#Michael Longhurst

[olympain]

Honeybees have an unfailing clarity of purpose. Their lives are often intensely short… But in a strange sort of a way, I'm jealous of the humble honeybee and their quiet elegance. If only our existence were that simple. If only we could understand why, it is that we're here and what it is that we're meant to spend our lives doing. I am uncertain when it comes to a great many things. But there is now one thing. that I am defiantly certain of.

[veilingofthesun]

Trailer for Next to Normal - Donmar Warehouse, 2023.

[frontmezzjunkies]

Donmar's Riveting and Intimate Next to Normal

#frontmezzjunkies reviews: #NextToNormal #musical @DonmarWarehouse m: @TomKitt3 l/b: #BrianYorkey d: #MichaelLonghurst @mrmrlonghurst w/ #CaissieLevy #JamieParker #TrevorDionNicholas #JackWolfe #JackOfrecio #EleanorWorthingtonCox #DonmarNextToNormal

Caissie Levy in Donmar’s Next to Normal. Photo by Marc Brenner. The London Theatre Review: Donmar Warehouse’s Next to Normal By Ross Without a doubt, this is one of the most emotionally powerful musicals out there, and one that my fellow theatre junkie and I were so excited to see. So excited, that we bought standing-room-only tickets for London’s Donmar Warehouse production on the second last…

[raynbowclown]

The Gorgon

[pers-books]

National Theatre at Home set to stream Olivier award winning CONSTELLATIONS with multiple casts from 12 April

The National Theatre announces that the Donmar Warehouse revival of the Royal Court Theatre Production, CONSTELLATIONS, directed by former artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse Michael Longhurst (Amadeus) will be available to stream on National Theatre at Home, the theatre streaming platform where global audiences can enjoy the best of British theatre.

Nick Payne‘s beautiful and heart-breaking romance was revived at the Vaudeville Theatre on London’s West End with a twist: four different casts took turns to journey through the multiverse and the infinite possibilities of a relationship; each refracting the play afresh. Starring Peter Capaldi and Zoë Wanamaker, Omari Douglas and Russell Tovey, Anna Maxwell Martin and Chris O’Dowd, and Sheila Atim and Ivanno Jeremiah, audiences can enjoy all four versions of the production from 12 April 2024 on National Theatre at Home.

A quantum physicist and a beekeeper meet at a barbeque. They hit it off, or perhaps they don’t. They go home together, or maybe they go their separate ways. In the multiverse, with every possible future ahead of them, a love of honey could make all the difference. CONSTELLATIONS was filmed from its West End revival, co-presented by Donmar Warehouse, Wessex Grove and Eleanor Lloyd Productions, Eilene Davidson, Gavin Kalin Productions, Grand Cru Consulting Ltd, Rupert Gavin/Mallory Factor, in association with Nica Burns for Nimax.

Captions and audio description will be available on the platform.

National Theatre at Home launched in 2020 after the National Theatre hosted weekly free streams of archive productions during the summer lockdown when theatres around the world were closed. Over 80 plays have been released onto National Theatre at Home to subscribers from 170+ countries. All titles on the platform are available with captions, and over 85% of titles are available with audio description.

National Theatre at Home has single titles to rent from £5.99 – £7.99, a monthly subscription for £9.99 or an annual subscription for £99.99. Gift membership is also available as a one/two/three month or one-year subscription.

Bloomberg Philanthropies is Headline Sponsor of National Theatre at Home.

National Theatre at Home is also supported by The Linbury Trust.

Visit The National Theatre at Home here.

[j-msfavouritethings]

New Keeley project! Whoop! Whoop!

[blogdeepbelieverbouquetworld]

David Tennant to play Macbeth to mark Donmar's 30th birthday

David Tennant will play Macbeth as part of the 30th birthday celebrations of London theatre the Donmar Warehouse.

The Scottish actor will appear in Shakespeare's tragedy a month after TV audiences see him reprise his starring role in Doctor Who.

The new production of Macbeth will be directed by Max Webster and run for 10 weeks from 8 December.

Tennant told BBC News the prospect of playing Macbeth was "daunting and humbling, but most of all, thrilling".

The 52-year-old is no stranger to Shakespeare, having previously appeared in productions of Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, Richard II and Romeo and Juliet.

The Donmar's artistic director Michael Longhurst said he was "so excited to witness David Tennant's portrayal" of Macbeth.

Tennant said: "The first Shakespeare I ever read was Macbeth. It's a play that has haunted me for as long as I can remember.

"To be playing this part, in the unique and intimate Donmar Warehouse, directed by the brilliant Max Webster is daunting and humbling, but most of all... thrilling."

Tennant has previously played the role in an audio adaptation of the play, which aired on BBC Radio 4 last year.

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[keeleyhawesnews]

Keeley Hawes is to return to the stage for the first time in a decade with a new play at London's Donmar Warehouse. She will appear in the world premiere of Lucy Kirkwood's new romantic drama The Human Body.

Set in 1948, The Human Body will see Hawes play Iris Elcock, a GP and Labour party councillor. But the life she shares with her husband in Shropshire is disrupted by a chance encounter with George Blythe, a local boy who has made it to Hollywood.

She said, "Lucy Kirkwood has created a brilliant, complicated, inspiring role in Iris, and the play tells a wonderfully tender and human story against the backdrop of a significant moment in our country's history. I'm so thrilled to be returning to the stage, and especially to the Donmar for Michael Longhurst's swan-song as artistic director."

Keeley last appeared in stage in 2013 with the comedy Barking In Essex, exactly a decade ago.

The production, directed by Longhurst and Ann Yee, will play at the Donmar from 16 February until 13 April 2024.

[bestmusicalworldcup]

The Donmar Warehouse production of Next to Normal will transfer to Wyndham's Theatre in the West End for a 14-week engagement beginning June 18th 2024.

[centrestagereviews]

Track of the Week: Super Boy and the Invisible Girl - Next to Normal

Performed by Broadway cast members Jennifer Damiano, Aaron Tveit and Alice Ripley Critically acclaimed Broadway musical Next to Normal is an intimate exploration of family and loss. At its heart is Diana Goodman, a suburban wife and mother living with bipolar disorder and haunted by her past. Donmar Artistic Director Michael Longhurst directs the long-awaited UK première of this powerful musical…

[whatsonmedia]

Best Offers on London Theatre Tickets, Dining, and Bowling!

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Highlights - Star-Studded Cast: Featuring Danny Sapani from Black Panther. - Renowned Director: Michael Longhurst returns to Hampstead Theatre. - Exclusive Discount: 60% off tickets! Need to Know - Validity: This ticket is valid for the selected date and time for 'Between Riverside and Crazy' at Hampstead Theatre. - Content/Trigger Warnings: - This production contains subjects some may find offensive. - Booking Confirmation: Present your booking confirmation upon arrival at the box office. - Re-Entry Policy: Due to the theatre's layout, re-entry is not permitted if you leave during the performance. - Seat Allocation: Seats are allocated by the box office/organizers. Multiple tickets purchased in the same transaction will be seated together. - Location: Hampstead Theatre, Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage NW3 3EU. At Taco Taco, get two tacos for just £5. It takes two to taco – that’s the saying, right? Regardless, it's a sentiment worth living by, especially with Taco Taco offering double the enjoyment for half the price. Head to Shoreditch and explore flavor combinations you never knew existed, all freshly cooked on-site. Delight your taste buds with options like succulent beef with torched red pepper, Yucatan pickled onion with a pot of Birria sauce, or charred pineapple salsa with shredded cabbage slaw and ancho chili prawns. The best part? Pay just £5 for two tacos instead of £10! Highlights - Dietary Options: Vegan, Halal, and Gluten-free options available. - Free Customizable Extras: Personalize your taco experience. - Exclusive Discount: 50% off. Need to Know - Voucher Validity: Valid for any two tacos from Taco Taco. - Availability: Monday to Friday, 11:30 am - 5 pm. - Redemption: Present your voucher upon arrival. - Expiration: Voucher valid until August 31, 2024. - Menu Changes: Menu is subject to change. - Location: 141 Commercial Street, London, E1 6BJ. 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Experience the ultimate cheese pull with Choppaluna's hot Luna Melts, now available for just £6. These delicious melts are crafted with either cheddar cheese or vegan alternatives, combined with fresh toppings, and toasted to perfection in Choppaluna's signature tortilla bread. Perfect for a satisfying lunch snack! Highlights - Cheese Options: Available with cheddar or vegan cheese. - Four Combinations: Choose from four different Luna Melt options. - Exclusive Discount: Offer available exclusively. 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Need to Know - Voucher Validity: This voucher is valid for any hot Luna Melt from Choppaluna. - Availability: - Bloomsbury: Monday to Sunday, 11 am - 9 pm. - Holborn: Monday to Friday, 11 am to 4 pm. - Wembley Park: Monday to Sunday, 11 am to 9 pm. - Redemption: Present your voucher upon arrival. - Expiration: Voucher valid until August 15, 2024. - Menu Subject to Change: Items on the menu may change. - Dietary Requirements: Time Out is not responsible for catering to dietary requirements. Please contact Choppaluna to ensure your dietary requirements can be accommodated before purchasing a voucher. - Locations: - Bloomsbury: 87 Marchmont St, London WC1N 1AL. - Holborn: 314 High Holborn, London WC1V 7BN. - Wembley Park: 16 Wembley Park Blvd, Wembley Park, Wembley HA9 0HP. For more offers and deals check out WhatsOn Read the full article

