Published: 30 July 2014
Simon Callow will be acting Juvenal at the St James Theatre later this summer when he transfers Juvenalia to the Victoria venue direct from the Edinburgh Festival. The one-man show,… Read More
Published: 29 July 2014
London’s place as the theatre capital of the world was cemented today by a new report exploring the quantity of theatre available in the West End and beyond. According to… Read More
What better way to celebrate the glorious London summer sunshine, thought the Official London Theatre team, than experience a makeover fit for the Greek island paradise of Mamma Mia!? “The… Read More
What’s it all about? Tennessee Williams’ classic drama is renowned for its iconic leading role, Blanche DuBois, a woman who leaves her home in Laurel, Mississippi – for reasons we… Read More
What’s it all about? The Gershwins’ great folk opera reframed as a musical. No, this doesn’t mean jazz hands and high kicks. It means there’s just as much tragedy and… Read More
Published: 28 July 2014
The current West End production of Bakersfield Mist, starring Kathleen Turner and Ian McDiarmid, will end its run at the Duchess Theatre earlier than planned on 9 August. Stephen Sachs’… Read More
Natalie Casey will star in Chris Thompson’s new play Albion when it receives its world premiere at the Bush Theatre in September. Playing from 12 September to 25 October, Albion… Read More
Despite originating as an Oscar-winning movie, the stars of Shakespeare In Love, Tom Bateman and Lucy Briggs-Owen, are convinced the tale of poetry, love and a dog has found its… Read More
The Menier Chocolate Factory’s production of Forbidden Broadway will transfer to the West End this autumn after Nigel Harman’s production of Rabbit Hole starring Joanne Froggatt is forced to postpone… Read More
Published: 25 July 2014
Angela Griffin, best known for TV performances in Coronation Street and Mount Pleasant, has joined the cast of new comedy Breeders. The latest play from Ben Ockrent, which plays at… Read More
Natalie Mendoza will star as Imelda Marcos in the National Theatre’s forthcoming production of Here Lies Love, which opens in the newly refurbished Dorfman Theatre this autumn. The Hong Kong-born… Read More
What’s it all about? As the findings of Operation Yewtree continue to hit the headlines, the Royal Court’s latest production tackles the unthinkable subject of child abuse. Flitting between scenes… Read More
Liam Mower will return to Billy Elliot The Musical for one performance of the hit West End show when it is screened live to cinemas on 28 September. The actor… Read More
Published: 24 July 2014
What’s it all about? Billy the Bard has writer’s block. Desperate for inspiration, and cash, and with a play promised to two producers, he meets Viola De Lesseps, who gets… Read More
Published: 23 July 2014
Many, including Nicolas Kent, might have thought the former Artistic Director of the Tricycle Theatre had been finished with plays concerning Iraq when his tenure at the Kilburn venue came… Read More
David Bedella is to play Sweeney Todd in a new production of the Stephen Sondheim musical. The show will be the first in-house show to be produced at the new… Read More
Daniel Betts will take the lead role in the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s production of To Kill A Mockingbird when it returns to the alfresco venue from 28 August.… Read More
West End star Liam Tamne (pictured above with former Les Misérables co-star Craig Mather), who hit the headlines when he swapped the stage for the TV studio for BBC talent… Read More
The Menier Chocolate Factory’s five star hit Forbidden Broadway will keep audiences in fits of laughter for two weeks longer than expected with the news it has extended its run… Read More
Published: 22 July 2014
Shakespeare’s Globe regulars Matthew Needham and James Garnon will lead the casts of the historic venue’s productions of The Comedy Of Errors and Doctor Scroggy’s War. Needham, who previously appeared… Read More
The final performance of Hampstead Theatre’s acclaimed production of Beth Steel’s miners’ strike drama Wonderland will be live-streamed online to audiences across the world for free on 26 July. As… Read More
What’s it all about? Let’s start with a warning: Ben Power’s adaptation of the classic Greek tragedy is the darkest night you’ll likely ever spend in the National Theatre. But… Read More
London theatre regular Clive Rowe will be digging out his inner diva this Christmas as he returns to the Hackney Empire to play Mother Goose. Rowe, who received an Olivier… Read More
Published: 21 July 2014
“I’m just lazy,” Coel tells me towards the end of our interview conducted in a snatched 25 minutes as she escapes the rehearsal room for a working lunch. My mouth… Read More
What’s it all about? Extraterrestrials who consider the human race wasteful in their restricted use of undercrackers – you know, just wearing them – so pinch them and whisk them… Read More
A quintet of performers from the Theatre503’s acclaimed 2013 production of Land Of Our Fathers will return to the show when it transfers to the Trafalgar Studio 2 next month.… Read More
Craige Els will become the latest cross-dressing musical theatre star to take on the formidable role of the terrifying Miss Trunchbull in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s seven time Olivier Award-winning… Read More
Published: 18 July 2014
Comedian, impressionist and actress Ronni Ancona is to star in a new play about the 2011 London riots, Little Revolution, alongside Game Of Thrones’ Lucian Msamati and Sense And Sensibility’s… Read More
Elaine Stritch, the Broadway legend who was equally famous for her seven decade career as for her famously spikey wit, has died at the age of 89. The actress passed… Read More
The Gillian Anderson-led production of A Streetcar Named Desire, the fastest selling show in the Young Vic’s history, will be screened by NT Live on 16 September. The screening, the… Read More
What’s it all about? Two men create alter egos to bring spice to their lives… like 19th century superheroes, but with less crime-fighting and more cucumber sandwiches. When they fall… Read More
Ghost Stories has extended its run at the Arts Theatre, announcing it will return after a short break this summer to play from 21 September to 18 January 2015. The… Read More
Published: 17 July 2014
TKTS has teamed up with our annual kids go free promotion Kids Week to create a fun Theatreland Trail for families to enjoy over the month of August. The trail… Read More
Full casting has been announced for two of the Tricycle Theatre’s forthcoming productions, with Steven Elliot joining Alex Ferns and Eugene O’Hare in True West and Martina Laird, Tanya Moodie… Read More
Young people will take centre stage at the Theatre Royal Stratford East later this month when aspiring writers, actors and composers present a season of work at the east London… Read More
Published: 16 July 2014
The Park Theatre will host the London premiere of Robert Holman’s critically acclaimed drama Jonah And Otto this autumn. The play, which was first seen at the Royal Exchange Theatre… Read More
This week, Jennifer Haley’s Susan Smith Blackburn Prize-winning futuristic crime thriller The Nether will make its London premiere at the Royal Court Theatre in a co-production with the acclaimed theatre… Read More
When a show is billed as “a rich palimpsest of history” and promises to take in a staggering two millennia of conflict, you’ll probably find us prior to the production’s… Read More
Kids Week, our annual kids go free campaign, will get off to a spectacular start this year with a brilliant day of free family fun planned to launch the month… Read More
What’s it all about? The recession has hit, and Emily and Oliver have downsized to the north to live with “the real people”, start an art cooperative and work freelance… Read More
What’s it all about? Two of the best loved and most hilarious characters in 20th century literature. Wooster, the endearing but intellectually-challenged young man of the British upper classes who… Read More
Mark Ebulue will star in the title role of Othello at the Lyric Hammersmith next year when Frantic Assembly’s production of Shakespeare’s brutal thriller arrives in London following its UK… Read More
Published: 15 July 2014
Last night, 12-year-old Ollie Jochim took to the West End stage for the first time to become the 38th young star to play the title role in West End hit… Read More
More than five years after leaving the hit production, Kerry Ellis will return to Wicked to reprise her role as Elphaba for 12 weeks from 4 August. The actress’ return… Read More
Published: 14 July 2014
As part of our weekend of In Conversation talks at West End LIVE last month, Official London Theatre was lucky enough to catch up with three of Handbagged’s leading ladies… Read More
Lovers of family TV will know Mathew Baynton best as a shape-changing man of many characters. In both child-pleasingly silly historical hit Horrible Histories and mythical mirth-fest Yonderland he’s portrayed… Read More
The hugely popular Billy Elliot The Musical has extended its West End run at the Victoria Palace Theatre until 19 December 2015. The show, which was previously booking until 16… Read More
The hit West End production of The Book Of Mormon will say hello to two new cast members on 28 July when US stars Billy Harrigan Tighe and A J… Read More
Published: 11 July 2014
It isn’t every day you turn up to Trafalgar Square expecting to take a few pictures of a West End show and end up on a two and half hour… Read More
What’s it all about? One family, both divided and unified by an evangelical Christian faith. Opening in Barbados, where the estranged unit have come together to plan the funeral of… Read More
