Graham Norton To Enter La Cage Aux Folles In January

Gareth Gates Will Make His West End Debut Starring As Joseph

[19 August]Simon MacCorkindale will star as Captain Von Trapp opposite Summer Strallen playing Maria in the smash hit West End musical The Sound of Music at the London Palladium from Monday 25 August. Best known for his starring role as Harry Harper in three series of the hugely popular and successful Casualty on television, his other television credits include Obsessive Love, Falcon’s Gold, Quatermass, Jesus of Nazareth, Gemini and Dynasty. He has starred in films including Juggernaut, Death on the Nil and The Riddle of the Sands. He has directed a number of theatre productions including The Dark Lady of the Sonnets at the Royal National Theatre and Pygmalion at the Albery Theatre.
The Sound of Music is currently booking until 28th of February 2009 more details....

[13Augustl]Albemarle of London is pleased to announce the transfer from the Savoy Theatre of Never Forget to the Lyric Theatre. The season will run from Thursday 20th November 2008 to Saturday 25th April 2009 and is is now available for bookings.
Please check for more details as the performance schedule has been changed.
Never Forget is currently booking until 25th of April 2009 more details....

[07 July]Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett makes his West End debut as Charlie Babbitt in this complex, moving and funny stage adaptation of the iconic film Rain Man which opens on Tuesday 9th September at the Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue. Josh is joined on stage by Olivier‐nominated British actor Adam Godley as his autistic savant brother Raymond.
Writer Dan Gordon has radically re‐imagined the multi Oscar Award winning 1988 film for the stage, resetting this timeless story in the present day. The result is touching, surprising and often laugh‐out‐loud funny. Definitely funny, as Raymond would say.
Charlie Babbitt (Josh Hartnett) is a self‐centred Los Angeles‐based automobile dealer and hustler, who is at war with his own life. Relationships are not Charlie’s strong suit and love is quite outside his experience. Raymond (Adam Godley) is the elder brother Charlie never knew he had ‐ an autistic savant who has been hidden away in an institution for most of his adult life. Raymond is dysfunctional in many senses, but – as Charlie is soon to discover – also touched with a kind of stellar genius which Charlie harnesses to save his business. The two brothers embark on a rollercoaster journey together which shows Raymond a world beyond the hospital gates and Charlie the meaning of unconditional love

Josh Hartnett is well known for a range of films from the small independent to the big Hollywood blockbuster including Pearl Harbor, Black Hawk Down, The Black Dahlia and Lucky Number Slevin.
Adam Godley is well known to theatregoing audiences for his Olivier nominated roles in Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick (National Theatre) and Mouth to Mouth (Royal Court). Other productions include Private Lives (West End and Broadway), Paul, The Pillowman and Two Thousand Years (NT). His film credits include Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Elizabeth: The Golden Age and the upcoming X‐Files: I Want To Believe.
Rain Man is currently booking until20th of December 2008 more details....

[04 June]Sanjeev Bhaskar will be a new King Arthur in a hilarious Monty Python’s SPAMALOT, role that was also performed by Tim Curry, Simon Russell Beale, Peter Davison and Alan Dale. Best known as the host of The Kumars at No. 42 and for his appearances in the award-winning radio and television sketch show Goodness Gracious Me, Sanjeev Bhaskar’s first performance at the Palace Theatre will be on 23 June 2008.

Monty Python’s SPAMALOT opened in the West End in October 2006 and after over two years of coconut smashing, fish schlapping and grail searching the show, which has played to audiences including royalty, rock stars, soap stars and supermodels, will head off from the Palace Theatre on Saturday 3 January 2009 in preparation for a UK tour beginning April 2009.

Directed by Mike Nichols, Monty Python’s SPAMALOT is "lovingly ripped-off" from the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin. Book and lyrics are by Eric Idle with a Grammy Award-winning score by Eric Idle and John Du Prez. Other members of the SPAMALOT creative team include Casey Nicholaw (choreography), multiple Olivier Award-winners Tim Hatley (sets and costumes) and Hugh Vanstone (lighting) and Acme Sound Partners.

Spamalot has recently announced another extention of its successful run up to 3rd of January 2009 more details....

Gone With The Wind - Announces Early London Closure

[07 may]Albemarle of London has just added premium seats for Never Forget on 8th, 9th and 10th of May 2008, which can be booked from now on online or on the phone.
Never Forget is hugely enjoyable musical based on the real story of the making of ultimate boys band - Take That. It is a story of dreams, ambition and betrayal: because sometimes you can only really discover who you are by pretending to be someone else…
Never Forget is currently booking until 25th of October 2008 more details....

[07 may]Albemarle of London has just added premium seats for Joseph on 23rd and 24th of May 2008, which can be booked from now on online or on the phone. So don't delay and contact us for the details to see this fantastic musical.
Colourful retelling of the biblical story about dreamboat Joseph, his uncanny abilities and his designer coat sings out to young and old alike with a score which is wall to wall hits - including Close Every Door and Any Dream Will Do.
Joseph is currently booking until10th of January 2009 more details....

[02 May]Lee Mead will not be performing in Adelphi Theatre on 2nd and 3rd of May on the advice of his doctor.
Lewis Bradley will perform in his absence.
Exchange may be offered but no refunds are being given in this instance.
Joseph is currently booking until10th of January 2009 more details....

[29 April]Divas, will open at the Apollo Theatre 25 June 2008. It is a dance show that commemorates three iconic female artists, recognized all over the world - Edith Piaf, Marlene Dietrich and Judy Garland.
Directed and choreographed by Peter Schaufuss, the show is divided in three dance acts - focuses on the each individual singer using her most well-known songs.
Peter Schaufuss was an international ballet star who later became an innovative choreographer and a dance company director. In his career he won many awards, like prestigious Olivier award. In 1997 he formed his own company, Peter Schaufuss Ballet. His most famous production to this day is ‘Diana, The Princess’, a tribute to his friend, pupil and ENB patron.
Divas is currently booking until1st of August 2009 more details....

[10 April]Hilarious puppet show staged in the Noel Coward Theatre that was named “Sesame Street for grown-ups” has been a great success and therefore management of the theatre has decided to prolong its run.
Avenue Q is not the most upmarket of New York streets, and is about as far away from Park Avenue as you can get, but it is home to some lively and off the wall characters performed by an unholy comedic alliance of humans and puppets!
Princeton, a bright-eyed college graduate, has just moved to this neighbourhood as he desperately tries to follow his dreams and discover his ever-elusive purpose in life.
A tiny bank balance, the distraction of a busty blonde and a variety of weird and wonderful friends and neighbours lead Princeton on a hilarious story of self-discovery. Life may suck on Avenue Q but being jobless, homeless, politically incorrect, having sex (whether hetero, homo or porno... and that's just the puppets) are just some of the topics featured in the terrific songs of this show.
AvenueQ is currently booking until 25th of April 2009 more details....

[02 April]Chicago, one of the most popular musical of recent years will run 5 months longer!
This glamorous show about chorus girls turn murderesses is based in the roaring 1920's. Justice is on trial for the husband killing bad girls of shady Chicago. A chorus girl murders her lover but manages to get off through a strange assortment of allies. She forms an unusual nightclub act with another murderess with the hopes of keeping them both out of trouble.with lots of hot jazz - and cold-blooded killers! Songs include 'All That Jazz', 'Funny Honey', 'Mr Cellophane', 'Nowadays' and 'Razzle Dazzle'.
Chicago is currently booking until1st of August 2009 more details....

[14 March]The Musical Spectacular “THE LORD OF THE RINGS” will complete its run at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London on 19 July, 2008 after 492 performances.
The show has already played to an audience of over 446,000 in London since previews began on 9 May 2007.
Due to the popularity of the London Production among international visitors, discussions are under way for the production to re-open in Germany in November 2009 with a German-speaking cast. “THE LORD OF THE RINGS” creative team is also developing a touring version to launch in New Zealand in 2009 before being presented in cities across Australia and the Far East. This new production will bring the show’s ground-breaking musical score and J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved story to a global audience. Producer Kevin Wallace said today, “The show’s creative team has proven just how enchanting, exhilarating and powerfully entertaining The Lord of the Rings can be live on stage. We will continue to bring this incredible theatrical event to audiences in London until 19 July, and we look forward to presenting the show to new audiences abroad from 2009.” “THE LORD OF THE RINGS” has earned high praise from fans of Tolkien’s wonderful books and the general theatre-going public alike,” said Laurie Battle of the Saul Zaentz Company. “The enchanted environment at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane is a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to step into the fantastic world of Middle-earth. The telling of this epic story on stage is a brilliant example of how magical the live theatrical experience can be. With a stunning score, powerful performances and perhaps the most beautiful and spectacular design the West End has ever seen, this show is not to be missed.” The producers today thanked the public for making “THE LORD OF THE RINGS” one of the three top-selling shows during the Society of London Theatre’s 2007 Kids Week and Get Into London Theatre campaigns, as well as those ticket agents who have supported the show, taking “THE LORD OF THE RINGS” to top-selling positions in their monthly West End sales charts.
The Lord of the Rings is currently booking until 19th of July 2008 more details....

