Rae Smith News

Bestselling novelist and award winning playwright Barney Norris brings his new play Nightfall to the Bridge Theatre. Speaking to us during rehearsals, Barney takes us through the process of mounting a new play in a new space, as part of the theatre's inaugural season.

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

The world premiere of Barney Norris' Nightfall, directed by Laurie Sansom, starring Ophelia Lovibond (Lou), Ukweli Roach (Pete), Claire Skinner (Jenny) and Sion Daniel Young (Ryan) will run at the Bridge Theatre from 28 April - 26 May 2018, with press night on 8 May 2018. Designed by Rae Smith, Nightfall will have lighting by Chris Davey, sound by Christopher Shutt with music composed by Gareth Williams.

AMC Releases First Trailer for Season 3 of INTO THE BADLANDS Returns 4/22

A looming European referendum, a Labour party internally divided and drastic spending cuts. You could be forgiven for thinking that James Graham's This House is set just a few years ago. In fact, we're back in 1974 with a hung parliament and another election seemingly imminent.

A brand new season of West End musicals, gripping dramas, dynamic dance and one night concerts will go on sale at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. Highlights include the return of the phenomenally successful smash hit musical THE BODYGUARD, a major new production of DOCTOR DOLITTLE THE MUSICAL, Belinda Lang and Oliver Cotton in DUET FOR ONE, Joe Pasquale, Russell Watson, Doreen Tipton's brand new live show DOREEN'S BIG TOP and the National Theatre return in 2019 with MACBETH.

The ruined aftermath of a bloody civil war. Ruthlessly fighting to survive, the Macbeths are propelled towards the crown by forces of elemental darkness. Shakespeare's most intense and terrifying tragedy is directed by Rufus Norris 25 years after his last Shakespeare production.

Exploration through world culture, original voices, and iconic masters are on display throughout the 2018-2019 ballet and contemporary dance season at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The upcoming ballet and dance season-among the nation's most robust and eclectic-features a breadth of dynamic and world-class choreography performed by today's preeminent companies. Brought to life onstage by virtuosic dancers and visionary designers, the season encompasses compelling and thought-provoking works, collaborations across genres, and quintessential classics steeped in tradition.

We begin and end with a grisly decapitation. And that's rather the problem with this intermittently engaging Macbeth, which starts in the throes of some unspecified dystopian hellscape, and thus has nowhere to go. 

The ruined aftermath of a bloody civil war. Ruthlessly fighting to survive, the Macbeths are propelled towards the crown by forces of elemental darkness. Shakespeare's most intense and terrifying tragedy is directed by Rufus Norris 25 years after his last Shakespeare production.

James Graham's critically acclaimed and prescient political drama takes on a new importance in the current political climate. Are we in the midst of a political revolution? Can the country stay united? Roll back to 1974... The corridors of Westminster ring with the sound of infighting and back biting as Britain's political parties' battle to change the future of the nation, whatever it takes.

In autumn 2018 into 2019 following its sold-out London run, the National Theatre will tour Shakespeare's most intense tragedy, MACBETH. This epic and visually daring production will embark on a tour of the UK and Ireland visiting Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tuesday 12 - Saturday 16 March 2019.

War Horse, based on Michael Morpurgo's beloved novel, a remarkable story of courage, loyalty and friendship, will return to the National Theatre 11 years after its NT debut for a limited run in November 2018. War Horse at the NT marks the centenary of the Armistice which brought World War I to an end.

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.

In autumn 2018 following its sold-out London run, the National Theatre will tour Shakespeare's most intense tragedy, Macbeth. This epic and visually daring production will embark on an 18-venue tour of the UK and Ireland from September 2018 - March 2019, with a week at Theatre Royal, Glasgow from Tuesday 19 February.

Rehearsals have begun for the first UK tour of This House, which opens at West Yorkshire Playhouse on 23 February (national press night 28 February).

The ruined aftermath of a bloody civil war. Ruthlessly fighting to survive, the Macbeths are propelled towards the crown by forces of elemental darkness. Shakespeare's most intense and terrifying tragedy is directed by Rufus Norris 25 years after his last Shakespeare production.

The cast who play a colourful host of MPs and Whips - is Ian Barritt (Batley & Morley/Woolwich West/Belfast North/Western Isles & Ensemble), William Chubb (Humphrey Atkins), Giles Cooper (Fred Silvester), Stephen Critchlow (Bromsgrove/Abingdon/Liverpool Edge Hill/Paisley/Fermanagh & Ensemble), James Gaddas (Walter Harrison), Natalie Grady (Ann Taylor), Ian Houghton (Armagh, Ambulance Man, Ensemble), David Hounslow (Joe Harper), Marcus Hutton (Ensemble), Harry Kershaw (Paddington South/Chelmsford/South Ayrshire/Henley/Marioneth /Coventry North West/Rushcliffe/Perry Barr & Ensemble), Louise Ludgate (Rochester & Chatham/Welwyn & Hatfield/Coventry South West/Ilford North/Lady Batley & Ensemble), Geoffrey Lumb (Clockmaker/Peebles/Redditch/Stirlingshire West/Clerk & Ensemble), Nicholas Lumley (Oxshott/Belfast West/St Helens & Ensemble), Martin Marquez (Bob Mellish), Matthew Pidgeon (Jack Weatherill), Miles Richardson (Speaker Act I/Mansfield/Sergeant at Arms Act II/West Lothian & Ensemble), Tony Turner (Michael c*cks), Orlando Wells (Walsall North/Plymouth Sutton/Serjeant at Arms Act I/Speaker Act II/Caernarfon/Clerk & Ensemble) and Charlotte Worthing (Ensemble). Ian Houghton, David Hounslow, Matthew Pidgeon, Tony Turner and Orlando Wells return to This House having previously appeared in the West End production.

AMC announced from the Television Critics' Association (TCA) Press Tour the premiere dates for new and returning series, including the international crime thriller, 'McMafia,' 'Fear the Walking Dead' season four, martial arts drama 'Into the Badlands' season three and 'AMC Visionaries: James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction.'

Additional performances for Rufus Norris' production of Macbeth will go on sale on to the public on 26 January. The production will now play until 23 June, with all performances currently on sale sold out.