Charles Edwards News

Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of Verdi's Il trovatoreopens Saturday, Nov. 17, at 7:30pm. There are seven performances November 17 - December 9  at the Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Dr., Chicago. Tickets start at $39 and are available now at lyricopera.org/Trovatore or at 312-827-5600.

The original version of Rodney Ackland's provocative work, The Pink Room, had a bruising reception back in 1952, losing thousands for investor Terence Rattigan amidst furious reviews. Since salvaged by the Orange Tree in the Eighties, its rebirth was cemented by a Judi Dench-starring production at the National, where it now returns for an intriguing if not entirely convincing encore.

Bomb-blasted London. A Soho den in the hangover from World War II, where members drink into the darkness, night after night. Lying, fighting and seducing, these lost souls and bruised lovers struggle from the rubble of war towards an unknown future.

The National Theatre has announced its May-September 2018 season.

Two decades after it was previously performed at the National Theatre, Rodney Ackland's Absolute Hell returns to the very stage it played back then: the Lyttelton. With a career spanning over two decades too across stage and screen, Charles Edwards is no stranger to the National Theatre. Catching up during rehearsals, Charles spoke to us about his 'innate connection' to the play, and reveals the greatest challenge he's faced in his career (which came only last year).

Bomb-blasted London. A Soho den in the hangover from World War II, where members drink into the darkness, night after night. Lying, fighting and seducing, these lost souls and bruised lovers struggle from the rubble of war towards an unknown future.

London is never short of temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From a buzzy new musical to returning favourites, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld reviews, interviews and features!

Further lead casting is announced today for Festival 2018 at Chichester Festival Theatre. Matt Lucas makes his Chichester debut as Bill Snibson, the Cockney barrow boy who discovers he's an Earl, in Daniel Evans's new production of ME AND MY GIRL. Tracy-Ann Oberman returns to the Festival Theatre as Monica in Noel Coward's PRESENT LAUGHTER; while Patricia Hodge also makes a welcome return as Margrethe Bohr in Michael Frayn's Copenhagen. Public booking for all Festival productions opens this Saturday, 3 March.

New casting announced for the new National Theatre season. Full cast has been announced for Brian Friel's Translations including Colin Morgan and Ciaran Hinds, part of the Travelex season with thousands of tickets available at £15. Eric Kofi Abrefa and Thalissa Teixeira join Vanessa Kirby in the cast of Julie, part of the Travelex season with thousands of tickets available at £15. Sam Mendes directs The Lehman Trilogy, a co-production with Neal Street Productions, cast includes Adam Godley, Ben Miles and Simon Russell Beale. Full casting is announced for the award winning An Octoroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, transferring to the National Theatre in a co-production with the Orange Tree Theatre. The NT will tour to 30 venues in 27 towns and cities across the UK and Ireland, for a total of 83 playing weeks over the next year. Rufus Norris' Macbeth to tour to 18 venues across the UK and Ireland from autumn 2018. War Horse returns to the National Theatre marking the centenary of Armistice Day.

The Met: Live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera's award-winning series of live high-definition cinema simulcasts, will begin its 13th season on October 6, with the Met's grand production of Verdi's Aida, starring one of the world's most acclaimed sopranos, Anna Netrebko.

Accelerating his arrival as Music Director by two seasons, Yannick Nezet-Seguin will take up the post in time for the start of the Metropolitan Opera's 2018-19 season, it was announced today.

Daniel Evans and Rachel Tackley said: 'We're enormously grateful for the warm welcome extended to us by our local community and those visiting from further afield during our first season, which welcomed Chichester's largest-ever Festival audience.

The International Opera Awards are pleased to announce the finalists for this year's Awards. These were selected by an international jury chaired by John Allison, editor of Opera magazine and classical music critic with The Daily Telegraph: 'It's gratifying to see how the International Opera Awards just keep growing. With a record number of nominations to consider, and our biggest and most international jury yet, I'm delighted to say that our exciting shortlists-covering six continents and around 30 countries-reflect the truly cosmopolitan nature of the art form. Despite the challenges faced by opera companies almost everywhere, opera is vibrantly alive.'

Bomb-blasted London. A Soho den in the hangover from World War II, where members drink into the darkness, night after night. Lying, fighting and seducing, these lost souls and bruised lovers struggle from the rubble of war towards an unknown future.

Following on from a successful opening season at the Sydney Opera House season in September 2016 and Brisbane and Melbourne seasons earlier this year, MY FAIR LADY returns to Sydney with a much better, more comfortable and 'lived in' performance.

The 2017 Helpmann Awards were presented at a star-studded ceremony tonight, Monday 24 July, in front of a full house at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney on the set of Kinky Boots.

The 17th Annual Helpmann Awards will be announced at a ceremony on starting at 7pm EST Monday 24th July at the Capitol Theatre Sydney.

The 17th Annual Helpmann Awards, presented by Live Performance Australia, will be held on Monday 24 July at 7.00pm at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney on the set of 'Kinky Boots'. The Helpmann Awards are the premier celebration of Australia's vibrant live performance industry, and recognises distinguished achievement and excellence in Australia's live performance sectors.

The 17th Annual Helpmann Awards, presented by Live Performance Australia, will be held on Monday 24 July at 7.00pm at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney. The Helpmann Awards are the premier celebration of Australia's vibrant live performance industry and recognise distinguished achievement and excellence in Australia's live performance sectors. Nominations for this year's 42 awards were announced on 19 June across the country. Excitement is building for the announcement of the 2017 winners on Monday 24 July.

An exciting winter lineup is on the bill at the Fugard Bioscope this July and August. The programme includes screenings of the best of world theatre, opera and ballet productions from companies such as the National Theatre, Royal Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet and Royal Opera House, to be enjoyed from the comfort of a Fugard Theatre seat.