UK Theatre Network

Well Friend, have I got news for you.... SECRETS OF THE NETWORK Under the guise of "Secrets of the Network", I have managed to prise out of our members exactly what they ARE doing. It's alright you can tell me, I won't talk to anyone about it - BUT I will put it in an email and SEND it to thousands of others in the network ! Hehe.....here are some of the secrets so far...send in YOUR secrets to editor@uktheatre.net and I guarantee I will not TALK to anyone about it..... ----------------------- SHARON JONES IS APPEARING IN:- Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov Brighton Little Theatre, 9 Clarence Gardens (Opposite Littlewoods, off Western Rd) TUESDAY 16th - SATURDAY 20th MARCH 7.45 pm Tickets: £7 (£6 Tuesday) Tel: 01273 390004 or e-mail tickets@the-little.co.uk www.the-little.co.uk ----------------------- KATE DARBY IS APPEARING.... ....at the White Bear in Beauty and the Bitch which just got reviewed by the Evening Standard - here's a few quotes: "Well-aimed parody ... Katy Darby has a wicked smirk accompanied by mezzo-soprano flourishes ... Dave Key-Pugh boasts the kinky jollity of a young Stephen Fry." On at 9pm every night until Sat 13th. Tickets are £7/5. ----------------------- MEM FERDA IS IN: ....a Two part drama on ITV called She's Gone. He has a scene with Ray Winstone himself - where he plays a Turkish Cop and Ray has just witnessed him and a fellow cop shoot someone dead. It will be on TV around the end of March - so look out for it. ----------------------- IRSAN ISMAIL HAS JUST: ...filmed an advert today for cable. It will be shown on Bravo for Gamer TV. A show where games for consoles are reviewed. He is one of 8 people used in the ad. Plus this Sunday he will be involved in a sketch for the forthcoming series of the Lenny Henry Show. ----------------------- AMBER AGAR IS APPEARING..... .....as a series regular in "murder city" for ITV- out on 18th March with Amanda Donohoe and Kris Marshall and also appearing in Holby City in May. ----------------------- OPPORTUNITIES......OPPORTUNITIES......OPPORTUNITIES...... Colin Stevens of MORELLO is casting for a summer promotion campaign. WANTED Two London-based Females in their 40's who are Dog Lovers. Ideally they should have a special dog of their own. The job is 11 weekends through the spring/summer at garden centres around the country. Talking and having a good laugh with members of the public, providing information about a dog food product but there is NO DIRECT selling involved - purely promotional. Actors skills definitely involved. Both ladies will need to drive (small van), help put up stand/set etc and be part of a small happy team. Fee: 175ukp per day plus 30ukp per diems Accommodation provided when necessary. ----------------------- Stage Manager wanted for this years Edinburugh Fringe festival -from the 15th - 29th August. The show is a devised spoof comedy piece and will feature music, comedy and video. The main character has already been raved by Capital FM's Steve Penk.We are lookng for a hard working, multi skilled stage manager thats not afraid to muck in. All accomadation will be provided plus profit share.All interested applicants should contact. Name: Jody Kamali Email: jodykamali@yahoo.com ----------------------- ADVERT........ADVERT.........ADVERT........... Life Coaching: As an actor, do you struggle with the following: * aiming high, but feeling like you are way off base * have a dream, but not sure if your self belief will carry you through * scared to say 'no' in case nothing else comes along * not sure where to focus your energy first * feel like you are trying everything you can, but you just can't get that lucky break * being out of work far too much of the time * letting go of the rejection you feel after an audition If so, I can help. I work as a Life Coach for people in arts and entertainment, so I understand your issues perfectly. Previous clients have worked on their focus and self belief and motivation and taken action to change what they are doing now and find they can achieve great results in just 4 weeks. Getting the emotional side of your life right, will complement all the training, workshops and auditions you experience. Check out www.magickey.co.uk , where you can request a Free Consultation, you can also sign up to receive a regular newsletter to keep in touch or come on an interactive workshop to experience the benefits for yourself. So many actors are using this intervention - because it works. Don't take my word for it - view the client testimonials on my website. Lyn Burgess - the number 1 life coach for creative people in arts and entertainment The Magic Key Partnership 0845 129 7401 ----------------------- WHAT'S ON..........WHAT'S ON................ Theatre Babel A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen a controversial and brilliant masterpiece A Doll's House exposes the corrosive and disturbing relationship between power, money and sex. Nora is a beautiful young wife and mother who has done something terrible; something that will trigger a series of events to change her life forever. Ibsen's groundbreaking work is brilliantly insightful, a passionate and profound play that has dramatically changed the way society looks at itself. "there can be no higher praise for this production.... beautifully structured and memorably intense...A Doll's House is still a revolutionary play" - Scotland on Sunday Tour Schedule Perth Theatre 16th March - 27 March 2004 185 High Street Perth PH1 5UW Box Office. 01738 621031 www.perththeatre.co.uk Ticket Price £7.50 - £14.50 Concessions £4.50 - £7.50 The Nuffield Wed 31st March - Saturday 3rd April 04 Univeristy Road Southampton SQ17 1TR Box Office: 023 8067 1771 www. nuffieldtheatre.co.uk Ticket Price £14.00 (weekdays) £16.50 (weekends) Concession £12.00 National Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center Thur 15th April - Sat 17th April Thur 15th - Sat 17th April 04 21-1 Chung-Shan S Road, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC Citizens Theatre Mon 19th April - Saturday 24th April 04 119 Gorbals Street Glasgow G5 9DS Box Office. 0141 429 0022 Web. www.citz.co.uk Ticket Price £12.00 Concession £ 6.00 Gorbals Card £ 1.00 Oxford Playhouse 28 April - 1 May 11 Beaumont Street Oxford OX1 2LW Box Office. 01865 305 305 Web. www.oxfordplayhouse.com Ticket Price Tue - Wed eve & Sat Mat - £20 / £17 / £13 Thur - Sat eve - £22 / £19 / £15 Thur Mat - £17.50 / £14.50 / £9 for further information www.theatrebabel.co.uk ----------------------- THEATRE CRYPTIC: TUNNEL VISIONS SPECIAL 2-FOR-1 OFFER “A NEW SHOW FROM GLASGOW’S THEATRE CRYPTIC IS ALWAYS WORTH WAITING FOR…” The waiting is all but over as the phenomenal Glasgow based company prepare to celebrate their 10th anniversary with the debut of their latest production this week at the Tron. With a public preview tonight, TUNNEL VISIONS runs from Wednesday until Saturday before going on to be seen elsewhere. “… HERE THE COMPANY MIXES THEATRE, LIVE MUSIC AND VISUAL ART TO TELL THE TRUE , TRAGIC STORY OF THE ECCENTRIC NEW YORK BROTHERS HOMER AND LANGLEY COLLYER.” – The Scotsman, 6th March 2004. TUNNEL VISIONS explores the story behind a 20th Century folk tale – the true story of the eccentric Collyer brothers who lived and died together under virtual, self-imposed siege in their Harlem brownstone. One blind and paralysed, the other an obsessive increasingly isolated from the external world, the brothers built a life for themselves behind barricaded doors, improvised booby traps and mountains of accumulated rubbish. It was a life only brought to light by their deaths. Subscribers to the Tron’s e-mailing list can see the extraordinary TUNNEL VISIONS while taking advantage of an exclusive special offer: BUY 2 TICKETS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE! For any performance of TUNNEL VISIONS at the Tron. THEATRE CRYPTIC: TUNNEL VISIONS DIRECTED BY CATHIE BOYD COMPOSER: ANTHEA HADDOW VISUAL DESIGNER: AXEL MORGENTHALER TEXT: ADRIAN OSMOND TUESDAY MARCH 9TH – SATURDAY MARCH 13TH @ 8PM, TRON MAIN THEATRE TUESDAY £4 / WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY £8 (£5) / FRIDAY £5 / SATURDAY £12 (£6) BOX OFFICE: 0141 552 4267 WWW.TRON.CO.UK ----------------------- Tom’s Midnight Garden The Churchill Theatre is delighted to present David Wood’s “sensational and spellbinding” (Daily Mail) adaptation of Philippa Pearce’s classic novel Tom’s Midnight Garden. This fun-filled family show bounces into Bromley just in time for the Easter holidays from Tuesday 6 April to Saturday 10 April. “It’s lump-in-the-throat stuff for adults and mysterious and magical for children” The Guardian The immediate future does not look bright for 1950s schoolboy Tom when he is sent to stay with his aunt and uncle in their childless, seemingly lifeless home. But when the grandfather clock in the hall chimes thirteen times, Tom discovers he can travel back in time to a secret garden from the past. Here he meets Hatty, a Victorian orphan as lonely as he is and begins a friendship that survives not only their adventures, but also the test of time. These two friends enjoy fantastic adventures in a magical wonderland, but with each new journey through time, strange things begin to happen – and Tom must solve the mystery of the Midnight Garden…! Tom’s Midnight Garden is beautifully presented by the Birmingham Stage Company whose previous successes include the acclaimed production of Charlotte’s Web and last year’s record breaker George’s Marvellous Medicine. The Sunday Mercury advises you to “Move Heaven and Earth to see this wonderful adaptation!” An enthralling story that has captured the imagination of not only children, but also parents across the world and has inspired a production that promises to do the same. So give your family an extra special Easter treat and book your tickets for Tom’s Midnight Garden – before they all sell out!! To celebrate the arrival of Tom’s Midnight Garden, three exciting events will take place. The first is ‘The Little Read’ on Tuesday 6 April (5-6pm) in association with Bromley Children’s Library – the author of Tom’s Midnight Garden, Philippa Pearce will be interviewed by a publisher and some local children and will also take questions from the audience. This exclusive opportunity is free to ticket holders but must be booked by calling 020 8290 8265. There are fun participatory workshops for children designed to introduce them to the play before seeing the matinee performance on Wednesday 7 (5-7yrs) and Thursday 8 April (8-11yrs) £5 p.p. Lastly, why not have Tea with Tom?! Meet the cast and have tea with them after the matinee on Friday 9 April (suitable for children aged 4+ and their families) £3 p.p. Both this event and the workshops must be booked for on 0870 060 6620. • Performances times are Tuesday to Saturday evenings at 7pm with matinees everyday at 2pm • Tickets are priced from £9.50 - £13.50 and are available from Ticket sales on 0870 060 6620 • For group concessions please call the group hotline on 0870 060 6636 • For further information please contact Laura Riches, Press Officer on 020 8290 8261 or laurariches@theambassadors.com ----------------------- THE MERRY WIDOW By FRANZ LEHÁR With JAN HARTLEY, KARL DAYMOND & VICTOR SPINETTI The Churchill Theatre proudly presents the opening of The Merry Widow, a brand new production presented by the renowned Carl Rosa Company, exclusively in Bromley from Saturday 27 March to Saturday 3 April. This sensational musical/light opera takes place in the heady champagne days of Maxims and the Moulin Rouge, Paris 1912. Wealth and elegance meet sensuality and pleasure as the scene is set for Hannah, a rich and glamorous widow, to play her dangerous dating game. Will it be for love or money? With the unexpected arrival of her first love – the handsome young Danilo – buried passions are re-ignited, firing a tempestuous test of love and past betrayal. So controversial was The Merry Widow first thought to be, that composer Franz Lehár was offered five thousand crowns to burn it. Thankfully he refused, and so we plunge deep into the heart of this tantalising love story and enjoy its beguiling seduction. With a new translation for Carl Rosa by Jeremy Sams (whose many translations for Opera Libretti include Figaro’s Wedding, La Boheme, The Magic Flute and Wagner’s The Ring Cycle for the ENO, Opera North and the Royal Opera House), this new production features a cast of twenty-nine singers and a new orchestration by Richard Balcombe performed by the Carl Rosa Orchestra. Principal casting includes: Jan Hartley as Hanna (RSC’s Showboat), Karl Daymond as Danilo (Opera North’s Sweeney Todd), Victor Spinetti as Baron Zeta (recently on stage in the West End’s hit musical, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Deborah Myers as Valencienne and David Curry as Camille. Carl Rosa’s The Merry Widow breathes vibrant new life into Lehár’s classic, with a witty new translation, a vivacious young company of singers, dynamic choreography and extravagant Parisian couture. Be sure not to miss out, for what promises to be an intoxicating evening of sensational musical theatre.  Tickets range from £17.50 - £25.50 and can be booked at Ticket Sales on 0870 060 6620.  Performance times: Tues – Sat evenings 7.45 and Thu – Sat matinees 2.30pm  The Merry Widow is directed by Michael McCaffery, Musical Director Wyn Davies, Design by Hugh Durrant, Lighting Design by Tina MacHugh and Choreography by Steve Elias.  For further information please contact Laura Riches, Press Officer on 020 8290 8261 or laurariches@theambassadors.com Press Night for The Merry Widow is Tuesday 30 March ----------------------- WEST END STAR COMES TO THE RIVERHOUSE BARN, WALTON West End star Emma Williams is to appear in an acclaimed new musical comedy-drama about a London Underground busker at the Riverhouse Barn, Walton. The songs, the weirdoes, the isolation and the glory of playing live to thousands of people a day are encapsulated in Playing for Reward (March 19 and 20), which received five star reviews at last year’s Edinburgh Festival. Described as “original, touching and hilarious” (Three Weeks), the play stars Emma (the original Truly Scrumptious in Michael Ball’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) , Mark Hayden (Christopher Wren in The Mouse Trap) and features original music from LBC Busker of the Year 2003, Joe Evans, who plays live at each performance. Scarlet has chosen an unusual profession – standing in the London underground singing to strangers. She makes a living out of it, in spite of the occasional £50 fine, and it’s a good way of hiding from her past. But one day a smart-suited businessman drops something more than a pound coin into her hat – the chance to appear on Busker Idol. Fame, fortune and an escape into the light could be waiting beyond the barriers – if only she can take that first step onto the escalator. Featuring a tube-full of weird yet believable characters, from Zorro the London Underground employee to Hippy Bob the hopeless busker and the eternally angry Mad Max, Playing for Reward – the charge with which underground musicians are fined - is the poignant and funny story of one girl’s search for her own tune. Emma Williams plays Scarlet while Mark Hayden, the star of Overdue (Swan Award for Best Production at the Richmond Millennium Arts Festival) plays multiple roles. Playing for Reward is performed by Rags & Feathers Theatre Company, whose previous productions include Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime, The Canterville Ghost and the award-winning Overdue. Riverhouse Barn audiences will have seen their children’s musical The Princess and the Goblin, and the musical revue Singalong America, which raised funds for Playing for Reward. The play premiered at Edinburgh, starring Emma Williams and award-winning comedian Paul Tonkinson, and is written by Chris Pitt. Playing for Reward can be seen at 8pm on Friday March 19 and Saturday March 20. Tickets are £8 (£5 students). Box Office 01932 253354. ----------------------- REVIEWS.........REVIEWS.........REVIEWS.......... ZIPP Written and devised by Gyles Brandreth. Directed by Carole Todd. Now playing at the Yvonne Arnaud until Saturday, 13th March, then touring Jersey, Blackpool, Bradford, Tunbridge Wells etc.... Featuring PMT – (that’s the Pocket Musical Theatre Company, girls – not what you first thought – although it can only be good for that too!) First performed at the Edinburgh Festival, Gyles was amazed when, at the end of the performance the whole audience rose to its feet. Being a former MP and unaccustomed to happy listeners he thought they were about to storm the stage but – panic over – realised it was a standing ovation, and the show has gone from strength to strength since. Billed as ‘100 musicals in 90 minutes’ (or your money back) this show is full of surprises. It even included the whole of the works of Andrew Lloyd Webber in 60 seconds (Reduced Shakespeare Company – eat your heart out!) and covered a range from ‘The Merry Widow’ in the early 1900’s to the recent football-playing ‘The Beautiful Game’ without missing a beat. The whole audience laughed their socks off and - talking of socks – just suppose ALW had found himself in Gyles Brandreth’s flat and seen socks all over the place instead of cats – would that show have taken a different turn? Well, this is where we find out! This is a show for people who love musicals….you get the whole lot in one evening - and for people who hate musicals….you get the whole lot in one evening (and you never have to go again!), but judging by the audience reaction everybody – But Everybody - would be happy to see it over and over. Very fast-moving (well – it had to be, didn’t it) and very funny – it still loses none of the musical quality – the voices of the participants are absolutely superb. Andrew C. Wadsworth’s deep, resonant tones I could happily listen to all night (please) – Amanda Symonds’ smoky, sultry voice led her to play ‘Slags’, ‘Just Sex’, and a prostitute – before changing direction and becoming the Virgin Mary, the Angel Gabriel, and then God. I always knew God was woman! Shona White’s singing voice is also terrific and she can dance too…managed the tap-dancing chorus line of 42nd Street all on her own….and Musical Director Stefan Bednarczyk not only showed his talents as a pianist and singer but also supplied plenty of the comedy. Giles Brandreth could also sing well, and – previously being a member of parliament and an after-dinner speaker – he is not only at home in front of an audience, but thoroughly enjoyed talking with them (and insulting them too)…..and they loved it! He was taking his wife’s advice and getting in touch with his feminine side “a short journey” and really took this to heart dressed as ‘Dolly’ or ‘Mame’, but even more so taking on the ‘Rocky Horror Show’ attired in black stockings, suspenders, and an enormous gold cod-piece. Could this be where the socks ended up? One person who doesn’t appear in the credits (was this the Assistant Stage Manager?) was also very funny. She supplied the dry ice (rather too much), trundled GB across the stage as Mame and Dolly, etc…..but it was her expression of bewildered resignation at having to cope with these mad actors that had me laughing. All I can say about this show is that it’s one Helluva Good Party enjoyed by the actors as much as the audience. Don’t miss it! Reviewed by Sheila Connor. Box Office............01483 44 00 00 ----------------------- Saturday Night Fever New Wimbledon Theatre 8th March 2004 I actually found it physically impossible to sit still from the minute the first number from Saturday Night Fever kicked into action at the New Wimbledon Theatre last night. The music is definitely the highlight with this show. With this comes the dancing and the singing which was simply, amazing. Set in America in the 70’s, Saturday Night Fever follows the story of Tony Manero – played by the very talented Stepahane Anelli. A gifted young dancer who lives for Saturday night. The chance for him to strut his funky stuff and dance his troubles away .One particular Saturday night, feisty Stephanie Manganoe played by the gifted Zoe Smith waltzes (literally) onto the dance floor and into his life. Fuelled by his passion for dancing and his….testosterone, he eventually befriends her and convinces her to take part in the ensuing dance contest. Along the way to ‘the big night’ we get lots more highly impressive dance numbers with more oomph than you can shake a stick at. The majority of the music coming courtesy of the harmonious legends that are The Bee Gees. The standout songs of course being ‘Stayin’ Alive’ and the showstopper ‘Night Fever’ which were, of course in the original film version. The music and the vocals were performed with the exact amount of ‘punch’ that the songs required. Hearing these songs being belted out reminded me of the incredible songwriting abilty of these musicians and the whole cast certainly did each song justice. Evidently the rest of the audience felt exactly the same way, as at one point I looked around the audience during one of the numbers and all I saw was one big sea of jive! It’s a long time since I have seen such energy on a stage and such staggeringly good choreography. Saturday Night Fever is running at The New Wimbledon Theatre until this Saturday….Night! It then continues on its tour around the rest of the country. It must be seen. So go. And I dare you not to tap your foot! Box Office: 0870 060 6646 Review by Emma Pring ----------------------- FAQ Q. What is an FAQ ? A. A Frequently Asked Question. Q. When are the updates to the web ? A. I plan to resolve the backlog this weekend. Q. Do you really publish everyone's SECRETs without their consent. A. No of course not. It is implied that I do but everyone who send me their info is aware that it will be going into a newsletter. Those who want to update me personally but don't want it published have said so in the email and I have respected that. Q. How to I tell others to subscribe. A. Get them to send an email to uktheatre-daily@getresponse.com Q. How do I change email addresses ? A. Click on the link at the bottom of each email to unsubscribe then use the above info to resubscribe from the new email address. -------------- UK THEATRE NETWORK - Brought to you FREE by Douglas McFarlane. --------------