Simon Coates News

Ralph Fiennes plays the villainous title role in Rupert Goold's new production of Shakespeare's RICHARD III at the Almeida, opening tonight. Vanessa Redgrave is Queen Margaret, and the cast also features David Annen, Joseph Arkley, Osman Baig, Benedict Barker, Tom Canton, Daniel Cerqueira, Simon Coates, Josh Collins, Susan Engel, James Garnon, Mark Hadfield, Scott Handy, Lev Levermore, Finbar Lynch, Aislin McGuckin, Joseph Mydell, Lukas Parish, Joshua Riley, Lukas Rolfe , Joanna Vanderham, Baxter Westby and Oliver Whitehouse.

The Almeida will broadcast Artistic Director Rupert Goold's production of RICHARD III, with Ralph Fiennes as Shakespeare's most notorious villain and Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Margaret, live to cinemas in the UK and around the world on 21 July.

Next up in the 2015-2016 season The Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) presents 1984 as part of an ongoing initiative to include productions by international companies on its mainstage.

The horrific future depicted in George Orwell's cautionary tale '1984' feels that much more frightening in 2016 because so much of the oligarchical world predicted by the visionary author in his dystopian 1949 novel has come to fruition. The power gap between the haves and the have-nots is alarming. Politicians use doublethink to twist hypocrisies into mind-numbing (and brainwashing) campaign slogans. Three-second sound bites and 140-character tweets are the newspeak that distills thought into easily regurgitated propaganda.

The Headlong, Nottingham Playhouse, and Almeida Theatre Production of/1984/by George Orwell/in a new adaptation by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan/directed by Icke and Macmillan/The Broad Stage, Santa Monica/through February 6

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Artistic Director Diane Paulus and Executive Director Diane Quinn, presents George Orwell's 1984, in a new adaptation created by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan. 

A company of more than 60 artists will bring The Iliad to life in a durational reading on Friday 14 August. The reading will begin at the British Museum and culminate on the Almeida stage. The marathon reading is the latest event in the theatre's Almeida Greeks Festival which has so far seen Robert Icke's critically acclaimed production of Oresteia transfer to Trafalgar Studios in the West End and James Macdonald's production of Bakkhai play to sold out houses at the Almeida.

 Julia will be played by Janine Harouni until 25 July, and then Hara Yannas from 27 July to the end of the run. Simon Coates, Tim Dutton, Stephen Fewell, Christopher Patrick Nolan, Ben Porter, Gavin Spokes and Mandi Symonds complete the cast.

Matthew Spencer will play the role of George Orwell's Winston Smith in the hit West End stage production of 1984 this summer.              Julia will be played by Janine Harouni until 25 July, and then Hara Yannas from 27 July to the end of the run. Simon Coates, Tim Dutton, Stephen Fewell, Christopher Patrick Nolan, Ben Porter, Gavin Spokes and Mandi Symonds complete the cast.

Gary Naylor sees a screening of a wonderful production of As You Like It that loses little over 20 odd years and on slightly grainy video - the magic of theatre prevails!

Pat Barker's Booker-nominated novel, REGENERATION, has been adapted for the stage by Olivier Award-winning playwright Nicholas Wright (His Dark Materials, Vincent in Brixton), it opened at Royal & Derngate, Northampton on 29 August 2014 prior to a national tour. The production plays Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from 4 - 8 November 2014.

Pat Barker's Booker-nominated novel, Regeneration, has been adapted for the stage by Olivier Award-winning playwright Nicholas Wright (His Dark Materials, Vincent in Brixton), opening at Royal & Derngate, Northampton from 29 August to 20 September, with press night on 2 September, prior to a national tour.

Pat Barker's Booker-nominated novel, Regeneration, has been adapted for the stage by Olivier Award-winning playwright Nicholas Wright (His Dark Materials, Vincent in Brixton), opening at Royal & Derngate, Northampton from 29 August to 20 September, with press night on 2 September, prior to a national tour. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Rose Theatre Productions presents Donkeys' Years by Michael Frayn between the 6 and 22 February 2014. This sparkling revival is directed by Lisa Spirling, making a return to the Rose following her acclaimed production of Michael Frayn's Here in 2012. There will be a talk with Michael Frayn and Lisa Spirling at 5.30pm in the auditorium on Thursday 13 February.

Following the huge successes of their collaboration on Tartuffe and The Hypochondriac, English Touring Theatre and Liverpool Playhouse complete a trilogy of Roger McGough adaptations of classic Molière comedies with The Misanthrope, which premieres on Tuesday 19th February before a national tour. The 'McGoughière' team will reunite McGough with Everyman and Playhouse Artistic Director Gemma Bodinetz, who will direct this co-production with ETT.

Rose Theatre Kingston presents its Christmas show, Cinderella The Midnight Princess, which opens tonight, 30 November.

Rose Theatre Kingston has announced casting for its Christmas show, Cinderella The Midnight Princess, which opens 30 November.