Royal Court Theatre News

One of Britain's hottest young playwrights, Mike Bartlett, explores sexuality and the agony of confusion in the Australian premiere of Cock. This funny, intimate and provocative play directed by MTC Associate Director Leticia Caceres with original music by Missy Higgins opens on Thursday 13 February 2014 at Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio.'Beyond the cheeky title, Cock is an artful and sophisticated interrogation of desire. Cock strips away the roles assigned to us by society and asks us to confront our primal needs in what feels like a battle to the death. Cock is fresh, sexy and heartbreaking. A real theatrical aphrodisiac for Melbourne audiences,' director Leticia Caceres said.

Abi Morgan's new play The Mistress Contract, adapted from the transcripts of a real-life couple, premiered at the Royal Court on 5 February, 2014. Let's see what the critics had to say:

Chicago-Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces a forthcoming artistic exchange with Ireland through the co-production of Chapatti, a new work developed through Northlight's Interplay program. The co-production of Chapatti will premiere at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie, March 7-April 13, 2014, and will open at the Galway Arts Festival in July 2014. Chapatti, by acclaimed Irish playwright Christian O' Reilly, will be directed by Artistic Director BJ Jones and will feature John Mahoney and Penny Slusher.

Victory Gardens Theater continues its season with the World Premiere of The Gospel of Lovingkindness by Victory Gardens Ensemble Playwright Marcus Gardley, directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew. The Gospel of Lovingkindness runs February 28 - March 30, 2014 at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

The full cast is announced for the UK premiere of Jon Robin Baitz's acclaimed play, Other Desert Cities, opening at The Old Vic on Monday 24 March with previews from Thursday 13 March. Directed by Lindsay Posner, the new production will star Sinead Cusack, Peter Egan, Clare Higgins, Daniel Lapaine and Martha Plimpton.

Following its hit production Other People's Money, Shattered Globe Theatre continues its 2013-14 season with Timberlake Wertenbaker's six-time Tony Award-nominated and Olivier Award-winning drama OUR COUNTRY'S GOOD, directed by Roger Smart, playing through February 22, 2014 at its new artistic home Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.shatteredglobe.org, in person at the Theater Wit Box Office or by calling (773) 975-8150. Check out a first look below!

Following a hugely successful run at Chichester's Minerva Theatre last year Julian Mitchell's ANOTHER COUNTRY, directed by Jeremy Herrin, transfers to the Trafalgar Studios, Studio 1 for a limited season, 26th March - 21st June.

Following 2 scratch performances at The King's Head Theatre earlier this year, Sochi 2014 comes to the brand new Hope Theatre in N1 to coincide with the real Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. It's not about gold medals, it's about human rights.

Thirty One Productions is proud to present, by arrangement with Samuel French Ltd, BASH Latterday Plays by Neil LaBute. BASH Latterday Plays is a collection of three one act plays. In the first, Iphigenia In Orem, a businessman from Utah divulges a chilling crime to a stranger in a Las Vegas hotel room. In A Gaggle Of Saints, a young Mormon couple each describe their version of events of a night in New York City. In Medea Redux, a woman recounts her intricate relationship with her junior high-school English teacher. Together, these one acts paint a vivid picture of the evils found in everyday life.

Eminent British actor Richard O'Callaghan will star as Pope John Paul I in the world tour of The Last Confession, which opens in Toronto in April 2014 before touring to Los Angeles, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, Australia.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) Artistic Director James C. Nicola and Managing Director Jeremy Blocker have announced that performances of Love and Information, written by Caryl Churchill and directed by James Macdonald, begin tonight at the Minetta Lane Theatre, 18 Minetta Lane. Opening night is set for Wednesday, February 19 at 7pm. Love and Information is scheduled to run through Sunday, March 23, 2014. Love and Information is produced in association with London's Royal Court Theatre.

Profiles Theatre continues its 25th Anniversary Season with the Midwest premiere of Cock by Mike Bartlett, directed by Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox. The production runs February 14 - April 6, 2014 at The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway. The press opening is Thursday, February 20 at 8:00pm.

The first ever production in more than fifty years of Terence Rattigan's Variation on a Themeopens at the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre in a strictly limited four-week season fromTuesday, 25 February 2014, starring twice Olivier Award nominated Rachael Stirling.

The first ever production in more than fifty years of Terence Rattigan's Variation on a Theme opens at the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre in a strictly limited four-week season from Tuesday, 25 February 2014, starring twice Olivier Award nominated Rachael Stirling.

Adjmi claims that his work does not infringe on THREE'S COMPANY's copyright, with his lawyers 'citing the First Amendment and the legal doctrine of fair use, argue that '3C' is an original parody that only borrows some elements from the sitcom to examine its premise, character types, and homophobia and sexism in that era.' The compaint includes support from Tony Kushner, Stephen Sondheim and others.

Saskia Reeves and Danny Webb are set to star in THE MISTRESS CONTRACT in the Vicky Featherstone-helmed production of Abi Morgan's play at the Royal Court's Jerwood Theatre Downstairs. The show begins tonight, January 30, 2014.

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced 10 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, now celebrating its thirty-sixth year. Chosen from over 100 submitted plays, the Finalists are

A Finborough Theatre commission, Carthage is the debut play from the Finborough Theatre's new Channel 4 Playwright in Residence, Chris Thompson, and will receive its world premiere in a four week run from tonight, 28 January 2014 (Press Night: Thursday 30 January 2014 at 7.30pm).