1st January – continuing – DICK WHITTINGTON
8th January – CALENDAR GIRLS the musical
On the stage – for TWO weeks – CALENDAR GIRLS – (previously titled “The Girls”) is a musical with music and lyrics by Gary Barlow and a book by Tim Firth. The show is based on the 2003 film Calendar Girls, which is in turn based on a true story. The musical received its world premiere at the Grand Theatre, Leeds in 2015, before transferring to The Lowry, Salford in January 2016. It went on to open in London’s West End at the Phoenix Theatre in February 2017. The true story of the calendar girls – a group of ordinary ladies who achieved something extraordinary. This marvellous musical comedy which received fantastic five star reviews in London’s West End visited the Mayflower Theatre starring Fern Britton, Anna-Jane Casey, Sara Crowe, Karen Dunbar, Ruth Madoc, Rebecca Storm and Denise Welch.
22nd January – AMERICAN IDIOT
On the stage – for five days – AMERICAN IDIOT – The tenth anniversary tour started out from the Mayflower where it had its original European premiere. Based on the music of hit band Green Day, the show features songs such as “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”, “21 Guns” and “Wake Me Up When September Ends”. The show won the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Regional Production in 2013 and ran at the Arts Theatre in 2016.
Appearing in the show is Waterloo Road’s Tom Milner as Johnny; 2013’s X Factor third place runner-up Luke Friend as St Jimmy; and 2016 X Factor finalist Sam Lavery as Whatsername. The cast is completed by Glenn Adamson as Theo, Laura Marie Benson as Lesley, Jennifer Caldwell as Swing, Joshua Dowen as Tunny, Raquel Jones as Extraordinary Girl, Daniel Law as Swing, Rory Maguire as Gerard, Shekinah McFarlane as Alysha, Siobhan O’Driscoll as Heather, Samuel Pope as Will, Alexandra Robinson as Libby and Christian Tyler-Wood as Declan.
The show was directed and choreographed by Racky Plews with with musical supervision by Richard Morris, design by Sara Perks, sound by Chris Whybrow and lighting by Tim Deiling.
Tom Milner and Sam Lavery sing the classic Boulevard of Broken Dreams from the 2019 UK tour of Green Day’s American Idiot – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ1p9yLG_bI
30th January – BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET
On the stage – for FOUR nights -BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET – BEAUTY AND THE BEAST – performed by Birmingham Royal Ballet is a wonderful piece of work: mysterious, ambiguous, magical. In 2003, the myth of the Beauty and the Beast was seized upon by BRB’s David Bintley, who created a two-act piece replete with all the unflinching darkness of the true fairytale. The anti-“story ballet” league gave it a muted reception, although the Philip Prowse designs – breathtakingly atmospheric, coloured in the rich black and gold of Boulle furniture – were rapturously acclaimed. Also praised was an intelligent new score from Canadian composer Glenn Buhr.
Thge ballet tells the story of A cruel Prince, cursed to spend the rest of his life living in a fantastical castle with the animals he callously hunted, finds salvation in the heart of a beautiful girl. Caught stealing a single rose, Belle’s desperate father exchanges his youngest daughter’s freedom for his own life. In his distant castle the Beast, stripped of his handsome features and his very humanity, must win her heart, or spend the rest of his life in bitter solitude. In David Bintley’s Gothic ballet, there are transformations, wild waltzes, soaring birds and a relationship between Belle and the Beast that is at first terrifying, but ultimately serene and beautiful.
This was its first appearance at the Mayflower and follows a successful 2019 tour.
3rd February – ANTON AND ERIN
On the stage – for one day – ANTON & ERIN – MAYFLOWER – The nation’s favourite ballroom couple present a world where Ballroom meets Musical Theatre with stunning costumes & breath-taking choreography, set to iconic theatrical music from shows including ‘Phantom of the Opera’, ‘Mary Poppins’, ‘42nd Street’, ‘Wicked’, ‘Top Hat’, ‘Hairspray’ and ‘Jersey Boys’. Joining Anton and Erin live on stage will be the London Concert Orchestra with conductor Richard Balcombe, a sensational West End dance ensemble and the brilliant starvocalist, Lance Ellington. The show will also feature the very popular ‘Q and A’ section providing some fun interaction with the audience.
