From Page to Stage - Tristan Bates Theatre
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
ARIA Entertainment has announced the casts and creative teams for the eight shows in the third From Page To Stage season of new musicals, which runs at the Tristan Bates Theatre from Monday, October 26 to Saturday, November 21, 2015.
Stars include Sally Ann Triplett, David Burt and Laura Jane Matthewson, winner of the 2014 Evening Standard Award for Best Emerging Talent for her breakthrough starring role in Dogfight.
All three are taking part in Out There, a new musical from Elliot Davis and James Bourne, the writing team behind the West End musical Loserville.
Olivier Award-nominated David Burt is one of the West End’s most respected and in-demand leading men. He has appeared in many notable West End productions, including playing Enjolras in the original cast of Les Misérables, Magaldi in the original cast of Evita, Pontius Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar and Count Fosco in The Woman in White.
Burt’s other credits include Cats, Chess, The Far Pavilions, Closer to Heaven, Taboo and Kiss Me, Kate, as well as seasons at the National Theatre and RSC. He was nominated for the Best Actor Olivier Award for his performance as Macheath in the RSC’s The Beggar’s Opera.
Sally Ann Triplett starred on Broadway in Sting’s The Last Ship. Her numerous West End roles include: Donna in Mamma Mia!, Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Roxy Hart in Chicago, Berta in Acorn Antiques, Reno Sweemey in Anything Goes, Nancy in Oliver!, Grizabella in Cats and Ruby Keeler in Jolson.
The cast also features: Nigel Richards (Luther Billis, South Pacific, RTE; Quazimodo/Frollo, Notre Dame de Paris, International Tour); Jessica Sherman (Sister Berthe, u/s Elsa, The Sound of Music, Bill Kenwright Ltd); Emily Bull (Fritzie u/s Sally Bowles, Cabaret, Bill Kenwright Ltd; Young Lucy u/s Johanna, Sweeney Todd, Adelphi Theatre; Cosette, Les Miserables, West End); Jon Osbaldeston (Fyedka, Fiddler on the Roof, London Palladium and national tour; Harry The Horse, Guys and Dolls, Leicester Haymarket)…
…David Francis (Ensemble/first cover Piangi, The Phantom of the Opera, Her Majesty’s Theatre; Neville Landless, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Arts Theatre); Annie Wensak (Mrs. Hoallum, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre; Frau Schmidt, The Sound of Music, Leicester Curve); Annette Yeo (film adaptations of London Road and Les Miserables; Soloist, The Three Phantoms, UK tour); Matt Harrop (Max, The Sound of Music, Leicester Curve; Mr Allardyce, Betty Blue Eyes, National tour); Richard Brindley (Strephon, Iolanthe, UK Tour; Julian, The Dreaming, Union Theatre).
From Page To Stage’s headline British musical The Stationmaster, with music and lyrics by Tim Connor and book by Susannah Pearse, will get a two-week run as the centrepiece of the season from Tuesday, November 3 to Sunday, November 15.
Readings in the season also include a new piece from Tim Sanders and Charles Miller, whose Return Of The Soldier received a full production last year at Jermyn Street Theatre after a reading in a previous season.
FULL LISTINGS
The Stationmaster – Tuesday, November 3 to Sunday, November 15. Tuesday to Friday at 7.30pm, Saturday at 2.30pm and 7.30pm, Sunday at 2.30pm. Tickets: £18/£16.
Inspired by Horvath’s Judgment Day, The Stationmaster is translated by Christopher Hampton.
The Stationmaster is set in 1958 in the town of Kirby in the Lake District. Railway stationmaster Thomas Price is the pillar of the local community – until a young woman arrives on the platform and distracts him from his duties. Thomas forgets to set a crucial signal and a tragic train crash occurs. The guilty pair decide to cover up their mistake. But as ghosts start to appear to them in the town, things begin to unravel…
The cast comprises Nigel Richards, Jessica Sherman, Emily Bull, Jon Osbaldeston, David Francis, Annie Wensak, Annette Yeo, Matt Harrop and Richard Brindley.
The Stationmaster is directed by Bronagh Lagan and designed by Nik Corrall, with musical direction by Caroline Humphris and choreography by Iona Holland.
Out There, a new musical from Elliot Davis and James Bourne, the writing team behind Loserville – Tuesday, October 27 to Thursday, October 29 at 7.30pm. Tickets: £12.
Newman Carter, a world famous astronaut, mysteriously disappears in 1969. Forty years later, a troubled young man, turns up on his doorstep with a letter, which changes everything, for everyone… Out There is an original tale about fathers, grandfathers, families, love, loss, hope, learning to be a child, learning to be a parent and never, ever, giving up on your dreams.
This show gives cast and audience alike the chance to go where no one has gone before, on the journey of a lifetime. Set in the deep south of the USA, it follows the fortunes of runaway Logan Carter as he saves the town of Hope, Texas, and rediscovers his family at the same time.
Lotte Wakeham directs a cast that includes Luke Newton, David Burt, Mark Anderson, Daniel Buckley, Laura Jane Matthewson, Sally Ann Triplett, Sarah Lark, Jenna Boyd, Stephanie Tavernier and Christopher Howell. Musical director is Elliot Davies.
Five Children & It – Friday, October 30 at 7.30pm and Saturday, October 31 at 7.30pm and 2.30pm. Tickets: £12.
Based on the original story by E. Nesbit, Five Children & It is a new musical with book by Helen Watts, and music and lyrics by Eamonn O’Dwyer.
When exploring the land around their new country house, Cyril, Anthea, Robert, Jane and ‘The Lamb’ come across a rare and extremely grumpy Psammead. This magical ‘sand-fairy’ is able to grant any wish the children ask for, with the rule that at sunset their wish will turn to stone or disappear.
The children are initially excited at having their wildest dreams come true but soon discover that making these wishes isn’t quite as easy as they thought. A summer of mayhem ensues, and the children find that they must pay the price and grant the Psammead a wish of his own…
Michael Howcroft directs a cast that includes Grace Osborn, Holly Sayer, Susannah Van Den Berg, Joseph Taylor, Michael Hamway, Dominic Brewer and Hugh Osborne. Musical director is Benjamin Cox.
Princess Phyllida’s Fortnight, a new musical with book and lyrics by Tim Sanders and music by Charles Miller – Tuesday, November 17 to Thursday, November 19 at 7.30pm. Tickets: £12.
Everyone thinks Phyllida lives inside a fairytale…except Phyllida. The pampered Bavarian princess is planning to escape the turrets and tiaras for a more simple life. Spurning a distinctly handsome prince, Phyllida absconds with her long-suffering tutor, Fritzing, under the name of Ethel Shultz. But the unlikely exiles settle in a God-fearing Somerset village, where the locals are ill-prepared for a German princess who can’t help acting like one! As Phyllida wreaks havoc, a certain jilted prince catches up with her. The runaway princess must now make a choice…
Princess Phyllida’s Fortnight is a quirky delight – a ripping yarn of derring-do, heady romance and Latin grammar!
Charlie Westenra directs a cast that includes James Patterson, Daniel Miles, Katie Ann Dolling, Laura Johnson, Gary Tushaw, Felicity Duncan, Fenton Gray, Stewart Clarke, Julie Jupp and Amy Mallett. Musical director is Simon Lambert.
From Page to Stage Showcases – Friday, November 20 at 7.30pm and Saturday, November 21 at 7.30pm and 2.30pm. Tickets: £15.
These showcases will present 25-minute excerpts of four new musicals in development, performed by a repertory company of actors. Shows include Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime, Cousins Grimm, This is Also England and Just a Man.
Gala Night – Monday, October 26 at 7.30pm. Tickets: £15.
An evening of individual songs from new British musicals in development which were submitted to the From Page To Stage Season. The Gala evening will also feature a Q&A with host Terri Paddock about the necessity for investment into the development of new musical theatre. There will be a panel including the From Page To Stage Producer, a Director, Musical Director and a Venue Representative.