Lenny Henry News

Ahead of its world premiere production 29 September-20 October, the Belgrade Theatre Coventry has revealed full casting for its new musical drama, We'll Live and Die in These Towns.

Gary Crosby presents the sensational Jazz Jamaica All Stars with special guests Brinsley Forde (Aswad), Noel McKoy and rising vocal stars, Dem Three. THE TROJAN STORY is a spectacular live concert chronicling 50 years of the legendary label and artists of Trojan Records. There will be three performances - on Thursday 20 September, Royal Festival Hall; Saturday 29 September, Brighton Dome and Saturday 17 November, Hull City Hall (part of the Hull Jazz Festival).

Tamara Lawrance (Kings Charles III, Undercover) leads the cast as protagonist July in The Long Song, a three-part adaptation of Andrea Levy's award-winning, best-selling novel for BBC One, which will also star Hayley Atwell (Howards End, Avengers), Jack Lowden (War & Peace, Dunkirk) and Sir Lenny Henry (Broadchurch). As previously announced, the series director is Mahalia Belo.

800 Pound Gorilla Records announces today's release of Ticking Boxes, the highly-anticipated album from The Daily Show with Trevor Noah's British Correspondent Gina Yashere.

Award-winning actor Diane Lane has signed on to star in the drama series pilot Y, headlining an ensemble cast also starring Barry Keoghan, Imogen Poots, Lashana Lynch, Juliana Canfield and Marin Ireland, it was announced today by Eric Schrier and Nick Grad, Presidents of Original Programming for FX Networks and FX Productions.

As pantomime returns to The Broadway Theatre Catford in Aladdin (07 - 30 Dec), Selladoor Worldwide announce that they will make a christmas wish come true this year as they search for a talented local singer and actor to win a paid part in the professional company as the Genie of the Lamp! It's time to find your inner 'Genie-us' and be crowned Broadway's Best?

Les Dennis, Nitin Ganatra, Tala Gouveia and Blake Harrison are to star in powerful new black comedy End Of The Pier, coming to Park Theatre from 11 July. As a former national treasure begins to reflect on his fading career and embrace his dimming stardom, his life is upended by the surprise arrival of the nation's favourite young comedian.

The National Theatre today announces a new exhibition, Look At You Now, featuring photo portraits by young people of 53 people who are connected with the NT including actors Julie Walters and Lenny Henry, director Indhu Rubasingham and lighting designer Paule Constable.

Shakespeare's Globe has announced its Winter Season for 2018/19 in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. Featuring two pairings of plays by William Shakespeare and his celebrated counterpart, Christopher Marlowe, this call and response season opens on 7 November 2018. Throughout the season we are also inviting today's artists to examine, rework and elaborate on these 400-year-old provocations with new work written in response to Shakespeare and Marlowe.

Les Dennis, Nitin Ganatra, Tala Gouveia and Blake Harrison are to star in powerful new black comedy End Of The Pier, coming to Park Theatre from 11 July. As a former national treasure begins to reflect on his fading career and embrace his dimming stardom, his life is upended by the surprise arrival of the nation's favourite young comedian.

Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Stratford East, Nadia Fall, today announces Lenny Henry to take on the role of Elmore in August Wilson's King Hedley II as part of her inaugural season. This marks the first time Wilson's work will be staged at Theatre Royal Stratford East.

Bill Kenwright's Classic Thriller Theatre Company present Edgar Wallace's murder mystery at the Belgrade Theatre

East London's dynamic duo Ashley J and Tee J present their hit show - ACTing Up at RichMix, Shoreditch on Thursday 26 April at 7.30pm

Pantomime is coming home to Catford and is bigger and better than ever, as The Broadway Theatre, announces that Aladdinis set to fly into town on his magic carpet Fri 12 Dec - Sun 30 Dec.

Continuing a successful UK-wide tour throughout 2018, Oliver Phelps and Deborah Grant will join the cast of The Classic Thriller Theatre Company's The Case of the Frightened Lady. Film star Oliver Phelps will make his stage debut, having played the character of George Weasley in one of the most successful film franchises of all time, Harry Potter. He is joined by TV's Deborah Grant, who amongst her many roles has starred in the BBC's Not Going Out and Bergerac.

In 1920, the Russian writer Isaac Babel reports on a Red Cavalry campaign in Poland. In 1936, Stalin's NKVD chief Nicolai Yezhov unleashes the Great Purge. In 1989, a mysterious KGB agent spying on a woman in Dresden falls in love. In 2010, an aircraft carrying most of the Polish government crashes near the Russian city of Smolensk…

Sir Lenny Henry today launches Let's Play, a major new initiative supporting the development of drama and theatre in primary schools across the country.

East London's dynamic duo Ashley J and Tee J present their hit show - ACTing Up at Dugdale, Enfield on Friday 2 February at 7.45pm and RichMix, Shoreditch on Thursday 26 April at 7.30pm

Fall into the underworld of London where young businessman Richard Mayhew, played adroitly by Rory Sheridan in a debut role, finds himself after trying to save a young bleeding woman named Door in The Know Theatre's recent production of NEVERWHERE, a play by Neil Gaiman adapted by Robert Kauzlaric.

The anniversary of both Esther Rolle's birth and death are in November, and to celebrate the achievements of this amazing woman, who is also buried in Pompano Beach, The Rock Road Restoration Historical Group will present a special exhibit at The Historic Ali Cultural Arts Center (www.aliarts.org), which will run from November 1 through December 2, 2017.