YOUR NEWS – West End Debuts
Above includes: Chris Steward, Shanay Holmes, Katy Lipson, Ameena Hamid, Adam Lenson, Tom Duern, Kirk Jameson,
Jack Maple, Chris Marcus, Damien Stanton, Piers Cottee-Jones, Jamie Chapman Dixon, John-Webb Carter, Shaun McCourt, Robin Rayner, Hugh Summers, Greg Barnett, Krystal Lee, Sarah Evans + Nica Burns (centre, front).
Photographed at The Lyric Theatre, London, by David Levene
Announcing the Rising Stars Festival showcasing the work of twenty-three producers making their West End producing debuts
By PAUL JOHNSON
Twenty-three theatre producers are being given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to present their work in the West End for the first time.
The seventeen productions (plays, musicals, concerts and one-off events) have attracted wonderful performers from emerging talent to popular West End stars. The Rising Stars Festival will run until September in Nimax’s six West End theatres (the Apollo, Duchess, Garrick, Lyric, Palace and Vaudeville).
Announcing Nimax’s festival today, Nica Burns, Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted to be welcoming into the spotlight a galaxy of talented young producers – our rising stars making their West End debuts.
“Entrepreneurial, adventurous, creating shows during our lockdown days to entertain and inspire, attracting stellar performers. Usually behind the spotlight, few understand what a producer does. Without them, there are no shows. If these enterprising producers are the future of the West End, it’s looking good.”
The Rising Stars Festival runs alongside Nimax’s long-running shows and new summer programme. All Nimax’s long-running shows will have reopened by the autumn.
Visit the Nimax website for details of all thirty-four productions currently on sale. www.nimaxtheatres.com
SHOWS IN THE FESTIVAL AND THEIR FIRST-TIME PRODUCERS
Drag Queens of Pop, Cruise, Death Drop, Roles We’ll Never Play, An Evening with Kathy Burke, Intermissions Live, Monday Night at the Apollo, Public Domain… all took place in May 2021.
2 – 6 June The Show Must Go On! (Palace Theatre)
Producers: Chris Marcus and Damien Stanton for Theatre Support Fund+ and Jack Maple and Brian Zeilinger for MZG productions
7 – 13 June Alyssa, Memoirs of a Queen! (Vaudeville Theatre)
Producers; Robin Rayner and James Quaife for New Frame Productions
7 June An Evening With Arlene Phillips (Duchess Theatre)
Producer: David O’Reilly
10 – 13 June West End Musical Celebration (Palace Theatre)
Producers: Shanay Holmes and Chris Steward for West End Musical Productions
14 June West End Live Lounge (Lyric Theatre)
Producer: Shaun McCourt
21 June & 28 June The Distance You Have Come (Apollo Theatre)
Producers: Sarah Evans for Sevans Productions and Krystal Lee
28 June The Wonderbirds Live (Duchess Theatre)
Producer: David O’Reilly
15 July – 30 August Wonderment (Palace Theatre)
Producers: Stephen McGill for McGill Productions, John-Webb Carter and Jamie Dixon for Carter Dixon Productions, Piers Cottee-Jones for Piers Cottee-Jones Entertainment
17 September – 13 October The Last 5 Years (Vaudeville Theatre)
Producers Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment, Edward Prophet and People Entertainment Group, with Dan Looney, Adam Paulden and Jason Haigh-Ellery for DLAP GROUP
