INTERVIEW with John Leader - October 2013

Birmingham-born 23-year-old John Leader has just graduated from East 15 Acting School after a three year Physical Theatre course which set him up perfectly for his latest role - a puppeteer in the first ever UK touring production of the National Theatre's War Horse. 

You've just graduated and now you're here in this mammoth touring production, War Horse, what have the last few months been like for you?

Well they've definitely been an amazing experience! I think it's definitely been a huge learning curve for me, just graduating and then moving into this has been absolutely amazing and I couldn't have asked for anything more. I think War Horse is an amazing show to be in and even if I wasn't in it I'd still be telling all of my friends to go and see it, It's an amazing feeling to be in a show that you're so proud of. 

John rehearsing for War Horse (Photo by Ellie Kurttz)

How do you audition for something like War Horse? What's involved in that process?

In the auditions we do some basic puppetry - we do a lot of object manipulation and ensemble listening and moving and then we get into the horse and get to experience being horses! There's about four rounds. 

Did you have any previous puppetry experience?

I trained at East 15 on their Physical Theatre course and one of the modules there is puppetry so I got to experience some puppetry but definitely not on the scale of the horses here. I got really good taste of it which I think really set me up well for this job. 

Can you explain your role in bringing horse Joey to life?

I play the heart on both horses - Joey and Topthorn. My job is to control the front two legs and the breathing. Each person has a different role so 'the head' has the head and controls the emotional indicators which are the ears. I'm 'the heart' so my emotional indicator is the horse's breath and then 'the hind' operates the back two legs with that emotional indicator being the tail. 

Listen to an extended version of this interview in the podcast below:

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War Horse (UK Tour) Review

WAR HORSE (UK Tour) Review October 2013

Based on the novel by former children's laureate, Michael Morpurgo, War Horse is the endearing story of a boy, Alfred and his horse Joey. The 1982 novel remained just that for 25 years before the National Theatre premiered the groundbreaking play in London in 2007. Since then the production has opened on Broadway, in Canada, Melbourne, and the first non-English-language production opened in Berlin on 19 October 2013 - just one day after the first press night for the UK touring production at Birmingham Hippodrome. 

The play follows horse Joey who is sold to a yeomanry cavalry division and serves in France for the British in the First World War. He is later captured and serves on the German side before ending up wounded and wondering no-man's land. Joey is pursued by his young master Albert who is determined to be reunited with his best friend. 

Joey, Albert and Goose (London Cast Photography)

With a minimalist set, War Horse can still boast huge production values. Presented in association with Handspring Puppet Company the animals in the show are brought to life by incredibly realistic puppets. The horses of course are the main focus but even a goose and some birds become scene-stealers. Generally, I think there's a real danger with puppetry in the fact that it is often used for comic effect - there are humorous moments that receive an affectionate giggle but even so, for the entire time the animals are manipulated with such conviction that what you're watching is completely real. When theatre can truly manage to suspend such levels of disbelief it really is magical and War Horse is the shining example of that. 

Lee Armstrong is an endearing Albert who you cannot help but cry for like his strained mother Rose, played by Karen Henthorn, both ensure that your heart is left aching. Nisa Cole is excellent as Emilie and shows incredible emotional versatility. Mention must go to the superb puppeteers who are perhaps overlooked as you're caught up in the action but the detail of movement (ear twitching to the motion of breathing) is nothing short of genius. 

Topthorn and Joey (London Cast Photography)

Honestly, this not a relaxing experience but theatre shouldn't always be. For the play's entirety you are at war and my heart was in my mouth for the duration. We've all heard the poems and seen the films but here you're presented with war and its horrors and you're very much a part of it - a breathtaking experience. The heartstrings are well and truly pulled at as you're taken through the tragic, ultimately bittersweet story. 

War Horse is phenomenal. By the end, I could barely applaud from an overwhelming emotion that you cannot help but release. I would urge anyone to buy a ticket however every performance is now sold out for the duration of the Birmingham tour dates. You can enquire about returned tickets by calling 0844 338 5000. Alternatively you can book other tour venues or for the London production here. 

There is an extra event in Birmingham with good ticket availability, War Horse: Only Remembered on Friday 8th November at 2pm. Author Michael Morpurgo will be reading from the book on the set of War Horse and is joined by acclaimed musicians John Tams and Barry Coope. For more information and to book, click here. 

You can listen to my interview with author Michael Morpurgo here:

Cast List: James Alper, Lee Armstrong, Peter Ash, Emily Aston, Nisa Cole, Joe Darke, David Fleeshman, Adam Foster, Bob Fox, Jason Furnival, Thomas Gilbey, Oliver Grant, Finn Hanlon, Karl Haynes, Karen Henthorn, Steven Hillman, Michael Humphreys, Linford Johnson, Andrew Keay, Rebecca Killick, Tom Larkin, John Leader, Helen Macfarlane, Sean McKenzie, Alex Moran, Suzan Nixon, Tom Norman, Joseph Richardson, Paul Simpson, Gavin Swift, Simeon Truby, Peter Twose, Richard Vorster, Martin Wenner

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Interview with John Leader

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (UK Tour) Review October 2013

Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood received critical acclaim for his direction of Chess, a production that toured the UK throughout 2010/11 and made use of a cast of actor-musicians. This year, Fiddler On The Roof has been given a similar Horwood treatment. 

Actor-musicians, as the name suggests are not only actors but the band as well. The cast work incredibly hard at multi-tasking vocals and choreography to present a unique and contemporary production that would offer all the charm of the original - almost fifty years on. 

Leading the incredible cast is Paul Michael Glaser as Tevye. Glaser, who played Perchik in the 1971 film version is almost unrecognisable here from his Starsky & Hutch days. He opens the show introducing us to tradition, which throughout he learns to adapt. The story centres around dairyman Tevye - the papa. The father of five daughters, we see his attempts to maintain his family and religious traditions whilst outside influences encroach upon their lives. He must cope with both the strong willed actions of his three older daughters and each one's choice of husband moves further away from the customs of his faith and with the edict of the Tsar that evicts the Jews from their villages.

Paul Michael Glaser, Emily O'Keeffe, Liz Singleton and Claire Petzal

Although Tzeitel's relationship is the dominant story, each of the three elder daughters have plenty of time to showcase incredible talent. Karen Mann as Tevye's wife Golde provides both humour with occasional asides to the Almighty and tender moments in Do You Love Me? which exudes a genuine affinity. Susannah Van Den Berg's short spell as the butcher's wife from beyond the grave, Fruma-Sarah is one of the show's highlights - a commanding stage presence and a joy throughout. 

Susannah Van Den Berg as Fruma Sarah

Craig Revel Horwood's simplistic choreography has the perfect balance, from movement with instruments to traditional Jewish bottle dancing. Daniel Bolton, a recent graduate shows no inexperience as Fyedka - charming as the young Christian boy who falls for daughter Chava. Steven  Bor is a strong Perchik, the arrogant student and now guitar player! Jennifer Douglas is the mysterious but entirely captivating Fiddler. 

 Daniel Bolton as Fyedka (centre)

Act 1 is a lengthy 1 hour 40 minutes but time goes by in an instant. What I like about Fiddler On The Roof is that every new situation is dealt with immediately by Tevye and that helps keep a fast pace, there's a sense of urgency in these people's lives.  It's very real, easily relatable and the themes of love and loss are of equal relevance today than they would have been during its 1964 Broadway premiere.

Fiddler On The Roof is a blessing on your head Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov, to see a daughter wed, Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov... yes you'll be singing the songs long after! Tradition, Matchmaker, If I Were A Rich Man are all audience pleasers. The entire show is sung, danced and played live on stage by one of the most charismatic casts you'll see. You can book tickets to Fiddler On The Roof by visiting the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre website here. You can also listen to my interview with Paul Michael Glaser below!

Watch the show's trailer here:

Cast List: Paul Michael Glaser, Daniel Bolton, Steven Bor, Jennifer Douglas, Matthew James Hinchcliffe, Lilly Howard, Paul Kissaun, Liz Kitchen, Karen Mann, Tarek Merchant, Eamonn O'Dwyer, Emily O'Keeffe, Michael Paver, Claire Petzal, Neil Salvage, Liz Singleton, Jeff Smyth, Jon Trenchard, Susannah Van Den Berg, Ashley Pollitt, Javier Santos

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INTERVIEW with Keith Chegwin - October 2013

Christmas is undoubtably a busy time for anyone but for TV funny-man Keith Chegwin it's even more so. Last year he appeared on the eighth series of Dancing On Ice after intense training during a four week pantomime season. This year Keith is back in pantomime at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon but not before returning to the ice at the London Palladium! Keith took the time out from rehearsals to talk about his busy schedule. 

Where did your love of ice skating come from Keith? Was it something you've always enjoyed or was Dancing On Ice your first experience of it?

Dancing On Ice was the first sort of real serious experience of skating but when I was about twelve I went to a stage school with Phil Collins and his sister Carol Collins was a champion ice skater! We stayed with her for a little while and she took me to the ice rink and I got to learn a few things but then I just stopped it. Two years ago Dancing On Ice phoned up and it was between that or Strictly Come Dancing and obviously I chose Dancing On Ice and it's been my love ever since!

I've caught you in the middle of rehearsals here because you're about to take to the ice again with the Imperial Ice Stars at the London Palladium?

Yeah, The Nutcracker On Ice! It's such an honour, it's a bit like the Royal Ballet phoning up and saying "Oh we're doing Swan Lake, have you got any tights? Can you help us out!?" ... These guys on ice, it's a different kettle of fish isn't it, Dancing On Ice is fantastic and I can't tell you how much I'd recommend anybody go off and do it but they're restrained to health and safety - this it's just away you go! These are 26 Olympic athletes that between them own over 250 medals for Olympic and Commonwealth games and I think to myself "Oh my God... I've only won the Radio Lollipop award!"

And this is the London Palladium we're talking about here... how are the nerves?

Well it's weird, I've never really suffered from nerves, I suffer from excitement! I get really buzzy about things, yesterday in rehearsals I was that excited I was just catching my blades all over the place! My ambition for this is when you see us come on stage you won't know it's me! You'll think "oh no that's one of the profes.... oh no, it IS Keith!" - I want my skating to be up to scratch really. But the London Palladium for us old people is like the O2 now, it's the climax of your career. 

Keith and partner Olga Sharutenko the last series of Dancing On Ice 

People don't really appreciate what all this is about though. When I say to people I'm in The Nutcracker they're like "oh, okay..." but no, this takes you into a fantasy world - we're flying in it and there's magic and for the first time ever I shall be on stage and not shouting "Wey Hey!" or "it's behind you!" 

So what can we expect from the pantomime afterwards then? Back to Keith we know and love?

Oh I don't know, I might leave my skates on, it has been done before! Last year one of the characters in our panto had his roller skates on and went round the stage! He was really good ... he has been in Starlight Express though! I shall be sad to take my skates off really but I do love panto as well, especially at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon - Jack And The Beanstalk this year, come and see us! It's my third year back there and it's like coming home to family! Everyone backstage and front of house are all really nice people and the audiences are great. I remember the best compliment I was ever given was from the theatre manager Derek Aldridge and he said "Keith, can you just calm it down because the kids keep jumping up and wrecking the seats!" Haha, I was likes yessss!! I've done my job! 

Keith in last years pantomime Aladdin at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon

You can see Keith reunited with his Dancing On Ice partner Olga Sharutenko in The Nutcracker On Ice at the London Palladium from 24 October - 3 November by booking tickets here. Tickets are between £21 and £76. Following that you can catch the show at the Wales Milennium Centre, Cardiff from 8 - 17 November and at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton from 19 - 23 November. 

You can then see Keith in pantomime, Jack And The Beanstalk at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon from 7 December 2013 - 5 January 2014. For more information on the pantomime click here. To book tickets click here.

Listen to an extended version of the interview with Keith and dance partner Olga Sharutenko below:

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Jack And The Beanstalk (Press Launch)
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THE SLEEPING BEAUTY (BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET) Review October 2013

Sir Peter Wright's The Sleeping Beauty is perhaps the most majestic of Birmingham Royal Ballet's programme. The production received a 2010 revival of the company's 1984 production and is once more captivating a home audience at Birmingham Hippodrome. 

The story is most simple, the famous tale of Princess Aurora who is cruelly tricked by Carabosse, pricking her finger on a spindle and falling into a deep sleep only to be woken by true love's kiss - Prince Florimund. 

Birmingham Royal Ballet doing nothing by halves and the grand staging by Philip Prowse is breathtaking. The entire production is gold and the grand prologue makes for one of best openings to a ballet I've seen. With the Royal Ballet Sinfonia masterfully in charge of Tchaikovsky's score every element of the evening is pure delight. 

Natasha Oughtred, Princess Aurora

At just under three hours this ballet is very long. There is little story left to tell with much of the score yet to play. Act III as with most ballets is a celebration and in this case filled with dance from Puss-in-Boots, Red Riding Hood and the Wolf and the Bluebird with Enchanted Princess. Everything is beautiful but the routines are reprised many times and when 10 o'clock is reached and there is still 25 minutes to go - you can get a little uncomfortable in your seat. 

Natasha Oughtred makes for the perfect princess - there are moments in which her skill is almost unbelievable. Her strength is incredible and stage presence delightful. She is joined by César Morales as Prince Florimund who is equally as present and a commanding male lead. Samara Downs is full of wicked expression as the evil fairy Carabosse. 

At 29 years old any production would tired and dated... not this. The Sleeping Beauty is an absolute treat, far more detailed and grandiose to the ice version currently touring but the productions are incomparable in their own right. 

Finale (Photograph by Bill Cooper)

This is likely to be the most lavish production you will see, an incredible effort and display of world class ballet from this Birmingham company - an honour to the city. Book here for tickets to The Sleeping Beauty at Birmingham Hippodrome until Saturday 12 October 2013. 

Watch a clip of the Bluebird pas de deux solo below:

SLEEPING BEAUTY ON ICE (UK Tour) Review October 2013

This week, the New Alexandra Theatre stage is unlikely to be as you've ever seen it before. Covered in over 14 tonnes of ice the stage is set for the Imperial Ice Stars and their production of Sleeping Beauty On Ice which runs until Saturday. 

Artistic director of the company Tony Mercer presents something very special here - the opportunity to see ice dancing in the intimacy of a theatre as opposed to on television or a large arena - it's almost like a different medium. You can really appreciate the skill required in such proximity. Just as a ballet tells the story of the Sleeping Beauty through gesture and it's own dance style, the ice dancing does too - it's very different but achieves the same result. With this we have speed unlike any other show, daring and exciting lifts and a conglomeration of catches, spins, leaps, flying, arial stunts, fire... you name it!

Olga Sharutenko and Bogdan Berezenko (Photograph by Phil Hitchman)

ITV's Dancing On Ice professional and World Champion figure skater Olga Sharutenko is Princess Aurora, the girl destined to prick her finger and succumb to an endless sleep - only to be woken by true love's kiss in the shape of Prince Désiré - Bogdan Berezenko. Both command the ice with the highest level of skill, dazzling costumes, beautiful lifts and flying. I wish that I could comment with more understanding of ice dancing but I do believe that this should impress even the most knowledgeable. 

Other roles worthy of mention are Aleksei Vasilev as Catalabutte and Svitlana Pylypenko as his assistant - although these are comedy roles the skaters must still execute the finest performance and they in particular get time to shine. Iuliia Odintcova and Jurijs Salmanovs as Carabosse and her shadow skate a much a harsher show. Far from the delicacy of the royal skaters this duo have a faster, more daring job performed equally as impressive. 

Jurijs Salmanovs and Iuliia Odintcova (Photograph by Phil Hitchman)

The scenic design by Eamon D'Arcy consists mostly of backdrops, beautifully detailed and enough to make up for the fact that other scenery is impossible with the ice rink taking up all available space. The use of a pre-recorded soundtrack does lack the grandeur of a live band but by no means takes away from the incredible production. 

If your reason for not going to the theatre is a hot and stuffy auditorium - you've no excuses here! That chill is soon forgotten about as this incredible cast soon heat things up with an unforgettable show. Unlike any usual evening of theatre, make the most of your chance to catch Sleeping Beauty On Ice at the Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre until Saturday 12th October 2013. Book tickets here. 

Find out more about the ice and listen to interviews with the cast and crew here. 

Cast List: Vasilii Andreev, Yulia Ashcheulova, Maksim Beliakov, Bogdan Berezenko, Anastasia Ignatyeve, Ekaterina Ivleva, Pavlo Khimich, Volodymyr Khodakivskyy, Fiona Kirk, Yahor Maistrou, Konstantin Medovikov, Artur Minchuck, Maria Mukhortova, Svetlana Nalimova, Iuliia Odintcova, Svitlana Pylypenko, Jurijs Salmanovs, Alina Saprykina, Olga Sharutenko, Anna Silaeva, Tatiana Smirnova, Danil Tataurov, Olga Tataurova, Oleg Tazetdinov, Alesksei Vasilev.

