Brits Off-Broadway News

The Sheffield office of law firm Hill Dickinson has embarked on the third year of a partnership with Sheffield Theatres to fund its 'New Initiatives' writing programme.

Critically acclaimed theatre company Third Man Theatre are working at the Old Red Lion for the first time, with the London transfer of their brand new full-length show, Mugs Arrows, which was developed and premiered at the Bike Shed Theatre, Exeter as part of their Residency programme in 2013 receiving rave reviews. The show will run at the Old Red Lion Theatre, Islington from today, 3rd - 21s June 2014. Press night is set for Thursday 5th June, 7.30pm.

Last month, Britain's most prolific playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn celebrated his 75th birthday. With 78 major plays to his credit, the busy play maker seems more popular than ever - even on this side of the Atlantic. In fact, over the next few months, fans can see a wealth of Ayckbourn productions - all located in and around the New York area. Let's take a look at what the master playwright has in store for metro area theater-goers this summer!

The US premiere of CHALK FARM, written by Kieran Hurley & AJ Taudevin, will be directed by Neil Bettles as part of Brits Off Broadway at 59E59 Theaters, beginning tonight, May 21 and running through June 8. Opening night is slated for Wednesday, May 28, 2014.

59E59 Theaters welcomes The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford to Brits Off Broadway with the US premiere of SIMON GREEN: SO, THIS THEN IS LIFE, created by Simon Green and David Shrubsole, performed by Mr. Green, with musical arrangement and accompaniment by Mr. Shrubsole. SIMON GREEN: SO, THIS THEN IS LIFE begins performances tonight, May 20 for a limited engagement through Sunday, June 1.

St. James Theatre Productions presents the Orange Tree Theatre's highly acclaimed Invincible by Torben Betts, directed by Ellie Jones. The production will run from Thursday 10 July to Saturday 09 August 2014, with press night on Tuesday 15 July at 7pm.

According to Jessica Walker, she spent much of her career playing trouser roles in opera and musical theatre. From her curiosity, the kernel for THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME was planted. With Director and Co-Writer Neil Bartlett, Jessica Walker crafted a variety show that explores and celebrates this once loved but now almost entirely forgotten aspect of performance history.

59E59 Theaters will welcome the US premiere of PAT KIRKWOOD IS ANGRY, written by Jessica Walker, with Joseph Atkins at the piano, and directed by Lee Blakeley, with musical arrangements by James Holmes. PAT KIRKWOOD IS ANGRY begins performances on Tuesday, June 10 for a limited engagement through Sunday, June 29. Press opening is Sunday, June 15 at 7:30 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:30 PM; Friday at 8:30 PM; Saturday at 2:30 PM & 8:30 PM; and Sunday at 3:30 PM & 7:30 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Tickets are $25 ($17.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or go to www.59e59.org.

This summer the writers of previous Edinburgh Fringe hits Coalition and Making News and multi-award winning director of Instinct For Kindness and Lockerbie - Unfinished Business are set to team up with one of the most respected actors of his generation to present a satirical tale of political intrigue, gamesmanship and ambition in the corridors of power. Alan Cox is to be directed by Hannah Eidinow in Robert Khan and Tom Salinsky's Kingmaker, the story of a fictional yet strangely familiar political figure whose bumbling bonhomie disguises a fierce determination and a heart of steel.

Critically acclaimed theatre company Third Man Theatre are working at the Old Red Lion for the first time, with the London transfer of their brand new full-length show, Mugs Arrows, which was developed and premiered at the Bike Shed Theatre, Exeter as part of their Residency programme in 2013 receiving rave reviews. The show will run at the Old Red Lion Theatre, Islington from 3rd - 21s June 2014. Press night is set for Thursday 5th June, 7.30pm.

59E59 Theaters will welcome the Stephen Joseph Theatre back to Brits Off Broadway with the US premieres of ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES, TIME OF MY LIFE, and FARCICALS: A Double Bill of Frivolous Comedies, written and directed by Alan Ayckbourn. ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES begins performances on Thursday, May 29 (Opening Night is Wednesday, June 4 at 7:00 PM). TIME OF MY LIFE begins performances on Friday, June 6 (Opening Night is Wednesday, June 11 at 7:00 PM). FARCICALS: A Double Bill of Frivolous Comedies begins performances on Saturday, June 7 (Opening Night is Tuesday, June 10 at 7:00 PM). All shows run through Sunday, June 29. The performance schedule varies. Please see attached calendar for the individual show schedules. Single tickets for ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES and TIME OF MY LIFE are $70 ($49 for 59E59 Members). Single tickets to FARCICALS: A Double Bill of Frivolous Comedies are $50 ($35 for 59E59 Members).

59E59 Theaters welcomes KPS Productions, in association with the Pleasance Theatre in Edinburgh to Brits Off Broadway & supported by Jersey Arts Trust, with PLAYING WITH GROWN UPS by Hannah Patterson, directed by Hannah Eidinow. PLAYING WITH GROWN UPS began performances on Tuesday, April 29 for a limited engagement through Sunday, May 18. Press opening is today, Tuesday, May 6 at 7:15 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:15 PM; Friday at 8:15 PM; Saturday at 2:15 PM and 8:15 PM; and Sunday at 3:15 PM and 7:15 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Tickets are $35 ($24.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279- 4200 or visit www.59e59.org.

The US premiere of CHALK FARM, written by Kieran Hurley & AJ Taudevin, will be directed by Neil Bettles as part of Brits Off Broadway at 59E59 Theaters, beginning May 21 and running through June 8. Opening night is slated for Wednesday, May 28, 2014.

Join actor/playwright Harry Melling (best known as Dudley Dursley from the Harry Potter film franchise) for a special Twitter Q&A on Wednesday, May 7 at 1 PM. Harry will be using the @59E59 Twitter handle to answer fan questions and to talk about his solo show PEDDLING, which just opened as part of Brits Off Broadway at 59E59 Theaters. Ask questions and follow the conversation via #AskPeddling.

59E59 Theaters will welcome New Perspectives back to Brits Off Broadway with the US premiere of David Rudkin's THE LOVESONG OF ALFRED J HITCHCOCK, directed by Jack McNamara. THE LOVESONG OF ALFRED J HITCHCOCK begins performances tonight, May 1 for a limited engagement through Sunday, May 25. Press opening is Wednesday, May 7 at 7 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7 PM; Friday at 8 PM; Saturday at 2 PM & 8 PM; Sunday at 3 PM & 7 PM.

59E59 Theaters will welcome KPS Productions in association with the Pleasance Theatre in Edinburgh to Brits Off Broadway with PLAYING WITH GROWN UPS by Hannah Patterson, directed by Hannah Eidinow. PLAYING WITH GROWN UPS begins performances tonight, April 29 for a limited engagement through Sunday, May 18.

Harry Melling's premiere of PEDDLING at 'Brits Off Broadway' at 59E59 is an emotional thrilll ride of passion, grit, and whirlwind of emotion.

59E59 Theaters has introduced ThickSkin to New York with the US premiere of CHALK FARM, written by Kieran Hurley & AJ Taudevin, and directed by Neil Bettles. Part of Brits Off Broadway, CHALK FARM begins performances on Wednesday, May 21 for a limited engagement through Sunday, June 8. Press opening is Wednesday, May 28 at 7:30 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:30 PM; Friday at 8:30 PM; Saturday at 2:30 PM & 8:30 PM; and Sunday at 3:30 PM & 7:30 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Tickets are $25 ($17.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre continues the second half of its season with Tribes, a sophisticated and moving family drama by celebrated British playwright Nina Raine. Her profound and powerful new play became an award-winning hit in London and New York. Now renowned director Jonathan Moscone brings it to Berkeley Rep this April for its Bay Area premiere. Tribes follows Billy, a young man who was born deaf into a loquacious and highly opinionated academic family who raised him to lip-read and integrate into the hearing world. When he meets Sylvia - raised by Deaf parents and going deaf herself - Billy decides it's time to speak on his own terms and to be heard. Playing out in words, sign language, and sometimes mesmerizing silence, this penetrating drama examines familial love, notions of belonging, and the intersections of communication. Tribes began previews Friday, April 11, opens tonight, April 16, and closes on Sunday, May 11, 2014.

59E59 Theaters welcomes The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford to Brits Off Broadway with the US premiere of SIMON GREEN: SO, THIS THEN IS LIFE, created by Simon Green and David Shrubsole, performed by Mr. Green, with musical arrangement and accompaniment by Mr. Shrubsole. SIMON GREEN: SO, THIS THEN IS LIFE begins performances on Tuesday, May 20 for a limited engagement through Sunday, June 1.