Theatre

Culture news

Kyiv theatre turns Homer’s Odyssey into a story of war and return

A Kyiv theatre is reimagining Homer’s Odyssey through the lens of Ukraine’s war. Odysseus, Maeotis draws on the experiences of Mariupol defenders and former prisoners of war, exploring captivity, separation and the enduring struggle to return home.

28 August 2026

Culture news

Phyllida Law, celebrated actress and Emma Thompson's mother, dies aged 94

Phyllida Law acted alongside her daughters Emma and Sophie in numerous film projects, in a career spanning eight decades.

18 August 2026

Culture news

Inside the Italian prison where inmates find freedom through theatre

At Italy’s Volterra prison, inmates work alongside professional theatre-makers as part of the long-running Compagnia della Fortezza project.

10 August 2026

Culture news

Peter Gill, acclaimed playwright and director, dies aged 86

From the Royal Court to the National Theatre, Gill directed nearly 100 productions and wrote some of Britain's most acclaimed modern plays.

5 August 2026

Nature

Milan’s animal parliament gives voice to city’s ‘invisible creatures'

Should animals have a say in urban planning? Milan’s quirky animal parliament gives pigeons, foxes and bugs a voice.

2 July 2026

Culture news

Edinburgh International Festival to be a ‘phone-free’ environment

An increasing amount of touring artists are demanding their concerts be phone-free. Now, Edingburgh's annual celebration of the performing arts is also asking audience members to put their phones away during the performances.

23 June 2026

Culture news

Explained: Why did a French town cancel a play about refugees?

A mayor's decision to cancel a play about refugees has caused uproar in France and raised concerns about the far-right's grip on culture.

22 June 2026

Culture news

London West End Shaftesbury Theatre to be renamed to honour Judi Dench

The name change of one of the West End’s most iconic stages celebrates one of the greatest British performers. Dame Judi Dench has been left “truly overwhelmed” by the news.

16 June 2026

Nature

No flights, no car: Why a theatre maker is crossing the Arctic on foot

Bristol-based artist Tom Bailey has spent six weeks immersing himself in a region changing faster than almost anywhere on Earth.

14 June 2026

Culture news

Play inspired by Olga Tokarczuk stories at Teatr Polski

A series of short stories by Olga Tokarczuk form the basis of "Open Your Eyes", a pioneering production directed by Igor Gorzkowski and currently bein staged at the Polish Theatre in Warsaw. Marcelina Burzec went to meet the cast.

2 June 2026

Art

Suffering in silence: Brussels arts festival tackles childhood trauma

At the Kunstenfestivaldesarts in Brussels, French choreographer Boris Charmatz and Italian director Romeo Castellucci turned performance into an exploration of intimate fragility by interpreting childhood trauma through silence and by transforming a parking lot into a cathedral.

26 May 2026

Culture news

Edinburgh Fringe 2026 to feature the UK’s first 'Sauna Theatre'

The “Sauna Theatre” will be the first of its kind in the UK, providing an immersive experience for wellness and culture fans alike.

8 May 2026

Culture news

Inside KFDA: Belgium's festival for established and emerging artists

The Kunstenfestivaldesarts in Brussels is small in budget but big in ambition. Each year, it brings together Belgium’s Flemish and French-speaking communities while showcasing artists from around the world — a fitting opening to the European festival season.

8 May 2026

Culture news

Pulitzer Prize winners 2026: Experimental war dramas and Trump chaos

Pulitzer Prize judges have awarded the fiction prize to Daniel Kraus for "Angel Down", a World War I narrative told in one long, continuous sentence. The prizes for journalism were dominated by coverage of the Trump administration.

5 May 2026

Culture news

The Royal Danish Theatre makes its debut in Astana

Astana has hosted, for the first time, the Royal Danish Theatre, one of the world’s oldest and most respected performing arts institutions. The Kazakhstan capital is increasingly positioning itself as a place where European and Asian artistic traditions meet and interact.

22 April 2026

Culture news

Polish theatre uses dance to reimagine 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'

A play without words, but with a whole lot of emotion. Polish choreographer Piotr Jeznach is reinterpreting Oscar Wilde's classic 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' as primarily a dance performance and it makes you want more.

31 March 2026