Michael Longhurst News

The Donmar Warehouse and Clean Break today announce full casting for the world premiere of [BLANK] a new play by Alice Birch. Directed by Maria Aberg, full casting includes Ayesha Antoine, Shona Babayemi, Sophia Brown, Jackie Clune, Grace Doherty, Lucy Edkins, Zaris-Angel Hator, Zainab Hasan, Joanna Horton, Thusitha Jayasundera, Petra Letang, Leah Mondesir-Simmonds, Kate O'Flynn, Ashna Rabheru, Jemima Rooper and Taya Tower.

After an astonishing success at the Kiln Theatre earlier in the year, Florian Zeller's The Son (in a translation by Christopher Hampton) transfers to the West End. Director Michael Longhurst has the entire cast reprising their roles, with John Light and Amanda Abbington playing the parents of Laurie Kynaston's Nicolas once again. The jarring exploration of teenage depression is tighter and even more poignant in this second incarnation, having filled in those small gaps that kept the ending too anchored to the ground the first time. They are assured in their gut-wrenching pace, with Light delivering what could be the performance of a lifetime.

Finborough Theatre are presenting the European premiere of Anahera, a new play by Emma Kinane. Directed by Alice Kornitzer, it sees a young Māori social worker supporting the parents of a missing child. We caught up with the playwright and the director ahead of their opening.

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

For its West End Transfer, the Kiln Theatre's critically acclaimed production of Florian Zeller's The Son will partner with YoungMinds a?" the UK's leading charity fighting for children and young people's mental health.

Bryony Kimmings has been presented with the inaugural Popcorn Group Writing Award in association with the Pleasance Theatre for her show I'm a Phoenix, Bitch. Celebrating writing excellence at the Fringe, the Award platforms writers and artists that ignite and challenge the status quo with the most fearless and topical piece of new writing.

The full cast is announced for the Michael Longhurst's critically acclaimed production of Florian Zeller's The Son, in a translation by Christopher Hampton, as it transfers to the West End. The production opens at the Duke of York's Theatre on 2 September, with previews from 24 August, and runs until 2 November. Amanda Abbington, Laurie Kynaston, John Light, Amaka Okafor and Martin Turner reprise their lauded performances for the strictly limited 10 week run. They are joined by Cudjoe Asare to complete the company. The Son marks the first West End transfer for the Kiln Theatre since it reopened last September, and is presented in the West End by Fiery Angel and Gavin Kalin Productions.

Jake Gyllenhaal is currently making his Broadway return in Sea Wall/A Life!

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director/CEO) has just announced a new Broadway production of Tony Kushner & Jeanine Tesori's Tony Award nominated and Olivier Award winning musical Caroline, or Change starring 2019 Olivier Award winner Sharon D Clarke reprising her role as a?oeCarolinea?? from the acclaimed West End production.

This year will see the inaugural Popcorn Group Writing Award in association with the Pleasance Theatre celebrate writing excellence at the Fringe.  Platforming writers and artists that ignite and challenge the status quo, the award will be presented on 14th August at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to the most fearless and topical piece of new writing. 

This year will see the inaugural Popcorn Group Writing Award in association with the Pleasance Theatre celebrate writing excellence at the Fringe. Platforming writers and artists that ignite and challenge the status quo, the award will be presented on 14th August at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to the most fearless and topical piece of new writing.

Robert Chesley's play Jerker, or The Helping Hand returns to London for the first time in 29 years in a new production at the King's Head Theatre, directed by Ben Anderson. Co-produced by Making Productions, this show will run between 30 October and 23 November 2019. Casting has yet to be announced.

Bay Street Theater and Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is pleased to announce the summer intern production, INCOGNITO by Nick Payne, directed by Bay Street's DirectingProducing intern Kellie M. Beck and starring Bay Street Theater's 2019 Acting Apprentices. This production will run as a show directed, produced, designed and acted entirely by the summer intern company at Bay Street Theater. Performances run from August 8 - 10 with twilight performances at 4 pm.  Tickets will be sold as Pay What You Can style directly at the box office.

Michael Longhurst's inaugural production as Artistic Director at the Donmar Warehouse is David Greig's Europe, 25 years after it was first staged at the Traverse in Edinburgh. Written during the break-up of Yugoslavia, Longhurst's production is still just as relevant, with differing views on Europe dominating the news every single day.

Shakespeare's Globe is delighted to announce the full cast for William Shakespeare's As You Like It, co-directed by Federay Holmes and Elle While, opening on Wednesday 7 August. The production returns to the Globe Theatre following a critically acclaimed run in summer 2018.

With Europe and the launch of Michael Longhurst's first season the Donmar is continuing its commitment to engaging new audiences by simplifying ticket access schemes and launching the DONMAR DAILY RELEASE. This new scheme will see a minimum of 40 additional tickets released for sale every morning for the performance 7 days later. Audiences can sign up to receive information about productions and ticketing on the Donmar's website, www.donmarwarehouse.com.

The Donmar Warehouse today announces full casting for Ola Ince's production of Appropriate by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Joining the previously announced BAFTA and Olivier Award-winning actor Monica Dolan, who will play Toni Lafayette, will be Jaimi Barbakoff (Rachael Kramer-Lafayette), Charles Furness (Rhys Thurston), Edward Hogg (Franz Lafayette), Steven Mackintosh (Bo Lafayette), Isabella Pappas (Cassidy Kramer-Lafayette), Orlando Roddy (Ainsley Kramer-Lafayette), Oliver Savell (Ainsley Kramer-Lafayette) and Tafline Steen (River Rayner).

The Donmar Warehouse today releases the rehearsal images for Michael Longhurst's inaugural Donmar production Europe, by David Greig, which opens on Thursday 27 June.

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

Theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh has today (17 May 2019) announced a gift of £1 million to Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London.