Viva Forever, based on the music of the Spice Girls

Viva Forever, a brand new show that features the songs of the Spice Girls, one of the world’s most successful girl groups, will come to London in 2012. Produced by Mamma Mia! producer Judy Craymer, Viva Forever will have a book by Ab Fab’s Jennifer Saunders.

War Horse director Marianne Elliott was to have helmed the production but has since left the show.

Viva Forever is a modern fable of camaraderie, love and loyalty based on the songs of the Spice Girls.

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Sheridan Smith, rumoured to be playing the lead

Directed by Stephen Daldry (The Hours, Billy Elliot) and choreographed by Peter Darling (Billy Elliot), the show will feature numbers by Lily Allen and Greg Kurstin, and a script by the author of the original books, Helen Fielding.

Sheridan Smith, recent star of Trevor Nunn’s Flare Path at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre, is tipped to play Bridget.

The musical is being developed by Working Title, who are currently in development on a third Bridget Jones movie.

2012 will be a big year for Daldry, who is producing the London Olympics opening ceremony with Danny Boyle, and directing Disney’s Dumbo on Broadway.

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Heather Headley

Directed by Thea Sharrock, the show will star Tony Award-winning Broadway actress Heather Headley (Aida, The Lion King) in the role played by Whitney Houston in the film.

Produced by David Ian and Michael Harrison, the theatre and casting is to be confirmed.

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The acclaimed production of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, which has been playing in Chichester to packed houses, will transfer into the West End in March 2012.

Starring Michael Ball as Sweeney Todd and Imelda Staunton as Mrs Lovett, the show will play at the Adelphi Theatre from 10 March 2012.

The show is directed by Jonathan Kent and designed by Anthony Ward.

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STAGE SPY CHECK-LIST

• Show: Sweeney Todd
• Author: Stephen Sondheim, Hugh Wheeler
• Theatre: Adelphi Theatre
• Director: Jonathan Kent
• Stars: Michael Ball, Imelda Staunton
• Opens: 10 March 2012
• Original production: Chichester Festival Theatre, 24 September 2011

Imelda Staunton and Michael Ball in Sweeney Todd. Photo: Roy Tan

The new show, which has been written by Jennifer Saunders and will be directed by War Horse’s Marianne Elliott, is based on the songs of the Spice Girls and promises to be a modern fable of camaraderie, love and loyalty.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl8BlcuHTKo

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Vaudeville Theatre, 15 December 2011 – 14 January 2012
Suitable for 6yrs+

The critically acclaimed Bristol Old Vic production of SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS, a new musical play with book by Helen Edmundson and songs by Neil Hannon, comes to the West End this Christmas for a strictly limited 5-week run, presented by the National Theatre and The Children’s Touring Partnership. Tickets are on sale from Monday 25 July for performances at the Vaudeville Theatre from 15 December – 14 January (press night: Monday 19 December.)

Based on the much-loved book by Arthur Ransome, this delightful and imaginative production is directed by Tom Morris, Artistic Director of Bristol Old Vic and co-director of the National Theatre’s Tony Award-winning smash hit War Horse. SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS has music and lyrics by Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy and is written by Helen Edmundson, who adapted the National’s Coram Boy.

All aboard The Swallow! Follow Captain John and his able crew as they set sail to Wildcat Island on an exotic adventure to encounter savages, capture dastardly pirates and defeat mortal enemies.

An action-packed musical adventure for the whole family (ages 6+), SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS is a story of an idyllic era, of endless summer evenings and the beauty of youthful imagination.

SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS opened at Bristol Old Vic in December 2010 for a sell-out run and was a critical and popular hit; it was originally developed at the National Theatre Studio. Following its run at the Vaudeville Theatre, the production will embark on a UK tour (dates to be announced on 1 September; for more information please visit www.swallowsamazons.co.uk).

The director of movement is Toby Sedgwick, who won an Olivier Award for War Horse; with set design by Robert Innes Hopkins, costume design by Robert Innes Hopkins & Liesel Corp, musical direction and arrangements by Sam Kenyon, lighting design by James Farncombe, sound by Jason Barnes and additional musical arrangements by Andrew Skeet.

Published in 1930, Swallows and Amazons was the first in a series of twelve books by Arthur Ransome (1884-1967). Set in 1929 in the Lake District, it tells of the school holiday exploits of the Walker and Blackett children and their sailing dinghies – the Swallow and the Amazon.

Helen Edmundson’s many adaptations include Coram Boy, which played two sell-out seasons at the National Theatre, and Anna Karenina, Mill on the Floss, War and Peace, Gone to Earth (Shared Experience). Other work includes The Clearing (Bush Theatre), Mother Teresa is Dead (Royal Court), and a version of Calderon’s Life is a Dream (Donmar). Her new play, The Heresy of Love, opens for the RSC at the Swan in February 2012.

Neil Hannon is a singer, lyricist and composer. Although he is best known for writing, recording and performing as The Divine Comedy, he has also written extensively for TV and film, including the music to Father Ted and The IT Crowd. He has collaborated with everyone from Michael Nyman to Tom Jones, and his cricket-themed project The Duckworth Lewis Method was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award. Swallows and Amazons is his first venture into the world of musical theatre.

Tom Morris was appointed Artistic Director of Bristol Old Vic in September 2009. As Associate Director of the National Theatre (2004 – 2009), he developed and co-directed (with Marianne Elliott) War Horse which is currently running in the West End and on Broadway, where it received 6 Tony Awards; and co-directed Every Good Boy Deserves Favour. Previously he was Artistic Director at Battersea Arts Centre from 1995 to 2004. He sits on the board of Complicite and is Chair of the JMK Trust.

Established in 2010 and led by independent producer Fiery Angel and Chichester Festival Theatre, the Children’s Touring Partnership receives generous support from Arts Council England. Their inaugural production, Goodnight Mister Tom, premiered at Chichester in January 2011 and subsequently toured the UK for fourteen weeks. The Children’s Touring Partnership will be presenting the tour of Bristol Old Vic’s stage adaptation of Swallows and Amazons throughout spring 2012.

Release issued by: National Theatre press office

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Max Stafford-Clark’s new production of Caryl Churchill’s Top Girls is to transfer to the Trafalgar Studios following its critically acclaimed, sell-out run at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester. Top Girls, produced in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions, will run at the Trafalgar Studios from 5 August – 15 October 2011 with press night on 16 August 2011. Designs are by Tim Shortall with lighting by Jason Taylor, sound by Ian Dickinson and video design by Finn Ross. Stafford-Clark’s Out of Joint/ Chichester Festival Theatre co-production reunites him with producer Sonia Friedman, with whom he co-founded Out of Joint Theatre Company in 1993.

The cast is Stella Gonet, Suranne Jones, Catherine McCormack, Lucy Briers, Laura Elphinstone, Lisa Kerr and Olivia Poulet.
It’s Thatcher’s England and hard-nosed, go-getting businesswoman Marlene is hosting a dinner party to celebrate her promotion to MD of the Top Girls Employment Agency. Her guests – all powerful women from myth and history – make for an extraordinary gathering. A provocative study of success, and what happens to those who get left behind.

Stella Gonet plays Isabella Bird/Joyce/Mrs Kidd. Her television credits include the drama series The House of Eliott and Holby City as well as Mo Mowlam, and Persuasion. Her theatre credits include Racing Demon, Skylight, Hamlet and The Voysey Inheritance for the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company productions of Measure For Measure, Three Sisters and The Revenger’s Tragedy and Women, Power and Politics for the Tricycle Theatre.

Suranne Jones plays businesswoman Marlene. She has most recently been seen on television as DC Bailey in the new ITV1 detective series Scott and Bailey, playing opposite Lesley Sharp. Her other television credits include Vincent, Unforgiven, Five Days and Single Father as well as the role of Karen McDonald in Coronation Street which she played for over four years. Her stage credits include A Few Good Men in the West End, the touring production of Terms of Endearment and Blithe Spirit at the Royal Exchange Theatre.
Catherine McCormack plays Lady Nijo/Win. McCormack’s screen credits include Braveheart, Dangerous Beauty, Spy Game and 28 Weeks Later. Her theatre credits include an Olivier Award nominated performance in All My Sons, Honor and Dinner all for the National Theatre, the West End production of The 39 Steps, The Lady from Dubuque at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and A Doll’s House and The Portrait of a Lady for the Theatre Royal Bath and the Rose Theatre Kingston.

Lucy Briers plays Pope Joan/Louise. Her theatre credits include Behud for Soho Theatre, Bedroom Farce and Miss Julie for the Rose Theatre, Kingston, Ivanov at the Donmar and Wyndham’s Theatres, Some Kind of Bliss at the Trafalgar Studios, The Voysey Inheritance for the National Theatre and Cloud Nine, Teeth ‘n’ Smiles and Don Juan for Sheffield Theatres. Her many television credits include the role of Mary Bennet in the adaptation of Pride and Prejudice as well as The Night Watch, Einstein and Eddington and Silent Witness.

Laura Elphinstone plays Patient Griselda/Nell. Elphinstone’s credits include A Month in the Country for Chichester Festival Theatre, Tom and Viv at the Almeida Theatre, Pains of Youth for the National Theatre, Breathing Corpses and Country Music for the Royal Court. Her film and television credits include The History Boys and Tess of the D’Urbevilles.

Lisa Kerr plays the Waitress/Kit/Shona. Her credits include the Out of Joint productions of The Big Fellah for the Lyric Hammersmith and on tour, Andersen’s English for Hampstead Theatre and Mixed Up North for the Octagon Theatre, Bolton, Wilton’s Music Hall and on tour.

Olivia Poulet plays Dull Gret/Angie/Jeanine. Her credits include recent roles in the television comedy The Thick of It, as well as the film In The Loop.

As well as Top Girls, Caryl Churchill’s plays include Cloud Nine, Serious Money, Far Away and A Number.

Max Stafford-Clark returns to Top Girls having directed its world premiere at the Royal Court in 1982. He was Artistic Director of the Royal Court from 1979 – 1993 and of the Traverse Theatre Edinburgh from 1968 – 1970. He co-founded the Joint Stock Theatre Group in 1974 and Out of Joint (with Sonia Friedman) in 1993. Among his directing credits are regular collaborations with writer Caryl Churchill, including Light Shining in Buckinghamshire, Cloud Nine, Serious Money and Blue Heart.

Top Girls opened at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester last month, where it runs until 16 July 2011 before its West End transfer.
Out of Joint is a theatre company acclaimed for producing and touring new writing. Under the directorship of Max Stafford-Clark it has premiered plays by David Hare, Caryl Churchill, Sebastian Barry, Timberlake Wertenbaker and many more, and launched the careers of such talents as Mark Ravenhill and Stella Feehily. The Out of Joint production of A Dish of Tea with Dr Johnson will transfer to the West End in September.

Chichester Festival Theatre is one of this country’s leading producing theatres with a strong track record in commissioning and producing new plays and adaptations. Over the past five years, playwrights whose work has been premiered at Chichester include David Edgar, David Hare, Ronald Harwood, Mike Poulton, Ben Power, Lucy Prebble, Martin Sherman and Nicholas Wright.

Release issued by: Premier PR

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NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE BROADCAST TO CINEMAS WORLDWIDE ON 15 SEPTEMBER 2011

Nicholas Hytner’s five star production of One Man, Two Guvnors will transfer to the West End for a 16 week run following its sell-out run at the National Theatre, subsequent UK tour and National Theatre Live cinema broadcast. Nearly 200,000 tickets go on sale on Thursday 14 July for performances at the Adelphi Theatre from 8 November 2011 – 25 February 2012. Press night will be on 21 November at 7pm.

James Corden, whose performance as Francis Henshall has been relished by critics and audiences alike at the National Theatre, will continue in the role for the West End run, joined by his ‘two guvnors’ Oliver Chris and Jemima Rooper, along with original cast members David Benson, Tom Edden, Martyn Ellis, Trevor Laird, Claire Lams, Fred Ridgeway, Daniel Rigby and Suzie Toase; with Owain Arthur, Polly Conway, Derek Elroy, David Hunter, Paul Lancaster, Gareth Mason and Clare Thomson.

Richard Bean’s adaptation, based on by Carlo Goldoni ‘s The Servant of Two Masters, with songs by Grant Olding, opened at the Lyttelton at the National Theatre in May. The production will tour to Aylesbury, Plymouth, Salford, Birmingham and Edinburgh before opening in the West End. One Man, Two Guvnors is also part of the National Theatre Live season, with a live broadcast to cinemas all over the world on 15 September 2011. One Man, Two Guvnors Associate Director is Cal McCrystal, designs are by Mark Thompson, with lighting by Mark Henderson, music by Grant Olding, sound design by Paul Arditti, fight direction by Kate Waters and choreography by Adam Penford.

In Richard Bean’s English version of Goldoni’s classic Italian comedy, sex, food and money are high on the agenda. Fired from his skiffle band, Francis Henshall becomes minder to Roscoe Crabbe, a small time East End hood, now in Brighton to collect £6000 from his fiancee’s dad. But Roscoe is really his sister Rachel posing as her own dead brother, who’s been killed by her boyfriend Stanley Stubbers. Holed up at the Cricketers’ Arms, the permanently ravenous Francis spots the chance of an extra meal ticket and takes a second job with one Stanley Stubbers, who is hiding from the police and waiting to be re-united with Rachel. To prevent discovery, Francis must keep his two guvnors apart. Simple.

Richard Bean’s plays include England People Very Nice for the National The Heretic, Harvest (winner of the 2006 Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Play), Honeymoon Suite, Under the Whaleback and Toast for the Royal Court and The Big Fellah for Out of Joint at the Lyric Hammersmith and on tour. He adapted David Mamet’s House of Games and wrote a new version of The Hypochondriac for the Almeida Theatre.

James Corden last appeared at the National Theatre in Nicholas Hytner’s original production of The History Boys, which transferred to Broadway, toured internationally and was adapted for the screen. Since then, his extensive television work includes the multi award-wining Gavin and Stacey, Horne and Corden (both of which he co-wrote) and Fat Friends. On film his credits include 3 Musketeers, Gulliver’s Travels, How to Loose Friends and Alienate People and Starter for Ten. Corden has also appeared on television co-presenting The Brit Awards and A League of Their Own as well as James Corden’s World Cup Live.

Since he became Director of the National in April 2003, Nicholas Hytner has directed Henry V, His Dark Materials, The History Boys, Stuff Happens, Henry IV, Southwark Fair, The Alchemist, The Man of Mode, The Rose Tattoo (with Stephen Pimlott), Rafta, Rafta… , Much Ado About Nothing, Major Barbara, England People Very Nice, Phèdre, The Habit of Art, London Assurance and Hamlet.

For the West End run of One Man, Two Guvnors there will be 400 tickets available at £15 or £12 for each performance. There will be no booking fees for tickets purchased from the National Theatre Box Office and See Tickets.

Following its run at the National Theatre, Nicholas Hytner’s production of One Man, Two Guvnors will tour the UK with its original cast led by James Corden visiting Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury (27 September – 1 October); Theatre Royal, Plymouth (4 – 8 October); The Lowry, Salford (11 – 15 October); New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham (18 – 22 October) and King’s Theatre, Edinburgh (25 – 29 October).

Release issued by: Premier PR

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Celebrating the greatest hits of five decades of Divas from Beyoncé to Bassey, Respect La Diva is an uplifting musical celebration paying tribute to some of the greatest female singers of all time. Hosted by X-Factor finalist Andy Abraham and headlined by singers Sheila Ferguson (The Three Degrees), Denise Pearson (Five Star), Katy Setterfield (The One & Only) and Zoe Birkett (West End/Pop Idol), alongside a cast of West End singers, dancers and a live band, Respect La Diva showcases songs by iconic Divas including Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Etta James, Shirley Bassey, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Dusty Springfield and many more.

Respect La Diva is designed by Jonathan Park, with lighting by Paul Moorhouse, sound by Phillip Cluskey with assistant direction/choreography by Racky Plews and is produced and directed by Adrian Grant for Baronet Entertainment.

Respect La Diva is a show with a social message that aims to raise awareness of domestic violence and abuse against women and children. The production is therefore proud to be supporting the national charity Refuge.*

Sandra Horley CBE, chief executive of Refuge, says: “Respect La Diva is a show about strong and inspirational women. Every day Refuge supports women and children whose lives have been shattered by domestic violence. But despite enduring months or even years of violence and control, abused women and children are resilient, courageous and determined to rebuild their lives. They are inspirational. I can think of no better tribute to the 80,000 women and children Refuge supports every year than the positive, empowering message of Respect La Diva. We are proud and grateful to receive their support.”

Andy Abraham is most recognised for winning second place in 2005’s X-Factor. This led to Abraham’s involvement in three national tours, X Factor Arena 2006, Unforgettable Tour 2006 and An Evening With… in 2008. He has released three albums, Impossible Dream and Soul Man in 2006 and Even If in 2008. Andy represented the UK in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest and the following year he went on a sell out 54 date national tour.

Sheila Ferguson was the lead singer in the hit 1970’s group The Three Degrees, who had over seventeen chart hits including When Will I See You Again, Take Good Care Of Yourself and A Woman In Love. Her most recent album is New Kind of Medicine. Ferguson’s previous stage credits include Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Shaftesbury Theatre, Soul Train at the Victoria Palace Theatre and Oh What A Night!, which toured internationally. In 2010 she headlined on the Irish tour of Fame.

