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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