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The Standard West End

Tom Felton seen as Harry Potter’s Draco Malfoy for the first time in 14 years

The actor will appear in Harry Potter And The Cursed Child on Broadway.

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West End | The Guardian

Ivo van Hove’s All My Sons extends the UK’s special relationship with Arthur Miller

In his first hit play, now receiving another starry revival, the celebrated dramatist’s analysis of the American psyche is steeped in European traditionThe British theatre’s long love affair with Arthur Miller continues. This week sees the start of previews for Ivo van Hove’s production of Mil...

West End | The Guardian

‘She spread love and naughtiness’: Simon Callow on directing Pauline Collins in Shirley Valentine

Her natural performance in Willy Russell’s masterpiece seemed effortless but Collins found it hugely challenging – and still made every day a partyPauline Collins was a unique phenomenon: a superb light-comedy actress – as she described herself – who was unerringly able to reach emotional de...

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West End | The Guardian

Love The Traitors and Only Murders in the Building? Visit The Mousetrap, says bold new director of West End perennial

Ola Ince, who has refreshed Agatha Christie’s record-breaking mystery, says ‘we all fancy ourselves as detectives’Audiences left hungry for more suspense after the nail-biting Celebrity Traitors finale should visit the ultimate murder mystery, The Mousetrap, its new director has suggested.Ola ...

West End | The Guardian

Why a vibrant, multicultural London scares the right | Letters

Readers respond to an article by Jonathan Liew on rightwing condemnation of the capitalRegarding Jonathan Liew’s article (Say what you like about ‘Sadiq Khan’s no-go hellscape’ – Britain’s cities prove the rightwing agitators wrong, 3 November), my experience of London has been one of we...

West End | The Guardian

Eurovision hero Sam Ryder takes on role as Jesus Christ Superstar

The Space Man singer said he was honoured to take lead in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera, due to open at the London Palladium next summerThe singer-songwriter Sam Ryder, best known for his 2022 Eurovision hit Space Man, is to play the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium....

The Standard West End

Pauline Collins was actress ‘of phenomenal skill,’ says Tom Conti

The star of Shirley Valentine has died aged 85.

West End | The Guardian

Othello review – David Harewood makes a commanding return to landmark role

Theatre Royal Haymarket, London Harewood is captivating alongside Toby Jones and Caitlin FitzGerald but Tom Morris’s stylish staging could probe greater depthsDavid Harewood was the first Black actor to play Othello at the National Theatre in London almost 30 years ago. He reprises the role for th...

West End | The Guardian

Adrian Sutton obituary

Acclaimed British composer best known for War Horse, Coram Boy and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-TimeThe composer Adrian Sutton, who has died of cancer aged 58, became best known for his music for a string of theatrical hits, many of them for the National Theatre, over the last two de...

West End | The Guardian

Paddington the Musical bear revealed – video

Paddington stands within touching distance. His fur flutters as he turns, his neat button nose sniffs the air and his eyes soften with a smile. For years, design details of the bear for the new London show Paddington the Musical have been kept top secret. Now here he is, red hat and all Continue rea...

West End | The Guardian

Big belly, wavy fur and a nose for trouble: we exclusively reveal the new-look Paddington

It’s been the biggest secret in theatre: what will the marmalade-loving, hyper-polite Peruvian look like in Paddington the Musical? As the curtain rises, we speak to the new bear’s creator, a veteran of Star Wars and PG Tips adsPaddington stands within touching distance. His fur flutters as he t...

West End | The Guardian

Priced out of the West End? Go to Glasgow or the Globe instead | Letters

Guardian readers reflect on theatreland’s fixation with celebrity castingI’m surprised that your story about the proliferation of star names in West End productions didn’t say more about the knock-on effect of inflating the price of seats in order to pay such stars (What’s in a name? West En...

The Standard West End

Celebrity Traitors star Cat Burns to sing during Halloween week on Strictly

The 25-year old singer will appear on the BBC One show on Sunday night ahead of a dance off between two couples.

West End | The Guardian

‘I spoke complete twaddle for four minutes’: Meera Syal, Larry Lamb and more on the terror of stage fright

Forget Halloween! Real scares can happen to actors any night of the year. Big name performers, including Zachary Hart and Harmony Rose-Bremner, recall their worst moments – and how they overcame their fearsDerek Jacobi had a bout of it during a world tour of Hamlet. Bill Nighy wrestled with it in ...

West End | The Guardian

Prunella Scales obituary

Versatile stage and screen actor who found TV comedy fame as Sybil Fawlty and later played Elizabeth II on stageAlthough it became virtually a weekly occurrence to find Queen Elizabeth II treading the boards in recent years, the first time a reigning monarch was portrayed on the contemporary British...

The Standard West End

John Cleese pays tribute to Fawlty Towers’ Prunella Scales

The actress died at the age of 93, her family announced.

The Standard West End

Attempted murder trial of man who stabbed girl in Leicester Square dropped

The Australian child was on holiday when she was attacked by a stranger in central London.

The Standard West End

Shocking moment American boss mugged for his watch in Mayfair

J. Riccardo Benavides targeted on Piccadilly as Standard reveals scale of crime plaguing London’s West End

West End | The Guardian

What’s in a name? West End casting directors raise concerns about trend for big stars

Film and TV stars are selling tickets, but director says reliance on famous names is ‘killing audiences’ intellects’From Ncuti Gatwa in Born With Teeth to Alicia Vikander in The Lady From the Sea and Susan Sarandon in Mary Page Marlowe, there is no shortage of starry celebrities being cast for...

West End | The Guardian

Secret Cinema company is bought by Hollywood power broker

Owner of London-based immersive film and TV business sold for undisclosed sum to Ari Emanuel’s MariExperiential entertainment is having a gold rush but commercial success is far from certainThe parent company behind Secret Cinema, the London-based immersive film and TV business, has been bought by...