Lynette Linton News

This week has seen the launch of ITV’s new series, Unsaid Stories. Comprised of short 15-minute films that respond to the Black Lives Matter movement, the project was made in July under Covid-19 filming restrictions. The films are part of ITV’s own efforts to enhance diversity and representation in their work, after the Black Lives Matter movement has exposed the urgent need for organisations and individuals to address systemic racism. The launch of their ‘Diversity Acceleration Plan’ on 9th July follows the lead of many other media outlets and arts organisations.

Papatango today announces that Igor Memic has won the 12th annual Papatango New Writing Prize for his debut full-length play, Old Bridge, from a record 1,504 entries.

Last week, in response to the killing of George Floyd in the US and its impact on black Britons, the Bush Theatre approached its wide-ranging community of black artists and asked six of them to respond in the moment, however they saw fit.

An Open Letter has been written to Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Culture, from black, Asian, and ethnically diverse theatre artistic directors and cultural leaders. The letter was written to emphasize the importance  of protecting representation in the sector.

Whilst the building is closed following government advice regarding Coronavirus, the Bush Theatre team has continued to work to bring exciting new voices to the UK cultural scene. As part of this work, they are producing a series of monologues commissioned by the Bush Theatre, performed by friends of the theatre.

Yamin Choudury recently celebrated two years in the role of Artistic Director at Hackney Empire. In that short time, the theatre has seen an average of 83% new bookers for many productions, and youth engagement has also increased. Choudury spoke with BroadwayWorld about access, representation and diversity in the arts, as well as his vision for the East London landmark.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary with a ceremony held in the iconic Grand Hall of Battersea Arts Centre on Sunday 8 March 2020, the Off West End Awards once again celebrated the best of independent, fringe and alternative theatres across London.

STRAIGHT WHITE MEN by Korean American playwright Young Jean Lee is a hilarious and revealing play about the most unoppressed of this world's peoples.

The National Theatre today announces nine productions that will play on the South Bank in 2020-2021 alongside previously announced shows. These run alongside our international touring productions, three plays that will tour to multiple venues across the UK and a West End transfer. The NT also announces today that it will increase the quantity of low-price tickets on the South Bank by 25%, with 250,000 available across the year at £20 or less.

When the artistic team at the Bush told me that they were interested in programming my play, I genuinely couldn't believe it. Not only because I'm a first-time writer, but also because when you write a play about a queer British-Nigerian woman, you don't really expect it to be programmed. My plan was to get this first play off of my chest and then quickly move onto the next.

In 2016 tiata fahodzi brought together 20 Stories High, Freedom Studios and Talawa Theatre Company to challenge the absence of people of colour running publicly funded theatre organisations; the Artistic Director Leadership Programme (ADLP) has now reached its conclusion after a successful three years.

According to The Stage, the inaugural Black British Theatre Awards took place at Old Finsbury Town Hall in London on October 27.

The Evening Standard's Progress 1000 list has named London's top theatre people. The list includes Bush Theatre artistic director Lynette Linton, actor Andrew Scott, director Marianne Elliott, and more.

The National Youth Theatre (NYT) today announces full casting for its 2019 REP Season which opens this month with the London premiere of Neil Bartlett's adaptation of Great Expectations followed by an Artificial Intelligence-inspired and female-led production of Frankenstein both at Southwark Playhouse (18 October to 30 November). A third production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, will run at the Criterion Theatre (6 December to 17 January 2020) directed by Matt Harrison working in association with Kneehigh. This year's season will also see the NYT REP stage relaxed performances for the first time and features the most number of performances ever in its seven-year history. The 2019 company of 16 actors, aged 18-25, includes newcomers Guy Clark, Ella Dacres, Natalie Dunne, Jordan Ford Silver, Jamie Foulkes, Alice Franziska, Billy Hinchliff, Jadie Hobson, Bede Hodgkinson, Tiwalade Ibirogba Olulode, Julia Kass, Sarah Lusack, Jemima Mayala, Joseph Payne, Sonny Poon Tip, Raj Singh.

The Stage announces the 2019 winners of The Stage Debut Awards, in association with Access Entertainment which took place at The Brewery, London on Sunday, September 15.

It's been a week of new Artistic Director's kicking off their debut seasons. Lynette Linton smashed it out of the park with her gig-theatre epic revival of Chiaroscuro, Rachel O'Riordan's direction of Tanika Gupta's A Doll's House has gone down a treat, and now it's the turn of Hampstead Theatre boss Roxana Silbert's to give an insight into what her tenure will be. Differing from the ladies above, Silbert isn't directing her inaugural seasonal show, instead relying on the hand of Michael Boyd.

In an explosive blend of live music, spoken word and theatre, Jackie Kay's 1986 provocation is breathed a new life under Lynette Linton's hand. It is the director's first show since taking the AD job at the Bush Theatre, and is one that highly entertains, whilst also shines a light on queer women of colour across generations.

Chiaroscuro by Jackie Kay, Director Lynette Linton's first production as Artistic Director of the Bush Theatre will preview from 31 August with a press night at 7pm on 6 September. The cast is Shiloh Coke (Misty at the Bush Theatre and Trafalgar Studios, Emila at The Globe Theatre), Preeya Kalidas (Eastenders, BBC Asian Radio, Bend It Like Beckham), singer-songwriter Anoushka Lucas(Jesus Christ Superstar at Regents Park Open Air Theatre and whose debut album Dark Soul was recently released) and Gloria Onitiri (whose recent productions include Napoli, Brooklyn, on national tour and Hadestown at the National Theatre).

The Stage today announces the shortlist for its prestigious The Stage Debut Awards 2019, in association with Access Entertainment. Voting has also opened for The Joe Allen Best West End Debut Award 2019.

The Donmar Warehouse's production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Sweat by Lynn Nottage will end its scheduled run at London's Gielgud Theatre on Saturday 20 July 2019.