NEWS
NEWS
THE GRINNING MAN extends until April 14
January 2018
“This stunning new British musical demands to be seen. I simply loved it”
★★★★
The Times
“Best puppetry since War Horse”
★★★★
Mail on Sunday
“As satisfying and heart-wrenching as anything you might see on stage at the moment”
★★★★
What’s On Stage
“A gloriously enjoyable, quirkily brilliant production”
★★★★
Sunday Express
“Tom Morris immerses the audience deep in ghoulish, carnivalesque aesthetic”
★★★★
Daily Telegraph
The Grinning Man, now playing at the Trafalgar Studios, has today announced a new extended booking period until 14 April.
This critically acclaimed, award-winning production transferred into the West End in December last year, following a hugely successful premiere at Bristol Old Vic, and has become an instant hit across the board - with a wealth of critics, bloggers and audiences raving about The Grinning Man’s new London incarnation. The show receives huge praise and standing ovations at every single performance, with news of the riotous audience reaction spreading sensationally via word of mouth.
As with the Bristol run, the critics have heaped praise on the show too, with a wealth of glowing reviews for the London production. The Times said “the cast are outstanding”, adding that “it’s a triumph”. The Observer hailed the production as “miraculous” and the Daily Telegraph raved about the “spectacular puppetry”. The Sunday Express called it “brilliant production” and praised the “awe-inspiring” puppetry. What’s On Stage sums it up: “It is a remarkable, entrancing achievement and a treat for anyone who likes their storytelling with plenty of dark magic thrown in.”
As well as critics and the general public, celebrities and creative minds have also heaped praise on the show. Harry Enfield proclaimed “the whole thing is amazing”, while Hannah Waddingham was “overwhelmed” by the production and Mel Giedroyc applauded the “beautiful score” which is “clever and haunting”, declaring ‘’I want to see it again”. Simon Callow exclaimed the show is “spectacular, theatrical and exciting!”
The Grinning Man, directed by Tony award-winning Tom Morris (War Horse), features an “outstanding” cast (The Times). Led by Louis Maskell in the title role of Grinpayne and Sanne den Besten as Dea, with Julian Bleach as vengeful clown Barkilphedro. Also starring are Sean Kingsley, Julie Atherton, Amanda Wilkin and Mark Anderson.
Tom Morris' THE GRINNING MAN to open at Trafalgar Studios in December
October 2017
The critically acclaimed production of The Grinning Man, directed by Tony award-winning Tom Morris (War Horse) and based on the classic Victor Hugo novel, The Man Who Laughs, will take over Studio 1 at Trafalgar Studios from 5 December, following a hugely successful autumn 2016 premiere at Bristol Old Vic. Tickets will go on sale on Wednesday 11 October.
This romantic gothic musical love story, set in a fantastical world with a dark heart, is brought to life by Kneehigh writer Carl Grose (Dead Dog in a Suitcase) and "powered by an outstanding score" (Sunday Times) by Tim Phillips and Marc Teitler. The cast is led by Louis Maskell, in the title role of Grinpayne, and Julian Bleach, who plays Barkilphedro, a vengeful clown with a heart of lead. Macabre, magical and visually astonishing, this ultimately elating love story is a distinctive delight that barges through the gateway carved by the Nineties cult hit Shockheaded Peter with the full-blooded emotion of Les Misérables.
A strange new act has arrived at the fairground. Who is this youth and how did he get his hideous smile? Helped by an old man, a lone wolf and a blind girl, his story must be told. A tale of an abandoned child with a terrible secret. Paraded as a freak, then celebrated as a star, but only the sightless girl can truly love him for who he is. Let the darkness seduce you.
The Grinning Man reunites Tom Morris with two puppeteers who began their careers inside Joe and Topthorn in the original production of War Horse - Finn Caldwell and Toby Olié - now leading their own brilliant puppetry company Gyre & Gimble.
When the show opened last year as the climax of Bristol Old Vic's 250th anniversary programme the critics raved: the Telegraph cited its "blackly comic brilliance"; the Daily Mail hailed it as "weird and wonderful, a dark delight"; the Guardian said the production "deftly walks a tightrope between romantic and grotesque... it defies theatrical convention by keeping its hand on its heart and its tongue in its cheek".
The producers are delighted to present the show in a specially configured space in Trafalgar Studios for an open-ended run from 5 December. The Grinning Man underlines Trafalgar Entertainment's on-going commitment to staging new work. This production joins several other recent Bristol Old Vic hit shows in transferring to the London stage, including Swallows & Amazons at the Vaudeville, Peter Pan and Jane Eyre at the National Theatre and Long Day's Journey Into Night starring Jeremy Irons and Lesley Manville at the Wyndham's opening early 2018.
The Grinning Man is produced by Bristol Old Vic, Trafalgar Entertainment Group, Eilene Davidson, Richard O'Brien, David Adkin and Neil Laidlaw.
CAST
Rising star Louis Maskell takes the title role of Grinpayne, The Grinning Man. Louis has just been nominated for Best Performance in a Musical for this role at the UK Theatre Awards. Fresh from Chichester Festival Theatre's Fiddler on the Roof, he has recently appeared in Flowers for Mrs Harris (Sheffield Crucible) and is well-known for the role of Freddy in the award-winning My Fair Lady (Sheffield Crucible) and as Tony in the UK tour of West Side Story.
Julian Bleach takes the role of the deliciously corrupt court clown, Barkilphedro. He is an actor best known for his defining role in the Olivier Award-winning Shockheaded Peter. His other theatre roles include Gormenghast at BAC, playing Ariel to Patrick Stewart's Prospero in the RSC production of The Tempest and Ivanov in the NT production Every Good Boy Deserves Favour.
CREATIVE TEAM
Tom Morris is Artistic Director of Bristol Old Vic and was previously Artistic Director at BAC where he met many of the creative team behind this show. Previous productions at Bristol Old Vic include: A Midsummer Night's Dream, King Lear, The Crucible, Swallows & Amazons, Juliet & Her Romeo, and Messiah (Bristol Proms). Tom has been Associate Director of the National Theatre since 2004 and was co-director of War Horse, widely considered to be amongst the most successful theatre productions of all time.
Tim Phillips is a Canadian composer who has written music for many screen productions, including HBO's Entourage, the ITV serial Talk To Me and (with Murray Gold) the Channel 4 series Shameless. He honed his theatrical craft at BAC through Filter Theatre. Marc Teitler is a composer whose work spans musicals, opera, film soundtracks and albums and has had music featured in Game of Thrones. His current commissions for original musicals include The Ghost Map (dir. Bijan Sheibani). In collaboration, Marc and Tim have composed music and lyrics for The Circle (National Theatre).
Writer Carl Grose has worked extensively with Kneehigh theatre as writer and actor. His writing for the Cornish-based company includes The Tin Drum, Dead Dog in a Suitcase, The Wild Bride and Tristan & Yseult. Other recent writing credits include Grand Guignol (Southwark Playhouse) and Oedipussy (Spymonkey).
Puppetry will be created by Gyre & Gimble, founded in 2014 by Finn Caldwell and Toby Olié having met whilst performing in the original production of War Horse. Their work has appeared in productions as varied as The Hartlepool Monkey (Stratford Circus and Touring), The Lorax (Old Vic), The Light Princess (NT), Running Wild (Regents Park), Elephantom (NT and West End) and Shrek: The Musical (West End).
The creative team is completed by designer Jon Bausor (London 2012 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony, Bat Out of Hell - West End), Costume Designer Jean Chan (Lionboy - Complicite), Music Supervisor Tom Deering (Wonder.Land - National Theatre, Jesus Christ Superstar - Regents Park), Lighting Designer Rob Casey (Up Next - National Theatre) and Sound Designer Simon Baker (Matilda The Musical - Olivier for Best Sound, A Midsummer Night's Dream - Shakespeare's Globe and The Caretaker - Old Vic).
Previews: From Tuesday 5 December
Press night: Monday 18 December at 7.00pm
Performances: Monday - Saturday at 7:30pm, Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2:30pm
Box Office: www.atgtickets.com/trafalgarstudios / 0844 871 7632
Ticket Prices: From £15.00
DESSERT - a powerful new play from Oliver Cotton, directed by Trevor Nunn
Southwark Playhouse, London
May 2017
Following on from his success with Daytona at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket Oliver Cotton, has written a new play for our time, Dessert. Directed by Trevor Nunn the world premiere of this powerful, thought-provoking play about wealth, greed and the lengths to which people will go to claim what’s theirs, runs at Southwark Playhouse from 12 July.
A British financier and his wife host a lavish dinner party for their affluent American friends. The food is delicious, the conversation animated and dessert is on its way – when, from one second to another, the evening takes a sinister and alarming turn...
“Many actors, John Osborne, Harold Pinter, and for that matter, William Shakespeare, decided not only to act in plays but to write their own. I have known for many years that Oliver Cotton is of this number. I have so happily and often worked with him as an actor, and now I am hugely looking forward to encountering him in a different role when I direct his burningly relevant new play” Trevor Nunn
Oliver Cotton’s writing credits include Daytona (Park Theatre and Theatre Royal Haymarket), Wet Weather Cover (King’s Head & Arts Theatre, London), The Incredible Journey of Sir Francis Younghusband, (Royal Court), The Enoch Show (Royal Court), and Man Falling Down (Shakespeare’s Globe).
Trevor Nunn was Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1968 to 1986 where he directed more than 30 productions including most of the Shakespeare canon, Nicholas Nickleby and Les Miserables.He has directed the world premieres of many of Tom Stoppard’s plays and of Cats, Sunset Boulevard, Starlight Express and Aspects of Love by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Set and costume design is by Rachel Stone, lighting design is by Derek Anderson, sound design is by Sebastian Frost and casting by Ginny Schiller
Casting will be announced shortly.
12 July – 5 August
southwarkplayhouse.co.uk | 020 7407 0234
Holmes & Watson: The Farewell Tour
Tour Dates Announced!
Production shots released for Stalking The Bogeyman
Southwark Playhouse, London
Check out our gallary for more pictures.
Video Trailer released for Stalking The Bogeyman
Southwark Playhouse, London
★★★★
WHATSONSTAGE
★★★★
BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE
★★★★
BBC
★★★★
PLAYS TO SEE
★★★★
WEST END WILMA
★★★★
THE UPCOMING
★★★★
THE REVIEWS HUB
★★★★
LONDON THEATRE
★★★★
JONATHAN BAZ
★★★★
LONDON NEWS
Cast Announced for the UK Premiere of Stalking The Bogeyman
Southwark Playhouse, London
April 2016
Gerard McCarthy will take on the lead role in STALKING THE BOGEYMAN, the extraordinary true story of award-winning journalist David Holthouse’s secret plot to murder the man who raped him when he was seven years old.
McCarthy, who is probably best known for his award-winning performance as Kris Fisher on ‘Hollyoaks’, also played Kevin McSwain in BBC 2’s BAFTA nominated drama ‘The Fall’ starring Gillian Anderson. His theatre credits include: Tony in ‘Beautiful Thing’ (Nottingham Playhouse and Leicester Curve); Bruce in Blue/Orange’ (Brighton Theatre Royal); Fenton in ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’ (Shakespeare’s Globe); and the West End productions of ‘Mamma Mia!’ (Prince Edward Theatre) and ‘Saturday Night Fever’ (Apollo Victoria Theatre).
Glynis Barber plays David’s mother Nancy Holthouse. Glynis’ television work includes: Glenda Mitchell in ‘EastEnders’ and DCI Grace Barraclough in ‘Emmerdale’. Her theatre credits includes the original London cast of ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Story’ (Aldwych Theatre), ‘Love Letters’ (Dundee Rep), ‘Once In A Lifetime’ (RSC/West End), The Graduate’ (UK Tour), ’Macbeth’ (Shakespeare Festival), and ‘What The Butler Saw’, ‘The Norman Conquest’, ‘Rebecca’,’ Black Comedy’ and ‘The Browning Version’ (all Theatre Royal Northampton).
Geoffrey Towers plays David’s father Robert Holthouse. Geoffrey’s theatre work includes ‘Travelling Light’ and ‘The Veil’ (National Theatre); ‘The Homecoming’, ‘The Ruling Class’, ‘The Weir’, ‘Passion Play’, ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead’, ‘Spring Awakening’, ‘Losing Louis’ and ‘The Graduate’ (all West End).
Others in the cast are Russ Bain whose credits include ‘The Rack Pack’ (BBC) ‘Shakespeare’s Villains’ (California Shakespeare Ensemble) and ‘Graceland’ on USA Channel Fox TV.
John Moraitis’ theatre credits include the title role in King Lear (UK/International), ‘Six Degrees of Separation’ (Old Vic), ‘A View From The Bridge’ (West End/UK Tour/Theatre Clwyd), and Willy Loman in ‘Death of a Salesman’ (European Tour. His television credits include ‘Crossing Lines’, ‘Murder in Paradise’ and ‘Law and Order’.
Amy Van Nostrand’s theatre credits include the American premiere of Harold Pinter's ‘The Hothouse’ directed by Harold Pinter and Adrian Hall on Broadway; and the worldwide premieres of ‘Off The Kings Road’ and ‘Scrambled Eggs’ Off-Broadway.
STALKING THE BOGEYMAN will run at Southwark Playhouse Theatre from Wednesday 13 July to Saturday 6 August.
Set & costume design is by Rachel Stone, lighting design by Rob Casey, original music by Eric T. Lawson, sound design by David Gregory and the Casting Director is Anne Vosser.
STALKING THE BOGEYMAN comes to London after an acclaimed off-Broadway run. The production is partnered by the following charities NAPAC, Survivors UK, Safeline and 1in6.
Stalking The Bogeyman - UK Premiere
Southwark Playhouse, London
April 2016
Based on an extraordinary true story, STALKING THE BOGEYMAN follows renowned journalist David Holthouse’s secret plot to murder the man who raped him when he was seven years old, and highlights the complexities of childhood sexual assault. Following a critically acclaimed off-Broadway run, where the New York Times called the play "a riveting true story that has only deepened with its trip to the stage", the play is now receiving its UK premiere.
STALKING THE BOGEYMAN was adapted for the stage by NewYorkRep’s Producing Artistic Director Markus Potter, alongside author David Holthouse. The play is based on an article published in 2004 by Holthouse and later adapted into a story for the popular US radio programme ‘This American Life.’ This critically acclaimed play explores the dangers of vengeance, the power of forgiveness, and the strength of family.
Having heard the American Life broadcast, Potter chose to adapt the story for the stage. The play premiered at North Carolina Stage Company in September 2013 and opened off-Broadway at New World Stages in 2014. As Markus Potter says:
“After hearing David’s story on "This American Life", I thought about my son and I had that overwhelming and animalistic need to protect my family. Male victims of childhood sexual abuse have become an explosive issue with major, headline-grabbing scandals erupting within the Catholic Church, the Boy Scouts and many more. This deeply troubling and emotionally charged issue is rapidly and finally coming to the fore of the world’s conscience.”
Peter Saunders from STALKING THE BOGEYMAN charity partner NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood) says of the play, “What sets this play apart from others is that it pulls no punches as to what child abuse is.....and illustrates the reasons so many victims never speak out. But it also concludes with a proposition that many will find challenging. Did the Bogeyman really only strike once?’'
STALKING THE BOGEYMAN will run at Southwark Playhouse Theatre from Wednesday 13 July to Saturday 6 August.
Set & costume design is by Rachel Stone, lighting design by Rob Casey, original music by Eric T. Lawson, sound design by David Gregory and the Casting Director is Anne Vosser.
STALKING THE BOGEYMAN is partnered by the following charities NAPAC, Survivors UK, Safeline and 1in6.
Full cast to be announced shortly.
Our Friends The Enemy - US Premiere
Lion Theatre, Theatre Row, 42nd Street, New York City
After London acclaim and sold out houses at the Edinburgh Fringe and during two triumphant UK tours, on December 8 2015, OUR FRIENDS THE ENEMY: THE 1914 CHRISTMAS TRUCE made its long awaited American debut in New York City. The audience and critic response was astounding.
The Western Front, Christmas 1914. British and German soldiers stop their fighting, emerge from their trenches and meet between the firing lines. The events that follow are the most astounding stories of the Great War told through the eyes of one soldier. Private James Boyce takes us on a magical, haunting journey through the remarkable Christmas Truce.
Playwright/Performer - Alex Gwyther
Director - Tom O'Brien
UK Set Design - James Hirst
Lighting Design - David Goldstein
Lighting Design (UK) - Derek Anderson
Sound Designer - David Gregory
Composer - Darren Clark
Stage Manager - Rosie Cassell
The production is produced and managed by David Adkin Limited in association with NewYorkRep and Robin Rayner.
Associate Producer - Robert A. Carreon
Reviews and production information: www.ourfriendstheenemy.com
REVIEWS
‘Playwright and actor Alex Gwyther has created a highly acclaimed one-man show’. 'Definitely a performance to be seen . . .'
‘With his angular features, intense eyes, expressive voice, and limber physicality, his performance is a superb display of riveting solo theater acting.’
‘It is an exhilarating display of rapid vocal and physical transformations subtly giving each brief characterization a fleeting depth.’ ‘Director Tom O’Brien’s efforts are an exemplary work of stagecraft.’
'Alex Gwyther’s masterful recasting of the long-ago tale is haunting and beautiful... a spellbinding sixty minutes’
‘richly atmospheric and consummately performed... Gwyther slips in and out of the various characters with immense skill, bringing to life each character with clarity and specificity.’
‘intelligently developed and respectfully delivered...a moving, intimate piece of theater'
Eight-time Tony Award winning musical CABARET set for Aberdeen
Art Centre and Theatre Aberdeen
January 2016
CABARET marks the start of an exciting new partnership between ACT Aberdeen and the producer/director team of David Adkin and Derek Anderson. Their most recent work includes the boutique London revival of Sweeney Todd, which won the 2015 WhatsOnStage Award for Best Off-West-End Production.
Anderson said: “I am thrilled that we can create Cabaret in Aberdeen. With an outstanding cast of working actors combined with local performers and by completely transforming the theatre into the intimate nightclub setting, the audience will be thrust straight into the dangerous and decadent world of 1930’s Berlin. Cabaret is going to be a truly unforgettable theatrical event.”
Cast includes:
LOIS BROOKES, HAYLEY BROWN, SUZANNE DAVIES,
WILL HOLLIDAY, FELICITY KIRWIN, JENNY LYPKA,
BRIAN MAITLAND, CAROLYN MAITLAND, ANTONI MCMILLAN, EILIDH MCPHERSON, MORAG NICOL, JAMES PATERSON,
SARAH SHELTON, CLAIRE SPENCE, JEMMA STEIN, NEILA STEPHENS, LUCIE SUMMERS, ALEX WADHAM, JONNY VICKERS
Director - Derek Anderson
Musical Director – Matt Ramplin
Choreographer – Lee Crowley
Set Design - Rachel Stone
Costume Design - Nik Corall
Lighting Design - Ben Pickersgill
Sound Design - Andrew Hinton
Casting - Anne Vosser
Performances run January 27 through February 6, 2015
An amateur production licensed by MusicScope & Stage Musicals Limited NYC
Our Friends The Enemy NYC
Theatre Row, 42nd Street, New York City
8 - 20 December 2015
David Adkin is delighted to announce that after London acclaim and sold out houses at the Edinburgh Fringe and during two triumphant UK tours, OUR FRIENDS THE ENEMY will make its U.S. debut in New York City for a strictly limited two week engagement at Theatre Row from December 8-20.
