Big Interview: Jenna Russell

Jenna Russell is currently starring as Mephistopheles in Doctor Faustus at the Duke of York’s Theatre.

Directed by Jamie Lloyd, Jenna stars alongside Kit Harington in the title role. This production marks the London premiere of Colin Teevan’s version of Christopher Marlowe’s classic play.

Jenna most recently starred as Little Edie/Edith opposite Sheila Hancock in Grey Gardens at the Southwark Playhouse. Her recent credits also include: Woman 2 in Songs for a New World (St James), Rose in Di and Viv and Rose (Vaudeville), Pennywise in Urinetown (St James/Apollo), Coleen and Bart in Mr Burns (Almeida) and Mary Flynn in Merrily We Roll Along (Menier/Harold Pinter).

A renowned West End icon, Jenna famously won an Olivier Award for her portrayal of Dot/Marie in the 2007 West End revival of Sunday in the Park with George, later receiving a Tony nomination when she reprised her performance on Broadway.

Just a few of Jenna’s extensive theatre credits feature: Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls (Piccadilly), Cinderella in Into the Woods (Donmar), Marilyn in Soho Cinders (Soho), Enid in Victoria Wood’s That Day We Sang (Manchester), Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, Nellie in The Card & Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (all Regent’s Park), Amy in Amy’s View (Garrick), Natasha in Three Sisters (Royal Court), Young Sally in Follies (Shaftesbury) and Les Miserables (Palace). For the RSC she has played Phoebe in As You Like It, Iras in Antony and Cleopatra, Dorcas in The Winter’s Tale, Susan in Misha’s Party, Rick in Wildest Dreams and Lucy Lockit in The Beggar’s Opera. 

On screen Jenna has appeared in Call the Midwife, The Paradise, Holby City, Petra in Minder, Doctor Who, Deborah Gilder in Born and Bred, Men Only, Peak Practice, Bernadette in Picking Up the Pieces, Maggie in On the Up, Mortdecai and The Fear.

I recently spoke to Jenna about reuniting with Jamie Lloyd on Doctor Faustus, why she is still hopeful Grey Gardens will transfer to the West End and what song she used to freak out to in her living room whilst growing up…

First of all, I can’t believe this is your first ever West End Frame interview!

I know! I was just thinking that, have I never done one before? Oh my gosh. We’ve broken the back, this is a good day [laughs].

Review: Doctor Faustus starring Kit Harington at the Duke of York's Theatre

Doctor Faustus 
Duke of York's Theatre
Reviewed on Friday 22nd April 2016
★★★

Breaking away from their usual home of Trafalgar Studios, the Jamie Lloyd Company have taken over the Duke of York's Theatre with their production of Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus (using Using Colin Teevan's adaptation). In true Jamie Lloyd style some courageous ideas have been thrown into the mix, with the exploration of celebrity culture providing the evening's most compelling moments.

Game of Thrones actor Kit Harington takes on the title role, giving a sturdy performance. There was talk in the interval of some girls almost passing out when Harington took his clothes off; but there's more to Harington than his six pack - he's at ease on stage and throws himself into Faustus' complex mindset, performing intensely gory scene after intensely gory scene.

Harington stars opposite the sensational Jenna Russell as Mephistopheles - I couldn't take my eyes off Russell, once again she gives a faultless performance in an entirely different role. There truly is nothing she cannot do. The ensemble are in sync, performing Polly Bennett's eerie movement direction.

Interview: Uzo Aduba, starring in The Maids at Trafalgar Studios

Two-time Emmy winner Uzo Aduba is currently making her West End debut as Solange in Jean Genet’s powerful psycho-drama The Maids.

With the cast also including Zawe Ashton and Laura Carmichael, the production is helmed by Jamie Lloyd as part of his season at Trafalgar Studios. 

Uzo is best known for starring as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren in Netflix series Orange Is The New Black, a role which has won her countless awards (she is the only actress to win Emmy awards in both the comedy and drama genres for the same role). Orange Is The New Black’s 4th season is set to premiere later this year.

Uzo recently starred as Glinda The Good in NBC’s The Wiz LIVE, appearing alongside Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, Ne-Yo, Amber Riley and David Alan Grier. She is currently in production for Ewan McGregor’s American Pastoral alongside McGregor, Jennifer Connelly and Dakota Fanning. 

Having made her Broadway debut in Coram Boy (Imperial), Uzo’s subsequent theatre credits include: Godspell (Circle in the Square), Translations Of Xhosa (Kennedy Center), Dessa Rose (New Repertory Theatre), Turnado: Rumble For The Ring (Bay Street Theatre) and Abyssinia (Goodspeed Theatre).

After last night’s gala performance of The Maids, I sat down with Uzo for a quick chat about what made her say yes to this show, what it was like to meet her two co-stars and why she wants to do more theatre in London…

As an audience member The Maids is so exhausting to watch – I can’t begin to imagine how you’re feeling right now?!

It’s funny because after doing the show I stay up until pretty late into the night. It’s very hard to unwind; my body is exhausted but my brain is still ticking away. I’m not playing back the show, but the frequency my brain was on is still there.

Jenna Russell & Brian Gilligan join Kit Harington in Doctor Faustus

Full casting has been announced for Jamie Lloyd's production of Doctor Faustus.

Jenna Russell joins the previously announced Kit Harington, taking on the role of Mephistopheles.

The cast also includes: Jade Anouka (Wagner), Tom Edden (Good Angel), Danielle Flett (Valdes), Brian Gilligan (Cornelius), Forbes Masson (Lucifer), Craig Stein (Evil Angel) and ensemble member Gabby Wong.

The play opens at the Duke of York’s Theatre on 25th April (previews from 9th April) and has extended its run for an additional three weeks to 25th June 2016. 

Feature: November round-up

Star of the Month
Lizzy Connolly

This month Lizzy Connolly has starred in not one but two off-West End musicals! She gave the performance of the night in Xanadu at the Southwark Playhouse before proving herself to be one of the finest comedic actors working in musical theatre in Jest End at the Waterloo East Theatre. Having made her West End debut last year in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Connolly continues to steal the spotlight in show after show. She is certainly one worth keeping an eye on! Read our 2014 interview with Lizzy.

Show of the Month

The Homecoming at Trafalgar Studios

Review: The Homecoming at Trafalgar Studios

The Homecoming 
Trafalgar Studios
Reviewed on Monday 23rd November 2015
★★★★★

It has been ten months since a new Jamie Lloyd production opened at Trafalgar Studios, and it wasn't until last night that I realised just how much his work has been missed in the West End. We've seen a variety of plays open their doors to West End audiences in recent months, but nothing as bold or dangerous as Lloyd's revival of The Homecoming by Harold Pinter.

Rehearsal images released for Jamie Lloyd's The Homecoming

Rehearsal images have been released for Jamie Lloyd's production of The Homecoming by Harold Pinter. Check out the images below (click picture to enlarge). The play opens on 23rd November (previews from 14th November) and runs until 13th February 2016.

The cast includes: Keith Allen (Sam), Gemma Chan (Ruth), Ron Cook (Max), Gary Kemp (Teddy), John Macmillan (Joey) and John Simm (Lenny). Design is by Soutra Gilmour with lighting by Richard Howell and sound by George Dennis.

Jamie Lloyd to direct Uzo Aduba, Zawe Ashton & Laura Carmichael in The Maids

It has been announced that Jamie Lloyd will direct Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black), Zawe Ashton (Fresh Meat) and Laura Carmichael (Downton Abbey) in the UK premiere of The Maids next year,

The play will open at Trafalgar Studios on 29th February (previews from 20th February) and run until 21st May 2016. Tickets are on sale from Tuesday 10th November 2015. Design is by Soutra Gilmour.

Uzo Aduba said: "I wanted to be a part of The Jamie Lloyd Company because they’re interested in doing exciting work that is new, with a twist to it. It's work with a fresh edge. Jamie reinvents classic plays in a way that we’ve never seen before or have explored before. That's exciting as an actor. To be part of a play that allows for three women to mine such complex characters inside of an already rich and thrilling story, is the stuff that acting dreams are made on."

Jamie Lloyd to stage The Homecoming starring Gemma Chan, Gary Kemp & John Simm

It has been announced that Jamie Lloyd will stage a 50th anniversary production of Harold Pinter's The Homecoming. Lloyd returns to Trafalgar Studios with tickets on sale from 22nd September 2015.

The Homecoming will star Keith Allen (Sam), Gemma Chan (Ruth), Ron Cook (Max), Gary Kemp (Teddy), John Macmillan (Joey) and John Simm (Lenny). Design is by Soutra Gilmour with lighting by Richard Howell and sound by George Dennis.

Review: East Is East (UK Tour) at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

East Is East (UK Tour)
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 23rd June 2015

★★★★

Set in Salford in the early 1970s, East Is East is touring the UK following its run in the West End last year as part of Jamie Lloyd's Trafalgar Transformed season. A hugely iconic play about growing up in multiracial England, Ayub Khan Din's 1996 play remains remarkably relevant today.

Fresh from a stint in EastEnders, Pauline McLynn takes over from Jane Horrocks as Ella Khan, a mother who would do anything for her children. McLynn delves less into the character's vulnerable side, taking to the stage with immense strength throughout. She grows with the piece, with her act two outburst bringing the house down.

Simon Nagra takes over as George (played by writer Ayub Khan Din during the West End run), a father who wants the best for his family but struggles to deal with growing stress and high levels of expectation from his community. As tensions build he takes the play to a darker place, with passion and love developing into violence and aggression.

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).

Sneak peek at... Jamie Lloyd's production of The Ruling Class starring James McAvoy

Pictures of James McAvoy and the cast of The Ruling Class rehearsing the production have been released. Directed by Jamie Lloyd, The Ruling Class runs at Trafalgar Studios, marking McAvoy's return to Lloyd's Trafalgar Transformed season. 

The show also stars Ron Cook, Kathryn Drysdale, Joshua McGuire and Anthony O'Donnell and features Michael Cronin, Serena Evans, Paul Leonard, Elliot Levey and Forbes Masson. The ensemble includes: Rosy Benjamin, Andrew Bloomer and Oliver Lavery.

The Ruling Class opens on 27th January (previews from 16th January) and runs until 11th April 2015. Design is by Soutra Gilmour, with lighting by Jon Clarkand and sound by Ben and Max Ringham. Choreography is by Darren Carnall with musical direction by Huw Evans.

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.

Sneak peek at... Jamie Lloyd's production of Assassins

The Menier Chocolate Factory has released images of the Assassins cast in rehearsals. Check out the pictures below (click image to enlarge). Directed by Jamie Lloyd, Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's musical runs at the Menier between Friday 21st November 2014 and 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 Lloyd directs James McAvoy in revival of The Ruling Class

It has been revealed by the Daily Mail that James McAvoy will star in The Ruling Class.

Directed by Jamie Lloyd as part of his Trafalgar Transformed season, the production will run at Trafalgar Studios between 16th January and 11th April 2015. Peter Barnes’s play won the Evening Standard’s Best Drama Award in 1969.

The Ruling Class will conclude the second season of Trafalgar Transformed. McAvoy previously starred in Trafalgar Transformed's production of Macbeth, which was also directed by Lloyd.

Review: East Is East at Trafalgar Studios

East Is East
Trafalgar Studios
Reviewed on Thursday 16th October 2014
★★★★

A hugely iconic play about growing up in multiracial England, East Is East is a tremendous piece which perfectly slides into Jamie Lloyd's second Trafalgar Transformed season. Sam Yates directs the production, marking his West End directorial debut, and has done a fine job.

Big Interview: Matthew Seadon-Young, starring as Bobby Strong in Urinetown

Matthew Seadon-Young is currently starring as Bobby Strong in the West End transfer of Urinetown. He previously understudied the role during Urinetown’s run at the St James Theatre.

Directed by Jamie Lloyd, Urinetown looks into how the world would cope if we lost the privilege to pee. The satirical musical comedy ran on Broadway to great acclaim between 2001 until 2004, receiving ten Tony Award nominations. It won for Best Book, Best Score and Best Direction.

Matthew’s theatre credits include: The Architects (Shunt) and Les Miserables (Queens Theatre). He previously worked with Jamie Lloyd on School For Scandal (Theatre Royal Bath) and She Stoops To Conquer (National).

