Photo: Woyzeck on the Highveld at the Barbican Theatre

Production photos of Handspring Puppet Company’s acclaimed production of Woyzeck on the Highveld at the Barbican Theatre.

Handspring Puppet Company, the creators of the puppets for the multi-award winning production of War Horse at the New London Theatre and on Broadway, bring their critically acclaimed production of Woyzeck on the Highveld to the Barbican this September as part of a UK and European tour.

Originally created in 1992 and directed and designed by William Kentridge , this revival is directed by Luc de Wit and is based on German writer Georg Büchner’s famous play.

Woyzeck on the Highveld combines Handspring’s rod-manipulated puppets and Kentridge’s animated film, graphically illustrating Woyzeck’s tortured mind as he tries to make sense of his external circumstances. Büchner’s Woyzeck was a German soldier in the 1800s but in this version Woyzeck is a migrant worker in 1956 Johannesburg, a landscape of barren industrialisation.

TOUR SCHEDULE

Warwick Arts Centre
Tuesday 11 – Saturday 15 October

Belfast Festival
Tuesday 18 – Saturday 22 October

Wales Millennium Centre
Tuesday 25 – Wednesday 26 October

Aberwystwyth Arts Centre
Friday 28 – Saturday 29 October

Hall for Cornwall
Tuesday 1– Wednesday 2 November

Exeter Northcott
Friday 4 – Saturday 5 November

Oxford Playhouse
Tuesday 8 – Saturday 12 November

Photos by Roy Tan.

Photo Exclusive: South Pacific at the Barbican Theatre starring Samantha Womack and Paulo Szot

Exclusive production photos of South Pacific at the Barbican Theatre starring Samantha Womack and Paulo Szot.

This month sees the London opening of the acclaimed Lincoln Center production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific. The show is directed by Bartlett Sher and plays at the Barbican Theatre until 1 October 2011.

TV and stage star Samantha Womack takes the lead role of Nellie Forbush in the production. Womack has starred in numerous stage and TV projects including Grease and Guys and Dolls in the West End and is currently playing Ronnie Branning in EastEnders.

The cast also includes a number of stars from Sher’s original Broadway production including Brazilian opera baritone Paulo Szot as plantation owner Emile De Becque and Loretta Ables Sayre as Bloody Mary. Daniel Koek, who has recently starred as Anatoly in Craig Revel Horwood’s touring production of Chess, will play Lt Cable.

The Lincoln Center Theater production is credited with breathing new life into this classic musical and won 7 Tony Awards and ran for 2 years on Broadway.

Set during World War II, South Pacific is the sweeping romantic story of two couples, threatened by the realities of war. Its portrayal of Americans stationed in an alien culture in wartime is as relevant today as when it first thrilled audiences. Songs include Some Enchanted Evening, I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair and There is Nothin’ Like a Dame.

With sets by Michael Yeargan and musical staging by Christopher Gattelli, the show feature a cast of 40 and a live orchestra of 25 and plays for only 7 weeks at the Barbican.

Photos by Roy Tan.

LINKS

More News on South Pacific

SAMANTHA WOMACK in South Pacific

EastEnders actress Samantha Womack stars in the Tony award-winning production of South Pacific

This summer Samantha Womack will play Nellie Forbush in the acclaimed Lincoln Center production of South Pacific.

The role marks a return to theatre by Samantha, whose previous stage credits include Harold Pinter’s Betrayal, Grease and the Donmar production in the West End of Guys and Dolls, playing Adelaide.

Her TV work includes playing Ronnie Branning in EastEnders, Babes in the Wood, Game On and recently featuring in Famous, Rich and in the Slums with Lenny Henry, Angela Rippon and Reggie Yates for Comic Relief.

Samantha Womack stars in the London transfer of the award-winning Lincoln Center production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific, directed by Bartlett Sher. The show opens at the Barbican Theatre from 15 August 2011 and also stars Paulo Szot, Loretta Ables Sayre and Daniel Koek.

Book tickets to South Pacific at the Barbican Theatre in London

PAULO SZOT in South Pacific

Tony award-winning baritone Paulo Szot stars in South Pacific

Lucky London. Paulo Szot, who is one of the most exciting voices in international opera, will reprise his Tony award-winning performance as Emile de Becque in the Lincoln Center Theater’s production of South Pacific this summer.

He will be recreating the role of the French plantation owner at the Barbican Centre in London, where the production will run for a limited season of 7 weeks only from 15 August to 1 October.

