Southbank Centre News

The 2019-2020 season sees the innovative JACK Quartet continuing to push the boundaries of contemporary music, with a series of performances in the ensemble's hometown of New York City, tours to Europe in both the Fall and Spring, numerous premieres of new works, performances of the complete quartets of John Zorn and Clara Iannotta, the inaugural JACK Frontiers festival, and the inaugural season of the ensemble's new JACK Studio program. 

Hackney Showroom today announce the full cast for the world première of for all the women who thought they were Mad by Zawe Ashton. Associate Director of Hackney Showroom's Jo McInnes directs Layo-Christina Akinlude (Angela), Mina Andala (Joy), Jennifer Dixon (Kim), Joy Elias-Rilwan (Margaret), Jumoké Fashola (Ruth), Michael Fitzgerald (Boss/Doctor), Janet Kumah (Rose), with Elena Coleman, Chiamara Nwosu and Rae Ann Quayle sharing the role of Nambi. The production opens at Stoke Newington Town Hall on 17 October, with previews from 14 October, and runs until 9 November a?" marking Hackney Showroom's a new partnership with the London Borough of Hackney to bring theatre to Stoke Newington Town Hall.

Entertainment Exhibitions International (UK) Ltd (EEI), in association with ABBA The Museum in Stockholm, have announced ABBA: Super Troupers The Exhibition in a 14,000 square foot space within London's home of music, The O2. Running from 6th December 2019 to 31st August 2020, the immersive exhibition brings to life the world of chart-topping Swedish pop sensation ABBA (Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid (a?oeFridaa??) Lyngstad) in a visitor experience that charts their music, lyrics, creative process and influence as one of the most iconic pop bands of the modern age.

In September 2019, the Philharmonia Orchestra and Esa-Pekka Salonen present turbulent times with the second half of their series Weimar Berlin: Bittersweet Metropolis at Southbank Centre. This new series, which began in June, is an ambitious journey through the music, science and culture of a period of intense political turbulence and explosive creativity in Germany and beyond.

The WOW Foundation has today announced initial programming for its 2020 10th anniversary WOW - Women of the World Festival in London, which runs from 6 to 8 March across Southbank Centre. Day passes for Friday and Saturday went on sale in July and the Festival have now added a selection of additional ticketed evening events across the weekend featuring some of the world's most exciting performers, activists and voices.

Claire Gaydon (ARCOLA THEATRE, CAMDEN PEOPLES THEATRE, SUMMERHALL, ASSEMBLY VENUES, LINCOLN DRILL HALL) and Harris Cain in his first major credited role since graduating from East 15 Acting School, have been cast in award-winning Zest Theatre's Youthquake, a new play about being young and changing the world,touring nationally across 12 venues from 10 October 2019.

Claire Gaydon (ARCOLA THEATRE, CAMDEN PEOPLES THEATRE, SUMMERHALL, ASSEMBLY VENUES, LINCOLN DRILL HALL) and Harris Cain in his first major credited role since graduating from East 15 Acting School, have been cast in award-winning Zest Theatre's Youthquake, a new play about being young and changing the world, touring nationally across 12 venues from 10 October 2019.

Theatr Clwyd today announce the full company for the world première of Emily White's debut play Pavilion. Artistic Director Tamara Harvey directs Ifan Huw Dafydd (Dewi), Carly-Sophia Davies (Jess), Caitlin Drake (Myfanwy), Ellis Duffy (Gary), Michael Geary (Evan), Lowri Hamer (Bethan), Victoria John (Big Nell), Kristian Phillips (Lloyd), Adam Redmore (Mark/Will), Rebecca Smith-Williams (Mary) and Tim Treloar (Dylan). The production opens at Theatr Clwyd on 2 October, with previews from 26 September, until 12 October.

Fresh from the critically acclaimed run of Light In the Piazza at the Southbank Centre, and before they jet off for runs of the show at the LA Opera House and The Lyric Opera, Chicago, the Light in the Piazza ensemble are proud to present a concert of music close to their hearts, in London for one night only.

This October will mark Birmingham Hippodrome's official 120th birthday. To celebrate, the greatest show on earth will come to the city centre with a range of free performances and workshops honouring the theatre's origins as a circus.

Electronic rockers VEX RED have unveiled a brand new video for their recent single 'Tarantula', their first taste of new material in three years. The video follows a protagonist through a variety of unexpected and bewildering occurrences, culminating in a dramatic climax in the midst of a gloomy forest.

The music of rock legends Queen is to be celebrated like never before as West End leading lady Kerry Ellis joins Scandinavian tribute stars Queen Machine for a fully orchestrated UK tour - with extra dates added in Canterbury and Newcastle.

The entirety of cult sitcom Friends – all 10 seasons and 236 episodes – in just one hour! The Edinburgh Fringe will host the world premiere of this new solo show from acclaimed comic actor Brendan Murphy, reimagining the TV classic through the eyes of barista Gunther, who will welcome audiences to a specially created coffee shop venue at Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

Circus 1903 has announced a line-up of world-class performers for their three-date tour (Birmingham, Salford and Dublin) and London Christmas Season at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall.

Lambert Jackson Productions today announce full casting for Dr Zhivago a?" The UK Concert Première. Joining the previously announced Ramin Karimloo (Yurii Andreyevich Zhivago) and Celinde Schoenmaker (Lara Guishar) are Rhys Bailey (Young Yurii, Sasha), Maisey Bawden (Olya), Isabella Djuve-Wood (Young Lara), Emma De-Anne Edwards (Anna Gromeko), Darcy Jacobs (Young Tonia), Kelly Mathieson (Tonia Gromeko), Charlie McCullagh (Pasha Antipov, Strelnikov), Matthew Woodyatt (Viktor Komarovksy), and Trinity Laban Musical Theatre as the ensemble. The production takes place at Cadogan Hall, on Sunday 1 September, 2pm and 6.30pm.

In a UK-exclusive event Southbank Centre, in collaboration with Fane Productions, presents 'A Conversation with Dame Julie Andrews' on the afternoon of Saturday 2 November 2019. This one-time special event will see the beloved and much-honoured star of stage and screen Dame Julie Andrews discuss her highly anticipated memoir, Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years, in conversation with acclaimed actor Alex Jennings at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall.

Headlong today announce the full cast for Hedda Tesman which will receive its world premiere at Chichester Festival Theatre before playing at The Lowry, Salford.

Straight from a clamorously successful run in the City of Lights (and capital of style), Jean Paul Gaultier: Fashion Freak Show comes to London to celebrate fashion's most renowned enfant terrible. The two-hour raucus revue is hard to define and absolutely impossible to pigeonhole.

Electronic rockers VEX RED have unveiled their brand new single 'Tarantula', their first taste of new material in three years. The eagerly anticipated dose of music is a potent one, flooding the senses with a cocktail of delicate electronics, spectral vocals, throbbing bass and soaring guitars, all the while exerting an emotional intensity that's impossible to ignore.

The Space, the commissioning and development agency promoting digital engagement across the cultural sector, announced today that Sarah Ellis, Director of Digital Development at the RSC, has been appointed as its new Chair.