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.

Valhalla Comes To Theatre 503

News, Off West End
Valhalla at Theatre 503

Theatre 503 will present Valhalla by Paul Murphy as the seond play in their Autumn season. The play is a tense psychological thriller set in a world in which men have become gods, but gods have become depraved. Clint Dyer and Carolina Main have been named as the cast of Valhalla; Main has recently appeared in Grantchester for ITV as well as King Lear for the RSC and The Winter’s Tale and All’s Well That Ends Well for the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival. Dyer’s extensive credits include The Royale (Bush Theatre), Sus (Young Vic and Tour) and Big White Fog (Almeida). As violence sweeps the city, a young couple flee to an isolated Nordic research facility. On the brink of discovering the cure for a devastating disease, cracks start to appear in their marriage as they are forced to choose between conflicting allegiances to love and science. Conceived against a backdrop … Read more

5 Guys Chillin’ At The Kings Head This October

News, Off West End
5 Guys Chillin" a new play by Peter Darney at the Kings Head Theatre

Following it’s success at the Brighton Fringe, the play 5 Guys Chillin’ will be presented at the King’s Head Theatre this October. The play by Peter Darney is a frank verbatim drama taken from over 50 hours of interviews from guys found through Grindr and other social media. 5 Guys Chillin’ is an important look at the relatively new scene that social media apps have been fundamental in creating. The play looks at changing attitudes to sex, relationships, dating, HIV and to our perception of what sexual relations can and should be. From surgeons to students, couples to kink; guys that love it and lost guys longing to be loved, 5 Guys Chillin’ is an  original look into a drug-fuelled, hedonistic, highly secret world of Chem-Sex, Grindr and instant gratification. 5 Guys Chillin” runs at the King’s Head Theatre from 1 – 24 October 2015

First Look At The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company

News, West End
The cast of Harlequinade being presented by The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company starring Zoe Wannamaker

This is the first publicity image released from the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company for their first production the never-before seen Rattigan double bill of Harlequinade and All On Her Own. Harlequinade and All On Her Own will play in repertory with A Winter’s Tale from 17 October 2015 at the Garrick Theatre, London. In the rarely seen comic gem Harlequinade, a classical theatre company attempts to produce The Winter’s Tale and Romeo and Juliet, while the intrigues and dalliances of the company members are accidently revealed with increasingly chaotic and hysterical consequences. Kenneth Branagh will play Harlequinade’s actor-manager Arthur Gosport in addition to co-directing the production with Rob Ashford. The full cast for Harlequinade includes: Jaygann Ayeh (Second Halberdier), Tom Bateman (Jack Wakefield), Kenneth Branagh (Arthur Gosport), Jessie Buckley (Muriel Palmer), Vera Chok (Miss Fishlock), Jack Colgrave Hirst (Tom Palmer), John Dagleish (Policeman), Hadley Fraser (First Halberdier), Ansu Kabia (Johnny), … Read more

Casting Announced for Crushed Shells and Mud at Southwark Playhouse.

News, Off West End
Crushed Shells and Mud by Ben Musgrave at Southwark Playhouse

Producers Strickland Productions have announced casting today for their production Crushed Shells and Mud to be presented at Southwark Playhouse this October. Casting for the play includes Alexander Arnold, Hannah Britland, Laura Howard, Alex Lawther and Simon Lenegan. Crushed Shells and Mud is a new play by Bruntwood Playwriting Prize Winner Ben Musgrave. It will be directed by Russell Bolam. England trembles in the grip of a devastating epidemic. But in a brutally remote coastal village, quiet Derek waits for love and life to really begin. Then Lydia arrives. She burns brightly – incandescently. Beyond Derek’s wildest dreams. And she is hiding something. When Derek discovers her secret – out by a restless sea, they are both propelled into a strange new world of conflicted desire and dangerous loyalties. Where terrifying forces test their courage and humanity. But can love survive the fear inside? Crushed Shells and Mud runs at … Read more

Graham Norton Hosts West End Bares

News, West End
Graham Norton hosts West End Bares 2015

TheatreMAD (Make A Difference Trust) announced today that Graham Norton will host this years West End Bares to be held at Cafe De Paris on Sunday 20 September at 9.30pm and midnight. Graham will join platinum selling artist and West End star of Memphis and The Bodyguard Beverley Knight, Ru Paul’s Drag Race winner Bianca Del Rio, comedian Joe Lycett, Strictly Come Dancing stars Robin Winsor and Lisa Riley, West End sensation Velma Celli and The Supreme Fabulettes, with music by Emmy award-winning composer and lyricist Lance Horne alongside Andrew Hayden Smith, Harriet Thorpe and TOWIE’s Charlie King, as well as the casts of many West End shows. Now in its 6th year, this annual event combines the naughtiness of burlesque along with the razzle dazzle of the West End featuring the hottest performers currently appearing in the West End. The evening is based on the original concept ‘Broadway Bares’ … Read more

Tooting Arts Club Presents Barbarians

News, Off West End
Barbarians presented by Tooting Arts Club at Central St Martins

Following the enormous success of their production of Sweeney Todd at Harrington’s Pie and Mash Shop, Tooting Arts Club will revive their production of Barbarians by Barrie Keeffe at the former Central Saint Martins School of Art Building in Soho. In 1977, Britain had just emerged from a worldwide recession. It was the Queen’s silver jubilee year but Paul, Jan and Louis had little to celebrate. With widespread youth unemployment and little opportunity on the horizon, there was anarchy in the air. Barbarians follows the fluctuating fortunes of its three male characters on a journey that is as humorous as it is brutal, to the soundtrack of The Clash, the Sex Pistols and the Jam. Saint Martins provides the perfect setting, steeped in the punk culture of that time, to revive this acclaimed production which is as relevant now as it was then. “I’m delighted that Barbarians is going to … Read more

Show Boat Comes To Sheffield Theatres

News, Regional
Show Boat at Sheffield Theatres December 2015

Sheffield Theatres Artistic Director Daniel Evans has today announced the company for his new production of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’s musical Show Boat which will play at the theatre from December 2015 to January 2016. This epic musical is based on the classic novel by Edna Ferber and spans three generations of show folk as they perform along the Mississippi River. Labelled one of the most romantic musicals of all time, Show Boat’s score contains musical theatre standards including Ol’ Man River, Make Believe and Cant Help Lovin’ Dat Man. Showboat was a ground-breaking moment in American musical theatre history marking the first time that songs helped tell the story marking the beginning of the modern musical. Evans will direct Michael Xavier as Gaylord Ravenal, Gina Beck as Magnolia Hawks, Lucy Briers as Parthenia Hawks, Sandra Marvin as Queenie, Emmanuel Kojo as Joe, Rebecca Trehearn as Julie La … Read more

Rattigan’s French Without Tears At Orange Tree

News, Off West End
French Without Tears by Terrence Rattigan at the Orange Tree Theatre

For the first time in a generation Terence Rattigan’s 1936 comedy will have a London run at the Orange Tree Theatre. After a group of young men arrive at Monsieur Maingot’s French school for the summer to cram for the Diplomatic exam, their concentration is disrupted by beautiful visitor Diana Lake. Quelle surprise, they must learn another new language: girls. At first, it seems pretty simple. Kit loves Diana and she loves him. And Bill. Oh, and darling Alan, of course. Then there’s Jack: she’s in love too. Meanwhile, Babe conceals his feelings… Not so simple after all. French Without Tears will be directed by Orange Tree Artistic Director Paul Miller. Casting includes Laila Alj, William Belchambers, Alexander Bhat, Joe Eyre, Genevieve Gaunt, Tom Hanson, Patrick McNamee, David Whitworth and Sarah Winter. French Without Tears is designed by Simon Daw, lighting design by Mark Doubleday, Costumes by Holly Rose Henshaw … Read more