Alistair McGowan News

Final casting has now been announced for the 2016 national tour of Terence Rattigan's FLARE PATH, directed by Justin Audibert, opening on 27 January at the Connaught Theatre in Worthing. Daniel Fraser will play Teddy Graham and Audrey Palmer will play Mrs Oakes.  Daniel played Gregory Cromwell in the acclaimed RSC productions of Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies in Stratford, London and on Broadway.  He also appeared in Chariots of Fire at Hampstead Theatre and in the West End and starred in the Sci-Fi films Frequencies and Lab Rats and the thriller Scar Tissue.

The highly acclaimed 2015 national tour of Terence Rattigan's FLARE PATH, directed by Justin Audibert, has been extended due to popular demand. The 2016 tour will open on 27 January at the Connaught Theatre in Worthing. The cast will be led by Graham Seed as Squadron Leader Swanson, Lynden Edwards as Peter Kyle and Hedydd Dylan as Patricia Graham.

Maggie Ollerenshaw (Open All Hours, Coronation Street) and Daniel Weyman (Foyles War) will join Alistair McGowan in the UK premiere of Peter Quilter's 4000 DAYS, directed by Matt Aston (Bomber's Moon) at Park Theatre from 14 January - 13 February, with a press night on 19 January.  Check out a sneak peek below!

?A major new documentary following the lives of nine Coventry teenagers filmed on location at the Belgrade Theatre will be aired this November on primetime BBC One as part of a special season of programmes celebrating British Theatre across the UK, it was announced today.

The second annual West End Wilma Awards took place on Friday afternoon, 30 October 2015, at The Hippodrome Casino. Below, check out the full list of winners and some snapshots from the awards' red carpet!

As Park Theatre enters its third year, Artistic Director Jez Bond today announces its new season of work, including seven new writing world premieres alongside a number of exciting revivals, and a brand new British musical.

Full casting has today been announced for the West End run of the Royal Court Theatre's production of Hangmen. ProducersRobert Fox, Matthew Byam Shaw for Playful Productions and Royal Court Theatre Productions are delighted to announce that Andy Nyman will play Syd, Craig Parkinson will take on the role of Inspector Fry and Tony Hirst will play Bill, completing the cast of the West End production. Directed by Matthew Dunster, Martin McDonagh's Hangmen will transfer to the Wyndham's Theatre for a strictly limited season, previewing from 1 December.  Check out the new trailer below!

A star-studded West End cast of over 50 principals, a 40-piece orchestra led by Gareth Valentine and an ensemble of more than 50, including a chorus from ArtsEd Musical Theatre, celebrated the songs and shows of Stephen Sondheim in HEY, OLD FRIENDS! An 85th Birthday Tribute to Stephen Sondheim, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on Sunday 25 October.

In July 1995, alone in his cramped study, among thousands of showbusiness artefacts, film stock and memories the comic legend Bob Monkhouse realises his treasured joke books have been stolen. This is something of a disaster in the world of the obsessive performer and joke-smith.  As the reality of the situation sinks in, he is forced into an uneasy introspection. The Man Called Monkhouse traces his life through a difficult childhood, via the vertiginous heights of television superstardom, the dent in his status during the 'new wave' comedy of the late '80s and finishes with a re-born Bob, back on TV and finally feted as the comic genius he undoubtedly was.  

Cahoots Theatre Company and Park Theatre have today released extra tickets for Jonathan Maitland's An Audience with Jimmy Savile, currently playing at Park Theatre in London until 11 July 2015. Two extra shows are now on sale on Monday 29 June and Monday 6 July at 7.30pm.

West End leading lady Imelda Staunton is among a list of stars lending support to a charity gala to honour Stephen Sondheim at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane this October. Staunton comments, This year, Stephen Sondheim turned 85, and some of his old friends here in London - and I'm sure a few young ones - feel that we'd like to do something to celebrate. But we need your help to make it happen.

Justin Fletcher, known to millions as CBeebies Mr Tumble, will be joined by Ronni Ancona as Miss Eerie. Other cast members will include Samuel Buttery, Samantha Dorrance, Connor Elliott, Lizzie Franks, Tom Mackley, Nicholas McLean, Samuel Parker, Katia Sartini, Kai Savage and Ben Stock. The company will be joined on stage by a Makaton signing choir who will perform alongside their hero Mr Tumble.

It's 1991 and a TV show celebrates the recently knighted 'Most Trusted Man In Britain'. But while the great and the good praise him, a different story unfolds elsewhere as one woman embarks on an extraordinary quest to be believed.  How one man used fame, intimidation and manipulation to fool the very institutions we trust and how one brave woman fought back. Drawing extensively on material from genuine interviews, transcripts and TV shows, this is the first play to explore the most shocking sex scandal of our time: how Sir Jimmy Savile 'groomed the nation'.   See more at: https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/an-audience-with-jimmy-savile#sthash.6aW4blgG.dpuf and check out a first look at the production in rehearsal below! 

?Former Reduced Shakespeare Company members John Schwab and Tim Beckmann are to present the world premiere of Stop!... The Play, a madcap, theatrical comedy by David Spicer, in which the worst night in the theatre becomes the most hilarious play in town.

Producers have announced that actor Peter Bowles has left the cast of the world premiere production of Stop!... The Play.

?Former Reduced Shakespeare Company members John Schwab and Tim Beckmann are to present the world premiere of Stop!... The Play, a madcap, theatrical comedy by David Spicer, in which the worst night in the theatre becomes the most hilarious play in town.

As Park Theatre, which won the 'Fringe Theatre of the Year' in the Stage 2015 awards, celebrates its second birthday, Artistic Director Jez Bond today announces its new season of work, including eight new writing world premieres alongside a number of exciting revivals. Alistair McGowan leads the cast in Jonathan Maitland's An Audience with Jimmy Savile; drawing extensively on material from genuine interviews, transcripts and TV shows, this is the first play to explore the most shocking sex scandal of our time. This is followed by striking new family drama The Gathered Leaves by Andrew Keatley and a new play by Craig Baxter, inspired by the work of Anthony Trollope. Lady Anna: All At Sea has been commissioned by the Trollope Society as part of the Trollop Bicentennial Celebrations. Steve Thompson (Dr Who, Sherlock, Upstairs, Downstairs) kicks off the autumn with his financial sector dark comedy Roaring Trade, which is followed by the UK debut of Donald Margulies' Pulitzer Prize winning play Dinner with Friends.

Natalie Dew will play football crazy Jess with Lauren Samuels as Jules, a player with the Harriers, a local women's football team, and Jamie Campbell Bower as their coach Joe. Opening at the Phoenix Theatre on 24 June 2015, London previews for Bend It Like Beckham begin on 15 May 2015. Ronni Ancona will play Paula, Jules's Mum, with Jamal Andreas as Jess' good friend Tony. Preeya Kalidas plays Pinky, Jess' sister, with Tony Jayawardena and Natasha Jayetileke as her parents, Mr and Mrs Bhamra.

The Crazy Coqs has announced its September 2014 schedule in Piccadilly, London. Details below!