Hildegard Bechtler News

Olivier Award-winning director, Robert Icke's (Mary Stuart, The Red Barn, Uncle Vanya, Oresteia, Mr Burns and 1984), ground-breaking and electrifying production of William Shakespeare's Hamlet, starring BAFTA award-winner Andrew Scott (Moriarty in BBC's Sherlock, Denial, Spectre, Design For Living and Cock) in the title role, will transfer to the Harold Pinter Theatre, following a critically acclaimed and sell out run at the Almeida Theatre.

Hamlet anew in this technology infused but oh so human production of Shakespeare's great tragedy in which Andrew Scott gives us a warm, flawed, and eventually mad Prince.

The Metropolitan Opera's 2017-18 season will feature 220 performances of 26 works, including two Met premieres, one co-commissioned by the company and one an older masterpiece having its first Met performances; a variety of repertory favorites, three in new productions; and performances of Verdi's towering concert work for soloists, orchestra, and chorus, the Requiem. Of note, Broadway star Kelli O'Hara is set to return to the Met in Così fan tutte this season.

World premieres, new writers and ground-breaking adaptations have been announced for 2017 at the National Theatre.

A coin toss at the start of each performance determines whether Lia Williams or Juliet Stevenson plays the role of Mary Stuart. The winner plays Queen Elizabeth I, while the loser takes on the role of Mary Queen of Scots. At the performance I saw, Stevenson was Elizabeth and Williams Mary. Both women appear as mirror images of each other, both dressed identically until the toss of the coin decides their fate.

The National Theatre has launched the 2016 Max Rayne Design Bursary and is inviting applications from talented, young designers from across the UK.

The Almeida will broadcast Artistic Director Rupert Goold's production of RICHARD III, with Ralph Fiennes as Shakespeare's most notorious villain and Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Margaret, live to cinemas in the UK and around the world today 21 July.

The Almeida's production of RICHARD III, with Ralph Fiennes as Shakespeare's most notorious villain and Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Margaret, is likely headed to the West End, and possibly the Great White Way.

Ralph Fiennes plays the villainous title role in Rupert Goold's new production of Shakespeare's RICHARD III at the Almeida, opening tonight. Vanessa Redgrave is Queen Margaret, and the cast also features David Annen, Joseph Arkley, Osman Baig, Benedict Barker, Tom Canton, Daniel Cerqueira, Simon Coates, Josh Collins, Susan Engel, James Garnon, Mark Hadfield, Scott Handy, Lev Levermore, Finbar Lynch, Aislin McGuckin, Joseph Mydell, Lukas Parish, Joshua Riley, Lukas Rolfe , Joanna Vanderham, Baxter Westby and Oliver Whitehouse.

Last night Alexi Kaye Campbell's new play, SUNSET AT THE VILLA THALIA, directed by Simon Godwin, had its press night at the National's Dorfman Theatre. The show features design by Hildegard Bechtler, lighting design by Natasha Chivers, music by Michael Bruce, movement by Jonathan Goddard and sound design by Tom Gibbons. The cast includes Christos Callow, Sam Crane, Glykeria Dimou, Elizabeth McGovern, Ben Miles, Pippa Nixon and Eve Polycarpou. 

The Almeida will broadcast Artistic Director Rupert Goold's production of RICHARD III, with Ralph Fiennes as Shakespeare's most notorious villain and Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Margaret, live to cinemas in the UK and around the world on 21 July.

Rehearsal images have been released for Alexi Kaye Campbell's new play, SUNSET AT THE VILLA THALIA, directed by Simon Godwin, which premieres at the Dorfman Theatre from 25 May, with press night 1 June.

Here's a full list of Olivier Award nominees and winners - we updated this story LIVE throughout the ceremony. Winners are indicated in bold type. Who were you cheering for?

Sonia Friedman Productions is today celebrating as the full Olivier Awards Nominations list included 20 potential winners for productions the company is behind.

The nominations for the Olivier Awards 2016 with MasterCard, the most prestigious event in the UK's theatrical calendar, were announced today (Monday 29 February) by past winners Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton at Rosewood London, the awards' official hotel partner.

The nominations for the Olivier Awards 2016 with MasterCard, the most prestigious event in the UK's theatrical calendar, were announced today (Monday 29 February) by past winners Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton at Rosewood London, the awards' official hotel partner.

The Almeida Theatre's critically acclaimed, sold out production of Oresteia, by Aeschylus, re-imagined for the modern stage by Almeida Associate Director Robert Icke (The Fever, Mr Burns, 1984) will transfer to the Trafalgar Studios in the West End from August. Press night September 7th.

ORESTEIA, in a modern reimagining by Almeida Associate Director Robert Icke, will be transferring to Trafalgar Studios late next month -- original company intact.

The Almeida Theatre launches its new season: Almeida Greeks.

Casting is today announced for Oresteia, reimagined for the modern stage by Almeida Associate Director Robert Icke (The Fever, Mr Burns, 1984), in its first major London production in more than a decade.