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16 Feb
2012

Thursday Theatre News: Stephen Fry, Christopher Eccleston, Les Mis and the Young Vic’s New Season

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All other theatre news has been rather eclipsed by today’s news that Stephen Fry is to appear at Shakespeare’s Globe this autumn.

Fry is perhaps better known as a TV presenter than an actor today, but I still remember him from Blackadder, Gosford Park and Wilde. And I’m thrilled he’s going to be performing alongside Mark Rylance and Samuel Barnett in Twelfth Night from September. It’s been rather a struggle to secure tickets online today, but if, like me, you were lucky enough to bag some, I think his Malvolio will be a real treat.

Details of other exciting casting comes from Les Mis this week. Three leading men will take the part of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables in 2012. Ramin Karimloo will continue to play the powerful lead until 31 March, when he’ll be replaced by a returning star: David Shannon (3 April to 16 June). The role will then be taken by West End newcomer Geronimo Rauch. Rauch may be new to the London production, but he’s played Valjean in Barcelona and previously played Marius in his native Argentina. He starts a year-long contract from 18 June.

My final piece of casting news for this week is Christopher Eccleston and Jodie Whittaker appearing at the National. Eccleston is one of my favourite actors, so I’m really excited to hear he’ll be playing Creon in Antigone from May this year. Whittaker plays the young niece, Antigone, doomed to be buried alive. It’s just one in a long list of exciting appearances at the National Theatre this summer: look out for Adrian Lester, Julie Walters, Cillian Murphy and Rory Kinnear take leading roles at the venue in coming months.

Elsewhere, the Young Vic has announced details of its upcoming season. From June, the theatre will offer Simon Stephens’ new updated version of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, directed by Carrie Cracknell. A Doll’s House will be followed by another updated classic, Three Sisters (from September), directed by Australian director Benedict Andrews. For more details of the venue’s forthcoming season, head to their website.

26 Jan
2012

Thursday Theatre News: Legally Blonde, American Idiot, The Wizard of Oz and Jodie Prenger

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This week’s theatre news has been coming in twos: two shows leaving London; two extending; two award ceremonies; and two fantastic bits of cast news…

Firstly, sad news for a musical lover like me. Legally Blonde and Crazy for You are both leaving London in the near future. After three years at the Savoy Theatre, Legally Blonde will close on 7 April. And Crazy For You, which was booking until 28 July, is now going to tap dance off into the sunset on 17 March. If you love musicals, you’ll love these shows, so book your tickets now before it’s too late!

Next up, two shows that have extended their London runs. Green Day’s award-winning rock musical American Idiot is running for an extra week at the Hammersmith Apollo in December this year, due to an overwhelming demand for tickets. And The Leisure Society has also extended its run in London by a week: the cause for such high interest in this toxic comedy is surely the casting of model Agyness Deyn (alongside the lovely Ed Stoppard!)

It’s awards season in Theatreland, and the first of the bunch have already been given out. Congratulations to the National Theatre which scooped more than half the Critics Circle awards on offer, including gongs for Frankenstein (and its stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller) and One Man, Two Guvnors. Other awards went to Sheridan Smith for her performances in Flare Path and Mike Leigh, for his direction for Grief. And there’s more awards coming: this week, it was announced that the Olivier Awards will be taking place in the Royal Opera House on 15 April: if you want to watch the action as it unfolds (with Imelda Staunton and Michael Ball hosting!), you can, as there’ll be a live stream of the ceremony on a big screen in Covent Garden. (Or you can listen on Radio 2; or watch on the BBC’s Red Button.)

London Cast News:

More next week.

30 Dec
2011

Our Best Bits: The VL Team’s London Highlights of 2011

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Madelene Yeshin
All my theatre highlights took place at The National, from Danny Boyle’s mind-blowing production of Frankenstein, to the hilarious One Man, Two Guvnors and finally to the beautiful, romantic and funny play by Daniel Kitson –It’s Alright Now, until Later. On the food front, I had an incredible dining experience at Heston’s Dinner in Knightsbridge, and dicovered a new favourite Oxford Street eatery at Riding House Café – perfect for escaping the shopping crowds. Finally, my most bizarre experience of the year was rowing across the roof of Selfridges on an emerald lake courtesy of Bombas and Parr.

