Arts Council England chief executive Darren Henley has warned about the impact of squeezes to public financing, as his funding body begins work on recommendations from the Hodge review. Read more 👇

The government has pledged its “full commitment” to removing barriers for artists touring the UK and EU. Read more 👇

'The bedrock of our sector' Ahead of the 50th anniversary Olivier Awards, the winners of SOLT's industry recognition awards and outstanding contribution to dance and opera awards tell The Stage what it means to be recognised and reflect on how the industry has changed throughout their careers 👇

Rosamund Pike and Brendan Gleeson are among the winners of the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards 2026 for their performances in Inter Alia and The Weir, respectively. Read more 👉https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/critics-circle-theatre-awards-2026-winners-in-full

The Grammy award–winning South African composer behind the iconic opening chant in Circle of Life from Disney’s The Lion King is suing a Zimbabwean comedian for $27m, alleging that a viral podcast clip from his stand-up routine misrepresented the song’s meaning and caused serious reputational harm👇

Secondary schools in England are still failing to meet targets for the recruitment of drama teachers, with new statistics revealing they are meeting less than 50% of the government’s required goal. Read more 👇

Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre has responded to concerns from critics in Scotland about a move to prevent UK national reviews of One Day: The Musical, with the venue’s bosses pinning the decision on a need to create a "moment for a London launch". Read more 👇

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s new staging of Cats has unveiled its cast, which includes Melanie La Barrie as Old Deuteronomy and Gary Wilmot as Gus. Read more 👇

★★★ Review: Teeth ’n’ Smiles – Rebecca Lucy Taylor, aka Self Esteem, tears up the stage in David Hare’s dated rock-band drama 👇

Figures from across the UK, including the new Welsh National Theatre’s founding chief executive Sharon Gilburd and sound designers Ben and Max Ringham, are among the panellists lined up for The Stage’s Future of Theatre conference 2026. Read more 👉 www.thestage.co.uk/news/the...

David Fynn is to star in the title role in the forthcoming stage musical of Beetlejuice. Read more 👇

The official programme for the Future of Theatre conference, in association with Moore Kingston Smith, is here 🎉 We’re thrilled to be showcasing an incredible lineup of panelists you won’t want to miss. 👉https://www.thestage.co.uk/future-of-theatre/future-of-theatre-conference-2026

★★★ Review: A Mirrored Monet –Ambitious, romantic musical strives to capture the birthing pains of the impressionist movement. Read The Stage's review 👇

★★★ Review: Living – Leo Butler’s sprint through five decades of British history prioritises breadth over depth 👇

Arts Council England has promised creatives a new, "simpler" funding model as a matter of immediate priority in response to Margaret Hodge’s landmark review. Read more 👉 www.thestage.co.uk/news/hod...

★★★★★ Review: The Gondoliers – Crowd-pleaser with sparkle, slapstick, gorgeous tunes and lots of action. Read The Stage's review 👇

Support cannot end when dancers are deemed no longer ‘emerging’, writes Pawlet Brookes. It must extend across the entire talent pipeline 👇

'Is the live music boom squeezing theatre’s summer window?', asks Richard Howle 👇

Stage One has revealed the all-female participants for the 50th anniversary of its producer training initiative, with Kenny Wax and Zareen Walker joining the scheme’s team of mentors. Read more 👇

Actor Julie Hesmondhalgh is to help shape the artistic vision of Oldham Coliseum in the role of guest curator. Read more 👇

The Olivier Awards still has a long way to go on equal representation, as this year’s nominations reveal, writes Amanda Parker 👇

The Royal Shakespeare Company’s decision to dismantle its music department should concern many more people than just the musicians whose posts are at risk, writes Irving David 👇

Melanie La Barrie, Rachel Tucker and John Owen-Jones are among the performers joining Bridge Theatre’s Into The Woods, taking over from current cast members including Kate Fleetwood and Katie Brayben. Read more 👇

★★ Review: Henry V – Striking visuals and rich symbolic movement cannot bring clarity to this unfocused take on Shakespeare’s study of pride and patriotism 👇

French puppetry company Les Anges au Plafond will perform in the UK for the first time this April, bringing a week-long visual theatre production to Hampstead’s Well Walk Theatre. Read more 👇

Tyrone Huntley will reprise the role of Judas in the upcoming revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium. Read more 👇

'The way [young contestants] are able to convey adult movement and dance is a matter of concern' Dance competition experts give The Stage a rare insight into the cut-throat, fast-evolving world, where sport intersects with art 👇

Actors David and Georgia Tennant have established a scholarship at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to support students facing financial barriers. Read more 👇

Actor Lenny Henry and author Maz Evans have become patrons of Polka Theatre following creative collaborations with the children’s theatre. Read more 👇

Sheffield Theatres’ Crucible Theatre is to undergo a £45m expansion, which will allow it to stage shows in the round and increase its seating capacity by 50%. Read more 👉 www.thestage.co.uk/news/she...

Comedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders will perform together on stage for the first time in 17 years in the London Palladium’s pantomime this year. Read more 👇

Playwright and screenwriter Ryan Calais Cameron has become the first patron of Camden People’s Theatre in London. Read more 👇

A great arts market is certainly a place where shows are sold, writes Richard Jordan. But if that becomes the only measure of success, something vital is lost 👇

Agents are subsidising theatre with unpaid work – this model must change, writes talent agent Mildred Yuan 👇

Magic show Now You See Me Live is to have its UK premiere at the London Coliseum this summer. Read more 👇

A musical based on Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting will receive its world premiere at the Theatre Royal Haymarket this summer. Read more 👉 www.thestage.co.uk/news/pro...

★★★★ Review: Under Milk Wood – Slick, confident production of the Dylan Thomas classic. Read The Stage's review 👇

Dancing can make us feel alive again, even when iced by winter inside, writes Lyn Gardner 👇

★★★★ Review: New English Ballet Theatre: Covent Garden Choreographics – Otherworldly ballet deserves a second life 👇

The best theatre stories don’t end at curtain call 📰 Get 13 weeks of The Stage for £13 and stay in the know this World Theatre Day. Find out more 👉https://www.thestage.co.uk/world-theatre-day-special--13-weeks-for-13?utm_source=Social&utm_medium=bluesky&utm_campaign=WTD+2026

Obituary: Robert Fox — Producer for stage and screen who brought critically acclaimed hits such as Closer, Frost/Nixon and The Pillowman to the West End and Broadway 👇

Chichester Festival Theatre is to launch a technical academy aimed at addressing a shortage in the number of new technicians entering the sector. Read more 👇

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society is to receive £500,000 to help support ongoing digital and international work. Read more 👇

Secret Cinema has unveiled plans to open a permanent "flagship" home on the Greenwich Peninsula, promising it will be a "destination for immersive theatrical experiences". Read more 👇

★★★ Review: Vincent in Brixton – Atmospheric but underpowered revival of Nicholas Wright’s Olivier Award-winning drama about Van Gogh’s formative years 👇

Jamie Lloyd’s production of Evita was crowned best musical at this year’s London Standard Theatre Awards, with best play awarded to James Graham’s Punch. Read more 👉 www.thestage.co.uk/news/lon...

West End theatres are to dim their lights in memory of producer Robert Fox. Read more 👇

Michelle Gomez has left the Old Vic’s production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, with Olivia Williams stepping in. Read more 👇

Musicians who have played for the stage production of The Snowman have appealed to Birmingham Rep to retain a live orchestra, warning that current plans risk impacting the "integrity" of the show and damaging theatregoers’ experiences. Read more 👉 www.thestage.co.uk/news/the...

ICYMI: Critics have written to the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh to raise a “number of uncomfortable questions” about a decision to prevent national reviews of new musical One Day. Read more 👇