Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo

King’s Theatre, Glasgow

Tuesday 8 March 2011

 

There’s a real buzz in the auditorium: many in the audience already know and love the Trocks. There’s an announcement before the show: ’All the ballerinas are in a very good mood tonight.’

The Trocks are a 16 strong company of professional male dancers, founded in 1974 to bring a playful, entertaining view of classical ballet to the widest possible audience. Starting in a loft in New York, they have since become a global dance phenomenon. Incorporating the full range of ballet and modern dance in their repertoire, they cock a snook at the absurd and ossified conventions of classical ballet, whilst gleefully celebrating its lyricism, its passion and its athletic aesthetic. The fact that the male dancers play all the roles, often in enormous size 12 pointe shoes, is a joy, and the overtly hairy chest of Odette in their signature piece, Act 2 of Swan Lake, adds to the hilarity of the evening without taking away from the exhileration of seeing some of the most graceful ballerinas ever. Pratfalls and gestures taken straight from Melodrama. Music Hall and early silent movies add to the tropes of transgression that are the dynamic of an evening that also includes straightforwardly beautiful dancing in the Pas de Deux Grand Classique. Their take on Balanchine, Go for Barocco, was a stunningly funny precision piece to the music of Bach, his elegance expressed through a group of what appeared to be competitive muscular 1930s bathing belles. And The Dying Swan was executed in a cloud of moulting feathers, and bows that lasted longer than the piece itself. The final dance, Raymonda’s Wedding, takes a typically ludicrous fantasy ballet narrative and comically violates it as really really large ‘female’ dancers are partnered with short ‘male’ dancers who can’t even see round them as they work together, and ‘accidents’ contravene the idea of grace: the Prince collides painfully with the prosc arch and a ballerina reappears from the wings with heavy black rimmed glasses on.

In ballet, dancers normally ignore the audience until the curtain calls…here the company engage with you from the start and you are genuinely invited to share the joke (or the joy) with them. They are dancing in travesti – not in drag – challenging the gender and race – and size – assigned stereotyping decisions that underlie normal ballet school and ballet troupe practice.

They have an awareness of the performance of personality, underlined by being gay in a world where assigned gender is a political as well as a corporal axiom, where the gay body has been the subject of exploration in performance art, and in the lives of gay men, predicated on a division of the self externally imposed. This lived reality chimes with the creation of glamorous names for classical ballerinas: the Trocks revel in dual Russian personae, male and female: punned pseudonyms such as Ida Nevasayneva and Mikhail Mypansarov.

They are all extremely accomplished and talented ballet dancers – with great comic timing and real rapport with the audience. It’s their love for the great traditions of Russian Imperial Ballet that enables them to work to such comic effect, producing both affection and respect. Even the final Curtain Call became a parody – of the grotesque inexpressivity of River Dance.

At the end of the show, you couldn’t imagine an audience all being in more of a good mood: when the Trocks are in town, it’s very much like being invited to the best party ever.

Susan C. Triesman

 

Listings Info:

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo

Tue 8^th and Wed 9^th March

Tickets: £14 – £27

Box Office 08448 717 648 (Bkg fee)

www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow (bkg fee)

 

The UK tour goes on to:

New Wimbledon Theatre

Fri 11 and Sat 12 March

Brighton Dome Concert Hall

Tue 15 and Wed 16 Mar

Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall

Fri 18 and Sat 19 March

Milton Keynes Theatre

Tues 22 and Wed 23 March

High Wycombe, Wycombe Swan

Fri 25 and Sat 26 March

Birmingham Hippodrome

Wed 30 March 0- Sat 2 April

Sheffield, Lyceum Theatre

Tue 5 and Wed 6 April

Bradford, Alhambra Theatre

Fri 8 and Sat 9 April

Edinburgh Festival Theatre

Tues 12 and We 13 Apr

Salford, The Lowry

Fri 15 and Sat 16 Apr

Ailey 2, the youth company of the renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater are currently across the pond, and touring UK theatres.

The 12 dancers in the team will entertain you with diverse and athletic dance routines to scores such as gospel blues from the American South.  Each routine tells  a story with historical and spiritual influences.

The costumes and lighting are delicate and enhance the 'other-worldly' performances. Each show is comprised of different routines, each with their own designers; but they link perfectly.

The performances are slick, and well choreographed under the guidance  of 70 year old Artistic Director Sylvia Waters, who herself was once a member of the company.

It is a relaxing and captivating evening's viewing; and Ailey 2 will no doubt continue their success in the US by garnering new fans here in Britain. It is only the second time in 40 years that the youth division have visited the UK, so take this chance to see them in action.

King's Theatre, Glasgow
Tues 22nd and Wed 23rd Feb 2011
£11 - £23
Box Office: 08448 717 648 (bkg fee)
www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow (bkg fee)

For further tour dates visit: www.danceconsortium.com
 

The smash-hit musical collaboration between Queen and Ben Elton rocks into Glasgow this week for a month-long run at the city’s King’s Theatre.

 

The show premiered in 2002, achieving the enviable feat of combining 24 of the world’s best loved rock songs with a musical narrative that was engaging and entertaining in equal measure.  Set in a future world where musical instruments are banned and the only permitted music is “programmed”, the story takes the dumbed down x-factor inspired music era to a logical conclusion where rock has become legend.  Enter dreamer Galileo (Noel Sullivan) who ‘want’s to break free’ from this musical oppression and rebellious Scaramouche (Amanda Coutts) as his ‘somebody to love’ – you’re getting how this works!  The thing is, as fantastic as the story is, it all works very well because the show is bound together by some of the greatest songs every written, and characters are broadened by the keen wit of one Mr. Elton.

 

From a production standpoint, the show doesn’t disappoint.  Music is authentically reproduced with sound production and quality of players worthy of Queen’s legendary live performance reputation.  With Brian May and Roger Taylor actively involved with the tour, we couldn’t expect any less!  The show is very high tech (this is rarely a good thing on a touring production) but every queue was executed precisely with lighting, sound effects, dialogue, music and video all smoothly synchronized.  Mark Fisher’s production design had a real ‘wow factor’ throughout, Willie Williams’s lighting was possibly the best touring set I’ve ever seen and Arlene Phillips’s choreography showed great contrast between the Ga Ga and the Bohemian dancer groups adding an extra character dimension.

 

But even with all of these production superlatives, the show was still stolen by the performances onstage.  Noel Sullivan (of “Hear Say” fame) got a chance to show off his skills as a rounded actor as well as an incredibly talented vocalist hitting every Freddy Mercury inspired note.  Amanda Coutts blew the audience away with a powerful vocal performance and a highly likable comedic character.  These two were wonderfully supported by a talented cast including Jonathan Wilkes (Khashoggi), Ian Reddington (Pop) and local lass, Jenny Douglas (Meat).

 

People will be rushing ‘headlong’ for these tickets putting the box office ‘under pressure’!  Book today.

 

WE WILL ROCK YOU

Kings Theatre, Glasgow

Tuesday 18th January 2011 – Saturday 19^th February 2011

Performances: Mon – Sat 7.30pm, Wed and Sat mats 2.30pm

Ticket Price:  £17 - £41.50

Booking Line: 0844 871 7648 (bkg fee) Groups and Schools 0141 240 1122

Website: http://www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow  (bkg fee)

Panto season is well underway – oh, yes it is!  The King’s Theatre, Glasgow lays on a fitting tribute to their late Prince of Pantomime, Gerard Kelly, with a spectacularly entertaining production of Snow White.

 

This is the first ever production of Snow White in over a century of shows at the King’s theatre.  Gavin Mitchell stepped into the late Mr. Kelly’s Doc Marten boots in the role of Muddles.  The character was delivered with great conviction and energy, winning over his new audience with a few hearfelt words about his old pal followed by a cheery “Hiya Gang” which will, no doubt, echo around the 100 year old venue for many years to come.  The performance was doubly impressive when you consider that Mitchell was originally cast as The Wicked Queen in this production – to say that these roles are poles apart would be as obvious as saying that 6 foot 3 inch Darius Campbell (playing Prince Lorenzo with natural style) makes the dwarfs look quite small!  Writer, Eric Potts, kept the wisecracks flowing at the optimum “10 jokes per minute” level and the audience were frequently in stitches.  Steven McNicoll played a hilarious Herman the Henchman while Barbara Rafferty got more boos than Agnews as The Wicked Queen.  Glasgow girl, Julie Matheson, played the title role showing admirable singing and acting talent.

 

The supporting cast, featuring those all important seven dwarfs, added to the spectacle of the production with fallabout slapstick from the diminutive co-stars and high energy dance routines from the talented ensemble cast.

 

All thought of cold weather and the “Big Freeze” was left at the front door as the bright costumes and colourful sets warmed the audience from curtain-up.  Music was upbeat and lively, if a little “electronic”, and featured the almost ubiquitous “Don’t Stop Believing” following the 2010 success of Glee.  All in all, a thoroughly uplifting and entertaining family show.

 

Treat yourself to some Christmas Cheer at the King’s this year!

 

Listings Info:

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Until Sun 9 January 2011

Tickets: £6 - £24.50 

Box Office 0844 871 7648 (Bkg fee)

Groups and Schools Sales 0141 240 1122

www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow (bkg fee)

Now in it’s 37th year (and the show has pretty much been performed for each of those 37 years) The Rocky Horror Show beams itself into Glasgow and shows that there is still a market for this cult classic.

 

Seeing a whole new group of fans, all dressed up in Rocky Horror character costumes, buzzing about their first theatrical production shows the impact this show has. Luckily, the current production team and cast ensure that the experience is one they’ll remember, like many before them. David Bedella returns as Frank N Furter, the most crucial of roles in the show. A firm favourite amongst fans of the production, and it is easy to see why. With flashes of Tim Curry – showing the requisite nasty side to Frank – and all the showmanship of a broadway performer, Mr Bedella holds the (rather mischieveous) audience in his hand. Richard Meek and Haly Flaherty as Brad and Janet, the all-American high school sweethearts, made a great job of these difficult roles. On this night Daniela Valvano (understudy) was playing the role of Magenta/Usherette, providing a beautifully sung opening to the show, as well as showing off a couple of exciting dance moves throughout. Ceris Hine caught the character of Columbia perfectly however I was slightly disappointed in the small tap break she had been given to do during the Time Warp – there is no need for “click-track” tapping! The stand-out performance however had to be Julian Essex-Spurrier as Rocky. With his gymnastic ability he added another dimension to this role alongside a great singing voice (and an even better body – shown off by his rather skimpy costume of leopard print pants!).

 

This production does well to “freshen up” the show, while retaining as much of the original feeling that the audience require. In fact in a previous tour the choreography of the time warp was changed drastically and appeared to alienate the audiences who could no longer join in – this has been altered in this tour to be more sympathetic to the original choreography.

 

In this production for Glasgow, the part of the Narrator was due to be played by Kings’s Panto regular, Gerard Kelly, who sadly passed away over a week ago. His close friend (and previous Rocky Horror Narrator) Andy Gray stepped into the breach and kept the audience in check very well, and with great comic timing. As the bows finished, David Bedella stepped forward to dedicate the encore to their late friend Gerard Kelly – which received a standing ovation from the King’s Theatre audience. As a fitting mark of respect from his Rocky Horror family, there was no silence, but instead a racous audience participation rendition of the Time Warp.

 

Performances:

 

Mon 8 Nov:      7.30pm

Tue 9 Nov:       7.30pm

Wed 10 Nov:   7.30pm

Thu 11 Nov:     7.30pm

Fri 12 Nov:       5pm & 8.30pm

Sat 13 Nov:     5pm & 8.30pm

 

Tickets: £12.50-£30.50

Box Office: 08448 717 648(bkg fee) web: www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow

The Vagina Monologues is less a theatrical production and more of a phenomenon. Having featured performers from many different backgrounds over the years including comediennes (Rhona Cameron, Jenny Eclair, Helen Lederer and many more), singers (including Mel B, Kim Appleby, Dannii Minogue), models (Sophie Dahl, Jerry Hall), presenters (Josie d’Arby, Anneka Rice, Mariella Frostrup), soap stars (Nikki Sanderson, Hannah Waterman, Wendi Peters) film stars (Honor Blackman, Samantha Bond, Sian Phillips), stage stars (Ruthie Henshall, Lauren Ward) and those from non-performing backgrounds (Rosie Kane, Christine Hamilton, Sharon Osbourne) the show has surprisingly always received a good response from it’s audiences.

