Alan Bennett News

Alan Ayckbourn's brilliantly funny play Relatively Speaking comes to the Lyceum Theatre from Monday 19 - Saturday 24 September starring highly acclaimed TV and stage actors Robert Powell and Liza Goddard.

The Shakespeare Revue, a comic concoction of hilarious sketches and show-stopping numbers written by comedy icons Victoria Wood, Alan Bennett, Maureen Lipman, Monty Python, Noel Coward, Cole Porter, Fry & Laurie and musical theatre favourites, Stephen Sondheim, Stiles & Drewe and many more, returns to the stage with a UK tour as part of the nationwide celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death.

Happy Birthday, Sam Mendes! Sam Mendes is best known for whis work as the artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse, and his direction of the film American Beauty and the Broadway production of Cabaret on Broadway starring Alan Cumming. His production of Oliver! became the longest running show ever to play at the London Palladium. Additional stage credits includeTennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie, Stephen Sondheim's Company (which had the first ever African American 'Bobby'), Alan Bennett's Habeas Corpus and his farewell duo of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya and Twelfth Night, which transferred to the Brooklyn Academy Of Music and Gypsy on Broadway starring Bernadette Peters.

Crowning its year-long tribute to Shakespeare's 400th anniversary, Elements Theatre Company presents King Lear under the direction of Danielle Dwyer, CJ. In the striking outdoor setting of the Atrium of the Church of the Transfiguration, the members of Elements Theatre Company bring all of their passionate dedication and expertise to the Bard's riveting portrayal of a kingdom and families torn apart. Press night is Opening night, August 12, 7:00pm guest lecture Dr. Kathryn Moncrief, followed by outdoor performance 8:00pm.

The Shakespeare Revue, a comic concoction of hilarious sketches and show-stopping numbers written by comedy icons Victoria Wood, Alan Bennett, Maureen Lipman, Monty Python, Noel Coward, Cole Porter, Fry & Laurie and musical theatre favourites, Stephen Sondheim, Stiles & Drewe and many more, returns to the stage with a UK tour as part of the nationwide celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. The production opens at the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne on Wednesday 3 August 2016 and tours to a further six venues until 26th November 2016, prior to West End. Further dates to be announced.

The Shakespeare Revue, a comic concoction of hilarious sketches and show-stopping numbers written by comedy icons Victoria Wood, Alan Bennett, Maureen Lipman, Monty Python, Noel Coward, Cole Porter, Fry & Laurie and musical theatre favourites, Stephen Sondheim, Stiles & Drewe and many more, returns to the stage with a UK tour as part of the nationwide celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. The production opens at the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne on Wednesday 3 August 2016 and tours to a further six venues until 26th November 2016, prior to West End. Further dates to be announced.

Jonathan Maitland's debut play, DEAD SHEEP, directed by Ian Talbot OBE, will tour the UK from 6 September - 28 November 2016. Steve Nallon will return to the production to star as 'Margaret Thatcher', having portrayed her for many years on the political puppetry satire Spitting Image. Paul Bradley, best known for playing 'Professor Elliot Hope' in Holby City, will play 'Geoffrey Howe', Carol Royle will play 'Elspeth Howe', Graham Seed will play 'Ian Gow / Nigel Lawson', Tony Bell will play 'Bernard Ingham / Alan Clark / Dennis Thatcher' and John Wark will play 'Stephen Wall / Brian Walden'.

Paul Hart, The Watermill's Artistic and Executive Director, has today announced the appointment of five Associate Artists for the West Berkshire producing theatre; George Stiles, Anthony Drewe, Rosalie Craig, Johnny Flynn and Tom Attenborough.

After months of anticipation, the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child finally begins previews at the Palace Theatre in the West End this week. The new play is a collaboration between Potter creator J.K. Rowling, playwright Jack Thorne and director John Tiffany, and stars Jamie Parker as Harry Potter, Poppy Miller as Ginny Potter, Sam Clemmett as Albus Potter, Paul Thornley as Ron Weasley, Noma Dumezweni as Hermione Granger, Cherrelle Skeete as Rose Granger-Weasley, Alex Price as Draco Malfoy, Anthony Boyle as Scorpius Malfoy.

Initial casting is announced today (26 May 2016) for Qdos Entertainment's London Palladium production of Cinderella.  The 32 strong cast will be led byPaul O'Grady as The Wicked Stepmother, Julian Clary as Dandini, Lee Mead as Prince Charming, Paul Zerdin as Buttons, Nigel Havers as Lord Chamberlain and Count Arthur Strong as Baron Hardup.  The roles of Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother and the Ugly Sisters will be announced soon. 

Goodman Theatre announces Broadway stars John Dossett and Douglas Sills will join the cast of War Paint, a new musical starring two-time Tony Award winners Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole as Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden, respectively. Dossett will portray Tommy Lewis, Miss Arden's husband and chief marketing officer, and Sills will portray the ambitious Harry Fleming, Madame Rubinstein's clubby confidante and faithful ally.

The Mono Box today confirms that it will host a fundraising gala, Lifting the Lid, on 7 June 2016. The event will feature performances from Mathew Horne, Joseph Marcell, Patrick Marber and more, as well as an auction with prizes including signed memorabilia from Sally Hawkins and Zoe Wanamaker.

Summerhall, Edinburgh's most daring and respected year-round multi-arts venue, is proud to announce its 2016 Festival Programme.

Astronauts. Regrets. The sexes. Social Media. Hipsters. Poo. Rage. Medicine. Manners. Identity. Lost stuff. Other stuff.

Dame Maggie Smith visited the University of Oxford's Bodleian Libraries yesterday to open SHAKESPEARE'S DEAD, the Libraries' summer exhibition. The celebrated actress joined donors and special guests, including renowned playwright Alan Bennett and Lord Patten of Barnes, the Chancellor of the University of Oxford, at the Bodleian's newly-refurbished Weston Library for the official opening of the exhibition, which runs until 18 September. Scroll down for photos from the opening!

It is announced today that Damien Molony, best known for his roles in BBC's Being Human and Ripper Street, will play the role of 'Foster' in Harold Pinter's No Man's Land, completing casting for the play. Molony joins the previously announced Ian McKellen as 'Spooner', Patrick Stewart as 'Hirst' and Owen Teale as 'Briggs' in Sean Mathias' production, which will tour venues across the UK from 3 August prior to a limited engagement at London's Wyndham's Theatre from 8 September.

Goodman Theatre has announced Broadway stars John Dossett and Douglas Sills will join the cast of War Paint, a new musical starring two-time Tony Award winners Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole as Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden, respectively. Dossett will portray Tommy Lewis, Miss Arden's husband and chief marketing officer, and Sills will portray the ambitious Harry Fleming, Madame Rubinstein's clubby confidante and faithful ally.  

The Watermill Theatre today announces the full company for Alan Bennett's Untold Stories opening on 5 May and running until 11 June. The production is part of Paul Hart's inaugural season as the new artistic director at The Watermill.

Alan Bennett's comedy masterpiece Single Spies visits the Lyceum Theatre from Tuesday 26 - Saturday 30 April.  Starring Nicholas Farrell, Belinda Lang and David Robb, the award-winning espionage double bill is a pointedly satirical snapshot of two members of the infamous 'Cambridge Five', Guy Burgess and Anthony Blunt, both recruited as spies by the Soviet Union during World War II. 

The 2017 Olivier Awards will be held at the Royal Albert Hall.