Michael Byrne obituary Character actor whose decades-long career encompassed the National Theatre, war films and Coronation Street The Guardian - UK · Jun 30
‘A privilege – and pretty terrifying’: James Norton to play Hamlet in the West End The Happy Valley actor is lined up as the lead in German director Thomas Ostermeier’s first Shakespearean play in English The Guardian - UK · Jun 28
Happy Valley star James Norton to play Hamlet in new West End production The 40-year-old will take on the role in autumn next year. Evening Standard · Jun 28
Venus & Adonis review – Simon Russell Beale narrates cheeky tale of puppet passion Greg Doran directs Shakespeare’s timeless poem of seduction, told with Lyndie Wright’s gorgeous, masterfully manoeuvred miniatures The Guardian - UK · Jun 24
Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare’s Globe review: Deliciously detailed take on Shakespeare’s summer comedy 4/5 There’s newfound depth and heaps of humour in Chelsea Walker’s stylish new staging of the beloved Shakespeare play Evening Standard · Jun 23
Sam Dastor obituary Other lives: Actor who performed with Olivier’s National Theatre company and became a familiar face on British TV The Guardian - UK · Jun 21
Much Ado About Nothing review – a riot of romcom energy With its gorgeous music, dance and costumes, this production is a sure summer blockbuster that avoids the problematic elements of Shakespeare’s play The Guardian - UK · Jun 21
Maureen Beattie looks to the future with her take on Lear FOR Scottish theatre doyenne Maureen Beattie, it makes perfect sense for King Lear to be played by a woman – even if it could have Shakespeare… The National (Scotland) · Jun 21
Teen pop star show Mackenzie a 'theatre gateway drug' A Y2K-era adaptation of Shakespeare's Scottish play sees Macbeth recast as an ambitious teen starlet, and Lady Macbeth as a stop-at-nothing stage mum. AAP · Jun 16
Death in Venice: Willem Dafoe thrills theatre biennale with adventurous shows about ghosts and rebirth From a Noh Othello that puts Desdemona centre stage to a requiem for a family killed in the Rwandan genocide, the theatre at this year’s festival gives voice to the marginalised The Guardian - UK · Jun 15
What if Macbeth was a 13-year-old child star? Shakespeare meets stage mums and sparkles in riotous adaptation When Bell Shakespeare’s Mackenzie begins, it is with the clap of thunder and flash of lightning you might expect from any adaptation of Macbeth. And yet, what follows is no ordinary production of the much beloved Scottish play. The Conversation · Jun 15
Helen Mirren takes pride in King's birthday honour The Academy Award-winning actress, 80, was recognised in the King's Birthday Honours for her services to drama. AAP · Jun 13
Dame Helen Mirren ‘incredibly proud’ after being made Companion of Honour The Academy Award-winning actress, 80, was recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours for her services to drama. Evening Standard · Jun 13
“Playing with your fingers has something to do with immediacy and soul. You’re absolutely in touch with what’s going on”: How Mark Knopfler combined sublime fingerpicking and Shakespearean tragedy in a Dire Straits classic The early ’80s hit featured his iconic National Style O resonator guitar MusicRadar · Jun 12
The Independent UK · Jun 11 Radiohead’s Thom Yorke brings ‘Hamlet Hail to the Thief’ theatre show to London’s Barbican The production sees Elsinore reimagined as a surveillance state
Evening Standard · Jun 11 Hamlet Hail to the Thief coming to the Barbican! How to get tickets for Radiohead's bold adaptation of Shakespeare tragedy The production premiered at Aviva Studios in Manchester last year before running at the Royal Shakespeare theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.
The Guardian - UK · Jun 10 Radiohead revenge tragedy Hamlet Hail to the Thief sets London dates Production fusing the band’s sixth album and Shakespeare’s masterpiece will open at the Barbican later this year
The Conversation · Jun 9 Mamma Mia! is Shakespeare’s Tempest in campy musical disguise Mamma Mia!, the 1999 jukebox musical built around the songs of the pop group ABBA, became a huge hit in the theatre internationally and later a commercially successful feature film. It has inspired a host of spinoffs including a prequel film, an immersive dining experience and fan fiction.
Evening Standard · Jun 9 Storm at The Tempest: 'Bohemian' woman brings baby to sell-out Shakespeare play starring Sir Kenneth Branagh The ‘gurgling’ and ‘cooing’ infuriated theatregoers during the sell-out show
The Guardian - AU · Jun 6 Virginia Gay: ‘Shakespeare’s most overrated play? Hamlet. Too long’ The actor and director on Disney villains, the sexy power of the melt emoji, and shattering a glass globe over the audience during Calamity Jane
The Guardian - UK · May 26 The Tempest review – Kenneth Branagh returns to the RSC in this enchanting production Prospero is reimagined as a conductor in this superbly orchestrated version of Shakespeare’s tragicomedy
The Times of India · May 23 King Charles surprises audience at Kenneth Branagh’s sold-out Shakespeare show in Stratford-upon-Avon King Charles III made a surprise appearance at a sold-out Royal Shakespeare Company performance of The Tempest, delighting theatregoers. He sat amongst the public, not in a royal box, turning a regular evening into a memorable royal moment. The visit highlights his patronage of the arts and adds significant buzz…
AAP · May 22 King takes seat at packed show, delighting theatregoers Charles was a surprise guest at a production of The Tempest starring Kenneth Branagh in Stratford-upon-Avon, central England.
The Independent UK · May 22 King Charles makes surprise appearance at sold-out Shakespeare play in Stratford-upon-Avon Charles was a guest at a production of The Tempest starring Sir Kenneth Branagh
Evening Standard · May 22 Charles delights theatregoers as he takes seat at sold-out show The King is watching Sir Kenneth Branagh perform in a production of The Tempest in Stratford-upon-Avon.