The all-star cast for OLD FRIENDS so far includes Michael Ball, Petula Clark, Judi Dench, Daniel Evans, Bonnie Langford, Adrian Lester, Damian Lewis, Julia Mckenzie, Bernadette Peters, Elaine Paige, Clive Rowe, Imelda Staunton and Hannah Waddingham.
The release of second season of filmed musical drama CELLS on 21 March, a year after the first season was released in 2021, in partnership with Royal & Derngate Northampton, The Queen's Theatre Hornchurch and the Taunton Brewhouse, and a Christmas season of THE LITTLE PRINCE, opening at the Taunton Brewhouse this Christmas.
Production images have been released for Jack and the Beanstalk at Hackney Empire starring Olivier award-winner Clive Rowe as Dame Daisy Trot. Clive also co-directs this production alongside fellow Hackney panto veteran Tony Whittle, who plays Councillor Higginbottom.
Hackney Empire has announced that the beginning of a year of special shows and events to mark the theatre’s 120th anniversary year will launch on Thursday 9 December 2021, with a celebration and birthday cake, cut on stage by the venue’s Patron and iconic Pantomime Dame Clive Rowe.
Images have been released from the rehearsal room of Jack and the Beanstalk. Starring as Dame Daisy Trot, Olivier award-winner Clive Rowe also co-directs this production alongside fellow Hackney panto veteran Tony Whittle, who plays Councillor Higginbottom.
THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, based on the classic DreamWorks Animation film, will play its final performance at London’s Dominion Theatre on Saturday 8 January 2022, the end of its booking period. Extra shows have been added on 20, 21 and 28 December 2021 at 2.30pm.
They join the previously announced Kat B as Simple Simon, Zoë Curlett as Fenella Fleshcreep, Julie Jupp as Fairy Fusia, Ellie Ruiz Rodriguez as Jill Higginbottom, Rochelle Sherona as Jack Trot, Tony Whittle as Councillor Higginbottom, and Clive Rowe as Dame Daisy Trott. The production will be choreographed by Ruthie Stephens.
Just last night, West End actress turned television's favorite new star, Hannah Waddingham, accepted her first Emmy Award for her outstanding performance as Rebecca Welton on Ted Lasso. In her speech, she gave a shoutout to her fellow stage performers. 'West End musical theatre performers need to be onscreen more,' she cried. 'Please then a chance, because we won't let you down!'
Nardia Ruth will join the production as Nefertari from Friday 17 September 2021. Nardia is a 2021 graduate of London’s Royal Academy of Music and a Disney Theatrical Productions Scholar and an Ian Fleming Musical Theatre Award recipient. The role of Nefertari in The Prince of Egypt will mark Nardia’s professional and West End debut.
The Prince of Egypt has once again been forced to cancel upcoming performances due to Government-enforced COVID-19 legislation. Performances through 7 August have been cancelled at this time.
Hannah Waddingham may now be best known for her role in Game of Thrones, and most recently, her Emmy-nominated role as Rebecca in Ted Lasso, but she has been known to theatre fans since long before her television stardom.
Full principal casting includes the legendary Kat B as Simple Simon, Zoe Curlett as Fenella Fleshcreep, Julie Jupp as Fairy Fusia, Ellie Ruiz Rodriguez as Jill Higginbottom, Rochelle Sherona as Jack Trot, Tony Whittle as Councillor Higginbottom and Clive Rowe as Dame Daisy Trott.
For the first time, Olivier-Award winner Clive Rowe and Hackney panto veteran Tony Whittle will co-direct and star in Hackney Empire’s 2021 pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk which will run from 20 November to 2 January 2022.
Following the current temporary suspension of performances due to Government Track and Trace legislation, the production will play three socially distanced performances on Wednesday 21 July at 7.30pm and Thursday 22 July at 2.30pm and 7.30pm before gradually reverting to full capacity.
Ticket buyers will be contacted by their point of purchase via email, and will be offered the option to exchange their tickets or receive a refund or credit voucher. Learn more here!
Last Thursday the popular West End musical The Prince of Egypt, based on the 1998 animated classic from DreamWorks Animation, made its triumphant return to the stage. To welcome back the epic Stephen Schwartz tuner, we sent our very own @WestEndReporter Tom Hayden Millward down to the Dominion Theatre to meet the cast's newest member Clive Rowe.
In August, Hackney Empire will present ADP 2021: Romeo & Juliet (Title TBC); The Artist Development Programme (ADP) is a two-week summer programme giving a company of 40 young artists, aged 13-19, the opportunity to create an original piece of musical theatre.