CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE RSC’S 2020 PRODUCTION OF THE WINTER’S TALE

The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare

Directed by Erica Whyman

Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

Saturday 28 March – Friday 2 October 2020

Box Office: 01789 331111, rsc.org.uk

Casting details are announced for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) 2020 Summer production of The Winter’s Tale, which plays in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from 28 March 2020.  Directed by RSC Deputy Artistic Director, Erica Whyman, the production will be cross-cast with The Comedy of Errors (from 25 April 2020) and Pericles (from 15 August 2020).  All three plays are sponsored by Darwin Escapes.

Set across a 16-year span from Mad Men to the moon landings, this new production of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale imagines a world where the ghosts of fascist Europe collide with horrors of The Handmaid’s Tale, before washing up on a joyful seashore.

King Leontes rips his family apart with his jealousy but grief opens his heart. Will he find the child he abandoned before it is too late?

Following its run in Stratford, the production, along with The Comedy of Errors and Pericles will transfer to the Barbican in London. The Winter’s Tale will then embark on a national tour in January 2021 – details to be announced shortly.

The production’s music is composed by Isobel Waller-Bridge, who has previously worked with Erica Whyman on her productions of Hecuba and The Seven Acts of Mercy. Her other soundtracks include Vanity Fair (ITV/Amazon), Vita and Virginia (Protagonist Pictures), Fleabag (BBC/Amazon), Woyzeck (Old Vic) and Knives in Hens (Donmar Warehouse).

Erica Whyman said, “I am particularly excited to be directing The Winter’s Tale as it is one of my all-time favourite plays and I directed it once before at Southwark Playhouse in 1999, very happily. I think it has walked with me ever since, and become in so many ways more sharply reflective of our world than perhaps it was then.  It is a play in which a man with immense power, who abuses it in the grip of a totally consuming paranoia, comes to his senses on a very public platform and apologises – without limit or excuse. That seems to me an act of such rare humility, that to do justice to it Shakespeare conjures a true fairytale, in which grief, repentance, patience, love and common sense are all in the end rewarded. It is not a problem play, but a miracle of a play which turns and twists at lightning speed and with acute understanding of the human heart.

“I’m setting my production in the 1950s in a monarchy that has known fascism – an imagined Spain where politics, religion and power are deeply intertwined, moving later to 1969 in the North East of England in which real labour and a deep sense of community seems gloriously healthy, loving  and straightforward by comparison. I have a gift of a cast, and I’m proud to be working with two Deaf actors, William Grint and Bea Webster who, as they translate Shakespeare’s words into BSL, bring a wonderful freshness and attentiveness to the rehearsal room.”

Joseph Kloska plays Leontes. His previous RSC credits include Imperium, Written on the Heart and Measure for Measure.  He also appeared in The Christmas Truce, the first production Erica Whyman directed for the RSC.  Joseph’s TV and film work includes The Crown, Foyle’s War and Made in Dagenham.

Kemi-Bo Jacobs makes her RSC debut playing Hermione. Her previous theatre credits include All My Sons (Manchester Royal Exchange), Hedda Gabler (Salisbury Playhouse), Betrayal (Derby Theatre), and Wild East (Young Vic). TV work includes Lewis and Doctor Who. 

Ben Caplan also makes his RSC debut playing Camillo.  Well known for his role as Sergeant Peter Noakes in the BBC’s Call The Midwife, Ben’s other TV credits include Silent Witness, Midsomer Murders, and the BAFTA award winning, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jeffries.  Recent stage work includes The Exorcist (Bill Kenwright productions), Describe The Night (Hampstead Theatre) and The Knowledge (Charing Cross Theatre).

Amanda Hadingue plays Paulina.  Her previous RSC credits include Miss Littlewood (directed by Erica Whyman), The Fantastic Follies of Mrs Rich, The Duchess of Malfi, The Merchant of Venice, The Taming of the Shrew and The Tragedy of Thomas Hobbes.  Other theatre work includes Top Girls and A Small Family Business (National Theatre).

Andrew French plays Polixenes. Andrew’s previous RSC credits include Erica Whyman’s production of Romeo and Juliet, and Julius Caesar. TV work includes A Very English Scandal, EastEnders, Marvin Can’t Fail and Holby City.

Further cast includes: Alice Blundell (Dorcas), Alfred Clay (Archidamus), Colm Gormley (Antigonus), William Grint (Young Shepherd), Vicky Hall (Mopsa), Avita Jay (Cleomenes), Zoe Lambert (Shepherdess),Georgia Landers (Perdita), Mogali Masuku (Dion), Dyfrig Morris (Mariner), Baker Mukasa (Lord), Anne Odeke (Autolycus), Bea Webster (Emilia) and Assad Zaman (Florizel).

The role of Mamillius will be cast with four young actors from Silhouette Youth Theatre. Based in Northampton this company was developed by Leigh Wolmarans, former Head teacher of Lings Primary School, part of the RSC Associate Schools programme.  Pupils have previously worked with the RSC on Romeo and Juliet and the RSC’s talent development programme, Next Generation ACT.

Joining Erica Whyman on the creative team are Tom Piper (Set Designer), Madeleine Girling (Costume Designer), Prema Mehta (Lighting), Isobel Waller-Bridge (Music), Jeremy Dunn (Sound) and Anna Morrissey (Movement).

The production will be broadcast live into cinemas on 10 June 2020.

The Winter’s Tale is supported by RSC Production Circle members, Mark Thompson and Jane Blumberg-Thompson.

METTA THEATRE 2020

ONE OF THE UK’S LEADING MID SCALE TOURING COMPANIES HAS SIX BRAND NEW BRITISH MUSICALS IN DEVELOPMENT

BY AWARD WINNING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR POPPY BURTON-MORGAN

PUTTING RADICAL CLIMATE JUSTICE, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AT THE HEART OF THE WORK

• HOUSEFIRE – THE CLIMATE CRISIS MUSICAL – SONGS TO BE PERFORMED AT THE NEXT EXTINCTION REBELLION UPRISINGS IN LONDON
• COLD FRONT – A ROMANCE BETWEEN AN AUTISTIC WOMAN AND NEUROTYPICAL MAN TO BE SHOWCASED AT MT FEST AT THE TURBINE THEATRE IN FEB
• THE RHYTHMICS AND THE WASTERS TO BE SHOWCASED AT BEAM2020
• THE LITTLE PRINCE – A CIRCUS MUSICAL WITH A RE-GENDERED PROTAGONIST 
• IN THE WILLOWS – BRAND NEW PRODUCTION OF HIP HOP MUSICAL IN DEVELOPMENT FOR 2021   

Metta Theatre – one of the UK’s leading mid-scale touring theatre companies – has six new British musicals in progress, all being developed and showcased around the UK throughout the first half of 2020. Established in 2005 by Poppy Burton-Morgan and Motley trained Designer William Reynolds, Metta Theatre is at the forefront of new work – with a strong focus on the development of new British musicaltheatre, and a commitment to highlighting climate justice and sustainability; disability and deaf integration and inclusion (both from a political perspective and in order to artistically enrich the work); queering mainstream and family theatre – writing characters that represent and normalise (rather than problematise) the diverse range of queer experiences and identities; re-gendering protagonists in order to give girls strong female role models.

Artistic Director Poppy Burton-Morgan, who recently won the Writers Guild of Great Britain Award for musical theatre book writing for In the Willows – The Hip Hop musical (which toured the UK in 2019), is currently directing Opera Up Close’s new touring production of Madam Butterfly, for which she has also written the new English libretto. Poppy has written the book and lyrics for all six new Metta musicals.

COLD FRONT – with music by twice Tony award nominated composer Jason Carr, and starring Anna Francolini (Strictly Ballroom, West End; Wonder.Land National Theatre) and Robbie Curran, in the role of Jamie. Robbie is an actor and writer who has written about his own experience of growing up with Asperger’s in his play ‘Thomas’. Cold Front will play at the Turbine Theatre 10 – 12 February as part of MT Fest 2020. 

Rosemary and James. Every month the same park bench. The same sandwiches made by her mother washed down with the same thermos of tea. The same manual tasks to keep the park in order. But as the seasons change an unlikely romance slowly blossoms between an autistic weather analyst and a tattooed park attendant.

LITTLE PRINCE – a new circus musical with Antoine De Saint Exupery’s much loved story reimagined with cyr wheel, juggling, acrobatics, aerial hoop, and spellbinding songs, and a re-gendered protagonist, with music by Candida Caldicot – with a workshop / rehearsal room showcase on 13 March.

A WW2 pilot has crashed in the middle of the desert. If she doesn’t find water soon she’ll die. But instead of water she meets a mysterious child – the Little Prince whose acrobatic adventures and tales of far off planets quench a deeper thirst.

