Richard Eyre News

In 1950s America, love is in the air at the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory as handsome new Superintendent Sid Sorokin (Michael Xavier) falls head-over-heels for firebrand Union rep Babe Williams (Joanna Riding). Sparks fly when the employees are refused a seven-and-a-half cents raise, leaving Sid and Babe deliciously at odds as the temperature rises. . . Will love, eventually, conquer all? Let's see what the critics had to say...

Richard Eyre's revival of this classic American musical is worth getting out of bed for. In Coronation Street, the machinists at Carla's knicker factory steal the petty cash and gossip over cream cakes. Rewind to 1954 and working conditions are very different. The unionised workers at Mr Hasler's pajama factory are overworked and underpaid so they threaten production by 'going slow' and with substandard button threading.

The Joyce Theater Foundation and The National Ballet of Canada are proud to present the New York premiere of Christopher Wheeldon's acclaimed production of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland at the David H. Koch Theater from September 9 - 14, 2014. This production, which had its world premiere by the Royal Ballet at London's Royal Opera House in 2011 and its North American premiere by the National Ballet in Toronto in 2011, will be the fourth Joyce Theater presentation at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater following the just completed New York premiere of Ballet Preljocaj's Snow White (April 23-27, 2014). Tickets for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland go on sale Monday, April 28, 2014 and can be arranged online at www.DavidHKochTheater.com or by calling (212)-496-0600.

Following a critically acclaimed, sold out run, Chichester Festival Theatre's sparkling production of the Broadway smash hit musical, The Pajama Game, directed by Richard Eyre, transfers to the West End on 2 May playing until 13 September 2014.

Initial casting for Arthur Miller's The Crucible is announced. Richard Armitage, Anna Madeley and Samantha Colley are to play John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor and Abigail Williams in Ya?l Farber's new production at The Old Vic, with previews from Tuesday 24 June. The cast also includes Sarah Niles, Rebecca Saire and Zara White, with further cast to be announced.

As internationally renowned director Gale Edwards leads MTC's Ghosts into the second week of rehearsals, the Company is excited to learn that after more than 130 years, Ibsen's classic thriller has proved yet again to be a vital and exciting piece of theatre.

It's the biggest night in the West End theatre calendar - the great and the good are gathered in Covent Garden to celebrate the best stage work of the last year. Stick with us throughout the night for all the winners, as well as gossip from the Party in the Piazza, and a running commentary on the TV highlights show!

The Olivier Awards 2014 are presented this evening - keep an eye on this page, updating live, for the results. Established in 1976, the Laurence Olivier Awards celebrate the world-class status of London's theatre and are Britain's most prestigious stage honours.

The WEST END THEATRE SERIES is delighted to announce its third title; Richard Eyre's five-star, multi award-winning revival production of Ibsen's Ghosts. The Almeida Theatre production will be screened in over 200 cinemas across the UK and Ireland for one night only, Thursday 26 June '14 (www.westendtheatreseries.com).

Nominees are Ghosts (Almeida/Trafalgar Studios), Othello (National Theatre), Private Lives (Gielgud Theatre) and The Amen Corner (National Theatre).

Old Vic Productions and Hampstead Theatre Productions are delighted to announce the full cast for West End transfer of critically acclaimed Good People which will play a limited season of just ten weeks at the No?l Coward Theatre from 10th April, as previously announced.

The West End production of Stephen Ward will complete its run at the Aldwych Theatre today, 29 March 2014.

Go behind the scenes of the new West End musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black and Christopher Hampton, STEPHEN WARD, via a new behind the scenes featurette highlighting the recording of the Act 2 showstopper 'I'm Hopeless When it Comes To You'.

New Adventures, Martin McCallum and Marc Platt have announced that EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, devised, directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, will return to the Theatre Royal Glasgow on Wednesday 19 until Saturday 22 November 2014

Maybe Richard Eyre's new production of WERTHER for the Metropolitan Opera, with strong performances by German tenor Jonas Kaufmann and French mezzo Sophie Koch, should have been called WERTHER: THE BACKSTORY or WERTHER: A FOOL'S GUIDE. Eyre took what was otherwise a beautiful and interesting interpretation of the opera and added a prologue and other details (including action leading up to a self-inflicted shot in the chest)--just in case the audience needed some hand-holding to better understand what was going on.

Two of opera's greatest artists, Jonas Kaufmann and Sophie Koch, will appear together in Massenet's sublime adaptation of Goethe's revolutionary and tragic romance, Werther, which will be shown Live in HD from the Met today, March 15, at 12:55 p.m., and on Sunday, March 16, at 12 p.m. A unique behind-the-scenes tour of the grand opera house takes place during intermission including interviews with the stars. To make the opera experience even more special, Bernard's (22 West Lane, Ridgefield) is offering a special $45 prix-fixe menu, or a free glass of wine with dinner, before these events when tickets are presented; reservations suggested. Visit ridgefieldplayhouse.org for a video preview. This Live in HD Series is underwritten by Jeanne Cook, Anita and Nicholas Donofrio, Liz and Steven Goldstone, Marilyn and Joe Kreitz, Joanne and John Patrick, Starbucks Coffee, Sabina and Walter Slavin, Taylor Zemo Foundation, The Ridgefield Press and Whistle Stop Bakery.

Richard Tucker Award-winning tenor Stephen Costello reprises his star turn as Nemorino in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore at Washington National Opera (WNO) from March 20-29, following his triumphant house debut as Ishmael/Greenhorn - the role he originally created - in WNO's recent East Coast premiere of Moby-Dick. The Kennedy Center production kicks off a full spring for the tenor, who looks forward to headlining 'Toujours L'Amour' on April 25 at Lyric Opera Baltimore, where he will be joined by soprano Nicole Cabell in an orchestral gala celebration of French grand opera. June brings the U.S. release of Love Duets, Costello's first recording as an exclusive Warner Classics artist, on which he sings opposite his wife and fellow Tucker Award-winner, soprano Ailyn Perez. She also serves as his co-star in WNO's L'elisir as well as in two productions of La traviata, at Covent Garden (May 6-20) and San Francisco Opera (July 5-13), and a Rigoletto in Hamburg (May 24-June 1).

A first look at the stars of the new West End revival of musical comedy classic THE PAJAMA GAME in action is now available, showcasing headliners Joanna Riding and Michael Xavier.

Stage One, the charity that supports new UK commercial theatre producers and productions, today announces the latest recipient of its Start-Up Investment Fund. Stephen McGill has been awarded £50,000 by the charity to co-produce the West End transfer of the critically acclaimed Chichester Festival Theatre production of The Pajama Game. He will co-produce alongside Joseph Smith, Old Vic Productions, John Brant and Gavin Kalin. The production, directed by Richard Eyre, begins previews at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 2 May 2014 and stars Joanna Riding, Michael Xavier, Peter Polycarpou, Gary Wilmot and Colin Stinton.

Maybe Richard Eyre's new production of WERTHER for the Metropolitan Opera, with strong performances by German tenor Jonas Kaufmann and French mezzo Sophie Koch, should have been called WERTHER: THE BACKSTORY or WERTHER: A FOOL'S GUIDE. Eyre took what was otherwise a beautiful and interesting interpretation of the opera and added a prologue and other details (including action leading up to a self-inflicted shot in the chest)--just in case the audience needed some hand-holding to better understand what was going on.