140 stories by "Vanessa Thorpe"
Latest venture from the director behind the slapstick in One Man, Two Guvnors involves Giffords Circus, a Trojan horse and a goose called BrianThe ancient Greek epic that is coming to …
Czech-born ballerina makes her final appearance this month in the English National Ballet's Romeo and Juliet. But she is worried that needless innovations are ruining the repertoireAnyone tr…
The theatre director's plan for a string of temporary venues for arts and
science events will finally be realised this OctoberIf she waits long enough, a girls dreams can come true. Joan L…
Fresh from a triumph in New York, one of our most extravagantly talented stars will soon unveil one of her most cherished projects to date, Effie, a film about John Ruskin " lawyers permitti…
A spate of defections between Covent Garden and the rival company at the Coliseum, and dancers leaving to work overseas, are the latest troubles to hit an art under pressureThe brilliant Rus…
After 40 years, the British-born actress who conquered Hollywood and starred in TV's Murder, She Wrote is back on the West End stage. As she approaches her 90s, she's in her theatrical …
Millions know him as part of C4's IT Crowd or as the charming cop in Hollywood hit Bridesmaids. Now the versatile Irish actor is making his mark on the stage in Of Mice and MenOn the Cannes …
Playwright fears celebrity culture of the West End and explains why he is now embracing a 'new artform'There can be few playwrights as devoted to the magic of live theatre as Ireland's garla…
Actors best known for their roles in TV and cinema are thrilling audiences and critics in plays full of violent, challenging actionThe revered Kenneth Tynan, who reviewed theatre for the Obs…
Stage adaptation of Hilary Mantel novel already a success as Mark Rylance prepares to play Thomas Cromwell in BBC versionNormally a stage show only sells out well in advance of opening night…
Award will encourage brave new shows to be written on challenging, grown-up themesA sombre topic, such as suicide or the dreadful progress of a serial killer, is often just what a musical ne…
Britain's leading ballet dancer stars in the video for Boy Cried Wolf, the title track from the band's fourth albumThose who follow the career of Britain's leading male ballet dancer, Edward…
For 10 years, the Neal Street company has combined critical and popular triumphs. This autumn they're conquering the USOn a side street near Covent Garden in central London, a production com…
BBC pledges more money, a new brand 'BBC Arts at...' and the relaunch of digital service The SpaceThe BBC's director general, Tony Hall, will announce a boost for the arts on Tuesday when he…
Leonard Bernstein's hostility towards writer of musical's book almost halted project, newly released correspondence revealsIt is regularly judged one of the best musicals of all time, yet We…
The RSC is turning to Jacobean drama in search of better roles for women. So does the Shakespearean tradition hold actresses back?A leading lady seeking the challenge of a truly great stage …
Ex-lovers mine mutual heartbreak for comedy in separate fringe routinesIt all started so well. Lovers Tom Craine and Nat Luurtsema got together when their train back to London from Southampt…
This year's festival will have a campaigning edge as it features attacks on corporate failures and abuses of human rights, and celebrates feminist values and trade unionismShocking, edgy and…
A trio of leading men from Russian companies are set to restore British passion for the ballet after a year of backstage drama at the BolshoiBefore he was fired as director of the Bolshoi Ba…
The actor and comedian on his passionate commitment to Comic ReliefAt 54, Lenny Henry is a man with several lives to lead. The public might still think of him as a comedian with a strong com…
Black directors and actors have made it to the mainstream but Lenny Henry says progress should be even fasterThe barriers may not be crashing down, but this summer the West End's slow progre…
Nottingham Playhouse celebrates its 50th aniversary with a night of little-known worksLost short plays by Harold Pinter, John Mortimer and Shelagh Delaney are to be performed again for the f…
The ventriloquist daughter of Tom Conti is in the running for a Bafta " just as her latest show premieres in the USSunday night is a big night for Nina Conti. The actor and comedian is up fo…
Controversial play will relocate Norwegian mass murders to Scotland in bid to examine 'limits of empathy'One of Britain's acclaimed writers for the stage, David Greig, has created a musical …
The doyenne of dance, who is soon to receive an Olivier special award, believes culture of instant fame is bad for stage showsThe woman behind a host of bestselling West End shows over the p…
