Line-up Announced for Festive Cabaret Show!

Stafford's first, and only burlesque and variety show, Très Très Cabaret, will return to the MET Studio at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre with an evening of saucy decadence for one last time in 2016, on Wednesday 28^th December.

 

The first billing announcement for the December show is Sir Leopold Aleksander, otherwise known as THE MIGHTY MOUSTACHE!
  

Paragon of gentlemanly conduct, strongman, circus artist and adventurer: his feats of strength and skill will amaze, astound and amuse!  Sir Leopold first appeared on the Très Très stage back in April – wowing audiences in the process! Such was his popularity, Tres Tres producers have been clamouring to bring him back for December’s special festive extravaganza!




Also returning to Très Très Cabaret is none other than bonkers Russian starlet: NATALIA KALASHNIKOV! This vodka swigging Russian has a lust for danger and will be demonstrating this live on stage with her Martini Madness act!

Adding to an already stellar line-up is quirky clown and 'furlesque' pioneer, KIKI LOVECHILD!

Highly skilled in mime, puppetry and illusion (to name but a few), Kiki's hilarious routines have had audiences from across the globe rolling in the aisles with laughter and gasping in amazement.

Making her Très Très Cabaret debut in December will be the very special, TALULAH BLUE! 

With a history of classical dance and natural charm, this fabulous follie's performances feature burlesque and classic circus, in a style harking back to eras gone by. This vaudevillian showgirl has graced stages from London to Berlin, Dubai to Hong Kong.  Some bookings were so exclusive, she can't even tell you about them! Shhhh…

All of this personally selected for your entertainment by our resident producer, promoter and performer: STAGE DOOR JOHNNY

A flirtatious, lyrical lothario and seasoned comic raconteur with razor-sharp wit, Johnny will have audiences grinning, giggling and eating from the palm of his hand – sometimes literally. He can be heard singing everything from Shirley Bassey to Guns ‘n’ Roses as well as ridiculous self-penned medleys to surprise and delight!

But that’s not all, after the show, you can continue to dance the night away to the Rock n Roll music of JOHNNY AND THE SPEEDOS

A late bar, live music and a bumper line-up to kill for!

Très Très Cabaret is at The MET Studio at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre on Wednesday 28^th December at 8pm. Tickets are £20.50 and can be booked by calling the box office on 01785 619080 or by visiting www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk

Early booking is advised as a sell-out is expected again. The show is strictly for over 18s only.

Back Stage with Katie Pritchard for Aladdin the Wok 'n' Roll Panto!

Aladdin the “Wok ‘n’ Roll” pantomime is only a few weeks away!

To get everyone in the festive mood, our very own Kate Pritchard – who will be playing Cuddles the Monkey in the show – has decided to ‘dish the goss’ on all the goings on in last week's rehearsals.

Here's what se had to say...

Well, well, well, where to start?

We have been having an absolute blast in Panto-camp this week!!

The first week is always the craziest…on day one, we get to the theatre, meet a whole bunch of new people that we’re going to be doing the show with, and then 5 minutes later, we’re doing a full read-through of the script for all of the creative team working on the show to watch. It’s chaos. Then after the read-through we go straight into song learning.

This year, I have decided to continue last years’ challenge of getting the most obscure instruments into songs. So far, I have managed Kazoo and Bongo’s…I’m trying really hard to get a Stylophone into the score at some point, but I’m not sure if the Musical Director Craig seems to interested in this clearly fantastic idea!!

This week, I’ve also been working on my monkey walks, and they’re getting pretty snazzy indeed, if I do say so myself. I have a wide range of three different walks at the moment…what a show off! Maybe I’ll even try for a different walk each time I enter the stage? We’ll see what Director Rob thinks. I’m pretty sure it’s the kind of idea that could get me an Oscar! Right? Right. I’ve also watched about 10 hours’ worth of monkey video’s to really get into character. I’ve been jumping and swinging around the place – much to my flatmates’ distaste. I think I definitely need to get to the gym to do some squats to make sure I am ready for the show…don’t want to get thigh-cramp mid-crouch, that would be ouchie!

I’ve not seen all the choreography yet, but the bits I have seen are wonderful! Full on dance breaks with Saxophones and Trumpets, followed by slapstick Ballets, and lovely duets. I can’t wait to see the full thing on the stage. Although, I mostly get to see the show from the back of the stage as I play my instruments. Just as well the cast this year all have beautiful backs!

I think it’s safe to say that we’ve had a fabulous first week of rehearsals! We have a brilliant cast and creative team, and the staff at the theatre are all excellent! Bring on week two!!

Rehearsals begin a rockin’ and rollin’ for Gatehouse Panto!

The cast of Stafford Gatehouse Theatre’s latest rock ‘n’ roll pantomime have this week arrived safe and sound in the county town and begun rehearsing for Aladdin.

Each of the ten actor-musicians will spend three weeks preparing scenes and learning an array of rock ‘n’ roll classics ready for the opening performance on Thursday 8th December.

This year’s cast are led by Director Robert Salmon and Musical Director Craig Adams. Born in Madeley near Keele, Rob is well-known to local theatre goers having begun his career at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle under Lyme. In recent years, as Associate Director at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, he has also directed several sell-out rock ‘n’ roll pantomimes.

Audiences will be very familiar with Craig as well, following his critically acclaimed work on previous rock ‘n’ roll pantos at the Gatehouse Theatre, as well as Stafford Festival Shakespeare – for which he will be returning again in 2017 for the forthcoming production, The Tempest.

“We are hugely excited to be working with such an incredibly talented cast and creative team again for this season’s panto! It’s only been a week but the show is already looking fantastic, and combined with Deborah Mingham’s brilliant production designs, Aladdin will no doubt prove to be one of our best pantos ever” commented Producer Derrick Gask.

The show is already proving hugely popular, with nearly 11,500 tickets snapped up so far and many performances close to capacity.

“It’s fantastic to see so many people have bought their tickets to celebrate the festive season with us. However, I would encourage anyone intending to come and see the show to book their tickets soon to avoid missing out on their performance of choice” concluded Gask.

This dazzling panto will be filled with a storming line up of classic rock ‘n’ roll hits from Aretha Franklin, The Monkees, James Brown, The Temptations, The Jackson Five, and many more!

Tickets are great value for all the family – priced at £19 for adults, £15 for concessions and family tickets are just £62. Saver tickets are also available for the opening week and the New Year.
Group rates and school rates are also available – more information on both can be obtained by calling the box office on 01785 619080.

There is also a British sign language interpreted performance on Sunday 18th December at 2.30pm.
For those who want to rock ‘n’ roll without the kids there are two late night adult only performances to beat those New Year blues! The special performances are at 9pm on the 5th and 6th January 2017 and are for strictly for over 18s only. Tickets for the late night shows are just £15 and sell out fast so early booking is advised to avoid disappointment. Tickets for Friday 6th January 2017 are already extremely limited.

Aladdin opens on Thursday 8th December 2016 and runs until Sunday 8th January 2017. Tickets can be booked by calling the box office on 01785 619080 or by visiting www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk

Stafford Festival Shakespeare gearing up for a magical production with 2017 play

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre management have announced that the production for Stafford Festival Shakespeare (SFS) 2017 will be The Tempest.

The creative team behind last year’s acclaimed production of Othello – Director Clare Prenton, Music Director Craig Adams, and Production Designer Frances Collier – will reunite to showcase another Shakespearean masterpiece!

Acknowledged as Shakespeare’s final solo play, The Tempest is widely celebrated as one of Shakespeare’s most enchanting works. It follows the story of Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, who becomes stranded on a largely uninhabited island where music, magic and supernatural creatures provide a strange education for him and his young daughter, Miranda. Twelve years have passed and Prospero has acquired some rough magic & self-taught mysticism as well as protecting his daughter from his wild slave, Caliban. 

When Prospero's magic (with the help of his sprite, Ariel) causes a shipwreck, mayhem ensues in the course of one incredible day. Miranda falls in love with the shipwrecked Prince Ferdinand, murder plots are formed then abandoned, finally Prospero is reconciled with the brother who usurped him and all head safely home to Italy.

It’s a storm in a tea cup - but the SFS team will have everyone back home safe and sound in no time.
This twentieth century production is set against the backdrop of the glamour and elegance of the 1930s – the golden age of luxury cruise liners, Hollywood glamour and the dying days of vaudeville – all from a small Italian occupied island off the coast of Somalia.

“We are delighted to announce that SFS 2017 will feature one of The Bard’s works that has not been performed at Stafford Castle for many years” commented Producer Derrick Gask.

“It’s also great to welcome back Clare and the acclaimed creative team behind last year’s show for another exciting production. We have some fantastic, revolutionary ideas in the pipeline so keep your eyes peeled for some more announcements very soon”    

The Tempest will open on Thursday 22nd June and run until Saturday 8th July 2017 at Stafford Castle. Established in 1991, Stafford Festival Shakespeare has fast become one of Europe's largest open air Shakespeare productions.

For the first time in its 27 year, SFS 2017 will also feature a Sunday performance on 25th June at 5pm.

Next year’s production will once again be performed against the striking background of Stafford Castle, in a purpose-built auditorium under the stars.

Tickets will be available from Friday 11th November at 9.30am. Early Bird Tickets are available until January 31st 2017.

The early bird offer saves £3 per ticket on selected performances.

Full information can be obtained from the box office on 01785 619080 or by visiting the new website, www.staffordfestivalshakespeare.com