Burlesque and variety back on the bill at the MET this spring

Great news, folks! An evening of cheeky decadence is just around the corner with the return of Très Très Cabaret to the MET Studio this Spring!

Audiences will no doubt be bowled over by this glorious line-up for April 6th's incredible show!
First up, making her Très Très debut is retro golden Goddess, CHERRY SHAKEWELL!

A powerhouse of bump and grind, captivating all who cast their eye upon her hourglass figure, Cherry wiggled and whirled for the likes of Colin Farrell, Robert Downey Jnr and David Walliams and her considerable talents have taken her all over the globe from Milan, Rome and Venice to Paris' Moulin Rouge!

Next up, organisers are absolutely delighted to bring the world-famous SARAH-LOUISE YOUNG to the Très Très stage!

Sarah-Louise is an internationally renowned cabaret performer, actress and writer. Named one of Time Out’s ‘Top 10 Cabaret Acts’ and voted ‘Best Musical Variety Act’ in the London Cabaret Awards, she has guested with Fascinating Aïda and is a member of award-winning improvised musical group, The Showstoppers.

Fresh from her performances at La Soiree in London’s West End, Sarah Louise is set to tickle both your fancy and your funny bone – an act definitely not to be missed!

Returning to the Très Très stage but in a very different guise, is GOOD NESS GRACIOUS, but she’ll also be appearing as LUKE WARM!  It’s time to get down to business with one of London’s top Drag Kings!  Hilarious hearthrob Luke is sure to make the audience quiver in places you didn’t know could quiver…

Making his Très Très Cabaret debut, and our first ever male striptease artist: it’s none other than DAVE THE BEAR!

Dave has been performing all over the world since 2009. Last year he was nominated for a London Cabaret Award for ‘Best Alternative Act’ and a British Comedy Award for his work on TV’s ‘8 Out of 10 Cats’. He was also winner of the ‘People’s Choice Award’ at The Vienna Boylesque Festival 2015!

Known in the industry as the body of burlesque, Dave “The Legend” is so sexy, after watching him perform it is guaranteed that you will leave pregnant – and that’s not just the ladies…

All of this personally has been 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, he'll have you

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 you!

So don’t miss out on a night that’s sure to set tongues wagging and pulses racing!

Très Très Cabaret will be performed in The MET Studio at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre on Friday 6th April 2018 at 8pm. Tickets are £15.50 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.

Rock ‘n’ roll panto will return to Gatehouse Theatre this festive season!

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre has announced its next much anticipated rock ‘n’ roll pantomime will be the classic adventure story of boy done-good, Dick Whittington!




The show will open on Thursday 6th December 2018 and run until Sunday 6th January 2019.


This festive season will see Dick Whittington and his trusty friend Tommy the Cat dancing, twisting and singing their way to Stafford in search of fame, fortune and Rock ‘n’ Roll.




Be prepared for the most amazing show in town as Dick dons his guitar, King Rat takes on a Saxophone and a host of incredibly talented actor / musicians strike up the band live on stage for some true rock ‘n’ roll.

Popular hits set to feature in this year’s Panto include blockbusters ‘Single Ladies’, ‘Aint No Mountain High Enough’, ‘Dead Ringer for Love’, ‘Doo Wah Diddy’, ‘Band of Gold’, ‘Tainted Love’, ‘Walking On Sunshine’, ‘Gimme Some Lovin’ and many, many more!




2018 will mark the seventh year since rock ‘n’ roll panto made a successful return to Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, and Press and Marketing Officer Tom Waldron is delighted to see the format continue to go from strength to strength:




“It is with enormous pleasure that I am able to announce news of our next rock ‘n’ roll panto here at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre. Dick Whittington was, in fact, the first rock ‘n’ roll title we produced following the decision to return to the format back in 2011, and we have lots of exciting plans in the works to ensure this panto is our best yet!

“We would like to say a huge thank you to all of our audiences who joined us for the festive celebrations during the run of Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood. We hope to see many of you back at the theatre for some more dancing and singing in the isles later this year during Dick Whittington.”

 

Tickets for Dick Whittington are priced at £20 adult / £15.50 concessions / £66 family. School and

group discounts are also available (full information on these can be obtained from the box office).




Dick Whittington will also see the return of the ever popular late night adult only shows, with three performances scheduled for Wednesday 19th December and Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd January 2019.*



*Early booking for these performances is strongly advised as tickets are again expected to sell out fast.




Tickets can be booked by calling the box office on 01785 619080 or by visiting www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk

New format and new shows for Gatehouse Theatre Summer Project

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre has announced that this year’s Summer School productions will be the Madness Musical, Our House, and Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jnr.

For the first time in the long tradition of Stafford Gatehouse Theatre Summer School, this year will see not one, but two, musical productions starring young performers from the local area.

The new format is titled Stafford Gatehouse Theatre Summer Project, and will see youngsters aged7-12 rehears and perform Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jnr in the MET Studio.

 

Journey "under the sea" with Ariel and her aquatic friends in Disney's The Little Mermaid JR., adapted from Disney's Broadway production and the motion picture (featuring the enormously popular Academy Award-winning music and delightfully charming book and lyrics). Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories, Disney's The Little Mermaid JR. is an enchanting look at the sacrifices we all make for love and acceptance.

In a magical underwater kingdom, the beautiful young mermaid, Ariel, longs to leave her ocean home – and her fins – behind and live in the world above. But first, she'll have to defy her father, King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, and convince the handsome Prince Eric that she's the girl whose enchanting voice he's been seeking.

Elsewhere, performers aged 13-21 will take on the Madness Musical Our House in the main auditorium.

Based in 1980s Camden Town, Our House tells the story of London lad Joe Casey, who, on the night of his sixteenth birthday, takes Sarah, the girl of his dreams, out on their first date. In an effort to impress her with bravado, he breaks into a building site overlooking his home on Casey Street, which is owned by Mister Pressman, a high-end property developer. The police turn up, at which point Joe’s life splits into two: the Good Joe, who stays to help, and Bad Joe, who flees.

Featuring a collection of Madness hits including ‘House of Fun’, ‘Baggy Trousers’, ‘Driving in my Car’, ‘It Must Be Love’ and of course ‘Our House’, the show is a huge hit with groups and schools looking for a very British musical.

In addition to rehearsing the show, the lucky youngsters will also take part in workshops covering all they need to know about the theatrical world.

Press and Marketing Officer at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Tom Waldron, said:

“We had great success with last year’s Summer School production of Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, with audiences loving the show and most performances close to capacity. However, following some feedback from parents and participants, we wanted to shake things up a bit this year. So we have decided to stage two separate, professionally produced and directed shows. This will give all participants more one-on-one time with the creative team during rehearsals, as well as more time spent on stage during the show.

“Summer School is a fantastic way for young performers to build confidence, learn new skills and also make friends for life. I hope to see as many hopefuls as possible in attendance for the audition day on Sunday 22nd April.”

The Summer School sessions will start on Monday 23rd July, with the production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jnr opening on Wednesday 1st and running until Saturday 4th August in the MET Studio, and the production of Our House opening on Wednesday 8th and running until Saturday 11th August in the main auditorium.

Limited places will be available and the only way to gain a place in this year’s production is to audition on Sunday 22nd April. The auditions will take place at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, with the first session at 9.30am for 7-12 year olds, followed by a session at 2pm for 13 – 21 year olds.


Summer School places are available for youngsters aged between 7 and 21 who live in or attend a school in Staffordshire. Previous years have seen over 120 children battle it out for one of the lucky spaces.


Parents of auditionees will need to have in place at the time of the audition a valid enhanced DBS licence* (dated within the last three years). *Please note this is non-refundable


The Summer Project fee for participants aged 7-12 is £180, and for participants aged 13-21 is £237. There are also some limited concessions for those on means tested benefits (proof will be required). For further information please call Stafford Gatehouse Theatre on 01785 619080 or visit www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk

For more information about DBS or Chaperone licences, contact EW.statutoryactions@staffordshire.gov.uk or call 01785 278927 / 01785 277409