Emily Hardy

Emily studied english and performed professionally before training as a multi-media journalist at the Press Association, and subsequently writing across a broad range of titles in the health, education and entertainment sectors. Her flair for theatre journalism stems from a life-long interest in the versatility and force of the form and a desire to make a positive contribution to the arts.

Full cast revealed for Nell Gwynn starring Gemma Arterton

News, West End
Nell Gwynn starring Gemma Arterton at the Apollo Theatre London

Full casting has been announced for the West End transfer of Jessica Swale’s new play Nell Gwynn, directed by Christopher Luscombe. The full cast includes Paige Carter, Michele Dotrice, Matthew Durkan, Michael Garner, Greg Haiste, George Jennings, Ellie Leah, Peter McGovern, David Rintoul, Anneika Rose, Nicholas Shaw, David Sturzaker, Jay Taylor, Sasha Waddell and Sarah Woodward. Award-winning Gemma Arterton (The Duchess of Malfi, Made in Dagenham, Quantum of Solace) stars as cheeky, charming and clever Nell Gwynn, one of the first, and most acclaimed, women to appear on the London stage. Following its critical acclaim and a sell-out run at Shakespeare’s Globe, Nell Gwynn will be on at the Apollo Theatre for a strictly limited season from 4 February 2016. Jessica Swale’s entertaining new play Nell Gwynn charts the rise of an unlikely heroine, from her roots in Coal Yard Alley to her success as Britain’s most celebrated actress, and … Read more

Cast announced for Right Now by Catherine-Anne Toupin at the Bush Theatre

News, Off West End
Right Now at the Bush Theatre

Maureen Beattie, Sean Biggerstaff, Lindsey Campbell, Dyfan Dwyfor and Guy Williams, make up the cast of Right Now, a co-production between the Bush Theatre, Traverse theatre Company and Theatre Royal Bath Ustinov Studio, directed by former RSC Artistic Director Michael Boyd. Boyd said: “Our challenge to do justice to this heart-breaking, hilarious and disturbing play begins today, and I couldn’t feel better equipped than with this brilliant dare-devil cast.” Maureen Beattie has worked with the National Theatre of Scotland, National Theatre of Great Britain, the Globe, and the RSC, as well as touring internationally. Previous theatre credits include: The List, The Carousel, The Deliverance (Stellar Quines); John Gabriel Barclay (Óran Mór); Romeo & Juliet (Rose Theatre Kingston); Dark Road, The Cherry Orchard (Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh); Noises Off (The Old Vic). Sean Biggerstaff obtained his first professional acting role at ten, playing the son of MacDuff in a Michael Boyd … Read more

Andy Capp: back after more than 30 years

News, Off West End
Andy Capp The Musical at Finborough Theatre

Andy Capp The Musical, by Alan Price and Trevor Peacock, runs at the Finborough Theatre from 7 February. The Finborough commissioned production is the first professional UK production of the poignant British musical for more than 30 years. Andy Capp The Musical premiered in 1982 at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, and then transferred to the West End, where it was nominated for the Olivier Award for Musical of the Year. The musical centres on work-shy Andy, who routinely squanders his rent money on beer and stumbles home late. His long suffering missus Flo vows to leave him, but Andy promises his racing pigeons will one day make them a fortune. The rediscovered British musical is a warm-hearted look at relationships and the simple pleasures in overcoming life’s obstacles. Author of the book and co-lyricist Trevor Peacock is best known for his acting work on screen, most notably as Jim … Read more

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s… BANANAMAN the musical

News
Bananaman The Musical

Bananaman is soon to be live on stage in a part parody, part slapstick comedy musical for the whole family. Bananaman, written by Leon Parris (award-winning writer and composer of Wolfboy, The Famous Five and Monte Cristo), will directed by Fred Perry (producer, director, actor and founder of Sightline Entertainment), choreographed by Grant Murphy (Cinderella – Salisbury Playhouse, Saturday Night Fever -no.1 Tour, Avenue Q, Crazy For You – Upstairs at the Gatehouse) and produced by SightLine Entertainment in partnership with DC Thomson. The hero with ‘the muscles of 20 men and the brain of 20 mussels’ began life in the Nutty comic in 1980 and was a flyaway success, transferring to The Dandy before joining the world’s longest-running comic The Beano in 2012. A send-up of the likes of Superman and Batman, he was the subject of the hugely popular television cartoon that ran between 1983 and 1986 on … Read more

The final whistle for West End’s Bend It Like Beckham

News, West End
Bend It Like Beckham

Bend It Like Beckham will play its final performance in London’s West End in six weeks. Meanwhile, producers of the critically acclaimed musical are finalising plans for tours of India, Dubai and the UK. The musical, directed by Gurinder Chadha, with original music by Howard Goodall, lyrics by Charles Hart and a new book by Paul Mayeda Berges & Gurinder Chadha, has played at the Phoenix Theatre since May 2015 and will close on 5 March 2016. Gurinder Chadha said: ”I am incredibly proud of the Bend It Like Beckham cast, musicians, production and creative teams. “We opened at the Phoenix Theatre to the most amazing five star reviews and we’ve inspired and entertained people of all ages and all backgrounds, something I have not seen in the West End for many years. “Whether in the UK or abroad, Bend It Like Beckham will continue to defy expectations and proudly represent … Read more

What have Playdays, End of the Rainbow and Finsbury Park all got in common?

News, Off West End, Touring
Peter Quilter

With the UK premier of 4000 days fast approaching, BritishTheatre.com catches up with West End and Broadway playwright Peter Quilter to get the low down on his play’s month-long run at the Park Theatre – as well as the forthcoming UK tour of his smash-hit show End of the Rainbow. You started out as an actor and presenter – on Playdays no less! – What made you take the leap from acting to writing? I got together with a small group of actor friends and we decided we needed a showcase to attract casting directors. So I wrote a play for the three of us about Oscar Wilde titled Mirror of the Moon. We presented it on the Fringe and, one night, a representative of the Royal Court turned up and told me I should be working full-time as a playwright. They invited me into their Young Writers Group to … Read more

Vault Festival Programme Announced

News, Off West End
Vault Festival at Waterloo 2016

An eclectic and jam-packed programme of over 150 events, to be held in one venue across 11 days, has been revealed. VAULT – an arts and comedy festival set in the myriad of vaults underneath Waterloo Station – kicks of on 27 January 2016 and tickets for the range of events – featuring theatre performances, comedy, club nights, workshops and family entertainment – are available now from as little as £5. VAULT Festival 2016 promises to have the “biggest and most diverse programme to date”, including the likes of Trgyve Wakenshaw, The Misfit Analysis and Clout Theatre. There is an international array of events taking place, exploring themes such as gender, mental health and conflict. The shows on offer includes Squidboy, starring award-winning physical theatre performer Trygve Wakenshaw, and, in a VAULT Festival debut, the award-winning company, Clout Theatre present The Various Lives of Infinite Nullity; a dark and intriguing piece of absurdism centered … Read more