Tristram Kenton News

Gary Naylor sees a long-running West End haunted house mystery and revels in its unabashed theatricality

Gary Naylor sees a show that he should like more than he does, possibly because it owes more to performance art than it does to theatre.

Seattle Opera rings in the New Year with some of the most glorious music in all of opera: Verdi's La traviata, the original Moulin Rouge. German Stage Director Peter Konwitschny has created an "excitingly rebellious" (A Younger Theater) production that takes an uncompromising look at moral hypocrisy. In this story, practically all of Paris rushes in as voyeurs to watch the demise of the town's dying "It Girl"-a modern-day courtesan named Violetta. The crowd, withmore concern for their entertainment than her health, foists a new admirer on her: a young, socially awkward bookworm named Alfredo. While love seems like it could be a distraction, there's ultimately no denying the darkness that descends on Verdi's heroine. Presented without intermission, the "non-stop music keeps the audience riveted throughout" (Express, UK).  

London, Southbank Centre. I look at the people sitting in front of me in the tent and realise only two were in the original Bianco at the Eden Project, four years ago: Lyndall and August. All the other faces have appeared along the way. That initial creative process is lost in the collective imagery. This is the history of Bianco, a chapter in the history of NoFit State. A chunk of my life too unfolds, unravels, one idea after another with underground and overground connections.

Following a critically acclaimed world tour, the UK's leading circus company NoFit State bring their ground-breaking promenade show BIANCO to London's Southbank Centre for the first time, running from 23 November 2016 to 22 January 2017.

Stuart Fox (Woman in Mind, Vaudeville; The Normal Heart, Royal Court and Albery; Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Fortune Theatre) and Joseph Chance (Jeeves & Wooster, UK and Far East Tour; Wallander) have been cast in the unanimously acclaimed stage production of The Woman in Black.

Today, 18 November 2016, Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End production of School of Rock - The Musical announces the show will be extending booking at the New London Theatre to 9 April 2017.

Andrew Lloyd Webber may seem an unlikely rock god, but he's harnessed anarchic musical liberation for this big-hearted, irresistibly entertaining new show, adapted from the popular Jack Black film. Its success on Broadway looks likely to be replicated here, given its broad appeal, hummable hits and giddy, live-action cartoon hijinks framing the seriously impressive talent of its young rockers.

Stephen Mallatratt's ghoulish adaptation of Susan Hill's infamous ghost story has been frightening London audiences for over twenty-five years and embarked on a UK tour in September. Whilst on its travels the classic play has taken up residence for a spell of haunting at Exeter's Northcott Theatre this week, allowing Devon audiences the opportunity to see the hit show within their locale. Unlike some of the West End's other long running stage offerings, it's easy to see why The Woman in Black has enjoyed such longevity, as the timeless tale remains an utterly thrilling theatrical white-knuckle ride.

Mark Umbers' diverse work includes Home Fires and Mistresses on screen and, on stage, The Glass Menagerie at the Apollo Theatre and the acclaimed revival of Merrily We Roll Along at Menier Chocolate Factory. He's returned to the Menier for She Loves Me, whose plot - two feuding employees in a Budapest shop are also, unbeknownst to them, one another's romantic pen pals - also formed the basis for the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan film You've Got Mail. Umbers stars opposite Scarlett Strallen, and the show begins previews on 25 November.

The latest instalment of LET THERE BE LIGHT, our series showcasing some of Britain's best theatrical lighting designers, focuses on Lucy Carter. A regular collaborator with Wayne McGregor, as well as numerous other leading choreographers and dance companies, she's also worked on operas and plays, including Husbands & Sons at the National Theatre and Oil, currently playing at the Almeida.

Mark Baldwin, artistic director and choreographer of The Creation describes Haydn's oratorio as "perfect dance music". Combined with subject matter no less than the creation of the world, and one begins to understand the gravitas he aims to bring to this piece, a sizeable project for the UK's oldest dance company.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End production of School of Rock - The Musical is currently previewing at the New London Theatre with opening night set for 14 November 2016.  School of Rock - The Musical is initially booking to 12 February 2017.

King Lear opened at The Old Vic on 4 November 2016, and BroadwayWorld has all the reviews! A quarter of a century after she gave up acting for politics, double Academy Award-winning legend Glenda Jackson returns to play King Lear in Shakespeare's greatest tragedy, alongside an outstanding company including William Chubb, Morfydd Clark, Jane Horrocks, Rhys Ifans, Celia Imrie, Simon Manyonda and Harry Melling.

The Fugard kicks off its exciting 2017 Cinema season, presenting the best of world cinema with theatre, opera and ballet productions to be enjoyed from the comfort of a seat at The Fugard Bioscope.

If Kenneth MacMillan had left well alone, the taut little chamber piece he made in 1967 - stark, inventive and affecting - would be hailed a modernist masterpiece by now. Instead, swayed by the demands of becoming director of the Royal Ballet in 1971, he lumbered Anastasia with two long preceding acts to fit the traditional full-evening format.

An adventure story of love, devotion and betrayal comes to the Belgrade Theatre this October in Paradise of the Assassins, presented by Tara Arts and Theatre Accord. The Belgrade Theatre will be the only venue to receive the production outside of London, following its run at the 100 seat Tara Arts Theatre, South West of the capital.

An adventure story of love, devotion and betrayal comes to the Belgrade Theatre this October in Paradise of the Assassins, presented by Tara Arts and Theatre Accord. The Belgrade Theatre will be the only venue to receive the production outside of London, following its run at the 100 seat Tara Arts Theatre, South West of the capital.

Wicked held a special gala performance last night at the Apollo Victoria Theatre to mark 10 years in the West End - a milestone guaranteed to make many in the industry green with envy. Current stars Rachel Tucker, Suzie Mathers, Anita Dobson, Oliver Savile and Mark Curry performed for an audience packed with past Elphabas and Glindas, as well as the original creative team, including composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz

The Globe is breaking bad. Cymbeline comes to us as Imogen - subtitled Renamed and Reclaimed, properly recognising that Imogen has far more to say than her royal father - but that's just the start of Matthew Dunster's bold, urban revamp. The king runs a coke empire. The exiles have a weed greenhouse. The court dresses in Adidas tracksuits, Cloten is a football hooligan, while Skepta and Sicario soundtrack each strip lighting-illuminated tableau, revealed by the parting of slaughterhouse plastic curtains.