musical theatre – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Ricky Tomlinson returns to the stage for tour of Irish Annie’s

Actor and comedian, Ricky Tomlinson is to return to the stage in the popular musical comedy that celebrates the best of Irish culture.

The Irish Annie’s tour will commence around the St Patricks Day celebrations at the William Aston Hall in Wrexham on Monday 11^th March and will visit a further 25 venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The show will now also premiere in Ireland, visiting 5 venues across the country. The UK and Ireland tour will come to an end with a special homecoming night at Liverpool Olympia on Saturday 4^th May.

Tickets for all venues are on sale and selling fast!

Irish Annie’s is a celebration of Irish culture, from the music to the comedy, featuring the well-known live 6-piece band The Shenanigans.

Meet landlady Annie and her regular madcap customers for a fun night out of comedy, music and mayhem, featuring original tracks written for the show by Asa Murphy, along with your all-time favourite Irish tunes including Galway Shawl, Tell Me Ma, Dirty Old Town, Whiskey In The Jar, Danny Boy and many more.

The evening promises to have the audience laughing, singing, and dancing the night away.

Ricky Tomlinson will perform as himself as a celebrity guest in the pub. Ricky is a much-loved actor and comedian living all his life in Liverpool, he is best known for his roles as Bobby Grant in Brookside, DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker and Jim Royle in The Royle Family, he also played the title character in the film Mike Bassett: England Manager. He is a very keen musician playing both the banjo and harmonica.

Ricky said: “This show is a delight to be part of, with a wonderful cast of characters and beautiful original and classic Irish music.

“Come and enjoy the show and sing-along with the song sheets provided. I guarantee you will have a ball!”

Irish Annie’s is co-produced by Bill Elms Productions (Judy & Liza, Jerry Springer The Opera, Swan Song, Something About George)and Asa Murphy Productions (Buddy Holly Lives, The Bobby Darin Story, New Generations).

The show also stars Catherine Rice as Irish Annie, Asa Murphy as Seamus Murphy, Michael Alan-Bailey as Porky the Postman and Joe, Richard Barry as Noel Singen-Smithe and Maria Lovelady as Moira the Money Lender and May. There is often a special celebrity guest popping through the pub door at some venues.

Producer Bill Elms commented: “Irish Annie’s is the perfect show to bring out around St Patricks Day celebrations, it’s a huge feel-good show filled with great comedy, live music and some larger-than-life characters, I am thrilled that we have such a fantastic cast including Ricky Tomlinson, Asa Murphy, and Catherine Rice.

“The show premiered in Liverpool a few years ago and went down a storm, now it’s even bigger and better than before, this will be the biggest tour we have done, I am excited to get the show on the road, especially taking the show over to Ireland.”

Asa Murphy has created and directed the show. Asa has been a successful entertainer for 18 years. He has performed all over the world singing Big Band Swing music and my own self-penned songs.

He has fulfilled many of his dreams as a performer selling out London’s Ronnie Scott’s, topping the bill at the famous Liverpool Empire, and cruising and singing on the most beautiful liners in the world. Asa also has a very popular BBC Radio show and has been on the airwaves for 10 years.

In 2019 he turned his talents to writing stage musicals and has so far had three hit shows, Buddy Holly Lives, Mack The Knife and Irish Annie’s along with two children’s shows.

Writer, director, and performer Asa Murphy added: “This show is a celebration of everything that makes Irish culture and the people of Ireland so special. Laughter, music, and the ability to make people face life’s difficult obstacles through friendship.

“I am very proud that the show has been so well received in the UK and with my family originating from Cork and Tralee and many still living in Ireland, the Ireland dates will be a special personal moment and I am looking forward to catching up with family and friends in the Emerald Isle.”

The Irish Annie’s UK and Ireland Tour is sponsored by Eurogold and Hightown Group.

Facebook: /AsaMurphyProductions

Website: www.irishannies.com

Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMFP_ivZ50U&t=12s

WHAT THE PRESS SAID

“A WONDERFUL CELEBRATION OF IRISH CULTURE”

The Irish Post

“NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE, I URGE YOU TO SEE THIS PRODUCTION. IT’S A WONDERFUL, FEEL-GOOD SHOW THAT SYMBOLISES EVERYTHING THAT WE LOVE ABOUT IRISH MUSIC.”

Writebase – 10/10 Perfect

“THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE THEATRE WAS FANTASTIC WITH EVERYONE SINGING AND CLAPPING ALONG TO THE MUSIC.”

The Review Studio

“A GREAT NIGHT OF ENTERTAINMENT”

Champion News

LISTING INFORMATION

IRISH ANNIE’S 2024

WILLIAM ASTON HALL – WREXHAM

Mon 11 March at 7.30pm

Website: www.williamastonwrexham.com

THE BRINDLEY – RUNCORN

Thu 14 March at 2.30pm/7.30pm

Website: www.thebrindley.org.uk

THE ATKINSON – SOUTHPORT

Fri 15-Sat 16 March at 2.30pm/7.30pm

Website: www.theatkinson.co.uk

ST GEORGE’S HALL – BLACKBURN

Sun 17 March at 7.30pm

Website: www.bwdvenues.com

ST HELENS THEATRE ROYAL

Mon 18 March at 7.30pm

Website: www.sthelenstheatreroyal.co.uk

BLACKPOOL GRAND THEATRE

Thu 21 March at 7.30pm

Website: www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk

ADAM SMITH THEATRE – KIRKCALDY

Fri 22 March at 7.30pm

Website: www.onfife.com

PAVILION THEATRE – GLASGOW

Sat 23 March at 7.30pm

Website: www.paviliontheatre.co.uk

WEBSTER MEMORIAL THEATRE – ARBROATH

Sun 24 March at 7.30pm

Website: www.angusalive.scot

LANCASTER GRAND

Tue 26 March at 7.30pm

Website: www.lancastergrand.co.uk

VICTORIA THEATRE – HALIFAX

Fri 29 March at 7.30pm

Website: www.victoriatheatre.co.uk

CIVIC THEATRE – TALLAGHT

Tue 2 – Wed 3 April at 8pm

Website: www.civictheatre.ie

LIBERTY HALL – DUBLIN

Thu 4 – Fri 5 April at 8pm

Website: www.libertyhalltheatre.ie

CRESCENT CONCERT HALL – DROGHEDA

Sat 6 April at 8pm

Website: www.universe.com

TOWN HALL THEATRE – GALWAY

Sun 7 April at 8pm

Website: www.tht.ie

EVERYMAN – CORK

Mon 8 – Tue 9 April at 8pm

Website: www.everymancork.com

FLORAL PAVILION – NEW BRIGHTON

Fri 12 April at 7.30pm

Website: www.floralpavilion.com

DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

Sat 13 – Sun 14 April at 2.30pm/7.30pm

Website: www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

CITY VARIETIES MUSIC HALL – LEEDS

Wed 17 April at 7.30pm

Website: www.leedsheritagetheatres.com

STAFFORD GATEHOUSE

Fri 19 April at 7.30pm

Website: www.gatehousetheatre.co.uk

THE PRINCESS ALEXANDRA – YARM

Sat 20 April at 7.30pm

Website: www.thepaaonline.org

STOCKPORT PLAZA

Tue 23 April at 7.30pm

Website: www.stockportplaza.co.uk

PRINCESS ROYAL THEATRE – PORT TALBOT

Thu 25 April at 7.30pm

Website: www.princessroyaltheatre.com

ALBANY THEATRE – COVENTRY

Fri 26 April at 7.30pm

Website: www.albanytheatre.co.uk

PALACE THEATRE MANSFIELD

Tue 30 April at 7.30pm

Website: www.mansfieldpalace.co.uk

THE OLYMPIA – LIVERPOOL

Sat 4 May at 7.30pm

Website: www.liverpoololympia.co.uk

Cove Park & Dundee Rep announce new musical theatre writing residency and call for applications

A new residency for musical theatre writers, composers, and lyricists from the UK, India and the United States

Presented by Cove Park and Dundee Rep Theatre in partnership with Capital Theatres, Citizens Theatre, Macrobert Arts Centre, National Centre for the Performing Arts – Mumbai, National Theatre of Scotland, Octopus Theatricals – New York City, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, and Traverse Theatre.

Associate partners include A Play, A Pie and a Pint, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Playwrights’ Studio Scotland and Tron Theatre.

With their rich and varied expertise, the partners will work with Cove Park and Dundee Rep and play a valuable role in this project. Providing mentoring, support and feedback as required during the residency, they will help enrich the writers’ experience. All partners are committed to developing the musical theatre landscape, both in Scotland and further afield.

The residency has been devised by Andrew Panton, Artistic Director of Dundee Rep Theatre, and will include facilitated sessions with Dramaturg Jeanie O’Hare (formerly Director of New Work Development at The Public Theater), Music Supervisor Nigel Lilley (Next to Normal at Donmar Warehouse, Caroline, or Change on Broadway), Donna Lynn Hilton, Artistic Director of Goodspeed Musicals and David Greig, Artistic Director of Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh.

The programme also includes networking opportunities and workshop sessions, in-person and digital, with industry professionals including writers, composers, producers, directors, and other theatre practitioners – such as Tony® Award-winning director John Doyle, Tony® and Grammy® Award-winning producer Mara Isaacs, Tony® Award-winning producer Rashad V. Chambers, and more.

Applications to take part in this residency are being accepted from UK-based teams of up to three collaborators who have a musical theatre idea in need of development and would benefit from the residency experience to take it to the next stage in its creation.

To apply, individuals or teams must be based in the UK – Cove Park and Dundee Rep are particularly interested in receiving applications from teams based in Scotland. The participating artists from India and the United States will be selected separately through nominations via international partners.

Please visit https://www.musicaltheatrewritingresidency.uk/ for more information and how to apply.

MGA Academy celebrates next generation of stars

Brand new multi-million pound campus in Livingston opens its doors

ONE of Scotland’s largest centres of performing arts is putting its best foot forward as it ushers in the new era of students with the opening of its brand new campus.

The purpose-built 30,000 sq ft campus in Livingston will see MGA Academy of Performing Arts to triple its student intake to more than 500, extend its educational programme to 11 BA degrees, and two post-graduate Masters degrees, and house 18 state of the art studios.

The new campus based in the former tax office in Almondvale, Livingston, received a multi-million pound investment and will feature Scotland’s largest sprung dance floor which spans 347 sq ft.

Established in 2005 to address a demand for an innovative performing arts academy outside of London, has produced a wealth of talented graduates who have appeared in studios, on stage and on screen in major productions.

Giles Auckland Lewis, Chief Executive of The MGA Academy, said: “It’s a very exciting time for the academy as we open the doors of our brand new campus. There has been a great buzz with new and returning students as they explore all the exceptional facilities.

“Being part of this chapter of the academy’s story has been incredibly rewarding, and as we’re now located almost exactly half way between Edinburgh and Glasgow it’s much more convenient for students and staff.

“We’ve worked hard to ensure the new campus can offer our talented students to advance their skills in singing, dancing and acting and become the stars we know they are.”

Included in the new campus is seven rehearsal studios for acting and musical theatre, seven fully sprung dance studios, four singing rooms and a TV production suite. Other features include a student welfare and physiotherapy room, a learning resource centre and library, IT suites, study areas and a cafe and social areas, as well as 130 parking spaces.

The MGA Academy campus in Balgreen will remain part of the academy’s footprint becoming a hub for junior age groups.

Mr Auckland-Lewis added: “The new campus in Livingston is truly state of the art, we’re in a great position to continue to develop our reputation as a leading international competitor to the world’s most successful arts education institutions.

“The platform we’re providing for aspiring performers allows them to remain in Scotland while studying at a level equivalent to other prestigious UK colleges. We also now have the ability to attract even more students and world class tutors from across the world.”

The MGA Academy is approved by the Scottish Qualifications Agency, the Imperial Society for the Teachers of Dance, and is Scotland’s only fully accredited college with the UK’s Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre.

Graduates from The MGA Academy have gone on to star in West End and TV productions such as Gossip Girl, Wicked, Frozen the Musical and Shrek the Musical.

Learn more about The MGA Academy and how to enrol for courses here:

https://www.themgaacademy.com/

The Stamping Ground: River City stars Juliet Cadzow and Jenny Hulse come to Edinburgh for Scottish tour

River City stars Juliet Cadzow and Jenny Hulse are set to go on tour in The Stamping Ground, including dates in Edinburgh.

Juliet Cadzow is one of Scotland’s best loved actors, known for starring as Suzie Frazer in River City, Edie McCredie in Balamory, Coronation Street, The Bill and more.

Juliet Cadzow

Jenny Hulse is best known for playing Amber Murdoch in River City, out of this she appeared as Mary McLaughlan in ITV’s ‘In Plain Sight’, as Doris in Morag Fullerton’s ‘Doris, Dolly and the Dressing Room Divas’ and as Aine Macdonald in David McKenzie’s ‘Outlaw King’ for Netflix.

Jenny Hulse

Joining them is Ali Watt, a regular performer with Pitlochry Festival Theatre, earning rave reviews for his performances during their 70th anniversary season in 2021, Naomi Stirrat, Grid Iron’s Muster Station at EIF 2022, and Robin Campbell, Magnetic North’s Lost in Music.

They will join returning cast members Caitlin Forbes, Annie Grace, Robert Grose, Barrie Hunter, and Brian James O’Sullivan.

The Stamping Ground is the must-see new stage musical featuring the hits of Runrig, one of Scotland’s most beloved and iconic bands, is set to hit the road on a Scotland-wide tour later this year.

An exciting co-production between Raw Material and Eden Court Highlands, the show first premiered in Inverness in July 2022, earning glowing reviews and audience acclaim.

The heart of their community, the local pub, is for sale and tensions are rising about the future of this place they call home. As relationships ignite and smoulder, Euan and Annie find themselves swept into a battle to save the heart of the community. But can they save each other?

Featuring exciting new arrangements of some of Runrig’s most iconic hit songs, including The Greatest Flame, All Things Must Change, and of course The Stamping Ground, the musical shares the soaring power and beating heart of some of the band’s most celebrated music.

All of the songs in the show are written by Runrig’s founding members Calum and Rory MacDonald, with 2023 also marking 50 years since the brothers formed the band on the Isle of Skye in 1973.

Margaret-Anne O’Donnell and Gillian Garrity, Raw Material, said: “Scottish based independent production company, Raw Material are delighted to be touring their hit, feel-good musical, The Stamping Ground, across Scotland in 2023.

“Audiences in the highlands, both those new to Runrig and lifelong fans of the band united in their appreciation with standing ovations when the show premiered at Eden Court in Summer 2022. If you are a fan of musicals, a fan of live theatre or just looking for a great night out then this is definitely one not to miss!”

Calum MacDonald and Rory MacDonald of Runrig said: “It is so good to see that The Stamping Ground is not only returning to Eden Court but going on a Nationwide Tour.

“There has been such a positive reaction from fans and public alike, with still so many that have not had the opportunity to see it first time around.”

The Stamping Ground will now tour to some of Scotland’s biggest stages from May to June 2023. Including a run from 23 – 27 May at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre. Tickets on sale now.

Edinburgh’s rising stars to appear in London’s West End

Some of Edinburgh’s most promising young performers will be appearing on the West End this festive season, as Stagebox members take to the stage as part of the star-studded casts of West End Musical Christmas and West End Does: Christmas.

Boasting a long line of successful members and clients, Stagebox is an award-winning programme for theatre, film and TV training and management, responsible for the nation’s most promising young performing talent. With centres across the UK including Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Edinburgh and London, Stagebox’s current clients have enjoyed success on both stage and screen, from the BBC and Netflix to the West End and Broadway.

Appearing in West End Musical Christmas (13^th & 20^th December) alongside stage legends John Owen-Jones (Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera), Michael Xavier (Phantom of the Opera, The Sound of Music), Emma Hatton (Wicked, Evita) is Stagebox’s Arwen Seilman, who trains at the Edinburgh centre.

The West End show will excite all musical theatre fans, featuring the nation’s favourite Christmas and showstopper numbers performed alongside a live band and dance ensemble.

Stage veteran and national treasure Maureen Lipman will host West End Does: Christmas on 19^th December, with Gina Beck (Wicked, Showboat), Liam Tamne (Prince of Eygpt, Wicked), Aisha Jawando (Tina the Musical) and many more.

