Groups Newsletter

MON 6 – SAT 11 APRIL

GROUPS CLUB

MEMBERS’ NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2019 HELLO GROUPS’ CLUB MEMBERS, Exciting news! The Orchard Theatre’s auditorium is undergoing a massive refurbishment with new auditorium seating being installed on all levels – increasing capacity and improving sight-lines. We wanted to share an artist’s impression of what it might look like when it is finished.

The Autumn season kicks off in style with the opening of our new auditorium and the premier of the brand-new tour for Priscilla, staring Joe McFadden, plus the return of some favourites such as Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, Rocky Horror Show starring Strictly Come Dancing professional champion Joanne Clifton as Janet and Stephen Webb as Dr Frank ‘n’ Furter plus the landmark 30th anniversary of Buddy – The Buddy Holly Show.

Star casting has been announced for Peter Pan, former British Soap Awards ‘Villain of the Year’, Steve McFadden who is one of Britain’s favourite soap-baddies and has been a regular on our TV screens for nearly two decades, most famously in EastEnders. Joining him as the hilarious shipmate Mr Smee will be comedian Andy Ford.

Start off the new year with the Queen Of The Night Alexandra Burke as she stars in The Bodyguard, then keep the party going as The Boys Are Back for one night only, join us for an evening with 5ive, A1, 911 and Damage.

Love to laugh? We have comedians such as Mock of the Weeks’ Milton Jones, Britain’s Got Talent’s Kojo Anim and Lost Voice Guy and with the follow up to his acclaimed shows Fame: Not The Musical, and My Family: Not The Sitcom David Baddiel brings new brand-new tour Trolls: Not The Dolls to The Orchard Theatre. Plus don’t miss Tom Lister (Emmerdale) and Daniel Casey (Midsomer Murders, EastEnders) in a brand-new, high-octane production of the multi awardwinning West End and Broadway comedy classic Boeing-Boeing.

Plus Tom Chambers brings the drama in a brand-new production of the blueprint for the modern thriller, Dial M for Murder, and Ellen Kent returns with two operas Madama Butterfly and La Boheme.

PETER PAN Interview with Steve McFadden

You’re playing the lead in this year’s panto in Dartford as the villainous Captain Hook, why do you like starring in family pantomimes so much?

Panto is definitely for families, which is why they are so fun to do. After spending most of my year in front of a camera it’s a great chance for me to perform in front of an audience made up of school kids, parents and young ones at a very special time of year, and it means I can take a step away from my on-screen character and have some fun with what I’m doing.

What is your favourite scene from the Peter Pan storyline this Christmas and why do you think Dartford audiences will enjoy this year’s pantomime?

The whole story is brilliantly adapted from JM Barrie’s original story, so it has everything; moments of comedy, sword fighting, flying sequences and the crocodile. I think my favourite scenes are on board the Jolly Roger though, where I fight with Peter Pan and get the most boos from the audiences.

Have you starred in panto at The Orchard Theatre before and what are you most looking forward to in Dartford?

I have, I was last there playing Abanazar in Aladdin in 2012, and had such a great time I’m looking forward to coming back. It’s a great theatre, I’m hearing great

things about the renovations, and the audiences are really responsive, and will boo me loudly, that’s what it’s all about.

Who will you be starring alongside this year and have you worked with them before?

Joining me will be my old friend Andy Ford who I worked with two years ago for the first time. We did Peter Pan down in Plymouth together and had a great laugh. He’s very funny, he’s brilliant at keeping the kids entertained and making the mums and dads laugh too. He’s done so many pantomimes he’s a real natural, and he keeps me on my toes too.

THE SHOW WILL BE AT THE ORCHARD THEATRE FROM SATURDAY 14 DECEMBER 2019 – SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2020.

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Q&A WITH BILLIONAIRE BOY AUTHOR

What is it like seeing your books come to life?

It’s the most brilliant thing, seeing a book that you’ve written come to life either on television or on stage. You feel like a magician because what was in your head is somehow now all real, right in front of you, so it is a very very exciting thing.

If I gave you one billion pounds to spend however you liked and you had to spend it today, what would you spend it on?

There’s one thing that Joe Spud, who is the billionaire boy, has in the book which is a water slide going down from his bedroom to a swimming pool. He just gets out of bed and goes straight down a water slide. That is something I don’t have and it really pains me. So if I had a billion pounds to spend today I’d get that water slide because water slides are so much fun.

I love them!

Do you make your books difficult to stage on purpose, like having a helicopter in Billionaire Boy? The thing is that when I write the books I’m not thinking much beyond them being books.

And, of course, in children’s books you want to have lots of really exciting things happening like helicopters and fast cars and I know that does create problems for people staging it but then the brilliant thing about theatre is that with imagination, anything can be done.

