Search this site

Back to Productions BENT This production began performances on 5th October 2006 and closed on 13th January 2007. Spellbinding? An enthralling revival. The Observer BENT follows a personal journey from the cabarets and clubs of a hedonistic city to the inhuman excesses of a totalitarian regime, as a gay man discovers the true meaning of love and self-acceptance against almost impossible odds. A transcendent love story, Bent has touched a universal nerve in the more than fifty countries that it has been seen in and is now a standard on UK drama, history and literature syllabuses. Bent is a technically accomplished, artistically ambitious evening. It makes you wince. Daily Mail This is the first major production of BENT , Martin Sherman 's landmark play, in over seventeen years. This new production, starring Alan Cumming and directed by Daniel Kramer also features a new song, especially written for the show, by Chris Lowe of The Pet Shop Boys and Martin Sherman . Raw, brutal and totally brilliant...Alan Cumming in a breathtaking and doubtless soon-to-be award winning performance. Daily Express CAST ALAN CUMMING CREATIVES MARTIN SHERMAN – Playwright DANIEL KRAMER – Director

Back to Productions AFTER MISS JULIE – BROADWAY This production began performances on 18th September and closed on 6th December 2009. Sequestered in her grandmother's country house on the eve of the Labour Party's historic landslide victory, young Miss Julie engages in a forbidden flirtation that quickly spins into a life and death struggle for power. Sienna Miller (Factory Girl ) and Jonny Lee Miller (Trainspotting ) made their Broadway debuts in this American premiere. Patrick Marber 's new interpretation of August Strindberg 's classic drama about class and sex transposes Miss Julie to the English countryside in 1945. CAST SIENNA MILLER – Miss Julie JOHNNY LEE MILLER – John MARIN IRELAND – Christine CREATIVES PATRICK MARBER – Playwright MARK BROKAW – Director DAVID VAN TIEGHEM – Original Music & Sound ALLEN MOYER – Set Deisgner MICHAEL KRASS – Costume Designer MARK MCCULLOUGH – Lighting Designer

Back to News & Press As ‘The Shark Is Broken’ must come to the end of its scheduled run, Sonia Friedman Productions announces that the critically acclaimed production has recouped. Friday, 11 February 2022 Audiences have been thrilled by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon ’s funny and moving play directed by Guy Masterson , which reveals the backstage drama on the movie JAWS, with many travelling across the country to watch the production. The Shark is Broken was extended by a month due to popular demand but must end this Sunday 13 February. Producer Sonia Friedman said: ‘‘It has been a hugely challenging time to open a new play in the West End, but I am immensely proud of all we achieved with ‘The Shark is Broken’, which recently recouped despite - well - everything. This is a real achievement in these unprecedented times, and its success is worth commenting on. For a show to make the jump from the Edinburgh Fringe to the West End is a remarkable feat at the best of times. To do so in these circumstances is utterly extraordinary - and a testament to the sheer crowd-pleasing brilliance of Ian and Joseph’s play. I want to say a huge thank you to the entire team at the Ambassadors Theatre - the fantastic cast and their brilliant understudies, the stage management team and the entire backstage staff and crew, all front of house staff and box office, creatives, associates and the SFP team - all of whom worked tirelessly and with such passion and commitment over the past months to keep the show going, sometimes in unimaginably difficult circumstances. I also want to say a massive thank you to our audiences, who have travelled from far and wide to support us. We certainly hope this is not the end of the story and fully expect ‘The Shark is Broken’ to have a long life ahead. Watch this space.” Ian Shaw plays his father Robert Shaw in The Shark is Broken alongside Liam Murray Scott as Richard Dreyfuss, and Demetri Goritsas as Roy Scheider. 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… The Shark is Broken is co-produced with Scott Landis , GFour Productions , Larry Magid , Tulchin Bartner Productions in association with Jane Bergère . Up Up

Back to News & Press Sonia Friedman: "None of my success is down to luck" Wednesday, 5 April 2017 The Olivier Awards, theatreland’s equivalent of the Oscars, are fast approaching. At the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday, the stars will be out in force, social media will be a-twitter. But all eyes in particular will be on Sonia Friedman, the 51-year-old producer who has emerged in the past year as almost a star in her own right: the most sought-after, talked-about, in-vogue weaver of theatrical magic in Britain thanks to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child , very much her “baby” (albeit she must share the credit with co-producer Colin Callender, and, it goes without saying the creative team of playwright Jack Thorne, director John Tiffany and one J.K. Rowling). Read the full article on the Telegraph's website . Up Up

Back to News & Press Casting announced for The Shark is Broken UK & Ireland tour 2025 Tuesday, 26 November 2024 Producers Sonia Friedman Productions , Scott Landis , GFour Productions and Kenny Wax are delighted to announce casting for the forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of The Shark Is Broken, the behind-the-scenes West End and Broadway smash hit comedy about the making of the movie Jaws . Ian Shaw stars as his father, Robert Shaw, alongside Dan Fredenburgh as Roy Scheider and Ashley Margolis as Richard Dreyfuss. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1975 iconic blockbuster, the critically acclaimed Olivier award-nominated play, The Shark Is Broken , co-written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon , opens on tour at Oxford Playhouse on Thursday 23 January, visiting a further 14 venues culminating with a week at The Gaiety Theatre in Dublin until 17 May 2025. Tickets are on sale. Inspired by Robert Shaw’s experience playing ‘Quint’ in Jaws, The Shark Is Broken is the brilliantly funny play which celebrates movie history as it peeks at the choppy waters behind Hollywood’s first blockbuster and imagines what happened on board ‘The Orca’ when the cameras stopped rolling during the filming of Steven Spielberg’s epic movie. FADE IN: The open ocean, 1974. Filming is delayed… again. The lead actors - theatre veteran Robert Shaw and young Hollywood hotshots Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider - are crammed into a too-small boat, entirely at the mercy of foul weather and a faulty mechanical co-star. Alcohol flows, egos collide, and tempers flare on a chaotic voyage that just might lead to cinematic magic… if it doesn’t sink them all. Following its critical and sell-out success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2019, The Shark Is Broken transferred to the West End in 2021 playing at the Ambassadors Theatre for a limited season where it enjoyed an extended run due to huge popular demand and an Olivier award nomination for Best Comedy Play. In July 2023 the production transferred to Broadway for a 16-week run at the John Golden Theatre where it garnered fresh critical acclaim. Martha Geelan directs the tour of The Shark Is Broken , based on original direction by Guy Masterson , set and costume design by Duncan Henderson , lighting design by Jon Clark , sound design by Adam Cork , video design by Nina Dunn. Assistant director Molly Stacey , associate sound designer James Melling. Up Up

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 Sonia Friedman Productions makes history at 2014 Olivier Awards Monday, 14 April 2014 Sonia Friedman Productions (SFP) has made Olivier Awards history by winning the most awards for any producer at last night’s ceremony and for winning prizes for Best New Play (Chimerica), Best New Musical (The Book of Mormon), Best Play Revival (Ghosts) and Best Musical Revival (Merrily We Roll Along). The Book of Mormon won four prizes at the 2014 Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical and two acting awards with Gavin Creel and Stephen Ashfield winning Best Actor in a Musical and Best Supporting Performance in a Musical respectively. The Book of Mormon also won an additional prize for its choreography. Political drama Chimerica had the most to celebrate after winning a total of five awards; Best New Play, Best Director for Lyndsey Turner and Best Set Design for Es Devlin. Lucy Kirkwood's play, about the so-called "tank man" who defied the Chinese army in Tiananmen Square in 1989, also shared the awards for Lighting Design and Sound, with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Merrily Me Roll Along respectively. Maria Friedman's production of Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along was also named Best Musical Revival. Henrik Ibsen’s play Ghosts won three awards including Best Play Revival, Best Actress for Lesley Manville and Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Jack Lowden. For the full list of winners, please visit www.olivierawards.com Up Up

Back to Productions JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN - WEST END After a sold-out run on Broadway and at London's Royal Court Theatre, John Proctor is the Villain will transfer to the West End in February 2027 for a strictly limited run. ★★★★★ ‘a joyous, blazingly intelligent play’ Financial Times BOOK HERE. One small town. A soundtrack of pop, adrenaline and barely-contained rage, five young women reveal something darker is stirring. As long-buried truths rise to the surface, they begin to question everything and take control of the narrative for themselves. ★★★★★ 'Absolutely essential... this is art that helps us to understand life' WhatsOnStage Heralded as one of the most compelling new plays of recent years, the production offers a poised and piercing exploration of girlhood, power, and the courage to question what we think we know. JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN premiered on Broadway in March 2025 at the Booth Theatre, where it was nominated for seven Tony Awards, including Best Play. It had its London premiere at the Royal Court Theatre on 20 March 2026 where it continues to play to sold out audiences until this Saturday 25 April. ★★★★ 'The hype is real' Time Out CAST To be announced. CREATIVES KIMBERLY BELFLOWER - Writer DANYA TAYMOR - Director AMP, featuring TERESA WILLIAMS - Sceneography SARAH LAUX - Costume Designer NATASHA KATZ - Lighting Designer PALMER HEFFERAN - Sound Designer & Original Composition HANNAH WASILESKI - Projection Design J. JARED JANAS - Hair & Makeup Design TILLY EVANS-KREUGER - Movement Director GIGI BUFFINGTON - Voice / Dialect Coaching LAUREN HALVORSEN - Dramaturg JULIA HORAN, CDG - Casting Director MARIUS RØNNING - Production Manager CHARLIE BUNKER - Lead Producer - for Impossible Producing JACK FARRELL - Lead Producer STEVEN ATKINSON - Executive Producer

Back to News & Press FANGIRLS Open Call Auditions Tuesday, 19 December 2023 The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre & Sonia Friedman Productions are looking for brilliant, charismatic, talented performers for the UK Premiere of smash-hit, multi-award-winning musical phenomenon FANGIRLS ! We are looking for performers who are very highly skilled in singing, dancing and acting with a playing age of 14-16 but who are 18+. This open call is specifically only for performers who are without professional representation . If you are interested in the production and have professional representation please ask your agent to submit you via Spotlight (to Casting Director Lotte Hines CDG). All diversity is welcome. Performers can be of any gender expression. We are especially interested in hearing from people who are currently underrepresented in the UK theatre industry such as people from the Global Majority, deaf and disabled people, trans and/or non-binary people, and people who have come into the industry through non-traditional routes. Auditions, rehearsals and performances will all take place at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in London. In order to apply for this opportunity you must be: Over the age of 18 with a playing age of 14-16 Without professional representation Eligible to work in the UK Available for the following dates:Rehearsals: Monday 20 May 2024 – Saturday 13 July 2024 Preview performances: Saturday 13 July 2024 – Monday 22 July 2024 Press performance: Tuesday 23 July 2024 Performances: Wednesday 24 July 2024 – Saturday 24 August 2024 Group auditions will take place on Saturday 27 January & Monday 29 January 2024 at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. You must be available for at least one of these dates. The deadline for submissions is midnight on Monday 8 January 2024. We will contact you by Monday 22 January 2024 to let you know if you have been allocated a time and date for the audition. We will also let you know if you have been unsuccessful. If you have any questions or queries please email casting@lyric.co.uk Apply here . We look forward to hearing from you! Up Up

