THEATRE CLOSURES – PRESS STATEMENT

Following official government advice issued today (Monday 16 March), which stipulates that people should avoid public buildings including theatres, we regret to announce that SOLT and UK Theatre member venues will be closed from tonight, to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

The theatres will remain closed until further notice and will re-open as soon as possible, following government recommendations. 

Audience members for a show that has been cancelled will be contacted by their ticket providers and are entitled to a refund. Ticketholders are asked to bear in mind that customer service teams are currently extremely busy.

Julian Bird, Chief Executive of SOLT and UK Theatre, said:

‘We are extremely grateful to all of our audiences who have continued to support us for as long as they can, and to theatre staff across the country who have worked so hard in recent weeks to ensure the safety and enjoyment of audiences. Closing venues is not a decision that is taken lightly, and we know that this will have a severe impact on many of the 290,000 individuals working in our industry. In these uncertain times, SOLT and UK Theatre remain committed to helping provide vital support for those in need, and hope we are able to welcome audiences back to our theatres before too long.’

Many theatres that have been forced to cancel performances are charitable enterprises, and while ticketholders are all entitled to a refund for cancelled performances, those who can afford to do so are encouraged to donate the cost of their ticket to show support for the theatre industry. 

Over the coming weeks, SOLT and UK Theatre will continue provide updates to the industry and the public as the situation changes, sharing current government and NHS advice.

Antic Disposition celebrate 15th anniversary
with A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Gray’s Inn Hall, South Square, London WC1R 5ET
Monday 24th August – Saturday 5th September 2020

Award-winning site-specific theatre company Antic Disposition celebrate their fifteenth anniversary this summer with a restaging of one of their most popular productions, Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, performed in London’s historic Gray’s Inn Hall.

Renowned for their innovative staging of classic plays in unconventional spaces, Antic Disposition will bring Shakespeare’s quintessential comedy to life in a riot of madcap comedy, lyrical poetry, evocative music and visual spectacle, creating an enchanting experience for the whole family

A stone’s throw from Holborn and Chancery Lane, the sixteenth-century, wood-paneled Gray’s Inn Hall is one of the few remaining original Shakespearean venues, having hosted the first recorded performance of The Comedy of Errors in 1594. A Midsummer Night’s Dream presents a rare opportunity to visit and explore one of London’s hidden architectural treasures.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is directed by Antic Disposition artistic directors Ben Horslen and John Risebero, who together founded the Peter Brook Award-winning company in 2005. Their recent joint directorial credits include Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth in Temple Church; The Comedy of Errors and Much Ado About Nothing in Gray’s Inn Hall; Henry V, which toured twenty of the UK’s finest cathedrals marking the centenary of the First World War and Shakespeare400; and their own musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol, which has enjoyed five sell-out seasons in the spectacular Middle Temple Hall.

Directors Horslen and Risebero comment, As a company steeped in site-specific theatre, we can’t think of a better way to celebrate Antic Disposition’s fifteenth anniversary than by reviving this most popular of plays in an original Shakespearean venue, Gray’s Inn Hall. In Elizabethan days, annual student revels turned the normally respectable Inns of Court into places of laughter and merriment. Our high-energy production will do the same, unleashing the bohemian magic of the woods into the conventional corridors of the legal quarter.

Before arriving in London, A Midsummer Night’s Dream will tour twelve extraordinary open-air locations around the Dordogne and Lot valleys in southwest France from 29 July to 12 August – Antic Disposition’s 16th annual tour of the region.

Aylesbury Waterside Theatre and UK Productions are delighted to announce the return of

LA VOIX IN

CINDERELLA at

AYLESBURY WATERSIDE THEATRE

Hot off the stiletto heels of her sold-out one woman show at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre in February, La Voix is returning to panto land due to popular demand to play Fairy Godmother – the most glamorous Fairy Godmother in all the land!

Known as the ultimate fairy tale, Cinderella holds a particularly poignant place in La Voix’s heart as she fondly reminisces on her Waterside debut appearing in Cinderella in 2010 alongside national treasure, Cilla Black.

She said: ‘I remember what an honour it was performing on stage alongside such an icon. We had a wonderful time that Christmas and I have felt lucky to get another 4 pantomimes in Aylesbury under my Swarovski belt since then. It’s the theatre’s 10th birthday year and we’re going to celebrate in epic style this Christmas. The local audiences are in a class of their own, every time I perform at the Waterside the welcome is second to none, and I can’t wait to give them more of what they’re completely hooked on – lots of laughs, fun and madness!’

Cinderella may be a classic rags to riches story but there will be no rags near the much-loved red head. La Voix will come complete with her trademark glitz and a collection of stunning costumes ready to dazzle on the bleakest December day.

La Voix can currently be found on her national tour spreading glamour across the country and treating towns and cities to her unforgettable vocals and quick-witted humour. Britain’s Got Talent’s biggest diva who also appeared in Absolutely Fabulous the movie and holds awards for Best Cabaret Artist (London Cabaret awards) and The Norwich Critical Camp Award.

La Voix follows the recent announcement of Andy Collins also returning as part of the recognisable panto dream team. With sparkling sets, stunning costumes, and plenty of songs, slapstick, and audience participation, the duo are ready to get back where they belong this Christmas.

Join the razzle dazzling Fairy Godmother for a festive production not to be missed! Book your tickets today. Visit www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury or call 0844 871 7607 (Calls cost up to 7p per min plus your phone company’s access charge).

Shandyland

Written by Gareth Farr, Directed by Hannah Banister 

At Northern Stage 12-23 May, then touring until July 

Spanning twenty years, Shandyland is a story of life, love, death and drink at the heart of a small, northern, family-run pub, and a shout of frustration from an abandoned working class community. Shandyland opens at Northern Stage (12-23 May), and after its Newcastle premiere will tour to Everyman, Liverpool (27 May – 6 June), Oldham Coliseum Theatre (9 – 20 June) and York Theatre Royal (23 June – 4 July).Writer Gareth Farr explains, “Shandyland deals with the divisions of a community and shines a light on what is happening within our often-overlooked working class towns. It is both a drama with charm and a comedy with punch. It has the heart of the working class running all the way through it. It celebrates a cast of lively, loveable and recognisable characters and asks what has happened over the past twenty years to make them feel so angry, unheard and forgotten.”

Denise Black will play pub landlady, Sally. Denise started out with Actor’s Touring Company (ATC) in the early ‘80s performing plays around the globe, and landed her first acting break in the UK in the title role of Pam Gems’ premiere of La Pasionaria at the Newcastle Playhouse (now Northern Stage). Denise says, “I played my first ever title role in a new play on this stage in 1984. It’s where I met Josie Lawrence and Kate McKenzie and we sang on tables and became Denise Black and the Kray Sisters! You can still hear us on Spotify and iTunes! I can’t tell you how excited I am to be coming back for Shandyland.”  Probably best known for TV roles in Coronation Street, Queer as Folk and Benidorm, Denise’s theatre credits include an award winning performance as Rainey in The Cherry Orchard (Sherman Theatre, Cardiff) for which she won Best Performance in a Play at the UK Theatre Awards, Martha in Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf (Liverpool Playhouse) and title roles in Yerma and Mrs Warren’s Profession (Manchester Royal Exchange).

The cast also includes William Ash (recently seen in The Tunnel based on the original Swedish series, The Bridge, and Wanderlust with Toni Collette); Steve Huison as Brendan (Lomper in The Full Monty), Vivienne Bell as Karen (24 Hour Plays at the Old Vic and National Treasure for Channel 4); and Charlotte O’Leary as Amy (recent work includes The Witcher on Netflix and Daughterhood for Paines Plough) – please see the attached release for the full cast list.
The creative team are Director Hannah Banister – theatre credits include Things I Say When I Don’t Say I Love You (The Lowry/UK Tour); Hush (Paines Plough/Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama/Gate Theatre); Trapp (Old Vic) and Best Men (Southwark Playhouse); designer Rebecca Brower (The Last King of Scotland, Sheffield Crucible and Glass Menagerie, Arcola); lighting designer Lizzie Powell (What Girls Are Made Of, Traverse Theatre and Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, Live Theatre and UK tour); sound designer Nick John Williams (No Miracles Here, The Letter Room and The Tempest, Improbable Theatre/Oxford Playhouse/Northern Stage); and dramaturg Selma Dimitrijevic (dramaturgy work includes the Olivier-nominated Berenice for theRoyal Opera House and Sting’s musical The Last Ship for Northern Stage).

A Northern Stage co-production with Everyman, Liverpool, Oldham Coliseum Theatre, York Theatre Royal and Greyscale in association with Echo Presents and Matthew Schmolle Productions. Shandyland was originally developed by The Old Vic through The Old Vic 12 scheme which aims to nurture and develop the next generation of theatre practitioners.

Shandyland opens in Newcastle in May 2020 before going on tour until the end of July. For more information or to book tickets visit www.northernstage.co.uk or call 0191 230 5151.

Jack Studio Theatre -until 14 March 2020

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

Corey Bovell’s story of a summer of change in Lewisham is a fast paced and heartfelt joy.

It’s 2009, and the long summer holidays as Corey waits for his A level results begin as a carefree routine of hanging around the local Morley’s chicken shop with his mates. They play the slots, pinch each other’s chips, rapping and on the lookout for girls. When Corey meets Jodie outside the chicken shop, his expectations and fear of change are challenged as they begin to talk honestly about the future and what is holding him back.

