UK Theatre Network

Matthew Cottle, Eileen Battye, Terence Booth, Alexandra Mathie, Amy Loughton, and Richard Derrington


Matthew Cottle and Frances Grey

Hilda and Martin, devout Christians, move to a middle-class neighbourhood called Bluebell Hill, together with garden gnome Monty and a small statue of Jesus. As they soon learn their peace and tranquillity is in severe danger by the crime-ridden neighbouring Mountjoy Estate. So they call in a meeting to form a neighbourhood watch – only four of their Bluebell Hill neighbours bother to come: Dorothy, Rod, Gareth and his estranged wife Amy. Rod advises Martin to put up a gigantic fence because his property almost borders on the council estate. Martin is opposed to fencing himself in, he prefers living in a welcoming neighbourhood. This changes very quickly when he catches a trespassing youth on his property. Together with his sister Hilda, former soldier and expert in security questions Rod, the gossipy newspaper journalist Dorothy and Gareth, a cuckolded engineer who was made redundant, Martin forms a “Neighbourhood Watch.” In clear opposition to this idea is Luther, a misguided Guardian reading liberal who is suspected of battering his meek wife Magda, a dedicated music teacher. Just as Luther feared, the Neighbourhood Watch soon turns into something awful.

Alan Ayckbourn demonstrates in his funny but poignant production how well-meaning people who only want to protect themselves and their neighbourhood can eventually turn into the very thugs they meant to fight when they take the law in their own hands. The cast is outstanding throughout. Matthew Cottle is excellent as the gentle but brave Martin, a practicing pacifist, who does all the wrong things for the right reasons. Eileen Battye inhabits the role of would-be journalist Dorothy, Alexandra Mathie shows the toughness and vulnerability of Hilda. Richard Derrington conveys the frustration of the constantly humiliated Gareth who finally finds an outlet for his anger by devising medieval torture instruments. Terence Booth is funny and frightening as the paranoid ex-soldier Rod. Frances Grey convinces as the seductive siren Amy who turns the head of every man in the neighbourhood. Amy Loughton is very good as the shy Magda and Phil Cheadle impresses as her dominant husband Luther.    

By Carolin Kopplin    

Until 11 February 2012 at Richmond Theatre, then touring.

Richmond Theatre
The Green
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 1QJ

Box Office: 0844 871 7651

http://www.atgtickets.com/Neighbourhood-Watch-Tickets/45/1606/

 

13 - 18 Feb:	Theatre Royal Bath (website)
20 - 25 Feb:	Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham (website)
27 Feb - 3 Mar:	Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne (website)
6 - 10 Mar:	Watford Palace Theatre (website)
12 - 17 Mar:	Oxford Playhouse (website)
19 - 24 Mar:	Windsor Theatre Royal (website)
10 Apr - 5 May:	Tricycle Theatre, London (website)

 

David Essex In

 

All The Fun Of The Fair

 

At Milton Keynes Theatre

 

 

David Essex not only stars in this show, he also wrote the music and lyrics. The writer Jon Conway took as his starting point the songs of David Essex, paring down 80 or so tracks to ones that fit together with a supporting storyline, to create a coherent whole. 

Although it is not necessary, your enjoyment of this musical will be enhanced if you are already familiar with David’s songs. The show is based around a travelling funfair, which has been a recurring theme in this star’s career, notably in the film That’ll be the Day.  

 

Whilst David Essex is the star of the show in his role as Levi the owner of the fair he is ably supported by Rob Compton who plays his son Jack and sings many of the songs that were originally hits for David. Mention must also be made of Tim Newman who takes the difficult role of Jonny, which changes between the damaged runaway orphan and the confident motorcycle hero. The female lead is taken by Louise English who plays the Romany fortune teller Rosa, she is however, challenged by Tanya Robb in the role of Alice, Jack’s love interest. The three other major characters are well played by Susan Hallam-Wright as Rosa’s daughter Mary, David Burrows who is Alice’s father and Barry Bloxham as the villainous character Druid.

