Josie Rourke News

London is never short of temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From Arthur Miller and Caryl Churchill to Don Quixote and zombie gore, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld's reviews, interviews and features!

Debbie Kurup's extensive musical theatre experience ranges from Chicago, West Side Story and Sister Act to originating roles in Girl from the North Country and The Bodyguard. She's currently playing taxi dancer Helene in Cy Coleman, Neil Simon and Dorothy Fields' Sweet Charity - the farewell production of Donmar Warehouse Artistic Director Josie Rourke, opening early next month.

The Donmar Warehouse is hard at work in rehearsal on Artistic Director Josie Rourke's farewell production, Sweet Charity.

With just 7 weeks to go until the first SWEET FRIDAY at the Donmar, the company has released the official artwork for SWEET CHARITY. Renowned photographer Nick Knight and SHOWstudio have created this shot of Anne-Marie Duff as Charity Hope Valentine in support of YOUNG+FREE and SWEET FRIDAYS at the Donmar.

The Donmar Warehouse today announces further casting for Artistic Director Josie Rourke's farewell production, Sweet Charity. Joining previously announced cast members Anne-Marie Duff as Charity and Arthur Darvill as Oscar will be Lizzy Connolly, Lauren Drew, Jo Eaton-Kent, Will Haswell, Charlotte Jaconelli, Stephen Kennedy, Debbie Kurup, Martin Marquez, Ryan Reid, Amy Ellen Richardson, Danielle Steers and Shaq Taylor.

The Donmar Warehouse's sold-out production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Sweat by Lynn Nottage will transfer to London's Gielgud Theatre for a limited 6 week run from Friday 7 June 2019.

The Donmar Warehouse today announces Artistic Director Josie Rourke's farewell production, Sweet Charity, choreographed by the world-renownedWayne McGregor, who reunites with Josie after working on her debut film Mary Queen of Scots. Josie returns to the music of Cy Coleman who wrote the score for Rourke's Olivier Award-winning production of City of Angels. The book is by Neil Simon and lyrics by Dorothy Fields.

Team BWW have compiled the following list of their favourite Twitter users in the UK who post about theatre and the arts. Ranging from independent bloggers and theatre-makers to West End performers who are particularly engaging with their social media accounts.

Shakespeare's Globe has announced the full cast for Christopher Marlowe's Edward II, directed by Nick Bagnall, and for Tom Stuart's new play After Edward, directed by Brendan O'Hea.

The British Independent Film Awards is delighted to announce today that Dame Judi Dench will be this year's recipient of the Richard Harris Award for outstanding contribution by an actor to British film, in recognition of her distinguished career in the UK and advocacy of the British film industry across the globe. The award will be presented to her at the 2018 awards ceremony to be held at Old Billingsgate Market on Sunday 2nd December.

Acclaimed British director Ben Wheatley (Kill List, High Rise) has signed on to direct a new adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's classic, romantic, gothic thriller penned by screenwriter Jane Goldman (Kingsman series, X-Men: First Class). It tells the story of a newly-married young woman who, on arriving at her husband's imposing family estate on a bleak English coast, finds herself battling the shadow of his dead first wife, the mysterious Rebecca, whose legacy continues to haunt the house.

Appearing in a gender swapping Measure for Measure, Lowden returns to the London stage at the Donmar Warehouse. Tackling the subjects of gender and sexual misconduct, Lowden shares just how much the play resonates today, how audiences are reacting, and the joys of doubling characters alongside Hayley Atwell.

The Donmar Warehouse's all-female Shakespeare Trilogy has been added to the National Theatre's On Demand In Schools service.

On October 13, 2018, Alexi Kaye Campbell spoke about Apologia with education dramaturg Ted Sod as part of Roundabout Theatre Company's lecture series.

Goodman Theatre adds to its 2018/2019 Season a limited engagement of St. Nicholas-an internationally-acclaimed major revival by London's Donmar Warehouse of Conor McPherson's 1997 intimate thriller, directed by Simon Evans. The monologue play stars Olivier Award-winning actor Brendan Coyle ("Mr. Bates" of the smash sensation Downton Abbey, for which he earned an Emmy Award nomination) in "a superlative, mesmerizing performance that's simply not to be missed" (The Arts Review). The U.S. premiere, which appears in the Goodman's 350-seat flexible Owen Theatre, follows two acclaimed recent appearances at the Donmar Warehouse and the Dublin Theatre Festival. The creative team includes Peter McKintosh (Set), Matt Daw (Lighting) and Christopher Shutt (Sound). Goodman Theatre's limited engagement of St. Nicholas appears January 9 - 27, 2019 in the Owen Theatre (170 N. Dearborn). Tickets are available now ONLY with the purchase of a new Classic Membership (4-play packages start at $80). Individual tickets ($25 - $60; subject to change) go on sale Friday, November 9. For tickets and more information, visit GoodmanTheatre.org/StNicholas or call the box office (312.443.3800, 12 noon - 5pm daily).

The Donmar Warehouse today announces the extension due to exceptional demand of Measure for Measure, now booking performances until Saturday 1 December 2018. Friday 30 November will be a performance dedicated solely to YOUNG+FREE audiences aged 25 and under, enabling even more young audiences the opportunity to experience Shakespeare's exploration of sex and power. YOUNG+FREE is funded through the generosity of audiences via the Donmar's PAY IT FORWARD scheme. These donations have allowed the Donmar to allocate more than 12,000 free tickets to those aged 25 and under since the scheme began. Tickets to the YOUNG+FREE Friday performance will be allocated by ballot at the end of October. The ballot is now open for entries by signing up to the YOUNG+FREE mailing list at donmarwarehouse.com.

It's a #MeToo-era Measure for Measure over at the Donmar, with Josie Rourke conducting a fascinating experiment: abridging Shakespeare's problem play to just over an hour and running it twice, once in period, once in modern dress. And with the key roles of Isabella and Angelo swapped between Hayley Atwell and Jack Lowden.

Vienna is corrupt. The Duke, who has let the city fall to vice, hands control to his Deputy, a hardline, puritan reformer.

London is never short of temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From gender-flipped Sondheim to David Hare and Martin McDonagh, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld reviews, interviews and features!

AFI FEST presented by Audi will close with the World Premiere of Focus Features and Working Title's MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS.  Directed by Josie Rourke and written by Academy Award® nominee Beau Willimon, the historical drama is based on John Guy's biography, “Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart.”  The film stars Academy Award® nominees Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie, along with Jack Lowden, Joe Alwyn, Gemma Chan, Martin Compston, Ismael Cordova, Brendan Coyle, Ian Hart, Adrian Lester, James McArdle, David Tennant and Guy Pearce.  The Closing Night Gala will take place on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre.