Cast: Pippa Moore, Martha Leebolt, Hironao Takahashi, Tobias Batley, Kenneth Tindall, Javier Torres, Darren Goldsmith, Hannah Bateman
Director: David Nixon Writer: William Shakespeare Theatre: West Yorkshire Playhouse Duration: 110 mins The Northern Ballet brings a fresh adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the West Yorkshire playhouse this Autumn season. Directed by David Nixon, Artistic Director of Northern Ballet, the three-act performance of dance and live orchestra promises audiences a bold reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s classic, through movement and music. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the Bard’s best-known comedy, studied on numerous academic syllabi and adapted throughout several media. It’s an astute choice by Northern Ballet to transfer this particular show to dance, as not only is the story universally familiar, but it provides many avenues for rich development and balletic invention through romantic comedy and dream-like surrealism.
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Cast: Maureen Beattie, Neil Pearson, David Bark-Jones, Thomasin Rand, Danielle Flett, Chris Larkin, Sasha Waddell, Simon Bubb, Geoffrey Freshwater
Director: Lindsay Posner Writer: Michael Frayn Theatre: The Grand Theatre Leeds Duration: 140 minutes Start Date: July 23, 2013 End Date: July 27, 2013 The Old Vic brings Noises Off to The Grand Theatre Leeds this week. Michael Frayn’s farce-within-a-farce sendup of theatrical comedy is considered by many as the funniest show of all time. After some thirty years, does Noises Off still sound out as many laughs as it once did? The action begins during a final rehearsal for farcical comedy Nothing On at the Grand Theatre Weston-Super-Mare. Director Lloyd Dallas (Neil Pearson) is struggling to get his cast off-the-book before curtain up. Things aren’t going well and as the show kicks off on tour to sunny Stockton, backstage shenanigans, affairs and an under-rehearsed show climax in a chaotic breakdown of theatrical proportions. Cast: Ian 'H' Watkins, Jennifer Potts, Henry Metcalfe, Luke Jasztal, Danielle Acors, Andrew Bateup, Richard J Hunt, Luke Jasztal, Michael Ward, Richard J Hunt, Rob Wilshaw
Director: Bill Kenwright Writer: Tim Rice Theatre: Leeds Grand Theatre Duration: 120 minutes This Summer sees one of the longest touring musicals hit the Leeds Grand Theatre. The first major collaborative work between Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is one of the most celebrated musicals of recent years. Boasting stars such as Jason Donovan and Donny Osmond in the leading role, it has also proved to be a perennial favourite with families and particularly children. Director-producer Bill Kenwright was responsible for the UK touring production throughout the 1980s. He brings this revived version of the show to Yorkshire with a recognisable popstar fronting the Technicolor action. Ian Watkins, better known as ‘H’ from Steps, dons the coat of many colours and makes for a charismatic and vibrant Joseph. Delivering vocally and expressively, Watkins proves very quickly to be a great hit with young audiences, captivating children with his own child-like performance which grows in strength to superhero standards in the closing scenes. Cast: Alan Hunter, Jason Donovan, Julie Stark, Regan Shepherd, Richard Grieve, Graham Weaver, Ellie Leah, Giles Watling, Frances Mayli McCann, Leon Kay, Rhys Gannon, Samuel Varley
Director: Simon Phillips Writer: Stephan Elliott Theatre: Leeds Grand Theatre Duration: 180 minutes Start Date: July 1, 2013 End Date: July 13, 2013 Hot on the high-heels of The Rocky Horror Show, another glittering camp caper arrives at the Leeds Grand Theatre in the form of Priscilla Queen of the Desert – The Musical, adapted from the 1994 movie starring Terence Stamp and Guy Pearce. The story follows the haphazard adventure of three drag acts – Tick, Bernardette and Felicia – as they cross Australia whilst Tick is apprehensive about meeting his young son for the first time. Encountering friends and foes on their way, the journey tells a story of identity and companionship, set to the songs of divas and disco. Cast: Stewart Clarke, Rebecca Trehearn, Wendy Mae Brown, David Roberts, Ivan De Freitas
Director: Matthew Warchus Writer: Bruce Joel Rubin Theatre: Leeds Grand Theatre Duration: 160 minutes The Leeds Grand Theatre is home to Ghost The Musical for the next fortnight. Based on the hit 1990 film starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore, the story follows the plight of Sam Wheat after he is gunned down in front of his fiancée, Molly Jensen. Trapped in limbo between heaven and hell, Sam begins to haunt his murderer and uncovers a plot which threatens Molly’s life. With no means to affect change in the living world, Sam takes charge of reluctant psychic Oda Mae Brown to help save the love of his life. The original film is classic schmaltz, with a large and dedicated fanbase. It is perhaps considered cheesy by today’s standards, brimming full of clichés and romantic stereotypes, but in many ways Ghost defined the clichés which were to follow and left an indelible gallery of iconic imagery; The Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody, dubbed over an eroticised spinning potter’s wheel, is parodied as much as it is celebrated. However, beneath the pulpy romance is a story of adventure and comedy, elements which Ghost The Musical greatly capitalises on. Cast: Abigail Jaye, Dani Harmer, Sam Attwater, Philip Franks, Kristian Lavercombe, Ceris Hine, Oliver Thornton, Harry Neale, Joel Montague, Henry Davis, Christos Dante, David Gale
Director: Christopher Luscombe Writer: Richard O’Brien Theatre: Leeds Grand Theatre Duration: 115 minutes The Rocky Horror Show stops off at The Leeds Grand Theatre this month as part of its celebratory 40th anniversary tour. Conceived in 1973 by Richard O’Brien, the show ran continuously in the West End until 1980, winning critical acclaim. In 1975 a movie adaptation cultivated a cult following and contributed to an enduring legacy which continues to this day, supported by a legion of passionate fans. The sci-fi musical is a loving parody of 1950s B-movie fare, following the journey of Brad and Janet as they stumble upon the mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a sex-crazed transvestite-scientist. Revealing his plan to build himself a muscled man to satisfy his burning desires, Brad and Janet attempt to escape but soon become embroiled in a strange triangle of sex, horror, aliens and rock ‘n roll. Cast: Natalie Casey, Jackie Clune, Bonnie Langford, Amy Lennox, Ben Richards
Director: Jeff Calhoun Writer: Patricia Resnik Theatre: Leeds Grand Theatre Start Date: May 27, 2013 End Date: June 1, 2013 There seems to be no shortage of movie adaptations making their way to the stage at the moment. One of the most anticipated productions now enjoying a national tour of the UK is Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5: The Musical, checking in at The Leeds Grand Theatre this month. Adapted from the 1980 movie of the same name, the play tells the story of Judy Bernley as she joins a busy office under the guidance of overworked single mum Violet Newstead. Struggling with her job, Judy soon befriends buxom blonde secretary Doralee, who herself is horrified to discover that the office believe she’s having an affair with bully boss Franklin J. Hart. The three women soon fantasise about torturing Hart, and in the throes of desperation begin an abduction plot which becomes an absurd reality. Set against a colourful vintage backdrop and a number of Parton’s classic tunes, with many written specifically for the show, 9 to 5 is a fun yet critical re-imagining of a bygone era where women were treated as sex objects by moustached, whisky drinking businessmen. Cast: Steven France, Karl Howman, Bruno Langley, Elizabeth Power, Bob Saul, Graham Seed, Jemma Walker, Clare Wilkie
Director: Ian Watt-Smith Writer: Agatha Christie Theatre: Leeds Grand Theatre Duration: 145 minutes The Mousetrap arrives at The Leeds Grand in celebration of its Diamond Anniversary. Holding the record as the longest-running British play of modern times, Agatha Christie’s murder mystery is considered by many as the author’s definitive theatrical outing. Cast: Lynda Bellingham, Jan Harvey, June Watson, Deena Payne, Sue Holderness, Lisa Riley, Ruth Madoc, Jane Lambert, Joe McGann, John Labanowski, Kevin Sacre, Camilla Dallerup.
Director: Jack Ryder (original production Hamish McColl) Writer: Tim Firth Running Time: 130 minutes Theatre: The Grand Theatre, Leeds Tim Firth’s play continues its farewell tour and arrives in Yorkshire, home of the original Calendar Girls, to retell the story of how the Women’s’ Institute of Rylstone inadvertently printed one of the most notorious calendars in history. Release Date: Monday 16th July - Saturday 21st July 2011
Cast: Matthew J Henry, Katharine Moraz, Daniella Gibb, Edward Judge, Chris Thatcher, Sam Lupton, Julie Yammanee. Director: Jason Moore Writer: Jeff Whitty (Book), Robert Lopez & Jeff Marx (Concept & Music) Running Time: 135 minutes Theatre: The Grand Leeds Princeton is the latest arrival on Avenue Q, a shabby terrace on the outer boroughs of New York. Newly graduated with a useless degree in English, he quickly realises how ill-equipped he is to cope in a world outside of college. As Princeton meets his neighbours on Avenue Q, he begins to release he has more to learn than he ever imagined. |
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