Arcola Theatre

Kenny Morgan Back By Popular Demand

News, Off West End
Kenny Morgan returns to the Arcola Theatre

Mike Poulton’s play Kenny Morgan returns to the Arcola Theatre for a limited run of four weeks in September, following a critically acclaimed premiere earlier this year. London, 1949. Terence Rattigan is one of the best-known playwrights in town, but his relationship with the actor Kenneth Morgan is a closely-guarded secret. When Kenny falls into the arms of a younger man, emotions reach fever pitch. Behind the closed doors of a flat in Camden Town, the unspeakable is spoken – and the consequences are tragic. A gripping tale of destructive passions, Kenny Morgan exposes the limits to which people will go for love, and the extraordinary real-life events behind Rattigan’s most famous play, The Deep Blue Sea. Kenny Morgan will return with its original cast which includes two-time Olivier award nominee Paul Keating. The production is directed by Lucy Bailey, designed by Robert Innes Hopkins, lighting by Jack Knowles, and … Read more

History Making Richard II Staged In Houses Of Parliament

Features, News, Off West End
Richard II - Arcola Theatre

For the first time ever a Shakespearean play has been performed in the Palace Of Westminster. Over 8500 people applied for the lottery to receive 100 golden tickets. Richard II reimagined as a Westminster power struggle was staged on Saturday night, celebrating four centuries of the writer at the centre of Britain’s national culture. Tim Delap was Richard, the charismatic leader who faces a challenge from Harri Bolingbroke (Hermione Gulliford), reimagined in this new version as a female Leader of the Opposition. Richard II will now transfer to The Arcola Theatre from 3 May Photos: Nick Ruter

HighTide and Arcola Theatre present The Sugar-Coated Bullets of the Bourgeoisie

News, Off West End
The Sugar-Coated Bullets of the Bourgeoisie will play at the Arcola Theatre from 7 April – 30 April 2016


Ahead of revealing its full tenth anniversary programme, HighTide has announced that, alongside the Arcola Theatre, they will present a new play by Anders Lustgarten, which will run at the Arcola from 7th April before opening HighTide Festival in September. The Sugar-Coated Bullets of The Bourgeoisie will reunite Lustgarten, who won the inaugural Harold Pinter Prize for If You Don’t Let Us Dream We Won’t Let You Sleep (Royal Court), with HighTide Artistic Director, Steven Atkinson, whose recent credits include Forget Me Not, peddling and Bottleneck. Based on almost a decade of study, The Sugar-Coated Bullets of The Bourgeoisie is a timely play that explores the lives of the Chinese people in two eras, during the rise of Maoist China, and in 2016, an increasingly diverse, volatile, $11 Trillion economy on the precipice of change. The production’s 8 strong cast of British East Asian actors includes Andrew Leung (Chimerica, You For … Read more

BIG INTERVIEW: David Schaal and Vincent Regan on A Steady Rain

Features, Interviews, Off West End
A Steady Rain at the Arcola Theatre

Following a successful stint at East Yorkshire’s East Riding Theatre, Keith Huff’s critically acclaimed play A Steady Rain is set to tread the boards at London’s Arcola Theatre. Layla Haidrani caught up with lead actors David Schaal (The Office) and Vincent Regan (Troy), asking what audiences might expect from its London premiere.  Q: What initially drew you to A Steady Rain? VR:  I was looking for a really good contemporary play and one that didn’t have a very big cast as we couldn’t afford to pay a lot of actors. I came across Steady Rain and liked it so much I thought I’d like to do it myself. I don’t usually do much theatre – I’ve only done a couple of plays in the 15 years. DS: I was immediately drawn to the amazing script. Very rarely do you read a play and think I absolutely have to do it … Read more

REVIEW: Echoes, Arcola Theatre ✭✭✭✭

Off West End, Reviews
Echoes by Paul Naylor at Arcola Theatre

Echoes is a success for many reasons but fundamentally it’s because there is such strength in the story telling. In fact there are 2 stories running concurrently and though the time periods in the stories are 175 years apart and told by 2 actors independently, there is such deep and meaningful symbiosis between them so that what can be a fragmented experience is a beautiful whole.

REVIEW: Clarion, Arcola Theatre ✭✭

Off West End, Reviews
Clarion at the Arcola Theatre

Mark Jagasia not only fails to carry that stick, but it’s too heavy for him to pick up in the first place. “Clarion,” now playing at the Arcola, is the broadest bit of anti-newspaper criticism that’s been on the stage in years, and that includes the National’s crack at phone hacking, Great Britain.

Casting Announced For New Barney Norris Play Eventide

News, Off West End, Touring
Playwright Barney Norris

Up In Arms and Arcola Theatre will presented the world premiere of Eventide, a new play by Barney Norris at the Arcola Theatre ahead of a UK Tour. A love song, an elegy, a celebration – Eventide tells the story of three people whose worlds are disappearing. John is a landlord forced to sell up; Liz is a church organist who can’t get a gig; Mark takes what work he can just to pay the rent. Their tales unfold round the back of a pub hidden deep in the heart of the Hampshire countryside. But is that heart still beating? The play will be directed by Alice Hamilton and feature Hasan Dixon (Mark), James Doherty (John), and Ellie Piercy (Liz). Barney Norris won the Critics’ Circle and Off West End Most Promising Playwright Awards for Visitors (‘Extraordinary’ The Guardian, ‘Heartbreaking’ New York Times), which played a sell-out run at Arcola … Read more