Marc Brenner

Review: MADAMA BUTTERFLY, Royal Opera House

There’s a singular simplicity in Madama Butterfly that draws in audiences year after year, decade by decade like moths to a flame: a man loves and leaves a woman; she gives up everything for him. With a staging that mirrors that bare but powerful concept, Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier’s 2002 production returns again to Covent Garden with more than a patina of authenticity.

Review: VISIT FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN, Hampstead Theatre

The lights flash on, a writer stumbles into his scantly decorated flat. A woman follows, champagne on her breath, flirtatious glances smuggled between them. It’s late at night and the inevitability of retiring to the bedroom looms. But it is not what it seems.

Photos: First Look at The RSC's THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL

The RSC have  released production photos for The School for Scandal. Tinuke Craigdirects Richard B. Sheridan’s brilliantly biting comedy with Geoffrey Streatfeild as Sir Peter Teazle and Siubhan Harrison as Lady Sneerwell. Check out the photos here!

Interview: 'From The Outside, It Looks Impossible': Director Tinuke Craig on Rep Theatre, Genre-Jumping and THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL at the RSC

Few directors are as comfortable helming a sparkly winter panto as they are a psychologically gruelling Sarah Kane play. But few directors have credits as varied as Tinuke Craig. A former Bayliss Associate at The Old Vic, she is now making her RSC directorial debut with Richard Sheridan’s The School for Scandal, a restoration comedy written in 1777. 247 years later – what can it tell us today?

Photos: First Look at the UK Tour of A CHORUS LINE

All new production photos have been released for the UK tour of Curve’s hit revival of A CHORUS LINE, currently playing at Curve until 13 July, with a summer season at Sadler’s Wells, before embarking on a UK tour. Check out the photos here!

Review: ALMA MATER, Almeida Theatre

Alma Mater is the byproduct of fourth-wave feminism, with faint echoes of David Mamet’s Oleanna flipped on its head and delivered with a sleight of hand. Polly Findlay is back at the Almeida to direct Kendall Feaver’s world premiere, which finally officially opens after a troubled start. The withdrawal of Lia Williams, who was initially due to take on Jo, doesn’t seem to hinder this unforgiving production, with Justine Mitchell taking over with an assured stance.

Review: TOSCA, Royal Opera House

Fronted by some fresh faces, Jonathan Kent’s cinematic take on the Puccini masterwork Tosca returns for its seventeenth run at Covent Garden. 

Guest Blog: 'I Have A Deep Need to Understand These Characters': Movement Director Ingrid Mackinnon on RSC's SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL

When I first worked at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) back in 2017, I was seduced into thinking I had to change my approach to movement because I was working in the “sacred space” of Shakespeare.

CABARET AT THE KIT KAT CLUB Reveals Schedule for 'Emcee' & 'Sally Bowles' Alternates

Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club at the August Wilson Theatre has revealed performance schedule for the alternates playing the roles of the ‘Emcee’ and ‘Sally Bowles’ through the end of August.

Review: NEXT TO NORMAL, Wyndham's Theatre

Following a sold-out run at the Donmar Warehouse, Next to Normal arrives at Wyndham's Theatre.

Review: GREASE, Kings Theatre Glasgow

Adopting Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey's original stage version, the production deviates from the famous movie starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Here we see subversive, sex-driven working-class teenagers among industrial Chicago instead of beachy California. Sandy Olsson is now Sandy Dumbrowski (reflecting the '50s influx of Polish immigrants), the infamous T-birds are the Burger Palace Boys. There is an undertone of gang warfare as the rebellious group often push against authority getting in trouble with the police - it's giving West Side Story.

Interview: 'It's a Story About Family and Hope': Actor Jack Wolfe on Fandom and Emotional Intensity in NEXT TO NORMAL

Recently, we had the chance to speak with Wolfe about bringing Next to Normal to the West End. We discussed what it has been like to join the show as a fan of Next to Normal, the importance of mental health both on stage and off and what he hopes audiences take away from this production.

Photos: Inside Rehearsal For the UK Tour of A CHORUS LINE at Curve

Rehearsal photos have been released for A CHORUS LINE opening at Curve from 28 June – 13 July, followed by a summer run at Sadler’s Wells and a UK Tour.

HADESTOWN to Open in Sydney, Australia in 2025

Hadestown will make its Australian premiere at Theatre Royal Sydney in February 2025. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.

Photos: First Look at Rhea Norwood, Layton Williams, and More in CABARET in London

All new production photos have been released for CABARET at the Kit Kat Club starring Rhea Norwood, Layton Williams, Sally Ann Triplett and Fenton Gray. Check out the photos here!

Review: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING OSCAR at Reading Rep

Micheál Mac Liammóir’s critically acclaimed one-man show delves into the Wild(e) world of the renowned literary genius. Published in 1961, Liammóir’s play has gained international success on both stage and screen, and the production has now arrived at Reading Rep, upon the doorstep of the infamous Reading Gaol.

Photos: First Look at Alastair Whatley in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING OSCAR at Reading Rep Theatre

Reading Rep Theatre and Original Theatre have released photos from their upcoming new production of Micheál Mac Liammóir’s renowned play, The Importance of Being Oscar, which will run at Reading Rep Theatre from 24 May - 8 June and star Original Theatre’s Artistic Director Alastair Whatley.

Photos: First Look at Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers in ROMEO & JULIET

All new photos have been released of Tom Holland as Romeo, Francesca Amewudah-Rivers as Juliet, and the cast in Jamie Lloyd’s new vision of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, now open at the Duke of York's Theatre.

Review: ROMEO & JULIET, Duke Of York's Theatre

Director Jamie Lloyd has taken on the challenge of Shakespeare’s iconic Romeo & Juliet, bringing his trademark style of theatre to the Duke of York’s theatre this summer. Starring Tom Holland as Romeo and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers as Juliet, this production brings us into the world of Verona as the star-crossed lovers must fight for their love.

GREASE Producers Condemn Racist Abuse Targeting Cast Members

The producers of the UK & Ireland tour of Grease have released a statement addressing racist abuse directed towards members of the cast. Read the statement here.