Theatre Reviews

PICK OF THE EDINBURGH FRINGE

6 – 30 AUGUST 2010

The Fringe Festival is great for families; we have put together a selection of the shows on this year and also a number will be reviewed by us so check out the link above for details.

Toad Hall at the The Scoop, More London

I am thinking of setting myself up as a weatherman. I only have to whisper the words “open air theatre”, and the heavens open. True to form, as we walked along the Thames path towards the Scoop to see “Toad Hall”, down it came. By the time we’d found seats, the rain was pretty hard and it looked like there wouldn’t be a show that night.  

Fortunately, it turned out just to be a shower and the show got underway just a few minutes late, the only impact was that some of the more energetic dance numbers had to be toned down on what was quite a slippery floor.  The rather bedraggled audience were soon having just as much fun as the actors obviously were, shouting, clapping and singing along. Toad Hall is unashamedly a kids’ show but there’s lots of fun and jokes for their grownups too.  Who could fail to get the point when a rumbustuous Mr Toad turns up on a bicycle with a distinctive and familiar hairstyle in the very shadow of Boris Johnson’s office.

All the characters from Wind in the Willows are there with Ratty, Mole, Badger and some very nasty stoats and weasels as well as assorted ducks, rabbits et al and a gloriously vulgar washer woman for Mr Toad to swap clothes with great comic effect.  The staging was inventive and made the most of the space with a total of one box, four bicycle wheels and some lily pads taking us from the river bank to Toad Hall via adventures on a horse drawn caravan and Toad’s stolen motor car.  The large cast sang, danced and fought (lots of stoat and weasel bashing in the grand finale) at a tremendous lick managing to cover the whole of the Wind in the Willows story in barely more than an hour. A truly good time was had by all.  Poop poop.

Toad Hall is a production from the Steam Industry Free Theatre who have an admirable commitment to free theatre and have also been working with local primary schools over the Summer Term introducing pupils to theatre and acting. The shows run Thursday through Sunday until 5 September at 6pm each night with a more adult play, Don Juan, following at 8pm each night.    The Scoop is a space that deserves to be better known. It’s an amphitheatre built into the area next to City Hall between HMS Belfast and Tower Bridge.   There is a programme of free plays, concerts and open air film through the Summer and Autumn (see www.morelondon.com/scoop for a programme).   The nearest station and tube are London Bridge only five minutes walk away. The open space, Potter’s Field, is just next door and makes a great place for a picnic before or afterwards. All in all, one of the best free nights out in London, especially when there’s such a fun show as Toad Hall on.

THE MONSTERS ARE COMING….

DOCTOR WHO LIVE!

STAGE & SCREEN STAR NIGEL PLANER JOINS CAST TO PLAY EXCLUSIVE CHARACTER VORGENSON – THE ‘GREATEST SHOWMAN IN THE GALAXY’

VOICE OF DALEKS AND CYBERMEN, NICK BRIGGS CONFIRMED TO PLAY WINSTON CHURCHILL

MASTER ILLUSIONISTS ‘THE TWINS’ TO OVERSEE A SERIES OF INCREDIBLE ILLUSIONS

*STORYLINE DETAILS REVEALED

BBC Worldwide has today announced that Nigel Planer (The Young Ones, We Will Rock You, Evita, Chicago) will be joining the cast for the forthcoming audio/visual spectacular – Doctor Who Live.

Planer will play the part of Vorgenson, a character exclusively adapted for the tour by the television programme’s Executive Producer and Lead Writer Steven Moffat.  The new character is described as an ‘inter-galactic showman’ who is the Doctor’s biggest fan. 

Nigel Planer comments:  “I’m incredibly excited to be joining Doctor Who Live and this role is something of a boyhood dream come true. My character Vorgenson, who has been developed specially for the show by Steven Moffat, is the Greatest Showman in the Galaxy and using his incredible invention, ‘The Minimiser’, he can make any Doctor Who character appear on stage as part of his traveling show dedicated to his hero.   This live tour brings all the magic of the TV show together with a host of incredible effects. I hope that I can survive visiting nine cities in October sharing a stage with eleven Doctor Who Monsters and a flying Dalek in tow!”

The stage show will follow Vorgenson on an inter-galactic journey as he summons monsters in his Minimiser for the audience to see. Matt Smith will appear as the Doctor in specially filmed sequences to be shown on a giant screen on stage.

Craig Stanley, Doctor Who Live’s Producer says: “This show has something for everyone - Doctor Who fans, of course - but also anyone with a love of incredible illusions, immersive storytelling, magical music, scary monsters, and intergalactic heroes.”

In a further announcement, the producers have revealed that Nick Briggs, famous for voicing some of the scariest Doctor Who monsters including the Daleks and Cybermen, is onboard to replicate his voice talents live on stage every night. Briggs will also portray Winston Churchill, who is summoned by Vorgenson through his Minimiser.

Doctor Who Live will also feature a spectacular array of stunts and illusions designed by Britain’s premiere illusionists, The Twins. Audiences will be in for a treat as they witness a flying Dalek. The Twins have come to prominence in the last few years by designing the illusion of flying without wires, and they have a reputation for large scale stunts including making an elephant disappear live on stage. They have taught magic tricks to the likes of Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow.

The new stage show, based upon the BBC’s smash-hit, award-winning series Doctor Who, promises to deliver a spectacular audio/visual experience featuring live music, special effects and appearances from the show’s most popular monsters including Daleks, Cybermen, Scarecrows, Oods and Silurian.

Taking in nine cities and 25 dates, Doctor Who Live kicks off in London at Wembley Arena on 8th October, and will visit Sheffield, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, Cardiff and Liverpool, culminating in Belfast on the 7th November.

With an out-of-this-world set, Doctor Who Live will feature special FX, optical illusions and spectacular pyrotechnics building to an epic finale. Specially edited video clips, drawn from the TV Programme will be shown on a massive screen and accompanied by the music of longtime Doctor Who composer Murray Gold. These iconic scores will be brought to life by a live band on stage.

Doctor Who Live has been conceived as a fully immersive music and monstersspectacular and promises the same excitement, adventure and suspense that viewers have come to expect from the TV programme.  Please note that actors from the TV series will not be appearing live on stage.

DOCTOR WHO LIVE TOUR DATES 2010

Tickets are on sale now.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are priced at £38.50, £34.50 and £25.00 subject to booking fees

Belfast Odyssey Arena only

Tickets are priced at £42.50, £37.50 & £27.50 and may be subject to service charges

Please note that for Belfast Odyssey Arena, the ticket prices are higher as booking fees and agency commissions are included in the ticket price - this is standard practice for shows in Northern Ireland.

Ticketmaster 24 hour ticket hotline 0844 847 1963

www.Doctorwholive.com

PEPPA PIG’S PARTY

Live on stage

WEST END PREMIERE

Criterion Theatre: 30 November – 18 December 2010

www.peppapiglive.com

Box Office: 0844 847 1778

She may have declined an invitation to join Labour’s election campaign but Peppa Pig is having a party of her very own and everyone is invited as she takes to the stage in the heart of the glittering West End.

Her current sell-out stage show, Peppa Pig’s Party, will take a break from its extensive UK tour for a limited season at the Criterion Theatre, Tues 30 November – Sat 18 December, daytime performances only.  The West End hit comedy The 39 Steps will continue to play at the venue during this period, its usual schedule of shows unchanged.

Peppa Pig’s Party has been delighting young fans since its opening performances on 30 September 2009 and has been selling out in venues across the UK. With additional performances being added in many theatres during the tour, the production will have visited 78 venues in the UK and Ireland by the time it reaches the West End, with further touring plans under discussion for 2011.

Many creative talents have come together to assemble this exciting new production where the main characters are played by puppets with visible puppeteers.

• Nigel Plaskitt is Puppetry Consultant for the show and is, arguably, the UK’s most experienced puppet specialist. His many credits include Monkey  (who appears alongside Al played by Johnny Vegas) in the current award-winning commercials for PG Tips; Spitting Image; and the current West End hit show Avenue Q.
• The music comes from LazyTown’s highly talented composer Mani Svavarsson whose songs are well known to children and parents.
• The show has been adapted and directed by Richard Lewis who has many acclaimed children’s stage shows to his credit, including Fimbles and the two LazyTown Live! tours (2007 – 2008 and 2009).

Peppa Pig’s Party is produced by Fiery Angel and Limelight Productions who together were also responsible for the recent tours of LazyTown Live! , Roald Dahl’s The BFG, Fimbles Live! and Sponge Bob Square Pants. Fiery Angel also produces The 39 Steps.

Peppa is a playful little pig who lives with her little brother George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig. Through everyday adventures she plays games, makes new friends and enjoys her absolutely favourite activity – jumping up and down in muddy puddles. Peppa Pig’s Party is about a very special day. It’s Peppa Pig's birthday and a chance for all her young friends to join in the fun with Suzy Sheep, Danny Dog and Emily Elephant for her perfect party. This charming, original and imaginative show is full of brand new songs, muddy puddles, and lots of oinks.

Edward Snape, co-producer of Peppa Pig’s Party, commented: “After a virtually sold out theatre tour to almost 80 theatres across the UK, Peppa Pig and her friends are now coming to the West End for Christmas! 

Encapsulating all the innocence and wonder of childhood, this charming and original show is the perfect Christmas treat for Peppa fans and their parents. It is perhaps the biggest birthday party ever seen with an estimated quarter of a million children and parents joining her birthday celebrations around the country. Her stage show features train rides, cake baking and plenty of games for everyone to take part. With lots of brand new Peppa Pig songs and plenty of muddy puddles this is the one party in Westminster that Peppa Pig wants us to join!”

Peppa Pig © Astley Baker Davies Ltd / E1 Entertainment Ltd 2003.

In the Night Garden Live

Nationwide UK Tour Takes to The Road

First-ever staged musical event of award-winning BBC children’s TV show

• Sefton Park, LIVERPOOL - 17 July to 1 August
• Meridian Gardens at The O2, LONDON - 14 August to 30 August
• Glasgow Green, GLASGOW - 11 September to 26 September
• Cannon Hill Park, BIRMINGHAM - 9 October to 24 October

This summer prepare for the ultimate musical theatre experience as Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka and friends embark on a magical nationwide tour with the staged production of IN THE NIGHT GARDEN LIVE.

IN THE NIGHT GARDEN LIVE promises to be a true spectacular for the whole family to enjoy and will be touring four key cities in the UK as part of a four month nationwide tour. The dazzling new show will open its doors to the public for the first time in the city of Liverpool (17 July – 1 August) closely followed by London (14 August – 30 August) then Glasgow (11 September – 26 September) and lastly Birmingham (9 October – 24 October). Tickets are limited so book now to secure the hottest ticket of the summer! 

This is the first time that children and parents will be able to see the iconic In the Night Garden and meet its much loved characters Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy and Makka Pakka in a live event. The characters will be brought to life with full-size costumes, enchanting music, magical puppets and spectacular panoramic projections, creating an immersive theatrical experience to make audiences feel they are actually entering the magical world of In the Night Garden.

Visually stunning, IN THE NIGHT GARDEN LIVE is created in an inflatable, purpose-built  touring theatre made up of two impressive, state-of-the-art show domes which faithfully recreates the magical world of the hugely popular children’s television show produced by Ragdoll Productions. These all-weather domes will take up temporary residence in all four-city locations.

The show domes will have all the facilities of a regular theatre (in the smaller dome) – including box office, toilets and catering points – but these will be uniquely family-friendly with buggy parks, baby-changing areas and microwaves to heat up baby food. The auditorium (in the larger dome) will have just 500 seats, providing excellent sight-lines and proximity to the stage for all audience members. Families will have the choice of two shows, each with a different story, during the run, with up to five performances a day to suit every family’s schedule and a highly competitive ticket-pricing scheme from £5 - £20.

IN THE NIGHT GARDEN LIVE is written by celebrated creator and composer of In the Night Garden, Andrew Davenport, directed by acclaimed choreographer and director, Will Tuckett, and produced by theatre producer Andrew Collier of Minor Entertainment.

Don’t miss out on the hottest ticket of the summer! The box office is now open - to book tickets visit www.nightgardenlive.com or call 0844 581 1251.

Catch the Dream!

Oddsocks’ “A Midsummer Nights Dream”

Fresh from their sell out national winter tour and West End run of Romeo and Juliet, Oddsocks will be out in the open-air again in the summer, performing high-energy, feel-good, family theatre from atop our Elizabethan pageant wagon.

Ruth Watson presenter of Channel 4’s “Country House Rescue” on which we appeared recently, said, “The Oddsocks company's charm, good humour and outrageous brio captures the audience and keeps it riveted from start to triumphant finish.”

Every year Oddsocks delight audiences with their inspired, madcap approach to Shakespeare’s plays and their trademark jovial antics and audience participation. A Midsummer Nights Dream with it’s easy-to-follow storyline and hilarious characters is perfect for the Oddsocks treatment and will be a laugh-out loud production.

"…haven't laughed so much in ages. 3 generations of family all loved it. Can't wait for the next one…" Jacqui in Whitehaven!

Four lovers run-off to the countryside where mysterious woodland creatures play tricks on them with hilarious results and when a troupe of amateur actors decide to rehearse in the woods the fairies intervention leads to bizarre and outrageous comedy.

You might have seen Oddsocks on TV but they have to be experienced in the flesh to get the full impact!

Let Oddsocks help you make 2010 a Dream of a Summer!      

Running time: 2 hours plus interval

A Midsummer Nights Dream

June 2010

12      Earsham Hall Nr Bungay, Suffolk.   7.30pm. www.oddsocks.co.uk

15-19 Derby Theatre, Derby.  7.30pm. 01332 255800 or www.derbylive.co.uk

20      Holmewood Hall, Peterborough. 5pm. Tickets www.oddsocks.co.uk

23-24 Warwick Castle, Warwick. 7.30pm. Tickets www.oddsocks.co.uk

25       Thoresby Hall, Ollerton, Nottinghamshire. 7.30pm 08445 865365

26       War Memorial Park, Romsey, Andover, 2.00pm. 01264 368368

27       Valentines Park, Ilford. 6.00pm 020 87083044

29       Middleton Park, Leeds 7.30pm Info www.fomp.co.uk

30       Dilston College, Hexham 7.30pm 01434 652477

July

1        Dilston College, Hexham. 7.30pm. Tickets 01434 652477

3        Southport Arts Centre, Southport, Merseyside. 7.30pm. www.seftonarts.co.uk

4        Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, 6.00pm Tickets 01539 725133

8        Gaddesden Estate, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire 7.30pm. Tickets www.oddsocks.co.uk

10      Stockton Heath Festival, Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden, Warrington. 7.30pm. Tickets 07506 689574

11      Fillongley Hall, Coventry. Tickets  www.oddsocks.co.uk

13      Queens Park, Chesterfield. 7.30pm Tickets 01246 345222

14      Bishop of Hereford Bluecoat School, Hereford, 7.30pm 01432 347512

16-17 Blaise Castle, Bristol. 7.30pm Tickets 0117 902 0344 or www.oddsocks.co.uk

18      The Old Rectory, Cheam, Surrey. 2.00pm and 7.00pm Tickets. www.oddsocks.co.uk

20-21 Harrogate International Festival 7.30pm Tickets 0845 1308840

22-23 Kirkleatham Museum, Redcar

24       Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge, Telford  7.30pm 01952 884391

25       Carnfield Hall, Alfreton, Derbyshire 5.00pm www.oddsocks.co.uk

28       Rorrington Hall, Chirbury, Nr Welshpool 7.30pm www,oddsocks.co.uk

29-30  Nottingham Castle, Nottingham 7.30pm Tickets 0115 989 5555

31       Mary Arden's Farm, Stratford upon Avon, 7.30pm www.oddsocks.co.uk

August

2-11   Durrell Wildlife Centre, Jersey 7.30pm Tickets 01534 700444

13-21 Castle Cornet, Guernsey 7.30pm Tickets 01481 747200

24       Newhaven Fort, Newhaven, East Sussex 7.30pm 01273 540962

26       Manor House School, Ashby de la Zouch 7.30pm www.oddsocks.co.uk

FIFI AND THE FLOWERTOTS:  THE LITTLE BIG CLUB

Fifi had a busy 2009 with live performances up and down the country, along with featuring on the BBC Children in Need  single last year with Peter Kay. 2010 is set to be an equally busy year for Fifi with The Little Big Club live shows, taking place at key dates all around the country.

For more information on Fifi and the Flowertots, please visit www.fifiandtheflowertots.com.

FIFI AND THE FLOWER TOTS LIVE DATES 2010

Birmingham Stage Company on the road again throughout 2010 with two exciting new family shows

The Birmingham Stage Company, one of the UK’s most successful companies specialising in top quality stage adaptations of children’s books, are this year undertaking two long tours all round the UK. Their brand new production of George's Marvellous Medicine, adapted by David Wood from one of Roald Dahl's funniest stories, is currently breaking all box office records at the company’s home base, The Old Rep Theatre Birmingham and will start touring next month at Reading Hexagon then visit more than 50 other venues during the following 14 months. Also, for the first time live on stage BSC present an amazing new play based on some of the hugely popular Horrible Science books by Nick Arnold The production is previewing this week at Horsham’s Capitol Theatre with the official press performance at New Wimbledon Theatre Wednesday 3 March at 1.30pm and it then plays another 35 UK venues (See full touring details of both shows below).

In George’s Marvellous Medicine a young boy makes a marvellous new medicine to cure his grandmother of her terrifying temper. But when she drinks his special new potion the most incredible things start to happen – and it’s the beginning of George’s amazing adventures, providing a wonderfully comic show for all ages 4+ and the whole family, including all non-grumpy grannies!

‘George’s Marvellous Medicine’ has Clark Devlin in the title role and Erika Poole as Grandma.   Other parts will be played by Alison Fitzjohn, Jason O’Brien and Thomas Woodman. The show has been a huge hit in Birmingham over the Christmas season becoming BSC’s top grossing show ever at The Old Rep Theatre and its run has now been extended to 13 February.

