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Posts Tagged "billy elliot"

20 Oct
2011

Thursday Theatre News: Mamma Mia, Noel Coward, Young Vic, Billy Elliot & Simon Callow

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Firstly, news of an early closure. Cool Hand Luke was booking until 7 January, but it’s now closing on 19 November: bad luck guys…

On a more positive note, after 12 years, long-running musical Mamma Mia! is moving. I’ve yet to confirm the exact dates, but the hit ABBA show is moving from the Prince of Wales theatre to the Novello on Aldwych, following the excellent Crazy For You. More details when I have them!

The Young Vic has announced a new show: theatre company Sound&Fury are bringing Going Dark to the venue next March. It’s going to be an immersive show with interesting lighting, projections and sound, about a narrator in a planetarium.

Finally, the Evening Standard Theatre Awards longlist has been announced. Congratulations to the National Theatre, Matilda The Musical, Shakespeare’s Globe, Crazy for You and more who’ve all been nominated. I wouldn’t like to be the judge choosing between Benedict Cumberbatch, Jonny Lee Miller, James Corden, Ralph Fiennes, Kevin Spacey and Jude Law for the Best Actor category…

This Week’s London Cast News:

9 Jun
2011

Thursday Theatre News: Ladykillers, the New Bush, Casting Updates and Extensions

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Firstly, news that the classic Ealing comedy, The Ladykillers has been adapted for the stage by the writer behind hit TV comedies Father Ted and The IT Crowd, Graham Linehan, and will be coming to the Gielgud Theatre in November. The cast sounds fantastic: Peter Capaldi from the Thick of It will play Professor Marcus (the Alec Guinness role from the film). And he’ll be backed up by a gang played by James Fleet (Hugo from the Vicar of Dibley), comic Ben Miller, Stephen Wight and everyone’s favourite pantomime dame, Clive Rowe. The quintet is joined by multi-Olivier Award-winner Marcia Warren as Mrs Wilberforce.

Next, I’m thrilled to hear both War Horse and Billy Elliot: The Musical are extending: War Horse to October 2012, and Billy to December 2012. Congratulations to both these incredible shows.

And so to casting news:

  • Another member of the Rock of Ages line-up was announced this week: Shane Ward from The X-Factor is to play the disillusioned rock bad boy Stacee Jaxx when Rock Of Ages opens at the Shaftesbury theatre in September
  • Supermodel Christie Brinkley is going to be the latest star to take on the role of Roxy Hart in Chicago. She’ll be donning the fishnets from 11 July to 6 August.
  • Carley Stenson, who’s currently playing Margot in Legally Blonde will step up later this summer and play the lead role of college sweetheart Elle Woods. Carley starts on 11 July; Any Dream Will Do-winner Lee Mead will be Stenson’s leading man as he’s joining the cast from 20 June.

Finally, the Bush Theatre has announced the show that will welcome audiences to its new home. Sixty Six Books is an epic celebration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. Sixty-six playwrights, poets, songwriters and novelists from 12 different countries will create a response to each of the 66 books in the Kings James Bible. The impressive list of contributors includes Jeanette Winterson, Carol Ann Duffy, Billy Bragg, Neil LaBute and even the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. Artistic Director Josie Rourke is working with a team of directors to present three hour, six hour and two 24 hour epic performances, with every room, corner and cupboard(!) of the new venue put to use.

You can read more about the Bush’s future plans here on the Official London Theatre website.

3 Mar
2011

Thursday Theatre News: Ruby Wax, Railway Children and War Horse

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I’ve got three quick bites of theatre news for you this week.

If you’re not able to catch Ruby Wax at the Menier Chocolate Factory, where she’s currently performing Losing It (until 19 March), you’ll be pleased to hear she’s coming back in the summer.

You can now catch her show, which deals with the darkest moments of depression through poignant prose and funny songs for five weeks from 17 May.

Second up: great news about a return London journey for The Railway Children. The hit London show is back at its unique venue inside the former Eurostar terminal at Waterloo Station from 18 June until 4 September. If the you know anyone who’s a fan of E Nesbit’s book, trains, or just fantastic family entertainment, I’d thoroughly recommend taking them along to this show…

Finally, another fantastic family hit gets a cast refresh. Nicola Stephenson and Patrick Robinson join the cast of War Horse next week. The actors are best known for inhabiting the hallways of Holby General; they’ll now be playing in Michael Morpurgo’s Second World War drama at the New London Theatre.

