Review: A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Southwark Playhouse

A Midsummer Night's Dream 
Southwark Playhouse
Reviewed on Monday 6th June 2016
★★★★

Performing A Midsummer Night's Dream with a cast of seven and limited props/costume in one hour fifty minutes is no easy task. Not only do Go People Theatre Company pull it off, but they have also triumphantly found a new way to present a Shakespeare classic, which is easier said than done.

Interview: Maddy Hill

Maddy Hill is currently starring as Titania and Quince in Simon Evans’ production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Southwark Playhouse.

This ninety minute version of Shakespeare’s play is performed by a cast of seven. It is described as “farce meets Shakespeare in the most exciting way”. The show is currently in previews ahead of press night on 6th June.

After A Midsummer Night’s Dream completes its run on 1st July 2016, Maddy will star as the title role in Matthew Dunster’s Imogen at Shakespeare’s Globe.

Maddy recently completed a two year run playing Nancy Carter in BBC1’s EastEnders. For her performance, in 2015 Maddy won Best Newcomer at the National Television Awards. On stage she previously appeared in As You Like It (Custom Practice/Lion & Unicorn) whilst her screen credits include U Want Me 2 Kill Him? and Hannah Wilson in Father Brown.

I recently spoke to Maddy about why she hopes audiences will relate to this production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, how she feels about taking on the title role in Matthew Dunster’s Imogen and what it’s like to leave the EastEnders bubble… 

I love that this production is described as an “irreverent, mischievous and wildly creative” interpretation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream! What did you think when you first heard about it?

For me I loved that Titania and Quince are so brilliant opposing… I wouldn’t have expected to play either of those parts ever – let alone now at this stage in my career. That was incredibly exciting. Taking such a well-known play and turning it on its head by trying to perform it with seven actors is the best thing you can possibly do with a play that everybody in the audience is going to know so well. There’s no doubt that they will never have seen anything like this before! 

Competition: Win a pair of tickets to A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Southwark Playhouse

We are giving away a pair of tickets to A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Southwark Playhouse starring Freddie Fox (Cucumber/Banana) and Maddy Hill (EastEnders). To enter the competition, simply sign up to West End Frame's mailing list below. 

The winner will be randomly selected at 10am on Monday 30th May 2016 (entries after this time will not be included). The prize is valid for preview performances between 31st May and 4th June. 

Even if you already subscribe to West End Frame's newsletter you still have to input your details below to enter this particular competition. You will not receive our newsletter twice (assuming you enter the same email address). Please read the terms and conditions below.

Louise Dearman & Laura Pitt-Pulford to star in London premiere of Side Show

The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye has revealed that Louise Dearman and Laura Pitt-Pulford will star in the London premiere of Side Show at the Southwark Playhouse later this year.

Directed by Hannah Chissick and produced by Paul Taylor-Mills, Side Show will open on 26th October (previews from 21st October) and run until 3rd December 2016.

Full casting announced for Through the Mill at the Southwark Playhouse

Full casting has been confirmed for Through the Mill which is transferring to the Southwark Playhouse following its run at the London Theatre Workshop.

Written and directed by Ray Rackham, the show will open in The Large on 8th July (previews from 6th July) and run until 30th July 2016.

Through the Mill has musical supervision and arrangements by Simon Holt with musical direction by Jordan Li Smith, choreography by Chris Whittaker, set design by Johnson Williams and sound by Ed Shaw.

Review: The Toxic Avenger at the Southwark Playhouse

The Toxic Avenger 
Southwark Playhouse
Reviewed on Tuesday 26th September 2016
★★★★

Having premiered in New Jersey in 2008 before opening off-Broadway the following year, The Toxic Avenger is finally making its UK premiere. Providing two and a half hours of joyous insanity, The Toxic Avenger features a brilliant rock-fuelled score by David Bryan and Joe DiPietro who wrote the musical Memphis.