BSC have already produced six hugely popular Horrible Histories shows and this month will start touring the first ever stage play based on the top-selling Horrible Science books by Nick Arnold illustrated by Tony De Saulles and adapted for the stage by Mark Williams. The books have sold over 10 million copies in 38 different languages world wide and won such important scientific awards as the Rhone-Poulenc Prize in 1997 and the Aventis Prize in 2004. HORRIBLE SCIENCE Live on Stage is science with all the squishy, disgusting & explosive bits left in!

Using 4 actors - Laura Dalgleish, Benedict Martin, Sarah Nightingale and Gareth Warren, plus lots of amazing 3D Bogglevision special effects, BSC’s new Horrible Science show attempts to find the awful answers to important questions such as why do we produce 50,000 litres of spit in a lifetime – enough to fill 100 baths? Can you fight deadly diseases and beastly bacteria just using orange juice? Can you survive the Bathroom of Doom and the Toothbrush of Terror - when in just a few hours one bacterium can produce 100 million copies of itself to infect your towel, flannel, toothbrush and even your hands!

The audience will join Billy Miller, a recalcitrant 10-year-old, as he battles his way through the Horrible Science World, facing dreadful dangers and putrid puns! They’ll encounter fatal forces such as gravity and magnetism; discover the shocking truth about electricity, how bacteria and microbe monsters inflict their killer diseases and how the different parts of the body fit together.

Horrible Science is suitable for all the family aged 6+ and covers much of the science curriculum that Key Stage 2 primary school children have to learn but deals with these topics in such unusual and hilariously disgusting ways as to seem a million miles from the classroom! Both those who already enjoy the subject and also the confirmed science haters will all find Horrible Science is unlike any theatre production they have ever seen before – a hugely fun way to learn important new things! This astounding show will thrill you and your children – you’ll be laughing & groaning at some awful jokes then gasping at the special effects that seem to send giant bacteria and disgusting blobby things straight at your head, while all the time you’ll be painlessly learning many more scientific facts than you knew before!

Both ‘George’ and ‘Horrible Science’ are directed by Phil Clark with designs by Jacqueline Trousdale and lighting by Jason Taylor.

So book your tickets today for either a truly HORRIBLE experience with Horrible Science or a great, fun adventure with Roald Dahl’s Marvellous hero George!

For more information on these tours go to www.birminghamstage.com

George Tour Schedule 2010 - 2011 

27 Apr – 1 May      Theatre Royal Lincoln             box office 01522 525555

12 – 15 May           Octagon Theatre, Yeovil         box office 01935 422884

19 - 22 May           Watford Palace                          box office 01923 225671

25 – 29 May           New Theatre Hull                     box office 01482 226655

1 - 5 June                Churchill Theatre Bromley         box office 0870 060 6620

8 – 12 June            New Victoria Theatre Woking     box office 08448 717645

15 – 19 June           Belgrade Theatre Coventry        box office 024 7655 3055

22 - 26 June           Richmond Theatre                       box office 0870 060 6651

29 June – 3 July    Opera House Manchester           box office 0844 847 2275

6 – 10 July             Milton Keynes Theatre                   box office 0870 060 6652

13 – 17 July           Mercury Theatre Colchester        box office 01206 573948

20  - 24 July           Lighthouse Poole                          box office 0844 4068666

27 – 31 July           Theatre Royal Glasgow                box office 0870 060 6647

10 – 14 August      Oxford Playhouse                          box office 01865 305305

17 – 21 August      Grand Opera House York            box office 0870 6063595

2 – 4 Sept              Hippodrome Theatre Bristol         box office 0870 6077500

14 – 18 Sept          Taliesin Theatre Swansea           box office 01792 295238

21 – 25 Sept          Theatre Royal Brighton                 box office 0870 060 6650

28 Sept – 2 Oct     Assembly Halls Tunbridge Wells  box office 01892 530613

12 – 16 Oct           Orchard Theatre Dartford                 box office 01322 220000

19 – 23 Oct           Buxton Opera House                     box office 0845 127 2190

26 – 30 Oct           Civic Theatre Mansfield                 box office 01623 633133

2 – 6 Nov              Wyvern Theatre Swindon               box office 01793 524481

9 – 13 Nov            Civic Theatre Darlington                box office 01325 486555

16 – 20 Nov          Grand Theatre Blackpool              box office 01253 290190

