Latest news with #ImeldaStaunton
Time Out
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
London's massive summer theatre ticket sale has just extended – here are the best deals
London: a city of endless theatre shows, and seemingly endless theatre sales. If you can't wait for the next major sale to come around before you try and buy that ticket to a big West End play or musical, then perhaps you're just living your life too fast. Anyway, great news: Theatreland's latest sale – aka The Big Summer Theatre Event – has just announced it'll be extending until the end of the week, and to be fair you should snap this one up as it's reasonably likely to be the last one until September. It's also a great time to grab a bargain: the summer months can be challenging for theatres, especially if the weather's good, so a show that might be sold out in the autumn could be offering some nice prices right now. As ever the concept is simple: go to the Big Summer Theatre Event booking portal before the end of the sale and book a ticket. Some shows you'll be able to grab a bargain for pretty any performance you want; some will be rocking a very specific limited term reduction. Either way, there are bargains to be had across the board, from long-runners like Matilda, Wicked and Tina to newer shows like Titanique, Starlight Express and a chance to catch Imelda Staunton in Mrs Warren's Profession. But don't forget – you need to book by Sunday.
Time Out
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Three massive hit London plays will be screened in cinemas later this year
Three major London theatre productions have been announced to make their screen debuts in cinemas later this year, as they enter the repertoire of the National Theatre 's NT Live programme. If the previous sentence means nothing to you, then basically NT Live involves high quality, multi-camera recordings of live theatre performances that are subsequently broadcast into cinemas the world over, often for years to come. Sometimes the first screening will literally be live, more often they will be recorded in front of a live audience but broadcast at a later date. Although most of the filmed shows are staged in the National Theatre, NT Live stretches to a lot of other venues too. Without further ado then, the new shows being screened are Mrs Warren's Profession, The Fifth Step, and Hamlet. The legendary Imelda Staunton will make her latest of many NT Live entries with the current West End run of the Bernard Shaw classic Mrs Warren's Profession, which hits cinemas October 23. Dominic Cooke's revival of the decades-ahead-of-its-time morality drama also stars Staunton's actual daughter Bessie Carter, who plays the estranged daughter of Staunton's eponymous brothel madame. Hitting cinemas on November 27, The Fifth Step is just wrapping up its run at @sohoplace in the West End. Written by endlessly provocative playwright David Ireland, the sell-out hit stars big names Martin Freeman and Jack Lowden as two men who become friends and then bitter enemies via the Alcoholics Anonymous programme. Finally, Hamlet, a play that needs no introduction, not least to NT Live viewers: the 2015 Barbican production starring Benedict Cumberbatch has been a mainstay of the cinema streaming service for a decade now, and will doubtless continue to be so for years to come. Nonetheless, a single version of Shakespeare's masterpiece doesn't reflect how many major productions it gets – so this will be a welcome chance to get a new one in the system. Starring Olivier-winner Hiran Abeysekera, the production will be the first National Theatre show of new artistic director Indhu Rubasingham's tenure to get the cinema treatment. Hamlet will be in cinemas from January 22, 2026. Head here for full NT Live listings, with other previously announced shows coming up including a live broadcast on September 4 of the much anticipated, Rosamund Pike-starring Inter Alia.
Daily Mail
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Bridgerton star Bessie Carter reveals hidden health condition - after hitting back at 'nepo baby' claims
Actress Bessie Carter has revealed she suffers with breathing difficulties after sharing an Instagram reel of her using a nebulizer. The Bridgerton star, 31, said she first became aware that she wasn't breathing properly having squeezed into a tight-fit corset during rehearsals for a West End show last year. With Bessie in high-demand as an actress after the success of Bridgerton, in which she plays Prudence Featherington, her Instagram post on Thursday revealed she has since turned to a nebulizer to combat the problem. Typically used by those that suffer with conditions such as asthma or bronchitis, the apparatus makes breathing easier by delivering medication in the form of mist to the lungs. Sharing a selfie of herself with the nebulizer in her mouth to her Instagram stories, the 31-year-old captioned the post: 'Reality'. The TV star is currently starring alongside her mother Imelda Staunton for the first time in the West End show Mrs Warren's Profession. During a recent podcast the Bridgerton actor spoke about her breathing issue more extensively, including the moment she realised it was a problem. She said: 'The show we did at the National last year, I had to have extra help from the voice person to get my ribs moving, because I am so used to holding my ribs in because of wanting that thin waist, which again is so internalised and so subconscious, I don't' even know I am holding it in.' It comes after Bessie - whose dad is Downton Abbey actor Jim Carter - hit back against claims she is a 'nepo baby' during an interview with The Independent. Despite her parents huge successes in the world of acting, Bessie insisted she has worked for career and 'doesn't really care' about the term 'nepo baby' being used. 'I have a lot of drive to make stuff happen myself, instead of waiting for the phone to ring,' she said. 'Some people might use that phrase (nepo baby), but I don't really care. I believe in myself and my trajectory being what it is, and I've never used my parents, ever, to get any work.' Supporting Bessie was her mother, with Imelda adding: 'There seem to be about 22 million more actors now. During the time of Maggie [Smith] and Robert Stephens [the late parents of the actor Toby Stephens], you could count actors with that level of celebrity on one hand. 'Now it's not unusual for children to have parents who are also actors, simply because there are so many of them.' Bessie did however admit that she's taken inspiration from her parents and their successful careers, heaping praise onto the pair. The 31-year-old's latest endeavour sees her star as Nancy Mitford in the new six-episode series Outrageous, which follows the lives of the Mitford sisters and is based on Mary S Lovell's biography. After the show's release yesterday, Bessie and her castmates celebrated at the Sea Containers hotel. with the actress put up in a luxury suite with panoramic views across London.
The Guardian
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Dominic Cooke appointed as the Almeida theatre's artistic director
Dominic Cooke has been appointed as the new artistic director of the Almeida theatre in London, succeeding Rupert Goold in 2026. Cooke ran the Royal Court for several years and is an in-demand director with recent hits in the West End and at the National Theatre. 'Twelve years after leaving the Royal Court, I couldn't be more excited to be returning as an artistic director and to be taking the reins of this unique theatre,' he said. He described Goold's Almeida as 'a beacon of quality and innovation' and added: 'I'm hugely grateful to him and his team to be handed an organisation in such good health. I look forward to building on this legacy and to future adventures in this magical space.' A specialist in musicals, Cooke staged a celebrated revival of Stephen Sondheim's Follies at the National in 2017 and reunited with one of its stars, Imelda Staunton, on an admired revival of Hello, Dolly! at the London Palladium last summer. His production of George Bernard Shaw's Mrs Warren's Profession, starring Staunton and her daughter Bessie Carter, opened at the Palladium last month. Other West End productions directed by Cooke include Medea with Sophie Okonedo and Good with David Tennant. During his time at the Royal Court he directed plays by Caryl Churchill, Tarell Alvin McCraney and Bruce Norris. He has also directed two feature films, The Courier (starring Benedict Cumberbatch) and On Chesil Beach (adapted from Ian McEwan's novel), as well as three episodes of The Hollow Crown for television. The chair of the Almeida board Tamara Ingram said Cooke is 'celebrated around the world and brings a wealth of experience both of running a theatre and as a consistently acclaimed, award-winning artist. We are greatly looking forward to what lies ahead and to seeing how his leadership defines the next chapter of the Almeida.' Goold called it a 'wonderful appointment' and said that Cooke's tenure at the Royal Court brimmed 'with confidence and new voices'. He added that Cooke 'will bring his many talents to bear on continuing the rich story of our great theatre'. It was announced last year that Goold will leave the Almeida to run the Old Vic, replacing Matthew Warchus. The Almeida's executive director Denise Wood is also standing down to pursue freelance projects. Recruitment for Wood's successor will begin shortly.
Time Out
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
London travel disruption this weekend: full list of tube and train closures for May 29-June 1
We've reached yet another weekend, and yet another brand new month. As June rolls in this Sunday, we're sure you've got loads of plans to ring in the summer month in style. We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but there are some TfL train and tube disruptions you should be aware of before you head off on your adventures. If you're still on the lookout for activities to make the most of Saturday and Sunday, you're lucky to be in the country's biggest (and, we think, best) city. The film and media festival SXSW is making its London debut in Shoreditch, Imelda Staunton is currently on a West End stage, and there's an entire exhibition dedicated to sound taking place at the Barbican – basically, you're spoiled for choice. Here's all the planned disruptions on the tube and trains in the capital for this weekend. As always, there may be delays or cancellations which happen last minute, so it's always a good idea to double check TfL's website or app before you travel. Circle line The entire Circle line will be out of action for one day only on Saturday May 31 until 4pm, when it will resume service as normal. District Line The District line will also be entirely closed on Saturday May 31 until 11am. There will be a replacement bus service, and Piccadilly line trains will also make a call at Turnham Green while the disruption is ongoing. DLR On Saturday May 31 and Sunday June 1, the DLR will be shut between Beckton and Prince Regent all day long. Replacement buses will run between Prince Regent and Gallions Reach, making stops in Royal Albert, Beckton Park, Cyprus and Beckton. Hammersmith and City line Like the District line, the entire Hammersmith and City line will be closed until 11am on Saturday May 31. Once it opens back up, service will remain halted between Edgware Road and Moorgate until 4pm. Jubilee line The entire Jubilee line will also be closed until 11am on Saturday May 31 . For the rest of Saturday and all of Sunday June 1, it will be part-closed between Waterloo and Stanmore – this includes the night tube on Saturday and early Sunday. Metropolitan line Parts of the Metropolitan line will be closed on both Saturday May 31 and Sunday June 1. There will be no trains between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Uxbridge before 4pm on Saturday. TfL directs those affected to the Piccadilly line where you'll be able to access stations between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge. There'll be no service between Aldgate and Watford at all on Saturday or Sunday. During this period, you'll still be able to catch a train between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Amersham/Chesham, although the service will be non-stop between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Moor park. Waterloo and City As always, the Waterloo and City line will be closed this weekend, resuming service at 6am on Monday. Overground Mildmay line A planned closure will mean that there is no service between Camden Road and Stratford on the Mildmay line on Saturday May 31 and Sunday June 1. The line is further disrupted by a reduced service between Willesden Junction and Camden Road – trains between these stations will only run once every 15 minutes on Saturday and Sunday. It's also worth noting that on Sunday morning, the first train from Gospel Oak, at 9.15am, to Camden Road will instead run from Shepherd's Bush. The next train, at 9.27am, will run as normal, so TFL advises those affected to wait for that. Windrush There will be a part-closure on the Windrush line between Surrey Quays and Clapham Junction all day Saturday May 31 and Sunday June 1. A replacement bus service, which runs from Canada Water to Clapham Junction via Surrey Quays, Queens Road Peckham, Peckham Rye, Denmark Hill, Clapham High Street and Wandsworth Road, will be available.
