The week’s theatre new, reviews, birthdays and more in tweets from London, the regions and Broadwa
“Freedom Day has turned into closure day,” said Andrew Lloyd Webber last Monday, when he announced that as that night’s planned “Freedom Day” press performance of Cinderella would not be able to go ahead, and neither would the next night’s planned opening night gala. He also claimed, “Theatre is now on its knees. There is no way forward.”
Those of us accustomed to Lloyd Webber hyperbole and headline-grabbing tendencies duly rolled our eyes, and lo and behold, by Friday, a new date was announced for the resumption of performances from August 18, and a new opening night set for August 25. So it was yet again all hot air that the show was closed for good.
Nevertheless, heads — and not just eyes — are rolling at the headquarters of LW Theatres, where on Friday, too, it was announced that Rebecca Kane Burton, chief executive of LW Theatres for the last five years, has stepped down after five years in the role. She has taken the decision, according to a statement from LW Theatres, to “take some time to enjoy life” and spend time with her daughter, before exploring where the “next chapter will take her.”
Many of us already wake up every morning wondering what the next chapter in our ongoing tussle with COVID will take us, not least as West End theatres immediately went to full capacity from last Monday; and mask wearing was merely encouraged but not legislated within them. Today’s That Was the Week That Was has its own bespoke sections on both Cinderella news and COVID-related theatre tweets.
MY COLUMNS AND REVIEWS OF THE WEEK
Sunday July 18
- My column for today is here: https://shentonstage.com/that-was-the-week-that-was-july-11-17
Monday July 19
- My column for today is here: https://shentonstage.com/july-19-update-latest-scheduled-new-returning-shows
Wednesday July 21
- My column for today is here: https://shentonstage.com/july-21-freedom-day-turns-into-closure-day
Friday July 23
- My column for today is here: https://shentonstage.com/july-23-the-roll-out-of-post-lockdown-theatre/
REVIEWS AND REVIEW TWEETS OF THE WEEK
- Hamlet (Theatre Royal, Windsor) — opening night Tuesday July 20
My review: shentonstage.com/hamlet-starring-ian-mckellen/
- Revisiting Pippin (Charing Cross Theatre) — for the THIRD time (!) on Wednesday July 21
Best of the West End (Royal Albert Hall) — on Wednesday July 21
- Come from Away (Phoenix Theatre) — resuming performances on Thursday July 22
- Howard Goodall’s Invictus: A Passion at West Green House Opera – Friday July 23
- Piaf (Leeds Playhouse) and Talent (Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre) — Saturday July 24
CINDERELLA HEADLINES OF THE WEEK
MORE COVID-RELATED THEATRE TWEETS OF THE WEEK
LONDON HEADLINES OF THE WEEK
REGIONAL/ TOURING AND FESTIVAL HEADLINES OF THE WEEK
STREAMING/CINEMA RELEASE/CD NEWS OF THE WEEK
DRAMA TRAINING TWEET OF THE WEEK
THEATRE BIRTHDAYS OF THE WEEK
FAREWELLS OF THE WEEK
AND FINALLY, SOME FAVOURITE PERSONAL TWEETS OF THE WEEK