AuthorsPeter Shaffer’s one act plays The Private Ear and The Public Eye will have their first major revival in 50 years when they tour the UK from August. The double-bill of one act plays was…
Matthew Hemley
Matt graduated from Bretton Hall, University of Leeds in 2001 with a degree in Theatre Acting. He went on to gain an NCTJ qualification in journalism before moving on to work for the Watford Observer. After leaving Watford he worked for Broadcast magazine as its radio correspondent, and joined The Stage in 2007, covering television and radio. He has a particular interest in musical theatre and last year joined BBC Radio 2's Elaine Paige on Sunday to present the show's entertainment news.
West End Live to feature From Here to Eternity and The Color Purple
This year’s West End Live will include performances from new shows including Tim Rice’s From Here to Eternity and the Menier Chocolate Factory’s production of The Color Purple. The free event, which will take place…
Michael Ball and Kerry Ellis to pay tribute to Gershwin
Michael Ball, Kerry Ellis and Gina Beck are to perform at a concert celebrating the music of George Gershwin. Summertime – An Evening of Gershwin will be part of the Live by the Lake season…
Sherlock and Watson vs Scott and Bailey – who are TV’s top detective duos?
So it’s farewell to Janet Scott and Rachel Bailey, of ITV’s Scott and Bailey, the third series of which concludes this week. The series features a brilliant detective duo played by Lesley Sharp and Suranne Jones…
Courtyard in Hereford becomes first theatre to join Dementia Action Alliance
Hereford’s Courtyard Centre for the Arts has become the first theatre to sign up to a national alliance aimed at improving the quality of life for people living with dementia. The Courtyard has signed up…
Shameless actor David Threlfall to play Tommy Cooper in ITV drama
ITV has commissioned a drama about Tommy Cooper, written by Men Behaving Badly creator Simon Nye and starring Shameless actor David Threlfall as the comedian. The 120-minute drama, called Tommy, will be made by Left…
X Factor musical I Can’t Sing to open at the Palladium next year
Producers of The X Factor musical have confirmed that the show, called I Can’t Sing!, will open at the London Palladium in February next year. It will preview from February 27, 2014, with press night…
Debenhams becomes first retailer to sign code of conduct for models
Department store Debenhams has become the first retailer to sign up to a code of conduct aimed at improving the treatment of models on photo shoots. The code has been created by Equity’s models committee,…
Funding cuts are politically motivated – Equity’s Brown
Equity has hit out at the “political vindictiveness” that has resulted in many local councils being forced to cut their arts budgets. The union has claimed that the government is passing on bigger cuts to…
Actors urge BBC to produce and cast more dramas regionally
Lobbying body the Performers’ Alliance Parliamentary Group – which includes Equity and the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain – is being urged to pressure the BBC to produce and cast more dramas in the nations…
Members reject calls for union to be dissolved
Calls for Equity to be dissolved have been rejected. The walk-on and supporting artists’ committee called for the “dissolution of the union” at the Annual Representative Conference, claiming forthcoming changes to the union’s democratic structure…
Hemley’s BAFTA etiquette – a guide for Sheridan Smith and others
The red carpet has been rolled away for another year, and the winners of last weekend’s BAFTAs will now be wondering where to place their trophies. In Olivia Colman’s case, she will be wondering what…
Performing Arts Fund gives backing to theatre
BBC charity the Performing Arts Fund will focus solely on supporting the theatre industry for the first time this year, with a total of £450,000 available to the professional and community sectors. The charity, which…
ExclusiveArts centre set to open on London’s Shaftesbury Avenue
A disused former chapel in the heart of London’s West End is to reopen as a temporary performance space next month, with plans being developed to turn the iconic building into a permanent “experimental” arts…
Maxine Peake and Andrew Scott star in Radio 4’s dystopia season
Maxine Peake and Andrew Scott are to feature in a season of BBC dramas exploring “a world of dystopian futures”. The BBC Radio 4 season, called Dangerous Visions, will be broadcast in June and will…
Shameless creator Paul Abbott writing new eight-part comedy drama for Channel 4
Channel 4 has commissioned a new eight-part comedy drama from Shameless creator Paul Abbott. The commission comes as the last ever series of Shameless is aired on Channel 4. Abbott’s new comedy drama is called…
First previews of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical rescheduled
The first two previews of new musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory have been rescheduled, with producers blaming “unforeseen problems” involving a contractor. Performances for this week, on May 17 and 18, have now been…
Kevin Spacey to deliver MacTaggart Lecture at Edinburgh TV festival
Old Vic artistic director Kevin Spacey will deliver this year’s MacTaggart Lecture at the Edinburgh International Television Festival. Spacey executive produced and starred in the drama House of Cards, which was co-produced by his production…
Olivia Colman wins twice at BAFTA TV Awards
Olivia Colman picked up two prizes at this year’s BAFTA TV Awards, winning both best supporting actress and best female in a comedy. The ceremony also saw Ben Whishaw win the leading actor category, and…
Dirty Dancing to replace Viva Forever! in the West End
Dirty Dancing is to replace Viva Forever! at the Piccadilly Theatre in the West End. The musical previously played in London at the Aldwych Theatre from 2006 until 2011 and has since been touring the…
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