Search Results for: imelda staunton

Sondheim’s Follies to return to the National Theatre in 2019

News, West End
Stephen Sondheim's Follies at National Theatre

Stephen Sondheim’s musical Follies is to return to the National Theatre in 2019. Following a critically acclaimed run in 2017-18, Stephen Sondheim and James Golman’s musical Follies is to return to the National Theatre in 2019. Casting and production dates will be announced in the near future. The production recently won two awards at the London’s Critic’s Circle Theatre Awards for Dominic Cooke (Best Director) and Vicki Mortimer (Best Designer). A cast album of the production is expected to be released in the coming months. Dominic Cooke’s production of Follies saw the show restored scenes cut from the 1971 Broadway premiere and used Jonathan Tunick’s full original orchestration and saw the show returned to its original one-act structure. The National Theatre’s production of Follies saw four-time Olivier Award winner Imelda Staunton as Sally Durrant, three time Olivier winner Philip Quast as Ben, and Olivier and Obie Award winner Janie Dee … Read more

My 2017 Theatre Highlights – Mark Ludmon

Features, Off West End, Reviews, West End
Book tickets for An Octaroon at Orange Tree Theatre

We asked our review team to nominate their 2017 theatre highlights. Mark Ludmon nominated his favourites. An Octoroon, (Orange Tree Theatre) This year saw the arrival in the UK of the work of acclaimed American playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Hampstead Theatre presented his dark unsettling satire Gloria while the Orange Tree Theatre gave us his theatrically inventive play An Octoroon. Using Dion Boucicault’s once-popular 1858 melodrama The Octoroon as its starting point, this cleverly explored the black experience from the perspective of 19th-century slavery. With a strong cast directed by Ned Bennett, the production was bursting with ideas, laughs and energy, often breaking the fourth wall to great effect. Read my review. Barber Shop Chronicles, (National Theatre) The vibrancy of Inua Ellams’ new play Barber Shop Chronicles hits you from the moment you enter the foyer of the National’s Dorfman Theatre, decked out with signage from barbers around the world. To … Read more

My 2017 Theatre Highlights – Paul T Davies

Features, Reviews, Touring, West End
Angels in America Part 1 at the National Theatre

We asked our review team to nominate their 2017 theatre highlights. Paul T Davies nominated his favourites and a few productions for a special end of year ovation. Angels In America (National Theatre) About twenty-five years ago, I got a standing room ticket for the original National Theatre production of Tony Kushner’s epic. I stood for the whole seven and a half hour cycle, and, although I wore a younger man’s clothes then, I had to sit down afterwards not just because of the physical demands, but because of the emotional intensity. I had never seen a play like it, and it had a profound influence on me, it also became a cornerstone of my PhD. Marianne Elliot’s majestic production did what you hope every revival will do, it took every line, every scene, every act and every character anew and reinforced the play as a classic. It also had … Read more

REVIEW: Follies, National Theatre ✭✭✭✭✭

Reviews, West End
Stephen Sondheim's Follies at National Theatre

Follies National Theatre, 8th September 2017 5 Stars Book Follies Tickets Folly is an interesting concept: it has fascinated the western mind all the way from Erasmus of Rotterdam’s philosphical contemplation, through the artificial landscaping constructions that adorn the estates of Stowe and Stourhead, Ermenonville and Versailles, to the variety entertainments of late 19th century Paris, and into the area which principally concerns this epic musical divertissement based upon the idea: the expensive and spectacular early 20th century Broadway revues of Florenz Ziegfeld. Oddly, a lot of time seems to have been spent worrying about whether this show, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book – or at least ‘scenes’ – by James Goldman, is ‘really’ a musical or just some kind of astonishing hybrid failure: its original producer Harold Prince dubbed it a ‘long-running flop’.  While these practical questions have merit, they detract from the actual … Read more

FIRST LOOK: Stephen Sondheim’s Follies at the National Theatre

Features, Gallery, West End
Stephen Sondheim's Follies at National Theatre

Enjoy Johan Persson’s gorgeous first look production photos of Follies at the Olivier Theatre. 1971, New York. There’s a party on the stage of the Weissman Theatre. Tomorrow the iconic building will be demolished. Thirty years after their final performance, the Follies girls gather to have a few drinks, sing a few songs and lie about themselves. Follies features a book by James Goldman, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, design by Vicki Mortimer, choreography by Bill Deamer, musical supervision by Nicholas Skilbeck, orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, musical direction by Nigel Lilley, lighting by Paule Constable and sound by Paul Groothius. Follies returns to the National Theatre in February 2019 FOLLIES TICKETS

Looking back at nearly five years of Curious Incident

Features, News, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, Touring, West End
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time

After nearly 1,500 performances, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is nearing its end in London. Mark Ludmon looks back over its five-year run. Nearly five years – or 1,743 days – after Christopher Boone first set out to investigate The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the National Theatre, the show continues to earn standing ovations at its current home of the Gielgud. Audiences are wowed by Bunny Christie’s design, Finn Ross’s video effects, Steven Hoggett and Scott Graham’s movement direction, Simon Stephens’s writing, Mark Haddon’s story and, of course, the talent and physical prowess required to play the lead role of Christopher. After nearly 1,500 performances, the show will end its run in London on June 3. In that time, it will have been seen by over 1 million people in London, with Christopher played by 18 different actors including understudies. With many … Read more

Top 100 Greatest Musicals Poll – Number 9 – Sweeney Todd

Features
Sweeny Todd - 9th Greatest musical of all time

Attend The Tale to find out how a Victorian penny dreadful became the subject of a play by Christopher Bond which caught the eye of one Stephen Sondheim. Taken with the tale of revenge on a grand and gruesome scale Sondheim started work on what would become the 1979 musical thriller Sweeney Todd – The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Hugh Wheeler, Sweeney Todd was directed by Harold Prince and would follow their ground-breaking work on Company (1970), Follies (1971) A Little Night Music (1973) and Pacific Overtures (1976). Returning to London after 15 years of exile, a revenge-driven Sweeney is out for blood. Judge Turpin stole his wife, his daughter and destroyed his life. Sweeney teams up with Mrs Lovett, who has a serious problem – she is in need of a supply of fresh meat for her … Read more

Top 100 Greatest Musicals Results: 30-21

Features
Top 100 Musicals of All Time Poll Results

There are some real classics in this brace of our Top 100 Musicals ever. It’s a real mix of musicals old and new, don’t forget to let us know your thoughts on the vote below. 30. Dreamgirls Currently playing at London’s Savoy Theatre, Dreamgirls has music by Henry Krieger and book by Tom Eyen. Originally devised with the working title of One Night Only, the show caught the eye of Michael Bennett, director and choreographer of A Chorus Line. Dreamgirls opened on Broadway on December 20, 1981 and was nominated for 13 Tony Awards including Best Musical winning six. Twenty-five years later the show has finally premiered in the West End with Glee’s Amber Riley in the lead role. Book tickets for Dreamgirls. 29. Gypsy One of the great Broadway musicals, Gypsy has music by Jules Styne, Book by Arthur Laurents and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Gypsy is based loosely … Read more