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Published: 13 October 2009
The National Theatre and The Guardian have teamed up to launch a new competition to find the next generation of playwrights. The competition centres on the National Theatre’s forthcoming production… Read More
The Tricycle theatre begins its autumn season examining the state of 21st century Britain with Roy Williams’s tale of prison life.Category B is not a story of overcrowding or how… Read More
Published: 12 October 2009
The Unicorn theatre is to adapt Siobhan Dowd’s hit children’s book The London Eye Mystery for the stage next spring, playing from 6 March to 18 April. Dowd’s award-winning mystery… Read More
In the first of a new series of interviews going behind the scenes at the theatre, OLT talks to props supervisor Lisa Buckley. Lisa Buckley, 40, Props Supervisor, Calendar Girls… Read More
Laurence Olivier Award-winning actor Con O’Neill is to step into the role of Kenneth Halliwell in Simon Bent’s Prick Up Your Ears at the Comedy theatre from 22 October following… Read More
Published: 9 October 2009
Andrew Lloyd Webber is adamant that Love Never Dies, which returns to the story of The Phantom Of The Opera 10 years after events at the Paris Opera House, is… Read More
British film star Keira Knightley is set to make her West End debut this winter in Martin Crimp’s version of Molière’s The Misanthrope, alongside a star cast including Damian Lewis,… Read More
Stage and screen star Finty Williams is the latest performer to join the roster of stars appearing as part of a West End gala showcasing the work of emerging composer… Read More
These days the word Gooldian is becoming as much a part of theatrical vocabulary as Pinteresque and Brechtian. Making his opera directorial debut with this new production of Puccini’s Turandot,… Read More
Published: 8 October 2009
Andrew Lloyd Webber today confirmed dates and principal casting for his long-awaited sequel to The Phantom Of The Opera, Love Never Dies, which will premiere at the Adelphi theatre on… Read More
Published: 7 October 2009
As she returns to the London stage in Billy Elliot The Musical, new mum Joanna Riding tries hard to concentrate for her interview with Matthew Amer.“I just hope that I… Read More
The Arts theatre has added extra matinee performances to its forthcoming festive show A Christmas Carol, which plays from 11 November to 10 January. The production, which is written and… Read More
Rupert Penry-Jones, Joseph Millson and Nick Blood have joined the cast of Michael Wynne’s The Priory, which plays in the Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Downstairs from 19 November to 9… Read More
A group of identical suits fills the vast stage of the Lyttelton theatre as they debate what exactly the recession was. A comedy perhaps? A Greek tragedy? Or was it… Read More
Published: 6 October 2009
Kilburn’s Tricycle theatre has a reputation for producing topical and political work. As it prepares to open its new season, Artistic Director Nicolas Kent explains how it was conceived:Three years… Read More
Actress, television presenter and lingerie model Kelly Brook will play WI member Celia when she joins the cast of Calendar Girls at the Noël Coward theatre from 3 November. Brook,… Read More
Matt Lucas, the Little Britain star who opened in the West End premiere of Prick Up Your Ears last week, has indefinitely withdrawn from the production following the death of… Read More
Published: 5 October 2009
Tim Whitnall’s biographical play about comedian Eric Morecambe is to come to London for a Christmas season at the Duchess theatre from 9 December to 17 January (press night 10… Read More
Published: 2 October 2009
Beginning like a punch in the stomach, Dennis Kelly’s hard-hitting drama Orphans allows the audience to witness the startling momentum with which the fabric of your life can unravel leaving… Read More
Michael Gambon has been forced to withdraw from the upcoming National Theatre premiere of Alan Bennett’s new play The Habit Of Art. He will be replaced by Richard Griffiths.A statement… Read More
Douglas Hodge is to reprise his Laurence Olivier Award-winning performance in the London production of La Cage Aux Folles this Christmas, prior to the show’s planned Broadway transfer.Hodge will replace… Read More
As scientists discover man’s earliest ancestor, Kevin Spacey returns to the Old Vic’s stage in a courtroom drama inspired by a real reaction against Darwin’s theories.I had never realised quite… Read More
Published: 1 October 2009
Current Royal Court hit Enron and former Savoy theatre musical success Carousel both received a brace of nominations in another strong London year in the Theatrical Management Association Theatre Awards.Enron,… Read More
If you were to just see the final 30 minutes of Simon Bent’s Prick Up Your Ears, it would be hard to understand quite why Kenneth Halliwell and Joe Orton… Read More
Published: 30 September 2009
Caroline Bishop finds Life Is A Dream actor Rupert Evans to be a man with more than one thing on his mind…“It’s quite hard with apple trees,” says Rupert Evans,… Read More
West End producer Sonia Friedman admitted she fell in love with the musical adaptation of Legally Blonde when she saw it on Broadway and immediately asked the creative team if… Read More
The Royal Shakespeare Company will return to London’s Roundhouse, the scene of its triumphant staging of The Histories in 2008, for a 10-week season from December 2010. The run at… Read More
Wicked Day is back for another year on 1 November for an afternoon of fun activities based around the hit West End musical Wicked.Held at Lawrence Hall, Victoria, from 12:00… Read More
The Society of London Theatre is searching for members of the theatregoing public to attend a year’s worth of productions absolutely free and help decide who wins London theatre’s most… Read More
With only Anna Friel’s clipped, upper-class American accent as a homage to Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast At Tiffany’s opened at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, in a production that is much darker… Read More
The relationship between actor and audience should be real enough for audiences to “feel able to answer back. Or shout out.”So says one of the characters in Tim Crouch’s The… Read More
Published: 29 September 2009
The Royal Albert Hall will present a free lunchtime concert for families this half term featuring music from in-house orchestra Albert’s Band.The event, held at midday on 28 October in… Read More
Playwright Andrew Bovell enmeshes the unpredictable and complex emotions of romantic relationships in an intricate, tightly-constructed piece of drama.Using just four actors, who play nine fatally entangled characters between them,… Read More
Published: 28 September 2009
Upcoming Talent Leanne Rowe talks to Caroline Bishop about the pros and cons of life in theatre. CV in brief: Age271994 Zeffirelli’s Jane Eyre1999-2002 Attended Laine Theatre Arts2003 ITV’s Boudica2005… Read More
Rising musical theatre star Cassidy Janson is to become the latest resident of Avenue Q when she replaces Julie Atherton in the puckish puppet musical from 5 October.Janson, whose previous… Read More
Fiona Shaw’s extravagant entrance as Mother Courage – atop her cart, sunglasses in place, microphone in hand, like Leona Lewis at the closing ceremony of the last Olympics – is… Read More
Ian MacNeil’s much-applauded house on stilts resides once more in the West End as Stephen Daldry’s production of An Inspector Calls plays at the Novello theatre.Given the endurance of the… Read More
Sheila Hancock, the Laurence Olivier Award-winning stage and screen actress, has extended her run in the stage adaptation of the hit London musical Sister Act. She will continue playing the… Read More
Published: 25 September 2009
Tess Of The D’Urbervilles actress Gemma Arterton and former Robin Hood star Harry Lloyd have joined the previously announced Rupert Friend and Laurence Olivier Award-winner Tamsin Greig in the cast… Read More
Rory Kinnear, Anna Maxwell Martin and Ben Miles will lead the cast of Michael Attenborough’s new production of Measure For Measure at the Almeida theatre next year. Shakespeare’s tale of… Read More
Published: 24 September 2009
Following the departure of its Artistic Director and Chief Executive last month, the Hackney Empire has announced it will close temporarily following its Christmas production of Aladdin.The venue’s closure, described… Read More
Babycham, velvet bell bottoms, an amateur variety show and sleazy compère take centre stage in the revival of Victoria Wood’s 1978 comedy Talent at the Menier Chocolate Factory.Set in the… Read More
A shocking moment in Polish history is the focus of playwright Tadeusz Slobodzianek’s epic yet simply staged play. The play may pivot around that one event, yet the story covers… Read More
Published: 23 September 2009
Little Britain’s Matt Lucas talks to Matthew Amer about toning down his performances for Prick Up Your Ears and trying to work with the best.Matt Lucas is inextricably linked to… Read More
Icons of a bygone era Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald are to light up London’s Theatreland in November, when Marilyn And Ella is staged at the Apollo theatre.The musical play,… Read More
Actor, writer, comedian and presenter Stephen Fry will return to the West End stage for one night only next month for a special ‘Audience With…’ performance to raise money for… Read More
The depths of human cruelty are explored in Philip Ridley’s provocative drama about a boy who just doesn’t want to grow up. But more Dorian Gray than Peter Pan, The… Read More
With its Royal Court run already sold out, a West End transfer secured and rapturous reviews for its Chichester premiere, Enron opened last night under the pressure of high expectations.Probably… Read More
Published: 22 September 2009
Shakespeare’s Globe has become the latest London venue to expand its programming to the cinema screen, joining the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet in Opus Arte’s screening programme.The move will… Read More
The much-rumoured National Theatre production of Hamlet, which will see Rory Kinnear take on the role of the Danish Prince, is set to open on the South Bank as part… Read More
The National Theatre today published its annual report, which showed 2008/9, the year in which the theatre introduced Sunday performances and NT Live, was a year of positive growth for… Read More
Tall Stories’s popular stage adaptation of The Gruffalo returns to London for another Christmas season this year, playing at the Apollo theatre from 25 November to 10 January. Based on… Read More
Published: 21 September 2009
As Endgame prepares to open in the West End, Charlotte Marshall finds out exactly what makes Complicite so distinctive a theatre company.Numbers come alive in front of audiences’ eyes, the… Read More
Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Old Vic Artistic Director Kevin Spacey have today warned about the effect of investment cuts on arts and culture during the current economic downturn.With… Read More
Theatregoers who missed out on tickets to see Lucy Prebble’s acclaimed new play Enron, which opens its already sold out run at the Royal Court later this week, will be… Read More
What can you do with a BA in English? The puppets of Avenue Q may wonder, but Lenny Henry has found a purpose. After completing his OU degree the comedian… Read More
Published: 18 September 2009
Jez Butterworth’s latest play Jerusalem, which enjoyed a rapturous reception when it opened at the Royal Court in July, is to transfer to the West End’s Apollo theatre in early… Read More
The Roundhouse is planning its first ever family programming this Christmas, as its Studio hosts two shows by some of London’s most popular children’s theatre companies. Between 5 December and… Read More
Dominic Rowan, fresh from a summer season at Shakespeare’s Globe, will lead the cast of a new revival of The Spanish Tragedy this autumn, when it is staged at the… Read More
Published: 17 September 2009
Comedian Ed Byrne, who is currently performing his stand-up show Different Class at the Vaudeville theatre, has extended the run of the show by an extra two weeks. Originally playing… Read More
Sadler’s Wells’s annual Family Weekend is back for another year, presenting two great shows for children on 10 and 11 October. This year’s Family Weekend takes place at two venues;… Read More
Published: 16 September 2009
Caroline Bishop discovers the dark side of Speaking In Tongues actress Lucy Cohu.When I arrive at the labyrinthine rehearsal rooms at the Union Chapel in Highbury, the cast of Speaking… Read More
A bathing-suited Noah with a ladder for an ark? Hard-hatted angels in boiler suits? An eight-foot Adam? Isango Portobello tells Bible stories like no-one else in The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso.The… Read More
Published: 15 September 2009
Tamzin Outhwaite will lead the cast of Matthew White’s new production of the musical Sweet Charity at the Menier Chocolate Factory this Christmas, opening on 2 December (previews from 21… Read More
The mutated dolls scattered around the Trafalgar Studio 2’s tiny stage – limbs in eyes, spiders adorning their heads like twisted eight-legged hats – suggest the man in the centre… Read More
Comedian and actor Griff Rhys Jones is to take over from Omid Djalili as Fagin in Oliver! from 14 December. Rhys Jones is probably best known for his television comedy… Read More
One minute’s silence will be held at the Aldwych theatre before this evening’s performance of Dirty Dancing The Classic Story On Stage in honour of Patrick Swayze, who died last… Read More
Published: 14 September 2009
In the first of two high profile film titles taking to the stage in the West End this month, Stephen King’s inspirational and much-loved The Shawshank Redemption is brought to… Read More
Jessica Raine tells Caroline Bishop about getting the giggles, forgetting her lines and being graded by Marianne Elliott… CV in brief: Age 27 2008 • Graduated from RADA• Sarah… Read More
Former Hollyoaks actress Hannah Tointon will open opposite Skins actress April Pearson in a new drama exploring the ongoing effects of the disappearance of an 11-year-old girl later this week.Negative… Read More
Published: 11 September 2009
Peter Pan, which was staged in a purpose-built pavilion in Kensington Gardens during the summer, will take its tented production to Greenwich’s 02 for a limited Christmas season.The tale of… Read More
The Office of Fair Trading has launched a new campaign to increase awareness of scam ticket websites and provide advice on how to spot them.Just Tick It offers ticket buyers… Read More
Following previous televised casting successes How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, I’d Do Anything and Any Dream Will Do, the BBC has today confirmed that 2010 will see… Read More
Using solely the verbatim transcripts from the inquest into the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, the creators of Stockwell have devised a gripping and powerful piece of theatre.Stockwell premiered… Read More
After 2008’s Laurence Olivier Award-winning God Of Carnage, playwright Christopher Hampton returns with his new translation of Ödön von Horváth’s 1937 thriller Judgment Day.Staged in the intimate Almeida theatre, Judgment… Read More