Paul Downham, Author at North West End UK

20Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Follow the yellow brick road on tour!

Michael Harrison and the Really Useful Group are thrilled to announce that The Wizard of Oz, the musical based on the iconic story by L. Frank Baum, will embark on a UK Tour, following this summer’s forthcoming season at the world-famous London Palladium. The Wizard of Oz will open its tour with a Christmas season at the Liverpool Empire, beginning performances on Wednesday 13th December, with subsequent tour dates announced today through to Spring 2024. Michael Harrison, the producer of the smash-hit Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat which thrilled audiences on its UK Tour in 2022, now presents Curve’s brand-new production of one of the world’s most beloved musicals. For more information and to book tickets, go to www.wizardofozmusical.com Join Dorothy, Toto and friend...

MAMMA MIA! Announces Relaxed Performance

20Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

MAMMA MIA! Announces Relaxed Performance

Producer Judy Craymer is delighted to announce a relaxed performance of MAMMA MIA! at the Novello Theatre on Wednesday 8th March. The performance, which will begin at 6.30pm, will be staged in consultation with Mousetrap Theatre Projects (MTP). Relaxed performances are designed to provide an opportunity for people with autism, learning difficulties or other sensory and communication needs who require a more relaxed environment. Judy Craymer said, “I am very proud that MAMMA MIA! has always been a musical for everyone. I was overwhelmed by the wonderful audience response we had to the previous relaxed performances held in 2013 and 2016 and we are delighted to stage another this March. Theatre has always been and must continue to be inclusive for all. MAMMA MIA!’s heart-warming story h...

Production Images Released For Grenfell: System Failure

20Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Production Images Released For Grenfell: System Failure

Production images released for Grenfell: System Failure, which asks further vital questions raised at the Grenfell Tower Inquiry since the critically acclaimed 2021 play Grenfell: Value Engineering, which was in The Telegraph’s 100 best cultural events of 2021, and the Observer’s top 10 productions of 2021. Leading the company and reprising his role as Lead Counsel to the Inquiry, Richard Millett QC is Olivier-nominee Ron Cook (Andor, Inside Number. 9, Mr Selfridge, The Witcher, Faith Healer and Girl from the North Country). Also returning are Derek Elroy (Leslie Thomas QC), Sally Giles (Kate Grange QC), David Michaels (Andy Roe/Nick Hurd), and Thomas Wheatley (Sir Martin Moore-Bick). Joining them are Nigel Betts (Brian Martin), David Boyle (Understudy), Nicholas Chambers (Adrian Par...

First Look photos: world premiere of ‘Mumsy’, the finale of Hull Truck’s 50th anniversary programme

20Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Interviews

First Look photos: world premiere of ‘Mumsy’, the finale of Hull Truck’s 50th anniversary programme

Hull Truck Theatre are marking the end of their 50th anniversary year programme with Mumsy, a new play written by homegrown talent and Hull Truck Youth Theatre alumni, Lydia Marchant. This brand-new world premiere comedy drama follows the story of three generations of women living under one roof, exploring the highs and lows of motherhood and intergenerational female relationships. Directed by Zoë Waterman, and with a full female creative team at the helm of the production, Mumsy will be on stage at Hull Truck Theatre from 2nd – 25th March 2023. This sparky new comedy has been developed by Lydia Marchant through Hull Truck Theatre’s Grow Artist Development Programme and is her first full-length play to feature in the theatre’s main auditorium: Stage 1. Lydia Marchant was selected for...

VAULT Festival left without a home for future festivals

17Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

VAULT Festival left without a home for future festivals

Following its triumphant return for the first time since the pandemic, VAULT Festival, the UK’s leading festival of live performance, has been advised by its venue-landlord, The Vaults, that it must find a new home for future festivals. VAULT Festival, run by not-for-profit charity VAULT Creative Arts, had repeatedly sought a long-term commitment from The Vaults, but the venue is instead looking at other more commercial projects which leaves VAULT Festival without a home for 2024 and beyond. Having run in the then-derelict tunnels in Waterloo since 2012, VAULT Festival has helped build the reputation of The Vaults over the past 11 years by bringing over 3,000 bold and brilliant shows to more than 400,000 audience members. VAULT Festival is recognised for being vitally important to th...

