- House of Cards star Richardson dies at 72
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- Acclaimed actor Ian Richardson has died suddenly at the age of 72.
- Fisher, Menzel and Spacey win Whatsonstage honours
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- Connie Fisher, Idina Menzel and Kevin Spacey - three figures who all missed out on Olivier nominations this year - have been recognised in the 2007 Theatregoers’ Choice Awards.
- ATG ponders bid to buy New Ambassadors
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- Ambassador Theatre Group has received an approach to purchase West End playhouse the New Ambassadors Theatre, understood to be from Victoria Palace owner Stephen Waley-Cohen.
- ITV and BBC break extras law
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- ITV and the BBC have been flouting the law and bypassing paid actors by calling for amateurs to work as unpaid extras on some productions, The Stage can reveal.
- ITV moves into stand-up with Nichol DVD deal
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- ITV’s merchandising division Granada Ventures is cashing in on the renewed popularity of live comedy, signing a deal with award-winning performer Phil Nichol to release DVDs of his shows and pledging to become the new home of stand-up.
- Iannucci and Blair to give R4 Lent Talks
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- Armando Iannucci and Cherie Blair are among those taking part in this year’s Lent Talks on Radio 4.
- More4 to show Pinter double bill
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- More4 will broadcast a Pinter double-header at the end of this month, featuring John Crowley’s film version of Celebration followed by Harry Burton’s master-class Working With Pinter.
- Toby Stephens to star in BBC2 Wild West drama-doc
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- Toby Stephens is to star in a new three-part BBC2 series tackling legendary figures from America’s Wild West.
- Clunes returns to ITV1 for Kiwi comedy
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- Martin Clunes is to star in a new comedy drama set in New Zealand for ITV entitled The Man Who Lost His Head.
- Cooke unveils first season at Royal Court
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- Royal Court artistic director Dominic Cooke has unveiled his first season at the London venue, announcing a shift in focus to work dealing with the “liberal middle classes”.
- Things of Dry Hours
Royal Exchange Studio, Manchester
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- The triumph of the human spirit over adversity is at the core of this European premiere, which reunites the talents of American playwright Naomi Wallace and director Raz Shaw.
- The Dumb Waiter
Trafalgar Studios, London
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- Pinter’s dialogue is as sharp and fresh as it ever was in this cracking revival from director Harry Burton.
- Motionhouse - Driven
Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh
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- Blending filmed and live dance, Kevin Finnan’s new piece for Motionhouse explores ideas of mortality for those in a live fast culture, in which dying young might be a slogan, but has no part in reality.
- Tales and Postcard (From Another Country)
Caedmon Hall, Gateshead
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- Although the new pieces in this double bill from Tyneside-based choreographer Dora Frankel differ in form and tone, both celebrate the simple joy of being alive.
- Mum's the Word
Theatre Royal, Nottingham
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- This record-breaking show is famous for being written by actresses who are mothers.
- Dead Funny
Oldham Coliseum
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- This award-winning play by Terry Johnson, directed adroitly by Nikolai Foster, is a comedy like no other.
- Typo
Tristan Bates, London
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- The minutiae of office life has already proven to be fantastic fodder for comedy.
- Cyrano
Birmingham Hippodrome
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- David Bintley’s new ballet is a triumph, developing Edmond Rostand’s 19th-century story of the romantic warrior with the huge nose into an evocative dance-drama of lavish proportions.
- As You Like It
The Crucible, Sheffield
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- Director Sam West wears his allegiance to Shakespeare on his sleeve in this extremely ambitiuous but irritatingly esoteric take on the tale of love and sexual confusion in the Forest of Arden.
- The Harder They Come
Theatre Royal, Stratford East
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- This terrific venue has been nominated by the Olivier panel this year both for its West End transfer of The Big Life and for its success in reaching new audiences.