The Website for People Who Love Britain - Anglophiles
The jukebox musical is a noble tradition; tying together the greatest hits of a certain artist (or in some cases, genre), and try to fit them all into some kind of plot. It usually is light in the plot department, but, in a surprising number of cases, it works. In fact, Mamma Mia, based around, of all bands, ABBA, has been running on Broadway for … [Read more...]
Many of you know that Helen Mirren has reprised her role as The Queen in a new play in London's West End called The Audience. The play seeks to explore the relationship between the Queen and her various Prime Ministers - going all the way back to Winston Churchill. Sounds really exciting and its opened to rave reviews in London. It runs until … [Read more...]
Gregory Doran, the Royal Shakespeare Company's new artistic director, announced last week that adaptations of Hilary Mantel's prize-winning historical novels, Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, will be staged in the RSC's winter 2013 season. Doran also revealed he will direct former Doctor Who star David Tennant in the title role of Shakespeare's … [Read more...]
It has been a very busy week in Doctor Who. The biggest news surrounds the casting for Mark Gatiss's film, An Adventure In Space And Time. It is a project that has generated heavy interest since it was announced last year. The production team is getting ready for the upcoming anniversary and both the BBC and BBC America are ramping up their PR … [Read more...]
Dame Helen Mirren is set to reprise her Oscar award-winning role as Queen Elizabeth II on stage in "The Audience" early next year. Written by Peter Morgan, "The Audience" covers weekly “audiences” (or meetings) between Queen Elizabeth II and her Prime Ministers at Buckingham Palace. According to What’s On Stage.com the play follows the … [Read more...]
In October, 2012, Les Miserables celebrates 27 years on stage, and there’s good reason for the staying power of the world’s longest running musical. Time and time again, the cast delivers superb performances. The show has always been my favorite. To this day, my two-disc CD of the original London cast recording continues to get a workout. … [Read more...]
In what might be considered to be the upset of the night, considering his heavy-duty competition, James Corden took home a Tony for best actor in a play Sunday for his starring role in "One Man, Two Guvnors." Corden, best known to most Americans as Smithy in "Gavin & Stacey" but also an original Broadway cast member of "The History Boys" in … [Read more...]
When taking your children to London, it is best to plan what family friendly activities to do in advance. It is a nightmare when a family wants to take part in a certain activity but there are age restrictions that mean some people are left out. Taking a trip to the theatre is a great family activity as it means both adults and young ones can … [Read more...]
Like it or not the Harry Potter movies are over, and actor Daniel Radcliffe – despite having enough in the bank to walk away forever – is trying to move onto the next stage of his career. He’s already performed on stage to some acclaim, but his next movie project was always going to be highly-anticipated, and doubtless the knives were out … [Read more...]
The Royal Shakespeare Company has released their highlights of 2012 - check them out below. January to March THE TAMING OF THE SHREW Following her acclaimed production of Julius Caesar in 2009/10, Lucy Bailey directs Shakespeare's romantic comedy exploring love, sexual politics and the art of illusion. The cast includes Lisa Dillon and … [Read more...]
Hitchhiker's fans rejoice! Arthur Dent is headed for the stage with the original BBC cast. According to the BBC: Original cast members of the TV and radio versions of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy are reuniting for a new stage production. The show will star Simon Jones, who played lead character Arthur Dent in the TV and radio … [Read more...]
It’s not just in London’s West End that you’ll get to see the biggest shows in 2012. The New Year is set to be an exciting one for regional theatre with some fantastic productions visiting venues across the UK. From the very first national tour of Eleanor Bergstein’s Dirty Dancing, to the keenly-awaited Susan Boyle musical I Dreamed a Dream … [Read more...]
A few months ago we reported that Much Ado About Nothing was recorded for a future release on DVD or Video On Demand. Well, it doesn't look like there will be a DVD - but today you can now watch David Tennant's and Catherin Tate's performances in Much Ado About Nothing by downloading it. From Digital Theatre: David Tennant and Catherine Tate … [Read more...]
On Shakespeare's birthday, 23 April, the Globe Theatre in London will begin an unprecedented programme of multilingual Shakespeare productions – every one of his plays, each performed in a different language. The six-week programme, entitled Globe to Globe, includes all 37 Shakespearean dramas, performed by 37 international companies, plus … [Read more...]
New work by artists Tom Hunter and George Chakravarthi are to go on display at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford upon Avon this November. The exhibitions are part of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 50th Birthday Season. Tom Hunter is best known for his photographic reworkings of old-master paintings and for being the first artist to … [Read more...]
London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket is to stage James Goldman’s The Lion in Winter from November. The production stars Joanna Lumley and Robert Lindsay, and will be directed by Trevor Nunn. The play is the story of King Henry II’s Christmas celebration that turns into a reunion of deceit, betrayal, bitter power games and scabrous wit as … [Read more...]