Jenna Russell, Marc Elliott and Jonathan Slinger will reprise their roles in Jamie Lloyd’s acclaimed production of Urinetown The Musical when it transfers to the West End this autumn. The… Read More
Published: 10 July 2014
Writers Anthony Neilson and Robin French will create a brand new late night revue show for the Royal Court Theatre this summer featuring work submitted by talented staff members from… Read More
What’s it all about? No doubt any of the tiny Tiger experts, whose parents were testing them on the storyline as they waited in anticipation for the matinee performance to… Read More
What’s it all about? Jamie Lloyd’s Trafalgar Transformed season 2 opens with a bang… and a stab… and a foul gurgle… and a desperate gasp… This Richard III shuns the… Read More
Published: 9 July 2014
Ask anyone who the busiest man in theatre is and the likelihood is they will all reply the same: “Jamie Lloyd”. Not yet halfway through his 30s, the past few… Read More
In a little less than two years since it opened, Victoria’s purpose-built, marble-staircase touting St James Theatre has developed an enviable reputation for finding the finest productions in regional and… Read More
From a Game Of Thrones trio to one of Theatreland’s starriest – not to most mention sickeningly talented – couples, Shaftesbury Avenue boasted more famous faces than Madame Tussauds last… Read More
What’s it all about? More than 10 million copies of Mark Haddon’s prize-winning novel have been sold since its release in 2003, but if you’re one of the few who… Read More
Published: 8 July 2014
The Young Vic has extended the run of its forthcoming production of A Streetcar Named Desire by two weeks due to phenomenal public demand to catch the Gillian Anderson-led drama.… Read More
As Martin Freeman prepares for the press night of Richard III, we’ve been offered an insight into what the Sherlock star looks like as the tyrannical monarch. We’re not sure… Read More
What’s it all about? This, like the final round before a Countdown ad break, is a conundrum. The cast and creative team are staying quieter than an Andy Murray fan… Read More
Published: 7 July 2014
It’s well known to all lovers of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical Cats that Jellicles can and Jellicles do. This morning, 7 July, at the London Palladium, Jellicles did. With… Read More
Tamzin Outhwaite will star alongside Jemima Rooper in Ben Ockrent’s new comedy Breeders when it opens at the St James Theatre as part of the One Stage season in September.… Read More
With just over a week left to catch the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s acclaimed production of Hobson’s Choice, we decided to quiz fou of the show’s stars on what’s… Read More
Back in 1999, following the screen premiere of Shakespeare In Love, the star-studded romantic comedy film won seven Oscars, including the award for Best Costume Design. 15 years on, you’ll… Read More
Published: 4 July 2014
Witches are melting, tigers are hydrating… which can mean only one thing; it’s time to take your family to one of the many shows on offer in Theatreland this summer.… Read More
On London’s South Bank, next to the up-turned purple cow, sits a Spiegeltent with a dark secret. Okay, it may not be much of a secret anymore, not after the… Read More
What’s it all about? Some might say witches, some might say McCarthyism. I’ll say Arthur Miller’s tragic portrayal of a community consumed by hysteria when claims of witchcraft are hurled… Read More
Published: 3 July 2014
A new one-man play exploring the life of Quentin Crisp will arrive at the St James Studio in August, directly after its world premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe. Quentin Crisp:… Read More
What’s it all about? This is Shakespeare at his very best taking on the world of politics. Conspiracies, murder, manipulations and brutal battles are packed into Dominic Dromgoole’s compelling production… Read More
Terry Johnson’s Olivier Award nominated revival of Oh What A Lovely War is to return to the Theatre Royal Stratford East next year. Johnson’s take on the satirical musical about… Read More
Published: 2 July 2014
It is a month to the day since Alexandra Burke first stepped on to the stage as the West End’s third Queen Of The Night, and what better way to… Read More
If your child told you that when they grew up they wanted to be a writer, musician, actor, radio presenter, director, comedian, oh and a record company owner, you’d be… Read More
What’s it all about? Marking the 30th anniversary of the miners’ strike, Beth Steel’s ambitious drama recounts the events of 1984 to 1985 from a political and personal viewpoint; taking… Read More
What’s it all about? You’d be forgiven for thinking this was a tale about pool; after all much of the show’s promotional material depicts the characters, cues poised, around a… Read More