Ben Barnes News

Below, watch a sneak peek for the Season One Finale of WESTWORLD on HBO titled 'The Bicameral Mind.' The episode airs next Sunday on HBO. 

WESTWORLD's penultimate episode entitled 'The Well-Tempered Clavier' just aired last night and as we head into the finale of the first season, the show proves it's not holding back any of its punches. The show has certainly taken on a bigger life in the online community with fan theorizing and discussion and WESTWORLD does what most shows should follow suit in revealing answers to questions the fans are asking and are already forming their own answers to. By doing so, they avoid the probable let down in the future that comes with an anticlimactic reveal of something the consumers have been building up in their heads for so long in such a grandiose way that the final product could never hold a candle to what they were imagining it to be. They also prove that the show overall, as a narrative and a piece of thematic storytelling, isn't about the twists, despite their existence in the narrative. They exist, but as the theories prove by being completely true, the information was all there from the beginning and the questions about consciousness, autonomy, and humanity are the real grounding force of the epic scale drama that is WESTWORLD.

In what promises to be the hottest ticket of the festive season, Noël, the brand new musical by Eoin Colfer and Liam Bates will be staged, concert-style, in the National Opera House this December.

On the next episode of WESTWORLD on HBO titled "The Well-Tempered Clavier", Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood) and Bernard (Jeffrey Wright) reconnect with their pasts

HBO has renewed WESTWORLD, DIVORCE and INSECURE for second seasons, it was announced today by Casey Bloys, president, HBO Programming.

On the next episode of WESTWORLD on HBO titled 'Trace Decay' Bernard (Jeffrey Wright) struggles with a mandate; Maeve (Thandie Newton) looks to change her script; Teddy (James Marsden) is jarred by dark memories. 

“Contrapasso,” the title of Episode 5 of WESTWORLD refers to the concept in Dante's Inferno that every sinner should see an equally fitting punishment for their crime as the one they had committed. As guests continually exercise their id and indulge in depravity and the hosts who are victims of said indulgence start gaining consciousness and pushing back, they may find their own ring of hell at the end of their vacation. Everyone this week faces their demons and sees justice, in whatever form that maybe. For the more unsavory workers and guests of Westworld and their instinctually detached approach to the hosts from a more voyeuristic perspective, they will find an equally fitting end to their equally horrifying “sins”. For those with purer intentions and good hearts, they will battle against the sin exercising all around them and tempting them in to struggle in the search for a haven. “Contrapasso” is all about ones actions and the due retribution they will face, allowing the characters to reach a beautiful climax as the world and the balance starts shifting for them, be it in the positive or negative light.

Guts, gore, heists, shoot outs, revelations, and one gnarly snake tattoo are just some of what you can find in the fourth and most explosively exciting episode of WESTWORLD to date. The episode, entitled “Dissonance Theory,” already starts laying the firm foundation for where the season is headed, while doing what WESTWORLD does best; satiates your appetite but with such incredible flavors that make you want to come back for more just to confirm its brilliance. “Dissonance Theory,” and what the concept of the title suggests, is that the human mind is constantly trying to find patterns amongst their cognitions and understanding (i.e. how your brain works and what it is understanding) but when a dissonance arrises, there is a need to take action to get rid of said dissonance to return to the peaceful equilibrium of before. As the hosts' world begins to unravel from inside out, and the inner workings of Westworld on every level start exposing their pure selfish corruption, dissonances are cropping up all around at a rate so quick, the possibility attaining pure and consistent cognitions is falling too far out of reach. 

The third episode of WESTWORLD, entitled “The Stray,” sheds light on both the past and future of the park and its inhabitants. While we are allowed a closer look at the history of the creation of the hosts, we begin to realize just how much that history is responsible for what they are quickly becoming. Sentience, as always, as well as consciousness, is the ultimate question, for understanding and awakening are traits we attribute to life and the human experience. While we, as an audience, automatically begin to personify the hosts and connect with them from a story perspective, as they are most of our eyes into this world, the guests and those that run Westworld must combat their want for ignorance with their indifference to the truth about the hosts and what said indifference says about them. 

 On the next episode of WESTWORLD on HBO titled 'The Stray' - Elsie (Shannon Woodward) and Stubbs (Luke Hemsworth) head into the hills in pursuit of a missing host.

Episode 2 of Westworld just aired on HBO and, along with tonight's presidential debate, leaves us questioning humanity. In what is an even further step above its pilot and its ability to explore these complex questions and cultural infrastructures through it's narrative, Westworld continues to shine as creatively intelligent and mindfully captivating. This episode, entitled “Chesnut” explores the hosts and their humanity. What is humanity? What is it to remember? What is it to think or to feel? What is morality and how does it define us? As the hosts start recalling their past lives, the paths the guests choose to take in Westworld will be of dire consequence. 

For viewers who can't wait until this weekend to check out the new HBO comedy series DIVORCE and INSECURE and the second episode of the new drama series WESTWORLD, special advance premieres of Sunday night's episodes are all available to stream right now via HBO NOW and HBO GO

A number of prominent theatre companies and artists from Ireland are taking part in this year's 9th annual Origin's 1st Irish Festival taking place from today, September 6, to October 3.

Today, HBO revealed key art for WESTWORLD, the one-hour drama series kicking off its 10-episode season Sunday, October 2 at 9:00/8:00c, exclusively on HBO. Check it out at left!

The National Youth Music Theatre is to celebrate its 40th birthday in style - with ENCORE: 40 Years of NYMT, a star-studded West End gala night at the Adelphi Theatre.

A number of prominent theatre companies and artists from Ireland are taking part in this year's 9th annual Origin's 1st Irish Festival taking place from September 6 to October 3.

HBO has confirmed fall debuts for the new series WESTWORLD, DIVORCE, INSECURE and HIGH MAINTENANCE.

A classic drama by America's only Nobel Prize-winning playwright continues the 2015-2016 ESL Wilson Stage Series as Geva Theatre Center presents A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN by Eugene O'Neill and directed by Ben Barnes in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage now through April 24, 2016. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

A classic drama by America's only Nobel Prize-winning playwright continues the 2015-2016 ESL Wilson Stage Series as Geva Theatre Center presents A Moon for the Misbegotten by Eugene O'Neill and directed by Ben Barnes in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage from March 29 through April 24.