Showing posts with label New Alexandra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Alexandra. Show all posts

Thursday, 20 July 2017

New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham - New Season Unveiled

Dazzling new season unveiled at New Alexandra Theatre


Bring it On, The Sound of Music and Strangers On a Train, are just some of the hit productions coming to Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre as part of its Autumn Season, announced today.

Also on the bill is Monty Python’s SpamalotThis is Elvis, and Fay Mellor’s brand new production of Fat Friends.

Must-see family favourites include Miracle on 34th Street The MusicalDavid Walliam’s Awful Auntie and the acclaimed Shrek The Musical.
After a nationwide search for its leading lady, the much anticipated Cilla The Musical also makes its debut, followed by the followed by the return of the West End smash Jersey Boys as the venue’s Christmas Show.

Eastenders favourite Jessie Wallace will also come to the venue in DeathtrapJoanne Clifton in Flashdance The Musical, and Vincent and Flavia return in Tango Moderno.


Inspired by the hit film, Broadway’s Tony Award nominated Bring It On The Musical somersaults into Birmingham from Monday 25 to Saturday 30 September 2017 as part of its first ever UK Tour.

The coming of age story, which is penned by the famed Hamilton writer Lin Manuel Miranda, promises a high-octane thrill ride in the cut-throat world of competitive cheerleading, where high school politics meets teenage romance.

One of the greatest musicals of all time, The Sound of Music, returns to the stage in January 2018. Based onBarnoness Maria Von Trapp’s 1949 autobiography, this wonderfully lavish new staging of The Sound Of Music tells the true story of the world-famous singing family, from their romantic beginnings and search for happiness, to their thrilling escape to freedom as their beloved Austria becomes part of the Third Reich at the start of World War Two.

The Bill Kenwright Production runs from Tuesday 16 to Saturday 20 January 2018.

Meanwhile, from the team behind Gaslight, comes the masterful thriller Strangers On a Train. Based on the world-renowned 1950 novel by Patricia Highsmith this spine-chilling tale is set to delight with its dark wit, whilst having everyone on the edge of their seats from the start.

Running from Monday 29 January to Saturday 3 February 2018 the show tells of a fateful encounter between two men in the dining carriage of a train crossing America, which sets in motion a chain of events that changes their lives forever.

Iconic British classic Monty Python’s Spamalot returns from Tuesday 3 to Saturday 7 October. Lovingly ripped off from the hugely successful 1975 film, Monty Python and The Holy Grail, this brand new tour is a riotous comedy full of misfit knights, killer rabbits, dancing nuns and ferocious Frenchmen.

The electrifying musical This is Elvis, has also been announced, and will play from Monday 19 to Saturday 24 March 2018.

The production, which is presented by Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield, recreates all the drama leading to the musical event of the year in 1968, which was the first live TV special for Elvis Presley. It features all of his greatest hits, including Trouble, Blue Suede Shoes, Hound Dog, All Shook Up, It’s Now or Never andHeartBreak Hotel.

And the weight is over for one of TV’s best loved programmes to make its stage debut. Kay Mellor’s Fat Friends The Musical arrives at The Alex from Tuesday 3 to Saturday 7 April 2017, with a stellar cast including Andrew “Freddie” FlintoffJodie Prenger and Natalie Anderson.

Packed full of warmth, life and weight loss, this new stage show reunites out favourite foodie friends in an eagerly anticipated musical brimming with hope, humour and heart.

One of the most popular films of all time, Miracle on 34th Street, hits the stage in a fun-filled Christmas treat from Tuesday 14 to Saturday 18 November 2017. Birmingham Musical and Operatic Society (BMOS), bring this family favourite to the stage, which follows single mother Doris, her daughter Susan and their neighbour Fred on a magical journey of love and romance to discover if Macy’s Department Store Kris Kringle really is Santa Claus.

Packed with holiday favourites such as It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas and Her Love, its sure to be a festive hit.
After the sell-out success of Gangsta GrannyBirmingham Stage Company return with their next David Walliam’s adaption, Awful Auntie.

This amazing tale of frights, fights and friendships comes to the theatre from Wednesday 22 to Sunday 26 November and features an owl, a small ghost and a very awful auntie!

Everyone’s favourite ogre Shrek arrives for Feb 2018 half-term, running from Wednesday 14 to Saturday 25 February.
Based on the story and characters from the Oscar-winning Dreamworks animation film, this hilarious and spectacular production turns the world of fairy-tales upside down in an all-singing, all-dancing, must see musical comedy.

