Alfie Allen & Katie Brayben join cast of The Spoils

Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones), Katie Brayben (Beautiful) and Annapurna Sriram (Billions) join the previously announced Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network) and Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory) in The Spoils. 

Written by and starring Jesse Eisenberg, the show opens at Trafalgar Studios on 2nd June (previews from 27th May) for a limited run to 13th August 2016.

Marking Eisenberg’s third play, The Spoils originally ran off-Broadway in 2015 at The Pershing Square Signature Center. This piece cements his reputation as a talented playwright whose tragicomic work explores questions of American privilege and the nature of family and relationships. 

Julie Atherton announces special guests for Crazy Coqs residency

West End leading lady and queen of new musical theatre writing Julie Atherton has announced special guests for her upcoming residency at Crazy Coqs between 16th and 20th February 2016.

Marking her Crazy Coqs debut, Atherton will perform songs from her albums and shows she has starred in alongside some new material. 

Guests will include 2015 Olivier winners Katie Brayben and George Maguire, Atherton's former Avenue Q co-star Paul Spicer as well as Laura Pitt-Pulford and Alex Gaumond. Check out the full schedule below.

Editor's Blog: Top 10 Performances of 2015

Check out my top ten favourite performances of 2015 below! Please note that as I saw Gypsy in Chichester in 2014, Imelda Staunton was included in last year's list.

10

Andrew Scott

for The Dazzle at Found111

Photo by Marc Brenner

I usually start drafting my ‘top ten’ lists in November, but earlier this month - during my final week of reviewing - Andrew Scott reminded my why these lists shouldn’t be finalised until the year is actually through. A temporary theatre on the site of the old Central St Martins School of Art on Charing Cross Road, Scott embraced the intimacy of Found111 where he starred in The Dazzle, performing with such intricate detail and giving a performance to remember!

Read our 4* review of The Dazzle

Andrew Scott is in "advanced discussions" to play Hamlet

9

Amy Lennox

for Kinky Boots at the Adelphi Theatre

Photo by Matt Crockett

Amy Lennox is an absolute revelation as Lauren in Kinky Boots. As her character develops a crush on her new boss Charlie, Lennox brings the house down with her rendition of 'The History of Wrong Guys' - I have never witnessed so many mid-song applauses during a musical number. She is silly, weird and wacky and the audience couldn't get enough of her impeccably delivered one-liners. 

Read our 5* review of Kinky Boots

Check out our previous interview with Amy Lennox

8

Michael Urie

for Buyer and Cellar at the Menier Chocolate Factory

Photo by Joan Marcus

Stellar cast announced for Almeida's The Iliad

A company of more than 60 artists will bring The Iliad to life in a durational reading on Friday 14th August. 

The reading will begin at the British Museum and culminate on the Almeida stage. 

The marathon reading is the latest event in the theatre’s Almeida Greeks Festival which has so far seen Robert Icke’s critically acclaimed production of Oresteia transfer to Trafalgar Studios in the West End and James Macdonald’s production of Bakkhai play to sold out houses at the Almeida.

Homer’s The Iliad is the source myth of Greek drama and the greatest story of heroism, betrayal and war in literature. 

250th Interview: Katie Brayben, starring as Carole King in Beautiful

Fresh from winning Best Actress in a Musical at the 2015 Olivier Awards last Sunday (5th April), we are thrilled to reveal that West End Frame’s 250th interview is with Katie Brayben!

Katie is currently starring as Carole King in the West End premiere of Beautiful – The Carole King Musical which opened at the Aldwych Theatre in February. The show is based on the early life and career of Carole King. As well as winning an Olivier, Katie has received tremendous critical and public acclaim for her portrayal of the legendary singer/songwriter. Many have labelled her performance as career-defining. 

She most recently played Princess Diana in King Charles III which transferred from the Almeida Theatre to the West End. Her credits also include: American Psycho (Almeida), Joking Apart (Nottingham/Salisbury Playhouse), A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Ragtime (both Regent’s Park Open Air), 13 (National), Company (Southwark), John and Jen (Landor), Friday 4pm (Arcola), Counted? (Tour), The Great British Fete (Bush Theatre), Mamma Mia! (West End/International Tour), Return to the Forbidden Planet (Tour) and Some Girls are Bigger than Others (Lyric Hammersmith/Tour). 

I recently spoke to Katie about her whirlwind journey with Beautiful, what it’s like to take on such an almighty role and how it felt to meet Carole King on opening night…

The last few months have been crazy for you! From meeting Carole King on opening night, receiving rave reviews and then winning an Olivier Award! Have you had a chance to sit down and take it all in?

What’s weird is that it has been such a whirlwind, right from auditioning for the part up until now. I don’t think there is a way of sitting down and taking in what has happened, especially while I’m still in it. Maybe in a couple of years I’ll go, ‘oh yeah – that happened!’ [laughs]. It’s so weird for all this to be happening to me, I just feel like I’m watching somebody else’s life; it’s almost like I’m looking at it from the outside. It’s a very bizarre time!

Feature: February round-up

Star of the Month

Katie Brayben

Katie Brayben on Beautiful's Press Night / Photo Credit: Dan Wooller

It isn't every day you witness a career defining performance like the one Katie Brayben gives in Beautiful - The Carole King Musical. Brayben's portrayal of King is masterful; it's rare to see such fresh, raw talent on a West End stage. Not only does Brayben excel during musical numbers, performing King's music to perfection, but she also brings truthfulness and compassion to the text. A star in born!

Show of the Month

Oklahoma! UK Tour 

Review: Beautiful - The Carole King Musical at the Aldwych Theatre

Beautiful - The Carole King Musical 
Aldwych Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 25th February 2015
★★★★

Following Carole King's long journey from school girl to music icon, Beautiful is the latest Broadway musical to transfer to London's West End. It's hard to pinpoint the magical ingredient of King's music; it is an absolute joy to hear her biggest hits performed by a tremendously talented British company.

Beautiful releases first picture of Katie Brayben as Carole King

Producers of Beautiful have released the first image of Katie Brayben as Carole King. Check out the picture below (click image to enlarge). The show opens at the Aldwych Theatre on 24th February 2015 (previews from 10th February) and is currently booking until 13th June 2015.

The cast also includes Alan Morrissey as King’s husband and song-writing partner Gerry Goffin, Lorna Want as song-writer Cynthia Weil, Ian McIntosh as song-writer Barry Mann, Glynis Barber as Genie Klein, King’s mother and Gary Trainor as music publisher and producer Don Kirshner.

Beautiful - The Carole King Musical announces full West End cast

Full casting has been announced for the West End premiere of Beautiful - The Carole King Musical.

Joining Katie Brayben (pictured right) as Carole King is Ian McIntosh as song-writer Barry Mann. McIntosh’s theatre credits include: alternate Deco in The Commitments (Palace Theatre), alternate Drew in Rock of Ages (Shaftesbury/Garrick) and Hair (European Tour).

As previously announced, the leading cast members also include Alan Morrissey as King’s husband and song-writing partner Gerry Goffin, Lorna Want as song-writer Cynthia Weil, Glynis Barber as Genie Klein, King’s mother and Gary Trainor as music publisher and producer Don Kirshner.

Vivien Carter, Ed Currie, Oliver Lidert, Fela Lufadeju, Tanya Nicole-Edwards, Terel Nugent , Jay Perry, Tanisha Spring, Lucy St. Louis, Danielle Steers, Dylan Turner and Joanna Woodwood will play iconic musical performers and band members of the era.

GOSSIP: Katie Brayben cast as Carole King in West End transfer of Beautiful?

According to The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye, Katie Brayben has been cast as Carole King in the West End transfer of Beautiful. The show opens at the Aldwych Theatre in February next year.

The actress recently appeared in American Psycho at the Almeida and is currently starring in the West End transfer of King Charles III. She will leave the show in December to prepare for her new role.

The cast will also include Alan Morrissey as Goffin and Glynis Barber as King’s mother as well as Lorna Want and Gary Trainor.

Based on the early life and career of legendary singer/songwriter Carole King, Beautiful has a book by Douglas McGrath with words and music by Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and is directed by Marc Bruni.