WILTSHIRE CREATIVE ANNOUNCES GATES WIDE OPEN

AND SPRING 2022 AT SALISBURY ARTS CENTRE

WILTSHIRE CREATIVE ANNOUNCES GATES WIDE OPEN

AND SPRING 2022 AT SALISBURY ARTS CENTRE

Wiltshire Creative today announces Gates Wide Open, a new exhibition for Spring 2022 at Salisbury Arts Centre, alongsidea season of theatre, workshops and exhibitions. Following the previously announced exhibition Same Sea, Different Boat, Gates Wide Open will showcase work from four selected artists who graduated from university during the pandemic, with each artist receiving £500 to exhibit their work. Gates Wide Open will be on display from 15 March – 8 May 2022, with the open call for submissions closing 2 January 2022.

Alongside Gates Wide Open will be an extensive theatre programme on offer at Salisbury Arts Centre, including touring productions of Sophie Ross’s Swings and Roundabouts, Jennifer Irons comedy cabaret Yukon Ho!, Living Spit’s Elizabeth I: Virgin On The Ridiculous, An Evening with Kate Bush, The Day of the Triffids: Mash Up, Engine Room artist Louise Jordan’s Florence: The Lesser Known Life and Legacy of Florence Nightingale and raucous gig theatre Jeremiah from Jack Dean & Company. There will also be live music from Fay Hield, The Deloreons and local talent in Live and Local, and the popular Comedy Barnstormers nights will continue into 2022.

Alongside the theatre and gallery offering, Wiltshire Creative also continues their extensive workshop programme into Spring 2022 with community workshops including Collagraph on Fabric with Sue Brown for adults and Craft with Wiltshire Scrapstore for ages 4-7.

Juliet Coveney, Salisbury Arts Centre Manager, said today “We are so proud to see the Arts Centre rebuilding back into the cultural hub it was pre-pandemic, and the programme of events we are delivering in Spring 2022 is the next step in this process of community healing. We are delighted to be offering such a rich theatre and diverse programme alongside our main exhibition Same Sea, Different Boat, which will offer such a timely reflection on our recent collective experience.”

Tickets for the Spring 2022 season at Salisbury Arts Centre will go on sale on 23 November. To book please visit: https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/whats-on/

Spring 2022 at Salisbury Arts Centre

15 March – 8 May 

GATES WIDE OPEN

Visual arts exhibition featuring work from four recent UK based art graduates, who have each received £500 to exhibit their work. Each artist will have graduated from a creative or visual arts course in 2020 or 2021. This exhibition provides the opportunity to display their work to the Covid affected cohort of emerging artists who studied in circumstances which deprived them of face to face teaching and specialist studio experience as well as an exit exhibition. 

Our panel of selectors represents contemporary voices of professional arts activists who fight for the exposure and correct treatment of emerging ideas and talents: The White Pube – Zarina Muhammad and Gabrielle de la Puente, @sadgrads2020 – Jody Mulvey

To submit work visit: https://www.curatorspace.com/opportunities/detail/gates-wide-open/5858

11 January – 5 March

SAME SEA, DIFFERENT BOAT

by Sue Brown in collaboration with Louise Asher, Liske Johnson and Cath Kingzett

Same Sea, Different Boat is a quilt with a difference instigated by the project founder artist Sue Brown in collaboration with artists Liske Johnson, Louise Asher and Cath Kingzett. This textile artwork is an uplifting artwork, a combination of craftivism and social documentary. The piece consists of hundreds of hand-printed and stitched stories lovingly produced by individual artists from across the UK and abroad. Each participant in this piece is reacting to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sue Brown has been a professional artist for 15 years. Her work is inspired by nature and been driven by exploring intaglio printmaking techniques. In 2009 she embarked on a 3-year part time MA in Multi-disciplinary Printmaking at the University of the West of England, graduating with a distinction in 2012. It was during this period of study that she explored printmaking with enamel and added 3 dimensional pieces in enamel and metal to her body of work.

Louise Asher is an artist and founder of the Hope and Elvis Studios in Nottinghamshire, showcasing art from around the UK and Europe and running bespoke arts and crafts workshops.

Liske Johnson is an artist and runs Littleheath Barn Studio with Claire Lundy. The studio runs a wide range of fabric printing, dyeing and art textile workshops.

Cath Kingzett is a textile artist. She studied Soft Furnishings at City & Guilds, graduating in 1996. She was one-time part owner of the shop Two Fat Quarters, in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, which sold patchwork and quilting fabrics. After the shop closed, Kingzett began to explore other forms of stitching and textile art and went on to complete another City and Guilds, this time in Creative Embroidery. In 2009, she opened her sewing workshop in Nailsworth, One Fat Quarter, a place for her to work and share her love of sewing.

12 February  
COLLAGRAPH ON FABRIC WITH SUE BROWN

A collagraph workshop inviting participants to take inspiration from the Same Sea, Different Boat quilt, sharing lockdown stories through collagraphing on fabric and experimenting with different styles led by lead artist Sue Brown.

