St. James Theatre Season Brochure: Feb - July 2016

T H E AT R E

SEASON BROCHURE

T H E AT R E

FEB RUARY - JULY 201 6

stjamestheatre.co.uk | 0844 264 2140

CO N TEN TS 2-3

MISS ATOMIC BOMB

4-5

MY MOTHER SAID I NEVER SHOULD

6 -7

SIDEWAYS

8

ANITA DOBSON

9

SUPPORT US

10 - 11

STUDIO

12

RE:ACT

13

BOOKING & VENUE INFORMATION

14

BRASSERIE

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OPENING TIMES BAR: Open from 10am daily

(Sunday opening times are show dependent)

BRASSERIE: 5-8pm

12.30-3pm (main house matinee days) BOX OFFICE: 10am - 6.30pm (advance sales)

10am - 8pm (on-the-day sales)

Our winter/spring season got off to an exhilarating start with the sell-out success of The Pianist of Willesden Lane. This remarkable true tale about Lisa Jura’s escape to London from the Nazis on the Kindertransport, told with unmatched skill by her daughter Mona Golabek, was testament to the power of a good story.

The season continues with the world premiere of Miss Atomic Bomb. There is a special kind of thrill when the individual and collective skills of writers, lyricists, composers, actors, choreographers and designers are let loose on something entirely new. Produced by Tanya Link, and written by Adam Long, Gabriel Vick and Alex JacksonLong, the setting is Nevada in 1952, the occasion, the atomic bomb tests of the era. Co-directed by Olivier Award winner Bill Deamer and Adam Long, the cast is helmed by Catherine Tate, Dean John-Wilson and Simon Lipkin.

In April we bring you the long overdue London revival of the world’s most performed play by a female playwright, Charlotte Keatley’s My Mother Said I Never Should, produced by Tiny Fires. A ground-breaking play championing the endurance of women and the oftchallenged bonds of family life, the cast is led by national treasure Maureen Lipman and Olivier Award winner Katie Brayben, directed by Paul Robinson.

And as we ease from spring into summer, we head off to the sun soaked Californian wine country for the European premiere of Sideways, Rex Pickett’s stage adaptation of his beloved novel which also spawned the cult Oscar winning movie of the same name. Brought to St. James

by Pinot Productions and directed by David Grindley, the play charts the wine fueled soul searching week in Santa Barbara of two middle aged men, each wrestling with the destructive impulses of their very different mid-life crisis.

In the St. James Studio Samantha Barks makes her Studio debut and Aria Entertainment (Jerry’s Girls, Missleading Ladies) return with a revival of ‘heavenly’ 50s’ rollercoaster musical comedy Forever Plaid. We have a packed programme for the 4th London Festival of Cabaret with Studio debuts from Alice Fearn and Wendi Peters, Parisian cabaret star Louise Georges, The Pink Champagne Sisters and the inimitable Jay Rayner. Our Jazz Divas season continues platforming the UK’s finest female vocalists including Claire Teal, Norma Winstone and Claire Martin and in June, Chris Lemmon crosses the pond for the European premiere of A Twist of Lemmon, his acclaimed homage to his father, Hollywood legend, Jack Lemmon.

We look forward to seeing you here.

James Albrecht Creative Director

1

WORLD PREMIERE OF A RADIANT MUSICAL COMEDY CATHERINE DEAN FLORENCE TATE JOHN-WILSON ANDREWS

WITH

SIMON LIPKIN

AND

DANIEL BOYS

Tanya Link Productions presents

MISS ATOMIC BOMB A new musical by ADAM LONG, GABRIEL VICK & ALEX JACKSON-LONG Co-Directed & Choreographed by Olivier Award winner BILL DEAMER. Co-Directed by ADAM LONG

7 MARCH - 9 APRIL Welcome to Las Vegas in 1952, where every mushroom cloud has a silver lining and fallout is your friend.

As the US military proudly tests its atomic bombs within sight of the Vegas strip, tourists are flocking into town to cheer the blasts and see who will be crowned the Miss Atomic Bomb beauty queen.

But in the midst of this euphoria, farm girl Candy’s sheep have mysteriously died, her fashionista friend Myrna is designing clothes for pigs, young soldier Joey has deserted the army, and his hapless hotel manager brother Lou desperately needs an atomic gimmick. In a city controlled by the military and the mob, time is running out for our four friends.

Inspired by the real life bomb tests and beauty pageants of the era, Miss Atomic Bomb is a radiant new musical comedy co-directed by the Olivier Award-winning choreographer Bill Deamer (Top Hat) and Adam Long (Reduced Shakespeare Company).

PERFORMANCE TIMES Mon - Sat eves 7.30pm Weds & Sat mats 2.30pm

TICKETS

Previews: £10, £19.50, £25, £29.50, Premium £40 £15, £29.50, £35, £39.50, Premium £50* Group and concession rates available. *A transaction fee of £1.50 will apply to all online and phone transactions.

3

FIRST LONDON REVIVAL IN OVER 25 YEARS

MY MOTHER SAID I NEVER SHOULD BY

CHARLOTTE KEATLEY Starring

Katie Brayben

Caroline Faber

Maureen Lipman

Serena Manteghi

Tiny Fires present

MY MOTHER SAID I NEVER SHOULD Written by CHARLOTTE KEATLEY Directed by PAUL ROBINSON

13 APRIL - 21 MAY “I don’t know if you’ll ever love me as much as I love you but one day you’ll understand why I’ve done this to you.”

Doris, born illegitimate in 1900, exchanges her budding teaching career for marriage and motherhood. When the war is over her daughter Margaret marries an American and has Jackie, who becomes an archetypal 60s rebel. When Jackie can’t face being a single mother it is decided that baby Rosie will be brought up as Margaret’s own. That’s the plan anyway.

Keatley’s award-winning play is a moving exploration of the relationships between mothers and daughters and the consequences of breaking the most sacred taboo of motherhood.

Cast includes 2015 Olivier Award winner Katie Brayden (Best Actress in a Musical, Beautiful The Carole King Musical), Caroline Faber, star of stage and screen Maureen Lipman and Serena Manteghi.

“A landmark play. The theatrical equivalent of breaking the four-minute mile.” The Guardian

PERFORMANCE TIMES Mon - Sat eves 7.30pm Weds & Sat mats 2.30pm*

TICKETS

£15, £25, £35, £39.50, Premium £50** Group and concession rates available. *No Wednesday matinee on 13 April. **A transaction fee of £1.50 will apply to all online and phone transactions.

5

MATT CHISLING and AMY ANZEL for PINOT PRODUCTIONS LIMITED present

SIDEWAYS: THE PLAY

By REX PICKETT Directed by DAVID GRINDLEY Designed by LAURA HOPKINS

26 MAY - 9 JULY UNCORK THE FULL-BODIED STORY THAT HAS WON OVER 350 INTERNATIONAL AWARDS This summer, join best friends Miles and Jack on a hilarious journey into the heart of wine country with Sideways: The Play. Based on his beloved novel, which inspired the award-winning film, Rex Pickett’s stage adaptation fizzes with comedy and heartfelt emotion, and goes down better than a well-aged Pinot Noir.

When a neurotic author, who is writing his way into a midlife-crisis, and an actor, who is marrying his way out of his, head out to Santa Barbara for a week of wine-tastings, they find out that there’s more to be savoured in California than a few new bottles. For when Miles and Jack meet the equally strong and complex Maya and Terra, the four of them learn just how intoxicating a good glass of wine and good company can be.

Following an acclaimed sold out premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse, a brand new production of Sideways makes it way to the St. James Theatre in its UK and European premiere, directed by David Grindley (Journey’s End, The American Plan).

PERFORMANCE TIMES Mon - Sat eves 7.30pm Thurs & Sat mats 2.30pm

TICKETS

From £15* Previews (26 - 30 May): £15, £25 Group and concession rates available. *A transaction fee of £1.50 will apply to all online and phone transactions.

7

St. James Theatre presents

A CONVERSATION WITH

ANITA DOBSON Hosted by writer and broadcaster Edward Seckerson

Sunday 20 March | 3pm | ÂŁ20 Anita Dobson is one of our most distinguished actresses and has had an extensive, award-winning career in theatre, film and television. Perhaps best known for playing Angie Watts in Eastenders, a role for which she won mutiple awards. She has also appeared in numerous films, on Strictly Come Dancing and also earned a silver disc for her hit record Anyone Can Fall in Love.

SUPPORT ST. JAMES

Help shape the future of St. James Theatre, support us through one of our Memberships and receive discounts and much more.

UNDER 26 £5 Aged 16-25?

Well why haven’t joined our young person’s scheme yet?

©Johan Persson

Join our Under 26 scheme and get access to £5 tickets and special offers.

FRIENDS £24

©Agnese Sanvito

Receive 24 hours priority booking alongside special offers, discounts, invitations to Friends nights, free ticket exchange and no transaction fee.

Find out more at stjamestheatre.co.uk/support-us 9

STUDIO

JAZZ DIVAS

£19 / £25 | 8pm JOANNA EDEN Thursday 25 February

STUDIO

“The UK’s answer to Diana Krall & Norah Jones” Time Out

CLARE TEAL Thursday 31 March “Wonderful. Worth raving about” Sir Michael Parkinson

STUDIO

NORMA WINSTONE Thursday 28 April “One of the glories of contemporary jazz” Jazz Journal

CLAIRE MARTIN Thursday 26 May

STU

“Claire Martin is a relaxed, funny & charismatic occupant of a spotlight’s beam” The Guardian

FOREVER PLAID The Heavenly Hit 50’s musical

TUES 5 - SUN 24 APRIL 8PM, 3PM PREVIEWS 5-7 APR | £20 / £25

TICKETS £25 / £30 Join the boys of Forever Plaid on a humorous ‘heavenly’ journey through some of the greatest close-harmony songs of the 50’s.

With one final chance to give the concert they never gave, The Plaids sing nostalgic hits “Rags To Riches”, “Love Is A Many–Splendored Thing”, “Catch A Falling Star”, “Three Coins In A Fountain” and many more – all in glorious harmony with patter that will keep any audience rolling in the aisles.

Come enjoy a drink in the beautiful Studio, whilst The Plaids deliver a 50’s roller-coaster ride of comedy and music in this classic musical.

CABARET COME DY

UDIO

MUS I C

TH EATRE

LONDON FESTIVAL OF CABARET 26 APRIL - 8 MAY FERRIS & MILNES: LIVE AT THE ST. JAMES Tuesday 26 April | 8pm | £20 / £25 “Hilarious” The Telegraph

BERNSTEIN REVEALED Friday 29 April | 8pm | £20 / £25 “Honest and affectionate” Musical Theatre Review on Rogers Revealed

NEWLEY NIGHT Saturday 30 April | 8pm | £20 / £25 “Masterful” Sunday Times

STUART MATTHEW PRICE Sunday 1 May | 7pm | £22.50 / £25 “one of the best singers around at the moment” Mark Shenton, The Stage

THINK PINK! A CELEBRATION OF SWING Tuesday 3 May | 8pm | £15 / £17.50

HHHH “Sparkling Debut” Daily Mail (Album: The Live Sessions)

OOH LA LA Wednesday 4 May | 8pm | £22.50 / £24 “An enthralling presence” The Stage

LA POULE PLOMBÉE Thursday 5 May | 8pm | £15 / £17.50

HHHH “Sparkling, clever and deliciously witty” The Scotsman

WENDI PETERS: LET ME SING AND I’M HAPPY Friday 6 May | 8pm | £25 / £30 “Simply triumphant” BritishTheatre.com

THE JAY RAYNER QUARTET: SONGS OF FOOD AND AGONY Saturday 7 May | 8pm | £25 / £30 “Unremittingly excellent” Jonathan Baz

ALICE FEARN Sunday 8 May | 7pm | £20 / £25

11

Written in 24 hours, rehearsed at quick-fire speed and performed on the stage of St. James Studio, RE:act brings together four emerging writers, directors and SaT Ugroup of actors to DIO respond to the story, themes and characters within each production of our theatre season.

STUDIO

MISS ATOMIC BOMB

Wednesday 23 March, 8pm STUDIO

MY MOTHER SAID I NEVER SHOULD Monday 25 April, 8pm

STUDIO

SIDEWAYS

Photos ŠBenjamin Graham

Tuesday 7 June, 8pm

R E :a ct Th e P ia ni st of W il le sden La ne R E :a c t e n L a n e d s le il W T h e P ia n ist of To apply to participate and to find out more visit www.stjamestheatre.co.uk

HOW TO FIND US St. James Theatre, 12 Palace Street London SW1E 5JA

BY TUBE The nearest tube is Victoria.

We are situated within a 5 minute walk of the station.

PARKING Free parking after 6.30pm is available in nearby streets.

NATIONAL RAIL Victoria Station is less than 5 minutes walk from the theatre.

BY BUS Routes 16, 38, 52, 73, 42, 148 all pass by near the theatre.

stjamestheatre.co.uk | 0844 264 2140 TO BOOK www.stjamestheatre.co.uk 0844 264 2140 (Calls cost 2p per minute from a land line, mobile calls charged at network rate)

21 13

Brasserie P R E - S H OW DINING

5 -8 P M | 1 2 . 30-3 PM ( M ATINE E

DAYS )

EXPRESS MENU 2 COURSES £14 // 3 COURSES £17 A

À LA CARTE MENU ALSO AVAILABLE BOOK YOUR TABLE ONLINE OR

BY CALLING BOX OFFICE

www.stjamestheatre.co.uk | 0844 264 2140