UK / West End Newsroom


Roundup: UK Artists and Institutions Respond to the Government's £1.57 Billion R Photo Arts Institutions Respond to the Government's £1.57 Billion Rescue Package For The Arts
by BWW News Desk on July 05, 2020 in UK / West End

The UK Government has announced a £1.57 billion rescue package to help the nation's cultural, arts and heritage institutions weather the impact of the health crisis.  Arts institutions are responding to this announcement, including the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, and more!
Sam Mendes Creates Emergency Fund For Theatre Artists Affected By the Health Cri Photo Sam Mendes Creates Emergency Fund For Theatre Artists Affected By the Health Crisis
by BWW News Desk on July 05, 2020 in UK / West End

Film and theatre director Sam Mendes has established an emergency fund for theatre artists affected by the health crisis.
UK Government Announces £1.57 Billion Rescue Package For The Arts Photo UK Government Announces £1.57 Billion Rescue Package For The Arts
by BWW News Desk on July 05, 2020 in UK / West End

The UK Government has announced a £1.57 billion rescue package to help the nation's cultural, arts and heritage institutions weather the impact of Coronavirus. It follows weeks of lobbying from arts leaders of impending disaster, and the closure of venues like Nuffield Southampton Theatres. 
VIDEO: CBS This Morning Explores The Globe Theatre to Find Out What it is Doing Photo VIDEO: CBS This Morning Explores The Globe Theatre
by BWW News Desk on July 05, 2020 in UK / West End

CBS This Morning did a segment yesterday on The Globe Theatre in London, and how it is at risk due to the health crisis.
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Postpones CINDERELLA Pantomime Until December 2021 Photo Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Postpones CINDERELLA Pantomime Until December 2021
by BWW News Desk on July 05, 2020 in UK / West End

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre has today announced that their 2020 pantomime CINDERELLA, has been postponed until December 2021.
BWW Review: AN EVENING AT JOE'S, Joe Allen Restaurant Online Photo BWW Review: AN EVENING AT JOE'S, Joe Allen Restaurant Online
by Bella Bevan on July 05, 2020 in UK / West End

Joe Allen, lovingly referred to as 'the West End's canteena??, streamed a virtual, live evening of star-studded entertainment. The beloved theatre haunt, running since 1977, has been severely affected by the pandemic and so created this show to raise funds for itself and all those in crisis in a?oetheatreland'.
VIDEO: Dame Judi Dench Says The Arts Are A Necessity, Calls On The Government To Photo VIDEO: Dame Judi Dench Says The Arts Are A Necessity, Calls On The Government To Help
by BWW News Desk on July 03, 2020 in UK / West End

'The arts are not a luxury - they are a necessity,' says Dame Judi Dench in a video released today on her daughter Finty Williams' Twitter account. 'We need backing, we need help from the Government.'
BBC Proms Announce Archive and Live Performances For 2020 Programme Photo BBC Proms Announce Archive and Live Performances For 2020 Programme
by BWW News Desk on July 03, 2020 in UK / West End

In the year that the Proms turns 125 years old, the 2020 season brings the spirit of the Proms to music-lovers at home. BBC Radio 3 and BBC Four broadcasts treasures from the past 30 years of the Proms across six weeks, before two weeks of incredible live performances at the Royal Albert Hall.
THE MOUSETRAP To Reopen in the West End on Friday 23 October Photo THE MOUSETRAP To Reopen in the West End on Friday 23 October
by BWW News Desk on July 03, 2020 in UK / West End

Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap - the longest running show in the world, which had to be suspended when the Coronavirus Pandemic resulted in the closure of UK theatres - is to re-open in the West End on Friday 23 October.
Guest Blog: Bunny Christie On Creating Positive Messaging With Designers Collect Photo Bunny Christie On Designers Collective #SCENECHANGE
by BWW News Desk on July 03, 2020 in UK / West End

We at #scenechange are launching an action to wrap our theatres in a positive message. Over this weekend, with the theatres' collaboration, we will wrap the buildings we love in our positive message tape #MissingLiveTheatre.
VIDEO: Jacqueline Hughes, Zoe Birkett, Emma Hatton and More West End Stars Sing Photo VIDEO: West End Stars Sing Queen's 'The Show Must Go On'
by BWW News Desk on July 02, 2020 in UK / West End

West End Live Lounge has presented a special video of Queen's 'The show must go on' in support of the #SaveOurTheatres #Savethearts campaign.
BWW Review: LES BLANCS, National Theatre At Home Photo BWW Review: LES BLANCS, National Theatre At Home
by Cindy Marcolina on July 02, 2020 in UK / West End

Next up in the National Theatre at Home series of broadcasts we find a gem of a play coming straight from their archives, Lorraine Hansberry's staggeringly topical Les Blancs. Originally staged in 2016 by director Yaël Farber, it was posthumously completed by Hansberry's former husband Robert Nemiroff for a Broadway run, and then reworked by dramaturge Drew Lichtenberg, Joi Gresham (director of the Lorraine Hansberry Literary Trust), and Farber herself for the production at the National after consulting Hansberry's journals and notes.
VIDEO: The Barn Theatre Pays Tribute to British Musical Theatre Composers With C Photo VIDEO: The Barn Theatre Pays Tribute to British Musical Theatre Composers
by BWW News Desk on July 02, 2020 in UK / West End

The Barn Theatre is paying tribute to British musical theatre composers through their concert series! They have paid tribute to Amies & Clements, Elliot Davis, Finn Anderson, and Daniel and Laura Curtis.
BARD FROM THE BARN Series 2 to Feature Natasha Barnes, Nathan Amzi, Mark Peachey Photo BARD FROM THE BARN to Feature Natasha Barnes, Nathan Amzi & More
by BWW News Desk on July 02, 2020 in UK / West End

The Barn Theatre and Aaron Sidwell have released the official trailer for the second series of their Shakespeare in lockdown digital theatre series, Bard From The Barn.
Nuffield Southampton Theatres Will Close Permanently Photo Nuffield Southampton Theatres Will Close Permanently
by BWW News Desk on July 02, 2020 in UK / West End

WhatsOnStage has reported that Nuffield Southampton Theatres will close permanently.
Royal Albert Hall in Danger of Closing if it Does Not Receive Financial Support Photo Without Financial Support, Royal Albert Hall is in Danger of Closing
by BWW News Desk on July 02, 2020 in UK / West End

iNEWS has reported that the Royal Albert Hall could close by March 2021, the date of the iconic venue's 150th anniversary, if it doesn't receive urgent financial support.
QUIZ: Can You Guess the Hamilton Character from These Blurry Images? Photo QUIZ: Can You Guess the Hamilton Character from These Blurry Images?
by BWW News Desk on July 02, 2020 in UK / West End

These Hamilton pictures are a bit blurry... can you figure out which characters they are?
Hackney Empire Crowdfunder Raises £40k In Seven Days Photo Hackney Empire Crowdfunder Raises £40k In Seven Days
by BWW News Desk on July 02, 2020 in UK / West End

A campaign to help Hackney Empire survive the impact of Covid-19 has raised over £40,000 in the week since it launched. The Crowdfunding campaign hosted by the Mayor of London Pay It Forward initiative went live last Thursday and has attracted support from over 800 individuals.
Oliver Dowden Meets With Andrew Lloyd Webber at the London Palladium to Test Saf Photo Dowden Meets With ALW at London Palladium to Test Safety Measures
by BWW News Desk on July 02, 2020 in UK / West End

Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has shared photos on Twitter of a meeting that recently took place between himself, Webber, and Public Health England at the London Palladium.
Black Theatre Collective Pens Open Letter to British Theatre, Calling For Indust Photo Black Theatre Collective Pens Open Letter to British Theatre
by BWW News Desk on July 02, 2020 in UK / West End

The newly-formed Black Theatre Collective has penned an open letter to British Theatre, demanding industry-wide reform in the areas of diversity and inclusivity.
BWW Review: MADAMA BUTTERFLY, Glyndebourne on Marquee TV Photo BWW Review: MADAMA BUTTERFLY, Glyndebourne on Marquee TV
by Aliya Al-Hassan on July 05, 2020 in UK / West End

It took until 2018 for Glyndebourne to stage Puccini's Madama Butterfly after touring with it in 2016. Puccini's luscious score transports the audience to a world full of Japanese cherry blossom where a beautiful young girl pines for the man who has left her. However, it remains deeply problematic.
Royal Exchange Theatre Enters Period of Redundancy Consultation With Staff; 65% Photo Royal Exchange Theatre Enters Into Redundancy Consultation Process
by BWW News Desk on July 01, 2020 in UK / West End

Manchester Evening News has reported that Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre has entered a period of redundancy consultation with its staff, with 65% of permanent jobs at risk.
BWW Review: TALKING HEADS: HAND OF GOD, BBC iPlayer Photo BWW Review: TALKING HEADS: HAND OF GOD, BBC iPlayer
by Aliya Al-Hassan on July 02, 2020 in UK / West End

A cautionary tale of what goes around, comes around, The Hand of God continues the series of Alan Bennett's wonderful Talking Heads with a story of comeuppance, karma and justice.
BWW Review: HAMILTON on Disney+ Is A Gift That 'Gets The Job Done' Photo Review: HAMILTON on Disney+ Is A Gift That 'Gets The Job Done'
by David Clarke on July 01, 2020 in UK / West End

On July 3, 2020, Disney+ will start streaming the smash hit HAMILTON, filmed on Broadway, and it is truly a gift to the world. It's truly too good to miss, so don't throw away your shot.
Pantomimes Begin Cancellations Ahead of Christmas Season Photo Pantomimes Begin Cancellations Ahead of Christmas Season
by BWW News Desk on July 01, 2020 in UK / West End

BBC has reported that pantomimes are beginning to be cancelled ahead of the Christmas season, due to the ongoing health crisis.