Barbican Theatre News

The 6th Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival is back January 18-28, 2024, ready to heat up Chicago with its annual international pageant of puppet shows and artists at dozens of venues around the city.

A new production of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot will open at next year, directed by James Macdonald and starring Lucian Msamati (Estragon) and Ben Whishaw (Vladimir), with further casting to be announced. The production opens at Theatre Royal Haymarket in September 2024 and will play a strictly limited run.

Norwich Theatre has announced Tom Sleigh, current Chair of the Barbican Centre, will be appointed as Chair of Norwich Theatre.

The BBC have revealed their festive line-up, including many theatrical treats. Among the announcements are Rambert's Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby, Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty and The Hound of the Baskervilles, recorded on the stage of London’s Barbican Theatre.

Recently, we had the chance to speak with Ami Okumura Jones, who returns to the role of Satsuki, Mei’s older sister. We discussed what it has been like to be part of both the original and current production of the show, how it feels to be part of an adaptation of a classic Studio Ghibli film, and even her first reaction to seeing the puppets!

The Evening Standard Theatre Awards were held last night, November 19. Among the big winners this year were Sunset Boulevard, starring Nicole Scherzinger, as well as Jack Thorne's The Motive and the Cue, Andrew Scott for Vanya, and more. Check out the full list of winners here!

Ballet Black return to the Royal Opera House, Linbury Theatre with their double bill Pioneers. Then Or Now takes the poetry of American Feminist, Adrienne Rich and uses it as a foundation to discuss the current period of political and social change.

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre has announced Drew McOnie as their new Artistic Director & Joint Chief Executive, joining Executive Director James Pidgeon.  

The Barbican has announced its next Theatre and Dance line-up beginning on 23 January and running until 9 June 2024. Learn more about the upcoming programming here!

MimeLondon is a new curatorial project created by Helen Lannaghan and Joseph Seelig, the directors of London International Mime Festival (LIMF), which ended in 2023 after five decades of award-winning success.

A compilation of the relaxed and accessible performances of theatre shows around the UK this Christmas.

With the critically acclaimed production of Clyde's currently running at the Donmar, Artistic Director Michael Longhurst and Executive Director Henny Finch have announced the full cast for Macbeth.

Tony Award winner and Grammy Award nominee Aaron Tveit will star as Sweeney Todd, and two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster will star as Mrs. Lovett, in the Tony-nominated revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

The New York Pops will be joined by Tony Award winners Sutton Foster and Kelli O'Hara for a one night only concert on Friday, November 17, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall.

Song of Songs premiered in 2022 and now has its London opening at the Barbican Centre. The work sees American dance maker Pam Tanowitz collaborate with Pulitzer prize-winning composer David Lang.

 Due to popular demand, A Red Orchid Theatre has announced a four-show extension of Revolution by Ensemble Member Brett Neveu.

Featuring Lemn Sissay and Salena Godden for the UK, and Kwame Dawes, Ugochi Nwaogwugwu and Jive Poetic from the USA, Apples and Snakes will explore identity, social justice and the complexities of human nature in an eclectic mix of performances at the Southbank Centre's London Literature Festival.

To celebrate their 40th anniversary, Apples and Snakes are offering 40 poets the opportunity to learn about creating visuals to accompany their poetry, an increasingly necessary skill in the digital era. 

Featuring Lemn Sissay and Salena Godden for the UK, and Kwame Dawes, Ugochi Nwaogwugwu and Jive Poetic from the USA, Apples and Snakes will explore identity, social justice and the complexities of human nature in an eclectic mix of performances at the Southbank Centre’s London Literature Festival. Learn more about the show here!

The full company has been announced for the multi-award-winning stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbour Totoro which will return to the Barbican theatre for a strictly limited run from Tuesday 21 November 2023 to Saturday 23 March 2024. Find out who is starring and check out a rehearsal video here!