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King’s Theatre, Glasgow

DIRECT FROM THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE

BUSTING OUT!

A Musical Comedy Touring To

King’s Theatre Glasgow, Wed 1^st Sept

The biggest Australian show since Priscilla, Busting Out! is a raucously entertaining, fun, funny, thoroughly theatrical, empowering and affirmative celebration of the female body.  It’s created by Emma Powell and performed by Emma and Bev Killick - two of Australia's most sensational performers.  Emma's career has been a glittering one in Musical Theatre (she played Rosie in the Australasian Tour of Mamma Mia) and Bev is one of Australia's most celebrated female stand-ups.

The show has been a fêted hit in Australia and New Zealand, famed for its dynamic inclusivity it has now played to over 250,000 people. The audience play a vital role in the proceedings (by appearing on a large on-stage screen and often actually on stage) which threatens, on occasions, to turn the entire theatre into an utterly disorderly house!  Emma and Bev’s up-front and out-there breast-based contortions are intercut with rousing song and dance sequences, hilarious sketches, a shadow play and brilliant stand-up comedy.

Yes, it's a wild night out but as Australian commentators have pointed out Busting Out!  is “an affirming lesson in body love and esteem without the soapbox” (The West Australian) and  it “makes women feel good about themselves and their bodies” (Sunday Mail Adelaide)

So, as Busting Out! re-asserts women’s ownership of their own breasts in their own terms …they satirise the female form as they celebrate it, they parody conventional stereotypes, and they “repeatedly ambush the audience with their audacity” (The Manly Daily).

If that sounds far too heavy by half, listen to a word of advice from one reviewer in Canberra.  He said, “if all you want is a laugh, you’ll be compensated many times over”.   So it only remains to dust off the puns.   Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to give all your support to an outstanding pair of fully-rounded performers with ample talents.  They’re stars and they’re big ones.  (And Emma and Bev aren’t so bad either).

PLEASE NOTE THIS SHOW IS RECOMMENDED 14+

Listings Info:

The cheeky movie based on real life events takes a second national tour as a play with an A-list cast, a light-hearted yet poignant script and some brilliant ‘laugh out loud’ one-liners.

Life can be stranger than fiction, it is said.  Who could imagine, for example, that a group of women (who are not classic beauties by any means) could produce a nude calendar which might sell in its thousands to raise millions for a local hospital?  And wouldn’t it be even stranger if the connection between these pioneering women was the Women’s Institute – famed more for sponge cake sales and jam making than soft porn?  Life can be funny that way, and even funnier in the hands of scriptwriters Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth, who’s clearly defined quirky characters and ‘knock em dead’ one-liners had the audience in stitches.

Staging appeared to be a simple reconstruction of a church hall complete with badminton court but was revealed to be deceptively complex as a hydraulic mechanism smoothly transferred the action to a sunny hillside – no mean feat!  Roger Haines’s direction was sympathetic to the underlying tragedy which contrasted delightfully with the natural comedy that the characters engaged to deal with the situation.  The expertly choreographed photography sequence gained maximum laughs while preserving the ladies’ modesty but proved to be even racier that the 2008 tour of the play.  Priceless!

So what of that A-list cast?  They turned in a 1^st class performance!  There was a great chemistry between the characters exuding an air of long term friendship.  The narrative naturally belonged to Julia Hills (as grieving widow, Annie) and Elaine C Smith (as her unwittingly self-centred friend, Chris) and both were convincing and comical as appropriate, proving breadth of character as both played different roles in the 2008 tour.  But the wider cast added real value, too, as they lightened the tone with infectious Northern humour.  Jennifer Ellison (Celia) raised some laughs as her character certainly fancied herself as a tasteful nude.  The witty girl-talk was shared by Denise Black and Jean Boht with Ruth Madoc as prudish Marie being the butt of many jokes.  This time around it was Rachel Lumberg as Ruth who stole the show for me with her clear character development and brilliantly timed comedic delivery.

LISTINGS:

King’s Theatre, Glasgow

Mon 16 – Sat 28 August

Mon – Sat eves 7.30pm

Thu & Sat mats 2.30pm

Tickets: £11.50 - £27.50

Box Office: 0844 871 7647 (bkg fee)

Monty Python brings the circus to town this week as the Broadway and West-End smash hit musical, SPAMalot, pitches its tent in Glasgow’s King’s Theatre.

“We dine well here in Camelot, we eat ham and jam and Spam a lot.”, sing the Knights of the Round Table in a jolly refrain that was the inspiration for the show’s title and a good indicator for the tone of this irreverent comedy musical.  Lovingly ripped off from Monty Python’s 1975 movie, “The Holy Grail”, the show “farts in the general direction” of the Arthurian legend.  Python fans will be delighted to learn that many of the original characters and songs from the movie are faithfully recreated while new elements and characters have been added with hilarious consequences.  Rest assured that alongside King Arthur and his faithful knights, we are entertained by The Black Knight (“It’s only a flesh wound”), the French Taunter (“Your mother was a hamster …”), The King of Swamp Castle (“One day lad, all this will be yours …”) and the Knights who say “Ni”!  But King Arthur and the world of musicals are mocked in equal measure with references to Lloyd Webber, ‘star’ cast headliners, camp dance routines and blatant overacting throughout.

Marcus Brigstocke made his musical theatre debut with some style as King Arthur.  Ironically, the stand-up comic was very much the straight man of this piece but he held his character well among the swathe of outrageous caricatures onstage.  Hayley Tamaddon (as The Lady of the Lake) seems to have limitless talent – she sings, she dances, she’s a character actress, she has great comic timing, she skates* (*not in this production).  Is there nothing she can’t do?  As in the Monty Python movies, the principal players play several roles throughout the show.  Graham MacDuff (Sir Lancelot / The French Taunter/Knight of Ni/Tim the Enchanter) and David Langham (The Historian/Prince Herbert/Not Dead Fred/Lead Minstrel/The French Taunter's Best Friend), in particular, displayed diverse character talents.

If there could be any criticism of the show it would be that the music seemed a little thin at times.  The movie’s grand soundtrack featuring French horn and timpani was replaced by somewhat weedy electronics.  Also, chorus singing was a little exposed.  A few more members of the cast wouldn’t have gone amiss … although, even that was lampooned when a few members of “stage crew” joined the cast for one scene!  These are but mere ‘flesh wounds’ in an otherwise robustly entertaining production.

Now, go away or I will taunt you a second time!

SPAMalot
King’s Theatre
Mon 14 – Sat 19 May
Mon – Sat evenings 7.30pm
Wed and Sat matinee 2.30pm

Billy Boyd to star in Sunshine on Leith!

Dundee Rep Theatre’s award winning musical Sunshine on Leith, based on the songs of The Proclaimers is to be re-staged for a major 2010/2011 UK Tour. The critically acclaimed Sunshine on Leith written by Stephen Greenhorn will be returning to the King’s Theatre Glasgow from Tue 28 Sep – Sat 2 Oct and stars Billy Boyd as Davy.

First performed in 2007 Sunshine on Leith is a touching story about the lives of two Scotsmen who leave the army and return home to their families in Leith. Three very different love stories ensue and are intertwined to create a funny, poignant and hugely entertaining show.

A nine-piece band brings to life 21 much loved Proclaimers’ songs including Letter from America, I’m on My Way, I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) and of course Sunshine on Leith.

Billy Boyd attained worldwide fame and acclaim with his portrayal of Peregrin “Pippin” Took in Peter Jackson’s epic film trilogy of The Lord of the Rings and Peter Weir’s Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Billy has toured the UK in stage productions of Trainspotting, Widows, Caledonia Dreaming and The Ballad of Crazy Paola.  In 2006 he performed in HOME:GLASGOW which was the first ever show for the National Theatre of Scotland and in 2007 he appeared at the Edinburgh Festival with Uncommitted Crimes.

Craig and Charlie Reid of The Proclaimers said of the show; ‘we are very happy that a theatre company of the quality of Dundee Rep with its fantastic history are producing a musical featuring our music’.

Sunshine on Leith is written by Stephen Greenhorn is best known as the creator of BBC Scotland’s River City. He has written many plays for television and stage including Passing Places for the Traverse Theatre which has been produced worldwide and Dr Who.  James Brining is Artistic Director and Chief Executive for Dundee Rep.  Previously James worked as Artistic Director for TAG Theatre Company in Glasgow (where Director credits include Othello, Dr Faustus and Julius Ceasar), Orange Tree Richmond (where he directed The Merchant of Venice, The Winter’s Tale and Go Tell it on Table Mountain).

Following on from last year’s hugely popular Aladdin, the King’s Theatre and First Family Entertainment are delighted to announce spectacular casting for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a totally brand new show for Glasgow and Scotland’s traditional family pantomime experience!

Darius, a critically acclaimed West End actor and platinum-selling singer-songwriter, will be playing the role of Prince Charming in this his King’s Theatre debut.  On returning to Glasgow and performing at the King’s, Darius said: "2010 continues to be an exciting and busy year that has taken me from London to Paris and Capetown- it's great to end the year in the motherland in my home town of Glasgow."

Since being crowned the winner of ITV1’s Popstar to Operastar Darius has headlined in his debut Opera, as the youngest performer ever to play the bullfighting Escamillo in Carmen at the O2, in the biggest production of an Opera in the UK. He also became the first performer ever to appear on the Opera world stage who is not classically trained.

A King’s spokesperson said: “We are very excited about Darius joining us this Christmas for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It is a huge coup for us as a venue and we are delighted to be able to offer the people of Glasgow the opportunity of seeing one of their best loved performers back home in a much loved theatre”.

Even with over 100 years of Christmas experiences under its belt Snow White has never been performed at the King’s Theatre so this year’s pantomime will be like no other King’s pantomime you have ever have seen before – in fact, you will never have seen it before!  With a brand new script by Eric Potts, stunning new costumes, brand new sets and a stellar cast, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has all the elements to make this the most wonderful and magical pantomime in Scotland.  This year, the production is once again sponsored by Robinsons. The nation’s favourite family soft drink is supporting a national celebration of pantomime up and down the country and is delighted to be part of maintaining the traditional family experience at the King’s Theatre.

Whistle Down the Wind blows into Glasgow’s King’s Theatre this week.

Whistle Down the Wind is based on the 1961 children’s novel by Mary Haley Bell; famous wife of John Mills and mother of Haley and Juliet.  The musical came into being in 1996 from an unexpected collaboration between Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman.  Despite spawning the most successful single in musical theatre history (“No Matter What” performed by Boyzone hit the number 1 spot in 18 countries), the show proved to be a hard sell with a short West End run and a cancelled appearance on Broadway.

This second UK national tour brings together a talented cast to create a success where those before have failed.  Their efforts do not fall flat and the audience left happy, if a little bewildered as to what had not quite worked.  One audience member summed up the feelings of many in the foyer by saying “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be”.  Not, altogether, an unqualified success, then.

So, it’s up to me to tell you what was good and what was not so good.  The good is easy.  Jonathan Ansell (The Man – that’s his character name and not a recommendation of just how important he is) was very good indeed.  Playing an escaped convict who is mistaken for Jesus by 3 Louisiana youngsters, Jonathan dirtied up his clean cut “G4” appearance and, more importantly, dirtied up his clear as crystal voice to play this character role.  He was menacing and mysterious throughout.  Jonathan was matched by Carly Bawden as 15 year old Swallow, who is mesmerised by the stranger hiding out in her barn.  The clarity of Carly’s voice cut beautifully through Jonathan’s new bad-boy vocals in perfect contrast.

The supporting cast largely fell into the ‘good’ camp with particularly solid performances from Lincoln Stone, Scarlette Douglas and Scott Bourne.  A few disappointing accents were a let-down, together with some odd Meatloaf style vocals.

And that leads me into the not so good elements of the show … the jarring changes of musical style were quite upsetting.  If you listen to the original concept album for this show, you will hear artists as diverse as (the aforementioned) Meatloaf, Boy George, Boyzone, Elaine Page, Donnie Osmond and Bonnie Tyler.  An eclectic mix of performers, I’m sure you will agree.  Now, imagine that all of these vocal and musical styles are reproduced onstage in one story based production … it’s just odd!  The second failing is the story itself which could be summarised in one sentence.  The show scratches the surface of the deeper issues of faith and racism but I’m not convinced that a children’s story from 1961 is the most likely source of 2 ½ hours of entertainment for adults.

To finish on a positive note (because I did enjoy this show) I can say that Paul Farnsworth’s set was among the most impressive and ambitious touring production sets I have witnessed.  In scale, perspective, practicality and speed of changes it was second to none.

Listings Info:
Whistle Down the Wind
Mon 24 – Sat 29 May
Mon – Sat eves 7.30pm
Wed and Sat Mats 2.30pm

Transport yourself half way around the world and 40 years back in time to witness the Rat Pack in their heyday in this mesmerising production.

Join Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. in Las Vegas circa 1962 in this rip roaring tribute to three of the world's greatest musical legends. Tam Ward kicks the show off as Frank Sinatra with his astonishing sound-a-like voice ‘rolling a seven’ with a performance of “Luck Be A Lady”.  As he follows with a few Sinatra classics it quickly becomes clear that he is no 'one hit wonder'.  Close your eyes and you would swear that ‘Old Blue Eyes’ was in the room!  Jason Pennycooke is next up as Sammy Davis Jr.  His rendition of Mr. Bojangles holds the audience spellbound.  Finally, we are entertained by Nigel Casey as the inimitable Dean Martin.  As charismatic as the great man himself, Mr. Casey captures our hearts with 'Amore'.  The principals then return with solos, duets and trios from a seemingly endless immortal repertoire.

While the success of this show clearly relies on the talents of the leading trio, they are ably supported in all departments.  The backing singers harmonise effortlessly and raise the temperature with alluring choreography that is firmly rooted in 1962.  In fact, all aspects of this production scream 1960s authenticity with atmospheric lighting and costumes setting the scene while the 15 piece band (naturally heavy on the brass) bowls the audience over with their bold sound.

The principals tie all of these elements together by recreating the famous camaraderie of the legendary trio with jokes, stories and goofball antics.  The audience truly feel transported in time.  The Rat Pack are not in town for long so don’t delay your call to the box office!

The Rat Pack – Live from Las Vegas
King’s Theatre
Mon 17 – Wed 19 May
Mon – Wed eves 7.30pm
Wed mat 2.30pm

QUEEN AND BEN ELTON’S “WE WILL ROCK YOU”

ANNOUNCES SECOND UK TOUR

UK Tour to kick off again in late 2010, while the record-breaking run at London’s Dominion Theatre continues

Following the huge success of the 2009 regional tour of the smash hit Queen and Ben Elton musical, ‘”We Will Rock You” comes the announcement that the show will return to the road in 2010.

The production will be rocking across Scotland, visiting Glasgow from 18^th January to 19^th February 2011, Aberdeen from 8^th June to 2^nd July 2011 and Edinburgh from 29^th November 2011 to 7^th January 2012.  (NB: GLASGOW DATES ON SALE 10 MAY 2010)

The production is returning to Edinburgh with an impressive legacy after it sold out its 10 week run at the theatre, as well as shattering the box office sales records by grossing more than £400,000 in one week, which broke all records for any production at the Playhouse Theatre since the millennium. The show will be visiting Glasgow and Aberdeen for the first time.

On announcing the new dates, Queen’s Brian May said: “The touring production of WWRY has taken our show to new places in more ways than one!  The London show thunders on, and continues to delight audiences, but the touring cast and band have brought a new interpretation and style all of their own. It's a tonic!”

Last year’s tour of the acclaimed production visited six cities starting in March 2009 and coming to an end in style at Dublin’s O2 Arena at the end of January 2010.  The tour sold over half a million tickets, setting and smashing box office records.

The London production of the show is now in its eighth year and it is the longest running musical ever staged at the West End’s Dominion Theatre and is now booking until October 2010. The musical has so far been seen by 11 million people in 17 countries and is also due to open in Utrecht (Netherlands), Sweden (Stockholm) and Berlin (Germany) this year.

The production is directed by Ben Elton, with Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor as music supervisors and Arlene Phillips overseeing the musical staging and choreography.

Writer Ben Elton has fashioned a hilarious futurist comedy around more than 24 of Queen’s biggest hit songs delivered in a show that boasts the scale and spectacle that marked Queen’s live performances. 

 “This show is all about legend,” says Ben Elton. “We take the legend of Queen and create our own fantastical story of young kids battling the might corporations who want to suppress their individuality and their love of music.  They need a hero who can help them in their struggle, and we have two – the dreamer Galileo and the sassy rock chick Scaramouche. Guess who ends up winning?”

Says Brian May: “The amazing bonus is that Ben's script subtly works as a metaphor too. People definitely come out of the theatre feeling that in a strange way they now know us, Queen, and our struggle, our journey.” 

Says producer Phil McIntyre: “We are looking forward to taking this true rock extravaganza out on the road again. We had standing ovations night after night around the UK last year and we can’t wait to see that happen again.

The touring production reaches local UK theatres carrying with it an impressive legacy: when it first became news that one of Britain’s most phenomenally successful comedy writers Ben Elton was teaming up with legends of rock, Queen, for a musical there was much speculation on what such a unique collaboration would turn out. Especially when screen icon Robert de Niro became so impressed after attending the original workshop that his company Tribeca came on board as American partner.

We Will Rock You – not just a show, but a promise!

We Will Rock You UK Tour 2010/11/12:

Tickets on sale now - Theatre Booking Details:

Glasgow King’s Theatre

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)

NB: GLASGOW DATES ON SALE 10 MAY 2010

Aberdeen, His Majesty’s Theatre

Wednesday 8th June 2011 – Saturday 2^nd July 2011

Performances: 7.30pm plus 2pm Thursday and 2.30pm Saturday matinees

Ticket Price: £15 to £40.50, plus £1bf

Booking Line: 01224 641122

Website: boxofficeaberdeen.com

Edinburgh Playhouse

Monday 29th November 2011 – Friday 7^th January 2012

Performances: Mon- Sat @ 7.30pm, Wed & Sat @ 2.30pm

Ticket Price: £17.00 - £43.50

Booking Line: 0844 8447 1660

Website: www.edinburghplayhouse.org.uk

OFFICIAL WEBSITE -  www.wewillrockyou.co.uk/tour 

Further Queen information - www.queenonline.com

The tour is a Phil McIntyre Entertainment presentation with Queen Theatrical Productions.

Musical biopics can, like the music biz itself, be a bit hit or miss.  But with the production team from the highly acclaimed “Dreamboats and Petticoats” behind them, the cast of Laughter in the Rain are sure to be right on target!

The show tells the life story of Neil Sedaka (charismatically played by Wayne Smith) from his birth in Brooklyn in 1939 through his song writing partnership with Howard Greenfield, his move to England as his fan base waned in the USA and his successful comeback culminating in the number 1 US hit “Laughter in the Rain” in 1975.  With no set, the story was told through narration by central characters and short dramatic scenes between musical numbers played out in chronological order.  Of course, the music was always going to take centre stage in this show and the audience were not disappointed by the variety and quality of the selections from the Neil Sedaka back catalogue.  Throughout his life, Sedaka has been a prolific writer and performer with 14 singles in the 3 years to 1962 alone – including 9 US top 10 hits and one number 1 in the coveted Billboard chart.  Songs from this period included “Oh, Carol”, “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen” and “Breaking Up is Hard to Do”.

The narrative holds little in the way of drama but tells the story of Sedaka’s career ups and downs well.  Interest comes in the form of the partnerships that were so important throughout his life.  His mother was a strong influence as she managed his affairs through his most successful era and introduced him to his writing partner, Howie Greenfield (played by Edward Handoll supplying those trademark close harmonies throughout).  This, too, was a strong partnership as the friends taught each other the formula to produce hit after hit.  The two men hooked up with a third partner in the form of producer Don Kirshner.  But his strongest lifelong partner has been his wife, Leba; who he married in 1962 – surely breaking some records for music business marriage longevity!?  Despite the simple presentation, the cast conveyed a sense of history-in-the-making as the significance of Sedaka’s contribution to music unfolded.

All in all, a highly entertaining show.

Performances:

Laughter in the Rain
Mon 10th – Sat 15th May
Mon – Sat eves 7.30pm
Wed & Sat mats 2.30pm

Tickets: £11 - £29
Box Office 08448 717 648 (Bkg fee)
www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow (bkg fee)