The British Theatre Guide Index

British Theatre - all you need to know!

Last full update: 11th May: Latest update on 13th May

This Week's News Digest
Under the Blue Sky casting
Chichester Six Characters casting
Bush premieres Australian debut play
Coming to the Royal Court
Manville returns to the National
The Harder They Come West End transfer
Rice to appear in Brief Encounter
Phantom extends

Read all about these stories in our weekly news digest.

Reviews * King Lear (Globe) * Clocked (Croydon) * The Black Curtain (Bath & touring) * The Black Curtain (youth theatre production: Surrey) * The Lady From the Sea (Arcola) * Great Expectations (Newcastle-under-Lyme) * Equus (Bath & touring) * What the Butler Saw (Salisbury) * Hide and Seek (Blue Elephant) * The Shawl (Canal Cafe) * Richard III (RSC at the Roundhouse) * Black Watch (Salford & touring) * Single Spies (Woking & touring) * Patient No. 1 (York) * To Be Straight With You (Newcastle & touring) * Oxford Street (Royal Court) * Familyman (Theatre Royal, Stratford East) * Funny Girl (Chichester) * The Flying Machine (Unicorn) * That Face (Duke of York's) * Beau Jest (Hackney Empire) * Tell Me... Lies (Arts) * Zameen (Arts) .... Last Week's Reviews	Europe's Most Forward-Looking Festival Jackie Fletcher introduces the Belgian Kunstenfestivaldesarts from which she will be reporting in the coming weeks. *Two Trains Running* Philip Fisher reviews another play in the August Wilson Century Cycle. Last Week For faster access, we've gathered together links to all last week's reviews and news stories on the one page.
National Skills Academy Approved The government has approved the setting up of a National Skills Academy for the Performing Arts.	Gone With The Wind To Be Shortened The musical version of Gone With the Wind is to be shortened, producers have said.
*S4K's Hamlet* a Gulf Hit** Shakespeare 4 Kidz Theatre Company has a hit with Hamlet in the Gulf.	St Donats Wins Appeal, But... An independent panel has ruled that the Arts Council of Wales was wrong to withdraw its grant to St Donats Arts Centre, but ACW has not reinstated it.
£16.5m for Southbank Centre Arts Council England has awarded the Southbank Centre an additional £16.5m of Lottery funding.	Sprint 2008 Details of the 2008 Sprint Festival at Camden People's Theatre.
SB Tours New Romeo and Juliet Scottish Ballet is to tour Polish choreographer Krzysztof Pastor's new version of Romeo and Juliet.	Theatres Are Not "Museum Assets" Andrew Lloyd Webber tells the House of Lords of the problems facing the owners of theatres which are listed buildings.
Jungle Book New Tour Birmingham Stage Company is to launch the third national tour of The Jungle Book in August.	Midlands News This week: Poliakoff revival in Nottingham; bumper year for Buxton; New Connections in Northampton; new season at the Lichfield Garrick; Stafford summer school auditions; what's on in the region.
North West News This week: Not Part Of festival in Manchester; Manchester International Arts programme; Evita casting; what's on in the region; NW theatre jobs.	North East News This week: Sleep leaves Chitty; what's on in the region.

The British Theatre Guide Newsletter
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Philip's Top 5
Every week reviewer Philip Fisher selects the top five plays in London.
Major Barbara (RNT)
Avenue Q (Noël Coward )
The Year of Magical Thinking (RNT Lyttelton)
The God of Carnage (Gielgud)
Billy Elliot (Victoria Palace)

The Alternative Top 5
Richard III (RSC at the Roundhouse)
King Lear (Globe)
Jersey Boys (Prince Edward)
Spamalot (Palace Theatre)
That Face (Duke of York's)

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