Back to News & Press King Charles III opens at Broadway's Music Box Theatre to great critical acclaim Monday, 2 November 2015 Variety says “Pigott-Smith is phenomenal...portraying a sense of human goodness and character nobility that can either elevate a monarch or damn him to oblivion. ” Peter Marks at The Washington Post comments that “Bartlett scores one remarkable dramatic coup after another. ” In The Hollywood Reporter, David Rooney says, “Bartlett offers a fiendishly clever and yet serious questioning of the role of royalty in the 21st century. ” Mark Kennedy, Associated Press, calls King Charles III “...ingenuous, intelligent and intriguing. Forget the king: Long live the playwright! ” Mike Bartlett’s King Charles III, directed by Rupert Goold, enjoyed huge success in London last year with critically acclaimed sell-out runs at the Almeida Theatre and in the West End. It is currently on a UK-wide tour which today announces seven further dates in 2016 before transferring to Sydney. King Charles III was first produced by the Almeida Theatre and subsequently co-produced at the Wyndham’s Theatre in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions and Stuart Thompson Productions in association with Lee Dean & Charles Diamond and Tulchin Bartner Productions. Directed by the Almeida Theatre’s artistic director Rupert Goold, King Charles III is designed by Tom Scutt, with music composed by Jocelyn Pook, lighting by Jon Clark and sound by Paul Arditti. Mike Bartlett's play explores the people underneath the crowns, the unwritten rules of our democracy, and the conscience of Britain's most famous family. Tim Pigott-Smith leads the cast on Broadway, reprising his celebrated role as King Charles III, with Anthony Calf as Mr. Stevens, Oliver Chris as William, Richard Goulding as Harry, Nyasha Hatendi as Spencer and other roles, Adam James as Mr. Evans, Margot Leicester as Camilla, Miles Richardson as James Reiss, Tom Robertson as Cootsey and other roles, Sally Scott as Sarah and other roles, Tafline Steen as Jess and Lydia Wilson as Kate. The Broadway production of King Charles III is produced by Stuart Thompson Productions, Sonia Friedman Productions and the Almeida Theatre and will run until 31st January 2016. Up Up

Back to News & Press Sonia Friedman bags Producer of the Year hat-trick at the Stage Awards Friday, 27 January 2017 Friedman accepted her award on the same day she was presented with her OBE, and used her speech to urge the sector to harness the power of the arts. "Right now, theatre, artists, creators and facilitators, this is our moment to try and make a difference. I think we can all agree the world is in crisis and it's our job right now to show the world how we can make a difference, and how we can push through and make change for the better. We are all in this together," she said. She added: "I feel a passionate responsibility to do the best work I can possibly do. I love what I do and everyone I work with with. I couldn't do it, I don't do it, without the artists and the creators. I am simply someone who has got the privilege and honour of working with them." The awards were presented on Friday 27th January 2016 at a ceremony held at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London, Up Up

Back to Productions LA BÊTE This production began performances on 26th June and closed on 4th September 2010. Mark Rylance is a force of nature. Step forward and claim your crown. The New York Times The hilarious action begins when an audacious princess ( Lumley ) hires a common street performer ( Rylance ) to join her royal theatre troupe. When the loud-mouthed clown meets the classically-trained troupe leader ( Pierce ), the two square off to defend their pride in a rollicking showdown for the ages. Hilarious. David Hyde Pierce is a master. He is terrific to watch. The New Yorker Hotly anticipated as this year’s must-see production, La Bête is an uproarious, Olivier Award-winning comedy by American playwright David Hirson , starring the extraordinary Tony Award-winning actor Mark Rylance (Boeing-Boeing, Jerusalem ), the wonderful Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce (Curtains , Niles in the smash-hit sitcom “Frasier”) and the