Samantha Barks and Jonathan Bailey star in THE LAST FIVE YEARS at St. James Theatre, directed by Broadway composer Jason Robert Brown

Tony Award-winning Broadway composer Jason Robert Brown will helm a new London production of his acclaimed musical The Last Five Years, playing at St. James Theatre from Friday 27 October, with a press night on Wednesday 2 November at 7.00pm. 

Tickets are on sale to St. James Friends at 10.00am on Friday 24 June, and on general sale at 10.00am on Saturday 25 June.

The Last Five Years is an emotionally powerful and intimate musical telling the story of Jamie and Cathy, two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years. As aspiring author Jamie gets the book deal of his dreams, actress Cathy struggles to get work and make sense of the way her career has turned out. Can a couple once united by their dreams stay connected as their paths begin to divide? Known for its unique structure, The Last Five Years sees their stories told in opposite directions; Jamie moving forwards and Cathy backwards through their relationship, meeting only briefly for a moment in time as their stories cross.

REVIEW: Miss Leading Ladies at the St. James Studio Theatre

This wonderfully funny show takes a nostalgic look at some of the greatest ladies to have graced the stage and screen.

As the audience steps into the studio, they are immediately transported into what spears to be a smoky jazz club, helping the audience to get in the mood for what they were about to see. But it also allows them to focus on brother and sister duo Ceri Dupree and Ria Jones constantly without ever losing our attention.

ACCOLADE announces full cast for run at the St James Theatre

Full casting is announced for Emlyn Williams’ masterpiece Accolade directed by award-winning director Blanche McIntyre. Alexander Hanson and Abigail Cruttenden lead the company as Will and Rona Trenting, with Bruce Alexander (Daker), Sam Clemmett (Ian Trenting), Claire Cox (Marion Tillyard), Daniel Crossley (Albert), Olivia Darnley (Phyllis), Jay Taylor (Harold) and Jay Villiers (Thane Lampeter). Accolade – produced by Nicola Seed - is the final production in Stage One's One Stage season at the St James Theatre. The production opens on 17 November, with previews from the 12 November, and has a limited 5 week run until 13 December.

London, 1950.

Private and public worlds collide when author Will Trenting’s knighthood attracts the glare of the British press. Will is forced to battle against the exposure of his secret life and the double standards of a society bent on destroying him.

St. James Theatre announces new programme January - May 2015

Two comedies and a comedy legend will comprise the St. James Theatre’s programme from January to May 2015. Tickets go on general sale at 11am on Thursday 09 October 2014.

DANNY MOAR and SIMON FRIEND for THEATRE ROYAL BATH and ST. JAMES THEATRE PRODUCTIONS present

BAD JEWS

15 January – 28 February

Press night 21 January

By Joshua Harmon | Directed by Michael Longhurst | Designed by Richard Kent | Lighting by Richard Howell | Sound by Adrienne Quartly

“The best comedy of the season” – New York Times

Trailer released for Stephen Sondheim's MARRY ME A LITTLE at St. James Theatre

Marry Me A Little pieces together a selection of songs by the undisputed master of the contemporary Broadway musical to tell a charming and bittersweet tale of love, loneliness and survival as a modern singleton. Told entirely through songs written early in Sondheim’s career or previously intended for his ground-breaking Broadway musicals including A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum,Company, Follies and A Little Night Music, Marry Me a Little is funny, moving and sophisticated musical as well as a fascinating look at "the songs that got away”.

In this new interpretation, the first to be seen on the London stage in 17 years, the show finds two ex-lovers, on separate Saturday nights, alone in the flat they once shared, remembering the highs and lows of their relationship. Each is visited by memories of the other as they remember what made them fall in love, and ultimately what pulled them apart.

Simon Bailey and Laura Pitt-Pulford will turn to the roles of Man and Woman.

Eliza Doolittle, Sabrina Aloueche & Helen Woolf join Frances Ruffell in PARIS ORIGINAL

The St. James Studio is delighted to announce that Frances Ruffelle will be joined by special guests during the run of her solo show, Paris Original, which takes place in the St. James Studio from 01 – 03 October 2014.

 

Frances’s daughter, popstar Eliza Doolittle, will appear on Wednesday 01 October, followed by West End stars Sabrina Aloueche on Thursday 02 October, and Helen Woolf on Friday 03 October.

 

Paris Original is devised by Matt Ryan and Frances Ruffelle and produced by Danielle Tarento. Press are invited to attend the performance on Wednesday 01 October at 8pm. 

