T H E AT R E
SEASON BROCHURE
T H E AT R E
J U LY - D ECEM BER 201 4
stjamestheatre.co.uk | 0844 264 2140
CO N TEN TS 2 - 3
INVINCIBLE
4 - 5
THE HIRED MAN
6
CORPORATE EVENTS
7
ONE STAGE
8 - 9
BREEDERS
10 - 11
UNCLE VANYA
12 - 13
ACCOLADE
14 - 15
THE SNOW DRAGON
16 - 17
ERIC AND LITTLE ERN
18 - 19
FOOD & DRINK AT ST. JAMES
20 - 22
ST. JAMES STUDIO
23
ST. JAMES CINEMA
24 - 25
SUPPORT ST. JAMES
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JU LY - DECEMBER 2014 So far, 2014 at St. James Theatre has been a great success, and launching a new season is always exciting for us. It starts with St. James Theatre’s presentation of Invincible - a new play by Torben Betts, recently produced at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, receiving tremendous reviews. It’s a beautifully written comedy, with a bite...or two and great performances by a brilliant cast. The St. James is particularly pleased to support up-and-coming talent, so having The National Youth Theatre’s production of Melvyn Bragg and Howard Goodall’s The Hired Man will be a real treat. On the same notion of support, last year we were approached by the charity, Stage One, whose aim is to encourage, develop and support new commercial theatre producers. They are the lifeblood of future British theatre and Stage One is a shining light, particularly for the three talented new producers who have been carefully chosen by the Stage One Board, and will each present a four week run of their production from September. And as our season comes to an end, Christmas at the St. James wouldn’t be Christmas without another brilliant family show - The Snow Dragon, from the Tall Stories production company. But for those wishing to enjoy an homage to some of the greatest comedy ever, we bring you Oliver award nominated Eric and Little Ern. And of course, let’s not forget the packed programme of cabaret, music, comedy and theatre in the St. James Studio. But life at the St. James is more than just the show. We want you to have the best experience possible, whether it’s a drink at the bar, a pre-show meal in the Brasserie, or a rather more relaxed dinner in our excellent restaurant upstairs. And all of the above is available during the day too! We look forward to seeing you very soon - be it as a regular St. James customer or for the very first time.
Robert Mackintosh Executive Producer
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A DARK COMEDY OF CLASS AND CULTURE, OF POLITICS AND PETS
HHHH THE GUARDIAN
HHHH THE TIMES
HHHH WHAT’S ON STAGE
Illustration by Tom Crowley
St. James Theatre Productions presents the Orange Tree Theatre’s
INVINCIBLE A play by TORBEN BETTS Directed by ELLIE JONES
10 JULY - 9 AUGUST DIRECT FROM SELL-OUT SUCCESS AT THE ORANGE TREE THEATRE The recession is biting hard so Emily and Oliver have decided to downsize and shift their middleclass London lifestyle to a small town in the north of England. They want to live, work and to raise their two young children in a friendly community, among what Emily terms ‘real people’, away from the cold anonymity of the city. These left leaning, well educated people have invited over two of their neighbours in an attempt to break the ice. Tonight Alan and Dawn are to be offered olives, anchovies and are introduced to Karl Marx and abstract art. As classes and outlooks collide, the scene is set for a meeting which will have consequences as hilarious as they are tragic. The cast comprises Daniel Copeland in the role of Alan, with Laura Howard as Emily, Samantha Seager as Dawn and Darren Strange as Oliver.
PERFORMANCE TIMES Mon - Sat eve Thur & Sat mats
7.30pm 2.30pm
Previews
Thur 10, Fri 11, Sat 12 & Mon 14 July
TICKETS
Mon - Sat Previews
£18, £24.50, £34.50, £45 £15, £21.50, £31.50, £42
300 x £10 seats across the run available (please call the box office to book)
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The National Youth Music Theatre presents
THE HIRED MAN Book by MELVYN BRAGG Music and Lyrics by HOWARD GOODALL
13 - 16 AUGUST SIX PERFORMANCES ONLY Based on Melvyn Bragg’s stirring novel of Cumbrian rural and industrial working life, The Hired Man tells the timeless, moving story of a young married couple and their struggle to carve a living from the land, just as the gathering storm of war in Europe threatens to disrupt their lives. Set against a background of whippet racing, hiring fairs, hunting, drinking bouts and union meetings, Goodall’s stirring music brings alive that cavalcade of British history that swept us into a new century and a war to end all wars. Founded in 1976, the NATIONAL YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE represents the very best in work with young people in musical theatre, leading Andrew Lloyd Webber to describe it as “the finest youth music theatre in the world”. www.nymt.org.uk
PERFORMANCE TIMES Wed - Sat eves Fri & Sat mats
7.30pm 2.30pm
TICKETS £18, £20, £25
Premium seats are also available at £30 Concessions and group bookings on request This production is supported by
An amateur production by arrangement with Samuel French Limited
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VIEW
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ONE SEASON. THREE PLAYS. ONE STAGE A brand new COMEDY, a reimagined MASTERPIECE and a thrilling REVIVAL make up the One Stage Season at St James Theatre. Launched by Stage One, the charity committed to developing and supporting new commercial theatre producers, this season promises an exciting variety of high quality productions from the next generation of theatre producers.
3 SEPTEMBER - 4 OCTOBER 2014
BREEDERS by Ben Ockrent directed by Tamara Harvey
8 OCTOBER - 8 NOVEMBER 2014
UNCLE VANYA by Anton Chekhov in a new version by Anya Reiss directed by Russell Bolam
12 NOVEMBER - 13 DECEMBER 2014
ACCOLADE by Emlyn Williams directed by Blanche McIntyre
#ONESTAGE | @STAGEONENEWPROD
A NEW COMEDY by Ben Ockrent Directed by Tamara Harvey
Vicky Graham Productions in association with Tom O’Connell for QNQ present
BREEDERS By BEN OCKRENT Directed by TAMARA HARVEY
3 SEPTEMBER - 4 OCTOBER THE PATH TO PARENTHOOD ISN’T ALWAYS STRAIGHT Andrea and her wife Caroline have it all: great jobs, a loving relationship and a new home. There’s just one thing missing: a baby. Amidst the drink-sodden traditions of a family Christmas, they have an idea: if nature can’t give them a child that shares both their genes, perhaps Andrea’s under-achieving brother Jimmy can? When he and his girlfriend Sharon agree, the four are forced closer than any family expects to be. Will this be the perfect solution? Or a recipe for disaster? This hilarious new comedy offers a fresh take on family, tradition and procreation, questioning not only why we have children, but how. Ben Ockrent’s credits include Olivier-nominated Honey for The Great Game: Afghanistan (Tricycle Theatre & US tour), Dust starring Alan Rickman (BAFTA long-list) and The Secrets (Working Title/ BBC1). Tamara Harvey (From Here To Eternity, Shaftesbury Theatre; In The Vale of Health, Hampstead Theatre and The Kitchen Sink, Bush Theatre) directs.
PERFORMANCE TIMES Mon - Sat eves Thurs & Sat mats
7.30pm 2.30pm
TICKETS £15, £37.50
Premium seats are also available at £49.50
9
Emily Dobbs for Jagged Fence Productions presents
UNCLE VANYA By ANTON CHEKHOV In a new version by ANYA REISS
8 OCTOBER - 8 NOVEMBER A beautiful autumn day, rural England. A respected professor returns to his farmland estate which has been quietly managed without him for many years. He brings with him a new, beautiful, young wife and their arrival turns the lives of the residents and his family upside down. As everyone starts to re-examine their choices, old wounds are reopened, passions are awakened and thwarted ambitions bubble to the surface, threatening the lives of everyone involved. Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya is widely considered one of the greatest plays of modern theatre. Re-uniting the team behind the critically acclaimed, sell-out successes of The Seagull and Three Sisters, awardwinning writer Anya Reiss reimagines this tragicomic masterpiece in a stunning new version for the 21st century.
HHHH “Fresh, sexy and downright perceptive” Daily Telegraph, Dominic Cavendish
(for Anya Reiss’ previous adaptation of The Seagull at the Southwark Playhouse)
PERFORMANCE TIMES Mon - Sat eves Thurs & Sat mats
7.30pm 2.30pm
Previews 8 - 12 October
TICKETS
£19.50, £29.50, £39.50 Premium seats are also available at £49.50
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★★★★★
‘A REVELATION’ Financial Times
‘EFFORTLESSLY CONTEMPORARY AND FRIGHTENINGLY RELEVANT.
BEG, BORROW OR STEAL TO GET A TICKET’ The Spectator
Nicola Seed presents
ACCOLADE By EMLYN WILLIAMS Directed by BLANCHE MCINTYRE
12 NOVEMBER - 13 DECEMBER “Suspense filled, utterly authentic. It’s riveting viewing.” Variety*
“A stunning rediscovery. Firmly and favourably, between Rattigan and David Hare.” Whatsonstage*
London, 1950. Private and public worlds collide when author Will Trenting’s knighthood attracts the glare of the British press. Will is forced to battle against the exposure of his secret life and the double standards of a society bent on destroying him. Rising star Director Blanche McIntyre (Best Director 2013, UK Theatre Awards) directs Emlyn Williams’ tale of sex, scandal and blackmail. As relevant now as when it first shocked audiences in 1950, this gripping thriller was awarded Time Out’s Best Off West End Production and three Off West End Awards including Best Production when it was presented at the Finborough Theatre in 2011.
PERFORMANCE TIMES Mon - Sat eves Thurs & Sat mats
7.30pm 2.30pm
TICKETS
£15, £29.50, £39.50 Premium seats are also available
*Reviews from the Finborough Theatre production, 2011
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From the company that brought you THE GRUFFALO & THE SNAIL AND THE WHALE
The perfect show fo ages 3+r
Tall Stories presents
THE SNOW DRAGON Based on the book by TOBY MITCHELL and ANNA LEWENHAUPT
9 DECEMBER - 4 JANUARY HHHHH “If you are a kid, if you have kids, if you ever were a kid, go and see The Snow Dragon.” Three Weeks
HHHH “Foot-tapping songs and some moments of pure magic... A perfectly charming children´s show that manages to keep the older audience members entertained too” The Scotsman Billy has everything a young goat could need – and more besides. On New Year’s Eve, Billy’s parents tell him about the legendary Snow Dragon, who will bring him even more goodies during the night. But when Billy bumps into some wolves in the woods, New Year’s Day seems a long way off. Find out how Billy escapes – and whether the Snow Dragon will bring him a present. Has Billy been naughty or nice? Story-telling, comedy and songs create a magical, mysterious world for everyone aged 3 and up, from the company that brought you The Gruffalo and last year’s Christmas hit The Snail and the Whale.
PERFORMANCE TIMES Mon - Sun
10am, 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm*
*Please check www.stjamestheatre.co.uk for specific days
TICKETS
£16, £18 Family Ticket of 4 : £55 (each additional ticket is £13.75) Schools price from £7.50 (contact Box Office for details)
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Seabright Productions presents
ERIC AND LITTLE ERN Created and performed by IAN ASHPITEL and JONTY STEPHENS Featuring classic material by EDDIE BRABEN, DICK HILLS and SID GREEN Directed by OWEN LEWIS
16 DECEMBER - 11 JANUARY HHHHH “Like Morecambe & Wise themselves, this is a wonderfully funny, genuine, and beautifully played two-hander” The Herald This affectionate, moving and fantastically funny homage to the greatest comedy double act that Britain has ever seen vividly brings back warm memories of a bygone era. Recreating some of the finest moments of Eric and Ernie’s television and stage performances, cherished moments from the archives sit alongside new material created by the performers. Together they make a brilliant comedy that recreates the all-ages appeal of Morecambe and Wise in their heyday, featuring classic material including the original Grieg Piano Concerto sketch and Eric’s take on Shakespeare. The show returns to London for a strictly limited four-week Christmas season following its acclaimed 2013 premiere, for which it received an Olivier Award nomination as Best Entertainment.
PERFORMANCE TIMES Tue - Sat eve Sun eve Wed - Sun mats
7.30pm* 7.00pm* 2.30pm, 3.30pm, 4pm*
No performances on Wed 24 Dec, Thur 25 Dec, Thur 1 Jan
*Please check www.stjamestheatre.co.uk for specific days
TICKETS
£20, £35 (Quote XMASSPECIAL to get 4 top price seats for £120) Premium seats are also available at £45
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BE DINED AND ENTERTAINED ALL UNDER ONE ROOF AT ST. JAMES St. James Theatre has more to offer than fantastic live performances, why not visit us to sample our award winning menu in our Restaurant. Open for lunch and dinner six days a week, serving the finest British foods with a European twist. The St. James also boasts a magnificent Bar and Brasserie offering a selection of coffees, afternoon teas, light bites and classic bar food with a contemporary twist. So if you are in Victoria or visiting Buckingham Palace, consider St James Bar and Brasserie as your number one stop for food & beverages.
ŠAndrew Randall Photography
RESERVATIONS 0207 592 0348 restaurant@stjamestheatre.co.uk
R ESTAUR A N T Enjoy our pre and post theatre menu with the added treat of being able to enjoy your dessert during the interval!
£22.50 for 2 courses £26.50 for 3 courses
B A R & BR ASS E R IE • • • •
Classic bar food with a contemporary twist Great selection of speciality beers, wines & champagne Free wifi Open all day
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CAB A R E T CO MEDY STUDIO
WI LD E WEEK It is extraordinary to think that only 15 weeks after the opening of Oscar Wilde’s most famous play STUDIO The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde was in jail. During Wilde Week, we present you with a 45 minute condensed version of this most celebrated of plays, and three new productions which dramatically recount Wilde’s swift and painful fall from grace, and subsequent imprisonment.
IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
7 - 11 JULY | 1pm & 6.15pm (5.30pm on 11 JULY) | £8 / £10 Butterfly return for Wilde Week with this timeless comedy masterpiece.
WILDE WITHOUT THE BOY
8 - 9 July | 8pm | £15 / £17.50* “Wilde Without the Boy” is a stirring dramatisation of “De Profundis”.
*BOTH PLAYS
£20
THE BALLAD OF READING GAOL 8 - 9 July | 9.30pm | £10 / £12.50*
Written by Oscar Wilde after his release from prison, The Ballad of Reading Gaol is a poem which narrates the execution of Charles Thomas Wooldridge, who was convicted of murdering his wife.
*BOTH PLAYS
£20
THE TRIALS OF OSCAR WILDE 10 - 12 July | 8pm | £15 / £17.50
A fascinating dramatisation of the libel and criminal trials of Oscar Wilde at the Old Bailey in 1895.
OSCAR WILDE: THE DOWNFALL OF A DECADENT 11 - 12 July | 6.30pm | £5
In this informal talk Merlin Holland, his only grandson, questions whether it was Wilde’s homosexuality alone which brought him down.
M US I C
THEATRE STUDIO MARRY ME A LITTLE
Songs by STEPHEN SONDHEIM
STUDIO
29 JULY - 10 AUGUST 8pm Previews £15 / £20 Weekdays £17 / £22 Weekends £19 / £24
Marry Me A Little uses material by the undisputed master of the contemporary Broadway musical Sondheim to tell a charming and bittersweet tale of love, loneliness and survival as a modern single. Two single strangers, left alone in their studio apartments on a Saturday night, pass their time with sweetly secret, unshared fantasies, never knowing that they’re just a floor away from each other and the end of their lonely dreams.
THE LION
19 AUGUST - 7 SEPTEMBER 8pm weekdays, 7pm Sundays, 9pm on 28th/29th/30th/4th/5th/6th Previews £15 / £25 Tickets £20 / £30 One man, six guitars and an incredible story of love, loss and survival. Direct from an off-Broadway season at the Manhattan Theatre Club, the Cole Porter award-winner Benjamin Scheuer returns to the studio with his brilliant solo musical show. “A sincerely gifted singer-songwriter-guitarist.” The Times
QUENTIN CRISP: NAKED HOPE 28 - 31 AUGUST 4 - 7 SEPTEMBER 7pm & 3pm Previews £15 / £25 Tickets £20 / £30
This new solo shows the late, great Englishman in New York, and London. Drawing on Quentin’s own writing in this new script by Mark Farrelly, who also performs. Directed by Linda Marlowe. “Mark Farrelly combines extrovert charm, effete self-possession and waspish intelligence” Daily Telegraph
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STUDIO THE POLITICAL PARTY WITH MATT FORDE
24 SEPTEMBER, 29 OCTOBER, 26 NOVEMBER 8pm | £12.50 / £15 Matt Forde hosts a comedy night STUDIO combining topical stand-up and a big interview with a political heavyweight.
THE SPORTS PARTY WITH MATT FORDE
11 SEPTEMBER, 16 OCTOBER, 20 NOVEMBER 8pm | £12.50 / £15 Sports-mad comedian and talkSPORT presenter Matt Forde hosts a brand new comedy chat show featuring some of the biggest professional names in sport as well celebrity fans and officials.
DAVID BEDELLA AND FRIENDS - PRIMETIME! 3 AUGUST, 14 SEPTEMBER, 5 OCTOBER, 2 NOVEMBER, 7 DECEMBER 7pm | £20 / £25
Olivier Award winner David Bedella, hosts a sophisticated evening of laughter, song, gossip & chat: featuring a live band and his many celebrity friends from the worlds of film, television, Broadway and the West End.
THE WONDERFUL MUSIC OF... 18 OCTOBER
The Wonderful Music of Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw
1 NOVEMBER The Wonderful Music of Herbie Hancock
15 NOVEMBER The Wonderful Music of Scott Joplin and the Ragtime Masters
29 NOVEMBER
The Wonderful Music of Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Cannonball See website for further details.
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SUNDAYS | MATINEE PERFORMANCES LAUNCHING SEPTEMBER 2014
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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 Lady Lucy French or Carolina Busina – we are very happy to discuss over the phone, email or in person over a coffee! 0207 654 9900 lucy@stjamestheatre.co.uk | carolina@stjamestheatre.co.uk
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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 Photographer credits for front cover: Mike Eddowes, Johan Persson, John Haynes, Andrew Billington, Nobby Clark, Phillip Gammon, Steve Ullathorne & Robert Workman