Olivier Awards – Picks and Pans
March 14, 2011
What we loved and loathed about this year’s newly reinvigorated Olivier Awards
That is was actually held in a theatre again (who knew that a London theatre would make a great venue for a London awards ceremony!)
How pregnant was Nancy Carroll? “Awards shock induces labour” headlines were thankfully (sadly) unnecessary.
Elaine Paige claiming all thanks for bringing the Olivier Awards back to the telly (well, kind of back to the telly, so long as you had a red button). Do you think Julian Bird of the Society of London Theatre felt that he might have also helped to get the Beeb back on board?
Note to the BBC: Aren’t the Olivier Awards what BBC4 was created for? Why not shove it on there and be done with it?
No expense was spared on the television coverage of the BBC Radio 2 coverage… including Paul Gambaccini and Matt Wolf’s plastic punnets of grapes on display during the televised Radio 2 segments, and just enough microphones for about ONE GUEST. That said, we did love Paul and Matt’s chattettes, but also resented the disastrous cutting away from the awards action, in particular missing the Railway Children receiving Best Entertainment was a crime. Isn’t the red button all about skipping about and being in lots of places at the same time, split screens, viewers deciding what to see and listen to?…
Barry Manilow’s face: scary, and clearly inspiration for Rupert Everett (and tell me again, other than Cobacabana The Musical playing in the West End in 1994, why was Barry there?)
The Stage’s Mark Shenton: please God have a holiday and don’t get up at 4.30am to listen to the Olivier Awards (although we are always pleased that you do make the effort).
I don’t care what they say, Jodie Prenger was a trouper doing the live Red Carpet coverage. You need someone who can just TALK INCESSENTLY whilst thrusting a microphone in the faces on posing celebrities – and she did the Larry’s proud.
Sheridan Smith’s heartfelt, natural speech when picking up best actress in a musical made us love her even more and we have a sneaky feeling she may be back next year for her part in Flare Path (and who wouldn’t swear on camera when you find out you’ve won a MAJOR AWARD?!)
LISTEN & WATCH AGAIN
BBC iPlayer – Radio 2 coverage
LINKS
Olivier Awards – list of winners
Flare Path – Reviews Round-up
March 14, 2011
A round-up of reviews for Flare Path at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London
Sheridan Smith in Flare Path
This spring Trevor Nunn revives Terence Rattigan’s wartime romance Flare Path at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, timed to celebrate the centenary of the acclaimed playwright. An all-star cast leads this compelling new production, including Sienna Miller (The Edge of Love) as Patricia, James Purefoy (HBO’s Rome) as Peter, Sheridan Smith (Legally Blonde) as Doris, Joe Armstrong as Dusty, Sarah Crowden as Mrs Oakes and Clive Woods as Swanson.
Set near an airfield in Lincolnshire in 1942, the year the play was written and first performed, Rattigan’s drama involves love and heartache between an actress, a young bomber pilot and a famous movie heartthrob. The revival runs at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 4 March 2011.
Read reviews, below, from the Times, Telegraph, Independent, Guardian and Daily Mail.
LINKS
Book tickets to Flare Path at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London
Flare Path: photos
Flare Path: More news
Olivier Awards: National, Legally Blonde
March 14, 2011
In a star-studded awards ceremony last night, Sunday 13 March, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London, the Society of London Theatre held their 35th annual theatre awards ceremony.
Best actress in a musical winner Sheridan Smith
Hosted by musicals star Michael Ball and actress Imelda Staunton, the awards celebrate the best of the year’s London theatre.
Big winners last night included the National Theatre, which swept up seven awards for two of its productions: Thea Sharrock’s revival of Terence Rattigan’s After the Dance, which won awards including best revival, best actress for Nancy Carroll and best actor in a supporting role for Adrian Scarborough; and its production of Mikhail Bulgakov’s The White Guard, including best director for Howard Davies and best set design for Bunny Christie.
In other subsidised venues the Royal Court picked up three awards, including best new play for Bruce Norris’s comedy Clybourne Park, which is now playing at the Wyndham’s Theatre in the West End, and two awards for the Donmar Warehouse, including David Thaxton picking up best actor in a musical for Passion.
Roger Allam won best actor for his performance as Falstaff in Shakespeare’s Globe’s production of Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, beating stiff competition from Rory Kinnear, Derek Jacobi, David Suchet and Mark Rylance.
The Olivier Awards were held at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
The most successful musical of the night was Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre, which picked up three major awards: best new musical, best actress in a musical for Sheridan Smith and best performance in a supporting role in a Musical for Jill Halfpenny.
Other musicals rewarded at the event included We Will Rock You, which won the Olivier Audience Award voted for by members of the theatregoing public, and the Open Air Theatre’s summer production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods.
Stephen Sondheim was presented with an Olivier Special Award for his enormous contribution to theatre, with the award presented by Sir Cameron Mackintosh and legendary actress Angela Lansbury.
Big shows to miss out on awards this year included Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies, which failed to pick up any awards despite seven nominations, and End of the Rainbow at the Trafalgar Studios, which was nominated for four awards including best actress for Tracie Bennett in her performance as Judy Garland.
Thea Sharrock picks up the Best Revival award for her production of After the Dance at the National Theatre
Notable performances during the ceremony included a star turn by legendary American singer Barry Manilow, who also sang a duet with Wicked and Oliver! star Kerry Ellis; current and former stars of The Phantom of the Opera and Love Never Dies – Ramin Karimloo, John Owen-Jones and Sierra Boggess; Emma Williams and Michael Xavier singing Everything We Know from Love Story; Alfie Boe, who is soon to star in Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre, singing Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific; Susan McFadden and the current cast of Legally Blonde; and Adrian Lester paying tribute to Stephen Sondheim by singing Being Alive from Company, along with Angela Lansbury singing a moving rendition of Liaisons from A Little Night Music and 400 students from national drama schools singing Our Time from Merrily We Roll Along.
LISTEN & WATCH AGAIN
BBC iPlayer – Radio 2 coverage
LINKS
Olivier Awards – list of winners
Olivier Awards – Binkie Blog’s Picks and Pans
Photos: Flare Path at the Haymarket
March 9, 2011
Production photos of Flare Path at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
This spring Trevor Nunn revives Terence Rattigan’s wartime romance Flare Path at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, timed to celebrate the centenary of the acclaimed playwright. An all-star cast leads this compelling new production, including Sienna Miller (The Edge of Love) as Patricia, James Purefoy (HBO’s Rome) as Peter, Sheridan Smith (Legally Blonde) as Doris, Joe Armstrong as Dusty, Sarah Crowden as Mrs Oakes and Clive Woods as Swanson.
Set near an airfield in Lincolnshire in 1942, the year the play was written and first performed, Rattigan’s drama involves love and heartache between an actress, a young bomber pilot and a famous movie heartthrob. The revival runs at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 4 March 2011.
LINKS
Books tickets to Flare Path at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
Opening this week: Blithe Spirit, Flare Path
March 7, 2011
Première’s this week in the West End include Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit starring Alison Steadman and Ruthie Henshall, Sienna Miller in Flare Path, Polly Rae in Hurly Burly, Matthew Kelly in Sign of the Times and the Olivier Awards this Sunday 13 March.
Monday 7 March
SIGN OF THE TIMES: Tim Firth’s new play Sign of the Times starts previews at the Duchess Theatre tonight, with its press night on Friday. The Calendar Girls author has written a warm and witty comedy about a disillusioned sign erector whose life is changed by a clumsy teenager. The show stars Matthew Kelly and Shameless actor Gerard Kearns.
Wednesday 9 March
Ruthie Henshall in Blithe Spirit
BLITHE SPIRIT: Noel Coward’s blissful comedy Blithe Spirit officially opens at the Apollo Theatre tonight featuring an all-star cast including Alison Steadman (Gavin & Stacey), Ruthie Henshall (Chicago), Hermione Norris (Spooks) and Robert Bathurst (Hattie). The revival is directed by the award-winning Thea Sharrock (After the Dance).
Thursday 10 March
FLARE PATH: Trevor Nunn kicks off as artistic director of the Theatre Royal Haymarket with the press night for Flare Path. Terence Rattigan’s Second World War romance stars Sienna Miller, James Purefoy and Sheridan Smith.
Friday 11 March
HURLY BURLY: Salacious show Hurly Burly opens at the Garrick Theatre, featuring the luscious Miss Polly Rae in an all singing, all dancing burlesque-inspired revue, with a contemporary twist. Long-time Kylie collaborator William Baker directs.
Sunday 13 March 2011
OLIVIER AWARDS: The Olivier Awards are tonight at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, promising a high star quotient at the UK theatre’s most important event. This year’s ceremony is hosted by Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton, and you can tune in live to hear who wins on Radio 2 or via the BBC’s red button TV service. Visit our Olivier Awards micro-site here.
