UNDER 30s TICKET LOTTERY LAUNCHED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE VANYA FOR £10

Wessex Grove, Gavin Kalin Productions and Kater Gordon today announce the launch of the under 30s ticket lottery for Vanya at Duke of York’s Theatre. Patrons can enter to be in with a chance to purchase £10 tickets for the first West End performance of Vanya on 15 September 2023.

Wessex Grove’s Benjamin Lowy and Emily Vaughan-Barratt said today: “We’re thrilled to be able to offer tickets at £10 for under 30s to the very first performance of VANYA in the West End, enabling as many as possible to share in this production and Andrew Scott’s monumental performance.

We are committed to cultivating a new generation of theatregoers and are very proud to be having this special performance where every single seat is £10.”

For further information please visit: https://www.atgtickets.com/campaigns/tickets-to-see-vanya/  Patrons will be notified by 1 September if they have been successful in securing tickets.

This Autumn, Andrew Scott brings to life multiple characters in Simon Stephen’s radical new version of Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya.

Comedic and tragic, Chekhov’s examination of our shared humanity – our hopes, dreams, regrets – is thrust into sharp focus in VANYA.

This production explores the kaleidoscope of human emotions, harnessing the power of the intimate bond between actor and audience to delve deeper into the human psyche.

The production reunites Scott and Stephens who previously collaborated on Sea Wall and Birdland; and Scott with Yates following their work together on the short film, The Hope Rooms; and producers Benjamin Lowy and Emily Vaughan-Barratt from Wessex Grove after working with Scott on Sea Wall and Hamlet respectively.

Wessex Grove, Gavin Kalin Productions and Kater Gordon present

VANYA
After Anton Chekhov

Adapted by Simon Stephens

Performed by Andrew Scott

Directed by Sam Yates

Designed by Rosanna Vize

Lighting designer: James Farncombe

Sound designer: Dan Balfour

Video designer: Jack Phelan

Movement:  Michela Meazza

Costume designer: Natalie Pryce

Associate designer: Blythe Brett

Assistant director: Francesca Hsieh

RICHMOND THEATRE 28 August – 2 September

DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE 15 September – 21 October

BAFTA and Olivier-award winning actor, Andrew Scott’s recent theatre includes Three Kings (Old Vic: In Camera), Present Laughter, Design for Living (The Old Vic), Hamlet (Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre), The Dazzle (Found111), Birdland (Royal Court), Aristocrats, Emperor and Galilean (National Theatre), Sea Wall (Paines Plough, The Old Vic, Bush Theatre), as well as numerous plays in Dublin, London and New York. For television his work includes School of Roars, The Pursuit of Love, Ripley, His Dark Materials, Modern Love, Black Mirror: Smithereens, as The Priest in Fleabag, Quacks, as Moriarty in Sherlock, The Town and The Hollow Crown. His recent films include Strangers, Catherine Called Birdy, Oslo, Sam Mendes 1917, A Dark Place, The Delinquent Season, Hamlet, King Lear, Cognition, Handsome Devil, Denial, Swallows and Amazons, This Beautiful Fantastic, Sam Mendes’ Spectre, Alice: Through the Looking Glass, Frankenstein, Ken Loach’s Jimmy’s Hall, Matthew Warchus’ Pride, (BIFA for Best Supporting Actor), Locke and The Stag.

Simon Stephens’ plays include Cornelia Street, Morning Sun, Fortune, Light Falls, Maria, Fatherland, Rage, Heisenberg, Nuclear War, Song from Far Away; Birdland, Carmen Disruption, Blindsided, Morning, Three Kingdoms, Wastwater, Punk Rock, The Trial of Ubu, Marine Parade,  Sea Wall, Harper Regan, Pornography, Motortown, On the Shore of the Wide World, One Minute, Country Music, Christmas, Port, Herons, and Bluebird. He has adapted Jose Saramago’s Blindness for the stage and also Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. He has written English language versions of Jon Fosse’s I Am the Wind; Odon Von Horvath’s Kasimir and Karoline (titled The Funfair); Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House; Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard and The Seagull and Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s Threepenny Opera. He has presented four series of the Royal Court Playwright’s Podcast. His book “A Working Diary” is published by Methuen. Stephens has been an Associate at the Royal Court, London and Steep, Chicago and a board member of Paines Plough. He has been an Associate Artist at the Lyric, Hammersmith, a Professor of Scriptwriting at Manchester Metropolitan University and an Associate Professor at the Danish National School of the Performing Arts, Copenhagen.

Sam Yates directs. His theatre credits include The Two Character Play (Hampstead Theatre), A Separate Peace (Curtain Call & Platform Presents), Incantata (Irish Rep, Gate Theatre, Dublin, Galway International Festival & Jen Coppinger), The Starry Messenger (Wyndham’s Theatre), Company, Merrily We Roll Along, Assassins (Royal Academy of Music), The Phlebotomist (Hampstead Theatre, nominated for Olivier Award for Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre),  Glengarry Glen Ross (Playhouse Theatre and UK tour), Desire Under The Elms (Sheffield Crucible), Murder Ballad (Arts Theatre), Cymbeline (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse), East is East (Trafalgar Studios and UK tour), The El. Train (Hoxton Hall), Outside Mullingar (Ustinov), Billy Liar (Royal Exchange Theatre), Cornelius (Finborough Theatre, 59E59 New York), Mixed Marriage (Finborough Theatre), and Purgatory by W.B. Yeats, and Macbeth: The Hour (Edinburgh Festival Fringe). His screen work includes the forthcoming Magpie (2023, feature film debut, written by Tom Bateman, produced by Werewolf Films and Kate Solomon for 55 Films, with Daisy Ridley, Shazad Latif, Matilda Lutz), Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar, The Hope Rooms, (Winner Grand Prize Future Filmmaker Award, RIIFF 2016), Cymbeline, All’s Well That Ends Well, and Love’s Labour’s Lost (The Complete Walk, Shakespeare’s Globe); and music videos Emeralds and Auld.

Rosanna Vize’s theatre credits include Julius Caesar (Royal Shakespeare Company), The Glass Menagerie, The Almighty Sometimes (Royal Exchange Manchester), King Priam (ENO), Britannicus (Lyric Hammersmith), Brown Girls Do It Too (Soho Theatre), Mavra and Pierrot Lunaire (Royal Opera House, Covent Garden),Gulliver’s Travels (Unicorn Theatre), Camp Siegfried, Midsummer Party (The Old Vic), Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (Leicester Curve Theatre), The Two Character Play (Hampstead Theatre, Upstairs), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Curve Theatre and UK tour), Shedding A Skin (Soho Theatre), The Enemy (National Theatre of Scotland), Harm (Bush Theatre), The Comeback (Noël Coward Theatre), Incantata (Irish Rep Theatre, NYC), Hedda Gabler (Sherman Theatre), The Phlebotomist, Yous Two (Hampstead Theatre), The Audience (Nuffield Theatre, Southamption), Don Carlos (Exeter Northcott), Incantata (Galway Festival), An Adventure, Leave Taking (Bush Theatre), King Lear (Shakespeare’s Globe), Earthworks and Myth (RSC), Low Level Panic (Orange Tree Theatre), After October (Finborough Theatre), Henry I (Reading Between the Lines), and Girls (Soho Theatre, Hightide & Talawa Theatre). For film, Harm Film. Her up-coming productions include The Turn of the Screw (Royal Danish Opera, Copenhagen), and Macbeth (Donmar Warehouse).

Listings Information

VANYA

Duke of York’s Theatre

St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4BG

www.atgtickets.com

www.vanyaonstage.com

TICKETS

From £15

RICHMOND THEATRE 28 August – 2 September

Performances at 7.30pm

DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE 15 September – 21 October

Monday to Saturday at 3pm and 7pm

15 September: Under 30s Ticket Lottery Tickets for under 30s only. Entry by online ballot. A limit of 2 tickets can be purchased at one-time by winners. Valid government issued ID must be presented with tickets upon entering the theatre.

Access performances:

BSL interpreted performance 3 October 2023 at 7pm

Audio Described performance 5 October 2023 at 7pm

At every London performance, a limited number of £30 tickets will be available via a weekly lottery in partnership with Todaytix. 

THE WORLD PREMIERE OF

RICHARD, MY RICHARD

THE PLAYWRITING DEBUT OF BEST-SELLING HISTORICAL AUTHOR PHILIPPA GREGORY

SHAKESPEARE NORTH PLAYHOUSE 8 – 30 MARCH 2024

THEATRE ROYAL BURY ST EDMUNDS 12 – 27 APRIL 2024

Best-selling historical author Philippa Gregory will make her playwriting debut in 2024 with RICHARD, MY RICHARD –an innovative new stage play inspired by Shakespeare’s Richard III, that will bring to life one of history’s most twisted and enigmatic characters; a passionate, tender portrait of man in his time, surrounded by the women who determine his fate.

This world premiere, directed by Katie Posner, will launch at Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot 8 – 30 March, with a national press night on 12 March, and then play from 12 – 27 April at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds.

With an explosion of tarmac Leicester City Car park erupts and Richard III crashes from his lost tomb to meet the character who has ruined his reputation: History – the record keeper who doesn’t always have his mind on the task.

Richard believes he has risen from the grave to heaven with an unstained conscience, and the awkward task falls to History (sorry History)- to tell the Undead King that all is not as he imagines. 

As Richard challenges, History admits he has his own doubts. He is often revered as the bearer of truth. Yet, his perspective is skewed. History overlooks people and stories.

Funny, poignant, and underpinned by the facts of the past, Richard’s secrets may have died with him, here he rises up to tell us the story, his story, History.

Dr Philippa Gregory CBE is one of the world’s foremost historical novelists. She wrote her first ever novel, Wideacre, when she was completing her PhD in eighteenth-century literature and it sold worldwide, heralding a new era for historical fiction. Her flair for blending history and imagination developed into a signature style and Philippa went on to write many bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl and The White Queen.Now a recognised authority on women’s history, Philippa graduated from the University of Sussex and received a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, where she is a Regent and was made Alumna of the Year in 2009. She holds honorary degrees from Teesside University and the University of Sussex. She is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff and an honorary research fellow at Birkbeck University of London. In 2020 she was made a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her services to literature and charity.  Philippa is a member of the Society of Authors and in 2016, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Historical Fiction Award by the Historical Writers’ Association. In 2018, she was awarded an Honorary Platinum Award by Nielsen for achieving significant lifetime sales across her entire book output.

Philippa’s latest book, NORMAL WOMEN – 900 YEARS OF MAKING HISTORY, due to be published 26 October 2023 with HarperCollins, is a history of women in England over nine centuries, from the Norman invasion in 1066 to women’s ordination into the Church of England in 1994.  

Philippa Gregory said, “I was inspired to write this play after having the privilege to attend the internment of Richard lll at Leicester. I wanted to write a play about the real Richard and the people – especially the influential women- around him. Then the most important character walked into the play – History – who in an absent-minded moment has given us such a dark picture of the king whose motto was loyalty and whose passion was chivalry.”

This producing partnership between Shakespeare North Playhouse – a replica Shakespearean Playhouse opened in 2022 – and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds – the last working Regency theatre in England – showcases their shared ambition to stage great contemporary theatre in historic settings.

Laura Collier, Creative Director of Shakespeare North Playhouse said, “We’re thrilled to be co-producing the world premiere of Richard My Richard at Shakespeare North Playhouse. Phillipa Gregory’s gripping narrative fearlessly challenges the prevailing portrayal of Richard III as the worst of villains, a reputation unjustly tarnished by the Tudors, and famously echoed by William Shakespeare.

As a masterful and internationally renowned storyteller, Philippa’s foray into the realm of theatre brings to life a captivating narrative that unravels the enigmatic persona of Richard III.

At Shakespeare North Playhouse we strive to spark debate and be bold with our programming. Phillipa’s unique perspective challenges Shakespeare’s Richard III, questioning conventional beliefs, reinterpreting the car-park King’s story, and inviting audiences to question history’s reliability.

Co-producing with our friends from Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, we believe this play will captivate audiences and leave them with a deeper appreciation of the complexities of history. Richard My Richard promises an unforgettable experience that celebrates the power of storytelling and its ability to reshape the past.”

Owen Calvert-Lyons, Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds said, “Philippa Gregory is an extraordinary writer. Generations of readers have discovered the history of our country through her writing and fans of Philippa’s novels are going to be just as excited by her first play. Philippa has a great skill in humanising historical characters, allowing us to understand their world and their choices. Now she is taking on one of history’s most notorious villains and inviting us to reassess what we know, or think we know about him. I’m delighted that we will be embarking on this adventure with Shakespeare North Playhouse. We will be transforming our auditorium ‘in the round’ with seating on the stage, providing audiences in Bury St Edmunds with a new theatre experience and making our two unique theatres the perfect settings for this brilliant new play.”

Richard, My Richard is produced by Shakespeare Playhouse North and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, in association with Daniel Schumann.

Additional creative team and casting will be announced in due course.

RICHMOND THEATRE’S BOX OFFICE SALES ASSISTANT TO STAR IN THE WOMAN IN BLACK

AT RICHMOND THEATRE TUE 14 – SAT 18 NOV

Today, Richmond Theatre are pleased to announce that a member of their own team will be stepping out from behind the Box Office and onto the stage as he takes on an iconic theatre role.

Mark Hawkins, who currently works at Richmond Theatre as a Box Office Sales Assistant and a Tour Guide, played the role of The Actor during The Woman in Black’s 30^th Anniversary year at the West End’s Fortune Theatre. Now, he will be returning to the role on a UK tour, which will see him perform at Richmond Theatre in November.

Mark said: “It’s going to be such a special week to be able to play a theatre I know so well, and an amazing full circle moment to be on the stage here at Richmond Theatre.”

Steve Joyce, Theatre Manager at Richmond Theatre, said: “I know I speak for all of Team Richmond when I say that we are incredibly excited to see Mark perform in this iconic show in our beautiful theatre. Richmond audiences will most likely have met Mark during his time behind our Box Office, and I hope they will come along to see him step out onto centre stage. We are very proud and will be cheering him on every single night!”

Mark Hawkins first played The Actor in The Woman in Black at the Fortune Theatre and The Madinat Theatre. His other theatrical credits include The Railway Children at Kings Cross Theatre, Julius Caesar at The Globe, the UK tour of Lady Chatterley’s Lover and the international tour of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. His television credits include HBO’s The Nevers and ITV’s Vera.

The show also stars Malcolm James who returns to The Woman in Black having first played Arthur Kipps on a UK Tour and then at the Fortune Theatre. His other West End credits include The Mousetrap at St. Martin’s Theatre and Volpone at the National Theatre. His on-screen credits include HBO’s My Dinner with Herve, Secret Invasion on Disney+, the BBC’s Doctors and EastEnders, ITV’s Coronation Street and The Bill. On radio he has been heard on Letters to an Icon, The History Man and several afternoon dramas all on BBC Radio 4.

The tour cast is completed by Jon de Ville (The Sound of Music UK Tour, Netflix’s Scoop, BBC’s Strike) as understudy Arthur Kipps and Dominic Price (The Woman in Black) as understudy The Actor.

Over 33-years The Woman in Black played over 13,000 performances in the West End and has been seen by over 7-million people in the UK. In June 2019 the production celebrated its 30^th Anniversary in London’s West End with a special gala performance.

Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s best-selling novel tells the story of a lawyer obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over his family by the spectre of a ‘Woman in Black’. He engages a young actor to help him tell his story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul. It begins innocently enough, but as they delve further into his darkest memories the borders between make-believe and reality begin to blur and the flesh begins to creep.

Following a Christmas production in 1987 at a pub in Scarborough, The Woman in Black was brought to Hammersmith’s Lyric Theatre in January 1989. Reviews were sufficiently encouraging (apart from The Independent, who regretted the production’s inability to incorporate a live dog) to warrant a West End run. Its West End tour started at the Strand (now Novello) Theatre in March and moved to the Playhouse in April, finally lodging at the Fortune on June 7, 1989.

Throughout the production’s run in the West End and during its many tours the producer has been determined to keep ticket prices within the range of students and young people. This policy will continue in whatever form the play and production take in the future.

The Woman in Black is directed by Robin Herford, with designs by Michael Holt and lighting by Kevin Sleep. 

NIAMH CUSACK LEADS FIRST LONDON REVIVAL OF POLLY STENHAM’S THAT FACE

Orange Tree Theatre (OT) today announces the full cast for the first major London revival of Polly Stenham’s That Face. Josh Seymour directs the previously announced Niamh Cusack alongside Kasper Hilton-Hille, Dominic Mafham, Sarita Gabony and Bridgerton’s Ruby Stokes in this powerful and darkly comic exploration of what happens when children become parents to their parents. That Face is Stenham’s debut play and won the Evening Standard Charles Wintour Award, the TMA Best New Play Award, and the Critics’ Circle Award. The production opens on 13 September with previews from 9 September and runs until 7 October.

Artistic Director Tom Littler said today: “We cannot wait to launch our autumn season with Polly Stenham’s remarkable first play. Niamh Cusack brings her unique talent to the role of Martha, and she is joined by two stage debutants in Ruby Stokes and Kasper Hilton-Hille, playing her children. Dominic Mafham and Sarita Gabony complete a very exciting cast. For those who saw the original production, this is a chance to re-encounter a contemporary classic; those who’ve never seen That Face are in for a treat.”

Orange Tree Theatre presents

THAT FACE

By Polly Stenham

Director: Josh Seymour; Designer: Eleanor Bull; Lighting Designer: Jamie Platt;

Sound Designer and Composer: George Dennis; Assistant Director: Chani Merrell;

Fight and Intimacy Director: Ingrid Mackinnon

9 September – 7 October

OT On Screen: Tue 10 – Fri 13 October

When Mia is expelled from boarding school, her mother Martha isn’t interested. Martha prefers to hang out with her son Henry. And now her estranged husband Hugh, who’s run off to Hong Kong with his new girlfriend, is charging back threatening to sort things out. What is there to sort out? Everything is fine.

Polly Stenham’s blazing debut play exposes the secret lives of the rich with anarchic humour. That Face won the Evening Standard Charles Wintour Award, the TMA Best New Play Award, and the Critics’ Circle Award. This is its first major London revival.

Niamh Cusack plays Martha. Her theatre credits include Hamlet (Bristol Old Vic), Faith Healer (Abbey Theatre), My Brilliant Friend, The Enchantment, His Dark Materials (National Theatre), Macbeth (Barbican), Ghosts (Home Theatre Manchester), Unfaithful (Found111), The Winter’s Tale (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse), Tickling (Trafalgar Studios), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Apollo Theatre), Women, Power & Politics (Kiln Theatre), Dancing at Lughnasa, The Tutor (The Old Vic), Breathing Corpses (Royal Court Theatre), The Maids (Donmar Warehouse), As You Like It, Mary After The Queen, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, The Art of Success (Royal Shakespeare Company). Her television credits include Archie, The Tower, The Virtues, Silent Witness, New Tricks, Best of Men, Henry IV, Lewis, Midsomer Murders, Fallen Angel, The Last Detective, The Last Detective, Too Good to be True, State of Mind, Always and Everyone, Little Bird, Colour Blind, Heartbeat, Trauma, A Marriage of Inconvenience, Chalkface, Jeeves and Wooster, Poirot, and Angel Train; and for film, Four Mothers, In the Land of Saints and Sinners, Unwelcome, The Ghoul, Testament of Youth, Five Minutes of Heaven, The Closer you Get, Playboys, In Love With Alma Cogan, Hereafter, A Shadow of the Sun, Paris by Night, Lucky Sunil, and Fools of Fortune.

Kasper Hilton-Hille plays Henry.  He graduated from Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama this summer.

Ruby Stokes makes her professional stage debut in That Face, playing Mia. Her television credits include The Burning Girls, Lockwood & Co, Bridgerton, Da Vinci’s Demons, Not Going Out and, for film, Rocks and Una.

Dominic Mafham plays Hugh. His theatre credits include Still Alice (West Yorkshire Playhouse), King Lear (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare’s Globe, US and China tour), King John (Rose Theatre), Linda (Royal Court Theatre), 66 Books – A response to Daniel (Bush Theatre), Journey’s End (Duke of York’s Theatre and UK tour), Nabokov’s Gloves (Hampstead Theatre), The Pretenders, All’s Well That Ends Well, Antony and Cleopatra, Oliver!, and Edward II (Royal Shakespeare Company). His television credits include Vigil, The Chelsea Detective, You and Me, Coronation Street (as series regular Henry Thorne), Grantchester, Miss Scarlet and The Duke, Killing Eve, W1A, The Strike Series: The Silkworm, Father Brown;and for film, Golda, Doom: Annihilation, Backdraft 2, and Ophelia.

Sarita Gabony plays Izzy. Her theatre credits include Common: A Trilogy Workshop (National Theatre Studio), James IV: Queen of the Fight (National Theatre of Scotland), Our Generation (Chichester Festival Theatre, National Theatre), Deciphering (New Diorama Theatre), Love Ugly City, The Treatment, Little Revolution (Almeida Theatre), The Nobodies (Roundhouse), and The Sound of Music (The London Palladium); and for film, Spectrum.

Writer Polly Stenham’s theatre credits include Julie, Hotel (National Theatre), No Quarter, Tusk Tusk, and That Face (Royal Court Theatre) then it transferred to The Duke of York’s Theatre. Her screenwriting credits for film include Neon Demon, and for television Foxtrot.

Director Josh Seymour’stheatre credits include The Narcissist (Chichester Festival Theatre), Musik (Edinburgh Festival/Arts Theatre), Adding Machine (Finborough Theatre) and One Arm (Southwark Playhouse), for which he won Best Director at the 2016 Off-West End Awards.

Josh has worked as Associate/Assistant Director for Dominic Cooke, Michael Grandage, Josie Rourke, Lyndsey Turner, Peter Gill, Matthew Warchus, Robert Hastie and Alexander Zeldin.

Orange Tree Theatre

Listings

1 Clarence Street, Richmond, TW9 2SA

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

orangetreetheatre.co.uk

Ticket prices (NO BOOKING FEES) 

In person tickets: From £15Under 30s: £15 

Access: £15 

Prices increase based on demand

SEASON AT A GLANCE:

THAT FACE

9 September 2023 – 7 October 2023

Mon – Sat 7.30pm

Thu & Sat 2.30pm (from Thu 14 Sep)

Captioned Performances: 28 September 7.30pm

Audio Described Performance: Tue 26 Sep 7.30pm

OT On Screen: Tue 10 – Fri 13 Oct

MEETINGS

14 October 2023– 11 November 2023

Mon – Sat 7.30pm

Thu & Sat 2.30pm (from Thu 19 Oct)

Captioned Performance: Wed 1 Nov 7.30pm

Audio Described Performance: Mon 30 Oct 7.30pm

OT On Screen: Tue 14 – Fri 17 Nov

SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER

18 November 2023 – 6 January 2024

Mon – Sat 7.30pm

Thu & Sat 2.30pm (from Thu 23 Nov)

Captioned Performance: Tue 12 Dec 7.30pm

Audio Described Performance: Mon 11 Dec 7.30pm

OT On Screen: Tue 16 – Fri 19 Jan

SHAKESPEARE UP CLOSE: MACBETH and ROMEO AND JULIET

5 – 10 December 2023

Schools tour: 20 – 30 Nov
Schools performances at the OT: 5 – 8 Dec
Public performances at the OT: 9 – 10 Dec

TINY TIM’S CHRISTMAS CAROL

18 December – 6 January 2024

Mon – Sat 11am

Mon, Wed, Fri 2.30pm (no performances Mon 25 Dec, Mon 1 Jan)

NORTHANGER ABBEY

24 January– 20 February 2024

Mon – Sat 7.30pm

Thu & Sat 2.30pm (from Thu 25 Jan)

Captioned Performance: Wed 14 Feb 7.30pm

Audio Described Performance: Tue 13 Feb 7.30pm

OT On Screen: Tue 27 Feb – Fri 1 Mar

FLUTE THEATRE: TWELFTH NIGHT

29 January – 20 February 2024

Mon – Sat: 10.30am

THE LOWRY, SALFORD – UNTIL 29TH JULY 2023

REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN

5*****

I grew up listening to Sting, as my dad was a huge fan. I have even been fortunate enough to see him live, back in 1994. I haven’t listened to his music in years, and I wasn’t sure I would remember any of the songs but as soon as Desert Rose came on, I found myself getting goosebumps and remembering the lyrics, I was captivated!

This musical is a hip-hop dance show, set to the backdrop of legendary artist Sting’s greatest hits. Now that may not seem the most obvious pairing, especially as that’s combined with a story line about refugees but directed and choreographed by Kate Prince makes it work wondrously. In a world where people are being displaced every day, Prince imagines a fictional story of a family fleeing from civil war in their homeland and undertake a perilous journey to safer shores. Along the way they lose another, and they must find their way on their own. There is darkness and despair but there is also a powerful message of survival, love and the overwhelming feeling of hope.

The Sting soundtrack does work. The clever use of his hits is certainly relevant, as music supervisor Alex Lacamoire links each Sting song to a situation. Directly relevant is Invisible Sun, written during the troubles and about surviving a war-torn place. While the majority are sung by Sting himself, there are some guest vocalists and some songs sound like classics and others have been altered completely.

Ben Stone’s set design combined with Natasha Chivers’ lighting has moments that really chill the body, like the scene when balaclava-clad henchmen step down from illuminated gaps and cross the stage like stalking panthers. Andrzej Goulding’s projections were perfectly timed to specific dance sequences and detailed, like the floating life jackets at sea.

