Marianka Swain - Page 36

Actor Andrew Gower's credits include Monroe, The White Queen, Being Human and Outlander. He's currently starring as Winston Smith in the third West End run of 1984, Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan's lauded adaptation of George Orwell's novel.

Rehearsal images are released today for the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company's THE ENTERTAINER, the final production in the year-long Plays at the Garrick season. The production will play at the Garrick from 20 August until 12 November, with press night on 30 August. The Entertainer will also be broadcast live to cinemas across the UK and internationally on 27 October.

Australian theatre's 'enfant terrible' Simon Stone, whose 2014 version of Ibsen's The Wild Duck at the Barbican memorably starred a live duck, has returned to take on Lorca's 1934 'tragic poem'. If some of the elemental lyricism has been lost in this updating, which trades rural Spain for contemporary London, it's a small price to pay for a raw, searing work that builds to a shattering climax.

Production images have been released for Simon Stone's YERMA at the Young Vic, starring Billie Piper as the title character. The cast also features Brendan Cowell, Maureen Beattie, John MacMillan, Charlotte Randle and Thalissa Teixeira, with design by Lizzy Clachan, music and sound by Stefan Gregory, light by James Farncombe and costumes by Alice Babidge.

During the recent Ghostbusters furore, enraged opponents claimed the movie would ruin their childhood. As someone who grew up with the Harry Potter book series - preparing for GCSEs while the characters stressed over O.W.L.s - I can happily declare that this affectionate, spellbinding work only enhances that treasured experience. It's both nostalgic and thrillingly new, a smartly crafted love letter to J.K. Rowling's invention and to theatre itself.

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre is currently undergoing a major refurbishment which will see the venue completely transformed over six weeks, with a grand reopening in the autumn. It has been announced today that seating in the 1,200-capacity Victorian auditorium will be fully replaced - bringing the total cost for the refurbishment to £1.1million. 

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Irvine Welsh and Danny Boyle's iconic, generation-defining film Trainspotting, and ahead of the 2017 release of its sequel, a no-holds-barred immersive theatrical adaptation opens at The Vaults in Waterloo on 8 November (previews from 3 November), and run until 15 January 2017. To further mark the anniversary, 20 tickets at £20 will be available for every performance.

Hampstead Theatre presents the world premiere of Beth Steel's LABYRINTH, a Hampstead Theatre commission. Directed by Anna Ledwich, this compelling new thriller explores the fallout from one the most catastrophic economic crises of modern history, which brought Latin America to its knees for decades. The play runs 1 September-8 October, with press night on 7 September.

Curve has been awarded Arts Council England funding to adapt Amana Fontanella-Khan's critically acclaimed documentary novel Pink Sari Revolution for the stage. The £100,000 award is part of Art Council England's 'Reimagine India' programme that aims to develop new work and collaborations between arts and cultural organisations in England and India. The project marks the 70th anniversary of the partition of India and Pakistan.

New Adventures has announced the full casting for the world premiere of Matthew Bourne's production of THE RED SHOES, opening at the Theatre Royal Plymouth on Monday 21 November with an eight-week Christmas season at Sadler's Wells from Tuesday 6 December 2016 to Sunday 29 January 2017. Press Night is Wednesday 14 December

Struggling to fill the school holidays, and no luck getting Cursed Child tickets? Fear not - there are plenty of fantastic London theatre options for family audiences.

David Bowie and Enda Walsh's LAZARUS, which premiered at New York Theatre Workshop last year, is coming to King's Cross Theatre for a run 25 October-22 January 2017. It's directed by Ivo van Hove, and several cast members from the New York production are reprising their roles: Michael C Hall, Michael Esper and Sophia Anne Caruso. Full casting to be announced.

Director Thom Southerland has built a career on revelatory musical revivals in smaller fringe venues, from Me and Juliet and The Grand Tour at Finborough Theatre to Titanic, Grand Hotel and Grey Gardens at Southwark Playhouse. He's programmed an enticing range of musicals for his first season as artistic director of Charing Cross Theatre, but first up is the European premiere of Rodgers and Hammerstein's little-seen Allegro, playing at Southwark from August 5.

Lewis Griffiths' numerous credits include tours of Jersey Boys, Legally Blonde and Ghost - The Musical and Priscilla Queen of the Desert in the West End. He's now taking on the iconic role of Johnny Castle in Dirty Dancing, which begins a UK tour from this month.

London is never short of theatre temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From the new Groundhog Day musical and Shakespeare in a department store to a highly anticipated Branagh performance, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld's reviews…

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD has its official opening this week, with a special gala performance on Saturday 30 July, and production pictures have now been released. The eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage, is one play presented in two parts. Both parts are intended to be seen in order on the same day (matinee and evening) or on two consecutive evenings.  

Artistic Director of The Old Vic Matthew Warchus, composer and lyricist Tim Minchin, choreographer Peter Darling, and designer Rob Howell, four of the creators of the international musical sensation Matilda The Musical, have joined forces with writer Danny Rubin to collaborate on a new musical based on his 1993 hit film GROUNDHOG DAY. It's now in previews, with a press night on Tuesday 16 August.

Gunshots! Flames! Shirtless dancing hunks! And that's just the first five minutes. This eye-wateringly bombastic musical has all subtlety, production values and narrative logic of a Donald Trump rally. Thoughtful, incisive drama? Er, no. Winningly OTT kitsch with killer song delivery? Hell yes. Come for the copious dry ice and cheese-tastic effects - stay for the 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' encore singalong.

Actor Obioma Ugoala has appeared in numerous RSC productions, including Richard II, Henry IV Part 1 & II and Henry V, as well Holy Warriors at the Globe and The Physicists at the Donmar. His screen credits include Doctors on the BBC and Disney's upcoming live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. He has recently joined the West End cast of Motown the Musical, playing soul legend Smokey Robinson.

Harry Potter mania grips London, while over the pond the States is seized by Hamilton fever. What do they have in common? Both originated in literary sources - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in J.K. Rowling's book series, and Hamilton in Ron Chernow's historical biography. They're not alone, with other examples this summer including Breakfast at Tiffany's, now in the West End, Therese Raquin at Southwark Playhouse, and the return of Pride and Prejudice to Regent's Park Open Air. So, here are 10 of the best page to stage adaptations.