SLEEPING BEAUTY ON ICE (UK Tour) Birmingham Press Launch

The summer is all but a distant memory and it won't be long until Birmingham is really feeling the winter chill. Jumpers and scarves however are already a necessity at the New Alexandra Theatre this week as the Imperial Ice Stars take over the stage. 

The acclaimed production of Sleeping Beauty On Ice takes nearly 24 hours to get into a venue and for the entirety of its run, the freezers are on! Walking into an unusually cold auditorium, Dancing On Ice professional and World Champion figure skater Olga Sharutenko greeted members of the press with cast members Bogdan Berezenko, Iuliia Odintcova and Jurijs Salmanovs.

As part of the day's activities I took to the ice with Olga and Bogdan for my very first ice skating lesson. I was petrified, but if I was ever going to do it, this was the time. Clung to the world champion figure skaters I tentatively made my way across the stage. I didn't think it was possible to sweat so much in such cold temperatures but I thoroughly enjoyed my first time on the ice! Would I do it again? With my world champion teachers of course but I can't see myself attempting it solo at Solihull Ice Rink!

It is a smile... just about! (Photograph by Phil Hitchman)

Between them, the cast have won over 250 competition medals, most of whom started skating from a very young age - some as young as 3! 44 people tour with the show including performers, technicians and a doctor with a further 17 people required at each venue. The freight of the whole show is approximately 25,000kg - the equivalent of 70 grand pianos.

Talking about the ice, production manager Bruno Hunt said: "To set the ice it's quite simple, we keep spraying the surface until it freezes over but to break it, that's really hard! About half way through the last show at a venue we'll turn the chillers down to about -12 and that makes the ice brittle and easier to smash. After the final show we go out in lines and smash it, shovel it into wheelbarrows and get it out of the building ... then we've got a lot of mopping up to do!"

An ice version of a show is completely different to what you would expect from a ballet version, as director Tony Mercer explains: "A lot of the time companies will just say 'copy the ballet' but that's not the right idea at all. Ice dancing is fabulous as we all saw with Torvill and Dean and their Bolero - ice dancing can tell a story just as well as ballet can, so why try to mimic ballet. Of course, it's balletic in style but I put together Imperial Ice Stars so that I could bring to the stage the kind of ice dancing I wanted to see."

Olga Sharutenko & Bogdan Berezenko (Photograph by Phil Hitchman)

You can listen to longer clips from the interviews with Bruno Hunt (Production Manager), Tony Mercer (Artistic Director/Choreographer), Bogdan Berezenko (Prince Désiré) and Olga Sharutenko (Princess Aurora) in the podcast below. 

Sleeping Beauty On Ice runs at the Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre until Saturday 12 October 2013. You can book tickets here. 

PENGUIN CAFÉ (BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET) Review October 2013

Three award winning ballets of artistic director David Bintley are presented in one evening, collectively as Penguin Café. A celebration of varying styles, this is the perfect blend of modern ballet that although different in theme are equally relevant and are still as incredibly thought-provoking since their creations within the last 25 years. 

The first, E=mc² is the story of an equation. You may recall it from a GCSE science lesson whereby the mass of an object is the measure of it's energy content... Physics was never one of my favourite topics and I can't say that I'd be particularly thrilled at the idea of devoting any more of my time to the study of it... that is until it is presented by a world-class ballet company. It's true that the equation is really important, but to understand it truly isn't all together straight forward. Here, Bintley presents a ballet that mirrors the components of the equation, such as E (energy) which is extremely powerful and musically colossal. M (mass) is a stark contrast that explores weight and stillness followed by 'The Manhattan Project' which involves little movement but is perhaps the most poignant moment. The use of intense sound is the energy released in the atomic bomb - it's completely overwhelming and somewhat difficult to watch although there is very little happening... a perfect example of the effect a live theatre experience can have. 

The Manhattan Project

The second piece presented is Tombeaux, the ballet about a funeral, even figuratively this does not suggest joyous entertainment but what we do have is a piece that is representative of hope. With the ending of one chapter is the beginning of another and this beautiful ballet suggests just that. What we see is a ballet that is reminiscent of Bintley's experience of the Royal Ballet whereby his vision for the company was at odds with the direction in which it was going. Bintley believed tradition was ebbing away and the spirit of the company was changing - evident in performance however this ballet company are still as much as ever at the top of their game. 

'Still Life' At The Penguin Café

The final performance is the hugely popular 'Still Life' At The Penguin Café. Each section within the piece is danced by an animal of the endangered species list. Cleverly, the endangered animal also represents a dance style that we are in danger of losing. This is far from a lecture about climate change and the extinction of various species but what is presented in a light, entertaining and humorous way highlights the issues. There is a stunning final image of Noah's Ark, the salvation for these animals and for humans too of which the stunning costumes suggest dual identity - similar to the way in which The Lion King musical approaches representation (but of course, this is the original). 'Still Life' At The Penguin Café is incredibly danced and this in particular is no ordinary night at the ballet. Premiering in 1988, this seemingly prophetical display is extremely entertaining theatre and the most vivid and colourful trip to the zoo. 

Click here to book for performances on Saturday 5th October at the company's home venue -  Birmingham Hippodrome. Alternatively visit the BRB website for further dates at Sadler's Wells in London and the Plymouth Theatre Royal. 

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (Birmingham Hippodrome) Interview with Gok Wan

Adding a little bit of sartorial chic to Britain's biggest pantomime this year is everyone's favourite fashion guru GOK WAN who makes his pantomime debut at Birmingham Hippodrome this year. Leicester-born Gok achieved huge success with his Channel 4 series How To Look Good Naked and has since enjoyed many appearances on TV screens up and down the country - but now Gok's hitting the stage! Listen to the full interview in the podcast below.

What can you expect from Gok this pantomime season? If his tweet about the launch was anything to go by - it's going to be one camp Christmas in Birmingham!

That was one high octane camp day! #panto

— Gok Wan (@therealgokwan) September 23, 2013

You can book tickets for Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs which also stars John Partridge, Danielle Hope, Stephanie Beacham, Gary Wilmot, Paul Zerdin and Matt Slack at Birmingham Hippodrome by clicking here.  The pantomime runs from Thursday 19th December 2013 - Sunday 2nd February 2014! 

MOONLIGHT SINATRA (Gig Caritas)

‘Moonlight Sinatra’

Saturday 12 th October, 7:30pm

St Johns Church, Stourbridge

After a an acclaimed concert in 2012, a live 20-piece big band returns with the Midland's own vocalist Chris Passey and special guests to celebrate the music of Frank Sinatra, The Rat Pack and Michael Bublé in MOONLIGHT SINATRA in conjunction with 102.5 The Bridge Radio and sponsored by The Duke William, Stourbridge.

Gig Caritas was formed in December 2011. They create and produce highly professional cultural events including live music concerts to raise money for local charities. Their last concert ‘Do You Hear The People Sing?’ was met by a full house at Dudley Town Hall in July 2013 and raised £1500 for Cruse Bereavement Care, Dudley. This concert featured West End stars including Kieran Brown, Andy Coxon and Tim Prottey-Jones with a community chorus including In Sound Company, Key Theatre Academy and a full orchestra. The catch? No one takes a fee. Not even the professional performers.

Tables for Moonlight Sinatra seat 8 people and tickets are £10 each with the proceeds going to Chatback – a charity that focuses on providing creative opportunities to looked-after young people in the Dudley borough.

Tickets for MOONLIGHT SINATRA at St John's Church in Stourbridge can be booked via the website, here. 

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (Birmingham Hippodrome) Pantomime Press Launch

In spectacular style Qdos Pantomimes and Birmingham Hippodrome launch a brand new pantomime Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs with an all-star line up that rivals any West End production. The show, which received its press launch on 23 September opens on Thursday 19th December 2013 for a six and a half week run with 77 performances until Sunday 2 February 2014. 

The cast features a dashing prince in the shape of John Partridge (Christian in Eastenders) whose theatrical roles until now have included Rum Tum Tugger in Cats and Electra in Starlight Express. John has recently finished a run as Zach in A Chorus Line at the London Palladium and said: "The Birmingham Hippodrome really is the London Palladium of pantomimes, it's the one to do!" The Birmingham Hippodrome has a long standing reputation as the venue for the UK's premiere pantomime and attracts the largest audience of any other in the world.

Making his panto debut in Birmingham is TV fashion guru Gok Wan as the Man In The Mirror: "This is the first pantomime I've ever performed in and what a touch to be able to get the biggest in the world! I must have done something right.... but we won't go into that!"

Another debut being made in Birmingham this Christmas is Gary Wilmot's Dame. Gary appeared in Cinderella at the Hippodrome in 1995, playing Buttons and has previously played Birmingham as Caractacus Potts in the touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. "Pantomime is quite often people's first experience of theatre and in my first time playing Dame I've got to make sure I get it right and make it a great experience for everyone watching."

BBC Over The Rainbow's search for Dorothy winner Danielle Hope was announced at the launch in the title role of Snow White. Danielle shot to fame after winning the Andrew Lloyd Webber reality series and playing Dorothy in The Wizard Of Oz at the London Palladium. Danielle has since appeared as Fantine in the West End production of Les Misérables. "This is my first time in pantomime and my first time in Birmingham! From what I've seen of the town it's huge and the high street looks fab for shopping! It's great for me because it's equidistant from London where I live and Urmston in Manchester where I'm from and my family are!" 

Also featuring in the cast is Dynasty legend Stephanie Beacham as the Wicked Queen who realises panto can have a longer lasting effect than just a few hours entertainment: "Pantomime is family time, bring the children along and get them in young and they'll always be theatre-goers." Ventriloquist Paul Zerdin and puppet friend Sam also star in the show alongside Matt Slack as a new character Oddjob.

This pantomime promises to be highlight of the festive season in Birmingham with an ensemble of physical theatre performers bringing the magnificent seven dwarfs to life as you've never seen in a panto before! Summer may have only just left us but Birmingham Hippodrome is truly in festive fever for the opening of Britain's biggest pantomime. The countdown is on! 

Tickets for Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs are priced between £12 to £39 with discounts and concessions available. Tickets are already selling fast with sales even higher than this time last year for Robinson Crusoe And The Caribbean Pirates. If you haven't already got your tickets click here to book online and select your own seats. Alternatively visit the theatre box office in person or call 0844 338 5000. 

Listen to the pantomime interviews trailer below! 

FULL INTERVIEWS TO FOLLOW SOON!

Photographs by Scott Bird
Group Photograph by Birmingham Hippodrome

GHOST THE MUSICAL (UK Tour) Ghost Is Dancing for Children In Need

Mayflower Theatre -  Southampton

Sunday 3 November 6.00pm

‘when the wig girls learned to Waltz’

For the last 5 months 12 terrified technicians from the Ghost The Musical touring company have been taught to dance by 12 professional dancers from the cast all in aid of the BBC’s Children in Need Appeal.

On Sunday 3^rd November they will demonstrate their skills in front of a panel of Judges as part of a Grand Charity fund raising Gala. With a Star Cabaret, Charity auction and lots of surprises this is the one Charity event of the year that you wouldn’t want to miss.

Neil White, Ghost Company Manager said, “From what started as an idea to raise money mentioned between the cast in crew in the quick change room during the performance one night in Edinburgh, has escalated into Dance fever with the touring company. Apart from raising money for Children in Need it really has made the bond between our touring cast and crew tighter. Everyone has been so committed into giving their all, fitting training whenever they can around the busy schedule of moving such a massive technical show. We just hope that everyone will have as much fun watching the evening as we have had rehearsing it and most importantly we raise money for such an amazing charity”.

Below is a message of support from the movie's original Oda Mae Brown, WHOOPI GOLDBERG who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in the role. 

Michael Ockwell, Mayflower Theatre Chief Executive added, “This event is a wonderful idea, I am so pleased that we can help raise money for Children in Need by offering our venue and facilities. It will be a wonderful event for a very worthy cause and our staff are looking forward to uniting with the touring company of Ghost to provide a great nights entertainment.”

Rehearsals for a group performance were well under way in August, fitted in and around the schedule of Ghost performances! Watch a short video below: 

Tickets are priced at £20 and all funds raised from the event will be going to children in Need. BOOK TICKETS for Ghost Is Dancing via the Southampton Mayflower website here. You can also book tickets to see the production in Southampton here. 

The cast are used to dancing, night after night on the spectacular set... 

but how will the technical crew cope!?

Visit the website for GHOST IS DANCING here. With a £15,000 target you can click here to pledge any amount of money to the official Just Giving page.