Month: June 2017

Ali Cook Principles Of Deception UK Tour

Touring
Ali Cook Principles of Deception UK Tour

The star of West End magic marvels and big screen spectacles, Ali Cook, has announced a new UK tour for his critically acclaimed comedy magic show Principles of Deception. Treating audiences to a festival of fascination, Principles of Deception acts as the essential storytelling of magic, with Ali Cook’s own brand of awe-inspiring magic and off-beat comedy. The tour will visit theatres nationwide between 16th September – 11th November 2017. Taking its name from Arthur Buckley’s seminal magic compendium Principles and Deceptions – the first book to categorize every magic trick – Principles of Deception demonstrates Ali Cook’s skill as a historian of deception. In a masterclass of technique across a range of magic disciplines, Ali Cook defies the illusionist norm by showcasing a plethora of astonishments for audiences. Featuring close up magic, mind reading sleight of hand, suggestion, hypnosis, black art, misdirection and many more styles, Principles of Deception … Read more

CBeebies hit Sarah and Duck heads to Edinburgh Festival 2017 in all new adventure

Edinburgh Fringe
Book tickets for CBeebie's hit Sarah and Duck at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2017

The CBeebies hit animated series Sarah and Duck is headed to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer from 2 to 20 August 2017. Featuring a host of enchanting characters from the BAFTA Award-winning show, Sarah and Duck’s Big Top Adventure is a brand new adventure which had its premier ay London’s Polka Theatre. Sarah and Duck’s Big Top Adventure will take families and children on a magical theatre adventure as Sarah and Duck, along with all their favourite friends including The Ribbon Sisters, the Shallots, John and Flamingo and Umbrella, as they plan a circus-themed birthday party for Scarf Lady in their garden. Will Sarah and Duck be able to save the day when the weather turns nasty? Sarah and Duck’s Big Top Birthday will take children and families on a magical theatrical adventure through inventive puppetry, toe-tapping music and charming storytelling. Sarah & Duck’s Big Top Birthday features all the … Read more

FIRST LOOK: David Hare’s Racing Demon at Theatre Royal Bath

Features, Gallery, Regional
Racing Demon by David Hare at Theatre Royal Bath

The Theatre Royal Bath has released these great first look production photos of David Hare’s play Racing Demon directed by Jonathan Church. Four clergymen seek to make sense of their mission in inner-city London whilst facing their own personal crises. There’s Lionel Espy, a cleric whose faith is wavering as his parishioners dwindle; tabloid-hounded gay vicar Harry Henderson; ‘Streaky’ Bacon, a genial reverend with a taste for tequila, and a charismatic young curate, Tony Ferris whose arrival is set to fan the flames, whilst his sexual relationship with his lover turns to ash. The day of judgement is at hand for all. The cast of Racing Demon includes Olivier Award-winning David Haig will star as Lionel Espy,  Sam Alexander, Michelle Bonnard, Anthony Calf, William Chubb, Paapa Essiedu, Andrew Fraser, Ian Gelder, Rebecca Night, Amanda Root and Ashley Russell. Racing Demon is the first production in Jonathan Church’s innaugural season as … Read more

FIRST LOOK: The Wind In The Willows at the London Palladium

Features, Gallery, West End
The Wind In The Willows The Musical at the London Palladium

We are pleased to bring you these great first look production photos from Darren Bell, Marc Brenner and Helen Maybanks of new musical The Wind In the Willows at the London Palladium. The Wind In The Willows stars Rufus Hound as the amazing Mr Toad, Simon Lipkin as Ratty, Craig Mather as Mole, Neil McDermott as Chief Weasel, with Denise Welch as Mrs Otter and Gary Wilmot as Badger. Based on Kenneth Grahame’s treasured novel which has captivated generations of readers for over a century, The Wind In the Willows has been adapted for the stage with a book by Academy Award-winning screenwriter and Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes and Olivier Award-winning composer and lyricist duo George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. This riotous comedy follows the impulsive Mr Toad whose insatiable need for speed lands him in serious trouble. With his beloved home under threat from the notorious Chief Weasel … Read more

Cast announced for Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

News, West End
Book tickets for Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

Following on from last years sell-out success, Regent’s Park Open Theatre sees the return of Jesus Christ Superstar for an extended season from 11 August to 23 September 2017. Joining Declan Bennett (Jesus), Tyrone Huntley (Judas), David Thaxton (Pilate) and Peter Caulfield (Herod) are Maimuna Memon (David Bowie’s Lazarus, and The Busker’s Opera), Phillip Browne (Anything Goes – West End, Piaf – Donmar, Ragtime – Piccadilly Theatre) as Caiaphas and Sean Kingsley returns as Annas. Tim Newman (Memphis – West End, Mamma Mia! – International Tour) will play Simon Zealotes. Phil King returns to the production as Peter. The rest of the company includes Josh Dever, Rhys Whitfield, Charlotte Riby and Sinead Long. They are joined by Mark Dugdale, Ivan De Freitas, Stevie Hutchinson, Javar Parker, Nuno Queimado, Cleve September, Tinovimbanashe Sibanda, Kirstie Skivington, Christopher Tendai, Tara Young, and Dale White. The Soul Girls are played by Kayleigh McKnight, Lauran … Read more

Stephen Schwartz pays a visit to Working at Southwark Playhouse

News, Off West End
Stephen Schwartz visits the company of Working at Southwark Playhouse

On Monday night award-winning composer Stephen Schwartz (Pippin, Wicked, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame) paid a visit to Southwark Playhouse to see the production of his musical Working which is currently playing. The European premiere has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and includes songs by people such as Lin-Manuel Miranda and James Taylor.   The cast is led by Gillian Bevan, Dean Chisnall, Krysten Cummings, Siubhan Harrison, Peter Polycarpou and Liam Tamne and is directed by Luke Sheppard, with choreography by Fabian Aloise. Stephen said “I was delighted to see this extremely well-sung and well-staged production of Working. I’m looking forward to telling my co-authors what a great job has been done with our show”. Working concludes its run at Southwark Playhouse on 8 July 2017. Read our review for Working BOOK TICKETS FOR WORKING

FIRST LOOK: King Kong, The Vaults London

Features, Gallery, Off West End
King Kong by Daniel Clarkson

We are pleased to bring you these great production photos by Geraint Lewis of monstrous new comedy King Kong basedon the classic ape story from Daniel Clarkson, the Olivier Award-nominated co-creator of the smash hit Potted Potter. Ever since Fay Wray first charmed the great gorilla in the original 1933 film, King Kong has been a byword for epic cinema, challenging successive filmmakers to outdo the last with bigger and better special effects to impress and terrify audiences in equal measure. Now this new comic theatrical staging of the story takes a very different approach, as you’d expect from writer Daniel Clarkson (co-creator of worldwide hit Potted Potter) and director Owen Lewis, who between them have three Olivier Award nominations. With just 5 actors and no high-tech wizardry, Kong will come to new life up close for theatre audiences. Follow our intrepid cast as they journey to uncharted waters in … Read more