magnificent BAFTA Award winner Joanna Lumley (Patsy in the BBC’s “Absolutely Fabulous”). This dazzling new staging is directed by the internationally acclaimed, multi-award winner Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage, Boeing-Boeing, Art, The Norman Conquest s). Written in 1991, La Bête was a huge critical success in London and won the 1992 Olivier Award for Best Comedy. Sonia Friedman Productions and Scott Landis , Roger Berlind , Robert G. Bartner/ Norman Tulchin , Bob Boyett/ Tim Levy , Roy Furman , Max Cooper , Dan Frishwasser , Bud Martin , Philip Morgaman/ Frankie J. Grande , Stephanie P.McClelland/ Hagemann-Rosenthal in association with 1001 Nights , Richard Winkler present “LA BETE ”. Brilliant. You'll never see anything quite like it again The Times CAST MARK RYLANCE – Valere DAVID HYDE PIERCE – Elomire JOANNA LUMLEY – Princess STEPHEN OUIMETTE – Bejart LISA JOYCE – Marquise-Therese Du Parc GRETA LEE – Dorine ROBERT LONSDALE – Rene Du Parc MICHAEL MILLIGAN – De Brie LIZA SADOVY – Catherine De Brie SALLY WINGERT – Madeleine Bejart CREATIVES MATTHEW WARCHUS – Director MARK THOMPSON – Designer HUGH VANSTONE – Lighting Designer CLAIRE VAN KAMPEN – Music SIMON BAKER – Sound Designer

Back to News & Press MEAN GIRLS releases new production imagery and announces weekly ‘Here’s Where You Belong’ front row seat release plans Tuesday, 25 June 2024 Lorne Michaels, Sonia Friedman Productions , and David Ian for Crossroads Live - producers of MEAN GIRLS in the West End – are delighted to release production images for MEAN GIRLS at the Savoy Theatre, which is currently booking to 16 February 2025. Based on the beloved Paramount Pictures film, which is celebrating its 20thanniversary this year, the smash hit musical comedy started previews at the Savoy Theatre on 5 June 2024 and opens with a Gala Night this Wednesday, 26 June 2024. Here’s Where You Belong! Every Wednesday at 10am, MEAN GIRLS will release front row seats for performances in two weeks’ time. The first release will be on 26 June for performances from 9 July. Tickets are capped at 4 per transaction (you go, Glenn Cocco). Visit meangirlsmusical.com for more information. The MEAN GIRLS cast comprises Charlie Burn (Cady Heron), Georgina Castle (Regina George), Elèna Gyasi (Gretchen Wieners), Grace Mouat (Karen Smith), Elena Skye (Janis Sarkisian), Tom Xander (Damian Hubbard), Daniel Bravo (Aaron Samuels), Lucca Chadwick-Patel (Kevin Ganatra), Ako Mitchell (Mr Duvall), and Zoë Rainey (Ms Heron, Ms Norbury and Mrs George). They are joined by Tia Antoine-Charles, Georgia Arron, Liam Buckland, Shonah Buwu, Baylie Carson, Freddie Clements, Siobhan Diffin, Clíona Flynn, Fergie Fraser, Angus Good, Jenny Huxley-Golden, Holly Liburd, Corey Mitchell, Mervin Noronha, Aharon Rayner, Trézel Sergeant, Josh Singleton, Annie Southall, Lillia Squires, Tommy Wade-Smith and Holly Willock. The creative team for MEAN GIRLS in the West End comprises Tina Fey – Book, Jeff Richmond – Music, Nell Benjamin – Lyrics, Casey Nicholaw – Direction and Choreography, Scott Pask - Scenic Design, Katrina Lindsay - Costume Design, Kenneth Posner - Lighting Design, Brian Ronan - Sound Design, Finn Ross and Adam Young - Video Design, Josh Marquette - Hair Design, Mary-Mitchell Campbell - Musical Supervision, Vocal, Dance and Incidental Music Arrangements, and Natalie Gallacher CDG for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting - Casting. It’s gonna be a little bit dramatic… Get in, loser, MEAN GIRLS has arrived in London! Broadway’s hilarious hit musical from an award-winning creative team including writer Tina Fey (“30 Rock”), composer Jeff Richmond (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde) and director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon), opens at the Savoy Theatre this week. Meet The Plastics – Regina, Gretchen and Karen. They rule North Shore High and will burn anyone who gets in their way. Home-schooled Cady Heron may think she knows a thing or two about survival of the fittest thanks to her zoologist mom, but high school is a whole new level of savage. When Cady devises a plan to end Regina's reign, she learns the hard way that you can't cross a queen bee without getting stung. Expect iconic characters, razor-sharp wit, and killer songs. Grab your friends and your cool mom, this is going to be fetch – and YES London, we’re making it happen! The reign has begun. If you want to sit with us, book your tickets and don’t forget…we wear pink! MEAN GIRLS is now booking to 16 February 2025, tickets are priced from £25 with over 50,000 tickets at £40 and under. Rush rate tickets at £25 available for every MEAN GIRLS performance, in clear view locations. The rush rate is available through the TodayTix app. MEAN GIRLS access performances currently on sale are as follows – Audio Described on Saturday 7 September at 2.30pm, Captioned Performance on Saturday 14 September at 2.30pm and British Sign Language on Saturday 21 September at 2.30pm. Originally released in 2004, Tina Fey’s hilarious and relatable portrayal of high school life struck a chord with audiences across the globe and the film's whip-smart satire, iconic catchphrases, and unforgettable characters made it a phenomenon that remains a cultural touchstone to this day. BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE. Up Up

Back to Productions KENREX: A TRUE CRIME THRILLER This production began performances in December 2025 and runs until 1 February 2026. BOOK HERE. ‘911, what’s your emergency?’ ‘My husband… they shot him… they all did.’ July 10th, 1981, Missouri. Smalltown bully, Ken Rex McElroy rules Skidmore with an iron fist. His ten year reign of terror has involved theft, intimidation, assault, abduction and attempted murder but, thanks to his slippery defence attorney and the rusty cogs of the American justice system, Ken has never spent a night behind bars. But, when Ken shoots pillar of the community, greengrocer Bo Bowenkamp and leaves him for dead, the good folk of Skidmore decide that enough is enough. If the courts won’t bring Ken to heel, they will. Direct from an acclaimed run at Sheffield Theatres, receiving 5-star reviews from The Daily Telegraph and WhatsOnStage, KENREX is the unbelievable true story of a community taking back control — part True Crime, part Western, with a foot-stomping live Americana soundtrack. From the Olivier-nominated creators of Cruise , comes a bold new theatrical event that grips like your favourite True Crime box set – raw, relentless and impossible to look away! Trigger warnings: This production contains haze, flashing lights, strobe lighting, loud noises, gunshot sound effects, depiction of physical violence and death, strong language, and references to grooming, rape, sexual and physical abuse. CAST JACK HOLDEN - Performer FABIAN BEVAN - Understudy CREATIVES JACK HOLDEN and ED STAMBOLLOUIAN - Writers JOHN PATRICK ELLIOT - Composer ED STAMBOLLOUIAN - Director ANISHA FIELDS - Set and Costume Designer JOSHUA PHARO - Lighting and Video Designer GILES THOMAS - Sound Designer SARAH GOLDING - Movement Director JAMES ANDERTON - Production Manager JEN DAVEY - Company Stage Manager on Book BYRON LADD-CARR - Sound no. 1 KELLY BURKE - Voice of Annette Parker JAMES SOBOL KELLY - Voice of David Baird

Back to News & Press The Inheritance wins South Bank Sky Arts Award Sunday, 7 July 2019 This latest win adds to The Inheritance ’s accolades having already picked up Best Play at the 2019 Olivier Awards, Critics’ Circle Awards, Evening Standard Theatre Awards and WhatsOnStage Awards. Matthew Lopez ’s The Inheritance , directed by Stephen Daldry , transfers to Broadway this autumn where it begins previews on 27th September. As part of his acceptance speech, Matthew Lopez commented, ‘Thank you for this. I’m incredibly proud to win this award the same weekend that London (the hometown of my heart) is celebrating Pride. My play is about the legacy of AIDS and its effects on the lives of gay men. But this weekend most especially I pray for a cornucopia of new queer theatre in the coming seasons to challenge us, delight us, to uplift and amplify the voices of everyone in our community. The Inheritance is just one chapter in a bigger saga that is still being written. We must support more queer writers of color. We must support trans writers and theatre artists, we must seek out the 7-hour play about lesbian history and the lives of queer woman. Until all our voices are heard, the success of The Inheritance will have been pointless. Please seek out our stories. We are desperate to tell them. Thank you for this award. Thank you London for embracing our play with such ferocious love. Happy Pride!’ Up Up

Back to News & Press To Kill A Mockingbird opens in the West End to critical acclaim and immediately extends due to public demand Thursday, 31 March 2022 Barry Diller and Sonia Friedman today announce the extension of the critically acclaimed West End production of Harper Lee ’s To Kill a Mockingbird – a new play by Aaron Sorkin – with the production now running at the Gielgud Theatre until 19 November, 2022. Bartlett Sher directs a cast of over thirty - Rafe Spall (Atticus Finch), Harry Attwell (Mr Cunningham/Boo Radley), Amanda Boxer (Mrs Henry Dubose), Poppy Lee Friar (Mayella Ewell), John Hastings (Bailiff), Simon Hepworth (Mr Roscoe/Dr Reynolds), Laura Howard (Miss Stephanie/Dill’s Mother), Lloyd Hutchinson (Link Deas), Gwyneth Keyworth (Scout Finch), Tom Mannion (Sheriff Heck Tate), David Moorst (Dill Harris), Pamela Nomvete (Calpurnia), Jim Norton (Judge Taylor), Patrick O’Kane (Bob Ewell), Jude Owusu (Tom Robinson), Harry Redding (Jem Finch), David Sturzaker (Horace Gilmer) and Natasha Williams (Mrs Dubose’s Maid), with Helen Belbin , Laurence Belcher , Paul Birchard , Ryan Ellsworth , Rebecca Hayes , Danny Hetherington , Matthew Jure , Anna Munden, Tiwai Muza, Oyin Orija and Itoya Osagiede making up the ensemble and understudies, with Candida Caldicot on organ and Frank Dawkins on guitar. To Kill a Mockingbird is running the All Rise ticket scheme in an exclusive partnership with TodayTix , offering £15 seats for every performance across the run. The initiative provides access at affordable prices to as wide an audience as possible. More than 1,400 tickets will be released each month. So far more than 2,000 tickets have been sold via the scheme with a further 10,000 being made available through to November starting from next week. In addition to the All Rise initiative, there is an opportunity to purchase £15 tickets via Today Tix daily rush – where a limited number of additional seats will be available on each performance day via the app. The TodayTix app can be downloaded onto iOs or Android devices for free via the app store; or you can access online via TodayTix.com. Set in Maycomb, Alabama in 1934, To Kill a Mockingbird has provided American literature with some of its most indelible characters: lawyer Atticus Finch, the tragically wronged Tom Robinson, Atticus’ daughter Scout, her brother Jem, their housekeeper and caretaker Calpurnia and the reclusive Arthur “Boo” Radley. For the past six decades and for every generation, this story, its characters and portrait of small-town America have helped to, and continue to, inspire conversation and change. Harper Lee’s enduring story of racial injustice and childhood innocence has sold more than 45 million copies of the novel worldwide. 2020 marked the 60th anniversary of its publication. Sher and the original Broadway creative team - Miriam Buether (Set), Ann Roth (Costume), Jennifer Tipton (Lighting), Scott Lehrer (Sound), Adam Guettel (Original Score), Kimberly Grigsby (Music Supervision) and Campbell Young Associates (Hair & Wigs) – are joined by Serena Hill as Casting Director, Hazel Holder as Voice & Dialect Coach, Titas Halder as Associate Director, Rasheka Christie-Carter as Assistant Director, Tavia Rivée Jefferson as Cultural Coordinator, and Candida Caldicot as Musical Director. For latest news sign up at www.tokillamockingbird.co.uk . Up Up

