Cast: Simon Nock, Joe Vetch, Rachael Garnett, Hollie Cassar, Kenny Davies, Robin Johnson, Peter Peverley, Jack Benjamin, Francesca Gosling, Scott Harrison.
Director: Vik Sivalingam Writer: Peter Rowe Theatre: City Varieties Music Hall Duration: 130 minutes Start Date: November 30, 2013 End Date: January 12, 2014 This month Jack and the Beanstalk – The Rock ‘n Roll Panto, kicks off the festive season in Leeds at City Varieties Music Hall. Boasting an array of projection effects, live action props and pyrotechnics, this small-scale musical promises to pack a big punch.
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Cast: Jacob James Beswick, Colin Connor, Daniel Copeland, Cait Davis, Andrew French, Shobna Gulati, Oliver Hoare, Jan Knightley, Ann Ogbomo, Anneika Rose, Paksie Vernon, Cath Whitefield.
Director: Liam Steel Writer: Rosanna Lowe Theatre: West Yorkshire Playhouse Duration: 130 minutes Start Date: November 30, 2013 End Date: January 18, 2014 The West Yorkshire Playhouse offers up an alternative Christmas treat this season with a bold adaptation of Rudyard Kiplings’s The Jungle Book. Set in the Indian jungle, the story follows the journey of runaway infant Mowgli as he is raised by Akela the wolf, Baloo the bear and Bagheere the panther. Learning the tongue of wild animals and their relationship with the nature of the jungle, the boy grows up at one with the wild. As a young adult he is reunited with his mother and the culture of mankind, but finds enemies in this new world whilst also facing the a duel he’s been evading all his life: a battle against the king of the jungle, Shere Khan. Cast: David Birrell, Gillian Bevan, Niamh Perry, Michael Peavoy, Don Gallagher, Jason Broderick, Ian Caddick, Barbara Drennan, Elanor Fanyinka, Joshua Manning, Abiola Ogunbiyi, Corinna Powlesland, Sevan Stephan, Ben Stott, Sebastien Torkia, Everal A Walsh
Director: James Brining Writer: Hugh Wheeler & Stephen Sondheim Theatre: West Yorkshire Playhouse Duration: 120 mins Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd – The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, opens a new season at the West Yorkshire Playhouse this month, before transferring to the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. The musical also signifies James Brining’s directorial debut as Artistic Director of the Playhouse. Derived from a Victorian pulp magazine story, Hugh Wheeler’s book follows the fictional tale of Sweeney Todd, the maligned barber who, recently released from prison, attempts to re-establish his business in a declining and destitute Fleet Street. Things seem to be going well until Todd’s mysterious past catches up with him, and his razor blade becomes the weapon of choice to erase his problems. 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: 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. |
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