RGM productions has announced the full cast for the West End première of The Hunting of the Snark, a brand-new family musical inspired by the creator of Alice in Wonderland’s beloved classic poem. From the lead producer of the international smash hit musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical, The Hunting of the Snark made its world première in Cardiff at the Sherman Theatre last year followed by a run at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Gemma Colclough directs Will Bryant (The Baker & The Bandernatch), Ben Galpin (The Bellman), Jordan Leigh-Harris (Boy), Simon Turner (The Banker) and Polly Smith (The Butcher). This family musical adventure opens at the Vaudeville Theatre on 28 July, with previews from the 26 July and runs until 2 September. Following the West End run the show will continue a national tour around the country from 25 September to 19 November.
All aboard! The ship is departing! All children, animals and silly people welcome!
The impossible voyage of an improbable crew to hunt an imaginary creature is brought magically to life in this sparkling musical comedy adventure for 4 to 94 year olds.
Enter the imaginative world of Alice in Wonderland creator, Lewis Carroll, in this brand new, highly original, ultra-modern adaptation inspired by his beloved classic poem.
This show features five high-energy actors, a life-like puppet, fantastical characters, and lashings of daft humour.
A riotous ragtag gang of bold adventurers including The Boy, The Banker, The Butcher, The Baker, The Bellman and The Knitting Beaver set off on a quest to catch the mythical Snark… on the journey they encounter the Jub Jub Bird, the sly Bandersnatch and the dastardly Boojum… Can a Snark be caught with soap? Will the Beaver escape the hungry Butcher’s clutches? Will the Baker remember his name? Does anyone know what a Snark actually looks like?
Side-splittingly funny, joyful, fast-paced and bursting with a soundtrack of witty songs by an award-winning songwriter, The Hunting of the Snark will delight, excite and entertain.
Annabel Wigoder is a graduate of the Royal Court Young Writers programme and Studio Group. She has a diploma in Script Development from the NFTS affiliated Script Factory and an MA in Creative Writing. Her short plays have been staged at Theatre 503, Southwark Playhouse, Riverside Studios, Soho Theatre and The Old Red Lion.
Gareth Cooper is a writer and performer, specialising in musical comedy (with some stand-up, sketch and poetry thrown in for good measure). From 2008-13, he wrote and performed with award winning, critically acclaimed sketch group, Delete the Banjax, and now splits his time between acting, writing and stand-up. His recent acting work includes Three Keepers, Dracula and the award-winning short film, The Three of Us, for which he also wrote the title track. In addition, in 2016 Gareth came second in the International Songwriting Competiton (Comedy category).
Will Bryant will play The Baker & the Bandernatch. His theatre credits include, Incident at Vichy (Finborough Theatre, Kings Head Theatre), The Lost Boy: Peter Pan (Catford Broadway Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (International tour), Dracula (UK tour), Rope (Brockley Jack Theatre); The Shakespeare Conspiracy (Chelsea Theatre), Hound (Riverside Studios Hammersmith) and Othello (The White Bear Theatre). Film credits include Tenants (Sophistic), The Last Day, Nightshade, On Seeing, Kindness and All Seasons Burn in Hell.
Ben Galpin plays The Bellman. For theatre his credits include Potted Sherlock (Vaudeville Theatre), The Tempest (Thick As Thieves), Twelfth Night (Open Bar Theatre), A Christmas Carol (Open Book Theatre), Bite-Size Plays (St James Theatre) and Romy & Julian (Vienna’s English Theatre).
Jordan Leigh-Harris plays Boy. She previously performed in The Hunting of the Snark at the Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Polly Smith plays The Butcher. Theatre credits include Table Manners (UK tour), Sleighed to Death (UK tour), Portrait of Murder (Devonshire Park, Eastbourne), Secondary Cause of Death (UK tour), Helga Philby (UK tour), A Bedfull of Foreigners (UK tour), Daisy Pulls it Off, Love’s A Luxury and A Touch of Danger (UK tour), Titus Andronicus and Henry VI part 1 (The Rose Playhouse, Bankside).
Simon Turner plays The Banker. His previous credits include Blood Brothers (Phoenix Theatre), The Railway Children (UK Tour), Aladdin (Carriageworks Theatre, Lovegrove Theatre), A Body To Die(t) For (Landor Theatre), Henry VI Part 1 (The Rose Theatre, Bankside), That’s Love (The Mill at Sonning), Jazz in Club Class (Waterside Arts Theatre), The Gamblers, Blue Remembered Hills (Crescent Theatre, Birmingham) and Frank and Dean in Legends (UK Tour).
Gemma Colclough directs. She has been Artistic Director of Idle Hands Productions since 2007, and Associate Director of the Rose Theatre since 2008. Her credits include The Last Great Lady (Strawberry Hill House, Twickenham), The Beat My Time Machine Skipped (Soho Theatre, Blast Off!), If A Ten Ton Truck (Theatre 503), NewsRevue (Canal Café Theatre, Run 1 and 5, 2012), The View From Here (Theatre 503, RWR), My Love (Lion & Unicorn Theatre for Giant Olive) and Titus Andronicus (The Rose Theatre, Bankside).
Ambassadors Theatre summer season of musicals to feature
‘The Adventures of Pinocchio’
and
‘13 The Musical’
Following their triumphant sold-out gala fundraising concert of The Color Purple last Sunday featuring major stars from shows including Dreamgirls, the British Theatre Academy today announces a double bill of musicals this summer at London’s Ambassadors Theatre.
The Adventures of Pinocchio, with Music and Lyrics by Neil Bartram, Book by Brian Hill, directed by Bronagh Langan (Promises Promises, Southwark Playhouse) will run from Friday July 28 – Thursday 31 August.
13 The Musical, with Music and Lyrics by Tony Award-winning Jason Robert Brown, (Parade, The Last Five Years, Bridges of Madison County) and Book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn, directed and choreographed by Ewan Jones, will play Wednesday 16 August – Wednesday 23 August. 13 The Musical is a youth production presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe).
This season follows the success of previous BTA summer shows, The Secret Garden at the Ambassadors Theatre in 2016 and Annie Jr, which smashed box office records at the Arts Theatre in 2015. Those shows gave over 500 youngsters the chance to act for the first time in the West End.
Producer Matthew Chandler of the BTA said:
“The Color Purple in Concert at Cadogan Hall on Sunday was an unforgettable night for the audience and for our youngsters getting to perform alongside stars from the West End and Broadway. It is has been an incredible year for the BTA and to date all our productions and concerts have given 1,500 children the chance to perform on the West End stage. For our summer season, more than 2,000 young people auditioned for The Adventures of Pinocchio and over 1,000 teenagers for 13 The Musical. In total we have 17 teams of actors performing The Adventures of Pinocchio and 3 teams perfoming 13 The Musical.This is a fantastic opportunity for all the youngsters involved.”
The Adventures of Pinocchio
Written by the Broadway and Disney writing duo Neil Bartram and Brian Hill (The Story of My Life, Bedknobs and Broomsticks), this family musical is based on Carlo Collodi’s classic tale of a wooden puppet longing to be a real boy. Carved out of wood by the lonely toymaker Geppetto, Pinocchio tumbles from one disastrous situation to another in search of adventure—only to discover that, in the end, all he really needs is an unselfish heart and the love of his father. Based on Carlo Collodi’s classic tale, this family musical illuminates the bond between parents and children in a magical performance that is sure to enchant audiences of all ages!
13 The Musical
An original musical with music and lyrics by Tony Award-winning composer, Jason Robert Brown, (Parade, The Last Five Years, Bridges of Madison County) and book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn, it premiered on Broadway in 2008 and is the only Broadway musical ever with a cast and band entirely made of teenagers.
13 The Musical is an hilarious, coming-of-age musical about discovering that “cool” is sometimes where we least expect it. Geek. Poser. Jock. Beauty Queen. Wannabe. These are the labels that can last a lifetime. With an unforgettable rock score, 13 The Musical is a musical about fitting in – and standing out! Evan Goldman is plucked from his fast-paced, preteen New York City life and plopped into a sleepy Indiana town following his parents divorce. Surrounded by an array of simpleminded middle school students, he needs to establish his place in the popularity pecking order. Can he situate himself on a comfortable link of the food chain… or will he dangle at the end with the outcasts?!
Composed of a precocious cast, no character in 13 is older than the show’s title.The cast is comprised entirely of teenagers, but the stories that come to life here are ageless, the emotions they explore timeless, the laughter and the memories they provide priceless.
The British Theatre Academy is a unique performing arts programme that has inspired and nurtured the talent of thousands of young performers over the past 30 years! We believe that children should be trained as professionals by professionals. Our team maintains an established link with casting directors, music producers, and talent agents across the world. We are passionate about releasing the individual skill and flair of each student in all aspects of their chosen field. Our experienced creative team provide exceptional training and are dedicated in preparing and inspiring our students at the highest level. Last Summer the BTA brought The Secret Garden and Godspell into the West End where over 500 outstanding cast members wowed the audiences all summer long and performed alongside musical theatre stars Kerry Ellis, Ramin Karimlooo and George Maguire.
THE ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO
Wednesday 28 July – Wednesday 30 August
Tickets from £12.50
Running time: 1 hour 15 mins (no interval)
13 THE MUSICAL
Wednesday 16 August Wednesday – 23 August
Tickets from £12.50
Running time: 1 hour 45 mins (no interval)
Ambassadors Theatre West Street LONDON WC2H 9ND
Box Office: 020 7395 5405
For full details of performance times and prices please visit:
