Zubin Varla News

The NT marks the 100th anniversary of the first women in the UK gaining the right to vote, with a series of rehearsed readings, talks and events, as well as a free exhibition in the Lyttelton Lounge. World-class directors Nadia Fall, Phyllida Lloyd, Jenny Sealey, Lyndsey Turner and Dawn Walton will bring to life five plays on themes of suffrage, courage and the fight for political equality in the UK and around the world.

Voting continues for the 2018 BroadwayWorld UK Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favourites.

The NT marks the 100th anniversary of the first women in the UK gaining the right to vote, with a series of rehearsed readings, talks and events, as well as a free exhibition in the Lyttelton Lounge. World-class directors Nadia Fall, Phyllida Lloyd, Jenny Sealey, Lyndsey Turner and Dawn Walton will bring to life five plays on themes of suffrage, courage and the fight for political equality in the UK and around the world.

Voting continues for the 2018 BroadwayWorld UK Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites!

Today, the shortlist is announced for the 2018 BroadwayWorld UK Awards, celebrating the best long-running West End productions and best new productions from around the country. CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Five years since premiering at The Public Theater and with five Tony's under its belt, Fun Home comes to London and instantly finds a home with audiences. Based on the graphic memoirs by Alison Bechdel, Fun Home is an examination of sexuality, the self and cycles, brought to life by a dynamic set and stand out performances.

Director Sam Gold makes his Young Vic debut with the five-time Tony award-winning musical Fun Home. The cast includes Kaisa Hammarlund as Alison; Eleanor Kane as Medium Alison; Jenna Russell as Helen; Ashley Samuels as Roy, Mark and Jeremy; Cherrelle Skeete as Joan and Zubin Varla as Bruce, Alison's father.

Director Sam Gold makes his Young Vic debut with the five-time Tony award-winning musical Fun Home. The cast includes Kaisa Hammarlund as Alison; Eleanor Kane as Medium Alison; Jenna Russell as Helen; Ashley Samuels as Roy, Mark and Jeremy; Cherrelle Skeete as Joan and Zubin Varla as Bruce, Alison's father. 

London is never short of temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From a ground-breaking musical to a mighty modern classic, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld reviews, interviews and features!

Director Sam Gold makes his Young Vic debut with the five-time Tony award-winning musical Fun Home. Casting includes: Kaisa Hammarlund as Alison; Eleanor Kane as Medium Alison; Jenna Russell as Helen; Ashley Samuels as Roy, Mark and Jeremy; Cherrelle Skeete as Joan and Zubin Varla as Bruce, Alison's father.

Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera that tells the story of the final week in the life of Jesus Christ. It begins with the preparation for the arrival of Jesus and his disciples in Jerusalem and ends with the crucifixion. It also highlights the political and interpersonal struggles between Jesus and one of his 12 apostles, Judas Iscariot that are not present in the Bible narratives.

This evening, Baz Bamigboye of the Daily Mail announced some exciting casting news for the forthcoming Sam Gold-directed production of Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori's Fun Home at London's Young Vic Theatre.

A bereaved couple meet after a long separation. Stilted pleasantries give way to raw accusations and brutal truths. It would be very easy for Poison to be a melodramatic hour and twenty minutes of trite pain, closure and gaining the strength to move on. Thankfully this UK premiere of Lot Vekemans' critically acclaimed two-hander avoids all such obvious clich s to produce a production of immense subtlety and sensitivity.

Ellen McDougall's inaugural production of Artistic Director of Gate Theatre will be The Unknown Island. She directs Jon Foster, Hannah Ringham, Thalissa Teixera and Zubin Varla in the adaptation of Nobel Prize winner Jose Saramago's short story, which is currently in previews for an opening on 18 September and runs until 7 October 2017. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Ellen McDougall today announced the full cast for The Unknown Island, her inaugural production of Artistic Director of Gate Theatre.  She directs Jon Foster, Hannah Ringham, Thalissa Teixera and Zubin Varla in the adaptation of Nobel Prize winner Jose Saramago's short story which opens on 18 September, with previews from 11 September, running until 7 October. 

This Valentine's Day, Sunday 14 February, leading names in British theatre will come together to perform a benefit show for the UNHCR at the National Theatre.  The afternoon performance in the NT's Lyttelton Theatre will see actors including Juliet Stevenson (Truly, Madly, Deeply), David Morrissey (Hangmen), Andy Nyman (Hangmen), Rufus Hound (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), James Bolam (New Tricks), Noma Dumezweni (Linda), Ray Fearon (Coronation Street), Adjoa Andoh (Dr Who) and Zubin Varla (Dara) perform brand new work and much loved work by Richard Bean, Staten Cousins-Roe, Stephanie Dale, David Edgar, Phil Porter, Michelle Terry, Jenifer Toksvig and Matthew Woodyatt (with further cast and creative names to be announced).

DARA, adapted by Tanya Ronder from Shahid Nadeem's play, originally performed by Ajoka Theatre, Pakistan, opened in the Lyttelton Theatre on 27 January, directed by Nadia Fall. The show runs through 4 April 2015.

Ruth Wilson stars in the London premiere of The El. Train: three one-act plays by Eugene O'Neill (The Web, Before Breakfast and The Dreamy Kid). The plays, written between 1913 and 1918, are being presented together for the first time. Ruth acts in The Web and Before Breakfast, directed by Sam Yates, and makes her directorial debut with The Dreamy Kid. Combining live music with immersive design, all housed in the intimate setting of Grade II listed Hoxton Hall (built 1863, seating an audience of 125), The El. Train will run for a limited four-week season through 30 December. Check out photos from opening night below!

The full cast for The El. Train, joining the previously announced Ruth Wilson, is Simon Coombs, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Christian Edwards, Nicola Hughes, Adam Sopp, Ony Uhiara and Zubin Varla. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the team in rehearsal below!