[11 March]Kristin Chenoweth will not appear in Candide opera by Leonard Bernstein in the London Coliseum; a production due to start running from 23 of June for limited number of 13 shows only. The reason of her withdrawal is said to be “an unforeseen television filming commitments following the resolution of the Hollywood writers strike”.
Kristin Chenoweth was expected to make her ENO debut in a role of Cunegonde, which is the same part she performed in the past on the stage of the New York Philharmonic. Anna Christy, who has recently sang in other ENO production, Lucia di Lammermoor will replace her in some performances on 23, 25, 27, 28 and 29 of June. Casting for other dates will be announced shortly.
Chenoweth is best known on Broadway for originating the role of ‘good witch’ Glinda in Wicked, while her other stage credits include The Fantasticks, A New Brain, Epic Proportions, Strike Up the Band, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, for which she won her Tony as Sally Brown. She has also recorded two solo albums. Her screen credits include The West Wing, Pushing Daisies, Ugly Betty, Kristin and Bewitched.
Candide is the story of a man who strongly believes in optimism against all odds and although his life is full of harsh and cruel events, he remains full of hope, trusting that everything is for the best in this, "the best of all possible worlds." He and his friends eventually find themselves seeking guidance from the Wisest Man in the World - a ghost from their past who has a surprising revelation for them!
Candide is currently booking until 12th of July 2008 more details....

[10 March] Ring Around the Moon at the Playhouse Theatre will be closing down earlier then it was originally scheduled. The last performance will be on 29th of March.
Ring Round The Moon is set at a glamorous society ball in 1950’s France.
Identical twins, a spoilt millionairess, a mysterious ballet dancer and a wily old Aunt are swept up in a dazzling dance where caution and convention are thrown to the wind.
Witty, charming and madcap, this is an enchanting comedy of mistaken identity, romance, money and moonlight.
Ring Around the Moon is currently booking until 29th of March 2008 more details....

[9 March]
Best Actress
Kristin Scott Thomas
For THE SEAGULL at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court

Best Actor
Chiwetel Ejiofor
For OTHELLO at the Donmar Warehouse

Best Performance In A Supporting Role
Rory Kinnear
For MAN OF THE MODE at the Olivier

Best Newcomer In A Play
Tom Hiddleston
For CYMBELINE at the Barbican

Best New Play
A DISAPPEARING NUMBER
By Simon McBurney and Complicite at the Barbican

Best New Comedy
RAFTA RAFTA
by Ayub Khan-Din based on All In Good Time by Bill Naughton at the Lyttelton

Best Revival
SAINT JOAN
By Bernard Shaw at the Olivier

Best New Musical
HAIRSPRAY
Book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, based upon the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters

Best Musical Revival
THE MAGIC FLUTE - IMPEMPE YOMLINGO
Adapted from Mozart Dornford-May, words and music by Mandisi Dyantyis, Mbali Kgosidintsi, Pauline Malefane and Nolufefe Mtshabe at the Young Vic

Best Actress In A Musical
Leanne Jones
For HAIRSPRAY at the Shaftesbury

Best Actor In A Musical
Michael Ball
For HAIRSPRAY at the Shaftesbury

Best Performance In A Supporting Role In A Musical
Tracie Bennett
For HAIRSPRAY at the Shaftesbury

Best Director
Rupert Goolde
For MACBETH at the Gielgud

Best Theatre Choreographer
Toby Sedgewick
For WAR HORSE at the Olivier

Best Lighting Design
MACBETH
Designed by Howard Harrison at the Gielgud

Best Set Design
WAR HORSE
Designed by RAE Smith and Handspring Puppet Company
at the Olivier

Best Costume Design
MAN OF THE MODE
Designed by Vicki Mortimer at the Oliver

Best Sound Design
SAINT JOAN
Designed by Paul Arditti with music by Jocelyn Pook at the Olivier

Outstanding Achievement In An Affiliate Theatre
GONE TOO FAR
At the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court

Best New Opera Production
The Royal Opera's PELLÉAS ET MÉLISANDE
At the Royal Opera House

Outstanding Achievement In Opera
Natalie Dessay
For her performance in LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT
at the Royal Opera House

Best New Dance Production
The Royal Ballet's JEWELS
At the Royal Opera House

Outstanding Achievement In Dance
The Royal Ballet Company
For their performances in JEWELS

The Society Of London Theatre Special Award
Andrew Lloyd Webber
For achievements in London Theatreland and across the world

[5 March]Hannah Murray, star of Channel 4’s award-winning teen-centred drama series Skins, will play Mia, daughter of Lindsay Duncan’s Martha and sister of Matt Smith’s Henry, in the West End transfer of Polly Stenham’s multi award-winning debut play That Face. The production opens for on 8 May 2008 (previews from 1 May) for a ten-week season at the Duke of York’s Theatre, following its premiere last April at the Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Upstairs.
In the portrayal of an affluent family in freefall – billed as a “comic exploration of children who become parents to their parents” – the drugged and boozed-up Martha is fixated on her teenage son and oblivious to the boarding school terror tactics exerted by her teenage daughter.
Murray, who is best known as Cassie in Skins, will make professional stage debut in That Face. In addition to Duncan and Smith, the West End company includes Julian Wadham and Catherine Steadman, who were also in the original cast.
That Face has won Stenham Most Promising Playwright trophies at this year’s Evening Standard and Critics’ Circle Awards. It also won the TMA Award and was nominated for a Whatsonstage.com Award for Best New Play. In this year’s Laurence Olivier Awards, the cast has been nominated for “Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre”, for the play’s run last April/May at the Royal Court’s Jerwood Theatre Upstairs.
That Face is currently booking until 5th of July 2008 more details....

[4 March]Marti Pellow, David Bedella and Clarke Peters are the latest additions to the all-star cast of the 21st-anniversary concert production of Chess at the Royal Albert Hall on 12 and 13 May 2008.
Pellow, the former Wet Wet Wet lead singer, made his West End debut in Chicago. Bedella won a Best Actor in a Musical Olivier for Jerry Springer – The Opera, which he recently performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall. And Peters was last seen in the West End in Trevor Nunn’s version of Porgy and Bess. Also now confirmed for the company are: Leila Benn Harris (The Phantom of the Opera), Aoife Mulholland (The Sound of Music) and Tiffany Graves and Debbie Kurup (who’ve both played Velma Kelly in Chicago).
Chess has a book and lyrics by Tim Rice with music by Abba’s Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. Two players in a World Chess Championship are involved in a romantic triangle with the woman who manages one and falls in love with the other. Although the protagonists were not intended to represent any specific individuals, the characters' personalities are loosely based on those of real-life chess players Victor Korchnoi and Bobby Fischer.
Chess is currently booking until 13th of May 2008 more details....

[3 March]Birgitte Hjort Sorensen has been casted as ‘Roxie Hart’ and Rachel Mc Dowall has taken the part of ‘Velma Kelly’ in the smash hit West End musical CHICAGO at the Cambridge Theatre from 25 February. Terence Maynard will continue to star as ‘Billy Flynn’ and Paul Ryder as ‘Amos Hart’ with Zee Asha as ‘Mama Morton’ and MM Dugdale as ‘Mary Sunshine’
Birgitte Hjort Sorensen played Roxy Hart in the Copenhagen production of the CHICAGO last year to great acclaim. She has also played in Danish production of “The Winter’s Tale” and “Cabaret”. Rachel McDowall starred as ‘Ulla’ in the West End production of “The Producers” and will shortly be seen playing ‘Lisa’ in the film of “Mamma Mia”.
CHICAGO previously played at Adelphi Theatre and transferred to The Cambridge Theatre in April 2006 was the longest show running at this venue. It won Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Production as well as the Critics Circle Drama Award for Best Musical.
CHICAGO which is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.
CHICAGO is currently booking until 28th of February 2009 more details....

[25 February]Kerry Ellis, currently starring as Elphaba in the smash hit musical WICKED at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre, is to recreate her award-winning performance on Broadway.

Kerry will play her final performance in London on 7 June 2008 before beginning performances at Broadway’s Gershwin Theatre on 17 June 2008. Following her Broadway engagement, Kerry will return to the London production later in the year.

Kerry Ellis was the first British actor to play Elphaba, receiving unanimous rave reviews, and she has just won a 2008 Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Award for her performance. She is currently working on her debut album, which is being produced by Brian May, for release later this year.

