Grand Opera House, York – Thursday 1st September 2022

Reviewed by Aimee Liddington

5*****

Al Murray, aka The Pub Landlord, has returned post-Covid to give us a well-deserved humorous run down of the past few years. From Brexit to the Pandemic and everything in between, Al Murray gives us an outlet to laugh at all the absurdity and idiocy of life as a Covid survivor.

With the people skills of a pub landlord and the intelligence of a cleverly crafted comedian, Al Murray welcomes the audience in with open arms and unsuspecting spectators become the backbone of his performance. It’s a talent to behold when a comedian is able to stand in front of hundreds of people and make them laugh but it’s something else entirely when they can do it spontaneously, designing new jokes on the spot in response to hilarious heckles from the audience.

People could mistake Al Murray for being unintelligent, foolish or ignorant due to the persona he adopts on stage but the truth is that The Pub Landlord has an incredible knowledge of the world and people who are in it. This show is relevant to everyone from young to old and is accessible to people from all walks of life. In all times of hardship, communities come together and Al Murray brings us even closer with a mutual mocking of our efforts in the face of a global pandemic in comparison to the efforts of our parents and grandparents in the face of world wars. As well as being an endearing mick take of British society and people over the past few years, the Gig for Victory is steeped in historical and political satire.

The Gig for Victory is packed full of new and hilarious content as well as providing the gimmicks and banter that Al Murray is known all too well for. If you want to be part of what feels like the best lock-in of all time after being locked down for far too long then the Gig for Victory is for you.

Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Rebecca Stafford Productions present

Witness for the Prosecution
By Agatha Christie

• THE EIGHTH CAST IS ANNOUNCED FOR AGATHA CHRISTIE’S ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ AT LONDON COUNTY HALL AS THE PRODUCTION PREPARES TO CELEBRATE ITS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY IN OCTOBER.
• HARRY REID RETURNS TO THE CAST TO PLAY THE ACCUSED LEONARD VOLE ALONGSIDE NAOMI SHELDON AS HIS WIFE ROMAINE.
• DUGALD BRUCE-LOCKHART WILL PLAY SIR WILFRID ROBARTS WITH NICHOLAS DAY AS MR JUSTICE WAINWRIGHT, JUSTIN AVOTH AS MR MYERS QC, AND JONATHAN COOTE AS MR MAYHEW.
• THE CAST ALSO INCLUDES ROSANNA ADAMS, LORRAINE AMAKO, DANIEL BRAVO, MYLES DEVONTÉ, GREG FITCH, KEVIN N GOLDING, LAWRENCE HAYNES, ISABELLA KIBBLE, PAUL MCEWAN, SIMON RHODES, TOM SYMS, AND LUCY TREGEAR.

As this iconic production approaches its fifth anniversary, producers Eleanor Lloyd and Rebecca Stafford are delighted to announce the eighth cast to join Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution. Audiences can book to see Witness for the Prosecution until 16th April 2023 at the historic London County Hall.

Eastenders star Harry Reid returns to the cast to reprise his role as the accused, Leonard Vole. He is joined by Naomi Sheldon (The Comedy of Errors, RSC; Good Girl, Trafalgar Studios/ Roundabout/ Old Red Lion) as Romaine Vole. Dugald Bruce-Lockhart (Private Lives, Bath Theatre Royal/Nigel Havers Theatre Company – UK Tour; The Last Temptation of Boris Johnson, Park Theatre) will play Sir Wilfrid Robarts QC, with Jonathan Coote (The Crown, Netflix; The Audience, West End) as Mr Mayhew, Justin Avoth (My Brilliant Friend, National Theatre/ Rose Theatre, Kingston; Love From a Stranger, Fiery Angel) as Mr Myers QC, and Nicholas Day (Yellowfin, Southwark Playhouse; After All These Years, UK Tour) as Mr Justice Wainwright. 

The company is completed by Rosanna Adams (The Mirror and the Light, RSC/ Playful Productions), Lorraine Amako (Off the Record, Southwark Playhouse; Happily Ever After, Bunker Theatre), Daniel Bravo (Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens, King’s Head Theatre), Myles Devonté (BBC Doctor Who: Time Fracture), Greg Fitch (A Murder is Announced, UK Tour; The Verdict, UK /Ireland Tour), Kevin N Golding (SAD, Omnibus Theatre; Much Ado About Nothing, RSC), Lawrence Haynes (As You Like It, Tour), Isabella Kibble (making her West End debut), Paul McEwan (The Canterville Ghost, Unicorn Theatre; Othello, English Touring Theatre), Simon Rhodes (Posh, UK Tour;, No Man’s Land, Wyndham’s Theatre/ UK Tour), Tom Syms (Alice’s Adventures Underground, LET/The Vaults; Captain Flinn & The Pirate Dinosaurs, UK Tour) and Lucy Tregear (Room, Stratford East; Romeo and Juliet, Metcalfe Gordon Productions).

Witness for the Prosecution has captured the imagination of thousands gripped by the case of Leonard Vole, accused of murder in cold blood. Director Lucy Bailey (Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare’s Globe) thrillingly places the audience in the thick of the action as Christie’s enthralling tale of justice, passion and betrayal unfolds around them.

Leonard Vole is accused of murdering a widow to inherit her wealth. The stakes are high. Will he be able to convince the jury of his innocence and escape the hangman’s noose?

The twists and turns of the case are played out in a spectacular courtroom setting inside the atmospheric London County Hall as prosecution battles defence and witnesses take the stand to give their shocking testimonies. The production received Best Revival nominations at the 2018 Olivier and WhatsOnStage Awards.

The production is designed by William Dudley, with lighting by Chris Davey, sound design by Mic Pool, and casting by Ellie Collyer-Bristow CDG.

FURTHER CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR BRISTOL’S MAGICAL FAMILY PANTOMIME, CINDERELLA

A magical star cast has been announced with the judge everyone loves to hate, Craig Revel Horwood starring as the Wicked Stepmother in this year’s Bristol Hippodrome family pantomime Cinderella, running throughout December 2022.

Joining the fab-u-lous Craig Revel Horwood will be Bristol panto favourite Andy Ford (The Royal Variety Performance) as Buttons marking his tenth pantomime appearance at the Bristol Hippodrome alongside popular musical theatre and cabaret artist Alison Jiear (Britain’s Got Talent) as the Fairy Godmother. Joining them in the title role is Lauren Hampton as Cinderella and Daniel Norford as Dandini.

Join Cinders as she goes from rags to riches, outwits her very wicked sisters and meets her dashing Prince Charming. Packed with all the traditional pantomime ingredients, Cinderella features laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses along the way.

The clock is ticking, so don’t miss your chance to see the Fairy Godmother of all pantos at the Bristol Hippodrome. Book your tickets today – you shall go to ball this Christmas!

Tickets for Cinderella (Friday 2nd December – Saturday 31st December 2022) are on sale from Bristol Hippodrome Box Office tel: 0333 009 6690 or online at https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/cinderella/bristol-hippodrome/

THE BARN THEATRE ANNOUNCES FULL CAST & CREATIVE TEAM OF

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN

RUNS FROM 26 SEPTEMBER – 29 OCTOBER

The Barn Theatre in Cirencester has today announced the full cast and creative team for their new staging of Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel’s adaptation of the gripping mystery, suspense thriller The Girl on the Train which runs at the Barn Theatre from 26 September – 29 October.

Based on the bestselling novel by Paula Hawkins and the blockbuster DreamWorks film, The Girl on the Train follows Rachel Watson as she finds herself a witness and suspect in a thrilling mystery in which she will face bigger revelations than she could have ever anticipated.

Kirstie Davis returns to the award-winning theatre to direct the new staging, having previously directed the theatre’s critically acclaimed production of the musical Daddy Long Legs. For six years Davis was the Associate Director of Watford Palace Theatre where she directed acclaimed productions of Top Girls, The Daughter-in-law and The Beauty Queen of Leenane and was CEO and Artistic Director of Forest Forge from 2009 to 2016 where she commissioned and directed over 20 new plays.

