UK Theatre Network

Pauline Fleming Productions is proud to announce the world premiere of their debut production, Dirty Dating.com, a laugh-out-loud comedy play about dating! Everyone’s done it but not everyone has Speed dated. How wrong could it go?

A group of girls discover the pitfalls of dating and seek their revenge in this hilarious new comedy written by Pauline Fleming (star of Coronation Street & Brookside). Actress-turned-writer-and-producer, this is Pauline’s sensational first play. She speaks from personal experience and that of some of her friends and colleagues, sharing the experience of the dating game in the 21^st century.

Directed by Ken Alexander, and featuring an all-star cast, Dirty Dating.com celebrates the ‘girl power’ feel of modern day relationships and promises to be the funniest and sauciest play to hit the UK stage this year!

The cast is headed by CRAIG CHALMERS (Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat & a runner-up in Any Dream Will Do) and Eurovision disco diva NICKI FRENCH (Total Eclipse Of The Heart & Don’t Play That Song Again). PHIL HEARNE (Blood Brothers) plays the integral character of Henry, whilst GRACE BISHOP, ALAN STOCKS, JO MOUSLEY and JESSICA SCHOFIELD complete the talented line-up.

So, put on your dating cap, meet up with your mates and join in the fun as the story unfolds in an empowering piece of ‘feel-good’ theatre.

Adults only! (contains some male nudity – so make sure you book the best seats!)

TOUR DATES & VENUES

4 - 8    September     Stockport Plaza       

12-14 September     Epstein Theatre, Liverpool (Old Neptune)

18-21  September     Lancaster Grand

28-29 September     Shrewsbury Theatre Severn

Guilty Pleasures

Theatre Productions UK Limited is proud to announce the world premiere of Guilty Pleasures, a raunchy and risqué comedy set in a steamy ‘ladies-only’ health spa. Written by Ron Aldridge, directed by Stephen Leatherland, and featuring an all-star cast, Guilty Pleasures is the next laugh-out-loud farce from the producers of the smash-hit comedy The Naked Truth.

 This riotous play follows the comedic misadventures of GC, the bold and brazen spa owner, and his hilarious staff of fantasy men with their sizzling spa specials! Fun ensues as they try to fulfil the special requests of their demanding female clients. But, when things start to get out of control, will they escape unscathed? And, when one of the men reveals he has testicular cancer, a more dramatic and serious side to the piece emerges. As all their various stories unfold and unravel, audiences will share their laughter and tears in this hilarious production tinged with a bittersweet edge.

 The cast is headed by a trio of high-profile hunks: Craig Chalmers (Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat & a runner-up from Any Dream Will Do), Marc Bannerman (Gianni di Marco in EastEnders & former I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here! contestant) and CJ de Mooi (Eggheads).

 Spa-owner, GC, will be played by David Van Day (from the pop groups Dollar, Bucks Fizz, Guys ‘n’ Dolls; and former I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here! contestant), whilst model-turned-actress-and-presenter Terri Dwyer (Hollyoaks; Grange Hill; Loose Women & 60 Minute Makeover) takes on the role of his put-upon and over-worked secretary, Tilly, Pauline Fleming (Coronation Street; Brookside) plays man-eating minx, Mrs M and Alexis Strum plays naïve new-member, Judy.

 Probably the funniest and sauciest play to hit the UK stage since The Naked Truth, Guilty Pleasures promises to be a lively and bawdy romp filled with fun and including moments of genuine poignancy and tenderness.

 So, to experience the ultimate girls’ night out, get your gladrags on, meet up with your mates and prepare yourselves for ‘personal services’. Remember, at the GC Spa, your pleasure is their business and their motto is ‘Satisfaction Guaranteed’.

 Adults only (may contain some slight male nudity – if you’re lucky enough to sit in the right seats!).

 A percentage of the profits from the production shall go to raising awareness and money for Everyman, the UK’s leading prostate and testicular cancer charity.

 For full tour details visit the website at www.theatre-productions.com .

 What the press said about ‘The Naked Truth’ :

 “Even more uplifting than a Playtex bra – don’t miss it” – The Public Reviews

 “Better than marriage guidance” – The Yorkshire Post

 “Laughs from pole to pole” – The Jersey Evening Post

 “If you liked Calendar Girls and Stepping Out, then you’ll love The Naked Truth!” – Manchester Evening News

“An empowering piece of theatre with a joie de vivre that is heart-warming and truly inspiring” – UK Theatre Network

Guilty Pleasures – Tour Schedule 2012

 18^th & 19^th April                Bournemouth Pavilion Centre

23^rd & 24^th April                St Albans Arena

25^th & 26^th April                Worthing Pavilion

27^th April                         Scarborough Spa Hall

30^th April – 2^nd May           Motherwell Theatre

3^rd – 5^th May                     Kirkcaldy, Adam Smith Theatre

7^th – 9^th May                     Preston Charter Theatre

10^th – 12^th May                  Peterborough Key Theatre

16^th – 19^th May                  Jersey Opera House

21^st & 22^nd May                 Mansfield Palace Theatre

23^rd & 24^th May                 Halifax Victoria Theatre

27^th May                          Barnstaple Queen’s Theatre

29^th – 31^st May                  Stevenage Gordon Craig Theatre

1^st June                           Carmarthen Lyric Theatre

2^nd & 3^rd June                   Chatham Central Theatre

13^th June                         Ulverstone Coro Hall

14^th – 16^th June                 Shrewsbury Theatre Severn

18^th & 19^th June                Dunstable Grove Theatre

20^th – 23^rd June                 Darlington Civic Theatre

25^th June                         St Helen’s Theatre Royal

26^th & 27^th June                Camberley Theatre

28^th – 30^th June                 Swansea Grand Theatre

Her big break came when she was cast as Val Walker, Sinbad’s fiancé, in Brookside, but she’s probably best remembered for playing Mike Baldwin’s long-suffering girlfriend, Penny King, in Coronation Street. Now, though, Pauline Fleming has returned to her stage roots to take on the role of Barbara Cassidy in Over The Rainbow – The Eva Cassidy Story. She took time out from her hectic rehearsal schedule to tell Lucy Hammond about her latest role.

There can’t be many actresses who’d sound as chirpy as Pauline Fleming does at ten o’clock in the evening, having just completed an eleven hour day in rehearsals. With less than twenty-four hours to go before the curtain rises on the first performance of the latest nationwide tour of Over The Rainbow – The Eva Cassidy Story, she conveys no sign of nerves at all.

‘Don’t be fooled by that,’ she laughs. ‘I do have massive butterflies, believe me. But, if I didn’t I wouldn’t trust myself. I never become complacent about my performance and anyone who does shouldn’t be up there on that stage.’

Although Over The Rainbow – The Eva Cassidy Story has toured regularly since 2004, Pauline is brand new to the cast and, in taking over the role of Eva’s mother, she follows in the footsteps of performers including Rose Marie and Maureen Nolan. So, how did she prepare herself to play a character based upon a real person who is still alive?

‘There wasn’t a lot written about Barbara when I googled her and tried to do some internet research,’ she reveals. ‘However, Stephen Leatherland – our producer and director – is extremely passionate about this particular play and he has actually been over to America and met members of Eva’s family, so his insights were really interesting and very useful.’

Pauline is adamant that Stephen’s direction has been hugely instrumental in the way in which her portrayal of Barbara has developed.

‘On the first day of rehearsals, before we even got the play on the floor, we discussed all the family relationships and Barbara’s input into the family. We talked about how and why she left Germany to settle in America, her connection with Hugh Cassidy (her husband and Eva’s father), and Barbara’s part in introducing Eva to nature and encouraging her to develop a respect for the world around her and all the gorgeousness in it. That was absolutely fascinating and so invaluable.’

Indeed, Pauline genuinely feels that the show offers a truthful and heartfelt tribute to Eva Cassidy’s life and talents as an artist.

‘It’s extremely heart-rending from the perspective that Eva dies during the play, but it’s also a really lovely insight into the family dynamic and the bonding that went on between them,’ she says. ‘It’s actually a very uplifting piece of theatre, but do be prepared to have a little cry at the end.’

Since its first performance in 2004, the award-winning production has received rapturous receptions, garnered five-star reviews, and inspired cathartic outpourings of emotion. Journeying through Eva’s life from her idyllic childhood, to her studio work with boyfriend and mentor Chris Biondo, and finally to her tragically premature death at the age of only 33 years, the play poignantly captures the qualities of an artist with absolutely no interest in finding fame or fortune.

By the time of her death, in 1996, Eva was unknown outside her native Washington DC but, within four years, Terry Wogan had discovered and promoted her haunting interpretation of ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ to the British public. A camcorder recording of her performing the song at the Blues Alley jazz club was shown on the BBC’s Top of The Pops 2 and, subsequently, sales of her album ‘Songbird’ outstripped top stars including Madonna, Craig David and Robbie Williams.

‘During her life, Eva didn’t really promote herself as a performer,’ says Pauline. ‘So, although she was an extremely confident and competent performer, she didn’t really achieve the recognition she so richly deserved until after she died.’

Pauline also has a great deal of respect and admiration for the actress who plays the leading role.

‘Sarah Jane Buckley plays Eva Cassidy absolutely beautifully and with such honesty. Because I am a Mum in real life, sometimes in the rehearsal room, playing out those mother and daughter scenes, I have found myself wondering how I would cope if I found myself in the same situation as Barbara. So, from that point of view, it’s very hard to detach myself from the story. But, anything that’s a challenge means you have to search deep into yourself to portray the situation properly.’

During her stint in Coronation Street, Pauline found herself being emotionally drawn into the storyline in a similar way.

‘I played Mike Baldwin’s last girlfriend and was privileged to be part of that massive storyline on Alzheimer's. I did a lot of research into the condition and worked very closely with the charity during the storyline and for a long time afterwards. It was a very moving experience, especially in the way that it touched the nation.’

A love of work and a burning desire to stretch herself as an actress has meant that Pauline is always on the lookout for the next challenge. Having already trained as an actress at drama school, she went back to university to study English Literature, as a mature student, and has since delivered many workshops based upon Shakespeare’s texts. She has also written her first comedy play, which she hopes will tour the country later this year.

‘Every job brings its own challenge but it also brings its own joy, too. I just love working, to be honest,’ she says.

Over The Rainbow – The Eva Cassidy Story is touring nationally. See www.theatre-productions.com for more information.