Paul Downham, Author at North West End UK

The curtain rises again at Birmingham Repertory Theatre

9Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

The curtain rises again at Birmingham Repertory Theatre

Birmingham Repertory Theatre has become the first major venue in Birmingham to announce the return of live performances this May. The venue will see two productions which were postponed due to local restrictions and lockdowns finally take to the stage. Both productions are created and performed by Birmingham artists; Rosie Kay’s Absolute Solo II on Wednesday 19th May 2021 and Lightpost Theatre’s Constructed from Thursday 27th – Saturday 29th May 2021. Tickets are on sale now at www.birmingham-rep.co.uk Customers with tickets for previously scheduled dates for both productions will be contacted direct by the box office Sean Foley, Artistic Director of The REP said; “It’s been almost twelve months since we closed our doors and ceased almost all live performance. It’s been a...

Spotlight on Ricky Allan, Composer and Co-writer of Treason The Musical

9Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Interviews

Spotlight on Ricky Allan, Composer and Co-writer of Treason The Musical

Remember, remember the 5th of November, for its gunpowder, treason, and plot We're here to tell you the rest of the tale, the one that history books forgot Guy Fawkes remains an anonymous figure, we have more to bring to the table It's time to meet the rest of the plotters, in our fiery musical fable We caught up with Ricky Allan to find out more about his new musical ‘Treason The Musical’. Filmed at Cadogan Hall, this concert version is available to watch from 12th March to 14th March 2021. To buy tickets go to https://treasonthemusical.com/ What inspired you to write/compose ‘Treason The Musical’? I have always been fascinated by the story and felt it had a natural theatrical flair to it which deserved to be explored. Whilst working on the Strand...

HUNCHtheatre – An extract from ‘Second-Hand Time’ by Svetlana Alexievich

8Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

HUNCHtheatre – An extract from ‘Second-Hand Time’ by Svetlana Alexievich

In support of the people of Belarus, HUNCHtheatre present this short video of an extract from ‘Second-Hand Time’, written by Svetlana Alexievich, and performed by acclaimed British actress Kristin Milward. HUNCHtheatre is an internationally acclaimed company based in London, set up by Vladimir Shcherban and Oliver Bennett three years ago. They launched a department in Minsk, HUNCHtheatre Belarus, run by independent artists and LGBTI+ activists. Their first show was an underground performance of ‘Left Dissidents’ which started life in a private living room in 2018. It was listed as one of the top five theatre performances in Belarus by an independent jury. They have since conducted numerous readings, including a play about the murdered Soviet director Meyerhold at ‘Theatre.doc’, the most...

Free masterclasses for young actors In Leeds

8Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Free masterclasses for young actors In Leeds

Leeds Actors in Training (LAIT) is offering free online masterclasses for young adults aged 18-25 who are serious about an acting career throughout March 2021. In anticipation of theatres reopening LAIT Intensive is a series of five evening sessions run in collaboration with Leeds Grand Theatre over three weeks by professional artists, and overseen by LAIT with Leeds Grand Youth Theatre Director Lizi Patch. Running from 6-8pm on Tue 16th, Wed 17th, Tue 23rd, Wed 24th and Tue 30th March, the sessions will cover everything from physical and vocal health and flexibility, to clowning and presenting their talents at an audition. Guest artists include Dawn Holgate, Course Leader Foundation Dance Degree, Leeds City College, writer, composer, teacher Sam Kenyon, Clown Space’s James Lewis-...

8Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

REVIEWS

Love in the Lockdown – The Telling

Filmed and directed entirely on Zoom and by Performers on their mobile devices, Rachel Stirling and Alec Newman feature in this new topical online play with music. Presented by The Telling, written by Clare Norburn and directed by Nicholas Renton, ‘Love in the Lockdown’ follows Medieval Musician, Emilia (Stirling) and playwright, Giovanni (Newman) in the early stage of an intense lockdown relationship during the very start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Emilia and Giovanni met at a mutual friend’s dinner party just before lockdown started. They are forced to continue dating over Zoom and as their relationship develops, and as the couple get closer romantically, they start to work on a writing project together. Their project is a musical/theatrical piece based on ‘The Decameron’ by Boccacc...

8Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

REVIEWS

West End Musical Drive-In – Show 3

This was number 3 in the series of West End Musical Drive-in shows which was recorded around September 2020 and brings live music from West End theatre stars to an outdoor setting whilst theatres are closed. These are now being streamed to view from the safety of people’s own homes. As with any outside broadcast, this was at the mercy of the weather which was not kind for much of this show and it was awkward for the performers having a microphone in one hand and an umbrella in the other. I know myself from first-hand experience how difficult it is to put on a show outdoors like this and the technical team involved deserve a huge amount of credit for their efforts in putting everything together. Thanks to them the quality of the sound was excellent. The show was opened, introduced and co...

Fables at the Kitchen Table – Stute Theatre/Tameside Libraries

8Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

REVIEWS

Fables at the Kitchen Table – Stute Theatre/Tameside Libraries

One of the most exciting innovations in our local libraries is they have become community hubs, including storytelling for young readers, and Fables at the Kitchen Table is Tameside Council’s attempt to keep those sessions going during lockdown. They’ve recruited experienced actor-musician Sophia Hatfield from Stute Theatre to rework three of Aesop’s famous fables delivered via an online link https://www.stutetheatre.co.uk/fables to local schools and children aged 3 to 8. So she becomes Soph who has travelled the world collecting stories to bring back to Greater Manchester, and she kicks off with the story of the Tortoise and the Hare, which remains the most famous of the Greek’s storyteller’s tales. Soph is an engaging performer who employs a bike helmet and a hat with floppy...

Channing Tatum’s Magic Mike Live to Reopen 21st May

2Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Channing Tatum’s Magic Mike Live to Reopen 21st May

Magic Mike Live will be returning to its London home of The Theatre at the Hippodrome Casino on Friday 21st May 2021. Patrons will experience a revamped production featuring new songs and new dance sequences in a Covid-secure environment with a socially distanced audience. “The team behind Magic Mike Live has been enthusiastically planning the show’s return to the London stage,” said Executive Producer Vincent Marini. “We have been working to develop a show that prioritises the safety of our employees and guests but also manages to be as fun, electric and unexpected as ever. While it has been a creative challenge to make changes to the show we all love so much, we believe that the finished product, which has already been successfully launched in Sydney, will bring a great deal of ...

Recognition by 45North & Ellie Keel Productions

2Mar

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REVIEWS

Recognition by 45North & Ellie Keel Productions

“I want to be nothing in the world be except what I am. A musician.” This passing sentiment, felt by Afro-English composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor whilst on his deathbed in 1912 and remembered by Song, a Black composer working in present-day London almost a century later, is the quintessential throughline of the new audio drama ‘Recognition’ by 45North and Ellie Keel Productions under the Written On The Waves series that features 8 audio dramas created in partnership with Atticist, HOTTER Project, and The North Wall. Co-created by Amanda Wilkin and Rachael Nanyonjo with writing by the former and original Music from Cassie Kinoshi, this hour-long audio experience introduces us to the artistic journeys of two Black musicians – Samuel (voiced by Obioma Ugoala) and Song (voiced by Shiloh...

New management agency lighting up the industry

1Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

New management agency lighting up the industry

Matchstick Group – the UK’s newest talent management agency – launches today with a roster of 26 clients spanning all forms of entertainment, making it the UK’s fastest growing talent agency in 2021 and the UK’s leading agency for digital and social media influencers with a reach of over 10million followers cross YouTube, TikTok and Instagram Matchstick Group is reimagining the way that talent management typically operates. In addition to a deep commitment to improving diversity, accessibility and representation in the entertainment industry, Matchstick Group boldly breaks with tradition by prioritising the mental wellbeing of its staff and clients above all else, as well as offering client and staff incentives to refer new business. A new agency for talent and by talent, Matchstick...