First look: New rehearsal images from Phantom Of The Opera
The iconic West End musical, The Phantom Of The Opera, begins performances at the newly refurbished Her Majesty’s Theatre in the West End on 27 July and we’ve got a first look at some rehearsal images.
The musical stars double Olivier Award nominee Killian Donnelly as ‘The Phantom’, Lucy St Louis as ‘Christine Daaé’ and Rhys Whitfield as ‘Raoul’.
The cast also includes Saori Oda as ‘Carlotta Giudicelli’, Matt Harrop as ‘Monsieur Firmin’, Adam Linstead as ‘Monsieur André’, Greg Castiglioni as ‘Ubaldo Piangi’, Francesca Ellis as ‘Madame Giry’ and Ellie Young as Meg Giry. At certain performances the role of ‘Christine Daaé’ will be played by Holly-Anne Hull.
They are joined by Leeroy Boone, Corina Clark, Edward Court, Lily De-La-Haye, Hywel Dowsell, Jemal Felix, Erin Flaherty, James Gant, Eilish Harmon-Beglan, Yukina Hasebe, Olivia Holland-Rose, Grace Hume, James Hume, Donald Craig Manuel, Jonathan Milton, Janet Mooney, Tim Morgan, Beatrice Penny-Toure, Michael Robert-Lowe, Nikki Skinner, Tim Southgate, Ashley Stillburn, Manon Taris, Anouk Van Laake, Skye Weiss, Simon Whitaker and Karen Wilkinson.
The West End production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical The Phantom Of The Opera is based on Gaston Leroux’s gothic novel of life beneath the stage of the Paris Opera House. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s mesmerising score, along with jaw-dropping scenery and breathtaking special effects, magically combine to bring this tragic love story to life each night.
Grab your tickets to see this iconic show as part of Kids Week 2021 and enjoy half-price tickets for the family this August.
The Prince Of Egypt to play to full capacity from 23 July
The Prince Of Egypt, the “huge popular hit” (LBC) based on the classic DreamWorks Animation film, will begin reverting to full capacity audiences at the Dominion Theatre from Friday 23 July 2021 onwards. Following the current temporary suspension of performances due to Government Track and Trace legislation, the production will play three socially distanced performances on Wednesday 21 July at 7.30pm and Thursday 22 July at 2.30pm and 7.30pm before gradually reverting to full capacity. The production will continue to maintain its stringent hygiene and COVID-secure audience protocols throughout the venue (including timed arrivals, increased airflow and the expected and recommended wearing of face coverings). The production was previously due to continue socially distanced audiences until 4 September 2021.
In a joint statement, producers DreamWorks Theatricals, Michael McCabe and Neil Laidlaw said: “In adherence of the latest UK Government advice and concurrently with all other West End theatres, we will now begin reverting to full capacity audiences. In order to maintain the maximum safety and comfort of our audiences, and to best protect the Dominion Theatre’s fantastic frontline staff, we will be maintaining stringent hygiene protocols and COVID-secure measures throughout the venue, including timed arrivals and increased airflow. The wearing of face coverings by audiences will be expected and recommended, unless medically exempt. All staff interacting with the public will be wearing face coverings. In the meantime, we’d like to thank our incredible audiences who have so effusively welcomed The Prince of Egypt back to the West End and for all the messages received by the Dominion Theatre praising the exemplary safety protocols already in operation.”
“Brought to life in truly epic fashion” (Daily Mirror), the Grammy Award nominated musical is now booking for all performances from Wednesday 21 July 2021 until Saturday 8 January 2022. The Dominion Theatre Box Office opens on performance days at 12 noon. Venue safety protocols and audience procedures can be viewed here: www.nederlander.co.uk/safety
We went to check out the first performance #BackOnStage and it was incredible from start to finish. Read about it below
Related Article: The Prince Of Egypt first night #BackOnStage
Grab your tickets to see this iconic show below. And, if you fancy treating your children to a show this August, remember this show is part of Kids Week 2021, meaning you can enjoy half-price family tickets for performances throughout August.
Frozen’s Young Elsas and Young Annas announced for the West End
Frozen today announces the Young Elsa’s and Young Anna’s who have been cast to create the roles for the London run of Frozen, which previews at Theatre Royal Drury Lane from 27 August.
The cast includes(left to right) ; Minaii.K – Young Elsa, Kanon Narumi – Young Anna, Sasha Watson-Lobo – Young Elsa, Asanda Masike – Young Anna, Freya Scott – Young Elsa, Ellie Shenker – Young Anna, Tilly-Raye Bayer – Young Elsa and Summer Betson – Young Anna.
The full cast for the production is Samantha Barks (Elsa), Stephanie McKeon (Anna), Obioma Ugoala (Kristoff), Craig Gallivan (Olaf), Oliver Ormson (Hans), Richard Frame (Weselton), and alternating the role of Sven, Mikayla Jade and Ashley Birchall; with Jeremy Batt, Cameron Burt, Lauren Chia, Laura Emmitt, Emily-Mae (Bulda), Hannah Fairclough, Danielle Fiamanya, Chris Fung, Matt Gillett, Joe Griffiths-Brown, Emily Lane, Justin-Lee Jones, Jason Leigh Winter, Jacob Maynard, Leisha Mollyneaux, Gabriel Mokake (King Agnarr), Sarah O’Connor, Jemma Revell, Joshua St. Clair (Pabbie), Jacqui Sanchez (Queen Iduna), Jak Skelly (Oaken/Bishop), Jake Small, Kerry Spark, Isabel Snaas, Monica Swayne, and Anna Woodside.
Shakespeare’s Globe Announces Return of Standing Ticket
Shakespeare’s Globe has announced the return of the much-loved £5 ‘Groundling’ standing tickets for the opening of Twelfth Night on the 29 July.
As a result of the easing of restrictions not permitting standing theatre tickets, the open-air Globe theatre has now announced that 200 of the £5 standing tickets are now on sale for performances from the 29 July. This number will allow for those who choose to social distance in the Yard. The number of standing tickets available will incrementally increase throughout the summer until the end of August when 400 Groundling tickets will be available for each performance.
Seating capacity will also gradually increase throughout the summer with spaces between groups sat on the same row remaining until mid-August. The open-air theatre has laid out plans to be back to full seated capacity by 23 August. The maximum capacity of the Globe is normally 1,600 and the theatre will return to full Groundling capacity (circa 600-700) at a future date. Since May, The Globe has welcomed over 32,000 audience members into 79 performances in the open-air theatre.
Lyric Hammersmith Theatre announces new leadership team appointments
The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre is delighted to announce new leadership team appointments that will take the Lyric forward following the successful reopening of the theatre with current critically acclaimed production Out West.
Amy Belson is appointed Executive Director having served as Interim Executive Director since February 2021. Previously she worked at the Royal Shakespeare Company and Soho Theatre, having started her career at the Lyric before returning in 2018 as Director of Communications & Sales. Having worked together over the past two years, Amy will join Rachel O’Riordan, the Lyric’s Artistic Director and Chief Executive, to lead the theatre.
Four new trustees will also be joining the Lyric’s Board bringing new talent and skills to the existing Board chaired by Lisa Burger; Rondette Amoy Smith, Lameya Chaudhury, Professor Farah Kerim-Cooper and Derek Richards. They join existing trustees Cllr Jonathan Caleb-Landy, Cllr Sue Fennimore, David Greig, Cllr Bora Kwon, Kamran Mallick, Liz Elston Mayhew, Julie Molloy, Cllr Patricia Quigley and David Sharkey.
Tanika Gupta cements her artistic connection with the Lyric by joining current Lyric Artistic Associates Tinuke Craig, Philip McMahon and Nina Steiger. Her critically acclaimed adaptation of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House opened Rachel O’Riordan’s first season as Artistic Director, which has recently been added to the Edexcel GCSE curriculum. Her new play The Overseas Student has reopened the theatre as part of Out West, which runs at the Lyric until Saturday 24 July and is co-directed by Rachel O’Riordan and Diane Page.