Helen May News

Zoe Wanamaker stars in Nick Payne's new play ELEGY at Donmar Warehouse, which opens tonight. She's joined in the cast by Nina Sosanya and Barbara Flynn, and directed by Donmar artistic director Josie Rourke. Elegy imagines a very-near future in which radical and unprecedented advances in medical science mean that it's now possible to extend life.

The Donmar presents the UK premiere of Elegy by playwright Nick Payne. Directed by Artistic Director Josie Rourke, the full cast is Barbara Flynn as Carrie, Nina Sosanya as Miriam and Zoe Wanamaker as Lorna, all making a return to the Donmar stage. Elegy starts previews from tonight 21 April and imagines a very-near future in which radical and unprecedented advances in medical science mean that it's now possible to extend life.

Emilie Fleming will join the previously announced David Thaxton, Caroline Sheen and Neil McDermott to head the cast of the new British musical, ONLY THE BRAVE, premiering at the Wales Millennium Centre from 28 March to 2 April.  Based on the real lives of men and women caught up in the D-Day landings, this new production will be directed by Steve Marmion, Artistic Director of London's Soho Theatre.  It will be Wales Millennium Centre's first production of a full-scale, original musical. BroadwayWorld gives you a first look below!

This season, the Royal Shakespeare Company celebrates not only the 400th anniversary of the death of their namesake, but also that of Miguel de Cervantes, with a brand new adaptation of Don Quixote. After a lifetime of reading books on chivalry, Don Quixote decides to embark on a quest of his own. Taking up a lance and sword, he sets out to become a wandering knight, defending the helpless and vanquishing the wicked. Hopelessly unprepared and increasingly losing his grip on reality, he travels across Spain accompanied by his faithful and equally ill-suited squire. With each calamitous adventure they experience, the romantic ideal of Quixote's books seems further away than ever.

Freaking out over Sutton Foster coming to Gilmore Girls? Trying hard to win the online #Ham4Ham? Didn't have time to check in on your favorite Broadway stars? 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.'

It's been 13 years since Matthew Perry was last in a West End production, and The End of Longing marks his playwriting debut. Currently running at The Playhouse Theatre, it tells the story of four friends in their late 30s living in LA, whose lives become entwined after meeting at a bar.

Christina Cole (The Magistrate, The Lightening Play), Jennifer Mudge (Into The Woods, Dutchman) and Lloyd Owen(Good People, The Bodyguard) join internationally acclaimed actor Matthew Perry (Friends, The Odd Couple) to complete the cast in the World Premiere of his playwriting debut, The End of Longing, at the Playhouse Theatre, London, from 2 February - 14 May 2016. Design is by the 2015 Evening Standard award-winner, Anna Fleischle(Hangmen), with lighting by Lucy Carter and composition and sound by Isobel Waller-Bridge. Check out a first look below!

Producers Robert Fox, Matthew Byam Shaw for Playful Productions and Royal Court Theatre Productions have revealed that Matthew Dunster's production of Martin McDonagh's Hangmen has recouped in under six weeks. The news comes as the production is announced the winner of the Critic's Circle 'Best New Play' and 'Best Design' Awards today. Following a sell out run at the Royal Court Theatre, Matthew Dunster's production of Martin McDonagh's Hangmen transferred to the West End for a strictly limited season in December and must end on 5 March.

Irish writer and director Martin McDonagh is well known for his black comedies and Hangmen, his first play in 10 years, proves that he has definitely not lost his touch. Transferring to the West End from the Royal Court where it had a sell-out run in the summer, the play is set in 1965 on the day that hanging is abolished in the UK.

Following a sell out run at the Royal Court Theatre, Matthew Dunster's award-winning production of Martin McDonagh's HANGMEN will transfer to the West End for a strictly limited season. Now in previews, the production will have a press night on 7 December at Wyndham's Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain has announced that they will present a one-off panel discussion, 'We Need to Talk about Consent' tonight 10 November. The panel will take place after the evening performance of CONSENSUAL, the NYT's brand new and critically acclaimed production exploring similar themes and experiences in the classroom.

The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain has announced that they will present a one-off panel discussion, 'We Need to Talk about Consent' on Tuesday 10 November. The panel will take place after the evening performance of CONSENSUAL, the NYT's brand new and critically acclaimed production exploring similar themes and experiences in the classroom.

Costumes carefully selected from Angels' illustrious back catalogue are now on display at The Old Truman Brewery as part of the DRESSED BY ANGELS, 175 YEARS OF COSTUMES exhibition, running now through 3 January 2016. 

The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain (NYT) begin their autumn season in the West End this week. Following the huge success of the REP seasons in 2013 and 2014, the company returns to the Ambassadors Theatre with three new productions from September to December exploring themes of sex education, relationships, class and heritage. The 10-week rep season began on 18 September 2015, with press performances on 6 and 7 October 2015. Scroll down for a first look at THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, abridged by Tom Stoppard!

Christopher Biggins launched the 2015 West End Heroes gala concert at the Dominion Theatre with a little help from some military friends....

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's critically acclaimed production of William Golding's LORD OF THE FLIES, adapted for the stage by Nigel Williams, returns following its 2011 sell-out premiere for a limited run from tonight 3 to Saturday 12 September 2015 prior to a major UK tour. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsals!

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's critically acclaimed production of William Golding's LORD OF THE FLIES, adapted for the stage by Nigel Williams, returns following its 2011 sell-out premiere for a limited run from Thursday 3 to Saturday 12 September 2015 prior to a major UK tour. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsals!

IMPOSSIBLE, London's magic spectacular, has released new production images giving a hint of what audiences can expect to see when the new production opens this Thursday at London's Noel Coward Theatre, running for 5 weeks only until 29 August 2015. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the illusionists in action below!

SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS opened at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre on 16th July, and BroadwayWorld has new shots of the company in action below!

From the Golden Age of the movie musical, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers finds its perfect partner in the Open Air Theatre. This much-loved musical includes Bless Your Beautiful Hide, Goin' Courtin', Wonderful, Wonderful Day, and the dance spectacular, Barn Dance. Featuring Alex Gaumond as Adam and Laura Pitt-Pulford as Milly, director Rachel Kavanaugh reunites the creative team behind our award-winning production of The Sound of Music.