Giles Thomas News

Following its hugely successful run, the English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East production of Equus opened this week at London's Trafalgar Studios.

The National Theatre has announced 15 productions of new plays and fresh adaptations by leading writers.

Award winning director Ned Bennett's bold revival of Peter Shaffer's iconic psychological thriller Equus is transfering to the West End this summer. Following its hugely successful run, the English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East production of Equus will open at London's Trafalgar Studios 6 July for a strictly limited season until 7 September.

A piece that could easily feel out dated is anything but as Ned Bennett's production of Peter Shaffer's Equus blasts onto the Stratford stage, before going off on tour with English Touring Theatre. A twisted story of a boy's love for horses, the play asks questions of power, control and the human soul.

Shelley Maxwell doesn't stop. Born in Jamaica, trained in Cuba, practised in New York, and based in London, she has turned heads as a choreographer and performer, in contemporary dance and musical theatre. Now, Shelley has taken on Equus with English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East as its Movement Director. I talked to her about the brilliance of Equus, what a movement director does, and what's good in London.

Like the English at Agincourt, Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory aren't unshaken, but they are victorious. Elizabeth Freestone's direction is austere, with the action playing out in a darkly industrial dystopia characterised by Lily Arnold's greyed costumes and frayed edges, steely drama and gravel underfoot.

Three of the UK's most exciting young actors - Luke Thallon, Matthew Needham and Isabella Laughland - will appear in Kate Hewitt's new production of Mike Bartlett's COCK, which will play in the round at Chichester's Minerva Theatre from 28 September - 27 October. They will be joined by Simon Chandler, whose most recent Chichester appearance was in Festival 2017's The Stepmother. This will be the first revival of Bartlett's Olivier Award-winning play since its 2009 premiere at the Royal Court.

Due to a brilliant critical response and overwhelming audience demand, The Yard is proud to announce a limited five night extension for horror comedy Buggy Baby until Friday 6 April.

This is one of those plays that make you question how a human brain ever came up with it. Deliberately messy in its composition but acutely tight-knitted in its execution, Ned Bennett's quirky production alienates, whilst at the same time intrigues. The entire room is filled with bewilderment, yet there's an enjoyment within that curiosity, as we actively attempt to work out what's going on.

Daniel Evans and Rachel Tackley said: 'We're enormously grateful for the warm welcome extended to us by our local community and those visiting from further afield during our first season, which welcomed Chichester's largest-ever Festival audience.

Kerry Ellis stars as Gwendolen, her first non-singing role, in the 2018 UK tour of Oscar Wilde's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford, Courtyard Theatre Hereford, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Belfast Grand Opera House, Theatre Royal Bath and Manchester Opera House.

Irish Repertory Theatre (Charlotte Moore, Artistic Director and Ciar n O'Reilly, Producing Director) and Tara Finney Productions announced today a two-week extension of the 20th Anniversary Production of Enda Walsh's breakthrough play DISCO PIGS. Directed by John Haidar (Last of the Boys), DISCO PIGS began performances on January 5, 2018 at Irish Rep Theatre (132 West 22nd Street) on the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage, and officially opened on January 9, 2018. Originally scheduled to run through February 18, DISCO PIGS will now play through March 4, 2018.Tickets are on sale through Irish Rep's box office at 212-727-2737 or online at www.irishrep.org.

Kerry Ellis will star as Gwendolen, her first non-singing role, in the 2018 UK tour of Oscar Wilde's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford, Courtyard Theatre Hereford, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Belfast Grand Opera House, Theatre Royal Bath and Manchester Opera House. Hannah Louise Howell will play Gwendolen at all other venues. They will be joined by Geoff Aymer, Louise Coulthard, Thomas Howes, Peter Sandys-Clarke and Simon Shackleton, playing Chasuble, Cecily, Algernon, Jack and Lane/Merriman respectively.

Irish Repertory Theatre and Tara Finney Productions will present the 20th Anniversary Production of Enda Walsh's breakthrough play DISCO PIGS.

Kerry Ellis will star as Gwendolen, her first non-singing role, in the 2018 UK tour of Oscar Wilde's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford, Courtyard Theatre Hereford, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Belfast Grand Opera House, Theatre Royal Bath and Manchester Opera House. Hannah Louise Howell will play Gwendolen at all other venues. They will be joined by Geoff Aymer, Louise Coulthard, Thomas Howes, Peter Sandys-Clarke and Simon Shackleton, playing Chasuble, Cecily, Algernon, Jack and Lane/Merriman respectively.

Irish Repertory Theatre and Tara Finney Productions will present the 20th Anniversary Production of Enda Walsh's breakthrough play DISCO PIGS.

Gwen Taylor will star as Lady Bracknell in the 2018 UK tour of Oscar Wilde's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, alongside Susan Penhaligon as Miss Prism. The tour will begin on 24 January at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, ending on 28 April in Eastbourne. Further casting is to be announced.

Transferring to London after debuting (rather appropriately) in Birmingham last year, Chris Hannan's play is based around Enoch Powell's 1968 'Rivers of blood' speech. Powell's speech famously criticised widespread immigration from the Commonwealth, using an example of a street in Wolverhampton where an elderly woman was the only white resident and could no longer attract lodgers for her spare rooms because of the immigrants in the surrounding houses.

Gwen Taylor will star as Lady Bracknell in the 2018 UK tour of Oscar Wilde's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, alongside Susan Penhaligon as Miss Prism.

A major revival of the classic, edge of your seat, thriller Wait Until Dark comes to Exeter next month.