Nicholas Farrell News

Robert Icke's updating of The Wild Duck gains in contemporary relevance, but loses a little of its heart en route.

London is never short of temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From gender-flipped Sondheim to David Hare and Martin McDonagh, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld reviews, interviews and features!

Kenneth Branagh's theatre company has joined forces with RADA for a co-production of HAMLET, to support the transformation of RADA's Chenies Street site in London, further developing the Academy as a world leader in dramatic arts training. Tom Hiddleston stars.

Kenneth Branagh's Olivier Award-winning theatre company will join forces with RADA for a co-production of Hamlet, to support the transformation of RADA's Chenies Street site in London, further developing the Academy as a world-leader in dramatic arts training.

Education, education, education - it's an inescapable topic in theatre. Recent years have seen Future Conditional (kicking off Matthew Warchus's Old Vic tenure), Matilda the Musical, The Brink, Kin, Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, and, of course, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. To celebrate back to school week, here are 10 of the best plays set in school. Get studying!

Alan Bennett's comedy masterpiece Single Spies visits the Lyceum Theatre from Tuesday 26 - Saturday 30 April.  Starring Nicholas Farrell, Belinda Lang and David Robb, the award-winning espionage double bill is a pointedly satirical snapshot of two members of the infamous 'Cambridge Five', Guy Burgess and Anthony Blunt, both recruited as spies by the Soviet Union during World War II. 

London is never short of theatre temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From a computer-created musical to tabletop Shakespeare, here are some of this week's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld's reviews, and if you need more ticket-booking inspiration, here is last week's round-up.

Following the Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company's successful collaboration with Chichester Festival Theatre in 2015, producing The King's Speech, the two companies have worked together once more to present Alan Bennett's award-winning double-bill. First performed in 1988, Single Spies consists of two plays, An Englishman Abroad and A Question of Attribution; both portrayals of two of the best-known members of the 'Cambridge Five' - the spy ring recruited at Cambridge University in the 1930s.

Alan Bennett's hit comedy SINGLE SPIES just released rehearsal images in preparation for its upcoming UK tour. The production embarks from tonight's 4 February opening at Chichester Festival Theatre before touring to Birmingham, Richmond, Canterbury, Newcastle, Oxford, Cheltenham, Bath, Leeds, Salisbury and Sheffield. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal!

We talk to the star of theatre and television about her forthcoming tour in Alan Bennett's Single Spies - and taking on the role of the Queen!

Alan Bennett's hit comedy SINGLE SPIES just released rehearsal images in preparation for its upcoming UK tour. The production embarks from a 4 February opening at Chichester Festival Theatre before touring to Birmingham, Richmond, Canterbury, Newcastle, Oxford, Cheltenham, Bath, Leeds, Salisbury and Sheffield. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal!

A new production of Alan Bennett's hit comedy comes to Birmingham Repertory Theatre next month. Following the success of The King's Speech, Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre collaborate once again on this award-winning comedy masterpiece, Single Spies.

A new production of Alan Bennett's hit comedy will embark on a UK tour in February 2016.  Following the success of The King's Speech, Chichester Festival Theatre and Birmingham Repertory Theatre collaborate once again on this award-winning comedy masterpiece, Single Spies.

Sheffield Theatres' Artistic Director Daniel Evans today announces the company's most ambitious season to date. Highlights include three world premieres - of new plays from Richard Bean (One Man, Two Guvnors), Chris Bush and a co-production with Third Angel, a new British musical, Flowers For Mrs Harris, by Richard Taylor and Rachel Wagstaff, a regional premiere of Mike Bartlett's (Bull, Doctor Foster) Contractions and two major new productions of 20th century classics - A Raisin In The Sun and Waiting For Godot.

Jonathan Coe's The Rotters' Club, Gareth Farr's The Quiet House and Tom Wells' Folk will receive their stage premieres at Birmingham Repertory Theatre next year. The new Spring and Summer 2016 season also features a ground-breaking new production of The Government Inspector, Don Warrington as King Lear, plus a major revival of Alan Bennett's Single Spies alongside a compelling mix of drama, comedy and family shows.

Making their Chichester debuts as George and Maud are Richard Fleeshman (UrineTown, Ghost: The Musical, Legally Blonde) and the Olivier Award nominated Summer Strallen (Top Hat, Love Never Dies, The Sound of Music). The stellar cast also includes Desmond Barrit (The History Boys, Wicked and numerous RSC productions), Isla Blair (Made in Dagenham, The Lyons, Festival 2009'sCollaboration), Richard Dempsey (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Michael Grandage's A Midsummer Night's Dream), Nicholas Farrell (Festival 2011's South Downs / The Browning Version, 37 Days and Chariots of Fire) and Sally Ann Triplett (Follies!, Anything Goes, Guys and Dolls).

George is an American composer working at the Savoy Theatre in London. Maud is the thoroughly English Lady Marshmoreton, a beautiful socialite who lives in a castle with a ha-ha and a drawbridge.

Performances begin tonight, May 30, at the Chichester Festival Theatre for a new Gershwin musical, A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS. It officially opens on June 10 and will close June 27. Check out rehearsal footage and interviews with the cast below!