BEST MAGAZINEMcNAUGHTONREVIEW 2006

‘A good ambassadorfor theatremagazines’

5

T H E A T R E | S T Y L E | F O O D

The Ambassador Theatre Group

Plus...

Michael Frayn

Festive fun with Tintin & Snowy

Office party - sorted

Little black dresses

Denise Van OutenRent remixed

GreaseYoung and gifted

Pantomime special Kim and AggieNigel HaversPaul Michael Glaser

Winter 2007

Autumn HighlightsPick of the crop this season

Getting the theatre message

across to young people has

always been a challenge but

social networks - both real and

virtual - are the key to spreading

entertainment news among

young individuals. Young people

live in a world where fluid

cross-fertilisation between

creative media - cartoons, visual

art, theatre, TV, film and games

- is commonplace. This Autumn,

the Ambassador Group pays

tribute to this fertile eclecticism

with a programme that will

appeal to the young.

Rent - opening at the Duke

of York’s Theatre this October is

a prime example of using media

crossover to benefit theatre

attendances. Some of the biggest

names in pop culture have been

assembled to create this new

production including William

Baker, the creative director

behind Kylie Minogue and the

visionary behind some of the

most iconic pop images of recent

years. In a canny career shift,

Baker now directs Denise van

Outen in a remixed version of

the Broadway hit musical Rent -

based on Puccini’s La Boheme.

He’s clearly aiming to appeal to

the ipod generation - for the first

time in West End history ATG

has adopted a £30 stalls general

admission policy similar to gigs

and concerts, and profiles for

the musical appear on social

networking sites such as

Myspace and Facebook, with

click-throughs to Ambassador’s

own ticketing website.

Over at the Piccadilly, the

new generation of musical stars

are having a ball in the ultimate

high school musical Grease.

Danny Bayne and Susan

McFadden were plucked from

youthful obscurity to play Sandy

and Danny and they now make

the live performances sparkle

night after night. ITV’s Grease

is the Word provided exposure

to a Saturday night prime-time

audience composed mainly of

young people. Like it or not,

Saturday night reality TV is

the new family viewing.

Back into the West End

just in time for Christmas

following a storming Autumn

tour is the acclaimed stage

version of Hergé’s Adventures

of Tintin. Colourful, imaginative,

funny, ingenious, energetic -

it’s everything that a large

scale theatrical spectacle

for young people should be

with the added distinction

of having genuine cross-

generational appeal. Expect

plenty of snow in this gripping

adventure set in the high

Himalayas.

And of course, all over the

country this Christmas young

people will be getting their

first taste of a uniquely British

theatre tradition - pantomime.

Some of the biggest names in

entertainment drop in to ATG

theatres for a sparkling bonanza

of festive fun - stars from the

US like Paul Michael Glaser and

Henry Winkler are joined by a

host of home-grown celebrities

from TV and film; the notorious

Kim and Aggie (How Clean is

Your House) in Brighton and the

dapper Nigel Havers in Richmond

plus Ross Kemp and Bobby Davro

in an Eastend-tastic panto

in Wimbledon.

Stop Press: Patrick Kielty stars

in A Night in November at the

Trafalgar Studios from 15 Oct

Photography by

Chris Ridley and

Paul Rider

Love the Look 1

Leggy, blonde, gorgeous

- Denise Van Outen

It’s Electrifying! 3

A dream come true - Grease

Reunion Blues 5

Michael Frayn on

Donkeys’ Years

All Good Fun 7

Kim & Aggie lark

about in panto

Himalayan 9

AdventuresTintin’s spectacular stage show

What’s On 11

in London

On Your Feet! 12

80’s nostalgia in Footloose

A Unique 13

ContributionSaving London’s historic theatres

Competition 14

Fiddler on the Roof

Gifts without Guilt 15

Extravagant, luxurious -

and green!

Front-Row Fashion 16

First night style

Team Time 17

Beano or bun-fight?

The office party

AMBASSADOR GROUP PRODUCTIONS

AMBASSADOR THEATRE GROUP LONDON THEATRES

Comedy Theatre 0870 060 6637 Donmar Warehouse 0870 060 6624 Duke of York’s Theatre 0870 060 6623

Fortune Theatre 0870 060 6626 Phoenix Theatre 0870 060 6629 Piccadilly Theatre 0844 412 6666

Playhouse Theatre 0870 060 6631 Savoy Theatre 0870 164 8787 Trafalgar Studios 0870 060 6632

AMBASSADOR THEATRE GROUP REGIONAL THEATRES

Theatre Royal Brighton 08700 606 650 Churchill Theatre Bromley 0870 060 6620 Kings Theatre Glasgow 0141 240 1111

Theatre Royal Glasgow 0141 240 1133 Milton Keynes Theatre 0870 060 6652 Richmond Theatre 0870 060 6651

Regent Theatre & Victoria Hall Stoke-on-Trent 0870 060 6649 New Wimbledon Theatre & New Wimbledon Studio 0870 060 6646

Ambassadors Cinemas Woking 01483 545945 New Victoria Theatre & Rhoda McGaw Theatre Woking 0870 060 6645

Online booking at www.theambassadors.com

Jessamy Hadley EditorPat Westwell, Jasper Rees, Mark Shenton, Benedict Nightingale, Victoria Kingston, Jonathan Croall, Kirsty WoodfieldBabette Kulik, Neena Dhillon, Debbie Plentie ContributorsSWD Design and Art Direction John Good Print

The Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd 39 - 41 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H OAR

The views expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd.

The Ambassador Theatre Group

T H E AT R E

S T Y L E

F O O D

2

3

1 The Eve Club

2 Grease

3 Footloose

1

Co

ver

ph

oto

gra

ph

yb

y W

illia

m B

aker

1

Interview

The millions of visitors who

wander through Times Square

every year have all seen the face,

and of course the limbs. It’s been

five years since Denise Van Outen

triumphed as Roxie Hart, but the

producers of Chicago are still

using a huge billboard image

of her to promote the show

in New York.

‘I’m told by the American

producers that they love the

image,’ says the proud occupant

of the poster. ‘Apparently Renée

Zellwegger when she was about

to do the movies went through

various pictures, chose mine

and said she loved that look.’

