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 GAGARIN WAY This production began performances on 7th March and closed on 24th April 2002. CAST BILLY MCELHANEY – Gary MICHAEL MORELAND – Tom MICHAEL NARDONE – Eddie JOHN STAHL – Frank CREATIVES GREGORY BURKE – Playwright JOHN TIFFANY – Director NEIL WARMINGTON – Set and Costume Designer CHAHINE YAVROYAN – Lighting Designer MICK SLAVEN – Composer TERRY KING – Fight Director

Back to News & Press Sonia Friedman comments on the Chancellor's announcement on Thursday 24th September 2020 Thursday 24 September 2020 Theatre has been viable for thousands of years. Yesterday’s announcement from the Chancellor that our industry is not viable (whatever that means) represents an almighty blow and is, frankly, a huge insult to the theatre industry, one of this country’s most financially successful and emotionally essential sectors of the economy. If the Government feels confident it can discard theatre and the entire freelance workforce from its immediate, urgent concerns, then it has quite brazenly announced its willingness to discard the mental health of our nation. Our creatives, actors, musicians and technical teams were ready and willing to work under challenging and changing circumstances. Why does this Government refuse to see what we are worth and what we offer the country? Less than three weeks ago, theatres were encouraged to back to business as usual as part of Operation Sleeping Beauty. Now they have left the entire industry high and dry, without the means to retain a workforce that can’t return en masse until theatres reopen in full - to say nothing of the tens of thousands of freelance artists ineligible for any income support whatsoever. With mass ‘Moonshot’ testing miles away, new restrictions in place for six months, and still no insurance scheme to safeguard socially distanced performances, fully re-opening remains some way off – but the chancellor’s implication that our businesses are unviable is outrageous. In reality, the Government is relying on our viability to drive its economic recovery by drawing people back into towns and city centres throughout the UK. As an example of our "viability", in tourism surveys, ‘Theatre’ is ranked second only to ‘Heritage’ as the reason quoted for international tourists choosing to visit the UK. Theatre drives inward investment, generates intellectual property that is licensed all over the world, and, as noted by the Chancellor, plays a major role Britain’s soft power. Theatre has proved itself a British success story domestically and internationally, generating £6 for every £1 of funding. The West End as an ecosystem brings £5 billion to London's economy alone. We’re not just viable, we’re one of the most valuable, innovative and essential industries on the planet, but without sector specific support to cover our temporary crisis, we are being abandoned by a government content to throw in the towel. It’s entirely illogical: its own £1.57 billion package will end up paying for the very redundancies it is seeking to avoid and, as far as I’m aware, won't touch the sides in terms of helping industry freelancers. At the very least, the government needs to provide proper support to our workforce now, publish clear guidance on the public health conditions and safety measures required for us to resume performances, and underwrite the cost of insurance. In return, they can ensure the return of our sector - worth £7 billion to the UK economy - is at the heart of the nation’s recovery from this crisis. Up Up

