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.
‘You are here, at the start of a moment’: Welcoming back Come From Away
‘You are here, at the start of a moment’. Those words in Come From Away never felt more true. Four hundred and 95 days after last being in a West End theatre, 495 days after last seeing a musical, 495 days without theatre. And ‘You are here…’
NEWS: Theatres gear up for reopening following the 19 July roadmap announcement
Prime minister Boris Johnson has confirmed that England will move to Step 4 of the Government roadmap on 19 July 2021, meaning that theatres will be able to return to full attendance levels.
NEWS: Step 4 of the Government roadmap is still on track for 19 July, announces PM Boris Johnson
Next Monday prime minister Boris Johnson will announce his decision on whether legal restrictions – including those related to social distancing and wearing of face masks – will be lifted in England on 19 July when Step 4 of the Government roadmap is due to be reached.
NEWS: Delay to theatres fully reopening until at least 19 July is greeted with dismay across the industry
As predicted, the Government has confirmed it will shelve the full reopening of theatres in England until 19 July 2021 at the earliest.
NEWS: English theatres will reopen their doors from 17 May 2021
English theatres will finally be able to reopen their doors from next week after the Government today confirmed the next stage of its post lockdown roadmap will begin on 17 May 2021.
‘A dark masterpiece’: THE SEPARATION – Living Record Productions (Online review)
The camera can take you to places where the naked eye rarely goes. Like close. Very close. Close up. And then some. This is exemplified by Fraser Watson’s brilliant filming of The Separation, a 17-minute short written by Dan Horrigan and Haven Taranta.
‘Thoughtful, punky & fun’: SAVING BRITNEY: PROLOGUE – Old Red Lion Theatre (Online review)
Uncertainty can sometimes provoke creativity. When the opening of Shereen Roushbaiani’s one-woman show, Saving Britney, at the Old Red Lion theatre was cancelled in January, its creators David Shopland and Roushbaiani, put together this online performance as a kind of taster for the live show, which now opens in May.
‘This really is a great adaptation’: THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (Online review)
This film version of the Oscar Wilde classic The Picture of Dorian Gray is a brilliant critique of the digital age.
‘A musical & historical love letter to the city of Sheffield’: THE BAND PLAYS ON – Sheffield Theatres (Online review)
The Band Played On, the latest show from Chris Bush, is a tuneful celebration of stoicism, resilience and humour.
NEWS: SOLT & UK Theatre survey reveals 95% of theatre organisations are worse off due to Covid
A year ago, on 16 March 2020, theatres across the country closed their doors due to the pandemic. Survey results collected by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre from across the theatre sector paint a picture of an industry that has struggled to survive the past 12 months and faced huge financial strain – but remains resilient and adaptable.
‘I think it can be quite cathartic for art to explore the pandemic’: Actor Ian Hallard’s debut play Adventurous premieres online
Actor Ian Hallard chats about his debut play Adventurous which is being produced online by the Jermyn Street Theatre.
NEWS: Date set in May for the return of the West End production of hit musical Six
Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’ West End musical phenomenon Six will reopen at London’s Lyric Theatre on 21 May 2021, booking until 22 August. With social distancing at indoor venues expected to remain in place until 21 June at the earliest, the theatre will initially operate at the same 50% capacity as December 2020 before the current national lockdown.
NEWS: Budget brings boosts for theatre industry while challenges remain
As expected Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget has unveiled key commitments to help the theatre industry recover from the year-long economic effects of the Covid-19 induced lockdown.
NEWS: Andrew Lloyd Webber prepares to open his West End musicals in summer 2021
Andrew Lloyd Webber has begun rehearsing his brand new musical Cinderella, stating he hopes the move will give other producers “confidence to follow suit by getting major musicals back open”.
‘Disturbing, moving & eloquent in its brilliant advocacy’: TYPICAL – Soho Theatre (Online theatre)
Typical, a film version of a powerfully poetic and painful 2019 monologue about institutional racism, is brilliant.
NEWS: Theatres could open in May but distancing rules are likely to remain until June at the earliest
Theatres will reopen subject to social distancing rules in May 2021, the Government has announced, but with no likelihood of operating at full capacity before late June at the earliest.
NEWS: Boris Johnson hints at first steps towards theatres reopening
Nearly one year after theatres were forced to close by the onset of the Covid pandemic, prime minister Boris Johnson has delivered the first indication that auditoria could reopen.
‘There’s no saying where theatres will be by the time summer arrives’: Is the light at the end of the tunnel even further away?
It won’t be until the vaccine programme has been fully and successfully rolled out throughout the nation, and any necessary tweaks established for mutant strains, that there may be enough confidence to begin to even think about going indoors again to sit amongst strangers.
‘Captures the men’s glowering rage & moments of acute vulnerability’: SHOOK (Online review)
The latest example of this problematic switch from stage to screen is the strongly acted Shook, Samuel Bailey’s debut play, which won the 2019 Papatango New Writing Prize and had a run at the Southwark Playhouse in November of that year.