Monday, December 15

Author: Paul Downham

The Hound of Baskervilles opens at Bolton Octagon in July
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The Hound of Baskervilles opens at Bolton Octagon in July

Bolton’s recently refurbed Octagon Theatre’s first inhouse production will be the Sherlock Holmes classic, The Hound of the Baskervilles. The comedy adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic adventure will be directed by the Octagon’s artistic director Lotte Wakeham and adapted for the stage by Steven Canny and John Nicholson. It’s the familiar story with a comic twist of world-renowned detective Sherlock Holmes and his colleague Dr Watson unravelling the mystery surrounding the untimely death of Sir Charles Baskerville. With rumours of a cursed giant hound on the loose, they must act fast to save the Baskerville family’s last remaining heir. Leading the case as the famous sleuth is Salford born actor and Octagon Youth Theatre alumnus Reuben Johnson joined...
More Artists Announced for Manchester International Festival
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More Artists Announced for Manchester International Festival

More artists and further details have been announced for the 2021 edition of Manchester International Festival (MIF). The vibrant programme of original new work from artists across the spectrum of contemporary music, art and performance takes place in venues and spaces across the city and online from 1st – 18th July. Anz, AYA, Billy Nomates, Blanketman, Damon Albarn, Julie Adenuga, Julieta Szewach, Laurent Garnier, Lounge Society, Midas the Jagaban, Paul Saggers, Pip Millett, Rema and The Untold Orchestra will join the likes of the previously announced Angélique Kidjo, Akram Khan, Arlo Parks, Aaron and Bryce Dessner, Christine Sun Kim, Cillian Murphy, DJ Semtex, Forensic Architecture, Ibrahim Mahama, Marta Minujín, Lemn Sissay and Patti Smith at the Festival. ...
Outstanding New Season Announced at Altrincham Garrick Playhouse
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Outstanding New Season Announced at Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

After over a year in the dark, the new management team at The Altrincham Garrick Playhouse comprising of Artistic Director Joseph Meighan and Operations Director Sarah Louise Reilly have announced an outstanding new season as they bring live theatre back to the town. Highlights include a northern premiere of Disney’s The Little Mermaid and the return of their ever popular pantomime which this Christmas will see Peter Pan flying across the Garrick stage. The season opens with Curtain Up from Monday 20th - Saturday 25th September 2021 at 7.30pm. Curtain Up! Light The Lights! You’re invited to join a celebration of all things Musical Theatre as we kick start our Autumn/ Winter Season with a collection of your favourite songs from your favourite shows! A stylish and elegant evening...
Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage set for Blackpool summer season
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Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage set for Blackpool summer season

Producer Karl Sydow is delighted to announce new 2021 dates for a UK and Ireland tour of a dazzlingly renewed version of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage including a summer season run at the Opera House Blackpool from Tuesday 3rd August – Saturday 28th August 2021. Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage is set to be one of the first major large scale shows to return to the Opera House Blackpool in over 12 months since the first lockdown began in March 2020 which saw the enforced closure of venues across the country. After bumper box office visits in 2016 & 2017, Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage is sure to once again give visitors to Blackpool this summer the time of their lives. The iconic story of Baby and Johnny, featuring the hit songs 'Hungry Eyes', ‘H...
The Mirror and the Light is set for the West End this year
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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...
St Helens Theatre Royal’s Streamed Pantomime Jack And The Beanstalk Is Returning Live On Stage
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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 ...
The Lord Chamberlain’s Men announce Macbeth summer 2021 tour dates
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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 ...
Full Programme Revealed For Inaugural Little LFT Event For New Works
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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...
The Cher Show to tour UK & Ireland
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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...
Rising star will take West End by storm as cast announced for world premiere of Lady Chatterley’s Lover at Shaftesbury Theatre
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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

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,...