Matt Costain News

A MONSTER CALLS, a powerful story of love, loss, truth and self-discovery, is beautifully rendered for the stage. The fantastical tale is highly physical, gorgeous to behold, and packs a potent emotional punch. The production, now touring to the Kennedy Center, was adapted for the stage by visionary director Sally Cookson. Read our critic's review.

Jonathan Church Theatre Productions and Global Creatures are delighted to announce the cast for A MONSTER CALLS.  The production will play Rose Theatre from 24 March to 9 April 2022.  It will then play Bristol Old Vic from 13 to 23 April, followed by the Kennedy Center, Washington from 25 May to 12 June 2022.

The critically acclaimed West End production of Jacqueline Wilson's Hetty Feather will be screened in cinemas across the UK from 15 April, directed by Sally Cookson and adapted for the stage by Emma Reeves.

We live in an increasingly fast paced 24-7 society. At the click of a button we can have almost anything imaginable arrive on our doorstep just hours later. We can take in a 3D movie, challenge ourselves in an Escape Room and choose from literally hundreds of TV shows at home or on the move. Theatre and the uniquely intimate experience it provides has prevailed through copious changes in recent times. Most mainstream shows stick to the tradition of having an audience seated in front of a stage upon which actors perform a play. Nothing wrong with that. But how can the medium adapt to reflect our ever changing cravings for something bigger, better and more unique? Enter Fabien Riggall and his game changing concept, Secret Cinema. If this particular experience is anything to go by, it certainly lives up to the hype.

After being turned into a film, Patrick Ness' award-winning novel A Monster Calls becomes a visceral stage play. It analysed the depths of grief and loss in a teen, Conor (Matthew Tennyson), who's slowly losing his mum to cancer. He's visited by a Monster (Stuart Goodwin) who tells him stories and explains the complications of being human.

Ben Roddy - best known as The Marlowe's pantomime dame - is to star in Return Of The Unknown, a major new work to mark the centenary of the Armistice.

Return Of The Unknown, led by The Marlowe in Canterbury, will take place at Dover Marine Station in November 2018. This extraordinary space was, in 1920, the scene of the home-coming for the unidentified soldier of the Great War. The Unknown Warrior passed through the port on his way to Westminster Abbey, where he became an integral part of our national identity. The railway terminal, on Dover's western docks, was also where many soldiers left British soil for the First World War and where 1.26 million wounded soldiers returned.

Return Of The Unknown, led by The Marlowe in Canterbury, will take place at Dover Marine Station in November 2018. This extraordinary space was, in 1920, the scene of the home-coming for the unidentified soldier of the Great War. The Unknown Warrrior passed through the port on his way to Westminster Abbey, where he became an integral part of our national identity. The railway terminal, on Dover's western docks, was also where many soldiers left British soil for the First World War and where 1.26 million wounded soldiers returned.

One of the true masterpieces of modern cinema, Federico Fellini's 1957 Oscar-winning film, LA STRADA (The Road), is being brought life on stage in a brand new adaptation directed by Olivier Award nominee Sally Cookson, with music composed by Benji Bower. The production received its world premiere at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, followed by a national tour. The show opened on 30 May in its London premiere at The Other Palace, the newest addition to Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theatre Group, where it will run until 8 July 2017. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening festivities below!

One of the true masterpieces of modern cinema, Federico Fellini's 1957 Oscar-winning film, LA STRADA (The Road), will be brought to life on stage in a brand new adaptation directed by Olivier Award nominee Sally Cookson with music composed by Benji Bower.

Kenny Wax Ltd in association with Cambridge Arts Theatre & Bristol Old Vic present  The Belgrade Theatre Coventry's Production  Based on the subject and script work by Federico Fellini, Ennio Flaiano and Tullio Pinelli Directed by Sally Cookson, Composed by Benji Bower.

The Olivier Award-nominated production of Jacqueline Wilson's Hetty Feather comes to Birmingham Repertory Theatre from Tuesday 8 to Saturday 12 March, following a sell-out West End season at the Duke of York's Theatre, London.

The Olivier Award nominated Rose Theatre Kingston production of Jacqueline Wilson's critically acclaimed Hetty Feather today announces an international transfer to the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Florida for a limited run from 2 to 26 June 2016. Currently enjoying a major UK tour, the production continues on to Chichester Festival Theatre on 27 January followed by Nottingham Theatre Royal, Oxford Playhouse, Leicester Curve, Rose Theatre Kingston, Southampton Mayflower Theatre, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Clywd Theatr Cymru, Orchard Theatre Dartford, Cardiff New Theatre completing the run at Cheltenham Everyman Theatre before travelling to Sarasota, Florida for its US premiere.

Executive Producer Jerry Gunn today announces full casting for the company's production of Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet. Sally Cookson returns to theatre to direct Sharon D Clarke (Nurse), Matt Costain (Paris/Prince), Chris Bianchi (Friar Lawrence/ Montague), Audrey Brisson (Juliet), Joseph Drake (Romeo), Laura Elphinstone (Mercutio), Felix Hayes (Tybalt) and Javier Marzan (Peter). The production opens on 4 March, with previews from 28 February, and runs until 14 March.

The world premiere of Ella Hickson's Wendy & Peter Pan, a fresh new adaptation of the much loved children's classic by JM Barrie has now been fully cast. Directed by Jonathan Munby, this family winter show will open for previews in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre this December.

This week three new and six returning cast members will join the London company of the National Theatre's internationally acclaimed stage production War Horse at the New London Theatre.

Now in its fourth year in the West End, Nick Stafford's adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's book has been playing to sell-out houses at the New London Theatre since March 2009. The Broadway production of War Horse, which continues its run at the Lincoln Center's Vivien Beaumont Theatre, was the winner of six Tony Awards including a Special Tony Award for Handspring Puppet Company. In February of this year War Horse opened to great critical acclaim at The Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto. War Horse premiered at The National Theatre in October 2007.

Today, 23 March 2012, the National Theatre's internationally award-winning production of War Horse releases over 250,000 new tickets for sale, taking bookings at the New London Theatre to 26 October 2013.

From 16 November 2011 a new cast of actors and puppeteers will join the National Theatre's internationally award-winning production of War Horse at the New London Theatre. Now in its fourth year, Michael Morpurgo's War Horse has been seen by over 1.5 million people world-wide.