Round-up of news and treats and other interesting things


Ahoy sailors, if what you thought the world of musical theatre was missing was the opportunity to be trapped on a boat for four days with a load of wealthy musical theatre fans, then worry no more. Stages - the Musical Theatre Festival at Sea has now been announced, a four night cruise from Southampton to Amsterdam and back, with entertainment from the likes of Michael Ball, Beverley Knight, Lee Mead, Christina Bianco, Sophie Evans, John Owen-Jones and the Showstopper guys.
It looks like it could be hilariously good fun - red carpet arrival onto the ship, masquerade balls and workshops and Q&As with the performers. But it sure ain't cheap, prices starting at £609 with the taxes added on, though as it doesn't set sail until 15th October 2018, there's time to start saving those pennies. For me though, you can consider this my not-so-subtle hint to Floating Festivals that they obviously need a blog review of their cruise and that I am the one for the job.



The Young Vic has announced the rest of the cast of Wings directed by Natalie Abrahami, playing in the Main House from 14 September. Joining Juliet Stevenson is Lorna Brown, Kelle Bryan, David Emmings, Nicholas Gasson, Richard James-Neale, Emily Mytton, Mary Sheen and Emily Wachter. Find out more about them below. 
Lorna Brown 2Lorna Brown makes her Young Vic debut in Wings.Recent theatre credits include:  Bodies, Torn (Royal Court); Things of Dry Hours (The Gate); The Oresteia (Almeida / West End); Little Light (The Orange Tree); Medea, Blurred Lines, Damned by Despair (National Theatre); Crowning Glory(Stratford East); Fear (The Bush); Clybourne Park (Royal Court / West End); Short Fuses (BOV) and Once on this Island (Hackney Empire / Tour).
Film credits include: The Lady in the Van, Taking Stock and Les Miserables.Television credits include: Chewing Gum, Holby City, True Love and Outnumbered.

Kelle Bryan makes her Young Vic debut in Wings.Kelle Bryan BW
Recent theatre credits include: 
 The Exonerated (Charing Cross Theatre); Cinderella (PHA); Rebellion (ODAC Ltd); The Extra Factor (No. 1 Tour); Torn by Femi Oguns (Arcola Theatre); Cinderella (Catford Broadway Theatre); The Brothers (The Drum Theatre / Hackney Empire); Bouncers by John Gober (Berkley Players); Jack and the Beanstalk (Channel Theatre) and My Fair Lady (Manchester Palace).
Film credits include: The Naked Poet, In the Mix and The Virus.Television Credits include: Me & Mrs Jones, The Knot, The National Lottery, The Brothers and Glitter Ball.

David Emmings BWDavid Emmings makes his Young Vic debut in Wings.Recent theatre credits: The Missing Light (The Old Vic); Emily Rising (Little Angel Theatre); Sleeping Beauty (Bristol Old Vic);The Elephantom (National Theatre / West End); Something Very Far Away (Unicorn Theatre / International Tour); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bristol Old Vic / Spoleto Festival USA),  Father Christmas (Lyric Hammersmith); The Confetti Maker (New Diorama Theatre) and War Horse (National Theatre / West End). Film credits: The Homeless Polar Bear, Sherlock Holmes and Alice. Short Film credits: Brilliant and Mime Poker.

Nicholas GassonNicholas Gasson makes his Young Vic debut in Wings.Recent theatre credits include: Entertaining Mr Sloane, The Caretaker and  Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me (London Classic Theatre / Tour); The Dumb Waiter, The Lover, The Picture of Dorian Gray (European Arts Company Tour); Talking Heads (Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds); James and the Giant Peach (No. 1 Tour); Season’s Greetings (Mill Theatre) and Pink for a Boy (Oldham Coliseum). Television credits include: Merlin, EastEnders, Doctors, Shadow in the North and Private Life of an Easter Masterpiece.

Richard James - Neale BWRichard James-Neale makes his Young Vic debut in Wings.Recent theatre credits include: The Taming of the Shrew, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Globe); Watership Down (Watermill Theatre); Peter Pan (Regent’s Park Open Air); Othello (Frantic Assembly / UK Tour); Emil and the Detectives (National Theatre); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Tooting Arts Club); Charlotte’s Web (Derby Theatre); Pygmalion (Old Vic) and In Doggerland (Theatre 503). Film credits include: The Legend of Tarzan, Dragon, When I’m Gone, Nadya’s Circus and The Situation.Television credits include:  Thanks For The Memories, Atlantis and The Insiders.

