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Elvis! On tour - Review

by Ryan Bennett on Friday 7th August 2009 01:08pm | View all blogs by Ryan Bennett

Richmond Theatre – Tues 4^th August

Iconic ‘Elvis’ – a name, a face and a brand that will continue to span generations. Tribute shows for Elvis will keep rolling out for years. The latest force to hit Richmond Theatre, Lee ‘Memphis’ King, had the crowd on their feet wanting more at the end of his show.

suddenlossofdignity.com

Published by: Saskia Green on Wednesday 5th August 2009 08:08am

Comedy in theatre is usually a path to make the sad, dirty and cruel aspects of life more approachable. In suddenlossofdgnity.com, The Bush Theatre’s second commission for Latitude Festival, it is our very own, sad, and dirty aspects of life that are revealed.

OVERSPILL

by Douglas McFarlane on Friday 7th August 2009 07:08pm | View all blogs by Douglas McFarlane

OVERSPILL

You witness a mugging … You’re forced to decide … You’re pushed to the edge … What do you do? 

OVERSPILL is the story of the Jenkins, a family struggling with moral dilemmas and the unforeseen consequences. Watch as one chance event threatens to tear the family apart as the line between right and wrong blurs and their lives begin to spill over. 

Stage adaptation of The Shawshank Redemption heads to the West End

Adapted by Owen O'Neil and Dave Johns, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION will open at the Wyndham's Theatre on 4 September. Based on Stephen King's short story, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, this iconic story inspired the hugely popular film. 

READ MORE »

Billy Elliot Grabs 10 Tony Awards on Broadway's Biggest Night

London favourite BILLY ELLIOT became the toast of Broadway when it took home an amazing 10 awards at 2009's Tony Awards ceremony. Competing with new musicals like Shrek, Rock of Ages, Next to Normal and 9 to 5, BILLY ELLIOT won the following awards:  

READ MORE »

James Earl Jones & Phylicia Rashad Headline Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Starting in November

Tennessee Williams' classic play CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF will get a starry run in the West End this fall, headlined by Oscar nominee and Tony winner James Earl Jones and Emmy and Tony winner Phylicia Rashad. They will be joined by Adrian Lester and Sanaa Lathan as Brick and Maggie.

READ MORE »

Stars Come to the West End this Summer: Springer, Barrowman, Triplett, Williams & More

A host of stars will brighten the theatres of the West End this summer! Take your pick from the following list, but be sure to book soon as these are sure to be hot tickets. You can see:

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Anna Friel to star as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's

Anna Friel, well known to British audiences for her roles in Brookside and Pushing Daisies, will star as Holly Golightly in Samuel Adamson's new stage adaptation of Truman Capote'sBREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S. 

READ MORE »

La Clique will return for festive run at Roundhouse

The award-winning cabaret sensation LA CLIQUE, which ends its successful run at the Hippodrome on 27 June will return to the London stage this Christmas for a special nine week run.

READ MORE »

Sheridan Smith and Duncan James to star in Legally Blonde

Award-winning stage and TV actress Sheridan Smith is to lead the cast as Elle Woods inLEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL which will preview in the West End from 5 December. She is joined by ex-Blue member Duncan James who will play heartbreaker Warner. 

READ MORE »

Dirty Dancing's New Johnny Castle Wins National Dance Award

Martin Harvey, the newest dancer to step into the starring role of Johnny Castle in the West End's hit production of DIRTY DANCING, has won a major ballet award at 2009's National Dance Awards.

READ MORE  
 

INDIE FILM NIGHT

Supported by Raindance

Host: UK Film Network
Date: Wednesday, 02 September 2009
Time:19:30 - 21:30
Location: Shortwave Cinema
10 Bermondsey Square, London, SE1 3UN
London, United Kingdom
Email: editor@ukfilm.tv

UK Film Network and Raindance have teamed up to bring you the best in independent film. 

The opening night will be 2nd September at a venue which is near London Bridge/Tower Bridge, so easy to get to if you are London based. 

I'm delighted that the first film is British Independent Film Award winner, Zebra Crossings by Writer/Director Sam Holland. 

Entrance fee: £5


Click to use any card on paypal (no need to register):-

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=7162597


Here's a link to the venue website:
http://www.shortwavefilms.co.uk/

IN THIS UPDATE:-
THEATRE NEWS AND REVIEWS
FILM NEWS AND REVIEWS
INDIE FILM NIGHT
EDINBURGH FRINGE 

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THEATRE NEWS AND REVIEWS

Keep up to date with what’s on at the Edinburgh Fringe with a selection of what our reviewers will be checking out this month. To receive this newsletter regularly in your inbox, send a blank email to subscribe@uktheatre.net

We’re also expanding our film and theatre reviewer base all the time, so if you’re interested in becoming part of the voluntary team around the UK, send an email to editor@uktheatre.net

http://www.uktheatre.tv/magazine   

FILM NEWS AND REVIEWS

Check out first-look images of stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton and Sir Ben Kingsley in what’s set to be one of 2010’s biggest blockbusters

http://www.ukfilm.tv/magazine  

INDIE FILM NIGHT

I'm delighted that the first film is British Independent Film Award winner, Zebra Crossings by Writer/Director Sam Holland.

Tickets are £5 to UK Film Network readers

Click to use any card on paypal (paypal account not needed):-

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=7162597

Full event details at @

http://www.ukfilm.tv/events/profile/9
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Luv - "I just feel it in my body"

Published by: Douglas McFarlane on Saturday 1st August 2009 11:08am

Fingerprints and Teeth Productions present

the UK premiere of the hit New Zealand play

LUV

'I just feel it in my body . . .' 

LUV, a pitch black comedy, drags us through the suburban subcultures where texting, clubbing, internet dating and stalking help us stumble towards what we want most – Love.

http://www.uktheatre.tv/magazine/read/luv----andquot;i-just-feel-it-in-my-bodyandquot;_267.html

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RICHARD O’BRIEN WRITES AND STARS IN THE SCOTTISH PREMIERE OF PULP FICTION [MUSICAL] THRILLER

Published by: Douglas McFarlane on Saturday 1st August 2009 11:08am

THE STRIPPER

Book by Carter Brown

Lyrics by Richard O’Brien

Music by Richard Hartley

California 1961, and there’s trouble in Pine City

http://www.uktheatre.tv/magazine/read/richard-o%EF%BF%BDbrien-writes-and-stars-in-the-scottish-premiere-of-pulp-fiction-[musical]-thriller_266.html 

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 “Mary Stuart” – a riveting political thriller about the Scottish Queen’s challenge to Queen Elizabeth I

By Lucy Komisar

Janet McTeer and company, photo Neil Libbert

The fusion of women in 16th century clothes and men in suits in this stunning political thriller underlines the eternal reality of struggles for power. Director Phyllida Lloyd has used the device to enrich her staging of Friedrich Schiller’s play, which premièred in Weimar, Germany, in 1800. It has been adapted by Peter Oswald for a memorable production.

http://www.uktheatre.tv/magazine/read/%EF%BF%BDmary-stuart%EF%BF%BD-%EF%BF%BD-a-riveting-political-thriller-about-the-scottish-queen%EF%BF%BDs-challenge-to-queen-elizabeth-i_265.html 

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Singing In The Rain

Published by: Douglas McFarlane on Saturday 1st August 2009 11:08am

UK Productions proudly presents:

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN

From the producers of touring hits such as 42nd Street, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, South Pacific and many more, comes a brand new production of Singin’ in the Rain, which arrives at theatres nationwide as it commences a UK tour, starring the Olivier Award winning West End and Broadway star, Tim Flavin.

http://www.uktheatre.tv/magazine/read/singing-in-the-rain_264.html

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The Mountaintop - Ticket Offer

Published by: Douglas McFarlane on Saturday 1st August 2009 10:08am 

TOP PRICE TICKETS REDUCED TO £25.

http://www.uktheatre.tv/magazine/read/the-mountaintop---ticket-offer_263.html
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 24:7 Theatre Festival, Manchester - Friday

Published by: Caroline May on Sunday 26th July 2009 12:07am

24:7 Theatre Festival, Manchester

Friday 24 July 2009

As We Forgive Them - Pure/Blue

Writer/performer Richard Vergette returns to 24:7 after his acclaimed one-man show An Englishman’s Home in 2007.  This year he is joined by powerful young actor Joe Sims in an intense three-act drama which is perfectly suited to the claustrophobic space in Blue.

http://www.uktheatre.tv/magazine/read/247-theatre-festival-manchester---friday_262.html

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The Comedy Theatre Company presents Victoria Wood’s –dinnerladies

Published by: TREMAYNE (Potter) on Saturday 25th July 2009 11:07am

The Comedy Theatre Company presents Victoria Wood’s –dinnerladies, Richmond Theatre on 13th July 2009.

Who can resist a good love story?  There is a fine line between comedy and tragedy. What may appear, at first sight, a tragedy, may be taken as comedy by other characters and by us , the audience.  Bren and Tony’s story in dinnerladies is made up of all of these elements.

http://www.uktheatre.tv/magazine/read/the-comedy-theatre-company-presents-victoria-wood%EF%BF%BDs-%EF%BF%BDdinnerladies_261.html

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TICKETS FOR ALL THE FOLLOWING EVENTS CAN BE FOUND @

http://www.edfringe.com

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FRINGE FIRST: MERMAN ON BROADWAY

Dominic Mattos delivers stunning tribute to Ethel Merman

A fine tribute to the show-business legend, Ethel Merman, is due to feature at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2009 in the show Merman on Broadway… performed by none other than a man.

Oxford Theology graduate Dominic Mattos, a publisher of religious books by day, dons his kaftan and stilettos, borrows his girlfriend's eyeliner, and continues the recently resurrected Merman's 100th Birthday Tour fresh from sell-out shows in London, where additional dates had to be scheduled due to demand.

 ‘The wildly talented Dominic Mattos… pays mind-blowing tribute’ 

- TIME OUT LONDON (CRITICS’ CHOICE)

 Merman on Broadway is performing daily at 21.50 at C-Venues, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, from Sunday 23 August to Monday 31 August.

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The Wild Goose Chase

By John Fletcher

Directed by David Brown

Lighting Design by Nigel Lewis

Last performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe six-years ago the acclaimed ensemble, Ealing Shakespeare Players return to stage a rarely performed Jacobean play that both anticipated and influenced the Restoration Comedy of the 17th century.

Virtually unperformed for over 300-years THE WILD GOOSE CHASE by John Fletcher is to make its debut Edinburgh Festival Fringe appearance this August with a limited run at The Quaker Meeting House between 17 and 29 August 09 (excludes 23 August).

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The Regina Monologues

Written and Performed by Robert Inston

Robert Inston’s Reduced Tudor Company is to make its debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with a brand-new, one-man comedy show, THE REGINA MONOLOGUES which is set to perform for a limited run between 16 and 31 August at Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall.

This tale of treachery, charts the Tudor dynasty’s remarkable rise through sole survivor Elizabeth Tudor.  Dare we trust Elizabeth’s bawdy, irreverent spin on the politics of power and did this ‘virgin’ fare better than modern-day leaders and celebrities in protecting herself from disfavour, condemnation and scandal?

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One Man Show-off

By Dave Florez

Following the acclaimed, sell-out Edinburgh Festival Fringe 08 comedy sketch show, ‘The Art of Dating & Dumping’ at the Assembly Rooms, Dave Florez returns once more with his latest comedy, ONE MAN SHOW-OFF which has been performing to rave reviews and full-houses in London and is now due to make its Edinburgh premiere, performing daily from 16:15 at the Gilded Balloon between 5 and 31 August 08.

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A Longhardt Look at Love with Chad Longhardt

Written & Performed by Brianne Berkson

Directed by Daniel Kutner

Marking its UK Premiere at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a show unlike any other, a show that challenges the true meaning of love in the style of a spoof ‘Big Brother’-cum-‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’-cum-‘Blind Date’ reality TV competition.

Presented by Steadfast Productions and described by the New York Post as a ‘promising offering’ to the Ed Fest Fringe from its ‘East to Edinburgh’ preview in July, A LONGHARDT LOOK AT LOVE WITH CHAD LONGHARDT is an original comedy creation by emerging talent Brianne Berkson who will be making her debut UK appearance in the show which will perform for a limited run between 21 and 31 August at The Bongo Club.

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A Fête Worse Than Death

By Helen Godfrey

Emerging performer and playwright Helen Godfrey’s debut comedy play A FÊTE WORSE THAN DEATH is to make its World Premiere at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe where it will perform between 8 and 30 August excluding 17 August (previews 6 & 7 August) at Laughing Horse @ The Hive.

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Ok, I admit it, I like Morecambe and Wise, I always have...and I'm only in my thirties. I also like jazz and the occasional glass of Dandelion and Burdock. Sometimes, even real ale. But what's wrong with that after all? It's like being a fan of Radio 2, supposedly something only for 'people of a certain age' as Steve Wright likes to say. Well, I guess that I must have reached the age, and you know what? I'm absolutely loving it.

We live in a world of growing commercialism, cyniscism, pessimism, political correction-ism, and almost any other 'ism' you can shake a long knobbly stick at, and as far as I'm concerned, I'm going to shake away, and maybe bang a few trees (lightly you understand so as not to harm them or traumatise them in any way) and hopefully I'll manage to keep my distance from these 'ism' things. Tabloid magazines, reality tv, ugggh, who needs it? I mean, I really can't be bothered to find out who is sitting in the big golden chair every five minutes. Perhaps that is why I found myself this evening sitting on the edge of my seat, laughing heartily in the dress circle of the New Wimbledon Theatre - the new venue for 'The Play What I Wrote', Sean Foley, Hamish McColl, and Eddie Brayben's fabulous tribute to "Britain's greatest double-act", Morecambe and Wise.

Originally directed by Kenneth Branagh, the show is a trim 90 minutes or so, but packed those tick-tocks are with all sorts of fun and merry-making. The premise is simple, a play with in a play, but there's more to it than at first meets the eye, with deceit, envy, violence, sex, and rubber ducks all rearing their ugly heads, and of course, slapstick comedy and a baguette thrown in for extras.

The award-winning show with a three-man cast of Andrew Cryer, Greg Haiste and Anthony Hoggard, slips us effortlessly inside the slippers of the numerous characters, in an effort to perform Greg's new play, an epic set in Revolutionary France called 'A Tight Squeeze for the Scarlet Pimple'. Andrew, the other half of the comedy duo, on the other hand, just wants to continue their failing act and wants Greg to perform a tribute to Morecambe and Wise which he thinks will help rekindle it. But who can they get to play the cameo role?

Unfortunately, I can't answer that question. It would give the game away. And anyway, it's different every night. You see, there's always a guest star. In our case, he metaphorically flooded the stage with his presence, blew us away with his wit, and as far as it goes, picked us up and twirled us around in an emotional twister, then spat us back out again, with a bespectacled grin. Who, you may wonder, was this maelstrom of celebrity? None other than weather guru Michael Fish, who joins countless theatre and media types to have trodden the boards including Sting, Ewan McGregor, Kylie Minogue, David Suchet, Twiggy, Honor Blackman...the list goes on...for a long while. "Big names are queuing for a guest appearance" you know. And you can see why.

This is a great show, fun for all ages, and even those 'of a certain age', whatever that might be. There's no car chases, no swearing, no obscenity, nothing explodes - except at the end of act one - look out in the stalls! Good clean fun. Belly laughs. A straight man and a fall guy. It's all very simple really. I think that's how Morecambe and Wise would have liked it. And that's how we liked it. You can tell. You don't get a standing ovation for any old rubbish, you know.

I agree with the Daily Mail (not something that happens that often I hasten to add) this really is one of "the best comedies what I've watched". Truly bringing sunshine, love and happiness, and of course, a touch of sentimentality to all who see it

Bravo

'The Play What I Wrote' is touring the UK for a limited time, so go see it while you can. Who will be your special celebrity guest? More details can be found atwww.theplaywhatiwrote.co.uk or at www.newwimbledontheatre.co.uk