Francesca Zoutewelle News

Theatre Royal Stratford East has announced the free broadcast of this year's pantomime Dick Whittington to local hospitals, hospices and care homes in East London and Essex.

Pack your bags! It's time to hit the road and follow your dreams… Join Dick Whittington on his quest to find adventure, fame and fortune in London, at Stratford East's annual must-see pantomime. Will he defeat the villainous rodent who's taken control of the city?

Theatre Royal Stratford East is in rehearsal for this year's pantomime, Dick Whittington, directed by John Haidar.

English Touring Theatre and Papatango today announce the full cast for the UK tour of Iman Qureshi's The Funeral Director, an exploration of a gay Muslim woman coming to terms with her identity. Hannah Hauer-King directs Edward Stone (Tom), Assad Zaman (Zeyd) and Francesca Zoutewelle (Janey), joining returning cast member Aryana Ramkhalawon (Ayesha). Winner of Papatango's 10th annual New Writing Prize from 1,384 entries, the original production was premiered by Papatango at Southwark Playhouse and now embarks on a UK tour in a co-production with ETT to Traverse Theatre, Nottingham Playhouse, The North Wall and HOME Manchester in Spring 2019.

It's 1680 in London, Arabella Hunt (Marilyn Nadebe) is secretly married to Amy (Georgia Bruce) in what inadvertently becomes the first ever recorded gat marriage in England. In the meantime but in 1936, Alan Turing (Darren Sia) is paying a final visit to Isobel Morcom (Phoebe Hames), mother to his first and only love, Christopher. San Fernando Valley sees Tammy Frazer (Francesca Zoutewelle) become a pornstar for Callisto Pornographic Studios in 1979. In 2223, on the Moon, Lorn (Jonny Purkiss) is explaining to his A.I. partner Cal (Nicholas Finerty) what it means to be loved. These four stories that have nothing and yet everything in common intertwine in Callisto: a queer epic, becoming a vast exploration of love and passion across time.

Callisto: a queer epic is a swirling constellation of remarkable queer stories. In London, 1680, opera star Arabella Hunt has secretly entered into the first recorded gay marriage in UK history. In Worcester, 1936, Alan Turing pays one final visit to Isobel Morcom, mother of his lost first love, Christopher. In the San Fernando Valley, 1979, Tammy Frazer arrives at Callisto Pornographic Studios, searching for the love of her life. And on the Moon, 2223, Lorn is building a paradise to sleep in, but Cal, his A.I. companion, is determined to keep him awake.

Following a sell-out run last year, Forward Arena today announces the full cast for Hal Coase's Callisto: a queer epic, which returns to Arcola Theatre as their final production this year. Thomas Bailey directs returning cast members, Georgia Bruce (Amy/Melissa), Nicholas Finerty (Cal/Harold/Hart), Mary Higgins (Katherine/Lola), Phoebe Hames (Isobel Morcom/Aunty/Nurse) and Marilyn Nadebe (Arabella); joined by Jonathan Purkiss (Lorn/Richard/Killigrew), Darren Siah (Alan/Blake/Dryden) and Francesca Zoutewelle (Tammy). Callisto: a queer epic opens at Arcola Theatre on 8 December, with previews from 5 December and runs until 23 December.

Following a sell-out run last year, Forward Arena today announces the full cast for Hal Coase's Callisto: a queer epic, which returns to Arcola Theatre as their final production this year.

Directed by Filter Theatre's Sean Holmes, with music and sound by Tom Haines and Ross Hughes, TWELFTH NIGHT is a ferocious reimaging of Shakespeare's classic comedy where nothing onstage is hidden and everything is revealed, from cables, costumes, props and more. Six actors, together with two musicians (Alan Pagan & Ross Hughes), perform all the various roles, often interacting directly with the audience as they run up the aisles or take seats next to surprised audience members, several of whom are called up onstage to participate in the show's outrageous antics. And be prepared to enjoy and pass along large boxes of delivery pizza when prompted to do so by the cast.

The famous story of the Prince of Denmark follows Hamlet on his murderous quest to avenge the death of his father. The enduring appeal of Shakespeare's tragedy is the writer's skill in retaining mystery about the eponymous protagonist. He is an enigma and audiences' perceptions of him always vary.

Following performances across Europe, including Gdansk Shakespeare Festival; Mercury Theatre Colchester; Craiova International Festival; Park Theatre, London; four theatres in Spain; Neuss Globe Shakespeare Festival; and Kronborg Castle, Elsinore Hamletscenen, Flute Theatre and English Touring Theatre today announces that their production of Hamlet, adapted by Kelly Hunter, transfers to the Trafalgar Studios for a limited run this December.  As well as adapting, Hunter directs Mark Arends (Hamlet), Finlay Cormack (Laertes), David Fielder (Polonius/ Gravedigger), Tom Mannion (Claudius), Katy Stevens (Gertrude) and Francesca Zoutewelle (Ophelia). The production opens on 8 December, with previews from 6 December, and runs until 31 December.

Rose Theatre Kingston today announced the full company for its new production of Arthur Miller's All My Sons. Award-winning Michael Rudman directs David Horovitch as Joe Keller and Penny Downie as Kate Keller with Alex Waldmann (Chris Keller), Grace Carter (Lydia Lubey), Edward Harrison (George Deever), William Meredith (Frank Lubey), Alison Pargeter (Sue Bayliss), David Partridge (Jim Bayliss) and Francesca Zoutewelle (Ann Deever). The production opens on 2 November, with previews from 28 October, and runs until 19 November.

Thirteen gifted students from drama schools across the UK have been awarded with £55,500 worth of bursaries by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) in order to help them complete their training. Previous bursary winners include Patterson Joseph, Daniel Rigby, Vinette Robinson, Bryony Hannah and Michael Sheen.