David Birrell News

American playwright Rajiv Joseph's latest certainly doesn't lack for ambition, spanning 90 years, three countries, and mixing history and fiction in its form to make a point about, well, mixing history and fiction. Storytelling through to the pertinent “fake news” abounds, but this near-three-hour show is ultimately more compelling in its ideas than in its drama.

In 1920, the Russian writer Isaac Babel reports on a Red Cavalry campaign in Poland. In 1936, Stalin's NKVD chief Nicolai Yezhov unleashes the Great Purge. In 1989, a mysterious KGB agent spying on a woman in Dresden falls in love. In 2010, an aircraft carrying most of the Polish government crashes near the Russian city of Smolensk…

The Railway Children is a delightful show with beautiful music and a wonderful message about the importance of kindness. The concert staged at Cadogan Hall featured lyrics and a book by Katie Lam and music by Alex Parker, who also conducted.

Director of Nuffield Southampton Theatres, Samuel Hodges, today announces the full cast for the company's inaugural production at NST City the world premi re of Howard Brenton's The Shadow Factory, which Hodges directs. Veteran of stage and screen Anita Dobson joins the cast as Lady Cooper/Ma (Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre; The Merry Wives of Windsor, RSC; Frozen, National Theatre) along with Shala Nyx who plays Polly. Dobson, known for playing the iconic role of Angie Watts in EastEnders, and Nyx join David Birrell (Fred/Hugh), Catherine Cusack (Lil/Sylvia), Lorna Fitzgerald (Jackie Dimmock), Hilton McRae (Lord Beaverbrook) and Daniel York (Len Gooch) to complete the company. The Shadow Factory opens on 15 February, with previews from 7 February, and runs until 3 March.

Director of Nuffield Southampton Theatres, Samuel Hodges, today announces casting for the theatres inaugural production at NST City the world premi re of Howard Brenton's The Shadow Factory. Hodges directs David Birrell (Fred/Hugh), Catherine Cusack (Lil/Sylvia), Lorna Fitzgerald (Jackie Dimmock), Hilton McRae (Lord Beaverbrook) and Daniel York (Len Gooch). Further casting to be announced. The Shadow Factory opens on 15 February, with previews from 7 February, and runs until 3 March.

Casting has just been announced for the first new musical to be staged at Live at Zedel at Crazy Coqs. Alex Parker Theatre Company, The Katie Lam Company and Fane Productions present AFTER YOU, with music by Alex Parker, book & lyrics by Katie Lam, and directed by Alastair Knights, Live at Zedel at Crazy Coqs, running 13 April - 22 April 2017. Press night is set for Friday, 14 April 2017 at 7pm.

Production images have been released today for the major new musical THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS by Academy Award-winning screenwriter and Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes and Olivier Award-winning composer and lyricist duo George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. The production is currently playing at Theatre Royal Plymouth until 22 October followed by engagements at The Lowry in Salford and Mayflower Theatre in Southampton, prior to opening in London's West End.

David Birrell's extensive stage work ranges from An Enemy of the People at Octagon Theatre, Bolton, to Spamalot in the West End, as well as several years with the RSC. He's currently playing Badger in the highly anticipated new musical version of The Wind in the Willows, which features a book by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowees and an original score by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. The production begins previews at Theatre Royal, Plymouth on 8 October.

Rehearsals have begun for the highly anticipated major new musical theatre adaptation of THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS, created by Julian Fellowes, George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. Premiering at Theatre Royal Plymouth from 8 October 2016, the production will then open at The Lowry in Salford and Mayflower Theatre in Southampton, prior to London's West End.

Theatre Royal Plymouth Artistic Director Simon Stokes today announces that The War Has Not Yet Started, Mikhail Durnenkov's funny, eye-opening and surreal dark comedy about everyday people fighting everyday wars, opens in The Drum next month. 

Award winning star of TV and theatre, Catherine Tate (Assassins, The Catherine Tate Show, The Vote, Doctor Who) and Dean John-Wilson (Aladdin, Here Lies Love), who takes lead role in Disney's Aladdin this summer, will lead the cast in the new musical comedy Miss Atomic Bomb, alongside musical theatre starsFlorence Andrews (A Little Night Music, Annie Get Your Gun), Simon Lipkin (The Lorax, Assassins, Rock of Ages, Avenue Q) and Daniel Boys (Any Dream Will Do, Avenue Q, Spamalot) as it explodes into the UK for its World Premiere at the St James Theatre, Victoria, in Spring 2016. The production will be running from 7 March for a strictly limited five week season, with press night on 14 March 2016.

Last Chance to see Peter Pan The critically acclaimed production of Peter Pan which opened the 2015 season at Regents Park Open Air Theatre, must end its limited run on 14 June. 

This year's summer season at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre kicks off with Peter Pan which runs until 14 June with opening night for press on 21 May. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Awards season continues at Sardi's, THE SOUND AND THE FURY & THE OTHER THING open off-Broadway, EVER AFTER starts up at Paper Mill and more!

Casting for Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's 2015 production of J.M Barrie's Peter Pan has today been announced, with lead casting for The Seagull and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers also confirmed. The season opens for previews on 15 May.

Following the successful adaptations of Moliere's French farces, this Christmas the Playhouse presents another fresh adaptation of a classic French comedy. Liverpool-born writer Stephen Sharkey has created the hilarious and absurd Sex and the Three Day Week from Georges Feydeau's L'Hotel du Libre Echange. The cast includes Edward Harrison, Natalie Casey, Javier Marzan and Eileen O'Brien and runs from Friday 5 December 2014 to Saturday 10 January 2015.

For one very special night only, Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's critically acclaimed and award-winning musical? A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC will be performed with an all-star cast at the Palace Theatre in the West End on Monday January 26, 2015

A one night only concert performance of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's critically acclaimed and award-winning musical A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC will come to London's West End Monday, Jan. 26, 2015. The all-star cast includes Janie Dee as Desiree Armfeldt, David Birrell as Fredrick Egerman, and Anne Reid as Madame Armfeldt.

After the success of A Little Night Music in Concert, Alex Parker returns to the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre for one night with a concert that features the music of three of Broadway's greatest composers. Some of the musicals represented in the evening include La Cage Aux Folles, Hello Dolly, Mame, Dear World, Mack & Mabel, Funny Girl, Gypsy, Follies, Company, Sunday In The Park With George, Road Show and many more. The music of Broadway legendary composers Jule Styne, Jerry Herman and Stephen Sondheim is set for Sunday, 16th February 2014 at 7 p.m. in Guildford.

Alex Parker brings the award-winning and critically acclaimed Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler musical A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC to the Yvonne Arnaud, in a special concert reading of the show on June 16.