INTERVIEW: Playwright Inua Ellams – Barber Shop Chronicles

Playwright Inua Ellams on Barber Shop Chronicles

The Playhouse’s first co-production with the National Theatre, Barber Shop Chronicles is the dynamic new play inspired by a Chapeltown barber, written by rising literary star Inua Ellams (Black T-Shirt Collection, the National Theatre, The 14th Tale, Fringe First winner). Vibrant and joyous, Barber Shop Chronicles spans continents following African men from London to Johannesburg, Harare, Kampala, Lagos and Accra, contemplating the role the barber shop plays in their lives. Directed by Bijan Sheibani (A Taste of Honey, National Theatre, War Horse, US tour 2012-2014), Barber Shop Chronicles is a co-production with West Yorkshire Playhouse, the National Theatre and Fuel, running in Leeds from 12 – 29 July and returning to the National Theatre on the 29 November 2017. Read our review of Barber Shop Chronicles. Where did your inspiration first come from when writing Barber Shop Chronicles? A friend told me about a charity wanting to pioneer a programme … Read more

Casting Announced For Mosquitoes At National Theatre

Book now for Mosquitoes at the National theatre

Full casting has been announced for Mosquitoes at the National Theatre. Alice is a scientist. She lives in Geneva. As the Large Hadron particle collider starts up in 2008, she is on the brink of the most exciting work of her life, searching for the Higgs Boson. Jenny is her sister. She lives in Luton. She spends a lot of time Googling. When tragedy throws them together, the collision threatens all with chaos. Mosquitoes by Lucy Kirkwood will have its world premiere in the Dorfman Theatre in July with Rufus Norris directing. The cast is Amanda Boxer, Olivia Colman (Jenny), Cait Davis, Vanessa Emme, Yoli Fuller, Paul Hilton, Joseph Quinn, Sofia Stuart and Olivia Williams (Alice). Designed by Katrina Lindsay, lighting design by Paule Constable, music by Adam Cork, sound design by Paul Arditti and video design by Finn Ross & Ian William Galloway. Mosquitoes will play at the National … Read more

Lizzy Watts To Play Hedda Gabler in UK Tour

Lizzy Watts plays the title role in Hedda Gabler Uk Tour

The National Theatre has announced that Lizzy Watts will take the lead role in the National Theatre’s UK Tour of Hedda Gabler which launches on 2 October in Plymouth. Lizzy Watts’ theatre credits include Strife at Chichester Festival Theatre, The Angry Brigade and Artefacts at The Bush, A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Globe, Blink for Nabokov and Wasted for Paines Plough.  TV includes The Durrells and Midsomer Murders and plays Ivy Layton in BBC Radio 4’s Home Front. This vital new version of Ibsen’s masterpiece by Olivier and Tony Award®-winning playwright Patrick Marber (Closer, Three Days in the Country) directed by Ivo van Hove, one of the world’s most exciting directors.  Olivier and Tony Award®-winning van Hove made his National Theatre debut with Hedda Gabler, which opened in December 2016. Patrick Marber said:  ‘It has been a huge honour to work with the great Ivo van Hove on this … Read more

Looking back at nearly five years of Curious Incident

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