LINKS
Shows – tickets and booking information
Olivier Awards 2011
New this week: Oz, Blithe Spirit, Flare Path
February 28, 2011
Some big-hitting West End shows open this week in London, including The Wizard of Oz, Million Dollar Quartet, Flare Path and Blithe Spirit.
Monday 28 February 2011
Million Dollar Quartet, the musical that recreates the historic day when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis all made music together, opens tonight at the Noel Coward Theatre starring a multi-talented cast including Bill Ward (Coronation Street).
Tuesday 1 March 2011
The Wizard of Oz cast, left - right Edward Baker-Duly, David Ganly, Paul Keating and Danielle Hope
It’s the premiere tonight of the musical that has received more publicity, hype and good old-fashioned audience anticipation than any other show for years as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sparkly new production of The Wizard of Oz opens at the London Palladium. Rebooted by Jeremy Sams and produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Bill Kenwright, the show sees Over The Rainbow star Danielle Hope make her West End stage debut joined by Michael Crawford as the Wizard and Hannah Waddingham as the Wicked Witch.
Also today, tickets go on sale for the Olivier Awards at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The 13th March ceremony is open to theatregoers for the first time and promises a starry night of West End celebs and excerpts from the shows.
Wednesday 2 March 2011
Noel Coward’s blissful comedy Blithe Spirit starts previews at the Apollo Theatre featuring an all-star cast including Alison Steadman (Gavin & Stacey), Ruthie Henshall (Chicago), Hermione Norris (Spooks) and Robert Bathurst (Hattie). The revival is directed by the award-winning Thea Sharrock (After the Dance).
Thursday 3 March 2011
Previews starts for Hurly Burly at the Garrick Theatre, featuring the luscious Miss Polly Rae in an all singing, all dancing burlesque-inspired revue with a contemporary twist.
Alison Steadman as Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit
Also tonight, In A Forest, Dark and Deep starts previews at the Vaudeville Theatre with Lost star Matthew Fox and Olivia Williams (The Ghost Writer) in Neil LaBute’s new psychological thriller.
Friday 4 March 2011
Trevor Nunn begins his artistic directorship of the Theatre Royal Haymarket tonight with the start of previews for Flare Path. Terence Rattigan’s Second World War romance sees Sienna Miller, James Purefoy and Sheridan Smith star.
Saturday 5 March 2011
Kneehigh theare company, who scored a huge hit in London and on Broadway with their stage take on Noel Coward’s Brief Encounter, are back with a brand new production. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, based on the classic French film, begins previews at the Gielgud Theatre tonight starring Joanna Riding, Meow Meow and Andrew Durand.
Also on Saturday, A Flea in Her Ear closes at the Old Vic Theatre starring Tom Hollander and Ordinary Days starring Daniel Boys ends at the Trafalgar Studios.
JAMES PUREFOY in Flare Path
February 21, 2011
James Purefoy joins Sienna Miller and Sheridan Smith in Terence Rattigan’s Flare Path
Hot on the heels of HBO’s racy and award-winning sex and sandals drama Rome, James Purefoy is back in Britain – and back on stage – in a revival of Terence Rattigan’s 1942 play Flare Path.
He is well cast, playing handsome Hollywood heartthrob Peter Kyle, who returns from America to throw the lives of actress Patricia (Sienna Miller) and young RAF bomber pilot Teddy into upheaval.
James Purefoy is best known for TV roles including Marc Antony in HBO’s Rome, NBC’s The Philanthropist, and movie roles in films such as Resident Evil, Vanity Fair, the Black Prince in A Knight’s Tale and Solomon Kane.
His theatre credits include a stint at the RSC in Macbeth, The Tempest, The Man Who Came to Dinner and King Lear, Hamlet for the Bristol Old Vic, Present Laughter at the Globe Theatre, Les Enfants du Paradis at the Barbican, and Trevor Nunn’s National Theatre production of The Relapse.
Up next for the actor is a starring role in new ITV drama Injustice, and movies Ironclad and John Carter of Mars.
LINKS
Book tickets to Flare Path at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
SIENNA MILLER in Flare Path
February 21, 2011
Sienna Miller stars in Terence Rattigan’s Flare Path at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.
