Earlier this month, writer and director P Burton-Morgan's Metta Theatre, in conjunction with Perfect Pitch, released the studio cast EP of their hip hop musical In the Willows, adapted from Kenneth Grahame's classic The Wind in the Willows. Long devoted to new British musical theatre, Burton-Morgan explains more about keeping busy during the pandemic with this project, and others, in a guest blog.
Metta Theatre – one of the UK's leading production companies devoted to British musical theatre – has announced an intensification of the company's focus on climate crisis and sustainability issues, with the launch of environmental consultancy Metta Green, at the same time as the release of the album for their brand-new climate crisis musical HouseFire.
Metta Theatre has announced an intensification of the company's focus on climate crisis and sustainability issues, with the launch of environmental consultancy Metta Green, at the same time as the release of the album for their brand-new climate crisis musical HouseFire, which is now available via Spotify , iTunes and other digital platforms.
William Shakespeare's swansong lands on Jermyn Street Theatre's tiny stage in fetching fashion. Traditionally a grand spectacle, Tom Littler transforms The Tempest into boutique theatre at its finest. Shakespearean veteran Michael Pennington leads as Prospero, and the result is a myth-imbued and aesthetically exquisite show.
Metta Theatre a?" one of the UK's leading mid-scale touring theatre companies a?" has six new British musicals in progress, all being developed and showcased around the UK throughout the first half of 2020. Established in 2005 by Poppy Burton-Morgan and Motley trained Designer William Reynolds, Metta Theatre is at the forefront of new work - with a strong focus on the development of new British musical theatre, and a commitment to highlighting climate justice and sustainability; disability and deaf integration and inclusion (both from a political perspective and in order to artistically enrich the work); queering mainstream and family theatre - writing characters that represent and normalise (rather than problematise) the diverse range of queer experiences and identities; re-gendering protagonists in order to give girls strong female role models.
With a new calendar year now begun, Coventry's Belgrade Theatre is already looking forward to the next big celebration, with Lunar New Year festivities marking the start of the Year of the Rat from 25 Jan-8 Feb. Sometimes called Chinese New Year, the Lunar New Year is celebrated in a number of countries across East and Southeast Asia, as well as by diaspora communities around the world.
Die-hard musical theater enthusiasts and fans of opera will love the Mikado, one of Gilbert and Sullivan's strongest scores. With quick-witted and clever lyrics that satirize society, you can easily see the influence G&S's works like The Mikado had on the works of American musical theater composers Rodgers and Hart, Stephen Sondheim, and Harnick and Bock. Some of the standout numbers from the score that you're probably already familiar with (or if not, you should be) include a?oeThree Little Maids,a?? a?oeThe Flowers That Bloom in the Spring (Tra La)a?? and a?oeTit-Willow.a??
Tom Littler's latest venture is a glorious four-version take on Oscar Wilde's masterpiece The Picture of Dorian Gray, adapted by Lucy Shaw. They examine the original text and extrapolate its myth, stripping it down to its core and leaving the soul of the story bare for everyone to see. Shaw becomes one with Wilde, using the elegance of his seminal material to write a poetic play that might as well have come from the man himself, while Littler orchestrates the script with elegant passion.
Artistic Director Tom Littler has announced new regional theatre partnerships for Jermyn Street Theatre, and complete casting for his forthcoming production of Pictures of Dorian Gray.
Further casting details for the hip-hop musical In The Willows have been revealed, as deaf street dancer Chris Fonseca will be among those joining the previously announced Clive Rowe. Choreographed by Rhimes Lecointe, the production will incorporate British Sign Language (BSL) into the choreography and BSL interpreted performances for a unified production for D/deaf and hearing audiences alike. The production opens at the Exeter Northcott on 22 February 2019, touring the UK until 1 June, with a press night on Thursday 21 March at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry.
Olivier award-winning actor, 'the nation's favourite pantomime dame', and star of BBC's The Story of Tracey Beaker, Clive Rowe will star as 'Mr Badger' in the UK tour of IN THE WILLOWS, a brand new musical from the award-winning Metta Theatre, opening at the Exeter Northcott on 22 February 2019, and touring the UK until June.
Lady Anne Tree thought she had a brilliant idea to help convicts. After seeing what the prisoners went through every day firsthand as a visitor, she decided that she would teach them needlecraft, a way to occupy the mind and to set aside a small amount of money through the sale of the artworks. Based on a true story and debuting as an inspiring play by Esther Freud, Stitchers is an extraordinarily crafted piece of theatre.
New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, America's preeminent professional Gilbert & Sullivan repertory company, continues its exhilarating 2017-18 Season on Saturday, April 14 (2PM) with its spring offering, Ruddigore, at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College (East 68th Street between Park & Lexington Avenues). Featuring a production design paying homage to the iconic illustrator Edward Gorey, Ruddigore will play a strictly limited engagement April 14 & 15 with a family bonus, Family Overture Series on Sunday, April 15th at 1:45PM
Jermyn Street Theatre announces The Reaction Season, its third as a producing theatre. Running from 10 April to 18 August, The Reaction Season will feature 15 plays and musicals - 12 of them one-act - based around themes of reacting and re-enacting.
Ninety-nine years before television producer Aaron Spelling first invited viewers aboard 'The Love Boat,' Gilbert and Sullivan made good on their promise of shipboard romance with their enduring hit, H.M.S. PINAFORE.
After a sell-out engagement with their new production of The Sorcerer, New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, America's preeminent professional Gilbert & Sullivan repertory company, continues its new and exciting 2017-18 Season with the audience favorite H.M.S. Pinafore playing for a strictly limited engagement (December 28-31) at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College (East 68th Street between Park & Lexington Avenues).
New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, America's preeminent professional Gilbert & Sullivan repertory company, continues its exciting 2017-18 Season today, December 28 (3PM) with the family-favorite H.M.S. Pinafore at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College (East 68th Street between Park & Lexington Avenues).
After a sell-out engagement with their new production of The Sorcerer, New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, America's preeminent professional Gilbert & Sullivan repertory company, continues its new and exciting 2017-18 Season with the audience favorite H.M.S. Pinafore playing for a strictly limited engagement (December 28-31) at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College (East 68th Street between Park & Lexington Avenues).
New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, America's preeminent professional Gilbert & Sullivan repertory company, continues its exciting 2017-18 Season on Thursday, December 28 (3PM) with the family-favorite H.M.S. Pinafore at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College (East 68th Street between Park & Lexington Avenues).
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