Boris Godunov Blogging Event

The Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Boris Godunov is currently playing in rep as part of the 'A World Elsewhere' season along side two other plays, The Orphan of Zhao and The Life Of Galileo. The RSC ran their third social media call and this time Boris was the play to be featured. This time instead of running a scene for us to film/take pictures of, we were given tickets to see the matinee performance of the play and then attend a post show question and answer session.

Stephen Ventura (Shchelkarlov/Misail/Poet), Sadie Shimmin (Hostess), 

Philip Whitchurch (Varlaam/Prince Wisniowiecki) 

Photo By: Ellie Kurttz

The play is set in Russia in 1598, when, Prince Dmitry, the rightful heir to the Russian throne is dead and its left to Boris Godunov to reluctantly take the throne. After six years of securely ruling, rumours begin to surface that it was Boris that killed Dmitry to clear his way to the throne. These whispers reach the Chudov Monastery, where a young monk, Grigory, is yearning for life outside his cell. Realising that Prince Dmitry would have been the same age as him, he flees the monastery for Poland, where he intends to post as the 'reborn' Prince and convince the Polish people to help his overthrow Boris and become Tsar. In Poland, Grigory is using his considerable charm to gain loyalty and manpower. He has also caught the eye of the Polish princess, Maryna, who is quite taken with the idea of marrying a Tsar. When he finally proposes marriage he becomes compelled to reveal his true identity to her. She is furious, but eventually agrees to be his wife if he manages to overthrow Boris. Grigory gathers a troop of supporters and crosses over the Russian border to fight, after a first defeat, Grigory rallies the troops for a second, and back in Moscow, Boris Godunov's life, and claim to the throne, is hanging in the balance.

                                        video clip from Boris Godunov (c) RSC.

The play is superbly performed by the company and stars a fantastic cast led by Gethin Antony as Grigory and Lloyd Hutchinson as Boris Godunov. Other cast members include James Tucker as Shuisky, Joe Dixon as Afanasii Pushkin and Lucy Briggs Owen as Maryna.

This production of the play is a new adaptation of a play originally by Alexander Pushkin and was adapted by the late Adrian Mitchell and is directed by the former RSC Artist Director (2002-2012) Michael Boyd. The set for the production has been designed by Olivier Award winning Tom Piper, the lighting designed by Vince Herbert and music is by John Woolf. All of these contribute to a feel of Russia. Though the set maybe a little basic, the acting and use of the space makes up for it. The music definitely feels authentically Russian. All in all, the cast and the production team have produced a very enjoyable piece of theatre, that I'd recommend highly that everyone catches.

Lloyd Hutchinson (Boris Godunov)

 Photo By: Ellie Kurttz

After the show, all of us bloggers were invited back to the Ferguson Room at the RSC for a post show Q+A with three of the actors, Gethin Antony (Grigory), Lloyd Hutchinson (Boris) and James Tucker (Shuisky) and we were also joined by the productions assistant director, Emily Kempson.

Here are some of the questions and answers that were given.

Q - Could you please give us an introduction to the play.
A - (Emily) One of the things I found really interesting with this play its that it's got a really interesting production history, in fact this is the first time this uncensored version has been performed professionally in England. The play has continuously been repressed by various censorship regimes and throughout Russian history. The action begins in 1598 with the coronation of Boris which is also the time that Elizabeth The First was on the throne of England, so around the same time that Shakespeare was alive here is what was happening in Russia, that is why its part of the World Elsewhere season. The production was directed by Michael Boyd, and his last production while he was Artistic Director and I think it was a really apt play for him to finish on and certainly felt a good finale to his ten year tenure. It's a really good round up of the Russian work that Michael has done while he's been at the RSC. He trained as a director in Russia and has a really strong connections with Russia, and he also speaks Russian, which is something we all found really useful during rehearsals. Hearing his insight. So along with the connections this play has to Shakespeare's histories it felt an appealing last play for him to do. The rehearsal period was a much longer one than I've ever been involved with, so that was a very brilliant thing for me. It felt for me a very open and creative process in that Michael isn't one of those directors that walks into the rehearsals with a plan of this is how the production will be. It's very much about getting in the rehearsal room and putting ideas together. In the beginning we thought of what the play might say about Russia today, and the Pussy Riot thing was much more recent when we started, and that was on the news and we also talked about what this play might say about Russian politics throughout history and even still today. We also had a brilliant talk by writer Martin Sixsmith where we talked about how Russia constantly finds itself within the grip of an automatic power.

Q - You said it was a long rehearsal period, how long was it?
A - (Gethin) The two shows rehearsed side by side, this and The Orphan Of Zhao and I think it was around 11 weeks, so on each play around 6-ish weeks.

Q - So you might be rehearsing one play in the morning and another in the afternoon?
A - (Gethin) I mean some of the actors would be bouncing between China and Russia, and get some severe jet lack. There were actors that would get one call to be here then another to be elsewhere. What was interesting for me, its the first time I've worked with the RSC and the first time I've worked in anyway like this to not only have six weeks within that 12 week rehearsal time, you also get a lot of thinking time. For a British actor it was a real privilege to have that amount of time for the material to seep in.

Graham Turner (General Basmanov/Father Czernikowski)

Photo by Ellie Kurttz 

Q - Over that time were you developing as an ensemble? It's not a director saying this is what you'll do, it comes together as an ensemble?
A - (Lloyd) Yes, a lot of its the more the ensemble play together the tighter it becomes.
A - (Gethin) It's something that Michael really encouraged is that collaboration, a genuine collaboration, where anyone in the room can talk about anything, any department, and that create works like the coat fight. Things like that where Tom Piper (designer) brings coats into the rehearsal room and the actors contribute by finding how to use them as well and that hopefully that creates good work.

Q - I was going to ask about the concept of the battles, I though it was absolutely incredible, was it developed in the rehearsal room, rather than anyone having a set plan?
A - (Emily) Absolutely, Michael hates planning. There's no real planing.
A - (Lloyd) I mean there was a bunch of coats in the rehearsal room for us all to stick on and they were just picked up and used and then we thought how would you fight with a coat.

Q - In the original Russian script, did it break into the rhyming couplets that are in the production?
A - (Gethin) Adrian Mitchell honoured the form throughout
A - (Lloyd) It was a real shame that he wasn't in the rehearsal room, as he sadly died around 4 years ago. It would have been great to have him in the room because you've got Pushkin and him, two very different writers that came from the same block of wood, it would have been great to have him there.

Lloyd Hutchinson (Boris Godunov)

Photo by Ellie Kurttz 

Q - There's no interval in the production. Was that decision made early on and how did you feel about it?
A - (Lloyd) I personally love it, I'm a great fan of watching plays straight through. Sometime I think an interval can slow it down, but in some plays you do need that break. I remember when Michael said it I was thrilled because the first acts only around 40 minutes long.
A - (Emily) The decision was made later in the process. It's a bit of negotiation with other departments as having no interval has implications for them too. It was a really good discipline because we were told that we had to make the production 2 hours or under which I think serves it well.
A - (Lloyd) I was really enthusiastic about offering cuts early on, which I believe is vital, and it's important that you make the right cuts.
A - (James) Michael's a director who likes scenes to overlap, he hates scene changes.

Q - This was my first time in the Swan, I was really intrigued with the way you were interacting with the audience. Is that something you've done specifically for this production?
A - (Lloyd) With The Orphan Of Zhao that is quite a contained show, it's very focused, but with Boris there's always that notion that you the audience is observing us all the time. You're always there to be played with, to and involved. This was something that came out early on in rehearsing.
A - (James) Michael does that, he wants to audience to part of the action.
A - (Gethin) Essentially the writing leads you there.
Q - I think it's partly the theatre.
A - (James) You're in one room, you're having a conversation with the audience yourself as the character. I love it when a single actor is upon the stage, and they'll stand in a spot where they can take in more or less the whole audience and they can talk to them.

Q - I thought the structure of the play was quite unusual because its monologue, then a little bit of duologue and other wise its story telling. Was that something you felt playing it?
A - (Lloyd) Pushkin was such a big fan of Shakespeare, he wants to the monologue, there's bits of Macbeth in it, the comedy tavern is something similar to Henry IV part 2. It's a real lover letter to Shakespeare. You just have to honour what the writer has written, there's nothing else you can do.

Q - Was the music in the original play?
A - (Emily) John Woolf has done all the music, there is existing chants but John did all the rest. There is lyrics to the song in the tavern scene is in the original play.

Q - Does working in rep change the mind frame of an actor?
A - (James) It certainly changes your energy levels depending on what sort of day you've had. I guess tiredness can sometimes be a good thing.
A - (Lloyd) It brings out different qualities, it allows you to play with different aspects of your own apparatus.

Gethin Anthony (Grigory Otrepiev)

Photo by Ellie Kurttz  

Boris Godunov runs at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon until March 30th 2013 for more information visit the RSC Website (click here)

Shows I Saw in 2012

Being into the new year now, I've decided to blog up all the shows (musicals, plays, comedy gigs and music concerts) I saw in the previous year (there is alot),  and pick out which were the best and the best performances I saw... I've also included some of the pictures from the year.

January 2012
Oliver! (Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff) Musical - 3rd January 2012
Cast Included - Neil Morrisey (Fagin), Samantha Barks (Nancy), Iain Fletcher (Bill Sikes), Stephen Moore (Mr Brownlow), Jack Edwards (Mr Bumble), Suzie Chard (Widow Corney), Emma Dukes (Bet)

Robinson Crusoe and The Caribbean Pirates (New Theatre, Cardiff) Pantomime - 4th January 2012
Cast Included - Christopher Biggins (Mrs Crusoe), Paul Zerdin (Robinson Crusoe), David Bedella (Blackheart), Stephanie Siadatan (Girl Friday)

Me and David Bedella after Robinson Crusoe

The Heart Of Robin Hood (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 5th January 2012
Cast Included - James McArdle (Robin), Iris Roberts (Marion), Martin Hutson (Prince John), Tim Treloar (Guy of Gisborne), Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (Pierre)

42nd Street (Curve Theatre, Leicester) Musical - 10th/18th January 2012
Cast Included - Daisy Maywood (Peggy Sawyer), Tim Flavin (Julian Marsh), Ria Jones (Dorothy Block), Steve Fortune (Abner Dillon), Alan Burkitt (Andy Lee), Geraldine Fitzgerald (Maggie Jones)

Les Miserables (Queens Theatre, London) Musical - 21st January 2012
Cast Included - Ramin Karimloo (Jean Valjean), Hadley Fraser (Javert), Craig Mather (Marius), Alexia Khadime (Eponine), Lisa-Anne Wood (Cosette), Caroline Sheen (Fantine), Liam Tamne (Enjrolas)

Me and Ramin Karimloo after Les Miserables

The Taming Of The Shrew (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 24th January 2012
Cast Included - Lisa Dillon (Kate), David Caves (Petruchio), Nick Holder (Christopher Sly), David Rintoul (Gremio), Elizabeth Cadwallader (Bianca)

Alfie Boe (DeMontfort Hall, Leicester) Concert - 25th January 2012
Performers - Alfie Boe, Laura Wright, Catherine Manford

February 2012
Testing Testing (Kalal, Leicester) Comedy Gig -6th February 2012
Comedians - Gary Delany, Joe Lycett and Sarah Millican

Rob Rouse - (The Crumblin' Cookie, Leicester) Comedy Gig - 10th February 2012
Comedians - Rob Rouse

Gavin DeGraw (Manchester O2 Academy, Manchester) Concert - 12th February 2012
Performers - Gavin DeGraw, Juan Zelada (support act)

Me and Gavin DeGraw at the Meet And Greet

Greg Davies and Friends (DeMontfort Hall, Leicester) Comedy Gig - 13th February 2012
Comedians - Greg Davies, Rhod Gilbert, Russell Howard, Joe Lycett, Ed Gamble, Mark Olver

Stuart Goldsmith (The Belmont Hotel, Leicester) Comedy Gig - 16th February 2012
Comedians - Stuart Goldsmith

Patrick Monahan (The Little Theatre, Leicester) Comedy Gig - 18th February 2012
Comedians - Patrick Monahan

The Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers Awards 2012 (Prince Of Wales Theatre, London) Awards Concert - 19th February 2012
Hosts - Sheridan Smith, Alan Davies, Jenny Eclair

Me and Tim Minchin outside the Whatsonstage Awards

Calender Girls (DeMontfort Hall, Leicester) Play - 20th February 2012
Cast Included - Lynda Bellingham (Chris), Lisa Riley (Ruth) Jan Harvey (Annie), Sue Holderness (Celia), Ruth Madoc (Marie), Deena Payne (Cora)

Les Miserables (Queens Theatre, London) Musical - 24th February 2012
Cast Included - Ramin Karimloo (Jean Valjean), Hadley Fraser (Javert), Craig Mather (Marius), Alexia Khadime (Eponine), Lisa-Anne Wood (Cosette), Caroline Sheen (Fantine), Liam Tamne (Enjrolas)

March 2012
Gypsy (Curve Theatre, Leicester) Musical - 10th/14th March 2012
Cast Included - Caroline O'Connor (Momma Rose), Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (Louise), Daisy Maywood (Dainty June), David Fleeshman (Herbie)

The Comedy Of Errors (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play -19th March 2012
Cast Included - Stephen Hagan (Antipholus Of Ephesus), Felix Hayes (Dromio Of Ephesus), Jonathan McGuiness (Antipholus of Syracuse), Bruce Mackinnon (Dromio of Syracuse), Kirsty Bushell (Adriana), Nicholas Day (Egeon)

Matilda - (Cambridge Theatre, London) Musical - 21st March 2012
Cast Included - Sophia Kiely (Matilda), Bertie Carvel (Miss Trunchball), Lauren Ward (Miss Honey), Paul Kaye (Mr Wormwood)

