BACK TO THE FUTURE THE MUSICAL

EXTENDS PERFORMANCES

AT THE ADELPHI THEATRE

NOW BOOKING UNTIL 11 FEBRUARY 2024

Due to overwhelming demand, lead producer Colin Ingram, together with Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the creators of the Back To The Future film trilogy, are delighted to announce that BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical’s performances at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End will extend to 11 February 2024. Tickets on sale now. The critically acclaimed Olivier, WhatsOnStage and Broadway World Award-winning Best New Musical had its opening night in London on Monday 13 September 2021, with performances beginning on Broadway on 30 June and the official opening on 25 July 2023. The musical also has further plans to rollout internationally.

BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical currently stars Cory English and Ben Joyce as ‘Doctor Emmett Brown’ and ‘Marty McFly’ respectively, with Amber Davies as ‘Lorraine Baines’, Oliver Nicholas as ‘George McFly’, Jordan Benjamin as ‘Goldie Wilson’, Harry Jobson as ‘Biff Tannen’, Sophie Naglik as ‘Jennifer Parker’, Gary Trainor as ‘Strickland’, Will Haswell as alternate ‘Marty McFly’ and ‘Dave McFly’ and Emma Lloyd as ‘Linda McFly’. Also in the cast are Amy Barker, Simeon Beckett, Sia Dauda, Tyler Davis, Glen Facey, Dylan Gordon-Jones, Adam Margilewski, Cameron McAllister, Alessia McDermott, Bryan Mottram, Laura Mullowney, Anna Murray, Jon Reynolds, Melissa Rose, Georgia Tapp, Justin Thomas, Charley Warburton, Tavio Wright and Rhodri Watkins.

The Original Cast Recording, released on Sony Music’s Masterworks Broadway label, is now available and has had over 3 million streams. It features the new music by multi-Grammy Award-winners Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard alongside classic songs from the movie including The Power of Love and Johnny B. Goode. 

In July 2023, a brand new behind-the-scenes book documenting the creation of the stage show, Creating Back to the Future the Musical by Michael Klastorin, will be released worldwide, published by abrams&chronicle books.

BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical, four WhatsOnStage Awards, including Best New Musical, and the Broadway World Award for Best New Musical. The productions in London and Manchester have so far been seen by half a million people and the musical has broken box office records at the Adelphi Theatre.

Based on the Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment film, BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical has a book by Bob Gale and new music and lyrics by Emmy and Grammy Award-winning Alan Silvestri and six-time Grammy Award-winning Glen Ballard, with additional songs from the film including The Power of Love and Johnny B. Goode.

Marty McFly is a rock ‘n’ roll teenager who is accidentally transported back to 1955 in a time-travelling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr Emmett Brown.  But before he can return to 1985, Marty must make sure his high school-aged parents fall in love in order to save his own existence.

BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical is directed by Tony Award-winning director John Rando (Urinetown, On The Town), alongside the multi Tony and Olivier Award-winning design team of Tim Hatley (set and costume design), Tim Lutkin (lighting), Hugh Vanstone (lighting consultant), Gareth Owen (sound) and Finn Ross (video), with choreography by Chris Bailey, musical supervision and arrangements by Nick Finlow and Illusions by Chris Fisher. Orchestrations are by Ethan Popp and Bryan Crook, with dance arrangements by David Chase. Casting is by David Grindrod Associates.

Back to the Future the movie was released in 1985, starring Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Dr Emmett Brown. The film grossed $360.6 million (£279 million) at the box office worldwide and the total box office for all three films in the Back to the Future franchise was $936.6 million (over $1.8 billion in today’s money).

BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical is produced by Colin Ingram, Donovan Mannato, Frankel/Viertel/Baruch/Routh Group, Hunter Arnold, Gavin Kalin Productions, Playing Field, Crush Music, CJ ENM, Teresa Tsai, Ivy Herman/Hallee Adelman, Robert L. Hutt, Universal Theatrical Group, Ricardo Marques, Augury, Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale, in association with Kimberly Magarro, Stage Entertainment, Glass Half Full Productions/ Neil Gooding Productions.

