Back to News & Press 1984 extends run due to unprecedented demand Sunday, 18 May 2014 Due to unprecedented demand, a 5 week extension is announced today for the Headlong, Nottingham Playhouse and Almeida Theatre production of 1984, a critically acclaimed adaptation by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan. The production will now run at the West End’s Playhouse Theatre until 23 August 2014 (previously 19th July 2013), prior to a second UK tour in the autumn, as previously announced. Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan’s adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984 opened in the West End on 28 April, transferring directly from the Almeida Theatre. 1984 is written and directed by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan, set and costume designed by Chloe Lamford, with lighting designed by Natasha Chivers, sound designed by Tom Gibbons and video designed by Tim Reid. Originally produced by Headlong and Nottingham Playhouse, 1984 had its world premiere at Nottingham Playhouse in September and went on to enjoy a hugely successful UK tour and a 7-week run at the Almeida Theatre. George Orwell’s 1984, published in 1949, is one of the most influential novels in recent history, with its chilling depiction of perpetual war, pervasive government surveillance and incessant public mind-control. Its ideas have become our ideas, and Orwell’s fiction is often said to be our reality. Filtering the spirit and the ambition of the novel through the lens of contemporary culture, this radical new staging explores surveillance culture, identity and how thinking you can fly might actually be the first step to flying. Up Up

Back to Productions THE SHARK IS BROKEN – BROADWAY This production begins performances on 25th July and officially opens on 10th August for a strictly-limited 16 week run. ★★★★ Did I mention waves? Get ready for this play to make some. Do they need a bigger boat? Actually, I think they are going to need a bigger theatre — and soon. The Times Martha’s Vineyard, 1974: Shooting on Jaws has stalled. The film’s lead actors – Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss – are stuck on a boat, at the mercy of foul weather and a faulty mechanical co-star. Awash with alcohol and ambition, three hammered sharks start to bare their teeth… ★★★★ Something unexpectedly profound and emotionally serrated lurks below the apparently frothy surface of this dive behind the scenes of the making of JAWS. The Telegraph Nominated for Best Comedy Play at the 2022 Olivier Awards and co-written by Robert Shaw’s son Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon , this brilliantly funny play, directed by Guy Masterson , reveals the hilarious and moving behind-the-scenes drama on one of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters. ★★★★★ This play packs plenty of bite. Metro CAST IAN SHAW – Robert Shaw ALEX BRIGHTMAN – Richard Dreyfuss COLLIN DONNELL – Roy Scheider CREATIVES IAN SHAW & JOSEPH NIXON – Playwrights GUY MASTERSON – Director DUNCAN HENDERSON – Costume Designer JON CLARK – Lighting Designer ADAM CORK – Sound Designer and Original Music NINA DUNN – Video Designer JIM CARNHAN CASTING – Casting

Back to Productions MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION - CINEMA ★★★★★ "Mrs. Warren's Profession has only grown more incendiary in the hundred years since its first performance" Broadway World "I am my mother’s daughter. I am like you. But my work is not your work, and my way is not your way.” Vivie Warren is a woman ahead of her time. Estranged from her wealthy mother, she delights in a glass of whisky, a good detective story, and is determined to carve herself a sparkling legal career in an age ruled by men. Her mother, however, is a product of that old patriarchal order. Exploiting it has earned Mrs. Warren a fortune and paid for her daughter’s expensive education - but at what cost? ★★★★ "Imelda Staunton is typically amazing in this startlingly fresh drama" Time Out Four-time Olivier Award winner Imelda Staunton (The Crown ) joins forces with her real-life daughter Bridgerton’s Bessie Carter for the very first time, reuniting with the extraordinary director Dominic Cooke (Hello, Dolly!, Good ) to bring George Bernard Shaw’s incendiary moral classic crashing into the 21st Century. ★★★★ "Imelda Staunton and her daughter are superbly matched" The Independent CAST IMELDA STAUNTON – Kitty Warren BESSIE CARTER – Vivie Warren KEVIN DOYLE – Rev. Samuel Gardner ROBERT GLENISTER – Sir George Crofts REUBEN JOSEPH – Frank Gardner SID SAGAR – Mr. Praed LIZZIE SCHENK - Understudy Vivie Warren BENJAMIN WESTERBY - Understudy Mr. Praed & Frank Gardner LIZ IZEN - Understudy Mrs. Kitty Warren ROB ALEXANDER-ADAMS - Understudy Sir George Crofts & Rev. Samuel Gardner CREATIVES GEORGE BERNARD SHAW – Playwright DOMINIC COOKE – Director

Back to News & Press Casting update for West End transfer of Lucy Kirkwood's five star Chimerica Monday, 1 July 2013 The cast comprises Stephen Campbell Moore, Benedict Wong, Claudie Blakley, Elizabeth Chan, Vera Chok, Karl Collins, Trevor Cooper, Nancy Crane, Sean Gilder, Sarah Lam, Andrew Leung and David K. S. Tse, all of whom will reprise their roles in the West End. Set designs are by Es Devlin with costumes by Christina Cunningham, lighting by Tim Lutkin, sound by Carolyn Downing and video design by Finn Ross. Tiananmen Square, 1989. As tanks roll through Beijing and soldiers hammer on his hotel door, Joe – a young American photojournalist – captures a piece of history. When a cryptic message is left in a Beijing newspaper more than 20 years later, Joe is driven to discover the truth behind the unknown hero he captured on film. Who was he? What happened to him? And could he still be alive? Chimerica is a Headlong and Almeida Theatre co-production produced in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions, Bob Bartner & Norman Tulchin, Jean Doumanian and the Almeida Theatre. Up Up

Back to Productions MACBETH This production began performances on 7th November 2002 and closed on 1st March 2003. After defeating a rebel uprising led by the Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth and Banquo meet three Weird Sisters on a heath… CAST SEAN BEAN – Macbeth SAMANTHA BOND – Lady Macbeth JULIAN GLOVER – Duncan ADRIAN SCHILLER – Malcolm BARNABY KAY – Banquo MARK BAZELEY – Macduff CREATIVES WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE – Playwright EDWARD HALL – Director IAN SPINK – Movement MICHAEL PAVELKA – Designer BEN ORMEROD – Lighting Designer SIMON SLATER – Music MATT MCKENZIE – Sound Designer

Back to Productions ABSENT FRIENDS This production began performances on 26th January and closed on 14th April 2012. ★★★★ The Telegraph When Colin loses his fiancée, his married friends invite him round for comfort over tea and sandwiches. As the tea starts to pour, it's clear that trouble is brewing with a wickedly funny blend of jealousy, infidelity and barely concealed loathing. Tension starts to boil and maybe Colin isn’t the one who needs help… with friends like these, who needs enemies? ★★★★ Evening Standard Absent Friends premiered in 1974 at the Stephen Joseph Theatre and received its London premiere a year later at the Garrick Theatre. Sonia Friedman Productions has previously produced Ayckbourn ’s The Norman Conquests which, following its sell-out run at the Old Vic, transferred triumphantly to Broadway in 2009. Sonia Friedman Productions , Robert G. Barnter & Norman Tulchin, Rupert Gavin and Douglas G. Smith present “ABSENT FRIENDS ” by Alan Ayckbourn . ★★★★ The Times CAST REEXE SHEARSMITH – Colin KATHERINE PARKINSON – Diana KARA TOINTON – Evelyn DAVID ARMAND – John ELIZABETH BERRINGTON – Marge STEFFAN RHODRI – Paul CREATIVES JEREMY HERRIN – Director TOM SCUTT – Designer PETER MUMFORD – Lighting Designer IAN DICKINSON – Sound Designer

