Curve announces new spring / summer 2013 season of shows
The new season at Leicester’s Curve theatre goes on sale on Saturday 3 November 2012*. As well as the previously announced new Curve production PIAF (22 February – 16 March) and the much-anticipated return of Leicester’s own smash-hit musical HOT STUFF (20 April – 26 May), Curve is thrilled to announce its full Spring/Summer programme of work. Curve also confirms that it will stage a new production of Richard III in its 2013 – 2014 Season (full information to follow at a later date).
Curve Artistic Director, Paul Kerryson says:
“We look forward to welcoming you to Curve and our exciting Spring/Summer programme, which is packed with a truly varied range of productions. The new season includes the explosive story of the legendary singer Piaf, the new production of Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty, and the return of Kneehigh and the National Theatre. Our thriving Curve Young Company will present a thrilling season to provide a platform for local talent and, looking ahead to our 2013-2014 programme and following the huge international interest in England’s notorious king, we will also be presenting a new production of Richard III.”
Curve Chief Executive, Fiona Allan added:
“As well as the gripping productions which Paul mentions, we’re especially looking forward to our first co-production with the Mercury Theatre, Colchester on Howard Goodall’s remarkable The Hired Man. We’re delighted to continue our relationship with De Montfort University, with which we will co-produce two Caryl Churchill plays, Fen and Serious Money, and our line up for Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival will brighten up those February nights.”
THE CERI DUPREE SHOW
4 – 9 February 2013
Local favourite and Hot Stuff star Ceri Dupree takes to the stage with his one-man, 21-woman show and an evening of hysterical comedy, amazing vocal impersonations and jaw-dropping costumes.
Curve theatre and De Montfort University present
SERIOUS MONEY and FEN
28 February – 9 March 2013
Set under the watch of a Tory government, SERIOUS MONEY (1 – 9 Mar) is a timely story of a country gripped by recession and hurtling towards a catastrophic meltdown, directed by Curve Associate Director (Community Engagement)Suba Das. In complete contrast, Curve Associate Director (Participation & Learning) Tim Ford directs FEN (28 Feb – 9 Mar), which follows the interweaving lives of different generations of women in a ghostly tale of love among the local farm workers of the English fens.
A Curve theatre & Mercury Theatre, Colchester co-production
THE HIRED MAN
12 – 17 April 0213
Based on the popular novel by Melvyn Bragg, this funny and nostalgic story follows a young married couple and their struggle to carve a living from the Cumbrian land amidst the gathering storm of war. This epic play will be brought to life by the renowned music of Howard Goodall, the EMMY, BRIT and BAFTA award-winning composer of West End hit Love Story, and themes for Blackadder, The Vicar of Dibley and QI.
Curve Young Company present
THE TEMPEST & THE DREAMING
27 June – 6 July 2013
Directed by Curve Associate Director Tim Ford, Curve Young Company follow their hugely popular production of last summer’s GAME FACE with THE TEMPEST (27 – 29 Jun), which sees the dramatic search for retribution and the journey of compassion in Shakespeare’s final play brought to life on stage, and THE DREAMING (4 – 6 Jul), which combines fantastic songs with dazzling comedy in a musical version of the much loved play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Curve Community production
SWEENEY TODD
30 July – 11 August 2013
Following last summer’s hugely successful community production of OLIVER!, Curve will again work with Leicestershire’s local talent in SWEENEY TODD (30 Jul – 11 Aug). The professional production team at Curve will join a cast of the region’s best individuals to present the legend of the demon barber of Fleet Street. This witty new version, directed byPaul Kerryson, is packed with humour and will bring the lively Victorian streets of London to Leicester.
A Little Angel Production in association with acclaimed theatre company Kneehigh
A VERY OLD MAN WITH ENORMOUS WINGS
29 January – 2 February 2013
Inspired by the short story by writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez, this children’s tale tells the magical story of a unique old man’s arrival in a village, after which nothing will ever be the same again. Returning after their sell out productions of Red Shoes and Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Kneehigh’s latest offering creates a magical world where the extraordinary takes flight in this brave and entertaining new play for ages six and above.
Presented by Edward Snape for Fiery Angel in association with Stage Entertainment UK and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse
THE LADYKILLERS
5 – 9 February 2013
Fresh from a sell out West End run, this critically acclaimed black comedy from Graham Linehan (Father Ted, The IT Crowd) follows the hilarious consequences Mrs Wilberforce faces when she finds herself embroiled in a heist by the villainous Professor Marcus and his gang. With only her parrot, General Gordon, to help her, Mrs Wilberforce is alone with five desperate men posing as amateur musicians – but who will be forced to face the music?
DAVE’S LEICESTER COMEDY FESTIVAL
8 – 24 February 2013
Curve will once again play host to DAVE’S LEICESTER COMEDY FESTIVAL, with 18 shows being performed across the festival. Highlights include Edinburgh Fringe star BRIDGET CHRISTIE (12 Feb), ISHI KHAN JACKSON (13 Feb), JAMES CAMPBELL COMEDY 4 KIDS (16 Feb), Britain’s favourite pub landlord AL MURRAY (23 Feb) and the festival finale COMEDY HEAVEN (24 Feb).
Kneehigh & West Yorkshire Playhouse present
STEPTOE & SON
12 – 16 February 2013
This funny and deeply moving play sees the iconic story of Albert and Harold Steptoe from the 1960s sitcom brought to the stage. Based on the original scripts, this darkly comic new adaptation from Emma Rice charts the surprising journey of a father and son bound together by birth, business, and bad luck.
Spirit Productions present
JERSEY NIGHTS
26 February – 2 March 2013
In a complete change of pace, the lively music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons is set to rock Curve in the international hit show JERSEY NIGHTS. Set in the early sixties and featuring stunning dancers and incredible costumes, this musical celebration delivers all of the band’s hit songs including Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You, Big Girls Don’t Cry,Let’s Hang On and many more.
ENGLISH TOURING OPERA
Così fan tutte and Simon Boccanegra
11 – 12 March 2013
For the first time ever, Curve will welcome opera to its stage with the acclaimed English Touring Opera. A lively comedy set to one of Mozart’s most famous scores, Così fan tutte (sung in English) takes place over one day as fiancés are parted, and new fiancés found, while Simon Boccanegra (sung in Italian) uses the music of Verdi to recreate the shimmering Mediterranean and its colourful characters.
The Official Agatha Christie Company presents
GO BACK FOR MURDER
25 – 30 March 2013
This thrilling new production from the Official Agatha Christie Company sees suspects, secrets and red herrings abound in a dramatic story packed with intrigue, murder and suspense.
Matthew Bourne’s
SLEEPING BEAUTY
9 – 13 April 2013
Matthew Bourne returns with the world premiere of his haunting new production, SLEEPING BEAUTY. The story begins in 1890 at the Christening of Princess Aurora, a time when fairies and vampires fed the gothic imagination, before moving forward a century to the modern day. Featuring the beloved music of Tchaikovsky, this latest re-imagining of a ballet classic is a supernatural love story for all ages.
Adapted by Stephen Mallatratt from the novel by Susan Hill
THE WOMAN IN BLACK
27 May – 1 June 2013
Now a major motion picture, this play follows the unsettling chain of events that follow when a lawyer engages a sceptical young actor to help him tell his frightening story and the borders between make believe and reality begin to blur. Having been seen by over 7 million people so far, this chilling production promises to transport audience into a terrifying and ghostly world.
SPARK FESTIVAL: SNOW QUEEN and VARMINTS
29 May – 7 June 2013
This brand new version of Hans Christian Andersen’s magical tale, SNOW QUEEN takes place after a freak snowstorm in India when Kumar is captured by the formidable Snow Queen and his closest friend battles through burning heat and glitzy Bollywood to rescue him. Based on the award-winning book Varmints by Helen Ward, the exhilarating new dance-theatre show VARMINTS tells the poignant tale of one small creature’s struggle to preserve a world in danger of being lost forever.
Birmingham Stage Company presents
JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH
4 – 8 June 2013
Following last summer’s HORRIBLE HISTORIES, the renowned Birmingham Stage Company return with their new stage adaptation of Roald Dahl’s incredible story of James and his escape from his revolting aunts into a magical world of mysterious characters.
THE PITMEN PAINTERS
10 – 15 June 2013
The National Theatre returns following its sell-out show ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS with its critically acclaimed production of THE PITMEN PAINTERS. Written by Lee Hall (Billy Elliot), this humorous and moving play tells the extraordinary true story of the Ashington miners, who hired a professor to teach an art appreciation class and sold their work to prestigious collections – yet continued to work down the mine.
– ENDS –
For further information, contact Lucy Dwyer, Media Officer: l.dwyer@curvetheatre.co.uk / 0116 242 3574
*Priority on sale for Curve members from Saturday 27 October with general on sale from Saturday 3 November 2012.
Notes for Editors:
- Anyone who is interested in appearing in Curve’s community production of Sweeney Todd can email experiencecurve@curvetheatre.co.uk by 31 December 2012 for further information
- Leicester Theatre Trust (LTT) is the independent charitable organisation that runs Curve
- Curve has been made possible through funding from: Leicester City Council, Arts Council England National Portfolio Funding, from The National Lottery, East Midlands Development Agency, Leicester Shire Economic Partnership, project part financed by the European Union (ERDF), in partnership with Leicester Theatre Trust and in association with Phoenix