James Farncombe News

Full casting was announced today for the new production of Brian Friel's Translations, which will open at Sheffield Theatres on February 17, as part of a season of work dedicated to Friel, before travelling to Cambridge, Exeter, Newcastle, Oxford, Ipswich and culminating at the Rose Theatre Kingston from 22 April - 3 May.

Full casting was announced today for the new production of Brian Friel's Translations, which will open at Sheffield Theatres on February 17, as part of a season of work dedicated to Friel, before travelling to Cambridge, Exeter, Newcastle, Oxford, Ipswich and culminating at the Rose Theatre Kingston from 22 April - 3 May.

BARKING IN ESSEX, currently playing at London's Wyndham's Theatre through January 4, and according to the Daily Mail, star Keeley Hawes has left the production prematurely because of personal issues between her and her castmate Sheila Hancock.

Polly Adams, Emma Fielding, Adam James and Shannon Tarbet join Emilia Fox in Rapture, Blister, Burn, Gina Gionfriddo's witty dissection of gender politics.

Hampstead Theatre has announced its New Year programme of two UK Premieres: Rapture, Blister, Burn by Gina Gionfriddo, starring Emilia Fox and Good People by David Lindsay-Abaire, starring Imelda Staunton.

Sunday performances have been added to the BARKING IN ESSEX schedule, with the first one on Sunday 17 November. There will now be a 3pm performance each Sunday through to Sunday 22 December. The new performance schedule from Saturday 9 November will be Tuesdays to Saturdays at 7.30pm, Thursdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm and Sundays at 3.00pm.

Sunday performances have been added to the BARKING IN ESSEX schedule, with the first one on Sunday 17 November. There will now be a 3pm performance each Sunday through to Sunday 22 December. The new performance schedule from Saturday 9 November will be Tuesdays to Saturdays at 7.30pm, Thursdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm and Sundays at 3.00pm.

Clive Exton's comedy, BARKING IN ESSEX, starring Lee Evans, Sheila Hancock and Keeley Hawes, opened last night, Monday 16 September, at London's Wyndham's Theatre to advance box office sales of over £1.5 million and climbing, with Lee Evans attracting a whole new audience of first-time theatregoers.

Lee Evans stole the show tonight, Sunday 28 April, when he presented the 2013 Olivier Award for Best Director to Marianne Elliott. Before Ms Elliott had a chance to accept the award, Lee ate his way through it, creating great hilarity in the audience at the Royal Opera House. The specially made cake replicating the famous statuette of Laurence Olivier was created by Fat Cakes owner, Mia Tambini, a contemporary cake maker based in East Sussex. Scroll down for a look at the cake!

Stage One, the charity that supports new UK theatre producers and productions, has just announced the latest recipient to receive its Start-Up Investment Fund. James Quaife has been awarded £50,000 by the charity to co-produce alongside established producers MJE Productions, a new comedy, Barking in Essex by Clive Exton. The production will open at London's Wyndham Theatre on the 6th September 2013 and will star Lee Evans, Sheila Hancock and Keeley Hawes.

Keeley Hawes, Karl Johnson and Montserrat Lombard are joining the cast of Clive Exton's comedy, BARKING IN ESSEX, starring Lee Evans and Sheila Hancock. The play will premiere at Wyndham's Theatre on Monday 16 September 2013, following previews from 6 September.

Iain Glen will join Tamsin Greig and John Sessions in William Boyd's debut play, directed by Nina Raine, which opens at Hampstead Theatre at the end of February.

Iain Glen will join Tamsin Greig and John Sessions in William Boyd's debut play, directed by Nina Raine, which opens at Hampstead Theatre at the end of February.

The 65th annual Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, under the leadership of General Manager Bernard Foccroulle, will feature five opera productions, a selection of orchestral concerts, recitals, chamber music performances, world music programs, and more than 50 events from the 16th annual European Academy of Music. The Festival marks important milestones this year: Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner's 200th birthday anniversaries; Benjamin Britten's centennial; the 50th anniversary of Francis Poulenc's death; and celebrates Marseille-Provence 2013, European Cultural Capital for the year. All events unfold in extraordinary venues, many of them open-air, in and around the picturesque ancient Provencal city: a Medieval archbishop's palace, an 18th century Italian-style theatre, a private courtyard hidden behind doors dating back to the time of Louis XV, and an 11th century Romanesque chapel inside the grounds of a Renaissance castle - as well as a state of the art, 1,350-seat theatre. The official portion of the Festival runs from July 4 to 27, 2013.

Tamsin Greig and John Sessions will lead the cast in William Boyd's debut play, directed by Nina Raine, which opens at Hampstead Theatre at the end of February. Other members of this outstanding cast include Jonathan Bailey, Natasha Little, Eve Ponsonby and Catrin Stewart.

Casting is announced for The Changeling with rising star Jessica Raine (Earthquakes in London, NT; Punk Rock, Lyric) to play Beatrice Joanna and Young Vic regular Daniel Cerqueira (Vernon God Little, Joe Turner's Come and Gone) as De Flores.

Casting is announced for The Changeling with rising star Jessica Raine (Earthquakes in London, NT; Punk Rock, Lyric) to play Beatrice Joanna and Young Vic regular Daniel Cerqueira (Vernon God Little, Joe Turner's Come and Gone) as De Flores.

Casting is announced for The Changeling with rising star Jessica Raine (Earthquakes in London, NT; Punk Rock, Lyric) to play Beatrice Joanna and Young Vic regular Daniel Cerqueira (Vernon God Little, Joe Turner's Come and Gone) as De Flores.

The stage production of The Ladykillers has broken all known box office records at the Gielgud Theatre. Booking has now been extended until 14th April 2012.

Eve Best returns to The Old Vic in March 2012, in John Webster's great Jacobean tragedy, The Duchess of Malfi, directed by Jamie Lloyd. She last appeared at The Old Vic in London and on Broadway opposite Kevin Spacey in A Moon for the Misbegotten in the 2006/2007 Season.