Paying in sweat! How Debbie Allen went from stardom in Fame to conquer Hollywood by David Smith

She played the world’s coolest dance teacher and has had big success as an actor, director and choreographer, winning a Golden Globe, Emmys and an Olivier. Now, she is back on Broadway. Sh…

'Without my daughter, drinking would have been a problem': Patton Oswalt on bereavement by David Smith

The comedian's life was upended in 2016 when his wife died. He discusses her role in the Golden State Killer case, the 'shadow slog' of grief " and the reaction to his remarriage The sad clo…

Lauren Gunderson: the most popular playwright in America today by David Smith

With 27 productions in the 2017-18 season, the 35-year-old writer has brought incisive wit to the stage and she's thrilled to be at the forefront of a cultural shift in a male-dominated worl…

Profile: Kevin Spacey by David Smith

He's a double Oscar-winner and one of the best-connected people in Britain. And though he hit the headlines last week, he can still dine unrecognised in the West End. David Smith on the enig…

Alan Bennett's History Boys are this year's golden graduates by David Smith

They were stars in the landmark West End play and many have gone on to glittering careers in Hollywood and TV, including the latest Doctor Who, Matt Smith. David Smith reports on an extraord…

Robert Schenkkan on LBJ: 'People loved or hated him, often in the same moment' by David Smith

The Pulitzer prize-winning playwright's All the Way, which premieres as a biopic on HBO next month, holds a mirror to Washington's current political machine through revisiting Lyndon B Johns…

Theatre director begins unique citizen-led tribunal in eastern Congo by David Smith

Performance bring together mining companies, government officials and locals in unprecedented investigation into one of the world's most complicated conflicts Continue reading...

Fela Kuti musical moves to Nigeria by David Smith

South Africa's 'theatre of struggle' appoints first black artistic director by David Smith

James Ngcobo lands leading role at Market Theatre, which staged protest plays during apartheid eraWhen he was cutting his teeth as an actor, the only place James Ngcobo knew equality was on …

Not so black and white: South Africa on stage by David Smith

Seven years ago, Dame Janet Suzman lost a friend and fellow actor to the violence in South Africa. Now she will star in a play inspired by his death. As attention turns to her country's fu…

Sierra Leone war orphan returns to Africa en pointe for ballet debut by David Smith

Michaela DePrince tells of being called a 'devil child', hiding a magazine cover in her underwear and prejudice in balletHer father was murdered by gunmen, her mother starved to death and Mi…

Soweto Theatre aims to foster township's cultural revolution by David Smith

Project aims to make virtue of location as Soweto becomes unlikely home of wine festival and fashion weekIt was a speech of defiance and undying hope. Zindzi Mandela, then aged 25, stood bef…

Fela Kuti musical moves to Nigeria by David Smith

Award-winning stage musical on the 'father of afrobeat' heads to Lagos, a move welcomed by his eldest daughter, YeniPretentious it isn't. Beneath the giant corrugated iron roof is a shabby s…

A rose would smell as sweet in Xhosa | David Smith by David Smith

Here in Johannesburg, young South Africans are performing the Bard in their second language, English, while the Globe plans to put all 38 plays on in 38 languagesI write this from Johannesbu…

All-black South African acting company evicted from theatre by David Smith

Isango Portobello theatre company locked out of Cape Town theatre after poor takings and claims of 'financial irregularities'A British director and his all-black South African acting company…