David Haig joins Daniel Kaluuya & Luke Norris in Young Vic's Blue/Orange

David Haig (Guys and Dolls/Four Weddings and a Funeral) will join Daniel Kaluuya (Black Mirror/ Sucker Punch) and Luke Norris (Poldark/A View from the Bridge) in the cast of Joe Penhall’s Blue/Orange in a new production by director Matthew Xia. 

Design for this new production is by Jeremy Herbert with lighting by Adam Silverman, sound by Carolyn Downing and movement by Joseph Alford.

The play opens at the Young Vic on 19th May (previews from 12th May) and the run has been extended to 2nd July 2016. Kaluuya will play the patient, Christopher, with Haig as Robert and Norris as Bruce, the two doctors debating Christopher’s future.

The day before Christopher is due to be discharged from a psychiatric ward his doctor has reservations. Convinced that oranges are blue and his father is a Ugandan dictator, is Christopher ready to leave? When the doctor raises his concerns with a senior colleague, a disturbing clash of ethics, budgets and self-promotion begins to overshadow Christopher’s future.

Casting announced for Mike Bartlett's Bull at the Young Vic

Casting has been announced for Bull by Mike Bartlett which opens at the Young Vic on 15th December 2015 (previews from 11th December).

Due to public demand, the play's run has been extended to 16th January 2016 plus a 3pm performance has been added on Christmas Eve.

The cast of Clare Lizzimore’s production includes: Max Bennett as Tony, Susannah Fielding as Isobel, Nigel Lindsay as Carter and Marc Wootton as Thomas.

Three colleagues battle over two jobs in Mike Bartlett’s sharp shock of a play. In a cutthroat office environment, where every word is a weapon, playground tactics quickly escalate into manoeuvres of a far more vicious nature. The detailed drama plays out in a workplace-come-bullfighting ring designed by Soutra Gilmour. Audiences surround the stage on all sides and can observe the fight from close quarters by choosing standing tickets. 

John Heffernan & Anna Maxwell Martin to star in Young Vic's Macbeth; casting announced for Measure for Measure, La Musica & Creditors

It has been announced that John Heffernan (RSC’s Oppenheimer; Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell) will play Macbeth alongside Anna Maxwell Martin (South Riding; Poppy Shakespeare) as Lady Macbeth in the Young Vic's production of Macbeth between 26th November 2015 and 16th January 2016. 

The other actors and dancers joining this bold vision of Shakespeare’s tragedy include Mark Ebulue, Thomasin Gulgeç, Ira Siobhan Mandela, Ana Beatriz Meireles, Prasanna Puwanarajah and Clemmie Sveaas. 

Young Vic announces first two 2016 shows + return of Mike Bartlett's Bull

The Young Vic has announced the first two shows in its 2016 season.

The UK premiere of Battlefield, a new work directed by Peter Brook and Marie-Hélène Estienne, inspired by Brook’s legendary production of The Mahabharata, will play at the Young Vic from 3rd to 27th February 2016. 

Annie Ryan’s acclaimed stage adaptation of Eimear McBride’s A Girl is a Half-formed Thing will have its London premiere in the Maria studio between 17th February and 19th March 2016, following a run at this year’s Edinburgh Festival. 

Young Vic's A View from the Bridge transfers to Broadway

The Olivier Award-winning production of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge directed by Ivo van Hove will transfer to Broadway later this year.

The show will play a limited 18-week engagement, between 21st October 2015 and 21st February 2016 at the Lyceum Theatre.

Mark Strong (Eddie Carbone), Nicola Walker (Beatrice), Phoebe Fox (Catherine), Emun Elliott (Marco) and Michael Gould (Alfieri) will reprise their roles. Design and lighting is by Jan Versweyveld and costumes are by An D’Huys. Additional casting and creatives will be announced at a later date.

Photo Feature: Production images released for West End transfer of A View from the Bridge

New production images have been released for the West End transfer of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge. Check out the pictures below (click image to enlarge).

Ivo Van Hove’s production runs at the Wyndham’s Theatre for a strictly limited eight week season to 11th April 2015. A View from the Bridge opened at the Young Vic in April last year where the production enjoyed an extended sell-out run. 

Mark Strong leads the cast as Eddie Carbone and is joined by fellow cast members Emun Elliott as Marco, Phoebe Fox as Catherine, Michael Gould as Alfieri, Richard Hansell as Louis, Luke Norris as Rodolpho and Nicola Walker as Beatrice. Design and lighting is by Jan Versweyveld with costumes designs by An D’Huys.

Competition: Win a pair of tickets to Ah, Wilderness! at the Young Vic!

The Young Vic have just announced their hotly anticipated new season (click here for full details) and to celebrate we’ve got a pair of tickets to give away to the first show; Ah, Wilderness!

To enter the competition, simply sign up to West End Frame's mailing list below. The winner will be randomly selected at 10am on Friday 20th February 2015 (entries after this time will not be included). The prize is valid 14th April – 23rd May, excluding weekend performances.

Even if you already subscribe to West End Frame's newsletter you still have to input your details below to enter this particular competition. You will not receive our newsletter twice (assuming you enter the same email address). Please read the terms and conditions below.

The Young Vic announces details of new season

The Young Vic has confirmed details of its 2015 season. 

Georgia Bourke, Janie Dee, George MacKay, Martin Marquez, Eleanor McLoughlin, Dominic Rowan, Susannah Wise and Ashley Zhangazha will star in in Eugene O’Neill’s only comedy Ah, Wilderness! directed by Natalie Abrahami between 12th April and 23rd May.

Rory Kinnear will play Josef K. in Richard Jones’ production of Franz Kafka’s The Trial in a new version by Nick Gill from 9th June to 8th August. The Young Vic will host the UK premiere of Simon Stephens’ new play Song from Far Away directed by Ivo van Hove in a limited run between 3rd and 19th September.

