Editorial Staff

Seventh Annual West End Bares – A Knight Like No Other

Features, Gallery, News, West End
West End Bares

Last night, a host of West End performers took to the stage at London’s Novello Theatre for the 7th Annual West End Bares. Hosted by Graham Norton, Samantha Bond, David Bedella and Michelle Visage, the evening called Excalibare raised money for the MAD Trust – a UK-based charity with a vision of a world free from HIV and AIDS. We hope you enjoy these great images from the night. FIND OUT ABOUT THE MAD TRUST Photos: Richard Davenport

Imelda Staunton To Star In Albee’s Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?

News, West End
Imelda Staunton to appear in Gypsy at The Savoy Theatre

Sonia Friedman will produce a new production of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? starring Imelda Staunton and Conleth Hill at the Harold Pinter Theatre for a limited 13 week season. In the early hours of the morning on the campus of an American college, Martha, much to her husband George’s displeasure, has invited the new professor Nick and his wife Honey to their home for some after-party drinks. As the alcohol flows and dawn approaches, the young couple are drawn into George and Martha’s toxic games until the evening reaches its climax in a moment of devastating truth-telling. Imelda Staunton returns to the West End stage following her Olivier Award-winning performance as Mama Rose in Gypsy, she has been nominated for eleven Oliviers, winning four. Conleth Hill is currently best known for his role as Lord Varys in HBO’s Game Of Thrones. Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? will … Read more

Stepping Out Tour and West End

News, Touring, West End
Stepping Out Uk Tour and West End

Richard Harris’s award-winning comedy Stepping Out is to undertake a small tour then open at London’s Vaudeville Theatre from 1 March 2017. The tour will take in Bath, Richmond, Cambridge and Chichester. Stepping Out will star Amanda Holden, Angela Griffin, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Tamzin Outhwaite and Nicola Stephenson and will be directed by Maria Friedman. Stepping Out charts the lives of seven women and one man attempting to tap their troubles away at a weekly dancing class. Initially all thumbs and left feet, the group is just getting to grips with the basics when they are asked to take part in a charity gala. Over the course of several months, we meet the group, and all of them have a story to tell. There’s perfectionist Vera, mouthy Maxine and uptight Andy, bubbly Sylvia and shy Dorothy, eager Lynne and cheerful Rose, and, of course, Geoffrey. At the piano is the dour … Read more

Sheridan Smith To Star In Funny Girl UK Tour

Touring
Sheridan Smith

Producers have announced that Sheridan Smith will reprise her role as Fanny Brice for the forthcoming UK tour of Funny Girl starting in Manchester on 18 February 2017. Smith will play the role in Manchester, Milton Keynes, Liverpool, Bristol, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Newcastle, Southampton, Bradford, Southend, Cardiff and Dublin. Further casting will be announced shortly, and patrons should check with venues for the performance playing schedule. This acclaimed production which is currently playing at London’s Savoy Theatre until 8th October 2016, is directed by Michael Mayer, choreographed by Lynne Page and designed by Michael Pavelka. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT FUNNY GIRL UK TOUR

Sheffield’s Annie Get Your Gun Casting Announced

News, Regional
Anna Jane Casey is to star in Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun at Sheffield Theatres

Sheffield Theatres have announced casting for Paul Foster’s new revival of Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun. Sharp shootin’, smart talkin’ Annie Oakley is a force to be reckoned with. But when she’s pitched against the charming, fiercely competitive Frank Butler, has she finally met her match? Anna-Jane Casey stars as Annie Oakley and Ben Lewis as Frank Butler, with Nicolas Colicos (Buffalo Bill), Mike Denman (Pawnee Bill), Lauren Hall (Winnie Tate), Matthew Malthouse (Foster Wilson), Timothy Quinlan (Charlie Davenport), Cleve September (Tommy Keeler), Maggie Service (Dolly Tate), Karl Seth (Chief Sitting Bull), and completing the ensemble, Josh Andrews, Ronan Burns, Emma Caffrey, Matthew Croke, Omari Douglas, Rosie Fletcher, Melissa James, Jasmine Kerr, Natasha Mould, Jak Skelly, Leah West and Emma Woods (ensemble and Dance Captain). Originally written for Broadway legend Ethel Merman, Irving Berlin’s score is considered a classic, featuring songs including There’s No Business Like Show Business, Anything … Read more

Cameron Mackintosh Stops Understudies From Tweeting Their Schedules

Les Miserables musical West End - Les Miserables London tickets, News, Touring, West End
Sir Cameron Mackintosh Stops Understudies Tweeting Their Schedules

The Stage newspaper has reported that Cameron Mackintosh has restricted performers from using social media to publicise information about their performance schedules. The matter was brought to public attention when the Twitter group @westendcovers were advised on August 30, that Les Miserables covers would no longer be allowed to share their cover dates. Cameron Mackintosh managing director Nicholas Allott told the Stage: – “We see [social media] as a very important way of promoting our shows, through our own efforts and through our associates, however there is information that could be commercially sensitive that we believe needs to be controlled by the management. We don’t feel it’s right that an understudy should let the rest of the world know when a principal is going to be off. Once we have announced it, they are completely at liberty to use that as much as they like but it needs to come … Read more

Casting Announced For All My Sons At Rose Kingston

News, Off West End
All My Sons Rose Theatre Kingston

Casting has today been announced for Michael Rudman’s new production of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons being produced at the Rose Theatre, Kingston from 28 October to 19 November 2016. The production will feature David Horovitch as Joe Keller and Penny Downie as Kate Keller with Alex Waldmann (Chris Keller), Grace Carter (Lydia Lubey), Edward Harrison (George Deever), William Meredith (Frank Lubey), Alison Pargeter (Sue Bayliss), David Partridge (Jim Bayliss) and Francesca Zoutewelle (Ann Deever). Joe Keller is a thriving businessman who, during World War II, knowingly supplied the American airforce with defective engines, leading to the deaths of innocent pilots. To avoid the blame, he let his business partner take the fall, but during a sunny afternoon Joe is confronted by the consequences of his moral actions as a visitor arrives to reveal a secret that will rip his family apart. All My Sons will have set and costume … Read more