Wednesday 14th - Saturday 17th April 2004

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s unsurpassed career as the most successful popular musical composer of the 20^th Century really took off with his “rock-opera”, “Jesus Christ Superstar”. Worldwide success, record-breaking West End runs, and songs that have passed into the standard repertoire – JCS has it all. It is not generally released for amateur production, but the Really Useful Company allow it to be performed by one or two selected companies in various parts of the country. Stage One - the young theatre company seen here last year with “Godspell” - have been selected to perform this great work for an Easter production at the KMT. Youthful exuberance, great rock music – an experience to remember.

A Stage One Theatre Company Production.

Tickets: See MUSICAL PRICES

CLUBNIGHT: Thursday – Club Members Ł8.50

Sunday 18th April 2004

Nic Greenshields, currently appearing in “Les Miserables” at the Palace (transferring to the Queens around this time!), is returning to his home theatre for one night only. Together with friends and colleagues from “Les Mis” and other West End shows, he will be presenting an evening of West End performers entertaining in our East End Theatre. Two years ago his similar show was an instant sell-out! So book now!

First performance: All seats Ł10.00 (Club Members Ł8.00)

Second performance: All seats Ł11.00 (Club Members Ł10)

Wednesday 21st to Saturday 24th April 2004

PICKWICK

Thistles proudly presents the KMT premiere performance of “Pickwick”. This uplifting and humorous musical is based on the larger than life Dickensian characters from “Pickwick Papers”. The musical score grows out of these richly drawn characters, from the morally upstanding Mr Pickwick himself to husband-hunting maiden aunts, young suitors, cheery maid, stall-keepers and loveable rogues. Each character’s story becomes interwoven through songs that vary in style from Cockney knees-up and grand hunt-ball choruses to poetic love songs – plus the well-known “If I Ruled the World”. This is a truly epic musical experience not to be missed.

A Thistles Musical Theatre Company Production

Tickets: See MUSICAL PRICES

(Plus special CLUBNIGHT: Thursday night, Club Members Ł8.50)

Sunday 25th April 2004

BENNY GOODMAN - his music, his style

This show spotlights the Dave Shepherd Quintet. Dave was rated Britain’s top clarinet player in 1990, 1991, 1995 and 2000, and enjoys a reputation of being the top Benny Goodman stylist. His Quartet contains some of this country’s best musicians. Dave special guests are Jack Emblow (accordion) and Lorraine Craig, a talented young vocalist, who complete a fabulous line-up for what should prove to be a memorable evening of swing

Tickets Ł11.00 (Club Members Ł10.00)

Wednesday 28th April 2004

THE GASMAN COMETH

“Have Some Madeira, M’Dear”, “The Gnu”, and , of course, “The Hippopotamus Song” (Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud!) – these songs come alive again in an evening of absurd wit and subversive lunacy. Iain Thompson and Daniel Sproats’ renditions of these classics have delighted audiences around the country and won “five stars” at the Edinburgh Festival.

If you remember Flanders and Swann the first time round, or if you’re absolutely new to the wonderful comedy of that legendary partnership, this revival show will be a delight. “If you don’t come out smiling from ear to ear it will be because you are still whistling the songs” (The Scotsman)

A Northern Theatre Company Production

All seats Ł10 (Club Members Ł8)

Thursday 29th April to Saturday 1st May 2004 (Note: Saturday, one show only at 5pm)

DANNY LA RUE - A Night at the Music Hall

The legendary Danny la Rue portrays several of his lovely “ladies” in a good old music hall sing-along together with his usual mix of great comedy and fascinating stories. With songs of Marie Lloyd, Florrie Forde, Marlene Dietrich and special segments of “Hello Dolly”, plus stunning new costumes , this show features Danny and his special guests: multi-instrumentalists, David and Pauline Conway; ace ukulele player, Andy Eastwood; versatile singer Lorrie Brown; and genial host, Spencer K Gibbins.

Pirouette Production for Derek Grant

All seats Ł15 (Club Members Ł13.50 – Senior Citizens & Students Ł11.50)

Thursday 6th to Saturday 8th May 2004

OVER THE MOON

Ken Ludwig's farcical comedy is about two ageing thespians desperately hanging on to the fading hope of making it to the top. A Hollywood mogul attending their matinee in Buffalo, New York, may provide their (last?) chance. But, the leading man has had too much to drink, his wife and daughter are not helping, and his hard-of-hearing mother-in-law is a definite hindrance. And is the matinee “Cyrano de Bergerac” or “Private Lives”? (Joan Collins and Frank Langella played it at the Old Vic – an unkind review claimed she was “over the hill” and he was “over the top”. We hope and trust this Vortex production will have you “over the moon”!)