Lettice Kemp
My 2011 highlights included following the craft trail at the Thames Festival, seeing Milton Jones’ stand-up show, being utterly terrified by Daleks at the Doctor Who Experience, visiting the Tower Bridge Exhibition, watching Arthur “Rory” Darvill in Doctor Faustus at Shakespeare’s Globe and attending Knit Nation for the first time. Tapping into the trend for shocking Christmas jumpers, I took a one-day knitting class at Loop and mastered Fair Isle knitting. I also took a silver clay class at the London Jewellery School and a lampshade making class at The Make Lounge, both of which I heartily recommend. Best of all was South Pacific at the Barbican: just beautiful and dreamy.

Aly Garvey
There were some gorgeous exhibitions in London this year including the Glamour of the Gods at the National Portrait Gallery which I loved. Degas and the Ballet at the Royal Academy of Arts was fantastic too. I enjoyed dinner at two of London’s most well-known restaurants, the OXO Tower and the Rib Room which have both had refurbishments this year and reopened looking better than ever with food and drinks to match.

Hannah Collingbourne
After seeing Shrek The Musical, my friend declared, “That’s the best thing that’s happened to me all week!”. I have to agree; in fact it was one of my top events for the whole year. Audience members of all ages left the theatre with a smile on their face. If you need cheering up in the dark winter months after Christmas, I’d recommend a visit to Shrek.

Lisa Williams
Walking along the Southbank with all the beach huts, beach and drinking Pimms on the roof top garden bar during the Southbank Centre’s Festival of Britain was fantastic. I was also lucky enough to go to The O2 to watch the ATP Tennis semi-final matches, which was truly inspiring. Next would be my preview trip of the Harry Potter tour which is opening in March – I just couldn’t believe how much detail had gone into making the sets! Finally, my trip on the Orient Express: being treated like royalty, drinking champagne and eating divine food while pottering around in a beautiful train… what a year!

Jenny Owen
From the swashbuckling Pirates exhibition, to the beautiful and delicate paintings of Degas, it’s been a great year for soaking up some culture in London. I spent hours at the Mirό exhibiton at Tate Modern, and now we have the Dickens exhibition, which I think really deserves all the hype. Other stand-out moments included visiting The Ritz (every bit as decadent as I’d imagined); touring the Tower of London by night and visiting beautiful Lancaster House during a rare public opening.

Lianne Kolirin
Matilda was unquestionably the highlight of my year in London. The kids loved it too, but you don’t need a little one in tow to appreciate this musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic. I also enjoyed visiting World Travel Market over the autumn. Practically every country around the world occupies a tiny corner of the enormous ExCel exhibition centre. It’s so huge; you could spend a whole week taking in the atmosphere. Earlier in the year, I saw John Bishop compere a comedy benefit in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall. So many great acts, so many laughs. Best of the bunch was Seann Walsh, who is definitely a face to look out for in 2012.

Tom Butler
Skylight at Commonwealth Institute2011 has been a great year for discovering new spaces in London, from inside the former Commonwealth Institute as part of Open House London, to the Eden Project-designed Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden & Bar for the 60th anniversary of the Festival of Britain. I’m glad this beautiful, grassy rooftop will be back in 2012. Other highlights included a Q&A with author Kazuo Ishiguro at a screening of Never Let Me Go in February (the venue, the Ritzy in Brixton, had an incredible year of events celebrating its 100th birthday), and Hackney Wicked in July. Finally, the best single moments were the decision to award the 2017 World Athletics Championships to London, and the discovery of (possibly) London’s best burritos at Picante Mexican Grillin Victoria – both are a fantastic result for the city.

Zoe Craig
There have been some great shows in London this year. Highlights for me included the brilliantly acted plays Clybourne Park, Frankenstein and The Westbridge; and classy musicals Crazy For You, Matilda and Betty Blue Eyes. Best of the lot was One Man, Two Guvnors – a wonderful script, a fantastic cast, and whole lot of fun. I also loved seeing the new Penguin Beach at London Zoo earlier in the summer.

What were your highlights of 2011? Let us know in the comments below…

15 Dec
2011

Thursday Theatre News: Wind in the Willows, One Man Two Guvnors, Jaime Winstone and Kara Tointon

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Firstly, news of a new musical, which is always, er, music to my ears… The Wind in the Willows is the next project for Julian Fellowes, George Stiles and Anthony Drew, the award-winning team behind Mary Poppins.

Fellowes, now best-known for creating Downton Abbey, (but don’t forget he was also responsible for wonderful work like Gosford Park, The Young Victoria and The Importance of Being Earnest) will write the musical’s book. Writing duo Stiles and Drewe are developing the music and lyrics. The pair have worked together for 28 years, creating successful shows like Betty Blue Eyes, Just So and Peter Pan. I’m looking forward to being able to tell you more about this show; as yet, there are no dates or venues for its London premiere.

Second, details of a transfer. It seems London just can’t get enough of the uber-successful One Man, Two Guvnors. First, it transferred from the National to the West End. Then, rumours the team had booked tickets to Broadway. And today, we have news it’s moving again, this time to the Theatre Royal Haymarket. There’ll be a change of lead as Owain Arthur takes over from James Corden as the One Man of the title. The rest of the casting is yet to be announced.

Finally, the Lyric Hammersmith’s 2012 programme has been announced. Edward Bond returns to the theatre with a trilogy of short plays called The Chair Plays. In addition, there’ll be a collaboration between Spymonkey and Kneehigh Artistic Director Emma Rice, called Oedipussy; Lovesong; Filter’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream; and Three Kingdoms (part of the London-wide World Stages London festival).

Cast News:

20 Oct
2011

Thursday Theatre News: Mamma Mia, Noel Coward, Young Vic, Billy Elliot & Simon Callow

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Firstly, news of an early closure. Cool Hand Luke was booking until 7 January, but it’s now closing on 19 November: bad luck guys…

On a more positive note, after 12 years, long-running musical Mamma Mia! is moving. I’ve yet to confirm the exact dates, but the hit ABBA show is moving from the Prince of Wales theatre to the Novello on Aldwych, following the excellent Crazy For You. More details when I have them!

The Young Vic has announced a new show: theatre company Sound&Fury are bringing Going Dark to the venue next March. It’s going to be an immersive show with interesting lighting, projections and sound, about a narrator in a planetarium.

Finally, the Evening Standard Theatre Awards longlist has been announced. Congratulations to the National Theatre, Matilda The Musical, Shakespeare’s Globe, Crazy for You and more who’ve all been nominated. I wouldn’t like to be the judge choosing between Benedict Cumberbatch, Jonny Lee Miller, James Corden, Ralph Fiennes, Kevin Spacey and Jude Law for the Best Actor category…

This Week’s London Cast News:

6 Oct
2011

The Kitchen at the National Theatre

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Originally staged in 1959, Arnold Wesker’s The Kitchen is a bustling microcosm of 1950s London. Here in the back room of The Tivoli restaurant Cypriots, Italians, Germans, Jamaicans and Cockneys work side by side, sweating over orders and spilling their anger, hopes and histories on the kitchen floor.

Flash forward more than half a century, and the play’s snapshot of a multi-cultural London still resonates. Bijan Sheibani’s new production at the National Theatre is energetic and confident, stressing the overall machine of a busy restaurant rather than its individual cogs.

The production’s excellent choreography supports this vision, and several sequences bring the ballet of a well-run kitchen vividly to life on the circular Olivier stage.

But the skill of the huge cast – nearly 30 characters – is more than equalled by Giles Cadle’s impeccable production design. Gas hobs and stainless steel form a blazing backdrop to the murky glimpses of the characters’ lives.

Thankfully a post-lunch lull in the kitchen allows more of the characters’ stories to appear from behind the ensemble, particularly the German fish chef Peter, played with nervous energy and charm by Tom Brooke.

It is Peter’s romanticism which, when challenged, leaves us all questioning the nature and purpose of aspiration, and whether we are all cogs in a wider machine.

The Kitchen runs at the National Theatre until 8 November, and is being screened live tonight at cinemas across London, the UK and further afield as part of National Theatre Live.

29 Sep
2011

Thursday Theatre News: Matilda, The Globe, Idina Menzel, Anthony Sher and Lauren Samuels

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If you’re excited about catching up with Glee tonight, you might also want to look into securing tickets to see Idina Menzel at the Royal Albert Hall next month. Idina, who plays Rachel Barry’s mum, is performing a one-off show accompanied by the London Philharmonic Orchestra on 6 October.

Do you have tickets for Matilda previews? Then you may be contacted by the RSC to rearrange your dates: the first five previews have been cancelled, and opening night has been rescheduled for 24 November. Executive Producer Andre Ptaszynski explains the delay:

“Matilda has a cast made up of three different teams of young actors and four young actresses in the title role. This means that, unlike other shows, we cannot extend everyone’s working hours, take shortcuts and reduce the number of dress rehearsals to meet the date of the first preview.”

The other big news this week comes from Shakespeare’s Globe. I was lucky enough to head down there this week to find out all about their incredible Globe to Globe season. Artistic Director Dominic Dromgoole was as inspiring as ever with his tales of far-off places desperate to perform at what’s become the world’s “temple to Shakespeare”. There’s not enough space to tell you about all of it here, but check out their incredible website to whet your appetites. Tickets go on general sale on 17 October. See you there!

This Week’s Cast News:

15 Sep
2011

Thursday Theatre News: Matt Willis, Adam Cooper, Laurie Metcalf and the Gruffalo

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London’s theatreland is planning ahead for Christmas (please don’t groan!).

I’ve got three Christmassy announcements, the first from the Old Vic, which is reviving Michael Frayn’s hugely successful comedy Noises Off, directed by Lindsay Posner, over the festive period. Second, a new musical version of Swallows and Amazons will be produced by the National Theatre at the Vaudeville for Christmas; with music by Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy. And children’s favourite, The Gruffalo will be bringing its terrible tusks and terrible claws to the Lyric for morning and afternoon performances from November to January.

The other new shows announced this week are even further ahead. If you’re planning a theatre trip for next year, you can choose between Singin’ In The Rain at the Palace Theatre, starring Adam Cooper and Scarlett Strallen from February (a transfer of the Chichester Festival Theatre hit); or She Stoops To Conquer at the National Theatre starring Sophie Thompson, Steve Pemberton and Katherine Kelly from January.

And reaching even further into the crystal ball of theatrical future, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has announced its plans for 2012. It’ll stage A Midsummer Night’s Dream and contemporary musical Ragtime from May to September next year. Book before the end of April 2012, and you’ll get a special ticket price of £20.12 on all performances during the Games themselves (25 July to 12 August).

This week’s casting news:

More next week…

16 Jun
2011

Thursday Theatre News: Tonys, Birthdays, Extensions and Casting News

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Firstly a big congratulations to the London-born shows who won Tony Awards on the other side of the pond this week. The National Theatre’s First World War drama War Horse won an impressive five awards including the coveted Best Play accolade. And Mark Rylance won Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, which is a good thing too, because I’d be worried if anyone out there had managed to outdo his memorable performance in Jerusalem.

Second, a note for any Shakespeare fans out there. Theatre company Antic Disposition is planning to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the first performance of The Tempest in London this August. And they’re staging it at London’s Middle Temple Hall, an Elizabethan venue where Shakespeare’s own company once performed. What a treat.

The Royal Court has announced two extensions this week. Both current hit Chicken Soup With Barley, and forthcoming black comedy The Village Bike, have added dates to their runs.

Now to this week’s casting news:

See you at West End Live!

12 May
2011

Thursday Theatre News: More Musicals, Another King Lear and two new Double Bills

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Firstly, fans of Doctor Who will be pleased to hear Arthur Darvill (better known as the Doctor’s companion Rory) will be appearing at the Globe next month. Darvill joins the previously announced Paul Hilton in the cast – Hilton’s playing the lead in Doctor Faustus, Darvill takes the role of Mephistopheles. It’ll be Darvill’s first appearance at the theatre, and the first time Shakespeare’s Globe has put on Doctor Faustus.

In other cast news, Joanna Riding’s been announced for new musical Lend Me A Tenor at the Gielgud Theatre. She’s currently at the same venue in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. I wonder if she can keep the same dressing room?!

There’s more news for musicals fans (hurrah!):

  • A stage adaptation of Top Hat starring Tom Chambers and Summer Strallen (in the roles made famous by tap-dancing king and queen Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers) is coming to the West End in spring 2012, following a UK tour.
  • Road Show, the latest musical by Stephen Sondheim, will get a UK premiere at the Menier Chocolate Factory this summer, with a cast led by David Bedella.
  • Musical comedy Betwixt! comes to the Trafalgar Studios from July, bringing a bizarre mix of music, writer’s block, disembodied heads, sex-crazed nymphs and hunchbacks to the venue.

On a more serious note, there’ll be yet another King Lear in the capital next year. This time, the venue’s the Almeida Theatre, Michael Attenborough’s directing and Jonathan Pryce is the ageing monarch.

Finally, the transformed Cottesloe theatre is hosting four new plays by four playwrights new to the National this summer:

  • Sam Holcroft’s Edgar And Annabel features a young married couple in a world of freedom fighters and a police state in crisis
  • The Swan by DC Moore follows a family preparing for a wake in a South London pub
  • Prasanna Puwanarajah’s Nightwatchman challenges ideas of politics, sport and national pride through the story of a female cricketer preparing to make her England debut
  • Tom Basden’s black comedy There Is A War is set in a land ravaged by an ever-raging civil war

The plays will be performed as two double bills from 8 July until 30 August.

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