Page 15 - Phonebox Magazine October 2015

What’s on in your area this October Robert Powell stars as King Charles III
Robert Powell talks about why he quit university and what it’s like performing as King Charles.
The actor started his education at Manchester Grammar, and went on to read Law – very different from anything he is doing now. While studying, Robert got involved with the Manchester University Stage Society and eventually the Head of Drama, Hugh Hunt, asked him why on earth he was studying Law! However there was just one thing that halted Robert in his tracks: before he began his Drama course, he had to take an O-Level in English Literature. So, he took a year out to study for the qualification – but didn’t ever complete it. “During that year, the director of Stoke’s theatre-in-the-round, Peter Cheeseman, asked me to join his company. About six months in, we were doing As You Like It. In any case, I never took up that place at Manchester!”
In October, Robert Powell is gracing the stage at MK Theatre as King Charles III himself. He was automatically drawn to the drama as he thinks it is brilliantly constructed and very funny: “It’s totally of the moment, and is actually becoming more and more current with this whole issue of the freedom of the press.” In fact last year, after touring as Poirot in Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee, Robert was faced with several new performances and opportunities, but he feels that they wouldn’t have tested him as much as this one does! He says, “King Charles III also has the major
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copy or one million! We found out on stage, in-front of 15,000 people, and it was such an amazing feeling. We had been struggling away for so many years, and it was a special moment for us and for country music in the UK.”
And their future only holds more possibilities as they continue to make their mark.
Ben adds: “We are so happy doing what we love, and so lucky to get up every day and write songs. We just want to make the best music we can.”
Tickets: £13.50 at both performances, available from bedfordcornexchange.co.uk (01234 718044) and theroadmender.com (01604 231688).
It’s been 70 years since Glenn Miller vanished over the English Channel as he flew to Paris to entertain the troops, and the mystery is
being brought to life on stage with a brand new production, The Glenn Miller Story. Musical legend Tommy Steele will take on the role of the world’s most famous big band leader, alongside a 16-piece orchestra, at MK Theatre from October 26-31st. Tickets: £21.40 to £48.90 from atgtickets.com.
Aldous Huxley’s ground-breaking novel, Brave New World, has been adapted for the stage, opening at the Northampton Royal &
Derngate from September 4-26th before going on a UK tour. Actress Sophie Ward will star in the production about a genetically engineered class system with no family, religion or war – everyone is happy, until this stability is threatened. Tickets: £10 to £29 on (01604) 624811 or go to royalandderngate.co.uk.
advantage of being a new play that someone has already had out. So you know it works and has been successful. Verse and I are old friends too.”
King Charles III is on at Milton Keynes Theatre from 12th – 17th October and tickets can be found on atgtickets.com.
The English National Ballet are bringing two dramatic tales to life at MK Theatre, with Lest We Forget on the 20th and Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet from
22-24th. A reflection of the First World War, Lest We Forget features three works about the war experience, while Romeo and Juliet follows two star-crossed lovers as they fight to be together. Tickets: £11.90 to £39.90 from atgtickets.com.
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