Back to News & Press Casting announced for the new West End company of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two Sunday, 14 August 2022 The producers of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions – are delighted to confirm casting for the new Company who’ll begin performances at London’s Palace Theatre on 13 October 2022. In addition, the original two-part multi-award-winning production is now extending booking to 30 July 2023. Sam Crane will play Harry Potter, with Frances Grey as Ginny Potter and Thomas Grant who will play their son Albus Potter. Thomas Aldridge and Michelle Gayle continue as Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger and Grace Wylde will play their daughter Rose Granger-Weasley. James Howard continues as Draco Malfoy and Adam Wadsworth will play his son Scorpius Malfoy. They are joined by Gabriel Akamo, Troy Alexander, Harry Ames, David Annen, Sue Appleby, Sabina Cameron, Phil Cheadle, Robert Curtis, Tim Dewberry, Iskandar Eaton, Lewis Edgar, Jack Gardner, Jemma Gould, Kelton Hoyland, April Hughes, Max Hutchinson, Emma Louise Jones, Tom Mackean, David Mara, Henry Maynard, Kathryn Meisle, Gigi Noel-King, Melaina Pecorini, Niamh Perry, Ruchi Rai, Ian Redford, Rosalind Steele, Tom Storey, Joshua Talbot, Susan Vidler and Wreh-asha Walton. Fletcher Bell, Alice Langton-Farrell, Max Forde, Lottie Grey, Rafferty Ison, Abbiegail Mills and Harry Munson, who will alternate two children’s roles, complete the 46-strong company. To book tickets to see the show, click here . Up Up

Back to News & Press Sonia Friedman Productions wins 4 Olivier Awards, including Best New Play Sunday, 8 April 2018 We are delighted to announce that Jez Butterworth ’s The Ferryman was awarded 3 Olivier Awards at last night’s ceremony, taking home Best New Play , Best Director (Sam Mendes ) and Best Actress for Laura Donnelly ’s performance as Caitlin Carney. Bertie Carvel was also amongst last night’s winners for his portrayal of Rupert Murdoch in James Graham ’s Olivier-nominated Ink , taking home the award for Best Supporting Actor . Up Up

Back to Productions A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC – BROADWAY This production began performances on 24th November 2009, with opening night on 13th December, and closed on 9th January 2011. An indelible moment in the history of musical theater. The New York Times Based on Ingmar Bergman's film Smiles of a Summer Night, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC is set in a weekend country house in turn of the century Sweden, bringing together surprising liaisons, long simmering passions and a taste of love's endless possibilities. Hailed as witty and wildly romantic, the story centres on the elegant actress Desirée Armfeldt and the spider's web of sensuality, intrigue and desire surrounding her. It doesn't get better than this! The stuff of theater legend! NY1 News Tony, Grammy & Golden Globe Award winner Bernadette Peters and Tony & Emmy Award winner Elaine Stritch return to Broadway in Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s Tony Award-winning masterpiece A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, directed by Tony Award-winner Trevor Nunn. One for the books! New York Post CAST BERNADETTE PETERS – Desiree Armfeldt ELAINE STRITCH – Madame Armfeldt CREATIVES STEPHEN SONDHEIM – Music and Lyrics HUGH WHEELER – Book TREVOR NUNN – Director DAVID FARLEY – Set and Costume Designer CAROLINE HUMPHRIES – Musical Supervision LYNNE PAGE – Choreography HARTLEY T. A. KEMP – Lighting Designer GARETH OWEN – Sound Designer PAUL HUNTLEY – Wig Designer JASON CARR – Orchestrations TOM MURRAY – Musical Director

Back to Productions NO MAN'S LAND This production began performances on 7th October 2008 and closed on 3rd January 2009. ★★★★ Watching these two great actors play off each other with such panache.... is a rare privilege and a profound pleasure Daily Telegraph From the pen of one of the greatest living playwrights, comes Nobel Prize laureate Harold Pinter's tragicomic gem about two aging writers, Hirst and Spooner. After meeting on Hampstead Heath, they return home for a late-night session of witty banter, sinister power games, and the worship of alcohol, watched by Hirst's henchman, Briggs and Foster. This unique and haunting play is part mystery drama, part homage to the ghosts of the past and the fiction of memory. ★★★★ Walliams dazzles.....Rupert Goold's revelatory production... Chilling, thrilling Pinter in dreamland....illuminating Evening Standard Rupert Goold directs Michael Gambon , David Bradley , David Walliams and Nick Dunning in Harold Pinter 's No Man's Land , now playing at the Duke of York's Theatre, currently booking until 3 January 2009. A Gate Theatre, Dublin production, No Man's Land is presented by Sonia Friedman Productions and Michael Colgan , with design by Giles Cadle , lighting by Neil Austin and sound and music by Adam Cork . Goold's production transferred to London following its opening at the Gate Theatre, Dublin in August. No Man's Land received its world premiere in 1975 in a National Theatre production at the Old Vic, with Peter Hall directing a stellar cast which included Michael Feast, John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson and Terence Rigby. In 1992, Pinter played Hirst in the Almeida Theatre production, directed by David Leveaux, and in 2001 directed his play for the National Theatre with Danny Dyer, Corin Redgrave, Andy de la Tour and John Wood. No Man's Land was first produced at the Gate Theatre, Dublin in 1997 to great acclaim as part of the Theatre's second Pinter Festival. If you want to see two actors giving peerless masterclasses then go and watch Michael Gambon and David Bradley stun you in Harold Pinter's No Man's Land Daily Mail CAST MICHAEL GAMBON – Hirst DAVID BRADLEY – Spooner DAVID WALLIAMS – Foster NICK DUNNING – Briggs CREATIVES HAROLD PINTER – Playwright RUPERT GOOLD – Director GILES CADLE – Designer NEIL AUSTIN – Lighting ADAM CORK – Sound and Music

Back to Productions CHIMERICA This production began performances on 6th August and closed on 13th October 2013. ★★★★★ Epic, exhilarating, exceptional Daily Telegraph Tiananmen Square, 1989. As tanks roll through Beijing and soldiers hammer on his hotel door, Joe – a young American photojournalist – captures a piece of history. When a cryptic message is left in a Beijing newspaper more than 20 years later, Joe is driven to discover the truth behind the unknown hero he captured on film. Who was he? What happened to him? And could he still be alive? ★★★★★ Lucy Kirkwood’s magnificent drama. A towering achievement Evening Standard The Headlong and Almeida Theatre's five-star sold-out co-production of Lucy Kirkwood 's new play Chimerica will play at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 6 August for a strictly limited 11-week run. Directed by Lyndsey Turner , Chimerica received its world premiere last month at the Almeida Theatre where it has subsequently been acclaimed by critics and audiences alike. Sonia Friedman Productions , Tulchin Bartner Productions , Jean Doumanian and the Almeida Theatre , in association with 1001 Nights , Scott M Delman , JFL Theatricals /Tanya Link Productions , Burnt Umber Productions , Michael Ostin , present The Headlong & Almeida Theatre co-production of “CHIMERICA ” by Lucy Kirkwood . ★★★★★ A dazzling, thoughtful, wonderfully ambitious drama Financial Times CAST STEPHEN CAMPBELL MOORE – Joe Schofield BENEDICT WONG – Zhang Lin CLAUDIE BLAKLEY – Tessa Kendrick ELIZABETH CHAN – Liuli/Jennifer VERA CHOK/WENDY KWEH – Michelle/Marcy Chang/Deng KARL COLLINS – David/Peter/Paul/Office Hyte TREVOR COOPER – Frank NANCY CRANE – Susanna Schofield SEAN GLIDER – Mel Stanwyck SARAH LAM/LIZ SUTHERLAND – Feng Meihiu/Ming Xiaoli ANDREW LEUNG – Young Zhang Lin/Benny DAVID K S TSE – Zhang Wei/Wang Pengsi ROSIE ARMSTRONG – Ensemble TINA CHIANG – Ensemble CHRIS HOLLNSHEAD – Ensemble MATH SAMS – Ensemble KEVIN SHEN – Ensemble CREATIVES LUCY KIRKWOOD – Playwright LYNDSEY TURNER – Director ES DEVLIN – Set Designer TIM LUTKIN – Lighting Designer CAROLYN DOWNING – Sound Designer FINN ROSS – Video Designer CHRISTINA CUNNINGHAM – Costume Designer

Back to Productions ELECTRA This production began performances on 22nd September and closed on 20th December 2014. ★★★★ Evening Standard Frank McGuinness delivers a charged adaptation of the classic drama of Electra and Orestes’ revenge on their father’s murderers. ★★★★ The Guardian Director Ian Rickson and Kristin Scott Thomas reunite to bring Sophocles ’ tragedy to The Old Vic in the round. The Old Vic and Sonia Friedman Productions present “ELECTRA ”. ★★★★ WhatsOnStage CAST KIRSTEN SCOTT THOMAS – Electra CREATIVES IAN RICKSON – Director