Freddie Fox & Maddy Hill to star in "wildly creative" A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Simon Evans is bringing his "irreverent, mischievous and wildly creative" interpretation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the Southwark Playhouse.

The show will open on 6th June (previews from 31st May) and run until 1st July 2016. 

The production’s seven-strong cast will be led by Freddie Fox (The Judas Kiss/Hay Fever) and Maddy Hill (EastEnders).

The company also includes Lucy Eaton as Helena / Starveling, Freddie Hutchins as Lysander / Flute, Melanie Fullbrook as Puck, Suzie Preece as Hermia / Snug and Ludovic Hughes as Oberon / Theseus.

Through the Mill transferring to Southwark Playhouse

Through the Mill is transferring to the Southwark Playhouse following its run at the London Theatre Workshop.

Written and directed by Ray Rackham, the show will open in The Large on 8th July (previews from 6th July) and run until 30th July 2016

The show has musical supervision and arrangements by Simon Holt with musical direction by Jordan Li Smith, choreography by Chris Whittaker, set design by Johnson Williams and sound by Ed Shaw.

Casting announced for The Toxic Avenger at the Southwark Playhouse

Casting has been announced for the European premiere of The Toxic Avenger by Joe DiPietro and David Bryan.

Directed by Benji Sperring, the show will open at the Southwark Playhouse on 26th April (previews from 22nd April) and run until 21st May 2016.

Musical direction is by Alex Beetschen with lighting by Nic Farman and choreography by Lucie Pankhurst.

Mark Anderson stars as ‘Toxie’ The Toxic Avenger with the cast also including Hannah Grover as Sarah, Lizzii Hills as Ma Ferd, Mayor and Nun, Marc Pickering as White Dude and Ashley Samuels as Black Dude.

Josette Simon joins Mel Giedroyc in LUCE at the Southwark Playhouse

Josette Simon (After the Fall/Golden Girls) will star longside the previously announced Mel Giedroyc (The Sound of Music LIVE/The Great British Bake Off) in JC Lee’s play Luce. 

Directed by Simon Dormandy, the production has design by Dick Bird. The show premiered at the Lincoln Center Theater in 2013. 

Luce opens at the Southwark Playhouse on 11th March (previews from 9th March) and runs until 2nd April 2016, marking the play's UK premiere.

Amy’s son is perfect: star athlete, academic highflyer and high school hero. So why are there lethal explosives in his locker?

Full casting announced for all-female Cyrano de Bergerac starring Kathryn Hunter

Full casting has been announced for Russell Bolam’s all-female production of Cyrano de Bergerac.

The production opens at the Southwark Playhouse on 22nd February (previews from 18th February) and runs until 19th March 2016.

Kathryn Hunter plays the title role of Cyrano and is joined by Sabrina Bartlett as Roxane, Ellie Kendrick as Christian. 

Holly Burn, Tina Chiang, Penelope Dimond, Tamzin Griffin and Kiran Sonia Sawar complete the cast. Movement is by Marcello Magni with design by Anthony Lamble, lighting by Richard Godin and sound and compositions by Harry Blake.

Mel Giedroyc to star in LUCE at the Southwark Playhouse

It has been announced that Mel Giedroyc (The Sound of Music LIVE/The Great British Bake Off) will star in the UK première of JC Lee’s play Luce. 

Directed by Simon Dormandy, the production opens on 11th March (previews from 9th March) and runs until 2nd April 2016. 

Design is by Dick Bird. Further casting is to be announced for the show which premiered at the Lincoln Center Theater in 2013.

Amy’s son is perfect: star athlete, academic highflyer and high school hero. So why are there lethal explosives in his locker?

Big Interview: Scott Frankel, Michael Korie & Doug Wright - the writers of Grey Gardens

Scott Frankel, Michael Korie and Doug Wright are the writers of Grey Gardens, a musical based on the​ 1975​ documentary of the same name. 

The piece explores the relationship between a mother and daughter - Edith Bouvier Beale and Little Edie - as they spiral down the social ladder and become reclusive outcasts. 

Grey Gardens premiered off-Broadway in February 2006 before transferring to Broadway nine months later. Both leading ladies - Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson - won Tony Awards for their performances in the show. 

Scott Frankel, Michael Korie & Doug Wright

The musical is currently receiving its European premiere at the Southwark Playhouse starring Jenna Russell and Sheila Hancock. Directed by Thom Southerland, the entire run of Grey Gardens ​is completely sold old and the production has broken box office records​. 

Last Friday - the day after opening night - I sat down with Scott, Michael and Doug at the Southwark Playhouse to discuss Grey Gardens’ creation, the show’s journey to Broadway and what they think of the London production, plus much more… 

Which of you watched the Grey Gardens documentary and thought ‘I want to turn this into a musical’? How did the lightbulb moment happen?

[Michael and Doug both point over Scott’s head]

Scott Frankel (music): I knew the film very well and had seen it millions of times – I had been to parties where people would dress up and recite some of Edie’s phrases – but it never occurred to me it could be adapted for the stage… until one day it did in about the year 2000. I rang up Albert Maysles who is the surviving documentary filmmaker (Albert made the documentary with his brother, David) and said, “I don’t know how I would do it, but I’m keen to turn Grey Gardens into a musical. Is there any chance the rights are available?”

He said, “It’s so strange you’re calling because the film came out twenty-five years ago and nobody has approached us about the rights until recently a French opera composer has been speaking to us about wanting to make Grey Gardens into an opera.” 

Review: Grey Gardens at the Southwark Playhouse

Grey Gardens

Southwark Playhouse

Reviewed on Thursday 7th January 2016
★★★★

Adapted from the 1975 documentary, Grey Gardens is an unusual musical which explores the relationship between a mother and daughter - Edith Bouvier Beale and Little Edie - as they spiral down the social ladder and become reclusive outcasts living in horrific conditions (surrounded by cats).

PICS: Sheila Hancock & Jenna Russell rehearse Grey Gardens

Rehearsal images have been released for the European première of Grey Gardens. The musical stars Olivier Award winning actresses Sheila Hancock and Jenna Russell as Edith “Big Edie” Ewing Bouvier Beale and Edith “Little Edie” Bouvier Beale. Check out the pictures below (click image to enlarge). 

Based on an iconic 1975 documentary, Grey Gardens tells the spectacular real life rise and fall of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’s aunt and cousin, Edith and Edie Bouvier Beale. Directed by Thom Southerland, the musical opens at the Southwark Playhouse on 7th January 2016 (previews from 2nd January) for a limited run until 6th February 2016. 

Editor's Blog: Kay Murphy saves the day!

Last Monday (2nd November) West End actress Kay Murphy innocently attended press night of Xanadu at the Southwark Playhouse, enjoyed the show and made a remark to a friend about how she loved Alison Jiear's character Melpomene. Seven days later Murphy is told Jiear is unwell and is asked to learn the role in 24 hours...

Last month I was taken aback by the craziness of roller skating Broadway musical Xanadu which is currently receiving its UK premiere at the Southwark Playhouse. Following a magical Greek muse sent from the heavens of Mount Olympus to inspire a struggling artist in California, Xanadu is "bold, bizarre and camper than Christmas".

I was keen to see the show again so yesterday bought a last minute ticket to the evening performance. After being let into the theatre a little late, director Paul Warwick Griffin took to the stage and first explained that there had been some technical issues with the lighting. 

Xanadu cancels tonight's performance at the Southwark Playhouse

Tonight's performance of roller skating Broadway musical Xanadu at the Southwark Playhouse has been cancelled due to cast illness.

Ticket holders should contact the Southwark Playhouse to transfer their tickets or arrange a refund.

A statement posted on Twitter reads: "Due to cast illness tonight's performance of Xanadu has been cancelled. We're trying to get in touch with everyone who has booked. If you have tix please call 020 7407 0234 to transfer/refund."

Marking its UK premiere, Xanadu began previews at the Southwark Playhouse on 16th October before opening officially on 2nd November. It runs to 21st November 2015. 

Review: Xanadu at the Southwark Playhouse

Xanadu
Southwark Playhouse

Reviewed on Thursday 29th October 2015

★★★★

Bold, bizarre and camper than Christmas, Xanadu is the craziest musical EVER. 

Carly Anderson stars as Kira, a magical Greek muse sent from the heavens of Mount Olympus to inspire struggling artist Sonny (Samuel Edwards) in California. Based on the 1980s cult movie which starred Olivia Newton John and Gene Kelly, the roller skating musical premiered on Broadway in 2007 where it broke box office records and was a huge success.

Jeff Lynne and John Farrar's score is frighteningly catchy whilst Douglas Carter Beane's script has no boundaries and features some ridiculously funny moments. Xanadu tells a chaotic story of forbidden love - it takes a while to adjust to the craziness; at first it's overwhelming, but I loved every second and left the Southwark Playhouse absolutely buzzing.

Marking the first time Xanadu has ever been staged in the UK, Paul Warwick Griffin's production works well in the intimacy of the Southwark Playhouse. It didn't feel like I was watching a small show with a cast of nine because the musical numbers are so big (Nathan M. Wright's choreography is terrific) and the audience's reaction was huge. Morgan Large's design is spot on, the costumes and wigs really are something else.

Big Interview: Samuel Edwards

Samuel Edwards is starring as Sonny in the UK premiere of roller skating Broadway musical Xanadu.

Following two weeks of previews, Xanadu officially opens tonight (2nd November) at the Southwark Playhouse where it runs until 21st November 2015. 

Based on the 1980s cult film, Xanadu originally opened on Broadway in 2007 where it ran for over 500 performances and was nominated for four Tony Awards. The score features the movie's chart topping songs including 'Magic', 'Suddenly', 'I’m Alive', 'Evil Woman', 'All Over the World' and 'Xanadu'.

Sam recently starred as Fiyero in the UK and Ireland tour of Wicked, having previously understudied the role in the West End production at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. His credits also include: understudy Sam Wheat in Ghost The Musical (Piccadilly), Feuilly in Les Misérables (Queen's) and The Sound of Music (Regent’s Park Open Air). 

I recently spoke to Sam about embracing the cheesiness of Xanadu, what people can expect from the show and how he has found the roller skating. We also discussed his year as Fiyero, why Ghost was such a special show for him and what he got up to in a previous life…

How much did you know about Xanadu before this production came up?

If I’m honest with you I had never heard of the film! Someone mentioned the show to me back in February this year so it was on my radar. I remember typing it into YouTube and watching their performance at the Tonys and thinking, ‘This looks awesome’! I had never really heard any of the songs before – they’re 80s hits apparently [laughs] from before my time. It wasn’t until the auditions came around that I thought I should probably buy the DVD. I got about half an hour into the film… and just couldn’t take it anymore! I know it’s a cult film and everything, but I thought it was diabolical! It is awful [laughs]! But the show is very different and did so well on Broadway.

Casa Valentina announces Stonewall gala

It has been announced that Casa Valentina will play a special gala performance for Stonewall which campaigns for the equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people across Britain.

The gala, which takes place at the Southwark Playhouse on 24th September, will be hosted by Smooth Radio's Anthony Davis. After the performance, there will be a Q&A with Ayaz Manj and Peter Mercer from Stonewall along with the cast and producers. 

Casa Valentina is set in 1962 in the picturesque Catskills mountains of New York where a group of heterosexual men escape from the City to spend their weekend dressed as women. Included in the price of each ticket to the gala performance will be a donation to support the charitable works of Stonewall.