All stories by Rachel Cooke on BroadwayStars

Sunday, February 4, 2024

‘I want to do stuff that pushes things to the edge’: Matt Smith on friendship, fame and radical theatre by Rachel Cooke

The star of Doctor Who, The Crown and House of the Dragon has come a long way since swapping sport for acting. For his latest challenge, he’s taking to the stage in Thomas Ostermeier’s u…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:54AM
Sunday, September 10, 2023

Bernadette Peters: ‘Sondheim’s music is about the big, important things’ by Rachel Cooke

The American film and stage actor, renowned for her roles in the composer’s musicals, on making her West End debut in a celebration of his music Bernadette Peters is an American singer and…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:43AM

Andrew Scott: ‘We need a bit more of people not liking things’ by Rachel Cooke

Fleabag’s hot priest is about to take on his most liberating role yet: a one-man show of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya in which he will play all nine roles, male and female. He loves taking risk…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:43AM
Sunday, July 9, 2023

Twelve culture secretaries in 13 years: what does that say about the Tories’ attitude to the arts? by Rachel Cooke

From Jeremy Hunt to Lucy Frazer via Matt Hancock, Nadine Dorries and the rest, recent incumbents have overseen a massive reduction in funding, and steadily downgraded the place of the arts i…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:19AM
Sunday, October 16, 2022

Actor Erin Doherty: ‘How good a footballer was I? I got scouted by Chelsea!’ by Rachel Cooke

The actor best-known for playing Princess Anne in The Crown on making her National Theatre debut in The Crucible – and how the world it portrays is not so different from today Erin Doherty…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:03AM
Sunday, May 1, 2022

Screenwriter Abi Morgan: ‘I am absolutely the same, but profoundly changed’ by Rachel Cooke

The acclaimed creator of The Split and The Iron Lady has endured three gruelling years of loss and illness. Now she’s written it all up, and it reads like a thriller The screenwriter Abi M…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:03PM

Playwright David Eldridge: ‘What’s important to me is to move people’ by Rachel Cooke

The dramatist and West Ham fan on exploring what it means to be a couple in his trilogy of plays and how King Lear blew his mind David Eldridge is an acclaimed dramatist and screenwriter. Bo…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:33AM
Monday, August 2, 2021

Adrian Lester: ‘I’ll never leave the stage’ by Rachel Cooke

As he prepares to return to live theatre – in his wife’s acclaimed play about male friendship – the actor reflects on a tumultuous 18 months, and on why he needs an audience In the sho…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:03PM
Sunday, August 19, 2018

William Miller: how I failed to get away from my famous father by Rachel Cooke

The son of theatre director and polymath Jonathan Miller, on moving back to the London street where he grew upTen years ago, William Miller, a former TV producer turned entrepreneur, bought …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:36AM
Sunday, August 12, 2018

The week in theatre: The Importance of Being Earnest; Lies – review by Rachel Cooke

Vaudeville; Almeida, London Farce is to the fore in a new West End revival of classic Wilde. Plus a Monopoly-style interactive rompSophie Thompson is a fine comic actor: when she’s on her …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:12AM
Sunday, February 11, 2018

Ruth Wilson: ‘The industry sells sex… and that’s confusing’ by Rachel Cooke

Soon to be seen in Dark River, a bleak picture of a farming family at loggerheads, the actor talks people-puzzles, #MeToo, and playing her own grandmotherRuth Wilson shot the scene in which …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:00AM
Sunday, November 19, 2017

Hull’s year of culture: ‘We look at our city with new eyes’ by Rachel Cooke

The real story of Hull’s year as City of Culture is how it’s transformed the lives of local people. Here they discuss 2017’s highlights – and what its legacy might beIn July 2016, Sh…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:24AM
Sunday, April 30, 2017

Foul-mouthed Scottish schoolgirls get ready to hit the West End by Rachel Cooke

Billy Elliot creator Lee Hall won an Olivier with his musical Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour – now it’s starting a major London runUntil I knew the real story, I had some fun imagining …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:18AM
Sunday, April 23, 2017

Nicholas Hytner: ‘I’ve always thought of theatre as a cure for loneliness’ by Rachel Cooke

The former National Theatre director talks about his new memoir and the launch of his latest venture, the Bridge – the capital’s first commercial theatre in 80 yearsNicholas Hytner makes…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:06AM
Sunday, February 19, 2017

Imelda Staunton: ‘I’m intimidated by following in very big shoes… But I bloody well will’ by Rachel Cooke

As she prepares to play Martha, Elizabeth Taylor’s role in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, the actor talks about how she ‘ducked and dived’ her way to the topUnlike some actors, who…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:36AM
Sunday, October 30, 2016

