Howard Jacobson News

Theatres are no strangers to ghosts. Sadly, the ghost of Herschel Fink will haunt for years to come.

This year's Jewish Book Week will be the most accessible and far-reaching yet in its long history, with its first fully online festival featuring Oscar-winners, internationally acclaimed writers and France's most-famous female rabbi.

Directed from the piano by Lada Valešová, tenor Nicky Spence and the Navarra Quartet perform Pavel Haas's song cycle Fata Morgana Op. 6 to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, streamed on Opera Holland Park's YouTube and Facebook channels from 6pm on Wednesday 27 January.

Whatever you think Dorothy Parker was like, she wasn't.

Less than one month into his new job as Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Carlos Acosta announces plans for world premieres, classic revivals and brand-new partnerships in his first year as Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet. Opportunity, talent and inspiration are the key ingredients that underpin his vision and ambition for the company.

For nine days, from the 29th February to the 8th March, Jewish Book Week brings together nearly 200 multi-award winning writers from the worlds of history, theatre, journalism, philosophy, science, art, music, poetry and fiction in a celebration of ideas. The 2020 line-up includes Emma Barnett, Tom Bower, Camilla Cavendish, Gavin Esler, Jonathan Freedland, Nicci Gerrard, Adam Gopnik, Howard Jacobson, Rachel Johnson, Norman Lebrecht, Sue MacGregor, Douglas Murray, Melanie Phillips, Philippe Sands, Marcus du Sautoy, Simon Schama, Tom Segev, Elif Shafak, Martin Rees, Andrew Robinson and Edmund de Waal.

Southwest Shakespeare Company's second offering of its 23rd Season is THE MERCHANT OF VENICE and it is, to use the Bard's words, a palpable hit. Contemporizing Shakespeare's plays isn't an original concept, but its application in the current production works especially well and reflects a series of astute decisions by director Kent Burnham that enhance the work's accessibility, relevance, and poignancy.

With over 200 shows presented at FringeNYC Festival and 900 at Edinburgh Fringe, it's hard to be in the know about what's worth seeing. Even worse is having missed the show everyone is talking about post festival. Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, the Fringe Encore Series will present some of the most critically-acclaimed and crowd-pleasing shows from both festivals. But more importantly, pinpoints and cultivates the theater talent of tomorrow.

Soho Playhouse presents the award-winning and internationally acclaimed JEWISH CHRONICLES, written and performed by Daniel Cainer. Based on true-life stories, it is a musical and lyrical journey like no other, weaving an irresistible tapestry of family legend and musical folklore. JEWISH CHRONICLES will run at Soho Playhouse from tonight, October 8 thru November 16, 2014.

Soho Playhouse presents the award-winning and internationally acclaimed JEWISH CHRONICLES, written and performed by Daniel Cainer. Based on true-life stories, it is a musical and lyrical journey like no other, weaving an irresistible tapestry of family legend and musical folklore. JEWISH CHRONICLES will run at Soho Playhouse from October 8 thru November 16, 2014. Performances are Wednesdays at 3pm, Saturdays at 3pm, Sundays at 5pm and Mondays at 7:30pm. Tickets are $45.00 and can be purchased at 212-691-1555 or www.SoHoPlayhouse.com.

'Gone Girl' author Gillian Flynn will pen a new version of "Hamlet", joining a trans-Atlantic effort to put forth a more modern and 'accessible' version of Shakespeare.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival today announced its programme for 2012. Charlotte Square Gardens will welcome Nobel Laureates, Booker and Pulitzer Prize winners and Poets Laureate as well as a stellar line up of the world's leading writers, poets, thinkers and commentators. With Guest Selectors, the Anobii First Book Award, the Edinburgh World Writers' Conference, the gamut of outstanding authors from Ali Smith to Zadie Smith, and a third year of the late night Unbound events, the Book Festival promises a summer of contemplation, inspiration and entertainment.