PETER PAN opens at the Alban Arena – Photo Review
Images: PETER PAN at Alban Arena. All photos: Elliott Franks
Your invitation to visit The Secret Garden
The Company of Ten’s Christmas production is a spell-binding retelling of the Frances Hodgson Burnett classic The Secret Garden, a tale of transformation through the power of friendship.
Young Mary Lennox is orphaned in India and goes to stay with her uncle in Yorkshire. She doesn’t fit in to her new surroundings, but then she meets Dickon, whose life revolves around nature. Together the two grow closer and discover a secret garden – and as the garden transforms so do the lives of Mary, her uncle and her invalid cousin, and the power of new life casts its blessing over everyone.
According to the Sunday Independent, ‘Neil Duffield’s adaptation is as faithful as it is light in touch… there is joy here, there is hope, and there is a startling level of pure magical transcendence… An absolute ‘must see’.’ The Stage said that it ‘holds an audience of children spellbound’.
In other words, it’s the perfect family show for Christmas!
Director Katherine Barry is delighted to be bringing such a timeless classic to the Abbey Theatre stage. “If there was ever a time when we all needed a little bit of Christmas magic in our lives it is now. I love the story of The Secret Garden with its emphasis on making things better and beautiful through the transformative power of friendship and care.
“My cast of six players and I spent the first few weeks rehearsing via Zoom which was a new one for me. Everyone has worked tremendously hard and they have adapted to the new way of doing things brilliantly. We have been on the stage for a couple of weeks now and really enjoy the freedom that brings. We can’t wait to share our show with audiences whether in the theatre or at home watching us via the internet.
“The message of The Secret Garden is a pertinent one for us today, I think. Everyone has had a lot to deal with over the past year and I wouldn’t blame anyone for feeling a little gloomy. But caring for each other and working together will create a better world and a brighter future.”
Performances take place on the Abbey Theatre mainstage from Saturday 19 – Wednesday 30 December 2020 at various time. To book tickets please go to www.abbeytheatre.org.uk or call the box office on 01727 857861.
Birmingham Royal Ballet to stream NUTCRACKER live from Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Photo: Bella Kotak
Following news of Birmingham’s Tier 3 status together with ongoing uncertainty about what will be possible post 16 December, Birmingham Royal Ballet has taken the difficult decision to move their 2020 adapted version of The Nutcracker online. The magical Christmas production will be streamed live from The Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Friday 18 December at 7.30pm, giving audiences an experience as close to watching it live in the theatre as is possible.
Birmingham Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker at The REP will be available to watch as a livestream event at 7.30pm on Friday 18th December. It will then be available to view as a video-on-demand recording from Saturday 19th to Thursday 24th December. Video-on-demand sales close at midnight on 21st December, but can be viewed until midnight on Christmas Eve.
Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet Carlos Acosta said ‘I guess you could say we’re trying to look on the bright side at the moment! By live streaming this new adapted version of our famous and much-loved production we can proceed with confidence and focus on making the event as special as possible for our wonderful audiences and now, wherever you are in the world, you can be part of it. I can’t deny it’s disappointing not to see everyone’s happy faces in the theatre, but we will plan to end the year on a Christmas high, finding ways of celebrating is important right now.’
Sean Foley, Artistic Director at The REP said: ‘We hope this newly announced Live Stream performance of The Nutcracker at The REP will bring a flurry of theatrical magic and seasonal warmth into families’ homes this Christmas. Teams at The REP and Birmingham Royal Ballet have been working tirelessly since new safety measures were announced to make this very special, one-off adaptation of the classic festive tale. We are tremendously excited to share it with thousands of people across the world at the same time – the first time ever a performance has been streamed ‘Live from The Birmingham REP’.
In light of the performances being cancelled the Company has again focused on finding solutions and decided to tackle uncertainties by enabling audiences to enjoy the world premiere of this new adaptation from home. After the cancellation of this year’s full production at the Royal Albert Hall, this will be the one chance to experience Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Christmas classic this year.
The full-length Nutcracker will be shortened to an 80-minute magical experience that will retain all of the most enchanting moments and characters you would expect and hope for – Snowflakes, Drosselmeyer, Fritz and Clara’s Christmas Eve party, King Rat’s battle, the Kingdom of Sweets dances from around the world, the iconic Sugar Plum Fairy and, of course, The Nutcracker Prince – and features the cherished Tchaikovsky score performed live by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Paul Murphy.
Ticket holders for this pay per view production will also be able to enjoy some extra treats the Company have tied together with a seasonal red bow to make the experience as special as possible.
People who have bought tickets for the original live performances The REP will be contacted by the box office.
This year’s performance will ensure the safety of all performers, technical crew and staff.
Two performances featuring two different casts will be captured at The REP. The second film will feature three third year students from The Royal Ballet School performing Trepak, the Russian dance, and students from Elmhurst Ballet School dancing Snowflakes will be available for audiences to watch online in early 2021.
Birmingham Royal Ballet is committed to offering performance opportunities for students of the Royal Ballet School and Elmhurst Ballet School, especially at this time when such opportunities are so rare for students starting out in their careers.
Birmingham Royal Ballet and Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s social media pages will reflect a celebration of The Nutcracker throughout the run, including exclusive new dance footage, ballet lessons for the very young and behind-the-scenes insights and the premiere of a new animated film inspired by The Nutcracker created with Birmingham Royal Ballet’s second company, Freefall, whose exceptionally talented dancers have learning disabilities.
The Nutcracker at The REP
1st Cast:
Clara: Karla Doorbar
The Prince: César Morales
The Sugar Plum Fairy: Momoko Hirata
Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Paul Murphy
Running Time: 90 minutes – Including a short interval and exciting behind-the-scenes access
Fri 18 Dec – 7.30pm Live Stream
Tickets: £15 per device
Booking Information: brb.org.uk/nutcracker-online
Christmas Is Cancelled
This is a fabulous project for drama groups and youth theatres which will result in a short Christmas-themed radio play. The pack (£6 + licence £10) includes great introductory activities, lots of technical support and information and a lovely mini script with sound effects clearly annotated. It isn’t complicated, it’s easily achievable no matter what your level of expertise and equipment. This is the Christmas play you thought wouldn’t happen this year! Suitable for all ages. Share your recording on your website and social media and bring back the spirit of Christmas.
https://www.artsonthemove.co.uk/e_shop/plays/christmas-is-cancelled
- : Radio drama pack
Greenwich Theatre’s Festive Season
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, A Christmas Carol & Comedy Club 4 Kids
After postponing our annual Christmas pantomime, The Queen of Hearts, we are delighted to announce the return of Christmas spirit to Greenwich Theatre with a triple bill line-up!
First up we have a thrilling festive adventure set in an alternative history of England. Our own, home-grown production of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, directed by our artistic director James Haddrell (The Jungle Book, Here), tells the story of two brave and determined girls as they fight against ferocious wolves and battle their way through snowy wastelands to defeat their very evil guardian, Miss Slighcarp.
This exciting, fun-filled adaptation of Joan Aiken’s classic children’s novel, adapted by Russ Tunney, sees cousins Bonnie and Sylvia and their friend Simon the Goose-boy encountering a host of unforgettable characters as they discover that the wolves roaming the forests and fields outside may not be as dangerous as the wolfish adults plotting inside.
A magical, musical, wintry treat, this socially distanced family production is the perfect way to celebrate the festive season in true theatrical style. Alongside the live performance, we are also offering audience members the opportunity to join members of the cast in an online, interactive experience set in the same wintry world, where children will be able to be part of a unique interactive adventure, all from the comfort of their own homes.
Next, we welcome the triumphant return of European Arts Company’s socially distanced production of A Christmas Carol, a heart-warming production in the presence of the author himself.
A Christmas Carol was the first public reading Dickens gave of his own work, enacting it over 150 times to a phenomenal reception. For a limited time only, join us as European Arts Company magically recreate Charles Dickens’s famous performance of his best-loved Christmas story. Enjoy a seasonal treat in the spirit of Christmas past, present and future.
Finally, in this stellar line-up we are overjoyed to present Comedy Club 4 Kids. Since 2005, the Comedy Club 4 Kids has been getting the best family friendly stand-ups and sketch acts from the international circuit to do their thing for an audience of children (aged 6+) and their families. Join us this Christmas for some festive laughs for the whole family to enjoy.
With the global pandemic closing theatres across the country, Greenwich Theatre has been overwhelmed by the support provided by its local audiences, alongside funding support from Arts Council England. Now, after mounting the ambitious six-month online programme Greenwich Connects, the team are delighted to be injecting some festive spirit into the heart of the community and welcoming audiences back to the venue. With Government guidelines changing daily, the team at Greenwich are dedicated to providing and implementing safety measures to ensure the safety of audience, staff and performers without taking away from the magic of theatre.
James Haddrell, the theatre’s artistic and executive director, said: “We are delighted to have been among the first theatres to reopen our doors for live performance with shows resuming this month, and now to have found an alternative to the pantomime which sadly had to be postponed. Whilst it may not be viable to present our regular festive treat, I know that a trip to the theatre is key to so many families’ celebrations and I’m proud that at Greenwich Theatre we’ll be offering our own festive show alongside the eagerly awaited return of both European Arts Company and Comedy Club 4 Kids. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, presented in a brand new socially distanced production, is a thrilling adventure story that’s sure to delight the whole family this Christmas and fill the gap left by so many cancelled or postponed pantomimes.”
Title: The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, A Christmas Carol & Comedy Club 4 Kids
Performance Dates: Wednesday, 9th December 2020 – Sunday, 3rd January 2021.
Full dates online.
Location: Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, Greenwich, London SE10 8ES
Box Office: Tickets are available from £8.50 at www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk