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).

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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.

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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.

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Hall for Cornwall, Octagon Theatre Bolton and Polka Theatre have been shortlisted for the 2024 ‘UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre Award’. The winner will be revealed at the UK Theatre Awards, which is set to take place on Sunday 20th October at 8 Northumberland Avenue. This annual event celebrates the creative excellence and outstanding work seen in theatres across the UK.

UK Theatre member venues were invited to apply for the coveted award, with applications judged on how welcoming each venue is in the areas of ‘place’, ‘people’ and ‘programme’. The panel considered everything from the venues’ buildings and commitment to accessibility, to outreach projects and interactions with theatregoers, staff, freelancers and the local community.

With applications from all over the UK, the three finalists were selected from a large number of submissions. The judging panel will now visit the venues in person to determine the overall winner. Visits often involve meeting staff, having a tour of the building, taking part in a scheduled activity, speaking to audience members or visiting the onsite café or restaurant.

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24 years into our new century and millennium, we find our now digital dependent world one that we still are coming to terms with – current advancements within AI an existential reality that we already see ourselves faced with, and increasingly more so moving forward. Writer and director duo and twin brothers Kevin and Kelly Luu delve deeper into this phenomenon in latest short film Technicians, following David, a struggling technician tasked with installing self service manicure stations at a nail salon where he meets a Vietnamese American nail technician whose job is under threat. At a very crucial point historically where we’re starting to witness traditional jobs transition to AI, Kevin and Kelly tell us more about exploring these pertinent themes further, responses to the film from this year’s Tribeca Film Festival and being chosen as one of ten recipients of the ‘Indeed’ Rising Voices’ program, a program created to discover, invest in and share stories crafted by BIPOC filmmakers and storytellers.

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Award-winning actor Idris Elba, broadcaster and entrepreneur Maya Jama and Brit Award and Mercury Prize-winning musician and actor Little Simz are announced today as producers for the West End Transfer of Bush Theatre’s smash hit production of Shifters.

These powerhouse names from across the worlds of stage, television, film and music join forces with Eleanor Lloyd Productions, Chuchu Nwagu Productions and Sonia Friedman Productions to bring Benedict Lombe’s intoxicating new romance to London’s West End following its sold out run at  the Bush Theatre earlier this year. Directed by Lynette Linton, the play runs for a strictly limited 9 week season with previews from 12 August, the official opening night on 21 August and running until 12 October.

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With a musical catalogue that includes 18 previously released full length albums from his work with Creed, Alter Bridge and various solo endeavors, world-renowned guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Mark Tremonti is back with his sixth album from his solo band, Tremonti. The new album, entitled The End Will Show Us How, is scheduled for global release on January 10, 2025 via longtime partner, Napalm Records. The new album is now available for pre-order here.

Mark Tremonti is back with a collection of 12 original compositions that continues his musical evolution while showcasing his ability to write memorable songs – something he has done for nearly three decades. Mark is backed in Tremonti by Eric Friedman (guitars), Tanner Keegan (bass) and Ryan Bennett (drums). Each song on The End Will Show Us How will take the listener on a journey as Mark set out to create an album of a dozen individual compositions each unique from the other. The debut single Just Too Much is a perfect example of this. The song opens with a driving guitar riff – the basis for the entire song – as Mark delivers the message to keep pushing forward no matter what adversity is in front of you. An official music video for the single directed by J.T. Ibanez (Sevendust) can be seen here.

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Released over 4 decades ago to critical acclaim, Hollywood hit An Officer and a Gentleman has remained a much loved cinematic classic internationally, Douglas Day Stewart’s tale of a young man’s perseverance training towards a career as a Naval Pilot one that addresses deeper themes concerned with manhood/brotherhood – that more than ever, where we address mental health more openly, has aged well. Nikolai Foster tapping into the relevancy of Stewart’s screenplay effortlessly with a musical adaptation realised entertainingly by musical director Christopher Duffy.

We root for all of the troupe, each naval trainee with a personal hurdle to overcome of their own, Jamal Crawford’s Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley the icy, no nonsense, quick witted yet unwittingly paternal figure that brings everything together yet pushes all to their limit. Luke Baker’s Zack Mayo determined to not only expand his own capabilities, but to make his father, a former army officer proud. Danny Whelan’s Sid Worley longs for purpose, with this possibly realised when meeting Sinead Long’s Lynette Pomeroy – for heartbreak to very sadly ensue. A lot goes on, we’re made privy to the lives of everyone beyond training, making the cast that much more relatable.

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The efforts needed to fight wildfires are mighty, with firefighters and volunteers, including incarcerated volunteers tasked with extinguishing what could possibly take weeks to finally quash. Inspired by his own grandparent’s story of being imprisoned in the Japanese American incarceration camps during the 1940s, writer, director and producer Robin Takao D’Oench returns to HollyShorts Film Festival with his 4th short film Fireline – a film that concerns itself with the lives of incarcerated wildland firefighters as lead Otto grapples with the challenges of prison life and his desire to connect with his daughter against the backdrop of a forest fire. The film highlighting the pivotal role played by prison labour in California’s firefighting efforts and the limited opportunities for those individuals to pursue careers in firefighting upon reentering society. Ahead of HollyShorts 20th anniversary, set to take place from 8th to 18th August at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, Robin tells us more about this rarely talked about subject matter.

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London’s alternative to the world famous, month long arts festival Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Camden Fringe Festival invites anyone and everyone to stage new works, whether established or newly established – their ethos being that everyone is welcome to participate. Now in its 18th year, the festival welcomes over 320 productions staged across 23 North London venues from 29th July until 25th August, the festival promising a mixed programme of stage up, musicals, physical theatre and more. Recipients of the ‘commendation for Outstanding Achievement’ at the London Pub Theatre Awards 2023, Camden Fringe Festival founders Michelle Flower and Zena Barrie tell us more about what to expect from this this year’s line up.

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