West Yorkshire Playhouse News

Shakespeare's Globe launches its 2009 theatre season - Young Hearts - on Shakespeare's birthday, Thursday 23 April, with artistic director Dominic Dromgoole's production of Romeo and Juliet. It will be the first of nine productions during the Globe's most ambitious season to date, which explores the great expanse of the heart. Shakespeare's heartbreaking tale of these tragic and iconic young lovers is widely considered to be one of the greatest of all love stories, and this will be Dominic's first production of the play.

Sagar Arya, Daniel Betts, Paul Bhattacharjee, Lolita Chakrabarti, Michael Cochrane, Vincent Ebrahim, Nabil Elouahabi, Tom McKay, Danny Rahim, Jemma Redgrave, Jemima Rooper, Hugh Skinner, Ramon Tikaram and Rick Warden are the acting company for the Tricycle Theatre's Afghan Festival, The Great Game: Afghanistan.

For the Almeida Theatre's 2009 Summer Festival (8 July - 1 August 2009), four cutting edge companies have been invited to collaborate with the Almeida at its home base in Islington and the surrounding area.

Sagar Arya, Daniel Betts, Paul Bhattacharjee, Lolita Chakrabarti, Michael Cochrane, Vincent Ebrahim, Nabil Elouahabi, Tom McKay, Danny Rahim, Jemma Redgrave, Jemima Rooper, Hugh Skinner, Ramon Tikaram and Rick Warden are the acting company for the Tricycle Theatre's Afghan Festival, The Great Game: Afghanistan.

Gillian Anderson and Christopher Eccleston join Toby Stephens and Tara Fitzgerald at the Donmar

The Menier Chocolate Factory's sell out production of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's A Little Night Music is to transfer to the West End for a strictly limited run. Trevor Nunn's critically acclaimed production will transfer to the Garrick Theatre from 28 March, with press night on Tuesday 7 April and is booking until 25 July 2009. A Little Night Music is produced in the West End by David Babani for Chocolate Factory Productions, Andrew Fell and Nica Burns and Max Weitzenhoffer for Nimax Theatres.

THE HOUNDING OF DAVID OLUWALE is the true story of David Oluwale, a Nigerian immigrant who came to Leeds in search of a new life but found only brutality and the determination of one man to find him justice. On the 4th of May 1969 a bruised and swollen body was pulled from the River Aire in Leeds. Identified as that of David Oluwale, a local homeless man, his death exposed a campaign of systematic police brutality which shook the city of Leeds and led to the imprisonment of 2 police officers accused of his murder. Adapted by Oladipo Agboluaje, from Kester Aspden's award winning book of the same title, this Eclipse Theatre world premiere production will be staged at (venue) on (dates) in the 40th anniversary year of the death of David Oluwale as part of a UK tour.

Shakespeare's Globe launches its 2009 theatre season - Young Hearts - on Shakespeare's birthday, Thursday 23 April, with artistic director Dominic Dromgoole's production of Romeo and Juliet. It will be the first of nine productions during the Globe's most ambitious season to date, which explores the great expanse of the heart. Shakespeare's heartbreaking tale of these tragic and iconic young lovers is widely considered to be one of the greatest of all love stories, and this will be Dominic's first production of the play.

Terry Johnson returns to the Menier Chocolate Factory to direct Ben Travers? farce Rookery Nook with a cast including Edward Baker-Duly, Lynda Baron, Nick Brimble, Mark Hadfield, Kellie Shirley, Neil Stuke, Clare Wilkie and Sarah Woodward. Rookery Nook previews from 16 April with press night on 29 April, and runs until 20 June. Designs are by Tim Shortall with lighting by Jason Taylor.

The Almeida Theatre?s sell-out production of Tom Kempinski?s two-hander Duet for One will transfer to the Vaudeville Theatre for a 12 week limited run, performances from 7 May with press night on 12 May. Juliet Stevenson and Henry Goodman play Stephanie Abrahams and Dr Feldmann, re-creating their critically acclaimed performances seen at the Almeida in Matthew Lloyd?s production which completes its run this weekend. Design is by Lez Brotherston with lighting by Jason Taylor and sound by John Leonard. Duet for One is produced in the West End by Lee Dean and Jenny Topper.

On Wednesday 4 March at 8 p.m. Patrick Barlow's adaptation of The 39 Steps, directed by Maria Aitken, will celebrate its 1000th performance at the Criterion Theatre. Now in its third year, the show opened on 14 September 2006 and has since enjoyed 1000 hilarious performances delighting audiences from London and beyond.

Sagar Arya, Daniel Betts, Paul Bhattacharjee, Lolita Chakrabarti, Michael Cochrane, Vincent Ebrahim, Nabil Elouahabi, Tom McKay, Danny Rahim, Jemma Redgrave, Jemima Rooper, Hugh Skinner, Ramon Tikaram and Rick Warden are announced as the acting company for the Tricycle Theatre?s Afghan Festival, The Great Game: Afghanistan.

On Wednesday 4 March at 8 p.m. Patrick Barlow's adaptation of The 39 Steps, directed by Maria Aitken, will celebrate its 1000th performance at the Criterion Theatre. Now in its third year, the show opened on 14 September 2006 and has since enjoyed 1000 hilarious performances delighting audiences from London and beyond.

The Menier Chocolate Factory's sell out production of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's A Little Night Music is to transfer to the West End for a strictly limited run. Trevor Nunn's critically acclaimed production will transfer to the Garrick Theatre from 28 March, with press night on Tuesday 7 April and is booking until 25 July 2009. A Little Night Music is produced in the West End by David Babani for Chocolate Factory Productions, Andrew Fell and Nica Burns and Max Weitzenhoffer for Nimax Theatres.

Robert Portal makes a welcome return to the role of Richard Hannay in Patrick Barlow's adaptation of The 39 Steps, directed by Maria Aitken, currently in its third year at the Criterion Theatre. On Monday 2 February he joined the current cast members Tessa Churchard, Alan Perrin and Nigel Betts in this hilarious 100 minute whodunnit. Robert Portal first played Hannay from April to October 2007. Since that time the production has enjoyed incredible UK and international success and he returns to a role which is currently played by 14 actors in as many countries across the world.

The Tricycle Theatre will present The Great Game: Afghanistan from 17 April - 14 June 2009, a festival exploring Afghan culture and history through fifteen plays, a ten day film programme, Qawali Sham Sufi Group concert, ceramic and photographic exhibitions, discussion sessions, writers' talks and play readings (in conjunction with the National Theatre Studio). Previews for The Great Game: Afghanistan begin on 17 April with a press day on 24 April. In addition, the Tricycle's Education Department will produce a series of projects to support the Festival.

THE HOUNDING OF DAVID OLUWALE is the true story of David Oluwale, a Nigerian immigrant who came to Leeds in search of a new life but found only brutality and the determination of one man to find him justice. On the 4th of May 1969 a bruised and swollen body was pulled from the River Aire in Leeds. Identified as that of David Oluwale, a local homeless man, his death exposed a campaign of systematic police brutality which shook the city of Leeds and led to the imprisonment of 2 police officers accused of his murder. Adapted by Oladipo Agboluaje, from Kester Aspden's award winning book of the same title, this Eclipse Theatre world premiere production will be staged at (venue) on (dates) in the 40th anniversary year of the death of David Oluwale as part of a UK tour.

HAMLET by William Shakespeare FURTHER CASTING ANNOUNCED Director: Michael Grandage; Designer: Christopher Oram; Lighting Designer: Neil Austin; Composer & Sound Designer: Adam Cork 29 May - 22 August Jude Law will be joined by Ron Cook, Peter Eyre, Gwilym Lee, John MacMillan, Kevin R McNally, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Matt Ryan, Alex Waldmann and Penelope Wilton in Michael Grandage's production of Hamlet - the final production in the Donmar's year long residency at the Wyndham's Theatre.

Alan Ayckbourn's comic trilogy of plays, THE NORMAN CONQUESTS, will come to Broadway directly following its sold out critically acclaimed run in London. The production, the latest success for The Old Vic Theatre Company under the artistic leadership of Kevin Spacey, will play for 16 weeks only. THE NORMAN CONQUESTS, directed by Matthew Warchus, opens Thursday, April 23 at Circle in the Square Theatre (235 West 50th Street). Previews begin Tuesday, April 7.