Further casting announced for Hackney Empire's Jack and the Beanstalk starring Debbie Kurup & Clive Rowe

Further casting has been announced for the Hackney Empire's 2015 pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk.

As previously announced, the show will star Debbie Kurup as Jack, Clive Rowe as Dame Daisy Trott and Kat B as Snowman. 

Following their 2014 pantomime which was seen by over 50,000 people, Jack and the Beanstalk will run between 21st November 2015 and 3rd January 2016.

Joining Rowe and Kurup and Kat B are: Jocelyn Jee Esien, Tony Timberlake, Julia Sutton, Darren Hart, Lori Barker, Leon Sweeney, Emanuel Alba, Frances Dee, Jonathan Prestney, Katie Shearman, Dale White and Sharon D Clarke as the Voice of Davina. The roles of Molly and the Voice of the Giant are still to be confirmed.

Clive Rowe & Debbie Kurup star in Hackney Empire's pantomime

Clive Rowe is to tread the boards at the Hackney Empire once again starring as Dame Daisy Trott in 2015 pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk between 21st November 2015 and 3rd January 2016.

Starring as Jack will be Debbie Kurup (The Bodyguard/Anything Goes). Hackney Empire favourite Kat B will join the pair on stage as Snowman with further casting still to be announced. Jack and the Beanstalk will be written and directed by the theatre’s Artistic Director Susie McKenna with music by Steven Edis. 

In true Hackney style the production will feature a break dancing cow, bonkers baddies and the scariest giant ever, outlandish costumes and glittering sets by Lotte Collett, buckets of silliness, tons of audience participation and full-on show stopping songs performed by a kickin’ live band.

Jonathan Groff, Hannah Waddingham & Clive Rowe cast in How To Succeed In Business at the Royal Festival Hall

It has been announced that Frozen's Jonathan Groff will star in a concert staging of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying at the Royal Festival Hall on 19th May 2015.

The Broadway actor will play J. Pierrepont Finch in Jonathan Butterell's production of Frank Loesser's show. Musical direction is by Mike Dixon. 

Lily Cole, Jack Whitehall and Lesley Sharp join Old Vic's 24 Hour Plays

It has been announced that Lily Cole, Jack Whitehall (pictured right) and Lesley Sharp will take part in the 24 Hour Plays gala at the Old Vic on Sunday (24th November). 

They join the previously announced Kaya Scodelario, Anthony Head, Ronni Ancona, Nick Moran, Jeff Fahey, Kaya Scodelario, Zawe Ashton, Neil Stuke, Jaime Winstone, Lesley Manville, Amanda Donohoe, Douglas Booth, Catherine Tate, Tom Ellis, Clive Rowe and Tina Hobley.

Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, the event sees established performers, writers and directors write and perform six new plays in just one day. Comedian Rob Brydon is returning to host the annual event.

Rob Brydon, Catherine Tate, Douglas Booth, Tina Hobley, Tom Ellis & Clive Rowe for Old Vic's 24 Hour Plays

The initial cast list has been announced for the tenth anniversary of the Old Vic's 24 Hour Plays which takes place on Sunday 24th November 2013. Rob Brydon, who performed in The 24 Hour Plays in 2007 and hosted them in 2011, will return this year to host the tenth anniversary celebrity gala. 

The cast will feature Catherine Tate, Douglas Booth, Tina Hobley, Tom Ellis and Clive Rowe. More cast members will be announced over the next few weeks. 

The event is an evening of never to be seen again performances with six short plays being conceived, written, cast, rehearsed and then performed in 24 hours. Tickets start at £75. 

Review: The Light Princess at the National Theatre

The Light Princess

National Theatre / Lyttelton 

Reviewed on Saturday 19th October 2013

Recently I've seen a few big new musicals which have been crying out for some love and attention and it has become rather frustrating. But following years of development, Tori Amos (music and lyrics) and Samuel Adamson's (book and lyrics) The Light Princess is the production I have been longing to see. It felt absolutely incredible to sit down and watch something completely new and fresh. The Light Princess takes many risks, many of which pay off, and while there may be some room for improvement and further development I was left in utter awe of the show. I could quite happily see it again and again and again.

Full casting announced The Hothouse at Trafalgar Studios

Full casting has been announced The Hothouse at Trafalgar Studios. The full cast includes: John Heffernan (Lush), Harry Melling (Lamb), Clive Rowe (Tubb), Christopher Timothy (Lobb) and Indira Varma (Miss Cutts). They join the previously announced Simon Russell Beale (Roote) and John Simm. The Hothouse is Jamie Lloyd Productions' second show for Trafalgar Studios. Click here to book tickets. 

The Hothouse is part of an exciting season of work for Trafalgar Transformed, a joint initiative between director Jamie Lloyd (Donmar's Passion, Broadway's Cyrano de Bergerac, The National Theatre's She Stoops to Conquer, Royal Court's The Pride) and Howard Panter. It comes hot on the heels of Macbeth, starring James McAvoy. The Hothouse opens on 9th May (previews from 4th May) and runs until 3rd August 2013.

Review: Kiss Me Kate at The Old Vic

Kiss Me Kate

The Old Vic

Reviewed on Tuesday 12th February 2013

"Featuring music and lyrics by Cole Porter with book by Sam and Bella Spewack, Kiss Me Kate is an exuberant show-within-a-show that throws together the worlds of gun-toting gangsters, sparring actors and romantic entanglements against a backdrop of a musical production of The Taming of the Shrew."

Kiss Me Kate is a delightful show. This production, which after a successful run at the Chichester Festival Theatre transferred to The Old Vic last November, has a terrific cast, glorious design and slick choreography.

The Old Vic's annual 24 Hour Celebrity Gala to have musical theme

The Old Vic's annual 24 Hour Celebrity Gala will have a musical theme this year which coincides with the venue’s production of Kiss Me Kate. This year, for the first time ever, the event will be titled The 24 Hour Musicals Celebrity Gala and see established actors, singers, writers, composers and directors come together to create a series of four musicals in the space of just 24 hours.

The event, now in its ninth year, raises funds for The Old Vic Theatre Trust. This year’s gala, which will be hosted by a yet-to-be-announced "leading actor/comedian", takes place at The Old Vic on Sunday 9 December, followed as always by post-show party The 25th Hour. 

Over the past eight years, The 24 Hour Plays Celebrity Gala has involved participants and hosts include: Jim Broadbent, Kelly Brook, John Cleese, Lily Cole, Benedict Cumberbatch, Joseph Fiennes, Stephen Fry, Tom Hardy, James Nesbitt, Sophie Okonedo, Tamsin Outhwaite, Rosumund Pike, Rufus Sewell, Michael Sheen, Brooke Shields, Catherine Tate, Vince Vaughn and Old Vic artistic director Kevin Spacey.