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Training: LAMDA appoints their first female Principal
The London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art, the UK’s oldest drama school, has announced the appointment of Joanna Read as its new Principal.
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Notting Hill Carnival celebrates at Heathrow
The Notting Hill Carnival has begun its celebrations at Heathrow Airport, with arriving passengers being treated to a taste of what is to come.
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2010 Spotlight Prize winner is Andrew Gower
It’s one of the most prestigious awards going. The Spotlight Prize showcases some of the most talented young actors and attracts fierce competition.
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Latitude Live: VIDEO – Theatre503 production of PLAYlist
It was another busy day for The Drama Student crew yesterday down at Henham Park. The highlights are presented here.
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Blog: Uncle Dudley on when tenacity wins
I caught Stanley Park, a pilot, on BBC3, the other night. I don’t have time to sit flicking through vacuous TV channels, but this had something, I’d heard the story before!
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Join us on Facebook and Twitter for special offers
Are you a Facebooker or Twitterer? Why not join us on our social networking platforms to hear about our special updates, offers and fantastic competitions?
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Competition: WIN! £50 of Theatre Tokens!
Have a night at the theatre or treat someone to an evening of live entertainment with one of our 5 Theatre Tokens prizes.
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Old Vic New Voices on the search for hot new talent
Old Vic New Voices have announced that applications are now open for the fifth annual The 24 Hour Plays.
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Theatre Review: Aspects of Love – Menier Chocolate Factory
Menier magic works its spell again with a chamber treatment of Aspects of Love, writes Josh Logan.
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Theatre Review: Wolfboy – Trafalgar Studios 2, London
Matthew Bannerman heads down to Trafalgar Studios 2 for Wolfboy, the psycho-sexual musical thriller.
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Theatre Review: Ballets Russes – A Stage Kindly
Benjamin Potter reviews A Stage Kindly’s latest production, Ballets Russes, and discovers a creative piece of work with some delightful performances.
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Theatre Review: Translations – Tobacco Factory, Bristol
As the set slowly disintegrated in the closing scene of Brian Friel’s tale of language and conquest, the power behind his simple story delivered its telling message.
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The First Word: Her Time to Shine
Kathy Trevelyan is no ordinary drama student. Proving it’s never too late to pursue your passion, at fifty-five her journey an actor is only just beginning.
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Introducing… Neerja Naik
Fresh from hosting the Asian Film Festival, Neerja Naik talks to Daniella Gibb about her journey from a credit-crunching City worker to successful starlet.
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Get ready for Summer Schools 2010
A sizzling summer is on its way and now is the time to be planning your programme to develop your skills and expand on existing talents.
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Interview: Paul Spicer
He seems to have it all. An amazing West End job, his own company producing concerts and theatre, his own Summer School, and time for holidays.
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Theatre review: Cat on a ‘hit’ tin roof at Novello
It was a huge hit on Broadway last year, but would it make the grade with West End audiences and critics?
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Cat on a Hot Tin Roof features an all black cast
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof – Novello, London
It was a huge hit on Broadway last year, but would it make the grade with West End audiences and critics? The much hyped all-black anglo-american casting of Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof which transferred to the Novello Theatre last week, was to be an interesting one. I’m pleased to say, it impressed.Being a Cat virgin this was going to be a unique experience. I’d read the play, two – possibly three times – yet it was quite remarkable how quickly I forgot the colour of the actors’ skin and became totally captivated in a story of love, lies and entanglement.
Debbie Allen’s production, set in the 1980s, is bold and lively for the most part, if a little slow and stationary in the setup.
Adrian Lester’s Brick is a broken man who has hit the bottle, unable to cope with his confused sexuality. His performance shows real clarity, a journey of torture and self-loathing – an abhorrent life he just can’t escape from. His most powerful scene is with the great US actor James Earl Jones who plays his father, Big Daddy. Recognising his favourite son is distressed, he pulls him to one side to counsel. What follows is an intense and gripping scene of love and trust, played brilliantly by both actors.
James Earl Jones is magnetic as Big Daddy, a large authoritative figure who commands the space. His long-suffering, yet wholly devoted wife Big Mama, played by the charismatic Phylicia Rashad, skirts attentively hoping for a glimmer of affection.
The third act swings along and builds up a fitting momentum. This revival is brilliant and is sure to do good business in a West End that seems to be, on the whole, flourishing.
