Smash hit musical SIX extends its run at The Lowry this Christmas

The international smash hit musical SIX has extended its run at The Lowry until Saturday 11th January. Beginning in The Lowry’s Quays theatre on 3rd December the hugely popular pop musical will head to the Lyric stage on 7th January for a week long run to end its Christmas Season.

The Lowry will also host a Sing-A-Long performance on Friday 10th January at 8.30pm, where audience members are invited to sing-a-long with the show’s immensely popular soundtrack. Racking up over 50 million streams and adding 300,000 daily, the musical’s songs have already proved to be chart storming sensations. Ann Boleyn’s song ‘Don’t Lose Ur Head’ alone has been shared over half a billion times on the TIK TOK app.

From Tudor queens to pop princesses, SIX sees the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their own personal tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power.

Two years to the day since the show premiered as a student production at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, SIX announced its Broadway transfer to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in New York following sold out runs in Chicago and Boston. Back in London where SIX continues to sell every seat for every performance at the Arts Theatre, the show was nominated for five 2019 OIivier Awards, including Best New Musical, Best Choreography and Best Costume Design. The show will open at the Sydney Opera House in January and is due to reopen in Chicago next summer. Productions are being planned for China, Japan, South Korea and Canada. 

New pop princesses will take on the famous roles at The Lowry featuring, Lauren Drew (Catherine of Aragon), Maddison Bulleyment (Anne Boleyn), Lauren Byrne (Jane Seymour), Shekinah McFarlane (Anna of Cleves), Jodie Steele (Katherine Howard) and Athena Collins (Catherine Parr), with Alternates Jennifer Caldwell, Cassandra Lee and Harriet Watson. The cast are backed by the show’s all-female band, The Ladies in Waiting. 

SIX
Tue 3 December – Sat 11 January
Singalong – Friday 10 January 8.30pm
Tickets: £23.50 – £43.50
https://thelowry.com/six-returns-to-the-lowry/

Lowry Theatre, Salford – until 5 October 2019

Reviewed by Niamh Holleran

5*****

When I went in to the theatre to see As You Like It, I began frantically reading the program to try and gain some understanding about what I was seeing, being unfamiliar with the play. I panicked when I didn’t understand the summary and wondered whether I would be lost and confused for the next few hours. However, by ten minutes in, I was fully engaged with the story.

The set was fantastic and made great use of lighting and music to set the scene so the audience felt fully engaged. Lucy Phelps as Rosalind, the principal character who later disguises herself as a man was fantastic, her many asides to the audience hilarious and authentic. The night I attended, the role of Orlando was played by the understudy, Aaron Thiara and his performance was outstanding – he had a natural charm that drew the audience to him, meaning when he invited spectators up on stage with him to reveal a secret, it felt surprising yet comfortable. The audience felt involved throughout, especially when the lights were turned on for the forest scenes as though we were in there with them.

Finally, I must mention the inclusion of British Sign Language actress Charlotte Arrowsmith as Audrey, which was phenomenal. The use of sign language was excellent and seamless – it was hard to imagine the character not being deaf and added to the allure of the endearing relationship between her and the Fool.

All in all, an excellent way to spend an evening.

LOCKWOOD PRODUCTIONS AND FOOLS & KINGS ANNOUNCE THE FULL CAST OF THE GREEN FAIRY

STARRING JULIE ATHERTON

Lockwood Productions and Fools & Kings present

The UK première of

THE GREEN FAIRY

by Jack Sain and Stephen Libby

Director: Jack Sain;Musical Director: William Bullivant

Dramaturg & Associate Writer: Hannah Hauer-King; Set and costume designer: Katharine Heath

Wednesday 30 October – Saturday 23 November

Lockwood Productions and Fools & Kings today announce the full company of The Green Fairy.Jack Sain directs Julie Atherton (Jo), Harry F Brown (Toby), Georgina Hellier (The Green Fairy), Emma Kinney (Wendy), David Perkins (Daniel) and Emma Whittaker (Young Jo). The Green Fairy opens at the Union Theatre on 4 November, with previews from 30 October, and runs until 23 November.

“Come into my world, for just a minute, and cast all your doubts aside…”

Tonight, Jo saw her daughter Wendy sing for the first time in the pub where she used to work – they don’t seem to have a relationship. Jo doesn’t seem to have a relationship with anyone really, and the Green Fairy wants to know where it all went wrong…

Memories start to surface of Jo’s adolescence and early adulthood in 1990s London. Together, they explore Jo’s relationship with her ex-girlfriend, ex-husband and eventually her daughter.

An ode to queer parenting and overcoming anxiety, The Green Fairy is an pub musical following one woman’s struggle to take back control of her own life before it’s too late. 

Julie Atherton plays Jo. Her previous theatre credits include Mamma Mia! (Prince Edward Theatre), Pure Imagination (St James Theatre), Cinderella (Lyric Hammersmith), Sister Act (UK tour), Avenue Q (Noël Coward Theatre), Tick, Tick… BOOM!, The Last 5 Years (Duchess Theatre), Fame (Aldwych Theatre/UK Tour), Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change; Little by Little; Mrs Gucci (Arts Theatre), Tempting Fate (The Other Palace), Christmas in New York (Palace Theatre), The Grinning Man (Trafalgar Studios), West End Recast 2 (Phoenix Theatre), The Hired Man (Curve, Leicester), Thérèse Raquin (Finborough Theatre/Park Theatre), Lift (Soho Theatre), Ordinary Days (Finborough Theatre/Trafalgar Studios), The Opinion Makers (Derby Theatre), You’ll Never Walk Alone (Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch), Just So, Out of this World (Chichester Festival Theatre), Once Upon a Time at the Adelphi (Liverpool Everyman) and Charlotte’s Web (Polka Theatre). Television credits include Monty & Co, Pirates, Shakespeare and Hathaway, The Sound of Music Live, Otherworld, Barbara and Brainiacs.

Harry F Brown plays Toby. His previous theatre credits include The Band (UK tour) and Dogfight (Southwark).

Georgina Hellier plays The Green Fairy. Her previous theatre credits Dorothy (Bunker Theatre), Something to Tell You (Arcola Theatre) and The Buried Moon (Theatre Royal Winchester).

Emma Kinney plays Wendy. The Green Fairy marks her professional stage debut.

David Perkins plays Daniel. His previous theatre credits include The Bridges of Madison County (Menier Chocolate Factory), Spring Awakening (Transfer Productions), The Rose Tattoo, The Life of Galileo, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Coast of Utopia and The Voysey Inheritance (National Theatre). For film his credits include Laura’s Star.

Emma Whittaker plays Young Jo. Her previous theatre credits include Chaplin – The Charlie Chaplin Story, The Snow Spider (UK tours) and Merlin’s Apprentice (The Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton). For film her credits include How to Not Disappear Completely and Love Lost.

Jack Sain directs. His previous theatre credits include Beatrice di Tenda (Bel Canto Opera Festival), How I Learned to Drive (Southwark Playhouse), Four Play (The Old Vic) and Crossing Over (The Other Palace). He was the resident Assistant Director at the Donmar Warehouse in 2016, where his credits include Welcome Home, Captain Fox!, Elegy, Saint Joan, One Night In Miami, Limehouse and Faith Healer. Other assistant director credits include Killer Joe (Trafalgar Studios), Jonah and Otto (Park Theatre) and Present Laughter (Gate Theatre Dublin).

The Green Fairy                                                                                                                               Listings    

Union Theatre

OLD UNION ARCHES, 229 UNION STREET, LONDON, SE1 0LR

Box Office:

http://uniontheatre.biz/the-green-fairy.html

Friday 30 October – 23 November

Performance Schedule

Tuesday- Saturday: 7.30pm

Saturday & Sunday matinees:                     

2:30pm

Tickets: from £15

Concessions available via Box Office

Nuclear Future
UK Tour: October 2019

From the award-winning Gameshow, Nuclear Future is a shattering new play about the dangerous potential which sits quietly in bunkers across the globe. As the apocalyptic impact of a nuclear disaster regains a foothold in public conversation, this show presents this threat on a more human scale. How do we explain to our children that we use the same energy that created the universe, to rip it apart?

Astrid’s life is like many others. She dresses her child, she spills her coffee, she catches the bus to work. But her work and her PowerPoint slides bring Astrid and the audience into contact with the world’s most dangerous weapons as she assesses the risks and their consequences. In one moment, life can be changed forever.

Gameshow has created this show guided by the belief that we must understand nuclear weapons in this human context, as opposed to the current public conversation which holds them as theoretical and distant, a problem on the other side of the globe. As citizens of a nuclear nation, we are responsible for weapons that could change the world more fundamentally than the worst effects of climate change or natural disaster. What happens the next time we launch a nuclear attack? Can
we afford to pretend these weapons don’t exist?

Gameshow directors Matt Ryan and Matthew Evans comment, There is a horrific beauty to nuclear weapons because their workings are infinitesimally small but their impact is inconceivably big. We wanted to find a way to explore the everyday human impact of something so enormous we can’t bear to think about it. How can we respond to increasingly regular nuclear threats around the world? The show uses an immersive soundscape designed by Dominic Kennedy and Joshua Pharo’s experimental video-lighting technique to plunge the audience into the world of our story, using the audience’s imagination to create the unimaginable.

Performance Dates
18th – 19th Oct Camden People’s Theatre, 9pm
58-60 Hampstead Road, NW1 2PY
https://www.cptheatre.co.uk/

23rd Oct The North Wall, 8pm
South Parade, OX2 7JN
https://www.thenorthwall.com/

24th Oct The Lowry, 8pm
Pier 8, The Quays, M50 3AZ
https://thelowry.com/

25th Oct Live Theatre 8pm
Broad Chare, NE1 3DQ
https://www.live.org.uk/

29th Oct Cast, 7.15pm
Waterdale, DN1 3BU
https://www.castindoncaster.com/

The Space – until 12th October 2019

Reviewed by Heather Chalkley

3***

An off the wall take on the impact of present day politics, The Open has a definite Orwell feel to it. Bell’s dark humour has to be a bit out there to ‘trump’ this unprecedented period of our history. You can be forgiven for feeling a slight sense of fear that the Utopian state created by the rich and powerful, at the expense of the rest of the population, is not that far from reality, particularly in the minds of some of our present day world leaders. Although I think even the most brainwashed westerner might bulk at The GBGC – Great British Golf Course!

The characters of each player are familiar in our every day lives: the laid back dreamer; the conformist; the privileged and the activist. This is an interesting exercise putting them under the microscope in this extreme situation. I think most of us found a little bit of ourselves in their characters somewhere.

Jana (Heidi Niemi) is someone you want to believe in. You hope that you have her strength and foresight in this dystopian state. Patrick (Tom Blake) is the nature boy that believes in love and lives in a dream world. Bell has sensitively written him with a realistically broken mental well-being, commentating on one of today’s big issues – it’s not going away. Arthur (Priyank Morjaria) is the conformist that so wants to believe in this new land of ‘live, work, thrive’, along with the loyalty scheme that looks after all their wages! It is not until he has to inflict real pain and treat people as prisoners, that Arthur allows himself to admit it has become a dystopia. Bella (Emma Austin) reminds me of an 80’s yuppie, with all guff and no substance. She portrays the belief in her right to have anything she wants and how dangerous that is, especially when given power and authority.

The creatives do a good job in creating the atmosphere, using artificial grass, spot lighting and a good sound track. The only weak point for me is the detention centre electrical power source being under the table – it feels like the writer must have gone for a cup of tea at that point! I am sure the creatives can do better.

On the whole this play certainly makes you think, particularly when it is a little too near reality for comfort.

Theatre Royal, York – until 12th October 2019

Reviewed by Katie Goldsbrough

4****

Going in to this play I knew very little about the story, but knowing it was written by Arthur Miller I could guarantee it was going to be a good and this version did not disappoint.

This production sees Nicholas Karimi take on the role of Eddie, a hardworking man who would do anything for his family and just wants to help out Marco (Reuben Johnson) and his brother Rodolpho (Pedro Leandro) when they come over from Sicily looking for jobs to send money home to their suffering family. Things begin to take a turn for the worse as Rodolpho grows closer to Eddie’s niece Catherine (Lili Miller), Eddie does not approve. Eddie’s family life with his wife Beatrice (Laura Pyper) and Catherine begins to fall apart and disaster befalls them.

There is some brilliant acting throughout the play, you really believe Karimi could be someone his family could be afraid of, his character develops throughout, with things escalating quickly in the second act to the climax, Karimi does a great job of making you both despise Eddie for his actions but somehow still empathise with him until the end as deep down he is trying to do the best thing for his family.

We are regularly updated by Eddie’s lawyer, taking on a narrator type role, played by Robert Pickavance. This helps to introduce the characters and keep the audience updated throughout the production on things we may not otherwise have known, this only adds to the story so is a nice addition and a good way to open the play.

Another standout performance comes from Laura Pyper, often more a background character she captures the audience and stands out from the rest. The set was cleverly done, almost entirely set in the main characters small apartment, it was all very basic but worked very well. Nothing more was needed for the story. There were smoke machines for the duration of the play really adding to the smoky 1950’s Brooklyn atmosphere.

This is a play that will keep you on the edge of your seat, at the interval you will speculating as to what will happen next, you might not be far off, but the ending will still be a surprise.

Whether a fan of Arthur Miller’s previous work or a first time viewer, this would be a fantastic play to see with lots of twists and turns and an action packed shocking final scene.

FULL CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR 
OI FROG & FRIENDS! 
UK TOUR AND WEST END SEASON

Kenny Wax Family Entertainment is delighted to announce the full cast and creative team of its new family stage show Oi 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 Grayand 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 Stonewith Lighting Design by Ric Mountjoy.

The cast line-up for the West End and 2019/20 UK Tour is Darren Seed as DOG,Lucy Tuck as CAT, John Winchester as FROG (Autumn 2019 & WEST END), Robin Hemmings as FROG (Spring / Summer 2020), and Simon Yadoo as CHEETAH, with Rebecca Ayres as Understudy/ASM.

Oi Frog & Friends! is an action-packed play with songs, puppets, laughs and, of course, rhymes! It’s a new day at Sittingbottom school and FROG is looking for a place to sit, but CAT has other ideas and DOG is doing as he’s told. Little do any of them know that chaos is coming… ‘Cats sit on mats, hares sit on chairs, mules sit on stools, gophers sit on sofas and frogs sit on logs’ – who knew there were so many rhyming rules, and what will happen when FROG is in charge? The production is an ideal introduction to theatre and the perfect entertainment for families with children aged 3+.

Prior to its West End Winter season, Oi Frog & Friends! previews at Frensham Heights, Farnham (12-13 October) and plays Norwich Playhouse (15-20 October) before heading to the Forum Theatre, Billingham (22-23 October), New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich (24-25 October), Hertford Theatre (26-27 October) and The Rose Theatre, Kingston (29 October – 3 November) for half term fun. 

Kenny Wax Family Entertainment is also delighted to announce the 2020 spring leg of the UK tour with Oi Frog & Friends! heading to Chichester, Nottingham, Liverpool, Aberdeen, Birmingham, Cardiff, Salford among others. More dates to be announced.

For the full Oi Frog & Friends! West End and 2019/20 UK tour schedule and to book visit: https://oifrogandfriendslive.com. 

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 

For the full performance schedule and prices visit https://oifrogandfriendslive.com 

Box office: 0330 333 4812 / https://oifrogandfriendslive.com 

Category: Theatre / Family Shows / Children / West End / Play with Music

Suitability: Families with children 3+, Early Years, Reception and Key Stage 1

Running time: Approximately 55 minutes (no interval)

UK TOUR 

See your local Box Office for full tour details or visit https://oifrogandfriendslive.com. 

2019

Farnham, Frensham Heights                 12 – 13 October                       

Norwich Playhouse                               15 – 20 October           

Billingham, Forum Theatre                   22 – 23 October           

Ipswich, New Wolsey                            24 – 25 October

Hertford Theatre                                  26 – 27 October                        

Kingston, Rose Theatre                         29 October – 3 November 

2020

Hayes, Beck Theatre                             11 – 12 February

Aylesbury, Waterside                           13 – 15 February

Chichester, Minerva Theatre                17 – 20 February

Nottingham, Theatre Royal                   21 – 23 February

Liverpool, Playhouse                            26 – 29 February          ON SALE SOON 

Aberdeen, His Majesty’s Theatre          18 – 21 March

Bromley, Churchill Theatre                   1 – 4 April                     ON SALE SOON

Newbury, Corn Exchange                      6 – 7 April                     ON SALE SOON 

Birmingham Town Hall                         10 – 13 April

Leicester Curve                                    15 – 19 April                 ON SALE SOON 

Cardiff, Wales Millennium Centre         1 – 3 May

Mold, Theatr Clwyd                              4 – 6 May                      ON SALE SOON 

Newcastle, Theatre Royal                     8 – 9 May

Canterbury, Marlowe Theatre               22 – 24 May                  ON SALE SOON 

Salford, Lowry Quays                            26 – 31 May

Radlett Centre                                     8 – 11 June                   ON SALE SOON 

Lichfield Garrick                                   13 – 14 June                 ON SALE SOON 

Leeds, Grand Theatre                           18 – 20 June

More dates to be added…

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton – until 28 September 2019

Reviewed By Jo Gordon

5*****

Mention Romeo and Juliet to others and there is usually two camps of thought, one who remember being force fed it in their school years and would rather let it pass by them as an adult and the other who love all mediums that it could possibly be portrayed. I am the latter so add into the mix Sir Matthew Bourne and you’ve got me! The classic has been re-imagined by Matthew stripping it back to its true meaning of young, passionate love. Set in the Verona Institute, a psychiatric and young offenders unit that over medicates the young patients and makes them partake in group therapies and physical activities. Ruled with an iron fist they are kept well under control, with this, those in power abuse their position and the guard Tybalt (Danny Reubens) has chosen Juliet (Seren Williams) to be his abuse victim. Juliet’s friends try their hardest to save her from this to no avail. Meanwhile a high flying political couple appear with their son Romeo (Andy Monaghan), elections are on the way and to them he is an embarrassment so pay to have him locked away while they try to gain their political dreams. Romeo and Juliet meet and their love is instant but many factors make it difficult for that love to prosper.

Set to  the music of Prokofiev, the choreography will take your breath away at times, from rigid, military timing movements used to portray their controlled lack of freedom within the institute to the stunningly beautiful “balcony”scene where the star crossed lovers entwine and have the longest kiss I may have ever witnessed on stage. The dancers show the passion, sadness and at times happiness that is needed to take your emotions up and down with them and with use of local talent in each production, it stays fresh as everyone brings new energies and a little of themselves to the mix. 

The set is well thought out, with only ever the white tiled, industrialised and cold institute used which when coupled with the stark white costumes adds to that institutionalised feel.

You will absolutely hold your breath at times as you get drawn into Romeo and Juliet’s pain and if like me, the tears come easy, you will shed a few. As ever Sir Matthew Bourne has not let me down and I found it to be just beautifully raw.

NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE UNVEILS IT’S STARS FOR THE FAIRY GODMOTHER OF ALL PANTOMIMES, CINDERELLA!

New Wimbledon Theatre have announced this year’s all-star line-up for their forthcoming, enchanting family pantomime, Cinderella, which will see Samantha Womack, Lesley Garrett, Melody Thornton and Pete Firman entertain thousands of festive theatregoers from Saturday 7 December.

Leading the cast in the role of The Wicked Stepmother will be actress and singer Samantha Womack. Best-known for her role in EastEnders as the late Ronnie Mitchell, whose chilling on-screen departure was seen by over nine million television viewers she has appeared on numerous television dramas and comedies including Game On, Home Again and The Grimleys. She has also featured in films including Up’n’Under and Lighthouse Hill establishing herself as one of the country’s most prolific actresses.

Her stage work includes the role of Sandy in Grease at the Dominion Theatre, Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls opposite Patrick Swayze, Nellie Forbush in the West End and UK tour of South Pacific and Morticia Addams in the critically-acclaimed UK tour of The Addams Family. Most recently Samantha has starred as Rachel Watson in the critically acclaimed stage adaption of Paula Hawkins’ best-selling novel The Girl on the Train which is currently on a second UK tour following a successful season at the Duke of York’s Theatre in the West End.

Joining her as The Fairy Godmother, and making her pantomime debut, will be award-winning soprano, musician, broadcaster and actress Lesley Garrett. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and the prestigious National Opera Studio, Lesley has performed in principal roles across the globe in various operas, appearing at the London Coliseum, Glyndebourne, with Opera North and as a principal soprano for English National Opera which saw her rise to fame. In 2006 she starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s revival of The Sound of Music at the London Palladium and joined the UK tour of Carousel before bringing it to the Savoy Theatre in London’s West End. In 2002 she was appointed a CBE for her services to music.

In addition to her stage work, Lesley was a contestant on the first series of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, was a judge on Comic Relief does Fame Academy, had two series of her own and recorded various special concerts for the BBC, hosted and sang at the Classical BRIT Awards at the Royal Albert Hall and was a regular panellist on ITV’s Loose Women. As a solo recording artist Lesley has released fourteen albums, many of which received gold and silver status, and as a featured soloist on award-winning recordings including The Magic Flute, Così fan tutte and The Mikado.

Starring in the title role of Cinderella will be American singer-songwriter, dancer and television personality Melody Thornton. Having risen to global stardom as the youngest member of the successful pop group The Pussycat Dolls, Melody held a prominent vocal role in the group and can be heard on the band’s most successful hits. Melody and her fellow Dolls achieved worldwide success, with their music winning numerous awards, and released the Grammy Award nominated albums PCD and Doll Domination, which featured the hit singles Don’t Cha, Buttons, When I Grow Up and Jai Ho!. In her solo career Melody has collaborated with hit artists such as Cee Lo Green, Lil Wayne and LL Cool J.

In addition to her music, Melody featured on The Pussycat Dolls Show, Dancing With the Stars, and it’s UK counterpart Strictly Come Dancing, Dance Moms, the World Music Awards, Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls and Popstar to Operastar. Earlier this year Melody swapped her signature heels for skates and was a contestant on ITV’s hit show Dancing on Ice, where she finished in in fifth place.

They will be joined by comedian, magician and television regular Pete Firman as Buttons. Pete’s television appearances include The Generation Game, The Next Great Magician, Tonight at the London Palladium, Let’s Sing & Dance for Comic Relief, Tommy Cooper Forever and the BBC’s primetime Saturday night series The Magicians. His BBC Radio 4 documentary, Pete Firman’s World of Magic, aired to critical acclaim and led to further television appearances alongside John Bishop, Sarah Millican and Edinburgh Comedy Fest Live.

His live performances have taken him all over the world and his one-man shows have entertained sell-out audiences for 10 years in a row at the Edinburgh Fringe and on several UK tours. He’s been invited to perform at Montreal’s prestigious Just For Laughs festival, Hollywood’s famous Magic Castle and London’s home of mystery, The Magic Circle. His other UK theatre productions include Champions of Magic, The All-Star Stand Up Tour and Sandi Toksvig’s Christmas Cracker. Cinderella marks Pete’s third foray into the world of pantomime for producers Qdos Entertainment, and his return to New Wimbledon Theatre having won rave reviews for his role as Wishee Washee opposite Paul Merton in last year’s successful production of Aladdin.

Cinderella will be once again be produced by Qdos Entertainment, the world’s biggest pantomime producer continuing their partnership with New Wimbledon Theatre for a third year, following the previous productions of Aladdin and Jack and the Beanstalk.

Michael Harrison, managing director of Qdos Entertainment’s pantomime division said: “I’m thrilled that we have managed to secure Samantha, Lesley, Melody and Pete to lead our Wimbledon pantomime this year. Between them all we have fantastic vocalists, stunning dancers and hilarious comedy that audiences of all ages will love in a production packed full of audience participation, laughter and pure panto magic.”

New Wimbledon Theatre Director Nick Parr said: “Once again New Wimbledon Theatre will be the place to be for the best festive entertainment this year. The theatre team can’t wait to welcome Samantha, Lesley and Melody to their first Wimbledon panto and the return of the hilarious Pete Firman for a second year, will ensure a magical treat for the whole family!.”

Don’t miss your chance to see Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother of all pantomimes. The clock is ticking…book your tickets to the Ball today!

Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds – until 28 September 2019

Reviewed By Dawn Smallwood

4****

This exciting contemporary dance company marks the season with their instalment of Phoenix at Home. The instalment celebrates existing works but also new ones including an excerpt of the company’s brand new production, Black Waters.

To begin proceedings and with an introduction from Sharon Watson, the company’s artistic director; Black Waters makes its mark and the audience is given a taste of what is about to come next February when it makes its world premiere at the Leeds Playhouse. This work is co-choreographed by Watson, Shambik Ghose and Dr Mitul Sengupta and looks at the narratives, at the time, about exploration of place, worth and belonging in somewhat then a history of prejudice and violence as far as race and ethnicity are concerned. Under the musical composition of Dishari Chakraborty, Black Waters capture the movement from a story with only more to be told.

Kabbalah, a new work, follows and is performed by the up and coming dancers from Phoenix Youth Academy Juniors. Set to Ramin Djawadi’s Light of the Seven, the company intricately dances and moves to the musical variation which figuratively signifies nature living in the three worlds; earth, heaven and the underworld. Under the choreography of Sandrine Monin, the unity and love are symbolised through collective motions and synchronised interpretations. It is excellently done and certainly a stand out performance from the evening’s programme.

Next is Michael Marquez’s short feature, Lux, and the use of light and luminance is figuratively interpreted by a one’s existence and memories. This dually is slowly and beautifully interpreted to Deep Watch’s Endless fragments of time.

The final work is the The Rite of Spring, produced jointly with Opera North, returns after a successful debut earlier in the year. Jeanguy Saintus brings Stranvinsky’s masterpiece with its contemporary reworking on stage and embraces the Haitian culture. There is a specific emphasis on Haitian Voodoo with the varying musical tempos and moves representing the ceremonial and celebratory elements. Saintus’ provocative, unique and solid choreography and dancing generates an eye catching performance from the company of dancers. The coloured gloves which the dancers wear signify a changing season and circumstance which sells well to the audience.

This Phoenix at Home programme certainly appeases with return works and new works ready to be showcased further. The company take pride in giving opportunities particularly with existing and up and coming dancers. The Phoenix Dance Company successfully continues to tell stories, told and untold, with contemporary dance, movement and rhythm. A wonderful evening of dance!