Review: The Scottsboro Boys at the Garrick Theatre

The Scottsboro Boys
Garrick Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 20th October 2014
★★★★★

Last year The Scottsboro Boys took theatreland by storm when it received its UK premiere at the Young Vic. Word of mouth couldn't have been stronger and people were doing anything they could to get tickets. I smugly had mine pinned up on the noticeboard, but sadly something unavoidable came up at the last minute which meant I was no longer able to see the show. Therefore, along with all those who couldn't see The Scottsboro Boys first time around, I was thrilled when producers confirmed that Kander and Ebb's final musical, which premiered off-Broadway in 2010, would be transferring to the West End.

NT Live to broadcast Young Vic's A Streetcar Named Desire

It has been announced that Benedict Andrews' production of A Streetcar Named Desire will be broadcast from the Young Vic to cinemas by National Theatre Live on Tuesday 16th September at 7pm.

A Streetcar Named Desire marks NT Live’s first collaboration with the Young Vic. NT Live performances are broadcast via satellite to over 1,100 venues in over 40 different countries around the world, live in Europe and some US cities, and time-delayed in countries further afield. 

The cast of this brand new production of Tennessee Williams’ tragic masterpiece incudes: Gillian Anderson, Clare Burt, Lachele Carl, Branwell Donaghey, Otto Farrant, Ben Foster, Nicholas Gecks, Troy Glasgow, Stephanie Jacob, Corey Johnson (as Mitch), Vanessa Kirby and Claire Prempeh. 

Casting announced for West End transfer of The Scottsboro Boys

The Daily Mail has announced casting for the West End transfer of the Young Vic's production of The Scottsboro Boys.

Brandon Victor Dixon will reprise his performance as Patterson, a role he played during the musical's run at the Vineyard Theatre in New York. 

Colman Domingo, who starred in the show's US and Young Vic productions, will feature in the cast alongside Julian Glover, Forrest McClendon and James T. Lane.

The Scottsboro Boys confirms details of West End transfer

The Young Vic's production of The Scottsboro Boys has confirmed the details of its previously rumoured West End transfer.

The musical will open at the Garrick Theatre, replacing Twelve Angry Men, on Monday 20th October 2014 (previews from 4th October). Directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, tickets go on general sale today (30th April 2014).

Kander and Ebb's final musical premiered Off-Broadway in 2010. It tells the true story of nine young black men, aged between 12 and 19, who were falsely accused of rape by two white women while travelling on a train through Scottsboro, Alabama in the 1930s. Their subsequent trials and appeals, lasting seven years, deeply divided the nation.

Editor's Blog: Top 10 Shows of 2013

When people ask what I do for a living and I explain that I am the Editor of a theatre website I am always asked two questions. Firstly, 'Don't you get bored of going to the theatre every night?' and secondly 'What's the best show you've ever seen?'

My answer to the first question is always no - I do not and never could get bored of going to the theatre every night due to the incredible variety we are so lucky to have in London. If I saw a big West End musical every night I would become bored. If I saw a small fringe play every night I would become bored. But 2013 has seen so many different productions staged all over London which really have pushed theatrical boundaries.

I often find it hard to answer the second question, so throughout the year I have been working on a list of my top ten personal favourite shows of the year... and below is the finished version. I would also just like to thank everyone for their unbelievably amazing support throughout 2013. It has been a very exciting year for West End Frame and, quite simply, we couldn't do it without you. Happy New Year!

10. Chess at the Union Theatre
February 2013 - March 2013

Photo Credit: Mug Photography

For me the most exciting thing about seeing Chess at the Union Theatre was that I was able to be completely open minded as I had absolutely nothing to compare it to. On press night I was surrounded by people discussing how it compared to the original West End production but I had the joy of discovering the show for the first time. Chess was one of the most exciting productions I saw in 2013, the entire run sold out before the first preview! The show took so many risks, all of which paid off. Sarah Galbraith gave the most mesmerising performance as Florence and Christopher Howell and Steven Harris' direction was nothing short of mind-blowing. Their attention to detail was sublime.

The Young Vic announces 2014 season, Carrie Cracknell's A Doll's House transfers to New York

The Young Vic have announced their 2014 season, as well as the extension of the UK premiere of The Scottsboro Boys.

Running between 23rd January and 22nd February is Happy Days. The production will be directed by Natalie Abrahami and will star Olivier Award-winning stage and screen actor Juliet Stevenson as Winnie in Samuel Beckett’s surreal masterpiece.

A View from the Bridge will run at the theatre from 4th April until 24th May. The visionary Ivo van Hove (Roman Tragedies) directs a stunning new production of Arthur Miller’s tragic masterpiece. The production will be followed by The Valley of Astonishment between 20th June and 12th July. Peter Brook and Marie-Hélène Estienne bring together neurological research and Persian verse to transport us from the familiar to the extraordinary on a kaleidoscopic journey into the wonders of the human brain.

The Scottsboro Boys extends run at The Young Vic

The UK premiere run of The Scottsboro Boys has extended its run at the Young Vic to 21st December 2013. The musical will open on 29th October (previews from 18th October).

The Scottsboro Boys was the last musical co-written by Broadway's legendary writing partners, composer John Kander and and lyricist Fred Ebb (lyricist), who passed away in 2004.

The UK premiere is directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, who also helmed the world premiere at Off-Broadway's Vineyard Theatre in 2010.

The Scottsboro Boys, which premiered in 2010, tells the true story of nine young black men, aged between 12 and 19, who were falsely accused of rape by two white women while travelling on a train through Scottsboro, Alabama in the 1930s. Their subsequent trials and appeals, lasting seven years, deeply divided the nation.