Jonathan Marshall - Page 2

A Streetcar Named Desire was the hottest ticket in town back in the summer of 2014. Six years later, it remains the fastest selling play in the Young Vic's history. It enjoyed a New York transfer and was broadcast in cinemas around the globe thanks to National Theatre Live.

The X-Files became a '90s cult classic, running for nine seasons and spawning two movies and two miniseries revivals. But since portraying FBI agent Dana Scully, Gillian Anderson has carved out a diverse career both on screen and stage. The much-loved star spoke to BroadwayWorld about her career ahead of the National Theatre at Home's screening of the critically acclaimed A Streetcar Named Desire.

Yamin Choudury recently celebrated two years in the role of Artistic Director at Hackney Empire. In that short time, the theatre has seen an average of 83% new bookers for many productions, and youth engagement has also increased. Choudury spoke with BroadwayWorld about access, representation and diversity in the arts, as well as his vision for the East London landmark.

James Morton is a playwright from Stoke-On-Trent. His debut play Father's Son was shortlisted for the Tony Craze Award and after a reading at Soho Theatre premiered at this year's Vault Festival. Morton spoke with Broadway World about the process of writing and putting on the play as well as mental health, labels and the lockdown.

At its height in the late 90s, Who Wants to be a Millionaire was must-see television. Hosted by Chris Tarrant, the show premiered in 1998 and was an overnight ratings sensation. After an unwavering run of success, controversy reared its head in 2001. Major Charles Ingram bagged the big prize, only to later be exposed as a cheat thanks to an accomplice who coughed to signal each correct answer. The show's life went on, but in many ways its once bright light had been irrevocably dimmed.

The theatre landscape has changed dramatically since the 1977 premier of Abigail's Party but Leigh remains as real, raw and relevant as ever before. At 77 the writer / director shows no signs of slowing down. After venturing into period pieces with Topsy-Turvey and Mr Turner, Leigh's most recent picture Peterloo is his most ambitious yet. We've put together a list of Leigh's top ten works.

Tilda Swinton Answers an Ad on Craig's List is as wonderfully original and outlandish as its title suggests. The show has become a cult comedy classic, delighting audiences not once but twice at the Edinburgh Festival, as well as the VAULT Festival and in its writer's homeland, with sellout performances in New York, San Francisco and LA. Actor and writer Byron Lane spoke with BroadwayWorld about the creation and subsequent success of the play, as well as his newly penned novel A Star Is Bored.

Hampstead Theatre has delved into its digital archive. In partnership with The Guardian the theatre will stream a series of past productions completely free of charge. First up is Mike Bartlett's Wild, which premiered back in 2016. The play is available for just one week and will be followed by Beth Steel's Wonderland and then Howard Brenton's Drawing the Line.

Reading play texts is an enjoyable way of attaining the theatre fix we're all feeling deprived of during these unprecedented times. It got us thinking about some screenplays and novels that could make for interesting stage adaptations.

The Vaults is very vocal about its mission statement of embracing artists from all walks of life to come together and inspire others.  Glitch truly belongs in the festival line up with its unique and heartfelt depiction of autism.

The Cavern at the Vaults could not be a more appropriate setting for a play about underground crime. Francine and Marla are in search of a new apprentice at their hazardous waste removal firm. Eager for the work, Belinda quickly discovers the job is not quite what it seems and it isn't long before she finds herself immersed in a dark and disturbing world involving criminal activity.

The Vault Festival provides a perfect platform for artists to tackle subjects that are seldom explored on stage. Writer Karen Bartholomew is herself adopted and reunited with her birth family at a young age. This is not her story; however it's obviously an issue very close to her heart and her background lends the production an appropriate authenticity.

Working with Carers UK, Carers Trust and Carers Network, Ecoute Theatre bring their verbatim play Take Care to the Vault Festival. Approximately 70 interviews were conducted with the material being amalgamated into 20 different stories that are presented to us by a cast of just 4 talented actors.

Ben is a working class chef whose life spirals out of control when he attempts to rekindle his relationship with his mother. His friendships, career and love life are all tested as his week goes from bad to worse. Written by Tom Stocks and with the support of the Mental Health Foundation, Netflix & Chill is a pertinent and timely study of the effects of toxic masculinity. Suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 45 and although society has finally begun to acknowledge and address male mental health, the fast-paced social media saturated world we're a part of can be extremely debilitating to those who are fragile.

The second production at the recently reopened Riverside Studios in Hammersmith marks Robert Bathurst's highly anticipated return to the stage. Joined by Rebecca Johnson, Love, Loss & Chianti is a double bill of poet Christopher Reid's A Scattering and The Song of Lunch.

Following their collaboration with My Dad's Gap Year, Tom Wright reunites with actor Alex Britt for this magical coming of age fantasy, only this time the writer is in the director's chair.  Potter fanatic Jack is hopelessly in love with his best friend Ollie. Navigating his way through the daily struggles of school and still processing his sexuality, everything comes down to trial and error for the young teen. With his trusty time-turner device, however, Jack is able to revisit events and change his actions.

The bond between father and son can be incredibly strong but also incredibly fraught. Fathers might expect their sons to follow suit in terms of interests and ideas and sons perhaps feel pressured into living up to certain expectations that are thrust upon them. Lack of communication and male pride often interfere with being open and honest with one another and toxic behaviours can trickle down from one generation to the next. Writer James Morton explores this subject matter in his debut play premiering at The Vaults Festival. Casting a light on three generations, Father's Son examines how unresolved trauma and poor mental health ripple through a working class family in Stoke. Developed through the National Theatre's Toolkit programme and Soho Writers' Lab, the play was shortlisted for the Tony Craze Award in 2018.

The promotional poster promises us the greatest afterparty of our lives. Entering the theatre to loud music and dancing, we know we're in for as good a time as friends Andy and Yog have clearly just experienced.  Santino Smith and Scott Mackie's new play isn't simply an evening of raucous fun though. Exploring love, friendship, sexuality and identity and the idea of navigating adulthood, this is a comedy with substance and a lot to say.

The iconic Riverside Studios return to a brand new building after a five year redevelopment project. West London will benefit from multiple performance, rehearsal and broadcast spaces in the shadow of Hammersmith Bridge. The new building also boasts two cinemas with films selected by renowned curator Jason Wood, who promises a mix of first run films alongside the best in independent film.

Wildly Theatre Company voices stories that represent different sides of a female. Here they examine beauty while exploring our Social Media obsessed culture and the damaging influence it can hold over people.