Sienna Miller’s on/off relationship with Jude Law has propelled her into the realms of acting stardom, but it’s for her work that she is becoming best known. Her 2009 Broadway role in the Roundabout Theatre’s production of After Miss Julie, alongside Frankenstein’s Jonny Lee Miller, garnered largely positive reviews.
And her next acting project is a return to the West End, where she last starred in a production of As You Like It at the Wyndham’s Theatre in 2005. This time Trevor Nunn will direct her in a new revival of Terence Rattigan’s 1942 play Flare Path at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, from 4 March. The revival is timed for Terence Rattigan’s centenary this year and will see Sienna play Patricia Graham, a former actress married to a pilot but caught in a love triangle.
Miller’s recent films include The Edge of Love with Keira Knightley and G.I. Joe with Christopher Eccleston, and past screen work ranges from a starring role in Alfie alongside Jude Law in 2004, to forthcoming Billy Zane project Two Jacks. Other film roles include Layer Cake, Casanova, Factory Girl, Interview, Camille and Stardust.
Sienna Miller will star in Flare Path alongside Legally Blonde’s Sheridan Smith and Rome’s James Purefoy.
LINKS
Book tickets to Flare Path at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
Whatsonstage Awards announced
February 21, 2011
Legally Blonde picks up four awards; Shakespeare’s Globe wins best new play for Anne Boleyn
Anthony Howell and Miranda Raison in the 2010 production of Anne Boleyn
The Whatsonstage Awards were announced last night, 20 February 2011, at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London. Musical Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre won four awards including best new musical and best actress in a musical for Sheridan Smith, who played leading lady Elle Woods in the show until last month.
It was also a good night for outdoor London venues as best new play went to Howard Brenton’s Anne Boleyn at Shakespeare’s Globe, which is returning to the venue this summer, and best director went to the Open Air Theatre’s artistic director Timothy Sheader for his 2010 summer productions of Into the Woods and The Crucible.
Other big winners included Les Miserables, which grabbed best ensemble performance and best theatre event of the year for its 25th anniversary concert at the O2, and best musical revival for the national touring production which ended its run at the Barbican theatre last autumn; and best West End show went to Wicked at the Apollo Victoria, with the show’s current star Rachel Tucker winning best takeover in a role.
Best actress was awarded to Zoe Wanamaker for her performance in All My Sons at the Apollo Theatre, alongside her co-star David Suchet, who picked up best actor. Love Never Dies, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, also won two awards, with Ramin Karimloo taking home best actor in a musical, joined by Joseph Millson as best supporting actor in a musical.
Sheridan Smith in Legally Blonde
Other highlights included Yes, Prime Minister, which beat current best play award winner and Olivier Award best play favourite Clybourne Park in the best comedy category, Meera Syal named best solo performance for Shirley Valentine, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof winning best play revival, Joanna Scotcher winning best set design for The Railway Children at Waterloo Station and American actor Jonathan Groff taking home London newcomer of the year for his role alongside Simon Russell Beale in Deathtrap at the Noel Coward Theatre.
Finally, in the only category to celebrate National theatre, Craig Revel Horwood’s new production of Chess won best regional production.
The annual awards, which are voted for by members of the public, saw 45,000 votes registered this year. See a full list of winners here.
OLIVIER AWARDS
Public voting is now under way for the Olivier Awards Audience Award, to be announced on 13 March. See WestEndTheatre.com’s new Olivier Awards microsite for further information.
Sienna Miller in Flare Path – Preview Offer
February 17, 2011
Save £14 on preview tickets to Terence Rattigan’s Flare Path at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
Offer valid until 17 March 2011
Sienna Miller, to star in Flare Path
This spring Trevor Nunn revives Terence Rattigan’s wartime romance Flare Path at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, timed to celebrate the centenary of the acclaimed playwright.
An all-star cast leads this compelling new production, including Sienna Miller (The Edge of Love) as Patricia, James Purefoy (HBO’s Rome) as Peter, Sheridan Smith (Legally Blonde) as Doris, Joe Armstrong as Dusty, Sarah Crowden as Mrs Oakes and Clive Woods as Swanson.
Set near an airfield in Lincolnshire in 1942, the year the play was written and first performed, Rattigan’s drama involves love and heartache between an actress, a young bomber pilot and a famous movie heartthrob.
The revival runs at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 4 March 2011 and WestEndTheatre.com theatregoers can now enjoy up to £14 off tickets to see a preview of the play.
Save £14 on preview tickets to Terence Rattigan’s Flare Path at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
Offer valid until 17 March 2011
