Shakespeare 4 Kidz News

S4K's ROMEO AND JULIET - The Musical has begun its eight-month tour of the UK at the Palace Theatre in Mansfield.

Neal Andrews plays Romeo and Jenny Perry is Juliet in the musical adaptation by Julian Chenery and Matt Gimblett that was first produced in July 1997. The show tours the UK throughout the autumn, closing at the end of November for the pantomime season, and opens again on 13th January at the Liverpool Empire touring through the spring (with S4K's The Tempest) until 3rd April 2009.

R&J will then embark on an international tour to Europe and the Middle East. International dates will be announced shortly

West Sussex County Times

Friday 29th August 2008

CHOREOGRAPHER Joseph Fowler has worked with the likes of Dame Shirley Bassey and tenor Placido Domingo.Now he is in Horsham working on Shakespeare 4 Kidz' new project Romeo and Juliet which is previewing this coming week in the town.

"This is the first project I have done in England for a long time," explained globe-trotting Joseph."Shakespeare 4 Kidz is a company I have been aware of for many years."

This unique company was formed 13 years ago and creates short musicals to bring the bard's work to life for thousands of people young and old.

"The whole ethos of what we do is to really get people of all ages, but particularly young people, interested in what we perceive to be our cultural heritage," explained director Julian Chenery.

"Shakespeare is the only true world class icon we have in the arts.

"I can't think of another British artist that is known throughout the world."

He added: "As a company we have had a relationship with Michael Gattrell (manager of The Capitol) for years and years.

"For the past five years we have been rehearsing and producing out of here in association with The Capitol.

"It is one of the [most] fantastic theatres in the country."

The company includes a varied cast from those starting out in the industry to those who have been treading the boards for years. For Joseph, this is a chance to work in a very different environment, having worked on the continent for so long.

"Everything is done so quickly," he said of England.

"I am really blown away how hard everybody works here. We do long hours of rehearsing and we finish at half six every night.Everyone is totally together and everyone mucks in with everyone's work.

"In France this does not happen. The French do productions in a city and that is it. If you do not live in Paris or within proximity to it you miss out on 90 per cent on what is going on."

And he added: "With Shakespeare 4 Kidz the design of the show is a musical everyone can come and see.

"It is by no means a kids' exclusive show – you can really get something from it and have a really brilliant time.

"I totally believe in this show. Julian is really working with me hand in hand. He has very clear vision of what he wants and he has fabulous comic timing. He understands Shakespeare and is able to explain it in a very clear, precise and comical way."

Joseph trained at the Royal Ballet School before moving to Switzerland and dancing with Zurich ballet and then in Geneva. Now living in Paris, he has worked on an exciting new musical based on the book The Fly by David Kronenburg, alongside the tenor Placido Domingo.

"When you have the opportunity to work with people like that it is always a bit daunting," Joseph said of the singer. "However he is very easy going, he is very normal."

Other stars he has worked with includes Dame Shirley Bassey who he describes as 'fabulous'.

"She is temperamental but with me she has been an absolute angel," he confided.

The preview is on Friday September 5 at 7pm at The Capitol before it starts its tour.

It will return to The Capitol on Thursday February 12 2009 for just two performances at 1.30pm and 7pm.

Tickets for this preview performance are just £5 so don't miss out on this great opportunity.

Tickets: 01403 750220 www.thecapitolhorsham.com

Casting and Productionfor our forthcoming production of ROMEO AND JULIET - The Musical has been announced:

S4K's ROMEO AND JULIET - The Musical
by Julian Chenery, Matt Gimblett & William Shakespeare

Produced by Julian & Carolyn Chenery for the Shakespeare 4 Kidz Theatre Company
in association with The Capitol, Horsham

Director - Julian Chenery
Asst Director & Choreographer - Joseph Fowler
Musical Director - Phil Hornsey
Designed by Jaimie Todd
Lighting Design by Luke Woods
Sound and AV Design by Rob Raskovsky

CASTING:
Romeo - Neal Andrews
Juliet - Jenny Perry
Benvolio - Michael Anders
Mercutio - Noel Andrew Harron
Lord Montague - Sean Luckham
Lady Montague - Sarah Gimblett
Lord Capulet - Ben Goodridge
Lady Capulet - Justine Bailey
Tybalt - Tommi Baxter Hill
Nurse - Debbie Leigh Simmons
Peter the Servant - Sean Luckham
Prince Escalus - Stevie Smallwood
Count Paris - Richard Foster-King
Friar Lawrence - Antony Stuart Hicks
Waiter/Servant - Dieter Thomas

Following a special reduced price preview on Friday 5th September at The Capitol in Horsham the tour opens at the Palace Theatre, Mansfield on Tuesday 9th September and tours the UK (not December) until Friday 3rd April 2009, prior to an international tour in the spring of 2009.