Leicester Curve to revive Grease this Christmas

Chris Stafford and Nikolai Foster have announced a new season of Made At Curve productions for autumn and Christmas 2016.

In October, Foster directs a contemporary spin on Oscar Wilde’s classic play The Importance of Being Earnest, a co-production with Birmingham Repertory Theatre and this is followed by the return of Akram Khan with a new Curve co-production of Until The Lions running from 3rd – 5th November.

Then at Christmas, Nikolai Foster will direct the brand new production of Grease in the Theatre while at the same time Curve revisits the work of Roald Dahl in the Studio with David Wood’s adaption of The Twits in a new co-production with Rose Theatre Kingston. The Twits will play to an international audience with the show visiting Hong Kong prior to its run at Curve. The show then travels to Rose Theatre Kingston in April 2017.

Review: Legally Blonde at the Leicester Curve

Legally Blonde 
Leicester Curve
Reviewed on Thursday 14th April 2016
★★★★

It is a total joy to see Legally Blonde back in the UK with a major new production. Interestingly Nikolai Foster, artistic director of the Curve, has shaken things up and offers a fresh take on the show. Certain elements of this new vision work nicely, but sometimes it feels like things have just been changed for the sake of it.

Curve's Legally Blonde transferring to South Korea

**Road trip, Road trip!"" They're on the move to the scene of the crime!

Curve has announced that its new production of Legally Blonde will embark upon a two week run at Deagu Opera House in South Korea. 

Working with Richard Darbourne Ltd as part of the Deagu International Music Festival, the musical will perform internationally from 25th June to Saturday 2nd July.

Directed by Curve's artistic director Nikolai Foster, Legally Blonde is currently in previews at Curve ahead of press night on 14th April with the show running until 14th May 2016. 

Big Interview: Danny Mac

Danny Mac is currently starring as Warner in Nikolai Foster's production of Legally Blonde at the Curve Leicester.

The production begins performances tomorrow (11th April) and runs until 14th May 2016 with the cast also including Lucie Jones, Jon Robyns and Tupele Dorgu.

Danny is best known for starring as Mark 'Dodger' Savage for four years in Channel 4's Hollyoaks. After graduating from ArtsEd, Danny understudied Boq in the West End production of Wicked for two years. As a child he played Gavroche in the West End and UK touring productions of Les Miserables.

I recently spoke to Danny about why this new production of Legally Blonde is going to feel so fresh, what parts of the show he’s looking forward to performing and how it feels to be returning to theatre. We also discussed his time in Hollyoaks, memories of Wicked and why playing Gavroche led him to pursuing a career in performing…

Warner is such a fun role, was it on your radar? Was it a part you had thought you might be suited for?

I think so… I hadn’t really thought about doing a musical straight off the back of Hollyoaks. I knew Legally Blonde The Musical and loved it – Warner was definitely a part I would have loved to play, but it wasn’t at the forefront of my mind until this production came up at Curve.

Full casting announced for Legally Blonde at the Curve Leicester

Full casting has been announced for Nikolai Foster's production of Legally Blonde at the Curve Leicester.

Tupele Dorgu (Coronation Street/Chicago) will play Paulette, joining the previously announced Lucie Jones as Elle Woods, Ian Kelsey as Callahan, Jon Robyns as Emmett and Danny Mac as Warner.

The show will also star Natalie Hope as Brooke and Phoebe Street as Vivienne. Completing the cast are: Francesca Hoffman (Margot), Jack Harrison-Cooper (Harrison), Cristina Hoey (Serena), Darren Bennett (Dad), Jamal Andreas (Sundeep Padamann), Natalie Woods (Enid), Rachel Stanley (Mum), Rebecca-Jayne Davies (Kate), Martin McCarthy (Carlos), Genesis Lynea (Pilar) and Lawrence Robb (Aaron).

Casting announced for Wipers at the Leicester Curve

Full casting has been announced for Wipers by Ishy Din at the Leicester Curve.

Directed by Suba Das, the cast includes Jassa Ahluwalia as Thomas, Waleed Akhtar as Ayub, Simon Rivers as Sadiq and Sartaj Garewal as A.D. Wipers, 

Design is by Isla Shaw with lighting by Prema Mehta, sound by Jon Nicholls and casting by Kay Magson.

Wipers opens at the Curve Studio on 14th April (previews from 8th April) and runs until 23rd April 2016. The production is commissioned by Curve and co-produced with Belgrade Theatre Coventry and Watford Palace Theatre.

Omigod you guys! Lucie Jones to star as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at the Leicester Curve

**snaps** It has been revealed that Lucie Jones will star as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at the Leicester Curve.

Artistic director Nikolai Foster will direct the production which runs between 11th April and 14th May 2016.

The cast also includes Ian Kelsey (Chicago) as Callahan, Danny Mac (Hollyoaks/Wicked) as Warner and Jon Robyns (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang/Memphis) as Emmett.

Choreography is by Nick Winston with design by Matthew Wright, lighting by Ben Cracknell, sound by Tom Marshal and orchestrations by Sarah Travis. 

Interview: Oliver Boot, starring as Bill Sikes in Oliver! at the Leicester Curve

Oliver Boot is currently playing Bill Sikes in Paul Kerryson’s production of Oliver! by Lionel Bart at the Leicester Curve.

A few of Oliver’s theatre credits include: Richard II, A Midsummer Night’s Dream & King Lear (all Globe), Piaf (Curve), Othello (Cheek by Jowl) and The Lady From The Sea (Birmingham Rep). 

On screen he has appeared in Blooded, John Carter, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, As If, The Time of Your Life, Hotel Babylon, Distant Shores, Garrow’s Law and My Family. 

I recently spoke to Oliver about why Bill Sikes has always been one of his dream roles, his interpretation of the character plus why variety has played such an important part in his career… 

Oliver! is completely different to everything else you have been up to recently, was Bill Sikes a role you were immediately drawn to playing?

Yes, ever since seeing the 60s film version with Oliver Reed, Bill Sikes has been one of those parts I’ve always wanted to play. Just being asked to audition was a real thrill! And then I was so excited to be offered the role.

Is playing the role living up to your previous expectations?

I’m really enjoying it. I think it would be very easy to walk on stage as a drunken thug and just shout through the whole show, but I don’t believe anybody wakes up in the morning and thinks ‘I’m going to be a bad guy’. Instead people make certain choices and bad decisions which leads them to a dark place. So with Bill I’ve tried to really get beneath his skin and figure out what made him the way he was. 

Review: The Witches at the Leicester Curve

The Witches 
Leicester Curve
Reviewed on Tuesday 22nd December 2015
★★★★

David Wood’s adaptation of The Witches by Roald Dahl is the best family show I have seen for a very long time. Wood fully embraces the weird world Dahl has created, allowing The Witches to seamlessly make the transition from page to stage.

Review: Oliver! at the Curve Leicester

Oliver! 
Curve Leicester
Reviewed on Tuesday 1st December 2015
★★★

Paul Kerryson's new production of Oliver! makes the perfect festive treat for all the family. The standard of Leicester's Christmas musicals is always high, but never before have I seen such a sturdy set being used for a Curve production - designer Matt Kinley has done a terrific job. 

Casting announced for Oliver! at the Leicester Curve

Casting has been announced for Oliver! at the Leicester Curve.

The production opens on 2nd December 2015 (previews from 27th November) and runs until 16th January 2016. Former artistic director Paul Kerryson will return to the Curve to direct the production.

Peter Polycarpou will star as Fagin alongside Cat Simmons who will play Nancy between 27th November and 2nd January. Laura Pitt-Pulford, who played Maria in Curve’s 2014 Christmas production of The Sound of Music, will take over as Nancy from 4th January for the remainder of the musical's run.  

Review: A Streetcar Named Desire at the Leicester Curve (Studio)

A Streetcar Named Desire
Leicester Curve (Studio)
Reviewed on Wednesday 21st October 2015
★★★

Nikolai Foster's production of A Streetcar Named Desire is dark, intense and often gritty. Blanche's story seems more traumatic than ever as we witness her world spiral out of control.

Review: Mary Poppins (UK Tour) at the Leicester Curve

Mary Poppins (UK Tour) 
Leicester Curve
Reviewed on Wednesday 21st October 2015
★★★★★

It's been over half a decade since Mary Poppins was last seen onstage in the UK; the show is back with an all-new touring production which has launched at the Leicester Curve Theatre. Based on P. L. Travers' book series, Richard Eyre's production is adapted from the beloved 1964 Disney film, with additional musical numbers by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.

Production Pics: Charlie Brooks & Stewart Clarke star in A Streetcar Named Desire

Production images have been released for A Streetcar Named Desire which opens Nikolai Foster’s inaugural season as Artistic Director of the Leicester Curve. Check out the images below (click picture to enlarge).

The show stars Charlie Brooks as Blanche and Stewart Clarke as Stanley, with the cast also including: Dakota Blue Richards (Stella), Sandy Foster (Eunice), Patrick Knowles (Mitch), Natasha Magigi (Nurse/African American Woman), Mark Peachey (Steve), Nick Read (Young Collector/Doctor and Juan Pablo Yepez (Pablo). 

Snaps! Legally Blonde to be staged at the Leicester Curve

Carley Stenson and Lee Mead in the
West End production of Legally Blonde

It has been announced that Legally Blonde The Musical will be revived at the Leicester Curve next year. 

Artistic director Nikolai Foster will direct the production which runs between 11th April and 14th May.

Choreography will be by Nick Winston with design by Matthew Wright, lighting by Ben Cracknell, sound by Tom Marshal and orchestrations by Sarah Travis. Casting to be announced.

Big Interview: Brenda Edwards, starring as Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray

Brenda Edwards is currently starring as Motormouth Maybelle in the new UK tour of Hairspray.

Also starring Tony Maudsley, Freya Sutton, Claire Sweeney and Peter Duncan, the show opens at the Leicester Curve tonight (9th September) before visiting 25 venues across the UK including a Christmas residency at the Birmingham Alexandra Theatre.

Brenda famously finished fourth on the second series of The X Factor. She went on to make her West End debut as Mama Morton in Chicago, later reprising her performance for the 10th anniversary gala.

Brenda is well known for playing Killer Queen for five years in Ben Elton and Queen’s musical We Will Rock You. She first played the character in We Will Rock You’s first UK tour in 2009. The following year she transferred to the West End production at the Dominion Theatre where she played Killer Queen until the show closed in 2014.

Her theatre credits also include playing Pearl Pastor in Carmen Jones at the Royal Festival Hall and Diane Steed in The Human Comedy at the Young Vic. Ben Elton also cast Brenda as Mrs Johnson in his BBC1 sitcom The Wright Way, marking her TV acting debut.

I recently spoke to Brenda about why playing Motormouth is a new challenge, how she feels about taking on one of the musical’s biggest songs and whether she would want to step back into Killer Queen’s shoes if We Will Rock You were to return…

Motormouth is such an incredible role! Have you always had your eye on it?

Yes, I actually had my eye on it when it was in the West End. I went to the final audition and was told I was too young! As soon as it first went in to the West End I wanted to play that part. I had my audition with David Grindrod (West End casting director), but I think it was good because it would have been my first role out of Chicago. I was kind of new to the West End scene so there was a lot of learning that I needed to do – but I think I’m ready for it now. Being a mother myself, I can totally relate to the character. I have two very strong minded independent children!

Full casting announced for A Streetcar Named Desire at the Leicester Curve

Full casting has been announced for A Streetcar Named Desire which opens Nikolai Foster’s inaugural season as Artistic Director of the Leicester Curve.

Joining the previously announced Charlie Brooks as Blanche and Stewart Clarke as Stanley are: Dakota Blue Richards (Stella), Sandy Foster (Eunice), Patrick Knowles (Mitch), Natasha Magigi (Nurse/African American Woman), Mark Peachey (Steve), Nick Read (Young Collector/Doctor and Juan Pablo Yepez (Pablo). 

Tennessee Williams’ play opens on 20th October (previews from 16th October) and runs until 8th November 2015. Design is by Michael Taylor with lighting by Guy Hoare and compositions by David Shrubsole.

Chris Stafford appointed Chief Executive of Leicester Curve

Chris Stafford has been appointed the new Chief Executive of the Leicester Curve following Fiona Allan’s departure to lead Birmingham Hippodrome this autumn. 

 Curve is delighted to have found its next Chief Executive from amongst its Senior Management team, where Stafford has been working as Executive Producer for the past two years.

Stafford brings a wealth of experience to the role of Chief Executive. His two years as Executive Producer for Curve have seen him substantially grow the company’s artistic programme, as well as develop Curve’s national and international touring portfolio. All this has been achieved at a time of great insecurity for the arts, and has seen the current team deliver the company’s most successful programme both artistically and commercially.

Praise the Lord! Sister Act to embark on new UK tour

Bless our show! It has been announced that Craig Revel Horwood will direct and choreograph a brand new production of Sister Act.

The revival will open at the  Leicester Curve on 30th July 2016 ahead of a UK tour which is currently booking to 17th December 2016. See dates below (further venues and casting to be announced).

Tickets go on sale from 5th August 2015. Musical supervision and arrangements  are by Sarah Travis.

Revel Horwood said: "I am truly thrilled to be directing and choreographing this all new production of Sister Act, a show I fell in love with when I saw it a few years ago. I am currently putting together a dream creative team and can't wait to get started next year on this hilarious and wonderful show".

Sneak peek at... UK tour of Hairspray

Promotional images have been released for the upcoming UK Tour of Hairspray. Tony Maudsley stars as Edna Turnblad in the major 40-week tour which will open at Curve Theatre in Leicester this autumn. Check out the pictures below (click image to enlarge).

The cast also includes: Claire Sweeney as Velma Von Tussle, Peter Duncan as Wilbur Turnblad, Brenda Edwards as Motormouth Maybelle, Freya Sutton as Tracy Turnblad, Jon Tsouras as Corny Collins, Dex Lee as Seaweed, Ashley Gilmour as Link Larkin, Lauren Stroud as Amber, Monique Young as Penny, Karis Jack as Little Inez, Adam Price as Male Authority Figure, Tracey Penn as Female Authority Figure and Layton Williams as Duane.