Zubin Varla News

Celebrating its 10th anniversary with a ceremony held in the iconic Grand Hall of Battersea Arts Centre on Sunday 8 March 2020, the Off West End Awards once again celebrated the best of independent, fringe and alternative theatres across London.

Ricardo Afoinso talks to BroadwayWorld UK about his next outing as Zorro/Diego in Zorro: The Musical in concert at Cadogan Hall on 23 February

Zubin Varla and Robert Tripolino will join the cast of ZORRO in concert at Cadogan Hall on Sunday 23 February as Don Alejandro and Ramon respectively. They join the previously announced Ricardo Afonso (Jesus Christ Superstar, We Will Rock You) as the titular role and Diego, Olivier Award-winning actress Lesli Margherita (Matilda on Broadway, Dames At Sea on Broadway, Zorro original West End cast) reprising the role of Inez and four-time Olivier-nominated actress Emma Williams (Half A Sixpence, Mrs Henderson Presents, Zorro original West End cast) who will also reprise the role of Luisa.

The UK premiere of Dave Malloy's Ghost Quartet has taken up a winter residency at the newly opened Boulevard Theatre. BroadwayWorld UK reporter Jamie Body went along to chat to the cast and some of the creatives behind this chilling show - watch the video below!

Dave Malloy's Ghost Quartet recently opened in London at the Boulevard Theatre!

Deep in the stomach of Soho, the Boulevard Theatre is the newest addition in the panorama of London's studio theatres. The exceptionally versatile and sleek venue has just opened its doors with the UK premiere of Dave Malloy's Ghost Quartet. The show is a celebration of ancestral storytelling: characters and storylines intersect and transcend time in what feels more like a song cycle or a staged concept album of sorts. The numbers push the narrative while Carly Bawden, Niccolò Curradi, Maimuna Memon, and Zubin Varla take their audience on a primordial journey.

Composer, writer and actor Dave Malloy's work includes the Tony Award-winning Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Octet, and his upcoming adaptation of Moby-Dick - the latter directed by regular collaborator Rachel Chavkin and starring Malloy. This year, London also sees two of his shows: Preludes, soon to conclude its run at Southwark Playhouse, and Ghost Quartet, which plays at the new Boulevard Theatre from 24 October. 

London is never short of temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From Annie Baker's latest to Ealing comedy and a royal reunion, 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 Boulevard Theatre today announces casting for its opening production Ghost Quartet. The cast will include Carly Bawden (Romantics Anonymous, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse), Niccolò Curradi (Hotel for Criminals, New Wimbledon Studio), Maimuna Memon (Jesus Christ Superstar, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre) and Zubin Varla (Fun Home, Young Vic).

Award winning director Ned Bennett's bold revival of Peter Shaffer's iconic psychological thriller Equus is transfering to the West End this summer. Following its hugely successful run, the English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East production of Equus will open at London's Trafalgar Studios 6 July for a strictly limited season until 7 September.

We'll be updating the list of nominees LIVE throughout this evening's Olivier Awards from London's Royal Albert Hall - winners are indicated IN BOLD!

Today (Tuesday 5 March), actors Sheila Atim and Giles Terera announced the nominations for the Olivier Awards 2019 with Mastercard, which takes place on Sunday 7 April at the Royal Albert Hall, hosted by Jason Manford.

A piece that could easily feel out dated is anything but as Ned Bennett's production of Peter Shaffer's Equus blasts onto the Stratford stage, before going off on tour with English Touring Theatre. A twisted story of a boy's love for horses, the play asks questions of power, control and the human soul.

English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East today announce the full cast for Ned Bennett's bold new production of Peter Shaffer's critically-acclaimed classic, psychological thriller Equus. Bennett directs Robert Finch (Frank Strang/Horse), Keith Gilmore (Harry Dalton/Nurse/Horse), Ethan Kai (Alan Strang), Syreeta Kumar (Dora Strang/Horse), Norah Lopez Holden (Jill Mason/Horse), Ruth Lass (Hester Salomon/Horse), Ira Mandela Siobhan (Young Horseman/Nugget) and Zubin Varla (Martin Dysart) completes the cast. The production opens at Theatre Royal Stratford East on 21 February, with previews from 15 February and runs until 23 March prior to embarking on a UK tour to Cambridge Arts Theatre, Theatre Royal Bath, Bristol Old Vic, The Lowry, Northern Stage and Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.

Get a first look below at English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East bold new production of Peter Shaffer's critically-acclaimed classic, psychological thriller Equus.

English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East today announce the full cast for Ned Bennett's bold new production of Peter Shaffer's critically-acclaimed classic, psychological thriller Equus. Bennett directs Robert Finch (Frank Strang/Horse), Keith Gilmore (Harry Dalton/Nurse/Horse), Ethan Kai (Alan Strang), Syreeta Kumar (Dora Strang/Horse), Norah Lopez Holden (Jill Mason/Horse), Ruth Lass (Hester Salomon/Horse), Ira Mandela Siobhan (Young Horseman/Nugget) and Zubin Varla (Martin Dysart) completes the cast. The production opens at Theatre Royal Stratford East on 21 February, with previews from 15 February and runs until 23 March prior to embarking on a UK tour to Cambridge Arts Theatre, Theatre Royal Bath, Bristol Old Vic, The Lowry, Northern Stage and Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.

English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East today announce the full cast for Ned Bennett's bold new production of Peter Shaffer's critically-acclaimed classic, psychological thriller Equus. Bennett directs Robert Finch (Frank Strang/Horse), Keith Gilmore (Harry Dalton/Nurse/Horse), Ethan Kai (Alan Strang), Syreeta Kumar (Dora Strang/Horse), Norah Lopez Holden (Jill Mason/Horse), Ruth Lass (Hester Salomon/Horse), Ira Mandela Siobhan (Young Horseman/Nugget) and Zubin Varla (Martin Dysart) completes the cast. The production opens at Theatre Royal Stratford East on 21 February, with previews from 15 February and runs until 23 March prior to embarking on a UK tour to Cambridge Arts Theatre, Theatre Royal Bath, Bristol Old Vic, The Lowry, Northern Stage and Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.

English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East today announce the full cast for Ned Bennett's bold new production of Peter Shaffer's critically-acclaimed classic, psychological thriller Equus. Bennett directs Robert Finch (Frank Strang/Horse), Keith Gilmore (Harry Dalton/Nurse/Horse), Ethan Kai (Alan Strang), Syreeta Kumar (Dora Strang/Horse), Norah Lopez Holden (Jill Mason/Horse), Ruth Lass (Hester Salomon/Horse), Ira Mandela Siobhan (Young Horseman/Nugget) and Zubin Varla (Martin Dysart) completes the cast. The production opens at Theatre Royal Stratford East on 21 February, with previews from 15 February and runs until 23 March prior to embarking on a UK tour to Cambridge Arts Theatre, Theatre Royal Bath, Bristol Old Vic, The Lowry, Northern Stage and Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.

The National Theatre end their series of rehearsed readings with Elizabeth Robins' Votes for Women. Written in 1907, the play dramatises the birth of the suffragette movement and, presented in 2018, shines a light on how slow the progress of equality has been.

Voting continues for the 2018 BroadwayWorld UK Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favourites.