Anthony Ward News

British comedian Jason Manford is to play Signor Pirelli in Jonathan Kent's West-End production of SWEENY TODD. Actor Michael Ball, who stars as Todd in the show, revealed on the Jonathan Ross Show on Saturday evening that Jason Manford will be taking the role while Robert Burt, who is currently playing the part, is on leave.

Following sell-out success at Chichester Festival Theatre, Jonathan Kent's acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd transfers to London's West End for a limited season from 10 March 2012. Widely acknowledged as Stephen Sondheim's musical masterpiece, Sweeney Todd stars distinguished musical performer Michael Ball as the eponymous demon barber of Fleet Street and Oscar-nominated actress Imelda Staunton as the devoted Mrs Lovett.

Following sell-out success at Chichester Festival Theatre, Jonathan Kent's acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd transfers to London's West End for a limited season from 10 March 2012. Widely acknowledged as Stephen Sondheim's musical masterpiece, Sweeney Todd stars distinguished musical performer Michael Ball as the eponymous demon barber of Fleet Street and Oscar-nominated actress Imelda Staunton as the devoted Mrs Lovett.

Playful Productions and Michael Alden have announced that the of UK tour of THE KING'S SPEECH will transfer to Wyndham's Theatre on 22 March, with an opening night on 27 March. This announcement confirms rumours reported on Broadway World over the past two weeks. The production will also be opening on Broadway in Fall 2012. The world premier production of the original play by David Seidler took place on Friday 10 February at Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and continues on tour around the UK until 17 March.

Playful Productions and Michael Alden Productions present the world premier production of the original play of The King's Speech by David Seidler, who wrote The King's Speech as a play before it became a film for which he won both the Academy Award© and BAFTA for Best Screenplay. The production is currently touring the UK.

Chichester Festival Theatre celebrates its 50th birthday with an anniversary season that echoes and acknowledges the past while also looking to the future. Uncle Vanya was part of Chichester's very first season in 1962 and became a key part of its history and is revisited during Festival 2012. The Way of the World in 1984 has also become an emblematic production; the play will feature again this year.

Following sell-out success at Chichester Festival Theatre, Jonathan Kent's acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd transfers to London's West End for a limited season from 10 March 2012. Widely acknowledged as Stephen Sondheim's musical masterpiece, Sweeney Todd stars distinguished musical performer Michael Ball as the eponymous demon barber of Fleet Street and Oscar-nominated actress Imelda Staunton as the devoted Mrs Lovett. Check out a video preview along with photos from the upcoming transfer below!

As previously reported, the original play of The King's Speech by David Seidler will be brought to the stage next year in a production directed by Adrian Noble. According to The Daily Mail, Joss Ackland, Ian McNeice and Emma Fielding have joined the production as George V, Winston Churchill and the Queen Mother.

Following sell-out success at Chichester Festival Theatre, Jonathan Kent's acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd transfers to London's West End for a limited season from 10 March 2012. Widely acknowledged as Stephen Sondheim's musical masterpiece, Sweeney Todd stars distinguished musical performer Michael Ball as the eponymous demon barber of Fleet Street and Oscar-nominated actress Imelda Staunton as the devoted Mrs Lovett.

Baz Bamigboye reports in today's UK Daily Mail that the hit production of the Chichester Festival Theatre's SWEENEY TODD, starring Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton will indeed, as rumored, transfer to the West End's Adelphi Theatre, beginning on March 10, 1012. The transfer is said to have been approved by Stephen Sondheim who saw the show last week, and delayed a return trip home to see the production a second time. The paper notes that 'he considers the Chichester Sweeney to be a landmark production and would like it, and its two stars, to go to New York.'

Chichester's Festival 2011 closes with Sweeney Todd, the musical commonly acknowledged to be Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece, in a cast led by distinguished musical performer Michael Ball and Oscar-nominated actress Imelda Staunton.

Playful Productions and Michael Alden Productions have announced that the world premier production of the original play of The King's Speech by David Seidler will be brought to the stage next year in a production directed by Adrian Noble.

Chichester's Festival 2011 closes with Sweeney Todd, the musical commonly acknowledged to beStephen Sondheim's masterpiece, in a cast led by distinguished musical performer Michael Ball and Oscar-nominated actress Imelda Staunton.

Chichester's Festival 2011 closes with Sweeney Todd, the musical commonly acknowledged to be Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece, in a cast led by distinguished musical performer Michael Ball and Oscar-nominated actress Imelda Staunton.

Chichester's Festival 2011 closes with Sweeney Todd, the musical commonly acknowledged to be Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece, in a cast led by distinguished musical performer Michael Ball and Oscar-nominated actress Imelda Staunton.

Chichester's Festival 2011 closes with Sweeney Todd, the musical commonly acknowledged to be Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece, in a cast led by distinguished musical performer Michael Ball and Oscar-nominated actress Imelda Staunton.

Full casting is announced for Matthew Bourne's NUTCRACKER!, which returns to Sadler's Wells this Christmas to celebrate the production's 20th Anniversary with a limited seven week run from Tuesday 6 December 2011 - Sunday 22 January 2012, as well as touring extensively throughout the UK (tour schedule attached). New dates are also added, with the tour now playing Dublin Grand Canal Theatre (Tuesday 8 - Saturday 12 May 2012) and Newcastle Theatre Royal (Tuesday 15 - Saturday 19 May 2012). Christmas 2011 marks another special anniversary, as New Adventures returns to Sadler's Wells for a 10th consecutive Christmas Season.

Sadler's Wells announces its Autumn 2011 Season. The Autumn 2011 Season at Sadler's Wells is now on sale from Monday 23 May 2011 Sadler's Wells Ticket Office: 0844 424 4300 or visit: www.sadlerswells.com

According to Whatsonstage.com, Cameron Mackintosh's next big project might be a UK tour of his recent West End revival of OLIVER! The show closed at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in January. Casting notices indictate that the tour will visit Cardiff, Manchester, Birmingham, Southampton, Edinburgh, Norwich, Plymouth, Newcastle, Leeds, Dublin and Bristol. An official anouncement is expected to be made by next week.

At the heart of the sixth season from Artistic Director Jonathan Church and Executive Director Alan Finch will be 'a Festival within a Festival' celebrating the achievements of playwright Terence Rattigan in the centenary year of his birth.