By Alan Ayckbourn

Starring Sara Crowe, Matthew Cottle, Honeysuckle Weeks, Marc Bannerman, Deborah Grant and David Griffin

RICHMOND THEATRE

Mon 22 - Sat 27 Sept

Mon-Sat eves 7.45pm

Wed & Sat mats 2.30pm

Tickets £15.00 - £27.00

This year’s biggest West End comedy hit is set to take Richmond Theatre by storm as Bill Kenwright’s critically-acclaimed ‘savagely funny’, ‘seriously hilarious’, and ‘dazzling’ production of Alan Ayckbourn’s Absurd Person Singular goes on tour.

It’s party time at the Hopcrofts and the only present they want is to succeed in scaling the social ladder. Havoc ensues at the drinks party they hold to impress their high-powered friends - but that’s nothing compared to what happens over the next two years when the friends return their hospitality!

The all-star cast includes Sara Crowe, familiar to many as one of the Philadelphia Girls in the hugely successful commercial and known for her outstanding performances in Four Weddings and a Funeral and Acorn Antiques the Musical; Matthew Cottle, who returns to Richmond Theatre after appearing in the stage production of Party Piece with George Cole and who has starred with Samantha Janus in the hilarious BBC comedy Game On as well as in many successful British TV series; Honeysuckle Weeks, known for starring in the BAFTA-award winning ITV drama Foyle’s War ; Marc Bannerman, best known for his role as Gianni Di Marco in EastEnders but also known for appearances on Holby City and the ITV2 drama Footballers'' Wives: Extra Time, and most recently I’m A Celebrity - Get Me Out Of Here!; Deborah Grant, well known for her roles in Bouquet of Barbed Wire, Bergerac and Peak Practice and who most recently appeared in the BBC’s hit series Not Going Out and popular comedy actor David Griffin from Keeping Up Appearances and Hi-de Hi.

A classic comedy with outrageous characters - this is Ayckbourn at his best.

The creative team also includes Alan Strachan (Director) Michael Pavelka (Set Designer), Jason Taylor (Lighting Designer), Ian Horrocks-Taylor (Sound Designer) and Brigid Guy (Costume Designer)

BOX OFFICE 0870 060 6651 (transaction fee applies)

by Somerset Maugham

Starring Susan Hampshire

MILTON KEYNES THEATRE

Tuesday 9 – Saturday 13 September

Tue – Sat eves 7.30pm

Wed & Sat mats 2.30pm

Tickets: £11 - £26

Dorset, 1921: thirty years ago, Lady Kitty abandoned her husband and young son to run away with politician Lord Porteous. Kitty returns from exile in Italy, worn down by age but clinging to her glamorous past. At the family reunion, she discovers that her daughter-in-law Elizabeth is tempted to embark on an affair leaving Kitty, as events turn full circle, to decide whether or not to encourage the elopement.

Susan Hampshire plays Lady Catherine Champion-Cheney (Lady Kitty) after playing the part of Elizabeth in Chichester Festival Theatre’s 1976 production of the play. In more recent years she has delighted Milton Keynes audiences with her performances in Lady In The Van (2005) and The Bargain (2007). Her theatre credits also include The King and I, and Relative Values.

In his third season as Artistic Director of Chichester Festival Theatre Jonathan Church will direct this production. Church previously directed Hobson’s Choice and co-directed the two-part epic hit Nicholas Nickleby, both of which recently wowed audiences at Milton Keynes Theatre.

Bertie Carvel plays Edward Luton. His theatre credits include Parade at the Donmar Warehouse for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award and Man of Mode and Coram Boy at the National Theatre. Anna Farnworth plays Lady Shenstone, after appearing in The Waltz of the Toreadors in the Minerva Theatre in Festival 07.

Richard Lintern plays Arnold. His most recently appeared in The Royal Hunt of the Sun at the National Theatre. Philip Voss plays Lord Porteous. He has worked extensively with the RSC as Associate Actor and at the National Theatre. Most recently he appeared in The Giant at Hampstead Theatre. Charity Wakefield plays Elizabeth. Known to TV audiences for her part in the TV’s Sense and Sensibility, her theatre credits include The Three Musketeers at Bristol Old Vic and Out of Joint’s A Million Plays about London. The cast also includes David Yelland as Clive Champion-Cheney who recently appeared at Milton Keynes Theatre as Ralph Nickleby in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.

