Win tickets to see Aladdin the "Wok 'n' Roll" Panto!

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre (SGT) are going all Oriental this festive season, as preparations get underway for the forthcoming rock – or should we say – “wok” ‘n’ roll pantomime, Aladdin.

To celebrate the occasion, SGT are giving away a number of tickets to see the show!

Following the hugely successful productions of Dick Whittington, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and last season’s box office smash hit, Jack and the Beanstalk, this year’s rock and roll panto is set to be the biggest and boldest yet!

It’s time for celebrations in old Shanghai as the Emperor hosts a party to celebrate the engagement of his daughter to the mysterious Abanazer. Meanwhile, our hero Aladdin meets the Princess on the street and falls for her instantly, but knows a penniless boy like him could never marry a princess.
When Aladdin goes on an adventure with his best friend Nanas the Monkey, could the discovery of a magic lamp help turn his fortunes around?

Get ready to be whisked away on a magic carpet ride of festive fun, filled with a storming line up of classic rock ‘n’ roll hits from Aretha Franklin, The Monkees, James Brown, The Temptations, The Jackson Five, and many, many more!

Throughout November, SGT will post a different Q&A competition every week via its Facebook page, giving entrants the chance to win a pair of tickets to see the show. Beginning on Thursday 3rd November, each competition will run until the following Sunday. Simply leave your answer in the ‘Comment’ section of the post to be in with a chance of winning.

Terms and conditions apply. For more information contact gatehouse@staffordbc.gov.uk

Aladdin opens on Thursday 8th December 2016 and runs until Sunday 8th January 2017.
Tickets can be booked by calling the box office on 01785 619080 or by visiting www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk

Line up Change to Autumn Tres Tres Cabaret

***LINE-UP CHANGE***

Sadly, due to unforeseen circumstances, Stage Door Johnny is unable to appear at Friday 28th Oct's show.

Never fear, Tricity Vogue is stepping in to fulfil the hosting duties, and showgirl extraordinaire Scarlett Daggers will be a last minute addition to the show!

There are still a few tickets left for this burlesque bonanza, so snap them up while you still can!
https://www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk/…/tres%20tr…/info

Photo by Cherry Bomb Rock Photography

The festive season is nearly upon us! And we all know what that means – “oh no we don’t; oh yes we do” – it’s pantomime time!

Following the box office smash hit that was Jack and the Beanstalk, the production team at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre have recently announced the casts list for this season’s show: Aladdin the “Wok ‘n’ Roll” panto!

The fun-filled festive show will once again be packed with a storming line up of classic rock ‘n’ roll hits – all played live on stage by a cast of incredible actor musicians – fused with the magical fairy tale of a traditional pantomime.

Tickets are already proving hugely popular, with sales on course to top last season’s record breaking show, Jack and the Beanstalk!

This year, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre welcomes aboard a new addition to its acclaimed Creative Team, Director Rob Salmon. Joining Rob will be a host of new (and one or two old) faces, comprising the amazing Aladdin cast:




Mathew Burns – Story Teller / Drummer

Matt completed his drama school training at ALRA in July 2015 and is looking forward to the madness of another rock and roll panto!
Theatre: The Jungle Book (Sixteenfeet Productions); Buddy Holly and The Cricketers (Simon Fielder Prods); Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood (Leeds City Varieties); Henry V, Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet (Pendley Shakespeare Festival); Blue Stockings, Sense & Sensibility, You Can Still Make A Killing, The Cherry Orchard (ALRA)
TV / Film: Born On This Day (Channel 4/Outline Productions) Money (Loaded Productions); Absent (dreamthinkspeak); Equal Measure (Front Row Centre Productions); Tom and Sal (ALRA)


Michael Hamway – Aladdin

Michael trained at the Royal Academy of Music (2015 Graduate), Trinity College Cambridge
Theatre credits: David in Jackie the Musical (UK tour); High Tenor in Gobsmacked (Asia, Australia and European Tour); Cyril in Five Children and It (Tristan Bates Theatre); Puck in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Theatre credits whilst training: Actor B in A Talent to Amuse; Painter/Communist/Bertand in Amour; Charley Kringras in Merrily We Roll Along; Larry in Closer; Henry in Next to Normal; Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd; Joseph Poorgrass in Far From the Madding Crowd.


Kieran Kuypers – Emperor

Kieran trained at The Musical Theatre Academy, graduating in 2012.
Theatre credits include: SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME (UK Tour), THE GLENN MILLER STORY (UK Tour), THE TRENCH (UK tour), GRIM (Charing Cross Theatre), SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME (UK tour) and PASSPORT TO PIMLICO (SouthWest Fest).
Other credits include: ELF THE MUSICAL (Corporate), DOUGAL IRVINE AND GUESTS (Concert, Landor Theatre), HARRIET (Recording), BINWEEVILS COMPUTER GAME (Voiceover), EMERALD (Rehearsed Reading, Landor Theatre) and MACMILLAN CENTENARY GALA (Concert, London Palladium).
For more information about Kieran, please visit: www.access-uk.com



Katie Pritchard – Cuddles the Monkey

Katie attained a First Class BA (HONS) Degree at Buckinghamshire New University.
Theatre Credits include: Jemima / Actor/Musician in Jack and The Beanstalk (Stafford Gatehouse), Cynthia in Carnaby Street (UK Tour), Swing on Dreamboats and Petticoats (The Playhouse, London); Swing on Dreamboats and Petticoats (UK Tour), Dandini in Cinderella (Key Theatre, Peterborough), Principal Performer on Showtime! (Spa Theatre, Bridlington), Kong/Ensemble u/s Aladdin in Rock and Roll Aladdin (Shaw Theatre, London), Servants Chorus in My Fair Lady (Cambridge Arts Theatre), Featured Ensemble / Musician in Call Me Madam (Upstairs at The Gatehouse), Molly's Brother / Musician in The Unsinkable Molly Brown (The Landor), Joanne's Mum / Musician in Rent (Broadway Theatre).

Other Credits include: Writer and performer of Hurricane Katie (UK Tour), Host of Notflix: The Improvised Musical by Waiting For The Call (UK Tour, including a sellout run at Gilded Balloon as part of Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Soho Theatre run, and residency at Leicester Square Theatre), Creator, writer and sole performer of  Literally Comedy (Radio Sketch Show and Podcast), Various Characters in Sketch, Please! (Sketch Podcast), Various Characters in TNUC, Written, Directed and Produced by Katie Pritchard for Everycloud Productions (Parody advert, winner of the Idea's Tap Short Parody Award 2014), Writer and performer of Even The Little Ones (Canal Cafe Theatre).
Katie is also a Guitarist and Vocalist in all-girl Rock'n'Roll band, The Daisy Chains. Winner of the London Vintage Awards 2014.

For more information about Katie, please visit: www.access-uk.com


Seren Sandham-Davies – Princess

Seren trained at Laine Theatre Arts graduating as head girl and recipient of the Valerie King award for acting. Other training includes NYT, NYMT and Royal Ballet Associates.
Seren recently played Patsy in the five star (Mark Shenton, The Stage) production of Crazy for You at The Watermill Theatre. Other credits include Gloria in the 40th anniversary Derby Theatre production of Brassed Off, Consuela/ dance captain West Side Story (Victoria Warehouse), ensemble Rock Around The Clock (Asia tour), Aladdin in Aladdin (Wyllyotts Theatre), Slave of the Ring Aladdin (Wyvern Theatre). Seren is also lead vocals/trumpet in the ten piece Latin jazz band Caliente.
Twitter @SerenSD


Steve Simmonds – Widow Twankey

Steve Simmonds trained at the Rose Bruford College.
His extensive Theatre credits include; Cortina Man, MADE IN DAGENHAM (Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch/New Wolsey Ipswich), Bosun in RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET 25TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR (Forbidden Planet Musicals, directed by Bob Carlton), Steve Currie/Captain Sensible in 20th CENTURY BOY (UK No. 1 Tour),  THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI (West End/Chichester Festival Theatre, directed by Jonathan Church), FROM A JACK TO A KING (Far East Tour for British Theatre Playhouse), Norman Petty in THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY (Buddy Musical Productions/No. 1 Tour), LEND ME A TENOR, GUN METAL BLUES, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, ALADDIN, CAN’T PAY, WON’ PAY, TWELFTH NIGHT, THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS, A SLICE OF SATURDAY NIGHT, JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, GASLIGHT, BOUNCERS and IT’S A FINE LIFE (all for Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch),  Baron Hardup in CINDERELLA (Stafford Gatehouse), THE COMEDY OF BABI BABBETT, GENTLE HARRY’S FARM, IKARUS INC and NOAH BABEL’S ARK (Rude Mechanicals Theatre), MACK AND MABLE at the Criterion Theatre, West End (Adam Kenwright/Watermill Theatre), PINAFORE SWING (Watermill Theatre/National Tour), THE SWORD IN THE STONE, SLEEPING BEAUTY, Angie the Ox in GUYS AND DOLLS, ALADDIN, SUGAR and ROBIN HOOD AND THE BABES IN THE WOOD (all for the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich).
His TV credits include LOVE SOUP for the BBC and prior to training, he played Stitch in OLIVER! directed by Sam Mendes at the London Palladium.