But hands down it is the amazing dancers who steal the show, each and every one of them! They were flawless. The story is done through a hip-hop, ballet and contemporary dance journey. I watched in awe as they performed energetic, acrobatic and sometimes gravity defying moves. It was exhilarating, every little thing they did was magic!

After selling out two shows at the London Palladium in just 5 hours and adding an extra matinee
 the European premiere
of the multi award-winning manga stage musical
Death Note THE MUSICAL in Concert
will transfer to the Lyric Theatre
for 6 performances
Thursday 7 September – Sunday 10 September

Tickets go on priority sale for Death Note mailing list subscribers at 11am Friday 28 July
and general sale 12noon Friday 28 July

Cast to be announced.

Please note that due to work commitments, Adam Pascal (Roger in the original 1996 cast of Jonathan Larson’s musical ‘RENT’ on Broadway) is unable to transfer with the production to the Lyric Theatre.

A few seats remain to see him at the London Palladium on 22 August at 2.30pm.

Light Yagami, a bright but dissatisfied high school student in Tokyo comes across a discarded notebook owned by Ryuk, a mythological god of death. Discovering he can kill anyone by just writing their names in the supernatural notebook, Light takes justice into his own hands by filling the notebook with names of the nation’s most wanted criminals. But a detective only known as “L” is soon tracking him down…

Following acclaimed productions in Japan and Korea Death Note: The Musical will get its English language premiere with a semi-staged London concert production.

Based on the best-selling Japanese manga series of the same name by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata/Shueish, this ground breaking musical (Winner Best Musical, Korea Musical Awards) has a score by Frank Wildhorn (‘Jekyll & Hyde’, 4 years on Broadway, ‘Dracula’, ‘Bonnie & Clyde’) with lyrics by Jack Murphy and book by Ivan Menchell.

It will be directed by Nick Winston and is produced by Carter Dixon McGill Production (‘Chess in Concert’, ‘Kinky Boots in Concert’, ‘Treason the Musical in Concert’) Indie Theatrical and HoriPro in association with Pinnacle Productions, Greg A. DeLuca and Wild Yak Productions.

Death Note THE MUSICAL premiered in 2015 in Tokyo, Japan. A 2022 Korean production won four awards at the Korea Musical Awards after being nominated in 10 categories (“Death Note offers a glimpse at the future of musicals”, The Korea Herald). In 2017, Netflix released a TV adaptation of ‘Death Note’ starring Willem Defoe.

Frank Wildhorn said: “Death Note THE MUSICAL has been the most unique, strange, edgy, and wonderful musical journey for me. It’s been a dream of mine to bring this show from Asia to the West End of London, and here we are!”

Creative team:
Director and Choreographer Nick Winston
Associate Director and Choreographer Alexzandra Sarmiento,
Costume Designer Kimie Nakano
Musical Supervisor  Katy Richardson
Musical Director Chris Ma
Orchestrator Jason Howland
Designer Justin Williams
Lighting Designer Ben Cracknell
Sound Designer Ben Harrison
Casting Harry Blumenau
Artwork by Rebecca Pitt Creative
Producers Carter Dixon McGill Productions, Indie Theatrical and HoriPro
with Pinnacle Productions, Greg A. DeLuca and Wild Yak Productions

LISTINGS INFO

Carter Dixon McGill Productions, Indie
Theatrical and HoriPro in association with Pinnacle Productions, Greg A. DeLuca and Wild Yak Productions present

Death Note THE MUSICAL
in Concert
Music by Frank Wildhorn,
Lyrics by Jack Murphy, book by Ivan Menchell
©️Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata/SHUEISHA, HoriPro

Lyric Theatre
Shaftesbury Avenue
London W1D 7ES

Thursday 7 September –
Sunday 10 September
at 7.30pm
matinees
Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 September at 2.30pm

running time:
2hrs 20 including interval

age recommendation: 12+

Tickets from £25

Tickets go on priority sale for Death Note mailing list subscribers at 11am Friday 28 July
and general sale 12noon Friday 28 July

Booking link:
www.nimaxtheatres.com

Website
www.deathnotethemucial.co.uk

CRUCIBLE

A Sheffield Theatres production

SHEFFIELD THEATRES ANNOUNCE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM FOR MOLIÈRE’S

CRUCIBLE

A Sheffield Theatres production

SHEFFIELD THEATRES ANNOUNCE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM FOR MOLIÈRE’S

THE HYPOCHONDRIAC

FEATURING EDWARD HOGG (HARLOTS/TABOO) AND
JESSICA RANSOM (DOC MARTIN/HORRIBLE HISTORIES)

Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
Saturday 30 September – Saturday 21 October 2023

Press performance: Thursday 5 October at 7pm

By Molière
Adapted by Roger McGough
Director Sarah Tipple
Designer Colin Richmond
Lighting Designer Johanna Town
Composer Oliver Birch
Sound Designer Ella Wahlstrom
Casting Director Ellie Collyer-Bristow
Movement Director Ali James
Assistant Director James Cottis

Sheffield Theatres today announces the cast for The Hypochondriac, Roger McGough’s celebrated adaptationof Molière’s witty satire.

