Ambassador Theatre Group Magazine Summer 2011
12
THINGS TO DO, PEOPLE TO SEE AmbassadorTickets.com AmbAssAdor TheATre Group summer 2011 Kristin Scott Thomas Bard to the Bone Simon Callow Incoming! It’s Dame Edna South Pacific - Summer’s Hottest Ticket Legally Blonde Urban escapes Sun, sea... and style
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Ambassador Theatre Group Magazine Summer 2011
Transcript of Ambassador Theatre Group Magazine Summer 2011
Things To do, people To see AmbassadorTickets.com
AmbAssAdor TheATre Group summer 2011
Kristin scott ThomasBard to the Bonesimon Callowincoming!it’s dame edna
South Pacific - summer’s
hottest Ticket
Legally BlondeUrban escapes sun, sea... and style
of the
best1
2
3
1 South Pacific
2 DameEdnaatthe NewWimbledonTheatre
3 Legally Blonde The Musical
south seas sensation 1Allaboardforthegreateststagemusicalever
The power of love 3Ghost The MusicalsweepsintotheWestEnd
dangerous liaisons 5Loveanddeceit-KristinScottThomasinPinter’sBetrayal
What’s on in london 7
Competition 8WinahauntingnightoutatGhost Stories
in the pink 9OMGit’sUK-wide-girlsgomadforLegally Blonde
Bard Watching 11SimonCallowonthemanfromStratford
lad Culture 13Alife-changingopportunityinGlasgow
Attention possums! 14DameEdna’sonthelook-outforanewLordMayor
island paradise 15DiveintoSouthPacificstyle
hidden gems 17BestkeptsecretsoftheUK’stopcities-summerwithadifference
AmbAssAdor Group productions
AmbAssAdor theAtre Group London theAtres Apollo Victoria08448717615comedy theatre08448717622donmar Warehouse08448717624duke of York’s theatre08448717623Fortune theatre08448717626Lyceum theatre08448717615phoenix theatre08448717629piccadilly theatre08448717630playhouse theatre08448717631savoy theatre08448717687trafalgar studios08448717632
AmbAssAdor theAtre Group reGionAL theAtres Aylesbury Waterside theatre08448717607theatre royal brighton08448717650churchill theatre bromley08448717620Kings theatre Glasgow08448717648theatre royal Glasgow08448717647milton Keynes theatre08448717652richmond theatre08448717651regent theatre & Victoria hall stoke-on-trent08448717649new Wimbledon theatre & new Wimbledon studio08448717646Ambassadors cinemas Woking08448717643new Victoria theatre & rhoda mcGaw theatre Woking08448717645online booking at Ambassadortickets.com
Alexandra theatre, birmingham08448713011bristol hippodrome08448713012edinburgh playhouse08448713014Leas cliff hall Folkestone08448713015Grimsby Auditorium08448713016empire theatre Liverpool08448713017palace theatre & opera house manchester08448713018new theatre oxford08448713020southport theatre and convention centre08448472380sunderland empire08448713022princess theatre torquay08448713023York Grand opera house08448713024online booking at atgv.co.uk
JessamyHadleyeditorPatWestwell,JasperRees,NatalieAnglesey,AlSenter,NancyGroves,BenedictNightingale,VictoriaKingston,MarkBouman,NeenaDhillon,DavidBradbury,BenPrudhoecontributorsShaunWebbDesigndesign and Art directionJohnGoodprint
the Ambassador theatre Group Ltd39-41CharingCrossRoad,LondonWC2HOAR
TheviewsexpressedinthismagazinearethoseoftheauthorsandnotnecessarilythoseoftheAmbassadorTheatreGroupLtd.
The Ambassador Theatre group
Co
ver
ph
oto
gra
ph
by
Lucy
Will
iam
s
SunglassesfromTods
£237tods.com
Justpublished-anintimate,
revealingandoftenstartling
portraitofthegreatestclassical
actorofthetwentiethcentury.
JohnGielgud:MatineeIdolto
MovieStarbyJonathanCroall-
MethuenDrama£30.
s
ExperiencetheBritish
elementsinstyle!Sawday’s
collectionofluxurycamping
placesbringsluxurieslike
wood-burningstovesand
properdoublebedstothe
heartofthecountryside-no
moredeflatedairbeds
anddampsleepingbags.
canopyandstars.co.uk
s
Beanearlyadopter!AttheRoyal
Academy’sSummerExhibition
membersofthefetedRoyal
Academycompeteagainstnew
andunknownartiststohavetheir
workdisplayed.Mostworksare
availabletopurchase.7Jun-15
Aug2011.Tickets08442090051
s
TippedforthetopatLondon’s
Barbicanthissummer,and
launchedatthefabulously
theatricalBeaufortBaratthe
Savoy,RodgersandHammerstein’s
South PacificstarsTonyaward-
winnerPauloSzotandSamantha
Womack.AmbassadorTickets.com
s
AtriplewhammyforLegally Blonde
atthisyear’sOlivierawardswhere
theshowwonBestNewMusical,
BestMusicalActress(Sheridan
Smith)andBestSupportingRole
(JillHalfpenny).Whilestillplaying
topackedhousesattheSavoy
TheatreinLondon,amajorUK
tourkicksoffinLiverpoolinJuly.
AmbassadorTickets.comand
atgv.co.uk
s
s
interview
whenAmerica,inthewordsofan
officer,is‘takingapastingontwo
continents’.ShefallsforEmilede
Becque,aFrenchplantationowner
20yearshersenior,onlytoreject
himwhenshediscoversthathe
hassiredapairofcutiesbya
Polynesianwoman.Meanwhile,
fresh-facedLieutenantJoeCable
issmittenbyaprettyyoungisland
girlwhileserenadedbyher
souvenir-sellingmotherBloody
Maryintheshow’smostevocative
song,Bali Ha’i.
South Pacificisthatrarity,a
musicalaboutcontemporary
events.Thebookwastakenfrom
thelooselyknottedstoriesof
JamesA.Michener’sTales from
the South Pacific(whichalsowon
thePulitzer).AfteritsBroadway
premiere,whereitplayedfor
1,925performances,theshow
transferredtotheWestEndin
1951.ThegamineMaryMartin
reprisedherroleasNellie.Butit
liveslongerinthememoryasa
tacky,over-colouredandmusically
overdubbedmoviefrom1956that
soldthedarkerelementsofthe
storyshort.
Aswellastheoriginalcreative
team,theLincolnCenter
productionalsofindstheBrazilian
baritonePauloSzotreturningto
theroleoftheFrenchplanter
EmiledeBecqueandHawaiian
actressLorettaAblesSayreasthe
TonkinesestreettraderBloody
Mary.‘Itisverydifficulttosay
goodbyetothepart,’saysSzot.
‘It’sthebestpartIeverplayedin
mylife.Emilewaswrittenforan
operasingerandit’samusicalthat
Iknewasateenagergrowingup.
Amoreperfectmatchforme
wouldnotbepossible.’TheTony
Awardjudgestendedtoagree,
givinghimtheawardforbest
performancebyaleadingactor
inamusical.
Hewillbejoinedonstageby
SamanthaWomack(néeJanus)
intheroleofNellie.Samantha
hasagoodtrackrecordinmusicals
includingMissAdelaideinthe
Donmar’sGuys & Dolls(oneofthe
fewothercontendersforgreatest
evermusical).
Andthenthereisthesongbook,
1
yellowskies,stiflingheatandsmell
ofwartotheLondonstagesince
beforetheCoronation.Indeed,until
theMetropolitanOperareviveditat
theLincolnCenterinNewYorkin
2008therehadnotbeenasingle
majorBroadwayrevival.
However,thatrevivalistheshow
whichisnowboundforaUKtour.
WithAmericabackatwarina
distantcorneroftheglobeandan
African-Americanaspresident,it
seemstospeaktoaudiencesall
overagain.Theawardswhichcame
itswaysuggestthatSouth Pacific
mayafterallbethegreateststage
musicaleverwritten.Itallstarts
withthebook,ofcourse.Oritdid
fordirectorBartSher:‘Ijustread
thescript.Itendtothinkinmusicals
thebookisthemostimportantpart
andifthebookisreallysolidyou
haveabetterchanceoffiguring
outwhetherornotthethingis
goingtowork.Andthebook
wasreallygreat.’IttellsofEnsign
NellieForbush,anArkansasnurse
stationedinthePacificatacritical
pointintheSecond
WorldWar
Itwasearlyin1949.South Pacific,
thefollow-uptoRodgersand
Hammerstein’shugewartimehit
Carousel,hadenteredthetry-out
phasebeforehittingNewYork.
Lateonenighttheproduction
teamwasdeepinoneofthose
eleventh-hourhow-do-we-make-
it-bettermeetingsthatalways
precedethelaunchofanew
musical.Eventuallythecomposer
RichardRodgerscuttothechase.
‘Fellas,’hesaid,‘Thisshowis
perfect.Let’sgotobed.’
Forallitsperfection,most
peoplewhoflocktoSouth Pacific
attheBarbicanTheatreorontour
thisyearwillnotyethaveseenit
inallitsglory.Therehasbeen
nobigsplashyproduction
bringingtheshow’schrome
fromThere’s Nothing Like A
DameandHappy Talkalltheway
throughtoThis Nearly Was Mine.
‘Theconsistencyofgoodsongsis
remarkable,’saysmusicaldirector
TedSperling.Manyofitssongsare
sofamoustheyhavefloatedfree
oftheircontext,thelikesofI’m
Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta
My HairandSome Enchanted
Evening.‘Rodgers&Hammerstein
arefamousforusingtheirsongs
toadvancetheplot,’addsSperling,
‘butyourealiseinSouth Pacificit
doesitinaverysubtlewaywhile
preservingthesongs’integrityas
standards,whichisquiteafeat
topulloff.’
Thislavishinternationalhit
nowmakingitslongawaited
Londondebutfeaturesacastof
40andaliveorchestra.Itswept
the2008Tonyawards,playedto
sell-outhousesonBroadwayfor
twoyearsandwastelevisedacross
America.Soundslikeyou’dbetter
bookyourpassage.
south seas sensationAll aboard for the greatest stage musical ever
Supportedby
PauloSzotand
SamanthaWomack The smash hit Broadway show direct from london’s Barbican
lincoln Center Theater production of Rodgers & hammerstein’s
south pacificDirectedbyBartlettSherBarbican15August-1OctoberBoxOffice08448717615
Milton Keynes12-22OctoberBoxOffice08448717652
Manchester palace*25October-5NovemberBoxOffice08448713018
Theatre Royal glasgow8-19NovemberBoxOffice08448717647
Bristol hippodrome*22November-3DecemberBoxOffice08448713012
new Theatre oxford*6-31DecemberBoxOffice08448713020
OnlinebookingatAmbassadorTickets.com*Onlinebookingatatgv.co.uk
InterviewbyJasperRees
PhotographybyPeterCoombs,JoanMarcusandLucyWilliams
‘Rapturous and revelatory’NewYorkTimes
‘The Best Rodgers & hammerstein in a generation’WashingtonPost
‘This is ravishing, breathtaking theatre’Variety
2
feelthelovetheaudiencehas
forthisstory,’Brucebeams.‘I
rememberpitchingtheideafor
themovieasamixtureofghost
storyandmurder/mysterytobe
greetedbylooksofhorroronthe
producers’faces!Howeverwhenit
becameaglobalbox-officesmash
in1990andIwontheOscar,they
changedtheirtune!I’veloved
everyminuteofthisexperience.’
Forlegendarymusicianand
GoldenGlobewinningsong-writer
DaveStewart,who’ssoldover75
millionrecordsincludingsmash
hitslikeSweet Dreams,Here
‘Whatamarvellousreception,’
enthusedOscar-winningscreen-
writerBruceJoelRubinasthe
glittering,star-studdedaudience
roseforastandingovationatthe
worldpremiereinManchester
ofGhost The Musical-priorto
itsarrivalintheWestEnd.
Theeuphoriccastwelcomedon
stagethecreatorsofthismagical
newmusicalwhichhasbeenthree
yearsintheplanning.Takingthe
curtain-callattheAmbassador
TheatreGroup’sbeautifully
refurbishedManchesterOpera
House,aswellasBruce,were
thecomposersandlyricistsDave
StewartandGlenBallard.While
multi-Tonyaward-winningdirector
MatthewWarchusrushedback-
stagetocongratulatethecast.
Thepedigreeofthecreative
teamisofthehighestcalibre.
Screen-writerRubin(Jacob’s
Ladder,Deep Impact,Stewart
Little 2,My LifeandThe Time
Traveller’s Wife)wrotethe
screen-playfortheHollywood
film.He’salsoresponsiblefor
thestageadaptation.
’Ifeltquiteemotionalonthat
stagebecauseyoucouldactually
interview
Interviewby
NatalieAnglesey
Photographyby
SeanEbsworthBarnes3
Comes The Rain AgainandWould
I Lie To You,thecollaborative
processhasbeenstimulating.
’SixtimesGrammyAward-
winnerGlenBallardisone
ofmyfavouritecollaborators
because,likeme,he’sacreative
musicianwillingtoexplore
newthings.’
Stewartrecollects,‘I
photographedDemiMooreon
thepromotionaltourforthefilm
andI’mconvincedthatthisstory
ofeternallovehasworld-wide
appealbecausepeopletoday
arestillsearchingforaspiritual
connection.’
Forsoap-starturnedsuper-star,
21yearoldRichardFleeshman
(Coronation Street’sCraigHarris)
playingthemaleleadina
brand-newmusicalfulfilsa
cherishedambition.Heleftthe
LondoncastofLegally Blonde
totakethemaleleadofSam
Wheat,playedbyPatrickSwayze
inthefilm.
‘Thisroleisadreamcometrue,’
Richardenthuseswhilebeing
mobbedbyautograph-hunters
outsidethetheatre.‘Thesongs
arewrittenbytwomusicalheroes
ofmine.DaveStewartwroteso
manyhitsfortheEurythmicswhile
GlenBallardcomposedBelieve
for Polar Express,Ordinary Miracle
for Charlotte’s Web,A Hero Comes
Home for BeowulfandAlanis
Morissette’sJagged Little Pill
album.Theirmusic’srightup
mystreetandfitsinbeautifully
withthestory.’
Thecovetedroleofpseudo
psychicOdaMaeBrown,which
wonanOscarforWhoopi
Goldberginthemovieversion,
isplayedbycharismaticSharon
DClarke.Awell-knownfigure
inmusicaltheatre,mostnotably
inWe Will Rock YouandThe
Lion King,she’sover-joyedat
Ghost’s receptioninManchester.
‘Everynightisadelighton
stage,’Sharonlaughinglyadmits.
‘Oda’sagreatcharacterinareally
entertainingwhodunitwithterrific
music.Icouldn’tbehappier.We’ve
hadstandingovationseverynight
andfingerscrossedthesame
willbetrueforLondon!’
