Birmingham Fest is returning for its 10th year, with artists and companies from across the UK showcasing their work in a two-and-a-half-week programme. Some artists and companies use the festival as a taster before going to Edinburgh while others use it as a less expensive alternative or to try out a new piece of work.… Continue reading Birmingham Fest back for 10th year
Month: June 2023
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory – The Musical
After the phenomenal success of Matilda, it seemed only natural to give this even more famous Roald Dahl’s story a theatrical refresh from the version written by schoolteacher Richard George nearly fifty years ago. This adaptation brought together Scottish playwright David Greig with the songwriting team behind Hairspray, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. The audience enters to… Continue reading Charlie And The Chocolate Factory – The Musical
Ballet Nights at Canary Wharf
Jamiel Devernay-Laurence presents Ballet Nights 2023, a new season at Lanterns Studio Theatre, Canary Wharf, London. Programme 001 is 29–30 September, Programme 002 on 27–28 October and Programme 003 on 24–25 November. Ballet Nights 2023 is an expansion of Devernay-Laurence’s original one-nighter in 2021 and takes place over six nights. The programme will include Steven McRae (Royal Ballet), Melissa… Continue reading Ballet Nights at Canary Wharf
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory – The Musical
After the phenomenal success of Matilda, it seemed only natural to give this even more famous Roald Dahl’s story a theatrical refresh from the version written by schoolteacher Richard George nearly fifty years ago. This adaptation brought together Scottish playwright David Greig with the songwriting team behind Hairspray, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. The audience… Continue reading Charlie And The Chocolate Factory – The Musical
Doyle to play Sinatra in Birmingham Rep musical
Tony Award winner Matt Doyle will play Frank Sinatra in the world première of Sinatra the Musical at Birmingham Rep. Doyle said, “I have no doubt my Italian grandmothers would be profoundly overjoyed. This one is for Geraldine Padula and Nicoletta Macchia who raised my family and me on Frank’s music. I can’t begin to… Continue reading Doyle to play Sinatra in Birmingham Rep musical
The Wizard of Oz
This adaptation of the classic Warner Brothers film premièred here in 2011 and is now back in a production from Curve directed by Nikolai Foster that has a few changes from the Leicester cast. It includes most of the songs from the movie plus a few more by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice that… Continue reading The Wizard of Oz
Struggles in a bookshop
The Tremors by Nikki Mailer plays at 53two in Manchester July 18–22. Set in a bookshop, under threat of demolition, in occupied East Jerusalem it’s about an unequal relationship between two women and explores the magic of books, erasure of history and the Palestinian struggle against occupation.
La Confluencia
The Estévez / Paños Company was formed in 2003, with both of the founders side-tracking briefly (in 2017–18) to the Ballet Flamenco Andalucía as respectively artistic director and principal dancer. Winners of several prizes, in 2019 they won the National Dance Award. La Confluencia was created in 2021. Choreographer and dancer Valeriano Paños is the… Continue reading La Confluencia
Comedian Lee rewrites Macbeth Porter scene for RSC
Comedian and screenwriter Stewart Lee is to rewrite a contemporary version of the Porter scene which will feature Alison Peebles in Wils Wilson’s Royal Shakespeare Company production of Macbeth. Lee said, “I’m delighted to have been asked by Wils Wilson to rewrite the rubbish Porter scene which is in dire need of a post-alternative comedy makeover.… Continue reading Comedian Lee rewrites Macbeth Porter scene for RSC
Rockstar
Olly Medlicott is one of those brave (others might use a different adjective) theatre-makers who has written, directed and produced their own work. His musical Rockstar, which has a short run this week at London’s King’s Head Theatre as part of its MP Pride Lab season, shows great potential, but to meaningfully develop will need… Continue reading Rockstar