Festival and King’s Theatres announce Autumn/Winter seasons
Secret Garden publicity shot
By Thom Dibdin
A home-grown Christmas production of hit musical Secret Garden is the culminating highlight of the Festival Theatre’s second-half season for 2010, announced on Wednesday. Over at the King’s, the arrival of the touring production of Enron in November will be exciting those theatre goers who aren’t already in palpitations over the return of Andy Gray to the King’s panto.
There are thrills, spills and pills in store at the King’s with a schedule that runs full-tilt from the September 13 opening of Calendar Girls – returning for a fortnight with Elaine C Smith staring – right through to 13 November curtain down on Enron. Particularly exciting for those who like their drama edgy is Simon Stephen’s Punk Rock, which deals with simplistic demonising of cultural phenomena as the cause of teenage rebellion (Sept 28-Oct 2).
Carrie’s War arrives direct from the West End (Oct 5-9), with Brigit Forsyth leading the 13-strong cast in Nina Bawden’s best-loved story of one ordinary girl and her brother, packed off to the Welsh mining valleys at the start of war and living through extraordinary events. Suitably for a family show, it runs in tandem with a new production of Room on the Broom, adapted from the best-selling book by Julia Donaldson (Oct 7-9).
Peter Hall’s production of Alan Ayckbourn’s Bedroom Farce follows (Oct 11-16). When done well, the story of four couples, three bedrooms, two celebrations, one blazing row and the odd illicit kiss is a total hoot. The question is whether it survives the ravages of time – and the recent West End transfer has had mixed reviews. It is followed by the revival of Keith Dewhurst’s original stage adaptation of the much-loved story Lark Rise to Candleford (Oct 18-23). Based on the first book of Flora Thompson’s trilogy of semi-autobiographical novels, popularised on the TV, this heart-warming play was first performed at London’s National Theatre in 1978 and was nominated for two Society of West End Theatre (“Olivier”) Awards.
The Canadian musical play 2 Pianos 4 Hands (Oct 28-Nov 6) is the tale of two boys, Ted and Richard, sharing the same goal: concert pianist stardom. They work fervently towards their dream amidst pushy parents, eccentric teachers, hours of repetitive practice, stage fright, the agony of competitions and the dream of greatness. Could be good. But what is certainly expected to be very good is Lucy Prebble’s Enron (Nov 9-13) which shows how the Texan energy giant, Enron, moved from a model of the future to a bankrupt disaster with debts of $38bn. Dry economics? No. A theatrical sensation that took Broadway and the West End by storm last year.
Finally, before the King’s panto, there is the annual jamboree of all things woggling with Edinburgh Gang Show 2010 (Nov 23-27). Too often ignored, Edinburgh’s Gang Show is actually a proper highlight of the theatrical calendar. Based on great musical hall traditions and displaying a real verve, this should rise well above the cute factor.
As for the panto itself, well Andy Gray is to return to the King’s Theatre to star alongside Allan Stewart and Grant Stott in Jack and the Beanstalk (Dec 4-Jan 23). Andy will play King Crumble with Allan Stewart donning his frock to take on the mantle of Dame Trot while, joining this hapless duo is now-regular baddie Grant Stott as Fleshcreep.
Back at the Festival Theatre, it is dance and music from the off, with Scottish Ballet’s return for their Autumn Tour (Sept 23-25). Which is something to look forward to, with repertoire favourites Frederick Ashton’s Scenes de Ballet and Ashley Page’s Fearful Symmetries joined by a new work from Val Caniparoli.
Don’t Stop Believin’ – Songs from Glee (Sept 26-29) is the rather self-explanatory titled musical offering which follows, after which it is back to dance with Dance sensation Havana Rakatan (Oct 2-9) transporting all the passion and spirit from the streets of Cuba to the Festival Theatre. Sunshine on Leith returns – again – (Oct 12-16), while Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, also return (Oct 19/20) with the company’s 50th anniversary tour.
Featuring some of the world’s hottest DJs, B-Boys and street-dancers, Blaze (Oct 21-23) is a high-energy show to delight dance junkies and newcomers alike. While youngsters of a slightly different kind are portrayed by Opera North who have The Adventures of Pinocchio (Oct 27-30). There’s more hot B-Boy action with Breakin’ Convention (Nov 8/9) with pre-show foyer events from 6pm. and the Richard Alston Dance Company for one night only (Nov 12).
Which just leaves the in-house Christmas production. Anna Linstrum directs Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman’s musical version of the Secret Garden (Dec 9-Jan 8). Based on Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic children’s novel, the musical picked up a pair of Tony Awards when it opened on Broadway in 1991. The Festival Theatre production will be designed by Francis O’Connor, a regular at Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum, while Andrew Lloyd Webber’s favourite Casting Director, David Grindrod, who recently made an appearance on BBC television’s Over the Rainbow, will be overseeing casting for the show.
In a sad and lonely house on the Yorkshire moors, the melancholy routine of a family in mourning is turned upside down with the arrival of a young orphan, Mary Lennox. When the curious child discovers the key to the hidden door of a secret walled garden, a long-locked away magic is released, changing the lives of all, forever. Pure Christmas Gold, it should be said.
Ticket sales open from Monday 19 April.
LISTINGS
King’s Theatre
Calendar Girls
Mon 13 – Sat 25 September
7.30pm / Wed & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets: Opening night & matinees £14.00 – £24.50 / Eves £16.00 – £28.50
Punk Rock
Tue 28 September – Sat 2 October
7.30pm / Wed & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets: Opening night & matinees £14.00 – £22.50 / Eves £16.00 – £26.50
Carrie’s War
Tue 5 – Sat 9 October
7.30pm / Wed & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets: Opening night & matinees £14.00 – £22.50 / Eves £16.00 – £26.50
Room on the Broom
Thu 7 – Sat 9 October
10.30am / Fri & Sat 12.30pm
Tickets: £10.00 / Family Saver £34.00 / Baby Ticket £2.00
Bedroom Farce
Mon 11 – Sat 16 October
7.30pm / Wed & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets: Opening night & matinees £14.00 – £22.50 / Eves £16.00 – £26.50
Lark Rise to Candleford
Mon 18 – Sat 23 October
7.30pm / Wed & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets: Opening night & matinees £14.00 – £22.50 / Eves £16.00 – £26.50
2 Pianos 4 Hands
Thu 28 Oct – Sat 6 November
7.30pm / Wed & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets: Opening night & matinees £14.00 – £22.50 / Eves £16.00 – £26.50
Enron
Tue 9 – Sat 13 November
7.30pm / Wed & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets: Opening night & matinees £14.00 – £22.50 / Eves £16.00 – £26.50
Edinburgh Gang Show 2010
Tue 23 – Sat 27 November
7pm / Sat 2.15pm
Tickets: Opening night & matinee £9.00 – £12.00 / Eves £10.00 – £15.00
Jack and the Beanstalk
Sat 4 December – Sun 23 January 2011
See box office for times and ticket prices
www.kingstheatre.org.uk / 0131 529 6000
Festival Theatre
Scottish Ballet – Autumn 2010
Thu 23 – Sat 25 September, 7.30pm
Tickets: £11.50 – £21.50
Don’t Stop Believin’ – Songs from Glee
Sun 26 – Wed 29 September
Sun 6.00pm / Mon – Wed 7.30pm
Tickets: £20.50 – £24.50
Havana Rakatan
Tue 5 – Sat 9 October
7.30pm / Sat 2.30pm
Tickets: Opening night & matinee £18.50 – £26.50 / Eves £24.50 – £36.50
Sunshine on Leith
Tue 12 – Sat 16 October
7.30pm / Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets: Opening night & matinees £13.00 – £24.50 / Eves £17.50 – £27.50
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Tue 19 & Wed 20 October, 7.30pm
Tickets: £16.50 – £31.50
Blaze
Thu 21 – Sat 23 October
Thu 7.30pm / Fri 6.00pm & 8.30pm / Sat 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Tickets: £11.50 – £21.50
The Armstrong & Miller Show
Sun 24 October, 8pm
Tickets: £21.50
Opera North – The Adventures of Pinocchio
Wed 27 – Sat 30 October
Wed – Fri 6.30pm / Sat 2pm & 7pm
Tickets: £15.00 – £27.00
Children 16 & under: £5.00 with a full paying adult (max 4 children per adult)
Breakin’ Convention
Mon 8 & Tue 9 November, 7.30pm (with pre-show foyer events from 6pm)
Tickets: £16.50
Richard Alston Dance Company
Fri 12 November, 7.30pm
Tickets: £11.50 – £17.50
The Secret Garden
Thu 9 December 2010 – Sat 8 January 2011
See box office for times and ticket prices
www.festivaltheatre.org.uk / 0131 529 6000
Full details will be published on the Festival and King’s Theatres Website
ENDS
