The key to all this is John Partridge’s iconic rendition of the complex, fascinating, physically and emotionally demanding role of Albin: an exercise in stagecraft of the highest order.
Every member of the audience stood at the end, and that’s because this is a show with no fancy heirs or graces that captures your heart.
It looks like Producer Bill Kenwright has certainly pulled out all the stops in the lavish new production of the musical La Cage Aux Folles which began its UK tour last week in Oxford. With 800,000 sequins, 52 pairs of heels, 50,000 feathers, 82 wigs and 57 quick changes, it’s sure to delight! La Cage Aux Folles will star John Partridge (EastEnders, Cats, Chicago, A Chorus Line) as Albin, Adrian Zmed (TV’s T J Hooker, Grease 2, Bachelor Party) as Georges and Marti Webb (Blood Brothers, Evita, Tell Me On A Sunday, Half A Sixpence) as Jacqueline. Dougie Carter will appear alongside them as ‘Jean-Michele’, Samson Ajewole as ‘Jacob’, Su Douglas as ‘Marie/Madame Renaud’, Alexandra Robinson as ‘Anne’, Paul F Monaghan as ‘Dindon / Renaud’, and Jon De Ville as ‘Francis’. Joining them on stage as Les Cagelles will be Jordan Livesey, Matthew Ives, Louie-George Daniels, Liam Paul Jennings, Micah … Read more
Dreamboats and Petticoats returns in 2017 for a UK tour marking the show’s 10th Anniversary. Inspired for the five best-selling albums, Dreamboats and Petticoats 1,2,3,4, and 5, the show features some of the greatest hits of the Rock N Roll era. In 1961 emotions run high as young musicians Norman and Bobby compete to win a national song writing competition – and, more importantly, the attention of the gorgeous Sue! But when Bobby discovers that shy Laura is no slouch on the piano, love and rock ‘n’ roll fame beckons. Including Let’s Dance, To Know Him Is To Love Him, Shaking All Over, Bobby’s Girl, Little Town Flirt, Only Sixteen, Runaround Sue, Happy Birthday Sweet 16, Let It Be Me, Great Pretender, C’mon Everybody, Let’s Twist Again and many more hits from music’s golden era! Dreamboats and Petticoats is produced by Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield in association with Universal Music. DREAMBOATS AND PETTICOATS … Read more
Bill Kenwright will present a major new production of La Cage Aux Folles on tour around the UK in 2017. Great new production images have been released for this lavis production. Georges and the dazzling drag artiste Albin, star of la Cage aux Folles, live an idyllic existence in the heart of St Tropez. But behind the curtains of this sparkling extravaganza, all may be about to change. Georges’ son Jean-Michel announces his engagement to the daughter of a notorious right-wing politician determined to close down the local colourful night-life. Drama and hilarity ensue when a meeting of the parents forces them to cover up their vibrant lifestyle. Will Albin be able to play the role of his life to ensure that Jean-Michel can marry his love? John Patridge will play the iconic role of ‘Albin’, who moonlights as star drag act Zaza at the infamous La Cage aux Folles … Read more
The Agatha Christie Theatre Company has announced that its next production will be a UK Tour of Ruth Rendell’s A Judgement In Stone. Eunice struggles to fit in. When she joins a wealthy family as their housekeeper the very reason for her awkwardness, long hidden and deeply buried, leads inexorably to a terrible tale of murder in cold blood – on Valentine’s Day! First published in 1964, Ruth Rendell has been hailed as the successor to Agatha Christie and the woman responsible for revitalising the mystery genre. Ruth was awarded the CBE in 1996. She has published over 80 novels, has worked in TV and film, and created the well-known Inspector Wexford. The star cast includes award-winning TV and stage favourite Andrew Lancel best known to TV audiences for his portrayal of villainous businessman Frank Foster in Coronation Street and for the role of DI Neil Manson in The Bill. … Read more
Producer Bill Kenwright has announced that Sarah Harding will make her stage debut opposite Andy Moss in Ghost The Musical, when it starts a UK tour later this year. Sarah Harding who will play Molly, is perhaps best known as part of one of the most successful pop acts in UK history, Girls Aloud. Andy Moss is best-known for starring as Rhys Ashworth in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks, a role he has played for 8 years, will play Sam. Sarah Harding said, “I’m absolutely delighted to be making my theatre debut in Ghost – The Musical. The film is one of my all-time favourites, so to get the opportunity to play ‘Molly’ in Bill Kenwright’s new production is a huge honour for me and I can’t wait to get started!” Ghost – the movie was a double Academy Award-winner, and a success story both critically and at the box office. Originally … Read more
Paul Nicholls, Jack Ellis and Ben Onwukwe will star in Bill Kenwright’s 2016 tour of The Shawshank Redemption. Based on the classic film and based on the short story by Stephen King, the Shawshank Redemption is back following a successful tour in 2015. In the new tour of The Shawshank Redemption Paul Nicholls (Eastenders, Grantchester) will play Andy Dufresne, Ben Onwukwe (London’s Burning, RSC) will play Red, and Jack Ellis (Bad Girls, Prime Suspect) will plat Warden Stammas. Made for a relatively small budget, the film of The Shankshaw Redemption now tops many polls of the Greatest Films Ever Made. The film which starred Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture. The tour of The Shawshank Redemption is directed by David Esbjornson, the award-winning international director who directed the Broadway and West End productions of Driving Miss Daisy starring Vanessa Redgrave and James … Read more
