Ben Cooper News

It amazes me how a musical performed with little or no scenery, props, or costumes, and on a small intimate stage can become one of the preeminent shows of the season. That is exactly what Oliver! accomplished on opening night Saturday December 6 at the Off Center Theatre in Kansas City. This achievement speaks volumes to the creative team of Musical Theater Heritage that labored to near perfection.

The second production in Charing Cross Theatre's second season will be the Olivier Award-winning OperaUpClose production of LA BOHEME directed by Robin Norton-Hale in a new English version by Robin Norton-Hale, with musical direction and piano accompaniment by Elspeth Wilkes.

The second production in Charing Cross Theatre's second season will be the Olivier Award-winning OperaUpClose production of LA BOHEME directed by Robin Norton-Hale in a new English version by Robin Norton-Hale, with musical direction and piano accompaniment by Elspeth Wilkes.

Gary Naylor sees a Carmen for our times.

Olivier?Award-winning OperaUpClose's new version of Georges Bizet's?Carmen, in a new English libretto by Ben Cooper, accompanied by piano and Spanish guitar, will be directed by Rodula Gaitanou, a recent Royal Opera House Jette Parker Young Artist.

Olivier?Award-winning OperaUpClose's new version of Georges Bizet's?Carmen, in a new English libretto by Ben Cooper, accompanied by piano and Spanish guitar, will be directed by Rodula Gaitanou, a recent Royal Opera House Jette Parker Young Artist.

Robin Norton-Hale directs Shakespeare's classic comedy in a new production set in modern-day Brixton opening for a four-week run at Southwark Playhouse tonight.

Robin Norton-Hale directs Shakespeare's classic comedy in a new production set in modern-day Brixton opening for a four-week run at Southwark Playhouse on 7 October 2011 with previews from 4 October 2011.

One of the earliest operas, written in the 1640s, Monteverdi's The Coronation of Poppea, is to get a fresh treatment by Mark Ravenhill and Alex Silverman, with a new jazz-inspired orchestration, and featuring a cast of exciting singing talents.

One of the earliest operas, written in the 1640s, Monteverdi's The Coronation of Poppea, is to get a fresh treatment by Mark Ravenhill and Alex Silverman, with a new jazz-inspired orchestration, and featuring a cast of exciting singing talents.

One of the earliest operas, written in the 1640s, Monteverdi's The Coronation of Poppea, is to get a fresh treatment by Mark Ravenhill and Alex Silverman, with a new jazz-inspired orchestration, and featuring a cast of exciting singing talents.

Puccini's La Bohème will close at The Cock Tavern in Kilburn on January 2, 2011. OperaUpClose's La Bohème has become the world's longest continuously running opera, after six months in Kilburn and a six week season at Soho Theatre (where it returns for another six weeks in January), meeting with great critical acclaim. This intimate staging has been wowing consistently sold-out houses with comedy, pathos, and its unique Act 2 - performed in the bar amongst locals and audience alike - described by the New York Times as 'one of the most ingenious stagings ever devised'.

Puccini's La Bohème returns to The Cock Tavern in Kilburn for an exclusive three week run at its home venue, to celebrate this production's first birthday. OperaUpClose's La Bohème has become the world's longest continuously running opera, after six months in Kilburn and a six week season at Soho Theatre (where it returns for another six weeks in January), meeting with great critical acclaim. This intimate staging has been wowing consistently sold-out houses with comedy, pathos, and its unique Act 2 - performed in the bar amongst locals and audience alike - described by the New York Times as 'one of the most ingenious stagings ever devised'.

Puccini's operatic masterpiece Madama Butterfly is transplanted to present-day Bangkok in the world premiere of Madam Butterfly (or Bangkok Butterfly), a radical reinterpretation, directed by OperaUpClose artistic director Adam Spreadbury-Maher, who makes his operatic directing debut for the company.

Following a sell-out, smash hit season, H.M.S Pinafore transfers to LONDON'S LITTLE OPERA HOUSE at the King's Head Theatre

Puccini's La Bohème returns to The Cock Tavern in Kilburn for an exclusive three week run at its home venue, to celebrate this production's first birthday. OperaUpClose's La Bohème has become the world's longest continuously running opera, after six months in Kilburn and a six week season at Soho Theatre (where it returns for another six weeks in January), meeting with great critical acclaim. This intimate staging has been wowing consistently sold-out houses with comedy, pathos, and its unique Act 2 - performed in the bar amongst locals and audience alike - described by the New York Times as 'one of the most ingenious stagings ever devised'.

Puccini's operatic masterpiece Madama Butterfly is transplanted to present-day Bangkok in the world premiere of Madam Butterfly (or Bangkok Butterfly), a radical reinterpretation, directed by OperaUpClose artistic director Adam Spreadbury-Maher, who makes his operatic directing debut for the company.

Following a sell-out, smash hit season, H.M.S Pinafore transfers to LONDON'S LITTLE OPERA HOUSE at the King's Head Theatre

London's very first fringe venue, the King's Head Theatre, opened in 1970 in the back room of a Victorian pub in Islington by maverick American Dan?Crawford, was the first pub theatre in England since the days of Shakespeare. Now the creative baton at this legendary venue has been handed over to an award-winning Australian producer-director, Adam Spreadbury-Maher, and his appointment as Artistic Director, heralds major changes.