Frances Ruffelle to perform PARIS ORIGINAL at the St. James Studio

‘Frances Ruffelle is a real original in any language and any city, but don’t miss her adopt Paris as home’ Mark Shenton

The St. James Studio is delighted to welcome Tony Award winning actress and performer Frances Ruffelleto its stage for the first time, performing Paris Original, from Wednesday 01 to Friday 03 October 2014. The show is devised by Matt Ryan and Frances Ruffelle and produced by Danielle Tarento. 

Frances Ruffelle’s last solo show in New York was named one of Playbill’s ‘Unforgettable Theatre Experiences of 2013’. Now the Tony Award winning actress will perform Paris Original, a sell out at the Crazy Coqs in 2013, before taking the show to New York. Most well-known for developing the iconic role of Eponine in Les Misérables, Frances will be treating audiences to a previously unheard song which was cut from the show; Schönberg’s original song for Eponine.  

Casting is announced for Anya Reiss' UNCLE VANYA at the St. James Theatre

Casting is announced today for a new version of Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya by multiple award-winning playwright Anya Reiss, premiering on Wednesday 8 October at St. James Theatre. Directed by Russell Bolam, Reiss’ adaptation of Chekhov’s masterpiece of modern theatre reignites the piece for a 21st century audience, revealing the universal difficulties of impossible love, longing and regret.

John Hannah stars as Vanya, returning to the stage for the first time since 2008, after his role in Sky One’s epic,Spartacus. Joining Hannah in the company are Amanda Boxer, Buffy Davis, Joe Dixon, Alan Francis and Amanda Hale.

Simon Callow returns to the St. James Theatre to perform in JUVENALIA

Simon Callow returns to the St. James Theatre following a recent appearance in Great British Musicals in July 2014 to perform in Juvenalia, from Tuesday 26 – Saturday 30 August 2014. Juvenalia, which comes to the St. James Theatre directly from the Edinburgh Festival, is written by Juvenal, adapted by Richard Quick and directed by Simon Stokes. Set design is by Robin Don with lighting design by Chahine Lavroyan.

Simon Callow does stand-up comedy - filthy, scabrous, politically incorrect – as he lambasts foreigners, plutocrats, women, gays - as last delivered in Rome AD 100.

Juvenal was one angry white middle class male. In Juvenilia he tells it like it was. And is.

Angela Griffin completes cast of Breeders at St James Theatre

Angela Griffin completes the cast of Ben Ockrent’s Breeders, a new play premiering on Wednesday 3 September 2014 at St. James Theatre. Griffin will play Caroline, who wants to start a family with her wife Andrea.  In their quest to have a child that shares both of their DNA, Andrea seeks her brother Jimmy’s help.   Griffin will be joined by Tamzin Outhwaite as spouse Andrea, Nicholas Burns as Jimmy and Jemima Rooper as Jimmy’s girlfriend, Sharon. Directed by Tamara Harvey, the play is inspired by Ockrent’s real-life experience and offers a new perspective on how and why we make babies. 

Angela Griffin was most recently seen onstage in One Man, Two Guvnors and her numerous television credits include Coronation Street, Lewis, Mount Pleasant, Hustle and Waterloo Road. Tamzin Outhwaite returns to the stage after recent roles in Hampstead Theatre’s Raving and Di, Viv and Rose. Nicholas Burns, best known as Channel 4’s Nathan Barley, takes the role of Jimmy. Jemima Rooper will play Jimmy’s girlfriend, Sharon. Jemima was last seen onstage in Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud Theatre opposite Angela Lansbury.

CELIA IMRIE one woman show, Laughing Matters, come to St. James Studio

‘A shining star in her weird and wonderful new cabaret act…’ Michael Coveney, WhatsOnStage

The St. James Studio is eagerly anticipating Celia Imrie’s one woman cabaret/ revue show, Laughing Matters, running from Wednesday 13 – Sunday 17 August 2014. The show is directed by Fidelis Morgan with Andy Massey as Musical Director and on piano. Press are invited to attend the performance on Wednesday 13 or Thursday 14 August.Laughing Matters first ran at the Crazy Coqs in September 2013 and has been revised and updated for its St. James Studio run.

Breeders, a new play by Ben Ockrent at St James Theatre, announces full cast

Casting is announced today for Breeders, a new comedy by Olivier-nominated and BAFTA long-listed writer Ben Ockrent, premiering on Wednesday 3 September at St. James Theatre.  

Breeders follows the story of Andrea, and her wife Caroline in their quest to have a child that shares both of their DNA, with the help of Andrea’s brother, Jimmy. Starring as Andrea, Tamzin Outhwaite returns to the stage after recent roles in Hampstead Theatre’s Ravingand Di, Viv and Rose. Nicholas Burns, best known as Channel 4’s Nathan Barley, takes the role of Jimmy. Jemima Rooper will play Jimmy’s girlfriend, Sharon. Jemima was last seen onstage in Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud Theatre opposite Angela Lansbury.

URINETOWN the musical will transfer to the Apollo Theatre

Urinetown is transferring to the West End's Apollo Theatre later this year, it has been confirmed.

The musical, which is directed by Jamie Lloyd, received its UK premiere at the St James Theatre in March. It will run at the Apollo from 29 September.

Written by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis, Urinetown is set in a Gotham-like city of the future, where a hero leads the people in an uprising against private toilets.

Director Lloyd's other current West End productions are The Commitments and the upcoming Richard III, as part of his new season at Trafalgar Studios.

MARRY ME A LITTLE to star Simon Bailey and Laura Pitt-Pulford

Simon Bailey and Laura Pitt-Pulford will star in the upcoming revival of Stephen Sondheim'sMarry me a Little at the St James Studio, which opens next month.

Directed by Hannah Chissick, the show runs from 29 July to 10 August and features songs from early in Sondheim's career.

Simon Bailey, who plays Man, most recently played Liam O'Deary in I Can't Sing! at the London Palladium. His other stage credits include Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera (UK tour), [title of show] (Landor), Passion (Donmar Warehouse), Les Miserables (Queen's).

Laura Pitt-Pulford played The Falconer in The Light Princess (National Theatre). Her other credits include A Man of No Importace (Salisbury Playhouse), Piaf and Hello Dolly (Leicester Curve).

WILDE WEEK at the St. James Studio featuring Oscar Wilde's Grandson, Merlin Holland

Wilde Week, a week-long celebration of the life and work of Oscar Wilde, will take place from Monday 07 to Saturday 12 July 2014. The week will include three new productions which dramatically recount Wilde’s swift and painful fall from grace and subsequent imprisonment, as well as a condensed version of Wilde’s most famous play, The Importance of Being Earnest, which opened in 1895 at the old St. James Theatre. It was only four days later that the Marquess of Queensberry left his calling card at Wilde's club inscribed "For Oscar Wilde, posing sodomite", inciting Wilde to sue for libel, and a mere 15 weeks after the opening of Earnest that Wilde was sent to jail.  

  

 The condensed version of The Importance of Being Earnest will take place at lunchtimes, as is now customary at the St. James, and also early evening at 6.15pm Monday to Thursday and 5.30pm on Friday.

Breeders, Uncle Vanya and Accolade are part of the new season at the St. James Theatre

Stage One has today announced the three commercial theatre productions which will be produced by Stage One emerging producers at the St. James Theatre this autumn.

In December 2013, Stage One, the charity committed to developing and supporting producers for the commercial theatre industry, invited emerging producers to apply for the opportunity to pitch a commercial production to a panel of industry professionals.  This panel selected three that it felt had commercial potential, and would most enhance the future prospects of the producer.

The ONE STAGE season will open on 3 September 2014 with Breeders, a new comedy by Olivier-nominated and BAFTA long-listed writer Ben Ockrent, directed by Tamara Harvey and produced by Vicky Graham for Vicky Graham Productions. Inspired by Ockrent’s real-life experience, this play offers a new perspective on how and why we make babies. It follows the story of Andrea and her wife Caroline in their quest to have a child that shares both of their DNA, with the help of Andrea’s brother. 

Sell out play INVINCIBLE at St. James Theatre July 2014

St. James Theatre Productions presents the Orange Tree Theatre’s highly acclaimed Invincible byTorben Betts, directed by Ellie Jones. The production will run from Thursday 10 July to Saturday 09 August 2014, with press night on Tuesday 15 July at 7pm.

Invincible will be restaged for its run at the St. James Theatre, having been presented in-the-round at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, where it received its world premiere in March this year. The Orange Tree Theatre production of Invincible played to full houses and received wide critical acclaim.

ST. JAMES STUDIO Theatre Programme Announced

The St. James Studio will continue to present its successful lunchtime theatre programme, with both Bite-Size Theatre and Butterfly returning to the studio to provide the workers of Victoria some respite from the daily grind. The evening programme includes a ‘copyright free’ Doctor Who musical, I Need A Doctor: The Whosical, the critically acclaimed stand-up comedy adaptation of the infamousTristram Shandy and the remarkable and tragic story of Mata Hari, the famous WW1 concubine who was tried and sentenced to death by firing squad on charges of espionage.

LUNCHTIME THEATRE

BITE-SIZE – LUNCHTIME FOURPLAY 2

Monday 19 – Friday 23 May at 1pm

£8 in advance/£10 on the door

Lunchtime Fourplay 2, another refreshing lunchtime experience from Bite-Size Plays. Eat and enjoy a selection of plays from the ‘vintage menu’ and comedies from the critically acclaimed international touring show, Bite-Size Comedies A La Carte.