Month: November 2016

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1 November 2016

Robert Galbraith TV series now filming

Holliday Grainger and Tom Burke on set  © The Cuckoo’s Calling Ltd   Photographer: Steffan Hill

Filming is now under way for the BBC One TV adaptation of Robert Galbraith’s Cormoran Strike series.  British actor Tom Burke will star as war veteran turned private detective Cormoran Strike, with Holliday Grainger playing his ever-enthusiastic assistant Robin Ellacott.

The Strike Series, which will air on BBC One, is based on J.K. Rowling’s bestselling crime novels, written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith: The Cuckoo’s Calling, The Silkworm, and Career Of Evil.

“I’m overjoyed to be immersing myself in the role of Cormoran Strike who is as complex as he is larger than life,” says Burke. “I know I’m joining an extraordinary team of people on a series that for me is peppered with moments of real emotional depth and meticulously grounded in the page-turning momentum of these novels. Cormoran’s world is rich and raw.”

“I’m thrilled to be joining the talented creative team behind ‘The Strike Series’, especially with the role of Robin Ellacott,” says Grainger. “Her grounded strength and intelligence is going to be a joy to explore. I can’t wait to dive straight into the wit and grit of Strike’s cannily well observed London.”

 

 

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12 November 2016

Lights, cameras, and action for Lumos

Image © Stuart Ramson

J.K. Rowling, author, screenwriter and founder of international children’s organisation, Lumos, and Academy Award winning actor, Eddie Redmayne (a.k.a. Newt Scamander), opened a special advance screening of Warner Bros. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them on Saturday 12th November on the Perelman Stage in Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium.

In front of nearly 3,000 guests, they discussed the work of Lumos in helping children around the world leave orphanages and institutions and return to family life.

“We know children who are raised in institutions suffer developmental delays, that they tend to be physically stunted, they normally have psychological trauma,’ said J.K. Rowling. ‘It is just not what nature intended for children – to be herded together and not given individual love and care. This is an entirely solvable issue. Lumos’ ambition – and we believe it’s achievable – is that by 2050, we will have ended institutionalisation globally.”

Jo went on to encourage people – and particularly young people – in the audience to get involved with the non-profit organisation’s work.  She spoke of the urgent need to change minds, to do a little research, and support families to stay together.

Eddie and Jo went on to talk about the new film, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. They were joined on stage by director David Yates and cast members Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Katherine Waterston and Alison Sudol, before introducing this special charity screening of the film.

You can watch part of the conversation between Jo and Eddie here.

This event was part of We Are Lumos Worldwide, a global campaign to raise awareness of Lumos’ greatest goal: to bring to light the eight million children hidden away in orphanages around the world, and help them back into family homes.  All proceeds, from both box office ticket sales and an online sweepstake, are going directly to support Lumos in its work.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them went on general release six days later, on November 18th, in cinemas around the world.

Lumos – www.wearelumos.org

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1 November 2016

Cursed Child triumphs in UK theatre awards

L to R:  Colin Callender, Jack Thorne, J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, Sonia Friedman. Image © Dan Wooller

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the stage play based on an original story by J.K.Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, has won the Best Play at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards, whilst the production was nominated for eleven What’sOnStage theatre awards – more than any other production.

The Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Play was collected on 14th November 2016 by John Tiffany and Jack Thorne, who told Pottermore:

“This play was made with blood, sweat and love. Working on this show has been the greatest of things – and I know John, Jo and I could not have asked for better people to work with. The Cursed Child world is one of technical genius, acting greatness and producing prowess. This [award] is a cherry on top of a really elaborate, sugary, spicy, wonderful cake.”

Lead actress Noma Dumezweni collected the award with John and Jack on behalf of J.K. Rowling, reading out a short message from Jo: “I am incredibly proud of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, but Jack Thorne and John Tiffany must take all credit for shaping and crafting it. My endless thanks to them.”

The production has also received no fewer than eleven nominations ahead of next year’s WhatsOnStage Awards.  Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two is up for Best Play, while five of its cast members have also been shortlisted.  Other category nominations include Best Direction, Best Costumes, and Best Set Design. The annual awards, which are voted for by the public, will be announced on 19th February 2017.