There was a spate of criticism when Richard Norton Taylor’s dramatisation of the Grenfell Inquiry was announced, despite it being a not-for-profit enterprise, set in and for the neighbourhood which grieves the disaster.
NEWS: Jane Austen adaptation Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) transfers to West End’s Criterion
Scottish hit Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of), written by Isobel McArthur after Jane Austen, will transfer to the West End’s Criterion Theatre for an open-ended run, previewing from 15 October and opening on 2 November 2021.
‘A wonderful classic production’: EAST IS EAST – Birmingham Repertory Theatre ★★★★
Having been a fan of the film, I was more than delighted to accept the invitation to go along to the press night of East Is East, 25 years since the world premiere on the Birmingham REP’s stage.
‘Able to jump from silliness to seriousness in mid-sentence’: LAST EASTER – Orange Tree Theatre
By the end of Orange Tree Theatre’s production of Bryony Lavery’s Last Easter the certainty that friendship and love are life’s true miracles is quietly and effectively realised.
‘Flies because of the vigour of the text & the electricity of the staging’: THE HALF GOD OF RAINFALL – Kiln Theatre
Poetic two-hander The Half God of Rainfall combines epic myth, family relationships and gender politics in an exciting evening.
‘I was struck by the scope of Inua’s epic poem’: Rakie Ayola appears in The Half God of Rainfall at the Kiln Theatre
Actress Rakie Ayola chatted to us about her current role in The Half God of Rainfall at the Kiln Theatre.
‘A cheesy, sparkly, feelgood, family show’: NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL – Touring ★★★★★
Parents, if the thought of sitting through yet another (yawn) pantomime this Yule fills you with dread, then I’d recommend the dazzling, cheery musical Nativity! The Musical as an outstanding alternative.
NEWS: Hugh Dennis returns to stage after 20 years to star with Lesley Garrett star in The Messiah
Hugh Dennis, Lesley Garrett and John Marquez will star in The Messiah, a Biblical new comedy by Patrick Barlow, the Olivier Award-winning writer of The 39 Steps. Ahead of a planned West End transfer, it opens on tour, launching 15 October 2018 at Birmingham Repertory Theatre. A traveling theatre troupe of two actors and an opera singer are set to arrive on camel …
NEWS: Alice Sebold bestseller The Lovely Bones gets stage premiere, adapted by Bryony Lavery
The world premiere of The Lovely Bones, one of the bestselling novels of the 21st century and now adapted for the stage by Bryony Lavery and directed by Melly Still, will open at Royal & Derngate, Northampton on 1 September 2018.
Never Mind The Blog, here’s January’s theatre news
Lots & lots of shows have their first performances in London and across the country this month, including new productions of Pinter’s The Birthday Party, Wilde’s Lady Windermere’s Fan, and Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well.
2017 Regional theatre recap
Much of my ‘touring’ has been concentrated in Bristol and Chichester; there are a few other UK venues to add to the list, as well as some from my week in New York, of course.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: The Exorcist at the Phoenix Theatre
Classic horror film The Exorcist is brought to life on stage for the first time in this new production directed by Sean Mathias and running at the West End’s Phoenix Theatre until 10 March 2018. But does it thrill and scare audiences as it should?
What Shadows Q&A podcast: How far have we come since Enoch Powell’s Rivers of Blood speech?
Many on the panel, and in the audience, also shared personal stories as immigrants and/or children of immigrants – and how they felt affected by Powell’s speech and its aftermath.
FEATURED SHOW: What Shadows at the Park Theatre, ★★★★ reviews are in!
Have you booked yet to see Ian McDiarmid in “the performance of the year” as Enoch Powell in Chris Hannan’s explosive new drama What Shadows? We’ve rounded up some of our favourite review quotes and Twitter buzz for the show.
What links What Shadows, Ink, The Unknown Island, Lucy Light & The Swallow?
I’ve had a rich few weeks for playgoing. A key theme in this batch of diary entries is the reward of visiting new, new-to-me or I-haven’t-been-in-so-long-they-feel-nearly-new venues.
PHOTOS: First-look at the London premiere of What Shadows, starring Ian McDiarmid
Chris Hannan’s critically acclaimed political drama What Shadows receives its London premiere tonight (3 October 2017), Check out new production photos of award-winning Ian McDiarmid as Enoch Powell with the 2017 cast at London’s Park Theatre
WATCH: Ian McDiarmid & Roxana Silbert talk about What Shadows
The countdown is on for the London premiere of Chris Hannan’s critically acclaimed political drama What Shadows, after its premiere last year at Birmingham Rep. Watch interviews here with Tony and Olivier Award winner Ian McDiarmid, who stars as Enoch Powell, and director Roxana Silbert here…
WATCH: Three videos on reactions to Rivers of Blood, Then & now
Have you now read the full text of Enoch Powell’s Rivers of Blood speech from 1968? If you’re not old enough to remember, can you imagine how immigrants and the rest of British society reacted to it? And how it may have affected individuals’ lives? That’s what Chris Hannan explores in What Shadows. The new play, commissioned by Birmingham Rep, …
What Shadows: How well do you know Enoch Powell’s Rivers of Blood? Full speech
Chris Hannan’s new play What Shadows, which transfers to London’s Park Theatre this month starring Ian McDiarmid, centres on the life of one woman was affected by former Wolverhampton Conservative MP Enoch Powell’s controversial 1968 “Rivers of Blood” speech. Beyond mere reputation, how well do you know the speech? Full speech here.
New post-show Q&A: Join Terri to talk What Shadows, starring Ian McDiarmid as Enoch Powell
On 10 October 2017, Mates co-founder Terri Paddock will talk to the company of Chris Hannan’s What Shadows, inspired by Enoch Powell’s infamous 1968 “Rivers of Blood” speech, now receiving its London premiere in a strictly limited season at the Park Theatre. Got any questions?
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