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One of Britain’s most versatile actors who has appeared in everything from Dennis Potter dramas to Casualty is joining the cast of a supernatural thriller written by top playwright Alan Ayckbourn.
Joe McFadden has confirmed he will join the cast of Haunting Julia starring opposite Duncan Preston (Emmerdale, Dinnerladies), when the haunting play comes to Norwich Theatre Royal on November 5-10.
Joe McFadden. In Haunting Julia this November at Norwich's Theatre Royal.
The Scottish actor has appeared in a wide range of stage productions including Rent at the Shaftesbury Theatre, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying at Chichester Festival Theatre, and even Aladdin at the Lyceum in the West End.
His versatility has also spread to TV and he first came to small-screen prominence when he played the lead role of Dallas McCabe in Dennis Potter’s hit BBC comedy-drama Lipstick On Your Collar.
Joe’s other television roles including the BBC’s acclaimed production of The Crow Road, PC Joe Mason in ITV’s popular Sunday night hit Heartbeat, and the troubled drifter Alistair in Casualty.
He is joining the cast of the first-ever UK tour of the critically acclaimed London production of Haunting Julia written by the popular comedy writer Alan Ayckbourn.
Also in the cast are popular stage and TV actor Duncan Preston, and veteran actor Richard O’Callaghan who has enjoyed a wide-ranging career ranging form the UK theatre tour of Educating Rita and Twelfth Night at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre through Carry On films to Z Cars, Dalziel and Pascoe, and New Tricks on TV.
It also boasts a strong creative team. The director Andrew Hall has most recently been seen on TV playing Marc/Marcia Selby on Coronation Street and he is also an acclaimed director. His production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf starring Matthew Kelly was a huge critical and commercial success, and he has also just directed the European premiere of John Morogiello’s Engaging Shaw in Vienna.
Penned by renowned playwright Alan Ayckbourn, Haunting Julia breaks away from the writer’s normal rich seam of comedy to examine grief, obsession and the supernatural. The chilling production follows a father’s obsessive investigation into his daughter’s death trying to discover if she committed suicide or whether someone else was involved.
Haunting Julia, Monday 5-Saturday 10 November at 7.30pm, and Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets £5.50-£23. Discounts for Friends, Corporate Club, Over-60s, Under-18s and Groups.
BOX OFFICE 01603 630000. For more info or to BOOK ONLINE www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
National Trust to debut new Wallace & Gromit animation over Jubilee Weekend
The National Trust has launched a campaign today teaming up with national treasures Wallace and Gromit to help lead the country’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The loveable duo’s NEW mini animation will be shown for the first time ever at Trust places including Felbrigg Hall and Anglesey Abbey in the East of England. The funny flick has been specially created for the National Trust festivities and shows the pair preparing for the big weekend, by scaling the ladders to hoist the bunting up around a magnificent Trust manor.
The green grass carpet will be rolled out for the mini animation – A Jubilee Bunt-a-thon – and a behind the scenes documentary, which are to be exclusively screened at the Trust’s 70 Jubilee parties across the country. Their films have already met with the royal seal of approval with Camilla declaring that Wallace and Gromit are Prince Charles’ “favourite people in the world”.
The one-minute animation begins in the familiar setting of 62 West Wallaby Street with the ever faithful and long suffering Gromit sitting at his sewing machine making miles of bunting to adorn National Trust places across the country.
Tony Berry, Visitor Experience Director of the National Trust, comments:
“The National Trust and Wallace and Gromit are two of Britain’s greatest treasures and we felt it fitting that in this summer of celebration we should bring them together. We are holding our very own premiere of Wallace & Gromit’s Jubilee Bunt-a thon at our properties. It was made exclusively for the National Trust and we are really excited that it will encourage the nation to join us for an extra special Diamond Jubilee celebration.”
Nick Park, creator of Wallace and Gromit, comments:
“I have to pinch myself when I think how far Wallace and Gromit have come; from ideas in my head, to ‘film stars’ working with great organisations such as the National Trust, which the nation holds dear to its heart. At Aardman we are thrilled that Wallace and Gromit have had a chance to explore all the Trust has to offer – from helping to put up bunting to enjoying their Wensleydale cheese platter at a picnic. Wallace and Gromit are in for a cracking summer at the National Trust.
“The National Trust has a special place in my heart from a childhood memory of completing a paint- by- numbers at Stourhead, to Montacute House, on which we based Tottington Hall in the Curse of the Were-rabbit.”
Wallace & Gromit’s Jubilee Bunt-a-thon will be shown on 4th June at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk (11am – 10.30pm) and at Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire (10.30am – 5.30pm), where there will be some cracking Jubilee parties. As well as the debut of the mini animation and behind the scenes ‘making of…’ film, throughout the day visitors will be able to sit back, relax and watch some of our favourite Aardman films. There will be Wallace and Gromit model making workshops with trained Aardman animators (places limited on the day), themed trails, a variety of fun games for children and exclusive themed retail and catering treats for all the family.
Also, at Felbrigg Hall you can stay late and watch live coverage of the BBC’s Jubilee Concert from Buckingham Palace, where entry will be free.
For a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Wallace and Gromit film visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wallaceandgromit.
The film in numbers:
30 – number of people who contributed to the making of the film
3 – months it took to make
500 – hours taken to complete from storyboard to post production
60 – metres of bunting used to decorate West Wallaby Street and National Trust property
8 – hours spent brushing the grass with a fork to achieve the correct look
30 – kilograms of plasticine used
4 – number of Gromits used in filming
254 – weight in kilograms of the National Trust property in the film
NORWICH ARTS CENTRE WINS NME BEST SMALL VENUE IN EAST ANGLIA FOR SECOND YEAR RUNNING
Wild Beasts performing at Norwich Arts Centre.
Thousands of people voted via NME.COM to choose their favourite small venue (under 500 capacity) in the UK, and based on these votes a list of the most beloved venues in each region was announced today.
In the Eastern region, Norwich Arts Centre has received the most votes and gone forward to the final national round.
Marketing Manager Jenny Allison explains “We are really proud and honored to be included in the final shortlist for the NME poll. Once again there are some great venues listed and it will be a tough decision for the judges. Norwich has a really vibrant music scene and hopefully our inclusion for the second time will continue to inspire young musicians in the area to take to the stage and will attract more bands to play in our fine City”.
Stuart Hobday, Director of NAC feels “It’s a real boost for everyone at the venue and it’s support of new music. It’s great to receive this national recognition for the second year running and we have our fingers crossed for the final result”.
The regional winners are:
South East: Tunbridge Wells Forum
South West: Bristol Thekla
Wales: Bridgend Hobos
Midlands: Stoke Sugarmill
London: 100 Club
East Anglia: Norwich Arts Centre
North East: Leeds Brudenell Social Club
North West: Hebden Bridge Trades Club
Scotland: Cabaret Voltaire in Edinburgh
Northern Ireland: Belfast Limelight
The shortlist will now be put to a panel of judges, with the winner revealed a week today (May 8).
The judges for this year’s search to find Britain’s Best Small Venue are Frank Turner, T In The Park and Glasgow King Tuts Wah Wah Hut promoter Geoff Ellis, Reading And Leeds Festivals main man Melvin Benn, head of UK Music Jo Dipple, Radio 1′s Huw Stephens and NME’s own Krissi Murison, Mike Williams and Luke Lewis.
As part of our campaign to find Britain’s Best Small Venue, NME has partnered with JD Roots to support local music.
J.D. Roots will stage a series of three shows across the UK that takes alternative music acts back to their hometowns for one-off gigs during May. The Cribs, The Horrors and Twin Atlantic will all be performing in intimate settings in their respective hometowns.
Marina & The Diamonds at Norwich Arts Centre.
Norwich Arts Centre.
St. Benedict’s Street, Norwich, NR2 4PG.
Tel: 01603 660352 (Box Office).
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