Jamie Chapman Dixon (behind recent Molly Wobbly) & Nick Martland bring you The Mikado. The classic Gilbert & Sullivan show, directed by Drew Baker is set in a lady boys nightclub in downtown Bangkok, with choreography by Holly Hughes, all sorts of fun and frolics are unfolding.
Cast
Anton Stephans as The Mikado
Katisha – Molly Marie-Walsh
Ko-Ko – Michael James Porter
Pish Tush – Harry Wright
Yum Yum – Jade Spivey
Nanki Poo – Oliver Metcalfe
Pooh Bah – Niall Rooney
Pitti Sing – Natalie Bush
Peep Bo – Ellie Self
Ensemble: Jamie Papanicolou, Marc Gee Finch, Joseph Foyster. Dean McCullough, Perri Hanson-Wilde, Rachael Lea-Gray, Emily Barnett-Salter.
See the show at Battersea Barge from 5 - 8 May. Book tickets here.
* JUST ANNOUNCED *
From Mon 19 - Thurs 29 May, The Mikado transfers to The RISE, No 1 Leicester Square in a new and exciting site specific production. On you arrival you will take the VIP lift into an active club where you will be served by lady boy waitresses and waiters until the show begins. Will Katisha get her man? will Nanki Poo get his girl? will Ko-Ko become a full-time lady boy? Join us at The RISE, No 1 Leicester Square to find out! (next to M&M World)
With tickets at £15 and student tickets at just £5 you really cannot miss The Mikado in this new and exciting setting. Book tickets for The RISE transfer here. Booking fees apply.
Parallel Productions today announce full casting for their gala launch at the Battersea Barge on Wednesday 4th September. Joining the already announced Jordan Lee Davies, Sabrina Aloueche, Jeremy Legat and Ambra Caserotti will be:
GARY WOOD (Paul in A Chorus Line, Angel in Rent)
MATTHEW ROWLAND (Boy George in Taboo, Frank in The Confession Room)
TORI ALLEN-MARTIN (Founder of Interval Productions, Mimi in Rent)
DALE EVANS (Matt in Bare, Onstage Swing in From Here To Eternity)
The cast of the Gala Launch
Also performing on the evening will be:
JOSEPH GIACONE
EMMA HOUSLEY
JODIE BETH MEYER
LAUREN OSBORN
MICHAEL QUINN
BEN SELL
JODIE STEELE
THOMAS SUTCLIFFE
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The evening will be compered by
DEAN McCULLOUGH
(Dean has recently presented Move It Show at Olympia - London, Belfast Pride and Dance Show Live at the Glasgow SECC. Dean was one of The Glambassadors who reached the live semi-finals on the seventh series of Britain's Got Talent.)
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The launch event will be a fusion of cabaret and concert, musical theatre and acoustic arrangements. The evening will host a cast of established musical theatre performers, alongside new talent, singing stripped back acoustic versions of musical theatre songs.
More information on the company and the launch click here. To book tickets click here.
Perform and Move It are the ultimate performing arts events packed with performances, workshops, seminars, interviews and stalls for the biggest names in dance, drama and theatre. Over three days the event welcomes over 20,000 visitors from the world of creative and performing arts.
One of Move It's hotspots is the Dance Register Interview Sofa with host Annaliese Dayes (America's Next Top Model). Tommy Franzén (So You Think You Can Dance) spoke to Inside Dance TV about his career, time in the Rodin Project and his past and future involvement in ZooNation's Some Like It Hip Hop. Also the D.inc. Wear campaign models (Aaron Renfree, Erin Dusek, Danielle Peazer, Dominique Tipper and Anthony Kaye) showcased the hottest dance-wear from Mrs Jones.
The Showcase Theatre, hosted by Dean McCulloughwas alive with performances from the leading dance schools, colleges and academies - a great place to meet the principles, current students and if you're about to audition it's a great opportunity to watch and choose the school that's right for you.
The Main Stage, hosted by Matt Flint was the centre of attention quite regularly throughout the day. Kimberly Wyatt premiered Tea For Two (starring Adam Garcia) and performed her latest single Derriere. Jonathan Wilkes sang Mr. Bojangles promoting his new school Wilkes Academy in Swindon. There were also performances from Twist & Pulse and recent Got To Dance contemporary-jazz sensation G-Nome.
The Main Stage was also the place for dance colleges to showcase their work to thousands of dancers, choreographers, directors and enthusiasts. Highlights included Let There Be Love by Urdang Academy, Masters Performing Arts College's Commercial routine Until They Kick Us Out and Performers College Luck Be A Lady.
URDANG ACADEMY
MASTERS PERFORMING ARTS COLLEGE
Over in the Perform hall (which was a lot quieter) an interview with actor/writer/director Steven Berkoff was most interesting. Berkoff who has most recently been working on Actors Lament began with how he as an out-of-work actor began writing to rid his lack of self-worth. "I wrote for my own entertainment in the frustration of not working and to earn some self-regard. When you're a dancer, even if you're unemployed you can still be 'working' by taking dance classes every day to perfect your craft - you're not just sat around... it's different for actors, you can't always do that. Actors I urge to learn text. Take great and significant texts like Shakespeare, for grittiness learn Macbeth... learn it all and by doing that you'll strengthen your acting mind."
Berkoff who was taught mime by Jacques Lecoq went on to explain how theatre today has lost its sense of ensemble: "Lecoq taught us to think outside ourselves and outside of our egos. He taught us ensemble and how to utilise gesture and the body and it should absolutely be mandatory for directors to do a course in Lecoq. They know nothing about the body and so they create a fantastical dead theatre. People like Julie Taymor are a great example of those who have benefited from Lecoq, look at The Lion King - it utilises every element of the body - and my work has always been about that."
The amateur rights for Broadway musical Avenue Q were released this week and Rupert Sharp explained that demand for the show has seen Josef Weinberger Ltd. inundated with requests. They offer the Libretto, piano conductor scores, logo packs, video animations as well as the hire of 11 rehearsal puppets and 15 performance puppets all made with the same appearance as the puppets in the professional productions. More information here.
In attendance at Perform/Move It were a group of young Midlands students and theatre-goers. For them, the trip was organised by the
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
Get-In! Youth Scheme
Get-In! is open to all 9 - 18 year olds and for just £10 a year offers a range of fantastic benefits for those interested in performing arts. The offers include £5 best available stand-by tickets for shows at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, backstage tours, Glee Choir, summer schools with West End stars and theatre experts, workshops, London theatre trips and opportunities to visit events such as Perform/Move It.
Grace Gull was a Get-In! member for five years and since January has been an active member of the team behind the organisation and planning of education events for the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. She was a supervisor for the Get-In! members at Perform/Move It and reflects on the trips success:
Perform/Move It was a great event that allows the creative industry, music, dance and drama, to come together and showcase talents whilst giving advice to the future generation of performers. The Get-In! members throughly enjoyed the day and got some great advice from industry professionals. The members attended a range of workshops from a conversation with Steven Berkoff, direction movement with the RSC and musical theatre to name a few. The Get-In! members had a brilliant day and gained from the advice that the top class drama schools could give them.
