Rufus Norris News

London's celebrated annual showcase for contemporary visual theatre presents 19 days of boundary-breaking performances featuring 15 companies from 10 countries. Productions come from Belgium, Italy, Russia, Israel, France, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Switzerland and Britain, and include no fewer than 13 UK premieres.

Gary Naylor enjoys Weimar vibes in Vimbledon.

Nica Burns and Max Weitzenhoffer present the world premiere of TIMING by Alistair McGowan, directed by Tamara Harvey

Michael Attenborough will direct Rory Kinnear as Angelo, Anna Maxwell Martin as Isabella and Ben Miles as the Duke in William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure at the Almeida.

Nica Burns and Max Weitzenhoffer present the world premiere of TIMING by Alistair McGowan, directed by Tamara Harvey

Nica Burns and Max Weitzenhoffer present the world premiere of TIMING by Alistair McGowan, directed by Tamara Harvey

Sean Mathias will direct Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart in Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot which is his first production as Artistic Director of the 2009 Theatre Royal Haymarket Company. Waiting for Godot will tour the UK prior to its opening in London in April.

Sean Mathias will direct Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart in Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot which is his first production as Artistic Director of the 2009 Theatre Royal Haymarket Company. Waiting for Godot will tour the UK prior to its opening in London in April.

David Eldridge's Under the Blue Sky will complete its run at the Duke of York's Theatre on 20 September as previously scheduled. Directed by Anna Mackmin, Under the Blue Sky is designed by Lez Brotherston with lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Paul Arditti, and is produced in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions, Robert G. Bartner and Jamie Hendry.

According to Whatsonstage.com Samantha Barks has become the latest former I'd Do Anything contestant to get a leading musical role. It has been announced that Barks will play Sally Bowles in the upcoming national tour of Rufus Norris' production of Cabaret.

Connie Fisher makes a welcome return to the stage this week as she begins previews in the Marvin Hamlish/Carole Bayer Sager/Neil Simon musical They're Playing Our Song at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Previews of the show, which will be directed by Fiona Laird, begin on July 25 prior to an August 4 opening. The production will run till September 28.

Francesca Annis, Lisa Dillon, Chris O'Dowd, Dominic Rowan and Catherine Tate are to star in the West End premiere of David Eldridge's Under The Blue Sky which will open at the Duke of York's Theatre on 25 July, with previews from 15 July, and is currently booking until 20 September 2008. Directed by Anna Mackmin, Under The Blue Sky is designed by Lez Brotherston with lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Paul Arditti, and is produced in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions and Robert G. Bartner. Final casting will be announced shortly.

Roger Michell will direct a cast led by Eileen Atkins in Joanna Murray-Smith's latest play, 'The Female of the Species', opening at the Vaudeville Theatre on 16 July.

Flamenco Flamen'ka, a new dance show directed and choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood, will open for an eight-week season at the West End's Lyric Theatre from 22 September to 15 November 2008 (previews from 18 September).

Roundabout Theatre Company's (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) limited engagement of Les Liaisons Dangereuses will play its final performance on Sunday, July 6th at 2:00 PM. This revival of Christopher Hampton's classic Les Liaisons Dangereuses stars Laura Linney as 'La Marquise de Merteuil' and Ben Daniels as 'Le Vicomte de Valmont,' and is directed by Rufus Norris at the American Airlines Theatre (227 West 42nd St).

Roundabout Theatre Company's (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) limited engagement of Les Liaisons Dangereuses will play its final performance on Sunday, July 6th at 2:00 PM. This revival of Christopher Hampton's classic Les Liaisons Dangereuses stars Laura Linney as 'La Marquise de Merteuil' and Ben Daniels as 'Le Vicomte de Valmont,' and is directed by Rufus Norris at the American Airlines Theatre (227 West 42nd St).

Nigel Lindsay will join Francesca Annis, Lisa Dillon, Chris O'Dowd, Dominic Rowan and Catherine Tate in the West End premiere of David Eldridge's 'Under The Blue Sky.'

Katrina Lindsay has won the 2008 Tony Award For Best Costume Design in a play for her work in 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses'. Catherine Zuber has won for best design in a musical for her work in 'South Pacific' .

Roundabout Theatre Company's critically acclaimed, multi-award winning, national touring production of their Broadway smash hit TWELVE ANGRY MEN celebrates an unprecedented 63-week national tour with a return engagement in Toronto.

'Cabaret' will close in the West End on June 21st.