Gypsy (Curve Theatre, Leicester) Musical -25th March 2012
Cast Included - Caroline O'Connor (Momma Rose), Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (Louise), Daisy Maywood (Dainty June), David Fleeshman (Herbie)

Me and Caroline O'Connor after Gypsy

Oliver! (Hippodrome, Birmingham) Musical - 30th March 2012
Cast Included - Neil Morrisey (Fagin), Samantha Barks (Nancy), Iain Fletcher (Bill Sikes), Stephen Moore (Mr Brownlow), Jack Edwards (Mr Bumble), Suzie Chard (Widow Corney), Emma Dukes (Bet)

April 2012
Oliver! (Hippodrome, Birmingham) Musical - 1st April 2012
Cast Included - Neil Morrisey (Fagin), Samantha Barks (Nancy), Iain Fletcher (Bill Sikes), Stephen Moore (Mr Brownlow), Jack Edwards (Mr Bumble), Suzie Chard (Widow Corney), Emma Dukes (Bet)

Me and Samantha Barks after Oliver!

The Osmonds (Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham) Concert - 4rd April 2012
Performers - Jimmy Osmond, Jay Osmond, Merrill Osmond

Gypsy (Curve Theatre, Leicester) Musical -5th April 2012
Cast Included - Caroline O'Connor (Momma Rose), Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (Louise), Daisy Maywood (Dainty June), David Fleeshman (Herbie)

Me and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt after Gypsy

Il Divo (Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield) Concert - 7th April 2012
Performers - Il Divo

Doctor In The House (Theatre Royal, Nottingham) Play - 10th April 2012
Cast Included - Joe Pasquale (Tony), Robert Powell (Sir Lancelot Spratt), Emma Barton (Vera)

Me and Joe Pasquale after Doctor In The House

Steps (Capital FM Arena, Nottingham) Concert - 11th April 2012
Performers - Steps, Shockolady, Kamaliya

Gypsy (Curve Theatre, Leicester) Musical -12th April 2012
Cast Included - Caroline O'Connor (Momma Rose), Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (Louise), Daisy Maywood (Dainty June), David Fleeshman (Herbie)

The Tale Of Two Cities (Charing Cross Theatre, London) Musical - 14th April 2012
Cast Included - Anthony Hansen (Charles Darnay), Jennifer Hepburn (Lucie), Michael Howe (Sydney Carton)

We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre, London) Musical - 18th April 2012
Cast Included - Lauren Samuels (Scaramouche), Scott Monello (Galileo), Kevin Kennedy (Pop),  Alasdair Harvey (Khashoggi), Rachel John (Meat)

Me and Lauren Samuels after We Will Rock You

Twelfth Night (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 19th April 2012
Cast Included - Emily Taffe (Viola), Stephen Hagan (Sebastian), Nicholas Day (Sir Toby Belch), Bruce Mackinnon (Sir Andrew Aguecheek), Jonathan Slinger (Malvolio) Jonathan McGuiness (Orsino)

King John (Swan Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 21st April 2012
Cast Included - Alex Waldmann (King John), Pippa Nixon (The Bastard), John Stahl (King Philip Of France), Susie Trayling (Constance), Oscar Pearce (Lewis The Dauphin)

Joseph And His Technicolour Dreamcoat (Curve Theatre, Leicester) Musical -25th April 2012
Cast Included -  Keith Jack (Joseph), Jennifer Potts (Narrator), Henry Metcalfe (Jacob)

Avenue Q (DeMontfort Hall, Leicester) Musical - 30th April 2012
Cast Included - Sam Lupton (Princeton/Rod), Katherine Moraz (Kate/Lucy), Chris Thatcher (Nicky/Trekkie/Bear), Daniella Gibb (Mrs T/Bear), Matthew J Henry (Gary)

May 2012
The Tempest (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play -1st May 2012
Cast Included - Jonathan Slinger (Prospero), Sandy Grierson (Ariel), Soloman Israel (Ferdinand), Emily Taaffe (Miranda), Amer Hlehel (Caliban), Kirsty Bushell (Sebastian)

A Tale Of Two Cities (Charing Cross Theatre, London) Musical - 2nd May 2012
Cast Included - Jonathan Ansell (Charles Darnay), Jennifer Hepburn (Lucie), Michael Howe (Sydney Carton)

Me and Rebecca Wicking after A Tale Of Two Cities

The Comedy Of Errors (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play -4th May 2012
Cast Included - Sargon Yelda (Antipholus Of Ephesus), Ankur Bahl (Dromio Of Ephesus/Dromio of Syracuse), Sandy Grierson (Antipholus of Syracuse), Sarah Belcher (Adriana), Nicholas Day (Egeon)

Two Roses For Richard III (Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 7th May 2012
Cast Included - Raquel Karro, Julia Lund, Carol Machado, Savio Moll, Renato Rocha, João Lucas Romero, Marcelle Sampaio, Rafael Sardão, Thierry Tremouroux, Carolina Virguez, Marcio Vito

Ramin Karimloo (Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham) Concert - 9th May 2012
Performers - Ramin Karimloo, Louise Dearman, Ben Richards

Twelfth Night (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 11th May 2012
Cast Included - Amie Burns Walker (Viola), Stephen Hagan (Sebastian), Jan Knightley (Sir Toby Belch), Ankur Bahl (Sir Andrew Aguecheek), Felix Hayes (Malvolio) Sargon Yelda (Orsino)

Les Miserables (Queens Theatre, London) Musical -12th May 2012
Cast Included - David Shannon (Jean Valjean), Earl Carpenter (Javert), Craig Mather (Marius), Alexia Khadime (Eponine), Lisa-Anne Wood (Cosette), Caroline Sheen (Fantine), Liam Tamne (Enjrolas)

Me and Earl Carpenter after Les Miserables

Wonderful Town (Theatre Royal, Nottingham) Musical - 17th May 2012
Cast Included - Connie Fisher (Ruth), Michael Xavier (Bob Baker), Lucy Van Gasse (Eileen), Nic Greenshields (Wreck), Haydn Oakley (Frank Lippencott)

Me and Michael Xavier after Wonderful Town

Richard III (Swan Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 24th May 2012
Cast Included - Jonjo O'Neill (Richard), Paola Dionisotti (Queen Margaret), Pippa Nixon (Lady Anne),(Brian Ferguson (Buckingham), John Stahl (Hastings), Alex Waldmann (Catesby)

June 2012
King John (Swan Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 4th June 2012
Cast Included - Alex Waldmann (King John), Pippa Nixon (The Bastard), John Stahl (King Philip Of France), Susie Trayling (Constance), Oscar Pearce (Lewis The Dauphin)

Rock Of Ages (Shaftesbury Theatre, London) Musical - 9th June 2012
Cast Included - Oliver Tompsett (Drew), Natalie Andreou (Sherrie), Simon Lipkin (Lonny), Grant Anthony (Dennis Dupree) Jodie Jacobs (Regina/Candi), Shayne Ward (Stacee Jaxx)

The Comedy Of Errors (The Roundhouse, London) Play -22nd June 2012
Cast Included - Stephen Hagan (Antipholus Of Ephesus), Felix Hayes (Dromio Of Ephesus), Jonathan McGuiness (Antipholus of Syracuse), Bruce Mackinnon (Dromio of Syracuse), Kirsty Bushell (Adriana), Nicholas Day (Egeon)

West End Live (Trafalgar Square, London) Concert - 23nd/24th June 2012
Shows performing Included - Matilda, Rock Of Ages, Jersey Boys, We Will Rock You, Les Miserables, Phantom Of The Opera, Ghost, Wicked

Rock Of Ages (Shaftesbury Theatre, London) Musical - 24th June 2012
Cast Included - Oliver Tompsett (Drew), Natalie Andreou (Sherrie), Nathan Amzi (Lonny), Justin-Lee Collins (Dennis Dupree) Jodie Jacobs (Regina/Candi), Shayne Ward (Stacee Jaxx)

Little Women (Playhouse Theatre, London) Concert/Musical - 24th June 2012
Cast Included - Nikki Davis Jones (Jo), Sarah Lark (Beth), Lisa-Anne Wood (Amy), Gina Beck (Meg), Helena Blackman (Belle Gardner), Norman Bowman (Professor Bhaer), Daniel Boys (Laurie), Shona Lindsay (Marmee): Jon Robyns (John Brooke)

Me and Nikki Davis Jones after Little Women

Julius Caesar (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play -30th June 2012
Cast Included - Paterson Joseph (Brutus), Cyril Nri (Cassius), Ray Fearon (Mark Antony), Jeffery Kissoon (Julius Caesar)

A Soldier In Every Son (Swan Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 30th June 2012
Cast Included - Brian Ferguson (Itzcoatl), Alex Waldmann (Ixtlixochitl/Nezahualcoyotl), Mark Holgate (Maxtla), John Stahl (Tezozomoc), Joshua Jenkins (Tochitzin/Moctezuma), Natalie Klamar (Zilamiauh/Citlali)

Me and Alex Waldmann after A Soldier In Every Son

July 2012
A Soldier In Every Son (Swan Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 2nd July 2012
Cast Included - Brian Ferguson (Itzcoatl), Alex Waldmann (Ixtlixochitl/Nezahualcoyotl), Mark Holgate (Maxtla), John Stahl (Tezozomoc), Joshua Jenkins (Tochitzin/Moctezuma), Natalie Klamar (Zilamiauh/Citlali), Susie Trayling (Tecpa/Macuetzin)

