Category: News

Derby-based theatre company The Lost Boys will present a new theatrical adaptation of perennial favourite It’s A Wonderful Life as part of Derby LIVE’s Christmas 2023 programme. The Lost Boys will attempt to produce a live audio-play recording while exploring how the film journeyed from Hollywood failure to feel-good, festive success. Based on the original screenplay by… Continue reading New adaptation of It’s A Wonderful Life in Derby

TV personality and presenter Dr Ranj will play Spirit of the Bells in Nottingham Theatre Royal’s 2023 panto Dick Whittington. Dr Ranj is known to a generation of children for his CBeebies series Get Well Soon and Get Well Soon Hospital. He reached the seventh week in the 2018 series of Strictly Come Dancing and is a columnist and writer as well… Continue reading Dr Ranj prescribes laughter for Nottingham panto

Newcastle-under-Lyme theatre the New Vic and Claybody Theatre are to revive Deborah McAndrew’s adaptation of Arnold Bennett’s comic novel set in Stoke-on-Trent, The Card. The production originally ran at Fenton Town Hall, Stoke in June and July 2022. New Vic artistic director Theresa Heskins said, “Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire’s cultural sector is growing fast and we’re… Continue reading New Vic and Claybody revive comic novel adaptation

Nottingham Playhouse is inviting applications from theatre-makers who would like to take part in the 2023 Amplify Festival, an annual celebration of artists from across the Midlands. To be eligible, companies or individuals must live in or be connected to the Midlands. Submissions can include physical theatre, spoken word, dance, devised, new writing, circus, clowning,… Continue reading Midlands artists invited to apply for Amplify Festival

A petition organised by Equity’s Northern Ireland branch protesting against proposed cuts of 10% in annual funding to the region’s arts and culture sector has reached nearly 12,000 signatures in one week. Growing support comes after Equity presented 11,000 signatures to Colum Boyle, the senior civil servant in the region’s Department for Communities, on April… Continue reading Equity petition against Northern Ireland arts cuts nears 12,000

Birmingham Hippodrome is to have “the first in-house musical theatre department at a UK venue” in which it will develop new musicals. The Hippodrome says that by 2028, it wants to be recognised as the UK’s national theatre of new musicals. The department will be led by a head of new musical theatre whose specialist… Continue reading Hippodrome creates department for new musicals

Worcestershire-based socially engaged arts company Mobilise and Worcester Theatres are to present the INSANE Festival, a free festival of arts and well-being for young people aged from 10 to 18 which will coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week. The festival will feature the première of Sickkk Icarus, a contemporary reimagining of the myth of Icarus. Presented… Continue reading Worcester theatre to host festival for young people

Having won pretty much every award available, for her performance in Suzie Miller’s Prima Facie Jodie Comer may have been considered a shoe-in for the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards too, but the big news is the Best Actress gong going to Patsy Ferran. Ferran joined the cast of Rebecca Frecknall’s A Streetcar Named Desire just four days before the… Continue reading Critics’ Circle Theatre Award winners

A new production of Lauren Gunderson’s award-winning comedy The Book of Will is coming to UK audiences this year in its European première. This love letter to theatre is a co-production from Octagon Theatre Bolton, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Shakespeare North Playhouse. Opening at Hornchurch from April 27–May 13, before transferring to Bolton from May 17–June 3… Continue reading The Book of Will to tour

Anne Hegerty, The Governess from the ITV quiz programme The Chase, will play the Empress in Aladdin, the 2023 pantomime at Chesterfield’s Winding Wheel Theatre. Hegerty, a favourite with fans of The Chase in both the UK and Australia, has also appeared on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, Loose Women and This Morning. Panto producer Paul Holman said, “Anne is… Continue reading Anne to govern in Chesterfield panto