THEATREWORLD

INTERNET MAGAZINE


NORTHERN ENGLAND

 

FORTHCOMING PRODUCTIONS

 

 

Theatres featured on this pages:-

SHEFFIELD: Lyceum Theatre  / Crucible Theatre /   The Drama Studio (occasional)

MANCHESTER: Library Theatre / Royal Exchange Theatre /  Palace Theatre / Opera House

LIVERPOOL:  The Playhouse, The Everyman / Octagon Theatre, Bolton

LANCASTER:  The Dukes Theatre

OLDHAM, Coliseum

BLACKPOOL, Grand Theatre

WEST YORKSHIRE PLAYHOUSE, LEEDS [PERMANENT REVIEWER URGENTLY NEEDED] - contact the Editor

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE (Northern Stage, Theatre Royal)

HULL TRUCK THEATRE [PERMANENT REVIEWER URGENTLY NEEDED] - contact the Editor


SHEFFIELD

(Sheffield "News" and Reviews provided by Paul & Gertie Whitfield)

 

THE LYCEUM THEATRE

SHEFFIELD

BOX OFFICE: 0114  249 6000

 

 

Sheffield Lyceum Theatre

Ambassador Theatre Group presents

The Rocky Horror Show

Book, Music and Lyrics by Richard O’Brien

Directed by Christopher Luscombe

 

Monday 22 March – Saturday 27 March 2010

 

Richard O’Brien’s outrageous classic The Rocky Horror Show is thrusting its way through the UK to Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre from Monday 22 March to Saturday 27 March featuring Olivier Award winner David Bedella starring as the celebrated Frank ‘n’ Furter.

 

This irresistible riot has seduced audiences all over the world for more than thirty years so whether you’re a die-hard fan or a Rocky Virgin, it’s time to celebrate this infamous adventure like never before. Brush up on those pelvic thrusts, squeeze into that corset and slip back into those killer stilettos because the world’s favourite rock ‘n’ roll musical is back with a vengeance!

 

The Rocky Horror Show tells the story of engaged sweethearts Brad and Janet who are forced to seek refuge in a castle full of the maddest, baddest and sexiest group the world has ever seen. Featuring the timeless classics ‘Sweet Transvestite’, ‘Damit Janet’ and ‘The Time Warp’, this is the craziest party you’ll ever go to, so select your seats, dress to impress and get ready for Rocky!

 

The Rocky Horror Show opened 36 years ago at The Royal Court Theatre in London and has since become a world-wide success. Originally produced in 1973 and written by Richard O’Brien, this rock n’ roll classic has been presented in 15 different languages and seen in over 30. He starred in the 1975 film adaptation as Riff Raff and is also widely recognised as the presenter of the popular TV show The Crystal Maze. Since premiering, the stage show has been in almost continuous production, and the cinematic version is one of the best known and most ardently followed films of all time.

 

Best known for creating the roles of Satan/Warm Up Man in Jerry Springer - The Opera for which he won Best Musical Actor in 2004, David Bedella plays the mad scientist Frank ‘n’ Furter for the 2009/10 UK tour. Bedella has walked the corridors of has BBC1’s popular hospital drama Holby City as Doctor Carlos Fashola and starred in numerous Broadway and US national tours including Jesus Christ Superstar, La Cage Aux Folles, Almost Like Being in Love, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, West Side Story, and A Chorus Line, or which he received the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He has also played Frank ‘n’ Furter alongside Meat Loaf in The Rocky Horror Show.

 

 

Sheffield Crucible Theatre

Sheffield Theatres’ productions presents

There’s Only One Wayne Matthews

Written by Roy Williams and Directed by Dawn Walton

Tuesday 30 March – Friday 2 April 2010

 

There’s Only One Wayne Matthews, an amazing story about friendship, forgiveness and football dives with a tackle into the Sheffield Crucible Studio 30 March to 2 April. 

 

Prior to its performances in the Crucible Studio the production has been on tour to schools in the Yorkshire region from.  This production will also be staged at both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United football grounds.

 

It’s 1979 and Viv Anderson is the first black footballer to make it to the England squad.  Wayne Matthews is desperate to follow in his hero’s footsteps but there’s one problem, he is rubbish at football! There’s Only One Wayne Matthews tells the story of a young boy battling the odds and bullies to master the beautiful game. 

  

Troy Glasgow plays Carl. Glasgow’s theatre credits include Harper Regan, DNA, The Miracle, (National Theatre) and Low Dat (Birmingham Rep).  For television his work includes Dr Who, Skins and Ashes to Ashes.

 

Isaac Ssebandeke plays Wayne. Ssebandeke theatre credits include The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Hammersmith Lyric Theatre) and The Coat (National Studio).  His television credits include Skins and The Well.

 

Dawn Walton directs. Her recent work includes Oxford Street93.2fm, Workers Writes, Drag-On, The Shining (Royal Court, the latter also National Tour) Winners (Young Vic), Serjeant Musgrave’s Dance, Balm In Gilead (Corbett Theatre), Glow (Theatre Centre), The Changeling  (Mamamissi Productions), Strings (Clean Break Theatre Company), Of Mice and Men (Southwark Playhouse) and Splinters (Talawa Theatre Company). Walton was the recipient of the Jerwood Young Director’s award at the Young Vic, formerly Director on Attachment at the Royal Court, and was Acting Head of Studio – National Theatre throughout 2006.

 

The play is written by Roy Williams.  William's career began when he sent a play he wrote for his degree at Rose Bruford drama school to Stratford East theatre. The play was produced and Williams’ went on to win both the 31st John Whiting award and the EMMA for best play for his play Starstruck. He's had plays produced across London including at the National Theatre, and also wrote episodes 5 and 6 of the major TV drama, Babyfather.

 

 

 


CRUCIBLE THEATRE

SHEFFIELD

BOX OFFICE: 0114 249 6000

(closed for refurbishment)

All Sheffield information kindly provided by Paul and Gertie Whitfield - to whom the Editor is indebted.

Check out Sheffield Theatre’s website for up-to-the-minute information: www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

 

Sheffield Theatres Productions Presents

An Enemy of the People

Directed by Daniel Evans

Designed by Ben Stones

 

Thursday 11 February – Saturday 20 March 2010

 

Newly appointed Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres, Daniel Evans directs multi award-winning actor Sir Antony Sher in Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People – the opening production of his inaugural season in the newly refurbished Crucible Theatre.

 

It’s boom time in the spa town.  Investment in the public baths is paying off handsomely. Visitor numbers have never been higher.  But one man knows the toxic secret underlying the town’s newfound wealth. His concern is for the health of the people.  So how can he be their enemy?

 

Written in 1882, this version of Ibsen’s play by Christopher Hampton was first seen at the National Theatre in 1997. The company will include the largest community chorus seen on the Crucible stage comprised of over 30 local residents of Sheffield.

 

Henrik Ibsen is generally acknowledged as the father of modern drama.  His other plays include The Master Builder, A Doll’s House, Hedda Gabler, Ghosts, The Wild Duck, John Gabriel Borkman and Peer Gynt.

 

Multi award-winning playwright and screenwriter Christopher Hampton’s adaptations for the stage include Judgement Day (Almeida Theatre), The Seagull (Royal Court and Broadway), Three Sisters (Playhouse), and Les Liaisons Dangereuses (RSC and Ambassadors Theatre), as well as many collaborations with Yasmina Reza including God of Carnage, Life x3 and Art. As a playwright, his works include Embers, The Talking Cure, White Chameleon, Tales from Hollywood, Treats and The Philanthropist; and as a screenwriter, Atonement, The Quiet American, Carrington and Dangerous Liaisons (Academy Award and BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay).

 

Antony Sher makes his Crucible debut as Dr Tomas Stockmann. His many theatre credits include The Tempest, Othello and Richard III (Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Actor) – all RSC, Kean (Apollo Theatre and national tour), Primo (also playwright – National Theatre and Music Box Theater, New York, Outer Critics’ Circle and Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Solo Performance), I.D. (also playwright, Almeida Theatre), Stanley (National Theatre and Circle in the Square Theater, New York, Olivier and Tony Awards for Best Actor), Titus Andronicus (NT Studio, TMA Award for Best Actor), Torch Song Trilogy (Albery Theatre, Olivier Award for Best Actor).  For television, his credits include God on Trial, Primo, The Company, Home, The Jury and Macbeth; and for film, Churchill: The Hollywood Years, Shakespeare in Love, Mrs Brown, Alive and Kicking, The Wind in the Willows and The Young Poisoner’s Handbook.

 

Lucy Cohu plays Katrine Stockmann.  She has just completed playing alongside John Simm in Speaking in Tongues.  Her other theatre work includes Macbeth and Way of the World (Birmingham Repertory) and Mad Forest (Royal Court).  Her television work includes Murderland, Ballet Shows, Torchwood, The Queen’s Sister (BAFTA nomination for Best Actress), Cape Wrath and Forgiven (Emmy award for Best Actress); and for film, Einstein and Eddington, Becoming Jane and Gosford Park.

 

Susannah Fielding plays Petra Stockmann. Her theatre work includes Much Ado About Nothing, The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other, Philistines and The Rose Tattoo (all National Theatre). Her television work includes Dr Who, Filth, Pete Versus Life and Wallander.

 

John Shrapnel plays Peter Stockmann.  His theatre credits include Phedre (National Theatre), King Lear (Liverpool Playhouse & Young Vic), Julius Caesar (Barbican), South Pacific (National Theatre), The Hothouse (Chichester Festival Theatre) and Hamlet (RSC). His television work includes Apparitions, The Palace, The Rise and Fall of Rome and Jesus & Mary; and for film, The Duchess, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Troy, Gladiator and Notting Hill.

 

Daniel Evans returns to Sheffield Theatres as Artistic Director, having previously appeared in Cloud Nine and The Tempest (both on the Crucible Stage).  An award-winning actor and director, Evans’ most recent theatre work includes Sunday in the Park with George (Menier Chocolate Factory, Wyndham’s Theatre and Broadway) – a role for which he won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical (his second Olivier Award, the first being for Merrily We Roll Along in 2001) and a Tony Award nomination. As an actor, his extensive credits include work with the Donmar Warehouse, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Court Theatre and National Theatre. His directing credits include Peter Gill Double Bill (Young Vic), Esther (Welsh National Theatre) and Certain Young Men (Guildhall).

 

Designs are by Ben Stones, with lighting by Tim Mitchell and music and sound is by Ben and Max Ringham.

 

Sheffield Theatres’ productions presents

Sisters

Written by Stephanie Street and directed by Ruth Carney

 

Sheffield Crucible Theatre

Thursday 11 March – Saturday 27 March 2010

 

 

Listen. This is what it’s like to be a Muslim woman in Britain today.

 

Based on interviews with dozens of women from across the country and around the Sheffield, Stephanie Street’s new play lifts the veil on a world of custom and tradition. Sisters exposes the human stories at the heart of the Muslim community, cutting through the stereotypes and bringing a chorus of voices to life on stage.

 

A poignant, surprising and insightful journey into the lives of Muslim women.

 

Sisters reunites Stephanie Street and Ruth Carney following their previous collaboration on The Laramie Project (UK première at Sound Theatre). The production opens on 16 March, with previews from 11 and runs until 27 March 2010.

 

Stephanie Street’s first full length play, she also plays Samina/Maysoon/Faiza. Street began work on Sisters in 2005 shortly after the July 7th bombings in London.  As a woman of mixed race, Street noticed that people reacted to her differently following the terrorist attacks, and the play is inspired by this experience.  Sisters is a verbatim piece based on interviews with Muslim women from all over the UK, and marks Street’s playwrighting debut.  Prior to the run at the Crucible, Street conducted interviews with women in Sheffield to develop the play further. As an actor, Street’s theatre work includes Mixed Up North (Out of Joint), Behind the Image and Shades (Royal Court) and The Contingency Plan (Bush Theatre); and for television, Monday Monday, Apparitions, Never Better, Primeval and Commander.

 

Zahra Ahmadi returns to Sheffield Theatres to play Salima/Khadija/Aeeisha/Fatima, where she previously was Assistant Director for Gladiator Games.  Her other theatre credits include Script Slam (Soho Theatre), King of Hearts (Out of Joint) Cooking With Elvis (Edinburgh Fringe).  Her television work includes Down The Line and Facing Demons.   

 

Denise Black plays Eileen/Alexandra/Maryam.  Her recent theatre credits include Bedroom Farce (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Aristo (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Seagull (Royal Court) and Roots (Royal Exchange Manchester).  Her extensive television work includes Robin Hood, No Angels, Clocking Off, Bad Girls, Queer as Folk, The Scarlett Pimpernel and as Denise Osbourne in Coronation Street.

 

Lena Kaur plays Meena/Farida/Azra. Her theatre credits include Rubina (Birmingham Rep) The Sky’s the Limit (Old Vic) and Silent Cry (West Yorkshire Playhouse).  Kaur was a regular on Hollyoaks playing Leila Roy until January 2010.  

 

Nisha Nayar plays Shirin/Husna/Jameela/AminaHer theatre credits include My Enemy My Friend (Chichester Festival Theatre), Summer School (Royal Court Theatre) and Bhangra Girls (Red Ladder Theatre). For television her credits include, Dr Who, Cracker, and as  series regulars in Rose and Maloney and The Story of Tracy Beaker.

