Film, Television & Theatre February 2019 Congratulations to Tony McNamara for his Oscar and Bafta nominations, with Deborah Davis, for Best Original Screenplay (THE FAVOURITE) to Heidi Thomas (Outstanding Achievement Award), Russell T Davies (Best Short Form Drama – A VERY ENGLISH SCANDAL), Tom MacRae (Best Musical – EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE), Anna McCleery (with Vicki Lutas for Best Children’s TV Episode – FREE REIN) and Vivienne Harvey (Best Radio Drama – STONE), all winners at this year’s Writers Guild of Great Britain Awards to Bart Van Es for winning the Costa book of the year for THE CUT OUT GIRL to Natasha Gordon who picked up the Most Promising Playwright accolade at the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards for her astonishing debut play, NINE NIGHT to Fflur Dafydd and Alan Harris, who are both winners of the Hartswood West Writers’ Scheme to John Dryden and Ayeesha Menon, who are both finalists in the BBC Audio Drama Awards to the finalists of the Offies 2018: Christopher Ash, Carl Miller and Adam Lenson for Best New Musical (WASTED), Adam Gerber for Best Musical Director (PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT), Kenny Emson for Best New Play (PLASTIC) and Joe White (MAYFLY) and Lisa Carroll (CUCKOO) for Most Promising New Playwright Television LES MISERABLES adapted by Andrew Davies final episode, Sunday 3rd February at 9pm on BBC1 The conclusion to the star studded, truly epic series that has put us off visiting the dentist for the foreseeable... Series directed by Tom Shankland, produced by Lookout Point Productions for BBC. As grim as Les Misérables is, its slowly unfolding, interwoven tragedies are so well told that it’s hard to look away. The Telegraph This masterful Les Mis adaptation plays its own tune. The Times C’est magnifique…Merci, Monsieur Davies. Merci. The Guardian GRANTCHESTER: Continuing on ITV Starring James Norton and Robson Green, this series will feature James Norton’s final episodes as character Sidney Chambers, the charismatic, jazz-loving clergyman, with a new vicar making introductions in Grantchester. With episodes 5 and 6 directed by Rob Evans and episodes written by Jamie Crichton (Episode 6) and Rachael New. Grantchester ENDEAVOUR Series 6: ITV – Begins Sunday 10th February, 8pm Oxford-set Inspector Morse prequel returns, set in 1969 after the tragic murder of George Fancy. Written and Executive Produced by series creator Russell Lewis. Endeavour 35 AWR – S4C/BBC iPlayer from 6th January Fflur Dafydd’s latest series is a gripping eight-part thriller, the actions following the 12 members of a jury in a murder trial as the clock ticks down… 35 AWR CALL THE MIDWIFE: BBC1 – Series 8 continues Sundays at 8pm Heidi Thomas’ heart-warming and inspiring period drama continues in its eighth series. Created, written and executive produced by award-winning writer Heidi Thomas and starring Helen George, Stephen McGann, Jenny Agutter and Leonie Elliott. CALL THE MIDWIFE DAS BOOT: premieres in February on Sky Atlantic DAS BOOT - the new TV series follows on from the classic film. It premieres in February on Sky Atlantic in the UK with episodes written by Simon Allen and Laura Grace. All episodes will be subtitled and available as a box set. Lizzy Caplan stars. The action of the eight-part series begins nine months after the story of the eponymous movie from 1981 based on the novel by Lothar Günther Buchheim. DAS BOOT London Theatre NINE NIGHT: Trafalgar Studios – until 23rd February Last chance to catch Natasha Gordon’s award-wininng play ★★★★★ Evening Standard | ★★★★★ The Stage | ★ ★★★ Time Out | ★★★★ The Guardian | ★★★★ Times | ★★★★ Daily Mail NINE NIGHT Richard II: Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, 22nd February – 21st April Lynette Linton co-directs the first ever company of women of colour in a Shakespeare play on a major UK stage, in a post-Empire reflection on what it means to be British in the light of the Windrush anniversary and as we leave the European Union. RICHARD II COMING CLEAN: Trafalgar Studios, ends 2nd February Funny, fresh and packed with razor sharp wit, Kevin Elyot’s landmark drama questions the nature of fidelity and the limits of love. Directed by Adam Spreadbury-Maher. COMING CLEAN LEAVE TO REMAIN: The Lyric Hammersmith – until 16th February A stunning debut by Matt Jones and Kele Okereke **** Standard **** Guardian **** The Times LEAVE TO REMAIN DEAR ELIZABETH, The Gate Theatre 17th January – 9th February A stunning and bold piece of theatre about what it means to love someone. Directed by Ellen McDougall. 