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Sunday, 20 October 2024
UK Theatre Awards 2024: Winners Announced in Celebration of British Theatre
The winners of the UK Theatre Awards 2024 were unveiled at a celebratory ceremony hosted by Faye Tozer at 8 Northumberland Avenue. These prestigious awards honour the very best of theatre from across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, recognising creative excellence and outstanding work both on and off stage.
With winners representing all four nations, the event highlighted the diversity and strength of the UK theatre industry. Leeds Playhouse’s production of Oliver! led the way with two major wins, including Best Musical Production and Best Performance in a Musical for Jenny Fitzpatrick.
In the On Stage categories, Best Director went to Drew McOnie for The Artist at Theatre Royal Plymouth, while Best Play Revival was awarded to Rhino at Lyric Theatre Belfast. Best New Play went to Swim, Aunty, Swim! from the Belgrade Theatre. The Stephen Joseph Theatre’s production of Beauty And The Beast took home Best Show for Children & Young People, and Achievement in Dance was awarded to Mehek, a co-production by Aakash Odedra Company and Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company. Achievement in Opera went to Welsh National Opera for Death In Venice.
In the acting categories, Best Performance in a Play was awarded to David Shields for Punch at Nottingham Playhouse, and Best Supporting Performance was given to Chumisa Dornford-May for her role in Evita at the Curve Theatre.
Polka Theatre was crowned the UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre, beating out strong competition. Off-stage recognition included Chichester Festival Theatre winning the Excellence in Sustainability Award, and the Excellence in Inclusivity Award going to Antony & Cleopatra at Shakespeare’s Globe.
Full List of Winners at the UK Theatre Awards 2024:
On Stage Awards: Best Design: Kenneth MacLeod for Dracula: Mina’s Reckoning (National Theatre of Scotland & Aberdeen Performing Arts co-production with Belgrade Theatre)
Best Director: Drew McOnie for The Artist (Theatre Royal Plymouth, McOnie Company, Playful Productions & Bill Damaschke)
Best Musical Production: Oliver! (Leeds Playhouse, in association with Cameron Mackintosh)
Best New Play: Swim, Aunty, Swim! (Belgrade Theatre, in association with tiata fahodzi)
Best Play Revival: Rhino (Tinderbox Theatre Company at Lyric Theatre Belfast)
Achievement in Dance: Mehek (Aakash Odedra Company & Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company)
Achievement in Opera: Death In Venice (Welsh National Opera, in association with NoFit State)
Best Supporting Performance (in a Musical or Play): Chumisa Dornford-May for Evita (Curve Theatre)
Best Performance in a Musical: Jenny Fitzpatrick for Oliver! (Leeds Playhouse)
Best Performance in a Play: David Shields for Punch (Nottingham Playhouse)
Best Show for Children & Young People: Beauty And The Beast (Stephen Joseph Theatre)
Off Stage Awards:Excellence in Arts Education: Royal Shakespeare Company
Excellence in Touring: Parti Priodas (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru)
Excellence in Inclusivity: Antony & Cleopatra (Shakespeare’s Globe)
Excellence in Sustainability: Chichester Festival Theatre
Workforce Award: Buxton Opera House & Pavilion Arts Centre
UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre: Polka Theatre
Special Recognition: Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre: Jenny Sealey OBE (Artistic Director of Graeae)
Claire Walker and Hannah Essex, Co-CEOs of Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre, praised the winners, saying:
This year’s UK Theatre Awards ceremony has been a truly joyful celebration and a real testament to the quality and diversity of the work that our members do both on and off the stage and in their local communities. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees."
The UK Theatre Awards 2024 were sponsored by Encore, with support from AKT, Cunard, Harbottle & Lewis, John Good Ltd, MTI Europe, Theatre Tokens, Tysers in association with Ecclesiastical, Unusual Rigging, and White Light.
photo credit: Pamela Raith
THEATRE NEWS ROUNDUP 13th-19th October 2024
It's been another week of exciting theatre announcements! Here’s a quick recap of the highlights, with links to the full stories:
Craig Wright’s gripping play, The Unseen will open at Riverside Studios next month.
The Lord of the Rings- A Musical Tale to Premiere at Theatre Royal Plymouth in October 2025
The musical is set for an exclusive UK run before embarking on a European tour, following its critically acclaimed performances in Chicago, Auckland, and Australia
Orange Tree Theatre's 2025 season brings an exciting mix of world premieres, classic revivals, and the launch of OT Under 30 Nights, making theatre more accessible to younger audiences with discounted tickets and engaging post-show events.
The auction aims to raise funds to support the charity’s mission of making theatre accessible to young people and their families, especially those facing financial, social, or physical barriers.
Jack and the Beanstalk: What a Whopper! promises to be a wildly entertaining adult pantomime, packed with cheeky humour, outrageous performances, and a fabulously queer twist on the classic tale.
A pop-up costume exhibition in Covent Garden celebrates Tina- The Tina Turner Musical, showcasing iconic looks from the production and honouring Tina Turner’s legacy with a special partnership supporting Women’s Aid.
The 2025 UK tour of Bat Out of Hell- The Musical brings Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf's iconic rock hits to life with a newly announced full cast, kicking off in January and running through September.
A new cast debuted in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre this week, as the production continues its acclaimed run through June 2025.
Deafinitely Theatre has been awarded £273,675 by The National Lottery to fund its Deafinitely Youth Theatre programme for the next five years, continuing its mission to provide free, accessible theatre training for deaf and hard of hearing young people aged 14-21.
This winter, La Clique is celebrating 20 years of thrilling cabaret with a star-studded cast, jaw-dropping performances, and exclusive shows in Leicester Square.
Grammy-nominated NSYNC star JC Chasez teams up with Golden Globe-winning songwriter Jimmy Harry for an exciting new musical theatre concept album, Playing With Fire, inspired by Frankenstein and set to release October 25, 2024.
The UK premiere of Dave Malloy’s Tony-nominated musical Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 is set to debut at Donmar Warehouse from December 9, 2024, featuring a stellar cast led by Declan Bennett and Chumisa Dornford-May.
The 2025 UK tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is set to return with an all-star cast, including Donny Osmond as Pharaoh and Christina Bianco as Narrator, starting its magical Christmas run in Edinburgh this December.
Bradley Riches, Amber Davies, and Claudia Kariuki Join Scott Alan in Concert at Cadogan Hall
Renowned songwriter Scott Alan will perform live at Cadogan Hall on Sunday, November 10, 2024, joined by a star-studded lineup including Bradley Riches, Amber Davies, and Claudia Kariuki, along with Amy di Bartolemeo, Oliver Tompsett, and Stuart Matthew Price. Tickets are available now.
101 Dalmatians Cast Teams Up with Guide Dogs UK for a Pawsome Charity Event at Woking's New Victoria Theatre
The cast of 101 Dalmatians the Musical, led by Kym Marsh as Cruella de Vil, met real-life guide dogs and puppies in training during a special charity event at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking. The event raised £2,115 for Guide Dogs UK.
Have a brilliant, stagey week and we'll see you next Sunday for another theatre news roundup! In the meantime, keep an eye out on our socials for live theatre updates.
Thursday, 17 October 2024
Complete Cast Announced for UK Premiere of Dave Malloy’s Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 at Donmar Warehouse
The highly anticipated UK premiere of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Dave Malloy’s celebrated musical inspired by Tolstoy’s War and Peace, has officially announced its full casting. The production will run at the Donmar Warehouse from December 9, 2024, through February 8, 2025, under the direction of Tim Sheader.
This groundbreaking musical, which garnered 12 Tony Award nominations during its 2017 Broadway run, is set in 19th-century Russia and tells the story of Natasha Rostova, a young aristocrat who falls in love with the dashing Anatole while awaiting her fiancé’s return from war. The tale weaves together passion, scandal, and redemption, with the character of Pierre stepping in as an unlikely hero to restore Natasha’s honour.
The role of Pierre will be played by Jesus Christ Superstar star Declan Bennett, while Chumisa Dornford-May takes on the role of Natasha Rostova. The rest of the cast includes a mix of acclaimed stage performers: Daniel Krikler (Oklahoma!) as Fedya Dolokhov, Eugene McCoy (Only Fools and Horses) as Prince Bolkonsky/Andrey, Annette McLaughlin (Strictly Ballroom) as Marya Dimitriyevna, Maimuna Memon (Standing at the Sky’s Edge) as Sonya Rostova, Jamie Muscato (Heathers) as Anatole, Cedric Neal (Back to the Future) as Balaga, Chloe Saracco (Pride and Prejudice) as Mary, and Cat Simmons (Aladdin) as Helene Kuragina Bezukhova.
Rounding out the ensemble are Andrew Berlin, Kimberly Blake, Ali Goldsmith, Chihiro Kawasaki, Nitai Levi, and Annie Majin, all of whom will add to the show’s immersive, multi-sensory experience.
The Donmar Warehouse production of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 is helmed by a top-tier creative team. Tim Sheader directs, with Ellen Kane (Matilda the Musical) providing choreography. Nicholas Skilbeck (Follies) will serve as musical supervisor, and Sam Young will conduct the show’s vibrant, eclectic score.
Leslie Travers handles the set design, bringing 19th-century Russia to life, while Evie Gurney designs the period costumes. Lighting design is by Howard Hudson, with sound design by Nick Lidster and Gareth Tucker for Autograph, ensuring an immersive atmosphere throughout the performance. Additional creative support comes from associate director Fiona Dunn, associate choreographer Nuno Silva, associate casting director Richard Johnston, and resident assistant director Grace Duggan.
Casting is directed by industry veterans Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher.
This UK premiere marks a significant moment for British audiences as they get the chance to witness one of Broadway's most unique musical theatre experiences. With a compelling score that blends folk, classical, and modern influences.
Saturday, 17 February 2024
The Addams Family Concert at the London Palladium REVIEW | A Kooky Show with a Killer Cast
The Addams Family in Concert
London Palladium
Since premiering in the UK in 2017, The Addams Family has been somewhat of a regular feature on our theatre scene with a number of tours that garnered great reviews and a fanbase who couldn't help but be charmed by the kooky family. This week, the London Palladium housed the latest iteration with three concert versions of the show that told the wacky, romantic tale so many have grown to adore.
Witnessing their daughter Wednesday fall in love with a "normal" boy, the Addams family finds themselves grappling with the challenge of acceptance. In an effort to bridge the gap, Wednesday takes it upon herself to arrange a dinner party, inviting both families to come together. What unfolds is a delightful blend of hidden secrets, eccentricity, and a whirlwind of kooky chaos, showcasing the unique charm and humour of the Addams family universe.
As is the case with many "concert" versions, this was really an almost fully staged production, complete with costumes, sets, choreography and more. These sort of shows are always a real testament to the hard work of the entire team both onstage and backstage, to put together such sleek, well-rounded performances, with extremely limited rehearsal time.
This was a wonderfully sleek production, framed by Ben Cracknell's fantastically striking lighting and Diego Pitarch's suitably outlandish set and colour matched costumes. Taking most of the elements from the touring production, the whole concert embodied the vibes of the unconventional Addams family, highlighting the important parts of the storyline and making the whole thing feel much more elevated than a traditional concert. Having not had a permanent home, the show has had to create a design that fits within the confines of moving around the country every week so I do think if it were to find a permanent home in the West End, it could really lean into the lavish grandeur of the Addams Family, and perhaps bring Central Park to life a bit more, to really step things up and give it the wow factor.
In terms of casting this was a star studded affair. Ramin Karimloo took on the role of Gomez Addams, the suave protective father who just wants to do right by his family; giving a performance that was nothing short of wonderful. With hilarious line delivery and of course those smooth, powerful vocals we all know and love, Ramin showcased a hilarious side that I'd love to see more of. We must also mention the collective audience gasp when he took his blazer off, if you know, you know! As his partner in crime, Michelle Visage made Morticia Addams her own. Whilst her performance wasn't always the most exciting, with the dialogue being a little one note (even for Morticia), her look and the way she carried herself was perfect for the role. Just Around the Corner was a really brilliant theatrical moment and I think given time, Michelle could really develop and refine her Morticia.
As the love struck teens, Wednesday and Lucas, Chumisa Dornford-May and Ryan Kopel were wonderfully paired. Having only recently graduated Chumisa already has an impressive resume and it's certainly set to expand, given her absolutely out of this world vocals. She not only hit every note perfectly but her tone and diction were noticeably brilliant and everything sounded so healthy, I can't wait to see her succeed and shine! The role of Lucas isn't particularly developed but Ryan did a wonderful job of bringing him to life and created some lovely moments. Another stand out was Kara Lane who astounded as mother Alice Beineke, giving vocals that pretty much blew the roof off of the London Palladium. Sam Buttery was charming as Uncle Fester, Nicholas McLean a great addition as Pugsley and Dickon Gough a wonderful dose of comedy. The rest of the ensemble brought the other characters and ancestors to life really well and helped form the world of Addams.
Book wise I do think this is a show with flaws and the pacing isn't always perfect but it has heart, charm and a number of earworms that make it a really easy watch that you go back to again and again.
It's not the most sophisticated piece of theatre but, The Addams Family in Concert was a ghoulishly delightful experience. With outstanding performances, this concert truly captured the essence of the Addams Family legacy. Whether you were a die-hard fan or new to the Addams universe, this concert provided a spooky, kooky night of fun and paved the way for the show to continue enrapturing audiences.
★★★★
Reviewed on Tuesday 13th February by Olivia
Photo Credit: Pamela Raith
{AD PR Invite- tickets gifted in exchange for honest review}
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