Tuesday, 5 November 2024
Mike Leigh’s Acclaimed The Pirates of Penzance Returns to English National Opera This Winter
Set sail for an evening of swashbuckling humour, iconic songs, and sharp satire as the English National Opera (ENO) revives Mike Leigh’s The Pirates of Penzance at the London Coliseum, running from December 2nd, 2024, to February 21st, 2025. First directed by Leigh in 2015 to great acclaim, this production brings Gilbert & Sullivan’s beloved comic opera back to the stage for a second revival, guided by Revival Director Sarah Tipple and featuring the ENO Orchestra under the baton of Natalie Murray Beale, a conductor making her highly anticipated ENO debut.
With 15 scheduled performances, this production tells the charmingly absurd story of Frederic, a young pirate apprentice torn between his duty to his pirate crew and his love for Mabel, the daughter of Major-General Stanley. Audiences can look forward to iconic numbers like 'I am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General' and 'I am a Pirate King'. delivered by an exceptional cast of G&S veterans and ENO regulars.
Richard Suart reprises his celebrated role as Major-General Stanley, joined by John Savournin as The Pirate King, bringing his G&S expertise from recent ENO productions Iolanthe and H.M.S. Pinafore. Tenor William Morgan makes his debut as Frederic, and Classic FM “30 Under 30 Rising Star” Isabelle Peters will play Mabel, following her appearance in ENO’s Jenufa in 2024. Rounding out the principal cast are James Creswell as Sergeant of Police, Bethan Langford as Edith, and Gaynor Keeble as Ruth.
Mike Leigh’s production, known for its vibrant direction and humour, is brought to life with design by Alison Chitty, lighting by Ian Jackson-French, and choreography by Francesca Jaynes. A relaxed performance will take place on Thursday, January 30, at 13:00, and a signed performance on Saturday, February 8, at 14:30.
Ticket Information:
Tickets begin at £10, with free options available for those under 21, and discounted prices for 21-35-year-olds. A booking fee of £3.75 applies for online and phone bookings. The production is a co-production with Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg and the Saarländische Staatstheater Saarbrücken.
Performance Dates:
Evening Performances: December 2, 4, 6, January 24, 25, 30, February 4, 6, 19 at 19:00
Matinee Performances: December 7, January 30 (13:00); January 25, February 8, 21 (14:30)
Cast Announced for Stiles + Drewe’s Best New Song Prize Concert 2024: A Star-Studded Celebration of New Musical Theatre Talent
Prepare for an unforgettable night of new musical theatre as Mercury Musical Developments and Stiles + Drewe, in partnership with Broadway Licensing Global, present the 2024 Best New Song Prize Concert. Hosted by Olivier Award-winning actor Jenna Russell, this one-night-only gala will take place at The Other Palace on Monday, December 2 at 7:30 pm, showcasing the incredible talent of both emerging and established musical theatre creators.
This unique concert features a glittering cast, including stage icons like Charlie McCullagh (42 Balloons, Jesus Christ Superstar), Desmonda Cathabel (Aladdin, Miss Saigon), Lauryn Redding (Standing at the Sky’s Edge), Natalie Paris (Pretty Woman, SIX), Obioma Ugoala (Frozen, Hamilton), Samuel Barnett (Rock Follies), and Tim Howar (Rock of Ages, The Phantom of the Opera). Also performing are Allyson Ava Brown (Hamilton, Les Misérables), Cassius Hackforth (Something Rotten), Dan Partridge (Grease), Jodie Jacobs (Hello Dolly!), and Liv Andrusier (Fiddler on the Roof).
Alongside performances from these incredible artists, the event will feature songs from recent British musical successes like Becoming Nancy, Cable Street, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), and 42 Balloons. The evening celebrates the vitality of new writing with a special showcase of 12 finalist songs, which include:
- 'The Temptation of Me' from Proud by Mark Anderson & Lee Freeman
- 'I’m Going to Stay With You' from The Tale of the Gifted Prince by Lezlie Wade & Dan Green
- 'It Starts Small' from Unfolding by Emma Vieceli
- 'Ideal Robot Assistant' from A.I. Will Solve All Your Problems by Leo Mercer
- 'Someday My Prince Will Come' from Queering the Canon by Cheeyang Ng & Eric Sorrels
- 'Viareggio' from Lifeboats by Gus Gowland
- 'Die Like Trees' from Girl Goes to the Underworld by Sam Norman & Bela Kawalec
- 'Hero' from Man Vs Snake the Epic Musical by Stuart Matthew Price & Daniel Fletcher
- 'Spread a Little Joy Around the Place' from Retail Therapy by Hilmi Jaidin
- 'Locked Away' from The Queen is Mad by Amy Clare Tasker & Tom McGrath
- 'Drek!' from Otto's Weidt's Brush and Broom Workshop for the Blind by Amir Shoenfeld & Caitlyn Burt
- 'Invisible' from Hatched! by Lydia Shaw & Edward Court
A distinguished panel of judges, including Chris Bush, George Stiles, Anthony Drewe, and Joanne Benjamin, will select the winning song, awarding £1,000 toward the winner’s development. An additional award recognising Voice, Vision & Potential will also be presented. Sponsored by Broadway Licensing Global, Dorico, Tarento Productions, and Kenny Wax Productions, the Best New Song Prize Concert celebrates the vibrant future of British musical theatre and its outstanding creative talent.
