Latest 7 magazine

Hugh the Drover (or Love in the Stocks)
New Sussex Opera presents Vaughan Williams’ debut complete opera first seen in 1924. This radiantly lyrical work is rich in the English folk-music idiom dear to Vaughan Williams. Set in the Cotswolds in 1812, the plot centres around a prize-fight to win the hand of the beautiful Mary, which divides a tightly-knit community.
Connaught Theatre, Worthing 25 November, 7.30pm www.worthingtheatres.co.uk
01903 206206 and Lewes Town Hall, 28 November, 7pm
Read the rest of this article »

Andrew Kay finds classic Lewis Carroll in a new working by Adrian Mitchell at Chichester Festival Theatre

Alice In Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass will be staged by the award-winning Chichester Festival Youth Theatre. Lewis Carroll’s enchanting story is adapted for the stage by Adrian Mitchell, set to new music by Matthew Scott and directed by Dale Rooks.

The magical story is timeless: on a golden afternoon, Alice meets a smartly dressed white rabbit, looking at his watch, muttering to himself, “Oh my ears and whiskers, I‘m late”. She follows him down the rabbit hole into a remarkable world and so begin her adventures in Wonderland. Along the way she meets talking cakes and bottles, encounters a strange lobster dance, attends a tea party with the Mad Hatter and plays a dangerous game of croquet with the King and Queen of Hearts. Since it was first written, this story has captured the imagination of generations of children and adults alike through its exploration of time, logic and its captivating characters.
Read the rest of this article »

Having a Ball: Andrew Kay meets Emma Dearden, Cinderella, at the Theatre Royal Brighton

With only a few weeks left to the start of panto season I went along to meet Brighton’s next Cinderella. Emma Dearden is pretty and vivacious and is sat in the bar in her rags costume. This year, Theatre Royal Brighton are following their successful move away from a traditional panto to a more modern Christmas Musical. But does it still have the panto magic?

“There is lots of panto magic,” Emma says, “but most excitingly there are new songs by Chris Hatt who was musical director on Billy Elliot in the West End.”
Read the rest of this article »

Miss Hope Springs… recovering showgirl
The creation of Ty Jeffries, Hope returns to Brighton after a successful run at London’s Drill Hall. Jeffries is a master songwriter and performer and Hope is the bitter-sweet – no, bitter – fruit of his creative loins. Not to be missed.
The Brighton Ballroom, 25 November, 8.30pm, £10/£8
01273 605 789 or www.brightonballroom.com

Stage Kids
Crawley Youth Theatre are looking for new members to join their group.  Budding young actors and actresses should be excited to hear that the group for 13 – 18 year olds are looking for new performers to be part of CYT. They are about to start work on their show for February so it’s the perfect time to get involved.
More information from Community Arts Officer, Jo Joseph: 01293 438151/ jo.joseph@crawley.gov.uk or Gemma Legrand , the group leader, on 01293 438107/ gemma.legrand@crawley.gov.uk

The Haunting
Sean Maguire is making his longest return to the UK in the last five years. Currently touring in brand new play. The Haunting, he will take to the Eastbourne stage alongside Paul Nicholas. The play is based on some of the spine-tingling works of Charles Dickens.
Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne, on Monday 22 – Saturday 27 November, Monday – Saturday evenings, Wednesday and Saturday matinees, £13.50 – £19.50, 01323 412000, www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk