FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE UK PREMIÈRE OF

LISA D’AMOUR’S ANNA BELLA EEMA

Arcola Theatre, Atticist and Ellie Keel Productions present

The UK première of

ANNA BELLA EEMA

By Lisa D’Amour

Director: Jessica Lazar; Music Director and Additional Music: Tom Foskett-Barnes

Set and Costume Design: Anna Lewis; Lighting Design: David Doyle

Movement Director: Jennifer Fletcher

Arcola Theatre

11 September – 12 October 2019

Arcola Theatre, Atticist and Ellie Keel Productions today announce full cast for the UK première of Anna Bella Eema by Pulitzer Prize finalist Lisa D’Amour. Jessica Lazar directs Natasha Cottriall, Gabrielle Brooks and Beverley Rudd. The new production opens at Arcola Theatre on 16 September, with previews from 11 September, and runs until 12 October.

‘Something is coming. It’s either the interstate or the end of the world.’

Precocious Annabella lives in a deserted trailer park. Schooled by her eccentric mother Irene, she learns to co-exist with the vampires, werewolves and monsters that lurk in the world outside.

Desperate to ward off the new highway that threatens the demolition of their home, Annabella steps outside to build a girl out of mud. The girl comes to life. The girl is Anna Bella Eema.

Part ghost story, part fairytale, part coming-of-age fantasy, Anna Bella Eema is a dazzling burst of storytelling from the dark heart of American Gothic.

Lisa D’Amour’s wildly inventive, spoken-and-sung odyssey makes its UK premiere in a new and updated version, with original score by Chris Sidorfsky.

Lisa D’Amour is an award-winning US playwright and New Dramatists alumnus. Her theatre credits includeDetroit (National Theatre – which won the Obie Award for Best New American Play, was a finalist for both the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2011 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize), and Airline Highway (Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago/Samuel J. Friedman Theater – receiving a 2015 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Play.)

Natasha Cottriall plays Three (Anna Bella Eema). Her theatre credits include The Lovely Bones, Dancing in the Streets (UK tour), Future Conditional (The Old Vic), Into the Woods (Royal Exchange Theatre), The Busker’s Opera, Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] (Park Theatre), Here Lie the Remains of Mercy (Theatre Delicatessen), Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (Aldwych Theatre), The Secret Garden (Theatre by the Lake), The Selfish Giant (Vaudeville Theatre) and Oklahoma! (Grange Park Opera). Her television credits include as recurring character Rosie Griffiths in Doctors, Grantchester and Vera.

Gabrielle Brooks plays Two (Annabella). Her theatre credits includeA Midsummer Night’s Dream (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Twelfth Night (Young Vic), Our Lady of Kibeho (Royal & Derngate Northampton), The Way of the World (Donmar Warehouse), The Wizard of Oz, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Sheffield Theatres), Queen Anne (RSC/Theatre Royal Haymarket), Lazarus (King’s Cross Theatre), The Stranger’s Case(Liverpool Everyman), The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre), I Can’t Sing (The London Palladium), Our House 10th Anniversary (Savoy Theatre), Avenue Q, Hairspray (UK tour) and Red Snapper (Belgrade Theatre).

Beverley Rudd plays One (Irene). Her theatre credits include Dead Dog in a Suitcase (Kneehigh UK/international tour), Brief Encounter, Tin Drum (Kneehigh UK tour), The Twits (Curve), Peter Pan, The Beggars Opera, Into The Woods (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing (Royal Exchange Theatre), Soho Cinders (Soho Theatre), The Little Mermaid (Bristol Old Vic), Acorn Antiques, Girls Just Want To Have Fun(UK tour), The Magistrate (National Theatre), Days of Significance (RSC/Tricycle Theatre) and The Hole Story(Paines Plough). Her television credits include as series regular Lisa in Trollied, Massive – for which she won the 2009 RTS Award for Best Performance in a Comedy, Shameless, Him & Her, Inn Mates and Scallywagga.

Jessica Lazar directs. She is a co-founder of Atticist and is currently an Oxford Playhouse Evolve Artist in Residence. Her theatre credits include Life According to Saki (Edinburgh Festival Fringe/Fourth Street Theater, New York – winner of Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award 2016), Dangerous Giant Animals (Edinburgh Festival Fringe/Park Theatre – winner of the inaugural SIT-Up Award 2018), East (nominated for Off West End Best Director 2018), For Reasons that Remain Unclear and Outlying Islands (King’s Head Theatre).

ANNA BELLA EEMA                                                                                                                                      Listings

Arcola Theatre

24 Ashwin Theatre, Dalston, London E8 3DL

11 September – 12 October 2019

Box Office: 020 7503 1646

www.arcolatheatre.com

HACKNEY SHOWROOM ANNOUNCES THE WORLD PREMIÈRE OF

ZAWE ASHTON’S FOR ALL THE WOMEN WHO THOUGHT THEY WERE   MAD – AND NEW POP UP THEATRE @ STOKE NEWINGTON TOWN HALL

Hackney Showroom presents

The World Première of

for all the women who thought they were   Mad

By Zawe Ashton

Directed by Jo McInnes; Designed by Natalie Pryce and ULTZ; Lighting Design by Lee Curran

Hackney Showroom @ Stoke Newington Town Hall

14 October – 9 November 2019

Hackney Showroom today announces the world première of for all the women who thought they were Mad by Zawe Ashton which will open at Stoke Newington Town Hall – marking a new partnership with the London Borough of Hackney to bring theatre to Stoke Newington Town Hall. Directed by Jo McInnes it opens on 17 October, with previews from 14 October, and runs until 9 November.

“they like to see us fall

to slip on branches full of fruit we have not tasted”

Lately, it’s small things. Pop songs. The radio. Every day anguish, becomes madness. Call on your family. Call on the ancestors. Can they guide you home?

“we are pearl and earth and root 

we know ourselves to be natural and complete

carved from rock that floats

but we should still be careful what we wish for

some of us can sink in the upstream”

Zawe Ashton said today, “I am a woman of colour who has written a play about women of colour. It’s a play about many things, but at its centre is an investigation into the fallout of colonialism and it’s resounding impact on the women of the African diaspora, specifically women living in the United Kingdom. It looks at how these women are constantly maltreated and marginalised by the institutions in which they operate or ask for professional help. Their workplaces, their hospitals or GP’s office – and so on. It’s a play about cultural bias and systemic oppression. Black women are the empathetic centre of the piece, their emotions are our emotions. Their struggle is our struggle as an audience. 

Nina Lyndon and Sam Curtis Lindsay have, with director Jo McInnes, seen complex and vital questions that need to be raised. If it wasn’t for their refreshing approach to the event of theatre – I wouldn’t be writing this. I have finally found a home for my play and for myself as an artist and a team of collaborators that prioritise creating theatre for a wide and inclusive audience.”

Cllr Guy Nicholson, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Planning, Culture and Inclusive Economy, also said, “Hackney Council is delighted to welcome this innovative Hackney Showroom production to Stoke Newington Town Hall. Hosting this new work, created by the talented Zawe Ashton in such an iconic Hackney venue is exciting enough, but the fact that Zawe also grew up in the borough makes it even more special. Hackney Showroom has made a great contribution to the cultural life of the borough, and connecting such a trail-blazing arts organisation with Stoke Newington Town Hall will breathe life back into some of its spaces. This a timely arrival as Hackney Council embarks on plans to shape the town hall’s future.”

Nina Lyndon and Sam Curtis Lindsay, co-Artistic Directors and co-Founders of Hackney Showroom added, “This is the play that brought us together to launch Hackney Showroom five years ago and so it has a special place in our hearts. We are so thrilled to be working with the Culture Team at LB Hackney to realise the artistic ambition of this play in such a striking building which will be transformed for this project. Zawe Ashton has written a profoundly moving and unforgettable piece of theatre and we are honoured to bring it before audiences this autumn.”

Zawe Ashton is an actor and writer. Her playwriting credits include Harm’s Way, Skunk and She from the Sea. As an actor, her theatre credits include Betrayal (Harold Pinter Theatre – and the forthcoming Broadway transfer to Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre), The Maids (Trafalgar Studios), Splendour (Donmar Warehouse), Gone too Far!, Rhinoceros, The Arsonists (Royal Court Theatre), and Othello and The Frontline (Shakespeare’s Globe). Her television credits include Wanderlust, Guerrilla, Fresh Meat and Not Safe for Work; and for film, Velvet Buzzsaw, Greta, Nocturnal Animals, Dreams of a Life and St Trinian’s: The Legend of Fritton’s Gold. Ashton’s debut novel, Character Breakdown, was published this year.

Jo McInnes directs. Her theatre credits include Valhalla (Theatre503), 36 Phone Calls (Hampstead Theatre), Another Place (Theatre Royal Plymouth), I Can Hear You, This Is Not An Exit (RSC/Royal Court Theatre), Vera, Vera, Vera, Red Bud (Royal Court Theatre), Marine Parade (Brighton Festival) and Christmas (Brighton Festival/Bush Theatre). She is an Associate Director of Hackney Showroom and was previously Artistic Director of New Writing South.

Supported by Arts Council England, Wellcome Trust and Cockayne Foundation.

FOR ALL THE WOMEN WHO THOUGHT THEY WERE   MAD                                                            LISTINGS

Hackney Showroom @ Stoke Newington Town Hall

Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0JR

14 October – 9 November 2019

Box Office: hackneyshowroom.com/for-all-the-women

Hackney Showroom is an award-winning cultural organisation which supports exceptional artists to make live performance. Hackney Showroom’s hallmark is their support of artists who sit outside the mainstream, developing their craft and carving out a space for marginalised voices who are innovating new forms of performance.

www.hackneyshowroom.com

Twitter: @hackneyshowroom

#hackneyshowroom

LAMBERT JACKSON PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCE

THE UK CONCERT PREMIÈRE OF DOCTOR ZHIVAGO

STARRING RAMIN KARIMLOO AND CELINDE SCHOENMAKER

Lambert Jackson Productions today announces Doctor Zhivago – The UK Concert Première. The concert will star Ramin Karimloo (Yurii Andreyevich Zhivago) and Celinde Schoenmaker (Lara Guishar), with further casting to be announced, and takes place at Cadogan Hall, on 1 September, 2pm and 6.30pm.

Based on the Nobel Prize-winning novel by Boris Pasternak, prepare to be taken on an epic journey of heart-breaking romance, following the search for love during the final days of Czarist Russia. Raised as an aristocrat, Yurii Andreyevich Zhivago is a political idealist, physician, and poet whose life is tossed by the tides of history as he is torn between a life with his close childhood friend and wife, and the passionate and mysterious Lara Guishar. Zhivago, however, is not alone in his yearnings for Lara, and must compete with both revolutionaries and aristocracy alike to win the heart of the woman he cannot live without.

Written by Academy Award nominee Michael Weller (Ragtime), the show features music by two-time Grammy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Lucy Simon, with lyrics by Tony Award nominee Michael Korie and Emmy Award nominee Amy Powers. This classic story opened on Broadway in 2015, and can now be experienced for the first time as a UK concert at Cadogan Hall on 1 September.

Lambert Jackson today said “The story of ‘Doctor Zhivago’ is such a timeless classic and it is even more stunning in musical form. It’s a beautiful piece of writing and to be able to present the UK concert première of this show is an absolute honour. We are also thrilled to be working with the extraordinary Ramin Karimloo and divine Celinde Schoenmaker to bring this beautiful music to life.”

Ramin Karimloo plays Yurii Andreyevich Zhivago. His theatre credits include Chess (The Kennedy Centre), Anastasia (Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway), Murder Ballad (Arts Theatre), Les Miserables (Imperial Theatre, Broadway – for which he was nominated for the 2014 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical; Princess of Wales Theatre, Queens Theatre, Palace Theatre), Phantom of the Opera 25^thAnniversary (Royal Albert Hall), Love Never Dies (Adelphi Theatre – for which he was nominated for the 2011 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical), Les Miserables 25^th Anniversary Concert (O2 Arena), Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre), and Miss Saigon (UK tour).

Celinde Schoenmaker plays Lara Guishar. Her theatre credits include The Light in the Piazza (Royal Festival Hall, and forthcoming LA Opera), Barnum (Menier Chocolate Factory), Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre), Les Miserables (Queens Theatre). For film, her credits include Rocketman.

Produced with permission of Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures Inc. and Turner Entertainment Co.

The musical Zhivago was originally produced by La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego, California.

This concert performance is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International Europe.

Dr Zhivago – UK Concert Première                                                                                                         Listings

Cadogan Hall

5 Sloane Terrace, London SW1X 9DQ

Box Office: 020 7730 4500 

Home

Sunday 1 September, 2pm & 6.30pm

LAMBERT JACKSON

Lambert Jackson is a production company dedicated to producing musical theatre shows and stunning one-night performances. Founded by Jamie Lambert (CEO) and Eliza Jackson (Creative Director), the company made its debut at Cadogan Hall in August 2018 with There’s Nothin’ Like a Dame – 100 Years of Women in Musical Theatre, and has since produced West End Women – A Celebration of Women in Musicals, Main Men of Musicals and a very successful first season ofSunday Favourites at The Other Palace. Due to popular demand, they have just announced their second season of Sunday Favourites. 

Twitter:              @LJProds

Instagram:         @lambertjacksonproductions

Facebook:          /lambertjacksonproductions

Bristol Hippodrome – until 20 July 2019

Reviewed by Lucy Hitchcock

5*****

Gary Barlow and Tim Firth’s adaptation of the bittersweet play Calendar Girls has sprung into Bristol, putting not only a smile on your face but a tear in your eye.

The classic story based on the lives of members of the Women’s Institute in Yorkshire depicts heartbreak, comedy, fun and bravery all whilst tackling a traumatic cancer battle.

Sarah Jane Buckley and Phil Corbett as Annie and John Clarke have a perfect relationship. We find out the John has cancer and he unfortunately passes away, leaving Annie to tackle life without her husband. These two, whilst having a beautiful on stage chemistry, show fantastic vocal ability as they perform Gary Barlow’s brand new songs. The uplifting nature of the songs really adds to the story, and even as we deal with the loss of John, we are always reminded of his cheery character through Barlow’s writing.

Unfortunately, we were halted due to unforeseen circumstances, but had we continued this would have been a brilliant show! For me, the stand out performance was Rebecca Storm as Chris, Annie’s best friend. She was phenomenal, with an air of the late, great Victoria Wood. Her flawless and unfaltering vocal abilities were second to none and she provided a light in the darkest of scenes. She was able to grasp each audience member and give them a hug with her warm and stellar voice-a truly perfect casting and I cannot wait to listen to it again.

Set designer Robert Jones has an immense talent that is not to be missed. The set was so simple yet so intricate, completely transporting you to the heart of Yorkshire-far different from the hustle and bustle of Bristol!

This is a show that, like a sunflower, has grown and become a beacon of light for many people around the country. Definitely, definitely not to be missed.

FINAL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR UK PREMIERE OF

THE GROUNDBREAKING & MULTI AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL

BY WILLIAM FINN & JAMES LAPINE

DIRECTED BY TARA OVERFIELD-WILKINSON

AT THE OTHER PALACE FROM 30 AUGUST – 23 NOVEMBER

LOVE CAN TELL A MILLION STORIES

Albert Atack, George Kennedy, Elliot Morris and James Williams will share the role of Jason,completing the cast of the hotly anticipated UK premiere of Falsettos, the Tony Award winning musical by William Finn (Music, Lyrics & Book) and James Lapine (Book).

They join the previously announced Natasha J Barnes (Cordelia), Daniel Boys (Marvin), Matt Cardle(Mendel), Gemma Knight-Jones (Charlotte), Laura Pitt-Pulford (Trina) and Oliver Savile (Whizzer). 

The musical opens at The Other Palace from 30 August – 23 November for a strictly limited season, with press night on Thursday 5 September. The production is directed and choreographed by Tara Overfield-Wilkinson, with designs by PJ McEvoy, lighting by Nic Farman, sound by Chris Whybrow, musical direction by Richard John, musical supervision by Mark Crossland and is produced by Selladoor Worldwide.

The double Tony Award-Winning Falsettos is a hilarious and poignant look at a modern family revolving around the life of a gay man Marvin, his wife, his lover, his soon to be bar mitzvahed son, their psychiatrist, and their lesbian neighbours.

Originally created under the spectre of the AIDS crisis, this groundbreaking musical about family dynamics manages to remain buoyant and satirically perceptive even as it moves towards its heartbreaking conclusion.

LISTINGS

FALSETTOS – THE MUSICAL

By William Finn (Book/Lyrics) & James Lapine (Book)

Directed by Tara Overfield-Wilkinson

The Other Palace

Dates: 30 August – 23 November 2019

Performance Times: Monday – Saturday 7:30pm and Thursday & Saturday 2:30pm

Address: The Other Palace, 12 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JA

Ticket Prices:From £19.50

Box Office: 0207 087 7900

Falsettos Website: www.falsettoslondon.com

The Other Palace Website: www.theotherpalace.co.uk/falsettos

Twitter/Facebook/Instagram: UKFalsettos

Sheffield Lyceum – until 13 July 2019

Reviewed by: Lottie Davis-Browne

2**

Based on the 2006 film of the same name, which became somewhat of a cult movie with its own fan base, the story is based around the Hoover family’s stop-start journey from Albuquerque, New Mexico to California. This itself is a last minute decision following the news that daughter Olive has a second chance at being a final in the Miss Sunshine competition after a finalist was disqualified for using diet pills.  

The Hoover’s are a dysfunctional family to say the least, and luck is never usually on their side.  Their credit cards are maxed out, bills are unpaid and they’re at the risk of loosing their home.  Richard Hoover, the father of the family, has been unemployed for some months but is convinced his Ten Step Programme will get him to where he wants to be in life, son Dwayne has taken a vow of silence and Grandpa Hoover is not exactly what you’d call a role model!  Despite all this the family decide to head out on a family road trip with the hopes that at least one Hoover family member will have their dreams come true. 

Whilst there’s been some fantastic film-to-stage adaptations that have attracted huge followers (Rock of Ages & Rocky Horror Show to name a couple), sadly this is one show that should have stayed as a film. 

The biggest two issues with this adaptation are the musical numbers (William Finn) and the fact that the dark humour which really makes the film something special sadly failed to transfer onto the stage.  Whilst the musical numbers are instantly forgettable, dull and all sound flat and monotone, which don’t do the cast any favours (which is a real shame since for a few seconds on one song we get to hear the true beauty of Lucy O’Byrnes’ vocals), the rest of the musical numbers are a one-way ticket to Snoozeville.  The stage set – comprising of a raised platform, painted steel and a large road map (which didn’t resemble a road map in the slightest – paper based or sat nav) worked well to an extent, the VW van appearing as a base from the bottom of the map at the start of their road trip, using matching yellow diner style chairs to form the vehicle.  I loved the way they’d choreographed different parts of the stop-start journey using the cast, but this was let down by other special effects such as the smoke effect when the clutch cable breaks – where it was clearly visible when someone’s hands poked out from the bottom of the “map” to stick a smoke machine out.  

I wish I’d seen the original London cast and can’t understand why they’d changed two lead roles (Grandpa and Sheryl Hoover) when the London cast featured two well-known names in these roles.  Whilst I do not feel this was casting issue as such, more a case of talented cast members doing the best they could in an otherwise stale show.

The role of Olive Hoover is shared by three girls as is usually the case when using child actors.   Tonight we had Evie Gibson, who oozed confidence even in more uncomfortable scenes.  Vocally she was strong although at times it did sound like she was singing through her nose or getting slightly out of breath, but then given the demands of the role and the amount of moves Olive gets to bust, it’s fair to say that despite this Evie was the one thing that stopped us walking out at the interval.  

At least the Miss Sunshine contest adds a bit of warmth to this otherwise otherwise cold adaptations.   Disappointed is an understatement.  

JAMIE WILSON AND WHOOPI GOLDBERG

ANNOUNCE A BRAND NEW PRODUCTION OF

THE SMASH HIT MUSICAL

STARRING

BRENDA EDWARDS AS DELORIS VAN CARTIER
OPENING AT CURVE, LEICESTER

ON 21 APRIL 2020

AHEAD OF FURTHER UK VENUES

AND A LONDON SEASON

Producers Jamie Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg are delighted to announce a brand new production of the smash hit musical SISTER ACT opening at Curve, Leicester on 21 April 2020, where it will play until 2 May 2020, ahead of further UK venues and a London season. Initial venue details below with more exciting details and full creative team to be announced soon.

A hit musical on both sides of the Atlantic, this brand new production of SISTER ACT will star Brenda Edwards in the specially rewritten role of Deloris Van Cartier.

Jamie Wilson said today “I am thrilled to be collaborating again with Alan Menken, Glenn Slater, Douglas Carter Beane and Whoopi Goldberg to create a new version of Sister Act, in particular reworking the part of Deloris for an older actor and I’m so pleased that the hugely talented Brenda Edwards will launch this production for us. I’m also delighted to be continuing our relationship with Curve in Leicester by developing this new production with them, and I’m equally pleased that this production will be visiting other regional theatres ahead of a London run next Summer. We will be announcing our full creative team, further casting and some more surprises this autumn!”

Whoopi Goldberg said today “Deloris is a big fun character with lots of personality! Brenda auditioned for this show when it first happened in the UK and didn’t get the part because she was too old, so we’ve rectified that! Previous versions have had Deloris as a 23-year-old – but there are different stakes when you’re older. You can be much more irreverent when you’re older than you can be when you’re in your twenties and thirties. Time makes you funnier! I really am so thrilled Sister Act is coming back to the UK in 2020 with this new version”.

Brenda Edwards first came to the public’s attention when she became a semi-finalist in the 2005 series of ITV1’s The X Factor. Since then, she has become one of the most sought-after leading ladies in musical theatre. Her many West End and touring credits include Killer Queen in We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre and original UK Tour), Mama Morton in Chicago (West End and 10^th Anniversary Gala), Nettie Fowler in Carousel (London Coliseum), Pearl Pastor in Carmen Jones (Royal Festival Hall), Esta in Moby Dick (Union Theatre) and most recently Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspary (UK Tour). Brenda is also a regular panellist on ITV’s Loose Women.

Based on the iconic movie, this sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, sisterhood and music tells the hilarious story of the disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won’t be found – a convent!  Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. 

SISTER ACT features original music by Tony® and 8-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Disney’s Aladdin, Enchanted), lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner with additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane. SISTER ACT is produced by Jamie Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg. Tom Leonardis, Head of Whoopi’s production company, will also be on the producing team.