The full cast of The Girl on the Train announced today are Claudius Peters (HALO) as Scott Hipwell, Kareem Nasif as Kamal Abdic, Nick Read as D.I. Gaskill, Brinsley Terence (Cyrano de Bergerac) as Tom Watson, Emily Tucker (Blithe Spirit) as Anna Watson, Sophie Walter (Grantchester) as Megan Hipwell and Gemma Yates-Round as Rachel Watson.

Joining Kirstie Davis on the creative team are Charlotte Henery (MAGDALENE) as Set & Costume Designer, Sam Rowcliffe-Tanner (Stones in His Pockets) as Lighting Designer, Harry Smith (The Mozart Question) as Sound Designer and Kaitlin Howard (The Famous Five) as Fight Director.

Tickets for the production are now on sale at www.barntheatre.org.uk

York Theatre Royal Studio – until Saturday 3rd September 2022

Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

5*****

Coming straight from the Edinburgh Fringe, where it received a Fringe First, Tabby Lamb’s Happy Meal, has hit York and is currently performing in the Studio at York Theatre Royal.

On entering the studio, we are greeted by two penguins. One going about their own business, the other enthusiastically waving at the audience, making sure that nobody is excluded, even if you’re sitting there in your own world, until you realise that yes, it’s you who they’re waving at, you can’t help but excitedly reciprocate.

Directed by Jamie Fletcher, Happy Meal tells the story of Bette (Allie Daniel) and Alex (Sam Crerar) who find each other on the internet as young teenagers. Starting off playing Club Penguin, hence the costumes, we see their relationship evolving through social media platforms as they grow up, from MySpace to TikTok.

Through their online conversations we get to see their relationship grow, even though they have never met in person. They can present themselves as whoever they want to be. They both have different vulnerabilities, but Bette appears to be the more confident one of the pair, but it is Alex who embraces his gender identity and talk about transitioning into Alec. This only highlights Bette’s insecurities, not being confident enough to also come out as trans to her best friend. This ultimately leads to the friends falling out. As time goes on, they just can’t ignore the strong bond that they have and reconnect online and finally meeting IRL (in real life). Bette is now comfortable in her own skin and can share who she really is.

The set comprises of two booths, designed as clouds, with rainbow arches above. It wasn’t until the Q&A after that it dawned on me that they looked like Happy Meal boxes. Following the actors’ interactions with the set, video is projected onto the booths, depicting the chat of the two, just as you would see it on a phone or tablet screen. Interesting to see how the online world can be transferred to stage.

Both Daniel and Crerar are excellent in their roles, bringing the stage and story to life, compelling to watch. You could not help but be invested in both their characters, we laughed and felt heartbroken along with them. They share great chemistry and Bette’s statement of “I was born in exactly the right body. You were born in exactly the right body. These journeys we’ve taken were the journeys we were meant to take in order to find ourselves and maybe each other”, was very profound and so heartfelt.

Happy Meal is a show about friendship, identity and is ultimately a heart-warming love story, a lot to pack into a show that is about an hour long. This delightful two-hander is labelled as a joyful trans rom-com for the MySpace generation, and the roles played by two trans actors. As someone who isn’t a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I found it a really beautiful and insightful transgender narrative.

It is a wonderful piece of theatre, full of fun, and suitable for all. I implore you to go and see it. Playing in York until Saturday, then visiting Plymouth, Oxford and Coventry

Grand Opera House, York – 31st August 2022

Reviewed by Sal E Marino

5***** 

The beautiful Grand Opera House, York, hosted what was an evening of pure unfettered joy as we were taken on a non-stop musical jaunt of world-class songs from world-class artists in the form of The Story of Soul.  This highly polished performance is just the ticket to take you on a journey of musical magic as you get hear the golden tunes of the last five decades from amazing stars such as: Ben E King, Wilson Pickett, Tina Turner, Earth, Wind and Fire, Barry White and many, many more.  

The six singers and their star guest were all absolutely sensational due to being note and pitch perfect, giving spine-tingling sensations throughout.  The whole performance was undeniably smooth and flowed effortlessly from chart topping hit after hit.  A stand out moment for me personally was when the song ‘Freedom‘ (Aretha Franklin) was performed as it was not just simply outstanding singing but emotional too.  It was great to see people out enjoying themselves again and long may it last!  

By about the fourth song people were out of their seats having the best time singing and dancing so this is the perfect show to celebrate with friends on a hen party or family and loved ones as you just can’t help but get into the grove.  Even more reserved audience members were tapping along and ‘getting down’ by the end numbers as the up-beat atmosphere was electric.  By the end we were all simply having a party!  

Kudos must be given to the band who were phenomenal and like all of the singing performers – clearly professionals.  I actually enjoyed most acts more than the originals because I was getting to hear this music live and that added an even bigger cherry on the cake which I wasn’t expecting.  The ladies were like singing goddesses – so captivating with spell-binding voices and the males dazzled with an effervescent energy that filled the opulent Grand.  

A very special moment of the show was when Mel Day came on and gave a non-stop rendition of some rip-roaring hits and wow – this man is a powerhouse of soul – amazing!  The Story of Soul is a memorable production and one that will simply get you moving and singing which is exactly the point – it will touch your soul and so I would like to give a huge thank you to all of the musicians – you touched mine. 

NEW CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR AUTUMN 2022 OF

BY LAURENCE O’KEEFE & KEVIN MURPHY

DIRECTED BY ANDY FICKMAN

FROM

06 SEPTEMBER 2022 – 19 FEBRUARY 2023

TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT THE OTHER PALACE

WINNER OF BEST NEW MUSICAL

WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS 2019

GREETINGS, SALUTATIONS AND WELCOME TO

THE ‘OTHER PALACE’ CLASS OF WESTERBERG HIGH!

With the graduating cast leaving the halls of Westerberg High, it’s time to welcome in some new students to the cast of Heathers the Musical.
Taking on the role of high school geek Veronica Sawyer will be Erin Caldwell and at her side as the dark and moody teen Jason ‘J.D’ Dean is Nathanael Landskroner.

Continuing as the eponymous ‘Heathers’ are Maddison Firth as Heather Chandler, Vivian Panka as Heather Duke and Jasmine Beel as Heather McNamara.

They are joined by Ashleigh Harvey (Ms Fleming/Veronica’s Mom), Lydia Eliza Roberts (Martha Dunnstock), Tobias Turley (Kurt Kelly), Brandon Gale (Ram Sweeney), Stuart Turner (Ram’s Dad, Veronica’s Dad, Principal Gowan), Ryan Bennett (Kurt’s Dad, Big Bud Dean, Coach Ripper), Elliot David Parkes (Beleaguered geek/ U/S Jason J.D Dean), May Tether (Drama Club Drama Queen/U/S Veronica Sawyer), Lewis Asquith  (Hipster Dork / Officer /U/S Kurt’s Dad, Kurt Kelly, Coach, Ripper, Big Bud Dean, Principal Gowan, Veronica’s Dad), Georgia Gagen (New Wave Party Girl / U/S Heather Chandler, Heather McNamara), Amonik  Melaco (Preppy Stud / Officer /U/S: Ram Sweeney), Bayley Hart (Stoner Chick / U/S Ms. Fleming / Veronica’s Mom, Martha Dunnstock), Eleanor Morrison-Halliday (Young Republicanette) / U/S Heather Duke) and Billie Bowman (Midwestern Surf Punk / U/S Heather Chandler, Heather McNamara, Heather Duke).

Heathers the Musical, thewickedly funny and high-octane rock musical continues at its original London home at The Other Palace, having re-opened on 25 November 2021, now until 19 February 2023.

Produced by Bill Kenwright and Paul Taylor-Mills, the musical started its UK journey with a cult following and was a box office record-breaker at The Other Palace in 2018, before transferring to the Theatre Royal Haymarket for a limited season later that year. The production then returned to the Haymarket and played a hugely successful summer season this year, kick-starting the West End’s pandemic recovery. In addition to its London staging’s, the production also had a hugely successful UK tour in 2021.

With a dazzling book, music and lyrics by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe, Heathers the Musical is based on one of the greatest cult teen films of all time, and starred Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. The production is directed by Andy Fickman, withchoreography by Thriller Live’s Gary Lloyd, designs by David Shields, lighting by Ben Cracknell and sound by Dan Samson.  

Westerberg High’s Veronica Sawyer is just another nobody dreaming of a better day. But when she joins the beautiful and impossibly cruel Heathers, her dreams of popularity may finally come true. Mysterious teen rebel JD teaches her that it might kill to be a nobody, but it is murder being a somebody…

The UK premiere of Heathers the Musical enjoyed two record-breaking opening seasons, launching at London’s The Other Palace and transferring to the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2018; going on to win the WhatsOnStage award for Best New Musical 2019.

WICKED WELCOMES 11 MILLIONTH

THEATREGOER

London production welcomes Olivia Gosling and her father,

Steve, as landmark guests who were celebrating Olivia’s 15^th Birthday

WICKED, the West End and Broadway musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, yesterday (31 August 2022) welcomed its 11 millionth theatregoer to London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre. At the 2.30pm performance were Olivia Gosling and her father, Steve Gosling, who were seeing the show in celebration of Olivia’s 15^th birthday and were invited on stage at the end of the performance.

“One of the most successful musicals of all time” (BBC News), Wicked is the winner of more than 100 major awards, including three Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy Award and ten theatregoer voted WhatsOnStage Awards (including three for ‘Best West End Show’).

Wicked currently stars: Lucie Jones (Elphaba), Helen Woolf (Glinda), Ryan Reid (Fiyero), Sophie-Louise Dann (Madame Morrible), Gary Wilmot*(The Wizard), Carina Gillespie (Nessarose), Nicholas McLean (Boq), Simeon Truby (Doctor Dillamond), Amy Webb (Standby for Elphaba), Lisa-Anne Wood (Standby for Glinda), Yuki Abe, Kofi Aidoo-Appiah, Meg Astin, Alishia-Marie Blake, Pàje Campbell, Michael Colbourne, Fergus Dale, Nolan Edwards, Nicola Espallardo, Danny Fogarty, Laura Harrison, Amie Hibbert, Lucie Horsfall, Samuel How, Christian Knight, Nick Len, Jasmine Leung, Maggie Lynne, Rhidian Marc, PaddyJoe Martin, Jessica-Alice McCluskey, Stacey McGuire, Harry Mills, Lewis Newton, Natalie Spriggs, Samantha Thomas, Joe Thompson-Oubari and James Titchener.

*Limited engagement.  Full cast subject to change from Tuesday 7 March 2023.

Based on the acclaimed novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked imagines a beguiling backstory and future possibilities to the lives of L. Frank Baum’s beloved characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reveals the decisions and events that shape the destinies of two unlikely university friends on their journey to becoming Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Wicked has music and lyrics by multi-Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy Award winner Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, The Prince of Egypt, Disney’s Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Enchanted and its forthcoming sequel Disenchanted). It is based on the bestselling novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire and written by Emmy and Tony Award nominee Winnie Holzman, creator of the landmark American television series My So-Called Life. Musical staging is by Tony Award-winner Wayne Cilento with direction by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello.

Wicked is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. Executive Producer (UK) Michael McCabe.

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire is published in the UK by Headline (the book is recommended for readers aged 16+). Wicked: The Grimmerie, a behind-the-scenes look at the musical by David Cote, is published in the UK by Hyperion.

The Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1LG

Official UK website: www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk

Twitter: @WickedUK  |  Facebook: /WickedUK  |  Instagram: @WickedUK

The Grammy Award-winning, Platinum-certified Original Broadway Cast Recording on Decca Broadway

The Rubens at the Palace and The Clermont Victoria are the official hotel partners of Wicked London

  www.rubenshotel.com      www.theclermont.co.uk/victoria

Fuel in collaboration with Shipwright present

The World Premiere of

The Gretchen Question

Co-written by Melly Still and Max Barton

Directed by Melly Still

Designed by E.M. Parry

Lighting designed by Malcolm Rippeth

Music by Second Body

22 September – 2 October

Presented by Fuel in collaboration with Shipwright

Co-commissioned by Fuel, the Albany and We Are Lewisham

• Full casting for The Gretchen Question has been announced.
   
• Leading the company are Tamaira Hesson playing Lulit who joins the previously announced Yohanna Ephrem playing Maisie and Lauren Moakes playing Gretchen
   
• They are joined by Ryan Gerald, Katherine Manners, Alex Mugnaioni, Al Nedjari and Christopher Saul
   
• Running alongside the play will be a series of engagement workshops covering a range of subjects including self-sustainability, voice and space
   
• Part of We Are Lewisham, the Mayor’s London Borough of Culture 2022
   
• Tickets are on sale now
  
   

The full performing company for Melly Still and Max Barton’s new play The Gretchen Question has today been confirmed. 

In the 18th century, Gretchen, played by Lauren Moakes, witnesses the Royal Society return from a polar expedition with a mysterious oyster, promising unlimited wealth on the eve of industrial revolution. Present day, Maisie, played by Yohanna Ephrem, sets out to livestream from the Arctic as part of a questionable brand partnership. Lulit, played by Tamaira Hesson, wakes on an ice rink, struggling to remember what happened to her last night.

They are joined by Ryan Gerald, Katherine Manners, Alex Mugnaioni, Al Nedjari and Christopher Saul.

The play will be performed in the grounds of the remarkable hidden architectural gem the Master Shipwrights House in Deptford in South East London and forms part of London Borough of Culture. It plays from 22 September – 2 October with a press night on 23 September. It features live music by Second Body and design by E. M. Parry. Drawing from the history of climate change, it invites us to inquire what the future holds for us.

“We launch another voyage as soon as possible. Dig deeper.”

The Master Shipwright’s House and Office is one of the few remaining parts of Deptford’s former royal dockyard. Founded by Henry VIII in 1513 the King’s Yard became one of the most important shipbuilding yards in the world before finally closing in 1869. It was bought and restored by its current owners in 1998. Since then it has been a home and creative space for artists, performers and audiences from around the world. 

Fuel will host threeevents alongside The Gretchen Question, between 22nd Sept – 2nd Oct 22, at The Shipwright theatre in Deptford. Two of these sessions are being commissioned by Sounds Like Chaos who will devise the sessions and deliver them with Fuel’s producing support. The third session is being commissioned and delivered (in-kind) by Young Wilders with the Shipwright producing support.

The sessions are an extension of the play and will be an opportunity for audiences to reflect more widely on its topics whilst developing their creativity and learning new skills. 

The sessions are divided into three areas (language for internal comms):

·      Voice (commissioned to SLC)

·      Space (commissioned to SLC)

·      Self-Sustainability (produced in kind at The Shipwright)

BIRMINGHAM REP ON THE SEARCH FOR
TAIL-WAGGING TALENT!

THE REP ANNOUNCES AUDITIONS FOR DOGS TO STAR IN
NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL THIS FESTIVE SEASON

Birmingham Rep are on the search for tail-wagging talent to star in the theatre’s festive production of the hit stage production, Nativity! The Musical.

Only the most obedient, easy-going and, most importantly, cute and cuddly of dogs may apply – and a love of working with children is essential.

Star dogs must be within easy commuting distance of the city-centre based theatre and not be afraid of stepping into the spotlight, on-stage ‘accidents’ are preferably avoidable.

The paw-fect pup will be required to take to the stage for 2-3 performances per week and paid £30 per show plus travel expenses. Plenty of pre-show fuss is guaranteed with inevitable treats thrown in.

The role of Cracker the dog in Nativity! The Musical requires a small-medium sized dog who can easily be handled and picked up by children.

Creator of the much-loved Nativity! films and the stage adaptation, Debbie Isitt said “We are on the search for Birmingham’s next four-legged stage star! They must have the discipline, patience and sense of fun to sparkle and shine in front of thousands of people this festive season as Nativity! The Musical returns home to The Rep.”

The first stage of application is to send a short video with you holding your pup, lasting around 60 second seconds, explaining why The Rep would be barking not to cast your dog as Cracker. Send your entries to [email protected] by Mon 12 Sep and finalists will be invited for a final audition on Mon 26 Sep.

Applicants must be available for a selection of dates during Rehearsals from 10Oct, Technical Rehearsals from 7Nov and for performances – 19 Nov 22 – 7 Jan 23.

Since its world premiere at The Rep in 2017, Nativity! The Musical has been seen by over one million people during an acclaimed UK tour and three successful London runs. To book tickets visit Birmingham-rep.co.uk, call 0121 236 4455 or visit the box office during opening hours.*