Circa Tsuica's Now or Never, Dusty
Circa Tsuica's Now or Never – tour starts 21 June
French company Circa Tsuica brings its acrobat-musicians across the Channel for the UK première of new show Now or Never.
Acrobatics on trapezes, tightropes, Cyr wheels, trick bicycles, trampolines and seesaws are accompanied by live music including from local brass bands for which the company has held workshops with local young musicians.
Now or Never is presented by Crying Out Loud as part of Circus250, the nationwide celebration of the 250th anniversary of modern circus.
Now or Never raises its big top in Greenhead Park Huddersfield, Oxpens Meadow Oxford, Hamworthy Park Poole, The Lowry Piazza Salford, Frairs’ Field Coleg Menai Bangor and Bass Recreation Ground Derby.
Dusty – tour starts 23 June
The world première of new musical about the life Dusty Springfield, Dusty, will take place at Theatre Royal Bath prior to a short tour.
Dusty Springfield was born in London in 1939. Her singing career, which started in the late 1950s, spanned four decades and listeners to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme voted her one of the most influential women of the last 100 years.
Beautiful Thing writer Jonathan Harvey provides the script for this bio musical based on the memories of her close friend, manager and authorised biographer Vicki Wickham, her personal assistant Pat Rhodes and friend and record company executive Tris Penna.
The show features many of Springfield’s hits including “I Only Want to Be with You”, “Son of a Preacher Man” and “You Don't Have to Say You Love Me”.
Katherine Kingsley, whose credits include Piaf and Singin’ in the Rain, takes the role of Dusty with Rufus Hound as her manager and Roberta Taylor as her mother.
Also in the cast are Ishmail Aaron, Jenny Bolt, Alex Bowen, Esther Coles, Joelle Dyson, Joanna Francis, Paul Grunert, Ella Kenion, Adam Lyons, Lisa Mathieson, Katharine Pearson, Micha Richardson, Sadie-Jean Shirley, Hampus Lee Strand and Chad Wilder, with further casting to be announced.
Maria Friedman directs and the choreographer is Tim Jackson. Orchestrations and vocal arrangements are by Steve Sidwell and musical supervision and vocal arrangements are by Tim Sutton. The music consultant is Tris Penna.
Dusty is produced by Eleanor Lloyd Productions in association with Tris Penna and Vicki Wickham.
Dusty plays Theatre Royal Bath, Sheffield Lyceum Theatre, Newcastle Theatre Royal and The Lowry Salford.
Check web sites for information regarding post–show Q&As, captioned, signed and relaxed performances, and age suitability. At the time of going to press, some dates may not yet be on sale.