Netflix Confirms Stranger Things 3
In news that should surprise literally nobody Netflix has officially announced that there will be a third season of their massively popular Stranger Things series.
The Duffer Brothers had already confirmed they were busy at work on plans for a new batch of episodes and that the show will need to feature at least a slight time jump from the events of season two due to the rapidly maturing cast.
It’s expected that the core cast will return in its entirety though this and the exacting timing of any potential release for season three remains to be confirmed.
It’s likely though that given the shows immense pop culture success Netflix will be anxious to rush out a new series as soon as possible. Particular given recent troubles with their other flagship original programming such as House of Cards.
What’s On Stage Awards 2018 Nominations
Nominations have been announced for the 18th annual What’s On Stage Awards Ceremony taking place at the start of 2018. Uniquely voted for by theatre audiences the awards sees the best in live theatre from across the country competing for honours, with household names and emerging talents celebrated together.
Bat Out of Hell and 42nd Street each lead the shortlist with eight nominations, including Best Musical and Best Musical Revival respectively. Bat Out of Hell sees nominations for Best Actor in a Musical for Andrew Polec, Best Actress in a Musical for Christina Bennington, Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for Danielle Steers and Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for Rob Fowler.
42nd Street has won a nomination in Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for Clare Halse as well as Best Actor in a Musical for Tom Lister and Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for Chris Howell.
In the Best Actor in a Play category, Andrew Garfield (Angels in America), Andrew Scott (Hamlet), Bryan Cranston (Network), David Tennant (Don Juan in Soho) and Martin Freeman (Labour of Love) are all recognised. While Eve Best (Love in Idleness), Imelda Staunton (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), Olivia Colman (Mosquitoes), Natalie Dormer (Venus in Fur) and Tamsin Greig (Labour of Love) compete for Best Actress in a Play.
The shortlist for Best New Play includes Gloria, Ink, Labour of Love, Oslo and The Ferryman, while in the Best Direction category Dominic Cook (Follies), Jay Scheib (Bat Out of Hell), Marianne Elliott (Angels in America), Robert Icke (Hamlet) and Sam Mendes (The Ferryman) all go head-to-head.
This year the National Theatre has secured 19 nominations with its shows Angels in America and Follies garnering seven nominations each. There were also two new categories introduced for 2017: Best Original Cast Recording – nominations were Hamilton, Les Miserables, Dreamgirls, Dear Evan Hansen and Girl From the North Country - and Best Show Poster – nominations were Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked and Hamilton.
The winners of the awards will be announced at a ceremony at the Prince of Wales Theatre on 25 February 2018. The public can buy tickets to attend the awards.
10 Surprising Facts About Home Alone
Home Alone is one of the most universally popular and perhaps overly familiar Christmas movie classics, but here’s ten fact you might not know about it. So read on an impress your family by casually dropping a few into conversation during the obligatory seasonal re-watching.
1. John Hughes wrote the entire script in just nine days. His son, James Hughes claims he wrote it after a bout of traveller’s anxiety
2. The role of Kevin was written specifically for Macauley Culkin. The idea for Home Alone occurred to John Hughes during the making of Uncle Buck, which starred Macaulay Culkin. But that didn’t stop director Chris Columbus from auditioning more than 100 other rascally pre-teens for the part.
3. The film is a Guinness World record holder. In its opening weekend, Home Alone topped the box office, making $17,081,997 in 1202 theaters. The movie maintained its number one spot for a full 12 weeks and remained in the top 10 until June of the following year. It became the highest grossing film of 1990 and earned a Guinness World Record as the highest-grossing live-action comedy ever domestically.
4. Robert De Niro turned down the role of Harry Lime. As did Jon Lovitz. Then Joe Pesci swept in and made the part his own.
5. Many of the interior shots of the interior house and other scenes were shot inside a High School in Chicago. The school’s swimming pool was converted into the McCallister’s basement. The school was also used for the police station and some airport scenes.
