Peter James' Looking Good Dead

Adapted and Directed by Jeremy Sams
Based on the television series by John Esmonde and Bob Larbey

Remember the Goods – Tom and Barbara, suburban eco-warriors? And their next-door neighbours Margo and Jerry Leadbetter, desperately trying to maintain the Surbiton status quo?

Well, they’re back – and on stage for the first time in The Good Life, a theatrical reimagining of the TV sitcom that delighted countless millions, starring award-winning actor, presenter and comedian Rufus Hound as Tom and West End, television and film star Preeya Kalidas as Margo.

Jeremy Sams’s comedy leads the well-loved characters through uproarious adventures; some old, some new and often hilariously familiar.

This new play celebrates a time when, whatever our differences, we still managed to get on with our neighbours.

Rufus Hound’s extensive list of stage credits include the original West End production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, One Man Two Guvnors and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Preeya Kalidas’s film, stage and television credits include Bend It Like Beckham, Bombay Dreams and EastEnders. Jeremy Sams’s directing credits include the National Theatre’s West End and Broadway revival of Noises Off, the West End musical Spend, Spend, Spend, the international tour of The Sound of Music and Oklahoma! at Chichester Festival Theatre.

For more than thirty years, John Esmonde and Bob Larbey’s writing partnership was acclaimed for creating some of British sitcom’s greatest classics including Ever Decreasing Circles, Please Sir!, Brush Strokes and Mulberry.

Producer Fiery Angel’s numerous West End productions include Touching The Void; Hairspray; Home, I’m Darling; Long Day’s Journey Into Night; The Ladykillers; Ghost Stories; Mary Stuart and the inaugural West End season of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company. Their production of The 39 Steps has been presented worldwide, winning Olivier, Tony and Molière Awards.

www.TheGoodLifeOnStage.com

Ever since Katie was cast as the lead in her primary school production of “Santa’s Snowmobile” she believed there was a place for her in show business. Since then named, speaking and full clothed roles have been harder to come by. Winner of Show of the Week and Pleasance Pick of VAULT Festival 2019.  Sexy Lamp ​ is Katie’s “supremely assured’ (The Guardian) solo show that brilliantly combines comedy, original songs and storytelling to shed a bright light on how ridiculous the industry can be and why Katie is refusing to stay in the dark.

THE GENRE-DEFINING THRILLER FOR ALL TIME.

Can you ever get away with the perfect crime?

A brand-new production of the blueprint for the modern thriller, Dial M for Murder is back.

TV and stage favourite, Tom Chambers, (Top Hat, Strictly Come Dancing) stars as the charismatic and manipulative Tony Wendice, a jaded ex-tennis pro who has given it all up for his wife Margot, played by Diana Vickers, West End star (Little Voice), no.1 chart-topping recording artist and The X Factor finalist. When he discovers she has been unfaithful his mind turns to revenge and the pursuit of the ‘perfect crime’.

Made famous by Alfred Hitchcock’s world-renowned film of 1950, the iconic Dial M for Murder will leave you spellbound as Tony becomes more tangled in the web of his own making. Also starring Christopher Harper (Coronation Street), this ultimate masterclass in suspense is guaranteed to entwine you with its spine-chilling twists and turns.

Dial M for Murder is the definitive seat-gripping drama that is not to be missed!

Ian Ashpitel & Jonty Stephens as
Eric & Ern at Christmas

FROM THE OLIVIER NOMINATED DUO BEHIND THE HUGELY CELEBRATED & CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED WEST END HIT
ERIC & LITTLE ERN

This is a show for all the family from 8 to 108! A brilliant homage crammed full Morecambe & Wise's most loved routines, songs and sketches and, of course, a musical guest. This wonderful show, evokes memories of times when whole families would huddle together around the telly to watch those fantastic Christmas specials.

As seen on The One show BBC1 and The Alan Titchmarsh Show ITV

“Bring the kids - they’ll love it just as much as we did”
Dominic Holland

“I never thought I’d see Morecambe & Wise live - I think I just have!”
Ben Elton

“I laughed until I cried!”
Twiggy

“You have the giddy out of time illusion that you are
 watching the legendary double-act live.”
 Independent

‘The year is 1544 and King Henry, the Eighth of that name, is engaged upon Royal Progress about his Realm; and has halted here to afford his Loyal Subjects the opportunity to have 'audience' with their Sovereign Lord and King.

The King, recently married to his new, and sixth, wife, Queen Catherine Parr, is in poor health; his leg continues to cause him considerable pain and he is often in a poor humour!

In the course of the 'audience', His Majesty will recount the events of his long reign; telling of his wives and his children, and His Majesty will invite his Loyal Subjects to Petition him or question him on ANY related subject : there may be some surprising answers - a lively Q&A is assured!’

David Pugh and Theatre Royal Bath Productions in association with Birmingham Repertory Theatre
by Hamish McColl and Sean Foley and, of course, Eddie Braben

by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Adapted for the stage by Steven Canny and John Nicholson for Peepolykus

Directed by Lotte Wakeham 

Produced by The Original Theatre Company & Octagon Theatre Bolton

“Rib-bustingly hilarious.” The Times

Mr Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound…

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most celebrated adventure gets a brilliantly farcical overhaul in Lotte Wakeham’s acclaimed production.

World-renowned detective Sherlock Holmes and his colleague Dr Watson are asked to unravel the mystery surrounding the untimely death of Sir Charles Baskerville.

With rumours of a cursed giant hound loose on the moors, they must act fast in order to save the Baskerville family’s last remaining heir.

A hit in the West End, this ingenious adaptation combines an exhilarating collision of farce, theatrical invention and wonderfully comic performances to offer a brand-new twist on the greatest detective story of all time.

A whodunnit for all ages.

From the award-winning Original Theatre Company who brought you Alan Bennett’s The Habit of Art, the smash-hit comedy Invincible and the acclaimed Birdsong. 

Director Lotte Wakeham is Artistic Director of the Octagon Theatre Bolton and has directed sell-out productions in London, New York, and throughout the UK.

September – December 2021

“Wonderfully barking spoof” The Telegraph

“Unfailingly hilarious. A masterpiece.” The Guardian

PATRICIA HODGE  NIGEL HAVERS
IN
NOËL COWARD’S CLASSIC COMEDY

PRIVATE LIVES

Noël Coward’s gloriously entertaining Private Lives is the inaugural show from The Nigel Havers Theatre Company which will be touring the country with a wonderful line-up of theatrical gems.
Elyot and Amanda, who were once married, find themselves on honeymoon with their new partners, in the same hotel on the French Riviera, admiring the view from adjoining balconies. Their initial horror quickly evaporates and soon they are sharing cocktails. Who knows what the future holds for them now…

The Olivier Award winning Patricia Hodge, one of the country’s most loved actresses, plays Amanda. Nigel Havers, ever suave and thoroughly charming, plays Elyot, the role taken by Noël Coward himself in the original production in 1930.

If you’ve never read Dickens’ 1859 novel of revolution and excessive gestures of love, then this is the
show for you. If you have read it, this might also be the show for you, depending on how well you
remember it.

Dickens left a lot out of his novel, particularly when it comes to Lucie, the central female
character. She was underwritten, all her psychological complexity left on the cutting room
floor. This show picks up those offcuts and sticks them together, possibly in the wrong order, to
rediscover the real story of this complex, troubled, funny 21st century woman.

From the creators of Paradise Lost (lies unopened beside me) and Juliet & Romeo, comes a re-staging
of one of the bestselling novels of all time (allegedly). Part dance, part theatre, part fictionalised
documentary, no-part costume drama, this is Lost Dog’s nearly unrecognisable re-imagining of a
classic.

The Children’s Theatre Partnership presents
Animal Farm
By George Orwell
Adapted and directed by Robert Icke
 
The animals of Manor Farm drive out the farmer and run the farm themselves. A revolution. And then what? Then freedom. Every animal will be free.

Old Major, the prize boar, calls the animals of Manor Farm together. He has had a strange dream of a better future.
 
George Orwell’s world-famous fable tells the story of a revolution and its aftermath. Re-imagined by an award-winning creative team, Animal Farm is a dynamic, daring and contemporary take on a timeless story.

Animal Farm is directed by Robert Icke, whose version of 1984 (co-adapted and directed with Duncan Macmillan) was a smash-hit in the West End and on Broadway; features puppetry designed by Toby Olie (whose credits include War Horse) and designed by four-time Olivier award-winner Bunny Christie.
 
The Children’s Theatre Partnership creates bold and imaginative theatre for young people, engaging new audiences and aiming to inspire a life-long love of theatre.

Age Guidance: 12+

The Office meets Lord of the Flies meets Miranda.

Sheila’s Islandis a sparkling, sharp-witted new comedy from writer
Tim Firth (Calendar Girls, Kinky Boots, The Band), starring Olivier Award winner Sara Crowe
(Private Lives, Calendar Girls, Four Weddings and a Funeral), and Judy Flynn (The Brittas Empire, Dinnerladies).

Bonfire night 2019, Sheila, Denise, Julie, and Fay are Team C in Pennine Mineral Water Ltd.’s annual outward bound team-building weekend. Somehow, Sheila has been nominated team leader, and, using her cryptic
crossword solving skills, has unwittingly stranded her team on
an island in the Lake District. Our intrepid heroines find themselves manufacturing weapons from cable ties and spatulas, and create a rescue flag with plastic plates and a toasting fork.

Questions are asked; truths are told; dirty washing is aired.

Is it possible to build an adequate night shelter with a prom dress and a sleeveless jumper? What is Julie’s husband
really up to in Aldi? And why are they on this bloody team building exercise when they could be at a spa?

Please note: This production is suitable for ages 13+

We are off to see… A wizardly wonderful Musical Pantomime adventure, The Wizard of Oz!

Join Dorothy Gale as she befriends a brainless Scarecrow, a loveable Tin Man and the cowardly Lion on their quest to thwart the evil powers of the Wicked Witch of the West. With a little help from Glinda the Good Fairy and the almighty and powerful Wizard of Oz, good is sure to conquer evil.

Featuring an all-star cast to be announced, this Easter treat is fun for all the family from ages 2 to 102! Packed with great songs, brilliant dance routines and plenty of laughter, it’s going to be the best value family-friendly pantomime in town!

Book now and join us on a magical adventure to the Land of Oz

The Yorkshire moors tell an epic story of love, revenge and redemption.

Rescued from the Liverpool docks as a child, Heathcliff is adopted by the Earnshaws and taken to live at Wuthering Heights. He finds a kindred spirit in Catherine Earnshaw and a fierce love ignites. When forced apart, a brutal chain of events is unleashed.
 
Shot through with music, dance, passion and hope, Emma Rice (Romantics Anonymous, Wise Children, Brief Encounter) transforms Emily Brontë’s masterpiece into a powerful and uniquely theatrical experience.

Lucy McCormick (Post Popular) leads the company of performers and musicians in this intoxicating revenge tragedy for our time.

“I am Heathcliff! Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”

-

One of Britain’s greatest modern plays, The Rise & Fall of Little Voice, is embarking on a UK Tour next year. The Olivier Award-Winning comedy-drama from Jim Cartwright has earned international acclaim across the globe, including a Golden Globe winning smash-hit film starring Jane Horrocks and Michael Caine.

Meet Little Voice and Mari Hoff. A mother and daughter central to the heart of this Northern fairy-tale, but as far apart in character as can be. Little Voice leads a quiet and unassuming life, seeking companionship and joy from music’s most iconic singers, whilst Mari prefers the sound of her own voice, indulging in a life of booze, cheap thrills and seedy men. Left to her own devices, LV starts to embody the famous divas she plays on repeat, swapping the grey backstreets of Northern England for the bright lights of Hollywood and Broadway, all from the safety of her own bedroom. When Mari starts dating small-time club owner Ray Say, LV’sastonishing impersonations of Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland to name a few, are thrust into the spotlight. Transformed and sensational, LV might just be Ray’s one and only chance to hit the big time, but what will the consequences be for mother and daughter?

Starring TV favorite Shobna Gulati (Coronation Street, Dinnerladies, Loose Women), British soap royalty Ian Kelsey (Emmerdale, Casualty) and ‘the girl of a thousand voices’ and two-time Drama Desk Award Nominee Christina Bianco, as Little Voice.
Cartwright’s timeless and iconic tale explores the highs and the lows of small-town dreams, family
rivalry and finding your voice in a noisy world.

With humour, heart and countless powerhouse ballads all performed live on stage, featuring music from Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey, Billie Holliday and many more, this life-affirming production will rouse even the weariest of souls.

Was it Miss Scarlet, with the revolver in the dining room, or was it Professor Plum, with the lead pipe in the library?……..
 
Based on the classic detective board game loved by generations and the hit 1985 film CLUE, the brand new stage play of CLUEDO is coming to The Lowry Theatre next Spring. This UK premier production is directed by Mark Bell, director of the award winning The Play That Goes Wrong and A Comedy About A Bank Robbery and just like the game, it promises audiences of all ages a nostalgic, fun and thrilling evening of entertainment.
 
When Miss Scarlett, Professor Plum, Mrs Peacock, Revered Green, Mrs. White and Colonel Mustard all arrive at a country house one dark and stormy evening, they are concerned to find they have all received the same mysterious invitation from Lord Boddy. What’s clear is that they all have something to hide and the mystery and hysteria grows, as the inhabitants and guests of Boddy Manor start being killed, with a variety of familiar weapons, leaving everyone to wonder, who will be next! 
 
This hilarious spoof of a thriller, will keep you guessing right up to the finale as both the audience and actors onstage try to work out whodunnit….with what... and where!!

‘An exhilarating, breathless thriller-chase. Blockbuster perfection’ The New York Times
The blockbuster story that captivated the world is now an epic stage thriller. Can you crack the code and solve a centuries old mystery?
The curator of the Louvre has been brutally murdered, and alongside his body are a series of baffling codes. Follow the pulse-racing journey as Professor Robert Langdon and fellow cryptologist Sophie Neveu attempt to solve the riddles, leading to the works of Leonardo Da Vinci and beyond, deep into the vault of history. In a breathless race through the streets of Europe, Langdon and Neveu must decipher the labyrinthine code before a shocking historical secret is lost forever.
Based on the best-selling novel of this century, with over 100 million copies sold, unlock the secrets of THE DA VINCI CODE in the world premiere stage adaptation of the international phenomenon and uncover the truth in the greatest thriller of the past 2000 years.
“I am thrilled that The Da Vinci Code is being adapted for the stage, and excited to see the unique potential of live theatre enhance this story. The team making the production has been faithful to the book, but will also bring something new for the audience, in what is certain to be a gripping, fast-paced stage thriller and a thoroughly entertaining show.” Dan Brown

PULSE RECORDS LIMITED in association with BILL ELMS presents

 

 “A big sweeping story of real emotion!”

THE STAGE

 

THE UK PREMIERE TOUR OF

 

HELEN FORRESTER’S

BY THE WATERS OF LIVERPOOL

Adapted by ROB FENNAH / Directed by GARETH TUDOR PRICE

 

FEATURING ASTAR-STUDDED CAST FROM STAGE AND SCREEN

Mark Moraghan, SianReeves, Parry Glasspool, Lucy Dixon & Eric Potts

join Lynn Francis, Danny O'Brien, Roy Carruthers and Chloe McDonald.

Adapted from Helen Forrester’s million-selling book, By The Waters Of Liverpool is a stunning period drama set in the 1930s. The story opens in 1935. Helen is sixteen years old and fighting a bitter battle with her parents for the right to educate herself and go out to work. During the Great Depression, Helen’s father lost his fortune when the stock market crashed and the family were suddenly thrown into poverty. Leaving behind the nannies, servants and comfortable middle-class life in the South West of England, the Forrester’s chose Liverpool as the place to start over. They were in for a terrible shock. Taken out of school to care for her younger brothers and sisters while her parents struggled to re-build their shattered lives, Helen is treated as an unpaid slave and desperate to escape. By 1939, now aged twenty and with Britain on the brink of war, she has still never been kissed by a man. But things start looking up for Helen when she meets a tall strong seaman and falls in love.

 

“By The Waters Of Liverpool also features flashbacks to Helen’s earlier books Liverpool Miss and Twopence To Cross The Mersey. I’ve even weaved in a storyline from Helen’s fourth autobiography, Lime Street At Two. That way those unfamiliar with Helen’s work still get a complete picture of her life”.

Rob Fennah ~ Playwright and friend of Helen Forrester.

 

Fully authorised by the Helen Forrester estate.

(Cast subject to change)