West Yorkshire Playhouse News

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.

James McAvoy joins Nigel Harman in Richard Greenberg's Three Days of Rain, which opens at the Apollo Theatre on February 10th 2009. Previews begin January 30th. The female lead is yet to be cast.

Hello from London, Cold and dark though it is - theatre here and especially musicals and serious drama are enjoying a surge of popularity. This has been put down to the sheer RANGE of shows on offer. Take where i am now at the Hampstead Theatre. Mike Leigh and David Hare are favourites here and tonights show is no exception at this cutting edge building and stage. Rehearsals on the eve of opening night are always a rush and a panic. But under cool headed Lucy Bailey the revival of Noel Coward's 'Private Lives' is proving to be a real hit with cast and critics alike. Broadway World caught up with her in a break from rehearsals after she'd sent via MMS, some photos of the actors going through their paces.

2008 Tony Award Winner Mark Rylance will appear in a one-night-only performance of NICE FISH! The thrilling adventures of ice fishermen. (Or what Robert did in his holidays before he met Gretchen), a new work based on the poems of Louis Jenkins at 8:00p.m. on Monday, December 15 at Theatre Row Theatres (410 W. 42nd Street).

National Theatre of Scotland and Donmar Warehouse announce a co-production of Be Near Me, a stage version by Ian McDiarmid. Adapted from the novel by Andrew O'Hagan. Director: John Tiffany; Designer: Peter McKintosh Lighting Designer: Guy Hoare; Sound Designer: Gareth Fry

From 1 December 2008, twelve year old Brad Wilson from Doncaster will join the London cast of Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre to play the title role, making him the thirtieth boy to play the iconic role worldwide, first performed by Jamie Bell in the original movie. He is joined by Joanna Riding who will play Mrs Wilkinson and Joe Caffrey who returns to the production to play Jackie Elliot, Billy?s Dad.