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. 

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.

Nikolai Foster announces first Leicester Curve season

Nikolai Foster has announced his first season as artistic director of the Leicester Curve.

Pop star and former Strictly Come Dancing runner-up Pixie Lott has been cast in a stage adaptation of Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Described as a sparkling play with music, the show will run between 3rd and 12th March 2016.

Breakfast at Tiffany's has been adapted for the stage by Richard Greenberg and will be directed by Foster. Following its run in Leicester, the play - which premiered in New York in 2013 - will tour the UK (dates below) before transferring to the West End's Theatre Royal Haymarket between 30th June and 17th September 2016.

Foster said: "I am thrilled Pixie Lott will lead the company in our production of Richard Greenberg's beautiful adaptation of Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's. Developing new audiences for drama and presenting plays which are socially relevant, are things we feel passionately about at Curve. I am very proud Pixie, Richard and our first class creative team will be joining us in Leicester for my inaugural season."

Interview: Vanessa Babirye, playing Leah in Beautiful Thing

Vanessa attends Beautiful Thing's launch

Vanessa Babirye is currently playing Leah in Nikolai Foster’s anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing.

Following a successful West End run and short tour in 2013, Foster’s production begins touring again next month before opening at the West End’s Arts Theatre on 3rd June. Beautiful Thing is a glorious urban love story between two young men set on an inner city housing estate.

Vanessa recently starred in Romeo and Juliet for the National Theatre. Her television credits include: Babylon (Channel 4) and Our Girl (BBC). 

I recently spoke to Vanessa about how she reacted when she found out she had been cast in Beautiful Thing, why she is so excited to be working with Nikolai Foster and what people can expect from the play…

How familiar were you already with Beautiful Thing?

I had seen the film, [laughs] it was hilarious obviously and I always thought Leah was a fantastic part. So when my agent called me and asked if I wanted to audition for Beautiful Thing I was like, “What?! Jonathan Harvey's Beautiful Thing?! I’m there, get me that audition!” I read the script like three times and I was dying with laughter, I think it’s so beautiful and I’m so happy and ready to be doing it. 

How did you react when you found out you got the part?

It’s so embarrassing… so embarrassing! 

Interview: Charlie Brooks

Next year Charlie Brooks will star as Sandra in Nikolai Foster’s anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing. 

Following a successful West End run and short tour last year, the play will tour the UK again from March 2015. Beautiful Thing is a glorious urban love story between two young men set on an inner city housing estate. 

Best known for starring as Janine Butcher in EastEnders, Charlie won the 2012 series of ITV’s I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here as well as the 2011 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special. 

On stage Charlie has played Dabby Bryant in Our Country's Good (Liverpool Playhouse), Betty in Dangerous Corner (Windsor Theatre Royal) and Rose in The Play What I Wrote (UK Tour). Charlie’s extensive screen work has seen her make appearances in: Wired, Robin Hood, Love Soup, Heartbeat, Casualty, Angel Of Death, London's Burning and The Bill, amongst others. 

Last week, after the first Beautiful Thing read through and cast meet and greet, I spoke to Charlie about why Beautiful Thing means so much to her, why she can’t wait to get going with rehearsals and why she’s been itching to do more theatre…

How much did you already know about Beautiful Thing?

Everything! I knew everything!

When did it first have an impact on you?

It was a really important film for me when I was younger at school. I went to an all-singing, all-dancing school and had a lot of friends who were coming out. I watched the film hundreds of times and was slightly obsessed by it [laughs]! I was definitely one of the cult followers! 

Review: Calamity Jane (UK Tour) at the Milton Keynes Theatre

Calamity Jane (UK Tour)
Milton Keynes Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 25th November 2014
★★★★

"Yeehaw!" Shockingly I knew very little about Calamity Jane and had absolutely no idea what to expect. Needless to say I soon discovered that Charles K. Freeman, Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster's musical provides just over two hours of joyous fun.

Nikolai Foster takes over as Artistic Director of the Leicester Curve Theatre

It has been announced that Nikolai Foster will take over as Artistic Director of the Leicester Curve Theatre. 

Foster takes up the position in January 2015, succeeding Paul Kerryson who steps down as Artistic Director at the end of this year, after 22 years in post.

Foster joins CEO Fiona Allan, newly appointed Commercial Director Alister de Ternant, and a soon to be appointed Chief Operating Officer to create the new core executive team. Conceived by Allan, this new business structure is being implemented to optimise commercial income streams and create a sustainable business model. 

At the heart of this, Foster will be responsible for developing the artistic strategy for Curve, with an emphasis on continuing to grow the company’s national reputation for musical theatre, developing drama audiences, and building strong links with Leicester’s diverse communities.