New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham - The Mousetrap - 06.10.14 - 11.10.14

Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap

comes to the New Alexandra Theatre

Monday 6 to Saturday 11 October

Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap has been the world’s longest running stage production at its London home for more than 55 years. The 60^th Anniversary – and first ever - UK tour of this beloved murder mystery has now been seen by over 600,000 people across more than 600 performances, breaking box office records in many of its venues, from Southampton to Barnstaple, Dublin to Aberdeen.

The cast for the 2014 Autumn leg of the tour is Helen Clapp as Mollie Ralston, Michael Fenner (Doctors, Footballer’s Wives) as Mr Paravicini, Anne Kavanagh(Chichester Festival Theatre’s Goodnight Mr Tom, August: Osage County at the National Theatre) as Mrs Boyle, Charlotte Latham as Miss Casewell and Stephen Yeo as Christopher Wren - all reprising their roles from the production in London’s West End alongside: Christopher Gilling (ITV’s Law and Order, BBC1’s Silk) as Major Metcalf, Henry Luxemburg (Hollyoaks, Hotel Babylon) as Giles Ralston and Luke Jenkins (Scenes from an Execution, Unicorn Theatre) as Sgt Trotter.

Mousetrap Productions has also licensed 60 productions of The Mousetrap world-wide to mark the 60^th year, and many of these have also broken their records, from Cape Town to Philadelphia, Singapore to Sydney.  During this period the world’s longest running show will be seen in every continent, with professional productions in Australia, China, Korea, Turkey, South Africa, Russia, Czech Republic, Hungary, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Poland, Spain, Scandinavia, Venezuela, and across the United States and Canada.

The Mousetrap continues at St. Martin’s Theatre, London.

                                                        

http://mousetrapontour.com

Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre

06 Oct - 11 Oct | 0844 871 3011

New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham - East is East - 14.01.2015 - 17.01.2015

AYUB KHAN DIN’S CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED

East is East

comes to the New Alexandra Theatre from

Wednesday 14 to Saturday 17 January 2015

STARRING THE MULTI AWARD-WINNING ACTRESS JANE HORROCKS

& CO-STARRING THE WRITER AYUB KHAN DIN

Ayub Khan Din’s critically acclaimed play East is East, which starts previewing in the West End this week, is part of Jamie Lloyd’s second Trafalgar Transformed season at Trafalgar Studios. The show will then embark on a three week UK tour starting in Birmingham at the New Alexandra Theatre from Wednesday 14 to Saturday 17 January 2015, before touring at Richmond Theatre and the Manchester Opera House. Tickets go on-sale tomorrow, Wednesday October 1.

East is East stars the multi award-winning stage and screen star Jane Horrocks (Young Vic’s Annie Get Your Gun, Sunshine on Leith, The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice, Absolutely Fabulous) as Ella and the award-winning playwright Ayub Khan Din himself, as her husband George.

Jamie Lloyd, Artistic Director of Trafalgar Transformed, said “Following the success of the tour of The Pride, I am excited that another production from the season, East Is East, can reach many more new audiences within the UK. It is a timely and hilarious play, and it is great that the original cast will be playing in these three venues early in 2015."

Pakistani chip-shop owner George Khan - "Genghis" to his kids - is determined to give his children a strict Muslim upbringing against the unforgiving backdrop of 1970s Salford. Household tension reaches breaking point as their long-suffering English mother, Ella, gets caught in the cross fire - her loyalties divided between her marriage and the free will of her children. 

East is East, Ayub Khan Din’s semi-autobiographical account of British Asian life in the 1970s and the clash of cultures between a multi-cultural family growing up in Salford, is a play that continues to resonate and provoke discussion. The play will be directed by acclaimed director Sam Yates, in his West End directorial debut, following Richard III (starring Martin Freeman), as part of Artistic Director Jamie Lloyd’s exciting second season for Trafalgar Transformed. Design is by Tom Scutt, lighting by Richard Howell, with sound and music by Alex Baranowski.

Amit Shah (Abdul Khan), Ashley Kumar (Tariq Khan), Darren Kuppan (Maneer Khan), Nathan Clarke (Saleem Khan), Taj Atwal (Meenah Khan) and Michael Karim (Sajit Khan) complete the casting of the Khan family, and are joined by Sally Bankes (Auntie Annie), Rani Moorthy (Mrs. Shah) and Hassani Shapi (Mr Shah/Doctor) to complete the cast.

East is East, was Ayub Khan Din’s first play, following an initial career as an actor. It was staged at the Royal Court in 1997 and, subsequently, Ayub adapted the play into a hugely successful feature film, starring Om Puri and Linda Bassett.  For his screenplay, Ayub won a British Independent Film Award and a London Critics’ Circle Film Award, and was nominated for two BAFTAs for Best Adapted Screenplay and the Carl Foreman Award for Most Promising Newcomer, and a European Film Award for Best Screenwriter. Ayub was last seen on stage in May 2013, when he appeared in the title role of Bunty Berman Presents, under the wing of The New Group at the Acorn Theatre, Off-Broadway.

The musical was co-authored by Ayub and Grammy and Emmy Award winner Paul Bogaev. He made his film debut in My Beautiful Laundrette, but is perhaps best known for the role of Sammy in Hanif Kureishi'sSammy and Rosie Get Laid – both directed by Stephen Frears. His TV credits include Coronation Street, London Bridge, The Chief, Dangerfield, Boon, The Bill and Poirot. Additional writing credits include Last Dance at Dum Dum, Notes on Falling Leaves, All the Way Home, Rafta Rafta, which won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and ran at the National Theatre, West is West, All in Good Time, an adaptation of To Sir With Love, which recently completed a national tour, and Bunty Berman Presents.

Jane Horrocks’ stage credits include Annie Get Your Gun and The Good Soul of Szechuan, both at the Young Vic, Aunt Dan and Lemon at the Royal Court, Absurd Person Singular at the Garrick Theatre and Cabaret at the Donmar Warehouse.  She is renowned on stage for The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, which Jim Cartwright wrote for her after hearing her impression of artists including Shirley Bassey and Judy Garland. The production ran at the National Theatre and the Aldwych Theatre, and earned her an Olivier nomination for Best Actress. It was then adapted into a film, Little Voice, and Jane’s performance in the film resulted in nominations for a Golden Globe for Best Actress, BAFTA for Best Actress in a leading role, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a leading role and a BIFA for Best Actress. She also recorded a CD, Further Adventures of Little Voice, which included duets with Ewan McGregor, Robbie Williams and Dean Martin. On television Jane’s credits include Trollied, The Cruise, This is Jinsy, Coming Up: A Kind of Magic, Gracie, Absolutely Fabulous, Linda Green, Jericho and Never Mind the Horrocks. Her film credits include Sunshine on Leith, Corpse Bride, Chicken Run, Little Voice, Life is Sweet, Memphis Belle, The Witches, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and The Dress Maker.

Sam Yates most recently directed Billy Liar by Keith Waterhouse at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester and directed Ruth Wilson in The El Train at Hoxton Hall.  His other directing credits include Cornelius by J.B. Priestley at the Finborough Theatre and 59E59 Theatre, New York, and Mixed Marriage at the Finborough Theatre. He was Artistic Associate at Royal and Derngate Theatres from 2011-2013. He trained with directors Jamie Lloyd, Michael Grandage, Trevor Nunn, Josie Rourke and Phyllida Lloyd.

Trafalgar Transformed Artistic Director, Jamie Lloyd, curates another season of powerhouse plays in the reconfigured Trafalgar Studios. This is the second season of work produced by Jamie Lloyd Productions, a partnership between acclaimed director Jamie Lloyd and Ambassador Theatre Group. Richard III, starring Martin Freeman, and East is East, follow Jamie Lloyd’s dynamic first Trafalgar Transformed season, which launched with Macbeth starring James McAvoy, followed by The Hothouse, starring John Simm and Simon Russell Beale and The Pride, starring Hayley Atwell, Mathew Horne, Harry Hadden-Paton and Al Weaver.

PERFORMANCE DETAILS

LIMITED UK TOUR

EAST IS EAST – BY AYUB KHAN DIN

JAMIE LLOYD PRODUCTIONS – TRAFALGAR TRANSFORMED

Tickets on-sale Wednesday 1 October 2014

Theatre card members 10am -11am

General on-sale from 11am

www.atgtickets/birmingham

0844 871 3011

NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE BIRMINGHAM

14-17 January 2015

Ticket prices: £10 - £25

Premium seats available

TRAFALGAR STUDIOS LONDON

EAST IS EAST – BY AYUB KHAN DIN

JAMIE LLOYD PRODUCTIONS – TRAFALGAR TRANSFORMED SEASON TWO

PRODUCTION TWO

4 OCTOBER 2014 – 3 JANUARY 2015

Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre - Beautiful Thing - 30.03.2015 - 11.04.2015

Nottingham Playhouse, Curve theatre, Leicester and Tom O’Connell for QNQ present

 

Nikolai Foster’s celebrated anniversary production of

Jonathan Harvey’s

BEAUTIFUL THING

STARRING CHARLIE BROOKS AS ‘SANDRA’

THOMAS LAW AS ‘STE’ AND SAM JACKSON AS ‘JAMIE’

 

Nikolai Foster’s celebrated anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing comes to Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Centre from 30 March – 11 April 2015.

 

Multi-award winning actress Charlie Brooks, best known for her role as Janine Butcher in EastEnders, will lead the cast as Sandra. Other notable credits include Jenny in Bleak Houseplus being crowned the Queen of the Jungle in I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! and winner of the mirror ball trophy in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special in 2011. She also recently enjoyed a critically acclaimed stage performance in Our Country’s Good at Liverpool Playhouse. 

 

Thomas Law, whose roles include Peter Beale in EastEnders, Matt Haddon in Casualty and most recently as a young Simon Pegg in blockbuster film The World’s End will star as Ste. 

 

Sam Jackson, whose roles include Alex Henley in Skins (E4), Jack in Drifters (E4) and a critically acclaimed performance as Billy Casper in Kes (Derby Theatre) will star as Jamie.

 

Director Nikolai Foster was recently appointed Artistic Director of Curve Leicester. His work has been seen in most of the UK’s leading regional theatres, touring houses and internationally, and recent productions include The Hired Man (St James), Calamity Jane (UK tour), Brecht’s The Good Person Of Sichuan (Mercury, Colchester), Flashdance (West End), Hayfever (CFT), Merrily We Roll Along (Clwyd Theatr Cymru), The Diary of Anne Frank (York Theatre Royal & The Touring Consortium), and Annie (WYP, Leeds).

 

Beautiful Thing is a glorious urban love story between two young men set on an inner city housing estate. It tells the story of teenager Jamie’s relationship with classmate and neighbour, Ste. Together the two boys find comedy, warmth and the music of Mama Cass through their loud-mouthed next door neighbour Leah. Jonathan Harvey combines comedy with drama in his critically acclaimed award winning play. Beautiful Thing truly captures what it is to be a teenager and to fall in love.

 

Executive producer Tom O’Connell said, "Having produced the original anniversary production, I am honoured to now partner with Nottingham Playhouse and Curve theatre, Leicester, two fantastic producing theatres, to bring Jonathan's hit comedy to the stage one more time. Nikolai and I made a promise to each other that if we ever re-visited his production it would play cities and theatres that it hadn't been to before. We feel with this new cast and with some new elements added to the show, this new production will have audiences smiling all the way home."

 

Stuart Griffiths, Chief Executive, Birmingham Hippodrome said  “The arrival of Beautiful Thing in the theatre’s Patrick Centre continues an expanding programme for the venue and Birmingham Hippodrome’s commitment to presenting an expansive and varied list of performances for a diverse range of audiences."

 

Jonathan Harvey wrote Beautiful Thing when he was just 24. It premiered at the Bush Theatre in 1993 and sold out its five-week run before transferring to the Donmar Warehouse, and then the Duke of York’s, eventually winning its author an Olivier Award nomination and the John Whiting Award. A screen adaptation of the play was released in 1996 by Channel 4 films, which went on to be a cult hit. Jonathan is a regular writer for Coronation Street and wrote the TV hit series Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, as well as the best-selling 2012 novel  All She Wants. His plays include Canary and Corrie!

 

Over its 20 year history, the play has featured in the careers of many famous actors including Jonny Lee Miller, Suranne Jones, Hugh Bonneville, Philip Glennister, Andrew Garfield, and Rhys Ifans, and has been produced over 25 times worldwide, with international dates in China, France, Canada, Australia and Holland.

 

Lighting design is by David Plater and sound design by George Dennis, Beautiful Thing will be a co-production between the Nottingham Playhouse, the Curve Leicester and Tom O’Connell for QNQ Ltd. 