 

The main reason for this good response is the quality of the writing. Garnered from interviews with women, the stories are real and at times moving. However, this is cleverly interspersed with witty facts, useless trivia and more lighthearted monologues too. The cast on this occasion, Anita Dobson, Mel Giedroyc and Joyce Falconer all seemed to have a good rapport together and seemed to be genuinely enjoying each others performances (and as Ms Dobson has performed on many tours of this show with a number of casts, this shows a real talent in keeping things fresh for each audience). Joyce Falconer delivers with relish a monologue which I unfortunately cannot name due to the rather forceful (censored!) word which she “reclaims” for woman-kind. This also culminates in her leading the strangest audience chant you’ll hear in any theatre production (and as author/performer of adult pantomimes, I’ve been involved in many of the strangest!). The glue for this performance was Mel Giedroyc, who seemed most at ease with the ad-libbed sections and group discussions. Also, her ability to handle a rather annoying crisp-eating audience member while still maintaining the dignity of the rather emotional monologue she was performing showed great skill and tact as a performer.

 

Although simply staged with just three stools, three leaded microphones on angled stands and two tables on one semi-circle of red carpet with a star cloth in the background, the design of this production and the use of subtle lighting changes enhances this production immensely. This is down to Tim Mascall’s very clever lighting design which uses a variety of spotlights and colours to emulate the mood of the piece.

 

I must also mention that while enjoying a great night at the theatre, every audience member is helping a number of charities working to end violence against women, as a percentage of every ticket sold is put to charitable use. Therefore while listening to some of the more distressing stories, you can know that you are helping to prevent this happening in the future. This is a great night of theatre and one which I feel proud (even/especially as a man) to have attended!

 

Performances:

 

Mon 8 Nov:      7.30pm

Tue 9 Nov:       7.30pm

Wed 10 Nov:   7.30pm

Thu 11 Nov:     7.30pm

Fri 12 Nov:       6pm & 9pm

Sat 13 Nov:     7.30pm

 

Tickets: £7.15-£29.00

Box Office: 0870 060 6647(bkg fee) web: www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow

Motherhood The Musical is a perfect women's night out. It's hilariously funny but poignant at the same time-you won't want the evening to end.
A talented cast share with us the experiences of four women at different stages of motherhood when they throw the youngest of their friends a baby shower. 
Fantastic comedy song and dance routines, by writer Sue Fabisch and director/choreographer Andrew Lynford, will have you roaring with laughter.  
All of the cast have impeccable vocals and excellent comic timing; but Leah MacRae really steals the show. Her portrayal of down-trodden but loveable mother Barb is priceless.
This musical is a superb production and really is a must-see. There is something for all females to identify with; mothers or not. A celebration of all that makes women unique. 

Listings:

Tue 12- Sat 16 October
Tue- Thur eve 7.30pm
Fri eve 8.30pm
Sat eve 8.30pm
Box Office: 08448 717 648 (bkg fee)
www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow (bkg fee)
 

Following the resounding success of BBC ONE’s BAFTA-nominated THE ARMSTRONG & MILLER SHOW, Ben Miller (Moving Wallpaper) and Alexander Armstrong (Mutual Friends) will be hitting the road in Autumn 2010 and touring a brand new live show around all the UK’s major venues. 

With their usual mix of the beautifully observed and the utterly barmy, Ben and Xander will be performing a parade of characters from their extensive dressing-up box and wig-store including; The street-talking WWII chav pilots; Brabbins and Fyffe, the filthy alter-egos of Flanders and Swann; Jilted Jim, dumped at the altar but still on his honeymoon; Terry Devlin, the royal correspondent who really KNOWS the royals; Dennis Lincoln-Park, the accident-prone culture buff; the Frank Dad; and so many more…

Ben and Xander comment: “We are cock-a-hoop to be stepping out on tour in Autumn 2010. Expect all your favourite Armstrong and Miller characters and sketches in a market-fresh brand spanking new show.”     

http://www.armstrongandmiller.co.uk/

Ends/

For more information please contact Mark Irwin (markirwin@theambassadors.com) or call 0141 240 1305

LISTINGS INFO

The Armstrong and Miller Show

Friday 22 & Sat 23 October @ 8pm

Tickets £21

Call: 0844 871 7648 (fees aply)

www.ambassadortickets.com (bkg fee)

Well, well, who would have believed it? The music of The Proclaimers is just made for the stage!

Showing now at The King’s Theatre in Glasgow, Sunshine on Leith is a

Leith, for those of you not from these parts, is the traditional dockland area of Edinburgh, and quite a different place from its more genteel neighbour.

Billy Boyd (Pippin Took in Lord of the Rings) is terrific as Davy, superbly supported by old pros John Buick and Ann Louise Ross as Rab and Jean, his parents.

But for me the star of the night is Jo Freer as Liz, as much for her sheer vitality as for her undoubted ability as an actress. Brilliant at the comedy, powerful in the more serious moments, and a talented singer bursting with energy and enthusiasm, she outshines a very impressive all-round cast, where Michael Moreland and Zoe Rainey also perform with great credit.

The songs are, inevitably, the core of any musical production, and, somewhat to my surprise, the work of Craig and Charlie Reid is very stage friendly. All the hits are here including Letter to America, I’m Gonna Be (500 miles), I’m on My Way and, of course, the wonderful title track, Sunshine on Leith, a deceptively simple but exceptionally moving ballad.

So, an excellent script by Stephen Greenhorn, a strong cast, well directed by James Brining, performing great songs. What’s not to like?

A hugely entertaining night out.

tale of two squaddies home from the war, and their difficulties in settling back into family and romantic affairs.

The Kings Theatre Glasgow has been awarded a First-round pass* plus Development funding of £51,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for its restoration project Long Live the King’s. The project will restore the building’s exterior and front of house areas back to their original 1904 layout and decoration, while celebrating its fascinating history through a wide-ranging intergenerational oral history project.

Colin McLean, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, commented: “The Kings Theatre is interwoven with the history and cultural traditions of Glasgow and has delighted, educated and entertained audiences for over 100 years. Through its outreach programme, the theatre also inspires and involves people of all ages in memorable and rewarding experiences which enrich their lives. The Heritage Lottery Fund is delighted to be able to show its initial support in restoring this well-loved treasure.”

The Kings Theatre is prized not only as one Glasgow’s foremost institutions and as one of Scotland’s best loved theatres, but also as one of the most complete and best remaining examples of theatre architect Frank Matcham’s work. For over a century it has remained in continuous use as a destination of first choice for Britain’s top touring theatre producers, the purpose for which it was originally built. Attracting an audience of around 400,000 each year, it presents a wide range of productions, is a major venue for the Glasgow International Comedy Festival, upholds the family tradition of the Christmas pantomime and is home to many amateur companies.

The programme of restoration works to the historic fabric will reinstate spectacular lost features, remove unsightly alterations made since the Second World War and restore original finishes.

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: "The King’s Theatre is one of the city’s main cultural assets and it's important that it is enhanced and improved for future generations. Over 106 years the King’s has proved that it can deliver high quality entertainment on the stage and this major refurbishment programme will ensure that the experience for audiences is enriched."

A six year restoration of the King’s Theatre began in 2008, with the completion date set to coincide with the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Phase One saw the replacement of all seats in the Grand Circle and Stalls levels of the theatre as well as preparatory work for installation of auditorium air conditioning. In July 2010 Phase Two was completed with the replacement of the entire seating in the Upper Circle.

The King’s has already raised over £630,000 for the project by channelling £1 from each ticket sold into the building’s restoration since mid-2008. Fundraising has been further supplemented with the popular Seat Dedication Scheme which was launched in 2009 and has so far raised over £30,000. A second stage of the scheme is launched today.  For only £150 this will give people the opportunity to dedicate a seat in the newly restored Upper Circle.

Supporting the scheme is Billy Boyd, currently starring in Sunshine in Leith at The King’s, he said: “I haven’t performed at the theatre since my King’s panto debut in Sleeping Beauty in 1998. However, being back here with Sunshine on Leith it is remarkable the differences that have been made to the auditorium so far. I did manage to get a sneak peak at the restoration work in the Upper Circle during the summer but to see it now in all its glory is breathtaking. The King’s is an iconic Glasgow theatre and it is only fitting that its crown is being well and truly polished once again.”

Development Manager, Susannah George who spearheaded the Long Live the King’s project said: “We are delighted that the importance of the King’s Theatre restoration has been acknowledged by the Heritage Lottery Fund. If we are successful in the second stage of our application the project would receive £1,857,000, a significant contribution to the proposed £7.2 million required to carry out the ambitious programme of restoration. It also continues to highlight the theatre’s historical and cultural importance to Glasgow and the people of the city. In addition to this fantastic news we are launching the second stage of our seat dedication scheme for the newly refurbished Upper Circle with the help of actor Billy Boyd”.