If you weren't lucky enough to be in London to see David Tennant and Catherine Tate star in Much Ado About Nothing, you're in luck - reports have come out that it was recorded during it's last week on stage so that it can be released on Video On Demand (with a possibility of a DVD release). Initially, efforts to record the stage show adaptation … [Read more...]
A brand new theatre opens in the cathedral city of Canterbury this October. The Marlowe Theatre is designed by Keith Williams Architects and will have seating for an audience of 1,200 on three levels, and an orchestra pit that can accommodate up to 80 musicians. A second smaller performance space, the Marlowe Studio, will accommodate alternative, … [Read more...]
Maybe it's the heavy, muggy air that is stifling most of the United States right now that's got me thinking of cooler, milder climates. Perhaps it's the desire to beat the heat here in my part of the US with a cool, refreshing ice cream cup. Or, possibly, it's because I'm officially five weeks away from watching some of the best theatre Britain … [Read more...]
Two songs from the David Tennant and Catherine Tate headlined play Much Ado About Nothing have been released on iTunes. The full soundtrack for David's production of Much Ado About Nothing is now available to purchase on iTunes. The soundtrack includes two tracks, Sigh No More and We Go Together which both feature David Tennant and Catherine … [Read more...]
I missed pantomime season around Christmas, but I did manage to squeeze in one panto during my year in England, even if it was a little less traditional. Directed by theatre master Teo, a group of Camphill residents and coworkers had been working hard on Robin Hood since January. Six months may seem like a long practice time, but not when you … [Read more...]
A four-part series of classical Shakespeare titles is coming to movie theaters nationwide this summer and fall. Captured in 2010 from the prestigious and internationally renowned Globe Theatre in London, the series will begin this month and will consist of four in-theater events: Monday, June 27th – The Merry Wives of Windsor Monday, August … [Read more...]
Editor's Note: The following is a guest theatre review from Clare Ollerhead who had the opportunity to see David Tennant and Catherine Tate live on Stage in Much Ado About Nothing in London. The David Tennant and Catherine Tate partnership began in a 2006 episode of Doctor Who; he was the tenth Doctor, she was Donna Noble, his feisty yet … [Read more...]
Summer seems to have arrived a touch early, but nobody's complaining. With the sun finally shining and the freakishly arctic winter nothing but a distant and unpleasant memory, the British public have pulled on their shorts, dusted off their flip-flops and are heading outside. Some are scrubbing the barbecue with the intention of cremating a … [Read more...]
Ralph Fiennes will appear on the stage of the Theatre Royal Haymarket in August, playing Prospero in Shakespeare’s last play, The Tempest. The production, directed by Sir Trevor Nunn, will run from 27 August to 29 October. Fiennes’ award-winning movie career includes The Constant Gardener, Sunshine and Schindler’s List, as well as The … [Read more...]
This news is rather interesting. Former Doctor Christopher Eccleston is to start in a new play that will be staged within Westminster Abbey itself -- quite an unusual and spectacular venue for a play! From the BBC: Christopher Eccleston and Tamsin Greig are to star in a play to mark the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, to be staged in … [Read more...]
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in London has announced four new productions for its 2011 summer season. The first will be William Golding's Lord Of The Flies adapted for the stage by Nigel Williams and directed by the theatre's Artistic Director Timothy Sheader. Shakespeare's Pericles will be re-imagined for everyone aged six and over as the … [Read more...]
Editor's Note - The following is a guest review from British Expat Michael Walsh who had the opportunity to see the recently revived Yes, Prime Minister play in London. To those who've never seen it - Yes, Minister and it's follow up Yes, Prime Minister are quite possibly the funniest British sitcoms ever made. Thanks Michael! If you are of a … [Read more...]
On Boxing Day this year, the famous variety theatre London's Palladium will celebrate its landmark 100th birthday. The theatre was designed by Frank Matcham, and opened its doors to London's West End on Boxing Day of 1910. The Palladium soon became known as the “Ace Variety Theatre of the Worldâ€, partly through additional exposure on … [Read more...]
Editor's Note: The following is a new regular column dedicated to the London West End and the London Theatre. Welcome Jamie! In 1986 Andrew Lloyd Webber took the novel Le Fantome de l'Opera by Gaston Leroux and created a phenomenal musical. The Phantom of the Opera is in a class of its own and is the longest-running musical in history. It … [Read more...]
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Anglotopia was founded by Jonathan and Jackie Thomas in 2007 in a closet in Chicago. Anglotopia is for people who love Britain - whether it's British TV, Culture, History or Travel - we cover it all. Anglotopia is now our full time jobs and we spend our time working on the site and planning our yearly trips to Britain. Join us as we explore Britain and everything it has to offer!
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