This is the time of year when we typically defy Britain’s unpredictable weather and decide that since its summer, we will sit in the outdoors to watch theatre, come rain or come shine (and it’s often the former).
‘Celebrating the breadth & creativity of the theatre industry’: THE MEANING OF ZONG / AFTERPLAY – BBC Sounds
The Meaning of Zong and Afterplay showcase the power of audio drama to transport an audience’s imagination and to see the familiar a little differently.
With light at the end of the tunnel for live performance and some of our biggest institutions announcing summer programmes at their venues, the BBC’s new Lights Up Festival has arrived at a moment of optimism, not just acting as a reminder of all …
Review Round Up: All On Her Own at stream.theatre
Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews for the digital production of Terence Rattigan’s one-woman play All on Her Own starring Janie Dee.
‘Beautifully written & engagingly performed’: ALL ON HER OWN – stream.theatre (Online review)
All On Her Own is an unusual monologue which holds the attention throughout; although perhaps the borderline hysterics of the original version are ultimately truer to the play as written.
NEWS: Janie Dee will star in a new digital production of Terence Rattigan’s All On Her Own
A brand new digital production of Terence Rattigan’s one-woman play All On Her Own will star award-winning actress Janie Dee and be directed by Alastair Knights, with Jack McCann as assistant director and original music by Lindsey Miller. The show will be available to stream for eight performances only via stream.theatre from 16 to 21 February 2021.
NEWS: The London premiere of Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike is postponed
Producers have announced that the London premiere of Christopher Durang’s Tony Award-winning Best Play comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, due to start previews at Charing Cross Theatre on 21 March 2020 will not now go ahead as planned. It will be rescheduled later in the year.
NEWS: Vincent Franklin & Rebecca Lacey join Janie Dee in the cast of Charing Cross Theatre’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Award-winning actress Janie Dee will be joined by Vincent Franklin, Rebecca Lacey, Michelle Asante, Charlie Maher and Lukwesa Mwamba in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike when it opens at Charing Cross Theatre later this month. Time to book your tickets!
NEWS: Janie Dee will star in the London premiere of Christopher Durang’s Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike
Two time Olivier award-winner Janie Dee is to star in the London premiere of Christopher Durang’s Tony Award-winning Best Play comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.
‘Sparkling production’: THE BOY FRIEND – Menier Chocolate Factory ★★★★
Just walking into the theatre and seeing Paul Anderson’s vibrantly coloured set for The Boy Friend chases away the winter blues and transports you to 1920s Riviera in this sparkling production.
‘Maintains its crisp choreography’: THE BOY FRIEND – Menier Chocolate Factory ★★★★
The Boy Friend is an ideal show to lighten these dark winter days, providing a healthy dose of escapism and pure joyousness for all.
‘A colourful & escapist retreat’: THE BOY FRIEND – Menier Chocolate Factory ★★★
At the end of a year in which female-forward and feminist theatre has made so much progress, The Boy Friend looks regressive as well as nostalgic. On the other hand, it is a colourful and escapist retreat from the winter, and we could all do with a night off from angst.
‘A surefire hit if ever there was one’: THE BOY FRIEND – Menier Chocolate Factory
As light as a madeleine and as frivolous as a macaron, Sandy Wilson’s The Boy Friend proves a festive treat at the Menier Chocolate Factory.
NEWS: Menier Chocolate Factory announces initial casting for major revival of The Boy Friend
The Menier Chocolate Factory has announced initial casting for its major revival of Sandy Wilson’s The Boy Friend running at the theatre from 22 November 2019 to 7 March 2020 (press night is on 3 December 2019). Full casting will be announced shortly.
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.
‘I predict a hit’: VANYA & SONIA & MASHA & SPIKE – Bath ★★★★
Jonathan Church has a showman’s eye for the popular and it’s a relief to report that Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike provides a strong start to another Bath summer season.
NEWS: Katherine Parkinson & Vanessa Redgrave join line-up for Theatre Royal Bath’s summer season as new productions are announced
Jonathan Church, artistic director of Theatre Royal Bath’s summer season, has announced further productions and new casting for the 2019 programme. Katherine Parkinson joins Rupert Everett in the cast of Uncle Vanya which he also directs.
‘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.