MENIER CHOCOLATE FACTORY ANNOUNCES CASTING FOR

THE UK PREMIÈRE OF PAUL GRELLONG’S POWER OF SAIL

The Menier Chocolate Factory today announces casting the European première of Paul Grellong’s Power of Sail. Dominic Dromgoole directs Julian Ovenden (Charles Nichols), Tanya Franks (Amy), Katie Bernstein (Maggie), Georgia Landers (Quinn) and Paul Rider (Frank).

This production – co-produced with Daryl Roth who previously collaborated with the Menier on the critically acclaimed production of Indecent – opens on 28 March, with previews from the 20March, and runs until 12 May.

Full cast will be announced shortly.

The Menier Chocolate Factory

POWER OF SAIL

By Paul Grellong

20 March – 12 May

Direction: Dominic Dromgoole; Design: Paul Farnsworth; Lighting Design: Oliver Fenwick; Sound Design: Ella Wahlstrőm

All hell breaks loose when Harvard professor Charles Nichols invites a contentious white nationalist to his yearly symposium. His colleagues are very concerned about how this will affect both his and the University’s reputation; his students are vociferously protesting.  However, Charles refuses to budge. Is there another agenda?

Penned by Paul Grellong, whose television credits include The Boys and Law & Order: SVU, this moral thriller investigates the thin line between hate and freedom of speech – who bears the ultimate cost?  This European première, directed by Dominic Dromgoole, promises to be one of the most talked-about plays of the year.

Julian Ovenden plays Charles Nichols. His theatre work includes South Pacific (Chichester Festival Theatre/Sadler’s Wells), All About Eve (Noël Coward Theatre), The Treatment (Almeida Theatre), My Night With Reg (Donmar Warehouse/Apollo), Show Boat (Lincoln Center), Sunday in the Park With George (Théatre du Châtelet, Paris), Finding Neverland (Curve, Leicester), Death Takes a Holiday (Roundabout Theatre, New York), Annie Get Your Gun (Young Vic), Marguerite, A Woman of No Importance (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Butley (Booth Theatre, New York), Grand Hotel, Merrily We Roll Along (Donmar Warehouse) and King Lear (RSC). For television, his work includes Trigger Point, Avenue 5, Bridgerton, Adult Material, Knightfall, The Crown, Major Crimes, Person of Interest, Death in Paradise, Downton Abbey, The Assets, Cosmos: A Space Odyssey, Smash, Any Human Heart, Foyle’s War, Charmed and The Forsyte Saga; and for film, The People We Hate at the Wedding, The Lost Girls, Made in Italy, Christmas Survival, Head of Honey, Made in Italy, The Confessions, Colonia, Allies and First Night.

Tanya Franks returns to the Menier to play Amy – she previously appeared in The Truth (also Wyndham’s). Her other theatre work includes Othello, Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads (National Theatre), East (Edinburgh and West End), The Good Person of Sichuan (Mercury Theatre, Colchester) and Sherlock Holmes – The Best Kept Secret (West Yorkshire Playhouse).  Her television credits include Mum, EastEnders (as series regular Rainie Cross),  Pulling (as series regular Karen), Family Affairs (as series regular Karen Ellis) Grantchester, Vera, Broadchurch (as Lucy Stevens) and Liz and Dick; and for film, Aux, We Steal the Old Way,  Pieces, The Magnificent Eleven, Get Lucky and One Day.

Katie Bernstein returns to the Menier to play Maggie – she previously appeared as Felicity Rumpers in Habeas Corpus. Her other theatre credits include The Man in the White Suit(Theatre Royal Bath/Wyndham’s), The Play that Goes Wrong (Duchess and UK tour), Mrs Henderon Presents (Noël Coward Theatre),Urinetown (St James/Apollo) and Rent (UK tour). Her television credits include The Devil’s Hour (Amazon Prime) and the upcoming The Tattooist of Auschwitz (Sky).

Georgia Landers plays Quinn. Her theatre work includes Rock n Roll (Hampstead Theatre), Measure for Measure (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Winter’s Tale, The Comedy of Errors (RSC), Anna, Antony and Cleopatra (National Theatre) and A Woman of No Importance (Vaudeville Theatre). For television her work includes The Girl Before, Press and The Looming Tower; and for film, Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

Paul Rider plays Frank. His theatre work includes The Comedy of Errors, The Tempest, Cymbeline, Julius Caesar, Doctor Scroggy’s War, The Knight of the Burning Pestle, The Duchess of Malfi, Henry V, Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, Love’s Labour’s Lost, We the People, Coriolanus, Under the Black Flag (Shakespeare’s Globe), Don’t Destroy Me (Arcola Theatre) ,Don Perlimplin (Cervantes Theatre) Staircase, Cutting of the Cloth (Southwark Playhouse), Chicago (Phoenix and Cambridge Theatres), A Woman of No Importance (Vaudeville Theatre and UK tour), Wise Children (Bristol Old Vic), Hairspray (UK tour), Chekhov in Hell (Plymouth Theatre Royal and Soho Theatre), Comedians (Lyric Hammersmith), Dying for It (Almeida Theatre), Women Beware Women (RSC), Singer (Tricycle Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Albery), The Changing Room (Royal Court at Duke of York’s), and Teechers, and Bouncers (Arts Theatre). His television work includes Dangerous Liaisons, Doc Martin, Horizon – Einstein, French and Saunders, My Family, Victoria Wood With All the Trimmings, Dinnerladies, Murder Most Horrid, The Bare Necessities, Broker’s Man and The Ritz; and for film, Lion Versus The Little People, The War Below, Pond Life, Undercliffe, Making Noise Quietly, A Cock and Bull Story, Honest and Topsy Turvy.

Paul Grellong’s other plays include Manuscript, produced by Daryl Roth at the Daryl Roth Theatre, which has since been performed internationally; Radio Free Emerson (winner of the Elliot Norton Award from the Boston Theater Critics Association for Outstanding New Script), which was commissioned and produced by Rhode Island’s Gamm Theatre. His plays have been read and workshopped at Center Theatre Group, MCC, Trinity Repertory Company, Symphony Space, Echo Theater Company, and the Cape Cod Theatre Project. His television credits include The Boys, Scorpion, Revolution, and Law & Order: SVU. He lives in Los Angeles, where he is an alumnus of the Playwrights Union.

Dominic Dromgoole returns to the Menier to direct – he previously directed Marjorie Prime for the company. He launched a new theatre company, Classic Spring, which produced a year-long celebration of Oscar Wilde in 2017/18 directing the first play in the season, A Woman of No Importance, at the Vaudeville Theatre.Dromgoole was Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe from 2006 to 2016. In that time the Globe grew into an international theatre of progressive ambition and radical scope. Amongst other projects, he created a UK-wide touring operation and grew this touring internationally, culminating in a two-year tour of Hamlet which travelled to every country in the world. In 2012, he directed the Globe to Globe Festival, which hosted companies from 37 different countries. He was previously Artistic Director of the Bush Theatre – during his tenure between 1990-1996 he nurtured upcoming talents by premiering 65 new plays from a host of now influential writers such as Billy Roche, Irvine Welsh and Naomi Wallace. He then moved onto the Oxford Stage Company which he ran from 1999 to 2005. He launched a new film company, Open Palm Films, and made his first feature, Making Noise Quietly, in the summer of 2016.  The film, released by an adaptation of Robert Holman’s play of the same name, starred Deborah Findlay, Barbara Marten, Trystan Gravelle and Matthew Tennyson, and was released by Verve in 2019. He is  the author of the recently published Astonish Me! First Nights That Changed the World as well as Hamlet: Globe to Globe, The Full Room: An A-Z of Contemporary Playwriting and Will and Me: How Shakespeare Took Over My Life, which won the inaugural Sheridan Morley award.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

MENIER CHOCOLATE FACTORY

PACIFIC OVERTURES

Until 25 February 2024

POWER OF SAIL

20 March – 12 May

Box Office:                         020 7378 1713 (£2.50 transaction fee per booking)

Website:                             www.menierchocolatefactory.com (£1.50 transaction fee per booking)

Tickets:                               Prices vary, as below from discounted preview tickets to premier seats. With the emphasis on ‘the sooner you book, the better the price’:

Please note at this time the restaurant is unable to open due to circumstances beyond the company’s control.

www.menierchocolatefactory.com

Twitter: @MenChocFactory

Instagram: @menierchocolatefactory

WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR THE

24^TH ANNUAL WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS

• SUNSET BOULEVARD LEADS THE FIELD WITH 7 WINS FROM 9 NOMINATIONS, HOWEVER IT IS PIPPED TO THE POST FOR BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL BY BRIDGE THEATRE’S GUYS & DOLLS
• A LITTLE LIFE LEADS THE STRAIGHT PLAY CATEGORIES WITH 2 WINS WITH ACTING NODS FOR JAMES NORTON AND LUKE THOMPSON
• NICOLE SCHERZINGER, JACK WOLFE, AIMEE LOU WOOD, GRACE HODGETT YOUNG WIN MUSICAL ACCOLADES
• RUFUS NORRIS RECEIVES THE AWARD FOR SERVICES TO UK THEATRE

At a ceremony tonight at The London Palladium hosted by Bonnie Langford and Melanie La Barrie, the winners of the 24^th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards were announced – the only major theatre awards decided entirely by the theatregoers themselves.

WhatsOnStage’s Darius Thompson and Alex Wood said today, “What a year for UK theatre this has been. Looking at the winners, voted for by WhatsOnStage readers, it is striking just how audiences are keen to lend their support to bold, experimental takes on classic tales – from solo versions of Chekhov to immersive takes on classic musicals, or radical re-imaginings of Andrew Lloyd Webber shows. Long may this continue – theatre would not be able to thrive without challenging and forward-thinking creativity.

“We’ve had a complete blast at The London Palladium – and the team at LW Theatres have been incredible in accommodating everything we’ve thrown at them, including the installation of an auditorium ramp in order to facilitate step-free access to the stage.”

The big winner of the night was Sunset Boulevard with 7 awards from its 9 nominations, receiving Best Performer in a Musical for Nicole Scherzinger, Best Professional Debut Performance for Grace Hodgett Young, Best Direction for Jamie Lloyd, Best Lighting Design for Jack Knowles, Best Sound Design for Adam Fisher, Best Video Design for Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom and Best Music Direction/Supervision for Alan Williams.

