Best Leading Performer in a New Production of a Musical
Arinzé Kene, Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Lyric Theatre
Beverley Knight, The Drifters Girl, Garrick Theatre
Carrie Hope Fletcher, Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre
Dianne Pilkington, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, UK Tour
Eddie Redmayne, Cabaret, Playhouse Theatre
Ivano Turco, Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre
Jessie Buckley, Cabaret, Playhouse Theatre
Julian Ovenden, South Pacific, Chichester Festival Theatre
Olly Dobson, Back to the Future: The Musical, Adelphi Theatre
Stephanie McKeon, Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Sutton Foster, Anything Goes, Barbican
Tom Francis, Rent, Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester Continue reading “2021 BroadwayWorld UK Awards Shortlist”
News: Exeunt – The Stage Door Project book announced
In 2020, for the first time in centuries, heavy red curtains swept closed on stages across the West End; all theatres were closed. Two actors – Lloyd McDonagh and Salvatore Scarpa- keenly feeling the loss of their theatre homes, turned to a form of art that could still thrive over the following months, and set about photographing the stage doors of the deserted city.
An extraordinary collaborative project almost two years in the making, Exeunt – The Stage Door Project collects together these moving images, alongside anecdotes from some of the world’s leading luminaries who have trodden the boards of the pictured theatres. Continue reading “News: Exeunt – The Stage Door Project book announced”
2021 What’s On Stage Award nominations
The nominations for the 22nd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards have been announced
Voting is open now, closing on Friday 21 January 2022, with the winners being announced at the awards ceremony on Sunday 27 February 2022. Write-in votes for Sutton Foster should be sent forthwith.
BEST PERFORMER IN A MALE IDENTIFYING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Roger Bart – Back to the Future the Musical, Manchester Opera House & Adelphi Theatre
Olly Dobson – Back to the Future the Musical, Manchester Opera House & Adelphi Theatre
Arinzé Kene – Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Lyric Theatre
Julian Ovenden – South Pacific, Chichester Festival Theatre
Eddie Redmayne – Cabaret, Playhouse Theatre – Kit Kat Club
Ivano Turco – Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre
BEST PERFORMER IN A FEMALE IDENTIFYING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Aimie Atkinson – Pretty Woman, Piccadilly Theatre & Savoy Theatre
Samantha Barks – Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Jessie Buckley – Cabaret, Playhouse Theatre – Kit Kat Club
Carrie Hope Fletcher – Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre
Beverley Knight – The Drifters Girl, Garrick Theatre
Stephanie McKeon – Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane Continue reading “2021 What’s On Stage Award nominations”
News: Young Vic and Old Vic announce new programmes
Theatre returns at both end of The Cut – programmes announced for both the Old Vic and the Young
- Queers Curated by Mark Gatiss, 2 Jun, 30 Jun
- Home? Curated by Noma Dumezweni, 14-20 Jun
- The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter, 7-10 Jul
Directed by Jeremy Herrin and starring Daniel Mays and David Thewlis - Bagdad Cafe by Percy and Eleonore Adlon, adapted by Emma Rice, 19 Jul-21 Aug, streamed 25-28 Aug
Starring Patrycja Kujawska, Le Gateau Chocolat and Sandra Marvin - Camp Siegfried by Bess Wohl, 7 Sep-30 Oct
Directed by Katy Rudd and starring Patsy Ferran and Luke Thallon - A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jack Thorne, 13 Nov-8 Jan
Directed by Matthew Warchus - A Number by Caryl Churchill, 24 Jan-19 Mar
Directed by Lyndsey Turner and starring Lennie James and Paapa Essiedu - Into the Woods – Music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine, 16 Apr-9 Jul
Co-directed Terry Gilliam and Leah Hausman
- Changing Destiny by Ben Okri, 9 Jul-21 Aug
Directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah - Klippies by Jessica Siân, 4–13 Aug
Directed by Diyan Zora - AI developed by Chinonyerem Odimba and Nina Segal, written alongside GPT-3 OpenAI technology, 23–25 Aug
Created by Jennifer Tang and Company - Hamlet by William Shakespeare, 25 Sep-13 Nov
Directed by Greg Hersov and starring Cush Jumbo - Best of Enemies by James Graham, 2 Dec-22 Jan
Directed by Jeremy Herrin
2021 Offie & ONCOMM Award Winners
In this ‘special circumstances’ year, the Offies 2021 Awards Ceremony celebrated the creativity and resilience of artists in fringe, alternative and independent theatre in a time of crisis who have found new ways to produce fresh and inventive work for thousands of stay-at-home audiences.
The Offies are OffWestEnd’s main awards, for shows with at least 10 performances, and awards were given to the best of the shows presented before lockdown and the few who managed to go ahead in the summer
months.
The OnComm is the new award for online shows from across the UK (and beyond) and was introduced in May 2020. Additionally, the winner of the OffFest award for theatre shows in festivals was also announced, alongside extra OneOff awards for innovative work and initiatives in 2020, especially in the light of the Covid lockdown. Continue reading “2021 Offie & ONCOMM Award Winners”
The finalists of The ONCOMMs 2021
The OnComm is the new award for online shows from across the UK (and beyond) and was introduced in
May 2020.
1. Recording pre-lockdown (direct)
(i.e. with little or no editing)
Going Viral / Daniel Bye
Hysteria / Spymonkey
Jane Clegg / Finborough Theatre
The House Of Bernarda Alba / Graeae
2. Recording pre-lockdown (edited)
(i.e. with significant editing)
Bubble / Theatre Uncut
Cyprus Avenue / Royal Court & Abbey Theatre
SeaWall / Simon Stephens
The Encounter / Complicité Continue reading “The finalists of The ONCOMMs 2021”
TV Review: Black Narcissus
A quality cast including Gemma Arterton and Dame Diana Rigg can’t save Black Narcissus for me
“Better honey than vinegar”
A funny one this, particularly for the captive audience of the inbuilt lethargy of the Twixmas period. In the absence of Sarah Phelps’ brilliant reinventions of Agatha Christie, Black Narcissus was the BBC’s big drama punt on the festive schedule but I’m not entirely sure if it was the right choice.
Based on the Rumer Godden novel and famously filmed in 1947 by Powell and Pressburger with Deborah Kerr, the story follows a band of Anglican nuns as they try to establish a new mission in the Himalayan mountains. Their chosen base is a former palace with erotic paintings on the bricks, a troubled history seeping from the mortar and a swarthily handsome agent who keeps popping by – Sister Act this ain’t. Continue reading “TV Review: Black Narcissus”
10 top theatrical moments of 2020
In lieu of trying to make sense of this shitshow of a year through the normal year-end lists, I thought I’d just stick with an unranked list of 10 of my top theatrically based productions of the year
For reference, here’s my 2019 list, 2018 list, 2017 list, 2016 list, 2015 list and 2014 list.
Uncle Vanya, Harold Pinter Theatre
A rather exhilaratingly good take on the familiar Chekhov classic, a worthy presence in the West End.
The Wicker Husband, Watermill Theatre
One of the last things I saw before lockdown and what a gorgeous lingering memory to have, I pray that this is not the last we hear of this beautiful new musical. Continue reading “10 top theatrical moments of 2020”
Review: 15 Heroines
Reinterpreting the women of Greek mythology for today, the theatrical enterprise of 15 Heroines is a major achievement and a highlight of the year, digital or otherwise
“The gods should protect me”
15 Heroines comes to us in collaboration between the Jermyn Street Theatre and Digital Theatre as fifteen female and non-binary playwrights tackle Ovid’s Heroides, giving voice to the women of classical mythology anew. Split into three groups of five 15-minute monologues – The Labyrinth, The War, The Desert – this is a major theatrical enterprise that offers startlingly fresh perspective on these tales of old and serves as a reminder, as if it were needed, that men are trash.
Or more specifically, the men that we often describe as heros have serious issues when it comes to the women in their lives. There may be some excuse for the women left behind by The Trojan War – Sophia Eleni’s Love Island-esque but still sweet Laodamia is the wife of the first soldier killed as explored by Charlotte Jones – but more often than not it is just men being (fuck)boys. Lettie Precious delves beautifully into Oenone’s feelings about being abandoned by Paris for Helen, Ann Ogbomo’s righteous fury scalds the screen. Continue reading “Review: 15 Heroines”
Review: 15 Heroines – The Labyrinth
Patsy Ferran, Doña Croll, Nathalie Armin, Olivia Williams and Nadine Marshall star in 15 Heroines – The Labyrinth, featuring writing from Bryony Lavery, Timberlake Wertenbaker, Samantha Ellis, Natalie Haynes and Juliet Gilkes Romero
“The gods should protect me”
Read my overview of 15 Heroines here
Five women written into the stories of Theseus and Jason
⭐️Ariadne: String by Bryony Lavery, starring Patsy Ferran
⭐️Phaedra: Pity the Monster by Timberlake Wertenbaker, starring Doña Croll
⭐️Phyllis: I’m Still Burning by Samantha Ellis, starring Nathalie Armin
⭐️Hypsipyle: Knew I Should Have by Natalie Haynes, starring Olivia Williams
⭐️Medea: The Gift by Juliet Gilkes Romero, starring Nadine Marshall