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Arinze_Kene_as_Bob_Marley_-_workshop_for_Get_Up_Stand_Up_The_Bob_Marley_Musical_-_photo_by_Craig_Sugden_5_1__2x1_x4aey1

Arinze Kene as Bob Marley in rehearsal workshop. (Photo credit: Craig Sugden)

London Theatre News Today: Monday 17 May

Hira Desai

By Hira Desai First Published 17 May 2021, Last Updated 17 May 2021

First look: Rehearsal images from Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical

Following a rehearsal workshop in April, producers are delighted to release images of Arinze Kene who will star as Bob Marley in the new musical Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical which begins performances at the Lyric Theatre on 1 October 2021 with an opening night on 20 October.

‘It’s not all that glitters is gold, half the story has never been told’

Lively up yourself and celebrate the story of Jamaica’s global superstar, as the electrifying new production, Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, bursts into life from June 2021 at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue.

From the hills of rural Jamaica, armed only with his overwhelming talent and righteous beliefs, Bob Marley applied himself with resolute determination to achieve international acclaim for his prophetic musical message – a gospel of love and unity.

With unlimited access to Marley’s platinum-selling catalogue of music, the multi award-winning team of Lee Hall (writer), Clint Dyer (director) and Arinzé Kene (playing Bob Marley) capture the rebellious spirit and story of this universal icon.  A euphoric company of performers fuse with the finest reggae musicians to bring this triumphant tale of passion, political unrest and progress from Trenchtown to the West End.

Lose yourself to the rhythm of ‘Exodus’, ‘No Woman No Cry’, ‘Waiting in Vain’, ‘Three Little Birds’, ‘I Shot the Sheriff’, ‘Could You Be Loved’, ‘Redemption Song’ and many more.

Lucie Jones and Rhiannon Porter on Theatre Chat Live

Lucie Jones and Rhiannon Porter

Join us on Theatre Chat Live tomorrow evening at 6pm on Official London Theatre’s Instagram channel where we will be talking to Lucie Jones about her role in the upcoming production of Les Misérables – The Staged Concert and Rhiannon Porter who will star in Abba Mania, both of which will be opening in the West End this week!

Join Jess who will be speaking to Lucie and Rhiannon about the shows their playing in, their roles, their exciting return to theatre and lots more stagey chat. And, if you’d like to tune into our previous episodes click here! Previous guests include Louise Dearman and Oliver Tompsett, Aisha Jawando, Ruthie Henshall and Aimie Atkinson, Millie O’Connell, Natalie May Paris, Grace Mouat, Alexia McIntosh, Jarneia Richard-Noel and Maiya Quansah-Breed – the Olivier nominated stars of the original West End production of ‘Six the Musical’.

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

The Royal Court Theatre announces reopening programme

(Credit: Helen Murray)

The Royal Court Theatre today announces their reopening programme. From Wednesday 16 June – Saturday 18 December, you can enjoy the following:

  • seven methods of killing kylie jenner by Jasmine Lee-Jones
  • The Song Project created by Chloe Lamford, Wende, Isobel Waller-Bridge and Imogen Knight
  • Is God Is by Aleshea Harris
  • What If If Only by Caryl Churchill
  • Rare Earth Mettle by Al Smith

Additionally, Jerwood Theatre Upstairs is to house Living Archive – a series of events and bespoke interactive experiences rejecting the historical notion of an archive  bringing attention to work which has been erased or not brought to public consciousness.

Theatre fans can also look forward to Series 5 of the Playwright’s Podcast released in partnership with the Berliner Theatertreffen Stückemarkt.

In very exciting news, £12 Mondays are back – To make up for a lost year under 26 ticket discounts are extended to under 27s. Tickets go on sale to the general public at 12noon on Friday 21 May 2021

Royal Court Theatre Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone said: “After the huge success and collaborative adventure of Living Newspaper – when we made 98 films working with over 300 freelancers, reaching 46 countries and with audiences in their thousands we are now proud to be re-opening our building with four pieces of work by eight writers which were all postponed by the sudden onset of the global pandemic. We are also thrilled to be announcing a new short play written at the height of this time, by Caryl Churchill.

“It is testament to the vision and questing of the playwrights and artists at the Royal Court, that the work programmed two years ago is still way ahead of its time. In fact, seeing through the new optics of our post-pandemic and ruptured world these pieces now seem more acute, more urgent and more universal than ever. The Royal Court was created in 1956 to be ahead of public taste and consciousness and if anything, this work proves that that mission is as alive now as it ever was.

“We are so humbled by the support of our audience, artists, donors, board and staff since having to close and cannot wait to welcome them all back with this work, which we have fiercely protected from the pandemic.”

Royal Court Theatre Executive Producer Lucy Davies said: “When the pandemic closed our doors we were about to embark on our transition to achieve carbon net zero. Our commitment to this work remains urgent, and we have spent the past months deepening our understanding and adapting our practices for re-opening. The upheavals in our sector have insisted we look at all of the ways we can be a just, equitable, transparent and ethical cultural space – from our anti-oppression work, to our relationship with freelancers, to credible climate pledges. Our values, our mission and our purpose have been re-articulated and re-set for a hopeful future.”

 

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre announce full casting for Romeo And Juliet

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre have today confirmed full casting for Romeo and Juliet, which opens the 2021 season on Thursday 17 June. Joining the already announced Isabel Adomakoh Young (Juliet) and Joel MacCormack (Romeo), are Cavan Clarke (Mercutio), Emma Cunniffe (Nurse), Peter Hamilton Dyer (Friar Lawrence) and Michelle Fox (Tybalt).

Also confirmed are Aretha Ayeh (Benvolia), Ellie Beavan (Lady Capulet), Tom Claxton (Peter), Ryan Ellsworth (Lord Montague), Andrew French (Lord Capulet), Sarah Hoare (Gregora/Apothacary), Irvine Iqbal (Prince Escalus), Richard Leeming (Paris), Priyank Morjaria (Sampson), Louise Mai Newberry (Lady Montague), Shadee Yaghoubi (Abraham) and Marc Zayat (Balthasar).

From historic feud to ill-fated union, Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet speaks of chance, destiny and fortune, and after some of the most fractious years in recent history, this universal tale finds new significance in 2021. Romeo and Juliet fall in love. Romeo and Juliet die. It’s not a spoiler. It’s written in the stars. Final. Finite. But what if it isn’t?

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Get Up Stand Up The Bob Marley Story lyric theatre regent's park open air theatre royal court theatre

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