Based on Gregory Maguire's best-selling novel, the award-winning WICKED tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz and why one came to be called ‘good’ and the other ‘wicked’…

The award-winning, record-breaking hit musical has now been seen by over a million theatregoers since its London premiere in September 2006, taking over £40 million at the Box Office to date. The production has also recouped its entire original capitalisation. Booking has recently been extended again and tickets are currently on sale until April 2009.

WICKED currently stars Kerry Ellis as Elphaba, Dianne Pilkington as Glinda, Oliver Tompsett as Fiyero, Susie Blake as Madame Morrible (until 12 April 2008) and Nigel Planer as The Wizard. Cast subject to change from 9 June 2008. From 14 April 2008, Harriet Thorpe will play Madame Morrible.

WICKED has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman, musical staging by Wayne Cilento and is directed by Joe Mantello. It is based on the novel, Wicked – The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire.

[23 February]
THE 2008 THEATREGOERS' CHOICE AWARD WINNERS

The Franco's Best Actress in a Play
Maggie Smith – The Lady from Dubuque at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

Best Actor in a Play
Ian McKellen - King Lear RSC at the New London

Best Supporting Actress in a Play
Diana Rigg – All about My Mother at the Old Vic

Best Supporting Actor in a Play
Lee Evans – The Dumb Waiter at Trafalgar Studios

The First Magazine Best Actress in Musical
Leanne Jones - Hairspray at Shaftsbury Theatre

The See Tickets Best Actor in a Musical
Michael Ball – Hairspray at Shaftsbury Theatre

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical
Tracie Bennett – Hairspray at Shaftsbury Theatre

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical
Ben James Ellis - Hairspray at Shaftsbury Theatre

Best Solo Performance
Fiona Shaw – Happy Days at the NT Lyttelton

Best Ensemble Performance
The Taming of the Shrew & Twelfth Night – Propeller at the Old Vic

Best Takeover in a Role
Kerry Ellis – Wicked at Apollo Victoria

The Nick Herns Books Best New Play
All about My Mother by Samuel Adamson - at the Old Vic

Best New Comedy
Elling by Simon Bent – at the Bush & Trafalgar Studios

The Superbreak Best New Musical
Hairspray by Marc Shaiman, Scott Whitman, Mark O’Donnell & Thomas Meehan - at Shaftsbury

Best Play Revival
Equus - at the Gielgud

The Ticketmaster Best Play Revival
Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – at Adelphi

The Best Shakespearean Production
Macbeth – at the Gielgud

Best Director
Jack O’Brien – Hairspray at the Shaftsbury

Best Set Designer
Rob Howell – The Lord of the Rings at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Best Choreographer
Jerry Mitchell – Hairspray at the Shaftsbury

The Dewynters London Newcomer of the Year
Daniel Radcliffe – Equus at the Gielgud

Best Off-West End Production
A Christmas Carol & The Magic Flute - at the Young Vic
I Love You Because at the Landor

Best Regional Production
Pygmalion - at the Theatre Royal Bath & on tour

The AKA Theatre Event of the Year
Daniel Radcliffe’s steamy publicity shots for Equus

[21 February]Harriet Thorpe will replace Susie Blake playing Madame Morrible in musical Wicked that has recently extended its run. Harriet has proved herself very successful actress with her role in The Brittas Empire and also with her recent role in theatre version of Sweeney Todd where she played the part of Mrs. Lovett next to Jason Donovan. She has worked with a number of remarkable names: Richard Eyre, David Hare, Peter Gill, Michael Attenborough to name just a few. She has also appeared in numerous movies, including wonderful Calendar Girls where she was the head of W.I.
Harriet Thorpe will start performing in Wicked from 14th of April.
Wicked is currently booking until 4th of April 2009 more details....

[20 February]Donmar Warehouse Theatre is about to present three new events starting with Arthur Miller’s The Man Who had All the Luck, which tells the story of a man who succeeds in everything he does in his life and it’s not until people around him are being touched by ill-fate when he starts pondering over luck and fortune. Small Change written by Peter Gill, acclaimed as his finest piece of work yet, tells the story of the friendship between two Cardiff boys and relationship with their mothers. Gill is also a director of the play. Finally there is The Chalk Garden coming in June which is a bitter-sweet, coming of age tale by Enid Bagnold.
The Man Who had All the Luck is currently booking until 4th of April 2008 more details....
Small Change is currently booking until 31th of May 2008 more details....
The Chalk Garden is currently booking until 2nd of August 2008 more details....

[19 February]Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story musical has turned out to be extremely popular with the audience and will also run longer than previously scheduled. Duchess Theatre has announced that Buddy will be on stage till 28th of March 2009.
Buddy is currently booking until 28th of March 2009 more details....

[18 February] We have some great news for the fans of Grease musical. Piccadilly Theatre has decided to extend its running period till 10th of January 2009. The cast will be confirmed as soon as it has been announced.
Grease is currently booking until 10th of January 2009 more details....

[15 February] In the beginning of May the Duke of York’s Theatre will present a new production adapted from the play by Polly Stenham and directed by Jeremy Herrin. That Face is a tragicomic story of rich but dysfunctional family controlled by a destructive mother.  It is expected to be highly successful so early booking is recommended.
Cast includes Lindsay Duncan, Matt Smith, Catherine Steadman and Julian Wadham.
That Face is currently booking until 5th of July 2008 more details....

[11 February] Open Air Theatre announces that this year’s season under its new Artistic Director Timothy Sheader is now open for booking.  Four different performances will be staged at the amphitheatre in Fort Regent’s Park this summer:  Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (this one also suitable for children from age of 6) and musical Gigi by Lerner and Lowe.  
Gigi’s cast looks very promising as it includes Lisa O’Hare in the title role along with Millicent Martin and Topol. Casting for Shakespeare is still in progress.
Romeo and Juliet is currently booking until 2nd of August 2008 more details....
Twelfth Night is currently booking until 30th of July 2008 more details....
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is currently booking until 2nd of August 2008 more details....
Gigi is currently booking until 13th of September 2008 more details....

[08 February] Three new plays are coming to the National Theatre this spring.
There is already great demand for the tickets as the casts are truly magnificent. Fram (Olivier Theatre) is a story of an epic journey with Mark Addy among the cast. Never So Good (Lytellton Theatre) with Jeremy Irons - insightful portrait of a great British statesman and Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. The Hour of Magical Thinking (Lyttelton Theatre)brings back on stage Vanessa Redgrave as a widowed woman struggling to come to terms with her husband’s death.
Three performances of The Hour We knew Nothing of Each Other has been cancelled by Lyttelton Theatre due to urgent maintenance work. The dates of cancellations are 3rd, 4th and 5th of March.
 Management of the theatre apologizes for the inconvenience it may cause.
Fram is currently booking until 22nd of May 2008 more details....
Never So Good is currently booking until 24th of May 2008 more details....
The Hour of Magical Thinking is currently booking until 20th of May 2008 more details....
The Hour We knew Nothing of Each Other is currently booking until 20th of May 2008 more details....

[07 February] The Laurence Olivier Award Nominations have today been announced.

BEST ACTRESS

- Anne-Marie Duff for SAINT JOAN at the Olivier
- Kelly Reilly for OTHELLO at the Donmar Warehouse
- Kristin Scott Thomas for THE SEAGULL at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court
- Fiona Shaw for HAPPY DAYS at the Lyttelton
- Penelope Wilton for JOHN GABRIEL BORKMAN at the Donmar Warehouse

BEST ACTOR

- Chiwetel Ejiofor for OTHELLO at the Donmar Warehouse
- Ian McKellen for KING LEAR at the New London
- Mark Rylance for BOEING-BOEING at the Comedy
- John Simm for ELLING at the Trafalgar Studios 1
- Patrick Stewart for MACBETH at the Gielgud

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

- Michelle Fairley for OTHELLO at the Donmar Warehouse
- Pam Ferris for THE ENTERTAINER at The Old Vic
- Conleth Hill for PHILISTINES at the Lyttelton
- Rory Kinnear for THE MAN OF MODE at the Oliver

BEST NEWCOMER IN A PLAY

- David Dawson for THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF NICHOLAS NICKLEBY at the Gielgud
- Tom Hiddleston for CYMBELINE at the Barbican
- Tom Hiddleston for OTHELLO at the Donmar Warehouse
- Stephen Wight for DEALER’S CHOICE at the Trafalgar Studios 1

BEST NEW PLAY

- A DISAPPEARING NUMBER by Simon McBurney at the Barbican
- THE REPORTER by Nicholas Wright at the Cottesloe
- VERNON GOD LITTLE by DBC Pierre, adapted by Tanya Ronder at the Young Vic
- WAR HORSE based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford at the Olivier

BEST NEW COMEDY

- ABSURDIA: THE CRIMSON HOTEL by Michael Frayn at the Donmar Warehouse
- ELLING based on a novel by Ingvar Ambjørnsen, stage adaptation by Axel Hellstenius in collaboration with Peter Næss translated by Nicholas Norris
- RAFTA RAFTA by Ayub Khan-Din based on All in Good Time by Bill Naughton at the Lyttelton
- WHIPPING IT UP by Steve Thompson at the New Ambassadors

BEST REVIVAL

- BOEING-BOEING by Marc Camoletti, translated by Beverley Cross at the Comedy Theatre
- DEALER’S CHOICE by Patrick Marber at Trafalgar Studios 1
- MACBETH by William Shakespeare at the Gielgud
- SAINT JOAN by Bernard Shaw at the Olivier
- THE SEAGULL by Anton Chekhov, a version by Christopher Hampton at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court.

BEST NEW MUSICAL

- THE DROWSY CHAPERONE music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar, by special arrangement with Paul Mack at the Novello
- HAIRSPRAY book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, based upon the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters
- THE LORD OF THE RINGS book and lyrics by Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus, music by A.R. Rahman, Värttinä with Christopher Nightingale at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
- PARADE book by Alfred Uhry, music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, co-conceived by Harold Prince at the Donmar Warehouse

BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL

- FIDDLER ON THE ROOF book by Joseph Stein, music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick at the Savoy
- LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS based on the film by Roger Corman, screenplay by Charles Griffiths, book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken at the Duke of York’s and Ambassadors
- THE MAGIC FLUTE- IMPEMPE YOMLINGO adapted from Mozart by Mark Dornford-May, words and music by Mandisi Dyantyis, Mbali Kgosidintsi, Pauline Malefane and Nolufefe Mtshabe at the Young Vic

BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

- Leanne Jones for HAIRSPRAY at the Shaftesbury
- Lara Pulver for PARADE at the Donmar Warehouse
- Sheridan Smith for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at the Duke of York’s and Ambassadors
- Summer Strallen for THE DROWSY CHAPERONE at the Novello

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

- Michael Ball for HAIRSPRAY at the Shaftesbury
- Bertie Carvel for PARADE at the Donmar Warehouse
- Henry Goodman for FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at the Savoy
- Bob Martin for THE DROWSY CHAPERONE at the Novello

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

- Tracie Bennett for HAIRSPRAY at the Shaftesbury
- Elinor Collett for HAIRSPRAY at the Shaftesbury
- Shaun Escoffery for PARADE at the Donmar Warehouse
- Alistair McGowan for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at the Duke of York’s and Ambassadors

BEST DIRECTOR

- Rob Ashford for PARADE at the Donmar Warehouse
- Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris for WAR HORSE at the Olivier
- Rupert Goold for MACBETH at the Gielgud
- Jack O'Brien for HAIRSPRAY at the Shaftesbury

BEST THEATRE CHOREOGRAPHER

- Rob Ashford for PARADE at the Donmar Warehouse
- Jerry Mitchell for HAIRSPRAY at the Shaftesbury
- Casey Nicholaw for THE DROWSY CHAPERONE at the Novello
- Toby Sedgwick for WAR HORSE at the Olivier

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN

- HAIRSPRAY designed by Kenneth Posner at the Shaftesbury
- THE LORD OF THE RINGS designed by Paul Pyant at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
- MACBETH designed by Howard Harrison at the Gielgud
- WAR HORSE designed by Paule Constable at the Olivier

BEST SET DESIGN

- HAIRSPRAY designed by David Rockwell at the Shaftesbury
- THE LORD OF THE RINGS designed by Rob Howell at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
- MACBETH designed by Anthony Ward and Lorna Heavey at the Gielgud
- WAR HORSE designed by Rae Smith and Handspring Puppet Company at the Olivier

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

- THE DROWSY CHAPERONE designed by Gregg Barnes for at the Novello
- HAIRSPRAY designed by William Ivey Long at the Shaftesbury
- THE LORD OF THE RINGS designed by Rob Howell at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
- THE MAN OF MODE designed by Vicki Mortimer at the Olivier

