Inua Ellams News

As eavesdropping opportunities go, the barber shop has everything a playwright could desire: a constant stream of close encounters and a broad range of people willing to sit still and talk. That talk feeds directly into Inua Ellams' new play for the National, which follows a day in the life of male grooming parlours across six world cities: London, Johannesburg, Harare, Kampala, Lagos and Accra.

This year's Traverse Festival programme presents eight world premieres, three European premieres and five Scottish premieres, among them a record five Traverse Theatre Company productions. In this, the 70th anniversary year of the Edinburgh Festival, the Traverse is proud to deliver its mission of championing international creative talent and programming urgent and diverse work, placing powerful contemporary theatre at the heart of cultural life.

Fuel and The Place have partnered up to present a brand-new show from Requardt & Rosenberg, the theatremakers behind outdoor dance extravaganzas The Roof, Electric Hotel and Motor Show.

London is never short of theatre temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From a classic musical and acclaimed Shakespeare to buzzy history plays, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld's reviews…

National Theatre has just announced its newest season line-up. Check out what's coming below!

BARBER SHOP CHRONICLES, a new play by Inua Ellams, begins previews at the National Theatre from 30 May, with press night 7 June, in repertoire until 8 July 2017, in a co-production with Fuel and West Yorkshire Playhouse. Directed by Bijan Sheibani.

With the annual Tricycle Takeover due to open next month, Artistic Director Indhu Rubasingham today announces the company's forthcoming work ahead of the reopening of the building in spring 2018.

Responding to a world where the movement of people is never far from the front pages, theatre producers Fuel are developing and presenting several projects with artists that address the most pressing issue of our time. Some are at early stages of development, some have new tour dates to announce, and some entirely new works will premiere. Among the new works will be The Hartlepool Monkey, produced in association with Stratford Circus Arts Centre and created by Gyre & Gimble, who met while working as puppeteers on the original production of War Horse.

The National Theatre is opening up theatre with inspiring projects for schools, young people, and families and a wide range of events for adults.

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

Following a 2016 which saw Tara Arts move into its award-winning new building and Artistic Director Jatinder Verma awarded the MBE, Tara Theatre launch a Spring season featuring an eclectic mix of music, theatre, dance and comedy. 2017 will see Tara celebrate two milestone anniversaries - the 70th anniversary of India and Pakistan's independence, which will be marked with 70 events over the course of the year under the banner #tara7070, and Tara's own 40th anniversary.

Following a 2016 which saw Tara Arts move into its award-winning new building and Artistic Director Jatinder Verma awarded the MBE, Tara Theatre launch a Spring season featuring an eclectic mix of music, theatre, dance and comedy. 2017 will see Tara celebrate two milestone anniversaries - the 70th anniversary of India and Pakistan's independence, which will be marked with 70 events over the course of the year under the banner #tara7070, and Tara's own 40th anniversary.

Touring Scotland for the first time, Sarah Cameron's towering solo performance is a delicious feast for the imagination performed in luscious Scots dialect and served with tasty morsels Press Night: Friday 3 March, Tron Theatre Glasgow, 8pm.

Touring the breadth of the country and with narratives that span continents, Fuel's upcoming work showcases their characteristically diverse mix of new work and hit shows from established and emerging artists from the UK and beyond.  The producers continue to work closely with artists to develop new work and make it accessible to audiences around the UK.

MOUTHFUL is the latest production from St. Edwards University's Mary Moody Northen Theatre. Commissioned and produced last year by Metta Theatre in London, this series of six short plays aims to explore the global food crisis that affects billions of people all over the world. The combined effort of six acclaimed playwrights, each working in collaboration with a world-renowned scientist, MOUTHFUL delves into various views on sustenance and survival that both comments and warns about our culture's tendency to err on the side of extravagance.  

Perth International Arts Festival Artistic Director Wendy Martin has unveiled a world-class program of art without borders, inviting us to travel to extraordinary places with the most brilliant artists as our guides.

New work by Inua Ellams, Ya?l Farber, DC Moore, Lindsey Ferrentino and Nina Raine is announced today by Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre. Four world premieres and two European premieres are further announced as forthcoming productions for the National Theatre in 2017.  

Southbank Centre announces Marina Abramovi?, Nikki Amuka-Bird, MyAnna Buring, Christopher Eccleston, PJ Harvey, Sara Pascoe and Slavoj Žižek as a part of the Autumn/Winter 2016 Literature programme

Rudi Dharmalingam, Darrell D'Silva, James Harkness, Jessica Raine and Ria Zmitrowicz start rehearsals on Monday 22 February for X which runs from 30 March - 7 May 2016 in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs. Press night is on Tuesday 5 April, 7pm.

Burning Coal Theatre Company and CAM Raleigh present the US premiere of Blue Sky by Clare Bayley, directed by Gus Heagerty with artwork by Derek Toomes at CAM/Raleigh (409 West Martin St. Raleigh, NC 27603) Thursdays through Saturdays, January 28-30, February 4-6*, and 11-13, 2016 at 7:30 pm and Sundays January 31, February 7 and 14, 2016 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $25 for general admission, $20 for seniors (65+), and $15 for students, teachers and active military. Burning Coal also offers group rates and $5 student rush tickets if available at curtain. All Thursday performances are $15. To purchase visit www.burningcoal.org or call the box office at (919) 834-4001. *Note: the performance on Friday, February 5th will take place at 10 pm immediately following First Friday at CAM/Raleigh!