From Hobbit to hunchback - Martin Freeman set to appear in Shakespearean role

MAIL ON LINE
By BAZ BAMIGBOYE
PUBLISHED: 18:03 EST, 3 April 2014 | UPDATED: 18:25 EST, 3 April 2014

Sherlock and Hobbit star Martin Freeman will play his first Shakespearean role, Richard III, on the London stage this summer.

The actor has made a pact with Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock to his Dr Watson) about treading the boards in plays by the Bard.

Cumberbatch will give his Hamlet at the Barbican — as this page was first to report — in August of 2015.

However, Freeman’s Machiavellian monarch will be in rehearsal by late May or early June of this year, and in performance by July. 

Richard III will run through till September.

Freeman will be leading the first play in the second season for Jamie Lloyd Productions, which performs under the Trafalgar Transformed banner at the Trafalgar Studios in Whitehall. 

Lloyd set up his company with Howard Panter and the Ambassador Theatre Group. 

Tickets for Richard III, the first of four plays in the new season, are expected to go on sale in the next seven to ten days.

Director Lloyd is still casting other roles for Richard III.

Freeman was last on stage at the Royal Court in Bruce Norris’s powerful play Clybourne Park. His career has taken off like a rocket since the success of The Office and Sherlock on BBC television.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2596457/BAZ-BAMIGBOYE-From-Hobbit-hunchback-Martin-Freeman-set-appear-Shakespearean-role.html#ixzz2xsiNNz41 

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British actors receive Oscar awards

03:20:16 pm | by admin | Categories: News

The Oscars came to London on Sunday, when the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences honoured British actors. The honour formed part of the 3rd annual Governors Awards, which also saw chat show queen Oprah Winfrey and make-up artist Dick Smith receive honorary awards.

Actor James Earl Jones has received an honorary Oscar on the London stage, to the surprise of his matinee audience. The 80-year-old did not attend the main U.S. ceremony in person because of his stage commitments in Britain.

British actress Vanessa Redgrave was also honoured at the ceremony marking a stage and screen career that has spanned more than 50 years. In addition to the Oscar, Redgrave's honours include Olivier, Tony, Emmy, Screen Actors Guild and Cannes film festival awards. She stars in "Anonymous," currently in cinemas, and the upcoming "Coriolanus."