Welcome to the July Edition of ShowBiz Booking Dates

July 2016 / Showbiz 73
Booking Dates
Thursday 28th July – Corporate Club
Members and Gold Friends (From
9.30am)
Friday 29th July – Friends Online,
Postal and Fax (From 9.30am)
Monday 8th August – Friends In
Person and by Phone (From 9.30am)
Tuesday 16th August – Public Online,
Postal and Fax (From 9.30am)
Tuesday 23rd August– Public In
Person and by Phone (From 9.30am)
Welcome to the July Edition of ShowBiz
Welcome to the July edition of ShowBiz, your Corporate Club emagazine.
This is a bumper edition, packed with exciting news and insights into
the latest shows as well as articles by our Chief Exec Peter Wilson
and information from one of your fellow Corporate Club members,
Steeles Law, who have recently become sponsors of our Get
Together Group at Norwich Theatre Royal.
We would also like to welcome another new Corporate Club
Member, Loveday and Partners who joined the club in March. We
hope you will get to meet them at future events.
And finally, please enjoy reading about the exciting variety show,
May Contain Nuts! being produced and hosted by Peter Wilson as a
final farewell fundraiser in October.
This should be a wonderful and unique evening of entertainment featuring star turns by Griff Rhys Jones and
the Nimmo Twins – everyone taking part to support the fundraising for Stage Two, our new Education and Skills
Centre.
Dance lovers will be thrilled to hear that Matthew Bourne’s brand new production The Red Shoes will be
coming to Norwich next year. The new show is based on the film by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger and
the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale with music by Bernard Herrmann. Creating the coveted role of Victoria
Page will be Australian dancer and New Adventures Principal, Ashley Shaw.
And of course you will already have read, in our mini-brochure, about the hit musical MAMMA MIA! which will
be arriving in Norwich for four weeks next March. This famous feel-good musical will be coming to the theatre
for the first time and is already selling fast!
La Cage Aux Folles will also brighten up those dark post-Christmas days with its sparkling costumes and
spectacular dance numbers. With music and lyrics by Jerry Herman this glitzy musical features timeless classics
including “I Am What I Am” and “The Best of Times”. (Continues next page)...
Welcome to ShowBiz...
Don’t forget booking opens for the new shows, for Corporate Club Members, on
Thursday 28th July 2016!
Northern Ballet will return to our stage with Casanova – a new world premiere for 2017 this spine-tingling
spectacle of 18th century decadence will flood your senses and take your breath away.
And for drama lovers, don’t miss Pride and Prejudice, The Woman in Black and A Room with a View – terrific
performances by some of our best British actors and remember, for Corporate Club members, half price
tickets on the first night!
Last, but certainly not least, don’t forget it’s nearly Panto Time… ‘oh no it isn’t’ I hear you cry! Jack and the
Beanstalk will once again feature hilarious double act, Ben Langley and Richard Gauntlett, and provide lots of
slapstick fun and laughter for all the family. Opens Tuesday 13th December and runs until Sunday 15th
January 2017.
Don’t forget booking opens for the new shows, for Corporate Club Members, on Thursday 28th July 2016 and
your dedicated booking number is 01603 598696.
We look forward to welcoming you to Norwich Theatre Royal again soon!
Peter's Introduction
"The Corporate Club is a visible and enthusiastic statement of
partnership"
Eastern Promise
Our country is still assimilating its general reaction to the vote to leave the European Union, and trying to come
to terms with its meaning.
We in the arts know that it will have three immediate effects:
a)
that the easy, fruitful and stimulating exchange of performing artists across European boundaries is certain
to alter, and probably in the short term to the inconvenience of theatre, orchestras, opera, dance and ballet
companies and anyone who has depended on a steady supply of top quality talent from the wide pool of the
European artistic community
b)
that the huge explosion of street art, such a vital ingredient in any major festival, which is fed and watered
by transcontinental vigour and resources, is bound to diminish in the UK as artists find it more complicated to move
freely around Europe
c)
there will be less money to fund Great Britain’s creative infrastructure projects, high-end artistic ambitions
and the ongoing quest to connect great art with as many people as possible
But the arts are resilient and far-seeing.
Though it will take many years to come to terms with and take advantage of the new context in which we operate,
we remember Zhou En Lai’s response – “It’s too early to tell” - when asked in 1972 whether the 1789 French
Revolution had been a good thing.
We know that many of you, along with countless other businesses and entrepreneurs across the country, will be
facing your own uncertainties and challenges over the coming months and years. What we are sure about is that
the relationships, networks and communities of interest we have all built in our different industrial fields will be
the pillars that support us into the future.
We will continue to strain every sinew to provide a first-class programme, and first-class service, to you all, and we
trust and hope that you will continue to find that of value.
The Corporate Club is a visible and enthusiastic statement of partnership, and our belief in a unity of purpose
shared by businesses, organisations and individuals across Norfolk and beyond. We’re proud of what it represents
and proud to have you all as members. Thank you.
Chicago
"I think it is the best musical there is......"
Get ready for some Razzle Dazzle this autumn as Chicago returns to Norwich. The classic Twenties-set musical is set
to wow audiences and features an all-star cast including Hayley Tamaddon, who is no stranger to the Theatre
Royal. She has played famous soap characters and a host of top theatre roles. Now she is poised to make her
Norwich Theatre Royal performing hat-trick as she takes on the lead role of Roxie Hart when the UK tour of Chicago
reaches Norwich from 31 October to 5 November.
And she is promising something special when the show comes to the city. She said: “I think it is the best musical
there is. There is lots of singing, dancing and acting. It is hard work too. My character is barely off stage.”
She plays Roxie Hart, who finds herself behind bars with fellow murderess Velma Kelly. The one person standing
between her and a cell on Death Row? The seriously slick lawyer Billy Flynn, who is played by John Partridge. He
boasts a strong musical theatre pedigree and also played Christian Clarke in EastEnders.
And the show features another former resident of Albert Square, Jessie Wallace, who takes on the role of Mama
Morton.
Hayley says stepping into Roxie’s shoes is a dream come true. She said: “I had wanted to play her for years but
always worried I would not be fit enough. My stamina has definitely improved though. We have to do a 45 minute
warm-up and then a vocal warm-up every day.”
But the show is getting excellent reviews and strong audience reaction, and marks the latest project from Hayley,
who remains one of Britain’s busiest performers.
In fact, she was destined to be in the spotlight from a young age, starting baby ballet at the age of two. Dancing
was very much her focus until a back problem at the age of 16 meant she had to concentrate on drama.
Since then, she has enjoyed numerous theatre credits including The Lady In The Lake in Spamalot opposite former
EastEnders and Grange Hill star Todd Carty, which marked her first Norwich appearance, and Janet in The Rocky
Horror Show...
Chicago...
"It’s a strange thing, this business called show business."
Hayley also enchanted Norwich Theatre Royal panto audiences when she took on the lead role in the 2011-12
festive spectacular Sleeping Beauty, opposite former Hollyoaks hunk Kevin Sacre, Bad Girls favourite Helen Fraser
and the theatre’s panto stalwart Richard Gauntlett.
She has also enjoyed a hugely successful parallel career on the small screen with roles including Andrea Beckett in
Coronation Street and Delilah Dingle in Emmerdale as well as winning the fifth series of ITV’s Dancing On Ice.
At the moment, her focus remains on Chicago and she is loving every minute of being part of the show. She
admitted: “Of course there are some days when you feel ill, or your voice isn't feeling great, or you've had some
bad news maybe, but the show must and does go on regardless. Once you're on stage we have a phrase called "Dr
Theatre." No matter how poorly or tired you feel, Dr Theatre takes over and it never shows.”
And she says she loves being part of the Chicago family. “It’s great fun when you’ve got a good group of people, and
the Chicago team are brilliant. We’ve bonded really well. It’s a strange thing, this business called show business.
There can’t be many lines of work where you start a job and, within a couple of days, you’re hugging each other and
zipping each other into clothes,” said Hayley.
All the ingredients are there for a fantastic theatrical performance. A classic story, stunning costumes and
choreography, a talented cast, the massively motivated Hayley Tamaddon….and All That Jazz.
Steeles Law
Steeles Law new city office sponsors Theatre Get Together Group
Steeles Law opened the doors to its new Norwich city centre based offices at Lawrence House, St Andrews Hill in
April 2016. As part of their ongoing commitment to the local community, they are delighted to announce their
sponsorship of Norwich Theatre Royal’s Get Together Group.
Steeles has a long held tradition of looking after the legal affairs of private individuals through our specialist
private client team. Led by Karen Bacon, who has been with the firm for over 30 years, the team has built a
reputation for providing approachable, sensitive and empathetic legal advice.
Chartered Legal Executive Angela Ireland, who is a member of the
Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and Solicitors for the
Elderly, commented:
“We have shared a close relationship with Norwich Theatre Royal
for a number of years now through our membership of the
Corporate Club and the regular business seminars that we host at
the Theatre.
Following our recent move into Norwich city centre, we wanted to
further our support of the Theatre and its patrons and the ethos of
the Get Together Group – one of friendship and support – closely
matches that of our private client team.
I have already enjoyed the company of GTG members at several
informal events and look forward to our future support of the
Group.”
Angela Ireland, Steeles Law
Dame Joan Collins
"...regaled with stories from a bona fide British entertainment legend.”
The Norwich Theatre Royal red carpet is set to be rolled out with the arrival of two international stars to the city.
Global superstar Dame Joan Collins and cinematic legend Sir Roger Moore are both set to share showbiz anecdotes
and a glimpse into their lives with two intimate live events which will mix Hollywood gossip with a chance to
discover what makes them tick.
Dame Joan’s visit on Sunday 18 September will be a true once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend an evening in her
company. Although best known as an actress, she has enjoyed a successful parallel career as a writer as well as
being a philanthropist.
While there is no doubt her glamorous lifestyle will be in sharp focus during the evening, she is also hoping to
reveal more of the real Dame Joan as well. While the idea of these intimate evenings is not new, she is promising a
brand new experience for her visit to Norwich. She explained: “I so enjoyed my 10 years performing One Night
With Joan all over the world that I am delighted to be doing an entirely new show. Each performance will also be
different so you will see something new in Norwich even if you have seen one of my other shows."
Audiences are set to be enthralled as Dame Joan reveals some of the exciting stories and secrets from her long
career and the audience can also put questions to her about her life and work too.
There is certainly plenty to ask about as she has appeared in almost 120 feature films and TV shows including
creating the role of Alexis Carrington in Dynasty which remains one of the most-viewed television drams of all
time. On stage, she has performed on the West End, Broadway, and in both UK and North American theatre tours,
as well as gracing the Norwich Theatre Royal stage back in 2004 in Full Circle.
Meanwhile her novels and memoirs have sold more than 50 million copies worldwide and have been translated
into 30 languages. Peter Taylor, of promoters Cuffe and Taylor, said the evening will be a must-see. He said:
“Dame Joan is a true national treasure whose amazing career was born in the golden age of Hollywood and
transcends the decades through her film, television and literary work.
“As you can imagine Dame Joan has a pretty unique and engaging story to tell. Audiences are in for a special night
where they will be regaled with stories from a bona fide British entertainment legend.”
Sir Roger Moore
"... former James Bond Sir Roger Moore"
Then Sunday November 13 sees Hollywood legend and former James Bond Sir Roger Moore tell the story of his
extraordinary life and career during a special matinee performance.
His visit back in 2012 was a total sell-out and his return looks like being no exception. Sir Roger will be in
conversation with his biographer Gareth Owen about his incredible life and career.
Sir Roger is one of Britain’s best-loved actors. Although he worked on the small screen and in theatre from the
time he left school, his big breakthrough came when he won the part of Simon Templar in ITV’s hugely popular
series The Saint, based on the best-selling books of Leslie Charteris, which ran through much of the Sixties.
He also enjoyed significant small-screen success in the early Seventies opposite Tony Curtis in The Persuaders,
before 1973 saw him land the coveted role of James Bond in the Haiti-set voodoo and gangsters epic Live and Let
Die.
Sir Roger went on to star in six more Bond films over the next 12 years as well as fitting in other movie roles in
between, including the successful chase caper The Cannonball Run.
Away from the big and small-screen, he has also spent a lot of time doing charity work. Since 1991, he has been a
Unicef Goodwill Ambassador and also received an International Humanitarian Award from the London Variety
Club for his tireless work for good causes.
And these efforts led to him being made a CBE in 1999 and then knighted four years later for his contribution.
So there will be plenty of different subjects for him to cover during his on-stage conversation.
And, as with Dame Joan Collins’ visit, there will be the chance to put questions to him from the audience as long
as they do not leave him shaken or stirred.
MAMMA MIA!
"...the story and the music make MAMMA MIA! the ultimate
feel-good show!"
Over 60 million people all around the world have
fallen in love with the characters, the story and the
music that make MAMMA MIA! the ultimate feelgood show! From West End to global phenomenon,
the London production of MAMMA MIA! has now
been seen by more than 10% of the entire UK
population.
MAMMA MIA! is Judy Craymer’s ingenious vision of
staging the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless
songs with an enchanting tale of love, laughter and
friendship unfolding on a Greek island paradise.
Writer Catherine Johnson’s story follows a daughter who, on the eve of her wedding, is on a quest to discover the
identity of her father and brings 3 men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.
Creator and producer Judy Craymer first had the idea for a stage show based on ABBA’s songs more than 25 years
ago when she was Tim Rice’s assistant on Chess, the musical he wrote with Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. “I
started talking to them about it in the mid-80s, and then in about 1995 Bjorn said, ‘If you can get the right story,
maybe.’” said Judy. She met Catherine Johnson, a scriptwriter, in January of 1997 and by the end of the year the
first draft of the MAMMA MIA! script was complete. She subsequently persuaded Phyllida Lloyd to come on board
as Director and the rest is history. At the time, for three women to be the collaborative creative force behind what
was to become such a commercial success was very unusual.
The show opened in the West End on 6 April 1999 coinciding with the 25th
Anniversary of ABBA winning the Eurovision Song Contest with ‘Waterloo’.
The audience were totally charmed and since its first performance MAMMA
MIA! has been unstoppable. It is one of only five musicals to have run for
more than 10 years both on Broadway and in the West End. The London
production is now in its 18th year and continues to play in the West End at
the Novello Theatre.
As a confirmed hit with critics and audiences, next came the chance to
recreate the show in other countries. MAMMA MIA! has since between
translated into 16 different languages including Russian, Italian, German,
French and of course Swedish. The show has to date visited over 440 cities
across 48 countries, and there have been 50 productions worldwide. After 14
years on Broadway, MAMMA MIA! became the 8th longest running show in
Broadway history. In 2011, it became the first Western musical ever to be
staged in Mandarin in the People’s Republic of China....
MAMMA MIA!...
“The show has a big heart”
MAMMA MIA! continues to open at theatres around the world, and everyone's having the time of their lives!
MAMMA MIA! The Movie, with an all-star cast including Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Julie Walters, Amanda Seyfried,
Dominic Cooper and Pierce Brosnan, was released in 2008. The film had its worldwide premiere in London, the city
where the stage play had celebrated its premiere nine years before, and rapidly made history as the highest
grossing live-action musical film of all time.
Judy Craymer feels is longevity is party down to its feel-good story. “The show has a big heart” says Judy. “It’s also a
show that people like to see in a community atmosphere. They like to bring friends and family. Kids are brought up
on the DVD of the movie and now’s their chance to see the show.”
With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed
by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with
lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision,
additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch.
MAMMA MIA! comes to Theatre Royal Norwich from Tuesday 28th February until Saturday 25th March 2017 as
part of the first UK tour of the show.
Loveday & Partners
“Really getting to know someone leads to a far more personal and
engaging relationship...”
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?
We are delighted to introduce one of the theatre’s newest sponsors – Loveday & Partners
A business born out of the new, highly regulated, financial world, Loveday & Partners is a “face-to-face” business,
says Mark Loveday, Director of Loveday & Partners. “A bit like the Theatre Royal itself, despite the rise of
technology in our everyday lives, our clients and the organisations we work with, still value going to see someone,
in person. Really getting to know someone leads to a far more personal and engaging relationship, which I believe
results in better advice.”
Loveday & Partners are privileged to have built a business and reputation on listening and helping. We could list
the areas of financial advice we offer, such as investments, Pensions, ISA's, and Protection Cover, but we prefer to
think in terms of questions; for example:
- Do you wonder what your financial adviser is actually doing for you? Never hear from them unless you call
them? We see our clients face-to-face regularly throughout the year
- Rather than what age do you want to retire; on what income? Most people have not actually considered how
much money they might need to fund their lifestyle (and nobody wants a pay cut in retirement)
- Do you have cash that is suffering meagre returns? Through managed investment we can make a positive
difference
- What would happen if you died yesterday? Would your family keep their home and what would they live off?
Arranging simple protection cover offers peace of mind
We recognise that we are not for everyone, but if you recognise similar values in what we offer and would like
to find out more; then we would be very happy to have a chat and discuss your needs, at our expense of course.
Lovedayandpartners.com
MAY CONTAIN NUTS!
"...an evening of entertainment to help raise funds for STAGE TWO"
As you may have heard, our Chief Executive, Peter Wilson, is stepping down from his post at the end of this year
after nearly 25 years in charge of the Theatre Royal. Before he goes, he’s putting together an evening of
entertainment to help raise funds for STAGE TWO. Here, he tells ShowBiz more.
On the evening of October 16 I’m holding a party to help me get over the trauma of leaving the Theatre Royal.
To make you laugh I’ve invited people who make me laugh. We’ll be performing stand up comedy, songs,
choruses and monologues to make ourselves laugh.
My old pal Griff Rhys Jones will do at least ten unplanned, unscripted (possibly libellous) minutes; Karl Nimms and
Owen Evans (the Nimmo Twins) will perform some new (probably libellous) material solely written to celebrate
my last days; Kit Hesketh Harvey and James McConnell will play with each other at the piano; Helen Atkinson
Wood, Philip Pope and Michael Fenton Stevens will blow fresh air into the lungs of the dead horse that used to
be known as “Radio Active” (a cult BBC Radio 4 comedy series from the 1980s); Richard Gauntlett and Ben
Langley will revive their panto partnership with material from their stand up routines and more; there will be at
least two brand new items from the writer of Rowan Atkinson’s Schoolmaster sketch; and in conjunction with the
pens of Peter Cook, Alan Bennett and others I will be letting what’s left of my hair down.
Goodness knows who and what else will come along that night. I certainly don’t. So be prepared for a show that
for length may rival even Ken Dodd at his most languorous.
It will be a joyous evening – entertaining,
anarchic, unpredictable, and solely devoted
to raising the roof with laughter.
Those of you who have followed these things
will know that for the last eight years I’ve
been pursuing with unnatural doggedness
the construction of STAGE TWO, our
education, learning and participation centre
that has just been handed over.
If we sell out on October 16 the evening will
raise over £25,000 towards the costs of
STAGE TWO – so please come along and
have a whale of a time.
See you there.