A Vortex Theatre Company Production

Tickets: See PLAY Prices

Sunday 9th May 2004

Tony Jacobs and his Cream Crackers Jazzband

From fronting the Orchestra at London’s Waldorf Hotel, to featured vocalist with Syd Lawrence, to performing in his own shows, Tony has been delighting audiences with his singing, showmanship and keen sense of humour. It has been his aim to front an exciting jazzband made up of musicians of his own choice. He has now achieved this aim. Here is your chance to hear the Band playing popular numbers with a fantastic “lift”. Will this be the Band to take your biscuit?

Tickets Ł11.50 (Theatre Club Members Ł10.50)

Thursday 13th to Saturday 15th May 2004

WAY UPSTREAM

What could be more pleasant than a holiday on the river? Except, this is the comic world of Alan Ayckbourn – where things never turn out as expected. Squabbles over who should be the skipper, murmurs of mutiny and other shenanigans mark this dark comedy. Originally staged at the National Theatre with real water and a moving boat, this was a legendary disaster when the auditorium was regularly flooded by bursting tanks and leaking joints. The show was frequently cancelled because of water problems. The KMT won’t risk the water tank – but you’ll still enjoy this murky tale of the riverbank!

A WOADS Production

Tickets: See PLAY Prices

Sunday 16th May 2004

A RATLING GOOD CHARITY VARIETY SHOW

Britain’s great charity fund-raisers, The Grand Order of Lady Ratlings, present a Ratling good Charity Variety Show starring (engagements permitting) Lady Ratlings: Julie Rogers, Debbie McGee, Anna Karen; and Water Rats: Rick Wakeman, Roy Hudd plus many others.

Tickets: Ł12 (Club Members Ł11)

Wednesday 19th - Saturday 22nd May 2004

CRAZY FOR YOU

This all-singing, all-dancing musical is a showcase for the genius of George and Ira Gershwin. It follows the exploits of Bobby Child, a rich, pampered New York playboy as he is sent to Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose the mortgage on an old disused theatre. Of course, nothing is that simple as he meets and falls in love with Polly- the only girl in town – and then, in the greatest tradition of musicals, sets about the task of saving the doomed theatre by “putting on a show”. Filled to overflowing with unforgettable Gershwin tunes including “Bidin’ My Time”, “Can’t be Bothered Now”, “Someone to Watch Over Me”, “Embraceable You” and “I Got Rhythm” this show will have you singing and dancing all the way back to your homestead.

An Ilford Operatic and Dramatic Society Production.

Prices: See MUSICAL Prices

Sunday 23rd May 2004

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BALLET

An evening of sheer delight for ballet lovers. To mark the Tenth Anniversary of European Ballet, the company presents a programme of highlights – great moments from “Coppelia”, “Swan Lake”, “Giselle” and “Nutcracker”.

Tickets: Matinee: Ł12.50 (Club Members Ł11.00 – Children Ł10)

Evening: Ł13.50 (Club Members Ł11.50 – Children Ł10.50)

Thursday 27th to Saturday 29th May 2004

MURDER ON THE NILE

After Howard Carter opened the Tomb of Tutankhamun, the only really fashionable place for the wealthy classes to visit was, of course, Egypt. All the best people would take the paddle steamer down the Nile. The trouble is: where the wealthy gather, so do con-men, crooks and.. . murderers! This is Agatha Christie at her best – the late 1920s, an exotic “foreign” location, an assortment of eccentrics and more red herrings than sands in the desert! Set in a long-disappeared world of Empire, when Britannia ruled the waves, a snobbish group of politically incorrect tourists get caught up in what still works as an intriguing and gripping thriller – as long as you don’t take it too seriously! Let’s hope the British abroad never did behave quite as badly as they do in this gloriously camp thriller.

A Redbridge Theatre Guild Production

Tickets: See PLAY Prices

Wednesday 2nd to Saturday 5th June 2004

TOYS

A half-term treat for children and their parents, this is an enchanting, action-packed new musical adventure about childhood in a changing world. Inspired by the “Nutcracker” story of the toys that came to life, and powered by the magic of a dream, this is a show for all the family.

A Milton & Morrisey Production

Tickets: Adults: Ł10.50; Children Ł7.50

(Club Members Ł9.50 if paying a week or more in advance)

Wednesday Evening and Saturday Matinee: All seats Ł7.50

WAY UPSTREAM

A RATLING GOOD CHARITY VARIETY SHOW

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BALLET

An evening of sheer delight for ballet lovers. To mark the Tenth Anniversary of European Ballet, the company presents a programme of highlights – great moments from “Coppelia”, “Swan Lake”, “Giselle” and “Nutcracker”.

MURDER ON THE NILE

“Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll”

OPEN MIKE on Four Successive Fridays – with Invited Guests