ProducerColinIngramisequally
enthusiastic.‘We’vestayedasclose
4
totheoriginalfilmaspossible
withMagicCirclememberPaul
Kieve’sincredibleillusionsand
RobHowell’sbreath-takingdesigns
whichmorphfromonelocation
toanothertakingsetdesignto
awholenewlevel.Butpeople
whohaven’tseenthefilmare
alsoenjoyingit!’
Amidsttheafter-showbuzz
oftheworldpremiereDave
Stewartremainsquietlyconfident.
‘Musically,Ilovethevarietyof
styleswe’veincorporated.Caissie
Levy,whoplaysMollythefemale
leadandRichardhavesome
powerfulballadswhileSharon
hasabig,funkynumberand
agreatgospelsong.
‘Manchesteristhehomeof
musicalsanddiscerningaudiences
havegivenusthethumbsupbut
we’renotrestingonourlaurels.
We’realreadyintalkswith
theatresonBroadwayandin
Australiabutfornowwe’re
concentratingonLondon.’
Couldthisshowbethenew
jewelinthecrownofthe
AmbassadorTheatreGroup?‘I’m
convincedithasglobalappeal,’
Daveinsists.‘Butmyimmediate
hopeisthat,althoughthereare
poignantmoments,audiences
willenjoytheexcitingmusical
journeyaswellasfindingita
uniqueandupliftingtheatrical
experience.Judgingbyreactions
sofar,thisiconiclovestorystill
hasapowerfulresonancetoday.’
piccadilly Theatre, london
ghost The Musical StarringRichardFleeshman,CaissieLevy,SharonDClarkeandAndrewLangtreeBoxOffice08448717630OnlinebookingatAmbassadorTickets.com
We’ve stayed as close to the original film as possible with Magic Circle member paul Kieve’s incredible illusions and Rob howell’s breath-taking designs which morph from one location to another taking set design to a whole new level.
‘’
The power of loveGhost The Musical makes a dazzling arrival in the West end
HHHHH ‘it lives up to the hype. Jaw-droppingly amazing. ghost is no apparition - it’s the full five-star package and then some’ ManchesterEveningNews
‘stunning special effects. superb performances. A magical musical’ LiverpoolEcho
DaveStewart
internationalfilmprofile,Scott
Thomas’professionallifemustbe
acontinuousseriesofalternatives.
Tomakeafilmordoaplay.To
performinEnglishorinFrench.
ToworkinEuropeorinHollywood.
‘NotHollywood’shesaysquickly
andfirmly-despitetheCVthat
includesRandom Heartswith
HarrisonFordandThe Horse
WhispererwithRobertRedford
‘Let’ssaywe’vepartedcompany.’
Tinseltown’sforgetfulnesshas
It’sthetheatre’sequivalentofthe
recordcompanywhoturneddown
theBeatles.Theanonymous
functionaryattheCentralSchool
ofSpeechandDramawho
predictedtoKristinScottThomas
thatshe’dneversucceedinthe
actingprofessionmusthavespent
thelasttwentyyearswiping
considerableamountsofeggfrom
hisface.Afterall,whenyou’ve
securedanOscarnominationfor
The English Patient,anOlivier
awardforThe Seagulland
acquiredbothanOBEandthe
Legion d’Honneur,itdoesrather
suggestthatyouknowwhat
you’reabout.Notthatyouwould
guessitfromaconversationwith
KristinScottThomaswhoraises
self-deprecationtoanart-form.
Perhapsshesecretlyagreeswith
herCentralSchoolnemesis
afterall.
Withaconsiderablepresenceon
bothsidesofLaMancheandan
interview
Interviewby
AlSenter
Photographycourtesy
ofRexFeatures,Michael
BirtandJohanPersson5
beentheLondontheatre’sgain
andScottThomashastakentothe
stagewithcomparativeregularity.
FromPirandello’sAs You Desire
Me,sheplayedMashainThe Three
SistersforMichaelBlakemoreat
thePlayhouseandgaveher
ArkadinainThe Seagullfor
directorIanRicksonattheRoyal
Court.Nowsheisreunitedwith
RicksonforarevivalofBetrayal,
HaroldPinter’sdeeplyfeltaccount
ofanadulterousaffairamong
theliteraryclasses.
‘Ithinkthateveryonecanrelate
toBetrayalsincemostpeoplewill
havehadexperienceofeither
betrayingorbeingbetrayed’she
argues.‘Thelanguageisextremely
simpleandthatmakesiteasyto
understandandtheeternal
triangleisanarchetypalsituation.
Inaway,theplay’saboutmale
friendshipandinsome
productions,it’sbecomemore
ofaloveaffairbetweenthetwo
men.Ourtakeonitisthatit’s
simplyaverystrongfriendship
andnothingmore.’
Thereisastrongrapport
betweenScottThomasandher
directorIanRickson.‘Thereare
somedirectorsyoumeetwith
whomyoufeelyouhaveanartistic
connection,tobepretentious
aboutit.Ian’sareallygoodlistener
andhecandrawthingsoutof
inarticulateactresseslikeme.And
Iappreciatethephysicalityofhis
approach.Hemakesthewords
becomepartofyourbody;it’snot
allgoingoninyourhead.’
Theurgetoact,evidentinScott
Thomasandinheryoungersister
Serena,isalegacyoftheir
mother’sambition.‘She’dbeen
offeredaplaceatLAMDAwhen
shemetadashingRAFofficerand
wassweptoffherfeet.Wegrew
upinthemiddleofnowherebut
we’doftenbetakentocatch
thingsinBathoreveninStratford.
IrememberseeingFrancesca
AnnisasJulietattheRSCand
thatknockedmesideways.’
ScottThomasarrivedatCentral
totrainasateacherratherthan
taketheactingcourse.
Understandablyshestill
remembersthewordsthatso
brutallydismissedheraspirations
toperform.‘Youhavenotalent
andyouwillneverbeabletodo
6
it.Iwastold.Whydon’tyoujoin
anamateurdramaticsociety?’
sherepeats.‘Yetinawayitwas
myownfaultfornottrustingmy
instincts.Itwascowardicethat
hadmademechoosethesafer
optionofteachingratherthan
tryingforacting.’
Paradoxicallyshefeelsalmost
gratefultothepersonwhooffered
hersuchafrankassessment.‘Ina
way,itturnedoutquitewell’she
says.‘IranawaytoParisandfound
somedirection.Iwasabletouse
thefactthatIwasdifferentina
foreigncountrytomyadvantage.
Whenyou’reaforeigner,youcan
bewhoeveryoulike;youcanmake
afreshstart.’
GiventhepresenceofThe
Three SistersandThe Seagullin
hertheatrecredits,thereareno
prizesforguessingScottThomas’
favouriteplaywright.
‘Chekhovisabsolutely
fascinatingandonceyou’vedone
oneofhisplays,youwanttodo
themall.Myonlysadnessisthat
I’vemissedoutonplayinghis
youngercharacterssuchasIrina
inThe Three SistersorSonyain
Uncle Vanya.DoingShakespeare
wouldbeterrifying.Besides,you
havetowaituntilsomebodyasks
you.Andyouneedtohavea
speciallicence,don’tyou?’
Comedy Theatre
BetrayalStarringKristinScottThomas,DouglasHenshall&BenMilesBookinguntil20August2011BoxOffice08448717622OnlinebookingatAmbassadorTickets.com
i think that everyone can relate to Betrayal since most people will have had experience of either betraying or being betrayed... the eternal triangle is an archetypal situation.
‘
’
dangerous liaisonsThe inimitable Kristin scott Thomas
Book your tickets online at AmbassadorTickets.com 7
What’s on
Apollo viCToRiA 0844 871 7615
WickedDiscovertheincredibleuntoldstoryoftheWitchesofOz.Winner! Most Popular ShowLaurenceOlivierAwards2010
phoenix TheATRe 0844 871 7629
Blood Brothers ‘Exhilarating. One of the best musicals ever written’SundayTimes
dUKe of yoRK’s TheATRe 0844 871 7623
ghost storiesDirectfromasell-outseasonattheLyricHammersmithcomesthemostterrifyingexperienceintheWestEnd.‘Awesome’JonathanRoss
sAvoy TheATRe 0844 871 7687
legally BlondeThe MusicalStarringsusan mcFaddenandLee mead HHHH‘Blows other musicals out of the water’Sun
CoMedy TheATRe 0844 871 7622
Betrayalian ricksondirectsKristin scott thomas,douglas henshallandben milesintheOlivierawardwinningmodernclassic.
piCCAdilly TheATRe 0844 871 7630
ghost The MusicalThedazzlingnewmusicalbasedonthephenomenalOscarwinningfilm.Ghostisatimelessfantasyaboutthepoweroflove.
foRTUne TheATRe 0844 871 7626
The Woman in BlackOneofthemostexcitingandgrippingtheatreeventseverstaged.‘A truly nerve-shredding experience’DailyMail
TRAfAlgAR sTUdio 1 0844 871 7632
Being shakespeare‘Callow and Shakespeare: a brilliant combination’Timessimon callowbringstolifeShakespeare’sworldinthismagnificentnewplay.
donMAR WARehoUse 0844 871 7624
luise Miller Schiller’smasterpieceofpowerandpoliticsexploresthebattlebetweenhonourandcorruption,betweentruthandbetrayal.
plAyhoUse TheATRe 0844 871 7631
dreamboats and petticoatsHHHH‘Tremendous, tub thumping fun, it brought the house down’SundayTelegraph
lyCeUM TheATRe 0844 871 7615disney’s
The lion KingWithacastofover40actors,singersanddancers.‘A beautiful dazzle of invention and imagination’ EveningStandard
TRAfAlgAR sTUdio 2* 0844 871 7632
Betwixt! Atrulyfunnymusicalcomedywithsitcom-styleddialogueandatoe-tappingscore.
The old viC 0844 871 7628
Richard iiiThefinalseasonofTheBridgeProjectstarringKevin spaceyinthetitleroleofrichard iiianddirectedbysam mendes.
BARBiCAn 0844 871 7615
south pacific ThebreathtakingLincolnCenterTheaterproductionwhichreinventedthisclassicmusicalstarringsamantha Womackandpaulo szot.
Buy your West end Tickets here
*Studio2hasbeenmadepossiblebyagenerousdonationfromChristinaSmith
8
Competition
TeRMs And CondiTions Onewinnerwillbedrawnatrandom
aftertheclosingdate.Theprize
includes4tickets(allperformances
until16July)toseeGhost Storiesat
theDukeofYork’sTheatreplusone
goody-bag,houseprogrammeand
pre-showbottleofhousewine.
Prizeissubjecttoavailability,non-
transferableandnon-redeemablefor
acashvalue.Notopentoemployees
ofAmbassadorTheatreGroupLtd.
Editor’sdecisionisfinal.
reviewsandhasdevelopedacult
followingamonghorrorfans,
theatregoersandthegeneral
publicalike.Justkeeptelling
yourselfit’sonlyashow.
Youhavebeenwarned!
Towin,simplyanswerthe
followingquestion:
Whichoftheseisafamous
ghoststory?
Little House on the Prairie
Sleepy Hollow
Cinderella
Pleasereturnyouranswer,
notforgettingyourname,
addressandtelephonenumber
toBenPrudhoe,TheAmbassador
TheatreGroupLtd,39-41
CharingCrossRoad,London,
WC2H0ARore-mailbenprudhoe
@theambassadors.combefore
27June2011.
Frightenyourfriendsandscare
yourselfsillyatGhost Stories,the
horrorphenomenonattheDuke
ofYork’sTheatre,Londonthathas
hadaudiencesscreamingfromthe
balconiesnightafternight.The
prizeincludesfourtoppricetickets
foryouandyourfriends,pre-show
DutchCouragetogetyouthrough
thisthrill-rideofanightanda
goodybagincludingasouvenir
brochure,houseprogrammeand
exclusiveGhost Storiesmug.
Afterbreakingallbox-office
recordsonitsopeningatLiverpool
PlayhouseandtheLyric
Hammersmith,Ghost Storiesburst
intotheWestEndinJune2010
andhasbeenplayingtopacked
houseseversince.Sofarover
130,000audiencemembershave
screamed,laughed&jumpedtheir
waythroughtheshow.Ghost
Storiesis80minutesofthrilling,
chillingtheatreyouwillnotwant
tomiss.
ThetotallyuniqueWestEnd
showcomesfromthetruly
talentedanddarkmindsofThe
League of Gentlemen’smasterof
themacabre,JeremyDyson,and
AndyNyman,co-creatorand
directorofDerrenBrown’s
televisionandstageshowsandstar
ofDead SetandSeverance.
Ghost Storiesreceivedrave
duke of york’s Theatre
ghost stories Written&directedbyJeremyDyson&AndyNymanBoxOffice08448717623OnlinebookingatAmbassadorTickets.com
8
JeremyDyson&AndyNyman
HHHH‘A pant-wetter of a night. it’s
terrifying’DailyMail
HHHH‘i had to sleep
with the lights on. A top night out’
Metro
HHHH‘Brilliant
and deeply unsettling’
DailyTelegraph
exTended UnTil 16 JUly dUe
To phenoMenAl deMAnd!
Criedandlaughedsohappily.’
AlsospiedintheSavoystalls:Sir
BobGeldof,KristinScottThomas
andDavidTennant.TheTimeLord
hasbeenthreetimes!
CarrieDunnhasatheory:‘I
knowthissoundsstrangebutI
thinkLegally Blondeisavery
BritishshowandElleisveryBritish
kindofheroine.’Self-confessed
superfanSarahOverfieldagrees.
Sherecentlyattendedher70th
performance,ayeartotheday
afterafriendfirstboughther
tickets.Whatkeepshercoming
back?‘It’salwaysthesame
storylinebutit’sneverthesame
show,’shesays.‘It’sgoteverything:
comedy,sadness,happiness...dogs.
Elleislargerthanlife,andlarger
thananyoftheperformerswho
playher.’
Overfieldalsocitesthe
cast’sengagementwith
fans-onstage,atthe
stagedoorandonline.
Theshow’sFacebook
grouphas45,000
membersanditsTwitter
streams(@LBTheMusical
in the pinkLegally Blonde - painting the town pink from glasgow to Torquay
Broadway,attheshow’stry-outs
inSanFrancisco.‘Therewere
standingovationsfromthefirst
performance,’hesays,‘butIwill
neverforgetafterourfirst
SaturdaymatineeLauraBellBundy
(theoriginalUSElle)surrounded
byatleast200girlswantingtoget
herautograph.Iknewthenwe
hadcreatedanElleWoodsfor
thestagethatwouldbearound
forawhile.’
Ofcourse,Ellealreadyhada
fan-basefromtheoriginalLegally
Blondefilm,starringReese
WitherspoonastheCalifornian
WhenBroadwaydirectorJerry
MitchellapproachedSheridan
Smithatthe2009OlivierAwards
totalkLegally Blonde The Musical,
neitherpartydreamttheywould
bebacktwoyearslatercollecting
theirownOliviersforBestMusical
andBestActressinaMusical
respectively.ButsuchistheLegally
Blondephenomenon,conquering
theWestEndinmuchthesame
wayasitsheroine,ElleWoods,
conquersHarvardLawSchool-
withwit,charmandabig
thumpingheart.
Theshowhasbeenseenby
morethanhalfamillionpeopleat
London’sbeautifulSavoyTheatre,
withmanyaudiencemembers
returningagainandagaintosee
Elle’sjourneyfromValleyGirlto
Valedictorian.Andnowanewcast
istakingitoutontouracrossthe
UK,paintingtownspinkallthe
wayfromGlasgowtoTorquay.
AswellasthreeOliviers,Legally
Blondehasalsowonfour
Whatsonstage.comawards,voted
forbythepublic.Whatisthe
show’ssecret?
Mitchellsaysheknewhehad
ahitonhishandsevenbefore
sororitygirlwhoheadstoHarvard
towinbackthedoofusboyfriend
whodumpedherforbeingmore
MarilynthanJackieO.Butin
writingtheirmusical,Laurence
O’Keefe,NellBenjaminand
HeatherHatchtookallthebest
linesfromthemovie-‘Omigod,
Warner!Itotallyforgotyougo
here’-beforeaddingnewzingers,
wrappedupinascorethatranges
fromR&BballadrytoRiverdance
pastiche,butneverforgetsthe
taleitistelling.
‘Atitscore,Legally Blondeisa
lovestoryaboutanunderdogwho
succeeds,’saysMitchell.‘Thatis
somethingwealldesire!Butgood
writingisgoodwriting.Anyshow
willplayagainandagainifithas
astorythatisrelatableandwell
toldandcontinuestosurprisean
audience.’
CarrieDunn,UKeditorof
broadwayworld.com,agrees.Dunn
haslostcountofthenumberof
performancesshehasseen.‘It’smy
gotoshow,mypick-me-up,’she
says.‘Morethananyother,it’sa
feel-goodshow.Peopleusethe
wordsfeel-good,lightweightor
fluffylikeit’sabadthing.Butthe
joyofLegally Blondeisreallyhard
tofightagainst.Eventhecritics
lovedit.’
NevermindtheGreekChorus
ofDeltaNu.WhenLegally Blonde
opened,itwasthecriticswho
turnedintocheerleaders.
‘Omigod!’criedCharlesSpencer
inTheTelegraph.AndCaroline
McGinninTimeOut.AndPaul
TaylorinTheIndependent.‘There
aren’tmanyBroadwayshowswith
songsthatmakereferencetothe
philosophyofThomasHobbesin
intricatelyrhymedstanzas,’wrote
Taylor.‘I’mlikesototallygoing
again.’
He’snottheonlyone.AsElle
sings:‘Evenapersonwhoissmart
canlistentotheirheart.’Andthey
don’tgetmuchsmarterthan
StephenFry,whotweetedafterhis
firsttrip:‘JustseenLegally Blonde.
AsgoodashowasI’veEVERseen...
and@LegBlondeUKTour)more
than5000followers.DidMitchell
everdreamlittleMissWoods
wouldinspiresuchdevotion?
‘Ihavealwayshadabitofpink
inmyblood,’hesmiles.‘It’sone
reasonIfellinlovewithElle
WoodsandLegally Blonde.Ialso
sawanopportunitytotellastory
toyoungpeopleaboutrespect
andlove.AndforthatIam
gratefulandproudtobring
thismusicaltosomany.’
feature
9
it’s my go to show, my pick-me-up. More than any other, it’s a feel-good show. people use the words feel-good, lightweight or fluffy like it’s a bad thing. But the joy of Legally Blonde is really hard to fight against.
‘’
savoy Theatre
legally Blonde The MusicalStarringSusanMcFadden&LeeMeadBoxOffice08448717687OnlinebookingatAmbassadorTickets.com
on Tourliverpool empire*8-16JulyBoxOffice08448713017
Bristol hippodrome* 19July-6AugustBoxOffice08448713012
york grand opera house* 9-20AugustBoxOffice08448713024
glasgow Theatre Royal 23August-
3SeptemberBoxOffice
08448717647
edinburgh playhouse* 6-17September
BoxOffice08448713014
Regent Theatre stoke20September
-1OctoberBoxOffice08448717649
Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham*
4-15OctoberBoxOffice
08448713011
Manchester opera house*
18-29OctoberBoxOffice
08448713018
princess Theatre Torquay*
8-19NovemberBoxOffice08448713023
sunderland empire*6-31DecemberBoxOffice08448713022
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre31January-11February2012BoxOffice08448717607
OnlinebookingatAmbassadorTickets.com*Onlinebookingatatgv.co.uk 10
Interviewby
NancyGroves
Photographyby
EllieKurttz
Criedandlaughedsohappily.’
AlsospiedintheSavoystalls:Sir
BobGeldof,KristinScottThomas
andDavidTennant.TheTimeLord
hasbeenthreetimes!
CarrieDunnhasatheory:‘I
knowthissoundsstrangebutI
thinkLegally Blondeisavery
BritishshowandElleisveryBritish
kindofheroine.’Self-confessed
superfanSarahOverfieldagrees.
Sherecentlyattendedher70th
performance,ayeartotheday
afterafriendfirstboughther
tickets.Whatkeepshercoming
back?‘It’salwaysthesame
storylinebutit’sneverthesame
show,’shesays.‘It’sgoteverything:
comedy,sadness,happiness...dogs.
Elleislargerthanlife,andlarger
thananyoftheperformerswho
playher.’
Overfieldalsocitesthe
cast’sengagementwith
fans-onstage,atthe
stagedoorandonline.
Theshow’sFacebook
grouphas45,000
membersanditsTwitter
streams(@LBTheMusical
in the pinkLegally Blonde - painting the town pink from glasgow to Torquay
Broadway,attheshow’stry-outs
inSanFrancisco.‘Therewere
standingovationsfromthefirst
performance,’hesays,‘butIwill
neverforgetafterourfirst
SaturdaymatineeLauraBellBundy
(theoriginalUSElle)surrounded
byatleast200girlswantingtoget
herautograph.Iknewthenwe
hadcreatedanElleWoodsfor
thestagethatwouldbearound
forawhile.’
Ofcourse,Ellealreadyhada
fan-basefromtheoriginalLegally
Blondefilm,starringReese
WitherspoonastheCalifornian
WhenBroadwaydirectorJerry
MitchellapproachedSheridan
Smithatthe2009OlivierAwards
totalkLegally Blonde The Musical,
neitherpartydreamttheywould
bebacktwoyearslatercollecting
theirownOliviersforBestMusical
andBestActressinaMusical
respectively.ButsuchistheLegally
Blondephenomenon,conquering
theWestEndinmuchthesame
wayasitsheroine,ElleWoods,
conquersHarvardLawSchool-
withwit,charmandabig
thumpingheart.
Theshowhasbeenseenby
morethanhalfamillionpeopleat
London’sbeautifulSavoyTheatre,
withmanyaudiencemembers
returningagainandagaintosee
Elle’sjourneyfromValleyGirlto
Valedictorian.Andnowanewcast
istakingitoutontouracrossthe
UK,paintingtownspinkallthe
wayfromGlasgowtoTorquay.
AswellasthreeOliviers,Legally
Blondehasalsowonfour
Whatsonstage.comawards,voted
forbythepublic.Whatisthe
show’ssecret?
Mitchellsaysheknewhehad
ahitonhishandsevenbefore
sororitygirlwhoheadstoHarvard
towinbackthedoofusboyfriend
whodumpedherforbeingmore
MarilynthanJackieO.Butin
writingtheirmusical,Laurence
O’Keefe,NellBenjaminand
HeatherHatchtookallthebest
linesfromthemovie-‘Omigod,
Warner!Itotallyforgotyougo
here’-beforeaddingnewzingers,
wrappedupinascorethatranges
fromR&BballadrytoRiverdance
pastiche,butneverforgetsthe
taleitistelling.
‘Atitscore,Legally Blondeisa
lovestoryaboutanunderdogwho
succeeds,’saysMitchell.‘Thatis
somethingwealldesire!Butgood
writingisgoodwriting.Anyshow
willplayagainandagainifithas
astorythatisrelatableandwell
toldandcontinuestosurprisean
audience.’
CarrieDunn,UKeditorof
broadwayworld.com,agrees.Dunn
haslostcountofthenumberof
performancesshehasseen.‘It’smy
gotoshow,mypick-me-up,’she
says.‘Morethananyother,it’sa
feel-goodshow.Peopleusethe
wordsfeel-good,lightweightor
fluffylikeit’sabadthing.Butthe
joyofLegally Blondeisreallyhard
tofightagainst.Eventhecritics
lovedit.’
NevermindtheGreekChorus
ofDeltaNu.WhenLegally Blonde
opened,itwasthecriticswho
turnedintocheerleaders.
‘Omigod!’criedCharlesSpencer
inTheTelegraph.AndCaroline
McGinninTimeOut.AndPaul
TaylorinTheIndependent.‘There
aren’tmanyBroadwayshowswith
songsthatmakereferencetothe
philosophyofThomasHobbesin
intricatelyrhymedstanzas,’wrote
Taylor.‘I’mlikesototallygoing
again.’
He’snottheonlyone.AsElle
sings:‘Evenapersonwhoissmart
canlistentotheirheart.’Andthey
don’tgetmuchsmarterthan
StephenFry,whotweetedafterhis
firsttrip:‘JustseenLegally Blonde.
AsgoodashowasI’veEVERseen...
and@LegBlondeUKTour)more
than5000followers.DidMitchell
everdreamlittleMissWoods
wouldinspiresuchdevotion?
‘Ihavealwayshadabitofpink
inmyblood,’hesmiles.‘It’sone
reasonIfellinlovewithElle
WoodsandLegally Blonde.Ialso
sawanopportunitytotellastory
toyoungpeopleaboutrespect
andlove.AndforthatIam
gratefulandproudtobring
thismusicaltosomany.’
interview
11
Interviewby
BenedictNightingale
Photographyby
AndyWeeks 12
Trafalgar studios
Being shakespeare DirectedbyTomCairnsStarringSimonCallowBoxOffice08448717632OnlinebookingatAmbassadorTickets.com
HHHH ‘Callow and shakespeare: a brilliant combination’TimesNo1Criticschoice
HHHH ‘The audience were on their feet applauding this singular triumph’DailyExpress
HHHH ‘fantastic Mr Callow is bard to the bone. A genuine tour de force’DailyMail
plenty.Ittellsussomethingabout
boyhoodinJacobeantimesand,
transcendingthat,aboutboyhood
now.AnditshowsShakespeare’s
understandingofwhatitmeans
tobeaboyandaparentaswell
ashisgeniusforcharacterisation
anddialogue.
Allthatisatthecoreofashow
inwhichShakespeareisverymuch
theboy,youth,citizen,actorand
dramatistfromthelower-middle-
classMidlands.Indeed,theoriginal
titlewasThe Man from Stratford,
adeliberatelydefiantriposte
totheeccentrics,snobsand
conspiracytheoristswhothink
thatthedryFrancisBaconorthe
EarlofOxford,whodiedbefore
Shakespeare’sgreatestplays
appeared,wastheauthorof
HamletandLear.‘Asifnobody
fromasmallprovincialtowncould
possiblydoanythingofvalue,’
expostulatesCallow.‘Well,my
answertothatisthatJesuswas
TheManfromBethlehem.’
‘Ourcontentionisthatbefore
walkingtoLondonhestayedin
Stratfordbringinguphisyoung
family.Certainlyheknewanawful
lotaboutordinarylife,about
kitchensandbeinginthenursery
andstrugglingtomakeendsmeet.
Myfeeling,whichJonathanshares
verymuch,isthatwhathe’s
Bard Watchingsimon Callow’s new show puts shakespeare centre stage
childrenmurderedanddeadmen
walking’.Sowhenhewasthinking
ofafollow-uptothesoloshows
he’dalreadybasedonWildeand
Dickens,whatwriterfittedthe
billbetterthanthegreatbut
unpretentiousElizabethan‘whose
charactersaresofullyimagined,
sopreciselyexpressed,sotrue
youfeelhemusthaveseenand
knownthem’?
Theobviousproblemwasthat,
whilewehaveplentyof
informationabouttheouter
Shakespearewhobecame
successfulandrich,bought
Thoughhehastaken
Shakespeare’ssonnetsinaglorious
joblotallovertheworld,Simon
Callowhasplayedrelativelyfew
Shakespearecharacters:the
lovelornOrlandoinhisyouth,an
interestinglyromanticTobyBelch
earlierthisyear,littleelse.Well,
compensationhasnowcomein
theone-manplaythatheandthe
scholarJonathanBatehavejointly
devised.MarkAntony,Hamlet,
Romeo,Juliet,Macbeth,Learand
Bottomareamongthe40men,
womenandchildrenhe’sbringing
brieflybutpertinentlyalivein
Being Shakespeare,whichwas
oneoftheEdinburghFestival’s
successeslastyearandpreviews
attheTrafalgarStudiosinJune.
Callow’sloveofShakespeare
datesfromway,wayback.In
My Life in Pieces,thewonderfully
readable‘alternative
autobiography’hepublishedlast
year,hedescribessittingonthelap
ofthemotheroftheheadmaster
oftheschoolwherehisown
motherwassecretary,listeningto
Macbethontheradio,andbeing
thrilledby‘battlementsand
blastedheaths,witchesandkings,
propertyandsoon,weknowlittle
abouttheinnermanexceptwhat
canbeinferredfromtheplays.
Dickensleftazillionletters,as
Callowknowstohiscost,sincehe’s
nowwritingashortbiographyof
thenovelist;Shakespeare,none.
Sohecouldn’toptforthekindof
soloshowhehasdislikedsince
seeinganunnamedactorbase
oneonMelvilleandMoby Dick
feelingitwaslike‘afavourite
unclegoingbeserkataChristmas
party’.Hewouldn’tpretend
actuallytobeShakespeare,still
lessstartbyplonkinglyannouncing
‘IwasbornonApril231564’.
Insteadhe’dbecomewhathecalls
a‘shapeshifter’:anarratorwho,
withoutswitchingcostumesor
attemptingfunnyvoices,would
‘changeinfrontofyourveryeyes’
asheembodiedcharactersand
deliveredlinesthatilluminated
thenarrative.
Sincetheshow’sframeworkis
Jacques’famousspeechaboutthe
sevenagesofmaninAs You Like It
-whiningschoolboy,soldier,lover,
slipperedpantaloonandall-that
meansevokingchildhoodatthe
start.Callowgivesuspoordoomed
Mamilliusatplaywithhismother
HermioneinThe Winter’s Tale,an
extractthat,likeeverythinginthe
show,isintendedtoachieve
actuallydoingislovinghiswife.
She’sanolderwoman,shebecame
pregnant,hemarriedexceptionally
young.Thatsuggestsitwasa
passionateliaison.Yes,itcould
havebeenashotgunwedding,
butwe’vegonetheromanticway.’
That’saprettycontentious
assumption-inhisone-man
ShakespeareshowIanMcKellen
cynicallydaredhisaudienceto
nameasinglehappymarriage
inalltheplays-butitreflectsthe
goodnatureofCallowandindeed,
ofhisandBate’splay.They
don’tneglectthedarkstuffbut
theywanttheiraudiencesand
especiallynewcomersto
Shakespearetoleavethetheatre
feelingthat,farfrombeingan
inaccessiblegenius,theImmortal
Bardistheirfriendandmore
thantheirfriend:
‘Wewanttoputthehuman
dimensionintoShakespeare.We
wanttogivethemsomeonewho
wasaperson,notascholarora
greataristocrat.Wewantthem
tomeetShakespearetheartist,
ShakespearetheElizabethan,
Shakespearetherepresentative
ofmankind,Shakespeareas
Everyman.Wewantthemtofeel
whatit’sliketobeShakespeare.’
When he was thinking of a follow-up to the solo shows he’d already based on Wilde and dickens, what writer fitted the bill better than the great but unpretentious elizabethan ‘whose characters are so fully imagined, so precisely expressed, so true you feel he must have seen and known them’? ’
‘
Heislookingforwardto
meetinghisyoungco-stars.
AnnaWilliamson,awell-known
children’sTVpresenter,willplay
prettyAlice(letushopeDame
Ednadoesn’tsufferfromgirlie
jealousy!)andDickwillbeplayed
bySamAttwater,ofHollyoaksand
Eastendersfame.Howsafehe’ll
befromtheattentionsofthe
amorousDameEdnacanonly
beguessedat.
Onething’sforsure-there
won’tbeadullmoment.Bring
iton,Possums!
TheNewWimbledonTheatre
hasareputationforscooping
megastarsforitsannualpanto,
butthisyear,atruegigastar,the
iconicDameEdnaEverage,willbe
flyinginfromherSydneymansion
tostarinDick Whittington.She’s
alreadyachatshowhost(she
hasinterviewedCherandSean
Connery!),journalist,children’s
bookillustrator,Broadwayand
WestEndstar,painter,beauty
expert(shegivestipsonher
website)andfashionguru.
She’satruehouseholdname.
Overtheyears,DameEdna
hastransformedherselffrom
suburbanAustralianhousewife
toflamboyant,glamorous,
outspokenforcetobereckoned
with.Shetellsitlikeitis.Callit
liberating,callitterrifying-there’s
noignoringher.Sherevelsinher
superstarlifestyle,butshehasn’t
forgottenherAussieroots.
Carryinghertrademarkgladioli,
shestillgreetsaudienceswith
thatjoyous,‘HelloPossums!’
Pantoisouroldestformof
theatre.Foreignersoftendon’t
understandtheaudienceshouting
outandthecross-dressing.Buxom
Damesareplayedbymen,who
areabitonthegrotesqueside,
plasteredwithheavymakeup,
withapenchantforslapstick
humour.ThetraditionalDame
ofthepantoisSarahtheCook,
playedbyveteranEricPottswho
isalsodirecting.Therewillbe
plentyoftimefortheDames
tocomparenotesaboutfrocks,
hatsandspecs.
Withhercelebritycomforts
backhomeinsunnySydney,what
hasluredDameEdnaawayfroma
Christmasbwarbieonthebeachto
ashiveringseasoninSW19?‘Being
astrangertopantomime,Iam
lookingforwardtoallthefunand
frolicsandmeetingallofyoulovely
littlepossumsofLondon.Butmost
ofall,thethoughtofguidingDick
WhittingtontobecomeLordMayor
ofLondonthrillsme.Ididtheexact
samethingforBorisJohnsonnot
longago.’
DameEdna’screatorandalter
ego,BarryHumphries,played
thetheatrein1960,whenhe
starredasUndertaker
MrSowerberry
intheworld
premiere
ofOliver.
Attention possums!Watch out Boris - dame edna’s in town!
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
diCK WhiTTingTonStarringJonathanWilkes
&GillianWright
9-31Dec2011
BoxOffice08448717607
Bristol hippodrome*
peTeR pAnStarringDavidHasselhoff
10Dec2011-8Jan2012
BoxOffice08448713012
King’s Theatre, glasgow
sleeping BeAUTyStarringKarenDunbar
&KeithJack
2Dec2011-8Jan2012
BoxOffice08448717648
Manchester palace Theatre*
CindeRellAStarringLouieSpence
&SuzanneShaw
3-31Dec2012
BoxOffice08448713018
Milton Keynes Theatre
AlAddin9Dec2011-15Jan2012
BoxOffice08448717652
Richmond Theatre
CindeRellAStarringJennyEclair
9Dec2011-15Jan2012
BoxOffice08448717651
new Wimbledon Theatre
diCK WhiTTingTonStarringDameEdnaEverage,
SamAttwater&AnnaWilliamson
9Dec2011-15Jan2012
BoxOffice08448717646
new victoria Theatre, Woking
peTeR pAnStarringSteveMcFadden
&HarryDerbidge
9Dec2011-15Jan2012
BoxOffice08448717645
Fullcastingdetailsand
onlinebookingat
AmbassadorTickets.com
*Onlinebookingat
atgv.co.uk
Featureby
VictoriaKingston
Photographyby
GregGorman 1413
thisambitiousyear-long
projectculminatingina
weekofperformancesatthe
TheatreRoyalGlasgowinMarch.
WilliamGolding’sadventure
onthedarksideofhumannature
hasparticularresonancefor
teenagers.Thestoryofagroup
ofboysabandonedonadesert
islandwhobegintocreatetheir
ownruleswhiledarksuperstitions
anddisturbingritualstakehold
isapowerfulone.Inthisnew
adaptation,theactionistransferred
fromdesertedislandtodeserted
theatrewhereorderbreaksdown
andbloodisspiltastheboys
grapplewiththe‘beastwithin’.
‘Ifjustoneboycomesthrough
thiswholeyear,throughallthe
workshopswedid,throughthe
selectionstageandthroughthe
rehearsals-goesonstageand
realises‘thisisme.Thisiswhere
Iwanttobe...’andgoesforit...
wellthatwouldbetremendous.
Butifeveryonewhotookpart
throughouttheyearwentaway
withsomething-amomentthey
reallyenjoyed,abitofnew
informationaboutthemselvesthat
cameasasurprise...thatreally
wouldbeeverythingRe:Bourne
aimstodo’saysMatthew.
There’sbeena
thrillingadventure
inGlasgowthisSpring.
Agroupofboyshavebeen
givenalife-changingopportunity
-pluckedfromplaygroundsand
schoolgymsaroundGlasgowto
takepartinchoreographer
MatthewBourne’slatestpieceof
dance-theatre-Lord of the Flies.
DespiteTV’sprime-time
love-affairwithdance-Strictly,
So You Think You Can Danceand
Britain’s Got Talentcometomind
-changingteenageboys’
perceptionsoftheartformwas
alwaysgoingtobeachallenge...
enterMatthewBourne.
‘Thiswillbethefirstmajor
initiativeformycharity
Re:Bourne,whoseprincipalaim
istoexpandtheaccessibilityand
understandingofdance-theatre
andtoencouragewidespread
participationindance’says
Matthew.‘Iamparticularlyhappy
thatthisprojectisaimedatyoung
menandwillhelptoliftthestigma
thatisstillsometimesattachedto
theirinvolvementindance.’
Thechoreographeriswell
knowntoaudiencesacrossthe
country-hiscompanyNew
Adventureshavehadphenomenal
successwithSwan Lake,
Nutcracker!,The Car Manand
Edward Scissorhands.Andnow
he’stakenthecreativeteam
behindthesesuccesses,asmall
groupofprofessionaldancersand
putthemtoworkwith15Glasgow
ladsagedfrom11to21.