The set is designed by Simon Higlett. Associate at CFT, his designs include Nicholas Nickleby and Office Suite. Lighting Design is by Howard Harrison. His credits include Macbeth in Festival 07 for which he received an Olivier Award. Original music is by Associate Matthew Scott, who has composed for Hobson’s Choice and Nicholas Nickleby.

To book call the Box Office on 0870 060 6652 (bkg fee) or visit www.miltonkeynestheatre.com (bkg fee)

   

MK Theatre Box Office: 0870 060 6652 (bkg fee)

Groups Hotline: 01908 547609

Access Bookings: 0871 297 5477 (bkg fee)

MILTON KEYNES THEATRE

16-27 September

Mon-Sat eves 7.30pm

Wed & Sat mats 2.30pm

Thu 18 mat 2.20pm

Based on a Conception of JEROME ROBBINS

Book by ARTHUR LAURENTS

Music by LEONARD BERNSTEIN

Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM

‘Something is coming, Something good.

And it’s going to be great.’

The 50th Anniversary production of this groundbreaking musical comes to Milton Keynes Theatre for 2 weeks from 16 – 27 September following worldwide acclaim and sell-out success in Paris, Tokyo, Beijing and London’s West End.

West Side Story changed the course of musical theatre when it opened on Broadway in 1957. It remains one of the most successful stage shows of all time.

Alongside the stage musical, and the 1961 film version, which won ten Academy Awards, the original creative team of West Side Story have gained legendary status.  The groundbreaking choreography by the legendary Jerome Robbins, book by Arthur Laurents, and the unforgettable score by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, dealt with dark themes and marked a turning point in American musical theatre. Based on Romeo and Juliet and focusing on social issues, the extended dance scenes, and the unforgettable songs, including ‘Maria’, ‘Tonight’, ‘Somewhere’, ‘America’, and ‘I Feel Pretty’, have become part of public consciousness the world over.  

Fifty years after the original Broadway production, this timeless classic has been re-staged, directed and choreographed afresh by Joey McKneely - former assistant to Jerome Robbins.

Set on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, West Side Story explores the rivalry between two teenage gangs; one white the other Puerto Rican. When Tony falls in love with Maria, the sister of the rival gang’s leader, the feud takes on a new dimension, and as their love blossoms so begins a fatal journey overshadowed by violence and hatred.

Joey McKneely has choreographed and directed extensively on Broadway and his credits include Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Hal Prince’s production of Whistle Down The Wind and Nicholas Hytner’s production of Twelfth Night. He staged and choreographed West Side Story at La Scala in Milan and has worked on many Hollywood movies. He choreographed The Boy From Oz, with Hugh Jackman in the leading role, before embarking on the direction and choreography for this production of West Side Story.  

This new version is the only modern day production which may call itself ‘The Original’ and is the only production currently licensed to tour internationally.

Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the show that changed musical theatre forever! Tickets are already selling fast so book yours now by calling the Box Office on 0870 060 6652 (bkg fee) or visit www.miltonkeynestheatre.com (bkg fee)



Tickets: £18.50 - £39.50



MK Theatre Box Office: 0870 060 6652 (bkg fee)

Groups Hotline: 01908 547609

Access Bookings: 0871 297 5477 (bkg fee)

www.miltonkeynestheatre.com (bkg fee)

By Tennessee Williams

starring Brenda Blethyn

RICHMOND THEATRE

Oscar-nominated actress Brenda Blethyn OBE visits Richmond Theatre for the first time in this new production of Tennessee Williams’s autobiographical first play, which the critics praised for both its high comedy and superb ensemble acting when it opened at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre earlier this year.

A poetic and soulful evocation of the pains of growing up in a material world, The Glass Menagerie is set in 1930s St Louis and drawn from the memories of narrator, Tom Wingfield in Tennessee Williams’ lyrical, tender and shattering masterpiece.

Cast also includes: Mark Arends, Emma Hamilton and Andrew Langtree.

The creative is team also includes Simon Higlett (Design), Johanna Town (Lighting), Pete Rice (Sound), Akintayo Akinbode (Composer) and Julia Wilson-Dickson (Dialect Coach).

BOX OFFICE 0870 060 6651 (transaction fee applies)