Leonie Orton: ‘I hero-worshipped Joe, I think he knew that’ by Rachel Cooke

To Leonie Orton, Joe Orton was less the brilliant 60s playwright than her adored older brother. Here she talks about relaiming Orton for the family, while, below, we present an extract from …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:36AM
Saturday, October 29, 2016

Yes, let the arts be radical. Just don’t dismiss authenticity | Rachel Cooke by Rachel Cooke

Surely Emma Rice’s revolutionary style at the Globe could have sat alongside traditional interpretations?The search for authenticity, in the matter of art as with anything else, can drive …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:06PM
Sunday, September 11, 2016

How we made a musical about cancer by Rachel Cooke

Producer Judith Dimant’s personal experience and director Bryony Kimmings’s radical ideas have combined to moving effect in an original new showIn the theatre, work in progress is fierce…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:07AM
Sunday, July 31, 2016

Rufus Norris: ‘I’m not a visionary. I don’t have to have all the ideas’ by Rachel Cooke

Eighteen months into his tenure, the National Theatre’s artistic head, a one-time painter and decorator, talks diversity, criticism and making a drama out of BrexitRufus Norris never expec…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:03AM
Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Arnold Wesker: 'I've never understood my reputation for grumpiness' | interview by Rachel Cooke

After decades on the sidelines, this great British playwright is back on the national stageUntil quite recently, an appointment with Sir Arnold Wesker required a trek to Wales, where he live…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:46PM
Monday, March 14, 2016

Maria Friedman: 'We made Stephen Sondheim cry' by Rachel Cooke

The actor-turned-director on her career after cancer, coming from a broken home, and rolling into the West EndMaria Friedman is a three-time Olivier award-winning actor and singer, best know…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:21PM
Sunday, December 20, 2015

Nicola Walker: ‘I’m glad I wasn’t recognised when I was 21. I wouldn’t have been able to handle it’ by Rachel Cooke

After 22 years, the Spooks star became an ‘overnight success’ after her performances in this year’s River and Unforgotten• See the Observer’s faces of 2015 in full here• Viola Da…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:35AM
Sunday, November 16, 2014

John Tiffany and Jack Thorne: Its a play about people struggling to be good by Rachel Cooke

The duo behind vampire hit Let the Right One In talk about their new, anti-austerity play, set in a Labour council Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:00AM
Sunday, November 9, 2014

Sarah Waters: As I get older I think less nimbly and feel more keenly by Rachel Cooke

Bestselling novelist Sarah Waters talks about why she has turned her attention to the stage for her next project Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:30AM
Saturday, January 25, 2014

Shelagh Delaney: the return of an angry young woman by Rachel Cooke

Shelagh Delaney was 19 when A Taste of Honey propelled her to fame in 1958 – but she was never able to equal its success. Now, two years after her death, it is to be revived at the Nationa…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:05AM

Shelagh Delaney: the return of an angry young woman by Rachel Cooke

Shelagh Delaney was 19 when A Taste of Honey propelled her to fame in 1958 – but she was never able to equal its success. Now, two years after her death, it is to be revived at the Nationa…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:05AM
Thursday, December 12, 2013

Emil and the Detectives' latest mission at the National Theatre by Rachel Cooke

The National Theatre's Christmas show is an adaptation of Erich Käster's much-loved 1929 children's novel. Rachel Cooke remembers a book that helped her through a tricky time when she …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:00AM
Saturday, September 7, 2013

Vicky Featherstone: 'I want the audience to to be on the edge of their seat' by Rachel Cooke

Vicky Featherstone is wary of revealing any new 'vision' as the first female director of the Royal Court – more important to 'create an environment in which writers can take risks'Does Vic…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:04PM
Monday, July 1, 2013

Mark Rylance: 'You have to move into the chaos' by Rachel Cooke

His role as Rooster Byron in Jerusalem won him unprecedented acclaim, but there is so much more to Mark Rylance. Artistic director, writer, performer – he is a phenomenon. He talks about a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:30AM

Mark Rylance: 'You have to move into the chaos' by Rachel Cooke

His role as Rooster Byron in Jerusalem won him unprecedented acclaim, but there is so much more to Mark Rylance. Artistic director, writer, performer he is a phenomenon. He talks about all …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:30AM
Saturday, April 27, 2013

Maria Friedman: 'We made Stephen Sondheim cry' by Rachel Cooke

The actor-turned-director on her career after cancer, coming from a broken home, and rolling into the West EndMaria Friedman is a three-time Olivier award-winning actor and singer, best know…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:05PM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards