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NEW YEAR, NEW SHOWS AND SOME FAVOURITE THINGS AT WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE IN 2011 |
Wales Millennium Centre today unveiled its line-up for the new year, revealing a host of new productions making their Welsh debut, more dance from home and abroad, and some firm favourites making a welcome return to the Centre. New comedy play 'Corrie!', which celebrates 50 years of Britain's longest running soap-opera, 'Coronation Street', is just one of the shows coming to Wales for the first time in 2011. With Jack Duckworth's recent on-screen death being watched by some 11 million viewers, 'Coronation Street' is still much loved by audiences old and new. 'Corrie!' brings favourite characters and storylines from the hit ITV series to the stage. Written by award-winning playwright and 'Coronation Street' writer, Jonathan Harvey, audiences can expect to see past and present residents - including the Barlows, the Duckworths and the Platts - make their way from Weatherfield's famous cobbled streets to Cardiff from 25 to 30 April 2011. Relive those magic moments from 'the Street' including Alan Bradley knocked down by the tram, Tracy killing Charlie, Todd kissing Nick and Gail marrying Brian, Martin, Richard, not forgetting Joe. POLITICS AND SATIRE Politics will be high on the Welsh agenda next year. A Welsh general election takes place in May and voters will get a chance to decide on greater powers for the National Assembly for Wales and on changing the voting system in Westminster. Wales Millennium Centre presents the lighter side of politics with classic comedy 'Yes, Prime Minister' from 28 June to 2 July. Written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, the TV series 'Yes Prime Minister' entertained audiences by revealing the satirical side of government. Now the original writers have updated the series for the stage for a special 30th anniversary production which sees the Prime Minister of the coalition government on the brink of disaster. Political incorrectness, mischievous behaviour and colourful language abound in the Tony-award winning musical 'Avenue Q' which plays at Wales Millennium Centre from 14 to 18 June as part of its first-ever UK tour. 'Avenue Q' takes some cute 'Sesame Street' type puppets and gives them an adult rating as they and the actors on stage take a humorous look at everyday issues of life, love and work. MUSIC AND DANCE Set in 1950s Rock and Roll America and with an instantly recognisable soundtrack, the West End version of 'Grease The Musical' comes to the Centre for the first time as part of its 2011 tour. 'Grease is the Word' as Danny, Sandy, the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies from Rydell High say 'You're The One That I Want' and sing their way through the 'Summer Nights' from 25 July to 6 August. The Welsh seaside town of Llandudno is where Alice Liddel, the inspiration behind Lewis Carroll's Alice books, spent her childhood during the summer months. Now Scotland's national dance company brings its brand new production of Carroll's stories to life. 'Alice' is at the Centre from 4 to 7 May. Scottish Ballet will be accompanied by the full Scottish Ballet Orchestra performing a specially commissioned score by American composer Robert Moran. The Centre continues to bring the best international dance to Wales. Royal National Ballet New Zealand will premiere 'From Here to There' a triple bill of works featuring a range of dance styles on 11 July. National Dance Company Wales will perform work by the renowned American choreographer, Stephen Petronio, based on Dylan Thomas's poetry, 'By Singing Light' and featuring the BBC National Chorus live on stage. They will also present a new commission, 'Romance Inverse' by Tel Aviv-born award-winning choreographer Itzik Galili from 7 to 8 March. FAVOURITE THINGS Several familiar faces return to Wales Millennium Centre in 2011. After proving to be a big hit with diners last year, 'Faulty Towers The Dining Experience' is back to entertain audiences at the Centre's ffresh restaurant. This is a hilarious treat to banish those post Christmas blues as Basil, Manuel and Sybil serve a three course meal with all the chaos of the original 'Fawlty Towers' television series. The musical 'Footloose' premiered at the Centre in 2004 before going on to tour the rest of the UK and becoming a huge hit in the West End. Now with a brand new set and stylish costumes 'Footloose' comes back to the Centre's Donald Gordon stage this summer. 'Footloose' is based on the true story of a small town in America that has outlawed dance - until one teenager decides to bring dance back into the heart of the community. With great choreography and classic anthems from the 1980s, including Bonnie Tyler's smash hit song 'Holding Out For A Hero', it's time to put your dancing shoes back on from 6 to 11 June. Following successes in 'Chicago' and 'Witches of Eastwick', Marti Pellow returns to the Centre with a new tour of the Broadway musical 'Jekyll and Hyde' from 4 to 9 July. Based on Robert Louis Stevenson's classic gothic novella, Pellow plays the scientist with a sadistic alter ego. The hills and valleys of Wales will once again echo to some of their 'Favorite Things' as the Von Trapp family prepare to 'Do-Re-Mi' this summer from 22 August to 3 September. Get back into the habit of 'The Sound of Music' as Maria, the children and the Captain captivate audiences with 'My Favorite Things, 'Edelweiss' and of course the title song. Fiona Allan, Artistic Director, Wales Millennium Centre said: 'Our line-up for the new year proves that Wales Millennium Centre continues to build on its reputation for attracting a wide range of dance and large-scale West End musicals to Wales. Next year we are aiming to broaden our appeal to audiences by increasing the amount of drama at the Centre with shows such as 'Corrie!' and 'Yes, Prime Minister.'' |
| Wales Millennium Centre web site: www.wmc.org.uk |
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Friday, December 3, 2010 |
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