Theatres are beginning to take their first steps in planning reopening schedules as the country begins a phased relaxation of the restrictions which have kept entertainment venues closed for most of the past year.

For Chiswick Playhouse, the reopening programme will be a mini festival - Chiswick Playhouse Recharged - featuring premieres, hilarious stand-up and dreamy music with artists including star of stage and screen, Phyllis Logan (Downton Abbey; Lovejoy); comedy legend, Andy Parsons (Mock the Week); and comedian and TV personality, Judi Love (Loose Women).

Chiswick Playhouse Recharged kicks off with A Night at the West End, starring Scott Sutcliffe (Wicked) and Claudia Kariuki (Priscilla Queen of the Desert).

This feel-good concert will celebrate the best of musical theatre with irresistible songs from hit shows such as Little Shop of Horrors, Dreamgirls, Wicked and Les Misérables.

The festival will also include Bare Bones, a new series of play readings where actors will perform plays with no set, costumes or lighting - just the text, the performance, and the audience.

Plays include Single Black Female by Lisa B. Thompson, The Woodcutters Tale by Orlando Wells, The Gin Game by D.L.Coburn plus a new version of Tom Sharpe's Wilt, adapted by David Spicer.

Chiswick Playhouse favourites Scenaria will present two nostalgic and powerful musical productions.

The Soprano Behind the Screen: The Untold Story of Marni Nixon is based on the life of Hollywood's secret soprano, Marni Nixon: the singing voice behind the scenes for Audrey Hepburn, Natalie Wood and Deborah Kerr.

This musical biography tells her story through tales and songs from the silver screen including My Fair Lady, West Side Story and The King & I; as well as hits from operas and more recent Broadway shows too.

Scenaria will also premiere a brand-new song cycle, Another Life, a musical love story told through the compositions of iconic Broadway composers Oscar Hammerstein, Mary Rodgers, Stephen Sondheim, Adam Guettel, and Jason Robert Brown, with songs from Company, The Light in the Piazza, Hot Spot, The Bridges of Maddison County, Sunday In the Park with George, and many more.

The festival schedule will also provide the opportunity to spend evenings with leading lights of broadcasting as Phyllis Logan, star of Downtown Abbey; familiar face of Loose Women, Judi Love; and BBC Broadcaster, Torin Douglas, all take to the stage.

Wayne Glover-Stuart, Producer at Chiswick Playhouse, commented ...

"Opening our doors and switching on the lights has been on hold for far too long therefore I am delighted to be able to welcome back audiences old and new to Chiswick Playhouse.

Recharged Festival offers a variety of incredible artforms, and has allowed us to reopen safely and socially distanced.

Working with such talented creatives across the festival has been an honour."

For the full festival schedule - check here.

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