John Osborn News

It is announced today that on the advice of his doctors, John Hurt has had to withdraw from the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company production of John Osborne's The Entertainer.

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

Today, the UK's finest multi-arts festival Latitude is delighted to announce the Literary Arena, Wellcome Trust Hub, and further Poetry names performing at this year's event, which takes place from Thursday 14th to Sunday 17th July 2016 in the stunning grounds of Henham Park, Suffolk.

The new season at Sheffield Theatres includes an exciting line-up of West End and Broadway musicals, witty comedy, chart-topping music, poignant drama and family fun. Booking for the new shows will open to Centre Stage Members on Saturday 11 June and to the general public on Saturday 18 June.

Coming up next for Mint Theater Company (Jonathan Bank, Producing Artistic Director; Jen Soloway, Managing Director) will be the first ever New York revival of A Day by the Sea by N.C. Hunter, directed by Austin Pendleton. This will be the Mint's first production as a resident theater company at Theatre Row. Performances will begin July 22nd and continue through September 24th at their new home at the Beckett Theater at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street between 9th and Dyer Avenues). Opening Night is set for August 25th.

Gary Naylor sees a fine revival of a play that was of its time in the buttoned up, pre-Beatles 1960s, but has much to say to audiences in 2016.

Finborough Theatre's Summer Season features three world premieres of new writing including the return of its THEGREATWAR100 series, a rediscovery from John Osborne and, continuing our commitment to Canadian writing, two plays about politics -- a classic and a new play, both in their European premieres.

Set against the backdrop of post-war Britain, John Osborne's modern classic conjures the seedy glamour of the old music halls for an explosive examination of public masks and private torment. Rob Ashford directs Kenneth Branagh as the Archie Rice, with John Hurt as Billy Rice in the final production for Plays at the Garrick season.

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 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

2016 marks the 60th anniversary of John Osborne's renowned Look Back in Anger.

Last year's best book about British theatre, according to the judges of this year's Theatre Book Prize, was a fascinating study based on the files from the Lord Chamberlain's Office now held in the British Library.

February 1949. The tenants of a boarding house in Camden Town, alerted by a smell of gas coming from one of the rooms, discover a young man lying unconscious, and signs of what might be a botched suicide attempt. In an attempt to make contact with the victim's family or friends, they decide to telephone the first person listed in his book of personal telephone numbers. It is the celebrated playwright Terence Rattigan....

Finborough Theatre's Summer Season features three world premieres of new writing including the return of its THEGREATWAR100 series, a rediscovery from John Osborne and, continuing our commitment to Canadian writing, two plays about politics -- a classic and a new play, both in their European premieres.

In a production commissioned by the Finborough Theatre, the London premiere - and the first production in over 40 years - of John Osborne's A Subject Of Scandal And Concern will run at the Finborough Theatre, playing nine Sunday and Monday evenings and Tuesday matinees from Sunday, 22 May 2016 (Press Night: Monday, 23 May 2016 at 7.30pm)

Our Summer Season features three world premieres of new writing including the return of our THEGREATWAR100 series, a rediscovery from John Osborne and, continuing our commitment to Canadian writing, two plays about politics - a classic and a new play, both in their European premieres.

At a ceremony at the Garrick Club today, James Shapiro was awarded the Sheridan Morley Prize for Theatre Biography for 1606 William Shakespeare and the Year of Lear.

Further casting has been announced for The Entertainer, the final production in the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company's Plays at the Garrick season. John Hurt will return to the London stage for the first time in a decade as legendary patriarch Billy Rice opposite Kenneth Branagh, who as previously announced, will play the unforgettable Archie Rice in Rob Ashford's production.

According to The Daily Mail, John Hurt and Kenneth Branagh will play father and son in THE ENTERTAINER, beginning August 20 as part of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company's first season at The Garrick.

The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company has announced the full cast for Romeo and Juliet, the fifth production in the inaugural Plays at the Garrick season. Joining previously announced Lily James (Juliet), Richard Madden (Romeo) and Derek Jacobi (Mercutio) will be Meera Syal as the Nurse. Romeo and Juliet will play at the Garrick Theatre from 12 May until 13 August with press night on 25 May. The production will be broadcast live to cinemas on 7 July.