Mike Slader – Grand Vizier

Since graduating Rose Bruford in 2009 Mike has toured round the UK with shows, jukebox musicals, and gigging with various bands.
Theatre credits include: Frankenstein (Salisbury Playhouse), Romeo and Juliet (The Watermill Theatre), Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood (City Varieties Music Hall) Dreamboats & Miniskirts (UK Tour), Delirium Show 6 (Workshop,St James Theatre), Dick Whittington (City Varieties, Leeds), Carnaby Street in Concert (UK Tour), Tiny Tempest (Brighton Dome)  Dave in Carnaby Street (UK Tour), Derek in Dreamboats & Petticoats (UK Tour), Ovid's Metamorphoses (Pleasance Dome), On the Third Day (The Mill Studios), Close (The Cockpit Theatre), Grimethorpe Race (The Arcola Theatre), Twelfth Night (UK Tour), The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe (Chichester Festival Theatre), Dr Faustus (Chichester Festival Theatre).
Other work includes: Cruzier (Short Film), HTC Online Phone (Commercial) and Who Is In Control (Photography Stills)
For more information on Mike, please visit: www.access-uk.com


Lauren Storer – Genie

Lauren trained at Rose Bruford College and gained a first class BA(hons) in Actor Musicianship.
Theatre credits include: Onstage swing in Footloose (No.1 UK Tour), Narrator in The Santa Trap, Quilly Von Squint in Here Be Monsters! (Mayflower Productions/UK Tour), Ensemble in The Tale Of Mr Tumble (MIF and CBeebies), Genie in Aladdin (Shaw Theatre, London), Helga and U/S Sally Bowles in Cabaret (MAC, Belfast), Miranda in The Blonde Bombshells of 1943 (Upstairs at the Gatehouse), Girl in London Calling (Salisbury Playhouse), Mildred in Save The Last Dance For Me (No. 1 UK Tour), Phoebe in Carnaby Street (No. 1 UK Tour), Rabbit Rose in The Wind in the Willows (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Gloria in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Ensemble in Toad of Toad Hall (Watermill Theatre), Sarah in Acceptable in the 80's (Nabakov Theatre Company), Bet Bouncer in The Kissing Dance (Jermyn Street Theatre), Babs and U/S Donna, Sue in Dreamboats and Petticoats (No. 1 UK tour/ West end), Hera in Jason and the Argonauts, Ensemble in Medea (The Scoop Theatre, London), Fairy in Cinderella (New Wolsey Theatre), Maria in Twelfth Night (The Works Theatre Company).
Music credits: Keys on John Mitchell’s Lonely Robot tour (Holland/ UK), Keys/Assitant MD for Tommy (Greenwich theatre), Keys/Sax for Prince Revelations (G Live), Lauren also regularly gigs with the vocal duo ‘Verity and Violet’.


Benjamin Stratton – Abanazer

Benjamin trained at the Liverpool Institute of Peforming Arts.
His theatre credits include: Mal Evans in The Sessions (UK arena tour); Joe/Actor Musician in Hot Stuff(Oldham Coliseum); Ben and alternate Dan in Potted Potter (world tour, USA tour); The Opinon Makers (Mercury Theatre, Colchester and Derby Theatre); Ben in The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (Reduced Shakespeare Company, West End and UK national tour); Actor/Musician in The Opinion Makers (Mercury Theatre); Chip in Spelling Bee (Broadway Theatre, Catford); Mark Cohen in Rent (Greenwhich Theatre); Burly in Mother Goose (Key Theatre); Mark in Rent (Greenwich Theatre); Romeo in Romeo & Juliet (The Dell, RSC); Banquo in Macbeth (The Dell, RSC).
His television and film credits include Ben in Laundrapp commercial (Laundrapp); Mike in Out of Date.


