Jenny Ell - Page 8

BWW:UK recently sat down for a chat with the stars of the new UK tour of Hairspray at the show's Birmingham press launch at the New Alexandra Theatre, where it is playing over the Christmas period. Here we speak to Claire Sweeney (Velma Von Tussle), Tony Maudsley (Edna), Peter Duncan (Wilbur) and Brenda Edwards (Motormouth Maybelle).

Off the back of his latest album release 'To Do. To Be' and the launch at the Theatre Cafe, BWW: UK spoke to Tim Prottey-Jones about his current projects and plans for the future.

Based on Ian Serraillier's popular children's novel, Belgrade Theatre Coventry and Sell A Door Theatre Company have produced a musical adaptation of The Silver Sword which debuted in Coventry last week. It is now embarking on a short tour across the country for the next four weeks.

For thirty years now, Kneehigh have been creating original, innovative pieces of theatre. Over this time, they have grown to an international scale and have built a solid reputation for quality which any theatre company would be envious of. Earlier this year saw Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca being given the Kneehigh treatment and to massive acclaim. This continues to tour whilst Dead Dog in a Suitcase (and other love songs) is starting out on its UK tour.

The Watermill opened its brand new production of The Ladykillers. which runs until Saturday 31 October.

Theatre na nÓg are delighted to present the UK tour of the TNN production of "TOM. A STORY OF TOM JONES. THE MUSICAL", which comes to Birmingham's New Alexandra Theatre from Wednesday 1 to Saturday 4 June 2016.

Tim Prottey-Jones most notably came to people's attention when he was a finalist on ITV's Superstar whereby Andrew Lloyd Webber used his previously successful reality format to find his 'Jesus' for a UK arena tour. After being eliminated far too early from the competition, there was a conciliation when he was offered the understudy for Judas' (played by Tim Minchin) in the show.  Although this gave him a platform and the recognition he deserved, his career was blossoming before the competition even started. Prottey-Jones is now performing in Kinky Boots in London, following a run in the successful West End production of Once. He excels in all areas of performance; a multi-talented vocalist, musician, composer and producer - as showcased on this, his third studio album 'To Do. To Be'.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert has had massive success all over the world since it opened in Sydney, Australia in 2006 - no more so than in this country where the show enjoyed a two-year run in London and is currently on its second UK tour. From place to place and on each outing, there always seems to be something slightly different (a change to a set piece or a new song) so the show is constantly in development, keeping it fresh. Just like the 1994 film, the musical production is feel-good throughout but does address serious issues along the way. Ultimately though, Priscilla has great morals filtering through a superbly written book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott.

This Christmas, The Watermill celebrates the 150th Anniversary of Lewis Carroll's much loved novel with a brand new stage adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, opening Thursday 19 November until Sunday 3 January 2016.

Ahead of the world stage premiere of one of the best children's books of all time according to The Times, The Silver Sword (based on the novel by Iain Serraillier), BWW:UK talks to Susie McKenna, Adapter and Director of this new stage show.

As one of the busiest touring theatre companies in the UK, it is a rare treat to hear from London Classic Theatre's Artistic Director Michael Cabot in the midst of their Anniversary season. BWW:UK talks to Cabot about the company's progression over the years and some of his personal highlights along the way.

The Olivier Award-winning production of King Charles III is currently touring the UK off the back of its prior success at the Almeida Theatre and the West End in 2014. There are also imminent measures in place to take the show to Broadway, with previews starting next month at the Music Box Theatre. Referred to as a 'future history' play, the story begins at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth and Charles' acquisition of the highest ranked Royal position as King. The text highlights the rights bestowed on members of the Royal family and focuses on King Charles' decision to dissolve Parliament following the News International phone hacking scandal. His immediate family also feature heavily in the play; the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge thrust themselves into a more prominent position of authority and Prince Harry's desire to be a commoner and stripped of any further royal duties.

It's 1963 at Dame Dorothea Dosserdale School of Girls where Crush, the most recent brainchild of renowned writer Maureen Chadwick, is set. An exaggerated and very twee, stiff upper-lipped version of St Trinians, the students desperately want to save their school from the grasps of new Headmistress Miss Bleacher, who wants to change the ethos and curriculum. There are other story threads such as the relationship between two pupils, Susan and Camilla, which is addressed in a very 1960s fashion but their strength for what they believe in trounces all. Chadwick's style of writing is evocative of her previous TV works such as Waterloo Road, Bad Girls and Footballers Wives. She has teamed up with Kath Gotts again who has composed the music and lyrics for the show and whom she worked with a few years back on Bad Girls: The Musical.

West End star Kieran Brown (Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Les Miserables) will be at The MAC on Sunday 13th September to officially open the Birmingham Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA).

Ian Seraillier's highly acclaimed and much-loved children's novel, THE SILVER SWORD, will receive its world stage premiere at Coventry's Belgrade Theatre from Sat 26 Sept - Sat 3 Oct before embarking on UK Tour throughout Autumn 2015. This brand new production comes to The Old Rep from Thursday 22 - Saturday 24 October.

Winner of an Argus Angel at Brighton Festival 2015, Sarah Cameron's towering solo performance is a delicious feast for the imagination performed in luscious Scottish dialect and served with tasty morsels and a musical score that rolls in like the mist off the mountains.

The Watermill has announced the full company for its brand new production of The Ladykillers opening Thursday 24 September and running until Saturday 31 October, with a press night on Monday 28 September at 7.30pm.

A product of the 1933 Warner Brothers film, 42nd Street didn't hit the stage until 1980. It was then that the production won the Tony Award for 'Best Musical' and is currently Broadway's 14th longest running show. Since, it has had success all over the world and last night saw a cast of sixty young people tackle the show at the New Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham as part of Stage Experience.

The Regent Theatre is happy to announce that Stoke-on-Trent's favourite pantomime duo Jonathan Wilkes and Christian Patterson will return in Peter Pan for another season of festive fun. The 2015 panto will mark Jonny's tenth year starring in an FFE Panto and at The Regent Theatre.

Currently playing at the Pleasance Theatre at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival and enjoying five-star reviews, SimG Records is releasing the Original Cast Recording of Love Birds - A New Musical by Robert J. Sherman next week.