Sandy Neilson - January 2009 to mid-2011

Sandy Neilson will be returning to the RSC as part of the new long-term ensemble. The ensemble will be together from January 2009 to mid-2011, and will be part of such exciting times as the very first performances in the new Royal Shakespeare Theatre in 2010, and the 50th anniversary of the RSC in 2011.

David Warner - 2008/2009

David Warner has been filming an ITV drama called Albert's Memorial. This one-off dark comedy, about a trio of World War II veterans, has been filming in France and Germany during 2008. It is due to air on ITV 1 sometime in 2009. David is playing Frank.

Evening Standard Theatre Awards - the results are in

There is good news and there is bad news concerning the Evening Standard Theatre Awards. The bad news is that the Histories Cycle did not receive any awards in any of the categories for which it had been nominated. The good news is that it was such an astounding achievement that the lovely Veronica Wadley - editor of the Standard and chair of the judging panel - chose to award the RSC a special editor's award for this indisputable event of 2008. :D

The full list of winners can be found here. Congratulations to Michael Grandage and all at the Donmar for the simply splendiferous year you're all having! ^_^

In the meantime (and I promise this is the last time I'll bring it up!), if you fancy doing some nominating of your own, the WhatsOnStage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards are accepting nominations for who should be shortlisted for their annual awards. If you have some spare minutes in the day, there are surely worse ways to spend them than seeking recognition for everyone's favourite ambitious Shakespeare project. ;) And hurry; nominations close Sunday 30 November!

Geoffrey Freshwater - 28 November 2008

Geoffrey Freshwater will be appearing in an episode of Doctors called 'Buried'. The episode in question will be airing on BBC One on Friday 28 November 2008 at 1.45pm. Geoffrey is playing Brian Hedley.

Katy Stephens, Forbes Masson, Clive Wood - 18 April to 3 October 2009

Katy Stephens, Forbes Masson, and Clive Wood will be appearing in As You Like It at the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon. The production runs from 18 April to 3 October 2009, and tickets are onsale now. This particular production is one of the first plays from the new long-term RSC ensemble, and will be directed by Michael Boyd. Katy is playing Rosalind, and Forbes is playing Jacques.

The new ensemble will also include Greg Hicks, Kelly Hunter, Noma Dumezweni, and Mariah Gale. Hopefully they'll announce the entire ensemble soon; I can't wait to see who else is involved!

Thank you, Eleanor and mz_annethrope. :)

Chuk Iwuji - 16 December 2008 to 31 January 2009

Chuk Iwuji will be appearing in The Playboy of the Western World at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. The production runs from 16 December 2008 to 31 January 2009, and tickets are onsale now. This is a new version of J.M. Synge's early twentieth century play, updated by Bisi Adigun and Roddy Doyle, and will be directed by Jimmy Fay. Chuk is playing Christy Mahon.

Nicholas Asbury

As I imagine most of you are aware, Nicholas Asbury kept us well entertained for the duration of the Histories Cycle; not just onstage, but also on the RSC website with his insightful, hilarious, and just plain wonderfully written blog. Well, come 2009, Oberon Books will be publishing his collected thoughts in the form of a book (provisionally) entitled Exit Pursued by a Badger. So spread the word, make sure your local bookshop knows you'll be buying a copy, and start making space on your bookcase next to your Histories Brochure!

Thank you, Eleanor. ^_^

Jonathan Slinger

Back in August, Jonathan Slinger gave an interview to staff of the Department of Theatre Studies at the University of Warwick. Interview with Jonathan Slinger is all about Richard II, a role with which Jonathan has quite an exciting history stretching back much further than the Histories Cycle. Easily one of the better half hours I've spent recently, so definitely give it a listen!

Thank you, Eva. ^_^

Evening Standard Theatre Awards - nominations shortlist confirmed

The nominee shortlist for this year's Evening Standard Theatre Awards has been confirmed, and although Jonathan Slinger's amazing Richards sadly did not make the cut, the Histories are still receiving recognition in two categories.

THE SYDNEY EDWARDS AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR
- Michael Boyd - The History Cycle (Royal Shakespeare Company at the Roundhouse)
- Michael Grandage - Othello/The Chalk Garden/Ivanov (Donmar West End at Wyndham's and Donmar Warehouse)
- John Tiffany - Black Watch (National Theatre of Scotland at Barbican)

THE MILTON SHULMAN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING NEWCOMER
- Felicity Jones - The Chalk Garden (Donmar Warehouse)
- Lex Shrapnel - Henry IV Part I (Royal Shakespeare Company at The Roundhouse)
- Ella Smith - Fat Pig (Trafalgar Studios and Comedy Theatre)

The awards will be announced on Monday 24 November 2008.

In the meantime, if you fancy doing some nominating of your own, the WhatsOnStage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards are accepting nominations for who should be shortlisted for their annual awards. If you have some spare minutes in the day, there are surely worse ways to spend them than seeking recognition for everyone's favourite ambitious Shakespeare project. ;)

Geoffrey Streatfeild - September 2008

Geoffrey Streatfeild has been filming a BBC Drama production called Hunter. This two-part drama, a sequel to 2007's Five Days, has been filming in London during September 2008. There is no date for broadcast at present, but it is due to air on BBC One sometime in early 2009. Geoffrey is playing DS Nick Dyer.

Antony Bunsee - 2008

Antony Bunsee has joined the cast of Hollyoaks. This soap opera, now in its thirteenth year, airs at 6.30pm every weekday evening on Channel 4, with an omnibus edition on Sunday mornings. Antony is playing Gov Roy.

Thank you, Helen. ^_^

Evening Standard Theatre Awards - nominations longlist announced!

The nominee longlist for this year's Evening Standard Theatre Awards has been announced, and the Histories have received recognition in three categories.

BEST ACTOR
- Kenneth Branagh - Ivanov (Donmar West End at Wyndham's)
- David Calder - King Lear (Shakespeare's Globe)
- Adam Godley - Rain Man (Apollo)
- Chiwetel Ejiofor - Othello (Donmar Warehouse)
- Will Keen - Waste (Almeida)
- Simon Russell Beale - Much Ado About Nothing (National's Olivier)
- Jonathan Slinger - Richard II and Richard III (RSC at the Roundhouse)
- Kevin Spacey - Speed-the-Plow (Old Vic)

THE SYDNEY EDWARDS AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR
- Lucy Bailey - Timon of Athens (Shakespeare's Globe)
- Michael Boyd - The History Cycle (Royal Shakespeare Company at the Roundhouse)
- Rupert Goold - Six Characters In Search Of An Author (Gielgud)/No Man's Land (Duke of York's)/The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot (Almeida)
- Michael Grandage - Othello/The Chalk Garden/Ivanov (Donmar West End at Wyndham's and Donmar Warehouse)
- Katie Mitchell - The Women of Troy (National's Lyttelton)
- Emma Rice - Brief Encounter (Kneehigh at Cinema Haymarket Theatre)
- Alan Rickman - Creditors (Donmar Warehouse)
- John Tiffany - Black Watch (National Theatre of Scotland at Barbican)

THE MILTON SHULMAN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING NEWCOMER
- Michelle Dockery - Pygmalion (Old Vic)
- Luke Evans - Small Change (Donmar Warehouse)
- Felicity Jones - The Chalk Garden (Donmar Warehouse)
- Joseph Mawle - The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot (Almeida)
- Lex Shrapnel - Henry IV Part I (Royal Shakespeare Company at The Roundhouse)
- Ella Smith - Fat Pig (Trafalgar Studios and Comedy Theatre)

The full shortlist should be available on Friday 7 November 2008, and the awards themselves will be announced on Monday 24 November 2008.

In the meantime, if you fancy doing some nominating of your own, the WhatsOnStage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards are accepting nominations for who should be shortlisted for their annual awards. If you have some spare minutes in the day, there are surely worse ways to spend them than seeking recognition for everyone's favourite ambitious Shakespeare project. ;)

Is it just me or is this US election malarkey totally exciting?! :D

Keith Dunphy - November 2008

Keith Dunphy will be part of BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour Drama this week. Tune in for dramatisations of key scenes from Chekhov's life based on Irene Nemirovsky's biography. They will be broadcast at 10.45am and 7.45pm on Radio 4. You can either tune in the traditional way, or listen online. You can also listen online for up to 7 days after broadcast. Keith is playing Sasha Chekhov.

Keith Bartlett, Geoffrey Freshwater, Alexia Healy - October 2008

Keith Bartlett was in an episode of Doctors called 'Hunger Strike'. The episode in question first aired on BBC One on Friday 10 October 2008 and was directed by Bob Tomson. Keith played Stephen Privett.


Geoffrey Freshwater was in a two-episode story of The Bill called 'Hold Me Tight'. The episodes in question first aired on ITV1 on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 October 2008 and were directed by Richard Standeven. Geoffrey played Bob Riley.


Alexia Healy was in an episode of The Bill called 'Fools Rush In'. The episode in question first aired on ITV1 on Thursday 23 October 2008 and was directed by Jamie Annett. Alexia played Ellie Greenhill.


It's startlingly difficult to keep on top of the long-running drama series like these. If anyone knows of any handy links or cunning ways of keeping track, I'd be very pleased to hear from you! As ever, apologies for the hindsighted post. :(

Anthony Shuster - 24 November to 20 December 2008

Anthony Shuster will be appearing in The Ballad of Crazy Paola at the Arcola Theatre, London. The production runs from 24 November to 20 December 2008, and tickets are onsale now. This is a new translation of a play by Arne Sieren, translated by Stephen Greenhorn, and will be directed by Nadia Latif. Anthony is playing Raymond.