London, England, United Kingdom
Ola Ince - An award winning international Director and Dramaturg, with fifteen years of experience which spans new writing, classics, musicals, opera, TV and film. https://olaince.com
Ola Ince has taken charge of Agatha Christie’s indomitable whodunnit, the world’s longest-running play, which is in its 73rd year in London’s West End. The director, acclaimed for her bracing takes on Shakespeare, said Christie’s drama about a group of strangers snowed in at a remote guesthouse with a killer at large is “juicier” than she had previously imagined. A new cast begins performances under Ince’s direction on Monday night. Among the changes that Ince has introduced to “heighten what already exists” is a sound design by Max Perryment “to enhance the psychology of the play and the thrill of it”. The production accordingly has new speakers, the furniture has been rearranged and Ince has returned to Christie’s original manuscript and author’s notes. Balancing the comic with the serious is one of the main challenges, said its new director. The Mousetrap has been overwhelmingly directed by men although Phyllida Lloyd staged a 60th anniversary gala. “She’s my theatre mum,” said Ince with a laugh. Ince was the international associate director on the Tina Turner musical directed by Lloyd in the West End. “We’ve had some nice chats about The Mousetrap.” The Mousetrap’s producer, Brian Fenty, said he was “thrilled” about Ince directing the show, which has run at St Martin’s theatre since 1974 (it was previously at the Ambassadors next door). “Ola is a force of nature – a director who understands what it means to be both a steward of history and a challenger of complacency. Her creative instinct is first-class, and her care and love for Agatha Christie’s world is as heartening as it is inspiring.”
When a generation is silenced, a band of ostracized young rebels risks everything to expose a political conspiracy—armed with nothing but an illegal radio station and a song powerful enough to ignite a revolution.
Cast: Lucienne - Jade Anouka Fergus - John Heffernan Charlie - Rosie Sheehy Malachi - Lucian Msamati The Dog/William Harris - David Westhead
Curtains is a mischievous musical murder mystery set in 1959 during the opening night of a new show at Boston’s Colonial Theatre. When the excruciatingly untalented star of Robbin’ Hood of the Old West dies on stage, the entire cast and crew become suspects. It is up to local detective (and theatre enthusiast) Frank Cioffi to solve the mystery, save the production, and perhaps even discover love before the show can reopen… This sharp, witty comedy features an original book and concept by Peter Stone, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, all brought to life (and death!) by our MA Musical Theatre cohort. Originally Produced on Broadway by Roger Berlind, Roger Horchow, Daryl Roth, Jane Bergère, Ted Hartley and Center Theatre Group.