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News Archive

Riseborough, Hiddleston, McKee in Ivanov

Published: 20 June 2008

Michael Grandage has assembled a weighty cast of youth and experience to join Kenneth Branagh in Ivanov, the first production in the Donmar West End season at the Wyndham’s, which… Read More

Osage County comes to National

Published: 19 June 2008

The National Theatre has confirmed that August: Osage County, the Oklahoma-set drama which won five Tony Awards last weekend, will come to the South Bank in late November.Official dates are… Read More

Oval launches Grimm summer school

Published: 19 June 2008

Oval House theatre’s fifth annual summer school is inviting young people aged 11 to 16 to help create a production of The Grimms’ Tales, to be performed in the open-air… Read More

Hankies at the ready for Summer Party

Published: 19 June 2008

The Lyric Hammersmith’s free Summer Party returns this year with a host of interactive events and shows for families, taking place in and around the West London theatre on Saturday… Read More

The Merry Wives Of Windsor

Published: 19 June 2008

This most comic of tales is exploited to the hilt in a Monty Python-esque production at Shakespeare’s Globe, writes Caroline Bishop. A Frenchman who could easily have been plucked from… Read More

Adam Long

Published: 18 June 2008

Adam Long gives Caroline Bishop a glimpse into the offbeat world of Dickens Unplugged… “It’s very difficult to play an accordion and wear a Victorian wedding dress at the same time,”… Read More

National makes annual Connections in July

Published: 18 June 2008

Plays by Mark Ravenhill, Nicholas Wright and Frantic Assembly are included in the National Theatre’s New Connections festival this year, which runs from 3 to 8 July.New Connections, which was… Read More

Hit musicals help charities

Published: 18 June 2008

A selection of Mamma Mia!’s Dancing Queens will take their talents to the Arts theatre for a special one-off Macmillan Cancer Support fundraising concert on Sunday.Linzi Hateley, Joanna Monro, Katie… Read More

The Quiz

Published: 18 June 2008

Fact, fiction, acting or real life? Caroline Bishop went to see actor David Bradley’s portrayal of an actor acting, in The Quiz.Will he finally die on stage like Tommy Cooper… Read More

Dickens unplugs at the Comedy

Published: 17 June 2008

Fans of Victorian literary powerhouse Charles Dickens will have to be quick to catch the comic adaptation of his life and works, as Dickens Unplugged has announced it will close… Read More

Carpenter leads major Les Mis cast change

Published: 17 June 2008

Former Phantom Earl Carpenter and Avenue Q’s Jon Robyns are to star in Les Misérables as part of a major cast change in the 22-year-old musical. The new cast –… Read More

2,000 Feet Away

Published: 17 June 2008

Plays concerning paedophilia are never comfortable viewing. In the intimate environment of the Bush, Anthony Weigh’s 2,000 Feet Away can feel positively claustrophobic, writes Matthew Amer.Gone is the proscenium arch… Read More

Twelfth Night at the Open Air theatre 2008

Published: 16 June 2008

A chill breeze swept through the Open Air theatre during Friday’s press night; not quite the shipwreck-inducing howling gale of Twelfth Night’s opening, but enough to encourage tightening of coats,… Read More

Steps, Boeing, Rylance and Norton lift Tonys

Published: 16 June 2008

Champagne corks were popping across London yesterday, when British transfers to Broadway collected five prestigious Tony Awards between them.Boeing Boeing won Best Revival of a Play, with leading man Mark… Read More

McTeer and Ejiofor receive Queen’s birthday honours

Published: 16 June 2008

Actors Janet McTeer and Chiwetel Ejiofor and playwrights Roy Williams and Tanika Gupta are among those named in the Queen’s birthday honours.Laurence Olivier Award-winning actors McTeer and Ejiofor both receive… Read More

Casts return to Tricycle for Moonlight and Love

Published: 13 June 2008

The lure of the Tricycle theatre has drawn five original cast members back to reprise their roles in upcoming productions of Moonlight And Magnolias and Let There Be Love.Andy Nyman… Read More

Chancellor, Teale and Burke are Creditors

Published: 13 June 2008

Anna Chancellor, Owen Teale and Tom Burke have been confirmed in the cast of the Donmar Warehouse’s autumn production of Creditors.The experienced trio will be directed by Alan Rickman in… Read More

Kids Week opens booking 15 July

Published: 13 June 2008

Kids Week is back! Booking for the annual free theatre tickets extravaganza opens on 15 July 2008, with an array of London’s top shows already lined up to participate in… Read More

More shows join West End Live

Published: 12 June 2008

The casts of High School Musical, The 39 Steps, Brief Encounter, Betwixt! and All Bob’s Women have joined the already seam-bulging line up for West End Live, which takes place… Read More

Royal Court launches autumn of sexuality and the States

Published: 12 June 2008

Dominic Cooke today unveiled the autumn/winter season for new writing hotbed the Royal Court.The US figures strongly in the programming with a presidential election drama from Christopher Shinn and a… Read More

The Chalk Garden

Published: 12 June 2008

If all good stories are based on truth, then Enid Bagnold’s The Chalk Garden is a prime example. So eccentric are the characters and so obscure the situation that this… Read More

Jo Stone-Fewings

Published: 11 June 2008

“It’s pretty idyllic at the moment.” This is how actor Jo Stone-Fewings describes his life, and it is hard to disagree with him, writes Matthew Amer.Stone-Fewings is currently starring in… Read More

Gates tastes Spoonful of West End

Published: 11 June 2008

Former Pop Idol finalist and chart-topping singer Gareth Gates is to make his West End debut in gala show A Spoonful Of Stiles & Drewe. Gates joins a cast of… Read More

Afterlife

Published: 11 June 2008

At the National Theatre, Michael Frayn has reunited the team behind Democracy – long-time Frayn director Michael Blakemore and leading actor Roger Allam – for a new historical play, Afterlife.Rather… Read More

Baghdad playwright wins George Devine Award

Published: 11 June 2008

Iraqi writer Hassan Abdulrazzak has won the 2008 George Devine Award for new writing for his debut play, Baghdad Wedding, the Royal Court has announced. Baghdad Wedding opened at the… Read More

Dickens Unplugged

Published: 10 June 2008

With the run of costume dramas and the rise of I’d Do Anything, Charles Dickens is back in vogue, writes Matthew Amer.The Victorian writer even has his own theme park… Read More

The Harder They Come

Published: 10 June 2008

Based on the 1970s hit crime film responsible for launching Jimmy Cliff to fame, reggae musical The Harder They Come comes to the Playhouse. Opening on one of the hottest… Read More

Be an opera singer for the day

Published: 9 June 2008

English National Opera is offering families the chance to experience a day in the life of an opera singer with a workshop on 22 June. During the session, which lasts… Read More

RSC brings Hamlet, Dream and Shrew to London

Published: 9 June 2008

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has announced it will return to the Novello later this year to play a winter season, transferring productions of Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and… Read More

Young Vic launches Pod and announces new season

Published: 6 June 2008

A busy week for the Young Vic has seen the Waterloo theatre launch a new wing – The Jerwood Pod – announce its programme until the new year and reveal… Read More

Curtain comes down on Cabaret

Published: 5 June 2008

Cabaret has become the third musical in the space of a week to announce that it will close in the West End. The dark Kander and Ebb drama finishes its… Read More

Wizard cast follows yellow brick road to Southbank

Published: 5 June 2008

The Royal Festival Hall has announced a principal cast for The Wizard Of Oz which is packed with musical experience. Adam Cooper, Gary Wilmot, Roy Hudd, Julie Legrand, Hilton McRae… Read More

A wee new kiltic play comes to Richmond

Published: 5 June 2008

The National Theatre Of Scotland and Wee Stories bring their musical production of The Emperor’s New Kilt to Richmond theatre later this month.Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic The Emperor’s… Read More

Contractions

Published: 5 June 2008

Mike Bartlett’s black comedy Contractions causes the audience to squirm on the edge of their seats as the boundaries between work and play are brought under the spotlight and become… Read More

The Revenger’s Tragedy

Published: 5 June 2008

The plot includes rape, incest and countless murders, and yet The Revenger’s Tragedy is a surprisingly funny affair, found Caroline Bishop when she attended the first night at the National’s… Read More

Ron Hutchinson

Published: 4 June 2008

Ron Hutchinson, the playwright behind Tricycle hits Topless Mum and Moonlight And Magnolias, is a very busy man, writes Matthew Amer.He is currently balancing his writing commitments – in addition… Read More

Fast Labour

Published: 4 June 2008

Steve Waters often tackles subjects in areas where other playwrights fear to tread and his latest play is no exception. Immigration and exploitation are set to the soundtrack of Led… Read More

Love – The Musical

Published: 4 June 2008

In London, we are used to Icelandic company Vesturport creating athletically challenging pieces such as Metamorphosis and its acrobatic Romeo And Juliet. Love is something quite different.Set in a retirement… Read More

Sunday in the National with Binoche and Fiennes

Published: 4 June 2008

Following last week’s announcement that War Horse is to be the first show at the National Theatre to give performances on a Sunday, the venue’s Director Nicholas Hytner has confirmed… Read More

All Bob’s scantily clad Women launch show

Published: 4 June 2008

All Bob’s Women, a new musical running at the Arts theatre this summer, launched yesterday with a parade of lingerie-wearing ladies.The models were sporting sexy underwear designed by model and… Read More

Soho conference discusses theatre in schools

Published: 4 June 2008

Children’s playwright David Wood and Guardian theatre critic Lyn Gardner will be among those discussing the participation of primary school children in theatre at a conference held at Soho theatre… Read More

Honour trio in new Species

Published: 3 June 2008

Eileen Atkins and Anna Maxwell Martin are to reunite with director Roger Michell for Joanna Murray-Smith’s play The Female Of The Species, which opens at the Vaudeville on 16 July… Read More

Consider Yourself an actor?

Published: 2 June 2008

The search for a Nancy may be over, the title role may already have been cast, but there is still a chance for young hopefuls to gain a part in… Read More

Pygmalion adds extra week

Published: 2 June 2008

The Peter Hall-directed production of Pygmalion, which is currently playing at the Old Vic, has extended its London engagement and will now close on 9 August.The show had previously been… Read More

Goodness Gracious Me! Bhaskar is King Arthur

Published: 2 June 2008

Sanjeev Bhaskar, star of television comedies including The Kumars At No. 42 and Goodness Gracious Me, is the fifth performer to be crowned King Arthur in the London production of… Read More

Gone With The Wind blows out of West End

Published: 2 June 2008

The much-anticipated musical adaptation of Gone With The Wind has announced that it will close at the New London on 14 June after just 79 performances.The production, which stars Darius… Read More

Jodie Prenger is Nancy

Published: 2 June 2008

Jodie Prenger has won the chance to play Nancy in Cameron Macktintosh’s production of Oliver! after triumphing in the BBC television competition I’d Do Anything on Saturday night. The 28-year-old… Read More

Cusack and Hawke bridge transatlantic company

Published: 30 May 2008

Sinead Cusack and Ethan Hawke are among those joining Simon Russell Beale in The Cherry Orchard and The Winter’s Tale, the first double bill in director Sam Mendes’s transatlantic venture… Read More

LaBute is a “believer” in British talent

Published: 29 May 2008

Playwright Neil LaBute, whose play Fat Pig opened at the Trafalgar Studio 1 earlier this week, believes having his work staged in the West End is akin to competitive sport.“It’s… Read More

Quinn swings into Grease

Published: 28 May 2008

Crooning X-Factor finalist Ray Quinn will join the cast of Grease this summer, playing T-Bird Doody between 16 June and 15 November.Quinn joins as the cast is given a summer… Read More

Shaun Escoffery

Published: 28 May 2008

Shaun Escoffery is the happiest corpse I have ever met. It is 15:15 on a Wednesday afternoon, and the matinee audience of The Lion King has just witnessed Escoffery, playing… Read More

Notes celebrates Last 5 Years

Published: 28 May 2008

Notes From New York, the popular series of performances showcasing new musical theatre, will celebrate its fifth anniversary with a gala performance of Jason Robert Brown’s The Last 5 Years.Notes… Read More

Fat Pig

Published: 28 May 2008

From the opening chords of the White Stripes’ songs that punctuate the scene changes of Neil LaBute’s supersized comedy, it is clear this is a hip, trendy production with youth… Read More

Bogosian’s SubUrbia staged in Southwark

Published: 27 May 2008

Eric Bogosian’s gritty drama of small town dreams, SubUrbia, is to be staged by LOST Theatre at the Southwark Playhouse in June.Set in suburban America, Bogosian’s play follows a group… Read More

Rivers celebrates birthday with London show

Published: 27 May 2008

American comedy icon Joan Rivers will celebrate her 75th birthday by making her London acting debut in a self-penned autobiographical play in September.Joan Rivers: A Work In Progress By A… Read More

National revives War Horse with Sunday schedule

Published: 23 May 2008

War Horse, the National Theatre’s hit family show of Christmas 2007, is to be revived in autumn 2008, when it will become the first show at the National to feature… Read More

Lifecoach

Published: 23 May 2008

Lifecoach sees comedian Phil Jupitus make his West End debut in Nick Reed’s play about finding peace of mind when you hadn’t realised you had lost it in the first… Read More

Rosmersholm

Published: 23 May 2008

Bright morning sunlight pours through a side window, bathing Rosmersholm in illuminating hope. It is this hope that lives in Rosmer, a man who has thrown off years of oppression… Read More

Never Forget

Published: 22 May 2008

Most musicals would count themselves lucky if they received a standing ovation at the curtain call, not so for Never Forget where during the show people getting their feet, clapping… Read More

The Pitmen Painters

Published: 22 May 2008

Lee Hall knows how to write about northern mining communities; most famously he created miner’s-son-turned-ballet dancer Billy Elliot. The relationship between high culture and the working class once again lays… Read More

Oxford Street transfers to Elephant & Castle

Published: 21 May 2008

For one week in June, Levi David Addai’s play Oxford Street will be performed in a disused shop in Elephant & Castle shopping centre following the completion of its current,… Read More

More Steps for long-running show

Published: 21 May 2008

The hit comedy stage adaptation of John Buchan’s The 39 Steps has extended its run at the Criterion theatre by four months, to 7 February 2009. The news follows last… Read More

Julian Ovenden

Published: 21 May 2008

Singer, pianist and actor Julian Ovenden tells Caroline Bishop about his pursuit of a varied career... Along one wall of Julian Ovenden’s dressing room sits a full size keyboard. When he… Read More

Marguerite

Published: 21 May 2008

Based on Alexandre Dumas’s novel La Dame Aux Camélias, the plot of new musical Marguerite is familiar for the other stories that have used the same source – most recently… Read More

Michael Oakley wins JMK Young Director Award

Published: 20 May 2008

The prestigious JMK Young Director Award for 2008 has been won by 25-year-old Michael Oakley, whose production of Edward II will now be staged professionally at the BAC.Oakley, who staged… Read More

Ayckbourn’s Conquest receives Old Vic revival

Published: 20 May 2008

The Old Vic will be transformed this autumn when it stages the first London revival of Alan Ayckbourn’s comedy tryptich The Norman Conquests.The historical proscenium arch theatre will morph into… Read More

Faeries arrive at the Royal Opera House this summer

Published: 20 May 2008

Will Tuckett returns to the Royal Opera House this summer with his magical, mischievous new production Faeries. Working alongside Blind Summit Theatre, Faeries combines puppetry, dance and storytelling to create… Read More

Holmes, Di Angelo in Tricycle new season

Published: 20 May 2008

Two returning shows, two new productions and one visiting show make up the autumn/winter season at North London’s Tricycle theatre. Sean Holmes continues his association with the Tricycle by directing… Read More

Spring Awakening tops Farr’s final Lyric season

Published: 19 May 2008

The UK premiere of hit American musical Spring Awakening tops David Farr’s final exciting season as the Artistic Director of the Lyric Hammersmith.The 2008/2009 season also includes productions by the… Read More

Farr leaves Lyric for RSC

Published: 19 May 2008

David Farr will leave his position as Artistic Director of the Lyric Hammersmith in 2009 to become a fulltime Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company.Rupert Goold and Roxana Silbert… Read More

Further casting for Zorro announced

Published: 19 May 2008

Emma Williams, Adam Levy and Lesli Margherita will join Matt Rawle in the cast of swashbuckling musical Zorro, which opens at the Garrick on 15 July.Williams will take on the… Read More

Almeida premieres American work

Published: 19 May 2008

The autumn/winter season at the Almeida is to feature British premieres of work by Sam Shepard and Neil LaBute along with a revival of Harley Granville Barker’s Waste.The season marks… Read More

Hampstead announces new play is On The Rocks

Published: 19 May 2008

On The Rocks will premiere at the Hampstead theatre on 1 July. Written by the award-winning playwright Amy Rosenthal, the play stars Ed Stoppard, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Charlotte Emmerson and Nick… Read More

Director Banbury dies aged 96

Published: 19 May 2008

Frith Banbury, actor-turned-director and stalwart of the West End, passed away on 14 May at the age of 96.During his long career, Banbury was most associated with the ‘well-made play’… Read More

High School Musical Apollo cast announced

Published: 16 May 2008

Full casting for the Hammersmith Apollo’s forthcoming production of High School Musical has been announced. Joining Letitia Dean as kooky school teacher Ms Darbus are Mark Evans and Claire-Marie Hall… Read More
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