Entertainment News

ENJOY BIRMINGHAM’S HOTTEST JAZZ MUSICIANS FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME: COME TOGETHER ONLINE FOR A JAZZLINES FACEBOOK WATCH PARTY

Following government advice, Town Hall Symphony Hall (THSH) is closed. But the iconic concert halls cannot be silenced and, in the coming weeks, the venues’ much-loved FREE Friday jazz gigs will be broadcast to Facebook, enabling audiences to come together in the safety of a digital space.

Watch Parties were launched by Facebook in 2018 as a new way for people to watch videos on Facebook together in real time. Once a Watch Party is started, participants can watch videos, live or recorded, and interact with one another around them in the same moment.

Nick Reed, Chief Executive of THSH Birmingham, said: “Music has the power to bring people together. Our forthcoming Facebook Watch Parties of the FREE Friday jazz gigs ensure that audiences can do just that. Self-isolation does not need to mean that people are isolated from their communities and through Town Hall Symphony Hall’s Jazzlines, we’ve built an incredible community with a shared passion for jazz music. Town Hall Symphony Hall is committed to bringing live music to our city and these Facebook Watch Parties will provide an opportunity for our friends to continue their discovery of the best of Brum’s musicians”.

On Friday 27 March, join the Watch Party for Olivia Murphy and Olly Chalk’s duo.

Saxophonist and composer Olivia Murphy regularly plays on the Birmingham scene and is a member of Birmingham Jazz Orchestra. Her sextet has also recently played at Birchfield Jazz Festival and The Spotted Dog, and in November recorded new material for a 2020 release. She will play alongside jazz pianist Olly Chalk, who is currently undertaking a Master of Music (MMus) programme in jazz piano at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance.

On Friday 3 April, join the Watch Party for Joey Walter’s Me & 3.

Saxophonists Joey Walter, a graduate of Birmingham Conservatoire, and Ben Markland, a music technology tutor and workshop practitioner with the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, have been playing together along with Tom Martin for eight years. They recently welcomed Rosie O’Callahan on baritone to the quartet, Me & 3. Alongside their usual repertoire, featuring composers such as Bob Mintzer, Mike Mower and Jeff Driskill, they will be playing some new arrangements and original material by Joey.

On Friday 10 April, join the Watch Party for Xhosa Cole’s Quintet.

Saxophonist Xhosa Cole won BBC Young Jazz Musician 2018 for his “heartfelt” performance.

Xhosa is an embodiment of the success of numerous music outreach programs within Birmingham, including THSH's Jazzlines. As a saxophonist, flautist, composer and producer, Xhosa has played, studied and collaborated with a wide range of world-class musicians and composers.

Mary Wakelam Sloan, Jazz Programme Manager, said: “Jazz thrives on challenge and innovation, and I’m immeasurably proud that the Jazzlines Talent Development Programme has risen to these challenging times with this innovative response. We thank Arts Council England for their support, which in turn has enabled our support of Birmingham’s freelance musicians during these testing times. Town Hall Symphony Hall values the crucial contribution musicians make to the city’s creative life, its economy and the enjoyment of local people and visitors”.

Jazzlines is a unique programme of creative jazz music and talent development from the charity that runs THSH. It offers performance opportunities to emerging and established contemporary jazz musicians as part of a thriving, artistically excellent programme in venues across the city and commissions cutting-edge new work, providing support to ensure future performances and a legacy for new projects.

Jazzlines’ FREE Friday jazz gigs will be performed in Symphony Hall’s brand-new performance space when it opens this autumn. This unique space, for talented local artists to have even more opportunities to perform as part of a daily programme with free and affordable performances, is part of the £13.2 million redevelopment of the world-renowned venue’s foyer.

In these uncertain times, many registered charities are relying on the generosity of their supporters more than ever. A large part of THSH’s success has been made possible with our audience’s support. To find out how to donate, visit https://www.thsh.co.uk/join-and-support

Following government advice, Town Hall Symphony Hall (THSH) is currently closed. 

The Box Office remains open Monday to Friday, processing a large volume of refunds and contacting audiences with updates as soon as they are able to do so. We continue to ask that you do not call the Box Office while we manage the impact of this pandemic.

As we agree with event organisers that performances will be postponed or cancelled, we will contact those customers who are affected as soon as possible. We are making every effort to find alternative dates for postponed performances within the next 12 months. Thank you for your patience while those conversations take place. 

These iconic concert halls have the power to change lives, entertain and uplift through music. They cannot be silenced. In the coming weeks, the venues’ much-loved FREE Friday Jazzlines Gig will be broadcast to Facebook along with a collaboration amongst European Concert Halls to stream from venues across the continent. Music has the power to bring people together and we are pleased to support audiences as they come together in the safety of a digital space.

Is my performance cancelled?

You can find the most up-to-date information on cancelled or postponed events here: https://www.thsh.co.uk/your-visit/coronavirus-covid-19-update

We are making every effort to find alternative dates for cancelled performances within the next 12-months. Thank you for your patience whilst those conversations take place. 

How can we support?

As a registered charity, a large part of Town Hall Symphony Hall’s success has been made possible by our audiences. If you would like to support us in these uncertain times, you can do so here: https://www.thsh.co.uk/your-visit/coronavirus-covid-19-update

Can I have a refund now?

We are only issuing refunds where it has been agreed that a performance or event is cancelled. As soon as this information is available, we will contact you directly. If you’re unable to make rescheduled dates, refunds will be available.

I haven’t had an email or phone call?

The Box Office team are processing a large volume of refunds and contacting audiences with updates as soon as they are able to do so. Thank you for your patience and understanding.  

When will I get the money?

Once a refund procedure has been initiated, we will begin processing refunds. Funds will be with you as soon as possible.

Can I buy tickets for other shows?

Yes, though we can’t guarantee shows will proceed given the current health climate.

How can I join the Facebook Watch Party?

Log-in to Facebook and find ‘Town Hall Symphony Hall’ on Facebook. The broadcasts will happen at 5PM on Friday 27 March and Friday 3 April. Once a Watch Party is started, participants can watch videos, live or recorded, and interact with one another around them in the same moment. 

Full listings can be found here: https://www.thsh.co.uk/whats-on/season/watch-party

How long will you be closed for?

Given the uncertainty, we are unsure how long we may be closed for. For the latest updates, visit https://www.thsh.co.uk/your-visit/coronavirus-covid-19-update

A Birmingham GP practice and its patients will be appearing in the latest TV series of the popular Channel 5 show GPs: Behind Closed Doors, which begins next Wednesday (18 March 2020) at 8pm.

Hall Green Health, which is based on the Stratford Road, in the Hall Green area of Birmingham was selected as the first practice in the West Midlands to appear on the show.

This series, the seventh, is set to start and will run for nine months. Previous series have filmed at GP surgeries in ​Bradford, Bristol, Slough and South London​. 

The show will provide a fascinating insight into this busy practice, taking viewers into the private world of a local GP surgery to find out what happens during appointments.

Filming began in April last year (2019), and the practice was fitted out with 44 cameras; with four shooting at any one time, five-days-a-week. They have captured a consultation room, a minor operations room and a treatment room, as well as waiting area, reception and records desks, and all the patients featured have provided their consent to be filmed and appear on the TV show.

John Hood, Practice Manager at Hall Green Health, said: “We’re so excited that the show is set to start next week. The filming provided the team with an opportunity to demonstrate the many new ways of working we have developed and implemented to improve the service to our patients. It was a great opportunity to showcase and share some of the things that have really worked for us.

“The patients were also fantastic; first for agreeing to be filmed, and second for being brave enough to discuss personal, important issues on camera. This allowed showcasing typical problems faced by patients in the 21^st century.”

Kabaad- The Coin is the result of Varadraj Swami’s  long and interesting journey of exploring various departments in the industry while being behind the camera. 

As a filmmaker who is full of ideas, Varadraj Swami aims to venture into unexplored realms of film making by experimenting with new themes and subjects. 

He envisions delving in to  revolutionary and untrammelled areas and thus be able to discover his inner self using the limitless possibilities and scope of cinema    

Varadraj Swami, who has penned the critically acclaimed film Manjhi the mountain, is constantly involved in developing new revolutionary experimental thoughts and unique ideas to present Indian films in International frame "As a director we make films for two reasons- when we want to say something to the world and when we want to entertain people. I want to do both and my film Kabaad- The Coin satisfies both for me"

Varadraj calls himself a story teller & through directing, he successful salivates his craving to tell a story from his perspective.

The starcast of the film Vivaan Shah, Zoya Afroz and written by Shahzad Ahmed and Varadraj Swami, produced by Meena Negi, Babban Negi and Co-Produced by Deepak Prajapat.

"KABAAD- THE COIN" is the first film ever made in the historic Ram- Siya Coin. The team of "KABAAD- THE COIN" has explored a subject never featured before in Bollywood.

Wolverhampton Grand announced that the Grammy award winning SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR will make their Grand Theatre debut on Sunday 25 October 2020.

Winner of the 2019 Grammy Award for Best World Music Album for “Freedom”, a collection of songs which celebrate and commemorate South Africa’s democratic movement’s struggle for freedom, SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR now bring their Freedom concert to the UK. 

Hailing from Soweto (South West Township), a town outside Johannesburg and home of Nelson Mandela and South Africa’s democratic movement, the SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR continues to inspire audiences around the world with their powerful blend of African gospel, freedom songs, and international classics.

Comprising a line-up of South Africa’s best vocalists, these amazing performers have been spreading sheer joy to audiences across the globe for nearly two decades.  The Choir has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in music including U2, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Robert Plant, Celine Dion, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Josh Groban.

In this uplifting and joyous repertoire, the Choir will perform a rousing program of freedom songs celebrating the life of the father of their Rainbow Nation, Nelson Mandela, as well as international gospel classics, including a spine-tingling take on Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah and an extraordinary rendition of Amazing Grace which has had over 15 million views on YouTube.

“The SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR members are thrilled to return to the UK for the Freedom Tour,” producer Andrew Kay said. “The group continues to inspire fans worldwide, but the reaction we get from audiences in the UK is unforgettable. We hope that our uplifting message of hope, faith, and joy reaches audiences new and old on this special return visit as we celebrate the legacy of the great Nelson Mandela.”

After serious consideration, it is with much regret that THE WHO have postponed their U.K. tour, due to start next Monday March 16th in Manchester at the Manchester Arena and finishing at Wembley SSE Arena on April 8th. The dates will be rescheduled for later in the year. All tickets will be honoured.

The fans' safety is paramount and given the developing Coronavirus concerns, the band felt that they had no option but to postpone the shows as a precaution.
 
Singer Roger Daltrey assures fans that the shows will “Definitely happen and it may be the last time we do a tour of this type, so keep those tickets, as the shows will be fantastic”.
 
Pete Townshend said the band, ”Haven't reached this decision easily, but given the concerns about public gatherings, we couldn’t go ahead."
 
Sadly, THE WHO will also be unable to appear at the Royal Albert Hall on March 28th as part of the annual Teenage Cancer Trust shows but intend to reschedule that show also, with more news to follow.
 
Affected shows are below
 
March 16 – Manchester Arena
March 18 – Dublin 3 Arena
March 21 – Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
March 23 – Glasgow SSE Hydro Arena
March 25 – Leeds First Direct Arena
March 28 – London Royal Albert Hall (Teenage Cancer Trust)
March 30 – Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
April 1 – Birmingham Resorts World Arena
April 3 – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
April 6 – Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
April 8 – London SSE Wembley Arena

This has been quite a year for Sea Girls, one of the UK’s most exciting new bands, named after a misheard lyric from a Nick Cave song. They signed a major record deal with Polydor, are touring the globe, triumphed at Reading and played their biggest UK show to date when they sold out London’s Forum.

Sea Girls are a band aiming first and foremost at being the sing-a-long torch bearers for a whole new generation. Much of their success is driven by their energetic live performances and uncanny ability to write songs like ‘Violet’ and ‘Damage Done’ that enjoy heavy Radio 1 support.

Charismatic lead Henry Camamile explains their mission statement: ”We’ve worked so hard to get here. We’re so clear-headed about where we want to go, where we want to be and what we want to say. I don’t want to let anything knock us off track. 2020 is going to be massive for us. Bring it on.”

An incredible one-off celebration of the early music of Fleetwood Mac will be screened in cinemas across the country on Tuesday 2nd June and Sunday 7th June, as Mick Fleetwood and a stellar cast of guest stars pay tribute to the music of founding member, Peter Green.

