Jonathan Marshall - Page 2

When Phoebe Waller-Bridge is galvanised by a new voice, expectations are likely to be high. The actor / writer enjoyed great success with her own one woman show Fleabag, which ran at Soho Theatre. As a judge for the 2020 Verity Bargate Award, Waller-Bridge and others, including Russell T Davies, deemed Amanda Wilkin’s monologue Shedding a Skin the winner. Now playing to standing ovations in that same venue, it isn’t hard to see why.

Not seen in London for over half a century, Staircase has been lovingly revived by Two’s Company, which aims to uncover forgotten plays that reveal their own time yet shed light on how we live today. With such a rich fabric of LGBTQ+ theatre on offer, particularly in fringe venues, one might question how staging a play dating back to the 1960s and before the decriminalisation of homosexuality could be justified. While this period in history will be of interest to many, there is probably a reason why the play is so seldom seen.

She's one of the biggest pop stars of all time but many of us are aware of the conservatorship battle Britney Spears has been locked in for over half of her career, essentially depriving her of her freedom. Inspired by the #FreeBritney movement and the recent documentary, Saving Britney is a hilarious and heart-breaking look at celebrity obsession. She was on national TV by the age of seven and an international superstar by sixteen. But now she is in trouble and the only person who might be able to save her could be millennial Britney Spears superfan, Jean from Gloucestershire.

The Bush Theatre has reopened its doors with a timely exploration of social media and the negative impact it can have on our wellbeing. We've all been forced to spend far more time on our home computers, and social media can be a consuming distraction we perhaps lean on too much. A hiding place for trolls, this modern-day phenomenon has also bred an unhealthy culture of craving as many 'likes' and ‘follows’ as possible.

In 2019, when we were all blissfully ignorant of the impending pandemic, award winning theatre and film producer Caroline Friedman had the idea to create an online platform to showcase fringe theatre performances. Her streaming site Scenesaver could not have arrived at a better time. While such things as National Theatre Live have proved immensely popular in recent years and even more so since lockdown, Friedman is the first to offer a wide audience the opportunity to see some of the hidden gems and exciting new work that until now might have been off their radar or simply inaccessible. The Scenesaver founder spoke with BroadwayWorld about the new service.

Playwright Ella Road achieved critical acclaim with her play The Phlebotomist, which was nominated for an Olivier Award after a run at both Hampstead Theatre Downstairs and its main stage. Road has now written a short film called Something Will Disappear for the Almeida Theatre's upcoming climate change festival, Shifting Tides. The writer spoke with BroadwayWorld about the project, her writing and how the theatre industry might emerge from the pandemic.

Songwriter Cat has a commercial hit record under her belt and should be on top of the world. Instead, she's embroiled in a heated conflict with her music producer Bernard over who should have the songwriting credit.

Charlie hates his job and loathes his life even more. Suicide is never far from his thoughts. His car, like his life, is idling outside the Hollywood home of Kathi Kannon, star of stage and screen and People magazine's worst dressed list. The award winning actress, known for her role as Priestess Talara in an iconic blockbuster sci-fi film, has battled both mental health and drug abuse and is in search of an assistant who might encourage her to focus on her writing. So begins a working relationship quite unlike any other, which gradually blossoms into a deep, candid and heart-warming friendship. Kathi may be centre stage but Charlie learns it's about time he put his own life and his future under the spotlight.

Prolific playwright David Greig has a varied catalogue of work ranging from the recently revived Europe to West End hit Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and his acclaimed adaptation of Touching the Void. He is also Artistic Director of Edinburgh's Royal Lyceum Theatre. Greig's first original play in 7 years Adventures with the Painted People was due to begin its run in Edinburgh this summer but has since been adapted for radio due to the pandemic. The writer spoke with BroadwayWorld about his creative process, the future of theatre and his latest work. 

In a world of remakes, reboots and recycled stories, inimitability is hard to find. Woody Allen is a prolific playwright, comedian, actor, screenwriter and director who has carved out a cohesive career in film. Although many have drawn influence from the auteur, no one can replicate the authentic, witty voice we've heard over the last five decades.

A Streetcar Named Desire was the hottest ticket in town back in the summer of 2014. Six years later, it remains the fastest selling play in the Young Vic's history. It enjoyed a New York transfer and was broadcast in cinemas around the globe thanks to National Theatre Live.

The X-Files became a '90s cult classic, running for nine seasons and spawning two movies and two miniseries revivals. But since portraying FBI agent Dana Scully, Gillian Anderson has carved out a diverse career both on screen and stage. The much-loved star spoke to BroadwayWorld about her career ahead of the National Theatre at Home's screening of the critically acclaimed A Streetcar Named Desire.

Yamin Choudury recently celebrated two years in the role of Artistic Director at Hackney Empire. In that short time, the theatre has seen an average of 83% new bookers for many productions, and youth engagement has also increased. Choudury spoke with BroadwayWorld about access, representation and diversity in the arts, as well as his vision for the East London landmark.

James Morton is a playwright from Stoke-On-Trent. His debut play Father's Son was shortlisted for the Tony Craze Award and after a reading at Soho Theatre premiered at this year's Vault Festival. Morton spoke with Broadway World about the process of writing and putting on the play as well as mental health, labels and the lockdown.

At its height in the late 90s, Who Wants to be a Millionaire was must-see television. Hosted by Chris Tarrant, the show premiered in 1998 and was an overnight ratings sensation. After an unwavering run of success, controversy reared its head in 2001. Major Charles Ingram bagged the big prize, only to later be exposed as a cheat thanks to an accomplice who coughed to signal each correct answer. The show's life went on, but in many ways its once bright light had been irrevocably dimmed.

The theatre landscape has changed dramatically since the 1977 premier of Abigail's Party but Leigh remains as real, raw and relevant as ever before. At 77 the writer / director shows no signs of slowing down. After venturing into period pieces with Topsy-Turvey and Mr Turner, Leigh's most recent picture Peterloo is his most ambitious yet. We've put together a list of Leigh's top ten works.

Tilda Swinton Answers an Ad on Craig's List is as wonderfully original and outlandish as its title suggests. The show has become a cult comedy classic, delighting audiences not once but twice at the Edinburgh Festival, as well as the VAULT Festival and in its writer's homeland, with sellout performances in New York, San Francisco and LA. Actor and writer Byron Lane spoke with BroadwayWorld about the creation and subsequent success of the play, as well as his newly penned novel A Star Is Bored.

Hampstead Theatre has delved into its digital archive. In partnership with The Guardian the theatre will stream a series of past productions completely free of charge. First up is Mike Bartlett's Wild, which premiered back in 2016. The play is available for just one week and will be followed by Beth Steel's Wonderland and then Howard Brenton's Drawing the Line.

Reading play texts is an enjoyable way of attaining the theatre fix we're all feeling deprived of during these unprecedented times. It got us thinking about some screenplays and novels that could make for interesting stage adaptations.

The Vaults is very vocal about its mission statement of embracing artists from all walks of life to come together and inspire others.  Glitch truly belongs in the festival line up with its unique and heartfelt depiction of autism.