Five Decades Of Iconic Divas Are Celebrated In The Musical Extravaganza Respect La Diva At The Garrick Theatre
July 10, 2011
Respect La Diva, conceived and directed by Adrian Grant, the creator of hit international show Thriller Live, will arrive at the Garrick Theatre for a strictly limited run from 7 September until 24 September, with press night on 8 September.
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
LINKS
Sign-up to hear about booking for RESPECT LA DIVA at the Garrick Theatre
Book tickets to Thriller Live at the Lyric Theatre in London
VIDEO: Rupert Everett talks Pygmalion in VisitBritain advert
June 23, 2011
The UK’s national tourism agency, VisitBritain, has launched an international TV campaign featuring some of Britain’s best known celebrities, inviting the world to visit Britain.
British theatre is well represented with Dame Judi Dench and Rupert Everett both featured in the campaign, along with Slumdog Millionaire actor Dev Patel, fashion icon Twiggy and chef Jamie Oliver.
Alongside a number of 30 and 60 second commercials that have been created for the campaign, are longer films featuring each of the celebrities. Rupert Everett presents much of his film from the Garrick Theatre, where he is currently starring as Professor Higgins alongside Kara Tointon in George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion.
VIDEO
VisitBritain extended commercial featuring Rupert Everett
LINKS
Book tickets to Pygmalion at the Garrick Theatre in London
Pygmalion – Round-up of Reviews
May 26, 2011
Reviews round-up of Pymalion at the Garrick Theatre, starring Rupert Everett, Kara Tointon and Diana Rigg.
Rupert Everett and Kara Tointon in Pygmalion. Photo: Alastair Muir
Following a sell-out run in Chichester, George Bernard Shaw’s classic play Pygmalion comes to town starring Rupert Everett as egocentric Professor Henry Higgins and Kara Tointon (EastEnders) as Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle.
Read a round-up of Pygmalion reviews, below.
LINKS
Book tickets to Pygmalion at the Garrick Theatre in London
Potted Potter tickets at the Garrick Theatre starring Dan and Jeff
April 15, 2011
All seven Harry Potter books in seventy minutes starring CBBC’s Dan and Jeff and featuring endless costumes, brilliant songs, ridiculous props, and a generous helping of Hogwarts magic. Recommended for ages 6+
Diana Rigg joins Rupert Everett in Pygmalion at the Garrick Theatre
March 25, 2011
Dame Diana Rigg is to join Rupert Everett and Kara Tointon in the Chichester transfer of Pygmalion.
Dame Diana Rigg
The Chichester Festival Theatre’s 2010 revival of Pygmalion, directed by Philip Prowse, is transferring to the Garrick Theatre this Spring (12 May to 3 September 2011).
Revisiting the part of Professor Henry Higgins will be stage and screen star Rupert Everett, joined by Strictly Come Dancing winner and former EastEnders actress Kara Tointon as Eliza Doolittle. George Bernard Shaw’s famous play was turned into the successful1956 musical My Fair Lady.
The play will also star Peter Eyre as Colonel Pickering, alongside Rigg as Mrs Higgins.
Diana Rigg’s credits include Hay Fever and The Cherry Orchard at Chichester, Honour, Suddenly Last Summer, Follies, All About My Mother, Mother Courage and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. She won a Tony award on Broadway for her performance in the Almeida production of Medea.
Book tickets to Pygmalion at the Garrick Theatre in London
Pygmalion tickets at the Garrick Theatre starring Alistair McGowan and Kara Tointon
March 12, 2011
Following a sell-out run in Chichester, George Bernard Shaw’s classic play Pygmalion comes to town, now starring Alistair McGowan as egocentric Professor Henry Higgins and Kara Tointon (EastEnders) as Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle. Also stars Diana Rigg.
KARA TOINTON in Pygmalion
March 9, 2011
Strictly Come Dancing winner Kara takes to the West End stage as Eliza Doolittle
Kara Tointon. Photo: © Roy Tan
British actress Kara Tointon is on the fast-track to fame. She beat stiff competition last year on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing to be crowned the winner, and this year takes to the West End stage to play Eliza Doolittle in George Bernard Shaw’s classic play Pygmalion, alongside stage and screen star Rupert Everett as Henry Higgins.
Kara’s career to date includes some early stage work in The Sound of Music and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but has been dominated by TV acting, including parts in Teachers, Dinotopia, Mile High, Dream Team and four years playing Dawn Swann in EastEnders.
The Chichester Festival Theatre’s 2010 revival of Pygmalion, directed by Philip Prowse, will transfer to the Garrick Theatre this Spring (12 May to 3 September 2011).
George Bernard Shaw’s famous play was turned into the successful1956 musical My Fair Lady.
Book tickets to Pygmalion at the Garrick Theatre in London
RUPERT EVERETT in Pygmalion
March 9, 2011
Rupert Everett revisits Henry Higgins in Chichester transfer of Pygmalion
The Chichester Festival Theatre’s 2010 revival of Pygmalion, directed by Philip Prowse, will transfer to the Garrick Theatre this Spring (12 May to 3 September 2011).
Revisiting the part of Professor Henry Higgins will be stage and screen star Rupert Everett, joined by Strictly Come Dancing winner and former EastEnders actress Kara Tointon as Eliza Doolittle. George Bernard Shaw’s famous play was turned into the successful1956 musical My Fair Lady.
Rupert Everett has had a long and eventful showbiz career that encompasses theatre, film, TV and writing novels and autobiographies.
His stage work includes Waste of Time (Citizens Theatre Glasgow), Don Juan (Glasgow and London), Chinchilla (Glasgow and London), Another Country (Greenwich Theatre and Queen’s Theatre in the West End), Mass Appeal (Lyric Hammersmith), Heartbreak House (Citizens Theatre Glasgow), The Vortex (Citizens Theatre Glasgow and Garrick), The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore (Glasgow and London), Some Sunny Day (London), and most recently playing Charles Condomine in Blithe Spirit on Broadway.
Rupert’s TV work includes The Far Pavilions, Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking, and films range from his first break-out hit, Another Country alongside Colin Firth in 1984, to Dance with a Stranger, Arthur the King, Duet for One The Comfort of Strangers, Pret-à-Porter 1994, The Madness of King George, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Shakespeare in Love, An Ideal Husband, The Importance of Being Earnest, the Shrek movies and Stardust. He is currently working on Hysteria alongside Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jonathan Pryce.
Book tickets to Pygmalion at the Garrick Theatre in London
Opening this week: Blithe Spirit, Flare Path
March 7, 2011
Première’s this week in the West End include Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit starring Alison Steadman and Ruthie Henshall, Sienna Miller in Flare Path, Polly Rae in Hurly Burly, Matthew Kelly in Sign of the Times and the Olivier Awards this Sunday 13 March.
Monday 7 March
SIGN OF THE TIMES: Tim Firth’s new play Sign of the Times starts previews at the Duchess Theatre tonight, with its press night on Friday. The Calendar Girls author has written a warm and witty comedy about a disillusioned sign erector whose life is changed by a clumsy teenager. The show stars Matthew Kelly and Shameless actor Gerard Kearns.
Wednesday 9 March
Ruthie Henshall in Blithe Spirit
BLITHE SPIRIT: Noel Coward’s blissful comedy Blithe Spirit officially opens at the Apollo Theatre tonight featuring an all-star cast including Alison Steadman (Gavin & Stacey), Ruthie Henshall (Chicago), Hermione Norris (Spooks) and Robert Bathurst (Hattie). The revival is directed by the award-winning Thea Sharrock (After the Dance).
Thursday 10 March
FLARE PATH: Trevor Nunn kicks off as artistic director of the Theatre Royal Haymarket with the press night for Flare Path. Terence Rattigan’s Second World War romance stars Sienna Miller, James Purefoy and Sheridan Smith.
Friday 11 March
HURLY BURLY: Salacious show Hurly Burly opens at the Garrick Theatre, featuring the luscious Miss Polly Rae in an all singing, all dancing burlesque-inspired revue, with a contemporary twist. Long-time Kylie collaborator William Baker directs.
Sunday 13 March 2011
OLIVIER AWARDS: The Olivier Awards are tonight at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, promising a high star quotient at the UK theatre’s most important event. This year’s ceremony is hosted by Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton, and you can tune in live to hear who wins on Radio 2 or via the BBC’s red button TV service. Visit our Olivier Awards micro-site here.
LINKS
Shows – tickets and booking information
Olivier Awards 2011
New this week: Oz, Blithe Spirit, Flare Path
February 28, 2011
Some big-hitting West End shows open this week in London, including The Wizard of Oz, Million Dollar Quartet, Flare Path and Blithe Spirit.
Monday 28 February 2011
Million Dollar Quartet, the musical that recreates the historic day when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis all made music together, opens tonight at the Noel Coward Theatre starring a multi-talented cast including Bill Ward (Coronation Street).
Tuesday 1 March 2011
The Wizard of Oz cast, left - right Edward Baker-Duly, David Ganly, Paul Keating and Danielle Hope
It’s the premiere tonight of the musical that has received more publicity, hype and good old-fashioned audience anticipation than any other show for years as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sparkly new production of The Wizard of Oz opens at the London Palladium. Rebooted by Jeremy Sams and produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Bill Kenwright, the show sees Over The Rainbow star Danielle Hope make her West End stage debut joined by Michael Crawford as the Wizard and Hannah Waddingham as the Wicked Witch.
Also today, tickets go on sale for the Olivier Awards at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The 13th March ceremony is open to theatregoers for the first time and promises a starry night of West End celebs and excerpts from the shows.
Wednesday 2 March 2011
Noel Coward’s blissful comedy Blithe Spirit starts previews at the Apollo Theatre featuring an all-star cast including Alison Steadman (Gavin & Stacey), Ruthie Henshall (Chicago), Hermione Norris (Spooks) and Robert Bathurst (Hattie). The revival is directed by the award-winning Thea Sharrock (After the Dance).
Thursday 3 March 2011
Previews starts for Hurly Burly at the Garrick Theatre, featuring the luscious Miss Polly Rae in an all singing, all dancing burlesque-inspired revue with a contemporary twist.
Alison Steadman as Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit
Also tonight, In A Forest, Dark and Deep starts previews at the Vaudeville Theatre with Lost star Matthew Fox and Olivia Williams (The Ghost Writer) in Neil LaBute’s new psychological thriller.
Friday 4 March 2011
Trevor Nunn begins his artistic directorship of the Theatre Royal Haymarket tonight with the start of previews for Flare Path. Terence Rattigan’s Second World War romance sees Sienna Miller, James Purefoy and Sheridan Smith star.
Saturday 5 March 2011
Kneehigh theare company, who scored a huge hit in London and on Broadway with their stage take on Noel Coward’s Brief Encounter, are back with a brand new production. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, based on the classic French film, begins previews at the Gielgud Theatre tonight starring Joanna Riding, Meow Meow and Andrew Durand.
Also on Saturday, A Flea in Her Ear closes at the Old Vic Theatre starring Tom Hollander and Ordinary Days starring Daniel Boys ends at the Trafalgar Studios.
