As the Amazon and the Earth face new threats to their survival, Ino Moxo draws off the power of the natural world in a passionate call for healing. Drawing the audience into an Ayahuasca trance, the piece fuses poetry, song and dance with stunning imagery in a renewed Indigenous ritual for the 21st century. Venture through the Amazon in search of legendary Ayahuasca shaman Ino Moxo at a visionary theatrical experience with Peru’s Grupo Integro
‘Listen carefully: air will be water and water will be air. Everything, absolutely everything will be upside down.’
Ino Moxo is a multi-award winning visual and choreographic theatre piece about an Ayahuasca shaman, Ino Moxo, from the Amawaka Nation in upper Amazonian Peru, who made prophecies about climate change, conflict and changing human values that resonate with us today. The piece is based on César Calvo’s novel The Three Halves of Ino Moxo. Including a real Ayahuasca shaman performing, Roldan Muñoz Agustin “RAWA”, with Peru’s leading contemporary dance theatre, in the UK for the first time, Ino Moxo features incredible 3D projected imagery and mesmerising chants.
Ino Moxo won the Resident Dance Program 2014 – Large Format Category, that was awarded by the Municipality Theatre of Lima as part of FAEL. Grupo Integro experiments across art forms, media and cultures. An essential element of their work is an investigation into the myths of different traditions.
Border Crossings’ ORIGINS Festival is a multidisciplinary festival showcasing the very best artistic work from First Nations communities across the globe, including indigenous Australians, Native Americans (North and South), Maori, Pacific Islanders and Inuit. The festival will bring theatre, dance, music, ceremony, visual arts, workshops, screenings & talks, as well as an extensive programme of participation & learning to London, with a strong emphasis on reaching new, diverse participants & audiences.
This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the musical Hair, and last night’s vibrant performance of the controversial hit makes it easy to see why this musical has stood the test of time.
Hair follows a ‘tribe’ of hippies living in New York City through the Vietnam War, with the stage set as their ‘commune’. The stage design – thousands of colourful streamers adorning the walls – felt a little disingenuous and looked more like the exterior of a piñata and less how one imagines a real commune would have looked like. However, the clever levels to the set allowed the band to be naturally incorporated into the performance as fellow ‘tribe’ members.
We are introduced to key members of the tribe right away. Jake Quickenden is charismatic as the tribe leader Berger, who wastes no time in stripping down to very little clothing and lithely gyrating through the audience, setting the tone for the rest of the performance. Marcus Collins is fantastic in the role of Hud and deserves special mention for how he handled the technical difficulties (presumably one of those first night teething problems) that unfortunately meant the audience were unable to hear his first song. This was followed by a five minute interval while the technical situation was rectified, before Collins and the cast returned to the rapturous support of the audience to redeliver an amazing performance. Another special mention has to go to Aiesha Pease for her astounding, out of this world vocal performance and to Alison Arnopp for her endearing portrayal of pregnant hippie, Jeanie.
The musical is mostly about the songs and less about story and plot, the main focus of the latter being whether or not tribe member Claude will go to fight in the Vietnam War. The strength of the performance lies in the note perfect cast and chorus. Each musical number was sung with absolute panache, exuberance and raucous enthusiasm that didn’t wane despite the sheer amount of musical numbers (50 including reprises). Regular interaction with the audience features throughout, making us feel like honorary members of the ‘tribe’, culminating in the audience being invited on stage during the encore of the goosebump-inducing, final rendition of Let the Sunshine In.
Overall, Jonathan O’Boyle succeeds in making Hair relevant for the modern day audience with up to date cultural references, as well as ensuring that it lives up to its reputation of being brazen, controversial and full of life. Definitely a musical that everybody should experience at least once!
“You will not see a better production of this masterpiece”
★★★★★
THE OBSERVER
“Still has the power to shock and provoke shivers”
★★★★★
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
“Mesmerising intensity and intimacy”
★★★★★
EVENING STANDARD
Written by PETER SHAFFER
TRAFALGAR STUDIOS
6 JULY – 7 SEPTEMBER
TICKETS ON SALE TUESDAY 21 MAY
FROM EQUUSWESTEND.COM
Award winning director Ned Bennett’s bold revival of Peter Shaffer’s iconic psychological thriller Equus is transfering to the West End this summer. Following its hugely successful run, the English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford Eastproduction of Equus will open at London’s Trafalgar Studios 6 July for a strictly limited season until 7 September.
The five star production received unprecedented critical acclaim when it opened, with The Sunday Times describing it as “a dazzling revival”and The Observer professing “You will not see a better production of this masterpiece”. The Evening Standard said this stunning re-imagined revival is filled with “mesmerising intensity and intimacy” while also being hailed as “exhilarating” (The Guardian) and “haunting, engrossing theatre..rich and riveting…a must see” (WhatsOnStage).
Inspired by a true story, Equus is a gripping and transfixing psychological thriller which sets out to explore the complex relationships between devotion, myth and sexuality. When teenager Alan Strang’s pathological fascination leads him to blind six horses in a Hampshire stable, psychiatrist Dr. Martin Dysart is tasked with uncovering the motive behind the boy’s violent act. As Dysart delves into Alan’s world of twisted spiritualty, passion and sexuality, he begins to question his own sanity and motivations in a world driven by consumerism.
Ned Bennett (Director), Georgia Lowe (Designer), Jessica Hung Han Yun (Lighting Designer), Giles Thomas (Composer & Sound Designer), Shelley Maxwell (Choreographer & Movement Director), Denzel Westley-Sanderson (Associate Director), Anne McNulty (Casting Director).
Robert Fitch (Frank Strang/Horse), Keith Gilmore (Harry Dalton/Nurse/Horse), Ethan Kai (Alan Strang), Norah Lopez Holden (Jill Mason/Horse), Ira Mandela Siobhan (Young Horseman/Nugget) and Zubin Varla (Martin Dysart) will reprise their roles for the West End transfer with further casting to be announced.
This production of Equus was produced by English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East and is produced in the West End by Trafalgar Theatre Productions.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
TRAFALGAR STUDIOS
Previews: From 6 July 2019
Tickets: From £25
Box Office: 0844 871 7632
Performances: Moday – Saturday at 7.30pm, Thursday & Saturday at 2.30pm
It is announced today that from Monday 17 June Ashley Roberts (Strictly Come Dancing 2018 finalist, The Pussycat Dolls) will be making her West End debut as Dawn in Sara Bareilles’ hit musical Waitress for a strictly limited summer season. It is also confirmed that Lucie Jones (Rent,Les Misérables, Legally Blonde) will take over the role of Jenna from this date.
London’s brand-new smash hit musical comedy 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.
Waitress celebrated its official opening night at the Adelphi theatre on 7 March and the Tony-nominated musical is now booking to 19 October.
Ashley Roberts will play Dawn. Best known for being a member of one of the biggest girl groups in the world, The Pussycat Dolls, Ashley shot to fame after the release of the album ‘PCD’. During her seven years in the group they sold over 54 million records and toured the world performing to fans worldwide. Since leaving the group in 2010, Ashley won the hearts of the British public in 2012 when she was voted runner up in I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in one of the closest reality show finals in history. She followed this with a starring role on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway. Ashley continued her TV career as a judge on ITV’s Dancing On Ice for two seasons and on the popular BBC One talent competition Let It Shine as a guest judge alongside Gary Barlow.
In 2017, Ashley pursued her love of comedy, appearing as a regular on ITV’s TheKeith Lemon Sketch Show and Coming In America, in addition to hosting two seasons of 1st Look, which aired every Saturday night on NBC in the US. In 2018, Ashley joined the cast of BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing. With guidance from professional dance partner Pasha Kovalev the pair danced their way to the finals with Ashley becoming the highest scoring contestant with an average score of 36.9 and holds the record for the most perfect scores ever received by a contestant with five perfect scores throughout the season.
Lucie Jones will play Jenna. Lucie has played some of the most iconic roles in musical theatre, with previous theatre credits that include Cosette in Les Misérables (Queens Theatre), Maureen Johnson in RENT (The Other Palace and national tour), Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (national tour), Holly inThe Wedding Singer (national tour), Victoria in American Psycho The Musical (Almeida), Molly Jensen in Ghost: The Musical (Asian tour) and Meat in the We Will Rock You (world arena tour).
Lucie was a finalist in the 2009 series of The X Factor and toured the UK playing to sell out arena crowds on The X FactorTour in 2010. In January 2017, she won the public vote on the BBC2 showEurovision – You Decide with her original song ‘Never Give Up On You’. She competed at the Eurovision World Final in Ukraine. Other television work includes roles in Midsomer Murders (ITV) and The Sarah Jane Adventures (BBC).
Brought to life by a ground breaking, female-led creative team, Waitress features an original score by 7-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 currently touring the US and has also announced it will have its Australian premiere in 2020 at the Sydney Lyric Theatre.
Alongside Lucie Jones and Ashley Roberts as Jenna and Dawn, Waitress also stars Marisha Wallace as Becky, Peter Hannah as Earl, David Hunter as Dr. Pomatter and Shaun Prendergast as Old Joe.
The full company includes Kelly Agbowu, Piers Bate, Nicole Raquel Dennis, Michael Hamway, Peter Hannah, David Hunter, Lucie Jones,Stephen Leask, Chris McGuigan, Olivia Moore, Nathaniel Morrison, Sarah O’Connor, Leanne Pinder, Shaun Prendergast, Charlotte Riby, Ashley Roberts, Marisha Wallace and Mark Willshire. Laura Baldwin will return to the role of Dawn in Waitress at the end of the summer.
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.
LISTINGS
WAITRESS The Adelphi Theatre The Strand, London WC2R 0NS
Monday – Saturday evenings at 7.30pm Wednesday & Saturday matinees at 2.30pm
Day seats are available to purchase in person from the theatre box office from 10am for £25. Mon-Weds performances from Monday 11 February. Subject to availability and at the box office’s discretion.
Elegies For Angels, Punks and Raging Queens is not often done so here’s a wonderful opportunity to grab yourself a ticket or two at the Union Theatre for an engaging, thoughtful, stylish production directed by Brian Hodgson.
A collection of personal stories of unconnected people told in poems and songs ~ stories sympathetic, selfless, selfish, baffled, quiet, angry, funny, resigned, loud, proud and more besides. Described as a song cycle this moving piece was inspired by the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt in San Francisco and Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River Anthology. Each of the monologues is written from the perspective of people who have died as a result of AIDS with the songs representing the feelings of friends and family members dealing with the loss.
Strong and moving performances from a committed cast portray so many different types of people AIDS affected. Powerfully for something first written in the early 1980s the characters affected are not just gay men as most people certainly would have assumed 3 decades ago, but also straight men, women and haemophiliacs. And of course 3 decades ago there was no medication that could much alleviate the distressing and devastating effects of AIDS, let alone alleviate or even banish the virus. Tens of thousands of mainly young people died during the 80s and Elegies was originally titled ‘The Quilt’ as an homage to all the quilts made and joined together in San Francisco.
Each character in the show has their own small quilt which they present as they tell their own individual story, though as this is also an ensemble piece, everyone stays on stage for the entire performance supporting each other as ensemble.
Bryan Hodgson directs Aidan Harkins, Ailsa Davidson, Althea Burey, Calum Gulvin, Charlie McCullagh, Chris Cahill, Fraser Leigh Green, Jackie Pulford, Jade Chaston, Jade Marvin, Kristine Kruse, Marcus Ayton, Matthew Grove, Michiel Janssens, Paige Fenlon and Rhys Taylor in an almost choreographed style (Adam Haigh choreography credit). Beautiful, impactful lighting from Alex Musgrave and precise, clever sound effects by Henry Brennan supported changes of mood, place, character and flashbacks in time.
The evocative score includes some of my personal favourite songs and was accompanied most wonderfully by Musical Director Henry Brennan on piano and Pippa Mason on cello. The rich melancholic cello sound really adds something special to these emotional and quite profound songs composed by Bill Russell (Book & Lyrics) and Janet Hood (Music).
Many of these beautiful songs have been heard in cabaret and concert over the past 30 years but here is a wonderful chance to hear them in situ as originally created:
· Angels, Punks And Raging Queens
· Holding On To You
· I Don’t Do That Anymore
· And The Rain Keeps Falling Down
· Celebrate
· I Don’t Know How To Help You
· Heroes All Around
· Spend It While You Can
· My Brother Lived In San Francisco
· Learning To Let Go
Elegies For Angels, Punks and Raging Queens are spoken authentic stories of those lost too soon, told with love, honesty and humour, with those left behind remembering and expressing their best memories and profound loss in beautiful songs ~ A compelling tribute to all millions now lost to AIDS and to those left behind mourning those gone but not forgotten.
Get Tickets here: http://www.uniontheatre.biz/elegies.html
MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY, the new immersive theatrical and dining experience opening in a specially-adapted venue within The O2 London this summer, is extending its booking period from Monday 18 November 2019 to Sunday 16 February 2020 due to popular demand. New tickets will go on sale from 10.00am on Friday 24 May 2019.
Created by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY is a new and unique entertainment concept that puts guests in the heart of the action. Over the course of more than five hours, they can enjoy a spectacular show, a three-course gourmet Mediterranean meal and an ABBA disco all in one unforgettable evening.
MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY is set in a taverna on the island of Skopelos, where most exteriors of the first MAMMA MIA! film were shot. Nikos and his wife Kate run this exotic and wonderful restaurant together with their family and friends. Told through dialogue and ABBA songs, a warm, romantic and funny story evolves and unfolds during the evening, taking place around the guests as they sit at their tables enjoying a delicious Greek meal. The evening ends with the main floor transforming into a 1970s disco, where audience members are welcome to stay to sing and dance to original ABBA recordings.
Björn Ulvaeus, the Executive Producer of MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY, said, “We are thrilled with the public response to MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY, which has shown in our phenomenal ticket sales to date. I am excited to be bringing our joyful production to London, and am grateful to Londoners and people around the UK who have shown their support for us in return.”
Producer Ingrid Sutej said, “MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY really is a unique experience, with nothing else like it currently showing in London. We look forward to our guests dining, dancing and having fun when we open at The O2 in August.”
MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY has music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (some songs with Stig Anderson), and a story by Calle Norlén, Roine Söderlundh and Björn Ulvaeus, adapted for the UK by writer, comedian and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig.
The London version of MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY, which originally opened in Stockholm in January 2016 and is now in its fourth sold-out year, will be co-directed by Roine Söderlundh and Stacey Haynes, with set designed by Bengt Fröderberg, costumes designed by Annsofi Nyberg, lighting designed by Patrick Woodroffe and sound designed by Gareth Owen.
MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY is produced by Björn Ulvaeus and Ingrid Sutej for MM! The Party Ltd.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
MAMMA MIA! THE PARTYThe O2 Peninsula Square London SE10 0DX Performances: Until 18 November 2019: Mondays & Wednesdays to Sundays at 7.30pm, Saturdays & Sundays at 1pm From 19 to 25 November 2019: Wednesday to Sunday at 7.30pm, Saturday & Sunday at 1pm* From 26 November 2019: Tuesdays to Sundays at 7.30pm, Saturdays & Sundays at 1pm (*N.B. No performances Tuesday 19 & Monday 25 November 2019)
Tickets: From £135 (plus booking fees), to include admission and meal (drinks extra)
LYRIC HAMMERSMITH THEATRE ANNOUNCES RACHEL O’RIORDAN’S FIRST SEASON AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Rachel O’Riordan (Artistic Director) and Sian Alexander (Chief Executive) of the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre,
The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre today announces its 2019/2020 programme of work, Rachel O’Riordan’s inaugural season as Artistic Director:
· A Doll’s House: A new version of Ibsen’s play by Tanika Gupta and directed by Rachel O’Riordan – her first show as the Lyric’s Artistic Director, with Niru – Nora in the original– played by Anjana Vasan (Summer and Smoke).
· Solaris: co-produced with Malthouse Theatre Melbourne and The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, the Lyric presentsa new play by David Greig, adapted from the cult science fiction novel by Stanislaw Lem.
· Cinderella: Panto returns for 2019, written by Jude Christian and directed by Tinuke Craig. Featuring the Lyric Ensemble.
· Sophocles’ Antigone: The Burial at Thebes: Roy Alexander Weise (Nine Night) directs a new production of Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney’s translation. The Chorus will be played by the Lyric Ensemble.
· The Beauty Queen of Leenane: Headlining the Autumn 2020 season, Rachel O’Riordan directs Martin McDonagh’s darkly comic play.
· In collaboration with Headlong, the Lyric announces a long-term aspiration to commission and produce work of scale by women playwrights for the Lyric Main House and UK touring, with the first production in January 2020.
· The Lyric announces new Artistic Associates team: Stuart Burt (Casting Director); Tinuke Craig (Director); Phillip McMahon (Playwright and Director); Nina Steiger (Dramaturg) and Simon Stephens (Playwright).
· 30,000 tickets in the season are £15 or under, with 5000 of these completely through the Lyric’s community ticket schemes such as Free First Night.
· Continuing the Lyric’s commitment to reducing its impact on the environment, e-tickets are introduced for all Main House shows.
· The Little Lyric Autumn Season, for audiences aged under 11 years, is announced, including the return of Raymond Brigg’s Father Christmas, along with the new sponsor of Little Lyric shows and classes, The Collective.
· The Lyric continues its commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists with the Lyric Ensemble and Evolution Festival.
· Priority booking for Lyric Friends and Supporters opens today, 21 May 2019, with public booking opening at 9am on Friday 24 May.
Speaking about her first season at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Artistic Director Rachel O’Riordansaid:
“I’m delighted to be announcing my inaugural season as Artistic Director of the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. I am very proud to be here. We have a stunning 590 seat Frank Matcham designed Main House and will produce plays that celebrate our unique theatre in the heart of Hammersmith. Today we announce seven new productions by exceptional playwrights including reimagined classics, contemporary plays and bold new work; these plays are as dynamic and varied as our audience.
My first play as director is a bold new version of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House by the award-winning West-London born Tanika Gupta. Tanika sets the play in Calcutta, 1879, using the themes of the play to explore British colonialism, in a radical reframing of this classic text. Playing the lead role of Niru, Nora in the original, will be Anjana Vasan, who was compelling in Summer and Smoke. I’m really looking forward to working with her, Tanika, and designer Lily Arnold, to bring a new perspective to this iconic play. An element of my vision for the Lyric is rooted in reimagining classic texts; putting the interpretation of them in the hands of artists (writers and directors) whose voice brings new perspective.
Collaboration will be a vital part of the Lyric’s work. Our first co-production will be with The Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh and Malthouse in Melbourne, with David Greig’s Solaris. I’m also delighted that we today announce a new partnership with Headlong, focused on commissioning and producing major new work of scale by women writers, both on the Lyric Main House stage before the UK. Our first production together will be in January 2020. I am excited to see the great work that will come from these ambitious plans that we are making together.
Christmas at the Lyric is a magical time. Our panto is such an important event for our community, and I’m thrilled that Jude Christian returns to write Cinderella. She will be joined by Tinuke Craig for her Lyric – and panto – directing debut, and members of our Lyric Ensemble in their first professional Main House production – an opportunity which has become the springboard for many young people into a career in theatre.
At the heart of the vision for the Lyric is great writing, giving our audiences the opportunity to see work by extraordinary playwrights. I’m very excited that in spring I will direct Mike Bartlett’s Love, Love, Love in a major new revival. Bartlett’s play addresses intergenerational conflict with sharp humour and political precision; I can’t wait to see how audiences now will respond to the themes he addresses with such bold theatricality and skill.
Nobel Prize winning poet Seamus Heaney’s The Burial at Thebes, translated from Sophocles’Antigone, is a powerful and immediate text. Pairing this great work with powerhouse director Roy Alexander Weise will take this text into thrilling new territory. This large scale, ambitious production in the spring of 2020 will also include performers from the Lyric Ensemble, playing the pivotal role of Chorus.
In autumn 2020, I am delighted to say that Martin McDonagh’s ground- breaking, wave- making The Beauty Queen of Leenane is our headline show. This is a play I have wanted to direct for many years – its black humour and acute observations on rural Ireland are both hilarious and disturbing. It is a fascinating and compelling study of dysfunctional mother/ daughter love and is, rightfully, a modern classic. I can’t wait for its West London debut on our beautiful stage.
Today we also announce our new team of Artistic Associates. Continuing their association with the Lyric, Simon Stephens and Stuart Burt are joined by our new Associates; Tinuke Craig, Nina Steiger, and Phillip McMahon.
Join us for world class theatre from the heart of Hammersmith.”
Executive Director of the Lyric Hammersmith Sian Alexander said:
“We want the widest possible audience to enjoy the world class theatre that we make and for the Lyric to be open to everyone who wants to come and experience the work on our stages. I am therefore delighted that we are announcing today that there will be over 30, 000 tickets available this season for our Main House productions for £15 or under. 5000 of these tickets will be free tickets offered through our community ticket programmes to people who live, work or go to school in Hammersmith and Fulham. Most importantly these tickets are for some of the best seats in the theatre.
Little Lyric continues to delight our youngest audiences providing their first introduction to theatre and last year we welcomed more than 25,000 children and their families to our Studio programme. Today we announce a new season of autumn shows including regular Saturday performances, for October Half Term Lost and Found based on the popular book by Oliver Jeffers and from November the return of perennial favourite Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas. I’m also pleased to announce the support of West London-based company The Collective Dairy, who will be sponsoring our Little Lyric shows and classes for under 11s.
Building on our work to reduce our environmental impact, from this Autumn, audiences will have the option to use E-tickets for all our Main House shows. This year we have been awarded the highest 5 Star Creative Green certification by Julie’s Bicycle as well as a local business award, and The Stage Award for Sustainability. Ensuring audiences have the option of E-tickets is part of our fight against the climate emergency.
Young people are at the heart of the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and nurturing a new diverse generation of theatre artists is central to our work. We want talented young people from all backgrounds to have viable pathways into our industry and to develop their skills and own artistic practice.
I’m therefore incredibly excited for the new opportunity we will offer this season for our Lyric Ensemble of young performers age 18 – 25 to perform professionally in the Main House as the Chorus in The Burial at Thebes. Each year, as part of their training our Ensemble works with an up and coming theatre director to create their own show in our Studio Theatre each summer. I’m delighted to announce that this year’s Ensemble show director will be Abigail Graham.
Our festival for young emerging artists, Evolution, will return in Spring 2020. Today we are announcing the inaugural winner of The Bill Cashmore Award 2019 is Eve Cowley whose show Screwdriver will headline Evolution 2020. This newly established award, worth £10,000, will support the winner’s professional development and the creation of their new show.
‘World class theatre, cheap tickets, opportunities for all – everyone’s welcome at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre this season.’
THE LARGEST SHAKESPEAREAN COMPANY IN EUROPE THIS SUMMER ASSEMBLES TO REHEARSE
AS FULL CASTING IS ANNOUNCED FOR 2019 SUMMER OF SHAKESPEARE
Preparations are in full swing for a glorious Summer of Shakespeare for the North and South, as the full company of SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE, the award-winning pop-up Shakespearean Theatre, comes together for the first time ahead of its triumphant return to York this summer, and its expansion to a second site at Blenheim Palace. The SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE Company has commenced rehearsals for eight of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, which will be performed in repertory by two companies of actors based at each location.
Over the last few weeks a huge tented rehearsal village has sprung up outside York at the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, which becomes a custom-built temporary home to one of the largest Shakespearean companies in Europe, and possibly the world, this summer. The 2100 square metre rehearsal village is made up of seven tents in total: the two biggest acting as the main performance spaces, able to accommodate areas bigger than the eventual stage, and audiences who will be able to attend open rehearsals. Other tents will be used as stage management offices, a green room (holding up to 70 people at one time), wardrobe spaces and break out rooms for dance, fight and vocal calls.
Artistic Director of SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE, Damian Cruden said, “It’s wonderful to have such a unique and bespoke rehearsal space that accommodates the needs of creating eight fantastic Shakespearean productions and encourages strong creative collaboration.”
In total, 75 actors, 22 creatives, 12 musicians and 41 crew have taken up residence in the grounds of McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, the company’s home until the two pop-up Elizabethan theatres are constructed at the foot of historic Clifford’s tower in York in May and in the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire in June.
McArthurGlen Designer Outlet are also hosting an exhibition of costumes and props from SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE. The items from the 2018 plays of Richard III and Romeo and Juliet can be viewed all summer in Unit 19 at the South Atrium.
The York season of SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE will run from Tuesday 25 June – Sunday 1 September 2019, with Hamlet, Henry V, The Tempest and Twelfth Night, and the Blenheim Palace season will run from Monday 8 July – Saturday 7 September 2019 with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet and Richard III.
Originator of the project and CEO of international theatre company, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, James Cundall MBE, said “Shoppers at York’s Designer Outlet have already been taken aback by blood-curdling war cries and delighted at the beautiful poetic verse emanating from our rehearsal village… I am both excited and proud to have brought together such an incredible company – we may well be the largest in the world right now!”
Full casting has been announced for the four companies – previously announced cast includes Maggie Bain(Netflix’s Black Mirror, The End of the F***ing World, film Dark Sense and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Shakespeare’s Globe) as ‘Henry V’; ITV’s Victoria star David Oakes as ‘Hamlet’; Sam Callis (Game of Thrones, The Bill) as ‘Prospero’ in The Tempest; and returning from last year’s SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE, Olivia Onyehara as ‘Viola’, Mark Holgate as ‘Orsino’, and Leandra Ashton as ‘Olivia’ in Twelfth Night.
The Blenheim Palace company includes Dave Fishley (recently seen in the West End as ‘William III’ in Queen Anne at the Theatre Royal Haymarket) as ‘Richard’ in Richard III;Emilio Iannucci (son of Armando) as ‘Romeo’ opposite Ella Dunlop (recently seen in The Secret Garden at York Theatre Royal) as ‘Juliet’ in Romeo & Juliet;Alex Avery (series regular in Doctors, The Bill and EastEnders) as ‘Macbeth’; and Paul Hawkyard (multiple West End credits, Coronation Street, Casualty, ) returns to SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE to play ‘Bottom’ in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
We’re thrilled to announce that Julian Clary will host our production of Singin’ in the Rain at the Adelphi Theatre on Sunday 13 October in aid of the dementia charity, The Lewy Body Society.
“I’m delighted to be hosting Showtime Challenge 48-Hour Musicals’ production of Singin’ in the Rain at London’s Adelphi Theatre. Best of luck to the heroically plucky cast and crew who are giving up their time and energy to support the Lewy Body Society and the wonderful work they do.” Julian Clary
There’s still time to BOOK AN AUDITION SLOT on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 June, but hurry as there aren’t many left!
And tickets are on sale now, available from the Adelphi Theatre. BUY TICKETS
We’re thrilled to announce that Julian Clary will host our production of Singin’ in the Rain at the Adelphi Theatre on Sunday 13 October in aid of the dementia charity The Lewy Body Society.
“I’m delighted to be hosting Showtime Challenge 48-Hour Musicals’ production of Singin’ in the Rain at London’s Adelphi Theatre. Best of luck to the heroically plucky cast and crew who are giving up their time and energy to support the Lewy Body Society and the wonderful work they do.” Julian Clary
There’s still time to BOOK AN AUDITION SLOT on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 June, but hurry as there aren’t many spaces left!
And tickets are on sale now, available from the Adelphi Theatre. BUY TICKETS
ACTING FOR OTHERS’ INAUGURAL WEST END FLEA MARKET RAISED OVER £26,000
Theatrical charity Acting for Others today announces that over £26,000 was raised at the inaugural West End Flea Market on Saturday 19 May held at St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden, with thousands of people in attendance.
Top West End shows set up stalls full of theatrical goodies and designed showstopping centre pieces – which were on display for judges Christopher Biggins, Celia Imrie and Wayne Sleep. Running stalls on the day were company members from The Book of Mormon, Hamilton, The Phantom of the Opera, The Play That Goes Wrong, Mamma Mia!, Les Miserables, The Mousetrap, Only Fools and Horses and Royal Opera House, manned by Dame Monica Mason.
Taking the prize of Best Dressed Stall this year was Only Fools and Horses with an array of delights including Pina Colada cupcakes, a hoopla for beer bottles containing show trivia, Trigger’s Kissing Booth and one-off treats signed by the company. The winner of the showstopper competition was Mischief Theatre’s The Play That Goes Wrong, proving that sometimes they actually do get it right.
Harriet Thorpe and Tom Read Wilson went up against Wendi Peters and Annette Badland in a fiercely fought Biggins’ Bargains. Their ill-gotten gains competed in Biggins Bargains’ auction – overseen by the man himself, with Harriet and Tom the victors with the two teams raising almost £700 for Acting for Others.
Other stars also popped in to show their support including Come From Away’s Rachel Tucker, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’s Layton Williams and the star of the new Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Jac Yarrow who signed for fans in the celebrity tent; Julian Glover, BonnieLangford, Belinda Lang, Hayley Mills, Peter Polycarpou, Hugh Sachs and Graham Seed; and there were long queues for the legend that is Su Pollard’s fortune telling. Refreshments were provided by The Theatre Café and The Nell of Old Drury. Entertainment was provided by The Royal Theatrical Fund Choir, Mariachi Loco Band, Michael Batchelor, Robert Pearce and magician, Henri White.
Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen, co-Chair of Acting for Others said today, “We were overwhelmed by the support for Acting for Others’ first West End Flea Market, with queues around the block. It was a joy to share this special event with so many people who share our love of theatre. A huge thank you to the shows, our judges and ambassadors that took part to make Saturday such a success. We can’t wait to see what next year brings!”
The event was sponsored by Spotlight, The Mackintosh Foundation, Reward Gateway and Joe Allen.
