If Britain had a national voice, the sound of The Bach Choir could make a strong case for representing the UK. Its distinguished musical directors have included Otto Goldschmidt, Adrian Boult, Ralph Vaughan Williams, David Willc*cks and now David Hill.
Cellist and BBC Young Musician 2016 winner, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, is to make his Edinburgh International Festival debut on Friday 17 August with a performance of Elgar's Cello Concerto.
Birmingham International Dance Festival (BIDF) 2018 kicks off at the end of this week, Friday 1 June. This edition of the festival seeks to open new up conversations, provoke new thinking and provide inspiring new opportunities for artists and the public to think about dance, their lives and to consider their place in the world.
Constructed around a 14-hour interview, McKellen: Playing the Part uncovers the remarkable story of actor Sir Ian McKellen. From his upbringing living through the Second World War, working through repertory and West End theatre becoming a pioneering stage star, coming out and being a leader in the campaign for equality, to his mainstream film breakouts as Magneto and Gandalf. His work and influence transcends generations, celebrated here in this fully authorized insight.
Bill Kenwright presents the inaugural Classic Screen to Stage Theatre Company production of RAIN MAN. Mathew Horne (Gavin & Stacey, The Catherine Tate Show) stars as Raymond Babbit opposite Ed Speleers (Downton Abbey, Wolf Hall) as Charlie Babbit. RAIN MAN opens at Windsor Theatre Royal on 21 August, before embarking on a UK tour to Milton Keynes, Cardiff, Eastbourne, Southend, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Brighton, Guildford, Leeds, Richmond, Derby and Northampton. Further dates and casting to be announced in due course.
Full casting has been announced for the sensational feel-good musical MAMMA MIA! which comes to Palace Theatre, Manchester from 3rd - 14th July 2018 as part of its international tour. Shona White (Donna Sheridan), Nicky Swift (Rosie), Helen Anker (Tanya), Tamlyn Henderson (Sam Carmichael), Daniel Crowder (Harry Bright), Matthew Rutherford (Bill Austin), Lucy May Barker (Sophie Sheridan), Phillip Ryan (Sky), Leisha Mollyneaux (Ali), Lottie Henshall (Lisa), Matt Jordan-Pidgeon (Pepper) and Michael Nelson (Eddie) will star in the production. At certain performances the role of Donna Sheridan will be played by Natalie Langston.
The National Theatre has announced its May-September 2018 season.
Brass Funkeys, Jocee, Ollie Howell and the National Youth Orchestra have all announced they will be supporting this year's Give a Gig Week with exclusive shows across London. In addition, YolanDa Brown, Chair of Youth Music, will be supporting Give a Gig Week via a show in Sydney. Give a Gig Week is Youth Music's flagship fundraising initiative, Youth Music supports 350 music-making projects across the country for children and young people experiencing challenging circumstances.
New casting announced for the new National Theatre season. Full cast has been announced for Brian Friel's Translations including Colin Morgan and Ciaran Hinds, part of the Travelex season with thousands of tickets available at £15. Eric Kofi Abrefa and Thalissa Teixeira join Vanessa Kirby in the cast of Julie, part of the Travelex season with thousands of tickets available at £15. Sam Mendes directs The Lehman Trilogy, a co-production with Neal Street Productions, cast includes Adam Godley, Ben Miles and Simon Russell Beale. Full casting is announced for the award winning An Octoroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, transferring to the National Theatre in a co-production with the Orange Tree Theatre. The NT will tour to 30 venues in 27 towns and cities across the UK and Ireland, for a total of 83 playing weeks over the next year. Rufus Norris' Macbeth to tour to 18 venues across the UK and Ireland from autumn 2018. War Horse returns to the National Theatre marking the centenary of Armistice Day.
Inspired by real, untold stories from the world of women's football, Offside provides an untold commentary on the breakthroughs and limitations in women's football, exploring wider themes of inequality, self-belief and empowerment.
Fresh from her hugely successful debut show 'What Would Beyonce Do?!', star of Comic Relief and Live at The Apollo, Luisa Omelan will bring the cream of UK stand-up talent to Birmingham this February for a one-off comedy bonanza with 100% of all proceeds donated to Helena's Hospice Foundation.
The Citizens Theatre has released details of a new community led production, Come Hell or High Water, focused on people's hopes and fears for a future outside of the European Union. The show will play in the theatre's Circle Studio from Wed 21 - Sat 24 Mar.
LOST DOG, run by Artistic Director Ben Duke, presents 'Juliet and Romeo - A Guide to Long Life and Happy Marriage', broadly based on Shakespeare's deeply pessimistic teenage love story, and performed by Ben Duke and Sol ne Weinachter.
Hailed as 'a masterpiece of 21st century dance' from English National Ballet, Akram Khan's Giselle is released in cinemas for the first time from 25 April 2018, thanks to a collaboration between English National Ballet and digital commissioning agency The Space, giving ballet fans nationwide the opportunity to see this award-winning production in glorious high definition on the big screen. Recognised as one of the greatest romantic ballets, Giselle has been re-imagined by celebrated choreographer Akram Khan, with Artistic Director and Lead Principal of English National Ballet, Tamara Rojo, dancing the role of Giselle, one of a community of migrant workers cast out of their jobs in a condemned garment factory.
Ballet Hispanico, the nation's premier Latino dance organization, brings its bold and eclectic brand of contemporary dance to Edinburgh from 6-10 March, 2018. Performances: Tuesday-Saturday at 7:30pm, Thursday and Saturday at 2:30pm. Tickets are 19 28.50* and are available at www.edtheatres.com/carmen
The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra presents Hot Latin Nights with the Mambo Kings February 16 18 in Red Bank, Newark and New Brunswick. From the sultry melancholy of Astor Piazzolla and the burning Afro-Cuban rhythms of Tito Puente to the rhythmic playfulness of jazz great Dave Brubeck and the pop strains of The Beatles, the Latin jazz tour features original orchestral arrangements and compositions from the US, Peru, Argentina, Cuba, Puerto Rico and beyond.
Ballet Hisp nico, the nation's premier Latino dance organization, brings its bold and eclectic brand of contemporary dance to the Joyce Theater with two World Premieres from April 10-15, 2018. Tickets start at $10 and are on sale now at Joyce.org.
Ballet Hispanico, the nation's premier Latino dance organization, brings its bold and eclectic brand of contemporary dance to the Joyce Theater with two World Premieres from April 10-15, 2018. Tickets start at $10 and are on sale now at Joyce.org.
Hannah Britland, Sarah Hadland and Mark Quartley and will star in Mikhail Durnenkov's provocative work, The War Has Not Yet Started at Southwark Playhouse. Directed by Gordon Anderson, the play is a surreal and at times unsettling comedy about everyday people fighting everyday wars.
Rhys Ifans is to star in Mood Music which previews from 21 April 2018 with a press night on 2 May 2018. 'Music is medication. The elixir of life. It's for injecting into the blood stream to take away the pain...to promote euphoria...to adrenalise us and give us courage and fortitude.'
Videos