Website: BackToTheFutureMusical.com  

Twitter: @BTTFmusical

Instagram: @BTTFmusical      

LISTINGS INFORMATION

BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical

Adelphi Theatre

Strand

Covent Garden

London

WC2R0NS

Currently booking until 11 February 2024

Performances:

Mondays, Wednesdays – Saturdays at 7.30pm, Thursday & Saturday matinees at 2.30pm, Sundays at 3pm

(Please note, there will be additional matinees on 29 May at 2.30pm, 27 December at 2.30pm, 29 December at 2.30pm and 2 January at 2.30pm

N.B BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical has partnered with Gala Pro – a revolutionary app for accessibility and translation to enhance accessible experiences at live performances so you can enjoy any performance of Back to the Future with audio description and closed captioning.

The next scheduled signed performance is Sunday 10 September.

Further access performances such as a dedicated relaxed performance will be added in the new booking period. Please keep an eye on the website for more information.

Tickets: from £19.55

Please book via the website: BackToTheFutureMusical.com – no booking fees  

Booking line: 0203 925 2998

Christmas 2023/24 Performance Schedule

Sunday 17 December                1pm & 6pm

Tuesday 19 December               7:30pm

Wednesday 20 December          7:30pm

Thursday 21 December              2:30pm & 7:30pm

Friday 22 December                  7:30pm

Saturday 23 December              2:30pm & 7:30pm

Sunday 24 December                1pm

Monday 25 December               No performance

Tuesday 26 December               No performance

Wednesday 27 December          2:30 & 7:30pm

Thursday 28 December              2:30 & 7:30pm

Friday 29 December                  7:30pm

Saturday 30 December              2:30pm & 7:30pm

Sunday 31 December                3pm

Monday 1 January                     No performance

Tuesday 2 January                    2:30pm & 7:30pm

Wednesday 3 January               7:30pm

Thursday 4 January                   7:30pm

NICK MOHAMMED ANNOUNCES WEST END RESIDENCY AT THE DUKE OF YORK’S WITH CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED SHOW

‘THE VERY BEST & WORST OF MR. SWALLOW’

Berk’s Nest in association with United Agents are thrilled to announce that the critically acclaimed show from two-time Emmy award nominee and star of Ted Lasso Nick Mohammed, ‘Nick Mohammed presents The Very Best & Worst of Mr. Swallow’ will receive a week long residency at the Duke Of York’s Theatre.

Following an eagerly anticipated debut tour across the UK, he presents a mix of new, old, very old, and previously unusable material. Opening on Tuesday 5^th September until Saturday 9^th September audiences will have the chance to see Mr Swallow skating the stage in London’s glittering West End once more.  In addition, the shows on Thursday 7th September will be live captioned by Claire Hill.

Tickets are on sale now and are available from berksnest.com/nick.

Mr. Swallow is one of the country’s most popular/irritating comedy creations from Nick Mohammed – one of the UK’s most celebrated comedians, actors and writers. Nick has received feverish critical acclaim for his live character comedy work and has transferred the success of Mr. Swallow to the small screen as a regular face in Dictionary Corner on Cats Does Countdown.

Prepare to be dazzled in The Very Best & Worst of Mr. Swallow as Swallow attempts to solve a Rubik’s cube, memorise a deck of playing cards and do some pretty horrendous maths while on roller-skates. Oh, plus the whole of Les Mis! This and countless more classic Mr. Swallow moments such as the one where he complains about eating a banana. 

Mr. Swallow said: “Just when I thought my little legs (and toes) couldn’t take it anymore, I’ve decided to don my skates FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK of shows at the Duke of Yorks in the hope that everyone in the UK has the opportunity to see this show at least twice. A million thanks to everyone who’s already seen it but frankly it’s not enough! Love and hugs.”

Nick has wowed audiences as Mr. Swallow multiple times on Channel 4’s Cats Does Countdown, with clips of his performances quickly going viral. Viewing figures for the clip of Mr. Swallow’s rendition of Jurassic Park stand at over 9 million on Facebook whilst the clip of him memorising a deck of playing cards has been viewed over 12 million times!

Aside from Mr. Swallow, Nick Mohammed is a two-time Emmy-nominated actor, comedian and writer who stars as the regular fan-favourite role of Nate in Apple TV+’s smash-hit, multi award-winning series – Ted Lasso – opposite Jason Sudeikis, Brett Goldstein and Hannah Waddingham. Seasons One and Two were hugely critically acclaimed, showered with awards and nominations and beloved by audiences globally and Season Three concludes this week. The show received an astonishing 20 Emmy nominations (the most for a comedy and the second year they’ve achieved that) including Nick’s second nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series.

Nick was also recently nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Comedy Series at the Hollywood Critics Choice Award and the key cast were also nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series at the 2021 Screen Actors Guild Awards, with the show itself winning Best Comedy Series at the Critics’ Choice awards along with a nomination for Best TV Series – Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes. This year Nick will also be awarded the Actor Award for Television as part of the Critics’ Choice Association’s Celebration of Asian and Pacific Cinema and Television.

Nick also created, wrote, executive produced and co-starred, alongside David Schwimmer, in Sky’s hit show Intelligence which has gone on to have a feature length episode alongiside two critically acclaimed series with The Wall Street Journal calling it “Frequently hilarious… Intelligence goes rollicking along, with much to commend it, chiefly its wit and energy”. For his role Nick was also nominated for an RTS Award for Comedy Performance.

Nick recently shot a lead role in the upcoming feature film Maggie Moore(s), opposite co-stars Jon Hamm and Tina Fey, with John Slattery directing. It will be released later in 2023.

His other recent TV and film credits include Sky’s Christmas hit film Roald and Beatrix, Ridley Scott’s The Martian, box office smash Bridget Jones’ Baby, and The Ab Fab Movie. He voiced Piglet in Disney’s live action feature Christopher Robin and will voice Dr. Fry in Aardman’s upcoming feature Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. He has featured in a host of TV comedies including the regular role of Anthony Stappan in Channel Four’s BAFTA-winning series Stath Lets Flats, HBO and Sky’s Sally4Ever, Sky’s Camping and the BBC’s Uncle, Inside No. 9 and This Time with Alan Partridge.

Nick is also a successful radio broadcaster. Following the success of his hit BBC Radio 4 debut Quarters he went on to write and record Nick Mohammed In Bits, Apollo 21 and most recently two series of Detective Sergeant Nick Mohammed.

He is an Associate of the Inner Magic Circle and author of The Young Magicians series of children’s books published by Penguin Random House.

Twitter: @nickmohammed | Instagram: @nickmohammedy

Praise for The Very Best and Worst of Mr. Swallow:
“there’s scarcely a dull moment in this one-off comic masterclass” ★★★★ The Times

” It’s pure entertainment and genuinely impressive to boot.” ★★★★ The Telegraph

“Impressive… Why he’s on roller-skates is anyone’s guess.”★★★★ The Guardian

“A bona fide hoot… superb”★★★★ Evening Standard

“A brilliant comic creation… you may end up with a pain in your side or sore face muscles from laughing so hard”★★★★★ Broadway World

“Hilarious… Chaos that is carefully, craftily cultivated”★★★★★ The Reviews Hub

LISTINGS:

SEPTEMBER 2023                                

05.09.23                LONDON, DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE                           8pm      

06.09.23                LONDON, DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE                           8pm

07.09.23                LONDON, DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE                           7pm and 9.30pm

08.09.23                LONDON, DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE                           7pm and 9.30pm

09.09.23                LONDON, DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE                           5pm and 8pm

UK TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED FOR

★★★★★

One of the Best Musicals of the Century
The Times

Come From Away, the multi award-winning ‘Best Musical’ across the globe, announces dates and venues for its first ever tour of the UK and Ireland. This critically acclaimed show comes direct from the West End where it celebrated over 1000 performances and played to more than 850,000 people at the Phoenix Theatre.

As previously announced, the tour will open in Leicester in February 2024. The production will then perform in Liverpool, Cardiff, Plymouth, Southampton, Oxford, Leeds, Birmingham, Hull, Belfast, Ipswich, Sheffield, Newcastle, Bristol, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Nottingham, Wimbledon, Norwich, Wolverhampton, Milton Keynes, and Salford, with further dates to be announced.

For full schedule, information and to be first in line for tickets please go to comefromawaylondon.co.uk

Winner of Best New Musical across the globe, Come From Away shares the incredible real-life story of the 7,000 air passengers from all over the world who were grounded in Canada during the wake of 9/11, and the small Newfoundland community that invited these ‘come from aways’ into their lives.

★★★★★

This miraculous masterpiece is totally, soul-feedingly wonderful
Time Out

Experience the joyous story and soaring music as spirited locals and global passengers come together and forge friendships that will stay with them forever. The first female American Airlines captain, the quick-thinking town mayor, the mother of a New York firefighter and the eager local news reporter are among the many real characters caught at the start of the moment that changed the course of history, and whose stories became a true celebration of hope, humanity, and unity.

The international hit musical has celebrated record-breaking engagements in the West End, on Broadway, in Canada, throughout Australia, and on a 60-city North American Tour.

Casting for the UK and Ireland tour of Come From Away is still to be announced.

The Come From Away Creative team include Irene Sankoff and David Hein (Book, Music and Lyrics), Christopher Ashley (Director), Kelly Devine (Musical Staging), Ian Eisendrath (Music Supervision and Arrangements), Beowulf Boritt (Scenic Design), Toni-Leslie James (Costume Design), Howell Binkley (Lighting Design), Gareth Owen (Sound Design), David Brian Brown (Hair Design), August Eriksmoen (Orchestrations), Pippa Ailion CDG and Natalie Gallacher CDG (Casting), Tara Overfield Wilkinson (Associate Director), and Richard Hinds (Associate Choreographer).

Come From Away is produced in the UK by Junkyard Dog Productions and Smith & Brant Theatricals.

LEEDS HERITAGE THEATRES LAUNCHES NEW ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES FUND

• LEEDS HERITAGE THEATRES AIMS TO MAKE THEATRE FOR ALL THROUGH NEW ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES FUND
• £30,000 NEEDED TO PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE OF EACH TYPE OF ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCE FOR EVERY WEEK-LONG PRODUCTION

As part of its commitment to ‘Theatre for All’, Leeds Heritage Theatres is launching an Accessible Performances Fund, hoping to raise £30,000 by Thursday 31 August 2023.

Following a generous legacy donation of £5,000, the organisation is using this to start a fund that will directly help to increase the number of Access performances across its venues, including at least one of each type of Accessible performance for all week-long productions at Leeds Grand Theatre.

Leeds Heritage Theatres statement: “We believe that the arts and culture can change lives, improve well-being, and remind us of what connects us as humans. We want everyone to experience and benefit from the shared connection of live performances, screenings, and events but we know there’s more we need to do to make this happen and we need your help.”

Accessible performances are those which have additional elements to support audience members with access requirements. Leeds Heritage Theatres offers several types of Accessible performances including Audio Described, Signed, Captioned and Relaxed.

Audio Described performances have the option of a live commentary to describe the action onstage for patrons with visual impairments. Before some Audio Described performances, Touch Tours may also be available for blind or partially sighted audience members to explore the stage and set, and can include handling selected props, costumes and scenery for familiarisation purposes.

Audio description massively improves how blind or visually impaired audience members experience performances. Tmara Senior, an audience member who has been blind since birth said: “Audio Described performances mean that as a totally blind person you can laugh when everyone else is laughing, cry when other people are crying. In short, the totally blind person can have the same theatre experience as any sighted person can. You don’t have to guess what is happening on the stage or wonder why everyone around you is laughing or what they are laughing at.”

During signed performances, trained BSL interpreters will stand in view of the audience to interpret the show live while it is being performed.

During Captioned performances, the dialogue is shown on screens at the front of the auditorium as it is spoken. Alice, an audience member with hearing loss said: “I have only ever managed to see one theatre performance with captions…and it completely changed my engagement with it and I enjoyed myself so much more!”

Leeds Heritage Theatres has invested in new captioning equipment through a grant but to pay the specially trained staff to deliver one of each of these types of interpretation in a week costs £2,000.

Relaxed performances have a more informal atmosphere particularly aimed to welcome those with sensory difficulties or autism. Performances remain the same but with small adjustments such as the house lights in the auditorium remaining on, loud noises being softened, and audience members being free to leave and re-enter.

Leeds Heritage Theatres is asking supporters to kindly donate to help improve the Access performances offering for audience members with visual impairments or who are D/deaf or hard of hearing.

To find out more about the Accessible Performances Fund, visit www.leedsheritagetheatres.com/theatre-for-all/.

Hull New Theatre – until 3rd June 2023

Reviewed by Dawn Bennett

5*****

Titanic The Musical (presented by Danielle Tarento in association with Mayflower Theatre, Southampton and Harmonia) got a very deserved standing ovation at Hull New Theatre last night.

The story of the ill-fated RMS Titanic, the White Star Lines luxury liner, is very well documented. The “un sinkable” ship did the unthinkable and sank on 15th April 1912 on its maiden voyage to New York, after hitting an iceberg, with a loss of over 1500 people.