The cast includes: Jonathan Ainscough as the Purgeon and Main Carer to Ill Servant, and the on-stage Musical Director (playing piano and accordion); Zak Ghazi-Torbati as Clèante and Servant; Chris Hannon as Doctor Diaforius and Béralde; Edward Hogg as Argan; Zweyla Mitchell Dos Santos as Toinette; Jessica Ransom as Béline and Servant; Saroja-Lily Ratnavel as Angélique; André Refig as Bonnefoi and Ill Servant; and Garmon Rhys as Thomas Diaforius, Fleurant and Servant.

Jessica Ransom returns to Sheffield Theatres after her recent appearance in the UK Tour of Home, I’m Darling at Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre. Having grown up in Sheffield, she was also part of the Crucible’s Youth Theatre and performed on the Crucible stage as part of the Sheffield Children’s Festival with High Storrs School. All other members of the castmake their Sheffield Theatres debut with The Hypochondriac.

‘Perhaps you could take my pulse?  Simply to confirm my worst fears. How long do I have? Days, months or years?’

Self-obsessed and fixated on his health, wealthy Argan spends his time and money on frequent visits to the family physician.  

With medical bills piling up, Argan believes he has found the perfect solution to his problem. But with an exasperated household growing tired of his antics, Argan’s time may be better spent addressing what is real, rather than worrying about what is imagined.  

A witty satire punctuated with music and dance, this adaptation of Molière’s masterpiece proves that laughter really is the best form of medicine. 

Tickets for The Hypochondriac are on sale now. Tickets can be booked through the Box Office in person, over the phone on 0114 249 6000 or at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.

WEST END CAST RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE!

DLAP Records Ltd present

BONNIE & CLYDE THE MUSICAL
 

Released today, the West End Cast Recording of BONNIE & CLYDE THE MUSICAL is now available to download. The eagerly-awaited cast album can be purchased at bonnieandclydemusical.com/album, produced by Katy Richardson and Sam Featherstone, released through Broadway Records.

Recorded at Livingston Studios in London, the West End cast recording of Bonnie & Clyde The Musical features; Frances Mayli McCann (Bonnie Parker), Jordan Luke Gage (Clyde Barrow), George Maguire (Buck Barrow), Jodie Steele (Blanche Barrow), Cleve September (Ted Hinton), Dom Hartley-Harris (Preacher), and featured Ensemble Robbie Scotcher, Alexander Evans, Kit Esuruoso, Barney Wilkinson (Alternate Clyde Barrow), Lauren Jones (Alternate Bonnie Parker), Julie Yammanee, Pippa Winslow, Chloe Saunders, Charlie McCullagh, Sydnie Hocknell and Michael Cortez.

The orchestra includes; Nick Barstow (Musical Director/Keys), Honor Halford-Macleod (Assistant Musical Director/Keys 2), Kobi Pham (Guitar 1), Daniel Vildósola (Guitar 2), Annie Blake (Bass/Double Bass), Zach Okonkwo (Drums), Kate Ingram (Reed 1), Claire McInerney (Reed 2) and Clodagh Kennedy (Fiddle).

Music for Bonnie & Clyde The Musical is by Tony® nominee Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlett Pimpernell), lyrics by Tony® and Oscar® winner Don Black (Sunset Boulevard, Aspects of Love), a book by Emmy® Award nominee Ivan Menchell (Blended [movie], The Cemetery Club, Death Note The Musical).

Presented by DLAP Group, Bonnie & Clyde The Musical had two hell-raising hit seasons in London’s West End at the Arts Theatre and the Garrick Theatre. Opening at Leicester Curve on Thursday 22nd February 2024, the UK & Ireland tour is currently set to visit nineteen cities with more dates to be announced soon. 

Fan-favourite and winner of Best New Musical (What’sOnStage Awards 2023) Bonnie & Clyde The Musical is the story of two small-town kids from the middle of nowhere who became the biggest folk heroes in all America. They craved adventure – and each other. Fearless, shameless, and alluring, this is the electrifying story of love, adventure and crime that captured the attention of an entire nation. 

The album is produced by Katy Richardson & Sam Featherstone, Executive Producer: DLAP Records Ltd & Andrew Paradis, Engineer: Marcus Locock, Assistant Engineer: Luke Farnell, Mix Engineer: Sam Featherstone, Mastering Engineer: Ste Kerry, Show Photography: The Other Richard and Package Design: Robbie Rozelle.

For Broadway Records; President / Executive Producer: Van Dean, A&R Director: Robbie Rozelle, Project Manager: Michael Swan, Social Media: Kathy Ng, Press Representative: Elizabeth Skollar. 

Bonnie & Clyde The Musical is directed by Nick Winston (Director of the feature film Tomorrow Morning, MAME, The Royal Variety Performance) with Set and Costume Design by Philip Witcomb (Atlantis, Stones In His Pockets, MAME), Musical Supervision from Katy Richardson (SIX, Rent, Jersey Boys), Original Arrangements and Orchestrations by John McDaniel (Patti Lupone: Live, Annie Get Your Gun), Additional Orchestrations by Jen Green(Fantastically Great Women, Vanara), Additional Arrangements by Katy Richardson and Nick Barstow, Lighting Design by Zoe Spurr (Fantastically Great Women, Hamlet at Theatre Royal Windsor), Sound Design by Tom Marshall (The Drifter’s Girl, Nativity The Musical, Curtains), Video Design by Nina Dunn (The Shark Is Broken, Lazuli Sky), Wig Design by Darren Ware (Bonnie & Clyde) and Casting Director Jim Arnold CDG (Wicked, The Prince of Egypt). 

Bonnie & Clyde The Musical is presented by DLAP Group, an Olivier Award-winning production company with West End and UK Touring credits including Bonnie and Clyde in Concert, Rock of Ages, Company, Fame, Curtains, and The Wedding Singer.

For more information and tickets visit bonnieandclydemusical.com. 

broadwayrecords.com @bwayrecords

Bat Boy: The Musical returns to London’s
West End with a star-studded concert this
Halloween
Tuesday 31st October 2023, 8.00pm
London Palladium, 8 Argyll Street, London, W1F 7TF

The cult classic Bat Boy: The Musical descends on the London Palladium for a Halloween concert with Jordan Luke Gage (Bonnie and Clyde, Heathers) appearing as fans have never seen him before in the transformational title role. Joining him in the star-studded cast are two-time Olivier Award nominee Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (Cinderella, In The Heights), Trevor Dion Nicholas (Hamilton, Next To Normal) and Jodie Steele (Bonnie and Clyde, Heathers).

The rock horror musical with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe (Heathers, Legally Blonde) first premiered on Halloween in 1997. Since then, Bat Boy has garnered a devoted following with its award-winning off-Broadway and West End runs and addictive soundtrack.

Edgar (Gage) is a half boy/half bat creature who is discovered in a cave in a rural American town. Thelocal sheriff brings Bat Boy to the home of the town veterinarian, Dr. Parker (Nicholas), where he is eventually accepted as a member of the family by the veterinarian’s wife, Meredith (HamiltonBarritt), and teenage daughter, Shelley (Steele). However, resentment and a dreadful secret about his shocking origins threaten to turn the town, and everyone he loves against him.

Set against a backdrop of a small town ravaged by prejudice, the dark comedy explores themes of fear, acceptance and the consequences of othering, questioning what it means to be ‘normal’.

The producers Chris Steward and Shanay Holmes for West End Musical Productions and director Dean Johnson (Once, BKLYN) promise a dark, truthful reimagining of the musical, with more cast and creatives to be announced. A new obsession for musical fans to sink their teeth into and a bloody brilliant way to spend Halloween.

H A R R Y   P O T T E R   A N D   T H E   C U R S E D   C H I L D

CELEBRATES 7^th ANNIVERSARY

AT LONDON’S PALACE THEATRE

PARTS ONE AND TWO NOW BOOKING TO 19 MAY 2024

WWW.HARRYPOTTERTHEPLAY.COM

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child celebrates its 7th anniversary at London’s Palace Theatre on Sunday 30 July 2023 where it is now booking to 19 May 2024.

Since its first preview at the Palace Theatre in 2016, the original two-part multi award-winning production has welcomed over 1.5 million patrons with visitors from over 146 countries. There have been 1149 performances combined of Part One and Part Two over the past 7 years totaling 5457 hours of performance from the 42 strong London cast.

Each performance of Part One and Part Two sees 560 costumes and 100 wigs bring the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child characters to life each night, along with 42 wands which have cast 57450 spells in total over the last 7 years at the Palace Theatre. Behind the scenes there are 53 backstage staff illuminating the stage with 1200 lighting cues and 660 sound cues.

19 years after Harry, Ron, and Hermione saved the wizarding world, they’re back on a most extraordinary new adventure – this time, joined by a brave new generation that has only just arrived at the legendary Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Prepare for spectacular spells, a mind-blowing race through time, and an epic battle to stop mysterious forces, all while the future hangs in the balance.

The current London cast comprises Sam Crane (Harry Potter), Frances Grey (Ginny Potter), Thomas Grant (Albus Potter), Thomas Aldridge (Ron Weasley), Michelle Gayle (Hermione Granger), Grace Wylde (Rose Granger-Weasley), James Howard (Draco Malfoy) and Adam Wadsworth (Scorpius Malfoy). 

They are joined by Gabriel Akamo, Troy Alexander, Harry Ames, David Annen, Sue Appleby, Sabina Cameron, Phil Cheadle, Robert Curtis, Tim Dewberry, Iskandar Eaton, Lewis Edgar, Jack Gardner, Jemma Gould, Kelton Hoyland, April Hughes, Max Hutchinson, Emma Louise Jones, Tom Mackean, David Mara, James McGregor, Kathryn Meisle, Gigi Noel-King, Melaina Pecorini, Niamh Perry, Ruchi Rai, Ian Redford, Rosalind Steele, Tom Storey, Joshua Talbot, Susan Vidler and Wreh-asha Walton. Benedict Archer, Hector Baldwin, Chloe Grant, Honor Hastings, Harry Munson, Delilah O’Riordan and Jude Parrywho alternate two children’s roles, complete the 46-strong company.

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a new play by Jack Thorne, directed by John Tiffany with movement by Steven Hoggett, set by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, music & arrangements by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry, illusions & magic by Jamie Harrison,music supervision & arrangements by Martin Lowe, and casting by Julia Horan CDG. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the first Harry Potter story to be presented on stage and the eighth story in the Harry Potter series, has sold over 6 million tickets worldwide since its world premiere in London in July 2016 and holds a record 60 major honors, with nine Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Play and six Tony Awards including Best New Play. The international phenomenon has four productions running worldwide in London, New York, Hamburg and Tokyo.