Lisa Spirling

Review Roundups: HERE THERE ARE BLUEBERRIES Opens at Stratford East
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 13, 2026

UK premiere of Here There Are Blueberries, a co-production between Tectonic Theater Project and Stratford East is now running at Stratford East. See what the critics are saying in BroadwayWorld's Review Roundup.

Review: HERE THERE ARE BLUEBERRIES, Stratford East
by Cindy Marcolina - Feb 12, 2026

Sometimes a play is far more valuable than what the four walls of a theatre can hold. 2007: history will never be the same after the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum gets a hold of a photo album from 1940s Germany. As the archivists leaf through the pages, the day-to-day routine of Nazi officers stationed in Auschwitz unfolds before their eyes.

THE HARDER THEY COME To Return To Stratford East In 2026
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 3, 2026

THE HARDER THEY COME will return to Theatre Royal Stratford East in 2026 following its 2025 run. The reggae musical is adapted by Suzan-Lori Parks and directed by Matthew Xia, with performances scheduled from May 16 through July 4.

Interview: 'Come. Be A Part of The Conversation': Artistic Director Lisa Spirling And Executive Director Hanna Streeter on Their Big Plans For Stratford East
by Kat Mokrynski - Dec 3, 2025

Artistic Director Lisa Spirling and Executive Director Hanna Streeter have announced their first season at Stratford East, with exciting plans for the venue as a whole. The new season includes Here There Are Blueberries by Moisés Kaufman and Amanda Gronich, BLOODSPORT: After Helen of Troy by Ava Pickett and Choir Boy by Tarell Alvin McCraney. We had the opportunity to talk with both Spirling and Streeter about their first season at the theatre. We discussed what made each of them want to join Stratford East, some of their favourite shows they’ve seen at the venue and all about about the upcoming season!

HERE THERE ARE BLUEBERRIES Announces Initial UK Cast at Stratford East
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 26, 2025

HERE THERE ARE BLUEBERRIES will make its UK premiere at Stratford East in early 2026, marking a major new collaboration with Tectonic Theater Project. The production brings Moisés Kaufman and Amanda Gronich’s acclaimed work to London following celebrated runs in the U.S.

HERE THERE ARE BLUEBERRIES and More Set for Lisa Spirling's Inaugural Season at Stratford East
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 1, 2025

Lisa Spirling has announced her first season as Artistic Director and Co-CEO of Stratford East, alongside new Executive Director Hanna Streeter and Associate Artistic Director Jade Lewis.

Bindi Karia Appointed Chair Of Trustees Of Stratford East
by Stephi Wild - Sep 4, 2025

Stratford East has announced that Bindi Karia has been appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees. This appointment is a natural extension of Bindi's two-decade career at the intersection of innovation, technology, community, connectivity and advisory.

Cast Set For MAMA GOOSE Panto at Stratford East
by Stephi Wild - Jul 25, 2025

Stratford East has announced this year’s cast and creative team for MAMA GOOSE, with book by Vikki Stone & Tonderai Munyevu, who also co-direct, music by Robert Hyman, and lyrics by Robert Hyman & Vikki Stone.

Cast and Creative Team Set For ROMEO & JULIET at Stratford East
by Stephi Wild - Jul 17, 2025

Stratford East has announced the cast and creative team for the community production of William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet co-produced with Sadler's Wells. Learn more here!

Cast and Creative Team Set For THE HARDER THEY COME at Stratford East
by Stephi Wild - Jul 15, 2025

Stratford East has announced the full cast and creative team for the UK premiere of THE HARDER THEY COME, the newly adapted reggae musical based on the cult Jamaican film of the same name.

Stratford East to Present 2025 Open Day in Celebration of 140th Anniversary
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 30, 2025

​With Lovestuck currently running, Stratford East will present its 2025 Open Day, a celebratory event for the venue's 140th anniversary year. Learn more here!

Seiriol Davies' HOW TO WIN AGAINST HISTORY THIS SUMMER is Coming to Edinburgh Festival Fringe
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 20, 2025

Francesca Moody Productions and Bristol Old Vic has revealed the creative team for their new expanded co-production of hit Edinburgh Fringe musical How To Win Against History at Edinburgh Fringe. Learn more!

Stratford East Appoints Jade Lewis as Associate Artistic Director
by Stephi Wild - May 22, 2025

Stratford East has announced that Jade Lewis has been appointed Associate Artistic Director. Lewis is currently an Associate Artist at Synergy Theatre Project and has held a number of associateships across the sector.

Stratford East Will Host A RIGHT OLD ROYAL VARIETY NIGHT
by Stephi Wild - Apr 24, 2025

As part of its 140th anniversary celebrations, Stratford East has announced A RIGHT OLD ROYAL VARIETY NIGHT. The evening is hosted b Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Ghosts, Taskmaster) and Tameka Empson (Eastenders).

Review: HOW TO FIGHT LONELINESS, Park Theatre
by Cindy Marcolina - Apr 23, 2025

All great plays have a moral dilemma buried at the centre. Loyalty, truth, justice, et cetera. The greatest playwrights narrow down these big juicy themes and shape them into a story, making the personal universal and challenging the audience by turning their views against them – it’s a difficult balance to establish. The core of How To Fight Lonelinesshas so much potential. Neil LaBute builds this project around a collection of major arguments, hardly making his characters acknowledge the empirical decisions they face directly. People talk about nothing, saying everything, for over two hours. Assisted suicide, spirituality, lawfulness are the lining of How To Fight Loneliness. Unfortunately, the final product is a redundant show, meaty in its subject but largely exasperating and uninspiring.

MAMA GOOSE Pantomime Comes to Stratford East This Year
by Stephi Wild - Mar 11, 2025

Stratford East has announced this year's pantomime, MAMA GOOSE, written and directed by Vikki Stone and Tonderai Munyevu with music by Stratford East pantomime veteran Robert Hyman and lyrics by Vikki Stone and Robert Hyman.

Full Cast Set For UK Premiere of HOW TO FIGHT LONELINESS
by Stephi Wild - Mar 6, 2025

The full cast has been announced for the UK première of Neil LaBute’s How to Fight Loneliness at Park Theatre. Stratford East’s newly appointed Artistic Director, Lisa Spirling directs.

Stratford East Announces New Chair Transition And Recruitment
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 26, 2025

Stratford East has announced that Dame Margaret Hodge will be stepping down as Chair of the Board at the end of February to lead the independent review into Arts Council England.

HOW TO WIN AGAINST HISTORY Sets Creative Team and Edinburgh Festival Fringe Run
by Stephi Wild - Feb 25, 2025

Francesca Moody Productions and Bristol Old Vic announced the creative team for their new expanded co-production of hit Edinburgh Fringe musical How To Win Against History.

Hanna Streeter Appointed Executive Director Of Stratford East
by Stephi Wild - Jan 16, 2025

Stratford East has announced that Hanna Streeter has been appointed Executive Director and joint CEO, taking up the position from July 2025.