manchester).His television credits include Red Rose, Wolfe, Eternal Law, Waterloo Road, The Street 2, Pierrepoint, Coronation Street, Cold Feet, Emmerdale, and North Square.
Jon-Paul Rowden plays Sergeant Match. His previous theatre credits include The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Churchill Theatre, Bromley), Crimes on the Coast (Theatre Royal, Bath), Peter Pan (Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh), An Unseasonable Fall of Snow (Oxford Fire Station), Andy Capp-The Musical (Finborough Theatre), Don’t Walk About With Nothing On (Bridewell Theatre), The Government Inspector (Newcastle Theatre Royal), The Last Dance (Hoxton Hall), Twelfth Night (UK tour, TNT Theatre, World tour), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing (Petersfield Shakespeare Festival). His television credits include Elton John: Ten Days That Rocked.
Holly Smith plays Mrs Prentice. Her previous theatre credits include The Great Gatsby (Theatre Royal Windsor), The Mirror Crack’d, Shadowlands, Flare Path, Blithe Spirit, Out of Order (UK tour), Don’t Misunderstand Me, Beauty of the Father, Boeing Boeing, I’ll Be Back Before Midnight, Candida (English Theatre of Hamburg), The Odd Couple (Vienna’s English Theatre), Miss Margarida’s Way (Leicester Square Theatre), National Mourning (Theatre503), The Hothouse (Trafalgar Studios), Teechers (Harrogate Theatre, Haymarket Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe), The Barchester Chronicles (Chichester Festival Theatre), Plaza Suite (Marlborough Theatre) and Annie (Yvonne Arnaud Theatre). Her television credits include Killing Eve, Zapped, Watson and Oliver, Coming of Age, and The Frame; and for film, Ghost Stories, Closer and Appearances.
Michael Cabot directs and is the founder and Artistic Director of London Classic Theatre. He has directed all forty-seven LCT productions since their touring debut in 2000, including Faith Healer, Abigail’s Party, Boeing Boeing, Same Time, Next Year,Absurd Person Singular, No Man’s Land, My Mother Said I Never Should, Private Lives, Hysteria, The Birthday Party, Waiting for Godot, Absent Friends and Equus. His recent freelance work as director includes three collaborations with award-winning playwright Henry Naylor, The Collector (Arcola Theatre/UK tour), Angel and Borders (Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Adelaide Fringe & Brits Off Broadway).
First look of the World Premiere of John Cassavetes’ OPENING NIGHT, a new musical with book by Ivo Van Hove and music and lyrics by Rufus Wainwright,starring Sheridan Smith.
Directed and conceived by Ivo Van Hove, OPENING NIGHT will play a strictly limited season at the Gielgud Theatre in London’s West End from 6 March to 27 July 2024. OpeningNightMusical.com
Based on John Cassavetes’ legendary film, OPENING NIGHT follows a theatre company’s preparations to stage a major new play on Broadway. But drama ignites behind the scenes when their leading lady is rocked by tragedy, and her personal turmoil forces everybody to deliver the performance of their lives.
Joining Sheridan Smith as Myrtle is Hadley Fraser as Manny, Shira Haas as Nancy, Nicola Hughes as Sarah, Amy Lennox as Dorothy, John Marquez as David, Benjamin Walker as Maurice, Rebecca Thornhill as Kelly, Cilla Silvia as Carla, Ian McLarnon as Leo and Jos Slovick as Gus. The cast is completed by Robert Finlayson, Daniel Forrester, Jennifer Hepburn, Issy Khogali and Chrissie Perkins.
OPENING NIGHT has a Book by Ivo Van Hove with Music and Lyrics by Rufus Wainwright. It is Directed and conceived by Ivo Van Hove, has Scenic and Lighting Design by Jan Versweyveld, Costume Design by An D’Huys and Sound Design by Tom Gibbons and Alex Twiselton. Orchestrations are by Rufus Wainwright, with Musical Supervision and Musical Direction by Nigel Lilley. Movement and Choreography is by Polly Bennett, Casting by Julia Horan CDG and the Associate Director is Daniel Raggett.
The United Kingdom of Frozen: Love is an open door
competition to win the rights to present the
full-length version of Disney’s FROZEN the Musical
Music Theatre International (MTI) is proud to announce a fantastic competition for secondary schools and sixth form colleges throughout the UK.
The United Kingdom of Frozen: Love is an open doorwill give one secondary school or sixth form college in every region across the UK the chance to win the stage rights and be the first to present the full-length version of Disney’s FROZEN the Musical.
Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film, Disney’s Frozen includes all the film’s beloved songs by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, along with new music written exclusively for the stage.
Ryan Macaulay, Director of Operations, Education & Development for MTI’s London office, said, “MTI strongly believes that theatre can change lives, especially in an education setting, and that all young people should have access to the arts. With this in mind, we’re thrilled to partner with our colleagues at Disney Theatre Group to offer multiple schools across the country the opportunity to be the first to stage this beautiful story. We look forward to seeing Frozen’s themes of inclusivity, acceptance, and love overcoming all obstacles being embraced and shared in schools across the country.”
For full information and details of how to enter, simply visit www.mtishows.co.uk/ukfrozen today (Tuesday 12 March) and complete the simple application form.
Frozen the Musical continues its run at Theatre Royal Drury Lane until 8 September, 2024.
About Music Theatre International (MTI)
Music Theatre International (MTI) was founded in 1952 by legendary Broadway songwriter Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, with offices in London, New York, and Melbourne. MTI’s London office, overseeing a European market from Iceland to Israel, typically licenses over 6,000 productions a year, from schools and amateur societies to professionals, reaching audiences of more than 8 million annually. Across its catalogue of more than 400 titles, MTI represents an array of musicals including Broadway classics (Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, My Fair Lady); contemporary hits (Dear Evan Hansen, Mean Girls, Waitress); the ground-breaking works of Stephen Sondheim (Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd); global titles (Mamma Mia!, Billy Elliot, Matilda); Cameron Mackintosh-produced hits (Les Misérables, Miss Saigon); Disney (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid); and the Mackintosh and Disney-produced Mary Poppins. MTI is especially dedicated to the education sector and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of young performers. MTI’s Broadway Junior series are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance by primary and middle school-aged performers, while MTI’s School Editions are musicals tailored to the needs of secondary school pupils. MTI London produces an annual Junior Theatre Festival, Europe’s biggest celebration of musical theatre for young performers, at the ICC in Birmingham. MTI is also proud of its user-friendly production resources, providing support to our customers across all aspects of musical theatre production.www.mtishows.co.uk
3 Hearts Canvas and Patch of Blue in association with Southwark Playhouse and Verse Unbound today announce casting for Cassie and the Lights that comes to Southwark Playhouse Borough this spring. Alex Howarth directs Alex Brain (Cassie), Helen Chong (Tin), Emily McGlynn (Kit), and Martha Walker (Swing), with voiceovers by Bethany Antonia (Jasmine), Louisa Harland (Alice), Oli Higginson (Mark) Wendi Peters (Teacher) and John Thomson (Lawyer)
Following critically acclaimed runs in New York and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, this enchanting play created and directed by Alex Howarth features live music and is based on real-life events and interviews with children in care. Original Scenic Design by Alex Howarth, Set and Costume Design by Ruth Badila, and Composition by Imogen Mason and Ellie Mason.
Cassie and the Lights opens at Southwark Playhouse Borough, in the Little Auditorium, on 5 April, with previews from 3 April and runs until 20 April 2024.
3 Hearts Canvas and Patch of Blue in association with Southwark Playhouse and
Verse Unbound present
CASSIE AND THE LIGHTS
Created and directed by Alex Howarth
Cast: Alex Brain (Cassie); Helen Chong (Tin); Emily McGlynn (Kit); Martha Walker (Swing)
Voiceovers by: Bethany Antonia (Jasmine); Louisa Harland (Alice); Oli Higginson (Mark); Wendi Peters (Teacher); John Thomson (Lawyer)
Original Scenic Design: Alex Howarth; Set and Costume Design: Ruth Badila; Composers: Imogen Mason and Ellie Mason
3 – 20 April
Can kids be parents?
When Cassie’s mother disappears, the teenager wants to care for her sisters on her own. Is she the right person to be a parent now, or should she let foster parents adopt her sisters and create a new family?
Based on real-life events and interviews with children in care and featuring live music, this play celebrates the resilience of teenagers. Cassie and the Lights is a tender and playful examination of what makes a family and what holds it together.
Alex Brain plays Cassie. Their theatre credits include The Railway Children (York Theatre Royal), Back to Blackbrick (Arts Theatre, UK tour), When We Ran (The Pleasance Edinburgh), The Tortoise and The Hare (UK tour), We Live By The Sea (59E59 Theatres New York, Arts Theatre, SoHo Playhouse New York, Adelaide Festival Australia, China National Tour, Greenwich Theatre, Pleasance Edinburgh), and The Gods The Gods The Gods (Australia and New Zealand Tour). Their television credits include Primeval and Enid.
Helen Chong plays Tin. Her previous theatre credits include the Off-Broadway production of Cassie and the Lights (VAULT Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival and 59E59, New York), A.L.I.C.E. in Wanderlust (Lawrence Batley Theatre), Four Models in Bright Hats Think About the Future (Live Theatre), and Jack and the Beanstalk (Applecart Arts). Her television credits include The Dumping Ground, and The Hermit.
Emily McGlynn plays Kit. Her previous theatre credits include the Off-Broadway production of Cassie and the Lights (Vault Festival, London, Adelaide Fringe Festival and 59E59, New York), The Fall (Old Red Lion Theatre), Long Joan Silver (Hope St Theatre), Oh! You Pretty Things (Southwark Playhouse), Aladdin (Palace Theatre), Jose (Liverpool Fringe), and Piramania! The Swashbuckling Pirate Musical (Upstairs at the Gatehouse and Edinburgh Festival Fringe).
