Luke Thompson News

Netflix's recent hit, 'Bridgerton,' has been officially renewed for a second season! 

There will be no outdoor theatre experiences this summer, but that hasn't stopped Shakespeare's Globe from revisiting one of the stalwarts of the summer season; Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Dominic Dromgoole's 2013 production is a classic Elizabethan romp, full of silliness and fun.

The overworked and underfunded NHS is on our minds more than ever before. As part of its free digital streaming series in partnership with The Guardian, Hampstead Theatre has made available Nina Raine's stirring medical drama Tiger Country on its website. It is available to stream until Sunday 26 April.

Longtime independent film champion, Film Threat, helmed by founder and filmmaker Chris Gore, are stepping into the void to honor true indies and right the Oscar snubs with Award This! Live from Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 5th at the Studio Movie Grill in Glendale, CA. Award This! will feature the creative forces of independent cinema both in front of and behind the camera with inventive new categories: Oscar Snub nominating those performances and filmmakers who blew us away this year like Awkwafina, Jennifer Lopez, Robert DeNiro, Adam Sandler, Greta Gerwig, and Lulu Wang; Movie Critic Worthy of Your Attention honoring the film critics with a pulse on movie commentary including Alachia Queen, John Campea, Leonard Maltin, Luke Thompson and Michael Dequina; Short Film, Socially Relevant Documentary hitting topics that get to the heart of us like Afghan Cycles, The Animal People (executive produced by Joaquin Phoenix), Don't Be Nice, Fat: A Documentary, Life Overtakes Me, Mr. Toilet, No Safe Spaces, and Tell Me Who I Am; Sports Documentary, Indie Sci-Fi, Pop Culture Documentary, Indie Horror, Indie Comedy, Indie LGBTQ+ Themed Film, Indie Action/Thriller, WTF Indie, Director, Directress, Indie Made for Less Than the Contents of an Oscar Gift Bag (Under $100K), Indie Movie of the Year, and Ensemble Cast.

After wowing audiences at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Trevor Nunn's production of Fiddler on the Roof is going from strength to strength in its stint at the West End's Playhouse Theatre; not only has it extended its run until November, but it has now welcomed two new stars to Anatevka. Maria Friedman and Anita Dobson replace Judy Kuhn and Louise Gold as Yente and Golda, respectively, joining a cast led by Andy Nyman as Tevye.

The Menier Chocolate Factory presents its major revival of one of the world's most-beloved musicals of all time, Fiddler on the Roof, in a new staging by Trevor Nunn.

Following on from a hugely successful run at Chichester, Sir Ian McKellen is back in the title role of King Lear, in the same theatre in which he made his West End debut in 1964. The Duke of York's is decidedly bigger than the Minerva, but with the addition of a walkway through the centre of the auditorium reducing the theatre capacity substantially, there's a much more intimate feel.

The cast of King Lear at the Duke of York's Theatre includes Kirsty Bushell (Regan), Richard Clews (Gentleman Informer / Old Man), James Corrigan(Edmund), Sinead Cusack (Kent), John Hastings (Curan / Doctor), Anthony Howell (Albany), Lloyd Hutchinson (Fool), Jake Mann (Burgundy / Lear's Knight), Michael Matus (Oswald), Ian McKellen (King Lear), James Millard, Johanne Murdock, Jessica Murrain, Claire Price (Goneril), Daniel Rabin(Cornwall), Caleb Roberts (King of France), Scott Sparrow (Albany's Man), Luke Thompson (Edgar), Anita-Joy Uwajeh (Cordelia), John Vernon andDanny Webb (Gloucester).

£5 tickets to King Lear will be made available as part of Chichester Festival Theatre's Prologue scheme for 16-25 year olds.

London is never short of temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From a new theatrical epic to Shakespeare and musical spoof, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld reviews, interviews and features!

Further casting is announced for the West End transfer of Chichester Festival Theatre's critically-acclaimed production of Shakespeare's King Lear, directed by Jonathan Munby, which will run at the Duke of York's Theatre in London for 100 performances only from 11th July to 3rd November 2018.

In a politically divided time it's hard to imagine a band comprised of members from across Europe and the Levant as not being inherently progressive. The Turbans, whose self-titled debut album will be released on March 23 (Six Degrees Records), features musicians with roots in Turkey, Bulgaria, Israel, Iran, Greece, Spain, and England. Yet transmitting a political message was not their initial impulse. It was simply music.

In a politically divided time it's hard to imagine a band comprised of members from across Europe and the Levant as not being inherently progressive. The Turbans, whose self-titled debut album will be released on March 23 (Six Degrees Records), features musicians with roots in Turkey, Bulgaria, Israel, Iran, Greece, Spain, and England. Yet transmitting a political message was not their initial impulse. It was simply music.

Australian A Capella group THE IDEA OF NORTH delighted the North Sydney audience with their performance of GROOVE SESSIONS at Independent Theatre's Prelude In Tea Song Series concert.

The Festival Centre presented the Christmas Proms, a popular part of the yearly programme.

Adelaide Festival Centre's beloved family favourite event, Christmas Proms, takes an international flavour this year with festivities sung not only in English, but also in Catalan, Hebrew, Spanish and Soussou!

Audiences have under a month left to enjoy the multi award-winning Robert Icke's (Mary Stuart, The Red Barn, Uncle Vanya, Oresteia, Mr Burns and 1984) innovative production of Hamlet, starring Andrew Scott (Sherlock, Denial, Spectre, Pride and Cock) live on stage, which must end on 2 September 2017 at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

Almeida Artistic Director Rupert Goold said: 'We are thrilled to present three major new productions at the Almeida, including two world premieres and one rare revival. Spanning the Atlantic and beyond, this season is a timely and limitless interrogation into contemporary cultural anxieties and the power we have over our own lives.'

Following a sold-out run at the Almeida Theatre, Olivier Award-winning director Robert Icke's new production of Hamlet is now playing at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London's West End in a limited season until 2 September.

Following a sold-out Almeida run, Robert Icke's thoughtfully contemporary take on Shakespeare hits the West End, with its original cast mainly intact (Derbhle Crotty succeeds Juliet Stevenson as Gertrude on 4 July). The big draw, of course, is the superb Andrew Scott in the title role, but Icke's production is just as considered in every supporting part, resulting in a wonderfully rich experience.