FIRST VIDEO from the English language premiere of REBECCA at Charing Cross Theatre
Richard Carson as Maxim de Winter
Lauren Jones as Second Mrs de Winter
sing “Through the Night”
Pianist Tom Knowles
Richard Carson, Lauren Jones and Kara Lane head the cast for the eagerly anticipated English language premiere of the critically acclaimed musical ‘Rebecca’.
Based on Daphne Du Maurier’s 1938 novel, by Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay, two of the most successful German-language musical theatre creators, ‘Rebecca’ has already captivated more than two million people worldwide in hugely successful productions in 12 countries and eight languages.
‘Rebecca’ had its world premiere at VBW’s Raimund Theater in Vienna, Austria, in September 2006, where it went on to play to sold-out houses in three seasons, and where it is currently enjoying a hugely successful revival.
The rest of the cast are: Alex James-Ward, Piers Bate, Sarah Harlington, David Breeds, Amanda Minihan, Neil Moors, Nicholas Lumley, Nigel-Joseph Francis, Elliot Swann, Scott McClure, Emily Apps, Melanie Bright, Gail MacKinnon, Tarisha Rommick, James Mateo-Salt, Rosie Glossop.
Rebecca, with an orchestra of 18, will be directed by Alejandro Bonatto (director of the critically acclaimed production of Donizetti’s ‘Rita’ and Francis Poulanc and Jean Cocteau’s ‘The Human Voice’ at Charing Cross Theatre).
It has a new English translation by Christopher Hampton (two-time Tony Award winner Best Score & Best Book for ‘Sunset Boulevard’ and Oscar winner for Best Adapted Screenplay ‘Dangerous Liaisons’ & ‘The Father’) and Michael Kunze.
Featuring 22 original songs, Rebecca is a gripping thriller full of intrigue and surprises that sticks closely to the original novel. Wealthy Maxim de Winter brings his naïve new wife home to his Cornish estate, Manderley, where the manipulative housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, resents the new wife’s intrusion. She persuades her that she is an unworthy replacement for the first Mrs de Winter, the glamorous and mysterious Rebecca, who perished in a drowning accident, with tragic results…
The world-famous novel was also turned into a celebrated Alfred Hitchcock film in 1940, starring Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, Judith Anderson, George Sanders and Gladys Cooper. It was nominated for 11 Oscars, winning two awards; Best Picture and Best Cinematography. Rebecca was recently filmed again by Netflix starring Lily James, Armie Hammer, Kristin Scott Thomas and Keeley Hawes.
Creative team Original Book and Lyrics: Michael Kunze Music and Orchestrations: Sylvester Levay English Book Adaptation: Christopher Hampton English Lyrics: Christopher Hampton and Michael Kunze Based on the novel by Daphne du Maurier
Director Alejandro Bonatto Choreographer Ron Howell Musical Supervisor/Conductor Robert Scott Production Designer Nicky Shaw Lighting Designer David Seldes Sound Designer Andrew Johnson Projection Designer Matt Powell Costume Supervisor Jess Richardson-Smith Casting Stephen Crockett/Grindrod Burton Casting on performance days for personal callers
REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE ANNOUNCES AN EXTRA WEEK EXTENSION FOR
LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
Due to popular demand, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre today announces an extra week for its new production of La Cage aux Folles, with 8 added performances from Monday 18 – Saturday 23 September2023.
Tickets are on sale now to Patrons, Members and Priority Booking Members, with public sale from 11am Thursday 17 August 2023. To book visit www.openairtheatre.com.
The final production by outgoing Artistic DirectorTim Sheader at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, La Cage aux Folles celebrates 40 years since its original premiere on Monday 21st August. With a book by Harvey Fierstein and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, La Cage aux Follesis based on the play by Jean Poiret, and includes the classic songs ‘I Am What I Am’ and ‘The Best of Times’.
Georges, Albin and their son Jean-Michel re-discover the true meaning of family, and of putting yourself last so that the ones you love can come first.
Carl Mullaney (Chicago/Les Misérables) plays Albin and Billy Carter (A Moon For The Misbegotten) plays Georges. Further principal casting includes Ben Culleton (Jean-Michel), Julie Jupp (Marie Dindon), Shakeel Kimotho (Jacob), Debbie Kurup (Jacqueline), John Owen-Jones (Edward Dindon) and Sophie Pourret (Anne).
Completing the cast are Jak Allen-Anderson (Hanna), Craig Armstrong (Cagelle), Tom Bales (Cagelle),Taylor Bradshaw (Cagelle), Daniele Coombe (Mme. Renaud), Jordan Lee Davies (Chantal), Nicole Deon (Ensemble), Lewis Easter (Cagelle/Swing/Dance Captain), Harvey Ebbage (Cagelle), Emma Johnson (Ensemble/Swing), George Lynham (Phaedra), JP McCue (Cagelle), Rishard-Kyro Nelson (Cagelle/Swing), Alexandra Waite-Roberts (Cagelle/Ensemble) and Hemi Yeroham (Francis).
Completing the creative team are: Thyrza Abrahams (Associate Director), Amy Ball (Casting Director), Jason Carr (Orchestral and Dance Arrangements), Arthur Carrington (Associate Casting Director), Guy Common (Make Up Designer), Ryan Dawson Laight (Costume Designer), James Hassett (Associate Sound Designer), Howard Hudson (Lighting Designer), Nick Lidster (Sound Designer), Ingrid Mackinnon (Season Associate – Intimacy Support), Stephen Mear (Choreographer), Ebony Molina (Associate Choreographer), Janis Price (Voice & Text Director), Colin Richmond (Set Designer), Tom Slade (Assistant Musical Director), Ben van Tienen (Musical Director) and Jennifer Whyte (Musical Supervisor)
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s remaining 2023 season also includes Nicoll Entertainment’s Dinosaur World Live(11 August – 3 September) which returns to the Open Air Theatre, written and directed by Derek Bond.
DIVORCED, BEHEADED, LIVE! NOW BOOKING AT THE VAUDEVILLE THEATRE UNTIL APRIL 2024 www.sixthemusical.com
Producers Kenny Wax, Wendy & Andy Barnes and George Stiles have today released an epic new trailer for the home-grown hit musical sensation, SIX. Featuring the current West End company Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky (Aragon), Baylie Carson (Boleyn), Claudia Kariuki (Seymour), Dionne Ward-Anderson (Cleves), Koko Basigara (Howard), and Roxanne Couch (Parr), the trailer has been produced using the drone and ‘bullet-time’ camera technology, showing off the award-winning choreography, costumes and design live in ultra-HD.
The cast of Six – credit Pamela Raith
Think you know the six Wives of Henry VIII? Think again…
Prepare to lose your head and experience the Tudor Wives’ lives as they turn back the clock and take to the stage to reclaim their crowns and retell their stories of love, loss and the infamous ex they all have in common.
Join Aragon, Boleyn, Seymour, Cleves, Howard and Parr, backed by their fierce on-stage band,
the Ladies in Waiting, and Get Down to a royal retelling of the sassiest story in British Her-story.
The trailer is released as the global Queendom hits 1.5million followers globally – across YouTube, Instagram, X, TikTok and Facebook in the UK, US, Australia, Korea and beyond.
Producer Andy Barnes said, “It’s now been six years since SIX first premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe, and we’re delighted to mark that anniversary, and the shows incredible fans, the Queendom, by releasing our brand-new trailer. We and the cast had great fun filming it with drones and cranes, in front of our live audience from the Queendom, and we are all very proud to share it with them and everyone else.”
The crowning glory of the West End, Broadway and beyond, SIX, created by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, is currently booking in the West End until 28 April 2024 at the Vaudeville Theatre.
Winner of over 35 international awards, including two 2022 Tony Awards, a Whatsonstage award, and nominated for five Oliviers, SIX can also be seen live on stage worldwide: on Broadway at the Lena Horne Theatre in New York, across the UK on its current sell-out, record-breaking tour, with two concurrent North American tours, a recent Australian tour and forthcoming productions due to play Korea, Holland and Canada.
The show’s 2018 debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe hastened its West End transfer in January 2019 at the Arts Theatre. In 2020, SIX transferred for a short West End season at the Lyric Theatre before opening at its current home, the Vaudeville theatre in November 2021.
SIX is written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, with direction by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage, Choreography is by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, with set design by Emma Bailey, costume design by Gabriella Slade, lighting design by Tim Deiling, sound design by Paul Gatehouse, musical orchestration by Tom Curran, and musical supervision by Joe Beighton. The current West End Queens are supported by their talented alternates Monique Ashe-Palmer, Danielle Rose, Leah Vassell, Rachel Rawlinson and Esme Rothero.
THE MULTI AWARD-WINNING, CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED PRODUCTION OF
CABARET
AT THE KIT KAT CLUB
FROM MONDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2023
The producers of the multi award-winning, critically acclaimed production of CABARET at the KIT KAT CLUB are delighted to announce that from Monday 25 September 2023, the roles of The Emcee and Sally Bowles will be played by music icons Jake Shears and Rebecca Lucy Taylor AKA Self Esteem. They join Nathan Ives-Moiba as Clifford Bradshaw, Beverley Klein as Fraulein Schneider and Teddy Kempner as Herr Schultz.
Emily Benjamin will continue as the production’s alternate Sally Bowles until 18 October, with Nic Myers taking over (scheduled to perform once a week) from 19 October.
Also joining the company on 25 September 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.
From 16 October, the prologue company will be Rachel Benson, Ami Benton, Onyemachi Ejimofor, Joseph Hardy, Liz Kamille, Andrew Linnie, Aine McLoughlin, Jack William Parry, Jazmyn Raikes, Oliver Stockley and Ena Yamaguchi.
Jake Shears said today “It is my privilege and honour to play the Emcee in this incredible show. I am especially excited to be sharing the stage with the force that is Self Esteem. This role has been a lifetime dream of mine and I couldn’t imagine a better production of it to be a part of.”
Rebecca Lucy Taylor said today “I’ve never made a secret of my love of theatre and I honestly couldn’t be more excited about getting to make my stage debut as one of the greatest leads of all time. I’ve joked for years that there’s no need for a Self Esteem musical really because Sally’s story covers most of the points and here we are. I am both artistically and emotionally raring to take on this challenge. Pinch me!”
Singer, songwriter, actor and writer Jake Shears is best known as the lead singer of the multiplatinum-selling, Grammy-nominated, Brit award-winning glam rock band SCISSOR SISTERS. The band’s hits include ‘Comfortably Numb’, ‘Take Your Mama’, ‘Let’s Have A Kiki’ and the UK #1 hit ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancing’. Born in Arizona, Jake grew up in the Seattle area before moving to New York City, where he studied fiction writing at The New School. He wrote the music for Tales of the City, a 2011 stage musical based on Armistead Maupin’s best-selling book series of the same name before starring in Bent at the Taper Forum in 2015. In 2018 he released his debut book, the memoir Boys Keep Swinging and joined the cast of Kinky Boots on Broadway in the lead role as Charlie Price – a role he reprised in 2022 at LA’s Hollywood Bowl. In August 2018 Jake Shears released his eponymous debut solo album to critical acclaim, followed by tours in the UK and US, and in Australia with Kylie Minogue. 2023 saw the release of Jake’s second studio album ‘Last Man Dancing’ which featured the BBC Radio 2 A-List singles ‘Too Much Music’, ‘I Used To Be In Love’ and the title track. Around album release, Jake continued to tour including as special guest to Duran Duran on their UK arena tour as well acclaimed sets at 2023’s Glastonbury and Mighty Hoopla Festivals. Jake has recently co-written the music for the new musical ‘Tammy Faye’ alongside Elton John which has just sold out its initial run at London’s Almeida Theatre and won 2 Olivier Awards. When not on the road, Jake divides his time between London and New Orleans.
As Self Esteem, Rebecca Lucy Taylor has become the unapologetic pop star she always wanted to be. With her 2019 statement debut Compliments Please, Taylor gave voice to the feelings of insecurity and misogyny-induced frustration that many of us face every day, emboldening a whole new audience with powerful, truth-telling lyricism. Her second album Prioritise Pleasure arrived to universal critical acclaim, crowned both The Guardian and Sunday Times Culture’s Album of the Year, with the empowering ‘I Do This All The Time’ also named The Guardian’s #1 song of 2021. Praised for its fearless ability to tackle important issues around female autonomy, comparison culture and self-love, its intimate, confessional and witty lyricism and anthemic maximalist pop rhythms, the album was a catalyst for an unprecedented few years for Taylor. Prioritise Pleasure received a slew of award nominations including the esteemed Mercury Prize, a BRIT Award for Best New Artist, Sky Arts and NME awards nominations, while also winning BBC Introducing’s 2022 Artist Of The Year award and Attitude Magazine’s 2021 Music Award. Summer 2022 saw Taylor play a mammoth 30 festivals, teeing up her biggest run of shows to date: the 2023 I Tour This All The Time tour included a huge three nights at London’s Eventim Apollo, three nights at Manchester’s Albert Hall, and two nights at her hometown’s O2 Academy Sheffield. Self Esteem also supported Blur at their huge Wembley Stadium show and performed with the Royal Northern Sinfonia at the 2023 BBC Proms. Gathering a passionate and vast legion of fans, Taylor is one of a handful of artists to have been playlisted across BBC Radio 1, 2 and 6 Music simultaneously. She has appeared on numerous iconic television series including The Graham Norton Show and Jools Holland (including the NYE Hootenanny) and has graced the covers of magazines from Grazia to NME to The Times Magazine and Sunday Times Style. Taylor composed the soundtrack for PRIMA FACIE, the arresting one woman play starring Jodie Comer which sold out a 9-week run in London’s West End and in the US on Broadway. As an actor, Taylor played a cameo role in I HATE SUZIE TOO, and will soon be seen starring in a regular role in Sky’s upcoming series SMOTHERED as well as making her feature film debut in LAYLA.
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.
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.
Chloe Petts doesn’t really need this glowing review from me as it looks like her entire Fringe run is pretty much already sold out – and rightly so: this is a joyous hour in the company of a young woman who gives an excellent impression of someone who is gloriously just being her (very funny) self.
Her schtick is that she has previously been known as nice and polite, but now has recognised she is angry and is working through this, and although she is absolutely right to say that there is so much to be angry about in the world, she really just comes across as wonderfully forthright.
The combination of football and lesbian jokes collide surprisingly perfectly and her interaction with the audience has a wonderfully mischievous edge. The routine with Brian from the front row was pitch perfect and had the teenager who was with me in stitches. As a tall woman myself I very much appreciated all of her hilarious references to being a woman of height.
There are sometimes tickets available on the door for sold out Fringe shows – if you can get hold of one for Chloe Petts’ show, you won’t regret it.
The Menier Chocolate Factory today announces full casting for the world première of Close Up – The Twiggy Musical. Joining the previously annouced Elena Skye as Twiggy are Lauren Azania AJ King-Yombo (Kay), Matt Corner (Justin de Villeneuve), Darren Day (Michael Witney), Beth Devine (Sally), Aoife Dunne (Cindy), Hannah-Jane Fox (Nell Hornby), and Steven Serlin (Norman Hornby), with Emma-Katie Adcock, Liam Buckland, Harriet Bunton, Leanne Garretty, Luke Johnson, David McIntosh, Danny Nattrass, Sydney Spencer, and Karen Walker. Written and diredcted by Ben Elton, the production opens on 27 September, with previews from 18 September, and runs until 18 November.
