The producers of new musical Stalled donate £35,000 to totally
transform King’s Head Theatre’s auditorium with luxury seating.
The new raked seats will be in place in February for the world premiere
of the new musical about mothers, daughters and moving on,
and to celebrate the theatre’s first birthday in its new home.
As Stalled starts rehearsals, the producers also announce a gala night
on 18 February to raise funds for The Looking Out Foundation,
founded by Grammy-winning artist Brandi Carlile.
The Accolade seating is being supplied by renowned seating experts Audience Systems, whose clients include Sydney Opera House, the Royal Albert Hall and Roundhouse.
The luxury padded seats will be in place for the theatre’s next Main House production – the world premiere of the musical Stalled – thanks to a generous £35,000 donation by a foundation facilitated by the show’s producers.
The theatre is launching a fundraising campaign for the outstanding £15,000 needed which will allow the theatre to improve sightlines to its second row and add some accessibility features.
Information about how to donate can be found here:
https://kingsheadtheatre.com/support-us/birthday-giving-campaign
Stalled Producer Thomas Hopkins said today: “We are thrilled to support King’s Head Theatre by funding the installation of all-new seats for our upcoming musical, Stalled. The producers are dedicated to ensuring a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for every audience member. We can’t wait for everyone to relax and enjoy the show in style!”
King’s Head Theatre’s Executive Producer (Acting CEO) Sofi Berenger said: “We’re eternally grateful for this incredibly generous donation from the Stalled producers and the foundation. As we begin our second year in our new home, it’s wonderful to be able to continue to grow and improve on our audience facilities. We’ve only ever been able to make it this far thanks to the invaluable support we’ve received from the producing community and philanthropic investors, as we receive no public funding. These seats will be a game changer for our audiences, and we can’t wait for them to arrive in February ready to be enjoyed for Stalled and many more shows to come.”
As rehearsals for Stalled got underway this week, the show’s producers also announce that they will hold a gala evening on Tuesday 18 February to aid The Looking Out Foundation, founded by Grammy-winning artist Brandi Carlile. Private presales for the gala have already exceeded £6,000.
Gloria Goeres, Executive Director of the charity, said: “The Looking Out Foundation is honoured and thrilled to be the chosen recipient of funds raised through the efforts of the musical, Stalled. We celebrate this opportunity to join their efforts to continue to make music mean more and appreciate all that Stalled does to strive for inclusion, hope and forgiveness for all.”
Stalled, a new musical about mothers, daughters and moving on, will play a 6-week season from Thursday 13 February – Sunday 23 March. The show’s book & lyrics are by Liesl Wilke and music & lyrics by Andy Marsh, as well as additional music and lyrics by Kyle Puccia, and direction by Vikki Stone.
The cast is led by West End and Broadway star Lauren Ward (Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Dear Evan Hansen) and Josie Benson (Kiss Me Kate, Mamma Mia!).
In a bougie ass Seattle ladies’ room, meet a frazzled mother, a neurodivergent daughter, a fierce 16-year-old poet and a terrified queer computer scientist – together navigating the ups and downs of modern life with heart and courage. With soul-stirring melodies and a rare authenticity, witness their inspiring journeys in an unforgettable celebration of these complicated, beautiful souls. Get ready to be moved. Get ready to be inspired. Get ready to be stalled!
Looking Out Foundation
Founded by Grammy-winning artist Brandi Carlile, the Looking Out Foundation amplifies the impact of music by supporting initiatives that drive social justice and equity. With a commitment to creating safe spaces and fostering opportunities for women, including transgender women, and LGBTQIA+ individuals, the foundation partners with grassroots organizations to address systemic inequities and empower underserved communities. Through advocacy, fundraising, and the transformative power of music, the foundation inspires action and drives meaningful change worldwide to Make Music Mean More. Learn more at LookingOutFoundation.org.
King’s Head Theatre
King’s Head Theatre is a purpose-built, wheelchair accessible theatre with a 200-seat flexible auditorium and 50-seat cabaret space off Upper St, Islington which showcases a wide range of performance styles from plays to musicals, to opera & cabaret, to drag & comedy.
Established in 1970, King’s Head Theatre was the oldest pub theatre in the UK until it closed its doors in August 2023. For 53 years the theatre was housed in the back room of the King’s Head Pub on Upper Street in an old boxing ring and pool hall, before opening the new space in Islington Square right behind the pub theatre in January 2024.
Under Artistic Director & Founder Dan Crawford, whose tenure lasted 35 years until his death in 2005, the theatre became known as a breeding ground for new talent and great work. Renowned actors like Maureen Lipman, Hugh Grant, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Alan Rickman & Richard E Grant all performed at the theatre, and a number of productions transferred to the West End and Broadway, premiering work from writers such as Steven Berkoff, Tom Stoppard, Bryony Lavery and Victoria Wood.
In 2010, the Olivier Award-winning company Opera UpClose Productions became the theatre’s resident company for four years, and with Adam Spreadbury-Maher as Artistic Director, turned the King’s Head into “London’s Little Opera House”, winning an Olivier Award for La Boheme in the Best New Opera category. Opera remains a key part of the theatre’s focus, alongside a commitment to emerging, daring and innovative work, such as Trainspotting, the Edinburgh Fringe and touring immersive hit developed by King’s Head Theatre.
The theatre showcases a lot of LGBTQ+ work which explores the full spectrum of experiences symbolised by the rainbow flag. It is a home for a new wave of theatre makers, with a focus on work which is joyful, irreverent, colourful & queer.
In the first year of the new King’s Head, the theatre has showcased work from artists such as Rob Madge, Luke Bayer, Olivier award-winner Shaun McKenna, triple Fringe First winners Xhloe & Natasha, Heartstopper’s Cormac Hyde-Corrin, Neil Ashton and writer Jonathan Maitland. The theatre has just announced its Spring 2025 season as it goes into its second year, working with artists such as Lauren Ward, Josie Benson, Vikki Stone, Rosie Day and former artistic director Hannah Price, who will be making her debut on the new stage.
LISTINGS INFO
Thomas Hopkins Productions for
Stalled on Stage Ltd
presents the world premiere of
STALLED
a new musical
Book writer & Co-Lyricist Liesl Wilke
Composer & Lyricist Andy Marsh
with additional music and lyrics by
Kyle Puccia
Director Vikki Stone
King’s Head Theatre
116 Upper St,
London N1 1QN
Phone Number: 0207 226 8561
Thursday 13 February –
Sunday 23 March, 2025
There are 2 Press Performances:
Sunday 16 February at 2pm
Sunday 16 February at 5pm
Previews 13 Feb 7pm, 14 Feb 7pm,
15 Feb 2pm,
Weekly schedule from 18 February
Mon-Thur 7pm, Sat & Sun 2pm & 5pm
Pay what you can Tuesdays:
minimum £1.00
Tickets from £10.00
Running time 90mins (no interval)
Social media
X handle: x.com/stalledmusical
Instagram: www.instagram.com/stalledmusical/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stalledmusical
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@stalledmusical
Show website
www.Stalledthemusical.com