2019 Box Office figures released by Society of London Theatre
The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) has released 2019 ticket sales data for its member venues, which include all of the commercial West End and London’s major subsidized theatres.
The figures reveal an annual London theatre audience of over 15.3 million – nearly 1 million higher than Broadway – filling a record 80.7% of available seats and generating £799m in box office revenue.
Highlights from the data:
Attendances of 15,315,773 (down 1.4% from 2018)
Gross revenue of £798,994,920 (up 4.3% from 2018)
Average ticket price paid £52.17 (up 5.8% from 2018)
VAT generated for the Treasury of £133,165,820
80.7% of available seats filled (up from 77.5% in 2018)
18,364 performances (down 1.8% from 2018)
Plays saw a nearly 3% rise in audience numbers, while musicals dipped by just under 2%. This reflects the fact that four of London’s largest musical houses – the Dominion Theatre, the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and the newly renamed Sondheim Theatre – were dark for a significant proportion of the year, in some cases to carry out significant renovation projects. A total of 371 dark weeks in 2019, compared to 207 the previous year, explains the small drop in overall attendances.
Kenny Wax, President of SOLT, said:
‘These figures demonstrate the buoyancy of London’s theatre industry and the city’s status as the world’s leading theatre destination. Our major theatre owners and producers continue to present world class work, while investing in their historic venues to give audiences the best possible experience.
Audiences remain hungry for a quality live experience, evidenced by the unprecedented percentage of seats filled in 2019. The theatre industry is committed to offering a wide range of affordable tickets, alongside discount schemes, school outreach projects and SOLT audience development initiatives like Kids Week and New Year Sale. It is fantastic to see that over 5 million* tickets were available in the commercial West End at £40 and under last year, with only 1.1% at £150 and above.’
SOLT 2019 attendances and revenue by genre (with percentage comparisons to 2018):
Ahead of the 20th annual WhatsOnStage Awards this Sunday, 1 March, at the Prince of Wales Theatre – hosted by Jodie Prenger and Tom Read Wilson, and for the first time this year broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 hosted by Elaine Paige and Paddy O’Connell – WhatsOnStage announce the presenters of the individual awards: Aimie Atkinson, Amy Booth-Steel, Amy Hart, Max Harwood, Tyrone Huntley, John Kani, Oti Mabusi, Danny Mac, Daniel Monks, Vinegar Strokes, Liam Tamne, Giles Terera, Faye Tozer and Susan Wokoma. In addition, Maureen Beattie will present the Equity Award for Services to Theatre; and Elaine Paige will present the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical.
Each of the 5 nominated productions for Best New Musical will perform live at the event – Bit of a Sort from Only Fools and Horses, You Will Be Found from Dear Evan Hansen, It’s My Life from & Juliet, Welcome to the Rock from Come From Away, and She Used to be Mine from Waitress.
There will also be a performance of I’m Here by the cast of Curve Leicester and Birmingham Hippodrome’s production of The Color Purple, which is nominated in the Best Regional Production category, as well as two further numbers specially created for the evening. The event is co-produced by Paul Taylor-Mills.
Leading this year’s nominations is the new musical & Juliet – currently running at the Shaftesbury Theatre, with 13 nominations across acting and creative categories including nominations for leading actors Miriam-Teak Lee and Oliver Tompsett who play Juliet and Shakespeare respectively, supporting actor nominations for Jordan Luke Gage, Cassidy Janson and Melanie La Barrie, Best New Musical, Best Choreography, Best Costume Design, Best Graphic Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Set Design, Best Sound Design and Best Video Design. In the musical categories, Evita follows with 8 nominations and Mame and Waitress with 7 nominations each, and Come from Away and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat both with 5 nominations.
In the straight play categories, Best New Play is a contest between The Doctor, The Son, My Beautiful Laundrette, Life of Pi and Appropriate; and Best Play Revival nominees are Betrayal, Death of a Salesman, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lungs and Present Laughter. The latter of these leads the play categories with 8 nominations; including Best Actor in a Play for Andrew Scott, Best Supporting Actress in a Play nominations for Sophie Thompson and Indira Varma and Best Direction for Matthew Warchus.
For the full list of nominations, please see below.
FIRST THEATRE COLLABORATION FROM BRADFORD’S MIND THE GAP AND GECKO THEATRE COMES TO LEEDS PLAYHOUSE
Two of the UK’s most innovative theatre companies, Gecko and Mind the Gap, come to Leeds next month with their first co-production.
a little space is at Leeds Playhouse on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th March.
Set in an apartment block, the devised piece follows the lives of five people and explores what happens when they connect and disconnect from each other whether through choice or through isolation. Drawing on the performers’ own experiences, a little space is a powerful piece of physical theatre, which uses movement, imagery, sound and lighting to portray the needs, desires and fears of the subject.
Mind the Gap has an internationally respected methodology and approach to its work and is considered a beacon for learning disability arts and artists; a little space is their first physical theatre production.
Award-winning physical theatre company Gecko has toured globally to audiences of over 200,000; a little space is their second associate production following on from the international success of The Dreamer in 2016.
Director Rich Rusk of Gecko said:
“It is our great pleasure to be collaborating with Mind the Gap, a company we have enormous respect and admiration for. Together we have created a piece about people; about the positives and negatives of living and being alone; the stories unfold in a space that everyone will recognise so it has given us an opportunity to really make the ordinary extraordinary, using a blend of theatre, choreography and dynamic sound design.”
Mind the Gap’s Charli Ward: “Our recent productions – the critically acclaimed ZARA and Mia – each put learning disability at the heart of the story; a little spacebrings the artists’ experiences to the fore but is fundamentally about us all.”
Tiata Fahodzi’s Seeds in association with the Leeds Playhouse, Soho Theatre and Tara Finney Productions is being world premiered in Leeds. Written by Mel Pennant and directed by Anastasia Osei-Kuffour, Seeds, is about two women who meet and share their grief and sorrow concerning their sons – one living and one who has passed away and the circumstances have brought on their survivals.
Both women, Evelyn (Judith Jacob) and Jackie (Penny Layden) share their accounts which relate to that day, 15 years ago, when Michael Thomas was stabbed. Jackie wishes to clear her conscience and Evelyn is planning to publicly pay a tribute speech. The revelations powerfully explore the themes of prejudice, racism, violence and death. Set in Evelyn’s living room with a standout tribute picture of her son, the quest for justice and answers on both the women’s part are met with accusative controversy, personal attacks, blinded ignorance and hard hitting emotions.
With such difficult and sensitive subjects being intensively explored and at times, Seeds is provocatively and evocatively powerful. It is explosive with the revealing of events that happened before the fatal stabbing and the repercussions afterwards, legally and emotionally. Unsurprisingly this production can be uncomfortable viewing especially for those who understandably relate to those circumstances and the sufferings that it brings. However the producers considerably offers support by inviting the audience to leave the auditorium if they need to and encourage those who need it to seek the relevant support including key professional agencies.
Both Jacob and Layden’s portrayals of Evelyn and Jackie respectively are done so well and their performances bring the story to life with created impact that moves the audience to be united in their plights. Things don’t appear as clear cut as originally envisioned and believed as it includes undocumented mitigating circumstances and newer developments, revealed in the story. The women are encouraged to see things in different perspectives though emotively charged with their personal circumstances.
With the powerful impact being personally experienced Seeds is a play very well written, very well performed and very well directed. Though it can be intense and uncomfortable at times, it is a testimony to how well the producers have delivered this 90 minute powerful play. It will no doubt be well felt and well received when this play continues to tour at other venues.
On your feet is written by Alexander Dinelaris and directed by Jerry Mitchell. The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan falling in love, singing through their journey together and their fight towards stardom. A passionate story about love, family and determination.
Gloria (Philippa Stefani) whose love is music, always breaking into song. It’s clear she’s destined to sing but is nervous, shy and struggles in the spotlight until she meets Emilio (George Ioannides). He is very driven, motivated and gets crazy when it comes to talking about music, who later gets told he shouldn’t compete in the English market which then gives him more determination to take them to the top and to let the people decide.
