atg magazine summer 2010
DESCRIPTION
Ambassador Theatre Group Magazine Summer 2010TRANSCRIPT
AmbassadorTickets.comSummer 2010 Things to do, people to see
The Ambassador Theatre Group
HOTLIST!English style icons
North West escapesYoung directors
MesmerisingMark Rylance
Haunted HouseGhost Stories
at the Duke of York’s
Fat suit and falsies
Brian Conley in Hairspray
King of Comedy
MarcusBrigstocke
AmbassadorTickets.comSummer 2010 Things to do, people to see
ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 13:47 Page 2
Liverpool’s Albert Dock
showcases the best of the city
in a World Heritage, waterfront
setting. Wonder at the world’s
finest contemporary art at the
Liverpool Tate and relive the
glory days of The Fab Four
at The Beatles Story.
albertdock.com
of the6best
▲
The Harbourmaster Hotel,
Aberaeron is the ultimate in
seaside chic- stunning views, stylish
rooms and amazing seafood - the
perfect summer getaway. For more
information call 01545 570 755 or
visit harbour-master.com
‘Lovingly ripped off‘
from the 1975 film
Monty Python and
the Holy Grail, ATG’s
new production of
Spamalot stars Jodie
Prenger, Marcus
Brigstocke and
Todd Carty. Book
at Ambassador
Tickets.com
Indulgent little
chocolate cakes
on sticks, which
are as scrummy
as they are cute!
popbakery.co.uk
A magical day out for all the
family, Puzzlewood is an
enchanting, meandering ancient
woodland of fantastic tree and
rock formations located in the
beautiful and historic Forest
of Dean. Call 01594 833187
for more information.
Expect a right carry
on when British icon
and national treasure Barbara
Windsor appears as Fairy
Bowbells in Dick Whittington
at the Bristol Hippodrome
this Christmas, her first panto
in fifteen years! Online booking
bristolhippodrome.org.uk
▲
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▲
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ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:43 Page 3
The views expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd.
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1 Brian Conley in Hairspray
2 Retail therapy atLiverpool ONE complex
3 Sheridan Smith inLegally Blonde
1
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AMBASSADOR GROUP PRODUCTIONS
AMBASSADOR THEATRE GROUP LONDON THEATRESApollo Victoria 0844 871 7615 Comedy Theatre 0844 871 7622 Donmar Warehouse 0844 871 7624 Duke of York’s Theatre 0844 871 7623 Fortune Theatre 0844 871 7626 Lyceum Theatre 0844 871 7615 Phoenix Theatre 0844 871 7629Piccadilly Theatre 0844 871 7630 Playhouse Theatre 0844 871 7631 Savoy Theatre 0844 871 7687 Trafalgar Studios 0844 871 7632
AMBASSADOR THEATRE GROUP REGIONAL THEATRESAylesbury Waterside Theatre 0844 8717 607 Theatre Royal Brighton 0844 8717 650 Churchill Theatre Bromley 0844 8717 620Kings Theatre Glasgow 0844 8717 648 Theatre Royal Glasgow 0844 8717 647 Milton Keynes Theatre 0844 8717 652Richmond Theatre 0844 8717 651 Regent Theatre & Victoria Hall Stoke-on-Trent 0844 8717 649New Wimbledon Theatre & New Wimbledon Studio 0844 8717 646 Ambassadors Cinemas Woking 0844 8717 643New Victoria Theatre & Rhoda McGaw Theatre Woking 0844 8717 645Online booking at AmbassadorTickets.com
Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham 0844 847 2293 Bristol Hippodrome 0844 847 2341 Edinburgh Playhouse 0844 847 1661Leas Cliff Hall Folkestone 0844 847 1776 Grimsby Auditorium 0844 847 2426 Empire Theatre Liverpool 0844 847 2525Palace Theatre & Opera House Manchester 0844 847 2484 New Theatre Oxford 0844 847 1588 Southport Theatre and Convention Centre 0844 847 2321 Sunderland Empire 0844 847 2499 Princess Theatre Torquay 0844 847 2315York Grand Opera House 0844 847 2322 Online booking at livenationtheatres.co.uk
Jessamy Hadley EditorPat Westwell, Jasper Rees, Al Senter, Mark Shenton, Becky Martin, David Bradbury, Mia Flodquist, Neena Dhillon,Ben Prudhoe, Barry Grant ContributorsShaun Webb Design Design and Art Direction John Good Print
The Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd 39 - 41 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H OAR
An Extraordinary Story 1The remarkable rise of theAmbassador Theatre Group
You’ve Got Grail 3A knight to remember with Marcus Brigstocke
A Mark Of Distinction 5Mark Rylance - the toast of the West End
What’s On in London 7
Competition 8In the pink- but is it legal?Legally Blonde
Fright Night 9Ghostly goings on at the Duke of York’s Theatre
Big is Beautiful 11Brian Conley goes up a dress size in Hairspray
One to Watch 13The UK’s newest theatre opens in Aylesbury
Seriously Talented 14Young directors rule in theDonmar Trafalgar season
English Summer 15Quirky Brit chic
Northern Delights 17Cosmopolitan, chic, surprising -visit Manchester and Liverpoolfor a very different day out
ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:43 Page 4
1
is always the thing of course,
but if the audience get the sense
that the people behind the stage
are not that interested in it, then
it really takes the shine off the
evening. It does matter who
runs the show.
The HistoryThe resonance that this approach
has with audiences can be seen
as the Ambassador Theatre
Group takes on 15 additional
theatres across the UK, bringing
the Group’s network to a total of
38 (39 with the opening of the
new Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
in October). It includes historic
theatres in the West End like the
Apollo Victoria, Comedy, Duke
of York’s, Lyceum and Savoy, as
well as the landmark venues of
Britain’s touring circuit, including
the big auditoria in Edinburgh,
Bristol and Manchester, and
thriving theatres from Brighton
to Glasgow. These venues are
the cornerstones of Britain’s
theatregoing, and their coming
together marks the latest chapter
in ATG’s extraordinary story. Only
18 years ago, this great British
theatre group contained just
one theatre.
The driving forces behind
ATG are its co-founders, Howard
Panter and Rosemary Squire.
In 1992, the husband and wife
team, backed by a group of
friends and enthusiasts, bought
the Duke of York’s Theatre in
London’s West End. Panter and
Squire were soon involved in
the development of a new
entertainment centre in Woking
(which included the landmark
New Victoria Theatre), and
continued through the 1990s to
launch more regional theatres in
partnership with trusts and local
authorities. As the Millennium
began, ATG grew once more,
taking on seven West End
theatres and a number of
regional venues, and this was
the period where the ATG
philosophy, born in cramped
offices above the stage of the
Duke of York’s, began to
influence theatre on a national
scale. 2010 brings the story up
to date, with theatres previously
managed by the Live Nation
group passing to ATG.
The DifferenceAs new venues join the group,
audiences will have the chance
to experience theatre as ATG
believes it should be delivered.
From later this year that
experience could reach millions
An Extraordinary StoryExciting times for theatre lovers as the Ambassador Theatre Group expands across the UK
Feature
There are moments in theatre
when everything seems to come
together at the right time. A
thousand people in one place
hear and see something special,
together. You could describe it as
a magical experience: it’s hard to
think of a better description for
it. But like most magic, there is a
trick to it, and it’s a method that
has been learned by generation
after generation of theatre
managers.
Here’s the secret. It isn’t that
complicated. It’s a combination
of three ingredients: a good
show, attention to what the
audience needs, and a passion
for theatre.
That last ingredient is vital.
It has to be a labour of love. If
that passion is not there: well,
audiences can just tell. The play
Wicked
ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:43 Page 5
of people across the UK, offering
great quality shows, more choice,
and a special attention to detail.
If you are part of one of these
audiences, you will notice the
difference: you can sense the
excitement ATG still feels about
putting on a show.
For an idea of what we might
be watching, look at some
recent productions. Guys and
Dolls started in the West End
with leads like Ewan McGregor,
Patrick Swayze, and Don
Johnson, before touring ATG
venues across the country. Big
shows like West Side Story, The
Rocky Horror Show and Matthew
Bourne’s Nutcracker! followed
a similar pattern. Disney’s Lion
King, the phenomenal Wicked,
Grease and Legally Blonde
currently play at ATG theatres
transformation in ATG,’ says
Squire ‘both companies had real
strengths but together we have
something very special indeed.’
ATG’s story has only been
possible because audiences enjoy
the Group’s approach. Great
shows, great theatres, and a little
bit of magic - this is still what we
want from theatregoing, and the
success of ATG is evidence that
theatre in Britain has a very
strong pulse indeed.
Legally Blonde
Images top l-r
Edinburgh Playhouse
Milton Keynes Theatre
Lyceum Theatre
Bristol Hippodrome
in London; Spamalot and We Will
Rock You are on tour or about to
take off. Meanwhile, the Donmar
Warehouse and Trafalgar Studios
provide brilliant settings for
a diverse range of theatre,
offering audiences inspiration
and challenging ideas. Sonia
Friedman Productions, as part
of ATG, has presented over 85
new productions since 1990,
including Boeing Boeing, Pinter’s
No Man’s Land with Michael
Gambon and David Walliams,
and Patrick Marber’s Dealer’s
Choice. Friedman is recognised
as a convention-breaking
producer in a West End where
risks are never easy to take.
Audiences in ChargeTheatre management is the
power behind the stage, but
every management company
knows that it is really the
audience who is in charge.
Audiences vote with their feet.
They want a theatre experience
that shows flair and attention
to detail, and when this is
supplied by a British company,
responding to an enormous
British audience, then we can
say that this is a very exciting
time for British theatre.
‘I’m delighted by the
A showstoppingperformance!Congratulations to the
Theatre Royal Brighton.
Part of the Ambassador
Theatre Group, it has
just been named
Most Welcoming Theatre
at the TMA Theatre
and Management Awards
for its exceptional levels
of customer service.
ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:44 Page 6
3
Marcus Brigstocke in a musical?
You won’t have been the only
one wondering how this
happened. Brigstocke is the
closest we have these days to a
political satirist on the stand-up
circuit. But his government-
bashing on Radio 4’s The Now
Show and his environmentally
friendly comedy routines about
saving the planet are suspended
forthwith while he takes the
part of King Arthur in Spamalot.
Even Brigstocke was a bit
surprised when he heard the
producers were considering
him. ‘I actually ignored it
because I thought it was a rather
preposterous notion, and then
it came through the official
channels.’ But exactly how
preposterous is it? The role
has been filled before by
consummate actor/singers - Tim
Curry and Simon Russell Beale.
And here’s a man who really
knows his comedy. He can also
act: he got good reviews for his
ne’er-do-well Charles Surface in
the all-comedians production of
The School for Scandal at last
year’s Edinburgh Festival. But
not a lot of people know that
he has danced for money. ‘I was
a podium dancer for a couple
of years,’ he confesses. ‘I worked
as a dancer who would get up
during club night to get the
crowd going. It was a long, long
time ago in fairness. What can
I say? When I throw shapes
people watch. I wasn’t in a
thong,’ he adds.
He wasn’t in chainmail either.
Spamalot’s allure for any
comedian, of course, is the
hallowed aura of Monty Python.
‘This is really really cool for me,’
You’ve Got GrailMarcus Brigstocke on his SPAM-tastic new role as King Arthur
Interview
Interview by
Jasper Rees
Photography by
Eric Richmond
ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:44 Page 7
he says. You wouldn’t think it to
listen to him inveighing against
Tony Blair and Jeremy Clarkson
(‘the man is not just an idiot but
he’s deliberately being an idiot’) -
but Brigstocke is a snug fit for
another reason. Thanks to the
shows his parents took him to
as a boy, he is a closet devotee
of musical theatre.
‘We were definitely up the
Lloyd Webber end rather than
the Sondheim end. When
Starlight Express opened I
couldn’t believe it. These people
were singing and on roller-
skates? I had ambitions for a very
long time to be Greaseball. Then
I saw Les Mis. Javert and Jean
Valjean are two of the best
characters I’ve seen onstage
in anything ever.’
So it’s in the blood. Before
he went to Bristol University
Brigstocke was even planning
to be an actor. On the grounds
that he was funny, a friend
booked him in to do a comedy
slot in a Kiss FM stand-up
competition. ‘The first half they
sat in pitying silence. I had a
rubber chicken concealed in my
suit. And I did props gags, all of
which were awful. Once I’d used
up all the props and started
talking, then people laughed. I
went, ‘You’re seriously telling me
people will just pay you for this?
I’m set. I’m done. That’s it. This is
all I want to do.’
He did huge amounts of
comedy at university and then
entered the profession. On the
club circuit he worked his way
up to a point where people were
refusing to follow him. ‘Other
comics would go, ‘F***ing hell,
I don’t want to go on after
Brigstocke.’ Which is where you
want to get to. You want to be
unfollowable, because you’re so
good. But I kept coming offstage
and couldn’t understand why I
felt empty. And then the build-
up to the Iraq war began to gain
momentum and I found that I
cared very very much about what
was happening. It was the first
time that something I felt so
passionately about just came
onstage with me anyway.’
4
‘ I was a podium dancerfor a couple of years...what can I say? WhenI throw shapes, peoplewatch. I wasn’t ina thong... ’
SpamalotKing’s Theatre, Glasgow14 -19 JuneBox Office 0844 871 7648
Theatre Royal Brighton21-26 JuneBox Office 0844 871 7650
Churchill Theatre Bromley28 June -3 JulyBox Office 0844 871 7620
Manchester Opera House*5 -10 JulyBox Office 0844 847 2295
Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent2-7 AugustBox Office 0844 871 7649
Liverpool Empire*9-14 AugustBox Office 0844 847 2525
Bristol Hippodrome*13-18 SeptemberBox Office 0844 847 2325
New Victoria Theatre, Woking20-25 SeptemberBox Office 0844 871 7645
Sunderland Empire*11-16 OctoberBox Office 0844 847 2499
Edinburgh Playhouse*18-23 OctoberBox Office 0844 847 1660
Oxford New Theatre*25-30 OctoberBox Office 01865 305 305
Torquay Princess Theatre*1-6 NovemberBox Office 0844 847 2315
York Grand Opera House*22-27 NovemberBox Office 0844 847 2322
Milton Keynes Theatre29 November - 4 DecemberBox Office 0844 871 7652
Birmingham Alexandra*7 December - 1 JanuaryBox Office 0844 847 2302
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre28 March - 2 April 2011Box Office 0844 871 7607
Full casting details and online booking atAmbassadorTickets.com
*Online booking atlivenationtheatres.co.uk
Jodie Prenger, Todd Carty
and Marcus Brigstocke
ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:45 Page 8
5
It would be understandable if
actor Mark Rylance had chosen
to rest on his considerable laurels
for the remainder of 2010. He
has, after all, presented the
London theatre with two thick
slices of his mesmerising, award-
winning Johnny Byron in Jez
Butterworth’s Jerusalem, with
a season of Beckett’s Endgame
at the Duchess as the meat in
the sandwich. Not a bit of it...
At the time of writing he was
admittedly allowing himself a
few days R & R on a fishing
expedition with Butterworth.
‘Catch a brown trout?
I’m not too hopeful’ before
hunkering down to play yet
another monster part in the
eagerly-awaited revival of David
Hirson’s La Bête at the Comedy.
Set in Provence in 1654 and
written in rhyming couplets,
the play tracks down Elomire,
a thinly disguised Molière, as
he leads his troupe of strolling
players through the length
Interview
Interview by
Al Senter
Photography by
Shaun Webb and
courtesy of Rex features
A MarkofDistinctionThe La Bête star talks tribes, trout & turning 50
ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:45 Page 9
and breadth of France. Into this
high-minded ambience flounces
Valere (Rylance), a vulgar
mountebank from the streets,
whose populist instincts and
unashamed showmanship
threaten to undermine both
Elomire’s aesthetic and his status
within the company.
‘I loved the boldness of the
writing and I’ve always been
interested in one of the main
themes of the play - the
relationship between popular
culture and sophisticated art’
explains Rylance. ‘Valere
represents the first tradition
while Elomire embodies the
second. What would I call
myself? A bit of both perhaps.’
Although he has just passed
his fiftieth birthday, there is still
something of the wiry boy about
Rylance, now passionate, now
bashful. Though born in Kent,
Rylance spent his formative years
in the American Mid-West where
his father had taken up a
teaching post, and this may have
reinforced the sense that he is
something of an outsider in the
clubby world of British theatre.
He is certainly not afraid to voice
unpopular or alternative
opinions and he had to battle
during the first few years of his
tenure as Artistic Director of
Shakespeare’s Globe against
establishment prejudice that
the venue was more theme park
than theatre. Rylance is a highly
individual thinker, attracted by
ideas and issues far beyond the
confines of the Stage Door. Is
he concerned about being
labelled an oddball or an
eccentric by a sceptical media?
‘I do care what the world
thinks. I’m not a missionary: I’m
a simple, sincere, honest person.’
says Rylance. ‘I’ve just been
appointed an ambassador for
Survival International, which
campaigns for the rights of tribal
people to maintain their own
way of life. I’ve always been
interested in tribal societies. As
a boy, I remember reading about
Sitting Bull and Geronimo and
being absolutely fascinated by
them. Indigenous people have
a number of abilities which it is
hard for us to find in our culture
yet so many of them are in grave
danger of extinction.’
In a career that has been
mainly devoted to the theatre,
Rylance has made periodic, much
praised appearances on screen,
as if their very rarity enhances
their worth in the eyes of the
critics. His playing of the ill-fated
Dr. David Kelly, tragically caught
up in the wheels of the Iraq
Enquiry, won him a BAFTA
Award. Yet he reveals that he
has just dispensed with the
services of his agents, reasoning
that they are geared to the more
lucrative opportunities in film
and television whereas Rylance’s
sights are set exclusively on the
theatre. Reaching his half-
century in January has had a
bearing on his decision.
‘Now that I’m fifty, I can look
ahead and hope that I might
have another twenty-five years
of work in me, provided I’m
lucky with my fitness and my
memory doesn’t go. So time is
precious. I came to England to
be a theatre actor and it would
be silly for me not to use what I
have to offer. When I’m working,
the question I ask myself day-to-
day and minute-by-minute is
simple. Am I enjoying myself? Of
course, I’m pleased to have made
some good films but film doesn’t
interest me ultimately and I
don’t find the process of making
a film satisfying. Doing a play,
on the other hand, creates a
sense of community, especially
when you’re in a long run. You
live together in a particular
place, you share in each other’s
lives and by doing the play every
night, you develop deep and
valuable relationships with your
fellow performers.’
Rylance may downplay his
angling skills but it seems likely,
for the next twenty-five years at
least, that he’ll continue to land
some of the most formidable
catches in the theatre and
audiences and critics alike will
eagerly take the bait. Not even
Moby Dick himself, you think,
could resist a lure from this
latter-day Captain Ahab. 6
Comedy Theatre, London
La BêteStarring Joanna Lumley,Mark Rylance and DavidHyde Pierce 26 June - 4 September 2010Box Office 0844 871 7622Online booking atAmbassadorTickets.com
‘I came to England to be a theatre actor and it would be silly for me not to use what I have to offer. When I’m working, the question I ask myself day-to-day and minute-by-minute is simple. Am I enjoyingmyself?’
Mark Rylance in Jez
Butterworth’s Jerusalem
David Hyde Pierce
Joanna Lumley
ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:45 Page 10
What’s On
7 Book your tickets online at AmbassadorTickets.com
What’s On
APOLLO VICTORIA 0844 871 7615
WickedThe untold story of the Witches of OzWinner of Most Popular ShowLaurence Olivier Awards 2010
PHOENIX THEATRE 0844 871 7629Willy Russell’s
Blood Brothers‘Brings the audience to its feet androaring its approval’ Daily Mirror
COMEDY THEATRE 0844 871 7622
La BêteFrom 26 June10 week only pre-Broadway runStarring Mark Rylance, David HydePierce and Joanna Lumley
COMEDY THEATRE 0844 871 7622
BirdsongFrom 18 SeptemberRachel Wagstaff’s adaptation ofSebastien Faulk’s modern classic.Directed by Trevor Nunn
DONMAR WAREHOUSE 0844 871 7624Heinrich von Kleist’s
The Prince of HomburgStarring Charlie Cox and IanMcDiarmid
DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE 0844 871 7623
Ghost StoriesDirect from the sell-out run at theLyric Hammersmith‘Brilliant and deeply unsettling’Daily Telegraph
FORTUNE THEATRE 0844 871 7626
The Woman in BlackFrom the novel by Susan Hill‘A truly nerve-shreddingexperience’ Daily Mail
LYCEUM THEATRE 0844 871 7615Disney’s
The Lion KingThe award winning musical‘For once a mega-musical lives upto the hype; this is a dazzling show’ Charles Spencer, Daily Telegraph
PICCADILLY THEATRE 0844 871 7630
Grease‘A feel-good, pick-me-up musical’Sunday Express
PLAYHOUSE THEATRE 0844 871 7631
Dreamboats and PetticoatsThe Rock ’n’ Roll sensation Back by popular demand!
TRAFALGAR STUDIO 1 0844 871 7632The Willy Russell Season
Educating Rita and
Shirley ValentineDirect from sell-out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory
TRAFALGAR STUDIO 2* 0844 871 7632Donmar Trafalgar Season
Lower Ninth 30 Sep - 23 Oct
Novecento 28 Oct - 20 Nov
Les Parents Terribles25 Nov - 18 Dec
TRAFALGAR STUDIO 2* 0844 871 7632
Wolfboy-The Musical6 - 31 July
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s
State Fair3 - 28 August
SAVOY THEATRE 0844 871 7687
Legally Blonde The MusicalStarring Sheridan Smithand Richard Fleeshman‘Perfection’ ★★★★ Independent
Buy Your West End Tickets Here
*Studio 2 has been made possible by a generous donation from Christina Smith
ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:46 Page 11
Competition
8
Savoy Theatre, London
Legally Blonde The MusicalStarring Sheridan Smith,Richard Fleeshman and Jill HalfpennyBox Office 0844 871 7687Online booking atAmbassadorTickets.com
Win Legally Blonde tickets plus a bunch of other goodies in our tempting competition!
To celebrate the return of those
long hot summer nights we have
arranged the most fantastic prize
for you to see London’s hottest
show - Legally Blonde The
Musical.
College sweetheart and
homecoming queen Elle Woods
(Sheridan Smith) doesn’t take
no for an answer. So when her
boyfriend Warner (Richard
Fleeshman) dumps her for
someone ‘serious’, Elle puts
down the credit card, hits the
books and heads for Harvard
Law! Along the way, Elle proves
that being true to yourself never
goes out of style. With an all-star
cast featuring Sheridan Smith,
Jill Halfpenny and introducing
Richard Fleeshman (Coronation
Street), the biggest and most
blindingly fabulous sets hot
from New York matched with
an hilarious and heart-warming
story, you’d be mad not to show
up to this courtroom.
We are offering one lucky
person and three friends the
best seats in the house with a
complimentary bottle of pink
champagne for your party, house
programmes and merchandise
on arrival, along with an
exclusive signed poster by
the cast and crew of Legally
Blonde! And that’s not all -
you will also be whisked
off to Boyd’s Brasserie for
a complimentary pre-show
meal and glass of wine,
guaranteed to complete
a night of style and
sophistication that
Elle herself would
be proud of.
To join Elle and Bruiser
and win four tickets for
Legally Blonde The Musical
at the Savoy Theatre together
with exclusive prizes and
meal simply answer the
following question:
Q: What is Elle’s signature
colour?
Please return your answer, not
forgetting your name, address
and telephone number to Ben
Prudhoe, The Ambassador
Theatre Group Ltd., 39 - 41
Charing Cross Road, London,
WC2H 0AR before 30 July.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS One winner will be drawn at random
after the closing date. The prize
includes 4 tickets (Mon - Thu perfs
between 2 Aug - 28 Oct) to see Legally
Blonde The Musical at the Savoy Theatre
plus 1 bottle of pink house champagne,
4 complimentary programmes, 1 copy of
the original Broadway cast CD, 1 T-shirt
(which you will be able to choose on
your visit), 1 signed poster & 4 positions
at Boyd’s Brasserie before the perf with
a meal & a glass of house wine. Winners
will be notified by 2 Aug. Prize is
subject to availability, non-transferable
& non-redeemable for a cash value.
Not open to employees of Ambassador
Theatre Group Ltd or Ambassador
Theatre Group (Venues) Ltd. Editor’s
decision is final.
★★★★‘Perfection’
The Independent
★★★★‘A Huge Hit’
The Daily Telegraph
ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:46 Page 12
9
Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson
are leading figures in the
entertainment industry - Andy
as co-writer and co-creator of
Derren Brown’s TV shows, as well
as Brown’s stage shows including
the Olivier Award winning
Something Wicked This Way
Comes, and Jeremy as co-founder
of The League of Gentlemen.
Nyman and Dyson have also
been friends for over 25 years,
ever since they met at summer
camp when they were both 15,
but they have never worked
together - till now.
‘I remember that Andy had
brought a big pile of rag mags
with him, and he made me laugh
with dirty jokes - then we started
talking about horror films, which
we both loved, and we bonded
over those two things,’ says
Jeremy. ‘We have been a
constant presence in each
other’s lives since.’
It has taken them a long time
to work with each other. ‘I’m
obsessed with horror,’ points
out Andy, ‘and Jeremy and I
had been talking to each other
for years about doing something
together. About twelve years
ago, I did a mock séance where
I took over the House of
Detention in Clerkenwell,
and he loved it, but the reality
of children and mortgages kept
getting in the way.’
But they kept talking: ‘We had
one or two conversations about
doing a walk-round spookhouse
event,’ says Jeremy, picking up
the story, but then Andy came
up with a better idea. ‘I had this
idea in my head of doing a kind
of Vagina Monologues, but with
ghost stories, and featuring
three people sitting on stools
telling them.’
Jeremy was attracted by it:
‘There was something very
alluring in the purity of that,
though we ended up doing
Interview
Interview by
Mark Shenton
Photography by
Helen Maybanks and
courtesy of Rex features
Fright NightSpooks and supernatural stories at the Duke of York’s Theatre this summer
Main image: Jeremy Dyson
and Andy Nyman
ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:47 Page 13
something far more baroque!’
But first Andy, who had not
acted in a play for a decade, did
a theatre job: ‘I was in a play
at the Tricycle Theatre called
Moonlight and Magnolias a
couple of years ago, directed
by Sean Holmes. And I had such
joy doing it, it rekindled my
excitement for the theatre.’
Fast forward to last year, when
Sean was made Artistic Director
of the Lyric Hammersmith. Andy
goes on, ‘On his first day in the
office, he rang and asked me for
ideas, and I told him about the
ideas that Jeremy and I had been
working on. He told us to come
in tomorrow. So we went in on
the second day that he was in
his job, and we left his office
with the play not only
commissioned but scheduled
and announced - even though it
wasn’t written yet!’
For Jeremy, ‘It was a clever
and bold and brave thing to
programme it without us having
written it yet, so we had to do it!
That’s brilliant, and the opposite
of telly, where you can write
scripts and endless drafts, but
there’s no guarantee of anything
being made. With this, we knew
it was going to happen. The dare
of it was exciting, and it fed into
the finished product!’
It put them both under a
certain amount of pressure, but
says Andy, it’s something he is
used to: ‘I’m happy working that
way - that’s the way all the
Derren Brown stage shows that
I’ve written and directed are
done. Any writer will put up
their hands and say there’s no
incentive quite like the date for
the arrival of an audience to
drive the creative juices.’
They duly set about writing
it - and it went fast. ‘In three
days, the structure of the play
had written itself,’ says Andy.
‘It spewed out of our fetid
memories - 35 years of watching
horror and our combined
phoning of each other merged
into this love letter to the genre.’
The show retells a series of
original ghost stories, but says
Andy, ‘while they are each
completely original, fans of the
genre will recognise many
nods to other things in there!’
And, just as they are deeply
familiar with the rigours of stage
comedy - where you know that
a show is working purely by
whether an audience is laughing
or not - so with this genre you
know the same thing from
whether or not they are
screaming. ‘The analogy with
comedy is spot-on,’ says Jeremy.
‘The beautiful thing about
comedy is that it is completely
binary - it either works or it
doesn’t, you can’t debate it. And
the first night that we did this
show was exactly the same as the
first night of a live comedy show
- until the audience comes in and
tells you by their response, you
just don’t know. We sat there
completely on tenterhooks. But
when it became apparent that
it worked, we were thrilled.’ 10
Duke of York’s Theatre, London
Ghost StoriesWritten & directed byJeremy Dyson & Andy Nyman Box Office 0844 871 7623Online booking atAmbassadorTickets.com
Derren Brown
Steve Pemberton as his character
Pauline Campbell Jones from
The League Of Gentlemen
WARNINGPlease be advised that Ghost
Stories contains moments of
extreme shock and tension.
The show is unsuitable for
anyone under the age of 15.
We strongly advise those of
a nervous disposition to think
very seriously before attending.
★★★★‘A pant-wetter of a night. It’s terrifying’Daily Mail
★★★★‘I had to sleep with the lights on.A top night out’Metro
ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:47 Page 14
11
They always say that you can’t
teach an old dog new tricks, but
it seems that it’s never too late
to learn new skills if you’re one
of Britain’s most popular stage
and television entertainers. The
perennially youthful and ever-
jovial Brian Conley is facing a
new and welcome challenge:
‘I’d never played an 18-stone
woman from Baltimore before!’,
he says, until he inherited the
role of Edna Turnblad from
Michael Ball in the original West
End production of Hairspray.
Both Michael and Brian are
now sharing the role on the new
national tour of the show with
Michael Starke, and Brian says of
his West End predecessor: ‘They
are great shoes to fill - but he’s
been very charming, and given
me advice’. It’s not the first time
he’s followed where Ball has led:
he also inherited the role of
Caractacus Potts in the stage
version of Chitty Chitty Bang
Bang at the London Palladium.
‘Whatever Michael does, I tend
to follow him,’ he quips. ‘But
he never took over from me in
Jolson!’ That was the title part
that Conley originated in the
West End in 1995, and
subsequently took to Toronto,
and he says, ‘That show turned
it all around for me, without
a doubt. Up until then, I was
always zany comedian Brian
Conley; but once I did that,
perceptions changed. One review
said, I came to wince and I stayed
to cheer; that pretty much
summed it up.’
For Conley, a star of TV light
entertainment who started his
career as warm-up man for the
likes of Terry Wogan, Noel
Big is BeautifulBrian Conley goes large in Hairspray
Interview
Interview by
Mark Shenton
Photography by
Hugo Glendinning &
Tristram Kenton
ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:47 Page 15
Edmonds and Kenny Everett,
the label has been hard to shake
off, especially in terms of being
taken more seriously. ‘I’ve been
in the game a long time. My
initial shot to fame was in my
early 20s and people still
remember that; they’re afraid
that the Butlin’s Blue Coat is
always going to come out. I
always tell them, ‘yes, I was
a Blue Coat, but it was thirty
years ago, and I only did it for
3 months’ - and I’ve moved on!’
But not in every way: he’s
particularly pleased to be back
onstage singing for a living,
which is how he began his career
in nightclubs. ‘I always say I was
born to sing - everything else I
learnt. The comedy came later,
when I was about 18 or 19.’
He’s proud of the fact that he’s
recorded three albums now -
‘they’ve always gone cardboard,’
he quips, and adds, ‘the next
one I’m going to call the Beatles
Greatest Hits - I think that might
do well. But unfortunately I
am in my box, which is comedy.
People are always surprised
when they come to see me
live, and say I had no idea
you could sing’.
It has equipped him well
though, for a career in West
End musicals. He did his first
one in 1992 when he took
over in Me and My Girl,
playing a cockney barrow
boy - ‘so it wasn’t much of a
push, really’, he points out.
‘They said I was born to play it;
but then everything I have done
since they’ve said the same
thing about, too. So it has been
interesting to see whether they
think that of Edna!’
On the one hand, it’s a role
that, as a family man, he readily
identifies with. It was in fact as
a family treat last Christmas
that he first saw the show. ‘My
kids - Lucy and Amy - are huge
fans of it, so I came with them.
I sat there and just loved it. But
I never thought in my wildest
dreams that I would be taking
over from Michael.’
But then his career never has
been minutely mapped out. ‘I
don’t think it can be. Things
just come about; I put it down
to fate. I was doing a show
called The Best of Brian
Conley, a live theatre
show in which we
played some of the
classic moments from my
35 years in the business, and it
worked a treat. Then suddenly
the phone call came to see if I’d
like to audition for this, and then
there I was, kissing Nigel Planer
onstage!’ (Planer played Edna’s
husband Wilbur, reuniting the
two from a TV series, The
Grimleys, they once starred
in together).
The hardest part of the job
isn’t the fat suit that he has to
wear to bring him up to size -
‘I’m coping with that, but the
one thing that doesn’t sit right is
the false eyelashes! It’s a bit like
having a couple of boxing gloves
above your eyes. But I’m sure I’ll
get used to it eventually.’ But
one place he is more than used
to is being onstage: ‘I love it
there. I remember Jim Davidson
saying to me once, ‘you’ll always
work, Brian, because everyone
knows you’re good live’. I love
taking the audience somewhere
and blowing them away.’ He
never gives less than his all:
‘Every performance is 110% - I
have to! It’s just my job, it’s what
I do - I could never short change
the audience. It’s an obligation.’
12
‘ He’s proud of the fact that he’s recorded three albumsnow - ‘they’ve always gone cardboard,’ he quips, andadds, ‘the next one I’m going to call the BeatlesGreatest Hits - I think that might do well.
Brian Conley
’
Brian Conley
and Nigel Planer
HairsprayManchester Opera House*13 - 31 JulyBox Office 0844 847 2484
Liverpool Empire Theatre*17 August - 4 SeptemberBox Office 0844 847 2525
Sunderland Empire*7 - 18 SeptemberBox Office 0844 847 2499
Milton Keynes Theatre21 September - 9 OctoberBox Office 0844 871 7652
New Theatre Oxford*12 - 23 OctoberBox Office 01865 320 760
Edinburgh Playhouse*14 December - 9 January 2011Box Office 0844 847 1660
New Victoria Theatre, Woking18 - 29 January 2011Box Office 0844 871 7645
New Wimbledon Theatre15 - 26 March 2011Box Office 0844 871 7646
Bristol Hippodrome*12 - 30 April 2011Box Office 0844 847 2325
Full casting details and online booking
at AmbassadorTickets.com*Online booking at
livenationtheatres.co.uk
ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:47 Page 16
13
million sparkling family
pantomime - Cinderella.
The professional programme
offers a number of opportunities
to get involved, with a dedicated
Creative Learning Department
aiming to enhance the theatre
experience through fun,
engaging activities. Participation
events in the first season include
post-show talks, production
events and workshops plus the
chance for local youngsters to
appear in panto through
Robinsons ‘Search for a Star’
auditions. The professional
opening on 12 October will be
preceded by a programme of
community performances
showcasing the talents of a
number of groups and individual
performers from the region.
As the first new theatre of
the decade in Britain, Aylesbury
Waterside Theatre holds an
exciting position in theatre
history and marks the beginning
of a new era for Aylesbury and
entertainment. Around 300,000
people from across Aylesbury
Vale and beyond are expected to
visit the new theatre each year
to enjoy a dynamic and diverse
programme of live performances.
The Waterside Theatre boasts an
impressive 1,200-seat auditorium
that converts into a 1,800-
capacity hall for standing events
and a more intimate 225-seat
second space. It also offers a
range of versatile meeting
rooms, public spaces and a
waterfront café. These flexible
spaces have ensured that the
new venue has been earmarked
as the area’s premier centre for
meeting, exhibition and
conference facilities.
Leader of Aylesbury Vale
District Council John Cartwright
says ‘The realisation of our
dream is moving closer. We knew
that when we chose ATG as the
management operators for this
wonderful theatre, we were at
the beginning of a very special
relationship and this opening
season and commitment to
creative learning and education
demonstrates the quality and
the breadth of shows and
opportunities ATG will bring to
us. We are absolutely delighted.’
This Autumn, the brand-new
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre will
raise the curtain on a world class
opening season. This landmark
building, in a picturesque
riverside setting, is inspired by
the hills and forests of the
surrounding Chiltern countryside.
Situated right at the heart of
Aylesbury, it opens its doors on
12 October with the
award–winning Northern Ballet
Theatre’s Swan Lake.
The opening season, designed
to be wide-reaching and inclusive
will see Calendar Girls with
Aylesbury-born Linda Bellingham
taking to the stage along with
family favourite Joseph, show-
stopping Evita, hilarious
Spamalot, the hit Rocky Horror
Show and a special gala concert
from the Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra. More dance comes
from The Nutcracker from
English Youth Ballet which offers
the opportunity for 100 local
dancers to be a part of the
opening season. Comedy and
music fans will find an
unparalleled choice of one night
specials including Lee Mead,
Julian Lloyd Webber, Jimmy Carr
and Reginald D Hunter. This
milestone season wraps up in
time for Christmas with the £1
OneTo WatchA new era for theatre in Aylesbury
AYLESBURYWATERSIDE
THEATRE
To book for the opening
season call 0844 871 7607
or visit AmbassadorTickets
.com/aylesbury
Images clockwise from top left
Joseph, Cinderella,
Northern Ballet Theatre’s
Swan Lake, Spamalot,
Calendar Girls and Evita
Feature by
Becky Martin
ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:48 Page 17
DAY SEATS10 TICKETS AT £10*
*Available daily from 10.30am, in person,
from the Box Office. Maximum 2 tickets
per person. Excludes certain perfs.
Donmar Warehouse Artistic
Director Michael Grandage
recently announced the launch
of an exciting new initiative at
the Trafalgar Studios - Donmar
Trafalgar. Demonstrating the
Donmar’s commitment to the
next generation of young
directors, the company will
take up a residency at Trafalgar
Studio 2 for 12 weeks a year for
the next three years to enable
recent graduates of their
Resident Assistant Director (RAD)
programme to stage productions
under the Donmar banner.
‘It has always been a great
privilege to support young
directors through the Donmar’s
RAD scheme and this residency
at the Trafalgar Studios will now
give everyone an opportunity
to watch the next generation of
theatre directors at work. I have
every confidence that over the
next three years we will see some
serious and important talent
emerging that will help us focus
on the theatre practitioners of
the future’ says Grandage.
Since it began in 1994, the
RAD scheme has become widely
regarded as the most prestigious
training programme of its kind
in the country, offering young
directors at the start of their
professional careers the
opportunity to work alongside
leading theatre directors for
a year at the Donmar.
The first year of Donmar
Trafalgar will see Charlotte
Westenra, Róisín McBrinn and
Chris Rolls each direct a production
- Lower Ninth, Novecento and Les
Parents Terribles respectively.
Lower Ninth is a new play
by Beau Willimon. Set in New
Orleans’ Lower Ninth district, it
tells the story of two African
Americans, Malcolm and EZee,
who find themselves stranded
on a rooftop waiting for rescue.
Their city has been devastated,
Seriously TalentedCatch the next generation of young directors in the Donmar Trafalgar season
14
Traf
alg
ar S
tud
ios
ph
oto
gra
ph
yb
y Jo
han
Per
sso
n f
or
the
Do
nm
ar W
areh
ou
se
their worldly possessions swept
away and the body of their
young friend lies before them.
Novecento is by Alessandro
Baricco. In 1900 on board a great
Atlantic cruise liner, Novecento
was born. He became the
greatest jazz musician the world
would ever know. For six years
before World War II, Tim Tooney
played trumpet with him and
Novecento gave him his story...
Jean Cocteau’s Les Parents
Terribles is set in a bohemian
household in 1930’s Paris. When
Michael declares his love for a
girl, his devoted mother burns
with jealousy while his father is
shocked to discover that his son’s
lover is someone he knows only
too well.
Following their generous
support of the Donmar’s West
End Season, leading housing
contractor and developer United
House will be the Season Sponsor
for Donmar Trafalgar September
2010 - December 2012.
Donmar TrafalgarTrafalgar Studios 2, London*
Lower Ninth30 Sep - 23 Oct
Novecento28 Oct - 20 Nov
Les Parents Terribles25 Nov -18 Dec
Tickets on sale 7 Jun All seats £17.50Box Office 0844 871 7632Online booking atDonmarwarehouse.com
*Studio 2 has been made possible by a generous donation from Christina Smith
ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:48 Page 18
ENGLISHSUMMERAfternoon tea, croquet on the lawn-country house style
Style
15
LeJu brown horn resin ring £32equaclothing.com
People Tree Holly ruffle-front top£44 at Equa Clothing
Sailor shorts £45 by Tara Starlettarastarlet.com
Home front dress £68 by Tara Starlet
Izzy Lane bolero £165 at The Natural Storethenaturalstore.co.uk
Ciel striped t-shirt £10 ecobtq.com
Fedora Brisa 2 hat £34.50panamas.co.uk
Tea cup candles £15myvintageparty.co.uk
Executive croquet set £200ubergames.co.uk
Nandi flower shoe £60 by Where at The Natural Store
Linen Bea coat £290 at cabbagesandroses.comTabitha lace top £287.50 by Minna at Eco BTQEdun slim leg jean £93.80at The Natural Store
Three Whishes gift set £30at Equa Clothing
Veja volley trainers £75at Equa Clothing
1930’s floral blouse £125by Still stillethical.comKuyichi Nipi belt £45at Equa ClothingLove doves necklace £86 at hairygrowler.co.ukCiel linen culottes £30 at Eco BTQ
Enya necklace £185 by Rosie Weisencrantzrosieweisencrantz.com
Izzy Lane bolero see Dragona necklace £195 by Rosie WeisencrantzHand-embroidered v neck dress £225 by Still
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ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:49 Page 19
All prices quoted are given as a guide
only and may be subject to change by
individual retailers.
Feature by Mia Flodquist
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ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:49 Page 20
17
for children interested in nature
with its magical realm revealing
the secret world of plants,
from leafy canopies to huge
root systems. Best of all, the
exhibition and other attractions
are free.
A morning of exploration
deserves to be followed by an
open-air adventure so make your
way towards the Albert Dock
where a five to ten-minute stroll
along the River Mersey brings
you to the new Pier Head Ferry
Terminal. Opt for the 50-minute
River Explorer Cruise to learn
about the city’s fascinating
history and see landmark sights
from the water. Liverpool has
an important maritime heritage
and the ferry service is more
than 850 years old.
Once back on dry land, why
not check out the Condé Nast
Traveller-endorsed Liverpool
ONE complex? With over 130
retail stores, more than 20
restaurants, a 14-screen cinema
and five-acre park, this is a great
choice for retail therapy and
dining. The leisure terrace comes
alive in the summer and caters
for eclectic tastes - sample Jamie
Oliver’s take on Italian food this
June when his chain arrives at
Liverpool ONE.
As the sun goes down, liven
up the entertainment by booking
tickets for a show at the
Liverpool Empire. This summer
sees the famous venue hosting
award-winning productions of
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and
Hairspray.
Manchester RocksManchester is a free-spirited city
in which to find inspiration and
indulgence in equal measure.
Those seeking to explore its
artistic side can now download
one of four self-guided Urban
Culture Trails for free - these
walking tours are easy to follow
and packed with juicy morsels
of information. The A City
Performs trail highlights a deep-
rooted theatrical heritage,
pointing out such legendary
spots as the Manchester Opera
House, today a favourite choice
for music theatre lovers, and the
‘Grand Old Lady of Oxford
Street’, otherwise known as the
Palace Theatre. Originally
opened in 1891, the auditorium
and foyers have retained many
of their original late-Victorian
features including a distinctive
proscenium arch and grand
balconies.
Another area that is simple
Northern DelightsCulture and countryside in England’s vibrant North West
Going Out
Home to the cosmopolitan cities
of Liverpool and Manchester,
North West England also boasts
breathtaking countryside just
waiting to be discovered as the
weather warms up. So whether
you are planning family fun or
an indulgent day of me-time,
come to a region that’s got
something for everyone.
Love LiverpoolSince being named the European
Capital of Culture 2008, Liverpool
has flourished as a family-friendly
destination. Keep the young at
heart happy by visiting World
Museum where historic treasures,
an aquarium, bughouse and
planetarium come together
under one roof. An interactive
exhibition that runs until early
September, Plantastic! is perfect
visitliverpool.com
liverpoolmuseums.org.uk
merseyferries.co.uk
liverpool-one.com
visitmanchester.com/
arts-and-culture.aspx
creativetourist.com
afflecks.com
craftanddesign.com
malmaison-manchester.com
themodernmcr.co.uk
visitsthelens.com
firtreefarmshop.org.uk
phytobotanica.com
worldofglass.com
For details of Liverpool
Empire, Manchester Opera
House & Manchester
Palace Theatre see
livenationtheatres.co.uk
World Museum
ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:49 Page 21
18
to navigate by foot, the funky
Northern Quarter combines vinyl
shops, vintage fashion stores and
art galleries. Afflecks emporium
and the Manchester Craft &
Design Centre are two must-sees
for creative types while visitors
with a sweet tooth shouldn’t
miss Cupcakery opening on
Oldham Street in June.
Ease down from an action-
packed day at le petit spa, an
intimate oasis based in the
glamorous Malmaison
Manchester. Reserve the one-
hour ESPA body aromatherapy
massage so you have the
freedom to decide on a relaxing,
energising or balancing result
on the day.
Once the body is recharged,
complete your Manchester
odyssey with dinner at The
Modern Bar and Restaurant,
which is accessed by a private
elevator that transports guests
to the top of the Urbis building.
Here panoramic views are served
up with a seasonal menu that
places an emphasis on
provenance.
St Helens EscapeLocated midway between
Liverpool and Manchester, St
Helens is an excellent starting
point from which to uncover
the region’s countryside gems.
As Merseyside’s largest body
of inland water, Carr Mill Dam
attracts anglers, watersports
enthusiasts, hikers and
birdwatchers. Pack a picnic and
enjoy walking the picturesque
lakeside trails or catch one of
the occasional high-speed
powerboat races in the summer.
The family run, 35-hectare
Fir Tree Farm is a relaxing place
in which to amble through
beautiful woodland walks and
observe local wildlife. A small
group of listed buildings include
the farmhouse itself, dating
back to 1704, and a renovated
barn that houses a Farm Shop
and café.
For something a bit different,
visit the Inglenook Lavender
Farm managed by Phytobotanica
on one of its open days in July.
You’ll have a chance to get
involved with bringing in the
lavender harvest and treat
yourself to essential oil-based
gifts.
Also worthy of a stop, the
award-winning World of Glass
visitor centre may not be outdoors
but it does capture the
imagination with live glassblowing
demonstrations, stunning displays
and a special effects film show.
Summer exhibitions include
Crystal Clear featuring the best
contemporary 20th-century
pieces from the Pilkington Glass
Collection, some of which are
displayed for the first time.
Feature by
Neena Dhillon
Le petit spa at Malmaison
Images top l-r
Liverpool Empire
Plantastic!
Manchester Palace Theatre
Liverpool ONE
Fir Tree Farm
ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:49 Page 22
7 - 12 JUN NOTTINGHAM THEATRE ROYAL 0115 989 5555
14 - 19 JUN KING’S THEATRE GLASGOW 0844 8717648
21 - 26 JUN THEATRE ROYAL BRIGHTON 0844 8717650
28 JUN - 3 JUL CHURCHILL THEATRE BROMLEY 0844 8717620
5 - 10 JUL MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE 0844 847 2295
12 - 17 JUL LEEDS GRAND THEATRE 0844 848 2706
19 - 24 JUL NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL 08448 1121 21
26 - 31 JUL SOUTHAMPTON MAYFLOWER 02380 711811
2 - 7 AUG REGENT THEATRE STOKE-ON-TRENT 0844 8717649
9 - 14 AUG LIVERPOOL EMPIRE 0844 847 2525
16 - 21 AUG ABERDEEN HIS MAJESTY’S 01224 641122
23 - 28 AUG WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE 029 2063 6464
13 - 17 SEP BRISTOL HIPPODROME 0844 847 2325
20 - 25 SEP WOKING NEW VICTORIA 0844 871 7645
18 - 23 OCT EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE 0844 847 1660
25 - 30 OCT OXFORD NEW THEATRE 01865 305305
1 - 6 NOV TORQUAY PRINCESS THEATRE 0844 847 2315
22 NOV YORK GRAND OPERA HOUSE 0844 847 2322
29 NOV - 4 DEC MILTON KEYNES THEATRE 0844 871 7652
7 DEC - 1 JAN BIRMINGHAM ALEXANDRA 0844 847 2302
28 MAR - 2 APR AYLESBURY WATERSIDE THEATRE 0844 871 7607
‘I FELT I MIGHTACTUALLY DIE OF LAUGHTER’THE INDEPENDENT
7 - 12 Jun NORWICH - THEATRE ROYAL 0160 363 0000
14 - 19 Jun SUNDERLAND - EMPIRE 0844 847 2499
21 - 26 Jun EDINBURGH - PLAYHOUSE 0844 847 1660
28 Jun -3 Jul ABERDEEN HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE 01224 641122
5 - 10 Jul BRISTOL - HIPPODROME 0844 847 2325
1 - 4 Sep WOKING - NEW VICTORIA 0844 871 7645
6 - 11 Sep SOUTHEND - CLIFFS PAVILION 0170 235 1135
13 - 18 Sep BRIGHTON - THEATRE ROYAL 0844 871 7650
20 - 25 Sep LLANDUDNO - VENUE CYMRU 0149 287 2000
4 - 9 Oct LIVERPOOL - EMPIRE 0844 847 2525
25 - 30 Oct BIRMINGHAM - ALEXANDRA THEATRE 0844 847 2302
1 - 6 Nov LEEDS - GRAND THEATRE 0844 848 2700
8 - 13 Nov GLASGOW - THE KINGS 0844 871 7648
15 - 20 Nov MANCHESTER - PALACE 0844 847 2275
22- 27 Nov RICHMOND THEATRE 0844 871 7651
29 Nov- 4 Dec AYLESBURY - WATERSIDE THEATRE 0844 871 7607
STARRING
DAVID BEDELLA
AS FRANK
/STILLTHE SEXIEST AND FUNNIEST SHOWIN TOWN/
EVENING STANDARD
IT’S AGUARANTEED Party!www.rockyhorror.co.uk
ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:49 Page 23
ATG Magazine 29 2/6/10 12:49 Page 24