Penny Layden

Review: COVEN, Kiln Theatre
by Cindy Marcolina - Nov 12, 2025

Directed by Miranda Cromwell, it’s a mixed bag: invigorating and galvanising on one hand, sermonic and overly explanatory on the other. Exquisite performances deliver generally mid songs that have a tendency to come up short on poetic narrative, but overdo it on the clichés. A more decisive tonal approach might have made the message hit harder. The continuous reiteration of the piece’s political beliefs and the doubling down on its feminist slant by telling rather than showing us slows the show down dramatically and narratively.

COVEN Extends Again at The Kiln Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Oct 20, 2025

Due to popular demand, Kiln Theatre has announced a further extension of the world premiere of new musical Coven, with music and lyrics by Rebecca Brewer and Grammy Award winning Daisy Chute, and book by Rebecca Brewer.

Cast Set For COVEN at the Kiln Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Jul 24, 2025

The world premiere new musical Coven has music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winning Daisy Chute with Rebecca Brewer, book by Rebecca Brewer and is directed by Olivier Award winner Miranda Cromwell.

Video: Watch a Trailer for LONDON TIDE at the National Theatre
by Blair Ingenthron - May 18, 2024

Watch a Trailer for London Tide, playing at the Lyttelton Theatre until 22 June, in the video here!

Photos: First Look at LONDON TIDE at the National Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Apr 17, 2024

Ahead of opening night, the National Theatre has released first look production photos for the world premiere of London Tide. Check out the photos here!

Review: PYGMALION, The Old Vic
by Aliya Al-Hassan - Sep 20, 2023

A tale of transformation, coersive control and eventual female empowerment performed by two of our best stage actors should be a guaranteed hit. However, Richard Jones' revival of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion fails to pack the expected punch.

Photos: First Look at The Old Vic's PYGMALION with Patsy Ferran and Bertie Carvel
by Aliya Al-Hassan - Sep 15, 2023

The Old Vic has released production images for its upcoming revival of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion.

Full Cast and Creatives Announced for PYGMALION at The Old Vic
by Aliya Al-Hassan - Jun 13, 2023

The Old Vic has announced the full cast and creative team for Pygmalion, a play by George Bernard Shaw, directed by Richard Jones

Full Cast Announced For MEDEA Starring Sophie Okonedo and Ben Daniels @sohoplace
by Stephi Wild - Jan 4, 2023

The production stars the previously announced Sophie Okonedo (Medea) and Ben Daniels (Jason/Creon/Aegeus). They will be joined by Marion Bailey (Nurse), Penny Layden (3rd Woman of Corinth), Jo McInnes (1st Woman of Corinth) and Amy Trigg (2nd Woman of Corinth) with understudies Alicia Charles, Leda Hodgson and Tom Peters.

Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Rose Theatre
by Aliya Al-Hassan - Dec 9, 2022

It's always a hard task to 'put a spin' on a story as traditional and well known as Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Morgan Lloyd Malcolm's adaptation gives us a female Scrooge, Charlie Dickens as a magical narrator and a school of cold and hungry children, run by Scrooge's nephew and his wife, who help create a story to teach the miserly Scrooge a lesson.

Photos: Go Inside Rehearsals for A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Rose Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 8, 2022

The Rose Theatre will present A Christmas Carol, adapted by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, with music by Eamonn O’Dwyer and directed by Rosie Jones from 2 December 2022. Press Night 8 December, until 2 January 2023. See rehearsal photos here!

Cast Announced For A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Rose Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Oct 11, 2022

Rose Theatre has announced casting for Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, adapted by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, with music by Eamonn O'Dwyer and directed by Rosie Jones.

THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE Limited Run Enters Final 7 Weeks
by Stephi Wild - Mar 24, 2022

The National Theatre's critically acclaimed production of The Ocean at the End of the Lane will play its final performance on 14 May 2022.

Hosts, Presenters & Performances Announced for 22nd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 15, 2022

WhatsOnStage today announced that Jodie Prenger and Tom Read Wilson will host the 22nd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards. They are joined by presenters Chris Bush, Graziano Di Prima, Omari Douglas, James Graham, David Harewood, Frances Mayli McCann, Stephanie McKeon, Drew McOnie, Daniel Monks, Tracy Ann Oberman, Johannes Radebe, and more.

Photos: THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE Opens in the West End
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 5, 2021

As the National Theatre’s acclaimed production of The Ocean at the End of the Lane opens at The Duke of York’s Theatre in the West End, a final three-week extension is announced. Due to popular demand, the first major stage adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s work will now run until 14 May 2022.

BWW Review: THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE, Duke Of York's Theatre
by Cindy Marcolina - Nov 5, 2021

“Remembering is not different from imagining” says Old Mrs Hemlock to the Boy, all grown up now, as he tries to secure his recollection of the past. Neil Gaiman’s book The Ocean at the End of the Lane is bewitching. It holds a deep pull for people of all ages, who find common ground in it. It’s an incredible feat to take everything that the novel is and translate its feeling and atmosphere for the stage. Writer Joel Horwood and director Katy Rudd achieve the impossible.

Photos: Go Inside Rehearsals for the West End Transfer of THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 11, 2021

Rehearsal images are released for the West End transfer of the National Theatre’s critically acclaimed production of The Ocean at the End of the Lane, based on the best-selling novel by Neil Gaiman, which will extend its run at the Duke of York’s Theatre to 23 April 2022. 

Ruby Ablett, James Bamford, Emma Bown & More to Star in the West End Transfer of THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 13, 2021

As rehearsals begin today, the cast is announced for the West End transfer of the National Theatre’s production of The Ocean at the End of the Lane, based on the best-selling novel by Neil Gaiman, which will extend its run at the Duke of York’s Theatre to 23 April 2022.

BWW Review: ROMEO & JULIET, Globe Theatre YouTube
by Aliya Al-Hassan - Apr 21, 2020

In many ways, the choice of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet is a smart one from Shakespeare's Globe; it is a familiar-enough story to draw in a new audience, while satisfying those who have watched it numerous times. It does, therefore, seem a pity that the Globe has chosen this 2009 version of the world's most famous love story, as it fails to ignite very much passion in either the cast or the audience.

Photo Flash: First Look at the UK Tour of SEEDS
by Stephi Wild - Mar 2, 2020

Production photos have been released for seeds, currently on tour of the UK.