Michael Longhurst

Last updated

Michael Longhurst (born 1981) [1] was artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse theatre in Covent Garden, London (2019-2024). He was appointed as its fourth artistic director, succeeding Josie Rourke in the role.

Longhurst grew up in Bromley, London. [2] After studying philosophy at the University of Nottingham, Longhurst trained in theatre directing at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, [3] graduating with a postgraduate diploma in 2004. [4]

Longhurst's first season at the Donmar started on 20 June 2019 with David Greig’s Europe, [1] followed by the UK premiere of Appropriate by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. [5] [6]

His previous credits as director include Constellations [6] at the Royal Court Theatre in 2012 [7] and at Trafalgar Studios in 2015, [8] Carmen Disruption at the Almeida Theatre in 2015, [9] Gloria at the Hampstead Theatre in 2017 [10] and, from October 2016 to March 2017 and from February to 24 April 2018, Amadeus at the National Theatre, a production which Michael Billington, in a four-starred review for The Guardian , described as "stunning". [11] [12] In August 2019, his critically acclaimed production of Florian Zeller's The Son [13] transferred from a successful run at the Kiln Theatre to a West End run at The Duke of York's Theatre. [14]

Longhurst lives with his partner Des Kennedy. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samuel West</span> British actor, theatre director and narrator

Samuel Alexander Joseph West is an English actor, theatre director and narrator. He has directed on stage and radio, and worked as an actor in theatre, film, television, and radio. He was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of Leonard Bast in the Merchant Ivory film adaptation of E. M. Forster's novel Howards End (1992), and was later nominated for the Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of the title role in Rupert's Land (1998). In 2010, he was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Jeffrey Skilling in Lucy Prebble's Enron. He has appeared as reciter with orchestras and performed at the Last Night of the Proms in 2002. He has narrated several documentary series, including five for the BBC about the Second World War.

Claire Skinner is an English actress, known in the United Kingdom for her television career, particularly playing Sue Brockman from the BBC television series Outnumbered. She is also known for her collaboration with director Mike Leigh on two of his films, Life is Sweet (1990) and Naked (1993).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Almeida Theatre</span> Theatre in Islington, London

The Almeida Theatre is a 325-seat producing house located on Almeida Street off Upper Street in the London Borough of Islington. The theatre opened in 1980, and produces a diverse range of drama. Successful plays are often transferred to West End theatres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donmar Warehouse</span> Theatre in Covent Garden, London, England

The Donmar Warehouse is a 251-seat, not-for-profit theatre in Covent Garden, London, England. It first opened on 18 July 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forbes Masson</span> Scottish actor and writer (born 1963)

Forbes (Robertson) Masson is a Scottish actor and writer. He is an Associate Artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He is best known for his roles in classical theatre, musicals, comedies, and appearances in London's West End. He is also known for his comedy partnership with Alan Cumming. Masson and Cumming wrote The High Life, a Scottish situation comedy in which they play the lead characters, Steve McCracken and Sebastian Flight. Characters McCracken and Flight were heavily based on Victor and Barry, famous Scottish comedy alter-egos of Masson and Cumming. Masson also stars in the 2021 film The Road Dance, set on the Isle of Lewis as the Reverend MacIver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Grandage</span> British theatre director (born 1962)

Michael Grandage CBE is a British theatre director and producer. He is currently artistic director of the Michael Grandage Company. From 2002 to 2012 he was artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse in London and from 2000 to 2005 he was artistic director of Sheffield Theatres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Burke (actor)</span> English actor (born 1981)

Tom Burke is an English actor. He played Athos in the 2014–2016 BBC TV series The Musketeers, Dolokhov in the 2016 BBC literary-adaptation miniseries War & Peace, the eponymous character Cormoran Strike in the BBC series Strike, and Orson Welles in the 2020 film Mank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josie Rourke</span> English theatre and film director

Josie Rourke is an English theatre and film director. She is a Vice-President of the London Library and was the artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse theatre from 2012 to 2019. In 2018, she made her feature film debut with the Academy Award and BAFTA-nominated historical drama Mary Queen of Scots, starring Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zawe Ashton</span> British actress (born 1984)

Zawedde Emma Ashton is a British actress and playwright. She is best known for her roles in the comedy dramas Fresh Meat and Not Safe for Work, the Netflix horror thriller film Velvet Buzzsaw, and for her portrayal of Joyce Carol Vincent in Dreams of a Life (2011). She also portrayed Dar-Benn in The Marvels (2023).

William Walter Maurice Keen is an English stage, television, and film actor. He has worked in theatre and television in both Britain and Spain. He was a trustee of the James Menzies Kitchin Award, an award set up for young theatre directors in memory of the director with whom Keen collaborated early in his career.

Paul Arditti is a British sound designer, working in theatre, mainly in UK and US. He specialises in designing sound for musicals and plays. He has won awards for his work including a Tony Award, two Olivier Awards, three Drama Desk Awards and a BroadwayWorld.com Fans' Choice Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucian Msamati</span> British-Tanzanian actor (born 1976)

Lucian Gabriel Wiina Msamati is a British-Tanzanian actor, writer, director and producer in theatre, film, television and radio. His screen credits include the roles of Salladhor Saan in the HBO series Game of Thrones, J.L.B. Matekoni in the BBC/HBO adaptation of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, David Runihura in the Netflix/BBC thriller Black Earth Rising and Ed Dumani in the Sky/AMC series Gangs of London.

Jamie Lloyd is a British director, best known for his work with his eponymous theatre company The Jamie Lloyd Company. He is known for his modern minimalism and expressionist directorial style. He is a proponent of affordable theatre for young and diverse audiences, and has been praised as "redefining West End theatre". The Daily Telegraph critic Dominic Cavendish wrote of Lloyd, "Few directors have Lloyd’s ability to transport us to the upper echelons of theatrical pleasure."

Lucy Bailey is a British theatre director, known for productions such as Baby Doll at Britain's National Theatre and a notorious Titus Andronicus, described by a critic as "all eye-catchingly visceral but there’s little depth". Bailey founded the Gogmagogs theatre-music group (1995–2006) and was Artistic Director and joint founder of the Print Room theatre in West London (2010-2012). She has worked extensively with Bunny Christie and other leading stage designers, including her husband William Dudley.

The 2012 Evening Standard Theatre Awards were announced on 25 November 2012. The shortlist was revealed on 12 November 2012 and the longlist on 29 October 2012.

The 2011 Evening Standard Theatre Awards were announced on 20 November 2011. The shortlist was revealed on 7 November 2011 and the longlist on 19 October 2011.

James Macdonald is a British theatre and film director who is best known for his work with contemporary writers such as Caryl Churchill. He was associate and deputy director of the Royal Court Theatre from 1992 to 2006. There he staged the premiere of Sarah Kane's Blasted (1995), her highly controversial debut which sparked a Newsnight debate on BBC Television. He also directed the premiere of Kane's Cleansed (1998) and 4.48 Psychosis which opened after her suicide.

The 2020 Laurence Olivier Awards was held on 25 October 2020 at the London Palladium and hosted by Jason Manford, who presented all of the awards except Special Recognition.

Jack Wolfe is an English actor. For his theatre work, he has received a number of accolades, including a WhatsOnStage Award and a nomination for a Laurence Olivier Award for his performance as Gabe Goodman in the Donmar Warehouse production of Next to Normal. On screen, he is known for his roles in the film The Magic Flute (2022) and the second season of the Netflix series Shadow and Bone (2023).

[BLANK] is a 2019 play by Alice Birch. The play consists of 100 unrelated scenes from which a director may pick and choose. Its 2019 premiere at the Donmar Warehouse in London was in celebration of the fortieth anniversary of Clean Break.

References

  1. 1 2 Dowd, Vincent (30 June 2019). "Donmar chief Michael Longhurst begins tenure with play about Europe". BBC News . Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  2. 1 2 Mountford, Fiona (2 April 2019). "Michael Longhurst interview: 'The Donmar Warehouse can take some disruption right now'". Evening Standard . Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  3. Wiegand, Chris; Billington, Michael (7 June 2018). "Donmar Warehouse names Michael Longhurst as new artistic director". The Guardian . Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  4. "Mountview graduate appointed artistic director of Donmar Warehouse". Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts . 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  5. Johnson, Robin (2 April 2019). "Michael Longhurst announces first Donmar Warehouse season". OfficialLondonTheatre.com. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  6. 1 2 "Michael Longhurst takes centre stage at the Donmar". Barclays. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  7. Walker, Tim (2 February 2012). "Constellations, at Royal Court, Seven magazine review". The Sunday Telegraph . Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  8. Mayo, Douglas (15 July 2015). "REVIEW: Constellations, Trafalgar Studios". BritishTheatre.com. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  9. Collins, Stephen (22 April 2015). "REVIEW: Carmen Disruption, Almeida Theatre". BritishTheatre.com. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  10. Ludman, Mark (26 July 2017). "REVIEW: Gloria, Hampstead Theatre". BritishTheatre.com. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  11. Billington, Michael (27 October 2016). "Amadeus review – stunning production pits Salieri against God, Mozart and his own orchestra". The Guardian . Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  12. "Amadeus". Royal National Theatre. 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  13. Billington, Michael (27 February 2019). "The Son review – Florian Zeller's frightening tale of teen depression". The Guardian . Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  14. Mayo, Douglas (8 May 2019). "Florian Zeller's The Son transfers to Duke Of York's Theatre London". BritishTheatre.com. Retrieved 25 July 2020.