Based on the book by Peter Stone the musical tells the story of the journey of the liner from the view of the passengers and crew, from the 3rd class steerage passengers looking for a new life in America, the 2nd class passengers begin able to afford a holiday and some also looking for a new life and the 1st class passengers enjoying the opulence and grandeur on the White Star Lines brand new, ultra-modern ship.

In the first half of the show, we meet the passengers and find out why they are on board, we see them enjoying parties, see them happy and looking forward to arriving in America. Also, we saw the crew, some on their first voyage and some on their last before retiring. I felt uneasy watching them knowing, how soon, disaster would befall the liner. We could only imagine what the people went through when the ship hit the iceberg and knowing, that for some, there was no hope.

In the second half we see the aftermath of the collision and how it suddenly dawns on everyone how big the unfolding tragedy is.

You would think that this could make this production depressing or sad but Titanic The Musical is an absolutely beautiful piece of theatre. The score for this musical is outstanding (music and lyrics by Maury Yeston) played by the wonderful band (Thomas Leate, Bridget Mansfield, Gemma Connor, Jack Cherry and Craig Apps led by Musical Director Ben Papworth). I found it impossible to single anyone in the cast as they were all just brilliant, they were obviously very well-rehearsed and looked to be enjoying every minute. Their singing and acting was sublime and their movement around the stage was breath-taking.

This show is something not to be missed, it is a thought provoking, heart-breaking true story brought to life by this amazing production.

Leeds Grand Theatre – until Sunday 4 June 2023

Reviewed by Dawn Smallwood

4****

Opera North, Phoenix Dance Theatre and two South African companies, Jazzart Dance Theatre and Cape Town Opera, collaborate ON Requiem, Journeys of the Soul. Opera North and Phoenix Dance Theatre. They have previously collaborated back in 2021 on West Side Story Symphonic Dances and the idea of doing Mozart’s Requiem arose then.

The programme begins with Requiem (Mass for the Dead, K626) which was composed by Mozart up to his death and was completed by Franz Xaver Süssmayr in 1792. Franz Von Walsegg originally commissioned Requiem to commemorate the first anniversary of his wife’s death. Mozart’s Requiem is extremely popular and universally links to mourning by anyone anywhere and have given other composers impetus to make requiems after tragic events.

The second piece of work in the double bill, Neo Muyanga’s After Tears (After a Requiem) is next performed. The contemporary piece of work is having its world premiere and links to new and existing traditions with experiences of loss in South Africa. This vibrant and colourful piece also emphasises the need to move forward collectively and after loss. Dane Hurst, the director and choreographer, discusses the roots of this work which goes back to the Covid-19 pandemic where numerous emotions were triggered particularly with the loss and sorrow. Hurst feels it is appropriate to stage this work in response to this.

A multicultural cast, singers, and dancers, from the four companies, perform to Mozart’s sublimely ingenious Requiem and Muyanga’s After Tears through song and contemporary dance, which triggers feelings evocatively and profoundly, to present post-modem contexts. It is certainly very well put together and all supported with the Chorus of Opera North and under the baton of Garry Walker.

Requiem: Journeys of the Soul, through these excellent works, resonates with regards to remembering and reviving the next steps. Opera North, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Jazzart Dance Theatre and Cape Town Opera have successfully staged this international collaboration with contemporary dancing and soulful singing to moving music. Both works are creatively supported with ambient staging and visuals courtesy of Joanna Parker and Peter Mumford

Curve Theatre Leicester – until 27th May 2023

Reviewed by Amarjeet Singh

5****

As I sit in the café, I listen with interest at the thrum of excited theatre goers awaiting the show they are about to watch, unaware that this absolute gem is being performed at the same time. Saving Face is the future of theatre, a Kakilang production, co-produced by Curve and co-commissioned by The Place. It mixes comedy, hip-hop and contemporary dance with physical theatre to tell the tale of four office workers, chained to the daily grind, struggling to find the balance between showing up for work and showing up in their lives. What happens when the two things collide? What happens when you are no longer able to hide, in plain sight?

Each person is so different, yet connected by invisible illness, private struggles, invisible threads, treading water to get the job done. Lesley the office manager, attempts to maintain the demands of her position, her family and the omnipresent boss David, but what of her happiness. Drew, with his phone always on the go, but it’s not quite what it seems. Jackie, meticulous, diligent, ever reliable but at what cost. Sam, laidback, laissez faire, lollygagger, but is this by choice or is there something else afoot.

Saving Face deals with some pretty emotive subject matter, but in an extremely humorous way. Using an office setting works perfectly, especially in the light of all the connotation with covid, hot desking, office politics and conformity. The juxtaposition between dance and office is stark, yet performer, director and writer Si Rawlinson brings dance into the office seamlessly, with pieces performed on office chairs, desks and even an office fridge. I’m not sure I can go back into my office and look at the photocopier in the same way.

The attention to detail in this piece was a gift, little moments that added and amplified the story, the characters, the humour and the overall message. Lookout for the octopus amongst other small touches. There were some incredible moments of artistic humor. Jackie box filing to ‘Zorba the Greek’ was committed and enthralling. The soundtrack was on point and lent so much to the performance.

All four performers, Si Rawlinson (Sam), Yukiko Masui (Lesley), Jamaal O’Driscoll (Drew), Lisa Chearles (Jackie), were mesmerising to witness. They built the stage, then built the tension, then built the office world we were drawn into. There were moments when communication moved into movement, when words were simply not enough, and these were the most powerful points. A standout for me was Lesley’s solo piece. I have no words to describe it, it needs to be seen and felt.

A fifth performer is the set itself, personified as an oppressor, walls and desks, contracting and expanding, drawing the characters back in and not allowing them to leave the office behind. Designed by Christine Ting – Huan 挺歡 Urquhart, its wonderfully constructed, simple and mobile, deceptively, effortlessly moved into place by each character, a dance in itself, it gave a true sense of claustrophobia.

The beauty of Saving Face is that we can all see ourselves in these characters. Whether in an office or any workplace, we have all, at some point felt the shift in equilibrium and the need to wear a mask, pretending everything is ok and we are able to deal with things on our own. We fear reaching out or exposing who we really are and talking about our struggles. Humanity is demonised, vulnerability is weaponised. The importance of this piece is that it is a conversation starter, one that starts with ourselves.

Saving Face is fresh theatre. It is pushing the boundaries of storytelling. The combination of theatre, dance and comedy is captivating. It’s themes are relevant and profoundly thought provoking but it’s also really funny and was an absolute joy to watch. I urge you to experience this show, it will stay with you long after you leave the theatre.

Jack Studio Theatre – until 27 May 2023

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

Mark Stratford’s entertaining show about William Charles McCready is densely detailed but always engrossing.

Macready’s theatrical legacy is vast – abandoning traditional gestures and poses, pioneering professionalism and thorough rehearsals, introducing numbered seats in Drury Lane, along with backs to the seats in the stalls to encourage women to sit there to increase respectability of the theatre. Stratford covers Macready’s early life – born to theatrical parents, so knowing the precarious financial status as well as the lowly social status from a young age. Wanting more for their boys, the Macreadys sent William and his younger brother to Rugby, but their father’s financial woes mean that the boys must leave the prestigious school and give up dreams of being respectable gentleman. Instead, Macready takes charge of his father’s acting company at sixteen, and when his father is released from debtors’ prison, starts to act himself.

Macready’s rise from provincial to London actor is full of fascinating anecdotes, with his performances alongside the legendary Sarah Siddons and the advice she gives the passionate young actor being a wonderful highlight. The conflict between Macready’s love of acting and his contempt for the acting profession (his friends are literary, rather than the actors he views as vagabonds) makes for some amusing asides. Macready’s feuds as actor and actor-manager are fantastically entertaining (with one leading to a full-blown riot in New York) and Stratford doesn’t hold back on the ridiculous pettiness of the egotistical men involved.

Stratford’s Macready is bombastic, passionate and relentless in his mission to legitimise theatre as a profession for gentleman – unforgiving and sometimes cruel to his company to reach his goals. Away from the theatre, Macready’s private life is portrayed as quieter, kinder, with few, but fiercely firm, friends and a family life touched by tragedy as he outlives most of his children. Stratford’s account of Macready’s life is a brisk 75 minutes that whizzes by in the company of one remarkable actor sharing the story of another. Stratford is a master at playing multiple characters with precise differentiation, and he ensures that it is always clear who is addressing the audience in this informative and impressive production.

West End LIVE line-up unveiled:

40 top West End shows performing for free in Trafalgar Square this June

Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 June 2023

www.westendlive.co.uk

• Europe’s largest free musical theatre festival returns on Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 June
• The impressive line-up of shows includes West End LIVE favourites, like Cabaret, Grease The Musical, Hamilton, Les Misérables, Disney’s The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, RSC’s Matilda The Musical, SIX, We Will Rock You and Wicked
• Ain’t Too Proud, Aspects Of Love, Rodger & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, and The Time Travellers Wife: The Musical are among those performing at the event for the first time

A packed line-up featuring nearly every single musical playing in the West End has been unveiled ahead of this year’s West End LIVE. This free celebration of London’s world-leading theatre scene comes to Trafalgar Square on the weekend of 17 and 18 June.

Tens of thousands of theatre fans are expected to flock to the capital for this year’s musical theatre spectacular, enjoying free performances from dozens of top shows – from West End LIVE favourites Back To The Future The Musical, The Book Of Mormon, The Choir Of Man, Disney’s Frozen, Jersey Boys, Heathers The Musical, Magic Mike Live, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, The Phantom Of The Opera, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical and to productions making their West End LIVE debut, such as 42nd Street, Crazy For You, Glory Ride, Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image The Musical, Operation Mincemeat, The SpongeBob Musical, A Strange Loop and The Wizard Of Oz.

This unique event, run by Westminster City Council in partnership with the Society of London Theatre (SOLT), and with the support of the Mayor of London, brings people of all ages into central London to experience the best of the West End – from the city’s unparalleled theatre and culture scene to food, drink, fashion, nightlife, retail and more.

The event this year, would not be possible without the on-going commitment shown by Westminster City Council and the support of key theatre owners and organisations: Ambassador Theatre Group, Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, Disney Theatrical Group, LW Theatres, Nimax Theatres, Theatre Royal Haymarket and Trafalgar Entertainment. They join other key partners including Edwardian Hotels, Shaftesbury Capital, Ontix, Art of London, The Crown Estate, FM Conway, Regent St and St James’s, Veolia, New West End Company, The Northbank BID and Shaftesbury Capital.

Councillor Tim Roca, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Young People, Learning and Leisure, said:

“West End Live is a highlight of the Westminster calendar so we’re very excited to invite fans to another weekend of incredible live performances in Trafalgar Square. Westminster City Council is committed to making live theatre, culture and the arts accessible for all of our communities, and events like this are a fantastic celebration of the world class theatre we have right on our doorstep.”

Official London Theatre will be backstage throughout the West End LIVE weekend sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes content across our social channels.

West End LIVE remains free as in previous years. The event will be BSL interpreted by Omoyele Davey, Marco Nardi and Caroline Richardson.

List of shows appearing at West End LIVE 2023

42nd Street

Ain’t Too Proud – The Life And Times Of The Temptations

Aspects Of Love

Back To The Future The Musical

La Bamba!

The Barricade Boys

The Book Of Mormon

Cabaret

The Choir Of Man

Crazy For You

Death Note: The Musical

Disney’s Frozen

Glory Ride

Grease The Musical

Hamilton

Heathers The Musical

I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical

Jersey Boys

Disney’s The Lion King

Magic Mike Live

Mamma Mia!

RSC’s Matilda The Musical

Les Misérables

Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!

Operation Mincemeat

The Phantom Of The Opera

Queenz: The Show With Balls!

Roles We’ll Never Play

Six

Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image The Musical

The SpongeBob Musical

A Strange Loop

Tarantino Live

Then, Now & Next

The Time Traveller’s Wife: The Musical

Tina – The Tina Turner Musical

We Will Rock You

Wicked

The Wizard Of Oz

More shows and acts will be announced in the lead-up to the event.

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MENIER CHOCOLATE FACTORY LAUNCHES CHOC CHIPS

A BRAND-NEW ACCESS SCHEME FOR UNDER 25s

The Menier Chocolate Factory today launches a brand-new access scheme exclusively for under 25s – Choc Chips. At £20 per year, this gives access to benefits and discounts across all Menier Chocolate Factory productions.

The new scheme enables members to purchase tickets for £25 for any Menier production at its home base (subject to availability), advanced notifications of forthcoming productions and events, and half price programmes for all productions.

Artistic David Babani said today, “It is essential for the future of theatre to foster younger audiences, and to provide access to quality theatre productions. Here at the Menier, we wanted to make a long-term commitment to the audiences of tomorrow through our newly launched Choc Chip scheme aimed at everyone under the age of 25.”

For further information, and terms and conditions, please see the Menier’s website: https://www.menierchocolatefactory.com/product/choc-chip-membership/