 

Director Ruth Carney is Associate Director (Creative Development) at Sheffield Theatres). As a director, her credits include Touched (North Wall Arts Centre and Latitude), Confessions of a City (Sheffield Theatres), A Model Girl (Greenwich Theatre) and The Lemon Princess (world première at West Yorkshire Playhouse).  Ruth was Associate Director to Matthew Warchus on Our House The Musical (national tour) and Lord of the Rings (Theatre Royal Drury Lane).  Carney was joint Artistic Director of the New British Writing Season for the Caird Company, which showcased over fifty new pieces of work.

 

Designs are by Paul Wills, Sound Design Emma Laxton and lighting design by David Howe.

 

Women only performance - Wed 24 March 10.30am

Produced in association with Let Live Productions

 

 

 

CRUCIBLE STUDIO

SHEFFIELD

BOX OFFICE: 0114 249 6000

 

 


MANCHESTER

 

ROYAL EXCHANGE THEATRE

St. Ann's Square,

Manchester,

M2 7DH

BOX OFFICE: 0161 833 9833


LIBRARY THEATRE

Central Library

St Peter's Square,

Manchester, M2 5PD

BOX OFFICE: 0161 236 7110

Website: www.librarytheatre.com


MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE

BOX OFFICE: 0161 242 2524


WEST YORKSHIRE PLAYHOUSE

Playhouse Square

Quarry Hill

Leeds

LS2 7UP

BOX OFFICE: 0113 213 7700

website:-  www.wyp.co.uk

 

 


LIVERPOOL EVERYMAN / PLAYHOUSE

 

PLAYHOUSE THEATRE

Williamson Square

Liverpool

L1 1EL

Sales and Information: 0151 709 4776

Minicom: 0151 709 0534

www.everymanplayhouse.com

 

 

Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse and Lyric Hammersmith invite you

To

GHOST STORIES

by Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman

 

at the Liverpool Playhouse from Thursday 4 February to Saturday 20 February

 

What are you hiding from?

 

The new season at the Playhouse arrives with the spine-tingling Ghost Stories, a modern collection of accounts detailing encounters of the ghoulish kind.

 This promises to be a truly terrifying theatrical experience written and directed by The League of Gentlemen master of the macabre, Jeremy Dyson, and Andy Nyman, co-creator and director of Derren Brown’s television and stage shows and star of Dead Set and Severance

A spectacular 80 minute ride that will chill and thrill in equal measure…you’ll be sleeping with the light on for weeks!

Suitable for ages 15+

 

Liverpool Playhouse Dates & Times:

Thursday 4 February – Saturday 20 February

Monday – Friday at19:30pm

Saturday 13, 19 & 20 February – Matinées at 17:00pm, Evenings at 21:00pm

Press Night Tuesday 9 February at 19:30pm at the Playhouse

 

EVERYMAN THEATRE

13 Hope Street

Liverpool

L1 9BH

 

www.everymanplayhouse.com

 


OLDHAM COLISEUM THEATRE

Fairbottom Street

Oldham

0L1 3BR

BOX OFFICE 0161 624 2829

www.coliseum.org.uk


BLACKPOOL GRAND THEATRE

33 Church Street

Blackpool, FY1 1HT

BOX OFFICE: 01253 290190

www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk


OCTAGON THEATRE

Howell Croft South,

Bolton,

BL1 1SB

BOX OFFICE: 01204 529407

www.octagonbolton.co.uk

 


NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE

 

NORTHERN STAGE

Haymarket

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

NE1  7RH

BOX OFFICE : 0191 230 5151

WEBSITE: WWW.NORTHERNSTAGE.COM

 

PERMANENT REVIEWER URGENTLY NEEDED - contact the Editor : GPowner@aol.com

 


THEATRE ROYAL

NEWCASTLE

100 Grey Street

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE1 6BR

BOX OFFICE: 0191 232 2061

www.theatre-royal-newcastle.co.uk

bookings@theatre-royal-newcastle.co.uk

 

PERMANENT REVIEWER URGENTLY NEEDED - contact the Editor : GPowner@aol.com

 


HULL TRUCK THEATRE

Spring Street

Hull

HU2 8RW

BOX OFFICE: 01482 323638

web: www.hulltruck.co.uk

 email: admin@hulltruck.co.uk

 

PERMANENT REVIEWER URGENTLY NEEDED - contact the Editor : GPowner@aol.com


For more details or individual advice/help - email: GPowner@aol.com