Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham – 16 October 2021, then Nationwide
Reviewed by Joanne Hodge
5*****
Guarantee you will have “The Time of Your Life” …
Producer Karl Sydow brings to life this classic 80’s film. The atmosphere is FANTASTIC from the word go, with the audience showcasing their own individual performances of the film’s script and giving rapturous applause when the most famous lines from the film are delivered i.e., ‘I carried a watermelon’, ‘Nobody puts baby in the corner’.
The set and scene changes are very slick, transporting you through Francis ‘Baby’ Houseman and Johnny Castle’s summer romance. Played by Kira Malou and Michael O’Reilly, who bare uncanny resemblances to the original screen stars Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze, the chemistry that is present and continues to grow between the pair is electric!!
Ameilia Lockey has done an astounding job in Wardrobe, replicating the outfits worn by the original film cast, although in some scenes very little is worn…temperatures in the room sored!!
The entire cast have got some serious moves, and the vocal ranges are outstanding. It’s difficult to write in depth, just wanting to scream the positives EXCELLENT production, GREAT cast, FANTASTIC atmosphere, OUTSTANDING performances, PHENOMENAL!!!
Get your tickets now, you’d be mad to miss out on this FABULOUSLY FEEL-GOOD evening.
It’s not often that you are in a theatre where absolutely everyone in the audience is genuinely totally captivated by a production and last night was one of those exceptional evenings. Nottingham was treated to an amazing performance of Hairspray and showed its appreciation with a long standing ovation. Filled with all the songs you would expect from this top class production ( “Good Morning Baltimore”, “You Can’t Stop The Beat”, “WithoutLove” to name a few), it entertained you, moved you, and definitely had you singing along.
Hairspray, set in the late 60’s when colour segregation was still part of life, follows the story of Tracy, a larger-than-life school girl. She wins a competition to dance on the TV show which only allows white teenagers to dance except once a month when coloured teenagers were allowed to dance at the back of the studio. Tracy can’t abide this and she uses her new-found fame to fight against racial integration and promote tolerance and solidarity between the white and black community. Even though Hairspray was written for the 60’s, its story of racial equality and acceptance of all colours seems even more apt for our current times.
Originally written by Mark O’Donnel and Thomas Meehan, this production has a never-ending supply of seamless dance routines (choreographed by Drew McOnie) and toe-tapping music (directed by Ben Atkinson). The set is simple – two side sets slide onto the stage when needed but otherwise the stage is mainly left empty to allow the full cast room to dance through their numbers. The Ensemble danced and sang with energy and really complimented the main storyline and characters.
Making her professional debut, Katie Brace must be applauded for her excellent part as Tracy Turnblad. She comes across as confident and enthusiastic in this role which allows her little time to catch breath throughout the show.
But it’s the comedy in so much of the show that really holds it together. The duet between Edna Turnblad (Alex Bourne) and Wilbur Turnblad (Norman Pace) singing “You’re Timeless To Me” almost stole the show – their comic timing and innuendo’s were priceless but also moving.
Brenda Edward’s Motormouth Maybelle’s rendition of “Big, Blonde And Beautiful” was outstanding. Edward’s ability to sing with such a range of emotion from its quiet start to glorious crescendo was a joy, a real spine-tingling moment.
Rebecca Jayne-Davies part as Penny Pingleton, Tracy’s best friend, was endearing. Jayne-Davies played her as a gawky teenager who has no idea how to dance which could have distracted from the rest of the energetic dance routines but she manages to pitch it just right.
This is the breath of fresh air we all need at the moment. If you have the chance to see this production of Hairspray, then do. Its’ an absolute winner!
IN THE UK AND IRELAND TOUR OF THE SMASH HIT ROMANTIC MUSICAL COMEDY
ALONGSIDE
SANDRA MARVIN AS ‘BECKY’, EVELYN HOSKINS AS ‘DAWN’
AND MATT WILLIS AS ‘DR POMATTER’
Producers Barry & Fran Weissler and David Ian are delighted to announce that Chelsea Halfpenny with join the cast as Jenna in the smash hit romantic musical comedy WAITRESS as from 10 January 2022. Chelsea will take over the role from Lucie Jones who leaves the production to move on to a soon to be announced new project.
Chelsea will join Sandra Marvin as ‘Becky’, Evelyn Hoskins as ‘Dawn’ and Busted’s Matt Willis as ‘Dr Pomatter’. Tour and casting schedule below. waitressthemusical.co.uk
They are be joined by George Crawford as ‘Ogie’, Michael Stark as ‘Joe’, Tamlyn Henderson as ‘Earl’ and Christopher D. Hunt as ‘Cal’. The company also includes Monique Ashe-Palmer, Amelia Atherton, Donal Brennan, Aimée Fisher, Scarlet Gabriel, Nathanael Landskroner, Charlie Martin, Liam McHugh, Olivia Mitchell, Ben Morris and Brian Roland.
Chelsea Halfpenny began her career in the popular children’s television series Byker Grove. She appeared as ‘Amy Wyatt’ in Emmerdale for three years and ‘Alice Munroe’ in Casualty, a part she played for four years. Chelsea recently made her West End debut as ‘Judy Bernly’ in 9 to 5 The Musical at the Savoy Theatre.
Having played ‘Jessie Grant’ in ITV’s Emmerdale for two years, Sandra Marvin joined the West End production of Waitress to play ‘Becky’. Her many other West End theatre credits include most recently ‘Mrs Fezziwig/Mrs Mops’ in A Christmas Carol at the Dominion Theatre, City of Angels and Committee at the Donmar Warehouse, ‘Miss Motormouth Maybelle’ in Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre, ‘Queenie’ in Show Boat at the New London Theatre, ‘Rose’ in Stepping Out at the Vaudeville Theatre, Porgy and Bess at the Savoy Theatre and Ragtime and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Her other credits include Romantics Anonymous at Bristol Old Vic and on tour in the US and ‘Mama Morton’ in Chicago at Leicester Curve. In 2016 Sandra performed with Kate Bush on her 22 date sold-out Before the Dawn concerts and features on her live album of the same name. Sandra also sings the title track on the Grammy Award winning soundtrack for the George Clooney film, Gravity.
Evelyn Hoskins most recently played the role of ‘Dawn’ in Waitress in the West End at the Adelphi Theatre. Her other theatre credits include the title role in Carrie at Southwark Playhouse, Spring Awakening at the Lyric Hammersmith and in the West End, Assassins at the Nottingham Playhouse and Watermill Theatre, Mrs Henderson Presents at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, Peter and the Starcatcher at Northampton’s Royal & Derngate, This Is My Family at Sheffield Crucible and on UK Tour, The Boy Who Fell Into A Book at the Stephen Joseph Theatre and The Secret Garden at Birmingham Rep.
Matt Willis is probably best known as a member of the double Brit Award winning band Busted, who have released four No1 UK singles, two platinum albums and sold over four million albums in the UK. No stranger to the musical theatre stage, his West End credits include ‘Fiyero’ in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria, ‘Nick Hurley’ in Flashdance at the Shaftesbury Theatre and most recently ‘Bob Cratchit’ in A Christmas Carol at the Dominion Theatre. His other theatre credits include ‘Orin Scrivello’ in Little Shop of Horrors at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and ‘Chuck Cranson’ in the national tour of Footloose The Musical.
WAITRESS is based on the 2007 movie written by Adrienne Shelly. Music and lyrics are written by GRAMMY award-winning, singer-songwriter sensation Sara Bareilles, who appeared on the Graham Norton TV show, performing the hit song from the show She Used To Be Mine. With a book by Jessie Nelson, direction by Tony-award winner Diane Paulus and choreography by Lorin Latarro, Waitress has garnered multiple awards and nominations in both America and the UK, receiving acclaim from both audiences and critics alike.
WAITRESS opened on Broadway on 24th April 2016 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, where it ran until 5th January 2020. Waitress celebrated its official opening night at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End on 7 March 2019. The North American tour of Waitress is currently on hold due to COVID-19. Waitress is currently on tour in Japan (Japanese language production), and is set to open in Australia and Holland.
WAITRESS tells the story of Jenna, an expert pie maker in a small town, who dreams of a way out of her loveless marriage. A baking contest in a nearby county and the town’s new doctor may offer her a chance at a new life, while her fellow waitresses offer their own recipes to happiness. But Jenna must find the courage and strength within herself to rebuild her life. This beautiful musical celebrates friendship, motherhood, and the magic of a well-made pie.
Book by Jessie Nelson
Music and Lyrics by Grammy Award-winner Sara Bareilles
Based upon the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly
Directed by Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus
WAITRESS was originally produced by Barry & Fran Weissler and Norton and Elayne Herrick. The tour is produced by Barry & Fran Weissler and David Ian Productions.
LISTINGS
WAITRESS UK & IRELAND TOUR 2021/2022
waitressthemusical.co.uk
Facebook/Instagram/Twitter – @waitressuk
2021
19 – 23 OCTOBER 2021
EASTBOURNE CONGRESS THEATRE
eastbournetheatres.co.uk
Lucie Jones – Jenna, Sandra Marvin – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, Matt Willis – Dr Pomatter
25 – 30 OCTOBER 2021
SUNDERLAND EMPIRE
atgtickets.com
Lucie Jones – Jenna, Sandra Marvin – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, Matt Willis – Dr Pomatter
8 – 20 NOVEMBER 2021
MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE
atgtickets.com
Lucie Jones – Jenna, Sandra Marvin – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, Matt Willis – Dr Pomatter
23 – 27 NOVEMBER 2021
HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE ABERDEEN
aberdeenperformingarts.com
Lucie Jones – Jenna, Sandra Marvin – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, Matt Willis – Dr Pomatter
29 NOVEMBER – 4 DECEMBER 2021
REGENT’S THEATRE, STOKE ON TRENT
atgtickets.com
Lucie Jones – Jenna, Sandra Marvin – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, Matt Willis – Dr Pomatter
2022
10 – 15 JANUARY 2022
NORTHAMPTON ROYAL AND DERNGATE
royalandderngate.co.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Sandra Marvin – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, Matt Willis – Dr Pomatter
18 – 22 JANUARY 2022
EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE
atgtickets.com
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Sandra Marvin – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, Matt Willis – Dr Pomatter
24 – 29 JANUARY 2022
CURVE, LEICESTER
curveonline.co.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Sandra Marvin – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, Matt Willis – Dr Pomatter
31 JANUARY – 5 FEBRUARY 2022
HULL NEW THEATRE
hulltheatres.co.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Sandra Marvin – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn, Matt Willis – Dr Pomatter
8 – 12 FEBRUARY 2022
BRISTOL HIPPODROME
atgtickets.com
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna, Sandra Marvin – Becky, Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn. Casting for the role of Dr Pomatter to be announced.
14 – 19 FEBRUARY 2022
NEW VICTORIA THEATRE WOKING
atgtickets.com
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
21 – 26 FEBRUARY 2022
CHURCHILL THEATRE BROMLEY
churchilltheatre.co.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
1 – 5 MARCH 2022
BELFAST GRAND OPERA HOUSE
goh.co.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
8 – 12 MARCH 2022
NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL
theatreroyal.co.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
21 – 26 MARCH 2022
THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH
theatreroyal.com
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
28 MARCH – 2 APRIL 2022
LLANDUDNO VENUE CYMRU
venuecymru.co.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
5 – 9 APRIL 2022
EDEN COURT INVERNESS
eden-court.co.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
12 – 16 APRIL 2022
GLASGOW KING’S THEATRE
atgtickets.com
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced
25 – 30 APRIL 2022
OXFORD NEW THEATRE
atgtickets.com
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
9 – 14 MAY 2022
LIVERPOOL EMPIRE
atgtickets.com
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
16 – 21 MAY 2022
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME
birminghamhippodrome.com
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
24 – 28 MAY 2022
THE MAYFLOWER, SOUTHAMPTON
mayflower.org.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
30 MAY – 4 JUNE 2022
WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE, CARDIFF
wmc.org.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
7 – 18 JUNE 2022
BORD GÁIS ENERGY THEATRE DUBLIN
bordgaisenergytheatre.ie
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
20 – 25 JUNE 2022
TORQUAY PRINCESS THEATRE
atgtickets.com
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
28 JUNE – 2 JULY 2022
WOLVERHAMPTON GRAND THEATRE
grandtheatre.co.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
4 – 9 JULY 2022
DARTFORD ORCHARD THEATRE
orchardtheatre.co.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
11 – 16 JULY 2022
BRIGHTON THEATRE ROYAL
atgtickets.com
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
18 – 23 JULY 2022
NOTTINGHAM ROYAL CONCERT HALL
trch.co.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
25 – 30 JULY 2022
BRADFORD ALHAMBRA
bradford-theatres.co.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
1 – 6 AUGUST 2022
CANTERBURY MARLOWE THEATRE
marlowetheatre.com
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
9 – 13 AUGUST 2022
SOUTHEND CLIFFS PAVILION
southendtheatres.org.uk
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
15 – 20 AUGUST 2022
NORWICH THEATRE ROYAL
norwichtheatre.org
Chelsea Halfpenny – Jenna. Casting for the roles of Becky, Dawn and Dr Pomatter to be announced.
Goblin Theatre’s A Christmas Carol comes to the Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval College Old Royal Naval College, King William Walk, Greenwich, SE10 9NN Friday 3rd – Thursday 23rd December 2021
This festive season, in the magnificent unique setting of the Painted Hall, known as Britain’s Sistine Chapel, Goblin Theatre will present a vibrant new adaptation of Charles Dickens’s spooky classic tale A Christmas Carol. Running throughout December on selected dates, this atmospheric musical show, featuring original songs and music, will be performed live by a talented cast of actor musicians.
Inspired by the Old Royal Naval College’s Dickensian links – the author was a fan of Greenwich and often featured the area in his books – Goblin Theatre’s adaptation of A Christmas Carol evokes the historical figures and ‘ghosts’ of the Painted Hall to bring this iconic ghost story to life. This fastpaced, funny and spooky show is the perfect festive treat for all the family this Christmas.
Live music is integral to this exciting new production and Fezziwig’s party transforms the Painted Hall into a real-life ceilidh with the cast performing the songs live. The cast is comprised of Victoria Boyce (Father Christmas at the Hall, Royal Albert Hall), Matt Burns (Once, UK tour), Niccolò Curradi (La Strada, UK tour/The Other Palace), Rob Gathercole (The Ballad of Rudy, Goblin Theatre) and Mia Jerome (The Lost Lending Library, Punchdrunk). This thrilling site-specific production is directed by Andrew Barry (Royal Exchange Theatre Elders Company), with music by Goblin Theatre’s resident composers Mary Erskine and Will Dollard, and book by Goblin Theatre’s Artistic Director Matt Borgatti. The Painted Hall Café is offering special Christmas treats before and after the show.
Artistic Director Matt Borgatti comments, The production is very much set in the Painted Hall, and although we travel through time and space, it’s the place we return to throughout the show. This is one of our biggest shows yet, and we’re so delighted to be able to introduce our work to new audiences in Greenwich and beyond.
As well as A Christmas Carol, there are plenty of other festive activities at the Old Royal Naval College this year. Families can enjoy the free Make History day, on 12th December, and have a go making mini wreaths and Christmas crackers just like the ones found in Victorian Britain. On 19th December, children can use props and percussion to delve into the story of Scrooge and the ghosts who inspire him to change his ways in Scrooge Spooked. Post-Christmas, families can have a go at sea shanties and music making at Twixmas Shanties. There will be two Christmas Carol services in the Chapel of St Peter and St Paul: Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice Carol Concert will retell the Christmas story on 3rd December and Trinity Laban Chapel Choir will perform Bach’s Christmas Oratario and more on 5th December.
Come and do some Christmas shopping from 22nd November with the opening of the Christmas shop, and on Museum Shop Sunday, 28th November, with 20% off the Visitor Centre and Painted Hall shops, Gin Tasting, and Art and Sketching Workshop run by local artists and a Q&A and book signing by the authors of 111 Places in Greenwich.
The Bandaged Woman, the disarming new production from Theatre63, explores what success means in our already unfair world.
How does an artist contend with a privileged background and what demons infect their work?
Wednesday 24th November – Saturday 4th December 2021
The Old Red Lion Theatre, 418 St. John Street, London, EC1V 4NJ
The Bandaged Woman, from Theatre63, comes to The Old Red Lion Theatre, examining the trials and tribulations of being born into a privileged life. It asks what do you do when you’re born with so much and considers how do you make yourself worthy in the eyes of those who have nothing? Why do we champion success if it means the failures of others, who is to blame? Hera is running on the fumes of her father’s fading career. After a string of her own theatrical failures, she’s set on making her own one woman play and making a name for herself. But a crowd gathers outside her family’s estate with other ideas of what she should do with her privilege.
Hera arrives home, to sell her family’s estate and finds her Father won’t leave his office. A mysterious bandaged woman who says she’s her maid won’t leave her alone. A gardener called Janos catches her eye with his ability to enjoy the simpler things in life. All while the city inhabitants bang on the gates outside. But Hera’s not worried. She knows what the true focus is. As the crowd gets closer and closer, she tries to uncover how to make her next play a sell out and finally gain her father’s acceptance.
Three plays, all failures, all embarrassments… They don’t like Hera because they know who her father is, but they don’t like him anymore, so maybe they’ll give her another chance? She just has to find out what to feed them, what will set the stage on fire.
Written by William Proudler (The Bandaged Woman, Mountview Catalyst Festival; Tony and Massandra Mysteries, Big Finish; Cockroached, Theatre63/Pleasance Courtyard), Produced by Jing Bi (Small Hours, Mountview Catalyst Festival; The Bandaged Woman, Mountview Catalyst Festival) and directed by Ruby Etches (The Bandaged Woman, Mountview Catalyst Festival; Twelfth Night, Tread the Boards/Shakespeare in the Park; Cockroached, Theatre63/Pleasance Courtyard). With Freya Sharp (Woman in Nuclear War, The Old Red Lion Theatre; The Little Prince, Vienna’s English Theatre; Pinocchio, Oddsocks Productions), Jacqueline Johnson (Emmerdale; The Bandaged Woman, Mountview Catalyst Festival) and Samuel Hoult (Mountview Theatre School) taking on the lead roles.
Speaking of the work, William Proudlercomments, When you go to the theatre and the lights go down and you can drift off into a dream. And who’s up there on the stage, but those who are more successful than us, and they shine lights at them, even their name is lit up in lights on the front door. I was interested in the dark side of success. We all want our name in lights, and we can be like moths to these lights, willing to do terrible things just to get close. Success is a double edge sword they say, well I wanted to see characters cut by that sword.
Theatre63 was formed in 2016 by a group of Birmingham School of Acting graduates. The Company’s first show Cockroached premiered at Birmingham’s Old Joint Stock Theatre before appearing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and being nominated for a National Student Drama Festival (NSDF) Edinburgh Award. Since then, the Company have concentrated on solo projects but are now ready to re-enter the industry with this daring new show at a time when the industry is making massive shifts and changes.
Condragulations! Delightful Divina De Campo will be bringing the glitz and glamour to The Core at Corby Cube’s Christmas show, Sleeping Beauty!
Wakey, Wakey! The Christmas show of your dreams is just around the corner and it’s a show not to be missed, as Ru Paul’s Drag Race favourite Divina De Campo leads the cast of Corby’s first ever drag pantomime as the evil Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty from Friday 17 to Friday 31 December.
A seasoned British drag queen known for her fabulous high soprano and 4-octave vocal range, Divina has featured on national television programmes including The Voice, All Together Now and most recently a finalist on the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Divina is currently touring the UK in Chicago The Musical and can’t wait to be turning on her bad girl persona for the role this Christmas.
“I am so excited to be appearing in Sleeping Beauty at The Core this Christmas. I love what the producers are doing by colliding the world of drag and pantomime in a show that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community. Drag is for everyone, and this show proves it. I am going to be wickedly fabulous so watch out Corby, DDC is coming to get you!”
Joining Divina will be drag legend Lola Lasagne, one of the most successful and popular drag queens on the UK circuit. Lola will be “whipping her hair back and forth” as Nanny Lola, looking after Princess Beauty whilst dealing with the tempers, tantrums and traumas caused by Carabosse – the most wicked fairy in the land.
And that’s not all! The show’s producers, Imagine Theatre, are thrilled to announce that joining those two fantastic queens will be hugely popular drag king and West End star (Death Drop), Don One who will be playing the deliciously dashing Prince Eric.
With fabulous sets, glamorous costumes and more sequins than Strictly, it’s going to be camp, it’s going to be glitzy and audiences will ‘sashay away’ into the night with huge smiles on their faces. With a suggested age guidance of 12+ this is a fabulously festive show with just a little more sass!
Sleeping Beauty takes place at The Core at Corby Cube from Friday 17 – Friday 31 December. Tickets start from £10, for more information and to book tickets go to ww.thecorecorby.com or call 01536 470470.
*A charge of £1.50 per-transaction applies to telephone and website bookings of £15 and over, it does not apply in person or to Friends, Groups and Disabled Patrons.
Aria Entertainment today announces they will stage a musical adaptation of KahlilGibran’s Broken Wings by Nadim Naaman and Dana Al Fardan. After multiple productions of the musical in concert form around the Middle East this will be the first full staging of the musical. The production, directed by Bronagh Lagan, opens at Charing Cross Theatre on 26 January, with previews from 21 January, and runs until 5 March 2022.
Nadim Naaman said today, “Nearly four years after our semi-staged concert debut, I am frankly ecstatic that Broken Wings is returning to London. This new Production will be the first time our musical is fully-staged. It feels particularly special to be bringing Gibran and a piece of Lebanon back to the London stage, following the many difficulties faced by the Lebanese people over the past few years. We are so grateful to Katy for her longstanding support and belief in Broken Wings, and we can’t wait to welcome audiences early next year.”
Katy Lipson, also commented, “As soon as I heard this beautiful and arresting score I became committed to bringing this story to the stage in London in a full production. I find it a unique musical set in the melting pot of the Middle East but with a familiar story of longing, loss and discovery with an incredible writing team. I hope audiences will enjoy the romance and beauty of the story and enjoy another powerful new musical which deserves to part of the cannon.”
Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment with Bonnie Comley and Stewart F. Lane in association with Edward Prophet and People Entertainment Group presents
Kahlil Gibran’s
BROKEN WINGS Written by Nadim Naaman and Dana Al Fardan
Directed by Bronagh Lagan
21 January – 5 March 2022
New York City, 1923. Through exquisite poetry and enchanting music, an ageing Gibran narrates our tale, transporting us back two decades and across continents, to turn-of-the-century Beirut. Gibran meets Selma; their connection is instant and their love affair, fated. However, their journey to happiness is soon thrown off course, as the pair face obstacles that shake the delicate foundation of their partnership. Will their love win out or will their dream of a life together be torn apart?
Performed in-the-round, Broken Wings takes us on an unmissable musical voyage, exploring issues of gender equality, immigration, the freedom to love who we love, and what ‘home’ really means to us. Over a century later, and the themes and debates raised in Gibran’s story, remain increasingly relevant today.
Nadim Naaman is the book writer and co-composer. His credits include Rumi: The Musical – released by Broadway Records as a Concept Album. His credits as an actor include A Little Night Music (Holland Park Opera), The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre/Greek tour), By Jeeves (The Old Laundry), Sweeney Todd (Tooting Arts Club), One Man, Two Guvnors (Theatre Royal Haymarket), and The Sound of Music (London Palladium). As a soloist, he has performed concerts in venues including The Hong Kong Philharmonic, Birmingham Symphony, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, RTE Concert Orchestra Dublin, Liverpool Philharmonic, The John Wilson Orchestra, London Symphony and BBC Proms at The Royal Albert Hall. His 2016 studio album, Sides, topped the iTunes UK Vocal Chart, and is available on iTunes and Spotify. Naaman is also an associate at The Royal Academy of Music.
Dana Al Fardan is a Qatari composer, songwriter and symphonic artist. Her credits include Rumi: The Musical – released by Broadway Records as a Concept Album. She is the official composer of Qatar Airways and also Brand Ambassador of Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, with whom she has recorded two albums: Layla and Sandstorm – the latter has been performed by The London Metropolitan Orchestra at Theatre Royal Haymarket in London.
Bronagh Lagan directs. Her theatre credits include Cruise (Duchess Theatre), Rags The Musical (Lyric Theatre/Park Theatre), Umm Kulthum (London Palladium), Putting It Together, Little Women (Hope Mill Theatre), A Winter’s Tale (Rose Theatre Kingston), Brexit the Musical (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Promises, Promises (Southwark Playhouse), tick, tick… BOOM! (Park Theatre), As You Like It (Jackson’s Lane), The Adventures of Pinocchio (Ambassadors Theatre), The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Chipping Norton Theatre), The Pajama Game, A Man of No Importance (Pleasance Theatre), Heart of Winter, The Stationmaster (Tristan Bates Theatre), James and The Giant Peach (UK/international tour), Portia Coughlan (The Old Red Lion), Girlfriends (Union Theatre), A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (Greenwich Theatre), The Mistress Cycle (Landor Theatre), Expectations (Arcola Theatre), Blood Wedding (Courtyard Theatre), Newsrevue (Canal Café Theatre), Henry VIPart 1 (Rose Theatre), Erris (Theatre503), Julius Caesar (The Scoop) and The Madness of Sweeney (Lyric Theatre, Belfast). Lagan is also part of the From Page To Stage Literary department for Aria Entertainment.
FUTURE OF HISTORIC LIVERPOOL THEATRE SECURED AS EXPERIENCED
TEAM COLLABORATE TO TAKE OVER HANOVER STREET VENUE
Liverpool’s much-loved Epstein Theatre is entering a brand new chapter with a new management team at the helm.
Epstein Entertainments Ltd is a joint venture between Liverpool producers Bill Elms, Chantelle Nolan, and Jane Joseph, who have taken over the historic Hanover Street venue this week.
The creative team’s exciting plans already include a Christmas pantomime this festive season, which will be announced and on sale this week.
The theatre will retain the same name and continue to run as a variety venue with a mixed programme of entertainment.
Bill Elms has more than 30 years’ experience in the entertainment industry, both regionally and nationally. He is director of leading Liverpool based arts PR company Bill Elms Associates, and a theatre producer under Bill Elms Productions, whose previous shows have included Jerry Springer – The Opera, Swan Song, Judy & Liza, and Something About Simon.Last year, he also created Liverpool Theatre Festival, of which he is Artistic Director – the festival has just enjoyed a successful second year. Bill will become the venue’s Artistic and Communications Director.
Chantelle Nolan, who is currently General Manager at St Helens Theatre Royal, is the new Artistic and Operations Director at The Epstein Theatre. Along with her mother Jane Joseph, she is one half of the hugely successful Regal Entertainments Ltd which has run St Helens Theatre Royal for the past 20 years, as well as producing top quality drama, comedy, and panto productions which have toured extensively.
Chantelle also directs and produces St Helens’ three annual pantomimes. Regal Entertainments Ltd will now produce three in-house pantomimes a year at The Epstein Theatre.
Bill Elms Productions, Liverpool Theatre Festival, St Helens Theatre Royal, and Regal Entertainments Ltd will continue to run as normal.
The Epstein is a 108-year-old, 380-seat proscenium arch theatre. It was originally opened as Crane’s Music Hall in 1913 and was a popular location for recitals and performances. It was renamed Crane Theatre in 1938. In 1967 the theatre was purchased from the Cranes by Liverpool Corporation, who decided that it should be run by local people for local people and was named The Neptune Theatre. The Neptune also became a comedy club and, after many years of uncertainty about the future of the theatre, it eventually closed in 2005.
In July 2011, a £1million refurbishment of the theatre was completed which saw the Hanover Street venue brought up to 21st Century standards and renamed The Epstein Theatre inhonour of former Beatles manager Brian Epstein, who guided the Fab Four from popular cellar act to global superstardom. The opening season show at the venue was the premiere of Epstein: The Man Who Made The Beatles, which was also produced by Bill Elms.
The former operator went into administration in December 2017 and has been run by administrators until this time, continuing to showcase a programme of music, comedy, drama, and children’s entertainment. The venue closed its doors in March 2020 as part of the Government national Covid-19 lockdown, and will now reopen under the management of the new team.
Bill Elms, Artistic and Communications Director at Epstein Entertainments Ltd, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have been successful in the joint tender for the lease of The Epstein Theatre. This is a venue I have loved with a passion for so many years and is one of Liverpool’s leading historical and cultural gems. I’m excited to play a part in both strengthening and reaffirming its future, with a vision to establish the venue among the most prolific theatres in the industry – we’ll be showcasing established favourites, revivals and new works; working with both local and national producers and production companies; and exploring some mid-scale UK tours that currently tend to bypass the city.”
Chantelle Nolan, Artistic and Operations Directorat Epstein Entertainments Ltd, said: “The Epstein holds a very special place in people’s hearts, myself included. My mother Jane produced the annual panto for many years in the theatre’s previous incarnation as The Neptune, and I appeared in her first show there as a child. Performing there helped fuel my love of theatre, but little could I have known then that I’d be running the venue one day. The Epstein has amazing potential, and we’re absolutely committed to presenting a quality programme of music, comedy, and children’s shows, as well as building on the family pantomime and exploring longer running shows for Epstein audiences.”
Regal Entertainments Ltd Company Director Jane Joseph added: “This is a very special moment for me. I produced my first ever pantomime, Aladdin, at the then Neptune in 1994. I’m incredibly excited that 25 years later, to be coming full circle and returning to the theatre where it all started for me – this time as part of the team running the venue. The Epstein is a theatrical jewel and I’m looking forward to helping it continue to sparkle.”
