FOLLOWING A TRIUMPHANT SEASON ON BROADWAY AND
 FIVE 2022 TONY AWARDS®,
THE LEHMAN TRILOGY
DIRECTED BY SAM MENDES
RETURNS TO LONDON’S WEST END IN JANUARY 2023
 AT THE GILLIAN LYNNE THEATRE

Producers the National Theatre and Neal Street Productions announced today that the London return of the critically acclaimed, highly lauded, five-time Tony Award® winning epic THE LEHMAN TRILOGY will play for a limited 17-week season at the Gillian Lynne Theatre from 24 January 2023, with an opening night set for 8 February.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Thursday 21 July 2022 at 12 noon at TheLehmanTrilogy.com.10,000 tickets across the run will be available for £20.

American Express® Cardmembers have access to exclusive presale tickets beginning Tuesday 19 July at 10am at nationaltheatre.org.uk.

On a cold September morning in 1844, a young man from Bavaria stands on a New York dockside dreaming of a new life in the new world. He is joined by his two brothers, and an American epic begins. 163 years later, the firm they establish – Lehman Brothers – spectacularly collapses into bankruptcy, triggering the largest financial crisis in history. Weaving together nearly two centuries of family history, this New York Times Critics’ pick charts the humble beginnings, outrageous successes, and devastating failure of the financial institution that would ultimately bring the global economy to its knees.

The 2022 Tony Award® winning Best Play is written by Stefano Massini and adapted by Ben Power. Directed by multi-Academy Award®, Tony Award® and Golden Globe winner Sam Mendes, The Lehman Trilogy features a cast of three playing the Lehman brothers, their sons, and grandsons, in an extraordinary feat of storytelling told in three parts on a single evening. The decades unfold within the cinematic sweep of designer Es Devlin‘s Tony Award ® winning set. Casting to be announced.

The Lehman Trilogy was the most awarded play this season on Broadway, where alongside Best Play, Best Director and Best Set Design, it also picked up Best Lighting Design and Best Actor. It was also awarded this season’s Drama League Award for Best Play and six Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Best Play.

First commissioned by Neal Street Productions and developed and co-produced with the National Theatre at the Lyttelton theatre in 2018, followed by an acclaimed sold-out run at the Park Avenue Armory in the Spring of 2019, The Lehman Trilogy returned to London for a 16-week sold-out run at the Piccadilly Theatre in the West End from May to August 2019. Following Broadway’s 18-month shutdown, The Lehman Trilogy was the first British play to return to Broadway — where it had previously played four performances in March 2020 — for a much-lauded limited engagement at the Nederlander Theatre from September 2021 – January 2022. A Los Angeles transfer to Center Theatre Group’s Ahmanson Theatre followed from March – April 2022.

Prior to this, the world premiere of Stefano Massini’s The Lehman Trilogy opened at the Piccolo Teatro in Milan in 2015. It turned out to be Artistic Director Luca Ronconi’s final production before his death. A long-term admirer of Ronconi’s, Sam Mendes was inspired to begin planning an English adaptation for Neal Street Productions. Ben Power was commissioned by Neal Street Productions to create a new version of this epic play, using a literal English translation by Mirella Cheeseman.

Costume design is by Katrina Lindsay, video design by Luke Halls, and lighting design by Jon Clark. The Composer & Sound Designer is Nick Powell, the Co-Sound Designer is Dominic Bilkey, with music direction by Candida Caldicot, and movement by Polly Bennett. The West End Director is Zoé Ford Burnett. Casting is by Jessica Ronane CDG CSA.

The Lehman Trilogy in the West End is supported by American Express, the National Theatre’s Preferred Card Partner.

A Frantic Assembly Production, co-produced with Curve
Originally a Frantic Assembly and Theatre Royal Plymouth collaboration, in association with Royal & Derngate Northampton and developed at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, London.

Shakespeare’s
OTHELLO

• CASTING AND FULL CREATIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR FRANTIC ASSEMBLY’S ACCLAIMED ADAPTATION OF OTHELLO.
• FIVE OF THE NEW COMPANY ARE PAST ALUMNI OF IGNITION, FRANTIC ASSEMBLY’S FREE, NATIONWIDE TALENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
• OTHELLO WILL TOUR FROM AUTUMN ONWARDS, OPENING AT CURVE THEATRE LEICESTER ON 19 SEPTEMBER 2022.

Frantic Assembly is delighted to announce casting for its acclaimed production of Shakespeare’s Othello which will tour from this autumn, opening at Curve Theatre Leicester on 19 September. A new video about the production featuring Frantic Assembly Artistic Director and Co-Founder Scott Graham is also released today alongside a trailer (featuring previous cast). Both are available to download here.

Michael Akinsulire (Trigger Point, Stephen, both ITV) will play Othello, Joe Layton (The Unreturning, Frantic Assembly; Young Wallander, Netflix) will play Iago, Chanel Waddock (Rock, Paper, Scissors, Sheffield Crucible; Hamlet, National Theatre) will play Desdemona, Oliver Baines (I Like The Way You Move , Frantic Ignition 2019, Theatre Peckham) will play Montano, Tom Gill (Vigil, BBC; Britannia, Sky) will play Cassio, Felipe Pacheco (Brassic, Sky; The Responder, BBC) will play Roderigo, Hannah Sinclair Robinson (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, UK and Ireland Tour; Rockets, Blue Lights, both National Theatre) will play Bianca, Kirsty Stuart (I Think We Are Alone, Frantic Assembly; Call the Midwife, BBC) will play Emilia, and Matthew Trevannion (War Horse, National Theatre; The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, West End) will play Brabantio.

Five members of the Othello cast and creative team are past graduates of Frantic Assembly’s Ignition programme including Associate Director David Gilbert, Co-Choreographer Perry Johnson, Joe Layton (Iago), Oliver Baines (Montano) and Felipe Pacheco (Roderigo), proving that Frantic Assembly is at the forefront of finding, developing, and providing opportunity for new talent from all over the UK.

Ignition is a free, nationwide talent development programme for young people aged 16-24. It seeks out underrepresented talent in unexpected places, playing a vital role in dismantling barriers that can prevent fresh perspectives from revitalising the Arts. Ignition continues to transform lives, open doors and allows young people to reach beyond what they thought they were capable of.

Frantic Assembly Co-Founder and Artistic Director Scott Graham said: “It is wonderful to be able to take our work back out on tour, to connect and demonstrate the talent of this brilliant cast within a story that feels as urgent and thrilling as ever”.

Blisteringly relevant today, Othello exposes the tension, fear and insecurity buried beneath the veneer of our relationships and how easily that can be maliciously exploited. Lies and truths are blurred to create a poison paranoia that eats away from the inside, manipulating and destroying, turning a community upon itself.

Frantic Assembly takes Shakespeare’s muscular and beautiful text, combines its own bruising physicality, and presents an Othello firmly rooted in a volatile 21st century. This is a world of broken glass and broken promises, of poisonous manipulation and explosive violence. Othello’s passionate affair with Desdemona becomes the catalyst for jealousy, betrayal, revenge and the darkest intents.

Originally presented to great acclaim in 2008 and 2014, this updated version in co-production with Curve Theatre Leicester, will tour to Curve Leicester, Liverpool Playhouse, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Theatre Royal York, Yvonne Arnaud Guildford, Oxford Playhouse, The Lowry Salford Quays, MAST Mayflower Studios Southampton, Connaught Theatre, Worthing and the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre London.

Frantic Assembly’s other current and upcoming work includes Frantic Assembly STUDIO, an innovative new digital resource platform for teaching drama in secondary schools launching in September and a thrilling new take on Kafka’s Metamorphosis to premiere and tour in 2023.

Press Night for Othello will be Wednesday 21 September at Curve, Leicester.

Nottingham Theatre Royal – until Saturday 16 July 2022

Reviewed by Louise Ford

3***

Are critics human?

It’s a bit tricky reviewing a play that has as its central theme the damage inflicted on both authors and actors by heartless critics. So here’s a gentle review!

Tonight was the first performance in the three week Classic Thriller season for 2022. The season is made up of three different plays, this evening it was “a cunning thriller” written  by Tudor Gates.

The scene is set with hits from the 70s, the year is 1978. The curtains open on a sparsely furnished flat. With mismatched furniture, offensive curtains and pride of place a tape recorder on the impressive desk. All the action takes place in the flat ,allowing the claustrophobic atmosphere to develop.

