Niamh Cusack

The pure joy of theatre is its ability to constantly renew and surprise. For me, 2023 saw a plethora of excellent musicals. Notoriously hard to get right, this year seemed to feature both clever revivals and future successes, many of which remained in my thoughts long after I left the theatre.

It is hard to believe that Polly Stenham was not even 20 when she wrote this This Face; a dark and unnerving examination of parent-child relationships where teenagers try to parent immature and utterly self-indulgent parents. After debuting at the Royal Court in 2007, the play went on to win three major awards and is now belatedly revived in an excoriating version, directed by Josh Seymour.

The nights are getting shorter, the swimming trunks are being packed away and you probably have bought some new pens and pencils. September is here and promises some amazing theatre to come. Check out our top ten recommendations for theatre in London this month.

Orange Tree Theatre presents the first major London revival of Polly Stenham’s That Face. Josh Seymour directs the previously announced Niamh Cusack alongside Kasper Hilton-Hille, Dominic Mafham, Sarita Gabony and Bridgerton’s Ruby Stokes in this powerful and darkly comic exploration of what happens when children become parents to their parents. Go inside rehearsal in new photos!

The Orange Tree (OT) has announced its first full year of programming under new Artistic Director Tom Littler. It features world and European premieres by Zoe Cooper and Lucas Hnath; revivals from Mustapha Matura, Noël Coward and Oliver Goldsmith; directors including Trevor Nunn and Matthew Dunster; and Niamh Cusack headlining the first major London revival of Polly Stenham's breakout hit That Face.

Last night (Wednesday 12 April), the Royal Shakespeare Company and Neal Street Productions, in association with Hera Pictures, welcomed special guests to the world stage premiere of Hamnet, which opened its sold-out run in the newly restored Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon. See photos from inside opening night!

John Haidar’s production of Hamlet ... is a briskly modern piece which fizzes with primal urges, adding a new lens to a a familiar text. Very accessible to those new to the play, and a thoughtful treatment for those who know the plot well, this Hamlet is a 'palpable hit'.

Bristol Old Vic and Altitude have announced their new stage to screen partnership, which will bring the theatre’s recent acclaimed stage production of Hamlet to cinema screens across the UK & Ireland for the first time from 6 April.

With one week to go before previews begin for Bristol Old Vic's new production of Hamlet, we take a look inside rehearsals with brand new photos.

Cahoots Theatre Company Ltd in association with Jamie Clark Theatre presents the UK premiere of William Humble's play Wodehouse in Wonderland, starring Robert Daws and directed by Robin Herford, on a UK Tour which opens at Malvern Theatres on 26 January 2023.  

The first trailer has been released for Bristol Old Vic's Autumn headline production Hamlet. Starring Billy Howle and bringing together the hottest young talent and theatrical heavyweights, this visceral new production runs from 13 Oct - 12 Nov. Check out the video here!

Produced by Ethan Johns (Paul McCartney, Tom Jones, Laura Marling), MIDPOINT includes such emotionally charged new songs as the reflective title track, “Midpoint,” joined by an official music video – directed by award-winning filmmaker Lucy Bridger and starring renowned Irish actress Niamh Cusack – streaming now at YouTube.

The full cast of Bristol Old Vic's Autumn headline production Hamlet has been announced, bringing together some of the hottest young talent and theatrical heavyweights for a visceral new production running from 13 Oct - 12 Nov.

Robert Hastie, Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres, has announced that the venue previously known as the Studio theatre will now be named the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse in honour of the hugely influential theatre designer that had an essential role in the creation of the Crucible complex. 

‘Gravitational’ follows the album’s title track, a song which sees Tom’s voice soar, painting a picture of a man who is both bemused and confused with thoughts of his midlife. These feelings are beautifully captured in an evocative film starring Niamh Cusack, directed by Lucy Bridger. Watch the new music video now!

The winner of the 2022 RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award is Stephen Bailey, with Beth Shouler as the runner-up.

Produced by Ethan Johns, this emotionally charged collection features thirteen brand new songs. On the title track, Tom’s voice soars, painting a picture of a man who is both bemused and confused with thoughts of his midlife. These feelings are beautifully captured in an evocative film starring Niamh Cusack, directed by Lucy Bridger.

The Royal Theatrical Support Trust (RTST) and Nottingham Playhouse have announced that the 2022 RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award Scheme is now open for entries.

Pianist Lucy Parham is joined on stage by celebrities, including Ed Balls, Alistair McGowan, Cathy Newman, Dame Harriet Walter and Katie Derham, in a performance of piano music, narration and festive surprises.

There’s a huge amount going on in a short time in Colin Teevan’s The Seven Pomegranate Seeds, now showing at the Rose Theatre. Seven stories about maternal pain and loss from the women in the plays of Euripides are transported from classic mythology to modern-day scenarios. Despite this intriguing concept, the resulting production feel rushed and fails to live up to its potential.