The Western Front, Christmas 1914. British and German soldiers stop their fighting, emerge from their trenches and meet between the firing lines. The events that follow are the most astounding stories of the Great War told through the eyes of one soldier. Private James Boyce takes us on a magical, haunting journey through the remarkable Christmas Truce.
★★★★ 'Haunting and powerful’ Scottish Daily Mail
★★★★ 'Different and important and touching’ Top 10 plays of the Fringe' Fringe Review
★★★★'...innovative and deeply affecting' Broadway Baby
★★★★ 'A strong performance... and a timeless, deeply human message... an impressive hour of spirited drama' Everything Theatre
TICKETS, with a price of $36.25 (including $1.25 theatre restoration charge) are available at the Theatre Row Box Office and online through www.telecharge.com. You may also call Telecharge at 212-239-6200.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.ourfriendstheenemy.com
Playwright/Performer - Alex Gwyther
Director - Tom O'Brien
Lighting Design - David Goldstein
Original Lighting Design (UK) - Derek Anderson
Sound Design - David Gregory
Composer - Darren Clark
Stage Management - Rosie Cassell
The production is produced and managed by David Adkin Limited in assosiation with NewYorkRep and Robin Rayner.
Associate Producer: Robert Carreon
Mark Shenton: Has Kevin Spacey saved his best idea for last at the Old Vic?
The Stage
22 June 2015
Kevin Spacey, newly given an honorary knighthood for his services to British theatre, hasn't just restored the fortunes of the Old Vic — one of our most venerable of all London theatres — as a thriving concern, but he's also done a lot more to nurture and promote younger talent.
I was, I have to admit, no fan of the Old Vic Tunnels, the ghastly, seriously decrepit subterranean venue the Old Vic took over beneath Waterloo station, but others enjoyed the shabby environs more than I did.
But if that was another public face of what the Old Vic brand stood for, it also showed that it was about more than just starry productions in an old Victorian theatre. And through Old Vic New Voices, which Spacey set up soon after he took over the theatre, it has long sought to champion and nurture emerging talent. An annual celebrity public event – The Old Vic 24 Hour Plays – provided a fundraising platform for it that also fulfilled those aims, but I never went to it – it was far too expensive to actually attend, reinforcing an idea of the venue as the plaything of the rich.
That may have been unfair, as young talent got to rub shoulders with the famous and glamorous and work with them. But it seems to me that the far more grass roots Old Vic New Voices Festival, which started last Friday and runs through to July 24, could yet produce more lasting results. And it's on offer to the public, for free, as well as industry notables.
During the festival, supported by the TS Eliot estate and the arts council, some 12 plays by emerging playwrights from the UK and US, each of them commissioned by the theatre, are being workshopped and presented in a series of afternoon readings on the Old Vic stage.
The festival's 22-year-old producer David Adkin had originally applied to be one of the six young producers who are producing two plays each in the festival, and was asked to oversee the entire season. In his words:
'Kevin [Spacey] is passionate about supporting young people and sending the elevator back down, as he says. Theatres have a responsibility for the next generation, and we need to develop new work and invest in emerging writers and directors'
The key here is investment. Whereas the young writers, directors, producers and actors they employ regularly do their own thing on the London fringe, there's typically little or no money in it. But here everyone is being paid in a festival that's costing some £140,000 to stage. "It's quite an undertaking and an investment," says Adkin.
But it also confers a unique kind of legitimacy on its participants. "I felt that for the first time when I was given a Stage One bursary, and again now that I'm doing this. Some 300 producers and 400 directors applied to be involved. We also saw 1,150 actors in open audition to be part of the season. About six or seven actors were cast from the open auditions, but the companies doing the plays also include such well-known names as Richard Madden, Georgina Lamb, Carly Bawden, Marc Elliot, Rebecca Scroggs and Michael Fenton Stevens.
'That increases the profile of the festival and the work. If I did a reading at Jerwood Space, say, we wouldn't necessarily get the guest list we have for this. And we hope some of them take the plays on and do something with them.'
Each play has two days rehearsal, followed by a morning on the stage of the Old Vic before performing it that afternoon. For the writers, who include Olivier Award nominee James Fritz and Jake Brunger, it affords them a chance to get their work on a West End stage for the first time – and puts it in front of a real audience.
As Spacey bows out of the Old Vic and Matthew Warchus takes over, it's a great final send-off from an enterprise he set up. I'm looking forward to going later this week.
Old Vic New Voices Festival
The Old Vic Main Stage
19 June - 24 July 2015
David Adkin is delighted to be producing the Old Vic New Voices festival on behalf of the Old Vic.
Old Vic New Voices today announces a brand new festival, celebrating the work of exceptional and emerging playwrights. The event, which is generously supported by The TS Eliot Estate and Arts Council England, will see OVNV alumni join new talent in this five week long theatrical extravaganza.
The festival will mark the 11th anniversary of the Old Vic New Voices initiative which was pioneered by Artistic Director, Kevin Spacey, in order to champion and nurture emerging talent. As his tenure comes to an end, the Old Vic New Voices festival is free, in a bid to open up the theatre to all. Tickets are available via a ticket lottery and programming includes the showcase of a brand new musical, work from developing American and British playwrights, as well as a dynamic schools tour.
Produced, directed and performed by the most exciting budding and established talent that the industry has to offer, they will be staged in front of an invited industry audience as well as members of the public.
Cast includes Game of Thrones star, Richard Madden; Pippa Haywood (Mr. Selfridge); Georgina Lamb (Whitechapel, Hollyoaks); Carly Bawden (My Fair Lady at The Sheffield Crucible with Dominc West); Marc Elliot (EastEnders); Rebecca Scroggs (EastEnders) and Michael Fenton Stevens (Mrs. Biggs, Benidorm, My Family) - many of whom are OVNV alumni.
Playwrights include: Daniel Andersen; James Baldwin; Jon Barton; Chad Beckim; Thomas Bradshaw; Lucinda Burnett; Jake Brunger (Adrian Mole Leicester Curve); Zoe Cooper; James Fritz (Four Minutes Twelve Seconds – 2015 Olivier nominee); Cat Jones (Doctors, Waterloo Road); Steven Hevey; Nessah Muthy and Emily Schwend.
Directors include: Derek Bond; Caroline Byrne; Jessica Edwards; Elgiva Field; Richard Fitch; Debbie Hannon; Alice Hamilton; Kate Hewitt; Jamie Jackson; Julia McShane; Kirsty Patrick-Ward; Jack Sain; Melanie Spencer and Jessica Swale.
Old Vic New Voices Festival
The Old Vic Main Stage
19 June - 24 July 2015
David Adkin is delighted to be producing the Old Vic New Voices festival on behalf of the Old Vic.
Old Vic New Voices today announces a brand new festival, celebrating the work of exceptional and emerging playwrights. The event, which is generously supported by The TS Eliot Estate and Arts Council England, will see OVNV alumni join new talent in this five week long theatrical extravaganza.
The festival will mark the 11th anniversary of the Old Vic New Voices initiative which was pioneered by Artistic Director, Kevin Spacey, in order to champion and nurture emerging talent. As his tenure comes to an end, the Old Vic New Voices festival is free, in a bid to open up the theatre to all. Tickets are available via a ticket lottery and programming includes the showcase of a brand new musical, work from developing American and British playwrights, as well as a dynamic schools tour.
Produced, directed and performed by the most exciting budding and established talent that the industry has to offer, they will be staged in front of an invited industry audience as well as members of the public.
Cast includes Game of Thrones star, Richard Madden; Pippa Haywood (Mr. Selfridge); Georgina Lamb (Whitechapel, Hollyoaks); Carly Bawden (My Fair Lady at The Sheffield Crucible with Dominc West); Marc Elliot (EastEnders); Rebecca Scroggs (EastEnders) and Michael Fenton Stevens (Mrs. Biggs, Benidorm, My Family) - many of whom are OVNV alumni.
Playwrights include: Daniel Andersen; James Baldwin; Jon Barton; Chad Beckim; Thomas Bradshaw; Lucinda Burnett; Jake Brunger (Adrian Mole Leicester Curve); Zoe Cooper; James Fritz (Four Minutes Twelve Seconds – 2015 Olivier nominee); Cat Jones (Doctors, Waterloo Road); Steven Hevey; Nessah Muthy and Emily Schwend.
Directors include: Derek Bond; Caroline Byrne; Jessica Edwards; Elgiva Field; Richard Fitch; Debbie Hannon; Alice Hamilton; Kate Hewitt; Jamie Jackson; Julia McShane; Kirsty Patrick-Ward; Jack Sain; Melanie Spencer and Jessica Swale.
Old Vic New Voices - Festival
March 2015
David Adkin is delighted to be producing the Old Vic New Voices festival on behalf of the Old Vic.
Celebrating the work of exceptional and emerging playwrights, the festival will include readings of plays from the US & UK, a dynamic schools tour and the showcase of a new musical.
Produced, directed and performed by the most exciting emerging and established talent that the industry has to offer, they will be staged in front of an invited industry audience with limited tickets on general release.
The festival will run from 19 June – 24 July 2015.
For more information please click here.
Our Friends The Enemy: The Story of the Christmas Truce to make US premiere at the United Solo Festival in New York City
March 2015
The Western Front, Christmas 1914: lights appear from the German trenches, ghosts rise behind the horizon, soldiers meet between the firing lines. The events which follow are the most astounding stories of the Great War told through the eyes of one soldier, Private James Boyce: ‘We’re fighting the same enemy, just on two different sides.’ In the hundred years since, this event has been seen as a kind of miracle, a rare moment of peace just a few months into a war that would eventually claim over 15 million lives.
Having been fascinated by this story since childhood, Alex Gwyther, actor and playwright, has performed it in front of a thousand strong at the Mayor of London’s Week of Peace and was invited to perform at a Remembrance Service in aid of Help for Heroes and St. Dunstan’s Charity on three separate occasions. Realising how undocumented these incredible stories were, the writing was further developed with the assistance of Director Tom O’Brien. The play would go on to enjoy sell out runs at the New Wimbledon Studio, Theatre 503 and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival before two UK tours, playing more than 70 performances to over 8000 people.
Now it’s time for us to share this incredible story, this tribute to all the men and women who fought so bravely in World War I, this gentle story of love, compassion and bravery with our friends and family across the pond. We sincerely believe that they will embrace the importance of Alex’s play, as tenderly as we have here at home.
Combining theatre and spoken word, OUR FRIENDS THE ENEMY tells the emotional story of Private James Boyce. How, on a crisp, clear morning 100 years ago, thousands of British, Belgian and French soldiers put down their rifles, stepped out of their trenches and spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, mingling with their German enemies along the Western front. Please support our project and join us on our journey to the United States where, this November, prior to the Holiday Season, we will showcase the play at the United Solo Festival.
Sweeney Todd wins Best Off West End Producation at the 2015 Whatsonstage Awards!
February 2015
Sweeney Todd nominated for two Whatsonstage Awards!
December 2014
Sweeney Todd has been nominated for Best Off West End production and Best Musical Revival in the 15th Annual Whatsonstage Awards.
vote.whatsonstage.com
The reviews are in!
November 2014
"Loved it!! Great play. I want to see it again" Alan Carr
"Highly recommend this new american gay play with Charlie Condou. Only running for a few weeks!" Stephen Fry
"Next Fall is the most fabulous play where you will laugh out loud and cry your eyes out"
Ollie Locke (Made in Chelsea)
'Beautiful writing... Mitchel Mullen is magnificent... he can turn a scene electric without uttering a word.'
The Times
“SMART, COMPELLING and AFFECTING. Played with truthful, touching conviction by a cast led by Charlie Condou and Martin Delaney. A seriously classy job.”
Mark Shenton, The Stage
"This heartbreaking, beautiful story can't be faulted."
West End Wilma
“BRILLIANT THEATRE. Next Fall is one of the more impressive productions of gay theatre in recent years. The performances are perfect and the play makes for a troubling and thought provoking night”
Jonathan Baz
“Stirs up emotions that make you laugh and cry in equal measure. A beautiful love story… Charlie Condou and Martin Delaney are mesmerising”
Boyz Magazine
“A slick, fast-paced production. The play wrestles with broad themes of love, religion and loss, but does so with a lightness of touch and much wit.”
Time Out
“Nauffts’ deft writing and Luke Sheppard’s sharp direction bring a great deal of humour to this examination of sexuality, friendship and family!"
WhatsOnStage.com
First look: UK Premiere of NEXT FALL at Southwark Playhouse
September 2014
Ex-Coronation Street star Charlie Condou is to star in the UK premiere of the Tony nominated Broadway comedy drama Next Fall. Next Fall, by award-winning writer Geoffrey Nauffts, will play at Southwark Playhouse, now through Saturday 25 October. Next Fall is directed by Luke Sheppard, whose critically acclaimed production of In The Heights was a sold-out smash hit at Southwark Playhouse earlier this year.
Next Fall portrays the ups and downs of Adam and Luke's long term relationship and how they make it work - despite their differences. Luke is devoutly religious, while Adam is an atheist. However, following an unexpected accident which changes everything, Adam must turn to Luke's family and friends for support...and answers. This timely and compelling new American play goes beyond a typical love story and paints a beautiful and funny portrait of modern romance, questioning commitment, faith and unconditional love.
Next Fall opened in New York in 2009 to huge critical acclaim before transferring to the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway in 2010, where it was produced by Sir Elton John and David Furnish. Geoffrey Nauffts won the John Gassner Award at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best New American Play for Next Fall. The play was also nominated for Outstanding Play at the Drama Desk Awards (2010), Outstanding New Broadway Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards (2010) and Best Play at the Tony Awards (2010).
Charlie Condou (who plays Adam) became a household name playing series regular Marcus Dent in the ITV drama Coronation Street. His theatre credits include: Dying for It (Almedia Theatre), The Changeling (Southwark Playhouse), Shopping & F***ing (No 1 tour), Cracked (Hampstead Theatre), After The Rain (Gate Theatre). On TV he played Renoir in the BBC drama The Impressionists and had guest roles as Nino in Gimme, Gimme, Gimme and Giles in Dead Babies.
The rest of the cast are: Nancy Crane (Chimerica, Almedia Theatre & West End; Vieux Carre, King's Head; The Children's Hour, West End; Design For Living, Old Vic; Love The Sinner, National Theatre; The Sweetest Swing In Baseball and The Strip, both Royal Court; Angels In America, National Theatre). Ben Cura (Viva Forever, West End; La Forza Del Destino, Opera de Marseilles. Film credits include: Creditors, Dream On, The Devil's Violinist, Comes A Bright Day and Trance). Martin Delaney who plays Luke: (The Ministry Of Pleasure, Latchmere Theatre; Local Boy, Hampstead Theatre; Oliver!, West End; Peter Pan, Cambridge Theatre. On TV he was young Da Vinci in Da Vinci's Demons. On film he was in Zero Dark Thirty, directed by Kathryn Bigelow; Flags of our Fathers, directed by Clint Eastwood; and he had the lead the Judas Ghost. He will be seen next as Tony in Amar, Akbar & Tony, a film produced by Victoria Wood. Mitchell Mullen (A Bunch of Amateurs, Watermill; Superior Donuts, and The Hairy Ape, both Southwark Playhouse; The Shawshank Redemption, West End; August: Osage County, National Theatre; Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Apollo Theatre/US national tour). Sirine Saba (Holy Warriors, Antony & Cleopatra, The Globe; The Keepers Of Infinite Space, Park Theatre; The Winter's Tale, Regent's Park; Beauty And The Beast and Pericles, both RSC; Scorched, Old Vic Tunnels; Nation, National Theatre).
After earning ecstatic reviews and the entire run of 26 shows 100% sold out... Sweeney Todd is adding 5 extra shows - on sale today!
September 2014
After universal critical acclaim and selling out every one of its planned 26 performances, David Adkin and Twickenham Theatre’s production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is adding 5 extra performances due to extraordinary and overwhelming public demand.
The extra shows are: Tuesday 7 October at 7.45pm, Wednesday 8 October at 7.45pm, Thursday 9 October at 7.45pm, Friday 10 October at 7.45 and Sunday 12 October at 3.00pm.
Tickets will go on sale from 3.00pm today from www.twickenhamtheatre.com
UPDATE: No more hot pies!! All extra tickets are now sold out!!
'Sheer Bloody Brilliance' - the reviews are in!
September 2014
"without a doubt one of the off-West End highlights of the year"
★★★★★ WHATSONSTAGE
★★★★★ PUBLIC REVIEWS
★★★★★ REMOTE GOAT
★★★★★ LONDON THEATRE1
★★★★★ RICHMOND & TWICKENHAM TIMES
★★★★★ GRUMPY GAY CRITIC
★★★★ EVENING STANDARD
★★★★ THE STAGE
★★★★ SO SO GAY
★★★★ GAY TIMES
★★★★ LONDON CARD
★★★★ THEATRE FULL STOP
★★★★ THE UPCOMING
★★★★ GIZZLE REVIEW
★★★★ JONATHAN BAZ
‘A musically and scenically stunning production of Sondheim’s bloody slasher musical. A fringe treat’
Mark Shenton - The Stage
‘David Bedella is a dark-eyed, mesmerising Sweeney.’
Whatsonstage
‘An ingenious revival. Sarah Ingram is a constant pleasure’
Evening Standard
‘Not a nuance or a blood splatter of this gleefully gory production can be missed. A production as hot and sinister as Mrs Lovett’s pies!"’
London Theatre
‘When can I see it again?’
Musical Theatre Review
‘A bloody brilliant production of Sweeney Todd’.
Stage Review
‘It's extraordinary that this is a directorial debut - Bloody marvellous!’
Whatsonstage
‘An evening of rip-roaring, diabolical, messy, engrossing entertainment’
London Theatre
‘One of the most enjoyable duos to take on these roles. An excellent and intimate production’
So So Gay
'Top performances and a perfect intimate setting'
London Card
'A blood-bespattered evening - and enormous fun. I cannot imagine it being done better.'
Remote Goat
Partners in crime! First look at David Bedella and Sarah Ingram as Sweeney Todd and Mrs Lovett!
September 2014
Photo: Darren Bell
First look at the cast of SWEENEY TODD
September 2014
Here's the first picture of our cast of the Tony Award and Olivier Award-winning musical, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Left to right: Mikaela Newton, Chris Coleman, Josh Tevendale, Zoe Curlett, David Bedella, Sarah Ingram, Shaun Chambers, Genevieve Kingsford, Mark McKerracher.
Photo: Darren Bell
Director: Luke Sheppard
Designer: David Woodhead
Lighting Design: Howard Hudson
Sound Design: David Gregory
Casing: Sophie Parrott
Charlie Condou is to star in the UK premiere of the Tony nominated Broadway comedy drama Next Fall
August 2014
Next Fall, by award-winning by Geoffrey Nauffts, will play at Southwark Playhouse from Wednesday 24 September - Saturday 25 October.
Next Fall wil be directed by Luke Sheppard, whose critically acclaimed production of In The Heights was a sold-out smash hit at Southwark Playhouse earlier this year.
Next Fall portrays the ups and downs of Adam and Luke’s long term relationship and how they make it work - despite their differences. Luke is devoutly religious, while Adam is an atheist. However, following an unexpected accident which changes everything, Adam must turn to Luke’s family and friends for support…and answers. This timely and compelling new American play goes beyond a typical love story and paints a beautiful and funny portrait of modern romance, questioning commitment, faith and unconditional love.
Next Fall opened in New York in 2009 to huge critical acclaim before transferring to the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway in 2010, where it was produced by Sir Elton John and David Furnish.
Geoffrey Nauffts won the John Gassner Award at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best New American Play for Next Fall. The play was also nominated for Outstanding Play at the Drama Desk Awards (2010), Outstanding New Broadway Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards (2010) and Best Play at the Tony Awards (2010).
Charlie Condou (who plays Adam) became a household name playing series regular Marcus Dent in the ITV drama Coronation Street. His theatre credits include: Dying for It (Almedia Theatre), The Changeling (Southwark Playhouse), Shopping & F***ing (No 1 tour), Cracked (Hampstead Theatre), After The Rain (Gate Theatre). On TV he played Renoir in the BBC drama The Impressionists and had guest roles as Nino in Gimme, Gimme, Gimme and Giles in Dead Babies.
The rest of the cast are: Nancy Crane, Ben Cura, Martin Delaney, Mitchell Mullen and Sirine Saba.
David Bedella and Sarah Ingram cast as SWEENEY TODD and Mrs Lovett!
July 2014
Olivier Award winner David Bedella will play razor-wielding madman Sweeney Todd and Sarah Ingram his pie-making partner in crime, Mrs Lovett, in an intimate new production of the Tony Award and Olivier Award-winning musical, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler, will kick-off the autumn season at Twickenham Theatre in West London. It will start previews on Wednesday 10 September and runs to Saturday 4 October.
The new venue’s first in-house show is a co-production with West End producer David Adkin.
David Bedella was a triple award winner, named Best Actor in a Musical at the 2004 Olivier Awards, the Evening Standard Awards, and The Critics Circle Awards, for creating the role of the warm-up man Jonathan Weiruss/Satan in Jerry Springer The Opera. David most notably played Dr Carlos Fashola in Holby City and more recently guest starred in By Any Means and Inside No. 9 all for BBC, and his film credits include Alexander and Batman Begins. He appeared in the role at the National Theatre, in the West End, the Sydney Opera House and in New York in a concert version at Carnegie Hall. His other West End starring roles include Frank n Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, Billy Flynn in Chicago, and Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. He starred as Arnold in Torch Song Trilogy and Wilson Mizner in Sondheim’s Road Show, both at the Menier Chocolate Factory. In the past year he played Man 1 in the acclaimed production of Sondheim’s Putting It Together at St.James Theatre and Kevin in Into The Heights at Southwark Playhouse.
Sarah Ingram’s many West End musicals include Oklahoma!, South Pacific, Martin Guerre, Inherit The Wind, Flashdance, Imagine This, Muderous Instincts and Napoleon. She worked with David Bedella on Sondheim’s Road Show at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Most recently, Sarah played Josie in the revival of the Boy George musical Taboo at Brixton Clubhouse following her critically acclaimed performance as Miss Hannigan in Annie at West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Mark McKerracher (Judge Turpin). His West End starring roles include The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, Sunday in the Park With George, Ragtime, Cats and The Bodyguard.
Zoe Curlett (Beggar Woman). Her West End starring roles include Christine in The Phantom of the Opera and Cosette in Les Miserables, and Cats and The Secret Garden on UK tour.
The rest of the cast includes Shaun Chambers (Pirelli), Genevieve Kingsford (Johanna),
Mikaela Newton (Tobias), Josh Tevendale (Anthony).
Director Derek Anderson, Musical Supervisor Tim Jackson, Musical Director Ben Holder, Set Design Rachel Stone, Costume Design Olivia Ward, Sound Design Joel Price, Casting
Anne Vosser, Producer David Adkin in association with Twickenham Theatre.
Tickets for Sweeney Todd are on sale now, priced from £12.00. www.twickenhamtheatre.c
OUR FRIENDS, THE ENEMY - UK Tour Announced
January 2014
The centenary of the start of the First World War is marked in a moving and profound way in a remarkable touring theatre production that captures the story of the legendary Christmas Day truce.
David Adkin, in association with Theatre Bench and Robin Rayner, take Our Friends, The Enemy around the country performing this extraordinary account of an event that symbolised peace and humanity during a savage and desperate war. Combat was halted in a temporary and unofficial ceasefire and soldiers on both sides crossed no man’s land to exchange food and gifts and even sing carols with their enemy.
Our Friends, The Enemy is a highly acclaimed play combining theatre and the spoken word to capture the fabled Christmas truce. The play is written and performed by published poet and exciting young playwright, Alex Gwyther. It enjoyed sell-out runs in Edinburgh and London last year and in 2014 is available as an exceptional and timely acknowledgement of the simultaneous, mutual compassion demonstrated by both sides in a unique moment in the ‘war to end all wars’.
David Adkin’s tour with Our Friends, The Enemy will coincide with many centenary events up and down the country and also countless media stories and documentaries.Highly recommended, reviewers have described the play as ‘tremendous, captivating and imaginative’ and praised the remarkable research and interpretation by Gwyther, whose ‘excellent’ solo performance has given onlookers an often unexpectedly emotional theatrical experience. Our Friends, The Enemy was described by The Scotsman as ‘a haunting and powerful work’. Reviewers have acknowledged the remarkable research involved in its creation and the exceptional interpretation of a special moment in the history of war. Director of Our Friends, The Enemy is Tom O’Brien; lighting design is by Derek Anderson, sound design is by David Gregory and music is by Darren Clark.
Polly Stenham's THAT FACE opens at The Landor
November 2013
★★★★★
“Intensely climatic”
THE UPCOMING
★★★★ ★★★★
Whatsonstage One Stop Arts
★★★★
"This revival of Polly Stenham's debut captures the play’s dark wit and introduces impressive newcomer Stephanie Hyam"
EVENING STANDARD
★★★★
“Tara Robinson directs with headlong, violent verve; a gripping play, with a proper beating heart.”
LIBBY PURVES - THEATRE CAT
“quick-paced, dry humoured; a magnificent performance”
A YOUNGER THEATRE
“Caroline Wildi delivers a spine-tingling performance as Martha…
That Face has stood the test of time.”
BROADWAY WORLD
★★★★
“Gripping and shocking to every last minute.”
PLAYS TO SEE
★★★★
“Intelligent and confident”
PUBLIC REVIEWS
DAL announces the first London revival of Polly Stenham's THAT FACE
September 2013
That Face, the debut play from award-winning playwright Polly Stenham, will have its first London revival at the Landor Theatre from Tuesday 12 November to Sunday 1 December.
That Face is a compelling portrayal of an affluent family in freefall. Mia is at boarding school. She has access to drugs. They are Martha’s. Henry is preparing for art college. He has access to alcohol. From Martha. Martha controls their lives. Martha is their mother. This is a family at breaking point. Mia and Henry have long been dealing with their mother's addictions, but after a prank goes wrong at Mia's boarding school, their situation goes from comically bad to utterly ridiculous. When their estranged father arrives to sort things out, they must face the reality that their well-to-do family may have combusted beyond repair. That Face is a hard-hitting, intense and darkly comic exploration of children who become parents to their parents.
'Explosive and gobsmacking'
The Observer
'A remarkable and unforgettable piece of theatre'
Daily Telegraph
Polly Stenham wrote That Face when she was just 19 years old. The original production at the Royal Court Theatre, which later transferred into the West End at the Duke of York’s Theatre, was directed by Jeremy Herrin and starred Lindsay Duncan and Matt Smith. Awards for That Face include the Evening Standard Award for Best New Play and the Critics Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright. It was also nominated for Best New Play at the 2009 Olivier Awards. Polly’s second and third plays, Tusk Tusk and No Quarter, were also produced by The Royal Court, and she is currently under commission to the Donmar Warehouse, the National Theatre and the Almeida Theatre. For film Polly is writing a screenplay adaption of Tusk Tusk for Origin Pictures and Film4, and for television Polly is writing and directing a short film for Sky Arts.
That Face will be directed by Tara Robinson, who is currently Associate Director to Michael Grandage on his West End season at the Noel Coward Theatre, currently working on A Midsummer Night’s Dream starring Sheridan Smith and David Walliams. Tara runs her own company The Conker Group and is an associate director at The Gate and with Company of Angels. Recent credits include Political Me: Apology Songs at Camden People’s Theatre, The Bomb at Tricycle Theatre and the 24 Hour Plays at the Old Vic Theatre.
The Landor Theatre is one of London's most adventurous and attractive little theatres. Starting life in 1994 as the Cage Theatre, for almost 20 years it has developed an extraordinary reputation for programming new and exciting work, with a commitment to housing new and rarely seen musicals in an intimate setting.
That Face is written by Polly Stenham and directed by Tara Robinson, with set and costume design by Rachel Stone and lighting design by Derek Anderson. It is produced by David Adkin.
OUR HOUSE in Concert!
November 2012
A huge thank you to everyone who came along last night to support the 10th Anniversary celebration of OUR HOUSE in aid of Help for Heroes. We are pleased to announce that the concert was 100% sold out.
I am sure you will agree that it certainly was a night to remember. Everybody involved in the event will certainly remember it for a long time to come. See you again in 2022?
Alistair McGowan, EastEnders’ Tameka Empson and ex-Coronation Street star Wendi Peters join Suggs for the 10th anniversary of OUR HOUSE
Alistair McGowan, EastEnders’ Tameka Empson and former Coronation Street star Wendi Peters are today announced to join Madness frontman, Suggs in the 10th anniversary West End gala concert of the musical Our House at the Savoy Theatre in aid of Help for Heroes on Sunday 11 November.
Our House's original director, Matthew Warchus (Matilda, Ghost The Musical, Lord of the Rings), is reuniting with the show's designer, Rob Howell (Matilda, Ghost The Musical, Private Lives), for this not to be missed one night only gala concert.
Madness frontman, Suggs and many original West End cast members are also back to celebrate with such Madness hits as Our House, Baggy Trousers, My Girl, Embarrassment, The Sun and The Rain, Driving In My Car, The Wings of a Dove, Night Boat to Cairo and the all-time classic, It Must Be Love.
Alistair McGowan has worked in every branch of show-business over the last 20 years. He is probably best known for his BAFTA-winning show, The Big Impression but he has also acted with the Royal Shakespeare Company and taken lead roles inWest End Musicals Cabaret and Little Shop of Horrors and
in West End plays Art and Pygmalion.
Tameka Empson, who was in the original West End cast of Our House, has also appeared in the film of Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing and is currently playing the comedy award-winning role of B & B owner Kim in EastEnders.
Wendi Peters is best known for her role as Cilla Battersby Brown in Coronation Street. She was recently seen in the West End as Princess Puffa in The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
The rest of the cast are Chris Carswell, Miria Parvin, Jack Shalloo, Jenny Fitzpatrick, Matt Cross, Greg Airey, Georgie Ashford, Lauren Appleby, Kara Bayer, Gabrielle Brooks, Dougie Carter, Debbie Jenkins, Paul Kemble, Lewis Krik, Kayleigh Louise-Smith, Michael Melmoe, Jenny O'Leary, Carryl Thomas, Gavin Wilkinson.
First presented at the Cambridge Theatre in October 2002 and the Olivier Award winner for Best New Musical, Our House combines a witty and brilliantly-crafted romantic tale, written by Tim Firth (Calendar Girls, Kinky Boots, The Wedding Video), with the energetic and often madcap songs of Madness. Set in Camden, Our House is a fast moving romantic comedy which tells the story of Joe Casey, his mates, his girlfriend Sarah and the night he commits a petty crime to impress her. It follows the two paths his life would take if he stays to face the music when the police appear on the scene or if makes a run for it.
Musical Supervision is by Phil Bateman and James Draisey (Wicked, Children of Eden); lighting by Jonathan Rouse (Shrek, Wizard of Oz); sound by Simon Baker (Loserville, Matilda); Video/Projection/Animation by Andrzej Goulding (Ghost the Musical, Love Never Dies). It is produced by David Adkin in aid of Help for Heroes.