Preview: Kiss Me Kate at Newcastle Theatre Royal

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BROADWAY’S LEGENDARY KISS ME, KATE HEADS FOR NEWCASTLE SHOWDOWN

Kiss Me Kate

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Friday 6^th – Saturday 7^th November 2015

A major new production of one of Broadway’s greatest treasures, the legendary ‘battle of the sexes’ Kiss Me, Kate is heading for Newcastle Theatre Royal in November, so prepare for high heels, high jinx and outrageous musical mischief as the sparks start to fly!  Appearing for three performances only Friday 6^th – Saturday 7^th November 2015.

Cole Porter’s classic musical comedy is set both on and off-stage during a performance of The Taming of the Shrew. The show revolves around the tempestuous love lives of actor-manager Fred Graham and his leading lady and ex-wife, Lilli Vanessi. Throw in Fred’s current paramour Lois Lane, her gambler boyfriend Bill – and a couple of gangsters who somehow get caught up in the show – and the stage is set for a funny and farcical battle! 

A charming homage to the sparkling wit of Shakespeare and an irresistible celebration of the joy and madness of working in theatre, Cole Porter’s witty, jazz-inflected score features hit after hit, with show-stopping numbers including Another Op’nin’ Another Show, So in Love, Always True to You in My Fashion and Too Darn Hot.

Performed by a cast of truly outst

anding opera and West End singers, with the full scale orchestra of co-producers Opera North, the show brings the magical sound of Broadway and the golden age of MGM musicals back to life on stage.

Tiffany Graves stars as Lois Lane/Bianca. Most recently seen as Ulla in The Producers 2015 UK tour, Tiffany’s previous West End roles including both Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart in Chicago; Sweet Charity at the Theatre Royal Haymarket; and Killer Queen in We Will Rock You.

Bill Calhoun/Lucentio is played by musical theatre star and 2015 UK Theatre Awards nominee Ashley Day, who was at the Theatre Royal in June playing the lead role of Curly in Oklahoma! to critical acclaim (Royal and Derngate and UK Tour) and has previously appeared as Elder Price in The Book of Mormon in the West End.

Top talent from the West End meets top talent from the world of opera as Tiffany and Ashley are joined by Jeni Bern as Lilli Vanessi/Katherine and Quirijn de Lang as Fred Graham/Petruchio. Jeni’s roles at Opera North have included Tytania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, while Quirijn has most recently played Count Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro.

This new production is conducted by David Charles Abell (Sweeney Todd, English National Opera, Fiddler on the Roof, Grange Park Opera) and directed by Jo Davies, who is responsible for a string of recent five-star successes for Opera North, including Ruddigore, Carousel and The Marriage of Figaro. What’s more, The Marriage of Figaro has just been nominated in the Achievement in Opera category for this year’s UK Theatre Awards.

Exciting new choreography is by Will Tuckett (Royal Ballet, English National Ballet) whose recent shows include West Side Story (Sage Gateshead).

Kiss Me, Kate is an Opera North co-production with Welsh National Opera.

Tickets:

Kiss Me, Kate is at Newcastle Theatre Royal for three performances only between Friday 6^th and Saturday 7^th November 2015, playing evenings at 7.15pm and matinee on Sat 2.15pm.

Tickets from £18.50 (save 50p per ticket online). Tickets can be purchased online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge)