UK Theatre Network

Friend I am heading for London first thing tomorrow on the red-eye and will be returning late, so I thought I would get this out to our members tonight (Sunday). I'm still interested in finding 2 more webeditors who will be able to help prepare the new website for launch in June and then be responsible for the ongoing update of a section of the website. It is likely to take someone less than an hour each weekday to keep the site fresh. This can be anytime of the day or night to suit. The new site is fully web enabled so it doesn't need broadband nor expensive web software to update. As ever, keep in touch by email to editor@uktheatre.net and remember to tell me any secrets you don't want everyone to know because you can be sure that I'll only tell one or two people....trust me, I'm an editor...... :-) Douglas McFarlane Editor, UKTheatre.net ----------------- OPPORTUNITIES....OPPORTUNITIES....OPPORTUNITIES.... ------------ UK THEATRE NETWORK SUPPORTING THE CASTING OF A MAJOR FILM ROLE A film company contacted the UK Theatre Network and advised that they are planning to make a feature film in September. The film is a crime thriller to be filmed in the North West. The filming will take place over a twenty day period in September. The plot revolves around four elderly people holding a seance and they need one strong powerful elderly actress to play the lead part. This role remains uncast despite the film company spreading the news widely. They have contacted UK Theatre Network with a special appeal to agents and networkers to spread the news. This a high profile film and this role is for a "named" actress. If you are an agent, think big and contact editor@uktheatre.net to discuss anyone you feel may be suitable. --------------- URGENT CASTING! THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST Looking for an actor playing age 24-34 to play ERNEST. Audition & rehearsals in Birmingham. Immediate start. Profit share production. 2 centre tour end of May & early June Please reply with CV & photo to Steve Barnes. Director. Troika Productions Name: Steve Barnes Email: mg012f1651@blueyonder.co.uk --------------- Actors required 1 female, two male. To perform in a short run of a new play ‘On Pendle Hill’ by Maureen Lawrence. Set in Lancashire. Director: Mike Bettison Music: Jim Woodland Design: Simon Pell There are over thirty parts in the play performed by four actors. The parts range from children to grandparents, so versatility is required. Good singing voice and an instrument would be useful, but not vital. Rehearsals start Monday 10th May. Performances start 4th June and finish Friday 11th June 2004. Fee £350 per week plus travel and accommodation when on tour. The tour will be in small rural venues. Auditions in the Yorkshire / Lancashire region 23rd and 26th April 2004. Please send information to the above address. --------------- Female break dancer with an amazing voice for Hip Hop / R n B track Signed artist Major Record Label interest Send CV and Demo to: Breakdancer, PO Box 29942, London SW6 1FL or for details call 07957 165317 Name: Candy Email: admin@performersdirectory.com ------------ COMING SOON.....COMING SOON.....COMING SOON..... It needs no introduction - "Grease" is the word! And it bursts into Bromley at the Churchill Theatre for one week only from Monday 26 April to Saturday 1 May. Since breaking out on Broadway in 1972 Grease has been firmly established in the cultural hall of fame, having seduced the hearts of millions with its back-to-back sizzling tunes, and has now been voted the number one greatest musical by viewers of Channel 4's "100 Greatest Musicals". Grease is currently playing a five-week season to record-breaking, sell-out audiences and is guaranteed to be a sell out in Bromley. Ben Richards stars as 'Danny' and Suzanne Carley takes the role of 'Sandy'. Ben played the role of 'Danny' in Grease at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London in 2003 and subsequently on the Grease tour of Japan. He previously played 'Kenickie' at the Dominion Theatre. Other roles include playing the lead 'Jerry Lukowski' in The Full Monty at the Prince of Wales Theatre and starring as 'Tony Manero' in the hit musical Saturday Night Fever at the London Palladium and on tour, for which he received great acclaim. Suzanne is making her professional stage debut in Grease. She recently reached the final 50 contestants in the hugely popular Pop Idol 2003. Other theatre credits include Jesus Christ Superstar ('Mary'), Oliver ('Nancy'), Fiddler On The Roof ('Hodel') and Fame ('Carmen'). She has also appeared in numerous charity concerts including appearances at Her Majesty's Theatre and The Peacock Theatre. Grease has proved that a musical love story, bursting with denim, cheerleaders, slick hairstyles, and raging teenage hormones is timeless. This production of Grease originally opened in the West End in 1993 (co-produced with Robert Stigwood) where it enjoyed a highly successful run of 6 years. Back by popular demand, Grease is the perfect outing for all the family - this slice of 50s Americana is guaranteed to have even Granny hand-jiving in the aisle! As leader of the T-Birds, the rebel Danny Zuko oozes sex appeal and can have any 'chick' he desires. High School is only an excuse to flirt with the 'bombshells', get up to mayhem and smoke cigarettes. Along comes Sandy Dumbrowski - a true beauty but a real square - and the chase is on! Everyone has his or her favourite Grease character. Some of which include the irresistible Rizzo, leader of The Pink Ladies, whose hobby is to eat men for breakfast - loud, sassy, feisty and plenty of sex appeal, this is one girl who likes living dangerously. Loveable Frenchy, who dreams of going to beauty school. Vince Fontaine, a smooth operator who leaves his female fans in near hysteria. Miss Lynch, the prudish Principal trying to keep a tight reign on all these hormones and failing miserably are just a few characters to mention. Written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, directed by David Gilmore and choreographed by Arlene Phillips, the show features all the unforgettable songs from the hit film including ‘You're The One That I Want’, ‘Sandy’, ‘Grease Is The Word’, ‘Hopelessly Devoted’ and many more…book your tickets now before it sells out – be there or be square! _____________ This UK tour of Grease is presented by Paul Nicholas and David Ian.Performance times are Mon–Thu eves at 7.30pm, Fri 5.30pm & 8.30pm, Sat 5pm & 8.30pm. Ticket prices range from £19.50 to £29.50. Ticket Sales: 0870 060 6620. Online Ticket Sales at http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/cgi/asp_events/perfname.asp?searchname=Grease&vaxname=UK1&venuenum=113&category=Theatre?Affiliate=Z124 _____________ Penny Dreadful Theatre Company and Berwick House Productions in association with Concordance presents MASKS AND FACES OR, BEFORE AND BEHIND THE CURTAIN by Charles Reade and Tom Taylor. Directed by Caitriona McLaughlin. Designed by Cordelia Chisholm. Lighting by Alex Watson. Produced by Henry Angell-James. Cast includes: Simon Coleman. Victoria Gillmon. Ian Groombridge. Catherine Hayes. Bea Holland. Asa Joel. Jon Lisle. Andrew Michell. Thomas Power. Charlotte Pyke. "Full marks to the Finborough for dusting this piece off" Evening Standard Metro Life The Finborough Theatre presents the first professional London revival for more than 70 years (we think!) of the classic Victorian theatrical comedy, Masks and Faces. Set among the theatrical world of London’s West End in the eighteenth century, Masks and Faces was inspired by the life story of the real actress Peg Woffington, best known for playing leading roles opposite David Garrick, her sometime lover. Country gentleman Ernest Vane comes to London and is seduced into the celebrity lifestyle of a group of players - discarding his new wife for the more obvious charms of the great actress Peg Woffington. In the tradition of The School for Scandal and The Rivals, Masks and Faces is a fascinating look at the 18th century theatre with characters ranging from the hapless failed playwright, Triplet, and his hungry family, to real-life writer Colley Cibber and the ghastly critics Soaper and Snarl…… First performed in 1852, and continually revived during the 19th century, Masks and Faces provided Ellen Terry with one of her first and most acclaimed leading roles. The play was filmed in 1920 with Johnston Forbes-Robertson. The production is supported by the Friends of Brompton Cemetery, next to the Finborough Theatre, where the actors Ben Webster and Sir Squire and Lady Bancroft – all known for their roles in Masks and Faces – lie buried. Playwright Charles Reade (1814-1884) was known as both playwright and novelist. His works include the novel The Cloister and the Hearth, and the play The Courier of Lyons. He wrote Masks and Faces in collaboration with Tom Taylor (1817-1880) who remains best known for his plays The Ticket-of-Leave Man and Our American Cousin – the play that Abraham Lincoln was watching when he was assassinated. "Go and see Masks and Faces for several reasons. You will be amused: that is something. Laughter and the tears of sympathy alternate through the varying scene; bright ingenious dialogue, playing like lambent flame, stimulates the intellect; and homely pathos, homely mirth, kind hearts and loving voices, gently touch the various chords of emotion. But there are other reasons why you should go. You should go if you are a dramatist or dramatic critic, to learn there are secrets of success and failure. ..I am not going to tell you the story of this comedy. You have seen or will see it. In the long scene of the second act, where the poor poet is writing his comedy, with a starving family for inspiration, and tears for gaiety: in that touching scene, I say, the dramatic critic will learn the secrets of success and failure." G.H. Lewes, The Leader, 27 November 1852 Read G.H. Lewes' review of the original production on our website at http://finboroughtheatre.itgo.com/about.html Acclaimed young Irish director Caitriona McLaughlin returns to the Finborough Theatre, following her productions of Frank Pig Says Hello in 2002, Unsung Lullaby in 2001 and Lullabies of Broadmoor and Allport’s Revenge in 2004. "A wildly wondrous and macabre creation, that takes dark humour to far-flung and tragic depths….mesmerising performances…" Time Out "Catriona McLaughlin's absorbing and atmospheric production" The Independent "Caitriona McLaughlin’s unsentimental production is assembled with care and played with vim." Time Out Finborough Theatre, The Finborough, 118 Finborough Road, London SW10 9ED (Five minutes from Earl’s Court Underground and West Brompton Underground and National Rail) Box Office 020 7373 3842 www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk Tuesday, April 6th-Saturday, May 1st 2004 Tuesday to Saturday Evenings at 7.30pm. Sunday Matinees at 3.30pm. Tickets £10, £8 concessions. Tuesday Evenings £8 all seats. Saturday evenings £10 all seats. Previews (April 6th and 7th) £8 all seats. Performance Length: Approximately 2 hours. www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk Box Office 020 7373 3842 Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, London SW10 9ED Artistic Director Neil McPherson