Will Ferrell's Elf to become West End musical by Guardian Staff

Stage show based on the yuletide favourite about Santa's hapless helper will open at the Dominion theatre in November 2015 Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 5:09am on February 10, 2015☆⚑

Gillian Anderson's webchat: 10 things we learned by Guardian Staff

The star chatted to us about The X Files, returning to Miss Havisham and leaping on top of Paolo NutiniHot off the heels of her prequel to A Streetcar Named Desire, Gillian Anderson popped b…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:58am on February 9, 2015☆⚑

Michael Gambon on stage, from King Lear to Krapp " in pictures by Guardian Staff

More than 50 years after his stage debut, Michael Gambon has announced that he is retiring from the theatre. Here's a reminder of some of his celebrated performances in plays by Beckett, Sha…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:22am on February 9, 2015☆⚑

Gillian Anderson webchat " post your questions now by Guardian Staff

The actor, who has just directed her own prequel to A Streetcar Named Desire, is joining us to answer your questions at 1pm GMT on Monday 9 February " post them in the comments below 4.21pm …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:21am on February 6, 2015☆⚑

Wanna have fun? Cyndi Lauper's Kinky Boots musical heads to the West End by Guardian Staff

Award-winning Broadway show based on the Chiwetel Ejiofor film will open at the Adelphi theatre in London in SeptemberKinky Boots, the heartwarming British film about a Midlands shoe factory…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:47am on February 6, 2015☆⚑

The Departure: a short film starring Gillian Anderson " video by Guardian Staff

Gillian Anderson resumes her role as Blanche DuBois in a prequel to Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire, inspired by the Young Vic theatre's acclaimed production in 2014. The film …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 4:00am on February 6, 2015☆⚑

Tennessee waltz: Gillian Anderson on A Streetcar Named Desire " video by Guardian Staff

As she returns to the character of Blanche DuBois in the short film The Departure, Gillian Anderson recalls the Young Vic's celebrated production of A Streetcar Named Desire, performed on a …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:10am on February 5, 2015☆⚑

Al Murray hits the campaign trail in Thanet - video by Guardian Staff

Al Murray, the Pub Landlord, hits the campaign trail in Thanet South, where he is standing at the general election against Ukip leader Nigel Farage. The comedian-turned-politician says he de…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:26am on February 4, 2015☆⚑

Antony Sher in Henry IV Parts I and II: 'Give me a cup of sack!' " video by Guardian Staff

The Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Henry IV Parts I and II, directed by Gregory Doran, is out now from Opus Arte on DVD and Blu-ray. Watch Antony Sher's 'magnificent, magnetic Fal…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:49am on February 4, 2015☆⚑

New York's historic Kings Theatre celebrates grand reopening " in pictures by Guardian Staff

As Brooklyn's newly-restored Kings Theatre stages a grand opening concert we take a look at the lavish, meticulously refurbished interior Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:00am on February 2, 2015☆⚑

No golden ticket needed: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory backstage tour " in pictures by Guardian Staff

In Roald Dahl's novel, Willy Wonka opens his doors to Charlie Bucket, Grandpa Joe and co at 'ten o'clock sharp' on the 'first day in the month of February'. Now it's your chance to go behind…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 5:00am on February 1, 2015☆⚑

Geraldine McEwan: life and times " in pictures by Guardian Staff

Actor Geraldine McEwan, famous for her 1985 portrayal of Lucia in EF Benson's pithy comedy, and who in later life became the face of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, has died Continue reading…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 5:01pm on January 31, 2015☆⚑

Get set go: stunning stage designs from around the world " in pictures by Guardian Staff

Take a look at another collection of the groundbreaking sets created by contemporary designers featured in World Scenography 1990-2005 by Eric Fielding and Peter McKinnon. Click on each phot…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 4:30am on January 31, 2015☆⚑

Brian Blessed withdraws from King Lear due to heart condition by Guardian Staff

The actor, who recently collapsed on stage yet returned to finish the show, pulls out of production after 11 performancesBrian Blessed has withdrawn from the production of King Lear at Holy …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:30am on January 30, 2015☆⚑

Memphis: The Musical jumps and jives as cast record album " video by Guardian Staff

The original London cast of the hit American musical, which recently celebrated its 100th performance in the West End, have recorded an album. See Beverley Knight and Killian Donnelly perfor…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:14am on January 30, 2015☆⚑

Tamsin Greig webchat " post your questions now by Guardian Staff

The comic actor, currently appearing in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown in the West End, is joining us to answer your questions in a webchat from noon onwards on Tuesday 3 February…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:52am on January 30, 2015☆⚑

Thirteen playwrights in search of characters " in pictures by Guardian Staff

Where do writers find inspiration and come up with their best ideas? Some clues are in a new collection of portraits by Simon Annand, commissioned by Bruntwood and the Royal Exchange theatre…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:00am on January 30, 2015☆⚑

Creative industries and the working class by Guardian Staff

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SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:28pm on January 29, 2015☆⚑

James McAvoy in The Ruling Class " what the critics said by Guardian Staff

Director Jamie Lloyd and star James McAvoy rule today's reviews with their West End revival of the zany Peter Barnes comedy Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:21pm on January 29, 2015☆⚑

John Hurt on Shakespeare: 'I was a thirtysomething Romeo' " video by Guardian Staff

In his first major Shakespearean role, John Hurt was one of the 'star-cross'd lovers' in a Coventry production that attracted more interest than he expected. He recalls how the tragedy's lin…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 5:03am on January 29, 2015☆⚑

Oh lordy! The Ruling Class with James McAvoy " in pictures by Guardian Staff

Peter Barnes's wickedly dark, surreal 1965 comedy is the latest classic to get transformed at Trafalgar Studios, London. Playing an earl with a messiah complex, James McAvoy heads a cast inc…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 4:02am on January 29, 2015☆⚑

Tom Stoppard quiz: can you solve these hard problems? by Guardian Staff

As his long awaited new play opens at the National Theatre, turn Inspector Hound and sniff out the answers to these 10 questions about the great playwright Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 5:23am on January 28, 2015☆⚑

Bigger pictures on arts issues: workers at the National Gallery and BP's sponsorship of Tate by Guardian Staff

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SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:14pm on January 27, 2015☆⚑

Russian soul: Natalia Osipova dances in Onegin at London's Royal Opera House " in pictures by Guardian Staff

It's a role beloved by female dancers: Tatiana, in John Cranko's 1965 ballet version of Pushkin's prose-poem, moves from shy schoolgirl to emotionally mature beauty, and the Royal Ballet's p…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:34am on January 27, 2015☆⚑

Sondheim's songbook: performers pick their favourites by Guardian Staff

Send in the Clowns or Being Alive? Broadway Baby or Children Will Listen? Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee, Jason Donovan, Andy Nyman and Adrian Lester choose the best of the great composer and ly…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 4:00am on January 24, 2015☆⚑