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.

The Curse of the West End?...

Keira Knightley is becoming the lastest actress to transfer her skills from screen to the stage. The 'Atonement' and 'Pirates of Caribbean' star will be making her debut next week in 'The Misanthrope; a French comedy of manners by the playwright Moliere. This comes on the back of several high profile performances by stage debutants, such as that of Lenny Henry; winner of a London Evening Standard Award for his portrayal of Othello. Sadie Frost, another recent convert to the theatre was nominated for a Whatsonstage.com Award for her performance in 'Touched'. Frost, who is going to watch the opening night, said of Knightley, 'she's a professional girl she'll just throw herself into it...I'm sure she's just enjoying it and getting on with it, and not focusing on what people think.' However Knightley herself seems to hold a different perspective, saying that she 'wanted to vomit'. The plays runs until March 13th, at the Comedy Theatre.

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.

Weisz of the right standard...

The winners of the London Evening Standard theatre awards were announced yesterday. After the nominations earlier this month, Lenny Henry won the Outstanding Newcomer prize for his portrayal of Shakespeare's Othello. At the ceremony, Henry joked, 'I must be the oldest newcomer there has ever been - which means there is hope for Bruce Forsyth's King Lear'. The accolade of Best Actress went to a 'thrilled and honoured' Rachel Weisz for her performance in Williams' 'A Streetcar Named Desire'; an award named after the late Natasha Richardson and presented by her mother Vanessa Redgrave. Sir Ian McKellen was the recipient of a special honour for his contribution to theatre, whose resume includes numerous plays by Shakespeare, Chekhov and Shaw respectively. Alexander Lebedev, owner of the Standard precised the ceremony by saying, 'What we have seen in the past year in London's theatres is innovative and inspiring.'

51 and still young...

The nominations for the London Evening Standard's theatre awards were released yesterday. Among the most notable, is Lenny Henry in the category of 'Outstanding Newcomer', despite being 51 years of age. He made his stage debut as Othello last year, first appearing at Northern Broadsides theatre, and currently, following remarkable success, is performing at Trafalgar Studios. Critics have called his performance 'one of the most astonishing debuts in Shakespeare...it is impossible to praise too highly Henry's courage in taking on so demanding and exposed a role, and then performing it with such authority and feeling.' Also nominated is Rachel Weisz for 'Best Actress', for her performance in Tennessee Williams' 'A Streetcar Named Desire' at the Donmar Warehouse. The full list of nominations can be found here. The winners will be announced on the November 23rd.