Author: Paul Downham

It is 35 years since The Commitments first burst from the pages of Roddy Doyle’s best-selling novel. The world's hardest working and most explosive soul band are set to return in an all-new stage production, kicking off a huge nine month tour opening in Bromley in September. The show will then tour across the country before culminating in Brighton in July 2023. This major UK and Ireland tour of the smash-hit musical will star Coronation Street legend Nigel Pivaro, who appeared in the hugely popular ITV soap between 1983 – 2012 as the lovable rogue Terry Duckworth. He will be swapping the cobbles for the stage and performing the role of ‘Da’ in this all-new production. Nigel Pivaro says: “I am thrilled to be marking my return to the stage in this production of The Commitments. It'...

Picture This will run from Saturday 23rd July until Sunday 30th October 2022 The evocative world of children’s literature and theatre is being explored at a major new exhibition running from July to October 2022 at The Lowry in Salford. Picture This will feature six popular children’s books that have a strong visual identity on the page and have also been vividly brought to life on stage. Each section of the free family exhibition will include illustrations and artwork from the books – which range from much-loved modern works to iconic classics. Alongside will be filmed extracts from stage productions, with a variety of props, costumes, designs and posters. Throughout there will be interactive opportunities for visitors to draw, write, perform, read and play and even devise the...

Producer Jack Maple, by arrangement with Cameron Mackintosh Ltd, is delighted to announce the full cast joining West End stars Carrie Hope Fletcher and Laura Pitt-Pulford in a special one-off concert of THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK at the Sondheim Theatre on Monday 20 June 2022, directed by Olivier Award-winning Maria Friedman. Due to the indisposition of Giles Terera and Danielle Steers, the roles of Darryl Van Horne and Alexandra Spofford will now be played by John Partridge and Natasha J Barnes respectively. John Partridge’s credits include Emcee in UK Tour of Cabaret, Buddy in The View Upstairs in London, Albin in UK Tour of La Cage aux Folles, Billy Flynn in UK Tour of Chicago, Zach in A Chorus Line at London Palladium. He is well known for his extensive TV work, including the long-r...