Three year collaboration for theatre’s finest duo

The Barbican and the RSC have announced a partnership, beginning with the much-anticipated Richard II starring David Tennant. Other plays will include Henry IV, Parts I &II in 2014/15 and the organisations will also collaborate on an extensive creative learning programme over the three years.

Aiming to engage and excite new and existing audiences, the programme will include pre- and post-show events, intensive weekend laboratories for emerging artists, conferences and workshops for students and teachers and special projects in east London schools and communities. The exciting new production of Richard II transfers to the Barbican in December after a run in Stratford-upon-Avon which has included a live screening of the play in 100 cinemas around the country and cinemas in North America, Australia, Japan and Northern Europe. A display following the creation and journey of RSC costumes is available in the foyer at the Barbican.

Five ballet favourites reprised by Russian State Ballet

The Russian State Ballet of Siberia, along with The Russian State Ballet Orchestra of Siberia, is returning to the UK in 2014 for a nationwide tour running through January to March.

The tour will see perhaps the world’s five favourite ballets brought to life in beautiful traditional productions: Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote and of course Swan Lake. Formed in 1981, The Russian State Ballet of Siberia has become established as one of Russia’s leading ballet companies and this will be their twelfth visit to the UK. Their dancers are highly acclaimed worldwide for delivering performances of outstanding quality and depth.

Since 2002, under the artistic directorship of Sergei Bobrov, leading dancers from across Russia have forged their skills and artistry performing an expanding repertoire of new works and exceptional productions of timeless classics. The soloists and corps de ballet are superb, delighting audiences with their breath-taking physical ability and dazzling costumes as each storyline unfolds to the live accompaniment of the Russian State Ballet Orchestra of Siberia.

For tickets, please go to www.raymondgubbay.co.uk.

Charlie sets new West End record

After just six months at the Theatre Royal, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory recently achieved sales of gross £1,062,606 in a single week, the highest ever for a West End show. Between 28th October and 2nd November, the nine shows had a total audience of almost
20,000 people. Since the box office opened in October 2012, the show has taken £21 million in ticket sales and is now booking through to November 2014.

Puccini at the Royal Albert Hall

La Bohème arrives at the Royal Albert Hall in February for a production staged fully in-the-round, in Italian with English surtitles. The iconic venue will be transformed into 1940s Paris, including the vibrant café scenes, the police checkpoint and a student’s stark surroundings. Accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, La Bohème contains some of Puccini's finest music and will be performed by an internationally acclaimed cast.

Interactive theatre takes over Covent Garden

For those who like their theatre interactive and energetic, Covent Garden is the place to be this Christmas as the Look Left Look Right theatre company takes over the area for a festive adventure. A type of pantomime with a twist, for adults only, Once Upon a Christmas sees the company having free reign of Covent Garden’s boutiques, bars and restaurants to take audiences on a journey throughout these locations and the London Transport Museum on a mission to save Christmas. Audience members will have individual encounters with Christmas characters conventional and distinctly unconventional and the decisions they take will have an impact on the outcome of the story.

Tony Robinson returns to the stage after 16 years

The Royal Opera House production of The Wind In The Willows is transferring to the Duchess Theatre for an eight week Christmas season. Based on Kenneth Grahame’s timeless classic, the adventures of the four woodland friends are retold through dance, song, music and puppetry in a production which is recommended for everyone aged five and over. Narration has been written by former Poet Laureate Sir Andrew Motion, Martin Ward has written the score, and Tony Robinson stars as Kenneth Grahame himself.