Beautiful Thing Tickets

Reviews are coming in for the 30th anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing at the Theatre Royal Stratford East. Directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike, Beautiful Thing is playing at Theatre Royal Stratford East to 7 October 2023, and then plays the Leeds Playhouse from 18 to 28 October, and HOME Manchester from 31 October to 11 November. Beautiful Thing stars Raphael Akuwudike (Romeo and Juliet – Almeida, Sons of the Prophet – Hampstead Theatre) as Ste, Rilwan Abiola Owokoniran (The Importance of Being Earnest – English Touring Theatre) as Jamie, Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge (Pinocchio – National Theatre) as Tony, Shvorne Marks (Meek – Headlong, The Witch of Edmonton – RSC) as Sandra, and Scarlett Rayner (Sexy Beast – Paramount+) as Leah. [ngg src="galleries" ids="1315" display="basic_slideshow"] The show's creative team also includes, Set & Costume Designer Rosie Elnile, Lighting Designer Elliot Griggs, Sound Designer Xana, Movement & Intimacy Director Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster, Casting Director Isabella Odoffin CDG, Associate Director Robert Awosusi, Fight Director Bret Yount, Costume Supervisor Jackie Orton, Voice & Dialect Coach Joel Trill, Production Dramatherapist Wabriya King and Casting Assistant Joanna Sturrock. Beautiful Thing is playing at Theatre Royal Stratford East to 7 October 2023 Read reviews from the Guardian, Evening Standard, Telegraph and more, with further reviews to be added. Book tickets to Beautiful Thing at Theatre Royal Stratford East

Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing has started its run at the Theatre Royal Stratford East to mark the play's 30th anniversary production, and photos have come in. Beautiful Thing stars Raphael Akuwudike (Romeo and Juliet – Almeida, Sons of the Prophet – Hampstead Theatre) as Ste, Rilwan Abiola Owokoniran (The Importance of Being Earnest – English Touring Theatre) as Jamie, Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge (Pinocchio – National Theatre) as Tony, Shvorne Marks (Meek – Headlong, The Witch of Edmonton – RSC) as Sandra, and Scarlett Rayner (Sexy Beast – Paramount+) as Leah. The show's creative team includes Direction by Anthony Simpson-Pike, Set & Costume Designer Rosie Elnile, Lighting Designer Elliot Griggs, Sound Designer Xana, Movement & Intimacy Director Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster, Casting Director Isabella Odoffin CDG, Associate Director Robert Awosusi, Fight Director Bret Yount, Costume Supervisor Jackie Orton, Voice & Dialect Coach Joel Trill, Production Dramatherapist Wabriya King and Casting Assistant Joanna Sturrock. Beautiful Thing is playing at Theatre Royal Stratford East to 7 October, and then plays the Leeds Playhouse from 18 to 28 October, and HOME Manchester from 31 October to 11 November. Book tickets to Beautiful Thing at Theatre Royal Stratford East Photos: beautiful Thing [ngg src="galleries" ids="1315" display="pro_tile"]

This year's Ian Charleson Award winner Rilwan Abiola Owokoniran is joining the cast of Theatre Royal Stratford East's 30th anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing. Rilwan Abiola Owokoniran will play Jamie, alongside Raphael Akuwudike as Ste. Joshua Asaré, who was originally announced to play Jamie, has had to drop out of the production due to personal circumstances. Rilwan Abiola Owokoniran goes on next week. For the first few previews, including last night's first preview, Jamie is being played by Kojo Quainoo, who is making his professional stage debut. Understudy Quainoo has only had a week to learn the part. The full cast is Raphael Akuwudike (Romeo and Juliet – Almeida, Sons of the Prophet – Hampstead Theatre) as Ste, Rilwan Abiola Owokoniran (The Importance of Being Earnest – English Touring Theatre) as Jamie, Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge (Pinocchio – National Theatre) as Tony, Shvorne Marks (Meek – Headlong, The Witch of Edmonton – RSC) as Sandra, and Scarlett Rayner (Sexy Beast – Paramount+) as Leah. Jonathan Harvey's ground-breaking 90's play has achieved cult status over the last 30 years, and is a moving, witty and queer love story set on a London council estate. Directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike, the creative teams include Set & Costume Designer Rosie Elnile, Lighting Designer Elliot Griggs, Sound Designer Xana, Movement & Intimacy Director Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster, Casting Director Isabella Odoffin CDG, Associate Director Robert Awosusi, Fight Director Bret Yount, Costume Supervisor Jackie Orton, Voice & Dialect Coach Joel Trill, Production Dramatherapist Wabriya King and Casting Assistant Joanna Sturrock. Director Anthony Simpson-Pike said in a statement when the production was first announced that: “Beautiful Thing is an iconic queer story that holds a special place in so many people's hearts. Many people saw their own stories on stage and screen for the first time. In its 30th anniversary year, I feel excited for people who look like me to see their own stories reflected on stage too, to feel that same stirring of recognition in this seminal piece. Black queer people have always been around, this beautiful story of discovering your true self and falling in love belongs to all of us.” Beautiful Thing is playing at Theatre Royal Stratford East to 7 October, and then plays the Leeds Playhouse from 18 to 28 October, and HOME Manchester from 31 October to 11 November. Book tickets to Beautiful Thing at Theatre Royal Stratford East

Raphael Akuwudike & Joshua Asaré will star in the 30th anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey’s coming-out and coming-of-age story Beautiful Thing. Raphael Akuwudike, most recently seen in Romeo and Juliet at Almeida Theatre will play Ste with Joshua Asaré (Sundown Kiki and Sundown Kiki: Reloaded, Young Vic) playing Jamie. They are joined by Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge (Tony), Shvorne Marks (Sandra) and Scarlett Rayner (Leah). Set in the nineties, Beautiful Thing is a touching, urban love story, full of warmth and humour, about community, friendship, rites of passage and what it is to be 16 and in love. Directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike, the creative teams include Set & Costume Designer Rosie Elnile, Lighting Designer Elliot Griggs, Sound Designer Xana, Movement & Intimacy Director Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster, Casting Director Isabella Odoffin CDG, Associate Director Robert Awosusi, Fight Director Bret Yount, Costume Supervisor Jackie Orton, Voice & Dialect Coach Joel Trill, Production Dramatherapist Wabriya King and Casting Assistant Joanna Sturrock. Commenting on his new production, Director Anthony Simpson-Pike says: “Beautiful Thing is an iconic queer story that holds a special place in so many people's hearts. Many people saw their own stories on stage and screen for the first time. In its 30th anniversary year, I feel excited for people who look like me to see their own stories reflected on stage too, to feel that same stirring of recognition in this seminal piece. Black queer people have always been around, this beautiful story of discovering your true self and falling in love belongs to all of us.” Beautiful Thing opens at Theatre Royal Stratford East from 8 September – 7 October, before playing Leeds Playhouse 18 – 28 October and HOME Manchester 31 October – 11 November. Book tickets to Beautiful Thing at Theatre Royal Stratford East Beautiful Thing - Cast headshots [ngg src="galleries" ids="1253" display="pro_tile"]

Theatre Royal Stratford East has announced a new season of shows for 2023 and into 2024. A new production of Beautiful Thing is scheduled, in time to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Jonathan Harvey’s much-loved coming-out story. Directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike, the play runs from 8 September to 7 October 2023. In 2024 Stratford East plans to revive its hit Windrush ska musical The Big Life, 20 years after it first premiered at the theatre. The Big Life has a book by Paul Sirett and EastEnders star Tameka Empson, with lyrics by Paul Sirett and music by Paul Joseph. This new production will be directed by Tinuke Craig (The Color Purple, Trouble in Butetown), and will play from 16 February to 30 March 2024. The venue will also continue its Young Company initiative, nurturing young talent across East London, by presenting a new production written by Guleraana Mir called here, here, here, inspired by the Young Company. Directed by Katie Greenall, with support from trainee assistant director Taiwo Oyebola, the show is set in 1993, 2023 and 2043 and about a building, about Stratford and about London. The show runs on 28 and 29 July 2023 Live at Stratford East also continues in 2023, with comedy and music one-night events. The line-up includes Mawaan Rizwan and Thanyia Moore in May and ‘An Evening of Soca Carnival – LIVE!’ featuring Triniboi Joocie & special guests in August. Key creative team have also been announced for Stratford East’s Christmas pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk. The panto, which runs from 18 November 2023 to 6 January 2024, has a book and lyrics by Anna Jordan, music and lyrics by Robert Hyman and will be directed by Denzel Westley-Sanderson. Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Stratford East, Nadia Fall said in a press statement: “Nostalgia, love and feel-good theatre. Our new season is a warm bath of nostalgia, love and laughter, kicking off with the 30th anniversary revival of Jonathan Harvey’s modern classic Beautiful Thing, which tenderly explores first love on a South London Estate in the 90s. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Windrush, so we’re incredibly excited to announce the return of our celebrated ska musical The Big Life, which takes a playful look at romance and the relationships of the young people who arrived from the Caribbean to forge new lives in the UK. Our panto, Jack and the Beanstalk, promises an exciting collaboration between our Sky Arts Associate Artist Denzel Westley-Sanderson and prolific writer Anna Jordan, with composer Robert Hyman who will be celebrating his 25th year writing those fantastic Christmas earworms! We’re also delighted to be continuing our series of one-night events with the return of comedy night Live at Stratford East and Don’t Stop The Beat Productions with An Evening of Soca Carnival - Live!, and to be welcoming our 2023/24 Young Company to our stage with their new production, here, here, here”. Currently playing at Stratford East is hit comedy Village Idiot by Samson Hawkins, directed by Artistic Director Nadia Fall, running to 6 May 2023. Up next is Dave Harris’ Tambo & Bones, directed by Matthew Xia in a co-production between Stratford East and Actors Touring Company, from 16 June to 15 July 2023. Stratford East artistic director Nadia Fall was announced last week as the director of new musical The Parent Agency, based on David Baddiel's book and with music by Dan Gillespie Sells. Book tickets to Village Idiot Book tickets to Tambo & Bones Book tickets to Beautiful Thing Book tickets to The Big Life

The UK tour of Beautiful Thing is to close two months early. The producers of Beautiful Thing have announced the show will close earlier than planned finishing at the Leicester Curve on Saturday 30th May. Executive producer Tom O’Connell said, “It is with great regret that we have made the difficult decision to close Beautiful Thing early, but we are all immensely proud to have produced the show, led by a fantastic company and cast. After we staged an acclaimed West End season of the production in 2013, we hoped that this new tour would prove to be as successful but unfortunately the touring market can be an unpredictable place, as the closure of a number of high profile productions recently has shown. Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing remains a landmark and deeply relevant piece of theatre, and we thank every audience member who has come to see the show and who booked to see it elsewhere.”  The current production stars Charlie Brooks, Thomas Law, Sam Jakson, Vanessa Babiyre and Gerard McCarthy. Beautiful Thing will play this week at Northampton Theatre Royal 18 – 23 May and then a final week at Leicester Curve from 25 – 30 May. Ticket holders for performances in London, Brighton and Cardiff are advised to contact their point of sale.

Rehearsal photos of Nikolai Foster’s celebrated production of Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing. Charlie Brooks, Thomas Law, Sam Jackson, Gerard Mccarthy & Vanessa Babirye in rehearsal with director Nikolai Foster ahead of Beautiful Thing UK tour As part of its UK tour, Beautiful Thing plays a strictly limited run from 3 June 2015 – 3 July 2015 at the Arts Theatre. [ngg src="galleries" ids="479" display="basic_imagebrowser"]