Bovell’s writing and performance are sharp, accessible and witty, creating recognisable characters and situations that had the young audience giggling and nodding along. This is a story about real lives and real issues that have a huge impact on our borough. The impact of gentrification, axing of youth and community services, stigmatising and labelling of black youth as gang members, and knife crime are all part of Corey’s life and worries, and Bovell voices the teenager’s concerns and fear with righteous frustration and anger. From Corey’s hardworking Pops, with his mantra “Go Work or go uni” to his mate Shaun, excluded from school instead of helped, written off by the system and idolising his uncle after the death of his father, these are men we all know, and Bovell weaves them into his story skilfully and naturally. The final tragedy is signposted early on as Shaun confronts and humiliated the person who stitched on his uncle, but the innocence and youth of Corey’s character allows his sweeping away of this ominous incident as everyday life continues, and the audience gets carried away on his excitement as well.

Director Kwame Asiedu ensures Bovell’s verbal and physical dynamism lead the audience through Corey’s world with clarity, with some good use of voiceovers and audience interaction, and the sobering ending effortlessly reminds us of the untold and unfulfilled promise lost with every death.

Chicken Burger n Chips has so much to say to so many people, a story that needs to be heard told with passion, intelligence, wit and a lot of love for Lewisham Borough.

The Hippodrome, Bristol – 12 March 2020

Review by Josie Aburrow Smith

4****

The Marriage of Figaro is a comic opera in four acts composed in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and written by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It all takes place on a single day, the wedding day of Figaro and Susanna who are servants to the Count Almaviva. He is determined to foil their efforts and seduce Susanna. It is not just about Figaro and Susanna’s wedding but three others too. There are mistaken identities and many twists and turns.

The women are portrayed as being wiser and more civilized than the men.

The Welsh National Opera deliver this opera with great style. It is a period set production with some opulent and beautiful costumes by Sue Blane. The late stage designer Ralph Koltai designed the sets and feature revolving panels that move around to make small and large spaces.

They are beautifully reflective and the Contessa’s bedroom scene is particularly luxurious: at the start of act 2 she is singing facing her wall and we see her reflection in striking light.

The cast is an exceptional ensemble. David Ireland performs the title role, while Soraya Mafi plays Susanna and Jonathan McGovern is Count Almaviva. I particularly enjoyed Anita Watson as the Contessa. She was a delight to watch.

The Orchestra played wonderfully and were led by the Conductor Carlo Rizzi. It was a delight to see an orchestra who were enjoying it and smiling at some of the comic moments. The harpsichord player Frederic Brown deserves a special mention.

You can watch this captivating performance at the Mayflower in Southampton, Liverpool Empire Theatre, Milton Keynes theatre, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Norwich Theatre Royal and the Birmingham Hippodrome.

THE LOWRY, SALFORD – 12 MARCH 2020

REVIEWED BY ANGELOS SPANTIDEAS

4****

The Turn of the Screw is a chilling horror opera, based loosely on a real ghost story that was told to Henry James. On the stage real world and fantasy are intertwined, in an elegant and refined set, with the lights and symphonies creating the right atmosphere for each scene which heighten the emotions of suspense the cast invokes on the audience. The makeup and stage effects do not disappoint into convincing, that the cast is experiencing real danger.

Sarah Tynan’s governess is a powerful performance of artistry and talent, while despite their age, Jennifer Clark and Tim Gasiorek, as Flora and Miles, are brilliant and their singing and acting is far beyond their age. Heather Shipp as Mrs Grose complements every scene and adds to the quality of the opera with her amazing vocals, while the contribution of the remaining of the cast being crucial to the conveying of the opera’s message.

Overall, as the opera unfolds, the audience has the opportunity to experience feelings of agony among with the characters with the aesthetics of each scene adding to the whole experience and supporting the dark theme of a thriller opera.

THE LOWRY, SALFORD – UNTIL 14 MARCH 2020

REVIEWED BY ANGELOS SPANTIDEAS

4*****

The Marriage of Figaro’s story is around the different love interests of various, and although composed by Mozard in 1786 and theme remains very entertaining, as human lust, passion and love are supposed to be. Phillip Rhodes’ Figaro is very pleasant and amusing, with a lot of young passion and quirkiness, while his onstage love interest, Sussanna, by Fflur Wyn, comes across as a cunning and resourceful woman, who knows how to use her personality to get out of difficult situations, or to achieve the outcome she wants.

Count and Countess Almaviva, by Quirijn de Lang and Máire Flavin, use their powerful characters to depict how upper-class people of that era used to live amongst their many servants, while their characters hint how people of power behaved, showing in many scenes their more delicate features.

The remaining of the cast and characters play a very significant role in the unfolding of the story keeping with many charming characters such the mischievous and refreshing Cherumbino, with Heather Lowe being an excellent and spirited gender non-conforming choice.