5th February – THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN
On the stage – for five days – THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN – MAYFLOWER – Rachel Watson longs for a different life. Her only escape is the perfect couple she watches through the train window every day, happy and in love. Or so it appears. When Rachel learns that the woman she’s been secretly watching has suddenly disappeared, she finds herself as a witness and even a suspect in a thrilling mystery in which she will face bigger revelations than she could ever have anticipated. Adapted from Paula Hawkins’ novel – an international phenomenon selling over twenty million copies worldwide – this gripping play keeps you guessing until the final moment.
This was a West Yorkshire Playhouse production in association with Simon Friend and starred Samantha Womack as Rachel, John Dougall as D.I.Gaskill and Oliver Farnsworth as Scott,
10th February – WESSEX HEARTBEAT CHARITY GALA
On the stage – one night only – Wessex Heartbeat Variety Show – Wessex Heartbeat, a charity raising funds for the Cardiac Centre at the Southampton General Hospital brought to Mayflower Theatre a variety show featuring Kerry Ellis from Wicked and Gareth Oliver from Britain’s Got Talent. Also featuring in the show were other top performers and local schools, colleges plus local choirs and dance academies. With over 250 performers in the show the evening brought the West End and local talent together in a show not to be missed.
11th February – THE FULL MONTY
On the stage – for six days – THE FULL MONTY – is an acclaimed British film and the stage play has become one of the most popular, especially with women of a certain age. This production about six out-of-work, impoverished steelworkers from Sheffield with nothing to lose is based on the smash hit film and adapted for the stage by Oscar-winning writer Simon Beaufoy, this production features Gary Lucy who has made the part of Gaz his own, with a cast of Andrew Dunn, Louis Emerick, Joe Gill, Kai Owen and James Redmond with songs by Donna Summer, Hot Chocolate and Tom Jones.
They reckon that at many performances there were more men onstage and in the crew than in the auditorium.
26th February – MACBETH
On the stage – for FIVE days – Macbeth – Scottish actor Michael Nardone played the title role in the National Theatre’s touring production of Macbeth. He starred alongside Kirsty Besterman playing Lady Macbeth. Following its sold-out London run the National Theatre’s epic and visually daring production featured a 19-strong touring ensemble comprising Kirsty Besterman (Lady Macbeth), Joseph Brown (Malcolm), Elizabeth Chan (Witch), Nisa Cole (Fleance), Reuben Johnson (Doctor), Helen Katamba (Murderer), Tom Mannion (Duncan & Siward), Brad Morrison (Murderer), Michael Nardone (Macbeth), Hauk Pattison (Murderer), Evelyn Roberts (Witch & Boy), James Robinson (Lennox), Patrick Robinson (Banquo), Duncan Ross (Ensemble), Rachel Sanders (Ross), Olivia Sweeney (Witch & Gentlewoman), Deka Walmsley (Porter), Ross Waiton (Macduff), and Lisa Zahra (Lady Macduff).
The ruined aftermath of a bloody civil war. Ruthlessly fighting to survive, the Macbeths are thrust towards the crown by forces of elemental darkness. Directed by NT Artistic Director Rufus Norris (Cabaret, London Road) and designed by Rae Smith (War Horse, This House) this new production propels Shakespeare’s classic title into a post-apocalyptic world of anarchy and uncertainty.
The promo reel – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuB2bgrKRoM
3rd March – VAMPIRE ROCKS
On the stage – for one night – VAMPIRE ROCKS – From the producers of Anything For Love – The Meat Loaf Story, Steve Steinman brings you the classic rock musical sensation that’s been rocking the nation for 18 years. VAMPIRE ROCKS starring Steve Steinman and Sam Bailey with an incredible cast of singers, dancers and musicians,. A tongue-in-cheek storyline combined with an incredible stage set, lighting and sound, and a show like no other. Featuring over 30 of the greatest classic rock anthems of all time, including Queen, AC/DC, Bonnie Tyler, Meat Loaf, Bon Jovi, Journey, Guns N’ Roses.
4th March – AN EVENING WITH THE HAIRY BIKERS
Live – one night only – AN EVENING WITH THE HAIRY BIKERS – Si King and Dave Myers, aka The Hairy Bikers, promise an epic night of cooking and conversation. Big hearted, down-to-earth cooks with a love of good food, Si and Dave have been cooking together for more than twenty years. They have created haute cuisine dishes with Michelin-starred chefs and travelled the world in the pursuit of great food. They’ve also explored the length and breadth of the British Isles to discover brand new recipes and create their own fresh takes on cooking classics.
The show started with a brief spoof video featuring Si and Dave at the “Hairy Biker Mansion” sharing a bath tub drinking champagne and a butler answering the phone for them, a play on the idea that fame has not changed them. The stage had a small seating area on the left which also had a set of drums for Thunder, a rock band consisting of some aging (seated) rockers featuring three guitar players, a lead singer and a drummer that played a few numbers throughout the night, a centre small cooking area and a table where two sets of guests (for each of the two halves of the evening) sat to try the food having been fetched by “Deano”, dressed in a butler’s uniform.
6th March – THE WORST WITCH
On the stage – for five days – THE WORST WITCH – Long before Harry Potter, there was Mildred Hubble. An ordinary girl who found herself in an extraordinary place: a school for witches. Now in her final year, accident prone Mildred and her fellow pupils are about to embark on their biggest and most important adventure yet…Jealous Ethel Hallow is always out to spoil Mildred’s fun. Miss Hardbroom is opposed to all fun in general. And just as Mildred sparks some inevitable mayhem certain to upset them both, an old enemy returns with a plan for revenge that could threaten not just the academy, but the whole world. Featuring all of Jill Murphy’s beloved characters, this thrilling new stage adaptation of The Worst Witch is written by Emma Reeves and directed by Theresa Heskins with original songs, music, magic and a dose of Mildred’s unique brand of utter pandemonium.
12th March – THE BAND
On the stage – for 5 days- THE BAND – is a jukebox musical with music and lyrics by Take That and a book by Tim Firth. It received its world premiere at the Manchester Opera House, in September 2017, before embarking on a UK tour kicking off here at the Mayflower. The band was cast through the 2017 BBC reality television show Let It Shine. The musical tells the story of five women who were best friends as teenagers and all big fans of The Band. 25 years later after losing contact the four of them reunite to fulfill their dream of seeing the band perform. So successful was The Band on its first visit that a decision was made to add an additional week to the tour in order that the show could finish back at the scene of its biggest success.
19th March – JERSEY BOYS
On the stage – for eleven days (not 24th) – the last date for the 2018/19 tour of JERSEY BOYS, rescheduled from the previous year when plans for the theatre’s refurbishment indicated that work would take longer than originally thought. A return for the 2005 jukebox musical with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe, and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. It is presented in a documentary-style format that dramatizes the formation, that had a highly successful run at the theatre with the original touring production back in August 2015.
It is presented in a documentary-style format that dramatizes the formation, success and eventual break-up of the 1960s rock ‘n’ roll group The Four Seasons. The musical is structured as four “seasons”, each narrated by a different member of the band who gives his own perspective on its history and music. Songs include “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Sherry”, “December 1963 (Oh, What A Night)”, “My Eyes Adored You”, “Stay”, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, “Working My Way Back to You” and “Rag Doll”, among others.
Jersey Boys won four 2006 Tony Awards including Best Musical, and the 2009 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical.
31st March – THAT’LL BE THE DAY
Live – one night only – THAT’LL BE THE DAY – This Rock & Roll variety production returns for a sixth time with a brand new show featuring live music performances, this Rock & Roll show blends classic gold hits from the 50s, 60s & 70s has been updated into the 80s, 90s and beyond with bags of comedy! Now in its 33rd year of consecutive national touring, That’ll Be The Day is living proof that Rock & Roll will never die!
“Lighting, costumes, and choreography are superbly professional, the ten cast members (although with all the authentic wigs, they seem more than ten!) are astonishingly multi-talented, and the whole show is wonderfully entertaining. “
