Katy Cavanagh Stars in Iris at Live Theatre Newcastle

Iris at Live Theatre

Rehearsals for the world premiere of Iris at Live Theatre, Newcastle began today. Katy Cavanagh who played Julie Carp, a regular in Coronation Street between 2009 and 2015 stars as Julie, the central character who returns home after living away. Katy, who was born in Whitley Bay, returns to the region making her first appearance at Live Theatre, in this play set in a north eastern coastal town, very similar to Whitley Bay. Katy said: “I am delighted to be coming to Live Theatre for the first time. I absolutely love the play Iris, and can’t wait to get my teeth stuck into the part to bring the production to life.” Iris is Newcastle based writer, Alison’s first full-length play to be presented on Live Theatre’s main stage, and brings a heady world of caustic humour and tender pathos ,and is Directed by Live Theatre’s Artistic Director Max Roberts. Iris … Read more

Legally Blonde fully cast and ready to take Leicester by storm.

Tupele Dorgu in legally Blonde at Leicester Curve

Curve’s artistic director, Nikolai Foster, has revealed the full company for his new production of the award-winning West End and Broadway smash hit musical comedy, Legally Blonde. The cast includes Tupele Dorgu who will play Paulette. Dorgu’s television credits include Kelly Crabtree in Coronation Street, Billionaire Boy, Cucumber, All at Sea,Waterloo Road and Merseybeat.  Her theatre credits include Educating Rita (Garrick Theatre), Chicago (UK Tour) and Mamma Mia (Prince of Wales Theatre). Dorgu joins Lucie Jones as Elle Woods, Ian Kelsey as Callahan, Jon Robyns as Emmett, Danny Mac as Warner, Natalie Hope as Brooke, Phoebe Street as Vivienne and Francesca Hoffman as Margot. Lucie Jones’ theatre credits include Cosette in Les Miserables (West End and O2 Arena), Meatloaf in We Will Rock You (International Tour) and The X Factor Arena Tour. Kelsey has previously played Danny in Grease (West End & Tour) as well as being in Same Next Year … Read more

Director Of Tobacco Factory Moves To Kneehigh Theatre

Ali Robertson

After eight years at Tobacco Factory Theatres, director Ali Robertson has announced his new appointment as executive producer at the acclaimed Kneehigh Theatre. Robertson said: “I have enjoyed eight fantastic years as Director of Tobacco Factory Theatres and believe it has become one of the foremost producing and presenting theatres in the country. “Under the direction of an exceptional staff and board the theatre works with a range of superb artists and has a phenomenal relationship with its many audiences. “It has played a critical part in the growth of Bristol and the south west as one of the best places to make work in the country and I look forward to continuing to see many shows here in the coming years.” During his time at Tobacco Factory Theatres, where he started in August 2007, the organisation has grown substantially and achieved numerous successes. The organisation has built itself a … Read more

Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom to cha cha into the UK for Christmas 2016

Strictly Ballroom at West Yorkshire Playhouse

A new production, directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie, begins previews at the West Yorkshire Playhouse on Wednesday 30 November. The first UK staging of Strictly Ballroom The Musical, based on the much loved film, runs until 21 January 2017. Drew McOnie (In The Heights, Hairspray) will direct and choreograph the production, which is based on the original Australian musical created by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin. Terry Johnson joins the creative team to adapt the original book. McOnie said: “The film Strictly Ballroom has had such a huge impact on me. It inspired me as an 8-year-old dancer to follow my choreographic instinct and gave me the desire to explore the many different ways of communicating ideas through dance. The opportunity to bring that passion and personal connection to the next stage of Strictly Ballroom’s journey means the world to me; and having Baz Luhrmann’s support is a dream … Read more

Fifteen minutes with …Philip Olivier

Ale House at the Dome Theatre Liverpool

Liverpool lad Philip Olivier – best known for his role as Tim O’Leary in Channel 4’s Brookside, not to mention a killer set of abs – spills the beans on his directorial debut: a site-specific production of The Ale House opening next week at The Dome in Grand Central, Liverpool. Tell us a bit about The Ale House It was written by Tony Furlong and Jimmy Power back in 1995 and it went down a storm even back then in Liverpool. It’s about your local boozer, with lots of Liverpool jokes and the caricatured characters you’d expect to find in your typical Liverpool ale house. Would you say the play works best in Liverpool then? Yes. It’s got the same sort of comedy angle as Mrs Brown’s Boys, and we’ve brought it right up-to-date. The writers brought the play back in October last year for a run at St Helens … Read more

Aria Entertainment and Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester announce major collaboration…and a string of musicals

Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester

A national London-based arts producer and Manchester’s newest theatre have announced a major collaboration which will put the venue on the arts map in the North of England. Aria Entertainment has joined forces with Hope Mill Theatre in Ancoats to spearhead the venue as a platform to showcase and revive musical theatre. The first show from the new partnership is the classic musical Parade, which will run for three weeks from Friday 13 May to Sunday 5 June. The performance run is unique in that there will be Sunday evening performances throughout at 6pm. The team will also be staging the musical Hair and a workshop of a brand new musical. Dates to be confirmed soon. Aria Entertainment is a theatrical production company headed up by Manchester-born producer and company director Katy Lipson, who has experience in producing new and established works in the West End, Off West End, Edinburgh … Read more

Dominic Cooper to star in The Libertine at Theatre Royal Haymarket

Dominic Cooper in The Libertine

Dominic Cooper returns to the stage this year to play debauched 17th Century rake the Earl of Rochester in The Libertine. This sexually charged masterpiece by award-winning playwright Stephen Jeffreys will play a limited run as part of the 2016 summer season at Bath Theatre Royal from 31 August to 17 September prior to the West End’s Theatre Royal Haymarket from 22 September to 3 December 2016. Full casting has yet to be announced for The Libertine which will be directed by the Olivier and Tony Award-winning Terry Johnson. John Wilmot, the second Earl of Rochester is a charismatic poet, playwright and rake with a legendary appetite for excess. Yet this most ardent of hedonists is forced to reconsider everything he thinks and feels when a chance encounter with an actress at the Playhouse sends him reeling. With flair and wit, this wild romp through 1670s London offers an incisive … Read more

The Ale House is back in town and open for business

Ale House the comedy comes to Liverpool starring Philip Olivier

Fresh from recent regional success, raucous comedy The Ale House is back in the city where it was first brewed from 25 February until 19 March 2016. Actors, Philip Olivier (Brookside, Benidorm) and Jake Abraham (Game of Thrones), who recently starred in a production of the show at St Helens Theatre Royal, have decided a second round is in order. They have joined forces with the writers of Night Collar to co-direct their own site-specific version of The Ale House, at The Dome in Grand Central on Liverpool’s Renshaw Street. It will be the first experience of directing for the duo. They are particularly excited to be directing for The Dome in Grand Central Hall, which they describe as “Liverpool’s hidden gem!” Philip Olivier said: “The comedy has been really successful so far because it’s so true to life. It portrays life in a typical boozer with all the characters … Read more