Made at Curve Brochure

Curve is one of the UK’s leading producing theatres. We believe everyone who lives, works or learns in our city should have access to great theatre. Each year over 1 million people engage with Curve through performances and projects at our home in Leicester, across the UK and internationally.

Under the leadership of Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster, Curve has developed an international reputation for producing, programming and touring a bold and diverse programme of musicals, plays, new work and dance. All of this is presented alongside a dynamic mix of community engagement, artist development and learning programmes, which firmly places audiences, artists and communities at the heart of everything we do.

We produce work under our Made at Curve banner, distinctive for its high quality production values, recognised by audiences for our originality and desire to entertain.

Curve-originated productions frequently tour the UK and are seen in London’s West End. In 2023, our productions of Grease and The Wizard Of Oz played London’s Dominion and Palladium theatres respectively and Curve scored a hat trick when 42nd Street travelled to London and visited Sadler’s Wells. On Your Feet! (London Coliseum), Sue Townsend’s The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ – The Musical (The Ambassadors Theatre), White Christmas (Dominion Theatre) and Sister Act (Eventim Apollo Hammersmith & Dominion Theatre) have all recently flown the flag for Leicester in London.

Other recent Made at Curve productions and co-productions include: Evita; The Owl Who Came For Christmas; Frantic Assembly’s Metamorphosis; Ride – A New Musical; Frantic Assembly’s Othello; the ‘masterpiece’ (The Times) new UK production of Billy Elliot The Musical (winner of Best Musical Production at the UK Theatre Awards and Best Regional Production at the WhatsOnStage Awards); Finding Home – Leicester’s Ugandan Asian Story At 50; the ‘world class’ (Daily Telegraph) A Chorus Line; Beautiful –The Carole King Musical (and on UK tour); Akram Khan’s The Jungle Book (and on UK and international tour); Tennessee Williams’ Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (and on UK tour); The Music Of Andrew Lloyd Webber; acclaimed streamed productions of The Color Purple and the ‘game-changer’ (The Telegraph) Sunset Boulevard; Giles Andreae and Guy Parker Rees’ Giraffes Can’t Dance; West Side Story; Hanif Kureishi’s My Beautiful Laundrette; John Osborne’s The Entertainer; the WhatsOnStage Award-winning ‘Best Regional Production’ of Alice Walker’s The Color Purple (and on UK tour) and the world-premiere of Dougal Irvine’s adaptation of Riaz Khan’s Memoirs Of An Asian Football Casual.

Curve is a registered charity and this supports our work with people of all ages and backgrounds, enabling them to access, participate in and learn from the arts, nurturing new and emerging talent and creating outstanding, award-winning experiences. Ensuring our theatre is fully accessible, egalitarian, and celebrating people from all backgrounds is paramount to our success and the ethos which underpins the entire organisation. The relationship between artists and audiences is brought together by the extraordinary architecture of our unique home.

Welcome to our theatre, a theatre for all.

Chris Stafford Chief Executive Nikolai Foster Artistic Director

Photography by Ellie Kurttz

‘Curve has become a powerhouse of musical theatre’

THE TIMES

Chris and Nikolai featured in the top 20 of

‘Curve is one of our strongest regional venues and a big producer of commercial musicals. It clearly cares about its audiences, and not just the ones in Leicester.’

THE STAGE

Our curved facade is made from 1,192 tonnes of steel and 46000m2 of glass. Designed by Rafael Viñoly (1944-2023) our building houses three unique auditoria:

THEATRE

Traditional proscenium arch, 60 fully automated fly bars & flexible pit and sub stage. One of the largest stages in the UK, seats 965.

STUDIO THEATRE

A fully automated studio space, with large playing area. Recently upgraded and seats 314.

STUDIO

A fully flexible space, with automated bleacher seating for up to 90.

The 965 and 370 seat auditoria can also be transformed into an epic arena, seating 1500 in a variety of configurations.

We have five large rehearsal spaces, two with full-height rigging facilities, a state-of-the-art recording studio, on-site wardrobe facilities and an in-house marketing team who handle all our press and marketing needs.

MUSIC BY ANDREW

DIRECTED BY NIKOLAI FOSTER

ORCHESTRATIONS BY DAVID CULLEN AND ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER

BASED ON ORCHESTRATIONS ORIGINALLY BY ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER

BY ARRANGEMENT WITH THE REALLY USEFUL GROUP LTD

LYRICS BY TIM RICE

LLOYD WEBBER

SET DESIGNER MICHAEL TAYLOR MUSICAL SUPERVISOR STEPHEN BROOKER MUSICAL DIRECTOR BEN VAN TIENEN CHOREOGRAPHER ADAM MURRAY COSTUME DESIGNER EDWARD LINDLEY LIGHTING DESIGNER JOSHIE HARRIETTE SOUND DESIGNER ADAM FISHER WIGS, HAIR AND MAKE-UP DESIGNER SAM COX CASTING DIRECTOR KAY MAGSON CDG & OLIVIA LAYDON

Photography by Marc Brenner

Curve’s Christmas Family Show

Adapted by Chandni Mistry Director Cara Nolan

Music Jude Taylor

Lyrics Jude Taylor and Chandni Mistry

Choreography and Movement Director Stacey McCarthy

Set, Costume and Puppetry Designer Abby Clarke

Lighting Designer Jonathan Payne

Sound Designer Angel Rossell

Casting Director Kay Magson CDG The

Inspired by a true story!

‘We came to see it today with our school. The children truly loved it. Great performance!’ Audience Member

‘We came to see this yesterday. Brilliant cast, lovely story. My three year old grandson loved it! Highly recommend’ Audience Member

‘Like watching a magical three dimensional picture book come alive’

‘Christmassy feel good show for the whole family... perfect introduction to the theatre’ Whats Good To Do

Poppy Jo & Me

Photography by Ellie Kurttz

Adam Garcia Ruthie Henshall

Josefina Gabrielle

Nicole-Lily Baisden

Les Dennis

‘breath-taking tap dance routines’ East Midlands Theatre

‘An immaculately delivered five-star delight.’

‘Sends you off into the night, full of the joy.’

WhatsOnStage

Photography by Johan Persson

LONDON PALLADIUM AND NATIONAL TOUR

‘It’s sheer theatrical wizardry and far too good to miss’

‘There’s no place like Curve for delivering big epic theatre’ Beyond The Curtain

‘Sumptuous

Photography

DIRECTOR NIKOLAI FOSTER CHOREOGRAPHER LUCY HIND

MUSICAL SUPERVISOR & MUSICAL DIRECTOR GEORGE DYER

SET DESIGNER MICHAEL TAYLOR COSTUME DESIGNER EDD LINDLEY

LIGHTING DESIGNER BEN CRACKNELL SOUND DESIGNER ADAM FISHER CASTING DIRECTOR KAY MAGSON CDG CHILDREN’S CASTING DIRECTOR JO HAWES

BEST MUSICAL PRODUCTION

BEST REGIONAL PRODUCTION

‘Impressive

‘A

‘An

Curve, Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Mayflower Theatre, Southampton present

NATIONAL TOUR

BOOKBYDOUGLAS McGRATH

WORDSANDMUSIC BY GERRY GOFFIN & CAROLE KING & BARRY MANN & CYNTHIA WEIL

DIRECTORNIKOLAIFOSTER

ORCHESTRATIONS BY STEVE SIDWELL,

ADAPTED BY SARAH TRAVIS

MUSICALSUPERVISOR SARAH TRAVIS SET DESIGNER FRANKIE BRADSHAW CHOREOGRAPHER LEAH HILL COSTUME DESIGNER EDD LINDLEY LIGHTING DESIGNER BENCRACKNELL SOUND DESIGNER TOM MARSHALL ONSTAGE MUSICAL DIRECTOR DAN DE CRUZ

CASTINGDIRECTORKAYMAGSONCDG

‘Outstanding’

REVIEWS HUB

‘Wonderful’

WEST END BEST FRIEND

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‘It’s hard to believe that you are not listening to the real King singing’

WHATSONSTAGE

‘Mesmerising’

BROADWAY WORLD

‘Phenomenal’

BEYOND THE CURTAIN

Photography

‘An irresistible revival’

The Guardian

‘An

explosive new production’

British Theatre

‘Supremely slick’

The Independent

Photography by Marc Brenner

MUSIC BY ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER

LYRICS BY TIM RICE, DON BLACK, CHARLES HART, CHRISTOPHER HAMPTON, GLENN SLATER, DAVID ZIPPEL, RICHARD STILGOE AND JIM STEINMAN

DIRECTED BY NIKOLAI FOSTER

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR LEE PROUD DESIGNER COLIN RICHMOND MUSICAL DIRECTOR MATTHEW SPENCER-SMITH MOVEMENT DIRECTOR – YOUNG ENSEMBLE MEL KNOTT LIGHTING DESIGNER BEN CRACKNELL SOUND DESIGNER TOM MARSHALL CASTING DIRECTOR KAY MAGSON CDG FILMING CROSSCUT MEDIA

BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH THE REALLY USEFUL GROUP

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‘A joyful celebration of Andrew Lloyd Webber.’

‘The perfect invitation back to the theatre’

WEST END BEST FRIEND

 ‘Glorious’

MUSICAL THEATRE REVIEW

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‘Brilliant tribute’

THE REVIEWS HUB

‘Nikolai Foster’s stripped-back but inventive production is full of riches’

THE GUARDIAN

BASED UPON THE NOVEL WRITTEN BY ALICE WALKER AND THE WARNER BROS./AMBLIN ENTERTAINMENT MOTION PICTURE BOOK BY MARSHA NORMAN MUSIC & LYRICS BY BRENDA RUSSELL, ALLEE WILLIS & STEPHEN BRAY

THE COLOR PURPLE was produced on Broadway at the Broadway Theater by Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders, Roy Furman and Quincy Jones. The world premiere of THE COLOR PURPLE was produced by the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia.

Photography by Pamela Raith

‘Director Nikolai Foster uses his home venue with both visual and artistic flourish’

WHATSONSTAGE

‘Theatre has gone digital this year as never before, but the best has been left to last’

THE TELEGRAPH

‘The best-streamed event I have seen this year’ BRITISH THEATRE

Photography by Marc Brenner

Director NIKOLAI FOSTER Choreographer ELLEN KANE Set Designer MICHAEL TAYLOR Costume Designer EDD LINDLEY Musical Supervisor SARAH TRAVIS Lighting Designer GUY HOARE Sound Designer TOM MARSHALL Fight Director KEVIN McCURDY Casting Director KAY MAGSON CDG

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‘To be a mere spectator feels exhilarating. We must hope for a tour, or a West End transfer’

THE INDEPENDENT

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‘Stylish & intimate’

THE GUARDIAN

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‘Nikolai Foster’s superb production’

THE SUNDAY TIMES

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‘Thrilling, exhilarating’

THE TELEGRAPH

‘Pretty, gritty & bright’

THE TIMES

Photography by Ellie Kurttz

A THEATRE NATION PARTNERSHIPS PRODUCTION, PRODUCED BY CURVE

NATIONAL TOUR

Includes original music by PetBoysShop

A PLAY BY HANIF KUREISHI

BASED ON HIS SCREENPLAY

DIRECTOR NICOLE BEHAN

ORIGINAL PRODUCTION BY NIKOLAI FOSTER

Photography:

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‘A powerful and heartening experience’

SUNDAY EXPRESS

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‘An iconic movie sharply reimagined’

THE GUARDIAN

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‘A washing wonderland’

WHATONSTAGE

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‘A classy show’

THE

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‘Kureishi’s new version comes up sharply’ OBSERVER

Photography by Ellie Kurttz

WEST END AND NATIONAL TOUR

Photography by Ellie Kurttz

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‘Dazzling, joyous and brilliantly performed’

THE STAGE

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‘A spectacular, polished and elegant work of art’

LONDONTHEATRE1

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‘Nikolai Foster’s glorious revival’

THE TELEGRAPH



‘Pure escapism with a homespun vibe and West End quality’

THE TIMES

Photography by Catherine Ashmore

A FRANTIC ASSEMBLY PRODUCTION, CO-PRODUCED WITH CURVE

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‘Urgent, abrasive and thrilling’

THE GUARDIAN

‘A fierce re-imagining of Shakespeare’s tragedy, tense and highly watchable.’

THE TIMES

‘A pulsating production that hurls Othello well and truly into our times.’

THE INDEPENDENT

‘Frantic Assembly breathe new life into Shakespeare’s tale... in Scott Graham’s pulse-racing production.’ TIME OUT

Photography by Tristram Kenton

WORLD PREMIERE

Adapted for the stage by Dougal Irvine from the book by Riaz Khan

Directed by Nikolai Foster Set & Costume Designer Grace Smart Lighting Designer Charlotte Burton

Composer & Sound Designer Tasha Taylor Johnson Casting Director Kay Magson CDG

A drama based on the real-life fashions, fights and faith of a former Baby Squad hooligan.

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‘An intense, passionate and relevant play’

LONDONTHEATRE1

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‘High-energy, relevant and thought-provoking’

THE REVIEWS HUB

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‘Magnificently conceived’

THE GUARDIAN

Photography by Ellie Kurttz

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‘A glorious, immensely moving celebration of triumph over adversity’ THE STAGE

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‘A musical with heart, spirit and soul’ THE GUARDIAN

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‘Simply beyond beautiful’ EAST MIDLANDS THEATRE

Photography by Manuel Harlan

BOOK, MUSIC & LYRICS LESLIE BRICUSSE DIRECTOR NIKOLAI FOSTER

CHOREOGRAPHER STEPHEN MEAR DESIGNER MICHAEL TAYLOR MUSICAL SUPERVISOR & ORCHESTRATOR SARAH TRAVIS MUSICAL DIRECTOR NEIL MACDONALD LIGHTING DESIGNER BEN CRACKNELL SOUND DESIGNER TOM MARSHALL ILLUSION CONSULTANT SCOTT PENROSE CASTING DIRECTOR KAY MAGSON CDG

PRESENTED BY CURVE IN ASSOCIATION WITH MICHAEL HARRISON AND DAVID IAN

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‘Scrooge will still melt your heart’

THE TELEGRAPH

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‘A lavish and technically accomplished revival of Leslie Bricusse’s warm-hearted musical’

THE STAGE

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‘Scrooge is right on the money with a generous dose of seasonal cheer’

THE TIMES

Photography by Pamela Raith

ADAPTER

DAVID WOOD

DIRECTOR

JULIA THOMAS

DESIGNER

MORGAN LARGE

LIGHTING DESIGNER

JACK WEIR

SOUND DESIGNER

DAVID GREGORY

COMPOSER

TASHA TAYLOR-JOHNSON

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‘A marvellous concoction’

MAIL ON SUNDAY

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‘An outstanding adaptation of Roald Dahl’s anarchic children’s classic’ THE STAGE

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‘It’s loads of fun down on this farm’ THE TIMES

Photography by Manuel Harlan

WINNER BEST REGIONAL PRODUCTION WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS

WINNER BEST MUSICAL MANCHESTER THEATRE AWARDS

‘Foster crams this colourful world with enough detail to make it feel alive’

THE TIMES

‘A wonderful show’

WHATSONSTAGE

‘Nikolai Foster’s sumptuous production delivers on a level of sheer aural and visual spectacle’

THE STAGE

Photography by Manuel Harlan

First presented by Lewenstein-Delfont Productions Ltd. and H.M. Tennent Ltd. at the Queen’s Theatre, London on 5th March 1969.

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‘The darkest of dark comedies, staged with panache, wit and comic precision’ THE DAILY MAIL

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‘Nikolai Foster’s wicked revival is deliciously risqué’

THE DAILY MAIL

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‘Staged with farcical top spin by Nikolai Foster’ MAIL ON SUNDAY

Photography by Catherine Ashmore

nikolai foster

designer colin richmond

sarah travis choreographer nick winston

neil macdonald lighting designer guy

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‘This production has glamour and grit’

THE TIMES

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‘The one that you want this season’

THE TELEGRAPH

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‘Grease is most certainly the word’

WHATSONSTAGE



‘A spectacularly staged musical bursting with energy’

THE STAGE

Photography by Manuel Harlan

ADAPTOR DAVID WOOD DIRECTOR NIKOLAI FOSTER

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‘This is playful inventive stuff that will charm the grown-ups and have children cheering with delight’ WHATONSTAGE

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‘Gleefully grotesque storytelling’ THE GUARDIAN

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‘Outstanding children’s theatre’ THE STAGE

Photography by Catherine Ashmore

A CURVE & BIRMINGHAM REPERTORY THEATRE PRODUCTION

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‘Lively, fun and hugely amusing’ WHATSONSTAGE

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‘Light as soufflé and never earnest: Wilde would be delighted’ THE TIMES

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‘A refreshing revival of Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy’ THE STAGE

Photography

Music byAlan Menken

Lyrics by Book by

Douglas Carter Beane

Glenn Slater Cheri Steinkellner & Bill Steinkellner

Based on the Touchstone Pictures Motion Picture “Sister Act” written by Joseph Howard Presented by arrangement with JOSEF WEINBERGER LIMITED on behalf of MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL of New York

IT’S THE MOST JOYFUL SHOW I’VE SEEN ALL YEAR, BAR

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‘Enormously entertaining’ THE EXPRESS

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‘Explodes with energy – a wild and wonderful new production’ THE STAGE

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‘A heavenly hit show’ THE DAILY MAIL

Photography by Manuel Harlan

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‘Unpretentiously charming’

THE GUARDIAN

 ‘Mole comes up trumps’

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

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‘A lively, evocative pleasure’

THE TIMES

Photography by Pamela Raith

In addition to our celebrated and critically acclaimed Made at Curve productions, we regularly collaborate with the world’s leading theatre makers and producers, launching shows of all scales from our iconic, world-class production base in the heart of Leicester.

Cameron Mackintosh, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, Akram Khan, Michael Harrison, David Ian & Crossroads, ROYO, Jamie Wilson and Matthew Bourne all regularly produce work out of Curve.

Leicester has undergone a renaissance in recent years; the opening of Curve in 2008 brought internationally recognised productions to the city, as well as providing a new home with first class production facilities and marketing expertise for local community groups and artists. Curve is situated in Leicester’s Cultural Quarter, the home for the creative industries, including an independent cinema, film production and new media companies. Leicester also hosts a number of festivals each year, including the UK’s biggest Comedy Festival and the Diwali celebrations – the largest outside India –attracting over 35,000 people. All of this together makes Curve and Leicester an energising and inspiring production hub to make work. With a population of around 400,000, Leicester is the tenth largest and most culturally diverse city in the UK, with a history stretching back 2,000 years. The surrounding counties of Leicestershire and Rutland are home to almost 700,000 people, meaning Curve’s audiences are truly representative of contemporary Britain.

Only one hour away from London by train and well connected to the entire UK from our Midlands base, Curve Leicester is firmly established as one of the UK’s top production hubs for artists, audiences, theatre makers and producers.

1 War Horse National Theatre, Photo © Ellie Kurttz

2 Matilda Royal Shakespeare Company, Photo © Manuel Harlan

3 Les Misérables Cameron Mackintosh, Photo © Michael Le Poer Trench

4 Come From Away

Photo © Craig Sugden

5 Romeo+Juliet Matthew Bourne/New Adventures, Photo © Johan Persson

6 Miss Saigon Cameron Mackintosh, Photo © Cameron Mackintosh Limited

Photo © Ellie Kurttz