THEATRE THE ORCHARD
PREMIERE CARD
PREMIERE CARD & GROUPS
MEMBERS’ NEWSLETTER SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018
HELLO GROUPS’ CLUB MEMBERS AND PREMIERE CARD MEMBERS! THE ORCHARD THEATRE HAS LOTS OF EXCITING NEW SHOWS, DON’T MISS OUT ON THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE COMING SEASON In 2019 we will see the return of Peter James with his brand-new play The House on Cold Hill which premieres, as Dartford Gets It First! Plus Gary Barlow brings his hit musical The Calendar Girls and Take That presents The Band to The Orchard Theatre. There is fun for the whole family here at The Orchard Theatre! Dinosaur World Live is roaring onto stage, plus Henry VIII will be making a visit along with some awful Egyptians in Horrible Histories! Finally, for families, watch as the world of YouTube comes to life on stage with Little Baby Bum.
The Orchard Theatre have announced that Marti Pellow will lead the cast of this year’s spectacular family pantomime Aladdin playing the role of the evil sorcerer Abanazar.
It’s all laughs for The Orchard Theatre with some of the best names in comedy making an appearance on the Dartford stage – Joe Pasquale is back and better than ever, Des O’Connor and Jimmy Tarbuck grace the stage along with Jim Davidson and Robert White (Britain’s Got Talent). This year’s spectacular Pantomime is packed with all of the traditional ingredients audiences expect, Aladdin features laughout-loud comedy, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses. Follow the evil sorcerer Abanazar (Marti Pellow), Aladdin, his brother Wishee Washee and, of course his mother Widow Twankey, on a spectacular adventure.
The hugely talented performer Marti Pellow has achieved some of the UK’s biggest number-one singles, and has regularly featured in the UK charts throughout his career, both as a solo artist and as the frontman to Wet Wet Wet. In addition to his music, Marti has also starred in numerous highprofile theatre productions in the West End and on Broadway, including Chicago, Blood Brothers and the sold-out, award-winning musical Evita. Michael Harrison, Managing Director of Qdos Entertainment, said: “I’m thrilled Marti will be headlining our fantastic production of Aladdin at The Orchard Theatre this year. Not only does he possess a stunning voice, he is a fantastic stage performer and one of panto-land’s ultimate baddies.” Lorna Strawson, Theatre Director at The Orchard Theatre, said “We are thrilled that Marti will be joining us and starring in Aladdin this year. We are so excited to see what someone of his calibre will bring to the stage, we’re in for an amazing year in panto-land!” Featuring a wish-granting genie, an evil sorcerer and the timeless tale of the Twankey family panto lovers should hop aboard a flying carpet and fly to the Box Office to secure their tickets for this year’s must-see, genie-us family pantomime.
See Marti Pellow in Aladdin at The Orchard Theatre from Saturday 8 – Sunday 30 December Scan for the video trailer
orchardtheatre.co.uk /The Orchard Theatre
WE ARE CELEBRATING 35 YEARS! The Orchard Theatre was officially opened on the 14th April 1983 by His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent and quickly gained a reputation as one of the country’s premier venues presenting a remarkable range of entertainment. Since opening, The Orchard Theatre has enjoyed incredible success by opening its doors to some of the biggest and most respected names in the fields of arts and entertainment.
Ticket Office 01322 220000 @OrchardTheatre
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BAND OF BROTHERS TUE 5 – SAT 9 FEBRUARY 2019
Take four heroes of pop and add five new kids on the block… Vicky Edwards drops in on Gary, Howard, Mark and Robbie as they guide Five to Five, the BBC TV Let it Shine winners, through their first photo shoot. Laughingly describing the occasion as a ceremony to ‘hand over the leather waistcoats,’ Take That’s Howard Donald is shooting video footage of bandmates Gary, Mark and Robbie while they wait for new band Five to Five to experience the first of no doubt many photo shoots. It is familiar territory for the super group who, having hit the charts in the 90s as a boy band, have since grown up, evolved and continue to delight an ever-growing fan base. I’m intrigued. How long has an idea for a musical based on Take That songs been in the offing, I ask Mark. “Seven years ago the first idea, the first seedling of an idea of a musical that could incorporate our music, came about. But not necessarily about us. In fact, anything BUT about us. We’d find that a bit dull; we wanted to make it more interesting!” The result of that now fully grown seedling is The Band. Written by Tim Firth, who also collaborated with Gary Barlow on The Girls, under the auspices of theatrical aces David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers, Gary, Howard, Mark and Robbie are also producers for the show. Against a musical backdrop of Take That songs, the story tells of five 16 year-old friends in 1992 for whom ‘the band’ is everything. 25 years on, the group of friends, now 40-something women, try once more to fulfil their dream of meeting their heroes. Chatting to the cast and producers, it is clear that while this isn’t a conventional ‘jazz hands’ musical, nor is it a jukebox show. Discovered via the Saturday night primetime TV competition Let it Shine, Five to Five are ‘The Band’ of the title. AJ, Nick, Curtis, Yazdan and Sario have
impressed the Take That boys, not just with their talent, but also by how solid their protégées are as a group. “Ever since they got together as Five to Five they have had this unity and gel,” says Howard. The advance box office topped a record-breaking £10million, so it’s fair to say that it looks as if this is a show with broad appeal. But as well as The Band, Five to Five are also working on their pop career. Do the Take That chaps reckon they have a chance of making it? “Can they make an album? They are ambitious, so I hope so,” says Gary, clearly optimistic about their scope for success. “They are a proper band, these guys,” he assures me. “It’s amazing how ready they are to do this,” affirms Robbie. “It’s unusual. They were better than us straight away,” he adds, pointing out that the eighteen months Take That had before they were really in the spotlight was a huge advantage. “We had time before we got any real notoriety, and it was good that no one was watching because early doors there were kinks. But these guys seem to have that chemistry right away, straight out of the box. They are incredibly professional,” he admits. But the four of them know only too well how hard Five to Five will have to work to get started. “It’s going to be intense,” cautions Robbie, “although not as intense as ours [early career], which back in the day was incredible!”.
SPOTLIGHTS & SPARKLES
1. SARIO
LOVE AND PRIDE BY KING
I’ve always loved the 80s and through the years this has become my favourite summer tune. I wear Doctor Martens because of King... I even went to Coventry with my Mum a couple of months ago to go to a Q&A with Paul King.
2. AJ BREEZE OFF THE POND BY JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
Because of its numerous banging hooks and general awesomeness. “What I’d look like trying to hide my life. One of those guys, I’m a star, you shouldPOD keep SECTION it low, nuh uh want a bit more space, with a big ‘ole sign you can see from the highway.”
Five to Five’s favourite hits
3. YAZDAN MYKONOS TBC (awaiting answers) BY THE FLEET FOXES
It’s a song that I’ve reconnected with after hearing it a couple of years ago. It’s a beautiful, haunting summer anthem that makes me want to visit the Greek island! 4. CURTIS
A LITTLE RESPECT BY ERASURE
I’ve always loved this song but am currently playing it most days. It’s my jam walking to the theatre on a morning, having a little boogie as I walk. Its retro and slightly out of fashion, like me.
5. NICK
IMAGINE BY JOHN LENNON
Because of the beautiful melody and deep, meaningful lyrics
friendly party afternoon will make Christmas 2018 truly unforgettable for everyone.
FRI 30 NOVEMBER Dress to impress, and enjoy a IN THE AUDITORIUM glass of bubbly and canapés CHRISTMAS TROPICANA on arrival, a delicious three25+ NIGHTS course meal, superb live SAT 1 DECEMBER entertainment and a disco. It’s time to dig out those 80s Christmas outfits for the IN THE RUDOLPH RAVE AUDITORIUM most amazing 80s Christmas SAT 1 DECEMBER party ever! With a DJ on the decks playing classic Christmas IN THE BUBBLES RESTAURANT and party tunes, glow & BUBLÉ sticks, giant balloons, a MON 3 – TUE 4 DECEMBER spectacular laser-light Listen to the silky sounds of display and a licensed bar Ultimate Bublé tribute Mark for the big kids, this familyDaniels. Enjoy a glass of
Eat, Drink & Celebrate IN THE RESTAURANT
IN THE AUDITORIUM
Our Favourite Tracks
PLAY
bubbles on arrival, followed by a delicious three-course meal, before enjoying this sensational entertainment and dancing the night away with our resident DJ.*
VINTAGE CHRISTMAS
IN THE RESTAURANT
THU 6 DECEMBER ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE Perfect Vintage are back again with this festive Dinner and Dance. Their 50s and 60s inspired show with a mixture of Rock ‘n’ Roll and classic Christmas songs.*
*Guests are seated at round tables of up to 10. Access to The Restaurant is via 22 steps.
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Ticket Office 01322 220000
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WED 23 – SAT 26 JANUARY 2019
COMPETITION H
FANCY A HOLIDAY IN BENIDORM? ONE LUCKY PERSON WILL WIN £1000 IN HOLIDAY VOUCHERS!* All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is book your tickets for BENIDORM LIVE at the Orchard Theatre before 1 AUGUST 2018
The thrilling work of multi-million selling author Peter James returns to Dartford on 23 January 2019 with the world premiere production of the spine-tingling stage play The House on Cold Hill, the best-selling novel by Peter James. It now becomes the fourth play in his box office smash hit and critically acclaimed stage franchise following the huge sell-out success of Not Dead Enough, The Perfect Murder and Dead Simple on stage. The House on Cold Hill is a modern day ghostly thriller that will send shivers down your spine and make you think twice about returning home to a dark, empty house after the show! Peter James said: “It has been a great thrill for me to have three stage adaptations of my work so cleverly written and brilliantly performed over the last five years, and a joy to see the huge pleasure they’ve given audiences around the UK, and overseas. “The intimacy of theatres is particularly well suited to instilling a great atmosphere of suspense and thrills in audiences, and I can promise there will be no shortage of both with the stage production of The House On Cold Hill!”
Book online: orchardtheatre.co.uk
11 - 16 FEBRUARY
Ticket Office: 01322 220000
IN ASSOCIATION WITH *Tickets for Benidorm Live must be booked by 1 August 2018 to enter into prize draw. All bookers (including existing ticket holders) will be entered into the draw, winner will be selected at random and contacted shortly after the closing date. The prize is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative. For full terms and conditions visit www.orchardtheatre.co.uk.
CALENDAR GIRLS TUE 5 – FRI 16 MARCH 2019
Rehearsals begin with a stunning new cast The new cast of Calendar Girls the Musical have begun rehearsals and met for the first time, with the original Calendar Girls themselves, in the beautiful village of Burnsall, Yorkshire. The critically acclaimed and award-winning musical comedy by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth show will star Fern Britton (returning to the stage for the first time in 30 years) as Marie, Anna-Jane Casey as Annie, Sara Crowe as Ruth, Karen Dunbar as Cora, Ruth Madoc as Jessie, Rebecca Storm as Chris and Denise Welch as Celia. The critically acclaimed and award-winning musical comedy by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, which is based on the true story, the film and the award-winning play by Tim Firth, played a six-month London season at the Phoenix Theatre last year, and, before that, it played sold-out seasons in Leeds and Manchester. Gary Barlow and Tim Firth grew up in the same village in the North of England and have been friends for 25 years. Calendar Girls the Musical is inspired by the true story of a group of ladies, who decide to appear nude for a Women’s Institute calendar in order to raise funds to buy a settee for their local hospital, in memory of one of their husbands, and have to date raised almost £5million for Bloodwise. This musical comedy shows life in their Yorkshire village, how it happened, the effect on husbands, sons and daughters, and how a group of ordinary ladies achieved something extraordinary. Bloodwise, the UK’s specialist blood cancer charity, will continue to receive monies from this production.
orchardtheatre.co.uk
Ticket Office 01322 220000
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SHOWS FOR THE FAMILY WED 22 – THU 23 AUGUST
MON 30 JULY – WED 1 AUGUST
Number 1 Educational channel on
FRI 28 – SUN 30 SEPTEMBER
WED 19 – SUN 23 SEPTEMBER
WED 24 OCTOBER
MON 26 – TUE 27 NOVEMBER
CASTING NEWS
STILL TIME TO CATCH…
ROCK OF AGES ANNOUNCES TOP CAST We’re excited to announce initial casting for the forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of the award-winning smash-hit musical Rock of Ages hitting Dartford from Tuesday 20 – Saturday 24 November. Kevin Kennedy will play Dennis, Zoe Birkett Justice, Jodie Steele Sherrie, Luke Walsh Drew, Lucas Rush Lonny, Andrew Carthy Franz, Vas Constanti Hertz and Rhiannon Chesterman Regina. Further casting will be announced soon.
MON 1 – SAT 6 OCTOBER
Kevin Kennedy is best known for his portrayal of Curly Watts in Coronation Street. His West End theatre credits include ‘Amos’ in Chicago at the Adelphi Theatre and We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre. You may have seen him recently in Kay Mellor’s Fat Friends. Zoe Birkett, known from ITV’s Pop Idol, most recently appeared as ‘Rachel Marron’ in the UK tour of the The Bodyguard The Musical.
RAY QUINN TO STAR IN SUMMER HOLIDAY Brand-new stage musical Summer Holiday is set to tour the UK from May 2018, with the famous red double-decker bus stopping in Dartford from Tuesday 4 – Saturday 8 September.
WED 10 – SAT 13 OCTOBER
TUE 30 – WED 31 OCTOBER Scamp Theatre present
PRIVATE PEACEFUL by Michael Morpurgo
MON 15 – SAT 20 OCTOBER
Based on the iconic 1960’s film of the same name, starring Cliff Richard and The Shadows, Summer Holiday will include all of the number one hits from the movie, plus some additional Cliff Richard classics. Taking on the lead role of Don made famous by Cliff Richard, is singer-songwriter Ray Quinn. Ray shot to fame as the runner-up in ITV1’s The X Factor in 2006. Ray’s theatre credits include Danny Zuko in Grease (West End), Dirty Dancing (West End), Legally Blonde (UK Tour) and most recently, The Wedding Singer (UK Tour).
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LLACE
A GAR W BY ED
MON 5 – SAT 10 NOVEMBER
TUE 8 – SAT 12 JANUARY 2019
Ticket Office 01322 220000 @OrchardTheatre
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