All stories by Nick Smurthwaite on BroadwayStars

Friday, June 28, 2019

The West End showgirl who became a heroine in the Second World War by Nick Smurthwaite

While dancer Christina Ratcliffe was touring, war broke out. She found herself in Malta where, after volunteering with the RAF, she decided

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Friday, June 21, 2019

Hastings’ Stables Theatre at 60: the little venue with big ambitions hosts its first festival by Nick Smurthwaite

As the Stables Theatre celebrates its diamond jubilee with a packed programme of shows and events, Nick Smurthwaite charts its history and

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Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Colin Ingram: ‘As a producer, you have to be brilliant for 10 minutes a day’ by Nick Smurthwaite

As he clocks up a quarter of a century as a producer, Colin Ingram is sending a new production of Grease on

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Friday, June 14, 2019

Fun Palaces showcase: How Joan Littlewood was inspired to bring pleasure to the people by Nick Smurthwaite

As well as directing work for the stage, the theatremaker was passionate about spaces for everyday recreation. Now these Fun Palaces are

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Monday, June 10, 2019

Lighting designer Bruno Poet: ‘This is a kind of art for people who can’t draw’ by Nick Smurthwaite

Bruno Poet tells Nick Smurthwaite about the importance of tungsten lighting following the proposed EU ban, going on tour with Sigur Ros

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Friday, June 7, 2019

The Society for Theatre Research: Celebrating 70 years of recording fascinating theatre history by Nick Smurthwaite

Throughout its existence, the Society for Theatre Research has sought to document and detail a colourful industry, garnering support from high-profile actors,

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Friday, May 31, 2019

Playwright Sophie Treadwell: Giving due recognition to Broadway’s bravest woman by Nick Smurthwaite

Best known for her expressionist play Machinal, Sophie Treadwell has been regarded as a one-hit wonder. But, the director of the world

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Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Actor Anton Lesser: ‘I’d much rather be here than stuck halfway up a mountain’ by Nick Smurthwaite

From Game of Thrones to Wolf Hall, there hasn’t been a year since the early 1980s that Anton Lesser hasn’t appeared in

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Monday, May 27, 2019

Designer Lizzie Clachan: ‘I don’t want to limit my ambition – I’m always over budget’ by Nick Smurthwaite

Since her work with experimental collective Shunt, Lizzie Clachan has brought radical designs to London’s biggest stages, including a forest of office

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Friday, May 10, 2019

How to be a playwright: lessons from past master Stephen Jeffreys by Nick Smurthwaite

Before he died in 2018, The Libertine playwright Stephen Jeffreys was working on a guide to writing for theatre. Now published, Nick

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Friday, May 3, 2019

How Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has revived Thornton Wilder’s ‘dark and profound’ US classic Our Town by Nick Smurthwaite

One of the most performed plays in the US, Our Town is regarded as Thornton Wilder’s finest work. Director Ellen McDougall tells

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Friday, April 26, 2019

Designer Mayou Trikerioti: ‘I think of theatre as my husband, while film is my lover’ by Nick Smurthwaite

After training in the UK, Mayou Trikerioti returned to her native Greece to work on theatre and film projects before making her

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Friday, April 19, 2019

Camden People’s Theatre: The radical launchpad that’s still ‘cheeky’ at 25 by Nick Smurthwaite

The north London home of experimental theatre is celebrating its 25th anniversary in good shape and with a healthy roster of challenging

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Friday, April 12, 2019

Man of La Mancha: 50 years on, the last surviving lead cast member recalls an impossible dream by Nick Smurthwaite

As the award-winning musical returns to the West End for a 50th anniversary revival, Nick Smurthwaite catches up with Ruth Silvestre, the

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Friday, April 5, 2019

Landmark revival for The Hired Man: the musical that refused to lay down and die by Nick Smurthwaite

As Melvyn Bragg and Howard Goodall’s award-winning musical gets a new revival, Nick Smurthwaite charts its journey in the 35 years since

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:00AM
Friday, March 29, 2019

Ivan Kyncl: Looking through the lens of a theatre photography pioneer by Nick Smurthwaite

A new exhibition at the V&A documents the work of the acclaimed photographer. Nick Smurthwaite finds out how a chance meeting with

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Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Obituary: Louise Clifford – ‘showed inspirational leadership as theatre director’ by Nick Smurthwaite

Regarded as one of the most valued and respected employees of the HQ Theatres Group, Louise Clifford has died after a two-year

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Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Dancer Oti Mabuse: ‘I’m bringing everything I’ve learned from Strictly to the rehearsal room’ by Nick Smurthwaite

Born in South Africa, Oti Mabuse enjoyed a stellar career as a Latin American dancer before becoming a regular on the BBC’s

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Obituary: Michael Ross – ‘gifted playwright whose work tackled contemporary issues’ by Nick Smurthwaite

The playwright Michael Ross, whose latest work, The Shy Manifesto, recently finished a five-week UK tour, has died of cancer, aged 40.

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:00AM
Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Obituary: Michael Thomas – ‘widely admired stage and TV actor’ by Nick Smurthwaite

A hard-working and widely admired stage and TV actor for more than five decades, Michael Thomas was a fixture at the National

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Friday, March 15, 2019

The Trials of Oscar Wilde: How the notorious courtroom drama was brought to life by Nick Smurthwaite

The real story of the trials that led to Oscar Wilde’s imprisonment returns for a UK tour this month. Merlin Holland tells

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 11:00AM
Friday, March 8, 2019

Celebrating the unique ar tistry of ballerina Annette Page by Nick Smurthwaite

The Royal Ballet marks the contribution and performances of Annette Page this month. Her husband and former dance partner Ronald Hynd talks

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Monday, March 4, 2019

Floating suitcases, flying canes and ‘frissons of magic’ – illusions that thrill West End audiences by Nick Smurthwaite

Whether propelling a cane across the stage or teaching Mark Rylance the three-card monte, magic consultants add spectacle to stage and screen

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Friday, March 1, 2019

‘Its best-kept secret’ – a glimpse into the National Theatre Archive by Nick Smurthwaite

To celebrate 25 years of the National Theatre Archive, an exhibition of pieces selected by 25 theatremakers, scholars and one critic has

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Friday, February 15, 2019

Stones in His Pockets: ‘As relevant and timeless as it was 20 years ago’ by Nick Smurthwaite

The multi-award winning play about a blockbuster film set in Ireland enraptured audiences when it premiered in 1996, and now it’s back

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:00AM
Friday, February 1, 2019

How Miles Jupp’s solo show is bringing the remarkable story of Mary Poppins star David Tomlinson to life by Nick Smurthwaite

Familiar to many from his appearances in classic Disney films, David Tomlinson’s extensive screen career was matched by an equally colourful family

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Friday, January 25, 2019

How Dracula was created in the West End and is returning to the library that inspired Bram Stoker by Nick Smurthwaite

Bram Stoker was not only a novelist, but the business manager of the Lyceum Theatre and it was in the library around

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Thursday, January 24, 2019

Omnibus Theatre: the south London fringe venue fostering a creative community for all by Nick Smurthwaite

Saved from the hands of developers and transformed into a thriving performing arts space, the Omnibus Theatre boasts a glorious shabby-chic interior

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Friday, January 11, 2019

How Richard Briers’ stage work brought out The Good Life actor’s serious side by Nick Smurthwaite

Richard Briers found fame in beloved TV sitcoms including The Good Life, but his real love was theatre. Biographer James Hogg tells

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Friday, January 4, 2019

Laurel and Hardy: How the world’s favourite double act came to tour UK theatres by Nick Smurthwaite

Towards the end of their careers Laurel and Hardy embarked on a UK tour, performing up to 13 shows a week. Stan

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Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Inside the model box: the National Theatre’s Playing With Scale exhibition by Nick Smurthwaite

A new exhibition at the National Theatre, Playing With Scale, explores why, in the digital era, theatre designers still use model boxes

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All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 01, 2025: Glengarry Glen Ross
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic