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The musical-comedy, action adventure we didn’t know we needed!

27Jul

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

The musical-comedy, action adventure we didn’t know we needed!

War of the Worlds (on a budget) is the perfect show for comedy and music lovers, families with teenagers and festival goers who want to start their day with a blast! Lamphouse Theatre will bring a brand-new musical comedy version of War of the Worlds to theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August. Featuring just one actor, War of the Worlds (on a budget) will parody Jeff Wayne’s epic arena tour and Tom Cruise’s Hollywood film while paying homage to HG Wells’ original story. With a full soundtrack of brand-new music, plus a loop pedal, a ukulele, lots of cardboard props, plenty of laughs and many hats, this take on the famous disaster story will be more hectic than heroic. Clowning, comedy, music and improvisation will ensure a side-splitting night out: Lam...

Becoming Chavela heads to Edinburgh Fringe for 3 nights only

27Jul

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Becoming Chavela heads to Edinburgh Fringe for 3 nights only

Becoming Chavela is an award-winning docu-cabaret performance of the life and music of Chavela Vargas set within the art world and social milieu of mid-century Mexico City when it was the cultural capital of Latin America." Iconic, trailblazing lesbian Mexican singer, Chavela Vargas, muse to Oscar winning Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, was, in his words, a “volcano.” Edgy and fearless, she gained entry into the exciting mid-century Mexico City artistic scene through her friendship with Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Forgotten for years, she experienced an artistic rebirth in her early 70’s and continued to sing until her death at the age of 93. Chavela constantly broke with social, cultural, and gender norms, defying conventions and living her tumultuous life on her own terms. Ahead of ...

Tabby Lamb’s Joyful Queer Rom-com Heads Out on UK Tour

27Jul

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

NEWS

Tabby Lamb’s Joyful Queer Rom-com Heads Out on UK Tour

Roots is extremely excited to announce its first production, the world premiere of Happy Meal by Tabby Lamb (They/she), directed by Jamie Fletcher (She/her) fresh from her acclaimed production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Leeds Playhouse/HOME) and co-produced with Theatre Royal Plymouth. It is performed by Sam Crerar (They/them) and Allie Daniel (She/her). This joyful queer rom-com is led by a trans creative team and is presented by the queer touring company Roots in five venues this autumn. Join us for an online show IRL. Travel back to the quaint days of dial up and MSN, where you’ll follow two strangers on their journeys to become who they always were. A funny, moving and nostalgic story of transition. From teen to adult, From MySpace to TikTok, From cis to trans. ...

27Jul

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

School of Rock – Sheffield Lyceum

Sheffield was raising the decibels into the stratosphere last night with the England Women’s Team winning the Semi Final against Sweden in the Euro22 competition at Sheffield Bramall Lane ground and the School of Rock opening at the Sheffield Lyceum, Sheffield really was the place to be! The city was euphoric – Sheffield Rocked! School of Rock is written by Julian Fellowes of Downton Abbey fame with Lyrics by Glenn Slater, the dialogue is both topical and sassy and extremely funny on numerous occasions. The music by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber is as expected, catchy with some great songs such as Top of Mount Rock, Stick it to the Man and If Only you would listen. Anna Louizo’s sets are compact, yet well designed to move fluently and at speed between the Horace Green school rooms, Ned Schne...

<strong>Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Winter Gardens, Blackpool</strong>

27Jul

By Rebecca CaseyNo Comments

North West

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Winter Gardens, Blackpool

A magical evening at The Winter Gardens Blackpool. Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is in town this week. I have seen the show previously but even if this is the case for you, this performance was a whole new experience. This is the perfect show to bring the children to, it’s short energetic, engaging and full of fun. The performance started at 7.30pm and was over by 9.30pm with a short interval. With a mesmerising score form Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice this musical never fails to fill the theatre. It was so nice to see The Winter Gardens so busy. The cast and creatives have done a superb job putting this tour together and keeping the piece fresh. Choreography by Joann M Hunter, Direction from Laurence Connor and Musical Director John Rigby, a winning team. ...

A Bunch of Amateurs – Frinton Summer Theatre

27Jul

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

South East

A Bunch of Amateurs – Frinton Summer Theatre

In a world where everything is so complicated and heavy with subtext, there’s something to be said of a play that offers light hearted relief. ‘A Bunch of Amateurs’ by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman is a disarmingly simple comedy ripe for community theatres and a summer where we all need a bit of a lift. Fading Hollywood star Jefferson Steele (Nigel Barber) has been duped by his agent to thinking he’s taking a gig at the infamous birthplace of Shakespeare. Only when he arrives from the USA, he discovers he’s playing the lead role of King Lear at a tiny Suffolk village called Stratford-upon-nowhere with a bunch of am dram characters trying to save their village theatre from developers – while Jefferson is trying to save his career. Dorothy the director/ driver/ fool/ insert multiple roles...

Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em – Regent Theatre

27Jul

By Angela KellyNo Comments

West Midlands

Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em – Regent Theatre

Fans of the original sit com in the 70’s, when we only had three channels on the TV, will be intrigued to observe the stage version of ‘Some Mothers do ‘ave ‘em. With some vague recollection of a time when Michael Crawford was the very accident prone, hapless ‘Frank’, with his facial expressions that often required no words, any stage version certainly has a lot to live up to. Written by Guy Unsworth and Raymond Allen and directed by Unsworth himself, the delivery of the comedy itself must be applauded. The writers ensure that there is a consistency to the energy in the entire performance and jokes come fast and are plentiful. Occasionally it felt as though there was almost ‘too much’ to laugh at as there were so many comedic lines delivered by all the cast throughout the entire perform...

Mother There Art Thou – King’s Arms, Salford

27Jul

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

North West

Mother There Art Thou – King’s Arms, Salford

Most plays, essentially, are about families and that age-old conflict between kids and their parents. If you go back to ancient Greek drama and myth Oedipus and Electra have complexes named after them. A child’s view of the world is created by their parents. They can, if they want, make it seem to be a scary place their kids should hide from, or they can say it is wonderful and should be embraced and enjoyed. The set-up for this darkly comic play is that a domineering rule-setting, brutal, mother has died, and her son and daughter are left to ponder how they want to live their lives. There is no mention of a father in the piece, so it is assumed the mother brought up the children on her own. Within the family dynamic son Charlie is clearly willing to follow the rules and is extrem...

The Allesley Silas – Belgrade Theatre Coventry

27Jul

By Annette NuttallNo Comments

West Midlands

The Allesley Silas – Belgrade Theatre Coventry

Originally performed in a circus marquee in Allesley as part of the Coventry City of Culture 2021, The Allesley Silas has a short run at the Belgrade Theatre. This production is a version of the George Eliot’s novel Silas Marner. It plays heavily on the local connection, the setting of Raveloe is actually Allesley and the Rainbow pub features many times in the story. Continuing the local feel, the play was devised by a production team that has connections to the area. It features professional actors alongside local community performers. Silas Marner lives in Raveloe, mixing as little as possible with the locals. This raises questions as to why and what he does. When he is robbed people’s opinions start to change. Everything is turned around even more for Marner when an orphan come...

Full Cast announced for UK Tour of Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d

26Jul

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Full Cast announced for UK Tour of Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d

Original Theatre are delighted to announce the full cast of their brand new production of Rachel Wagstaff’s acclaimed adaptation of Agatha Christie’s THE MIRROR CRACK’D. The production, directed by Philip Franks, will begin its UK Tour at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne on 8th September 2022. The final members of the cast to be announced are Oliver Boot as Chief Inspector Craddock, Lorenzo Martelli as Guiseppe Renzo, Chrystine Symone as Lola Brewster and Holly Smith in the ensemble. They join the previously announced Susie Blake as Miss Marple, Sophie Ward as Marina Gregg, Joe McFadden as Jason Rudd, Veronica Roberts as Dolly Bantry, Mara Allen as Cherry Baker, Sarah Lawrie as Ella Zielinsky, Jules Melvin as Heather Leigh and David Partridge as Cyril Leigh Oliver Boot’s theatre credit...