Back to Productions JUST FOR ONE DAY - THE LIVE AID MUSICAL ★★★★ "A RIP-ROARING NEW MUSICAL" The Telegraph ON 13 JULY 1985, MUSIC UNITED THE WORLD. 40 years on, discover the story of Live Aid in a whole new way — in London’s West End at JUST FOR ONE DAY – The Live Aid Musical. The show’s World Premiere production “blew the roof off the Old Vic” (Baz Bamigboye) in early 2024, where it became the theatre’s fastest-selling musical ever. This exhilarating night out “rocks in all the right ways” (WhatsOnStage), with hit songs by Bob Dylan , David Bowie , The Who , U2 , Queen , Madonna, The Police , Elton John , Paul McCartney , Diana Ross and more of the iconic artists who made history at simultaneous charitable concerts in London and Philadelphia. Live Aid was an unprecedented global music event that brought 1.5 billion people together, and they all have a story to tell about ‘the day rock ‘n’ roll changed the world’. Whether you saw it live, watched it from home or weren’t even born yet, you won’t want to miss this “rip-roaring” (The Telegraph ) and “remarkable” (Daily Mail ) new musical written by John O’Farrell (Mrs. Doubtfire , Something Rotten! ) and directed by Luke Sheppard (& Juliet , The Little Big Things ). 10% from the sale of all tickets will be donated directly to The Band Aid Charitable Trust . By permission of The Band Aid Charitable Trust. ★★★★ "ROCKS IN ALL THE RIGHT WAYS" WhatsOnStage CAST KELLY AGBOWU - Marsha JULIE ATHERTON - Margaret Thatcher JASON BATTERSBY - David JORDAN CAMBRIDGE-TAYLOR - Stevie ELOISE DAVIES - Maria CRAIGE ELS - Bob Geldof KERRY ENRIGHT - Swing (Bella) JAMES HAMEED - Khalil EVAN FOX HARRISON - Swing (Archie) FAYTH IFIL - Jemma MELISSA JACQUES - Suzanne HOPE KENNA - Young Suzanne ESME LAUDAT - Swing (Seraphina) AJ LEWIS - Kai FREDDIE LOVE - Skye TIM MAHENDRAN - Harvey Goldsmith EDDIE MANN - Bob Understudy JAYE MARSHALL - Swing (Rhianne) / Dance Captain RHIANNE-LOUISE MCCAULSKY - Amara EMILY OOI - Ellie ASHLEY SAMUELS - Jim SADIE-JEAN SHIRLEY - Swing (Willow) / Assistant Dance Captain LUKIN SIMMONDS - Swing (Vill) JAKE SMALL - John Kennedy JACK MICHAEL STACEY - Tim TAMARA TARE - Alicia GEORGE URGE - Midge Ure (No Relation) DYD WYNFORD - Swing (Malcolm) CREATIVES JOHN O'FARRELL - Writer LUKE SHEPPARD - Director MATTHEW BRIND - Musical Supervisor, Arranger & Orchestrator EBONY MOLINA - Choreography SOUTRA GILMOUR - Set Design FAY FULLERTON - Costume Design HOWARD HUDSON - Lighting Design GARETH OWEN - Sound Design ANDRZEJ GOULDING - Video & Projection Design STUART BURT CDG - Casting Director PATRICK HURLEY - Musical Director SARA ANIQAH MALIK - Associate Director NICOLE ALPHONCE - Associate Choreographer TOBY MURRAY - Resident Director ANDY GREEN - Associate Sound Designer HEATHER SCOTT - Associate Video Designer LAURA HUNT - Costume Supervisor SUZY BARRETT - Wigs Supervisor CHRIS MARCUS & JONATHAN HALL - Props Supervisor JON BATH - Executive Producer JOHN KENNEDY - Executive Producer GEORGINA RAE - Executive Producer SIMON MARLOW - Production Management JAMIE WILSON PRODUCTIONS - General Management