Completing the season is the Menier and Umeda Arts Theater’s co-production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Pacific Overtures – directed by Matthew White – which opened earlier this year at the Nissay Theatre in Tokyo. The musical, which was significantly revised by both Sondheim and Weidman in 2017, will be seen here in the UK for the time in this version. This continues the venue’s history of Sondheim collaborations, which also sees the company’s production of Merrily We Roll Along open at the Hudson Theatre on Broadway in October.
CLOSE UP – THE TWIGGY MUSICAL
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY BEN ELTON
18 September – 18 November
Cast: Lauren Azania AJ King-Yombo (Kay), Matt Corner (Justin), Darren Day (Michael), Beth Devine (Sally), Aoife Dunne (Cindy), Hannah-Jane Fox (Nell), Steven Serlin (Norman), and Elena Skye (Twiggy) with Emma-Katie Adcock, Liam Buckland, Harriet Bunton, Leanne Garretty, Luke Johnson, David McIntosh, Danny Nattrass, Sydney Spencer and Karen Walker
Choreography: Jacob Fearey; Set and Video Design: Tim Bird; Costume Design: Jonathan Lipman; Sound Design: Gregory Clarke; Hair, Wig & Makeup Design: Diana Estrada Hudson; Musical Supervision, Direction and Orchestrations: Stuart Morley;
The story of a skinny kid from Neasden who became the most famous teenager on the planet and the ‘face of the 1960s’ may seem like the stuff of fairy tales, but there is tragedy as well as triumph in this intimate portrayal of a true 20th century icon. It’s the story of a young working class woman who faced snobbery and sexism in a pre-Me Too world and yet achieved her dreams without ever compromising who she was. Author and director Ben Elton charts Twiggy’s journey through laughter and tears from the suburbs of London to the world’s fashion capitals to Hollywood and Broadway and ultimately to becoming a national treasure and Dame of the Realm. All accompanied by a fabulous score featuring the hits that have been the soundtrack to Twiggy’s life. Grab your miniskirt and re-live the swinging ‘60s and soulful ‘70s in this joyful, uplifting and empowering world première musical!
Elena Skye plays Twiggy. Her theatre work includes Lauren in Kinky Boots (Adelphi Theatre), Eponine in Les Misérables (Queen’s Theatre) and as Scaramouche in WeWill Rock You (London Coliseum and UK tour).
Lauren Azania AJ King-Yombo plays Kay. Her theatre credits include Heartbeat of Home (Piccadilly Theatre), The Magic of Motown (UK & European tour), Boogie Nights (Gatehouse), The Wizard of Oz (Millfield Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (Quarterhouse), Robin Hood (Salisbury Playhouse), Cinderella (Lighthouse, Poole) and Fame and The Wiz (MYT).
Matt Corner returns to the Menier to play Justin de Villeneuve – he previously appeared in Fiddler on the Roof. His other theatre credits include Cuttlefish (Trinity Arts Centre), The Last Ship (Northern Stage and UK tour), Jersey Boys (Piccadilly Theatre/UK tour), A Day at the Races/A Night at the Opera (Ireland) and Jim Caruso’s Cast Party (Birdland Jazz Club, New York). His film credits include Les Misérables and You’re a Musical Star.
Darren Day plays Michael Witney. His theatre work includes Footloose, Chicago, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show, Defending the Caveman, We Will Rock You, The Rocky Horror Show, Carousel, Beauty and the Beast, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Hello Dolly! (UK tours), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (West End, UK and world tours), Great Expectations (Theatr Clwyd), Copacabana, Grease, Bumblescratch, Les Misrables (West End), Summer Holiday (West End and UK tour), Bob in Rita, Sue and Bob Too (Theatre Royal, St Helens), Extremities (The Old Red Lion), Alfie (Watford Palace), The Last Session (Tristan Bates Theatre) and Mame (Salisbury Playhouse). On television, he won Opportunity Knocks; and he also hosted You Bet and has appeared on the Royal Variety Performance and Don’t Try This at Home. His other television work includes Doctors, Hollyoaks (as series regular Danny Houston), Stella, Holby City, Crime Stories and Mile High; and for film, Rudy, White Island, Rough Cut, The Krays, Demon Eye, Hellbreeder and Dangerous Game.
Beth Devine plays Sally. Her theatre credits include White Christmas (UK tour).
Aoife Dunne plays Cindy. She was the winner of Play in A Day at Alexandra Palace for Sky Arts. Her theatre credits include Maria Friedman – Legends (Menier Chocolate Factory), Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends (Sondheim Theatre), The Witches of Eastwick (Sondheim) and Toy Show the Musical (The Auditorium in Dublin).
Hannah-Jane Fox plays Nell Hornby. Her theatre credits include Tommy (Prince Edward Theatre), Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’Be (Union Theatre), Dick Whittington (Hackney Empire), We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre), Hot Stuff (Leicester Haymarket), and Rent (Shaftesbury). For television, her credits include Flatmates, Upstart Crown, The Yowling, Millie Inbetween (as series regular Sharon), The Wright Way (as series regular Cheryl), Slings and Arrows. Raging, Blessed and Fifteen Stories High.
Steven Serlin plays Norman Hornby. His theatre credits include Hairspray, Little Shop of Horrors (Kilworth House), Heathers the Musical, The Wild Party (The Other Palace), Preludes (Southwark Playhouse), Amour (Charing Cross Theatre), We’ll Live and Die in These Towns (Belgrade Theatre Coventry), Oklahoma! (Grange Park Opera), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), The Infidel (Theatre Royal, Stratford East), I Can’t Sing (London Palladium), Sleeping Arrangements (Landor Theatre), Mack & Mabel, Company (Southwark Playhouse), Oscar’s World (Above the Stag), Arsenic and Old Lace (Salisbury Playhouse), Popcorn (Bolton Octagon), Imagine This (New London Theatre), Our House, Scrooge, Chess (UK tours), Desperately Seeking Susan (Novello Theatre), Saturday Night Fever, Boogie Nights (West End and UK tours), Grease (Dominion Theatre) and Piaf (Piccadilly).
In the mid-1960s at 16 years of age, Twiggy became internationally known as the world’s first supermodel. Her photographic modelling success epitomised the age. She appeared, and continues to appear, on the cover of Vogue, Tatler,Elle and countless other major magazines worldwide. She is now an actress, singer, writer, designer, presenter, producer and activist, as well as a model. Twiggy became a successful actress on stage, film and television, and won two Golden Globe Awards for her first film, The Boyfriend, directed by Ken Russell. In the mid-1980s, she was nominated for a Tony Award for her role in the hit Gershwin musical, My One and Only, on Broadway. She has appeared several times onstage in the UK and the USA, including in Sir Peter Hall’s production of Mrs Warren’s Profession, and played Gertrude Lawrence in If Love Were All, Off-Broadway. Her television credits include playing Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion. She has recorded several albums, ranging from country pop to standards.
Also known as a fashion designer, she has designed successful ranges in the UK, the US and Japan. Twiggy was a guest judge for several seasons on the phenomenally successful America’s Next Top Model. She is an ardent supporter of many charities, including Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, breast cancer, many animal welfare charities, and she is an anti-fur campaigner. In 2020 Twiggy was invited to launch a podcast, Tea with Twiggy, in which she chats to friends and people she admires. Due to its ongoing success, the fourth series was launched in 2023. In 2019, she received a Damehood in the Queens New Year’s Honours list, for her contribution to fashion, the arts and charity.
Ben Elton is a multi-award-winning novelist, playwright, television writer, screenwriter and lyricist. He is also a theatre, screen and television director, a stand-up comedian and occasional actor. His work for the stage includes The New Review (1985) – with Richard Curtis, Gasping (1990), Silly Cow (1991), Popcorn (1997), Blast from the Past (1998), The Beautiful Game (2000) – book and lyrics, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, We Will Rock You (2002) – book, music by Queen, Tonight’s The Night (2004) – book, music by Rod Stewart and others, Love Never Dies (2010) – co-writer of the book, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. His many television credits include The Young Ones (1982/4) – writer with Rik Mayall and Lisa Meyer; Alfresco (1982/4) – performer and co-writer with Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie and Emma Thompson; Happy Families (1985) – writer; Blackadder 2 (1983) – co-writer with Richard Curtis; Filthy Rich & Catflap (1986) – writer; Saturday Live (1986/7) – comedian/host; Blackadder The Third (1987) – co-writer with Richard Curtis; Friday Night Live (1988) – comedian / host; Blackadder Goes Forth (1989) – co-writer with Richard Curtis; Ben Elton The Man From Auntie (1990 and 1994) – writer/performer; The Thin Blue Line (1995/6) – writer/co-director; The Ben Elton Show (1998) – writer/performer; Blessed (2005) – writer/director; The Wright Way (2013) – writer/co-director; and Upstart Crow (2016/17) – writer. Elton also wrote Mr Bean’s “exam” episode. In 2007 he was awarded the Special Golden Rose D’Or at The International Television festival in Lucerne Switzerland for his life-time contribution to the Television Arts. As a novelist, his work includes Stark (1989), Gridlock (1991), This Other Eden (1993), Popcorn (1996), Blast From The Past (1998), Inconceivable (1999), Dead Famous (2001), UK No 1. High Society (2002), Past Mortem (2004), The First Casualty (2005), Chart Throb (2006), Blind Faith (2007), Meltdown (2009), Two Brothers (2012), Time. And Time Again (2014); and for film, he has written and directed Maybe Baby (2000) and Three Summers (2017).
LISTINGS INFORMATION
MENIER CHOCOLATE FACTORY
53 Southwark Street, London, SE1 1RU
THE THIRD MAN
Until 9 September
CLOSE UP – THE TWIGGY MUSICAL
18 September – 18 November
PACIFIC OVERTURES
25 November 2023 – 24 February 2024
Box Office: 020 7378 1713 (£2.50 transaction fee per booking)
AMY DI BARTOLOMEO LEADS PRINCIPAL CAST IN NEW MUSICAL FOR TONIGHT
ONE-NIGHT ONLY STAGED WEST-END CONCERT SHOW
By Shenelle Salcido and Spencer Williams
Directed by Nick Evans
ADELPHI THEATRE,5 September, 7.30 PM
“To be born Welsh is to be born with music
in your blood and poetry in your soul.” – Welsh Proverb
Amy Di Bartolomeo (SIX, We Will Rock You) and Jacob Young (Mamma Mia, Heathers) are today announced in the leading roles of new musical For Tonight, alongside Dale Evans (Jesus Christ Superstar) and BAFTA award-winning actress Emily Burnett (CBBC’s So Awkward, The Dumping Ground). The four Principals will be joined by a further 14 cast members and a choir, to be announced shortly.
This staged West-End concert show at the Adelphi Theatre on the 5 September uniquely blends, for the first time on stage, the rich and distinct traditions, language and culture of the Welsh and Romani peoples in a stirring journey exploring the power and meaning of home. Di Bartolomeo originated the leading role of Mirela Deram in workshops and also sang on the concept album along with Dale Evans, which has already hit 100k streams.
Inspired by true events, with its origins in the writer Spencer Williams’ own third great-grandfather’s handwritten journal, For Tonight’stimeless love story, one of difference and divide, is propelled by a riveting, foot stomping, atmospheric score incorporating traditional Welsh choral, indie-pop, folk, and Romani style melodies and rhythms.
The team behind For Tonightcome with solid musical theatre and theatre credentials including Tony award-nominated producer Blair Russell, who brought Slave Play by Jeremy O. Harris to Broadway, Sweeney Todd, the critically-acclaimed immersive show to off-Broadway and Lizard Boy from the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester and the Edinburgh Fringe to Off-Broadway. Welsh Director Nick Evans whose musical theatre credits include Mary Poppins,Bat Out of Hell, Billy Elliot, Mamma Mia, Rock of Ages and Jesus Christ Superstar joins forces with Welsh musical director lestyn Griffiths (Bat Out of Hell – World Tour), West End choreographer Kevan Allen (Jesus Christ Superstar – World Tour) and writers ShenelleSalcido and Spencer Williams. Award-winning poet and playwright Raine Geoghegan provides cultural script consultancy.
Set in 1832, the story begins at the Parry farm in Trelawnyd, a small town in North Wales where a Romani family find shelter and friendship, but soon after their arrival, an unknown disease brings tragedy. Blame falls on the Romani travellers who are forced to flee and the three Parry children, Tomos, Haydn and Nettie, have to grow up fast after losing their parents.
Tomos, Haydn and Nettie’s lives twist and turn along different paths but fate reunites them with the traveller community from long ago. The Parry siblings encounter love, joy and friendship, as well as pain, prejudice and struggle before finally being forced to face their past, and their biggest fears.
This one-night only staged concert will be the first opportunity for UK audiences to see the full show following the release of the concept album in 2021 which has had over 100k streams to date, and a UK development workshop in 2022. Prior to this, For Tonight has been in development at New York Musical Theatre Festival, New York Theatre Barn, Queensbury Theatre, Goodspeed Musicals, Michigan State University and Isle of Man’s Gaiety Theatre.
Co-writer Spencer Williams says: “This musical is rooted in my Welsh family history, but like the Romani peoples has journeyed far and wide in the course of its development. I can’t wait for UK audiences to experience this timelesstale that showcases the distinct music, movement, and language of the Welsh and Romani cultures.”
Raine Geoghegan, cultural script consultant adds: “This musical is really like no other. In both the Welsh and Romany culture there is an abundance of story, song, music that touches the soul, nowhere is that more apparent than in the title song ‘For Tonight’, I love the balance of word, music and song, not forgetting dance and movement. These are ancient cultures that carry voices from the past, there is something for everyone. “
Further cast, choir and creative teams to be announced shortly
PRINCIPAL CAST
MIRELA DERAM Amy Di Bartolomeo
HAYDN PARRYJacob Young
TOMOS PARRYDale Evans
HENRIETTA PARRY Emily Burnett
CREATIVE TEAM
Book, Music & LyricsShenelle Salcido & Spencer Williams
DirectorNick Evans
Musical DirectorIestyn Griffiths
ChoreographerKevan Allen
ProducerBlair Russell
OrchestratorJen Green
Set DesignerStewart J Charlesworth
Lighting Designer Jai Morjaria
Orchestral ManagementDave Danford for Absolute Music Services Ltd
The Jamie Lloyd Company, the successful partnership between Ambassador Theatre Group and Artistic Director Jamie Lloyd, alongside Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, today announce the full cast and creative team for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard directed by Jamie Lloyd, with book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton, based on the Billy Wilder film.
Nicole Scherzinger (Norma Desmond) is joined by Tom Francis (Joe Gillis), Grace Hodgett Young (Betty Schaefer) and David Thaxton (Max Von Mayerling). As previously announced, Rachel Tucker will be guest starring as Norma Desmond on Thursday 12 October matinee, and all Monday performances from 16 October 2023 – 6 January 2024.
Completing the cast are Carl Au (Myron / Jones), Georgia Bradshaw (Lisa / Masseur), Hannah Yun Chamberlain (Patsy / Beautician), Tyler Davis (Sheldrake), Kamilla Fernandes (Dorothy / Astrologer), Ahmed Hamad (Artie), Laura Harrison (Catherine / Doctor), Charlotte Jaconelli (Joanna / Masseur), Olivia-Faith Kamau (Nancy / Beautician), Luke Latchman (John / Guard), Emma Lloyd (Mary / Heather / Analyst), MireiaMambo (Jean / Beautician / Dance Captain), Gregor Milne (Sammy), Kody Mortimer (Finance Man / Frank), Jon Tsouras (Finance Man / Cecil B. De Mille) and Charlie Waddell (Morino / Hog-Eye), with Lara Denning (Standby Norma), Jordan Cork and Shayna McPherson (Camera Operators), and Catherine Cornwall, Michael Lin (Assistant Dance Captain), Jon Reynolds, Kirsty Anne Shaw, Harrison Wilde and Lillie-Pearl Wildman as swings.
The creative team are Soutra Gilmour (Set and Costume Designer); Fabian Aloise (Choreographer); Alan Williams (Music Supervisor and Musical Director); Jack Knowles (Lighting Designer); Adam Fisher (Sound Designer); Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom (Video Design and Cinematography); Stuart Burt CDG (Casting Director); Hazel Holder (Voice and Dialect); Kate Waters (Fight Director); Ingrid Mackinnon (Intimacy Coordinator); Rachel Woodhouse (Costume Supervisor); Lily Mollgaard (Props Supervisor); Rupert Hands (Associate Director); Paris Green (Resident Associate Choreographer); HuwEvans (Associate Musical Director); Kelsh B-D (Associate Sound Designer); Martyn Sands (Production Manager).
Opening 30 years after the original West End production, Sunset Boulevard runs for a strictly limited 16 weeks at the Savoy Theatre from Thursday 21 September 2023 – Saturday 6 January 2024, with press night on Thursday 12 October at 7.30pm.
The Jamie Lloyd Company continues its commitment to accessibility, with 5,000 stalls and dress circle tickets priced at £20 available across the run exclusively for under 30s, key workers and those receiving government benefits. These tickets will be released weekly from September, with further information to be announced.
SUNSET BOULEVARD
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Book and Lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton
Based on the Billy Wilder film
Directed by Jamie Lloyd
Savoy Theatre
21 September 2023 – 6 January 2024
Nicole Scherzinger stars as the immortal Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary Sunset Boulevard. This thrillingly atmospheric musical, which features an iconic score including the songs With One Look, The Perfect Year and As If We Never Said Goodbye, is reimagined by visionary director Jamie Lloyd for a new generation.
Haunted by her memories and dreams, movie star Norma Desmond (Scherzinger) yearns to return to the big screen. A struggling screenwriter who can’t sell his scripts to the Hollywood studios may be her only hope, until their dangerous and compelling relationship leads to disastrous circumstances.
Drenched in champagne and cynicism, Sunset Boulevard scrutinizes the ambitions and frustrations of its characters and their intoxicating need for fame and adoration.
The Jamie Lloyd Company production of Sunset Boulevard is produced by Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, Gavin Kalin Productions, Wessex Grove, David Mirvish and Nick Thomas.
Sunset Boulevard is produced by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Ltd and is based on the original Paramount film by Billy Wilder.
Instagram: @sunsetblvdmusical
Twitter: @sunsetblvd
Facebook: @SunsetBoulevardTheMusical
Carl Au (Myron / Jones)
Theatre credits include: Cabaret (Lido2Paris); Anything Goes (Barbican Centre/ UK tour); South Pacific (Chichester Festival Theatre); Aladdin (Cambridge Arts Theatre); High Fidelity (Turbine Theatre); Cilla The Musical (UK tour); Ostrich Boys (Belgrade B2); Bright Phoenix (Liverpool Everyman); Jersey Boys (Prince Edward Theatre); Bells Are Ringing (Union); The Fantasticks (Duchess Theatre); Dance: Radio (York Theatre Royal/ Roundhouse); A Christmas Carol (Birmingham Rep); Sleeping Beauty (Oxford Playhouse); High School Musical (Hammersmith Apollo); Robin Hood, Babes in The Wood (Bournemouth Pavilion); Pendragon (Arthur Pendragon/UK & Japan tour); Sinking Water (Theatre Royal Stratford East) and 101 Dalmatians (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre). Film credits include: The Magician’s Garden. Television credit include: Doctors; Waterloo Road; Lost Sitcoms – Til Death Do Us Part; Casualty and Let’s Dance for Comic Relief. Concert credits include: Barbara Cook and Friends (London Coliseum); Good Thing Going (Cadogan Hall); The BRIT Awards 2009. OTHER: Feather Boy (Blacklist Entertainment); Peter & The Wolf (ACT Productions); The Last of the Mohicans (Irving Street Productions).
Georgia Bradshaw (Lisa / Masseur)
Theatre credits include: Bat Out of Hell (Peacock/International tour); Bring It On (Southbank Centre/ UK tour); 9 to 5 the Musical (UK and Ireland tour); Bare the Pop Opera Musical (The Vaults); Flashdance (Korean tour); Dreamgirls (Savoy Theatre); Mad on Her (UK tour); Dreams (Dubai Global Village) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Barbican).
Hannah Yun Chamberlain (Patsy / Beautician)
Theatre credits include: Legally Blonde (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Out of the Box (Turbine Theatre) and Cabaret (Lido2Paris).
Jordan Cork (Camera Operator)
Theatre credits include: Arminio, Alcina (Royal Opera House); Das Rhinegold (English National Opera) and Snow White and Seven Dwarfs (Tunbridge Assembly Hall). Other credits include: Fanta Halloween; KFC Commercial; 101FM (Little Simz) and We Day (Wembley Arena).
Catherine Cornwall (Camera Operator Swing)
Theatre credits include: The Cher Show (UK Tour); The Prince of Egypt (Dominion Theatre) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (Manchester Opera House). Film credits include: GreenpeaceDon’t StopThinking About Tomorrow and The Prince of Egypt (NBC/Universal). Other credits include: London International Horse Show (BBC); Kurupt FM and Craig David Summertime (Music Video); Atlas 3.0 (Commercial) and House of Fraser (Commercial).
Tyler Davis (Sheldrake)
Theatre credits include: Back to the Future (Adelphi Theatre) and Love Beyond (City Gates). Film credits include: The Boys in the Boat.
Lara Denning (Standby Norma)
Theatre credits include: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo Theatre/UK tour); The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ (Ambassadors/Menier Chocolate Factory); Matilda (Cambridge Theatre); Ruthless The Musical (Arts Theatre); Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Eugenius (Turbine Theatre); The Famous Five (Theatr Clwyd/Chichester Festival); Carousel (Kilworth House); Scrooge The Musical (Leicester Curve); The Rocky Horror Show (European Tour) and Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance, All The Fun Of The Fair and Dirty Dancing in Concert (UK tours). Film credits include: I Came By; Ruthless! The Musical; Dick Whittington; Glass Body and Leave A Light On. Other credits include: Mentos.
Kamilla Fernandes (Dorothy / Astrologer)
Theatre credits include: Groundhog Day (The Old Vic); Newsies (Troubadour Wembley Park) and Grease (Dominion Theatre).
Tom Francis (Joe Gillis)
Theatre credits include: & Juliet (Shaftesbury Theatre); What’s New Pussycat (Birmingham Rep); Rent (Hope Mill Theatre); Hair – The Concert (London Palladium) and I Could Use A Drink (Garrick Theatre).
Ahmed Hamad (Artie)
Theatre credits include: Standing At The Sky’s Edge (National Theatre/Sheffield Crucible); The Boy in the Dress (RSC); The Color Purple, The Addams Family (UK tours); Rumi: The Musical (London Coliseum); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (London Palladium); RENT (Hope Mill Theatre); Stay Awake Jake (Southwark Playhouse) and Now Or Never (Barn Theatre). Concert credits include: Kinky Boots (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); BBC Proms – West Side Story (Royal Albert Hall) and I Could Use A Drink (Garrick Theatre).
Laura Harrison (Catherine / Doctor)
Theatre credits include: Wicked (Apollo Victoria); The Rocky Horror Show, Legally Blonde, Blood Brothers (UK & Ireland Tour); Parade (Hope Mill Theatre): Peter Pan (Malvern Festival) and Little Shop of Horrors (Kings Arms Salford). Television credits include: Liver Birds Ident. Concert credits include: The Spark of Creation – with Stephen Schwartz (Park Theatre); An Evening with Stephen Schwartz (Hope Mill Theatre); Jason Manford’s Christmas Carol Concert (Bridgewater Hall Manchester) and Stephen Sondheim at 80 (BBC Proms, Royal Albert Hall). Other credits include: Churchof Now (BBC Comedy).
Grace Hodgett Young (Betty Schaefer)
Sunset Boulevard marks Grace’s professional stage debut. Credits whilst training include: The Little Mermaid, Bare, Made in Dagenham (Mountview) and Sister Act (Nottingham Playhouse).
Charlotte Jaconelli (Joanna / Masseur)
Theatre credits include: Assassins (Chichester Festival Theatre); The Wizard of Oz (Curve Leicester); Into the Woods (Theatre Royal Bath); The Boy in the Dress (RSC); Sweet Charity (Donmar Warehouse); Heathers the Musical (The Other Palace/Theatre Royal Haymarket) and She Loves Me (Landor – Offie Award nomination for Best Female). Television credits include: Call the Midwife and Britain’s Got Talent.
Olivia-Faith Kamau (Nancy / Beautician)
Theatre credits include: Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Hope Mill Theatre) and Million Dollar Quartet (Cirencester Barn).
Luke Latchman (John / Guard)
Theatre credits include: Richard II (Holy Trinity Church); Millennials (The Other Palace); Red Riding Hood (Theatre Royal Stratford East); Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo Theatre); Dick Whittington (Lyric Hammersmith); Flowers for Mrs Harris (Chichester Festival Theatre); Spring Awakening (Hope Mill Theatre); Twelfth Night, A Christmas Carol (RSC) and Working (Southwark Playhouse). Film credits include: Cinderella.
Michael Lin (Swing / Assistant Dance Captain)
Theatre credits include: The Wizard of Oz (London Palladium – Assistant Dance Captain); 42nd Street (Théâtre du Châtelet); Billy Elliot, Grease (Leicester Curve); Anything Goes (Barbican, Sheffield Theatres/UK tour); White Christmas (Dominion Theatre); Oklahoma!, Forty Years On (Chichester Festival Theatre); West Side Story (Royal Exchange Theatre); Aladdin (Hackney Empire); The Rink (Southwark Playhouse); Pinocchio (National); Thoroughly Modern Millie (Kilworth House); Annie (UK tour) and Thriller Live (UK & European tour). Film credits include: Anything Goes and Tomorrow Morning. Television credits include: Little Women. Other credits include: I Kissed Someone (It Wasn’t You) (dodie).
Emma Lloyd (Mary / Heather / Analyst)
Theatre credits include: Back to the Future (Adelphi Theatre/Manchester Opera House); Dr Doolittle, Thoroughly Modern Millie (UK tours) and Salad Days (Theatre Royal Bath).
MireiaMambo (Jean / Beautician / Dance Captain)
Theatre credits include: Newsies (Troubadour Wembley Park); The Bodyguard (National Spanish tour); Hairspray (London Coliseum); West Side Story (Leicester Curve); Evita, Ragtime, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Motown The Musical (Shaftesbury Theatre); Scaramouche (Teatre Victoria, Barcelona); Sister Act (National Spanish tour) and Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (Theatre Royal Drury Lane). Film credits include: Aladdin. Television credits include: Zorro; KAOS and Servir y Proteger.
Shayna McPherson (Camera Operator)
Theatre credits include: Johannes Radebe: Freedom Unleashed (UK tour); Aladdin (Stuttgart Apollo) and The Wiz (Hope Mill Theatre). Film credits include: Disenchanted.
Gregor Milne (Sammy)
Theatre credits include: The Girl From the North Country (UK tour).
Kody Mortimer (Finance Man / Frank)
Theatre credits include: Assassins (Chichester Festival Theatre); At Last, It’s Summer (London Palladium); Hex (National Theatre); 101 Dalmatians (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Hairspray (London Coliseum) and Gypsy (Manchester Royal Exchange).
Jon Reynolds (Swing)
Theatre credits include: Back to the Future (Adelphi – Assistant Dance Captain); Kinky Boots (Adelphi – Assistant Dance Captain); 9 to 5 The Musical (Savoy Theatre/Daegu Opera House/UK tour – Associate Choreographer); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (London Palladium); Miss Saigon (Prince Edward Theatre); Grease (Piccadilly Theatre); We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre); Fame (Shaftesbury Theatre); West Side Story (Kilworth House); Chicago (Leicester Curve); Jesus Christ Superstar (International Arena Tour); Aladdin (O2); Legally Blonde, Me & My Girl (UK tours); Sinatra (UK Arena Tour) and My Fair Lady (Singapore Esplanade). Film credits include: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone; Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets; Kinky Boots the Musical and Miss Saigon: 25th Anniversary. Television credits include: The Dame Edna Experience; Madonna Mania; The Olivier Awards 2015; The Royal Variety Show 2014 and Olympic Parade. As choreographer: Pride & Christmas Specials (This Morning, ITV).
Nicole Scherzinger (Norma Desmond)
Sheis a multiple award-winning, multi-platinum selling performer, singer, actress, dancer and television personality, selling over 37 million singles worldwide and 16 million records as a solo artist. Formerly a member of one of the world’s best-selling music groups of all time, selling over 55 million record worldwide, she has graced the stages of London’s West End, performed at Madison Square Garden, voiced the character Sina in Disney’s animated blockbuster ‘Moana,’ starred in ABC’s remake of ‘Dirty Dancing,’ and most recently was the resident panellist on the runaway TV phenomenon, The Masked Singer on FOX. On May 7, 2023 Nicole Scherzinger performed at Windsor Castle for the official concert for the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla. Accompanied on stage by esteemed pianist Lang Lang, the pair performed the Disney Mulan classic “Reflection.”
Kirsty Anne Shaw (Swing)
Theatre credits include: 9 to 5 the Musical (South Korea & UK tour); Cinderella (The Alban Arena); Beauty and the Beast (New Royal Portsmouth); West Side Story – BBC Shakespeare Live (RSC) and Peter Pan (Imagine). Film credits include: Wicked and York Witches Society. Television credits include: Strictly Come Dancing; Eurovision Song Contest Opening and Taggart. Other credits include: P&O Australia.
David Thaxton (Max Von Mayerling)
Theatre credits include: Les Misérables (Sondheim/Queen’s Theatre); Come from Away (Phoenix Theatre); The Phantom Of The Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre); Passion (Donmar Warehouse – Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical); Camelot (London Palladium); Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Love Never Dies (Adelphi Theatre); West End Men (Vaudeville Theatre); She Loves Me (Sheffield Crucible); Candide (Menier Chocolate Factor); Roller Diner (Soho Theatre); Only The Brave, The Rake’s Progress (Wales Millennium Centre); The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (Southwark Playhouse); Trial by Jury (BBC National Orchestra of Wales/ St David’s Hall/ Chandos) and The Cunning Little Vixen (Cardiff Sherman Theatre). Concert credits include: Broadway to the Bay (Wales Millennium Centre); Welsh Guards Centenary Celebration (Cardiff Principality Stadium); Friday Night is Music Night (BBC Radio 2); Bond with the Royal Northern Sinfonia (Sage Gateshead); Bring Them Home (Cardiff Castle).