The costumes were absolutely brilliant, made with attention to detail helping enact and provide authenticity to the depiction of the era, while the set changes and makes the audience feel like walking though a real aristocratic house

STELLAR NO LIMITS SONG-CYCLE CAST HEAD TO THE OTHER PALACE

NO LIMITS, an exciting, brand-new song-cycle by Sam Thomas featuring a stellar cast, will run in the Studio at The Other Palace from Monday 20^th April – Sunday 26^th April.  

NO LIMITS shatters the notion of falling behind in life and follows characters as they dare to believe in themselves and strive for a better tomorrow. A show with heart, humour and a message we should all take on board… “Know no limits!”

Following its successful run at Camden Fringe 2019, the show has grown bigger and better and is similar in concept to Songs for a New World but with a more “Pasek & Paul” sounding score. 

Accompanied by a live band.  Don’t miss out.  Runs for one week only. 

Join the fabulous cast…..

CAST:

Aoife Clesham; Maison Kelley; Georgia Gagen; Luke Bayer; Bree Smith; Michael Mather & Katie Ramshaw will be performing a host of catchy and relatable new tunes.  The show is will chime in particular with modern musical theatre lovers.

CREATIVES:

Music and Lyrics by Sam Thomas
Orchestration by Ben Jones
Direction by Amy Petts
Musical direction by Connagh Tonkinson
Assistant direction by Yusuf Niazi
Stage design by Justin Williams.

RUNS FROM: Monday 20^th April – Sunday 26^th April

TICKETS:

Tickets are £24 and are on sale online at: https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/no-limits-a-song-cycle/

Box Office: 020 7087 7900

Age Guidance: 16+ (contains strong language and sex references)

TWITTER: @NoLimitsMusical

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/NoLimitsSongCycle/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/nolimits.songcycle

WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR ACTING FOR OTHERS’ GOLDEN BUCKET AWARDS 2020

Theatrical charity, Acting for Others today announces the winners for the Golden Bucket Awards 2020. The ceremony took place at the Prince of Wales Theatre and was hosted by Carl Mullaney. The awards celebrate the most supportive and successful fundraisers who have helped the charity raise £357,163 in the last twelve months both through bucket collections across UK theatres and a variety of events throughout the year.

The awards were attended by nominees and friends of the charity including Christopher Biggins, Richard Clifford, Brian Conley, Raj Ghatak, Irvine Iqbal, Sir Derek Jacobi, Bonnie Langford, Dame Monica Mason and Harriet Thorpe.

Stephen Waley-Cohen, said today, “We were delighted to see so many of our supporters at the Acting for Others’ Golden Bucket Awards today. They all play a great part in the work we do, just like our Ambassadors, who act as our extra eyes and ears to help us reach those in theatre world that need us the most.

A huge thank you to all of the theatre staff, performers and the wonderful general public, whose generosity fills the buckets. With a special thank you to the theatre managers, company managers and all of those performers up and down the country who make the curtain speech after the show. A magnificent £357,163 was raised in 2019, which enables us to help so many theatre workers in times of need through the 14 member charities.

Congratulations to all of the nominees and winners today and thank you to all our advocates nationwide for all you do for Acting for Others.”

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

IT STARTS WITH A SPEECH

Presented by Irvine Iqbal

This award is for those that made the speech night after night encouraging audiences to donate, making a huge impact during the Bucket Collections in 2019.

Winner: Ashley Zhangazha

FABULOUS FUNDRAISING AWARD

Presented by Harriet Thorpe

This award is for the most inventive way of fundraising for Acting for Others.

Winner: Richard Carson

SOCIAL BUTTERFLY

Presented by Raj Ghatak

This category is for those supporters that have spread the ‘Acting for Others’ message in person, on social media and always make a noise about our campaigns.

Joint Winners: Wendi Peters, Matthew Kelly and Harriet Thorpe

SUPERSTAR AWARD

Presented by Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen

This is the award for someone that has gone above and beyond with their support for Acting for Others.

Winner: Fernando Peire

FANTASTIC FRONT OF HOUSE AWARD

Presented by Christopher Biggins

The generosity and dedication from the theatre management and front of house staff are invaluable. They are there for us coordinating the team and ready with the collection buckets each night.

Winners: Phoenix Theatre

THE GOLDEN BUCKET AWARD – REGIONAL

Presented by Billy Differ

This is the regional theatre that raised the most in the 2019 theatre collections.

Winner: Edinburgh Playhouse – The King and I

THE GOLDEN BUCKET AWARD – LONDON

Presented by Sir Derek Jacobi

This is the London theatre that raised the most in the 2019 theatre collections.

Winner: The Prince of Wales Theatre – The Book of Mormon