The Theatre Café has announced the release date for the very first episode of The Theatre Channel, a brand-new web series showcasing well-known musical theatre classics. Performed by the cream of British and international musical theatre talent, each episode is staged and filmed with high production values on location at The Theatre Café in the heart of the West End, making full use of the whole space – from the bar seating area all the way up to the roof – and feature a mix of 5-6 standalone performances, ordinarily set in a café, bar or restaurant. Many of the performances will be supported by the Café Four, a reoccurring background ensemble made up of other West End talents.
A unique hybrid of stage and screen, the first 30-minute episode will launch on 2 October, and will be available to purchase for £12 and view via www.thetheatrecafe.co.uk/channel – once purchased, audiences are able to watch the episode unlimited times. Four new episodes are planned for release in 2020, with the second themed episode to be released at Halloween. Further details to be released shortly.
The first episode will feature the following performances:
Tarinn Callender (Come From Away, Hamilton) singing On Broadway from Smokey Joe’s Café, Carrie Hope Fletcher (Heathers: The Musical, The Addams Family, Les Misérables) and Oliver Ormson (Back to the Future, The Addams Family, The Book of Mormon) singing Suddenly Seymour from Little Shop of Horrors, Olivier Award Winner Matt Henry MBE (Kinky Boots, One Night in Miami) singing Let it Sing from Violet, Lucie Jones (Waitress, Legally Blonde, X-Factor UK) singing Maybe This Time from Cabaret, Olivier Award Winner Jenna Russell (Merrily We Roll Along, Sunday in the Park with George) singing Ladies who Lunch from Company, Jodie Steele (Six The Musical, Rock of Ages, Heathers: The Musical) singing Heaven on Their Minds from Jesus Christ Superstar.
The Theatre Channel’s Café Four is comprised of Alyn Hawke (Oklahoma, Follies, 42nd Street), Emily Langham (The Boy Friend, Oklahoma, West Side Story), Sadie-Jean Shirley (City of Angels, Ghost: The Musical, Aladdin) and Alex Woodward (Mamma Mia, Hairspray).
Adam Blanshay said, “In the wake of Global theatre closures, it’s been a very emotional and beautiful few weeks to have had the humbling privilege of assembling with theatre artists and creatives, creating a platform to enable them to express their gifts and talents. A tear or two may even have been shed. As we launch The Theatre Channel, we sincerely hope that our content will capture the hearts and minds of our viewers. All-at-once scenes, music videos, free-standing performances, The Theatre Channel is committed to celebrate everything beautiful and magical about theatre, and we hope will inspire imaginations across the Globe.”
The Theatre Channel is produced by Adam Blanshay Productions and The Theatre Café, with direction and choreography by Bill Deamer and musical supervision by Michael England, set and costume design by Gregor Donnelly, lighting design by Jack Weir, sound design by Keegan Curran, videography by Ben Hewis and hair and makeup by Diana Hudson.
