212 stories by "Vanessa Thorpe"
Edinburgh Fringe show sets out to tell the tale of the code-breaker whose crucial work on German cyphers helped win the second world war
From a social outcast to an object of national pity a…
Nica Burns, driving force of the festival's comedy prize, talks about the winners and losers in 40 years of the hugely influential event
Comedians have a reputation for being tough: the stre…
Alan Bleasdale works with Sherwood creator James Graham to revisit TV masterpiece
When Boys from the Blackstuff went out on television four decades ago, it was hailed as a show that would s…
Distinguished ballet choreographer takes issue with views of his friend, dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov
' Russia-Ukraine war " latest updates
Russian artists and performers must not stay silent …
Leading dancers and directors say they find the classic costume both physically and artistically restrictive
The ballerina's tutu remains a traditional object of desire for many young girls:…
Demand is growing to allow flexible working for cast as well as crew in the theatre industry
If disaster strikes in the theatre, an understudy replaces a leading actor, sometimes even during…
The woes of Britain's government offer a rich seam of comedy and it's being mined in theatres and on TVs across the country
"Aren't we all having fun? What about you in the back row? Yes, we…
Criticism from David Baddiel and others prompts about-turn on play due to open this week
Al Smith may not be the first British playwright to ask "What's in a name?", but this weekend he had …
David Harewood cast as William Buckley in James Graham's new play of fiery 1968 debates with Gore Vidal
It was a battle royale fought between American political titans, and it played out on …
Monty Python star has reinvented his play The Weekend as musical theatre
Theatres are about to embark on a new "golden age" thanks to the combination of freshly enthused audiences and a driv…
While capacity crowds are now allowed, productions are being shut down by isolation rules as cast members are 'pinged'
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West End …
Hit musical Jersey Boys will be first show at the 630-seater Trafalgar theatre in the West End
The curtain goes up on Monday on at least one piece of certain good news for the troubled West …
Only a handful of events will be staged this year as producers complain about 'dithering' by council and Scottish government
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A…
Impresario Nica Burns is giving 23 young producers their big break with a showcase at top London venues
When the curtains finally rise on West End stages again in May, should there really be…
Donors contribute to buy painting of Tamara Karsavina, co-founder of the London ballet school
A rare and valuable portrait of the Russian ballerina Tamara Karsavina, Anna Pavlova's great riv…
Small, agile productions are preparing for a May start, as experts predict virtual events will outlast the pandemic
Live entertainment is coming back in two halves, much like a traditional n…
The Cuban star talks about his battle to lift spirits at the Birmingham Royal Ballet and the film he has made to rally performers as their stages stay dark
When Carlos Acosta, considered one…
Songs from the composer's doomed show about the Israeli stateswoman will make their debut online
The self-taught musical genius Lionel Bart was the Londoner who first successfully challenge…
As Zoom fatigue sets in, organisations are seeking creative ways to bring art to patrons to keep them " and their wallets " engaged
A concert from your favourite opera singer, delivered pers…
The award-winning performance artist tells why she has penned a libretto starring single mums for a new BBC documentary
Bryony Kimmings, the award-winning British performer behind a success…
Playwright and director says BLM and the lockdown have prompted him to stage a financially risky season of black work
British culture has been guilty of "hoodwinking" black people into think…
Communities secretary announces new planning rules forcing councils to take impact of Covid-19 into account
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Empty theatres and…
Britain's most prolific playwright is producing and acting in his own audio play, but he holds out little hope for live theatre in the short term
Sir Alan Ayckbourn, one of Britain's most ad…
The star speaks of his panic about the uncertainty of reopening and his sorrow for struggling young actors
Simon Russell Beale, one of Britain's leading Shakespearean actors, has spoken of h…
Acclaimed productions will be available to watch on Guardian site as coronavirus outbreak continues
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The Guardian website is t…
