Published: 24 June 2011
Lee Hall’s hit play about a group of artistic miners, The Pitmen Painters, is to receive a West End outing at the Duchess theatre from 5 October (press night 11… Read More
Published: 23 June 2011
Alistair McGowan is to replace Rupert Everett in Pygmalion for the final three weeks of the show’s run at the Garrick theatre. Everett, who has played phonetics professor Henry Higgins… Read More
Published: 22 June 2011
The National Theatre’s annual Watch This Space Festival is back for its 15th year this summer, jammed pack with family friendly events and performances, and all for free.Taking place in… Read More
The oversized grass covered armchairs and astroturfed lawns are back in the National Theatre’s Theatre Square marking the return of the annual Watch This Space Festival.Running from 1 July until… Read More
Matthew Amer catches up with former History Boy Jamie Parker, and, unexpectedly, his co-star Samuel Barnett, as he prepares to open Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead in London. You know… Read More
Fate, chance, probability, life and death; these are the themes explored by Tom Stoppard in his 1967 play which flips Shakespeare’s famous drama Hamlet like the toss of a coin.In… Read More
Published: 21 June 2011
Londoners can go to an extra Christmas bash this year as site-specific, interactive show Office Party comes to Islington in the autumn. Created by cabaret star Ursula Martinez and Radio… Read More
Olivier-winning theatrical experience Slava’s Snowshow is to enjoy a return visit to London this Christmas, playing at the Royal Festival Hall from 17 December to 8 January.Created by Russian clown… Read More
If you’re after something silly this summer then the Vaudeville theatre’s very own vaudeville show, The Flying Karamazov Brothers, might be right up your street. Just make sure to check… Read More
Published: 20 June 2011
Over the past two decades the Tricycle theatre has positioned itself at the vanguard of political theatre with its award-winning tribunal plays. Adapted from verbatim transcripts of trials and hearings,… Read More
Published: 17 June 2011
Love Never Dies, the follow up to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hugely successful Phantom Of The Opera, has announced it will close on 27 August.Nominated at this year’s Olivier Awards in… Read More
Kids Week, London’s most exciting family theatrical event, is back for its 14th year this summer, with a jam-packed line-up of shows, events and workshops taking part in the ticket… Read More
Antony Sher will reprise his performance in Arthur Miller’s Broken Glass this summer, when it is revived at the Tricycle theatre before transferring to the West End’s Vaudeville theatre.He will… Read More
Sean Palmer, Clare Foster, Kim Medcalf, Harriet Thorpe and David Burt will lead the cast of the Regent’s Park Open Air theatre production of Gershwin musical Crazy For You this… Read More
Tension is so often the name of the game when it comes to Pinter’s plays, but arguably never more so than in the love triangle drama of Betrayal.Though it may… Read More
Idina Menzel, the American actress who originated the role of Wicked’s green-skinned leading witch for both Broadway and the West End, is to return to London for a Royal Albert… Read More
Published: 16 June 2011
There is much of the classic musical about Lend Me A Tenor The Musical, which belies the fact that it was written just half a decade ago.As its overture plays,… Read More
Little Shop Of Horrors star and veteran stage actress Ellen Greene has joined the cast of Betwixt!, Trafalgar Studio 2’s forthcoming fantasy musical.Greene, who starred in Little Shop Of Horrors… Read More
London’s largest free entertainment festival West End LIVE was launched last night at an exclusive event featuring performers including the stars of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical.The evening… Read More
The National Theatre’s Emperor And Galilean is the high church of theatre; heady with incense and ceremony, and packed full of tradition and stories. At three and a half hours… Read More
Published: 15 June 2011
West End stars Oliver Tompsett, Simon Lipkin and Amy Pemberton are to join Shayne Ward and Justin Lee Collins in big-haired anthemic musical Rock Of Ages.The talented trio complete a… Read More
As she returns to the West End, Amanda Holden talks to Matthew Amer about Britain’s Got Talent controversy, stepping back into the media glare and being rollered.My goodness, Amanda Holden… Read More
The Royal Court has announced a double extension with current hit Chicken Soup With Barley and forthcoming black comedy The Village Bike adding dates to their runs at the Sloane… Read More
Once upon a time there was a book about an ogre. The book wanted to be a hit film, but most of all it dreamed of being a success in… Read More
Published: 14 June 2011
Kevin O’Hare is to become Director of the Royal Ballet when current incumbent Monica Mason retires in July 2012.O’Hare, the current Royal Ballet Administrative Director, trained at the Royal Ballet… Read More