Stockard Channing Joins Brie Larson and Star-Studded Cast for the Thrilling West End Revival of Elektra
The timeless power of Greek tragedy is set to take the West End stage as Empire Street Productions announces additional casting for Elektra, Sophokles’s renowned drama, featuring a new, visceral translation by the award-winning poet Anne Carson. Academy Award-winner Brie Larson, previously announced as the lead, will make her West End debut alongside an impressive lineup: the internationally celebrated Stockard Channing (The West Wing, The Good Wife), Marième Diouf (Romeo and Juliet, The Globe), Greg Hicks (Grapes of Wrath, Coriolanus), and Evening Standard Award-winner Patrick Vaill, fresh off his acclaimed performance in Oklahoma! and Stranger Things: The First Shadow.
Directed by the visionary Daniel Fish, known for his groundbreaking Tony and Olivier Award-winning revival of Oklahoma!, this production of Elektra promises a powerful, haunting experience. Fish's return to Sophokles’s masterpiece marks the first major revival of the classic Greek tragedy in over a decade. The creative team behind Elektra features Annie-B Parson (Choreography), Jeremy Herbert (Set Design), Doey Lüthi (Costume Design), Adam Silverman (Lighting Design), Max & Ben Ringham (Sound Design), and Ted Hearne (Composer), with Kate Godfrey (Voice & Dialect) and casting by Heather Basten CDG.
The production begins its journey at Theatre Royal Brighton on January 13, 2025, before moving to London’s Duke of York’s Theatre for an exclusive 11-week season starting January 24, with a press night scheduled for February 5. This staging of Elektra promises an intense exploration of vengeance, grief, and survival, as Elektra, haunted by her father’s murder, awaits the return of her brother Orestes, who she urges toward a harrowing and irreversible act of revenge.
Empire Street Productions brings this much-anticipated Elektra revival to life following their acclaimed projects like Prima Facie with Jodie Comer and The Pillowman starring Lily Allen. The full cast lineup for Elektra will be announced soon. For tickets and more information, visit ElektraPlay.com.
Monday, 4 November 2024
Noah Kahan Headlines BST Hyde Park 2025 with Special Guest Gracie Abrams: Don’t Miss This Unforgettable Folk-Pop Event!
BST Hyde Park is thrilled to announce record-breaking folk-pop sensation Noah Kahan as a headliner for 2025, marking his biggest UK show yet on Friday, 4th July 2024. This much-anticipated performance will see Kahan joined by special guest Gracie Abrams, with even more stellar acts to be announced soon. Tickets go on general sale Friday, November 8 at 10 am GMT, available at www.bst-hydepark.com.
Noah Kahan has seen an extraordinary rise over the past year, taking his unique blend of Folk, Americana, and Rock from his New England roots to worldwide fame. His 2022 album Stick Season, celebrated for capturing the nuances of small-town life and its bittersweet comfort, skyrocketed to UK Top 10 success. The hit single 'Stick Season' achieved a Double Platinum certification, became the UK’s longest-running Number 1 of 2024, and solidified his place as one of the year's most influential artists. The track and album even topped both the Official Singles and Albums Chart simultaneously in February. With over five billion streams and sold-out world tours, Kahan’s impact continues to grow, including his sold-out performances at iconic venues like OVO Wembley Arena and the O2 Arena. Now, his headlining slot at BST Hyde Park’s Great Oak Stage is set to be one of the defining shows of his career.
Gracie Abrams, also making her BST Hyde Park debut, has rapidly emerged as a leading voice in pop. Known for her poignant songwriting, Abrams captured listeners’ hearts with her breakout project minor in 2020 and her EP This Is What It Feels Like in 2021. Her debut album Good Riddance, produced by Aaron Dessner, earned critical acclaim, and her recent sophomore album, The Secret of Us, continued to showcase her depth and talent. Fresh off her tour as a supporting act for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, Abrams brings her celebrated artistry to London, marking another highlight of next summer’s concert calendar.
Noah Kahan joins the star-studded BST Hyde Park 2025 lineup alongside previously announced headliners Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Zach Bryan, and Hugh Jackman. With more announcements expected soon, this summer's festival promises an unforgettable range of performances at one of the UK’s most anticipated events.
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