Back to News & Press Harry Potter and the Cursed Child receives 6 Tony Awards Saturday, 9 June 2018 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has won 6 Tony Awards® including Best Play—making it the most awarded show of the season. Best Play Director of a Play – John Tiffany Scenic Design of a Play – Christine Jones Lighting Design of a Play – Neil Austin Costume Design of a Play – Katrina Lindsay Sound Design of a Play – Gareth Fry Up Up

Back to News & Press The Shark Is Broken announces West End run Wednesday, 5 February 2020 Taking audiences behind-the-scenes of the iconic blockbuster Jaws, this is the 2nd production that SFP has announced at the Ambassadors Theatre this year. Co-written by Robert Shaw ’s son Ian, this brilliantly funny, deeply moving new play imagines what happened on board the Orca when the camers stopped rolling. Ian Shaw stars as his father Robert Shaw, alongside Demetri Goritsas as Roy Scheider and Liam Murray Scott as Richard Dreyfuss. Tickets are on general sale this Friday from £10. Over 500 tickets per week will be available at £27.50 or under. Cape Cod, 1974: shooting on JAWS has stalled. The film’s lead actors – Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss – are stuck on a boat, frustrated by foul weather and a faulty mechanical co-star. Awash with alcohol and ambition, three great white sharks start to bare their teeth… The Shark is Broken reveals the hilarious and moving behind-the-scenes drama on one of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters.Sonia Friedman Productions is delighted to announce its second production at the Ambassadors Theatre in 2020. After a sell-out, critically acclaimed premiere at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe, Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon’s brilliantly funny play will arrive in the West End from May 11th. Tickets will be on general sale from £10 this Friday. ★★★★ ‘Did I mention waves? Get ready for this play to make some. Do they need a bigger boat? Actually, I think they are going to need a bigger theatre — and soon.’ The Times ★★★★★ ‘This play packs plenty of bite.’ Metro ★★★★ ‘Something unexpectedly profound and emotionally serrated lurks below the apparently frothy surface of this dive behind the scenes of the making of JAWS.’ The Telegraph ★★★★★ ‘This play deserves a life beyond the Fringe; yes, they’re going to need a bigger theatre.’ The Arts Desk ★★★★ ‘An intoxicating combination of behind-the-scenes gossip and contemplation of the nature of popular art.’ The Stage Up Up

Back to Productions THE RIVER This production began performances on 31st October 2014 and 8th February 2015. ​ ​ A remote fishing cabin, a man and a woman, and a moonless night. The River asks: when we find each other, are we trying to recapture someone we once lost? ​ ​ Tony Award® winner Hugh Jackman returns to Broadway in The River , a spellbinding new play written by Jez Butterworth and directed by Ian Rickson , the team behind the hit play Jerusalem. Poetic and bewitching, The River promises to be the first must-see event of the season. Sonia Friedman Productions , Stuart Thompson , Scott Rudin , Roger Berlind , Colin Callender , Scott Landis , and Tulchin Barnter Productions present “THE RIVER ” by Jez Butterworth . ​ ​ CAST HUGH JACKMAN LAURA DONNELLY CUSH JUMBO CREATIVES JEZ BUTTERWORTH – Playwright IAN RICKSON – Director ULTZ – Designer CHARLES BALFOUR – Lighting IAN DICKINSON – Sound STEPHEN WARBECK – Composer

Back to News & Press All About Eve to be broadcast live from the Noël Coward Theatre to cinemas across the UK and internationally on 11th April 2019 with National Theatre Live Wednesday, 23 January 2019 Sonia Friedman Productions and Fox Stage Productions have today announced a live cinema broadcast for All About Eve . The world premiere of Ivo van Hove ’s highly anticipated stage adaptation of the 1950 Twentieth Century Fox film and the play “The Wisdom of Eve” by Mary Orr will be broadcast on 11th April 2019 by NT Live. NT Live screens to 2,500 venues across 65 countries including 700 cinemas in the UK. With just under two weeks until previews commence at the Noël Coward Theatre, Emmy Award-winning Gillian Anderson and Lily James lead the cast including Monica Dolan, Ian Drysdale, Tsion Habte, Jessie Mei Li, Julian Ovenden, Sheila Reid, Rhashan Stone, Stanley Townsend and Philip Voyzey . Ivo van Hove ’s direction will be accompanied by set and lighting design from Jan Versweyveld , costume design by An D’Huys and music from double Mercury Prize-winner PJ Harvey , alongside Tom Gibbons ’ sound design. Casting is by Julia Horan CDG . Margo Channing. Legend. True star of the theatre. The spotlight is hers, always has been. But now there’s Eve. Her biggest fan. Young, beautiful Eve. The golden girl, the girl next door. But you know all about Eve…don’t you…? Ivo van Hove directs Gillian Anderson and Lily James in his new adaptation of All About Eve, a razor-sharp, unsettling exposé of the eternal obsession at the heart of show-business. Lifting the curtain on a world of jealousy and ambition, this new production, from one of the world’s most innovative theatre directors, asks why our fascination with celebrity, youth and identity never seems to get old. Throughout the run of All About Eve , over 20,000 tickets will be offered at £25 or under. Day Seats will be available each day from 10am at the Box Office, priced at £25. Audiences can also access seats through the Today Tix mobile and online lottery at the same price.Since launching in 2009, National Theatre Live broadcasts have been seen by an audience of over 8 million people at 2,500 venues in 65 countries. The first season began in June 2009 with the acclaimed production of Phédre starring Oscar winner Helen Mirren. Recent broadcasts include Julius Caesar with David Morrissey and Ben Wishaw, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Sienna Miller, Follies with Imelda Staunton, Yerma with Billie Piper, Angels in America with Andrew Garfield and Russell Tovey, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? with Imelda Staunton and Conleth Hill, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead with Daniel Radcliffe and Hedda Gabler with Ruth Wilson. Sky Arts is the UK sponsor for National Theatre Live. Participating cinemas can be found here: http://ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk Up Up

Back to News & Press Casting update for West End transfer of Lucy Kirkwood's five star Chimerica Monday, 1 July 2013 The cast comprises Stephen Campbell Moore, Benedict Wong, Claudie Blakley, Elizabeth Chan, Vera Chok, Karl Collins, Trevor Cooper, Nancy Crane, Sean Gilder, Sarah Lam, Andrew Leung and David K. S. Tse, all of whom will reprise their roles in the West End. Set designs are by Es Devlin with costumes by Christina Cunningham, lighting by Tim Lutkin, sound by Carolyn Downing and video design by Finn Ross. Tiananmen Square, 1989. As tanks roll through Beijing and soldiers hammer on his hotel door, Joe – a young American photojournalist – captures a piece of history. When a cryptic message is left in a Beijing newspaper more than 20 years later, Joe is driven to discover the truth behind the unknown hero he captured on film. Who was he? What happened to him? And could he still be alive? Chimerica is a Headlong and Almeida Theatre co-production produced in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions, Bob Bartner & Norman Tulchin, Jean Doumanian and the Almeida Theatre. Up Up

Back to News & Press The Music of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is available to pre-order Wednesday, 19 September 2018 The Music of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is written, composed, performed and recorded by Grammy and Ivor Novello Award-winner Imogen Heap . It is presented as four contemporary musical suites , each showcasing one of the play’s theatrical acts. This unique new album format from Imogen Heap chronologically features the music heard in the stage production, further reworked to transport listeners on a sonic journey through the world of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child . The Music of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will be released by Sony Music Masterworks , and available in stores as well as digitally on 2 November 2018, with pre-orders available now at https://HarryPotter.lnk.to/HARRYPOTTERANDTHECURSEDCHILDPR Imogen Heap said “This album is like nothing I’ve ever attempted before. It’s four suites containing music from each of the four acts of the play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. With over 100 moments of music in the play, the challenge was how to weave them together, and I think it has manifested into a really enjoyable listen, with memories for those who’ve seen the play, musical accompaniment to those with the script of the play or simply just to enjoy the music as a stand-alone album. It is crafted to be listened to in its entirety, taking the listener through different worlds within each suite. I don’t know another album like it. I hope others enjoy listening to it as much as I’ve enjoyed making it.” Mark Cavell, COO, Sony Music Masterworks said “It’s an absolute pleasure to work with Imogen Heap and the team at Sonia Friedman Productions on this amazing album. The album represents many months of dedication from Imogen to ensure that the music of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is as magical in album form as it is on stage. Together with producers Sonia and Colin and the creative team, led by John Tiffany and Steven Hoggett, their collective vision and execution is second to none, and we are honoured to be the partner to bring Imogen’s exquisite music to the Harry Potter universe. I can only recommend that anyone, whether they have seen the show or not, should put the album on and travel through platform 9 ¾!” Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a new play by Jack Thorne , directed by John Tiffany with movement by Steven Hoggett , set by Christine Jones , costumes by Katrina Lindsay , music & arrangements by Imogen Heap , lighting by Neil Austin , sound by Gareth Fry , illusions & magic by Jamie Harrison , music supervision & arrangements by Martin Lowe . Harry Potter and the Cursed Child received its world premiere in July 2016 at the Palace Theatre in London and earlier this week more tickets were released for performances through to 28 July 2019. It is also now playing at the Lyric Theatre on Broadway, with an Australian production beginning performances at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre on 16 January 2019. A further North American production will open at San Francisco’s Curran in Autumn 2019 and, in spring 2020, a German language version of the play – marking its first non-English language production - will open at the Mehr! Theater am Großmarkt in Hamburg, Germany. For the Broadway production, 100,000 tickets will be released at 11am on 27 September for performances through to 9 June 2019. Tickets for the forthcoming Melbourne production are now also on sale. Details of all productions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child can be found at www.HarryPotterthePlay.com Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions . Imogen Heap is a self-produced British recording artist. She has written and produced four solo albums, one as one half of Frou Frou, and has collaborated with countless and varied artists including Jeff Beck, Taylor Swift, Mika and Josh Groban. She has two Grammys, one for engineering and another for her contribution to Taylor Swift’s ‘1989’, and is also the recipient of the Ivor Novello Award, The Artist and Manager Pioneer award, the MPG Inspiration Award and an honorary Doctorate of Technology for her MI.MU Gloves work. Earlier this year she won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music in a Play for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child . In 2014 she envisioned a music industry ecosystem through Mycelia and released ‘Tiny Human’, the first song to use smart contracts on a blockchain. This month, Heap embarks on a year-long music and technology world tour. Sony Music Masterworks comprises the imprints Masterworks, Sony Classical, OKeh, Portrait and Masterworks Broadway. Our artists range from icons to newly developing talents in classical, crossover and adult alternative music, plus new and legendary jazz artists. Our vast catalogue of musical theatre recordings features classic shows and original cast albums of today’s Broadway hits including; The Prom, SpongeBob SquarePants, Hello, Dolly! starring Bette Midler, Groundhog Day, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, On Your Feet!, Kinky Boots, Once, If/Then and An American in Paris. Up Up

Back to News & Press BBC Arts Editor Will Gompertz interviews Sonia Friedman on BBC Radio 4 Wednesday, 6 August 2014 BBC Arts Editor Will Gompertz meets the cultural entrepreneurs for his four part series Zeitgeisters. Listen again here . Up Up

Back to News & Press Further cast announced for Duncan Macmillan's new adaptation of Ibsen's Rosmersholm directed by Ian Rickson Monday, 4 March 2019 Today producer Sonia Friedman Productions announced further casting for Henrik Ibsen’s Rosmersholm , adapted by Duncan Macmillan (People, Places and Things, 1984) and directed by Ian Rickson (Jerusalem, The Birthday Party). Giles Terera, who won an Olivier Award for his acclaimed performance in Hamilton ( West End), Lucy Briers (Wolf Hall, West End/Broadway and The Seagull , Chichester Festival Theatre), Jake Fairbrother (Lady from the Sea , Donmar Warehouse and The Maids , HOME Manchester) and Peter Wight (The Birthday Party , West End and Hamlet , Almeida/ West End) will perform alongside the previously announced Tom Burke (Strike , BBC) and Hayley Atwell (Howard’s End, BBC). Set and costumes will be by Rae Smith , lighting by Neil Austin , music by Stephen Warbeck, sound by Gregory Clarke and casting by Amy Ball CDG . ‘‘Now I see that love is selfish. It makes you a country of two. At war with the rest of the world.” An election looming. A country on the brink. A rabid press baying for blood. At the centre of the storm is Rosmersholm, the grand house of an influential dynasty. This is where the future will be decided by John Rosmer – a man torn between the idealised hope of the future and the ghosts of his past. Rosmersholm will play at the Duke of York’s Theatre from April 24th, with an opening night of May 2nd. The run will end on July 20th. Produced by Sonia Friedman Productions With Brenda Leff, Colin Callender, John Gore, 1001 Nights Productions, Burnt Umber Productions, Bradford W. Edgerton Living Trust, Tulchin Bartner Productions. Up Up

