1. Its Amaluna arrives at Royal Albert Hall for a run from 12 January to 26 February 2017, but opening next month is Cirque du Soleil’s first-ever UK arena tour of its signature production, Varekai. Directed by Dominic Champagne, this production pays tribute to the nomadic soul, to the spirit and art of the circus tradition, and to those who quest with infinite passion along the path that leads to Varekai. The critically-acclaimed show, updated and featuring new acts yet to be seen in the UK will visit the Sheffield Arena, Dublin’s 3Arena, Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena and Leeds’ First Direct Arena in February 2017, followed by the Genting Arena in Birmingham, Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena and The SSE Hydro, Glasgow in March 2017.
2. I’ve not read any of Elena Ferrante‘s Neapolitan novels My Brilliant Friend, The Story of a New Name, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay, and The Story of the Lost Child but I have to say I’m rather tempted by the stage adaptation of the quartet, split into two plays and named after the first book, by April de Angelis which will be opening at the Rose Theatre Kingston in March.
My Brilliant Friend will be led by Niamh Cusack and Catherine McCormack as Lenu and Lila, on whose friendship in post-war Italy the story focuses. Melly Still’s production will also star Justin Avoth, Adam Burton, Martin Hyder, Victoria Moseley, Emily Mytton, Ira Mandela Siobhan, Jonah Russell, Badria Timimi, Toby Wharton and Emily Wachter. Previews starts on 25 February for a run that ends on 2 April 2017.
3. The latest play to be added to Digital Theatre’s impressive roster of recorded work is Andrew Bovell’s Things I Know To Be True, the Frantic Assembly and State Theatre Company South Australia that toured the UK last year. Released on 22nd February to Digital Theatre’s worldwide education platform DT+, it will doubtless be a welcome boon to anyone studying FA’s inimitable approach to theatre.