Jon Tsouras (Finance Man / Cecil B. De Mille)
Theatre credits include: Moulin Rouge! (Piccadilly Theatre); Be More Chill (The Other Palace); Evita (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Hairspray, My Fair Lady (UK tours); Kiss Me, Kate (Welsh National Opera/ UK Tour); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Legally Blonde (Savoy Theatre); A Chorus Line (London Palladium); Jesus Christ Superstar (UK Arena Tour); My Fair Lady in Concert (BBC Proms/ Royal Albert Hall); White Christmas (The Lowry); Priscilla Queen Of The Desert (Palace Theatre); Lord Of The Rings (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); White Christmas (Plymouth/ Southampton); Saturday Night Fever (European Tour); Gigi (Stratford Festival Canada); The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Stratford Festival Canada) and Starlight Express (Bochum). Television credits include: EastEnders.
Rachel Tucker (Norma Desmond at certain performances)
Theatre credits include: Come From Away (Gerald Schoenfeld, NY/ Phoenix Theatre – Olivier Award Nomination for Best Actress; WhatsOnStage Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical); Songs For a New World (London Palladium/ Stream); Wicked (Apollo Victoria/ Gershwin); The Last Ship (Neil Simon, NY/ Chicago Bank of America); Communicating Doors (Menier Chocolate Factory); John and Jen (Southwark Playhouse – OFFIES Award for Best Lead Performance in a Musical); Farragut North (Southwark Playhouse) and We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre). Television credits include: Hope Street; Informer and I’d Do Anything.
Charlie Waddell (Morino / Hog-Eye)
Theatre credits include: Gypsy (The Mill at Sonning); South Pacific (Chichester Festival Theatre/UK and Ireland tour); Passion (Hope Mill Theatre) and Bernstein’s Mass (Southbank Centre). Television credits include: Pitch Battle (Semi Finals and Live Finals)
Harrison Wilde (Swing)
Theatre credits include: The Wizard of Oz (London Palladium); Cats, Chicago the Musical (International Tour) and Mamma Mia! (Novello).
Lillie-Pearl Wildman (Swing)
Theatre credits include: Newsies (Troubadour) and Cabaret (Kit Kat Club, Playhouse).
Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed the scores of some of the world’s most famous musicals. From Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1969) to Bad Cinderella (2022). Lloyd Webber has had shows running continually in the West End for 50 years and on Broadway for 43.
When Sunset Boulevard joined School of Rock, CATS, and The Phantom of the Opera he equalled Rodgers & Hammerstein’s record of four shows running simultaneously on Broadway. He is one of the select group of artists with EGOT status, having received Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards.
Lloyd Webber owns six London theatres including the iconic London Palladium and Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Reopened in July 2021, the latter was completely restored and renovated at a cost of over £60 million. It was one of the biggest projects ever undertaken by a private theatre owner in recent times. His mantra is that every penny of profit made from his theatres is ploughed back into the buildings.
Lloyd Webber is passionate about the importance of musical education and diversity in the arts. Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation provides 30 performing arts scholarships every year for talented students with financial need and supports a range of projects such as the Music In Secondary School Trust and commissioning research into diversity in theatre.
Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed anthems for the 1978 World Cup in Argentina and for two Olympic ceremonies, including “Amigos Para Siempre” the official song of the 1992 summer games in Barcelona. He wrote “Let Us Love In Peace” for the aftermath of the attacks on The World Trade Centre, and wrote and performed “Sing” with Gary Barlow at Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond in 2012. Lloyd Webber curated musical theatre performances for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee concert in June 2022.
Andrew Lloyd Webber was knighted in 1992 and created an honorary life peer in 1997.
Don Black received two Tony Awards for Best Book and Lyrics of a Musical for his work (with Christopher Hampton) on Sunset Boulevard, which marked his third collaboration with Andrew Lloyd Webber. They first joined forces to write the song cycle ‘Tell Me On A Sunday,’ which developed to form the basis of the stage show Song and Dance. They were reunited again for Aspects of Love. He also wrote the lyrics for the Andrew Lloyd Webber produced Bombay Dreams. Awards include an Oscar for his song ‘Born Free;’ five Academy Award nominations; two Tony Awards and three Tony nominations; six Ivor Novello Awards; a Golden Globe, and many platinum and gold discs. He has written a quintet of James Bond theme songs: ‘Thunderball,’ ‘Diamonds Are Forever,’ ‘The Man With The Golden Gun,’ ‘Surrender’ from Tomorrow Never Dies and ‘The World Is Not Enough’. Among his many popular songs are two U.S. number ones – ‘Ben’ for Michael Jackson and ‘To Sir With Love’ for Lulu. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008. In The Queen’s Honours List he received the Order of the British Empire. Earlier this year he was awarded an Olivier award for his outstanding services to theatre. Most recently he wrote his critically acclaimed memoir ‘The Sanest Guy In The Room,’ which featured in the Sunday Times Bestsellers list. His musical of Bonnie and Clyde had a successful West End run at the Garrick Theatre and his next project which he wrote with Christopher Hampton and George Fenton is a musical version of the classic film The Third Man.
Christopher Hampton became involved in theatre while studying French and German at Oxford University, and wrote a play in his first year. The Royal Court’s subsequent production was so successful that it transferred to the Comedy Theatre while he was still a student, making him the youngest writer ever to have a play performed in the West End – a record which still stands. He said at the time that he also hoped to become the oldest writer to have a play in the West End, an ambition he has yet to achieve.
His plays, musicals and translations have so far garnered four Tony Awards, three Olivier Awards, four Evening Standard Awards and the New York Theatre Critics; Circle Award; prizes for his film and television work include two Oscars, three BAFTAs, a Writer’s Guild of America Award, the Prix Italia, a Special Jury Award at the Cannes Film Festival, Hollywood Screenwriter of the Year, and The Collateral Award at the Venice Film Festival for Best Literary Adaptation. His musicals include Sunset Boulevard, Dracula: The Musical, Stephen Ward and most recently, The Third Man, all with Don Black. Many translations include the German musical based on Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, opening September 2023. Hampton’s screenplays include The Son, The Father, Perfect Mothers, A Dangerous Method, Chéri, Atonement, Imagining Argentina (which he also directed), The QuietAmerican, The Secret Agent (which he also directed), Mary Reilly, Total Eclipse and Carrington (the first film he also directed).
Jamie Lloyd directs. His credits for the company include 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).
Thursday and Saturday matinees, 2.30pm (excluding Thursday 21, Saturday 23, Thursday 28 September and Thursday 5 October)
Nicole Scherzinger will not be performing on Thursday 12 October (2.30pm performance), and Monday performances from 16 October. The role of Norma Desmond for these performances will be played by Rachel Tucker.
Access Performances:
Audio Described: Wednesday 8 November, 7.30pm
Captioned and BSL interpreted: Wednesday 15 November, 7.30pm
PREVIEW PERFORMANCES BEGIN FRIDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 2023
Bill Kenwright is delighted to announce that Ben Weatherill’s new comedy, Frank and Percy, starring Ian McKellen (Percy) and Roger Allam (Frank) and directed by Sean Mathias, will have a limited London season at The Other Palace from Friday 8 September until Sunday 3 December.
Frank and Percy received its critically acclaimed world premiere at the start of a record-breaking run at Theatre Royal Windsor, followed by two sold-out weeks at Theatre Royal Bath.
Frank and Percy is a poignant and witty take on the unexpected relationship that blossoms between two men. Devoted to their canine companions, they believe that human connection is far more temperamental, but, as their dogs play in the park, can Frank, a widowed schoolteacher, and Percy, a somewhat radical elder statesman, find the time for new love, or should they just let sleeping dogs lie?
Director Sean Mathias said:
“I cannot believe my luck in finding this charming and original new play. Ben Weatherill (Frank & Percy) is a true young talent in theatre. To have reunited Ian and Roger after almost 20 years since we all did Aladdin together at the Old Vic is a real coup. Frank and Percy explores the fragility and joy of relationships, and what forges and strengthens bonds between humans, at a time when more than ever, we all need to love and support one another.”
The production will also see the launch of a new writing development fund at The Other Palace. 50p from each ticket sold on all future productions in the main house, will be allocated to a ring-fenced fund specifically to support the development of new writing and emerging playwrights. The fund will provide grants for new writing from an open call to support, commission and workshop new and emerging writers to develop new plays and musicals, which will then receive a sharing or staged production in the studio at The Other Palace. Full details of the first open call and details on how to apply will be announced later this year.
The Other Palace owner and producer Bill Kenwrightsaid:
“In welcoming Ian and Roger to our theatre we are also thrilled to use this limited London run at The Other Palace to launch our new development levy, to enable us to build upon MT Fest, our Musical Bites lunchtime series and Making a Musical podcast to provide further paid opportunities to develop the next generation of theatre makers and writers.”
Frank and Percy will have a limited run at The Other Palace, followed by the next musical production in the main house, to be announced shortly.
Paul Taylor-Mills Artistic Director at The Other Palace said:
“We are very excited to be welcoming two of the biggest stars of British Theatre to The Other Palace for this limited run. Between Ian and Roger, they represent the breadth and range of British theatre, from plays to musicals, demonstrating why London is the heart of the theatrical world.”
Previously to Frank and Percy, Ian McKellen played Hamlet, followed by Firs in The Cherry Orchard in Sean Mathias’s inaugural summer season at Theatre Royal Windsor in 2021. Ian’s performance as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings films made him one of the world’s biggest film stars, but in spite of that and his further iconic screen performances in such box office hits as The X-Men Trilogy, he has never forsaken his first love – theatre. McKellen won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performance in Amadeus in 1981 and won six Olivier Awards for his performances in Pillars of the Community (1977), The Alchemist (1978), Bent (1979), Wild Honey (1984), Richard III (1991) and Ian McKellen on Stage: With Tolkien, Shakespeare, Others and YOU (2020).
Roger Allam’s many starring appearances on stage, television, film and radio over the past three decades include, on stage, Javert in the original cast of Les Misérables, Michael Frayn’s Democracy and the hugely successful revival of Boeing Boeing opposite Mark Rylance, as well as extensive work at the Royal Shakespeare Company (of which he is an associate artist), the National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe and the West End; on television, the first series of Game of Thrones, the last series of The Thick Of It and ten years as DI Thursday in Endeavour; on film, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lady in the Van and two Stephen Frears hits, The Queen and Tamara Drew; his many radio roles include his hit series with Joanna Lumley, Conversations from a Long Marriage. He has won three Olivier Awards.
Sean Mathias is a leading British theatre director, film director and writer with numerous awards to his name, including the WhatsOnStage Award, Evening Standard Theatre Award, the Critics’ Circle Theatre Award, a Fringe First at Edinburgh and the Prix de la Jeunesse at Cannes. His career includes productions at the Royal National Theatre, the Kennedy Centre, the Mark Taper Forum and many productions on Broadway. In 2009/10, Sean was the Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Haymarket, where his production of Waiting for Godot, starring Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart and Simon Callow, played two seasons, as well as touring the UK and internationally. His production of No Man’s Land, also starring Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, was the highest grossing play in the history of Wyndham’s Theatre. In 2013, Sean directed and co-produced in rep off-Broadway Waiting for Godot and No Man’s Land.
Ben Weatherill is an emerging British playwright. His debut play Chicken Dust premiered at the Finborough Theatre, before transferring to Curve Theatre Leicester, where Ben was playwright in residence. Chronic, his second piece, opened shortly after at Southwark Playhouse. The follow up to Chicken Dust, Jellyfish, premiered at the Bush Theatre, before transferring to the National Theatre. As Waters Rise ran at the Almeida with the Almeida Young Company in 2020. Ben has been nominated for multiple awards including an Offie (Most Promising New Playwright) and a Writers’ Guild Award for Best Play.
Frank and Percy is designed by Morgan Large, with lighting design by Nick Richings and sound design by Andy Graham.
Frank and Percy is produced at The Other Palace by Bill Kenwright.
Signed Performances: 4 October at 2.30pm, 17 November at 7.30pm
Relaxed Performance: 19 October at 7.30pm
Tickets: from £25.50**
**The ticket price includes a 50p contribution from every ticket sold to a development fund to enable The Other Palace to develop and support new writing.
Garrick Theatre – until 16 September, UK tour until 14 October 2023
Reviewed by Claire Roderick
2**
The historical facts about Colonel Blood’s attempt to steal the crown jewels in 1671 – crown jewels kept in a cupboard in the Tower of London guarded by an ex-soldier in his seventies who happily opens the cupboard for visitors to admire, the thief dressed as a priest with an actress posing as his wife – are pure comedy gold. Unfortunately, Simon Nye’s retelling of the story misses the mark spectacularly. There are the bones of a good show here, but one in need of a lot of development. The main issue is that the play has no sense of identity. Nye doesn’t seem to have made his mind up whether he’s writing a historical drama, slapstick comedy, musical, adult panto or themed standup show – and even this stellar cast cannot redeem the muddled writing. The most enjoyable parts of the show, creating the true belly laughs, are Al Murray doing a regal version of his audience interaction dragging in the wonderful Adonis Siddique as his sycophantic footman, and Murray and Mel Giedroyc riffing ridiculously off each other and corpsing. In truth, scenes without Murray and Giedroyc fall flat and it feels as if Nye gave the pair free rein with their parts, while the rest of the cast stick to the script and therefore pale in comparison.
As the play moves from the plotting to the robbery, chase and capture of the perpetrators, Aidan McArdle, Neil Morrissey, Joe Thomas and Tanvi Virmani do their best as the conspirators Colonel Blood, Captain Perrot, Tom Blood Jnr and Jenny Blaine, but the fascinating quirks of all these characters are mere throwaway lines as the play grinds towards the heist. Director Sean Foley does his best to keep the pace up, with some lovely scene changes on Michael Taylor’s eye-catching set, but it does become a grind. There is some fine physical comedy and visual gags but, to paraphrase the people sitting around me “We were just waiting to see what Al Murray would do next”. Luckily, Murray and Giedroyc also play the jewels’ guardian, Talbot Edwards and his wife, with Carrie Hope Fletcher as their daughter Elizabeth. Mrs Edwards’ entrepreneurial endeavours creating baked replicas of the crown jewels to sell to visitors labours the double meaning and although Giedroyc is hilarious, she deserves better, sharper writing. Carrie Hope Fletcher gives her all in her roles as Elizabeth and Charles’s lady of the bedchamber, demonstrating her formidable comedy chops and delivering songs and accepting applause with seventeenth century style, but the songs are bad. This may be the joke as she sings of singing a terrible terrible song at one point, but they are not bad enough to be funny, merely tedious, and a massive waste of Fletcher’s talent.
The meeting between the captive Blood and Charles II as he decides Blood’s fate should be a HUGE moment in the play, ripe for drama and comedy – instead it is dull, shenanigans with a banana being the most memorable moment, making the epilogue about Blood’s fate and his cod-philosophical musings seem tacked on and a time filler while the stage is prepared for the big finale. (At least it wasn’t a singalong like a panto – although that might have been more fun.)
Fans of Al Murray will love The Crown Jewels, and there are enough gags that hit home to satisfy for a fun night out. But as a play, The Crown Jewels needs industrial scale polishing to become a coherent and enduring production.
UK tour dates
19 – 23 September The Lowry, Manchester
25 – 30 September Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
3 – 7 October New Theatre, Cardiff
10 – 14 October Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes
