Roy Williams News

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater has named Darren Edward Johnston as Associate Artistic Director of Commercial Strategy and Partnership.

Soho Theatre has announced the 2026 submissions launch for the Verity Bargate Award, the UK’s longest established playwriting prize sponsored by Character 7.

If there is one message that those who were in attendance at More Than One Story LIVE on 9 November absorbed through their skin, it is that “The arts don’t belong to a few, they belong to everyone.” The sentiment was declared proudly by Rory Kinnear in his opening speech and echoed warmly by co-host Shahab Awad, actor and member of Cardboard Citizens. It was sprinkled, allegorised, and spoken boldly throughout the monologues that were presented.

My advice would be to don’t stop working on that thing. Whatever that writing project is. Feel free to become frustrated and put it away for a few weeks but keep it ticking away. I believe it’s immeasurably important for emerging writers - it is these spaces that shape the play, where mistakes can happen and solutions be found, without the pressure of a deadline or a looming opening night or financial stress. (On that note, we open 31 October at The Hampstead Theatre, please come?!)

Hampstead Theatre has announced the nine playwrights who will join its acclaimed INSPIRE programme for 2025/6 now led by Tony and Olivier Award-winning playwright Simon Stephens.

Stars of stage and screen will unite to celebrate the publication of a brand new book from the award-winning arts and social justice charity, Cardboard Citizens.

The full company for the first-ever stage adaptation of Suzanne Collins’s internationally acclaimed book The Hunger Games and Lionsgate’s hit motion picture of the same name has been revealed.

Tom Glynn-Carney will play George Deever and Hayley Squires will play Ann Deever in Arthur Miller's ALL MY SONS, directed by Ivo Van Hove.

Acclaimed playwright Simon Stephens has been appointed Programme Director of Hampstead Theatre's Inspire playwriting programme taking over from Roy Williams who has led the initiative since its inception in 2017.

Mojisola Adebayo's STARS: An Afrofuturist Space Odyssey will return to London following outstanding 5-star responses to its premiere at the ICA in 2023, for which it won the Off West End Theatre (Offie) Award.

The National Theatre has announced that Director and Choreographer Miranda Cromwell; author, academic, and dramaturg Dr Sophie Duncan; and Pulitzer-winning playwright Lynn Nottage have been appointed as Artistic Associates.

Bryan Cranston will star as ‘Joe Keller', Marianne Jean-Baptiste as ‘Kate Keller' and Paapa Essiedu as ‘Chris Keller' in Arthur Miller's ALL MY SONS. Learn more about the show here!

Peckham Fringe has launched this year’s innovative and entertaining line-up of nearly 30 shows, curated by the local community, which will kick off in May. Learn more here!

A fascinating and complex piece of theatre.

Tom Wright will take up the role of Artistic Director at Leeds Playhouse, working closely with newly promoted Chief Executive Shawab Iqbal to form the executive leadership team of the organisation. Learn more!

Paines Plough has announced its programming for 2025, with two new commissions set to tour the UK. This follows the company’s 50th anniversary fundraising gala at the Criterion Theatre earlier this month.

In a vigorous virtuoso performance that demands to be seen, Jack Holden brings to exhilarating life a true-life crime story from half a century ago.

Photos have been released from Paines Plough’s star-studded 50th Anniversary Gala which took place last night at the Criterion Theatre. Check out the photos below!

The finalists for the OffWestEnd Awards (Offies) have been announced, as the UK’s foremost awards for independent theatre mark their 15th anniversary. Learn more here!

Paines Plough has announced programming for its star-studded 50th Anniversary Gala taking place in February at the Criterion Theatre. Learn more about the upcoming lineup here!