Age guidance: 16+

Tickets: £83

24 February, 13 April

CRAFT WITH WILTSHIRE SCRAPSTORE

A casual craft session with Wiltshire Scrapstore, giving children a chance to develop their creativity in an inspiring and imaginative arts and craft session.    

Age guidance: 4-7

Tickets: £2

25 February, 25 March, 29 April

COMEDY BARNSTORMERS 

A Barnstormers Comedy MC will introduce three more top acts from the London Comedy Circuit and beyond.

Age guidance: 16+

Tickets: £14.50

26 February

SATURDAY STORYTIME 
Lulu Sparre will lead a storytelling session for children to experience the joy of bringing stories alive. 

Age guidance: 3-6

Tickets: £2

3 March

FLORENCE: THE LESSER-KNOWN LIFE AND LEGACY OF FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE

Who was Florence Nightingale?

Louise Jordan explores the legacy of this pioneering statistician who used data to call for government accountability, demanding equal healthcare for all. Through song and storytelling, Jordan disrupts the traditional narrative and invites you to consider the relevance of Florence’s work today.

Louise Jordan is a UK based songwriter and performer with 10 years’ experience touring the UK & Europe. Self-accompanied on guitar and keyboard, Louise has released 7 recordings gaining national radio play on the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show & Radio 4. Her credits as a theatre maker include No Petticoats Here (UK tour), The Hard Way (UK tour) and Pop Up Pedestal (South West tour).

Age guidance: 14+

Tickets: £13.50

5 March 

SWINGS AND ROUNDABOUTS 
Calling the bum wipers, bedtime boppers and owners of tiny humans.

Grown-ups and their babies are invited to join actor, musician, and mummy, Sophie Ross, for a brand-new comedy musical that unpacks the swings and roundabouts of the first year of parenthood. Come and laugh along as we celebrate the highs, lows and dizzying delights of parenting with original songs, a healthy dose of myth-busting, a heap of laughs and some much-needed solidarity.

Swings and Roundabouts has been generously supported by The Point Theatre Eastleigh, and Arts Council England.

Sophie Ross is co-founder and co-Artistic Director of Small Things Productions. Her theatre credits include Big & Small (Barbican Theatre), Blood Wedding, Hamlet, Before/After, Gross und Klein, Money Shots, Leviathan, Comedy of Errors, The Oresteia, Vs Macbeth, Mysteries: Genesis, Romeo & Juliet, Waikiki Hip, Woman in Mind (Sydney Theatre Company), Ladybird (Small Things Productions/B Sharp) and Stoning Mary (Griffin Theatre).

Age guidance: For new parents (new born babies)

Tickets: £9.50

10 March 

YUKON HO! 
Fascinating, laugh-out-loud funny and at times surprisingly tender, Yukon Ho! is part physical theatre, part stand-up comedy, part cabaret, one-woman show.

Jennifer Irons grew up in Yukon, Canada and now resides in the UK. She is an award-winning choreographer, creating large-scale mass movement for international outdoor festivals, working across commercial music videos, film and TV, and making dynamic new work for theatre.

Age guidance: 14+

Tickets: £14.50

11 March 

TRIFFIDS!

METEORS! KILLER PLANTS! B MOVIES!

This remarkable collision of music, text and rich visual imagery takes the audience deep into John Wyndham’s classic cold war novel The Day of the Triffids.

The live soundtrack is created with instruments including moog, double bass, theremin, hammered dulcimer and a cactus.

Platform 4 is an artist-led company that creates playful and unexpected worlds in which performers and participants can explore their creativity and the things that matter to them. The work is highly visual and musical, often intimate in scale and process, connects people and puts human relationships at the heart of the event.

Age guidance: 14+

Tickets: £15

17 March, 28 April 

LIVE AND LOCAL 

A relaxed evening of local live music at Salisbury Arts Centre, continuing Wiltshire Creative’s support of the live music scene in Salisbury, building on the success of their previous Friday Night events. The perfect evening to enjoy with friends. Full acts to be confirmed at a later date.

Age guidance: 12+

Tickets: Free but must be booked in advance

31 March 

AN EVENING WITHOUT KATE BUSH 

Enter Strange Phenomena, howl with the The Hounds Of Love and dance on the moors with Wuthering Heights.

Kate’s not there, but you are.

Acclaimed performer Sarah-Louise Young has teamed up with theatre-maker Russell Lucas explore the music and mythology of one of the most influential voices in British music.

Sarah-Louise Young is an actress, writer, director and internationally renowned cabaret performer. She has appeared with Julie Madly Deeply, Fascinating Aïda, La Soirée and Olivier winning improvised musical group, The Showstoppers. Named one of Time Out’s Top 10 Cabaret Acts and voted Best Musical Variety Act in the London Cabaret Awards she has also been nominated for an Offie and won The Stage Award for acting. She has toured extensively, both in the UK and internationally, including three appearances at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. She is one half of writing and performing duo, Roulston & Young with whom she is developing a new musical, Maxa: The Most Assassinated Woman In The World.

Russell Lucas is an artist specialising in producing and directing live performance and original online content. He has directed gallery installation films, theatre and deliver regularly in educational settings. His credits as a theatre maker include The Bobby Kennedy Experience (UK tour)and The American Season, The Understudy, The Fat Man’s Wife (CCTheatre).

Age guidance: 14+

Tickets: £19.50

1 April 

FAY HIELD TRIO 
Folk singer Fay Hield is back in the performing arena with the launch of a new solo album, Wrackline.

Dr. Fay Hield is a critically acclaimed folk singer and lecturer in Ethnomusicology and Music Management at the University of Sheffield.

Age guidance: 12+

Tickets: £15

5 April 

SILVER SOCIAL WITH SALISBURY PLUCKERS

An afternoon of music with local ukulele group the Salisbury Pluckers, with refreshments available from the Arts Centre Café.

Age guidance: 50+

Tickets: £5

26 February, 23 April

SATURDAY STORYTIME 
Iona Johnson will lead a storytelling session for children to experience the joy of bringing stories alive. 

Age guidance: 3-6

Tickets: £2

23 April 

FILM: STORM BOY
Based on the beloved book, Storm Boy is a highly emotional tale of a young boy growing up on the beautiful but uninhabited coastline of Southern Australia who unexpectedly rescues and then raises three orphaned pelicans. When he forms a close bond with them, he finds himself at odds with his fisherman father and his life takes a new and unexpected turn.

Age guidance: PG

Tickets: £8

5 – 6 May 

ELIZABETH I: VIRGIN ON THE RIDICULOUS 

Howard and Stu return to Salisbury Arts Centre with more live original music, silly songs, smutty shenanigans, perfunctory props, and hysterically historical horseplay, this promises to be (another) poorly researched lesson in Tudor history that you’ll never forget.

Howard Coggins is co-founder of Living Spit. His theatre credits include Mother Goose (Salisbury Playhouse), Peter Pan, Treasure Island, Short Fuses, Around the World in 80 Days, Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland, Beasts and Beauties, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Up The Feeder Down The ‘Mouth, Babes In the Wood, Jack & The Beanstalk, Aladdin, The Great Big Story Mix Up, Myrtle On The Mainline, (Bristol Old Vic), The Wind in the Willows, Treasure Island (Watermill Theatre), The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Aladdin, Jack and the Beanstalk (Watford Palace), Cinderella (Roses, Tewkesbury), City of One (Myrtle Theatre Company), The Magic Carpet (Lyric Hammersmith), The Wizard Of Oz (Hall For Cornwall), Aladdin (Reading Hexagon), Elsie and Norm’s Macbeth (Tobacco Factory), Still Waters (Theatre Gwent), Aladdin (Cheltenham Everyman), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Watchers Of The Night Sky (Theatre Iolo). For television, his credits include The Lost Honour, Siege in the Sahara, Waking the Dead, Law and Order, Sherlock-The Great Game, Beautiful People, Moses Jones, Being Human, Doc Martin, Doctors, Jam and Jerusalem, Trevor Island, Beau Brummell, Bleak House, Dream Team, Much Ado About Nothing, The Giblets, Walk Away & I Stumble, Worst Week Of My Life, Patrick’s Planet, Every Time You Look At Me, Teachers, Black Books, Dalziel & Pascoe; Mister Charity, Othello, and Undercover Customs​.

Stu McLoughlin is co-founder of Living Spit. His theatre credits include London Calling (Salisbury Playhouse), Peter Pan (Bristol Old Vic), The Odyssey (Bristol Old Vic/Lyric Hammersmith), Coram Boy (National Theatre), A Matter of Life And Death (National Theatre/Kneehigh), Brief Encounter (Kneehigh/US tour), Suspension (Bristol Old Vic) and The Wild Bride (Kneehigh/UK tour/Berkeley Rep/New Zealand International Arts Festival).​ For television, his credits include The Lost Honour, Waking The Dead, Little Dorritt, Trevor Island and Clone; and for film, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, The Deep Blue Sea and Made In Dagenham.​ He is also the Musical Director and Composer for Shanty Theatre Company, and has composed music for Smugglers, Rebel Harbour, A Rat’s Tale and The Salty Socks of Dunkirk. 

Age guidance: 12+ 
Tickets: £12 

12 May  

JEREMIAH

On the 9th of June 1817, Jeremiah Brandreth assembles a crew of malcontents in a pub near Nottingham. Their plan is to march on London, overthrow the government, wipe out the National Debt and end poverty forever. What Jeremiah doesn’t know is that there is a spy in his ranks with other ideas…

Jack Dean & Company a non-profit organisation set up to help tell stories of how things could be. We collaborate with inspiring and exceptional artists to create new work across many artforms. Founded by Jack Dean in 2020, we are committed to offering people across the UK the chance to dream of a different world, whatever the current one may hold.

Age guidance: 14+

Tickets: £13

15 May 

THE DELOREONS 
The Deloreons originally formed in 2005 as a small and lively 3-Piece pub band, since then they have gone on to work at thousands of weddings, events and corporate functions throughout Europe. The band have also held residencies on board P&O and DFDS Ferries and in 2012 and 2013 they headed to the French Alps, playing huge party nights around various venues including the world famous Rond Point in Meribel. The Deloreons now offer 5, 6 and 8 Piece Line Ups, suitable for various different events and budgets.

In 2012, The Deloreons headlined the Queens Jubilee Celebrations in Salisbury with 10,000 people partying, singing and dancing along. The Deloreons then went on to SELL OUT Salisbury City Hall 3 years running with their 80’s Party Nights and in 2017 headlined ‘Live at the Farm’ with 4,000 guests in attendance in aid of Salisbury Live.

Age guidance: Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult

Tickets: £10

LISTINGS

SALISBURY ARTS CENTRE

Salisbury Arts Centre, Wiltshire Creative

Bedwin Street, Salisbury, SP1 3UT

Ticket Sales: 01722 320 333 / www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk

SPRING 2022 AT SALISBURY ARTS CENTRE:

SAME SEA, DIFFERENT BOAT

11 January – 5 March

COLLAGRAPH ON FABRIC WITH SUE BROWN

12 February  

CRAFT WITH WILTSHIRE SCRAPSTORE

24 February

COMEDY BARNSTORMERS 

25 February

SATURDAY STORYTIME 

26 February, 23 April

FLORENCE: THE LESSER-KNOWN LIFE AND LEGACY OF FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE

3 March

SWINGS AND ROUNDABOUTS

5 March 

YUKON HO! 

10 March 

TRIFFIDS!

11 March 

GATES WIDE OPEN

15 March – 8 May 

LIVE AND LOCAL 

17 March

COMEDY BARNSTORMERS 

25 March

AN EVENING WITHOUT KATE BUSH 

31 March 

FAY HIELD TRIO 
1 April 

SILVER SOCIAL WITH SALISBURY PLUCKERS

5 April 

CRAFT WITH WILTSHIRE SCRAPSTORE

13 April

SATURDAY STORYTIME

23 April

STORM BOY

23 April 

COMEDY BARNSTORMERS 

29 April

LIVE AND LOCAL 

28 April 

ELIZABETH I: VIRGIN ON THE RIDICULOUS 

5 – 6 May 

JEREMIAH

12 May  

THE DELOREONS 

15 May 

Group Bookers please contact [email protected] 

CINDERELLA TICKET HOLDERS 

Your current booking will automatically transfer to 2022/2023 with no action needed. 

We are also offering ticket holders Membership benefits of priority booking for Snow White and the Happy Ever After Beauty Salon and 10% discount off up to 2 tickets. 

Group Bookers will be contacted directly by the box office team to make revised arrangements with you. 
 

New bookings, credit or refunds can be arranged through the box office. 

In person at Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin Street Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 3pm. 

By email [email protected] 

To arrange group or access bookings please phone 01722 320 333 Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 12pm.

Thank you for your patience as we are operating with a reduced box office team. 

SEE IT SAFELY -We have been granted the use of Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre’s See It Safely mark. The mark certifies that we are complying with the latest Government and industry COVID-19 guidelines, to ensure the safety of our staff and audiences. You can find out more here https://officiallondontheatre.com/see-it-safely/ about the measures we have been putting in place ready for your visit, and what you will need to know beforehand.

The Barn Theatre, Cirencester – until 2nd January 2022

Reviewed by Josie Aburrow Smith

5*****

The story of Cinderella is one we all know. This is different; it is from the perspective of the Brothers Grimm. The show starts with The Brothers Grimm, Wilhelm and Jakob arguing over a new story. Then a young girl, Cinderella, arrives and we are launched into the fairy tale. Throughout the story there is fantastic musicianship. The actors each double up playing either the clarinet, double bass, accordion or violin. This makes it a different show to your standard Christmas panto or fairy tale.

There is a brilliant performance by Jesse Ashby who is the bearded stepmother (along with other characters). The stepsisters (Emily Panes and Anna Fordham) are snarling, giggling bullies. Together with the stepmother they make a great trio on the stage.

Cinderella (Tanya Bridgeman) is delightful to watch. Her interaction with a puppet bird was captivating. The Prince (Matthew Romain) is amusing and lovable is a hapless sort of way. The love story between him and cinderella is enchanting. 

This show is a mixture of song, illusion, puppetry,animation and music. It was a joy to see musical instruments being played on the stage. My 9 year old also watched the show and it was pure delight to watch her face being captivated by what was happening on the stage.

The Brothers Grimm Present: Cinderella, was written by Alan Pollock and composed & arranged by Tarek Merchant. Directed by Francesca Goodridge with design by Cory Shipp, musical direction by Dylan Townley, movement direction by Jodie Cole and Christina Fulcher, casting direction by Polly Jerrold, lighting design by Sam Rowcliffe-Tanner, sound design by Harry Smith and animation by Bryony Collishaw and Benjamin Collins.

The Guilty Feminist Presents

CAMP AS CHRISTMAS 

Whole host of LGBTQ+ celebs to perform at Christmas Fundraising Comedy Extravaganza!

7pm at Union Chapel on the 16^th December 2021

https://www.unionchapel.org.uk/

For anyone looking for some queer cheer this Christmas, then The Guilty Feminist Presents CAMP AS CHRISTMAS is planning to provide it in spades. Hosted by Deborah Frances-White, best known for her smash hit podcast The Guilty Feminist (Have I Got News For You, Would I Lie to You? Mock the Week, Question Time) and Tom Allen (8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Mock the Week, The Great Christmas Bake Off) The Guilty Feminist Presents CAMP AS CHRISTMAS promises to offer lively, effervescent, brilliantly witty, satirical, and inevitably camp entertainment from a host of LGBTQ+ celebs including Sandi Toksvig, Russell Tovey & Raven Smith. 

Taking place on 16th December at the magnificent Union Chapel in Islington, the night will bring together the best of London’s comedy, music, and conversation.

The event will be held to raise money for two amazing operations. 

• The Say It Loud Club, is an operation run for & by LGBTQ+ refugees fleeing homophobic violence & criminalisation. 
• CanDo – founded by a Syrian doctor in London provides a breakthrough early warning system in Syrian schools to give children a chance to evacuate ahead of an aerial attack.

Appearing on the glittering line-up will be Sandi Toksvig, Jessica Fostekew, Jen Brister, Grace Petrie, Travis Alabanza, Dosa Cat, Raven Smith – with Russell Tovey & Rob Diament from Talk Art, and more exclusive guests yet to be announced.

The fabulous and festive event will also host a comedy auction on the night which will offer the opportunity to bid for an array of exciting experiences including dinner for four with Rob Rinder and a personalised video from Andrew Scott – Fleabag’s hot priest himself.

Deborah Frances-White said ‘We could not be more ecstatic for The Guilty Feminist to present CAMP AS CHRISTMAS and I am so excited to host alongside the most talented & charming man in British comedy, Tom Allen. The line-up is an extraordinary array of LGBTQ+ talent. There are names so hot I am not even allowed to tell you yet.   The foundations we are raising money for are doing extraordinary work. Both charities are small grassroots operations urgently in need of profile and cash.  After last year’s half-measures Christmas, being in the room for such a glorious evening of comedy, music & conversation will be heavenly. We can’t wait to make your Yuletide gay.’

Dr Rola Hallam, Founder of CanDo said: ‘We are delighted and grateful to be partnering with Deborah and The Guilty Feminist team, alongside such an incredible crew of guests and comedians. The night not only promises to bring some camp Christmas joy to the audience but will help us raise much needed funds for our Save Syria’s Schools campaign to protect more than 60,000 vulnerable children, who everyday risk being killed or injured by aerial attacks whilst at school.’

Aloysius Ssali from Say it Loud said ‘At Say It Loud Club, we are so incredibly grateful to The Guilty Feminist and friends for supporting us and giving us this platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers. We are a grassroots organisation with a huge and fabulous community, so the funds raised will have a massive impact on the support we’re able to offer our members next year. Not only that, but having such well-renowned comedians, musicians, actors, and performers show up for us is truly special! Thank you to everyone involved for helping us to raise awareness of the challenges that LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers face.   In a political climate when refugees and asylum seekers are feeling particularly unwelcomed and afraid, this evening of love and celebration has reminded us of all those in the UK who are in our corner!’

“MAMMA MIA!”

ANNOUNCES NEW BOOKING PERIOD

TO SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER 2022

AT LONDON’S NOVELLO THEATRE

NOW ON SALE

The global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! at London’s Novello Theatre is now extending its booking period to Saturday 1 October 2022.  MAMMA MIA! is now in its 23^rd year in London.

The London cast stars Mazz Murray as Donna, Josie Benson as Tanya, Gemma Goggin as Rosie, Richard Trinder as Sam, Neil Moors as Harry, Stephen Beckett as Bill, Emma Mullen as Sophie, Jack Danson as Sky, Tegan Bannister as Ali, Sophie Matthew as Lisa, Michael Nelson as Eddie and Alexandros Beshonges as Pepper, with Natalie Langston playing the role of Donna at certain performances.

Also in the cast are Natasha Agnew, Chloe Ames, Gemma Atkins, Chloe-Jo Byrnes, Nicole Carlisle, Angus Good, Natalie Jayne Hall, Lauren Hampton, James Humpleman, Morgan Jackson, Frankie Jones, Grace Moorhouse, Jodie Nolan, Dan O’Brien, George Olney, Michael Storrs, Kyle Turner, Amy Thiroff, Michael Tyler, Simon Willmont and Alex Woodward.  

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

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

MAMMA MIA! originally opened in London at the Prince Edward Theatre on 6 April 1999, before transferring to the Prince of Wales Theatre in 2004, and then to the Novello Theatre in 2012.  The London production of MAMMA MIA! has been seen by over 9 million people, played over 8,500 performances and has broken box office records in all three of its London homes.  

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

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

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

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Novello Theatre

Aldwych

London WC2B 4LD

Ticket Prices: from £17.50*

*All prices include a £2.50 per ticket booking fee and £1.25 restoration levy (£1.50 restoration levy for performances from Monday 4 April 2022)

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

Performance Times:

Monday, Wednesdays – Saturdays 7.30pm

Matinees – Thursdays & Saturdays 3.00pm, Sundays 2.30pm

Christmas 2021/22 Performance Schedule

Monday 20 December                  3.00pm and 7.30pm                                        

Tuesday 21 December                 NO PERFORMANCE

Wednesday 22 December            3.00pm and 7.30pm

Thursday 23 December                3.00pm and 7.30pm

Friday 24 December                     NO PERFORMANCE

Saturday 25 December                 NO PERFORMANCE

Sunday 26 December                   7.30pm

Monday 27 December                  3.00pm and 7.30pm

Tuesday 28 December                 NO PERFORMANCE

Wednesday 29 December            3.00pm and 7.30pm

Thursday 30 December                3.00pm and 7.30pm

Friday 31 December                     2.30pm

Saturday 1 January                      3.00pm and 7.30pm

Sunday 2 January                        2.30pm

Currently booking to 1 October 2022

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

Box Office: 0844 482 5151

THE HIPPODROME THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM – 19 NOVEMBER 2021

REVIEWED BY NADIA DODD

3***

The Good Enough Mums Club is based on a group of women thrown together to overcome all of the highs and lows that we share in motherhood. From drooping boobs, peeing on the test sticks to sleep deprivation and babies being sick in your hair, this group of ladies seemed to have covered it all.

What we saw last night was almost a run through of the story, being introduced to the five main characters and hearing the songs from the musical, which should be a full blown production in roughly 12-18 months time.

These sessions are touring across the UK are also chances for the audience to become involved and also share their own experiences of being a parent whether it be good, hilariously funny or sad. There was a brief Q&A session where mic’s were passed along to brave audience members who wanted to share stories to questions such as ‘Tell us about a time that your little one did something to embarrass you in front of others?’ or ‘What did you discover about parenthood yourself that no-one ever told you about?’ The Birmingham crowd certainly had some interesting tales to tell indeed!

The five main mums are from different backgrounds and also going through different experiences of being a parent, but throughout the journey realise that they are stronger as a group and that just sometimes being ‘good enough’ is best.

Very basic stage set up at the moment as we see the main cast, Pam, Esme, Sophie, Chantel and Michelle sat with their music stands in front of them to read through what they have put together so far for the musical. Emily Beecher is the producer from The Recreate Agency which is an all female led agency aiming to get as many women back into the Arts doing something they love after having children.

Emily shared with us that she was finally diagnosed with post natal depression many months after the birth of her baby, also after having postpartum psychosis before she finally realised that she wasn’t just a ‘rubbish’ mum, she actually had a condition and then could be finally treated for it. From Emily’s story the musical has been born.

The songs were touching, relative and some extremely funny (Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Tits for example), this production will certainly be one to look out for during 2022/2023.

Date announced for Olivier Awards 2022 with Mastercard

Watch Olivier Awards teaser video here

It has today been confirmed that the Olivier Awards 2022 with Mastercard will take place on Sunday 10 April, at the Royal Albert Hall.

Established in 1976 and run by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT), the Olivier Awards celebrate the world-class status of London theatre and are Britain’s most prestigious stage honours.

The last full ceremony was held in 2019, followed by a scaled-down event in October 2020 at the London Palladium. 

Further details will be revealed soon.

OlivierAwards.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 

#OlivierAwards 

FOLLOWING PHENOMENAL DEMAND

ATG PRODUCTIONS AND CAA

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

WAGNER JOHNSON PRODUCTIONS

ANNOUNCE AN ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE OF

AN EVENING WITH

BARLOW & BEAR

CREATORS OF

THE UNOFFICIAL BRIDGERTON MUSICAL

ALONG WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

AT THE UNDERBELLY SPEIGELTENT, LEICESTER SQUARE

MONDAY 22 NOVEMBER

ATG Productions and CAA in association with Wagner Johnson Productions are delighted to announce that following phenomenal demand, an additional performance of AN EVENING WITH BARLOW AND BEAR at the Underbelly Speigeltent, Leicester Square has been added on Monday 22 November at 9.15pm, following the sold out 7.30pm performance.

Tickets are on sale now. www.christmasinleicestersquare.com

Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear are also thrilled to announce that they will be joined on stage by West End stars Shan Ako (Les Misérables, Whitney – Queen of the Night) Nathan Amzi (Jesus Christ Superstar, Heathers, Aladdin) and Paul Wilkins (Les Misérables, The Dreamers, Hair).

Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear are best known as the creators of the viral sensation The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical, inspired by Netflix’s hit series. Their songs and performances have attracted a massive international fanbase, receiving over 250 million views on TikTok. They have broken new ground by involving their audience in their process every step of the way via social media. The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical album was released in September and within two hours was #1 on iTunes U.S. Pop Albums and received over 10 million streams in one week. They have been featured in Variety, People, Entertainment Weekly, The Boston Globe and on the Today Show, BBC, NPR’s All Things Considered and The Kelly Clarkson Show.

Barlow & Bear are passionate about arts education and the power of theatre to transform lives. A portion of ticket sales will benefit Mousetrap Theatre Project – a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of young people in the UK by making theatre accessible to all, particularly those with limited resources, opportunities or support.

Emily Bear is a chart-topping concert pianist, composer, producer, singer-songwriter and performer who made her professional concert debut at five years old. Emily was featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show for first time at six years old. She has since performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Hollywood Bowl and Montreux Jazz Festival. She has received the highest accolades across musical styles including ASCAP Concert Music Composer of the Year, Herb Alpert Jazz Composer of the Year, W Magazine’s “It Girl” of the year and a recent award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Her mentor, Quincy Jones, produced her debut album and she was the subject of the Emmy-award winning documentary “Girl with a Gift.” Her film and television scoring work includes projects for Disney, Dreamworks, Warner Bros., and Universal. 

As a songwriter and performer, Abigail Barlow caught the attention of Meghan Trainor when a song Abigail wrote went viral on TikTok, beginning a lasting collaboration and mentorship between them. Her recent single “Heartbreak Hotel” topped the iTunes Pop Chart at #6 and obtained over 200K streams on Spotify in less than 48 hours. To date it has 7.4 million streams on Spotify. Her artful lyricism and unique melodies have garnered international acclaim. As a young teenager, Abigail’s love of performing live was refined when she found a worldwide audience online with performance platforms YouNow and Musically. A 2017 Shorty Award nominee, she was a founding creator on TikTok — writing and performing her original music in real time for a growing fanbase.

“Bridgerton®” is a registered trademark of Netflix Studios, LLC.

York Theatre Royal to receive £294,952 from the third round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund

● York Theatre Royal is among 925 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the Culture Recovery Fund

● This award will support the delivery of York Theatre Royal’s community focused winter programme

More than £100 million has been awarded to hundreds of cultural organisations across the country including York Theatre Royal in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.

York Theatre Royal has been awarded a grant of £294,952. The third round of funding will support organisations from all corners of the sector as they deal with ongoing reopening challenges, ensuring they can thrive in better times ahead.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said:

“Culture is for everyone and should therefore be accessible to everyone, no matter who they are and where they’re from.

“Through unprecedented government financial support, the Culture Recovery Fund is supporting arts and cultural organisations so they can continue to bring culture to communities the length and breadth of the country, supporting jobs, boosting local economies and inspiring people.”

Over £1.2 billion has already been awarded from the unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund, supporting around 5000 individual organisations and sites across the country ranging from local museums to West End theatres, grassroots music venues to festivals, and organisations in the cultural and heritage supply-chains.

Tom Bird, Chief Executive of York Theatre Royal said:

“We are delighted and grateful for this grant from DCMS, which supports our recovery and underpins a hugely exciting winter programme at York Theatre Royal. This award allows us to continue to help the people of York enjoy the benefits of a creative life.”

Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, said:

“This continued investment from the Government on an unprecedented scale means our theatres, galleries, music venues, museums and arts centres can carry on playing their part in bringing visitors back to our high streets, helping to drive economic growth, boosting community pride and promoting good health. It’s a massive vote of confidence in the role our cultural organisations play in helping us all to lead happier lives”.

Cast and creatives announced for the world
premiere of AVA: The Secret Conversations, the
new play by Elizabeth McGovern
Riverside Studios, 101 Queen Caroline St, Hammersmith, London W6 9BN
14th January – 16th April 2022

I either write the book or sell the jewels, and I’m kinda sentimental about the jewels

The incredible cast and creatives have been announced for AVA: The Secret Conversations, the spellbinding new play from Elizabeth McGovern based on the book by Peter Evans and Ava Gardner. Taking to the stage with Academy Award-nominee McGovern (Downton Abbey, ITV), who stars as Ava, is Anatol Yusef (Boardwalk Empire, HBO; Punisher, Netflix) as Peter Evans, the journalist Ava hired to write her autobiography when she lived in 1980s London. Directed by filmmaker Gaby Dellal (3 Generations, Big Beach; Angels Crest, Process Film), AVA is a captivating exploration into the fractured relationship between the public and private lives of one of Hollywood’s greatest icons.

Producer Karl Sydow comments, I’m thrilled to have cast Anatol Yusef alongside Elizabeth McGovern in this fantastic new play that explores so much about what the legendary Ava Gardner had to deal with throughout her illustrious career and tumultuous marriages.

Part memory play, part sparring match, through this tense and witty play Ava and Peter debate, fight and flirt their way through the memories of Ava’s fabulous life as they struggle to get the story straight. Expect a rich sensory journey through Ava’s whisky-soaked recollections of her life as an actor and with her three famous husbands – Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw and Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra.

The production will feature design by 59 Productions (Oslo, Broadway and West End; An
American In Paris, Broadway, West End, Paris and US Tour), who will bring their unique talents with projection design to the production, evoking the magical atmosphere of Hollywood’s heyday. It also features costume design by Fotini Dimou (The Children’s Act, BBC Films; Hay Fever, Chichester Festival Theatre) with lighting design by Elliot Griggs (Fleabag, Wyndham’s Theatre; An Octoroon, National Theatre), sound design by Ella Wahlström (I Think We Are Alone, Frantic Assembly; Anna, National Theatre) and is produced by Karl Sydow with the support of the Ava Gardner Trust.

