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.
‘There’s always something new to speak to me’: Mark Shenton chooses his top ten Sondheim songs
We are now onto the third of my new weekly musical theatre podcast series ShenTens. This week I count down my top ten favourite Sondheim songs — at least my favourites right now.
How important is theatre photography to the success of a show?
Theatre photography is one of the most important ways to promote a new production and simultaneously one of the elements audiences – and probably most creatives – actively think least about.
CD Review: Company 2018 London cast / Follies 2018 National Theatre cast
We should celebrate the fact that within the space of a year London has played host to stagings of not one but two Sondheim masterpieces that have all but redefined them in theatrical terms: Company and Follies.
‘As perfect a piece of musical theatre as I could hope for’: FOLLIES – National Theatre
Just a quickie for this revisit to Follies, which remains as perfect a piece of musical theatre as I could hope for. I loved it then but I really love it now.
Joanna Riding & Janie Dee talk Carousel, Follies & friendship
Janie Dee and Joanna Riding are two of the UK’s finest musical theatre performers. At the National Theatre the return of Dominic Cooke’s acclaimed production of Follies currently stars the two actresses.
‘A simply outstanding piece of musical theatre’: FOLLIES – National Theatre
The Olivier Award-winning Follies returns to the National Theatre in richer, deeper, more resonant form and just blows me away.
‘Scoring top marks across the board’: FOLLIES – National Theatre ★★★★★
Eighteen months on and with a couple of well-placed casting changes Stephen Sondheim’s Follies returns to the National Theatre with the excellence of this devastating musical a breath of fresh air amidst a slew of disappointing recent openings in the capital.
‘It’s worth a visit to see how theatre should be done’: FOLLIES – National Theatre ★★★★
After its sold out run in 2017, Follies is back in true glamorous style as it follows a group of dancers reminiscing and reliving their youth.
Love London Love Culture’s Theatre Picks for February
Here’s LLLC’s monthly guide to some of the best theatre openings in February 2019.
NEWS: Director Peter Brook returns in National Theatre season which also features new plays from Nina Raine & Anthony Neilson
Details have been announced for the National Theatre’s season running from July 2018 to January 2019. Highlights include Peter Brook returning to direct at the NT for the first time in 50 years with The Prisoner, plus new plays from Nina Raine and Anthony Neilson.
NEWS: National Theatre season features UK premiere of Anaïs Mitchell musical & Patrick Marber version of Exit the King
Details have been released of the National Theatre’s season from May to September 2018. Highlights include the Uk premiere of Hadestown, with music, lyrics and book by Anaïs Mitchell, the return of Follies and Patrick Marber’s new version of Eugène Ionesco’s Exit the King.
Debbie Gilpin on Olivier Awards: Disappointment for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie & Hamlet
So, that just happened! Despite some small disappointments in the nominations (nothing too much, just some things felt unnecessarily overlooked), I was rather looking forward to this year’s Oliviers.
NEWS: Hamilton scoops seven Olivier Awards with top honours for The Ferryman & National Theatre too
New American musical Hamilton collected seven Olivier Awards including Best New Musical and The Ferryman went home with three prizes at the Olivier Awards 2018, the UK’s most prestigious stage honours announced tonight (Sunday 8 April 2018) at London’s Royal Albert Hall hosted by Catherine Tate.
NEWS: Hamilton cast open Olivier Awards 2018, Ceremony performances & broadcast revealed
The cast of Hamilton, which has a record-breaking 13 Olivier Award nominations – the most in Oliviers history – will open the ceremony on Sunday 8 April 2018 with opening track ‘Alexander Hamilton’.
NEWS: Hamilton cast open Olivier Awards 2018, Ceremony performances & broadcast revealed
The cast of Hamilton, which has a record-breaking 13 Olivier Award nominations – the most in Oliviers history – will open the ceremony on Sunday 8 April 2018 with opening track ‘Alexander Hamilton’.
‘A performance of understated excellence’: JANIE DEE – Live At Zedel ★★★★
Janie Dee’s brief residency at Live At Zedel was a chance to glimpse a performance of understated excellence. A two-time Olivier winner – and just nominated for a third – Dee drew her inspiration from across the spectrum of song in an enchanting yet eclectic set.
NEWS: Hamilton & The Ferryman dominate 2018 Olivier Awards shortlists, Imelda Staunton double nominated
Nominations for the Olivier Awards 2018 are announced today. The shortlists are dominated by Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical Hamilton and Jez Butterworth’s latest play The Ferryman. Headlines include: New American musical Hamilton becomes the most nominated production in Oliviers history with 13 nominations The Ferryman, currently running in the West End before transferring to Broadway, is the most nominated new play with 8 …
NEWS: Hamilton, Follies, Bryan Cranston & full Critics’ Circle Awards results
Opening just before Christmas to rave reviews, the London version of the multi-award-winning Broadway hit Hamilton has won its first major prize outside the USA – Best Musical at the 2017 Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards.
Out of 346 shows seen, what were Ian Foster’s Top Ten #theatre2017 picks?
Well, we made it, just. 2017 passed by with just the 346 visits to the theatre, I don’t really know why I do it to myself! Out of those, 33 were return visits to shows I’d already seen and I got out of London for 32 shows – not too bad considering I don’t do Edinburgh and no one is covering my travel expenses!