Douglas Mayo

Douglas Mayo has had a life long love affair with musical theatre. He has authored several books on publicity and marketing for amateur theatre groups. He is in the process of developing a musical based on his original story concept.

Bruce the yellow block of foam returns to Edinburgh

Edinburgh Fringe
Bruce at the Edinburgh Festival

Following success at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe, lo-fi puppetry spectacular Bruce is Back! Keeping you on the edge of your seat, Bruce will sweep you away on an epic adventure of love and revenge, as he sets out to prove he has a heart of pure gold. Bruce takes the audience on an action packed, hilarious adventure, narrating his story as a self-proclaimed hero-cop turned novelist-astronaut. Bruce is a loveable screw-up, he’s got onle last shot at redemption but, with a lifetime of regrets hunting him down, he’s running out of spacetime. This side-splitting story is unapologetic in it minimal approach. Wearing black on a dark stage Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd and Tim Watts invisibly manipulate their bodies to create Bruce, moving and intertwining their limbs so that their white gloves become hands and feet. Fusing mime and puppetry, Bruce is a non-stop rollercoaster of action, adventure and nostalgia. Bruce comes from … Read more

Gillian Beak is subject of character comedy Beak Speaks

Edinburgh Fringe
Beak Speak Edinburgh Fringe Festival

After over 30 years of working in, under and around the British Fringe Theatre Circuit, Gillian Beak finally bares all and shares a lifetime of theatrical insights and anecdotes. Beak Speaks is a character comedy based on the life and times of Gillian Beak. Accompany the doyenne of the Fringe as she takes you through her masterclass, reminiscing about the infamous techniques that shaped her young protégée, how it all went wrong with one frightfully well connected man as well as one young upstart who she claims she taught everything he knows. Beak Speaks is staged by kind permission of Sarah Thom, heard frequently as Joan on Radio 4’s Clare in the Community. Finally, Beak speaks… Underbelly Cowgate (White Belly) from 3rd August at 16:00 (not 14th, 21st). BOOK TICKETS FOR BEAK SPEAKS

This House UK Tour

Touring
James Graham's This House UK Tour

Following its acclaimed run at the National Theatre and in the West End, James Graham’s political drama This House will begin a UK national tour at the West Yorkshire Playhouse on 22 February 2018. 1974.  The UK faces economic crisis and a hung parliament.  In a culture hostile to cooperation, it’s a period when votes are won or lost by one, when there are fist fights in the bars and when sick MPs are carried through the lobby to register their vote.  It’s a time when a staggering number of politicians die, and the building creaks under idiosyncrasies and arcane traditions. Set in the engine rooms of Westminster, This House strips politics down to the practical realities of those behind the scenes; the whips who roll up their sleeves and on occasion bend the rules to shepherd and coerce a diverse chorus of MPs within the Mother of all Parliaments. … Read more

Jake Orr joins Theatre503 as Producer

News, Off West End
Jake Orr joins Theatre503 as a producer

Former theatre blogger, freelance producer and programmer Jake Orr will join South London’s Theatre503 as an in-house Producer commencing on 3rd July 2017. In 2009 Jake founded A Younger Theatre, an organisation that supports and nurtures young people through journalism training. It has since supported over 500 young writers and partnered with organisations including the Guardian, Royal Opera House, The Globe and the English National Opera. In 2014 Jake co-founded Incoming Festival with New Diorama Theatre, a festival that supports emerging theatre companies. To date the festival has presented the work of over 100 companies to 4000 audiences. Jake is co-director of producing company Making Room working with artists across the UK. As Associate Producer his credits include The Bombing of the Grand Hotel (Cockpit Theatre and Tour), Mouse Plague (Edinburgh Festival Fringe, BAC and Tour) and The Eradication of Schizophrenia in Western Lapland (Edinburgh Festival Fringe, BAC and Tour). … Read more

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