Simon Williams News

Dame Judi Dench spearheads a £600,000 fundraising campaign to enhance THE MILL AT SONNING THEATRE with a new rehearsal block, band room, and offices, aiming to further enrich the theatre's offerings.

Bill Kenwright, together with his Theatre Royal Windsor, has announced that Judge John Deed stars Martin Shaw and Jenny Seagrove continue in an extended run of the world premiere of the funny and sad play ALONE TOGETHER - a new, witty, tender and thought-provoking play by Windsor-born actor/writer Simon Williams.

Get a first look at Martin Shaw, Jenny Seagrove, and Josh Goulding in the world premiere of the new play Alone Together by Simon Williams at Theatre Royal Windsor. Performances run through 19 August 2023. Check out the photo here!

Judge John Deed stars Martin Shaw and Jenny Seagrove will reunite for the first time in a world premiere of the comedy ALONE TOGETHER - a new, witty, tender and thought-provoking play by Windsor-born actor/writer Simon Williams, for a two week run from Monday 7 August – Saturday 19 August 2023 at Theatre Royal Windsor.

The Board of Directors of Ensemble Theatre Company (ETC) has announced the departure of the Company’s Artistic Director, Jonathan Fox, as of June 30, 2023. Jonathan has held the position since 2006 when ETC performed in the Alhacama Theatre and he will be overseeing and directing Seared, the final production of ETC’s 44th Season, playing from June 8 to 25.

The season will comprise of two world premieres Frank and Percy by Ben Weatherill starring Ian McKellen and Roger Allam (Theatre Royal Windsor Friday 9 June – Saturday 22 July 2023 and Theatre Royal Bath Tuesday 25 July – Saturday 5 August 2023) and Alone Together by Simon Williams, with casting to be announced, (Friday 4 August 2023 – Saturday 19 August 2023).

The Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara (ETC) announced today that it has named Scott DeVine as the organization's top business officer following a national search. Mr. DeVine brings nearly 20-years of theatre management experience to his role as managing director to lead the business and operational function for the company. 

The Old Vic just celebrated opening night of the world premiere production of Mike Bartlett's viciously funny The 47th, directed by Rupert Goold and co-produced with Sonia Friedman Productions and Annapurna Theatre.

One for the money, two for the show. The second play written by Mike Bartlett has now opened in London. With a revival of Cock running at the Ambassadors and Scandaltown opening in Hammersmith next week, the playwright is quite the rarity, one of the very few to’ve had multiple productions on at the same time in the capital.

London is never short of temptations, whether epic West End shows, engrossing dramas or bold fringe offerings. From a juicy revival to a new political play and a classic musical reborn, here are some of this month’s most eye-catching openings. Don’t forget to check back for BroadwayWorld’s reviews, interviews and features!

The Old Vic has today announced further casting and the creative team for the world premiere production of Mike Bartlett's viciously funny The 47th, directed by Rupert Goold and co-produced with Sonia Friedman Productions and Annapurna Theatre.

The Mill at Sonning, the UK's only dinner theatre, has received a grant of £448,550 from the Government's £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help the organisation recover and reopen.

Lakeshore Records is set to release SAS Red Notice-Original Motion Picture Soundtrack featuring music by Emmy Award and IFMCA-nominated composer Benji Merrison (Meerkat-A Dynasties Special, The Beatles in India), digitally on March 12.

This December, Ensemble Theatre Company will offer two holiday events the entire family can enjoy. First, ETC welcomes back Porgy and Bess cast members Elijah Rock and Frank Lawson for a rockin' musical Christmas variety show LIVE from Las Vegas.

Conceived by Feast Creative and spearheaded by WhatsOnStage, the It's Curtains For Theatre Without You campaign launches nationwide today.

The Kenton Theatre has announced a live streamed version of A Christmas Carol and a reading by Simon Williams (Upstairs, Downstairs) of Clement C Y Moore's classic The Night Before Christmas will both take place during the festive period.  

The Kenton Theatre, the UK's fourth-oldest working theatre based in the centre of Henley-on-Thames, has today announced its plans to raise £35,000 through their fundraising campaign Kenton For Keeps. Like most theatres in the UK the Kenton Theatre has suffered financially during the COVID-19 pandemic when it had to close its doors to the public in March. 

The Granada Theatre, in partnership with Community Arts Music Association (CAMA) of Santa Barbara, Opera Santa Barbara, State Street Ballet, and the Santa Barbara Symphony, will present a special benefit performance of Peter and the Wolf, Sergei Prokofiev's enchanting musical tale of adventure and bravery, at 2 pm on Sunday, February 23. The performance will feature the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony, under the baton of Maestro Nir Kabaretti, with narration by renowned theatre scholar Simon Williams, who will also direct. Brief programs featuring Santa Barbara Youth Opera singers and Gustafson Dance Students from State Street Ballet will open the event. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $100 for VIP access, with proceeds benefiting the Granada Theatre. Children ages 17 and under will be admitted free of charge with a ticket.

'If evidence were needed that imaginative staging can provide us with access to difficult works of art, then it was offered in abundance by the Los Angeles Master Chorale in an extraordinary performance of Orlando di Lasso's a cappella masterpiece, Lagrime di San Pietro ...' (Simon Williams, Opera News)

Community Arts Music Association (CAMA) of Santa Barbara will present a free, public lecture immediately prior to each of its six International Series concerts through the remainder of the 2019-20 season beginning January 27. A project of the CAMA Women's Board, the lectures will take place at the Santa Barbara Central Library's Faulkner Gallery and (in one case) the New Vic Theater. Lectures start at 6:45 pm unless otherwise noted. International Series concerts are presented at the Granada Theatre.