Matt Bardock

Is this a great time to tell stories, shedding light in dark times? Or is it an impossible task? That's the loose premise of Annie Baker's wilfully elusive new piece, featuring the brainstorming session from hell a?' or possibly about hell, or in hell. Immaculately directed by Baker herself and designer Chloe Lamford, it's monstrously clever: a philosophical Fright Night.

Their phones switched off, a group of people sit around a table telling, categorising and theorising stories. This is a world that is both familiar and fantastical. Their real purpose is never quite clear, but they continue on, searching for the monstrous. Part satire, part sacred rite, The Antipodesasks what value stories have for a world in crisis.

Following acclaimed runs of The Flick and John, Pulitzer Prize-winner Annie  Baker returns to the National Theatre with her latest extraordinary play, The Antipodes. 

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 National Theatre has announced its productions on-sale for October 2019 a?' March 2020

The National Theatre has announced 15 productions of new plays and fresh adaptations by leading writers.

The Donmar Warehouse today announces the extension due to exceptional demand of Measure for Measure, now booking performances until Saturday 1 December 2018. Friday 30 November will be a performance dedicated solely to YOUNG+FREE audiences aged 25 and under, enabling even more young audiences the opportunity to experience Shakespeare's exploration of sex and power. YOUNG+FREE is funded through the generosity of audiences via the Donmar's PAY IT FORWARD scheme. These donations have allowed the Donmar to allocate more than 12,000 free tickets to those aged 25 and under since the scheme began. Tickets to the YOUNG+FREE Friday performance will be allocated by ballot at the end of October. The ballot is now open for entries by signing up to the YOUNG+FREE mailing list at donmarwarehouse.com.

It's a #MeToo-era Measure for Measure over at the Donmar, with Josie Rourke conducting a fascinating experiment: abridging Shakespeare's problem play to just over an hour and running it twice, once in period, once in modern dress. And with the key roles of Isabella and Angelo swapped between Hayley Atwell and Jack Lowden.

Vienna is corrupt. The Duke, who has let the city fall to vice, hands control to his Deputy, a hardline, puritan reformer.

The Donmar Warehouse has released rehearsal images of Measure For Measure which opens on Thursday 11 October (with previews from Friday 28 September). Directed by Artistic Director Josie Rourke it stars Hayley Atwell and Jack Lowden who will alternate the roles of the powerful Deputy and the powerless Novice within every performance.

The Donmar announces full casting for Artistic Director Josie Rourke's production of Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare. Joining the previously announced Hayley Atwell and Jack Lowden are Ben Allen, Matt Bardock, Nicholas Burns, Jackie Clune, Rachel Denning, Molly Harris, Adam McNamara, Raad Rawi, Sule Rimi, Anwar Russell and Helena Wilson.

George Bernard Shaw's 1923 play about the rise and fall of Joan of Arc closes the Donmar's autumn season, following One Night In Miami. Its main focus is female emancipation, highlighting the struggles that Joan faced to make her way through a man's world - as well as doing her best to stay true to her religion and loyalty to her country.

Donmar Artistic Director Josie Rourke today announced full casting for her revival of Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan. As previously announced, the production will star Gemma Arterton, alongside Matt Bardock, Richard Cant, Hadley Fraser and Elliot Levey.

London is never short of theatre temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From a big musical revival to starry panto and Matthew Bourne's latest, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld's reviews…

Donmar Artistic Director Josie Rourke today announced full casting for her revival of Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan. As previously announced, the production will star Gemma Arterton, alongside Matt Bardock, Richard Cant, Hadley Fraser and Elliot Levey.

Josie Rourke's Donmar Production of Saint Joan, starring Gemma Arterton, is to be broadcast live in cinemas, in partnership with National Theatre Live - on Thursday 16 February 2017

New autumn season of plays in Covent Garden to run alongside the Donmar Shakespeare Trilogy at King's Cross.

The Daily Mail writes that Donmar Warehouse's summer 2014 production of Kevin Elyot's Olivier-winning play MY NIGHT WITH REG is headed to the West End's Apollo Theatre from January 23 for a short run.

Ch-ch-ch-changes... The gay men who dance to David Bowie in the 1994 hit comedy My Night With Reg could not have predicted that 20 years later lesbians and gay men would be getting married. To accompany the Donmar's critically acclaimed revival of Kevin Elyot's landmark play, David Benedict, chief London critic of Variety, asks lesbian and gay cultural figures what has changed onstage and off?

Ch-ch-ch-changes... The gay men who dance to David Bowie in the 1994 hit comedy My Night With Reg could not have predicted that 20 years later lesbians and gay men would be getting married. To accompany the Donmar's critically acclaimed revival of Kevin Elyot's landmark play, David Benedict, chief London critic of Variety, asks lesbian and gay cultural figures what has changed onstage and off?