It’s quite a testament to an

actress who, despite attending

stage school and once appearing

in the chorus of Les Miserables,

only fell back on her training

after a disaster in her chosen

career. In the late 1990s Van

Outen became the leggy blonde

poster girl for gobby ladette

culture on The Big Breakfast.

But she took a right turn into

theatre after she found herself

at the helm as the ultimate

incarnation of bad-taste TV

crashed and burned.

Love the LookDenise Van Outen vamps it up in Rent

Interview by

Jasper Rees

Photography by

William Baker

Photograph of Kylie Minogue

and William Baker courtesy

of Rex Features

‘Chicago happened at a time

when I didn’t have any other

work coming in if I’m honest.

I was not employable in TV terms

because I’d worked on Something

for the Weekend, which wasn’t

one of my career highlights.

Being young and a bit naïve, I

wasn’t really aware of the effect

it would have. The networks

didn’t really want me to do

prime time. Every TV presenter

wants to get prime time. But

Channel 4 was always the really

cool channel to be on and you

wanted to be doing the late

night stuff. I wasn’t really

thinking long term, because

you don’t, do you? I was in

my early 20s.’

She had this idea that she

might slip into the cast of

Chicago unnoticed. ‘I didn’t

think this was really going to

change my career. For me it was

a natural thing to do. I had no

idea that people would pay any

attention. I thought I’d just be

able to do it quietly. I walked out

in my preview and there were

flashbulbs going off.’ Then came

New York, and in 2003 Van

Outen came of age as a theatre

performer when she took on the

taxing solo lead in Tell Me On A

Sunday for ten gruelling months.

‘I would have loved to have been

in it for longer. But physically it

was tiring. And there’s only so

many times you can be dumped

and cry before you start to go

home depressed.’

It’s thanks to musical theatre

that she has been able to return

to the televisual fold as an expert

panellist on How Do You

Solve A Problem Like Maria

and Any Dream Will Do, and

as a presenter on Grease Is

The Word in America. But after

four years the time has come

to return to the stage. In Rent

Van Outen joins ex-Sugababe

Siobhan Donaghy to breathe

new life into the hit 90’s New

York musical.

It is directed by William Baker,

who was the creative director

behind Kylie Minogue and the

visionary behind some of the

most iconic pop images of

recent years.

Taking its inspiration from

La Boheme, Jonathan Larson’s

raunchy tale of Lower East Side

Bohemians has been given a

facelift. Baker took to the

challenge with a missionary

determination. ‘A lot of musicals

in the West End are so uncool,’

he says. ‘When it was created

Rent was a piece of cutting edge

theatre. I just felt that the look

of it and the sound of it held the

show back. You can do so much

more with a powerful orchestral

pop score. I don’t like electric

guitars at all. You’re limited

to a particular rock sound. The

characters are not alien to me.

I’ve reworked them to bring it

up to date, which is what Rent

was supposed to be when it

came out. And when I cast it

I looked for people that had

inherent traits of the characters

within them.’

Van Outen plays Maureen,

a gobby bisexual performance

artist. ‘It’s quite a belty part,’

she says. ‘Maureen definitely

hasn’t got the vulnerability

and soft edge that Roxie has or

my character in Tell Me On A

Sunday. She’s a bit of a tough

woman. I can be tough when I

want to be. I’m starting to walk

around with a bit of attitude.

I walked to and from rehearsals

and I live in Hampstead, which

is a long walk, just to get my

fitness levels up, and I marched

like Maureen. I’m from Essex.

I’m tough. It makes a change.

I’m normally in stilettos.’

‘For me Chicago was a natural thing to do. I had no idea that people would

pay any attention. I thought I’d just be able to do it quietly. I walked out in

my preview and there were flashbulbs going off.’

Below: Luke Evans

and Siobhan Donaghy

Duke of York’s Theatre

RentRemixed for the 21st century

starring Denise Van Outen

directed by William Baker

Box Office 0870 060 6623

Online booking at

www.theambassadors.com

Kylie Minogue and William Baker

3

Interview

Actors may welcome the

spotlight but one of the hardest

things for them to accept is the

constant competition they are

subjected to before they ‘arrive’.

Nowhere has this been more

publicly amplified than in the

‘search for a West End star’

reality TV programmes over the

last two summers. For the new

production of Grease, now

playing at the Piccadilly Theatre,

it was the public who finally

decided that 19-year-old Danny

Bayne and 24-year-old Susan

McFadden were the ones they

wanted as the iconic figures of

Danny and Sandy.

‘I did the first audition on my

birthday, which was in February -

I remember spending it in the

freezing rain queueing up

outside a hotel’, recalls Susan

of the process that culminated

in a June TV show Grease is the

Word, ‘it was quite a long haul.’

Danny agrees: ‘The normal way

of auditioning is a lot shorter!’

This is borne out by Siobhan

Dillon, who is now Susan’s

understudy and who also plays

the role of Patty Simcox in the

production. She managed to get

It’s Electrifying!Backstage with the ambitious young stars of the West End hit Grease

Interview by

Mark Shenton

Photography by

Alessandro Pinna

4

down to the last three in last

year’s search for a Maria in The

Sound of Music, a process that

took the best part of six months;

whereas for Grease, she says,

‘I got called in to do an acting

and singing audition on the

Wednesday, was called back to

dance on Thursday, before being

offered the part on Friday - it

all happened in just three days!’

Siobhan points out that the

regular audition process is harder

as a result; ‘You only have ten

minutes to show what you can

do - whereas on TV, every week

you’ve got the chance to prove

something else!’

Now, of course, each has the

crucial job of proving themselves

live every night. It helps that the

audience are already on their

side, because they voted for

them: as Danny comments,

‘You know that you’ve got that

backing, and the exposure leads

to you having a kind of fan base,

so it’s really nice.’

Not that Danny, who oozes

self-assurance, doubts his own

talent - but neither does he

consider himself to have become

a ‘star’ in the process. ‘I don’t

see myself as a West End star -

yes, I am playing a lead role but

it’s only the start of my career.

I know that I am only young,

but I have so many goals for

myself that I set at a young age,

and I want to hit them all.’

Susan, who moved to London

two years ago hoping to break

into musical theatre after some

success at home in her native

Ireland, has also arrived at the

place she has been aiming for.

‘I worked a lot in Ireland and

went from job to job, but had

to give it up and start again from

the bottom here. I found an

agent and started auditioning,

and would get quite far each

time I did but didn’t get the part.

You have to have a thick skin

to get through it all.’

Then the Grease competition

came up, and she admits she

was initially reluctant, ‘but in

the end, I had been here for

just over a year, and I didn’t

know how much longer I could

keep trying - and this was an

opportunity, so why not take it?’

With her more famous brother

Brian - a member of the pop

group Westlife - she had gone

to stage school from the age of

four, so it was something she

was destined to do. ‘To get a

lead role in a West End show is

amazing - it has been a dream

of mine since I was a child. And

to have gone through what we

went through to get here makes

it even more amazing - the public

want me to be here, and that

means a lot more than being

chosen by a panel of producers.’

Having voted them into the

parts, the public are now voting

with their wallets and buying

record numbers of tickets. And

Danny thinks that the process

that has brought them there is

its own endorsement: ‘People

like Simon Cowell in The X Factor

are always going on about how

there are no stars around

anymore, and you’ve got to use

these shows to find people. I’ve

trained for this since I was eight

years old. So I was ready!’

No wonder he’s a winner -

he’s totally winning in person.

But how does he feel for those

that didn’t? ‘I can’t say I felt

sorry for the others because

it’s what I always wanted, but

obviously I gave my regards to

them, and when they came to

watch, they were over the

moon that I’d got it - there

was no bitterness.’

‘To get a lead role in a West End show is

amazing - it has been a dream of mine since I

was a child. And to have gone through what

we went through to get here makes it even

more amazing - the public want me to be here’

Piccadilly Theatre

Greasestarring Danny Bayne

and Susan McFadden

Box Office 0844 412 6666

Online booking at

www.theambassadors.com

5

Interview

When Michael Frayn was an

undergraduate at Cambridge’s

Emanuel College, he wrote a

column in the university

newspaper involving the

misadventures of an archetypally

dim student called John Plod.

This didn’t go down well with

his contemporaries, who decided

to punish him by throwing him

into the college pond.

‘The rugby club and the boat

club were so drunk that I heard

them coming - so I sported my

oak and kept my door shut,’

recalls Frayn in his wry, affable

way. ‘But then the history club

had their annual dinner and they

were slightly less drunk and

managed to get in before I heard

them and, yes, they threw me in.

It was humiliating. It would have

been slightly heroic to be

attacked by the boat club, but

the history club! It was like

being savaged by sheep.’

But as rampaging behaviour

goes, that scarcely compares with

the hubbub that ensues when

ageing graduates assemble for

a reunion at one of Oxbridge’s

‘lesser colleges’ in Frayn’s

Donkeys’ Years, the comedy

ReunionBluesPlaywright Michael Frayn remembers his undergraduate days

Interview by

Benedict Nightingale

Main photograph

courtesy of Rex Features

Production photograph

by Hugo Glendinning

6

that received its premiere

production in 1976, was

successfully revived in the West

End last year, and is now on

national tour. As the dramatist

remembers, it was inspired by

exactly such an ‘old members’

gathering’ at Emanuel itself.

It was surprising that he

went to it at all. He’d ignored

his college for the heady world

of undergraduate journalism,

literature and dramatics:

publishing articles and stories,

guest-editing Granta, writing

sketches for the annual

Footlights revue and getting a

degree in ‘moral sciences’, as

Cambridge calls its philosophy

major. Though he’s now an

honorary fellow, he hadn’t left

his address with Emanuel and so

didn’t know about the reunion

until he was rung up by one of

his few college friends, ‘a man

who I thought went into the

foreign service but actually

joined MI6, which wasn’t

surprising, since he was very

clever and loved deceit for

its own sake’.

His friend agreed that the

reunion would probably be dire,

but said that he and Frayn could

remain on the fringes, having a

laugh together: ‘But of course

he didn’t turn up, and there I

was at this gathering that was

pretty much as I imagined. But

there was a lot of port and

the next day I had the worst

hangover I’ve ever had before

or afterwards. I’ve never touched

a drop of the stuff since.’ Still,

that absentee friend was

commemorated in the pivotal

but elusive character of Roddy,

the glamorous graduate who

still obsesses his contemporaries,

but never actually appears in

Donkeys’ Years.

Frayn found it ‘agony’ to leave

the university. He quotes a friend

who had been so successful as

an undergraduate actor that

subsequently reaching the

heights in British advertising

seemed second-best: ‘You’re

never so famous as when you’re

at Cambridge.’ And the pain

was redoubled when he came

from Rome, where he’d spent an

idyllic summer with a girlfriend,

to start at the bottom on The

Guardian in Manchester.

What he mainly remembers

about that city is that it rained

and rained. But he enjoyed

his reporting and, even more,

writing the gloriously comical

columns that first made his

name and are now being

reprinted, along with the articles

about Cuba, Israel and other

places he later wrote for The

Observer. Novels followed,

and eventually plays.

Since his Footlights days

he’s written one of the funniest

farces ever in Noises Off and two

brilliantly rich and subtle plays

in Copenhagen and Democracy,

which are respectively about

Heisenberg, Bohr and the

A-bomb and the Stasi spy

who infiltrated Willy Brandt’s

government. And, in a curious

way, there’s a link between these

very different pieces. As Frayn

agrees, they all show people

attempting and failing to make

sense of inscrutable events and

impose order on the complexities

of life.

So Donkeys’ Years, which is

about chaos in high places and

on high tables, hasn’t dated.

If anything, it’s almost more

topical than in 1976, when it

seemed merely absurd that the

college Master’s wife, a character

originally played by Penelope

Keith, could be chairing a Royal

Commission on Obesity. Indeed,

Frayn has made only one major

change, and that involves the

episode in which a doctor

somehow sedates a beserk

graduate while himself suffering

from a hangover and trying to

see through one eye, since the

other has been blackened and

closed: ‘In the original version

it occurred offstage. What

was I thinking of? Offstage!

I can’t believe I missed such

an opportunity, Anyway, it

happens onstage now’.

Recently Frayn finished

another play, though he won’t

yet say anything about its

subject-matter or theatrical

prospects. And after that? Well,

in theory there could be more

plays, novels or even books on

philosophy, like his recently

published The Human Touch.

But he’s 74 and, he says, sort

of retired. ‘On the other hand,

I’m self-employed and how

can you retire when you

haven’t actually got a job?

So we’ll see.’

‘They threw me in. It was humiliating. It would

have been slightly heroic to be attacked by the

boat club, but the history club! It was like being

savaged by sheep.’

The cast of Donkeys’ Years

Donkeys’ Yearsby Michael Frayn

Starring Sara Crowe,

Ian Lavender, Norman Pace

and Patrick Ryecart

Churchill Theatre, Bromley

22 - 27 Oct

Box Office 0870 060 6620

Regent Theatre,

Stoke-on-Trent

5 - 10 Nov

Box Office 0870 060 6649

Theatre Royal, Glasgow

12 - 17 Nov

Box Office 0141 240 1133

Online booking at

www.theambassadors.com

Interview

7

Pantomime is not just our oldest

and most traditional form of

theatre, it’s also the most

colourful - and this year, the

Ambassador Theatre Group has

gathered together a kaleidoscope

of stars to grace stages around

the country; Paul Michael Glaser

(Starsky - swoon - for those of us

who used to love our weekly

fix of Starsky and Hutch in the

seventies); Nigel Havers (running

slow-motion through the sand in

Chariots of Fire); Henry Winkler

(TV’s Happy Days) reviving his

hugely acclaimed sell-out

performance as Captain Hook in

Woking and those TV divas Kim

and Aggie who march into dirty

homes and get them ship-shape

in the compellingly camp series

How Clean is Your House?

Paul Michael Glaser is exactly

the strong silent type we would

expect - perfect for Captain Hook.

Though he did some singing and

dancing in the movie Fiddler on

the Roof, he has never danced

on stage and has never seen a

panto. ‘But I am excited at the

challenge. I haven’t analysed

Hook’s inner personality, nor

done much preparation yet.

All Good FunSparkle, magic, larking about - it’s panto!

Interviews by

Victoria Kingston

8

Theatre Royal, Brighton

CinderellaStarring Kim & Aggie

and Laura Hamilton

7 Dec 2007 - 6 Jan 2008

Box Office 08700 606 650

New Victoria Theatre, Woking

Peter PanStarring Henry Winkler, Clare

Buckfield, and Andy Collins

7 Dec 2007 - 13 Jan 2008

Box Office 0870 060 6645

Milton Keynes Theatre

AladdinStarring Bradley Walsh

and Eric Potts

7 Dec 2007 - 20 Jan 2008

Box Office 0870 060 6652

Churchill Theatre, Bromley

Peter PanStarring Paul Michael Glaser

30 Nov 2007 - 13 Jan 2008

Box Office 0870 060 6620

New Wimbledon Theatre

Snow White and the Seven DwarfsStarring Ross Kemp

and Bobby Davro

7 Dec 2007 - 20 Jan 2008

Box Office 0870 060 6646

Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent

CinderellaStarring Jonathan Wilkes,

Shobna Gulati, Louise Dearman

and Andy Goulding

13 Dec 2007 - 13 Jan 2008

Box Office 0870 060 6649

Kings Theatre, Glasgow

Sleeping BeautyStarring Gerard Kelly, Karen

Dunbar and Dawn Steele

30 Nov 2007 - 12 Jan 2008

Box Office 0870 060 6648

Richmond Theatre

CinderellaStarring Nigel Havers

and Paul Zerdin

7 Dec 2007 - 20 Jan 2008

Box Office 0870 060 6651

I’m in at the deep end, but it’s

going to be wonderful.’

Best known for the

phenomenally successful TV

cop series Starsky and Hutch,

Paul didn’t hope for much at its

outset. ‘I never thought it would

make a whole series when I saw

the pilot,’ he laughs. ‘I took the

role because I wanted to see

some footage of myself on TV!

When it took off, I was both

mystified and terrified. Being a

so-called celebrity is intoxicating,

but also terrifying.’

The theatre is much more

down to earth. ‘Well, it is the

actor’s medium. What’s not to

like? You’re face to face with

the audience and you have a

very immediate and intimate

experience with them. Nobody

gets in between.’ I warn him

this will be particularly true in

panto, with booing and hissing.

‘That’s what I’ve heard - and I

will do my best to give them

good reason to boo and hiss.’

One member of the audience

at The Churchill, Bromley will

be Paul’s former partner in

crime, David Soul, who played

the smoothie Hutch. ‘Oh sure,

he’ll be out there. It’ll be great

to see him again.’

Another heart-throb in panto

at Richmond Theatre this year

is Nigel Havers, who will play

the well-meaning Baron, father

to Cinderella. Nigel has graced

our screens as a charming

aristocrat for several decades

(in real life, he is the younger

son of a Lord). He played a

murdering con-man in the TV

series The Charmer. ‘Yes, he was

a nasty piece of work. Quite

unrepentant - winking at the

camera.’ He has also played

numerous doctors. ‘I was in

the theatre audience once

and someone needed a doctor

urgently - everyone looked at

me. No, I said. I am definitely

not a doctor!’

In a career that has been

full-on since he started, Nigel

recently married and took a few

months off. ‘The first time ever

I’ve done that. It was wonderful

and I feel I never want to work

again. But I must!’ Is that, I ask

him, because of some internal

drive? ‘No,’ he says emphatically.

‘At this stage in my life, I’ll do

things if they’re enjoyable. And

this panto will be. I’ll have fun

with the Ugly Sisters - whether

it’s in the script or not. I shall

make sure of that. I shall lark

about really - and hope

everyone has a good time.’

Two Ugly Sisters determined

to have a good time in Brighton

this Christmas are Kim Woodburn

and Aggie Mackenzie, famous

for giving owners of dirty houses

hell. Kim was previously a high-

class housekeeper for a wealthy

Sheikh and Aggie is a successful

journalist. They enjoy a cult

following - mobbed wherever

they go. But why are such

glamorous ladies playing ugly

women? It doesn’t seem right.

‘This is an obvious role for

us to play,’ says Aggie.

Kim leans forward

conspiratorially. ‘I’m

gorgeous but Aggie

is a perfect Ugly Sister.

She’s had so much surgery to

her face, don’t let her fool you!’

We all break into loud laughter,

and Aggie continues undeterred.

‘I’ve never done anything on

stage - never learned a line.

But you know, I shall just do

my best and have a laugh.’

They’re obviously naturals.

Both Kim and Aggie have busy

lives and elements that destroy

the house beautiful. Aggie has

teenage children and Kim has

a strong-willed cat with no

remorse about leaving hairs

everywhere. So they wouldn’t

welcome a visit from the How

Clean is Your House team in their

own homes? They glance at each

other, horrified. ‘You’re damn

right I wouldn’t like it,’ says

Aggie. ‘If Kim and Aggie came

over, I would just keep all the

doors shut.’ Kim is equally

adamant. ‘If Kim and Aggie said

they were coming to my house,

I’d lock up the house and go

on holiday!’ Watch out Cinders

and watch out Brighton!

‘At this stage in my life, I’ll do things if they’re

enjoyable. And this panto will be. I’ll have fun

with the Ugly Sisters - whether it’s in the script

or not. I shall make sure of that. I shall lark

about really - and hope everyone has a

good time.’ Nigel Havers

Sponsored by

STOP PRESS!Ross Kemp, who played Grant

Mitchell, one of TV’s most

loved characters, joins Bobby

Davro for an Eastend-tastic

panto at the New Wimbledon

Theatre this Christmas!

9

Interview

The show is over, but the

company lingers on: it’s feedback

time at the Oxford Playhouse.

Having enjoyed a thrilling

matinee performance of Hergé’s

Adventures of Tintin, children

from the audience have gathered

eagerly in the front of the stalls,

ready to put their questions to

the actors, who sit before them

on the edge of the stage.

Many of the questions were

about the mechanics of this

huge theatrical speactacle, with

special reference to the Yeti,

aka the Abominable Snowman.

Was there a man inside? How

was the effect of his footprints

achieved? And what about his

voice? Others focussed on how

the climbing sequences were

done, did anyone get hurt,

why some parts of the story had

been missed out, and whether it

was difficult to stay in character.

All were answered informatively

and with humour...

The show, which has played

to great acclaim at the Young

Vic and the Barbican, is based

on Hergé’s book Tintin in Tibet,

adapted for the stage by director

Rufus Norris and playwright

Himalayan AdventuresDirector Rufus Norris talks about his acclaimed stage version of Tintin

Interview by

Jonathan Croall

Photography by

Johan Pearson and

Craig Sugden

Illustration courtesy of

Hergé Moulinsart 2007

10

David Greig. Vibrant and

colourful, hugely imaginative,

laced with humour and

abounding in energy, the

production manages supremely

well the tricky task of appealing

to children and adults alike.

Tintin the fearless young

reporter has of course been

a legendary character for

decades, and hugely popular

internationally. Created in 1929

by Hergé, the pen name for the

Belgian artist Georges Remi,

the cartoon adventures co-

starring Captain Haddock

and Snowy the faithful dog

are recognised as works of

art as well as wonderfully

entertaining stories.

After the Young Vic’s artistic

director David Lan had the idea

of staging a Tintin story, he

appointed Rufus Norris its

director and gave him an open

brief. ‘As a boy I was more of an

Asterix than a Tintin fan,’ Norris

confesses. ‘But my son read them

all when he was five or six, so

we had a complete collection.

I chose Tintin in Tibet because

it’s the one in which the most

happens to Tintin emotionally,

and the one with most depth.

It also had the most resonance

with Hergé: he had a breakdown

because of the break-up of his

marriage, and wrote the story

as a response to it.’

The story - Hergé called it ‘a

song of friendship’ - concerns

Tintin’s search for his Chinese

friend Chang, whom everyone

believes has been killed in a

plane crash in the Himalayas.

A dream convinces Tintin he

is alive but in peril, and with

Haddock and Snowy he sets out

to test this belief, encountering

along the way all kinds of

obstacles, human as well as

physical. Intriguingly, Chang was

based on a friend of Hergé, and

the story contains a prophecy

of what would happen later

in their lives.

Another reason for choosing

the Tibet story was its relative

pictorial simplicity. ‘In most of

the other books Tintin goes all

over the place with his

adventures,’ Norris explains. ‘The

colour range is enormous, and

would have been a real challenge

for the designer. Tibet is a much

more controlled palette, mainly

white and blue, so it’s possible

to honour Hergé more faithfully.’

The set by Ian Macneil is

cleverly constructed to give

a sense of the picture-frame

element of the original. The

stunning costumes by Joan

Wadge are beautifully realised.

‘We’ve been very fastidious

about them,’ Norris says.

‘Obviously we had hundreds

of costume drawings at our

disposal, and were lucky to be

able to see Hergé’s original

drawings in Brussels.’

He and David Greig have

only made slight adjustments

to the original story. The book

has plenty of humour, much

of it emanating from Captain

Haddock and the exploits of

Snowy, but they’ve put in a little

bit more here and there. They’ve

also added some attractive and

varied music, created by Orlando

Gough: a torch song in the Swiss

alpine hotel where the

story starts; a work

song for the

Sherpa guides

as they climb the

mountains; a

chant when

Tintin and his

friends reach

the monastery.

Norris was also attracted to

the story because it’s not gender

specific. ‘There are no guns, no

running around after baddies,

it’s all about friendship. Tintin

isn’t a macho character and

neither is he effeminate, so he’s

accessible to both sexes. I wish

there were more women in

the story, but the girls in the

audience seem as attentive as

the boys. Of course there’s also

the faithful, all-suffering Snowy,

who’s got enough anarchy in

him to misbehave, so everyone

loves him.’

There’s also the giant Yeti,

who is initially demonised,

but turns out to be a benign

character who plays a key role

in the story. His presence is

probably the reason why the

show is recommended for over-

sevens. Yet the four-year-old

sitting with me had no fear of

him, and was clearly entranced

throughout this wonderful

family show.

‘Vibrant and colourful, hugely imaginative,

laced with humour and abounding in energy,

the production manages supremely well the tricky

task of appealing to adults and children alike.’

Hergé’s Adventuresof TintinDirected by Rufus Norris

Theatre Royal, Brighton

16 - 20 Oct

Box Office 0870 060 6650

Richmond Theatre

23 - 27 Oct

Box Office 0870 060 6651

New Victoria Theatre,

Woking

6 - 10 Nov

Box Office 0870 060 6645

Playhouse Theatre, London

6 Dec 2007 - 23 Feb 2008

Box Office 0870 060 6631

Online booking at

www.theambassadors.com

11

What’s On Ambassador GroupLondon Theatresand Productions

Blood Brothers

Boeing-Boeing

Rent

Parade

Grease Stacy

Footloose

Fiddler on the Roof

A Night in November

Fanny & Faggot

COMEDY THEATRE 0870 060 6637

Boeing BoeingThe classic comedy by Marc CamolettiTranslated by Beverley CrossDirected by Matthew WarchusStarring Kevin R McNally, Jean Marsh, Neil StukeJennifer Ellison, Tracy-Ann Oberman and Elena Roger‘By many an air mile, the funniest show on the London Stage’ Charles Spencer, Daily Telegraph

DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE 0870 060 6623

RentRemixed for the 21st CenturyBook, music and lyrics by Jonathan LarsonDirected by William BakerStarring Denise Van Outen as Maureen

DONMAR WAREHOUSE 0870 060 6624

ParadeA new musicalBook by Alfred UhryMusic and lyrics by Jason Robert BrownCo-conceived by Harold PrinceUntil 24 November

FORTUNE THEATRE 0870 060 6626

The Woman in Black‘A brilliant spine-chiller’ The Guardian

PHOENIX THEATRE 0870 060 6629

Willy Russell’s BloodBrothers‘Brings the audience to its feet and roaring its approval’ Daily Mail

PICCADILLY THEATRE 0844 412 6666

GreaseStarring Danny Bayne as Danny and Susan McFadden as Sandy

PLAYHOUSE THEATRE 0870 060 6631

Footloose‘The happiest most electrifying hit show in town- go now’ Sky News

SAVOY THEATRE 0870 164 8787

Fiddler on the RoofStarring Henry Goodman Book by Joseph Stein

‘Shout it with delight: Fiddler’s back in town’ Evening Standard

TRAFALGAR STUDIO 1 0870 060 6632

A Night in NovemberStarring Patrick Kielty The hit comedy from the writer of Stones in his Pockets, Marie JonesFrom 15 October

TRAFALGAR STUDIO 2 0870 060 6632

Fanny & Faggot / StacyA double bill by Jack ThorneRalf Little stars in Stacy Until 27 OctFull season details; www.theambassadors.com/trafalgarstudios

Studio 2 has been made possible by agenerous donation from Christina Smith

12

OnYour Feet!Footloose - the Musical makes you feel like dancing

Fame - the Musical has been

parading its peripatetic pumps

around the West End for more

than a decade and Footloose -

the Musical now looks set to join

it in the popularity stakes. Since

claiming a place in the West End

last year, Footloose has already

returned to make a new home at

the Playhouse Theatre, and after

a Christmas break for Hergé’s

Adventures of Tintin, will return

there in the New Year.

Like Fame, it’s a teen-focussed

dance musical about American

high school kids and similarly

based on a popular film (starring

a famously loose-limbed Kevin

Bacon). And it has another key

factor in common: Karen Bruce

is director and choreographer of

both musicals. What’s the secret

of their success? ‘They remind

older audiences of their youth,

but they also connect to younger

people,’ she says. ‘Everyone loves

the movies, but we recreate

them for now. The clue to

making them work is to make

them cross over, so youngsters

can relate to them as well.’

Bruce, who has been

choreographer and assistant

director on the stage version

of another iconic film-to-stage

transfer for Saturday Night

Fever, won an Olivier Award for

her choreography of Stephen

Sondheim’s far more esoteric

Pacific Overtures, but enjoys

working in both fields. ‘They

can co-exist: they have to. I’m a

Sondheim freak, but if Footloose

can touch somebody in some

way, then we’re doing our job

right. Some people knock these

shows, but the music is great,

and people want to go and hear

it. If people come out knowing

they’ve experienced a feel-good

factor, then that’s theatre, too.’

With original screenplay writer

and lyricist Dean Pitchford on

hand to co-adapt it for the

stage with Walter Bobbie (who

directed the 1998 Broadway

version), and also collaborate

with composer Tom Snow on

new songs to augment some

of the film standards that

include songs by Jim Steinman

and Kenny Loggins, Footloose

both honours and expands

on its source.

And with the bass pumped

up and the expertly drilled

dances sizzling with testosterone,

Bruce’s production is full of the

kind of energy you not only

see but can virtually feel. As a

lonely outsider, Ren McCormack,

moves from Chicago to a sleepy,

reactionary backwater town

where all public dancing has

been officially outlawed - his

mission is to make a case for

the transformative powers of

dance, and the show is a

living testament to it.

Playhouse Theatre

FootlooseBased on the 1980’s film

starring Kevin Bacon and

featuring classic 80s hits

such as Holding Out for a

Hero, Let’s Hear It for the

Boy and Almost Paradise

Playing until August 2008

Box Office 0870 060 6631

Online booking at

www.theambassadors.com

Interview by

Mark Shenton

Photography by

Andy Bradshaw

News

A Unique ContributionTheatre’s role in the London economy

The Savoy Hotel on the Strand

provided the elegant setting for

a meeting of the International

Envoys for London this

September.

The seminar ‘Theatreland’s

Unique Contribution to London’

was hosted by Rosemary Squire -

President of the Society of

London Theatre and Joint Chief

Executive of the Ambassador

Theatre Group - and began

with a lively discussion on the

contribution made by theatre

to this rapidly growing sector

of the London economy.

Speakers included senior

representatives of the theatre

industry; Sir Stephen Waley

Cohen Bt, Vice President of the

Society of London Theatre and

Nica Burns, Chief Executive of

Nimax Theatres.

As well as giving an informed

insight into London’s unique

cultural offer and its significance

world-wide, the seminar also

explored challenges facing the

industry - chiefly the need to

maintain London’s historic

theatres, securing investment

to aid their restoration from

both private and public sources.

Following the seminar, guests

were invited to a performance

of the magnificent new musical

production of Fiddler on the

Roof starring Olivier award-

winner Henry Goodman as Tevye

at the adjacent Savoy Theatre -

and afterwards guests mingled

with the cast in the Upper

Circle Bar where drinks and

canapés were served. The

event was sponsored by

Groupe Chez Gerard.

Rosemary Squire said: ‘We

were delighted to welcome

the International Envoys to

the Savoy - and to have this

opportunity to put the case for

London theatre. The UK theatre

industry is the envy of the world

but many of our best-known

historic theatres need urgent

investment to secure their

future. With the London

Olympics on the horizon, it is

important that we continue

to raise awareness of arts and

culture and the part they have

to play in attracting visitors

to the capital.’13

News

Above: Sir John Egan,

Chairman (Inchcape,

Harrison Lovegrove),

Nica Burns, CEO

Nimax Theatres,

Rosemary Squire, President

Society of London Theatre

& Joint CEO Ambassador

Theatre Group,

Sir Stephen Waley Cohen Bt,

Vice President Society

of London Theatre

Henry Goodman in

Fiddler on the Roof

Photography by

Limelight Studios,

Chris Ridley and

Catherine Ashmore

CompetitionAn experience to treasureWin a night out at one of the best loved musicals of all time

14

critics and all agree: Fiddler

on the Roof is the must-see

production of one of the

best-loved musicals of all time.

Critics have hailed Olivier

award-winner Henry Goodman,

who stars as Tevye, as ‘superb’

and ‘sublime’ in a role he was

‘born to play’ and ‘achieving the

star status he so richly deserves’.

Winner of nine Tony Awards in

1964, this spectacular stage show

went on to become a smash-hit

Oscar-winning film and features

some of the most memorable

songs in musical history, including

Tradition, Matchmaker, Sunrise,

Sunset and the unforgettable

If I Were A Rich Man.

Two lucky winners can enjoy

a night to remember which

includes two best available seats

for the performance and a CD

of the cast recording of Fiddler

on the Roof.

To win tickets for this uplifting

musical, simply answer the

following question:

Q: How many Tony awards did

Fiddler on the Roof win in 1964?

Please return your answer, not

forgetting your name, address

and telephone number to Kirsty

Woodfield, The Ambassador

Theatre Group Ltd., 24 Neal

Street London, WC2H 9QW

before Mon 12 Nov 2007.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Two winners will be drawn at

random after the closing date.

Each prize includes two best

available seats per winner for

Fiddler on the Roof (Monday -

Thursday performances) at the

Savoy Theatre and are subject

to availability. The prize also

includes a CD of the soundtrack

of Fiddler on the Roof. Winners

will be notified before Monday

26 November 2007. Prize

is non-transferable and non-

redeemable for a cash value.

Not open to employees of

Ambassador Theatre Group

Ltd. Editor’s decision is final.

Photography by

Catherine Ashmore

Savoy Theatre

Fiddler on the RoofStarring Henry Goodman

Playing until 26 January 2008

Box Office 0870 164 8787

Online booking at

www.theambassadors.com

It’s unanimous. London loves

Fiddler on the Roof at the Savoy

Theatre! The production has

received rave reviews from both

London audiences and national

15

Style

Seboni

seboni.com

Snow Leopard Vodka

selected Waitrose stores

ocado.com

Jo Wood Organics

jowoodorganics.com

Trevarno Organics

trevarnoskincare.co.uk

Ocean

thamesandhudson.co.uk

Angel Linen

thenaturalstore.co.uk

Gifts that are ethical, eco-friendly or organic - yet oh so cool.

Gifts without GuiltCan you be green and stylish this Christmas? Definitely!

Jo Wood Organics from £45

This delicious, decadent but very

green line is made from exotic

plant extracts and essential oils.

Snow Leopard Vodka £30

If the delicate taste and stylish

bottle aren’t enough incentive,

part of the profits go to the Snow

Leopard trust to help save these

gorgeous and increasingly rare cats.

Angel Linen £60

Individually designed and handmade in England from beautiful

vintage French or English linen with antique mother of pearl buttons.

Seboni £29

Inspired by the sea, Seboni’s

essences are made from the

purest essential oils, free from

artificial fragrances and harsh

ingredients. Guaranteed to

refresh and uplift while

promoting a sense of well-being.

Ocean - Phillip Blisson and

Christian Buchet £39.95

A lavish collection of nearly 200

previously unpublished images of

that most compelling of nature’s

mysteries, the ocean.

Trevarno Organics From £10

These natural products are the ultimate in the discerning man’s

grooming regime. Rapidly developing a cult following.

16

Psst... Let us eat cake!

Ciel

ciel.ltd.uk

Adili

adili.com

Amana

amana-collection.com

Liberty’s

020 7734 9397

Meg Rivers

megrivers.com

All prices quoted are given

as a guide only and may

be subject to change

by individual retailers.

Feature by

Babette Kulik

Ethical fashion has become easier to find than ever and super stylish. Here’s a selection of little black

dresses that will take you from the theatre to an endless round of parties this Christmas - with a clear

conscience. Ciel dress A stunningly beautiful blend of hemp and silk with a pretty gathered neckline and

flattering angel sleeves £182. Pearl and sapphire necklace £350. Adili dress A twist on the classic wrap,

made with a gorgeous soft blend of merino wool £122. Amber and black bead two row necklace £195.

Amana dress A gorgeous silk panel dress, made of hemp and silk charmeuse. Very Audrey Hepburn! £95.

Chanel multicoloured beaded necklace £295. All jewellery pictured is vintage - available at Liberty’s

vintage section on the 1st floor.

Front-row fashionInspirational style for party girls

According to food writers Rick Stein and Tom

Parker Bowles, Meg Rivers’ cakes rock. Using

only top quality locally-sourced ingredients

including free-range eggs, ground almonds

rather than flour and a smooth ganache

filling - this wheat free alternative is perfect

for those who don’t like the traditional

version. Order now - £31.95.

The gift ofentertainment

GiftVoucher

An Ambassador Theatre Group Gift Voucher promises the excitement

of live performance - ballet, opera, musicals, drama and comedy - at

ATG venues in the West End or regionally. Alternatively, vouchers can

be used to buy a Friends Membership - a closer relationship with your

local theatre plus a year’s worth of special offers and Friends-only

events. Call 0870 060 6642 for details.

17

TeamTimeCelebrate 12 months of toil at a glittering office Christmas party

Cliveden House

Going Out

As seasonal as carols, crackers

and mistletoe, the annual end-

of-year office bash means it

really is time for Christmas. But

finding the right venue can be a

tricky proposition - there are so

many places to choose from in

and around London. So, to give

you a head start, we’ve selected

a handful of inspiring venues

guaranteed to help you usher

in the festive season with style.

Skylon

With the buzz that’s been created

around the Royal Festival Hall

thanks to its multi-million-pound

refurbishment, it’s not surprising

that the cultural centre’s flagship

restaurant has been picking up

accolades for both looks and

cuisine. What better place to

enjoy your Christmas festivities

than at Skylon - a restaurant that

combines echoes of 1950’s design

with striking contemporary

touches? Boasting superb views

of London’s skyline, the

restaurant offers formal dining

for up to 90 people, a relaxed

grill area that seats 120 and

a raised cocktail bar. Just as

importantly, Skylon’s Executive

Chef Helena Puolakka, previously

with Harvey Nix’s Fifth Floor,

serves up modern European

cuisine with British influences,

making the most of seasonal

ingredients.

Volupté Lounge

For something a little more

intimate in central London,

Volupté Lounge provides an

intriguing alternative. Ideal

for small office parties, this

fashionable venue harks back

to the days of vaudeville

extravagance, with its dimly-lit

cocktail bar, restaurant and

cabaret salon. Supper-club dining

is the order of the day, whether

you choose to come for lunch

or dinner. And while you’re

indulging in the Christmas

cuisine and authentic cocktails,

you’ll be entertained by jazz

bands, cabaret singers or 1920’s

flapper dancers. Worth booking

if you fancy Christmas with

a twist!

Cliveden House

If you want to avoid the familiar

issue of getting home after one

too many at the Christmas party,

then a luxurious hotel could be

the answer. Bringing a touch

of magic to the festive season,

Cliveden House in Berkshire

offers all the traditional

trimmings - a roaring fire, giant

tree, sparkling decorations and

torch-lit drive. Parties can take

advantage of the three-course

gourmet Festive Party Menu

throughout December, with

overnight accommodation,

English breakfast and access

to the hotel’s luxurious spa

facilities thrown in.

Royal Air Force Museum

Turn up the glamour by throwing

a 1940s-themed party at the

historic RAF Museum in north

London. Nostalgia abounds in

30 St Mary Axe

Skylon

Garden of Eden bar at The Eve Club

Skylon

020 7654 7800

skylonrestaurant.co.uk

Volupté Lounge

020 7831 1622

volupte-lounge.com

Cliveden House

01628 668561

clivedenhouse.co.uk

RAF Museum

020 8358 4848

rafmuseum.com

30 St Mary Axe

020 7071 5008

30stmaryaxe.com

The Grove

01923 807807

thegrove.co.uk

The Eve Club

020 7287 1991

clubeve.co.uk

18

The Battle of Britain Hall,

where large parties can enjoy

pre-dinner drinks amidst such

legendary planes as the Spitfire

and magnificent Sunderland

Flying Boat. Or select the Historic

Hangars if you’re looking for a

more adventurous option - here,

partygoers can fly with the Red

Arrows in a flight simulator

before dinner is served

underneath the wings of an

Avro Lancaster. Both halls come

complete with drinks receptions,

three-course menus, music and

decorations and, for show-

stopping additions, there’s also

the possibility of ordering a

swing band and look-alikes

for the evening.

30 St Mary Axe

Staying with the sky high theme,

it doesn’t get much more

prestigious than hiring out a

space on one of the top floors

of London’s most talked-about

building. Affectionately known

as The Gherkin, this city landmark

opens up its doors to private

parties in the evenings with a

split-level restaurant and bar

located 180 metres above the

capital. There are choices

available for parties of all sizes

from private dining rooms to the

mezzanine-level bar - all with

spectacular 360-degree views.

Christmas fare ranges from

sophisticated canapés - smoked

duck and seared peppered beef

are two examples - to three-

course dinners; just be sure to

savour a glass of Champagne

while you’re on top of the

world.

The Grove

Just 18 miles from London in

Hertfordshire, this chic five-star

hotel has the festive season all

sewn up with a variety of spaces

catering for between 15 and 500

people. The Grove Christmas

Party Nights, on selected

December evenings, allow you to

enjoy the company of colleagues

on a private table before joining

other revellers on the dance

floor. Other perks of this ‘party

within a party’ concept include a

Champagne reception, ice-cream

bar and novelties to ensure

the night goes with a bang.

The Eve Club

The best parties always have

an air of exclusivity so why not

take over one of Mayfair’s most

notorious clubs, the Eve? Once

a favoured nightspot with the

likes of Frank Sinatra and Judy

Garland, the club located to

new premises and underwent an

extensive facelift in 2003. Vying

for attention in the post-modern

1950’s interiors are the ice

sculptured bar, luminous glass

dance floor and Garden of Eden

VIP area, all features that promise

to give any Christmas event extra

sparkle. Canapés created by the

Italian chef, cocktails and DJ all

come with a selection of themed

nights in December, from

Moroccan Splendour to

Viva 70s glam.

The GroveVolupté Lounge

The Eve Club

Feature by

Neena Dhillon

The Grove

PS Why not combine

your office party with

a visit to the theatre?

For special group

rates contact the

Group Sales team

on 0870 060 6634