It was when we began rehearsal for Chekhov's The Bear and The Proposal at the Young Vic, and were in the thick of the action, that I began to understand the power of the Genesis Future Directors Award. I am a writer, maker and director, predominantly with my theatre company Milk Presents, and this opportunity offers a way of taking many of the ideas that underpin my work and testing them in a fully supported environment.
Cape Town was at its finest this past Sunday when the Fugard Theatre hosted a reception in their breathtaking rooftop bar to announce the programme of The 2017 Fugard Bioscope World Arts Cinema Season before a screening of The National Theatre's thrilling production of THE THREEPENNY OPERA.
Considered by many to be Shakespeare's most tragic play of all, the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of King Lear has transferred to London's Barbican for its winter season.
Composer Howard Goodall's remarkable career ranges from lauded choral works to West End musical Bend It Like Beckham, the Emmy Award-winning score for HBO film Into the Storm, and themes for beloved British TV shows like Mr Bean, Blackadder, Red Dwarf and QI. On 20 November, Goodall's Eternal Light: A Requiem makes its New York debut at Carnegie Hall, presented by Distinguished Concerts International New York and performed by ensembles from both America and the UK.
Today, producer Mark Goucher has confirmed that following the phenomenal success of the recent UK tour, the smash hit production of Hairspray will embark on a further major tour opening on 16 August 2017 at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.
Over the next six years, the RSC aims to produce every single Shakespeare play. Its 2016 season features Cymbeline, one of the lesser known but not lesser performed plays; this production is a transfer from Stratford-Upon-Avon, and there have been two productions at Shakespeare's Globe this year alone. Why the sudden revival? A fool boasts 'Britain is a world by itself' (and no, I don't mean Nigel Farage). In a post-Brexit Britain, these words ring truer than ever before in this bold production, which ironically seems to be lacking a sense of unity and cohesion too.
Gillian Bevan has done everything from Holby City and Teachers on TV to RSC productions and extensive musical theatre, including Into the Woods, Billy Elliot and Grand Hotel. She's currently starring in the RSC's Cymbeline - the first woman to play the title role for the company. The production comes to the Barbican next week.
Leon Lopez has had an unusual career trajectory, from pop group A:M and TV soaps like Brookside and EastEnders to musical theatre (including Rent and We Will Rock You) and directing independent films. He's currently working with the RSC, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Swan Theatre with productions of plays that were performed there in 1986: The Two Noble Kinsmen, playing now, and The Rover, opening tomorrow.
Lauren Samuels became a household name thanks to BBC reality show Over the Rainbow, and has since had starring roles in Bend It Like Beckham, Grease and We Will Rock You in the West End and The Last Five Years at Tabard Theatre. Now, she's joining Ashleigh Gray and Lizzy Connolly in the European debut of American show Vanities: The Musical at Trafalgar Studios, directed and choreographed by Racky Plews. It follows the travails of three friends as they go from from cheerleading and sororities to jobs, families and hard-won wisdom.
Hampstead Theatre presents the world premiere of Beth Steel's Labyrinth, a Hampstead Theatre commission. Directed by Anna Ledwich, this compelling new thriller explores the fallout from one of the most catastrophic economic crises of modern history, which brought Latin America to its knees for decades. BroadwayWorld has your first look at rehearsals below!
BroadwayWorld is excited to report that London's Barbican Centre has just announced the full lineup for its 'RSC Shakespeare on Screen' film series this January.
The dust has only recently settled on the last production of Hairspray at the Curve in Leicester but now this production is on the road across the UK. Based on the packed house at the New Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham last night, it's proven itself to be a show that people will return to. It's just upsetting that this time around the show did not live up to my expectations.
Today (14 December) Jamie Muscato joins the cast of Bend It Like Beckham The Musical to play coach Joe alongside Natalie Dew as football crazy Jess and Lauren Samuels as Jules, a player with the Harriers, a local women's football team. Sophie-Louise Dann plays the role of Paula with Jamal Andreas as Jess' good friend Tony. Preeya Kalidas plays Pinky, Jess' sister, with Tony Jayawardena and Natasha Jayetileke as her parents, Mr and Mrs Bhamra.
Meera Syal's debut novel, Anita & Me, receives its world stage premiere at the Birmingham Rep this month. Famously autobiographical, this coming of age tale follows Meena, a 13 year old 'naff and uncool' daughter of the only Punjabi family in the mining village of Tollington. As the summer holidays begin, Meena becomes friends with the feisty Anita, envying her long blonde hair, her popularity and her freedom. However, as two cultures collide, Meena's world turns upside down and her outlook on life changes forever.
BWW:UK recently sat down for a chat with the stars of the new UK tour of Hairspray at the show's Birmingham press launch at the New Alexandra Theatre, where it is playing over the Christmas period. Here we speak to Claire Sweeney (Velma Von Tussle), Tony Maudsley (Edna), Peter Duncan (Wilbur) and Brenda Edwards (Motormouth Maybelle).
Bend It Like Beckham, the critically acclaimed 5 star new British musical, is currently booking at thePhoenix Theatre to 24 October 2015. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!
Hairspray will star Tony Maudsley (ITV1's Benidorm) as Edna Turnblad, TV and stage actress and presenter Claire Sweeney (Educating Rita, Guys and Dolls) as Velma Von Tussle, Olivier Award nominated actor and much-loved Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan (BBC1 Tumble) as Wilbur Turnblad and British singer and West End performer Brenda Edwards (Chicago, We Will Rock You, The X Factor) as Motormouth Maybelle.
Still reeling from the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child announcement? Getting ready for Broadway in Bryant Park? Didn't have time check in on all of the latest Broadway news? Well don't worry BroadwayWorld has rounded up some of the biggest stories from this week from Broadway and beyond with BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures.'