Back to News & Press King Lear cast announced for BBC Two and Amazon Prime Video Wednesday 4 October 2017 BBC Two, Amazon Prime Video, Golden Globe®, BAFTA®, and RTS® Award-winning drama producer Playground and Olivier® and Tony® Award-winning producer Sonia Friedman Productions announced that Anthony Hopkins (The Dresser , Nixon , Silence of the Lambs ) and Emma Thompson (The Children Act , The Remains of the Day , Sense and Sensibility ) reunite in their third collaboration and lead an all-star cast for their upcoming production of Shakespeare’s King Lear , adapted and directed by BAFTA® and Olivier® Award-winning director Richard Eyre (The Dresser , Notes on a Scandal ). Principal photography begins this month. The film for television is commissioned by the BBC and will premiere on BBC Two in the UK in 2018. Amazon Studios is co-producing and taking US and German rights. Amazon Prime Video will also air the drama in the UK, following the BBC’s run. Set in the fictional present, King Lear sees Academy® Award winner Anthony Hopkins as the eponymous ruler, presiding over a totalitarian military dictatorship in England. Academy® Award and BAFTA® Award winner Emma Thompson stars as his oldest daughter Goneril. Academy® Award nominee and BAFTA® Award winner Emily Watson (Theory of Everything , Genius ) stars as his middle daughter Regan, and rising star Florence Pugh (Lady Macbeth , Marcella ) as Cordelia, the youngest of Lear’s children. Academy® Award and BAFTA® Award winner Jim Broadbent (Iris , Game of Thrones ) takes the role of the Earl of Gloucester, BAFTA® Award winner Andrew Scott (Sherlock , The Hollow Crown ) as his loyal son Edgar and John Macmillan (Hanna , Chewing Gum ) as his illegitimate son Edmund. Emmy® Award nominated Jim Carter (Downton Abbey , Cranford ) takes the role of the Earl of Kent, Emmy® Award winner Christopher Eccleston (The Leftovers , Thor: The Dark World ) as Oswald, and Golden Globe® nominee Tobias Menzies (Outlander , The Terror ) plays the Duke of Cornwall. Anthony Calf (New Tricks , Riviera ) plays the Duke of Albany and Karl Johnson (Wittgenstein , Rome ) is set to play Lear’s loyal jester the Fool. “It is a tribute to the great Richard Eyre that we have brought together such a remarkable cast. The film is a testament to the BBC’s on-going commitment to the single drama, and we are very appreciative of their continued support, ” Colin Callender , and Sonia Friedman , Executive Producers said. “We are particularly excited to be working with Amazon and their support for the film reflects their emergence as a leading global brand of top quality drama.” Piers Wenger , Controller of BBC Drama, said: “Richard Eyre has assembled an unmissable cast to embody his vision for a timeless but deeply resonant screen adaptation of King Lear. We are all looking forward to seeing this landmark production come to life on BBC Two.” “Playground has an incredible track record of producing award-worthy series and films, and we are delighted to work with them and SFP on bringing such a star-studded, exciting adaptation to Prime members,” said Brad Beale, Vice President, Worldwide TV Content Acquisition, Amazon Prime Video. King Lear has been commissioned by Charlotte Moore at the BBC, and will be produced by Playground (Wolf Hall, Howards End, Little Women ) and Sonia Friedman Productions (The Dresser ) in association with Lemaise Pictures Limited for BBC Two. The drama is a co-production with Amazon Studios. The producer is Noëlette Buckley (The Dresser, Wolf Hall ). Executive producers are Colin Callender and Scott Huff for Playground , Sonia Friedman for Sonia Friedman Productions , and Lucy Richer for the BBC. Great Point Media will represent international rights in the project from MIPCOM 2017. Up Up

Back to News & Press Sonia Friedman Productions celebrates with 10 wins at the WhatsOnStage Awards Monday 20 February 2017 Whatsonstage.com is the UK’s leading theatre news website, and these awards are the only ones nominated and voted for by the theatregoing public. SFP productions won in 10 categories, including Best New Play, congratulations to: Best Actor in a Play – Jamie Parker - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Best Supporting Actor in a Play – Anthony Boyle - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Best Supporting Actress in a Play – Noma Dumezweni - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Best Direction – John Tiffany - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Best Set Design – Christine Jones - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Best Lighting Design – Neil Austin - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Best Video Design – Finn Ross and Ash Woodward - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Best New Play - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Best Actress in a Musical - Amber Riley - Dreamgirls Best Musical Revival - Funny Girl Up Up

Back to Productions CELEBRATION This production's strictly limited run began on 1st December and closed on 3rd December 2005. To celebrate Harold Pinter's 75th Birthday and his receiving the 2005 Nobel Prize in Literature, The Gate Theatre Dublin presented a reading by leading British actors of Pinter's play Celebration at the Albery Theatre for three nights only. Directed by Alan Stanford , the cast was Sinead Cusack (Prue), Janie Dee (Suki), Michael Gambon (Lambert), Jeremy Irons (Russell), Joanna Lumley (Sonia), Stephen Rea (Waiter), Kenneth Cranham (Matt), Charles Dance (Richard) and Penelope Wilton (Julie), all of whom have previously appeared in Pinter's plays. In his seventy fifth year, award-winning playwright, screen writer, director and actor Harold Pinter received the 2005 Nobel Prize in Literature which he collected in Stockholm. He was appointed CBE in 1966 and became a Companion of Honour in 2002. The Gate Theatre has a unique association with Harold Pinter, having presented two festivals of his work, in 1994 and 1997, and curated a third at the Lincoln Center, New York in 2001, all of which Pinter himself participated in. In October the Gate marked Pinter's 75th birthday by producing Old Times and Betrayal, and, on the weekend of his birthday many actors associated with his work travelled to Dublin for readings of a selection of plays, poetry and prose spanning over 50 years, in which Pinter himself took part. The Gate Theatre Dublin's partner in this venture is Sonia Friedman Productions . Both the Gate Theatre and Sonia Friedman Productions have collaborated on many productions in the West End, including The Home Place by Brian Friel, Afterplay by Brian Friel, Krapp's Last Tape by Samuel Beckett and See You Next Tuesday by Ronald Harwood. Together they presented the Gate Theatre Dublin's production of Brian Friel's Faith Healer in New York starring Ralph Fiennes, Cherry Jones and Ian McDiarmid, directed by Jonathan Kent. CAST KENNETH CRANHAM – Matt SINEAD CUSACK – Prue CHARLES DANCE – Richard JANIE DEE – Suki MICHAEL GAMBON – Lambert JEREMY IRONS – Russell JOANNA LUMLEY – Sonia STEPHEN REA – Waiter PENELOPE WILTON – Julie CREATIVES HAROLD PINTER – Playwright ALAMN STANFORD – Director EILEEN DISS – Designer EVANNA MEEHAN – Stage Manager

Back to News & Press Harry Potter and the Cursed Child wins the South Bank Sky Arts Theatre Award Sunday 9 July 2017 On Sunday 9th July, the winners of the 21st South Bank Sky Arts Awards were revealed at The Savoy Hotel, the only awards to focus on the arts in their entirety and celebrate the best of culture in the UK across 10 categories. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was thrilled to be announced as the winner of the Theatre Award. Congratulations to the entire company and creative team. The awards ceremony will be broadcast on Sky Arts on Wednesday 12th July. Up Up

Back to News & Press Casting announced for Shakespeare In Love Friday 14 February 2014 Tom Bateman will play Will Shakespeare and Lucy Briggs-Owen will play Viola De Lesseps. Disney and Sonia Friedman Productions are delighted to announce casting for the roles of star-crossed lovers Will Shakespeare and Viola De Lesseps in the forthcoming stage production of Shakespeare in Love. Tom Bateman will play Will Shakespeare and Lucy Briggs-Owen will play Viola De Lesseps. Tom Bateman 's theatre credits include: ‘Antonio’ in The Duchess of Malfi at The Old Vic; ‘Claudio’ in Much Ado About Nothing at the Wyndham’s Theatre; ‘Richard’ in The Lion in Winter at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and ‘Dante Gabriel Rossetti’ in Lizzie Siddal at the Arcola Theatre. He has played major roles in TV series Da Vinci’s Demons and The Tunnel. Lucy Briggs-Owen 's theatre credits include: ‘Maryna’ in Boris Godunuv, ‘Princess’ in The Orphan of Zhao, ‘Helena’ in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, ‘Luscinda’ in Cardenio and ‘Anne’ in The City Madam all for the Royal Shakespeare Company; ‘Brooke Ashton’ in Noises Off in the West End; ‘Mrs Fainall’ in The Way of the World at Sheffield Crucible; ‘Cressida’ in Troilus and Cressida at the Barbican and on International Tour; ‘Vivie Warren’ in Mrs Warren’s Profession in the West End and on Tour; ‘Blanche Satorius’ in Widowers’ Houses at Manchester’s Royal Exchange; ‘Sybil Chase’ in Private Lives at the Hampstead Theatre; ‘Cecily’ in The Importance of Being Earnest; and most recently as ‘Olga’ in Fortune’s Fool at The Old Vic. Shakespeare in Love has its world premiere at the Noël Coward Theatre on Wednesday 23 July 2014, with previews from 2 July. Further casting will be announced soon. Based on the Academy Award®-winning screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, Shakespeare in Love has been adapted for the stage by Lee Hall (Billy Elliot). Featuring a company of over 30 actors and musicians, this new play will be directed by Declan Donnellan and designed by Nick Ormerod, the driving force behind the world-renowned theatre company, Cheek by Jowl. Shakespeare in Love will be produced by Disney and Sonia Friedman Productions. Promising young playwright Will Shakespeare is tormented by writer’s block until he finds his muse in the form of passionate noblewoman, Viola De Lesseps. Their forbidden love draws many others, including Queen Elizabeth, into the drama and inspires Will to write the greatest love story of all time, Romeo and Juliet. This sweeping romantic comedy will transport you back to Shakespeare’s London, teeming with vibrant colours, characters, music and life. Oh, and there’s a bit with a dog! Up Up

Back to Productions LEOPOLDSTADT – WEST END This production opened on 25th January 2020 and closed on 30th October 2021. ★★★★★ Tom Stoppard’s masterpiece. Magnificent. The Independent At the beginning of the 20th Century, Leopoldstadt was the old, crowded Jewish quarter of Vienna. But Hermann Merz, a manufacturer and baptised Jew married to Catholic Gretl, has moved up in the world. Gathered in the Merz apartment in a fashionable part of the city, Hermann’s extended family are at the heart of Tom Stoppard’s epic yet intimate drama. By the time we have taken leave of them, Austria has passed through the convulsions of war, revolution, impoverishment, annexation by Nazi Germany and – for Austrian Jews – the Holocaust in which 65,000 of them were murdered. It is for the survivors to pass on a story which hasn’t ended yet. ★★★★ Tom Stoppard delivers an unforgettable play from the heart Telegraph Regarded as ‘Britain’s greatest living playwright’ (The Times ), Tom Stoppard ’s new play, directed by Patrick Marber , is an intimate drama with an epic sweep; the story of a family who made good. Leopoldstadt is a passionate drama of love, family and endurance. Tom Stoppard ’s most humane and heart-breaking play. ★★★★ Tom Stoppard’s new masterwork is an early contender for play for the year. Evening Standard CAST SEBASTIAN ARMESTO – Jacob/Nathan/Ludwig JENNA AUGEN – Rosa CARA BALLINGALL – Jana RHYS BAILEY – Young Nathan FAYE CASTELOW – Gretl JOE COEN – Policeman/Zac FELICITY DAVIDSON – Hilde MARK EDEL-HUNT – Civilian/Fritz CLARA FRANCIS – Wilma ARTY FROUSHAN – Leo ILAN GALKOFF – Pauli CAROLINE GRUBER – Emilia SAM HOARE – Percy NATALIE LAW – Hanna AVYE LEVENTIS – Sally AIDAN MCARDLE – Hermann MACY NYMAN – Hermine NOOF OUSELLAM – Otto DOROTHEA MYER-BENNETT – Eva JAKE NEADS – Mohel/Policeman AARON NEIL – Ernst ALEXANDER NEWLAND – Kurt SADIE SHIMMIN – Poldi GRIFFIN STEVENS – Aaron ELEANOR WYLD – Nellie CREATIVES TOM STOPPARD – Playwright PATRICK MARBER – Director RICHARD HUDSON – Set Design BRIGITTE REIFFENSTUEL – Costume Design NEIL AUSTIN – Lighting Design ADAM CORK – Sound and Original Music EMILY JANE BOYLE – Movement AMY BALL CDG – Casting VERITY NAUGHTON – Children's Casting

Back to Productions A CHRISTMAS CAROL This production began performances on 7th November 2015 and closed on 10th January 2016. ★★★★ Broadbent is a genius Scrooge... it’s Christmas cake, plum pudding AND trifle, all rolled into one The Times From Scrooge and Tiny Tim to Bob Cratchit and Mr. Fezziwig, Patrick Barlow ’s imaginative adaptation of A Christmas Carol will bring some of Dickens ’ most memorable characters to life. ★★★★ Sheds fresh light on Dickens' classic... there’s a mischievous twinkle about everything The Telegraph Academy Award-winning actor Jim Broadbent makes his long-awaited return to the stage to play Scrooge in a new comic re-telling of A Christmas Carol , adapted by Patrick Barlow from Charles Dickens's classic story of greed, grief, ghoulish ghosts and eleventh-hour redemption. Broadbent will be joined by Adeel Akhtar (Four Lions, Hamlet Young Vic), Amelia Bullmore (The Norman Conquests Old Vic, Scott & Bailey), Keir Charles (The White Devil RSC, Mydidae Soho Theatre) and Samantha Spiro (Hello Dolly Open Air Theatre, Bad Education). Puppeteers Jack Parker and Kim Scopes complete the ensemble. Coming together to create this innovative new work are some of our most loved and mischievous maverick theatre-makers. The play is written by the Olivier Award-winning and Tony-nominated Patrick Barlow (The 39 Steps) with whom Jim Broadbent performed for many years in Barlow’s cult comedy troupe The National Theatre of Brent. A Christmas Carol is directed by Olivier Award-winning Phelim McDermott , Artistic Director of Improbable, one of Britain’s most inventive theatre companies, and who was responsible for the iconic 1998 production of Shockheaded Peter. McDermott also directed Theatre of Blood at the National Theatre in which Broadbent last appeared on stage. Joining them is the critically acclaimed designer Tom Pye (The Testament of Mary, The Death of Klinghoffer, The Low Road) and Toby Sedgwick (War Horse, The 39 Steps) as Director of Movement. Peter Mumford will design the lighting and Gareth Fry will design sound. ★★★★ The return of the charismatic, hilarious Broadbent is as good a Christmas present as Theatreland could hope for Time Out CAST JIM BROADBENT ADEEL AKHTAR AMELIA BULLMORE KEIR CHARLES SAMANTHA SPIRO CREATIVES Adapted by PATRICK BARLOW from the Christmas story by CHARLES DICKENS PATRICK BARLOW – Author PHELIM MCDERMOTT – Director TOM PYE – Designer TOBY SEDGWICK – Director of Movement PETER MUMFORD – Lighting Designer GARETH FRY – Sound Designer STEVEN EDIS – Music Supervisor/Musical Arrangements SAME JONES CDG – Casting Director JACK PARKER – Puppeteer KIM SCOPES – Puppeteer

Back to Productions THE SEAGULL This production began on 16th September and closed on 21st December 2008. Kristin Scott Thomas will star on Broadway in her Olivier Award-winning role of Arkadina in the critically acclaimed Royal Court Theatre production of Anton Chekhov's THE SEAGULL. The production, featuring a new version by Christopher Hampton and directed by Ian Rickson, running at the Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48th Street) playing a strictly limited engagement of 14 weeks through December 21. The production will also star Peter Sarsgaard as Trigorin and members of the praised original Royal Court Theatre cast, including Mackenzie Crook as Konstantin, Art Malik as Dorn, Carey Mulligan as Nina, Pearce Quigley as Medvedenko, Peter Wight as Sorin, Christopher Patrick Nolan as Yakov and Mary Rose as the Maid. The production will also feature Zoe Kazan as Masha. CAST KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS – Arkadina PETER SARSGAARD – Trigorin MACKENZIE CROOK – Konstantin PETER WIGHT – Sorin ART MALIK – Dorn CAREY MULLIGAN – Nina PETER QUIGLEY – Medvedenko MARY ROSE – Maid CHRISTOPHER PATRICK NOLAN – Yakov ZOE KAZAN – Masha CREATIVES IAN RICKSON – Director HILDEGARD BECHTLER – Set & Costume Designer PETER MUMFORD – Lighting Designer IAN DICKINSON – Sound Designer STEPHEN WARBECK – Composer

Back to News & Press Stranger Things: The First Shadow opens to rave reviews Friday 15 December 2023 Stranger Things: The First Shadow officially opened in London's West End on 14th December to rave reviews. The world premiere began previews on 17th November at the Phoenix Theatre. ★★★★★ ‘BREATHTAKING THEATRE’ The Guardian ★★★★★ ‘THE WEST END EVENT OF THE YEAR’ Daily Telegraph ★★★★★ ‘AS A PIECE OF TOTAL THEATRE, THIS IS STREETS AHEAD OF ANYTHING ELSE’ Evening Standard ★★★★★ ‘THE FIRST SHADOW IS A SCINTILLATING EXPERIENCE’ Metro ★★★★★ ‘SINISTER AND THRILLING TRIP BALANCES HORROR AND HUMOUR TO GREAT EFFECT. THIS IS EXHILARATING LIVE THEATRE…’ Financial Times ★★★★★ ‘JAW-DROPPING FINALE TO THE YEAR’ Culture Whisper ★★★★★ ‘THIS ASTOUNDING SHOW DEFINITELY FEELS LIKE A NEW CHAPTER IN THEATRE. IT’S OUT OF THIS WORLD.’ London Theatre ★★★★ ‘THE SPECTACLE IS AN EXCITING REMINDER OF WHAT THEATRE, AT ITS MOST MAGICAL, CAN DO.’ Daily Mail ★★★★ ‘A GREAT NIGHT OUT FILLED WITH THRILLS, GASPS AND LAUGHS.’ BBC Culture ★★★★ ‘GORGEOUS, SHOCKING THRILLFEST’ ‘ONE OF THE MOST MESMERIC STAGINGS EVER IN LONDON.’ CityAM ★★★★ ‘THE FIRST SHADOW IS SO MESMERISING IT IS IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO BE STUNNED’ The i ★★★★ ‘VISUALLY STUNNING RETRO-HORROR ROMP IS AUDACIOUS, EXHILARATING AND RELENTLESSLY INVENTIVE’ The Stage ★★★★ ‘INTENSELY CINEMATIC AND TECHNICALLY STUNNING SHOW’ The Arts Desk ‘A MAJOR HIT’ Variety Up Up