NEWS
THE FIRST UK TOUR OF MAMMA MIA ! COMES TO THE MARLOWE THEATRE , CANTERBURY , NEXT YEAR
Tickets for the worldwide smash-hit musical went on sale to the general public on Tuesday 28th June .
Mamma Mia ! is Judy Craymer ’ s ingenious vision of staging the story-telling magic of ABBA ’ s timeless songs with an enchanting tale of family and friendship unfolding on a Greek island paradise . To date , it has been seen by more than 60 million people in 50 productions in 16 different
languages . Mamma Mia ! The Movie is the highest worldwide grossing live-action musical film of all time .
With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus , Mamma Mia ! is written by Catherine Johnson , directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast . Creator and producer Judy Craymer said : " We are absolutely delighted to be bringing Mamma Mia ! to Canterbury for the first time with the UK
Tour . Mamma Mia ! is fun for all the family with its heart-warming story and the irresistible songs of ABBA . We can ' t wait to share the fun with Canterbury !" Casting is to be announced .
Mamma Mia ! is at The Marlowe Theatre from Tuesday 11th to Saturday 29th July 2017 . Tickets , priced from £ 29 to £ 59.50 ( concessions available ; booking fee applies ) are available from the Box Office on 01227 787787 , or www . marlowetheatre . com .
PORTRAIT COMMISSIONED BY BBC RADIO 4 IS CHOSEN FOR EXHIBITION AT THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY
Royal artist Fiona Graham-Mackay has been selected from thousands of international painters as one of this year ’ s top artists for the exhibition of the National Portrait Gallery ’ s BP Award 2016 which opened on 23rd June 2016 .
Chosen from 2,557 entries submitted from 80 countries worldwide , Fiona ’ s painting of former Poet Laureate Sir Andrew Motion is one from only 53 artists selected to exhibit .
What makes Fiona Graham- Mackay ’ s selection particularly unusual , it was painted on a BBC Radio 4 programme . The audience heard the paint going onto canvas but could see nothing .
Moreover , this is the first time a National Portrait Gallery portrait has been painted on BBC Radio 4 and the first time a Radio portrait has been selected for the BP National Portrait Exhibition .
Among the many paintings by Fiona Graham-Mackay are portraits of Prince Michael of Kent , Seamus Heaney and Lord Carrington . In all her sittings she has always been fascinated by her conversations with her subjects and continues to be amazed by how people open up in ways that surprise even themselves as she paints them .
What is revealed goes beyond anything you might expect in an ordinary interview .
The exhibition will be at the National Portrait Gallery from 23rd June to 4th September 2016 . For more information about Fiona Graham-Mackay visit www . fionagraham-mackay . com .
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