Iris Theatre present William Shakespeare's AS YOU LIKE IT at Actor's Church, St Paul's Covent Garden this summer

Iris Theatre presents 

As You Like It

 

Cast of eleven stage latest in a series of classical works at Actor’s Church 

by William Shakespeare | Directed by Dan Winder 

Actor’s Church, St. Paul’s Covent Garden, London 

28th June to 4th August at 7.30pm (matinees 2.30pm) 

PRESS PERFORMANCE: Monday 2nd July at 7.30pm 

Following the success of 2011’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Iris Theatre return to staging summer nights at St Paul’s. Set in the intimate gardens of this historic 17th century English church, the open-air production dives head first into Shakespeare’s celebration of romance and sexual license. With a design influenced by Tim Burton and Victoriana, this beautifully atmospheric setting will be further charged by a unique sound installation by Filipe Gomes and land art by Tessa Battisti, infusing the central London destination with the essence of the countryside. A duke is banished, the capital corrupted, and his daughter Rosalind must flee to forest. Disguised as a boy, she meets Orlando, and a summer of passion, romance, and mistaken identity ensues.

Formed in 2007, Iris Theatre was created in 2007 to stage a production of T.S. Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral at the world famous St. Paul’s Church in Covent Garden, in the heart of central London. The company has become resident at the church and recent productions include Die Fieldermaus, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Circus production Circuit (2011), Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas, Wind in the Willows and Romeo and Juliet (2010), and an opera project for children, L’Enfant et les Sortilèges in 2009.

Company patron Thelma Holt C.B.E. said: “it is a privilege to be supporting a company that is treating the Bard as if he is in the Green Room, waiting to give notes. It shows and I admire it.”

Iristheatre.com | @iristheatre | http://vimeo.com/25444464

Running Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes | Suitable for ages 8+


CAST

Tom Deplae (Jacques) | Joe Forte (Orlando) | Fiona Geddes (Celia) | John Harwood (Adam / Corin)
Heather Johnson (Phoebe) | Diana Kashlan (Touchstone) | Matthew Mellalieu (Duke Frederick / Duke Senior) William Reay (Oliver) | Christopher Rowland (Amiens) | William Towler (Silvius) | Emily Tucker (Rosalind)

Written by William Shakespeare

Directed by Dan Winder

Designed by Sophie Anastasiou
Music Director: Candida Caldicot 

Costume Design: Tessa Battisti 

Sound Design: Filipe Gomes
Lighting Design by Benjamin Polya 

Casting Director: Gabriella Shimeld-Fenn
Ass. Director / Producer: Claire Moyer 

Produced by Patrick Collier

Listings Information

Actor’s Church, St. Paul’s Covent Garden, Bedford St. London WC2E 9ED

28th June to 4th August 2012

Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm, matinees Friday, Saturday, Sunday at 2.30pm

Previews 28th June to 1st July | No shows: 25th, 26th, 27th June, 5th, 8th, 12th, 15th, 19th July, 2nd August

www.seetickets.com | £14 (£10 concs, £9 previews) booking fee applies

OPERATION GREENFIELD returns to Battersea Arts Centre in June

Operation Greenfield 

by Little Bulb 

returns home to Battersea Arts Centre 

Herald Angel award winning show from the creators of Crocosmia 

BAC 7th to 23rd June, 8pm (9.45pm, 19th & 23rd) 

PRESS PERFORMANCE: MON 11TH JUNE, 8PM 

‘Recklessly talented… insanely brave’ ««««Guardian 

Somewhere in middle England four awkward teenagers are preparing for judgement day with ladders, Elvis and Forest Fruits squash - Stokely’s annual talent competition is nigh. With a stage full of instruments and an eclectic mix of live music, Little Bulb Theatre captures the confusing, awkward and beautifully naïve time of adolescence. The time when the once simple beliefs you held dear need re-adjusting to face the complexities of adulthood.

Commissioned by and developed at BAC, Operation Greenfield was the winner of a prestigious Herald Angel Award at Edinburgh Festival 2010, as well as receiving Total Theatre, Holden Street and Stage Acting Excellence Award nominations. Returning to the theme of growing up as explored in their Fringe First and Herald Angel Award winning Crocosmia, and demonstrating their great skill as musicians, Little Bulb presents a funny and touching study of faith and friendship. The show also represents their most ambitious exploration so far of the interplay of music and theatre.

Formed in 2008, past and current Little Bulb Theatre shows include Goose Party- The Identity Tour: a search for identity (2011); The Marvellous and Unlikely Fete of Little Upper Downing (2010); Sporadical: An Epic Folk Opera (2009) and Crocosmia (2008).

The company are currently working with BAC to develop Orpheus for Spring 2013, fusing the myth of Orpheus in the Underworld with the 1930s Parisian Gypsy Jazz scene. They will be living at BAC during the run of Operational Greenfield. As one of BAC’s regular resident artists, Little Bulb frequently stay over in the venue’s individually designed artist bedrooms, developed for the One on One Festival in March 2011.

‘This small, powerful show has enough exuberance, wit and originality to light up any London theatre.’ ««««Time Out
 
Listings Information

BAC, Lavender Hill, London SW11 5TN

7th to 23rd June at 8pm, (9.45pm, 19th & 23rd) Mon to Sat | 020 7233 2223 | www.bac.org.uk | £15 (£10 concs)

www.littlebulbtheatre.com | www.bac.org.uk | @little_bulb | #OperationGreenfield

Running Time: 80 minutes

Company Information

Created and devised by Little Bulb Theatre Directed by Alex Scott

Performed by Clare Beresford, Dominic Conway, Eugenie Pastor, Shamira Turner

Produced by Farnham Maltings Supported by Arts Council England and BAC

Following Sam Hallam's release from prison for a murder he didn't commit - SOMEONE TO BLAME returns to King's Head Theatre

Sam Hallam play 

SOMEONE TO BLAME

returns to the King's Head Theatre  

for 3 performances following his release from prison   

for a murder he didn't commit 

Someone To Blame, the acclaimed verbatim play telling the story of Sam Hallam, wrongly convicted of murder in 2004, returns to the King's Head Theatre following his release from prison on 16 May 2012. 

★★★★ The Independent

★★★★ Whatsonstage 

★★★★ The Public Reviews 

★★★★ Ham & High

On Thursday 17 May 2012, Sam Hallam’s conviction for murder was officially quashed at The Royal Courts of Justice. He had spent the last seven years of his life in prison, for a crime he did not commit.

The King’s Head Theatre produced Tess Berry-Hart’s verbatim play Someone To Blame, telling his story, in March 2012. To celebrate his freedom, we are bringing the production back to the King’s Head, with added scenes to bring the play up-to-date.

All profits will go towards the Sam Hallam Campaign.

Miscarriages of justice might not always make the news, but they still happen.

This is Sam's story.

Word for word.

Listings information

Someone to Blame

by Tess Berry-Hart from spoken evidence

Director David Mercatali

Lighting Designer Richard Williamson

The King’s Head Theatre 

115 Upper Street

London 

N1 1QN

Sunday 3 June

Monday 4 June

Tuesday 5 June

at 7.15pm

All tickets £10

www.kingsheadtheatre.com

Box office: 020 7478 0160 

BASH starring James Le Feuvre and Faye Winter heads to Barons Court Theatre

Paul Taylor-Mills presents

BASH

Iphigenia in Orem, A Gaggle of Saints, Media Redux

by Neil LaBute

Originally produced off-Broadway 

by Stephen Pevner and Eric Krebs at the 

Douglas Fairbanks Theatre, New York City, July 1999

Directed by Olivia Rowe

Starring 

James Le Feuvre and Faye Winter

Mirror, mirror on the wall, if I don’t like what I see I’ll murder them all. Revenge, twisted logic and righteousness mix in this paradoxically gleeful look at taboos and murder. Three separate short plays by world renowned playwright Neil Labute explore whether evil underlines us all, or merely disguises itself frighteningly well in a few.

This brand new production of Neil LaBute's acclaimed collection of three darkly brilliant one-act plays, plays at Barons Court Theatre from Tuesday 5 - Sunday 17 June. 

It reunites James Le Feuvre and Faye Winter, who both appeared in Michael Grandage’s production of Hamlet with Jude Law both in the West End End and on 

Broadway. 

Press night is Wednesday 6 June at 7.45pm

James Le Feuvre

James Le Feuvre 

Theatre Includes: Hamlet (Donmar at Wyndhams and Broadway), Women Beware Women (National Theatre), The Producers (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), A Rude 

Awakening (New End), The Ark (Arcola). Film: Raphael in God Hates Fags, and Sam in Don't Go There. TV: James recently filmed the lead character in the hugely 

popular series Locked up Abroad for National Geographic, playing Jeremy Khinoo, who was jailed in Mexico for trying to smuggle prescription drugs into the US using home-made counterfeit money.

Faye Winter

Faye Winter

Theatre includes: Ophelia in Hamlet (Donmar at Wyndhams and Broadway) Our Father (Watford Palace Theatre) The Comedy of Errors (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre) The Country Wife (Theatre Royal Haymarket) The Beggar's Opera (Gilt & Grime) Hung Up (Pact Imagination at The Space) Uncommon Women & Others (New Players Theatre). 

Olivia Rowe (Director). 

Theatre Includes: Jerusalem Tango by Pat Rowe (Carriageworks, Leeds) A Rude Awakening by Barry Peters, The Wall by Doug Watkinson; GodSports by Gopi 

Warrier; The Disputation by Hyam Maccoby (New End) A Big Day for the Goldbergs (I & II) (C Venues, Edinburgh, Carriageworks, Leeds, Arts Centre, Radlett, New End), Flesh & Blood by Jason Charles (Tabard) Sinbad (Roundhouse) Black Comedy by Peter Shaffer (Landor).

Paul Taylor-Mills (Producer)

Credits as Producer/Director One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Lost Theatre); Little Shop of Horrors (White Bear) nominated for four Off West End Awards, including Best Director; A Clockwork Orange (Lost Theatre); the European premiere of My Big Gay Italian Wedding (two sold-out seasons Above The Stag and C Venues, Edinburgh); and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Union), Off West End nomination for Best Director. Last month My Big Gay Italian Wedding embarked on a UK tour.

Listings information

BASH

Barons Court Theatre

Curtains Up Pub

28a Comeragh Road

Hammersmith

London 

W14 9HR

Nearest Tube: Baron's Court

 Box Office: 020 8932 4747

Alternatively, book by email (londontheatre@gmail.com) stating performance and number of tickets required. Pay in cash when you come to the performance

Tuesday 5 – Sunday 17 June at 7.45 pm 

No performance Monday 11 June

Tickets: £15.00 (£12.00 concs)

BUD, a bravura one-man comedy by acclaimed Cornish writer Nick Darke gets King's Head Theatre season

The Tell Theatre Company

presents

BUD

by Nick Darke

Director Penny Cliff

Designer Jessica Maliphant

Music John Browne

Producer Sejul Malde

Cast: Neil Sheffield 

Love, land, collateral... and tumble dryers. 

Bud loves Myrna – or does he? When Bud, aged 50, racks his troubled brains over the “l’il acid drops scorchin’ holes in the startched napkin of our marriage”, a torrent of surreal anecdotes, touching memories and ever-increasing anxiety builds to a shocking climax. 

Bud, a bravura one-man comedy by acclaimed Cornish writer Nick Darke, will perform on Sundays and Mondays for a 4-week season between June 17 and July 8 at the King’s Head Theatre, Upper Street, London N1.

Press night is Monday June 18 at 7.15pm.

Bud charts Bud’s turbulent marital journey - from “cold-blooded proposition to passionate love affair” and beyond -  with wit, wildness and hilarity. 

Produced by The Tell Theatre Company.

“The Tell Theatre’s treatment of Bud -  a moving and unmissable theatrical experience”

Catherine Gerbrand, www.nickdarke.net

Neil Sheffield “a laudable one-man performance” - British Theatre Guide

“Bud is an excellent rediscovery, a play of very high quality from a writer whose time has surely come again.” - the Londonist

Listings information

Bud

King’s Head Theatre

115 Upper Street 

London

N1 1QN

Sunday June 17 at 7.15pm

Monday June 18 at 7.15pm

Sunday June 24 at 7.15pm

Monday June 25 at 7.15pm

Sunday July 1 at 7.15pm

Monday July 2 at 7.15pm

Sunday July 8 at 3.00pm

Sunday July 8 at 7.15pm

Press Night: Monday June 18 at 7.15pm

Tickets: from £10.00

www.kingsheadtheatre.com

Box office: 020 7478 0160

Review: Chris Cox 'Fatal Distraction' - E4 Udderbelly, Southbank, London ✭✭✭✭

CHRIS COX - FATAL DISTRACTION

E4 Udderbelly, Southbank, London

29th May 2012: Chris Cox, critically acclaimed comedian/musician is currently performing at this year’s popular Udderbelly Festival on the Southbank, as well as previously performing at 5 Edinburgh Fringe shows, 4 UK Tours and 3 West End shows.

Once inside the iconic upside-down cow the audience is immediately greeted with an array of items onstage, including painting easel, a bookcase full of objects and a large screen in which instructions are displayed. Ushers are handing out slips of paper in which audience members are asked to write down instructions for Chris. I.e. give someone a tap on the paper. This was immediately intriguing and created a buzzing atmosphere to kick-start the show.

A feeling of excitement and anxiety (it was clear that a lot of audience participation would be involved throughout the 60 minute show) gripped the audience as Chris launched into his reenactment of how he met his last girlfriend. With his fast paced, witty dialogue Chris communicated well to the audience and I soon felt enthralled by his light humor and quirkiness. Using projected images along with various props, Chris uses the story of a past love affair as a running theme throughout the show and the tricks are cleverly mastered around this story.

The first audience encounter arrived when Chris asked for 3 members of the audience to draw an image on the paper pad provided. He could not see what they were drawing as he was separated by a screen, and with comedy, this involved encouraging the audience to hum along with the audience member who was drawing and magic guessed and recreated what he thought they had drawn. To the audiences surprise and amazement he got all three correct. More audience involvement carried on throughout the production however Chris stated himself that he doesn’t want his tricks retold, so you will have to go and see for yourself the way in which he read peoples minds! Badges reading ‘I Love Cox’ were handed out to audience members who participated which I thought was a nice touch as a few of them did look terrified!

Although reminiscent of Derren Brown, Chris’s magic tricks were clever and spell binding. Using persuasion and subtle suggestion Chris manipulated the audience’s decision making and in turn created an extremely entertaining and funny performance. The show was ideal for some light, after work comedy and definitely something I would see again. I am not surprised that Chris Cox has already received such a positive reaction as his entertainment is fresh, funny and highly entertaining. I left the show questioning just how he did it?! A must see!  ✭✭✭✭

Review by Camilla Marlow

Listing Information:

19/06/12 Udderbelly, At Southbank Centre
20/06/12 London- priceless London underground

BOX OFFICE: 0844 545 8282

Price: £12.50

http://magiccox.com/

https://www.underbelly.co.uk/node/423537

The Ladykiller​s get set to hit Glasgow

Graham Linehan’s hit adaptation of the classic 1955 Ealing comedy The Ladykillers, directed by Sean Foley will embark on a 26 week tour coming to the Theatre Royal, Glasgow on Monday 19^th November. Tickets for this unmissable production go on sale on Friday 15^th June. 

The Ladykillers tells the story of the eccentric little old lady Mrs Wilberforce who lives alone with her parrot in a strange lopsided house in King’s Cross. Her life is turned upside down by the arrival of Professor Marcus and his four friends, who between them make up the most unlikely group of criminals. Planning the heist of a security van, they decide to use Mrs Wilberforce as cover and involve her unwittingly in the plot. Things do not go well and the Professor’s plan starts to unravel in spectacular and hilarious fashion.

This stage production of The Ladykillers has been adapted by Graham Linehan, best known for being the writer behind TV comedies Father Ted and The I.T. Crowd. 

Director Sean Foley is a multi-award winning stage director whose work in the West End includes Play What I Wrote, Do You Come Here Often, Ducktastic, Pinter’s People and Joe Orton’s What The Butler Saw. 

Paul Bown plays Professor Marcus. Paul’s theatre credits include; Deliverance/Liberation, When We Are Married, Round and Round the Garden, On the Piste and The Alchemist. Television credits include; Doctors, Holby City, My Family and The Bill.         

Clive Mantle plays Major Courtney. His numerous television credits include Little John in Robin Of Sherwood and consultant Mike Barrett in Casualty and Holby City. More recently Clive appeared in Game Of Thrones.  The Olivier nominated actor has also starred in various theatre productions on tour and in the West End including; The Price, A Streetcar Named Desire, Robin Hood, Educating Rita, The Play What I Wrote, Killing Castro and The Rocky Horror Show.

Chris McCalphy plays One-Round. Recent theatre credits include; The Madness of George III on tour and in the West End, When We Are Married, Enjoy, YouCan’t Take It with You and The Letter. TV credits include Five Daughters, Casualty and The Giblet Boys. Chris has also narrated various Natural History films for the BBC and The Discovery Channel as well as Voiceovers for Channel 4, BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, Aardman Animations and Radio 4.

William Troughton plays Harry. He was part of the original West End cast of The Ladykillers, understudying the role of Harry and Louis. William’s previous theatre credits include the Woman in Black, The Holly And The Ivy, Getting On, Busted and My England.  He has also appeared in films War House and Changing the Subject. William is the third generation of actors from the Troughton dynasty, with Patrick Troughton (the second Doctor Who) being his grandfather.

Shaun Williamson plays Louis. He starred as Barry Evans in the BBC’s EastEnders for almost a decade and has appeared in The Bill, Holby City, Inspector Morse and two series of the BBC’s acclaimed Ricky Gervais comedy Extras. Shaun made his West End debut as DJ Monty in Saturday Night Fever before reprising the role on tour. Further theatre credits include; Guys and Dolls, The Rocky Horror Show, Never Forget and Porridge. 

Michele Dotrice plays Mrs Wilberforce. Michele is perhaps best known for her role as Betty, the long-suffering wife of Frank Spencer, played by Michael Crawford, in the BBC's highly successful series Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. Her other television credits include; A Month in the Country, The Winslow Boy, The Way We Live Now, Marple, A Thing Called Love and a guest appearance on the Morecambe and Wise Show. Michele’s most recent stage appearance was in When We Are Married at the Garrick Theatre, London.  She also appeared in many productions with her late husband, Edward Woodward including Male of the Species, Richard III, Private Lives, Dead Secret, The Assassin, The Beggar's Opera and The Cemetery Club.

The UK and Ireland tour of The Ladykillers follows the critically acclaimed West End run at London’s Gielgud Theatre. The production was nominated for five awards in the 2012 Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best New Play, Best Direction, Best Set Design, Best Sound Design and Best Actress in a Play for Marcia Warren. The play smashed all known box office records at the Gielgud Theatre, by taking just under £400,000 in a single week between Monday December 26^th and Sunday January 1st 2012 and recouping its entire West End outlay in less than seven weeks.

PERFORMANCES

Mon 19 – Sat 24 Nov
Mon – Sat eves 7.30pm
Thu & Sat mats 2.30pm
Tickets: £12 - £27
Box Office 0844 871 7647 (Bkgfee)
www.atgtickets.com/glasgow (bkgfee)

SOUL SISTER to play strictly limited West End season at London's Savoy Theatre

FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED WEST END SEASON AT LONDON’S SAVOY THEATRE

THE BRAND NEW MUSICAL

inspired by the music, life and times of

Ike & Tina Turner

Bill Kenwright and John Miller present a strictly limited West End season of SOUL SISTER, the new musical inspired by the music, life and times of Ike and Tina Turner, which caused a sensation during its inception at the Hackney Empire.

Featuring Emi Wokoma as ‘Tina Turner’ - who’s vocal and dance talents have attracted huge critical and public acclaim since the production’s launch - SOUL SISTER will play at the Savoy Theatre from 20 August – 29 September 2012, with a press night on 23 August at 7pm.

SOUL SISTER features all the classics including “Simply the Best’, ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It’, ‘Proud Mary’, ‘Private Dancer’ and ‘River Deep Mountain High’. The musical follows the highs and lows, the passions and heartbreak of Ike and Tina Turner as their careers blossomed and their marriage crumbled.

Tina Turner is arguably one of music’s greatest ever live performance and recording artist ‘diva’s’, and was named “one of the greatest singers of all time” by Rolling Stone Magazine. With a career spanning over 50 years, her combined album and single sales total approximately 180 million copies worldwide. She has won 9 Grammy Awards, and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, amongst many other accolades and honours.

Emi Wokoma’s stage credits include ‘Hairspray’ at the Shaftesbury Theatre; as one of the Ronettes in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ at Birmingham Repertory Theatre; in ‘The Bacchae’ directed by John Tiffany for the National Theatre of Scotland, and in Trevor Nunn’s ‘Porgy and Bess’ at the Savoy. Chris Tummings will star alongside her as ‘Ike Turner’. His many stage roles include in Stratford East’s ‘The Harder They Come’ and ‘The Big Life’ and in Indhu Rubasingham’s production of ‘Fabulation’ at the Tricycle.

Evening Standard “Emi Wokoma’s unstoppable…  her voice soars to ever greater heights”

Timeout “Boy does newcomer Emi Wokoma blaze… Seven letters for Wokoma’s performance: RESPECT”

Daily Telegraph “Wokoma’s sensational turn as Tina should be the making of her… a voice that could make your hair stand on end”

The Guardian “Emi Wokoma needn’t worry about whether she’s going to be able to pay the rent for the foreseeable future: stardom surely awaits”

SOUL SISTER was devised by John Miller and Pete Brooks; directed by Pete Brooks and Bob Eaton and designed by Laura Hopkins, with musical staging by Jason Pennycooke. The musical supervisor and arranger is Keith Strachan.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

20 August - 29 September

The Savoy Theatre,                                                                                          

London                                                                                                           

WC2R 0ET

Box Office: 0844 871 7687

Website: http://www.atgtickets.com/savoy

Performances:

Mon - Sat 7.30pm

Matinee Wed/Sat 2.30pm

£25.00 - £57.50 excluding fees

THE BEACH BOYS bring their 50th Anniversary tour to London's Wembley Arena

The Beach Boys

Bring Their Historic

50th Anniversary Tour to the UK

Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks Are Touring Together For The First Time In More Than Two Decades

The Beach Boys, one of the world’s most legendary and influential bands, have reunited for a global 50th Anniversary Tour.  Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and David Marks are currently touring together in the USA, for the first time in more than two decades. 

The Beach Boys, announce that they are bringing their 50^th anniversary tour to London’s Wembley Arena on Friday 28^th September 2012. Tickets for this historic show go on sale at 9am on Friday 1^st June via www.livenation.co.uk

The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Tour dates in North America have stunned audiences and had rave reviews. The band, who performed together at the 2012 GRAMMY Awards, will also release their new studio album, That's Why God Made The Radio, on June 4th through EMI. It will be the first to feature all of the band's surviving original members in decades and is produced by Brian Wilson and executive produced by Mike Love.   

The Beach Boys and EMI have also teamed up for a 50th Anniversary campaign spotlighting the band's entire catalogue, with several new commemorative releases planned for 2012, including a new hits collection and a career-spanning box set.

For five decades, America’s first pop band to reach the 50 year milestone has recorded and performed the music that has become the world’s favorite soundtrack to summer.  The Beach Boys continue to hold Billboard / Nielsen SoundScan’s record as the top-selling American band for albums and singles, and they are also the American group with the most Billboard Top 40 chart hits with 36.  Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys is fast approaching triple-Platinum sales status, and The SMiLE Sessions, released to worldwide critical acclaim in November, has been heralded as 2011’s #1 Reissue of the Year by Rolling Stone magazine.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and recipients of The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY Award, The Beach Boys are an American institution that is iconic around the world.

The Beach Boys 50^th Anniversary Tour

London Wembley Arena 

Friday 28^th September 2012

Tickets are priced at £65.00 / £55.00 advance and subject to booking fees from www.ticketmaster.co.uk www.livenation.co.uk

Theatre Review: Educating Rita - Theatre Royal, Glasgow ✭✭✭✭

As most of Glasgow soaked up the rays in the last day of the heat wave, the audience took their seats last night in the, unexpectedly, cool Theatre Royal. Given that we don't get much sunshine up here it's a credit to the superb piece that the audience willingly abandoned the beer garden and charred sausages for a night in a dark theatre. 

A piece with similarities to Pygmalion, it’s clear to see why it is so revered. Educating Rita is a stark reminder of the importance of access to knowledge and the social mobility that a good education allows. Written by Willy Russell, also known for Blood Brothers and Our Day Out, Educating Rita does draw on Russell’s own experiences growing up with limited opportunities and a life path that was clearly mapped out for him by social convention. Rita (Claire Sweeney) feels trapped in her working class life and access to Frank's  (Matthew Kelly) literature course for her is an escape from the pigeon hole she feels allotted to but Frank has long since taken his own knowledge for granted and is more concerned about where his next drink is coming from than the pursuit of knowledge.

The beautifully crafted set captures the audience's imaginations long before the play starts. Towering book laden shelves dominate the stage as the audience file in and almost invite you to grab a book off the shelves before getting comfy in a squishy armchair or perhaps settle in the bay window with a battered copy of Shakespeare and the sun streaming in. A calm air of knowledge and a hint of disorganisation seep from the tutorial room and easily provide a sense of its owner as Frank arrives and begins to root through the books by author searching not for a novel but a carefully hidden bottle of whisky.

With shaggy grey hair and array of woolly jumpers, cardigans and vests, Kelly captures Frank's discontentment and disappointment with subtlety before slowly unravelling the facade as he pulls at the loose threads that barely hold the fabric of Frank's life together. Claire Sweeney quite literally bursts on stage and into Frank's life as the effervescent Rita.  The transformation she undertakes on her journey for knowledge is remarkable. Sweeney takes the brassy Rita and creates a rounded, lovable character that you can’t help but admire for her tenacity and willingness to learn. Sweeney and Kelly have excellent chemistry and the relationship they create is heartwarming and credible.

There is much to learn from Educating Rita and it certainly provided a timely reminder to me that theatre is not something everyone has access to and it should not be taken for granted. In a recession where many feel a bit trapped Rita's determination is a lesson and example to us all.

PERFORMANCES

28^th May – Sat 2 June

Mon – Sat eves 7.30pm

Thu & Sat mats 2.30pm

Tickets: £13 – £28

Box Office 0844 871 7647 (Bkg fee)

www.atgtickets.com/glasgow (bkg fee)

Theatre Review: Faith - The Courtyard Theatre, London ✭✭✭

Faith

Directed by Drew Baker 

Friday 25th May 2012: Faith directed by Drew Baker is a seemingly dark play set in the midst of the Falkland’s War, where nightmarish contradictions face a group of soldiers at their base, a local farmhouse on the edge of a battle.

Ian Sharp plays the thoughtful yet seemingly cautious Sergeant Toby Spiers, who despite his experience and platoon commander ranking, wins little respect amongst his peers. It is clear from the get go that his relationship with the arrogant Lance Corporal, Adam Ziller (Stanley Eldridge) is a strained one, which becomes central to the story.

CharlieClements, MawganGyles & Alexander Wolfe
Photo by Francis Lone

The conflict that follows for the remainder of the play is not solely military but also a moral one; when the disturbing command to execute a captured American mercenary comes over the radio the characters begin to question not only the war, but their own personal beliefs.

Private Mick Pike, played by the instantly recognisable Charlie Clements (Bradley from Eastenders) gives a strong performance in the second act in particular. Although special credit should go to the cheeky Private, Finch played by Alexander Wolfe, who despite the harrowing circumstances leaves the audience chuckling at his child-like yet endearing take on the whole state of affairs.

The situation leaves the characters searching for answers, do you follow orders blindly or do you stop to decide what is actually right. Faith, is a thoroughly thought provoking play that questions well the nature of conscience and morality and English values. It cleverly leaves the audience to ponder what they would do...

✭✭✭

Review by Rachel Toye

Faith is produced by Achilles Entertainments and PACM Entertainments Ltd. 

Faith

The Courtyard Theatre

Bowling Green Walk

40 Pitfield Street

London

N1 6EU

Wednesday 23 May - Saturday 16 June

Press Night: Friday 25 May at 7.30pm

Tuesday - Sunday at 7.30pm

Tickets: £15.00 £12.50 (concs)

www.thecourtyard.org.uk

Box office: 

0844 477 1000

www.ticketweb.co.uk

Keith Bartlett to join cast of West End's WICKED as The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz

 

WELCOMES KEITH BARTLETT AS ‘THE WIZARD’ FROM 30 JULY 2012

Wicked, the hit musical now in its sixth year at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre, is pleased to welcome Keith Bartlett as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from Monday 30 July.

Desmond Barrit will play his final performance as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz on Saturday 7 July. From Monday 9 July until Saturday 28 July, Christopher Howell will play the role. 

An acclaimed classical actor, Keith Bartlett will make his West End musical debut in Wicked. He previously starred in Stephen Schwartz’s musical Godspell, as John The Baptist, in Basingstoke in 1998. His many celebrated appearances with the RSC include Henry VI Parts 1, 2 & 3 and Richard III, as part of ‘The Histories’ season at Stratford-upon-Avon and The Roundhouse, The Winter's Tale, The Tempest and Pericles. His numerous other theatre credits include, for Headlong: Romeo & Juliet; for Shakespeare’s Globe: King James Bible recital and A New World: A Life of Thomas Paine; for the Donmar Warehouse: A Lie of the Mind, The Front Page and Glengarry Glen Ross; for the National Theatre: Mary Stuart, The Crucible, Piano and Murmuring Judges, and, for Cheek By Jowl: Macbeth, Philoctetes, Twelfth Night, The Tempest and The Cid. His television and film appearances include: Silent Witness, New Tricks, The Bill and Truly Madly Deeply.

London’s “hugely popular musical” (The Times) has won numerous major UK awards since its West End premiere in 2006 including the 2011 Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Night Out, the 2010 Oliver Award for Most Popular Show, 8 Whatsonstage.com Awards including Best New Musical (2007) and Best West End Show (in both 2011 and 2010) and the 2009 Visit London Award for Best Family Fun.

There are 7 productions of Wicked playing concurrently around the world, including the original production in New York where it remains “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster” (The New York Times) after more than 8 years. Wicked has been seen by 30 million people worldwide and grossed almost $2.5 billion.

Based on the novel by Gregory Maquire, Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman and is directed by Joe Mantello.

Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1LG

1 minute from London Victoria Mainline and Underground Stations. 5 minute walk from Victoria Coach Station

Official UK website, video trailer and online booking: www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk

Wicked spearheads and supports a range of good causes born out of the themes of the award-winning musical.  Discover more at: www.WickedForGood.co.uk

Trevor Nunn to direct Eileen Atkins and Michael Gambon in ALL THAT FALL at Jermyn Street Theatre

Gene David Kirk for Jermyn Street Theatre

Presents

Eileen Atkins & Michael Gambon in

ALL THAT FALL

by Samuel Beckett

Director – Trevor Nunn

9th October - 3rd November

Jermyn Street Theatre

Press Night 11th October 7.30pm

On the back of Jermyn Street Theatre’s recent announcement of the UK premiere of Henrik Ibsen’s comic fantasy St John’s Night, to be staged this July, the smallest theatre in the heart of the West End announces another major production for this autumn.  Three giants of the British stage come together as Trevor Nunn directs Eileen Atkins and Michael Gambon in All That Fall, a radio play by Samuel Beckett. The work, which has never been seen in London before, continues and extends this small and intimate theatre’s burgeoning reputation for attracting the very best talent in British theatre in order to rediscover and stage lesser-known works by major writers. 

Specially commissioned by the BBC as a radio play, when it was first heard on the Third Programme in 1957, All That Fall was immediately and universally acclaimed for its comic and linguistic exuberance.  The Times Literary Supplement said of it, “A most impressive and original piece of writing for the ear, comparable in its impact, though not at all in its tone or mood, with Under Milk Wood. The use of language has a rich local flavour; there is a rhetorical zest, a rhythmical extravagance, and a melancholy humour, that recall Synge and O’Casey.”  

The piece charts the journey of old and unwieldy Mrs Rooney as she drags herself towards a railway station on a Saturday lunchtime to meet her blind husband on his way back from the office to guide him home. Along the way she passes the time of day with a man with a dung cart and a man with a bicycle. A third man with a motor-car offers her a lift and a church-struck spinster helps her up the station steps. 

Trevor Nunn says

“For many years I have been hoping to present Samuel Beckett’s extraordinary radio play ‘All That Fall’ on stage.  The Jermyn Street Theatre is the perfect intimate space for this unique project, as I attempt to recreate the studio circumstances for which the play was written.  Most excitingly, this rare staging of a little known Beckett masterpiece has attracted the involvement of two world famous actors, Eileen Atkins and Michael Gambon, to play the leading parts of Mrs and Mr Rooney.

Richly showing Beckett’s connection to O’Casey, the play moves through comedic situations to a conclusion as disturbingly bleak as anything in his writing.  My hope is that audiences won’t try to find and read the play beforehand, but come to it as if it is a new work about which they know almost nothing.  The impact of this play will then be at its most devastating.”

Gene David Kirk, Artistic Director of Jermyn Street Theatre says

“This is a quadruple coup for Jermyn Street Theatre.  A rare staging by one of the most influential figures of twentieth century theatre directed by one of the most lauded directors of his generation and starring two of the greatest actors  working today.  Any one of those ingredients would have been massive for a theatre of our size but to have them together makes us immensely proud and excited.  For a tiny auditorium in the heart of Theatreland, surrounded by the West End’s legendary playhouses, this proves that Jermyn Street Theatre delivers a punch far above its weight”.

At the beginning of this year Jermyn Street Theatre won The Best Fringe Theatre of the Year in The Stage 100 Awards. Increasingly in the ascendance under the stewardship of Gene David Kirk, it is considered to be one of the most exciting venues of its size in the UK.  With a commitment to presenting both little performed European and American classics and vibrant new plays and musicals, the theatre has won recent acclaim with its productions of Charles Dyer’s Mother Adam, Ibsen’s Little Eyolf starring Imogen Stubbs, The River Line by Charles Morgan, The Two-Character Play by Tennessee Williams and The Art Concealment about the celebrated playwright Terence Rattigan.  In 2011 Jermyn Street Theatre was nominated for the Peter Brook Empty Space Award and in July 2012 in another major first, the theatre will present the UK premiere of Henrik Ibsen’s St John’s Night directed by Anthony Biggs.

PRESS NIGHT

11th October 7.30pm

LISTINGS

Eileen Atkins & Michael Gambon

ALL THAT FALL

by Samuel Beckett

Director – Trevor Nunn

Jermyn Street Theatre

16b Jermyn Street

Piccadilly Circus tube

9th October - 3rd November

Monday - Saturday 7.30pm

Wednesdays and Saturdays 3.30pm

No matinee 10th October

Tickets             

£18.00 weekdays and matinees

£20.00 Fri / Sat Evenings 

Box office 0207 287 2875

and online at

www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk

From the creators of 'Cabaret' and 'Chicago' - backstage musical comedy CURTAINS to get European premiere at the Landor Theatre

CURTAINS

Curtains, the backstage musical comedy whodunit from the creators of Cabaret and Chicago, will get its European professional premiere production in a strictly limited 6-week season at the Landor Theatre from 25 July - 1 September.

Press night is Monday 30 July at 7.30pm.

It’s the brassy, bright, and promising year of 1959. Boston’s Colonial Theatre is host to the opening night performance of a new musical, Robbin' Hood of the Old West. When the leading lady, faded film star diva Jessica Cranshaw,  mysteriously dies on stage the cast and crew all become suspects; enter Lieutenant Frank Cioffi of the Boston Police Department stage left, who just happens to be a musical theatre fan!

Curtains, with a book by Rupert Holmes (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), lyrics by Fred Ebb, and music by John Kander with additional lyrics by Kander and Holmes, based on the original book and concept by Peter Stone, opened on Broadway in 2006 and was nominated for 8 Tony Awards and 9 Drama Desk Awards - winning Oustanding Book of a Musical.

The production will be directed by Landor Theatre Artistic Director Robert McWhir (Ragtime, Follies, Closer Than Ever). Musical Supervisor is Iain Vince Gatt. Choreographer Robbie O’Reilly. Curtains reunites the creative team from I Love You Because at the Landor, which won the Whatsonstage Best Off West End Production Award. 

Cast and further creatives to be announced.

John Kander and Fred Ebb were one of musical theatre’s greatest and most successful songwriting teams. Their greatest acclaim came from Cabaret (1966) and the 1972 film version. The musical, directed by frequent collaborator Harold Prince, was a major success, with a Broadway run of over 1,100 performances. It won a Tony Award as the season's best musical, and its original cast recording won a Grammy Award. The film, directed by Bob Fosse, won eight Academy Awards. Chicago (1975) after an excellent initial run of 936 performances was revived on Broadway in 1996 to become an even greater hit there and in the West End. It has become the longest-running revival in Broadway history, and the 2002 film version was also a great success, including an Oscar nomination for the collaboration. Other Broadway successes included Woman Of The Year (1981), Kiss of the Spider Woman (1992), and, posthumously for Ebb, Curtains (2006).

British-born Rupert Holmes joined the creative team of Curtains following the deaths of both Peter Stone (the original book writer) and Fred Ebb (the lyricist). Holmes rewrote Stone's original book and contributed additional lyrics to the Kander and Ebb songs. He had made his professional stage debut as a writer with the Broadway musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood, based on Charles Dickens final unfinished novel. A recent acclaimed revival at the Landor Theatre has just transferred very successfully to the West End to the Arts Theatre. He also wrote the Tony Award-nominated (Best Play 2003) Say Goodnight, Gracie, based on the relationship between George Burns and Gracie Allen. The play is the third longest-running solo-performance show in Broadway history. More recently he wrote the book of The First Wives' Club – The Musical, a musical theatre version of the film The First Wives Club. 

Curtains is produced by Theatrica Ltd. for the Landor Theatre.

LISTINGS INFO

Curtains

book by Rupert Holmes

lyrics by Fred Ebb, and music by John Kander

with additional lyrics by Kander and Holmes

Based on the original book and concept by Peter Stone

Director ROBERT McWHIR

Choreographer ROBBIE O’REILLY

Musical Supervisor IAIN VINCE GATT

Landor Theatre

70 Landor Road

London 

SW9 9PH

Box Office: 020 7737 7276

or www.LandorTheatre.com

Nearest Tube & Rail: 

Clapham North (Northern Line)

Clapham High Street (overground)

Wednesday 25 July – Saturday 1 September

Tuesday – Thursday & Saturday at 7.30pm 

All Friday shows at 7.00pm

Saturday & Sunday matinees at 3.00pm

no performance on Friday 27th July

Press night - Monday 30 July at 7.30pm

Tickets: £20.00 (£18.00 concessions)

Theatre Review: The Mystery of Edwin Drood – The Arts Theatre, London ✭✭✭✭

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

  The Arts Theatre

Tuesday 22nd May 2012: ‘The Solve – It – Yourself Musical’, 2012 brings us the bicentenary of Charles Dickens birth and in an act of commemoration, his life and works are being celebrated across the globe. 

Photo by Claire Bilyard

Charles Dickens fifteenth novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, was unfinished at his death in 1870. Rupert Holmes’ musical adaptation of the novel gives the opportunity to finally realise a conclusion with the audience deciding how it should end.

Aria Entertainment’s production, with its music hall and pantomime traditions is full of colour, bright lights and great audience participation. The audience, encouraged by the actors of the ‘Theatre Royale’, make the traditional sounds of a pantomime by booing and hissing, cheering and clapping and are given the opportunity to sing along as the entertainment continues during the break.

The musical takes on the form of a play within a play, which is expertly presided over by the Chairman, brilliantly portrayed by Denis Delahunt.

The rest of the cast also make a fantastic contribution to the performance. They work very well together and although they all shine as part of the ensemble there are a few to watch out for in particular. 

Wendi Peters
Photo by Claire Bilyard

Wendi Peters, who is probably best remembered as Coronation Street’s Cilla Battersby-Brown, is cast as The Princess Puffer. Peters is well cast in this role and has been given great opportunity to show off her voice, which is synonymous to the period.

Loula Geater, in the role of Helena Landless, with her wonderful voice and remarkable accent probably steals the show.

Victoria Farley does well to portray the seemingly innocent and naive Rosa and Daniel Robinson, as John Jasper, pulls off a great performance adding some dark humour to the show.

Natalie Day adds to the Victorian drama with her portrayal of the title character Edwin Drood with energy and vitality. Director Matthew Gould has done a superb job and with the potential of a different ending at each performance, The Mystery of Edwin Drood is full of surprises, witty lines and lots of charm - be prepared to be entertained! 

✭✭✭✭

Review by Unsa Chaudri

www.droodwestend.com

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Arts Theatre

Great Newport Street 

London WC2

Friday 18 May - Sunday 17 June

Press Night: Tuesday 22 May at 7.30pm

Tuesday - Saturday at 7.30pm

Thursday & Saturday at 3.00pm

Sunday at 4.00pm

Tickets: £10.00 - £40.00

Previews Friday 18 - Sunday 20 May all seats £20.00

www.artstheatre.com

Box office: 020 7836 8463