“MAMMA MIA!”

ANNOUNCES NEW WEST END CAST

FROM MONDAY 10 OCTOBER 2022 &

NEW BOOKING PERIOD

TO SATURDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2023

AT LONDON’S NOVELLO THEATRE

WITH TICKET PRICES FROZEN

MEG HATELEY AND MILES HENDERSON WILL BE MAKING

THEIR WEST END DEBUTS AS SOPHIE AND SKY

Producer Judy Craymer is delighted to announce the new cast of the global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! from Monday 10 October 2022 and the extension of its booking period to Saturday 30 September 2023 at London’s Novello Theatre, with ticket prices frozen and now on sale.

The London cast will continue to star Mazz Murray as Donna, Josie Benson as Tanya, Gemma Goggin as Rosie and Stephen Beckett as Bill. They will be joined on Monday 10 October by Norman Bowman (Marius in Les  Misérables, Sky Masterson in Guys & Dolls and Pat Denning in 42nd Street in the West End) as Sam, Christopher Dickins (Witness for the Prosecution, Oklahoma! at Chichester Festival Theatre) as Harry, Meg Hateley (making her West End debut) as Sophie, Miles Henderson (making his West End debut) as Sky, Natasha Heyward (making her UK & West End debut) as Ali, Olivia Lallo (making her West End debut) as Lisa, Lucca Chadwick-Patel (Legally Blonde at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, The Magician’s Elephant for the RSC) as Eddie and Jake Bailey (Jack Smith in Call the Midwife, Matilda the Musical and Oliver! in the West End) as Pepper, with Jennifer Adab (making her West End stage debut) playing Donna at certain performances.

Also continuing in the cast are Gemma Atkins, Natalie Jayne Hall, Jennifer Hepburn, Frankie Jones, Natalie Langston, Michael Storrs and Simon Willmont.  They will be joined by Zac Adlam, Victoria Anderson, Sinéad Courtney, Ellie-Grace Cousins, Lawrence Guntert, David Haydn, Olivia Neville, Annell Odartey, Jessie Odeleye, Callum Rose, Jack Rose, Robert Slatter, Jacob Young, Chloe Way and Dan Wilshire.

As well as freezing all ticket prices for the new booking period, there are other opportunities for ticket buyers to save on costs:  Early Bird Tickets (book 12 weeks out to save £20 on Premium, Band A and Band B tickets for Monday to Friday performances, when booked directly through the theatre); Family Tickets (Bands C and D tickets for a total of £99 for a group of four – a saving of up to £111 – and Bands A and B tickets for a total of £199 for a group of four – a saving of up to £151 – for Monday to Friday performances, excluding peak performances).

Since premiering in London in 1999, the irresistible feelgood musical has captured the hearts of millions around the globe.  The sunny, funny tale of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads on a Greek island idyll, all unfolding to the magic of ABBA’s timeless pop masterpieces, has now been seen live on stage by 65 million people across the world and turned into two record-breaking movies – MAMMA MIA! The Movie and MAMMA MIA! Here We Go Again.

To date, MAMMA MIA! has been seen in 50 productions in 16 different languages grossing more than $4 billion at the box office.  In 2011, it became the first Western musical ever to be staged in Mandarin in the People’s Republic of China.   

20 years after its German debut in Hamburg, MAMMA MIA! will be celebrating its comeback to Northern Germany by opening at the Stage Theater Neue Flora in Hamburg on 11 September 2022.  Tickets are available online via www.musicals.de. 

MAMMA MIA! originally opened in London at the Prince Edward Theatre on 6 April 1999, before transferring to the Prince of Wales Theatre in 2004, and then to the Novello Theatre in 2012.  The London production of MAMMA MIA! has been seen by over 10 million people, played over 9,000 performances and has broken box office records in all three of its London homes.  

Produced by Judy Craymer, MAMMA MIA! The Movie became the highest grossing live action musical film of all time upon its release in 2008.  A second film, MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN, opened in July 2018 and is the most successful live musical movie sequel of all time.

With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch.

MAMMA MIA! is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East & Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Novello Theatre

Aldwych

London WC2B 4LD

Ticket Prices: from £17.50*

*All prices include a £2.50 per ticket booking fee and £1.50 restoration levy

Early Bird Pricing – anyone booking 12 weeks or more in advance of the performance they are attending (Monday to Friday performances only) will save £20 on Band B, Band A and Premium tickets, but only through Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, either online or by calling the Novello Theatre Box Office.

Family Ticket Rate – £199 for a group of four on Band B or Band A tickets (up to a saving of £151), OR £99 for a group of four on Band D and Band C tickets (up to a saving of £111), for Monday to Friday performances, excluding peak performances, but only through Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, either online or by calling the Novello Theatre Box Office.

Performance Times:

Monday, Wednesdays – Saturdays 7.30pm

Matinees – Thursdays & Saturdays 3.00pm, Sundays 2.30pm*

*Extra 3pm matinee on Monday 3 October 2022 & Monday 2 January 2023; extra 3pm matinee on Wednesday 26 October 2022, Wednesday 15 February, Wednesday 12 April, Wednesday 2 August & Wednesday 16 August 2023; no matinee on Thursday 6 October 2022 or Thursday 5 January 2023; no performance on Sunday 9 October 2022.

Christmas 2022/23 Performance Schedule

Monday 19 December                    3.00pm and 7.30pm

Tuesday 20 December                   NO PERFORMANCE

Wednesday 21 December             7.30pm

Thursday 22 December                 3.00pm and 7.30pm                      

Friday 23 December                       3.00pm and 7.30pm

Saturday 24 December                  NO PERFORMANCE

Sunday 25 December                    NO PERFORMANCE

Monday 26 December                    7.30pm

Tuesday 27 December                   7.30pm

Wednesday 28 December             3.00pm and 7.30pm

Thursday 29 December                 3.00pm and 7.30pm                      

Friday 30 December                       7.30pm

Saturday 31 December                  2.30pm and 7.00pm (please note earlier times)

Sunday 1 January 2023                NO PERFORMANCE

Currently booking to 30 September 2023

The performance lasts 2 hours and 35 minutes (including a 15-minute interval)

Box Office: 0344 482 5151

http://www.mamma-mia.com/

http://www.facebook.com/mammamiamusical

http://twitter.com/MammaMiaMusical  

New Frame Productions presents 

Dom Hartley-Harris: Live in London 

at Crazy Coqs on Wednesday 5 October 2022 

With Special Guest: Maiya Quansah-Breed 

Musical Director: Chris Poon 

Dom Hartley-Harris, star of West End musicals Hamilton, Bat out of Hell and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, brings his debut solo show Dom Hartley-Harris: Live in London to Crazy Coqs on Wednesday 5 October 2022 (booking now open: https://www.brasseriezedel.com/events/dom-hartley-harris-live-in-london).

For one night only, Dom will take the audience on a sensational melodic journey celebrating the best of pop, rock and musical theatre, featuring an incredible line-up of songs by Gregory Porter, John Legend and more.  

Since graduating from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire with a BA Honours in Acting, Dom Hartley-Harris has starred in numerous West End and Off West End productions. Having received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Collins in Hope Mill Theatre’s RENT, Dom has most recently been playing Curtis Taylor Jr in the UK Tour of the hit Broadway and West End musical Dreamgirls.  Dom’s passion project is his high-end function band at Apollo music, The Showband. His television credits include a featured role in BBC One’s Doctors.  

Dom is delighted to be joined at Crazy Coqs by his special guest, Maiya Quansah-Breed. Maiya made her professional debut in SIX The Musical, resulting in a nomination for an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Stage Debut Award for Best Actress in a Musical, The Black British Theatre Award for Best Female and Recent Graduate and a West End Wilma Award for Rising Star. Her other credits include Hope Mill Theatre’s RENT and The Secret Garden – In Concert at the London Palladium. 

