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Jools Holland Returns To Victoria Hall In November

Musical maestro Jools Holland and his revered Rhythm & Blues Orchestra have today announced the run of dates and special guests of their 2023 Autumn/Winter UK tour. The tour will come to the Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent on Thu 16 Nov 2023. Renowned as one of the UK’s most popular tours, this year the show will feature The Selecter’s Pauline Black and Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson as special guests. Pauline Black and Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson are no strangers to Jools and the orchestra, having joined them for a memorable tour in 2016. The duo are founding members of the influential Coventry based two-tone band and ska pioneers The Selecter. Their debut album ‘Too Much Pressure’,…

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Regent: Jodie Prenger To Star As ‘Miss Hannigan’ In Annie

Michael Harrison and David Ian are delighted to announce that, in a change to previously announced casting, Jodie Prenger will star as ‘Miss Hannigan’ in the UK and Ireland Tour of their smash hit production of the musical ANNIE, heading to the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent from Monday 8 – Saturday 13 May 2023. Jodie Prenger recently joined ITV’s Coronation Street as Glenda Shuttleworth. Her West End credits include A Taste of Honey at the Trafalgar Studios. Oliver! at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, One Man Two Guvnors at Theatre Royal Haymarket and Spamalot at the Playhouse Theatre. On tour she has appeared in Abigail’s Party, Shirley Valentine, Annie, Fat Friends, Tell Me on A Sunday and Calamity Jane. On television she has appeared in the BBC’s Shakespeare &…

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Rocky Horror 50th Anniversary Tour Comes To Crewe!

2023 marks the 50th Anniversary of the legendary smash hit musical The Rocky Horror Show, as it continues to play a newly extended tour through 2023 to sell-out crowds. Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical celebrates 50 years of non-stop partying with this special anniversary production. Since it first opened in London in June 1973 at the Royal Court Theatre The Rocky Horror Show has become the longest continuous run of a contemporary musical anywhere in the world. The show has been seen by over 30 million people worldwide in more than 30 countries and translated into 20 languages…

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Cast Announced For New Vic’s Comedy ‘Quality Street’

The New Vic has teamed up with Northern Broadsides to revive their delectable production of Quality Street this spring, written by J.M. Barrie, the beloved writer of Peter Pan. This production’s acclaimed original run in 2020 was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic and has now been revived for 2023. Quality Street will begin its UK-wide tour at the New Vic from Friday 3 to Saturday 25 March. In Quality Street, Phoebe Throssel runs a school for unruly children. Ten years on after a tearful goodbye, her old flame returns from fighting Napoleon. But the look of disappointment on Captain Valentine’s face when he greets an older,…

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Ellen Kent and the Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv present Aida

The award-winning producer Ellen Kent returns to the Regent Theatre with Aida performed by the Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv, on Tuesday 14 February. Aida, the grandest of all Ellen Kent’s operas, returns with a stunning new traditional production, boasting an impressive new set built by Set-Up Scenery in the UK, who also build sets for the Royal Opera Covent Garden. In Aida, the splendour of Egypt is set against the grandeur of the Coliseum of Rome with Ellen Kent’s direction influenced by the ancient Greek dramas of Euripides and symbolising the powerful religious hold of the priests of Egypt. This tragic story of war, jealousy and revenge…

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Ladies’ Day Odds On To Be New Vic Audience Favourite For Spring!

Opening the New Vic’s spring season, Ladies’ Day sees four women swap their typical working day at a fish factory for front row at the races. The life-affirming comedy from Amanda Whittington, writer of Kiss Me Quickstep and The Thrill of Love, takes to the stage at the New Vic from Friday 3 to Saturday 25 February. This uplifting co-production with Octagon Theatre, Bolton is sure to be a winning ticket! A heart-warming story of female friendship, it is directed by Marieke Audsley (Jekyll & Hyde, Guildford Shakespeare Company, The Massive Tragedy of Madame Bovary!, Jermyn Street Theatre) and stars New Vic favourite Gareth Cassidy (Marvellous, The…

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Review – Aladdin: Crewe Lyceum

The festive season has officially been rung in, in Crewe, with the opening of the Lyceum pantomime, Aladdin. The traditional tale sees our hero Aladdin, retrieving the mystical lamp from the cave of wonders from a mysterious stranger, Abanazar, in his dastardly attempt to become the most powerful sorcerer by summoning the genie and marrying Aladdin's beau, Jasmine. Set to a number of fantastic backdrops (hats off to the set designer), household names in the cast include a fantastic lineup of dancer Louie Spence (Spirit of the Ring), Corrie's Jamie Kenna (Abanazar) and Milkshake TV presenter Kiera-Nicole Brennan (Jasmine). They…

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Regent Panto Review: Jonny Flies High Again!

Photo courtesy of Claralou Photography There's certain things to indicate that it's the festive season; the first Christmas Ad, 'I'm A Celebrity' concluding, your first mince pie and, in our household, its the first time we hear Jonathan Wilkes run on and say 'Ay Up Me Ducks'. Peter Pan opened last night at The Regent to a high-flying start of a run that will last until the end of the year. Peter (Rory Sutherland) finds himself without the ability to fly and the enchanted waterfall with fairy dust drying up, Peter, Smee (Jonathan Wilkes), Tinkerbell (Amanda Coutts) and Wendy (Hannah…

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Review: Eric’s Christmas Turkey

Photo courtesy of Andrew Billington David Graham returns to the New Vic with his festive show 'Eric's Christmas Turkey'. The New Vic favourite's follow up to the autumn 'Eric's Monster Mash' finds the Basford Amateur Dramatics (BAD) short of a player or two and long suffering Bev (Laura Sheppard) brings along her husband to the latest meeting. He seems more interested in Twinkle (Carly Cook) than any thespian aspirations. Finding their rehearsal room double-booked with a local band, they reluctantly set about combining forces for the upcoming play. With the band short on gigs and the players' short on actors…

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Review: Alice In Wonderland

Photo courtesy of Andrew Billington The New Vic has brought to life the 1865 imaginings of Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures In Wonderland' as its festive production, first staged at the venue in 2011. It tells the tale of Alice as she makes her way through the famous fantasy world filled with strange characters and anthropomorphic creatures. Adapted and directed by Theresa Heskins ('Tom, Dick & Harry', 'Marvellous' plus many more) the tale has an overhaul and Alice begins her journey on a boat, her family hungry and searching the nearby town for food, Alice herself struggling with literacy. Mesmerised by…

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