By now, we’re sure you know what you’re getting when you book to see Wicked for £20, Mamma Mia! for £30, or Les Misérables for £40. But what about some of the lesser known shows in the New Year Sale?

For the adventurous among you, we’re here to highlight a few hidden gems in case that are taking part in the New Year Sale, so you can try something new for 2026.

Ballet Shoes

What’s it about? Three adopted sisters get taken into the house of an Edwardian explorer and paleontologist. Under the guidance of his niece and childhood nanny, the three girls grow and fight to pursue their differing passions in a world not built for women with ambition.

Why should I see it? The National Theatre’s adaptation of this 1930s novel was loved by children and adults alike when it premiered in November 2024 – so much so they brought it back a year later.

The three girls are full of fire and charisma; you can’t help be charmed by their never-say-die attitude. The set is like a madcap box of wonders that’s a delight to look at and the show will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.

What’s the offer? Tickets for £20, £30, £40, £50, £60 for Tue – Thu performances in Jan and Mon – Thu performances in Feb until 20 Feb.

Evening All Afternoon

What’s it about? Jennifer is about to become Delilah’s stepmother. She wants to connect but they couldn’t be further apart.

Why should I see it? The Donmar Warehouse is a great venue – with only three rows on each side of the stage, you’re always close to the atmosphere which is perfect for these kind of intimate two-handers. Anna Ziegler’s last play, Photograph 51, won Evening Standard and WhatsOnStage Awards, with an Olivier Award nomination for Nciole Kidman in the lead role. This could be another award winner in the making.

What’s the offer? Tickets for £40 or £50 on all performances (19 Feb – 11 Apr).

Gerry & Sewell

What’s it about? Two Geordie best friends Gerry & Sewell haven’t got a lot going from them – with no jobs, Gerry’s family falling apart and Sewell’s dad in ill-health – so they set their sights on their ultimate dream: A season ticket to Newcastle United.

Why should I see it? It’s an underdog story that celebrates the unexpected hero in all of us, as well as the importance of friendship and shared passions. Like the story, the play itself is an underdog, having started at Laurel’s – a small social club in the North East – and earned its way up to a two-week run in the West End.

What’s the offer? Top price tickets for £40, £50 or £60 all performances – must end 24 January.

High Noon

What’s it about? In the the days of the Wild West, small town marshall Will Kane prepares to leave town after marrying Amy Fowler. But word arrives that Frank Miller, a vicious outlaw, has been released from prison and will arrive by the noon train. Torn between the honour of his new wife and the duty of his old job, Will must make a choice by noon.

Why should I see it? The 1952 Gary Cooper / Grace Kelly Western film, on which the play is based, is in the conversation for greatest movie ever made. While this play stays true to the source material, the production has changed its inspiration from McCarthyism to current world events to remain as timely as ever. Plus it unites two great acting talents in Tony Award winner Billy Crudup (The Morning Show) and Olivier Award winner Denise Gough (People, Places And Things and Andor)

What’s the offer? Tickets for £30, £40, or £50 for Mon – Fri performances for weeks beginning 26 Jan and 2 & 9 Feb.

Mrs. President

What’s it about? Already having todeal with the grief of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, his widow, Mary Lincoln has to contend with social attacks from an envious elite. She engages the help of the world’s first celebrity photographer, Mathew Brady, who helped her husband win the presidency. But their partnership soon unravels in a battle for creative control.

Why should I see it? The play is written by playwright and historian (and artist) John Ransom Phillips so promises to be an accurate and thought-provoking account of power, female agency and representation. Of course, if you’re less concerned with historical accuracy and more concerned with a barrel of laughs, Mary Lincoln is also the lead character in outrageous camp comedy Oh, Mary! at the Trafalgar Theatre – also taking part in the New Year Sale.

What’s the offer? Tickets for £10, £20, £30 or £40 for all performances (23 Jan – 8 Mar).

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

What’s it about? Set in the murky world of the Cold War, British intelligence officer Alec Leamas is ready to retire and ‘come in from the cold’. But following the killing of his most reliable source, Leamas is tempted into one dangerous, deceptive and personal final mission.

Why should I see it? This is the first stage adaptation of a novel by John le Carré, the master of the modern spy thriller. Performed in Sohoplace’s intimate in-the-round space with period costume, this a tense, sophisticated and provocative look at the political era that shaped the modern world. Must end 21 February.

What’s the offer? Tickets for £60 (£20 off) for performances on 21, 26, 27 & 28 Jan and 2 & 3 Feb. Last few tickets remaining.

Summerfolk

What’s it about? During the hot and beautiful Russian summer of 1905, Russia’s elite holiday in the countryside to enjoy the best things in life. But as the party continues, how long can they ignore the storm on the horizon?

Why should I see it? Maxim Gorky was one of Russia’s most successful authors of the age, with five Nobel Prize nominations, although he was also imprisoned for his work as he dared to criticise the status quo. This exciting new version by siblings Nina and Moses Raine (descended from Dr Zhivago author Boris Pasternak) promises to be a razor-sharp portrait of class, privilege and denial.

What’s the offer? Tickets for £20, £30, £40, £50 for most performances from 12 Mar – 29 Apr.

This is particularly true of shows which haven’t opened yet. Given these shows are new and may be unfamiliar to you, we thought we’d take a closer look at shows in the New Year Sale which are opening in the coming months…

January

Gerry & Sewell opens on 13 January. This heart-warming comedy about friendships and underdogs follows two Newcastle United fans desperate to get a season ticket. After a sell-out run in the North East, the play transfers to the West End for only two weeks.

Chichester Festival Theatre has a strong record of West End transfers – think Half A Sixpence, Quiz, revivals of Gypsy and Caroline, Or Change – and it shows no signs of slowing down.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry is a new musical based on Rachel Joyce’s profound and funny novel, with music by indie musician Passenger. It had rave reviews in Chichester last summer and transfers with original cast members Mark Addy and Olivier Award winner Jenna Russell, with previews from 29 January and New Year Sale prices in February, too.

Theatre company Frantic Assembly celebrate their 30^th anniversary with a new play, Lost Atoms, written by Anna Jordan who wrote episodes of Succession and One Day. The play charts the life-changing relationship of Jess and Robbie and focusses on how differing memories can change our stories. It runs at the Lyric Hammersmith from 30 January – 28 February, taking part in the New Year Sale for February performances.

February

For one night only, X Factor contestant turned West End star Lucie Jones is Live At The London Palladium. Blending her live gig roots with the drama of her stage career, including regular performances in Les Miserables and the leading role in Waitress, this will be a unique concert that showcases her incredible vocal talent. Expect surprise appearances and unique collaborations. 16 February only.

Evening All Afternoon is a brand new play by American playwright Anna Ziegler, who had a hit on the West End with Photograph 51, starring Nicole Kidman. This play explores the relationship between a stepmother and stepdaughter, confronting the human dilemma about facing loss and opening up to new connections. The play runs from 19 February – 11 April at the Donmar Warehouse, an intimate and compelling space with a storied history.

March

Sibling duo Nina and Moses Raine (Consent and Donkey Heart, respectively) team up for a new translation of Summer Folk, by Russian dramatist Maxim Gorky. 1905 was a hot, beautiful summer in Russia, but while the elite wine and dine, a storm is on the horizon. The story is fitting for the Raines, whose great uncle was Boris Pasternak, author of Doctor Zhivago. Summer Folk runs from 12 March – 29 April at the National Theatre.

While you can find opera and ballet at the London Coliseum for much of the year, London’s largest theatre stages a big musical each summer. This March will see the first West End revival of Kinky Boots.

The show is based on the British film and true story of a Northampton shoe factory that hits hard times, then takes a chance on becoming a specialist in shoewear for drag artists. With music and lyrics by pop star Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein (La Cage Aux Folles), this production will be led by Strictly Come Dancing’s Johannes Radebe in the role of Lola.  It runs from 17 March – 11 July with New Year Sale offers on most April, May and June performances.

A Doll’s House, heralded for being a feminist text of its time, stood out for showing what happens when a wife and mother acts in her own interests and not just for the needs of others. Nora has everything a woman of the time should want; a comfortable home life, a husband, children and a nice house. Yet she is miserable, and tired of feeling like a doll kept by her husband, Torvald. In the iconic final scene, she walks out on her husband and children, in a dramatic ending that left us applauding her bravery, and wondering what would happen to her next…

An enormous house sits in the middle of the Donmar Warehouse, its roof obscuring the stage. As the play starts, the roof lifts up, as the roof of a dolls house might reveal what’s inside.

A knock at the door announces Noma Dumezweni’s Nora, in a glamorous, high-fashion, green velvet dress. Dumezweni is incredible to watch, and she brings a huge amount of pride, poise and utter class to the role. This is peppered with glimmers of incredible emotion – her reaction when she sees Anne Marie (June Watson) again had me welling up. She has a lot to be proud of; Nora has found great success since she left. Her professional endeavours have brought her wealth and she has lead a fun and fulfilling life.

Now she returns to the house in urgent need of something from Torvald. She must face the family she left and reckon with her past, including her grown-up daughter. Brían F. O’Byrne is a sympathetic yet stubborn Torvald, and it’s heart-wrenching to hear about his experiences after Nora left. We see the impact this has all had on Emmy, and the decisions she is now making for herself.

