Saturday, February 21

NEWS

The Cher Show to tour UK & Ireland
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...
Rising star will take West End by storm as cast announced for world premiere of Lady Chatterley’s Lover at Shaftesbury Theatre
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,...
Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley to star in Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club
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...
More shows announced as Everyman & Playhouse prepare for reopening
NEWS

More shows announced as Everyman & Playhouse prepare for reopening

An exciting new co-production, massive visiting shows, comedians and one night shows form part of the Liverpool Playhouse’s 2021-22 season, as the theatre returns to a busy schedule of live performance. Marking a return to collaborating with some of the UK’s best theatre-makers, Everyman & Playhouse will work with Leicester Curve and English Touring Theatre to present a co-production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (22 Sept – 2 Oct) at the Playhouse. A new revival of Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece, the production is directed by Anthony Almeida and is a blazing portrayal of what it takes to survive in a society where we’re all desperate to feel free. Kickass-pirational new musical Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World (8 Dec – 2 Jan) puts women centre st...
Casting announced for world premiere of David Greig’s new play Adventures with the Painted People
NEWS

Casting announced for world premiere of David Greig’s new play Adventures with the Painted People

Pitlochry Festival Theatre have announced Nicholas Karimi and Kirsty Stuart will star in the world stage premiere of David Greig’s new play, Adventures with the Painted People. Greig’s first play since 2013’s The Events will open at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 10th June to 4th July as part of their outdoor Summer Season. Karimi plays Lucius who is a cultured Roman officer, captured by the Picts and about to be sacrificed.  Stuart is Eithne, a wise Pictish woman, who wants to record her people's history in writing, a skill they do not yet have. She makes a deal where she will rescue Lucius in exchange for him teaching her to write.   So, they must flee - not by road, the Romans have not built those yet - but down river. Performed in the theatre’s outdoor amphit...
Another first for Mind the Gap as degree level learning-disabled performing arts courses launches
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...
Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre announce ‘Hope Fest’
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...
Live Music returns to The Monastery as Manchester Camerata Moves to Gorton
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 ...
Hematoma, A one-man dark comedy about finding what’s missing
NEWS

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
NEWS

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...