Musical direction is by Chris Poon (RENT, Top Hat, Legally Blonde).  The show is produced by New Frame Productions (The Diary of a CEO Live, Alyssa Memoirs of a Queen, Captain Sandy Live, Tori Scott: Culture Shock). 

Dom said: “I could not be more excited about debuting my first ever solo concert with New Frame Productions at Crazy Coqs. It’s going to be a night of stories, oodles of heart, a whole lot of soul, an extremely talented guest and, of course, music that has shaped me as a man and as an artist.” 

LISTINGS 

Show: Dom Hartley-Harris: Live in London 

Date: Wednesday 5 October 2022 

Time: 9.15pm 

Venue: Crazy Coqs, 20 Sherwood Street, London, W1F 7ED 

Running Time: 75 minutes (no interval) 

Box Office: https://www.brasseriezedel.com/events/dom-hartley-harris-live-in-london). 

Tickets: £25.00 

ONLY 8 WEEKS LEFT TO SEE

THE WEST END PRODUCTION OF

GREASE

AT DOMINION THEATRE

With only 8 weeks to go, Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey’s iconic musical GREASE, has so far been seen by over 250,000 people in the West End making it the Dominion Theatre’s most successful summer run since We Will Rock You. GREASE began previews on 3 May 2022 with an official opening on 17 May 2022. The musical last played the Dominion Theatre 26 years ago, closing in 1996, and was as popular and busy this time round, as it was then. 

GREASE is directed by Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Arlene Phillips.

Grease stars Dan Partridge as Danny, Olivia Moore as Sandy and Peter Andre as Vince Fontaine and Teen Angel at certain performances. Special guest star Jason Donovan resumes performances as Teen Angel from 12 September, at certain performances.

Also in the cast are Jocasta Almgill as Rizzo, Paul French as Kenickie, Noah Harrison as Roger, Mary Moore as Jan, Jake Reynolds as Doody, Lizzy-Rose Esin-Kelly as Marty, Damon Gould as Sonny, Eloise Davies as Frenchie, Darnell Mathew James as Eugene, Jessica Croll as Patty Simcox, Katie Lee  as Cha Cha, Ronan Burns as Johnny Casino and Corinna Powlesland  as Miss Lynch. Darren Bennett will play Officer Mailie and Vince Fontaine at certain performances. They are joined by Jack Harrison-Cooper, Pearce Barron, Ben Culleton, Rishard-Kyro Nelson, Ellie Kingdon, Kamilla Fernandes, Remi Ferdinand, Kalisha Johnson, Zack Guest, Imogen Bailey, Kevin O’Dwyer and Carly Miles.

This production of GREASE has dedicated the rest of the run to the memory of Olivia Newton-John who sadly passed away in August this year.

GREASE originally opened in Chicago in 1971, followed by a move to Broadway in 1972, where it received seven Tony Award nominations, including one for Best Musical. During the show’s eight-year run at the time, little known actors including Peter Gallagher, Patrick Swayze and John Travolta all appeared in the production, with Richard Gere understudying many roles before going on to star as Danny Zuko in the 1973 London premiere. GREASE was first performed at the Dominion Theatre in 1993 before transferring to the Cambridge Theatre in 1996. It returned to the West End, opening at the Piccadilly Theatre in 2007.

The 1978 film adaptation starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John is the fourth highest-grossing live action musical of all time. The musical features beloved songs, including Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin’, Hopelessly Devoted To You and You’re The One That I Want.

GREASE has designs by Colin Richmond, orchestrations and musical supervision by Sarah Travis, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Tom Marshall and Richard Brooker, video and projection design by Douglas O’Connell and casting by David Grindrod CDG.