The once-in-a-lifetime celebration was captured at The London Palladium on February 25th 2020, and features a spectacular line-up of musical greats curated by Mick Fleetwood, including Neil Finn (Crowded House), Noel Gallagher (Oasis), Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Kirk Hammett (Metallica), Jonny Lang, John Mayall, Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac), Zak Starkey, Jeremy Spencer (Fleetwood Mac), Pete Townshend (The Who), Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Rick Vito (Fleetwood Mac), and Bill Wyman (The Rolling Stones).

The house band featured Mick Fleetwood himself along with Andy Fairweather Low, Dave Bronze, and Ricky Peterson.

Tracks performed at the event include seminal Fleetwood Mac classics, such as ‘Albatross’, ‘Green Manalashi’, ‘Need Your Love’, and more.  

The Times gave the Palladium concert 5*’s, calling it ‘a unique treat’, whilst The Guardian called it a ‘rousing all-star celebration in their 4* review, and The Daily Telegraph hailed the show as the ‘rock ‘n’ roll equivalent of Avengers Assemble'.

Directed by award-winning concert director Martyn Atkins (Joni 75, Crossroads Guitar Festival, Cream at the Royal Albert Hall), the cinema event will feature an introduction by Mick Fleetwood, plus exclusive rehearsal footage, and interviews with guest artists. Legendary sound producer Glynn Johns, who produced albums for The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Eagles and Led Zeppelin, will take charge of the audio production.

Peter Green was a founding member of Fleetwood Mac and had a huge impact on the band, as well as being recognised as one of the greatest musicians in the world. Peter was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame together with Fleetwood Mac in 1998. Rolling Stone magazine rated Peter as one of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of all time.

On the show coming to cinemas, Mick Fleetwood said:

‘This one of a kind show was no mean feat to put together and the ability to share and relive the event all over again in cinemas is incredible, for us, as artists, as well as our fans.

I’m very happy this performance can now be experienced in a big screen format by audiences far and wide all over the globe.’

‘Mick Fleetwood and Friends Celebrate The Music of Peter Green’ will also be available in a super deluxe box-set, released on 16th October 2020 and available to pre-order now. The super deluxe box-set will include a 4LP deluxe book pack with 2CDs and BluRay.

Fleetwood Mac’s third studio album ‘Then Play On’, will also be released in a special Celebration Edition on 5th June 2020.

Staff at the 400-year-old Oak House Museum, in West Bromwich, in the West Midlands, are planning a 'spooktabulous' Friday 13th evening for visitors with giggles, scares and creepy tales. The 'after dark' event on Friday 13 March comes as staff continue preparations for the Oak Road museum to open fully to the public for a new season in April.

Jane Hanney-Martin, museum services manager, said: "Prepare for a few giggles, scares and a creepy evening as you explore the house and meet characters who lived at Oak House 400 years ago, experience terrible tales and learn about ghostly goings on in the dim candlelight.

"Visitors can explore our dark corners and staff will be on hand to tell some of the ghostly tales attached to the house," added Rebecca Butler, visitor services officer.

The evening is suitable for ages 14+ and starts at 6.30pm. Visitors can drop in any time throughout the event. Gates close at 8pm and the event finishes at 8.30pm.

Councillor Wasim Ali, Cabinet with Member with Responsibility for Museums, said: "Friday 13th promises to be a fantastic, fun event to show people the stories behind Oak House and get everyone in the mood for our museums opening to the public for a new season in just a few weeks' time."

The City of Wolverhampton Council's Music School is joining forces with the 13 other music services in the West Midlands for the largest celebration of young people's music making ever to be held across the region.

In all, the ambitious, month-long celebration - taking place throughout March - will involve more than 140,000 children and young people.

It is the first major project of West Midlands Music, the UK’s largest collective of Music Services, and includes over 130 concerts, gigs, workshops and taster sessions.

Ciaran O'Donnell, Head of Wolverhampton Music Service, said: "The Big Month of Music will not only showcase the musical achievements of children across the entire region but also inspire and encourage them to continue their musical discoveries by signposting them to further opportunities.

"It also provides a snapshot of the work of Wolverhampton Music Service, and other music services across the region, including in school and out of school activity, workshops and taster sessions."

The City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Councillor Dr Michael Hardacre, said: “Music is an important part of a young person's education, and Wolverhampton Music Service provides quality teaching for children and young people across the city, including the chance to perform with Wolverhampton Youth Orchestra and Wolverhampton Youth Wind Orchestra.

"It's great to see so many pupils in Wolverhampton engaging in music week in, week out, and this Big Month of Music is a chance to celebrate their hard work."

Chris Jones, Chair of West Midlands Music, added: "Many thousands of people have learned an instrument, sung in a choir or played in an ensemble thanks to music services over the years. By working together as West Midlands Music, the region’s 14 music services are able to maximise our collective impact, reaching more children and delivering a consistently high quality music education for everyone.

"Big Month of Music is a fantastic first major celebration of that collective impact and of our commitment for the future of the region’s music education.”

Together, the 14 music services in the West Midlands worked with 140,000 children, supported music making in 1,963 schools, loaned 79,789 musical instruments and created 776 events and performances across the region last year.

Leicester’s annual dance festival celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2020 with a thrilling programme of dance and performance from the UK, USA, Norway, Cuba, Martinique, Tanzania, Italy and more.

Let’s Dance International Frontiers (LDIF20) is produced by Serendipity, the diversity-led arts producing organisation based in Leicester and run by its award-winning CEO and Artistic Director Pawlet Brookes.

This year the organisation celebrates 10 years of curating and producing LDIF.

Pawlet says: “The tenth anniversary of Let's Dance International Frontiers 2020 (LDIF20) is going to be very special. I’m thrilled that we’re celebrating ten years of bringing dance from around the world to audiences in the city and beyond, and that we have, over those ten years, supported and developed work by a huge number of talented young artists.

“The legacy of the festival means we have also scored a number of firsts: ballet company PHILADANCO made their UK debut in 2017 at LDIF; the Deaf Dance pioneer Antoine Hunter made his debut at LDIF and many award-winning artists who will be with us this year including Kyle Abraham, Reggie Wilson, Alice Sheppard, Thomas Prestø, showcase world class, culturally diverse dance.“During LDIF20, we will revisit some of the highlights from past festivals. We are delighted to be welcoming back Kyle Abraham with a new solo work Cocoon, in his only UK performance, and PHILADANCO with an exciting mixed-bill of work. I’m particularly proud this year of the new work we’ll be presenting in our two development programmes”.

Annabel Guérédrat and Henri Tauliaut are presenting a site specific work inspired by Marcel Duchamp's Nude Descending the Staircase at New Walk Museum's spiral staircase. And the conference will be a vital ticket for anyone interested in how performance art is presented globally.

“At Serendipity we are enormously proud of what we’ve achieved with LDIF in bringing global dance to audiences in Leicester and showing that dance really is a universal language where everyone is welcome.”

This year’s theme is: 10 Years, 10 Countries, 10 Voices: Black Classics.

The keynote speakers at the annual conference are Eduardo Vilaro, choreographer, educator, and artistic director and CEO of Ballet Hispánico in New York City and the award-winning dancer/choreographer and Professor and Graduate Director Cynthia Oliver at the University of Illinois.

Featured speakers include Thomas Prestø, Artistic Director of Tabanka Dance Ensemble in Norway whose masterclass was a huge hit at last year’s LDIF, the US-based, British-born disabled dancer/choreographer Alice Sheppard and the dancer/choreographer/writer/curator Makeda Thomas who splits her time between Trinidad and New York.

Black Coffee will bring his incredible catalogue of music to the brand-new space in London at The Drumsheds venue on May 2^nd, 2020. From the creators of Printworks, The Drumsheds is a brand-new space that combines four giant, interlinked, warehouses with capacities of up to 10,000 inside along with 10 acres of outdoor space. Located in Meridian Water, next to Tottenham Marshes.

DJ and producer Black Coffee defies convention. Born in Durban in KwaZulu Natal and growing up in the Eastern Cape in Mthatha, before his first big break, when his song “Happiness” was featured on the DJs At Work album. This was then followed by his debut album released in 2005. To many Black Coffee has led ‘house music’ genre throughout the past few years, establishing a global pre-eminence in vocal house music. Black Coffee has worked alongside some of the worlds biggest artists including Drake, with who he collaborated with for “Get It Together” with vocals from Jorja Smith on Drake’s album, More Life. Over the last 18 months, Black Coffee’s signature sound has landed him in the studio alongside some of the world’s greatest including Diddy, Usher, Akon, Pharrell Williams and David Guetta.

Black Coffee has continued to grow his rollercoaster of career milestones, accolades and achievements and international profile over the past few years, gracing the decks at any event, which has elevated Black Coffee into the realm of a global superstar.

In just a matter of years, Black Coffee has become one of the top touring performers in the world holding down residencies at some of the world’s most famous venues and festivals such as Coachella, Tomorrowland, and a residency at Wynn in Las Vegas, all which have cemented Black Coffee as a go-to producer, remixer, and performer.

Tickets went on sale yesterday for a special additional preview performance of The Book of Mormon at Birmingham Hippodrome on Tuesday 3 March 2020 at 7.30pm. The performance will be the first chance for fans to see the much-anticipated Broadway smash hit in Birmingham.

Hundreds of fans queued outside of the theatre, with some braving the rain for over three hours, to get their hands on tickets when the box office opened at 10am this morning.

Over 1,500 tickets for the first Birmingham preview are priced at just £15 each and available to purchase in person only via the Birmingham Hippodrome Box Office.

The Tony®, Olivier® and Grammy® award-winning show plays at Birmingham Hippodrome through to Saturday 28 March 2020 with tickets available via www.thebookofmormonmusical.com and www.birminghamhippodrome.com.

The cast of The Book of Mormon in Birmingham will be led by Robert Colvin as Elder Price and Conner Peirson as Elder Cunningham. They are joined by Nicole-Lily Baisden as Nabulungi, Will Hawksworth as Elder McKinley, Ewen Cummins as Mafala Hatimbi, Johnathan Tweedie as Joseph Smith and Thomas Vernal as the General.

The company will include Jed Berry, David Brewis, Melissa Brown-Taylor, Chinasa, Sanchia Amber Clarke, Tre Copeland-Williams, George Crawford, Tom Dickerson, Jordan Lee Davies, Jemal Felix, Olivia Foster-Browne, Patrick George, Isaac Hesketh, Evan James, Alex James-Hatton, Nicole Louise, Fergal McGoff, Jesus Reyes Ortiz, Lawrence Rowe, Lukin Simmonds, Chomba S Taulo, Tommy Wade-Smith, Sharon Wattis and Jacob Yarlett.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the creators of the Emmy and Peabody award-winning television show, South Park, now in its twenty-second season, and the feature films South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut and Team America: World Police.

Robert Lopez co-created the Broadway musical Avenue Q and co-wrote the songs for Disney’s Frozen and Coco. He is one of only fifteen artists to win all four major entertainment awards – Emmy®, Grammy®, Oscar® and Tony® Awards.

The Book of Mormon follows a pair of Mormon boys sent on a mission to a place that’s a long way from their home in Salt Lake City.

Since making its world premiere in March 2011 at New York’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre, where it won nine Tony® Awards, including Best Musical, The Book of Mormon has been performed on three continents and won over thirty international awards. The musical has smashed long-standing box office records in New York, London, Melbourne, Sydney and cities across the U.S.

The London production opened in February 2013, winning four Olivier Awards® including Best New Musical, and breaking the record for the highest single day of sales in West End history. It has sold out every one of its 2918 performances to date at the Prince of Wales Theatre.

Book, Music and Lyrics are by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone.  Directed by Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker, The Book of Mormon has choreography by Casey Nicholaw, set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Ann Roth, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt, sound design by Brian Ronan, orchestrations by Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus and music supervision and vocal arrangements by Stephen Oremus.

The Book of Mormon is produced by Anne Garefino, Scott Rudin, Important Musicals and Sonia Friedman Productions.

After Joaquin Phoenix used the platform during his ‘Best Actor’ award acceptance speech for the film Joker to criticize the British Academy and then the Duke of Cambridge also hit out at a lack of diversity this year’s BAFTAs all eyes will be on the upcoming Oscars as they again seem to have mostly ignored films about women and people of a BAME culture.

Phoenix’s comments followed an outcry about the all-white acting nominations line-up at the 73rd Awards event at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

He said: "I think that we send a very clear message to people of colour that you're not welcome here. “I think that’s the message that we’re sending to people who have contributed so much to our medium and our industry in ways that we’ve benefited from,” Phoenix said.

“I don’t think anyone wants a hand-out or preferential treatment, although that’s what we give ourselves every year. I think people just want to be acknowledged, appreciated and respected for their work.”

In his address Prince William said: “The Academy's voters must stop overlooking Black and Ethnic Minority talent”.

The Price, who is president of the Bafta, added: “It simply cannot be right in this day and age” that film awards have all-white shortlists.

“Both here in the UK and in many other countries around the world, we are lucky to have incredible film-makers, actors, producers and technicians, men and women of all backgrounds and ethnicities enriching our lives through film.

“Yet in 2020, and not for the first time in the last few years, we find ourselves talking again about the need to do more about diversity in the sector and in the awards process. That simply cannot be right in this day and age”.

In concluding his peach, Joaquin Phoenix added: “I have not done everything in my power to ensure that the sets I work on are inclusive, but I think it’s more than just having sets that are multicultural.

“We have to do the hard work to truly understand systemic racism. I think it is the obligation of the people that have created and perpetuate and benefit from a system of oppression to be the ones that dismantle it. So that’s on us”.

This year, all 20 of the acting nominees at the BAFTAs were white.

All eyes, now, will be on next week’s Oscar ceremony.

Valentine’s Day is sorted for budding fashionistas this year with the launch of the new Specially Selected Shades of Love Bouquet, created exclusively for supermarket Aldi.

Taking inspiration from the red and pink colour trend seen across red carpets and catwalks this season, Aldi is bringing the A-list trend to the flower aisle with the stunning Specially Selected Shades of Love Bouquet featuring 100 individual roses carefully arranged to create a stunning ombre effect.

Combining ten different varieties of premium roses, including Madam Red, Tacazzi, Candy Party, Ensemble, Opus and Royal Jewel, the softer white and pink buds blend seamlessly into the bolder hues of the red roses, ensuring a natural and eye-pleasing flow of colour.

Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK commented: “Our Shades of Love bouquet is the ultimate showstopper for those looking to make a big statement this Valentine’s Day. We’re proud to offer the very latest in flower trends, and having taken inspiration directly from the red carpet , this is the go-to option for fashionistas and trend-followers alike’.

Effortlessly trailblazing, fragrant and fresh, the Specially Selected Shades of Love bouquet will not only make for a stunning centrepiece, but will also have fashionable couples reaching for their phones to capture the perfect Instagram opportunity… if they’re lucky enough to receive the bouquet that is!

The ultimate musical duo, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, are ‘Back Together’ and set to delight cinema audiences up and down the country with the final show of their UK tour from London’s O2 Arena.

Presented by CinemaLive, leading producers and distributors of event cinema, Michael Ball & Alfie Boe: Back Together, will be shown in over 1,000 screens in cinemas across the UK and Ireland, including major multiplexes and many independent cinemas and arts centres for one weekend only on 28th & 29th March 2020.

The show will see the superstar duo take on their favourite musical theatre, pop and rock tracks, including songs from The Lion King, The Greatest Showman and The Phantom of the Opera, as well as a beautifully arranged Queen Medley. Showcasing their phenomenal voices and undeniable on-stage chemistry, Ball and Boe’s irresistible charm will undoubtedly light up the big screen.

As a cinema exclusive, audiences will be treated to candid behind the scenes footage and interviews with the duo.

Michael Ball commented, “So excited we are going to be able to share our final show from the iconic O2 Arena in London on the big screen.  The Les Mis concert live screenings showed me that you can experience and relive the magic of a unique live performance all over again and the quality and intimacy are somehow heightened. If you couldn’t make it to one of our shows this is your chance....and if you did let’s do it all over again on March 28/29th!!!! See you there xxx”

Alfie Boe added, “What better way to end our 'Back Together' live tour than performing at the O2 Arena in London and filming it to go out in cinemas – over 1000 screens across the country. No pressure for us then! So whether you saw us live, or not, we promise to entertain you and have a lot of fun doing so! Spread the word, treat the family to some popcorn and come and join us. It's just after Mother’s Day too… so there’s your gift sorted! Hope to see you all there! Alfie xx "

Ball and Boe’s debut album Together became the UK’s best-selling album of 2016 and beat the likes of Little Mix and Rolling Stones to the Christmas No.1 spot. The follow up Together Again brought the pair a second No.1 album in 2017, and in 2019 they released their third record Back Together to great critical acclaim, scoring them yet another top 5 chart position.

Meeting over a decade ago in a production of Kismet at the London Coliseum, the pair struck up an instantaneous friendship, going on to become chart superstars. As a duo, Ball and Boe have now sold over 1 million albums in the UK, received 2 Classic Brit Awards, and sold out two headline arena tours.