Martha Walker makes her professional stage debut.
Bethany Antonia plays Jasmine. Her previous television credits include House of the Dragon, Doctor Who, Nolly, LAVA, Stay Close, and Get Even; and for film The Velveteen Rabbit, Sense and Sensibility and Pin Cushion.
Louisa Harland plays Alice. Her previous theatre credits include Cotton Fingers (National Theatre Wales), Glass, Kill, Bluebeard,Imp (Royal Court), Dancing at Lughnasa (National Theatre), and Ulster American (Riverside Studios). Her television credits include Love/Hate, The Deceived, Harley and the Davidsons, Big Boys, and Derry Girls; and for film Lost in London, Boys from County Hell, and Joy. Her upcoming credits include Renegade Nell and Long Days Journey into Night.
Oli Higginson plays Mark. His previous theatre credits include Othello, Julius Ceasar (Shakespeare’s Globe), Smoke, The Last Five Years (Southwark Playhouse Borough), Lava (Soho Theatre), A Christmas Carol (The Old Vic), The Last Five Years, Maggie and Ted (Garrick Theatre), The Haystack (Hampstead Theatre), Napoleon Blown Apart (Arcola Theatre), and The Assassination of Marcus Garvey (Theatre 503). His television credits include Julia, The Chelsea Detective, Bridgerton, This England, The Pursuit of Love and Cursed. He is also an emerging writer, currently developing his debut play alongside the Orange Tree Theatre as part of the Orange Tree’s Writers Collective.
Wendi Peters plays Mrs Jacobson. Peters has performed in her one-woman show Let Me Sing And I’m Happy (St James Theatre), and mostrecently Wendi Peters: Live at Zédel (The Crazy Coqs). Her theatre credits include You Are Here (Southwark Playhouse), Big! The Musical (Dominion Theatre), White Christmas (Dominion Theatre, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, The Lowry, Manchester), The Clockmaker’s Daughter, State Fair (Cadogan Hall), Is There Anybody There? (New Adelphi Theatre, Manchester), Hatched ‘n’ Dispatched (Park Theatre), Our House 10th Anniversary Concert (Savoy Theatre), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Arts Theatre), April in Paris (Hull Truck, UK tour), Grumpy Old Women Live 2 – Chin up Britain (UK tour, Novello Theatre), The Vagina Monologues (Tivoli Theatre, Dublin), Children Will Listen – celebrating Stephen Sondheim’s 75th Birthday (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) and Follies in Concert (London Palladium). Her television credits include Doctors (as series regular Nina Balsara), Coronation Street (as series regular Cilla Battersby Brown), Celebrity Sewing Bee for Children in Need, Keep it in the Family, Adrenaline Junkie with Jack Osbourne, Hetty Feather, Phoenix Rise, Lynda Babbage in Midsomer Murders, Hacker Time, Sadie J, Crime Stories, Bad Girls, Out of the Blue and Cardiac Arrest; and for film Gyppo, Coronation St- Out of Africa and In Love and War.
John Thomson plays Lawyer. He is a comedian and actor best known for his roles in The Fast Show, Men Behaving Badly, Spitting Image, Cold Feet, The Brothers Grimsby, and Coronation Street (as series regular Jesse Chadwick); and for film 24 Hour Party People alongside Steve Coogan.This year he will be starring as Detective Warren Bull in BBC’s Silent Witness.
Alex Howarth is a writer, director and designer. He was named one of ‘Ten Stage Sensations to Watch Out For in 2023’ by The Guardian. With a background of working in care, Howarth is passionate about amplifying under-represented and northern voices. His play Cassie and the Lights is based on a true story and interviews with children in the care system. Nominated for the BBC Writer’s Room Popcorn Award and the SitUp Award for social change, it ran at 59E59 Theaters, Off Broadway New York in 2023. A former drama therapist for the charity Sense, he has worked extensively with disabled artists, and recently co-created one man show Strictly Lawrie with disabled artist Lawrie Morris. His play about a girl with autism, We Live By the Sea, received Critic’s Pick and Top Theatre of the Year in The New York Times, won the Best Theatre Award and the Critic’s Choice Award at Adelaide Festival, the Grahame F. Smith Peace Foundation Award for promoting human rights through theatre, and was nominated for a Fringe First and the Off West End Awards for Best Production and Best Ensemble. He was the assistant director on La Traviata at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and regularly directs at drama schools including Italia Conti, Central School of Speech and Drama, Mountview Theatre School, and Chichester Conservatoire. He adapted and directed the world stage premiere of What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, alongside the film’s writer and director, Oscar nominee Peter Hedges. He is the Artistic Director of multi-award-winning Patch of Blue, who create original theatre pieces with live music for festivals and touring.
