Studio Brochure: July - August 2014

C A B A RE T CO M E DY M US I C T H E AT RE

DOORS OPEN Mon - Sat 7.15pm*

Sun 6.30pm*

[show starts 8pm]

[show starts 7pm]

*Unless otherwise stated Prices on the door may vary - see website for further details

JULY - AUGUST 2014 0 8 4 4 2 6 4 2 1 4 0 | st j a m e st h e a t re.co. u k

J U LY

1st to 5th

TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY Monday 30 June & Tuesday 1 July £15/£17.50 The evergreen songs of Jerome Kern, with lyrics by some of the greatest in this field – P.G.Wodehouse, Oscar Hammerstein, Dorothy Fields, Johnny Mercer & Ira Gershwin, brought to you by the Royal Academy of Music Musical Theatre Company, directed by George Hall, with musical direction by Tom Brady.

WARTIME WOMEN: THE KHAKI CABARET Wednesday 2 July £20/£25 What did Mummy do in the War? Things she’d never done before!

Fiona-Jane Weston’s moving, humorous show with song, verse and personal accounts of the time when ‘ordinary’ women became pilots, mechanics and spies for the first time.

“Weston had the audience in the palm of her hand.”

Cabaret Scenes

CANNED CLARY Thursday 3 July – Friday 4 July £19.50/£22.50 Canned, condensed and completely organic, Julian Clary brings you music, filth and star guests in this intimate, queerish show where the public will be partying up close and personal with the man himself. Audiences can expect Julian (returning after eight sold out shows here in March) to deliver intimate revelations, gorgeous costumes, a raffle and special guests!

“The audience – gay, straight, young, old – loved Clary and it was easy to see why” Evening Standard On the 3rd, Julian will be joined by special guest Miss Hope Springs.

On the 4th, Julian will be joined by special guest Bob Downe.

MARI SINGS DUSTY Saturday 5 July £20/£25 Am I the same Girl – Mari Sings Dusty Mari was the obvious choice to play Dusty Springfield on the hugely successful national tour, Dusty the Musical. Tonight Mari pays homage to Dusty with her unique interpretations of the classic hits, along with some lesser-known gems.

“Wilson’s voice is just absolutely divine; soulful, powerful, emotional. She is a storyteller as well as a singer, and that is the description of what makes a great singer.” Catherine Balavage,

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FOOD @ ST. JAMES A selection of light bites will be available in the Studio or alternatively complete your night by booking a pre show meal in our award-winning Carrara restaurant.

WILDE WEEK Thursday 14 February 1895 was the triumphant opening night of The Importance of Being Earnest and the zenith of Wilde’s career. Less than 100 days later, he found himself a common prisoner sentenced to two years hard labour.

During Wilde week Butterfly Productions return to the St. James Studio with a 45-minute condensed version of this most celebrated of plays at lunchtime and, for the first time, immediately post-work. We then present three new plays that dramatically recount Wilde’s swift and painful fall from grace and subsequent imprisonment. To cap the week off, Merlin Holland, Oscar Wilde’s grandson, will present an informal talk and Q&A about the real causes of Wilde’s downfall.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST Monday 7 July – Saturday 11 July £8/£10 on the door 1pm & 6.15pm (Friday & Saturday 5.30pm) Butterfly productions present a timeless comedy masterpiece.

Oscar Wilde’s witty play will lift your spirits with wordplay, comic characters and sublime plot. Bring your own sandwiches and eat while you watch: a hilarious way to spend your lunch hour!

And for the first time, Earnest will be performed each evening at 6.15pm (except Friday at 5.30pm), so come and enjoy a drink and this ageless classic on your way home from work.

WILDE WITHOUT THE BOY Tuesday 8 July & Wednesday 9 July £15/£17.50 | 8pm “Wilde Without the Boy” is a dramatisation of “De Profundis”, the letter Oscar Wilde wrote from his prison cell in Reading gaol to his lover, Lord Alfred Douglas, after Wilde had been imprisoned for acts of gross indecency with other males.

*BOTH PLAYS

£20

“...The gods had given me almost everything…genius…brilliancy, intellectual daring...I summed up all systems in a phrase, and all existence in an epigram.” Oscar Wilde

THE BALLAD OF READING GAOL Tuesday 8 July & Wednesday 9 July £10/£12.50 | 9.30pm Written by Oscar Wilde after his release *BOTH from Reading Gaol,The Ballad of Reading Gaol is a poem which narrates the PLAYS execution of Charles Thomas Wooldridge, who £20 was convicted of murdering his wife. The Ballad of Reading Gaol moves from an objective story telling to Wilde’s juxtaposition of the executed man with himself, with the line “Yet each man kills the thing he loves”.

Wilde suggested it be published in Reynold’s Magazine, “because it circulates widely among the criminal classes – to which I now belong – for once I will be read by my peers – a new experience for me”.

THE TRIALS OF OSCAR WILDE Thursday 10 July – Saturday 12 July £15/£17.50 | 8pm Fresh from a UK tour, European Arts Company presents a dramatisation of the libel and criminal trials of Oscar Wilde, written by Merlin Holland and John O’Connor.

14 February 1895 was the triumphant opening night of The Importance of Being Earnest and the zenith of Wilde’s career.

Less than 100 days later, he found himself a common prisoner sentenced to two years hard labour.

So what happened during the trials and what did Wilde say?

Was he persecuted or the author of his own downfall? Using the original words spoken in court, we can feel what it was like to be in the company of a flawed genius - as this less than ideal husband was suddenly reduced to a man of no importance. “‘John Gorick does a superb job as a terse, poised Wilde, carving out a strong line from the wronged accuser to the accused.”

The Stage

Q&A: OSCAR WILDE: THE DOWNFALL OF A DECADENT Friday 11 July & Saturday 12 July £5 | 6.30pm To adapt one of his own well-known sayings, Oscar Wilde’s downfall was far from pure and never simple. In this informal talk Merlin Holland, his only grandson, questions whether it was Wilde’s homosexuality alone which brought him down.

J U LY

13th to 20th

THE CONFESSION ROOM Sunday 13 July £20/£25 7pm The Confession Room is an original British musical about a group of people who come together to spill their most embarrassing secrets and stories.

Starring Jon Robyns and Rebecca Trehearn.

“Outrageously funny!” West End Frame

RODGERS REVEALED Tuesday 15 July & Wednesday 16 July £20/£25 Returning following their remarkable Studio debut in May - Richard Rodgers aficionados Jason Carr and Edward Seckerson and Olivier Award winner Anna Francolini celebrate arguably the greatest and most versatile popular melodist of them all.

“From the moment the piano started up with those well-known tunes deftly strung together by the pianist and composer Jason Carr, we knew we were in for a special evening, but not quite how special.” Musical Theatre Review

FUNNY WOMEN AWARDS Thursday 17 July £15/£17.50 The Funny Women Awards have been promoting female comics for over a decade, and we’ve seen some fantastic acts pass through our doors who are now major names on the comedy circuit.

Join Funny Women for a unique night of comedy where you will see some fantastic new acts compete for a coveted place in the Funny Women Awards Final 2013, and help raise funds and awareness for domestic violence charity Refuge. Come along for a chance to spot the next big thing!

“A superb champion of talent”

Shane Allen, BBC controller Comedy Commissioning

SPEAKING SHAKESPEARE MASTERCLASS WITH SAM BARNETT Saturday 19 July £65/£15 observer 10.30am - 4pm The Acting Network brings you an intensive workshop focusing on speaking Shakespeare with clarity and ease. Sam recently returned from Broadway, playing Queen Elizabeth and Viola in the all male casts of Richard III & Twelfth Night. He has been nominated for Evening Standard, Tony and Olivier awards, won two Whatsonstage awards & a Drama Desk award.

JAMES TORMÉ Saturday 19 July £19.50/£24.50 Tormé Meets The British - Award-winning jazz singer James Tormé hosts an epic musical journey through music and family history from both sides of the pond. The singing star from Los Angeles uncovers hidden gems as well as big hits of stage and screen history, keeping your attention in the way that only a great entertainer can.

“An unforgettable story, told by jazz royalty, sung by one of the very best in the business” JazzFM’s Chris Phillips

PARTNERS IN CRIME Sunday 20 July £20/£25 6pm Julie Atherton and Laura PittPulford haven’t known each other long. But they’ve managed to get into plenty of trouble in the short time they’ve been friends - and we all know trouble makes for great theatre. Join these partners in crime on a musical journey of love, heartbreak and sweet sweet revenge in this cabaret about the ups and downs (mostly ups) of life.

“The St. James Studio is absolutely my favourite cabaret venue in London” Mark Shenton

J U LY

22nd to 28th

NERUDA with David Soul

Produced by Cedering Fox and Kirsty Peart Directed by Cedering Fox

Tuesday 22 July £25/£35 WordTheatre presents David Soul’s acclaimed show The Passion and Poetry of Pablo Neruda.

Accompanied by renowned guitarist Hugh Burns, David explores Neruda’s life reflected in his work and his poetry as inspired by his extraordinary life experience.

A Q&A with David and renowned biographer Adam Feinstein, author of Pablo Neruda: A Passion for Life will follow the interval.

JAMAICA FAREWELL Wednesday 23 July £15/£18 How expensive is a ticket from Jamaica to America? A cool million dollars. With all the surprise and ingenuity of the best make-believe tales, the true story of Debra Ehrhardt’s dangerous journey from the island of her youth to the country of her dreams will enthrall you, charm you, and ultimately leave you celebrating at her triumph.

“The writing is first-rate, edge-of-seat storytelling shot through with deliciously pointed humor.” LA Times

DORIAN FORD Friday 25 July £12.50/£15 Friendly grooves and natural interplay inspired by popular song, folk, improvisation and be-bop. Playing originals by Dorian Ford and Steve Rose, and tunes by Keith Jarrett, Ralph Towner, Miles Davis and Jobim.

Featuring lyrical Italian trumpeter Fulvio Sigurtá, Dorian Ford (piano), Steve Rose (bass) and London’s favourite drummer, Winston Clifford. “...The wide ranging, imaginative and melodic playing of Dorian Ford” Ollie Weindling, The Vortex

ANDY BELL is Torsten the Bareback Saint Written by Barney Ashton

Saturday 26 July £12.50/£20 Andy Bell, from pop legends Erasure, takes on ‘the most challenging role of my career so far’ as age-defying, Torsten The Bareback Saint. In this one-man theatrical song-cycle, he delivers musical missives from the hotspots of the memory of a learned, semi-immortal sensualist.

LOVE FOR SALE Sunday 27 July £17.50/£20 Join an expatriate songstress and her long-suffering pianist as they wander the backstreets of the 1930s drinking to love and loss, soldiers and sailors.

Kelly Burke and Tom Wakeley return with their sell-out show celebrating the music of Kurt Weill.

HHHHH “A tour de force – enthralling” ThreeWeeks

Al MURRAY The Pub Landlord: One Man, One Guvnor (WIP) Monday 28 July £12.50 7.30pm Twenty years ago Britain’s favourite publican Al Murray, The Pub Landlord, embarked on his one man mission as the King Cnut of Common Sense, holding back a tide of bottled beer and ninny state nonsense.

To celebrate this milestone join this icon on his new tour with his brand new show One Man, One Guvnor. Please note: This performance is a work in progress.

“Murray’s interaction with the crowd remains one of the wonders of the comedy world” The Times

AUGUST 3rd to 17th

DAVID BEDELLA AND FRIENDS - PRIMETIME! Sunday 3 August £20/£25 7pm Continuing his monthly Sunday night residency, Olivier Award winner, David Bedella hosts an 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. “Ferociously charming, witty, and possessing that mellifluous voice, Bedella weaves a magic on the stage that allows his guests to shine…” Paul Vale, Musical Theatre Review

JACK FOLEY Monday 4 August £15/£17.50 “An Evening of Vocal Luxury” introducing one of London’s finest tenors Jack Foley.

The night will feature his own personal tribute to Mario Lanza and his new release “Be My Love”. An unforgettable experience!

CELIA IMRIE Wednesday 13 August – Sunday 17 August £20 - £30 Performing something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue... and the one about the snakes, Olivier award winning actress, Celia Imrie, hotfoot from the 2nd Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, is coming to the St. James Studio. With songs and sketches by Jerry Herman, Lynda La Plante, Hermione Gingold, Noel Coward and Mozart, and anecdotes from her best selling autobiography, The Happy Hoofer, Celia intends to show you why Laughing Matters.

“A Shining Star in her weird and wonderful new cabaret act…”

Michael Coveney, Whatsonstage

TRANSFERRING DIRECT FROM OFF-BROADWAY PREMIERE AT MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB SEABRIGHT PRODUCTIONS presents

The Lion Written and performed by Benjamin Scheuer Directed by Sean Daniels

Tuesday 19 August – Sunday 7 September £10 - £30 4pm / 5pm / 7pm / 8pm / 9pm One man, six guitars and an incredible story of love, loss and survival. Cole Porter Award winner Benjamin Scheuer returns to the Studio with his brilliant solo musical show, which sold out here under its original title The Bridge last October.

“A folksinger’s throatiness that occasionally suggests Dylan” The Stage “New York’s next great young songwriter. His music stirs the soul, his lyrics pierce the heart. He is, quite simply, one of a kind.” Andrew Lippa

www.BenjaminScheuer.com

Quentin Crisp Naked Hope SEABRIGHT PRODUCTIONS presents

A new show about the original Englishman in New York & the Performed

by Mark Farrelly A new Written show about original Englishman in New York Written & Performed by Mark Farrelly Directed by Linda Marlowe Directed by Linda Marlowe

“It 28 takes a man to suffer7 ignorance and smile, Thursday August – Sunday September Be yourself no matter what they say.” £15 - £30 | 3pm / 7pm – Lyric from An Englishman In New York, written

by Sting about “It takes a man to suffer ignorance andQuentin smile, Be Crisp yourself no matter what they say.” – Lyric from An Englishman In New York,

written

by Sting about Quentin Crisp From a conventional Surrey upbringing to global notoriety v The Naked Civil Servant, Quentin Crisp was an extraordina From a conventional Surrey upbringing to global notoriety via raconteur and wit. This new production, making its Lond The Naked Civil Servant, Quentin Crisp was an extraordinary premiere after an Edinburgh season, shows raconteur and wit.

This new production, making Quentin its Londonboth in h beloved Chelsea as the season, 1970s dawned, and inboth his in final premiere after anflat Edinburgh shows Quentin his yea in beloved his adopted New new and millennium Chelsea flat York, as the with 1970sthe dawned, in his final beckonin years

in his adopted New York, with the new millennium beckoning.

The show draws on Quentin’s own writing and performanc show draws on Quentin’s own writing and performances in The a new script by Mark Farrelly, who also performs (West E in a new script by Mark Farrelly, who also performs (West End credits include Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf with Matthe credits include Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf with Matthew Kelly). bythe therenowned renowned Linda Marlowe, who h Kelly).He Heisis directed directed by Linda Marlowe, who has won awards ownsolo solo work such as Berkoff’s Women won awardsfor for her her own work such as Berkoff’s Women.

“MarkFarrelly Farrelly combines charm, effete ‘Mark combinesextrovert extrovert charm, effete self-possessio self-possession and waspish intelligence.”

Daily Telegraph and waspish intelligence.’

Daily Telegraph

www.nakedhope.co.uk

Thursday 28 August - Sunday 7 September

Coming Soon...

MATT FORDE TALKS SPORT 11 September / 16 October 20 November £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.

THE PAUL ZERDIN SHOW Thursday 18 & Friday 19 September £19.50/£22.50 The Master Ventriloquist returns with a brand new show featuring your favourite sponge characters, stand up and some wicked audience participation.

They might be cute little puppets but leave the kids at home..!

THE POLITICAL PARTY WITH MATT FORDE 24 September / 29 October 26 November £12.50/£15 Matt Forde hosts a comedy night combining topical stand-up and a big interview with a political heavyweight.

“Forde is a first-class comic” Guardian

DAVID BEDELLA AND FRIENDS - PRIMETIME! 14 September / 5 October 2 November / 7 December £20/£25 7pm 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.

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Saturday November 29th The Wonderful Music of

Miles Davis, John Coltrane & Cannonball Adderley featuring Chris Ingham’s Rebop

The Wonderful music commences at 8pm

Tickets £17.50 & £20

To book either call 0844 264 2140 or go online to www.stjamestheatre.co.uk.

St. James Studio, 12 Palace Street, London SW1E 5JA (round the corner from Victoria Station and Buckingham Palace).

Arrive early and dine in the Carrera restaurant at the St. James Theatre and stay late after the show relaxing in the bustling café bar.

Tuesday 29 July Sunday 10 August

H OW TO F I N D U S

12

Palace

Street,

London

SW1E

5JA

BY TUBE The nearest tube is Victoria. We are situated within a 5 minute walk of the station.

NATIONAL RAIL Victoria Station is less than 5 minutes walk from the theatre.

PARKING Free parking after 6.30pm is available in nearby streets.

BY BUS Routes 16, 38, 52, 73, 42, 148 all pass by near the theatre.

0844 264 2140

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stjamestheatre.co.uk