His screen credits include Matthew Warchus’ Pride as well as the film adaptation of Les Misérables directed by Tom Hooper. Matthew also sang at the 85th Academy Awards (Oscars – 2013) and The 25th Anniversary Concert for Les Miserables at the O2 Arena.

I recently spoke to Matthew about playing such an almighty role, bringing the house down night after night with the show stopping number ‘Run Freedom Run’, Urinetown’s cult following and a certain voicemail Jamie Lloyd left on his phone… 

How did you find out that you would be taking over as Bobby?

It was actually via voicemail. Jamie Lloyd, the director, had left me a voicemail. I woke up to a missed call and I thought, ‘oh, what’s this about then?’ because it’s not every day you get a call from the director! Obviously I had missed the call and he had left me a voicemail, but instead of listening to the voicemail – like any normal person would – I just tried ringing him back. I just thought it would be one of those short voicemails like “just give me a call back” or something like that, so I didn’t listen to it for about half an hour!

Review: The Commitments at the Palace Theatre

The Commitments 
Palace Theatre

Reviewed on Wednesday 8th October 2014

★★★★

As soon as the announcement was made that Jamie Lloyd would be at the helm of the stage musical adaptation of The Commitments, my heart exploded with anticipation. As a child of soul, growing up watching the iconic movie version of Roddy Doyle's gritty and hilarious novel and obsessing over the characters and music so much that I started a soul band of my own when I was 17, it had always baffled me why it had not been done before.

Review: Urinetown at the Apollo Theatre

Urinetown

Apollo Theatre

Reviewed on Wednesday 8th October 2014

★★★★★

Jonathan Slinger

For the past few months I've been telling everyone who missed Urinetown during its sell-out run at the St James Theatre to make sure they catch the musical in its new West End home. Of course the reply I always receive is, "What on earth is that about?" 

To put it simply, instead of retelling a love story or following a journey to self-discovery as many musicals do, Urinetown looks into how the world would cope if we lost the privilege to pee. Those who break the rules are sent to Urinetown but, of course, there is a rebellion.

It's important to point out that Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis' show is a satirical musical comedy. The tone is perfect with the Narrator, Officer Lockstock (Jonathan Slinger) and Little Sally (Karis Jack) making fun of musicals in general as well as Urinetown's dark story and peculiar title. The piece is written cleverly and it's so refreshing to see it in the West End. The satirical humour makes Urinetown totally unique and I am confident it could build up a hugely dedicated audience.

Big Interview: John McLarnon

John McLarnon is currently starring in Jamie Lloyd’s West End production of The Commitments which celebrates its first birthday at the Palace Theatre today! 

John understudied five roles in the original cast before taking over as Outspan full-time last month. The Commitments has been adapted for the stage by Roddy Doyle from his original novel.

Originally from Glasgow, John made his West End debut as Rebel Leader and first cover Pop in We Will Rock You (Dominion). His theatre credits also include: Spider in Jekyll & Hyde (Union), Josh in Elegies For Angels Punks & Raging Queens (Tron Theatre, Glasgow) and Hamish/Superfly in Jack & The Beanstalk (Perth Theatre). He also created the role of John in the award winning Wasted Love (Edinburgh Fringe & Actors Church, London). As a singer-songwriter he released his debut EP last year. 

I recently spoke to John backstage at the Palace Theatre about his new West End leading role, why The Commitments is his dream job, his Irish accent and only knowing one musical theatre song when he joined drama school…

In 2012 I reviewed you in The Improvised Musical at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival… and just over two years later here we are in your West End dressing room!

It’s been a mad couple of years actually! When I did the fringe that year I knew I was going into We Will Rock You. I literally started the next month which was an amazing feeling – I could really enjoy it. When I found out The Commitments was coming in I spoke to my agent but it was going to be really, really close dates-wise. Because I was desperate to do this we decided I should just go for it anyway and then the dates changed so it was going to be a month overlap. It was up in the air for a while, but then We Will Rock You were so supportive of me and Mark Dugdale (who also went from We Will Rock You to The Commitments at the same time). They managed to get someone else to return to the show so it all worked out.