Peter Hall News

Excitement is building for the world premiere of THE BAND which opens its UK tour at Manchester Opera House next month.

ANIMAL FARM, Orwell's brilliant political satire about the corrupting influence of power, charts the fall of idealism and the rise of tyranny after the animals of Manor Farm rise up against their oppressive human owner in a struggle for rights, equality, gaining the right to make their own choices on how to live their lives. Onstage, the story is read by two children, the girl (Sierra Rose Friday) and boy (Shane McDermott), keeping the audience informed as to the action taking place or what has gone on off stage leading to that particular scene. It all begins as the animals, led by Snowball, an idealistic pig (Christopher Yarrow), take over the farm from Mr. Jones (Steve Fisher). Their plan goes well at first; all the animals are equal and content. But eventually, several of the other pigs, led by Napoleon (Mark Lewis) and Squealer (Melora Marshall), yield to the lure of power and start to make decisions that serve their own interests best, eventually leading them to proclaim that some animals are more equal than others. The quote, 'absolute power corrupts absolutely,' certainly applies to Orwell's masterful work.

Olivier Award winner, West End and Broadway star, and director of the Huntington's Merrily We Roll Along, Maria Friedman brings her critically acclaimed solo show Lenny & Steve: The Music of Bernstein & Sondheim to the Huntington for a one-night only concert event on Monday, September 18 at 7:30pm, accompanied by her longtime collaborator, musical director and pianist Jason Carr. This special cabaret will take place at the Avenue of the Arts / Huntington Avenue Theatre. Tickets are now on sale and start at $25.

The Hollywood Bowl's production of Mamma Mia! begins tonight, July 28, at 8 PM and continues Saturday, July 29, at 8 PM and Sunday, July 30, at 7:30 PM.

The full casts are today announced for English Touring Theatre, Royal & Derngate, Northampton and Rose Theatre Kingston's production of Sam Holcroft's Rules for Living and English Touring Theatre and Mercury Theatre Colchester's production of Conor McPherson's The Weir, twenty years after its world premiere at the Royal Court.

Samantha Womack, Les Dennis and Carrie Hope Fletcher will star as Morticia, Fester and Wednesday Addams in the UK & Irish premiere of THE ADDAMS FAMILY.

Following its sold out run as part of Bristol Old Vic's 250th Anniversary season, Jeremy Irons and Lesley Manville will reprise their roles in Richard Eyre's acclaimed production of Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night.

The adult cast for the Young Vic's West End production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof at the Apollo Theatre comprises Sienna Miller (Maggie), Jack O'Connell (Brick), Colm Meaney (Big Daddy), Lisa Palfrey (Big Mama), Hayley Squires (Mae), Brian Gleeson(Gooper), Richard Hansel (Doctor) and Michael J Shannon (Reverend).

Theatre Royal Bath Productions announces full casting for Alan Bennett's The Lady in the Van, directed by Jonathan Church, which today began rehearsals ahead of its run at Theatre Royal Bath from Thursday 17 August to Saturday 2 September.

Final casting has been announced for the Hollywood Bowl's upcoming production of Mamma Mia!, Friday, July 28, at 8 PM, Saturday, July 29, at 8 PM and Sunday, July 30, at 7:30 PM. The new cast members are Tisha Campbell-Martin as Tanya, Hamish Linklater as Harry and Steven Weber as Bill.

For some time, rumors have swirled that Daniel Craig, the most recent actor to fill the shoes of super spy James Bond, would not be returning for yet another sequel of the iconic series. However, this week it has been reported that Craig has at last reached an agreement to return as the debonir Mr. Bond for the fifth time.

Sienna Miller (Maggie), Jack O'Connell (Brick), Colm Meaney (Big Daddy), Lisa Palfrey (Big Mama), Hayley Squires (Mae), Brian Gleeson (Gooper), Richard Hansel (Doctor) and Michael J Shannon (Reverend) complete the adult cast for the Young Vic's West End production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.  

The full cast are now announced for David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers and Take That's UK Tour of Tim Firth's new musical, THE BAND, with the music of Take That.

Production images have today been released for David Hare's Racing Demon, directed by Jonathan Church, which plays at Theatre Royal Bath until Saturday 8 July, with opening night this evening. Check out the photos below!

Theatre Royal Bath Productions has announced full casting for David Hare's Racing Demon, directed by Jonathan Church, which today began rehearsals ahead of its run at Theatre Royal Bath from Today 21 June to Saturday 8 July.

Further casting has been announced for Apologia, which will begin previews on 29th July at Trafalgar Studios. Freema Agyeman will join previously announced Tony and Emmy award winner Stockard Channing in a new production of Olivier Award winner Alexi Kaye Campbell's darkly funny and haunting play about family and its secrets, directed by the multi-award winning Jamie Lloyd.

Pride Films and Plays' 2017-18 season - its first full season in residence at the Pride Arts Center - will bring Chicago its first look at three plays that examine gay and lesbian lives in earlier decades of the 20th Century, according to Executive Director David Zak and Artistic Director Nelson Rodriguez.

Martin Shaw leads the cast in the timely UK premiere of Gore Vidal's award winning political thriller about ambition, political scandal, ruthlessness… and the race for the white house.

The full cast are now announced for David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers and Take That's UK Tour of Tim Firth's new musical, THE BAND, with the music of Take That.  The tour will begin at Manchester Opera House on 8 September, with a national press night on Tuesday 26 September 2017.  The advance box office for the tour has now topped a record-breaking £10million.

William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice opens the summer season at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum on June 3.