The thing is, you can’t fault the acting in Jitney at the Old Vic – the actors are superb. And Tinuke Craig’s expert direction means the cab office setting doesn’t feel static or forced. But the play takes a long time to get to the interesting stuff and then leaves a lot hanging.
‘There are real moments of magic’: JITNEY – Old Vic Theatre
Jitney, revived at the Old Vic in a production by Tinuke Craig, is a piece that took the best part of 40 years to make it to Broadway in late 2016 after decades of smaller productions around America and at the National Theatre in 2001. Part
From stage to screen (small & big): The adaptations keep on coming
In the last 30 years or more, roughly half of every new musical that arrives on Broadway or in the West End seems to be based on a film.
NEWS: Headlong announces Jeremy Herrin’s last season as artistic director
Headlong has announced its programme for 2020/21, the final season under current artistic director Jeremy Herrin.
‘A compelling production of a flawed play’: KING HEDLEY II – Theatre Royal Stratford East
August Wilson’s King Hedley II is something of a flawed play but it receives a strong production from Nadia Fall at Theatre Royal Stratford East.
NEWS: Lenny Henry stars in August Wilson play as part of Nadia Fall’s inaugural season at Theatre Royal Stratford East
Lenny Henry is to take on the role of smooth-talking hustler Elmore in August Wilson’s King Hedley II (17 May to 16 June 2019) as part of Nadia Fall’s inaugural season as artistic director of Theatre Royal Stratford East. This marks the first time Wilson’s work will be staged at the venue.
NEWS: Nadia Fall announces her inaugural season at Theatre Royal Stratford East
Artistic director of Theatre Royal Stratford East, Nadia Fall, has today announced her inaugural season, beginning this September.
From stage to screen: August Wilson’s Fences
Denzel Washington stars in and directs the film adaptation, bringing with him the majority of the theatrical cast of the 2010 New York production.
My theatre diary: Three fabulous female leads, five of my favourite plays on now
In this theatre diary catch-up, I want to concentrate on five top plays – four of them which also make Mark Shenton’s Top Ten list and three of them led from the front by stunning female performances and also Olivier laden.
Weekly Theatre Podcast: Escaped Alone, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Red Velvet
This week the London theatre bloggers discuss Caryl Churchill’s latest play Escaped Alone at the Royal Court, the National Theatre revival of August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Red Velvet, starring Adrian Lester as part of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company season in the West End.
My theatre diary: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Rabbit Hole, Pink Mist, One of Those
Some personal play recommendations – plus thoughts, tweets and a few #theatreselfies: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at the National, Rabbit Hole at Hampstead, Pink Mist at the Bush and One of Those at Tristan Bates.
NEWS: Sharon D Clarke plays Ma Rainey in new NT season
The National Theatre has announced new production dates and casting updates for its next booking period, running from January to April 2016. Highlights include: Sharon D Clarke in the title role of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, directed by Dominic Cooke; Katie Mitchell’s revival of Sarah Kane’s 1998 play Cleansed; Lorraine Hansberry’s Les Blancs, directed by Yael Farber; a modern take on Nikolai Erdman’s The Suicide by Suhayla El-Bushra, directed by Nadia Fall; and the New York transfer of Annie Baker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Flick.
NEWS: Norris announces 11 new NT shows, War Horse closes in West End
Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre, has announced some forthcoming productions for 2016, as well as the closure of War Horse in the West End next year.