The Best Musical Revival was scooped by Guys & Dolls, still running to critical acclaim at the Bridge Theatre, one of three awards the production took home, also receiving Best Set Design for Bunny Christie and Best Graphic Design by Muse Creative.

In a very evenly spread remaining field, the straight play awards were led by A Little Life – Ivo van Hove’s adaptation of the publishing sensation by Hanya Yanagihara, with James Norton winning Best Performer in a Play, and Luke Thompson winning Best Supporting Performer in a Play. However, Best New Play was snatched by the West End phenomenon Stranger Things: The First Shadow by Kate Trefry, with original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne and Kate Trefry, currently running at the Phoenix Theatre. Best Play Revival was won by VANYA, adapted for the stage by Simon Stephens with a tour de force performance by Andrew Scott.

Best New Musical was won by the highly garlanded Operation Mincemeat which arrived in the West End last year. The other musical categories saw Jack Wolfe win for the Donmar Warehouse’s production of Next to Normal, which transfers to the West End later this year; Aimee Lou Wood won Best Takeover for her turn as Cabaret’s Sally Bowles with the production also winning Best West End Show; and Best Choreography went to Matt Cole for Disney’s Newsies.

This year’s Award for Services to UK Theatre was presented to Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre, who has led the company to great critical success. This has culminated in one of the most prolific years for them with work across the West End, including Dear England, The Motive and The Cue, The Ocean at the End of the Lane and The Crucible, as well as across all their stages, and tours including The Ocean at the End of the Lane, and Sucker Punch.

Best Costume Design went to Ryan Dawson Laight for his sumptuous work on La Cage aux Folles at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre; and Best Casting Direction to Jill Green for The Little Big Things.

Best Off-West End Production went to Flowers for Mrs Harris; Best Concert Event to Love Never Dies In Concert at Theatre Royal Drury Lane; and Best Regional Production to The Lord of the Rings at The Watermill Theatre, continuing a spectacular year for the venue.

Performances at this evening’s event included Disney’s Newsies, Flowers for Mrs Harris, Guys & Dolls, La Cage aux Folles, Next to Normal, Operation Mincemeat and The Sound of Music, accompanied by a 25-piece orchestra, as well as an exclusive world premiere from Burlesque the Musical, and three additional specially curated performances, including a tribute to Chita Rivera, a trip down memory lane to relive some iconic performances from the last few decades and a showcase of theatre’s next rising stars.

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24^TH ANNUAL WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS (WINNERS IN BOLD)

Best Performer in a Musical – sponsored by TickX

Michael Ahomka-Lindsay, Disney’s Newsies, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
Natasha Hodgson, Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre
Ed Larkin, The Little Big Things, @sohoplace
Caissie Levy, Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse
Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
Marisha Wallace, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
 

Best Supporting Performer in a Musical – sponsored by Newman Displays

Aynrand Ferrer, Miss Saigon, Sheffield Crucible
Jak Malone, Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre
Jason Manford, The Wizard of Oz, The London Palladium
Cedric Neal, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Amy Trigg, The Little Big Things, @sohoplace
Jack Wolfe, Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse
 

Best Performer in a Play – sponsored by Sine Digital

Paapa Essiedu, The Effect, National Theatre
Joseph Fiennes, Dear England, National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre
James Norton, A Little Life, Harold Pinter Theatre and Savoy Theatre
Taylor Russell, The Effect, National Theatre
Andrew Scott, VANYA, Duke of York’s Theatre
Sheridan Smith, Shirley Valentine, Duke of York’s Theatre
 

Best Supporting Performer in a Play – sponsored by Situation Interactive

Michele Austin, The Effect, National Theatre
Will Close, Dear England, National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre
Bryony Corrigan, I, Daniel Blake, UK tour
Luke Thompson, A Little Life, Harold Pinter Theatre and Savoy Theatre
Zubin Varla, A Little Life, Harold Pinter Theatre and Savoy Theatre
Anjana Vasan, A Streetcar Named Desire, Almeida Theatre and Phoenix Theatre
 

Best Takeover Performance – sponsored by AKT London

Karis Anderson, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, Aldwych Theatre
Cory English, Back to the Future: The Musical, Adelphi Theatre
Mason Alexander Park, Cabaret, The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
Lucy St. Louis, Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre
Rebecca Lucy Taylor, Cabaret, The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
Aimee Lou Wood, Cabaret, The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
 

Best Professional Debut Performance – sponsored by AKA

Rita Bernard-Shaw, Trouble in Butetown, Donmar Warehouse
Laura Dawkes, Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Lou Henry, SIX, UK tour
Grace Hodgett Young, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
Andrew Richardson, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
 

Best New Musical – sponsored by Travelzoo

Disney’s Newsies, Alan Menken, Jack Feldman and Harvey Fierstein, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
The Little Big Things, Nick Butcher, Tom Ling and Joe White, @sohoplace
Mrs. Doubtfire, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, Shaftesbury Theatre
Next to Normal, Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt, Donmar Warehouse
Operation Mincemeat, SpitLip, Fortune Theatre
The Time Traveller’s Wife, Lauren Gunderson, Joss Stone, Dave Stewart and Kait Kerrigan, Apollo Theatre
 

Best Musical Revival – sponsored by Concord Theatricals

Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
La Cage aux Folles, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
The Lord of the Rings, The Watermill Theatre, Newbury
The Sound of Music, Chichester Festival Theatre
Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
The Wizard of Oz, Curve, Leicester and The London Palladium
 

Best New Play – sponsored by Ticketmaster

A Little Life, Adapted by Koen Tachelet, Ivo Van Hove and Hanya Yanagihara, Harold Pinter Theatre and Savoy Theatre
Cowbois, Charlie Josephine, Swan Theatre
Dear England, James Graham, National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre
Hamnet, by Maggie O’Farrell, adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti, Swan Theatre and Garrick Theatre
The Motive and the Cue, Jack Thorne, National Theatre
Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Kate Trefry, Jack Thorne and the Duffer Brothers, Phoenix Theatre
 

Best Play Revival – sponsored by Edwardian Hotels London – Official Hotel Partner

A Streetcar Named Desire, Almeida Theatre and Phoenix Theatre
The Effect, National Theatre
The Merchant of Venice 1936, UK tour
The Pillowman, Duke of York’s Theatre
Shirley Valentine, Duke of York’s Theatre
VANYA, Duke of York’s Theatre
 

Best West End Show – sponsored by Dewynters

Back to the Future: The Musical, Adelphi Theatre
Cabaret, The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
Les Misérables, Sondheim Theatre
Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Piccadilly Theatre
The Phantom of the Opera, His Majesty’s Theatre
SIX, Vaudeville Theatre
 

Best Regional Production – sponsored by Music Theatre International

Boys from the Blackstuff, Royal Court, Liverpool
Choir Boy, Bristol Old Vic
In Dreams, Leeds Playhouse
The Lord of the Rings, The Watermill Theatre, Newbury
Miss Saigon, Sheffield Crucible
To Wong Foo The Musical, Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
 

Best Off-West End Production – sponsored by Theatrical Rights Worldwide

Flowers for Mrs Harris, Riverside Studios
George Takei’s Allegiance, Charing Cross Theatre
Othello, Riverside Studios
Rebecca, Charing Cross Theatre
Scouts! The Musical, The Other Palace Studio
The Shape of Things, Park Theatre
 

Best Concert Event – sponsored by TikTok

Ariana DeBose in Concert, The London Palladium
Darren Criss, The London Palladium
Evita in Concert, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Love Never Dies in Concert, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Once: In Concert, The London Palladium
Schwartz at 75, Lyric Theatre
 

Best Direction – sponsored by LOVEtheatre

Polly Findlay, Assassins, Chichester Festival Theatre
Rebecca Frecknall, A Streetcar Named Desire, Almeida Theatre and Phoenix Theatre
Rupert Goold, Dear England, National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre
Nicholas Hytner, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Jamie Lloyd, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
Sam Mendes, The Motive and the Cue, National Theatre
 

Best Musical Direction/Supervision

Mark Aspinall and Sioned Saunders, The Lord of the Rings, The Watermill Theatre, Newbury
Nick Barstow and Nigel Lilley, Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse
Cat Beveridge and Nigel Lilley, The Witches, National Theatre
Tom Brady, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Stephen Brooker, Alfonso Casado Trigo and Stephen Metcalfe, Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, Gielgud Theatre
Alan Williams, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
 

Best Casting Direction

Alastair Coomer and Naomi Downham, The Motive and the Cue, National Theatre
Anna Cooper, Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse
Jill Green, The Little Big Things, @sohoplace
Bryony Jarvis-Taylor, Dear England, National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre
Bryony Jarvis-Taylor, The Witches, National Theatre
Jessica Ronane, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
 

Best Choreography – sponsored by Tandem Marketing

Fabian Aloise, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
Matt Cole, Disney’s Newsies, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf, Dear England, National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre
Stephen Mear, La Cage aux Folles, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Arlene Phillips with James Cousins, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, Free Your Mind, Factory International
 

Best Costume Design

Bunny Christie and Deborah Andrews, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Lizzie Clachan, The Witches, National Theatre
Ryan Dawson Laight, La Cage aux Folles, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Gregory Gale, To Wong Foo The Musical, Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Gareth Pugh, Free Your Mind, Factory International
Grace Smart, Cowbois, Swan Theatre
 

Best Lighting Design – sponsored by White Light

Rory Beaton and Lucy Carter, The Time Traveller’s Wife, Apollo Theatre
Jon Clark, Dear England, National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre
Jon Clark, The Effect, National Theatre
Jon Clark, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
Paule Constable, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre

Jack Knowles, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
 

Best Set Design – sponsored by Preevue

Miriam Buether, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
Bunny Christie, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Lizzie Clachan, Assassins, Chichester Festival Theatre
Lizzie Clachan, The Witches, National Theatre
Chloe Lamford, Phaedra, National Theatre
Morgan Large, Disney’s Newsies, Wembley Troubadour Park Theatre
 

Best Sound Design

Paul Arditti, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Paul Arditti, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
Dan Balfour and Tom Gibbons, Dear England, National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre
Adam Fisher, The Lord of the Rings, The Watermill Theatre, Newbury
Adam Fisher, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
Tony Gayle, Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse
 

Best Video Design – sponsored by GDL

59 Productions, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
Andrzej Goulding, Miss Saigon, Sheffield Crucible
Andrzej Goulding, The Time Traveller’s Wife, Apollo Theatre
Ash J Woodward, Dear England, National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre
Ash J Woodward, The Witches, National Theatre
 

Best Graphic Design – sponsored by Hexagon Print

Bob King Creative, Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre
Muse Creative, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Jeremy Coysten and North Design, Free Your Mind, Factory International
The Creative Partnership, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
Feast Creative, La Cage aux Folles, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Rick Guest, Rob Rae and the NT Graphics Studio, Dear England, National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre

Services to UK Theatre

Rufus Norris

awards.whatsonstage.com

lwtheatres.co.uk 

Twitter: @WhatsOnStage #WOSAwards
Instagram: @WhatsOnStage

TikTok: @WhatsOnStage

Harold Pinter Theatre, London – until 15th June 2024

Reviewed by Celia Armand Smith

4****

It’s the summer of 1976 in Blackpool and the heat is all consuming. Jez Butterworth’s newest play directed by Sam Mendes, tells the story of four sisters returning to their childhood home to say goodbye to their dying mother. The Hills of California sees sisters Jill (Helena Wilson) who stayed behind to look after their mother and missed out on life, Ruby (Ophelia Lovibond) who is a bored housewife prone to panic attacks, and Gloria (Leanne Best) who arrives in a sweaty and sweary whirlwind with her dopey husband and kids, gather at the family home. They are awaiting the arrival of Joan (Laura Donnelly), the glamorous oldest sister who they haven’t seen or heard from in twenty years after she left in hurry for America despite being their mother’s supposed favourite. For the first two acts, her absence is huge and consuming.

The entire play takes place in the family’s struggling guesthouse, Sea View (with no view of the sea). At the centre of Rob Howell’s stunning set is a huge imposing staircase that leads to several rooms named after American states, such as the glamorous far away lands of Minnesota and Alaska. The set rotates and the stairs swing round to reveal the sisters as children in the 1950s, singing in the kitchen with their mother, Veronica (also played by Laura Donnelly). Veronica is an ambitious stage mother who is pushing her children towards stardom with an Andrews Sisters style group whether they are along for the ride or not. The close harmonies and dancing are beautifully executed and they pay brilliant homage to the sister groups of the 40s and 50s.

Things take an inevitable turn when a slimy American agent comes to the house to see the girls perform at the behest of a local comic played by Bryan Dick. Shaun Dooley and Richard Lumsden round out the cast with a tragic comedy and musical stylings, all the male cast members playing characters in the past and present. The men in the play are all kind and hapless or creeps, there for comic effect or to be the receiving end of a sharp tongue.

This is a play with women at its centre about family, grief, and sacrifice. It is however laugh out loud funny with Ophelia Lovibond and Leanne Best delivering some of the best lines in the piece, and the singing from both the younger and older casts is achingly beautiful with perfect harmonies.

Never faltering in its ability to hold the audience’s attention, this ensemble piece from is both captivating and heartbreaking, and you would expect nothing less from Jez Butterworth. In the final moments of The Hills of California, the sisters are unified by song, and all the past traumas seem to dissipate and a peace finally falls over the house.

Rose Theatre, Kingston – until 22nd February 2024 

Reviewed by Carly Burlinge  

5*****

The Rose Theatre brings you this beautiful production that is a moving and compelling story, which has so much to offer. Based on the novel by Onjali Q. Rauf, which tells the story of Ahmet (Farshid Rokey), a refugee, that all begins with an empty chair at the back of the class. With no one knowing his story the rest of his classmates become eager to understand where he’s come from and what he’s been through.  

Whilst watching the shy and unsure character that stands before them, telling his story through pictures, as he cannot speak English, a group of friends, Alexa (Sasha Desouza-Willock), Tom (Gordon Millar), Josie (Petra Joan-Athene) and Michael (Abdul-Malik Janneh) realise just how much this scared and unsure boy has been through.  

The friends begin to formulate a plan, calling themselves the A Team, to help Ahmet find his family, who he has lost through his tumultuous journey.  

During his time at his new school, he is subjected to bullying by certain individuals; not only a fellow student Brendan (Joe Mcnamara), but by a teacher Mr Irons (Zoe Zak) as well. With the support of the “A Team” and the head teacher, Mrs Kahn (Priya Davdra) Ahmet and his friends learn that Kindness is the most powerful thing that anyone can offer.  

Throughout this production the cast offered many funny moments, with much laughter, providing light relief to the more serious moments and themes of the story. The cast had such a strong connection, which was amazing to watch. I can truly say that this production made me laugh, gave me goosepimples and offered such emotion I even cried, that when I looked around, the whole audience was experiencing the same.  

This is definitely a production that is not to be missed, truly outstanding!  

Hull Truck Theatre – 10th February 2024 and 12th February 2024

Reviewed by Dawn Bennett

5*****

A Great Pirate Adventure is part of Hull Trucks half term activities. Aimed at children between the ages of 3 and 6 years old this is a great chance to get young children involved in, and watch, theatre. This is the first review of a show I have done that had a craft session is included in the ticket price! The children involved made a pirate hat, eye patch and hook with help from the adults they brought with them and HEY and Hull Truck volunteers. A lot of the parents/guardians I spoke to said they had attended things at Hull Truck before that had a craft session related to the show they were seeing and had already booked for the shows that were being done during the Easter holidays. A lot also said how it helped children understand how a theatre worked and how to sit and watch a show and what happened during one.

After the 45 minutes craft session the actors (Sophie Clay and Jack Fielding) came out, introduced themselves to audience and took us into Hull Trucks Stage 1 auditorium. The children sat on the stage and the rest of us behind them and Sophie and Jack began the story of A Great Pirate Adventure.

Sophie had lots of jobs and she’d been sacked from all of them, they got the children to tell them what jobs they thought she’d done and why she had been sacked … it turns out the children were right, she wasn’t very good at any of the jobs. She meets Mr. Be-ard (Jack) who asks her to help him find something he’s lost and this really looks like a treasure map and he does look like a pirate! The actors really get the children involved, from walking the plank, wearing their eye patches and hats and when a parrot and a mermaid appeared the children absolutely loved it. After visiting an island Sophie, with the help of the children, find the treasure and then she realises that Mr. Be-ard isn’t her friend and neighbour but Captain Bad Beard the pirate!! It turns out that the captain doesn’t want to be a pirate anymore…he wants to retire and so he asks Sophie to be the pirate captain and she does!

This is a great show for the younger members of the theatre audience, a great introduction to theatre and a craft session thrown in. It is pitched at just the right level, isn’t too long and Sophie and Jack were brilliant in the way they interacted with the audience And I don’t know who enjoyed it more, me, the children or the adults that they brought with them!

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton – until 10 February 2024

Reviewed by Lorna Hancock

5*****

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s beautiful production was created by Sir Peter Wright, the genius behind the Company’s famous The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. 

As to be expected the ballet follows the classic and well known tale. A beautiful princess falling into a deep sleep, after being cursed by a wicked fairy and pricking her finger, and the curse can only be broken by true love’s kiss. The Sleeping Beauty has been delighting audiences for well over a hundred years, adding entrancing ballet to this favourite childhood story. Set to Tchaikovsky’s inspiring music, magnificently played live by the acclaimed Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

I brought my ten year old aspiring ballerina along to help me with this review, and I have to say she was lost for words, in awe of the captivating dancing. We both said that Princess Aurora (Yu Kurihara) reminded us of a most beautiful music box ballerina. The delicate and perfect way she held the most difficult positions, was absolutely stunning to watch, whilst wearing the most exquisite tutu, we couldn’t take our eyes off of her.

I would like to add note aside of the performance, on the subject of taking children to a ballet. I have taken my daughters to a fair few ballets in the past, and I have never come across such a brilliant programme before. Apart from containing so much interesting information, and wonderful photos, I absolutely loved the way it had a simplified cartoon breakdown of the storyline for children. I’ve haven’t seen this before and thought the idea was genius!

Now returning to the performance itself, it is so hard to find the words to describe such a remarkable performance. The set design was simple yet superb and gave the grand illusion of splendour. The costume department have also done a fabulous job, the costumes were all stunning.

The company as a whole performed charmingly, from the flawless pointe work, to the traditional mime. We really loved the cleverly portrayed jollity between the hunting party, the bewitching dream sequence and we enjoyed discovering the characteristics of each fairy through their expressive dance.

A delightful performance leading up to a spectacle of a finale glittering with gold.

Kings Theatre, Portsmouth – Thursday 8th February 2023

Reviewed by Sally Lumley

5*****

For one night only, showbiz royalty arrived in Portsmouth last night as Kerry Ellis and Louise Dearman took to the stage at the Kings theatre in A Wicked Night. This was a stripped back showcase of exceptional talent, with some stories and laughs along the way.

Both singers are leading ladies in their own right: on the West End, with numerous studio albums and as established concert performers. However, what might not be so well known is that they first met back in college 30 years ago and have remained friends ever since. The relaxed mood, with chat show style interviews led by the Kings Theatre artistic director Jack Edwards peppered throughout, allowed the audience to gain some personal insights from both performers about both their careers and their friendship. Each song was given a little extra poignancy, as we heard why it was chosen. Some particularly touching moments were when Louise Dearman sang Rainbow Connection from the Muppets, which she had recorded on an album of lullabies after her daughter was born, and Kerry Ellis giving a beautiful rendition of Alfie, a song that shares the name of her first born. They shared some of the challenges of a career in music, such as auditions, and juggling performing with motherhood, as well as some career highlights that included performing in front of the Royal Family, on international tours, and at the recent Festival of Remembrance.

With musical director Craig Adams accompanying the singers on grand piano, and minimal staging, it gave space for the vocals to shine. And wow, they sure did shine! This truly was a masterclass, showing exactly why both women have achieved such success. With a mix of solos and duets, and songs from musicals to Cilla Black, there was something for everyone. Using local choirs – the Resonate Show Choir and the Kings Theatre Arts Academy Choir – for some of the numbers added an extra dimension, with the young soloists bringing a lump to everyone’s throat in You Will Be Found. Particular highlights for me were the Garland/Babs medley and of course hearing Defying Gravity sung by not one, but two Elphabas was a real treat!

Kudos to Kings Theatre for having the vision to bring this show to Portsmouth. As was pointed out, it’s not every day we get two West End leading ladies in this neck of the woods. Judging by the reception last night, there is certainly an audience for more of the same. It felt like a treat to be included in what felt like a special night, where a genuine friendship and a love of performing shone through.

London Palladium – Wednesday 7 February

Reviewed by Mandi Riggi

3***

Candace Bushnell, the writer of Sex and the City, which chronicled her life in New York as a columnist, gracefully and confidently emerges onto the stage dressed in all red, sporting a mini skirt, and looking quite fine at age 65. She is an intriguing figure and an example of a true feminist to her fans.

The gathering consists of devotees of Sex and the City, the iconic comedy-drama that chronicled the lives of Carrie Bradshaw and her group of single friends in the bustling streets of Manhattan. The set is a boudoir decorated with expensive heels of all shapes. Every time the subject of shoes comes up, a light from above shines down accompanied by oohs and aahs from her captivated, predominantly female audience.

In her opening segment, she promises to unveil the scandalous secrets of Mr. Big, but the true takeaway is that she herself is “big,” or bigger than big.

A game show motif follows – a game of “is it real or not real” – asking her audience to guess how it all might have happened in her real life by shouting “real” or “not real” when she prompts them with a question.

While the TV series Sex and the City undoubtedly left its mark on women’s lives and challenged societal norms, this staged spectacle feels a bit dated as she continuously reminisces about a bygone era that could only really appeal to women of a certain age. Yet, the allure remains, perhaps still attracting a new generation of fans.

In retelling her story, Bushnell’s life has not been without struggle, from her father’s crass remarks to the unsettling encounters she faced as a young woman in various relationships, particularly with older men. She notifies her audience that she dated Gordon Parks at age 18 when he was 65. However, she chooses to emphasize the joys of a single, child-free life, defying the expectations that once confined women of her generation.

Bushnell presents herself as a feminist icon – her stories carry a sense of self-assurance that resonates with her audience. She reminds us of the barriers women faced when she first arrived in New York, such as the inability to obtain credit cards. One of the lessons she imparts is the importance of owning one’s living situation, even if it means indulging in luxuries like a shoe closet filled with Manolo Blahniks.

Her narrative encompasses the elements her fans crave – messages about independent women, heartfelt tributes to female friendships, and candid discussions about aging and menopause. However, it is worth noting that her performance in the first half of the event was not without its flaws. She displayed a rather childlike and adolescent demeanor. Fortunately, she showed much improvement in the second half when she gets candid about her struggles with aging and divorce. A true icon, her fans will continuously rush to throw flowers at her feet. She can do no wrong in their eyes, even though her stories might feel a bit superficial and dated. 

FURTHER CASTING ANNOUNCED

EMMERDALE STAR

LIAM FOX

TO PLAY ‘GRANDPA POTTS’

JOINING

ADAM GARCIA

AS ‘CARACTACUS POTTS’

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 Emmerdale star Liam Fox will play Grandpa Potts alongside Olivier-nominee Adam Garcia as Caractacus Potts 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 will play until 12 May 2024, before embarking on a UK tour. www.chittyontour.com Further casting to be announced soon.

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.

Adam Garcia recently received rave reviews as Julian Marsh in Curve and Sadler’s Wells hit production of 42nd 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.

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.

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG

UK TOUR LISTINGS

chittyontour.com

TUESDAY 30 APRIL – SUNDAY 12 MAY 2024

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton

www.mayflower.org.uk

WEDNESDAY 15 – SUNDAY 19 MAY 2024

New Victoria Theatre, Woking

www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre

TUESDAY 21 – SUNDAY 26 MAY 2024

New Wimbledon Theatre

www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre

TUESDAY 28 MAY – SATURDAY 1 JUNE 2024

Edinburgh Playhouse

www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse/

TUESDAY 4 – SATURDAY 8 JUNE 2024

Theatre Royal, Newcastle

www.theatreroyal.co.uk

TUESDAY 11 – SATURDAY 15 JUNE 2024

His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen

www.aberdeenperformingarts.com

TUESDAY 25 – SUNDAY 30 JUNE 2024

Churchill Theatre, Bromley

www.churchilltheatre.co.uk

TUESDAY 2 – SUNDAY 7 JULY 2024

Milton Keynes Theatre

www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre/

TUESDAY 9 – SUNDAY 14 JULY 2024

Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
www.bradford-theatres.co.uk/alhambra-theatre

TUESDAY 23 JULY – SATURDAY 3 AUGUST 2024

Grand Opera House, Belfast

www.goh.co.uk

TUESDAY 6 – SUNDAY 11 AUGUST 2024

Princess Theatre, Torquay

www.atgtickets.com/venues/princess-theatre-torquay/

TUESDAY 20 – SUNDAY 25 AUGUST 2024

Hawth Theatre, Crawley

www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/the-hawth

TUESDAY 13 – SUNDAY 18 AUGUST 2024

Venue Cymru, Llandudno

www.venuecymru.co.uk

TUESDAY 27 AUGUST – SUNDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 2024

King’s Theatre, Glasgow

www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre-glasgow/

TUESDAY 10 – SUNDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2024

Eden Court Theatre, Inverness

eden-court.co.uk

TUESDAY 24 – SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2024

Theatre Royal, Norwich

norwichtheatre.org

TUESDAY 1 – SUNDAY 6 OCTOBER 2024

New Theatre, Oxford

www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford/

TUESDAY 8 – SUNDAY 20 OCTOBER

Empire Theatre, Liverpool

www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire/

TUESDAY 22 – SUNDAY 27 OCTOBER

Regent Theatre, Stoke

www.atgtickets.com/regent-theatre

The role of Caractacus Potts to be announced soon.

TUESDAY 29 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 2 NOVEMBER

New Theatre, Hull

www.hulltheatres.co.uk

The role of Caractacus Potts to be announced soon.

TUESDAY 05 – SATURDAY 9 NOVEMBER

Curve Theatre, Leicester

curveonline.co.uk

The role of Caractacus Potts to be announced soon.

TUESDAY 19 – SUNDAY 24 NOVEMBER

Congress Theatre, Eastbourne

www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk

The role of Caractacus Potts to be announced soon.

TUESDAY 26 NOVEMBER – SUNDAY 01 DECEMBER

Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth

www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk

The role of Caractacus Potts to be announced soon.

TUESDAY 10 – SUNDAY 29 DECEMBER

Opera House, Blackpool

www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk

The role of Caractacus Potts to be announced soon.

2025

TUESDAY 18 MARCH – SATURDAY 01 MARCH  2025

Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield

https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/

ON SALE SOON 

The role of Caractacus Potts to be announced soon.

TUESDAY 4 – SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2025

Hippodrome Theatre, Birmingham

www.birminghamhippodrome.com

ON SALE SOON 

The role of Caractacus Potts to be announced soon.

WEDNESDAY 26 – SUNDAY 30 MARCH 2025

Cliffs Pavilion, Southend

www.trafalgartickets.com/cliffs-pavilion-southend

ON SALE SOON

The role of Caractacus Potts to be announced soon.

TUESDAY 15 – SATURDAY 19 APRIL 2025

Wales Millenium Centre, Cardiff

www.wmc.org.uk

ON SALE 8 MARCH 2024

The role of Caractacus Potts to be announced soon.

TUESDAY 6 – SATURDAY 10 MAY 2025

Theatre Royal, Plymouth

www.theatreroyal.com

ON SALE NOW

The role of Caractacus Potts to be announced soon.

James Seabright presents

Darkchat Award Winner

BUFFY REVAMPED

Seventy minutes. Seven seasons. One Spike.

Written by and starring Brendan Murphy

Directed by Hamish MacDougall

UK Tour extended into 2024 due to phenomenal popular demand

“INGENIOUSLY CHAOTIC…IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A GOOD, HARD LAUGH AND A TOUCH OF ESCAPISM THEN THIS IS THE SHOW FOR YOU” ***** Theatre Weekly (August 2023)

Brendan Murphy is delighted to announce that the tour of Award Winning Buffy Revamped is to be extended yet again in 2024 due to its popularity at venues throughout the UK and Ireland and in Toronto and America. This hugely popular, award-winning show based lovingly on the iconic 90s TV show Buffy The Vampire Slayer has garnered critical acclaim across the board including for a second Edinburgh Festival Fringe season where it was recognised as the best-reviewed comedy show of the entire 2023 Fringe by The British Comedy Guide.

“FANGTASTICALLY GOOD!” ***** West End Best Friend (August 2023)

In this fast-paced new production we bring you the entire 144 episodes of the hit 90s TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as told through the eyes of the one person who knows it inside out… Spike.

Funny, satirical and bursting with 90s pop-culture references, it’s the perfect parody for Buffy aficionados and those who never enrolled at Sunnydale High alike.

“AN EXPERTLY EXECUTED DEEP-DIVE INTO SEVEN SEASONS OF A CULT CLASSIC.” ***** Fringe Biscuit (August 2023)

Brendan Murphy is a London based actor, improviser and comedian. He was nominated for the Spotlight Prize in 2008 and he has toured extensively across the US and Canada as part of the Olivier Award nominated Potted Potter. He also wrote the hit show FRIEND: The One With Gunther (www.OneWithGunther.com) which will tour alongside Buffy Revamped in 2024.

Other theatre credits include The Crown Dual (Edinburgh, Wilton’s Music Hall & US Tour), Twelfth Night (Orange Tree) and The Adventure (The Royal Exchange). Screen credits include Doctors (BBC), Broadchurch (ITV), Twin Thing (Sky Arts), SO Beano (Sky Kids) and Spiderman: Far From Home (Marvel Studios).

An experienced improviser, Brendan is a member of BBC Radio One’s BattleActs! and has been a guest player for Second City and Monkey Toast Players. He has written and performed several solo comedy shows including BAGMAN and Enter The Bagman and FRIEND (The One With Gunther) which won the award for Best Play in the World Wide Comedy Awards. The award-winning success of Buffy Revamped the following year (Darkchat Awards 2022: Best Comedy Performer and Best One-Person Show) has confirmed him as one of the country’s most talented young writer/performers with both critics and audiences.

“I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS SHOW!” ***** One4Review (August 2023)

Hamish MacDougall’s recent credits include The War of the Worlds (UK & USA tours); Project Dictator (New Diorama); Willy by William Andrews (Soho/Pleasance); Hammerhead by Joseph Morpurgo (Soho/ Southbank/ Pleasance/ tour and winner of The Brighton Comedy Award); Life and Rhymes by Abandoman (Udderbelly/ Soho/ Melbourne) and The 24 Hour Plays (Old Vic).

www.buffyrevamped.co.uk | @BuffyRevamped | @ BuffyRevamped | @ BuffyRevamped