Wednesday, January 8

Author: Paul Downham

Hematoma, A one-man dark comedy about finding what’s missing
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Hematoma, A one-man dark comedy about finding what’s missing

This is a one man road-movie told on stage. Kieran re-tells the story of his craving to be challenged in order to fuse a gap he can feel in his brain. He sets off travelling, where he finds beautiful new environments, crippling hangovers, and, ultimately, a life-changing loss. Hematoma is a fast paced, witty play, where you’ll fall in love with this charming protagonist and feel as if you are journeying with him. You’ll laugh at the absurd situations he finds himself in, and walk together with him through grief. After the year the world has just had, coming together with people in a theatre to share a collective loss will be an invaluable experience. Kieran Dee, writer and performer of Hematoma, said: “In a year of being rooted to the same spot geographically, we have all been clutch...
Serious Questions raised over DRIVEINSIDE at the Trafford Centre
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Serious Questions raised over DRIVEINSIDE at the Trafford Centre

Questions are being asked by ticket holders tonight as to what is happening with DRIVEINSIDE at The Trafford Centre, as days after the original advertised opening, and on the eve of the first rescheduled event there remains no sign of what is promoted as the biggest marquee tent in Europe arriving at the centre’s car park. DRIVEINSIDE is advertised by Beyond Theatre Ltd and posted an “11th hour” update on the 13th May, the day of the first scheduled performance of ‘Manchester’s Git Talent’ which read as follows. Since then postings on Facebook and Twitter have led us and ticket holders to believe preparations were ongoing to mount shows in the ‘tent’ from tomorrow, 19th May. As of 2pm today there was no sign of the tent being in place at the Trafford Centre, and a call put into c...
Clive Rowe to Star as Jethro in The Prince of Egypt
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Clive Rowe to Star as Jethro in The Prince of Egypt

THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, the hit musical based on the classic DreamWorks Animation film, is delighted to announce that Olivier Award-winner and ‘Tracy Beaker’ star Clive Rowe will join the company as ‘Jethro’ for a limited engagement from Thursday 1st July to Saturday 16th October 2021. “A huge popular hit” (LBC), the Grammy® Award nominated musical will resume performances at London’s Dominion Theatre on Thursday 1 July 2021 with tickets on sale until Saturday 8 January 2022.  Performances between Thursday 1st July and Saturday 4th September 2021 are currently expected to take place under UK Government Step 3 protocols (social distancing). Tickets for all performances are available now via www.ThePrinceofEgyptMusical.com From his celebrated debut performance as ‘Mr Snow’ in Nicholas Hyt...
Moulin Rouge! The Musical confirms UK Premiere dates
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Moulin Rouge! The Musical confirms UK Premiere dates

Global Creatures, the producer of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, is thrilled to announce today that the UK premiere of the acclaimed show will begin performances at the Piccadilly Theatre in London on Friday 12th November 2021. Priority booking will begin Monday 17th May 2021, with tickets on General Sale on Monday 24th May. For further information, please visit www.moulinrougemusical.co.uk “At its heart, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is about a group of artists fighting to keep their stage show alive. That element of the story has felt very real for us as a company, as we’ve contended with the Covid shutdown and delay to our UK premiere. But now we are so excited and so honoured to finally confirm that our show will form part of a revitalised West End. We cannot wait for the red windmill...
Hot Gossip! Showbiz legend Arlene Phillips unleashed in the West End
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Hot Gossip! Showbiz legend Arlene Phillips unleashed in the West End

Arlene Phillips CBE is best known as one the UK’s top choreographers, an international theatre director, talent scout, TV judge, presenter, and dancer who has worked with legends from Elton John and Diana Ross to Tom Cruise and Clint Eastwood. Now at an intimate event in the West End she promises to share her biggest secrets and lift the lid on what it was really like working with the biggest pop and movie stars in ‘An Evening with Arlene Phillips’ at the Duchess Theatre on Monday 7th June. Arlene first became a household name as the director and choreographer of Hot Gossip, a ground breaking mixed race dance troupe that scandalised Britain in the 1970s after they exploded onto TV screens with risqué costumes and provocative dance routines on ‘The Kenny Everett Video Show’. Clean-up ...
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre confirms Carousel initial principal casting and creative team
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Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre confirms Carousel initial principal casting and creative team

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre have confirmed initial principal casting for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel, which plays 31st July – 25th September. Carly Bawden and Declan Bennett play Julie Jordan and Billy Bigelow, John Pfumojena plays Enoch Snow, Olivier Award-winner Joanna Riding plays Nettie Fowler and Natasha May Thomas plays Louise Bigelow. Carousel is created by Joanna Bowman (associate director), Lucy Casson (casting director), Tom Deering (musical supervisor and orchestrator), Mark Dickman (associate musical director), Molly Einchcomb (co-costume designer), Annie May Fletcher* (creative team associate – sound), Barbara Houseman (season associate director/voice and text director),  Nick Lidster (sound designer), Simisola Majekodunmi* (creative team associate – lighting...
Full cast and production team announced for The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber
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Full cast and production team announced for The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber

Leicester’s Curve theatre has announced the full cast and production team for its Made at Curve production of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, a celebratory reopening concert featuring the songs that made the musicals and memories from the extraordinary life and career of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Running 7th to 19th June in Curve’s transformed auditorium as part of the theatre’s upcoming socially distanced season, the production will be directed by Curve’s Artistic Director Nikolai Foster. Bringing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s songs to life will be Madalena Alberto (Evita, Dominion Theatre), Jessica Daley (An Officer and a Gentleman, Curve and UK tour, Over The Rainbow, BBC), Tim Howar (The Phantom of the Opera, Her Majesty’s Theatre), Shem Omari James (Songs For A New World, London Palladium), R...
Tune into the ONLY Eurovision Song Contest – West End style!
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Tune into the ONLY Eurovision Song Contest – West End style!

Following the success of last year’s glitterfest, Olivier Award-winning improvisers The Showstoppers are presenting the ‘Alternative Eurovision Song Contest’ for a second year on Saturday 15th May. Comedians Marcus Brigstocke and Rachel Parris are now lined-up to provide pithy commentary. He said “This is it! This is our time. This will make music history. In a good way.” They are joined by an all-star cast of celebrities including actor Les Dennis, comedian Russell Kane, comedian London Hughes and cabaret star Le Gateau Chocolat as judges and Grace Mouat (‘& Juliet, ‘Six’), singer Jordan Gray and improv legend Mike McShane as guest performers. Featuring brand new songs parodying all your favourite Eurovision genres, expert commentary and interactive voting, The Showstoppers i...
Jersey Boys to tour UK & Ireland from November 2021
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Jersey Boys to tour UK & Ireland from November 2021

The beloved Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning smash hit musical JERSEY BOYS will once again tour the UK and Ireland, opening at New Wimbledon Theatre on 25th November 2021 booking through to 12th November 2022, with further dates to be announced. JERSEY BOYS is written by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe. Casting is to be announced.          Go behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in the Tony and Olivier Award-winning, true-life phenomenon, JERSEY BOYS. They were just four guys from New Jersey, until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard… and the radio just couldn’t get enough of. But while their harmonies we...
Jamie Is Back!
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Jamie Is Back!

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, the award-winning feel good musical sensation, is thrilled that the UK tour will recommence in September 2021. West End star Layton Williams reprises the role of Jamie New. Straight from the West End, Shane Richie (I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here, EastEnders) will play Hugo/Loco Chanelle from 1st September until 20th November with Roy Haylock, also known as his drag alter ego Bianca Del Rio, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, playing the role from 23rd November until 8th January. Shobna Gulati (Coronation Street, Dinnerladies) also re-joins the cast to play Ray. The tour will open at The Lowry, Salford Quays, on 1st September before visiting Birmingham, Leicester, Wolverhampton, Canterbury, Bristol, Newcastle, Leeds, Cardiff, Liverpool, Hull, Southampton, ...