William Hare

It's 1828 in Edinburgh and medical advances are running as fast as the number of cadavers are low. Spurred by their stack of debts and with a penchant for enterprise, William Burke (Hayden Wood) and William Hare (Alex Parry) decide to take advantage of the influenza outbreak to supply surgeons with (mostly) fresh bodies with the help of Mrs Hare (Katy Daghorn) and other incidental unfortunates.

It's 1828. In the dank, mist shrouded streets of Edinburgh two enterprising men go about their business. Their goal is to make money by whatever means necessary. William Burke and William Hare are about to hit upon the perfect scheme. The first rule of commerce? Supply and demand. In the leading city for medical research, there's a huge demand for bodies and inconveniently people aren't dying in enough numbers to meet the need. The profitable solution? Murder, of course. As the infamous pair flourish in their new careers, the more they murder, the less they care. But for how long will they get away with it? How long will they go on making a killing?

The Watermill Theatre will transfer two productions to London this autumn. Following the success of its run at The Watermill and its UK and international tour last year, The Watermill Ensemble will revive TWELFTH NIGHT at Wilton's Music Hall from 12 to 22 September. Renowned for its bold, progressive and collaborative approach to Shakespeare, The Watermill Ensemble, re-imagines TWELFTH NIGHT in the hedonistic 1920s, where prohibition is rife. Fused with innovative staging and actor-musicianship, the radical spirit of Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald collides with the contemporary influence of Postmodern Jukebox to create a dizzying and beautiful version of Shakespeare's perfect play.

Following his hugely successful and highly acclaimed first year as artistic director, Tom Littler is marking the start of his second year at the helm with a season of new work celebrating rebellious spirits. This includes the first UK production by award-winning British/American playwright Bathsheba Doran, the world premiere of a play about the maverick surrealist, Leonora Carrington, the revival of a modern Canadian classic and a rip-roaring, spine-chilling, body-snatching Christmas comedy.

It's Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1828 and the city's world-renowned anatomy schools are suffering from a cadaver shortage. Enter two immoral and highly industrious men--William Burke and William Hare--who pick up the slack by murdering disenfranchised citizens and selling their corpses to one of these schools, Dr. Knox's Academy. Perfect story for a chamber opera, eh? Well, yes, actually, says composer Julian Grant (even if it's opening a bit late for Halloween).

The Watermill Theatre's Artistic Director, Paul Hart, announces his spring 2018 season which includes an award-winning new musical, the first major revival of a modern classic, a new Shakespeare production from The Watermill Ensemble and three premieres.

Boston Lyric Opera's Stanford Calderwood General & Artistic Director Esther Nelson announced today an eclectic 2017/18 Season designed to please die-hard opera fans as well as newcomers to the art form.  Each of the Company's productions will be presented on a different area stage, starting October 13-22, 2017 with a new production of Giacomo Puccini's Tosca featuring the American debut of award-winning rising global star Elena Stikhina in the title role. The World Premiere of The Nefarious, Immoral but Highly Profitable Enterprise of Mr. Burke & Mr. Hare (a.k.a. Burke & Hare) by composer Julian Grant and librettist Mark Campbell follows November 8-12, 2017.  From March 16-25, 2018, BLO presents Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's pivotal early-20th century work The Threepenny Opera.  BLO closes its Season in May with Leonard Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti, paired with his Arias and Barcarolles, to mark the Lawrence, Mass.-born composer's centennial.

Artistic and Executive Director, Paul Hart today announces the company for his new production of Twelfth Night continuing The Watermill Theatre's bold, ensemble driven approach to Shakespeare. Twelfth Night runs from 6 April to 6 May and in repertoire with Hart's 2016 production of Romeo + Juliet from 18 to 22 July. Both productions will tour nationally from Tuesday 16 May to Thursday 3 August

What's new in opera? Everything you can imagine--and much that you couldn't conceive of--all in the space of a few days in New York.

Bloodless: The Trial of Burke and Hare is the first offering from Theatre 20, a brand new Canadian theatre company with a goal to foster the development of new Canadian musicals. Written by Winnipeg playwright Joseph Aragon, the show tells the true story of the West Port murders in Edinburgh in 1829. With a solid cast and some great original music, the show is a brave first choice for Theatre 20.

Theatre 20's much anticipated first production opened last night at The Panasonic Theatre in Toronto. Bloodless: The Trial of Burke and Hare, is something unique and rare: a new Canadian musical. Written by Joseph Aragon, the show was a hit at The Winnipeg Fringe where Theatre 20 Artistic Director Adam Brazier picked it up and decided to use it for Theatre 20's inaugural show. The result is a dark and twisted musical that showcases the incredibly talented triple threats our country is so rightly proud of. BWW is thrilled to bring readers photos from the production.

Theatre 20, Canada's only artist-led and story-driven musical theatre company, is pleased to announce the cast of its inaugural production - Bloodless: The Trial of Burke and Hare.

Theatre 20, Canada's only artist-led and story-driven musical theatre company, is pleased to announce the cast of its inaugural production - Bloodless: The Trial of Burke and Hare.

Theatre 20, Canada's only artist-led and story-driven musical theatre company, is pleased to announce the cast of its inaugural production - Bloodless: The Trial and Burke and Hare.