T H E AT R E
SEASON BROCHURE
T H E AT R E
JANUARY - M AY 201 5
stjamestheatre.co.uk | 0844 264 2140
CO N TEN TS 2 - 3
BAD JEWS
4 - 5
SHOWSTOPPER! THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL
6
- 7
RUBY WAX
8
- 9
REBECCA FERGUSON
10 - 11
THE THREE LIONS
12 - 13
FOOD, DRINK AND EVENTS
14 - 15
SUPPORT ST. JAMES
16 - 17
ST. JAMES STUDIO
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WELCOME At the ripe age of two years old this past September, we are delighted to be announcing our 2015 season at the St. James Theatre. Fresh from our Christmas presentation of the Olivier nominated Eric and Little Ern, our opening co-production is the brilliant Bad Jews, which originated at the Roundabout Theatre in New York and was recently produced by Theatre Royal Bath, winning a UK Theatre Award for Jenna Augen’s performance. The multi-talented Ruby Wax brings us her extraordinary show, based upon her No1 bestselling book Sane New World: Taming the Mind. Ruby tells it how it is from a very personal perspective, but still manages to fill the auditorium with laughter, tears and much in between. Don’t miss it! Following their sold out St. James debut in October Showstopper: The Improvised Musical returns for two performances and soul diva Rebecca Ferguson launches her stunning new album Lady Sings the Blues in a series of concerts in the Studio and main house. If you are looking for a comedy that lovingly (or not!) pokes some fun at an incongruous gathering of well-known personalities, then The Three Lions is just the treat. Gloriously entertaining, it absolutely finds its mark. In January, the Studio celebrates the lives of Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Richard Burton, Dylan Thomas, Marilyn Monroe and Marlene Dietrich in the Icons Season. Together with a lively Brasserie and the fine dining offered in the Carrara restaurant, St. James offers a wonderful array of entertainment, good food and a uniquely relaxing atmosphere. We really hope you enjoy our first season of 2015, and appreciate your continued support of St. James.
Robert Mackintosh Executive Producer
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J E N NA AUG E N
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G I NA B RAM H I LL
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‘VIVID, RAW, BRILLIANT... A BRAVE COMEDY WHICH MAKES FOR EXCELLENT, MOVING DRAMA’
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JOE COE N
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I LAN G OODMAN
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TELEGRAPH
WHATSONSTAGE
BadJews FINANCIAL TIMES
BY
JOSHUA HARMON
DIRECTED BY MICHAEL LONGHURST
Danny Moar and Simon Friend for Theatre Royal Bath Productions and St. James Theatre Productions present
BAD JEWS Written by JOSHUA HARMON Directed by MICHAEL LONGHURST
15 JANUARY - 28 FEBRUARY A NEW COMEDY ABOUT FAITH, FAVOURITISM & A FAMILY FEUD The UK premiere of this production of Bad Jews was a sell out at the Ustinov Studio, Bath earlier this year, where it earned huge critical acclaim and Jenna Augen won a UK Theatre Award for her performance. A beloved grandfather has died and a treasured family heirloom with religious significance is up for grabs. But who is most deserving of it? Bossy, overbearing, fanatically religious Daphna? Her wealthy cousin Liam who’s just returned from skiing with his non-Jewish girlfriend Melody? Or Jonah, his brother, who would prefer not to get involved in the fight? A cramped Manhattan apartment becomes the setting for a viciously hilarious quarrel about family, faith and legacy as the contenders set at each other’s throats on the night after the funeral. “A blisteringly funny play...exquisitely hilarious” The Independent
PERFORMANCE TIMES Mon - Sat eves Thur & Sat mats
7.30pm 2.30pm
Previews
Thurs 15 - Tues 20 January
TICKETS £10, £20, £25*
£5 off all preview performances *Group and Senior Citizen rates available.
Photography Nobby Clark
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THE
HOWSTOPPERS PRESENT
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‘A blast. Makes your jaw drop in impressed amazement and your ribs ache with laughter.’ Mail On Sunday
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‘A shining example of how good improv can be.’ Chortle
SHOWSTOPPER! THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL SUNDAY 1 & 22 FEBRUARY SPONTANEOUS MUSICAL COMEDY AT ITS FINEST! Having stormed their debut performance here last October, we’re delighted to welcome The Showstoppers back to the St. James Theatre! A brand new musical comedy is created from scratch at each performance of this awardwinning show. Audience suggestions are transformed on the spot into an all-singing, all-dancing production always with unpredictable and hilarious results. This incredible comedy troupe never fail to impress as they create shows packed with drama, dazzling dance routines and catchy melodies, leaving delighted audiences singing all the way home. With seven years as an Edinburgh Fringe mustsee phenomenon, four sell-out West End seasons and an acclaimed BBC Radio 4 series to their name, The Showstoppers have delighted audiences across the globe with their ingenious blend of comedy, musical theatre and spontaneity. So whether you fancy Sondheim on a ski lift or Cole Porter in Poundland - you suggest it and The Showstoppers will sing it!