The performance will feature a mix of traditional and contemporary Christmas carols and songs to get the audience into the festive spirit.

The star-studded cast will be supported by a choir formed of Edinburgh Stagebox members Alexandra Bruce-Dickie, Chloe Bloice, Circe Miller, Hazel Craig (Nativity! The Musical), Laura Koechlin, Layla Davies and Tommy Thompson.

Jasmine Quinlan-Gardner, General Manager at Stagebox, says: “This is a huge moment for our wonderful members who will be representing us on a world-famous stage this December.

“After such limited interaction last Christmas, we’re looking forward to lighting up both the Lyric Theatre and Cadogan Hall alongside some stage legends!”

Stagebox auditions for 2022 will soon be opening.

West End Musical Christmas takes place at 8pm on Monday 13^th and Monday 20^th December. For tickets, please visit: www.westendmusicalchristmas.co.uk.

West End Does: Christmas takes place at 2:30pm and 6:30pm on Sunday 19^th December. For tickets, please visit: cadoganhall.com/whats-on/west-end-does-christmas-2021/

For more information about Stagebox, please visit: www.stagebox.uk

Richard Winsor to star in Saturday Night Fever at Edinburgh Playhouse

Richard Winsor, highly acclaimed for his dance, stage and screen work, is set to play Tony Manero, the role which famously rocketed John Travolta to screen stardom, in a new stage production of Saturday Night Fever which comes to Edinburgh Playhouse from 23-27 October. Continue reading Richard Winsor to star in Saturday Night Fever at Edinburgh Playhouse

Claire Sweeney to join the cast of Crazy For You

Actress, singer and TV personality Claire Sweeney is to take over the role of Irene in the national tour of the Watermill Theatre’s acclaimed production of Crazy for You. Claire joins Tom Chambers who plays Bobby and Charlotte Wakefield (Polly) in January. Crazy for You comes to the Edinburgh Playhouse in April next year as part of it’s UK tour. Continue reading Claire Sweeney to join the cast of Crazy For You

Meet The Band: Take That musical pictures released

New photography has been released providing a glimpse of what fans can expect from The Band, the brand new musica, which kicked of its UK tour earlier this month in Manchester. David Pugh, Dafydd Rogers and Take That’s UK Tour of Tim Firth’s The Band, with the music of Take That, got underway at the Manchester Opera House on Friday 8^th September.

Advance box office for the tour has now topped a record-breaking £10million and is set to entertain audiences in Edinburgh, at the Playhouse in July 2018.

The Band charts the story of what it’s like to grow up with a boyband. For five 16 year-old friends in 1992, ‘the band’ is everything. 25 years on, we are reunited with the group of friends, now 40-something women, as they try once more to fulfil their dream of meeting their heroes.

The Band will be played by AJ Bentley, Nick Carsberg, Curtis T Johns, Yazdan Qafouri and Sario Solomon, who, as Five To Five, won BBC’s Let It Shine.

The Band is on at the Edinburgh Playhouse from Tuesday 10^th until Saturday 14^th July 2018.

Pictures: Matt Crockett

WICKED cast announced

Flying back to Edinburgh Playhouse from 8th May 2018

WICKED, the West End and Broadway musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, is delighted to announce that Amy Ross (Elphaba), Helen Woolf (Glinda), Aaron Sidwell (Fiyero), Steven Pinder (The Wizardand Doctor Dillamond), Kim Ismay (Madame Morrible), Emily Shaw (Nessarose), Iddon Jones (Boq) and Nikki Bentley(Standby for Elphaba) will lead the cast of the spectacular, critically acclaimed and multi record-breaking UK & Ireland Tour when it returns to Edinburgh Playhouse for its only Scottish dates from 8 May to 9 June 2018. Continue reading WICKED cast announced

Sunset Boulevard coming to Edinburgh Playhouse next month

One of the all-time great musicals, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award®-winning – Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical – masterpiece Sunset Boulevard will play at the UK’s largest theatre, the Edinburgh Playhouse next month. Continue reading Sunset Boulevard coming to Edinburgh Playhouse next month