The Liverpool Playhouse News

Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Artistic Director Gemma Bodinetz will direct Sean O'Casey's Juno and the Paycock in a major co-production with Bristol Old Vic. The cast will be led by Niamh Cusack as the eponymous Juno and Des McAleer as her husband Jack Boyle. The production is at Bristol Old Vic from 5 to 27 September before moving to the Liverpool Playhouse from 1 to 18 October.

Gina McKee (Di & Viv & Rose, King Lear, Ivanov, Our Friends In The North, Notting Hill) will play Queen Elizabeth, alongside the previously announced Martin Freeman

Following the sell-out success of its workshop as part of Vibrant 2012 - A Festival of Finborough Playwrights, and as part of the Finborough Theatre's acclaimed Celebrating British Music Theatre series, the world premiere of a new musical adaptation of the classic French novel Therese Raquin opens at the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre for a four week run, opening tonight, 25 March 2014 (Press Night: Thursday, 27 March 2014 at 7.30pm), starring Julie Atherton and Olivier Award nominee Tara Hugo.

Following the sell-out success of its workshop as part of Vibrant 2012 - A Festival of Finborough Playwrights, and as part of the Finborough Theatre's acclaimed Celebrating British Music Theatre series, the world premiere of a new musical adaptation of the classic French novel Therese Raquin opens at the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre for a four week run, opening Tuesday, 25 March 2014 (Press Night: Thursday, 27 March 2014 at 7.30pm), starring Julie Atherton and Olivier Award nominee Tara Hugo.

The terrifying theatrical event - GHOST STORIES - is set to scare West End audiences more than ever before when it opens at London's Arts Theatre from tonight, 13 February 2014.

Samantha Bond (Passion Play, Amy's View, Downton Abbey, Outnumbered) plays Muriel Eubanks, a glamorous divorcee looking for love in Beaumont-sur-Mer on the French Riviera and John Marquez (Privates On Parade, The Taming of the Shrew, Doc Martin) plays Andre Thibault, Beaumont-sur-Mer's Chief of Police.

Full casting is announced today for That Face, the debut play from award-winning playwright Polly Stenham, which will have its first London revival at the Landor Theatre from Tuesday 12 November to Sunday 1 December (press night Thursday 14 November).

Gary Naylor sees a musical for a second time - 28 years on.

The terrifying theatrical event - GHOST STORIES - is set to scare West End audiences more than ever before when it opens at London's Arts Theatre from 13 February 2014.

English Touring Theatre and Liverpool Playhouse will complete a trilogy of Roger McGough adaptations of classic Moliere comedies with THE MISANTHROPE in spring 2013. The Misanthrope debuted at the Liverpool Playhouse in February 2013 before its national tour.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Beautiful Thing will be returning to the West End this spring. Jonathan Harvey's smash hit opens on April 13 at the Arts Theatre in London and will run for six weeks before touring the UK with its finale in Brighton on June 15. The play sees actresses Suranne Jones and Zaraah Abrahams returning to the stage, and features up and coming star Jake Davies, who is set to perform in his biggest role to date.

The producers of the brand new 20th anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey's classic play, Beautiful Thing, are thrilled to announced full casting for the show, which will open at the Arts Theatre in the West End from 13 April - 25 May, followed by a short UK tour visiting Liverpool, Leeds and Brighton. Directed by Nikolai Foster, and designed by Colin Richmond, the production will star Suranne Jones as 'Sandra', Zaraah Abrahams as 'Leah', Oliver Farnworth as 'Tony and introducing Jake Davies as 'Jamie' and Danny-Boy Hatchard, making his professional debut as 'Ste'. Nancy Sullivan and Luke Baker will also join the company as understudy covers.

Ellison joins the cast to play silent movie screen siren, and owner of a voice never meant for the ‘talkies', Lina Lamont.

Following the huge successes of their collaboration on Tartuffe and The Hypochondriac, English Touring Theatre and Liverpool Playhouse complete a trilogy of Roger McGough adaptations of classic Molière comedies with The Misanthrope, which premieres on Tuesday 19th February before a national tour. The 'McGoughière' team will reunite McGough with Everyman and Playhouse Artistic Director Gemma Bodinetz, who will direct this co-production with ETT.

Blood Brothers rose from the ashes to secure its place in the West End history books, courtesy of the Phoenix theatre. But having enjoyed 24 years as one of the West End's best loved and longest running musicals, the 'story of the Johnstone Twins' is set to say farewell.