Articles

Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Ed MacArthur bring String V SPITTA to the Soho Theatre

Ghosts star Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Ed MacArthur (Bad Education) will bring their stage show String V SPITTA to the Soho Theatre before a run of shows at the Edinburgh Festival.

String V SPITTA stars Smith-Bynoe as SPITTA, a Grime bar spitting maverick from East London who’s shaken up the kids entertainment scene. Meanwhile, every kid within a five-mile radius of the Kings Road wants charming classical musician, Silly String (MacArthur) and his Silly Songs.

In String V SPITTA , these two big hitters of the children’s entertainment circuit are forced to put aside their rivalry, swallow their pride and perform as a double act in a once in a lifetime booking: little Anastasia’s sixth birthday party. And everyone’s invited.

From Country Mile Productions and director George Chilcott, the show is running from August 1-10 at the Soho Theatre, before moving to the Pleasance in Edinburgh later the same month.

For tickets, visit sohotheatre.com

Cast set for Alice in Wonderland at Kew Gardens

Elsie Bridgwood will take the lead in Alice in Wonderland, which will be staged at Kew Gardens from July 22-August 28.

Bridgwood plays Alice in the specially commissioned adaptation by Sixteenfeet Productions. Other cast members include Lucy Ford as the White Rabbit, Ian Crowe as the Mad Hatter, David Monteith as the Cheshire Cat, Loren O’Dair as the Queen of Hearts, Steve McCourt is the King of Hearts and Paul Hazel in the role of the March Hare.

Adapted by Bradley Cole with original music by Guy Holden, Alice in Wonderland is directed by Francesca Murray-Fuentes with set and costume design by Hazel McIntosh.

Join Alice as she heads down the rabbit hole to Wonderland at Theatre on Kew this summer. Enter a fantastical world inhabited by increasingly curiouser and curiouser characters including the disappearing Cheshire Cat, the beautifully dressed Mad Hatter, and the bad-tempered Queen of Hearts. Lewis Caroll’s much-loved story is brought to life by a cast of talented actor-musicians within the unique setting of Kew Gardens.

Twice-daily performances Wednesday to Sunday at 11am and 2pm with a finale on Bank Holiday Monday (August 28).

For tickets, which include admission to Kew Gardens on the day, visit theatreonkew.co.uk

Hampstead Theatre adds new dates for Dickie Beau’s Re-Member Me

Dickie Beau’s Re-Member Me has had its run extended at Hampstead Theatre.

Originally due to finish on June 17, the show will now continue until Saturday, June 24.

The master of lip-sync, in Re-Member Me he conjures many celebrated actors that have played Shakespeare’s tragic prince Hamlet such as Sir John Gielgud and Sir Ian McKellen.

The epic one-man show, directed by Jan Willem Van Den Bosch, is also a reflection on memory and mortality and includes exclusive recordings of interviews with some of theatre’s most illustrious personalities – all lip-synced by Beau. 

Re-Member Me is described as part documentary theatre, part 21st century séance, and a unique theatrical eulogy to one of the greatest Hamlet’s almost never seen.

Opening at Hampstead Theatre on May 25, Sir Ian McKellen took guests to the first performance as part of his 84th birthday celebrations. Other star theatre-goers have included Benedict Cumberbatch, Ruby Wax, Fiona Shaw, Gyles Brandreth, Indira Varma, Anoushka Shankar, Denise Gough, Liz Carr, Martin Sherman and Paul Gambaccini.

Giles Terera (Hamilton) will join Beau on Thursday, June 22 for a post-show Q&A.

Tickets available at hampsteadtheatre.com

Park Theatre to host world premiere of The Garden of Words

Park Theatre will host the world premiere of The Garden of Words , the first stage adaptation of Makoto Shinkai’s Anime and novel, ahead of its Japanese opening later this year.

The Garden of Words is described as a story of what it is to feel alone in the biggest metropolis in the world. Whilst seeking solace in a rainy Japanese garden, an out-of-step woman and an offbeat teenager meet by chance. Takao and Yukari are escaping; when they find each other, the social misfits develop an unlikely bond over classical poetry, shoemaking, bad cooking and a shared sense of loneliness.

But what at first seems to be a simple and poetic story of connection begins to cloud. Can an inter-generational friendship can genuinely exist, regardless of age and position?

