Category Theatre

Roland Schimmelpfennig’s radical play WINTER SOLSTICE is a timely warning of how easy it is to be taken in by the deceptive face of extremism

I’ll admit that I hadn’t heard of German dramatist Roland Schimmelpfennig before watching WINTER SOLSTICE its clear to see why he is the most performed playwright in Germany.

Written four years ago in response to the resurgence of the far right across Europe, Schimmelpfennig’s subtle yet radical play WINTER SOLSTICE feels as timely as ever, warning u...

Fresh, inventive and heart-warming, Jessica Swale’s bold adaption of THE JUNGLE BOOK brings Rudyard Kipling’s classic bang up-to-date

Forget Disney, there is a new THE JUNGLE BOOK in town and boy does it swagger and swing.

Based on the Rudyard Kipling family classic, THE JUNGLE BOOK tells the coming-of-age story of Mowgli, a man cub raised by wolves in the jungle...

Witty, unpredictable and atmospheric, TEDDY is an exciting and fresh take on the birth of rock ‘n’ roll

Tristan Bernays and Dougal Irvine’s award-winning 1950s musical TEDDY may turn the clock back 60 odd years or so but this innovative production is ahead of its time in so many other ways.

Set in the aftermath of the Blitz, TEDDY tells the story of two teenagers, Teddy and Josie, desperately seeking solace in rock ‘n’ roll in a post war Britain...

Big, bold and bright, FLASHDANCE boasts all the pulling power of the original film

Dust off the legwarmers and grab those hair crimpers, the eighties are back in all of their neon tinted glory as FLASHDANCE heads to town.

Based on the 1983 Oscar-winning film starring Jennifer Beals and Michael Nouri, FLASHDANCE tells the story of 18-year-old Alex Owens, a steel worker by day and ‘flashdancer’ by night...

Molly Chesworth and George Parker in TEDDY. Photo by Scott Rylander

George Parker talks to Frankly My Dear UK about his role in 1950s rock ‘n’ roll musical TEDDY

Following its award-winning premiere at Southwark Playhouse in 2015, 1950s rock ‘n’ roll musical TEDDY makes a welcome return to the stage as part of a UK tour.

Set in the aftermath of the Blitz, TEDDY tells the story of two teenagers, Teddy and Josie, who get ready for an unforgettable night out, no matter how dangerous the conseq...

Ben Adams as Nick Hurley in FLASHDANCE. Photography by Brian Hartley

Ben Adams talks to Frankly My Dear UK about his role in FLASHDANCE and his new found love for musical theatre

It’s fair to say that Ben Adams is a busy man. Best known as one-fourth of British–Norwegian pop group A1, the singer, songwriter and music producer is now turning his hand to musical theatre, performing alongside Strictly Come Dancing’s Joanne Clifton in FLASHDANCE.

Based on the 1983 Oscar-winning film starring J...

Jim Sturgeon as Alec and Isabel Pollen as Laura in BRIEF ENCOUNTER. Photo: Steve Tanner

Isabel Pollen talks to Frankly My Dear UK about taking on the iconic role of Laura in Kneehigh’s BRIEF ENCOUNTER

Following its hugely successful run in 2008, Kneehigh’s production of Noël Coward’s BRIEF ENCOUNTER makes a welcome return to the stage.

Running for a limited season at Empire Cinema Haymarket in London’s West End, BRIEF ENCOUNTER tells the timeless love story of Laura and Alec who meet by cha...

Inventive, moving and nostalgic, Kneehigh’s production of BRIEF ENCOUNTER is a witty and sympathetic homage to Coward’s timeless love story

Bringing a classic movie to life on stage is always a tricky endeavour, especially one as much loved as BRIEF ENCOUNTER. So when Kneehigh’s Emma Rice decided to take on the mammoth task of bringing Noel Coward’s timeless classic to life, it made sense for her to incorporate David Lean’s iconic film into the live action performance.

Based on the f...

The cast of DANCING BEAR. Photo Credit: Matt Tullett

Straddling the line between sombre and lighthearted, DANCING BEAR is a powerful and intimate piece

“Life is too serious to be taken seriously.” You might expect more comedy from a play that apparently takes this approach but aside from a few humorous lines, this show is anything but comedic...

Craig Warner strips back Patricia Highsmith’s 1950 thriller STRANGERS ON A TRAIN to focus on the mystery, psychological drama and dark wit of the piece

It takes a brave man to take on an Alfred Hitchcock thriller which is probably why Craig Warner decided to opt for a slightly different approach with his stage adaption of STRANGERS ON A TRAIN.

Reworking Patricia Highsmith’s 1950 novel, Warner’s taut and effective production chooses to draw out the mystery, psychological drama and dark wit o...