Theatre Royal Stratford East News

The Mercury Theatre Colchester today announces the appointment of Katy Griffiths and Deborah Sawyerr as joint Deputy Executive Directors

Freedom Tongues and Naiad Productions in association with Park Theatre are proud to present Bullet Hole by Gloria Williams, which is set to be performed at Park Theatre from 2nd to 27th October during Black History Month. Bullet Hole explores the relationship between three Black, British born women who are survivors of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The piece explores the physical, mental and emotional effects this practice causes and shines a light on the institutions in Britain that can offer support. At its heart, Bullet Hole is a story of hope, love and human rights, played by an all-female cast.

With Spamilton: An American Parody currently running at the theatre, the Menier Chocolate Factory today announces full casting for their major revival of Hugh Whitemore's Pack of Lies. Hannah Chissick directs Jasper Britton as (Stewart), Sia Dauda (Sally), Alasdair Harvey (Peter Kroger), Chris Larkin (Bob Jackson), Macy Nyman (Julie Jackson), Tracy-Ann Oberman (Helen Kroger), Natalie Walter (Thelma) and Finty Williams (Barbara Jackson). The production opens on 1 October, with previews from 20 September, and runs until 17 November.

Through the lens of a rock documentary, Wasted is a brand new musical that gives an access-all-areas account of the struggles, heartbreaks and triumphs of the three Bronte sisters Charlotte, Emily, Anne, and their brother Branwell.  Brought up in a remote, poverty-stricken town in Yorkshire, without money or opportunity, they fought ill health, unrequited love and family feuds to write some of the most celebrated literature including Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.

Runner-up of the inaugural Mercury Theatre playwriting prize with her play Hidden, Nicola Werenowska is soon to debut her latest work at the Mercury before it embarks on a UK tour.

With Holy Sh!t - the inaugural production in the newly refurbished theatre - in rehearsals, Artistic Director Indhu Rubasingham today announces the full cast for the world premiere of Stephen Sharkey's adaptation of Zadie Smith's White Teeth - Ayesha Antoine (Irie Jones), Michele Austin (Mad Mary), Philip Bird (Des/Marc Perret/Marcus Chalfen), Ayesha Dharker (Alsana Iqbal), Naomi Frederick (Ruth/Poppy/Joyce Chalfen), Tony Jayawardena (Samad Iqbal), Richard Lumsden (Archie Jones), Karl Queensborough (Anthony /Denise/Josh Chalfen), Sid Sagar (Magid Iqbal), Amanda Wilkin (Rosie Jones), Assad Zaman (Millat Iqbal), and actor-musicians Matthew Churcher, Nenda Neurer (also Clara Jones) and Zoe West. The production opens on 5 November, with previews from 26 October, and runs until 22 December.

Manchester's Opera House have announced that John Stahl (Big Ger Cafferty) and Cathy Tyson (Siobhan Clarke) will join Charles Lawson (John Rebus) in Rebus: Long Shadows, a brand new Rebus story written exclusively for the stage by author of the original novels, Ian Rankin, and playwright Rona Munro. Further casting is to be announced.

Riot Act, a powerful, brand new verbatim theatre piece, created especially for the King's Head Theatre's Queer Season, wil premiere Tuesday 31 July - Sunday 5 August.

Daniel Schumann, Lee Dean and Cambridge Arts Theatre in association with Birmingham Repertory Theatre today announce John Stahl (Big Ger Cafferty) and Cathy Tyson (Siobhan Clarke) will join Charles Lawson (John Rebus) in Rebus: Long Shadows, a brand new Rebus story written exclusively for the stage by author of the original novels, Ian Rankin and playwright Rona Munro. Further casting to be announced shortly.

Theatre Peckham today announces the appointment of Suzann McLean as their new Artistic Director. McLean takes up the role on 3 September 2018, taking over from Teresa Early who stepped down, earlier this year, after 33 years.

Theatre Royal Stratford East is pleased to announce the full cast for the world premiere of The Village, a new adaptation by April De Angelis of Lope de Vega's Fuenteovejuna and the first production in Nadia Fall's inaugural season as Artistic Director. The Village stars Anya Chalotra as Jyoti and Art Malik as The Inspector, they will be joined by Harki Bhambra, Sudha Bhuchar, Ameet Chana, Neil D'Souza, Souad Faress, Rina Fatania, Naeem Hayat, Scott Karim, Arian Nik, Humera Syed and Ragevan Vasan. Musicians include Nawazish Ali-Khan (Vocals, violin and harmonium), Robinkumar R Christian (Bansuri) and Keval Joshi (Percussion).

Casting for both Touching the Void and Twelfth Night was announced today, heralding the first two-production partnership between leading regional theatrical powerhouses, Bristol Old Vic and The Lyceum, Edinburgh.

Theatre Royal Stratford East is pleased to announce that Eleanor Lang has been appointed Executive Director from 1st October. Eleanor joins Theatre Royal Stratford East from Cheek by Jowl, where she is currently Executive Director, at the start of new Artistic Director Nadia Fall's inaugural season and will be working closely with Nadia on the overall strategic leadership of the theatre.

Devon, 1984. Under constant pressure to be straight and act "masculine", a 14-year-old lad feels his life is more like George Orwell's "1984". School bullies… Teenage heartache… Suicidal self-hatred… An accidental first orgasm… Trying to tape the weekly Top 40 from the radio without the DJ talking over the songs… Dancing defiantly to your Walkman…

In Brixton, Nora and Dora Chance - twin chorus girls born and bred south of the river - are celebrating their 70th birthday. Over the river in Chelsea, their father and greatest actor of his generation Melchior Hazard turns 100 on the same day. As does his twin brother Peregrine. If, in fact, he's still alive. And if, in truth, Melchior is their real father after all...

Tobacco Factory Theatres is delighted to announce the appointment of Mary Caws as its new Executive Director. Mary will join Artistic Director Mike Tweddle in leading Tobacco Factory Theatres and takes up her post on Wed 01 August 2018.  Mary takes over from outgoing Executive Director Lauren Scholey.

Sheffield Theatres today announces casting for the regional premiere of Caryl's Churchill's, Love and Information. Caroline Steinbeis directs Debbie Chazen, Marian McLoughlin, Mercy Ojelade, Ciaran Owens, Ian Redford and Sule Rimi. The production opens at Sheffield Theatres Studio on Monday 2 July, with previews from the Friday 29 June, and runs until Saturday 14 July.

pluck. productions in association with Park Theatre present the world premiere of Alkaline by Stephanie Martin, which is set to be performed at Park Theatre from 10th July - 4th August 2018. Alkaline is a play about faith, friendship and fear, but at its heart a story about female friendship, shining a light on painful endings and new beginnings. The play also explores ideas surrounding British identity and who chooses to define it, questioning whether we dare to be different in today's society. Alkaline follows pluck. productions' most recent production, Birthday Suit, which played to critical acclaim and was nominated for three Off West-End Awards.

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Jeffory Lawson, Managing Director) will present Middle Eastern MixFest, a series of free readings co-curated by playwrights Mona Mansour and Heather Raffothat will run Wednesday, August 8th through Thursday, August 16th at Atlantic Stage 2 (330 West 16th Street).

Today Frantic Assembly announces its tour dates of The Unreturning, a brand new co-production with Theatre Royal Plymouth. Telling the interwoven stories of three men coming home from war, this new work by Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting winner Anna Jordan will be directed by Frantic Assembly associate director Neil Bettles and marks the 10th anniversary of Frantic Assembly's award-winning Ignition training programme. The Unreturning will have its world premiere at Theatre Royal Plymouth on 20 September 2018 before playing at various venues across the UK until 16 March 2019. Additional tour dates will be announced soon.