Published: 17 June 2010
West End LIVE, the annual free entertainment festival, will bring the very best that London theatre has to offer to Leicester Square this weekend, and is absolutely free to attend.The… Read More
Family holidays can be a tense affair at the best of times, but when the sole woman is suffering from chronic mental illness, her husband just wants to father her,… Read More
Published: 16 June 2010
Benedict Cumberbatch, star of After The Dance, talks to Matthew Amer about a “nutso” last few years and his long connection with Rattigan while trying not to let too many… Read More
Musical comedy The Fantasticks has announced it will close on 26 June. The production, which is running at the Duchess theatre, had been booking to 5 September.Starring Clive Rowe, David… Read More
Imagine a world where men have dance-offs instead of fisticuffs. Instead of going out on the lash, they tap dance. Rather than sit on the sidelines watching women dance around… Read More
I had never heard of Sebastian Horsley before the press night of Dandy In The Underworld, the work of the controversial artist, writer and dandy must have passed me by.I… Read More
Published: 15 June 2010
Former X-Factor finalist Brenda Edwards is to return to the West End stage next Monday when she joins the cast of We Will Rock You to play Killer Queen.Edwards, who… Read More
In the recent General Election, the number of female MPs rose from 128 to 142, yet this number still only represents 22% of the Members of Parliament in the House… Read More
The Bush theatre is known for its often-fearless new writing, tackling political, humanitarian or just plain awkward truths of the world we live in. With Anthony Weigh’s latest offering, Like… Read More
Published: 14 June 2010
The Tricycle theatre is exceptional at event programming. Last year’s Olivier-nominated The Great Game: Afghanistan season, which is revived later this summer, was the must have ticket of the summer… Read More
Playwright Ronald Harwood, whose double bill of Collaboration and Taking Sides played at the Duchess theatre last summer, has received a Knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Catherine Zeta-Jones,… Read More
Oscar-winning actress Estelle Parsons will make her West End stage debut in forthcoming thriller Deathtrap. Parsons, who is joined in the cast by Claire Skinner, will replace Anna Massey who… Read More
The Donmar Warehouse production of John Logan’s Red collected more trophies than any other production at yesterday’s Tony Awards, Broadway’s equivalent of London’s Laurence Olivier Awards, with a haul of… Read More
Published: 11 June 2010
Young people interested in musical theatre can have the chance to show off their skills by joining an EduStage summer school at Fairfield Halls, Croydon, this August. Since 2006 EduStage… Read More
Actress Siobhan Redmond is to join the previously announced Ian McDiarmid and Charlie Cox in the Donmar Warehouse’s summer production of Heinrich von Kleist’s The Prince Of Homburg.The 19th century… Read More
Sir Antony Sher will return to the stage in Arthur Miller’s Broken Glass at Kilburn’s Tricycle theatre from 30 September to 27 November (press night 6 October).One of Miller’s later… Read More
Chichester Festival Theatre’s production Yes, Prime Minister is to transfer to London later this year, with original cast members Henry Goodman and David Haig reprising their roles.Written by the original… Read More
Stars of hit musical The Lion King stampeded to the Victoria And Albert Museum today for the opening of the latest exhibit in the theatre and performance galleries: two Laurence… Read More
Published: 10 June 2010
Robert Lindsay will reprise his performance as Aristotle Onassis when the Chichester Festival Theatre production of Martin Sherman’s new play transfers to the Novello theatre from 30 September to 5… Read More
A new musical adaptation of The Three Musketeers will be the Rose theatre Kingston’s Christmas production this year, playing from 27 November to 2 January. The Three Musketeers, which is… Read More
How is your imagination? From the moment Hadley Fraser’s narrator asks the audience to “try to remember”, imagination becomes paramount, as with little in the way of props and set… Read More
Published: 9 June 2010
Shakespeare’s Globe will celebrate the birthday of its founder, Sam Wanamaker, with a day of workshops and activities on Saturday 12 June. Sam’s Day, which is free to attend, includes… Read More
Who best to star in a new London production of the world’s longest-running musical, The Fantasticks? Why, original Les Misérables cast member David Burt of course. Caroline Bishop talks to… Read More
Dominic Cooke, Artistic Director of the Royal Court theatre, will reunite with playwright Bruce Norris to direct new play Clybourne Park as part of the Sloane Square venue’s autumn season… Read More
Kingston’s Rose theatre is to collaborate with Broadway producer Bud Martin to bring a new tuneful adaptation of swashbuckling tale The Three Musketeers to the stage this Christmas.Featuring music by… Read More
The National Theatre’s After The Dance offers audiences a stylish and captivating glimpse into the glittering world of bright young things. However, Terence Rattigan shows that his characters are no… Read More
Dave Willetts will join Katherine Kingsley and Michael Arden in Trevor Nunn’s new production of Aspects Of Love at the Menier Chocolate Factory from 7 July (press night 15 July).… Read More
Published: 8 June 2010
Peppa Pig, the popular porcine pre-school animated character, will make her West End debut when a stage adaptation comes to the Criterion theatre in November. Peppa Pig’s Party, which is… Read More
Over The Rainbow semi-finalist Steph Fearon has bounced back from defeat in the BBC talent search by claiming a role in the Landor theatre’s summer revival of Smokey Joe’s Café.Fearon… Read More
It is an unusual thing to be doing on a rainy Monday night: covered in a plastic poncho sitting on a wet chair spying on guests in a hotel on… Read More
Published: 7 June 2010
For a young company led by artists at the very beginning of their careers, HighTide has become a force to be reckoned with in little more time than it would… Read More
Published: 4 June 2010
Catherine Tate will return to the stage to star in a revival of Alan Ayckbourn’s Season’s Greetings at the National Theatre this Christmas. Marianne Elliott is to direct Tate in… Read More
Chronicling the heritage and experience of African-Americans in the 20th century one decade at a time, August Wilson’s bibliography is rich in political and emotional substance. Joe Turner’s Come And… Read More
Published: 3 June 2010
Bernard Cribbins, who originated the role of Mr Perks in the 1970 film The Railway Children, boarded an original steam train from the film today to hand over his station… Read More
There seems no more appropriate setting for The Crucible than among the trees of Regent’s Park. The leafy surroundings, the encroaching darkness and even the blossom showering the stage help… Read More
Published: 2 June 2010
The Hustle star talks to Matthew Amer about distracting audience members, avoiding typecasting and his latest London appearance as a troubled piano teacher in The Late Middle Classes.What a peaceful… Read More
With the Second World War over and women back to making house, playing tennis and looking after their children and husbands once more, boredom sets in and the days of… Read More
Alfie Boe, Nick Jonas and Matt Lucas will star in a one-off concert production of Les Misérables at the O2 on 3 October, the culmination of the musical’s 25th birthday… Read More
Published: 1 June 2010
The Lyric Hammersmith will host Richard Bean’s new play The Big Fellah from 21 September to 16 October as part of a UK tour. The Big Fellah is set among… Read More
Emily Taaffe started her acting career just three years ago yet she has already played her first lead at the National Theatre. As she prepares to play Abigail in Arthur… Read More
Published: 28 May 2010
The creators of the stage show The Gruffalo are bringing another treat for children to the West End this summer as Room On The Broom comes to the Garrick theatre… Read More
Daniel Boys and Emma Rigby will appear in psycho-sexual musical Wolfboy this summer at the Trafalgar Studios.Avenue Q star Boys and Hollyoaks actress Rigby join the previously announced Paul Holowaty… Read More
The Office of Fair Trading and Consumer Direct have launched a new campaign to help combat fake ticketing websites. Just Tick It aims to increase customer awareness of fake ticketing… Read More
The revival of 1960s hippie musical Hair is to close at the Gielgud theatre in September. It had been booking to January 2011.A statement from the show said: “Cameron Mackintosh… Read More
Every ounce of heartbreaking poignancy is squeezed out of Arthur Miller’s tale of family tragedy in Howard Davies’s revival at the Apollo theatre. It begins on a windy night when… Read More
Published: 27 May 2010
Imagine taking many different viewpoints on addiction – recovering addicts, those hurt by addicts, an addict in denial – popping them all in a jam jar together and giving that… Read More
The Menier Chocolate Factory’s recent success with musicals has resulted in West End transfers and a resulting healthy scattering of Laurence Olivier Awards. The latest musical to try its luck… Read More
Published: 26 May 2010
Stephen Campbell Moore is back on the London stage for the first time since The History Boys. Caroline Bishop grabs a chat with the actor as he prepares for the… Read More
Published: 25 May 2010
Oscar-winning American actress Mercedes Ruehl is to join Jeff Goldblum in the upcoming London production of Neil Simon’s comedy The Prisoner Of Second Avenue, which opens at the Vaudeville theatre… Read More
Russ Abbot will be back picking pockets at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane when he takes over the role of Fagin in Oliver! on 14 June. Abbot, who replaces Griff… Read More
With an abundance of Hamlets, Macbeths and Romeo And Juliets staged year round, it is a welcome treat to see a Shakespeare play unfold before your eyes without knowing the… Read More
It is always refreshing and encouraging to record a career first, which is precisely what happened during Jonathan Harvey’s new play Canary last night. I had never before been part… Read More
Published: 24 May 2010
New Adventures will stage its 9th annual Christmas season at Sadler’s Wells this winter with a new production of Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella. Set in London during World War II, Bourne’s… Read More
For a young actor who has graced the Lyric Hammersmith three times in just over a year, Harry McEntire is surprisingly modest. Talking to Charlotte Marshall about learning the craft… Read More
Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks’s best-selling First World War-set novel, is to be brought to the stage at London’s Comedy theatre this autumn. The new stage adaptation by Rachel Wagstaff, directed by… Read More
Manchester-born Danielle Hope is the latest West End star to be created by a BBC talent search, having won the final of Over The Rainbow.The 18-year-old will now play Dorothy… Read More
Published: 21 May 2010
A new soccer-based show, Who Ate All The Pies?, is to be staged at the Tristan Bates theatre from 9 to 26 June to coincide with the upcoming global tournament.Who… Read More
Published: 20 May 2010
Jeff Goldblum is to star in the Old Vic Theatre Company’s first ever West End production The Prisoner Of Second Avenue, which will be staged at the Vaudeville theatre this… Read More
Outside the Peacock theatre some enterprising person has seized the opportunity to give out flyers for Bollywood dance lessons. Such classes are on the rise; Bollywood dance is becoming as… Read More
With cryptic directions written on a post-it note to guide audiences to the elusive sounding tunnel 228, and a series of sinister installations lining the cold, damp walls, the experience… Read More
Published: 19 May 2010
Ingredient X star Lesley Sharp talks to Matthew Amer about a whirlwind couple of years on the stage and the importance of good new writing. Rehearsals, like a sprinter with… Read More
The Almeida theatre’s Education department premieres a new play for young people this month. Rex Obano’s The Door Never Closes plays from 25 to 28 May and is accompanied by… Read More
Young producer Becky Barber today became the first recipient of the Start Up Fund for New Producers, receiving a £25,000 grant for her first major West End production. The Start… Read More
Death haunts Catherine Malfitano’s production of Puccini’s tragic opera from the show’s dramatic opening, when the escaped prisoner Angelotti enters before a towering fresco of the crucifixion. Looming in the… Read More
Published: 18 May 2010
The Menier Chocolate Factory’s revivals of Willy Russell’s Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine will become the latest shows to transfer from the intimate London Bridge venue into the West End… Read More
Published: 17 May 2010
She has made up Mary Poppins, Michelle Pfeiffer, Shrek and several Bond girls. Now, having just created the weird and wonderful faces in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies, Naomi… Read More
As part of this year’s annual London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT) artsdepot will premiere deafblind theatre company Nalaga’at’s production Not By Bread Alone, while offering workshops and pop-up venues… Read More
The new ministers in the recently formed government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) have been appointed, with Jeremy Hunt named Culture Secretary and Ed Vaizey joining him in… Read More
The upcoming revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspects Of Love, which will be directed by Trevor Nunn at the Menier Chocolate Factory, will feature a cast led by Michael Arden… Read More
Published: 14 May 2010
The National Theatre’s Watch This Space festival returns this summer from 23 June to 26 September offering a packed programme of free international theatre, dance, circus and music in Theatre… Read More
Forget the camp, red-jacketed Captain Hook, his bumbling assistant Smee and the green-tighted boy who wouldn’t grow up of panto and Disney. National Theatre of Scotland’s Peter Pan is a… Read More
Published: 13 May 2010
Walking off alone into the unknown, embracing gluttony and sex, spending time with loved ones, holing up in a place of worship memorising scriptures and chanting prayers; how would you… Read More
Caroline Harker and Marshall Lancaster will lead the cast of The Railway Children when the site-specific production takes over the former Eurostar terminal at Waterloo this summer. Both leads are… Read More
Published: 12 May 2010
The star of hit Australian comedy Kath And Kim talks to Matthew Amer about returning to the stage after a decade away with her West End debut in Holding The… Read More
Stephen Dillane in Ibsen’s The Master Builder and a new stage version of David Mamet’s House Of Games will continue the 2010 autumn season at Islington’s Almeida theatre. Playwright Richard… Read More