Anne Reid News

Shane Allen, Controller, Comedy Commissioning and Charlotte Moore, Director, BBC Content have commissioned EDITH, a six part comedy series by Oscar-nominated writer Charles McKeown from BBC Studios featuring a stellar cast, led by Alison Steadman, John Cleese and Jason Watkins.

Last night, musical 42ND STREET opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London's West End. The show received a royal seal of approval from Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, who was given a pair of golden tap shoes by the producers and writer/director Mark Bramble. The Duchess attended the show in her role as Royal Patron of East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH).

Girls dressed as guys picking up the way men pick up women. Too long have the secrets of pick-up culture been hidden by hetero-men. All singing, all dancing and all pick-up line rapping girl trio The Desperettes are here with their show 'A Guide to being a Wingman' to give everyone a chance at finding 'love'.

???????Following an acclaimed, sold-out run at Chichester Festival Theatre, FRACKED! OR: PLEASE DON'T USE THE F-WORD will embark on a UK tour from April 2017. Alistair Beaton's provocative new comedy takes us to an idyllic English village threatened by an energy company intent on drilling for shale gas. 

Matthew Bourne's acclaimed new production of THE RED SHOES had its Sadler's Wells press night this week and a special gala performance last night. The show runs until 29 January, 2017.

New late night variety show, The Glitter and Doom Salon opens at the Edinburgh Festival stage this week with an evolving lineup of cabaret and vaudeville artists taking part, making each night a unique experience.

The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye reports that Oliver Chris has joined the cast of Alistair Beaton's new play FRACKED! OR: PLEASE DON'T USE THE F-WORD at Chichester Festival Theatre. Richard Wilson will helm the production, currently scheduled to run at the Minerva Theatre from 8 July - 6 August.

The Stephen Sondheim Society and Mercury Musical Developments recently announced the winners of the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year and Stiles + Drewe Prize. The winners were revealed at the 10th anniversary West End Gala held at the Novello Theatre which was hosted by star of stage and screen Julian Ovenden. Scroll down for photos from the big event!

Olivier Award-winning writing duo George Stiles and Anthony Drewe today announce the winners of their newly-expanded Stiles and Drewe Prize 2016. Now in its 9th year, the Stiles + Drewe Prize for Best New Song is joined by their first-ever Mentorship Award, supported by Music Theatre International (Europe).

The Stephen Sondheim Society and Mercury Musical Developments today announce the winners of the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year and Stiles + Drewe Prize. The winners were revealed at the 10th anniversary West End Gala held at the Novello Theatre which was hosted by star of stage and screen Julian Ovenden.

The Stephen Sondheim Society and Mercury Musical Developments today announce the 10thanniversary West End Gala for the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year and Stiles + Drewe Prize. To mark this special landmark occasion, the 2016 competition is being staged at the Novello Theatre in London on Sunday 15 May, hosted by star of stage and screen Julian Ovenden (Downton Abbey, Sunday in the Park with George, Merrily We Roll Along, Sondheim 80th Birthday Prom). In addition to this, among this year's judges will be Don Black,Jason Carr, Anne Reid MBE, Sondheim Society Patron Julia McKenzie and Olivier Award-nominated actress Sophie-Louise Dann, reuniting her with Ovenden after they performed together in Sunday in the Park with George at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. Furthermore, writer and broadcaster Edward Seckerson will Chair the Student Performer judging panel. 

From tonight 27 April, Martin Barrass will return to the role of Mr Perks and Suzy Cooper has joined the cast as Mother in the Olivier Award-winning production of Mike Kenny's stage adaptation of E. Nesbit's novel The Railway Children - Live on Stage.

From 27 April, Martin Barrass will return to the role of Mr Perks and Suzy Cooper has joined the cast as Mother in the Olivier Award-winning production of Mike Kenny's stage adaptation of E. Nesbit's novel The Railway Children - Live on Stage. Also joining the cast are Shaun McCourt as Jim and Adam Collier, Alan Drake and Julie Gilby.

Nothing but blue skies at Crazy Coqs this month.

Jonathan Church and Alan Finch announce the Chichester Festival Theatre 2016 season - the last under their leadership as Artistic Director and Executive Director. 

Nothing but blue skies at Crazy Coqs this March.

We talk to some of our favourite theatre folk, including Kerry Ellis, Sabrina Aloueche and Tiffany Graves, about their favourite theatre experiences of 2015!

Hosted by Julian Clary, with an introduction by Ian McKellen, the evening of song, speech and music was held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Ian Charleson Day Centre at the Royal Free Hospital. It included performances by Michael Cashman, Rupert Everett, Anne Reid and Stefan Bednarczyk, the X Factor's Anton Stephans, mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly, actor Jack Lowden and the London Gay Men's Choir. Speakers included Nick Partridge, Laurence Isaacson and Sean Mathias. 

In honor of their rapidly approaching Centennial Anniversary, the shop has reached out to some of its most beloved fans and asked them to share why they keep coming back for more. Legendary actors Brian Dennehy and Laura Linney are featured in the shop's new video series, along with Leslie Kritzer, Neil LaBute, Anne Reid and more. Watch the first video in the series below and find out why they all love The Drama Book Shop!

Hosted by Julian Clary, with an introduction by Ian McKellen, the evening of song, speech and music to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Ian Charleson Day Centre at the Royal Free Hospital will include performances by Michael Cashman, Anne Reid and Stefan Bednarczyk, the X Factor's Anton Stephans, mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly, actor Jack Lowden and the London Gay Men's Choir.