Denise Pearson is an award-winning performer, renowned for being the lead singer in the 1980’s pop group Five Star with hits such as System Addict, The Slightest Touch and Rain or Shine. Five Star were the youngest British group to have a number one album and receive seven consecutive hit singles from one album in the UK. Denise’s stage credits include Thriller Live in the West End and on tour and in 2009 she released her debut solo single, Here I Am.

After touring with the show That’ll Be The Day, Katy Setterfield joined the BBC1 show The One And Only, winning in 2008 with her renditions of Cher and Dusty Springfield’s renowned hits, leading to a three month run in Legends In Concert in Las Vegas. Katy subsequently recorded a compilation album entitled You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me – The Songs of Dusty and went on a 50 date national tour. Since 2009 Katy has toured in her own show, Katy Setterfield – Dusty And Friends and earlier this year she joined the original Springfields in a tribute show to Dusty at the Royal Albert Hall.

Zoe Birkett first came to national attention in 2002’s Pop Idol, which she followed with two national tours and a group album, Pop Idol Big Band, which reached number one in the album chart and went triple platinum within a year. Her recent stage credits include playing one of the Divas in the original London cast of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical, principal singer in What A Feeling at the Palladium and lead female in Thriller Live at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Ave. Birkett’s screen credits include I Dream for BBC1 and most recently ITV’s Sing If You Can.

Adrian Grant’s first theatre production was Thriller Live, which first previewed in 2006 at the Dominion Theatre, before several nationwide and European tours, and a successful run at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Ave, where it continues to play. Adrian has managed music artists for over fifteen years, runs a record label, and is an established writer and publisher with numerous magazine and book credits including Michael Jackson – The Visual Documentary.

Racky Plews is director and choreographer in residence Upstairs at the Gatehouse where credits include; A Slice of Saturday Night, The Drowsy Chaperone, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story, Into The Woods and Side by Side by Sondheim, The Hot Mikado and Talent. Further choreography credits include The Tender Land at the Arcola, and the 48 hour showtime challenge in the West End – with credits including The Boy Friend at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Haymarket and Crazy For You and Me & My Girl at the Palladium. Racky is also a founder member of Triptic Productions.

*Respect La Diva and Refuge have set up a special mobile text donation line where you text the code DIVA40 to 70070 and pledge an amount of up to £10 e.g. ‘DIVA40 £10’. The text is free to send and the donation will be added to standard phone bills.

Release issued by: Emma Holland PR

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MIDNIGHT TANGO is the creation of Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace, stars of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. The show has been touring the United Kingdom since April and has been the fastest selling show of the year in many of the venues. Producers of the show, Arlene Phillips and Adam Spiegel, are delighted to announce that MIDNIGHT TANGO will now be seen in the West End at the Aldwych Theatre for a strictly limited season, opening on 20 January 2012. The season must end on 31 March.

MIDNIGHT TANGO is set in a late-night bar in downtown Buenos Aires. Vincent and Flavia both star in and have choreographed the show, which brings to life all the drama, sensuality and elegance of the tango. They are joined on stage by some of the finest tango dancers in the world, and, between them, they take the audience on a journey into the heart of this intoxicating city, as danger and excitement, joy and jealousy, pain and passion combine into a spectacular and explosive evening.

Of the announcement of the West End season, producer Arlene Phillips said, “I’m thrilled with how well the show has been received around the country, and sell-out shows and standing ovations are every producer’s dream. Vincent and Flavia in MIDNIGHT TANGO are a must-see, and I hope the show’s arrival into the West End is just as successful.” Vincent and Flavia are equally delighted: “We are so incredibly pleased at how MIDNIGHT TANGO has been received and appreciated by our audiences. It’s an absolute thrill that we are taking the show to the West End. We sincerely hope to continue giving pleasure and making our audiences smile and cry with our show.”

MIDNIGHT TANGO is directed by Olivier Award-winning choroegrapher Karen Bruce, who has choreographed for both Strictly Come Dancing and So You Think You Can Dance on BBC 1, and whose theatre credits include Pacific Overtures (Donmar Warehouse) and Footloose (West End and UK Tour). Choreography is by Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace, design by Morgan Large and lighting by James Whiteside. The live music will be provided by top tango band, Tango Siempre, featuring vocalist Guillermo Rozenthuler.

The current nationwide tour of MIDNIGHT TANGO ends in Glasgow on 30 July and is produced by Arlene Phillips and Adam Spiegel.

Release issued by: Amanda Malpass PR

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