Rock Of Ages (Shaftesbury Theatre, London) Musical - 7th July 2012
Cast Included - Oliver Tompsett (Drew), Natalie Andreou (Sherrie), Simon Lipkin (Lonny), Justin-Lee Collins (Dennis Dupree) Jodie Jacobs (Regina/Candi), Sandy Moffat (Stacee Jaxx)

Me and Jodie Jacobs after Rock Of Ages

A Soldier In Ever Son (Swan Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Social Media Call - 10th July 2012
Cast Included - Alex Waldmann (Ixtlixochitl/Nezahualcoyotl), Susie Trayling (Tecpa/Macuetzin)

Legally Blonde (Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes) Musical - 31st July 2012
Cast Included - Amy Ross (Elle Woods), Iwan Lewis (Emmett), Gareth Gates (Warner), Tracey Penn (Vivenne), Jennifer Ellison (Paulette), Andy Mace (Callahan)

August 2012
Much Ado About Nothing (Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 4th August 2012
Cast Included - Meera Syal (Beatrice), Paul Bhattacharjee (Benedick), Amara Karan (Hero), Sagar Arya (Claudio), Shiv Grewal (Don Pedro)

Jersey Boys (Prince Edward Theatre, London) Musical - 9th August 2012
Cast Included - Ryan Molloy (Frankie Valli), Jon Boydon (Tommy Devito), Eugene McCoy (Nick Massi), Matthew Wycliffe (Bob Gaudio)

Me and Jon Boydon after Jersey Boys

Rock Of Ages (Shaftesbury Theatre, London) Musical - 9th August 2012
Cast Included - Oliver Tompsett (Drew), Natalie Andreou (Sherrie), Simon Lipkin (Lonny), Justin-Lee Collins (Dennis Dupree) Jodie Jacobs (Regina/Candi), Shayne Ward (Stacee Jaxx)

Me and Natalie Andreou after Rock Of Ages

Julius Caesar (Noel Coward Theatre, London) Play - 16th August 2012
Cast Included - Paterson Joseph (Brutus), Cyril Nri (Cassius), Ray Fearon (Mark Antony), Jeffery Kissoon (Julius Caesar)

Rock Of Ages (Shaftesbury Theatre, London) Musical - 16th August 2012
Cast Included - Oliver Tompsett (Drew), Natalie Andreou (Sherrie), Nathan Amzi (Lonny), Justin-Lee Collins (Dennis Dupree) Amy Thornton (Regina/Candi), Shayne Ward (Stacee Jaxx)

Me and Oliver Tompsett after Rock Of Ages

Much Ado About Nothing (Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 23rd August 2012
Cast Included - Meera Syal (Beatrice), Paul Bhattacharjee (Benedick), Amara Karan (Hero), Sagar Arya (Claudio), Shiv Grewal (Don Pedro)

Jonjo O'Neill, Me and Pippa Nixon after Richard III Q+A

Julius Caesar (Noel Coward Theatre, London) Play - 24th August 2012
Cast Included - Mark Theodore (Brutus), Andrew French (Cassius), Theo Ogundipe (Mark Antony), Ricky Fearon (Julius Caesar)

Hysteria (Oxford Playhouse, Oxford) Play - 27th August 2012
Cast Included - Antony Sher (Freud), Indira Varma (Jessica), Will Keen (Dali)

The Comedy Of Errors (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 30th August 2012
Cast Included - Stephen Hagan (Antipholus Of Ephesus), Felix Hayes (Dromio Of Ephesus), Jonathan McGuiness (Antipholus of Syracuse), Bruce Mackinnon (Dromio of Syracuse), Kirsty Bushell (Adriana), Nicholas Day (Egeon)

King John (Swan Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 30th August 2012
Cast Included - Alex Waldmann (King John), Pippa Nixon (The Bastard), John Stahl (King Philip Of France), Susie Trayling (Constance), Oscar Pearce (Lewis The Dauphin)

September 2012
The Comedy Of Errors (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 4th September 2012
Cast Included - Stephen Hagan (Antipholus Of Ephesus), Felix Hayes (Dromio Of Ephesus), Jonathan McGuiness (Antipholus of Syracuse), Bruce Mackinnon (Dromio of Syracuse), Kirsty Bushell (Adriana), Nicholas Day (Egeon)

Sweeney Todd (Adelphi Theatre, London) Musical - 5th September 2012
Cast Included - Michael Ball (Sweeney Todd), Imelda Staunton (Mrs Lovett), Lucy May Barker (Johanna), Luke Brady (Anthony), John Bowe (Judge Turpin), Peter Polycarpou (Beadle Bamford)

