Robin Soans News

Gary Naylor sees a twenty year old play send a timeless message.

Someone Who'll Watch Over Me is described as 'a startling testament to the power of the human spirit. Following an Englishman, American, and Irishman through their experience as hostages in Lebanon, McGuinness' multi-award winning play is both funny and heart-wrenching. As the three men wrestle with their differences to develop an extraordinary friendship, we are asked to consider life on the edge of human existence. Ultimately the play is a celebration of life and humanity.' It received the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Foreign Play in 1993 and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play.

It doesn't seem like a particularly fun evening, watching the experiences of three hostages in Lebanon. But everybody involved in this production of Frank McGuinness's Someone Who'll Watch Over Me is at pains to point out that though the topic may seem dark, there are some elements of extraordinary humour.

You can win a pair of tickets to the press night of SOMEONE WHO'LL WATCH OVER ME at the Southwark Playhouse!

Someone Who'll Watch Over Me is described as 'a startling testament to the power of the human spirit. Following an Englishman, American, and Irishman through their experience as hostages in Lebanon, McGuinness' multi-award winning play is both funny and heart-wrenching. As the three men wrestle with their differences to develop an extraordinary friendship, we are asked to consider life on the edge of human existence. Ultimately the play is a celebration of life and humanity.' It received the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Foreign Play in 1993 and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play.

Gary finds that the battle lines in the war of the sexes haven't changed much in 231 years.

Coinciding with the cinema release of filmmaker Clio Barnard's award-winning The Arbor, Artangel Interaction commission AS IT GOES celebrates the unique power of one of the UK's most distinctive and sorely missed playwrights. For four nights only, this series of readings, performed at the Young Vic, remembers Andrea Dunbar's inimitable voice, at once controversial and hilarious, brutally honest and deeply personal. Each reading will be accompanied by one of four new short plays inspired by Andrea's work by teenagers from east London, followed by the screening of scenes from The Arbor. The young playwrights will be mentored by Lorne Campbell (Greyscale, Traverse), Gbolahan Obisesan (Royal Court, National Theatre, Young Vic), Jo Carter (Artistic Director, Immediate Theatre) and Rob Watt (Soho Theatre, Stratford Circus, Royal Court). On the final day of readings a panel discussion will take place with Max Stafford Clark, Clio Barnard, Jo Carter and actors from The Arbor, with a reading of Robin Soans' play, A State Affair (2000) which looked at life on a Bradford estate.

Coinciding with the cinema release of filmmaker Clio Barnard's award-winning The Arbor, Artangel Interaction commission AS IT GOES celebrates the unique power of one of the UK's most distinctive and sorely missed playwrights. For four nights only, this series of readings, performed at the Young Vic, remembers Andrea Dunbar's inimitable voice, at once controversial and hilarious, brutally honest and deeply personal. Each reading will be accompanied by one of four new short plays inspired by Andrea's work by teenagers from east London, followed by the screening of scenes from The Arbor. The young playwrights will be mentored by Lorne Campbell (Greyscale, Traverse), Gbolahan Obisesan (Royal Court, National Theatre, Young Vic), Jo Carter (Artistic Director, Immediate Theatre) and Rob Watt (Soho Theatre, Stratford Circus, Royal Court). On the final day of readings a panel discussion will take place with Max Stafford Clark, Clio Barnard, Jo Carter and actors from The Arbor, with a reading of Robin Soans' play, A State Affair (2000) which looked at life on a Bradford estate.

Out of Joint, the new writing theatre company, is launching its Director award, a special opportunity for a director early in their career.

Special panel prepare for debate

Based on real events and encounters, MIXED UP NORTH is an inspiring and eye-opening story of an attempt to unite young people from ethnically divided communities in a Lancashire mill town. Produced by Out of Joint and the Octagon Theatre Bolton, the play will run in the unique Wilton's Music Hall in London.

Based on real events and encounters, MIXED UP NORTH is an inspiring and eye-opening story of an attempt to unite young people from ethnically divided communities in a Lancashire mill town. Produced by Out of Joint and the Octagon Theatre Bolton, the play will run in the unique Wilton's Music Hall in London.

Based on real events and encounters, MIXED UP NORTH is an inspiring and eye-opening story of an attempt to unite young people from ethnically divided communities in a Lancashire mill town. Produced by Out of Joint and the Octagon Theatre Bolton, the play will run in the unique Wilton's Music Hall in London.

Based on real events and encounters, MIXED UP NORTH is an inspiring and eye-opening story of an attempt to unite young people from ethnically divided communities in a Lancashire mill town. Produced by Out of Joint and the Octagon Theatre Bolton, the play will run in the unique Wilton's Music Hall in London.

Based on real events and encounters, MIXED UP NORTH is an inspiring and eye-opening story of an attempt to unite young people from ethnically divided communities in a Lancashire mill town. Produced by Out of Joint and the Octagon Theatre Bolton, the play will run in the unique Wilton's Music Hall in London.

Helen Baxendale joins Emma Cunniffe, James Dreyfus, Aden Gillett and Vicki Pepperdine in a new comedy by April De Angelis for Hampstead's 50th Anniversary. Amongst Friends is a darkly comic satire directed by Anthony Clark and designed by Patrick Connellan and opens on Tuesday 26 May with previews from Thursday 21 May.

Helen Baxendale joins Emma Cunniffe, James Dreyfus, Aden Gillett and Vicki Pepperdine in a new comedy by April De Angelis for Hampstead's 50th Anniversary. Amongst Friends is a darkly comic satire directed by Anthony Clark and designed by Patrick Connellan and opens on Tuesday 26 May with previews from Thursday 21 May.

THE CONTINGENCY PLAN by Steve Waters is a double bill of two new plays (ON THE BEACH and RESILIENCE) which tackle the immediate issues of climate change. Each play stands alone, but together they present a picture of England in which severe flooding continues to destroy the South West and the shrinking of the polar ice cap threatens to sink the East Coast.

THE CONTINGENCY PLAN by Steve Waters is a double bill of two new plays (ON THE BEACH and RESILIENCE) which tackle the immediate issues of climate change. Each play stands alone, but together they present a picture of England in which severe flooding continues to destroy the South West and the shrinking of the polar ice cap threatens to sink the East Coast.

Film actress Elizabeth McGovern will be coming the UK Stage in the role of Jackie Kennedy in the new play Aristo by Bent author Martin Sherman.