05 February 2019
Newsdesk
Six strangers, a lonely farmhouse, surrounded by brain-eating zombies – what could possibly go wrong? Who will make it out alive?
Based on George A. Romero’s unparalleled 1968 film Night of the Living Dead™, the first ever UK stage adaptation and the only officially authorised production will come to life at Pleasance, London from 9 April to 19 May 2019. Directed by Benji Sperring (The Toxic Avenger: The Musical; Shock Treatment, Valley Of Song), Night of the Living Dead™ Live will pay homage to the cult monochrome classic, skirting the line between the horrific and the hysterical as it resurrects the original zombie masterpiece. Casting will be announced in due course.
Katy Lipson, Producer of Night of the Living Dead™ Live said: “At Aria Entertainment, we’re known for an eclectic mix of musicals and new writing productions, such as The Addams Family and The Toxic Avenger, and it gives me chills to now present Romero’s seminal work with the wonderful Ollie Rosenblatt from Senbla. I’ve always been a fan of the horror genre and I know just how much this show will delight fans of the original movie as well as a whole new generation of theatregoers. There will be all the iconic scenes from Night of the Living Dead along with unexpected new material culminating in a frightening and funny night out packed full of zombies, brains and buckets of blood. Expect laughs, screams and most of all, a lot of fun.”
Suzanne Desrocher-Romero, wife of the late director and Founder and Chair of The George A. Romero Foundation, said: “How super exciting that Night of the Living Dead will be staged in London. Romero loved London night and day and now London will enjoy Night! Stay Scared!”
Night of the Living Dead™ is widely regarded as one of the most iconic and influential releases of all time. Romero radically redefined the genre of the modern horror film and is commonly referred to as the father of the zombie genre with his influence still spawning countless zombie films and series as seen today. Now, more than 50 years on, the story of Night of the Living Dead™, remains as relevant as ever through its exploration of race, class division and America's national identity.
Night of the Living Dead™ Live, based on the film by George A. Romero, is co-produced by award-winning producer Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and Ollie Rosenblatt for Senbla by special arrangement with Samuel French Ltd. It is written by Christopher Bond, Dale Boyer and Trevor Martin and created by Christopher Harrison and Phil Pattinson.
Tickets are now on sale at www.LivingDeadLondon.com
LISTINGS
Aria Entertainment and Senbla, by special arrangement with Samuel French, present
George A. Romero’s
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD™ LIVE!
Written by Christopher Bond, Dale Boyer and Trevor Martin
Created by Christopher Harrison and Phil Pattinson
Directed by Benji Sperring
Pleasance, London
Carpenters Mews, North Road, London N7 9EF
First Performance: 9 April 2019
Opening Night: 16 April 2019
Final Performance: 19 May 2019
Performances: Tuesday to Saturday 7.30pm, matinees Thursday & Saturday 2.30pm and Sunday, 5pm.
Box Office details
Website: www.LivingDeadLondon.com
Tel: 020 7609 1800
Prices from £15
Twitter: @LivingDeadLDN
Facebook: @LivingDeadLondon
Instagram: @LivingDeadLDN
#LivingDeadLondon
BIOGRAPHIES
ARIA ENTERTAINMENT
Aria Entertainment was founded in 2012 by Katy Lipson.
In 2017, Katy was awarded the Best Producer award by the Off-West End Awards and is a recipient of the Stage One Bursary and Start Up Award. She made The Stage 100 in 2018 and 2019 with Joe Houston and William Whelton for their work at Hope Mill Theatre.
Katy co-produced the UK Tour of The Addams Family and the 50th Anniversary production of HAIR at the London Vaults, which she originally co-produced with Hope Mill Theatre in 2016, where she is Producing Artistic Director for in-house productions. HAIR won the award for Best Off-West End Production at the 2018 Whatsonstage Awards and is now about to embark on a major UK Tour. Their transfer of Pippin which played in February at Southwark is nominated for a record number of Off West End Awards. Their production of Spring Awakening is nominated for Best Regional show at the upcoming WOS awards. She also produced the London transfer of new musical The Toxic Avenger at the Arts Theatre, West End following a run at The Edinburgh Festival’s Pleasance Theatre.
Other recent productions include: Unexpected Joy (Southwark Playhouse and York Theatre, Off-Broadway); It’s Only Life (Union Theatre); Putting it Together; The Return of the Soldier, Aspects of Love, Little Women, The ToyBoy Diaries, Yank!, Parade and Hair (Hope Mill Theatre); the London transfers of Pippin and Aspects Of Love (Southwark Playhouse) and Yank! (Charing Cross Theatre); tick, tick...BOOM! (Park Theatre); Promises, Promises and The Toxic Avenger (Southwark Playhouse); Vanities The Musical (Trafalgar Studios); See What I Wanna See and The Return Of The Soldier (Jermyn Street Theatre); Bar Mitzvah Boy (Upstairs at the Gatehouse); The Adventures of Pinocchio, Lizzie and The Who’s Tommy (Greenwich Theatre); The House of Mirrors & Hearts, Supported By Grant For The Arts (Arcola Theatre) and Marry Me A Little, Jerry’s Girls and Forever Plaid (St. James Studio).
Other current projects include: Rags the Musical; Mame starring double Olivier Award-winner Tracie Bennett and The Astonishing Times of Timothy Cratchit (Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester).
Twitter: @AriaEnts
www.aria-entertainment.com
SENBLA
Ollie Rosenblatt founded Senbla in 2011 after running Jazz FM’s live division.
Ollie is a new breed of promoter and producer taking both a traditional approach mixed with a forward-thinking aptitude centered around unlocking and adding value from great songs, catalogues and artists as demonstrated by the hugely successful A Life In Song songwriter series at London’s o2 Arena and the Royal Festival Hall which he created, produced and promoted. The ‘A Life In Song’ concerts with Quincy Jones, Don Black, Tim Rice and Burt Bacharach were recorded, filmed and broadcast on BBC Radio 2, BBC 2 and 4.
Senbla produces and promotes large-scale tours for artists across the UK working with artists such as Ennio Morricone, Quincy Jones, Burt Bacharach, Soft Cell, Tony Bennett, Nigel Kennedy, Marc Almond, Joss Stone, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Beverley Knight, David Arnold, Jason Robert Brown, Audra McDonald, to the Harry Potter films, Star Wars, Beauty And The Beast, Love Actually, Pixar, The Godfather all show with live orchestral accompaniment.
Senbla has also produced a number of concept shows such as The Golden Age of Dance and Broadway In Concert, as well as musicals in concert How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying; Peter Pan and Of Thee I Sing. Senbla also co produced Hair (both London and UK Tour) and Promises Promises.
Twitter: @Senbla
BENJI SPERRING, DIRECTOR
Benji Sperring is “the naughty boy of musical theatre” (ToDoList), and is fast becoming the go-to director for cult comedies and off-the-wall musicals. Having developed the world premiere of Shock Treatment, the sequel to the Rocky Horror Show, from 1980s film flop to sell-out five-star stage show and Whatsonstage Best Off West End Production nominee, he also brought (with Katy Lipson) The Toxic Avenger: The Musical over the Atlantic for its European premiere, starting at the Southwark Playhouse and moving to the Arts Theatre in the West End, where it was filmed and released worldwide by BroadwayHD. Benji’s recent directing credits include How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (Wilton’s Music Hall), The Liver Birds: Flying Home (Liverpool Royal Court), Richard O’Brien’s The Stripper (St James Theatre), the premiere of Ivor Novello’s final musical Valley Of Song and Rutland Boughton’s The Immortal Hour (Finborough Theatre) and The Bald Prima Donna and The Blind & The Intruder (Old Red Lion Theatre). Benji is associate director at the King’s Head Theatre, where his work includes new musicals Holy Crap and Hamilton (Lewis).
Twitter: @Benjidirector
