Lisa Spirling News

Andrew Shepherd has been appointed the new Executive Director of Selladoor Worldwide, co-leading the company alongside Creative Director Naomi James, and working with CEO David Hutchinson to take Selladoor into a new chapter of opportunity and growth.

As the Orange Tree Theatre continues to celebrate its 50th Anniversary year, Artistic Director Paul Miller and Executive Director Hanna Streeter today announce a new season of plays until March 2023, marking Miller's outgoing season as Artistic Director. 

Straight from her National Theatre debut, Nancy Medina (Trouble in Mind) directs the following cast: Sebastián Capitán Viveros (Sweat, Donmar Warehouse) as Luis Moreno, Joseph Black (Sessions, Paine's Plough/Soho Theatre) as Ezekiel Williams, Hayden Mclean (ear for eye, Royal Court) as Cre'von Garcon, and Matt Whitchurch (Milk and Gall, Theatre503) as Danny Lombardo.

Dare Aiyegbayo, Tabby Lamb, Sorcha McCaffrey, Martha Reed and Kaamil Shah were today announced as the 503Five, Theatre503's pioneering programme for early career playwrights. Chosen from 548 applicants, they receive a £2,000 seed commission to write their full-length professional debut, as well as creative support from Theatre503 over 18 months. The 503Five is made possible through the support of the Carne Trust and The Orseis Trust.

45North, led by Creative Director Jessica McVay and Creative Producers Emily Carewe and Charlie Lees-Massey, today announces that they will join Theatre503 as Associate Company.

Milk and Gall exposes the messy reality of new motherhood in the shadow of one of the most divisive moments in modern American history. It is a theatrically dazzling, surreal and funny new play about the overnight birth of two screaming tyrants, and the shattered identity left in their wake.

The company also reveals major changes to its producing model including the elimination of hire fees to visiting companies, following the recent announcement of the 503Studio at Nine Elms and plans for a physically accessible Latchmere space.

With a £250,000 contribution from Galliard towards its fit out, the 503Studio at Nine Elms will include a rehearsal suite, multi-purpose event spaces, a creative area for writers including desks and a reading room, as well as housing the administrative offices of Theatre503.

Theatre503 announced US playwright and activist Pravin Wilkins as the winner of the 2020 Theatre503 International Playwriting Award. Pravin accepted the Award from his home in Pittsburgh at an online event attended Theatre503's community of writers, industry & friends, hosted by the theatre's Chair Erica Whyman and Artistic Director Lisa Spirling.

Panto's back... and this time it's digital! Theatre503 keeps the magic of panto alive with livestreamed, interactive performances of its hit Christmas show.

From a long list of 121 nominations, Theatre Centre, with Theatre503, has been announced as the National Showcase Organisation for London for this year's Achates Philanthropy Prize.

Five outstanding new writers from the UK, Australia and the US are the finalists for the 2020 Theatre503 International Playwriting. Ayad Andrews, Gina Stevensen, Pravin Wilkins, Safaa Benson-Effiom and Zoe Ashford Cooper were chosen from 1,719 scripts sent in from 45 countries.

Theatre503 today announces an online Autumn Writers Programme to launch the new 503Studio, including masterclasses from Anna Jordan, Jasmine Lee-Jones, Simon Stephens and other leading playwrights.

Theatre Centre, in collaboration with Theatre503, has commissioned 19 playwrights to write a series of short pieces for the nation, for anyone to read and record a performance.

Arts Council England has agreed to provide a written response to and in person meeting on recommendations for gender equality emerging from last week's major Women in Theatre Forum at Trafalgar Studios in London.

The UK's leading women's theatre company Sphinx Theatre, University Women in the Arts, the mentoring programme to improve the transition for women from studying the arts to working in the arts, and the December Group, a new group of leading women in theatre, have announced a major forum on Women in Theatre in the UK.

Artistic Director Lisa Spirling today announces an entire year of programming for 2020 at the home of new writers, including the news that all four remaining finalists of the 2018 Theatre503 International Playwriting Award will be staged at the venue by November 2020. This follows on from the success of Award winner Out of Sorts by Danusia Samal premiering in October 2019. In February, the search for the best debut and emerging writers in the world will begin again as the 2020 Theatre503 International Playwriting Award opens for submissions.

Check out the current standings in the 2019 BroadwayWorld UK Awards and cast your vote!

Voting continues for the 2019 BroadwayWorld UK Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favourites. Check out the current standings and cast your vote.

Today, the shortlist is announced for the 2019 BroadwayWorld UK Awards, celebrating the best long-running West End productions and best new productions from around the country. CLICK HERE TO VOTE!