David Yelland News

Following a highly acclaimed tour in 2018, The Original Theatre Company and The Anthology Group in association with Peter Stickney and York Theatre Royal's production of Alan Bennett's THE HABIT OF ART will return and tour the UK in 2020. Directed by Philip Franks and starring Matthew Kelly as Fitz (W. H. Auden) and David Yelland as Henry (Benjamin Britten). The tour begins on 18 March 2020 at Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne.

What a bizarre year 2018 has been. In the months that saw too much Trump, devastating Californian wildfires, an escalation in the refugee crisis, not to mention the dreaded 'B' word, it makes me more grateful than ever for the pure escapism that live theatre so often provides.

The Habit of Art is a wonderfully funny and deeply moving revival of Alan Bennett's fantastic 2009 follow up to The History Boys. The play focuses on a fictional meeting between WH Auden and Benjamin Britten in 1972, when Britten seeks out his old friend to combat his loneliness and ask advice about his new composition of Death in Venice. This meeting is framed as a play within a play where rehearsals are taking place; aged thesps Fitz and Henry play Auden and Britten respectively, musing on life, ageing, sex and art.

Following a slew of four and five star reviews for performances in York, Brighton, Salisbury and Oxford, Alan Bennett's The Habit of Art comes to the Belgrade Theatre this November in a new production from Original Theatre Company.

After opening to critical acclaim in 2009, the Original Theatre Company in collaboration with York Theatre Royal are bringing back Alan Bennett's The Habit of Art in its first revival since the original sell-out run. Centred around a fictional meeting between two of the 20th century's most influential gay artists, poet WH Auden and composer Benjamin Britten, the production boasts a stellar ensemble cast including Matthew Kelly and David Yelland.

Get a first look at rehearsal images from the first revival of Alan Bennett's THE HABIT OF ART, which opens at York Theatre Royal on 30 August 2018. The National Tour will then continue through to 1 December 2018.

The Original Theatre Company, York Theatre Royal, and Ghost Light Productions are delighted to announce the full cast for the first ever revival of Alan Bennett's THE HABIT OF ART directed by Philip Franks and starring Matthew Kelly as Fitz (W. H. Auden) and David Yelland as Henry (Benjamin Britten). 

Another exciting line-up of shows goes on general sale at the Belgrade Theatre this week, with tickets now available for productions running from September 2018 - March 2019. As ever, the Belgrade's diverse programme will aim to cater to all tastes, from Alan Bennett to Afrobeats to The Comedy About a Bank Robbery.

The Original Theatre Company and York Theatre Royal will present the first ever revival of Alan Bennett's THE HABIT OF ART directed by Philip Franks and starring Matthew Kelly as W. H. Auden/Fitz and David Yelland as Benjamin Britten/Henry. The tour begins on 30 August 2018 at York Theatre Royal.

This spring, Matthew Needham will feature in Summer and Smoke at the Almeida Theatre. Rebecca Frecknall's production marks his third show at the theatre this year, having never previously performed there before. Catching up during rehearsals, Matthew reflects on his time at the Almeida so far, his journey to becoming an actor, and the career paths less traveled.

With her most famous play, The Mousetrap, celebrating its 65th anniversary in London's West End, it only seems right for another of Agatha Christie's stage works to be brought back for a limited run. Based on the short story Traitor Hands, Christie adapted it into a play in the early 1950s - and it was recently seen on the small screen, as the BBC aired a television version over the last festive season.

The first photographs are released today from the brand new production of Witness for the Prosecution by Agatha Christie. The play begins previews on London's South Bank this Friday 6 October. Check out the photos below!

London is never short of theatre temptations, whether epic West End shows or bold fringe offerings. From political drama to immersive Agatha Christie and the unveiling of a new venue, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld's reviews...

Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Rebecca Stafford Productions today announced casting for their major new production of Witness for the Prosecution by Agatha Christie, opening on London's South Bank this October.

Set in a Nazi-dominated Germany in 1941, Stephen Unwin's debut play is an affecting examination of humanity, hypocrisy, and morality.

Full casting is announced for Stephen Unwin's, All Our Children, his gripping new play which probes one of the darkest episodes in recent history.

Jonathan Church's world premiere production of Taken At Midnight, a new play by Mark Hayhurst, will run at the Theatre Royal Haymarket for a limited season previewing from tonight, January 15th. Returning to the West End after a five-year absence, Penelope Wilton reprises her role as Irmgard in this production which is currently enjoying a sold-out season in Chichester.

Jonathan Church's world premiere production of Taken At Midnight, a new play by Mark Hayhurst, will run at the Theatre Royal Haymarket for a limited season previewing from January 15th. Returning to the West End after a five-year absence, Penelope Wilton reprises her role as Irmgard in this production which is currently enjoying a sold-out season in Chichester.

A season of new plays exploring little-known true stories continues at Chichester with a drama featuring acclaimed actress Penelope Wilton. She plays Irmgard, the mother of celebrated lawyer Hans Litten who puts Hitler on the witness stand in 1930s Germany with devastating consequences.