Andrew Keates News

Arion Productions has announced actor Annette Badland as their patron. She joins composer Howard Goodall CBE and playwright Martin Sherman as champions of the London based theatre company, under the Artistic Direction of Andrew Keates.

Host and Director Andrew Keates has been joined by two-time Olivier Award winner David Bedella on Arion Productions' The Show People Podcast. David talks about growing up in Gary, Lake Country, Indiana to a family who worked in the steel industry, his showbiz inspirations and challenges he faced during education, his first jobs as a performer - including spending ten years working in Chicago, appearing in the first Broadway production of Smokey Joe's Cafe, his frustrations with being perceived as being 'just a dancer' and why he left America after falling in love with a pastor that would end up seeing him folding towels as a hairdresser in Islington.

Steve Furst (Walk Like a Panther, Little Britain, The Wright Stuff, Matilda, Orange Cinema Ads, Toast of London) will be presenting his new one-man-show, Steve Furst - In Character at the Belly Theatre as part of the Underbelly Festival 2018 for one night only on Friday 15thJune 2018 at 9.15pm, directed by multi-award-winning Director Andrew Keates.

Arion Productions has launched The Show People Podcast a biweekly podcast that shines a spotlight on the UK's performing arts industry hosted by multi-award-winning Theatre Director and the company's Artistic Director, Andrew Keates.

Several shows in the running for this year's Olivier Awards, announced next Sunday 9 April, are also recognised this week in the third-annual Also Recognised Awards - in some notably different categories.

Gyuri Sarossy (The Rover RSC, Two Noble Kinsmen RSC, The Absence of War Headlong) and Candy Ma (Project New Earth, Chinese Arts Centre and Yellow Earth Theatre) have been announced to lead the talented bilingual cast of Chinglish. Tony Award-winning and Pulitzer Prize finalist David Henry Hwang returns to Park Theatre with the European premiere of his Broadway hit Chinglish following the sell-out success of Yellow Face (Park Theatre 2013, National Theatre 2014).

???????FIRST Festival of Solo Performance is Tristan Bates Theatre's annual Festival of Solo Performances, first curated in 2013 gaining the support of Arts Council England in 2014.

Gyuri Sarossy (The Rover RSC, Two Noble Kinsmen RSC, The Absence of War Headlong) and Candy Ma (Project New Earth, Chinese Arts Centre and Yellow Earth Theatre) have been announced to lead the talented bilingual cast of Chinglish. Tony Award-winning and Pulitzer Prize finalist David Henry Hwang returns to Park Theatre with the European premiere of his Broadway hit Chinglish following the sell-out success of Yellow Face (Park Theatre 2013, National Theatre 2014).

Shortlists for the third annual Also Recognised Awards have been announced by MyTheatreMates, founded by Mark Shenton and Terri Paddock. These audience-voted industry accolades celebrate talent in fields often overlooked by other award bodies. Voting is now open for all categories and closes on Sunday 26th March 2017. Cast your vote at www.mytheatremates.com/AlsoRecognisedAwards-2017!

Gyuri Sarossy (The Rover RSC, Two Noble Kinsmen RSC, The Absence of War Headlong) and Candy Ma (Project New Earth, Chinese Arts Centre and Yellow Earth Theatre) have been announced to lead the talented bilingual cast of Chinglish.

BroadwayWorld has just learned that there will be an industry protest against yellowface casting at the Print Room.

Steve Furst (Little Britain, The Wright Stuff, Matilda, Orange Cinema Ads, Toast of London) will be presenting his new one-man-show, Steve Furst - In Character at the Museum of Comedy, this week, 5 - 7 October 2016 for only three performances.

Arion Productions has announced actor, writer and producer Mark Gatiss as the latest artist to join their exceptional line-up of industry professionals to provide expert,  'one day only' training in much-sought-after specialist fields for professional theatre-makers and those considering professional training at Diorama Arts Studios.

Steve Furst (Little Britain, The Wright Stuff, Matilda, Orange Cinema Ads, Toast of London) will be presenting his new one-man-show, Steve Furst - In Character at the Museum of Comedy, 5 - 7 October 2016 for only three performances.

Arion Productions has announced West End leading lady, Anna Jane Casey, as the latest artist to join the line-up of extraordinary performers and industry professionals providing expert 'one day only' training in much-sought-after specialist fields.  These masterclasses take place at Diorama Arts Studios on various Sunday afternoons throughout 2016.

Several shows that were winners or nominees at the 40th anniversary Olivier Awards on Sunday are also recognised this week in the second-annual Also Recognised Awards, in a range of notably different categories. The full list of winners is announced today in this audience-voted, industry accolade set up by theatre commentators Mark Shenton and Terri Paddock to celebrate lesser- known but equally worthy talent in fields overlooked by other awards bodies.

Arion Productions Ltd has launched a new series of masterclasses to provide expert 'one day only' training in much-sought-after specialist fields with some of the country's finest theatre, film, television and radio professionals at the Diorama Arts Studios. Masterclasses include, two time Oliver Award winner, Jenny Galloway (Acting Through Song Masterclass), long standing War Horse, Citizen Squid and Goodnight Mr Tom puppeteer, Abigail Matthews (West End Puppetry Masterclass) and Olivier and Actor's Screen Guild Award nominated actress Annette Badland (Acting for Stage and Screen Masterclass) who is currently appearing in EastEnders.

MyTheatreMates, founded by Mark Shenton and Terri Paddock, have announced the shortlists in the second annual Also Recognised Awards.

This September, Arion Productions presents the world premiere of new British musical THE WHITE FEATHER at the Union Theatre, tonight 16th September - 17th October 2015 (opening night 18th September). It tells the story of Georgina Briggs whose brother was one of over 300 allied soldiers executed for cowardice during the First World War. She won't accept the shame and she won't let it lie. But as she fights for justice a shocking discovery awaits her. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal!