A number of West End stars have been lined up to appear in each of the new musicals chosen to feature in the programme for Paul Taylor-Mills’ MTFestUK at the Turbine Theatre next month.
Running from 3-15 February 2020 at the newly opened venue on the banks of the Thames in Battersea, the second MTFestUK will feature eight semi-staged productions.
Following its Edinburgh Fringe premiere over a decade ago, Pippa Cleary and Jake Brunger’s Jet Set Go will be the first show playing evening shows on Monday 3, Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 February as well as a matinee on the Wednesday. Luke Sheppard will direct Siubhan Harrison, Lizzy Connolly, Michael Mather, Tyrone Huntley and Simon Bailey.
Featuring Louise Dearman, Ben Richards, Laura Pitt Pulford, Clive Rowe and Bobbie Little, Soapdish will play evening performances on Thursday 6, Friday 7 and Saturday 8 February with a matinee performance on the Saturday. Previously seen as a staged reading in the US, the musical version of the hit 1990s film Soapdish boasts music by George Stiles and lyrics by Anthony Drewe with a book by the film’s co-writer Robert Harling. Rachel Kavanaugh will direct.
After premiering at Theatr Clwyd in 2008, the revival of The Assassination of Katie Hopkins will also be performed on the evenings of Thursday 6, Friday 7 and Saturday 8 February with a matinee performance on the Saturday. Written by Chris Bush and Matt Winkworth and directed by James Grieve, the cast will include original cast members Maimuna Memon, Bethzienna Williams, Kirby Hughes, Rakesh Boury, Derek Hutchinson and Matthew Woodyatt.
Written by award-winning composer Jason Carr and librettist Poppy Burton Morgan who also directs, Coldfront will feature Anna Francolini and Robbie Curran as unlikely lovers. With Natalie Rozario on cello, the musical will be performed on the evenings of Monday 10, Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 February with a matinee on the Wednesday.
Eurovision-inspired Eurobeat: Pride of Europe will also be performed on the evenings of Monday 10, Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 February with a matinee on the Wednesday. Written by Craig Christie and directed by Max Bex Roberts, the cast will be headed by Daniel Jacob with Matt Croke, Scott Paige, Bronte Barbe and Amy Ross.
Kim Criswell, Luke Bayer and Emma Kingston will take to the stage in the Game of Thrones-inspired Tyrell. Written by Alex Ratner and directed by Simon Greiff, the show will be performed on the evenings of Thursday 13, Friday 14 and Saturday 15 February with a matinee on the Saturday.
Also scheduled for performances on the evenings of Thursday 13, Friday 14 and Saturday 15 February with a matinee on the Saturday, the final show, Works of Art, will feature Robin Simões da Silva and Javez Sykes with Siubhan Harrison and Natalie Dunne. With music and lyrics by Robin Simões da Silva and a book by Annabel Mutale Reed, the performance will be directed by Annabelle Hollingdale.
The showcase event for new work by both emerging and established writers, also includes Tea For Two, a programme of intimate and frank afternoon conversations with Taylor-Mills and some of the industry’s most celebrated musical theatre practitioners; and Night Caps, an informal late-night concerts series getting to know some of the country’s eminent musical theatre stars through the songs that shaped them, songs they might never get to sing, and songs from new works.
Taylor-Mills previously oversaw the inaugural MTFestUK at his previous home The Other Palace in February 2019.
Presented by Bill Kenwright and founded and led by Taylor-Mills, the Turbine Theatre is an intimate theatre space under the Grosvenor Bridge railway arches at Circus West Village, that will be the first chapter in the regeneration of the iconic Battersea Power Station.
The venue’s inaugural season opened in August 2019 with a hit production of Harvey Fierstein’s classic Torch Song followed by the UK premiere of Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity and the venue’s first family show, The Cat in the Hat.
Angela Thomas
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