TOM HOLLAND

STARS IN

THE JAMIE LLOYD COMPANY’S

NEW PRODUCTION OF SHAKESPEARE’S

ROMEO & JULIET

AT DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE

The Jamie Lloyd Company today announces its new West End production of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, starring Tom Holland as Romeo, and directed by Jamie Lloyd. Romeo & Juliet runs at the Duke of York’s Theatre, Saturday 11 May – Saturday 3 August 2024.

Further casting to be announced. Tickets go on sale to those signed up for priority booking and ATG+ members on Tuesday 13 February at 8am; general booking opens on Tuesday 13 February at 12pm.

Sign up for priority booking here: www.romeoandjulietLDN.com

The Jamie Lloyd Company also continues its commitment to accessibility, offering 10,000 tickets priced at £25 and under, with 5,000 of these exclusively for under 30s, key workers and those receiving government benefits. Further information to be announced. 

Jamie Lloyd said today, “Tom Holland is one of the greatest, most exciting young actors in the world. It is an honour to welcome him back to the West End.”

The Jamie Lloyd Company presents

ROMEO & JULIET

By William Shakespeare

Directed by Jamie Lloyd

Text edited by Nima Taleghani; Set and Costume Design: Soutra Gilmour; Lighting Design: Jon Clark; Sound Design; Ben and Max Ringham;Video Design and Cinematography: Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom; Composer: Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante; Casting Director: Stuart Burt CDG;Movement Directors: Sarah Golding & Yukiko Masui (SAY); Intimacy Coordinator: Ingrid Mackinnon; Associate Director: Jonathan Glew; Associate Designer: Rachel Wingate

Duke of York’s Theatre

Saturday 11 May – Saturday 3 August 2024

Violent delights have violent ends.

Tom Holland is Romeo in Jamie Lloyd’s pulsating new vision of Shakespeare’s immortal tale of wordsmiths, rhymers, lovers and fighters. 

Romeo & Juliet is produced by The Jamie Lloyd Company and David Binder Productions.

www.romeoandjulietLDN.com

Instagram:          @RomeoJulietLDN

X:                           @RomeoJulietLDN

Facebook:           /RomeoJulietLDN

Tom Holland plays Romeo. He is a global star as a result of his iconic portrayal of ‘Peter Parker’ in the box office record-breaking franchise Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home and Spider-Man: No Way Home as well as the installments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe including Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Other film credits include Uncharted with co-stars Mark Wahlberg and Antonio Banderas and directed by Ruben Fleischer; Cherry for directors Joe and Anthony Russo; Chaos Walking for director Doug Liman, opposite Daisy Ridley, Mads Mikkelsen, David Oyelowo and Demián Bichir; The Devil All The Time directed by Antonio Campos, also stars Robert Pattinson and Mia Wasikowska; Alfonso Gomez Rejon’s The Current War, alongside Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Shannon; Juan Antonio Bayona’s The Impossible, for which he was awarded ‘Breakthrough Actor of the Year’ by the National Board of Review, received the ‘Spotlight Award’ from the Hollywood Film Awards and was nominated for the ‘Best Young Actor/Actress’ BFCA Critics’ Choice Award; James Gray’s Lost City Of Z with Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson and Sienna Miller; Ron Howard’s In The Heart Of The Sea; Kevin MacDonald’s How I Live Now opposite Saoirse Ronan; Steven Knight’s Locke with Tom Hardy; and Rob Connolly’s Edge Of Winter opposite Joel Kinnaman.

Television credits include The Crowded Room (Apple TV+), for which he serves as an executive producer and received a Critics Choice Award nomination for his performance; and Wolf Hall (BBC), alongside Mark Rylance and Claire Foy.

He has appeared as a featured voice in the PIXAR animated film, Onward, opposite Chris Pratt; Disney action-adventure animated film, Spies In Disguise; and the feature adaptation of Dolittle, opposite Robert Downey Jr. and Antonio Banderas.

Holland made his stage debut as the title role in Billy Elliot The Musical (Victoria Palace Theatre).

Jamie Lloyd directs. His credits for the company include Sunset Boulevard (Savoy Theatre – Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Director), The Effect (National Theatre), A Doll’s House (Hudson Theatre, New York – nominated for six 2023 Tony Awards including Best Direction of a Play and Best Revival of a Play), The Seagull (Harold Pinter Theatre), Cyrano de Bergerac (Playhouse Theatre/Harold Pinter Theatre/Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York – Olivier Award for Best Revival), Betrayal (Pinter at the Pinter, Harold Pinter Theatre/ Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre – nominated for four 2021 Tony Awards including Best Direction of a Play and Best Revival of a Play), Pinter One, Two, Three, Six and Seven (Pinter at the Pinter, Harold Pinter Theatre), The Maids, The Homecoming, The Ruling Class, Richard III, The Pride, The Hothouse and Macbeth (Trafalgar Studios).

LISTINGS

ROMEO & JULIET

Duke of York’s Theatre

Saturday 11 May – Saturday 3 August 2024

Box Office: www.romeoandjulietLDN.com

NEW CASTING ANNOUNCED

CARA DELEVINGNE AS SALLY BOWLES

AND

LUKE TREADAWAY AS THE EMCEE

IN

THE MULTI AWARD-WINNING, CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED

WEST END PRODUCTION

OF

CABARET

AT THE KIT KAT CLUB

FROM 11 MARCH 2024

The producers of the multi award-winning, critically acclaimed West End production of CABARET at the KIT KAT CLUB are delighted to announce that from 11 March 2024 until 1 June 2024, the roles of Sally Bowles will be played by actress and model Cara Delevingne and The Emcee will be played by Olivier Award-winning actor Luke Treadaway. 

CABARET at the KIT KAT CLUB is now booking until February 2025. kitkat.club

Cara Delevingne said today “There are no words to explain the excitement I have to return home to make my stage debut in such an iconic role. I am so inspired by the brilliant actors who have played Sally in past productions around the world and in this one in the West End. I cannot wait to be a part of this brilliant cast and production.”

Luke Treadaway said today “I can’t wait to become a member of the Kit Kat Club and join this extraordinary production. It’s a huge thrill to be asked to take this on and I’m very excited to get started.” 

Cara Delevingne is one of the most recognisable faces in the world, most known for her work across the entertainment and fashion industry.  Her film credits include Joe Wright’s ANNA KARENINA, PAPER TOWNS, DC Comics’ SUICIDE SQUAD, Luc Besson’s VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS, THE FACE OF AN ANGEL, HER SMELL, LIFE IN A YEAR, and TELL IT LIKE A WOMAN.  In television, Delevingne was a part of the SAG nominated cast of ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING opposite Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez.  She has also been seen on television in Amazon’s CARNIVAL ROW, PLANET SEX and most recently in Ryan Murphy’s AMERICAN HORROR STORY: DELICATE. A talented singer and drummer, Cara’s Pharrell Williams-produced song, “I Feel Everything” was featured on the soundtrack of her film VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS. Delevingne also appeared on Fiona Apple’s Grammy-nominated album “Fetch the Bolt Cutters”.  Delevingne has used her platform to speak out on important issues, becoming an influential voice for the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as an advocate for mental health issues, women’s rights, and environmental conservation.

Luke Treadaway won the Olivier Award for Best Leading Actor for his performance of Christopher in the National Theatre’s production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. He was also nominated for Best Actor at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards for his portrayal of the role. In New York he appeared in Hamlet and Oresteia at the Park Avenue Armory. His West End credits include Nick in Who’s Afraid of Virgina Woolf at the Harold Pinter Theatre, Karl in Over There at the Royal Court and Albert Narracott in War Horse and Saint Joan, both at the National Theatre. His other theatre credits include Cradle Me at the Finborough Theatre and Piranha Heights at Soho Theatre. His film credits include A Street Cat Named Bob, Ethel and Ernest, The Rack Pack, Unbroken, The Rise, Cheerful Weather for The Wedding, You Instead, Late Bloomers, Attack The Block, Killing Bono, The Whistleblower, Clash of The Titans, Heartless, Viko, Brothers Of The Head. His TV credits include The Serial Killer’s Wife, Lockwood & Co, The Singapore Grip, Traitors, Ordeal by Innocence, Unspeakable, Urban Myths: When Bowie Met Bolan, Fortitude, The Hollow Crown, Vicious, The Nightmare Worlds of HG Wells, 13 Steps Down, Clapham Junction and The Innocence Project. His radio credits include Oil: Stand Firm, You Cads!, The Wager, The Bone Clocks, Plantagenet Series 3 – Henry V, Life and Fate: Vera and Her Pilot, The History of Titus Groan, At The Edge of The Earth, Children’s Crusade, Pilgrim Series 2, We Outnumber You, War Horse and Caligari.

Cara will not be performing on the following dates – Wednesday 13 March (matinee), Thursday 21 March (evening), Wednesday 27 March (matinee), Thursday 4 April (evening), Tuesday 9 April (evening) Wednesday 10 April (matinee and evening), Thursday 11 April (evening), Friday 12 April (evening), Thursday 18 April (evening), Wednesday 24 April (matinee), Thursday 2 May (evening), Monday 6 May (evening), Tuesday 7 May (evening), Wednesday 8 May (matinee and evening), Thursday 16 May (evening), Friday 17 May (evening), Saturday 18 May (matinee and evening), Wednesday 22 May (matinee) and Thursday 30 May (evening).

They join Michael Ahomka-Lindsay as Clifford Bradshaw, Beverley Klein as Fraulein Schneider and Teddy Kempner as Herr Schultz. Nic Myers plays the role of Sally Bowles once a week.

Completing the company are Wilf Scolding as Ernst Ludwig, Jessica Kirton as Fraulein Kost/Fritzie, Liv Alexander as Texas, Natalie Chua as Frenchie, Taite-Elliot Drew as Hans, Damon Gould as Victor, El Haq Latief as Helga, and Travis Ross as Bobby, joining Laura Delany as Rosie, Grant Neal as Herman/Max and Hicaro Nicolai as Lulu. The cast is completed by Rebecca Lisewski, Ela Lisondra, Nic Myers, Andy Rees, Toby Turpin and Patrick Wilden.

The prologue company are Rachel Benson, Ami Benton, Onyemachi Ejimofor, Joseph Hardy, Liz Kamille, Andrew Linnie, Aine McLoughlin, Jack William Parry, Jazmyn Raikes, Oliver Stockley and Ena Yamaguchi.

This unique production of CABARET opened in December 2021 to critical and audience acclaim, widely praised as the ultimate theatrical experience. In April 2022 the production won a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards, the most for any musical revival in Olivier history. The production has also won three prestigious Critics Circle Awards as well as the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Design for designer Tom Scutt. The Broadway production of CABARET starring Eddie Redmayne and Gayle Rankin will open at the KIT KAT CLUB at the August Wilson Theatre in April.

Transforming one of London’s most famous theatres with an in-the-round auditorium and reimagined spaces, before the show guests are invited to enjoy and explore the Kit Kat Club with pre-show entertainment, drinks and dining all on offer. When booking, guests receive a ‘club entry time’ to allow enough time to take in the world of the Kit Kat Club before the show starts. But of course, the show really starts when you first join us in the club…

One of the most successful musicals of all time CABARET features the songs Wilkommen, Don’t Tell Mama, Mein Herr, Maybe This Time, Money and the title number. It has music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Joe Masteroff. Based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood.

CABARET is directed by Rebecca Frecknall, set and costume design is by Tom Scutt with choreography by Julia Cheng. Musical supervision is by Jennifer Whyte and musical direction is by Ben Ferguson with lighting design by Isabella Byrd and sound design by Nick Lidster. The casting director is Stuart Burt and the associate director and prologue director is Jordan Fein. The prologue composer and musical director is Angus MacRae.

CABARET at the KIT KAT CLUB is produced by Ambassador Theatre Group Productions and Underbelly.

THE WATERMILL THEATRE 2024

AWARD-WINNING NEWBURY VENUE ANNOUNCES FULL SEASON DETAILS

INCLUDING A REVIVAL OF BARNUM AS THE SUMMER MUSICAL

(2 JULY – 8 SEPTMBER)

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (12 APRIL – 18 MAY)

FANNY (23 MAY – 15 JUNE)

THE KING’S SPEECH (20 SEPTEMBER – 2 NOVEMBER)

PINOCCHIO (15 NOVEMBER – 5 JANUARY 2025)

TICKETS ON SALE TO FRIENDS & MEMBERS 9 FEB (MEMBERSHIPS START FROM £35 PER YEAR)

EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS 16 FEB, GENERAL ON SALE 17 FEB.

BOOK ONLINE AT WATERMILL.ORG.UK OR VIA THE BOX OFFICE ON 01635 46044

Fresh from its success at The Stage Awards where it was named Theatre of the Year, joint CEOs Artistic Director Paul Hart andExecutive Director Claire Murray, and the whole team at Newbury’s The Watermill Theatre are thrilled to announce the rest of their 2024 season of work at the award-winning venue.

The Watermill’s 2024 summer musical will be a revival of the Olivier and Tony award-nominated musical Barnum from 2 July – 8 September. Featuring music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Michael Stewart, and a book by Mark Bramble, the show takes audiences into the dazzling world of the legendary P.T. Barnum where imagination and ambition know no bounds.  Directed by Jonathan O’Boyle (Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical – West End, The Last Five Years – Southwark Playhouse & West End), choreographed by Oti Mabuse who returns to the Watermill after her work on Kiss Me Kate in 2019 and featuring an ensemble cast of actor-musicians and circus performers, this sensational show will overtake the Watermill site with the wonders and delights of Barnum’s circus.

From 12 April – 18 May, The Watermill’s critically acclaimed Watermill Ensemble will sashay into the Golden Age of Hollywood in a new take on Shakespeare’s classic comedy Much Ado About Nothing. Adapted by Tom Wentworth and directed by Paul Hart, the new production sets the comedy at a bustling film set and will feature a 1940s-inspired soundscape, played live by the ensemble cast of actor-musicians.

From 23 May – 15 June, RJG Productions and The Watermill will present the world premiere of FANNY, a new comedy by Calum Finlay, directed by Katie-Ann McDonough, and starring Charlie Russell (The Goes Wrong Show – BBC, The Play That Goes Wrong – West End & Broadway), that reveals that Fanny Mendelssohn, sister of renowned composer Felix Mendelssohn, wrote some of his greatest hits. When Fanny intercepts a letter addressed to ‘F. Mendelssohn’ inviting Felix to play for Queen Victoria, she decides to don his clothes and take his place. The fun and irreverent comedy celebrates classical music and – at last – recognises the work of a composer overlooked for her sex.

From 20 September – 2 November, The Watermill will stage a new production of David Seidler’s The King’s Speech, directed by Emma Butler (Never Have I Ever – Chichester Festival Theatre, Camelot – West End), which takes an intimate view of one of life’s most unorthodox relationships between Bertie, the soon-to-be-crowned King George VI, and speech therapist Lionel Logue. As Hitler’s threat on Europe encroaches, Bertie fights his own battle to overcome his speech impediment at the time his country needs him most.

From 15 November – 5 January 2025, The Watermill’s annual festive production will be a new musical adaptation of Pinocchio . Casting aside his parents’ wishes, the production follows Pinocchio as he sets off on a path of fun and freedom ready to discover the world. However, being faced with big decisions leads to some very calamitous consequences for Pinocchio, and it takes courage, heart, and a sprinkling of magic to discover what it means to grow up and the power of unconditional love.

The Watermill will also welcome The Wardrobe Ensemble with their brand-new adaptation of Babette Cole’s Princess Smartypants (4 – 6 April), a subversive, fun-filled adventure for children aged 4+ and their families; the popular Watermill Comedy Night returns with Laura Lexx headlining  (6 April), and there is another opportunity to shop at the Watermill with a new Farmer’s Market full of delicious produce from a host of local suppliers (26 April).

Speaking about the new season Paul Hart said, “We have started this year having our theatre and work recognised with some amazing awards, and we’re delighted to share our next season which combines new writing and new approaches to much-loved titles.  Our new adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing, adapted by Tom Wentworth, combines the glamour and music of 1940s Hollywood with the bustle of a film set and all the secrets and trickery of Shakespeare’s classic comedies.  We’ll be spending summer at the circus with our new production of Barnum, which will bring the joy and wonder of the magical world that P.T. Barnum creates whilst considering the cost of his ambition to those around him.  Our multi-talented cast of actor-musicians will have the added challenge of also becoming circus performers in this brand-new version of this classic musical.

In autumn, Emma Butler’s intimate production of David Seidler’s The King’s Speech will explore the extraordinary relationship between Bertie and Lionel, as their two very different worlds collide, and royal protocol is put to one side. We’re thrilled to be working with the brilliant team at RJG Productions to bring a brand-new comedy to the Watermill with the hilarious FANNY, which reveals that composer Felix Mendelssohn’s sister, Fanny, was responsible for some of his most highly regarded work.  At Christmas, the most famous puppet in the world, Pinocchio comes to the Watermill stage in a brand-new musical adaptation packed full of a menagerie of colourful characters, puppetry and music for festive family fun.”

Claire Murray added, “We’re excited to bring our distinctive Watermill style to a brilliant collection of plays and musicals and proud to continue to invest in new writing and adaptations as well as revivals. Our production of Barnum, featuring acrobatics and actor musicians, will take over the whole site, immersing audiences in the thrill and spectacle of the circus – it’s going to be another fantastic summer for all the family! 

As a registered charity, fundraising is vital to our continued work and we’re delighted to add to our Friends memberships, with new levels starting from as little as £10 per month. These new levels provide opportunities for people to engage with The Watermill on a deeper level – to gain a real insight into our work, get to know us better, and really see the difference their donation is making. We have also introduced the Watermill Musical Circle, through which donors can support and follow the process of creating a musical from the early stages of development, into the rehearsal room all the way to the on-stage experience. We hope this will help us welcome more people to be part of The Watermill’s growing community of donors.”   

Priority booking opens for Friends and Members on 9 February, with memberships starting at £35 for the year.  Email subscribers booking opens on 16 February with general booking opening the following day on 17 February.  Tickets for the season start at £15 and can be booked online at watermill.org.uk or by calling the box office on 01635 46044.

Announcing the first revival of the Olivier Award-winning
one-man show
Jeeves Takes Charge
by P. G. Wodehouse

Adapted by James Duke, Edward Duke and Hugh Wooldridge
directed by Hugh Wooldridge

starring Sam Harrison

Theatre at The Tabard
Sunday 11 February at 3pm & 7pm
Monday 12 February at 7.30pm

RSC, Chichester and West End leading actor Sam Harrison will star in three exclusive
performances at the Tabard Theatre in the first revival of the Olivier Award-winning one-man show, Jeeves Takes Charge by P. G. Wodehouse.

Transporting us back to an age where work is unthinkable and keeping in with your relatives is of paramount importance for the gentleman of leisure, Harrison plays 22 roles including the amiable, brainless, goofy man-about town, Bertie Wooster, and his bachelor valet, the dourly efficient, unusually intelligent, Jeeves.

Jeeves’ attempts to keep his young master unmarried and himself in employment, whilst Wooster loses both his fiancée, Lady Florence Craye, and a sudden desire to have children around the house due to Jeeves’ cunning. What follows is a masterly piece of comic timing and multi-faceted mimicry highlighting the bright, brittle high society life of the 1920’s.

Originally starring Edward Duke (Olivier Award for Most Promising Newcomer), Jeeves Takes Charge premiered at the Lyric Hammersmith and the Sydmonton Festival before transferring to the West End produced by the singer Barbara Thompson, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh.  Over the next twelve years, Jeeves Takes Charge played in South Africa, Canada, Australia and in the U.S. where Edward Duke was nominated for a Drama Desk Award.  

A favourite of the Royal Family, Jeeves Takes Charge was performed twice for them in
Buckingham Palace and at Windsor Castle.

Jeeves Takes Charge was originally directed by Hugh Wooldridge, who returns to direct the new production.

LISTINGS INFO

Jeeves Takes Charge
by P. G. Wodehouse,
Adapted by James Duke, Edward Duke
and Hugh Wooldridge

directed by Hugh Wooldridge

starring  Sam Harrison

Theatre At The Tabard
2 Bath Road
London
W4 1LW

Sunday 11th February
at 3pm & 7pm

Monday 12th February
at 7:30pm

Tickets:
£18/£15 concessions

Online: https://tabard.org.uk

Phone: 020 8995 6035

THE BARN THEATRE ANNOUNCES NEW REVIVAL PRODUCTION OF NICK PAYNE’S

CONSTELLATIONS

DIRECTED BY JESSICA DANIELS

(THE BUTTERFLY LION, THE MOZART QUESTION)

29 MARCH – 18 MAY

The Barn Theatre in Cirencester has today announced that they will be reviving Nick Payne’s multi-award-winning play Constellations, running at the Cotswold venue from 29 March – 18 May, with a press performance on 2 April.

Constellations will see the return of Jessica Daniels to direct the production, having previously directed the theatre’s acclaimed Built by Barn productions of The Butterfly Lion and The Mozart Question, for which Daniels received a UK Theatre Awards nomination for Best Direction.

Payne’s play is a high concept romance, a Sliding Doors to the power of 100 – and many other things at once: a drama about time and memory, about death and grief, playful and profound, comic and mournful.

The award-winning smash hit brings together the unlikeliest of couples in Roland, a beekeeper and Marianne, a physicist. What follows is a relationship and friendship that embraces the richness of the characters, allowing the audience to share in the comedy and the heartbreak, drawing them into the unflinching reality that the characters eventually face.

Nick Payne’s dazzling play is a beautiful rich exploration into human connections with a plot that ingeniously keeps us guessing until the very end.

Constellations first premiered in the UK in 2012, winning the Best Play category at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards, making the 29-year-old Payne the youngest winner of the award. The play also received several nominations at the 2013 Olivier Awards, including a Best Play nomination, before debuting on Broadway in 2015 to great acclaim, including three Drama League Award nominations. 2021, The play won the 2022 Olivier Award for Best Play Revival.

Jessica Daniels said of today’s announcement, “I’m thrilled to be returning to The Barn to direct Nick Payne’s Constellations. It’s play I’ve always loved, at a theatre that has produced some of my proudest work. I can’t wait to start work with the team.”

Daniels will be joined by Ethan Cheek (My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) – Broadway) as Designer and Off West End Award-nominee Hector Murray (High Society – The Mill at Sonning) as Lighting Designer. Casting and further creative team will be announced at a later date.

Since launching in 2018, the Barn Theatre has gained national recognition having produced over 35 Built by Barn shows and being awarded The Stage Awards’ Best Fringe Theatre of the Year Award 2019. The theatre recently celebrated its fifth anniversary with a season that included world premieres of Simon Reade’s adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s Waiting For Anya, Jonathan Lynn’s final instalment of his classic series I’m Sorry Prime Minister, I Can’t Quite Remember, as well as a reimagined revival production of the musical Once and the world premiere of a musical adaptation of Treasure Island.

More information can be found at www.barntheatre.org.uk

Forum Theatre, Malvern – 4th February 2024

Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau

4.5****

The house lights went down, the stage was dimly lit, the large projection sphere lit up with its first interesting video montage and the sound of swirling keyboards (from Rick Benbow) filled the air. Classic Floyd.

The opener “Shine On You Crazy Diamond Parts 1-5 & 7” kicked off proceedings with an emotional hat tip to founding member Syd Barrett. Still sadly missed and greatly loved, this song was their tribute to their long lost friend. It was great to see images of Syd projected up there and another joy was backing vocalist Jo Paterson-Neild wielding not one, but two saxes! An amazing display of musicianship from all concerned and a great way to open a show.

After some rapturous applause we were thrown headlong into solid gold crowd pleaser “Astronomy Domine” from the band’s first album from 1967 – one of Syd’s compositions. What an incredible song and way ahead of its time – no wonder he is such a hero to the likes of Captain Sensible. This is what we wanted and the band were fulfilling our expectations with some fierce, visceral playing of the highest order.

David Power (vocals, bass, Producer and Director, no less) introduced the group and told us that they were concentrating on the Division Bell album as it was its 30th anniversary. Not my favourite era of the band. I can understand why a group having done this show for 17 years would want to mix it up I applaud them for that, but personally, I was over the dark side of the moon when we hit the 70s again with “Money” and “Happiest Days/Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2”.

The second half of the show really took off for me with just one 80s/90s era tune; the rest were absolute killers! The projections really came into their own with “Us and Them” showing images of the poor and homeless contrasted with the filthy rich being particularly powerful images. Also “Brain Damage” opening line “the lunatic is on the grass…” – enter Donald Trump and continuing with images of plenty of the most prominent UK politicians: most amusing and yet (sadly) not. Thought provoking use of tech.

The entire band were spot on, note perfect, faithfully recreating the sounds of Floyd in thrilling fashion – I find their songs translate even better live than on record. All the guitar solos from Mike Bollard and Paul Andrews and the powerhouse drumming from Francesco Borrelli were everything you could expect and want from top class musicians. But, inevitably, it was the vocal display from “The Great Gig In The Sky” by singer Emma Street that stole the show. Wow! What a voice! I had to check the car when I returned to it that the paint was still intact as I feared those searing high notes might have stripped it off and shattered the windows. And I mean that as a compliment – a fearless display that took ones breath away.

The band finished the evening with “Run Like Hell” and next time they announce they’re coming to town I’d advise you to do the same – straight to the box office to secure tickets! Looking forward to their next visit already.

STRICTLY COME DANCING CHAMPION

ELLIE LEACH

TO MAKE HER STAGE ACTING DEBUT AS MISS SCARLETT

IN THE UK TOUR OF

TICKETS ON SALE NOW: CLUEDOSTAGEPLAY.COM

Ellie Leach – reigning champion of Strictly Come Dancing – will make her stage acting debut as Miss Scarlett in the world premiere UK tour of Cluedo 2. Ellie won the hearts of the nation as she waltzed her way to victory (with dance partner Vito) to win the Glitterball Trophy in December. She is also known to millions of viewers as Faye Windass in Coronation Street. During her 13 years on the soap, Ellie was involved in various memorable storylines and nominated for numerous acting awards.

Based on the classic Hasbro boardgame, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, the five month UK tour marks the world premiere of Cluedo 2, which kicks off at Richmond Theatre on 29 February and visits theatres across the UK until July.

Starring alongside Ellie will be leading West End actor and TV favourite Jason Durr, who stars as Colonel Mustard. Most recently seen as David Hide in BBC One’s Casualty, (a role he played for seven years from 2016), audiences will also recognise Jason from his numerous other roles, including the motorbike riding policeman Mike Bradley from ITV’s hugely popular series, Heartbeat.

Ellie Leach said: “After an incredible year I’m so excited to join the cast of Cluedo 2. I am delighted to make my stage acting debut as Miss Scarlett and I can’t wait to work with Jason and the talented cast.”

Jason Durr said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the cast of Cluedo 2 as Colonel Mustard. I was a huge fan of the Cluedo board game as a child and the Colonel is such a great character. I am looking forward to bringing laughter and this ultimate whodunnit to audiences across the UK in its 75th anniversary year.”

The cast is completed by Jack Bennett (Wadsworth), Hannah Boyce (Mrs Peacock), Dawn Buckland (Mrs White), Liam Horrigan (Mr Black), Edward Howells (Professor Plum), Tiwai Muza (PC Silver) and Gabriel Paul (Reverend Green) with Kara Alberts-Turner, Audrey Anderson and Henry Lawes. Helen Flanagan has been advised to withdraw for medical reasons and the company of Cluedo 2 wish her well.

Following the huge success of the critically acclaimed original play, Cluedo is back on stage with a brand new, original comedy mystery, set in the swinging 60’s. It’s written by one of the UK’s most successful TV and stage writing duos, BAFTA Award winning writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, (Birds of a Feather, Goodnight Sweetheart and Dreamboats and Petticoats) and will be directed by Mark Bell (The Play That Goes Wrong, A Comedy About a Bank Robbery), who will bring the action of this hilarious whodunnit to life.

Set and Costume Design is by David Farley, Lighting by Jason Taylor, Sound by Jon Fiber and Movement Direction by Anna Healey.

As the bodies pile up, our colourful characters – The Honourable Mrs Emerald Peacock, Colonel Eugene Mustard, ‘Professor’ Alex Plum, Miss Annabel Scarlett, ‘The Reverend’ Hal Green and the housekeeper Mrs White – move from room to room trying to escape the murderer and survive the night. Cluedo 2, will keep audiences guessing right up to the final moments, and budding detectives of all ages, from 8 to 80 and beyond, can watch for the clues and unravel the secrets, as they try to work out whodunnit… with what… and where!

Cluedo 2 is produced by JAS Theatricals, Gabriel Creative Partners, The Araca Group and Lively McCabe Entertainment. Cluedo on stage is based on the Hasbro board game and the Paramount Pictures motion picture, Clue.

CLUEDO 2 – The Next Chapter: UK Tour Dates

29 February – 2 March Richmond Theatre

5 – 9 March Woking, New Victoria Theatre

12 – 16 March York, Theatre Royal

19 – 23 March Brighton, Theatre Royal

25 – 30 March Cambridge, Arts Theatre

2 – 6 April Salford, The Lowry

9 – 13 April Hull, New Theatre

16 – 20 April Milton Keynes Theatre

23 – 27 April Shrewsbury, Severn Theatre

30 April – 4 May Malvern, Festival Theatre

6 – 11 May Bath, Theatre Royal

14 – 18 May Sheffield, Lyceum Theatre

21 – 25 May Nottingham, Theatre Royal

28 May – 1 June Newcastle, Theatre Royal

4 – 8 June Glasgow, Theatre Royal

19 – 23 June Southampton, Mayflower Theatre

25 – 29 June Cardiff, New Theatre

2 – 6 July Norwich, Theatre Royal

9 – 13 July Truro, Hall for Cornwall

16 – 20 July Cheltenham, Everyman Theatre*

23 – 27 July Birmingham, Alexandra Theatre*

*Ellie Leach will not perform at this venue

Listings Information

Ticket prices: From £13

Website: cluedostageplay.com

X (formerly Twitter): @CluedoStagePlay

Instagram: @cluedostageplay

Facebook: /CluedoStagePlay

Southbank Centre announces International Performance & Dance programme for 2024-2025

• A string of bold physical UK dance premieres from international companies and artists including Shechter II: From England with Love, Qudus Onikeku / The QDance Company’s Re:INCARNATION, In My Body by Crazy Smooth and Chunky Move’s 4/4, choreographed by Antony Hamilton.
• The UK debut of Poland’s new star theatre director Łukasz Twarkowski with part-installation part-theatre work The Employees.
• The return of London International Festival of Theatre with two daring shows; Cliff Cardinal’s William Shakespeare’s As You Like It: A Radical Retelling and Nadia Beugré: L’Homme rare.
• Forced Entertainment marks its 40th anniversary with a London-wide season of work including two new works and a revival at the Southbank Centre.
• A weekend of new performance work from South East Asia; Dragon Ladies Don’t Weep (Singapore) and Haribo Kimchi (South Korea).
• The long-awaited London premiere of Adrienne Truscott and Dublin’s Brokentalkers Masterclass

The Southbank Centre today announces its 2024-2025 Performance and Dance programme, featuring an array of international work, contemporary collaborations and brand-new work from award-winning companies and artists from the UK, Ireland, Nigeria, Poland, Australia, Canada and beyond. Boldly international and with a mix of new commissions and UK premieres that reinforce the Southbank Centre’s status as a creative engine for arts and culture, this programme will introduce audiences to adventurous, influential and up-and-coming artists for unforgettable experiences.

Aaron Wright, Head of Performance & Dance at the Southbank Centre, says: “Over the coming year some extraordinary companies and artists from across the world will grace the stages of the Southbank Centre as part of this major Performance & Dance programme. We’re continuing our love affair with dance, presenting highly physical and visually unique performances that will appeal to both new and committed dance audiences alike. Following our groundbreaking 2023 season, headlined by the Marina Abramović Institute Takeover of the Queen Elizabeth Hall, we continue to present daring works that demonstrate theatre to be a vital, contemporary artform and are certain to get people talking.”

Mark Ball, Artistic Director at the Southbank Centre, says: “The Southbank Centre has always been an engine of creativity – this international programme brings pioneering artists to London, often for the first time. It’s a testament to the scale of our ambition in performance and dance as we continue to ensure the Southbank Centre is providing audiences with a truly diverse offering.” 

Building on the Southbank Centre’s vibrant history as a place for dance across its stages and public spaces, the season opens with new work from Hofesh Shechter: From England with Love. Performed by Shechter II From England with Love is a paean to the multi-layered complexity that is England. Through Shechter’s choreography, the dancers will evoke the paradox at the heart of this open, generous and soul-searching land, conflicted by its dark history and powerful attachment to deep-rooted traditions. They draw us into their search for identity and self-knowledge as they grapple with this complex system of values. Performed to an original score composed by Shechter, this new piece will bring together the beauty, wit and invention of the best of English classical composers, presented in a clash with raging rock alongside echoes of choral song and electronics in an avant-garde cacophony. 

Presented in partnership with Dance Consortium, Nigeria’s much celebrated The QDance Company led by choreographer Qudus Onikeku makes its debut on the Queen Elizabeth Hall stage with Re:INCARNATION. An ode to the richness of Nigerian culture, this dance, music, fashion and visual art fusion mixes ancient Yoruba philosophy mixed with Nigerian youth culture. Ten young dancers and two musicians perform the cycle of life with explosive energy, marked by the creative urban energy of the Nigerian city of Lagos.

The UK Premiere of 4/4 by Australian dance company Chunky Move sees eight dancers perform a display of mesmerising movement in Antony Hamilton’s blueprint for choreographic precision and physical endurance. The diversity in the dancers’ artistic backgrounds in krump, freestyle hip-hop and house, coupled with Hamilton’s striking craftsmanship and a minimal scenography, highlights a uniquely Australian performance.

For one weekend only in May, the Southbank Centre presents two new performance works from South East Asia. Dragon Ladies Don’t Weep is a sonic portrait of new music icon Margaret Leng Tan – an evocative exploration of memory, time, control and loss. Haribo Kimchi takes audiences on a journey through the history of South Korea through the familiar, startling and sacred language of food.

Canada’s b-boy Crazy Smooth presents In My Body, a dynamic exploration of the effects of ageing on the street dancer’s entire being – body, mind and spirit. Crazy Smooth has assembled an intergenerational all-star cast of five men and four women comprised of Canada’s top street dancers, who execute the physically demanding and visually impressive choreography alongside projections and spoken word. The performance features an original soundtrack by DJ Shash’U and is written by Alejandro Rodriguez.

In January 2025, Polish theatre artist Łukasz Twarkowski brings The Employees, a production of STUDIO teatrgaleria (Warsaw), to the UK for the first time, in a ground-breaking and innovative multidisciplinary play that explores the relationship between humans and robots, using images and sound the piece looks at ideas of human consciousness and desires. Set millions of kilometres away from Earth and in a distant future, it brings up many problems of contemporary reality – the crisis of relationships between humans and nature in the face of an increasingly technology-driven society. The script of the play by Joanna Bednarczyk is based on the International Booker Prize-nominated novel The Employees by Danish author Olga Ravn. 

Returning to present two exciting new works in partnership with the Southbank Centre, London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT) returns in June with William Shakespeare’s As You Like It: A Radical Retelling by cultural provocateur Cliff Cardinal and L’Homme rare choreographed by Nadia Beugré. Exulting in dark humour, difficult subject matter, and raw emotion As You Like It: A Radical Retelling explores the double meaning that teasingly suggests this is a play to please all tastes. In Nadia Beugré’s L’Homme rare, the audience takes the role of voyeur as this new dance work interrogates perceptions of gender and objectification. Drawing inspiration from a series of old photographs of enslaved people for sale in markets on the Ivory Coast, L’Homme rare also becomes a reflection on the history of Europeans’ gaze on black bodies and its persistence today.

Multi-award-winning, hugely influential and globally renowned, Sheffield-based theatre company Forced Entertainment celebrates its 40th year with a special London-wide programme of work in partnership with the Southbank Centre, Battersea Arts Centre and The Place. In October, they will bring three shows to the Southbank Centre, the UK premiere of their new mainstage ensemble work Signal to Noise, the first-ever performance of a new collaboration between Forced Entertainment’s Artistic Director Tim Etchells & acclaimed percussionist Tony Buck (The Necks): Go On Like This, and the revival of their classic durational work, 12am: Awake and Looking Down.

New work Signal to Noise is an invitation to reflect on our shared contemporary experience, developed through the group’s rigorous and intuitive collaborative process as six performers navigate a world of constraints, traps, behavioural habits and repeating cycles. Tim Etchells & Tony Buck: Go On Like This is a performance encounter between artist and writer Tim Etchells and percussionist Tony Buck, founder-member of Australian trio The Necks. The two artists share a fascination with the possibilities of both free improvisation and intensive repetition, bringing them together for an evening of loops and cacophonies. 12am: Awake and Looking Down is a piece with five silent performers using simple dress-up, inhabiting a seemingly endless parade of characters in a transfixing performance that questions what’s in a name. A physical and highly visual performance that starts from a vast and constantly growing catalogue of names – from ‘Frank (Drunk)’ to ‘The Hypnotised Girl’, via ‘Elvis Presley (the Dead Singer)’ and ‘A Nine Year-Old Shepherd Boy’, the piece plays on exhaustion and endurance to create a unique event that is comic, mesmeric and moving.

Acclaimed New York City provocateur Adrienne Truscott and the internationally renowned Brokentalkers from Dublin bring their collaboration Masterclass to London. Speaking truth to power, Masterclass is a hilarious examination of gender and power, using the arts world as a metaphor under the guise of a pompous TV talk show. This much anticipated London run follows an award-winning international tour.

The 2024 season includes a previously announced show. From 1-3 March, (LA)HORDE and Ballet national de Marseille debut their first major presentation in London, as they present the UK premiere of Roommates, an evening which features six pieces made for the company from choreographers including Lucinda Childs, Peeping Tom and LA(HORDE) themselves. This show is already on sale.

MENIER CHOCOLATE FACTORY ANNOUNCES THE UK PREMIÈRE OF PAUL GRELLONG’S POWER OF SAIL

With its critically acclaimed production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Pacific Overtures running at the venue, the Menier Chocolate Factory today announces the European première of Paul Grellong’s Power of Sail. Dominic Dromgoole returns to the company, after the success of last year’s Marjorie Prime, to direct.

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 20 March, and runs until 18 May.

The Menier Chocolate Factory

POWER OF SAIL

By Paul Grellong

20 March – 18 May

Direction: Dominic Dromgoole; Design: Paul Farnsworth; Lighting Design: Oliver Fenwick

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.

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 – 18 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

The Pleasance, London – until 16 February 2024

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

5*****

In other hands, a show about THAT skiing accident would be an awkward mess, but Awkward Productions’ irreverent chaotic humour and charismatic performances create a hilariously queer and joyful show.

The insane and sometimes inane touches that made Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story and How to Live a Jellicle Life such weird and wonderful experiences are all present, from audience participation to bizarre puppetry, with some lovely branded treats on each table for the audience to enjoy.

Terry Sanderson suing Gwyneth Paltrow for damages after their collision on a ski slope in Utah resulted in one of the most bizarre trials possible – and Linus Karp and Joseph Martin have added their own ridiculous/ clever (mostly ridiculous) touches with glee.

The first act introduces Gwyneth (Karp) and Sanderson (Martin), riffing gloriously on Paltrow’s pseudoscience grift with Gloop. Linus Karp tosses his hair and nails the faux humility as Gwyneth reminds everyone of her achievements in nearly every serenely delivered line. The naming of daughter Apple is a fantastic running joke, with the part played by an actual apple, and poor Chris Martin takes a few hits as well. In contrast, Sanderson is a sad, angry failure of a man with a hint of madness in his eyes in Joseph Martin’s brilliantly OTT portrayal. Both parties’ love interests are played by audience members reading their lines cold – risky, but worth it when they are just the right level of drunk. The inclusion of a legendary deer to shoehorn in a Snow White-esque song shouldn’t have worked, but by the time the deer is wheeled on, Karp and Martin could have just sat in silence and the audience would probably have loved it – that’s how good this pair are. The defiantly low budget (but intricate) effects also involve the audience on the slopes.

The second act is set in the courtroom, and it is here that the line between reality and theatre gets fuzzy as many of the most ridiculous lines are taken straight from the trial. There are more of Leland’s songs in the second act – the best being sung by Martin as Sanderson’s puppet lawyer (not as batshit crazy as their Camilla performance, but still fabulously unhinged) – as expert and surprise witnesses are called and the jokes pile up until the climatic final statements are given. The audience are the jury and vote, meaning that there are two possible endings to the show – leaving many of us very tempted to go back hoping to see the alternative ending.

Brilliant nonsense – go get Gooped.