Ben Allen News

Robert Fox and Alex Turner, in association with Park Theatre and King's Head Theatre, today announce the full cast for the UK premiere of Martin Sherman's new play Gently Down The Stream, following a critically acclaimed run at the Public Theater in New York. Sean Mathias directs Jonathan Hyde, Ben Allen and Harry Lawtey. The production opens at Park Theatre on 18 February 2019, with previews from 13 February, running until 16 March.

 Winnipeg's Royal Canoe have shared another single off their upcoming new album Waver, entitled “77-76”, listen to the single below!  Pre-order the album here.

Royal Canoe released a new single, “Peep This”, today - share via YouTube.  The track follows first single 'RAYZ', a month-long North American tour, and a performance at the Paste Live Studio, previewing material from the band's upcoming new album, Waver, due out January 25th, 2019 on Paper Bag Records.  Pre-order Waver.

The Donmar Warehouse today announces the extension due to exceptional demand of Measure for Measure, now booking performances until Saturday 1 December 2018. Friday 30 November will be a performance dedicated solely to YOUNG+FREE audiences aged 25 and under, enabling even more young audiences the opportunity to experience Shakespeare's exploration of sex and power. YOUNG+FREE is funded through the generosity of audiences via the Donmar's PAY IT FORWARD scheme. These donations have allowed the Donmar to allocate more than 12,000 free tickets to those aged 25 and under since the scheme began. Tickets to the YOUNG+FREE Friday performance will be allocated by ballot at the end of October. The ballot is now open for entries by signing up to the YOUNG+FREE mailing list at donmarwarehouse.com.

Vienna is corrupt. The Duke, who has let the city fall to vice, hands control to his Deputy, a hardline, puritan reformer.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic kicked off its Centennial celebrations yesterday with an epic, history-making open-streets event: Celebrate LA!: LA Phil 100 x CicLAvia presented in partnership with CicLAvia and Community Arts Resources (CARS), and a free concert at the Hollywood Bowl, LA Phil 100 at the Bowl.

The Donmar Warehouse has released rehearsal images of Measure For Measure which opens on Thursday 11 October (with previews from Friday 28 September). Directed by Artistic Director Josie Rourke it stars Hayley Atwell and Jack Lowden who will alternate the roles of the powerful Deputy and the powerless Novice within every performance.

Royal Canoe has announced they have signed to Paper Bag Records to release a brand new album, Waver, January 25th, 2019.  The Winnipeg sextet also revealed the video for their brand-new single 'RAYZ' along with a North America September/October tour, before hitting the UK + Europe in early 2019 (all dates below).

The Donmar announces full casting for Artistic Director Josie Rourke's production of Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare. Joining the previously announced Hayley Atwell and Jack Lowden are Ben Allen, Matt Bardock, Nicholas Burns, Jackie Clune, Rachel Denning, Molly Harris, Adam McNamara, Raad Rawi, Sule Rimi, Anwar Russell and Helena Wilson.

Noel Coward's comic play Present Laughter is said to be his most autobiographical work, dealing with the complexities of a life of fame in the theatre world. It tells of the mischief and misery of actor Garry Essendine (an anagram of 'neediness', as the programme note points out), his household staff and close circle of friends and lovers.

The full company is announced today for the opening production of Chichester's Festival 2018, Noel Coward's PRESENT LAUGHTER. Directed by Sean Foley, the cast is led by Rufus Hound as Garry Essendine, Katherine Kingsley as Liz Essendine and Tracy-Ann Oberman as Monica Reed.

Guardian Angels is proud to announce we will be hosting our Annual Bark-A-Que(R) featuring The Ben Allen Band LIVE in concert! The event will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2018 from 10-2.

The Ovation Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Ovation TV, has recognized the work of five non-profit arts organizations with $125,000 in awards as part of its 2017 Creative Economy innOVATION Grant Awards Program. In its fourth grant cycle, the program focused on identifying model nonprofit arts organizations that cultivate and support artists and enterprises in the creative industries through capacity-building, accelerating partnerships, and/or fiscal support. Five grants of $25,000 each were awarded to the following nonprofit organizations:

'All children are my children, I cry for them with same tears' wrote actor, singer and peace activist Theo Bikel a year before he died. Some 200 people gathered at a magnificent Beverly Hills estate on Sun Jan 28 to celebrate his life and memory, while raising funds for Project Rozana: Building Bridges to Peace through the medical treatment of wounded and ill Syrian children in Ziv hospital in Israel.

When a production transfers, changes are inevitable. Different spaces create different possibilities and limitations, for actors, directors and designers alike. For the audience then, the entire experience between watching a show in one theatre and another may be wholly different. Part of the Royal Shakespeare Company's Rome MMXVII Season, Antony & Cleopatra is one of four shows to transfer to the Barbican. Rather than lose anything, Iqbal Khan's production gains something in this move. Playing in a proscenium arch theatre, the show and Robert Innes Hopkins' design cry out: 'Here is my space'.

Slum Sociable are Edward Quinn (production/keys/guitar) and Miller Upchurch (vocals and percussion). Steeped in groove, the Melbourne duo's music grasps the hips and guides them left to right to left in a hypnotic sway through an intersection of soul, hip-hop and electronica.

Slum Sociable are Edward Quinn (production/keys/guitar) and Miller Upchurch (vocals and percussion). Steeped in groove, the Melbourne duo's music grasps the hips and guides them left to right to left in a hypnotic sway through an intersection of soul, hip-hop and electronica.

Slum Sociable are Edward Quinn (production/keys/guitar) and Miller Upchurch (vocals and percussion). Steeped in groove, the Melbourne duo's music grasps the hips and guides them left to right to left in a hypnotic sway through an intersection of soul, hip-hop and electronica.

Upcoming Melbourne Act, Slum Sociable Release 'Castle' the first official single taken from the duo's debut album. It's due for release October 13.

Returning with an all-new program for 2017 and increased grant money for five worthy recipients, The Ovation Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Ovation TV, is announcing a call for entries in its 2017 Creative Economy innOVATION Grant Awards Program.