Apart from Joe Spud who is your favourite character in Billionaire Boy? My favourite character in the story of Billionaire Boy is Mrs Trafe, the dinner lady and I actually played her in the TV adaption. Basically in the story she asks Joe for money and she says she needs for a hip operation but spends it on plastic surgery. It highlights the fact that Joe’s in a pretty difficult predicament because everyone is asking him for money and they all have good reasons why they need it. But at the same time money is quite a corrupting thing and it makes people do bad things and lie to him. So Mrs Trafe Groups 10+ is really a side character but she does something pretty important in the story.

RUNNING AT THE ORCHARD THEATRE WED 13–SUN 17 NOVEMBER

CASTING ANNOUNCED

LYN PAUL TO REPRISE HER ROLE AS THE ‘DEFINITIVE MRS JOHNSTONE’ FOR THE FINAL TIME IN

BLOOD BROTHERS

‘The definitive Mrs Johnstone’ (Manchester Evening News) Lyn Paul returns to the iconic role for the final time. Having first played her in 1997 and on numerous tours, Lyn played Mrs Johnstone in the final West End performances at the Phoenix Theatre in 2012. She has also starred in the UK tour of Cabaret in 2013 as Fraulein Schneider, in Boy George’s musical Taboo and in Footloose – the Musical.

Lyn said: “I am beyond thrilled to be returning to BLOOD BROTHERS in this iconic role. I’m honoured to have been given the opportunity to undertake this “Farewell Tour” by my good friend, Bill Kenwright. It’s such a privilege to be able to play Mrs Johnstone one final time”.

Lyn rose to fame in the early 1970s as a member of the New Seekers. She was the featured vocalist on their 1972 Eurovision Song Contest entry, ‘Beg, Steal or Borrow’ and lead vocalist on the 1974 number-one hit ‘You Won’t Find Another Fool Like Me’. The groups biggest hit was ‘I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing’, adapted from an advertising jingle for Coca-Cola, which sold over 20 million copies and remains one of the 100 best-selling singles in the UK. Considered ‘One of the best musicals ever written’ (Sunday Times), Blood Brothers, written by award-winning playwright Willy Russell has triumphed across the Globe. Scooping up no fewer than four awards for Best Musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway, Blood Brothers is simply ‘Unmissable and unbeatable’ (The Spectator). Blood Brothers tells the moving story of twin boys separated at birth, only to be reunited by a twist of fate and a mother’s haunting secret. The memorable score includes A Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True.

RUNNING AT THE ORCHARD THEATRE TUE 19–SAT 23 NOVEMBER

£15.00

(Excl Sat & Sun)

CHRISTMAS PARTIES FOR YOUR GROUP!

THE CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA RUDOLPH RAVE COMEDY CRACKER FESTIVE AFTERNOON TEA WITH ULTIMATE BUBLE BUBBLES & BUBLE FESTIVE AFTERNOON TEA WITH GIMME GIMME GIRLS GIMME GIMME CHRISTMAS MOTOWN CHRISTMAS FESTIVE LUNCH MOTOWN AT CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS TROPICANA NIGHTS

CURTAINS MON 25–SAT 30 NOVEMBER

CASTING ANNOUNCED Dan Looney, Adam Paulden and Jason HaighEllery for DLAP Entertainment are delighted to announce full casting for the UK tour of the Tony award winning musical “CURTAINS” which stars the previously announced Jason Manford as Detective ‘Frank Cioffi’.

Joining Jason will be musical theatre actress Carley Stenson as ‘Georgia Hendriks’, Rebecca Lock as ‘Carmen’, Samuel Holmes as ‘Christopher Belling’, Leah West as ‘Niki Harris’ and Alan Burkitt as ‘Bobby’.

Groups 10+ £8 off Groups 20+ £9 off Groups 40+ £10 off (Off top two priced tickets, Tue–Thu, Excl.

Premium Seats)

Carley is currently starring as Fantine in Les Misérables, at the Queens Theatre in London’s West End. Carley is probably best known for her television work and playing ‘Steph Cunningham’ in Channel Four’s Hollyoaks. Rebecca Lock most recently starred in Heathers The Musical at the Haymarket Theatre in London. Her other West End credits include MAMMA MIA! at The Novello Theatre plus more. Samuel Holmes most recently starred in the UK tour of “The Wedding Singer”. Samuel’s West End credits include Mrs Henderson Presents at Noël Coward Theatre and Spamalot at Playhouse Theatre. Leah West previously starred in Disney’s Film Beauty and the Beast and ITV drama Unforgotten.

Her previous theatre credits include Grand Hotel and Allegro both at Southwark Playhouse and the UK Tour of The Smallest Show On Earth.

