Chris Stafford News

Leicester's Curve theatre has revealed new dates and further casting for its upcoming season of socially distanced performances.

Leicester's Curve theatre has revealed the full line-up for its Community Day taking place on Sat 14 Nov, as well as details of a Christmas show for families which will run as part of the theatre's reopening season.

Curve has today announced plans to reopen to the public. Ria Jones and Danny Mac will return to star in Sunset Boulevard; T'Shan Williams and Danielle Fiamanya, who won The Stage Debut Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her role as 'Nettie'; will star in The Color Purple.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, the UK government has announced that over 1,300 arts organizations will be saved by a £257 million bailout fund being released today. Read reactions from some of the theatres receiving grants!

London Theatre Direct has reported on how leaders in West End theatre feel about the possibility of reopening theatre without social distancing, in order to breathe life back into the industry and the UK economy. 

After reimagining Hanif Kureishia??s groundbreaking film for a whole new generation last year, Nikolai Fostera??s acclaimed staging of My Beautiful Laundrette is now available to watch for free online.

Today Graeae, the UK's leading disabled led theatre company has launched a major new initiative, designed to remove barriers and transform the careers of Deaf and Disabled artists across the UK.

Curve Theatre in Leicester, currently led by Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster, has developed a reputation for producing and programming bold and innovative work, with many productions going on to tour both in the UK and internationally. Chris and Nikolai talk to BroadwayWorld about their time at Curve, hopes for the theatre's future, and how audiences can support the theatre industry during these difficult times.

Leicester's Curve theatre has announced a host of online initiatives to bring theatre into audiences' homes during lockdown. A full list of content, which will be regularly updated, can be viewed here.

Legal action was previously set to begin in April, but according to The Stage,  the tribunal against Curve in Leicester has been postponed due to the global health crisis. Chris Stafford told The Stage: a?oeThe hearing, which was due to commence on April 30, has been vacated following a direction made by the president of the employment tribunals in light of the current Covid-19 pandemic. The hearing will now be listed for a future date when the employment tribunals are back to being fully operational.a??

Leicester's Curve theatre has today launched a new campaign inspired by the recent #RainbowsOfHope social media trend a?" and now your design could be featured in the set of its Christmas production, the regional premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Wizard of Oz (28 Nov 2020 a?" 16 Jan 2021).

Curve has announced its Made at Curve 2020 Christmas musical, the regional premiere production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Wizard of Oz.

BroadwayWorld had previously reported that actress Oluwaseyi (Seyi) Omooba was removed from Leicester Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome's revival of musical The Color Purple after West End Hamilton actor Aaron Lee Lambert shared a screenshot of her 2014 Facebook post. The post quickly went viral, resulting in a social media outcry with many calling the actress homophobic.

A trio of new Made at Curve productions for 2020 have been revealed, with an enchanting musical, classic drama and brand new dance piece set to take to the theatre's stages.

It has today been announced that Curve theatre is extending the run of its critically-acclaimed Made at Curve production of the classic musical, West Side Story.

Leicester legend Gary Lineker has been announced as the Patron of next year's NSDF (National Student Drama Festival), with the week-long event returning to his hometown 4 - 10 Apr 2020.

Curve theatre in Leicester has launched a new initiative to develop the leadership skills of middle-mangers from locally-based arts organisations.

The Royal Theatrical Support Trust (RTST) and Leicester's Curve have announced Anthony Almeida as the winner of the 2019 RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award and Maria Crocker as the runner-up. Now in its fourth year, the award a?" which honours the memory of RTST co-founder, Sir Peter Hall a?" is made to an up-and-coming director demonstrating exceptional directing skills in a rigorous competitive process.

Casting has been announced for the Made at Curve production of West Side Story, running in Leicester this Christmas 23 Nov 2019 – 11 Jan 2020.

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe of iconic British pop duo Pet Shop Boys join the production team for upcoming stage adaptation of Hanif Kureishi's My Beautiful Laundrette, creating music to bring the 80s-set drama to life.