 

The storyline deals with several issues including parents’ relationships with their teenagers, teenage love, unrequited love, frictions caused by different lifestyles and parental disapproval of their teenagers’ choice of lover. There is also the dilemma of how to improve the financial status of the fair with younger members pressing for a need to move on and reinstate a dangerous motorbike main event as a crowd puller. Levi is resisting this as his wife was killed participating in a similar event. There are some fight scenes that suggest more violence than actually occurs onstage. I thought this worked quite well as some of the characters were not people to be crossed, but the level of violence they were capable of would have been inappropriate in this performance.

 

The scenery was excellent and very realistic of a funfair. Stalls were brought on and off; there was a rifle range; brightly coloured bags of sweets and candyfloss and numerous cuddly toys. At times dodgem cars were brought onstage and driven round and in another scene carousel horses were lowered which helped to create the atmosphere of a real fairground.  Lighting and special effects were also used to good effect and the audience were showered with streamers. The costumes were relevant to the period and appropriate for the various characters.

 

There were numerous songs throughout the show including; A Winter’s Tale, All The Fun Of The Fair, Hold Me Close, Rock On   and many more. These were well performed by various members of the cast. 

This is a very enjoyable show and if you are a fan of David Essex it is not to be missed. It was well received by the audience and it was clear from the enthusiasm of the audience that there were plenty of David Essex fans there.

All The Fun Of The Fair plays Milton Keynes Theatre until Saturday 11^th February 2012. Milton Keynes Theatre Box Office 0844 871 7852 (bkg fee).

The tour continues playing Darlington Civic Centre from Tuesday 14^th to Saturday 18^th February 2012.

www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes  www.allthefunofthefairmusical.com

Reviewed by Sue Marks at Milton Keynes Theatre on Tuesday 7^th February 2012.  

 

 

For thirty years Maureen Nolan was always in the mood for dancing. As a member of The Nolans, she travelled the world and enjoyed phenomenal success with her sisters. Now she has traded her place at the top of the charts for a life on “the never-never” to reprise her iconic role in Blood Brothers. She tells STEVE BURBRIDGE about the play, her hugely successful solo career and why sisterhood means more than anything else.

Three decades ago she and her sisters rocked the nation. That wholesome brand of pop, personified by The Nolans, preceded The Saturdays, Girls Aloud and The Spice Girls and earned the Irish sisters a place in British chart history as one of the most successful girl groups ever.

 

Now Maureen Nolan, the sibling who stayed in the group longer than any other, has carved out a successful solo career for herself and is, once again, starring in the smash-hit musical, Blood Brothers, which plays in Sunderland until the end of the week.

‘I think for a woman of my age Mrs Johnstone is the absolute best role, really’ says Maureen. It’s got everything – comedy, tragedy and beautiful haunting melodies. I absolutely love playing her.’

It was in 2005 that she became the fourth Nolan sister to don the care-worn smile and cross-over pinny and take on the iconic role in Willy Russell’s legendary musical. In doing so she earned them a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the most siblings to have played the same role in the same show at different times.

‘Before I was in it I had seen it 18 times!’ she says. ‘When I joined, I actually apologised to the cast for being such a stalker.’

Maureen admits that, initially, she was daunted by the prospect of taking on such a demanding and emotionally-charged role but was also determined to make the most of the opportunity.

‘I had big shoes to fill, not only from my sisters – Bernie, Linda and Denise - but also from all those other wonderful actresses who’ve played her, too, and I remember thinking: “If I get this role I will never short-change anyone by just walking through it because I’ve been in it for a long time.” And I hope I never have.’

 

Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, having been separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with tragic consequences. Such is the dramatic power and cultural impact of the show that the role of Mrs Johnstone is one of the most coveted in musical theatre. However, it demands a portrayal that forces the actress playing her to ride an emotional rollercoaster and the rigours of performing in at least eight shows a week can, sometimes, take their toll.

‘I did the show for two years in the West End and cried at the end every night. Sometimes I look back and think: “How did I do that?” because it just drains you,’ admits Maureen.

 

At the beginning of the play, Mrs Johnstone is the twenty-something Liverpudlian single mother ‘with seven hungry mouths to feed and one more nearly due’ but, by the final curtain, she’s a down-trodden, distraught grandmother who is struggling to comprehend the most tragic of situations. So, how does she convincingly descend to the depths of Mrs Johnstone’s despair?

‘There’s no other way, for me anyway, than to think of horrible things,’ she reveals. ‘I have one son and I just think about how I’d feel if I were in the same position. That part of it’s not great, really.’

Maureen admits that, initially, she struggled to leave her character behind in the theatre after each performance.

‘I used to be an emotional wreck for up to an hour or two afterwards because the writing is so amazing,’ she says. ‘But then you have to learn how to snap out of it quickly.’

 

Blood Brothers is not the first production in which Maureen has starred as a strong female character. She began her acting career in 2004 by taking the role of Jill in Mum’s The Word, a series of monologues about motherhood. She also played Sadie in Girls Behind, in 2007, then reprised the role of Jill, alongside her sister, Bernie, in another tour of Mum’s The Word the following year. She has also toured extensively as Viv in Footloose and as Barbara in Over The Rainbow: The Eva Cassidy Story.

  

However, one of the most challenging parts she accepted was that of Sarah, a woman who is diagnosed with breast cancer, in The Naked Truth. Surely, given the fact that three of Maureen’s sisters, Anne, Linda and Bernie, have battled breast cancer during the last decade, this must have been a difficult role for her to accept?

‘We talked about it first and agreed that it was quite spooky that, at that particular time in my life, I was offered the opportunity to play such a character,’ she admits. ‘But then we all laughed and nobody said they’d rather I didn’t do it or anything like that.’

The sisters sparked a showbiz sensation in 2009 when a family feud erupted as a result of their reunion tour.

‘Universal, the record company, only wanted to use the four of us who had had the big hits together,’ Maureen explains. ‘That meant that Anne and Denise wouldn’t be part of the line-up, which was disappointing. I thought they’d understand but I couldn’t have been more wrong.’

The rift between the sisters almost drove Maureen to the verge of a breakdown but, fortunately, she is once again on speaking terms with them all.

‘I’m very close to all my sisters and nothing is ever worth falling out over,’ she says, adamantly. ‘With what we’ve all been through, you come to realise that life is short and that family is the most important thing.’

And that, you can be sure is a sentiment which is shared by her current stage character, the indomitable Mrs Johnstone!

Blood Brothers is at Sunderland Empire Theatre until Saturday February 11. Tickets cost from £15.50. To book, call 0844 871 3022 (Booking fees apply) or log on to www.sunderlandempire.org.uk

 

 

 

 

Musical biopics have become fairly commonplace on the musical theatre circuit … but rarely with such a varied and beautifully vocalised back-catalogue as The Eva Cassidy Story.  Theatre Productions present the music of Eva Cassidy with the extraordinary vocal talent of Sarah Jane Buckley at Motherwell Theatre this week.

Eva Cassidy’s story came to the attention of the British public back in 1998 when Britain’s most popular radio presenter of the time, Terry Wogan, added her unique vocal talents to a playlist which reached millions of listeners. ‘Songbird’, the album produced after her untimely death in 1996, sold over 100,000 copies by late 2000 attaining the coveted ‘gold’ status.  All this before a black and white amateur recording of her performance of “Over the Rainbow” was played on Top of the Pops in 2001; sending her to the top of the charts all over again.  Eva Cassidy remains the only female solo artist to achieve three posthumous number one albums in the UK.

 

Sarah Jane Buckley steps into this role as if she was born to sing the songs of Eva Cassidy.  This is no mean feat.  The principal reason that Eva Cassidy was not a popular recording artist in her lifetime was that the range of her vocal talent was too vast!  Eva couldn’t be classified by the radio stations; blues, country, jazz, folk and easy listening standards all came naturally to her and, true to her principals, she couldn’t be labelled – always singing from her heart.  Sarah Jane Buckley seemed unphased by this vocal challenge, covering Eva Cassidy’s back-catalogue as though she had written the arrangements herself.  Songs like “Songbird”, “Over the Rainbow”, “Fields of Gold”, “Yesterday” and “True Colors” were just beautiful in their simplicity and vocal clarity while up-tempo numbers like “Take Me to the River” were a joy to hear.  The supporting cast, too, added significant vocal and musical talents into the mix delivering tight harmonies and live music from the stage.

 

As is the case with many musical biopics, though, the narrative failed to maintain the high standard of the music.  Dialogue and direction linking the musical numbers was a little contrived, even wooden at times.  This was unfortunate as there was a real story to tell here.  It was important to cover Eva’s uncomfortable relationship with her father, for example.  But the use of the starring cast in the roles of the children was a mistake as these scenes could only leave the audience unconvinced.  A simple solution would be to have young actors depicting the drama while the stars provide the vocals from the onstage band.  Audience participation in later scenes often fell flat.  However, the quality of the musical performance easily carries the audience through the story and the dialogue seemed happy to take a supporting role with the exception of some quite moving scenes in the second act as Eva’s illness takes hold.

 

The production was unremarkable save for the superb quality and balance of sound together with excellent musical direction and arrangements by Martin Hughes.  The stage seemed a little cluttered at times with the band kit in full view but this suited the recording studio scenes well.  Unfortunately, there were a couple of technical faux-pas which detracted from the unfolding drama in the second act.

 

This show really is a must see for any fan of Eva Cassidy and her music.  Sarah Jane Buckley’s voice is worth the ticket price alone and carries Eva Cassidy’s high standards with ease (while the drama plays second fiddle).

Listings Info:

The Eva Cassidy Story
Motherwell Theatre
Mon  6 – Wed 8 Feb
Mon – Wed eves 7.30pm

Tickets: £17.50 - £20
Box Office 01698 403120 (Bkg fee)
http://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=6249 (bkg fee)

Tour Dates:

 

10th February	Derby Assembly Rooms	http://www.derbylive.co.uk/	01332 255800
11th February	Wellingborough Castle Theatre	http://www.thecastle.org.uk/	01933 270 007
12th Feburary	Richmond Theatre	http://www.atgtickets.com/Richmond	0844 871 7651
14th February	York Grand Opera House	http://www.atgtickets.com/35/910/Grand_Opera_House_York	0844 871 3024
15th February	LYTHAM ST ANNES, Lowther Pavilion	http://lowtherpavilion.co.uk	01253 794221
16th-17th February	Worthing Pavilion Theatre	http://www.worthingtheatres.co.uk/	01903 206 206
18th February	Hawth Theatre, Crawley	https://tickets.hawth.co.uk/public/	01293 553636
22nd Feb - 23rd Feb	Winchester - Theatre Royal	http://www.theatre-royal-winchester.co.uk/	01962 840440
24th February	Exmouth Pavilion	http://www.ledleisure.co.uk/index/Exmouth_Pavilion/index.asp	01395 222477
25th Feb	Chatham - Central Theatre	http://www.medwayticketslive.co.uk/	01634 338 338
28th February	Edmonton Millfield Theatre	https://forms.enfield.gov.uk/peo/	020 8807 6680
29th February	Bradford St George's Hall	http://www.bradford-theatres.co.uk/	01274 432 000
1st March	Yeovil Octagon Theatre	http://www.octagon-theatre.co.uk/	01935 422884
2nd & 3rd March	Mansfield Palace Theatre	http://www.mansfield.gov.uk/palacetheatre/	01623 633133
4th March	Glasgow Theatre Royal	http://www.atgtickets.com/Theatre-Royal-Glasgow	0844 871 7647
5th-7th March	Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury	http://www.theatresevern.co.uk/	01473 281281
8th March	Rotherham - Civic Theatre	http://www.rotherham.gov.uk/theatres	01709 823621
11th March	Manchester Opera House	http://www.manchestertheatres.com/operahouse.htm	0844 871 7660
13th March	Chesham Elgiva	http://www.elgiva.com/	01494 582900
14th March - 16th March	Colchester - Mercury	http://www.mercurytheatre.co.uk	01206 573 948
14-16th March	Mercury Theatre, Colchester	http://www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/	01206 573948
18th March	Scarborough Spa Theatre	http://www.scarboroughspa.co.uk/	01723 357869

 

  

Having recently celebrated their first birthday and a hugely successful first year Aylesbury Waterside Theatre announced their new spring season bursting at the seams with musicals, drama, dance, comedy and much more.

The writers of sell out sensation Dreamboats and Petticoats, Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran,  and TV favourites including Goodnight Sweetheart and Birds of a Feather are back with a host of 60’s hits with Save the Last Dance For Me transporting you back to music’s golden era.   They joined us for the Spring season launch at The Waterside and told how they’d collaborated with theatrical impresario Bill Kenwright to develop and produce the show.  The story is set in 1963 and tells of two sisters from Luton who go to Lowestoft for a holiday and find love when an American GI invites them back the US Air Base to a dance.  The show previewed successfully in Bromley and the clip we saw at the launch looks a lot of fun, with memorable songs, colourful costumes and great dancing.  The show runs from Monday 13th to Saturday 18th February and I’m sure it’ll be a night to remember.

If you wish you’d swung the hardest partying pack in town now’s your chance as The Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas are back with the coolest party in town. I loved the show last year and if you’re a fan of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Junior this show is not to be missed.

Be swept away to the South Pacific in May as the hit landmark production comes to Aylesbury following a sell-out season at London’s Barbican, starring West Side Story’s Daniel Cook and Eastenders’ Alex Ferns with more star cast to be announced, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the reinvented Lincoln Theatre Production of one of the greatest musicals of all time.

For drama be heartbroken and heart-warmed by a play from one of the UK’s best known playwrights Alan Bennett with The Lady in the Van.  Nicola McAuliffe, best known for playing Sheila Sabatini in the TV sitcom Surgical Spirit, plays the title role.

Don’t miss the return of the National Theatre who in the Autumn brought the huge sell-out success of One Man, Two Guvnors to the Waterside, with the award winning actor Anthony Sher in the funny and fascinating Travelling Light.
  

Or settle in for a night of chilling suspense with J B Priestley’s classic thriller An Inspector Calls directed by Oscar nominated, Stephen Daldry (The Reader, The Hours, Billy Elliot) arriving direct from its fourth West End season.

Fantastic dance comes from two beautiful ballet masterpieces performed by the Russian State Ballet and Orchestra of Siberia, La Fille Mal Garde and Swan Lake.  While Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag bring some spectacular moves to some fabulous Gershwin hits.

For the perfect night out, grab your girlfriends for non-stop laugh out loud musical comedy with Gillian Taylforth - Girls Night or Join Beverley Callard and the Hormonal Housewives as they battle against weight gain, weight loss, mood swings, wine and pms! Or enjoy one of the Uk’s top male glamour with the Dreamboys Full Frontal Tour.

For something a bit different look out for Back to Broadway... the musical – a real family treat and be wowed by Britain’s Got Talent’s Circus of Horrors .  Or join Celebrity psychic Sally Morgan on her latest visit.

Kids can look forward to joining the Little Princess live on stage in her theatrical premiere I want to Celebrate , Peppa Pig in her Treasure Hunt and the Little Big Club with all your favourites including Thomas the Tank Engine, Bob the Builder and Fireman Sam!

There’s more comedy than you can shake a stick at as the Waterside welcomes an audience with Pam Ayres, the controversial American Doug Stanhope, Irish/Australian superstar Jimeoin, TV fave Paul Merton and mock the weeks Stewart Francis.

Music lovers need look no further with shows from The Osmonds on their biggest ever UK tour, The Searchers with all of their classic hits,  rock ‘n’ roll from That’ll be the Day former front man of Ace, Squeeze and Mike and the Mechanics Paul Carrack, X-Factor finalist Andy Abrahams and two classical concerts from the Watersides orchestra in association - Oxford Philomusica, in march featuring Julian Lloyd Webber.  Aylesbury’s Hobble on the Cobbles also come to you this year from the Waterside stage with acts including, Platform Soul, The British Guitar Academies ‘All-Star’ Band and much more.

Next season you can get involved in Bucks biggest talent show Best of Bucks, the brain child of the High Sherriff of Bucks with a celebrity judging panel including legendary broadcaster and DJ Dave Lee Travis with the chance to perform on the Waterside Stage, or by coming along an support local acts all in aid of local charities the Bucks and Milton Keynes Community Foundations.

The more intimate second space really comes to life this season with the return of the Comedy Club on the first Friday of every month with some of the finest up and coming comedians from the UK Circuit and the launch of LiveScreen at the Waterside a programme of live screenings from theatres around the world.  Don’t miss, from the National Theatre, Collaborators, The Comedy of Errors and She Stoops to Conquer and from the Royal Opera House , Romeo and Juliet the Ballet and Rigoletto.

There's something to suit everyone and it’s a season guaranteed to chase away those winter blues!   Book your tickets today at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre Box Office call 0844 871 7607 or visit www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury

Yvonne Delahaye
4.2.12

 OMG you are SO going to love this show!  If you like your shows frothy, fun and frivolous then this is the perfect show for a girls’ night out at the Waterside Theatre all this week.  Legally Blonde The Musical opened in December 2009 to rave reviews and the show went on to win seven theatre awards including the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical. After almost 1000 West End manicures, perms and make-overs, Legally Blonde The Musical will have its final performance at the Savoy Theatre on 7 April 2012, but you can still catch it on its UK tour. During its first year on Broadway in 2007, Legally Blonde the Musical earned seven Tony Award nominations, 10 Drama Desk Award nominations and an Outer Critics Circle Award. The show also ranked in the top 10 for the most requested Ticketmaster "Arts & Theatre Events" for 2007.

When blonde sorority queen Elle Woods is dumped by her boyfriend, Warner Huntington III, she decides to follow him to Harvard Law School to win him back. Once there she learns she has more legal savvy than she ever imagined and with some help from new-found friends Paulette, Emmett and her Chihuahua Bruiser, she learns that it’s so much better to be smart.

Directed by Tony and Olivier Award winning Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray), Legally Blonde The Musical is the funniest and most fabulous musical around.  The best show in town, case closed.

Faye Brookes gives a sparkling performance as Elle, with strong vocals, great comedy timing, warmth and energy.  Faye is a relative newcomer to the business and prior to graduating from Guildford School of Acting, played Sandy in Grease in the West End.  X-Factor finalist and Dancing on Ice winner Ray Quinn plays the ultra ambitious two-dimensional Warner, who spurns Elle in favour of Vivienne (Charlotte Harwood) as they vie for an internship with top lawyer Professor Callahan.  Les Dennis gives a very credible performance as the ruthlessly seedy lawyer and he can hold a tune!  Les’ recent TV appearances include Life’s Too Short and Extras, but he was best known for presenting Family Fortunes.  UK musical tours include Hairspray and High School Musical 2.

Emmett (Iwan Lewis) shows Elle that she can be much more than just a ditzy blond, as he helps her to enjoy learning.   Iwan has played Nick in Fame and Private Augenti in the West End.  Claire Sweeney plays the garish Paulette, the other friend who helps to teach Elle to value and accept who she is as an individual and to look beyond her obviously attractive appearance.  Claire has an extensive CV and played Paulette in the West End and we saw her at the Waterside last year in the UK tour of Tell Me on a Sunday.  Other West End roles include Roxie in Chicago and Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls (opposite the sadly missed Patrick Swayse) and TV appearances include Candy Cabs and Brookside.

We loved the UPS parcelman (Lewis Griffiths) and it will be very disappointing when I next receive a ‘package’ not to have a hunky guy turn up in tight shorts !  Also the very camp hairdresser (Jon Reynolds) made the most of his role, but the standard in musical theatre is so high now everyone delivers an exceptional performance. The multi-talented cast includes Gemma Baird, Lori Barker, Niamh Bracken, Andrew Gordon-Watkins, Hannah Grover, Charlotte Harwood, Katie-Marie Hicks, Sophie Isaacs, Nia Jermin, Graham Lappin, Sinead Long, Rhona McGregor, Chris Milford, Zak Nemorin, Andy Rees,  Micha Richardson, Amy Ross, Michael Steedon, Barnaby Thompson, Michael Vinsen and Hannah Woolley.

Of course we mustn’t forget our canine stars and Bruiser is played by Pringle and Breezer and the very cute Rufus is played superbly by sharpy.

Legally Blonde on tour is produced by Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group, Bill Kenwright, Tulchin/Bartner Productions,  Jamie Hendry Productions in association with MGM ON STAGE, Darcie Denkert and Dean Stolber and with associate producers Rupert Gavin for Incidental Colman and Amy Anzel.

Howard Panter, joint Chief Executive of Ambassador Theatre Group said:

‘Legally Blonde The Musical is a roaring success, people across the UK from Bristol to York and as far as Glasgow have taken Legally Blonde into their hearts and are having an Elle of a party at the theatre.  Critically acclaimed on tour and getting standing ovations night after night, we are thrilled that Legally Blonde The Musical, the success story from Broadway and London is continuing around the UK before embarking on a further international tour.’

This fun should not be legal!  Get your tickets today at:
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
31 January – 4 February 2012
0844 871 7607
http://www.atgtickets.com/Aylesbury-Waterside-Theatre
Liverpool Empire
7 – 11 February 2012
0844 871 3017
www.atgtickets.com/liverpool
Sheffield Lyceum Theatre
14 February – 25 February 2012
0114 249 6000
http://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
Norwich Theatre Royal
28 February – 10 March 2012
01603 6300 00
http://www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
Theatre Royal Brighton
13 – 24 March 2012
0844 871 7650
www.atgtickets.com/brighton
Leicester De Montfort Hall
27 March – 7 April 2012
0116 233 3111
http://www.demontforthall.co.uk
Dublin Grand Canal Theatre
10 – 21 April 2012
0818 719 377
http://grandcanaltheatre.ie/
Grand Opera House, Belfast
24 April – 5 May 2012
(028) 9024 1919
http://www.goh.co.uk
New Victoria Theatre, Woking
7 – 19 May 2012
0844 871 7645
www.atgtickets.com/woking
His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen
22 May – 2 June 2012
01224 641122
http://www.boxofficeaberdeen.com
Canterbury Marlowe Theatre
5 – 16 June 2012
01227 787787
http://www.marlowetheatre.com
Southampton Mayflower
19 – 30 June 2012
02380 711811
http://www.mayflower.org.uk
Bradford Alhambra
3 – 14 July 2012
01274 432000
http://www.bradford-theatres.co.uk
Milton Keynes Theatre
31 July – 11 August 2012
0844 871 7652
www.atgtickets.com/Milton-Keynesa>
Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre
14 – 25 Aug 2012
029 2063 6464
http://www.wmc.org.uk

Reviewed by:
Yvonne Delahaye
31.1.12

 

 

West Yorkshire Playhouse and Talawa Theatre Company Present

 

ALL BLACK ‘WAITING FOR GODOT’ TOURS THE UK

The Albany Theatre – London (6 – 10 March 2012)
Birmingham Old Rep (13 – 17 March 2012)
Theatre Royal – Winchester (27 – 31 March 2012)
New Wolsey Theatre – Ipswich (3 – 7 April 2012)

After a premiere at The West Yorkshire Playhouse (Friday 3 to Thursday 23 February), Samuel Beckett’s masterpiece Waiting For Godot will tour the UK from 6 March. Co produced with Talawa Theatre Company and directed by Artistic Director Ian Brown, the production stars Jeffery Kissoon and Patrick Robinson as Vladimir and Estragon - two men waiting hopelessly, helplessly, haplessly for the elusive Godot. This is the first Waiting For Godot to be produced in the UK with an all-Black British cast and will visit London’s Albany Theatre, Birmingham Old Rep, Theatre Royal in Winchester and the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich.

Vladimir and Estragon are waiting. Two old men whose compulsion to wait for a visit from the indescribable Godot forces them to pass the time in the only way they can; with and for each other. Stories are told, boots are abandoned, religion is debated, memories of better days are shared, jokes are made, suicide is contemplated, the fear of being alone is overwhelming – and time passes. Chance meetings happen, arguments take place, thinking occurs, violence is advocated, hats are exchanged, friendship is venerated – and time passes. On a road with a single tree two old friends wait…and pass the time.

Trinidadian stage actor Jeffery Kissoon (Vladimir) works regularly with the RSC and will play Caesar in its all-black cast production of Julius Caesar this summer. He performed opposite Kim Cattrall in Antony and Cleopatra (Liverpool Everyman), and has previously played Mark Anthony in Talawa’s 1991 all-black cast production. He also worked with Talawa in its 1989 production The Gods are not to Blame. Direct from War Horse in the West End, Patrick Robinson plays Estragon. An actor whose work spans stage and screen, Patrick has previously performed at the Playhouse, playing the lead Thomas Peters in 2007’s Rough Crossings, a powerful drama about 18th century slavery written by historian Simon Schama. His television credits include popular and long-running roles in The BILL and Casualty. Fisayo Akinada, Guy Burgess and Cornell S. John complete the ensemble.

Following on from his critically acclaimed production of King Lear with Tim Pigott-Smith, Ian Brown directs Waiting for Godot, a more intimate but no less challenging play. His recent credits for the Playhouse include As You Like It, Hay Fever for which Maggie Steed won a TMA award, When we are Married with Les Dennis, a new musical version of The Secret Garden, Steve Waters’ Fast Labour and the award-winning How Many Miles to Basra?

A novelist, playwright, poet and theatre director Beckett wrote in both English and French and penned some of the most important works of Twentieth Century literature. The mysterious and universal Waiting for Godot, which was first performed in the UK in 1955 remains one of his most famous and important works. Its true meaning is constantly debated and searched for, yet Beckett was clear in his belief that all you need to know is there in the play.

 
ENDS
For further Information, images and press tickets for the tour please contact James Lever at Target Live
(e): james.lever@target-live.co.uk (t): 020 3372 0956

LISTINGS INFORMATION
West Yorkshire Playhouse and Talawa Theatre Company Present
Waiting For Godot by Samuel Beckett
Director - Ian Brown
Designer - Paul Wills
Lighting Designer  - Chris Davey
Sound Designer  - Ian Trollope
Movement  - Aline David
Cast: Fisayo Akinada; Guy Burgess; Jeffery Kissoon; Cornell S. John; Patrick Robinson
 
Tuesday 6 – Saturday 10 March 2012                                    Tuesday 27 – Saturday 31 March 2012
The Albany Theatre, London                                                   Theatre Royal, Winchester
020 8692 4446                                                                           01962 840 440
www.thealbany.org.uk                                                             www.theatre-royal-winchester.co.uk
 
Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 March 2012                                    Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 April
Birmingham Old Rep                                                                   New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich
0121 236 4455                                                                              01473 295 900
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk                                                      www.wolseytheatre.co.uk
 
Waiting For Godot premieres at The West Yorkshire Playhouse from Friday 3 – Thursday 23 February www.wyp.org.uk / 0113 213 7700