Yvonne Arnaud Theatre News

?David Benson starred in a series of award-winning one-man shows about Kenneth Williams, Frankie Howerd, Noel Coward and Princess Diana. 

It's A Wonderful Life is the iconic story of idealist George Bailey, whose dreams look set to be dashed by small-town scandal and big business. Alone on a bridge, contemplating life, he decides that everyone would be better off without him… or would they? It falls to hapless guardian angel, Clarence, to try and save him.

Full casting is announced today for Carrie, which will receive its long awaited London Premiere in The Large atSouthwark Playhouse from Friday 1 to Saturday 30 May 2015, with a press night on Wednesday 6 May. Preview performances are now sold out, following the best on-sale week of any show in the venue's 22-year history.

Father and son James Fox and Jack Fox star in this brand new stage adaptation of the best-selling Sunday Times Humour Book of the Year Dear Lupin, Letters to a Wayward Son in which renowned journalist and author Roger Mortimer's brilliantly hilarious, often touching and always generous letters to his unruly son Charlie are now vividly brought to life.

Robert Webb re-joins the Olivier award-winning comedy Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense on tour from February - April 2015 following his West End run earlier this year. Jason Thorpe will play Jeeves and the role of Seppings will be played by Christopher Ryan from February - June 2015. The trio will be taking over from John Gordon Sinclair (Jeeves), James Lance (Bertie Wooster) and Robert Goodale (Seppings).

Celebrated West End newcomers and winners of the Whatsonstage Award for Best New Comedy 2014*, Mischief Theatre are set to embark on a major UK tour with their new show Peter Pan Goes Wrong. This comedy spin on a classic family favourite will open at Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud Theatre on 21 November until 29 November, prior to a 4-week Christmas season at The Lowry, Salford Quays, where it will play from 16 December to 11 January 2015. Peter Pan Goes Wrong will then continue to tour nationwide, until July 2015.

From Susan Hill, the million-selling author of The Woman In Black, comes a new spine-tingling stage thriller starring Andrew Lancel, Diane Keen and Robert Duncan.

Following on from last year's smash hit The Butterfly Lion, the Mercury Theatre Colchester will be producing another Michael Morpurgo classic this August with their Made in Colchester production of Friend or Foe. Opening at the Mercury on Friday, August 29 and running until Saturday, September 13, Friend or Foe is a thrilling tale of extraordinary friendship which will appeal to adults and children alike.

A brand new production of J.B. PRIESTLEY'S classic play DANGEROUS CORNER, starring Robin of Sherwood's MICHAEL PRAED and Dazeil and Pascoe's COLIN BUCHANAN will tour the UK this autumn, directed by the former head of London's acclaimed Almeida Theatre - MICHAEL ATTENBOROUGH.

Ready to captivate family theatre audiences during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Story Pocket Theatre is delighted to present its debut show, Arabian Nights at Gilded Balloon (Dining Room) from Friday 1st - Sunday 24th August (preview Wednesday 30 & Thursday 31st July) at 11.15 (12.15 ends).

The internationally-renowned, award-winning Propeller Theatre Company today announced actor Lewis Hart as the winner of the second Jill Fraser Award.

Sheffield Theatres and Evolution Pantomimes have announced the cast of this year's much-anticipated family pantomime, Dick Whittington, ahead of its arrival on the Lyceum stage from Friday 5 December 2014 until Sunday 4 January 2015.

The full cast for The Nightmares of Carlos Fuentes are Caroline Langrishe (Lydia King), Sara Bahadori (Case Worker/Sahar Husain) and Selva Rasalingam (Kevin/Khaled Al Hamrani) who join the previously announced Nabil Elouahabi (Carlos Fuentes).

There will be major cast changes in the West End production of the 2014 BBC Radio 2 Olivier Audience Award winner "LES MISERABLES" at the Queen's Theatre from 16 June 2014. Joining the company are: Peter Lockyer as 'Jean Valjean'; David Thaxton as 'Javert'; Tom Edden as 'Thenardier'; Celinde Schoenmaker as 'Fantine'; Michael Colbourne as 'Enjolras' and Emilie Fleming as 'Cosette'.

59E59 Theaters welcomes The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford to Brits Off Broadway with the US premiere of SIMON GREEN: SO, THIS THEN IS LIFE, created by Simon Green and David Shrubsole, performed by Mr. Green, with musical arrangement and accompaniment by Mr. Shrubsole. SIMON GREEN: SO, THIS THEN IS LIFE begins performances tonight, May 20 for a limited engagement through Sunday, June 1.

59E59 Theaters welcomes The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford to Brits Off Broadway with the US premiere of SIMON GREEN: SO, THIS THEN IS LIFE, created by Simon Green and David Shrubsole, performed by Mr. Green, with musical arrangement and accompaniment by Mr. Shrubsole. SIMON GREEN: SO, THIS THEN IS LIFE begins performances on Tuesday, May 20 for a limited engagement through Sunday, June 1.

R&H Theatricals Europe has announced that THE OTHER SCHOOL, a psycho-logical new musical by Dougal Irvine and Dominic Marsh, is now available for professional and amateur licensing in the United Kingdom and Europe. Applications are being accepted immediately for performances beginning no sooner than July 2014.

The critically acclaimed Brits Off Broadway festival, host to the UK's most innovative and provocative theater in New York City, returns for its 9th season of New York premieres of new British theater. Presented by 59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer), Brits Off Broadway launches on Tuesday, April 1 and runs through Sunday, June 29. The single ticket prices range from $25 - $70 ($17.50 - $49 for 59E59 Members). Tickets to Brits Off Broadway go on sale on February 28, with a special pre-sale for 59E59 Members beginning February 21. Tickets are available by calling Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 or online at www.59e59.org. For more information on Brits Off Broadway, visit www.59E59.org or www.britsoffbroadway.com.

Following a critically acclaimed and sell-out run at the Finborough Theatre, the first production in sixty years of R. C. Sherriff's supernatural drama, The White Carnation transfers for a limited three week run to Jermyn Street Theatre, opening on Tuesday, 4 February 2014 (Press Night: Thursday, 6 February 2014 at 7.30pm). The show stars Michael Praed (Design for Living - West End, Robin of Sherwood, Dynasty) who joins the existing superlative Finborough Theatre cast, which includes acclaimed newcomer Daisy Boulton and Benjamin Whitrow (Mr. Bennet in BBC's Pride and Prejudice).