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.
‘A spectacle that only the most hard-nosed sceptic would be unable to completely resist’: TREE – Young Vic Theatre ★★★★
To the credit of Kwame Kwei-Armah and Idris Elba – and maybe Tori Allen-Martin and Sarah Henley – you can feel the urge to find a healing of all sides in a conflict between black and white South Africans that persists to this day.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Tree at the Young Vic Theatre
It initially hit the headlines for controversial reasons about artistic credit. Now that it’s opened, what have critics said about Idris Elba and Kwame Kwei-Armah’s Tree? Premiered as part of the Manchester International Festival, it’s now transferred to London’s Young Vic Theatre, where it continues until 24 August 2019.
‘The start of something really powerful’: TREE – Young Vic Theatre
There is much to applaud in Tree but it feels like a play that is more about the spectacle and experience than a substantial exploration of meaty issues which is fine to a point.
NEWS: Cush Jumbo makes her Young Vic debut as Hamlet in Kwame Kwei-Armah’s 2020 Young Vic season
Highlights of Young Vic artistic director Kwame Kwei-Armah’s programme for 2020 include Cush Jumbo making her Young Vic debut as Hamlet and Academy Award-nominee Ruth Negga as Portia in Marina Carr’s haunting play Portia Coughlan.
NEWS: Cast announced for Idris Elba and Kwame Kwei-Armah’s show Tree at MIF & Young Vic
Manchester International Festival (MIF), the Young Vic and Green Door Pictures have announced the full cast for Idris Elba and Kwame Kwei-Armah’s collaboration, Tree, which will receive its world premiere at Manchester International Festival, before transferring to London’s Young Vic.
BOOK REVIEW: About the Art of the Artistic Director
Christopher Haydon, the former artistic director of the Gate Theatre in London, has written the book About The Art of the Artistic Director.
NEWS: Stirling Prize-winning architect Steve Tompkins tops The Stage 100
Steve Tompkins, director of Haworth Tompkins, the architecture studio responsible for projects including many of UK theatre’s most high-profile building projects, has been named number one in The Stage 100 in association with Spektrix.
‘It’s hard to fault this fabulous production’: THE CONVERT – Young Vic Theatre
The Convert, at the Young Vic Theatre, a thrilling revival of Black Panther Danai Gurira’s 2012 play about Christianity and imperialism is a heartfelt cry for justice.
Mark Shenton rounds up news, reviews, interviews & controversies from London, New York & beyond
Mark Shenton offers reviews, news, interviews and tweets of the week from the West End, Broadway and beyond.
NEWS: Marianne Elliott confirmed to direct Wendell Pierce, Sharon D Clarke & Arinzé Kene in Death Of A Salesman as part of Young Vic season
The Young Vic’s artistic director Kwame Kwei-Armah has announced the venue’s 2019 season which includes Marianne Elliott directinf Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, with Wendell Pierce, Sharon D. Clarke and Arinzé Kene cast as Willy, Linda and Biff Loman.
‘As joyous a marker of future intent as you could wish for’: TWELFTH NIGHT – Young Vic ★★★★
As opening statements go, Kwame Kwei-Armah’s musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, imported from New York’s Public Theater is probably as joyous a marker of future intent as you could wish for.
‘Almost all unalloyed pleasure’: TWELFTH NIGHT – Young Vic
Is there such a thing as sheer theatrical joy? Yes, there is, and it comes from an unexpected source: Kwame Kwei-Armah and Shaina Taub’s musical adaptation of Twelfth Night at the Young Vic.
Mark Shenton views the week of news, openings & radical overhauls of Shakespeare in the West End, Broadway & beyond
Mark Shenton offers the week’s news, reviews, quotes and tweets in theatre from both sides of the Atlantic, including an interview with Sonia Friedman, reviews of Shakespeare in three different abbreviated versions, and a YouTube star appearing on Broadway.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Twelfth Night at the Young Vic Theatre
This musical adaptation of Twelfth Night features music and lyrics by Shaina Taub and is directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Oskar Eustis. Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews….
Mark Shenton views the latest week of news & openings in the West End, across the UK & in New York
News, reviews, controversies and commentary from the West End and Broadway, including the first West End job share and the re-opening of the Kiln Theatre (formerly the Tricycle).
NEWS: Kwame Kwei-Armah announces his inaugural season at the the Young Vic
Kwame Kwei-Armah has announced his first season as the new artistic director of the Young Vic.
‘As theatre there are several memorable moments’: MISTY – Bush Theatre
At the centre of the show is Arinzé Kene himself. Having just finished his part in Conor McPherson’s Girl from the North Country in the West End, he devotes all of his considerable charisma to this meditation on the race politics of storytelling.
THE LADY FROM THE SEA – Donmar Warehouse ★★★★
The grounding comes in Kwame Kwei-Armah’s decision to transplant the play to 1950s Caribbean and in the casting of Nikki Amuka-Bird as Doctor Wangel’s second wife, Ellida giving her racial difference added weight as the family outsider and to her feelings of restlessness.
THE LADY FROM THE SEA – Donmar Warehouse ★★★
Nikki Amuka-Bird is captivating as Ellida, and Ellie Bamber as Hilde and Helena Wilson as Bolette are wonderful as the daughters, their strength, intelligence and humour tempered with the fragility of living in a world owned by men.
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