Wednesday, January 8

Author: Paul Downham

The Mirror and the Light is set for the West End this year
25May By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

The Mirror and the Light is set for the West End this year

Producers Playful Productions and the Royal Shakespeare Company have announced that the third and final novel in the Wolf Hall trilogy, The Mirror and the Light has been adapted for the West End stage. The world premiere will run at the Gielgud Theatre from Thursday 23rd September for a strictly limited season until Sunday 28th November, with an Opening Night on Wednesday 6th October. Tickets go on sale on Thursday 27th May, sign up for more information and priority booking from 24th May at www.themirrorandthelight.co.uk   The play will be the concluding chapter of Dame Hilary Mantel's multi award-winning novels about the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell, all commissioned and developed for the stage by Playful Productions. The Olivier and Tony Award-winning Wolf Hall and Bring Up t...
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St Helens Theatre Royal’s Streamed Pantomime Jack And The Beanstalk Is Returning Live On Stage
25May By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

St Helens Theatre Royal’s Streamed Pantomime Jack And The Beanstalk Is Returning Live On Stage

Leading Panto Producers, Regal Entertainments have announced they are bringing back their recent successful online panto to the stage at St Helens Theatre Royal to be enjoyed by audiences and performed LIVE on stage.  The lavish fairy-tale production of Jack and the Beanstalk will be live at the theatre for 15 performances from Thursday 21st October – Sunday 31st October 2021 and tickets are now on sale! A cast of St Helens Theatre Royal favourites are coming together again to perform in the family favourite.    Timothy Lucas will reprise his role of Jack, Catherine Cunningham as Mrs Fleshcreep, Olivia Sloyan as Princess Jill, Reece Sibbald as Simple Simon, Mark Two as Dame Trott, and Jenna Sian O’Hara as Fairy Mary. The creative team includes director Chantelle ...
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The Lord Chamberlain’s Men announce Macbeth summer 2021 tour dates
24May By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

The Lord Chamberlain’s Men announce Macbeth summer 2021 tour dates

As previously confirmed, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, leading proponents of open air theatre return this summer with a thrilling and powerful production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. It can now be confirmed that the production will open in Salisbury on 3rd June before embarking on a 14-week summer tour. The tour will call at more than 55 venues giving more than 60 performances with yet more venues and dates in the UK and mainland Europe still to be announced. The extensive summer tour will see the company perform in the gardens and grounds of some of the UK’s most significant, historically important and visually stunning castles, cathedrals and stately homes including; Chichester Cathedral (11th June), Hever Castle (13th June), Harewood House (17th June), Waddesdon Manor (24th June), Ham ...
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Full Programme Revealed For Inaugural Little LFT Event For New Works
22May By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

Full Programme Revealed For Inaugural Little LFT Event For New Works

A programme of 14 new works to be premiered at the inaugural Little LTF event in Liverpool this Summer has been revealed. Little LTF is a new strand to the hugely successful Liverpool Theatre Festival, which was staged for the very first time last September in response to an ongoing need for live entertainment during Covid-19. The outdoor festival at St Luke’s Bombed Out Church in Liverpool city centre was created by Liverpool theatre producer Bill Elms, who stepped in to bring entertainment back to audiences after theatres across the country were ordered to close their doors as part of the first Coronavirus lockdown in March 2020.  The festival was so well received last Autumn, that Bill was determined to take the event to the next level by introducing an open call for artis...
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The Cher Show to tour UK & Ireland
22May By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

The Cher Show to tour UK & Ireland

A brand new production of The Cher Show will open next year, with book by Tony and Olivier Award-winning Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, The Addams Family, Peter and the Starcatcher), direction by Arlene Phillips (Saturday Night Fever, Starlight Express, Grease), choreography by Oti Mabuse (two-time Strictly Come Dancing champion) and costume design by Gabriella Slade (Six, In The Heights, Spice World 2019 Tour).  The tour will open at Leicester’s Curve on 15th April 2022 and will continue through to 1st April 2023. Arlene Phillips said of directing The Cher Show, “I have been a fan of Cher since I first heard I Got You Babe in the mid-sixties and cannot wait to direct her musical. I love stories about strong inspirational legends like Cher and I am proud to be joined in the creative team...
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Rising star will take West End by storm as cast announced for world premiere of Lady Chatterley’s Lover at Shaftesbury Theatre
22May By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

Rising star will take West End by storm as cast announced for world premiere of Lady Chatterley’s Lover at Shaftesbury Theatre

Lady Chatterley’s Lover will be brought to life by a cast of experienced talent with new up-and-coming star Georgia Lennon (One Enchanted Evening, Glastonbury Abbey; Beauty and the Beast, Grand Opera House, Belfast) playing the role of Lady Chatterley. Lennon’s voice is not to be missed and this is the chance to catch her in the West End for a strictly limited run before she goes onto be a regular West End leading lady! Alongside her, the aloof and wonderfully sarcastic gamekeeper Mellors will be brought to life by Michael Pickering (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, London Palladium; Starlight Express, Germany). Lennon and Pickering will be joined by Zoe Rogers (42nd Street, Theatre Royal Drury Lane) as Hilda, Jake Halsey-Jones (Hamilton, Victoria Palace Theatre) as Tommy,...
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Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley to star in Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club
22May By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley to star in Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club

The Kit Kat Club in London’s West End will open its doors this November with the musical CABARET starring Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA, Tony and Olivier award winner Eddie Redmayne as ‘The Emcee’ and Bafta Nominee and British Independent Film award winner Jessie Buckley as ‘Sally Bowles’. Inside the Kit Kat Club, life is beautiful. The famous setting of Kander & Ebb and Masteroff’s musical is brought to life with a capacity of just 550, to host a unique production of Cabaret, the likes of which audiences will have never experienced before. Director Rebecca Frecknall said today “It’s such a privilege to have the opportunity to direct Cabaret, a show that has always been dear to my heart. It’s thrilling to be able to approach this classic and important musical at a time when its them...
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Another first for Mind the Gap as degree level learning-disabled performing arts courses launches
21May By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

Another first for Mind the Gap as degree level learning-disabled performing arts courses launches

Learning-disabled performance pioneers Mind the Gap are launching the UK’s first degree level performing arts course for adults with learning disabilities and/or autism. The course has been validated by York St John University and will offer students a Certificate in Higher Education in Performing Arts equivalent to Level 4, or the first year of a University degree. The Bradford based company are Britain’s largest learning disability performance and live Arts Company running arts training programmes for people with learning disabilities and/or autism via its Academy since 1998. Much of that training is already accredited, but the new course is the first to be recognised and validated by a higher education institution. “The validation from York St John University is a huge coup for...
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Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre announce ‘Hope Fest’
20May By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre announce ‘Hope Fest’

Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre will launch a three-week festival in Ancoats this summer, HOPE FEST, with a programme of arts and cultural events from 16th July – 8th August. The festival will take place inside a large theatre tent which will accommodate 250 capacity, based beside New Islington Tram Station (one stop from Piccadilly Station) on the junction between Pollard Street and Great Ancoats Street. HOPE FEST, in association with Electric Park, has been made possible through collaboration and an ambition to champion the cultural arts post-covid with a unique programme of community-centric events. The festival line up offers something for everyone including family theatre, comedy, music, plays and musical theatre as well as one off special community events. The new pop-up s...
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Live Music returns to The Monastery as Manchester Camerata Moves to Gorton
20May By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

Live Music returns to The Monastery as Manchester Camerata Moves to Gorton

Manchester Camerata is delighted to announce its first two shows for 2021 - marking the orchestra’s long awaited return to public performances following the lifting of lockdown restrictions. These musically diverse and exciting concerts will be staged in its new home at The Monastery in Gorton where, in addition to creating a visually stunning space for live performances, Manchester Camerata will also transform it into an international innovation centre for music and health. Kicking off the orchestra’s return to live concerts on Thursday 10th June, is Resonance: a stunning and ethereal night of classical music staged in the perfect and atmospheric setting of The Monastery. This show will feature five pieces of varying lengths, scale and style, each chosen specifically for how they will ...
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