Statement from SOLT & UK Theatre after Government announces end of Plan B measures

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement today (Wednesday 19 January) that England is returning to Plan A Covid measures, here is a statement from SOLT and UK Theatre Chief Executive Julian Bird:

‘The relaxing of Plan B measures, particularly the end of mandatory home working, should provide a confidence boost to the theatre industry after several weeks of turbulence and uncertainty. Throughout the pandemic, theatres UK-wide have worked tirelessly to offer world-class entertainment and audiences can be assured that venues using the See it Safely mark, developed by SOLT & UK Theatre, are operating in accordance with the latest Government guidelines. As restrictions ease, we continue to ask theatregoers to wear face coverings throughout our buildings unless exempt, to protect our hardworking staff, performers and fellow audience members.’

Yvonne Arnoud Theatre – until 30th January 2022

Reviewed by Emily Cliff

4****

Picture the scene, it’s Christmas morning or boxing day, your younger family member has just opened their brand new ‘Magic for Kids’ gift set and for the rest of the day life is nothing but electric shock handshakes and coins appearing out of various body parts. Magic Goes Wrong is exactly that, but in a theatre with a full audience. From the creators of the hit West End show ‘The Play That goes Wrong’ Magic Goes Wrong is a night of theatre that really feels like you’ve ventured into the circus tent.’

The contents of the show is exactly what it says on the tin, magic going wrong. However, in the mist of all the laughs and the giggles, some rather impressive illusions and magic tricks have been thorown into the mix too, leaving the audience amazed and dazzled by this trickery. The show itself was set up very well from the moment you entered the theatre. There were little comedy skits going on stage that set up the entire atmosphere of the show bwfre most of the audience had even staken their seats. From doves flying around the theatre to audience members getting the opportunity to be a apart of the show itself.

One of the highlights of this show was the skit from the mysterious Mind Mangler (portrayed by Rory Fairbairn). The talent of reading minds is something we all wished we possessed, the Mind Manglers abilities were far from impressive and seemed like the type of reading you’d get from a £5 tarot card reading in Camden market. The fraud type personality of the Mind Manger was paired with fantastic comedic timing and cheeky teleprompter changes here and there.

A play where all theatre etiquette goes out of the window, where audience members are encouraged to heckle and cheer is bound to be a night of good fun as it is. However, one downfall of this play is that some of the jokes and skits felt a little outdated and cringe worthy. While on the whole it was an enjoyable comedic play, a few of the skits and jokes needed a little refinement as it did feel as though they were trying too hard, sometimes less is more and the far more simple skits were the ones that got the loudest laughs from the audience.

Overall this play was full of magical charm and charisma however I still think its finding its footing in the delivery of some of the skits. From cheeky lighting mishaps, to dead doves Magic Goes Wrong is a dazzling and entertaining evening of theatre, with superb audience involvement.

By Ely King (freelance – ‘Dress Circle Antics’ and ‘Fairy Powered Productions’)

Questions for Kara Lane playing Alice Beineke and Kingsley Morton playing Wednesday Addams

Tell us about Alice, who is she to The Addams Family, friend or foe?

Kara: Alice is the mother of Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend Lucas. She’s not entirely sure about the family at first but, without giving too much away, she’s definitely a friend by the end! The Addams family have a very big impact on Alice’s life in the space of 1 evening – she goes on a pretty big journey throughout the show.

How does it feel to be playing such a famous character?

Kingsley: I love The Addams Family and have since I was young, and because of that taking on Wednesday was actually very exciting! She’s also such a different character from most other musicals, so to get the chance to play her is an absolute dream!

Do you see yourself in any parts of Wednesday’s persona?

Kingsley: I definitely do! Every time I told someone (whether they were in musical theatre or not) that I was going to be in the show they’d guess straight away who I was going to play. I remember the cast asking a few times in rehearsals if I was dressing up as the character, when it was just my usual clothes! I really can relate to her personality-wise as well, her toughness and how she never apologises for being in the room or taking up the space she needs – it definitely took me longer than Wednesday to find that in myself, though!

Tell us about your Wednesday, what’s she like?

Kingsley: In the show Wednesday has actually grown up, she’s now a teenager and she has become the complete balance of Gomez and Morticia as their daughter. This is the part we really wanted to show, because, even if you are seen as a weirdo or an outcast to the outside world, you still deserve to find love. Wednesday just so happens to have found love with an almost completely normal, slightly awkward/geeky boy named Lucas! She has a lot more of Gomez’s character traits in her in our version than in the film/TV show, she has his impulsiveness and energy, but she is most definitely her mother’s daughter – which leads to a lot of clashes between the two throughout.

What is it like being involved in such an iconic show as The Addams Family?

Kingsley: It’s just brilliant! So many people have come to the show dressed up as the Addams-it makes our hearts full of joy when we see it! The Addams Family have always been easily accessible for all ages, and you can really tell from the audiences’ reactions that that is still true with this version, which is awesome.

Kara: I grew up watching the 60s TV program with my mum and grandma who were both fans so it’s pretty close to my heart and with anything that’s special to somebody I tend to be a bit biased towards the characters I grew up watching. However, I personally think the actors playing the Addams family members are perfectly cast and really find the essence of the characters without impersonating the originals. They bring something fresh to their roles while still keeping everything we love about the kooky clan. Our director Matthew White encouraged us to do research into the original Charles Addams cartoons from the 1930s so we were able to bring some of those elements into the show as well. For example, most of The Addams Family drawings were black and white, but there were later drawings that Charles Addams did in colour. I like to think that the colourful costumes that Alice’s family wear (the Beineke’s) were inspired by these later drawings.

I love being a part of something that is so iconic and so much fun.

Do you have a favourite character other than your own? If so, why?

Kara: Oh! That’s a hard one! I love all the characters for all their individual moments they bring to the show. If I was forced to pick a favourite it might have to be Grandma. She’s so naughty!

Kingsley: If I had to pick a favourite character other than Wednesday I definitely think it would be Alice! The contrast between the character in the first half and the second is just brilliant and looks like so much fun! When we were setting Waiting (Alice’s song) in rehearsals the direction was for us all to just be watching Alice in shock/awe for the whole song and it requires very little acting, because that is exactly what we all feel watching Kara Lane knock that number out of the park every show!

What is the best part about being in a touring production? (ie. sightseeing, travelling etc.)

Kingsley: The best part of being on a touring production so far is actually touring with the cast! We’ve become like one big kooky family ourselves, and I think that bond and closeness actually shows a lot on stage. I’ve not travelled the UK much before at all – in fact, I don’t think I’ve visited any of the places we’re going on the tour in my life so getting to see all these new places for a week at a time has been very special!

Kara: Honestly, just being back on stage is the absolute highlight for me. Especially after 18 months of waiting for this show to start. The show has been postponed 8 times since the pandemic started and I consider myself extremely lucky to be in a show that’s survived this long so I’m savouring every moment. When I’m not on stage I do enjoy getting to know whichever city we happen to be in.

What is your favourite part of the entire show?

Kingsley: My favourite part of the show has to be Happy/Sad. It’s such a beautiful song, and I think it’s definitely the tie back moment where we see Wednesday almost regress back to being that famous, lonely, gloomy little girl again as her father sings to her, which is great. And the way Cameron Blakely performs the song every time is just magical, I get to see the audience for a lot of it while they’re watching him and they’re always absolutely entranced to the very last note.

Kara: The end of act 1… but I can’t say anymore than that.

I also love the tango that Morticia, Gomez and the Ancestors do towards the end of the show. It’s a showstopper! Oh, and Uncle Fester’s love song to the moon, it’s simply beautiful.

How would you describe the show? How would you sell it to me?

Kara: It’s fun, silly, witty and a great form of escapism for all the family.

Kingsley: Whether you’ve watched The Addams Family before or not, the show is such brilliant fun for all ages. I truly believe it’s just what the country needs right now. It’s all about family, embracing all parts of yourself – especially your darkness – and accepting others for who they are, it’s funny, the music is incredible and the set and costumes are absolutely divine! What more could you need?!

You have a prolific Tik Tok presence, how did you get started on Tik Tok?

Kara: I joined TikTok during lockdown to see what all the fuss was about. I had no interest in it for ages but actually, I’ve always enjoyed editing videos so it just made sense to join the social media platform that is all about videos! I had about 4 followers when I posted a silly video that went viral. There was no turning back then, ha ha!

What advice would you give anyone trying to break into the industry?

Kingsley: I’ve only just started myself really! I would say: don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do. I’ve faced it a lot, especially as a plus sized actress, but here I am playing the romantic lead! So no one knows what you can and can’t do, even you! Never be afraid to go outside of your comfort zone, you might surprise yourself.

Kara: Immerse yourself in the arts! Don’t just watch YouTube and streamed shows (although how wonderful were they to have during lockdown or if you’re unable to see the performance live?!). Try to see as many live shows as possible because it’s an experience that can’t be replicated on a screen. Work hard and if you’re given an opportunity to audition or perform, don’t take it for granted. Go to singing lessons, dance lessons, drama lessons, choir. Partake in local productions and school shows. My parents were not well-off by any stretch of the imagination but when they could find the money they let me go to private lessons and when they couldn’t I just involved myself in everything and anything that was free or inexpensive. If you want it you will find a way to make it work. Even just finding like-minded friends who you could read lines, make up plays or just be creative with is still a way of learning.

Why do you think it’s important people come back to the theatre?

Kara: The theatres are doing everything they can possibly do to keep even their most vulnerable patrons safe during these times. I just hope that people start trusting in them and start booking tickets again soon the way they used to before the pandemic. A massive thank you to everyone who has already started to come back, it’s you who’s saving the arts at the moment.

Kingsley: It’s so important that people come back to the theatre! It’s escapism from the world we’re all facing at the moment! And theatres are currently safer than your local supermarket with the precautions they’re all taking. Theatres really need everyone’s support right now, or you might find that – when you do try to come to the theatre in a while – they’re not there anymore, which would be an absolute tragedy!

Have you been to Birmingham / The Alexandra theatre before?

Kingsley: No, this is my first UK tour so I’m super excited to play at The Alexandra and see Birmingham.

Kara: Yes, quite a lot actually. The first 2 professional shows I ever did both opened in Birmingham (JCS at the Hippodrome and Scrooge at The Alexandra) and I have been back numerous times since. I love both theatres for different reasons and also love Birmingham! I think The Alexandra is the perfect theatre to host The Addams Family as it has a sense of history from the moment you walk through the doors. I’m looking forward to returning.

Our Generation, a new play by Alecky Blythe, opens at the National Theatre in February

Alecky Blythe returns to the National Theatre for the first time since the critically acclaimed London Road with her panoramic new verbatim play that tells the stories of a generation.

Opening in the Dorfman theatre in February and created from five years of interviews with 12 young people from across the UK, Our Generation is a captivating portrait of their journey into adulthood. Making his NT directorial debut, Daniel Evans leads the team in this co-production with Chichester Festival Theatre that will play in the Minerva Theatre from April 2022.

Director Daniel Evans said: “It’s been a real privilege to work on Alecky’s new play, not least to witness how our cast has embraced her technique of recorded delivery. Day by day, the entire team has been bowled over by the real-life stories and words of the younger generation, their resilience, their hope, their aspiration. We’re all looking forward to sharing it with audiences at the NT and at Chichester.”

The cast is Dee Ahluwalia, Joe Bolland, Anna Burnett, Anushka Chakravarti, Debbie Chazen, Gavi Singh Chera, Rachelle Diedericks, Hasan Dixon, Hélder Fernandes, Sarita Gabony, Conor Gormally, Alex Jarrett, Callum Mardy, Poppy Shepherd and Stephanie Street.

Set design is by Vicki Mortimer, costume design by Kinnetia Isidore, video design by Akhila Krishnan, lighting design by Zoe Spurr, sound design by Paul Arditti, movement direction by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, music composition, production & direction by DJ Walde, dramaturgy by Sebastian Born and casting by Charlotte Sutton.

A public programme of live and digital talks will also be curated by nine young producers from the NT’s How to be a Producer course. Exploring their experiences of what it means to be a young person today, the events will begin from 18 March.

BAT OUT OF HELL – The Musical stars Glenn Adamson (American Idiot) as Strat, Martha Kirby (Grease, Rags the Musical) as Raven and the original leading cast members Rob Fowler (Mamma Mia!, Bat Out of Hell) as Falco and Sharon Sexton (Mamma Mia!, Bat Out of Hell) as Sloane.

The UK & Ireland Tour of BAT OUT OF HELL – The Musical has book, music and lyrics by Jim Steinman, direction by Jay Scheib, choreography adapted by Xena Gusthart, with musical supervision and additional arrangements by Michael Reed.  

BAT OUT OF HELL dedicates this tour to the memory of Jim Steinman, who sadly passed away on 19 April 2021.

The Prime Minister has today announced the easing of restrictions in England. Theatres Trust, the charity that advises theatres in the UK, responds with a comment from director Jon Morgan:

Theatres in England have not had the buoyant festive period they so desperately needed after nearly two years of the pandemic. We hope that lifting the work from home guidance will encourage more people to return to town centres and visit their local theatres, giving them a much-needed boost.

Witty new play, MEASURED, examines the hidden consequences of living with an eating disorder

Coming to The Hope Theatre 22nd February 

“Well, it’s not a party ’til someone’s crying in the toilets.”

Wednesday 12th January, London, UK: Forward Thought Theatre are excited to announce that their new play MEASURED will be taking over The Hope Theatre from February 22nd.  

Emma O’Brien’s witty and moving new play is a heartfelt and hilarious look into life with an eating disorder. The play examines both the hidden consequences for the sufferer and those who love them. Exposing the emotional turmoil of the illness without glamorising its dangers, MEASURED questions how effective recovery can be in a society that still wants women to be as ‘little’ as possible.

Sophie’s sister, Lucy, is at that age where her friends are throwing yoghurt around at school. Sophie’s boyfriend, Tom, runs a catering company for picky wedding planners. And Sophie? Sophie has an eating disorder – which she sees as a rather large inconvenience. Now she’s in recovery, Sophie is hopeful she can reconnect with Lucy and Tom, but she knows that after hiding within her illness for so long, it’s not going to be easy to cope without it. 

At the head of the incredible team behind this new play is writer Emma O’Brien who has a special connection with this subject as she wrote MEASURED whilst in recovery from anorexia. Emma was also guided by over ten years of mental health social work experience. Helping to guide Emma’s story will be award-winning director Cat Robey who has been Deputy Director of Jermyn Street Theatre for the past two years.

Taking on the lead role of Sophie is an award-winning comedian and mental health ambassador, Juliette Burton, who also has lived experience of eating disorders. Burton has had countless sold-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and was recently one of The Guardian’s top picks for lockdown comedy in 2020. 

During its run, the play will be headlining the Measured Festival, produced by Forward Thought Theatre. The Measured Festival will consist of comedy, performance and spoken word from award-winning acts, TV names and Edinburgh Fringe Festival stars, all with the aim of making talking about mental illness accessible.

The Festival will feature activists, authors and comedians including Sooz Kempner (Musical Comedy Awards Best Newcomer), Sikisa (Winner of BBC New Comedy Award 2017), Dave Chawner(seen on BBC, ITV & Channel 5), Juliette Burton, and spoken word and performance art group What’s Going On In Your Head?. The festival will be taking place across the play’s entire run including 2022’s Eating Disorder Awareness week from 28th February, a cause close to the creators hearts. 

MEASURED has already begun to gain praise with award-winning author Samuel Pollen, author of ‘The Year I Didn’t Eat’ saying: “So many plays and books and TV shows get eating disorders wrong. Trivialising them, or focusing only on the gory bits, or airbrushing them to fit an uplifting narrative. Measured shows EDs as they are. Horrifying and boring. Sometimes rational, sometimes nonsensical… and somehow it’s still funny!” 

MEASURED and The Measured Festival will be coming to The Hope Theatre from 22nd February.

Book your MEASURED tickets here: www.thehopetheatre.com/productions/measured/

Book your Measured Festival late show tickets here:www.thehopetheatre.com

DAN LOONEY, ADAM PAULDEN AND JASON HAIGH-ELLERY

FOR DLAP GROUP

ANNOUNCE THE WEST END PREMIERE OF

BONNIE AND CLYDE

THE MUSICAL

AT THE ARTS THEATRE

FROM 9 APRIL 2022

DLAP Group are delighted to announce that the West End premiere of the cult-favourite BONNIE AND CLYDE THE MUSICAL will open at the Arts Theatre on Saturday 9 April 2022. This brand-new production will be directed by Nick Winston with set and costume design by Philip Whitcomb. Full casting to be announced in due course.

Priority sign-up is open now with priority on-sale from Monday 24 January and general on-sale from Friday 28 January. www.bonnieandclydemusical.com

Following the phenomenal response to Bonnie and Clyde In Concert at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, having sold out in just six minutes, DLAP Group are thrilled to be bringing a brand new full production of the Tony Award nominated show to the West End for the first time.

Emmy Award nominated writer of the book, Ivan Menchell said today, “There is a tremendous love for this show now, and it’s fantastic that it is getting a West End run. The only thing the British love more than Americans on stage, is America’s behaving badly on stage!”

Tony-Award nominated composer Frank Wildhorn added, “The show has built such a wonderful cult following, especially with younger audiences and I’m so excited to see Bonnie and Clyde find its audience here in London!”

Lyricist, Tony and Olivier Award winner, Don Black said, “The show has become so loved by people in the ten years since it was on Broadway. In fact, in one year we had something ridiculous like 60 productions going all over America, so we knew that people liked it – and now our time has come for London.”

At the height of the Great Depression, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow went from two small-town nobodies in West Texas to America’s most renowned folk heroes and the Texas law enforcement’s worst nightmares. Fearless, shameless, and alluring, Bonnie & Clyde is the electrifying story of love, adventure and crime that captured the attention of an entire country. The show features the songs “Raise A Little Hell”, “This World Will Remember Me” and “Made In America”.

When Bonnie and Clyde meet, their mutual cravings for excitement and fame, combined with a desperate need to lift themselves out of the endless banality and poverty of West Dallas, set them on a mission to chase their dreams. Their bold and reckless behaviour turns the young lovers’ thrilling adventure into a downward spiral, putting themselves and their loved ones in trouble with the law. Forced to stay on the run, the lovers resort to robbery and murder to survive. As the infamous duo’s fame grows bigger, their inevitable end draws nearer.

BONNIE AND CLYDE THE MUSICAL has a book by Ivan Menchell (Blended [movie], The Cemetery Club, Death Note The Musical), a Tony Award nominated score by Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll and Hyde, The Scarlett Pimpernel), lyrics by Don Black (Tell Me On a Sunday, Sunset Boulevard, Mrs Henderson Presents). The production will be directed by Nick Winston (Director of the feature film Tomorrow Morning, MAME, The Royal Variety Performance) with Set and Costume Design by Philip Whitcomb (Atlantis, Stones In His Pockets, MAME).

Casting announced for the world premiere of The Bone Sparrow

Pilot Theatre has today announced the casting for the world premiere of S. Shakthidharan’s adaptation of The Bone Sparrow, Zana Fraillon’s award winning moving novel about a Rohingya refugee boy who has spent his entire life living in a detention centre in Australia.