 

Beautiful Thing runs at Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Centre from Monday 30 March – Saturday 11 April 2015. The first 100 tickets at every performance are priced at an early bird rate of £25 – call 0844 338 5000 or book online at birminghamhippodrome.com.  5% transaction charge applies (excl. cash sales in person) postage from £1. Phone calls from 5p per minute. Prices and discounting subject to change. 

 

Perf times: Mon-Sat eves 7.45pm, Fri & Sat mats 2.30pm.  

Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre - Anything Goes - 14.09.15 - 19.09.2015

STAGE ENTERTAINMENT IN ASSOCIATION WITH SHEFFIELD THEATRES PRESENT

THE MUSICAL COMEDY

ANYTHING GOES

Tickets are now on sale

Birmingham Hippodrome is delighted to announce that tickets are now on sale for Cole Porter’s classic musical comedy, ANYTHING GOES which will be at the theatre from Monday 14 –Saturday 19 September 2015.  Casting to be announced.

Directed by Daniel Evans and choreographed by Alistair David, this brand new production of Cole Porter’s classic, multi-award winning musical comedy transports you to the magical age of tap dancing and high society.

Rebecca Quigley, CEO of Stage Entertainment UK said:  “I’m very excited to be working with Daniel and Alistair, whose work I have loved over the last ten years. They’re the perfect creative team to stage this hugely entertaining musical comedy.”

When Billy Crocker discovers that his heart’s desire, debutante heiress Hope Harcourt is engaged to an English aristocrat, he stows away aboard the S.S. American to win her back. Aided by a string of eccentric passengers on board the luxurious transatlantic liner, can this web of love be untangled before they reach Southampton?

Featuring the rich sounds of a live orchestra and a sensational cast of 26, Cole Porter’s uplifting masterpiece of song and dance features the magnificent songs  I Get A Kick Out of You, You’re the Top, It’s De-Lovely and Anything Goes. Hop aboard for sassy heroines, mischievous mob bosses, comedy capers and tap dancing sailors in this hilarious tale of romance and hi-jinks on the high seas.

ANYTHING GOES has Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter. The Original Book is by P.G. Wodehouse, Guy Bolton, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. New Book by Timothy Crouse & John Weidman. Originally produced by Lincoln Centre Theatre, New York City.

Tickets for ANYTHING GOES are priced £17-£39.50 and are available online www.birminghamhippodrome.com or on 0844 338 5000.  Perf times: Mon-Sat eves 7.30pm; Wed Mat 2pm; Sat Mat 2.30pm. 5% transaction charge applies (excl. cash sales in person) postage from £1. Phone calls from 5p per minute. Prices and discounting subject to change.

Access performances: Captioned Thu 17 Sep 7.30pm; Signed Fri 18 Sep 7.30pm; Audio described Sat 19 Sep 2.30pm with touch tour at 1pm.

Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre - The Frozen Scream - 07.01.2015 - 17.01.2015

Stage and Television Star

RULA LENSKA

to star in

The Frozen Scream

co-written by novelist Sarah Waters

presented by

Wales Millennium Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome and Christopher Green

RULA LENSKA will star in The Frozen Scream a new production for the winter season which will open at Wales Millennium Centre this December before transferring to Birmingham Hippodrome in January.

Rula has toured extensively both in the UK and abroad and appeared in several West End shows – most recently The Vagina Monologues. Rula joined the cast of Coronation Street in 2009 as Claudia Colby but is probably best remembered for her role of Q in the hit television series Rock Follies. Rula has recently completed a tour of Pygmalion with Alistair McGowan.

Rula said “It is such a joy to be working with my great friend and superb cabaret artist Christopher Green who asked me to be in this unique piece of theatre and with one of my favourite authors Sarah Waters.  This is such an opportunity to be part of something totally different to anything I have ever done or seen before.”

Based on a largely forgotten murder-mystery novel, The Frozen Scream brings the chilling tale back to life for the stage, offering a unique show this festive season co-written by Olivier-award winning performer and writer Christopher Green and best-selling novelist Sarah Waters.

Directed by Christopher Green, who will also perform in the show, The Frozen Scream tells the story of a group of friends stranded in an abandoned lodge in the heart of winter. Attempting to entertain themselves with the tale of Jack Frost, fictional horror quickly slips into reality as events escalate in unexpected ways. The original novel, written by English novelist CC Gilbert, while popular when it was published in 1928, rapidly fell out of favour when a series of mysterious deaths led to the belief that the novel was cursed.

This creative collaboration between Wales Millennium Centre and Birmingham Hippodrome arose from a shared desire to offer audiences an alternative form of Christmas entertainment. Recently the two venues have collaborated on the UK Tour of the Wales Millennium Centre and Cape Town Opera presentation of Show Boat which has just been nominated for a UK Theatre Award for Best Touring Production.

With both Cardiff and Birmingham set to present an extensive programme of family orientated shows, musicals and pantomimes this winter, The Frozen Scream will offer an exciting alternative for local audiences.

The Frozen Scream will premiere at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff (11 – 20 Dec 2014), followed by Birmingham Hippodrome (7-17 Jan 2015).

The Frozen Scream is the first play to be written by acclaimed novelist Sarah Waters, well-known for her award wining novels including Tipping the Velvet (1998), Fingersmith (2002), and The Little Stranger (2009). Her latest novel, The Paying Guests, has just been published.

An award-winning performer and writer, Christopher Green has created numerous pieces of experimental theatre including Office Party, VIP, The Razzle and This Show Has No Name. He is also well-known as a character comedian, playing under numerous personas including country music singer, Tina C, and rapping pensioner, Ida Barr.

The Frozen Scream is the first collaboration between Waters and Green.

Age guidance: 16+.

The Frozen Scream runs at Wales Millennium Centre from Thursday 11 – Tuesday 20 December 2015. Tickets are priced at £16. For more information and to book tickets visit www.wmc.org.uk or call 029 2063 6464.

The Frozen Scream runs at Birmingham Hippodrome from Wednesday 7 - Saturday 17 January 2015.  Tickets are priced £15.00-£18.50 and are available online www.birminghamhippodrome.com or phone 0844 338 5000.

Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre - Oklehoma - 30.06.15 - 04.07.2015

STAR CAST FOR RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S

OKLAHOMA!

BELINDA LANG, GARY WILMOT, ASHLEY DAY, CHARLOTTE WAKEFIELD & NIC GREENSHIELDS

Music & Lyrics Limited and Royal & Derngate Northampton present a new production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical OKLAHOMA!, directed by Rachel Kavanaugh and with new choreography by Drew McOnie, which will tour the UK and Ireland next year and will be at Birmingham Hippodrome from Tuesday 30 June – Saturday 4 July 2015.

From the award-winning producers of the highly successful tours of The King & I and Fiddler on the Roof, this new production of one of the great classic American musicals will feature a large cast and chorus led by Belinda Lang (School for Scandal, Ladies in Lavender, The Killing of Sister George) as Aunt Eller, Gary Wilmot (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Pajama Game, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as Ali Hakim, Ashley Day (The Book of Mormon, The Wizard of Oz, High School Musical) as Curly, Charlotte Wakefield (The Sound of Music, MAMMA MIA!, Spring Awakening) as Laurey and Nic Greenshields (Guys and Dolls, Billy Elliot, The Phantom of the Opera) as Jud Fry, accompanied by a live orchestra led by musical director Steve Ridley.  Set and costumes will be designed by Francis O’Connor, with lighting by Tim Mitchell and sound by Ben Harrison.

Rachel Kavanaugh is former Artistic Director of the Birmingham Rep.  She is directing An Ideal Husband at the Chichester Festival Theatre this autumn.  Other credits include The Sound of Music at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre,Love Story in Chichester and the West End, and The Merry Wives of Windsor for the Royal Shakespeare Company.  Drew McOnie’s choreography credits include In the Heights for Southwark Playhouse, The Sound of Music and Chicagofor Leicester Curve, Soho Cinders at the Soho Theatre, and Dames at Sea and On the 20th Century at the Union Theatre.  He recently launched his own theatre dance company, The McOnie Company.

OKLAHOMA!, with music by Richard Rodgers and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, was based on the Lynn Riggs play Green Grow the Lilacs and was the first musical written by the duo.  It was originally produced on Broadway in 1943 and the Academy Award-winning film was released in 1955. Set in the Oklahoma territory in the early 1900s, the musical tells the story of two sets of star-crossed lovers. Cowboy Curly loves Laurey, Aunt Eller’s niece, but Curly’s rival is the mysterious and dangerous hired hand Jud Fry.  Meanwhile, Ado Annie is torn between cowboy Will and peddler Ali Hakim.  Their stories are told with the help of some of the best loved songs in musical theatre history, including Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’, I’m Just a Girl Who Cain’t Say No, Surrey With a Fringe on Top, Kansas City, People Will Say We’re in Love and the title song.

The UK & Irish tour of OKLAHOMA! will be presented through special arrangement with R&H Theatricals Europe.

Website: www.oklahomatour.co.uk

OKLAHOMA!  runs at Birmingham Hippodrome from Tuesday 30 June – Saturday 4 July.  Tickets are priced £18-£40 and can be booked on 0844 338 5000 or online at www.birminghamhippodrome.com 5% transaction charge applies (excl. cash sales in person) postage from £1. Phone calls from 5p per minute. Prices and discounting subject to change.   Perf times:   Tue-Sat eves 7.30pm; Wed Mat 2pm; Sat Mat 2.30pm.

Access performances: Captioned Thu 2 July at 7.30pm; Signed Fri 3 July at 7.30pm; Audio Described  Sat 4 July at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre - Blood Brothers - 13.10.14 - 25.10.14

Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre

Bill Kenwright presents:

Willy Russell’s

BLOOD BROTHERS

Monday 13th - Saturday 25th October 2014 

 ONE OF BIRMINGHAM’S FAVOURITE MUSICALS RETURNS FOR AN INCREDIBLE 9th SEASON FOR 2 WEEKS ONLY!

 

Birmingham Hippodrome opened the first-ever UK tour of Blood Brothers starring Helen Reddy back in 1995, now more than 19 years later the international hit returns for its ninth season at the theatre starringMaureen Nolan from Monday 13 – Saturday 25 October 2014. 

Maureen Nolan makes a welcome return to the role of Mrs Johnstone after playing the iconic part in both the West End and on tour; she was the fourth Nolan sister to play the role, earning them entry in to the Guinness Book of Records.

Maureen has been singing with her sisters since she was nine years old. Together they became one of Europe’s first girl bands – The Nolans. The Nolans’ success is legendary, including phenomenal record sales worldwide, particularly in Japan where they sold more records than The Beatles!  

Blood Brothers ran in London’s West End for 24 years, one of only three musicals ever to achieve that milestone, and has scooped up multiple awards across the globe including no less than four awards for best musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway.

The musical tells the captivating and moving story of twin boys separated at birth, only to be reunited, by a twist of fate and a mother’s haunting secret. The memorable score includes A Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True.

Willy Russell is undeniably one of this country’s leading contemporary dramatists. His countless credits include Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine. Educating Rita, originally commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, enjoyed a two year run in the West End and was made into a movie starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters. Shirley Valentine also made the move from stage to screen in an enormously popular film starring Pauline Collins and Tom Conti.

Blood Brothers is directed by Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright with designs by Andy Walmsley.  Dan Samson is the original sound designer. Rod Edwards is the musical supervisor and Kelvin Towse is the production musical director.

Blood Brothers runs at Birmingham Hippodrome from Monday 13 – Saturday 25 October 2014. Tickets are priced £18-£38 and available on 0844 338 5000 or online at 

birminghamhippodrome.com  5% transaction charge applies (excl. cash sales in person) postage from £1. Phone calls from 5p per minute. Prices and discounting subject to change. 

Performance Times: Mon-Sat eves 7.30pm, Wed mats 2pm, Sat mats 2.30pm.

Signed performance Tue 21 Oct 7.30pm; Captioned performance Thu 23 Oct 7.30pm; Audio described performance Sat 25 Oct 2.30pm.

New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham - Blockbuster the Musical - 22.09.14 - 27.09.14

New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

Monday 22nd - Saturday 27th September 2014

Music and lyrics by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman

Script adaption by David Soames and Paul Nicholas

I didn't know what to expect from this night at The New Alexandra, there was not much online or even in the programme on what this piece was about, just that it included 70s music from writing duo Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, who, for the best part of twelve years were the UK's leading songwriting partnership with over 50 top 40 hits. 

The storyline is a little weak, however this is something often found with jukebox musicals, where a plot is created to fit loosely around the music desired.

At the beginning of the performance we meet Mickey Block, who feebly mentions that his friends call him Buster. Get it? Mickey Block-Buster? Mickey is a young, attractive lad that spends his time busking in Leicester Square tube station. When he gets into trouble with some local thugs, Mickey finds himself hiding in a magical music store owned by Crazy Max. Max decides to send Mickey back in time 42 years to 1972 in order to complete two good deeds, and ultimately put others before himself. At Ealing College Mickey meets a host of new people and falls in love with both Theresa and the era but he only has 7 days until he is sucked back into his own reality.

Throughout the night we hear such hits as Tiger Feet, Devil Gate Drive, Mickey, If You Can't Give Me Love and Ballroom Blitz and a few of the audience were up on their feet, dancing and singing away. It was great to see a live band on stage. Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties much of the singing was drowned out by the band. The lighting was vibrant and with the glitter ball hanging from the ceiling the atmosphere was created, but the set left gaps, allowing the audience to see actors preparing to enter, often spoiling some of the surprises.

In spite of some technical hiccups the cast worked hard to maintain the energy. Aaron Sidwell, known for Steven Beale in Eastenders, played Mickey Block, he carried the show with the full package, a lovely voice, slick dance moves and guitar playing. The love story between Mickey and Theresa, played by Aimie Atkinson was believable and heart warming, with their voices complimenting one another's.

Paul Nicholas, who also directed and adapted the script, played two very different characters well, Crazy Max and Paul. He showed that his voice is still as strong as ever in his rendition of 'Living Next Door to Alice'.

Micha Richardson as Jodie took centre stage to sing 'You Better Be Good To Me' and turned out to be a highlight of the evening.

The choreography was on point, and took an interesting take on many styles of dance, while always being delivered with precision.

Overall the show does have its problems, but, once the technical issues are resolved and the right audience are there toe tapping, I think it has the potential to be a fabulous night out!

Review by Ellie Scandrett

23.09.2014

Birmingham Hippodrome - Ringside - November 2014

HIPPODROME PLUS presents

RINGSIDE 

Film, Cabaret, Adventure and Talks inspired by Richard Wagner

In celebration of Wagner’s epic The Ring Cycle

This coming November Birmingham Hippodrome will present Wagner’s epic The Ring Cycle in its entirety.  Conducted by Maestro Valery Gergiev with his world-famous Mariinsky Opera it is the only UK date in 2014.

In celebration of this exciting event in the opera calendar, Hippodrome Plus will be taking a deeper look at Wagner with RINGSIDE a series of films, cabaret and talks inspired by his work. The events take a look at Wagner’s unusual narrative style – his operas included magic objects, love potions and family rivalry: this programme takes a light-hearted look at the amazing stories, introducing them to those new to Wagner, and re-interpreting them for those who already love his work.

Paul Kaynes, Director of Creative Programmes at Birmingham Hippodrome said “The Ring Cycle is very rarely performed in full so to coincide with this we wanted to provide audiences with the chance to get under the skin of Wagner exploring how other art forms have been influenced by his work.  RINGSIDE offers alternative events and performances for all ages from Brunch with the Brünnhildes hosted by BBC Radio 4’s Front Row presenter Matthew d’Ancona, The Fat Lady Sings - An Opera Cabaret, starring cabaret legend Kit Hesketh Harvey,  to a real life adventure game that can be played by all the family.

“RINGSIDE will take place off the main stage using our Patrick Centre studio, foyer areas, the UK’s oldest working cinema The Electric Cinema and places and spaces around the Hippodrome with some events FREE.”

TWILIGHTOFTHEFREAKINGODS
Saturday 25 October 6.30pm and Sunday 26 October 2.30pm
Birmingham Hippodrome’s The Patrick Centre – Tickets £6
TWILIGHTOFTHEFREAKINGODS is a film by Reel Access from a play by Birmingham based Stan’s Café from an opera by Richard Wagner.  

In 2013 internationally acclaimed theatre company Stan’s Cafe created a visionary rendering of Wagner’s Götterdammerüng story. Reel Access shot 24 hours of video footage over the two performances and through a process of time shifting and layering they produced an extraordinary, hypnotic, timeless film that both documents that original production and transcends it to become a ravishing work of art in its own right. Black and white and wordless, with a rich original soundtrack by Nina West, this film harks back to Fritz Lang, carries echoes of Matthew Barney, is resolutely Wagnerian and playfully Stan’s Cafe.

ONE OF OUR SINGERS IS MISSINGSaturday 1 November 11am
Birmingham Hippodrome
FREE TO ATTEND BOOKING ESSENTIAL (duration approx 90 mins, depending on how fast attendees solve the clues!)

