800 stories by "Alistair Smith"
James Williams talks to Alistair Smith about shaking off the Shaftesbury's reputation as a graveyard for shows and his plan to make it the theatre of choice for West End musical producers
Sheffield Theatres are to stage a new production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! at the Crucible Theatre this Christmas. The show, which will be directed by Sheffield Theatres artistic direct…
Arts Council England has published the findings of an independent report claiming that the arts and culture sector accounts for 0.4% of gross domestic product, with £5.9 billion worth of …
Viva Forever!, the West End musical featuring songs from the Spice Girls, has announced that it will close on June 29, following a run of little more than six months. The show, which is prod…
The Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers has warned that theatres are unintentionally breaching new guidelines on ticket pricing. STAR is holding an open meeting in the West End to brief t…
Former Jermyn Street Theatre artistic director Gene David Kirk has been appointÂed to run a new arts centre in Clapham, south-west London. Omnibus will open in September in what used to b…
Culture secretary Maria Miller has called on the arts to focus on making an economic argument for continued government investment in the sector. In a keynote speech delivered at the British …
Casting service Spotlight has published results of a survey into whether its members approve of low pay/no pay work opportunities. The survey was sent to Spotlight's 50,000 members including…
Digital Theatre, which specialises in filming theatre productions for online download, is to expand into the cinema sector. The company has announced a partnership with CinemaLive, which wil…
Alex Kingston will play Lady Macbeth alongside Kenneth Branagh in the title role of Shakespeare’s play at this year’s Manchester International Festival. The production, which is …
James Brining has announced his first fully programmed season as artistic director of West Yorkshire Playhouse, headlined by a revival of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd. Brining will make h…
Nicholas Hytner and Nick Starr have announced the dates they will step down as artistic and executive directors of the National Theatre. Hytner will leave at the end of March 2015, having jo…
Theatres along Shaftesbury Avenue will dim their lights tonight in honour of actor Richard Griffiths, who died last week aged 65. The lights on Shaftesbury Avenue will be dimmed for two minu…
English Touring Theatre has teamed up with eight regional venues to launch a consortium that will present revivals of large-scale plays across the country. The National Touring Group will pr…
The full nominations for the Olivier Awards 2013 are as follows: Best actor Rupert Everett " The Judas Kiss James McAvoy " Macbeth Mark Rylance " Twelfth Night Rafe Spall " Constellat…
Producers of West End musical The Book of Mormon have claimed the show has set the record for the biggest single day of sales in West End and Broadway history. The show, which opened last...
Arts Council England has received further in-year cuts to its budget, following Wednesday’s budget announcement by chancellor George Osborne. The Department for Culture, Media and Spor…
Newly appointed Arts Council England chairman Peter Bazalgette has used his first keynote speech to call on UK business to do more to support the arts. Speaking at an event at the Royal Soci…
Stage One, the charity offering support to commercial theatre producers, has launched a new regional apprenticeship scheme. The initiative, which is funded with £30,000 from the Eranda Fo…
The Theatre Royal Bath production of Fences by August Wilson will transfer to the West End this June. The show, which stars Lenny Henry, will run at the Duchess Theatre from June 19 to Septe…
Simon Russell Beale and John Simm will star in a new West End production of Harold Pinter’s 1958 play The Hothouse, directed by Jamie Lloyd. The show will be the second production in J…
X Factor – It’s Time to Face the Musical! will open in the West End in early 2014, its producers have announced. The show will be produced by Stage Entertainment UK and Syco Ente…
The long-running campaign to overhaul the way in which child performers are licensed has suffered a huge setback after the government dumped plans to streamline legislation. Current child li…
Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth's planned UK tour has been cancelled, only days before her first performance at the London Coliseum. Chenoweth had been due to play the Coliseum tonight (Marc…
Graham Linehan’s stage adaptation of Ealing Comedy The Ladykillers is to return to the West End this summer. The production, which is directed by Sean Foley and produced by Edward Snap…
