Category: News

Jack and the Beanstalk, Birmingham Hippodrome’s 2023–24 panto, attracted record numbers of people—120,000 during its six-week run. Jon Gilchrist, the Hippodrome’s artistic director and chief executive, said, “this is an amazing start to our 125th year. Our pantomime is truly one of the best in the country and I’m thrilled that so many people have… Continue reading Hippodrome’s record panto audiences

A multi-million-pound refurbishment of Chesterfield’s theatre and museum which will create a “state-of-the-art cultural venue in the heart of the town centre” has officially started. The refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall, home to both the Pomegranate Theatre and Chesterfield Museum, includes the creation of a single entrance and an expanded theatre. The project has been… Continue reading Work starts on Chesterfield theatre refurbishment

The Drifters Girl comes to Manchester Opera House next week. Nominated for Best New Musical at the 2022 Olivier Awards, the show is full of Drifters hits including “Saturday Night At The Movies”, “Save The Last Dance For Me” and “Stand By Me”. It tells the story of the Drifters and the truth about the woman… Continue reading Drifters Girl for Manchester

Sh!t-faced Shakespeare takes seven actors, a Shakespearean script and throws a bucket-load of booze into the mix. Having performed at Leicester Square Theatre and around the world they will be playing the Tyne Theatre & Opera House October 7. Each night, one designated actor is given four hours to consume as much alcohol as they… Continue reading Bard and booze for the night

The Stage newspaper has announced the winners of its Debut Awards, which aim to “highlight breakthrough actors, writers, directors, designers, composers or lyricists to help cement their position in the industry.” At a ceremony on 1 October 2023 at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London hosted by Divine De Campo, the winners from 45 nominees across 8 categories… Continue reading Stage debut winners announced

Resident dame and “Lichfield legend” Sam Rabone will be back for his eighth year at the Garrick when he plays Madame Fillop in Beauty and the Beast. Rabone said, “I’m thrilled to be back at the Garrick and, after a short gap, back with my old partner in crime Ben Thornton. Bringing Ben back means one… Continue reading Rabone flops back to Lichfield for Beauty and the Beast

Northampton’s Royal and Derngate has announced its two main theatre spaces are to reopen after a type of concrete prone to collapse was found in its foyers. The building had to be closed at the beginning of September in line with new government health and safety guidance about reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). Performances will resume in… Continue reading Northampton venue reopens after concrete closure

Leicester’s Curve is to dedicate its new production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita at Christmas 2023 to its late associate artist and casting director Kay Magson. She died in September aged 61. Curve’s artistic director Nikolai Foster and chief executive Chris Stafford said, “Kay worked on the casting of most of our Made at… Continue reading Curve dedicates Evita to casting director Kay

Choreographed by the first black British graduate of the Royal Ballet School, Darren Panton, alongside Patrick Williams of the Alvin Ailey and Paris Opera companies, Island Movements is a thirty-minute ballet that tells the story of Windrush and explores its impact featuring original music by performance youth group Kinetika Bloco. In the aftermath of World War II,… Continue reading Island Movements to tour libraries