BBC to Run Extensive Shakespeare Season to Celebrate 400th Anniversary of First Folio
The BBC is celebrating this extraordinary anniversary with an ambitious season of content across TV, Radio, BBC iPlayer & BBC Sounds exploring why, 400 years on, Shakespeare's relevance and influence is as strong as ever. A wealth of programming featuring major actors and leading experts, including new documentaries, performance, music, drama, comedy, news coverage and the best of the BBC archive, as well as special items on flagship BBC shows, will celebrate the man, his world and his timeless writing.
Musical Theatre Network Appoints New Patron and Board Members
Musical Theatre Network (MTN), which brings people and resources together to improve opportunities for new musical theatre, is thrilled to announce its new patron - HOWARD GOODALL CBE, one of Britain's best-known composers of choral music, stage musicals, TV and film scores, and a distinguished music historian and broadcaster.
Sophie Swithinbank Wins Peggy Ramsay Award
Sophie Swithinbank has been awarded the Peggy Ramsay Foundation and Film4 2023 Playwrights' Scheme bursary for her play Bacon, winning The Tom Erhardt Bursary, named after the late literary agent and long-time supporter of the Finborough Theatre.
Lucy Eaton's Podcast 'Hear Me Out' Returns for a Second Series
Now one of the highest-rated theatrical podcasts on iTunes (top 10 theatre podcasts as ranked by Feedspot), the first series of Lucy Eaton’s podcast ‘Hear Me Out’ returns for a second series with the first three episodes featuring Joanna Vanderham, Sir Richard Eyre and Sanjeev Bhaskar now available to download.
Cast Announced For UK and Ireland Tour of MY FAIR LADY
Casting has been announced for the UK and Ireland tour of Bartlett Sher's critically acclaimed and multi award-winning production of Lerner & Loewe's much loved MY FAIR LADY, which comes to Birmingham Hippodrome from Wednesday 8 March – Sunday 26 March 2023.
Wallis Artistic Director Paul Crewes To Step Down, Transition To Artistic Advisor
Pioneering arts leader Paul Crewes, who has served since 2015 as the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts' first Artistic Director, steps down from his position at the end of this year and transitions to a new role as Artistic Advisor for the balance of The Wallis' 2021-2022 Season, it was announced by Michael Nemeroff, Chairman of the Board.
Madeleine Mantock Joins West End Production of BLITHE SPIRIT as Elvira
Jennifer Saunders, one of the UK's most popular comic actors, will revive her role as the preposterous clairvoyant Madame Arcati. She is joined by original cast members Geoffrey Streatfeild who will star as Charles Condomine, Lisa Dillon as Ruth Condomine, Simon Coates as Dr Bradman, Lucy Robinson as Mrs Bradman, and Rose Wardlaw as Edith.
Playwright Michael Frayn Awarded Critics Circle Award for Services to the Arts
Playwright and novelist Michael Frayn was today awarded the Critics Circle Award for Services to the Arts, the Critics Circle’s highest honour. Every year since 1988, the Critics’ Circle has voted for a single leading artist to receive an engraved crystal rose bowl in recognition of their distinguished contribution to the arts.
Jennifer Saunders Will Return to BLITHE SPIRIT in West End From 16 September
After celebrating a sell-out run at Theatre Royal Bath as part of its 2019 Summer season, a UK tour and a short run in London of just 12 performances before the country’s first lockdown curtailed its six-week run at the Duke of York’s Theatre in March 2020, this production now returns to the West End for 8weeks from Thursday 16 September at the Harold Pinter Theatre.