The theatre management are welcoming enquires from local and national production companies to programme from January 2022, producers can email [email protected]
FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR WEST END PREMIERE OF SPELLBINDING SHOW
Dazzling show based on Yann Martel’s Man Booker Prize-winning novel
to begin performances in West End on 15 November 2021
Wyndham’s Theatre, London
Rehearsals began this week for the highly anticipated West End premiere of Life of Pi, Lolita Chakrabarti’s dazzling stage adaptation of Yann Martel’s award-winning book. It will begin performances at the Wyndham’s Theatre in London on Monday 15 November 2021.For the first time ever, the historic Wyndham’s Theatre will be transformed to fully accommodate the magnificent elements of the production that left audiences mesmerised.
Simon Friend, the producer of the acclaimed Life of Pi, is thrilled to announce the full cast of the celebrated and multi-award winning Sheffield Theatres production.
Hiran Abeysekera makes a welcome return to the show in the central role of Pi, alongside Mina Anwar as Ma, Nicholas Khan as Father, Payal Mistry as Rani, Tom Espiner as Father Martin and Commmander Grant-Jones, Raj Ghatak as Mamaji and Pandit-Ji, Syreeta Kumar as Mrs Biology Kumar and ZaidaKhan, David K.S. Tse as Mr Okamoto, Kirsten Foster as Lulu Chen, Habib Nasib Nader as Cook and Voice of Tiger.
They are joined by: Fred Davis (Tiger Head), Daisy Franks (Tiger Heart), Romina Hytten (Tiger Heart), Tom Larkin (Tiger Head), Scarlet Wilderink (Tiger Heart), and Tom Stacy (Tiger Hind).
Nuwan Hugh Perera is Pi alternate, and understudies are Alex Chang and Deeivya Meir.
Simon Friend commented: “I am delighted to announce the cast for this show – most of whom were in the original production in Sheffield, alongside some brilliant new cast members who have joined us on our journey. After an incredibly difficult year for so many people I hope this truly captivating production about how we deal with life’s toughest challenges will particularly resonate with audiences.”
The production is directed by Max Webster, Set and Costume designer is Tim Hatley, the Puppet and Movement Director is Finn Caldwell, the Puppet Designers are Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell, the Video Designer is Andrzej Goulding, the Lighting Designer is Tim Lutkin, theSound Designer is Carolyn Downing, the Composer is Andrew T Mackay, Dramaturgy is by Jack Bradley, the Casting Director is Polly Jerrold, the Associate Director is Hannah Banister, the Associate Set Designer is Ross Edwards, the Costume Supervisor is Sabrina Cuniberto and the Props Supervisor is Ryan O’Connor.
Based on one of the best-loved works of fiction – winner of the Man Booker Prize, selling over fifteen million copies worldwide – Life of Pi is a breath-taking new theatrical adaptation of an epic journey of endurance and hope.
After a cargo ship sinks in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean, there are five survivors stranded on a single lifeboat – a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, a sixteen year-old boy and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger. Time is against them, nature is harsh, who will survive?
Award winning writer Yann Martel’s works include The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios (1993), Self (1996), We Ate the Children Last (2004), Beatrice and Virgil (2010) – a New York Times Bestseller and a Financial Times Best Book, 101 Letters to a Prime Minister (2012) – a collection of letters to the prime minister of Canada; and The High Mountains of Portugal (2016).
Lolita Chakrabarti OBE is an award-winning playwright and actress. Her writing credits include: RedVelvet which opened at the Tricycle Theatre in London in 2012, returning in 2014 before transferring to New York and the West End; Red Velvet was nominated for nine major awards including two Olivier Awards. Lolita won the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Most Promising Playwright, The Critics Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright and the AWA Award for Arts and Culture; She adapted Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities for MIF in 2019 a collaboration with 59Productions and Rambert; her play Hymn was live streamed in February 2021 from the Almeida, before opening to audiences later in July; she was dramaturg on Message in a Bottle for ZooNation and Sadler’s Wells; she curated The Greatest Wealth for Old Vic, a series of monologues marking the 70th birthday of the NHS. Acting credits include: Vigil, The Casual Vacancy (BBC), Riviera, Delicious (Sky), Born to Kill, My Mad Fat Diary (Ch4), Criminal (Netflix), Fanny and Alexander (The Old Vic), Hamlet (RADA). She can soon be seen in Showtrial for the BBC and Wheel of Time for Amazon Prime.
Max Webster was the inaugural Baylis Director at the Old Vic and is now an Associate Director at the theatre where his work includes Fanny and Alexander, Cover My Tracks and Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax. Selected other stage work includes the forthcoming The Merry Widow (ENO), The Jungle Book (Northampton/Fiery Angel UK tour), The Winter’s Tale (Lyceum, Edinburgh), and King Lear (Royal and Derngate, Northampton/UK tour).
