Johan Persson News

Imelda Staunton might be taking on another very strong personality on the London stage.

KINKY BOOTS' Killian Donnelly will return to Ireland to star in Frank McGuinness's new play DONEGAL at the Abbey Theatre this autumn.

The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company in partnership with Picturehouse Entertainment, will broadcast Romeo and Juliet to more than 1200 cinemas worldwide live from the West End's Garrick Theatre at 19:00 on Thursday 7 July. Participating cinemas and screening dates can be found at branaghtheatrelive.com

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre presents HENRY V, starring Olivier Award-winning actress Michelle Terry in the title role. The production is now in previews, with press night tomorrow, and runs until 9 July.

Today's big news: The 6th annual Elly Awards luncheon will honor HAMILTON's Phillipa Soo and more!

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre presents Henry V, now in rehearsal. Check out photos below!

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Sheridan Smith has taken a leave of absence from Funny Girl at the Savoy Theatre due to 'stress and exhaustion.'

Michael Crawford returns to the London Stage in a new musical, based on the famed novel The Go-Between.

Tonight is the night in London as Michael Crawford officially opens in the West End this evening in a new musical, based on the famed novel The Go-Between.

The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company presents Romeo and Juliet, the fifth production in the inaugural Plays at the Garrick season. The cast features Lily James (Juliet), Richard Madden(Romeo), Derek Jacobi (Mercutio), Meera Syal as the Nurse. Romeo and Juliet opened at the Garrick Theatre on 12 May until 13 August. Press night was 25 May. The production will be broadcast live to cinemas on 7 July, and details of participating cinemas can be found at branaghtheatrelive.com

The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company presents Romeo and Juliet, the fifth production in the inaugural Plays at the Garrick season. The cast features Lily James (Juliet), Richard Madden (Romeo), Derek Jacobi (Mercutio), Meera Syal as the Nurse. Romeo and Juliet opened at the Garrick Theatre on 12 May until 13 August.  Press night was 25 May. The production will be broadcast live to cinemas on 7 July.

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's 2016 season begins with Samuel Adamson's adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's novel, RUNNING WILD. A co-production with Chichester Festival Theatre, RUNNING WILD opens tomorrow 19 May and plays until Sunday 12 June. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Mongiwekhaya's I SEE YOU / NGIYAKUBONA / EK SIEN JOU / NDIYAKUBONA places the issue of reconciliation within and between black communities within the wider context of South Africa's fractured rainbow nation - an image that was perhaps more idealistic than true.

Ahead of its West End premiere at the Prince Edward Theatre, rehearsal images for ALADDIN have been released today. The new Disney musical previews from May 27, opening on June 15, and is booking till October 1. Dean John-Wilson stars as Aladdin, alongside Jade Ewen as Jasmine, Broadway cast member Trevor Dion Nicholas as Genie, Don Gallagher as Jafar, Peter Howe as Iago, Irvine Iqbal as the Sultan, Nathan Amzi as Babkak, Stephen Rahman-Hughes as Kassim and Rachid Sabitri as Omar.

The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company's ROMEO AND JULIET is now playing at the Garrick Theatre, with press night on May 25 and a cinema broadcast on July 7. Joining Richard Madden and Lily James as the titular lovers is revered actor Derek Jacobi as Mercutio. The production is co-directed by Branagh and Rob Ashford, with the broadcast directed by Benjamin Caron.

The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company, in partnership with Picturehouse Entertainment, has confirmed that the date of the final Branagh Theatre Live cinema broadcast of this season will be The Entertainer at 19:00 on Thursday 27 October 2016. Tickets for the broadcast of The Entertainer and details of participating cinemas can be found at branaghtheatrelive.com

The International Dance Festival Birmingham (IDFB) 2016 at the Hippodrome opened with a progressive programme of works from NDT2 – the junior division of Netherlands Dans Theater which focuses specifically on talent development for dancers aged 18-23. The IDFB puts Birmingham in the unique position of being the only city in the UK to have a dance festival as its biggest festival. It seems fitting therefore that, rather than opening with a more commercial piece, the Birmingham Hippodrome would begin their IDFB celebrations with the progressive NDT2.

London is never short of theatre temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From two buzzy Shakespeare productions and satirical opera to dance at the Old Vic, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld's reviews…

Nick Payne's latest production Elegy is a short 70-minute piece, which raises complex and emotional issues. Following on from his previous work Constellations, which won the Evening Standard Award for Best Play, Payne's plot focuses on Lorna and her partner Carrie as they struggle with an unnamed disease which effects Lorna's brain.

Coinciding with International Dance Day, Latitude Festival has announced its dance line-up for this summer. Sadler's Wells returns to the Waterfront Stage for a ninth year, with highlights including an excerpt from !VAMOUS CUBA! and Hofesh Shechter's THE BAD. Latitude has also announced that the Jane Horrocks-starring IF YOU KISS ME, KISS ME joins the theatre line-up, and Louis Theroux will be in conversation with Adam Buxton.