WASTERS / THE RHYTHMICS – to be presented on 26 & 27 March respectively at the BEAM showcase at Royal & Derngate, Northampton.

THE RHYTHMICS – a feelgood new British musical exploring the crisis of masculinity via a collection of oddballs belting their way through a thrillingly catchy Brit pop score. With music & lyrics from Stiles&Drewe award winner Ben Glasstone (Reanimator) and choreography from Mark Smith (Artistic Director or Deaf Men Dancing). A second London based workshop is planned for the end of June – specifically exploring the integration of BSL and rhythmic gymnastics – and a studio album is planned for release in August.

WASTERS – a heart-warming new musical – composed by Stiles&Drewe award winners Kit Buchan and Jim Barne (The Season) – that invites us into the lives of three very ordinary people over one extraordinary summer. 

HOUSEFIRE – a climate crisis family musical, with music by award winning American Composer Ben Toth. Part gig-theatre, part song cycle – Housefire unpacks some of the complexities around the climate crisis through a series of songs sung by a quartet of endangered animals, with a workshop showing at The Birmingham Rep on 28 May, The Other Palace on 29 May, and another workshop showing in London on 17 July.

Metta will perform songs from HouseFire at the next Extinction Rebellion uprising in April.

“I want you to act as you would in a crisis. I want you to act as if our house is on fire. Because it is.” Greta Thunberg 2019

IN THE WILLOWS – rehearsal room showing, dates TBC

The extraordinary new British Musical, with music from award winning composer Pippa Cleary (Adrian Mole) and Keiran Merrick which toured the UK in 2019 is being revamped ahead of a new production in 2021. The show also features integrated BSL, and a fusion of BSL and hip-hop choreography from Zoo Nation choreographer Rhimes Lecointe.

The Wind in the Willows is brought leaping into the twenty first century. Featuring ballads, beats and backflips this fresh new musical is fun for the whole family.

Metta Theatre are also committed to the fight for climate justice and sustainability takes a high priority in all their personal and professional activities. They will be curating 6 events at the Young Vic in Feb/March to engage artists with the climate and ecological crisis, are working with UK Theatre to promote sustainable practices across the sector and are part of the ACE/Julie’s Bicycles’ Accelerator Programme – working with a group of venues & companies including Lyric Hammersmith, New Adventures, Improbable, Storyhouse (Chester), and Blackpool Grand in order to make touring theatre carbon neutral and sustainable.

Previous Metta partners and collaborators include the Soho Theatre, Southbank Centre, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Oxford Playhouse, Manchester Royal Exchange and York Theatre Royal. Metta were artists in residence at the V&A 2017-2018 and an Associate Company at Exeter Northcott Theatre 2016-2019.

Poppy Burton-Morgan said, “we’ve got an extraordinarily busy spring season and I’m delighted to be developing so many diverse and inclusive projects over the next 6 months – bring on the West End transfers!”

Yvonne Arnaud – until 1 February 2020

Reviewed by Heather Chalkley

5*****

Charlotte Bronte’s novel was first published in 1847. It was a controversial work even then and still provides an important commentary today. Writer Nick Lane has managed to bring the essence of the book to life, working with the creative team to weave in music from the era with Bronte’s own compositions in the songs. The result is a piece written in the first person with a clear message of female independence and strength, which is true to the original story.

Kelsey Short (Jane Eyre) portrays a palpable emotional intelligence throughout the piece, drawing the audience in from her first oration. Short delivered a constant pragmatic, solemnity, giving way to fierce, confident outbursts, using her body language to accentuate. You experienced the highs and lows with her.

Ben Warwick is a believable mid 19th century man, playing Edward Rochester showing his vulnerabilities, passion and compassion. The romantic era is upon them and the freedom to express feelings in art and literature is being explored. The desperate hope that Rochester can force a happy ending in the duplicitous world he has created is undone by the stronger character of Jane.

The ability of the cast members to effortlessly flow from one character to another is impressive. Added to that they are the musicians and singers as well! The cast, particularly Eleanor Toms as the child Adele Varens, inject much needed humour to provide a necessary contrast to the intense, earnestness. The graceful set-changes by the cast provide a rhythm to the piece. I love the way they sit on the periphery of the set waiting for their next entrance, as it adds to the eeriness of some scenes.

If Charlotte Bronte could see this play, she would not be disappointed. It has remained true to the autobiographical nature of the original novel.

Leeds Playhouse  – until 15 February 2020

Reviewed by Sally Richmond 

5*****

Night of the Living Dead (a remix of George Romero’s 1968 cinematic classic film) was a truly mind-bending and mind-blowing experience; due to its innovative and dynamic use of film and live stage action.  

This production, brought to us by Imitating the Dog and Leeds Playhouse, took on the challenge of recreating Romero’s controversial horror picture – shot by shot (making no changes, with only seven actors and few props) and they definitely succeeded in it, with outstanding results!  

What should have been pure chaos, turned out to be a master class in how to deliver a show that had perfect timing, with the most clever camera work and ‘set’ projection I’ve ever seen!  Each frame that we saw on stage was mirroring a screen playing the original movie but also running along side that, was a screen rolling the film of live action we had right before us! How it was done so smoothly is still a puzzle but obviously down to such a multi- talented team.  

The extremely gifted actors (Morgan Bailey, Laura Atherton, Luke Bigg, Will Holstead, Morven Macbeth, Matt Prendergast and Adela Rajnovic) filled the stage with energetic and vigorous performances but also then took on the role of camera crew.  That in itself was mesmerising to watch, as was Matthew Tully who was the chief operator on stage. 

This is so much more than just a crazy horror play / film but delves into race politics through poignant vintage film and radio footage of the Vietnam war and Martin Luther King’s iconic ‘I have a dream’ speech.  The fragmentation of the American dream is explored and as all great plays do, Night of the Living Dead raises questions for the audience – one being that has much changed in Trump’s new America fifty years on? 

Co-directors Andrew Quick and Pete Brooks along with projection and video designer Simon Wainwright, lighting designer Andrew Crofts and set / costumer designer Laura Hopkins have created a spectacular production that provokes your brain and takes it on an exciting adventure – you won’t be scared – you’ll be stunned and left wanting to see it all over again!

Grand Opera House York is delighted to announce that they have raised a spectacular £8,765.17 in aid of York Hospital Charity in 2019. This will go towards helping fund the extras to improve healthcare facilities above and beyond the NHS making patients feel better. 

Joe Fenton, Community Fundraiser at York Teaching Hospital Charity said “We’d like to say a huge thank you to Grand Opera House and to everyone who generously donated at the bucket collections held across 2019. The incredible amount that has been raised is truly inspiring and will go a long way in improving the staff and patient experience across our hospitals. The money will be used benefit a number of  wards including Children’s, Dementia, Renal Unit and our Maternity Bereavement Suite – so thank you for your fantastic support.”

Clare O’Connor,  Theatre Manager says “We are absolutely delighted to have contributed nearly £9,000 (£8765.17) to numerous departments (Renal Unit, Children’s Ward, Dementia Appeal and Butterfly Appeal) in the hospital over the past 12 months, in conjunction with the wonderful York Teaching Hospital Charity.  Without the very generous donations of our audience members, and the time kindly given by volunteers for collections, we would not have achieved so great a figure, which means so much to all the staff at the Grand Opera House.  The patients and relatives who use these departments at the hospital will benefit greatly from these funds which will improve their experience during a difficult time, and we look forward to more successful fundraising over the next 12 months – thank you!”

English National Ballet

2020-2021 Season

ballet.org.uk

• Tamara Rojo CBE to direct and choreograph her first ballet, Raymonda, after Marius Petipa

• Raymonda to receive world premiere in Manchester, before UK Tour

• 2020 marks English National Ballet’s 70th Anniversary year

• 10th Anniversary of English National Ballet’s Dance for Parkinson’s programme

English National Ballet announces plans for its 2020-2021 Season.

Tamara Rojo CBE, Artistic Director of English National Ballet, will create a new version of the classic 19th century ballet, Raymonda, after Marius Petipa. Marking her first foray into choreography and direction, Rojo adapts the three-act production for today’s audiences, revisiting this important but rarely performed work of the ballet canon which is not, in its entirety, in any other UK dance companies’ repertoire.

Bringing the story into the setting of the Crimean war and drawing inspiration from the groundbreaking spirit and work of the women supporting the war effort, including Florence Nightingale in this her bicentennial year, Raymonda is recast as a young woman with a calling to become a nurse. With a new narrative and developed characterisation bringing women’s voices to the fore, Rojo’s Raymonda introduces a heroine in command of her own destiny.

Tamara Rojo CBE said: “It continues to be a part of my vision for English National Ballet to look at classics with fresh eyes, to make them relevant, find new contexts, amplify new voices and ultimately evolve the art form.

“Raymonda is a beautiful ballet – extraordinary music, exquisite and intricate choreography – with a female lead who I felt deserved more of a voice, more agency in her own story. Working with my incredible creative team, I am setting Raymonda in a new context and adapting the narrative in order to bring something unique, relevant and inspiring to our audiences.

“I have truly enjoyed delving into the creative process of adapting and choreographing a large-scale ballet and have been inspired by Florence Nightingale’s drive and passion.”

Rojo brings together a stellar production team for Raymonda with costume and set design by Antony McDonald, lighting design by Mark Henderson, dramaturgy by Lucinda Coxon, character dances by Vadim Sirotin, and choreology research and advice on the Sergeyev notation by Doug Fullington. Alexander Glazunov’s original score, with music arrangement by Gavin Sutherland, will be performed live by English National Ballet Philharmonic. Raymonda is a Co-Production between English National Ballet and Finnish National Ballet.

Furthering its commitment to UK touring, the world premiere of Raymonda will take place at Manchester’s Palace Theatre (15 – 17 October).

English National Ballet remains committed to developing and nurturing talent within the Company. Emerging Dancer, which returns in Spring 2021, recognises the excellence of the Company’s artists through an annual celebration that sees six finalists mentored by their peers to perform in front of a panel of eminent judges. The winner of Emerging Dancer is announced alongside the People’s Choice award and the Corps de Ballet award, introduced to recognise the hard work and dedication of an exceptional member of the corps.

Developing the ballet audience of tomorrow, English National Ballet and English National Ballet School’s My First Ballet series takes a popular ballet title and adapts it in time and length, making it accessible to children as young as three. Since 2012, over 320,000 people have seen a ballet from the series. My First Ballet: Swan Lake will be performed on tour in the UK in Spring 2021.

Elsewhere, English National Ballet celebrates 10 years of its flagship Engagement programme, Dance for Parkinson’s. Inspired by Company repertoire, the programme provides high quality dance classes for people living with Parkinson’s, their family, friends and carers. Since its launch in 2010, English National Ballet’s Dance for Parkinson’s has reached over 4700 people and has expanded to include five hubs across the UK. 2020 sees a collaboration with King’s College London and UCL on one of the world’s largest research studies addressing the impact and scalability of arts interventions on physical and mental health. English National Ballet is a National Portfolio Organisation supported by Arts Council England. NatWest is Principal Partner of English National Ballet.

Notes to Editors: English National Ballet is an Associate Company of Sadler’s Wells. Raymonda by Tamara Rojo, after Marius Petipa A Co-Production between English National Ballet and Finnish National Ballet

On sale information: General booking for these performances will open on Wednesday 5 February 2020

LISTINGS

Raymonda WORLD PREMIERE Palace Theatre, Manchester Thursday 15 – Saturday 17 October 2020 Box Office: 0844 871 3019 or www.ballet.org.uk/raymonda

Performance details are subject to change. Please see www.ballet.org.uk for latest information.

About English National Ballet English National Ballet has a long and distinguished history.

About Arts Council England

Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to visual art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2018 and 2022, we will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country.www.artscouncil.org.uk

About NatWest, Principal Partner of English National Ballet

NatWest serves customers in England and Wales, supporting them with their personal, private, and business banking needs. NatWest helps customers at all stages in their lives, from opening student accounts, to buying their first home, setting up a business, and saving for retirement.

Alongside a wide range of banking services, NatWest offers businesses specialist sector knowledge in areas such as manufacturing and technology, as well as access to specialist entrepreneurial support.

About Cunard Cunard is a luxury British cruise line, renowned for creating unforgettable experiences around the world. Cunard has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic, since 1840, celebrating an incredible 175 years of operation in 2015. A pioneer in transatlantic journeys for generations, Cunard is world class. The Cunard experience is built on fine dining, hand-selected entertainment and outstanding service. From five-star restaurants and in-suite dining to inspiring guest speakers, the library and film screenings, every detail has been meticulously crafted to make the experience unforgettable. There are currently three Cunard ships, Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria with destinations including Europe, the Caribbean, the Far East and Australia. In 2017, Cunard announced plans to add a fourth ship to its fleet that will be launched in 2022. This investment is part of the company’s ambitious plans for the future of Cunard globally and will be the first time since 2000 that Cunard will have four ships in simultaneous service. Cunard is based at Carnival House in Southampton and has been owned by Carnival Corporation since 1998.

Chyna

VAULT Festival, March 3rd – 5th 2020

Chyna is a 14 year old dancer – who is Deaf. In this multimedia dance production, video documentary is mixed with a live solo performance as she takes us on a journey through her daily life, immersing us in her world. Thus remarkable piece of theatre challenges notions of how stories are told, brought to VAULT Festival by multimedia theatre company Weave Stories.

“The Moon is the Sun of the Night creates a sensory collage, impressionistic while being intellectually, emotionally and aesthetically engaging (…) exquisite, captivating” Camden Voyeur

Deafness is not a disability here, but the opportunity to experience the world differently. Resonating in all of us, this show is accessible to both hearing and non-hearing audiences, without the use of translation. Created in collaboration with Oak Lodge, a specialist school for the D/deaf in Balham and Deaf Dance Artist Chisato Minamimura, this performance aims at bridging the D/deaf and hearing communities.

Weave Stories’ productions are based on lived experience; drawing from research interviews to stage a plurality of voices. They follow a multimedia theatrical approach, using video footage and live action; ‘voices’ are placed in a form of counterpoint as they would be on a music score. Balanced on parallel narratives, their shows bring together different views on the same subject offering a debate on social and human issues.

Director Laurence Dollander is originally from Nancy, France and is a writer, director and a musician/composer. She studied the oboe at the Conservatoire and gained a degree in English Literature and Cultural Studies at the University of Nancy, and has an MA in Performance Design and Practice from Central Saint Martins. She is very much involved with her local community, she teaches music at Oak Lodge School.

 

BBC BIG BAND BRINGS THE MUSIC OF

JAMES BOND TO STORYHOUSE

Show features Wirral-born vocalist Emer McParland

Concert in the same week as the 25^th Bond film is released

Internationally acclaimed BBC Big Band will perform at Storyhouse this Spring to celebrate the music of the world’s most iconic movie franchise, James Bond.

Joined by special guest vocalists, Wirral-born Emer McParland and Iain Mackenzie, the band will bring the sounds of James Bond to life on stage in Chester.

BBC Big presents The Music Of James Bond And Beyond at Storyhouse for one night only on Sunday 29 March 2020.

The concert comes in the same week as the 25^th Bond film is released in UK cinemas – with Hoylake’s very own Daniel Craig continuing in the title role as James Bond in No Time To Die, which hits the silver screen on 2 April 2020.

The concert will feature classic numbers including Diamonds Are Forever, Thunderball, We Have All The Time In The World, View To A Kill, Goldfinger and, of course, John Barry’s iconic James Bond theme. These screen favourites will be heard alongside a selection of more contemporary numbers from the James Bond library including Adele’s showstopping Skyfall – all performed in the BBC Big Band’s own fantastic style.

The BBC Big Band will also perform a sprinkling of numbers inspired by film – including Mission Impossible and Austin Powers – to give audiences a truly unique evening of world-class musical entertainment. The show is arranged and composed by Barry Forgie, who has been the band’s Musical Director since 1977.

Widely regarded as the world’s leading and most versatile jazz orchestra, BBC Big Band entertain audiences around the world through their broadcasts on BBC Radio and live performances.

Wirral-born lead vocalist Emer McParland grew up in Bebington and went on to study piano and singing at London’s Trinity College of Music. She spent 25 years in the capital performing as a soloist, backing vocalist and is also a vocal coach, before moving back to Wirral eight years ago.

Emer’s musical career has seen her perform with the Royal Philharmonic Concert orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Halle Orchestra, city of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, RTE Concert Orchestra, BBC Big Band and Ronnie Scott’s Big Band, as well as work with a host of high-profile singers including Dame Shirley Bassey, Peter Gabriel, Bjork, Kylie Minogue, Gary Barlow, and Andrea Bocelli.

Emer added: “Storyhouse is a fresh and exciting venue, and I’m really looking forward to bringing such an iconic programme of James Bond music to Chester. The Bond movie songs are dramatic and great fun to sing, especially with the fantastic and exciting BBC Big Band. I’ve performed throughout the UK and around the world, but this is the first time I will have sang live on stage in the North West for a long time. This will also be my first time at Storyhouse, it’s going to be very special.”

The concert will also feature Iain Mackenzie, who is renowned for his collaborations with Club Des Belugas, Tape Five and JoJo Effect. Having co-written and recorded close to 50 tracks with these giants of lounge, nujazz and electro swing, his tracks have been released on over 100 compilation albums.

The band’s musical collaborations features an international who’s who, including Tony Bennett, Martin Taylor, Robert Palmer, Louis Stewart, Van Morrison, Amy Winehouse, Mel Torme, Clark Terry, Michael Bublé, Dr John, George Benson, Van Morrison, and Ray Charles.

In addition to its regular studio and broadcast work, BBC Big Band regularly performs live at venues across the UK and have included Proms In The Park in Hyde Park, Cadogan Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, and The Sage Gateshead.

Tickets for BBC Big Band are on sale now priced from £27.50. Each ticket is subject to a £1.50 booking fee.

Website:         www.pmbpresentations.com

WHAT THE CRITICS SAY ABOUT BBC BIG BAND

‘A wonderful band’

Tony Bennett

‘They brilliantly continue the tradition of Big Band music.

As such they are important, as well as marvellous!’

Michael Parkinson

‘World-class musicians…a brilliant musical force’

The Telegraph

LISTING INFORMATION

BBC BIG BAND: THE MUSIC OF JAMES BOND AND BEYOND

Sunday 29 March 2020

Tickets £27.50 – each ticket is subject to a £1.50 booking fee

STORYHOUSE

Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR

HOW TO BOOK

Online:            Visit www.storyhouse.com

By Phone:       Call 01244 409 113

In person:       Visit the Ticket Kiosks at Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR

Website:         www.storyhouse.com

Facebook:       www.facebook.com/storyhouselive/

Twitter:           @StoryhouseLive

Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
Monday 17 – Saturday 22 February 2020
Signed performance: Thu 20 Feb, 7.30pm, Captioned performance: Fri 21 Feb, 7.30pm
Audio Described performance: Sat 22 Feb, 2.30pm
*Tickets: £43 – £21.50
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

The worldwide smash hit musical by Queen and Ben Elton comes to the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, on Monday 17 February 2020 – for one week only.

The multi-million pound show, already seen by over 16 million theatregoers in 19 countries since 2002, showcases a number of Queen’s finest hits, including We Are The Champions, Radio Ga Ga, I Want To Break Free, Somebody To Love, Killer Queen, Under Pressure, Bohemian Rhapsody, Another One Bites The Dust and, of course, We Will Rock You. Before closing its glorious 12 year run at London’s Dominion Theatre, the show was performed an astonishing 4600 times.

Brian May said: “This is a stunning state-of-the art new-look production of WWRY – but of course the original story is now more relevant than ever. We’re confident WWRY fans will love revisiting the world’s first true Rock Theatrical, and a whole new generation will now discover the VIBE!”

Featuring 24 of Queen’s biggest hits and Ben Elton’s hilarious futuristic comedy writing, We Will Rock You boasts the scale and spectacle that marked the band’s legendary live performances – its dazzling breath-taking style is guaranteed to blow your mind!

“There was wild applause at the climax of the show…and it only got louder”
The Daily Telegraph

Barn Theatre, Cirencester – until 15 February 2020

Review by Josie Aburrow Smith

5*****

The Importance of Being Earnest is a classic comedy about two bachelors who create alter egos to escape their everyday lives. This is followed by mistaken identity and romance. The play by Oscar Wilde first performed in 1895.

This production at the Barn Theatre is a version like you have never seen before. It starts off with the stage manager Kevin McKinnon, played by Aidan Harkins, and the producer Graham de Harem, played by Ryan Bennett, finding out that the entire cast  of their production of The Importance of Being Earnest is missing and they decide the show must go on. What follows are the two of them managing to play every part in the three act play. Both the actors succeed in switching between being all the characters with remarkable speed and style. There is a brilliant moment where they are changing between being the gentleman and flouncing ladies by swapping hats and accents at astonishing speed. Throughout the whole play they maintain the pace and wit.

Ryan Bennett and Aiden Harkins both put in fantastic performances with boundless energy.

This is a laugh out loud witty performance cleverly directed by Bryan Hodgson. It is on at the Barn Theatre in Cirencester until 15th February, it then transfers to the Turbine Theatre in London for 2 weeks from February 18th.