UK Theatre Network

review of "Born Yesterday"

2011-06-20T16:34:00.002+01:00

“Born Yesterday” is a funny skewering of crooked capitalists and politicians

By Lucy Komisar

Garson Kanin’s 1946 comedy is a delightfully clever political romp which pits a crooked businessman and a bought U.S. Senator against a supposedly dumb kept woman who gives everyone a civics lesson while taking the bad guys down a few notches.

Jim Belushi as Harry Brock, Nina Arianda as Billie Dawn, photo Carol Rosegg.

Harry Brock (Jim Belushi) is the businessman who doesn’t want rules and regulations interfering with his scrap iron sales. “No interference with free enterprise!” he declares. Harry is a capitalist crook; he’s been a crook since age 12.

Billie Dawn (Nina Arianda) is a 25-year-old who left home still in her teens and ended up with Harry as the best deal an uneducated but very attractive young woman could make.

Harry is assisted by lawyer Ed Devery (Frank Wood), who used to be an assistant attorney general, but now declares, “I can see a loophole at 20 paces.”

Jim Belushi as Harry Brock, Terry Beaver as Senator Hedges, Frank Wood as lawyer Devery, photo Carol Rosegg.

They can both see votes-for-sale politicians such as Senator Norval Hedges (Terry Beaver), who arrives at the Art Deco hotel suite where Harry holds court. (The luscious set is by John Lee Beatty.) Harry screams at the senator, who meekly takes the abuse, along with the cash.

Kanin’s own views are clear, spoken in the words of Billie and an honest journalist, Paul Verrall (Robert Sean Leonard) who comes to write a profile of Harry. He find his reporter’s chops when he smells corruption.

Robert Sean Leonard as reporter Paul Verall, Nina Arianda as Billie Dawn, Jim Belushi as Harry Brock, photo Carol Rosegg.

At the same time, Paul falls for Billie and sets about liberating her mind with some civics lesson books and pamphlets. She starts out with Thomas Paine and proceeds to denounce the cartel Harry is building and to explain what turns a government fascist.

This production is valuable for two reasons. First, it’s fascinating to see how in the 1940s, when strong political ideas had to be slipped into theaters more subtly than today, Kanin leavened his political lesson with brash comedy.

Nina Arianda as Billie Dawn, photo Carol Rosegg.

And second because Nina Arianda is an astonishing talent as Billie. In her heavy New York accent, she is at first tentative, empty-headed and cheerful and then increasingly feisty. She is a charmer; she lights up the stage.

Unfortunately, the staging falls down with Jim Belushi, who is too loud, crude and nasty as Harry. His performance is cartoonish and has no subtlety. That must be taken as the fault of director Doug Hughes. Frank Wood’s lawyer is so mild and effacing that he almost disappears. Robert Sean Leonard does a creditable job as the journalist. Go to see Arianda.

“Born Yesterday.” Written by Garson Kanin; directed by Doug Hughes. Cort Theatre, 138 West 48th Street, New York, NY. 212-239-6200. Opened April 24, 2011; closes June 26, 2011.

http://thekomisarscoop.com/2011/06/born-yesterday-is-a-funny-skewering-of-crooked-capitalists-and-politicians/

review "The Motherf**cker with the Hat"

2011-06-19T17:07:00.002+01:00

“The Motherf**cker with the Hat” is a classy, funny, grungy tale of underclass betrayal

By Lucy Komisar

Stephen Adly Guirgis’ play is a very funny, ironic, grungy and cautionary tale where four-letter words, sex and betrayal are mixed in equal parts in the down and dirty milieu of New York City drug addicts and their relatives and friends.

It starts at a residential hotel in Times Square. Jackie (Bobby Cannavale), just out of jail and on parole, is ready to take up again with his sweetheart Veronica (Elizabeth Rodriguez), but then he notices a man’s hat on a bedroom table.

Bobby Cannavale as Jackie, Elizabeth Rodriguez as Veronica, photo Joan Marcus.

He accuses her. And the language she ripostes with is the rich idiom of the play: “You have got this wrong, Jackie. You’re so far out of line you’re like in Zimbabwe or some shit…. I’m willing to put the ghetto on hold and eat some fuckin’ pie with you, if you’re willing to entertain the notion that you’re a fuckin’ retard ex-con who almost blew it cuz you got an imagination like — I dunno — Dr. fuckin’ Seuss an shit. Okay?

Pause. He searches her eyes. Jackie: “But you’re lying.”

Bobby Cannavale as Jackie, Chris Rock as Ralph, photo Joan Marcus.

From there, with fast-paced direction by Anna D. Shapiro, Jackie proceeds on his own picaresque itinerary. It is a wild ride.

The first stop is his parole sponsor Ralph (Chris Rock), who runs a health food business out of an apartment in Hell’s Kitchen. Ralph is full of good advice, what any middle-class self-improvement guru might give (he is learning French and showed up for jury duty), but he has his own difficulties with Victoria (Annabella Sciorra), the cursing, recovering addict he lives with. And he is not quite without blame.

Bobby Cannavale as Jackie, Yul Vázquez as Julio, Chris Rock as Ralph, photo Joan Marcus.

Then on to Jackie’s cousin Julio (Yul Vázquez) in Washington Heights. Julio offers him empañadas, remarks that he was in a sex addiction fellowship, and agrees to hide the gun Jackie has obtained for revenge against the man with the hat.

The story is both real and surreal, connecting to experiences we know, but rooting them in the underclass. Ralph and Julio exchange cards about nutritional beverages and massage (Rolfing is Julio’s specialty). Various members of the couples denounce their partners and also cheat on them with their supposed friends.

The play gets a lot of its spice from Guirgis’s peppering the dialogue with obscenities. And from the in-your-face acting by Cannavale as the hoarse-voiced, dysfunctional Jackie. Cannavale is backed up with class (if that is the right word) by the rest of the ensemble. It’s a play and production one won’t soon forget.

“The Motherf**cker with the Hat.” Written by Stephen Adly Guirgis; directed by Anna D. Shapiro. Lyrics by Anna D. Shapiro, Music by Terence Blanchard. Schoenfeld Theatre, 36 West 45th Street New York, NY. 212-239-6200. Opened April 11, 2011; closes July 17, 2011.

http://thekomisarscoop.com/2011/06/the-motherfcker-with-the-hat-is-a-classy-funny-grungy-tale-of-underclass-betrayal/

"The House of Blue Leaves"

2011-06-17T16:26:00.001+01:00

“The House of Blue Leaves” is stunning dark comedy of illusion and delusion

By Lucy Komisar

John Guare’s 1970 dark comedy, in a brilliant revival by David Cromer, shifts between humor and tragedy as it traces the path that links illusion to delusion. As one morphs into the other, the differences appear increasingly subtle.

Artie Shaughnessy (Ben Stiller), whose job is to feed the animals in Central Park Zoo, wants to be a Hollywood songwriter. He practices his creations on a spinet piano in a cluttered lower-middle-class apartment in Queens (set by Scott Pask) and takes them to the El Dorado bar amateur night, where patrons talk through his presentations. El Dorado of course is the magical place where people thought gold was buried.

Ben Stiller as Artie, Edie-Falco as Bananas, photo Joan Marcus.

Bananas (the powerful and tender Edie Falco), with a cruel nickname mocking her mental state, can’t function or even safely leave the apartment. There are window gates keeping her in as much as intruders out. She gets down on all fours, eats like a dog and barks and growls, both an expression of madness and an ironic allusion to Artie’s profession. He cares for the animals more than for her.

Artie believes his wife of 18 years is destroying his life chances and takes up with neighbor Bunny Flingus (a mean and flighty Jennifer Jason Leigh). His fantasy, at 45, is that they will leave Bananas and go to Hollywood to jump-start his career with the help of a boyhood friend who is now a big-time producer.

Jennifer Jason Leigh as Bunny, Ben Stiller as Artie, photo Joan Marcus.

Bananas is schizophrenic, but Artie and Bunny are also desperate and delusional in their ways. Bunny gives away sex but not food. She says, “I’ll sleep with you whenever you want,” but won’t cook for him till they’re married.

Sometimes Bananas seems more sensitive than the others. Artie stuffs her full of pills that make her not feel. She protests, “For once let me have an emotion. Let the animals come out.” His zoo animals are freer than she is.

It’s a cold October 1965, the time of the Vietnam War and also the visit of Pope Paul VI to New York. In one of the funniest scenes of a tragedy that quickly veers into slapstick, nuns from Ridgewood, New Jersey (the very funny Mary Beth Hurt, Susan Bennett and Halley Feiffer), who have come to see the Pope, climb onto the Shaughnessy roof and are let into the apartment. The beer-swigging sisters, who act as if Paul VI were a rock star, fight over tickets to see him in Yankee stadium. I loved the heavy Brooklyn accents of the nuns and other that permeate the production.

Ben Stiller as Artie, Alison Pill as Corrinna, photo Joan Marcus.

We also finally meet Artie’s childhood friend Billy (Thomas Sadoski) and his fiancée Corrinna Stroller (the terrific celebrity-satirizing Alison Pill) who is planning to get an operation to cure her deafness. Artie, the musician who is tone deaf to his musical failure, talks to her, oblivious of her attempts at guess-answers.

There’s more absurd slapstick and more tragedy, but one should leave some surprises.

And the title? Artie wants to put Bananas in a Long Island mental institution. Blue birds on tree branches outside the building make it appear to be a tree of blue leaves. But then the birds fly away. Thus are appearances shown to be illusions.

This is one of the great American plays, and this production — the cast and direction — is worthy of its brilliance.

“The House of Blue Leaves.” Written by John Guare; directed by David Cromer. Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 West 48th Street, New York, NY. 212-239-6200; http://houseofblueleaves.com/. Opened April 25, 2011; closes June 25, 2011.

http://thekomisarscoop.com/2011/06/the-house-of-blue-leaves-is-stunning-dark-comedy-of-illusion-and-delusion/

Sound library announces massive archive expansion

2011-06-16T13:15:00.000+01:00

Sound library announces massive archive expansion

A British sound library used by the theatre and film industries has announced an acquisition deal which will make it one of the largest libraries of its kind in the world. SoundScalpel (www.soundscalpel.com) has recently added 30,000 sound effects from BBC productions, increasing its library to 80,000 effects as well as royalty free music for its international and UK customers.

The acquisition is part of an expansion plan which will see the company swell its archive to 150,000 by mid summer. The extended library now includes sound effects created by some of Hollywood’s leading sound designers with effects that have been created specifically for films including Hollywood blockbuster Avatar, through to TV programmes like Eastenders.

“The industry has changed a great deal over the past decade when sound effects CDs used to be the norm,” says Alan McKinney MD of SoundScalpel. “When we first launched the site in 2005 we had only 3,000 effects. This latest expansion means we are able to offer 50 times that number which our customers are able to listen to and decide to download instantly.”

The company now attracts around 40,000 visits per week to its website and is popular with many markets around the world outside of the theatre. Education, TV, mobile phone apps, websites and game makers are amongst the many industries that have a regular requirement for sound effects which can be instantly downloaded from the company’s website at the click of a mouse.

“As well as the dramatic increase in sound effects available, we now have over 9,000 royalty free music tracks available for the first time which already have been used for film trailers, corporate videos and adverts,” adds Alan.

FIREMAN SAM ROCKS THE ST HELENS THEATRE ROYAL TWICE!

2011-06-15T12:08:00.000+01:00

FIREMAN SAM ROCKS THE ST HELENS THEATRE ROYAL TWICE!

Due to phenomenal demand, Fireman Sam has added an extra performance of his brand new live stage show, Pontypandy Rocks, on Saturday 25^thJune at 3.30pm.

Join Fireman Sam, and all his friends, as Pontypandy hosts its first ever music festival!

Station Officer Steel's has booked a surprise guest star to perform at the festival, it's a big secret. With so much to plan and prepare Norman Price and Mandy Flood are told to stay out of mischief but Naughty Norman is determined to find out who the secret superstar guest will be... at any cost.

