Theatre news round-up

I’d thought I didn’t need to see Richard II again for a good while but Michelle Terry’s tenure at the Globe is most certainly testing that resolve. The forthcoming production there is to be staged by the first-ever company of women of colour in a Shakespeare play on a major UK stage. Co-directed by Adjoa Andoh and Lynette Linton, Adjoa will also play the titular role.

Adjoa Andoh will play Richard II and co-direct 
Lynette Linton will co-direct 
Dona Croll will play John of Gaunt and the Duchess of York 
Shobna Gulati
 will play the Duke of York 
Ayesha Dharker will play Aumerle
Indra Ové will play Mowbray and Northumberland 
Lourdes Faberes will play Bagot and Exton
Leila Farzad will play the Queen 
Sarah Lam will play the Duchess of Gloucester and Gardener
Sarah Niles will play Bolingbroke 
Nicholle Cherrie will play Percy, Green, and Ross 
Rajha Shakiry will design
Dominique Le Gendre will compose 
Yarit Dor will be Movement and Fight director 


The newly renovated Tobacco Factory Theatres has now opened its doors and its new production of Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing – celebrating its 25th anniversary – is welcoming audiences now. Directed by Artistic Director Mike Tweddle, an intriguing cast look set to do the play justice.

Finn Hanlon plays Tony 
Amy-Leigh Hickman plays Leah 
Ted Reilly plays Jamie 
Phoebe Thomas plays Sandra 
Tristan Waterson plays Ste

Beautiful Thing is booking until 27th August, and then tours to: 
New Vic Theatre, Tue 30 October – Sat 03 November
and The Dukes Lancaster, Tue 06 – Sat 10 November 2018


Angela Lansbury and Dick Van Dyke might both be popping up in Mary Poppins Returns later this year but before then, there’s a one-off chance to see them in another film – Buttons The Movie. Narrated by Robert Redford and Kate Winslet, it is a new musical fairytale of a film with a cast that includes actors Abigail Spencer, Jane Seymour, Roma Downey, Ioan Gruffudd, Katie McGrath, Robert Picardo, Charles Shaughnessy, Paul Greene, John de Lancie, and “Nova” a song written by Sir Paul McCartney.

The proceeds of the film will go to benefit Kate Winslet’s Golden Hat Foundation, helping those living with autism.

It premieres this December 8th at 12:55 PM in theaters nationwide for one showing only. Tickets here.  


The Barbican’s 2019 season has been announced and there’s all sorts of goodies in there. Chief among them for me is the arrival of Simon Stone’s Medea (by the newly renamed Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, Toneelgroep Amsterdam as was) which I adored when I saw in the Netherlands, Marieke Heebink is just extraordinary in the title role.

Ivo van Hove returns with another Luchino Visconti adaptation Les Damnés for Comédie-Française; Cheek by Jowl and Moscow Pushkin Drama Theatre bring a production of Francis Beaumont’s comedy The Knight of the Burning Pestle; and Enda Walsh’s Grief is The Thing With Feathers arrives with its cast of Cillian Murphy (Dad), David Evans (Older Boy / Younger Boy) Taighen O’Callaghan (Older Boy) Felix Warren (Younger Boy) and Hattie Morahan as Mum. There’s much more besides, full details here.


Helen Maybanks

And last but not least, the cast of Come From Away was revealed this week. Jenna Boyd (Beulah and others), Nathanael Campbell (Bob and others), Clive Carter (Claude and others), Mary Doherty (Bonnie and others), Robert Hands (Nick, Doug and others), Helen Hobson (Diane and others), Jonathan Andrew Hume (Kevin J, Ali and others), Harry Morrison (Oz and others), Emma Salvo (Janice and others), David Shannon (Kevin T, Garth and others), Cat Simmons (Hannah and others) and Rachel Tucker (Beverley, Annette and others) with Mark Dugdale, Bob Harms, Kiara JayKirsty Malpass, Tania MathurinAlexander McMorran, Brandon Lee Sears and Jennifer Tierney. Phew!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *