Josie Rourke News

The Stage has today announced the winners of The STAGE 100, recognising the outstanding individuals working in theatre today.While The Stage 100 recognises the achievements of individuals, The Stage 100 Awards recognises performing arts organisations and the teams behind them.

Digital Theatre announces William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing as its latest release available to watch online or download to the desktop, with pre-order available from today (13 December 2011) at www.digitaltheatre.com and release on 13 December 2011.

Digital Theatre announces William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing as its latest release available to watch online or download to the desktop, available from today (13 December 2011) at www.digitaltheatre.com.

The 2011 awards, featuring several highly competitive categories shattered the site's previous records, with tens of thousands of West End fans, aficionados and professionals having their say about the very best of theatre on the West End and beyond...including a nail-biting, game-changing nearly 5,000 votes on the last day alone.

Joining Robert Lindsay (Henry II) and Joanna Lumley (Eleanor of Aquitane) in Trevor Nunn's production of James Goldman's The Lion in Winter are Tom Bateman (Richard), Sonya Cassidy (Alais), Joseph Drake (John), Rory Fleck-Byrne (Philip) and James Norton (Geoffrey). The Lion in Winter, produced by the Theatre Royal Haymarket Company, runs until 28 January 2012, Set and costume designs are by Stephen Brimson Lewis with music by Steven Edis, sound by Paul Groothuis and video design by Ian William Galloway. Checkout production shots from the show below!

The stars of musical theatre are battling it out in their categories - Michael Crawford (The Wizard of Oz) and Shayne Ward (Rock of Ages) are neck and neck for Best Featured Actor; just two per cent separates Oliver Tompsett (Rock of Ages) and Richard Fleeshman (Ghost) for Best Leading Actor; Hannah Waddingham (The Wizard of Oz) and Jodie Jacobs (Rock of Ages) are tied as they push Sharon D Clarke (Ghost) for Best Featured Actress; and just three per cent separates Danielle Hope (The Wizard of Oz), Caissie Levy (Ghost) and Sarah Lancashire (Betty Blue Eyes) for Best Leading Actress!

Joining Robert Lindsay (Henry II) and Joanna Lumley (Eleanor of Aquitane) in Trevor Nunn's production of James Goldman's The Lion in Winter are Tom Bateman (Richard), Sonya Cassidy (Alais), Joseph Drake (John), Rory Fleck-Byrne (Philip) and James Norton (Geoffrey). The Lion in Winter, produced by the Theatre Royal Haymarket Company, runs from 5 November 2011 - 28 January 2012, with press night on 15 November 2011. Set and costume designs are by Stephen Brimson Lewis with music by Steven Edis, sound by Paul Groothuis and video design by Ian William Galloway.

According to published reports, London's Donmar Warehouse has just announced the 2012 line-up. Josie Rourke, who will take over for artistic director Michael Grandage, will direct George Farquhar's The Recruiting Officer, which runs February 9-April 14. Peter Gill will helm Robert Holman's Making Noise Quietly, which runs April 19-May 26; and Rourke will then direct Friedrich Durrenmatt's The Physicists, which runs May 31-July 21.

We're into November, which means we're into the last month of voting for the 2011 BWW:UK Awards! Rock of Ages is making a late surge in the musicals categories, with Shayne Ward currently leading Michael Crawford of The Wizard of Oz for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

Montblanc announced today that THE 24 HOUR PLAYS ON BROADWAY special 10th anniversary production will be held in New York City on Monday, November 14, 2011. An annual benefit event produced by the 24 Hour Company and Freestyle Picture Company for Urban Arts Partnership, THE 24 HOUR PLAYS ON BROADWAY attracts some of entertainment's biggest names as they join forces to participate in an extreme rite of theater: writing, directing, and performing 6 original short plays, all in just 24 hours. This year's production will feature a special 10th anniversary theme to celebrate the immense success of this partnership and the thousands of students who have benefited from programs made possible by this fundraiser.

Betty Blue Eyes made an excellent start to voting in the 2011 BWW:UK Awards, but fellow new musical Ghost is catching up.

Voting in the 2011 BWW:UK Awards has been open for over a week now - and The Wizard of Oz and Much Ado About Nothing are leading the pack for the big prizes! Betty Blue Eyes is pushing the Palladium's spectacular hard in the musicals categories, though, and the National's much-acclaimed Frankenstein may yet overtake the Josie Rourke-directed Shakespeare revival.

The first London production for 90 years of St John Ervine's searing Belfast tragedy Mixed Marriage, first seen at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, plays for a four-week season beginning tonight (Press Night: Thursday, 6 October 2011 at 7.30pm) at the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre.

Full casting has been announced for Trevor Nunn's Royal Theatre's Haymarket production of James Goldman's Lion in Winter.

On the eve of its 25th Anniversary Season, Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) has been named a recipient of the 2011 British Consul General Award in recognition of sharing its acclaimed productions abroad and regularly engaging celebrated UK artists through its World's Stage Series.

The first London production for 90 years of St John Ervine's searing Belfast tragedy Mixed Marriage, first seen at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, plays for a four-week season from Tuesday, 4 October 2011 at the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre, with an outstanding cast including Daragh O'Malley (Sergeant Harper in ITV's Sharpe) and Nora-Jane Noone, the award-winning star of The Magdalene Sisters in her professional stage debut.

The JMK Award comes to the Young Vic for the first time as 2011 winner Cathal Cleary directs rising stars Charlie Murphy (Pygmalion, Abbey Theatre Dublin) and Rory Fleck-Byrne (Cause Célèbre, Old Vic) in Enda Walsh's sensational modern classic.

The first London production for 90 years of St John Ervine's searing Belfast tragedy Mixed Marriage, first seen at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, plays for a four-week season from Tuesday, 4 October 2011 (Press Night: Thursday, 6 October 2011 at 7.30pm) at the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre.

Josie Rourke's production of William Shakespeare's timeless comedy Much Ado About Nothing starring David Tennant and Catherine Tate will complete its run at the Wyndham's Theatre on 3 September 2011, as previously scheduled. Breaking all Wyndham's Box Office records, Much Ado About Nothing has sold out its entire run and recouped within a few weeks of opening.

The JMK Award comes to the Young Vic for the first time as 2011 winner Cathal Cleary directs rising stars Charlie Murphy (Pygmalion, Abbey Theatre Dublin) and Rory Fleck-Byrne (Cause Célèbre, Old Vic) in Enda Walsh's sensational modern classic.