Greenwich Theatre – until 7 January 2023

Review by Elizabeth J Smith

4****

Once upon a time there was a little theatre in Greenwich, deep in south London, who dreamed of staging a spectacular pantomime like the large theatre’s in the West End of London.

So she asked Anthony Spargo, who she knew very well as he had performed in her pantos for many years, if he could help. He could, hooray, and he wrote Snow White. Anthony was so helpful to the little theatre he not only wrote the panto but he stared as the wicked witch Queen Narcissus. The draggy queen delivers a rock star performance of songs and cheeky banter with the audience for both young and old, actually he says a lot about both! Like all queens of drag, Queen Narcissus has wonderful costumes and wigs that have a life of their own.

Every wicked Queen needs a nemesis, enter Snow White, Katie Tonkinson. The down trodden Snow White also has dreams of a better life and finds her prince charming in Tom Bales, Prince Charming of Charmington. When the lovers meet and sing “Love is an open door” their love affair is sealed.

Every castle needs a jester, especially one that gives cuddles. Let’s meet Muddles who cuddles. Louise Cielecki bonces on stage with a high kick, her catch phase “who needs a muddles cuddle?”and some of the best one liners.

Where would a wicked queen be without a dogs body too do her bidding? The hunts man, Martin Johnson, runs a tight ship but shows has a heart when push comes to shove. It makes the audiences heart song when he finds his “ball and chain”.

DeeArna McLean plays the magic mirror with robotic artistry which would give “Alexa” a run for her money.

With an almost visible band, Uncle Steve Markwick and Gordoan Parrish ( Greenwich answer to Brian May”) provide the music on stage with drummer Chirs Wyles in the dungeon. He must have upset the queen!

Last but no way least the adorable dwarfs. We meet a set of new dwarfs with characters including Windy, Cockney and Cheeky. These little men steal the show especially when they take to Skys to save the day.

With the use of clever song choices, rapid fire one liners, snow ball fights and audience participation the little theatre of Greenwich fulfils her dream and produces a wonderful panto to rival any of the big boys in London Town.

And lives happily ever after.

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG FLYING INTO BLACKPOOL – CHRISTMAS 2024!

A new production of the most fantasmagorical musical of all time, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG will fly into the Winter Gardens Blackpool for Christmas 2024! Opening on the 10^th December 2024 and running until December 29^th, tickets will be on sale from Friday 1^st December at 10am.

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), 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.

chittyontour.com

New Victoria Theatre, Woking – until 2 December 2023

Reviewed by Lorna Hancock

5*****

Pretty Woman the Musical features original music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, with book by Garry Marshall and the films screenwriter J.F.Lawton. It is wonderfully directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell.

When a musical is made of such an all time classic movie such as Pretty Woman, it’s hard to know what to expect, and you can’t help but compare it to it’s iconic screen version. The whole production team would have had a very tough job of making sure, it not only lives up to the original but also adding the pizzazz to ensure it becomes the spectacle we expect from a live staged musical. Being a big fan of the film, I wasn’t sure how they would manage this and if I would enjoy it as much, however they most certainly didn’t disappoint and I loved every second of watching this talented cast shine.

As soon as the music started, we were instantly transported to the bright lights of Hollywood Boulevard in the 80s. The costumes, set and the ensembles energy throughout their song, ‘Welcome to Hollywood’ immediately drew us in. The set design was fantastic, relatively simple, but  it transitioned us flawlessly from the vivid Boulevard to the elegance of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

For anyone that doesn’t know the story, it’s an unexpected fairytale between rich businessman Edward Lewis (Oliver Savile) and ‘Hooker’ Vivian Ward (Amber Davies) and how it changes her life forever. Both played their parts brilliantly, Oliver lived up to Richard Gere’s dreamy Edward with his beautifully melodic ballads, and Amber pulled off all of Julia Roberts’ sass and her witty one-liners with as much grace and glamour as the actress herself. The dynamic between the two was heartwarming to watch from the moment they met. Amber’s voice shone throughout the show, but I especially loved her stunning rendition of ‘I can’t go back’, through listening to her powerful vocals I think everyone would have empathised with her characters’ emotions.

One of my favourite scenes was ‘The Night at the Opera’, the staging was genius. It also showcased the amount of talent the ensemble shared. I couldn’t skip past this moment without mentioning the incredible voice of Lila Falce-Bass, everyone’s jaw dropped as she filled the theatre with her charming operatic tones.

I would also like to add a special mention for Curtis Patrick, he really was outstanding in his portrayal of Happy man / Mr Thompson. A chameleon, popping up in every scene making everyone laugh with his brilliant expressions and fascinating body movements. His characterisation was remarkable. This was in many scenes, complimented fabulously by Noah Harrison’s comic depiction of Giulio.

The show finished with a standing ovation, as the full ensemble performed Roy Orbison and Bill Dees’ ‘Oh, Pretty Woman’. After the orchestra teasing us with the intro earlier in the show, the audience seemed delighted and didn’t need much persuasion to join in with the party, singing and dancing along.

A thoroughly enjoyable and uplifting performance of an unconventional but charming fairytale.

RICHMOND THEATRE SCOOPS THREE AWARDS AT THE RICHMOND BUSINESS AWARDS 2023

Richmond Theatre are pleased to announce that the venue was thrice awarded at the Richmond Chamber of Commerce’s Business Awards held on Friday 24 November at Twickenham Stadium.

The theatre, which will celebrate its 125^th birthday next year, was recognised in the following categories: Best Digital Marketing (WINNER, for their ‘Richmond Recreates’ social media series), Best Environmental Sustainability (HIGHLY COMMENDED, for their lighting project which saw them change all stage lighting to LED lights), and the public-voted People’s Choice Awards (COMMENDED). You can read more detail about our awards below.

Allie Long, Theatre Director, said: “We are thrilled to have received these three awards, which recognise and reflect the hard work and creativity of our team. This includes our commitment to improving our greener ways of working with our LED upgrade, and our local ‘take’ on the exceptional national touring product we receive with our Marketing team’s brainchild, ‘Richmond Recreates’. We couldn’t be prouder to have received Commended for the People’s Choice Award, the only publicly voted for category, firmly cementing our belief in the venue’s importance in the heart of the Richmond cultural landscape.”

Anne Newton, Richmond Chamber of Commerce, said: “Our congratulations go to all the Richmond Business Awards 2023 winners. The independent judging panel received excellent submissions across all the categories and these 2023 wins are all very well-deserved. It was fantastic to see directors and their teams celebrating in style last Friday and the vibe at Twickenham Stadium was truly electric!”

About the Awards

HIGHLY COMMENDED for Best Environmental Sustainability

In 2023, Richmond Theatre undertook a huge project to replace all stage lighting (which was at least 30 years old) with LED Lights. LED Lights are not only safer, sturdier, and longer lasting, but they have a much smaller carbon footprint. LED Lights emit 80% less greenhouse gases than incandescent bulbs and use 70-80% less energy than traditional lamps. Additionally, the theatre have purchased Solarpix 7’s, which means the lighting colour and position can also be controlled from the lighting desk. This provides more flexibility for the show, as well as uses less electricity per light meaning less lights are needed overall.

WINNER for Best Digital Marketing

In order to complement the high-quality touring product that comes to their venue, the Marketing team at Richmond Theatre this year began a new series across Instagram and TikTok called ‘Richmond Recreates’. The series sees team members from across the business (from Customer Experience to Technical) come together to recreate show posters or production images for upcoming shows. Examples include being the cast of Fisherman’s Friends by Richmond riverside, and helping Peter Pan ‘Go Wrong’ in an episode which gained over 23,000 views on TikTok. The fun, tongue-in-cheek series has become widely known across social media, with audience members regularly asking when the new ‘episode’ will be posted.

A FIRST LOOK AT PRODUCTION IMAGES OF ROBIN HOOD: THE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL PANTO

Leeds’ favourite Panto – Robin Hood: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Pantomime – opened with a well-timed comedic crash, bang, and wallop on Fri 24 November 2023. It runs at City Varieties Music Hall until Sun 7 January 2024.

A very different format to the traditional Christmas pantomime, Rock ‘n’ Roll Pantos – from the enchanted pen of Peter Rowe – mixtraditional elements of audience participation and corny gags with a jukebox full of classic rock anthems and chart-toppers, all performed live on stage by an ultra-talented cast of actor-musicians. ‘Where else can you see the Fairy Godmother banging the drums and Pantomime Dame playing the sax?’ (Fairy Powered Productions).

Kenny Davies returns in what will be his 12th panto at City Varieties, alongside the legendary Simon Nock who is ready to rock the Varieties stage once again as our fabulous Dame.

Joining them will be a mixture of returning favourites and brilliant newcomers including Lana Walker as Portcullis, Samuel Pope as Robin Hood, Lucy Keirl as Maid Marion, Guy Freeman as Numbskull, Hannah Baker as Rowena, Louisa Beadel as Regina, Finn Torkington as Blondel/Will, Kemi Clarke as Much and Dan Carter Hope as Little John.

‘It stands out a mile from stereotypical pantos thanks to its talented team and, tucked away in the City Varieties Music Hall, it couldn’t have found a more perfect home for a laugh-out-loud panto with musical performances that will take your breath away.’

One Play More.

POLITICS AND POWER ARE LAID BARE IN THIS HILARIOUS NEW COMEDY FOR 2024

Matthew Cottle stars in Party Games! by Michael MacManus

UK tour opens in Guildford on Thursday 2 May 2024, touring nationally in May and June.

Following the acclaimed national tours of Sheila’s Island and Ladies of Letters in 2022, the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford, presents the world premiere of Party Games! from the writer of Maggie & Ted.

Starring Matthew Cottle (of BAFTA nominated BBC sit com Game On and Channel 4’s hit comedy The Windsors), Party Games! puts political leadership on the ledge and goes inside the chaos of government to see whether advisers do advise and if ministers can decide.

This is the UK  2026, John Waggner newly elected leader of the hastily formed centrist One Nation Party presides over a hung parliament, a discontented electorate and striking cheese makers.  He and his power-hungry MPs must cling onto authority through whatever shaky means possible. Can one man, a Svengali spin doctor and some dodgy data unite the country?  And what role can his wife, the King and a large spider play in keeping the lights on?

‘You’d be a fool to miss this top-notch two-hander’, Norwich Evening News (on Ladies of Letters, 2022)

‘a capacious warehouse for the best one-liners and anecdotes from McManus’s own observation’ The Guardian (on Maggie & Ted, 2021)

Party Games! is an Yvonne Arnaud original production, directed by Joanna Read and designed by Francis O’Connor

Further casting and tour dates to be announced.

THE PHOENIX ARTS CLUB TO PRESENT LONDON’S MOST FESTIVE VARIETY SHOW

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS CABARET

SLEIGHING INTO LONDON’S WEST END THIS DECEMBER

RUNNING FROM 1 – 30 DECEMBER

EVERY WEEKEND PLUS SELECT WEEKDAYS

The Phoenix Arts Club, nestled in the heart of London’s West End,has announced that they will present All I Want for Christmas is Cabaret: London’s Most Festive Variety Show over the holiday season from 1-30 December 2023. The variety show, which will be performed on select dates in December, will be an enchanting and multi-lineup variety show that promises to be the most festive spectacle in London’s West End.

Step into a festive world where the stage is set for a journey through a cabaret variety show, featuring an ever-changing lineup of royalty from the cabaret scene. It’s like opening all the doors on an advent calendar at once, revealing a mesmerizing mix of drag, burlesque, musical theatre, comedy, and more!

The strictly limited run will be performed every weekend plus select weekdays, full schedule available via the venue’s website. The show promises an unforgettable 100-minute showcase, filled with the spirit of the season and a dash of cheeky charm. Show tickets will also provide audience members with exclusive access to the Phoenix Arts Club’s members-only club experience for the evening.

The show will feature an ever-changing lineup spanning drag, burlesque, musical theatre, comedy, and beyond.

In fitting with the programming, the Phoenix Arts Club will be transformed into a winter wonderland making it the perfect backdrop for an evening of festive cheer.

Peter Dunbar, Managing Director of Phoenix Arts Club,said of the announcement, “I am thrilled to announce a festive celebration like no other, filled with new enchanting performances and lots of holiday cheer. And that’s not all – our excitement reaches new heights with the unveiling of an exquisite new cocktail menu, adding an extra dash of sparkle to this year’s festivities.”

