London Theatre News

Olivier Awards 2020: Mark Shenton predicts the nominations

We've already had the Evening Standard Theatre Awards and the Critics' Circle Theatre Awards that honour individual productions, performances, and creatives across the last year, while this Sunday sees the presentation of the public-nominated (and voted) WhatsOnStage Awards. Each have their own quirky individuality in terms of rules as well as choices, with both the Evening Standard and WhatsOnStage Awards regularly celebrating celebrity over achievement (the former often recognising friends of...

Rosalie Craig, Josie Rourke, Hadley Fraser and Vanessa Williams talk City of Angels in the West End

Be More Chill extends at The Other Palace to June 2020

Having opened at The Other Palace last week, Be More Chill will now play an extended booking period at the London venue. Be More Chill will now run at The Other Palace to June 2020, making it the longest-running musical in the theatre's history.The Other Palace stays chill The London transfer of Be More Chill began performances at The Other Palace on 12th February, with an official opening night on 25th February.With an initial booking period to 3rd May 2020, Be More Chill will now run at The...

Lizzie Bea: ‘It's important I'm a good role model for people coming to see Hairspray’

Anne-Marie Duff to star in world premiere of The House of Shades at the Almeida

Anne-Marie Duff will return to the Almeida Theatre to star in the world premiere of Beth Steel's The House of Shades. Blanche McIntyre will direct Steel's family drama set in working-class Britain, opening in May.Set over five decades of the lives of the Webster family, The House of Shades pinpoints the changes that have taken place in working-class Britain. As a family looks towards a hopeful future, they're also haunted by their pasts, where knives held by family members can cut the...

Friday Briefing: Going beyond my critical zone and being honest in my reviews

Getting out of my comfort zoneFor over 40 years now (since I moved to London at the age of 16), I have so doggedly devoted myself to going to the theatre that I've largely missed out on life outside of it. I recently wrote here of discovering the joys of television, in which I said: "Thanks partly to being married to someone who does enjoy television, and partly thanks to the availability of programmes on Netflix and other streaming platforms, I'm now in the process of catching up on (some of)...

Kate Fleetwood to play Cruella De Vil in 101 Dalmatians

Initial casting has been announced for Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's upcoming production of 101 Dalmatians, a musical adaptation of Dodie Smith's original story.Opening in May, the musical has a book by Zinnie Harris and music and lyrics by Douglas Hodge to tell the story of a fashionista with a dislike for animals, who steals puppies from around London for their fur.Kate Fleetwood will play said character, Cruella De Vil, in Timothy Sheader's production. Her theatre credits include London...

Giles Terera to star in Sammy Davis Jr. musical Sammy at Lyric Hammersmith

Dates and a venue have been confirmed for the much-anticipated Sammy Davis Jr. musical Sammy, which will star Olivier Award-winning actor Giles Terera as the legendary entertainer.With a book, music and lyrics by Academy and Grammy Award winner Leslie Bricusse - who is known for writing the likes of "Feeling Good", "Goldfinger" and "Pure Imagination", Sammy will tell the story of the life and career of Davis Jr., the American entertainer known for his hits such as "What Kind of Fool Am I?" and...

To Kill a Mockingbird starring Rhys Ifans extends run in the West End

Tickets have been released for the West End transfer of Broadway hit To Kill a Mockingbird as the run in London has been extended by two months.Based on the modern classic novel by Harper Lee, Aaron Sorkin's play tells the story about small-town lawyer Atticus Finch who is tasked with representing the defence during a high-profile rape case at a time when racism and prejudice is rife throughout middle America.It comes to London after Bartlett Sher's production wowed on Broadway when it opened in...

The Ocean at the End of the Lane to transfer to Duke of York’s Theatre

After a limited engagement at the Dorfman Theatre, The Ocean at the End of the Lane will transfer to the Duke of York's Theatre. Announced as part of the National Theatre's latest season, Joel Horwood's adaptation of Neil Gaiman's best-selling novel will be performed in the West End from October 2020, with tickets on sale next month.The Ocean at the End of St. Martin's LaneBased on the 2013 novel of the same name, The Ocean at the End of the Lane follows a man named Alex who is plunged into a...