6. John Candy shot his entire part in one 23-hour filming day. He worked from 7 a.m. to 6 a.m., but even that wasn’t enough time for him to film a farewell scene with Catherine O’Hara, who played Kevin’s mom, when she arrives at her house.
7. While rehearsing the scene where Harry tries to bite off Kevin’s finger, Pesci actually bit Culkin, which left a scar
8. Marv’s line ‘why are you dressed like a chicken?’ was improvised.
9. The spider on Marv’s face was real, they filmed that scene in one take, he mimed the scream so he wouldn’t scare the spider.
10. The script originally ended with a short scene after the credits where Harry and Marv see Angels with filthy souls on tv in prison.
Merry Christmas you filthy animals… and a happy new year too.
Big Fish The Musical Review
The Plot
Likeable charmer Edward Bloom is a romantic larger than life figure with a rare gift for storytelling, but as his son embarks on his own family life he struggles to separate fact from fantasy, hoping to figure out who his father really is beneath all his fantastical tales before it’s too late.
The Good
Frasier star Kelsey Grammer marks his west end debut with a pitch perfect performance as the affable older Edward Bloom. His deep charismatic voice, armed with a slight southern drawl is a perfect source of narration. He perfectly ties together the various strands of the story, intertwining fantasy and reality seamlessly as he sets the scene for the rest of the cast of young musical stars. It’s simply hard to imagine any actor better suited to the role as Grammer magnificently encapsulates the gruff bluster, flamboyant showmanship and poignant romanticism that makes Edward Bloom such an endearing hero.
Credit for the astonishing success of the show goes of course to the creative team and original author, but the impressively versatile cast deserve perhaps the biggest praise. Often playing multiple roles they make it easy for audiences to be swept away in the charming fantasy world of Edward Bloom. It would be unfair to single out individual cast members as each member of the well-chosen ensemble delivers flawless vocal and well-choreographed performances.
Perhaps the biggest compliment that can be paid to this new production is that it succeeds in adding new music and a fresh layer of charm to a much beloved and already familiar story. This new musical dimension lends itself perfectly to the oratory flare of Edward Bloom and his whimsical fables. While some of the songs inject added humour and playfulness, the show is at its absolute strongest when the music lends extra emotional weight to its more tender and heartfelt moments. Sincere well-crafted ballads massively amplifies the emotional impact of a story that deals with genuinely epic love, new beginnings and bittersweet endings. The show builds momentum steadily towards a truly tear stained and uplifting finale.
Aside from the poignant subtext of the show, what is perhaps most special and memorable is the unbridled sense of fun that the production offers delighted audiences. At times the production literally leaps out amongst the audience or drags them up on stage. It’s a fully immersive experience packed with all the very best that live theatre has to offer.
The Bad
Over familiarity with the original book and Tim Burton’s film adaptation will obviously rob this stage version of the element of surprise for some audiences. Particularly as most of the changes the musical makes to the story are simplifications to streamline proceedings for a more modest cast size. Likewise at times despite the innovative set design and costume work, it’s tough to entirely escape inevitable comparisons with the special effects infused magic of the big screen adaptation. Though the musical does the very best possible with minimal set dressings and a confined space, those that struggle to rely on the power of their own imaginations will occasionally notice those limitations. But this could be said of any live theatre and shouldn’t obscure the fact that this is a truly brilliant production.
The Ugly Truth
Big Fish is one of the most delightfully fun and poignant new musicals to grace a West End stage in quite some time. Capturing the very best of both the original book and the popular film adaptation the new musical version is a raucous crowd pleasing spectacle guaranteed to deliver laughs, smiles and more than a few tears. Make sure you don’t miss a golden opportunity to see this wondrous show in a magically intimate space, book your ticket today!
Review by Russell Nelson
BAFTA Children’s Awards 2017 Winners List
Winners for the British Academy Children’s Awards 2017 were announced over the weekend at a star studded ceremony in central London at the Camden Roundhouse. Full list of nominees in all categories listed below, with winners in bold.
SPECIAL AWARD
JACQUELINE WILSON
ANIMATION
THE AMAZING WORLD OF GUMBALL Ben Bocquelet, Mic Graves, Sarah Fell – Turner/Cartoon Network
REVOLTING RHYMES Production Team – Magic Light Pictures/BBC One
SHAUN THE SHEEP Will Becher, John Woolley, Richard Starzak – Aardman Animations/CBBC
WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT Production Team – Lupus Films, Bear Hunt Films, Walker Productions, Herrick Entertainment/Channel 4
CHANNEL OF THE YEAR
CARTOON NETWORK
CBBC
CBEEBIES
TRUETUBE
COMEDY
CLASS DISMISSED Sid Cole, Claire McCarthy, Tracey Rooney – CBBC Productions/CBBC
HANK ZIPZER Richard Grocock, Mark Oswin, Nick Collett – Kindle Entertainment with DHX Media, Walker Productions and Supported by Screen Yorkshire’s Yorkshire Content Fund/CBBC
HORRIBLE HISTORIES Production Team – Lion Television/CBBC
SO AWKWARD Production Team – Channel X North/CBBC
DRAMA
HANK ZIPZER’S CHRISTMAS CATASTROPHE Matt Bloom, Anne Brogan, Joe Williams – Kindle Entertainment with DHX Media, Walker Productions and Supported by Screen Yorkshire’s Yorkshire Content Fund/CBBC
HETTY FEATHER Matt Evans, Reza Moradi, David Collier – CBBC Productions/CBBC
JAMIE JOHNSON Production Team – Short Form Film Company/CBBC
LIKE ME Adam Tyler, Bob Ayres, Toby Lloyd – CTVC Ltd/TrueTube
ENTERTAINMENT
BEAR GRYLLS’ SURVIVAL SCHOOL Michael Kelpie, Phil Mount, Bear Grylls- Potato for ITV Studios/CiTV
THE DOG ATE MY HOMEWORK Production Team – BBC Children’s Scotland/CBBC
SAM &MARK’S BIG FRIDAY WIND-UP Gareth Edwards, Steve Ryde, John Payne – CBBC Productions/CBBC
SWASHBUCKLE Anna Perowne, Geoff Coward, Tony Grech-Smith – CBeebies Productions/CBeebies
FACTUAL
ABSOLUTE GENIUS MONSTER BUILDS Matt Knight, James Knight, Annette Williams – CBBC Productions/CBBC
INSIDE MY HEAD: A NEWSROUND SPECIAL Charlotte Ingham, Josh Gale – CBBC Productions/CBBC
MY LIFE: BORN TO VLOG Sarah Murch, Launa Kennett, Denis McWilliams – Blakeway North/CBBC
TO LIFE Production Team – CTVC Ltd/TrueTube
FEATURE FILM
KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS Travis Knight, Arianne Sutner – Laika/Universal Pictures
THE LITTLE PRINCE Mark Osborne, Aton Soumache, Alexis Vonarb, Dimitri Rassam – ON Animation Studios and Netflix/Netflix
MOANA Ron Clements, John Musker, Osnat Shurer – Walt Disney Animation Studios/Walt Disney Animation Studios
SING Christopher Meledandri, Janet Healy, Garth Jennings – Illumination/Universal Pictures
GAME
MONUMENT VALLEY 2 Development Team – ustwo games/ustwo games
THE PLAYROOM VR Development Team – SIE Japan Studio, Team ASOBI!/ Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe
POKÉMON GO Development Team – Niantic/Pokémon
POKÉMON SUN & POKÉMON MOON Development Team – Game Freak/Pokémon, Nintendo
INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION COMPANY OF THE YEAR
BLUE ZOO ANIMATION STUDIO
