Peter Mumford News

The Almeida Theatre announces its new season: Almeida Greeks.

Casting is announced for the Royal Shakespeare Company's (RSC) summer productions of The Merchant of Venice and Othello, running in repertoire in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and broadcast worldwide 'Live from Stratford-upon-Avon'.

According to an Equity casting notice, Tony winner Christopher Gattelli is set to helm an upcoming NYC developmental lab of Top Hat. This version of the show features the classic music and lyrics of Irving Berlin and a new book by Chad Beguelin. The lab is set to be held May 18 through June 19.

The first West End show to open in 2015 is a surprising one. It's not big on dance numbers, there are no high-kicking antics, and chorus girls are in short supply. What Moses Raine's hit new play Donkey Heart does have is plenty of heart and sensational critical acclaim.

KING KONG, which ran in Australia last year has long been rumored for a trip overseas to Broadway. As previously reported, following a successful run in Melbourne, the producers of KING KONG were planning to bring the mega-musical to Broadway in December 2014.

Let's Face the Music and Dance with Top Hat at the Theatre Royal until Saturday 13 December. Stepping into the tap dancing shoes of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the lead roles of Jerry Travers and Dale Tremont, are Alan Burkitt and Charlotte Gooch, who both return to Top Hat having previously performed these roles in the West End.

The BFG is one of Roald Dahl's much loved children's books. Recent times have seen Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach plus several other of his successful tales being adapted for stage to massive acclaim. Therefore, how would The BFG fare onstage?

KING KONG, which ran in Australia last year has long been rumored for a trip overseas to Broadway. As previously reported, following a successful run in Melbourne, the producers of KING KONG were planning to bring the mega-musical to Broadway in December 2014. Due to the 'huge scale of the production' and to allow the creative team necessary time to implement changes, the producers decided 'to not rush in before the end of the year.' Now according to the New York Times, the show is eyeing John Rando to direct the Broadway version. Additionally, Marsha Norman was recently brought on board as the musical's new book writer. A development timeline has not yet been announced.

Top Hat - winner of three Olivier Awards, for 'Best New Musical', 'Best Choreography', 'Best Costume Design' from its seven nominations - is enjoying an epic 47-week UK tour, visiting 24 theatres nationwide. From Tuesday 2 December Top Hat will be Puttin' on the Ritz at the Theatre Royal Glasgow.

Roald Dahl's enduringly popular children's book, The BFG, will be brought to life in a brand new staging at Birmingham Repertory Theatre this Christmas. A well-loved story of a dream-blowing, big friendly giant and little orphan Sophie in a land of child-eating giants, The BFG, will open at The REP from 26 November 2014 to 24 January 2015.

The Met: Live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera's award-winning series of live transmissions to more than 2,000 movie theaters in 65 countries around the world, will feature ten operas in the 2014-15 season, including all six new productions in the Met season. All ten performances, transmitted live from the Met stage, will feature the world's finest singers, conductors, and theatrical artists.

The production previously held a lab in NYC in March of this year.

Full casting is announced for Emlyn Williams' masterpiece Accolade directed by award-winning director Blanche McIntyre. Alexander Hanson and Abigail Cruttenden lead the company as Will and Rona Trenting, with Bruce Alexander (Daker), Sam Clemmett (Ian Trenting), Claire Cox (Marion Tillyard), Daniel Crossley (Albert), Olivia Darnley (Phyllis), Jay Taylor (Harold) and Jay Villiers (Thane Lampeter). Accolade - produced by Nicola Seed - is the final production in Stage One's One Stage season at the St James Theatre.

Two internationally acclaimed productions receive their London premieres at the Young Vic in 2015. Bull, Mike Bartlett's dark workplace comedy will run 8 January - 7 February 2015. Lippy, an exploration of a real-life Irish tragedy and a major hit at the Dublin and Edinburgh Festivals, will run 19 February - 21 March 2015.

TOP HAT, winner of three Olivier Awards, for 'Best New Musical', 'Best Choreography', 'Best Costume Design' from its seven nominations and winner of the Evening Standard Award for 'Best Night Out', embarks on a 47-week UK tour, visiting Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tue 21 Oct - Sat 1 Nov 2014.

Internationally acclaimed British actor David Suchet will reprise his role on stage in the conspiracy thriller, 'THE LAST CONFESSION', in Australia in 2014. The international production will play in Toronto and Los Angeles before arriving in Australia in August. Seasons in Perth and Brisbane were announced late last year and now dates have been confirmed for seasons at Adelaide's Her Majesty's Theatre from August 27 and Melbourne's Comedy Theatre from September 3. Tickets on sale from Friday February 7. Check out a first look at highlights below!

Internationally acclaimed British actor David Suchet will reprise his role on stage in the conspiracy thriller, 'THE LAST CONFESSION', in Australia in 2014. The international production will play in Toronto and Los Angeles before arriving in Australia in August. Seasons in Perth and Brisbane were announced late last year and now dates have been confirmed for seasons at Adelaide's Her Majesty's Theatre from August 27 and Melbourne's Comedy Theatre from September 3. Tickets on sale from Friday February 7. Check out the photos below!

Internationally acclaimed British actor David Suchet will reprise his role on stage in the conspiracy thriller, 'THE LAST CONFESSION', in Australia in 2014. The international production will play in Toronto and Los Angeles before arriving in Australia in August. Seasons in Perth and Brisbane were announced late last year and now dates have been confirmed for seasons at Adelaide's Her Majesty's Theatre from August 27 and Melbourne's Comedy Theatre from September 3. Tickets on sale from Friday February 7.

Top Hat, winner of three Olivier Awards, for 'Best New Musical', 'Best Choreography', 'Best Costume Design' from its seven nominations, and winner of the Evening Standard Award for 'Best Night Out', returns to London to open its new tour at New Wimbledon Theatre on Tuesday 12 August where it will run for two weeks until Saturday 23 August. The production then embarks on a major 47-week tour visiting theatres throughout the UK and in Ireland, until 25 July 2015.

Hampstead Theatre presents the World Premiere of WONDERLAND by Beth Steel, directed by Edward Hall, designed by Ashley Martin Davis, choreographed by Scott Ambler, and with music composed by Simon Slater. The show will play today, 20 June - 26 July 2014. Press Night: Thursday 26 June at 7pm.