Month: February 2015

New Trailer For Harvey Released

News, Touring, Video, West End
Maureen Lipman and James Dreyfus star in Harvey at Theatre Royal Haymarket

The new production of Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy Harvey directed by Lindsay Posner and starring James Dreyfus as Elwood P. Dowd and Maureen Lipman as Veta Louise Simmons, will play a limited season at London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket from Tuesday 17 March until Saturday 2 May.  The production will first open at Birmingham Repertory Theatre on 6 February, running until 21 February. After Birmingham, the production will play in Malvern from 24 to 28 February and Richmond from 3 to 7 March. Elwood P. Dowd has only one character flaw: an unwavering friendship with a six-foot tall, invisible rabbit named Harvey.  In order to save the family’s reputation, Elwood’s sister Veta takes him to see psychiatrist Dr William Chumley.  But when the doctor mistakenly commits anxiety-ridden Veta instead of her brother, it sets off an hilarious whirlwind of confusion and chaos as everyone tries to catch a man and … Read more

Casting Announced for 2015-16 Avenue Q Tour

News, Touring
The 2014 cast of Avenue Q which is touring in the UK in 2015-16

Casting and further dates are announced today for award-winning comedy musical Avenue Q, which will bring a host of fuzzy friends to theatres across the country in a new 2015/16 UK Tour. A smash hit on Broadway, in the West End and most recently in a critically-acclaimed 2014 UK Tour, Avenue Q opens at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester on Wednesday 22 April 2015. Featuring the naughtiest puppets in town, brought hilariously to life by an ensemble cast of 11 performers, Avenue Q is a Tony Award-winning musical about growing up, dreaming big, and finding your purpose in life. Meet Princeton, a bright-eyed graduate who comes to New York City with big dreams and a tiny bank account. Soon discovering that the only neighborhood in his price range is Avenue Q, he finds himself moving in with some truly quirky characters. There’s Brian the out-of-work comedian and his therapist fiancée Christmas … Read more

The Absence Of War 2015 UK Tour

News, Touring
Reece Dinsdale in the 2015 Uk Tour of David Hare's The Absence Of War

CLICK FOR THE ABSENCE OF WAR TOUR DATES BELOW Headlong, The Rose Theatre Kingston and Sheffield Theatres have announced the 2015 UK tour of David Hare’s The Absence Of War. It’s now or never for George Jones. The heavy-smoking, Shakespeare-loving Labour leader needs to get out of opposition and into Number Ten. Plagued by a hostile media, beset by divisions in his party and haunted by his own demons, George has three weeks to convince the Great British Public that he’s their man. But how much compromise is he prepared to make? How can you truly appeal to the man in the street from the Palace of Westminster? And which tie should he wear for Prime Minister’s Questions? Reece Dinsdale will be joined by Theo Cowan, Ameira Darwish, Don Gallagher, James Harkness, Charlotte Lucas, Barry McCarthy, Maggie McCarthy, Cyril Nri, Ekow Quartey, Helen Ryan and Gyuri Sarossy in David Hare’s … Read more

Stiles and Drewe To Host New Writers Showcase

News, West End
George Stiles and Anthony Drewe

Acclaimed writing team George Stiles and Anthony Drewe are to host a concert featuring emerging musical theatre writers at the St James Studio on 19th April. The event will provide a development and showcase opportunity for a selection of new writers and writing teams. Stiles and Drewe are founding board members of Mercury Musical Developments, a charitable organisation that nurtures new musical theatre writing in the UK. Their credits include Mary Poppins, Just So, Soho Cinders, Honk! and Betty Blue Eyes and they are currently developing a new musical of Wind in the Willows with Julian Fellowes. The concert is produced and directed by Katie Pesskin, who created The New Musical Project (a new musical theatre writing development programme at the Leicester Square Theatre) and whose credits include Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years starring Danielle Hope and Jon Robyns, for which she was nominated in the BroadwayWorld UK … Read more

Kevin Spacey CBE Receives Special Olivier Award

News, West End
Kevin Spacey receives special Olivier award for his work as artistic director of the Old Vic

The acclaimed actor, Kevin Spacey, will be presented with a Special Award at the Olivier Awards 2015 with MasterCard ceremony on Sunday 12 April at London’s Royal Opera House. The award will acknowledge the actor, director and producer’s extraordinary contribution to The Old Vic and to British theatre. Kevin Spacey revived the fortunes and reputation of The Old Vic when he became Artistic Director in 2004 and, as an actor, has delighted audiences on The Old Vic stage and around the world. Through his inspirational leadership, he has placed The Old Vic back at the heart of London theatre and secured its reputation on the international stage. His commitment to Old Vic New Voices, The Old Vic’s mentoring programme for emerging talent, and The Old Vic’s education and community work, has made a significant impact on the lives of 100,000 young people and local residents in one of London’s most … Read more

Beautiful – Opening Night Images

Gallery, News, West End
Carole King and Katie Brayben at the opening night of Beautiful in London.

The West End production of Beautiful – The Carole King musical opened last night at the Aldwych Theatre. Beautiful – The Carole King Musical is the untold story of her journey from school girl to superstar; from her relationship with husband and song-writing partner Gerry Goffin, their close friendship and playful rivalry with fellow song-writing duo Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, to her remarkable rise to stardom. Along the way, she became one of the most successful solo acts in music history, and wrote the soundtrack to a generation. Katie Brayben plays the title role of Carole King. Joining her is Ian McIntosh as song-writer Barry Mann, Alan Morrissey as King’s husband and song-writing partner Gerry Goffin, Lorna Want as song-writer Cynthia Weil, Glynis Barber as Genie Klein, King’s mother, and Gary Trainor as music publisher and producer Don Kirshner. With a cast of 26 and an orchestra of 12, … Read more

Michael Ball Named As Patron Of Perfect Pitch

News, West End
Michael Ball

Perfect Pitch have just announced that Britain’s multi-award winning musical theatre star Michael Ball has become their patron and that they have formed a new partnership with DigitalTheatre.com. Michael Ball said: “It feels wonderful to be a patron of Perfect Pitch and officially support the company in its work to nurture and develop new musical theatre shows with up-and-coming writing talent. We have a wonderful tradition of creating great musicals in this country and, to ensure its bright future, it’s essential that we give emerging writers every opportunity to develop their craft and create the hit shows of tomorrow. It’s fantastic that Perfect Pitch can offer such great opportunities and I’m really pleased to be able to play my part.” Andy Barnes, Executive Producer of Perfect Pitch added: “Michael shares our passion in supporting emerging talent with new ideas for musicals, particularly contemporary ideas that relate to an evolving audience. … Read more