It’s an orchestrated meeting of two mis-matched men, one John Smith/Terry (played by John Goodrum) the other Arthur/Agatha/Agi Christie (played by David Gilbrook). One is a theatre critic with a past the other is an actor/writer without a future. One dressed in white shirt and beige trousers the other in a suit with a raincoat,floppy hat and an umbrella.

There are false pretences, recordings, nods and winks to the audience, plot twists and humour, dramatic and literary references all over the place, high camp and blood soaked shirts.

It is very wordy and although both actors delivered their lines impeccably the pace didn’t feel quite right. In someways the story lends itself to a radio play rather than the stage. As there isn’t a detective or sleuth involved in the play the audience have to work their way through the plot which heats up in the second act.

Just to reassure you that Agatha Christie the Queen of Crime doesn’t appear in the play, although she is heavily referenced. As are other films and plays that centre on the perfect crime!

SEATPLAN LAUNCHES GOLDEN VOUCHERS GIVEAWAY TO CELEBRATE 100,000 SEAT VIEW PHOTOS

SeatPlan today announces a giveaway of theatre vouchers to celebrate 100,000 seat view photos uploaded by audience members as part of their interactive ticket booking system. To celebrate this milestone, SeatPlan is launching a giveaway to reward five followers with £100 of theatre vouchers each, totaling a £500 theatre voucher giveaway. Social media followers will be encouraged to share the unique Golden Vouchers graphic to enter, with five West End stars announcing the winners on SeatPlan’s Instagram on 31 July, hourly from midday.

SeatPlan launched in 2011 to help theatregoers book the best seats for each venue, with interactive seating plans for every West End venue, alongside many other London, UK and New York theatres. The booking experience allows users to select their tickets whilst viewing thousands of user-uploaded images and reviews about those seats. Users are rewarded with theatre vouchers in exchange for seat reviews.

SeatPlan CEO, Ben Jackson, today says: “Wow! 100,000 photos have been a long time in the making! The SeatPlan team is grateful for every single photo that our community uploads and for helping other theatregoers book the best seat for their budget. With every photo we edge closer to our mission of a photo from every seat and ensuring that every theatregoer has the best experience when taking in the spectacle of live theatre”. 

For more information, please visit https://seatplan.com/

Hope Mill Theatre’s production of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella the Musical reveals Grace Mouat in title role

Tuesday 1^st November – Sunday 11^th December 2022

Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester is to stage the UK theatrical premiere of the Broadway musical version of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, with SIX, & Juliet and Legally Blonde star Grace Mouat taking on the lead role of Ella.

Leading the creative team for this new production are venue founders Joseph Houston and William Whelton, with Houston directing and Whelton co-directing and choreographing.

Further Casting to be announced.

Grace Mouat said: “I genuinely cannot explain how excited I am to be playing Cinderella. It has been a dream of mine to be part of a Rodgers & Hammerstein musical and obviously the film is ICONIC! I cannot wait to meet the incredible company and get started on this new version in Manchester. ‘Impossible things are happening every day!’ Pinch me!”

Completing the creative team is Musical Supervisor Leo Munby, Musical Director Audra Cramer, featuring New Musical Arrangements by Jason Carr, Set and Costume Designer Elly Wdowski, Assistant Designer Alfie Heywood, Projection Designer George Reeve, Lighting Designer Aaron J Dootson, Sound Designer Adam Fisher, Associate Choreographer Charise Renouf, Wig Designer Richard Mawbey, Assistant Costume Designer Eve Salter, Sound No 1. Josh Evans, Casting by Jane Deitch and Artwork by Steph Pyne. Images by Michael Wharley and Video by Umbrella Rooms.

The smart and beautiful young Ella lives in the care of her wicked, self-absorbed stepmother Madame and her two stepsisters Charlotte and Gabrielle. In another part of the kingdom, Prince Topher is trying to find himself and learn his place in the world. When his scheming advisor Sebastian suggests throwing a ball so the Prince can meet potential brides, Ella and Topher’s different worlds come together. Expect the unexpected in this clever retelling of the beloved fairy tale.

Cinderella is the only musical written for the television by legendary duo Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II (South Pacific, Carousel, The Sound of Music). Originally broadcast live in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, the broadcast was watched by more than 100 million people, before subsequently being remade for TV again in 1965 and 1997 (starring Whitney Houston and Brandy).

