Playing in London NOW at the Lyric Hammersmith (www.lyric.co.uk  ) is the ever lovely Ed Bennett (of understudy fame!). He can be seen in “Lovesong” a Frantic Assembly Production running until 4th February.

Regards

Geraldine

Nine teenage finalists have won their place at this event by competing against their peers from schools across the UK.

Jeremy Paxman presents as they deliver some of Shakespeare’s most famous speeches in front of a panel of judges including Simon Schama and actor Samuel West.

Special Offer – £5 per ticket. Call the RSC ticket hotline on 0844 800 1110 and quote Off by Heart

And the 50^th anniversary season and the opening of the RST and Swan Theatre has also been recognised and is nominated for The AKA Theatre Event of the Year! 

These awards, also known as the Theatregoers’ Choice Awards, are the only major UK theatre awards decided by members of the public, and you can cast your votes at www.whatsonstage.com   The winners will be announced on Sunday 19 February 2012. 

So cast your votes…

Starring RSC favourite and Olivier-nominee Alexandra Gilbreath, whose work with the RSC includes Twelfth Night, The Taming of the Shrew and Romeo and Juliet, alongside rising star Amy Cudden (Doctor Who, Vera). Directed by Mary Nighy, with design by RSC trainee designer Georgia Lowe (currently designing The Dark Side of Love for the RSC World Shakespeare Festival).

From the producers of Tender Napalm:

**** ‘heart-stopping’ (Times)

**** ‘sensational’ (Guardian)

We’re pleased to offer RSC Friends our friends ticket rate of £10 for all performances of the show (saving up to £5)! To book, quote FRIENDS when calling the Soho Theatre box office on 020 7478 0100. (Please note this offer is valid for phone and in person bookings only).

 Shallow Slumber: 24 Jan – 18 Feb 2012, Soho Theatre

Tues – Sat at 8pm; Sat matinees at 4pm.

www.sohotheatre.com / 020 7478 0100

 Have a look at http://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/ for booking information etc.

Geraldine

Howard Davies: The Place, The Other Place and The Warehouse
Saturday 26 November, 10am
Swan Theatre, £8
Howard Davies, director of productions including Les Liaisons Dangereuses, was the catalyst for big changes at the RSC. The (Donmar) Warehouse first opened in 1976, modelled on The Other Place in Stratford, under his visionary leadership. The Warehouse played host to some of the most important and urgent new plays of the 1970s and 1980s. Howard will be talking about his work to Chris Campbell, Literary Manager of the Royal Court Theatre.

A Celebration: Educating Rita
Sunday 27 November, 11.30am
Swan Theatre, £15
Educating Rita was commisioned and premiered by the RSC in 1980 and went on to becoming one of the nation’s best loved stories. Join Willy Russell as he talks to Company Dramaturg Jeanie O’Hare about how Educating Rita made it onto the stage at the RSC.

In Conversation: Adrian Noble
Sunday 27 November, 7.30pm
Swan Theatre, £15
Adrian Noble, RSC Artistic Director 1990-2003, talks to Michael Attenborough about his time with the Company. Adrian’s productions for the Company include The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, The Plantagenets and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, later turned into a successful film.

To book, call the RSC Ticket Hotline on 0844 800 1110 or book online at www.rsc.org.uk/rsc50events

The Arts Theatre in London are presenting Juliet Stevenson in conversation with Fiona Lindsay as the next guest in their Face to Face series on Thursday 17th November and would like to offer RSC Friends a two for one offer.

Face to Face is a series of intimate conversations presented by broadcaster Fiona Lindsay, raising money for the independent and unsubsidised Arts Theatre, a vibrant theatre in the heart of London’s West End. Prepare for an hour of candour and comedy from this series whose previous guests include Stephen Mangan and Alison Steadman, as Fiona Lindsay talks to leading show business names, revealing why they do what they do – and how they do it.

One of the greatest, most versatile and most charming actors of the last thirty years, Juliet Stevenson’s incredible body of work ranges from the stage to the screen via both television and radio. Join us to talk to another multi award winning guest about her long and successful path – the Royal Shakespeare Company to Truly Madly Deeply, A Dolls House to Lewis – and find out what’s still to come.

To buy tickets, go to www.artstheatrewestend.co.uk or telephone 020 7907 7092 and quote BLACK.  Please note that the final guest in the autumn series is David Baddiel and the offer extends to this event as well.

The full list of the Theatre Awards winners can be found at http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/34055/peter-hall-and-derek-jacobi-among-winners-at

It never stops to amaze us how these readings can create such an enthralling atmosphere. This play, red/hot and not at risk of losing its topicality any time soon was no exception. Forbes Masson led the audience through hatred and sympathy with just the tiniest tilts of his voice but major kudos too to Stephanie Street and Rebecca Johnson and who could not love Matthew Wilson as Turk and Ricky Champ and Neal Barry, the two “Screws”. And wow to Tweedledee and Tweedledum, Sam Alexander and Oliver Ryan fabulous performances. Yes, it was great to listen to both of them, who together with Joseph Arkley and naturally Forbes were recent Ensemble actors here.

We were also impressed with John Stahl as the Home Secretary and keep asking ourselves who this was meant to be. Who was HS at the time? It was a really good idea to have this on at the same time as Marat Sade which we recommend. Thank you RSC

by David and Ingrid (Stevens)