SISTER ACT UK TOUR 2020

sisteractthemusical.co.uk

TUESDAY 21 APRIL – SATURDAY 2 MAY

CURVE, LEICESTER

curveonline.co.uk

ON SALE SOON

TUESDAY 11 MAY – SATURDAY 23 MAY

LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

leedsgrandtheatre.com

ON SALE NOW

MONDAY 25 MAY – SATURDAY 30 MAY

NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL

theatreroyal.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 9 JUNE – SATURDAY 20 JUNE

SHEFFIELD LYCEUM

sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

ON SALE SOON

MONDAY 22 JUNE – SATURDAY 4 JULY

MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE

Atgtickets.com/manchester

ON SALE 16 JULY 2019

FURTHER UK DATES AND LONDON SEASON TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON

AMELIE THE MUSICAL

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED MUSICAL

TRANSFERS TO THE WEST END THIS CHRISTMAS

PLAYING A LIMITED SEASON AT THE OTHER PALACE

29 NOVEMBER 2019 – 1 FEBRUARY 2020

Amélie The Musical, based on the much-loved, five-time Oscar®-nominated film, will transfer to the West End this Christmas following its current UK tour, and its sell-out season premiere at the Watermill in Newbury in April.

Starring French-Canadian stage and screen star Audrey Brisson as ‘Amélie Poulain’, this beloved story of an imaginative and shy romantic with a gift for helping others, in a vibrant re-conception with new orchestrations, has garnered critical and public acclaim, and will play at THE OTHER PALACE in London from 29 November 2019 – 1 February 2020.

Amélie is the story of an astonishing young woman who lives quietly in the world, but loudly in her mind. She secretly improvises small, but extraordinary acts of kindness that bring happiness to those around her. But when a chance at love comes her way, Amélie realises that to find her own contentment she’ll have to risk everything and say what’s in her heart. Although times are hard for dreamers, Amélie is someone to believe in…

With music by Hem’s Daniel Messé, lyrics by Nathan Tysen and Daniel Messé and book by Craig Lucas, this new musical adaptation of the five-time Oscar®-nominated film written by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Guillaume Laurant, is directed by Michael Fentiman.

Michael Fentiman said, “I really hope London audiences will be enchanted by our little Parisian Tale. The show was originally created in the beautiful and inspiring Watermill Theatre, with some of the most skilled performers and creatives I have ever had the privilege to work with. We are led by the wonderful Audrey Brisson, who (I am sure you will agree) was born to play the role of ‘Amelie’. Amelie is a show about making connections, the simple acts of kindness that pull people closer, not further apart… In such divisive times, we all need a little piece of Amelie.”

Audrey Brisson’s theatre credits include: The Elephantom, Pinocchio and Pericles (National Theatre), Midnight’s Pumpkin and The Wild Bride (Kneehigh), The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Kensington Gardens), Dead Dog in a Suitcase & Other Love Songs (Kneehigh), Romeo and Juliet (Rose Theatre, Kingston), The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk (Kneehigh), The Grinning Man (Bristol Old Vic), The Strada (UK Tour & The Other Palace). Her film credits include: Hereafter directed by Clint Eastwood and W.E. directed by Madonna. Television includes: Outlander (Amazon), Money (BBC Two). Radio includes the title role in Amy Dorrit (BBC Radio).

The full cast includes Sophie Crawford as ‘Gina’ (War Horse – NT, Twelfth Night – Orange Tree), Faoileann Cunningham as ‘Georgette’ / ‘Sylvie’ (Mary Stuart – Almeida, Ulysses – Abbey Theatre), Rachel Dawson as ‘Andamine’ / ‘Philomene’ (The Jungle Book – UK Tour, A Little Night Music – The Watermill), Oliver Grant as ‘Lucien’ / ‘Mysterious Man’ (War Horse – UK Tour, Twelfth Night – Chichester Festival Theatre), Chris Jared as ‘Nino Quincampoix’ (946: the Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips – Shakespeare’s Globe, The Duchess of Malfi – Nottingham Playhouse), Caolan McCarthy as ‘Hippolito’ / ‘Elton John’ (The Plough and the Stars – NT, The Beggar’s Opera/Alice in Wonderland – Storyhouse), Samuel Morgan-Grahame as ‘Joseph’ / ‘Fluffy’ (Sister Act – UK Tour, All My Sons – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Emma Jane Morgan as ‘Delphine’ (Sweet Charity – The Watermill, Crazy for You – UK Tour), Kate Robson-Stuart as ‘Suzanne’ (Crazy For You – UK Tour, Untold Stories – Watermill Theatre), Josh Sneesby as ‘Blind Beggar’ (The Hypocrite & Birthday Bash – RSC, One Man, Two Guvnors– Adelphi Theatre/Theatre Royal Haymarket), Jez Unwin as Raphael / Bretodeau (Oliver – Leicester Curve, Once – Phoenix Theatre) and Johnson Willis as Collignon / Dufayel (Harold and Maude – Charing Cross Theatre, Dido Queen of Carthage & Salome – RSC Swan)

The original film, Le Fabuleux Destin D’Amélie Poulain, was released in 2001, starring Audrey Tautou and Matthieu Kassovitz. Taking over $33 million in a limited theatrical release, it is to date the highest-grossing French-language film released in the United States, and one of the biggest international successes for a French film. Amélie won Best Film at the European Film Awards, four César Awards in 2002 (including Best Film and Best Director), two BAFTA Awards (including Best Original Screenplay), and was nominated for five Academy Awards, including best foreign language film.

Amélie The Musical was first staged in California in 2015 and was described as an ‘enchanting act of theatrical reinvention’ (The Los Angeles Times).

Amélie The Musical will tour internationally in 2020, with dates to be announced.

Amélie The Musical, is produced by Hartshorn – Hook Productions, Selladoor Productions, The Watermill Theatre and Broadway Asia. Associate producers are London Limelight and Jonathan Demar.

WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER

THE OLIVIER AWARD-WINNING, INTERNATIONAL CABARET SENSATION

MAKES FIRST WEST END APPEARANCE IN OVER A DECADE,

AS THE THEATRICAL HIGHLIGHT OF UNDERBELLY’S CHRISTMAS IN LEICESTER SQUARE SEASON

THE ORIGINAL SPIEGELTENT CABARET RETURNS WITH A STELLAR LINE-UP

Performances begin Friday 8^th November

Tickets go on sale today (Tuesday 9 July) exclusively via TodayTix

and on general sale from Wednesday 10 July.

Leicester Square’s festive offering comes with more spice than a glass of mulled wine this year as La Clique, the world’s original and trailblazing Spiegeltent cabaret show, today confirms its return to the capital to knock audience’s Christmas stockings off. A decade on from their Olivier Award-winning run at the Hippodrome (Best Entertainment), La Clique returns to the heart of London’s West End to the Leicester Square Spiegeltent. With an outrageous and magnificent collection of extraordinary new artists and unmissable favourites, La Clique will be the show-stopping highlight of Underbelly’s Christmas in Leicester Square, playingfrom Friday 8^thNovember – Saturday 4^th January.

Borne of an inspired creative idea by producer David Bates (owner and producer of The Famous Spiegeltent) at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2004, the multi award-winning La Clique has since toured the world to international acclaim and sell-out audiences, inspiring a new generation of cabaret as the definitive and original Spiegeltent mixed genre variety show. A magical, mirrored wonderland of glamour, beauty and intrigue, Bates’ re-invention of the Spiegeltent as a venue has led to a renewed use of the tents as a staple of modern performing arts festivals across the globe, offering an intimacy and allure like no other.

Audiences stepping into this seductive world can of course expect to be awe-struck by La Clique’s signature mixed bill of superbly talented artists, featuring the crème de la crème of the worlds of circus, comedy, cabaret, subversive performance and contemporary Vaudeville. True to La Clique’s pioneering spirit, this year’s line-up marries established, world-class variety acts with a new generation of ground-breaking artists.  

Confirmed acts to date include: mistress of mayhem, Bernie Dieter (Little Death Club) as MC, gentleman juggler Florian Brooks, the fire-breathing, sword-swallowing, side-show sensation Heather Holliday and aerialist Stephen Williams performing the iconic Bath Boy act. Further acts will be announced over the coming months.

Integral to La Clique, and setting the tone for the evening, is its scintillating live house band, La Clique Palace Orkestra (featuring the astounding vocals of Kelly Wolfgramm). Adding a sublime ambience, this evening of entertainment is as much a live concert as it is the world’s most infamous variety show.

Sexy, funny and dangerous, La Clique is a celebration of the exotic and mesmerising. An unmissable treat, it is pure entertainment that celebrates what a night in one of the world’s most salubrious salons should be about.

La Clique is produced in London by Underbelly and David Bates.

David Bates comments of La Clique’s return to London:

“The Olivier Award-winning little show that launched 1000 imitations returns to the scene of the crime this winter, a mere 50 feet from where it took the West End by storm at the Hippodrome in 2008. As the original producer of La Clique I am extremely excited to be returning to where adult variety became ‘legit’ and entered the ‘mainstream,’ all the while, teetering on the edge of the ledge it created, continuing to raise the bar, before leaping off! La Clique returns with the hottest live band, kick-arse new acts and more sass than ever! Plus, yes, even bath-boy is back! The greatest thrill for me is to be back in the West End –  at Christmas, with a new show that defies description…sexy, funny, dangerous! La Clique remains the original and the best! ”

Ed Bartlam and Charlie Wood, Directors, Underbelly said:

“The original, the biggest, the best of the best is back in London. We couldn’t be happier to welcome La Clique to Underbelly’s Christmas in Leicester Square and the incomparable Leicester Square Spiegeltent 10 years after it exploded into London’s west end and set the cabaret world on fire. Audiences are once again going to be enraptured and astonished and 100% entertained by the world leading acts of La Clique.”

Cllr Iain Bott, Cabinet Member for Sports, Culture and Community, Westminster City Council said:

“We are pleased to be working with Underbelly to deliver Christmas in Leicester Square which is a highlight of the West End’s festive calendar. The addition of La Clique will further enhance the Square’s unrivalled reputation as the home of UK entertainment, whilst the event’s Winter Windows scheme offers our younger residents a fantastic opportunity to showcase their talents in an iconic location.’’  

Christmas in Leicester Square is produced by Underbelly on behalf of Westminster Council and returns for a fourth year this winter. The world-famous square will once again be transformed into a festive fun land with something for all ages. In addition to a stellar line-up of entertainment, the pop-up festive will play host to a Santa’s Grotto, Winter Windows and a beautiful European-style Christmas market offering gifts, food and drinks.

As part of the exclusive Today Tix pre-sale, tickets will be available from just £15

www.todaytix.com | Or via the Today Tix App | www.lacliquetheshow.com

For more information, please see:

www.lacliquetheshow.com

www.christmasinleicestersquare.com/whats-on/la-clique

LISTINGS INFORMATION – LA CLIQUE

LEICESTER SQUARE SPIEGELTENT

Christmas in Leicester Square

Leicester Square Gardens

Leicester Square

WC2H 7NA

TICKETS

Box Office: (t) 0333 444 167 

Ticket prices start from £19.50

BOOKING ONLINE

www.lacliquetheshow.com/home

SEASON DATES

Friday 8^th November – Saturday 4^th January

PERFORMANCE TIMES

Monday – Thursday: 8pm 

Friday – Saturday: 7pm and 10pm (except Friday 8^th Nov, 8pm show only)

No performances Tuesday 24^th or Wednesday 25^th December

SOCIAL MEDIA

Website: www.lacliquetheshow.com

Facebook: Leicester Sq Xmas and La Clique The Show 

Instagram: LeicesterSqXmas and LaCliqueTheShow

Twitter: LeicesterSqXmas

Grand Opera House York until Saturday 13th July 2019

Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

3***

Thriller Live, a two hour musical celebration featuring the hit songs of Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5. Celebrating a career spanning 40 years of the “King of Pop”, selling over 750 million records, this promises to be an extravaganza of his work. As well as currently touring, this show is still playing in the West End, making it one of their longest running shows.

With four main vocalists, Trace Kennedy, Britt Quentin, Rory Taylor and Ina Seidou, hitting the stage, the start of the show was very underwhelming, a bit quiet and flat, I was certainly not blown away. All four could sing, but some spark was missing. Seidou’s mike could have done with being turned up, she had a great voice but it needed to be louder. For me the stand out vocalist was Taylor, his rendition of She’s Out of my Life, was a definite highlight. The show did warm up with the addition of the dancers, that was until the vocalists left the stage and we were left with a video recording of a young would be Michael Jackson, singing Rockin’ Robin, accompanied by the dancers. I was disappointed in this aspect as we had come to see a live show.

The dancing really shone, with gusto and energy. Dancing was so integral in the Michael Jackson persona, and what we saw was pretty true to his memory. The dancing to Dangerous and Smooth Criminal, with the lean, were literally outstanding. The dancers were joined by the fifth vocalist Kieran Alleyne, who looked just like Jackson, with all his moves and mannerisms, magnificent, his dancing when he is on stage is fantastic. There is a big but here, even though he finished third in 2016’s X Factor he appeared to be miming to a couple of his songs, not that he had that many, disappointing.

Thriller Live is not a regular musical, there is no story behind the show, it is more of a concert/tribute show. There is a narration of bullet points in his music, hosted in the most part by Quentin, through his songs, but this was a bit disjointed and did not have a natural flow about it. The range of music, from ABC, to Dangerous, to my personal favourite PYT and many more, were good and I couldn’t help but singing and moving along in my seat to the music.

During the first half of the show we were dragged up out of our seats and encouraged to put our hands up in the air and have a sing off with the other half of the audience. This was a bit uncomfortable as the audience had yet to warm up, and the York crowd can be a reserved bunch. It was unfortunate that this was the only time, apart from the finale, that the audience were up dancing along. The finale really lifted the show and you couldn’t help but get carried away at that point, it is such a shame that energy wasn’t evident for the show in it’s entirety.

I expected so much more but unfortunately I was not blown away by this performance, even with the high energy dancing. It is still worth a watch and is suitable for all, and a great chance to hear some great tunes. I nearly forgot to mention the moonwalking, wow, that alone is probably worth a ticket.