Searching for Cilla

COULD YOU BE THE NEXT BIG MUSICAL THEATRE STAR?

PRODUCERS OF THE WORLD PREMIERE OF CILLA THE MUSICAL ARE ON THE HUNT FOR THEIR CILLA

NATIONAL OPEN AUDITIONS CONFIRMED IN LIVERPOOL, EDINBURGH, BIRMINGHAM AND LONDON

The producers of Cilla – The Musical have confirmed the dates and locations for their search for Cilla, with open auditions taking place around the country.

The search is on for a charismatic and talented actress with a great voice to portray the title role, starting in Cilla’s hometown of Liverpool.

The dates and locations for the auditions are as below:

Tuesday 2 May Liverpool Empire

Monday 8 May Edinburgh Playhouse

Tuesday 9 May Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre

Friday 12 May London Dominion Theatre

Robert Willis (Executive Producer and Cilla’s son), said: “My Mum Ioved singing and performing ever since she was a young girl and she was determined to do what she loved. Having performed at the clubs around Liverpool, including the famous Cavern Club, she got her big break when Brian Epstein spotted her and signed her. It was the start of everything that was to follow. She was a natural born performer who lived to entertain her audience. We are hoping to find that person who also dreams big and has the talent to match but just needs the chance to show it. We can’t wait to meet you!”

For full information about the auditions and to register please go to: https://www.cillathemusical.com

Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield present this new musical about the life and legend of Cilla Black, which will open in her hometown at the Liverpool Empire from Thursday 7 – 16 September before embarking on a nationwide tour.

Cilla The Musical, is a spectacular and heart-warming musical adaptation of the critically acclaimed ITV mini-series based on the early life of Cilla Black, by BAFTA award winner, Jeff Pope (The Moorside, Philomena,From The Cradle To The Grave, Mrs Biggs).

The story follows the extraordinary life of the ordinary teenage girl from Liverpool, Priscilla White, and her rocky, yet incredible, rise to fame. By the age of just 25 she was recognized as international singing star Cilla Black. By the age of 30 she had become Britain’s favorite television entertainer headlining series’ of Blind Date, Surprise Surprise and many more.

The musical score will be the ultimate soundtrack to the 60’s including Cilla’s greatest hits Anyone Who Had a Heart, Alfie and Something Tells Me, alongside a backdrop of the legendary “Liverpool Sound” including theBeatles’ Twist and Shout, and American influences like California Dreamin by The Mamas and The Papas and many more.

Cilla The Musical is produced by Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield, alongside Executive Producer Robert Willis

CILLA – THE MUSICAL

WRITTEN BY JEFF POPE

DIRECTED BY BILL KENWRIGHT & BOB TOMSON

Liverpool Empire Theatre atgtickets.com/Liverpool

7 – 16 September 0844 871 3017

Edinburgh Playhouse atgtickets.com/Edinburgh

19 – 23 September 0844 871 3014

Milton Keynes Theatre atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

26 – 30 September 0844 871 7627

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton mayflower.org.uk

3 – 7 October 023 8071 1811

New Alexandra Theatre Birmingham atgtickets.com/Birmingham

10 – 14 October 0844 871 3011

Blackpool, Opera House wgbpl.co.uk

17 – 21 October 0844 856 1111

New Theatre, Cardiff newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

31 October – 4 November 029 2087 8889

New Wimbledon Theatre atgtickets.com/Wimbledon

7 – 11 November 0844 871 7646

Regent Theatre, Stoke atgtickets.com/stoke

14 – 18 November 0844 871 7649

Palace Theatre, Manchester atgtickets.com/Manchester

21 – 25 November 0844 871 3019

Bradford, Alahambra Theatre bradford-theatres.co.uk

28 November – 2 December 01274 432 000

More tour dates to be confirmed soon.

Visit cillathemusical.com for all the latest tour and audition information

Twitter: @CILLAMUSICA

Better Late … drama performances this week

In light of ongoing issues of motorcycle crime and anti-social behaviour, amongst other things, please don’t forget about two free Theatre shows coming up next week – BETTER LATE THAN DEAD–Broughton High School on Tuesday 28^th March, 7pm, and North Edinburgh Arts Centre on Wednesday 29^th March, 4pm.

These tackle the issues of driving, walking and road safety and are open to all ages.

Edinburgh Music Theatre seeks new talent for Fiddler on the Roof

Local theatre company Edinburgh Music Theatre is looking for talented singers, actors and dancers to become the residents of Anatevka, the small Russian village at the heart of the much loved musical Fiddler on the Roof.

Continue reading Edinburgh Music Theatre seeks new talent for Fiddler on the Roof

Edinburgh folk get their city back!

Fireworks concert brings record-breaking Festival to a close

After 50,266 performances of 3,269 shows in 294 venues across Edinburgh, the final curtain has fallen on the 2016 Edinburgh Festival Fringe – and it’s been yet another record-breaking year for the luvvies …
Continue reading Edinburgh folk get their city back!

Out of the Blue at Forest Fringe

Out of the Blue at Forest Fringe

The Forest Fringe grew from a totally independent, not-for-profit space in the midst of the Edinburgh Festival …

Out of the Blue grew from a totally independent, not-for-profit space in the midst of Edinburgh – all year round …

Now Out of the Blue and the Forest Fringe are engaged in a merging of space, ideas and productions at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall as part of as an ever audacious programme of experimentation and adventure which makes exciting, improbable, spectacular things happen.

Out of the Blue’s contribution of home grown Leith talent is wide ranging.

Tales from the Hanging Captain
Sat 13th & Sun 14th August

An exuberant theatre production – made in Leith for the people of Leith – and beyond! Having previewed as part of this year’s Leith Festival the company regroup to get their stories out to the wider world.

As locals gather in the fictional Leith bar ‘The Hanging Captain’, auld Sandy takes the audience on a voyage through time and shares the stories of the Dockers involvement in the whaling industry, the ‘Darien Scheme’ and the strikes of 1913.

As Joyce Mcmillan has said: “if ever there was a town full of stories, that knew how to persevere in telling them, it’s the venerable, beautiful and unpredictable Port of Leith.”

And who better to perform the riveting stories than two of Out of the Blue’s all year round resident theatre companies, Active Inquiry and Strange Town.

Joyce McMillan said in her 2015 review of the companies’ “Persevere” production: “difficult not to be moved and shaken by the profound sense of place, time and continuity conjured up by this fine 24-strong community company” (June 2015)

Local people involved in the production also commented:

“It was a great experience to be part of a project which engaged with the history of our local area, whilst simultaneously engaging with the community that lives here now”

Chains on sink plugs
Thu 18 & Fri 19th August, 12pm

David Nicol is a long time participant at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall who is a poet and actor, musician and painter.

Chains on sink plugs is his first solo show.

Chains on sink plugs is a personal journey explore what it like being in a wheelchair from the 1970s to 21st century. What it’s like being on wheels instead of legs. And gives people a glimpse of a world many don’t know exists.

#artcore radio plays
DEAD ENDS
Fri 12th – Fri 19th August

“DEAD ENDS” is a new radio drama serial created for and performed by 18-25 year olds, which is launching as part of this year’s Forest Fringe based at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall. It features a realistic story about a group of young people who work in a fictitious historical/ghost tour company in Edinburgh. They are poorly trained, badly paid. Some of them care about their work and others do not . . .

The current series consists of eight episodes, released at midnight each day of the run.

To find out more, to listen to the latest episode, or to subscribe to the podcast via iTunes once it goes live on Friday 12th August, visit; www.deadendtours.co.uk

“DEAD ENDS” is produced by Strange Town for #artcore

The youth arts project, #artcore is based at Out of the Blue, and is one of nine youth arts hubs in Scotland, funded by Creative Scotland’s Time to Shine Fund

www.artcore.org.uk www.strangetown.org.uk

Listing Information

All performances are at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh, EH6 8RG

Performance dates and times

Forest Fringe: Thu 11th – Sat 20th Aug
Tales from the Hanging Captain: Sat 13th & Sun 14th August, 1pm
Chains on sink plugs: Thu 18 & Fri 19th August, 12pm
#artcore radio plays DEAD ENDS: Fri 12th – Fri 19th August

Tickets

All tickets are free by donation
To book tickets, please visit http://www.outoftheblue.org.uk/category/forest-fringe/

Solve a murder at the Edinburgh Dungeon

There’s a thrilling mystery to solve this summer as The Edinburgh Dungeon returns to the festival with its new evening show, Deadly Dungeon Murder Mystery. Continue reading Solve a murder at the Edinburgh Dungeon

From page to stage

£2,500 grant to support young budding theatre directors

The Saltire Society, Youth Theatre Arts Scotland (YTAS) and Traverse Theatre and have joined forces to launch a new £2,500 award to enable one promising young theatre director to further their career and stage a short production to be shown as part of the innovative Chrysalis festival this November. Continue reading From page to stage

Severing Time at North Edinburgh Arts

Friday 24 June 7.30pm

North Edinburgh Arts

North Edinburgh Arts Theatre Project & Festival and King’s Theatres Edinburgh Learning and Participation

INVITATION

You are invited to the Sharing of Work – Severing Time – on Friday 24th June 7.30pm

This performance includes Theatre, Dance and Video work by the Adults and Children of the North Edinburgh Arts Theatre project.

Severing Time investigates the influence and resistance we have towards the pressure of advertising, media and social networks, and considers the challenges, disruptions and distortions to our well-being and sense of self that virtual encounters can create. The ‘self’ we manufacture for internet-based encounters can be reductive, dehumanising and commodifying. It can also be a reflection to find and reclaim ourselves.

Background and Development of the project

North Edinburgh Arts Theatre project is an established and well-recognised Theatre project for adults, and has a track record for exciting and innovative productions and events. The project was developed in 2011 after research into the requirements of local people. The main finding of this research was that people wanted to make theatre again, after a history of using theatre and other art forms to create work which highlights their community and its needs and aspirations.

The project supports the participants’ aspirations and hard work for well-being and full creative lives, making strong contributions to their own communities as well as participating in the North Edinburgh Arts Theatre project.

In November 2011 North Edinburgh Arts Theatre project developed Yes We CanCan – a Cabaret of Resistance, which was the cementing of the project. Since then, the project has participated in a number of performances including Theatre Uncut in 2012 & 2013 and it regularly offers Sharing-of-Work and Work-in-Progress events. The 1d Tenement Opera in January 2015 through the support of the People’s Health Trust was an exciting and important development for North Edinburgh, and since then, the film Remembering Today, which was made in October 2015, has been acclaimed and celebrated.

Now North Edinburgh Arts’ Theatre project is delighted to be joined by Festival and King’s Theatres Edinburgh Learning and Participation Coordinator for the next stage in the Project’s development. The Learning and Participation Coordinator is leading Drama Workshops for the children of participants, and welcomes wider participation from other children interested in drama and theatre.

If you are interested in the Theatre project please email Sandra admin@northedinburgharts.co.uk

Stirring tales of old Leith

Tales from The Hanging Captain

16 – 18 June, Out of the Blue Drill Hall

Coming soon: Tales From The Hanging Captain

TALES FROM THE HANGING CAPTAIN

16 – 18 JUNE

An exuberant theatre production – made in Leith for the people of Leith – and beyond!

Following on from the hugely successful production of Persevere, part of Out of the Blue’s Gretna 100 Project, this new play Tales From The Hanging Captain sees Active Inquiry and Strange Town join forces again to explore the history of Leith docks. Continue reading Coming soon: Tales From The Hanging Captain