Stephenson will play the protagonist’s mother, left worrying for her son’s life when he runs away to worn-torn France in search of his beloved horse, Joey. The actress’s numerous TV credits include Clocking Off, Law And Order and Larkrise To Candleford. Robinson plays German soldier Friedrich Muller. In addition to Casualty, Robinson is well known for his work on ITV drama The Bill. The pair joins War Horse as it enters its fifth year; the show’s recently celebrated its one millionth customer.

Finally, have you voted for your favourite show in the BBC Radio 2 Olivier Audience Award? The shortlist makes decisions difficult, with 4 fantastic musicals fighting it out for this year’s prize:

Have your say now at www.olivierawards.com/vote. The winner will be announced at the Olivier Awards on 13 March.

24 Feb
2011

Royal Mail Launches West End Musical Stamps

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Royal Mail launched a set of new stamps today commemorating seven decades of popular UK musicals.

The eight stamps depict some of our favourite West End shows including Queen musical We Will Rock You, Oliver!, Blood Brothers and Billy Elliott.

Launching the new stamps in London today Queen members Roger Taylor and Brian May said: “We’re thrilled that We Will Rock You has been immortalised on a Royal Mail stamp. The image on the stamp takes us back to when we were touring as Queen and embodies the rock and roll music that we wanted to celebrate in We Will Rock You the musical.”

The full list of eight stamps and their values are as follows:

  • 1st – First Class inland letter rate Oliver!
  • 1st – First Class inland letter rate Blood Brothers
  • 1st – First Class inland letter rate We Will Rock You
  • 1st – First Class inland letter rate Monty Python’s Spamalot
  • 97p – Rest of World airmail up to 20gm Rocky Horror Show
  • 97p – Rest of World airmail up to 20gm Me and My Girl
  • 97p – Rest of World airmail up to 20gm Return to the Forbidden Planet
  • 97p – Rest of World airmail up to 20gm Billy Elliot

The musicals stamps are available now at all Post Offices and online at www.royalmail.com/stamps

17 Jun
2010

Stephen Daldry and Danny Boyle to Direct London 2012 Olympic Ceremonies

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Exciting news this morning: the London 2012 Olympic opening and closing ceremonies will be directed by Hollywood film makers Stephen Daldry and Danny Boyle.

Boyle, who won an Oscar for directing Slumdog Millionaire, is to direct the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.

And Stephen Daldry, director of hit films such as Billy Elliot and The Reader, as well as theatrical successes like An Inspector Calls and Billy Elliot The Musical, will be one of the four key executive producers of the opening and closing ceremonies for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As the creative production lead, Daldry is joined by a strong team of talent on the executive production team:

  • Mark Fisher, the concert, theatre and Beijing 2008 Games designer as executive producer for design
  • Grammy and Bafta-award nominated TV director Hamish Hamilton, who’ll lead on broadcast
  • Catherine Ugwu, producer of the 2006 Asian Games and the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games as executive producer for production

Daldry said, “Myself and my co-executive producers will ensure there is creative continuity across all four ceremonies, that the public have real engagement and that we continue to attract into key roles the best talent in the world. I’m delighted to be part of the team.”

Speaking on Radio 4′s Today programme this morning, a very chirpy Danny Boyle said his job was “to provide a thrilling, enthralling, captivating evening.”

“Hopefully it’ll take its place in the list of openings, but it’ll be a new beginning as well.”

If you can’t wait til then, don’t forget Danny Boyle is making his National Theatre debut this winter, directing a new production of Frankenstein.

21 May
2010

Billy Elliot The Musical at Victoria Palace Theatre

Posted by in Dance, Kids, Theatre 2 Comments

Billy Elliot The Musical has proven hugely popular with London audiences.

Set in Northern England under Margaret Thatcher, the story follows Billy Elliot – the son of a striking miner – who overcomes adversity to pursue a career in ballet.

Billy Elliot has so far won 70 awards worldwide and been seen by more than 4.5 million people across the globe. The show celebrated its fifth anniversary at London’s Victoria Palace Theatre on 31 March.

We asked a few people who saw Billy Elliot The Musical recently for their opinions.

Billy Elliot is my favourite musical – from the moment it starts it has a real emotional impact on me (tears and laughter). I like the way they have expanded on the miner’s content in the film and made it a uniquely British story – the personal combined with the historical.

The singing isn’t amazing and some of the Geordie accents are a bit dodgy, but the overall experience can’t be beaten, and that was my second viewing of it.

The dancing is always amazing.

Laura, 32

I thoroughly enjoyed the show. It was fun, moving and beautiful. It was great to see a piece of high street musical theatre deal with a topic like Thatcherism which is very much a part of contemporary British history and especially very relevant again now post-election.

It was highly entertaining and fun, the stage set was brilliantly simple and versatile. Very fun and engaging piece.

Ditte, 30

A long-time fan of the film, I didn’t think I was in for any major surprises as I headed to see the stage show of Billy Elliot. But it is a rare theatrical experience that can make you laugh and cry, fill you with the urge to get up and dance and provide you with a particularly timely political commentary along the way! Not to mention the astounding raw talent of the young Billy, whose love of dance can be seen infecting the entire cast as the show goes on.

Rebecca, 28

Overall the show is very good. The storyline is very well structured and the characters are all well developed. I thought the set was also very good and it had some parts of great humour. Its great the way the show pairs ballet with the traditional aspects of a musical, whilst getting across a very strong message.

The only criticism is the amount of bad language used by all of the cast (including the children), I thought that was excessive and didn’t add anything. I certainly wouldn’t advise young children to go and see it, which is strange because the musical is about a young child.

Barry 65

As someone born in the 1980s, I’m always fascinated by portrayals of that time – so close yet so far removed from the Britain of today. I thought the show blended some interesting politics (smartly brought up-to-date by the second-half opening comic commentary on the current election) with a heartwarming story and some entertaining dance sequences.  Here’s to another five years!

Amanda, 25

2 Apr
2010

Happy Easter from Magic FM!

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Easter’s come around once again, and it’ll no doubt be a time to spend, spend, spend – hopefully not as much spending as at Christmas!

Many London schools have already broken up for the Easter break. My plan is to spend a relaxing Easter with the family, but the week of 12 April, which is the second week of the school Easter Break, I’m hoping to see Billy Elliot: The Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre.

The musical recently celebrated its 5th anniversary and on my show on Magic 105.4, I gave listeners the opportunity to see the musical in New York on Broadway.  Unfortunately, I don’t have time to go to New York during the Easter break, but I’m sure seeing it at the Victoria Palace will be just as exhilarating! 
 
I’ve also put two other events in my diary, both post-Easter; firstly Welsh superstar soprano, Katherine Jenkins will be performing at a Magic Indulgence event on 6 April, and lucky winners of tickets will be able to meet her!

Later in the month – 20 April – I’ve got tickets booked at the Cadogan Hall in Chelsea to hear some gospel singing and entertainment from the London Community Gospel Choir, who I’m sure will bring the Easter spirit to the venue.

Whatever you have planned over the Easter period, I wish you a happy and peaceful time.
 
Until next time…

1 Apr
2010

Thursday Theatre News: Happy Birthday Billy, and Spring Cast News

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Yesterday was Billy Elliot’s birthday! The Stephen Daldry / Elton John musical celebrated five successful years in the West End last night with a big birthday bash. Friends, fans, families and celebrities including David Walliams were treated to a 19-strong Billy “megamix, a mash-up of all the Billys.”

Stephen Daldry played tribute to the fine actors that have made the show a success. According to the Official London Theatre Guide, “When we first started with our three first Billys, it was so magical we never thought we would be able to recreate that magic ever again. The fact that we have consistently found these fantastic Billys is a wonder to behold.” I couldn’t agree more. It’s a fantastic show.

From long-runners to new spring arrivals: the cast for Nick Grosso’s new comedy about addiction, Ingredient X, at the Royal Court from 20 May has been announced. The lovely Lesley Sharp, who’s been busy in the West End lately (in The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice at the Vaudeville, Harper Regan at the National, and Ghosts at the Duchess Theatre) plays X Factor addict Rosanna. And James Lance (who you’ll know from Teachers, Boy Meets Girl and Moving Wallpaper) and Indira Varma (from Hustle, Torchwood or Rome) are also going to star.

And I’ve learnt about the casting for this summer’s Open Air Theatre season. Into The Woods will be led by the wonderful Hannah Waddingham and Jenna Russell. Both actresses have been in Sondheim shows before: Hannah in the recent London production of A Little Night Music, and Jenna won an Olivier Award for Sunday In The Park With George in 2007.

Also at the Open Air Theatre this summer is Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, starring Patrick O’Kane (who’s currently in War Horse), Emma Cunniffe (in Dumb Show at the mo), Emily Taaffe (who you might know from Nation at the National) and RSC regular Oliver Ford Davies (who I last saw in that amazing Shakespeare marathon, The Histories).

Finally, the National Theatre’s 2010 Travelex Season now includes Welcome To Thebes, starring David Harewood, due to open in June. As Theseus, Harewood returns to theatre where he made history as the first black actor to play Othello. More recently he has played Martin Luther King in The Mountaintop and Nelson Mandela in TV drama Mrs Mandela. Another of the fantastic ensemble from The Histories, Chuk Iwuji joins David in the cast.

Book now for all the above to avoid disappointment!

11 Feb
2010

Have Your Say About London Theatre in the Olivier Awards

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Yes, there might be a lot of buzz about the Oscars around at the moment, but here in London, theatre-lovers like me are more interested in the Oliviers!

On 21 March at the Grosvenor House Hotel, the Laurence Olivier Awards 2010 will be announced.

The annual award ceremony is the most prestigious in London theatre, and the highlight of the theatrical year in London.

You can read a full list of the runners and riders on the Official London Theatre website. The judging panel consists of dedicated theatregoers and experts.

But there’s an exciting new award for 2010 where YOU can vote for the winner. The Audience Award goes to the long-running London show with the most votes from the following shortlist:

Vote for your favourite, and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win four tickets to the winning show. You’ve got until 5pm on 17 March to have your say.

26 Nov
2009

Thursday Theatre News: Star-studded Shakespeare, Award Winners and a New Billy

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The wonderful Judi DenchGreat news this week as my favourite Shakespeare comedy (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) is coming to the Rose Theatre next year, featuring one of my favourite actresses (Judi Dench), set in one of my favourite periods of history: the court of Elizabeth I.

But that’s not all. The fantastic Rachael Stirling (she’s Diana Rigg’s daughter, y’know) is playing Helena – the most fun a girl can have in a Shakespeare show without the responsibility and cross-dressing silliness of a Rosalind. Add to that the sexy Ben Mansfield as her love interest Demetrius (he was great at the Open Air Theatre this summer), and Oliver Chris from the Green Wing and Nathan Barley as Bottom, and, well, it’s all pretty exciting.  I’m also looking forward to seeing the ace Msimisi Dlamini (Philostrate) again after enjoying his performance in the Arcola’s Spanish Tragedy this season. And it’s all directed by Peter Hall. *And* tickets start at just £5. What a treat.

In other casting news, I’m happy to learn Mark Rylance and Mackenzie Crook are going to reprise their performances in the West End version of Jerusalem, particularly as the show won some top prizes at the Evening Standard Awards this week. Many of the other original Royal Court cast members are also coming back for the West End move. Even better news: if, like me, you haven’t got around to booking tickets yet, Jerusalem is offering 20 best-price seats at £10 each, available from the box office from 10am on the day of the performance. Bear in mind you’ve got to show up in person.

Speaking in Tongues has been in the news this week as Ian Hart allegedly lost his temper with an audience member. If you were there, tell us about it… If this has made you even more eager to see the show (which also stars the brilliant John Simm and Kerry Fox), book now: you’ve only got until 12 December…

Finally, news about a show which is a long way from posting closing notices: Billy Elliot. Not only have they extended booking until December 2010, but there’s also a new Billy to boot! Dean-Charles Chapman, 12, is no stranger to the show: he played Small Boy in the original cast when Billy Elliot opened in 2005; and has been playing Michael (Billy’s best friend) since the start of the year. Incredibly, he’s been training for Billy for two years. Break a leg, D-C!