Under Sarah Frankcom's Artistic Directorship the Royal Exchange Theatre has been redefined, reimagined and reframed. It has explored classic texts in new and radical ways, celebrated the vitality and significance of new writing, embraced new ways to talk to audiences and engage communities and supported theatre makers to challenge their own practice.
When a young love is re-lit when both parties are past their late 30s, a woman's objectives shift towards previously unexplored horizons. Her newborn desire to have a child nearly takes over her life. Written by novelist, screenwriter, and director Julia Leigh, Avalanche: A Love Story is directly inspired by her own experience with IVF treatments and presented by Anne-Louise Sarks as part of the Barbican's Fertility Fest. Maxine Peake takes on the role in the monologue, delivering an empathetic and emotional performance.
Audible, the world's leading producer and provider of spoken-word entertainment, today deepens its commitment to UK theatre announcing a new London production of Radio written by Al Smith. Josh Roche directs Adam Gillen as Charlie Fairbanks in a one-man play about memory, love and spaceships. The production opens at Arcola Theatre on 24 June, with previews from 19 June and runs until 13 July. To coincide with the opening of the stage show, a studio recording of Radio will also release exclusively on Audible this summer, available for members to download worldwide.
Maxine Peake is to star in Julia Leigh's adaptation of her powerful memoir, Avalanche: A Love Story, at the Barbican from Saturday 27 April-Sunday 12 May. A prolific theatre, television and film actress Maxine Peake's career highlights include Black Mirror, Funny Cow,Red Riding, The Devil's Whore, The Theory of Everything, Peterloo, The Falling, Shameless and an extensive list of dramas for the BBC including The Village, Silk, Criminal Justice, Three Girls and most recently, The Bisexual. Constantly looking for new challenges and surprising audiences she has played a range of provocative and award-winning characters, notably the title role in Hamlet at the Manchester Royal Exchange. As a writer, she has retold fascinating stories of women in British history who achieved greatness, or faced adversity, though her plays, Beryl, The Last Testament of Lillian Bilocca and Queens of the Coal Age. Avalanche: A Love Story marks her debut at the Barbican Theatre.
"Dreams do come true, if only we wish hard enough," says Peter Pan, and this month it definitely seems that BroadwayHD subscribers will be getting everything they've dreamed about and even more! In April, BroadwayHD, the premier streaming service for live theater, will be adding a number of standout productions to their service including the beloved family favorite Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby, remastered in high definition and available on streaming for the very first time, and an intriguing documentary Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story. In addition, one of the most renown music festivals, the BBC Prom, will be coming to the service with the debut of BBC Prom: Dawn at Dusk and BBC Prom: Rogers and Hammerstein this month as well.
Manchester International Festival today unveils its 2019 programme, which takes place across 18 extraordinary days (4-21 July 2019). Internationally-acclaimed artists from over 20 countries - many working in one-off creative collaborations - will present 20 UK and world premieres at the cross-art form biennial festival, the second with John McGrath as Artistic Director.
Artistic Director Tom Morris today announced the completion of the 2019 programme and reflected on the impact and legacy of Bristol Old Vic's Year of Change in 2018.
It has been announced today that Sarah Frankcom is stepping down as Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange Theatre to take up a new post as Director of the prestigious drama school LAMDA. Sarah originally joined the Exchange as Literary Manager in 1998. In 2008 she was made Joint Artistic Director before taking up her current position as sole Artistic Director in 2014. Under her artistic leadership the Exchange has thrived and has been celebrated for its originality, innovation and continued support for the next generation of writers, actors, directors and theatre makers. Described as a 'Powerhouse' and recognised for its 'brave and bold' programming Sarah has shaped the Theatre into an award-winning Company that asks what a producing theatre can be for artists, audiences and communities today.
Sarah Frankcom, Royal Exchange Artistic Director, creates a brand-new version of Broadway's biggest musical WEST SIDE STORY for the Royal Exchange Theatre's unique in-the-round stage. Celebrated for her reinterpretations of American classics, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, DEATH OF A SALESMAN and her award-winning production OUR TOWN, she brings a new focus to the gang culture of the iconic Sharks and Jets with new choreography from Aletta Collins and orchestration by Jason Carr. The production runs in the Theatre from 6 April - 25 May.
Maxine Peake will play the lead role in Julia Leigh's adaptation of her powerful memoir, Avalanche: A Love Story, at the Roslyn Packer Theatre this August. A prolific theatre, television and film actress Maxine Peake's career highlights include Black Mirror, Funny Cow, Red Riding, The Devil's Whore,The Theory of Everything, Peterloo, The Falling, Shameless and an extensive list of dramas for the BBC including The Village, Silk, Criminal Justice, Three Girls and most recently, The Bisexual. Constantly looking for new challenges and surprising audiences she has played a range of provocative and award-winning characters, most notably the title role in Hamlet at the Manchester Royal Exchange.
With filming underway for the fifth series of the award-winning and critically-acclaimed Inside No. 9, a host of talented actors are set join masterminds Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton as they create six brand new stand-alone stories which promise to bring more exceptionally twisted tales to BBC Two.
Clapperboard UK's Director Maureen Sinclair is delighted to announce an exciting year ahead for Clapperboard UK, which includes a new partnership with BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) for the launch of #MeToo Media Merseyside project.
Maxine Peake is set to star in Reasonable Doubt from Duchess Street Productions, according to Deadline. The British drama is about the murder of a young woman and her mother's fight to get the 800-year-old double jeopardy law revoked. Duchess Street Productions is the scripted production company run by former Fremantle worldwide drama chief Donna Wiffen.
Manchester International Festival (MIF) today announces the first artists for its 2019 programme, with each commission set to offer a distinctive and very personal take on how we relate to today's world. MIF19 takes place from 4-21 July 2019, with artists from across the globe creating an enormous variety of new work in spaces throughout the city.
The UK Theatre Awards 2018 were hosted by Olivier-nominated musical theatre performer Tyrone Huntley, and presenters included Wendi Peters, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Ria Jones, Matt Cardle, Emma Williams and Michael Ellis MP.
Director Richard Eyre is to be this year's recipient of the Gielgud Award for Excellence in the Dramatic Arts. The award will be presented by Ian McKellen at the UK Theatre Awards on Sunday 14 October 2018.