On the line-ups for the upcoming event, Dunbar said, “The Club is renowned for keeping its line-ups a secret, and you never know who might take to the stage! Previous special guests include Drag Race royalty Courtney Act and Jinkx Monsoon, musical theatre royalty Michael Ball and Louise Dearman, comedians Babatunde Aleshe and Al Murray, and musicians such as Imelda May, Jordan Gray and even Tim Minchin!”

Tickets for the show can be purchased at https://phoenixartsclub.com/.

World Premiere of new musical ‘Wild About You’

Starring     

ERIC MCCORMACK

Theatre Royal Drury Lane

25th & 26th March 2023

Wild About You is a new musical with music and lyrics by Chilina Kennedy and a book by  Eric Holmes.

When Olivia finds herself in the hospital with limited memory, she must dig through her messy past to figure out which of the loves of her life is her emergency contact, only to understand that her desire to make everyone happy has left no one happy. Through a series of realizations, she reclaims her right to be flawed and loved in all her human complexity. However, as she regains clarity, tragedy strikes. It is then that spectacular Olivia literally moves Heaven and Earth to reconnect with her greatest love – her son. 

A concert of the musical will have its World Premiere, starring Eric McCormack  (Will & Grace), among its stellar cast, at Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 25^th and 26^th March.

Eric McCormack:

Best known for his eleven seasons as “Will Truman” on NBC’s Will & Grace, Eric McCormack was nominated for four Emmy Awards and six Golden Globes, receiving the Emmy for Lead Actor in a Comedy in 2001. He served as a producer, director and leading actor on three seasons of Travelers, for Netflix, and for three seasons of Perception. Other series include Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years, Atypical, Trust Me, Departure and Slasher. Born in Toronto, McCormack got his start in theatres across Canada, including five seasons with the Stratford Festival, eventually starring on Broadway in Tony-nominated productions of The Music Man, Gore Vidal’s The Best Man and in this year’s hit comedy, The Cottage. Films include Holy Man, The Architect, Free Enterprise and the award-winning Canadian comedy, Drinkwater. You can hear Eric and his old Will & Grace pal, Sean Hayes, on their new hit podcast “Just Jack & Will”. Eric splits his time between Vancouver and Los Angeles, and has been honored with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame and on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The album was released on 17^th November on BroadwayRecords.com . The all-star recording includes Jackie Burns (Wicked), Kennedy Caughell (Paradise Square), Jenn Colella (Come From Away), Rachel Ling Gordon (How the Grinch Stole Christmas), Aisha Jackson (Once Upon a One More Time), Joaquina Kalukango (Tony Award^® winner for Paradise Square),  Chilina Kennedy (Beautiful), Eric McCormack (Emmy Award winner for Will & Grace), Jay McKenzie (Beautiful), Katharine McPhee (Smash), Jessie Mueller (Tony Award^® winner for Beautiful), Alex Newell (Tony Award^® winner for Shucked), Paul Alexander Nolan (Parade), Noah J. Ricketts (Frozen) and Lea Salonga (Tony Award^® winner for Miss Saigon).

Wild About You Album Tracks:

1. Floating and Falling – Katharine McPhee
2. Bad Day Box – Jackie Burns & Paul Alexander Nolan
3. Wild About You – Jenn Colella & Chilina Kennedy
4. Gold – Jessie Mueller
5. Fast Train – Jay McKenzie
6. High – Noah J. Ricketts, Chilina Kennedy, Eric McCormack & Jenn Colella
7. What I’m Here To Find – Joaquina Kalukango
8. Without You – Kennedy Caughell & Rachel Ling Gordon
9. I Wouldn’t Call It Love – Aisha Jackson
10. Take Us Down – Chilina Kennedy & Noah J. Ricketts
11. Dangerous Lines – Alex Newell
12. Here – Lea Salonga

The album is produced by two-time Tony Award^® winner Brian Spector (www.keakaproductions.com) and Daniel Edmonds, who also serves as the album’s Music Supervisor/Director, Arranger and Orchestrator.

Chilina Kennedy (Music & Lyrics) is an award-winning actress, writer, composer, and the Artistic Producer of Eclipse Theatre Company. She has been writing original music for over 20 years and most recently contributed an original song to the new Canadian song cycle ‘Til Then’. Chilina is the longest running “Carole King” in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical on Broadway, playing over 1,200 performances. Other Broadway roles include “Annie” in Paradise Square and “Mary” in Des McAnuff’s Jesus Christ Superstar (2012). Chilina played “Dina“ in the North American Tour of The Band’s Visit (Toronto Theatre Critics’ Award), originated “Phoebe” in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (CT and San Diego Critics’ Circle Nominations) and “Binky” in This Ain’t No Disco (Atlantic Theater Company). Film: With Me (BravoFact, NY Shorts and Whistler Film Festivals) and “Elle” in The Human Voice (OAC).

Chilina honored Carole King at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors by playing her and singing with Aretha Franklin, James Taylor, Sara Bareilles and Janelle Monáe.

Multiple award-winner Eric Holmes (Book) has a proven track record of success on both stage and screen. Eric was a writer on the critically acclaimed TV series The Good Fight on Paramount+ for four seasons. His musical Fly More Than You Fall, co-written with Nat Zegree, received nine regional BroadwayWorld Awards, including Best Musical and Best New Work, at its  premiere at the NOORDA Center in Orem, Utah. His musical, Born Country, that he wrote  with his wife Erin Holmes, is receiving a NYC workshop in 2023 helmed by Kenneth Ferrone (Grease Live! and the Broadway bound musical The Wanderer). Eric has received the David S. Hawes Scholarship for his farce Nearly Departed and was nominated for the Otis Guernsey New Voices Playwriting Award for his play Black Friday. He participated in the LARK’S Writer’s Retreat and was a writer-in-residence at The New Harmony Project. Other credits include: Evil (CBS), Smash (NBC).

 Nick Winston – Director & Choreographer

Nick has over 100 production credits to his name, and his work has been seen in 25 countries across four continents. His West End musical credits include “Bonnie & Clyde” (WhatsOnStage Award for Best Musical), “Fame”, “Annie”, “Loserville” (Olivier Award nomination for Best New Musical), and the acclaimed concert productions of “Chess” and “The Secret Garden”.

  Casting: Harry Blumenau

  General Management: Carter Dixon McGill Productions

Tickets: https://lwtheatres.co.uk/  Live on 28^th November 2023

More information about Wild About You can be found at wildaboutyoumusical.com

www.amirrorwestend.com

@amirrorwestend

Second Half Productions and Rodeo Productions / Tilted, Winkler & Smalberg, Trish Wadley Productions

present the Almeida Theatre production of

A MIRROR
Written by Sam Holcroft

Directed by Jeremy Herrin

• JONNY LEE MILLER, TANYA REYNOLDS AND GEOFFREY STREATFEILD REPRISE THEIR ROLES IN WEST END TRANSFER OF SAM HOLCROFT’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED PLAY.
• MAKING HIS WEST END DEBUT, BIFA AWARD-WINNER AND BAFTA AWARD-NOMINEE SAMUEL ADEWUNMI JOINS THE PRODUCTION AS ADEM.
• A POWERFUL AND ENTERTAINING EXPLORATION OF STATE CENSORSHIP AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, A MIRROR IS THE RECIPIENT OF AN EDGERTON FOUNDATION NEW PLAY AWARD. 
• DIRECTED BY JEREMY HERRIN, A MIRROR WILL RUN FROM 22 JANUARY – 20 APRIL 2024.
• TICKETS GO ON GENERAL SALE AT 10AM ON 30 NOVEMBER 2023,  WITH PRIORITY BOOKING OPEN FROM 10AM ON 28 NOVEMBER 2023. 
• TICKETS START FROM £20 WITH OVER 10,000 SEATS AT £50 AND UNDER AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE RUN.

Second Half Productions have today announced that Sam Holcroft’s (Rules for Living) critically acclaimed new play A Mirror will transfer to the West End from January 2024. Directed by Jeremy Herrin (Best of Enemies; People, Places & Things,), the sold-out hit which originally premiered at the Almeida Theatre in August 2023, will run for 13 weeks at the Trafalgar Theatre, with previews from  Monday 22 January 2024 and press night on Thursday 1 February 2024. Tickets are on general sale from 10am on 30 November 2023.

BIFA Award-winner and BAFTA award-nominee Samuel Adewunmi (You Don’t Know Me; Trouble in Bluetown) makes his West End debut as Adem, starring alongside Olivier Award-winner Jonny Lee Miller (Trainspotting; Elementary) and Tanya Reynolds (Sex Education; Scenes with Girls) who will reprise their roles as Čelik and Mei in the West End transfer. Geoffrey Streatfield (Watch on the Rhine; Anatomy of a Scandal) also returns as Bax. 

Nominated for Best New Play at the 2023 Evening Standard Awards, Sam Holcroft’s A Mirror is a powerful and entertaining exploration of censorship, authorship, free speech and art as a form of resistance, set against the backdrop of an authoritarian state. A Mirror is the recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award. 

The productionwill feature set and costume design by Max Jones, lighting design by Azusa Ono, composition and sound design by Nick Powell and fight direction by Jonathan Holby. Casting is by Jessica Ronane CDG. 

Jeremy Herrin says: “I’m overjoyed that we get to share Sam Holcroft’s A Mirror with even more people at the Trafalgar Theatre next year, following our initial sold-out run at the Almeida Theatre. Sam’s timely and darkly comedic play, boasts big ideas, live music and terrific performances, and I’m delighted to be working with Johnny Lee Miller, Tanya Reynolds, Geoff Streatfeild and our new cast member Samuel Adewunmi to bring this hugely entertaining and thought-provoking play to life in the West End. It’s a wild ride that’s not to be missed.”

A Mirror will run at the Trafalgar Theatre for 13 weeks from 22 January 2024, with opening night on 1 February 2024. Tickets start at £20 with 10,000 seats available at £50 and under throughout the run. Tickets will go on general sale at 10am on 30 November with priority booking open from 28 November. For further information visit:www.amirrorwestend.com

A Mirror is produced bySecond Half Productions with co-producers the Almeida Theatre, Rodeo Productions / Tilted, Winkler & Smalberg and Trish Wadley Productions.

Samuel Adewunmi is a Bafta nominee for his leading performance in the BBC crime drama series You Don’t Know Me. He recently wrapped on Queenie, for Channel 4 and Disney +. This year he can be seen in Secret Invasion for Marvel Studios and Disney+ alongside Olivia Colman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Ben Mendelsohn. He was also lauded for his performance in The Last Tree, which premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and earned him a British Independent Film Award that same year. He made his stage debut in Trouble in Bluetown, at the Donmar Warehouse.

Jonny Lee Miller’s theatre credits includes: Ink (Manhattan Theatre Club); Frankenstein (National Theatre – Olivier Award for Best Actor); After Miss Julie (American Airlines Theatre); Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me (Ambassadors Theatre); Festen (Almeida Theatre); Four Knights in Knaresborough (Tricycle Theatre); Beautiful Thing (Bush Theatre). 

Film Includes: The Covenant; Alice; Settlers; Funny Face; T2 Trainspotting; Byzantium; Dark Shadows; Endgame; The Flying Scotsman; Æon Flux; Melinda and Melinda; Mindhunters; The Escapist; Dracula 2000; Complicity; Love, Honour and Obey; Mansfield Park; Plunkett and Macleane; Regeneration; Afterglow; Dead Man’s Walk; Trainspotting; Hackers; Meat; Olly’s Prison; Bad Company; Dead Romantic. 

Television Includes: The Crown-Series 5; Elementary; Dexter; Emma; Eli Stone; Smith; Byron; The Canterbury Tales; Dead Man’s Walk; Goodbye Cruel World; Cadfael; Second Thoughts; Between the Lines; The Life and Times of Henry Pratt; Minder. 

Tanya Reynolds’s theatre credits include Dottir (The Courtyard Theatre); Scenes with Girls (Royal Court); Last Words You’ll Hear (Almeida). 

Her television credits include The Decameron; I Hate You; The Baby; Dodger; Sex Education; The Bisexual; Rellik; Delicious. 

Her film credits include Rumpelstiltskin Retold; Emma; For Love or Money. Reynolds was included in Screen Daily’s 2020 Stars of Tomorrow.

Geoffrey Streatfeild’s theatre credits include Watch on the Rhine; The Way of the World (Donmar Warehouse); Blithe Spirit (Theatre Royal Bath/ West End); Cell Mates; Wild Honey (Hampstead Theatre); Ivanov; The Seagull; Earthquakes in London; The Pains of Youth (National Theatre); My Night with Reg (Donmar Warehouse/ West End). 

His television credits include Anatomy of a Scandal; Life; Traitors; The Miniaturist; Prime Suspect 1973; The Hollow Crown; New Worlds. 

His film credits include Kursk; Making Noise Quietly; The Lady in the Van; A Royal Night Out; MI-5.

Jeremy Herrin is currently directing Ulster American at Riverside Studios starring Woody Harrelson, Andy Serkis and Louisa Hardland. 

His recent credits include Best of Enemies (Young Vic/ West End, South Bank Show Award for Best Theatre Production); The Glass Menagerie; Labour of Love (Olivier Award for Best Comedy); The Nether; That Face; South Downs; Absent Friends; Death and the Maiden (West End); All My Sons (The Old Vic); The Visit, or the Old Lady Comes to Call; The Plough and the Stars; Statement of Regret (National Theatre); People, Places and Things (National Theatre/ Headlong/ West End/ UK tour/ St Ann’s Warehouse, New York); This House (National Theatre/ Chichester Festival Theatre/ West End); Wolf Hall; Bring Up the Bodies (RSC/ West End/ Broadway, Evening Standard Award for Best Director). 

Herrin is a co-founder and director of Second Half Productions with Alan Stacey and Rob O’Rahilly. He was previously the Artistic Director of Headlong.  

Sam Holcroft’s plays include an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox (Nuffield Southampton Theatres); Rules for Living; The Wardrobe; Edgar & Annabel (National Theatre); Dancing Bears (Soho Theatre/ Latitude Festival); While You Lie (Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh); Pink (Tricycle Theatre); Vanya (Gate Theatre); Cockroach (Traverse Theatre, Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland nomination for Best Play and shortlisted for the John Whiting Award). 

Holcroft received the Tom Erhardt Award in 2009, was the Pearson Writer-in-Residence at the Traverse Theatre 2009–10, and the Writer-in-Residence at the National Theatre Studio from 2013–14. In 2014, she received a Windham Campbell Prize for Literature in the drama category.

CHANNING TATUM’S

MAGIC MIKE LIVE IN LONDON

EXTENDS BOOKING PERIOD

TO 5 JANUARY 2025  

AS THE SHOW CELEBRATES 5 YEARS

AT THE HIPPODROME CASINO

As Magic Mike Live celebrates 5 amazing years in the West End, Channing Tatum and his co-producers are delighted toannounce a new booking period for the show at The Theatre at the Hippodrome Casino in London. Patrons will be able to book performances through to 5 January 2025. Tickets for the new booking period are on sale now.

As part of its birthday celebrations Magic Mike Live surprised lucky commuters at King’s Cross station with two flash mob performances that broke the internet and will tonight host a celebrity gala performance at the Hippodrome Casino.

The cast of Magic Mike Live in London includes Kalon Badenhorst, Theo O. Bailey, Daniel Blessing, Natacza Boon, Jake Brewer, Peter Cleverley, Kiana De Van Der Schueren, Joel Ekperigin, Petr Fedorovskii, Luca Figarazzi, Antony Franz, Eleanor-Rose Fusaro, Myles Harper, James Percy, Charlotte Perry, Josie Rose, Ross Sands, Shane Scarth and Manny Tsakanika.

Conceived and co-directed by Channing Tatum, Magic Mike Live, which is approaching its 2000^th show in the West End, has wowed over 500,000 people in London alone and over 1,250,000 worldwide. It is a large-scale, live production show based on the hit films Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL, which opened at The Theatre at the Hippodrome Casino in London’s Leicester Square in November 2018.  Magic Mike Live inspired a new television series on HBO Max, Finding Magic Mike, which aired in the United States earlier this year and the third instalment of the Magic Mike film franchise, Magic Mike’s Last Dance. Magic Mike Live has become an international sensation since opening in Las Vegas in April 2017.  In addition to breaking box office records and performing to sold-out audiences in Las Vegas and London, the show has thrilled audiences around the world with engagements in Berlin, Australia, and Miami and Dallas in North America.

From the bespoke entrance off Cranbourn Street, to the specially curated lounge and bar experience, to the cast of world-class performers, Magic Mike Live is a complete evening of unparalleled entertainment for guests aged 18 and up.  Audience members enter Magic Mike’s mythical club and marvel as a group of extraordinary artists perform a 360-degree dance and acrobatic spectacular in front of, behind, and above them.  Sexy dance routines intertwined with one-of-a-kind acts, are presented by a diverse cast of performers from around the world.

Magic Mike Live in London is co-directed by Channing Tatum and Alison Faulk, with Luke Broadlick as associate director, and choreography by Alison Faulk, Teresa Espinosa and Luke Broadlick. The Executive Producer is Vincent Marini with General Management by Crossroads Live. The production designer is Rachel O’Toole, with scenic design by Rob Bissinger and Anita LaScala (Arda Studio), costume design by Marina Toybina, lighting design by Philip Gladwell and video design by Luke Halls.  Musical supervisor is Jack Rayner, with sound design by Nick Kourtides.  Dreya Weber is aerial choreographer & aerial apparatus designer. 

Guests can also enjoy cocktails and cuisine at Permission, a bespoke bar designed by Magic Mike Live designer Rachel O’Toole, which offers a range of food and beverage options as well as live music curated by the Magic Mike team. Permission is available to book before or after any performance of Magic Mike Live and is also open to the public if you fancy an intimate and luxurious space to unwind in the heart of London’s West End.

Magic Mike Live is produced in London by Channing Tatum, Reid Carolin, Greg Jacobs, Peter Kiernan, Steven Soderbergh, Nick Wechsler and United Talent Agency in association with Warner Bros., Vincent Marini, The Hippodrome Casino, Bruce Robert Harris and Jack W. Batman, TSG Entertainment & Ashley DeSimone, Richard Winkler and The Creative House.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Magic Mike Live

The Theatre at the Hippodrome Casino

Cranbourn Street

Leicester Square

London WC2H 7JH

Website:  www.magicmikelondon.co.uk  

Twitter:  @MagicMikeLDN

Facebook:  @MagicMikeLDN

Instagram:  @MagicMikeLiveLDN

TikTok:  @Magicmikelivelondon

Box Office:  [email protected]

Ticket Prices from: £42 (including booking fee)

Current Booking Period: until 5 January 2025

Running Time:  approximately 90 minutes (no interval)

Performances: Wednesday 7pm, Thursday 7pm & 9.30pm, Friday 7pm & 9.30pm, Saturday 4pm, 7pm & 9.30pm, Sunday 4pm & 7pm

Please note there are no performances w/c 10 January 2024, w/c 15 May 2024 and w/c 16 & 23 September 2024.

Christmas 2023 Performance Schedule Monday 18 December – No PerformanceTuesday 19 December – 7pm & 9.30pmWednesday 20 December – 7pmThursday 21 December – 7pm & 9.30pmFriday 22 December – 7pm & 9.30pmSaturday 23 December – 4pm, 7pm, 9.30pmSunday 24 December – No PerformanceMonday 25 December – No PerformanceTuesday 26 December – No PerformanceWednesday 27 December – 7pm & 9.30pmThursday 28 December – 7pm & 9.30pmFriday 29 December – 7pm & 9.30pmSaturday 30 December 4pm, 7pm, 9.30pmSunday 31 December – 7pm

Christmas 2024 Performance Schedule Monday 23 December – No PerformanceTuesday 24 December – No PerformanceWednesday 25 December – No PerformanceThursday 26 December – 7pm & 9:30pmFriday 27 December – 7pm & 9:30pmSaturday 28 December – 4pm, 7pm & 9:30pmSunday 29 December – 4pm & 7pmMonday 30 December – No PerformanceTuesday 31 December – 7pmWednesday 1 January – 7pmThursday 2 January – 7pm & 9:30pmFriday 3 January – 7pm & 9:30pmSaturday 4 January – 4pm, 7pm & 9:30pmSunday 5 January – 4pm & 7pm

Magic Mike Live guests must be at least 18 years to attend – appropriate photo ID will be requested on arrival at the venue – begambleaware.org