BILL KENWRIGHT’S

MULTI AWARD-WINNING PRODUCTION OF

BLOOD BROTHERS

IS BACK FOR AUTUMN 2022!

WITH FORMER X-FACTOR FINALIST NIKI COLWELL EVANS

RETURNING AS THE ICONIC MRS JOHNSTONE

ALONGSIDE SEAN JONES, COMPLETING HIS FINAL EVER TOUR IN THE ROLE OF MICKEY JOHNSTONE

OPENING AT THE THEATRE ROYAL WINDSOR

AHEAD OF A 16 WEEK AUTUMN TOUR

Bill Kenwright‘s legendary, award-winning production of the international smash hit musical, Blood Brothers returns to the stage for a 16-week tour from 28 July at Theatre Royal Windsor. The much-loved musical, performed to sell-out houses on its recent UK tour and returns with gusto, running nationally from 28 July – 03 December 2022.

Niki Colwell Evans and Sean Jones, continue in the iconic roles of Mrs Johnstone and Mickey Johnstone respectively.

Niki Colwell Evans first rose to fame in 2007 when she reached the semi-final of series 4 of The X Factor UK mentored by Louis Walsh. After her debut solo single ‘Love Me No More’ in 2008, she went on to play the iconic role Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre between 2008-2009 and in 2010 where she received rave reviews from critics. Following on from this she performed in the pantomimes Cinderella as the Fairy Godmother at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (2009-2010) and in Kinky Boots as Trish (UK Tour 2018/21). She played the role of Paulette in the musical adaptation of Legally Blonde (UK Tour 2012) receiving high acclaim for her performance as Elle’s sassy confidante. Over the years, Niki has toured as a solo singer with pop stars such as Sonia, Lonnie Gordon, Big Fun and Yell. In 2016, she performed at the Queen’s 90^th celebrations at Windsor Castle alongside Dame Helen Mirren, Damien Lewis, Andrea Boccelli, Katherine Jenkins, Gary Barlow, Kylie Minogue and many more.

Sean Jones is thrilled to be returning to the part of Mickey in Blood Brothers (until 19 November). He has had a long and successful association with the role since 1999, having played it in both West End and touring productions to critical acclaim. His other stage credits include: Aladdin; Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan; Macbeth (UK Tour and Singapore); and Jacqueline’s Wilson’s world premiere of Wave Me Goodbye (Theatr Clwyd). His TV credits include Emmerdale, The Royal Today, Hollyoaks and The Chase.

Josh Capper will play the role of Mickey from 22nd November to 3rd December (Poole and Cardiff).

Joining the cast for the Autumn tour are Jay Worley (Eddie), Richard Munday (Narrator) and Timothy Lucas (Sammy). They will join previous cast members; Paula Tappenden (Mrs Lyons), Tim Churchill (Mr Lyons), Carly Burns (Linda), Nick Wilkes (Policeman/Teacher), Josh Capper(Neighbour), Grace Galloway (Donna Marie/Miss Jones), Melissa Potts (Brenda), Andy Owens (Perkins) and Jacob Yolland (Bus Conductor).

Written by award-winning playwright Willy Russell, few musicals have been received with such acclaim as the multi-award-winning Blood Brothers. Considered ‘one of the best musicals ever written’ (Sunday Times), Bill Kenwright’s production surpassed 10,000 performances in London’s West End, one of only three musicals ever to achieve that milestone.  It has been affectionately christened the ‘Standing Ovation Musical’, as inevitably it “brings the audience cheering to its feet and roaring its approval” (Daily Mail). 

This epic tale of Liverpool life started as a play, performed at a Liverpool comprehensive school in 1981, before opening at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983. The musical has since triumphed across the globe, completing sell out seasons in the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan, and scooping up four awards for Best Musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway.  

The superb score includes A Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True. 

Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins separated at birth, who grow up on the opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with tragic consequences.  

When Mrs Johnstone, a young mother, is deserted by her husband and left to her own devices to provide for seven hungry children she takes a job as a housekeeper in order to make ends meet. It is not long before her brittle world crashes around her when she discovers herself to be pregnant yet again – this time with twins! In a moment of weakness and desperation, she enters a secret pact with her employer which leads inexorably to the show’s shattering climax. 

Willy Russell is undeniably one of this country’s leading contemporary dramatists. His countless credits include Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine. Educating Rita, originally commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, enjoyed a two-year run in the West End and was made into a movie starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters. Shirley Valentine also made the move from stage to screen in an enormously popular film starring Pauline Collins and Tom Conti.

LISTINGS 

Bill Kenwright presents 

BLOOD BROTHERS 

Autumn 2022 UK Tour 

28 July – 03 December 2022

Written by Willy Russell 

Directed by Bob Tomson & Bill Kenwright  

Musical Direction by Matt Malone 

Sound by Dan Samson  

Set & Costumes by Andy Walmsley  

Lighting by Nick Richings 

Associate Lighting Designer Darran Curtis  

TOUR SCHEDULE

Theatre Royal, Windsor                                                  theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk

28 July– 30 July 2022                                                      01753 853 8888       

Grand Opera House, Belfast                                          goh.co.uk

02 – 13 August 2022                                                         028 9024 1919

Perth Concert Hall, Perth                                               horsecross.co.uk

23 – 27 August 2022                                                          01738621031

Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes                     miltonkeynes-theatre.co.uk

30 August – 03 September 2022                                0333 009 6690

Leeds Grand Theatre, Leeds                                      leedsheritagetheatres.com

06 – 10 September 2022                                             01132430808

Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton                               grandtheatre.co.uk

13 – 17 September 2022                                             01902429212

Empire Theatre, Sunderland                                      atgtickets.com

20 – 24 September 2022                                             0844 871 7615

Regent Theatre, Stoke-On-Trent                               atgtickets.com

27 September – 01 October 2022                              0844 871 7615

The Sands Centre, Carlisle                                         betterboxoffice.co.uk

04 – 08 October 2022                                                 01228633766

Winter Gardens, Blackpool                                        wintergardensblackpool.co.uk

11 – 15 October 2022                                                 0844 770 0593

Lowry Theatre, Salford                                              thelowry.com

18 – 22 October 2022                                                 0343 208 6000

The Empire, Liverpool                                                atgtickets.com

25 October – 05 November 2022                               0844 871 7615

The Orchard, Dartford                                               orchardtheatre.co.uk

08 – 12 November 2022                                             03433100033

Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury                                   atgtickets.com

15 – 19 November 2022                                             0844 871 7615
Lighthouse, Poole                                                       lighthousepoole.co.uk
22 – 26 November 2022                                             01202 280000

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff                            wmc.org.uk

29 November – 03 December 2022                           029 2063 6464

Running Time: 2 hours 45 minutes (including interval)  

Something For the Weekend presents:

STARSHIP IMPROVISE

The hilarious new improvised comedy homage to everything from Star Trek to Galaxy Quest starring a supergroup of members of Tony&Olivier Award winning companies:

STARSHIP IMPROVISE will boldly go where no improv comedy has gone before

CELESTIA 7 was along-running,smash-hit,science-fiction TV show. Some of the cast became international celebrities, others faded into obscurity. Now, headlining at a fans’convention, the actors reassemble to share memories of everyone’s favourite episodes.

Improv superstars from Mischief, Showstopper!and Austentatious, all experts in the form, will join together to create a different episode of a Star Trek-style-drama, inspired entirely by audience suggestions. Which planet will they go to? Which aliens will they encounter? What adventures will they have? Conflict with cyborgs? Sent back in time to Victorian London? Clones?The audience decides, and a full episode is played out before their very eyes

All the while the actors at the convention offer commentary upon how that night’s episode was made, and we get to see how backstage politics and tensions spilled into the show itself.

While CELESTIA 7 followed its plucky crew on their adventures through time and space, the real drama often lay behind the scenes. In-fighting, relationships, break-ups, sexual tensions, ego… it was years and years of science friction.

Boldy pushing the improv envelope to a place it’s never been before, each show is a stand alone episode AND recurring characters will develop relationships throughout the run as the soap opera unfolds. Audiences can return to multiple shows to catch up with favourite characters and all the gossip that has happened along the way

With some of the funniest and most experienced improvisers in the UK, live music, and even special effects, STARSHIP IMPROVISE is a space opera, a soap opera, and a DVD directors’commentary; a fresh take on improvised comedy, taking long form improv to new heights, by Fringe favourites

Adam Meggido (Showstopper!) is director of Mischief Theatre’s best known and Olivier nominated comedies such as Peter Pan Goes Wrong and Magic Goes Wrong and consultant on Mischief Movie Night and A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong (BBC). Ruth Bratt (Showstopper!) is in all three series of BAFTA-winning show People Just Do Nothing (BBC2). She is a regular guest with The Comedy Store Players, is part of The Glenda J Collective and guests with Whose Line Is It Anyway? Live and Paul Merton’s Impro Chums. Henry Shields (Mischief),co-wrote and has appeared in many Mischief Theatre shows including Olivier winning The Play That Goes Wrong and Olivier nominated The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, he also appeared on screen in The Goes Wrong Shows. Nell Mooney (Showstopper!), has appeared in Humana Festival of New Plays (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Diary of a Teenage Girl (Off Broadway); film credits include: Enchanted, Hyde Park on the Hudson; television includes: The Eichmann Show (BBC2). Dave Hearn (Mischief) is a founding member of Mischief Theatre. Recent credits include: The Play That Goes Wrong, The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, The Goes Wrong Shows (BBC1). Henry Lewis( Mischief) is artistic director of Mischief Theatre. Recent credits include: The Valiant Quest of Prince Ivandoe (Cartoon Network), Mischief Movie Night-In (format co-creator/producer-live stream). Outside of Mischief Henry produced and performed in the critically acclaimed West End revival of Philip Ridley’s Mercury Fur and is the creator and founder of The Mystery Agency. Charlotte Gittins (Austentatious) is an actor, documentary-make rand BAFTA Rocliffe-winning writer. A seasoned improviser she is half of critically acclaimed double act Folie à Deux, and one-third of Grand Theft Impro and three-woman impro troupes JCB and Anxiety Club

New musical Identical brings much-loved story to life on stage

Based on ‘The Parent Trap’, the show features three sets of identical twins (and two dogs!)

Friday 19 August to Saturday 3 September

Identical, a brand new musical based on the novel ‘The Parent Trap’ by Erich Kästner, is heading to The Lowry, Salford, next month.

The book inspired the hugely successful Disney films featuring Hayley Mills in 1961 and Lindsay Lohan in 1998, which have become much-loved classics for families around the world – and now the story has been turned into a stage musical directed by theatre legend Trevor Nunn.

Destined for the West End, Identical premieres at the Nottingham Playhouse later this month before playing at The Lowry from Friday 19^th August to Saturday 3^rd September.

Identical, directed by Olivier and Tony award-winning Trevor Nunn (Les Miserables, Starlight Express, Cats and Sunset Boulevard), tells the story of Lottie and Lisa, twin girls separated at birth, reunited by chance at a summer camp 10 years later. In an attempt to get to know their other parent, they decide to swap identities.

Three sets of identical twins, will share the central roles of Lottie and Lisa. Kyla and Nicole Fox, aged 12, from County Armagh, Northern Ireland, Emme and Eden Patrick, 12 from Waltham Abbey and Sienna and Savannah Robinson, 12 from Bromley, were cast following a five-year casting search and multiple auditions across the UK.

Joining them on stage will be Emily Tierney (Glinda in Wicked, Molly in Ghost), James Darch (Brad in The Rocky Horror Show, Sky in Mamma Mia!), Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson (Fastrada, Pippin), Louise Gold (Yente in Fiddler on the Roof, Mazeppa in Gypsy), Michael Smith-Stewart (The Lion King, Rent).

The ensemble features Rico Bakker (Hairspray), David Bardsley (Billy Elliot), Hannah Cauchi (Top Hat), Paige Fenlon (Pretty Woman), Rosie Glossop (Kinky Boots), Dominic Adam Griffin (Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella), Jordan Isaac (Mary Poppins), Rutendo Mushonga (The Lion King), Ellie Nunn (Honk!).

Playing the other children are Winter Jarrett Glasspool, Daisy Jeffcoate, Isabelle Larrey, Saffia Layla, Parrine Long, Helena Middleton, Kirsten Muzvuru and Poppy Pawson.

The show also introduces two new canine stars, Cairn Terrier Ness, and West Highland Terrier Louby, who will share the role of Pepi.

Identical has Music and Lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, (the multi award-winning writers of the Olivier award-winning National Theatre hit Honk!, who also created a new score for the international smash-hit Cameron Mackintosh/Disney production of Mary Poppins) with a Book by Stuart Paterson, whose drama Prisoner C33 about Oscar Wilde (Toby Stephens) in Reading Gaol, directed by Trevor Nunn, premiered earlier this month on BBC4.

Creative team: Director Trevor Nunn, Choreographer Matt Cole, Set Design Rob Jones, Costume Design Jonathan Lipman, Video Design Douglas O’Connell, Lighting Design Johanna Town, Sound Design Paul Gatehouse, Musical Supervisor Caroline Humphris, Musical Director Tamara Saringer, Orchestrator Tom Curran, Associate Director (with special responsibility for the children) Martha Geelan, Associate Choreographer Jane McMurtrie, Casting Director Anne Vosser, Children’s Casting and Administration Jo Hawes, Wig and Hair Designer Richard Mawbey, Production Manager Digby Robinson, General Management & Marketing Kenny Wax Ltd.

IDENTICAL is produced by Kenny Wax Ltd, Gavin Kalin, Playing Field (Theatre) Limited, Kevin McCollum and Stewart F. Lane  Bonnie Comley. It is co-produced with Nottingham Playhouse.

FIRST LOOK: BRAND NEW PRODUCTION SHOTS FOR BILLY ELLIOT

NOW PLAYING AT LEICESTER CURVE UNTIL 20 AUGUST

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL

A Made at Curve production directed by Nikolai Foster

The first new UK production of Billy Elliot the Musical is now open at Leicester’s Curve theatre. Directed by Nikolai Foster (A Chorus Line, Sunset Boulevard – At Home, West Side Story), the Made at Curve musical is now running until Saturday 20 August.

The titular role of Billy Elliot, the miner’s son with a passion for ballet, is performed by Leo Hollingsworth from Nottinghamshire, Alfie Napolitano from Northamptonshire, Samuel Newby from Hertfordshire and Jaden Shentall-Lee, whose family live in Leicestershire.

Billy’s dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson is played by West End and Broadway legend Sally Ann Triplett, whose iconic roles include Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (National Theatre and Theatre Royal Drury Lane) and Young Phyllis in Follies (Shaftesbury Theatre), as well as Martha in the recent Made at Curve UK tour of White Christmas.

Michael, Billy’s best friend, is performed by Bobby Donald, Lucas Haywood, Ethan Shimwell and Leicester’s Prem Masani, who makes his stage debut in the production.

All hailing from the East Midlands, Pearl Ball, Caitlin Cole, Lola Johnstone and Ellie Copping – who returns to Curve’s stage having previously appeared as Susan Waverly in the 2018 Made at Curve production of White Christmas – share the role of Debbie, Mrs. Wilkinson’s daughter.

Joe Caffrey, who previously performed in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical, joins the cast as Billy’s Dad Jackie, while Broadway and West End sensation Rachel Izen plays Billy’s Grandma Edna. Luke Baker (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, the Made at Curve UK tour of Grease) plays Billy’s older brother Tony and Jessica Daley (recently seen in Made at Curve productions of White Christmas and The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber) plays Billy’s Mam.

The adult company is completed by Craig Armstrong as George, Minal Patel as Big Davey, Cameron Johnson as Mr. Braithwaite, Micky Cochrane as Scab, Robin Paley Yorke as Lesley, Christopher Wright as Mr. Wilkinson, Michael Lin as Pit Supervisor, Jonathan Dryden Taylor as Posh Dad, William Atkinson as Older Billy and ensemble, and Steph Asamoah, Tori McDougall, Anna Rossa and Louie Wood as members of the ensemble.

The young company of ballet dancers and boxers, most of which are Midlands-based or have local family connections, features Willow Adamson, Maddie Seren Ashley, Oliver Back, Aneeka Kaur Bains, Ella-Rose Blackburn Price, Harvey Clarridge, Lily Corkill, Miley Dalton, Matisse Didier, Isabelle Francis, Ethan Galeotti, Rahul Gandabhai, Isla Granville, Uzziah Gray, Orlaith Rae Hunt, Ava Rose Johnson, Ava Mia Komisarczuk, Kyrelle Lammy, Lienna-Jean Langdon, Tahlia Maddox, Lorcan Murphy, Nesisa Mhindu, Sophia Pirie, Hayden Polanco, Gopal Thacker and Mirabelle Varakantam.

The Made at Curve production of Billy Elliot the Musical is choreographed by Lucy Hind, with Musical Supervisor and Musical Director George Dyer. The set is designed by Michael Taylor with costumes designed by Edd Lindley. Completing the creative team are Lighting Designer and Curve Associate Ben Cracknell, Sound Designer Adam Fisher, Props Supervisor Lizzie Frankl, Wigs, Hair and Make-Up Supervisor Helen Keane for Campbell Young Associates,RYTDS Resident Assistant Director Lilac Yosiphon, Birkbeck Trainee Director Thyrza Abrahams, Associate Choreographer James Berkery, Associate Sound Designer Oliver Durrant, Assistant Musical Director Josh Cottell, Assistant Choreographer Joanna Goodwin, Dialect Coach Elspeth Morrison, Fight Director Kev McCurdy and Head Chaperone Helen ‘H’ Mclaren-Frost.

Children’s casting is managed by Jo Hawes, with adult casting led by Curve Associate Kay Magson CDG.

Based on Stephen Daldry’s BAFTA-winning 2000 film starring Jamie Bell and Julie Walters, Billy Elliot the Musical features music from Elton John and book and lyrics by Lee Hall. The musical first premiered at London’s Victoria Palace Theatre in 2005 and went on to win a host of international awards, including four Olivier Awards and ten Tony Awards.

It’s the mid 80s. Thatcher is at her most powerful. Men mine and boys box. Until, in a small town in County Durham, a young boy falls in love with ballet.

Set amidst the increasingly bitter 1984/85 miners’ strike, Billy Elliot the Musical is a tale of determination, acceptance and daring to be different. In a close-knit community where family and tradition means everything, can Billy forge a new destiny and follow his passion?

Based on Stephen Daldry’s acclaimed 2000 film, with music by Elton John and book and lyrics by Lee Hall, this electrifying musical features incredible songs such as Solidarity, The Letter, He Could Be a Star and the show-stopping Electricity.

THE TIME TRAVELLER’S WIFE: THE MUSICAL

TO HOLD AUDITIONS FOR THE ROLE OF

YOUNG CLARE

ON MONDAY 25 JULY AT 12NOON

AHEAD OF PREMIERE AT STORYHOUSE, CHESTER

FROM 30 SEPTEMBER 2022 FOR TWO-WEEK SEASON

AHEAD OF WEST END TRANSFER

The Time Traveller’s Wife: The Musical, a new musical premiering at Storyhouse in Chester from 30 September to 15 October 2022, is holding auditions to find three local children to play the role of Young Clare on Monday 25 July at 12noon. The auditions will take place at Storyhouse with the aim of giving local children the opportunity to star in a major new musical. Director Bill Buckhurst has requested that applicants send in a video of themselves singing a verse and a chorus of a pop song they enjoy singing and a short poem or monologue, and to provide some background information on why they want to play the role and what (if any) performance experience they have. Applicants should send their tapes to [email protected] by Thursday 21 July.

The Time Traveller’s Wife: The Musical is based on the best-selling novel by Audrey Niffenegger and the New Line Cinema film screenplay by Bruce Joel Rubin. The two-week season at Storyhouse will precede a West End transfer, to be announced at a later date. 

The Time Traveller’s Wife: The Musical weaves a heart-breaking and soaring original musical score by multi Grammy Award-winning composers Joss Stone and Dave Stewart with one of the most beloved novels of the last 50 years. All couples ask how to truly know one another, to trust, to commit, to build a family, to work at something bigger than ourselves.  Not all of us are time travellers.  How do you love across time?

Director Bill Buckhurst said “The Time Traveller’s Wife centres around a time-travelling librarian, Henry DeTamble and Clare Abshire, a paper artist. They meet on one of Henry’s time-travelling episodes and later in the story they get married. During the show there are a few scenes where we meet Clare as a ten-year-old and we’re looking for a young, talented actor to play this role. The same actor would also play the role of Alba, who is the daughter of Henry and Clare (also 10 years old). We’re looking to meet actors between the ages of 11 and 16 for this role. They must have some acting experience, be confident singers and to be able to do a credible standard American accent.”

With a book by Lauren Gunderson, original music and lyrics by Joss Stone and Dave Stewart and additional lyrics by Kait Kerrigan, the production will be directed by Bill Buckhurst and designed by Anna Fleischle, with choreography by Shelley Maxwell, lighting design by Lucy Carter, illusions by Chris Fisher, video design by Andrzej Goulding, sound design by Richard Brooker, musical supervision & arrangement by Nick Finlow and orchestrations by Bryan Crook.  Casting will be by Grindrod Burton Casting.  It will be produced by Colin Ingram for InTheatre Productions, Gavin Kalin Productions, Teresa Tsai and Crossroads Live, by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures.

For further information, visit timetravellerswife.com.

Full first season announced for new
Marylebone Theatre
September 2022 – January 2023

The full first season has been announced for Marylebone Theatre, London’s most exciting new venue. The theatre recently announced its launch production Dmitry, a thrilling production by Peter Oswald, directed by the acclaimed Tim Supple in his return to London theatre. Now, the rest of this new theatre’s full first season has been announced, with a rich programme of music and spoken word events, including concerts by Stile Antico, Jess Gillam, and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, a festive whodunnit straight from off-Broadway and a T.S. Eliot poetry reading by the acclaimed Ben Okri.

Curated by Robin Tyson (King’s Singers), five outstanding concerts by some of the most celebrated performers in the UK will open Marylebone Theatre’s music programming this December. Stile Antico, one of the world’s finest vocal ensembles, will perform a unique and beautiful sequence of music and readings inspired by the Nativity story. Music by Renaissance composers Thomas Tallis, Michael Praetorius and John Sheppard are interspersed with poetry by John Donne and George Herbert.

The National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO), the UK’s finest young professional jazz group, takes to the stage for an exciting celebration of the life and work of jazz icon Dizzy Gillespie, directed by Mark Armstrong

The award-winning saxophonist and radio presenter Jess Gillam performs an animated programme with Zeynep Özsuca, featuring diverse music by Francis Poulenc, Meredith Month, Luke Howard, Barbara Thompson, Astor Piazzolla and others.

The internationally acclaimed Carducci Quartet bring their multi award-winning virtuosity to Marylebone Theatre with a powerful programme including Haydn’s Quartet Op. 33/2 ‘The Joke’, Rebecca Clarke’s Poem, Beethoven’s Quartet Op. 59/2 and festive Christmas music.

Ensemble Pro Victoria, a young vocal ensemble specialising in sacred music, will sing well-loved traditional Christmas Carols in Marylebone Theatre’s partner church next door, St Cyprian’s Clarence Gate. Directed by Toby Ward, the programme features well-loved traditional carols from the 15th century to the present day, including Benjamin Britten’s stunning Ceremony of Carols with harpist Cecily Beer.

This Christmas, DEM Productions and Fat Goose Productions bring Mark Shanahan’s A Sherlock Carol to the Marylebone stage. Just around the corner from 221B Baker Street, Marylebone Theatre is the perfect venue for this New York Times Critic’s Pick, which will delight and mystify audiences following a successful off-Broadway run. Many years after Ebenezer Scrooge has let Christmas into his heart, he has suffered a mysterious and peculiar death, leading the distraught and not-so-Tiny Tim to seek the help of the great detective Sherlock Holmes. Using his powers of deduction, Holmes must overcome his own ghosts on Christmas Eve to solve the murder of Ebenezer Scrooge.

Launching Marylebone Theatre’s spoken word programme is a stirring solo rendition of T.S.
Eliot’s The Waste Land, performed by Booker Prize-winning poet Ben Okri (The Famished Road) and directed by Geraldine Alexander. The performance, marking the 100th anniversary of the acclaimed modernist poem, will be accompanied by a live music score and dance. Ben Okri says, I have always loved The Waste Land. It is a poem that continually speaks to us of the loss of meaning and the fragmentation of our times. It is, in many ways a war poem, and it manages to offer some vision back to sanity. In these times when so much is collapsing around us, in these times of war and doubt, when we need true values to ‘shore against our ruins’, this is just the poetic medicine we need, one that speaks the truths we need to hear.

The Artistic Director of Marylebone Theatre, Alexander J. Gifford, says, I am delighted by the scope and beauty of our opening season. To be hosting artists of the calibre of Ben Okri and Stilo Antico is a joy and an honour. Our in-house production, Dmitry, promises to be both urgently meaningful and powerfully moving. To follow it with a delightful Christmas piece fresh from off-Broadway shows, I hope, the range and seriousness of our ambition.

BOOKING EXTENDS UNTIL 7 JANUARY 2023

WITH 30,000 TICKETS RELEASED

CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE ALSO ANNOUNCED

FOR THE

MULTI AWARD-WINNING AND CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED PRODUCTION OF

CABARET

AT THE KIT KAT CLUB

The multi award-winning and critically acclaimed production of CABARET at the KIT KAT CLUB in London’s West End has now extended booking until 7 January 2023 with 30,000 tickets released. The Christmas performance schedule is also announced with details below. Casting from 4 October 2022 to be announced soon. kitkat.club

Monday 19 December 2022 at 7.30pm

Tuesday 20 December 2022 at 7.30pm

Wednesday 21 December 2022 at 2.00pm and 7.30pm

Thursday 22 December 2022 at 2.00pm and 7.30pm

Friday 23 December 2022 at 7.30pm

Saturday 24 December 2022 – No Performance

Sunday 25 December 2022 – No Performance

Monday 26 December 2022 – No Performance

Tuesday 27 December 2022 at 2.00pm and 7.30pm

Wednesday 28 December 2022 at 2.00pm and 7.30pm

Thursday 29 December 2022 at 7.30pm

Friday 30 December 2022 at 2.00pm and 7.30pm

Saturday 31 December 2022 at 2.00pm and 7.30pm

Sunday 1 January 2023 – No Performance

CABARET at the KIT KAT CLUB currently stars Fra Fee as ‘The Emcee’, Amy Lennox as ‘Sally Bowles’, Omar Baroud as ‘Cliff Bradshaw’, Vivien Parry as ‘Fraulein Schneider’, Richard Katz as ‘Herr Schultz’, Stewart Clarke as ‘Ernst Ludwig’ and Anna-Jane Casey as ‘Fraulein Kost’. The cast is completed by Josh Andrews, Gabriela Benedetti, Emily Benjamin, Sally Frith, Matthew Gent, Emma Louise Jones, Ela Lisondra, Theo Maddix, Chris O’Mara, Daniel Perry, Andre Refig, Adam Taylor, Christopher Tendai, B Terry, Lillie-Pearl Wildman and Sophie Maria Wojna.

The Prologue Company is Rachel Benson, Laura Braid, Asmara Cammock, Julian Capolei, Celine Fortenbacher, Reuben Greeph, Samantha Ho, Andrew Linnie, Carys McQueen, Hicaro Nicolai, Kate Robson-Stuart and Sally Swanson. 

This unique production of CABARET opened in December last year to critical and audience acclaim, widely praised as the ultimate theatrical experience. In April this year, the production won a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards, the most for any musical revival in Olivier history, as well as three prestigious Critics Circle Awards.

In a time when the world is changing forever, there is one place where everyone can be free… Welcome to the Kit Kat Club, home to an intimate and electrifying new production of CABARET. This is Berlin. Relax. Loosen up. Be yourself. 

Transforming one of London’s most famous theatres with an in-the-round auditorium and reimagined spaces, before the show guests are invited to enjoy and explore the Kit Kat Club with pre-show entertainment, drinks and dining all on offer. When booking, guests receive a ‘club entry time’ to allow enough time to take in the world of the Kit Kat Club before the show starts. But of course, the show really starts when you first join us in the club…

One of the most successful musicals of all time CABARET features the songs Wilkommen, Don’t Tell Mama, Mein Herr, Maybe This Time, Money and the title number. It has music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Joe Masteroff. Based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood.

CABARET is directed by Rebecca Frecknall, set and costume design is by Tom Scutt with choreography by Julia Cheng. Musical supervision and direction is by Jennifer Whyte with lighting design by Isabella Byrd and sound design by Nick Lidster. The casting director is Stuart Burt and the associate director is Jordan Fein.

CABARET at the KIT KAT CLUB is produced by Ambassador Theatre Group Productions and Underbelly.

CASTING ANNOUNCED

JAY MCGUINESS,

LORNA LUFT, MICHAEL STARKE

DAN BURTON, JESSICA DALEY

AND MONIQUE YOUNG

TO STAR IN

UK TOUR OF

IRVING BERLIN’S

WHITE CHRISTMAS

THE MUSICAL

Jamie Wilson, Mark Goucher, Gavin Kalin and Kevin McCollum are thrilled to announce the principal casting for Made at Curve’s production of Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS touring the UK this winter. The production will star Jay McGuiness as Bob Wallace, Lorna Luft as Martha Watson, Michael Starke as General Waverly and Dan Burton, Jessica Daley and Monique Young returning in their roles as Phil Davis, Betty Haynes and Judy Haynes respectively.

WHITE CHRISTMAS opens at the Truro Hall for Cornwall (12 – 19 November) before visiting the Nottingham Theatre Royal (22 – 26 November), Sunderland Empire (28 November – 3 December) and Liverpool Empire (6 – 31 December). Full casting for the tour will be announced in due course.

Jay McGuiness’ theatre credits include Josh Baskin in Big The Musical at the Dominion Theatre and Rip It Up at the Garrick Theatre, both in London’s West End. He also starred as Sam in new musical Sleepless – A Musical Romance at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre. Jay is best known as a member of boyband The Wanted, as well as winning BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2015.

Hailing from theatrical royalty, Lorna Luft is an iconic star of stage and screen. Her credits include the role of Fran Kubelik in the original Broadway production of Promises, Promises, and the original Off-Broadway production of Snoopy! as Peppermint Patty. Lorna previously played the role of Martha Watson in the 2016 US tour of White Christmas. Her film credits include Grease 2, Where The Boys Are, 54 and My Giant.

Michael Starke most recently appeared in the UK and Ireland tour of Waitress as Old Joe. Further theatre credits include the role of Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, Monsignor Howard in Sister Act, and the Narrator in The Rocky Horror Show, all part of national tours. Michael is best known for his role as Thomas ‘Sinbad’ Sweeney in Channel 4’s Brookside, which he played for 16 years.

Dan Burton reprises his role as Phil Davis, a part he played in this production of White Christmas on tour, at the Dominion Theatre in London’s West End and at Curve, Leicester. He was nominated for an Olivier Award for his performance as Tulsa in Gypsy at the Savoy Theatre and his other West End credits include Jersey Boys, The Pajama Game, Chicago, Legally Blonde, Betty Blue Eyes and Guys and Dolls at the Royal Albert Hall.

Jessica Daley returns to the role of Betty Haynes, having previously toured with this production of White Christmas. Her additional theatre credits include the UK and Ireland tours of An Officer and a Gentleman and The Sound of Music, the international tours of Evita, Les Misérables and Grease The Musical and Mamma Mia! in the West End.

Monique Young reprises her role as Judy Haynes, a part she initially played in this production of White Christmas at Curve, Leicester. Most recently Monique appeared as Louise in the Buxton Opera House revival of Gypsy: A Musical Fable. Her further theatre credits include cover Winifred Banks and the title role in Mary Poppins in the West End, Penny Pingleton in the UK tour of Hairspray, alternate Dale in the UK tour of Top Hat, and Peggy Sawyer in 42^nd Street and Kathy Seldon in Singin’ In The Rain both at the Theatre Du Chatelet.

A romantic comedy to warm hearts of all ages, WHITE CHRISTMAS features the beloved songs “Blue Skies”, “Sisters”, “I Love A Piano”, “Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)” and the most famous festive song of all… “White Christmas”.

WHITE CHRISTMAS has Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin and a Book by David Ives and Paul Blake. It is based on the original production by Curve Artistic Director Nikolai Foster (Annie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s). It is directed by Ian Talbot OBE (High Society, Anything Goes) and choreographed by two-time Olivier Award-winning choreographer Stephen Mear CBE (Mary Poppins, Gypsy). Set Design is by Michael Taylor and Costume Design is by Diego Pitarch. Musical Supervision is by Stephen Brooker, Lighting Design by Mark Henderson and Sound Design by Tom Marshall. Orchestrations are by Larry Blank with New Musical arrangements by Jason Carr.

Presented by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of R&H Theatricals.

WHITE CHRISTMAS is produced by Jamie Wilson, Mark Goucher, Gavin Kalin and Kevin McCollum with Hunter Arnold, Jason Haigh-Ellery, Laurence Myers, InTheatre, Curve and Carlos Candal.

York Theatre Royal – until Saturday 23rd July 2022

Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

4****

York Stage theatre company are once again playing at York Theatre Royal with their latest show, Little Shop of Horrors. This 1980’s horror comedy musical, started off on stage before being adapted to film and becoming a cult classic.

It tells the story of Seymour (Mikhail Lim), a nerdy orphan who works for Mr Mushnik (James Robert Ball) in a waning florist in Skid Row, along with the woman of his dreams, Audrey (Lauren Sheriston). Unfortunately, she is in an abusive relationship with the psychopathic Orin (Darren Lee Lumby), a dentist who loves inflicting pain, both in his private and work life.

Seymour loves tinkering with plants out the back and can’t resist anything unusual. On discovering a new, what turns out to be an alien plant, which he calls Audrey II, his fortune drastically changes along with those around him, but at what price?

Audrey II just isn’t flourishing and nothing poor Seymour does makes any difference until one night he cuts his finger, and the plant comes to life, it has a taste for human blood and a veracious appetite you see. What starts off as a bit of bloodletting by Seymour, soon escalates into Audrey II wanting more and more. How far will Seymour go to satisfy her carnivorous needs?

York Stage truly has a huge wealth of talent and this production showcases this. From the very start with the vocals of Crystal, Chiffon and Ronnette (Hannah Shaw, Lucy Churchill, and Cyanne Unamba-Oparah), you just knew this was going to be a quality production.

Lim has such an innocence to him as Seymour, soon losing that as he is corrupted by Audrey II, but even then, you can’t stop being charmed by him. Audrey II, in all her puppet guises is just phenomenal, a sight to behold, well worth the price of a ticket alone. Talking about the plant, I must mention Emily Ramsden who plays her when she first gets her voice. Her vocals are powerful and bring such a depth to Audrey II and the production, and of course “FEED ME SEYMOUR!”. Shersiton as Audrey reminds me of a Marilyn Monroe character, seemingly a loose woman, but is just vulnerable, accepting the unacceptable and just wanting to be loved, whatever the consequences. Lumby as Orin is truly sleazy and thoroughly horrid, in his skin-tight trousers, you can’t help but be repulsed by him, in a good way. The whole talented cast give their all and are a credit to the theatre company.

Accompanied by a live band, which is always a bonus, but I did find a bit too loud at times, the music and choreography were magnificent and cemented the whole package.

This vibrant production, directed and produced by Nik Briggs, is bold, energetic, and very funny. It’s a great kooky night out and should not be missed. Another hit for the fabulous York Stage Theatre Company.

On another note, I ordered some lucky dip shoes online and received them on the day I went to see the show. They just so happened to be based on Little Shop of Horrors, so of course I wore them. How freaky and lucky is that?

Forum Theatre, Malvern – 15th July 2022

Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau

4.5****

The Monkees Tale is the brainchild of Producer John Hylton from Treble Clef Productions. It is a presentation of the Monkees rise, demise and rise again but told in a deliberately different way with the band’s story narrated by Jimmy Rafelson, “nephew” of Bob Rafelson – one of the Monkees original producers. Jimmy is very entertaining, regaling us with all the germane facts liberally laced with humour and audience participation. Basically it’s a Jimmy segment followed by 3 songs from the band and repeat till the end.

The band were simply fantastic and it was great to hear these classic songs played by, essentially, a classic band lineup.

Matty Murphy (playing Davy Jones) comes from an acting background and it shows as he was able to whip up the crowd and convincingly project Davy’s vaudeville routine – the wiggly legs, backward skating and blazer and boater routine which was always a part of the Monkees (see their Johnny Cash Show appearance). His vocals were strong and he was a real presence on stage, growing in stature as the evening went on.

It was a tad odd to see the bass and guitar roles reversed with Joshua Wade-Scriven (playing Peter Tork, but on the guitar) and Sam Brown (playing Michael Nesmith, but on bass). I tried hard to ignore this but couldn’t quite get past it, jarring my senses every so often – imagine seeing a Beatles band where Paul is playing guitar and George is on bass. To be fair they were both superb musicians and it was a visual aberration only – musically both were spot on. Jody Page (playing Micky Dolenz) was amazing on drums, giving us a powerhouse performance. The band is rounded out by Adam Bridges on keyboards providing all the other parts so that the hits sounded just as we fondly remember them.

The show is kind of like seeing the band in their early days but playing a small gig. I would have liked to have heard more from the band – I understand this was deliberate but perhaps a recreation of the original band’s onstage banter would have been welcome.

At heart this is a celebration of the music and what a songbook it is. The big guns were all present and correct: “Last Train To Clarkesville”, “Daydream Believer” and “I’m A Believer” but it was “Pleasant Valley Sunday” and “(I’m Not Your) Stepping Stone” which brought the house down!

It is not often that people are up on their feet and even less often when people are dancing in the aisles. Tonight there were people dancing down the front, all adding to the fantastic atmosphere of this marvellous show!

I’ve no doubt this show could develop into a classic and improve, going from strength to strength but even as it stands it provided a very pleasant Malvern Friday. I have no hesitation in wholeheartedly recommending this show. Kicks may keep getting harder to find but as Jimmy Rafelson would say “you’ll sure get a kick outta tonight’s show man!”.