Johan Persson News

Caesar and his assassins are dead. General Mark Antony now rules alongside his fellow defenders of Rome. But at the fringes of a war-torn empire the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra and Mark Antony have fallen fiercely in love. Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo play the famous fated couple. Simon Godwin (Twelfth Night) directs.

First staged at Sheffield Theatres for a short run in 2016, Richard Taylor and Rachel Wagstaff's Flowers for Mrs Harris is brought to life again by Daniel Evans at Chichester Festival Theatre. With Clare Burt returning to the title role, it becomes a tear-jerking, runaway success that will not fail to touch the hearts of its audience.

April de Angelis has transposed Lope de Vega's Fuenteovejuna into contemporary day India, setting it in an environment of political turmoil. The Inspector uses his state-given power to abuse the local villagers, who just want to live off the land in peace. His tyrannical reign pushes everyone to the edge, until it's all too much and they decide to strike back.

Caesar and his assassins are dead. General Mark Antony now rules alongside his fellow defenders of Rome. But at the fringes of a war-torn empire the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra and Mark Antony have fallen fiercely in love.

I'm sure there's an old showbiz credo somewhere that says never work with children or animals - and never ever volunteer to organise a gala charity performance. But here I am with just days to go, putting the finishing (ha!) touches on all the arrangements for a very special performance of The Lieutenant of Inishmore on 6 September at the Noel Coward Theatre in aid of Michael Grandage's charity MGCfutures.

Strictly Ballroom The Musical is based on Baz Luhrmann's acclaimed film and was transformed into a spectacular and joyous West End musical, opening April 24 at London's Piccadilly Theatre. The dance tale will end its run on October 27.

Christian Rey Marbella has recently taken over as The Engineer on the UK tour of Miss Saigon. This is his tenth year of being involved with the show and this UK tour marks his fifth production. He has been in Miss Saigon in Manila, on the Asian tour, on the first UK tour, the second UK tour, and was the alternate Engineer in the West End revival in 2014. He has also performed in theatre in the US and his native Philippines.

Ever wondered what goes into creating your favourite productions? Those moments of magic (or macabre) where you go 'How did they do that?!' In our new Special Effects series, we'll be discovering how the worlds on stage come to life by exploring the worlds off stage, talking to the creatives and crews from some of the UK's biggest shows and theatre companies. This month, we're looking at stage blood and effects in two infamously bloody shows. We spoke to the Company Stage Manager on Michael Grandage's The Lieutenant of Inishmore and the Designer of the Royal Shakespeare Company's Tamburlaine, who shared their practices (and a few secrets).

Brian Friel's Aristocrats have moved into the Donmar for the late summer. The aristocrats in question are four of the O'Donnell siblings, reuniting at their childhood home Ballybeg Hall at a time when their father is seriously ailing and one sister is about to marry a significantly older man...

It's over 35 years since Little Shop of Horrors had its off-Broadway debut, but it remains a consistent choice for revival. Now Director Maria Aberg brings a new version to Regent's Park Open Air Theatre that indicates the show will be as successful as ever. Despite the incredulous story of hapless assistant-florist Seymour's discovery of a new plant that turns out to only thrive on human flesh, along with a dubious subplot of domestic violence, the production's musical numbers such as 'Suddenly, Seymour' and 'Skid Row' remain as catchy and vibrant as ever.

Ballybeg Hall once played host to grand balls, musical evenings, tennis parties: its rooms busy, bursting with painters, poets and politicians. And presiding over all of it, the imposing figure of Judge O'Donnell.

For the misfits of Skid Row, life is full of broken dreams and dead ends. But there's hope on the horizon for flower shop assistant, Seymour, when he discovers a mysterious new plant with killer potential. Will his newfound fame and fortune win the attention of kind, sweet, delicate Audrey? Can he finally break free and be happy…whatever the consequences?

New images have been released as best-selling recording artist, X-Factor winner and West End star Matt Cardle officially joins the cast of Strictly Ballroom The Musical. Based on Baz Luhrmann's acclaimed film and now transformed into a spectacular and joyous West End musical, Matt plays the role of band leader Wally Strand at the Piccadilly Theatre.

Ballybeg Hall once played host to grand balls, musical evenings, tennis parties: its rooms busy, bursting with painters, poets and politicians. And presiding over all of it, the imposing figure of Judge O'Donnell. Now, on the eve of a wedding, the O'Donnell children return to their ancestral home to find that the rot has set in.

Following on from a hugely successful run at Chichester, Sir Ian McKellen is back in the title role of King Lear, in the same theatre in which he made his West End debut in 1964. The Duke of York's is decidedly bigger than the Minerva, but with the addition of a walkway through the centre of the auditorium reducing the theatre capacity substantially, there's a much more intimate feel.

Having recently completed the spectacular reinvention and restoration of the VICTORIA PALACE, which reopened with the smash hit musical HAMILTON, Delfont Mackintosh Theatres (DMT) are continuing the upkeep of their buildings by turning their attention to implementing a recommended programme of restorative works which will include strengthening and extending the life of the ceilings of its other theatres and completing the restoration of its auditoriums.

Gerard Alessandrini is not throwing away his shot. The creator of satirical revue Forbidden Broadway realised that the unprecedented success of Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical warranted a standalone show, and thus Spamilton was born. A 2016 Off-Broadway hit, the affectionate spoof now follows Hamilton over the pond.

The cast of King Lear at the Duke of York's Theatre includes Kirsty Bushell (Regan), Richard Clews (Gentleman Informer / Old Man), James Corrigan(Edmund), Sinead Cusack (Kent), John Hastings (Curan / Doctor), Anthony Howell (Albany), Lloyd Hutchinson (Fool), Jake Mann (Burgundy / Lear's Knight), Michael Matus (Oswald), Ian McKellen (King Lear), James Millard, Johanne Murdock, Jessica Murrain, Claire Price (Goneril), Daniel Rabin(Cornwall), Caleb Roberts (King of France), Scott Sparrow (Albany's Man), Luke Thompson (Edgar), Anita-Joy Uwajeh (Cordelia), John Vernon andDanny Webb (Gloucester).

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre presents Little Shop of Horrors. Directed by Maria Aberg, the production plays 03 August - 15 September.

It's big...it's green...and no, it's not just the park! This summer, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre stages Little Shop of Horrors with rehearsals currently underway.  Though his character Seymour may be 'full of broken dreams', Marc Antolin certainly isn't. Taking on his dream role, Marc shares his favourite songs from the show and why he loves returning to Regent's Park.