A new Broadway version with a Tony-nominated book by Douglas Carter Beane premiered in 2013 featuring several fresh characters and songs. This will be the first time a fully staged version of the show has been performed in the UK (following a 2019 one-night concert version in London).

The musical’s previously postponed 2020 run will be staged this Autumn at Hope Mill Theatre, from  Tuesday 1^st November until Sunday 11^th December.

Bill Gaden, President of Concord Theatricals, said: “We’re delighted that Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella will make its UK theatrical premiere at the Hope Mill Theatre. The modern Broadway adaptation of the classic musical features new characters, a hilarious libretto, surprising twists, and an unforgettable score from Rodgers & Hammerstein. Originally presented on television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews to a viewership of 107 million, the largest in history at the time, the title has been charming audiences ever since. We look forward to Manchester theatregoers experiencing the updated incarnation today.”

LISTINGS

Hope Mill Theatre’s production of

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Hope Mill Theatre, Pollard Street, Manchester

Tuesday 1^st November until Sunday 11^th December

To book visit: www.hopemilltheatre.co.uk

Production Credits:

Directed by Joseph Houston 

Co-Director & Choreographer William Whelton 

Produced by Hope Mill Theatre 

Casting by Jane Deitch

Musical Supervisor Leo Munby

Musical Director Audra Cramer 

New Arrangements by Jason Carr

Set and Costume Designer Ellie Wdowski 

Assistant Designer Alfie Heywood

Wig Design by Richard Mawbey

Lighting design by Aaron J Dootson 

Projection Designer George Reeve

Sound Designer Adam Fisher

Associate Choreographer Charise Renouf

Assistant Costume Designer Eve Salter

Artwork Steph Pyne 

Photography Michael Wharley

Video by The Umbrella Rooms

Music by Richard Rodgers

Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

New Book by Douglas Carter Beane      

Original Book by Oscar Hammerstein II    

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

Musical Theatre Giants

from around the world come together to support emerging talent – for one night only!

REGENERATE: Lost Songs from the Musicals

Elton John & Tim Rice – Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss – Masi Arare –

Claude-Michel Schönberg & Alain Boublil – Adam Guettel –

Stephen Schwartz – Maury Yeston – Douglas Hodge – Stiles + Drewe – Irene Sankoff & David Hein – Don Black & Debbie Wiseman –

more to be announced!

A unique night for musical theatre REGENERATE: Lost Songs from the Musicals is a Livestreamed Online Gala Fundraiser in support of charity Mercury Musical Developments (MMD) in partnership with Musical Theatre Network (MTN), to take place on Sunday 18^th September 2022 at 7.00pm GMT(1900hrs.)

Titans of musical theatre have been retrieving their favourite songs cut from classic shows and rummaging through their bottom drawers, selecting and repurposing beloved melodies and lyrics to premiere an incredible array of never-before-heard songs, regenerated for one night only!

REGENERATE  Livestreamed Gala Fundraiser will be free for everyone to join and watch – with the audience donating as they watch via text, phone or online. Everyone who donates will be entered into a prize draw to win tickets to Six in the West End or on Broadway. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go to support new writing talent to present their work at BEAM 2023; removing financial barriers for creatives to share their work at the UK’s biggest showcase of new musical theatre.

The songs will be performed by a glittering array of talent (to be announced September.)

“We are delighted to bring these great songs to life at REGENERATE, in aid of the next generation of musical theatre writers, at the start of MMD’s 30^th Anniversary celebrations. The generosity of the contributing writers, performers and audience members will go a long way to ensure that new talent can be properly supported at BEAM2023, where we will showcase a selection of the most exciting new musicals being created in the UK.” – Natalia Scorer, Mercury Musical Developments

“This is a brilliant example of acclaimed musical theatre writers ‘paying it forward’, sharing some songs that could otherwise have been lost to us, to help improve the chances of tomorrow’s musical theatre breakthrough writing talents being discovered sooner. We’re always in awe of the talent that emerges through BEAM – these freelance artists are so very deserving of our support; they’re the future of the art form in the UK.”  – James Hadley, Musical Theatre Network

With 15 unheard songs, REGENERATE is devised by Producer Neil Marcus who says: “I have been overwhelmed by the generosity and passion of the composers and lyricists who are gifting work to support the next generation of writing talent. We are now reaching out to an incredible group of artists and musicians who will be introducing these songs to the world. We will soon be announcing the line-up and more songs showcasing new writers breaking through.’’

Unsung songs and world premieres during the evening include: 

• The world premiere of Oscar winner Don Black and Debbie Wiseman OBE’s It’s Still Me In Here from their brand new musical Feather Boy sung byAnita Dobson. Don Black is one of the UK’s most prolific lyricists (from musicals Billy, Aspects of Love to Sunset Boulevard, and songs including Diamonds Are Forever, Born Free and  Michael Jackson’s Ben.) Don is working with composer Debbie Wiseman whose extraordinarily beautiful music has been the soundtracks for many films including: Wilde, Tom’s Midnight Garden and television series including Joanna Lumley’s Nile and Wolf Hall. Wiseman was the official composer and musical director of the Platinum Jubilee Celebration at Windsor in May.

• Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss still buzzing from their Tony Award success for their hit musical Six, currently playing to packed houses in both the West End and on Broadway, will be gifting a never before heard song!

• Stephen Schwartz (Wicked / Pippin / Godspell) is gifting Leaving Myself Behind from a new project called Marley. He will accompany his good friend, the Broadway actor Michael McCorry Rose, on the piano.

·    The multi Olivier Award winning actor Douglas Hodge, whose new musical 101 Dalmatiansis currently playing at the Open Air Theatre Regent’s Park, will perform his song Counting The Hairs from his musical Wigmaker.

·    Rising star Desmonda Cathabel (Winner: Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer Of The Year)will be singing a song by Claude Michel-Schönberg & Alain Boublil cut from Miss Saigon during the development process.

·    Another brand new musical song from Maury Yeston (Nine/Titanic) who will be providing a song from his current new writing project The Great Bridge, about the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. 

·    Mrs Me by George Stiles + Anthony Drewe will receive its world premiere sung by Michael Ahomka-Lindsay. Their newest musical Identical opens this summer (directed by Trevor Nunn) and Mary Poppins is playing in the West End. Their delightful Honk! won the 2000 Olivier for Best Musical – beating both The Lion King and Mamma Mia!

 ·    Emerging composing talent Omar Baroud who is currently being mentored by Stiles & Drewe under the MMD scheme, will be singing a song from his new musical After Elijah. Omar is currently playing Cliff in the West End production of Cabaret. 

 ·   There will also be new work from Masi Arare (Paradise Square, currently playing on Broadway), Canadian husband and wife team Irene Sankoff and David Hein (Come From Away) and composer/lyricist Adam Guettel (The Light in The Piazza / Floyd Collins).

·    Last but not least Tim Rice and Elton John will deliver a song to be premiered on the Night.

      More songs and who will be singing them to be announced soon!

REGENERATE – a glorious evening of musical theatre. Producer is Neil Marcus, Musical Director is Nick Barstow and studio producer is Bartek Podkowa.

Join free online Livestreamed Gala Musical Theatre Fundraiser concert

REGENERATE: Lost Songs from the Musicals

Sunday 18^th September 2022 at 7.00pm GMT(1900hrs.)

Donate and support the future of musical theatre

Please give generously!

Everyone who donates will be entered into a prize draw to win a pair of Six tickets (West End or Broadway, depending on location of winner) and a programme signed by the cast. Plus signed music and lyrics from the talent.

REGENERATE – NOT AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD OR VIEW POST LIVE EVENT

Blackeyed Theatre, in association with South Hill Park Arts Centre
Sherlock Holmes: The Valley of Fear brought to
life on stage in UK tour
By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Adapted by Nick Lane
UK Tour: September – November 2022

It is the Valley of Fear, the Valley of Death. The terror is in the hearts of the people from the dusk to the dawn

After delighting audiences around the world with their international tour of The Sign of Four, Blackeyed Theatre will now bring to life The Valley of Fear, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s thrilling final Sherlock Holmes novel, in an electric new stage adaptation. This gripping world premiere is full of mystery and adventure, and combines original music, stylish theatricality and magical story-telling for an unforgettable experience.

A mysterious, coded message is received, a warning of imminent danger, drawing Sherlock Holmes and the faithful Dr Watson into a tale of intrigue and murder stretching from 221B Baker Street to an ancient moated manor house to the bleak Pennsylvanian Vermissa Valley. Faced with a trail of bewildering clues, Holmes begins to unearth a darker, wider web of corruption, a secret society and the sinister work of one Professor Moriarty.

Adapted by Nick Lane and with original music composed by Tristan Parkes, The Valley of Fear sees Luke Barton (One Man, Two Guvnors, New Wolsey/Nuffield Theatres UK Tour; Misterman, Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse) and Joseph Derrington (The Importance of Being Earnest, MAC Belfast; Animal Farm, Royal & Derngate Northampton), who played Holmes and Watson respectively in The Sign Of Four, reprise their critically-acclaimed roles as the iconic duo.

The cast also includes Blake Kubena (Vikings, Amazon Prime/History Channel; The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Blackeyed Theatre) as Jack McMurdo and Detective White-Mason, Gavin Molloy (The Alchemist, Riverside Studios; Everything Must Go, Lyric Theatre Hammersmith; Eastenders, BBC) as Jack McGinty, Cecil Barker, Inspector McDonald and Moriarty, and Alice Osmanksi (Some Mothers Do Ave Em, UK Tour; The Entertainer, Curve Theatre/Simon Friend UK tour) as Ettie Shafter, Mrs Hudson, Ivy Douglas and Captain Marvin.

Writer/Director Nick Lane comments, Of all Holmes’ canon, The Valley of Fear isn’t a story I’ve ever seen brought to the stage – possibly because it’s two tales in one, almost – part of it taking place in England, another part in the US. The thrill for me, being a huge fan of crime fiction on both sides of the Atlantic, was in exploring the different tones of the two narratives; points where they mirror one another, points where they diverge… It was a challenge, but an exciting one. We’ll be working with choreographers and fight directors as well as a composer to create something thrilling and visceral. Thematically, both stories explore loyalty – but to say more about that might give away a twist I’m keen to keep to myself

As part of Blackeyed Theatre’s aim to make theatre more accessible to wider audiences, Sherlock Holmes: The Valley Of Fear will also be available to stream online worldwide from October. This ‘blended’ theatre provision will support Blackeyed Theatre’s commitment to education and young people, as online access to the digital capture will be included for school groups booking to see the play in-person.

Sherlock Holmes: The Valley of Fear is produced by Blackeyed Theatre in association with South Hill Park Arts Centre in Bracknell.

Second Half Productions, Eleanor Lloyd Productions, Wessex Grove, Young Vic and Headlong present

Best of Enemies

By James Graham

Inspired by the documentary by Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon

Directed by Jeremy Herrin

James Graham’s new play Best of Enemies will transfer to the West End from this November. The sold-out hit from the Young Vic and Headlong, which originally premiered at the Young Vic in December 2021, examines the bitter political rivalry between William F Buckley Jr. and Gore Vidal.

1968 – a year of protest that divided America. As two men fight to become the next President, all eyes are on the battle between two others: the cunningly conservative William F Buckley Jr., and the iconoclastic liberal Gore Vidal. Beliefs are challenged and slurs slung as these political idols feud nightly in a new television format, debating the moral landscape of a shattered nation. Little do they know they’re about to open up a new frontier in American politics, and transform television news forever…

Best of Enemies is nominated for a South Bank Sky Arts Award for Best New Theatre Production, the awards take place on Sunday. The play was also nominated for an Olivier Award and won the Critics Circle Theatre Award for Best New Play. 

James Graham is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter. His recent TV credits include Sherwood, Quiz and Brexit: the Uncivil War. James’ previous collaborations with Jeremy Herrin include This House and the Olivier Award-winning Labour of Love. 

Further information on the West End transfer will be announced shortly. http://www.bestofenemiesplay.com/

Ockham’s Razor tour new outdoor performance,
Public, about ownership of public space
Saturday 7th May – 20th August 2022

Renowned circus company Ockham’s Razor (This Time, Belly of the Whale, Tipping Point) will take their new outdoor performance Public on tour this summer. Known for their aerial theatre performances, blending contemporary circus and visual theatre, Ockham’s Razor’s new production explores the use and ownership of public space.

Urban public space has become increasingly overwhelmed by corporations, from privately owned shopping centres to transport hubs. In this privatised, built-up landscape, there is less and less space for young people to take up public space. Play becomes a risky and subversive act. Public will see the company respond to and move through the area they perform in – using the architecture of the buildings and street furniture as the world around them becomes their set.

Incorporating parkour, acrobatics, break dancing and folk and contemporary styles, the company will create a reality where they are unbridled and able to be without guard in a public arena. At the end of the show in each location, the company will unite together and Public will culminate in a final mass dance that anyone can join. The choreography will be shared on TikTok and YouTube to local community and youth groups beforehand.

This latest production from Ockham’s Razor is produced by Turtle Key Arts, in partnership with the National Centre for Circus Arts, and brings together composer Max Reinhardt (Oily Cart; Late Junction, BBC Radio 3); jazz musician Sarathy Korwar, who has collaborated with Kamasi Washington and Shabaka Hutchings and released music with Ninja Tune and The Leaf Label; and designer Tina Bicat, winner of The Critics’ Theatre Award for her work with Punchdrunk.

Charlotte Mooney, Artistic Director of Ockham’s Razor, comments, There is a rich tradition of dancing as a form of protest – in England, folk dance was used by agrarian workers as a way to take up public space to claim their rights and as an exhibition of power. More recently, dance has been used as part of protest across the US. Public looks at different forms of dance from communal folk to more vulnerable individual expression and movement, such as parkour and breaking, that can be seen as transgressive. It looks at dance as empowerment and asks who belongs in public space and what do we want our communal space to be for?

Public by Ockham’s Razors is produced by Turtle Key Arts, in partnership with National Centre of Circus Arts. It is commissioned and supported by NCCA, The Lowry, Salford, Circomedia and funded by Arts Council England

The show will star Phil Aizlewood as Walter McDonald, Roxana Bartle as Grace Burgess/Zilpha Lee, Isaac Beechey as John Shelby, Sam Blythe as Alfie Solomons, Angus Brown as Charles Sabini, James Bryant as an American Businessman, Craig Hamilton as Tommy Shelby, Kat Johns-Burke as Pearl St. Clair, Daniel Mackenzie-Carter as Michael Gray, Kieran Mortell as Arthur Shelby, Reece Richardson as Georgie Sewell, Elliot Rodriguez as Isiah Jesus, Megan Shandley as Lizzie Stark, Emma Stansfield as Polly Gray, Lucinda Turner as Ada Thorne, Hannah Victoria as Maggie Hill, Daisy Winter-Taylor as Phyllis Robbins.

PEAKY BLINDERS: THE RISE is an immersive theatrical show that places audiences in the heart of one of the world’s most popular TV series. Presented in collaboration with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and Caryn Mandabach Productions, you are invited to get dressed up and fully immersed in Tommy Shelby’s world. As the story unfolds you will experience live sets, unmissable character interactions, competitive game play and ultimately determine whether Tommy Shelby and his family succeed in their ambition to take London.

1921, London. Tommy has taken the northern racecourses and eliminated his opponent, Billy Kimber. He now has his sights set on a London expansion… 

With the approval of north London kingpin, Alfie Solomons, Tommy personally invites you to a family meeting at the Shelbys’ Camden warehouse. Tommy has a plan that could prove lucrative for everyone, and it promises to be a night of celebration. 

Whether you kick back in the Camden Garrison Pub with Arthur, advise Tommy on his business affairs in his office, or conspire with the Italians in the Eden Club, how the family meeting goes is for you to decide. However, you must keep your eyes open and your ear to the ground, Tommy’s enemies are closer than you think, and they may want to make you an offer you’ll find hard to refuse. 

But before you choose where your loyalties lie, get suited and booted ready for a night with the Peaky Blinders at the Camden Garrison. With three possible narrative outcomes, your decisions have consequences and directly affect the rise or the fall of the Shelby family.   

PEAKY BLINDERS: THE RISE is directed by Tom Maller, who is also Creative Director, set and costume designs are by Rebecca Brower, with a script by Katie Lyons, music by Barnaby Race, lighting design by Terry Cook for Woodroffe Bassett, sound design by Luke Swaffield for Autograph, dramaturgy by Raphael Martin, the Associate Director is Elena Voce and the Vocal and Accent Coach is Sarah McGuinness.

Peaky Blinders® © Caryn Mandabach Productions. All rights reserved. Licensed by Caryn Mandabach Productions.