Welcome, Home: Manchester's £25m arts centre finally opens its doors by Mark Brown

Lancashire-born film-maker Danny Boyle introduces official opening of largest arts complex outside London, which will house film, theatre and visual art shows Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 5:27pm on May 21, 2015[SHARE]

The Songbook of Judy Garland, Edinburgh Playhouse, review: 'Lorna Luft brings star quality' by Mark Brown

Mark Brown reviews The Songbook of Judy Garland, which stars Lorna Luft

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 4:30am on May 9, 2015[SHARE]

Rites, Tron Theatre, Glasgow, review: 'admirable' by Mark Brown

This is a sensitive, informed play about female genital mutilation, says Mark Brown - though it's lacking in drama

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 5:20am on May 7, 2015[SHARE]

Tony awards 2015: Helen Mirren and Bill Nighy lead British nominations by Mark Brown

British talent takes centre stage, with Mirren favourite to be crowned for playing the Queen and Nighy given a nod for sparkling turn in Skylight Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 1:27pm on April 28, 2015[SHARE]

Edinburgh fringe brings the circus to town " but with no clowning around by Mark Brown

Contemporary circus acts from around the world will descend on this year's Edinburgh festival fringe, which has created an ambitious new hub for the genre Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:25am on April 28, 2015[SHARE]

Tony awards nominations: Fun Home and An American in Paris share spotlight by Mark Brown

Two very different musicals have taken 12 Tony nominations each, while The King and I, Something Rotten!, Wolf Hall and Skylight are up for several awardsPoll: Pick your own winners Continue…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:04am on April 28, 2015[SHARE]

Fever Dream: Southside, Citizens Theatre Glasgow, review: 'a failed blancmange' by Mark Brown

Douglas Maxwell's socio-political fantasy lacks coherence, says Mark Brown

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 6:25am on April 26, 2015[SHARE]

Friendship between IRA bomber and victim's daughter put on stage by Mark Brown

The Bombing of the Grand Hotel tells story of relationship between Patrick Magee and Jo Berry, whose father was killed in Brighton bombingA hugely unlikely friendship between an IRA bomber a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:36am on April 21, 2015[SHARE]

New take on Old Vic with Matthew Warchus as artistic director by Mark Brown

First season at theatre without Kevin Spacey promises programme including musical version of Groundhog Day and adaptation of Dr Seuss's The LoraxA musical version of Groundhog Day, an adapta…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:01pm on April 20, 2015[SHARE]

Whisky Galore, National Theatre of Scotland, review: 'a rare treat' by Mark Brown

Mark Brown enjoys a little bit of theatrical history: a Gaelic play with English surtitles

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 3:20pm on April 12, 2015[SHARE]

Hedda Gabler, Royal Lyceum Theatre, review: 'impressive' by Mark Brown

This production deserves to be remembered for Nicola Daley's brilliant performance, says Mark Brown

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 7:33am on March 25, 2015[SHARE]

Gary Barlow reveals musical based on Calendar Girls by Mark Brown

The Girls is set for premiere in Leeds in November, with Barlow hoping the production will have the feel of a village hall Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 1:19pm on March 23, 2015[SHARE]

EIF director Linehan reveals artist-driven, expanded festival lineup by Mark Brown

Sufjan Stevens, Enda Walsh's chamber opera and Simon McBurney among those announced in 2015 Edinburgh international festival programme Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:02pm on March 18, 2015[SHARE]

Blood Wedding, Dundee Rep, review: 'lacking poetry' by Mark Brown

This attempt to naturalise Lorca is well-intentioned but hard to accept, says Mark Brown

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 2:32pm on March 12, 2015[SHARE]

Sweeney Todd production transfers from Tooting pie shop to West End by Mark Brown

Much-praised local show attended by Stephen Sondheim will premiere in Cameron Mackintosh venue after shop closes for refurbishment Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 1:40pm on March 11, 2015[SHARE]

James McAvoy: 'Government doesn't care about upward mobility' via the arts by Mark Brown

Announcing the Olivier theatre awards shortlist, actor says removing access to arts education will deny young people life-changing experiences Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 1:14pm on March 9, 2015[SHARE]

Olivier awards 2015 nominations: Young Vic steals the spotlight by Mark Brown

Theatre's productions of A Streetcar Named Desire, A View from the Bridge, The Scottsboro Boys and Bull give it a total list of 11 nominationsThe Young Vic emerged as the biggest winner at t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:15am on March 9, 2015[SHARE]

Royal Court theatre to present verbatim play about NHS by Mark Brown

Who Cares by Michael Wynne is based on interviews with a wide range of people and will be staged to coincide with the election Rail privatisation, newspaper ethics and the financial crash ha…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:01pm on March 2, 2015[SHARE]

Romeo and Juliet, Northern Ballet, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, review: 'gorgeously original' by Mark Brown

The Northern Ballet fuse modernist simplicity with excitingly energetic dance, says Mark Brown

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 7:13am on February 27, 2015[SHARE]

Lenny Henry to star in Educating Rita at Chichester by Mark Brown

Actor will appear opposite Lashana Lynch in a new production of Willy Russell play, part of Chichester Festival Theatre's first full season after refurbishment"I am Rita," said Lenny Henry, …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 1:53am on February 26, 2015[SHARE]

The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Royal Lyceum, review: 'a triumph' by Mark Brown

A new production of Bertolt Brecht's morality tale shines a powerful light on today's conflicts in Syria and eastern Ukraine

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 7:08am on February 24, 2015[SHARE]

Get Creative campaign hopes to unleash the artist inside Britons by Mark Brown

BBC's venture with institutions such as Royal Shakespeare Company and Young Vic backed by celebrities such as Timothy Spall and Johnny Vegas Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:43am on February 19, 2015[SHARE]

The Slab Boys, Citizens Theatre Glasgow, review: 'one distinct flaw' by Mark Brown

David Hayman's revival of John Byrne's classic play is let down by some woeful miscasting, says Mark Brown

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 10:54am on February 15, 2015[SHARE]

Noël Coward's art collection and own paintings to be sold by Christie's by Mark Brown

Auction house to sell 75 artworks acquired by the playwright-performer " and some risqué pieces painted by himNoël Coward is well known for his plays, music, acting and cabaret, but fa…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:45pm on February 2, 2015[SHARE]

Battersea Arts Centre and the Guardian map out plans for A Nation's Theatre by Mark Brown

BAC to present work from around the UK in a year-long project in partnership with the Guardian, while 2015 season also includes new work from Palestine's Freedom TheatreTheatre companies fro…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:27am on January 23, 2015[SHARE]