Lenny Henry News

Gina Yashere the British-Nigerian comedian, author and stand-up will get back on the road with her fierce and funny comedic style in a multi-city solo tour, The Woman King of Comedy. 

Full casting has been announced for the first major London revival of Dario Fo and Franco Rame's riotous Accidental Death of an Anarchist in 20 years, in a new adaptation by comedian, writer and actor Tom Basden.

Arcola Theatre, led by Artistic Director Mehmet Ergen, and Executive Producer, Leyla Nazli, has announced the reopening of Studio 2 for the first time since the pandemic, and the initial programming for that space which includes three transfers from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe: The Mistake, Afghanistan Is Not Funny and VERMIN.

Watch the short film HACKNEY EMPIRE: ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS, celebrating Hackney Empire's 120th Birthday year.

Zog is roaring back to the stage in 2023! Based on the bestselling book by Julia Donaldson with illustrations by Axel Scheffler, the smash-hit stage adaptation from Freckle Productions is flying across the UK throughout Spring and Summer, opening at The Capitol, Horsham on Friday 10 February and culminating in a month-long Summer Season at The Lowry, Salford from Thursday 3 August.  

The full cast of Bristol Old Vic's Autumn headline production Hamlet has been announced, bringing together some of the hottest young talent and theatrical heavyweights for a visceral new production running from 13 Oct - 12 Nov.

In the 1970s the biggest comedy show on television was ITV’s The Comedians. And the breakout star, the one who shone brightest of all… was Charlie. Eh Up Me Old Flowers is written by Chris England, whose stage writing includes two plays that began life at the Edinburgh Fringe. The play will run at Edinburgh Fringe from 8-29 August.

The Shepherd's Bush venue continues its history of shining a light on unheard voices and reflecting issues in the community and today releases tickets for the second part of its 50th birthday season.

Hampstead Theatre has announced the full cast and creative team for the world premiere of The Fellowship, an electrifying, hilarious and gripping new play by Roy Williams.

Rosie O’Donnell is set to host an incredible night of comedy to benefit Friendly House LA on Saturday, July 16th, 2022, at The Fonda Theater. The “Stand Up For Friendly House LA” benefit will also feature an array of amazing fierce and funny women including performances from Atsuko Okatsuka, Beth Lapides, Gina Yashere, and headliner Kathy Griffin.

From stand-up comedian and TV legend Harry Hill and his long-time collaborator Steve Brown comes the premiere of the rock opera the world has been crying out for: a reckless reappraisal of the life of former Ugly Rumours front man and Britain’s first pop Prime Minister Tony Blair. 

With Max Webster's production of Shakespeare's Henry V starring Kit Harington currently running at the Donmar, Artistic Director Michael Longhurst and Executive Director Henny Finch today announce the full casting for the UK première of Jackie Sibblies Drury's MARYS SEACOLE. Nadia Latif directs Déja J. Bowens (Mamie), Llewella Gideon (Duppy Mary), Kayla Meikle (Mary), Esther Smith (Miriam), Olivia Williams (May), and Susan Wooldridge (Merry).

Suzy Klein, the new head of BBC Arts and Classical Music TV, has announced a range of new and forthcoming highlights for audiences, including a major new commitment to performance with a new dedicated Sunday evening slot and more details on the landmark arts series Art That Made Us.

Following a critically acclaimed season at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2021, Jack Docherty, one of Scotland's favourite comic performers and the BAFTA award winning star of Scot Squad and Absolutely, has announced that he will be touring in 2022 with his new play Nothing But (Independent's Top Ten Shows of the Fringe).

Zog and his crew are flying back to the stage with a brand-new adventure next month! Based on the bestselling sequel by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Zog and the Flying Doctors will premiere at Rose Theatre, Kingston from Thursday 10 to Saturday 19 February 2022 prior to a Spring/Summer UK Tour.

Hackney Empire has announced that the beginning of a year of special shows and events to mark the theatre’s 120th anniversary year will launch on Thursday 9 December 2021, with a celebration and birthday cake, cut on stage by the venue’s Patron and iconic Pantomime Dame Clive Rowe.

The Forest by Florian Zeller, translated by Christopher Hampton, with direction by Jonathan Kent, will run from 4 February until 12 March. The Fever Syndrome by Alexis Zegerman, directed by Hampstead Theatre's Artistic Director, Roxana Silbert, will run from 18 March until 23 April. The Fellowship by Roy Williams, directed by Paulette Randall, will run from 17 June until 23 July.

Mark Cornell and Sienna Miller presented the Ambassador Theatre Group's (ATG) Summer Party at Kensington Palace Gardens in support of Sam Mendes and his Theatre Artists Fund (TAF) with an auction hosted by Lord Harry Dalmeny, Chairman of Sotheby's.

Shakespeare's Globe and Show And Tell will be bringing a night of uproarious comedy to the Globe Theatre on Monday 13 September, headlined by internationally renowned stand-up and Mock The Week presenter Dara Ó Briain. Dara will be joined by British Comedy Award winning Nina Conti, Athena Kugblenu (BBC Radio 4's Athena's Cancel Culture), and Suzi Ruffell (Live at the Apollo).

Zog and the Flying Doctors follows their smash-hit adaptation of Zog (on tour now) and reunites director Emma Kilbey and composer and lyricist Joe Stilgoe for this truly modern take on the classic fairy tale.