Jude and the Tony's....

The nominations for this year's Tony Awards have been announced. It barely exudes any surprise that Jude Law's portrayal of Hamlet, has once more taken centre stage, yet competition for his category, 'Best Broadway Actor', is unexpectly strong, with both British actor Alfred Molina, and American Denzel Washington also nominated. As far as the musicals are concerned, Green Day, perhaps more used to Emmy nominations as opposed to Tony's, feature for 'American Idiot' - the satge version of their best selling album. Sarah Ruhl's 2009 drama, 'In the Next Room', and John Logan's 'Red', are also recognised. The awards will be announced on June 13th.

Hollywood's finest vie for West End title...

The nominations for the Laurence Olivier Theatre Awards have been announced today. Among the names are those who now are seemingly synonymous with awards. Rachel Weisz and Gillian Anderson are pitted head to head in 'Best Actress' category, for their roles in Williams' 'A Streetcar Named Desire' and Ibsen's 'A Doll's House' respectively. The contenders for 'Best Supporting Actress' are similarly strong, including Ruth Wilson for her work alongside Weisz, and Hollywood star Keira Knightley for her performance in newly opened play 'The Misanthrope'. A theatre awards ceremony cannot proceed without recognition for a famous personality in the guise of Shakespeare, and so it is not surprising that Jude Law is nominated for 'Best Actor' as the Danish prince himself, Hamlet. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on 21 March.

All the men and women merely players....

Booking is now open for the Royal Shakespeare Company's summer season. The productions at the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, include 'King Lear', 'Anthony and Cleopatra' and 'Romeo and Juliet'. The latter is directed by Rupert Goold, who credits includes recent stage shows 'Enron' and 'Oliver!' and stars Mariah Gale, who recently appeared as Ophelia in the BBC's 'Hamlet'. Starting in February and ending in September, tickets for what's sure to be another spectacular season, can be purchased here

If music be the food of love, play on...

A highly praised adaptation of Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' is currently showing in London for a limited season only. The RSC production, starrring acclaimed stage and film actor Richard Wilson, James Fleet, and many of the company's regulars, is directed by Gregory Doran, whose previous successes include the Tennant-filled award-winning 'Hamlet'. The production is showing at the Duke of York's Theatre until February 27th. Tickets can be bought here

Jude, Lenny and Keira thwart recession...

Although many have felt the pinch over the last year and inevitable luxuries have had to been cut back, the theatre appears not only unaffected by it, but seems to have profited from it. The year is hailed, by the Society of London Theatre, to have been a record breaking one, with over 14 million tickets sold in the capital. The director of National Theatre, Nicholas Hytner, belives this is down to the success of 'straight plays: 'There's a huge audience...for serious theatre, that addresses head on the world that people feel they're part of, that engages with a world that at the moment appears to be spinning out of control'. And Hollywood has lent some of its most famous stars to the cause, Jude Law and Keira Knightley both taking time out from filming to revive Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' and Moliere's 'The Misanthrope' respectively. Other actors have also been at hand; award-winning Lenny Henry and Rachel Weisz have captured audiences and critics alike, ensuring that 2009 was a huge hit at the box office.

My lord, the queen would speak with you...

Patrick Stewart is one of the leading names on the New Year's Hounour List announced today. Stewart is being awarded with a knighthood for his services to drama, joining fellow Shakespearian actors Ian McKellen and Judi Dench in receiving the accolade. During the years, Stewart has been heavily involved in the Royal Shakespeare Company, most recently alongside David Tennant as Claudius in the 2008 production of 'Hamlet', aired last week on the BBC. Stewart, already the recipient of an OBE, said that he was 'very proud' and that theatre has always been his 'great joy'.

David Tennant speaks daggers...

On a similarly Shakespearian theme, David Tennant has reprised his award winning role as Hamlet. The some time Time Lord combined with fellow actor Patrick Stewart to recreate the Royal Shakespeare Company's production, which proved a sellout success in London's West End. The three hour long drama was aired today on BBC2, and can be seen here. 'Hamlet' is Shakespeare's longest play, and is often one of the most popular to perform, given the numerous interpretations that can be applied to it. Other actors to have played the role include Jude Law and Sam Waterston, with John Simm taking it up later this year.

To be or not to be...

It has been announced that John Simm will become the newest actor to take on Shakespeare's Hamlet. Following the huge success of both David Tennant and Jude Law in the role, Simm will take to the stage in September 2010 at the Sheffield Crucible, which reopens in February after a £15.3 million redevelopment. Shakespeare's longest play, the Crucible's artisitc director says of 'Hamlet'; 'It is potentially a very scary role, but it has become one of those roles that every major actor leaps through. It can be a test of your mettle.' Simm, best known for his starring role in 'Life on Mars', as well as several 'Doctor Who' performances, is currently appearing in 'Speaking In Tongues' in London's West End.

What's on stage?...

Nominations for Whatsonstage.com Theatre Awards have been announced. Lenny Henry, who won a London Evening Standard Theatre Award last month for his performance as Othello, has been nominated for best newcomer, along with previous X Factor finalist Diana Vickers, who plays the lead in 'The Rise and Fall of Little Voice'. Fellow Standard winner Rachel Weisz is nominated for best actress, due to her role in 'A Streetcar Named Desire'; a category also including famous film actress Helen Mirren, nominated for 'Phedre'. Other notable nominations include, Jude Law for best actor, following his success in Hamlet and former Spice Girl Melanie C for best takeover role in 'Blood Brothers'. The winners will be announced on February 14th.

Take a sad song and make it better...

It has been announced that Broadway's 'Hamlet' is officially a success, bringing in profit after less than three months. The production, starring Jude Law, moved from London's Wydham's Theatre to New York's Broadhurst Theatre in October, having already proved a commercial hit in the West End. Law, returning to Broadway for the first time since 1995, is the second famous face to grace the role of the Danish prince in as many years, David Tennant proving highly popular in the RSC's production. Following up from that, many expected Law to fail, yet he received positive reviews; the Telegraph calling his performance one of 'rare vunerability and emotional openess.' 'It is heartening', says the show's director, 'that Shakespeare can be a commercial success on Broadway.'

On this day...

English dramatist, Thomas Kyd, was baptised in 1558; the first record available of his birth. Kyd is best known for his authorship of 'The Spainish Tragedie'; yet, despite being recognised in his own time, this was only attributed to him in 1773. This led to further scholarly study into his works; even producing a theory that he wrote a 'Hamlet' which pre-dated Shakespeare's. Kyd's respect spread from his pan-European audiences to his contempories, Ben Jonson evelvating him to the same level as Christopher Marlowe; with whom he shared lodgings. He died in 1594, recognised as a key figure in the development of Elizabethan drama and plot. 8 years after his death, Jonson is noted as being payed by Philip Henslowe for additions to the play.