Following the success of the blockbusting film the show is a chance to join the unlikely hero and his loyal steed Donkey, as they set off on a quest to rescue the beautiful Princess Fiona from her tower.

Cilla The Musical is a spectacular and heart-warming musical adaptation of the critically acclaimed ITV mini-series by Jeff Pope, based on the early life of Cilla Black.

The musical score is the ultimate soundtrack to the 60s including Cilla’s greatest hits Anyone Who Had A Heart, Alfie, and Something Tells Me, alongside a backdrop of the legendary Liverpool Sound.



Kara Lily Hayworth takes the title role after fighting off thousands of hopefuls in nationwide auditions.

Eastenders’ favourites Jessie Wallace and Paul Bradley lead the cast of Deathtrap, a satisfying spine chiller that is guaranteed to keep audiences on the edge of their seat.

The show, which tours at the New Alex from Tuesday 7 to Saturday 11 November tells the tale of Sidney Bruhl, a once successful writer of stage thrillers who is in the grip of chronic writers block when young playwright Clifford Anderson sends him a brilliant whodunit.

This wickedly enjoyable production promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

And all the iconic hits such as Maniac, Gloria and What A Feeling are back in Flashdance The Musical,which stars Strictly Come Dancing’s Joanne Clifton and A1 heart-throb Ben Adams.

The musical spectacle comes to the theatre from Monday 4 to Saturday 9 December 2017 and promises phenomenal choreography and an iconic score.

After a sell-out run in 2014, West End and Broadway phenomenon Jersey Boys is also back for Christmas 2017, running from Saturday 16 December to Saturday 6 January 2018.

After wrapping up in the West End the brand new regional tour will open in Birmingham and is truly not to be missed.
Featuring hit after hit including Beggin, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You and Walk Like A Man, Jersey Boys, which tells the story of Franki Valli and The Four Seasons, is a story full of heart, humour and sheer razamatazz.

There are also a host of excellent one night shows at the venue to cater for everyone.

Direct from its sell-out London run Derren Brown: Underground is the latest show from the multi-award winning master of psychological illusion and runs from Monday 24 to Wednesday 26 July 2017. Bringing together a selection of the very best of Derren’s previous stage work, Underground is a spell-binding experience of showmanship and magical genius.

An audience with Katie Price comes to the theatre on Wednesday November 1, where Katie will perform her brand new single I Got U and talk about her life stories.

And Mitchell Brunings, lead of the sell-out musical One Love, comes to Birmingham on Sunday 22 andMonday 23 October 2017 to perform one off special Marley Reprised, bringing a full evening of Bob Marley’s greatest hits to the stage.

For more information on all of the shows and to buy tickets go to atgtickets.com/birmingham* or ring 0844 871 3011*. 
*Booking fees apply

New Alexandra Theatre - Amazing things to do

Five amazing things to do at The Alex –
which don’t involve theatre!

The New Alexandra Theatre is not just known for its blockbusting shows, although there are plenty of them!

More than ever before the venue is getting involved in a host of community projects, including The Big Sleuth, Birmingham Cocktail Weekend, and hosting in-house entertainment via Birmingham Jazz Festival.

Here’s five fantastic things you can do at The Alex, which don’t involve watching a show…

·         I aint’ afraid of no bear! Have you grabbed a selfie with Alexandra yet? The Alex’s very own bear on the Big Sleuth Trail? The beauty, who dons a Ghostbusters outfit takes pride of place at the end of John Bright Street, not far from the theatre.

Alexandra is just one of 100 stunning bear sculptures who are taking over the city as part of The Big Sleuth Trail. Each have been designed by artists and have their own story to tell, and have laid their paw prints all over the city – and beyond – to bring a colourful trail of creativity, imagination and fun

An additional 137 bear cubs have been created by local school children as part of The Big Sleuth Learning Programme. Together they form a fantastic, free public art trail that will lead you to parts of the city and wider region that you may never have visited before.

With Alexandra’s prominent position just outside New Street Station, she could be one of the first bears you visit!

And the added bonus is that once you scan her code on The Big Sleuth app, you can also visit The Alex Box Office and pick up a free goodie bag full of treats!

The Big Sleuth kicked off this week and runs throughout the Summer holidays. More details here http://thebigsleuth.co.uk/


·         If you’ve never sampled one of the Alex’s amazing cocktails, then July is certainly the best time!  This weekend the venue is proudly taking part in Birmingham Cocktail Weekend once again, which is now bigger and better than ever before.

Running from Fri 14 to Sun 16 July this exciting event is a weekend dedicated to sampling the best of Birmingham’s cocktail scene! And The Alex’s offering is a unique cocktail based on the history of the venue – the Salberg 75!

The Charlie Bates Trio will also be performing in the beautiful Piano Bar throughout the weekend to entertain drinkers.

Even more enticing is the opportunity to take part in another one of the unique Cocktail Masterclasses.

Lasting for one hour and hosted in the luxurious Ambassador Lounge, participants will learn how to make the Salberg 75. Then they can create their very own cocktail themed on a show from the upcoming season.

Places can be booked here:


·         Free Jazz in the theatre’s stunning Piano bar you say? Bar open until 11pm? What’s not to like? This month the theatre will take part in the city wide Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell Jazz Festival for the very first time, with renowned band C-Jam set to delight listeners in the Piano bar on Friday 21 July.  

C-Jam’s repertoire is large and varied, ranging from cool jazz sounds to stomping blues/R&B and soul favourites. The experienced line-up includes three ex-members of the Steve Gibbons Band, including Brain Badhams (keyboards and vocals), who is currently with Elkie Brooks.

Brian Wilson (lead guitar/vocals) spent many years with the Gibbons Band, touring the USA supporting The Who, and worked with the Ruby Turner Band for a number of years.

Drummer Brendan Day’s 12 years with the Gibbons Band have been followed by work with the Dylan Project and Fairport Convention among many others.

Meanwhile bassist Frank Walker’s colourful music career includes working with Glenn Tipton in the Flying Hat Band and appearing with Alvin Stardust, whilst saxophonist Sam Rogers first came to notice with the Walsall Jazz Orchestra.

C-Jam will perform in the Piano Bar from 8pm, with the bar open from 6.30pm.

The jazz festival runs from July 14 to July 23 and more details are available herehttp://www.birminghamjazzfestival.com/

 

·         Friday afternoons at the Alex have also become a little bit special, with the addition of Coffee, Cake and Cadenzas.

The series of free monthly Chamber Concerts sees students from Birmingham's Conservatoire of Music presenting beautiful programmes at 1pm on the first Friday of every month in the theatre’s Piano Bar.

Coffee, cake and an assortment of other treats are on sale at every single event, which are also available to watch on Facebook Live.

The concerts are a great opportunity for everyone to come along to the theatre and listen to some outstanding live music for free, whilst enjoying a cuppa in the beautiful surroundings of the Piano Bar.

After a spectacular series of concerts, the talented students are taking a well deserved break, but will back to entertain from Friday 3rd November.

·         Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of the Alex? There are regular backstage theatre tours available which all provide a unique look behind the scenes.

Each tour offers a unique insight into one of the most historic theatres in the West Midlands.

The tours are a chance to see the dressing rooms that have housed the stars, visit the backstage areas that are the workhouse of theatre life and finally step onstage at the Alex and in doing so join with some of the greats of English theatre. After a tour participants can relax with a free hot drink and biscuits in the bar.

More details on the tours are available at www.atgtickets.com

Sunday, 31 January 2016

New Alexandra Theatre - Breakfast at Tiffany's - 18.04.16 - 23.04.16

Low res logo


MATT BARBER TO STAR AS FRED OPPOSITE PIXIE LOTT’S HOLLY IN TRUMAN CAPOTE’S BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S

ADAPTED BY RICHARD GREENBERG

2016 UK & IRELAND TOUR AND WEST END SEASON

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED

AT BIRMINGHAM’S NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE FROM MONDAY 18th – SATURDAY 23rd APRIL

The full cast has been announced for the 2016 UK and Ireland Tour and the West End limited season of Truman Capote’sBreakfast at Tiffany’s, adapted by Richard Greenberg and directed by Nikolai Foster.

Matt Barber (Atticus Aldridge in Downton Abbey) will play Fred and Victor McGuire (the sit-coms Trollied and Bread) will play Joe Bell. They will be joined by Robert Calvert as Doc, Naomi Cranston as Mag, Charlie De Melo as José, Tim Frances as Rusty Trawler/Editor at 21, Andrew Joshi as Yunioshi, Melanie La Barrie as Mme Spanella, and Sevan Stephan as OJ Berman/Dr Goldman, with Katy Allen and Andy Watkins.

As previously announced, Pixie Lott will star as Holly Golightly for the UK and Ireland Tour, from 3 March to 30 April and 13 to 25 June, and at London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket from 30 June to 17 September.

Truman Capote’s classic novella has been adapted for the stage by Pulitzer Prize-winning Finalist and Tony and Olivier Award-winning playwright Richard Greenberg (Take Me OutThree Days of Rain), and contains memorable songs from the era as well as original music by Grant Olding (One Man, Two Guvnors, RSC’s Don Quixote). 

