Back to Productions FANGIRLS This production began performances on 13th July and closed on 24th August 2024 as part of the Lyric Hammersmith's 2024 season. ★★★★★ Combining the acid wit of ‘Six’, the rebel streak of ‘Matilda‘ and the gooey heart of ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’, Yve Blake’s new musical will inspire outsized feelings and ardent devotion The Independent FANGIRLS , written and composed by Yve Blake and directed by Paige Rattray , will close the season in a six-week run from 13 July – 24 August . The multi-award-winning Australian pop musical phenomenon makes its UK premiere in a brand-new production co-produced with Sonia Friedman Productions. Edna is in love with Harry. But she’s a 14-year-old misfit and he’s a singer in the biggest boyband in the world. FANGIRLS is the embodiment of the rush of first love; an effervescent, adrenaline-fuelled, electrifying night out. ★★★★★ An extraordinary, heartfelt show that also embraces the ridiculous WhatsOnStage Get ready for an unmissable show that pulses with the soaring adrenaline of a first crush and feels like the best pop concert you’ve never been to… Meet Edna: she's 14, she’s a mistfit, and she's in love with Harry. There's just one problem: Harry’s in the world’s biggest boy band, has 38 million fans, and doesn't know she exists. When Harry’s band announces a tour stop in Edna's hometown of Sydney, Australia, she knows this is her destiny – her one chance to meet him. But how on EARTH will she get Harry's attention?! And exactly how far is she prepared to go in the name of love? If you think this is just a story about loving a boy band... think again. FANGIRLS is a thrilling and subversive musical comedy about the danger of underestimating teenage girls. After multiple sell-out runs across Australia, including the Sydney Opera House, this brand new production of the multi-award-winning, pop musical phenomenon FANGIRLS is about to take the UK by storm. ★★★★★ Fangirls has everything that you could want from modern musical theatre Broadway World CAST MIRACLE CHANCE (SHE/HER) – Brianna JASMINE ELCOCK (SHE/HER) – Edna MAC GILL (HE/SHE/THEY) – Greta / Ensemble (Swing / Dance Captain) THOMAS GRANE (HE/HIM) – Harry MAX JAMES HODGE (HE/HIM) – Pat / Ensemble (cover Salty / Harry) TERIWUE JARRETT (HE/HIM) – Salty DEBBIE KURUP (SHE/HER) – Caroline MARY MALONE (SHE/HER) – Jules GRACIE MCGONICAL (SHE/HER) – Lily EVE NAOMI DE LEON ALLEN (THEY/THEM) – Dom / Ensemble (cover Jules / Brianna) LENA PATTIE JONES (SHE/HER) – Ash / Ensemble (cover Edna / Lily) NICKY WONG RUSH (HE/THEY) – Odette / Ensemble (Assistant Dance Captain) CREATIVES YVE BLAKE – Book, Music and Lyrics PAIGE RATTRAY – Director DAVID FLEISCHER – Production Designer EBONY WILLIAMS – Choreographer ASH J WOODWARD – Video Designer JESSICA HUNG HAN YUN – Lighting Designer TONY GAYLE – Sound Designer ZARA STANTON – Vocal Arranger and Orchestrator DAVID MURATORE – Music Producer ALEX SARMIENTO – Associate Choreographer LAURENCE STANNARD – Associate Musical Director

Back to Productions FARINELLI AND THE KING – BROADWAY This production began performances on 5th December 2017 and closed on 25th March 2018. ★★★★★ Mark Rylance leads a pitch-perfect production The Independent King Philippe V of Spain ( Mark Rylance ), plagued by insomnia, lies awake in his chamber. The Queen, desperate for a cure, hears of Farinelli - a castrato with a voice so divine it has the power to captivate all who hear it. Philippe is astonished when Farinelli sings, and begs him to stay. But will Farinelli, one of the greatest celebrities of his time, choose a life of solitude over fame and fortune in the opera houses of Europe? ★★★★★ John Dove’s spellbinding, superbly staged production Mail on Sunday In its five-star review, The Independent hailed FARINELLI AND THE KING as a “profoundly funny and haunting meditation on the power of music in a pitch-perfect production by John Dove. Mark Rylance’s Phillipe is like the love child of Stan Laurel and Hamlet.” FARINELLI AND THE KING originally premiered to rave reviews and played a sold-out run at Shakespeare’s Globe’s Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in February 2015. The production later played a sold-out engagement in the West End in Fall 2015, where it was the highest-grossing show in the history of the Duke of York’s Theatre, and received six Olivier Award nominations. FARINELLI AND THE KING returns Mark Rylance to the Belasco, where he triumphed with the double bill staging of Twelfth Night and Richard III in the 2013-2014 season. Mark Rylance won his third Tony Award for his performance as Olivia in Twelfth Night and was also Tony-nominated for his performance in the title role of Richard III . FARINELLI AND THE KING is Mark Rylance ’s first return to Broadway since he won the 2016 Academy Award for his performance in Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies . ★★★★★ An evening that no theatre or music lover can afford to miss Sunday Express CAST MARK RYLANCE SAM CRANE HUSS GARBIYA COLIN HURLEY EDWARD PEEL IESTYN DAVIES – Singing voice of Farinelli CREATIVES CLAIRE VAN KAMPEN – Playwright JOHN DOVE – Director JONATHAN FENSOM – Set and Costume Designer CLAIRE CAN KEMPEN – Musical Arrangements

Back to News & Press The Birthday Party opens at the Harold Pinter Theatre to widespread critical acclaim Thursday, 25 January 2018 The Birthday Party - Ian Rickson 's 'immaculate production' (The Observer) is now running at the Harold Pinter Theatre for a strictly limited season. Having opened to widespread critical acclaim, this 'starry, meticulous, beautifully considered revival' (Independent) confirms that 'the ultimate Pinter revival has arrived' (The Times). ★★★★★ ‘A fantastic revival of a darkly comic masterpiece’ The Telegraph ★★★★★ ‘Ian Rickson’s superlative revival confirms afresh that this is a darkly comic masterpiece’ The Telegraph ★★★★ ‘An extravaganza of talent. You couldn’t wish for a better revival than this.’ The Times ★★★★ ‘Packed with illuminating detail, Ian Rickson’s starry production does rich justice to Harold Pinter’s captivating psychodrama’ The Guardian ★★★★ ‘Ian Rickson’s immaculate production of Harold Pinter’s seaside dreamscape’ The Observer ★★★★ ‘Ian Rickson has given us a beautifully judged, beautifully acted, powerful revival of Pinter’s first masterpiece. Gripping from start to finish.’ Sunday Times ★★★★ ‘A meticulous, beautifully considered, richly eloquent production - not to be missed.’ The Independent ★★★★ ‘Ian Rickson’s starry revival is a scrupulously precise production with a finely balanced blend of comedy and menace. Pinter's dialogue has rarely sounded sharper’ Evening Standard ★★★★ ‘A rip-roaring, wonderfully dark rendition of Pinter's masterpiece’ CityA.M. ★★★★ ‘Toby Jones is mesmerising’ The Times ★★★★ ‘Stephen Mangan plays Goldberg brilliantly’ The Guardian ★★★★ ‘Zoë Wanamaker is absolutely terrific’ The Times ★★★★ ‘Pearl Mackie is excellent’ Sunday Times ★★★★ ‘Tom Vaughan-Lawlor is compelling’ The Observer ★★★★ ‘Peter Wight is superb’ The Independent Up Up

Back to Productions THE SUNSHINE BOYS – L.A. This production began performances on 24th September and closed on 3rd November 2013. Theatrical gold dust. Richard Griffiths and Danny DeVito could wring comedy out of reading the telephone directory. Sunday Telegraph Kings of comedy, Willie Clark (Danny DeVito) and Al Lewis (Richard Griffiths) aka The Sunshine Boys haven’t spoken to each other in years. When CBS call for the vaudevillian greats to be re-united for a nostalgic History of Comedy, past grudges resurface as they take centre stage once more. Ageing ailments aside, can this legendary double-act overcome their differences for one last show? Old rivalry and vintage hilarity abound in Neil Simon’s classic comedy of showbiz and friendship. Danny DeVito and Richard Griffiths raise the roof in The Sunshine Boys. Glowing performances. Joyous Revival The Guardian Center Theatre Group L.A.’s Theatre Company , Ahmanson Theatre , Mark Taper Forum , Kirk Douglas Theatre , Michael Ritchie (Artistic Director), Edward L. Rada (Managing Director), Gordon Davidson (Founding Artistic Director), by special arrangement with Richard Willis , Sonia Friedman Productions , Roger Berlind Tulchin Bartner Productions , Rupert Gavin , Darren Bagert/Martin Massman presents “THE SUNSHINE BOYS ” by Neil Simon , directed by Tha Sharrock . Danny DeVito and Richard Griffiths make a wonderfully ill-matched couple Metro CAST DANNY DEVITO – Willie Clark JUDD HIRSCH – Al Lewis JUSTIN BARTHA – Ben Silvermann GIBBY BRAND – Patient FRANK KOPYC – V.O. TV Director MATTHEW BOHRER – Eddie ANNIE ABRAMS – Miss MacKintosh JOHNNIE FIORI – Registered Nurse CREATIVES NIEL SIMON – Playwright THA SHARROCK – Director HILDEGARD BECHTLER – Set and Costume Designer NEIL AUSTIN – Lighting Designer ADRIAN JOHNSTON – Music CRICKET S MYERS – Sound Designer JIM CARNAHAN – Casting

Back to Productions MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING This production began performances on 15th May and closed on 3rd September 2011. Tennant and Tate sparkle in Much Ado The Guardian Two young lovers Claudio and Hero are to be married imminently but the devious scheming of a resentful Prince looks set to thwart the nuptials. Meanwhile, marriage seems inconceivable for reluctant lovers Beatrice ( Catherine Tate ) and Benedick ( David Tennant ) whose endless witty sparring threatens to keep them apart forever. Rourke’s production has a freshness and a wit that is often irresistible… A mixture of slapstick and flight that reduces the audience to a state of blissful hilarity. The Daily Telegraph Starring David Tennant and Catherine Tate . There is much to love here and nothing to fault Daily Mirror CAST In order of speaking: JONATHAN COY – Leonato LEO STAAR – Messenger CATHERINE TATE – Beatrice SARAH MACRAE – Hero ADAM JAMES – Don Pedro DAVID TENNANT – Benedick ELLIOT LEVEY – Don Jon TOM BATEMAN – Claudio ANNA FARNWORTH – Innogen LEE KNIGHT – Conrade ALEX BECKETT – Borachio JOSHUA BERG – Titus NATALIE THOMAS – Margaret KATHRYN HUNT – Ursula DEREK HOWARD – Angelo MARIO MARIN-BORQUEZ – Boy BAILEY PEPPER – Boy EUGENE LEWIS – Boy ENZO SQUILLINO JNR. – Balthasar/Sexton JOHN RAMM – Dogberry MIKE GRADY – Verges CLIVE HAYWARD – Hugh Oatcake/Friar Francis NICHOLAS LUMLEY – George Seacoal HANNAH WARREN-GREEN – Maria CREATIVES JOSIE ROURKE – Director ROB JONES – Designer PETER MUMFORD – Lighting Designer MICHAEL BRUCE – Composer EMMA LAXTON – Sound Desigmer GEORGINA LAMB – Movement ALASTAIR COOMER CDG – Casting Director ROBERT HASTIE – Associate Director

Back to News & Press Full cast announced for Ink at the Duke of York's Theatre Sunday, 3 September 2017 Directed by Rupert Goold (King Charles III ), the returning cast includes Oliver Birch , Rachel Caffrey , Bertie Carvel , Pearl Chanda , Richard Coyle , Geoffrey Freshwater , Jack Holden , Justin Salinger , Sophie Stanton , Tim Steed , Tony Turner and Rene Zagger , with Jonathan Coy joining the company to play the role of Hugh Cudlipp. They will be joined on stage by Natalie Law , Andrew McDonald , Jonny McPherson , Owen Oldroyd and Joel Samuels who form the ensemble. Ink is designed by Bunny Christie , with lighting by Neil Austin . Over 20,000 tickets for the West End run will be on sale at £20 or less. Fleet Street. 1969. The Sun rises. A young and rebellious Rupert Murdoch asks the impossible and launches The Sun’s first editor’s quest: to give the people what they want. No matter the cost. ★★★★★ ‘A play for today. The blazingly talented James Graham has penned a super, soaraway smash.’ The Daily Telegraph Ink is James Graham ’s Almeida Theatre debut. His work for theatre, television and film includes This House , which had two sell-out runs at the National Theatre, and a run at the Garrick Theatre in the West End, was broadcast to cinemas internationally by NT Live and will tour the UK early 2018; Finding Neverland (book) on Broadway; Privacy and The Vote (broadcast live on television on election night 2015) at the Donmar Warehouse; Coalition for Channel 4; Monster Raving Loony for Theatre Royal Plymouth and Soho Theatre, and The Whisky Taster at the Bush Theatre. He remains the writer in residence at the Finborough Theatre. His first feature film X+Y for BBC Films was selected for the Toronto International Film Festival and the London Film Festival before an international cinema release in Spring 2015. James has been commissioned to write a TV drama set around the events of the 2016 Referendum and a film adaptation of 1984 . Rupert Goold is the Almeida Theatre’s Artistic Director, he will direct the forthcoming production of Albion by Mike Bartlett this Autumn. His previous productions for the Almeida Theatre include Richard III , which was broadcast live to cinemas around the world in July 2016, Medea , The Merchant of Venice , King Charles III and American Psycho , which opened on Broadway in April 2016. He was Artistic Director of Headlong from 2005 until 2013 where his work included The Effect , ENRON , Earthquakes in London and Decade . Other theatre credits include Made in Dagenham in the West End; The Last Days of Judas Iscariot at the Almeida; Macbeth at Chichester Festival Theatre, in the West End and on Broadway; and No Man’s Land at The Gate, Dublin and in the West End. He has twice been the recipient of the Laurence Olivier, Critics’ Circle and Evening Standard Awards for Best Director. He was Associate Director at the Royal Shakespeare Company from 2009 to 2012 and was Artistic Director of Northampton Theatres from 2002 to 2005. On film he directed the BAFTA nominated Richard II , part of The Hollow Crown , and Macbeth for the BBC, feature True Story , starring James Franco and Jonah Hill, and an adaptation of his production of Mike Bartlett’s King Charles III for BBC Two. Rupert was awarded a CBE for services to drama in the 2017 New Year’s Honours. Up Up

Back to Productions KING CHARLES III – AUSTRALIA This production began on 31st March and closed 30th April 2016. Play of the year. Bold, brilliant theatre doesn’t get much better than this The Times The Queen is dead: after a lifetime of waiting, the prince ascends the throne. A future of power. But how to rule? Attendance is compulsory. A royal entertaining drama for our time Daily Telegraph Directed by the Almeida Theatre’s artistic director Rupert Goold , this ‘bracingly provocative and outrageously entertaining new play’ (The Independent) explores the people underneath the crowns, the unwritten rules of our democracy, and the conscience of Britain’s most famous family. King Charles III is the fourth production to transfer from the Almeida Theatre to the West End with co-producer Sonia Friedman Productions , following Chimerica, Ghosts and 1984. Tim Pigott-Smith plays Charles. The cast also includes Richard Goulding , Nyasha Hatendi , Adam James , Margot Leicester , Tom Robertson , Nicholas Rowe , Tafline Steen and Lydia Wilson . Sonia Friedman Productions , Stuart Thompson Productions and The Almeida Theatre, in association with Lee Dean & Charles Diamon and Tulchin Bartner Productions , present the Almeida production of “KING CHARLES III ”. Play of the year. A crowning achievement Mail on Sunday CAST TIM PIGOTT-SMITH RICHARD GOULDING NYASHA HATENDI ADAM JAMES MARGOT LEICESTER TOM ROBERTSON NICHOLAS ROWE TAFLINE STEEN LYDIA WILSON CREATIVES RUPERT GOOLD – Director TOM SCUTT – Designer JON CLARK – Lighting PAUL ARDITTI – Sound

