Rona Kelly - Page 5

Five years since premiering at The Public Theater and with five Tony's under its belt, Fun Home comes to London and instantly finds a home with audiences. Based on the graphic memoirs by Alison Bechdel, Fun Home is an examination of sexuality, the self and cycles, brought to life by a dynamic set and stand out performances.

'Another op'nin', another show...' Following the award-winning production in 2015, Opera North's Kiss Me Kate returns to tour the UK this summer. Talking to Kate herself during rehearsals, Stephanie Corley shares her journey into opera, the challenges of taking on a musical, and her connection to the show.

Murder mysteries aren't actor Nick Hendrix's 'go-to' genre. And yet this week he finds himself in rehearsals for a new play The Strange Death of John Doe, as well as the newest episodes of Midsomer Murders. As the current series comes to an end, Nick looks back on his time on the show so far, his idea for a spin off, and returning to Hampstead Theatre.

Set up by Shaun McCourt and Leigh Lothian, West End Live Lounge continues to go from strength to strength. Returning to The Other Palace, it seems 'The Only Way Is Up' for the charity concert series after a sell-out night of Number 1's (even though George Jackson's song didn't make an appearance!)

Part of the inaugural season at the Bridge Theatre, Laurie Sansom directs Nightfall. An exquisite exploration into grief, anxiety and change, Barney Norris' new play is an introspective character study and one which plays as such.

Continuing our interview series of NT Live broadcasts, this month's focuses on Macbeth at the National Theatre. Directed by Rufus Norris and featuring Rory Kinnear and Anne-Marie Duff, Macbeth will be broadcast live to cinemas across the UK and in selected international venues from Thursday 10 May. Joshua Lacey and Sam Psyk share their thoughts ahead of the broadcast, one who'll be on stage on the night and one behind the scenes (and screen).

Translations is currently in rehearsals at the National Theatre, ahead of its first major revival on the London stage. This not only marks actor Dermot Crowley's fourth time appearing in the play, but also over four decades of working at the National. Catching up over a lunch break, Dermot tells us just what it is that makes him want to return both to the play and the National again, and shares his advice on playing the Olivier.

Bestselling novelist and award winning playwright Barney Norris brings his new play Nightfall to the Bridge Theatre. Speaking to us during rehearsals, Barney takes us through the process of mounting a new play in a new space, as part of the theatre's inaugural season.

Originally commissioned as part of the National Youth Theatre's 60th anniversary, The Fall is about generations and the differences and similarities between them. Somewhat appropriately, the show itself has brought together different generations of NYT. As a new cast of students prepares to open the show at Southwark Playhouse, NYT alumni and Olivier nominated playwright James Fritz revisits the script. With rehearsals drawing to a close, James shares the journey of this show and why this is his favourite time of the process.

Chichester Festival Theatre is a place of firsts for Tracy-Ann Oberman. Last year, she performed in The Fiddler on the Roof, her first professional musical. This Spring, she returns to CFT once again for her first Noel Coward play, Present Laughter. With tech week coming up, Tracy-Ann spoke to us about why she wanted to take on Coward, what else is on her wish list, and what audiences can expect from Present Laughter. 

Having first risen to fame via The X Factor, Diana Vickers made the seamless transition from screen to stage, starring in musicals and plays around the UK. The latest show she features in is I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical, chronicling the highs and lows of life in the musical theatre industry through songs, confessions and laughs. Talking to us about this new musical revue, Diana also shares some stories of her own after a decade in the industry, from auditions gone wrong to corpsing!

Two decades after it was previously performed at the National Theatre, Rodney Ackland's Absolute Hell returns to the very stage it played back then: the Lyttelton. With a career spanning over two decades too across stage and screen, Charles Edwards is no stranger to the National Theatre. Catching up during rehearsals, Charles spoke to us about his 'innate connection' to the play, and reveals the greatest challenge he's faced in his career (which came only last year).

Earlier this week, we spoke to Nancy Carroll about The Moderate Soprano's return to the London stage after two years. Continuing our interview series, director Jeremy Herrin reveals how the world of the play has changed in that time, and how the world outside of the play has too.

The Moderate Soprano opens in the West End this week, two years after the production's run at Hampstead Theatre. David Hare's play tells the story of the passion and the people behind Glyndebourne, including the soprano herself: Audrey Mildmay. In this two part series, we speak to the cast and creative behind the production. Taking on the titular role, Nancy Carroll shares her thoughts on returning to the production and the role after two years.

2018 marks the 10th anniversary of the Rose Theatre Kingston. Part of the celebrations sees Much Ado About Nothing take centre stage, directed by Simon Dormandy. Having played the role of Claudio early in his career, John Hopkins returns to the play to take on the role of Benedick. With rehearsals underway, John spoke to us about the darkness of the play, dream jobs and dancing.

The Royal Shakespeare Company's revival of Hamlet enters its final weeks of UK performances, before heading across the pond to play to US audiences. We spoke to James Cooney about returning to the production after two years and Buom Tihngang about joining the show, taking on the role of Laertes, and his favourite moments on and offstage.

Almost two years after its first performance, the Royal Shakespeare Company's critically acclaimed Hamlet returns to the stage. A revival of Simon Godwin's 2016 production, this international tour brings together old and new faces. As the tour reaches its London leg, James Cooney spoke to us about returning to the play, the bond between Horatio and Hamlet, and dealing with self-doubt as an actor.

The Jungle Book continues its tour around the UK, playing in Bromley this weekend. In the second part of our interview series, playwright Jessica Swale spoke to us about writing for different spaces on stage, and the inspiration behind the world and characters of this adaptation off stage.

A co-production with the Tricycle Theatre, Francis Turnly's new thriller The Great Wave opens at the National Theatre. This production marks actress Rosalind Chao's debut both at the National and on the West End stage. However, she is no stranger to the Dorfman theatre. Catching up during rehearsals, Rosalind shares how she got started in acting, who inspires her, and why this play is so timely.

Jessica Swale is a director, screenwriter and Olivier award winning playwright. Her most recent stage adaptation The Jungle Book is currently touring, and she is working on no less than six separate screen projects. To say she's busy is an understatement. But, in her own words: 'I wanted to do everything!' In the first of our two part interview, Jessica looks back on her career so far.