Back to News & Press 211 Drama League and Outer Critics Circle nominations announced Tuesday, 26 April 2011 The 77th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony will be held 20 May at noon in the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square, New York City. ARCADIA received a nomination for Distinguished Revival of a Play, and Billy Crudup (Bernard Nightengale) and Raúl Esparza (Valentine Coverly) each received a nomination for the Distinguished Performance Award. JERUSALEM received a nomination for Distinguished Production of a Play, and Mark Rylance (Johnny "Rooster" Byron) was nominated for the Distinguished Performance Award. LA BETE received a nomination for Distinguished Revival of a Play, and Mark Rylance (Valere) received an additional nomination for the Distinguished Performance Award. THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES received a nomination for Distinguished Revival of a Play, and Ben Stiller (Artie) and Edie Falco (Bananas) each received a nomination for the Distinguished Performance Award. THE BOOK OF MORMON was nominated for Distinguished Production of a Musical, and Josh Gad (Elder Cunningham) and Andrew Rannells (Elder Price) each received a nomination for the Distinguished Performance Award. Outer Critics Circle, the organisation of writers covering New York theatre for out-of-town newspapers, national publications and other media beyond Broadway, announced their 2010-11 nominations this morning. The winners will be announced on Monday, 16 May and the annual awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, 26 May at the legendary Sardi's Restaurant. JERUSALEM was honoured by Mark Rylance's nomination as Outstanding Actor in a Play. THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES received two nominations: Edie Falco for Outstanding Actress in a Play, and Allison Pill (Corinna Stroller) for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play. THE BOOK OF MORMON was nominated for Outstanding New Broadway Musical and Outstanding New Score, and the production also received the following nominations: Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker for Outstanding Director of a Musical, Casey Nicholaw for Outstanding Choreographer, Josh Gad for Outstanding Actor in a Musical and Nikki M. James for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical. Up Up

Back to News & Press Casting Is Announced for The Book of Mormon Monday, 12 November 2012 Other cast members include: Mark Anderson, Stephen Ashfield, Benjamin Brook, Daniel Buckley, Daniel Clift, Ashley Day, Terry Doe, Candace Furbert, Patrick George, Nadine Higgin, Tyrone Huntley, Evan James, Chris Jarman, Michael Kent, Alexia Khadime, Matt Krzan, Oliver Lidert, Daniel Mackinley, Luke Newton, Terel Nugent, Haydn Oakley, Olivia Phillip, Lucy St. Louis, Giles Terera, Kayi Ushe, Tosh Wanogho-Maud and Liam Wrate. Gavin Creel has previously appeared in the West End as Claude in Hair at the Gielgud Theatre and as Bert in Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre. Creel received Tony Award® nominations for his roles in the Broadway productions of Hair and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Jared Gertner will make his West End debut in THE BOOK OF MORMON. He was a member of the original Tony Award®-winning Broadway company and has previously been seen on stage in Spelling Bee at the Circle in the Square Theatre and in Ordinary Days at the Roundabout Theatre. Gertner has also been seen on TV in Ugly Betty and The Good Wife. THE BOOK OF MORMON comes from South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone , and Avenue Q co-creator Robert Lopez . THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of nine Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, and the Grammy for Best Musical Theatre album, follows a pair of Mormon boys sent on a mission to a place that’s a long way from Salt Lake City. Book, Music and Lyrics are by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. Directed by Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker, THE BOOK OF MORMON has choreography by Casey Nicholaw, set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Ann Roth, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt, sound design by Brian Ronan, orchestrations by Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus and music supervision and vocal arrangements by Stephen Oremus. THE BOOK OF MORMON is produced in the West End by Anne Garefino, Scott Rudin, Important Musicals and Sonia Friedman Productions. The Broadway production of THE BOOK OF MORMON continues at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in New York. In September the first national US tour began at the Denver Center Attractions’ Ellie Caulkins Opera House and in December a new company of The Book of Mormon will begin an engagement at the Bank of America Theatre, Chicago. Up Up