NEVERLAND NOSTALGIA
The Royal Shakespeare Company is set to enchant London audiences with its 2025/26 Barbican season, headlined by “Wendy & Peter Pan,” a reimagined take on J.M. Barrie‘s classic adapted by Ella Hickson and directed by Jonathan Munby. RSC associate artist Toby Stephens will play Captain Hook when the production runs Oct. 21-Nov. 22.
The season continues with Prasanna Puwanarajah’s acclaimed “Twelfth Night” transfer from Stratford-upon-Avon, featuring returning stars Freema Agyeman, Michael Grady-Hall, and Samuel West. The Shakespeare revival, complete with original score by Matt Maltese, plays Dec. 8, 2025-Jan. 17, 2026.
RSC co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey called the dual offering “brilliant productions” that will bring “joy and magic” to the Barbican stage.
The productions represent the RSC’s ninth and tenth London shows for 2025, following successful transfers including “My Neighbour Totoro” and the upcoming “Born With Teeth” starring Ncuti Gatwa.
BOARD BOOST
India’s Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. shareholders have approved the appointment of Divya Karani as independent director and Saurav Adhikari as non-executive director with an “overwhelming majority” through remote e-voting concluded July 8.
Karani brings over three decades of media and advertising experience, previously serving as CEO of Dentsu Media South Asia for 12 years. She currently chairs Kulfi Collective as chair and executive director.
Adhikari offers three decades of expertise across technology, FMCG and consumer durables sectors, with senior roles at HCL, Unilever and PepsiCo. He’s currently founder and senior partner at Indus Tech Edge Fund I.
Chair R. Gopalan said the appointments reflect shareholders’ confidence in the board’s ability to “enhance value-creation and build a robust growth trajectory.”
SCRIPTED SHUFFLE
BBC Studios Productions has launched a search for a new London-based managing director of scripted, as Mark Linsey switches to a dedicated role spearheading the company’s scripted operations in Los Angeles.
The incoming MD will oversee BBC Studios’ drama and comedy units, including titles such as “Death Valley,” “Trying,” “Inside No.9,” “Silent Witness,” “Father Brown” and “EastEnders,” plus majority-owned labels Clerkenwell Films, Baby Cow Productions and Lookout Point.
Linsey, LA-based since 2023, becomes president, LA scripted, focusing exclusively on expanding the company’s scripted footprint from Los Angeles, building on successes like adapting “Ghosts” for CBS.
CEO Zai Bennett praised Linsey’s “incredible leadership” over five years, delivering “bold, distinctive, and award-winning drama and comedy titles” including “Baby Reindeer” and “Conclave.”
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Meanwhile, UKTV chief creative officer Richard Watsham will step down in September after 14 years with the broadcaster. Joining as commissioning editor in 2011, Watsham served nine years as director of commissioning before his current dual role overseeing UKTV’s content pipeline and leading BBC Studios’ global acquisitions.
Under his leadership, UKTV transformed from lifestyle originator to multi-genre commissioning powerhouse, nearly tripling spend and programming hours. His team commissioned hits including “Taskmaster,” “Dynamo: Magician Impossible,” BAFTA-winner “Big Zuu’s Big Eats,” and dramas “Annika” and “Bergerac.”
CEO Marcus Arthur said Watsham’s “contribution to UKTV has been immense,” noting his “creative vision and leadership have transformed the reputation and scope of UKTV’s content.”
FESTIVAL FINDS
Two shorts from the Asian Film Awards Academy‘s inaugural International Film Camp have landed prestigious festival slots. Mongolian director Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir‘s “A South Facing Window” enters the 78th Locarno Film Festival‘s Pardi di Domani competition, while Chinese director Song Dongxu‘s “Ride Your Horse” joins the 19th First International Film Festival competition.
Purev-Ochir called Locarno’s selection “both exhilarating and humbling,” while Song said “It feels great” about First’s nod. Two other IFC 2024 shorts premiered at Italy’s Udine Far East Film Festival in April.
IFC 2025 runs Sept. 10-16 in Macao, offering eight HK$300,000 production grants ($38,220) for 15-25 minute shorts exploring the theme “My Best Friend.” Applications close July 20.
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