The Sound Of Music (Kilworth House Theatre, Leicestershire) Musical - 6th September 2012
Cast Included - Helena Blackman (Maria), Ian Knauer (Captain Von Trapp), Jan Hartley (Mother Abbess), Russell Wilcox (Max), Rebecca Caine (Elsa Schraeder)

Les Miserables (Queens Theatre, London) Musical -8th September 2012
Cast Included - Geronimo Rauch (Jean Valjean), Tam Mutu (Javert), Craig Mather (Marius), Danielle Hope (Eponine), Samantha Dorsey (Cosette), Sierra Boggess (Fantine), Liam Tamne (Enjrolas)

Me and Sierra Boggess after Les Miserables

King John (Swan Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 12th September 2012
Cast Included - Alex Waldmann (King John), Pippa Nixon (The Bastard), John Stahl (King Philip Of France), Susie Trayling (Constance), Oscar Pearce (Lewis The Dauphin)
 
Twelfth Night (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 13th September 2012
Cast Included - Emily Taffe (Viola), Stephen Hagan (Sebastian), Nicholas Day (Sir Toby Belch), Bruce Mackinnon (Sir Andrew Aguecheek), Jonathan Slinger (Malvolio) Jonathan McGuiness (Orsino)

Finding Neverland (Curve Theatre, Leicester) Musical - 24th September 2012
Cast Included - Julian Ovenden (J M Barrie), Rosalie Craig (Sylvvia Llewelyn-Davies), Oliver Boot (Hook/Blunt), Clare Foster (Mary Barrie), Liz Robertson (Mrs Dumaurier)

Hedda Gabler (Old Vic, London) Play - 29th September 2012
Cast Included - Sheridan Smith (Hedda), Adrian Scarborough (Jurgen Tesman), Daniel Lapaine (Eilert Loevborg), Fenella Woolgar (Thea Elvsted), Darrell D’Silva (Judge Brack)

The Tempest (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 30th September 2012
Cast Included - Jonathan Slinger (Prospero), Sandy Grierson (Ariel), Soloman Israel (Ferdinand), Emily Taaffe (Miranda), Amer Hlehel (Caliban), Kirsty Bushell (Sebastian)

Me and Nicholas Day after The Tempest

October 2012
The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice (Theatre Royal, Nottingham) Play - 3rd October 2012
Cast Included - Jess Robinson (Little Voice), Beverly Callard (Mari Hoff), Ray Quinn (Billy), Philip Andrews (Ray Say)

Me and Ceris Hine after Little Voice

Twelfth Night (Globe Theatre, London) Play - 7th October 2012
Cast Included - Mark Rylance (Olivia), Stephen Fry (Malvolio), Samuel Barnett (Sebastian), Johnny Flynn (Viola), Colin Hurley (Sir Toby Belch), Roger Lloyd Pack (Sir Andrew Aguecheek) Paul Chahidi (Maria)

Finding Neverland (Curve Theatre, Leicester) Musical - 8th October 2012
Cast Included - Norman Bowman (J M Barrie), Rosalie Craig (Sylvvia Llewelyn-Davies), Oliver Boot (Hook/Blunt), Clare Foster (Mary Barrie), Liz Robertson (Mrs Dumaurier)

Me and Norman Bowman after Finding Neverland

Finding Neverland (Curve Theatre, Leicester) Musical - 10th/11th/17th October 2012
Cast Included - Julian Ovenden (J M Barrie), Rosalie Craig (Sylvvia Llewelyn-Davies), Oliver Boot (Hook/Blunt), Clare Foster (Mary Barrie), Liz Robertson (Mrs Dumaurier)

One Man Two Guvnors (Curve Theatre, Leicester) Play - 30th October 2012
Cast Included - Rufus Hound (Francis Henshall), Rosie Wyatt (Rachel Crabbe), Edward Bennett (Stanley Stubbers), Amy Booth-Steel (Dolly), Peter Claufield (Alfie), Colin Mace (Charlie Clench)

November 2012
The Orphan Of Zhao (Swan Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 7th November 2012
Cast Included - Joe Dixon (Tu'an Gu), Jake Fairbrother (Cheng Bo), Graham Turner (Dr Cheng), Lucy Briggs-Owen (The Princess), Nia Gwynne (Dr Cheng's Wife), Philip Whitchurch (Wei Jang)

Steel Pier (Union Theatre, London) Musical - 11th November 2012
Cast Included - Sarah Galbraith (Rita Racine), Jay Rincon (Billy Kelly), Ian Knauer (Mick Hamilton), Aimie Atkinson (Shelby Stevens), Lisa-Anne Wood (Precious McGuire)

Oliver! (Grand Theatre, Leeds) Musical - 18th November 2012
Cast Included - Neil Morrisey (Fagin), Samantha Barks (Nancy), Ryan O'Gorman (Bill Sikes), Stephen Moore (Mr Brownlow), James Gant (Mr Bumble), Claire Machin (Widow Corney), Emma Dukes (Bet)

The Mouse And His Child (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 21st November 2012
Cast Included - Michael Hodgson (Manny), Daniel Ryan (Mouse), Bettrys Jones (Child), Julia Innocenti (Ralphie/Mrs Crow), Carla Mendonça (Elephant), Naomi Sheldon (Seal)

The West End Men (DeMontfort Hall, Leicester) Concert - 23rd November 2012
Performers - Ramin Karimloo, Lee Mead, Stephen Rahman Hughes, Ashleigh Grey

Boris Godunov (Swan Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 26th November 2012
Cast Included - Gethin Antony (Grigory), Lloyd Hutchinson (Boris Godunov), Patrick Romer (Father Pimen), Lucy Briggs Owen (Maryna), Joe Dixon (Afanasii Pushkin), Graham Turner (General Basmanov)

The Mouse And His Child (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 28th November 2012
Cast Included - Michael Hodgson (Manny), Daniel Ryan (Mouse), Bettrys Jones (Child), Julia Innocenti (Ralphie/Mrs Crow), Carla Mendonça (Elephant), Naomi Sheldon (Seal)

December 2012
Hello, Dolly! (Curve Theatre, Leicester) Musical - 4th/5th December 2012
Cast Included - Janie Dee (Dolly Levi), Dale Rapley (Horace Vandergelder), Laura Pitt-Pulford (Irene Molloy), Michael Xavier (Cornelious Hack), Ngo Ngofa (Minnie Fay), Jason Denton (Barnaby Tucker)

Lionel Richie (Capital FM Arena, Nottingham) Concert - 15th December 2012
Performers - Lionel Richie

Me and Lionel Richie at his Meet and Greet

The Merry Wives Of Windsor (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) Play - 18th December 2012
Cast Included - Desmond Barrit (Sir John Falstaff), Anita Dobson (Mistress Quickly), Alexandra Gilbreath (Mistress Ford), John Ramm (Frank Ford), Sylvestra Le Touzel (Mistress Page), Martin Hyder (George Page), Naomi Sheldon (Anne Page)

The Rocky Horror Show (Theatre Royal, Brighton) Musical - 30th December 2012
Cast Included - Oliver Thornton (Frank N'Furter), Ben Forster (Brad), Roxanne Pallett (Janet), Rhydian (Rocky), Joel Montague (Dr Scott/Eddie), Kristian Lavercombe (Riff Raff), Ceris Hine (Columbia), Abigal Jaye (Magenta/Usherette)

Me and Ben Forster after Rocky Horror

Me and Roxanne Pallet after Rocky Horror

Stats...
Most Attended Theatres:

• Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Straford-Upon-Avon - 16
• Curve Theatre, Leicester - 16
• Swan Theatre, Straford-Upon-Avon - 10
• Shaftesbury Theatre, London - 5
• DeMontfort Hall, Leicester - 5

Shows Seen Most Times:

• The Comedy Of Errors - 5
• Gypsy - 5
• Finding Neverland - 5
• Rock Of Ages - 5
• King John - 4
• Les Miserables - 4
• Oliver! - 4

5 of the Best..

Musicals:

• Gypsy
• Finding Neverland
• Rocky Horror Show
• Matilda
• Rock Of Ages

Plays:

• King John (RSC)
• Comedy Of Errors (RSC)
• Twelfth Night (Globe)
• Julius Caesar (RSC)
• The Mouse And His Child (RSC)

Concerts:

• Lionel Richie
• Ramin Karimloo
• Little Women, 
• The Osmonds
• The West End Men

Male Musical Performances:

• Bertie Carvel in Matilda
• Oliver Boot in Finding Neverland
• Michael Ball in Sweeney Todd
• Ryan Molloy in Jersey Boys
• Geronimo Rauch in Les Miserables

Female Musical Performances:

• Victoria Hamilton-Barritt in Gypsy
• Aimie Atkinson in Steel Pier 
• Jemma Alexander in A Tale Of Two Cities
• Sophia Kiely in Matilda
• Imelda Staunton in Sweeney Todd

Male Play Performances:

• Alex Waldmann in King John
• Mark Rylance in Twelfth Night
• Ray Fearon in Julius Caesar
• Paterson Joseph in Julius Caesar
• Michael Hodgson in The Mouse And His Child

Female Play Performances:

• Pippa Nixon in King John
• Naomi Sheldon in The Mouse And His Child
• Alexandra Gilbreath in The Merry Wives Of Windsor
• Sheridan Smith in Hedda Gabler
• Susie Trayling in King John