http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/?service=Rss http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/burnley-riots-play-banned--in-burnley-1824930.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/burnley-riots-play-banned--in-burnley-1824930.html ]]> <p>It is based on the true stories of white and Asian teenagers from Burnley attempting to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the 2001 riots, and has received widespread acclaim for its portrayal of the town's racial tensions.</p> News Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/hardhitting-take-on-military-life-draws-blood-1820549.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/hardhitting-take-on-military-life-draws-blood-1820549.html ]]> <p>When the young British actors George Rainsford and Luke Norris were handed leading roles in the Royal Shakespeare Company production Days of Significance, they knew it was a hard-hitting drama about a group of young soldiers about to be deployed to Iraq.</p> News Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/turing-play-stays-on-website-indefinitely-1817724.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/turing-play-stays-on-website-indefinitely-1817724.html <p>The pioneering internet audio drama about the death of the Enigma code-breaker Alan Turing, is to remain available indefinitely on The Independent website. </p> Online Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/phillips-gets-job-on-sadlers-wells-board-1816571.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/phillips-gets-job-on-sadlers-wells-board-1816571.html ]]> <p>Doubters might have predicted an early retirement for Arlene Phillips after she was ungraciously dropped as a judge on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. But yesterday she cemented what can only be described as an extraordinary career comeback when Sadler's Wells Theatre announced her appointment to its board of directors. The position will become effective with her first board meeting on 25 November.</p> News Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/outrage-as-jesus-portrayed-as-transsexual-woman-1815479.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/outrage-as-jesus-portrayed-as-transsexual-woman-1815479.html <p> The creator of a controversial play which depicts Christ returned to earth as a female transsexual has accused critics of misinterpreting her work. Nearly 300 people picketed the opening night of Jesus, Queen of Heaven at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow this week, part of the city’s publicly funded annual Glasgay! arts festival. </p> News Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:02:09 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/neil-simon-dumbfounded-after-play-flops-1813639.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/neil-simon-dumbfounded-after-play-flops-1813639.html ]]> <p>It was meant to be a flattering season for Neil Simon, the 82-year-old Pulitzer Prize-winning father of situation comedy on the American stage and screen. His semi-autobiographical play Brighton Beach Memoirs opened to fine reviews in New York 10 days ago and next up, in the same theatre, was its companion piece, Broadway Bound.</p> News Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/a-frightening-24-hours-for-thespians-1813434.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/a-frightening-24-hours-for-thespians-1813434.html <p> On Halloween night an eclectic bunch of actors and writers gathered in the auditorium of London’s Old Vic theatre preparing to write, rehearse and perform six plays in 24 hours to raise cash for charity. </p> News Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:32:11 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/soldiers-letters-feature-in-eloquent-war-memorial-1810912.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/soldiers-letters-feature-in-eloquent-war-memorial-1810912.html <p> Cyrus Thatcher was a teenager from Reading who joked that his atrocious spelling was typical of a young infantryman. Yet this Remembrance Sunday his words will echo out across a West End theatre alongside those of the noted poet Wilfred Owen - another soldier who died in battle. </p> Home News Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:40:42 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/i-have-cancer-says-lloyd-webber-1809423.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/i-have-cancer-says-lloyd-webber-1809423.html ]]> <p>Andrew Lloyd Webber has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The Oscar-winning composer of some of the most successful British musicals of all time has been admitted to hospital and is undergoing treatment. </p> News Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0000