Assassins adds extra matinee performance at the Menier Chocolate Factory

Jamie Lloyd's sold out production of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins has added an extra matinee performance at the Menier Chocolate Factory on Friday 6th March at 3.30pm. Limited seats are available so book quickly! 

The show's stellar cast includes: Michael Xavier, Catherine Tate, Carly Bawden, Simon Lipkin, Mike McShane, Andy Nyman, David Roberts, Jamie Parker, Harry Morrison, Stewart Clarke, Marc Akinfolarin, Greg Miller Burns and Melle Stewart. 

Menier Chocolate Factory cancel tonight's performance of Assassins

Michael Xavier rehearses Assassins

The Menier Chocolate Factory have cancelled tonight's performance of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins due to "several members of the cast being unwell".

A full statement released via Twitter reads: "*TONIGHT* We're very sorry that due to several members of the cast being unwell we are having to cancel Assassins tonight. If you have tickets for tonight's show you will receive a full refund. Please call the box office if you have any questions 020 73781713."

Michael Xavier and Anna Francolini recently joined the cast of Jamie Lloyd's production. The cast also includes: Carly Bawden, Simon Lipkin, Mike McShane, Andy Nyman, David Roberts, Jamie Parker, Harry Morrison, Stewart Clarke, Marc Akinfolarin, Greg Miller Burns and Melle Stewart. Catherine Tate returns to the show from 24th February.

Sneak peek at... Michael Xavier & Anna Francolini in Assassins

First images have been released of Michael Xavier and Anna Francolini in Assassins. The pair join Jamie Lloyd's production at the Menier Chocolate Factory from tonight (10th Feb), taking over from Aaron Tveit and Catherine Tate. Check out the images below (click picture to enlarge).

Xavier plays John Wilkes Booth until Assassins closes on 7th March 2015. Francolini plays Sara Jane Moore until Tate returns on 24th February to complete the run.

Michael Xavier’s theatre credits include The Pajama Game (Shaftesbury Theatre), The Sound of Music, Into the Woods (both Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Hello, Dolly! (Curve), Soho Cinders (Soho Theatre), Wonderful Town (Royal Exchange), Love Story (Minerva and Duchess Theatre), Oklahoma! (Chichester Festival Theatre), Spamalot (Palace Theatre), The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre) and My Fair Lady (Theatre Royal Drury Lane).

Michael Xavier & Anna Francolini take over from Aaron Tveit & Catherine Tate in Assassins

The Menier Chocolate Factory has announced that Anna Francolini and Michael Xavier (pictured right) will join the cast of Jamie Lloyd’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins.

From 10th February, Michael Xavier will take over the role of John Wilkes Booth from Aaron Tveit. Tveit leaves the run due to a change in schedule for his television series Graceland, which has been brought forward.

Anna Francolini plays Sara Jane Moore from 10th February, with Catherine Tate returning to the role on 24th February to complete the run at the Menier. Tate leaves the role for 2 weeks to fulfil pre-contractual filming commitments.

Editor's Blog: Top 10 shows of 2014

2014 has been an incredibly diverse year for theatre. Producers have taken some risks and it's great that several off-West End productions managed to make it into the West End. In 2014 I went to the theatre 257 times and, out of everything I have seen (in the West End and on Broadway as well as in off-West End, regional and fringe theatres), below I have highlighted my top ten personal favourite shows...

10

Assassins

Menier Chocolate Factory

"I don't think I breathed once"

Photo Credit: Nobby Clark

Assassins is probably the most intense piece of theatre ever written and Jamie Lloyd's production at the Menier has set theatreland alight (it sold out shortly after opening). I don't think I breathed once for the entire hour and forty-five minutes. The ensemble cast - featuring the likes of Catherine Tate, Simon Lipkin and Aaron Tveit - are remarkably strong. I am still digesting the piece and am hugely looking forward to seeing it a second time next year (I ensured I bought a ticket before publishing my review).

Review: Assassins at the Menier Chocolate Factory

Assassins

Menier Chocolate Factory

Reviewed on Monday 1st December 2014

★★★★★

Assassins is probably the most intense piece of theatre ever written. Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's musical, which premiered off-Broadway in 1990, is dark, in your face, sometimes uncomfortable and open to interpretation. I don't think I breathed once for the entire hour and forty-five minutes.

Photo Feature: Take a look at the cast of Assassins in action

The Menier Chocolate Factory has released Assassins' production images. Check out the pictures below (click image to enlarge). Directed by Jamie Lloyd, Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's musical runs at the Menier until Saturday 7th March 2015.

The stellar cast is lead by Catherine Tate and Aaron Tveit. They are joined by Carly Bawden, Simon Lipkin, Mike McShane, Andy Nyman, David Roberts, Jamie Parker, Harry Morrison, Stewart Clarke, Marc Akinfolarin, Greg Miller Burns and Melle Stewart.

Jamie Parker, Harry Morrison & Stewart Clarke also join cast of Assassins; meet the cast

Last night it was revealed that Broadway star Aaron Tveit will join Catherine Tate, Carly Bawden, Simon Lipkin, Mike McShane, Andy Nyman and David Roberts in the cast of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's Assassins at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

We can now confirm the show will also star Jamie Parker, Harry Morrison and Stewart Clarke (pictured right). Marc Akinfolarin, Greg Miller Burns and Melle Stewart have also been cast as Bystanders.

Directed by Jamie Lloyd (Richard III / Urinetown / The Commitments), Assassins runs between Friday 21st November 2014 and Saturday 7th March 2015.

Aaron Tveit to make UK stage debut in Assassins

Baz Bamigboye has announced that Broadway star Aaron Tveit will make his UK stage debut in Assassins at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

He will star as John Wilkes Booth in the production which is directed by Jamie Lloyd.

Further casting has now been announced. Click here for more.

The actor has starred in the Broadway productions of Hairspray, Next to Normal and Catch Me If You Can. He also starred as Fiyero in Wicked opposite Kerry Ellis as Elphaba during her run in the Broadway production and played Enjolras in the film adaptation of Les Misérables.

The cast also includes Catherine Tate, Carly Bawden, Simon Lipkin, Mike McShane, Andy Nyman, and David Roberts.

Big Interview: Simon Lipkin

Simon Lipkin is currently playing Touchstone in Derek Bond’s production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It at the Southwark Playhouse. 

From November he will be starring as The Proprietor in Jamie Lloyd’s production of Assassins by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

Simon recently finished playing Barlow the Dog in I Can’t Sing at the London Palladium. His other West End credits include: Lonny in Rock Of Ages, Nicky and Trekkie Monster in Avenue Q, A Christmas Carol and Pharaoh in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Simon’s theatre credits also include: Galahad in Spamalot (UK/International Tour), The Wedding Singer (original UK cast), Willard in Footloose (UK Tour).

I recently spoke to Simon about taking on his first Shakespeare play, why he’s so excited to be working with Jamie Lloyd on Assassins, the closure of I Can’t Sing and what it was like to recently return to Rock Of Ages as a last minute emergency cover for two nights only…

Obviously it was extremely sad when I Can’t Sing closed, but all of a sudden things have gone crazy for you! You’re busy working on As You Like It and Assassins, it must all be a bit mad?!

[laughs] Yes it’s all a little bit crazy. We finished I Can’t Sing in May and it was really sad. We had been workshopping the show for about a year and a half and I had been with it from the start. It was such an amazing show to be a part of, the cast were incredible and there were so many creative people. Harry Hill, Steve Brown and Sean Foley were all really brilliant people to work with, but I guess that’s the struggle of a new musical – you can never guess what is going to happen. We did it and we had an amazing time! It was actually nice to have a little break afterwards; I had a couple of months off. I deliberately thought, ‘Do you know what? It’s been a long time since I’ve had time off’ because I was in Rock Of Ages for a couple of years before I Can’t Sing and Spamalot directly before that. I decided to have a little rest because my brain needed to sleep [laughs]. 

Catherine Tate & Simon Lipkin to star in Assassins at the Menier Chocolate Factory

It has been announced that Catherine Tate will star in Jamie Lloyd's production of Assassins at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

Tate will star in the show from when it opens on Friday 21st November until Sunday 8th February. Her replacement, who will star in the rest of the run until Saturday 7th March, is yet to be announced. 

The cast also includes: Carly Bawden, Simon Lipkin, Mike McShane, Andy Nyman, and David Roberts. Full casting will be announced shortly.