Samuel Townsend – Wishy Washy 

Samuel trained at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Theatre credits include: Bill Humphries in 84 Charing Cross Road (Cambridge Arts Theatre), Flute in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Temple Music Hall), Bill Humphries in 84 Charing Cross Road (Salisbury Playhouse), Silvius/Le Beau in As You Like It (Southwark Playhouse).
Television credits include: Steve Manton in Doctors (BBC1), George in The Royals (Lionsgate Television).
Workshop includes: Ensemble in Pink Floyd: The Wall (Complicité).


Aladdin opens on Thursday 8th December 2016 until Sunday 8th January 2017. Tickets are on sale now and can be booked by calling the box office on 01785 619080 or by visiting www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk

Line-up Announced for Cabaret and Burlesque Autumn Show at Gatehouse
Stafford's first, and only burlesque and variety show returns on Friday 28th October with an evening of saucy decadence!

Take your seat in the secluded intimacy of the MET Studio at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, before sampling the delights that Très Très has to offer.

The first act to be announced for the 28th October show is none other than charming, offbeat musical cabaret star, Tricity Vogue!

An exceptional vintage songstress, with a repertoire of surprising tunes and a somewhat colourful history of romantic misadventure, Tricity has cut a swathe through the UK cabaret scene with hit Edinburgh Fringe shows and a host of London cabaret productions under her belt. She was nominated for a London Cabaret Award two years running and regularly appears on variety bills across the UK and Europe, both as a solo artist and with her All Girl Swing Band.

Queen of the Ukulele, Tricity Vogue will bring her own blend of slink and sass to Stafford for the very first time; think Peggy Lee after a few too many cocktails and you’re getting close!

For the special Performer Friday show later this month, Tres Tres Cabaret organisers are thrilled to announce that tiki queen LOU ON THE ROCKS will also feature on the bill.

Tres Tres is often acclaimed for the international calibre of its performers, and Lou is the first ever overseas act heading to the UK to appear at the show! Flying in from Berlin, Lou is a passionate artist coming to tease Stafford audiences with elegance, fun and hippy hippy shakes, at the intersection where rock 'n' roll meets classic burlesque.

Her performances are inspired by the late 50s and 60s era Tarantino and Russ Meyer movies, combined with her own quirky touch.

Another overseas performer set to appear at the October 28th show: all the way from Minnesota, it's MUSETTE!

Musette the "Mistress of Mischief" is part sideshow sweetie – performing on her dainty bed of nails or eating fire – part vintage, vaudeville vixen doing her worst to make a crowd gasp or giggle with her bumping back side wiggle.

Musette has performed in hundreds of shows, including on the sparkly streets of NYC and greater Midwest, and aims to slay the unaware as well as the initiated with her bountiful burlesque charms and cheeky humour.

Another stateside performer also heading to Stafford this Autumn - it’s HAZEL HONEYSUCKLE!

Hazel Honeysuckle is a burlesque performer, actress and model based in New York City. She has been playing dress-up all her life, and lives to showcase both her love of classic burlesque as well as being a crazy, stupid nerd. A versatile performer, she can be sweet and innocent yet also bump and grind with the best of ‘em. This “Delicate Flower” is one you don’t want to miss! She performs on stages all over NYC, the US, and around the world, and can now add good old Stafford to her list!

All of this personally selected for your entertainment by resident Tres Tres producer, promoter and performer: STAGE DOOR JOHNNY!

A flirtatious, lyrical lothario and seasoned comic raconteur with razor-sharp wit, he'll have audiences grinning, giggling and eating from the palm of his hand - sometimes literally.

He can be heard singing everything from Shirley Bassey to Guns ‘n’ Roses, as well as ridiculous self-penned medleys to surprise and delight you. What’s more, he’ll be showcasing a brand new song and a new act for your delectation!

Do. Not. Miss. It. Book while you still can!

Très Très Cabaret is at The MET Studio at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre on Friday 28th October at 8pm. Tickets are £15.50 and can be booked by calling the box office on 01785 619080 or by visiting www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk.

Early booking is advised as a sell-out is expected again. The show is strictly for over 18s only.