Exciting Sheffield/Leicester Seasons

[AddisonMizner]

"Artistic director Daniel Evans has announced his new season at Sheffield Theatres, with highlights including a new play from Mike Bartlett, revivals of DH Lawrence's The Daughter-in-Law and Alan Bennett's History Boys and premiere of Tim Firth’s new musical This Is My Family.

[...]

Rounding off the new season is the premiere of This is My Family, a new musical comedy by Tim Firth (Calendar Girls) and directed by Evans.

Running from 24 June to 20 July (previews from 20 June), the show centres on a teenager who enters a writing competition to win a holiday for her dysfunctional family. Is there any place on earth she could take them that might make a difference?

This is My Family will star: Bill Champion (Steve), Janie Dee (Yvonne), Evelyn Hoskins (Nicky), Terence Keeley (Matt), Rachel Lumberg (Sian) and Sian Phillips (May).

Daniel Evans said: “I feel honoured to be able to collaborate with two of the most popular writers of our time, Tim Firth and Simon Beaufoy, both of whom seem able to make us laugh and cry in equal measure.”"

The full article is below, with more details on the other shows included in Sheffield's Spring/Summer 2013 Season:

http://www.whatsonstage.com/news/theatre/london/E8831351848693/Sheffield+stages+History+Boys+revival+%26+Firth%27s+new+Family+musical.html


It's good to see regional theatre getting behind original work. If only London would follow suit with shows like this.


* * *


In other regional theatre news, the Curve Theatre in Leicester are to present new productions of "Piaf" and "The Hired Man" in their studio theatre:

"Piaf": http://www.curveonline.co.uk/curve.php?view=showinfo.php&showid=404

"The Hired Man": http://www.curveonline.co.uk/curve.php?view=showinfo.php&showid=445

[FrontRowDress]

Would love to know who is going to be the lead in Piaf at Leicester.

[AddisonMizner]

I would also be interested to know who is starring in Leicester's "Piaf".

Regarding "This is My Family", I wonder who is writing the score. Both Tim Firth and Simon Beaufoy are known for their plays and screenplays, but not (I think) for writing music. Unless they are trying their hands at composing for this project? It seems strange they would not announce a songwriter/songwriting team otherwise.

[zyx987]

Piaf is also on at the Bolton Octagon in May.

Given that it's the same director that managed to almost ruin Sweeney Todd my hopes aren't high.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Tim Firth has actually released an album.

[AddisonMizner]

Frances Ruffelle to Play Title Role in "Piaf" at the Leicester Curve according to Baz Bamigboye in the Daily Mail:


"Watch Out For...

Frances Ruffelle, who will take the title role in Piaf, Pam Gems’ play about singer Edith Piaf. The piece, which includes some of her most famous songs, will run at the Curve, Leicester, with Paul Kerryson directing, from February 22.

Ms Ruffelle was the original Eponine in Les Miserables 26 years ago and plays what Cameron Mackintosh described as ‘a lovely whore’ in Tom Hooper’s epic screen version of the musical, released on January 11.

She features in the Lovely Ladies sequence with Anne Hathaway. Les Miz, the stage show, continues at the Queen’s Theatre, London".


Read the full article here (which includes a short review of the "Les Mis" film):

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2240699/Les-Miserables-review-Samantha-Barker-just-heavenly-takes-Eponine-stage-silver-screen.html