Prasanna Puwanarajah News

The Royal Shakespeare Company has today announced further casting for its forthcoming double-bill of Restoration plays, John Vanbrugh's The Provoked Wife and Thomas Otway's Venice Preserved. The Provoked Wife, directed by Phillip Breen, plays in repertoire from the 2 May 2019 with Venice Preserved, directed by Prasanna Puwanarajah, running from 24 May 2019 in the Swan Theatre.

Royal Shakespeare Company Associate Artist Alexandra Gilbreath returns to the company in Phillip Breen's riotous new production of John Vanbrugh's restoration comedy The Provoked Wife. Alexandra last appeared at the RSC as feisty courtesan Angellica Bianca in the 2016 production of The Rover by Aphra Behn. Other leading roles for the RSC include Hermione in The Winter's Tale, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Rosalind in As You Like It, Kate in The Taming of the Shrew and Mistress Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor.

On Monday 26 November, The National Youth Theatre hosted its annual fundraising gala, this year to the theme 'Puttin' on the Blitz Kidz' at Cafe de Paris, and was attended by VIP guests, past alumni and current NYT performers. The event, featuring music and theatre performances, auctions and fundraising events significantly exceeded targets, raising more than £150,000 to support The National Youth Theatre's ongoing projects.

On Monday 26 November, The National Youth Theatre hosted its annual fundraising gala, this year to the theme 'Puttin' on the Blitz Kidz' at Cafe de Paris, and was attended by VIP guests, past alumni and current NYT performers. The event, featuring music and theatre performances, auctions and fundraising events significantly exceeded targets, raising more than £150,000 to support The National Youth Theatre's ongoing projects.

Paul Roseby OBE, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain (NYT) has today announced the summer and autumn season of work for 2018.

Last night, Showtime hosted the premiere of the new limited series PATRICK MELROSE. The screening was held at the Linwood Dunn Theater at the Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study and was followed by an after party at Beauty and Essex. 

The original version of Rodney Ackland's provocative work, The Pink Room, had a bruising reception back in 1952, losing thousands for investor Terence Rattigan amidst furious reviews. Since salvaged by the Orange Tree in the Eighties, its rebirth was cemented by a Judi Dench-starring production at the National, where it now returns for an intriguing if not entirely convincing encore.

Bomb-blasted London. A Soho den in the hangover from World War II, where members drink into the darkness, night after night. Lying, fighting and seducing, these lost souls and bruised lovers struggle from the rubble of war towards an unknown future.

The National Theatre has announced its May-September 2018 season.

Two decades after it was previously performed at the National Theatre, Rodney Ackland's Absolute Hell returns to the very stage it played back then: the Lyttelton. With a career spanning over two decades too across stage and screen, Charles Edwards is no stranger to the National Theatre. Catching up during rehearsals, Charles spoke to us about his 'innate connection' to the play, and reveals the greatest challenge he's faced in his career (which came only last year).

SHOWTIME has unveiled a new video teaser for its new five-part limited series PATRICK MELROSE starring Oscar nominee and Emmy(R) winner Benedict Cumberbatch. Based on the acclaimed Patrick Melrose series of semi-autobiographical novels written by Edward St. Aubyn, the series will premiere on Saturday, May 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. PATRICK MELROSE is an acerbic and fearless look at the protagonist's harrowing odyssey from a deeply traumatic childhood to his remarkable survival as an adult. In scheduling PATRICK MELROSE for five consecutive Saturdays, SHOWTIME is expanding to a new night of original programming, joining the network's existing sports and movie offerings on Saturday nights.

SHOWTIME has unveiled a new teaser limited series PATRICK MELROSE starring Oscar nominee and Emmy® winner Benedict Cumberbatch. Based on the acclaimed Patrick Melrose series of semi-autobiographical novels written by Edward St. Aubyn, the series will premiere on Saturday, May 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. PATRICK MELROSE is an acerbic and fearless look at the protagonist's harrowing odyssey from a deeply traumatic childhood to his remarkable survival as an adult. In scheduling PATRICK MELROSE for five consecutive Saturdays, SHOWTIME is expanding to a new night of original programming, joining the network's existing sports and movie offerings on Saturday nights.

Bomb-blasted London. A Soho den in the hangover from World War II, where members drink into the darkness, night after night. Lying, fighting and seducing, these lost souls and bruised lovers struggle from the rubble of war towards an unknown future.

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

In a tour de force role, Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game, Sherlock), who also executive produces the new series, plays the titular character who struggles to overcome the damage inflicted by a horribly abusive father and the mother who tacitly condoned his behavior. Academy Award® nominee Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight) and Screen Actors Guild® winner Hugo Weaving (The Matrix trilogy) also star as Patrick Melrose's parents. Rounding out this accomplished cast are Anna Madeley (The Crown), Blythe Danner (Meet the Fockers), Allison Williams (Get Out), Pip Torrens (The Crown), Jessica Raine (Call the Midwife), Prasanna Puwanarajah (Doctor Foster), Holliday Grainger (THE BORGIAS, Bonnie & Clyde), Indira Varma (Game of Thrones) and Celia Imrie (Bridget Jones's Baby). Each episode, devoted to one of the five novels, is written for television by BAFTA Award®nominee David Nicholls (Far from the Madding Crowd, One Day) and directed by celebrated film director Edward Berger (Deutchland 83, Jack). A co-production between SHOWTIME and Sky Atlantic, this gripping and humorous saga encompasses the South of France in the 1960s, New York in the 1980s and Britain in the early 2000s.

SHOWTIME has announced that its new, five-part limited series PATRICK MELROSE starring Oscar® nominee and Emmy® winner Benedict Cumberbatch will premiere on Saturday, May 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Based on the acclaimed Patrick Melrose series of semi-autobiographical novels written by Edward St. Aubyn, PATRICK MELROSE is an acerbic and fearless look at the protagonist's harrowing odyssey from a deeply traumatic childhood to his remarkable survival as an adult. In scheduling PATRICK MELROSE for five consecutive Saturdays, SHOWTIME is laying the groundwork to expand to a new night of original programming, joining the network's existing sports and movie offerings on Saturday nights.

New casting announced for the new National Theatre season. Full cast has been announced for Brian Friel's Translations including Colin Morgan and Ciaran Hinds, part of the Travelex season with thousands of tickets available at £15. Eric Kofi Abrefa and Thalissa Teixeira join Vanessa Kirby in the cast of Julie, part of the Travelex season with thousands of tickets available at £15. Sam Mendes directs The Lehman Trilogy, a co-production with Neal Street Productions, cast includes Adam Godley, Ben Miles and Simon Russell Beale. Full casting is announced for the award winning An Octoroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, transferring to the National Theatre in a co-production with the Orange Tree Theatre. The NT will tour to 30 venues in 27 towns and cities across the UK and Ireland, for a total of 83 playing weeks over the next year. Rufus Norris' Macbeth to tour to 18 venues across the UK and Ireland from autumn 2018. War Horse returns to the National Theatre marking the centenary of Armistice Day.

Bomb-blasted London. A Soho den in the hangover from World War II, where members drink into the darkness, night after night. Lying, fighting and seducing, these lost souls and bruised lovers struggle from the rubble of war towards an unknown future.

SHOWTIME released the official trailer for the new limited series PATRICK MELROSE, starring Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Benedict Cumberbatch.

Below, BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening festivities, including Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville (an NYT member), who gave the cast a pep talk ahead of taking the stage!