Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the decimation of my industry, I’ve found myself with more time on my hands. So, I decided to spend time creating a piece of digital art inspired by my favourite film ever made to help me pay the bills. It is no coincidence that I decided to choose a   Read More …

Trigger Warning: this episode includes discussions about mental health struggles, suicide and death. If you find yourself becoming upset during the episode, please contact the organisation or person you rely upon for support. Andrew Keates chats with journalist, broadcaster and presenter Matthew Wright about his controversial comments about using outside spaces during the Covid-19 pandemic,   Read More …

I’m old enough to remember when the Internet was first piped into homes around the UK. An ugly new sound screamed down our telephone lines indicating a precarious connection to the World Wide Web via a 56K modem, so we could childishly creep around our new dark playground. I distinctly remember my mother yelling up   Read More …

Andrew chats with Alex Dyer, who runs Theataccounts – a specialist accountancy firm looking after performers and theatremakers in the performing arts industry and advising them on tax and their accounts. In this special episode, Alex takes Andrew through all of the various financial measures and schemes created by the government open to theatremakers during   Read More …

Coronavirus and self isolation have broadly inspired everyone who is not a key-worker to do one of three things: – Sit at home, do nothing, order take-aways and masturbate on the hour, ever hour. – During this imperative time to stay home, take up some kind of exercise regime, convince themselves that they won’t get   Read More …

We open up the Show People Podcast answering machine and we hear from and AJ O’Neill and Emily Clare about what they’re doing to use their craft to benefit the theatre industry. Andrew chats with West End leading man and teacher George Ure about what it’s like swapping the West End for Tesco Express and   Read More …

The name on everybody’s lips is Philip Schofield. On 7 February 2020, the veteran presenter and broadcaster revealed he was gay, in a heartfelt and beautifully written letter via his Instagram account, and the same day discussed in person in a subsequent interview with his This Morning co-host Holly Wiloughby.  “You never know what’s going   Read More …

All too often I’ll find myself scrolling through apps such as Instagram or Twitter – and it’s like looking through a window into an impenetrable, digital Eden. A glimpse at Insta reveals the rich and famous on yachts and holidays, my family share posts about being together, but are so very far away from me,   Read More …

The full casting for the upcoming world premiere of Dark Sublime at Trafalgar Studios has been announced. Written by Michael Dennis, Dark Sublime is a sci-fi comedy play that tells the story of Marianne, a sci-fi TV icon whose celebrity status is lower than before. When a fan wants her autograph, Marianne doesn’t want anything to do with him.   Read More …

Andrew Keates has been Awarded The Young Achiever Award by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Surrey. The award recognises a graduate who has achieved early career success or community service and is a role model for students and younger alumni. Andrew was called a pioneering director and producer in the theatre, who also campaigns for   Read More …

Andrew Keates will direct Steve Furst’s one man show STEVE FURST: IN CHARACTER at Underbelly Festival for one night only on Friday 15thJune 2018. Steve Furst (Walk Like a Panther, Little Britain, The Wright Stuff, Matilda, Orange Cinema Ads, Toast of London), will be presenting his new one-man-show, Steve Furst – In Character at the Belly Theatre as   Read More …

Some might think of this as a bit of a stagey blog. But, whenever I have a mini-epiphany, I tend to nearly always take to the written word to express myself. And I wanted to write this, because this realisation has really taken me aback as something that’s changed in my life without my realising,   Read More …

Andrew Keates is directing and developing a new version of Blowing Whistles by Matthew Todd. The reading will take place at the Criterion Theatre on 19th October 2017 from 1pm – 3pm and will be performed by Dino Fetscher, Rufus Hound and Paul Keating. About Blowing WhistlesBlowing Whistles is a two-act theatrical play written by Matthew   Read More …

Andrew Keates will be directing a rehearsed reading of No Bird by Nichola Rivers at the Arcola Theatre as part of their PlayWROUGHT festival. PlayWROUGHT is Arcola’s week long celebration of new ideas, new voices and new writing. PlayWROUGHT #5 is set to be our biggest Festival yet, with fourteen exciting new plays presented as a   Read More …

Andrew Keates will direct the European Premiere of Chinglish by David Henry Hwang at the Park Theatre, 200, which will play 22 March – 22 April 2017 “The first rule of doing business in China is also the last. Always bring your own translator.” Daniel, an American, wants to open up China for his business. There are only three things standing in   Read More …

Andrew has contributed to this short film for BBC3, Things Not To Say To Someone Who Is HIV Positive alongside other prominent HIV+ figures. The video has been viewed over 1 million times. If you would like to find out more about HIV and surrounding issues, please visit www.tht.org.uk and www.startswithme.org.uk

Steve Furst (Little Britain, The Wright Stuff, Matilda, Orange Cinema Ads, Toast of London) will be presenting his new one-man-show, Steve Furst – In Character at the Museum of Comedy, 5 – 7 October for only three performances. Steve Furst – In Character is a series of five different characters from waltzer-owner Ernie Vas, to   Read More …

Andrew will be directing Howard Goodall’s musical Girlfriends with students at the Cumbria Institute of the Arts this November 2016, with performances at the Stanwix Theatre 10 – 12 November 2016. This will be the third time Andrew will be directing a musical by Howard Goodall, with previous productions including The Hired Man (Landor Theatre), which won Best Musical Revival   Read More …

This September, Arion Productions presents the world premiere of new British musical The White Feather at the Union Theatre. It tells the story of Georgina Briggs whose brother was one of over 300 allied soldiers executed for cowardice during the First World War. She won’t accept the shame and she won’t let it lie. But   Read More …

This feature is by James Waygood of GrumpyGayCritic.co.uk   On Monday 15 June 2015, I went to the ACT UP London rally. What I discovered is gay men living with HIV is only a part of a much wider discussion. Caveat: As I run Grumpy Gay Critic purely as a solo effort I do not have   Read More …

This feature is by Rachel St John and was originally published for AYoungerTheatre.com As Is is a play that is currently on its three week run (from July 8-30) at Trafalgar Studios. It was written by William M. Hoffman and first shown in 1985 to educate people about HIV. When I asked Director of this project,   Read More …

BOOK NOW After a sell-out run at the Finborough Theatre in 2013, William M. Hoffman’s As Is now transfers to Trafalgar Studios with a stunning new cast and design. Using humour and sensitivity, As Is shatters the apathy and ignorance surrounding AIDS in the 1980s. Celebrating its 30th anniversary since first opening in New York,   Read More …

New audience-voted theatre awards launched by original creators of WhatsOnStage Awards – including UK’s first award for Musical Direction Leading theatre commentators Mark Shenton and Terri Paddock have teamed up to launch a new audience-voted, industry accolade. Last week, the Laurence Olivier shortlists honoured some of the biggest names and shows of 2014. This week, the   Read More …

Over six months ago. After meeting with David Pendlebury and the MAD Trust. I found myself in the wings of the Dominion Theatre holding a collection of cue cards to share that I was HIV+ with my friends, family and the industry that I passionately love and work in. My heart was racing and my mouth was dry. I was   Read More …

Andrew has written to WhatsOnStage requesting they recognise musical direction in their awards programme. Below is the letter he has sent. Please do comment below so responses can be forwarded to WhatsOnStage. 5 November 2014 Dear Laura Norman, c/o WhatsOnStage Awards I hope this e-mail finds you well. Firstly, may I take the time to   Read More …

This October 2014, Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris opens at the Charing Cross Theatre for a strictly limited six-week run. Directed by multi-award-winning director Andrew Keates, the production features an all-star cast of Daniel Boys (Avenue Q, Spamalot, Love Story – also well-known from BBC’s Any Dream Will Do, 2007), David Burt   Read More …

Cynthia Erivo (I Can’t Sing!, The Color Purple) returns to the West End alongside Cassidy Janson (Avenue Q, Wicked, Candide) in the European premiere of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s Dessa Rose. Also starring in this exciting and vibrant musical drama are: John Addison (Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, A Little Night Music), Edward   Read More …

This July, the European premiere of the uniquely stirring musical drama Dessa Rose is coming to London’s West End.  Dessa Rose is based on the book by Sherley Anne Williams with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Once On This Island, Seussical and Rocky The Musical) who have won Tony Awards,   Read More …

Last night saw West End Eurovision return to the Dominion Theatre for its 7th and final year in support of The Make A Difference (MAD) Trust where Mamma Mia! and Les Misérables won the West End Eurovision Winners Champions Trophy (sponsored by Haagen Dazs), The Book of Mormon won the Best Video Ident Award (sponsored   Read More …

Arion Productions are pleased to announce a number of exciting Q&As running alongside this highly-acclaimed production of Passing By. These will take place straight after the show and are included free with a ticket to Passing By. Each Q&A will last approximately 30 minutes. Details are as follows: Tuesday 26th November – In Conversation with Martin   Read More …