Last year, Paulo made a triumphant Metropolitan Opera debut in their new production of Shostakovich’s The Nose. His appearances with the New York City Opera include L’Elisir d’Amore, Le Nozze di Figaro, and Carmen.

Paulo Szot stars in the London transfer of the award-winning Lincoln Center production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific, directed by Bartlett Sher. The show opens at the Barbican Theatre from 15 August 2011 and also stars Samantha Womack, Loretta Ables Sayre and Daniel Koek.

Book tickets to South Pacific at the Barbican Theatre in London

LORETTA ABLES SAYRE in South Pacific

Loretta Ables Sayre reprises her acclaimed role of Bloody Mary in the Tony award-winning production of South Pacific

Loreta Ables Sayre’s previous credits include numerous theatre, concert, TV and voiceover work in her home state of Hawaii. Theatre includes You Somebody (Diamond Head Theatre), Effie in Dreamgirls (Hawaii Theatre), Song of the Navigator (Honolulu Theatre for Youth and US and Australia tour),

Concerts include the opening act for the Beach Boys, Kenny Loggins, James Brown and the Four Tops.

TV credits include Beyond the Break (Nickelodeon), North Shore (Fox), Hawaii (NBC), Baywatch Hawaii, Byrds of Paradise”(ABC), and the voice of PBS Hawaii.

Loretta Ables Sayre stars in the London transfer of the award-winning Lincoln Center production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific, directed by Bartlett Sher. The show opens at the Barbican Theatre from 15 August 2011 and also stars Samantha Womack, Paulo Szot and Daniel Koek.

Book tickets to South Pacific at the Barbican Theatre in London

Cast announced for South Pacific at the Barbican: Samantha Womack to star

Casting has been announced for the London transfer of the acclaimed Lincoln Center production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific, directed by Bartlett Sher. The show will open at the Barbican Theatre from 15 August 2011.

TV and stage star Samantha Womack will take the lead role of Nellie Forbush in the production. Womack has starred in numerous stage and TV projects including Grease and Guys and Dolls in the West End and is currently playing Ronnie Branning in EastEnders.

The cast will also include a number of stars from Sher’s original Broadway production including Brazilian opera baritone Paulo Szot as plantation owner Emile De Becque and Loretta Ables Sayre as Bloody Mary. Daniel Koek, who has recently starred as Anatoly in Craig Revel Horwood’s touring production of Chess, will play Lt Cable.

The Lincoln Center Theater production is credited with breathing new life into this classic musical and won 7 Tony Awards and ran for 2 years on Broadway.

Set during World War II, South Pacific is the sweeping romantic story of two couples, threatened by the realities of war. Its portrayal of Americans stationed in an alien culture in wartime is as relevant today as when it first thrilled audiences. Songs include Some Enchanted Evening, I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair and There is Nothin’ Like a Dame.

With sets by Michael Yeargan and musical staging by Christopher Gattelli, the show feature a cast of 40 and a live orchestra of 25 and plays for only 7 weeks at the Barbican.

LINKS

Book tickets to South Pacific at the Barbican Theatre in London

Lincoln Center Theater Production of South Pacific at the Barbican on sale now

‘Rapturous and revelatory!’ New York Times

‘Gorgeous! SOUTH PACIFIC doesn’t just float; it soars!’ USA Today

‘The best Rodgers and Hammerstein in a generation’ Washington Post

Breathtaking and lavish, this Lincoln Center Theater production which reinvented the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, won seven Tony Awards in 2008, played to sold-out houses on Broadway for two years and is currently selling out across North America.

This international hit now has its European premiere at the Barbican. Tickets for the Barbican run, which plays from Monday 15 August – Saturday 1 October, go on sale today.

Set on a tropical island during World War II, this is the sweeping romantic story of two couples, threatened by the realities of war and by their own prejudices. Its portrayal of Americans stationed in an unfamiliar culture in wartime remains as relevant today as when it first thrilled audiences.

Considered one of the finest musicals ever written, the score includes Some Enchanted Evening, I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair and There is Nothin’ Like a Dame.

Featuring a cast of 40 and an orchestra of 25, this landmark production arrives at the Barbican for a strictly limited seven-week London season. South Pacific is directed by Bartlett Sher, Musical Staging is by Christopher Gattelli, Sets are by Michael Yeargan, Lighting is by Donald Holder, Costumes are by Catherine Zuber, Sound is by Scott Lehrer, Music Direction is by Ted Sperling and Original Orchestrations are by Robert Russell Bennett.

Release issued by: Barbican

LINKS

Book tickets to South Pacific at the Barbican in London

Les Miserables, 25 today

We are just about all Les Mis’d out – but for one final hurrah.

Today, 8 October 2010, marks the 25th anniversary of the show. Following the specially mounted new UK tour, and major celebrations last Sunday at the O2 Arena in London, this is the real deal – the day that the show started 25 years ago at the Barbican Theatre in London.

And tonight at a dinner at Joe Allen’s restaurant in London, the directors of the original production, Trevor Nunn and John Caird, will celebrate this landmark anniversary with very first cast of the show.

After opening at the Barbican the show transferred to the Palace Theatre on 4 December 1985 and moved to its current home, the Queen’s Theatre, on 3 April 2004, where it became the World’s longest running musical in 2006.

So happy 25th birthday Les Miserables.

Book tickets to Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre in London.

Les Mis celebrates 25th birthday

A spectacular concert performance of Les Miserables was held at the O2 Arena in London last night, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the musical.

A number of cast members from the original 1985 production of the show, including Colm Wilkinson and Michael Ball, came together with the casts of the current West End production at the Queen’s Theatre in London and the UK touring production to celebrate the record-breaking musical.

The producer of Les Miserables, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, who has become a multi-millionaire through the 42 worldwide productions of the show, said that the event had been one of the “most astonishing” nights of his life. “Seeing everybody love this material so much and love their fellow performers is something I have never encountered in the theatre and I never will for the rest of my life”, he said.

A chorus of over 150 singers joined a number of internationally renowned performers at the event including Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean, Nick Jonas as Marius, Norm Lewis as Javert, Matt Lucas as Thénardier, Lea Salonga as Fantine, Jenny Galloway as Madame Thénardier, Ramin Karimloo as Enjolras, Samantha Barks as Eponine and Katie Hall as Cosette.

Students who have performed school productions of the show also took to the stage for the finale. At the event Mackintosh also revealed that work had begun on a screenplay of the musical, to be made into a major film.

Les Miserables is the world’s longest running musical and has been seen by over 55 million people worldwide.

Book tickets to Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre in London.

Countdown to Les Mis at the O2

Last few tickets remain for major Les Miserables concert at the 02 this Sunday; Katie Hall to replace Camilla Kerslake as Cosette; concert to be shown live in cinemas around the world

An epic concert will be staged this Sunday, 3 October 2010, by impresario Cameron Mackintosh to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Les Miserables.

In association with Universal Pictures, the extraordinary staged concert will feature over 500 actors and musicians, with star performances from a host of internationally renowned performers including Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean, Nick Jonas as Marius, Norm Lewis as Javert, Matt Lucas as Thénardier, Lea Salonga as Fantine, Jenny Galloway as Madame Thénardier, Ramin Karimloo as Enjolras and Samantha Barks as Eponine.

The part of Cosette, which was originally to have been played by Camilla Kerslake, will now be played by former I’d Do Anything contestant Katie Hall. She is currently performing in the 25th anniversary UK tour of the show, now playing at the Barbican Theatre, alongside Gareth Gates and John Owen Jones. The cast of this production, plus the London cast at the Queen’s Theatre, will all perform on stage at the O2.

Les Miserables has made theatrical history with three different productions running in London: the original production at the Queen’s Theatre, the new 25th anniversary UK tour at the Barbican, and the concert at the O2. The show overtook Cats in 2006 as the World’s Longest Running Musical and celebrated its 10,000th performance in January this year.

Les Mis Concert In Cinemas

The Les Mis concert will also hit cinemas as part of the 25th Anniversary celebrations. The show at the O2 Arena will be transmitted live via satellite on 3 October to more than 175 cinemas across the UK – and in Australia, Germany, Ireland and Norway. See a list of cinemas showing the Les Miserables concert here.

LINKS

Book tickets to see Les Miserables in Concert at the O2 Arena

Cinemas showing the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary concert: UK, Germany, Ireland and Northern Ireland, Norway, Australia

MORE INFO

Heading The O2 Concert cast is Alfie Boe, one of the country’s leading tenors and best selling recording artists. Alfie shot to fame while starring in Baz Luhrmann’s “La Boheme” on Broadway, winning a Tony Award for his performance. His other credits include a nomination for a Classical Brit Award for his album “Onward” and a sell-out production of “The Merry Widow” at the London Coliseum. His future opera engagements will see Alfie return to the English National Opera to sing ‘Nadir’ in a new production of “The Pearl Fishers” and also his return to the Royal Opera House in Gounod’s”Roméo et Juliette”.

Matt Lucas is one of Britain’s most successful comic actors and writers. His TV credits include the multi award-winning “Little Britain”, “Shooting Stars”, BBC’s “Wind in the Willows” and most recently Tim Burton’s film of “Alice in Wonderland”. Jenny Galloway is regarded as a legendary ‘Madame Thénardier’, and has played the part many times, including the 10th Anniversary concert at the Royal Albert Hall. She has also created the roles of ‘Rosie’ in “Mamma Mia!” for which she won an Olivier Award, and ‘Mrs Brill’ in “Mary Poppins” both in the West End and on Broadway.

Lea Salonga will fly in from Manilla to play ‘Fantine’. No stranger to “Les Miz”, Lea has played ‘Eponine’ in London and ‘Fantine’ on Broadway. She became an international star by creating the role of ‘Kim’ in the original production of “Miss Saigon” at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and subsequently on Broadway. Lea won a multitude of awards for this role, including the Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics and Theatre World Awards. Lea will join her former “Les Miz” co-star Norm Lewis, who has just received rave reviews for “Sondheim on Sondheim” at Studio 54 in New York. Norm played ‘Javert’ in the Broadway production of “Les Misérables” and his other Broadway credits include ‘John’ in “Miss Saigon” and ‘King Triton’ in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid”.

Nick Jonas is one third of the phenomenally successful pop music artists, the Jonas Brothers. Worldwide they have sold over 8 million albums, played to millions of fans on three continents, earned dozens of international awards and have garnered 36 gold and platinum album certificates. No stranger to “Les Miz”, Nick played the part of ‘Gavroche’ for the final nine months of the show’s original Broadway run. Camilla Kerslake is an English classical crossover singer who became the first signing to Gary Barlow’s new record label. Her debut album shot to number 4 in the Classical Album Charts and has been nominated for a Classical Brit Award. Camilla also sings the Christian hymn, “How Can I Keep from Singing?” in the 2009 Waitrose supermarket Christmas advert. Nick will also appear in the London production of Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre for three weeks only from 21 June 2010. Book tickets now.

The O2 Concert will also feature the casts of the original London production (still playing to packed houses at the Queen’s Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue), the cast of the acclaimed New 25th Anniversary Production and members of the original 1985 cast. The new production, which is breaking box office records all over the UK and opening in countries all over the world has played a short run at the Barbican, London where the show originally premiered.

The magnificent score of “LES MISÉRABLES” includes the songs, ‘I Dreamed a Dream’, ‘On My Own’, ‘Stars’, ‘Bring Him Home’, ‘Do You Hear the People Sing?’, ‘One Day More’, ‘Empty Chairs at Empty Tables’, ‘Master Of The House’ and many more.

“LES MISÉRABLES” originally opened in London at the Barbican Theatre on 8 October 1985, transferred to the Palace Theatre on 4 December 1985 and moved to its current home at the Queen’s Theatre on 3 April 2004 where it continues to play to packed houses. When “LES MISÉRABLES” celebrated its 21st London birthday on 8 October 2006, it became the World’s Longest Running Musical, surpassing the record previously held by “Cats” in London’s West End. In January 2010, the West End production broke another record by celebrating an historic 10,000th performances.

Seen by over 56 million people worldwide in 42 countries and in 21 languages, “LES MISÉRABLES” is undisputedly one of the world’s most popular musicals ever written, with new productions continually opening around the globe, with seven more currently scheduled. There have been 36 cast recordings of “LES MISÉRABLES”, including the multi-platinum London cast recording, the Grammy Award-winning Broadway cast and complete symphonic albums and the soon to be released live recording of the New 25th Anniversary production. The video of the 10th Anniversary Royal Albert Hall Gala Concert has sold millions of copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling musical videos ever in the UK. There are over 2,500 productions of the Les Misérables School’s Edition scheduled or being performed by over 125,000 school children in the UK, US and Australia, making it the most successful musical ever produced in schools. Cameron Mackintosh is currently developing a film of “LES MISÉRABLES” with Working Title and Universal.

Cameron Mackintosh’s production of “LES MISÉRABLES” is written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg and is based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel and additional material by James Fenton. The original London 1985 production of “LES MISÉRABLES” was adapted and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird.

The New 25th Anniversary production and the O2 Concert are directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell and designed by Matt Kinley. Original costumes by Andreane Neofitou, additional costumes by Christine Rowland, lighting by Patrick Woodroffe and Paule Constable and sound by Mick Potter.

Book tickets to see Les Miserables in Concert at the O2 Arena

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