Their journey becomes more than packed, then with one twist of fate things change, making the family realise the importance of one another and the love and strength that they all share. The connection between these two, Gloria & Emilio on stage from the start to finish is just passionate, playful and outstanding. Including some amazing songs such as Don’t Wanna Lose You Now sang by Emilio an emotional, memorable, satisfying song that had the audience gripped, what a voice. As well as Gloria singing Coming Out Of The Dark which was classy, beautiful and sang with so much affection, passion and empathy just an exquisite performance all round.
Gloria Fajardo (Madalena Alberto) who plays Gloria’s Mother comes across stern and disagrees on many of her daughters choices as well as disapproving her choice of partner. She at times comes across jealous and judgmental. But deep down she is proud of her daughter and finds it hard to show. She plays a very convincing part.
Gloria’s Grandma Consuelo (Hollie Cassar covering for Karen Mann) is encouraging towards her, she’s full of character sees it as it is and keeps persuading her to do what makes her happy which is to sing. She’s over enthusiastic is a joy to watch and has the audience in laughter on many occasions.
The set was done amazingly well with tall shutters used for their home life which later changed into lighting for on stage concerts as well as tall billboards. Smaller props were brought in for change of scenes, weather a kitchen or a bed all making it very effective. The lighting and sound was dramatic at times enhancing the show and giving great affect as well as some beautiful backgrounds and romantic scenes of fireworks. The costumes were steamy, full of colour lots of sparkle and sequins giving an amazing Latino feel.
The whole show was upbeat with the whole cast showing amazing energy and great passion. Fantastic choreography as well as seeing a strong connection from all throughout. Just an all-round electrifying performance which had the audience singing along and joining in with a smile from ear to ear. This is an outstanding show and one that you wont want to miss out on!
WAITRESS CAST MEMBERS PERFORM TO CUSTOMERS TO CELEBRATE THE ‘OPENING UP’ OF PIZZAEXPRESS ON THE STRAND
Diners in a PizzaExpress pizzeria were amazed when the team serving them turned out to be the cast of the hit West End musical, Waitress.
To mark the re-opening of the sociable pizzeria’s The Strand: Trafalgar Square location, diners in the 350-seater restaurant were treated to a highly spirited tableside performance.
The musical celebration included the aptly named song ‘Opening Up’ and was performed by cast members including Marisha Wallace and Evie Hoskins.
Marisha Wallace, who plays Becky in the show, said: “We had so much fun surprising diners with some of the show’s most recognisable songs. The look on everyone’s faces when we began was amazing – I’d love to do it all over again”
Zoe Bowley, managing director of PizzaExpress, said: “Our sociable pizzeria ‘The Strand: Trafalgar Square’, is the latest in a number of locations to be transformed to showcase our fresh new look in what marks our 55th anniversary year. Live music and spirited performances have always been a big part of PizzaExpress’ history.”
The Waitress cast were joined by seven of the pizza-maker’s resident ‘pizzaiolos’, who flared dough in unison to the performance.
The performers then descended upon Trafalgar Square to continue their celebratory performance outside, much to the delight of on-lookers and traffic who stopped in their tracks to find out what was going on.
Marisha Wallace continued: “Our show is all about the fun of baking, and is jam-packed with songs, which are truly good enough to eat. Even though our special surprise performance at PizzaExpress was a one off, we’re serving fully-baked performances down the road at the Adelphi Theatre until Saturday, 4 July before touring the rest of the UK. So, if you missed out, why not enjoy a slice or two of the UK’s favourite pizza before heading down the road to see our show!”
Waitress celebrated its official opening night at the AdelphiTheatre on 7 March 2019 and the Tony-nominated musical is now booking until 4 July 2020. The show has also just announced a new UK and Ireland tour which will open in Dublin in November 2020. Sara Bareilles and Gavin Creel will be appearing in the London production of Waitress until 21 March.
Sara Bareilles first achieved mainstream critical praise in 2007 with her widely successful hit Love Song, which reached No. 1 in 22 countries around the world from her debut album Little Voice. Since then, Sara has won a Grammy® Award this year, and previously received seven further Grammy® nominations, two Tony nominations and three Emmy nominations. Her book, Sounds Like Me: My Life (So Far) in Song, was released in the fall of 2015 by Simon & Schuster and is a New York Times bestseller. Making her Broadway debut, Sara composed the music and lyrics for Waitress, and made her Broadway acting debut in 2017 by stepping into the shows lead role. Recently, Sara teamed up with Apple as an executive producer for Little Voice a 10-episode series, which she will create the original music for. On April 5, 2019 Sara released her fifth full-length and first album of original material since 2013, entitled Amidst The Chaos, to rave reviews. For this latest body of work, she joined forces in the studio with legendary Academy® Award-winning producer T Bone Burnett. As a result, the album spotlights her voice as a singer and storyteller like never before, while making an enduring statement. She recently completed her Amidst The Chaos North American tour.
Gavin Creel received a Tony Award for his performance as Cornelius Hackl in Hello, Dolly! starring Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce. He made his Broadway debut originating the role of Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie, for which he received his first Tony Award nomination. He has since created such memorable performances on Broadway as Claude in Hair, which earned him a second Tony Award nomination, Jean-Michel in La Cage Aux Folles, and Stephen Kodaly in the Roundabout Theater Company’s production of She Loves Me, which was filmed live and is available on BroadwayHD. No stranger to London audiences, Gavin most notably originated the role of Elder Price in the West End production of The Book of Mormon, for which he received the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He also starred as Bert in Disney’s Mary Poppins and reprised his performance as Claude in Hair. As well as starring opposite Sara Bareilles in the Broadway production of Waitress, his other stage credits include The Book of Mormon (on Broadway and originating the First National Tour), and the world premieres of Stephen Sondheim’s Bounce (at The Goodman Theatre and The Kennedy Center) and Prometheus Bound at A.R.T. On television, Gavin co-starred alongside Julie Andrews in ABC’s Eloise at the Plaza and Eloise at Christmastime. He has released three original albums GoodTimeNation, Quiet (which landed on Billboard’s Top Heat Seekers) and Get Out, and his single Noise raised money and awareness for marriage equality. Creel was a co-founder of Broadway Impact, the first and only grassroots organization to mobilize the nationwide theater community in support of marriage equality. A native of Findlay, Ohio, he is a proud graduate of University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance.
Waitress tells the story of Jenna, a waitress and expert pie-maker who dreams her way out of a loveless marriage. When a hot new doctor arrives in town, life gets complicated. With the support of her workmates Becky and Dawn, Jenna overcomes the challenges she faces and finds that laughter, love and friendship can provide the perfect recipe for happiness.
Brought to life by a ground breaking, female-led creative team, Waitress features an original score by seven-time Grammy® nominee Sara Bareilles (Love Song, Brave), a book by acclaimed screenwriter Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam) and direction by Tony Award® winner Diane Paulus (Pippin, Finding Neverland) and choreography by Lorin Latarro. The production is also currently touring the US and Canada and has announced an Australian premiere in 2020 at the Sydney Lyric Theatre with further productions to open in Holland next year and Japan in 2021.
Waitress premiered on Broadway in March 2016 and has since become the longest running show in the history of the Brooks Atkinson Theater. The production is also currently touring the US and has announced an Australian premiere in 2020 at the Sydney Lyric Theatre with further productions to open in the Netherlands in September 2020, the UK and Ireland in November 2020 and in Japan in 2021.
On its Broadway opening, Waitress was nominated for four Outer Critics’ Circle Awards, including Outstanding New Broadway Musical; two Drama League Award Nominations, including Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical; six Drama Desk Nominations, including Outstanding Musical; and four Tony Award Nominations, including Best Musical.
The Ghost Hunt is led by Paranormal Research York and takes place at the Grand Opera House York after dark, includes audience participation throughout. This is a tour of the Grand Opera House after dark and the theatre will be dimly lit by the emergency lighting systems.
A range of traditional methods such as a human pendulum and divination activities, using crystals and a divining rods, also a range of technical equipment for guests to use such as an SLS camera (stick man camera) and gadgets that can detect spirit energies. This is an interactive event and guests will be as involved as they dare to be.
Paranormal Research York (PRY) are a team made up of experienced and professional paranormal investigators who are local or live in York and have come together to investigate predominantly in the city of York. They can access a range of haunted locations in and around the city and then research their findings to go with the legends.
Clare Bryant (PRY) says about the event
“We are very excited to be hosting the first ever ghost hunt at this amazing, historical building. From our first walk around at The Grand Opera House, we could feel the spirits already coming forward.”
Kevin spindloe (PRY) says about the event.
“Wow! Friday 13th and we have the privilege to be investigating here. It’s so active here and the spirits seem keen to tell their own ghost stories. As a guest you can be involved in the activities or just watch. Either way you will experience an event like no other.”
This event has an age restriction of 18+
The activity is facilitated by the Grand Opera House York Creative Learning & Community Partnerships team and is inspired by Ghost Stories. Parts of the building are only accessible by stairs and the tour will take place on all levels of the building. Please advise of any access or additional needs before booking. (Questions can be directed to [email protected])
FULL CASTING and FULL TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED FOR MATTHEW BOURNE’S DOUBLE OLIVIER AWARD-WINNING SMASH HIT PRODUCTION OF
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford Tuesday 17 – Saturday 21 March 2020 *Tickets from £20.50 Call the Box Office on 01274 432000 or visit bradford-theatres.co.uk *All prices shown include booking fees but are subject to postage charge if applicable. Bradford Theatres usual terms and conditions apply.
New Adventures is delighted to announce the full cast for the return of Matthew Bourne’s double Olivier award-winning, smash hit production of THE RED SHOES arriving at the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford in March 2020.
Matthew Bourne said today: “I’m proud that for nearly 20 years, New Adventures has built an unprecedented audience for dance throughout the UK, and for this national tour of “The Red Shoes” we will play over 200 performances across 21 leading regional large-scale theatres, more than any other UK dance company. We have an audience who are fiercely loyal, questioning and openminded, as has been shown on the current tour of our radical reinterpretation of “Romeo and Juliet”. As ever, I am grateful for their trust and enthusiastic support.
I’m thrilled that for the first revival of our 2016 hit, “The Red Shoes”, most of the original leading cast will be returning including Ashley Shaw in her multi award-winning performance as Victoria Page. Along with several New Adventures rising stars, who will be performing in the production for the first time, I’m particularly excited to be re-united with my original Swan, the wonderful Adam Cooper, who joins us for the first time in twenty years.”
The full cast is:
BORIS LERMONTOV – Glenn Graham, Reece Causton (from February 2020), Ben Brown (from February 2020) and Andrew Monaghan (from March 2020)
VICTORIA PAGE – Ashley Shaw and Cordelia Braithwaite
JULIAN CRASTER – Dominic North, Stephen Murray (until March 2020), Harrison Dowzell (until March 2020) and Andrew Monaghan (from March 2020)
IRINA BORONSKAJA – Cordelia Braithwaite, Michela Meazza (until February 2020) and Sophia Hurdley (from February 2020)
IVAN BOLESLAWSKY – Liam Mower and Jackson Fisch
GRISCHA LJUBOV – Glenn Graham, Liam Mower and Danny Reubens
They are joined by Steph Billers, João Carolino, Cameron Flynn, Christina Rebecca Gibbs, Rose Goddard, Bryony Harrison, Kate Lyons, Matt Petty, Catrin Thomas, Jem Trim and Bryony Wood.
A sell-out before its world premiere season opened in 2016, Matthew Bourne’s triumphant adaptation of the legendary film returns in 2019, having won two Olivier Awards and dazzled audiences across the UK and the USA.
THE RED SHOES is a tale of obsession, possession and one girl’s dream to be the greatest dancer in the world. Victoria Page lives to dance but her ambitions become a battleground between the two men who inspire her passion.
Set to the achingly romantic music of golden-age Hollywood composer Bernard Herrmann, THE RED SHOES is orchestrated by Terry Davies and played by the New Adventures Orchestra, with cinematic designs by Lez Brotherston, lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Paul Groothuis and projection from Duncan McLean.
An intoxicating drama where life imitates art with fateful consequences, THE RED SHOES will dazzle your senses and break your heart.
THE RED SHOES is supported using public funds by Arts Council England.
Fans queue for over three hours to be the first to see The Book of Mormon in Birmingham Credit: Simon Hadley
Today (24 Feb), tickets went on sale for a special additional preview performance of TheBook of Mormon at Birmingham Hippodrome on Tuesday 3 March 2020 at 7.30pm. The performance will be the first chance for fans to see the much-anticipated Broadway smash hit in Birmingham.
Hundreds of fans queued outside of the theatre, with some braving the rain for over three hours, to get their hands on tickets when the box office opened at 10am this morning.
Over 1,500 tickets for the first Birmingham preview are priced at just £15 each and available to purchase in person only via the Birmingham Hippodrome Box Office.
The Tony®, Olivier® and Grammy® award-winning show plays at Birmingham Hippodrome through to Saturday 28 March 2020 with tickets available via www.thebookofmormonmusical.com and www.birminghamhippodrome.com.
The cast of The Book of Mormon in Birmingham will be led by Robert Colvin as Elder Price and Conner Peirson as Elder Cunningham. They are joined by Nicole-Lily Baisden as Nabulungi, Will Hawksworth as Elder McKinley, Ewen Cummins as Mafala Hatimbi, Johnathan Tweedie as Joseph Smith and Thomas Vernal as the General.
The company will include Jed Berry, David Brewis, Melissa Brown-Taylor, Chinasa, Sanchia Amber Clarke, Tre Copeland-Williams, George Crawford, Tom Dickerson, Jordan Lee Davies, Jemal Felix, Olivia Foster-Browne, Patrick George, Isaac Hesketh, Evan James, Alex James-Hatton, Nicole Louise, Fergal McGoff, Jesus Reyes Ortiz, Lawrence Rowe, Lukin Simmonds, Chomba S Taulo, Tommy Wade-Smith, Sharon Wattis and Jacob Yarlett.
Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the creators of the Emmy and Peabody award-winning television show, South Park, now in its twenty-second season, and the feature films South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut and Team America: World Police.
Robert Lopez co-created the Broadway musical Avenue Q and co-wrote the songs for Disney’s Frozen and Coco. He is one of only fifteen artists to win all four major entertainment awards – Emmy®, Grammy®, Oscar® and Tony® Awards.
The Book of Mormon follows a pair of Mormon boys sent on a mission to a place that’s a long way from their home in Salt Lake City.
Since making its world premiere in March 2011 at New York’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre, where it won nine Tony® Awards, including Best Musical, The Book of Mormon has been performed on three continents and won over thirty international awards. The musical has smashed long-standing box office records in New York, London, Melbourne, Sydney and cities across the U.S.
The London production opened in February 2013, winning four Olivier Awards® including Best New Musical, and breaking the record for the highest single day of sales in West End history. It has sold out every one of its 2918 performances to date at the Prince of Wales Theatre.
Book, Music and Lyrics are by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. Directed by Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker, The Book of Mormon has choreography by Casey Nicholaw, set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Ann Roth, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt, sound design by Brian Ronan, orchestrations by Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus and music supervision and vocal arrangements by Stephen Oremus.
The Book of Mormon is produced by Anne Garefino, Scott Rudin, Important Musicals and Sonia Friedman Productions.
The Book of Mormon comes to Birmingham Hippodrome from Tuesday 3 – Saturday 28 March 2020. Visit birminghamhippodrome.com or call 0844 338 5000 (4.5p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge) for more information and to book.
Conner Peirson is appearing with the support of UK Equity, incorporating the Variety Artistes’ Federation, pursuant to an exchange programme between American Equity and UK Equity
The world première of John Godber’s new comedy Angels of the North transfers to the West End, opening at the Trafalgar Studios on 14 May, with previews from 12 May, and runs until 6 June. The production ran at Theatre Royal Wakefield until 15 February, ahead of performances at East Riding Theatre from 4 – 28 March.
Dennis and Mick are the worst taxi drivers in the North; ignorant, offensive and rude! But when longstanding owner Val suddenly dies, they have to deal with her savvy, streetwise, tourism guru of a niece; feisty new graduate Roxy, who takes over the running of the firm.
Set before, during and after, the General Election on 12 December 2019,Angels of the North is a hilarious and touching insight into what it means to the North now the red wall has fallen, seen through the eyes of a struggling taxi firm at the end of the line.
Dennis and Mick might be the worst taxi drivers on the planet, but they know what it takes to survive. Roxy might be a thorn in their side, but she may well just be an angel in disguise.
Written as a companion piece to the hugely successful and critical hit, Scary Bikers, Angels of the North is a contemporary comedy which negotiates the idea of a new North under a new government. Told with the signature wit and dry observations which make Godber’s work so popular.
John Godber plays Dennis, and is joined on stage by his former student Adrian Hood (Mick), and creating the part of Roxy is Martha Godber who recently graduated from LIPA.
John Godber said today, “I can’t wait to be on stage with both my former pupil and my daughter – they’ll certainly keep my on my toes! The response to Scary Bikers in London was wonderful, enjoying both critical and audience acclaim, and we look forward to taking this new authentic slice of Yorkshire life back into the West End.”
John Godber is a writer and director. His plays are performed across the globe, making him one of the most performed writers in the English language. He has won numerous awards for his plays, including a Laurence Olivier Award and seven Los Angeles Drama Critics ‘Circle Awards. His credits as a playwright include Scary Bikers, This is Not Right, Bouncers, Up ‘n’ Under (Olivier Award for Best New Comedy), April in Paris, Teechers, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Cramp, Happy Jack, September in the Rain, Salt of the Earth, Passion Killers, Happy Families, Up ‘n’ Under ll, Gym and Tonic, Dracula, Lucky Sods, Hooray for Hollywood, Weekend Breaks, It Started With a Kiss, Unleashed, Thick As a Brick, Big Trouble in the Little Bedroom, Seasons in the Sun, On a Night Like This, Our House, Departures, Men of the World, Reunion, Screaming Blue Murder, Black Ties and Tales, Perfect Pitch, Going Dutch, Christmas Crackers and Crown Prince. For the screen, he also devised the BBC2 series Chalkface, and his screenplay My Kingdom for a Horse was nominated for an Alternative BAFTA Award. His first feature film, Up ‘n’ Under, was released in January 1998. In 2005, he co-wrote Odd Squad for BBC2 with his wife, Jane Godber, which was shot in Hull using local actors – winning two BAFTAs in the Schools Drama category and in the Original Writer section. He was Artistic Director or Hull Truck for 26 years, years, taking it from bankruptcy in 1984 to its new home in a £15 million theatre in 2010; and in 2011 set up The John Godber Company with his wife.
Martha Godber recently graduated from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. For theatre her work includes Seasons in the Sun (East Riding Theatre and Theatre Royal Wakefield), POP (Oldham Coliseum), The Memory Project, The Remarkable Tale of Dorothy Mackail (Smashing Mirrors Theatre), I Want That Hair (East Riding Theatre), Three Emos (UK tour), RIGHT (The Old Vic), This Is Not Right (Wilton’s Music Hall) and Slung Low Shorts. For television, her work includes South Riding; and for film, Residue and The Last Laugh. For BBC Radio 4, her work includes The Gift, Fact to Fiction, D for Dexter and Talk to Me: HP Lovecraft. She was a finalist in the Spotlight Showcase 2018, and was awarded the Joan Plowright Lady Olivier Award 2018 for best acting performance.
Adrian Hood attended Minsthorpe High School where John Godber was his Drama teacher. His first professional job was at the Theatre Royal Wakefield in Salt of the Earth by Godber, before going on to work with Hull Truck in many different shows including Bouncers, Fly Me To The Moon, Perfect Pitch, Our House, Weekend Breaks, Up n Under, Up n Under II, Stand, Billy Liar and Pub Quiz is Life. His other theatre work incudes Harvest (Royal Court Theatre), The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, The Comedy of Errors (National Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing, The Mystery Plays (Shakespeare’s Globe) and more recently for Hull’s City of Culture he appeared in the RSC’s production of The Hypocrite. For television, his work includes as series regular Norman in dinnerladies, All Quiet on the Preston Front, The Syndicate, Ben and Lump, Zen, Kingdom, The Invisibles, The Last Detective, Johnny Shakespeare, Not Going Out, Oddsquad, Feel the Force, Micawber, Thunder Road, Buried, Stan the Man, Victoria Wood with All The Trimmings, Witness against Hitler, Hibbert and Long, Chernobyl, Harry, My Kingdom For A Horse, Small Zones; and for film, Up ‘n’ Under, Magicians, Brassed Off, Undercliffe and Pond Life.
