Theatre & Film News

Of Mice and Men comes to Cambridge

Birmingham Rep, Leeds Playhouse and Fiery Angel present a brand-new production of the stage adaptation of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men at Cambridge Arts Theatre from April 19th-22nd. George and Lennie are migrants with a dream; a dream of a better life, a place where they can belong, where Lennie feels safe and George can be somebody. But this is the Great Depression, not many dreams come true in a time where a few have plenty but most have nothing. When the friends take a job on Curley’s farm, tragedy unfolds leading to a heart-breaking decision. John Steinbeck’s classic novel is more than 80 years old, but with themes of economic migration, racism and prejudice, it remains a parable for our times.

www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

The Infamous UpShoot Cabaret

Head to the Fisher Theatre, Bungay on April 28th as members of Upshoot Theatre Company’s Community Theatre branch come together to delight, soothe, surprise and entertain with a feast of song, monologues, poetry, music and sketches, presented around a theme. There is something for everyone, guaranteed to keep you enthralled. An extraordinarily talented group with stars from ‘Into the Woods’, ‘Guys and Dolls’, ‘Moulin Rouge’ and more, MC’d by the irreverent Darren France for a night you won’t forget. This a fundraiser for the theatre. fishertheatre.org

A Perfect Likeness at the Maddermarket

Head to the Maddermarket Theatre Norwich on March 31st for a night celebrating two of the country’s biggest literary names. Reclusive writer and photographer Charles Dodgson (also known as Lewis Carroll) invites celebrity author Charles Dickens to his Oxford home to pose for a portrait. Dickens is so intrigued by the whimsical “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” that he accepts. What ensues is a baring of two creative souls, the one private and fastidious, the other boisterous and irreverent. As Dodgson struggles to capture a “perfect likeness” of Dickens, Dickens craftily pries into Dodgson’s personal life to get a handle on one of the most curious men he has ever met. The result is a hilarious and revealing conversation between two quirky, fascinating, and completely different men. www.maddermarket.co.uk

Steam - A Musical reimagining of Dicken’s Hard Times

Against the backdrop of Britain’s industrial revolution in the 1850s, the abandoned circus-girl Sissy Jupe and an amazing array of Dickens characters transform Hard Times into two hours of entertainment, comfort and joy. Award-winning critic and director Chris Tookey has written an innovative steampunk musical inspired by the nineteenth century novel most relevant to our own times.16 talented actor-singers from North Norfolk combine with a 500-piece, digital orchestra in the most ambitious spectacle ever mounted at the Wells Maltings. The run is between April 10th-15th and in aid of Homes for Wells and the Ukraine Crisis Appeal. It will be the largest production ever staged at the venue. The production is written and directed by Chris Tookey, who was the film critic at the Daily Mail for 20 years. Chris and his family have lived in North Norfolk for 28 years. In 2000, an earlier version of the show had a well-reviewed run at the Theatre Royal Haymarket with Brian Blessed and Roy Hudd. www.wellsmaltings.org.uk

Eastern Angles raise the curtain on medieval East Anglia

This spring, Eastern Angles are inviting people to become a local heritage ‘detective’ with its Medieval Miracles. “East Anglia was the Broadway or West End of 15th Century English Theatre” so said a stage historian – and Eastern Angles are not only bringing that buzzing theatre scene up to date with their touring show Medieval Miracles, they’re also launching a largescale heritage project with activities for all across the region! The Medieval Miracles project will focus on the “N-Town Cycle”, a series of 42 plays that tell the story of the world from creation to doomsday. Eastern Angles’ Artistic Director Ivan Cutting says; “Everyone knows about the famous mystery cycles in the northern cities of York, Chester and Wakefield, but East Anglia not only had a bigger one, but a bunch of other plays too which were performed all over the places from villages to big towns.’ There will be opportunities for participants to put their hands to embroidery, design a stained-glass window, or step into the

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

You’ll believe a car can fly! That’s the promise of an ambitious new youth production of the smash-hit musical fantasy Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Snape Maltings in July 7th-9th. But creating an out-of-this-world car at Snape that sails the seas and flies through the air is a huge challenge for the Co-op Juniors Theatre Company. Director Oliver Brett say; ‘We’re fortunate to have the fabulously realistic flying version of Chitty! It transports inventor Caractacus Pott and his family on a series of adventures and close scrapes, and audiences will see it magically rise into the air. There are lots of other surprises too, the whole show is packed with wonderful musical numbers and our cast are throwing themselves into it.’ The Ipswich-based Co-op Juniors have built a reputation for ambitious productions with their annual Christmas Spectacular! at Snape Maltings. Along with their Theatre Academy, providing training in dance, singing and drama for more than 200 pupils, the group has been part of the Suffolk arts scene for 80 years, a landmark they’re celebrating this year. coopjuniors.co.uk/chitty medieval history of their local area by joining a guided heritage walk. Tickets are already available for the Medieval Miracles play that will visit venues across the East of England from 16th March – 20th May. To keep up to date with all the latest project news and events head to easternangles.co.uk