WhatsOnStage today announces that the 23rd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards will take place on Sunday 12 February 2023, at a West End theatre to be announced. As well as seeing the winners crowned across a range of categories, theatregoers will also enjoy a host of exclusive live performances from top stage talent. The event is co-produced with creative directors Alex Parker and Damian Sandys.
The award-winning charity Open Door – which counts the likes of Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson, Riz Ahmed, David Morrissey and Amanda Redman among its supporters – is to hold auditions for its 2023 intake in six cities across the UK as it seeks to unearth new stars of stage and screen who would otherwise slip through the net.
Due to the financial barriers that are associated with the interviews and auditions that applicants, including those wishing to study acting and those interested in technical theatre and production arts, have to attend, a high percentage of those wishing to apply simply can’t afford the chance to be seen. According to the The Working Class Creatives Database (WCCD) manifesto, only 16% of the UK’s creative workforce are from lower-socioeconomic backgrounds.
A former Fringe participant and experienced arts manager, has today been announced as the new Head of Artist Services at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society. Chris Snow took up post at the start of September 2022, having most recently held the role of Head of Support Services at the National Theatre in London.
With extensive experience in supporting and leading cultural teams, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge to the senior post. In his early twenties Chris brought several small-scale shows to Edinburgh under his own theatre company, and understands the challenges and opportunities facing artists as they perform at the festival for the first time. Having worked for several years managing large buildings for major global businesses, he then led National Theatre’s operational teams through the pandemic; and as such also has a strong grounding on how to support more established performers and venues.
The ETPEP Award 2022 has been won by first time playwright by Saana Sze for their play Belly of the Beast.
YoungMartha, a bright and agreeable student, falls in love with Gia, who has had enough of school and teachers that don’t care about girls like her…
NowMartha enters the teaching industry, optimistic about making a positive change, but soon begins a quick journey towards disillusionment when they realise the corporate hell they’re in…
Black, non-binary and queer, Youngand NowMartha are set against rigid systems which insist they conform.
Belly of the Beast examines school politics, from the standpoint of both student and a teacher, as it asks “What are schools for?”
Established 10 years ago, Voila! Europe was created as a means of showcasing the works of independent European artists – starting life as a festival hosting shows featuring the French and English languages, before broadening the criteria to include all European languages. Set to stage its 10th year edition from 3rd to 13th November at The Cockpit Theatre, the festival’s director Amy Clare Tasker tells us more about what to expect and the festival’s significance post the EU referendum.
The 2022 UK Theatre Awards winners were revealed on Sunday 23rd October in a lunchtime ceremony at London’s Guildhall. The Awards returned following a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
The Awards were hosted by star of the stage Courtney Bowman (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Six, Legally Blonde), and presenters included Dame Arlene Phillips, Isabella Pappas, Joel Harper-Jackson and Rakie Ayola.
The UK Theatre Awards are the only nationwide awards to honour and celebrate outstanding achievements in theatre throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by UK Theatre members.
The biggest winner of the day was Leeds Playhouse, who won three awards including UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre, Best Design for Laura Hopkins & Simon Wainwright for Dracula: The Untold Story and Best Performance in a Musical for Divina de Campo for Hedwig and the Angry Inch, a Leeds Playhouse and HOME co-production.
Best Director was won by Elin Schofield, Robert Hastie and Anthony Lau for Rock/Paper/Scissors. In this theatrical first, the cast performed in the Crucible, Lyceum and Studio simultaneously at Sheffield Theatres.
The Best Musical Production award was given to the Curve Theatre Leicester’s Billy Elliot the Musical. Based on Stephen Daldry‘s acclaimed 2000 film, with music by Elton John and book and lyrics by Lee Hall. The musical features incredible songs such as Solidarity, The Letter, He Could Be a Star and the show-stopping Electricity.
The Yard Theatre have launched Nightlife Residents—a residency programme for three DJs, producers, collectives, producers, artists or performers to run three nights at The Yard, with creative freedom and no hire fees.
They’re looking for DJs, producers, collectives, producers, artists or performers who have an idea for a night, or an existing event series, and want to grow with no financial stress and a home to do it in.
They want their Yard Residents to see nightlife spaces as a vital part of London’s culture scene, who want to foster new ideas and look at new ways of bringing people together on the dancefloor. Yard Residents who see the potential and possibilities in clubs, that no other cultural space could offer. They’re also especially interested in residents who want to fuse nightlife and performance.
Yard Residents will receive the following:
The ETPEP Award has announced its three final shortlisted plays for the 2022 Award.
They are:
@LeahRoberts by Eva Lily
Belter by Jacko Pook
Belly of the Beast by Saana Sze
Today, the Evening Standard announces the 2022 shortlist for the 66th Evening Standard Theatre Awards. The shortlist features the biggest names and emerging talents from the London stage over the last eighteen months, who are recognised across nine award categories. Among the contenders are globally-renowned actors and actresses and hit shows including: Oklahoma!, Cabaret, The Father and the Assassin and Best of Enemies.
Featuring an unprecedented dialogue between the works of two exceptional artists; Claude Monet and Joan Mitchell, the Fondation Louis Vuitton are delighted to announce the launch of the ‘Monet- Mitchell’ exhibition, open now and until 27th February 2023.
