All stories by Mark Brown on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Tony awards: A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder nabs 10 nominations by Mark Brown

Broadway comedy about heir to a dukedom leads the field, while Neil Patrick Harris nominated for role in cult musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch Read the full list of nominations Alternative …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:06PM

Dear Scotland, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, review by Mark Brown

The National Theatre of Scotland addresses national identity with a delightfully diverse series of monologues, says Mark Brown

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 08:46AM

Mike Leigh on board for The Pirates of Penzance opera by Mark Brown

Filmmaker to direct English National Opera production of Gilbert and Sullivan classic at Coliseum next yearMike Leigh once berated directors for failing to understand Gilbert and Sullivan, r…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:59AM
Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Cars and Boys, review: 'lacking dramatic drive' by Mark Brown

The poetry of Stuart Paterson's script is hampered by its repetitive structure, says Mark Brown

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 11:17AM
Tuesday, April 15, 2014

War Horse musicians lose court bid for reinstatement by Mark Brown

Five band members provided live accompaniment to hit West End show for four years before being replaced by soundtrackFive musicians who performed as a live band for four years in the West En…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:59PM
Monday, April 14, 2014

The Beautiful Cosmos of Ivor Cutler, Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, review by Mark Brown

This show succeeded brilliantly in opening a window into the world of Scottish humorist, poet and songwriter Ivor Cutler, says Mark Brown

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 08:17AM
Sunday, April 13, 2014

Almeida theatre defeats West End giants at Olivier awards by Mark Brown

North London's 325-seat Almeida theatre triumphs in eight award categories including best new play at award ceremonyIt is a story of a small local theatre taking on the West End and winning,…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:30PM
Thursday, April 3, 2014

Minstrel musical comedy The Scottsboro Boys to open in west end by Mark Brown

The comedy about nine black youths falsely accused of rape in 1931 has been at hit at London's Young Vic theatreIt was a tough sell: turning the harrowing story of nine black youths falsely …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:40AM
Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Union, review: 'brave and brazen' by Mark Brown

An ambitious play about the Treaty of Union of 1707    

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 08:03AM
Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Benedict Cumberbatch to play Hamlet at Barbican by Mark Brown

Star of TV's Sherlock to take on one of Shakespeare's most challenging roles for 12 weeks in summer of 2015Benedict Cumberbatch is to swap Sherlock for Shakespeare when he plays Hamlet for 1…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:01PM

Benedict Cumberbatch to play Hamlet at Barbican by Mark Brown

Star of TV's Sherlock to take on one of Shakespeare's most challenging roles for 12 weeks in summer of 2015Benedict Cumberbatch is to take on one of theatre's greatest and most challenging r…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:24PM
Monday, March 10, 2014

Olivier awards 2014: musicals lead nominations by Mark Brown

Small Almeida theatre is nominated in 10 categories, while women dominate best director nominations• Full list of nominations• Michael Billington: Where are the great new plays?One new m…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:00AM
Thursday, March 6, 2014

Emma Thompson makes acclaimed New York debut in Sweeney Todd by Mark Brown

She plays Mrs Lovett alongside Bryn Terfel for just five performances at the Avery Fisher HallEmma Thompson has made her New York stage debut to critical acclaim but it will be over in a fla…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:14PM
Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Wolf Hall play to move to West End – but readers must wait for third novel by Mark Brown

Hilary Mantel asks readers hoping for third book in Thomas Cromwell trilogy to be patient as RSC announces transferStage versions of Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies will transfer to London…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:00PM
Monday, February 24, 2014

Harrison Birtwistle revival heads big names at Brighton festival by Mark Brown

Opera about mother who kills her children to feature in programme commissioned by choreographer Hofesh ShechterA disused brewery depot in Lewes will be the unlikely venue for an operatic bal…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:02PM

London theatre to reopen three months after ceiling collapse by Mark Brown

Apollo theatre to reopen with West End transfer of vampire story Let the Right One In, after fourth level covered with new floorThree months after part of the ceiling fell on to the audience…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:54PM
Thursday, February 13, 2014

