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‘This show has a strong message for today’: Sera Maehara returns to the role of Liat in South Pacific in London & on tour

In Features, Interviews, London theatre, Musicals, Other Recent Articles, Regional theatre, Touring by Emma ClarendonLeave a Comment

Love London Love Culture’s Emma Clarendon chatted to Sera Maehara about reprising her role as Liat in Daniel Evans’ production of South Pacific. We chatted to Sera Maehara about reprising her role as Liat in Daniel Evans’ production of South Pacific. How does it feel to be part of this production once again?I
feel very grateful to be back in this show. The process is very exciting, it’s not just coming back to what we found last year, but also discovering new approaches and adjusting to what feels right for us this year.

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‘Sets the standard against which future productions will be judged’: SOUTH PACIFIC – Sadler’s Wells & Touring

In London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Other Recent Articles, Reviews by Maryam PhilpottLeave a Comment

This is a smart and thoughtful interpretation of South Pacific that takes carefully considered approach to some of the problems in the scenario without fully absolving the characters for their behaviour and choices. Managing to balance the sparkle of the big set-pieces and the not so charming effects of military occupation with some serious emotional clout that will leave you wrung through at the end, this sets the standard against which future productions will be judged. With a UK tour running until November, Bali Ha’i is calling you, don’t resist.

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‘Utterly joyous & joyful’: SOUTH PACIFIC – Chichester Festival Theatre

In Musicals, Opinion, Regional theatre, Reviews by Mark ShentonLeave a Comment

While it is sadly premature to say that the theatre is fully back from its enforced hibernation of the last 15 months that put paid entirely to last summer’s Chichester Festival Theatre season, it was a (socially distanced) delight to welcome back of my favourite regional theatres with the opening, at last, of its production of South Pacific originally planned for last year.

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NEWS: National Theatre’s reopening programme includes new musical co-written by Rufus Norris & the return of playwright Alecky Blythe

In Broadway, London theatre, Musicals, Native, News, Online shows, Plays, Press Releases by Press Releases

The National Theatre has announced its programming until the start of next year with productions on all three South Bank stages as well as three major UK tours, two productions on Broadway, a return to cinemas, and a new feature film to be broadcast on television this autumn.

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Can honest critics have theatre professionals as friends?

In Broadway, Features, London theatre, Musicals, Online shows, Opinion, Plays by Mark ShentonLeave a Comment

I’m unashamedly a friend and champion of the theatre; but I can never been a simple cheerleader for it, regardless of the circumstances or my connections with people in a show I’m seeing. As honest critics find out all too often, we’re loved when we love something we see; but that can quickly pivot to becoming the enemy when we don’t.

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NEWS: A stage adaptation of Andrea Levy’s The Long Song & major revival of Martin McDonagh’s The Beauty Queen Of Leenane feature in Chichester’s new season

In Musicals, Native, News, Online shows, Plays, Press Releases, Regional theatre by Press Releases

Four new productions to follow South Pacific in Chichester’s Festival 2021 have today been announced by artistic director Daniel Evans and executive director Kathy Bourne. Two world premieres: The Long Song, a new adaptation by Suhayla El-Bushra based on Andrea Levy’s novel, directed by Charlotte Gwinner The Flock, by Zoe Cooper, directed by Guy Jones Revivals of two great modern …

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Mark Shenton’s weekly chart of forthcoming theatrical comings & goings has some new entries

In Edinburgh Festival, Features, London theatre, Musicals, Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Regional theatre, Scotland, Touring by Mark ShentonLeave a Comment

This weekly column keeps track of the shows that are coming back, or are newly being announced, as theatres prepare to re-open from next month onwards. It will be updated weekly until such time as it becomes a reality, and from then on will provide a weekly update to that week’s openings and future ones.

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Returning & new productions heading for the West End & beyond post-lockdown: Are you up to date?

In Broadway, Features, London theatre, Musicals, Online shows, Opinion, Plays by Mark ShentonLeave a Comment

Meanwhile, I want to start keeping track of the shows that are coming back, or are newly being announced, in a new feature here that will be updated weekly until such time as it becomes a reality, and from then on will provide a weekly update to that week’s openings and future ones.