On Ukranian Independence Day (24th August), a nation reels 2 years post Russia’s invasion on 24th February 2022. A political issue stemming from 8 years of unrest between Ukrainian Government forces and Russia backed separatists, the Ukraine seeks to defend what’s theirs. Born out of the current conflict that impacts over 30 million people, Alex Borovenskiy has gone on to found the first Ukraine Fringe Festival – a showcase of the country’s rich cultural landscape, highlighting work from the often underrepresented. Ahead of this year’s festival – from 30th August until 1st September, Alex tells us more about the festival’s motto – “Steel Standing”, curating a 2nd year of the festival in light of ongoing conflict and the significance of ProEnglish Theatre of Ukraine, one of the festival’s host venues.
Rocket-fuelled Canadian act SPIRITBOX have today announced their biggest London show yet. The group will perform at the legendary Alexandra Palace on 13th February, 2025. This will be Spiritbox‘s only UK headline show in 2025.
Tickets are expected to fly as soon as they go on sale. The group’s last London shows – multiple nights at the iconic Roundhouse in Camden – sold out in minutes. Presales begin immediately, and tickets will go on general sale at 10am on Wednesday 28th August. Set your alarm and don’t delay if you want to go!
Special guests are Periphery and Stray From The Path.
Get tickets here.
Today, the Camden-born-and-bred artist Bakar announces that he’ll be performing a very special hometown headline show at London’s iconic Alexandra Palace on December 5 2024.
Following the success of his self-discovery album release last summer which followed with two sold-out Eventim Apollo shows in November 2023, Bakar will now take to the stage and give his fans an unforgettable night at London’s Ally Pally.
Presales for Bakar’s London show will start Tuesday 27 August 2024 at 10am local time and will continue throughout the week with general on sale starting on Thursday 29 August 2024 at 10am local time via LiveNation.co.uk.
Falling In Reverse’s European & UK leg of ‘The Popular Monstour II: World Domination Tour’ announced
Falling In Reverse’s new album Popular Monster is out now via Epitaph Records. The album, which was produced by Radke and Tyler Smyth, is the band’s first full-length since 2017’s Coming Home. Get it here. The band recently shared the video for “Prequel.
WATCH IT HERE.
Elsewhere, the smash single “All My Life,” which features a guest appearance by award-winning country music mega-star Jelly Roll, shows absolutely ZERO signs of slowing down. The track continues to dominate the radio and streaming space. It’s a twangy banger that established itself as the feel-good hit of the summer, thanks to its seamless blend of Falling In Reverse’s supremely catchy and in-your-face hard rock and Jelly Roll’s down-to-earth charm and heartfelt country drawl. Bonding over their shared roots, modest upbringing and rebellious spirits, the collaboration between Radke and Jelly Roll tells a story of resilience through the ups and downs of life. Southern-fried riffs, soaring guitar solos, and singalong choruses make All My Life a crossover smash.
Wessex Grove and Gavin Kalin Productions today announce that Cate Blanchett and Tom Burke will star in Duncan Macmillan and Thomas Ostermeier’s new version of Chekhov’s masterpiece The Seagull. Also directed by Ostermeier, the production will play a limited 6 week run at the Barbican Theatre from February 2025.
Blanchett stars as Arkadina, a celebrated actress whose larger-than-life presence dominates both the stage and her personal relationships. Arriving at her family’s country estate for the weekend, she finds herself caught up in a storm of conflicting desires. Her playwright son, Konstantin, struggles to step out of her shadow as he pursues his own artistic ambitions and her lover Trigorin, played by Tom Burke, becomes the object of affection for the aspiring young actress Nina.
As their lives entwine and they each grapple with their desires, ambitions, and disappointments, Chekhov’s timeless story unfolds in a gripping tale of vanity, power, and the sacrifices made in the name of art.
The Stage Debut Awards announce today the nominees for its annual awards ceremony, celebrating the finest emerging talent in UK theatre. This year’s 44 nominations across eight categories celebrate a diverse array of individuals from across the industry making their professional or West End debuts.