Based on Truman Capote’s beloved masterwork, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is set in New York in 1943. Fred, a young writer from Louisiana, meets Holly Golightly, a charming, vivacious and utterly elusive good-time girl.  Everyone falls in love with Holly – including Fred.  However Fred is poor, and Holly’s other suitors include a playboy millionaire and the future president of Brazil.  As war rages on in Europe, Holly begins to fall in love with Fred – just as her past catches up with her.

Artistic Director of Curve, Nikolai Foster said, "It's a testament to the beauty of Capote's imagination, the extraordinary characters he created and Greenberg's faithful adaptation, that alongside Pixie and Matt, we have assembled such an accomplished company of actors to bring this dazzling play to life. We are thrilled to welcome the company to Curve and our audiences in Leicester and on tour in the UK. Every week of 2016 will see a Curve production on a UK stage and we are thrilledBreakfast at Tiffany’s will be part of this commitment to sharing work that has been made at Curve." 

Breakfast at Tiffany’s will be directed by Nikolai Foster, the Artistic Director of Curve, with production design by Matthew Wright, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Mic Pool and wig design by Campbell Young.

Nikolai Foster is Artistic Director at Curve. Recent productions include Roald Dahl’s The Witches, Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, Wertenbaker's Our Country's Good and Shakespeare’s Richard III (all Curve), Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (West Yorkshire Playhouse), the 20th anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing (Curve and Nottingham Playhouse), Calamity Jane (Watermill Theatre, Newbury & UK tour) and a major new production of the Broadway musical Annie (West Yorkshire Playhouse & UK tour).

Breakfast at Tiffany’s will begin performances at the Curve, Leicester on 3 March 2016, before embarking on a UK & Ireland Tour.  There will be a 12-week season at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London’s West End from 30 June to 17 September 2016.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a co-production between the Curve and Colin Ingram, Peter Kane, William Sinclair and Michael Melnick & Finlay Gray. 

For more information, visit www.breakfastattiffanys.co.uk.
Twitter:  @Tiffanysonstage


TOUR SCHEDULE 2016

*3 – 12 March                          LEICESTER                                 0116 242 3595   
                                                    Curve                                           www.curveonline.co.uk               
                                                   
*15 – 19 March                        CANTERBURY                            01227 787787
                                                    Marlowe Theatre                        www.marlowetheatre.com           
                                                                                                       
*4 – 9 April                               LEEDS                                         0844 848 2700
                                                    Grand Theatre                            www.leedsgrandtheatre.com

*12 – 16 April                           SALFORD                                    0843 208 6000
                                                    Lowry Theatre                             www.thelowry.com

*18 – 23 April                          BIRMINGHAM                           0844 871 3011 
                                                 New Alexandra Theatre               www.atgtickets.com/birmingham

*25 – 30 April                          SOUTHAMPTON                       02380 711811
                                                    Mayflower Theatre                       www.mayflower.org.uk

2 – 7 May                                 ABERDEEN                                 01224 641122
                                                His Majesty’s                                www.aberdeenperformingarts.com

9 –14 May                                 NOTTINGHAM                          0115 989 5555   
                                                    Theatre Royal                              www.trch.co.uk                              

16 – 21 May                          BATH                                  01225 448844 (on sale spring 2016)          
                                                    Theatre Royal                              www.theatreroyal.org.uk      
                                                                                                       
23 – 28 May                                 GLASGOW                                  0844 871 7647
                                                    Theatre Royal                              www.atgtickets.com/glasgow

30 May – 4 June                          EDINBURGH                               0131 529 6000
                                                    King’s Theatre                             www.edtheatres.com

6 – 11 June                                 HIGH WYCOMBE                        01494 512 000
                                                    Wycombe Swan                           www.wycombeswan.co.uk

*13 – 18 June                              DUBLIN                                       0818 719 377       
                                                    Bord Gais Theatre                       www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie

*20 – 25 June                              PLYMOUTH                                 01752 267222
                                                    Theatre Royal                              www.theatreroyal.com

*30 June – 17 September            LONDON                                     020 7930 8800
                                                    Theatre Royal Haymarket             www.trh.co.uk

*Pixie Lott Dates

Booking Information:

ON SALE NOW

Performances: Mon 18 – Sat 23 Apr
Box Office: 0844 871 3011 (bkg fee)
Groups 10+: 0844 871 3031
Online: www.atgtickets.com/birmingham (bkg fee)