Back to News & Press Full cast announced for JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK Wednesday, 21 August 2024 Sonia Friedman Productions (SFP) today announces full cast for the new production of Seán O’Casey 's timeless masterpiece, Juno and the Paycock , directed by Tony and Olivier award-winner Matthew Warchus . Joining the previously announced J. Smith-Cameron (Juno Boyle) and Mark Rylance (‘Captain’ Jack Boyle) are Paul Hilton (‘Joxer’ Daly), Aisling Kearns (Mary Boyle), Eimhin Fitzgerald Doherty (Johnny Boyle), Ingrid Craigie (Mrs Tancred), Anna Healy (Mrs Maisie Madigan), Chris Walley (Charles Bentham), Seán Duggan (‘Needle’ Nugent), Leo Hanna (Jerry Devine), Jessica Cervi, Caolan McCarthy, Bryan Moriarty, John Rice and Jacinta Whyte. Juno and the Paycock sees Sonia Friedman, Matthew Warchus and Mark Rylance reunite following their acclaimed productions of Boeing-Boeing and La Bête . The strictly limited run opens at the Gielgud Theatre on Thursday 3 October, with previews from Saturday 21 September, and runs until Saturday 23 November 2024. The creative team is Rob Howell (Set and Costume Designer), Hugh Vanstone (Lighting Designer), Claire van Kampen (Composer), Simon Baker (Sound Designer) and Serena Hill CDG (Casting Director). As part of an ongoing commitment to make theatre accessible for as many people as possible, there are over 1100 tickets per week at £25 or lower, with more than one third of the house for every performance priced at £55 or lower. Additionally, there will be 1260 tickets across the run priced at £30 for under 30s as well as £25 day seats for every performance. Each week there will be a limited number of seats released for the week ahead in the Stalls and Dress Circle at £25 or Standing at £10. ‘WHAT CAN GOD DO AGAINST THE STUPIDITY OF MEN?’ Dublin, 1922, the Irish Civil War is tearing the nation apart. In the cauldron of the family’s tiny tenement flat, Juno Boyle, a beleaguered matriarch whose sharp wit is a survival tool, struggles to make ends meet and keep the family together. Her husband, ‘Captain’ Jack Boyle, fancies himself a ship's commander but sails no further than the pub. When providence comes knocking with life changing news, could the family’s troubles finally fade away? Poetic, poignant, and hilarious, Juno and the Paycock is a big-hearted, black-humoured, tragi-comic triumph that reflects on a mother’s resilience in the midst of life’s most trying moments. Up Up

Back to News & Press Patriots is transferring to the West End Thursday, 18 August 2022 Patriots is international award-winning writer Peter Morgan ’s (Frost/Nixon) first new play since The Audience. He is best known for writing the multi-award-winning Netflix hit, The Crown. Patriots is the Almeida’s fastest-selling new play and transfers to the Noël Coward Theatre for a limited twelve-week run from 26 May to 19 August 2023, with Opening Night on 6 June 2023. Directed by the Almeida’s Artistic Director, Rupert Goold (Ink, Enron), Patriots is a brilliant and startlingly timely story of ambition, loyalty and betrayal in a brave new world. BAFTA-winning actor Tom Hollander (The Night Manager; Travesties) reprises his starring role as Boris Berezovsky, the ‘kingmaker’ behind Vladimir Putin, with Will Keen (His Dark Materials) also returning to play Putin and Luke Thallon (Albion) as Abramovich. Further casting will be announced in due course. “If the politicians cannot save Russia, then we businessmen must. We have not just the responsibility but the duty to become Russian heroes” 1991. The Fall of the Soviet Union.With the dawning of a new Russia, there are winners and losers, and today’s patriot can fast become tomorrow’s traitor.As a new generation of oligarchs fights to seize control, Patriots follows billionaire businessman Boris Berezovsky from the president's inner circle to public enemy number one. The full creative team for Patriots is Director: Rupert Goold , Set Designer: Miriam Buether , Co-Costume Designers: Deborah Andrews and Miriam Buether , Lighting Designer: Jack Knowles , Movement Director Polly Bennett , Sound Designer and Composer: Adam Cork , and Casting Director: Robert Sterne . Up Up

Back to News & Press The Ferryman wins Best New Play at the 2018 Critics' Circle Awards Tuesday, 30 January 2018 We are thrilled to announce that The Ferryman has been awarded Best New Play at the 2018 Critics’ Circle Awards. Andrew Scott was also honoured with an award for Best Shakespearean performance, for his incredible lead performance in Hamlet. Following unanimous critical acclaim and widespread demand for tickets, Jez Butterworth ’s epic play is booking to 19 May 2018 at the Gielgud Theatre . Directed by Sam Mendes , the play premiered at the Royal Court, becoming the fastest-selling show in the theatre’s history. Andrew Scott was also awarded Best Shakesperean Performance at this year’s Critics’ Circle Awards for his beautiful and stunning performance in Hamlet , both at the Almeida and then the Harold Pinter Theatre. Up Up

Back to Productions 1984 This production began performances on 14th June and closed on 3rd September 2016. ★★★★★ Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan have pulled off something tremendous The Observer April, 1984. Comrade 6079, Winston Smith, thinks a thought and starts a diary. But Big Brother is always watching, and the door to Room 101 can swing open in the blink of an eye. ★★★★★ Remarkable. Rendered with clinical, spine-tingling finesse The Telegraph The definitive book of the 20th century is re-examined in a radical, award-winning adaptation exploring surveillance, identity and why Orwell’s vision of the future is as relevant now as ever. 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 . 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. Sonia Friedman Productions , Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Tulchin Bartner Productions in association with 1001 Nights , Rupert Gavin , JFL Theatricals , Scott M. Delman , Scott & Brian Zeilinger /James Lefkowitz present The Headlong , Nottingham Playhouse and Almeida production of 1984 . ★★★★★ A work of extraordinary quality and intensity The Guardian CAST SIMON COATES – Parsons TIM DUTTON – O'Brien STEPHEN FEWELL – Charrington JANINE HAROUNI – Julia CHRISTOPHER PATRICK NOLAN – Martin BEN PORTER – Syme MATTHEW SPENCER – Winston MADNI SYMONDS – Mrs Parsons CREATIVES Adapted and Directed by ROBERT ICKE and DUNCAN MACMILLAN CHLOE LAMFORD – Designer NATASHA CHIVERS – Lighting Designer TOM GIBBONS – Sound Designer TIM REID – Video Designer GINNY SCHILLER CDG – Casting Director

Back to News & Press Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will open on Broadway in Spring 2018 at the Lyric Theatre Wednesday, 3 May 2017 As previously announced, the Lyric Theatre is currently undergoing a complete redesign and transformation in preparation for the North American premiere of the production. The official opening will be on Sunday, April 22, 2018. Preview performances, casting and all further details will be announced in the coming months. Tickets will go on sale in the Fall of this year via the official website only, and details of how and when tickets can be purchased will be released soon. Visit HarryPotterThePlay.com to sign up for the mailing list to stay up to date with the latest news and updates. Last month, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child became the most awarded production in the history of Britain’s Olivier Awards, winning a record-breaking nine awards including Best New Play and Best Director. The production has won 22 major theatre awards in the UK since opening last July in London, including the Evening Standard Best Play Award. Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling , Jack Thorne and John Tiffany , Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a new play by Jack Thorne , directed by John Tiffany . The production is one play presented in two parts. Both parts are intended to be seen in order on the same day (matinee and evening) or on two consecutive evenings. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The critically acclaimed production received its world premiere in July 2016 at the Palace Theatre in London where it continues to play to sold out houses. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child features movement by Steven Hoggett , set by Christine Jones , costumes by Katrina Lindsay , music & arrangements by Imogen Heap , lighting by Neil Austin , sound by Gareth Fry , illusions & magic by Jamie Harrison and music supervision & arrangements by Martin Lowe . Up Up

Back to News & Press New Cast Announced for To Kill a Mockingbird Monday, 10 October 2022 The new company begin performances from Monday 21st November 2022. Barry Diller and Sonia Friedman announced today that Matthew Modine and Cecilia Noble will lead the new company of the critically acclaimed production of Harper Lee ’s To Kill a Mockingbird – a new play by Aaron Sorkin , directed by Bartlett Sher , currently running at the Gielgud Theatre, West End. Matthew Modine ’s iconic portrayals in films such as Alan Parker’s Birdy , Louden Swain in Vision Quest , Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket , and Dr. Martin “Papa” Brenner in the global phenomenon Stranger Things have cemented Matthew’s legacy in the entertainment industry. Cecilia Noble is a highly acclaimed stage and screen actress, nominated for two Olivier Awards and two Evening Standards Awards. Her extensive stage credits include Faith , Hope and Charity , Nine Night , Downstate and The Amen Corner at the National Theatre, and her television credits include Killing Eve , Teacher , Call the Midwife and Black Mirror . Anna Munden will play the pivotal role of Scout Finch, joined by Sam Mitchell as Jem Finch, and Ellis Howard as Dill Harris. Taking the role of Bob Ewell is Welsh stage and screen actor Jason Hughes . Matthew Modin e and Cecilia Noble are joined by Cheryl Burniston , Colin R Campbell (Mr Roscoe/Dr Reynolds), Jack Crumlin , Alan Drake , Max Ferguson , Phillipa Flynn , Ellis Howard (Dill Harris), Jason Hughes (Bob Ewell), Niamh James , Julie Legrand , Nigel Lister , Sam Mitchell (Jem Finch), and George Telfer . The new company will begin performances on 21 November, 2022. Remaining in the company are Harry Attwell (Mr. Cunningham/Boo Radley), Helen Belbin (Miss Stephanie/Dill’s Mother), Niall Buggy (Judge Taylor), John Hastings (Bailiff), Rebecca Hayes (Mayella Ewell), Simon Hepworth (Link Deas), Tom Mannion (Sheriff Heck Tate), Anna Munden (Scout Finch), Tiwai Muza , Itoya Osagiede , Jude Owusu (Tom Robinson), Oyin Oyija , David Sturzaker (Horace Gilmer), and Natasha Williams (Mrs Dubose’s Maid). Candida Caldicot (on organ), Ciyo Brown and Jack Benjamin (on guitar) also continue with the production. The current company, with Richard Coyle as Atticus Finch, will play their final performance on 19 November. The production is currently booking until 4 February, 2023. Up Up

Back to News & Press Legally Blonde The Musical announces new cast Monday, 19 September 2011 From 10 October 2011, Carley Stenson (Elle Woods), Stephen Ashfield (Emmett), Ben Freeman (Warner), Natalie Casey (Paulette) and Peter Davison (Professor Callahan) will lead the cast of the Olivier Award winning show Legally Blonde The Musical, which is currently booking until 27 October 2012 at the Savoy Theatre. College sweetheart and homecoming queen Elle Woods doesn't take no for an answer. So when her boyfriend Warner dumps her for someone serious, Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and heads for Harvard Law! Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style. Legally Blonde The Musical opened at the Savoy Theatre in December 2009 and has been playing to packed audiences ever since. At the 2011 Laurence Olivier Awards Legally Blonde The Musical won the award for Best New Musical. Carley Stenson made her West End debut in Legally Blonde The Musical in the role of Margot. She is best known on television as Steph Cunningham in C4’s Hollyoaks, a role she played for over ten years. She won ITV’s Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes when she performed as Faith Hill. Her regional theatre credits include Sandy in Grease, Dulcie in The Boyfriend and Nancy in Oliver. Stephen Ashfield’s theatre credits include Bob Gaudio in the original London cast of Jersey Boys, Boy George in Taboo in the West End and on tour in the UK, Nick in Fame at the Aldwych Theatre, the Beast in Beauty and the Beast for Theatre Clwyd, Adam in Imagine This at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth and John in Tomorrow Morning at the New End Theatre. His screen credits include Tim Burton’s film of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd. Ben Freeman’s theatre credits include Norman in Dreamboats and Petticoats at the Savoy Theatre and on tour in the UK, George in Same Time, Next Year at the Jersey Arts Centre, Friedrich in The Sound of Music on tour in the UK and the roles of the Prince and the Beast in Beauty and the Beast at the Hazlitt Theatre in Maidstone. His television credits include Scott Windsor in Emmerdale as well as roles in Grange Hill and Smith and Jones. Natalie Casey is best known on television for playing Donna in the BBC’s Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. On stage she has been seen in The Invisible Man at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Oklahoma for Chichester Festival Theatre, Well at the Apollo Theatre, Fame at the Shaftesbury Theatre and Hobson’s Choice at the Watermill Theatre. Her other television credits include Dave Shakespeare, Missing, Hollyoaks, Head Jam, Girls Night In and Chopratown. On film she played Shirley Temple in Chicago Joe and the Showgirl. Peter Davison became a household name when he played the fifth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who between 1981 and 1984. His extensive television credits include Tristan Farnon in the long running BBC series All Creatures Great and Small and DC Davies in four series of ITV’s acclaimed The Last Detective. His other TV credits include At Home with the Braithwaites, A Quick Guide to Parenting, A Very Peculiar Practice, Ain't Misbehaving and Fear Stress and Anger, for which he won the 2007 Best Actor Award at the Monte Carlo Television Festival. Most recently he has been seen in the ITV1 dramas Unforgiven and Midsomer Murders. On stage he played King Arthur in Monty Python’s Spamalot at the Palace Theatre as well as roles in Chicago at the Adelphi Theatre, An Absolute Turkey at the Globe Theatre and Arsenic and Old Lace for Chichester Festival Theatre. On film his credits include Parting Shots, Black Beauty and Molly. Directed and choreographed by Tony Award-winning Jerry Mitchell, Legally Blonde The Musical has music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, book by Heather Hach, set design by David Rockwell, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and Paul Miller, sound design by ACME Sound Partners and orchestrations by Christopher Jahnke. The cast of Legally Blonde The Musical as of 10 October 2011 will be Jon Tsouras (Padamadan, Nikos), Georgie Ashford (Gabby, Stenographer), Lucy Miller (Serena), Nathan Pinnell (Carlos), Natalie Casey (Paulette Buonufonté), Peter Davison (Professor Callahan) Tricia Adele Turner (Vivienne Kensington), Chris Ellis-Stanton (Grandmaster Chad, Dewey, Kyle), Danielle Steers (Judge, Saleswoman), Abiona Omonua (Pilar), Ellie Kirk (Margot), Gemma Sutton (Enid), Sorelle Marsh (Courtney, Mom, Whitney), Stephen Ashfield (Emmett Forrest), Nick Hayes (Pforzheimer), Chloë Brooks (Kate, Chutney), Carley Stenson (Elle Woods), Lincoln Stone (Dad, Winthrop, Reporter), Ben Freeman (Warner Huntington III), Robbie Towns (Aaron), Gregory Sims (Kiki), Tamara Wall (Brooke Wyndham), Ross Hunter (Lowell) and Tara Young (Cece/District Attorney) as well as Fabian Aloise, Henry Davis, Jane McMurtie, Ruthie Stephenson and Carolyn Maitland as swings. Up Up

Back to Productions BENEFACTORS This production began performances on 25th June and closed on 28th September 2002. Spanning a period of 15 years, this moving, funny and dazzlingly written piece explores the intricate interactions of two neighbouring couples. Jane and David are successful, apparently happy professionals while Sheila and Colin seem more insecure and isolated. All of their lives, however, are about to change. This brand new production of Michael Frayn 's Olivier Award-winning play BENEFACTORS reunites the creative team behind The Royal National Theatre's smash hit production of his record breaking comedy Noises Off. BENEFACTORS charts four people's private and public journeys, set against the ever changing landscape of modern Britain. CAST SYLVESTRA LE TOUZEL – Jane ADEN GILLET – David NEIL PEARSON – Colin EMMA CHAMBERS – Sheila CREATIVES MICHAEK FRAYN – Playwright JEREMY SAMS – Director ROBERT JONES – Designer TIM MITCHELL – Lighting Designer JOHN LEONARD – Sound Designer ANNA LINSTRUM – Associate Direction

Back to Productions IN CELEBRATION This production began performances on 5th July and closed on 15th September 2007. A piece of serious theatre about issues that matter? A welcome sight in the West End. Financial Times David Storey 's modern classic took audiences by storm at the Royal Court in the 1960s and established him as one of the country's most powerful playwrights. Three brothers - Andrew, Colin and Steven - return home to the northern roots of their childhood for a family reunion. Although they have returned to celebrate, the explosive complexities of family life and long-held grievances are unlikely to improve the chances of a decent party. Compelling and emotionally thrilling, In Celebration is an exploration of family love and of how the consequences of best intentions can threaten to destroy treasured hopes and dreams. The acting is excellent in this moving piece of compelling drama Mail on Sunday In Celebration received its world premiere at the Royal Court Theatre in 1969 and subsequently Lindsay Anderson directed a film version with a cast including Alan Bates , James Bolam , Constance Chapman , Brian Cox , Gabrielle Dray and Bill Owen . A fine play, richly satisfying. The Guardian CAST ORLANDO BLOOM – Steven TIM HEALY – Mr Shaw LYNDA BARON – Mrs Burnett DEARBHLA MOLLOY – Mrs Shaw PAUL HILTON – Andrew GARETH FARR – Colin CIARAN MCINTYRE – Reardon CREATIVES DAVID STOREY – Playwright ANNA MACKMIN – Director LEZ BROTHERSTON – Designer MARK HENDERSON – Lighting STEPHEN WARBECK – Music JOHN LEONARD – Sound SCARLETT MACKMIN – Choreographer

Back to News & Press West End girls: Enter, stage left: The new stars of British theatre... and every one a woman Friday, 27 September 2013 It’s a national phenomenon, stretching from Birmingham, Liverpool and Glasgow to London’s West End and spanning both small fringe venues and mainstream theatres. No other British producer has taken as many shows across the Atlantic as Sonia Friedman. She can’t remember how many Tony awards she has won. To read the full article click here . Up Up

Back to News & Press Sonia Friedman tops The Stage 100 2017 Thursday, 5 January 2017 The exclusive list, compiled annually by the industry’s leading newspaper, ranks the powerhouses of British theatre. Sonia described topping the list as “amazing recognition of the extraordinary people I have been privileged to work with over the year.” “I feel very grateful to The Stage for this honour and feel extremely lucky to do a job I love so much,” she added. Alistair Smith, print editor of The Stage, said, “Sonia Friedman has enjoyed a number of notable hits in recent years, but in 2016, she went stratospheric. “Harry Potter has been an extraordinary success both on a box-office level and an artistic one. As long as I’ve been writing about theatre I can’t think of another show that has been as big – you’re going back to the mega-musicals of the 80s.” It has been an extraordinary 12 months for Sonia Friedman Productions (SFP) achieving incredible successes with their productions of Harry Potter and The Cursed Child Parts One and Two , Nice Fish , Funny Girl , Sunny Afternoon and Dreamgirls . SFP’s co-production of The Dresser for BBC and Starz has been nominated in the category of Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television at the 74th annual Golden Globes and it was announced that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child would be opening at The Lyric Theatre on Broadway in 2018. Sonia herself was awarded an OBE and was voted as one of the 10 most influential people in London by the Evening Standard. She is currently short-listed for Producer of the Year at The Stage Awards 2017 - an award she won at the event in both 2016 and 2015. Winners will be announced at a ceremony on 27 January at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Up Up

Back to Productions A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL This production began performances on 17th September 2012 and closed on 5th January 2013. The Pendon Amateur Light Operatic Society's production of The Beggar's Opera is going off the rails, that is until a handsome but shy young widower Guy (Harman) joins the group. An instant hit with the company's ferociously zealous director Dafydd (Brydon) and the show’s leading ladies, including Dafydd’s wife Hannah (Jensen), Guy soon gets more than he bargained for as he discovers that all the best action happens off-stage. Classic songs fill the air as the drama on stage is mirrored by the romantic rivalry and small-town squabbles causing a stir in the wings of this ambitious local show. Not seen in London since the National Theatre’s hit production over 25 years ago, A Chorus of Disapproval aims to steal the limelight once more in the West End. Making his West End theatre debut, Rob Brydon stars alongside Nigel Harman (Shrek, EastEnders) and Ashley Jensen (Extras, Ugly Betty) in Alan Ayckbourn ’s riotous comedy A Chorus of Disapproval , directed by Olivier and Tony award-winner Trevor Nunn . Sonia Friedman Productions , Tulchin/Bartner Productions , Adam Kenwright , Peter Fetterman/Adam Blanshary , Lady Delves Broughton/Rupert Gavin present “A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL ”. CAST ROB BRYDON – Dafydd ap Llewellyn NIGEL HARMAN – Guy Jones ASHLEY JENSEN – Hannah Llewellyn TERESA BANHAM – Enid Washbrook DAISY BEAUMONT – Fay Hubbard GEORGIA BROWN – Bridget Baines ROB COMPTON – Crispin Usher MATTHEW COTTLE – Ted Washbrook STEVEN EDIS – Mr Ames JESSICA ELLERBY – Linda Washbrook BARRIE RUTTER – Jarvid Huntley-Pike PAUL THORNLEY – Ian Hubbard SUSAN TRACY – Rebecca Huntley-Pike CREATIVES TREVOR NUNN – Director ROBERT JONES – Designer TIM MITCHELL – Lighting Designer FERGUS O'HARE – Sound Designer STEVEN EDIS – Music Director