Theatre Royal Stratford East announces new artistic associates
Mina Barber and Tabby Lamb
Theatre Royal Stratford East is pleased to announce that Mina Barber and Tabby Lamb are the two new artistic associates for the Sky Arts Artistic Associates Bursary at Stratford East.
In January, Sky Arts appointed Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Stratford East Nadia Fall as one of five new Sky Arts Ambassadors to mentor the next generation of talent as part of its continuing mission to champion emerging artists and support cultural recovery when the industry needs it most. As part of this initiative Fall has created two artistic associate posts for emerging theatre makers to join the theatre’s artistic team.
Nadia Fall, Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Stratford East said:
“We are delighted to announce Mina Barber and Tabby Lamb as our new Sky Arts artistic associates. Mina a former actor turned director and writer, whose first theatre experience was the Stratford East panto as a child and Tabby, writer and queer activist, also based in the East End, are both incredibly talented. As theatre-makers they bring an exciting new creative energy to our theatre as well as a genuine connection to our East London community.”
Phil Edgar-Jones, Director of Sky Arts and Entertainment, said:
“We are thrilled to have helped enable Mina and Tabby’s new roles at Stratford East and look forward to seeing and hearing the fresh new work we know they will help create.”
Alexandra Burke to star as the Narrator in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat
Alexandra Burke in Joseph
Michael Harrison and the Really Useful Group are delighted to announce today that Alexandra Burke will return to the West End this summer in the new production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, as Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s legendary musical gets ready for a strictly limited season at the iconic London Palladium.
Alexandra Burke will play The Narrator in the celebrated musical. Her many West End credits include the lead roles in The Bodyguard, Sister Act, Chess and Chicago. Alexandra first rose to fame winning The X-Factor in 2008, and has since gone on to sell over 5 million records.
Jason Donovan will return in the role of Pharaoh. He was originally in the show when he made his defining stage performance as the title character of Joseph in the 1990s, in a sold-out 18-month run which produced a No.1 single and best-selling soundtrack album. Jason raised the roof of the London Palladium in 2019 as Pharaoh, who rocks ‘Song of the King’ in the iconic musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Jac Yarrow caused a sensation when he made his professional stage debut playing Joseph, following in the footsteps of a line of stars who have previously played the title character. His portrayal of Joseph won him unanimous acclaim and an Olivier Award nomination, with his rendition of ‘Close Every Door To Me’ regularly stopping the show with standing ovations.
Michael Harrison said: “The legendary song says “Any Dream Will Do”, but my dream for the past 12 months has been to bring our smash hit production of Joseph back to its spiritual home, The London Palladium. I’m thrilled that dream will soon become a reality.
“There is no better show than Joseph to unite audiences and bring joy and happiness to the West End this summer. The London Palladium is a very special theatre and Joseph is a very special musical. We have a brilliant cast ready to get back on stage and an army of theatre makers ready to return to the jobs they miss so much. Go! Go! Go! Joseph!”
All-star cast joins Constellations at the Vaudeville Theatre
Donmar Warehouse Artistic Director Michael Longhurst will revive his acclaimed Royal Court, West End and Broadway production of Nick Payne’s Constellations which will run at the West End’s Vaudeville Theatre from 18 June – 12 September 2021.
In an innovative producing model, devised in response to the pandemic, four brand new casts will take turns to journey through the multiverse exploring the infinite possibilities of a relationship; each refracting the play afresh. The couples are Sheila Atim and Ivanno Jeremiah (18 June – 1 August) Peter Capaldi and Zoë Wanamaker (23 June – 24 July), Omari Douglas and Russell Tovey (30 July – 11 September), and Anna Maxwell Martin and Chris O’Dowd (6 August – 12 September). The production will run in accordance with the latest UK government social distancing guidelines.
Constellations, co-produced with Wessex Grove and Eleanor Lloyd Productions, will take place at the Vaudeville while the Donmar Warehouse building remains closed until September 2021.