Unity Youth Theatre performs a new play by Esther Wilson this Saturday in Unity’s Dark Dark Wood

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Unity Theatre

This Saturday, December 17 at 7.30pm & 8.30pm, Unity Youth Theatre will give a special Christmas performance - 'Once There Were Trees' - inspired by the setting of the Dark Dark Wood and written by the members themselves with award winning Liverpool playwright Esther Wilson ('Ten Tiny Toes', 'Tony Teardrop', 'Unprotected').

Esther Wilson is an award-winning Liverpool playwright and screenwriter. She has written for Bafta and Emmy award winning shows The Street and Accused. She has also won an RTS Award for best newcomer for The Street.

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Unity Theatre Goes ‘Out Of Space’ For Spring 2017

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Unity Theatre

Unity Theatre has always had a reputation for sparking debate and challenging the norm. Whether it’s a searing show like Nina: A story about Me and Nina Simone, a festival performance at Homotopia, DadaFest or Physical Fest or the long standing and ever-popular Christmas show with Action Transport Theatre, Unity always programmes work which thinks outside of the box.

In Spring 2017, as Unity Theatre undergoes a £790,000 capital redevelopment, the theatre itself will go outside of its own box, and announces a season that reaches out of the theatre and into the community, with a selection of bold and reactive shows.

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Patrick Dineen performs in Unity Theatre’s Dark Dark Wood

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Unity Theatre

Patrick Dineen, composer for Christmas Show, Little Red and the Big Bad Wolf, performs in Unity Theatre’s Dark Dark Wood

Regular Unity Theatre and Action Transport Theatre Christmas show collaborator, composer Patrick Dineen will use the setting of Dark Dark Wood to continue his own exploration of music inspired by dark fairy tales on Thursday December 15 at 8pm.

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Dirty Dusting

Image Source: Dirty Dusting

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Play
Genre: Comedy
Date: October 14 2015
Location: Epstein Theatre, Liverpool, England

When one sees the name "Dirty Dusting" for a theatre production, one's mind immediately wanders to Dirty Dancing and may consider how the two are related, whether it be the plot, the characters etc. As it turns out, though, there is no connection; Dirty Dusting means something very different.

Indeed, Dirty Dusting tells the story of three cleaners working in a factory: Elsie (Crissy Rock), Gladys (Leah Bell) and Olive (Dolores Porretta), who spend their evenings cleaning up the mess left behind by the employees. The cleaners are middle-aged and not exactly satisfied in their roles, yet they all realise that they have no other option at this point. However, things change when a message left behind by a bossy, rude manager (Lee Brannigan) implies that a new team of cleaners will be brought in, leaving the long-time staff to face termination.

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Full cast announced for Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty UK tour

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

New Adventures are delighted to announce the full cast and further tour dates for the first revival of Sleeping Beauty as devised, directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, which will play at the Liverpool Empire from Tuesday February 16-Saturday February 20 2016.

Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty is a gothic tale for all ages; the traditional tale of good vs. evil and rebirth is turned upside-down, creating a supernatural love story that even the passage of time itself cannot hinder

Bourne’s new scenario introduced several characters not seen in Petipa’s famous Ballet or Grimm’s fairy tale. This imaginary kingdom is ruled over by King Benedict and Queen Eleanor. Princess Aurora’s romantic interest is not a Prince, but the royal gamekeeper, Leo. Representing the central forces of good and evil are Count Lilac (“the King of the Fairies”) and the Dark Fairy Carabosse. Bourne has also created the character of Caradoc, the sinister but charming son of Carabosse. Princess Aurora’s Fairy Godparents are characterised by their names: Ardor, Hibernia, Autumnus, Feral and Tantrum.

Returning to the central role of Aurora in this first revival is rising star Ashley Shaw. Ashley recently played Lana in the triumphant revival of The Car Man, and has also played Kim in Edward Scissorhands, Sugar in Nutcracker! and the title role in Cinderella. Cordelia Braithwaite made her debut with New Adventures in Swan Lake in 2013 and has since featured in this year’s revival of The Car Man, covering the role of Lana. Cordelia makes her debut as Aurora this season; her first Principal role with New Adventures.

