The latest addition to the Old Vic’s In Camera series will Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax from 14–17 April 2021 with Jamael Westman (Hamilton, West End) as the Once-ler and Audrey Brisson, David Ricardo-Pearce and Ben Thompson as The Lorax. Other cast includes: Richard Katz, Melanie La Barrie and Silas Wyatt-Barke.
Star casting in & out of lockdown – the debate continues
Theatre may have migrated online for now (though here’s hoping that we’ll be back in the stalls and not just our armchairs or desks soon). Even though online theatre has created a much more level playing field in terms of opportunities for people and productions to be seen, with the smallest theatres like the Barn competing with the biggest like the National for audiences, star casting is STILL a thing.
‘She leaves the space for you to have your own answer’: Playwright Sarah Kane as remembered by friend & fellow writer David Greig
It’s not that Sarah Kane had magical powers, but that she was with total integrity exploring her question. And there were a lot of amazing questions at that time.
‘Transporting us by engaging the heart, mind & soul’: How theatre-makers adapted in 2020
Here are Shane Morgan’s picks of how 2020 in theatre has continued to do what it does best: transporting us by engaging the heart, mind and soul.
NEWS: Capital Theatres & Pitlochry Festival Theatre announce new joint venture, the Musical Commissioning Hub
Under the new strategy of its chief executive Fiona Gibson, Capital Theatres intends to develop its third theatre space, The Studio, starting with the creation of exciting new Scottish musicals. In a producing partnership with Pitlochry Festival Theatre, it is launching a brand-new Musical Commissioning Hub as the first step towards achieving this.
‘A poignant reminder of what we are all missing’: GHOST LIGHT ★★★★ (Online review)
With one of the My Light Shines On series of films, Ghost Light provides a poignant reminder of what we are all missing in this fallow year of live performance in Edinburgh during August.
‘Finding the meeting point between language & understanding’: ADVENTURES WITH THE PAINTED PEOPLE – Pitlochry Festival Theatre (Radio review)
‘If a theatrical phoenix is to rise post-pandemic, it could do a lot worse than to look and sound as resplendent as this.’
‘A devastating moment for our industry’: Edinburgh’s Lyceum Theatre in hibernation
Edinburgh’s Lyceum Theatre has entered a period of “hibernation” as a building-based producing theatre, postponing all 2020 shows and entering into negotiations with all staff over redundancies.
‘Excellent all-around performances’: DR KORCZAK’S EXAMPLE – Leeds ★★★★★
Dr Korczak’s Example is a profoundly a powerful and moving play and a very poignant reminder to many who suffered under the clutches of Nazi persecution.
NEWS: Ian McKellen is the first actor to top The Stage 100
Stage and screen star Ian McKellen has been named number one in The Stage 100, ‘the definitive guide to the most influential figures working in the UK theatre and performing arts industry today’. He is the first actor to ever top the list.
Text of the Day: Touching the Void
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
‘Quintessential tale of survival against the odds’: TOUCHING THE VOID – West End
David Greig’s much-lauded mountaineering survival story fails to reach the dizzy heights.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Touching the Void at Duke of York’s Theatre
Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews for Tom Morris’ production of Touching the Void which is now playing at the Duke of York’s Theatre .
‘This play is epic’: TOUCHING THE VOID – West End ★★★★★
Make no mistake, Touching The Void at the Duke of York’s Theatre is tantalising theatre & what David Greig has achieved in this adaptation is remarkable.
‘Too much of what occurs on stage is simply invisible’: TOUCHING THE VOID – West End
The true story behind Touching The Void and the endeavours and trials that befell mountaineer Joe Simpson and his climbing partner Simon Yates on the Siula Grande mountain in the Peruvian Andes has been recognised in both Simpson’s 1985 bestseller and Film Four’s acclaimed docu-drama released some 18 years later.
‘Provides some moments of genuine theatrical magnetism’: SOLARIS – Edinburgh ★★★★
Dealing with troubling questions about human interaction, the Lyceum’s adaptation of Solaris is – like all the best science fiction – not really about alien planets but about our own world.
Text of the Day: Europe
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
NEWS: Casting is announced for the West End transfer of Touching the Void
Casting has today been announced for the West End transfer of Tom Morris’ production of Touching the Void which will see original cast members Fiona Hampton, Patrick McNamee and Josh Williams return to the show, joined by Angus Yellowlees.
‘A play whose time has come yet again’: EUROPE – Donmar Warehouse
Europe at the Donmar Warehouse is a magnificent revival of David Greig’s 1990s visionary classic which is timely, tough and tender, brutal and brilliant.
‘Packs a fierce climactic punch’: EUROPE – Donmar Warehouse ★★★★
Michael Longhurst’s terrific, visceral debut production of David Greig’s Europe at the Donmar Warehouse packs a fierce climactic punch.