David Birrell

New production images have been released for the UK and Ireland tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s SOUTH PACIFIC, ahead of its London run at Sadler’s Wells. Check out the photos here!

All new photos have been released from rehearsals for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s SOUTH PACIFIC. Check them out here!

A brand-new video has been released of some of the cast of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s SOUTH PACIFIC singing a special medley at The Ivy.

The full cast has been announced for the Sadler’s Wells season and UK and Ireland Tour of the Chichester Festival Theatre production of RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S SOUTH PACIFIC.

The production is led by Gina Beck (Matilda, Show Boat, Wicked, Phantom of the Opera) as Nellie*, Julian Ovenden (Bridgerton, Downton Abbey, Merrily We Roll Along, Grand Hotel, BBC Proms) as Emile, Joanna Ampil (Cats, Les Misérables, Miss Saigon) as Bloody Mary, Keir Charles (Quiz, Back To Life) as Luther Billis and Rob Houchen (Les Misérables, The Light in the Piazza) as Cable. 

Following the news that Gina Beck is pregnant, Chichester Festival Theatre has announced that in the forthcoming production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific, she will rehearse and open the role of Nellie Forbush as planned with performances from 5 July and a press night on 13 July. From 5 August, Alex Young will share the role of Nellie and take over full-time from 23 August for the remainder of the run.

Artistic Director Daniel Evans and Executive Director Kathy Bourne announce today that Chichester Festival Theatre will reopen its doors with its summer musical: Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific, running from 5 July – 4 September.

Following the world premiere at Stratford a?"upon-Avon, Kiln Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company today announce the full cast for the London run of A Museum in Baghdad. Director Erica Whyman reunites David Birrell (Professor Leonard Woolley), Houda Echouafni (Layla Hassan), Emma Fielding (Gertrude Bell), Ali Gadema (Kidnapper, Prime Minister), Rendah Heywood (Ghalia Hussein), Zed Josef (Salim), Nadi Kemp-Sayfi (Nasiya), Debbie Korley (Sam York), Riad Richie (Mohammed Abdullah), and Rasoul Saghir (Abu Zaman). The production opens at Kiln Theatre on 28 April, with previews from 22 April, and runs until 23 May.

As the 19th Century dawns, politicians of all political persuasions gather in London to abolish the slave trade once and for all. But will the price of freedom turn out to be a multi-billion pound pay off to the slave owners, even though such a bailout could drive the country into economic and political ruin?

Hannah Khalil's new play grapples with some big issues for over two hours, but the biggest issue of all for any play - the drama between the characters - is absent for much of that time.

This Autumn, the Royal Shakespeare Company stages a story of a nation in turmoil: King John. The timeliness of this play is not lost on director Eleanor Rhode or the company, with the news 'informing [their] conversation pretty much every day as [they] make the show'.

King John's themes are horribly present in today's febrile political climate making it exactly the right time to revive one on Shakespeare's less performed plays.

Casting details are announced for the Royal Shakespeare Company's productions of King John and A Museum in Baghdad opening in the Swan Theatre this winter.

Nine Spitfire veterans from Southampton and Portsmouth came face to face with members of the cast from Nuffield Southampton Theatres critically acclaimed play The Shadow Factory at a special after show meeting held on the stage.

Nuffield Southampton Theatres celebrates the first birthday of its modern city-centre venue with the return of The Shadow Factory; the first show performed at NST City which proved to be a sell-out in 2018.

Director of Nuffield Southampton Theatres, Sam Hodges today announces the full cast for his production of Howard Brenton's The Shadow Factory which returns to celebrate NST City's first anniversary after opening the space with a sell-out run last year. The cast includes Denise Black (Lady Cooper/Ma Dimmock), Bethan Cullinane (Jackie Dimmock), Joe Tracini (Len Gooch) and Michael Fenton Stevens (Lord Beaverbrook) joining returning cast members David Birrell (Fred Dimmock/Hugh Downing), Catherine Cusack (Lil Dimmock/Sylvia Meinster) and Shala Nyx (Polly Stride). The production opens on 1 February, with previews from 30 January, and runs until 2 March.

Voting continues for the 2018 BroadwayWorld UK Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favourites.

Voting continues for the 2018 BroadwayWorld UK Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favourites.

Voting continues for the 2018 BroadwayWorld UK Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites!

Today, the shortlist is announced for the 2018 BroadwayWorld UK Awards, celebrating the best long-running West End productions and best new productions from around the country. CLICK HERE TO VOTE!