Rae Smith News

Embarking on their 17th season, Dance Canvas has announced the 7 choreographers and 4 filmmakers who make up this season's Choreographer Career Development Initiative (CCDI) and Dance Canvas: on Film program.

Shakespeare’s Globe has announced the cast for Hansel and Gretel. Following last year’s run, this year's production is the Brothers Grimm’s classic story, with brand new songs.

The National Theatre has shared photos from inside the rehearsal room for the upcoming production of Oscar Wilde’s joyful and flamboyant comedy The Importance of Being Earnest.

As I sat in the audience, waiting for the performance of War Horse In Concert, a Pops presentation for the Wichita Symphony, I overhead several audience members discussing their expectations for what they were about to experience. “Is this a play?”  “It looks like there are narrators!” “Is this different from a regular concert?” Most “In Concert” performances are based on well known musicals, but War Horse In Concert is based on War Horse Suite 2022, a symphonic work derived from the score of the play with the same name. The play is based on the original story written by Michael Morpurgo. War Horse: The Story in Concert premiered at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2016, with music composed by Adrian Sutton, and the narration was adapted from the play script written in 1982 by Nick Stafford. The performance consisted of a very simple staged version of the piece, with multiple actors playing multiple roles, supplying dialogue at the important points in the story. There was also a main singer and a chorus to help convey the emotions that the spoken word can fail to supply. This allows the orchestra to feature the score so the story to be told by both the music and the word. A concert version is usually a scaled down production, sans sets, props, elaborate costumes, and in the case of War Horse, the puppets used to portray the horses. The audience is asked to use their imaginations, and their mind’s eye, to fill in the remainder of the story.

The Wichita Symphony Orchestra (WSO), in collaboration with Wichita Repertory Theater (ICTRep), is honored to present the North American premiere of War Horse in Concert.

The Old Vic has announced The Brightening Air, a new play written and directed by Olivier Award winner Conor McPherson (The Weir, The Seafarer), in his return to the theatre following the multi award-winning Girl from the North Country in 2017.

The National Theatre has announced the full cast for its upcoming production of Oscar Wilde's joyful and flamboyant comedy The Importance of Being Earnest as rehearsals begin.

An additional week of performances has been added for Waiting for Godot at Theatre Royal Haymarket, now running until 21 December 2024.

War Horse held its press performances for the UK & Ireland tour at The Lowry, in Salford yesterday. Those in attendance included author Michael Morpurgo, Coronation Street stars Peter Ash, Michael Le Vell, Jane Hazlegrove and more. Check out photos here!

A country road. A tree. Evening. Two figures commiserate with each other’s woes. “Nothing to be done”. We have to wait 35 years to receive a really revolutionary new take on Waiting for Godot: Samuel Beckett’s estate still has too much power over any revival of the 20th century classic. James Macdonald’s starry cast is, obviously, the draw here: Ben Whishaw returns to the West End as Vladimir, the restless soul of the pair, while Lucian Msamati is the forgetful Estragon. It’s an excellent opportunity to see a handful of our most exquisite performers at work.

Box Of Tricks has released rehearsal photos for the new play Danesha a joyful celebration of coming of age, exploring black culture, queer joy and finding and loving your authentic self written by emerging Manchester-born playwright Stefanie Reynolds. 

Brand new production photos have been released for the National Theatre’s acclaimed production of War Horse, based on Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel. This all-new production is now touring the UK and Ireland, currently playing at the New Wimbledon Theatre, with a press performance on Sunday 22 September at The Lowry in Salford. 

The cast has been announced for the UK tour of brand new play Danesha, a joyful celebration of coming of age, exploring black culture, queer joy and finding and loving your authentic self written by emerging Manchester-born playwright Stefanie Reynolds. 

Ammonite is a leading creative studio renowned for designing experiences across theatre, live events, and installations. Merging video and lighting expertise, Ammonite has been responsible for creating some of the most innovative and successful West End and Broadway shows in history.

Rehearsals have started for the new production of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, directed by James Macdonald. Learn more about the cast here!

What did the critics think of Dominic Cooke's long-delayed production?

Well, we got there in the end and thankfully, it was worth the wait. Initially due to open back in 2020, Dominic Cooke’s adaptation of Hello, Dolly! has finally arrived in the West End.

The North American Tour of GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY is headed to the Orpheum.  The tour will play Memphis at the Orpheum Theatre October 8-13, 2024.

WAR HORSE will run at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow in Spring 2025. Learn more about the tour and see how to purchase tickets.

The National Theatre's WAR HORSE, based on Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel, embarks on a major UK and Ireland tour and will play at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. Learn how to purchase tickets.