For many people, the intricacies of the technical specifications required in cinema remain a mystery, which is why the opening of Prism, a snapshot of the life of one of Hollywood’s most prolific cinematographers, opens with a quick lesson in film ratios using a mechanised garage door.
It’s a simple technique, framing only the actors’ legs, and instantly introduces us to how important a viewpoint is in film – we see what the director wants us to see, and how the cinematographer wants us to view it.
Perception in an obvious, and vital theme in Prism. Robert Lindsay plays Jack Cardiff, the cinematographer famous for Black Narcissus, The Red Shoes and The African Queen. Cardiff is in the early throes of dementia, and his son, Mason (Oliver Hembrough) wants him to complete his autobiography – a difficult challenge considering Jack doesn’t know whether he’s in the pub or in the garage. Lucy (Victoria Blunt) has been hired to help care for him and maybe, just maybe help him finish his writing. Watching over this with justified apprehension is Jack’s wife, Nicola (Tara Fitzgerald), whom Jack now longer recognises, instead seeing his old flame Katie, that is, Katherine Hepburn.
Lindsay gives a truly stunning performance as Jack, effortlessly capturing the impish glee and gruff stubbornness of a man who has lived quite a life. Although Jack may not see the world as we do anymore, it is quite clear that his life still makes some sense to him. Blunt is also a charismatic presence, multi-roling as Lucy and then in the second act as Lauren Bacall and Marilyn Monroe.
The second act employs a wonderful framing device. As the curtains close on Act One, and the back wall of garage opens to reveal the Congo river, Act Two shows us Jack in his prime, chatting with Humphrey Bogart, Katherine Hepburn and Lauren ‘Betty’ Bacall. But then, in the second scene, we see a scene from the first half, of Jack photographing Lucy, from his point of view. Now Lucy is Marilyn, and Mason is Arthur Miller… it’s a moment that could so easily be cliched or insensitive, but the deftness of Terry Johnson’s writing, coupled with the calibre of talent onstage, makes for a beautiful moment of connection.
It’s the little touches like this that truly elevate the play: photos Jack has taken of Hollywood stars morph to illustrate how a Technicolor camera works, for example. Great care has been taken to depict a man with respect as dementia claims his mind, as it should, even as the programme states that artistic license and liberties have been taken.
Prism is a sensitive, moving piece on life and art and how the two complement each other, how each can heighten the other.
‘A real life does not boast a satisfying story arc. We are doomed to live the events of our lives in the wrong damn order; it’s like shooting a film, not watching one…The time of our lives is not the finished masterpiece; it’s just whatever we got in the can today.’
A really clever set design, instantly transports you back in time to the 1950’s. The initial slum like set depicts the tenements of the time in Salford. It’s dingy , grimy and next door to the abattoir. It is the place that is the new home of Helen (Jody Prenger) and errant teenager daughter Jo (Gemma Dobson).
These two have an odd relationship neither show each other love, they both seem to harbour bitterness and angst to each other. Helen has never enjoyed being a mum, left with a baby at a young age to fend for them both in any way she could.
While Jo is pretty much bringing herself up and resents her life and mums choices. They have an incredible amount of dialogue between them which deserves praise for remembering it all. I did at times find it difficult to catch as it is very fast and slightly monotone in it’s delivery.
Throughout the performance we are blessed with some fabulous Jazz musicians, they really set the tone and mood, at times the cast break into a tune with them.
Things take a turn when Helen is pursued by car salesman Peter (Tom Varey). He has fallen for the older woman and she has fallen for his money. As he woos her with flowers and chocolates, daughter Jo who is feeling more alone meets sailor Jimmie (Durone Stokes). She is lonely and vulnerable and he is a man of the world who happens to have the most amazing voice, when he sings it’s as smooth as honey, she is very taken with him. He makes such a fuss of her and she revels in his attentions. When a swing seat appears from the rafters she jumps on , he pushes her it is a very sweet moment and just one of many smooth set changes. With Helen rushing off to marry Peter a poorly Jo is looked after by Jimmie, he has already proposed and made huge promises to her, following her mothers lead she takes him to bed because that’s what you do when someone shows you attention . Soon after Jimmie goes back to sea leaving a lonely Jo pregnant and alone.
She tries to hide it and works two jobs almost unheard of in those times. Her best friend Geoffrey(Stuart Thompson) steps in to help her, he moves in and they have some frank exchanges she wants to know why he is gay and he wants to know about the baby, an unlikely alliance forms and they bumble along quite well until he starts to worry and reaches out to Helen for help. The reunion isn’t what he hoped especially as he bears the brunt of some awful jibes about his sexuality.
The story has come full circle. Unmarried mums struggling against poverty and adversity to survive.
WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS RETURN FOR THEIR 20TH YEAR WITH THE CEREMONY TAKING PLACE ON
SUNDAY 1 MARCH 2020 AT THE PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE
VOTING FOR THIS YEAR’S NOMINEES NOW OPEN
WhatsOnStage today announce that the 20th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards will take place on Sunday1 March 2020 at the Prince of Wales Theatre. As well as seeing the winners crowned across 25 categories, theatregoers will also enjoy a host of live performances from top West End talent. The event is co-produced by Paul Taylor-Mills.
Booking opens on Wednesday 6 November 2019. Tickets will be available from £25 at whatsonstage.com.
Now in their 20th year, they are the only major theatre awards decided entirely by the theatregoers themselves. Nominations are now open and close on Wednesday 27 November 2019 ahead of the shortlists being announced. Voting then opens on Thursday 5 December 2019, closing on Monday 27th January 2020, ahead of the winners being announced at an awards ceremony on Sunday 1 March 2020.
Best West End Show will be rebranded for this year’s ceremony. The shortlist for the technical categories (Choreography, Costume Design, Direction, Graphic Design, Lighting Design, Musical Direction, Set Design, Sound Design and Video Design) will be decided by an independent panel of industry experts appointed by WhatsOnStage. Their shortlist will then be voted on by the general public. Further details will be announced shortly.
Royal & Derngate announces full cast and creative team for its 2019 Christmas show Pippi Longstocking The World Premiere of Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren A Musical Adventure Adapted for the stage by Mike Akers Original music by Stu Barker Tuesday 10 to Tuesday 31 December 2019
The full cast and creative team has been announced for the world premiere of Pippi Longstocking, Royal & Derngate’s 2019 Made in Northampton Christmas show. Pippi Longstocking is adapted for the stage in the UK for the first time by Mike Akers from Astrid Lindgren’s much-loved books, 75 years after they were first written, following on from an initial script by the late John Miller. With original music by Stu Barker, this joyful new musical will be directed by The Wardrobe Ensemble’s Jesse Jones and Helena Middleton who co-directed Education, Education, Education for Royal & Derngate in 2017. Design is by Katie Sykes, with Sally Ferguson as lighting designer and Dominic Bilkey as sound designer. An ensemble cast is led by Emily-Mae as Pippi.
Celebrating nearly three quarters of a century since Astrid Lindgren first conceived Pippi Longstocking as “the strongest girl in the world”, this stage premiere of one of our best loved children’s books promises an epic musical adventure that will be created especially for family audiences at Royal & Derngate this Christmas. It follows on from the huge success of last year’s The Worst Witch which went on to delight London audiences in the West End this summer.
Nine-year-old Pippi is strong, brave and fearless. When she comes to live in her new home with her monkey and horse but with no parents and no rules, she brings mischief, chaos and confusion to the folk of this ordinary Midlands town. What else would you expect from the daughter of a swashbuckling pirate captain?
The part of Pippi Longstocking is played by Emily-Mae, whose recent credits include Little Shop of Horrors (Storyhouse, Chester), Brooklyn (Greenwich Theatre) and The Producers (Royal Exchange, Manchester). A talented ensemble cast of actor-musicians includes Scott Brooks (Much Ado About Nothing, Antic Disposition), Matthew Churcher (Peter Pan, National Theatre), Philippa Hogg (Peter Pan, National Theatre), Hanora Kamen (Education, Education, Education, Wardrobe Ensemble), Rowena Lennon (The Animals and Children Took to the Streets, 1927 Productions), Alex Parry (Burke and Hare, Watermill Theatre) and Luke Potter (composer and musical director for The Worst Witch, Royal & Derngate, UK tour and Vaudeville Theatre).
Pippi Longstocking has been adapted for the stage by playwright Mike Akers whose numerous family shows include Treasure Island, Peter Pan and Jane Eyre for Bristol Old Vic and the National Theatre.
Composed and musically directed by Stu Barker, whose West End and Broadway credits with Kneehigh Theatre Company include Brief Encounter and The Red Shoes, this energetic and joyful production will be directed by The Wardrobe Ensemble’s Jesse Jones and Helena Middleton, who together directed Royal & Derngate’s co-production of Education, Education, Education, which won The Stage Award for Best Ensemble and a Fringe First. Jesse’s other credits for Royal & Derngate include early years Christmas show Second Star to the Right, whilst Helena’s family production of The Star Seekers recently played at the National Theatre.
The production is designed by Katie Sykes whose credits include A Monster Calls at the Old Vic, and Jane Eyre and Peter Pan for the National Theatre. The lighting designer is Sally Ferguson (The Importance of Being Earnest, Watermill Theatre; Strange Fruit, Bush Theatre) and sound design is by Dominic Bilkey (Jane Eyre and Peter Pan, National Theatre; Shadowlands, national tour).
This enchanting family show is co-produced by Wizard Presents and ABA International Touring (UK) as part of Royal & Derngate’s Made in Northampton season.
Pippi Longstocking takes to the Royal stage from Tuesday 10 to Tuesday 31 December 2019. For more information, call Royal & Derngate’s Box Office on 01604 624811 or visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk. Pippi Longstocking is presented by arrangement with IPR Ltd in cooperation with Nordiska ApS., Copenhagen.
Made in Northampton is sponsored locally by Michael Jones Jeweller.
* A charge of £3.50 applies for all transactions of £20 and over. Does not apply to Groups, Members or Disabled Patrons, and is per-transaction, not per-ticket.
Kenny Wax Family Entertainmentis delighted to share production shots of its new family stage showOi Frog & Friends!. As previously announced, the musical production will make its West End premiere at theLyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue for a strictly limited season from 29 November 2019 to 5 January 2020, as part of a national UK Tour.
Oi Frog & Friends! will bring together Kes Gray and Jim Field’s bestselling and award-winning picture books Oi Frog!,Oi Dog!, Oi Cat! and Oi Duck-billed Platypus!, published by Hachette Children’s Group. It is created for the stage by Director Emma Earle, Designer Zoe Squire (Co-Artistic Directors of Pins and Needles Productions), Composer Luke Bateman and Lyricist Richy Hughes. Puppet Design is by Yvonne Stone with Lighting Design by Ric Mountjoy.
The West End cast (pictured) are: Darren Seed as DOG,Lucy Tuck as CAT, John Winchester as FROG and Simon Yadoo as CHEETAH.
LISTINGS
London – West End
Show: Oi Frog & Friends!
Adapted from the bestselling books by Kes Gray and Jim Field
Dates: 29 November 2019 – 5 January 2020
Venue: Lyric Theatre, 29 Shaftesbury Avenue, Soho, London W1D 7ES
Press Performances: Thursday 5 December 11am & Saturday 7 December 12pm
Flexible press dates available
Times: Daytime performances at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 2pm
Playing under ‘Thriller’
Tickets: From £15.50
Schools & Groups: 10+ £10 plus 11th ticket free. Family Ticket (Admits 4): £66
ACCESS: Thursday 12th December 11am BSL & Relaxed Performance
FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THEATR CLWYD’S CHRISTMAS PRODUCTIONS –
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK AND A CHRISTMAS CAROL
With the world première of Emily White’s Pavilion finishing its run at The Riverside in Newport, and the company’s large-scale promenade show Mold Riots having just taken to the streets, Artistic Director of Theatr ClwydTamara Harvey and Executive Director Liam Evans-Ford today announce the full casts for their upcoming Christmas productions – Jack and the Beanstalk and A Christmas Carol – adapted for the stage by Alan Harris.
For A Christmas Carol, Liz Stevenson directs Matthew Bulgo (Bob/Fezziwig), Amy Drake (Mrs Aubin/Belle/Beggar), Steven Elliott (Scrooge) and Kerry Peers (Christmas Past/Mrs Roberts).
For Jack and the Beanstalk, Zoë Waterman directs Adam Barlow (Squire Simon), Katie Elin Salt (Fairy Daffodil), Lynwen Haf Roberts (Poison Ivy), Phylip Harries (Dame Tabitha Trott), Jessica Jolleys (Jill Stinker), Ben Locke (Tommy Trott), Alice McKenna (Harriet/Villager/Cow), Peter Mooney (Jack), Elin Phillips (Shake), and Luke Thornton (Vac).
Cast: Adam Barlow (Squire Simon), Katie Elin Salt (Fairy Daffodil), Lynwen Haf Roberts (Poison Ivy), Phylip Harries (Dame Tabitha Trott), Jessica Jolleys (Jill Stinker), Ben Locke (Tommy Trott),
Alice McKenna (Harriet/Villager/Cow), Peter Mooney (Jack), Elin Phillips (Shake), Luke Thornton (Vac)
Director: Zoë Waterman; Designer: Adrian Gee; Lighting Designer: Mark Howland
Sound Designer: Matthew Wills; Musical Director: Tayo Akinbode; Choreographer: Will Tuckett Casting Director: Kay Magson
Join Jack’s moo-sical journey up the beanstalk in this giant, magical, egg-cellent adventure!
Theatr Clywd’s acclaimed rock ‘n’ roll panto returns with a brand new script by Christian Patterson, full of super slapstick, bonkers frocks, sparkling sets and our brilliant dame, Phylip Harries.
Adam Barlow returns to Theatr Clwyd to play Squire Simon – he previously appeared in Beauty and the Beast. His other theatre work includes War Horse (National Theatre), Cyrano, The Merry Wives (Northern Broadsides), Jumpers for Goalposts, Our Day Out (Oldham Coliseum), and Inherit the Wind and I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire! (New Vic Theatre). For television his work includes Coronation Street (as Wayne Hayes), The Street and Burn It.
Katie Elin-Salt returns to Theatr Clwyd to play Fairy Daffodil – she previously appeared in Under Milk Wood, Season’s Greetings and Educating Rita. Her other theatre work includes The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Bolton Octagon), Out of Love, Black Mountain, How To Be a Kid (Paines Plough), Twelfth Night (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Comedy of Errors (National Theatre tour) and Crouch Touch Pause Engage (Out of Joint and National Theatre Wales). For television, her work includes Stella, Flash Prank and Tissues and Issues.
Lynwen Haf Roberts returns to Theatr Clwyd to play Poison Ivy – her previous work for the company includes Dick Whittington – The Purrrrrfect Rock ‘N’ Roll Panto andSleeping Beauty – The Rock ‘N Roll Panto. Other theatre credits include A Berlin Kabaret(UK tour), Iesu!, Deffro’r Gwanwyn (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru), Arandora Star (Theatr na nÓg), Fala’ Surion, Hawl/Right (Frân Wen), Lleuad yn Olau, Cysgu’n Brysur (Arad Goch) and Sherman Swingers (Sherman Theatre).
Phylip Harries returns to Theatr Clwyd to play Dame Tabitha Trott – he previously appeared in Dick Whittington – The Purrrrrfect Rock ‘N’ Roll Panto, Little Shop of Horrors,Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk and Sleeping Beauty. Other theatre credits include Milwr Yn Y Medddwl, Macbeth (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru), One Man, Two Guvnors (UK tour), Aberystwyth Mon Amour (Lighthouse Theatre), TOM – A Story of Tom Jones. The Musical (Theatr na nÓg), Much Ado About Nothing (Stafford Gatehouse Theatre). His television credits include The Light, Tourist Trap,Trollied, The Kennedys, Hinterland and Y Pris; and for film, King Arthur: Excalibur Rising and Masterpiece.
Jessica Jolleys plays Jill Stinker. She recently graduated from Rose Bruford College.
Ben Locke plays Tommy Trott. His theatre work includes Robin Hood and the Revolting Peasants, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing (Oddsocks Productions), Fugitive Songs (Borderline Confrontational) and Billy Young: A Life on Death Row (Lying Lips Theatre Company).
Alice McKenna returns to Theatr Clwyd to play Harriet/Villager/Cow – she previously appeared in Dick Whittington – The Purrrrrfect Rock ‘N’ Roll Panto. Her other theatre credits include Girls Don’t Play the Guitar (Royal Court Liverpool), Underneath a Magical Moon (US tour), Merrily We Roll Along (Yvonne Arnaud Theatre), Underneath a Magical Moon (York Theatre Royal) and Sensation – Music of The Who (UK tour).
Peter Mooney returns to Theatr Clwyd to play Jack – he previously appeared in Dick Whittington – The Purrrrrfect Rock ‘N’ Roll Panto. His other theatre credits include Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Watermill Theatre and tour), A Midsummer Night’s Nap (The Garage), Once (The New Wolsey Theatre/Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch), Save + Quit (The New Theatre, Dublin), The Commitments (Palace Theatre/UK tour), Eye of the Storm (Theatr na nÓg) and Romeo and Juliet (The Watermill Theatre); and for film, The Usurpers and Viral.
Elin Phillips plays Shake. Her theatre work includes The Populars (Volcano Theatre), Henry V (The Barn Theatre), Dau (RCT Theatres), Penblwydd Poenus Pete (Theatr Iolo) and Alice in Wonderland (Sherman Theatre). For television, her work includes Îha Sheelagh, Gwaith Cartref, Zanzibar and Crash; and for film, Love Type D and Y Syrcas.
Luke Thornton returns to Theatr Clwyd to play Vac – he previously appeared in Sleeping Beauty and Aladdin. His other theatre work includes Midnight (Union Theatre), Summer Holiday (Bolton Octagon), Footloose (UK tour), Dusty (Charing Cross Theatre) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (London Palladium).
Christian Patterson scripted his début pantomime Dick Whittington for Theatr Clwyd last year, having written award-winning pantomimes at other venues across the UK. He is currently directing Wave Me Goodbye for the company. As an actor his credits for the company include The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Insignificance, All My Sons and Under Milk Wood. Other credits include The Way of the World (Donmar Warehouse), My Country (National Theatre), Blackbird (The Other Room) and Plays in a Bag – The Knowledge (Royal Court Theatre). His television credits include My Country, Ellen and Mr Selfridge; and for film, Pride and Malice in Wonderland. He won the Best Actor honour at the Wales Theatre Awards in 2016.
Zoë Waterman returns to the theatre to direct, continuing her collaboration with Patterson following last year’s Dick Whittington. She is the Associate Director at the New Vic Theatre where her credits includePlayhouse Creatures and The Kitchen Sink. Other theatre credits include Sleeping Beauty (Theatr Clwyd), The Rubenstein Kiss, Amy’s View and After Miss Julie (Nottingham Playhouse), Remarkable Invisible, The Vertical Hour, Enlightenment and Shining City (Theatre by the Lake), The Bogus Woman (Theatre by the Lake/UK tour), Swan Song: an evening of music and song (Swan Theatre), The Demand (Shooting Fish Theatre Company), Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Jack and the Beanstalk (Loughborough Town Hall).
A Theatr Clwyd production
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Adapted for the stage by Alan Harris
13 December – 5 January
Cast: Matthew Bulgo (Bob/Fezziwig), Amy Drake (Mrs Aubin/Belle/Beggar), Steven Elliott (Scrooge) and Kerry Peers (Christmas Past/Mrs Roberts)
Director:Liz Stevenson; Designer: Frankie Bradshaw; Lighting Designer: Matt Leventhall
Sound Designer: Alexandra Faye Braithwaite; Composer/Musical Director: Barnaby Race
Movement Director: Sian Williams; Casting Director: Peter Hunt CDG
It’s Christmas Eve and Ebenezer Scrooge is miserable and unhappy, can you help him find his Christmas spirit?
Explore a living, breathing Victorian street with residents to meet before being whisked away to a dream world where anything can happen and ghosts are just around the corner… A funny immersive family show filled with music and mystery.
Matthew Bulgo returns to Theatr Clwyd to play Bob/Fezziwig – he previously appeared in All My Sons and Lord of the Flies (also Sherman Theatre). His theatre credits include The Cherry Orchard, The Sleeping Beauties, Clytemnestra, A Christmas Carol (Sherman Theatre), The Insatiable, Inflatable Candylion, Praxis Makes Perfect (National Theatre Wales), I’m With The Band, Horizontal Collaboration (Traverse Theatre), Kenny Morgan (Arcola Theatre), Under Milk Wood (Royal and Derngate), The Prince Hamlet (Toronto Dance Theatre), Play, Silence (The Other Room) and Blue/Orange (Canoe Theatre). Bulgo is an Associate Director of Dirty Protest Theatre and also works as a playwright and dramaturg.
Amy Drake plays Mrs Aubin/Belle/Beggar. Her theatre credits include Babushka (Hard Graft Theatre), War and Peace(at Hurricane Speed),Keep Breathing (Reallife Theatre Company), Under The Market Roof (Junction 8 Theatre), Treasure Island (Lancaster Dukes Theatre) and Shakers (Deaf Dog Theatre). For television, her work includes Cold Feet; and for film, The Blast Project and Top Dog.
Steven Elliott plays Scrooge. He is an Associate Artist at Theatr Clwyd. His theatre work includes seasons at the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre Wales, the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, and many other theatre companies throughout the UK. For television, his work includes The Crown, Da Vinci’s Demons, Mike Basset – Manager, Ghostboat, Judge John Deed and S4C’s English/Welsh series Porthpenwaig; and for film, The Watcher in the Woods, Les Misérables, Hamlet and Time Bandits.
Kerry Peers returns to Theatr Clwyd to play Ghost of Christmas Past/Mrs Roberts. Previous work for the company includes Wave Me Goodbye,Much Ado About Nothing, Jumpy, A Streetcar Named Desire and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. Other theatre work includes The Words Are Coming Now (Theatre503), Pride and Prejudice (Nottingham Playhouse/ York Theatre Royal), The Father,Dead Funny – both Manchester Theatre Awards nominations, Brighton Beach Memoirs – Manchester Theatre Awards Winner (Oldham Coliseum), Peter Pan (Northcott Exeter), and Shirley Valentine (Frinton Summer Theatre). Television work includes Clink, Butterfly, Bulletproof, Hollyoaks, Waterloo Road and Shameless; and as series regulars in The Bill (as WDC Suzi Croft) and Brookside (Helen Carey).
Alan Harris’ plays include Sugar Baby (Edinburgh Fringe 2017, Soho Theatre 2018), How My Light is Spent (winner of the Judges’ Award at the 2015 Bruntwood Prize, produced by the Royal Exchange, Manchester, Sherman Theatre and Theatre By The Lake), Love, Lies and Taxidermy (Paines Plough, Theatr Clwyd and Sherman Theatre), The Opportunity of Efficiency (New National Theatre Tokyo / National Theatre Wales), A Good Night Out in The Valleys (the inaugural production of the newly formed National Theatre Wales), The Future For Beginners (liveartshow / Wales Millennium Centre), The Magic Toyshop (Invisible Ink / Theatr Iolo), Cardboard Dad (Sherman Cymru), Miss Brown To You (Hijinx Theatre), and Orange (Sgript Cymru). His latest play For The Grace of You Go I will feature in Theatr Clwyd’s season for 2020.
Liz Stevenson is the Artistic Director Theatre by the Lake, and Junction 8 Theatre. She won the 2015 JMK Young Director Award. Barbarians at the Young Vic was nominated for a 2016 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre. She was the Associate Director on the UK and Ireland tour of the National Theatre’s production of Macbeth. As a director, her other work includes The Secret Garden (York Theatre Royal, Theatre by the Lake), Under The Market Roof (Chorley Market, Junction 8 Theatre), Handbagged (Theatre by the Lake), How My Light Is Spent (Royal Exchange Theatre, Sherman Theatre, Theatre by the Lake), Macbeth (Dukes Theatre, Lancaster), Barbarians (Young Vic), Bluestockings, Too Fast and Midnight at The Hotel Beauregard (ALRA North).
· World premiere of first ever Christmas show by Breach Theatre
· Contemporary slant on medieval mystery play with live music – based on the extraordinary true story of a runaway 14th century rebel nun
Breach Theatre return to New Diorama this December with the world premiere of their first ever Christmas show.
Based on a fascinating and scandalous true story, Joan of Leeds adds a raucously funny seasonal twist to Breach’s signature combination of thrillingly incisive storytelling, theatrical invention and the deployment of history to comment on contemporary society.
In a 14th Century Yorkshire convent, Sister Joan is blessed with unholy visions. A seductive serpent and sinful saints exalt the earthly pleasures of forbidden sex.
Her visions – and ensuing actions- cause a scandal in the order, but Joan is determined to spread her new carnal creed… even if it means getting a little creative.
Sounds fun, right?
Joan of Leeds borrows its structure from the early medieval Mystery Plays, which mixed verse and choral music to tell stories from the bible, but Breach have given the genre a sharp contemporary reinvention, mixing verse and dialogue with a psychedelic 70s aesthetic and folk-rock soundtrack, feminist undertones, uproarious humour and a healthy does of festive spirit.
The show is co-written by Breach’s Billy Barrett and Ellice Stevens, with music by James Frewer – whose credits include Middle Child Theatre’s mega hits All We Ever Wanted Was Everything and The Canary and the Crow.
The cast includes Rachel Barnes and Laurie Jamieson, both of whom also starred as actor-musicians in The Canary and the Crow at the 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, alongside Bryony Davies (Macbeth, Royal Exchange, A Girl In School Uniform (Walks Into A Bar), New Diorama), Olivia Hirst (Artistic Director of LostWatch Theatre, star of Secret Life of Humans, and co-writer and star of The Incident Room – both New Diorama Theatre) and Alex Roberts (The Wardrobe Ensemble’s Rocky Shock).
New Diorama Theatre Associate Ensemble Breach Theatre’s previous plays include The Beanfield, Fringe First winner Tank, and Fringe First, The Stage and Untapped Award winner It’s True It’s True It’s True which restaged the 1612 trial surrounding the rape of artist Artemisia Gentileschi and will transfer to The Barbican’s Pit in spring 2020.
The Original Theatre Company present the new Ali Milles thriller, The Croft, based on a true story and starring Gwen Taylor. The Croft will begin its UK tour at Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham on 22 January 2020.
The Croft is set in the remote Scottish Highlands village of Coillie Ghille, where we encounter three women from different eras whose lives are intertwined by the croft’s dark history. In the 1880’s, we have Enid, the last person left in the village – she’s resilient, a survivor, who takes in the Laird’s pregnant daughter, Eilene. In 2005, Ruth occupies the croft, which she and her husband Tom bought as a holiday home and where Ruth has her affair with local man, David. In the present day, Laura returns with her friend Suzanne to her parent’s croft after her mother Ruth’s death. They discover the terrifying truth that lurks within the croft. In this bold and haunting play, the present interweaves with the past, as these women search for love in the midst of great danger. As we watch their stories intertwine and ancient tales surface, can the present heal the past?
Gwen Taylor will play Enid and is best known for playing the title role in the ITV sitcom Barbara, as well as Anne Foster in Coronation Street, Peggy Armstrong in Heartbeat, Rita Simcock in A Bit of A Do, for which she was nominated for a BAFTA TV Best Actress Award, and Amy in Duty Free. Her film appearances include Another Mother’s Son, The Lady in the Van and Monty Python’s Life of Brian. Gwen is currently touring the UK in The Lady Vanishes. Her other theatre credits include The Importance of Being Earnest and Night Must Fall (both for Original Theatre), Allelujah! (Bridge Theatre), The Slaves of Solitude (Hampstead Theatre), Driving Miss Daisy (Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre / UK Tour), Calendar Girls (UK tour), the title role in the national tour of Shirley Valentine, Top Girls (Royal Court and New York) and Gertrude in Sir Peter Hall’s production of Hamlet (London’s Gielgud Theatre and national tour).
Caroline Harker will play the roles of Suzanne / Ruth. She is best known for her role as Celia in BBC’s Middlemarch, as well as WPC Hazel Wallace in ITV’s A Touch of Frost. Her other notable television credits include Coronation Street, Doctors and Holby City. Caroline’s film credits include Lady Godiva: Back in the Saddle and The Madness of King George. She most recently starred in Relatively Speaking, Breaking Code and Handbagged (Salisbury Playhouse). Her other theatre credits include The Sweet Science of Bruising (Southwark Playhouse), The Chalk Garden (Chichester Festival Theatre) and Pride and Prejudice (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre).
Lucy Doyle will play the roles of Laura / Eilene. She recently graduated from RADA and made her professional debut this year at Theatre Royal Bath in Vienna 1934 – Munich 1938 alongside Vanessa Redgrave and Paul Hilton.
Further casting to be announced.
The Croft is directed by the award-winning director Philip Franks, with design by Adrian Linford, lighting by Chris Davey and sound by Max Pappenheim.
This production is produced by The Original Theatre Company (The Habit of Art, The Night Watch, Birdsong).
Based on the play “The Flower Within the Bud” by Roger MacDougall and Screenplay by Roger MacDougall, John Dighton and Alexander Mackendrick
By special arrangement with STUDIO CANAL
Directed by Sean Foley
Designed by Michael Taylor
PRODUCERS TODAY HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT WILL END ITS RUN ON SATURDAY 7th DECEMBER, EARLIER THAN PREVIOUSLY ADVERTISED
Producers today announced that Sean Foley’sadaptation of the classic Ealing Studios comedy, The Man in the White Suit,will end its run at Wyndham’s Theatre on Saturday 7th December, earlier than previously advertised.
Despite winning praise from audiences, sales for the show have not proved strong enough and producers have taken the difficult decision to end the run early.
Ticket holders for performances after 7th December should contact their point of sale.
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford – until 2 November 2019
Reviewed by Antonia Hebbert
4****
At first sight this Oscar Wilde play feels like a lighthearted country house comedy. Aristocratic guests exchange classic Wildean witticisms in quick fire succession – it’s amazing how many famous lines there are. It’s all smart and brittle and clever, so much so that you sometimes want to press a pause button to give you time to think about the last one-liner. But in Act II a serious drama emerges, when naïve young Gerald (Tim Gibson) is revealed to be the illegitimate son of predatory Lord Illingworth (Mark Meadows). Gerald’s devoted mother (Katy Stephens) is ‘a fallen woman’, who has lived in shame, while Illingworth has enjoyed every luxury and inherited a title.
It’s almost as if it’s two plays in parallel. Oscar Wilde is suddenly looking here at the gaping inequality of men and women in 19th-century society. It’s hard to imagine now just how powerless women were then, but Katy Stephens as Mrs Arbuthnot manages to convey a sense of a devastated life, without quite falling into melodrama. Meanwhile other characters continue to provide witty Wildean exchanges, led by Emma Amos as the feline Mrs Allonby, who treats relations between men and women as a sort scintillating fencing match, in which a clever woman can more than hold her own.
Some of the funniest moments come from characters who don’t do the brilliant repartee – Liza Goddard is a delight as forgetful Lady Hunstanton, and Roy Hudd (yes, it is he – comedy royalty at 83 years old) is a perfect Reverend Daubeny, assuring everyone of his wife’s wellbeing while revealing more and more about her terrible state of health. Between each act Roy Hudd leads a cheery comic song, which gives time to change Jonathan Fensom’s handsome scenery, but also helps to bridge the different moods of the play.
In the end, Mrs Arbuthnot gets the last word. A very straitlaced American character (Georgia Landers) who has been terribly boring in the witty-repartee side of the play, turns up to save the day on the serious-drama side – she is conveniently a millionaire and is going to marry Gerald. It isn’t at all clear where Wilde stands – he can see society’s wickedness but finds moralising deadly dull; he is drawn to the glamorously bad but makes his Illingworth extraordinarily nasty in the end. It’s all very curious and interesting, and one of a series of Wilde productions by director Dominic Dromgoole.
