All stories by Chris Wiegand on BroadwayStars

Monday, May 11, 2020

The Royal Court's Caretaker is a space to think of theatre's past and future by Chris Wiegand

Hester Chillingworth’s installation, showing the empty London venue, is eerie, intimate and brings a message of support during the coronavirus lockdown Hottest front-room seats: the best t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:24AM

Sacha Dhawan to star as a standup in Nikesh Shukla's lockdown drama by Chris Wiegand

Yash Gill’s Power Half Hour, directed by Milli Bhatia, is among a new batch of Virtual Collaborators films released this week With comedy clubs closed by the coronavirus lockdown, many sta…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:12AM
Friday, May 8, 2020

Royal Court invites audiences online to experience its empty space by Chris Wiegand

London theatre, which closed during a run of Shoe Lady starring Katherine Parkinson, presents installation featuring abandoned set When theatres were forced to close their doors because of t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:36AM
Thursday, May 7, 2020

Gillian Anderson's Streetcar among next National Theatre at Home streams by Chris Wiegand

Four new titles announced by the NT also include Barber Shop Chronicles, This House and Coriolanus starring Tom Hiddleston The National Theatre has announced the next titles in its popular s…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:18AM
Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Nuffield Southampton Theatres goes into administration by Chris Wiegand

Company suffers from the severe drop in ticket sales during the pandemic and uncertainty about a reopening date Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Nuffield Sou…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:32AM

Oh No, George! review – playful pooch's tail-wagging caper by Chris Wiegand

Available onlineNo pot plant or bin is safe in Can’t Sit Still’s pleasingly physical adaptation of Chris Haughton’s picturebook Can’t Sit Still? What a brilliant name for a children…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:12AM
Tuesday, May 5, 2020

West End theatres extend shutdown caused by coronavirus by Chris Wiegand

Sunday in the Park with George, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, postpones opening to 2021 as Theatreland’s closure continues West End theatres will remain closed until at least 28 June, the Soci…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:24AM
Monday, May 4, 2020

'I've traded rehearsal room for bedroom': confined creatives' lockdown dramas by Chris Wiegand

Danusia Samal’s Virtual Collaborators series continues with five new short films that look at life on the Covid-19 frontline and in the front room Hottest front-room seats: the best theatr…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:06AM

The Midnight Gang review – escape to Walliams' wonderland by Chris Wiegand

Available onlineThere’s gleeful mischief and plenty of toilet humour in Chichester Festival theatre’s 2018 show based on the David Walliams bestseller Hottest front-room seats: best the…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:54AM
Monday, April 27, 2020

'It felt like shutdown took my future': 50 creatives launch online dramas by Chris Wiegand

From the anxiety of remote workers to the strain of isolated couples, a series of virtual collaborations masterminded by Danusia Samal looks at how our lives have changed Hottest front-room …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:18AM
Thursday, April 23, 2020

Mark Rylance to return as Rooster Byron in Jerusalem revival by Chris Wiegand

Jez Butterworth’s acclaimed play about English myths is to be revived in 2021, directed by Ian Rickson It was the barnstorming, defining performance of Mark Rylance’s stage career, winni…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:48AM

Danny Boyle's Frankenstein reanimated for National Theatre streaming service by Chris Wiegand

Hit 2011 show joins Antony and Cleopatra, starring Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo, in being broadcast as part of free scheme The best arts and entertainment during self-isolation The Natio…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:24AM
Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Play on! 12 of the best Shakespeare productions to stream by Chris Wiegand

Theatres may be closed but you can celebrate the Bard’s birthday on Thursday by watching one of his plays online • Hottest front-room seats: the best theatre and dance online The Nationa…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:42AM
Friday, April 17, 2020

Nigel Havers launches own theatre company with Noël Coward play by Chris Wiegand

Touring company to debut in October with Coward comedy Private Lives starring Havers and Patricia Hodge Coronavirus and culture – a list of major cancellations Coronavirus – latest upda…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:54AM
Thursday, April 16, 2020

Comedian formerly known as Hugo Boss changes name back to Joe Lycett by Chris Wiegand

The TV host, who changed his name to protest the fashion brand’s heavy-handed legal action, has decided to ‘go back to the Lycetts’ The comedian formerly named Joe Lycett is now once m…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:06AM
Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Shutdown showstoppers: six musical-theatre videos to raise morale by Chris Wiegand

Musical stars from Broadway and the West End perform songs whose lyrics let us reflect on the coronavirus crisis Hottest front-room seats: the best theatre and dance to watch online The bes…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:24PM

Guardian to stream plays about the NHS and Ai Weiwei from Hampstead theatre by Chris Wiegand

Tiger Country by Nina Raine and The Arrest of Ai Weiwei by Howard Brenton will be streamed online in April Hottest front-room seats: the best theatre and dance to watch online The Guardian i…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:12AM
Friday, April 10, 2020

Samantha Barks and Stephanie McKeon to star in West End version of Frozen by Chris Wiegand

The pair will play sisters Elsa and Anna in the stage version of the Disney mega-hit when the Theatre Royal Drury Lane reopens later this year Samantha Barks and Stephanie McKeon have been c…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:03AM
Thursday, April 9, 2020

Corona comedy: Facebook cabaret, gamer gags and a WhatsApp panel show by Chris Wiegand

From Iain Stirling’s Fifa banter to Jayde Adams live from her lounge, comedians isolated by the lockdown are reaching audiences online Hottest front-room seats: theatre and dance to watch…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:36PM
Wednesday, April 8, 2020

'I'll miss the camaraderie': readers on the Edinburgh festival cancellation by Chris Wiegand and Guardian Readers

We asked you to share your thoughts and experiences about this summer’s festival being cancelled because of the coronavirus. Here’s what some of you said Coronavirus and culture – a l…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:18AM
Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Home fooling: Kiri Pritchard-McLean's virtual comedy club by Chris Wiegand

The standup’s Saturday gigs have quickly become a fixture on the online circuit – and raised £20,000 for the Trussell Trust The next time standup Kiri Pritchard-McLean goes on tour, she…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:42PM
Monday, April 6, 2020

Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag play to be streamed online by Chris Wiegand

The show, which played a sold-out run at London’s Wyndham’s theatre, is being streamed to raise money for those affected by Covid-19 • Hottest front-room seats: the best theatre and da…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:42PM

Cast of Hamilton reunite on Zoom for birthday singalong by Chris Wiegand

Lin-Manuel Miranda and company sing opening number from the show to a nine-year-old superfan of the musical • Hottest front-room seats: the best theatre and dance to watch online• The be…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:12AM

Rinsing bananas and rapping about teapots … comedians work from home by Chris Wiegand

Without any gigs to perform, comics are spreading good cheer on Twitter and TikTok. Here’s a roundup of the latest from Suzi Ruffell, Jessica Fostekew, Mo Gilligan and others Warning: cont…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:03AM

Luna: A Play About the Moon review – science and stories in cabaret for kids by Chris Wiegand

Available onlineRoustabout Theatre’s encounters with the moon range from gravity-dancing to skits with astronauts and a werewolf Coronavirus and culture - a list of major cancellations Ho…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:03AM
Friday, April 3, 2020

'Get ready to get down': Nile Rodgers rises to Lloyd Webber Twitter challenge by Chris Wiegand

‘Composers in quarantine’ play-off sees Chic star play a song from Jesus Christ Superstar as Lloyd Webber performs the Rodgers/Daft Punk hit Get Lucky Coronavirus – latest updates S…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:54PM
Thursday, April 2, 2020

Whatever the Weather review – a rainbow of a show by Chris Wiegand

Available onlineThe two figures in an alpine weather house come out to play in this delightfully sweet production for three- to seven-year-olds In the late 19th century, a comic opera was de…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:12AM
Tuesday, March 31, 2020

This one's a keeper! Vikki Stone's starry, sweary zoo musical by Chris Wiegand

The comedian and musician’s #zoologicalsociety is a concept album featuring Jason Manford as a depressed monkey and Lucie Jones as a pregnant penguin Lions, giraffes and monkeys brought Ju…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:48AM
Monday, March 30, 2020

Laughing in the face of lockdown: comedy videos to raise your spirits by Chris Wiegand

Self-isolating comedians are working from home to bring a little light relief to the nation. Here’s a roundup of some of the funniest Warning: contains strong language • See all our coro…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:12AM
Friday, March 27, 2020

I, Cinna (the Poet) review – Tim Crouch and Jude Owusu are dream teachers by Chris Wiegand

Available onlineA gift for homeschoolers, Owusu dazzles as the poet from Julius Caesar, drawing young viewers into the creative process The outbreak of homeschooling caused by the coronavir…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:36AM

Stage struck: Tom Stoppard, Cush Jumbo, Brian Cox and more on the magic of theatre by Chris Wiegand

To mark World Theatre Day, leading playwrights, actors and directors share some of their favourite moments Palace theatre, Manchester. Some time in the mid-60s. A variety bill (or it may hav…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:54AM