UK Theatre Network

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)

Girls seeking a testosterone – free night out are in for a treat at the King’s Theatre this week as “Hormonal Housewives” takes to the stage.

Very much in the mould of the incredibly successful “Vagina Monologues”, Hormonal Housewives offers the talented trio of Carol Smillie, Julie Coombe and Shonagh Price the opportunity to don pink, put down men, laugh at themselves, laugh at men, have a dance and enjoy the company of other women.  Predictably, when the target audience are women, the conversations, sketches and laughter revolve largely around men.  It was possibly the predictable nature of the topics and punch lines that proved to be a shortcoming in the production as some sections raised only chuckles rather than belly laughs.  Writers Julie Coombe and John MacIsaac redeemed themselves, however, with some excellent observational items and development of good physical humour, particularly in the courtroom and keep fit sketches.

The audience certainly enjoyed the entertainment on offer, although they proved reluctant to participate in fanning the cast with programmes in a children’s party inspired game.  Y-chromosomes were in short supply in the auditorium – it seemed that any men in the audience had lost a bet (or were VERY dedicated theatre goers) – but the audience proved that they could have a great time without the aid of their husbands and boyfriends.  This was largely due to the enthusiastic performances on stage where Julie Coombe, in particular, delivered the comedy with great gusto.

All in all, the show was a good target for a girlie night out.  The tour continues to Inverness, Dundee and Aberdeen.

Hormonal Housewives
Mon 1 – Sat 6 March
Mon – Thu eves 7.30pm
Fri & Sat 5.30pm and 8.30pm

Tickets: £9 - £24
Box Office 0844 871 7648 (Bkg fee)
www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow (bkg fee)

SHAKESPEARE GLOBE PRESS RELEASE – 15 February 2010

Shakespeare’s Globe’s 2010 Theatre Season

Published by: Tremayne

There will be small scale regional tours of The Comedy of Errors and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which are scheduled to visit the UK and Europe.

Public booking opens on 15 February 2010.

Box office: 020 7401 9919 or visit the website www.shakespeares-globe.org

“There’s been a decline within other companies… …we’re managing to do without subsidies… …we won’t go into that!”

(Dominic Dromgoole)

This year’s theatre theme is Kings & Rogues, following the best box office year in 2009 where the highest attendance figures were held in the Globe’s 13 year history.

Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, described as ‘a waterfall of revelations’, to be shown ‘in isolation to detach from that long history cycle they’ve been attached to in the past.’

Lucy Bailey’s production of MacBeth will begin the theatre season, to be launched on Shakespeare’s birthday, 23 April.  This will star Elliot Couran who played in the Donmar’s award-winning A Streetcar Named Desire.

The Merry Wives of Windsor returns in 2010 after its triumph in 2008.  It echoes roots of a modern TV sitcom, including several the characters from Henry IV Parts 1 & 2.

PEPPA PIG’S PARTY!

[Live on stage Wed 7^th & Thur 8^th April]

Click here for Peppa images

Peppa Pig is currently one of TV’s top-rated children’s shows and a BAFTA Award winner. Now, for the first time ever, she has her own live stage show. Peppa Pig’s Party opened on 30 September in Exeter and played to 7 venues in autumn 2009. Now in 2010 this extensive UK tour continues to 60 theatres across including the King's Theatre Glasgow.

Many creative talents have come together to assemble this exciting new production where the main characters are played by puppets with visible puppeteers.

Peppa Pig’s Party is produced by the team (Fiery Angel and Limelight Productions) behind the recent tours of LazyTown Live! and Roald Dahl’s The BFG.

Peppa is a playful little pig who lives with her little brother George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig. Through everyday adventures she plays games, makes new friends and enjoys her absolutely favourite activity – jumping up and down in muddy puddles! Today is a very special day. It’s Peppa Pig's birthday. Peppa Pig’s Party is a chance for all her young friends across the UK to join in the fun with Suzy Sheep, Danny Dog and Emily Elephant for her perfect party. This charming, original and imaginative show is full of brand new songs, muddy puddles, and oinks!

Peppa Pig © Astley Baker Davies Ltd / E1 Entertainment Ltd 2003.

Ends/

PRESS PERFORMANCE: WED 7^th April @1pm

Listings Info:

PEPPA PIG’S PARTY

Wed 7^th April @ 10am, 1pm and 4pm

Thur 8^th April @ 10am, 1pm and 4pm

Tickets: £13.50 – £15.50 Adult

          £11.50 - £13.50 Child

Box Office 08448 717 648 (Bkg fee)

www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow (bkg fee)

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Peppa Pig is currently one of the UK’s biggest pre-school properties with confirmed sales of over 2 million DVDs and over 50 licence agreements in the UK alone. Internationally the television programme has been sold into over 150 territories and licensing programmes have been established or are being planned in a number of territories including Europe, Asia and the Americas.

PEPPA PIG’S PARTY

www.peppapiglive.com

Contacts:

To set up interviews, request images or for further information please contact Mark Irwin on 0141 240 1305 or markirwin@theambassadors.com

To organise competitions or ticket giveaways please contact Laura Fitzpatrick on 0141 240 1302 or laurafitzpatrick@theambassadors.com

Mark Irwin
Press Officer
King's Theatre & Theatre Royal, Glasgow 
297 Bath Street
Glasgow G2 4JN
Direct Line: 0141 240 1305
Fax: 0141 240 1301

Have you heard the story of the Johnstone twins? If not, you have missed what has become a classic of British musical theatre and now is your chance to hear the tale! Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers is on tour - follow a trail of tears and snotty handkerchiefs all the way to the King’s Theatre, Glasgow until 13 February 2010.

Glasgow-born songstress, Vivienne Carlyle, stars as Mrs. Johnstone, a 1960s Liverpudlian mother of seven who is just about making ends meet, until her husband leaves and the twins arrive. Reluctantly she makes a deal with Mrs. Lyons (Tracy Spencer), her well-to-do employer, to give one of her twins away. And so, irresistible and tragic wheels are set in motion as the twins are destined to be born and then to die on the self same day.

The story is largely light hearted and entertaining despite the tear-streaked faces that have famously been leaving performances of this musical all over the world. It follows the growth of the boys from childhood to adulthood and the script is bursting with the gritty Liverpool humour that made the writer famous. The humour is also observational and sucks the audience into a real bond with the characters as we sympathise with their poverty and remember schoolboy fun that helped to lighten the mood in difficult times. The tragedy, when it falls, feels very personal. The musical score, in isolation, seems almost unremarkable but together with the on-stage drama it adds great depth to the contrasts of mood that are the bedrock of this musical’s success. The audience can even take a few tunes home with them “My Child”, “Easy Terms” and “Tell Me It’s Not True” being eminently hummable.

The production has changed very little over the years, but the talented cast add their personal nuances to the timeless story.  Vivienne Carlyle took the role of Mrs. Johnstone (previously played by such well known actresses as Stephanie Lawrence, Kiki Dee, Lyn Paul and four of the Nolan sisters) in her stride, never over dramatising, never over cooking the accent.  She took a nightmare narrative and made it real.  The combination of Sean Jones and Paul Davies as the twins, Mickey and Eddie, was the perfect mix.  I’ve had the pleasure of being entertained by Sean Jones in a previous tour and he is definitely my favourite Mickey.  His transformation from carefree seven-year-old to drug-dependant adult is heartbreaking in itself.  Chemistry with his on-stage sibling as well as his childhood sweetheart (Linda, played by Kelly-Anne Gower) was wonderful.  Finally, Robbie Scotcher’s menacing portrayal of the Narrator was the ideal balance of singing talent and threatening demeanour.

No other musical can take you through the entire spectrum of human emotion like this.  Book your ticket today.

Listings Info:

Blood Brothers
King’s Theatre, Glasgow
Tue 2 – Sat 13 Feb
Mon – Sat eves 7.30pm
Wed & Sat mats 2.30pm
Thu 4 Feb mat 2.30pm

Audio described performance 11 Feb 7.30pm
Signed performance 12 Mar 7.30pm

Tickets: £11.50 - £30
Box Office 0844 8717 648 (Bkg fee)
www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow (bkg fee)

 Treasure Island is arguably one of the greatest works of storytelling in the English language. It developed from an imaginary map that Stevenson and his stepson Lloyd Osbourne had devised on holiday and this goes some way towards explaining the book's appeal among children. The tale is the archetypal nineteenth century ripping yarn, set in the “golden age of piracy.” Our narrator is Jim Hawkins, son of a guesthouse owner on the west coast of England sometime in the early eighteenth century. To the inn come firstly an old buccaneer who has a map of Captain Flint's treasure, and secondly a group of pirates under the command of ominous blind man Pew. Jim Hawkins, in an act of bravery and cunning, gets hold of the map before this rabid mob gets it. He delivers the map to Squire Trelawney, and together they set off for Treasure Island in the Squire's schooner. The rest of the crew, apart from Dr Livesey, are selected by Long John Silver. The latter and his men try to mutiny and get hold of the treasure themselves but Jim intervenes and through a series of enthralling adventures we find ourselves on Treasure Island with the marooned Ben Gunn and ever closer to the treasure itself.

The auditorium of the Rose is changed into a pirates' paradise (set design – Paul Wills) complete with treasure map, anchors, boats, fishing nets, ropes, and a treasure chest. The floor is transformed into the ocean by the beautiful lighting (designed by Ben Ormerod) and the sound of waves crashing against the shore. There are many cheerful seafaring songs in the show including What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor, 15 Men on the Dead Man’s Chest, The Good Ship Hispaniola, and the highly addictive tune Treasure Island Bound which set the right mood for this great swashbuckling adventure.  There are good performances throughout - Harry McEntire plays an endearing Jim Hawkins, Richard Bremmer convinces as the charismatic Long John Silver, and Daniel Goode provides the comic element of the show as the hilarious but touching Squire Trelawny.

This show is great fun and a Christmas treat for the whole family!         

11 December - 9 January
Tickets £7 - £29.50
Box office: 0871 230 1552
© Rose Theatre - Kingston 2008. 24-26 High Street, Kingston, KT1 1HL

There is something magical about pantomime at Christmas.  The plot lines may be as predictable as Simon Cowell’s wardrobe and jokes might be as corny as Kansas in August ... but the magic inevitably comes from the reaction of the kids!

Gerard Kelly and Karen Dunbar headline the £1 million production of Aladdin at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow this year.  As Wishy Washy and Widow Twanky they had the audience in stitches throughout, delivering lines from the practiced pen of writer, Bob Black.  The title role was stylishly played by panto newbie, Keith Jack (Scottish runner up in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s recent search for Joseph), and his romantic companion, Princess Jasmine, was delightfully portrayed by Frances Mayli McCann.  The romantic leads’ voices, in particular, blended beautifully on stage.  Gavin Mitchell was the subject of the audience’s “boos” as the diabolically wicked Abanazar.

The supporting cast had a suitably diverse range of talent from the lively distractions of the 8 ensemble dancers to the comedy duo of Bryan Lowe and Mark Prendergast.  They were joined by an unbilled cameo by Andy Gray as the Genie.

The Credit Crunch was left outside on the cold doorstep of the King’s Theatre as the production showed every penny of the £1m budget.  There was more smoke onstage than on the doorstep of a Glasgow pub and the flying effects of cast and carpet were worth the ticket price alone!  Costumes werestunning and the stage sparkled throughout.

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

Listings Info:

ALADDIN

Until Sun 17 January 2010

Tickets: £6 - £24.50

Box Office 0844 871 7648 (Bkg fee)

Groups and Schools Sales 0141 240 1122

www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow (bkg fee)