'McDougall’s approach is full of play and wit' TimeOut ★★★★ The Guardian ★★★★ The Independent ★★★ ★The Stage ★★★★WhatsOnStage ★★★★ DEAR ELIZABETH WHEN WE HAVE SUFFICIENTLY TORTURED EACH OTHER, Dorfman Theatre, The National Theatre 16th January – 2nd March This new play written by Martin Crimp breaks through the contemporary debate to explore the messy, often violent nature of desire. Cate Blanchett and Stephen Dillane star and Katie Mitchell directs. The Independent ★★★★ BBC Culture ★★★★ WHEN WE HAVE SUFFICIENTLY TORTURED EACH OTHER LITTLE ECHOES: Hope Theatre, Islington – 19th Feb – 9th March Filled with love, coercion, loneliness and obsession, Little Echoes takes you through the city as you’ve never seen it before. A city of deep shadows, darker intentions, and where anything can change in the night. Written by Tom Powell, winner of the OTR National Radio Drama Award. Little Echoes HOME, I’M DARLING – The Duke of York's Theatre and UK Tour – until 4th May Following a sold-out run at the National Theatre, Laura Wade’s new play transfers to the West End before a UK tour. Katherine Parkinson reprises her role as Judy, this fizzing comedy about one woman’s quest to be the perfect 1950’s housewife. Sound Design by Tom Gibbons. HOME, I'M DARLING ALL ABOUT EVE – Nöel Coward Theatre – 2nd February - 11th May Ivo van Hove directs Gillian Anderson and Lily James in his new adaptation of ALL ABOUT EVE. Sound Design by Tom Gibbons. ALL ABOUT EVE INSIDE BITCH – Royal Court – 27th February – 23rd March “You’ve seen Orange is the New Black. You’ve seen Locked Up. You’ve seen Bad Girls. So, what have we got that’s different? Well, for one, we’ve been to prison.” Created by women who aren’t guessing, INSIDE BITCH is a devised ensemble performance from Clean Break’s Members, a playful subversion of the representation of women in prison and how things aren’t quite as seen on TV. Sound Design by Ella Wahlström. INSIDE BITCH WILD EAST – Young Vic – 6th – February – 16th February Outlandish and surreal, WILD EAST artfully turns the most sterile of settings, a corporate job interview, into a sharp comedy about the permeation of human chaos. Sound Design by Harry Blake. WILD EAST COUGAR – Orange Tree Theatre – 1st February – 2nd March Leila wants to inspire global change. John needs to get his shit together. They have an arrangement. But managing an affair isn’t easy when the world around you is falling apart. A new play about what – and who – we consume. Directed by Chelsea Walker and Composition and Sound Design by Alexandra Faye Braithwaite. COUGAR SHIPWRECK – Almeida Theatre – 11th February – 30th March You are formally invited to dinner with the 45th President of the United States. Composition by Max Perryment. SHIPWRECK THERE IS A FIELD – Theatre 503, 20th February – 16th March Mark’s mother wants him to bury his father and it’s up to Saleh to find him and bring him home for a proper East End send off. Only Mark is no longer Mark, he’s Abdullah. There is A Field is a London story of faith, death and family strife reshaped by local crises and global events. Directed by Esther Baker. THERE IS A FIELD THE PAPER MAN – Soho Theatre, London – 12th February – 9th March What do we do when fascism comes to town? In a paper world of light and shadow, violence and dance, four performers work together on what sets them apart. Sound Design by Adrienne Quartly. THE PAPER MAN TARTUFFE – Lyttelton Theatre – 9th February – 30th April A ferocious new version of Molière’s comic masterpiece. Composition and Sound Design by Ben and Max Ringham. TARTUFFE THE SON – Kiln Theatre – 20th February – 6th April The highly anticipated UK premiere of THE SON follows the sold out Olivier Award-winning The Father and the critically-acclaimed The Mother by Florian Zeller, directed by Michael Longhurst. Composition and Sound Design by Isobel Waller-Bridge. THE SON ROMEO AND JULIET – Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre – 28th February – 23rd March Packed with love, family feuds and a dose of comedy, Romeo and Juliet is a full-scale, fast-paced 90 minute performance in the Globe Theatre designed to introduce students and families to Shakespeare. Composition by Olly Fox. ROMEO AND JULIET VESPERTILIO – Vault Festival, 20th – 24th February Barry McStay’s new play is about love, loneliness, lies and bats. The story of one man's obsession and the charming young runaway he meets in the dark. VESPERTILIO EDEN – Hampstead Theatre – 7th February – 16th March Inspired by real events, Eden is a modern-day David and Goliath drama about the importance of fighting for what’s right – whatever the outcome. Directed by Matthew Xia. EDEN BLUE THUNDER – Vault Festival, 27th February – 17th March Padraic Walsh's powerfully immersive play, gets up close and personal with one splintered family in small-town Ireland. Funny and excruciating by turns, it examines manhood and what happens when the people who should be there for you have nothing left to give. BLUE THUNDER THE WAR OF THE WORLDS: New Diorama Theatre – Ends 9th February Inspired by Orson Welles' famous radio broadcast and H.G. Wells’ sci-fi novel, Isley Lynn and Rhum and Clay’s new play wrestles with the boundaries of truth in a thrilling broadcast of the end of the world.