Zoe Roberts

Guest Blog: 'I Couldn't Let the Matter Go': Erin Edwards on OPERATION MINCEMEAT, MI5 and the Campaign to #FindHester
by Aliya Al-Hassan - Nov 3, 2023

In 1943, MI5 secretary Hester Leggatt played a vital role in an operation to fool the Nazis, by writing fake love letters to be found on a corpse. Hester's own story remained a mystery until Operation Mincemeat inspired fans, known as mincefluencers, to #FindHester. Erin Edwards wrote to MI5, asking for confirmation that Hester had worked in the wartime security services. Here she tells BroadwayWorld about her own research and eventually receiving written confirmation from MI5 about Hester.

The Stage 25 Announced; Leading Theatre Figures Celebrate 25 Rising Stars
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 6, 2022

To celebrate 25 years of The Stage 100, The Stage has today announced a new list celebrating 25 individuals or partnerships tipped to become the future stars of the UK theatre industry.

BWW Review: OPERATION MINCEMEAT, Southwark Playhouse
by Cindy Marcolina - Sep 18, 2021

Move over Hamilton and Six. There’s a new historical musical in town and it’s creating ripples. After a sold-out debuting run at the New Diorama back in pre-covid times and another one in 2020 at Southwark Playhouse, SplitLip’s Operation Mincemeat has just returned to Elephant and Castle once more before coming back again next year. It almost looks like the West End needs to take notice ASAP.

Southwark Playhouse Announces 2020 Season Of Shows
by Stephi Wild - Dec 5, 2019

Southwark Playhouse has announced its spring 2020 season shows, and an update on new venue in the Elephant and current premises on Newington Causeway.

OPERATION MINCEMEAT Transfers To Southwark Playhouse
by Stephi Wild - Oct 24, 2019

Fresh from a sell-out, critically acclaimed initial run at the New Diorama Theatre which saw SpitLip take home the prestigious Stage Debut Award for 'Best Composer/Lyricist', the team are back with the latest incarnation of Operation Mincemeat at Southwark Playhouse for a limited run of ten performances.

MainStage Irving-Las Colinas Presents A CHORUS LINE
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 16, 2019

One Singular Sensation dances into Irving this fall as MainStage Irving-Las Colinas takes the Irving Arts Center stage with the multiple Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, A Chorus Line. Written about the true lives of the onstage chorus stars, MainStage's A Chorus Line is helmed by a headliner himself: Broadway's Michael Serrecchia. Tickets are on sale now at www.IrvingArtsCenter.com.

Winners Announced for the 2019 Stage Debut Awards
by Julie Musbach - Sep 16, 2019

The Stage announces the 2019 winners of The Stage Debut Awards, in association with Access Entertainment which took place at The Brewery, London on Sunday, September 15.

Shortlist Announced For The Stage Debut Awards - Including The INHERITANCE, SIX, and More!
by Stephi Wild - Aug 8, 2019

The Stage today announces the shortlist for its prestigious The Stage Debut Awards 2019, in association with Access Entertainment. Voting has also opened for The Joe Allen Best West End Debut Award 2019.

Judges And Performers Announced For 2019 West End Gala Of The Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer Of The Year And Stiles + Drewe Prize
by Stephi Wild - May 31, 2019

The Stephen Sondheim Society and Mercury Musical Developments today announce West End Musical Director Gareth Valentine as the final judge for the 2019 Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year (SSSSPOTY), alongside the previously announced Julia McKenzie, Peter Polycarpou, and Edward Seckerson. Lyricist Charles Hart and Olivier Award-winner Jenna Russell join Nkeki Obi-Melekwe and Stiles + Drewe to complete the judging panel for the Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize. Winners will be announced at Theatre Royal Haymarket on Sunday 9 June.

27 Writers Of 9 New Musicals Announced For Rhinebeck Writers Retreat
by Stephi Wild - May 2, 2019

Founding Executive Director Kathy Evans announced the 27 writers of nine new musicals for Rhinebeck Writers Retreat's summer weeklong residencies. This year's artists include Obie-winner Heather Christian, Kleban-winner Brian Crawley, TV and film writers Bekah Brunstetter (THIS IS US) and Cinco Paul (DESPICABLE ME), inaugural Stephen Schwartz Award winner Oliver Houser, and ASCAP Foundation scholarship winner Khiyon Hursey. The musicals cover a wide range of subjects. Four have LGBTQ themes: a historical look at Florida in the 1950s (IN A SUNSHINE STATE), a Palestinian/Israeli love story (BORDERS), a modern coming of age of a young black man (SEAN'S STORY PART I | THE AWAKENING), and a fantasy queer rock musical celebrating lady love (TL;DR: THELMA LOUISE; DYKE REMIX). Two are darkly comedic historical musicals: one featuring Mary Magdelene (A.D. 16) and the second a WWII plot to foil Hitler (OPERATION MINCEMEAT). Other subjects include the opioid crisis (ALMOST HEAVEN), the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 (THE GOLDEN SPIKE), and a mystery involving a woman with a sleep disorder (NARCOLEPSY).

Infamous WWII Deception Campaign Becomes Comedy Musical at New Diorama Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Apr 12, 2019

Spitlip, the company founded by members of supernatural theatre-comedy trailblazers Kill the Beast to produce modern comedy musicals with a genre-destroying contemporary soundtrack, are proud to announce their first ever production Operation Mincemeat.

MMD & MTN Announce The Launch Of The BEAM Follow-Spot Programme
by Stephi Wild - Sep 18, 2018

MMD and MTN announce that they have again been awarded status as a PRS Talent Development Partner. With the award funds they have launched a regional professional career and craft development programme taking place in Scotland and Manchester for emerging musical theatre writers. MMD and MTN are delighted to be partnering with the National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Exchange Manchester.

New Diorama Theatre Announces 2018-19 Season Featuring New Productions And Premieres By Deafinitely Theatre, Breach, Rhum & Clay, Kandinsky & Engineer
by Stephi Wild - Jul 16, 2018

New Diorama Theatre today announce a new season featuring its most ambitious shows ever from some of its most talented associate companies, and a programming model which could rewrite the rules of relationships between artists and theatres.

Directors Announced for BEAM2018 Biennial Showcase
by Stephi Wild - Feb 8, 2018

Musical Theatre Network and Mercury Musical Developments today announce Hannah Chissick, Adam Lenson, James Dacre, Peter Rowe, Josh Seymour, Tania Azevedo, Cressida Carre and Kate Golledge as directors for the eight 25-minute extracts from new musicals to be presented at BEAM2018.

Programme Announced For BEAM2018 The Biennial Industry Showcase Of New British Musical Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Dec 18, 2017

Musical Theatre Network and Mercury Musical Developments today announce the programme selected from their pitching days held around the UK between September and November for BEAM2018. Fifty-eight of the new British musicals pitched at these days have been selected to be shared at the biennial industry showcase which will next year be held at Theatre Royal Stratford East on 1 and 2 March. BEAM is designed for anyone in a position to help develop and stage new British musicals to attend, bringing the most exciting musical theatre projects together from around the UK for industry professionals to grab the opportunity to become involved from the early stages of development.

Kill the Beast to Bring Two Shows to Edinburgh Fringe
by Tyler Peterson - May 16, 2016

Multi-award-winning troupe Kill the Beast brings two unique horror-comedies to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August. Don't Wake The Damp and He Had Hairy Hands will be running at the Pleasance throughout the Festival, fusing comedy and theatre in a non-stop visual extravaganza.