Paul Arditti News

Today, past winners Denise Gough and Matt Henry announced the nominations for the Olivier Awards 2017 with Mastercard, the most prestigious event in the UK's theatrical calendar. The 2017 awards are set to be the biggest yet, as they make their debut at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 9 April.

World premieres, new writers and ground-breaking adaptations have been announced for 2017 at the National Theatre.

The producers of the multi award-winning smash hit Billy Elliot the Musical are delighted to announce that the four boys who will play the title role in the first ever UK and Ireland tour of the iconic musical are Adam Abbou (12 years old from Liverpool), Matthew Lyons (11 years old from Leeds), Haydn May (11 years old from Bath) and Lewis Smallman (12 years old from West Bromwich).

John Tiffany returns to the West End for the first time since the international critical hit Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two, to bring his acclaimed production of The Glass Menagerie to the Duke of York's Theatre for a limited season.

New work by Inua Ellams, Ya?l Farber, DC Moore, Lindsey Ferrentino and Nina Raine is announced today by Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre. Four world premieres and two European premieres are further announced as forthcoming productions for the National Theatre in 2017.  

Final performances of the Young Chekhov trilogy begin this autumn in the Olivier Theatre, and The Plough and the Stars is wrapping up at the Lyttelton. In addition, previews begin in the Lyttelton for The Red Barn on 6 October (press night on 17 October), and Amadeus starts previewing in the Olivier from 19 October, (press night on 26 October).

Genesis Future Directors Award recipient Bryony Shanahan directs trade, Debbie Tucker Green's sharp examination of our transactional world. See Me Now is a new show created and performed by those who have been, or currently are sex workers.

National Theatre Live previously announced international broadcasts of the Rufus Norris' National Theatre production of The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, in collaboration with Elisabeth Hauptmann, in a new adaptation by Simon Stephens tonight, September 22, 2016; and, Carrie Cracknell's acclaimed National Theatre production of Terence Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea on Thursday, October 6, 2016.

In 1974, renowned Polish journalist Ryszard Kapuscinski travelled to Ethiopia to chart the downfall of Emperor Haile Selassie, 'King of Kings, elect of God', through interviews with his loyal servants and associates. Kapuscinski's 1978 book has been adapted by Colin Teevan into an extraordinary showcase for the talents of quicksilver quick-change artist Kathryn Hunter, who transforms into a dozen different characters with the aid of nothing more than a cane, hat or set of epaulettes.

The producers of the multi award-winning smash hit Billy Elliot the Musical are delighted to announce that the four boys who will play the title role in the first ever UK and Ireland tour of the iconic musical are Adam Abbou (12 years old from Liverpool),Matthew Lyons (11 years old from Leeds), Haydn May (11 years old from Bath) and Lewis Smallman (12 years old from West Bromwich). The boys were cast following nationwide auditions and after months of intensive rehearsals began alternating in the role following the show's opening earlier in the year.  Billy Elliot the musical opens at The Bristol Hippodrome on Tuesday 25thOctober and runs until Saturday 26th November 2016.

Rehearsals started this week for AMADEUS, which begins previews in the Olivier Theatre from 16 October (press night 26 October). This autumn, Peter Shaffer's classic play Amadeus makes a long-awaited return to the National Theatre after 37 years.

The producers of the multi award-winning smash hit Billy Elliot the Musical are delighted to announce that the four boys who will play the title role in the first ever UK and Ireland tour of the iconic musical are Adam Abbou (12 years old from Liverpool), Matthew Lyons (11 years old from Leeds), Haydn May (11 years old from Bath) and Lewis Smallman (12 years old from West Bromwich).

National Theatre Live has announced international broadcasts of the Rufus Norris' National Theatre production of The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, in collaboration with Elisabeth Hauptmann, in a new adaptation by Simon Stephens on Thursday, September 22, 2016; and, Carrie Cracknell's acclaimed National Theatre production of Terence Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea on Thursday, October 6, 2016.

Rufus Norris's National Theatre production of THE THREEPENNY OPERA by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill in a new adaptation by Simon Stephens will be broadcast live to cinemas around the world direct from the National's Olivier Theatre on 22 September at 7pm.

Last night, Saturday 9 April 2016, after 4,600 performances and prior to the theatre's previously announced refurbishment programme, the final Victoria Palace Theatre performance of Billy Elliot The Musical took place in front of a packed house with guests including past and present Billy Elliots, original cast members and members of the show's creative team.  The over 1530 strong audience rose to their feet for the curtain call to join the Company in celebrating a very special evening and a phenomenal eleven year run in the West End.  Director Stephen Daldry, writer Lee Hall and composer Elton John joined the company on stage accompanied by 32 past and present Billy Elliots (the most Billy Elliots to ever appear on stage together), 24 past Michaels and 18 past Debbies as well as several adult members of the original Company. 

An extra bunch of Billys will take the stage when the beloved Billy Elliot plays its final performance this Sunday at the Victoria Palace Theatre.

The Almeida Theatre announces the cast for the world premiere of Boy, a new play by Leo Butler, directed by Sacha Wares. The cast is Mohammad Amiri, Osmain Baig, Ruby Bridle, Emilio Doorgasingh, Terina Drayton, Aeran Fitzgerald, Frankie Fox, Ellie Mai Gallagher, Bayleigh Gray, Zainab Hasan, Duramaney Kamara, Asiatu Koroma, Wendy Kweh, Lev Litvinov, Georgie Lord, Angel Loren, Teann McDonnell, Eugenie-Alexia Mulumba, Sarah Niles, Demi Papaminas, Imogen Roberts, Abdul Salis, Morgane Tapia,Peter Temple and Matthew Wellard. Boy will run at the Almeida Theatre from 5 April until 28 May, with a Press Night on 12 April.

The producers of Billy Elliot the Musical are delighted to announce that the show will play its final London performance in support of East Durham Trust, a charity based in Easington, Co. Durham, a former mining town and the setting for Billy Elliot's iconic story.  Tickets for the final performance will be released for sale today (Tuesday 1 March 2016, 2pm) via the Victoria Palace Theatre box office, with all proceeds from ticket sales for this performance being donated to East Durham Trust.

Universal Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions present the first ever UK and Ireland tour of Billy Elliot the Musical.

The producers of the multi award-winning smash hit Billy Elliot the Musical are delighted to announce that the four boys who will play the title role in the first ever UK and Ireland tour of the iconic musical are Adam Abbou (12 years old from Liverpool), Matthew Lyons (11 years old from Leeds), Haydn May (11 years old from Bath) and Lewis Smallman (12 years old from West Bromwich). The boys were cast following nationwide auditions and after months of intensive rehearsals will alternate in the role when the show opens at the Theatre Royal Plymouth on Wednesday 24 February 2016.