Film, Television & Theatre March 2019

Congratulations

to Tony McNamara for his Bafta win, with Deborah Davis, for Best Original Screenplay for THE FAVOURITE to Grace Ofori-Attah for being nominated for best Debut Writer at the Edinburgh TV Festival New Voices Awards to Anna Symon, whose MRS WILSON was nominated for Best Series at the BPG Awards to Russell T Davies for being nominated for Best Writer at the BPG Awards to A Very English Scandal for being nominated for Best Mini Series at the BPG Awards

Film

BEATS: UK premiere to close Glasgow Film Festival 2019, 3rd March Kieran Hurley’s debut screenplay, co-written with Brian Welsh who also directs, is an adaptation of his award-winning play Beats. It is 1994 and new legislation effectively outlaws raves or “public gatherings around amplified music characterised by the emission of a succession of repetitive beats”. The party is well and truly over but not before mild-mannered teenager Johnno is encouraged to join his best mate Spanner for one last big night out at an illegal rave. Produced by Rosetta Productions and Ken Loach’s Sixteen Films and executive produced by Steven Soderbergh. BEATS

FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY: Glasgow Film Festival 2019, 2nd & 3rd March An inspirational coming-of-age story of an Irish girl from the Travelling community in rural Ireland during the 1960s and the pursuit of her dream to be a boxer. Winner of the FIPRESCI prize for the Discovery programme at the Toronto International Film Festival 2018. Written and directed by playwright and filmmaker Carmel Winters. FLOAT

FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS – premieres in UK cinemas on March 15th A fast-living, cynical music executive (Danny Mays) heads to a remote Cornish village on a stag weekend where he’s challenged by his boss (Noel Clarke) into trying to sign a group of shanty singing fishermen (led by James Purefoy). A fish out of water, he struggles to win over the unlikely boy band and their families (including Tuppence Middleton) who value friendship and community over fame and fortune. Based on a true story, with an all-star ensemble cast. Co-written by Piers Ashworth, directed by Chris Foggin. FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS

Television

TRAPPED: Series 2 continues Saturdays at 9pm on BBC4 Clive Bradley’s gripping Icelandic 10-part series continues investigating the shocking attack on a politician in Reykavik. Chief of Police Andri has returned to his rural hometown, a place where the dark events of the past still haunt him. TRAPPED

ENDEAVOUR Series 6: ITV – Finishes Sunday 3rd March, 8pm Oxford-set Inspector Morse prequel sixth series sees its finale this weekend. Written and Executive Produced by series creator Russell Lewis. ENDEAVOUR

CALL THE MIDWIFE: BBC1 – Series 8 continues Sundays at 8pm Heidi Thomas’ heart-warming and inspiring period drama continues in its eighth series. Created, written and executive produced by award-winning writer Heidi Thomas and starring Helen George, Stephen McGann, Jenny Agutter and Leonie Elliott. CALL THE MIDWIFE

DAS BOOT: Sky Atlantic – Continues DAS BOOT is an 8 part series based on the critically acclaimed film of the same name, and will pick up in the autumn of 1942, just months after the Wolfgang Petersen’s 1981 film ends. Starring Lizzy Caplan, August Wittgenstein and Rick Okon and with Simon Allen as Associate Producer and writer of episode 6 and Laura Grace as writer of episode 5. DAS BOOT

RESISTANCE: Coming Soon Catherine Morshead directs all five parts of this 1920s-set drama about the Irish independence movement. Starring Brian Gleeson and Conall Keating.

THE ROAD TO BREXIT: Coming Soon to BBC Two Arthur Mathews’ distinctive comic take on the situation, using archive footage and filmed interviews and starring Matt Berry.

LONDON KILLS S1: Acorn TV - 25th Feb London’s best detectives take on its worst crimes. From the creators of Suspects, episode 3 is written by Sally Tatchell. LONDON KILLS

London Theatre

BLOOD KNOT – Orange Tree – 8th March – 20th April It’s been a year since Morrie returned to Port Elizabeth to live with his brother Zach. They share childhood memories of their mother, yet have wildly contrasting life experiences due to their different fathers. Can they free themselves from the enduring prejudices provoked by the different shades of their skin? Directed by Matthew Xia. BLOOD KNOT

THE TWILIGHT ZONE – Ambassadors Theatre – 4th March – 1st June You are about to enter another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land of imagination. Next stop, the Twilight Zone… Composition and Sound Design by Sarah Angliss. THE TWILIGHT ZONE

BILLY BISHOP GOES TO WAR – Southwark Playhouse – 13th March – 6th April Based on the true story, and brought to life with musical numbers, BILLY BISHOP GOES TO WAR transfers to Southwark Playhouse after a critically acclaimed run at the Jermyn Street Theatre. Musical Direction by Adam Gerber. BILLY BISHOP GOES TO WAR

WOLFIE – Theatre 503 – 20th March – 13th April A spiralling odyssey of dizzying theatricality, WOLFIE is a bold, fantastical fairytale following two twins separated at birth and asks who is truly responsible for society’s most vulnerable children. Sound Design by Richard Hammarton. WOLFIE

THE PHLEBOTOMIST – Hampstead Theatre – 19th March – 20th April In a ratist world where health, wealth and happiness depend on a single blood test - dictating everything from bank loans to dating prospects – phlebotomy reigns supreme. So how far will people go to beat the system? Composition by Isobel Waller-Bridge. THE PHLEBOTOMIST

COMPANY: – Ends 30th March & George Furth’s legendary musical comedy about life, love and marriage finishes its triumphant run at the Gielgud Theatre. Starring Patti Lupone and Rosalie Craig with direction by Marianne Elliot. Music Direction by Joel Fram.

Richard II: Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, 22nd February – 21st April, press night 6th March Lynette Linton co-directs the first ever company of women of colour in a Shakespeare play on a major UK stage, in a post-Empire reflection on what it means to be British in the light of the Windrush anniversary and as we leave the European Union. RICHARD II

STONES IN HIS POCKETS - Rose Theatre Kingston 28th Feb – 9th March, Theatre Royal Bath 11th-16th March and UK Tour Directed by Lindsay Posner

'Triumphant, fast, brilliant and hilarious' Independent 'An unequivocal source of joy, laughter, tears and delight' Daily Mail 'A moving and heartfelt tribute to the imaginative power of live performance'

BLUE THUNDER – Vault Festival, 27 Feb-17 March 2019 Padraic Walsh's powerfully immersive play, gets up close and personal with one splintered family in small-town Ireland. Funny and excruciating by turns, it examines manhood and what happens when the people who should be there for you have nothing left to give. BLUE THUNDER

THE MERRY WIDOW: ENO – 01 Mar - 13 Apr 2019 Franz Lehár‘s comic masterpiece, played out in a stream of memorable melodies including the familiar ‘Vilja Song’ and ‘Merry Widow Waltz’. Making their ENO debuts are director Max Webster (The Lorax at Old Vic) and sought-after Estonian conductor Kristiina Poska. As the vivacious Hanna, ENO favourite Sarah Tynan returns for her second major appearance of the season. She is joined by Nathan Gunn as Danilo, while ENO legend Andrew Shore plays the pompous Zeta. At the Embassy Ball, wealthy widow, Hanna Glawari, leads her society suitors on a merry dance. But how will she win Danilo who counts her riches worthless? MERRY WIDOW

LITTLE ECHOES: Hope Theatre, Islington – Run ends 9th Mar 2019 “He looked the same as anyone else. Any of the other ones who come in. White boys. So I didn’t clock anything different, cos there wasn’t anything different. How was I meant to know?” Shajenthran’s brother has had acid thrown in his face and Shaj is out for revenge. Danielle’s teenage crush on a pop idol develops into an illicit relationship, ‘professional mentoring’ becoming something much darker. June has spent twenty years serving the private needs of the super wealthy, but her new assignments confront her with the questions she’s spent a lifetime running from. When their paths cross it is not something any of them will forget. Filled with love, coercion, loneliness and obsession, Little Echoes takes you through the city as you’ve never seen it before. A city of deep shadows, darker intentions, and where anything can change in the night. Written by Tom Powell, winner of the OTR National Radio Drama Award.

"Relentlessly draws you in" ActDrop; ★★★★@pubtheatres1; ★★★★ “theatrical sophistication and performances like this don’t come along every day” @thereviewchap; Pick of the Week @LoveLDNLoveCul LITTLE ECHOES

ALYS, ALWAYS: Bridge Theatre 25th Feb – 30th March A gripping psychological thriller that excavates the fault line that separates the entitled from the unentitled. Written by Lucinda Coxon, based on the novel by Harriet Lane. ALYS, ALWAYS

There is a Field: Theatre 503 28th Feb – 16th March Written by Martin Askew and Directed by Esther Baker, There is A Field is a London story of faith, death and family strife reshaped by local crises and global events centred around white, Muslim convert Abdullah. “ There is a Field is a great success that shows tremendous potential in highlighting the unusual situation many young Muslims in the East End may face today.” The Upcoming **** THERE IS A FIELD

UK Theatre

EDMOND DE BERGERAC: Birmingham Repertory Theatre - 15th – 30th March Get ready to meet the man behind the nose and discover the hilarious comedy behind the celebrated story of Cyrano de Bergerac. Written by Alexis Michalik and translated by Jeremy Sams. EDMOND DE BERGERAC

THE REMAINS OF THE DAY: Northampton Royal & Derngate – closes 16th March, then tours the UK Christopher Haydon directs Barney Norris’ new adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s literary masterpiece. It receives its world premiere at Royal & Derngate before embarking on a major national tour. THE REMAINS OF THE DAY

GOD OF CHAOS: Theatre Royal Plymouth – opens 7th March David Mercatali directs this outrageously funny and provocative new play about the world of online censorship by Olivier-nominated playwright Phil Porter. GOD OF CHAOS

THE SHY MANIFESTO – UK tour, 29 Jan-4 March 2019

17 year old Callum is proud to be shy and he thinks you should be too, because what this noisy, crazy world needs right now is a bit more self-restraint. Michael Ross’ play is a bittersweet coming-of-age comedy drama about a shy boy who is fed up of constantly being told to come out of his shell. THE SHY MANIFESTO

GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS: UK Tour continues in After its sell-out run in the West End wowing critics and audiences alike, this darkly funny production of David Mamet’s play is touring the UK. Joining the hard- hitting sales team in Sam Yates’ unmissable production are: Denis Conway as Dave Moss; James Staddon as James Lingk; and Zephryn Taitte as Baylen; Mark Benton (Shelly ‘The Machine’ Levene) and Nigel Harman (Ricky Roma). ★★★★★ Metro, ★★★★ The Guardian, ★★★★ . Mon 25 Mar 2019 - Sat 30 Mar 2019, Manchester opera House GLENGARRY

THE MIRROR CRACK’D: Salisbury Playhouse – Run ends 9th March Adapted for the stage by Rachel Wagstaff - Times are changing. Girls are wearing trousers and Hollywood has come to a sleepy English village in the shape of a beautiful film star. Miss Marple begins to question her place in the world until a mysterious death calls into question the past of all those present. Everyone's version of events is different. Can Miss Marple unravel the tangle of lies? This thrilling new play, based on Agatha Christie's novel, explores how we all colour our own memories, our own truths, to disguise the darkness that lies within. In this rich, psychological drama, everyone has a secret…Directed by Melly Still, Movement by Joseph Alford.

THE COMEDY ABOUT THE BANK ROBBERY: UK Tour until 6th April 2019 The funniest show in the West End is now on tour. Mischief Theatre's smash-and-grab hit is a fast, fabulous comedy caper. With mistaken identities, love triangles and hidden agendas, even the most reputable can't be trusted. In a town where everyone's a crook, who will end up bagging the jewel? Tour Director Kirsty Patrick-Ward. 29 Jan - 2 Feb CHESTER Storyhouse, 5 - 9 Feb YORK Grand Opera House, 12 - 16 Feb BRISTOL Hippodrome, 19 Feb - 2 Mar CAMBRIDGE Arts Theatre. COMEDY ABOUT A BANK ROBBERY

MATILDA The Musical: UK & Ireland Tour – Bradford Alhambra to 23rd March then Edinburgh Playhouse 02/04/2019 - 27/04/2019 Matilda The Musical is the multi-award winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company, inspired by the beloved book by the incomparable Roald Dahl. Directed by Matthew Warchus. MATILDA

HANG – Sheffield, 21 February-9 March 2019

Nearly now; in a Britain with a radically altered legal system, a woman has made her choice. As the victim of a serious crime, she is in control of the perpetrator’s fate. Searing and darkly humorous, ’s hang explores morality and a sense of justice through the lens of one victim’s decision. Sound Design by Dan Balfour.

HANG

BARBER SHOP CHRONICLES – UK Tour, 12th March-25th August 2019

Inua Ellams’ critically acclaimed BARBER SHOP CHRONICLES heads off on a UK tour. Barber Shop Chronicles is heart-warming, hilarious and insightful. The play invites the audience into a uniquely masculine environment where the banter may be barbed, but the truth always telling.

BARBER SHOP CHRONICLES

HOW TO BE BRAVE – Welsh Tour, 13-27 March 2019

Determined that her young daughter will never lose the powerful, fierce magic she arrived into the world with, Katie sets off on a mission to create an instruction manual titled, How to Be Brave. Sian Owen’s one-woman play is a love story to the city and the women that made her. HOW TO BE BRAVE

HAMLET – Leeds Playhouse – 1st March – 30th March A vibrant, visceral production of one of the greatest plays in the English language. Composition and Sound Design by Alexandra Faye Braithwaite. HAMLET

PRINCESS & THE HUSTLER: Hull Truck Theatre 5th – 16th March Princess & The Hustler is the second national tour born from Revolution Mix – an Eclipse movement that is spearheading the largest ever delivery of new Black British stories. Shortlisted for the Alfred Fagon Award 2018 for Best New Play. Written by Chinonyerem Odimba. Sound design by Richard Hammarton.

PRINCESS & THE HUSTLER

Overseas Theatre

ROMEO AND JULIET: Theatre Trier – opens 23rd March Ryan McBryde directs Shakespeare’s classic tragedy. ROMEO AND JULIET

THE FERRYMAN: Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre – Continues Directed by Sam Mendes, written by Jez Butterworth – The hit play transfers from London’s West End to Broadway. Northern Ireland, 1981. The Carney farmhouse is a hive of activity with preparations for the annual harvest. A day of hard work on the land and a traditional night of feasting and celebrations lie ahead. But this year they will be interrupted by a visitor. Winner of 10 major London awards including the Olivier Award for Best New Play and Best Director. Associate/Recast director Tim Hoare. ★★★★★ Daily Telegraph, Evening Standard, Guardian, Financial Time, Express, Evening Standard, Independent, The Observer THE FERRYMAN

Continuing Theatre

HOME, I’M ALL ABOUT EVE IN THE WILLOWS ROMEO AND JULIET DARLING

COUGAR KITE EDEN INSIDE BITCH

THE SON BING LIVE TARTUFFE SHIPWRECK

THE PAPER MAN

THE COMEDY ABOUT HAMILTON NOUGHTS AND THE BAK ROBBERY CROSSES WEST END UK Tour

MATILDA HARRY POTTER AND MAMMA MIA!

THE CURSED CHILD

EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE