DEAFINITELY THEATRE AND BIRMINGHAM STAGE COMPANY ANNOUNCE WORLD PREMIÈRE OF

HORRIBLE HISTORIES – DREADFUL DEAF – DEAFINITELY NOT FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED!

Deafinitely Theatre and Birmingham Stage Company present

The World Première of

Horrible Histories – Dreadful Deaf – Deafinitely not for the faint-hearted!

Director: Paula Garfield; Designer: Paul Burgess; Lighting Designer: Joe Hornsby

Composer and Sound Designer: Chris Bartholomew

On tour: 29 May – 23 June 2019

Deafinitely Theatre and Birmingham Stage Company today announce the world première Horrible Histories – Dreadful Deaf – Deafinitely not for the faint-hearted!. The Birmingham Stage Company have produced Horrible Histories live on stage across the UK and throughout the world since 2005 and have now teamed up with Deafinitely Theatre to create the first dedicated production for deaf children and their families.

Artistic Director of Deafinitely Theatre, Paula Garfield, directs, re-uniting her creative team from Deafinitely’s sell-out production of Sarah Kane’s 4.48 Psychosis in 2018.

Dreadful Deaf has a special school’s performance at Heathlands School in St Albans on 24 May before opening at Bristol Old Vic Theatre on Monday 29 May. The show then tours to York Theatre Royal and The North Wall in Oxford before completing its run at Derby Theatre on Saturday23 June. Further dates and casting will be announced soon.

We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone is deaf dead!

So it’s time to prepare yourselves for Horrible Histories live on stage as it delves into the dreadful, dangerous and deluded stories of the deaf! From groovy Greeks to gorgeous Georgians, ruthless Romans to vile Victorians, come with us into this incredible world to discover the extraordinary people and amazing stories you simply won’t believe!

Deaf or hearing, this bilingual production – in spoken English and British Sign Language – is a truly frightful treat for all the family!

Director, Paula Garfield said today, “A few years ago I watched my deaf children reading and enjoying Horrible Histories and I was struck by the thought that it would be wonderful for them to have a ‘Deaf Horrible Histories’, showcasing the stories, culture and communities of deaf people throughout history. I also wanted to ensure that deaf children today, whether signing or non-signing, can understand the history of their community and feel a sense of belonging and legacy. Horrible Histories is a fun, exciting way to learn and our bilingual production is designed for all to enjoy. I am delighted to be collaborating with Birmingham Stage Company to create this world-first production: Horrible Histories – Dreadful Deaf!”

Actor/Manager Neal Foster said today, “When Deafinitely Theatre approached me with their idea of creating a new show specifically for deaf children I jumped at the chance. One of the joys of creating Horrible Histories stage shows is going through the learning experience yourself, so not only did I think this was a fantastic idea for a show, but I was also excited to learn the history of deaf people through the lens of Horrible Histories. It’s proved to be as exciting as I first imagined and we can’t wait to share the show with deaf and hearing people – it’s a fascinating subject for theatre.”

About Deafinitely Theatre

Deafinitely Theatre is the UK’s first professional deaf-launched and led theatre company, creating bilingual productions of classic and contemporary plays for deaf and hearing audiences that combine the visual storytelling of British Sign Language with the immediacy of spoken English.

Established in 2002, the company’s vision is a world where deaf people are a valued part of the national theatre landscape, recognised for the excellence of their work. Deafinitely challenges barriers to training and opportunities, working hard to nurture the next generation of deaf theatre makers and audiences through its continuing programme of productions, consultancy work and education and training activities for young people and adults.

The company’s most recent productions include 2018’s sold-out run of 4.48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane at New Diorama Theatre and Derby Theatre and 2017’s award-winning production of Contractions by Mike Bartlett at ND2 (New Diorama Theatre) – winner of the 2018 Off West End Award for Best Production.

About Birmingham Stage Company

Birmingham Stage Company is the award-winning producers of David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny and Awful Auntie. The company produce all the Horrible Histories shows live on stage including the West End productions of Barmy Britain. The company also performs internationally, including David Almond’s Skellig on Broadway, and Horrible Histories at The Sydney Opera House.

Neal Foster is Actor/Manager of Birmingham Stage Company which since its foundation in 1992 has staged over eighty productions. The company has become one of the world’s leading producers of theatre for children and their families, including Horrible Histories Live on Stage for thirteen years in the UK, Dubai, Qatar, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia. Foster has written and directed all of the most recentHorrible Histories shows including Barmy Britain – Parts One, Two, Three & Four (Garrick Theatre, Apollo Theatre and Sydney Opera House); Groovy Greeks and Incredible Invaders for a national tour and Wicked Warwick at Warwick Castle. His first fictional adaptation was David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny,which transferred to the Garrick Theatre and then the Harold Pinter Theatre and was nominated for a Best Entertainment and Family Olivier Award.  His adaptation of David Walliams’ Awful Auntie enjoyed an 18 month national tour and his next David Walliams’ show will be Billionaire Boy in autumn 2019.

This production is made possible by the generous support of:

Arts Council Strategic Touring Fund, Autograph Sound Recording, Edwardian Hotels London, The Garfield Weston Foundation, Old Diorama Arts Centre and White Light Ltd.

Dreadful Deaf – Deafinitely not for the faint-hearted                                                                     Listings

On tour: 29 May – 23 June 2019              

www.deafinitelytheatre.co.uk

Twitter:                @DeafinitelyT

Facebook:           deafinitelytheatre

Dreadful Deaf – Deafinitely not for the faint-hearted is suitable for ages 5+

Tour Dates

Bristol Old Vic

29 May – 1 June

Box Office: 0117 987 7877

Tickets go on sale to priority members on 30 January and general sale on 31 January

www.bristololdvic.org.uk

York Theatre Royal

7 June – 8 June

Box Office: 01904 623 568

www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

The North Wall

18 June

Box Office: 01865 319 450

www.thenorthwall.com

Derby Theatre

22 June – 23 June

Box Office: 01332 59 39 39

www.derbytheatre.co.uk

WINNER OF THE 2019 STAGE AWARD

FOR BEST FRINGE THEATRE

THE BARN THEATRE CIRENCESTER

ANNOUNCES EXCITING NEW SEASON FOR 2019

Winner of Best Fringe Theatre in the 2019 Stage Awards, The Barn Theatre is delighted to present its line-up of five in-house productions for the upcoming 2019 Season, including one of Michael Morpurgo’s finest works, The Butterfly Lion, William Shakespeare’s classic history, Henry V, a brand new production of the comic thriller, The 39 Steps, the award-winning musical Daddy Long Legs and a reimagining of Charles Dickens’ festive masterpiece, A Christmas Carol.

Following an amazingly successful inaugural year when Artistic Director, Iwan Lewis, was nominated for the 2018 Stage Debut Award before the theatre’s win for Best Fringe Theatre Award, The Barn is looking to build on that success by once again providing its audience with a mix of challenging, entertaining and topical themes.

Iwan Lewis, Artistic Director said, “We have been absolutely thrilled by the audience response to our inaugural year and our Built By Barn productions. We did not expect to have had such positive industry recognition so soon after opening our doors to the public. It was humbling to have been nominated as Best Director at the Stage Debut Awards but winning The Stage Award for Best Fringe Theatre is truly unbelievable and has made all the hard work worthwhile. This is still the start of our journey and we are determined to use these achievements to catapult us into our 2019 season.

Our mission to produce challenging and inspiring professional theatre of the highest standards has been clear from the start and our 2019 programme will again reflect that commitment and provide a theatre that sits at the heart of our community sharing all the thrills and gifts that live entertainment can bring. Our new ticketing strategy mirrors this desire for inclusion and with prices starting from as little as £8 per ticket, The Barn really is a Theatre For All.”

Opening the new season in April is The Butterfly Lion by the acclaimed writer and former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo (War Horse, Private Peaceful, Running Wild). This heart-warming yet bittersweet story of faithfulness, destiny and love tells the tale of a lonely boy in South Africa who adopts an orphaned white lion cub.

In May, The Barn Theatre takes on a Shakespeare classic, Henry V. Set in modern surroundings, this timeless tale is cleverly brought up to date and explores the conflict between tradition and modernity in Britain through the lens of a nation at war.

A cast of four deftly take on a Hitchcock classic, The 39 Steps, in a wonderfully inventive comic thriller parody adaptation of John Buchan‘s 1915 novel for their Summer production in July. 139 roles are played out in a fast-paced, fun and thrilling action hitting show full of British gung-ho characters and dastardly murders, double-crossing secret agents, and, of course, devastatingly beautiful women.

The Autumn season opens with the theatre’s first stage musical for 2019, the award winning Daddy Long Legs. The show is based on the classic novel by Jean Webster that inspired the 1955 movie starring Fred Astaire. The musical, with music and lyrics by Paul Gordon and a book by John Caird, is set in turn-of-the-century New England and tells the story of orphan Jerusha Abbott and her mysterious benefactor who agrees to send her to college, who she dubs ‘Daddy Long Legs’ after seeing his elongated shadow.

A Christmas Carol closes the year with a magical new interpretation of Dickens’ timeless classic by Alan Pollock that will get everyone, including Scrooge, in the festive mood. Set to an original score, the familiar tale is reworked into a spellbinding tale that stays true to the general moral thread of the original story.

Box Office (Phone): 01285 648 255 (10am-5.30pm, Mon to Sat)

Box Office (Online): [email protected]

Website: barntheatre.org.uk

Twitter: @thebarntheatre

Facebook: @thebarntheatrecirencester

Instagram: @thebarntheatrecirencester

The Butterfly Lion

Tuesday 2 April – Saturday 4 May 2019

Written by Michael Morpurgo

Adapted by Daniel Buckroyd

Directed by Jessica Daniels

Performance Times: 14:30 / 19:30

Henry V

Wednesday 22 May – Saturday 22June 2019

Written by William Shakespeare

Performance Times: 14:30 / 19:30

The 39 Steps

Wednesday 10 July – Saturday 10 August 2019

Written by John Buchan

Adapted by Patrick Barlow

Performance Times: 14:30 / 19:30

Daddy Long Legs – The Musical

Wednesday 2 October – Saturday 2 November 2019

Book by John Caird

Music & Lyrics by Paul Gordon

Directed by Kirstie Davies

Performance Times: 14:30 / 19:30

A Christmas Carol

Wednesday 27 November – Saturday 4 January 2020

Written by Charles Dickens

Adapted by Alan Pollock

Directed by Iwan Lewis

Performance Times: 10.30/13.00/14.30/17.30/18.30.19.30

(See full Christmas schedule for variety of performance times)

LESLEY JOSEPH

TO PLAY ‘MISS HANNIGAN’ IN

MICHAEL HARRISON AND DAVID IAN’S PRODUCTION

OF THE MUSICAL

“ANNIE”

IN ABERDEEN, EDINBURGH, SUNDERLAND, CANTERBURY, CRAWLEY, BELFAST, IPSWICH, WIMBLEDON AND STOKE ON TRENT

Michael Harrison and David Ian are delighted to announce that Lesley Joseph will star as ‘Miss Hannigan’ in their smash hit production of the musical “ANNIE” at His Majesty’s Theatre Aberdeen (24 – 28 September 2019),Edinburgh Playhouse (30 September – 5 October 2019), Sunderland Empire (7 – 12 October 2019), Marlowe Theatre Canterbury (14 – 19 October 2019), The Hawth Crawley (22 – 26 October 2019) Grand Opera House Belfast (29 October – 2 November 2019), Ipswich Regent’s Theatre (4 – 9 November 2019) New Wimbledon Theatre (11 – 16 November 2019) and Regent’s Theatre Stoke on Trent (18 – 23 November 2019).

Lesley joins Alex Bourne as ‘Oliver Warbucks’, Richard Meek as ‘Rooster’, Jenny Gayner as ‘Lily’ and Carolyn Maitland as ‘Grace Farrell’. The title role of ‘Annie’ is shared by Faye Katsande, Ava Smith and Freya Yates. They are joined by three teams of young performers who play the girls in Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. 

Completing the cast will be Michael Anderson, Thomas Audibert, Andy Barke, Caroline Bateson, Daisy Boyles, Blaise Colangelo, Gary Davis, Ashleigh Graham, George Rae, Anne Smith, India Thornton, Matt Trevorrow, Amy West and Samuel Wilson Freeman. 

This production recently ran for an extended season in the West End following a sell-out tour of the UK and Ireland in 2015/16 as well as a recent sell-out season in Toronto.

Lesley Joseph returns to role of ‘Miss Hannigan’ having played the part in this production in 2015/16. Lesley is best known for playing ‘Dorien Green’ in the hugely successful sitcom “Birds of a Feather” alongside Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson. They recorded over 100 episodes over a period of nine years and returned to our screens in 2014 for a further three series. Lesley most recently appeared as ‘Frau Blucher’ in the West End production of the Mel Brooks musical “Young Frankenstein” for which she received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. Her other theatre credits include ‘Miss Hannigan’ in “Annie” at the West End’s Victoria Palace and also on national tour as well as the touring productions of “Calendar Girls” and “Thoroughly Modern Mille”. 

Alex Bourne reprises his performance as ‘Oliver Warbucks’ after playing the role in this  production of “Annie” in the West End, Toronto and on the 2015/16 tour. His many other West End credits include ‘Danny’ in “Grease”, ‘The Beast’ in “Beauty and the Beast”, ‘Billy Flynn’ in “Chicago”, ‘Khashoggi’ in “We Will Rock You” and ‘Fred/Petruchio’ in “Kiss Me, Kate” for which he received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. His other credits include ‘Daryl Van Horne’ in “The Witches of Eastwick” and the Watermill Theatre, for which he received a TMA nomination for Best Actor, ‘Sam Michael’ in the national tour of “Mamma Mia!” and ‘Lex Hogan’ in “Eugenius!” at the Other Palace.

Richard Meek’s many credits include ‘Trevor Graydon’ in “Thoroughly Modern Millie”, ‘Brad’, ‘Eddie’ and ‘Dr Scott’ in “The Rocky Horror Show” and ‘Sir Galahad’ in “Spamalot”, all on national tour. He has also appeared as ‘Leo Bloom’ in the international tour of “The Producers” as well as ‘Dustin’ and ‘Greaseball’ in the 25^th anniversary cast of “Starlight Express” in Bochum, Germany.

Jenny Gayner’s West End credits include ‘Miss Wilson’ in the original cast of “The Girls” at the Phoenix Theatre, ‘Hunyak’ in “Chicago” at the Adelphi, Cambridge and Garrick theatres and “Spamalot” at the Palace Theatre. Jenny has also appeared as ‘Lina Lamont’ in “Singin’ in the Rain” and ‘Brooke Windham’ in “Legally Blonde”, both at Kilworth House.

Carolyn Maitland reprises her performance as ‘Grace Farrell’ after playing the role in this production of “Annie” in Toronto. Her West End credits include ‘Ellen’ in “Miss Saigon” at the Prince Edward Theatre, ‘Marian’ in “The Woman in White” at the Charing Cross Theatre and “Groundhog Day” and “Kiss Me, Kate”, both at the Old Vic. Her other credits include ‘Molly’ in the national tour of “Ghost” and ‘Kathy Seldon’ in “Singin’ in the Rain” at Kilworth House. 

Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Determined to find her real parents, her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search…

With its award-winning book and score, this stunning new production includes the unforgettable songs ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life’, ‘Easy Street’, ‘I Don’t Need Anything But You’ and ‘Tomorrow’.

“ANNIE” has Music by Charles Strouse, Lyrics by Martin Charnin and a Book by Thomas Meehan. “ANNIE” is directed by Nikolai Foster with set and costume design by Colin Richmond, choreography by Nick Winston, lighting by Ben Cracknell and sound design by Richard Brooker. “ANNIE” is produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian.

OLIVIER AWARD-WINNING ACTRESS

REBECCA TREHEARN

TO STAR IN A NEW VERSION OF

STEPHEN SCHWARTZ MUSICAL RAGS

AT HOPE MILL THEATRE, MANCHESTER

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED

Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment and Joseph Houston and William Whelton of Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester are delighted to announce Olivier Award-winning actress Rebecca Trehearn will star as Rebecca in the UK premiere of a new version of the Stephen Schwartz musical RAGS from 2 March – 6 April, with a national press night on 5 March.

Rebecca Trehearn most recently played Charity in Sweet Charity (Nottingham Playhouse) and Julie LaVerne in Showboat (Sheffield Crucible and West End), for which she won the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. Her other notable credits include Oolie/Donna in City of Angels(Donmar Warehouse) opposite Katherine Kelly and Samantha Barks, Molly in Ghost (UK tour, cover Molly at Piccadilly Theatre), Fantine in Les Misérables(Pimlico Opera), 1st cover Killer Queen and Meat in We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre), Marcy in Dogfight and Charlotte Goetze in Diary of a Teenage Girl (Southwark Playhouse).

Also in the cast are Valda Aviks as Rachel, Gavin James as Bronfman, Sam Peggs as Ben, Jane Quinn as Anna, Michael S. Siegel as Avram, Robert Tripolino as Sal, Tim Walton as Jacob (Jack) and Lydia White as Bella. Sharing the role of David are Lochlan White and George Varley. Completing the cast are James Dangerfield, Emma Fraser, James Hastings and Hanna Khogali.

RAGS is a heart-warming and powerful musical with book by Joseph Stein (Fiddler on the Roof), lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) and music by Charles Strouse (Annie), which tells the story of Russian immigrant Rebecca, who, with her son David, travels to America in search of a better life. Rebecca must decide what matters more to her – staying true to her roots or adopting a new cultural identity in an attempt to ‘fit in’.  

RAGS will be directed by Bronagh Lagan with musical direction and new orchestrations by Nick Barstow, choreography by Grant Murphy, set design by Gregor Donnelly, costume design by Maggie Harwood, lighting design by Derek Anderson, sound design by James Nicholson and casting by Jane Deitch. RAGS is produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment, Hope Mill Theatre in association with Knockhardy Productions and is presented by arrangement with MTI Europe.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Rags

2 March – 6 April 2019

Hope Mill Theatre

Hope Mill
113 Pollard Street
Manchester
M4 7JA

Box Office:  0333 012 4963

Tickets: £18 – £28 (Previews £16) Premium tickets available

Tue-Sat 7.30pm, Wed & Sat 2.30pm, Sun 3pm

hopemilltheatre.co.uk

www.facebook.com/HopeMillTheatre/

@hopemilltheatr1 / @HopeAria2019

www.instagram.com/hopemilltheatre/

JOHN MALKOVICH

TO MAKE FIRST WEST END APPEARANCE

IN 30 YEARS IN

THE WORLD PREMIERE OF DAVID MAMET’S

WITH THE ACCLAIMED DOON MACKICHAN AS SONDRA

& INTRODUCING IOANNA KIMBOOK

IN HER THEATRICAL DEBUT

Performances begin Friday 7 June: Garrick Theatre

The multi award-winning John Malkovich returns to the West End stage after nearly 30 years to play Barney Fein, a top dog Hollywood producer in Bitter Wheat, a new play by the legendary author, director and playwright David Mamet.  It will preview at the Garrick Theatre on Friday 7 June 2019 with a press night on Wednesday 19 June 2019 and will be directed by Mamet. 

Malkovich, one of the world’s most revered actors, is best known for his many films including Dangerous Liaisons, Being John Malkovich, Con Air and Mulholland Drive. He recently received widespread critical acclaim playing Hercule Poirot in a new BBC TV Agatha Christie adaptation. 

The Pulitzer prize winning David Mamet has written some of the most iconic plays of the last 50 years includingSexual Perversity in Chicago, American Buffalo, Glengarry Glen Ross, Speed-the-Plow, and Oleanna.

Doon Mackichan, who is well known for her extensive TV work which includes creating and starring in the hit comedy series Smack the Pony for Channel 4, Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge, Plebs for ITV2 andTwo Doors Down for the BBC, will play Barney Fein’s assistant, Sondra.         

Ioanna Kimbook will make her debut theatre performance in Bitter Wheat as Yung Kim Li. Further casting is to be announced.

Hollywood is a hell hole.

Everything in Hollywood is for sale except the awards, which are for rent.

Bitter Wheat is a play about a depraved Hollywood mogul. It rips the pashmina off the suppurating wound which is show business, and leaves us better human beings, and fitter to once more confront the horror of life.

Our hero, Barney Fein, is a bloated monster- a studio head, who, like his predecessor, the minotaur, devours the young he has lured to his cave.

His fall from power to shame is a mythic journey which has been compared to The Odyssey by people who claim to have read that book.

A new play starring John Malkovich, written and directed by David Mamet in a good mood.

Funnier than The Iceman Cometh, more chaos than Richard III, and without all the stupid, so-called ‘poetry’.

Money, sex, power, you only need one of them to see Bitter Wheat – at the Garrick.

Joining Mamet on the creative team are designer Christopher Oram and lighting designer Neil Austin.

Bitter Wheat is produced by Jeffrey Richards and Smith & Brant Theatricals.

For more information, please see www.bitterwheatplay.com

Bunker Theatre – until 16 February 2019

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

Borderline’s follow up to their satire of the Calais Jungle focuses on what happens once refugees have arrived in the UK. The labyrinthine and sometimes farcical process of applying for refugee status is portrayed as a slightly seedy end of pier funfair, overseen by a jovial announcer who answers to the accordion-playing UK (think Theresa May after a few too many gins). Director Sophie NL Besse guides the multinational cast through a series of skits and songs that are a little hit and miss, but the energy and enthusiasm of the cast make any missteps perfectly forgivable.

As a Syrian man sits staring at his phone, waiting for confirmation of his status so that he can send for his wife and child, the other inhabitants of the funfair cavort about, working hard at multiple jobs while preserving the idea that they can survive on the generous £5 a day the state gives them. A gay Iranian runs into trouble over being initially fingerprinted in Hungary, a young Gambian woman enters the country believing she will have an idyllic life with a new husband, only to be locked in the “haunted house” with exclusively male customers. Prowling the funfair is reporter “Katie” twisting facts and drumming up anti-immigrant feeling with vile words. The fact that she can’t say “Europe” without gagging is a hoot.

The cast teaching each other English through Shakespeare and dancing with the Fairground staff are joyous moments, made better by the staff feebly protesting that they can’t join in as they are supposed to provide a hostile environment. Home Office interviews, Paperwork and the queue for a blue British passport are all lampooned with biting but exuberant humour, and the repeated portrayal of each stage in the process as a game of chance and risk is inspired.

A thought provoking and irresistibly charming show that highlights the talent and spirit of the people who risk everything to come to this country.

Jack Studio Theatre – until 16 February

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

5*****

When you leave a theatre and you and your companion, who can usually talk the hind legs off a donkey, can only whisper “wow” dreamily, then you know you’ve seen something special. Arrows & Traps’ Taro is visually and emotionally stunning.

Playing alongside the wonderful Gentleman Jack as part of the Female Firsts season, Taro tells the story of another remarkable and inspiring woman. Gerta Pohorylle was a German Jew who moved to Paris as Hitler rose to power, where she met Endre Freidmann, who introduced her to photography. The influx of refugees in France meant that Freidmann couldn’t get the jobs or credit he deserved, even with the canny Gerta acting as his agent. The pair invented the persona of Robert Capa, an American, and Gerta was soon able to demand much more from the publications and agencies. Gerda changed her name to Gerda Taro, and together they covered the Spanish Civil War until her death in 1937. With most of her work being attributed to Capa, Gerda’s name isn’t well known, but this magnificent play will surely encourage many to find out more about this incredible woman.

This has obviously been a labour of love for writer/director Ross McGregor and the Arrows, and every moment radiates class. Odin Corie, Ben Jacobs (lighting) Alistair Lax (sound), and Samuel Sim (music) have created a magical world hovering between movies and photography that perfectly matches the conceit of Greta Garbo (Beatrice Vincent) instructing Gerda (Lucy Ioannou) on how to portray her life as a movie. Ioannou glides around the stage, watching as Gerta (Cornelia Baumann) plays out her life in Paris and Spain, but constantly returns to scenes from her Jewish upbringing and confrontations with her father, which resolve themselves into warm memories as the play progresses. Baumann and Ioannou are mesmeric, with Baumann powerfully fierce and passionate as Gerta realises her ambitions, and Ioannou is ethereal and mystical as she voices McGregor’s more poetic lines, until her final emotion shredding scene with Endre (Tom Hartill) where everything is laid bare between them and the depth of his love for her is revealed. Vincent wafts around imperiously as Garbo, acting as puppeteer and purring fantastic one-liners.

The tableaux and movement the cast perform add another level to this production, with movement director Matthew Parker and mime choreographer Will Pinchin creating beautiful moments, both whimsical and devastating. Just sublime.

Join Minster FM at the York Dungeon for their ‘Scariest Dates’ speed-dating night

Thursday 14 February 2019 at 6.30pm

This Valentine’s Day, Minster FM is holding a speed-dating night with a difference! Join them at the York Dungeon for

Scariest Dates.

If Valentine’s Day fills you with horror then they’ve got a blind date for you with a terrifying twist.

If you are single, enter below and you could be joining Minster FM at the York Dungeon for their very special spooky speed dating evening on Valentine’s Night. Leave behind nightmare dates of the past, because Minster FM’s Scariest Dates at the York Dungeon could be a ticket to finding your dream date.

Registration takes place at York Dungeons reception where you will be given a badge with your first name on it and a score card, then your Minster FM hosts will give a short welcome and a brief explanation.

Half of the dates will sit in 8 rooms within the venue and then their dates will rotate from one room to the next after spending 5 minutes in the company of each person. Your Minster FM hosts will signal when it is time to move on. At the end of the event you will hand your score sheet to the host, having marked on it whether you would like to ‘ditch’, ‘date’ or ‘friend’.

At the end of all of the dates your Minster FM hosts will then let you know who you have best matched with.  You are then free to stay and enjoy the venue and chat with anyone else at the event as the Tavern bar will be open.

Each person will get a maximum of 2 free drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic).

Applicants must be over 18 years old.  To enter use the link below and complete the application form.

https://www.minsterfm.com/win/scariest-dates.php

Applications close at Midnight on Sunday 3rd February 2019.

Do You Love This Planet?

By Alexander Matthews

At the Tristan Bates Theatre in London
27 February to 23 March 2019

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED

Do You Love This Planet? by the playwright and philosopher Alexander Matthews will premiere at Covent Garden’s Tristan Bates Theatre in February 2019.  Directed by Antony Law with design by Adrian Gee, the play will star Christian James as ‘Alan’, Lucy Lowe as ‘Rachel’ and Chris Porter as ‘Schumann’. Do You Love This Planet will run from 27 February to 23 March

Do you really love this planet? Enough to be a whistleblower? Rachel’s life is torn apart when she demands an answer to these questions. But how far is she prepared to push her family in her quest to do ‘what is right’?

This new play, examines the importance of human responsibility on a declining planet, inviting audiences to question their own moral and social responsibility in an age of climate change and global warming.

Christian James’ stage credits include the UK tour of The Commitments and Bertie in H.R.Haitch (Union Theatre).  Lucy Lowe has appeared at The Lowry in The Lock In, The Lonely Clouds of Guernica and Eight and her film roles include film include Happiness in Retrospect, Winter Hill (Nominated best Actress at Top Indie Film Awards), Clubbed and Blood.  Chris Porter’s theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet (Kenneth Branagh Co), The Hypochondriac (Liverpool Playhouse and ETT), Victory (Arcola), Onysos the Wild (503 and Traverse), Tartuffe (Watermill), Saint’s Day and The Road to Ruin (Orange Tree Theatre), The Art of Success (Arcola) andThe Winter’s Tale and The Maid’s Tragedy (Shakespeare’s Globe).  On film he has been seen in Murder on the Orient Express (dir. Kenneth Branagh) and The Winslow Boy (dir. David Mamet).

Alexander Matthews was born in New York City in 1942.  He taught Philosophy in a number of universities between 1975 and 1989. In 1986 he was awarded a Visiting Fellowship to Princeton University. He has published several books and essays including ‘A Diagram of Definition’ and has written three plays including ‘Screaming Secrets’ and ‘Glass Roots’ which had their stage premieres at the Tristan Bates Theatre in Spring 2018.

Alexander Matthews had a privileged but haphazard upbringing into the literary world. His father, TS Matthews, was an author, biographer and journalist, and an editor-in-chief of Time Magazine.  Martha Gellhorn, his stepmother, was a notable author and war correspondent, and the third wife of Ernest Hemingway.  Their friends and associates, including Edmund Wilson, Adlai Stevenson and Robert Graves have had a marked influence on his work; his writings are renowned for focusing on the nuances and idiosyncrasies of human behaviour. 

Alexander has been the Chair of the Martha Gellhorn Trust Prize Committee for nearly 20 years.  Since its foundation in 1999, it has offered a prize for journalism, for the kind of reporting that distinguished Gellhorn: in her own words “the view from the ground”; a human story that sees through the established version of events to expose the unpalatable truth which lies behind official propaganda or conduct.  Past winners include Robert Fisk, Iona Craig and Robert Parry.  

Listings information:

Do You Love This Planet? 
Venue:                                 Tristan Bates Theatre, 1A Tower Street, London WC2H 9NP

Dates:                                   27^th February to 23^rd March 2019

Performance Times:       Tuesday-Saturday at 7.30pm

                                                Saturday at 2.30pm

                                                Sunday at 3.00pm

Tickets:                                 £18 (£15 concs); previews £12

Box office: 020 3841 6611 and online at www.tristanbatestheatre.co.uk

GEORGE PERRIN & JAMES GRIEVE ANNOUNCE THAT THEY ARE STEPPING DOWN AS ARTISTIC DIRECTORS OF PAINES PLOUGH

Ahead of launching their 10^th annual programme of new plays on tour, George Perrin and James Grieve have announced that they are stepping down as Artistic Directors of Paines Plough. Since 2010, the pair have produced 45 World Premieres by writers such as Mike Bartlett, Penelope Skinner, James Graham, Sabrina Mahfouz and Vinay Patel, touring them to hundreds of villages, towns and cities across the UK and around the world.

Their playwright development initiative THE BIG ROOM, has launched the careers of a new generation of playwrights including Tom Wells, Kate Tempest and Zia Ahmed.

The pair revitalised small-scale touring whilst at the organisation and launched celebrated initiatives like Open Auditions to ensure that Paines Plough meets actors from all backgrounds across the whole of the UK.

In 2014, Perrin and Grieve built their own pop-up theatre ROUNDABOUT for Paines Plough to reach those communities least engaged with the arts, a pop-up space which is now recognised as a fixture of touring theatre across the country.

George Perrin and James Grieve said: “We are honoured to have been the custodians of this essential organisation and are proud to now pass it on to a new generation of artists and producers. It’s been a joy to travel the country and traverse the globe bringing the best new British plays to the doorsteps of our audiences. We’ll leave as we arrived: die-hard fans of the best new writing touring company in the world.”

Kim Grant, Chair of the Paines Plough Board of Trustees, said: “George and James have led Paines Plough through nine years of outstanding achievement, unrelenting progress and unforgettable theatre experiences for audiences across the UK. Throughout their stewardship the company has remained true to its roots as the leading national touring theatre company for new plays and with ROUNDABOUT now firmly established as a unique and sophisticated flexible  pop-up theatre space, they leave us and their successors a wonderful legacy.”

Programme 2019 will be announced later this week. James and George will leave Paines Plough in the summer to pursue new projects.

The board of Paines Plough will begin their search for new artistic leadership in February.