GlasgowTheatres’Creative
Learningteamjoinedforceswith
NewAdventures,West
DunbartonshireCounciland
CreativeScotlandtomanage
lad CultureA boy’s own adventure in glasgow
Photographyby
RichardCampbell
news
1
islandparadisedive in to south pacific styleMen’s swim shorts fromPaulSmith£75
paulsmith.co.uk
straw sun hat fromAccessorise£20
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Cloud maxi dress fromStyleButler£229
day Birger cream chiffon dress fromHouseofFraser£219
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Metal bead sandals fromno-nu£149
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Raffia beach bag fromAccessorise£30
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gold and grey leather ring £115 Bracelet £115 fromMiquellaLondon
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Allpricesquotedaregivenasaguideonlyandmaybesubjecttochangebyindividualretailers.
FeaturebyMarkBouman
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northern soulManchesterisfamedforitsmusic
scene,onethatcatersforalltastes.
Jazzloverswillbeparticularly
spoiltthissummerasthe
ManchesterJazzFestivalgetsinto
fullswing,showcasinglocaland
internationalartistsindiverse
venuesfromStAnn’sChurchtothe
RoyalNorthernCollegeofMusic.
Insidersknow,however,thata
raretreatisguaranteedat
Matt&Phreds,locatedinthe
NorthernQuarter.Theonly
dedicatedjazzclubintheNorth
West,ithasbuiltareputation
foritsfinefoodandintimate
performancespace.
Unforgettableexperiencesare
alsoonofferatManchester’s
OperaHousewherelegendary
musicalsandstarstaketothe
stage.Bookamatinee
hiddendownasecludedcobbled
mews.Cafécuisineistheorderof
thedayonthegroundfloorbut
chooseLeGrenierupstairstoenjoy
traditionalFrenchdishesserved
inthecharmingsurroundingsof
aformerVictorianwarehouse.
Windonthroughtheancient
streetstowardsStPaul’sCathedral
toPostman’sPark.Oncepopular
asalunchtimegardenamong
workersfromtheoldGeneral
PostOffice,itcontainstheWatts
Memorialcommemorating
ordinarymenandwomenwho
gavetheirlivesattemptingtosave
others.Inscribedontoagallery
ofglazedRoyalDoultontiles,
theirtouchingtalescan’tfail
tomoveyou.
Withsomuchtoexplorein
London’shistoricalheart,it’s
worthbookingashortstayata
centralhotel.Contemporaryand
understatedinstyle,GrangeSt
Paul’sHotelboastsluxurious
rooms,animpressiveglassatrium
andthemodernAjalaSpain
whichitispossibletotryout
SunTherapy.
Fromhere,it’seasytoaccess
legendarytheatrelandsowhy
notmakeanightofitwithfront
rowseatstoaWestEndshow?
Ghost The Musicalopensatthe
PiccadillyTheatrethissummer.
hidden gemsUrban escapes for a summer staycation
LeCaféduMarché
going out
18
Featureby
NeenaDhillon
Imagestopl-r:
GrangeStPaul’sHotel,London
TheWaterofLeith,Edinburgh
GreatJohnStreethotel,
Manchester
QuarryBankMill,Styal
CircularInsetimage:
TheGrassmarket,EdinburghPrestonfield?Originallybuiltin
1687andreinventedbyJames
Thomson,thisopulenthotel
blendsart,antiquesandstunning
architecturewiththecity’smost
sought-afterrestaurant,Rhubarb.
‘Gloriouslydissolute,’saysthe
SundayTimes,‘moreboudoir
thanB&B.’
Anotherattractionthatregularly
receivesgoodpress,theEdinburgh
Playhouseshouldbeonanyvisitor’s
list.Entertainmentisofthehighest
qualityincludingthenewtour
ofLegally Blondeand
We Will Rock You.
exquisite edinburghScotland’scapitalattractsitsfair
shareofvisitorsyetfewpeople
witnessthecityfromtheWaterof
Leith,a24-mile-longriverflowing
fromthePentlandHillstotheFirth
ofForth.Venturedowntheriver’s
picturesquecitybanksandyou’ll
berewardedwithinteresting
monuments,beautifulgardens
andlistedbuildingsalongtheway.
Continueyourvoyageof
discoverybeneaththefamedRoyal
Mile.Anaward-winningvisitor
attraction,TheRealMaryKing’s
Closeisafascinatingwarrenof
undergroundstreetsthatlay
buriedandforgottenforcenturies
until2003.Containingoriginal
dwellingsstretchingbacktothe
16thcentury,thesealleyways
underneathTheCityChambers
provideaninsightintoabygone
era-andarethoughttobe
hauntedbycitizensofthepast.
Aboveground,offtheRoyal
Mile,you’llfindtheGrassmarket,
avibrantandconvivialareafor
shoppingandfood.Independent
merchantsandartisanssell
everythingfromantiquesto
cutting-edgefashions,while
dozensofbarsandrestaurants
includealfrescooptions.
Foratreat,whynotsplurge
onthefive-starluxuryofthe
Ourtrioofinsiderguidesshednew
lightontheUK’smostdynamic
cities,unveilingatreasuretrove
oflesser-knowndelights.
historic heartAtthecoreofthecapital,the
CityofLondon’snarrowwinding
alleysareremarkablytranquil
atweekends,leadingtosome
bewitchinglocations,among
themStBartholomewtheGreat.
OneofLondon’soldestchurches,
themedievalstructurefeatures
architecturedatingbackto1123.
Despiteappearinginseveralfilms,
includingShakespeare in Love,this
enchantingspotremainspeaceful
andrelaxing.
Samplingfinecuisineiseasy
inwiderSmithfield,wherethe
choiceofeateriesincludesLeCafé
duMarché,aromanticrestaurant
performanceaspartofa
distinctivedayout.Julysees
VictoriaWood’snewplayThe Day
We Sang-partoftheManchester
InternationalFestival.
Urbaniteswholiketobeinthe
midstoftheactionwillenjoya
breakatGreatJohnStreet,a
convertedVictorianschoolhouse
astone’sthrowfromManchester’s
upmarketretailers,restaurantsand
theatres.Besurenottomissthe
smallhotel’svintageOysterBar
andexclusiverooftoplounge.As
analternative,escapethehustle
andbustleofthecitycentreby
retreatingtoDidsburyHouse.
SetwithinalovelyVictorianVilla,
thereare27chicandindividual
roomscomplementedbya
resident’sbar/lounge.Well-heeled
localswhovaluefinediningand
qualitywinebarsfavourthe
fashionablevillageofDidsbury.
WithineasyreachofDidsbury,
QuarryBankatStyalisa
compellingNationalTrust
destinationthathighlightsthe
storyofmillworkers,
entrepreneursandtheIndustrial
Revolution.Cometoseehand-
spinnersatwork,findouthow
waterpowerwassupplemented
bysteamandfinishyourexcursion
withastrollthroughthemill’s
terracedgardens.
greatstbarts.com
cafedumarche.co.uk
cityoflondon.gov.uk
grangehotels.com
manchesterjazz.com
mattandphreds.com
eclectic-hotel-collection.com
nationaltrust.org.uk
waterofleith.org.uk
realmarykingsclose.com
grassmarket.net
prestonfield.com
Fordetailsof
PiccadillyTheatresee
AmbassadorTickets.com
ForManchesterOpera
HouseandEdinburgh
Playhouseseeatgv.co.uk
Matt&Phreds