BEST SOUND DESIGN

- HAIRSPRAY designed by Steve C. Kennedy at the Shaftesbury
- THE LORD OF THE RINGS designed by Simon Baker at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
- PARADE designed by Terry Jardine and Nick Lidster for Autograph at the Donmar Warehouse
- SAINT JOAN designed by Paul Arditti with music by Jocelyn Pook at the Olivier
- WAR HORSE designed by Christopher Shutt with music by Adrian Sutton and John Tams at the Oliver

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN AN AFFILIATE THEATRE

- THE BROTHERS SIZE at the Maria, Young Vic
- CINDERELLA at Theatre Royal, Stratford East
- GONE TOO FAR at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court
- The cast of THAT FACE at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court

BEST NEW OPERA PRODUCTION

- English National Opera’s AGRIPPINA at the Coliseum
- The Royal Opera’s LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT at the Royal Opera House
- The Royal Opera’s PELLÉAS ET MÉLISANDE at the Royal Opera House
- English National Opera’s TURN OF THE SCREW at the Coliseum

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN OPERA

- Natalie Dessay for her performance in LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT at the Royal Opera House
- Gerald Finley for his performance in PELLÉAS ET MÉLISANDE at the Royal Opera House
- Angelika Kirchschlager for her performance in PELLÉAS ET MÉLISANDE at the Royal Opera House
- David McVicar for directing English National Opera’s TURN OF THE SCREW and AGRIPPINA at the Coliseum

BEST NEW DANCE PRODUCTION

- Fabulous Beast Dance’s THE BULL at the Barbican
- The Royal Ballet’s JEWELS at the Royal Opera House
- Mark Morris Dance Group’s MOZART DANCES at the Barbican
- Northern Ballet Theatre’s THE THREE MUSKETEERS at Sadler’s Wells

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DANCE

- Savion Glover for his performance in LIVE FOR LONDON at Sadler’s Wells
- Jonathan Goddard for his performances with the Richard Alston Dance Company at Sadler’s Wells
- The Royal Ballet Company for their performances in JEWELS
- Wendy Whelan for her performance in The Christopher Wheeldon Company’s FOOL’S PARADISE at Sadler’s Wells

Winners of the 32nd annual Olivier Awards will be announced on Sunday, 9 March 2008 in a star-studded ceremony held at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane

[04 February] A singing waitress from Sweden has won the role of "the Lady of the Lake" in the London production of Spamalot.
On Saturday 2nd February, in the live final of the Swedish reality TV series West End Star, Nina Söderquist went head-to-head with cruise ship entertainer Linda Holmgren and triumphed by taking over 59 percent of the public vote.
She will join the London cast from Monday 11th February 2008, taking over from Broadway Star Marin Mazzie.
The 35-year-old from Hälsingland, Sweden has performed with bands including Toto and the BeeGees and is also a lieutenant in the Swedish army. During the reality TV competition, she sang winning renditions of show tunes “With One Look” from Sunset Boulevard and “Tonight” from West Side Story as well as the “Diva’s Lament” from Spamalot.
Commenting on her victory, Söderquist said: “I am so happy to have won West End Star … Before I entered West End Star, I had never sung a song from a musical. I had only ever seen one musical my life - Cats as a teenager on a school trip to London.”
Over a 1,000 women took part in open auditions during September and October last year in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo. Over the past few weeks, the five finalists have been rehearsing in London at the Palace Theatre with the cast and crew of Spamalot, while returning to Sweden once each week to face the judges and the viewing public in a live TV sing-off.

Spamalot - sets musical theatre back a thousand years!
A new musical lovingly ripped off from the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot is the new musical directed by oscar winning Mike Nichols, with a book by the third tallest Python, Eric Idle, and an almost but not entirely new score by Eric Idle (No relation) and John du Prez.
Retelling the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, and featuring a number of gratuitously scantily clad showgirls, not to mention the cows, killer rabbits and French people.
Please note that Spamalot may be 'inappropriate for children aged eight years old or under'.
Spamalot is currently booking until 27th September 2008 more details....

[01 February] It has been announced today that Disney's The Lion King has opened a new booking period, with bookings now being taken for performances until Sunday 28th September 2008.
Set against the majesty of the Serengeti Plains and to the evocative rhythms of Africa, Disney's The Lion King tells the story of the epic adventures of a lion cub. When the young lion prince Simba is born his evil uncle Scar is pushed back to second in line to the throne. Scar plots to kill both Simba and his father, King Mufasa, and proclaim himself king. Simba survives but is led to believe that his father died because of him and he decides to flee the kingdom....
The Lion King is currently booking until 28th September 2008 more details....