The leading role of Leo will once again be played by Dominic North and Chris Trenfield who co-created the role in 2012. Dominic holds the distinction of appearing in more New Adventures productions than any other dancer and was most recently seen as Angelo in The Car Man (Seen also in the filmed version for SkyArts). He was nominated as “Outstanding Male Dancer” at The National Dance Awards for his performance as Edward Scissorhands which he re-created to much acclaim earlier this year. Chris has this year been seen as Luca in The Car Man and played the role in the SkyArts TV broadcast in August. One of New Adventures' most versatile leading men, he has also been seen as Tony in Play Without Words, the title role in Nutcracker! and The Swan/Stranger in Bourne’s Swan Lake which he also danced at the Music Centre of Los Angeles 50th Anniversary Gala last year.

Count Lilac will be portrayed once again by one of New Adventures most accomplished performers Christopher Marney, and in his third Principal role for New Adventures this year, Liam Mower. Christopher has been seen in the highly successful Triple Bill, Early Adventures, as Cyril Vane in Dorian Gray (Created role), The Prince in Swan Lake and The Angel in Bourne’s Cinderella in 2010. Most recently, he has had a big personal success as the choreographer of the West End hit play, McQueen. Liam Mower is the Olivier award-winning original star of the West End hit Billy Elliot. Joining New Adventures in 2011 to appear in Nutcracker!, he has also appeared in Play Without Words, as The Prince in Swan Lake (a role in which he danced with the Royal Ballet’s Edward Watson at last year’s Ignite Festival) and his critically-acclaimed portrayal of Edward Scissorhands earlier this year.

The twin roles of Carabosse and Caradoc will be shared by two charismatic New Adventures performers: Adam Maskell who co-created the role in 2012 returns to the Company having previously featured in Dorian Gray, Nutcracker! (title role), Play Without Words and as The Angel in Cinderella. Tom Clark makes his debut in a Principal role with New Adventures following roles in Swan Lake, The Car Man and as Jim Upton in Edward Scissorhands.

King Benedict will be played by Will Bozier (Edward Scissorhands) Glenn Graham (Swan Lake, The Angel in Cinderella and The Car Man) and Chris Trenfield. Queen Eleanor by Pia Driver (Swan Lake, The Car Man, Edward Scissorhands), Nicole Kabera (Edward Scissorhands, Nutcracker!, The Car Man, Swan Lake) and Katie Webb (Swan Lake, The Car Man).

Completing the Sleeping Beauty Company are Daniel Collins, Jack Jones, Mari Kamata, Phil King, Dominic Lamb, Dena Lague, Katy Lowenhoff, Katrina Lyndon, Kate Lyons, Andrew Monaghan, Leon Moran and Danny Reubens.

Sleeping Beauty is directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, working again with three of his regular collaborators and New Adventures Associate Artists; Lez Brotherston (Set and Costumes), Paule Constable (Lighting) and Paul Groothuis (Sound Design). The 2015 Revival will be directed by Matthew Bourne, Staged by Associate Director Etta Murfitt, and the Resident Director is Neil Westmoreland.

Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty premiered in 2012, and was the fastest selling production in the company’s history. Sleeping Beauty was created for New Adventures 25th birthday celebrations and completed Matthew Bourne’s trio of re-imagined Tchaikovsky ballet masterworks that started in 1992 with Nutcracker! and, most famously, in 1995, with the international hit Swan Lake. This dazzling production has won the hearts of thousands and smashed box office records across the UK and at Sadler’s Wells. Its USA premiere in 2013 prompted Joan Acolella of The New Yorker to hail Bourne as “the most popular choreographer of theatrical dance in the Western world”, and The New York Times said: “This is Bourne at his best – a masterful storyteller.” The production also won three Los Angeles Drama Critic Awards and the Ovation Award for “Best Production”.

Perrault’s timeless fairy tale, about a young girl cursed to sleep for one hundred years, was turned into a legendary ballet by Tchaikovsky and choreographer, Marius Petipa, in 1890. Bourne takes this date as his starting point, setting the Christening of Aurora, the story’s heroine, in the year of the ballet’s first performance; the height of the Fin-de-Siecle period when fairies, vampires and decadent opulence fed the gothic imagination. As Aurora grows into a young woman, we move forwards in time to the more rigid, uptight Edwardian era; a mythical golden age of long Summer afternoons, croquet on the lawn and new dance crazes. Years later, awakening from her century long slumber, Aurora finds herself in the modern day; a world more mysterious than any Fairy story!

For more information, click here.

Heritage Opera's Puccini Classic Madame Butterfly comes to Epstein Theatre

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: The Epstein Theatre

Heritage Opera, the Northwest’s professional touring opera company, visits the Epstein Theatre for the first time on Saturday 26 September with Puccini’s heart-breaking story of undying love and longing, presented in its own inimitable fashion.

Set in Nagasaki 1925, Madame Butterfly tells the story of Cio Cio San, a naïve girl with passionate dreams of romance who marries Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton of the US Navy. His ideas of marital commitment are somewhat different to hers and he soon leaves her to sail back to America. Cio Cio San waits patiently for him for three years, refusing to acknowledge that she has been abandoned and firmly believing he will one day return to claim her as his wife. At last, Pinkerton’s ship, the USS Abraham Lincoln is seen on the horizon. For Madame Butterfly however there will be no happy ending.

Merseyside-born and raised soprano, Sarah Helsby Hughes directs and sings the lead role of Madame Butterfly and is supported by a professional cast of 10 singers and accompanied by an ensemble of seven musicians.

Sarah went to Maricourt High School in Maghull and, after graduating from Birmingham Conservatoire of Music, she worked in Liverpool city centre as a temp. One day, fed up with being stuck in an office on a bright sunny day she decided to try her hand at busking and soon she was singing opera to startled shoppers and office workers. Fast forward 6 years, and Sarah is now Artistic Director of Heritage Opera, the Northwest’s professional touring Opera Company.

Heritage Opera specialises in making opera relevant and accessible for everyone and they have taken opera to places neglected by other companies. Heritage Opera is also very proud of its Northern roots and another of its artistic aims is to employ northern-based singers and musicians wherever possible. This Madame Butterfly tour boasts 9 of 10 singers and 6 of 7 musicians who either live in or have strong historic ties to the North.

Sarah Helsby Hughes, director and performer at Heritage Opera, commented: "We're delighted to be performing at The Epstein, who'd have thought I'd be bringing my own opera company home to Liverpool, all those years after years of busking just round the corner! I do hope the Liverpool public come and support us."

For more information, click here.

Puttin' On The Ritz coming to Liverpool

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

Strictly Come Dancing stars lead the UK tour of the hit song and dance extravaganza

Presented by International Theatre Producer David King, the tour of the spectacular Puttin' On The Ritz is currently wowing audiences across the UK.

Puttin' On The Ritz stars a variety of professional “Strictly” dancers at different venues, including Robin Windsor and Anya Garnis with Trent Whiddan and Gordana Frandosek.

Ray Quinn will join Puttin' On The Ritz in September. Runner-up in The X- Factor in 2006, with his debut album going straight to number one in the UK charts, Ray has starred in many West End musicals.

Puttin' On The Ritz takes you on a musical journey with wonderful music from three legendary composers, Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Irving Berlin. Songs in the show will include Cheek to Cheek, Alexander’s Rag Time Band, Birth of the Blues, Swanee, Night and Day, I Got Rhythm, Easter Parade, and Puttin’ On The Ritz.

These classic songs of the Golden Age of Hollywood are recreated live on stage with a star-studded cast of fabulous singers and dancers who are set to entertain the audience with their slick harmonies, glamorous costumes and ballroom dancing skills.

Puttin’ On The Ritz is produced by David King with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and George Gershwin.

Becky O’Brien performed in her first professional production at the age of seven. Becky toured America, Asia, Europe and the UK, as the lead vocalist in shows such as Spirit of the Dance; Broadway, the Star Spangled Celebration; and The Spirit of Christmas. Alongside two of her sisters, she took on the role of The Deering Sisters in the internationally acclaimed Pathe feature film, Mrs Henderson Presents. The sister act worked alongside Dame Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins, recording the theme song for the film.

Ray Quinn’s first acting role was in Brookside, the popular soap based in Liverpool. He was announced as the runner-up in the X Factor to Leona Lewis in 2006 and subsequently released a a debut album which went to number in one in the UK charts and eventually became a platinum selling album. Ray has starred in many West End musicals including Grease, Dirty Dancing, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice and Legally Blonde. Ray was the winner of ITV’s Dancing on Ice in 2009 and went on to win the final All Stars series in 2014. Ray is currently recording an album and is inspired by by the “greats”, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and the Rat Pack.

Robin Windsor is a British professional Latin and Ballroom dancer, best known for his appearances in the BBC television series Strictly Come Dancing. Robin is also known for starring in the successful West End production of Burn The Floor with his professional partner Kristina Rihanoff.

Trent Whiddon is an award-winning Australian dancer and choreographer. He was a lead dancer and company manager of Burn the Floor for 13 years including the Broadway production. He has choreographed for So You Think You Can Dance, Satisfaction on a Dance Floor and the E-trade commercial with Kevin Spacey. Most recently, Trent has completed touring with the Strictly Live tour after a successful first season on Strictly Come Dancing partnering Pixie Lott.

For more information, visit www.puttinontheritztour.com.

Bunty The Bouncer heading back to Liverpool

Image Source: www.chrisbirchall.com

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: The Epstein Theatre

She's mean, she's tough and she's dog rough!

Liverpool comedy actress Lynn Fitzgerald is returning to Liverpool in one of her favourite one-woman roles.

Bunty The Bouncer is back on the Epstein Theatre stage where it all began over 20 years ago, so you better watch yourself.

Set in a Liverpool nightclub, the comedy tells the story of the toughest, meanest and probably the only female bouncer in town.

It’s single mother Bunty's last night on the door before she jets off on holiday to Butlins, Pwllheli with her daughter and starts a new career as a Beautician. As well as playing Bunty, Lynne plays nine other characters including The Scouse Tart, A Dippy Bride on a Hen Night, A Drug Dealer, Maria the Kebab Assistant and the Drag Artist Shona Snatch. Burn your fluffy bras and leave your hot pants at home - it's smart dress only. And, if you're wearing jeans or trainers, you're not getting past Bunty - at least, not without a very vigorous body search.

Written over twenty years ago by Marc Gee, best known for scripting cult film Al’s Lads which starred Mark Warren, the play is every bit as hilarious as it was twenty years ago, and still has audiences rolling in their seats thanks to its line-up of unforgettable, outrageous characters.

The show went on to to be a huge hit at the Edinburgh Festival and Lynne was also nominated for a Liverpool Echo Comedy Award.

Lynne Fitzgerald s commented: “I am absolutely thrilled to be bringing Bunty back to the Epstein Theatre stage, as the play was first performed there over twenty years ago when it was the Neptune, and thanks to that performance, I went on to sell out shows at the Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh, do a tour of the Northwest and went on to win a best actress award. I always felt that the Epstein space is Bunty’s real home and, as they say, there is no place like home.”

The play is directed by Saul Murphy¸ probably best known for directing The Circus on Lime Street. Look sharp and call the box office now to book your tickets, cos if your names not down you’re NOT coming in!

For more information, visit www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk.

Danielle bringing Hope to The Sound Of Music

Image Source:
Manchester Evening News

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

The Sound Of Music, one of the most legendary musicals of all-time, is returning to the Liverpool Empire next month. Playing the role of Maria Von Trapp will be Danielle Hope, who over the last five years has had a range of unforgettable experiences on the theatre stage, having been propelled to stardom by a television show which landed her a role as Dorothy in The Wizard Of Oz and a place in future big-budget theatre productions. I recently spoke to Danielle about The Sound Of Music, her experiences so far in theatre, and whether she could handle a family as big as that of the Von Trapps in real life …

To begin with, explain the story of The Sound Of Music, and of your role as Maria Von Trapp.

The Sound Of Music, as many, many people will know, is a very famous story based on a family that were fleeing Austria at a very dangerous time. I think the reason a lot of people feel this strongly connected to The Sound Of Music is because they were real people, and this was a very real time in the world. Now, a young girl who is training to be a nun is sent away because of, let’s say, her behaviour, and her choice of life and singing. Then, she meets this very disconnected family where the father is going through a lot, and the children have almost been army drilled because he's a naval officer. And she introduces them to music, and then they find a connection, which ends up inspiring the captain and saving them at the end of the day while they flee.

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Treat yourself to an evening of pure theatrical Viagra!

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: The Epstein Theatre

Hit comedy Dirty Dusting shines on the Epstein stage

After a sellout UK tour in 2014, the smash hit show Dirty Dusting returns to the stage this year and comes to Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre this October for a strictly limited run.  The play is written by the same team that brought you the hugely popular Waiting For Gateaux, which ran at the theatre earlier this year.

Dirty Dusting stars TV actress and comedian Crissy Rock (Benidorm and I’m A Celebrity), Leah Bell (actress and comedian), Dolores Porretta (Stage and TV actress) and introducing Lee Brannigan.

Gladys, Elsie and Olive are three cleaning ladies who are about to be ‘put out to pasture’ by their overzealous office manager Dave. Feeling they have little chance of gaining employment elsewhere, the ladies have to find a way to make ends meet.

A chance wrong number requiring a Sex Chat Line rings into the office and gives them a great idea… “Why not run a Sex Chat Line?” After all, their age and appearance won’t matter on the telephone and providing they can keep this a secret from their boss, they could be on to a real winner.

Needless to say… things don’t go entirely according to plan.

Dirty Dusting is a heart-warming, laugh-out-loud, feel good comedy that will have you rolling in the aisles and smiling every time you answer the phone.

North East based writers Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood have written eleven successful plays including Dirty Dusting and the popular Waiting For Gateaux, which ran at the theatre earlier this year. The play is also directed by Leah Bell.

Get your glad rags on and your feather dusters at the ready and pick up your sparkling telephone to book your tickets now.

Dirty Dusting runs at the Epstein Theatre from Monday October 12-Thursday October 15. You can book tickets by clicking here.

Tenth Anniversary Revival of Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Royal Court Theatre

One of Liverpool’s most successful ever plays returns to Royal Court Liverpool ten years after it was first performed!

Dave Kirby and Nicky Allt’s Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels has broken box office records in its previous five outings in the city and is back for the first time since 2011.

Having sold more than 150,000 tickets across the five runs so far, the play has been seen by more people than any other Liverpool comedy. Audiences have been calling for the play’s return of this genuine Liverpool classic.

With the majority of the original cast returning to the show (the original Gerard Gardner, Davy Edge, having retired and been replaced by Paul Duckworth) the gang will be back together for the five week run. Roy Brandon, Eithne Browne, Carl Chase, Suzanne Collins, Adam Keast, Andrew Schofield and Francis Tucker all return to their roles. Bob Eaton will direct again, the set design is by Billy Meall and Howard Gray is back as Musical Director.

Dickie Lewis, Nick Walton, and Gerard “Gelegnite” Gardner are three men who have had enough. Fed up with being looked down on and mocked by the self proclaimed upper class from the Wirral peninsula, they decide to take the law into their own hands. The Kingsway Three will not be tolled!

A brilliant comedy with music which has raced to the top of any “must see” list Brick Up guarantees great night out that will have tears of laughter streaming down your cheeks, whichever side of the river you hail from!

Dave Kirby commented: “Since 2006 me and Nicky have enjoyed much success but everything goes back to Brick Up. Over the past 10 years it’s been watched more than Tranmere Rovers and laughed at more than Esther McVey. To have it back at its spiritual home, the Royal Court for its 10th anniversary with the same cast is gonna be extra special.”

Nicky Allt is also looking forward to the show: "Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels has what every successful theatre production needs: Front Stage to Back Stage - a great bunch of people - who all wanted a successful Liverpool comedy. The fact they succeeded by the length of the Kingsway Tunnel itself says everything. Brick Up is coated in The River Mersey - Its pure Liverpool Bread and Butter!!!"

Kevin Fearon, Chief Executive of Royal Court Liverpool, added: “This play has been so important for the theatre and we thought that we should celebrate the tenth anniversary. With so many people calling for it to return we felt that this was the right time. Just reading the script again has put a smile on my face and I’m looking forward to seeing full houses of happy people.”

As with all Royal Court productions, dinner will be available before the show in the stalls, lovingly prepared by head chef Simon Collard.

Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels runs from Friday January 29 to Saturday February 27 2016. Tickets and information are available from www.royalcourtliverpool.com or on 0151 709 4321.