Sleeping Beauty footage found after 55 years and to be screened on BBC by Mark Brown

Video of Margot Fonteyn's Sleeping Beauty being woken with a kiss will be shown as part of broadcaster's spring ballet seasonUnseen for 55 years and thought missing, it is a classical ballet…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:01PM
Wednesday, February 12, 2014

David Lan named as artistic director of World Trade Centre arts hub by Mark Brown

Acclaimed Young Vic director to work part time on Frank Gehry-designed complex until its opening in 2018One of the most respected figures in British theatre is to take on the challenge of ru…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:02PM
Sunday, February 9, 2014

Miss Julie, Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, review by Mark Brown

Strindberg's drama succeeds excitingly at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow    

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 10:32AM
Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Three unseen Simon Gray plays to be performed with revival of Japes by Mark Brown

Hampstead theatre to stage Gray's 2001 hit play in quartet with three unperformed plays exploring different outcomes for Japes charactersThree Simon Gray plays are to be performed on stage f…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:36AM
Monday, February 3, 2014

Ballet star Daria Klimentová to retire by Mark Brown

English National Ballet's lead ballerina to stop dancing after 18 years at company that bids farewell to 'a wonderful artist'Daria Klimentová , one of the brightest stars of classical balle…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:31PM

Rantin, Kilmardinny Arts Centre, Bearsden, review by Mark Brown

In the year of the referendum, can the National Theatre of Scotland evoke its home in just 90 minutes? Kieran Hurley gives it a try with his latest show, Rantin    

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 01:34PM
Friday, January 31, 2014

Cult 80s film Back to the Future to be adapted for the West End as a musical by Mark Brown

Original team behind hugely successful film following adventures of Marty McFly is reassembled to create a musical versionBack to the Future, which starred Michael J Fox as Marty McFly, is t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:41PM
Thursday, January 23, 2014

Robert Lindsay returns to musical theatre in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels by Mark Brown

Actor now best known for 11 series of My Family will play the Michael Caine character in stage adaptation of filmThirty years after Me and My Girl and 16 years after playing Fagin in Oliver!…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:00AM
Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Long Day's Journey into Night, Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh, review by Mark Brown

Tony Cownie's new production of Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical masterpiece is astute and emotive, says Mark Brown    

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 08:50AM
Thursday, January 2, 2014

Theatreland's ATG power couple top Stage 100 list for fifth year by Mark Brown

Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire created UK's biggest theatre group 21 years ago, including venues hosting Wicked and The Lion KingThey are far from being household names, but the husband a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:01PM
Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Doncaster stages a bold revival of the arts with 'cultural living room' by Mark Brown

Bustling £22m Cast theatre venue bucks trend of funding cuts elsewhere, with 40,000 people through its door since opening One idea was to call it The Platform while another more blue sky th…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:51PM
Wednesday, December 11, 2013

The History Boys is Britain's favourite play, poll finds by Mark Brown

Top spot for Alan Bennett's play about schoolboys studying for Oxbridge entrance exams followed by Noises Off and HamletIt was hailed as "superb" and "life-enhancing" when it first opened at…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:00AM
Sunday, December 8, 2013

Metro Manila named British independent film of the year by Mark Brown

Low-budget thriller set in the Philippines is standout winner at 2013 Bifas, with director Sean Ellis also named best director• Interview: Sean EllisA shoestring-budget heist thriller set…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:35PM
Friday, December 6, 2013

Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint up for WhatsOn Stage awards by Mark Brown

Harry Potter alumni shortlisted for respective theatrical roles in The Cripple of Inishmaan and MojoHarry Potter graduates Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint are among the nominees shortlist…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:03AM
Monday, November 25, 2013

Monty Python comeback show tickets sell out in 43.5 seconds by Mark Brown

Tickets for O2 reunion featuring Cleese, Palin, Idle, Jones and Gilliam go in a flash, with four more dates addedTickets for the Monty Python comeback performance sold out in a very precise …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:32AM