The show feels incredibly relevant even now. The ways in which we all, particularly women, make choices about our lives that we think will please others or accord to some social norm. To what extend is marriage beneficial for us, and is it something we still need to do to profess our love for somebody? The play asks whether we are made to be loyal to one person, and whether we are just setting ourselves up for failure. It’s set in a time when woman couldn’t divorce, and when unmarried women couldn’t do business or have their own money. It’s still relevant now, when we are still having conversations about fault-based divorce.

The themes in A Doll’s House are still incredibly powerful. In modern culture we’re quite used to seeing men walk out on their families and neglecting their roles as fathers. I think we still hold women to a higher standard of parenting and are more shocked when we see a woman leave her children. It made me think of Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Lost Daughter, starring Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley, which deals with similar issues.

Overall, this is a powerful play with an incredibly talented cast, that imagines a story beyond a much-loved play. I’d also add that although it might help give some context, seeing part 1 isn’t necessary to enjoy part 2.

The epic production, based on the much-loved Dreamworks film, reopens tonight at the Dominion Theatre. Take a look at these incredible pictures…and then we’ll know you’ll want to book.

We’ll be seeing the show tonight, so make sure to follow our journey on Instagram stories.

Gemma Knight Jones and Sam Oladeinde join the cast of Come From Away

As the multi award-winning Come From Away prepares to welcome audiences back to the Phoenix Theatre in London from 22 July, the international hit musical announces two new members of the London cast and confirms the full Come From Away UK family, on and off stage.

Gemma Knight Jones (Falsettos, Sister Act UK Tour, Hairspray UK Tour, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) will play Hannah and others, and Sam Oladeinde (Hamilton, The Book of Mormon, A Christmas Carol, The Prince of Egypt) will play Bob and others.

They join the current London cast Jenna Boyd (Beulah and others), James Doherty (Claude and others), Mary Doherty (Bonnie and others), Mark Dugdale (Kevin T/Garth and others), Alice Fearn (Beverley/Annette and others), Kate Graham (Diane and others), Alasdair Harvey (Nick/Doug and others), Jonathan Andrew Hume (Kevin J/Ali and others), Harry Morrison (Oz and others), and Emma Salvo (Janice and others) with Chiara Baronti, Ricardo Castro, Stuart Hickey, Sorelle Marsh, Alexander McMorran, Micha Richardson, Jennifer Tierney and Matthew Whennell-Clark.

Production shots released of Peter Capaldi and Zoë Wanamaker in Constellations

We were lucky enough to see the show with Sheila Atim and Ivanno Jeremiah (check out our vlog here) and now we’ve seen these gorgeous photos of Peter and Zoe, we know we are booking to go back. In case you didn’t know, this is the second of four casts that are performing in Nick Payne’s beautiful and heartbreaking play, Constellations. Who will you see? Or, like us, will you see all four?

Donmar Warehouse announces reopening

The theatre will open in September following essential building works, which will significantly improve the venues accessibility. The new season will begin on 21 September with Inua Ellams’ audience-led poetry event Search Party. It will be followed Love And Other Acts Of Violence, a new play by Cordelia Lynn. December 2021 – February 2022 will see Rory Kinnear star in Tim Price’s new stage adaptation of Ruben Östlund’s award-winning comedy film about a family falling apart, Force Majeure. 2022 will give us Kit Harington as Henry V and the final production will be Marys Seacole, Jackie Siblies Drury’s dazzling play across oceans and eras about the pioneering Jamaican nurse, and what it means to be a woman who is paid to care. Visit the Donmar’s website for more information.

Papatango announces dates for Old Bridge by Igor Memic

The winner of the 2020 Papatango New Writing Prize, Old Bridge by Igor Memic will run from 21 October – 20 November at the Bush Theatre. Directed by Selma Dimitrijevic, the play is part of the Bush’s new season. Write the Bush’s Future members and Bush supporters’ booking is open now, with public booking opening 1 July at 11am. Visit the Bush Theatre website for more information.

Hotter and Fitter returns to Soho Theatre

Following sold out runs at Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Soho Theatre, Hotter Project and Ellie Keel Productions today announce the return of HOTTER and FITTER, to Soho Theatre. The critically acclaimed productions, created and performed by Mary Higgins and Ell Potter, will run as a double bill at 7.30pm (FITTER) and 9.30pm (HOTTER), opening on 27 July, with previews from26 July, and running until 6 August 2021. Visit Soho Theatre’s website for more information.

Channel 4’s hit show The Windsors to premier in the West End

Harry Enfield and many of the cast of Channel 4’s The Windsors will appear in this hilarious new stage adaptation. Written by George Jeffrieand Bert Tyler-Moore, the anarchic and hysterical production follows the Royal Family’s crazy antics in the wake of an important constitutional event. The production will open at the Prince of Wales Theatre on 2nd August for a strictly limited run! More information available here.

National Theatre’s Lisa Burger to step down

The National Theatre has announced that Lisa Burger, Executive Director and Joint Chief Executive, will step down in Summer 2022.

Lisa’s career at the National Theatre has spanned 20 years. She joined the NT as Finance Director in 2001, before becoming Chief Operating Officer in 2010. Lisa took on the role of Executive Director in 2015 and became Joint Chief Executive alongside Director Rufus Norris in 2019.

During her tenure at the NT, Lisa has worked with three of the theatre’s six Directors: Sir Trevor Nunn, Sir Nicholas Hytner and Rufus Norris. Lisa has been instrumental in expanding the reach of the National Theatre. From establishing NT Live in 2009 through to the creation of the digital streaming platform NT at Home last year, ensuring that the widest possible audience can engage with the NT’s work has been a central focus for her.

Recruitment for the Executive Director position will begin this summer.

Join the Ladybird and her farmyard friends Live on Stage at the Palace Theatre for a strictly limited summer season from 15th July to 29th August 2021

From Julia Donaldson, bestselling author of The Gruffalo, and award-winning illustrator Lydia Monks, comes the stage show of the much-loved picture book What the Ladybird Heard. With live original music from a quartet of talented actors, puppetry and a whole farmyard of fun, this 55-minute family favourite is the perfect summer treat!

Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len have a cunning plan to steal the farmer’s fine prize cow. But they reckon without the tiniest, quietest creature of all: the Ladybird has a scheme of her own!

Join the woolly sheep, the hairy hog, the fat red hen and the dainty dog as they take on the villains in their quest to save the day at the Palace Theatre, London. Published by Macmillan Children’s Books and with over 4 million copies sold this adaptation is the perfect introduction to theatre for children aged 3+. Expect plenty of participation, lots of laughs and rhymes galore!

First conceived on a countryside walk with her son, Donaldson enjoyed the idea of a quiet Ladybird outwitting the bigger brawnier creatures. The animals and their noises fill this colourful adventure with real flair and, in consultation with the original illustrator, beautifully capture the magic of the story.

Producer Kenny Wax comments, I am delighted that What the Ladybird Heard is returning to the stage and I’m looking forward to welcoming family audiences back to the West End for a much needed treat this summer. It will be wonderful to see smiling faces in the glorious Palace Theatre once again.

Click here to grab your tickets to see this brilliant family friendly show now.

Tickets now on sale for Oleanna, Raymonda and Nutcracker

One of the most controversial and celebrated plays of the last thirty years makes its return to the West End, following its acclaimed, five star revival at the Theatre Royal Bath. More relevant than ever in the #Metoo and Everyone’s Invited era, Oleanna brilliantly explores the explosive consequences of a seemingly innocuous conversation on an American campus between a college professor and female student.

Coming to the London Coliseum in January 2022, ENB Artistic Director Tamara Rojo adapts the classic story ballet Raymonda, with a heroine in command of her own destiny.

English National Ballet’s family classic will be returning to the London Coliseum this Christmas. Over 100 dancers and musicians bring Nutcracker to life with exquisite dancing, beautiful sets and Tchaikovsky’s popular score played live. Plan ahead and treat your loved ones to some tickets to see this classic.

If you’d like to find out what other shows you can enjoy in London this year, be sure to check out our rolling list by clicking the button below. Please rest assured that you can book your tickets on Official London Theatre with confidence and exchange with ease. Buying tickets in advance also helps the industry greatly, so if you’re a theatre fan who would like to support your fave shows or the industry as a whole, please book your tickets now and give yourselves something to look forward to this year.

Donmar Warehouse announces a new award to commission playwrights

The Donmar Warehouse has today announced a new award to commission playwrights, in partnership with Access Entertainment, owner of the Theatre Royal Haymarket. 

The Theatre Royal Haymarket Writers’ Award will commission two new writers each year to support the development of their careers on main stages. Each writer will receive a full commission to write a play as well as access to the Donmar’s creative talent who will offer support for the research and development of the writers’ ideas, through readings and workshops with professional actors. Access Entertainment has committed to funding the award for a pilot three years, starting this year, 2021.

The 2021 recipients of the Theatre Royal Haymarket Writers’ Award are Chris Bush and Diana Nneka Atuona.

Chris Bush said: “I’ve always been a huge fan of the Donmar Warehouse, and the epic intimacy its stage offers. My play is a very important, very personal project to me, and I am delighted to receive a commission from this brilliant theatre.”

Diana Nneka Atuona added: “My project is an ambitious play about history and community. It’s a play with many parts including music and cultural diversity. Receiving the award will grant me the opportunity and time to produce a polished piece of work”

Michael Longhurst, Artistic Director, Donmar Warehouse said: “This award was created to build opportunities for talented writers with the aim of getting ambitious plays onto our stages. We’re delighted to be collaborating with Chris and Diana, who both have big and ambitious ideas for plays that moved me deeply, asking important questions about identity, and what stories occupy our spaces. It’s so exciting to be able to commission Chris and Diana who share the Donmar’s passion and commitment to “important stories, thrillingly told, widely shared”. I am very inspired by their writing and instinct for stories that are both personal and epic. I am looking forward to working alongside them both, as well as all future recipients of this award. We are grateful to be working alongside Access Entertainment to support the future work of artists during this extremely difficult period for theatre”.

Danny Cohen, President, Access Entertainment said: “We are delighted to be partnering with the Donmar on this new Award. The aim is to provide new opportunities for the UK’s most exciting talent at a time when the theatre industry and everyone working in it are facing huge challenges. Congratulations to this year’s Award winners – Chris Bush and Diana Nneka Atuona. We are greatly looking forward to seeing what they produce.”

The Donmar Warehouse is delighted to announce that its first local production ASSEMBLY, originally scheduled in 2020 but postponed due to the pandemic, will be reimagined as an innovative digital performance broadcast live on the Donmar Warehouse YouTube channel on Saturday 20th March at 7.30pm.

Mixing live performance, animation and sound, ASSEMBLY looks at the impact of humans on nature and what we might build together for a better future. It’s about trying, failing, and trying again. In times of emergency, it is about hope.

Created by writer Nina Segal, director Joseph Hancock and the Donmar Local Company, ASSEMBLY is a unique live digital performance created in collaboration with video designer and director of photography Andrzej Goulding, set and costume designer Frankie Bradshaw, composer and sound designer Max Pappenheim and lighting designer Sam House. This is the first production from the Donmar Local Company – members of the community who live and work in the Donmar’s home boroughs of Camden and Westminster.

Speaking about ASSEMBLY, Donmar Warehouse Artistic Director Michael Longhurst said: “It’s an irony that we were unable to assemble for ASSEMBLY as planned – a commission that pre-dates COVID – but it has been inspirational to see how the whole team have adapted to create this ambitious digital production. Here at the Donmar, we are truly committed to sharing our stage with members of our local community and I am thrilled that we have been able to continue our vital work with the Donmar Local Company as we explore what forms theatre can take in a digital world and find new ways to come together.”

ASSEMBLY will be broadcast LIVE from the Donmar Warehouse and locations across the UK on Saturday 20 March. Watch the livestream for free on the Donmar’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/donmarwarehouse at 7.30pm. The running time is approximately one hour.

An audio introduction will be available to listen to or download from the VocalEyes website from Wednesday 17 March and a captioned version of the film will also be available

National Theatre, in partnership with Cast, launches new podcast series Stories To Get Us Through created by the people of Doncaster

Launching today, Stories To Get Us Through is a new podcast series featuring stories written and performed by the people of Doncaster, inspired by real life events and created during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 18 short stories are a collection of personal anecdotes, snapshot memories and poetry, and have been created by people from different backgrounds who came together as part of the National Theatre‘s Public Acts programme. The series consists of five episodes which explore different themes including imagination, change, fear, friendship and heroes. Muhammed shares memories of his best friend from Gambia and how their lives have intertwined, teenagers Aaron and Beth share their hopes and fears for the future, and Lynn tells the story of finding contentment in her own company.

Stories To Get Us Through is a community performance project through the National Theatre’s Public Acts programme to create extraordinary acts of theatre and community, delivered in partnership with Cast in Doncaster with support from Right Up Our Street. Six community organisations across Doncaster, B.Friend, Conversation Club, Edlington Community Organisation, LGBTQ Youth, Cast Youth Theatre and darts, have been taking part in the programme and following the postponement of The Caucasian Chalk Circle in summer 2020, are continuing to take part in creative projects remotely. Participants developed their stories remotely, on Zoom, over the phone, and through postal packs with creative writing activities, and recorded the stories at home with professional audio recording equipment.

James Blakey, Associate Director of Public Acts said, “Stories To Get Us Through is a time capsule of the moment our Public Acts Doncaster community convened around a digital campfire in lockdown to tell their stories to each other and the world. Stories have the power to make us feel as though we’re together, even when we are apart and we can’t wait to share them with you. Despite the challenges and restrictions lockdown posed, we came together as a community to deliver this project and we look forward to when we can create live participatory performances together again”.

Participant Sam said, “I was sceptical at first as I didn’t have a single story in mind that would instil inspiration or start a conversation. But then it occurred to me that there is something I can say, I can talk proudly and push the negative voices down. In sharing stories, we are sharing lives and it is that which gets us through, it’s that you should hold on for. You can learn so much from listening to a person’s story”.

Stories To Get Us Through can be listened to on www.publicactsdoncaster.com/stories-to-get-us-through and is also available on all podcast platforms.

Shakespeare’s Globe celebrates International Women’s Day with two online theatre shows

To celebrate International Women’s Day on Monday 8 March, Shakespeare’s Globe are offering two exciting shows for audiences to enjoy:

• Filmed at the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Olivier award-winning Juliet Stevenson brings British poet Stevie Smith to life in a new film that draws on her letters and prose and includes Smith’s own illustrations. Released to mark the 50th anniversary of Stevie Smith’s death, the film created by Dead Poets Live in association with the Globe and is available on demand until 5 April. Click here to register from 11am on 5 March and enjoy this wonderful show for free!
• The smash-hit Olivier Award-winning EMILIA (emilialive.com) has returned online for all of March in time for International Women’s Day (8 March). WOW UK Festival 2021 is hosting a workshop with writer Morgan Lloyd Malcolm and director Nicole Charles at 4pm on 6 March. Emilia originally ran at the Globe as part of Michelle Terry’s first Summer Season in 2018. It was developed from concept as part of the theatre’s new writing strand, particularly highlighting women’s stories lost in history.

If you’re looking for more online theatre to enjoy, don’t forget to check out our Virtual Theatre Fix page!

The Government announces its 2021 budget

To find out what that means for the theatre industry and those working within it, read our full article below.

In tomorrow’s Theatre Chat Live, we will be joined by special Guest, Georgi Mottram, a professional Opera Singer and West End performer (and founder member of Ida Girls who perform at West End LIVE). Georgi will be sharing a little about her work as a Breathwork practitioner and helping others in the industry along with some useful tips on how to combat your anxiety and stage fright.

Our Theatre Chat Live series is a great way to meet like-minded theatre fans, to learn about new stagey things, to chat about your fave theatre experiences and even to meet some West End stars. Previous episodes have included special guests Louise Dearman and Oliver Tompsett, both of whom have starred in Wicked as well as Aisha Jawando who plays the titular role in Tina – The Tina Turner Musical and who recently performed on the BBC’s Musicals: The Greatest Show.  Most recently, we were joined by reality TV star and theatre enthusiast Amy Hart and Danny Kaan, co-founder of the beautiful theatrical coffee table book, Dear Audience.

If you’d like to join us, all you have to do is hop onto Official London Theatre’s Instagram channel every Tuesday from 6pm. Our social media coordinator Jess will be waiting to welcome you! And in the meantime, check out the previous episodes in our Theatre Chat Live playlist below!

Donmar Warehouse announces transfer of socially distanced immersive theatre installation Blindness to Mexico City

Following its sell-out run at the Donmar Warehouse and alongside transfers to North America and the Netherlands, the acclaimed sound installation Blindness will transfer to Mexico’s Teatro De Los Insurgentes for a limited run from 12 March 2021.

Donmar Warehouse Artistic Director Michael Longhurst said:

“I am delighted that our production of Blindness is continuing on its global journey to Mexico. We are very proud to be helping theatres reopen safely during these uncertain times.”

Blindness is based on the dystopian novel by Nobel Prize-winning José Saramago, adapted by Simon Stephens and will be co-directed by Walter Meierjohann and Mauricio Garcia Lozano, with the voice of Academy-Award Nominee Marina De Tavira as the Narrator/Doctor’s Wife. It opened at the Donmar Warehouse in August with the voice of Juliet Stevenson. The Donmar was one of the first UK venues to reopen temporarily to the public with COVID-19 safety precautions in place.

 

Little Angel Theatre celebrates its 60th anniversary with an adventurous and enchanting year of work

Little Angel Theatre first opened its doors on Saturday 24th November 1961 when a troupe of enthusiastic puppeteers under the leadership of John Wright found a derelict temperance hall in Islington and transformed it into a magical little theatre, specially designed for children and for the presentation of marionette shows. Now under the leadership of artistic director Samantha Lane and executive director Peta Swindall, boundary-pushing puppetry is at the heart of this unique theatre, which ignites the imaginations of the youngest minds and equips tomorrows puppeteers with the skills to become world-class artists.

Tucked away down a quiet Islington street, this 90-seat puppetry powerhouse has recently built a new global audience, reaching more families and young people than ever before throughout lockdown. With children starved of culture and interaction, Little Angel adapted fast to the closure of theatres last year and made their work quickly accessible through digital formats which have been watched all over the world, with productions and accompanying puppet making activities inspiring and engaging young audiences in more than 90 countries, receiving over 757,000 views. This success has enabled Little Angel to go further in supporting their large freelance theatre family, staff and community throughout the last year.

As well as being an internationally recognised theatre with productions touring throughout the UK and across the globe, Little Angel has its roots in Islington and works closely with its local, diverse community on participation events and activities throughout the year, giving away thousands of tickets so all can benefit and enjoy this remarkable art form.

Samantha Lane, Artistic Director of Little Angel Puppet Theatre said:

“Over the past 5 years, we have presented 35 Little Angel Theatre productions, 29 were brand new and 6 were revivals, 13 were co-production and 13 of these toured nationally.  We have also presented over 100 visiting companies.  2019/20 was our most successful year to date, with our highest turnover and widest reach (over 90,000 people).

“On the 17 March we made the heart-breaking decision to close our doors and furlough 75% of our staff  – we had three fabulous shows running at the time, with one on tour, a really exciting season lined up, and a whole host of brilliant community and participation projects running and in the pipeline.  However, despite being closed, we wanted to continue to offer something positive and so we began fundraising and refocussing our output to digital content.  We have been overwhelmed by the success of this – with our content being viewed over 750,000 times across 90 countries.

“We have managed some live performance during the pandemic – with an outside puppet festival in the summer of 2020 and some live shows in the Autumn and Christmas 2020 (when permitted) but we cannot wait to properly reopen in May so that children and their families can continue to enjoy the magic of puppetry.”

“We are particularly excited to open with an adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s The Smartest Giant in Town as it is such a joyful story, full of kindness – two things  we all need a little bit of right now.  But we’re also excited to continue with our digital offer.  This year Little Angel Theatre turns 60, and we are celebrating the makers behind the form through a new digital series – People Behind the Puppets – where designers will be interviewed by our very own puppet Angel.”

Here are some of the highlights you can look forward to in Little Angel Theatre’s new season:

• A ‘choose your own adventure’-style live digital production of Sean Taylor’s Where the Bugaboo Lives directed by Little Angel artistic director Samantha Lane and designed by Ellie Mills. From 14 March – 2 May. Tickets on sale from 1 March (£13.50 per household).
• Julia Donaldson’s The Smartest Giant in Town is brought to life in a new coproduction with Fierylight. Samantha Lane directs and collaborates on the adaption with Barb Jungr. From 21 May (subject to government guidelines). Tickets on sale soon.
• New digital series People Behind the Puppets celebrates 60 years of groundbreaking puppetry design as Little Angel’s very own puppet ‘Angel’ interviews makers including Toby Olié and Alison Alexander. Weekly from 1 April.
• Inspired by a brand-new Joseph Coelho poem, The Wishing Tree will see ‘magical trees’ appear throughout Islington this Summer designed by artists including Sam Wilde and Ingrid Hu and populated by puppets made by local children. From June 2021.
• Created with young people at Great Ormond Street, Little Angel’s co-production with GOSH ‘If Not Here…Where?’ has been adapted into a digital production that can continue to tour hospitals and hospices throughout the summer transporting some of the most isolated children to a magical fantasy world.

If you would like to check out more family-friendly theatre, please head over to our Family Theatre Fun page where will be highlighting where you can enjoy family theatre online alongside a collection of theatre games, educational resources, activities and much more!

Strictly Come Dancing stars Pasha Kovalev and Anya Garnis present Rise Up With Arts live-stream variety show featuring stage stars

The First Global Livestream ‘Variety Show’ airs on March 27, 2021 – World Theatre Day. It will raise money for charities and features stars from the world of theatre, music and dance, celebrating the magical connection and transformative power of the Arts.

Anya says: “Having not been able to perform throughout 2020 and seeing many of my friends struggle without a creative outlet due to the pandemic, we decided we had to take matters into our own hands and create a virtual experience that could bring the Arts back to life”.

The show is an uplifting collaboration between some of the biggest names across the industry. Award winning Film producers, Award winning Songwriters, Actresses, Musicians, Broadway stars and those from The West End, Strictly Come Dancing, So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With The Stars and more… the result is a show of ‘Variety’ of unity and support for the arts by the arts and for the people by the people.

Profit from ticket sales will support the incredible British charity Theatre Support Fund+ creators of the iconic ‘The Show Must Go On’ design which to date has raised £600K working with charities such as Acting For Others, Fleabag Support Fund and the NHS Covid-19 urgent appeal.

And The Actors Fund – Since March 18, 2020, The Actors Fund (USA) has provided more than $19 million+ in emergency financial assistance to over 15,000+ people who work in performing arts and entertainment. *See below for more details.

Rise Up With Arts will star the following guests:

• Pasha Kovalev – Co-Creator of Rise Up With Arts – One of Strictly Come Dancing’s Favourite Pro’s who lifted the Glitterball in 2014. He still holds the record for the most 10’s! He will be interviewed about his life in the Arts and will be dancing in the show.
• Anya Garnis – Co-Creator of Rise Up With Arts – Anya’s professional dancing career has seen her as a finalist on USA’s So You Think You Can Dance, Burn The Floor, Las Vegas’ Dancing With The Stars and Strictly Come Dancing.
• Don Black OBE British Lyricist whose works include musicals, movie and hit songs with Andrew Lloyd Webber, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson and James Bond theme tunes Thunderball, Diamonds Are Forever and The Man With The Golden Gun.
• Arlene Phillips CBE is a showbiz legend, honoured for her services to dance and charity. She is a choreographer, theatre director, talent scout, television judge and presenter, who has worked in many fields of entertainment.
• Lisa Riley English actress who starred in BAFTA winning BBC drama Three Girls, Emmerdale, You’ve Been Framed, panelist on Loose Women and contestant on Strictly Come Dancing.
• Kevin Clifton Professional Dancer Strictly Come Dancing and Burn The Floor.
• Winner of the 16th series of Strictly with celebrity partner Stacey Dooley.
• Duncan James singer, actor, and television personality. A member of the boy band Blue, and starred in many hit musicals and the British Soap “Hollyoaks”
• Robin Windsor British professional Latin and Ballroom dancer best known for his appearances in BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.
• Kerry Ellis The First Lady of West End musicals with leading roles in Les Miserables, Wicked, Oliver, Cats, Miss Saigon, Chess, The War of the Worlds and RENT.
• John Logan received the Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critic Circle and Drama League awards for his play Red. As a screenwriter, Logan has been three times nominated for the Oscars and has received Golden Globe, BAFTA, WGA, Edgar, and PEN Center awards. His film work includes Skyfall, Spectre, Hugo, The Aviator and Gladiator.
• The lead cast from 14 times Tony Award nominated Moulin Rouge The Musical! Stars from the musical Chicago and jazz performed by Benny Benack III from Jim Caruso’s Birdland New York who have been hosts to Liza Minnelli, Tony Bennett and Count Basie.

More to be announced…

Tickets are available here until 28 March for £21 and the show will be available on Zoom livestream on March 27th from 7:30pm and is available on air throughout March 28th.

Presenters and performers announced for 21st Annual WhatsOnStage Awards

The 2021 WhatsOnStage Awards will be streamed live from Turbine Theatre on Sunday 14 March, in a unique ceremony celebrating theatre and its audiences. The ceremony will be presented by Jodie Prenger and Tom Read Wilson, featuring Amy Hart and Oscar Conlon-Morrey, with performances from musical theatre stars representing shows that were cut short in 2020, or are due to open in the coming years.

Sita McIntosh, Chief Operating Officer of WhatsOnStage, said today, “With no live performances at the moment, we like every Award show, have had to rethink how best to celebrate our industry and the amazing people who work in it. We are delighted to be able to bring together this stellar line-up of musical theatre talent, showcasing some of the amazing shows that were cut short by COVID-19 and highlighting those that audiences can look forward to. We are hugely grateful to everyone contributing their time and their talent. We can’t wait to “raise the curtain” on Sunday 14 March at 7pm.”

The line-up is as follows:

• Cedric Neal will perform “Gotta Start Somewhere” from Back to the Future the Musical, which is gearing up for an eagerly anticipated West End opening at the Adelphi Theatre after its Manchester run was disrupted by the pandemic.
• Lizzie Bea, set to lead the West End revival of Hairspray later this year at The London Coliseum, will perform “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Carousel.
• Ivano Turco will perform “Only You, Lonely You” from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s brand new West End musical Cinderella, opening at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.
• Blake Anderson, Cleve September, Danielle Fiamanya, Frances Mayli, Grace Mouat, Jodie Steele, Jordan Luke Gage, Layton Williams, Matt Croke, Millie O’Connell and Sophie Isaacs will perform “Let The Sunshine In” from Hair. The outdoor revival of the show played on a jetty outside the Turbine Theatre last year and will be returning for performances at The London Palladium and on tour later in 2021.
• Stage star Siubhan Harrison will perform “Head Over Feet” from Jagged Little Pill, which was nominated for the most Tony Awards of the season (15) last autumn.
• Emma Kingston will perform “I Can Do Better Than That” from The Last Five Years after appearing in socially distanced outdoor revival of Jason Robert Brown’s musical at the Minack Theatre in Cornwall.
• Danielle Fiamanya and Matt Croke will perform “Crazy Rolling” from Moulin Rouge!. Fiamanya recently appeared in Curve’s The Color Purple virtual production, while Croke performed another number from Moulin Rouge! on The Voice UK earlier this year, earning public acclaim.
• Alexia Khadime and Christine Allado will perform “When You Believe” from The Prince of Egypt, which had its gargantuan West End production at the Dominion Theatre temporarily halted by the pandemic last year, but is now set to return.
• Dom Hartley-Harris and Alex Thomas-Smith will perform “I’ll Cover You” from Rent, returning to the roles of Collins and Angel after a smash-hit run at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester was cut short by the pandemic.
• Jamie Muscato will perform “Something’s Coming” from West Side Story, having led the show when it was mounted at Curve Leicester in winter 2019.
• Oscar Conlon-Morrey and Amy Hart will make appearances to highlight some of the work being done by the theatre community on and off the stage.

Paul Harvard’s GHBoy now available to stream online

James Quaife Productions today announces that the world première production of Paul Harvard’s debut play GHBoy is now available to stream online via Vimeo on Demand. Filmed on 15 December 2020, the day before a lockdown cut short the production’s run at Charing Cross Theatre, the recorded version will be available from today. Tickets are £9.99 for a 48-hour rental period.

James Quaife, producer, today said, “After our run of GHBoy was delayed and then cut short by lockdowns last year, we were determined to bring the production to those that were unable to catch it in person. We are so proud of this company production and so, even with minimal equipment and no time to reset scenes for camera, we really wanted to share this recording for audiences across to country to enjoy at home.”

The burgeoning party scene of East London hides a dark secret: a swathe of young men dying unexpectedly, with whispers of an unnamed killer.

In the midst of all this, Robert is grieving the death of his father. He desperately wants to be a better person, but trapped in a pattern of substance abuse and infidelity, he has a lingering fear that he will never find love and acceptance. Unexpectedly, his boyfriend Sergio proposes, compelling Robert to turn his back on addiction and self-sabotage – before he destroys this final chance at happiness.

But first, he must confront a truth buried deep within his subconscious, something he himself doesn’t yet fully understand.

Don’t forget to check out our Virtual Theatre Fix page where we are showcasing theatre you can enjoy online.

Reality TV star and theatre enthusiastic Amy Hart gave us a rundown of her top five musicals that were gone too soon.

In her very own words: “It’s a celebration, an extravaganza if you will of those musicals we absolutely adored but left us that little bit too early.”

Number 5 – Memphis

In at number five we have Memphis. This starred Killian Donnelly and Beverley Knight and only ran for one year at the Shaftesbury Theatre and I think we can all agree it deserved a much longer run. The show was loosely based on Dewey Phillips who was one of the first white DJ’s to play black music in the 1950s. It was nominated for a whopping nine Olivier Awards and won too but for some reason only lasted a year in the West End. I think it might be coming back for a tour though so there is going to be another chance to see it.

Number 4 – City Of Angels

Number four on our list is the most recent gone too soon of the list which is City Of Angels. It was due to have its grand opening at the Garrick Theatre in March. It starred Hadley Fraser and Rosalie Craig reprising their roles from the 2014 Olivier Award-winning production at the Donmar Warehouse. I couldn’t wait to see this but sadly due to the coronavirus pandemic it closed before it had its big opening night. The show is set in the 1940s in the glittering Hollywood with two stories running side by side – a Hollywood comedy and a detective drama. We’re all keeping our fingers crossed it’ll be back soon and we’ll get to see this fabulous show.

Number 3 – Betty Blue Eyes

Now I love Stiles and Drewe and number three on my list is probably my favourite show that they’ve done. Betty Blue Eyes was a 2011 musical that only ran for six months at the Novello Theatre it was Cameron Mackintosh’s first new musical in over 10 years and I utterly adored it. It was based on the film at a private function and starred Sarah Lancashire and Adrian Scarborough and even a little bit of voice acting from Miss Kylie Minogue herself. It did hit the road on a 2014 tour and luckily for us the soundtrack is available on Spotify and Apple Music so if you haven’t listened, go and listen now.

I would just like to take this moment to say to everyone who loves a long-running musical think yourselves very lucky because those of us whose heart belongs to the short-run musicals we we never know the 25th anniversary concert, we never know this. The last two musicals in my list are my top two musicals of all time so let’s find out what they are.

Number 2 – Made In Dagenham

Coming in at number two we have Made In Dagenham. This opened at the Adelphi Theatre in 2014 and ran for six months. We were robbed of a long run of this show. I cannot tell you how much I adore it. I still listen to the soundtrack now, start to finish in the car. There are no skips, there are no songs left unlistened to, honestly if you haven’t listened to it go and listen to it now.

The musical was based on the 2010 film of the same name which in turn was based on the 1968 strike of the Ford sewing machine workers. It starred former bond girl Gemma Arterton and future West End royalty Sophie Isaacs. This show was absolutely amazing and we need a UK tour pronto.

Number 1 – From Here To Eternity

And now the end is near so we face the final curtain and the final curtain is very emotional for me because number one on my top five of musicals gone too soon is my all-time favourite musical From Here To Eternity. Now this was Stuart Brayson and Sir Tim Rice’s musical based on the 1953 film and a book before that but I’m not sure what year. I’ve actually read the book, it’s like 5000 pages and I think I prefer the musical.

Now, the musical opened in 2013 and it only lasted for six and a half months but I managed to see it 10 times. In that time I learned what the stage door was – what a time to be alive. The cast included Darius Campbell, West End superstar leading ladies Rebecca Thornhill and Siobhan Harrison and the standout star Robert Lonsdale. Now he’d never done a musical before I don’t think and he blew us all away with his portrayal of Prewitt and I actually got to meet him at a press night party post-Love Island and he said that when they watched Love Island and I came on the screen they said “that’s Amy from the stage door.” I think I only ever met him once at the stage door, once seen never forgotten. This show had everything, the soundtrack was brilliant, the story was amazing, you really went on a journey with the characters.

The cast were faultless and the boys were really really fit and there was like 15 of them all in army uniforms dancing, all muscly. They went on an army boot camp before they did the show and also the video is still on YouTube so if you’re bored go and watch that. Now I was such a massive fan of the show that I have actually got a signed poster and a friend of mine work backstage so he got me a signed ukulele and to top it all off I have actually forced quite a few members of the cast to be my friend!

But luckily for me and you From Here To Eternity is still available to watch because towards the end of the run I think it was the last week actually it was filmed over two nights, so you can buy it on DVD if you still watch DVDs, it’s available on Broadway HD it’s available on iTunes, so it’s still there to watch and honestly it’s not the same as watching it in the theatre but it’s a very good second place so go and watch it guys. Thank you so much for joining me today for my top five musicals gone too soon.

For more exclusive theatre content like this and from more musicals in London, remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel. 

The National Lottery today announced it will host a special one-off performance of this year’s pantomime at The London Palladium for key workers and staff from frontline lottery-funded projects.

The National Lottery’s Pantoland will see hundreds of seats gifted to key workers and their families in recognition of their vital work this year supporting communities, specifically the most vulnerable, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Attendees to the red carpet event will be drawn from a wide range of professions – including NHS frontline staff, the Metropolitan Police Service, London Ambulance Service, the military, teachers, refuse collectors, delivery drivers, retail workers, staff from frontline lottery-funded community projects and a range of charities.

Donmar Warehouse announces new Chair of the Board

The Donmar Warehouse announces today that Adam Kenwright will succeed The Lord Browne of Madingley as Chair of its Board. Adam Kenwright will take over from Lord Browne from Friday 4 December 2020.

2020 has also seen the Donmar appoint six new Trustees who will work alongside Adam: Sylvie Bressler, Tiina Lee, Gerard Lemos CMG, Antonia Romeo, Tessa Ross CBE and June Sarpong OBE.

Adam Kenwright and the Donmar Warehouse Board will work closely with Michael Longhurst and Henny Finch, the company’s Artistic Director and Executive Director.

Bridge Theatre releases photos of A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol didn’t just invent Christmas as we know it. It’s also scary, joyful, spooky, hilarious, furious, beautiful, and a triumphant declaration that even the hardest hearts can melt.

Simon Russell Beale, Patsy Ferran and Eben Figueiredo play all the parts and share the story telling in this exuberant new version devised by Nicholas Hytner.

This hour-long concert of musical numbers, sketches and seasonal poetry will be directed by Simon Evans (Staged, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui), with musical direction by Nigel Lilley (Piaf, Caroline, or Change), and production design by Grace Smart (My Beautiful Laundrette, One Night in Miami).

The Donmar has assembled an all-star cast including Imelda Staunton (Gypsy, Follies, Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix/Deathly Hallows Part 1), Jim Carter (Downton Abbey, Guys and Dolls, Shakespeare in Love), Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting, Will & Grace, Circle of Friends), Giles Terera (Hamilton, Rosmersholm, Hamlet), Rosalie Craig (Company, City of Angels, London Road) and Sharon Rose (Hamilton, Caroline, Or Change, Beautiful – The Carole King Musical). Further artists will be announced in the coming weeks, and there will even be a few surprise special guests joining in the merriment digitally from their own living rooms.

Donmar Warehouse Artistic Director Michael Longhurst said:

“At the end of a very difficult year for us all, we wanted to bring together a group of incredible artists to celebrate the festive season in true Donmar style. We are thrilled to be creating this concert for the special setting of the Actors’ Church – and offer it as a heartfelt thank you to our audiences for their unwavering support this year. Even though we can’t be together in person, we hope you will all join us online to share the joy of music and theatre which has endured throughout the challenges of 2020.”

Looking A Lot Like Christmas will stream for free on YouTube from 7.30pm 16 December, and audiences will be invited to donate if they are able to via YouTube Giving or via text message. Proceeds from the concert will directly support the Donmar’s work on and off stage. The Donmar also believes it is vital to support its local community and will therefore redistribute 15% of all donations received to the Connection at St Martin’s, which during the COVID-19 crisis has supported thousands of homeless people across London with the provision of over 21,000 hot meals, as well as accommodation, access to medical support and therapy https://www.connection-at-stmartins.org.uk/

Blindness is based on the dystopian novel by Nobel-prize winning José Saramago, adapted by Simon Stephens and directed by Walter Meierjohann. This innovative ticketed installation for a limited number of visitors runs four times a day, with seating arranged 2m apart in accordance with social distancing guidelines in a transformed Donmar Warehouse.

