2024’s Olivier awards remain too white, too male – and too safe
Arifa Akbar
A string of seven awards for Sunset Boulevard was hardly radical, and many more daring theatrical successes went unrewarded
April 2023
Dancing at Lughnasa review – an exquisite staging of Brian Friel’s evocative drama
There are superb performances from a cast including Siobhán McSweeney and Ardal O’Hanlon in Josie Rourke’s production
February 2023
Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons review – Aidan Turner and Jenna Coleman star in sharp drama
Josie Rourke’s West End revival of Sam Steiner’s fringe hit really lifts when the show’s starry duo drop their romcom routine
December 2022
The week in theatre: As You Like It; Mandela; Kerry Jackson – review
As You Like It review – Josie Rourke leads us into the liberating delight of Arden
November 2022
Josie Rourke: ‘If Shakespeare was alive now he’d be under commission to Nica Burns’
Aidan Turner and Jenna Coleman to star in drama about a word-rationed world
June 2020
Tom Hiddleston on Coriolanus: 'There was nowhere to hide – that's exciting'
As Josie Rourke’s Donmar production of Shakespeare’s tragedy is streamed for National Theatre at Home, its star recalls the thrilling intimacy, the brutal fights – and the cold shower
May 2020
Lockdown culture
Gillian Anderson's Streetcar among next National Theatre at Home streams
Four new titles announced by the NT also include Barber Shop Chronicles, This House and Coriolanus starring Tom Hiddleston
March 2020
Leading arts figures demand clarity over compensation for coronavirus closures
As majority of UK’s theatres close, industry bodies say government’s lack of outright ban on visiting venues leaves them unable to claim on insurance
December 2019
Real-time polling station play The Vote returns for election night
Catherine Tate, Mark Gatiss and Nina Sosanya star in James Graham and Josie Rourke’s theatrical experiment
April 2019
Sweet Charity review – Anne-Marie Duff has the rhythm of life
Josie Rourke turns this spirited Broadway musical into a hymn to female resilience in her exhilarating farewell production at the Donmar
March 2019
Warehouse wonders: Josie Rourke at the Donmar – in pictures
As the artistic director prepares to leave the Donmar Warehouse, we look back over her reign – from City of Angels to the Shakespeare Trilogy
January 2019
At last, the Elizabeth v Mary catfight trope of history is being reassessed
Jerry Brotton
Historians have long pitted Elizabeth I against Mary Queen of Scots, says the academic Jerry Brotton
Mark Kermode's film of the week
Mary Queen of Scots review – power and passion in a battle royal
Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan excel as wily foes in Josie Rourke’s striking take on the rivalry between Elizabeth I and her Scottish cousin
2019 arts preview
Josie Rourke: 'I was fighting to put a period in a period movie'
Starring Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie, Mary Queen of Scots is a historical epic with oral sex, menstruation and a diverse cast – thanks to the director making a bold move from cutting-edge theatre
October 2018
Measure for Measure review – sex, power and shock as Atwell and Lowden reverse roles
Josie Rourke directs an ingenious production starring Hayley Atwell and Jack Lowden, giving us Shakespeare’s play twice
June 2018
'People scoffed at it!' The unstoppable all-female Shakespeare uprising
Donmar Warehouse names Michael Longhurst as new artistic director
March 2018
'Don't screw it up!' Artistic directors on the perils of regime change
Rupert Goold was left an out-of-date bottle of cassis. Josie Rourke received wisdom – and a warning. Jackie Wylie banned talk of Black Watch. Three ADs on taking over the top job
