Katie Arnstein is an award-winning writer and performer. Her latest play, Stick Door, the final part of her It’s a Girl! trilogy, will be performed at the VAULT Festival next month. I caught up with Katie to find out more.
NEWS: Cherie – My Struggle gives a Downing Street inside view from Cherie Blair’s perspective
What was Cherie Blair thinking during the New Labour years? Has her contribution to Tony Blair’s success ever been fully acknowledged? Cherie – My Struggle provides an intimate look at a remarkable woman. Time to get booking!
NEWS: Shakespeare’s Globe announces its summer season 2020
Shakespeare’s Globe’s summer season 2020 will include Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night and Antony & Cleopatra.
FEATURED SHOW: ★★★★ reviews are in for the premiere of Janice Okoh’s new history play The Gift
Janice Okoh’s “enthralling” new Black British history play The Gift has premiered to a tranche of ★★★★ reviews at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre at the start of a UK-wide tour. We’ve rounded up our selection of favourite review highlights. Time to get booking!
VAULT Festival: Former stripper Diane Herbert makes playwriting debut with Angels, based on her experiences
Aiming to challenge audiences’ preconceptions about strippers, new play Angels, written by former table dancer and first-time playwright Diane Herbert, premieres at this year’s VAULT Festival, running for six performances from 19 to 23 February 2020 in the Cavern at The Vaults, Leake Street.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Les Misérables at Sondheim Theatre
Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews for the newly opened production of Les Misérables.
NEWS: UK’s longest-running alternative theatre company brings People Show 137 to Southwark
Ahead of a short tour, pioneering theatremakers People Show bring their latest devised creation People Show 137: God Knows How Many to London’s Southwark Playhouse for a limited season from 5 to 29 February 2020, with a press night on 7 February.
Text of the Day: The Tyler Sisters
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
NEWS: Cara Vita: A Clown Concerto receives European premiere at VAULT Festival
Cara Vita: A Clown Concerto, which explores the joys, sorrows, and hilarity of contemporary adulthood through music, circus and magic, will be seen in Europe for the first time this February as part of VAULT Festival. Book your tickets now.
NEWS: Michael Longhurst announces his second season at the Donmar Warehouse
Michael Longhurst has announced his second season as artistic of the Donmar Warehouse. The first production will be Pulitzer Prize-winner Suzan-Lori Parks’ modern epic In the Blood (17 April – 6 June 2020). Ellen McDougall will direct the first major UK production.
Best of the Blogs: Les Misérables, Rags, Lullabies for the Lost & more
In our continuing series, our editor Lisa Martland picks out some of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre (to 19 January 2020), including Aleks Sierz’s view that the new production of Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre is marching on to victory.
NEWS: Jason Manford will host the Olivier Awards for a third time
Jason Manford has been announced as the host of the Olivier Awards 2020 with Mastercard. This is the third time the comedian, actor and singer will host the prestigious ceremony.
VAULT Festival: Audiences to unleash their dark side with urban game Jekyll / Hyde
Can you get away with murder? That’s the question being asked of players of monstrously exciting new immersive game Jekyll / Hyde, which runs at VAULT Festival next month. Time to book your ticket!
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 …
‘Where’s the East End gone?’ Mark Heywood on how London Marathon inspired new play Rhubarb Ghetto & why VAULT Festival is its ideal home
Watching a stretch of the London Marathon near his home in Wapping got writer-director Mark Heywood wondering about what’s happened to the city’s East End and inspired his new play Rhubarb Ghetto. It premieres next month at VAULT Festival. Check out our interview and behind-the-scenes photos – and then get booking!
‘How can we talk about living together when something as basic as parenting is challenged?’ Writer Janice Okoh & director Dawn Walton on The Gift
This month, searingly funny play The Gift makes its world premiere in Coventry before embarking on a UK tour. Writer Janice Okoh and director Dawn Walton give insights into the true royal story behind the play, unsurfacing ‘missing’ Black British history and the relevance to cross-cultural adoption today. Time to get booking!
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Magic Goes Wrong at the Vaudeville Theatre
We round up the reviews for the second production in Mischief Theatre’s year-long season at the Vaudeville Theatre, Magic Goes Wrong.
NEWS: Janice Okoh’s The Gift, inspired by Queen Victoria’s adoption of an African girl, premieres this month
The Gift, partly inspired by the remarkable true story of an orphaned African princess adopted by Queen Victoria in the 19th century, receives its world premiere this month at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre ahead of a UK tour. Time to get booking!
REVIEW ROUND-UP: The Tyler Sisters at Hampstead Theatre
Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews for the new play The Tyler Sisters by Alexandra Wood.
NEWS: Ian Hughes is latest Thenardier in the West End production of Les Misérables as Matt Lucas suffers back injury
Ian Hughes who recently took over the role of Thénardier to great acclaim in the current sell-out UK and international tour of Les Misérables will now join the London company to partner Josefina Gabrielle.