[theatrenews]

Echo: Theatre-News.com Full cast announced for Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Between Riverside And Crazy directed by Michael Longhurst - #hampsteadtheatre @hamps_theatre http://dlvr.it/T5C0qJ

[entertainmehub]

Theatre-News.com Full cast announced for Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Between Riverside And Crazy directed by Michael Longhurst - #hampsteadtheatre @hamps_theatre http://dlvr.it/T590lT

[wahwealth]

👻James Mason, Barbara Mullen, Margaret Lockwood | A Place Of One's Own

A Place of One's Own is a 1945 British film directed by Bernard Knowles. An atmospheric ghost story based on the 1940 novel of the same title by Osbert Sitwell, it stars James Mason, Barbara Mullen, Margaret Lockwood, Dennis Price, and Dulcie Gray. Mason and Mullen are artificially aged to play the old couple. It was one of the cycles of Gainsborough Melodramas. The Smedhursts, newly retired, buy Bellingham House, which has been vacant for over 40 years and is rumored to be haunted by the previous owner, Elizabeth, who is widely believed to have been murdered by her guardians. Mrs Smedhurst employs a young lady, Annette, as a companion. Annette becomes haunted by Elizabeth, who waits for her lover, Dr Marsham. Mr Smedhurst asks the police to find Dr Marsham, and he comes to visit Annette/Elizabeth. The next morning, everyone in the house feels "lighter" and Annette wakes up recovered. A local policeman arrives and announces that Dr Marsham has been found but will not be able to visit as he has died... Cast Margaret Lockwood as Annette James Mason as Mr. Smedhurst Barbara Mullen as Mrs. Smedhurst Dennis Price as Dr. Selbie Helen Haye as Mrs. Manning-Tutthorn Michael Shepley as Major Manning-Tutthorn Dulcie Gray as Sarah Moore Marriott as George O. B. Clarence as Perkins Helen Goss as Rosie, the Barmaid Edie Martin as Cook Gus McNaughton as Police Constable Hargreaves Muriel George as Nurse John Turnbull as Sir Roland Jervis Ernest Thesiger as Dr. Richard Marsham Henry B. Longhurst as Inspector Aubrey Mallalieu as Canon Mowbray Never miss a video. Join the channel so that Mr. P can notify you when new videos are uploaded: https://www.youtube.com/@nrpsmovieclassics .

[college-girl199328]

Lois Cooper says she was upsold thousands of dollars in extra services at a private, for-profit clinic, and when she started to ask questions, the doctor told her to leave. She's not the only Canadian who's gone through questionable practices. It's the pile of bills that sums up her medical journey.

"This is the note I made when I got the phone call in January," said the 75-year-old from Gravenhurst, Ont. "And I was told there'd be a $150 fee. That was the beginning of starting to pay for stuff."

Cooper had a macular hole in her right eye and needed medically necessary surgery called a vitrectomy, another solution. Cooper was referred to a private, for-profit clinic north of Toronto, but before the operation started, she was asked to sign off on optional tests, services, and procedures.

In later appointments following the surgery, the doctor told her that she would need to keep her face down for two weeks, which would require the rental of a special wedge-type pillow. He also recommended glasses that would refract her vision. Months later, he recommended laser surgery for eye floaters, which Cooper said didn't work. He even said he detected a mass behind her other eye that would require further surgery. A second opinion from a doctor in Toronto revealed there was no mass in her eye.

When Cooper asked questions, she was shown the door, but not before she was on the hook for close to $8,000 for appointments, equipment rentals, and procedures. Cooper was upsold.

"I wouldn't have spoken out if I hadn't heard Premier [Doug] Ford say that these private clinics won't charge you money, won't charge extra," she told CBC News. "It feels like it's my public duty to say that's not true."

According to upselling, according to Dr. Danyaal Raza, a family doctor at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, a patient is asked to pay for extra services that are uninsured when they're undergoing a procedure that should be publicly covered. It's different from extra when a private, for-profit clinic would bill the province for a procedure that's covered by government health insurance while also billing the patient.

Health Canada reports show that between April 2019 and March 2020, private, for-profit clinics upsold and illegally charged Canadians to the tune of tens of millions of dollars.

In early March, the federal government announced that it was going to cut more than $82 million in transfer payments to the provinces in cases where patients were asked to pay out of pocket for care that should have been covered in 2020. "You're paying out of pocket for health care you should not be paying for, and clinics are prohibited from charging you," said Andrew Longhurst, a health policy researcher at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.

Raza said it's a slippery slope between extra billing and upselling. "I think we need to be concerned about upselling because it's the thin edge of the wedge towards extra billing, where patients are told they can only get something that's publicly covered if they pay out of pocket."

Upselling can start with the power dynamic that often exists between patients and healthcare professionals. Cooper said it certainly started that way for her. "I was sent there by my medical professional; that would mean to me that this is where you should be, and this is how it's done, and this is what's expected, and you do it."

Once she got to what she described as a "large warehouse with no ceiling" that was packed with people, she had to sign documents before she was seen by anyone.

"You're not a doctor, you're not a nurse, and you don't have 10 years of medical training under your belt, so you're at a huge disadvantage when you're presented with information," he said. Cooper signed the documents, which she showed to CBC News, and had her vitrectomy. During the surgery, she said, her retina was torn and she was told cataracts were removed, even though Cooper had never been aware that she had cataracts.

She said she got her vision back in her right eye. However, in subsequent visits that cost her $150 for each appointment, the surgeon said he found a cataract in her other eye, told her she had dry eye disease, and convinced Cooper to get laser surgery for floaters.

What's more, the equipment Cooper's doctor told her to rent after the initial surgery, such as the special glasses and pillow, should have been covered by the government since it was deemed to be a medically necessary procedure. The bills have eroded Cooper's trust in a medical system that should be protecting patients.

"I don't know if it's illegal, but it's unethical to think that the behavior is unethical," she said. Cooper did not want to publicly name the clinic. CBC News reached out to the clinic for comment but did not receive a response.

Dr. David Urbach, surgeon-in-chief at Women's College Hospital in Toronto, said upselling is baked into the business model of public money going to private, for-profit clinics. "I don't believe they can be a viable business unless they're going to be paid over what the government is already paying public hospitals, or they're going to be levying all these unnecessary charges," he said.

What worries Raza is what he calls "the slow creep": as more patients are persuaded to spend money on additional tests and procedures, they may grow accustomed to the practice. "If you're already used to paying out of pocket for services that are uninsured, suddenly paying for this insured service feels normal," he said.

Ultimately, Cooper started asking questions when she was told there was a mass in her eye that would require another vitrectomy. "I asked him to explain the mass to me, and he looked at me like I had three heads," she recalled.

When she asked further questions, the ophthalmologist told her to leave. "And then he turned to his assistant and said, 'Charge this to OHIP.'"

Despite her ordeal, Cooper is happy that the original surgery to fix the hole in her eye was successful. Her vision isn't perfect, but she can read and drive. But her story is a cautionary tale, and she wants others to learn from it. "I just want people to be aware that when they go to a private clinic, they should make sure they ask questions and don't sign any papers. Go there first and get all the information on what they're going to want from you, and then maybe go talk to somebody else," Cooper said.

"If you're at a medical appointment and you're being asked to pay for a medical service, you should always ask whether or not you need to pay that fee to actually get the care that you came there for," Raza said. He added that if a patient feels they were unfairly charged for a medical service performed at a hospital, they should contact the hospital's patient relations department.

Unfortunately, Raza said, too much is put on the patient to process at a time when they are most vulnerable. "If I ask, 'Am I going to be denied care? Am I going to be put at the back of the line? – it's overwhelming, and frankly, we shouldn't really be expecting or asking patients to be able to decode federal and provincial legislation."

[pers-books]

Tom Stoppard and Jemma Redgrave back £1.25m fundraising appeal for Hampstead

NOV 23, 2023 BY MATTHEW HEMLEY

Tom Stoppard, left, and Jemma Redgrave in Octopolis, which recently ran at the Hampstead Theatre. Photos: Shutterstock/The Other Richard

Tom Stoppard, Robert Lindsay and Jemma Redgrave are among supporters of a campaign seeking to raise £1.25 million for Hampstead Theatre to continue commissioning and producing new plays.

It comes as the theatre announces a new season of work for the spring of 2024, which includes four premieres, including a new play by April De Angelis.

The fundraising campaign follows Hampstead Theatre being cut from Arts Council England’s national portfolio last year, meaning it lost an annual subsidy of £766,455, which prompted concerns from writers that the venue would cut back on original work.

It also resulted in the resignation of its then artistic director Roxana Silbert, with chief executive Greg Ripley-Duggan taking over responsibility for the programming.

Ripley-Duggan previously confirmed to The Stage that the studio space would continue to be a home for new writing, but warned there could be cuts to the number of shows staged in the space.

The #HampsteadAhead campaign is a philanthropic appeal for £1.25 million "to propel Hampstead Theatre as it continues to nurture and commission writers, produce new plays and offer significant ticket subsidies to thousands of young people".

A small number of Hampstead’s supporters and trustees have already pledged £1 million towards the appeal.

Playwright Roy Williams said the campaign was "vital to its continued success", while Stoppard added: “Just being here at Hampstead Theatre makes me feel the necessity of theatres like this, not just surviving but flourishing. It’s a lot to do with succeeding generations of writers and that’s why the #HampsteadAhead appeal is important.”

Ripley-Duggan said Hampstead’s aim had "always been to present outstanding new plays and champion original talent".

"Philanthropy is at the heart of Hampstead’s future and with £1 million already pledged towards our new £1.25 million #HampsteadAhead appeal, we want to say thank you for the rock-solid support of our patrons, audiences and trustees," he added.

The new season opens with the world premiere of The Divine Mrs S by De Angelis, directed by Anna Mackmin, about 18th-century theatre actor Sarah Siddons. This runs from March 22 to April 27, with press night on March 28.

Michael Longhurst returns to Hampstead Theatre to direct the UK premiere of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Between Riverside and Crazy, from May 3 to June 15, with press night on May 13.

Concluding the season on the main stage is Christopher Hampton’s Visit from an Unknown Woman, an adaptation of a short story by Stefan Zweig, which will be directed by Clare Lizzimore and runs from June 21 to July 27, with press night on July 1.

The Hampstead Downstairs programme includes Grud, a first play by Sarah Power, directed by Jaz Woodcock-Stewart, Richard Molloy’s The Harmony Test, directed by Alice Hamilton, and Richard Nelson’s An Actor Convalescing in Devon, written for and performed by Paul Jesson and directed by Clarissa Brown.

“We’re thrilled that, as we approach the end of our first year without government subsidy, we can still offer such a rich and varied programme of new plays for our audiences to enjoy," Ripley-Duggan said.