Back to News & Press Hamlet to transfer to Harold Pinter Theatre in June Monday, 27 March 2017 Olivier Award-winning director, Robert Icke ’s (Mary Stuart , The Red Barn , Uncle Vanya , Oresteia , Mr Burns and 1984 ), ground-breaking and electrifying production of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet , starring BAFTA award-winner Andrew Scott (Moriarty in BBC’s Sherlock, Denial, Spectre, Design For Living and Cock) in the title role, will transfer to the Harold Pinter Theatre, following a critically acclaimed and sell out run at the Almeida Theatre. Hamlet will run for a limited season only from 9 June to 2 September 2017 with press night on Thursday 15 June. Hamlet is produced by Ambassador Theatre Group (Sunday In The Park With George , Buried Child , Oresteia ), Sonia Friedman Productions and the Almeida Theatre (Chimerica , Ghosts , King Charles III , 1984 , Oresteia ), who are renowned for introducing groundbreaking, critically acclaimed transfers to the West End. Rupert Goold , Artistic Director, Almeida Theatre said "We’re delighted that with this transfer more people will be able to experience our production of Hamlet . Robert, Andrew, and the entire Hamlet company have created an unforgettable Shakespeare which we’re looking forward to sharing even more widely over the summer in partnership with Sonia Friedman Productions and ATG.” Robert Icke , Director (and Almeida Theatre Associate Director) said “It has been such a thrill to work with Andrew and the extraordinary company of Hamlet on this play so far, and I'm delighted we're going to continue our work on this play in the West End this summer. I'm also extremely proud to be working with the Almeida and our producers, Adam Speers from ATG and Sonia Friedman, to be able to present this play in a way that genuinely throws the doors open to a bigger range of audience members. In an increasingly expensive industry, I can't tell you how brilliant it is for them to commit to having 300 tickets priced at under £30 at every single show." Andrew Scott , playing Hamlet, "I'm so thrilled and honoured to be playing this extraordinary role with these brilliant actors in Rob's stunning production. We have been overwhelmed with the reaction to our interpretation of Hamlet and I'm so happy that we can share it with a larger audience. This is a play full of heart, compassion and humanity. I'm so happy that we are able to offer 300 tickets for under £30 to every performance in the West End run to allow everybody a chance to see the play." The confirmed cast for the transfer of Robert Icke ’s production includes Marty Cruickshank (Player Queen), Jessica Brown Findlay (Ophelia), Calum Finlay (Rosencrantz), Joshua Higgott (Horatio), Daniel Rabin (Reynaldo), David Rintoul (Ghost/Player King), Andrew Scott (Hamlet), Juliet Stevenson (Gertrude), Luke Thompson (Laertes), Peter Wight (Polonius), Angus Wright (Claudius) and Matthew Wynn (Bernardo/Player 3/Priest). Further cast will be announced in due course. Hamlet was design by Hildegard Bechtler , with lighting by Natasha Chivers , sound by Tom Gibbons , and video design by Tal Yarden . The Associate Director is Daniel Raggett . Casting is by Julia Horan . Multi award-winning Director, Robert Icke , has adapted/directed at the Almeida Theatre Mary Stuart , Uncle Vanya , Oresteia (also West End, and for which Icke won the Critics' Circle, Evening Standard and Olivier Award for Best Director) and the multi-award-winning 1984 with Duncan Macmillan (also West End as well as playing several UK and international tours, and a forthcoming Broadway run at the newly opened Hudson Theater). His work as a director includes The Fever at The May Fair Hotel, Mr Burns at the Almeida, Boys and Romeo and Juliet for Headlong. He made his National Theatre debut directing The Red Barn , at the Lyttelton Theatre in October 2016 starring Mark Strong and Elizabeth Debicki. Up Up

Back to News & Press Stranger Things: The First Shadow launches Shadow Seats initiative for West End Run Wednesday, 25 October 2023 Ahead of previews starting on 17 November at the Phoenix Theatre, Stranger Things: The First Shadow announces today the launch of the Shadow Seats ticket initiative in an exclusive partnership with TodayTix , offering £19.59 seats for every performance across the run. The initiative aims to provide access at affordable prices to as wide an audience as possible. Shadow Seats are ELEVEN pairs of tickets that exist in another dimension. These will not be visible on the main booking page and include the front row of the stalls. Audiences can enter to win a pair of tickets via the lottery on the TodayTix app every Friday from 3 November onwards. The first winners will be drawn on 6 November – Stranger Things Day – for performances in previews. Producer Sonia Friedman said, “We are delighted to launch our Shadow Seats initiative today for Stranger Things: The First Shadow . Offering accessibly priced tickets available to all, in great locations in the house to every performance, with the hope that theatre lovers alongside new audiences can discover the joy and thrill of live theatre is something we are extremely passionate about.” The TodayTix app can be downloaded onto iOs or Android devices for free via the app store. Up Up

Back to Productions A DAY IN THE DEATH OF JOE EGG This production began performances on 25th September 2001 and closed on 26th January 2002. Sonia Friedman for the Ambassador Theatre Group and Adam Kenwright presnt “A DAY IN THE LIFE OF JOE EGG ” by Peter Nichols . CAST CLIVE OWEN/EDDIE IZZARD – Bri VICTORIA HAMILTON – Sheila ELIZABETH HOLMES-GWILLIM/SEOPHIE BLEASDALE – Joe JOHN WARNABY – Freddie ROBIN WEAVER – Pam PRUNELLA SCALES – Grace CREATIVES PETER NICHOLS – Playwright LAURENCE BOSWELL – Director ES DEVLIN – Designer ADAM SILVERMAN – Lighting Designer FERGUS O'HARE – Sound Designer

Back to News & Press Kathleen Turner and Ian McDiarmid star in new play, Bakersfield Mist Friday, 24 January 2014 Kathleen Turner and Ian McDiarmid will star in new play, Bakersfield Mist by Stephen Sachs, directed by Polly Teale, which will open at the Duchess Theatre on 27 May, with previews from 10 May 2014. Inspired by true events, this new play by Stephen Sachs asks vital questions about what makes art and people truly authentic. Bakersfield Mist marks the return to the London stage of multi award-winner Kathleen Turner for the first time since her tour-de-force performance in Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? She will play opposite Olivier and Tony award-winner Ian McDiarmid (Life of Galileo, Faith Healer) directed by Evening Standard award-winner, Polly Teale. Maude, a fifty-something unemployed bartender, has bought a painting for a few bucks from the thrift store. Despite almost trashing it, she now thinks it’s a Jackson Pollock worth millions. In fact she’s certain it is. But when world-class art expert, Lionel Percy, flies over from New York and arrives at her trailer park home in Bakersfield to authenticate the painting, he really has no idea what he is about to discover. Kathleen Turner said “The shock and humour of diametrically opposed cultures with the transformative power of art – pure joy." Ian McDiarmid said "I liked the idea and comic potential of two passionately opinionated cultural opposites engaged in a life-changing battle for the soul of a great painter." Kathleen Turner plays Maude. Turner has garnered much critical acclaim for her starring performances on the big screen in a wide variety of films such as: Body Heat (for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe), Romancing The Stone and Prizzi's Honor (winning a Golden Globe Award for each), Peggy Sue Got Married (which brought Turner both an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe nomination), and War of the Roses (which also received another Golden Globe nomination). Turner's extensive film credits also embrace The Man with Two Brains with Steve Martin, Jewel of the Nile with Michael Douglas, The Accidental Tourist, V.I. Warshawski, John Waters' Serial Mom, Naked in New York, Moonlight and Valentino, The Real Blonde and Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides. Recent screen work includes the major recurring role of Sue Collini on Showtime’s hit series, Californication, as well as the starring role in the independent film The Perfect Family. In 2014 she will star in the eagerly anticipated sequel Dumb and Dumber To, alongside Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. Turner’s extensive stage work includes starring roles on Broadway in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (for which she received a Tony nomination) and Indiscretions, as well as The Graduate and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? which both ran on Broadway and the West End (the latter earning her a second Tony nomination). In 2012 Turner also directed and starred in The Killing of Sister George at the Long Wharf Theater in Connecticut. She has also recently starred as Molly Ivins in Red Hot Patriot: The Kick Ass Wit of Molly Ivins (Philadelphia Theater Center, the Geffen in LA and Arena Stage in DC), as a nun in High (Broadway and US tour) and is currently appearing in the title role in Mother Courage at Arena Stage in DC, which runs until 9 March 2014. In addition to her film and stage credits, Turner wrote of her many accomplishments and life experiences in her 2008 autobiography titled Send Yourself Roses: Thoughts on my Life, Love, and Leading Roles, which secured a position on the New York Times’ Best-Seller List. Ian McDiarmid plays Lionel Percy. Previous roles include Faith Healer (Almeida, Dublin’s The Gate and Broadway winning a Tony and UK Critics’ Circle Award and nominations for Broadway’s Critics’ Circle, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle awards for Best Actor), Life of Galileo (RSC), Timon of Athens (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Emperor and Galilean (National Theatre) and Henry IV (Donmar). Alongside Jonathan Kent, McDiarmid served as artistic director of the Almeida Theatre from 1990 – 2001, for which they jointly won a Special Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Achievement. McDiarmid’s directing work includes The Possibilities, Scenes from an Execution, Lulu, A Hard Heart, Siren Song and Venice Perserv’d (Almeida), The Rehearsal (Almeida/West End) and Don Juan (Manchester Royal Exchange), where he was Associate Artistic Director. On film McDiarmid is internationally known for playing the role of Darth Sidious/Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars film series. Other film work includes Sleepy Hollow, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Restoration. Television work includes Utopia, Margaret, City of Vice, Our Hidden Lives, Elizabeth I, Charles II, Crime and Punishment, All The King’s Men, Great Expectations, An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, Touching Evil, Rebecca, Hillsborough, Cold Lazarus and Heart of Darkness. In 2014 he will play former Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey in the BBC drama 37 Days, which covers the weeks preceding the First World War, also starring Sinead Cusack and Tim Piggott-Smith. Polly Teale has created a unique body of work as a writer and director that has won critical and audience acclaim with productions transferring to the West End and touring internationally. An award-winning theatre practitioner, she has been artistic director of Shared Experience since 1995. She has also authored a number of original plays and stage adaptations, including the trilogy Jane Eyre, Brontë, and After Mrs Rochester for which she won the Evening Standard Award for Best Director and the Time Out Award for Best West End Production. Other directing credits include Bracken Moor, Mary Shelley, Speechless (co-writer/director), The Glass Menagerie, Mine (writer/director), Ten Tiny Toes, Kindertransport, Madame Bovary, The Clearing, A Doll’s House, The House of Bernarda Alba, Desire Under the Elms, Babies And Uganda and, as co-director, War and Peace (co-production with National Theatre) and Mill on the Floss. Brontë has been adapted for a major feature film for Film Squared/Pathé. Stephen Sachs is an award-winning playwright and director, and the Co-Artistic Director of the Fountain Theater in Los Angeles. As playwright, his plays include Heart Song (Los Angeles 2013, Florida Rep 2014), Cyrano (LA Drama Critics Circle Award for Best New Play, Ovation Award nomination), Bakersfield Mist (Critic’s Choice LA Times, 2012 Elliot Norton Award for Best New Play, published by Smith & Kraus in “Best Plays of 2012”), Miss Julie: Freedom Summer (LADCC and LA Weekly Award nominations), Gilgamesh (Theater@Boston Court), Open Window (Pasadena Playhouse, Media Access Award), Central Avenue (PEN USA Literary Award Finalist), Sweet Nothing in my Ear (PEN USA Literary Award Finalist, Media Access Award), Mother's Day, The Golden Gate (Best Play Award, Dramalogue), and The Baron in the Trees. He wrote the teleplay for Sweet Nothing in my Ear for Hallmark Hall of Fame which aired on CBS, starring Marlee Matlin and Jeff Daniels. As a director Sachs has been nominated for the SDC 2012 Zelda Fichandler Award, recognizing an outstanding director who is making a unique and exceptional contribution to theatre in their region. Bakersfield Mist is produced in the West End by Nica Burns and Sonia Friedman Productions in association with Darren Bagert/Martin Massman and Chris & Kelbe Bensinger Up Up

Back to News & Press Audible Theater and TOGETHER Complete Triumphant Collaboration at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre in New York City Thursday, 19 June 2025 Audible Theater and TOGETHER , the new theatrical venture founded by Sonia Friedman and Hugh Jackman , proudly conclude their collaboration at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre in New York City, celebrating an extraordinary eight weeks of critically acclaimed new work, industry-shaping events, and exceptional audience engagement. This also marked TOGETHER’s inaugural season. Sonia Friedman and Hugh Jackman said, “This inaugural season has been profoundly fulfilling – artistically, emotionally, and in the partnerships we’ve formed. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve begun to build together with Ian Rickson, the actors, the writers, and all our exceptional collaborators – especially the tireless team at Audible Theater. This is just the beginning. We’re committed to continuing and building on all we’ve learned in this first season, with more new work to come. TOGETHER will be back in New York next year – more to share soon.” Jeremy Blocker , Audible Head of Live Creative Producing, said, “Our collaboration with TOGETHER has been an unparalleled success, and we’re proud to have teamed up with them on their inaugural season. Providing audiences here in New York access to the work of these brilliant artists has been a wonderful first step. We look forward to the global release of these two plays as Audible Originals later this fall and to extending the life and impact of these remarkable works.” TOGETHER ’s first season was headlined by two acclaimed, sold-out plays directed by Ian Rickson and presented in repertory – the New York premiere of Hannah Moscovitch ’s Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes , with Ella Beatty and Hugh Jackman , and Jen Silverman ’s new adaptation of August Strindberg’s Creditors , with Liev Schreiber , Maggie Siff , and Justice Smith . Both plays, which received “Critics’ Picks” from The New York Times , were recorded in audio during their runs and will be released globally on Audible this fall – Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes on October 9 and Creditors on November 13 – as Audible Originals , extending their reach to millions of listeners around the world. As part of a unique collaboration aimed at removing barriers to the performing arts, Audible Theater and TOGETHER distributed over 13,000 affordable and complimentary tickets to community organizations over the course of the run. They worked with TDF to offer complimentary tickets for 25% of the house at every performance to a range of community organizations. Another 25% of tickets were made available for purchase on the day of each performance through a digital lottery and in-person at the box office, priced at $35. Audible Theater and TOGETHER also curated a variety of accompanying events at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre. Four Monday night readings, attended for free by approximately 800 patrons, included Mingus by Tyler English-Beckwith , directed by Kenny Leon , with Taye Diggs and Olivia Washington ; Where Storms Are Born by Harrison David Rivers , directed by Miranda Haymon , with Joshua Boone , Kecia Lewis , Okieriete Onaodowan , Malika Samuel , Britton Smith , and Ar'iel Stachel ; Venus by Steve Yockey , directed by Dara Malina , with Merle Dandridge andZosia Mamet ; and The Sandwich Ministry by Miranda Rose Hall , directed by Ian Rickson , with Sutton Foster , Midori Francis , and Myra Lucretia Taylor . Additionally, three well-attended artist workshops were held during the residency, two post-show cast-talkbacks and two panel discussions with panelists including Isaac Butler , Rachel Chavkin , Moisés Kaufman , James Ijames , Itamar Moses , and Lila Neugebauer were enjoyed by hundreds of patrons following their performances. Up Up