A star danced, and under it was Simon Godwin’s joyful, 1930s Riviera production born. Quite apart from the fact that it is nice to have the earnest NT enjoying two outbreaks of frenetic jitterbug dancing at once – Jack Absolute upstairs at the Olivier, and here Much Ado About Nothing set in the Mediterranean hotel world of Noel Coward – where it feats with unexpected neatness.
‘The sheer visual beauty of the whole staging is a source of considerable pleasure’: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING – National Theatre ★★★
Simon Godwin’s new production of Much Ado About Nothing for the National initially seems to be going for the full-on romantic escapism, from the bougainvillea and sun-kissed (Amalfi?) coast of the front curtain to the gorgeous Art Deco-meets-Italianate Palazzo mixture of colour and elegance of Anna Fleischle’s hotel setting
‘Manages to be inherently theatrical & a successful movie experience’: ROMEO & JULIET (National Theatre / Sky Arts)
National Theatre and Sky Arts’ hybrid theatre and film production of Romeo & Juliet has been a fascinating experiment resulting in a smart, interesting and entirely collaborative piece of art.
‘Perfect for the season’: THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA – RSC (Online review)
A rom com with a dark edge makes for good Valentine’s Day entertainment
NEWS: First image released & full casting announced for National Theatre’s Romeo & Juliet film including Adrian Lester as the Prince
A first-look image has today been released for the National Theatre’s Romeo & Juliet, a feature film for broadcast on Sky Arts and PBS this April.
NEWS: National Theatre announces original film of Romeo & Juliet with Josh O’Connor & Jessie Buckley
The National Theatre has announced it is creating a new filmed version of Romeo & Juliet for television, temporarily transforming the vast stage spaces of its Lyttelton theatre into a film studio to capture Shakespeare’s timeless play for a new generation of audiences. The National Theatre has broadcast stage productions to cinemas for over a decade through its National Theatre …
‘Ralph Fiennes & Sophie Okonedo are well matched’: ANTONY & CLEOPATRA – National Theatre (Online review)
I’ve always found Antony and Cleopatra a bit of a slog. There, I’ve said it. Too many scenes which flit about all over the place, too many minor inconsequential characters, deaths which seem interminable.
‘Riotous fun from start to finish’: TWELFTH NIGHT – National Theatre ★★★★
This joyous and lively production, starring Tamsin Greig, is one of the best versions of Shakespeare’s comedy I’ve ever seen.
NEWS: National Theatre At Home screens two versions of Frankenstein plus Antony & Cleopatra
After the popularity of its lockdown streamings of One Man, Two Guvnors, Jane Eyre, Treasure Island and tonight’s Twelfth Night to coincide with Shakespeare’s Birthday (23 April 2020), the National Theatre has announced its next two At Home titles: Danny Boyle’s 2011 monster hit Frankenstein and Simon Godwin’s production of Shakespeare’s Antony & Cleopatra.
NEWS: National Theatre’s 2020 programme includes new production of Romeo & Juliet starring Josh O’Connor & Jessie Buckley
The National Theatre has announced its programme of productions between December 2019 and June 2020, including Simon Godwin directing Romeo & Juliet with Josh O’Connor and Jessie Buckley.
‘Writes with wit & clarity’: HANSARD – National Theatre
Simon Woods’ debut play Hansard, about the parliamentary ruling class is timely, and amusingly preceptive, but ultimately unsatisfying.
‘A great political play’: HANSARD – National Theatre
Hansard is a great political play, one that tells us everything about the society we have become and why the impasse of the last three years cannot be easily broken.
‘Grief is the point of all’: HANSARD – National Theatre ★★★★
With Parliament in uproar upriver, the NT hit a luckily apt moment to stage Simon Woods’ first play Hansard and promote it as a “witty and devastating portrait of the governing class”. Just the night to hurl some fine invective at an audience fancying a torture-a-Tory session.
NEWS: Lindsay Duncan, Alex Jennings, Lucian Msamati & Ciarán Hinds feature in new National Theatre season
Highlights of the next new season at London’s National Theatre, running from May to October 2019, include several new productions and new broadcasts and outdoor activity announced to celebrate NT Live’s 10th birthday.
NEWS: National Theatre’s new season features Andrea Levy’s Small Island, Caryl Churchill’s Top Girls & Lenny Henry as Richard Pryor
Rufus Norris has unveiled the National Theatre’s plans for 2019 and beyond. Highlights include the world premiere of Small Island adapted by Helen Edmundson from Andrea Levy’s novel, directed by Rufus Norris.
‘Often feels confused’: ANTONY & CLEOPATRA – National Theatre
Antony & Cleopatra, clocking in at three hours and 30 minutes, is a tale of two halves (you really do only get one interval).
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Antony & Cleopatra at the National Theatre
Sophie Okonedo and Ralph Fiennes star in Simon Godwin’s production of Antony & Cleopatra at the National Theatre. Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews…
‘Ticks pretty much all the boxes’: ANTONY & CLEOPATRA – National Theatre
There is really very little to fault in this Antony and Cleopatra. It is lush, epic and a piece of sheer class. Better than that, it’s that rare theatrical beast: a god production in the Olivier.
Mark Shenton views the week of openings, interviews & latest lists… in the West End & on Broadway
News, reviews, interviews and farewells of the week in London, New York and the regions, including social media influencers, Pinter in the West End and more.
‘There are moments here to be savoured’: ANTONY & CLEOPATRA – National Theatre ★★★★
At three and a half hours all in Antony and Cleopatra is a long haul, but with Fiennes and Okonedo making Shakespeare’s verse sing, there are moments here to be savoured.
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