Millions know it by now, but in case like my enthralled companions last night you aren’t among them, grant me a moment or skip the the penultimate paragraph. Noises Off has been a national treasure since 1982, written by Michael Frayn after realising that the hurtling backstage business of doors, props and actors under stress is funnier than most actual farces. He wrote a squib called EXITS, the great producer Michael Codron encouraged something fuller.
‘The sheer theatrical verve is something to savour’: INTO THE WOODS – Bath ★★★★
The fact that Terry Gilliam and Leah Hausman’s production of Into The Woods at Theatre Royal Bath is one of two high profile productions currently running on either side of the Atlantic is testament to the durability and timelessness of Sondheim and book writer James Lapine’s creation.
‘Ralph Fiennes delivers a quite mesmeric performance’: FOUR QUARTETS – West End
Translating poetry to the stage can be challenging for both performer and audience, the importance of the language while alive and vivid on the page can feel verbose or intangible, even static, when read aloud.
NEWS: West End transfer is announced for Ralph Fiennes’ Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot
Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Royal & Derngate, Northampton have announcd that Ralph Fiennes’ world premiere stage adaptation of T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets will transfer to London’s Harold Pinter Theatre for 36 performances only from 18 November to 18 December 2021.
NEWS: Ralph Fiennes will star in & direct new regional tour of T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets
Ralph Fiennes will create a brand-new stage adaptation of T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets this summer. Announced this week as Britain marks a year since regional theatres were forced to close, this world premiere production will welcome audiences back to live theatre when it reopens the Theatre Royal Bath from 25 May to 5 June, and launches Royal & Derngate’s Made in Northampton season in the venue’s Royal auditorium from 8 to 12 June in a co-production between both venues.
NEWS: Theatres Trust supports 40 more UK theatres in final round of reopening fund grants
The Theatres Trust has awarded a further £155,265 of grants to help theatres with costs of Covid-secure reopening, including changes to the building to reduce congestion, improvements to ventilation systems and simple measures like installing hand sanitisers and screens.
‘I kinda thought, huh, this is a modern classic?’ – BETRAYAL – Theatre Royal Bath
An hour plus of a straight white man justifying his affair or a modern classic? I go in for more Betrayal at the Theatre Royal Bath.
NEWS: We round up the response to the latest tranche of Culture Recovery Fund grants awarded by the Government
More than 1,300 arts and cultural organisations have benefited from a share of £257 million as part of a vital financial boost from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.
NEWS: The Play That Goes Wrong announces West End return & Christmas season at Theatre Royal Bath
It’s been announced that Olivier Award-winning show The Play That Goes Wrong from Mischief Theatre will return to London’s Duchess Theatre, its home for the last six years, from 19 November 2020.
NEWS: Nancy Carroll & Haydn Gwynne lead the casting announced for Theatre Royal Bath’s Welcome Back Season of plays
Casting has been announced for the first two plays in the Theatre Royal Bath’s WELCOME BACK Season this autumn, running from 14 October to 12 December 2020. Two of the country’s leading actresses, Nancy Carroll and Haydn Gwynne, are joined by a distinguished cast of experienced stage and screen performers.
NEWS: Theatre Royal Bath will reopen in autumn 2020 with classic plays by Pinter, Frayn & Mamet
Theatre Royal Bath will reopen its main house in autumn 2020 with the Welcome Back Season of plays, beginning with Harold Pinter’s Betrayal directed by Jonathan Church from 14 October to 31 October, followed by Michael Frayn’s Copenhagen, directed by Polly Findlay from 4 November to 21 November, and lastly David Mamet’s drama Oleanna directed by Nicole Charles which will run from 25 November to 12 December.
NEWS: Nigel Havers launches touring company with Private Lives, co-starring Patricia Hodge
Actor Nigel Havers is launching his own touring company with a new production of Noel Coward’s classic comedy Private Lives, in which he’ll star with Patricia Hodge.
‘Jennifer Saunders’ performance will not disappoint’: BLITHE SPIRIT – Touring & West End
The psychology of Blithe Spirit snaps convincingly into place in Richard Eyre’s production while at the same time it fully utilises every opportunity to make the audience laugh.
NEWS: Deborah Warner is announced as new artistic director of the Ustinov Studio at Theatre Royal Bath
Theatre Royal Bath has announced the appointment of internationally acclaimed and multi-award-winning theatre and opera director Deborah Warner as the new artistic director of the Ustinov Studio. Her inaugural season will be autumn 2020 with full details and programming to be revealed in due course. Deborah Warner said: “I am delighted to be joining the team in Bath and very excited …
Theatre review of the 2019 & what to see in 2020
With a new year fast approaching, it is an interesting time to reflect on small changes across the theatre landscape in 2019 that will continue to shape how UK theatre will look as it moves into a new decade.
NEWS: UK tour & West End run announced for Blithe Spirit starring Jennifer Saunders
Noël Coward’s classic comedy Blithe Spirit, directed by Richard Eyre and starring Jennifer Saunders, will return next year for a UK tour followed by a strictly limited six-week engagement at the West End’s Duke of York’s Theatre following a celebrated reception at the Theatre Royal Bath earlier this summer.
NEWS: Full cast & creative team is announced for stage adaptation of The Man in the White Suit
The full cast and creative team is announced for Sean Foley’s stage adaptation of classic Ealing Studios comedy The Man in the White Suit.
‘A guaranteed crowd pleaser’: BLITHE SPIRIT – Bath ★★★★
It’s is not going to change your life but for a chance to see a national treasure and to wallow away from the pressures of the real world for a couple of hours, Blithe Spirit ticks all the boxes.
‘Saunders is outrageously good but then so are the rest of the cast’: BLITHE SPIRIT – Bath ★★★★
If I could look into Madame Arcati’s crystal ball I think I would see a West End transfer on the cards for Richard Eyre’s playful production of Blithe Spirit.
NEWS: Helen George will star in stage adaptation of My Cousin Rachel at the Theatre Royal Bath
Theatre Royal Bath Productions has announced a new production of Daphne du Maurier’s psychological thriller My Cousin Rachel, starring Helen George (BBC One’s Call The Midwife) in the titular role.