This production of GREASE is produced by Colin Ingram for InTheatre Productions, Donovan Mannato, Playing Field, Gavin Kalin, and Curve.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

3 May – 29 October 2022

Dominion Theatre

268-269 Tottenham Court Road

London

W1T 7AQ

Performances: Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm, Thursday & Saturday at 2.30pm

Tickets from: £15

Box Office: 0345 200 7982

Website: www.greasemusical.co.uk

Facebook: @GreaseWestEnd

Twitter: @GreaseWestEnd

Instagram: @GreaseWestEnd

Tik Tok: @GreaseWestEnd

NEW ADVENTURES

IS DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE

IS TO BE RELEASED IN CINEMAS

FOR THE FIRST TIME

SHOWING AT MORE THAN 225 SCREENS

ACROSS THE UK AND INTERNATIONALLY

ON TUESDAY 15 AND SUNDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2022

New Adventures is delighted to announce the release of the 30^th anniversary production of Matthew Bourne’s much loved “NUTCRACKER!” in cinemas for the first time.

Released by Trafalgar Releasing, the global leader in event cinema distribution and produced by Illuminations, “NUTCRACKER!” is screening in more than 225 cinemas across the UK and internationally in the lead up to the festive season on Tuesday 15 November and Sunday 20 November 2022.

Featuring Cordelia Braithwaite as ‘Clara’, Harrison Dowzell as ‘Nutcracker’, Ashley Shaw as ‘Sugar’ and Dominic North as ‘Fritz’; the production was filmed live at Sadler’s Wells, London, in January 2022, and is directed for the screen by Ross MacGibbon.

“NUTCRACKER!” will be on the big screen in: Aberdeen; Addlestone; Aldershot; Altrincham; Ambleside; Annan; Ashford; Banbury; Barnstaple; Barton Under Needwood; Basildon; Basingstoke; Bath; Bedford; Beverley; Bicester; Birmingham; Bluewater; Bolton; Bournemouth: Bradford; Braintree; Brighton; Bristol; Bromley; Bury St Edmunds; Camberley; Cambridge; Canterbury; Cardiff; Cardigan; Carlisle; Castle Douglas; Chatham; Chelmsford; Cheltenham; Chesham; Cheshire Oaks; Chesterfield: Chichester; Christchurch; Cleethorpes; Colchester; Coventry; Cramlington; Crawley; Cromer; Cumbernauld; Cwmbran; Darlington; Dartmouth; Derby; Didsbury; Doncaster; Dorchester; Dudley; Dundee; Dunfermline; Eastbourne; Eastleigh; Edinburgh; Epsom; Esher; Exeter; Falmouth; Farnborough; Farnham; Faversham; Frome; Gerrards Cross; Glasgow; Guildford; Hamilton; Harrogate; Harrow; Hartlepool; Haslemere; Hatfield; Haverhill; Hemel Hempstead; Henley; Herne Bay; Horsham: Huddersfield; Huntingdon; Ilkley; Inverness; Keswick; Kilmarnock; Kingston Upon Thames; Leamington Spa; Leeds; Leicester; Letchworth; Lewes; Lincoln; Littlehampton; Liverpool; London; Louth; Maidenhead; Maidstone; Manchester; Mansfield; Milton Keynes; New Brighton; Newbury; Newcastle Under Lyme; Newlyn; Newport (Isle of Wight); Northampton; Norwich; Nottingham; Okehampton; Orpington; Oxford; Oxted; Paisley; Peebles; Penistone; Penrith; Penzance; Perth; Peterborough; Plymouth; Poole; Portsmouth; Preston; Reading; Redruth; Reigate; Richmond (Yorkshire); Romford; Scunthorpe; Sheffield; Shrewsbury; Sittingbourne; Solihull; Southampton; Southend on Sea; Southport; St Albans; Staines; Stevenage; Stirling; Stockport; Stockton on Tees; Stoke-on-Trent; Stratford-Upon-Avon Stroud; Swansea; Swindon; Taunton; Telford; Thanet; Thetford; Thurso; Torbay; Trowbridge; Truro; Tunbridge Wells; Uckfield; Walsall; Walton on Thames; Welwyn Garden City; Wetherby; Weymouth; Wimbledon; Winchester; Wisbech; Witney; Woodbridge: Woodhall Spa; Worcester; Worthing: Yarm; Yeovil and York.

For the latest information on participating cinemas please visit nutcrackercinema.com.

Matthew Bourne’s “NUTCRACKER!” follows Clara’s bittersweet journey from Christmas Eve at Dr Dross’s Orphanage, through a shimmering winter wonderland to the scrumptious candy kingdom of Sweetieland. Influenced by lavish 1930s Hollywood musicals, Nutcracker! features dollops of Bourne’s trademark wit, pathos and magical fantasy. Tchaikovsky’s glorious score and Anthony Ward’s newly-refreshed delectable sets and costumes combine with Bourne’s dazzling choreography in this delightful production. Audiences across the UK and around the world can now enjoy Bourne’s sweetest of treats on the big screen.

Artistic Director Sir Matthew Bourne OBE said:

“I’m always delighted when our work is able to reach new audiences around the UK and internationally and there is no better or more exciting way than through the Big Screen experience. I’m well aware that there is an enormous audience who find it impossible, for one reason or another, to get to one of our touring venues to see a live performance. So, we aim, as much as possible, to capture that “live” experience in our films, brilliantly directed by Ross MacGibbon. There is no better production than our Nutcracker! to create that feeling of elation and wonder and it’s captured equally well on the screen where, like the show itself, every night is a party.”

For more information:

Website www.nutcrackercinema.com and www.new-adventures.net

Twitter @New_Adventures @TrafalgarRel

Instagram @mbnewadventures @trafalgarreleasing

Facebook @MBNewAdventures @TrafalgarReleasing

THE UPSTART CROW

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED

STARRING

DAVID MITCHELL & GEMMA WHELAN A NEW COMEDY BY BEN ELTON

APOLLO THEATRE, SHAFTESBURY AVENUE FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 3 DECEMBER 2022 TICKETS ON SALE NOW FROM UPSTARTCROWTHECOMEDY.COM

The Upstart Crow returns to London’s West End later this month for a strictly limited 10-week season at the Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue. Starring David Mitchell as Will and Gemma Whelan as Kate, the production opens on Friday 23 September and runs until Saturday 3 December 2022. Tickets are on sale now from UpstartCrowTheComedy.com.

The production originally opened at the Gielgud Theatre in February 2020 to an array of glowing reviews and sold-out performances. Then Covid hit and theatres were forced to close. Now one plague and an Olivier Award nomination later, this all-new comedy written by Ben Elton and directed by Sean Foley is back.

Mitchell will once more don the bald wig and bardish coddling pouch in his iconic characterisation of Will Shakespeare. Also bringing their TV characters to life on stage once more are Gemma Whelan (DI Ray, Game of Thrones, Gentleman Jack) as Kate, Helen Monks (Raised by Wolves / Inside No. 9) as Susanna and Rob Rouse (Grownups) as Bottom.

Reprising their stage roles are Jason Callender (Shadow and Bone, 4 O’Clock Club) as Arragon, Danielle Phillips (Masters of the Air, Evening Standard Future Award 2021) as Judith and Reice Weathers (Story of My Life, Ted Lasso) as Mr Whiskers. New to the cast are Olivier Award-winner John Gordon Sinclair (Gregory’s Girl, Traces) as Dr John Hall, Gloria Onitiri (Grace Jones in Urban Myths, The Bodyguard, West End run) as Desiree, and Stewart Wright (Smack the Pony, Love and Marriage) as Burbage. The cast is completed by Andrew Hodges, Dedun Omole and Annabel Smith.