St Helens gets a new local as Regal Entertainments presents The Ale House

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: St Helens Theatre Royal

St Helens has got a brand new local as The Ale House opens its doors at the Theatre Royal this October.

This hilariously rowdy comedy from the writers of Night Collar is brought to audiences by Regal Entertainments from Tuesday October 6 to Saturday October 10.

Every local has its regulars and those who prop up the bar at the Ale House will have audiences laughing in the aisles, or rather their bar stools, as the events unfold at this tavern.

Featuring a stellar cast with some of the region’s finest talent including Lindzi Germain (Sex and the Suburbs and Hitchhikers Guide to Fazakerley) as the brassy landlady who takes no messing, George Wilson (Grange Hill and Brookside) as Kick Off, Philip Olivier (Brookside and Benidorm) as Yogi and Jake Abrahams (Twopence to Cross the Mersey and Council Depot Blues) as Trevor.

After directing the smash-hit sell out show Rita, Sue and Bob Too earlier this year, Theatre Royal favourite Sylvie Gatrill returns to direct the production.

There will be raucous laughs from the first pint pulled, from the WWII pensioner still recovering from shell shock, to the not-so-holy priest on a mission to find who desecrated his garden, to the landlady eyeing up one of the customers.

One wrong move and you’re barred, although that won’t stop the visitors to this watering hole causing all kinds of drunk and disorderly mayhem before the barrels are empty!

Chantelle Nolan, theatre manager, commented: “I am thrilled to be bringing The Ale House to the Theatre Royal, as soon as I read the script I knew our audiences would love it. We have a fantastic cast in the production and I am excited to be welcoming Sylvie back to direct the show. After the huge success we have seen with Rita, Sue and Bob Too and The Last of the Red Hot Lovers this is the perfect production to continue Regal Entertainments long line of hilarious comedies and I am certain that audiences of St Helens will have a barrel of laughs.”

Be sure to catch it before ‘last orders’!

For more information, visit www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com.

Full casting announced for Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

David Ian Productions and the Ambassador Theatre Group are delighted to announce the full cast for the UK tour of the international smash-hit musical Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert, which plays at the Liverpool Empire from Monday January 25 to Saturday January 30 2016.

Joining the previously announced Jason Donovan, who reprises the role of Tick, are Simon Green as Bernadette, Adam Bailey as Felicia and Philip Childs as Bob.

Simon Green’s most recent stage credits include Bruce Ismay in Titanic, both in Toronto and at the Southwark Playhouse; The World Goes Round at the Union Theatre and Monsieur André in The Phantom Of The Opera on tour. Adam Bailey most recently appeared as Espresso in the German production of Starlight Express. His other theatre credits include Mary Sunshine in Chicago at Leicester Curve and Alan in Bare at the Greenwich Theatre. Philip Childs played the role of Bob on the 2013 tour of Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert. He is currently appearing as Doctor Dillamond in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria. Other recent theatre credits include Alan Bennett’s People and The Habit Of Art at the National Theatre.

Jason Donovan played the role of Tick when the show originally opened in the West End and its subsequent tour in 2013. His other West End credits include the title role in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. His touring credits include Captain Von Trapp in The Sound Of Music and Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Show and most recently Lionel Logue in The King’s Speech. His television credits include Neighbours and Echo Beach. He was also a finalist in ITV’s smash-hit I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! and reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing.

They are joined by Richard Astbury; Rebecca Botterill; Matt Crandon; Peter Cumins; Amy Di Bartolomeo; Martin Harding; Lisa-Marie Holmes; Ricky Lee Loftus; Adam Lyons; Callum MacDonald; Laura Mansell; Catherine Mort; James Paul McAllister; Robin Mills; Craig Ryder; Naomi Slights and Julie Yammanee.

Get ready for the ride of your life! Based on the movie, Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert - The Musical is the heart-warming, uplifting adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship and end up finding more than they could have ever dreamed of. With a dazzling array of outrageous costumes and a hit parade of dancefloor classics including I Will Survive, Say A Little Prayer, Go West, Hot Stuff, Boogie Wonderland and Always On My Mind, this wildly fresh and funny new musical is a journey to the heart of FABULOUS!

Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert - The Musical originally opened in Australia and after a sell-out two year run, opened in London’s West End followed by Broadway in the United States. It has won numerous awards all over the world, including prestigious Olivier and Tony awards.

Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert - The Musical is written by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott and Directed by Simon Phillips. The Associate Director is Dean Bryant. Choreography is by Andrew Hallsworth and Ross Coleman; Musical Arrangements, Direction and Supervision by Stephen ‘Spud’ Murphy and Charlie Hull; Production Design by Brian Thomson, Costume Design by Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner; Make-Up Design by Cassie Hanlon; Original Lighting Designs by Nick Schlieper and Original Sound Design by Michael Waters.

Just one month until the brand new production of The Sound Of Music opens at the Empire

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

From Oz to Austria, a Palladium star brings the hills alive in The Sound Of Music

One of the greatest musicals of all-time returns to the stage in a magnificent new production which plays at the Liverpool Empire from Monday September 14-Saturday September 19 as part of a major national tour.

Playing the iconic role of Maria von Trapp is Danielle Hope, who captured the hearts of the country when she won BBC Television’s Over the Rainbow and made her professional debut as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium. Danielle has since played Eponine in Les Misérables in London’s West End and Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Joining the company as Captain von Trapp is much-loved stage and television star Steven Houghton. Well-known for his longstanding television role in London’s Burning, Olivier-Award nominated actor Steven has taken on leading roles in Spend Spend Spend, Blood Brothers, White Christmas, Martin Guerre and Grease and had a Top Ten hit with ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’.

Produced by Bill Kenwright, directed by Martin Connor, choreographed by Olivier Award winner Bill Deamer, and with musical direction by David Steadman, this wonderfully lavish new staging of the classic musical coincides with the 50th anniversary of the film version, the most successful movie musical in history.

It all began with the story of the Trapp Family Singers and Baroness Maria von Trapp’s 1949 autobiography, which inspired Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse to create a Broadway musical in 1959. The Sound of Music tells the true story of the world-famous singing family, from their romantic beginnings and search for happiness, to their thrilling escape to freedom as their beloved Austria becomes part of the Third Reich at the start of WWII.

The unforgettable score features some of the most memorable songs ever performed on stage, including Edelweiss, My Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, So Long, Farewell and, of course, the title song The Sound Of Music.

Joining Danielle and Steven are West End stars Jan Hartley (The Phantom of the Opera and West Side Story) as Mother Abbess, and Emma Clifford as Baroness Elsa Schrader, with Howard Samuels as Max, Grace Chapman as Liesl and Luke George as Rolf.

Completing the cast are Lynden Edwards, Philip Day, Zoe Ann Bown, Kate Milner Evans, Martin Dickinson, Lewis Barnshaw, Colin Burnicle, Jessica Daley, Grace Gardner and Katie Shearman.

Jason Donovan to play Tick in Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

David Ian Productions and the Ambassador Theatre Group are delighted to announce that Jason Donovan will play the role of Tick in the UK tour of the international smash hit musical Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert, which plays at the Liverpool Empire from Monday January 25-Saturday January 30 2016.

Jason Donovan reprises the role of Tick, the part he played when the show originally opened in the West End and its subsequent tour in 2013. He has had a hugely successful and varied career as both an actor and world-wide recording artist, selling over 13 million albums to date. As well as Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert, his other West End credits include the title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. His touring credits include Captain Von Trapp in The Sound Of Music, Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, the title role in John Doyle’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd and The Artilleryman in The War Of The Worlds. He can currently be seen as Lionel Logue in The King’s Speech. His television credits include Neighbours and Echo Beach. He was also a finalist in ITV’s smash hit I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! and reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing.

Get ready for the ride of your life! Based on the movie, Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert - The Musical is the heart-warming, uplifting adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship and end up finding more than they could have ever dreamed of. With a dazzling array of outrageous costumes and a hit parade of dance-floor favourites including It’s Raining Men, Say A Little Prayer, Go West, Hot Stuff and Always On My Mind, this wildly fresh and funny new musical is a journey to the heart of Fabulous!

Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert - The Musical originally opened in Australia and after a sell-out two year run, opened in London’s West End followed by Broadway in the United States. It has won numerous awards all over the world, including prestigious Olivier and Tony awards.

For further details, visit www.priscillathemusical.com.