The extraordinary animals are brought to life by Puppet & Movement Director Finn Caldwell, who began his career in the original company of the National Theatre’s international phenomenon War Horse. He is the Artistic Director of his own company Gyre & Gimble, for whom work includes: co-director/puppet designer of The Four Seasons: A Reimagining (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Hartlepool Monkey (UK tour) and The Elephantom (National Theatre & West End). His other work includes: director of puppetry/movement for Angels in America (National Theatre & Broadway), The Light Princess (National Theatre), War Horse (West End & Internationally) and Groundhog Day (Old Vic & Broadway).
Life of Pi is produced by Simon Friend in association with Playing Field and Tulchin/Bartner.
Edwardian Hotels London is proud to be the official hotel partner of Life of Pi in the West End.
RSC TO BECOME FIRST PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY TO BE GIVEN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ORGANISATION STATUS
First Associate Scholars announced and a commitment to being a Teaching Theatre
The Royal Shakespeare Company has been awarded Independent Research Organisation (IRO) status by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The RSC is the first performing arts organisation to receive the award. It will enable the Company to conduct crucial research, from exploring the role of immersive technologies in performance, to engaging a more diverse talent base in the performing arts.
In moves that echo founder Peter Hall’s original vision for the RSC to become ‘a teaching and research institution’, the newly acquired IRO status will allow the Company to broaden its research capacity and develop its role as a national centre for Shakespeare and performance, teaching, training, learning and research.
The IRO status recognises the economic and social contribution of the cultural sector and is designed to support research in the UK’s major culture and heritage organisations. The RSC will expand its research into a range of subjects including immersive technologies in performance, the impact of theatre-led approaches in education, audience engagement, developing a diverse talent base, considering organisational structures for the 21st Century and ensuring fairer access to and representation across the performing arts sector.
The RSC also announced the Company’s first Associate Scholars, Professor Ayanna Thompson, Professor James Shapiro and Professor Emma Smith, who will work with the RSC to guide, advise and inform its work in person, online and across all locations.
Yorkshire family portrait photographer
The IRO status and Associate Scholars are an important part of the RSCs commitment to being a Teaching Theatre. The Company is uniquely placed to bring together teaching, research, and theatre practice as all three are interwoven into the RSC’s work on and off stage, online, in classrooms and communities.
This announcement builds on a successful legacy of collaboration between the RSC and AHRC. Most recently, this includes the UKRI-funded Dream, a pioneering collaboration exploring how audiences could experience live performance in the future.
Commenting on the award, Erica Whyman, Acting Artistic Director, said:
‘Peter Hall’s vision for the RSC to be a producing theatre as well as a world-class teaching and research specialist still inspires us today. We’ll be a different kind of IRO as our work is already rooted in research-based practise. From our artistic process and output, our superb archives and Collection which detail performance history, to understanding the significant impact of arts-rich schools on the development of children and young people, a spirit of enquiry runs through every aspect of the organisation’.
‘Some of our latest research around Dream as part of the Audience of the Future initiative, is discovering the role of immersive technologies and virtual production in live and digital performance, looking at how audiences may experience live performance in the future. The new IRO status will enable us to build on this and ensure the performing arts plays a critical role in setting and leading the research agenda alongside existing IROs’.
The Company’s first research project as an IRO is funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation and expands on the findings of the 2018 Time to Listen study. This captured the enormous value that young people place on creativity and arts learning in their education. It also confirmed the importance of RSC approaches to teaching Shakespeare and the positive impact they have on learning outcomes for young people. This next major research project will provide a deeper insight into why this is and what works most effectively, with the findings informing RSC practice and influencing the work of wider cultural and education sectors and key policy and decision-makers for the benefit of future generations.
Professor Christopher Smith, AHRC Executive Chair, said:
‘For over fifty years the RSC has challenged audiences to ask important questions about our society, our culture and ourselves through the power of performing arts.
Its new status as an Independent Research Organisation will enable the RSC to work with AHRC to fully explore these questions on and off the stage.
‘The research undertaken by the RSC as an Independent Research Organisation will help all of us to imagine an exciting future for the performing arts, and shape a more dynamic, resilient and inclusive cultural ecosystem.’
The RSC will establish a dedicated Research Board, chaired by RSC Trustee and newly appointed Associate Scholar, Professor, Ayanna Thompson to oversee the delivery of a new Research Strategy. One of the Company’s aims is to oversee the co-ordination and development of research projects that will contribute to building a stronger performing arts sector.
Ayanna Thompson, RSC Board and Regents Professor of English at Arizona State University, said:
‘The RSC is uniquely poised to change the way we encounter Shakespeare in the 21st century. It is exciting to plan and design new research projects that are performance-based, education focused, and technologically informed. The RSC’s new teaching theatre model will advance the way we think about Shakespeare and social justice.’
Priorities for RSC research include:
Analysing the impact of Shakespeare’s work and language on the learning outcomes and development of cultural capital in children, young people and adults
Tracking the detailed and specific advancements required to develop and implement inclusive practise and behaviours
Assessing the civic impact and place-shaping role of arts and cultural organisations
Building on our leadership of Audiences of the Future
Developing a cohort of doctoral level researchers within the RSC
Engaging with the Company’s collections and archives to illuminate theatrical, literary and adaptation histories