HHHHH “Achingly funny. Worth seeing again and again.” Times Out Critics’ Choice
PERFORMANCE TIMES Sun eves
7.00pm
TICKETS
£15, £18.50, £23.50
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Lakin McCarthy presents
RUBY WAX: SANE NEW WORLD Directed by JOANNA BOWEN Designed by ANDRZEJ GOULDING Lighting by TIM MASCALL Sound by TOM HACKLEY Produced by MIKE McCARTHY
2 - 14 MARCH “I’M HILARIOUS, TRUST ME.” Ruby Wax– comedian, writer, mental health campaigner – brings her one-woman show to the St. James Theatre following a sell-out UK tour in 2014. Ruby has based this new show on her No. 1 bestselling book Sane New World: Taming the Mind, which has enjoyed worldwide success since publication in 2013. Ruby Wax: Sane New World will help us understand why we sabotage our own sanity and provides a manual on how to survive the 21st century, using Ruby’s knowledge from her recent Masters Degree in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy at Oxford University - spiked with comedy. Using her signature humour, Ruby gives a tour of the brain and how to tame it: “We know so much about how the world works - but so little about our how our own minds work. It’s like having a Ferrari on top of your head but no one gave you the keys.”
PERFORMANCE TIMES Mon - Sat eves Thurs & Sat mats
7.30pm 2.30pm
TICKETS £20, £25, £30
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Presented in assocaition with Live Nation and the Agency Group
REBECCA FERGUSON 19 - 21 MARCH Sony Music and Jonathan Shalit OBE are proud to present soul diva Rebecca Ferguson performing her wonderful new album Lady Sings The Blues live for the first time. In the year when Billie Holiday would have celebrated her 100th birthday Rebecca Ferguson and her band will be playing her version of the iconic album in full. Rebecca Ferguson’s 2010 debut album Heaven was released to overwhelming critical acclaim and went on to sell a million copies. Critics compared her incredible voice to Aretha Frankiln, Nina Simone, Mary J Blige and Macy Gray, with The Times saying that her debut “scaled the heights of Dusty Springfield’s career high ‘Dusty in Memphis’”. Ferguson’s second album Freedom was released in October 2013 and found her honing her songwriting and performing skills into a record which, claimed The Metro, showed her voice to be ‘smoky, steeped in emotion and somehow more seasoned than her years’.
PERFORMANCE TIMES Eves
7.30pm
TICKETS
STUDIO
£25, £29 (VIP meet and greet seats available for £50 extra) STUDIO
Rebecca will also be performing four concerts in the intimate setting of the St. James Studio on 16, 18, 20 & 21 February. STUDIO
PERFORMANCE TIMES 8.00pm TICKETS £22.50 (VIP meet and greet seats available for £50 extra)
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Rosie Bowen, Jenny Topper and PBJ Management present
THE THREE LIONS Written by WILLIAM GAMINARA Directed by PHILIP WILSON Set & Costume Design by COLIN FALCONER Lighting Design by MALCOLM RIPPETH
24 MARCH - 2 MAY A FOOTBALLER, A PRINCE AND A PRIME MINISTER… This hilarious new comedy offers a behind-thescenes glimpse of diplomacy in action, revealing what really went on between David Cameron, David Beckham and Prince William in a Swiss hotel the night before England’s bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In spite of missed planes, mistaken identities, misunderstandings and sartorial challenges, they are determined to bring the beautiful game home. But when things start to go disastrously and deliciously wrong, three heads may not be better than one!
HHHH “An exquisite piece of satire” The Spectator Cast: Dugald Bruce-Lockhurt, Tom Davey, Séan Browne, Antonia Kinlay, Ravi Aujla and Lewis Collier.
PERFORMANCE TIMES Mon - Sat eves Thur & Sat mats
7.30pm 2.30pm
TICKETS
£15, £29.50, £39.50 & Premiums £49.50
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H HHHH St. James presents its award-winning…
RESTAURANT “The restaurant is very attractive, nicely designed and has a lovely atmosphere, and the staff are good. Would highly recommend.” “Food was great, service was great, very friendly staff, a very nice dining experience” “Excellent meal and good value for money, with good service.” “The staff were excellent” “Always reliable. Excellent food” OPEN
MON - SAT LUNCHTIME
12pm-3pm H DINNER
5pm-8pm RESERVATIONS restaurants@stjamestheatre.co.uk | 0207 5920 322 *All quotes are taken from actual reviews
MEET. RELAX. DRINK. EAT.
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OPEN MON – SAT | 10AM - LATE (Sunday times vary)
SUPPORT ST. JAMES
FRIENDS OF THE ST. JAMES £24 Why not become a Friend of the St. James? Be our best friend!
Priority ticket allocation for full price tickets Priority advance notice of our programme and on-sale dates Regular updates by email 5% discount on food in the Bar & Brasserie For more information see our website or email friends@stjamestheatre.co.uk
©Tom Cronin Photography
©Andrew Randall Photography
B E C O M E PA R T O F A N E X PA N D I N G C U LT U R A L H U B AND HELP SUPPORT THE A R T S I N T H E 2 1 S T C E N T U R Y. . .
As a St. James Club Member you will be allocated a personal contact for all bookings (tickets & hospitality) and invitations to numerous events, plus scores of additional benefits. Get a tailored experience every time you contact us plus so much more...
Tickets per year
SILVER £250
GOLD £500
PLATINUM £1,000
2 x tickets x 2 shows per year
2 x tickets x 5 shows per year
2 x tickets x 10 shows per year
Priority ticket allocation for full price tickets 10% discount on food at the Restaurant and in the Bar & Brasserie Special members rate Invitation to members nights (with pre-show drinks reception) Invitation to Q&As, debates & talks Opportunities to meet the cast Invitation to the St. James annual celebrations Press Night tickets allocation Annual dinner / lunch with the Creative team * All subject to availability
For further details please contact Jennifer Reischel – who is very happy to discuss over the phone, on email or in person over a coffee! 0207 654 9900 | jennifer@entertainmentmediagroup.co.uk
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SIX ICONS. FIVE PLAYS. ONE WORLD PREMIERE. Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Richard Burton, Dylan Thomas, Marilyn Monroe and Marlene Dietrich...unmasked 3 - 25 January 2015 0844 264 2140 | stjamestheatre.co.uk
CABARET COME DY
MUS I C
TH EATRE
CLASSICAL KICKS MONDAY 26 JANUARY 8pm
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£20 / £25
Following their continued successful residency at Ronnie Scotts, renowned violinist and vocalist Lizzie will bring a world class team of musicians from the classical, jazz, world and opera genre. The first of six shows in 2015 will take you on a journey through the ‘WORLD’ of classical music and its genre-wide influence incorporating Bach, South African folk songs, Hungarian gypsy melodies, sultry jazz ballads and Latin-American works. With music by J.S Bach, Bartok, Piazzolla, Gershwin and more. “genre-bending” Classical Music Magazine
DANIEL CAINER’S JEWISH CHRONICLES TUESDAY 27 JANUARY 8pm
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£15 / £17.50
Fresh from a glowing five week offBroadway run... Tales of feuding tailors, a Jewess who joins a 1950s Christian cult, a cocaine addicted rabbi and many more, this awardwinning and ever-evolving 5 Star show is a joyous and hilarious collection of stories-in-song, written and performed by a master songwriter. A rich tapestry of family legend and musical folklore to make you both laugh and cry in a heartbeat.
HHHH “Shaggy dog story telling…lovingly detailed” Time Out
EARL OKIN FRIDAY 30 JANUARY 8pm
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£15 / £17.50
The legendary Earl Okin is one of the finest Jazz and Bossa Nova singer/ musicians around, just as popular in Brazil and Australia (not to mention all over mainland Europe), as in the UK. He is also one of this country’s finest songwriters, so, alongside classic songs by Gershwin, Ellington and Jobim, you may well hear one or two of Okin’s own classics!
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T H E AT R E
HOW TOT H E A T R E FIND US St. James Theatre, 12 Palace Street London SW1E 5JA BY TUBE The nearest tube is Victoria. We are situated within a 5 minute walk of the station. PARKING Free parking after 6.30pm is available in nearby streets. NATIONAL RAIL Victoria Station is less than 5 minutes walk from the theatre. BY BUS Routes 16, 38, 52, 73, 42, 148 all pass by near the theatre.
stjamestheatre.co.uk | 0844 264 2140