 As the lights change at a major crossroads in a city in the heart of Europe a car grinds to a halt. Its driver can drive no more. Suddenly, without warning or cause, he has gone blind. Within hours it is clear that this is a blindness like no other. This blindness is infectious. Within days an epidemic of blindness has spread through the city.  The government tries to quarantine the contagion by herding the newly blind people into an empty asylum. But their attempts are futile. The city is in panic.

Acclaimed stage and screen actor Juliet Stevenson has received plaudits for her narration as the voice of the Storyteller/Doctor’s wife. Visitors listen on headphones to this gripping story of an unimaginable global pandemic – and its profoundly hopeful conclusion – told through an immersive sound design using binaural technology by Ben and Max Ringham. The Donmar Warehouse is reimagined by designer Lizzie Clachan, with atmospheric lighting designed by Jessica Hung Han Yun.

Enhanced safety measures have been used to ensure the health and safety of all visitors to the Donmar.  Visitors are seated 2m apart in accordance with social distancing requirements unless they attend with someone from their household or social bubble.  All visitors are required to wear a face covering throughout their visit (medical exemptions permitted) as do all Donmar staff. The bar areas are closed and there is a one-way system around the building, with visitors, asked to queue in line with social distancing. There are sanitising points throughout the building and the headphones, seats, toilets and public areas are thoroughly cleaned between each installation.

Audio-described content is available at every installation.  An audio-described or captioned digital version of the installation is also available for purchase for those not able to attend in person.

Tickets are now on sale via the Donmar Warehouse’s website. Up to 2 tickets can be purchased per transaction. When you arrive at the venue you will be seated by Front of House staff in accordance with social distancing. If you are purchasing two tickets you should ensure you are attending only with someone in your household or social bubble as you will be seated together. If you are attending on your own you will be seated in a single seat.

To accompany the installation the Donmar podcast ‘Reclaiming Blindness’ is available to download. Simon Stephens interviews Prof. Hannah Thompson to unpack the representations of blindness in Blindness – both the novel and this adaptation.  They take the long view across centuries of literature whilst discussing the exciting possibilities for creatively centering the non-visual in theatre today.

Find out more below!

Since Blindness is a sound installation rather than a performance involving live actors, it was able to open on 1 August.

Award-winning playwright Simon Stephens has adapted Nobel Prize-winner José Saramago’s dystopian novel Blindness into a sound installation.

Directed by Walter Meierjohann, the installation features immersive binaural sound design by Olivier Award nominees Ben and Max Ringham.

Olivier Award-winner Juliet Stevenson voices the Storyteller/Doctor’s wife in this timely and gripping story of the rise and, ultimately, profoundly hopeful end of an unimaginable global pandemic of inexplicable blindness spreading through the city.

You can experience Blindness at the Donmar Warehouse until 22 August, with four hour-long showings every day. Grab your tickets below on the Donmar’s website!

Entitled Blindness, the new installation is based on the dystopian novel by Nobel-prize winning José Saramago, adapted by Simon Stephens and directed by Walter Meierjohann.

Olivier Award-winning stage and screen actor Juliet Stevenson (Death And The Maiden, The Doctor, Measure For Measure) will voice the Storyteller/Doctor’s wife in this hour-long gripping story of an unimaginable global pandemic and it’s profoundly hopeful conclusion.

The story will be played on headphones and will feature an immersive sound design using binaural technology by Ben and Max Ringham.

Running four times a day to a limited number of customers from 3 – 22 August, the ticketed installation will have seating arranged 2m apart in accordance with social distancing guidelines in a transformed Donmar Warehouse, now featuring atmospheric lighting. All visitors will be required to wear a face covering throughout their visit (medical exemptions permitted) as will all Donmar staff.

Audio-described content will be available at every installation from Friday 7 August, and there will be a captioned installation at 2pm on Saturday 15 August.  An audio-described or captioned digital version of the installation will also be available for purchase for those not able to attend in person.

Production Consultant (blind and partially blind experience) Professor Hannah Thompson from Royal Holloway said: “The Donmar Warehouse has a strong track record in supporting visually impaired audiences to enjoy their productions. I am pleased that I have been invited to support the creative team to ensure the Blindness sound installation has accessibility built into the experience for all visitors.

“José Saramago’s novel is a complex portrayal of blindness, and the Donmar is exploring how blindness can lead to different ways of being in the world and an appreciation that sight isn’t as necessary for understanding as we may think. In fact this installation will show that blindness can lead to rich and immersive aesthetic experiences.”

Speaking about reopening the Donmar Warehouse for this special socially distanced sound installation, Artistic Director Michael Longhurst said: “Reading Simon’s version of Saramago’s extraordinary allegory about a government’s and society’s response to a pandemic, I knew this was a story we had to tell immediately. With indoor live performance not yet permitted, and social distancing measures reducing capacity, I am proud that the Donmar has risen to the challenge of producing work at this time.

“This immersive sound installation makes a virtue of these restrictions inspiring our artists to find the apposite form for this story.   Utilising Juliet Stevenson’s astonishing talent as a recording artist, and the binaural wizardry of the Ringham Brothers, it re-centres and celebrates this event as a non-visual experience.  Our theatre has lain empty for so long, so I am delighted we can gather there for a unique and accessible experience after the isolation of Covid-19.  I am so grateful to all of our loyal and passionate supporters who have made this possible through their continued generosity and incredible kindness during these testing times.”

Mark your diaries as tickets will go on sale on the Donmar Warehouse website from 12pm on Friday 17 July for public members while Donmar members can book from 12pm on Wednesday 15 July.

For thirsty musical lovers, any update about Hello, Dolly! will make the wait for the iconic show a little less painful. So the final announcement of the cast is more than welcome.

Joining Imelda Staunton, Andy Nyman and Jenna Russell will be Clare Halse, Harry Hepple, and Tyrone Huntley.

Clare will be playing Minnie Fay. Her theatre credits include the lead role of Peggy Sawyer in the iconic Broadway musical 42nd Street at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, as well as Gypsy and A White Christmas.

Harry will play Cornelius Hackl, and previously appeared in Follies at the National Theatre and Romantics Anonymous at Bristol Old Vic.

And Olivier Award-nominated Tyrone will take on Barnaby Tucker. He earned his nomination for his performance as Judas in the widely acclaimed production of Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. He was also previously in the original London casts of Dreamgirls and The Book of Mormon.

The full cast will hit the stage when the show opens at the Adelphi Theatre on 11 August 2020. Got your tickets yet?

Ruth Wilson to star in the UK Premiere of The Second Woman at the Young Vic

Unique. A word that’s frequently used and often loses its meaning. Not this time. Nat Randall and Anna Breckon’s internationally acclaimed show The Second Woman is truly unlike any other live performance in London at the moment. And where better to perform it than the Young Vic in association with LIFT Festival.

Starring in the exciting show is two-time Olivier Award-winner, Golden Globe winner, and Tony and BAFTA-nominated actress Ruth Wilson. Ruth has recently starred as Mrs Coulter in the critically and audience acclaimed His Dark Materials which received a BAFTA nomination.

The Second Woman straddles performance, video and film. It invites 100 men to appear opposite Ruth Wilson who will play ‘Virginia’. She will perform the exact same scene again and again for a full 24 hours. That’s right. 24 HOURS.

The show takes inspiration from the 1977 John Cassavetes film Opening Night. An all-female-identifying and non-binary team capture and mix the action live from multiple cameras, in a piece of extraordinary theatre that shines a light on the nature of gender and power relationships.

About joining the production, Ruth said: “I am absolutely thrilled, and a little scared to be part of Nat Randall and Anna Breckon’s truly unique theatrical experience. I have a feeling that The Second Woman will challenge all norms of what it means to be actor and audience, to be performer and observer. And what better place to be breaking the mould, than at the Young Vic, in association with LIFT Festival. Please come share this weird and wonderful journey with me.”

The performance will take place from 4pm on 19 June to 4pm on 20 June. If you’re as hardcore as Ruth, you can buy 24-hour tickets or you can get tickets for specific time-slots. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 3pm. For more information, visit the Young Vic website.

Brand new musical Breakfast On Pluto is coming to the Donmar Warehouse

New week, another new show! This morning, it’s been announced that Donmar Warehouse will be hosting the London premiere of Bob Kelly’s Breakfast On Pluto, A New Irish Musical.

Based on Patrick McCabe’s novel of the same name, the comedy-drama follows Patrick/Pussy Braden who lives in the border town of Tyreelin at the height of the Troubles. The rural Irish town is no place for the unpredictable teen who’s struggling with small-town bigotry, religious repression and the IRA’s lack of fashion sense. Pussy – the illegitimate offspring of an errant priest and a long-gone local girl – ditches watchtowers and checkpoints for the faraway galaxy of 1970s London in search of her long-lost mother and a technicolour new life.

The Ferryman’s Fra Fee will be taking the lead as Patrick/Pussy, with Niamh Perry, David Ganly, Kate Gilmore, and Rickie O’Neill joining him on stage. Further casting will be announced closer to opening.

Directed by Des Kennedy (International Associate Director of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child), the show has garnered excitement and anticipation since it had a small work-in-progress showcase in Galway last summer.

Joining Kelly and Kennedy is Musical Director, Arranger, Orchestrator Jennifer Whyte, Choreographer Jennifer Rooney, Set and Costume Designer Katie Davenport and Lighting Designer Sinéad McKenna.

The Donmar Warehouse run will be part of the world premiere tour of the show which will visit five different venues around the UK.

Breakfast On Pluto will open at the Donmar Warehouse in October for a strictly limited seven-week run.

Christopher Matthews’ my body is an exhibition is opening at Sadler’s Wells’ Lilian Baylis Studio

We here at Official London Theatre are always looking to the future of theatre. So, when companies like Sadler’s Wells put together programmes that nurture young talent, there’s a standing ovation in the office.

The Sadler’s Wells Wild Card programme is making a triumphant return with a brand new show from Christopher Matthews. The American-born, London-based artist has curated a special event in the Lilian Baylis Studio. my body is an exhibition will feature several movement-based installations which will tackle topics such as gender, class structure, intersections of the classical and contemporary, icon versus self, and pop culture.

International artists and performance-makers Phoebe Berglund (US), Fenia Kotsopoulou (Greece/UK), Bhenji Ra (Australia) and Fabritia D’Intino (Italy) will display video, photographic prints and live installations alongside body-focused prints from the Sadler’s Wells archive, as well as two of Matthews’ own works.

The show will take place on 14 May 2020. Visit the Sadler’s Wells website for tickets.

Every year, for the whole of August, we offer a fantastic opportunity where kids aged 16 or under can go to participating shows for free (where tickets are available) as long as they’re accompanied by a full paying adult. Adults can also buy up to two extra children’s tickets at half price AND there are no booking fees!

Kids Week includes a wide variety of London musicals, plays, comedies and children’s shows and is a brilliant way to introduce your family or friends to theatre over the holidays.

This year’s participating shows will be announced on 2 June with tickets on sale from 9 June. To find out more, visit our Kids Week website and keep up to date by signing up to our newsletter.

Kate Fleetwood will play the iconic villain, Cruella de Vil in 101 Dalmations opening at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre from 16 May.

Directed by the Open Air Theatre‘s Artistic Director, Timothy Sheader, the new screen-to-stage adaption is based on Dodie Smith’s original story and will play from 16 May to 21 June.

Kate previously starred in Medea (Almeida), King Lear (National Theatre), Lady Macbeth (Chichester Festival/Gielgud/ BAM/Broadway) for which she was nominated for a Tony Award and Life Is A Dream (Donmar Warehouse) for which she received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She also received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress for London Road (National Theatre).

You may also recognise her from the big screen with roles in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Negotiator, London Road, Philomena, Les Misérables and Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

If you loved the classic animated adventure, you’ll definitely want to snap up tickets to see this show.

The producers of Six today announced that its catchy showstopping songs have been streamed 100,000,000 times on Spotify and Apple Music.

Six is now second only to Hamilton as the most streamed Musical Theatre album in the world!

Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, who wrote the smash-hit British musical while still students at Cambridge University, said: “Our minds are completely blown at this incredible news! We are overjoyed that these 9 songs – our little babies – have become so popular. With six productions of ‘SIX’ playing simultaneously around the world, and Anne Boleyn’s song ‘Don’t Lose Ur Head’ shared over half a billion times on Tik Tok – well, we’re just feeling kinda overwhelmed and incredibly grateful!”

Having been nominated for five Olivier’s at the Olivier Awards 2019 – including Best New Musical and Best Actress In A Supporting Role In A Musical (for the Six Queens) – the musical phenomenon is showing no signs of stopping as its already previewing on Broadway to sold-out shows this month. 

If you’re yet to see this sensational pop-fuelled show that sees the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, click the button below to find out more info!

The Almeida Theatre announced today that Anne-Marie Duff will play the lead role of Constance in the forthcoming World Premiere of Beth Steel’s The House Of Shades. 

Directed by Blanche McIntyre, the new play spans five decades of the lives, and deaths of the Webster family. Inside their home, set against the ever-changing industrial landscape of working-class Britain, some chase dreams of a brighter future and others are haunted by the nightmares of the past.

Leading the cast will be Olivier and BAFTA award-nominated actor Anne-Marie Duff (Sweet Charity, Sex Education) who returns to the Almeida Theatre to play the Webster family matriarch.

With the Most Promising Playwright at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards under her belt, we are sure Beth Steel’s The House Of Shades is one to add to the watch list! Visit Almeida Theatre’s website for more details!

Donmar Warehouse announces Donmar Lates, a series of intimate evenings of music and song, curated by Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell.

The cabaret evenings will be performed in the iconic setting of the Donmar Warehouse from Wednesday 25 March to Saturday 28 March and will feature some of the best of musical theatre including songs by Stephen Sondheim (Sunday In The Park With George), Noël Coward (Blithe Spirit) Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) and more.

Special guests Hannah Waddington (Spamalot, A Little Night Music) and Giles Terera (Hamilton and The Book Of Mormon) will perform their favourite songs on alternative nights while accompanied by a three-piece band led by Theo Jamieson (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie).

To find out more, head to Donmar Warehouse’s website.

Frozen The Musical will reopen the newly refurbished Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 11 November with public tickets on sale from 6 March.

If you loved the movie, this glittery new West End show is sure to please!

To mark the anniversary, The Royal Mint has worked with the cast of the West End musical, Hamilton, to capture photography of Gavin Spokes, who plays the monarch in the show. In addition to the commemorative coin marking 200 years since the death of George III, The Royal Mint has produced two historic coin sets, a Longest Reigning Monarchs Silver Crown Set which includes three silver crowns from the reigns of George III, Queen Victoria and Her Majesty The Queen and a George III Guinea Set that includes an authentic collection of George III’s fractional guineas struck by The Royal Mint.

To view the full range celebrating the life and legacy of George III visit www.royalmint.com/george-iii

Cast changes for Susan Hill’s The Woman In Black.

From Tuesday 28 January 2020 the show will star Terence Wilton as Arthur Kipps and Max Hutchinson as The Actor.

Having previously played the role of Arthur Kipps at the Fortune Theatre in 2017, Terence Wilton returns to the show this year. His other West End credits include Never So Good at the National Theatre, Treatment at the Donmar Warehouse and Antony and Cleopatra at The Old Vic.

Max Hutchinson’s recent theatre credits include The 39 Steps at the Barn Theatre and Theatre Royal Windsor, The Hound Of The Baskervilles and The Notorious Mrs Ebbsmith at Jermyn Street Theatre, and the UK Tour of Murder On The Nile.

The Tiger Who Came To Tea returns this summer.

The Olivier Award nominated stage production of The Tiger Who Came To Tea today announces an eight-week summer season at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. A musical play adapted and directed by David Wood OBE, based on the classic tale by the late Judith Kerr OBE, The Tiger Who Came to Tea will open in London on Thursday 16 July, playing until 6 September 2020.

Hailed as Britain’s best-loved picture book, The Tiger Who Came To Tea is now in its 52nd year, selling over five million copies since it was first published in 1968. Enchanting generations of children worldwide, Judith Kerr’s timeless classic received its television debut on Christmas Eve last year, with a hand-drawn animation for Channel 4 featuring an all-star cast including Benedict Cumberbatch, David Oyelowo, Tamsin Greig, Paul Whitehouse and David Walliams with original music by Robbie Williams.

Join the Tiger, Sophie and her Mummy and Daddy, in this musical slice of teatime mayhem with sing-a-long songs, oodles of magic and interactive fun. The show is an ideal introduction to live theatre for children aged three and above and the perfect summer treat for the whole family.

We caught glimpse at rehearsal images for Caryl Churchill’s Far Away at the Donmar Warehouse, which opens on 12 February.

In a cottage far away, a child wakes to the sound of screaming. Who will tell her what’s really going on and where will the discoveries she makes that night take her in the years to come?

Directed by Lyndsey Turner and with a cast including Jessica Hynes, Aisling Loftus and Simon Manyonda, Caryl Churchill’s dazzling play about a world sliding into chaos receives a new production at the Donmar, twenty years on from its explosive premiere.

English National Ballet announces its 2020-2021 season.

Plans for the upcoming season include the following:

• Tamara Rojo CBE, Artistic Director of English National Ballet, will create a new version of the classic 19th-century ballet, Raymonda, after Marius Petipa, marking her first foray into choreography and direction.
• A triple bill of William Forsythe’s works will be performed at Sadler’s Wells between 15 and 24 April.
• Completing English National Ballet’s Autumn-Winter Season is Nutcracker which returns to the London Coliseum for the festive period (10 December 2020 to 3 January 2021). These performances mark English National Ballet’s 70th year of performing a Nutcracker production, with the Company having done so since 1950 when it was founded.
• English National Ballet celebrates 10 years of its flagship Engagement programme, Dance for Parkinson’s. Inspired by Company repertoire, the programme provides high quality dance classes for people living with Parkinson’s, their family, friends and carers.

To find out what else is on over the year, click here!

Hackney Empire today held a reception to celebrate its intent for the coming decade.

The launch saw an introduction from Artistic Director Yamin Choudury with performances from Dominique Florent-Lee, a current employee of Hackney Empire, who came up through the Artist’s Development Programme and was mentored by Yamin Choudury. The event also included a beautiful performance from the Creative Futures Programme including Tariq Smith on keyboards, Mya-Louise Smith and Rashád Cayenne-Davis with vocals and Di-Andre Ebanks-Silvera who performed some poetry.

Since their appointment in 2018, Yamin and Executive Director Jo Hemmant have developed youth engagement by over 12% with a free year-round programme of engagement in Creative Futures with over 4,000 young people now involved. The extended programme of creative arts provision and training is aimed at those aged 8 to 19 years old and was created by and for young people, designed specifically to remove barriers to participation

At the start of this new decade, Hackney Empire’s leadership team plans to continue building on its commitment to community and the championing of young people alongside offering an exciting programme of work for audiences to enjoy and a collection of innovative collaborations with artists, venues and theatre makers around the country.

Watch out for these amazing highlights this year:

• Alter Ego – East London’s biggest talent showcase for young people, now in its tenth year, will host its final at Hackney Empire on Friday 21 February. Singer, rappers, dancers, whatever you enjoy, they’ve got it!
• Artist’s Development Programme (ADP) – now in its 20th year, this programme will take 50 young people from across London to stage a production of Romeo & Juliet on the main stage in August 2020.
• Headlong Theatre will bring its first production to Hackney Empire this autumn as part of its UK tour.
• The Poet in Da Corner national tour will finish at Hackney Empire in March. The venue are working with Debris Stevenson to develop her next production, Write to Rave.
• Hackney Empire will present a wide-ranging programme for 2020, with an eclectic mix of comedy, theatre, family entertainment and opera.

To find out more about these exciting events, click here.

The class of 2020 includes: Noah Thomas as Jamie, Hiba Elchikhe as Pritti and Jordan Ricketts as Dean, all of whom are making their West End debuts.

Joining them in the new lineup is: Zion Battles as Levi, Leon Craig as Sandra Bollock, Keenan Knight as Sayid, Ebony Clarke as Swing/Dance Captain, David O’Reilly as Laika Virgin, Joe Wolstenholme as Swing, and Brian James Leys as Understudy.

Nica Burns, Producer of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie said: “We are delighted to welcome a new class of exceptionally talented young performers, many of them making their West End debut including our brilliant new Jamie, Noah Thomas. Leading them to light up the winter sky are our current star cast playing the grown ups, Melissa Jacques (Margaret New), Preeya Kalidas (Miss Hedge), Sejal Keshwala (Ray) with Roy Haylock / Bianca Del Rio unveiling two sensational new drag queens. As funny, fabulous and feelgood as ever.”

Based on a true story inspired by the 2011 BBC Three documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16, the inspiring show tells the tale of bravery, adversary and fabulousness. 

If you’re looking to beat the January blues, this funny, feel-good musical sensation will leave you fist pumping the air, so grab your tickets now!

Donmar Warehouse today announced Michael Longhurst’s second season as Artistic Director.

Speaking about his second season Artistic Director Michael Longhurst said: “As we head into my second season as Artistic Director at the Donmar I am delighted for us to be bringing you more important stories, thrillingly told. 2020 will see exceptional artists, both new and familiar, joining us here at the Donmar to make inspiring productions that explore the world today.

In April, I am thrilled that Gate Theatre Artistic Director Ellen McDougall will make her Donmar debut, directing the first major UK production of In the Blood. Both epic and personal, Pulitzer Prize-winner Suzan-Lori Parks’ play is inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic American novel The Scarlet Letter. It asks: how far would you go for your children?

Then, in June, we are delighted to give a timely revival to Steve Waters’ compelling and acclaimed double-bill of plays, The Contingency Plan. Steve originally wrote the plays ten years ago and has now updated them to reflect a decade of developments in the climate emergency.

We are pleased to co-produce this double-bill with Theatr Clwyd (whose Artistic Director Tamara Harvey and I were the original directors in 2009). Rising-star directors Chelsea Walker and Caroline Steinbeis will take the helm on what promises to be both a funny and thrilling pair of plays”.

This season sure sounds like one not to be missed.

We are thrilled to reveal a collection of rehearsal pictures from the world-premiere of award-winning James McDermott’s new play, Time And Tide.

Directed by Rob Ellis and playing at the Park Theatre from 5 – 29 February, Time And Tide tells the story of May, who runs a crumbling caff on the end of Cromer Pier, her delivery man Ken, who is running out of customers thanks to Costa, and Nemo, who is desperate to tread the boards in London while his unrequited love is burying his head in the sand over his best mate leaving.

The cast includes: Wendy Nottingham as May (Vera Drake, Peaky Blinders, Mr Selfridge), Paul Easom as Ken, Elliot Liburd as Daz and Josh Barrow as Nemo.

Described as “funny as hell”, this LGBT comic drama is well-worth adding to your diary!

The newly announced final casting includes Faye Castelow, Felicity Davidson, Avye Leventis and Sadie Shimmin join the previously announced adult cast – Sebastian Armesto, Jenna Augen, Rhys Bailey, Joe Coen, Mark Edel-Hunt, Clara Francis, Ilan Galkoff, Caroline Gruber, Sam Hoare, Natalie Law, Noof McEwan, Dorothea Myer-Bennett, Jake Neads, Aaron Neil, Alexander Newland, Yasmin Paige, Adrian Scarborough, Griffin Stevens, Ed Stoppard, Luke Thallon, Eleanor Wyld and Alexis Zegerman.

Jarlan Bogolubov, Ramsay Robertson and Joshua Schneider join the previously announced children’s cast – Toby Cohen, Zachary Cohen, Olivia Festinger, Tamar Laniado, Maya Larholm, Daniel Lawson, Louis Levy, Libby Lewis, Jack Meredith, Chloe Raphael, Beatrice Rapstone and Montague Rapstone comprising three sets of five children.

Leopoldstadt begins previews at Wyndham’s Theatre on 25 January 2020 with opening night on 12 February 2020. Grab your tickets now!

The Old Vic announced Eileen Atkins and Timothée Chalamet are to star in the Amy Herzogs’ Pulitzer Prize for Drama nominated play, 4000 Miles, from 6 April 2020. 4000 Miles is part of Matthew Warchus’ Season 5 joining the forthcoming productions of A Christmas Carol, Endgame (in a double bill with Rough for Theatre II) and Local Hero. Read more below!

On Wednesday 27 November at Trafalgar Studios, The Game of Thrones and Endeavour actor Roger Allam will lead a host of star names in a tribute show to celebrate one of the greatest playwrights of our generation – Peter Nichols: A Celebration.

Joined by an incredible line-up of actors from stage and screen, including Nigel Lindsay (Victoria), Layo-Christina Akinlude (The End Of The F***ing World), Laurence Belcher (X-Men: First Class) and James Harkness (Star Wars – Rogue One),  Roger Allam will – under the direction of Peter Nichols’ grandson George Nichols – perform a series of extracts from Peter Nichols’ much loved television and stage plays, as well as passages from his personal diaries and rare unproduced plays, kindly provided by The British Library.

We caught a look at Teenage Dick, Mike Lew’s darkly comic take on Shakespeare’s Richard III, directed by Donmar Artistic Director Michael Longhurst.

Showing at the Donmar Warehouse, the play tells the story of Richard – the class loser – who lusts for power at Roseland High. After years of torment due to his hemiplegia, Richard plots to become president of his senior class. But like all teenagers, and all despots, he is faced with the hardest question of all: is it better to be loved, or feared?

Joining the previously announced Daniel Monks and Susan Wokoma are Callum Adams (Sweat, Episodes), Alice Hewkin (The Vote, Sex Education), Siena Kelly (Describe The Night, Adult Material) and Ruth Madeley (The Greatest Wealth, Don’t Take My Baby).

The Hampstead Theatre also announced the casting for the world premiere of psychological thriller Ravens: Spassky vs. Fischer, written by Tom Morton-Smith. Directed by Annabelle Comyn, this play tells the story of the chess match of the century in 1972, between two grand chessmasters from the USSR and USA; Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer.

The cast will include Ronan Raftery as Boris Spassky and Robert Emms as Bobby Fischer. They will be joined by Gunnar Cauthery, Simon Chandler, Buffy Davis, Philip Desmeules, Solomon Israel, Beruce Khan, Emma Pallant, Gyuri Sarossy, Rebecca Scroggs and Gary Shelford.

The Almeida announced their Spring 2020 season today. Read our full article below to find out what you can see there next year.

We got a sneak peek at production images of Jordan Tannahill’s Botticelli In The Fire, which opens today at the Hampstead Theatre. Directed by Blanche McIntyre, the production re-imagines Renaissance Italy, asking how much of ourselves we would be willing to sacrifice when society begins to fall apart. Dickie Beau (Bohemian Rhapsody and Re-Member Me) stars as Sandro Botticelli, joined by Hiran Abeysekera, Stefan Adegbola, Adetomiwa Edun, Louise Gold, Sirine Saba and Howard Ward.

This production is directed by Maria Alberg and stars Ayesha Antoine, Shona Babayemi, Sophia Brown, Jackie Clune, Grace Doherty, Lucy Edkins, Zaris-Angel Hator, Zainab Hasan, Joanna Horton, Thusitha Jayasundera, Petra Letang, Leah Mondesir-Simmonds, Kate O’Flynn, Ashna Rabheru, Jemima Rooper and Taya Tower.

To check out our coverage of opening night tonight, head over to our instagram: @londontheatre!

The Almeida Theatre announced the full cast of The Duchess of Malfi today, as well as announcing a week’s extension, with the production now ending on Saturday 25 January.

Joining the previously announced Lydia Wilson are Khalid Abdalla, Hadassah Allen, Leo Bill, Jersey Blu Georgia, Ioanna Kimbook, Michael Marcus, Ciarán Owens, Shalini Peiris, Jack Riddiford, Jethro Skinner and Kalungi Ssebandeke.