Performed in English with occasional Japanese, The Garden of Words is an Anglo-Japanese collaboration from the UK’s Whole Hog Theatre, creators of the world’s first stage adaptation of Hayao Miyazaki film Princess Mononoke, and Tokyo’s Anime stage production specialists Nelke Planning (Attack on Titan, Naruto, Sailor Moon).

Originally by Shinkai, it is adapted by Susan Momoko Hingley and Alexandra Rutter. It is directed by Rutter and produced by Shuang Teng.

The original music is by Mark Choi, set and costume design by Cindy Lin, puppets design by Mikayla Teodoro, lighting design by Rajiv Pattani, sound design by Nicola T Chang and projection design by Kenichi Arakaki. 

The cast features Hiroki Berrecloth, Aki Nakagawa, James Bradwell, Mark Takeshi Ota, Arina Ii, Shoko Ito and Iniki Mariano.

Following its UK run, from August 10 – September 9, the show will have its Japanese premiere in Tokyo in November.

Rutter said: “After a wait of more than three years, we could not be more delighted to finally be opening the doors to the garden. We are truly honoured to bring the world-class, complex and beautiful work of Makoto Shinkai to London.

“Following an unimaginable period of global isolation, the world is rightly questioning the status-quo on what, with whom and how we tell stories. Shinkai’s work speaks to this on a deep level. In an increasingly loud and digitalised world, his meticulously crafted visual storytelling, juxtaposed with complex characters struggling for human connection, is all the more poignant.

“It is a privilege to stage this authentic Tokyo tale that goes beyond the cultural zeitgeist of Japan, and we hope to be part of a reimagining of anime in popular imagination that encourages both traditional and non-traditional audiences. Our thanks to our Tokyo partner of almost 10 years, Nelke Planning, and our amazing female-led team of Japanese, British East Asian and British artists’. We are no doubt at the crest of a wave of Japanese stories on stage so there has never been a more exciting time for Anglo-Japanese collaboration. We are very excited to share this with you all.”

Sadler’s Wells’ Company of Elders to present trio of new works in Mixed Bill

Company of Elders, Sadler’s Wells’ resident over-60s performance company, will present three new works this July under the title Mixed Bill.

Staged in the Lilian Baylis Studio, they include two specially commissioned pieces by James Cousins Company and Waacking artist Bagsy, and a new Three Score Dance commissioned work by choreographer Rhiannon Faith.  

Cousins is known for creating visually breathtaking work, while world-renowned waacking artist Bagsy recently headlined at Breakin’ Convention Festival. Faith is a boundary-breaking artist and choreographer whose work crosses disciplines.

Running since 1989, the group of non-professional dancers meets weekly to create new works and showcase the joy of dancing.

Mixed Bill takes place on Saturday, July 1.

Royal Court attracts Michael Wynne’s Cuckoo

Cuckoo, a dark comedy by Michael Wynne, is coming to the Royal Court Theatre.

Staged in partnership with Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse, the Royal Court’s artistic director Vicky Featherstone directs Michelle Butterly, Emma Harrison, Sue Jenkins and Jodie McNee.

Wynne was born in Birkenhead and the production is set in the writer’s hometown with an all-Scouse cast. 

Cuckoo runs at the Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Downstairs from Thursday, July 6 to Saturday, August 19, 2023, before transferring to Liverpool Everyman  from Wednesday September 6 to Saturday 23, 2023.  

Cuckoo is designed by Peter McKintosh, with lighting design by Jai Morjaria and sound design by Nick Powell. 

Doreen and her two grown up daughters sit at the table – eating fish and chips, distracted by their phones. Upstairs, 17–year-old Megyn has locked herself in her grandmother’s bedroom and refuses to come out. And no one is entirely sure why… 

Wynne’s dark comedy explores the safety of home and the different ways we cope in our increasingly uncertain world. 

The playwright will host a post-show talk on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.

He said: “Cuckoo follows three generations of a matriarchal family as they try to live their lives in what can feel like difficult and crazy times. They’re dealing with financial insecurity, economic decline, all pervasive technology and the potential impact of climate change – amongst other things.

“I was interested in exploring how different generations discuss issues and how having opposing opinions has become much more fraught – even within close families. 

“The last few years have taken their toll on all of us and I came across this term historical narcissism. It forces us to question whether this really is the worst period of modern times, or if it’s just the way we’re living our lives – with news flashes pinged to us at all hours etc … or are we lacking in perspective?”

“This might sound quite heavy but fundamentally it’s a comedy about a family trying to get on with their lives and each other.”

Clockwise from top left: Michelle Butterly, Emma Harrison, Sue Jenkins and Jode McNee. 

Arcola Theatre out for maatin’s Duck

Omar Bynon will star in Duck, a one-man show coming to the Arcola Theatre from June 27, 2023.

This story follows a British Indian schoolboy attempting to reach dizzying heights of cricketing glory, whilst having to contend with the challenges of adolescence, the pressures of sporting competition, and come to terms with his identity in an environment that doesn’t cater for difference.

Written by  maatin, it is directed by Imy Wyatt Corner, associate artist at Arcola Theatre.

On Friday, June 30 and Saturday, July 1, playwright and producer maatin is hosting three performances designed for those who are usually underrepresented in theatre – both on the stage and in the audience – to feel welcomed, celebrated, and comfortable. Inspired by the BLACK OUT performances curated and championed by playwright Jeremy O Harris, and entitled A Space For Us, these performances are particularly open to those who identify as Desi, Brown or Muslim, but are an invitation to all who are a minority in white spaces.

The 15:30 performance on Saturday, July 1 will be followed by an event with figures from the world of sport and academia in discussion with the playwright on south Asian representation and discrimination in sports and beyond, including broadcaster Miriam Walker-Khan, policy researcher Alba Kapoor and author & academic Duncan Stone.

maatin said: “This role was written to give a south Asian performer a stage all to themselves, bringing audiences into the seldom-seen perspective of a British Indian, Muslim teenager boy, while playing a wide variety of characters. Omar Bynon is an exceptionally talented performer who has the charisma and skills to bring Ismail’s world to life on stage. Additionally, it’s an fact that those of us from minoritised identities rarely make up large numbers in theatre spaces, particularly those who identify as non-white. It is my biggest goal to try and change that. To purposefully invite communities that have been excluded – whether deliberately or otherwise – into the theatre should be seen as a positive act that I hope will be celebrated.

Duck comes from Katy Galloway Productions. The assistant director is Maryam Shaharuddin, with set designer Maariyah Sharjil, composer/sound designer Holly Khan, movement director Hamza Ali, lighting designer Jonathan Chan, video and projection designer Rachel Sampley and IBSL performer Nadeem Islam.

Duck runs from June 27 – July 15.

It’s the summer of 2005, and Ismail – ‘Smiley’ to his schoolmates – is about to become the youngest-ever member of his elite public school’s First XI cricket team. A star player full of ambition and talent, he sets his sights on immortality – breaking the school batting record and getting his name into Wisden. But at the start of the season, new coach Mr. Eagles takes a particular dislike to him, for reasons Ismail can’t quite put his finger on. Desperate to prove himself, he runs into a patch of poor form at just the wrong time. Bad luck on the pitch leads to issues off it too, and Ismail finds that no one – friends, family, teammates – seems to get what he’s going through.

Set during England’s famous Ashes victory and the events of 7/7, Ismail discovers that cricket might not be able to take care of everything as it once did.

Southwark Playhouse builds cast for Then, Now & Next

Tori Allen-Martin, Justin Brett, Peter Hannah and Joaquin Pedro Valdes will head the cast for the world premiere of original musical Then, Now & Next.

Struggling with a difficult past, Alex Shaw is attempting to take steps forward. We follow her journey over twenty years, through two loves – young, adventurous idealist, Stephen, and the older, reliable and charming Peter –  as she gathers the scattered chapters of her life, in the hope of re-building her story and asking if she will ever be more than just “fine”. Through Alex’s experiences, her uplifting story questions how relationships can change over time and explores what it takes to truly heal.

Written by Christopher J Orton (My Land’s Shore) and Jon Robyns (The Phantom of the Opera), their first collaboration, the production opens at Southwark Playhouse on June 28. It runs until July 29.

Alice Fearn also stars in the show, which is directed by Julie Atherton.

The band comprises musical director and keys player Honor Halford-MacLeod, guitarist James William-Pattison, cellist Alice Luddington and percussionist Tom Bennett.

Orchestrations, arrangements and musical supervision are by Ben Goddard-Young.

The set and costume designer is Bob Sterrett, with lighting designer Adam King, sound designer Raffaela Pancucci, production manager Titch Gosling, dramaturgy by Kate Golledge, stage manager Zoe Leonard, assistant stage manager Odette Robertson and sound operator Amber Carey. It is produced and general managed by Paul Virides Productions.

Peter Morgan’s Patriots arrive at Nöel Coward Theatre

Take a look at Patriots, the new play from Peter Morgan that has landed at the Nöel Coward Theatre.

Tom Hollander (The White Lotus) stars as Boris Berezovsky, with Will Keen (His Dark Materials) as Vladimir Putin and Luke Thallon (Albion) as Roman Abramovich.

The cast also includes Matt Concannon (Assistant/Daniel Kahneman/Russian Captain), Ronald Guttman (Professor Perelman), Sean Kingsley (Voloshin /Nurse), Paul Kynman (Korzhakov/Yeltsin/FSB Boss/Reporter/Bodyguard) and Jessica Temple (Anna Berezovsky/Newscaster/Journalist/Secretary/Pianist).

New cast members Josef Davies (Alexander Litvinenko), Ashley Gerlach(Lawyer/Home Office), Howard Gossington (Teacher/Compromised Newscaster), Stefanie Martini (Marina Litvinenko/Nina Berezovsky) and Evelyn Miller (Tatiana/Katya/Judge/Lover). They are joined by understudies Peter Eastland, Lydia Fraser and Matt McClure.

Patriots is writer Morgan’s (Frost/Nixon) first new play since The Audience. He is best known for writing Netflix hit The Crown.

It is the Almeida Theatre’s fastest selling new play and has now transferred to the Noël Coward Theatre for a limited twelve-week run, which began on May 26 and continues until August 19, 2023. Opening night is on June 6.

Directed by the Almeida’s artistic director Rupert Goold (Ink, Enron), Patriots is a brilliant and startlingly timely story of ambition, loyalty and betrayal in a brave new world.

1991. The Fall of the Soviet Union. With the dawning of a new Russia, there are winners and losers, and today’s patriot can fast become tomorrow’s traitor.

As a new generation of oligarchs fights to seize control, Patriots follows billionaire businessman Boris Berezovsky from the president’s inner circle to public enemy number one.

The full creative team for Patriots is director Rupert Goold, set designer Miriam Buether, co-costume designers Deborah Andrews and Miriam Buether, lighting designer Jack Knowles, sound designer and composer Adam Cork, casting director Robert Sterne, movement director Polly Bennett and associate director Sophie Drake.

Cast announced for Beneatha’s Place at The Young Vic

Cherrell Skeete, Zachary Momoh and Sebastian Armesto will head the cast of Beneatha’s Place, Kwame Kwei-Armah’s satire at The Young Vic.

Running from June 27 to August 5, Skeete will star as Beneatha Younger,
Momoh as Joseph Asagai/Wale Oguns, Armesto as Daniel Barnes/Prof Mark Bond, with Jumoké Fashola as Prof Shirley Jones/Aunty Fola, Tom Godwin as Mr Nelson/Prof Gary Jacobs, and Nia Gwynne as Mrs. Nelson/Dr Harriet Banks.

1959. The first wave of independence is sweeping across Africa and Beneatha has left the prejudice of 1950s America for a brighter future with her Nigerian husband in Lagos. But on the day they move into their new house in the white suburbs, it doesn’t take long for cracks to appear, changing the course of the rest of their lives.

Present day. Now a renowned Dean whose colleagues are questioning the role of African American studies for future generations, Beneatha returns to the same house in search of answers.

Inspired by the groundbreaking civil rights drama, A Raisin in the Sun, Beneatha’s Place challenges today’s culture wars about colonial history and reckoning with the past.

The creative team is completed by set and costume designer Debbie Duru, lighting designer Mark Henderson, sound designer Tony Gayle, voice and dialect coach Esi Acquaah-Harrison, casting director Heather Basten, Jerwood assistant director Ellis and Jerwood trainee assistant director Tia-zakura Camilleri.

Tickets: www.youngvic.org