The Stage

Gielgud centenary evening

Published Tuesday 20 January 2004 at 15:15 by Sally Bramley

Judi Dench, Bill Kenwright and Thelma Holt are joining forces to present a special evening to celebrate the centenary of John Gielgud’s birth at the Gielgud Theatre in honour of the late actor.

The Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and The Shakespeare Guild, among others, will present the evening on April 19 - coincidentally, 55 years to the day after Gielgud made his first appearance in Stratford-upon-Avon as the director of Much Ado About Nothing.

Proceeds from the evening will go towards funding a bursary for RADA students and a verse training programme for RSC actors in Stratford.

Smash hit play Stones in His Pockets has extended its run again - despite announcing that the award-winning show was to close on February 21. The comedy, currently at the New Ambassadors Theatre, originated at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre and has been transferred to Broadway. The booking for the West End production will now continue until May 15.

What the Night Is For star Gillian Anderson is to return to the West End in the Royal Court’s production of The Sweetest Swing in Baseball. The play - by Rebecca Gilman and directed by artistic director Ian Rickson - tells the story of artist Dana, whose latest exhibition bombs and she is admitted to a psychiatric hospital. The Sweetest Swing in Baseball is due to open on March 31.

Meanwhile on March 7, Notes From New York, which found success at the Arts Theatre in November, will open at the Donmar Warehouse. The show, which stars Debbie Kurup, Paul Spicier, Julie Atherton and Craig Purnell, will feature a number of UK and European premieres of songs by Jonathan Larson (Rent) and William Finn (Infinite Joy, Falsettos).