Writer of stage plays Life of Pi, Hamnet, Red Velvet, Hymn, Invisible Cities. Actor/Writer for Calmer (BBC Radio 3) Actor in Summer ‘54 (Bath/Malvern and more….
So last night
@OlivierAwards
was amazing! Life of Pi
@DMTWestEnd
Wyndham’s Theatre won 5 awards which gave us 14 statuettes across our team. Everyone has worked so hard to realise this extraordinary story by
@WriterYann
I can’t stop smiling!!!
Husband and wife
@AdrianLester
and
@Lolitachakra
also picked up their honours today.
The actors received a CBE and OBE respectively for their services to drama.
We filmed the first episode of this almost two years ago for
@PrimeVideo
pre-pandemic - it was a different world then. I play Marin Al’Vere, mother of
@tigermadden
Can’t wait to see it in all its epic glory.
On Sunday
@AdrianLester
won the Pragnell Prize for his Shakespearean work. He gave a beautiful speech and we had a delicious lunch in Stratford with
some illustrious guests. In the intro of Adrian, Ira Aldridge was mentioned. Proud on all counts!
#SBL22
@davidbenett
@TheRSC
Watching Jodie Comer be brilliant on stage last night made me think and this might be obvious but - there are three things you need as an artist - talent, discipline and opportunity. Then you can start. Just a thought.
I am over the moon that Life of Pi
@DMTWestEnd
Wyndhams Theatre made by a team of hard working and talented cast, crew and creatives has 9 nominations
@OlivierAwards
2022. I began writing this in 2017. Just me, the novel by
@WriterYann
and a blank piece of paper. Bravo team!!! ❤️
The response to our live stream of Hymn
@AlmeidaTheatre
has been amazing. From creatives, crew, audience, colleagues, reviewers - everyone. A privilege to make a play in these difficult, upsetting times. We stay at home but remain a community. ❤️theatre
First preview tonight
@AlmeidaTheatre
with
@AdrianLester
&
@DannySapani
#Hymn
was a pre-pandemic commission, had a mid-rehearsal lockdown, a cancelled socially-distanced opening, was live-streamed in February and tonight we have our first live audience. 🙏🏽
The Wheel of Time family keeps growing! Please welcome:
Lolita Chakrabarti
@Lolitachakra
as Marin Al’Vere
Michael Tuahine as Bran Al’Vere
David Sterne
@davidsterne
as Cenn Buie
First day of rehearsals for Hamnet
@TheRSC
@NealStProds
An exciting cast and team of creatives - am so excited to hear what works and what doesn’t and then the work begins!
Saw Jodie Comer in
#PrimaFaciePlay
last night
@HPinterTheatre
An extraordinary performance and her stage debut! She gave total commitment to each moment with searing honesty. Loved it.
Devastated to hear about the cuts to Birmingham Arts and Culture. Without
@BirminghamRep
@LibraryofBham
@mac_birmingham
I wouldn’t be in the Arts. That’s a generation of future Brummie artists shelved. It’s so short sighted.
So this arrived today. Am very pleased that Red Velvet is now a modern classic. Thank you
@MethuenDrama
This edition contains brilliant introductions by Ayanna Thompson and Kenneth Branagh
Tonight we open Hamnet
@thersc
Swan Theatre. Directed by
@erica
.whyman designed by
@tompiperdesign
The resonance of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel is loud. Good luck to the wonderful cast, creatives and backstage team. 🙏🏽
So thrilled that the news is out. Life of Pi travels on. It’s our first week of rehearsals in Boston for
@americanrep
And next year it’s Broadway. Am smiling my head off!!
So tonight Life of Pi opens
@DMTWestEnd
Wyndham’s Theatre. I have butterflies (which is fitting!) so proud of everyone’s tireless work and commitment to this show. So pleased we got here!
@WriterYann
story resonates so loud. The curtain is well and truly up!
I saw
#LifeofPi
for the last time last night
@crucibletheatre
The cast and crew did an amazing job. The auditorium was packed to the rafters and at the end the audience stood up as one. Humbling, joyful and a thing of wonder. Thanks Sheffield. Till next time!
Back in rehearsals
@AlmeidaTheatre
with
@AdrianLester
@DannySapani
& Blanch McIntyre for Hymn for a live audience - feels like we are dealing with unfinished business. Hard to quantify live performance - a pretend truth, problem, struggle and resolution in 90 minutes. Live!
I wasn’t
@thetonyawards
on Sunday but am proud that
@lifeofpibway
won 3 sparkling awards, that our show continues to charm, immerse and engage audiences. If my 18 year old self starting
@RADA_London
could have seen this ahead I wouldn’t have believed it. Feeing very lucky! 🙏🏽🥂
I have to give a huge shoutout to the cast and crew of LifeofPi
@DMTWestEnd
Wyndhams Theatre. This has been a mammoth task of goodwill and hard work. People have given above and beyond. So Pi still survives. To all of us in theatre at the moment, on or off, take care.
I’m in Manchester with
@jasmineharveyc
and we popped into
@manchesterartgallery
to see this portrait of Ira Aldridge. I’ve only ever seen it in books or online, it’s on the front of a well thumbed book I used for research, and I don’t ever do this but I welled up. There he was.
I saw
#LifeofPi
@DMTWestEnd
Wyndham’s Theatre last night. The company work so hard and the show is really growing. On a side note I am so thrilled by the mix of audience filling our theatre. It’s what I always hoped for and now it’s real.
Halfway through rehearsals of
#LifeofPi
@DMTWestEnd
Our phenomenal, hard working team of cast, creatives and crew worked their way through the whole show. It's only 2 hours long but so much happens! I'd forgotten what a rollercoaster ride this is.
Today is the first day of rehearsals of my stage version of
#LifeofPi
for
@crucibletheatre
A cast of 13 brilliant actors, a superb team of creatives, directed by visionary Max Webster. Been working hard on this for 2 years. Here goes!
What an extraordinary night opening
@LifeOfPiBway
in New York. The creative team went on stage after the show and took a bow with our amazing cast. And a party of parties followed. I am still beaming. 🙏🏽🥂🌹
So today is the 200th show of
@LifeOfPiWestEnd
@DMTWestEnd
Wyndham’s Theatre. A huge 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 to the cast, technical team and stage management who make the show fly every single night. Thank you. 🌹
Today is the 320th performance of
@LifeOfPiWestEnd
and the original cast are leaving to make way for the new cast. It’s been extraordinary to see them work so hard this last year and deliver the play so beautifully. A huge salute to you all. Enjoy the last show!
This has been one of my toughest years personally but there has also been much light in so many guises. I am very relieved to say goodbye to 2023 but also genuinely grateful for the gifts it brought. Here’s to a truly happy NEW year! ❤️
Following a sold-out live streamed run earlier this year,
@Lolitachakra
's Hymn returns from 16 Jul - 13 Aug.
@AdrianLester
and
@DannySapani
reprise their roles as Gil and Benny.
★★★★★
"Tremendous"
The Observer
>>
Tonight is opening night of Sylvia
@oldvictheatre
dreamed, written & realised by the amazing Kate Prince
@ZooNationUK
I had the privilege of being part of this process. An extraordinary company led by
@Beverleyknight
&
@SharonRoseLive
Good luck! I know you’ll raise that roof!!!
Opening night of Hamnet
@thersc
Maggie O’Farrell saw the show for the first times ( always nerve wracking!) and liked it. Here we at the glorious Swan and the cast afterwards looking gorgeous. ❤️🥂🙏🏽
It’s the last night of
#Hymn
@AlmeidaTheatre
with these two beauties
@AdrianLester
@DannySapani
directed by Blanche MacIntyre. The response has been incredible cos it’s been a while hasn’t it since we sat together to experience a story. Til next time! 🙏🏽
In rehearsals
@AlmeidaTheatre
It’s amazing to see a piece you’ve written take shape. It’s never what you imagined alone at your computer. A nerve wracking surprise as it emerges. And these two handsome devils
@AdrianLester
&
@DannySapani
are so good.
Tonight we officially open
#Hymn
The team of freelancers and staff
@AlmeidaTheatre
have moved mountains to get this show on. It’s a big night for many reasons. Thanks to everyone for making it happen. 🙏🏽
Tonight is the 400th performance
@LifeOfPiWestEnd
@DMTWestEnd
Wyndham’s Theatre in London. I want to give my own standing ovation to the cast and crew, past and present, and all of the amazing creatives and producers. What a ride!!!
Such a gorgeous night celebrating the one and only
@MeeraSyal
with her very dapper other half
@TVSanjeev
She is rightly being lauded for all of her achievements. About bloody time!!!! 🙏🏽🥂
My dad told me a phrase in Bengali that sometimes the Goddess Durga gives gifts with all ten hands. Am definitely feeling that at the moment. A salute to the creatives, cast, stage management, crew, producers and audiences for opening night of
@LifeofPiBway
tonight. Durga! Durga!
So I’m watching
@LifeOfPiWestEnd
@DMTWestEnd
Wyndham’s Theatre (again) and it’s the interval. There is nothing like hearing that gasp as the lights go down on the first half and the thrill of knowing that we are only half way. Well done team!
Last night was the opening Gala for the new cast of
@LifeOfPiWestEnd
@DMTWestEnd
Wyndham’s Theatre. They were amazing. Have made the show entirely their own. Full house standing ovation - so well deserved to the team on and off that stage🙏🏽
🚨We're thrilled to announce that, following our sold-out live-streamed run earlier this year, our ★★★★★ production of Hymn will be screened on
@SkyArts
on Sunday 18 April at 9pm 🚨
Very pleased the monologue I wrote for The Greatest Wealth
@oldvictheatre
is online from 12pm today. It's called 'Speedy Gonzalez' performed with great charm by Art Malik and directed by
@AdrianLester
It's a salute to my dad and his decades of service to our NHS. Please watch.
This arrived. Thanks
@MethuenDrama
There’s something so pleasing about a play script. I’ve worked on this for 5 years and the show is on
@DMTWestEnd
Wyndham’s Theatre. This slim beautiful volume feels like a condensed snapshot of the journey.
So
@AdrianLester
and I kept a work diary for over a year and
@MethuenDrama
are publishing it next month. Looking forward to chatting with Matt Wolf
@BloomsburyInst
in a couple of weeks time. It was written pre covid. Such a different time!
It's a big day for
#LifeOfPiBway
! We're thrilled to announce that we're nominated for 5 Tony Awards® including Best Direction of a Play, and we couldn't be more grateful. We're so excited to see where this journey takes us next!
Just been to the funeral of my drama teacher Maureen Stack. She was instrumental in me becoming an actress and writer. A beautiful send off in Birmingham. Made me think those who help us find our way in life are often the most unexpected of people. Thanks Miss Stack.
@thisisiona_
Bravo to you all round - on finishing your dissertation, on single handedly diversifying the music faculty and on marking an important woman of colour.
So proud to be able to talk about this now. I used to go
@BirminghamRep
regularly when I was a teenager. So excited to be a part of
@SeanFoleyJ
inaugural season and that
@AdrianLester
and I get to work together again.
Just got our whole cast confirmed. So exciting and to be announced very soon. Building something like this with so many talented artists at the incomparable
@oldvictheatre
is such a buzz!
First day of rehearsals for
@LifeofPiUK
A total privilege to see this show grow and develop. A reminder that new actors bring their stories and energies into the room and it changes the work. Exciting!
I saw Sir John Mills and Connie Booth in The Magistrate
@DMTWestEnd
Wyndham’s Theatre when I was fifteen. It blew me away and was my introduction to the red velvet of London theatre. And now fast forward thirty five years and here we are. 🙏🏽
Here they are.
@TheRSC
company of Hamnet telling the story of Agnes and William Shakespeare and their family. Next - costume, lights and action at The Swan!
Dress rehearsals for Hymn
@AlmeidaTheatre
with the excellent
@DannySapani
and
@AdrianLester
directed by Blanche McIntyre. We prepare to open a theatre show captured for screen but remaining pure theatre. This week is a mix of all disciplines but is absolute live performance.
Watching the dedication of cast and crew and everyone backstage to tell one story together to the best of their collective ability is a beautiful thing. As I sat watching
#LifeofPi
@DMTWestEnd
Wyndham’s tonight I couldn’t have felt more proud. ❤️Theatre.
So glad to see
@HornimanMuseum
has been shortlisted for
#MuseumOfTheYear
I have spent many hours at this superb South London gem of a museum. So much to see and do there no matter what age you are.
Sad that
@LifeOfPiBway
closes on July 23rd in NY but unbelievably proud of cast, crew and creatives for this dream show that won 5
@OlivierAwards
4
@uk_theatre
awards 3
@TonyAwards
& more! Bravo Broadway team!!!! ❤️❤️❤️
So I’m back from previews
@LifeofPiBway
where the show gets stronger and stronger and on to
@TheRSC
in Stratford to join these fine folk for the last week of rehearsals for
#Hamnet
From the Pacific Ocean to Tudor England - this is one helluva journey!
So… having navigated the choppy covid waters we are back on our lifeboat tonight
@DMTWestEnd
Wyndham’s Theatre. Sending serious applause to cast and crew before the show as well as after. 🙏🏽
I saw the show for the last time last night at
@DMTWestEnd
Wyndhams Theatre which has been our home for over a year. It’s been a helluva year and the theatre was packed. Our last show there is on Sunday. Pi continues on its journey but thank you for coming to see us in London.
Was watching this video and cannot believe we’re here. First preview tonight of Hamnet
@TheRSC
directed by
@EricaWhyman
What happened to those 6 weeks?! The team have worked very hard indeed and tonight we’ll start to see what we’ve made. 🙏🏽🍎🌹
Saw My Neighbour Totoro
@TheRSC
@BarbicanCentre
tonight. Words
@tommortonsmith
vision by
@openspacer
Wow! It is so beautiful, uplifting and witty. A gorgeous show with a fantastic cast. It’s an antidote to feeling fed-up and jaded. Full of innocence, joy and hope.
We had the regional opening of
#LifeofPi
@crucibletheatre
last night. Cast and creatives and crew really pulled it out of the bag. It was a great show. Audience on their feet and cheering. In my head - I took a bow!