The Edinburgh International Festival, running from 7-29 August, has announced its 2021 programme which features over 170 classical and contemporary music, theatre, opera, dance and spoken word performances, including 15 new commissions and premieres.
FROM DOWN UNDER: La Traviata in Sydney
In celebration of the ongoing return to live theatre, Sydney turned on perfect conditions for the opening night of La Traviata on Sydney Harbour.
‘Musically it is a piece that hits you instantly’: The Musician: A Horror Opera For Children – Belfast Ensemble (Online review)
Conor Mitchell’s The Musician: A Horror Opera For Children reimagines the story of Pied Piper and is at its best during the darker moments of the story.
‘It does & should make a viewer think’: We Ask These Questions of Everybody – soundfestival (Online review)
Produced by HERA, We Ask These Questions of Everybody uses text drawn from real conversations; samples, soundscapes and singing. It is performed by a cross-genre, all-disabled ensemble, placing into sharp focus their experience of living under austerity.
NEWS: ENO & Imperial College announce the national rollout of the Breathe programme for people recovering from Covid-19
English National Opera and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust announce national rollout of ENO Breathe programme for people recovering from COVID-19.
‘Sweeps along effortlessly’: CINDERELLA – Northern Opera Group (Online review)
This charming and rarely performed chamber operetta, Cinderella, is given new life in Northern Opera Group’s new filmed version.
‘Wonderful delights galore’: THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE – Palace Theatre
Sasha Regan’s All Male The Pirates of Penzance proves a feast for ears and the eyes in a glorious but short run at the Palace Theatre.
NEWS: Cast & further date announced for Sasha Regan’s All-Male The Pirates of Penzance at the Palace Theatre
Nimax Theatres have added a second night for Sasha Regan’s all-male take on W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance at London’s Palace Theatre. The show will now run on 12 and 13 December 2020.
NEWS: Three prizes each for & Juliet, Dear Evan Hansen & Emilia as Olivier Awards 2020 winners are announced
The winners of the Olivier Awards 2020 with Mastercard were announced in a special ITV programme filmed at The London Palladium, and on Official London Theatre’s YouTube channel.
Building up to the Olivier Awards 2020 – the virtual way
Do fill your glass, glam up and get ready to join host Jason Manford in saluting the Olivier Awards 2020 winners and nominees. Oh and why not take a look at the social media build-up to the big night too.
NEWS: The Olivier Awards 2020 winners will be announced in an October TV special filmed at the London Palladium
The winners of this year’s Oliver Awards 2020 with Mastercard will be announced on 25 October 2020 in a special programme hosted by Jason Manford and broadcast on ITV and Magic Radio.
NEWS: The 2020 Olivier Awards are cancelled
This year’s Olivier Awards with Mastercard, which were due to place on 5 April 2020 at the Royal Albert Hall, have been cancelled.
NEWS: Coronavirus pandemic – An update on theatre closures in the West End & across the country
My Theatre Mates have been collecting official announcements of theatre closures up and down the country in the Twitter thread below and will continue to add updates as they come in.
NEWS: Winners of the 10th anniversary Offies 2020 Awards are announced
Winners of the Offies 2020 Awards, held at Battersea Arts Centre, have been announced. It was the tenth anniversary year of the awards presented by Off West End.
NEWS: OffWestEnd announces the finalists for the Offies Awards 2020
OffWestEnd has announced the 89 finalists for this year’s Offies Awards 2020. In 2019, Offies assessors saw around 400 shows across Greater London and made over 400 nominations covering 189 shows at 58 venues. The 89 finalists have been selected across 28 categories, covering performances in plays and musicals, as well as design, choreography, direction, production, as well as some …
FROM DOWN UNDER: Opera Australia’s Faust in Melbourne
In a production as spectacularly staged as it is intelligently conceived, Faust is another mighty achievement from Opera Australia, demonstrating the full extent of their resources to sterling effect.
‘Still the best fun you’ll have at the opera’: THE MIKADO – London Coliseum ★★★★
Time and again, this production of The Mikado comes up fresh as paint and is the perfect antidote to dark days every bit as much now as in 1986 or when Gilbert and Sullivan wrote it in 1885.
NEWS: Four wins for Sheffield Theatres’ Life Of Pi at the UK Theatre Awards
There were wins for Sheffield Theatres’ Life Of Pi at the 2019 UK Theatre Awards, revealed at London’s Guildhall.
‘A brilliant way to introduce audiences to (more) opera’: THE ELIXIR OF LOVE – King’s Head Theatre ★★★★★
This rom-com opera, The Elixir of Love is great fun and incredibly engaging – a ray of sunshine on a cold autumn evening.
‘Unearthing something of great promise’: HOTSPUR & PIERROT LUNAIRE – Arcola Theatre ★★★
The double bill of Gillian Whitehead’s Hotspur with Schoenberg’s great Modernist Pierrot Lunaire is the first outing for innovative opera company formidAbility, which seeks to bring disabled and non-disabled professional artists together on (and off) the opera stage.