Susie McKenna News

The trilogy, directed by Kiln Theatre Associate Directors Taio Lawson and Susie McKenna, is now on sale. Learn more about the cast, performance, and how to purchase tickets here!

With Theatres finally allowed to re-open and to celebrate shows coming back Danny Kaan and Sophie Ross, creators of Dear Audience have produced 32 additional lay-in pages with performers and other theatre creatives to add to their coffee table photo-book 'Dear Audience'. 

Renell Shaw, composer, songwriter and Associate Artist of Hackney Empire, today releases a new video to accompany his Ivor Novello award-winning composition THE VISION THEY HAD (FROM THE WINDRUSH SUITE).

For the first time since theatres closed on 16 March 2020, Kiln Theatre will re-open to share live performance with audiences with a season of work including three world premières.

Artistic Director of Kiln Theatre, Indhu Rubasingham, today announces programming for Spring 2021, including a live stream of the staged rehearsed reading of Girl on an Altar - a newly commissioned work by Marina Carr, and Kiln Collaborations, a series of online panel discussions from leading industry figures.

FFew performers in the industry are on top of their game like Sharon D Clarke right now. After storming performances in Caroline, or Change and Blues in the Night in London, Clarke was in rehearsals for the former show on Broadway when COVID-19 hit. From the London Coliseum, she now begins a series of online cabarets, Tonight at the London Coliseum, with brio and passion.

WhatsOnStage today announces the Lockdown Playwriting Prize; a playwrighting competition launched in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The prize, in collaboration with The Turbine Theatre, is open to anyone over the age of 18, with any level of experience. Submissions must be titled Lockdown: Week Six, Day One, with a running time of 60-90 minutes without interval, and should not require more than six actors.

Some of the biggest names in British pantomime have come together to raise awareness and show support for theatrical charity ACTING FOR OTHERS with a hilarious take on the panto classic a?oeThe 12 Days Of Lockdowna??.

Kiln Theatre today launches Kiln Insight with free masterclasses with Artistic Director Indhu Rubasingham and Associate Director Susie McKenna.

Yamin Choudury recently celebrated two years in the role of Artistic Director at Hackney Empire. In that short time, the theatre has seen an average of 83% new bookers for many productions, and youth engagement has also increased. Choudury spoke with BroadwayWorld about access, representation and diversity in the arts, as well as his vision for the East London landmark.

It may feel like a strange time to celebrate World Theatre Day, but while we can't gather together in person right now, we can still appreciate the incredible performances that have inspired us - and look forward to when theatres reopen and the shows can go on!

The Olivier Awards might not be going ahead, but you can still enjoy a special performance from the Kiln Theatre's Olivier-nominated show BLUES IN THE NIGHT, thanks to this #ThrowBackThursday treat! 

With her critically acclaimed production of Antoinette Nwandu's Pass Over now running until 4 April, Kiln Theatre Artistic Director Indhu Rubasingham today announces further programming for 2020 - Heart by Jade Anouka, and more information about The Wife of Willesden adapted by Zadie Smith from Chaucer's The Wife of Bath and NW Trilogy three short plays by Moira Buffini, Suhayla El-Bushra and Roy Williams.

We're feeling the Christmas cheer, so we wanted to bring you some amazing deals for London's top shows. All of these productions start at just £20 in our Unbeatable Boxing Day Sale. Great shows at great prices: it's your ticket to the best of London theatre. Merry Christmas, and happy theatregoing!

Hackney Empire today releases production images of its sparkling new pantomime production Dick Whittington and his Cat which runs at the East End venue until 5 January 2020, with press night taking place this evening.

Kiln Theatre today announces their programme as part of Sadiq Khan's wider Brent London Borough of Culture 2020. The programme includes the world première of Zadie Smith's The Wife of Willesden directed by Artistic Director Indhu Rubasingham, renewing their collaboration following the acclaimed world première stage adaptation of Smith's White Teeth in 2018, Footholds: NW Stories; a trilogy of short plays by Moira Buffini, Suhayla El-Bushra and Roy Williams, and the fourth annual Mapping Brent project, supported by the Brent 2020 Culture Fund. Kiln Theatre will also lead The Agency, a programme for young people in Brent to workshop and pitch unique business and social enterprise ideas for funding and support.

Olivier Award nominee Patrick Ryecart (The Crown, Poldark, The King's Speech) will lead the cast of The Barn Theatre's reimagined actor-musician production of Charles Dickens' festive masterpiece, A Christmas Carol, as Ebenezer Scrooge.

Hackney Empire has announced further casting for Dick Whittington and his Cat and reveal the first cast images of its sparkling new adaptation as it gears up for panto season! Tarinn Callender, who made his West End debut with the original London cast of Hamilton playing Hercules Mulligan and James Madison, will mark his first Hackney panto in the title role of Dick Whittington. The production will also welcome debut panto appearances from Annette McLaughlin (Harry Potter and The Cursed Child) as Queen Rat, Christina Tedders (Once The Musical) as Alice Fitzwarren and Sue Kelvin (Caroline, Or Change) as Fairy Bowbells. As previously announced, they will star alongside Hackney stalwarts Grand Dame Clive Rowe who marks a 13th panto appearance, this year starring as Sarah the Cook, the loveable Kat B as Vincent the Cat and the ever trusty Tony Whittle as Alderman Fitzwarren. Dick Whittington and His Cat will run from 23 November 2019 to 5 January 2020, with opening night for press on Wednesday 4 December 2019.

Known for her recent work in The Rink at the Southwark Playhouse and Follies at the National Theatre, Gemma Sutton can currently be found singing the blues at the Kiln Theatre in Blues in the Night.

You can forget your troubles or wallow in the richness of Blues in the Night, currently at the Kiln Theatre. The musical revue follows four individuals, known simply as The Lady (Sharon D Clarke), The Woman (Debbie Kurup), The Man (Clive Rowe) and The Girl (Gemma Sutton).