Tag: Richmond Theatre

Richmond welcomes Home, I’m Darling

Doc Martin’s Jessica Ransom will lead the cast of Home, I’m Darling when it arrives at Richmond Theatre this April.

Ransom will star as Judy alongside Diane Keen (Doctors) as Sylvia and Neil McDermott (EastEnders) as Johnny.

Home, I’m Darling comes to Richmond as part of a national tour following acclaimed seasons at the National Theatre and in the West End

Written by Laura Wade, the comedy is about one woman’s quest to be the perfect 1950s housewife.

It received its world premiere at Theatr Clwyd in 2018, before playing at the National Theatre and then transferring to the Duke of York’s Theatre in the West End, winning the 2019 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy.

This production reunites the entire original creative team, led by Theatr Clwyd artistic director and co-director designate of the Royal
Shakespeare Company, Tamara Harvey. It is co-directed by Hannah Noone, with design by Olivier award-winner Anna Fleischle, lighting by Lucy Carter, sound design by Tom Gibbons and choreography by Charlotte Broom.

Harriet Thorpe joins Steel Magnolias

The Brittas Empire and Absolutely Fabulous star Harriet Thorpe is set to star in Steel Magnolias, which arrives at Richmond Theatre next month.

Harriet Thorpe

Based on a true story, which scored a film adaptation starring Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts in 1989, Thorpe will join Laura Main (Call the Midwife), Diana Vickers (Dial M For Murder) and Lucy Speed (EastEnders) in the ensemble cast.

Also appearing are Caroline Harker (A Touch of Frost) and Elizabeth Ayodele (Playboy of the West Indies).

Based on an original script by Robert Harding, the show begins its UK and Ireland tour in January and tells the story of six women who come together in a small-town beauty salon in the American South, proving that female friendship conquers all. Faced with the highs and lows of love and life, and amongst the chaos of work, marriage and children, they unite to gossip, unwind and set the world to rights. 

Steel Magnolias plays Richmond Theatre from January 24-28, 2023.

Christina Bianco to lead Little Voice

US singer and actor Christina Bianco heads the cast of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, which comes to Richmond Theatre this June.

Directed by Bronagh Lagan (Cruise), Bianco (Funny Girl) will perform beloved ballads by icons such as Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey and Cilla Black live on stage, capturing their unique style through her extraordinary impressions.

The cast also includes Shobna Gulati (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as Mari Hoff, Ian Kelsey (Coronation Street) as Ray Say, Akshay Gulati (East is East) as Billy, William Ilkley (War Horse) as Mr Boo, Fiona Mulvaney (The Ferryman) as Sadie and James Robert Moore (All That) as Phone Man. Anna Hale (London Road) is also understudy LV and Sadie.

Exploring the highs and the lows of small-town dreams, family rivalry and finding your voice in a noisy world, Little Voice and Mari Hoff are a mother and daughter as far apart in character as can be. Left to her own devices, Little Voice starts to embody the famous divas she plays on repeat, from Judy Garland to Shirley Bassey, and becomes an overnight sensation.

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice by Jim Cartwright plays at Richmond Theatre from June 27 to July 2.

Richmond unveils Spring 2022 season

A host of film, TV and theatre stars will grace the stage as part of Richmond Theatre’s Spring 2022 line-up.

First up is Catch Me If You Can, a gripping psychological thriller starring Dallas legend Patrick Duffy, Linda Purl (Happy Days) and Gray O’ Brien (Peak Practice). Inspector Levine (O’Brien) is called to a house in the remote Catskill mountains to investigate the disappearance of newly married Elizabeth Corban (Purl). In a bizarre development a woman arrives at the house claiming to be the missing Elizabeth but, instead of celebrating the reunion, her husband accuses her of being an imposter…

Blockbuster film and bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code makes its stage debut. The curator of the Louvre has been brutally murdered, and alongside his body are a series of baffling codes. Follow the pulse-racing journey as Professor Robert Langdon, (Christopher Harper, Coronation Street) and fellow cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Hannah Rose Caton) attempt to solve the riddles, leading to the works of Leonardo Da Vinci and beyond, deep into the vault of history. With guidance from teacher and friend Professor Leigh Teabing (played by Danny John-Jules, Red Dwarf), Langdon and Neveu embark on a breathless race through the streets of Europe. The pair must decipher the labyrinthine code before a shocking historical secret is lost forever.

George Orwell’s Animal Farm arrives in May. This brand-new production is directed by Robert Icke (The Wild Duck, Hamlet), features puppetry by Toby Olié (War Horse) and is designed by Bunny Christie.

The Rocky Horror Show will see Strictly Come Dancing winner Ore Oduba as Brad, in a production directed by Christopher Luscombe.

Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em promises to take audiences back to the 70s as Joe Pasquale (New Faces) stars as the lovable accident-prone Frank Spencer. Susie Blake (Coronation Street) stars as his disapproving Mother-in-Law and Sarah Earnshaw as his long-suffering wife Betty.

Private Peaceful, based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo (War Horse), tells the story of the Peaceful brothers, Tommo (Daniel Rainford) and Charlie (Daniel Boyd), whose tough rural childhood, framed by the loss of their father, forges an irrevocable sibling loyalty. Until one day they both fall for the same girl. And then the Great War comes. Here we join 18-year-old Private Tommo Peaceful in the trenches as he takes us on a journey through his most cherished memories and tells his story of courage, devotion, family and friendship on what may be his last night on earth.

Meanwhile, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice by Jim Cartright  showcases LV’s (Christina Bianco) astonishing impersonations of Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland as she is thrust into the spotlight by club owner Ray Say (Ian Kelsey) and her mother Mari (Shobna Gulati). This life affirming production will rouse even the weariest of souls.

More details here.