Sharon D Clarke News

If there was ever an Artist with the power of FLIGHT, it is ANTON STEPHANS.

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre has confirmed lead casting for Hobson's Choice and the Gershwins' Porgy and Bess. Mark Benton will play Henry Hobson in Hobson's Choice, with Jodie McNee as his daughter Maggie. Rufus Bonds Jr and Nicola Hughes play the title roles in Porgy and Bess with Phillip Boykin re-creating his Tony Award nominated performance as Crown, and Sharon D Clarke as Mariah.

JemmThree, the UK's first 24/7 radio station dedicated to musical theatre, is having a Musical Theatre Christmas by raising the curtain on nine musicals, with many narrated by the shows' own writing teams.

The UK editor-in-chief reflects on the ups and downs of West End theatre in 2013. So, another busy year in the West End - and a busy year for BWW:UK. I've been the editor-in-chief of BWW:UK for nearly five years now, working closely with our US newdesk (and dealing with that inconvenient time difference), and overseeing our ever-expanding reviewing squad (as well as our London writers, we also have a team at the Edinburgh Festival every year, and regional reviewers in cities around the UK including Glasgow, Birmingham, Sheffield and Bristol).

Susie McKenna bites the bullet and gives a Puss in Boots that stays loyal to its complicated French story but still incorporates all the traditions of its madcap English format. It's a packed show, coming in at just over two and a half hours - fortunately the pace doesn't let up and the audience goes home well entertained having had their money's worth.

'We're having such fun!' enthuses Sharon D Clarke. She sounds remarkably perky for someone who's just started the traditional gruelling British panto schedule. But then the Hackney Empire panto isn't your usual panto.

Here are the first images from Hackney Empire's 2013 pantomime Puss in Boots. The iconic London pantomime is written and directed by Susie McKenna who celebrates her 15th Hackney pantomime this year.

Hackney Empire has just released production images of their 2013 pantomime, PUSS IN BOOTS. Kat B, Sharon D Clarke, Josefina Gabrielle and Stephen Matthews star in this year's iconic Hackney pantomime. London's No.1 pantomime will run to the 05 January 2014 with press night set for Wednesday 04 December, 7pm. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

This week the world famous Battersea Dogs & Cats Home received a slightly larger feline visitor than usual. Kat B, who will play Puss in Boots in the renowned Hackney Empire pantomime this year, got into character with the Home's feline residents on Wednesday after visiting the London rescue centre, which is celebrating its 130th anniversary of rehoming cats this year.

This week the world famous Battersea Dogs & Cats Home received a slightly larger feline visitor than usual. Kat B, who will play Puss in Boots in the renowned Hackney Empire pantomime this year, got into character with the Home's feline residents on Wednesday after visiting the London rescue centre, which is celebrating its 130th anniversary of rehoming cats this year.

The Theatrical Management Association (TMA) has announced the winners of the 2013 UK Theatre Awards - the only nationwide awards to honour creative excellence and the outstanding achievement seen on and off stage throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Today Hackney Empire announces the principal cast of its brand new pantomime, Puss in Boots. Written and directed by Susie McKenna with music by Steven Edis, the cast will include Kat B as Puss in Boots, Sharon D Clarke as Queen Talulah, Josefina Gabrielle as the witch Evilena and Stephen Matthews as Dame Nettie Knowall. In true Hackney style this rarely performed classic Perrault pantomime will be reimagined for today's audience, packed with show-stopping songs, dazzling dance routines and side-splitting comedy.

Susie McKenna, Creative Director at Hackney Empire, directs Blues in the Night today, 14 July 2013 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

Rufus Norris' production of James Baldwin's The Amen Corner opened at the National Theatre and follows the life of Sister Margaret, a pastor of a Harlem church. It stars Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Eric Kofi Abrefa and Sharon D Clarke.

BLUES IN THE NIGHT uses the great blues and jazz songs of the 1920s and 30s to explore the lives of three women and a saloon singer in a 'cheap hotel' during the course of a long memory-filled evening. The 26 songs celebrate the blues melodies of Bessie Smith, Jimmy Cox, Duke Ellington, Alberta Hunter and songs by Harold Arlen, Benny Goodman, Andy Razaf, Johnny Mercer and others.

ERIC WOOLFSON'S SOMEWHERE IN THE AUDIENCE is set for release today, 18th March 2013 on Limelight Records. The alumb will be released on the anniversary of what would have been the late Eric Woolfson's 68th birthday. 'Somewhere in the Audience' is a compilation of music from four of Eric's musicals 'GAUDI', 'GAMBLER', 'POE' and 'DANCING SHADOWS'.

ERIC WOOLFSON'S SOMEWHERE IN THE AUDIENCE is set for release 18th March 2013 on Limelight Records. The alumb will be released on the anniversary of what would have been the late Eric Woolfson's 68th birthday. 'Somewhere in the Audience' is a compilation of music from four of Eric's musicals 'GAUDI', 'GAMBLER', 'POE' and 'DANCING SHADOWS'.

Somewhere In The Audience is a celebration of Gaudi, Gambler, Poe & Dancing Shadows; four of the late Eric Woolfson's musicals. This compilation is released on March 18th on what would have been his 68th birthday.

Forthcoming productions at the National Theatre, announced today by Nicholas Hytner, include plays familiar, rare and new: Shakespeare's Othello, Gorky's Children of the Sun,James Baldwin's The Amen Corner;Marlowe's Edward II, Pirandello's Liola, Eugene O'Neill's Strange Interlude and Georg Kaiser's From Morning to Midnight. Tori Amos and Samuel Adamson's musical The Light Princess will premiere in October, and there will be a new adaptation of Emil and the Detectives for family audiences at Christmas.

Following a successful first season with events spanning all genres of entertainment, from stand-up comedy and musical cabaret to jazz trios and West End favourites - and featuring artists such as Frisky and Mannish, Sharon D. Clarke and Hadley Fraser - the second season of events in the St. James Studio is officially announced today.