8+ min ago (306+ words) Paddington has become a name as synonymous with London culture as the London Eye or Big Ben, so on hearing that the character was due to make his West-End debut in November 2025, I, alongside many others, was incredibly excited. The project has reportedly been in the works for close to a decade, so to say the show was highly anticipated would be nothing short of an understatement." From selling marmalade sandwiches to pawprints guiding your way to the doors, charm oozed from every corner of the theatre, and that reinvigorated a sense of childlike wonder that only grew as the show began the images and videos of Paddington online do not do nearly enough justice to just how real he looks in person Millicent Clyde, who as I already mentioned, is played to perfection by Hamilton-Barritt, and her lackey Grant,…...

8+ min ago (337+ words) But how exactly did the team behind "Paddington the Musical" translate the Peruvian cub's likeness to the stage? The answer is one expertly crafted bear suit and two very talented performers: James Hameed and Arti Shah. Directed by Luke Sheppard with music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher, "Paddington the Musical" officially opens on Sunday night at the Savoy. Below, Hameed and Shah give Variety insight into the work that has gone into bringing Paddington to life, what it was like meeting Prince William and Kate Middleton and the message they hope the audience takes away from the show. Shah: That's one thing that we all seem to forget, it's about kindness and it's free and it's simple and we all have it within us. It's just a gentle reminder that we can all be kind, and this is what the…...

16+ min ago (696+ words) A POPULAR city theatre facing a "brutal" cut in funding has launched an urgent appeal for public support. Actor Brian Cox has already weighed into the controversy over the proposal which would see Dundee Rep face a potential 100% cut in its council funding. The internationally renowned Dundee Contemporary Arts, along with Dundee Heritage Trust, are among other cultural organisations that may be hit as a result of an "8.4 million deficit in the city council's budget for 2026/2027. A public consultation has now been launched on the proposals and it is hoped a "wave of support" can be built for the threatened organisations. If the 100% cut to Dundee Rep's funding goes ahead, it would see the theatre lose annual funding worth "286,000, a figure that was already slashed by "32,000 in this year's council budget. The theatre's artistic director, Andrew Panton, said the proposals…...

50+ min ago (832+ words) Nina has worn many hats at Static Media since joining the company in 2018, from video projects like "Okay, So Basically" to working on various news desks. She's now happily writing for Looper, /Film, and TVLine. All 3 Paddington Movies, Ranked The "Paddington" film franchise, which features the character of Paddington Bear originally made famous in 1958 by children's author Michael Bond, is an absolute delight. But which movie in the series is the very best of the best? Let's back up. Because the "Paddington" books have been around for quite some time, anyone reading this likely has a passing familiarity with the young, sweet-natured bear from "darkest Peru" who heads to London as a stowaway on a massive cargo ship to find his way in the world. Upon arrival, Paddington, feeling a bit lost, seeks refuge at the English capital's Paddington Station,…...

54+ min ago (678+ words) For Gillian Rea, speaking Ulster Scots was a normal part of her childhood and she wants to see others enjoying the culture. A newly-minted tour guide, she has turned her dream into a reality sharing her Ulster Scots heritage with those who wish to learn the history and customs. "People travel more now, and visit other countries," Gillian said. "But sometimes we don't know what's on our doorstep. "I think it's really important to explore the culture around you, to know who you are and where you come from in order to see where you're going." Gillian, who is from Kilwaughter in County Antrim, was one of several people to share readings and stories at an event in Cullybackey as part of Ulster Scots Leid (language) week. Much of Ulster Scots poetry is centred around the home, work, rural living…...

1+ hour, 13+ min ago (107+ words) Johnstown Concert Ballet will present "The Nutcracker" at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Dec. 6 at Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center in Richland Township." JOHNSTOWN, Pa. " The holiday fantasy "The Nutcracker" will have Clara and her Nutcracker Prince dancing their way through the classical ballet. Performances will be presented by the Johnstown Concert Ballet at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center on the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown campus in Richland Township. What: "The Nutcracker" presented by Johnstown Concert Ballet. When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Dec. 6....

1+ hour, 44+ min ago (139+ words) Theatrical premieres of the end of autumnThe premiere of Pyotr Tchaikovsky's opera "The Maid of Orleans" about the fate of Joan of Arc will take place tomorrow. The main director of MAMTA, Alexander Titel, will present the plot of the Hundred Years'... Theatrical premieres of the end of autumnThe premiere of Pyotr Tchaikovsky's opera "The Maid of Orleans" about the fate of Joan of Arc will take place tomorrow The main director of MAMTA, Alexander Titel, will present the plot of the Hundred Years' War in France with all the splendor " in monumental decorations and historical costumes that convey the spirit of the XV century The audience is waiting for a lyrical tragedy in all its glory, with sacrifice and religious ecstasy.Theaters turn again and again to textbook plots and archetypal images in a wide variety of genres...

1+ hour, 58+ min ago (430+ words) Tom Stoppard, an acclaimed playwright and screenwriter celebrated for his wit and intellectual depth across theatre, film, and radio, earning global awards including an Oscar and five Tonys, died at home in Dorset at age 88 after a career spanning'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead'to'Leopoldstadt. Tom Stoppard was born Tom" Str'ussler on July 3, 1937, in Zl'n, then Czechoslovakia, now Czech Republic, to Eugen Str'ussler, a doctor, and Marta Beckov, a nurse. His'Jewish family fled the Nazis'during World War II, first to Singapore and then to India after Singapore fell to the Japanese, while his father died while attempting to escape.' In India, his mother married British army major Kenneth Stoppard, and the family later settled in England. Stoppard attended boarding school in Yorkshire, where he embraced cricket and learned to "be British." Decades later, he discovered his Jewish roots and learned that all…...

2+ hour, 7+ min ago (918+ words) King Charles III and Queen Camilla have led tributes to famed playwright Sir Tom Stoppard, who died aged 88, hailing him as "one of our greatest writers". "A dear friend who wore his genius lightly, he could, and did, turn his pen to any subject, challenging, moving and inspiring his audiences, borne from his own personal history," they said. Sir Tom, who won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for the screenplay for Shakespeare In Love, "died peacefully at home in Dorset, surrounded by his family", his agents said on Saturday. Tributes have poured in from around the world for the playwright who captivated audiences for more than six decades with work that explored philosophical and political themes. The King and Queen added they were "deeply saddened" by Sir Tom's death and sent their condolences to his family. "We send our…...

2+ hour, 38+ min ago (23+ words) Native American speculative fiction has been undergoing a renaissance in the last few years. The popularity of Stephen Graham Jones's horror novels......