Round-up of news and treats and other interesting things

Video Killed The Radio Star is internationally one of the most instantly recognisable songs of all time. Written by Bruce Woolley, Trevor Horn andGeoff Downes, the original Buggles music video is famous for being the first ever shown on MTV when it launched in 1981. This weekend saw a new version of the song released by Bruce Woolley and The Radio Science Orchestra featuring British singer-songwriter Polly Scattergood which is already receiving rave reviews in the music press. 




Coinciding with the release Bruce and Trevor Horn are delighted to announce that together they are creating a new work of musical theatre – provisionally entitled The Robot Sings with an original story and score by the duo. Currently in early initial development, this collaboration between the iconic pair will feature the famed "Video Killed The Radio Star" alongside numerous new compositions; it will include additional music by composer Geoff Downes, script by emerging writer Jack Woolley, and visual moods realised by US graphic designer and illustrator Paul Sizer.

Influenced by Shakespeare’s The Tempest, the musical imagines a Sci-Fi world which reflects the work of authors such as Brain Aldiss, JG Ballard and Isaac Asimov, in which robots obediently serve their human masters. When his robot guardian is cruelly shut-down, orphan Jay must face up to his village's inherent prejudices and sets out on a quest to save her. His act of bravery triggers changes that could lead to a robot-human reconciliation or all-out war. Told with humour, music, and most of all heart – this is a story about standing up for those you love, human or robot.

As producers and writers for many famous artists, Trevor and Bruce between them have received numerous awards, achieving multi-platinum successes within the record industry. Now for the first time they are excited to be moving into the world of the stage musical.

Fresh from its phenomenal success on a world tour, the smash hit immersive theatre production of Irvine Welsh and Danny Boyle’s iconic, generation-defining Trainspotting tours the UK from May 2017, following a major tour in Australia.

The production captures the passion and the controversy of the famous novel, then globally successful film, and repackages it into a no-holds barred immersive show – the audience are literally part of the action, including the notorious “Worst Toilet in Scotland” scene. Read my review from the King's Head here.

In Your Face Theatre’s Scottish cast have created a snappy and vibrant affirmation of the power and humour of the piece. Against a dynamic soundscape of 80s dance music, the stories of a group of friends living through the Edinburgh heroin scene - Renton, Tommy, Sick Boy, Begbie and Alison - are brought to life with humour, poetry and provocatively graphic scenes.

Directed by Kings Head Theatre artistic director Adam Spreadbury-Maher in collaboration with Greg Esplin – the tour follows an eleven-week run at the Vaults and two sold-out seasons at the King’s Head Theatre. The cast are Rachael Anderson (June), Chris Dennis (Begbie), Calum Barbour (Mother Superior), Greg Esplin(Tommy),Michael Lockerbie (Sickboy), Erin Marshall (Alison) and Gavin Ross (Renton).

2017 TOUR SCHEDULE
May 2017
Tuesday 2nd – Friday 5th Weston Super Mare Theatre Orchard thetheatreorchard.org.uk
Tuesday 9th – Saturday 13th London artsdepot artsdepot.co.uk
Tuesday 16th – Sunday 21st Brighton Fringe brightonfringe.org
Wednesday 24th – Saturday 27th Belfast mac themaclive.com

June 2017

Thursday 1st – Saturday 3rd Lancaster Dukes dukes-lancaster.org
Tuesday 6th – Saturday 10th Salford Quays The Lowry thelowry.com
Tuesday 13th – Saturday 17th Oxford Old Fire Station oldfirestation.org.uk
Tuesday 20th – Saturday 24th Leicester (venue TBC)
Tuesday 27th – Saturday 1st Sheffield Leadmill leadmill.co.uk

July 2017
Tuesday 4th – Friday 7th Falkirk Town Hall falkirkcommunitytrust.org
Tuesday 25th – Saturday 29th Preston (venue TBC)


Currently rocking out in  Lizzie at the Greenwich TheatreEden Espinosa has announced plans for a one-off concert at the Hippodrome Casino on 15th March. Her credits inc the US have included shows such as Wicked, Rent, and Evita but for me, her shining moment has been this track from Scott Alan's first album.



The Donmar Warehouse has announced full casting for Bruce Norris’ new translation of Bertolt Brecht’s satirical masterpiece The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, directed by Simon Evans with design by Peter McKintosh. As previously announced, Lenny Henry will make his Donmar debut as Arturo Ui, he is joined by Michael Pennington, who recently played the title role in King Lear at the Royal & Derngate Northampton, as Dogsborough. Other casting includes Philip Cumbus, Lucy Eaton, Tom Edden, Lucy Ellinson, Simon Holland Roberts, Louis Martin, Justine Mitchell, Gloria Obianyo, Guy Rhys and Giles Terera.

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