The Bone Sparrow cast will feature Yaamin Chowdhury (Let Kilburn Shake, Kiln Theatreand soon to be seen in Apple TV’s The Essex Serpent alongside Tom Hiddleston and Claire Danes and Sky’s upcoming action-drama Extinction)as Subhi; Mary Roubos (Separate Doors, Chichester Festival Theatre and The Tempest, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre) as Jimmie. Elmi Rashid Elmi (Dune, Warner Brothersand soon to be seen in The Swimmers by Jack Thorne and onstage in the award-winning Barber Shop Chronicles, Fuel and National Theatre) as Eli; Jum Faruq (Five Little Christmas Monkeys, Baby Panda in association with Park Theatre) as Duck; Kiran L Dadlani (Ackley Bridge, Channel 4; Coronation Street and Cold Feet, ITV) as Maa; Siobhan Athwal (Wasted, Southwark Playhouse; Bend it Like Beckham, Phoenix Theatre and Viva Forever, Piccadilly Theatre) as Queenie; Devesh Kishore (Guards at The Taj ,Theatre by the Lake and Gangsta Granny, Birmingham Stage) as Harvey/ Ba/ Nasir and Mackenzie Scott (Michael Morpurgo’s King’s Arthur, Edinburgh Fringe Festival) as Beaver.

The Bone Sparrow tells the story of Subhi, a refugee, born in an Australian permanent detention centre after his mother fled the violence of a distant homeland, life behind the fences is all he has ever known. But as he grows, his imagination gets bigger too, until it is bursting at the limits of his world. 

One night, Jimmie, a scruffy, impatient girl appears from the other side of the wires, and brings a notebook written by the mother she lost. Unable to read it, she relies on Subhi to unravel her own family’s mysterious and moving history. 

Subhi and Jimmie might both find a way to freedom, as their tales unfold. But not until each of them has been braver than ever before. 

The Bone Sparrow will be the third co-production between Pilot Theatre, Derby Theatre, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Mercury Theatre Colchester, and York Theatre Royal who in 2018 formed a new partnership to develop theatre for younger audiences. Whilst out on tour several of the connected education projects with the consortium partners will be working with local sanctuary-seeker and migrant communities. 

 The production has also been developed in association with the Australian Theatre for Young People and with the support of Bradford’s SBC Theatre, a group of creative professionals and artists who are committed to making work with, about and for those seeking sanctuary in the UK and internationally.

Directed by Pilot Theatre Artistic Director’s Esther Richardson,The Bone Sparrow will open at York Theatre Royal from 25February -5 March 2022 and will then tour to Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, Derby Theatre, Mercury Theatre Colchester, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, and Theatre Peckham.

For more information on The Bone Sparrow visit https://www.pilot-theatre.com/present-work/the-bone-sparrow

PALACE THEATRE, MANCHESTER – UNTIL 22^ND JANUARY 2022

REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN

5*****

Since the first time I watched the movie, I have been a huge fan. So when the opportunity came to see the stage performance, I was elated to be at the Palace Theatre for an encore and standing ovation production!

The Rocky Horror Show is the story of a squeaky clean couple, Brad (Ore Oduba, winner of Strictly Come Dancing) and his fiancé Janet (Haley Flaherty, Mollie in The Mousetrap), who after suffering a flat tyre stumbles across the castle of a mad transsexual Frank-N-Furter, (Stephen Webb), his crew of servants Riff Raff (Kristian Lavercombe), Magenta (Suzie McAdam), Columbia (Lauren Ingram); and ensemble of strange phantom inhabitants. It is an adventure they’ll never forget, a new world of sexual fluidity and gender bending freedom.

For the audience, many of them dressed like their favourite character, this was much more then watching a musical, they were here to be a part of the show! As well as dressing up, audience participation is actively encouraged as fans can interrupt by shouting out smut and innuendos at various parts. Being a ‘Rocky Horror Show’ virgin and never attended a musical with audience participation before, I was not sure of what to expect. But the ever-talented cast of the show bounced off the audience’s good-natured heckling and banter, perfectly. For me the standout among the cast was Philip Franks, as the Narrator, who was able to engage with fans via call and response with well observed topical references to amongst other things, Novak Djokovic and the governments approach to, well, everything.

The real draw for the audience is always going to be the musical set-pieces. They were shining their lights during ‘Over at the Frankenstein Place’, on their feet ecstatically doing the pelvic thrusting, show stopping ‘Time Warp’, myself included and cheering for Frank-N-Furter’s emerge in ‘Sweet Transvestite’.

The cast have an enormous amount of fun as well as the loyal fans who will no doubt return again and again to see their beloved show for many years to come.