Alan Burkitt was in the original West End Cast of Top Hat at the Aldwych Theatre and then went on to play the lead role of ‘Jerry’ in the UK national tour. Alan’s other theatre credits include, We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre Singin’ in the Rain and 42nd Street both at Chichester Festival Theatre.

From the Tony Award-winning creators of Cabaret and Chicago, this production tells the story of Jessica Cranshaw, star of the new Broadwaybound musical Robbin Hood, who has been murdered on stage on opening night! The entire cast and crew are suspects. Time to call in the local detective, Frank Cioffi, who just happens to be a huge musical theatre fan. With a nose for crime and an ear for music, Frank has his work cut out trying to find the killer whilst giving the show a lifeline.

DERREN BROWN FRI 27 MARCH – SAT 4 APRIL

The content of Showman currently remains a closely-guarded secret but Derren said

FORD DART IT

GETS !

FIRST

“All I can reveal is that the show will ultimately be about you, the audience member, because that’s what I find most interesting.

There are some places I’d like to take the audience where we haven’t been before, and I always aim to have it deliver more than you’d expect. I’m excited to be at the starting point of that process. Getting it on the road will be my favourite part of the year.”

Derren’s live shows have won him two prestigious Olivier Awards – for Something Wicked This Way Comes (2006) and Svengali (2012) and he has received more Olivier nominations and wins than any other one-man show in theatre history. He has played to sold-out houses across the country every year since 2003 to over 1.6M people. Previous shows, Infamous, (2013, 2014), Miracle (2015, 2016) and Underground (2017, 2018) have also enjoyed critically acclaimed seasons in London’s West End. In 2017 he made an award-winning US stage debut at the Atlantic Theater in New York with Derren Brown: Secret and discussions for a Broadway run are ongoing.

BOEING-BOEING TUE 25–SAT 29 FEBRUARY

Groups 10+ £8 off Groups 20+ £9 off Groups 40+ £10 off

MOSCOW CITY BALLET SLEEPING BEAUTY FIFTEEN FUN FACTS 1. Although ballet originated as a form of entertainment in the Italian courts in the 15th century, the first full length ballet was staged in Paris in 1581.

2. Women were not allowed to dance in public until 1681 so, up to that point, female roles in ballets in France were taken by young men.

3. England’s first ballet, The Loves Of Mars And Venus, had its premiere at the Drury Lane Theatre in London on 2 March, 1717.

4. Interestingly, the word ‘ballerina’ did not find a place within the English language until 1789.

5. A male ballet dancer may lift the equivalent of one-and-a-half tons of ballerinas in a performance. That’s the same as picking up a Hippo!

9. The leotard is named after Jules Leotard, the original ‘daring young man on the flying trapeze’.

10. The first ballerina’s tutu appeared in 1832, designed by Eugene Lami, though the word ‘tutu’ only appeared in English in 1910.

11. Each tutu can take up to 90 hours to make and they are all made by hand, costing up to £1,500.

12. Moscow City Ballet tours with three washing machines to clean the costumes that can be washed such as skirts, tights and pants. Those that can’t are hung after each performance and sprayed with freshener.

13. Around 50-60 pairs of men’s tights are used in every performance.

6. Pointe shoes are handmade. Their toe boxes are made of densely packed layers of fabric and cardboard hardened by glue., then baked in ovens to stiffen and strengthen them.

14. One dancer may take three or four roles in each ballet, that means changing costumes, hair, make-up and shoes each time – approximately 24 transformations per performance week.

7. Most ballerinas will wear out 2-3 pairs of pointe shoes per week, while some get through that amount in a single performance!

15. The amount of energy needed to perform a ballet is about the same as playing two full football matches or running 18 miles.

8. Every time a dancer jumps and lands en pointe, three times her body weight is carried on the tip of her big toe.

orchardtheatre.co.uk

SLEEPING BEAUTY WILL BE AT THE ORCHARD THEATRE THU 6 – SAT 8 FEBRUARY

CAST ANNOUNCED! Dan Looney, Adam Paulden and Jason Haigh-Ellery for DLAP Entertainment are delighted to announce that Susie Blake will play Bertha and Emily Head will play Gretchen in the national tour of the classic West End and Broadway smash hit comedy BOEING-BOEING They join the previously announced Tom Lister (Emmerdale, 42nd Street, Calamity Jane) as Bernard and Daniel Casey (Midsomer Murders, EastEnders, Abigail’s Party, The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-Time) as Robert.

Susie Blake is best known for her portrayals of the snobbish TV announcer in Victoria Wood’s As Seen On TV and the role of Bev Unwin in ITV1’s Coronation Street, a role she played between 2003–2006 and then again in 2015. She is currently playing Hilary Nicholson in BBC1’s Mrs Brown’s Boys. Her West End theatre credits include Madame Morrible in Wicked and her other theatre credits include the national tours of Handbagged and Grumpy Old Women.

Emily Head is probably best-known as Carli in The Inbetweeners. A part she played in all three series and the first film. She most recently played Rebecca White in ITV1’s Emmerdale. Her theatre credits include Ange in Abigail’s Party and Helen in Coram Boy. Bernard has managed to keep his three fiancés blissfully unaware of each other – until now. Three Flight Attendants, three different airlines, three different timetables, each perfectly manoeuvred to avoid Bernard’s intricate love life crashing down to earth.

But it’s 1965, and Boeing have launched a new, faster Groups 10+ £8 off aeroplane that’s going to create some serious turbulence, Groups 20+ £9 off with Bernard’s three fiancés landing unexpectedly Groups 40+ £10 off and simultaneously! As the hilarity really starts to (Off top two ticket prices, take off, can Bernard survive while his long-suffering Excl. Premium seats & maid struggles to keep up with the changes and Fri & Sat eve) his befuddled friend Robert can’t even remember which stories go with which airline...?

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BODYGUARD: Q&A WITH

Groups 10+ £8 off Groups 20+ £9 off Groups 40+ £10 off

ALEXANDRA BURKE

(Off top two priced tickets, Tue–Thu, Excl.

Premium Seats)

RUNNING AT THE ORCHARD THEATRE WED 8 – SAT 18 JANUARY What is it about the role of Rachel that made you want to return to the show, having played the role both in the West End and on tour previously?

acting so I draw from a very real place and really feel it and that’s why sometimes I struggle with the role emotionally. I end up in tears on stage every performance.

I think what’s really exciting about the show is that it includes Whitney Houston’s catalogue of work which really makes the show. It takes me back to when I was a child and had a hairbrush in my hand and was always singing Whitney to my Mum. For me, the storyline never gets old.

People always ask me if I get tired of performing the same show six times a week but I honestly don’t. It’s never the same show each night. It was also an exciting prospect to be singing Whitney Houston for a year, which of course will be tough but at the same time very rewarding. This show is my dream, you can’t beat the adrenaline of the end of the show when it hits the finale and everyone is on their feet, that feeling of knowing everyone has enjoyed the show.

Do you feel any pressure singing such big songs made famous by Whitney Houston?

How have you prepared for the role of Rachel this time around?

Well, I’m in a different place in my life now. I’ve been lucky enough to have amazing experiences with Sister Act, Chess, Chicago and Strictly Come Dancing. So I was hoping that people would see growth in the sense of my dancing ability, acting and vocally. So much has happened in my life that I’m taking all my experiences and putting them into the show in the hope that people can see that in my performance. I’ve also seen my nieces and nephews grow up and tried to be the best Auntie I can be which isn’t the same as being a parent but gives me some idea.

How have you made Rachel your own?

Does she feel familiar now?

I think how I’ve made Rachel my own is that my emotions are very raw and real in every performance. I haven’t professionally trained in

Absolutely. The songs aren’t easy to sings, luckily some of them aren’t in Whitney’s key which I’m very thankful for. At the same time, it’s very rewarding. Singing Whitney Houston six times a week is no joke and it’s very hard but also incredible.

Did you have a favourite Whitney Houston track before you became involved in The Bodyguard, and has that changed now you’re getting to sing the songs?

Yeah, you know what actually, I did. I think my favourite Whitney track of all time was “I Will Always Love You” and a couple of years ago after performing the show night after night it changed to “I Have Nothing”. I love performing that in the show, I could happily do Act 1, sing “I Have Nothing” and go home but that’s not how it works!

Have you ever received any words of advice that have stuck with you?

Yes, from Whitney herself actually. My mum used to do backing vocals for Whitney and when my mum sang with her on Top of the Pops she spoke to Whitney about me and said “oh my daughter really loves you and wants to be a singer” and Whitney’s advice to me was to keep working and never stop – to strike whilst the iron’s hot. That’s why in the past ten years I’ve never really stopped as that’s stuck with me – work hard and strike whilst the iron’s hot.

SEASON OF DANCE ANDREW KAY & ASSOCIATES PRESENTS

HHHH

“Sensual, erotic, authentically argentinian” THE TELEGRAPH

GERMAN CORNEJO’S

HHHH

SAT 25 APRIL

SAT 15 SET FEBRUARY “SCINTILLATING...

THE STAGE ALIGHT” Groups 10+ £8.00 off

THU 13 FEBRUARY

Groups 10+ £5.50 off

THE INDEPENDENT

Groups 10+ £24.00

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THE BALLROOM BOYS SAT 30 MAY Groups 10+ £5.50 off

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