BEN ELTON BACK IN

THE DIRECTOR’S CHAIR FOR

‘WE WILL ROCK YOU’

20TH ANNIVERSARY

UK TOUR!

Queen and Ben Elton’s smash hit musical ‘We Will Rock You’ is back for 2022 to celebrate its 20th anniversary with a new tour in theatres across the UK, directed by Ben Elton. Tickets are available now from wewillrockyou.com.

Kicking off in Portsmouth at the Kings Theatre on 7th February, the tour will then play 27 venues around the country before culminating with a residency at Manchester‘s Palace Theatre on 5th September.

The musical has seen unprecedented success in theatres and arenas all around the world since it first premiered in London nearly 20 years ago at the Dominion Theatre in May 2002. And now, the original writer of We Will Rock You and godfather of stand-up comedy, Ben Elton will be back in the Director’s chair working with the new 2022 cast ready to rock UK audiences once again.

Ben Elton said: “I can hardly believe it’s been 20 years since We Will Rock You premiered in London. Or that much of what we thought was science fiction in the script back then has turned into science fact! I guess Queen were always ahead of the game! I’ve directed this show all over the world and I can’t wait to bring it home to the UK with a brand new production and a fabulous cast of young Bohemians, most of whom were rocking in their cradles when this adventure first began.”

The musical extravaganza featuring 24 of Queen’s greatest hits, which has been watched by over 16 million people in 19 countries, will once again rock theatres across the UK from February next year. After opening in Portsmouth, the tour will play York, Cornwall, Bournemouth, Stoke-On-Trent, Liverpool, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Cardiff, Bristol,

Reading, Aylesbury, Ipswich, Torquay, Wolverhampton, Wimbledon, Stockton, Peterborough, Norwich, Bromley, Birmingham, Southend, Canterbury, Southampton, Newcastle, Sheffield and Manchester.

The cast will see Ian McIntosh play Galileo, Elena Skye as Scaramouche, Jenny O’Leary as Killer Queen and Adam Strong as Khashoggi. Together with Michael Mckell as Buddy, Martina Ciabatti Mennell as Oz, David Michael Johnson as Brit, and an Ensemble including Laura Bird, Kate Leiper, Joanne Harper, Anna Davey, Edward Leigh, Spin, Karen Walker, David Muscat, Damien Walsh, Laura Ava-Scott, Victoria Collins, Joseph Connor, Louis Clarke-Clare and Jacob Fearey.

‘We Will Rock You’ 2022 UK Tour Dates

07/02/2022 – 12/02/2022 Portsmouth: Kings Theatre

14/02/2022 – 19/02/2022 York: Grand Opera House

21/02/2022 – 27/02/2022 Cornwall: Hall for Cornwall

28/02/2022 – 05/03/2022 Bournemouth: Pavilion Theatre

07/03/2022 – 12/03/2022 Stoke: Regent Theatre

14/03/2022 – 19/03/2022 Liverpool: Empire Theatre

21/03/2022 – 26/03/2022 Northampton: Royal & Derngate

28/03/2022 – 02/04/2022 Milton Keynes: Milton Keynes Theatre

04/04/2022 – 16/04/2022 Cardiff: Millennium Centre

18/04/2022 – 23/04/2022 Bristol: Hippodrome

25/04/2022 – 30/04/2022 Reading: Hexagon

02/05/2022 – 07/05/2022 Aylesbury: Waterside Theatre

09/05/2022 – 14/05/2022 Ipswich: Regent Theatre

16/05/2022 – 21/05/2022 Torquay: Princess Theatre

23/05/2022 – 28/05/2022 Wolverhampton: Grand Theatre

30/05/2022 – 04/06/2022 Wimbledon: New Wimbledon Theatre

06/06/2022 – 11/06/2022 Stockton: Globe Theatre

13/06/2022 – 18/06/2022 Peterborough: New Theatre

20/06/2022 – 25/06/2022 Norwich: Theatre Royal

27/06/2022 – 02/07/2022 Bromley: Churchill Theatre

04/07/2022 – 30/07/2022 Birmingham: Hippodrome

01/08/2022 – 06/08/2022 Southend: Cliffs Pavilion

08/08/2022 – 13/08/2022 Canterbury: Marlowe Theatre

15/08/2022 – 20/08/2022 Southampton: Mayflower Theatre

22/08/2022 – 27/08/2022 Newcastle: Theatre Royal

29/08/2022 – 03/09/2022 Sheffield: City Hall

05/09/2022 – 10/09/2022 Manchester: Palace Theatre

Website: wewillrockyou.com

Twitter: @wwryglobal

Instagram: wewillrockyouglobal

Facebook: facebook.com/wewillrockyouglobal

“Magnifico!”

The Sun

“One of the best shows I’ve seen in yonks. An evening of sheer entertainment and enjoyment”

Daily Mirror

“The sheer power of the best Queen numbers strikes hard”

Financial Times

“There was wild applause at the climax of the show…and it only got louder”

Daily Telegraph

“Spectacular”

Daily Express