Back to News & Press As rehearsals begin, full casting is announced for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Friday, 26 February 2016 Joining Jamie Parker (Harry), Noma Dumezweni (Hermione) and Paul Thornley (Ron) are Nicola Alexis, Helen Aluko, Jeremy Ang Jones, Rosemary Annabella, Annabel Baldwin, Jack Bennett, Paul Bentall, Anthony Boyle, Zoe Brough, Sam Clemmett, Morag Cross, Cristina Fray, Rudi Goodman, Claudia Grant, James Howard, Christiana Hutchings, Lowri James, Chris Jarman, Martin Johnston, Bili Keogh, Chipo Kureya, James Le Lacheur, Helena Lymbery, Tom Mackley, Barry McCarthy, Sandy McDade, Andrew McDonald, Adam McNamara, Poppy Miller, Tom Milligan, Jack North, Alex Price, Stuart Ramsay, Nuno Silva, Cherrelle Skeete, Esther Smith, Nathaniel Smith, Dylan Standen and Joshua Wyatt who complete the casting for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child . The 42 strong company (including seven children who will alternate two roles) will be playing a variety of characters. Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling , Jack Thorne and John Tiffany , Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a new play by Jack Thorne , directed by John Tiffany . It will receive its world premiere in London’s West End at the Palace Theatre this summer and is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is one play presented in two parts. Both parts are intended to be seen in order on the same day (matinee and evening) or on two consecutive evenings. The first preview performance will take place at the Palace Theatre on 7 June 2016 as scheduled. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is currently booking to 27 May 2017, with opening performances of Part One and Part Two on Saturday 30 July 2016. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child today also confirms the dates for its special access performances. On 18 January 2017 the matinee (Part One) and evening performance (Part Two) will be captioned and on 4 February 2017 both the matinee (Part One) and evening performance (Part Two) will be audio described. These performances will go on sale on Monday 29 February 2016. To book access performances, please call 0330 333 4410 (please note, there are no general ticket sales on this number) or email CursedChildAccess@nimaxtheatres.com , which are also contact details for patrons with physical access needs. Further special access performances will be confirmed at a later date. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has movement by Steven Hoggett , set by Christine Jones , costumes by Katrina Lindsay , music by Imogen Heap , lighting by Neil Austin , sound by Gareth Fry , special effects by Jeremy Chernick , illusions by Jamie Harrison , music supervision by Martin Lowe and casting by Julia Horan . Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions , Colin Callender’s Playground Entertainment and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions . For more information on the cast and creative team visit the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child website here . Up Up

Back to News & Press Producer counts her ‘Conquests’ Friday, 27 February 2009 With four of her London productions in the running for a collective 13 Olivier Awards and two Broadway transfers likely to figure in the Tony race for play revival, Sonia Friedman might be forgiven for slowing down. But the Brit producer‘s slate tells another story. In addition to prepping the New York move of Matthew Warchus’ glowingly received revival of Alan Ayckbourn’s “The Norman Conquests,” Friedman is readying Anna Mackmin’s staging of Brian Friel’s “Dancing at Lughnasa” at the Old Vic; Roger Michell’s new take on “Rope” at the Almeida; and a Broadway production, with Roundabout and Bill Haber, of Patrick Marber’s “After Miss Julie,” with Mark Brokaw directing a cast headed by Sienna Miller. In the face of recession, Friedman, 43, is passionate yet realistic, and still surprisingly bullish. Read full article here . Up Up

Back to News & Press Full casting announced for the Olivier Award nominated West End Transfer of Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour Sunday, 2 April 2017 Olivier Award-nominated for Best New Comedy and Best Supporting Actress for the entire company, Vicky Featherstone ’s smash-hit production of Lee Hall ’s adaptation of Alan Warner ’s The Sopranos sees Caroline Deyga (Chell), Karen Fishwick (Kay), Kirsty MacLaren (Manda), Frances Mayli McCann (Kylah) and Dawn Sievewright (Fionnula) reprise their roles, with Isis Hainsworth joining the company as Orla. Joining the company on stage are Amy Shackcloth (Musical Director/Keyboard), Lilly Howard (Assistant Musical Director/Keyboard), Emily Linden (Guitar) and Becky Brass (Percussion). The production opens on 15 May, with previews from 9 May. With tickets from just £10 and all previews priced at £30 and under, over 30,000 tickets will be priced at £30 and under throughout the run. ★★★★ ‘Big hearted and enjoyably coarse, but with moments of real poignancy, this is a fearless portrait of adolescence, fuelled by songs and Sambuca.’ Evening Standard From the creator of Billy Elliot (Lee Hall ) comes the uplifting and moving story of six Catholic school girls from Oban, let loose in Edinburgh for the day. Funny, raucous and heart-breaking, Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour is adapted from Alan Warner ’s brilliant novel about six young friends on the cusp of change. Featuring, amongst others, the songs of ELO, Our Ladies is a glorious anthem to friendship, youth and growing up disgracefully. Prepare thyself for 24 hours of holy chaos. Contains singing, hilarity, sambuca and strong language. ★★★★ ‘A high spirited, hilarious, exhilarating and poignant portrait of essentially good, naïve girls having a reckless stab at being bad, and being brave, eager to experience everything life can throw at them and discovering important stuff about themselves and their friendships in the process.’ Mail on Sunday Winner of a Scotsman Fringe First Award, a Herald Angel Award, a Little Devil Herald Award and a Stage Ensemble Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2015, the production also received a Tonic Award at the inaugural awards just last week. Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour is a co-production between the National Theatre of Scotland and Live Theatre, and presented in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions, Scott M. Delman, Gail Berman Theatricals and Tulchin Bartner Productions in association with William Court Cohen, Ashley M. DeSimone & Jeremiah J. Harris. Up Up

Back to News & Press Funny Girl extends booking at the Savoy Theatre until 8th October 2016 Friday, 5 February 2016 Due to unprecedented demand, the critically acclaimed production of Funny Girl , which is fast selling out its run, extends booking for a further 4 weeks until 8 October 2016. Tickets for the extension of Michael Mayer ’s “exhilarating embrace of a production – Independent” starring Olivier and BAFTA award-winning actress and “phenomenal talent – Independent” Sheridan Smith as Fanny Brice go on sale from 10am on 8 February. “Sheridan Smith is one of British Theatre’s truly golden performers – a versatile star who thrills with her ability to be simultaneously touching and hilarious. Here she’s on glorious form. ” Evening Standard With music by Jule Styne (whose musical Gypsy recently completed its award-winning run at the Savoy Theatre, starring Imelda Staunton), lyrics by Bob Merrill and book by Isobel Lennart , the Broadway smash which skyrocketed Barbra Streisand to stardom, is revived with book revisions by Harvey Fierstein . Sheridan Smith plays Fanny Brice, who rose from being a Brooklyn music hall singer to become one of Broadway's biggest stars under producer Florenz Ziegfeld. While she was cheered onstage as a great comedienne, offstage she faced a doomed relationship with the man she loved. With a score featuring now-classic songs such as "People", "You Are Woman, I Am Man", “I’m the Greatest Star” and "Don't Rain on My Parade", this brand new production promises to be the must-see musical of 2016. Sheridan Smith plays Fanny Brice. She has previously won two Olivier Awards, the first for her leading role as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at the Savoy, and the second for Flare Path at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Other stage work includes A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Michael Grandage (Noel Coward), Hedda Gabler (Old Vic), Tinderbox (Bush Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (Menier Chocolate Factory and Duke of York’s Theatre), and Into the Woods (Donmar Warehouse). For her television work, she won a BAFTA for her performance in ITV’s Mrs Biggs . She has twice been nominated for an International Emmy, for Mrs Biggs and Cilla , for which she won the National TV Award and received a second BAFTA nomination. Other television includes The C Word , Inside Number 9 , Black Work , The 7:39 , The Scapegoat , Jimmy McGovern’s Accused , Jonathan Creek , Gavin and Stacey , Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps , Love Soup and The Royle Family . Her film work includes The Huntsman (to be released in 2016), Quartet , Powder Room , The Harry Hill Movie , Tower Block , and Hysteria . Michael Mayer directs. His West End credits include Spring Awakening (Lyric Hammersmith and Novello Theatre) and Thoroughly Modern Millie (Shaftesbury Theatre). For Broadway his work includes Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Tony Award nomination for Best Director), On a Clear Day You Can See Forever , American Idiot (Drama Desk Award for Best Director of a Musical), Spring Awakening (Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Drama Desk Award for Best Direction of a Musical) and You're a Good Man Charlie Brown (Drama Desk Award nomination for Best Direction of a Musical). For television, his work includes Smash and Alpha House , and for film his credits include A Home at the End of the World , Flicka and currently in post-production, Chekhov's The Seagull . He made his Metropolitan Opera debut with a celebrated new production of Rigoletto . Choreography is by Lynne Page , with set design by Michael Pavelka , costume designer by Matthew Wright , lighting design by Mark Henderson and sound designer by Richard Brooker , the musical supervisor is Alan Williams and orchestrations are by Chris Walker . Up Up