Deborah Warner News

James Graham's critically acclaimed political drama THIS HOUSE will transfer to the Garrick Theatre, following its upcoming run at Chichester's Minerva Theatre.

Baz Bamigboye of the UK Daily Mail has reported that producers Sonia Friedman, Bob Bartner and Scott Rudin are perusing both Broadway and West End real estate for a potential transfer of the acclaimed Old Vic production of Shakespeare's 'King Lear' for potential 2017 productions.

Gender-blind casting has arrived and we'd better get used to it. Correction: it seems we are getting used to it, viz the imminent revival of the Donmar's all-female Shakespeare trilogy. So the headline story of this Old Vic production is not that a woman is taking on the Everest north-face of a role formerly reserved for mature alpha males of the acting profession. The headline story of Glenda Jackson's Lear is that this Lear is magnificent, and its magnificence emanates directly from the text.

King Lear opened at The Old Vic on 4 November 2016, and BroadwayWorld has all the reviews! A quarter of a century after she gave up acting for politics, double Academy Award-winning legend Glenda Jackson returns to play King Lear in Shakespeare's greatest tragedy, alongside an outstanding company including William Chubb, Morfydd Clark, Jane Horrocks, Rhys Ifans, Celia Imrie, Simon Manyonda and Harry Melling.

London is never short of theatre temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From Bowie's Lazarus and Glenda Jackson's King Lear to Mark Rylance's return, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld's reviews…

Z Space and piece by piece productions are pleased to present Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca's evening-length work, Antigona, February 4-25, 2017. Press opening is on Tuesday, February 7 at 7pm.

A new production of Rossini's Guillaume Tell, the composer's final opera, will open at the Met on October 18 in the first company performances of the ambitious historical epic in more than 80 years-and its first-ever Met performances in its original French. The new staging is directed by Pierre Audi, the incoming Artistic Director of the Park Avenue Armory and conducted by Met Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi. Rossini's opera tells the story of a Swiss revolutionary on a quest for freedom. Its famous "William Tell Overture" is one of the best-known and most performed pieces in the standard classical repertory, though the opera, which makes considerable demands on its stars, orchestra, and chorus, has rarely been presented in modern times. Gerald Finley will star in the title role, which he has made a specialty of in recent seasons, with Marina Rebeka as the Princess Mathilde;  Bryan Hymel as her suitor Arnold; Maria Zifchak as Tell's wife Hedwige; Janai Brugger as their son Jemmy; Italian bass Marco Spotti in his Met debut as Walter Furst; Kwangchul Youn as Arnold's father Melcthal; and John Relyea as Gesler. 

A new production of Rossini's Guillaume Tell, the composer's final opera, will open at the Met on October 18 in the first company performances of the ambitious historical epic in more than 80 years-and its first-ever Met performances in its original French. The new staging is directed by Pierre Audi, the incoming Artistic Director of the Park Avenue Armory and conducted by Met Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi. Rossini's opera tells the story of a Swiss revolutionary on a quest for freedom. Its famous "William Tell Overture" is one of the best-known and most performed pieces in the standard classical repertory, though the opera, which makes considerable demands on its stars, orchestra, and chorus, has rarely been presented in modern times. Gerald Finley will star in the title role, which he has made a specialty of in recent seasons, with Marina Rebeka as the Princess Mathilde;  Bryan Hymel as her suitor Arnold; Maria Zifchak as Tell's wife Hedwige; Janai Brugger as their son Jemmy; Italian bass Marco Spotti in his Met debut as Walter Furst; Kwangchul Youn as Arnold's father Melcthal; and John Relyea as Gesler. 

The Warner Theatre is excited to announce its 2016-17 Met Opera: Live in HD Season, featuring 10 operas, 5 new to the series, and 2 encores, streaming live from the Met. A complimentary pre-opera lecture will be offered to all ticketholders in the Nancy Marine Studio Lobby for 45 minutes of pre-opera information and entertainment, 2 hours before broadcast. Full and Half Season Subscriptions are available.

Arion Productions has announced West End leading lady, Anna Jane Casey, as the latest artist to join the line-up of extraordinary performers and industry professionals providing expert 'one day only' training in much-sought-after specialist fields.  These masterclasses take place at Diorama Arts Studios on various Sunday afternoons throughout 2016.

As previously reported, 79-year-old politician and Oscar-winning actress Glenda Jackson will return to the stage in the title role of KING LEAR at the Old Vic this autumn.

The Old Vic today announces Artistic Director Matthew Warchus' second season, continuing a wide-ranging programme that includes world premieres, new writing, musicals, classic revivals and The Old Vic Variety Nights. There will also be a new strand of children's programming to engage the next generation of theatregoers, demonstrating Matthew's 'something for everyone' approach.

Upcoming SNOWDEN star Rhys Ifans is the latest to sign on for the Old Vic's KING LEAR.

Today, The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye has confirmed that former HARRY POTTER star Harry Melling will join Jackson in the Deborah Warner-helmed production as 'Edgar.' Previews are currently scheduled to begin 25 October.

James Graham's critically acclaimed political drama THIS HOUSE will transfer to the Garrick Theatre, following its upcoming run at Chichester's Minerva Theatre.

Arion Productions Ltd has launched a new series of masterclasses to provide expert 'one day only' training in much-sought-after specialist fields with some of the country's finest theatre, film, television and radio professionals at the Diorama Arts Studios. Masterclasses include, two time Oliver Award winner, Jenny Galloway (Acting Through Song Masterclass), long standing War Horse, Citizen Squid and Goodnight Mr Tom puppeteer, Abigail Matthews (West End Puppetry Masterclass) and Olivier and Actor's Screen Guild Award nominated actress Annette Badland (Acting for Stage and Screen Masterclass) who is currently appearing in EastEnders.

New Repertory Theatre presents the special Spotlight Symposium: An Evening with Colm Toibin, Today, March 17, 2016 at 7:00pm in the Commander's Mansion at the Arsenal on the Charles, 441 Talcott Avenue, Watertown, MA.

New Repertory Theatre presents the special Spotlight Symposium: An Evening with Colm Toibin, Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 7:00pm in the Commander's Mansion at the Arsenal on the Charles, 441 Talcott Avenue, Watertown, MA.

79-year-old politician and Oscar-winning actress Glenda Jackson is 'excited' to return to the stage in the title role of KING LEAR at the Old Vic this autumn. The Daily Mail reports that Jackson, after stepping down from her time in the government last May, will be working with director Deborah Warner starting with rehearsals in August.

Weathervane Productions and Rising Phoenix Repertory are pleased to present the world premiere of SELKIE, or When I Look at the Ocean, I Feel Like I Belong, a new play inspired by Selkie mythology, written by Sarah Shaefer.