The Devil rides in… Derren Brown brings Svengali to London’s Shaftesbury Theatre
February 14, 2011
Be prepared for a theatrical roller-coaster ride as the acknowledged master of psychological illusion comes to the West End with his brand new show DERREN BROWN: SVENGALI.
Following a 73 date national tour SVENGALI will reside at the Shaftesbury Theatre, from June 8 – July 16 2011.
Derren, who professes that he loves writing and performing on stage more than anything else, promises Londoners an evening of mind-melting based around audience participation.
“More than that I wouldn’t want to say”, he says. “I ask audiences to keep the contents of the show a secret so as not to spoil it for others, and I have to do the same. But I hope it’s fun and freaky and a great night out”.
Svengali is written by Derren Brown and Iain Sharkey with Stephen Long and
produced by Michael Vine, Andrew O’Connor & Corrie McGuire for Objective Talent Management.
Tickets go on sale Friday 11 Feb. Press night is Monday 13 June, 7pm.
On stage as well as on TV Derren is in a class of his own, exhilarating audiences with his unique brand of intelligent and theatrical entertainment. His Mind Control, Trick of the Mind, Trick or Treat and Events programmes have garnered rave reviews and awards. His specials have provoked much controversy and acclaim and further consolidated his reputation as a performer prepared to constantly challenge and break boundaries. He has also received much praise for his best-selling books, Tricks of the Mind and Confessions of a Conjuror. He has also enjoyed considerable success in America, when his show Derren Brown: Mind Control, was screened on NBC’s Sci-Fi Channel. In Jan 2011 Channel 4 celebrated ten years of Derren Brown on TV with Behind The Mischief, an exclusive behind-the-scenes documentary, followed by the best ever Derren Brown special as chosen by his fans online – a fitting tribute to the man and his amazing talents.
Shaftesbury Theatre
210 Shaftesbury Avenue
London
WC2H 8DP
June 8th to July 16th
6 shows per week
Director: Polly Findlay
Designer: Will Bowen
Lighting Design: Matt Eagland
Sound Design: Colin Pink
General Manager: John Dalston
The performance is not suitable for children under 12 years of age.
Release issued by: Clout Communications
LINKS
Booking: www.shaftesburytheatre.com
Flashdance to close early
November 22, 2010
Flashdance The Musical has posted early closing notices at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London
Victoria Hamilton Barritt in Flashdance
Based on the 80s movie about an 18 year old girl from Pittsburgh who is a welder by day and a ‘flashdancer” by night, the musical features the star of the UK tour, Victoria Hamilton Barritt, and former Busted boyband member Matt Willis.
Producers of the show have confirmed that it will close at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 15 January 2011. The show received mixed reviews when it opened at the theatre in October, with Michael Billington in the Guardian typical of the critical response to the show: “Thanks to Arlene Phillips’s choreography and Nikolai Foster’s direction, the show brims with physical energy and is full of visual invention. All the same, there are aspects of this blue-collar Cinderella story that don’t quite add up.”
Written by Tom Hedley and Robert Cary, with music by Robbie Roth, lyrics by Robert Cary and Robbie Roth, Flashdance The Musical is directed by Nikolai Foster with choreography by Arlene Phillips and orchestrations and musical supervision by Phil Edwards. Flashdance The Musical, is based on the Paramount Pictures film and its well-known score includes Maniac, Manhunt, Gloria and the Academy Award winning title song Flashdance – What a Feeling. Ten original songs have also been created for the musical.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Customers who have booked tickets for the show from 17 January onwards should contact their original point of sale for refunds. Customers who have booked through westendtheatre.com, please contact Encore Tickets on +44 (0) 207 492 1606 between 10am and 5pm Monday to Friday or email hdesk@encoretickets.co.uk with your booking details.
VIDEO: Flashdance the Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre
October 20, 2010
Based on the hit Jerry Bruckheimer movie, Flashdance The Musical is a high-octane dance sensation choreographed by Arlene Phillips and featuring an iconic score that includes Manhunt, Gloria and Flashdance – What A Feeling. Stars Victoria Hamilton Barritt and former Busted boyband member Matt Willis.
Book tickets to Flashdance the Musical
More information about the show
More information about the Shaftesbury Theatre
VIDEO
Flashdance the Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London – Trailer
LINKS
Watch more videos on West End Theatre TV
Flashdance The Musical – Reviews Round-up
October 15, 2010
A round-up of reviews for Flashdance The Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London
Victoria Hamilton Barritt in Flashdance The Musical
Hot on the heels of a West End filling up with shows based on 80s movie, it’s the turn of Flashdance The Musical to get its moment on Shaftesbury Avenue.
Based on the hit Jerry Bruckheimer movie, Flashdance The Musical is choreographed by Arlene Phillips and features a well-known score that includes Manhunt, Gloria and Flashdance – What A Feeling.
As the critics point out, the story is very Billy Elliot: an 18 year old girl from Pittsburgh, who is a welder by day and a ‘flashdancer” in a club by night, dreams of becoming a ballet dancer. When she falls for her posh boss, all of her dreams start to come together.
The musical features the star of the UK tour, Victoria Hamilton Barritt, and former Busted boyband member Matt Willis.
Critics were mostly full of praise for Phillips’ choreography and the lead performances, but marked the show down over the revised plot (trying to be darker in places) and of feeling manipulated and hit over the head with yet another movie-into-a-musical.
Read round-ups of reviews from the Guardian, Telegraph, Daily Mail, Daily Express and The Stage below.
Special offer: Save £19.50 on tickets to Flashdance The Musical at the Shaftebsury Theatre in London
Shaftesbury Theatre in London – Map
October 11, 2010
A London map highlighting the location of the Shaftesbury Theatre, 210 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8DP
Read more about the theatre, including What’s On, Journey Planner, Seating Plan, Parking and Transport
Back to all London Maps of Theatres
View westendtheatre.com – West End Theatres in a larger map
Opening this week: Onassis, Flashdance
October 11, 2010
This week’s West End openings range from classic American drama to modern Greek tragedy, with Pittsburgh flashdancing and West End blues thrown in. Plus the 80th birthday of a Wicked West End theatre.
THE COUNTRY GIRL
Opening tonight, Monday 11 October, at the Apollo Theatre is Clifford Odets’s classic drama The Country Girl, about a once-great theatre star who is given the chance to make a major comeback.
Jenny Seagrove and Martin Shaw reunite on stage after their onscreen appearance in Judge John Deed to star in the show.
Special offer: Book tickets to The Country Girl at the Apollo Theatre
ONASSIS
On Tuesday 12 October at the Novello Theatre Robert Lindsay opens in Onassis, playing controversial Greek tycoon Aristotle in Martin Sherman’s new play. Based on the last years of this life, this powerful drama reveals his passionate and interwoven relationships with Jackie Kennedy and Maria Callas, and his son Alexandros. Stand-out supporting performances come from Anna Francolini as Callas and Lydia Leonard as Jackie.
Special offer: Book tickets to Onassis at the Novello Theatre
FLASHDANCE THE MUSICAL
Despite technical problems with the rain machine that postponed the start of previews, Flashdance the Musical is set for a trouble-free first night on Thursday 14 October at the Shaftesbury Theatre.
Based on the 80s movie about an 18 year old girl from Pittsburgh who is a welder by day and a ‘flashdancer” by night, the musical features the star of the UK tour, Victoria Hamilton Barritt, and former Busted boyband member Matt Willis. Grease producer David Ian is the man behind the show, with direction by Nikolai Foster and choreography by the ubiquitous Arlene Phillips. The show’s well-known score includes Maniac, Manhunt, Gloria and the Academy Award winning title song Flashdance – What a Feeling. Ten original songs have also been created for the musical.
Special Offer: Book tickets to Flashdance the Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE
Thursday also sees the opening night for the new venture at the King’s Head pub theatre in Islington: London’s Little Opera House opens with a new version of The Barber of Seville, directed by Robin Norton-Hale. Artistic director Adam Spreadbury-Maher is promising an exciting season of opera on a small scale including Madame Butterfly as a Bangkok lady-boy.
Book tickets to The Barber of Seville at London’s Little Opera House
THE MUSIC OF THE BLUES BROTHERS – A TRIBUTE
Finally, on Friday 15 October Hartshorn – Hook Productions presents ‘The Music of the Blues Brothers – a Tribute’, the most electric rock’n'roll party of the year. Following spectacular success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer with a month of sell-out shows and 5-star reviews, this raucous live tribute show is now rolling into London. This Tribute is directed by the award-winning Patrick Wilde and is backed by the tightest rhythm and blues band in the city. We tear through the best in American Blues, Soul and Rock’n'Roll classics including Gimme Some Lovin, Think, Minnie The Moocher, Sweet Home Chicago, and Jailhouse Rock. So dig out your sunglasses and get ready to shake your tail feather because this supercharged high-octane Tribute is about to take London by storm.
Books tickets to The Music of the Blues Brothers – A Tribute
APOLLO VICTORIA THEATRE
Friday also sees the 80th birthday of the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London. Celebrations have included an all-star charity gala yesterday, Sunday 10 October, featuring the cast of the venue’s current show, Wicked, and past productions including Starlight Express. The Apollo Victoria forms part of a historic year for West End theatres, with a number of venues celebrating their 80th anniversaries this year.
Designed by E. Wamsley Lewis and W E Trent, the Apollo Victoria originally opened as a cinema on 15 October 1930 showing George Arlis movie “Old English”.
Flashdance The Musical starts Saturday
September 25, 2010
Flashdance The Musical starts previews Saturday at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London
Victoria Hamilton Barritt in Flashdance
After technical problems postponed the start of previews yesterday for Flashdance the Musical, the show starts tonight, 25 September, at the Shaftesbury Theatre, with its press night on 14 October 2010.
Based on the 80s movie about an 18 year old girl from Pittsburgh who is a welder by day and a ‘flashdancer” by night, the musical features the star of the UK tour, Victoria Hamilton Barritt, and former Busted boyband member Matt Willis.
The David Ian production is directed by Nikolai Foster with choreography by Arlene Phillips (Grease, Strictly Come Dancing), and the show’s well-known score includes Maniac, Manhunt, Gloria and the Academy Award winning title song Flashdance – What a Feeling. Ten original songs have also been created for the musical.
SHOWS CLOSING:
Saturday 25 September: The Prisoner of Second Avenue at the Vaudeville Theatre. Jeff Goldblum and Mercedes Ruehl end their run in Neil Simon’s brilliant New York comedy.
Shaftesbury Theatre
September 23, 2010
Shaftesbury Theatre, 210 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8DP
VICTORIA HAMILTON BARRITT in Flashdance The Musical
August 13, 2010
A new star is born in Victoria Hamilton Barritt, playing Alex in Flashdance The Musical
There’s nothing like having the most famous choreographer in the UK as your champion, but that’s what Victoria Hamilton Barritt’s got.
Arlene Phillips, former Strictly Come Dancing judge and choreographer of just about everything (including Grease, Starlight Express, We Will Rock You, Saturday Night Fever and the forthcoming The Wizard of Oz), said of Victoria when they were casting for Flashdance: “After searching the country high and low and seeing hundreds of girls for the part of Alex, I suddenly remembered the stunning Victoria Hamilton-Barritt who had played a leading role in Saturday Night Fever in the West End and invited her to audition. She is the only girl who we believe can sing, act and dance this role to the standard we need’.
That’s quite something from the “Queen of mean”.
Victoria trained at the Urdang Academy of Performing Arts in London and has worked constantly since, acting, singing and dancing her way through a range of West End shows and UK tours including creating the role of Alex for the UK Tour of Flashdance The Musical, her recent gig as Rizzo in Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre, Mamma Mia! at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Fame at the Aldwych Theatre, Desperately Seeking Susan at the Novello Theatre as well tours of Saturday Night Fever and West Side Story.
Arlene Phillips has also been quoted as saying that in this new production of the show (Arlene has dumped the choreography from the UK tour in favour of a whole new look), she wants “strong girls with strong thighs and strong bodies… I want girls who can spin on their heads and not break.”
We know that Victoria can do it.
Book tickets to Flashdance The Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London
MATT WILLIS in Flashdance The Musical
August 13, 2010
Matt Willis of Busted stars in Flashdance The Musical
Matt Willis may be best known for singing in boyband Busted and winning the 2006 series of I’m A Celebrity… but he’s about to forge a whole new career.
Following in the footsteps of Hear’Say’s Noel Sullivan now starring in Grease, Simon Webbe from Blue in Sister Act and recent Legally Blonde cast member Duncan James from Blue, Matt joins the great migration from pop to stage.
He’s no stranger to acting though, having trained at Sylvia Young’s drama school as a child and winning parts in TV dramas The Bill, Casualty and EastEnders.
But getting a place in boyband Busted took his career in a whole new direction, and he toured the world with the band and then forged a solo career, releasing the singles Up All Night, Hey Kid and Don’t Let It Go to Waste as well as a cover version of The Primitives’ song Crash for the feature film Mr Bean’s Holiday.
Next up was a spot of reality TV and winning the 2006 series I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. This has led to a number of presenting jobs including ITV2′s coverage of the BRIT Awards and as a co-host on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.
However, getting back to acting has remained an ambition for Willis and with his starring role in Flashdance The Musical, alongside up-and-coming actress Victoria Hamilton Barritt, he will be hoping it’s the beginning of a big new chapter.
Book tickets to Flashdance The Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London
