Headlong Theatre News

Paul Roseby, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain (NYT) has today announced its new season of work. 2017 marks 50 years of the organisation commissioning new work for young people and in celebration 50 play readings are taking place in weird and wonderful locations across the UK today. Some notable writers who received early commissions from NYT, such as James Graham (This House, Finding Neverland), Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and The Cursed Child) and Zawe Ashton have plays being showcased. 

Hot on the heels of the theatre's eye-popping 250th year of celebration and its record-breaking productions, Bristol Old Vic is making its theatre fit for the next quarter of a millennium. As the Front of House redevelopment pushes forward, uncovering remarkable treasures from the past, the 2017 artistic programme has every bit of the forward-looking spirit which has kept the theatre alive for 250 extraordinary years. 

The Geffen Playhouse today announced that the cast for its West Coast Premiere production of Matthew Lopez's The Legend of Georgia McBride will feature Andrew Burnap as Casey, Matt McGrath as Miss Tracy Mills, Nija Okoro as Jo, Larry Powell as Rexy / Jason and Nick Searcy as Eddie.

???????One of Britain's most revered comedy icons, John Cleese, will collaborate with the Mercury Theatre Colchester to bring his brand new adaption of Georges Feydeau's hysterical farce, Bang Bang, to the stage this Spring.

Rose Theatre Kingston today announces the cast for the world premiere of My Brilliant Friend, a two-part adaptation of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan quartet of novels which have become a global literary sensation. 

"I want to be rich. I was always fighting against it, like it was a dirty secret or something. And now I've got it, I can have whatever I want. I don't have to worry about anything. I don't have to care about anything. I don't even have to pretend I care."

In a new production commissioned by the Finborough Theatre, the rediscovery of Tony Harrison's The Trackers of Oxyrhynchus in its first London production for nearly 30 years opens at the Finborough Theatre for a four week limited season.

James Graham's critically acclaimed political drama THIS HOUSE will transfer to the Garrick Theatre, following its upcoming run at Chichester's Minerva Theatre.

Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres Robert Hastie today announces his inaugural season. The new season opens with Hastie directing William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar bringing Shakespeare back to the Crucible; this will be followed in the Studio by the winner of the new annual RTST Director Award Scheme Kate Hewitt directing the regional premiere of Nina Raine's Tribes.  

Adrian Edmondson is to star in an adaptation of William Leith's at once richly comic, darkly satirical and weepingly emotional bestseller Bits of Me are Falling Apart.

Soho Theatre has a packed festival programme and recent weeks have seen the cult hit Fleabag break box office records, twelve shows filmed for its fledgling Soho Theatre Live TV and digital offer, two UK tours, and its latest crop of Soho Young Company's Comedy and Writers' Labs commence.

Dorothy Berwin, Mark Lee and Tom Kirdahy are pleased to announce the third winners of the Berwin Lee Playwrights Award. The Berwin Lee Award was created to foster and promote the craft of playwriting in both the United States and the United Kingdom and to encourage the writing and production of plays.

Now celebrating its 90th anniversary, The Plough and the Stars has been given a reimagined revival by The Abbey Theatre, Ireland's National Theatre and is on tour at the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, MA until October 9th. This Brechtian inspired production is as alien as it is fresh and reminds us of a plightful world outside of our current political climate. Parallels could easily be drawn from turn of the century Ireland to 2016 America, but that's not the story The Abbey Theatre or director Sean Holmes are interested in telling. Not everything on the American Stage needs a path back to us. The Abbey's approach is more vast and profound as evidenced in an early line 'There's no such thing as an Irishman, or an Englishman, or a German or a Turk; we're all only human bein's.'

Adrian Edmondson is to star in an adaptation of William Leith's at once richly comic, darkly satirical and weepingly emotional bestseller Bits of Me are Falling Apart.

In celebration of Roald Dahl Day, which will mark Roald Dahl's 100th birthday on 13 September, producing partners Nuffield and Curve in association with Lyric Hammersmith, today announced a major UK tour of Roald Dahl's FANTASTIC MR FOX, in a brand new musical adaptation for the stage. Following its world premiere at Nuffield Southampton Theatres this Christmas (22 Nov - 8 Jan. National Press Night: Wed 30 November, 7pm), FANTASTIC MR FOX will transfer to the Lyric Hammersmith for a 4-week run (25 Jan - 19 Feb) and will then tour to a further 16 venues nationwide, including Curve (3 - 9 April). This brand new family show is a playful re-telling of Roald Dahl's much-loved book; a brilliantly witty tale of the clever Mr Fox outfoxing three greedy farmers, brought to life on stage with live music and songs. Tickets are now on sale.

With its UK premiere earlier this year at The Drum, Theatre Royal Plymouth's fast-paced, hilarious and (slightly) bonkers Monster Raving Loony brings its party fun and punkish anarchy to Soho Theatre next month.  Opening tonight 17 May, Monster Raving Loony by James Graham will run until 18 June.

Simon Stokes, Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Plymouth, today announces full cast for the London run of Monster Raving Loony. Samuel James reprises his role as Screaming Lord Sutch, alongside original cast members including Joseph Alessi, Joanna Brookes, Jack Brown, and composer/musician Tom Attwood and they are joined by Vivienne Acheampong who completes the cast for the London run. Set & Costume Design is by Bob Bailey with lighting design by Chahine Yavroyan, audio visual design by Duncan McLean and sound design by Gregory Clarke.  Guest Director is Cal McCrystal (with a trademark bravura farce contribution).

James Graham's critically acclaimed political drama THIS HOUSE will transfer to the Garrick Theatre, following its upcoming run at Chichester's Minerva Theatre.

With its UK premiere earlier this year at The Drum, Theatre Royal Plymouth's fast-paced, hilarious and (slightly) bonkers Monster Raving Loony brings its party fun and punkish anarchy to Soho Theatre next month.  Opening on 17 May,Monster Raving Loony by James Graham will preview from 14 May, and run until 18 June.

Atlantic Theater Company has announced commissions of six new plays by Jocelyn Bioh, Jennifer Haley, Paola Lazaro, Qui Nguyen, Heidi Schreck, and Simon Stephens and Mark Eitzel.