Ben Elton says: “Besides Will and Kate many of the other characters from the TV sitcom feature in this new play. Hilarious Helen Monks is back as Shakespeare’s grumpy daughter Susanna. Top comic Rob Rouse will once again have us laughing at his Bottom! Gotta say, the brilliant new actors who are joining Upstart Crow for the first time will have to really pull up their puffling pants if they don’t want to get upstaged!”

‘Tis 1605 and England’s greatest playwright is in trouble. Will Shakespeare has produced just two plays; Measure for Measure, which according to King James was incomprehensible bollingbrokes by any measure, and All’s Well That End’s Well which didn’t even end well. Will desperately needs to maketh a brilliant new play to bolster his reputation and avoid being cast aside by King and country. But Will’s personal life is encountering more dramatic twists and turns than any theatrical story he can conjure. How the futtock can a Bard be expected to find a plot for a play whilst his daughters run amok and his house is used as refuge for any old waif and stray. As time runs out, can Will hold on to his dream of being recognised now and for all time, as indisputably the greatest writer that ever lived, or will family woes thwart Will’s chances of producing his masterwork?

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7EZ

First show: 23 September

Final show: 3 December

Evening Performances: Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm

Matinees: Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30pm

Website: UpstartCrowTheComedy.com

Twitter: @UpstartCrowPlay

Instagram: @upstartcrowplay

Theatre Royal Drury Lane – 5, 6, 12 September 2022

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

This spectacular celebration of Nureyev’s performances and choreography will delight ballet fans of all ages. Introduced by Ralph Fiennes and Dame Monica Mason, Nehemiah Kish’s programme includes seminal pieces from Nureyev’s career performed by world class dancers. In a lovely touch, the second act begins with filmed interviews with some of the dancers, including those who had been given funding by the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation, relating the impact Nureyev had on the ballet world.

The Royal Ballet Sinfonia performed at the back of the stage under the direction of David Briskin and provided beautiful accompaniment to the dancers. Sleeping Beauty, Act 2 Entr’acte Solo, with a strong and energetic Guillaume Coté displaying Nureyev’s exquisite choreography, is followed by Pas de Deux from Gayane, with Maia Makhateli and Oleg Ivenko playful but pristine in their execution. Xander Parish and Iana Salenko were imperious dancing the Act 3 Pas de Deux from La Bayadére, with Ida Praetorius’ light touch marrying joyfully with Francesco Gabriele Frola puppyish energy and charm in Flower Festival in Genzano. The Pas de Six from Laurencia ended the first act in style with high energy and precision from Natalia Osipova, Marcelino Sambé, Yuhui Choe, Marianna Tsembenhai, Benjamin Ella and Daichi Ikarashi.

The Grand Pas de Deux from The Sleeping Beauty opens act two with the sublimely imperial partnership of Natascha Mair and Vadim Muntagirov. A simply gorgeous performance of Giselle, Act 2 Pas de Deux was delicate and emotional from William Bracewell and Francesca Hayward before a huge change in tone as the ethereal Alina Cojocaru and Alexandr Trusch almost stole the show in an excerpt from Don Juan, performed in 1975 by Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn. The programme ends with another Pas de Deux always associated with Nureyev and Fonteyn, Le Corsaire, and Cesar Corrales and Yasmine Naghdi battling it out with fearless leaps and pirouettes in a perfect finale to a wonderful evening. The performance will be available to watch on www.marquee.tv on a pay-per-view basis, 16 – 26 September. From October, Marquee TV subscribers can view the performance as part of their subscription.

QUAYS THEATRE, THE LOWRY, SALFORD – UNTIL 7TH SEPTEMBER 2022

REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN

5*****

The musical parody, which puts a novel twist on the story of The Little Mermaid, made a big splash at The Lowry last night and things got very wet. Multi award winning Fat Rascal Theatre brought to the stage our favourite Disney Diva, Ursula as she recalled her side of the story of what really happened all those years ago under the sea. Just as Wicked changed our perception of the Wicked Witch of the West, Unfortunate directs our attention to Ursula, rather then Ariel and it turns out the Sea Witch has been horribly misunderstood and is actually a heroin.

If you are expecting a musical similar to the Disney version of The Little Mermaid, you are in for a huge shock! With an original explicit pop soundtrack and filthy humour, the audience is in for a hilarious and thought provoking evening of sex, swearing and sorcery.

The plot takes us back 20 years to find an unapologetic Ursula, performed by Allie Dart the understudy, framed by the father of her lover Triton, performed by George Whitty. She is then banished from the kingdom of Atlantica. Go forward 20 years and Triton’s daughter, Ariel, performed by Miracle Chance, is discovering her sexuality and falls in love with Eric, performed by Jamie Mawson.

Despite being just a cast of seven, the actors work exceptionally hard throughout the performance to deliver each part, and it is easy to forget there are so few. The cast is versatile, outstanding, absolutely indescribable in everything they do and they succeed in delighting the audience.

Robyn Grant, Daniel Foxx and Tim Gilvin are collectively responsible for the book, lyrics and music. They have created a wonderful score that is memorable and pokes fun at issues and Disney. The songs are catchy and simply fabulous, and compliment the show’s themes. One of the musical highlights of the evening for me was ‘We did not make it to Disney’, performed by all the outcasts, the ugly ones and undesirables.

Unfortunate is a visual delight with an imposing set design by Abby Clarke, Cory Shipp’s imaginative costumes and impressive puppetry by Hugh Purves.

Do not be one of those Unfortunate Souls that miss out on a truly fun night out. Get yourself a ticket and get ready for a wet, wicked and wild ride at the theatre.

Darlington Hippodrome – until Sunday 11 September 2022

5*****

Tonight, we witnessed the premiere of David Walliams Demon Dentist. Presented by Birmingham Stage Company, one of the leading producers of quality theatre for children and families.

Alfie (Sam Varley) lives with his invalid father (James Mitchell)  There are just the two of them now after Alfie’s mum died when he was born.  His father is seriously ill with a lung condition from working down the mine and Alfie is his carer before and after school.  Alfie had a bad experience at the Dentist and hasn’t been for over 6 years.  But his new Social Worker Winnie (Misha Malcolm) takes it upon herself to book him an appointment with the new Dentist,  Miss Root (Emily Harrigan).

Strange things have been happening since Miss Root moved in, instead of getting a penny from the tooth fairy, children are waking up all over town to find their teeth have gone from under their pillows and replaced with stinky toenails, bat wings, toads and other gruesome things.

Raj the local shopkeeper (Zain Abrahams) helps Alfie with his plan to find out what is going on by giving Alfie one of his teeth to put under his pillow.  Its clear its something evil and when Miss Root kidnaps Alfie’s friend Gabz (Georgia Grant-Anderson), Alfie must rescue her from the old abandoned mine where Miss Root reveals she is a tooth-witch and the mine is her tooth lair.

But it takes an heroic effort from Alfie’s dad, sacrificing himself in the process to save everyone from the evil witch.  There is, however, a happy ending.

Neal Foster has done an excellent job of adapting the book for the stage, and his lyrics and Composer Jak Poore’s music give us some excellent songs.  Jacqueline Trousdale’s design works well and the simple staging adapts well.

Demon Dentist proves yet again what a fantastic author Walliams is and how Birmingham Stage really brings the book to life. 

York Theatre Royal – until Saturday 10th September 2022

Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

4****

Girl From The North Country is an award winning musical by Irish playwright Conor McPherson. Developed around the music of Bob Dylan, where McPherson was given carte blanche to cherry pick through all of Dylan’s extensive back catalogue. Though set years before Dylan’s birth, McPherson decided to use the musician’s birthplace, Duluth, Minnesota, and the year 1934, right in the middle of the Great Depression.

Centring around a failing, run down guest house, where the visitors have their own stories, none as bleak as the proprietors, Nick Laine (Colin Connor) and Elizabeth Laine (Frances McNamee). Nick is a rubbish businessman, always has been, the guesthouse was in trouble way before the recession hit. Along with burying his head in the sand about money troubles, he is caring for his dementia suffering wife. Their woes aren’t helped by their son Gene (Gregor Milne), a would-be writer who is more interested in the bottle. At least they have their adopted daughter Marianne (Justina Kehinde), but she has her own issues, most notably the prospect of being an unmarried mother.

Along with Laine family, we are introduced to the diverse group of people who inhabit the guesthouse. There is Mrs Neilsen (Nichola Macevilly), who is obviously having an affair with Nick, The Burkes and their boy-man son. The catalyst, which changes everything in the house, is the arrival of a bible salesman and a down-on-his-luck boxer.

This has a large cast, and every member has a wonderful voice, accompanied by a backing band on the stage, who only play instruments that were around in the 1930’s. Using old microphones, the songs are song to the audience, not to the other actors, making this not your regular musical at all, well none I’ve seen anyway, and it worked. The ensemble numbers are very powerful, pulsating with the beat of the tambourine and excellent voices.

I must admit that I beforehand I did not know of any Bob Dylan’s songs and only recognised a couple of them throughout the production. This did not matter; you do not have to be a fan. The whole cast shared great chemistry and delivered terrific performance. It touches on racism, adultery, austerity, mental health, all sounds really bleak, but there is a hint of hope, and it was a joy to watch.

The Grand Theatre and Opera House, Leeds – until Saturday 10th September 2022

Reviewed by Aimee Liddington.

5*****

Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers is one of the most loved British musicals of all time and over the past three decades, the show has enjoyed an enduring success. One of the reasons for its continuing popularity is simple: it relies on the age-old human principal of storytelling. From the very first moment that the curtain is lifted, the audience’s ears prick up and they are hooked until the curtain falls for the final time.

When Mrs Johnstone is deserted by her husband and left to provide for seven hungry children, she takes up a job as a house keeper in order to make ends meet. Although she is pregnant again, she seems to have it all under control – that is until she finds out that she is expecting twins. In an act of hopeless desperation, she enters into a pact with her employer which leads inevitably to the show’s spectacular but foredoomed ending. This show never disappoints and with an outstanding cast, remarkable band and all round phenomenal creative team, you are sure to receive an evening of entertainment that is second to none.

Liverpudlians are known for their warm hospitality and wit and the character of Mrs Johnstone, played by Niki Colwell Evans, epitomises these qualities. Evans is a perfect match for the casting of this role as she wins the hearts of the audience with her portrayal of Mrs Johnstone’s worldliness alongside her soft edges. It’s clear that when Evans is on stage, she whole-heartedly becomes the character and this can be seen from the emotion portrayed in the final musical number of ‘Tell Me It’s Not True’ – not only is her voice sensational but the passion she portrays is magical.

The more tragic elements of this show are broken up by many moments of comedy and Sean Jones who plays Mickey and Jay Worley who plays Eddie both do this fantastically with their depictions of the twins from childhood into adulthood. Similarly, Timothy Lucas deserves a mention for his hilarious portrayal of Sammy. It really is so clever how the adult cast are able to transform themselves into young children so believably.

Richard Munday, who plays the narrator, holds a crucial role in the audience’s understanding of the story and his omnipresence is so flawless that we barely notice when he’s there until he isn’t. Munday’s overall dramatic and musical talents are to be applauded and the narrator is obviously a fine-tuned role that he has taken time to perfect.

As mentioned before, Blood Brothers never fails to impress – it’s a must see and I can guarantee that if you go once, you’ll be back again and again and again.