Simon Annand News

After the recent University of Leicester study into the missing remains of King Richard III found in a car park, Mark Rylance is photographed on stage at the Apollo Theatre, where today, Sunday 10 February 2013, he takes a final bow for his critically acclaimed portrayal of the late King. Scroll below for the photo!

Richard III runs at the Apollo Theatre now through February 10, 2013. The full cast is Samuel Barnett (Queen Elizabeth), Liam Brennan (Clarence and the Lord Mayor), Paul Chahidi (Hastings and Tyrrell), John Paul Connolly (First Murderer and Ratcliff), Ian Drysdale (Scrivener/Rivers/Blunt), Peter Hamilton Dyer (Brakenbury and Catesby), Johnny Flynn (Lady Anne and Grey), James Garnon (Richmond and Duchess of York), Colin Hurley (King Edward IV and Stanley) and Roger Lloyd Pack (Duke of Buckingham), Mark Rylance (Richard III), Jethro Skinner (Second Murderer and Messenger) and Ben Thompson (Dorset and Bishop of Ely). Get a first look at the cast onstage in the photos below!

Directed by Tim Carroll, this revival of the Globe's 2002 award-winning TWELFTH NIGHT is performed in an all-male Original Practices production, exploring clothing, music, dance and settings circa 1601. Check out production photos inside!

The full cast for Twelfth Night at the Apollo Theatre is Samuel Barnett (Sebastian), Liam Brennan (Orsino), Paul Chahidi, (Maria), John Paul Connolly (Antonio), Ian Drysdale (Priest and Valentine), Peter Hamilton Dyer (Feste), Johnny Flynn (Viola), Stephen Fry (Malvolio), James Garnon (Fabian), Colin Hurley (Sir Toby Belch), Roger Lloyd Pack (Sir Andrew Aguecheek), Mark Rylance (Olivia), Jethro Skinner (Captain and Officer) and Ben Thompson (Curio). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the photos below.

Gary Naylor sees a brutal examination of brutal times.

Stunning production photographs have just been released for the UK premiere of the seven-time Tony-nominated Broadway musical, Sweet Smell of Success at Arcola Theatre. Check them out below!

According to the Daily Mail, Gemma Arterton played the lead role of 'Rita' in a workshop production of the musical adaptation of the film Made In Dagenham. There is not yet a London theater or deal drawn up for a full production, but the Mail reports that Arterton has expressed her 'keenness to move ahead with the project.' The show is aiming to take the stage in about a year.

Mark Rylance plays the title role in Richard III in Tim Carroll's Shakespeare's Globe productions. Joining Rylance is Stephen Fry as Malvolio in Twelfth Night and Samuel Barnett and Johnny Flynn. BroadwayWorld has a first look at RICHARD III below.

THE PLAYERS FOUNDATION FOR THEATER EDUCATION Executive Director John Martello announced the two-week extension of the The Half: Photographs of Actors Preparing for the State, an exhibition of celebrity photographs of actors in their dressing rooms taken by Simon Annand in the 30 minutes before curtain up, known as the half. The exhibition will now run until June 29th, 2012 at THE PLAYERS (16 Gramercy Park South, New York) and is accompanied by Annand's book The Half.

According to a report by Baz Bamigboye for Daily Mail, SOUTH PACIFIC, which is currently touring the UK, might open at the London Palladium this fall. An official announcement has not yet been made.

Jeremy Herrin will direct David Armand, Elizabeth Berrington, Katherine Parkinson, Steffan Rhodri, Reece Shearsmith and Kara Tointon in Alan Ayckbourn's classic comedy of manners and social embarrassment Absent Friends, previewing at the Harold Pinter Theatre (formerly the Comedy Theatre).

The National Theatre presents the third season of National Theatre Live (NT Live), a successful initiative to broadcast live performances from the National's stages to cinemas worldwide. In addition to the previously scheduled broadcasts of The Comedy of Errors (March 1), the season will include Travelling Light (February 9) and She Stoops to Conquer (March 29). Since its first season, which began in June 2009 with the acclaimed production of Phédre starring Helen Mirren, over half a million people have now experienced the National's acclaimed work on movie screens around the world. Check out photos from National Theatre productions past below!

Mark Benton joins the London cast of The Railway Children on 3 December to play Perks for the final six weeks of Damian Cruden's Olivier award-winning production at Waterloo Station. The last ever London performance in the specially created 1000 seat space in the old Eurostar Terminal at Waterloo Station will be on 8 January 2012 as previously announced.

Mark Benton will join the London cast The Railway Children on 3 December to play Perks for the final six weeks of Damian Cruden's Olivier award-winning production at Waterloo Station. Since it's opening Cruden's production has now been seen by almost 400,000 people. The final London performance, in the specially created 1000 seat space in the old Eurostar Terminal at Waterloo Station, will be on 8 January 2012.

The National Theatre's award-winning production of War Horse is currently playing the New London Theatre, and will egin a full UK tour in Fall 2013, according to The Stage. While official tour dates and venues have not yet been confirmed, executive director Nick Starr revealed that in addition to the West End, Broaway, and upcoming Toronto production, there are also plans to open in Australia, Japan, and South Africa.

Following record-breaking sold-out runs at the Royal Court and the Apollo Theatres in 2009 and 2010 respectively, Ian Rickson's Royal Court Theatre production of Jez Butterworth's multi award-winning play is running at the Apollo Theatre until 14 January 2012.

Samantha Womack is now confirmed to be playing Nellie Forbush for additional cities in 2012 on the current nationwide tour of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical SOUTH PACIFIC. Originally, she was going to finish in Oxford, but it is now confirmed that she will continue in the tour in Southampton, Birmingham and Liverpool.

Previews begin tomorrow, 8 October, for the West End return of Jerusalem at the Apollo Theatre. Following record-breaking sold-out runs at the Royal Court and the Apollo Theatres in 2009 and 2010 respectively, Ian Rickson's Royal Court Theatre production of Jez Butterworth's multi award-winning play is running at the Apollo Theatre until 14 January 2012.

Craig Warnock, who played Perks in the Toronto production of The Railway Children, has joined the London cast to re-create the role.