The Beautiful Cosmos of Ivor Cutler, Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, review by Mark Brown

This show succeeded brilliantly in opening a window into the world of Scottish humorist, poet and songwriter Ivor Cutler, says Mark Brown

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 8:17am on April 14, 2014[SHARE]

Almeida theatre defeats West End giants at Olivier awards by Mark Brown

North London's 325-seat Almeida theatre triumphs in eight award categories including best new play at award ceremonyIt is a story of a small local theatre taking on the West End and winning,…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 4:30pm on April 13, 2014[SHARE]

Minstrel musical comedy The Scottsboro Boys to open in west end by Mark Brown

The comedy about nine black youths falsely accused of rape in 1931 has been at hit at London's Young Vic theatreIt was a tough sell: turning the harrowing story of nine black youths falsely …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:40am on April 3, 2014[SHARE]

Union, review: 'brave and brazen' by Mark Brown

An ambitious play about the Treaty of Union of 1707    

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 8:03am on March 26, 2014[SHARE]

Benedict Cumberbatch to play Hamlet at Barbican by Mark Brown

Star of TV's Sherlock to take on one of Shakespeare's most challenging roles for 12 weeks in summer of 2015Benedict Cumberbatch is to swap Sherlock for Shakespeare when he plays Hamlet for 1…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:01pm on March 25, 2014[SHARE]

Benedict Cumberbatch to play Hamlet at Barbican by Mark Brown

Star of TV's Sherlock to take on one of Shakespeare's most challenging roles for 12 weeks in summer of 2015Benedict Cumberbatch is to take on one of theatre's greatest and most challenging r…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 1:24pm on March 25, 2014[SHARE]

Olivier awards 2014: musicals lead nominations by Mark Brown

Small Almeida theatre is nominated in 10 categories, while women dominate best director nominations' Full list of nominations' Michael Billington: Where are the great new plays?One new music…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:00am on March 10, 2014[SHARE]

Emma Thompson makes acclaimed New York debut in Sweeney Todd by Mark Brown

She plays Mrs Lovett alongside Bryn Terfel for just five performances at the Avery Fisher HallEmma Thompson has made her New York stage debut to critical acclaim but it will be over in a fla…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:14pm on March 6, 2014[SHARE]

Wolf Hall play to move to West End " but readers must wait for third novel by Mark Brown

Hilary Mantel asks readers hoping for third book in Thomas Cromwell trilogy to be patient as RSC announces transferStage versions of Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies will transfer to London…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:00pm on March 5, 2014[SHARE]

Harrison Birtwistle revival heads big names at Brighton festival by Mark Brown

Opera about mother who kills her children to feature in programme commissioned by choreographer Hofesh ShechterA disused brewery depot in Lewes will be the unlikely venue for an operatic bal…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:02pm on February 24, 2014[SHARE]

London theatre to reopen three months after ceiling collapse by Mark Brown

Apollo theatre to reopen with West End transfer of vampire story Let the Right One In, after fourth level covered with new floorThree months after part of the ceiling fell on to the audience…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:54pm on February 24, 2014[SHARE]

Sleeping Beauty footage found after 55 years and to be screened on BBC by Mark Brown

Video of Margot Fonteyn's Sleeping Beauty being woken with a kiss will be shown as part of broadcaster's spring ballet seasonUnseen for 55 years and thought missing, it is a classical ballet…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:01pm on February 13, 2014[SHARE]

David Lan named as artistic director of World Trade Centre arts hub by Mark Brown

Acclaimed Young Vic director to work part time on Frank Gehry-designed complex until its opening in 2018One of the most respected figures in British theatre is to take on the challenge of ru…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:02pm on February 12, 2014[SHARE]

Miss Julie, Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, review by Mark Brown

Strindberg's drama succeeds excitingly at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow    

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 10:32am on February 9, 2014[SHARE]

Three unseen Simon Gray plays to be performed with revival of Japes by Mark Brown

Hampstead theatre to stage Gray's 2001 hit play in quartet with three unperformed plays exploring different outcomes for Japes charactersThree Simon Gray plays are to be performed on stage f…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:36am on February 4, 2014[SHARE]

Ballet star Daria Klimentová to retire by Mark Brown

English National Ballet's lead ballerina to stop dancing after 18 years at company that bids farewell to 'a wonderful artist'Daria Klimentová , one of the brightest stars of classical bal…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:31pm on February 3, 2014[SHARE]

Rantin, Kilmardinny Arts Centre, Bearsden, review by Mark Brown

In the year of the referendum, can the National Theatre of Scotland evoke its home in just 90 minutes? Kieran Hurley gives it a try with his latest show, Rantin    

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 1:34pm on February 3, 2014[SHARE]

Cult 80s film Back to the Future to be adapted for the West End as a musical by Mark Brown

Original team behind hugely successful film following adventures of Marty McFly is reassembled to create a musical versionBack to the Future, which starred Michael J Fox as Marty McFly, is t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 1:41pm on January 31, 2014[SHARE]

Robert Lindsay returns to musical theatre in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels by Mark Brown

Actor now best known for 11 series of My Family will play the Michael Caine character in stage adaptation of filmThirty years after Me and My Girl and 16 years after playing Fagin in Oliver!…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:00am on January 23, 2014[SHARE]

Long Day's Journey into Night, Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh, review by Mark Brown

Tony Cownie's new production of Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical masterpiece is astute and emotive, says Mark Brown    

SOURCE: The Telegraph at 8:50am on January 22, 2014[SHARE]

Theatreland's ATG power couple top Stage 100 list for fifth year by Mark Brown

Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire created UK's biggest theatre group 21 years ago, including venues hosting Wicked and The Lion KingThey are far from being household names, but the husband a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:01pm on January 2, 2014[SHARE]

Doncaster stages a bold revival of the arts with 'cultural living room' by Mark Brown

Bustling £22m Cast theatre venue bucks trend of funding cuts elsewhere, with 40,000 people through its door since opening One idea was to call it The Platform while another more blue sky …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 1:51pm on January 1, 2014[SHARE]

The History Boys is Britain's favourite play, poll finds by Mark Brown

Top spot for Alan Bennett's play about schoolboys studying for Oxbridge entrance exams followed by Noises Off and HamletIt was hailed as "superb" and "life-enhancing" when it first opened at…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 1:00am on December 11, 2013[SHARE]

Metro Manila named British independent film of the year by Mark Brown

Low-budget thriller set in the Philippines is standout winner at 2013 Bifas, with director Sean Ellis also named best director' Interview: Sean EllisA shoestring-budget heist thriller set…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 5:35pm on December 8, 2013[SHARE]

Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint up for WhatsOn Stage awards by Mark Brown

Harry Potter alumni shortlisted for respective theatrical roles in The Cripple of Inishmaan and MojoHarry Potter graduates Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint are among the nominees shortlist…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:03am on December 6, 2013[SHARE]