KARROT ENTERTAINMENT
MAGIC LIGHT PICTURES
STRAWBERRY BLOND
INTERACTIVE
ADVENTURE TIME ‘I SEE OOO’ Production Team- Turner
THE GRUFFALO SPOTTER Development Team – Magic Light Pictures & Nexus Studios
HEY DUGGEE: WE LOVE ANIMALS Phil Hoskins, Keith Davidson, Peter Hickman – Scary Beasties Ltd and BBC Worldwide
VIRRY VR Martin Percy, Svetlana Dragayeva, Joanna Fogler – Fountain Digital Labs
INTERNATIONAL
AN AMERICAN GIRL STORY – MELODY 1963: LOVE HAS TO WIN Alison McDonald, Tina Mabry, Nicole Dow – Amazon Studios/Amazon
ASK THE STORYBOTS Evan Spiridellis, Gregg Spiridellis – JibJab Bros. Studios/Netflix
THE SNOWY DAY Production Team – Amazon Studios and Karrot Entertainment/Amazon
SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS Stephen Hillenburg, Vincent Waller, Marc Ceccarelli – Nickelodeon/Nicktoons
LEARNING
HISTORY BOMBS: ONLINE HISTORY RESOURCES Chris Hobbs, Ellie Rogers, Claire O’Brien – History Bombs/Historybombs.com
LIFESAVER VR Martin Percy, Yates Buckley, Andy Lockey – UNIT9
NUMBERBLOCKS Joe Elliot, Simon Taylor, Laura Annis – Blue Zoo Animation/CBeebies
SHIA // SUNNI Adam Tyler, Bob Ayres, Toby Lloyd – CTVC Ltd/TrueTube.co.uk
PERFORMER
ALHAJI FOFANA as Ryan in Screwball! – TrueTube
MILLIE INNES as Millie in Millie Inbetween – CBBC
PHIL FLETCHER as Hacker T Dog in CBBC Presentation – CBBC
SAVANNAH BAKER as Natalie in Screwball! – TrueTube
PRE-SCHOOL – ANIMATION
DIGBY DRAGON Adam Shaw, Chris Drew, Tom McDowell – Blue Zoo Animation/Nick Jr
HEY DUGGEE Grant Orchard, Janine Voong, Sander Jones – STUDIO AKA/CBeebies
PEPPA PIG Phil Davies, Mark Baker, Joris van Hulzen – Astley Baker Davies/Entertainment One/Channel 5
SARAH & DUCK Jamie Badminton, Sarah Gomes Harris, Tim O’Sullivan – Karrot Entertainment/CBeebies
PRE-SCHOOL – LIVE ACTION
APPLE TREE HOUSE Production Team – Five Apples Ltd/CBeebies
CBEEBIES STARGAZING: MISSION EXPLORE Katie Simmons, Tom Cousins, Anna Perowne – CBeebies Production/CBeebies
DO YOU KNOW? Romily Menzies, Sarah Trigg, Paul Kittel – 7Wonder/CBeebies
OUR FAMILY Sallyann Keizer, Ruth Mills, Luke Gallie – Sixth Sense Media Limited/CBeebies
PRESENTER
DR CHRIS VAN TULLEKEN AND DR XAND VAN TULLEKEN Operation Ouch! Hospital Takeover – CBBC
GEMMA HUNT Swashbuckle – CBeebies
MADDIE MOATE Do You Know? – CBeebies
SAM NIXON AND MARK RHODES Sam & Mark’s Big Friday Wind-Up – CBBC
SHORT FORM
CN BUDDY NETWORK – Production Team – Turner/Cartoon Network
THE HAPPOS FAMILY Production Team – Turner/Boomerang
MORPH Merlin Crossingham, Helen Argo, Peter Lord – Aardman Animations/Sky Kids
SHARE A STORY 2016 Production Team – CiTV/CiTV
WRITER
ADAM TYLER – Screwball! – TrueTube
JOE WILLIAMS Hank Zipzer’s Christmas Catastrophe – CBBC
PAUL ROSE, LUC SKYZ, MIKIS MICHAELIDES 4 O’Clock Club – CBBC
WRITING TEAM The Amazing World of Gumball – Cartoon Network