Love In Mind – Star-studded charity concert at Southbank Centre

17Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Love In Mind – Star-studded charity concert at Southbank Centre

A star-studded line-up of artists across classical, pop, jazz, and dance music join forces in a symphony of sounds to support the mental wellbeing of young creatives. An illustrious line-up of special guest artists including Grammy award-winning Clean Bandit, internationally recognised cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Chineke! Orchestra, Europe’s first ethnically diverse professional orchestra, award-winning jazz organisation Tomorrow’s Warriors, hitmaker Charlie Deakin Davies aka Charlieee and many more headline artists still to be announced, will join forces with Mark Rylance to take part in this special charity concert at London’s Southbank Centre to launch The Harvey Parker Trust. The night, which also includes performances from members of the National Childre...

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World returns to The Lowry for Christmas 2023

13Feb

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NEWS

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World returns to The Lowry for Christmas 2023

Following a hugely successful UK tour, the kickass-pirational musical Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World is heading to The Lowry this Christmas, before heading out on tour into spring 2024. The hit show will enjoy a festive run in The Lowry’s Quays Theatre from Tuesday 5th December 2023 to Sunday 7th January 2024. This empowering stage show, based on the popular children’s book by Suffragette relative Kate Pankhurst, and adapted by Chris Bush (Faustus: That Damned Woman, Headlong; Pericles, National Theatre; The Band Plays On, Sheffield Theatres), comes from one of the producers of SIX. Featuring catchy original songs by hit songwriter Miranda Cooper (Girls Aloud; Sugababes; Kylie Minogue) and Jennifer Decilveo (Miley Cyrus; Ben Platt), Fantastically Great Women Who C...

Tim Rice: A Circle of Words – Wolverhampton Grand

10Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

West Midlands

Tim Rice: A Circle of Words – Wolverhampton Grand

Can you feel the love tonight? Well, you certainly could on Thursday (9th February 2023) in Wolverhampton, as one of Britain’s greatest lyricists - Sir Tim Rice - took to the stage of The Grand Theatre for a one night only spectacular. The audience relished at the chance to hear Sir Tim recount, first-hand, how he fashioned lyrics to some of the most famous Disney and musical theatre songs of all time. Rice has truly conquered the world of entertainment and he brought along his Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony (EGOT) statues to prove it. But, throughout an evening where we got to learn about the man behind the awards, his modesty really shone through. As well as acting as compère for the evening, Sir Tim sang some of his original lyrics to the tune of what would become ...

Time For a New Semester – Cast Announced For Heathers UK and Ireland Tour

7Feb

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NEWS

Time For a New Semester – Cast Announced For Heathers UK and Ireland Tour

Following its multiple West End runs, and continuing success at its home – The Other Palace, Heathers the Musical will embark on its highly anticipated UK and Ireland tour from 14th February 2023. Heathers the Musical will open in Windsor and visit cities throughout the UK and Ireland, including Liverpool, Nottingham, York, Birmingham, Norwich, Manchester, Dublin, Brighton, Bath, Leicester, Clywd, Cardiff and Glasgow. Full dates and venues can be found at www.heathersthemusical.com Making it beautiful in blue, Jenna Innes (Les Misérables) takes on the role of angst-ridden teen, Veronica Sawyer, and returning to the role of Jason 'J.D' Dean is Jacob Fowler (Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella). The Westerberg tour class of 2023 is completed by Verity Thompson (Cinderella) as Heath...

Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial announces UK Tour

7Feb

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NEWS

Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial announces UK Tour

Following a strictly limited run at the Ambassadors Theatre in the West End (6th April – 20th May 2023),Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial will tour to the following locations: WOKING New Victoria Theatre (26th May – 27th May 2023), LIVERPOOL Empire Theatre (28th May 2023), SOUTHEND Palace Theatre (30th – 31st May 2023), SALFORD The Lowry (9th – 11th June 2023) and BRIGHTON Theatre Royal (15th – 17th June 2023). The verbatim production opened on 15th November 2022 at the Wyndham’s Theatre where it played to packed houses and standing ovations. The trial that gripped the nation has been adapted from seven days of High Court transcripts by Liv Hennessy (finalist in the Paines Plough’s Women’s Prize for Playwriting) and directed by Lisa Spirling (Artistic Director of Theatre5...