Emily Mytton 2 BWEmily Mytton makes her Young Vic debut in Wings.Recent theatre credits include:  My Brilliant Friend (Rose Theatre);  Magic Flute(ENO);  Medea (Almeida Theatre); From Morning to Midnight, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, WarHorse  and His Dark Materials (National Theatre); The Empress and The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe (RSC); The Drowned Man and Tunnel 228 (PunchDrunk); World Cup 1966 and The Creation of the Violin (BAC); The Lesson (Theatre O); Beasts and Beauties (Hampstead Theatre); The Chimp that Spoke (David Glass Ensemble) and Red Ladies (Clod Ensemble).

Mary-Sheen BWMary Sheen makes her Young Vic debut in Wings. 
Recent theatre credits include: The Importance of Being Earnest (Politiker Productions); The Sonnet Walk (Globe); Losing It, A Fine Line and Courting Disaster (Soho Theatre); The Fastest Clock in the Universe (Sweetspot Theatre); Hyacinth Blue (Clean Break Theatre); 84 Charing Cross Road  and She Stoops to Conquer (both which she won Derby Evening Telegraph Actress of the Year, Derby Playhouse). Television credits include: Foyle’s War, Southcliffe, The Last Note, The Innocence Project and Dirty Filthy Love. Film credits include: United Strong Alone, The Last Upper, Barley Sugar and Skin Deep.

Emily Wachter BWEmily Wachter makes her Young Vic debut in Wings.Recent theatre credits include: My Brilliant Friend (Rose Theatre); Swallow (Traverse Theatre); Britain’s Best Recruiting Sergeant, Caucasian Chalk Circle (Unicorn Theatre); Bedroom Farce (Salisbury Playhouse); The Humans (Avignon Festival); From Morning to Midnight (National Theatre); Rats’ Tales (Manchester Royal Exchange); Pride and Prejudice (Theatre Royal Bath); Doctor Foster (Menier Chocolate Factory) and Julius Caesar (RSC).
Television credits include: Pyschoville, Compulsion and Judge John Deed.Radio credits include: Maiden’s Trip, Sagrasso, The Way We live Right Now and High Table, Low Orders.
Wings by Arthur Kopit, direction by Natalie Abrahami runs in the Main House of the Young Vic from 14 Sept – 28 Oct. Tickets available to book now




WE ARE NOW PRESENT A DYNAMIC FESTIVAL EXPLORING NEW METHODS OF PERFORMANCE-MAKING THAT CREATIVELY USE TECHNOLOGY 


Featuring work and performances from emerging creative talent and established names, We Are Now Festival will explore brand new methods of immersive experience at Rich Mix, Shoreditch

Date: 1st - 2nd September
Location: Rich Mix, Shoreditch
Info: www.wearenowfestival.com

  
We Are Now - Open Senses @ Juju's Bar & Stage 2017
We Are Now festival takes place at Rich Mix Shoreditch 1st and 2nd of September, exploring the creative use of technology in performing arts to create sensory experiences. The two day event will host a dynamic programme of boundary pushing theatre, interactive installations, 1-1 virtual reality performance, interactive audio theatre and a late night show harnessing the sonic capabilities of the Tesla Coil. Performing over the course of the weekend will be the likes of Circa69, XFRMR by Robbie Thomson, Silvia Mercuriali, Tit4Twat Theatre, Produced Moon and exhibits from graduates of Digital Art Computing at Goldsmiths. Tickets are £55 for the full weekend with day passes starting at £25, and individual shows starting at £5. For info visit www.wearenowfestival.com...


This one of a kind event will highlight emerging creative talent alongside established names with the aim of offering artists a platform to push the boundaries of their specialism, whether it be art, theatre or performance, that showcase the endless creative possibilities of technology in performing arts.

Internationally renowned Circa69 will be premiering their groundbreaking VR theatre experiences to enthral festival goers in London, whilst Tit4Twat will perform their critically acclaimed 'Losers' show - one of the highlights of the Camden fringe this year. A main highlight of the event, Cryptic's Robbie Thomson will explore the possibilities of harnessing the Tesla Coil as a musical instrument with his XFRMR show. We Are Now kicks off with the opening theatre show on the Friday, a work in development from Sleight Of Hand supported by 
Pervasive Media Studio, Bristol and Theatre Delicatessen. This will be paired with a post-show Salon Talk led by academics, psychologists and theatre makers which will explore the use of technology as a tool for empathy and creativity.

We Are Now was established by Megan Kieran; a creative producer with a passion for exploring the use of technology to connect to other people and the world in general. She says 
"We are very excited to present this year’s programme for We Are Now. The work is incredibly strong and truly represents where we can go with this sensational next wave of performance. We hope to immerse audiences, to invite new sensations and experiences and to provoke thought and discussion around how we can reclaim our use of technologies and harness their creative potential.”

We Are Now is supported by Arts Council England and is a winner of the DBACE Awards for Creative Enterprise 2017. For more info visit www.wearenowfestival.com

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,