John Lightbody News

Much Ado About Nothing is a laughter-filled production with stellar performances throughout.

Shakespeare’s Globe has announced the cast of Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Associate Artistic Director Sean Holmes (The Comedy of Errors, Globe), with Ekow Quartey and Amalia Vitale as Benedick and Beatrice.

Shakespeare’s Globe has announced its Summer Season, running from April – October 2024. Learn more about the full season here!

“A sad tale’s best for winter.” There may be moments of poignancy and outright tragedy in this late Shakespeare play, but Sean Holmes’ vibrant production ensures that the audience is given more than their fair share of comedy and levity throughout.

As if the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse wasn’t already atmospheric enough, it feels like a special treat to witness their first candlelit Hamlet. After directing the colourful A Midsummer Night’s Dream just across the courtyard at the Globe, Sean Holmes goes darker and moodier with our favourite revenge tragedy. George Fouracres is the title character. Known mostly for his comedic work (he was Flute in Holmes’s Dream), he proves himself an eclectic actor and an electric Brummie anti-hero. The play’s not the thing here, Fouracres is.

The role of Hamlet will be played by George Fouracres, who delighted audiences with his performances in the 2021 Summer Season productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night, also directed by Sean.

Shakespeare’s Globe is presenting, Hamlet which will be performed for the very first time in the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse by the Globe Ensemble, directed by Associate Artistic Director Sean Holmes.

Though hardly an ideal start to the new theatrical year, we want to applaud all of the incredible casts, creatives, backstage and front-of-house staff who are working so hard to keep shows on. If you can support productions, please do – whether revisiting an amazing long-running show or checking out something new. And speaking of which: here are some of the most intriguing London additions for this month. Keep checking back for our reviews, interviews and features!

Shakespeare's Globe has announced the full cast of Hamlet which will be performed for the very first time in the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse by the Globe Ensemble, directed by Associate Artistic Director Sean Holmes.

What you might not expect when sitting down in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, a replica Elizabethan indoor theatre, is to see the titular character of Richard III enter on stage wearing football clothes. Granted, it's an unusual twist. Representing a companion to a condensed Henry VI (which squishes three plays into one), what Richard III makes clear from the beginning is that the game to become king is just beginning.

The Lost Disc is a riotous quest for the holy grail of recorded music. Part gig, part play, part comedy show it showcases an alternative history of popular music and is strumming its way to the Soho Theatre stage from 8th-27th October 2018.

Full casting has been announced for the Lyric Hammersmith and Filter Theatre Production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, co-directed by Sean Holmes and Stef O'Driscoll. Jonathan Broadbent, Ed Gaughan, John Lightbody, Victoria Moseley and Ferdy Roberts return to the cast and they will be joined by Hammed Animashaun, Andrew Buckley, Clare Dunne and Cat Simmons.

Paul Brennen, Jonathan Broadbent, Jim Bywater, Nigel Cooke, Clare Dunne, Romola Garai, David Judge, John Lightbody, Poppy Miller, Ferdy Roberts, Gemma Saunders, Mark Theodore, Sandra Voe, Paul Woodson join the cast!

Following his successful first season as Lyric Artistic Director, Sean Holmes announces new productions to complete the spring season for the theatre. The season includes collaborations with some of the most exciting and innovative UK companies and artists.

Paul Brennen, Jonathan Broadbent, Jim Bywater, Nigel Cooke, Clare Dunne, Romola Garai, David Judge, John Lightbody, Poppy Miller, Ferdy Roberts, Gemma Saunders, Mark Theodore, Sandra Voe, Paul Woodson join the cast!

Keith Allen will make his West End stage debut starring as 'Long John Silver' in Ken Ludwig's new stage adaptation of 'TREASURE ISLAND' by Robert Louis Stevenson at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. The play will open on Monday 17 November, following previews from 7 November. Also in the cast are Michael Legge as 'Jim Hawkins', Tony Bell as 'Bones/Captain Smollett', Paul Brennen as 'Ben Gunn/Black Dog', John Lightbody as 'Blind Pew/Trelawney', Dermot Kerrigan as 'Flint/Dr Livesy', James Atherton, Mark Bagnall, Matt Costain, Estella Daniels, Branwell Donaghey, Howard Gossington, James Lailey, Mark Theodore and Sharlene Whyte.