Wednesday, June 17

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The Almighty Sometimes – Royal Exchange Theatre
North West

The Almighty Sometimes – Royal Exchange Theatre

Back in February 2018 the Royal Exchange Theatre showcased the world premiere of Kendall Feaver's The Almighty Sometimes. It had won the Judges Award at the 2015 Bruntwood Award for Playwriting and well deservedly. Anna is eighteen, working and lives at home with her mum, Renee. One night, after meeting him at a party, she brings home Oliver. At twenty-one he's a few years older but they had been at the same school and he had been taught by her mum. Anna likes and trusts him with her secret. She has been seeing a psychiatrist since she was 11 and is on a combination of medication to control her mental health issues. Although her illness is never named, through the play it becomes obvious how serious her mental illness is. But as Anna is beginning to embrace adulthood, she also begins qu...
Birdsong – Original Theatre Company Online
REVIEWS

Birdsong – Original Theatre Company Online

Written by Sebastian Faulks and adapted by Rachel Wagstaff, Birdsong was first staged by Original Theatre and toured between 2013 and 2018.  It was hugely successful with 4- and 5-star reviews and was seen by more than 250,000 people in 75 theatres across the UK and Ireland. As we pass the 104th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Somme, this play is a timely reminder of the severe loss of life between 1st July and 18th November 1916.  On the first day of battle a man was killed every 4.4 seconds, the bloodiest single day in the history of the British Army.  The battle was described by war poet Siegfried Sassoon as a “sunlit picture of hell”. The play begins in France 1916. The Sappers (a team of ex-miners) were conscripted as tunnellers, setting mines an...
Opera North Postpones Autumn / Winter Seasons
NEWS

Opera North Postpones Autumn / Winter Seasons

As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and the government’s advice regarding social gatherings and live performance, Opera North are very sorry to announce the postponement of all mainstage productions due to tour in Autumn 2020 and Winter 2021. The following productions are postponed and will be rescheduled over the next two years: La traviata, Jack the Ripper, Trouble in Tahiti / West Side Story Symphonic Dances, Carmen, Alcina and The Girl of the Golden West. Ticket holders for performances at Leeds Grand Theatre will be contacted as soon as possible by Opera North to refund all bookings. If you are a ticket holder for these events at The Lowry in Salford Quays, Theatre Royal Newcastle or Theatre Royal Nottingham, the venue box office will contact you directly to arrange a ref...
The Show Must Go On!
NEWS

The Show Must Go On!

On the 16th March 2020, following Government guidelines, theatres across the United Kingdom were forced to close their doors amidst a global pandemic. It is now time to unite as a community and #SaveOurTheatres West End Live Lounge have created this amazing video featuring a plethora of theatre stars to help get this simple message across, The Show Must Go On! Cast Includes: Glenn Adamson, Kelly Agbowu, Marcus Ayton, Adam Bailey, Zoe Birkett, Maiya Quansah-Breed, Erin Caldwell, Louise Dearman, Kellie Gnauck, Simon Gordon, Natalie Green ,Emma Hatton, Lisa-Marie Holmes, Jacqueline Hughes, Joel Harper-Jackson, Sejal Keshwala, Emma Kingston, Martha Kirby, Emma Lindars, Shekinah McFarlane, Kayleigh McKnight,Sarah Moss, Brady Isaacs-Pearce, Laura Pick, Andrew Polec ,Lauren James-Ray, Jo...
Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads: Bed Among the Lentils – BBC iPlayer
REVIEWS

Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads: Bed Among the Lentils – BBC iPlayer

Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads are well known for exploring the darker themes of society and the people within it. Bed Among the Lentils is no exception, diving into the alcoholism and infidelity which shape vicar’s wife, Susan’s (Lesley Manville) life. Directed by Nicholas Hytner, this dark, comic piece, particularly explores the role of the church in the sex lives of its parishioners and life behind the closed door of the vicarage. Opening in a tidy and old-fashioned kitchen, we meet Susan, a heavy smoker and heavy drinker, modestly, and somewhat drably, dressed, as she talks about her marriage to local vicar, Geoffrey. Black comedy is present from the start, as she describes Geoffrey’s recent sermon which explained how the institution of marriage gives a licence to sex and having sex i...
World’s First COVID Safe Drive-Inside Theatre Venue Opens in Manchester
NEWS

World’s First COVID Safe Drive-Inside Theatre Venue Opens in Manchester

Creators of immersive musical theatre productions, Beyond Theatre, have created the world’s first Covid compliant drive inside theatre venue in Manchester. With the lockdown imposed just days before the UK premiere of their new immersive musical, The White Witch, the team at Beyond Theatre, have put their talents to use by creating Drive Inside, a Covid compliant venue concept that will house live theatre and music. Inside the 70,000 sq ft Megatent One of Beyond Theatre’s creators, Paul Levin, explained the concept: “People love live music, ballet, opera and theatre, but they need to be completely confident that a venue is absolutely, rather than probably, Covid safe. This virus has affected the future of our creative arts and we are excited that Driveinside will allow the industr...
SLEEPLESS, A Musical Romance to open with social distancing this summer
NEWS

SLEEPLESS, A Musical Romance to open with social distancing this summer

SLEEPLESS, A Musical Romance, based on the original screenplay Sleepless in Seattle, will premiere at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London on Tuesday 1st September 2020, with previews from 25th August. The limited season will run until Sunday 27th September 2020.  Performances will begin pending Government guidance.  Audiences will be socially distanced, and the producers and venue will follow COVID-secure guidelines for cast, crew and audiences. The producers are also going to hold a special NHS Gala, A Night for Sleepless Heroes, for NHS and Care workers on Thursday 27th August. They will be allowed up to four free tickets per application with scanned NHS badge/pass on a first come, first served basis. For more details, see below in Listings. SLEEPLESS is a new...
Can you help Mikron Theatre raise £48.337.49?
NEWS

Can you help Mikron Theatre raise £48.337.49?

Like most companies canal-based Yorkshire theatre makers Mikron Theatre are struggling to survive the impact of the virus but they've set a very specific target to stay afloat - £48,337.49 That's the amount the virus has cost them in lost income from shows, no merchandise, no programmes, or raffles after they were forced to cancel their entire 2020 season when they were going to premiere two new plays as the company toured the UK’s canals, rivers and roads. Next year is Mikron's 50th anniversary, so they asking their legion of fans to dig deep so they can finally perform two brand new shows; Amanda Whittington's Atalanta Forever, which tells the story of Women's football in the 1920s, and Polly Hollman’s  canine comedy caper A Dog’s Tale. And they deserve help as since they to...
World premiere broadcast from 28th September – 18th October 2020
NEWS

World premiere broadcast from 28th September – 18th October 2020

Following the success of their online plays, The Understudy and Nigel Slater’s ‘Toast’, The Lawrence Batley Theatre Huddersfield has announced that it has commissioned three critically acclaimed, UK dance companies to create three, site specific works for camera. Available to watch online, ticketholders will enjoy two contemporary dance solos and a short ballet. Featuring choreography by Jordan James Bridge (dancer, Studio Wayne McGregor), Daniel de Andrade (Artistic Associate, Northern Ballet) and Gary Clarke (Artistic Director, Gary Clarke Company) the three works will be choreographed in isolation, using video calling software to set the work on the company’s professional dancers. As a direct response to the Coronavirus pandemic, the three companies will create pieces that explore...
The Merchant of Venice – Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
West Midlands

The Merchant of Venice – Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

It is not often recognised that this is one of Shakespeare’s comedies and watching this RSC production from 2015 under the direction of Polly Findlay as part of the BBC Culture in Quarantine programme, one would be tempted to say it was a tragedy. I often say that less is more but Johannes Schütz’s set design is so bare that even with its pendulum constantly swinging, it is impossible to decipher a proper sense of time or place which is at the heart of this play about money and how it affects all involved. We begin with Antonio (Jamie Ballard), a prince among Venetian merchants who is unaccountably depressed despite his obvious success as a dealer in luxury goods. His friend Bassanio (Jacob Fortune-Lloyd) in contrast is broke but remains reasonably cheerful as he has a plan to marry Por...