One of Our Singers is Missing is a real life adventure game that anyone can play, from individuals, and groups to couples and families.  One of the Hippodrome’s opera singers has gone missing so participants have to rescue the star from peril by following the trail around the Hippodrome and solving the clues.

FILM MUSIC AND THE GHOST OF WAGNERNeil Brand – An Illustrated talk
Saturday 1 November 4pm
The Patrick Centre – Tickets £10

As cinema has embraced the fantasy epic, comic-book heroes and ancient and modern fairytales, so its music has become more grandiose, action-packed, and bombastic - some would say ‘Wagnerian’. In this specially created event, lavishly illustrated with ï¬ï¿½lm excerpts both classic and modern, Neil Brand (presenter of the critically-acclaimed BBC4 series "Sound of Cinema - the Music that made the Movies") dismantles modern ï¬ï¿½lm scores to ï¬ï¿½nd where Wagner lurks within, from the use of Leitmotifs, to the music of the Gods, to the melodic construction of superheroes - a layman’s guide to ï¬ï¿½lm scoring that ensures you will never hear blockbuster movies the same way again!

SIEGFRIED IDYLLSaturday 1 November 5.30pm
Birmingham Hippodrome Foyer – FREE
A performance by students from Birmingham Conservatoire, conducted by David Purser.

On Christmas Day 1870 Cosima Wagner, Richard Wagner’s wife, awoke to the sound of a dozen or so musicians, crowding along the staircase to her bedroom, playing a piece of beautiful music that she had never heard before. Siegfried Idyll, based on one of Brünnhildes lilting melodies from The Ring, was Wagner’s extravagant and romantic birthday present to his beloved wife and, in turn, it has become the most widely loved piece of music Wagner wrote.

THE FAT LADY SINGSSaturday 1 November 7.30pm
The Patrick Centre – Tickets £18

The Fat Lady Sings is a hit opera cabaret performed by Kit and McConnel who enjoyed a sold-out tour with the late Joan Rivers.   This hilarious evening is an irreverent romp through the hilarities of the opera repertoire created by cabaret legend Kit Hesketh Harvey, best known as one half of comedy duo Kit and the Widow and Radio 4’s long-running comedy show Just a Minute.

SIEGFRIEDSunday 2 November Doors 11.30am
The Electric Cinema – Tickets £10 standard; £14 front row sofas; £16.50 back row sofas
To book call the Electric Box Office on 0121 643 7879 or online www.thelectric.co.uk

Hippodrome Plus teams up with the UK’s oldest working cinema to provide an escape from the city for an afternoon of black and white movie magic. This rare screening of Fritz Lang’s silent movie epic Siegfried is accompanied on live piano by Neil Brand(presenter of the critically-acclaimed BBC4 series "Sound of Cinema - the Music that made the Movies")  the world’s leading silent movie pianist.    Famous for his later hit Metropolis Lang’s black and white cinema masterpiece is adapted from the same myth that Wagner drew on for The Ring Cycle.

BRUNCH WITH THE BRUNNHILDESSaturday 8 November 11.30am
The Patrick Centre – Tickets £25 including brunch

Brunch with the Brünnhildes is a unique and special event with two of the world’s leading Wagnerian sopranos Susan Bullock and Catherine Foster who have sung the role of Brünnhilde  in opera houses all over the world.  In conversation with Spectator journalist and BBC Radio 4 Front Row presenter and Wagner fan Matthew d’Ancona they reveal the secrets of what it takes to perform this demanding role and some of the tricks of the trade they deploy to cope, and what it feels like to bring the whole of the Ring Cycle to an end – with one of opera’s most iconic passages, Brünnhilde’s Immolation Scene.

BOX OFFICE DETAILS

Tickets are available from Birmingham Hippodrome Box Office on 0844 338 5000 or online at www.birminghamhippodrome.com *5% fee applies, £1 postage fee, calls cost from 5p per min.

Tickets for Siegfried are available from The Electric cinema box office on 0121 643 7879

One of Our Singers is Missing is a Free event but booking is essential call Birmingham Hippodrome Box Office on 0844 338 5000 or book online at www.birminghamhippodrome.co.uk

-ENDS- 18 Sept 2014

Media Contact: Mandy Rose, Birmingham Hippodrome 0121 689 3069 mandyrose@birminghamhippodrome.com