13 Dec – 15 Jan     Bloomsbury Theatre London    box office 020 7388 8822                                         

More venues for 2010/11 will be announced soon

Horrible Science 2010 Tour

18 – 22 May               Leicester Curve                            0116 242 3595

27 – 29 May               Plymouth Pavilions                      0845 1461460

1 – 5 June                  Derngate Northampton             01604 624811

8 – 12 June                Empire Theatre Sunderland    0844 847 2499

15 – 19 June              Lyceum Theatre Sheffield        0114 249 6000

23 -26 June                Grimsby Auditorium                   0844 847 2426

29 June – 3 July        New Theatre Oxford                    0844 847 1585

6 – 10 July                 Alexandra Theatre Birmingham 0844 847 2294

21 – 25 Sept              Grand Opera Hse York               0844 8472322

5 – 16 Oct                 UCL Bloomsbury Theatre London 020 7388 8822

19 – 23 Oct               Palace Theatre Manchester      0844 847 2275

2 – 6 Nov                 Hawth Theatre Crawley    01293 553636

9 – 13 Nov                Civic Theatre Chelmsford      01245 606505

30 Nov – 4 Dec        Theatr Hafren Newtown           01686 625007

More tour venues will be announced soon

PEPPA PIG’S PARTY

Live on stage

UK TOUR 2010

www.peppapiglive.com

Ticket hotline: 020 7907 7093

Peppa Pig is currently one of TV’s top-rated children’s shows and a BAFTA Award winner. Now, for the first time ever, she has her own live stage show. Peppa Pig’s Party opened on 30 September in Exeter and played to 7 venues in autumn 2009. Now in 2010 this extensive UK tour continues to 60 theatres across the country from 4 February.

Many creative talents have come together to assemble this exciting new production where the main characters are played by puppets with visible puppeteers.

Nigel Plaskitt is Puppetry Consultant for the show and is, arguably, the UK’s most experienced puppet specialist. His many credits include Monkey  (who appears alongside Al played by Johnny Vegas) in the current award-winning commercials for PG Tips; Spitting Image; and the current West End hit show Avenue Q.

The music comes from LazyTown’s highly talented composer Mani Svavarsson whose songs are well known to children and parents.

Director Richard Lewis (who has also adapted Peppa Pig for stage) has many acclaimed children’s stage shows to his credit, including Fimbles and the two LazyTown Live! tours (2007 – 2008 and 2009).

Peppa Pig’s Party is produced by the team (Fiery Angel and Limelight Productions) behind the recent tours of LazyTown Live! and Roald Dahl’s The BFG.

Peppa is a playful little pig who lives with her little brother George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig. Through everyday adventures she plays games, makes new friends and enjoys her absolutely favourite activity – jumping up and down in muddy puddles! Today is a very special day. It’s Peppa Pig's birthday. Peppa Pig’s Party is a chance for all her young friends across the UK to join in the fun with Suzy Sheep, Danny Dog and Emily Elephant for her perfect party. This charming, original and imaginative show is full of brand new songs, muddy puddles, and oinks!

Further autumn 2010 dates to be added

Sat 1 – Sun 2 May                           ST GEORGE’S HALL, BRADFORD

Sat at 1 & 4 p.m.                               www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

Sun 2 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Wed 5 – Thurs 6 May                      LIGHTHOUSE, POOLE

Wed 5 at 1 & 4 p.m.                          www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

Thurs 6 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Sat 8 & Sun 9 May                          HALL FOR CORNWALL, TRURO

Sat 8 at 1 & 4 p.m.                           www.hallforcornwall.org.uk

Sun 9 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets: £12.50 & £14.50

Wed 12 – Thurs 13 May                GORDON CRAIG THEATRE, STEVENAGE

Wed 12 at 1 & 4 p.m.                      www.stevenage-leisure.co.uk

Thurs 13 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets: £12.50 – £14.50

Sat 15 – Sun 16 May                       WESTCLIFF PALACE

Sat 15 at 10 a.m., 1 & 4 p.m.          www.southendtheatres.org.uk

Sun 16 at 10 a.m., 1 & 4 p.m.

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Sat 22 – Sun 23 May                     THE HAWTH, CRAWLEY

Sat 22 at 1 & 4 p.m.                        www.tickets.hawth.co.uk

Sun 23 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.                                                           

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Wed 26 – Thurs 27 May              ASSEMBLY HALL, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Wed 26 at 1 & 4 p.m.                   www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

Thurs 27 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Sat 29 – Sun 30 May                     ROYAL SPA CENTRE, LEAMINGTON SPA

Sat 29 at 1 & 4 p.m.                       www.warwickdc.gov.uk/royalspacentre

Sun 30 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.           

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Wed 2 – Thurs 3 June                  DARLINGTON CIVIC THEATRE

Wed 2 at 1 & 4 p.m.                      www.darlington.gov.uk/arts

Thurs 3 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Sat 5 – Sun 6 June                       SHEFFIELD LYCEUM

Sat 5 at 1 & 4 p.m.                       www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Sun 6 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Sat 12 – Sun 13 June                                        OLYMPIA DUBLIN

Sat 12 & Sun 13 at 10 a.m., 1 & 4 p.m.          www.olympia.ie                              

Wed 16 – Thurs 17 June          THEATRE AT THE MILL, NEWTOWNABBEY

Wed 16 at 1 & 4 p.m.                    www.theatreathemill.com

Thurs 17 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.       

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Sat 19 – Sun 20 June                                       MILLENNIUM FORUM, DERRY

Sat 19 at 1 & 4 p.m.                                          www.millenniumforum.co.uk

Sun 20 at 1 & 4 p.m.       

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Tues 22 – Wed 23 June     HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE, ABERDEEN

Tues 22 at 4 p.m.                  www.boxofficeaberdeen.com

Wed 23 at 10 a.m., 1 & 4 p.m.                    

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Sat 26 & Sun 27 June        FLORAL PAVILION, NEW BRIGHTON

Sat 26 at 1 & 4 p.m.                 www.floralpavilion.com

Sun 27 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Wed 30 June – Thurs 1 July            THEATRE ROYAL, WAKEFIELD

Wed 30 at 10 a.m., 1 & 4 p.m.          www.theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk

Thurs 1 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets: £12 - £15

Sat 3 – Sun 4 July                           FORUM 28, BARROW-IN-FURNESS

Sat 3 at 1 & 4 p.m.                           www.forumtwentyeight.co.uk

Sun 4 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets; £12.50 - £14.50

Wed 7 – Thurs 8 July                   GRAND THEATRE, SWANSEA

Wed 7 at 1 & 4 p.m.                      www.swanseagrand.co.uk

Thurs 8 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Sat 10 – Sun 11 July                      VICTORIA THEATRE, HALIFAX

Sat 10 at 1 & 4 p.m.                       www.victoriatheate.co.uk

Sun 11 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Wed 14 – Thurs 15 July                WYCOMBE SWAN

Wed 14 at 1 & 4 p.m.                     www.wycombeswan.co.uk

Thurs 15 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Sat 17 – Sun 18 July                       SOUTHPORT THEATRE

Sat 17 at 1 & 4 p.m.                         www.visitsouthport.com

Sun 18 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.           

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Sat 24 – Sun 25 July                       ORCHARD THEATRE, DARTFORD

Sat 24 at 1 & 4 p.m.                        www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

Sun 25 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.           

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Sat 7 – Sun 8 August                     VENUE CYMRU, LLANDUDNO

Sat 7 at 1 & 4 p.m.                          www.venuecymru.co.uk

Sun 8 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Thurs 12 – Sat 14 August                                         HULL TRUCK THEATRE

Thurs 12, Fri 13 & Sat 14 at 10 a.m., 1 & 4 p.m.   www.hulltruck.co.uk

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Tues 17 – Wed 18 August           CHURCHILL THEATRE, BROMLEY

Tues 17 at 1 & 4 p.m.                    www.churchilltheatre.co.uk

Wed 18 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets: 13.50 - £15.50

Sat 4 – Sun 5 September            ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM

Sat 4 at 1 & 4 p.m.                         www.alexandratheatre.org.uk

Sun 5 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Sat 11 – Sun 12 September           PLAYHOUSE, EDINBURGH

Sat 11 at 1 & 4 p.m.                          www.edinburghplayhouse.org.uk

Sun 12 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.              Box Office: 0844 847 1660

Tickets: £12.50 – £14.50

Sat 25 – Sun 26 September          BRISTOL HIPPODROME

Sat 25 at 1 & 4 p.m.                         www.bristolhippodrome.org.uk

Sun 26 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50                 

Sat 2 – Sun 3 October                WYVERN THEATRE, SWINDON

Sat 2 at 1 & 4 p.m.                        www.wyverntheatre.org.uk

Sun 3 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Wed 6 – Thurs 7 October             PRINCESS THEATRE, TORQUAY

Wed 6 at 1 & 4 p.m.                       www.princesstheatre.org.uk

Thurs 7 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Sat 16 – Sun 17 October                GRAND OPERA HOUSE, YORK

Sat 16 at 1 & 4 p.m.                        www.grandoperahouseyork.org.uk

Sun 17 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets:  £12.50 - £14.50

Sat 23 – Sun 24 October                OPERA HOUSE, MANCHESTER

Sat 23 at 1 & 4 p.m.                        www.manchesteroperahouse.org.uk

Sun 24 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.           

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Sat 20 – Sun 21 November          GRIMSBY AUDITORIUM

Sat 20 at 1 & 4 p.m.                       www.grimsbyauditorium.org.uk

Sun 21 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Tickets: £12.50 - £14.50

Peppa Pig © Astley Baker Davies Ltd / E1 Entertainment Ltd 2003.

Teatro Kismet in association with Warwick Arts Centre

 presents

The Mermaid Princess

Adapted and directed by Teresa Ludovico

Italy’s Teatro Kismet returns in 2010 with another enchanting adaptation of a Hans Christian Anderson classic.  The Mermaid Princess tours nationally from March – July following the critical success of their internationally acclaimed production: The Snow Queen as well as celebrating the company’s sixteenth year of showcasing these unique productions in the UK.

Teatro Kismet’s signature physical and visual style has consistently appealed to both children and adults and their award winning adaptations have captivated audiences world-wide for over twenty five years. 

This brand new English speaking production of The Mermaid Princess utilises evocative imagery, magical drama and poetic text with depth and sophistication allowing all ages to experience this atmospheric piece.

The Mermaid Princess tells the moving story of a mermaid living deep in the ocean with a spellbindingly beautiful voice. She rescues a shipwrecked prince and falls in love with him, requesting a mortal transformation from a sea witch who demands her sublime singing voice in return. As well, she is warned that she will turn into sea foam should she fail to marry the prince.  After accepting, Mermaid becomes mute and her prince marries another.  Heartbroken, Mermaid kills her prince, escaping her destiny but the prince’s new bride transforms into sea foam which in turn becomes a cloud of mist and takes off into the sky.  This mesmerizing tale reflects the constantly fluctuating nature of existence, a continuing metamorphoses where there is no ‘Happy ever after’ but an eventuality which is as unique as everything in nature.

Following Beauty and the Beast and The Snow Queen, The Mermaid Princess completes a trilogy dedicated to both children and adults, enabling them to share together the powerful narrative and the magical dimensions of the fairy tale. In a lofty and suspended universe the characters light up with colour, iridescent figures stolen from eighteenth century painting, who travel between earth, sea and sky. Music, dance, masks and physical storytelling combine harmoniously to create a lucid and visionary production.

The Mermaid Princess is a free adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid.

Previous UK tours include Little Red Riding Hood (1994), Pinocchio (1996), Beauty and the Beast (2002), Little Mysteries (2004) and The Snow Queen (2007 & 2009).  Teatro Kismet featured at the Brighton Festival with a new production of Gilgamesh (2004) and co-produced  original new work for children with Birmingham REP: Through the Woods (2004).  They also created the first full theatrical production of Nino Rota’s opera for children The Swineherd Prince with the Fondazione Lirico Sinfonica Petruzzelli in Bari.  This production was presented at Birmingham REP in a collaboration with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (2007).  They have just premiered a new adaptation of Moliere’s The Hypochondriac.

This UK tour, following an extensive European tour, is produced by Warwick Arts Centre, confirming the centre’s commitment to bringing the best international theatre to audiences across the UK.  The tour has been made possible thanks to support from Arts Council England.

The Mermaid Princess is suitable for everyone aged 8 and upwards

"Far too good just to leave to the children” The Guardian

Tour Schedule

The Lowry, Salford

Wed 2 – Sat 5 June

Wed 7pm, Thu 2.30pm & 7pm, Fri 7pm, Sat 2.30pm & 7pm 

www.thelowry.com

Pier 8, Salford Quays M50 3AZ

Hall for Cornwall

Tues 8 June – Wed 9 June

Tues 1,30pm & 7pm, Wed 1.30pm & 7pm

www.hallforcornwall.co.uk/

Back Quay, Truro, Cornwall TR1 2LL

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry

Sat 12 – Mon 14 June

Sat 2pm & 7pm, Sun 3pm, Mon 10.30am

www.warwickartscentre.co.uk

University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL

Oxford Playhouse

Thurs 24 – Sat 26 June

Thurs 7pm, Fri 7pm, Sat 2.30pm & 7pm

www.oxfordplayhouse.com

Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2LW

West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

Wed 30 June – Sat 3 July

Wed 1pm & 7pm, Thur 1pm & 7pm, Fri 7pm, Sat 1pm & 7pm

www.wyp.org.uk

Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS1 7UP

To submit your own review, please email us at webmgr@primarytimes.net.

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