Marianka Swain - Page 28

Tomorrow, Friday 11 May, at 3:15pm, students from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama have arranged a peaceful protest outside the institution.

American playwright Rajiv Joseph's latest certainly doesn't lack for ambition, spanning 90 years, three countries, and mixing history and fiction in its form to make a point about, well, mixing history and fiction. Storytelling through to the pertinent “fake news” abounds, but this near-three-hour show is ultimately more compelling in its ideas than in its drama.

Classic Spring's third Oscar Wilde production gains extra piquancy from Amber Rudd's resignation - dealing, as it does, with political scandal and social hypocrisy. It's another facet for Jonathan Church's well-balanced revival, which proves as handsome, witty and ultimately kindly as its beguiling hero.

The New Adventures production of Matthew Bourne's CINDERELLA, currently on a nationwide tour, will be broadcast to cinemas in UK and Ireland on Tuesday, 15 May, including a live Q&A with Matthew Bourne. Watch an exclusive sneak peek below!

Gendered power dynamics, the commodification of art, and abuse in the creative industries: Joe Penhall's new play certainly feels of the moment, and there's a particular frisson in seeing such subject matter explored at the Old Vic, which is dealing with the legacy of Kevin Spacey. Yet a potent topic remains stubbornly discursive in this rather circular piece.

The first West End production of Chess since 1986 stars Michael Ball as Anatoly, Alexandra Burke as Svetlana, Cedric Neal as The Arbiter, Tim Howar as Freddie, Cassidy Janson as Florence and Phillip Browne as Molokov. This epic musical love story had its press night last night and is now playing at the London Coliseum for a strictly limited season. Watch a video from the opening night party below!

Chess, by Tim Rice and ABBA's Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, hasn't had a major West End revival since its Eighties heyday, but it's back with a bang in a semi-staged production that features aerial silk acrobatics, cheerleading stunts and drunken Cossack dancing. But it's the work that really shines through: period, yes, and distinctly unwieldy, but oddly timely too - and not just because ABBA are reuniting.

London is never short of temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From meaty revivals to the open-air theatres opening their doors, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld reviews, interviews and features!

Some students at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama raised concerns following remarks by its principal Gavin Henderson during a Q&A at a recent event, Dear White Central.

The original version of Rodney Ackland's provocative work, The Pink Room, had a bruising reception back in 1952, losing thousands for investor Terence Rattigan amidst furious reviews. Since salvaged by the Orange Tree in the Eighties, its rebirth was cemented by a Judi Dench-starring production at the National, where it now returns for an intriguing if not entirely convincing encore.

Love is in the air, and revolution too. Baz Luhrmann's beloved 1992 film (originally a student play, now back on stage as a musical) is even more adamantly anti-establishment in this latest incarnation, opening out a delicious satire of 1980s Australian competitive ballroom into a more universal story of the fight for fearless self-expression. In short: 'Love, freedom and sequins'.

Chicago's hit West End revival ­- which featured a constant revolving door of big names - closed in 2012 after almost 15 years. Now, it returns with the requisite stunt casting (Cuba Gooding Jr), but also with a cast of triple-threat stalwarts who illustrate the enduring strengths of this whip-smart, black-hearted musical.

Akram Khan's acclaimed version of Giselle for English National Ballet will be screened to cinemas worldwide from 25 April. The show features Tamara Rojo as Giselle, Stina Quagebeur as Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis, and Jeffrey Cirio as Hilarion - watch them perform in an exclusive clip below!

Emma Williams's past work includes Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Half a Sixpence, Mrs Henderson Presents and Love Story. She's currently starring in a new musical version of the iconic Richard Gere film An Officer and a Gentleman, which opens at Leicester Curve on 6 April.

London is never short of temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From a buzzy new musical to returning favourites, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld reviews, interviews and features!

BroadwayWorld UK were fortunate enough to attend a special Bat Out Of Hell gig on 14 March at the American International Church ahead of their opening at the Dominion Theatre on 2 April.

Miss Nightingale will make its West End debut at the prestigious Theatre at the Hippodrome Casino in London's Leicester Square, for a strictly limited seven-week run in their 180-seat theatre, from 21 March to 6 May. Watch a behind-the-scenes video below!

On 22 March, the Bridge Theatre's production of Julius Caesar - directed by Nicholas Hytner and starring Ben Whishaw, David Morrissey, David Calder and Michelle Fairley - will be broadcast via NT Live. Bunny Christie and Tony Grech-Smith discuss, respectively, designing the show and translating it to screen.

Jonny Labey's past work ranges from EastEnders and winning TV show Dance Dance Dance to White Christmas and In the Heights on stage. He's now starring as rebellious Scott in Strictly Ballroom The Musical, which begins previews at Piccadilly Theatre on 29 March.

Adrian Lester stars opposite John Simm in new psychological thriller Trauma, as - respectively - a top surgeon and the father of a boy who dies after an unsuccessful operation, and who holds the surgeon responsible. Following a hit run on ITV, Trauma premieres in the US on BritBox tomorrow.