This day promises to be one of Fireman Sam's busiest yet as he's called on to save a festival that promises to rock Pontypandy.

Will Sam save the day? Will the show go on? Will Elvis finally get to perform? And will it all happen before Norman finds out who the guest star is and ruins the surprise for everyone?

Fireman Sam said: "I am so excited about the Pontypandy Rocks festival, in fact the whole of Pontypandy is excited, Elvis hasn't sat still for weeks!"

The Hero next door added: "I am looking forward to seeing all my friends in Merseyside."

With great new songs, daring new rescues, and more adventure than ever before, you won't want to miss this brand new live show!

EXTRA PERFORMANCE DETAILS:

FIREMAN SAM

Saturday 25^th June 2011 – 3.30pm

St Helens Theatre Royal

Tickets: From £11

How to book – Book in person at the Theatre Royal Box Office Corporation Street, St. Helens, Merseyside WA10 1LQ (Mon – Sat 10am – 5pm) Alternatively call 01744 756 000 or click www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

A CORNER OF THE OCEAN

2011-06-13T16:26:00.001+01:00

A CORNER OF THE OCEAN

Devised by Jammy Voo Directed by Jamie Wood

National Tour, 9^th June to 20^th July 2011

A hit at Edinburgh Fringe 2011, and guest directed by Fringe First Award winning Jamie Wood (Top of the World’s Paperweight), all female theatre company Jammy Voo tell the story of a man who goes missing in a mysterious diving accident. The story of his disappearance strangely touches the lives of four women in their different parts of the world. Featuring puppetry, a capella singing, physical storytelling and a live musical score, A Corner of the Ocean takes a comic and bittersweet look at our everyday struggles to keep a head above the water.

The show explores the desire to carve out a place for oneself in a continuously fluctuating world: the hilarity, absurdity and difficulty of seeking validity in a modern life where so little is secure or permanent. The company creates every element of the work collaboratively- from making the puppets, costumes and set to writing the text and music.

Jammy Voo’s first show Something Blue was a hit at Edinburgh 2007 and went on to tour both nationally and internationally. A Corner of the Ocean was devised by the company and has been developed with actor and director Toby Jones (The Right Size, Complicite, National Theatre), director Jamie Wood and composer and sound artist Gregory Hall.

Jammy Voo is an international, Devon based theatre company founded by four female graduates of the Jacques Lecoq Theatre School in Paris: Yngvild Aspeli (Norway), who also studied at Esnam; Kate Edwards (UK), who has worked with CCC Clowns, South Hams Arts Collective and Theatre Royal Plymouth; Emily Kreider (USA), whose past work includes shows with Friche Theatre Urbaine and Companie Houppz and Eliza Wills (UK), also a founder member of Blue Scream Theatre, whose work includes Fringe First Award winning Tom Thumb.

“Vibrant physical theatre that’s set to make waves…a production that has both depth and sparkle and reminds you just how refreshing original theatre can be.” The List

“Atmospheric and impressively accomplished” Fest

“The company are a delight to watch, teasing out a tremendous amount of comic and emotive content from the smallest of moments.” The Scotsman

www.jammyvoo.com / www.notebooktheatre.com

Tour dates and listings information

9^th June The Lowry, Salford 0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com £12, 8pm

22^nd June Exeter Northcott 01392 493 493 / www.exeternorthcott.co.uk £12, 7.30pm

23^rd - 25^th June North Devon Fringe www.theatrefest.co.uk £tbc 9.15pm, 9.45pm, 5pm

27^th - 29^th June Bristol Tobacco Factory 0117 902 0344 / tobaccofactorytheatre.com £12 (£8 concs) 8pm

20^th July Jacksons Lane 020 8341 4421/ www.jacksonslane.org.uk £10 / 8pm

REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE IN KENT

2011-06-06T13:10:00.001+01:00

REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE

With guns, real chickens, no set and cars going over a cliff there is much to enjoy in this 50 minute show by KYT.

The actual film script is brought to life by the adventurous ensemble at Kent Youth Theatre. Employing their split level stage area to its maximum the cast have created an engaging production which zips along telling the story of teenage angst in 1950's America, but with themes that are still relevant in today's world. Great for any students of drama or anyone who may remember the original film with James Dean and Natalie Wood.

VENUE: KENT COLLEGE, WHITSTABLE ROAD, CANTERBURY, CT2 9DT

TIME: 7.30PM

DOORS OPEN: 6.45PM FOR BEST SEATS - BOOKING ADVISABLE

ALL SEATS: £5

Plans are being made for their next production, based on William Golding's, Lord of the Flies. The producers will be looking for a strong cast of boys, aged 11 to 14, to be in their outdoor production THE BEAST, and are looking to all schools, youth theatres and drama groups to find the right cast. They will need to be exceptional young actors to meet the demands of the production.

World Premier! David Walliam’s MR STINK comes to Kingston Upon Thames

2011-06-06T13:08:00.001+01:00

World Premier! David Walliam's MR STINK comes to the Rose

Tuesday 26 – Sunday 31 July

A musical comedy based on the hilarious children's novel written by David Walliams and illustrated by Quentin Blake.

Mr Stink stank. He also stunk.

And if it is correct English to say he stinked,

then he stinked as well.

KW & NB Ltd and Curve, Leicester with Hackney Empire and Nottingham Playhouse proudly present for the first time live on stage, a musical adaptation of David Walliams' award-winning novel for children, Mr Stink.

David Walliams, star of Little Britain and Come Fly with Me has written the smelliest book of all time breaking new ground by being the first everinteractive scratch 'n' sniff family show! Each audience member will be given a free scratch 'n' sniff booklet bringing Mr Stink pongingly to life.

Adapted and Directed by Matthew White (Director of the recent West Endproductions of Sweet Charity and Little Shop of Horrors and the forthcoming production of Top Hat) with music composed by Matt Brind (Musical Director for Legally Blonde and Conductor and Orchestrator for John Barrowman's latest album).

David Walliams, who's not in the show, really wants you to come and see it!

Chloe doesn't like school very much. She isn't as cool as the other kids, no iPhone, no DS and no friends. Then she meets Mr Stink – the local tramp. Yes, he smells a bit but he's the only person who's ever been nice to her, including her mother who wants to be the local MP and is trying to rid the streets of its homeless. About to lose her only friend, Chloe finds Mr Stinka secret hiding place…but is there more to him than meets the nose?

A musical comedy with enchanting puppetry suitable for children aged 7+ and their families. Mr Stink also lends itself perfectly to schools audiences. Ideal for key stage 2-3 PSHE – Education Pack available on request.

Running time of 2 hrs 10 minutes including an interval.

'A funny, original and thought-provoking tale! Hilarious.'

The Times Book Review

'Comic Genius.'

Edinburgh Evening News Book Review

www.mrstinklive.com

Mr Stink

Tuesday 26 – Sunday 31 July

Box Office 0871 230 1552

New Box Office number from 14 June 08444 821 556

Groups Hotline 0844 412 4650

Access 0844 412 4648

rosetheatrekingston.org

Tickets £8 - £18.50

Family ticket £65 (4 persons, min 2 children)

It’s a trio of musical one nighters in Glasgow this June!

2011-06-06T13:01:00.000+01:00

It's a trio of musical one nighters at the Theatre Royal this June!

From Motown to Swing and a little bit of everything in between the Theatre Royal plays host to three very different nights of musical entertainment.

The sensational voice on over 2 Million Albums, former G4 front man, and international recording star, Jonathan Ansell is joined by friends to perform some of G4's former hits and some of pop and opera's most famous songs in this hi first solo tour. G4's Jonathan found fame on X Factor, and since then, he has released two consecutive number one albums, Tenor at the Movies, and Forever. Jonathan was last in Glasgow when he performed at the King's Theatre in the UK tour of Whistle down the Wind in 2010. Jonathan will be performing for one night only on Sun 26^th June.

If you are a fan of the Rat Pack and the big band sound of swing then you will be in your element with One Night in Vegas with Martyn Lucas supported by the British Philharmonic Orchestra. One Night in Vegas is only on Monday 27^th June and features songs from the West End plus all the Vegas legends!

And finally, on Wednesday 29th June the theatre will be soul crazy with How Sweet it is - Motown's Greatest Hits, the ultimate celebration of the sweet sound of Motown. Now in its 9th successive year this stunning 100% live show combine's first class music together with the slickest choreography and an amazing band to deliver truly outstanding performances for the best Motown experience you will ever have!

Over 50 Golden Years of Motown music are remembered featuring songs from legendary artistes such as The Temptations, The Four Tops, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson Five, The Isley Brothers and many, many more.

LISTINGS

Jonathan Ansell

Sunday 26^th June @ 7.30pm

£25.50 - £31.50

One Night In Vegas

Monday 27^th June

£16 - £20

Motown's Greatest Hits

Wednesday 29^th June @ 7.30pm

£19.50

Box Office: 08448 717 647 (bkg fee)

www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow (bkg fee)

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

2011-06-03T17:31:00.001+01:00

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

VAUDEVILLE THEATRE

Wednesday 6 July – Sunday 4 September

www.thetigerwhocametotealive.com

· Based on the picture book written and illustrated by Judith Kerr.

Adapted for the stage with songs and lyrics by David Wood OBE.

This summer 2011 production at The Vaudeville Theatre marks the Company's eighth West End family season since 2005, featuring the hugely successful productions of The Gruffalo, Room on the Broomand We're Going on a Bear Hunt presented in Nimax Theatres for the last six consecutive seasons.

This season marks the West End premiere for The Tiger Who Came to Tea.

This 9 week summer West End season completes a 24 date UK spring tour.

Based on the award winning picture book by Judith Kerr, this delightful family show is packed with fun for youngsters everywhere and their grown-ups.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea is one of the best-selling picture books of all time. Since it was first published in 1968, it has sold over 4 million copies worldwide and is translated in over 20 different languages.

And now, this much-loved tale has been adapted for the stage with songs and lyrics by David Wood OBE; the country's leading writer and director of plays and musicals for children. His many successes include Goodnight Mr Tom¸ Shaun The Sheep, George's Marvellous Medicine, Fantastic Mr Fox, The Gingerbread Man, BFG,

The Witches, Meg and Mog, Spot and Babe the Sheep Pig.

The show is the ideal introduction to theatre for pre and primary school children and their families. Featuring magic and sing-along songs, The Tiger Who Came to Tea is perfect for developing literacy and listening skills, and audience participation is highly encouraged!

For children aged 3 and above. Running time: Approx. 55 minutes – no interval.

For further information please contact The Corner Shop on 020 7494 3665 or email charlotte@thecornershoppr.com

For competitions and promotions please contact Benjamin Jacobs on020 7437 1736 or ben@kennywax.com

LISTINGS

The Tiger Who Came To Tea

Vaudeville Theatre, 404 Strand, London WC2R 0NH

BOX OFFICE: 0844 412 4663

GROUPS: 0844 412 4650

Tickets £12.50 - £15.50 with a selected number premium seats at £19.50

School Groups 10+ £9.50 plus 11^th ticket free

www.thetigerwhocametotealive.com

Performance Schedule:

Wednesday July 6^th 11am

Thursday July 7^th 11am

Friday July 8^th 11am (press performance)

Saturday July 9^th 10.30am and 12.30pm

Sunday July 10^th 10.30am and 12.30pm

Tuesday July 12^th 11am

Wednesday July 13^th 11am

Thursday July 14^th 11am

Friday July 15^th 11am

Saturday July 16^th 10.30am and 12.30pm

Sunday July 10^th 10.30am and 12.30pm

Tuesday July 19^th 11am

Wednesday July 20^th 11am

Thursday July 21^st 11am

Friday July 22^nd 11am

Saturday July 23^rd 10.30am and 12.30pm

Sunday July 24^th 10.30am and 12.30pm

Tuesday July 26^th 11am

Wednesday July 27^th 11am

Thursday July 28^th 11am

Friday July 29^th 11am

Saturday July 30^th 10.30am and 12.30pm

Sunday July 31^st 10.30am and 12.30pm

Tuesday August 2^nd 11am

Wednesday August 3^rd 11am

Thursday August 4^th 11am

Friday August 5^th 11am

Saturday August 6^th 10.30am and 12.30pm

Sunday August 7^th 10.30am and 12.30pm

Tuesday August 9^th 11am

Wednesday August 10^th 11am

Thursday August 11^th 11am

Friday August 11^th 11am

Saturday August 13^th 10.30am and 12.30pm

Sunday August 14^th 10.30am and 12.30pm

Tuesday August 16^th 11am

Wednesday August 17^th 11am and 2pm

Thursday August 18^th 11am and 2pm

Friday August 19^th 11am

Saturday August 20^th 10.30am and 12.30pm

Sunday August 21^st 10.30am and 12.30pm

Tuesday August 23^rd 11am

Wednesday August 24^th 11am and 2pm

Thursday August 25^th 11am and 2pm

Friday August 26^th 11am

Saturday August 27^th 10.30am and 12.30pm

Sunday August 28^th 10.30am and 12.30pm

Thursday September 1^st 11am and 2pm

Friday September 2^nd 11am

Saturday Sept 3^rd 10.30am and 12.30pm

Sunday Sept 4^th 10.30am and 12.30pm

More information below

DAVID WOOD OBE – ADAPTATION / DIRECTOR

David began writing while at Oxford University. His seventy plus plays for children are performed worldwide, and he has been dubbed 'the national children's dramatist' by The Times. Four of his adaptations are touring the UK in 2011 – Judith Kerr's The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Michelle Magorian'sGoodnight Mister Tom, Roald Dahl's George's Marvellous Medicine and Aardman Animations' Shaun the Sheep. David can also be seen in his own West End show David Wood's Story Time at the Arts Theatre, this Easter. His adult musical, based on L P Hartley's The Go-Between, co-written with composer Richard Taylor, opens at West Yorkshire Playhouse in September. In 2006, to celebrate the Queen's 80^th birthday, he wrote The Queens Handbag, performed in Buckingham Palace Gardens and seen by 8,000,000 BBC1 viewers. In 2004 he was awarded the OBE for services to drama and literature. Visit his website at www.davidwood.org.uk

JUDITH KERR - AUTHOR

Judith Kerr was born on 14th June 1923 in Berlin but escaped from Hitler's Germany with her parents and brother in 1933 when she was nine years old. Her father was a drama critic and a distinguished writer whose books were burned by the Nazis. The family passed through Switzerland and France before arriving finally in England in 1936. Judith went to eleven different schools, worked in the Red Cross during the war, and won a scholarship to the Central School of Arts and Crafts in 1945. Since then she has worked as an artist, a BBC television scriptwriter and, for the past thirty years, as an author and illustrator of children's books. Her three autobiographical novels are based on her early wandering years (which against all the odds she greatly enjoyed), her adolescence in London during the war, and finally on a brief return to Berlin as a young married woman. The stories have been internationally acclaimed and, to the author's considerable satisfaction, have done particularly well in Germany where they are sometimes used as an easy introduction to a difficult period of German history. Judith has a daughter who is a designer and a son who is a novelist. She lives in London. Her books include The Tiger Who Came to Tea, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, Twinkles, Arthur and Puss, Mog the Forgetful Cat, Goose in a Hole, Bombs on Aunt Dainty,Birdle Hallelujah, How Mrs Monkey Missed the Ark and A Small Person Far Away.

Judith Kerr's new book 'My Henry' is published on 28^th April by Harper Collins and for all The Tiger Who Came to Tea fans a new range of merchandise will be available at selected retailers from October 2011.

SUSIE CAULCUTT - SET AND COSTUME DESIGNER

Susie trained under Motley at the English National Opera Design School and has designed productions for numerous theatres throughout the country, in London's West End and abroad. She studied painting in London and Paris and has paintings, watercolours and theatrical sketches in private collections around the world, including the Costume Museum in Leningrad. Amongst her many design credits are Personals, Apollo Theatre West End.Play It Again Sam, Globe Theatre. I Am Who I Am,

The Constant Wife and Dandy Dick directed by Sheila Hancock for the Cambridge Theatre Company. For the Actors Company, The Scent of Flowers and the European premiere of Neil Simon's The Good Doctor. For the Chichester Festival Theatre, The Owl and Pussycat went to See…, Charley's Aunt and The Last of Mrs Cheyney. For Clarion Music Theatre,Down By The Greenwood Side at Three Mills Island Studios. For Tina Williams, her adaptation of The Book of the Banshee, by Ann Fine.

Other works include: Noye's Fludde, Benjamin Britten Opera (which she also co-directed). Tina Brown's Happy Yellow, Bush Theatre, The Grass is Greener, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and Toronto: Gaslight and Pinter's Dumb Waiter for Belgrade Theatre, Coventry. For Manchester Forum, Charlotte's Web, and for musical humorist John Gould, she has designed his one-man show at the Mayfair Theatre and the musical revue Betjemania. Susie designed David Wood's hugely successful shows The Witches and The BFG.

PETER PONTZEN – MUSICAL DIRECTOR AND ARRANGER

Peter graduated in Electronic Engineering and taught Mathematics before turning to a musical career. His extensive work as Musical Director includesUnder Milk Wood for the Royal National Theatre and numerous RSC productions in Stratford and London, most recently A New Way to Please You and A Midsummer Night's Dream. He was a regular Play School pianist for BBC TV and his long association with David Wood has been predominantly in children's theatre. Peter wrote the music for David's adaptations of The Witches and The BFG, seen all over the country and in the West End. He also composed for David's recent productions of Guess How Much I Love You, Fantastic Mr Fox and Babe, the Sheep-Pig at the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park. He has written original music for several recent pantomimes and for a variety of other theatre, radio and television productions including the ITV animation series The Gingerbread Man and the BBC Watch series. He has been commissioned to provide music for many audio-books by Alexander McCall Smith and Philip Pullman, including the award-winning release of the trilogy His Dark Materials.

EMMA CLAYTON – ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND CHOREOGRAPHY

Emma trained at Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. Choreographic credits: The Way Back Home (UK Tour), Santa Claus (Arts Depot & UK Tour), Don't Let The Pigeon Stay Up Late (USA & UK Tour), Guess How Much I love You (UK Tour & Dubai/Abu Dhabi), The Tiger Who Came To Tea (UK Tour), Fantastic Mr Fox & Babe The Sheep Pig (Open Air Theatre, Regents Park), Hansel & Gretel (Fringe), Mickey Spatz (Arcola), The Worst Witch (UK Tour), The Hobbit, Watership Down (Redgrave Theatre, Farnham), Those Magical Musicals & The Johnston Master craft Water ski Show (Toronto, Canada), Celebrations (Old Vic) and God Knows (Riverside Studios, Hammersmith). Film: Handle With Care. As Director: Aladdin(Eden Court, Inverness), The Shagaround (Birmingham). As Associate Director: The Witches (UK Tour & West End with Ruby Wax). As Supernumerary director - The Witches on the original UK Tour and West End Season. As children's director: Babe The Sheep - Pig.

£10 Sneaky-Peek Preview Offer - The Flying KARAMAZOV Brothers

2011-06-03T15:06:00.001+01:00

£10 SNEAKY-PEEK PREVIEW OFFER!
AND TOP PRICE SEATS FOR JUST £25

Take four entertainers who are musicians, comedians, acrobats, dancers, jugglers
and philosophers. Add kilts, moustaches, musical instruments, two thousand
cardboard boxes, tutus, topical satire and the ability to juggle anything.

For a strictly limited run be entranced by the wit, comedy and virtuoso skills
of these world renowned maverick masters of new-vaudeville
in their London home, the Vaudeville Theatre from 9 June.

UK Theatre Network

£10 SNEAKY-PEEK PREVIEWS 9 -10 JUNE
£25 OFFER ON TOP PRICE TICKETS UNTIL 26 JUNE

Book Tickets at
http://tinyurl.com/5ulj6hc
and enter the promo code LTCD

VAUDEVILLE THEATRE

Offer strictly subject to availability and best available only.
Booking fees apply. Offer excludes performances on 20 June.

Creative writing residency at St Andrew's Byre Theatre

2011-06-03T14:08:00.001+01:00

Renowned US playwright Israel Horovitz returns to the Byre Theatre

Celebrated American playwright Israel Horovitz is coming to the Byre Theatre in June to lead a third creative writing residency to inspire and encourage promising new playwrights. Following the success of Israel's previous residencies at the Byre in 2009 and 2010, the distinguished writer will be working with the recently established St Andrews Playwrights Lab – a project of the Byre Theatre that brings together emerging writers from the University of St Andrews - as well as leading invaluable masterclasses for secondary school and community groups.

Israel Horovitz has written more than 70 produced plays, translated and performed in as many as 30 languages worldwide. Among his best known plays, Line is the longest-running play in New York, now in its 38^thconsecutive year, whilst his French-language productions have led him to become the most-produced American playwright in the history of French-theatre. A winner of numerous awards, Israel has also written screenplays for film and television, as well as writing, directing and performing in the award-winning documentary 3 Weeks After Paradise which documents his families experience in the aftermath of 9/11.

Over two weeks, Israel will work with St Andrews Playwrights Lab and the Byre Theatre to create ten, ten-minute dramas for the stage that will be shown during an evening of rehearsed readings where writers, actors and the audience can get a collective glimpse of the process of playwriting and the journey of a play from page to performance. The evening will take place on Tuesday 14^th June and is a fantastic opportunity for admirers of Israel's work to encounter the author's creative process as well as an unmissable insight for all theatre-lovers into what goes on behind the scenes. Each of the ten-minute plays promises to demonstrate the outstanding talent and potential of St Andrews writers – you saw it at the Byre first!

Schools and community groups are also warmly invited to set-up personal masterclasses with the playwright whilst he takes up residence at the theatre; a chance to meet and learn from one of the world's most famous and successful modern playwrights. The residency forms part of the Byre Theatre's Education & Outreach programme which collaborates with the local community through the creative arts, providing a variety of educational projects that bring together students and locals, young and old, in a shared love of theatre, music and comedy.

"The Byre is delighted that an international playwright of the stature of Israel Horovitz has agreed to work with us again this year in St Andrews. We are committed to supporting young artists and emerging talent, and we are very fortunate that Israel is as committed to sharing his gift." Last year's ten by ten new writing residency was huge in terms of energy and raw talent. We are really looking forward to the next instalment this month".

Chief Executive, Jacqueline McKay, the Byre Theatre

The evening will take place on Tuesday 14^th June at 7.30pm in the Byre Theatre.

Tickets cost £8 (Concessions: £6).

To arrange masterclasses please contact education@byretheatre.com

Shakespeare’s Globe to appear in cinemas worldwide this summer through partnership with Arts Alliance Media

2011-06-03T13:32:00.001+01:00

Shakespeare's Globe to appear in cinemas worldwide this summer through partnership with Arts Alliance Media

Shakespeare's Globe has partnered with Arts Alliance Media – the leading European distributor of alternative content – to release four of its 2010 theatre productions in cinemas across the world this summer. The season will launch globally from June 2011with over 250 cinemas in the USA already lined up to take part through NCM Fathom. The Shakespeare in Cinema series will initially feature four performances recorded during the 2010 'Kings and Rogues' season – The Merry Wives of Windsor, shortly followed byHenry IV Part 1, Henry IV Part 2 and Henry VIII.

Dominic Dromgoole, Artistic Director of Shakespeare's Globe said "With the advent of new technology it is now possible to see and hear theatrical productions in the cinema with a wonderful sharpness and clarity. We are delighted that these productions will be finding new audiences, who can experience Globe shows as if they were in the building."

Elizabeth Draper, Arts Alliance Media's VP of Alternative Content Distribution, added "The superb digital cinema picture and sound quality that viewers can experience in their cinemas brings them even closer to the action of these world-class productions, all for the price of a cinema ticket. We're delighted to be working with one of the most highly regarded Shakespeare companies in the world, and look forward to making the Shakespeare Cinema Series experience a truly unique one, for theatre and cinema lovers, and students, worldwide".

The Merry Wives of Windsor, directed by Christopher Luscombe, was a huge hit at the Globe in 2008 and again in 2010, going on to become an internationally successful tour. Featuring Christopher Benjamin as Shakespeare's wily rogue Falstaff, with Serena Evans and Sarah Woodward as the two merry wives, Shakespeare's brilliantly constructed farce – often described as the forerunner to today's sitcoms – bursts with colour and humour in this delightful production.

Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, performed at the Globe for the first time in 2010, continue the 'Kings and Rogues' cinema series. Featuring an Olivier Award winning performance from Roger Allam as Falstaff alongside Jamie Parker as Prince Hal, the two parts of Henry IV are widely considered to be Shakespeare's masterpieces. Part 1 combines compelling power politics with the hilarious antics of Falstaff – Shakespeare's greatest comic creation – with part 2 including some of the greatest dramatic moments in Shakespeare's writing. These two plays mark a turning point in Shakespeare's career, revealing new depths of storytelling and realism, and portraying a glorious, epic landscape of Britain.

The season concludes with a rare opportunity to see Henry VIII, famous in its own day as Shakespeare's most sumptuous and spectacular play, and infrequently performed today. A performance of Henry VIII on 29 June 1613 was responsible for burning down the original Globe Theatre. This new 2010 production, directed by Mark Rosenblatt and featuring Dominic Rowan, Miranda Raison and Anthony Howell, is a gorgeous pageant of masques and royal ceremony.

As part of its commitment to capture its work on film, Shakespeare's Globe will record three productions during the 2011 season – Much Ado About Nothing, All's Well That Ends Well and Doctor Faustus. These high-quality recordings provide the archive with accurate and lasting records of the Globe's productions, as well as extending its work into cinemas, on DVD and online.

More details of the 2011 screenings, including currently confirmed UK venue details and release dates can be found at http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/theatre/on-film. More cinemas and more territories will be added to the list in the coming weeks.

Brighton Festival reaches £800,000 in ticket sales

2011-06-03T12:33:00.001+01:00

Three weeks of unrivalled arts celebration

May 7-29 2011

www.brightonfestival.org

Brighton Festival Radio 87.7 FM

Photo: Grafik Warfare mural of Aung San Suu Kyi in Kensington Street

Brighton Festival 2011 celebrated liberty and freedom

with Guest Director Aung San Suu Kyi

This year's Brighton Festival saw an audience of over 150,000 enjoy 142 events including, 10 premieres and 30 free events, achieving highest ever ticket sales of over £800,000. This year's expanded programme of free outdoor events and art installations across the city, included record breaking audiences of over 38,000 at Fabrica for Janet Cardiff's The Forty Part Motet.

Over the last two years with Anish Kapoor and Brian Eno, the position of Guest Director has brought purpose, meaning and artistic passion to the Brighton Festival programme; this year Aung San Suu Kyi brought something further – ideals and inspirational courage that artists from all over the world responded to.

The people of Brighton and Hove have really taken Aung San Suu Kyi and her message of using our liberty to promote Burma's to their hearts. Aung San Suu Kyi was made a Freewoman of the city by Brighton and Hove City Council during the Festival; murals and homages appeared across the city, including a large mural created by Grafik Warfare in Kensington Street that will stay up for some time to come.

The wider audience has responded too with standing ovations to her message at the opening Asian Dub Foundation concert and active participation in the lotus flower appeal, with more than 2,000 being made by visitors to the Festival symbolising the 2,000 political prisoners inBurma. We know that significant awareness and funds have been raised for Burma Campaign UK.

Andrew Comben, Chief Executive of Brighton Dome and Festival says "Aung San Suu Kyi reiterated to us during the Festival how important our events have been in keeping alive the struggle for democracy, human rights and freedom in Burma and we are proud to play a part in that and celebrate such an inspiring woman through some extraordinary events over the last three weeks. Brighton and Hove is one of the country's most liberal cities and this year's Festival demonstrated that in abundance."

Artists, both local and international, responded to the themes to create a powerful and wide-ranging programme of events across the 23 days. These included Brighton Festival commissioned works from Turkish artist Kutluğ Ataman in the disused Old Municipal Market, Belgian dance company les ballets C de la B in Alain Platel's new work Gardenia, French theatre company Peut-être Theatre, Mexican theatre company Teatro de Ciertos Habitantes, British outdoor performance artists Wired Aerial and Nigel Jamieson and site-specific theatre specialists Hydrocracker, as well as world premieres from theatre director Neil Bartlett, actor Joe Bone and a new narration to the concert performance of Fidelio from writer Simon Butteriss.

Other premieres and exclusive events included the Australian film and video artist Lynette Wallworth, Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, French street arts company Générik Vapeur, Italian company Compagnia TPO, British company Hiccup Theatre, Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes, British musicians John Cale of Velvet Underground, and Asian Dub Foundation and a preview of a new West End production of Butley starring Dominic West.

This year's Festival has been a triumph of partnership working and has been made possible through some wonderful collaborations with many major organisations across the city and beyond including Lighthouse, Fabrica, University of Brighton, The Basement, Theatre Royal Brighton, Charleston Festival, The Great Escape, Dada South, Without Walls and the Zepa European network of outdoor arts

Sponsorship and corporate support has also been strong this year with major partners Southern putting on the Festival late train for the three weeks of May to help visitors get back in time for the last tube after a day's outing. The Festival's opening event, the Children's Parade was supported by E.ON and AVT Connect made it possible to be part of the Festival via video link.

Visit Brighton once again supported Brighton Festival Radio which broadcast on 87.7 FM for four weeks from 3-29 May, achieving over 1100 downloads from unique users who listened online to the exciting and exclusive behind the scenes coverage and unique content.

New for this year was free foyer music in the Brighton Dome Foyer bar which alongside broadcasting Brighton Festival Radio, created a hub for Festival audiences and visitors. With direct access to the Brighton and Hove Museum and Gallery the Foyer Bar will continue to be open daily (Tues – Sun) serving food and with entertainment at weekends throughout the year.

Brighton Festival 2012 will run from Saturday 5^th – Sunday 27^th May next year.

Edinburgh Previews at Canal Theatre, Camden

2011-06-01T19:24:00.000+01:00

Thur-Sat 9.30pm, Sun 9pm EVERY WEEK!
NEWSREVUE
£10
The world's longest running live comedy show continues at the Canal Cafe Theatre every Thursday - Saturday at 9.30pm and Sundays at 9pm. A fast-moving mix of sketches and songs, NewsRevue propels you through the world's news and current events at breakneck pace - all-kicking, idol-burning comedy, updated every week by a crack team of writers.

Director: George Maddocks
Musical Director: Philippa Herrick
Cast: Liz Peters, Tim Gutteridge, Hugh O'Shea, Eliza Collings

Fri 3rd, 7.30pm
£5
CATIE WILKINS - A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK
Catie Wilkins (FHM STAND-UP HERO (ITV4), 'Top 10 Comedians To Catch In 2011' DAVE) examines how like our parents we really are, what we've got from them and are we stuck like that? How far does the apple really fall from the tree? (She's hoping quite far to be honest, her parents are nutcases). "Wonderfully funny" – CHORTLE

Sat 4th, 7.30pm
£6.50
THE GENTLEMEN OF LEISURE, NAZ OSMANOGLU & KIERAN BOYD
A sketch and stand up comedy smorgasbord for your delectation.

Tue 7th, 7.30pm
£8
SPARK
SPARK London is the capitals first true storytelling night -www.sparklondon.com Sit back and listen to other people's stories or if you have a story to tell get in touch with us at sparklondon@gmail.com

Wed 8th, Wed 15th, Tue 21st, Wed 29th, 7.30pm
£6/5
ALI COOK - PRINCIPLES AND DECEPTIONS - EDINBURGH PREVIEW
Following his sell-out success in Edinburgh 2010 Ali Cook returns with a new show. Principles and Deceptions is a work in progress- expect awe-inspiring magic and offbeat comedy. ★★★★ Mail on Sunday "A hugely impressive show that's never short on spectacle.. genuinely astounding" ★★★★ Metro "Jaw dropping" Ali Cook has starred in Penn & Teller: Fool us (ITV1), Dirty Tricks (Channel 4) nominated for The British Comedy Awards and The Golden Rose of Montreaux, Psychic Secrets Revealed with Derren Brown (Channel 5), Monkey Magic (Channel 5), and the darkly twisted Jerry@Trick sketch show with Jerry Sadowitz (Channel 5). http://twitter.com/ali_cook www.alicook.com

Thu 9th, Fri 10th, Sat 11th, Sun 12th, 7.30pm
£12/10
LES PAVÉS DE L'OURS / LES FIANCÉS EN HERBES
"Les pavés de l'ours", followed by "Les Fiancés en herbe", 2 plays in 1 act, by Georges Feydeau. A hilarious evening in French!

Mon 13th, 7.30pm
£7/5
TEST TUBE COMEDY
TIME OUT RECOMMENDED Very friendly comedy night at the Canal Cafe, featuring the best up and coming stand ups on the London circuit. Next showMONDAY 13TH JUNE. Featuring: ABANDOMAN, DREGS, MCNEIL AND PAMPHILON, WE ARE GOOSE, NOT SORRY ENOUGH AND THE STAND-UP CHAMELEON. MC'd by Dec Munro with the House Band!

Tue 14th, 7.30pm
£7/5
FUNNY FLAMINGO
Young comic Raphael Perahia begins his monthly residence at the Canal Cafe presenting a night of Stand up comedy from some of London's finest comedians. May 24th: James Burwood, Andrea Hubert and the hilarious Trevor Lock.

Tue 14th, 9.30pm
£5
'TIL WE LEAVE ARE TRYING
Based on a true story, Trying is a fictional tale of Kyle and Daryll as drama school graduates. After training at a world-renowned centre of excellence (their words), all the boys want is to be respected; sadly their agent has other plans. This takes them on a stupendous 6 month journey, ending with a commissioned comedy show.

Wed 15th, 9.30pm
£6
KATHERINE RYAN: LITTLE MISS CONCEPTION
'Warped wit... striking presence... killer lines... calm confidence', Scotsman. 'Dark remarks... sugary innocence', Evening Standard. Who does this chick think she is? This fresh award-winning newcomer, tries out material for her forthcoming Edinburgh show.

Thu 16th, 7.30pm
£5
DAVE GIBSON & CHARLIE TALBOT - BATTLE OF BRITAIN: NORTH VS. SOUTH
In 2009 three quarters of Edinburgh audiences thought the North was better than the South. Now come and cast your vote as a cocky, vaguely posh Londoner and chirpy proletarian Lancastrian continue to explore regional differences in an all-new show. Laughter, audience voting, free tea and biscuits to start your day! 'Engaging stuff, delivered in casual style with combative backchat. A comedy workout to set up the rest of the festival day' (Whatsonstage.com)

Fri 17th, 7.30pm
£5
CHRIS MARTIN - NO. NOT THAT ONE
The hotly anticipated debut from Chortle Student Comedian of the Year finalist Chris Martin whose fear of being alone means spending too much time in shit nightclubs… "Funny and original" – Chortle As seen on World Cup's Most Shocking Moments (BBC3) and heard on The Carl Donnelly & Chris Martin Bitesize Podcast ("One of the funniest out there" – The Guardian)

Sat 18th, 7.30pm
£5
TRANSFORMER
An hour of brand new sketch comedy. The latest export from Edinburgh's long-running improv troupe The Improverts, Transformer introduces you to a world of surreal and original characters. Discover what's on the menu at Bender's Cafe, how to seduce women while riding the bus and why a beauty pageant is all about practice.

Mon 20th, Mon 27th, 7.30pm
£6/5
ALEX HORNE: SEVEN YEARS IN THE BATHROOM
This is quite an ambitious comedy show; I'm going to try to recreate your entire life in one hour. That's right, I'll do everything you'll ever do, but in sixty minutes. So in an average lifetime you'll spend two years shopping, two weeks kissing and eighteen months looking for lost things. You'll also spend quite a while eating, queuing, crying and googling yourself. I'm going to proportionally squeeze all those things into the show and onto the stage and it'll be tremendous. And very funny.

Thu 23rd, 7.30pm
£10/8.50
ABI ROBERTS TAKES YOU UP THE AISLE
Charles has done it twice. Kate can't wait to do it with his son. Abi Roberts is a seasoned pro. Whether you're hitched, ditched or feeling the itch, brace yourself for an hour of matrimonial hilarity. Abi Roberts is set to carve her niche as the Brighton Fringe Festival's hottest new comedy cabaret diva in this exciting new musical comedy. In a show that laughs, sings and dances its way through the emotional roller-coaster of tying the knot, our host shares her selection of hilarious memories from three trips up and down the aisle.

Sat 25th, 7.30pm
£6.50
MARK DOLAN - SHARING TOO MUCH (EDINBURGH PREVIEW)
In his hilarious new solo stand-up show, the star of Channel 4's Balls of Steel and the hugely popular World's… and Me documentary series literally shares too much, and gives his unique insights into a range of subjects, including politics, married life and why it is that betting shops have those strange little pens. As honest as it is hilarious, Mark's eagerly anticipated second solo show is definitely one not to miss!

Sun 26th, 4pm & 7pm
£10
SUNDAY NIGHT SINGERS
The SUNDAY NIGHT SINGERS present the Music of Jonathan Eio. The show will feature songs by composer & performer Jonathan Eio as well as other great new writing & will be presented by Jonathan himself along with Liam Tamne, Natalie Green, James Bisp, Laura Cottrell, Simon Ouldred & Amanda Roberts. From comedy numbers to beautiful ballads this show should not be missed!

Tue 28th, 7.30pm
£6/5
THE THREE ENGLISHMEN
Following their 5 Star Edinburgh Fringe show, comedy sketch group The Three Englishmen (TimeOut Critic's Choice) return to the Canal Cafe Theatre this Autumn to continue their monthly London residency, The Three Englishmen and Friends. Carrying on from the success of their previous twelve-month long, sell-out residency, the Englishmen will be presenting a host of brand new sketches and songs to split your sides, amaze your eyes, and make your heart sing!

Thu 30th, 7.30pm
£5
VIKKI STONE AND THE FLASHBACKS - BIG NEON LETTERS
Join Vikki Stone & The Flashbacks for an evening of hilarious musical comedy, fresh from their appearances at Latitude, The Rhythm Festival and Summer Sundae. Described as a cross between Jack Black and Victoria Wood, Vikki's unique brand of musical comedy has made her one of the fastest rising stars on the UK circuit, and this is not a show to be missed!

JULY

1st, 7.30pm, 26th, 9.30pm
£6.50
THE GENTLEMEN OF LEISURE PRESENT: THE DEATH OF THE NOVEL
The Gentlemen of Leisure return to Canal Cafe Theatre for previews ahead of their second stint at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. These notorious captains of cultural comedy are steering their ship of artistic exploration into the port of the novel. Cultural sketch comedy with a Newsnight Review twist that runs the artistic gamut, pauses to catch its breath, and then decides to take a cab the rest of the way.

Sat 2nd,
£7/5
PETE FIRMAN
Pete Firman is the UK's leading Comedian/Magician. A familiar face on British television, Pete has appeared as presenter, pundit and panel guest on all sorts of programmes, as well as being nominated for a Golden Rose at the Rose d'Or Festival in Montreux.

Sun 3rd & Sun 17th 7pm, Tue 26th 7.30pm
CHRIS COX
The award winning, 5 star, sell out, mind reader who can't read minds. He's been on TV, toured the world and is somehow still getting away with it. Chris will be doing things he shouldn't be able to do, controlling coincidence and wondering whether love is the only real bit of magic in this world. It'll be weird and wonderful. Chris'll be wonderful You just turn up. Please bring your mind for reading purposes.

Tue 5th, Wed 13th, Wed 27th, 7.30pm
£6/5
ALI COOK - PRINCIPLES AND DECEPTIONS - EDINBURGH PREVIEW
Following his sell-out success in Edinburgh 2010 Ali Cook returns with a new show. Principles and Deceptions is a work in progress- expect awe-inspiring magic and offbeat comedy. ★★★★ Mail on Sunday "A hugely impressive show that's never short on spectacle.. genuinely astounding" ★★★★ Metro "Jaw dropping" Ali Cook has starred in Penn & Teller: Fool us (ITV1), Dirty Tricks (Channel 4) nominated for The British Comedy Awards and The Golden Rose of Montreaux, Psychic Secrets Revealed with Derren Brown (Channel 5), Monkey Magic (Channel 5), and the darkly twisted Jerry@Trick sketch show with Jerry Sadowitz (Channel 5). http://twitter.com/ali_cook www.alicook.com

Wed 6th, 7.30pm
£6.50
MORGAN & WEST
Time-travelling Victorian Magicians, Morgan & West, return to the future to mix deception with detection in their all-new show. On a recent trip to the future they discovered that they will be murdered at the Edinburgh Fringe 2011. They hurried there to solve the mystery.

Thu 7th, 7.30pm, Mon 18th, 9.30pm
£6
KATHERINE RYAN: LITTLE MISS CONCEPTION
'Warped wit... striking presence... killer lines... calm confidence', Scotsman. 'Dark remarks... sugary innocence', Evening Standard. Who does this chick think she is? This fresh award-winning newcomer, tries out material for her forthcoming Edinburgh show.

Mon 11th, 7.30pm
£7/5
TEST TUBE COMEDY
TIME OUT RECOMMENDED Very friendly comedy night at the Canal Cafe, featuring the best up and coming stand ups on the London circuit.

Fri 15th, Sat 16th, 7.30pm
ABI ROBERTS TAKES YOU UP THE AISLE
£10/8.50
Charles has done it twice. Kate can't wait to do it with his son. Abi Roberts is a seasoned pro. Whether you're hitched, ditched or feeling the itch, brace yourself for an hour of matrimonial hilarity. Abi Roberts is set to carve her niche as the Brighton Fringe Festival's hottest new comedy cabaret diva in this exciting new musical comedy. In a show that laughs, sings and dances its way through the emotional roller-coaster of tying the knot, our host shares her selection of hilarious memories from three trips up and down the aisle.

Mon 18th, Tue 19th, 7.30pm
£6/5
THE THREE ENGLISHMEN
Following their 5 Star Edinburgh Fringe show, comedy sketch group The Three Englishmen (TimeOut Critic's Choice) return to the Canal Cafe Theatre this Autumn to continue their monthly London residency, The Three Englishmen and Friends. Carrying on from the success of their previous twelve-month long, sell-out residency, the Englishmen will be presenting a host of brand new sketches and songs to split your sides, amaze your eyes, and make your heart sing!

Sun 24th, 7pm, Mon 25th, 7.30pm
£6.50/4,50
SARA PASCOE VS THE APOCALYPSE
The Armageddon is imminent and Sara plans to survive. How will she breed? Create Pornography? Kill zombies? An arresting stand-up show about the end of the world as we know it. The hotly anticipated follow up to 2010's sell out show from co-star of Campus, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, and Free Agents (C4) and guest star of The Thick Of It and Being Human (BBC.)

Fri 29th,7.30pm
£6/5
BAD BREAD
After an award-winning, sold-out run at the 2010 Edinburgh Festival, 'Bad Bread' bring their fast-paced, original sketch-comedy, to the Canal Cafe Theatre for a new monthly show (the first Thursday of every month). With each show including a different (hilarious) special guest, Bad Bread present an hour of side-spiltting comedy for your entertainment!

LOVESONG in Plymouth and Hammersmith

2011-06-01T19:22:00.001+01:00

LOVESONG

by Abi Morgan

Acclaimed theatre company Frantic Assembly join forces with celebrated writer Abi Morgan for LOVESONG, a new play about lifelong love.

Directed by Frantic Assembly's artistic directors Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett, the production will tour the UK, beginning on 30 September 2011at the Drum Theatre, Plymouth, and ending with a three week London run at the Lyric Hammersmith from 11 January 2012 (Plymouth press night 3 October; London press night 12 January).

Two couples live and love in the same house – one young and full of hope, the other older and reaching a point of crisis. They are the same couple, changed only by a lifelong love story, and their past and present selves collide in this haunting and beautiful tale of togetherness.

Lovesong is a collaboration between of two of the most exciting talents in British drama.

Abi Morgan's writing for the screen includes the Margaret Thatcher filmIron Lady, starring Meryl Streep, the flagship BBC TV drama The Hour andand the BAFTA award-winning drama Sex Traffic (Channel 4). She previously worked with Frantic Assembly on the much praised Tiny Dynamite, and her other previous writing for the stage includes The Night Is Darkest Before The Dawn (part of the Tricycle Theatre's Great Game season), Fugee (NT New Connections), Tender (Hampstead) and Splendour(Paines Plough).

Frantic Assembly's celebrated physical style combines movement, design, music and text. Recent production highlights include Beautiful Burnout(co-production with National Theatre Scotland), Stockholm by Bryony Lavery, a radical reworking of Shakespeare's Othello, pool (no water) by Mark Ravenhill, and Dirty Wonderland, a site specific show for Brighton Festival.

Lovesong reunites Frantic Assembly with the Drum Theatre Plymouth following previous sell out runs with Peepshow, pool (no water) andStockholm and with Othello which marked the company's debut on the Theatre Royal stage.

Supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England

Developed with the support of the RSC Studio.

LISTINGS INFORMATION:

LOVESONG by Abi Morgan

Direction and Choreography: Scott Graham & Steven Hoggett
Design: Merle Hensel
Lighting Design: Andy Purves
Sound Design: Carolyn Downing
Video Design: Ian William Galloway

Cast to be announced

UK Tour 30 September 2011 – 28 January 2012

Plymouth press night: Mon 3 October, 7.45pm at the Drum Theatre Plymouth

London press night: Thu 12 January, 7pm at the Lyric Hammersmith.

Tour dates:

2011

30 September – 15 October

Drum Theatre, Plymouth

Box office 01752 230 440

www.theatreroyal.com

18-22 Oct

Warwick Arts Centre, Warwick

Box office 024 7652 4524

www.warwickartscentre.co.uk

9-12 November

West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

Box office 0113 213 7700
www.wyp.org.uk

15-26 November

Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester

Box office 01243 781312

www.cft.org.uk

2012

11-28 January 2012

Lyric Hammersmith

Box office 0871 22 117 2 www.lyric.co.uk

1. Frantic Assembly is celebrated at home and abroad for creating thrilling, energetic and unforgettable theatre. The company attracts new and young audiences with work that reflects contemporary culture. Vivid and dynamic, Frantic Assembly's unique physical style combines movement, design, music and text.

Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett formed Frantic Assembly in 1994. Scott and Steven have since performed in or directed all of the company's work. They seek to collaborate on original ideas with today's most exciting artists. Frantic Assembly has toured widely throughout the UK, building its reputation as one of the country's most exciting companies. Internationally Frantic Assembly has performed, created and collaborated in 28 different countries.

In addition to its productions Frantic Assembly operates an extensive Learn & Train programme introducing 5.000 participants a year to the company's process of creating theatre, in a wide variety of settings. Frantic Assembly also delivers Ignition, an innovative vocational training project for young men, particularly targeting those with little previous experience of the arts.

2. Drum Theatre Plymouth produces and presents new plays. As part of the Theatre Royal Plymouth it has built a national reputation for the quality of its programme and innovative work, winning the Peter Brook Empty Space Award in 2007. In addition to its own commissioned productions, the Drum Theatre collaborates with other leading theatre companies including, most recently, Paines Plough, the Royal Court Theatre, Told by an Idiot and the Belgian company, Ontroerend Goed.

In 2009 the Drum Theatre had major success with a new 'horror' comedy, Grand Guignol by Carl Grose as well as producing a new experimental work, Under the Influence, with Ontroerend Goed for production in Plymouth and Ghent, before touring internationally. The Drum again collaborated with Ontroerend Goed in 2010 onTeenage Riot as well as co-producing Sarah Ruhl's Eurydice with ATC and DC Moore's The Empire with the Royal Court. The Drum has recently collaborated with Told by an Idiot on And The Horse You Rode In On; with Paines Plough on Love, Love, Love by Mike Bartlett and with ATC on The Golden Dragon. Most recently it producedChekhov in Hell by Dan Rebellato with runs in Plymouth and at the Soho Theatre, London.

3. On-sale dates

· Drum Theatre Plymouth – on sale now

· Warwirck Arts Centre – on sale 23 June

· West Yorkshire Playhouse – on sale 2 July

· Chichester Festival Theatre – on sale September

· Lyric Hammersmith – on sale now

GUCCI TRIBECA DOCUMENTARY FUND ANNOUNCES 2011 GRANTEES, AWARD RECIPIENTS TO RECEIVE $150,000 IN DOCUMENTARY FINISHING FUNDS

2011-06-01T17:00:00.001+01:00

GUCCI TRIBECA DOCUMENTARY FUND ANNOUNCES 2011 GRANTEES, AWARD RECIPIENTS TO RECEIVE $150,000 IN DOCUMENTARY FINISHING FUNDS

* * *

The PPR Corporate Foundation for Women's Dignity & Rights Joins the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund in Announcing the Inaugural Recipients of the $50,000

Spotlighting Women Documentary Award

* * *

Jessica Alba, Amir Bar-Lev, Frida Giannini, and Edward Norton among2011 Jury Members

[New York, NY – June 1, 2011] – The Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) and Gucci today announced the 2011 recipients selected for the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund. The Fund, now in its fourth year, provides finishing finances, year-round support and guidance to domestic and international documentary filmmakers with feature-length films highlighting and humanizing issues of social importance from around the world. Nine projects have been selected from450 submissions from 38 countries to receive a total of $150,000, to be administered by the Tribeca Film Institute.

New this year, The PPR Corporate Foundation for Women's Dignity & Rights, has joined the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund, and created the Spotlighting Women Documentary Award which will annually provide funding of $50,000. Three film projects that illuminate the courage, compassion, extraordinary strength of character, and contributions of women from around the world have been chosen for the inaugural award.

2011 projects were selected by a jury consisting of Jessica Alba, Amir Bar-Lev, Wendy Ettinger, Frida Giannini, Edward Norton, and Mariane Pearl. The committee chose the recipients from finalists selected by TFI. In addition to funding, grantees will each receive year-round support from TFI, including one-on-one guidance and consultation, helping each film to reach completion and enter the marketplace in the best possible position.

"We recognize the invaluable role that documentary films play in helping to bring important social concerns out into the open and thus create meaningful conversation," said Beth Janson, Executive Director of the Tribeca Film Institute. "We are proud of this year's selections and are committed to our ongoing partnership with Gucci and new relationship with the PPR Foundation to continue to help inspire change through film."

The projects that will collectively receive $100,000 total in funding for the 2011 Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund are:

- An American Promise (Director, Michele Stephenson & Joe Brewster)

- Caught in the Net (Director, Hilla Medalia)

- Democrats (Director, Camilla Nielsson, Producer, Henrik Veileborg)

- The Great Invisible (Producer/Director Margaret Brown, Producer, Jason Orans)

- Untitled Global Health Documentary (Director, Kief Davidson)

- Charge (Director, Mike Plunkett)

The projects that will collectively receive $50,000 total in funding for the inaugural 2011 Spotlighting Women Documentary Award are:

- Barefoot Engineers (Director, Jehane Noujaim)

- Justice for Sale (Directors, Ilse & Femke van Velzen)

- The World Before Her (Director, Nisha Pahuja)

"These are the films that people should be keeping an eye out for in the months ahead," said jury member Amir Bar-lev. "These projects effectively push the form of documentary filmmaking and defy established conventions, taking audiences to places that they never imagined existed."

Films funded through the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund examine larger issues through engaging stories including: an intimate portrayal of how race and privilege are experienced by African American middle class families in the US today; three teens living in China who receive treatment for the classification of internet addiction; the creation of a new constitution in Zimbabwe; an inside look at the Gulf Coast through characters who work in the oil and fishing industries; the story of a remarkable public health charity operating in the world's poorest countries; and a look at today's Green Revolution through the increasing conflict over lithium. The grantees projects include:

- An American Promise, Directed by Michele Stephenson & Joe Brewster—An American Promise follows filmmaker-parents who spend 12 years with the camera turned on themselves and another African American family as their firstborn sons enter a prestigious college preparatory school in 1999. An intimate, poignant and complex portrayal of how race and privilege are experienced by African American middle class families today.

- Caught in the Net, Directed by Hilla Medalia—Caught in the Netfollows China as the first country in the world to classify Internet Addiction as a clinical disorder. The film features a Beijing treatment center where Chinese teenagers are being de-programmed. We follow the lives of three teens from the day they arrive throughout their three month treatment period and their return home.

- Democrats, Directed by Camilla Nielsson and Produced by Henrik Veileborg—Democrats is a film about the creation of a new constitution in Zimbabwe. The film follows two top politicians, who have been appointed to lead the country through the reform process. The two men are political opponents, but united in the ambition to make history by giving the nation a new founding document - that can give birth to the future's Zimbabwe.

- The Great Invisible, Produced and Directed by Margaret Brown and Produced by Jason Orans—The Great Invisible is a feature-length look at the global oil economy through the lens of characters that work in the oil and fishing industries on the Gulf Coast. Much like Margaret Brown's last documentary The Order of Myths, this film will be shot in a verité style with select interviews to supplement verité information. In addition to the people in the film, the landscapes of the oil world will be established as a distinct character.

- Untitled Global Health Documentary, Directed by Kief Davidson— Untitled Global Health Documentary is the story of Partners In Health, a remarkable public health charity operating in the world's poorest countries PIH's controversial founders, including Dr. Paul Farmer are larger-than-life heroes, fighting to change the way the world cares for the poorest among us, by insisting on healthcare as an inalienable human right.

- Charge, Directed by Mike Plunkett—Charge is a look at the Green Revolution already underway, and the conflict over lithium, a key energy resource, which has rapidly escalated. Against a background of conflict, the disparate fates of three men hang in the balance.

The new Spotlighting Women Documentary Awards will expand the reach of the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund illuminating the courage, compassion, extraordinary strength of character, and contributions of women from around the world including: the story of three woman who go on a life-changing journey to become solar engineers; a courageous woman and her husband who fight for justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and the stirring conflict surrounding beauty pageants in India. The grantees projects include:

- Barefoot Engineers, Directed by Jehane Noujaim—Barefoot Engineers follows three women who leave their remote villages to go on a life-changing journey to India with the hopes of becoming Solar Engineers. When they return to their villages, they will wire their communities and turn on the lights.

- Justice for Sale, Directored by Ilse & Femke van Velzen—Justice for Sale is a dramatic story which follows two young, courageous human rights lawyers who refuse to accept that justice is indeed "For Sale" in their country. Claudine and her husband Eugene, fight for justice to end impunity in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

- The World Before Her, Directed by Nisha Pahuja—The World Before Her asks: Beauty Pageants-- passé in the West--but in India, where women remain second-class citizens, can they actually be empowering? The World Before Her follows two converging story lines--that of the girls who want to become Miss India, and that of the forces that want the pageant banned.

About the Tribeca Film Institute:

The Tribeca Film Institute is a 501(c)3 year round nonprofit arts organization founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in the wake of September 11, 2001. TFI empowers filmmakers through grants and professional development, and is a resource and advocate for individual artists in the field. The Institute's educational programming leverages an extensive film community network to help underserved New York City students learn filmmaking and gain the media skills necessary to be productive citizens and creative individuals in the 21^st century. Administering a dozen major programs annually, TFI is a critical contributor to the fabric of filmmaking and aids in protecting the livelihood of filmmakers and media artists.

For more information and a list of all TFI programs visit http://www.tribecafilminstitute.org/

What's on in June at the RAMSHORN, GLASGOW

2011-06-01T15:55:00.000+01:00

What’s on in June at the RAMSHORN, GLASGOW

THE PHYSICISTS

Friday 3 June 2011 @ 7.30pm

Strathclyde Theatre Group present a rehearsed reading of Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s popular satiric drama, The Physicists. Written in 1962, a time when science seemed to have outstripped man’s ability to use it for the betterment of humanity, the physicists of the play protect their work by getting themselves locked up in a lunatic asylum. Bruce Downie directs.

Ticket prices: £8 full/ £6 concessions

Advance booking: through the Ramshorn on 0141 – 552 3489

RAMSHORN NEW PLAYWRIGHTS INITIATIVE

NEW PLAY FESTIVAL

Strathclyde Theatre Group

Wednesday 15 – Saturday 18 June @ 7.30

THE CINDERELLA BOYS

by Tom Brogan and Fraser Campbell

Wednesday 19th April 1972. Celtic take on Inter Milan while Rangers host Bayern Munich at the same stage of the European Cup Winners’ Cup. As 130,000 football fans converge on Glasgow, two couples watch the games on the only TV in the close, at the home of Ross and Diane McLeod. Glasgow’s tribalism has come between former friends Ross and Danny McMeechan. Ex work and union colleagues, the two have drifted apart since Ross lost his job. While their wives Diane and Melanie remain friends, Ross and Danny stick with the insular safety of their respective footballing social circles.

Still, needs must when the football is on, and Diane and Melanie try to enjoy a rare social occasion. But an unexpected face from the past arrives, bringing with him a reminder of secrets long and best forgotten. Could he simply be dropping in on old friends? Or does he have a purpose beyond a simple social call?

The Cinderella Boys follows the success of Tom Brogan and Fraser Campbell’s first play,set in a betting shop, Odds and Sods.

Tickets: £9/6

Advance booking – http://onlineshop.strath.ac.uk

Or via the Ramshorn

Wednesday 22 – Saturday 25 June @ 7.30

Strathclyde Theatre Group

NO TIME HAS PASSED IN HIPPOLAND

by Kenny Boyle and Clare Sheppard

directed by Deborah Mair

Jane, Robbie and Kate don’t miss each other. It’s been years since they’ve really spoken. As siblings go they can’t be described as close. But now their terminally ill father has a request for them, one that might strain the already fragile bonds of their family to the point of breaking. The topic of euthanasia and mercy killings is one that exercises the minds of many. No Time Has Passed in Hippoland tells the story of the difficult choices that families are faced with and how it affects those who will be left behind. This production follows a successful rehearsed reading in September.

Tickets: £9/6

Advance booking – http://onlineshop.strath.ac.uk

Or via the Ramshorn

MERCHANT CITY FESTIVAL

Strathclyde Theatre Group

Saturday 23 - Sunday 24 July 2 – 5

SHAKESPEARE AT LARGE

directed by Pat Williams

Based on STG’s acclaimed à la carte formula Shakespeare at Large will be presented in the Ramshorn Graveyard. Come along and choose from a variety of scenes, soliloquies and sonnets that will add zest and drama to your summer afternoon.

Love, Lust, Pain, Rage and Humour: where Shakespeare is At Large all human life is there!

Free event

The Ramshorn Theatre, University of Strathclyde Drama Centre,

98 Ingram Street, Glasgow G1 1EX

0141 – 552 3489

ramshorn.theatre@strath.ac.uk

Comedian and TV presenter JUSTIN LEE COLLINS to play Dennis Dupree in Rock Of Ages in London

2011-06-01T15:51:00.001+01:00

ROCK OF AGES announces first London cast member

* Comedian and TV presenter JUSTIN LEE COLLINS to play Dennis Dupree *

TV and radio personality Justin Lee Collins has signed up to star in the West End version of the hit rock musical Rock of Ages. He will take on the role of bar owner and ageing hippy, Dennis Dupree (played in the original LA stage show by Tenacious D’s Kyle Gass).

Justin Lee Collins will be taking to the West End stage when Rock Of Ages begins at the prestigious Shaftesbury Theatre from 31^st August 2011. Tickets are on sale now.

Rock Of Ages is the ultimate 80’s rock mix-tape musical, an hilarious story of hedonism, dreams, love and, of course, rock.

A celebration of classic 80's rock culture, Rock of Ages tells the story of a small town girl and a big city rocker falling in love to the greatest songs of the decade.

So popular has it been in New York, Toronto and Melbourne that the show is currently being made into a star-studded movie starring, amongst others, Tom Cruise, Russell Brand and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Alec Baldwin will be playing Dennis Dupree.

Justin Lee Collins has always had a passion for singing and for the theatre. Famously he performed as Tom Jones in Convention Crasher for Channel 4; and he actually got to perform with the man himself on the Sunday Night Project (Channel 4) when Tom appeared as a guest host in the last series. He has sung live on several occasions on Chris Moyles’ Radio One Breakfast Show.

He has never shied away from showing his love for the artists whose music he will be singing in the show. He says: “Being a fan of bands like Whitesnake, Foreigner, Journey and Bon Jovi, I couldn’t resist when I heard about the chance to appear in the show. What young lad hasn’t strummed the air guitar to the classic riffs of those poodle-haired rock bands of the 80’s? Now I’ll get to do it on stage every night!”

Collins’ dream of performing in the West End came true in 2009 when he was working on a series for Sky: JLC Is…… He starred in Chicago as Mr. Cellophane for three performances after weeks of intense voice training and rehearsing.

For more information and to book tickets please visit: www.rockofagesmusical.co.uk

ROCK OF AGES

Book by Chris D’Arienzo

Director: Kristin Hanggi

Choreography: Kelly Devine

Scenic Design: Beowulf Boritt

Costume Design: Gregory Gale

Lighting Design: Jason Lyons

Sound Design: Peter Hylenski

Projection Design: Zachary Borovay

Music Supervisor: Ethan Popp

Cast includes: Justin Lee Collins

From 31 August 2011

Press Night: 27 September 2011

Monday-Thursday at 7.30pm

Friday at 5.30pm and 8.30pm

Saturday at 4pm and 8pm

Shaftesbury Theatre

210 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8DP

Box office 020 7379 5399 / www.rockofagesmusical.co.uk

· Five times nominated for the prestigious Tony Awards in the US (including ‘Best Musical’), ROCK OF AGES the musical is a celebration of Los Angeles rock culture, with a great story to boot. Set in 1987, a small town girl meets a big city rocker in LA’s most famous rock club and they fall in love to some of the greatest songs of the decade – all classic tracks which will have London rockin’ for more.

· The film of the musical, directed by Adam Shankman (Hairspray), has started filming, for release in 2012

SLEEP NO MORE extends New York run

2011-06-01T15:49:00.000+01:00

Punchdrunk’s

SLEEP NO MORE extends New York run

· Award-winning production joins ranks of British hits on Broadway

· Winner of Drama Desk Award and Obie Award

· Now booking until September 2011

SLEEP NO MORE, Punchdrunk’s smash-hit immersive experience, based on the story of Macbeth, has extended its hugely successful New York run until 5 September 2011, due to extraordinary public demand.

The production opened in March 2011 at the "McKittrick Hotel", New York. It has won a Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience and a Special Citation For Design And Choreography at the Obie Awards.

SLEEP NO MORE offers an audience experience unlike anything else on the New York stage. It is the latest UK hit to wow New York audiences, critics and awards panels alike. Following the triumphant British productions of War Horse, Jerusalem, La Bete and Brief Encounter on Broadway, SLEEP NO MORE is flying a similar flag for British theatre off-Broadway.

Punchdrunk's SLEEP NO MORE is an award-winning theatrical experience that tells Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Macbeth through a darkly cinematic lens. Audiences move freely through the epic world of the story at their own pace, choosing where to go and what to see, ensuring that everyone’s journey is different and unique.

SLEEP NO MORE is Punchdrunk's most epic production to date, featuring a cast of 26 exceptional performers. The show plays out across three hours in over a hundred cinematically detailed rooms ranging across the six floors of a vast block of three disused warehouses.

Punchdrunk artistic director Felix Barrett says of the company's US success: "Sleep No More is the Punchdrunk show that first caught the imaginations of an intrepid band of supporters in London back in 2003, when it ran for just 12 performances supported by a tiny Arts Council grant. It's fantastic that the show is now so successfully showcasing Punchdrunk's brand of immersive theatre overseas. While SLEEP NO MORE is developing an enthusiastic new audience for the company's work in the U.S., Punchdrunk is looking forward to breaking brand new ground with future projects here at home in the coming months."

A host of celebrity fans has been joining round the block queues to catch the most talked about show in both NYC and further afield, including Darren Aronofsky, Tyra Banks, Orlando Bloom, Jeff Goldblum, Baz Luhrman, Natalie Portman, Neil Simon, Justin Timberlake and Matt Damon among them.

The creative team for Punchdrunk's SLEEP NO MORE is Felix Barrett (Direction and Design), Maxine Doyle (Direction and Choreography), Stephen Dobbie (Sound Design), Beatrice Minns (Design Associate) and Livi Vaughan (Design Associate).

Punchdrunk's SLEEP NO MORE is produced by EMURSIVE in association with rebecca gold productions.

Punchdrunk's SLEEP NO MORE is playing now through 5 September at The McKittrick Hotel, 530 West 27th Street, New York, New York 10001.

Entry times: Monday-Saturday at 7:00 p.m., 7:15 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 7:45 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. There are additional late night performances on Fridays and Saturdays, with entry times at 11:00 p.m., 11:15 p.m., 11:30 p.m., 11:45 p.m. and midnight.

Tickets: $75 (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday), $85 (Thursday, and late performances Friday & Saturday), and $95 (regular performances Friday & Saturday), and are available via www.sleepnomorenyc.com or by calling 00 1 866 811-4111.

MARTI PELLOW UNLEASHES HIS DARKER SIDE.

2011-06-01T15:48:00.001+01:00

MARTI PELLOW UNLEASHES HIS DARKER SIDE…

as he takes on the title role in an all new spectacular national tour of the smash-hit Broadway musical

BILL KENWRIGHT PRESENTS

MARTI PELLOW IN JEKYLL AND HYDE

MUSIC BY FRANK WILDHORN

BOOK AND LYRICS BY LESLIE BRICUSSE

Marti Pellow, the hugely successful singer, songwriter and front man of Wet Wet Wet, makes a hotly-anticipated return to the Glasgow on stage in a major new tour of the hit Broadway musical, Jekyll and Hyde which runs from Monday 13 – Sat 18 June.

Marti’s career began when he formed the band Wet Wet Wet with his school friends, which went on to become one of the most successful and highly acclaimed bands in British pop history. The band enjoyed consistent chart topping multi-platinum albums and have been nominated and won major industry awards including the Ivor Novellos and The Brits. Their 1994 single “Love Is All Around”, featured on the soundtrack to the romantic comedy of the decade, Four Weddings and a Funeral, continues to be one of the top five highest selling singles and most played songs of all time in the UK.

As well as a critically-acclaimed solo career, Marti has gone on to star in the West End, on Broadway and on National Tour in the smash-hit stage musicals Chicago and The Witches of Eastwick, he also co-starred with Josh Groban in the TV and film special Chess in Concert and most recently gained huge personal accolades from his performance on BBC Radio 2’s Elvis Forever concert.

Glamorous, sexy and deliciously wicked in equal measures, Jekyll and Hyde is based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic gothic novella. Pellow stars as the brilliant but obsessive scientist whose sadistic alter ego wreaks havoc across Victorian London in a dark tale of love, redemption and the seductive power of evil.

Written by Frank Wildhorn with book and lyrics by the Academy Award-winning composer Leslie Bricusse (Stop The World I Want to Get Off, Scrooge, Doctor Dolittle, Victor/Victoria, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory), and featuring the hit song This Is The Moment, the Broadway production of Jekyll and Hyde ran for over 1500 performances between 1997 and 2001.

PRESS NIGHT: Monday 13^th June

Listings Info:

Jekyll & Hyde

Mon 13 – Sat 18 June

Mon – Sat eves 7.30pm

Wed & Sat mat 2.30pm

Tickets: £14 - £33

Box Office 08448 717 648 (Bkg fee)

www.uktheatre.net (bkg fee)

CHASE PRESENTS NATASHA BEDINGFIELD, ZACH BRAFF, WHOOPI GOLDBERG, MC HAMMER, DEBBIE HARRY, LL COOL J,

2011-06-01T15:45:00.000+01:00

ROBIN HOOD

CHASE PRESENTS NATASHA BEDINGFIELD, ZACH BRAFF, WHOOPI GOLDBERG, MC HAMMER, DEBBIE HARRY, LL COOL J, CAROLE KING, AND JIMMY SMITS WITH THE BLACK EYED PEAS IN CONCERT

TO BENEFIT THE ROBIN HOOD FOUNDATION

Tickets Still Available for June 9^th Central Park “Concert 4 NYC”

(New York, NY June 1, 2011) – Chase and the Robin Hood Foundation have announced the first special guest stars to join The Black Eyed Peas in the June 9th benefit concert in Central Park. Added to the line-up are performances by Natasha Bedingfield, MC Hammer, Debbie Harry, LL Cool J and Carole King, with appearances by Zach Braff, Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Smits and more to come. The “Concert 4 NYC” benefits Robin Hood and its mission to fight poverty in New York City. Chase, the largest private-sector employer in New York City, is the presenting sponsor. Clear Channel is the event’s exclusive radio partner and Eventbrite is the exclusive ticketing partner.

Concertgoers must have a ticket to enter the event. Last week, 54,000 free tickets were distributed via lottery. Tickets are still available to this once-in-a-lifetime event for purchase through Chase, which is offering cardholders with Ultimate Rewards the opportunity to purchase or use their rewards points for special VIP tickets, with all proceeds going to the Robin Hood Foundation. Tickets can be purchased at www.ultimaterewards.com. Robin Hood is also offering VIP tickets for purchase, available at http://blackeyedpeas.robinhood.org/. Dependent upon price level, packages include a special entrance into Central Park, access to a VIP area to watch the concert, an onsite hospitality area and top tier viewing from the VIP section. Tickets to the event are tax deductible. Tickets are limited to ensure the safety of all fans attending the event.

The concert will raise funds and awareness for Robin Hood, a public charity targeting poverty in New York City by funding and partnering with the best and most effective programs. Robin Hood’s grants and guidance support food pantries, homeless shelters, health clinics and provide work-force training for impoverished New Yorkers in the five boroughs. As part of the partnership with The Black Eyed Peas, Robin Hood will fund the opening of three Peapod Academies in New York City over the coming years, which will support disadvantaged youth, by providing music and artistic education, such as music engineering, mixing and video editing, among other opportunities.

Throughout the concert, music lovers will be encouraged to donate to Robin Hood via text message. For more information on the concert, ticket availability, and how to donate, please visit www.robinhood.org.

review "The People in the Picture"

2011-05-31T21:58:00.003+01:00

The People in the Picture” a tour de force for Donna Murphy as Jewish actor in wartime Poland

By Lucy Komisar

It was 1935 Warsaw, and a small traveling troop of Jewish actors were playing the “shtetl circuit,” as they half affectionately, half mockingly called it. They did vaudeville, they did Shakespeare, they did the Bible. Raisel (Donna Murphy) as Moses’ wife: “You’re going to do what? You can’t even part your hair!” The times are dark and the troop reaches for answers in absurdity: “A pogrom is not an easy act to follow.”

Donna Murphy as Raisel, and Christopher Innvar as Chaim Bradovsky, photo Joan Marcus.

In Iris Rainer Dart’s elegant, moving, powerful play, with fine, subtle direction by Leonard Foglia, the actors use satire and burlesque to cover up and challenge the horror around them, to bring a few moments of forgetting to the audiences at hidden stages in basements in the Nazi-terrorized city. The actors, among them Joyce Van Patten, are memorable.

Even in the war years, the troop is experimenting with motion pictures and has done a reel. Just as things are closing in on Jews in Poland, Raisel’s lover, Chaim Bradovsky (Christopher Innvar) is invited to Hollywood. But Raisel refuses to leave the others.

We see the violence that decimates the company. Only some will survive, Raisel among them. But she will know the sorrow of a lost love and an almost lost child. Her daughter will be a flotsam on the shoals of the war.

Christopher Innvar as a vision of Chaim Bradovsky, Donna Murphy as- Bubbie and Rachel Resheff as Jenny, photo Joan Marcus.

Years later in New York, Raisel wants to tell her granddaughter (Rachel Resheff) about her life in Warsaw. And about the man who was her lover, still a shadowy presence in her life. She relives it as she tells it, carrying us back to Poland and to numbers sung and danced by the excellent ensemble cast. The fine music – Klezmer, vaudeville, sometimes carnival sounds — is by Mike Stoller and Artie Butler.

Moving back and forth between the war years and 1977 in New York City, the play is a tour de force for Murphy, who turns young and old and young again with just the change of a wig and a shift of facial expression and body language.

Rachel Resheff as Jenny, daughter of Nicole Parker as Red, photo Joan Marcus.

There’s a secret to be uncovered that involves the three generations of women. Raisel’s own daughter, Red, (Nicole Parker) is still angry and resentful about the past. Sometimes the story gets a little schmaltzy, but that is acceptable, given the circumstances. It’s an unforgettable tale and a graceful production.

“The People in the Picture.” Book & Lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart. Music by Mike Stoller & Artie Butler; directed by Leonard Foglia. Opened April 28, 2011; closes June 19, 2011. Roundabout Theatre Company at Studio 54 254 West 54th St., New York, NY. 212-719-1300; Opened April 28, 2011; closes June 19, 2011.

http://thekomisarscoop.com/2011/05/the-people-in-the-picture-a-tour-de-force-for-donna-murphy-as-jewish-actor-in-wartime-poland/

Bloomsbury and Faber announce Drama Online

2011-05-27T09:48:00.001+01:00

NEWS RELEASE: Bloomsbury and Faber announce Drama Online – a new partnership to provide online access to the world's finest drama from the last two and half thousand years.

Bloomsbury Publishing Plc and Faber and Faber Limited are pleased to announce a new partnership to develop a digital content platform for libraries, educators, students and researchers to be sold via subscription and perpetual access to academic institutions.

Drama Online, launching in October 2012, is the ultimate online resource for plays, critical analysis and performance. Featuring the pre-eminent drama lists from Methuen Drama, Arden Shakespeare and Faber and Faber, Drama Online will offer a complete digital library of the most studied, performed and critically acclaimed plays from the last two and a half thousand years.

From the works of Aeschylus in 5^th Century BC to the present day, Drama Online will provide unique access to the finest drama literature. Titles will include the most highly regarded scholarly editions of Shakespeare - the Arden Shakespeare Series; realist works from Ibsen and Chekhov; foreign works in translation; comic masterpieces from Oscar Wilde and Noël Coward; modern classics by leading writers Caryl Churchill, Simon Stephens, Edward Bond, Alan Ayckbourn, Christopher Hampton, Brian Friel, John Osborne, David Greig, David Harrower, April De Angelis, David Hare, Anthony Neilson, Shelagh Stephenson and David Eldridge among many others; the very latest contemporary writers including Polly Stenham, Katori Hall and Lucy Prebble and the works of theatre companies such as Complicite and Filter. The collection will be continually updated with the very latest writing from new and established writers.

In addition Drama Online will offer expert guidance in the form of scholarly notes, annotated texts, critical analysis and contextual information. A regularly-expanding portfolio of performance and practitioner texts from theory to backstage and acting guides coupled with images, video and audio material will make this an essential study tool meeting the full range of drama teaching needs.

Drama Online presents unique functionality not found in any other platform. Users will be able to search full text and across genres, periods, authors and themes; analyse lines per character; view a rehearsal grid for each play; find monologues; print lines for a character; export extracts with citations in place; save and share materials.

Drama Online is an advanced study tool for students and scholars developed in full consultation with academics, researchers and librarians.

Key features and benefits:

Integrated access to hundreds of plays and reference works
Regularly updated with contemporary plays and study materials
Expert guidance with annotated texts, scholarly editions and critical material
Powerful full text searching and advanced search options
Filtered browsing across authors, periods, genres and themes
Personalisation features: annotate, save, share, extract, citation options
Simple navigation and intuitive user interface, easily accessible from VLEs
View cast size and the number of lines per character
Rehearsal grids illustrate when characters appear in scenes
Quick access to `part books': lines for individual characters
Option to turn textual notes on or off
Detailed monologues and audition speech search
View parallel texts on screen
Simple navigation and intuitive user interface, easily accessible from VLEs
Comfortable on screen reading experience complete with pagination, stage directions and lineation in place
Cross referencing via DOI (Digital Object Identifiers) and OpenURLs
Industry standard access: unlimited concurrent access via IP recognition, ATHENS/Shibboleth, library cards, and username and password for remote users.
COUNTER-compliant usage statistics and library branding
Extensive online help and excellent customer and technical support
Building on functionality from Bloomsbury's award-winning Berg Fashion Library www.bergfashionlibrary.com

Nigel Newton, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bloomsbury Publishing described the resource as a "Very exciting and truly unique way of providing access to the finest drama literature. Many iconic works in this collection have never been made available digitally before and we are delighted to be working in partnership with Faber. "

Stephen Page, Chief Executive and Publisher of Faber and Faber noted: "This partnership between two independent publishers will make available a unique and extraordinary resource for the study of drama and we are delighted to be working closely with Bloomsbury to develop it over the coming years."

For more information visit www.dramaonlinelibrary.com

SHREK THE MUSICAL’S GOT TALENT!

2011-05-27T09:45:00.001+01:00

SHREK THE MUSICAL'S GOT TALENT!

CAST TO PERFORM LIVE ON ITV'S BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT

You better believe it, on Tuesday May 31the cast of SHREK THE MUSICAL^®, including Amanda Holden as Princess Fiona, will perform live on ITV's Britain's Got Talent.

In a Britain's Got Talent first, judge Amanda Holden will swap the safety of the judging panel for the stage, joining her SHREK THE MUSICAL^®co-stars for a live performance of classic hit, I'm a Believer.

Amanda said: "I think one of the most important things when you're on a show like Britain's Got Talent and judging other people, is to be willing to stand on the stage and put your own self up for judgment. Next Tuesday, the audience along with my TV colleagues Simon, Michael and the Hoff will be sitting in judgment of me. I'm just praying they don't use their buzzers!"

SHREK THE MUSICAL^®is currently previewing at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and officially opens on June 14, 2011. A Royal Gala performance ofSHREK THE MUSICAL® will be held June 8, 2011 in aid of The Prince's Foundation for Children & the Arts.

Produced by DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, SHREK THE MUSICAL^®is based on the story and characters from William Steig's book Shrek! and the Oscar®-winning original DreamWorks Animation feature film Shrek, the first chapter in the series of irreverent fairy tales.

Tickets for the new stage musical are on sale for performances until February 19, 2012.

Owing to the live performance on Britain's Got Talent, the 7.30pmperformance of SHREK THE MUSICAL^® on Monday June 6 will be cancelled.

LISTINGS INFORMATION:

SHREK THE MUSICAL^®

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5JF

May 6, 2011 – February 19, 2012

Press Night: June 14, 2011

Box Office: 0844 871 8810

To book online visit: www.shrekthemusical.co.uk

Performance Times:

Monday, Wednesday – Saturday 7.30pm

Thursday & Saturday 3pm

Sunday 3pm

Ticket Prices:

Stalls £65, £55, £25

Grand Circle £65

Upper Circle £55, £45, £20

Balcony £25, £20

Reduced price preview tickets available.

Owing to her commitment to ITV's Britain's Got Talent Amanda Holden will not appear in performances between Sunday 29 May and Sunday 5 Juneinclusive.

Group Rates:

6+ Group Rate £45 (excludes Saturday Performances)

12+ Group Rate £39.50 (excludes Saturday Performances)

Group Bookings: 0844 412 4650

Education Rates:

12+ School Group Rate £22.50 & Free Teacher Place (valid Monday- Thursday)

Education Bookings: 0844 412 4649

_______________________________________________________________

review of "A Minister's Wife"

2011-05-27T02:39:00.002+01:00

“A Minister’s Wife” a charming chamber music version of Shaw’s “Candida”

By Lucy Komisar

Michael Halberstam’s chamber music version of Shaw’s “Candida” is a charming and exhilarating production about male-female relations in earlier days of the battle for women’s sexual freedom. The story is adapted by Austin Pendleton from Shaw’s 1898 version of the play, which he revised in 1930, when post-flapper era so much in society had changed. At the turn of the century, women were even more psychologically and materially dependent on their husbands.

Kate Fry as Candida, Marc Kudisch as Rev.Morrell, photo Paul Kolnik.

Halberstam and Pendleton show us a woman who takes charge of her own emotional life. Candida Morrell (the excellent soprano, Kate Fry) is a smart woman married to what might appear to be a progressive man. Rev. James Morrell (the always fine baritone Marc Kudisch) is a Christian Socialist minister who preaches to a broad audience. When his secretary tells him the Hoxton Freedom Group wants him to address them, he declares, “Just like Anarchists not to know they can’t have a parson on Sunday morning.”

He is desperate to see Candida, who has been out of town: “My Candida’s coming home today!” he sings. And when she arrives, she vocalizes, “Oh the enchantment, the joys of home, the joys of wife and motherhood.”

A perfect marriage, right? But Morrell is still a man who thinks his importance trumps the desires and yearnings of those around him. He is oblivious, for example, that his secretary Miss Proserpine Garnett (the very strong Liz Baltes) has a crush on him and is jealous of his wife.

Kate Fry as Candida, Bobby Steggert as Marchbanks, photo Paul Kolnik.

The privileged Candida seems just a bit bored. Perhaps that is why she doesn’t immediately squash the verbal advances of the infatuated young poet Eugene Marchbanks (an appealing Bobby Steggert), who Morrell had found sleeping on an embankment and who, in his early 20s, is 15 years her junior. Steggert seems a bit younger than I’m used to seeing as the Marchbanks in Shaw’s play, too young to be considered seriously as a rival to Morrell. There’s never a moment when you take such a liaison seriously.

Bobby Steggert as Marchbanks, Marc Kudisch as Rev. Morrell, photo Paul Kolnik.

Candida says all the right feminist things. As the Reverend expresses concern about the personal developments, she recalls it was her father “who taught me to think for myself.” And, “Don’t put your trust in my goodness.” Marchbanks also gets into the debate. And when Morell orders her to choose between him and the poet, she declares, “I am up for auction it seems. What do you bid, James?”

Since this is Shaw, there are of course other moral challenges. Candida’s father made money from sweatshops.

The plot, in fact, is a little silly, but what makes this production pulsate is the modern music by Joshua Schmidt, (who people may remember as the brilliant composer of the “The Adding Machine,” based on the 1923 Edgar Rice play), the recitative by Jan Levy Tranen and the voices of the ensemble, especially Fry, Kudisch and Baltes. In all, quite an elegant Lincoln Center event.

“A Minister’s Wife.” Based on the 1898 version of “Candida” by George Bernard Shaw; adapted by Austin Pendleton. Conceived & directed by Michael Halberstam. Lyrics by Jan Levy Tranen; music by Joshua Schmidt. Lincoln Center at Mitzi Newhouse Theater, 150 West 65^th Street, New York, NY. 212-239-6200. Opened May 8, 2011; closes June 12, 2011.

http://thekomisarscoop.com/2011/05/a-ministers-wife-a-charming-chamber-music-version-of-shaws-candida/