Michael Grandage and Friedrich Schiller have history. In the past, the Donmar Warehouse’s Artistic Director has produced fantastic productions of both Don Carlos and Mary Stuart. Before he waves the… Read More
Theatre company Antic Disposition is planning to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the first performance of The Tempest in style, with a new production at an Elizabethan venue where Shakespeare’s… Read More
It is impossible to write about Derren Brown’s newest West End show without falling into clichés. There are really only two options; start with a regretful apology explaining that you… Read More
Published: 13 June 2011
Inspired by the BBC’s latest series of So You Think You Can Dance?, Matthew Amer hoped The Merchants Of Bollywood could teach him a few moves.I’m not an awful dancer.… Read More
Actress Janet Suzman and director Michael Grandage lead the list of theatre stars to be named on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.South Africa-born British actress Suzman is made a Dame… Read More
The National Theatre’s First World War drama War Horse stormed the play categories at last night’s Tony Awards, taking home an impressive five awards including the coveted Best Play accolade.First… Read More
Published: 10 June 2011
Strictly Come Dancing stars Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace are to bring their currently touring show, Midnight Tango, to the West End next year for a strictly limited season at… Read More
Playwrights Alexi Kaye Campbell, Joe Penhall, David Eldridge, debbie tucker green, April De Angelis and Stella Feehily will all return to the Royal Court for its autum/winter season.The work of… Read More
David Harrower’s new translation of Government Inspector is a hallucinogenic chocolate box of delights. Silly, ridiculous and so colourful your eyes will burn, if you go down to the Young… Read More
Robert Sheehan, star of E4’s highly-acclaimed Misfits, will make his professional stage debut in an Old Vic revival of The Playboy Of The Western World this autumn.The 23-year-old Irish actor… Read More
Former Hustle star Marc Warren will return to the London stage this autumn as the iconic prisoner Cool Hand Luke.The stage adaptation of Donn Pearce’s acclaimed novel will open at… Read More
Published: 9 June 2011
Independent producer Mark Rubinstein has been named the new President of the Society of London Theatre, following on from outgoing President Nica Burns.The announcement of the 30th President was made… Read More
Carley Stenson is to take over in the role of college sweetheart Elle Woods in Legally Blonde The Musical from 11 July.Stenson has appeared in the Olivier Award-winning show as… Read More
Christie Brinkley, whose image has adorned many a billboard and more than 500 magazine covers, is to make her London stage debut in Chicago this summer.The multimillionaire model is set… Read More
Like its neon-lit, graffiti-splattered set, the latest play from American wunderkind Tarell Alvin McCraney is big, brash, bold and as colourful as a rainbow of disco balls.The latest play from… Read More
Over 100 artists will collaborate on an epic celebration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible to mark the opening of the Bush theatre’s inaugural season at its… Read More
Published: 8 June 2011
Shayne Ward, who shot to fame as the winner of The X-Factor in 2005, is to swap pop for rock in new West End musical Rock Of Ages.The That’s My… Read More
He has the biggest stage role of his career on his hands and two high profile television jobs around the corner, but Andrew Scott is taking it all in his… Read More
Samantha Spiro has undergone a complete transformation since her Olivier Award-winning outing at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Gone are the pretty musical costumes and perky show tunes, replaced… Read More
Published: 7 June 2011
This autumn a host of actresses will take up residence at the National Portrait Gallery as part of its First Actresses: Nell Gwyn To Sarah Siddons exhibition. Running from 20… Read More
The Tricycle theatre’s latest verbatim play makes for increasingly disturbing viewing as the naturalistic drama portrays men at their most animalistic in the often extraordinary circumstances of war.Richard Norton-Taylor took… Read More
There is something of the over-sized man-child about Simon Gray’s depressed, malicious, antagonising lecturer Ben Butley.In the hands of The Wire’s Dominic West, he bounds about the stage with the… Read More
Published: 6 June 2011
Ilan Goodman makes his Royal Court theatre debut this week in Arnold Wesker’s landmark play Chicken Soup With Barley. The actor talks to Charlotte Marshall about being addicted to the… Read More
The Tricycle theatre is bringing a little bit of Ireland to north London this summer as it hosts Mosshouse’s production of Lay Me Down Softly and the Lyric Theatre, Belfast’s… Read More
World War I drama Journey’s End, last seen in the West End six years ago, is to return to the London stage this summer.The tale of a group of soldiers… Read More
Two of London’s most popular productions, family drama War Horse and hit Brit musical Billy Elliot, have announced extensions to their Theatreland runs.War Horse will gallop into the new year… Read More
Classic Ealing comedy The Ladykillers, about an eccentric little old lady and a motley bunch of criminals, is to be brought to the London stage by a star-studded cast this… Read More
Published: 3 June 2011
The Head of Studio at the National Theatre, Purni Morell, is to become the new Artistic Director of leading children’s theatre the Unicorn in September.Since taking on her current post… Read More
Jason Robert Brown’s Tony Award-winning musical Parade is to receive a major London revival at the Southwark Playhouse later this summer.Based on a true story, Brown’s musical follows the trial… Read More
Actress Miriam Karlin, best known for playing Paddy in TV comedy The Rag Trade, has died at the age of 85.Karlin had been suffering with cancer.Though best known for her… Read More
Ghost Stories, the scream-tastic show currently terrifying audiences at the Duke Of York’s theatre, has added a surprise extension to its London run.The pulse-racing play had announced earlier this year… Read More
Arnold Wesker’s The Kitchen, new plays by Mike Bartlett and Conor McPherson, an Edinburgh hit from Daniel Kitson and Bach’s St Matthew’s Passion have been added to the National Theatre’s… Read More
Published: 2 June 2011
West End actress Julie Atherton will perform a one-off solo concert at London’s Apollo theatre on Sunday 26 June. The former star of Avenue Q will be singing tracks from… Read More
Ah, the 80s, a decade much derided for its fashion, music and culture, but in director Josie Rourke’s hands, the perfect setting for Shakespeare’s tale of warring lovers.Here is Gibraltar… Read More
Published: 1 June 2011
Comedian Justin Lee Collins has been announced as the first cast member ofthe forthcoming jukebox musical Rock Of Ages, which opens in all its stonewash jeaned glory at the Shaftesbury… Read More
As Felicity Jones headlines the Donmar’s latest production, Matthew Amer talks to the emerging actress about pressure, competition and inspirational co-stars.When your first two professional stage outings win a gaggle… Read More
EduStage is to bring its summer schools back to South London this August, offering young people interested in musical theatre another chance to show off their skills. Since 2006 EduStage… Read More
Morgan Lloyd Malcolm’s first full length play, Belongings, is to transfer to Trafalgar Studios 2 following its premiere as part of Hampstead theatre’s Downstairs season.The play, which runs at Trafalgar… Read More
Published: 31 May 2011
Designer Jon Bausor has created atmospheric sets across the world from opera in Vienna to the spooky surroundings of Ghost Stories in the West End. As Lord Of The Flies… Read More
Actor Tim Curry has been forced to withdraw from the upcoming production of Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead, which will open at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in June.According… Read More
tkts, the official discount theatre ticket booths in Leicester Square and Brent Cross Shopping Centre, are now offering even more money off theatre tickets.Regular theatrical bargain hunters can pick up… Read More
Steven Webb has joined the cast of comedy musical Betwixt!, which plays at Trafalgar Studios 2 from 26 July to 20 August (press night 28 July). Webb plays one of… Read More
Published: 27 May 2011
While Much Ado has been made of the Doctor Who teaming of Tennant and Tate in the West End, Shakespeare’s Globe has quietly put together a joyful production of the… Read More
A musical stage adaptation of James Jones’s Hawaii-set 1951 novel From Here To Eternity is to be produced in 2012, with a view to playing in London.Though neither dates nor… Read More
Published: 26 May 2011
West End stars Caroline Sheen and Alexia Khadime are to join the cast of long running musical hit Les Misérables from 23 June. The leading pair will play Fantine and… Read More
Popular pre-school theatrical experience In The Night Garden Live has added an extra London date to its UK tour this summer. Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy and Makka Pakka will come to… Read More
A new production of Enda Walsh’s Disco Pigs, a double bill of Pinter plays and Rory Bremner’s modern translation of Orpheus In the Underworld have been added to the Young… Read More
Despite vying with economic uncertainty, social unrest and even nature itself, 2010 was a record-breaking year for London theatre, according to the recently published Box Office Data Report.The annual publication,… Read More
Bernard Shaw’s play about class snobbery returns to the West End, with Kara Tointon as the flower girl taken on as a phonetics project by Rupert Everett’s Henry Higgins.Philip Prowse,… Read More
Being upstaged by your surroundings is always an occupational hazard if you’re part of a cast at the picturesque Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. But you can’t help but feel… Read More