The Ambassador Theatre Group News

David Ian Productions and the Ambassador Theatre Group are delighted to announce the UK tour of the international smash hit musical PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT opening at the Manchester Opera House on Saturday 9 February 2013 where it will play until Saturday 23 February 2013. Full tour schedule is below.

Spring 2013 sees multi Olivier Award-winner Zoe Wanamaker make her return to the West End in Passion Play, Peter Nichols' celebrated black comedy about love and infidelity. Directed by David Leveaux, Passion Play opens on 7 May at the Duke of York's Theatre with previews from 1 May.

Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and Bob Bartner are delighted to announce that 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL will have its UK Premiere at the Manchester Opera House on Friday 12 October 2012. Tickets will go on sale in all venues at 4.51pm (nine to five!) on Tuesday 27 March.

Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) has today announced details of how it is investing £15 million into capital projects which includes a major overhaul of the company's Front of House areas, bars and toilets, in order to improve facilities for customers.

David Gonski, Chairman of Sydney Theatre Company, today announced that Andrew Upton has been appointed Artistic Director of Sydney Theatre Company commencing 1 January 2013. For the past five years, Andrew Upton has been Co Artistic Director of the Company with Cate Blanchett. The duo's final program - for 2013 - will be announced on 6 September this year.

Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) announced today that it has partnered with acclaimed Director, Jamie Lloyd, to form Jamie Lloyd Productions.

Howard Panter (Mr West End himself) for The Ambassador Theatre Group presents Monty Python's Spamalot, a new musical lovingly ripped off from Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Eric Idle and John Du Prez, directed by Christopher Luscombe. Galloping into the West End for a truly bespoke season at the Harold Pinter Theatre (long pause) tonight, 24 July - Sunday 9 September 2012 (press night Tuesday 31 July). Tickets on sale now.

Since last October 2011, the most acclaimed production ever of Rodgers and Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC has been thrilling audiences and breaking records in theatres across the UK, playing to well over half a million people, becoming the best-selling show of the Season in venues including Wimbledon and Stoke-on-Trent, and the best-selling two-week musical ever to play in Glasgow and Milton Keynes.

As part of the current three-play Royal Court at the Duke of York's Season with Posh by Laura Wade, Jumpy by April De Angelis and Constellations by Nick Payne, four of the UK's leading playwrights will direct one of their all-time favourite plays in a series of one-off afternoon readings from 29 June at the Duke of York's Theatre in a special event supported by The Ambassador Theatre Group. Nick Payne, Polly Stenham, Roy Williams and David Eldridge will select their favourite plays and will have less than two days to bring their vision to life with a full cast to be announced for staged readings on Friday afternoons this summer.

Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) is hosting one of the most ambitious, nationwide, new writing projects seen in recent years to form an integral part of the London 2012 Festival, the spectacular 12-week nationwide celebration running from 21 June until 9 September 2012 bringing together leading artists from across the world with the very best from the UK. The Ripple Effect will be a vibrant piece of new writing being premiered in different regions of the UK, and in a final celebration in the West End at a Gala Performance hosted by ATG on July 25, 2012.

Howard Panter (Mr West End himself) for The Ambassador Theatre Group presents Monty Python's Spamalot, a new musical lovingly ripped off from Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Eric Idle and John Du Prez, directed by Christopher Luscombe. Galloping into the West End for a truly bespoke season at the Harold Pinter Theatre (long pause) Tuesday 24 July - Sunday 9 September 2012 (press night Tuesday 31 July). Tickets on sale now.

Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) today announced changes within its Casting Department, based at the company's Charing Cross Road offices.

In a world first, the UK's Amateur Stage Magazine will present THE AMATEUR STAGE EXPO on Saturday 31st March and Sunday 1st April 2012, at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. The Expo will bring amateur theatre groups and corporate exhibitors from all over the UK together to celebrate the vibrant and exciting amateur theatre community.

Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and Bob Bartner are delighted to announce that 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL will have its UK Premiere at the Manchester Opera House on Friday 12 October 2012. Tickets will go on sale in all venues at 4.51pm (nine to five!) on Tuesday 27 March.

Ambassador Theatre Group's Creative Learning Department in the West End has teamed up with the University of the Third Age (U3A), a lifelong learning co-operative for those aged 60+, to present a day of workshops at the Piccadilly Theatre in London.

In a world first, the UK's Amateur Stage Magazine will present THE AMATEUR STAGE EXPO on Saturday 31st March and Sunday 1st April 2012, at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. The Expo will bring amateur theatre groups and corporate exhibitors from all over the UK together to celebrate the vibrant and exciting amateur theatre community.

According to a report by Baz Bamigboye for Daily Mail, SOUTH PACIFIC, which is currently touring the UK, might open at the London Palladium this fall. An official announcement has not yet been made.

The producers of the brand new musical Monkee Business have paid tribute to The Monkees' Davy Jones, who passed away this week.

According to rumours posted by dailymail.co.uk, the UK touring production of SOUTH PACIFIC might transfer to the West End early next Autumn. The show would run at the London Palladium, filling in the gap between the runs of THE WIZARD OF OZ and CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY.

Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) today announced a co-producing partnership with West End and Broadway Producer, Tali Pelman.