Among the highlights of this year’s nominations is the fiercely contested Best West End Debut Performer category—the only award decided by public vote. This category features some of the most celebrated names from stage and screen, including Olivier award-winner Will Close for his iconic portrayal of footballer Harry Kane in Dear England, Olivier award-nominee Jack Wolfe for his magnetic performance in Next to Normal, Emmy award-winner Billy Crudup, best known for starring opposite Reece Witherspoon and Jennifer Anniston on The Morning Show, for his solo performance in Harry Clarke, and Ted Lasso star and Emmy award-nominee Toheeb Jimoh for his role in Player Kings opposite Ian McKellen. Other notable nominees this year include Francesca Amewudah-Rivers for her starring role opposite Tom Holland in Jamie Lloyd’s Romeo and Juliet, Grace Hodgett Young for her role as Betty Schaefer alongside Nicole Scherzinger in the Olivier Award-winning Sunset Boulevard (for which she is also nominated for Best Performer in a Musical), and Ed Larkin for his poignant portrayal in The Little Big Things. Larkin, in his role as Henry Fraser, is the first actor in a wheelchair to lead a West End musical. Finally, Louis McCartney is nominated for his performance in the Olivier award-winning Stranger Things: The First Shadow, earning nods for both Best West End Debut Performer and Best Performer in a Play. Originally from Belfast, Louis was just 20 years old at the start of the run.
Actors Touring Company (ATC), the UK’s leading producer of international plays, today announces the appointment of Jo Royce as its new Executive Director and Joint CEO. Succeeding former Executive Director and Joint CEO Andrew Smaje and interim Executive Director Amber Massie-Blomfield, Jo joins ATC at a pivotal moment in the company’s history and will work closely with Artistic Director and Joint CEO Matthew Xia. On her appointment, Jo Royce commented: “I am thrilled to be joining the team at ATC. I strongly believe in the importance of touring international stories that ask big questions, and most importantly, recognise our shared humanity. As a values-led, audience-focused theatre maker, ATC is a leader in this type of work and I can’t wait to be part of its future.”
Jo Royce brings to this role a wealth of experience and expertise, with a distinguished career that has included working with some of the most respected organisations in the arts industry such as the National Theatre, Arts Council England, Theatre Royal Stratford East and as a consultant for the Young Vic. She has twice served as Executive Director previously, first at the Gate Theatre, Notting Hill (2016 – 2018), and then with the Candoco Dance Company, an internationally renowned organisation of disabled and non-disabled dancers (2018 – 2021).
London Theatre Week is set to make a grand return with its celebration of the West End’s vibrant theatrical scene. From Monday 19th August, theatre fans can shop exclusively priced tickets starting at just £15 via the TodayTixapp and todaytix.com. With over 75 spectacular shows participating, this initiative offers fans an unparalleled opportunity to experience the best of London theatre at accessible prices.
For seasoned theatre-goers and newcomers alike, London Theatre Week provides a gateway to a diverse array of critically acclaimed productions. This year’s lineup includes both established classics like The Phantom of the Opera, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and Les Misérables, plus exciting new shows such as Hello, Dolly!,MJ The Musical, and Mean Girls, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
After selling out massive shows in the UK, US, Australia and headlining Reading and Leeds for the second time, multi-Platinum-selling, arena filling and festival headlining giants Catfish and the Bottlemen today write history and confirm their place amongst the UK’s elite acts with the announcement of their biggest live shows yet – their first ever headline stadium concerts.
The band will take over Cardiff Principality Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for two landmark performances on the 1st and 3rd August 2025. The news marks the next step in Catfish and the Bottlemen’s meteoric rise, following their epic return to the stage this summer, which has seen them sell out Liverpool’s 32,000 capacity Sefton Park and two nights at Cardiff Castle, before making their second headline Reading and Leeds Festival performance this weekend, and extensive dates across the US and Australia.