Back to News & Press Sonia Friedman has been ranked as the top producer in the Stage 100 2020 Thursday, 2 January 2020 On Sonia Friedman , The Stage said: By her own extraordinary standards, 2019 was a slightly subdued year for Friedman, who last topped this list in 2017. Still, even in a relatively quiet year, Friedman managed to pick up seven Olivier and six Tony awards for her shows, while continuing the global roll-out of arguably the world’s hottest theatre brand. Sonia Friedman Productions’ critically acclaimed stagings of Summer and Smoke and The Inheritance closed in January, going on to scoop best revival and best new play respectively at the Oliviers. Ivo van Hove’s All About Eve did not quite land with critics, but it did superb business, thanks in no small part to its starry cast, led by Gillian Anderson and Lily James. Trevor Nunn’s revival of Fiddler on the Roof, which SFP transferred from the Menier Chocolate Factory, ran pretty much throughout the year, joining the ever-present Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and The Book of Mormon in the West End, while Mormon also embarked on its first UK and European tour. But the artistic highlight of Friedman’s UK output in 2019 was Rosmersholm: this Rolls-Royce revival of a rarely staged Ibsen play was hailed by the Guardian’s Michael Billington as his number one show of the past year: “I’d rate this one of the best Ibsen productions I’ve ever seen,” he said. “Everything about this production felt right.” Rosmersholm served as a welcome reminder that high-quality, classical drama can still thrive in the West End (just about) and it was a great example of the kind of top-class commercial theatre in which Friedman specialises. Internationally, it was all go. Ink and The Ferryman both triumphed at the Tony Awards and were followed on Broadway by the transfer of The Inheritance. This epic play about three generations of gay men in New York did not quite receive the ecstatic notices it had enjoyed in the West End. It will be interesting to see how it fares at this year’s Tony Awards. Her other Broadway productions included Mean Girls and The Jungle – a decent indication of the staggering range of SFP’s output. Meanwhile, the worldwide roll-out of Harry Potter continued apace with the show opening in Melbourne and San Francisco. Hamburg and Toronto follow in 2020. Back in London, 2020 is shaping up to be an exciting year, with a new Tom Stoppard, Leopoldstadt, plus a new adaptation of Uncle Vanya, a transfer of the US production of To Kill a Mockingbird, and the Almeida’s The Doctor already all lined up for West End runs. But amid all these glittering achievements there was one dark cloud: 2019 was the year that Friedman and her colleagues said goodbye to Teddy, her beloved Bichon Frise dog – a Theatreland icon in her own right and well known as “the real boss of SFP”, who died in May. Up Up

Back to Productions FUNNY GIRL – US TOUR Following the hugely successful Broadway production, the Funny Girl US tour began on 9th September 2023. The sensational Broadway revival dazzles with celebrated classic songs, including "Don't Rain On My Parade," "I'm the Greatest Star," and "People." This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she'd never be a star, but then something funny happened -- she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway. Hello, gorgeous. Welcome to musical comedy heaven! Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direction from Michael Mayer, this love letter to the theatre has the whole shebang! CAST KATERINA McCRIMMON – Fanny Brice MELISSA MANCHESTER – Mrs.Brice STEPHEN MARK LUKAS – Nick Arnstein IZAIAH MONTAQUE HARRIS – Eddie Ryan WALTER COPPAGE – Florenz Ziegfeld LEAH PLATT – Emma/Mrs. Nadler, u/s Fanny, u/s Meeker CHRISTINE BUNUAN – Mrs. Meeker, u/s Mrs. Brice/Mrs. Strakosh EILEEN T’KAYE – Mrs. Strakosh, u/s Mrs. Brice DAVID FOLEY, JR. – Tom Keeney VINNY ANDALORO – Swing LAMONT BROWN – Ensemble, u/s Eddie Ryan KATE E. COOK – Ensemble, u/s Emma JULIA GRONDIN – Ensemble JACKSON GROVE – Ensemble, Tenor JORGE GUERRA – Ensemble,u/s Eddie ALEX HARTMAN – Ensemble, u/s Emma DOT KELLY – Ensemble RYAN LAMBERT – Ensemble, u/s Nick Arnstein KATHY LIU – Ensemble ZOEY LYTLE – Swing/Asst. Dance Captain MEGHAN MANNING – Ensemble BRYAN CHARLES MOORE – Swing, Dance Captain, u/s Florenz Ziegfeld, u/s Tom Keeney SAMI MURPHY – Ensemble HANNAH SHANKMAN – u/s Fanny Brice, u/s Mrs. Strakosh, u/s Mrs. Meeker JORDON TAYLOR – Ensemble RODNEY THOMPSON – Ensemble, u/s Eddie Ryan SEAN THOMPSON – Ensemble, u/s Nick Arnstein, u/s Florenz Ziegfeld, u/s Tom Keeney ANNALIESE WILBUR – Swing CREATIVES MICHAEL MAYER – Director ELLENORE SCOTT – Choreography AYODELE CASEL – Tap Choreography JULE STYNE – Music BOB MERRIL – Lyrics ISOBEL LENNART – Book HARVEY FIERSTEIN – Revised Book DAVID ZINN – Scenic Designer SUSAN HILFERTY – Costume Designer KEVIN ADAMS – Lighting Designer BRIAN RONAN – Sound Designer

Back to Productions WALDEN This production opened on 22nd May and closed on 12th June 2021 as part of SFP's RE:EMERGE Season. ★★★★ A fresh and ambitious new play. A giant leap for the West End. The Telegraph Walden bursts with big ideas. With such a talented and eye-catching cast and creative team, Sonia Friedman has achieved a rare kind of alchemy. I urge you to see it. Evening Standard After returning from a year-long Moon mission, Cassie, a NASA botanist, finds herself in a remote cabin in the woods, where her estranged twin sister, Stella, a former NASA architect, has found a new life with climate activist Bryan. Old wounds resurface as the sisters attempt to pick up the pieces of the rivalry that broke them apart. Amy Berryman’s intelligent, soulful drama. An original play of ideas. The Guardian CAST GEMMA ARTERTON FEHINTI BALOGUN LYDIA WILSON CREATIVES AMY BERRYMAN – Playwright IAN RICKSON – Director RAE SMITH – Designer AZUSA ONO – Lighting Designer MARK BRADSHAW – Music EMMA LAXTON – Sound Designer AMY BALL – Casting

Back to Productions DREAMGIRLS More informtation here . CAST Casting to be announced. CREATIVES CAMILLE A. BROWN - Director

Back to Productions KING CHARLES III – BROADWAY This production began performances on 10th October 2015 and closed on 31st January 2016. Rupert Goold’s superb production The Guardian The Queen is dead: after a lifetime of waiting, the prince ascends the throne. A future of power. But how to rule? This “bracingly provocative and outrageously entertaining new play,” ( The Independent ) explores the people underneath the crowns, the unwritten rules of our democracy, and the conscience of Britain’s most famous family. This is undoubtedly one of the most stimulating plays of the year Evening Standard Following its critically acclaimed run at the Almeida Theatre and in the West End, the Olivier Award-winning Best Play, King Charles III , will open on Broadway this fall starring Tim Pigott-Smith reprising his much-raved-about role as King Charles III. Directed by Rupert Goold , Mike Bartlett ’s play about Britain’s future king began previews October 10, 2015 at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street, NYC). Stuart Thompson and Sonia Friedman Productions present “KING CHARLES III”, starring Tim Pigott-Smith as King Charles III Play of the year. A crowning achievement Mail on Sunday CAST TIM PIGOTT-SMITH – King Charles III CREATIVES RUPERT GOOLD – Director TOM SCUTT – Designer JON CLARK – Lighting PAUL ARDITTI – Sound