London Theatre News Today: Friday 2 July

Published 2 July 2021

Production photos from Romeo & Juliet at Shakespeare’s Globe

Check out Marc Brenner’s stunning photos from this fresh take on Romeo & Juliet.

Rebekah Murrell as Juliet. Photo: Marc Brenner

Rebekah Murrell as Juliet & Alfred Enoch as Romeo. Photo: Marc Brenner

Zoe West as Benvolio. Photo: Marc Brenner

Adam Gillen as Mercutio. Photo: Marc Brenner

Alfred Enoch as Romeo. Photo: Marc Brenner

Verona is sick. Its structures broken and its citizens in a state of desperation. When a system favours the few, the many are left with nothing but unhealthy choices. Amidst the violence, bloodshed, fear and unrest, two teenagers find unexpected relief in each other. But will love be enough to save them from society’s sickness?

The show will be Live Streamed on the 10 July and 7 August, 7pm and will include a Midnight Matinee performance on 17 July, 23.59pm – giving audiences the chance to revel in the enchanting atmosphere of the Globe under the stars and experience Shakespeare’s plays in a truly unique and magical way.

Directed by Ola Ince and starring Alfred Enoch and Rebekah Murrell you can find more information on the Shakespeare’s Globe website here.

Musical theatre composer Drew Gasparini to make his West End stage debut

Award-winning American musical theatre composer/lyricist Drew Gasparini, currently developing a stage musical adaptation of ‘The Karate Kid’ for Broadway, will make his West End performing debut with the live UK premiere of ‘I Could Use A Drink’.

Drew is flying in to play keyboards as his hit album, ‘I Could Use A Drink’ – an eclectic mix of poignant, hilarious, and progressive contemporary musical theatre, celebrating the chaos and beauty of youth – is staged at the Garrick Theatre for one night only on Monday 2 August. For more information and to book click here.

Rehearsal images released for Changing Destiny

Joan Iyiola & Ashley Zhangazha. Photo: Marc Brenner

Ashley Zhangazha. Photo: Marc Brenner

Jerwood Assistant Director: Khadifa Wong. Photo: Marc Brenner

Joan Iyiola. Photo: Marc Brenner

Boris Karloff Foundation Trainee Assistant Director Xanthus. Photo: Marc Brenner

Director Kwame Kwei-Armah. Photo: Marc Brenner

Ashley Zhangazha. Photo: Marc Brenner

Composer Tunde Jegede. Photo: Marc Brenner

Joan Iyiola. Photo: Marc Brenner

Joan Iyiola. Photo: Marc Brenner

Rehearsal images have today been released for Changing Destiny, the epic new stage adaptation of the 4,000-year-old Egyptian poem about the Warrior King Sinuhe, written by Booker Prize-winner Ben Okri. Directed by Young Vic Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah and vividly brought to life with design by acclaimed architect Sir David Adjaye, this radical in-the-round staging of one of the earliest known literary texts explores the essence of humanity and the complexities of immigration.

Across the performance run, cast members Joan Iyiola and Ashley Zhangazha will share the role of Sinuhe, with a game played on stage at the start of each performance dictating who will play the role in that show.

Kwame Kwei-Armah said: “Immersing ourselves in the Ancient Egyptian culture from which this story was born, and realising a thousand characters with just two actors, has resulted in the company exploring the spiritual and the physical across a spectrum of gender, age and form. This has led to us liberating the casting entirely; deciding on the night which characters will be played by either actor.

Working with a mechanism of chance vividly emphasises the liveness of each show – something I know so many of us have missed this last year. I look forward to welcome audiences into this world we have created, based on a story written over 4,000 years ago which speaks precisely to today.”

For more information and to book click here.

Tagged:
Shakespeare's Globe

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