Jonathan Church

Mack and Mabel UK Tour 2015

News, Regional, Touring
Michael Ball

It has been announced that Michael Ball will play Mack Sennett in a major new revival of Jerry Herman’s Mack and Mabel which will play at the Chichester Festival Theatre prior to touring. Mack and Mabel is the story of the relationship between silent film star Mabel Normand and Keystone Cops director Mack Sennett. The productions will be directed by Jonathan Church and choreographed by Stephen Mear. Mack And Mabel received eight Tony nominations when it opened on Broadway in 1974.  Herman’s other shows include The Grand Tour, Hello Dolly! Mame, and La Cage Aux Folles.   MACK AND MABEL UK TOUR  2015 DATES Plymouth Theatre Royal Thursday 1 October – Saturday 10 October BOOK ONLINE Manchester Opera House Monday 12 – Saturday 24 October BOOK ONLINE Dubline BGE Theatre Tuesday 27 October – Saturday 7 November BOOK ONLINE Edinburgh Playhouse Tuesday 10 – Saturday 21 November BOOK ONLINE Nottingham … Read more

REVIEW: Mack And Mabel, Chichester Festival Theatre ✭✭✭✭

Regional, Reviews
Mack and Mabel at Chichester Festival Theatre

Ball is an exceptional, utterly convincing Mack. He completely gets under the skin of the character, finding precisely the right level to pitch every moment of anger, driven determination, and offhand callousness. The passion for making comedy films that can see people of any race and creed laugh in any place on the planet is the backbone of Ball’s characterisation. He is entirely unsentimental in his delivery and never seeks the approval of the audience. Musically, Ball is exceptional. He uses his big, bright voice deftly, producing clear, strong notes, ringing phrases of great colour, and perfectly supported passages of soft and delicate singing

Jonathan Church Sets Up New Production Company

News, Touring, West End
Jonathan Church starts own production company

Following on from the announcement of his departure from Chichester Festival Theatre after the 2016 Season, Jonathan Church today announces that he will be establishing a new, independent production company, Jonathan Church Productions Limited (JCPL), as a platform to continue the development of both his producing and directing output in the future. Jonathan’s new company is being supported by Delfont Mackintosh Theatres (DMT) who, as well as becoming a minority shareholder in the Company, will be providing JCPL with a development fund to enable Jonathan to create new work for West End theatres and beyond. Jonathan intends to build on the commercial and artistic success of his tenure at Chichester – whose latest London transfer is the acclaimed new production of Gypsy – by creating artistically ambitious work in the West End, on tour across the UK and internationally. He will also continue the exploration of his directing career in … Read more

REVIEW: Taken At Midnight, Minerva Theatre ✭✭✭✭✭

Regional, Reviews
Penelope Wilton in Taken At Midnight

This is a terrific piece of new writing; spare, engaging, brimming with interest and history. It does what all great plays about actual historical events do: takes you to the time and lets you experience that time through the souls of the characters who propel the narrative, but in a way that is modern, fresh and zinging with power.