Joe Bannister News

A unique production from a unique playwright / director has its faults, but far outweighs them with its warm truths and redemptive conclusion

All new photos have been released from Sheffield Theatres' Climate Emergency Double Bill, The Contingency Plan, by Steve Waters.

Steve Waters’ climate-emergency double bill is brought up to date, specially revised for this Sheffield run thirteen years after their acclaimed debut in 2009. Check out photos here!

Sheffield Theatres has announced the full cast for the double bill of climate change plays by playwright Steve Waters: Resilience and On The Beach, part of The Contingency Plan, which will open at the Crucible, Sheffield on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 October respectively.

Rehearsal imagery for Trouble In Mind by Alice Childress is released today. Opening in the Dorfman on December 2 and running until the 19 January, the production is directed by Nancy Medina with Tanya Moodie performing the role of Wiletta.  

The National Theatre today announces the on-sale dates of upcoming productions Trouble in Mind, Wuthering Heights and Small Island, as well as the return of daytime opening for visitors.

Hampstead Theatre's Associate Company, The Mono Box, has announced the launch of The Monologue Library, audio recordings of renowned artists performing their favourite theatrical speeches.

Chichester Festival Theatre and Menier Chocolate Factory today presents the London première of Olivier Award-winner Laura Wade's The Watsons at the Menier.

Laura Wade isn't the first to tackle Jane Austen's unfinished novel, abandoned in 1805, but she is the only one so far to write herself, the struggling adaptor, into the text. This witty, ingenious and surprisingly philosophical play, which premiered at Chichester last year, merges Austen with Pirandello, and satire with big existential questions.

Chichester Festival Theatre and Menier Chocolate Factory present the London première of Olivier Award-winner Laura Wade's The Watsons at the Menier.

Chichester Festival Theatre and Menier Chocolate Factory today announce the full cast for the London première of Olivier Award-winner Laura Wade's The Watsons at the Menier. Samuel West directs original cast members Sam Alexander (Robert Watson), Sally Bankes (Nanny), Joe Bannister (Lord Osborne), Jane Booker (Lady Osborne), Elaine Claxton (Mrs Edwards), Tim Delap (Mr Howard), Sophie Duval (Mrs Robert), Louise Ford (Laura), John Wilson Goddard (Mr Watson), Grace Molony (Emma Watson), Elander Moore (Bertie), Paksie Vernon (Elizabeth Watson), Cat White (Miss Osborne) and Laurence Ubong Williams (Tom Musgrave), who are joined by Rhianna McGreevy (Margaret Watson), with Isaac Forward, Sonny Fowler and Teddy Probets sharing the role of Charles Howard for the run at the Menier. The Watsons played to critical acclaim at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2018. The production opens at the Menier on 30 September, with previews from 20 September, and runs until 16 November.

London is never short of temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From a landmark musical and Caryl Churchill to Wall Street and ABBA immersion, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld's reviews, interviews and features!

Chichester Festival Theatre and Menier Chocolate Factory today announce the full cast for the London première of Olivier Award-winner Laura Wade's The Watsons at the Menier. Samuel West directs original cast members Sam Alexander (Robert Watson), Sally Bankes (Nanny), Joe Bannister (Lord Osborne), Jane Booker (Lady Osborne), Elaine Claxton (Mrs Edwards), Tim Delap (Mr Howard), Sophie Duval (Mrs Robert), Louise Ford (Laura), John Wilson Goddard (Mr Watson), Grace Molony (Emma Watson), Elander Moore (Bertie), Paksie Vernon (Elizabeth Watson), Cat White (Miss Osborne) and Laurence Ubong Williams (Tom Musgrave), who are joined by Rhianna McGreevy (Margaret Watson), with Isaac Forward, Sonny Fowler and Teddy Probets sharing the role of Charles Howard for the run at the Menier. The Watsons played to critical acclaim at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2018. The production opens at the Menier on 30 September, with previews from 20 September, and runs until 16 November.

The full company has been announced for Laura Wade's new play THE WATSONS, adapted from Jane Austen's unfinished novel, which receives its world premiere at the Minerva Theatre from 3 November - 1 December, with a press night on 8 November. Directed by Samuel West, the cast is: Sam Alexander, Sally Bankes, Joe Bannister, Jane Booker, Elaine Claxton, Tim Delap, Leonardo Dickens, Sophie Duval, Archie Elliot, Louise Ford, John Wilson Goddard, Grace Molony, Elander Moore, Katherine Rose Morley, Paksie Vernon, Cat White and Laurence Ubong Williams.

On a geography trip to the Scottish Highlands around 1998, middle-schooler Ramona (Ruby Bentall) falls for Jim (Joe Bannister), a socially awkward simpleton with a passion-bordering-obsession for crustaceans. Their shared love for Enya's music combined with the teenage isolation that comes with weird interests inevitably leads them to bond.

Casting is announced today for two new plays as part of the Bush Theatre's Autumn Winter season by Sophie Wu (Ramona Tells Jim) and Chris Thompson (Of Kith and Kin).

Wild Honey is Michael Frayn's very funny version of the early Chekhov play alternatively known as The Play without a Name or Platonov.

Theatre presents Michael Frayn's Wild Honey, directed by 's Associate Artist Howard Davies and Jonathan Kent. This comedy of errors, drawn from Chekhov's untitled - and posthumously discovered - early play, is a tale of nineteenth century Russian life replete with classic misunderstandings, irrepressible desires and nostalgia for a vanishing world.

Hampstead Theatre presents Michael Frayn's Wild Honey, directed by Howard Davies and Jonathan Kent. This comedy of errors, drawn from Chekhov's untitled - and posthumously discovered - early play, is a tale of nineteenth century Russian life replete with classic misunderstandings, irrepressible desires and nostalgia for a vanishing world. The show begins December 2, and BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal below!

Hampstead Theatre presents Michael Frayn's Wild Honey, directed by Howard Davies and Jonathan Kent. This comedy of errors, drawn from Chekhov's untitled - and posthumously discovered - early play, is a tale of nineteenth century Russian life replete with classic misunderstandings, irrepressible desires and nostalgia for a vanishing world. The show begins December 2, and BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal below!