Aimie Atkinson will play ‘Vivian’ and Danny Mac will play ‘Edward’ in the smash hit PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL at the Piccadilly Theatre from 13 February 2020 where it will play for a strictly limited engagement of 46 weeks.
On the Wire
Latest news from the West End and beyond.
Last updated: Wednesday, 11 December 2019 at 16:12
MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING THE MUSICAL - performance schedule announced ahead of UK and Ireland tour
Based on the film of the same name, My Best Friend's Wedding - The Musical is set to premiere at Plymouth Theatre Royal from the 16th-26th of September 2020 ahead of a UK and Ireland tour.
The show will star Alexandra Burke in the title role of Julianne Potter, with further cast announcements expected soon. Rachel Kavanaugh directs; book by Ronald Bass and Jonathan Harvey.
BAT OUT OF HELL - Producers announce 2020 UK Tour
Award-winning Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical, will be returning to tour the UK, with performances beginning at Manchester Opera House from 10–26 September 2020. Other tour dates include The Alexandra Birmingham from 29 September–10 October, New Wimbledon Theatre from 13–24 October, New Theatre Oxford from 27 October–7 November, Glasgow King’s Theatre from 10–21 November and Liverpool Empire from 8 December–2 January 2021. Further dates and casting to be announced.
Tickets go on sale Monday 9th December.
THE PRINCE OF EGYPT: New performance dates added
Extra show dates have now been added to the 32-week run of new musical The Prince of Egypt at the Dominion Theatre in 2020. These are: Tuesday 14 April, Tuesday 11 August and Tuesday 25 August 2020, all at 2.30pm.
THE NATIVITY PANTO - full cast announced
Running from the 29th of November to the 11th of January 2020 at the Kings Head Theatre, Charles Court Opera's The Nativity Panto - A Not-So Silent Night will star Emily Cairns, Meriel Cunningham, Jennie Jacobs, Matthew Kellett and Catrine Kirkman.
The Nativity Panto is written and directed by John Savournin with original music and lyrics by David Eaton, choreography by Damian Czarnecki, and set design by Rachel Szmukler, with lighting design by Ben Pickersgill, and costume design by Mia Wallden and Catrin Short Thyrsson.
MAGIC MIKE LIVE - new booking period and performance schedule added
Channing Tatum's Magic Mike Live extends its booking period at London's Hippodrome Casino due to unprecedented demand. The performance schedule will change on the 20th of January 2020 to accomodate additional weekend shows, with tickets on sale from today - Wednesday 4th December - at 10am.
CINDERELLA - extension date added
Two extra performances of CINDERELLA at Trafalgar Studios have been added on Sunday 5th January – 16:30 & 20:30.
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA extension
The Phantom of The Opera has been extended to 17th October 2020. Tickets for this new booking period are now on sale.
Waitress @ Adelphi Theatre - Run Extended
Performances of WAITRESS at the Adelphi Theatre have been extended until 4th July 2020.
ROBERT ICKE wins Best Director at the 65th Evening Standard Theatre Awards
Robert Icke (The Wild Duck, Hamlet, Mary Stuart, Oresteia, 1984) wins prestigious 65th Evening Standard Theatre Award, for The Doctor, ahead of its West End transfer. The 2019 awards ceremony, which took place last night, Sunday 24 November, at the London Coliseum, saw Robert Icke pick up the award for Best Director, a joint award for The Doctor and his production of The Wild Duck at the Almeida in 2018.
DEAR EVAN HANSEN extends to 30 May 2020
The West End Production of Dear Evan Hansen which officially opened last week at the Noël Coward Theatre, today announces a further release of tickets, now booking to 30 May 2020.
LES MISERABLES extended
LES MISERABLES at the Sondheim Theatre has been extended and is now booking from April to October 2020.
THE DRIFTERS GIRL starring Beverley Knight to open in the West End in 2020
THE DRIFTERS GIRL, an new musical about The Drifters, one of the world’s greatest vocal groups, will open in October 2020 at the Garrick Theatre with Beverley Knight starring as Faye Treadwell, the manager of the group.
COME FROM AWAY Extends at the Phoenix Theatre
Sales for individual customers to see Come From Away are now on sale for performances from Monday 17th February 2020 to 23rd May 2020.
Puccini Double Bill at Trafalgar Studios: OPERA UNDONE: TOSCA & LA BOHEME
The producers of the 2017 smash-hit La bohème, present a Puccini double-bill, Opera Undone: Tosca & La bohème, in brand new English versions by David Eaton and Adam Spreadbury-Maher. The production will run at Trafalgar Studios 2 from 5 February to 7 March 2020. Adam Spreadbury-Maher, Artistic Director of the King’s Head Theatre, will also direct the production, with musical direction from David Eaton. Opera Undone: Tosca & La bohème will have national press nights on Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 February 2020 for the two casts.
BOOK OF MORMON - Extended until February 2020
THE BOOK OF MORMON has been extended and its new booking period is now live for sale. The new booking until date is Saturday 8 February 2020.
Tickets on sale tomorrow for the Jamie Lloyd Company's CYRANO DE BERGERAC starring James McAvoy
Public booking opens tomorrow, Tuesday 17 September at 8.30am for The Jamie Lloyd Company’s production of Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac, freely adapted by Martin Crimp, directed by Jamie Lloyd and starring the Golden Globe and Olivier Award nominated James McAvoy.
Mamma Mia - Extended until Sept 2020
Mamma Mia – has been extended and its new booking period is now live for sale. Extended dates are 9th March 2020 - 19th September 2020.
Disney's THE LION KING: Booking Period Extension
Disney’s The Lion King is now on sale for performances Tuesday 18 February – Saturday 30 May 2020.
TINA - The Tina Turner Musical extends booking to June 2020
Over 200,000 new tickets are released for sale today for TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL based on the life of legendary artist Tina Turner which is now booking at the Aldwych Theatre in the West End to 27 June 2020.
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF extends for a final time
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF today announces a final extension until 2 November at the Playhouse Theatre.
COME FROM AWAY: Booking Period Extension
Come from Away extends at the Phoenix Theatre until 15th February 2020. The performance on 18th November has been cancelled and a performance added on Friday 22nd November. This performance will begin at 5.00pm and the evening will move to 8.30 for this performance only.
BACK TO THE FUTURE THE MUSICAL Opens February 2020
BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical will open at the Manchester Opera House on 20 February 2020 for a strictly limited 12-week season, finishing on 17 May, prior to transferring to the West End.
Disney's THE LION KING: Booking Period Extension
THE LION KING extends to 15 December 2019. Tickets are now on general sale to individuals.
THE SECRET DIARY OF ADRIAN MOLE - THE MUSICAL opens in June in the West End
THE SECRET DIARY OF ADRIAN MOLE AGED 13¾ - THE MUSICAL will open at the Ambassadors Theatre for a limited season from 15 June until 12 October 2019, with a Gala Night on Tuesday 2 July. Tickets go on sale from 5 April.
THE WORST WITCH to open at the Vaudeville Theatre
THE WORST WITCH will be running from 24 July – 8 SSeptember for 60 performances at the Vaudeville Theatre.
THRILLER LIVE extends
THRILLER LIVE has been extended with additional dates from October 1st 2019 to April 5th 2020. The period from Tuesday December, 17th – Sunday January, 5th is not on sale yet.
THE COMEDY ABOUT A BANK ROBBERY extends
THE COMEDY ABOUT A BANK ROBBERY today announces an extension of its Olivier Award-nominated show to run until Sunday 3 May 2020, as it celebrates its third birthday in the West End. Tickets for the new booking period are now on sale. Tonight marks the 1,423rd performance at The Criterion, the 7,115th theft of the diamond and the 10,584th appearance of the seagulls!
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA extends
The Phantom of the Opera extends to Saturday 4th April 2020. The period from Monday 23rd to Saturday 4th January 2020 is not on sale yet.
Public booking opens 8 April for DEAR EVAN HANSEN
Public booking for the West End production of Dear Evan Hansen opens next week on Monday 8 April 2019 at 10am BST. The Production will release additional tickets following a sell-out priority booking period.
TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL extends
Over 200,000 new tickets will go on public sale at 12 noon on Friday 25 January 2019 taking bookings for TINA at the Aldwych Theatre to Saturday 21 December 2019.
9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL - Louise Redknapp to temporarily withdraw
Due to an injury this week, Louise Redknapp has had to temporarily withdraw from performing the role of Violet in 9 to 5 The Musical. Louise is no longer able to properly rehearse the show in the remaining time left before opening. Louise will start performances sometime towards the end of March/early April 2019. The name of the actress stepping in to play the role in Louise’s absence will be announced shortly. Please contact us if you would like to exchange your tickets to a performance when Louise has returned to the show.
Full casting has been announced for THE TWILIGHT ZONE
Reprising their highly praised performances from the Almeida run are Oliver Alvin-Wilson, Adrianna Bertola and Neil Haigh, who will be joined for the West End premiere by Alisha Bailey, Natasha J Barnes, Nicholas Karimi, Dan Crossley, Dyfan Dwyfor, Lauren O’Neill and Matthew Steer.
The Twilight Zone will be opening at the Ambassadors Theatre from 4 March 2019.
NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL Returns To London in December 2019 Starring Simon Lipkin
The show will be returning to The Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith for a third year running from 11 to 29 December 2019 with an extra week of performances.
Katharine McPhee to play Jenna Hunterson in WAITRESS in the West End
Katharine McPhee is set to star in the West End premiere of Waitress as Jenna Hunterson, opening at the Adelphi Theatre next year.
McPhee will make her West End debut in this production, reprising her Broadway performance as Jenna Hunterson after playing the role for a four month engagement in 2018.
THE COMEDY ABOUT A BANK ROBBERY announces new cast and extended booking period
The Comedy About A Bank Robbery has extended its booking period at the Criterion Theatre, playing until 3rd November 2019, as well as announcing a new cast for its run.
Those joining the cast are Julia Frith (Caprice Freeboys), Liam Jeavons (Mitch Ruscitti), Jack Whittle (Sam Monaghan) and Jean-Luke Worrell (Warren Slax). On 15th January 2019, Gareth Tempest (Mitch Ruscitti) and Emily Stott (Caprice Freeboys) join the cast. The cast continuing in their roles include Samson Ajewole (Cooper), Jenna Augen (Ruth Monaghan), Jack Baldwin (Officer Randal Shuck), Leonard Cook (Robin Freeboys) and Chris Leask (Everyone Else).
Full Cast and Tour Dates Announced for TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s production of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD will return for a UK tour in 2019, opening at Curve Leicester on 7 February.
Wicked New Booking Period
Wicked the Musical has been extended from to Saturday 30th November. Tickets are nwo on sale.
MATILDA New Booking Period
Matilda the Musical has been extended from Tue 22 October 2019 to Sun 24 May 2020.
Further Dates Announced for Les Misérables UK and Ireland Tour
Cameron Mackintosh announced today further dates for the UK and Ireland tour of LES MISÉRABLES. In addition to the previously announced dates, the musical will also play Plymouth Theatre Royal (11 June – 6 July 2019), Bradford Alhambra (9 July – 10 August 2019), Liverpool Empire (9 – 26 October 2019) and Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff (26 November 2019 – 4 January 2020).
MYTHIC @ Charing Cross Theatre - Extension
Mythic @ Charing Cross Theatre has been extended and is booking until 15th December 2018.
Delfont Mackintosh Theatres downtime
Tonight, Wednesday (14 November) Delfont Mackintosh Theatres will be undertaking some significant work on their system. The work will commence at 8.15pm. This means the following shows and venues will be affected during this time:
- Aladdin, Prince Edward Theatre
- All About Eve, Noel Coward Theatre
- Bill Bailey - Larks In Transit, Wyndham's Theatre
- The Book Of Mormon, Prince of Wales Theatre
- The Catherine Tate Show Live, Wyndham's Theatre
- Company, Gielgud Theatre
- The Height Of The Storm, Wyndham's Theatre
- The Inheritance Part 1 & 2, Noel Coward Theatre
- Les Miserables, Queen's Theatre
- The Price, Wyndham's Theatre
The work will be completed in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Last chance to see A GUIDE FOR THE HOMESICK
Audiences have two weeks left to catch Ken Urban’s arresting new drama A Guide for the Homesick, with its ‘mesmerizing performances’ (Aleks Sierz, Theatre Times) by the talented Douglas Booth and Clifford Samuel. This gripping new drama completes its hit run on 24 November 2018. The production is directed by Jonathan O’Boyle and produced by Stage Traffic Productions.
Book of Mormon - Extended
The Book of Mormon has been extended and is now running until 2nd March 2019.
The Comedy About A Bank Robbery - Extended
The Comedy About a Bank Robbery at the Criterion Theatre has been extended. The new performances are from 9th April to 3rd Nov 2019.
The Simon & Garfunkel Story - Extended
The Simon and Garfunkel Story have added further performances to their run at the Lyric theatre and will now be performing into 2019.
This show is now booking until 24th June 2019.
Star of RuPaul's Drag Race TODRICK HALL to star as Billy Flynn in CHICAGO
Todrick Hall will star as Billy Flynn in CHICAGO from 19 November 2018 until the end of the show’s run at the Phoenix Theatre on 5 January 2019.
VARIANT 31 arrives in London's West End
Europe’s largest immersive survival experience, Variant 31 arrives at a secret Central London location from 13 April 2019.This brand new, adrenaline-fuelled immersive show allows audiences to answer the question - ‘What would you do inside a horror movie?’ Putting you dead-centre in the action, this one-of-a-kind experience requires immense bravery and rewards survival skills while testing friendships and teamwork, like never before. In a vast interactive environment completely under your control, your choices will have consequences, and not all players will succeed. Packed with cutting edge technology and a host of hair-raising theatrical surprises, this game is not for the faint-hearted!
TRUE WEST extension
True West has extended its booking period by an extra week at the Vaudeville Theatre. The production will now play until Saturday 23 February 2019.
The performance schedule and prices remain the same for the additional week.
THE LION KING extension
The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre has been extended until Saturday 1st June 2019.
DISNEY'S ALADDIN extension
Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre has been extended until Saturday 1st June 2019.
DREAMGIRLS extra matinee
The producers of DREAMGIRLS have announced an extra matinee on FRIDAY 11th JAN 2019 – 14.30pm.
LES MISERABLES extended
Les Misérables is extending its run at the Queen’s Theatre from Monday 4 March 2019 to Saturday 29 June 2019.
THE MOUSETRAP extended
The Mousetrap at St. Martin’s Theatre has been extended to run until Saturday 5th October.
£42 for 42nd Street - Exclusive
London Box Office has an exclusive offer for 42nd Street with Band A tickets for £42 top price. The offer is valid from 29 October – 21 December (all performances). Book by 31 October. + No booking fee on all other price bands from 22 Oct-21 Dec. Book by 18 November.
THRILLER LIVE extends its run at the Lyric Theatre
The new booking period runs from Tuesday 9 April to Sunday 29 September 2019.
The performance schedule and prices remain the same.
THE RUBENSTEIN KISS at Southwark Playhouse Spring 2019
Devil You Know Theatre Company is delighted to announce the first London production since 2005 of the multi-award winning play THE RUBENSTEIN KISS by James Phillips, opening at Southwark Playhouse for a limited 4-week run from 14 March 2019, directed by Joe Harmston. There will be a national press night on 18 March 2019.
ASPECTS OF LOVE at Southwark Playhouse 2019
Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and Hope Mill Theatre announced the transfer of their production of Aspects of Love at Southwark Playhouse for a limited season from 7 January to 9 February 2019, with a national press night on Thursday 10 January.
Full casting announced for the 10th Anniversary tour of Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT
Full casting has been announced for the special 10th anniversary tour of American Idiot – the ground breaking Tony award-winning rock musical with music by punk-pop and multi Grammy award-winning band Green Day. Leading the cast is: Waterloo Road’s Tom Milner as Johnny; 2013’s X Factor third place runner-up Luke Friend as St Jimmy; and 2016 X Factor finalist Sam Lavery as Whatsername.
The cast is completed by: Glenn Adamson (Theo); Laura Marie Benson (Lesley); Jennifer Caldwell (Swing); Joshua Dowen (Tunny); Raquel Jones (Extraordinary Girl); Daniel Law (Swing); Rory Maguire (Gerard); Shekinah McFarlane (Alysha); Siobhan O’Driscoll (Heather); Samuel Pope (Will); Alexandra Robinson (Libby); and Christian Tyler-Wood (Declan).
Over 190,000 extra seats go on sale today as THRILLER LIVE opens a new West End booking period to September 29, 2019
Thriller Live will celebrate its 10th birthday in the West End on January 22.
On April 9 it will become the 13th Longest Running West End Musical in history.
Alexandra Burke and Duncan James Extend Their Runs in CHICAGO
Due to popular demand, Alexandra Burke and Duncan James will extend their runs in CHICAGO at the Phoenix Theatre. Alexandra Burke will play Roxie Hart until 10 November 2018 and Duncan James will play Billy Flynn until 17 November 2018. Laura Tyrer will play Velma Kelly until 20 October followed by Josefina Gabrielle who returns to the role of Velma Kelly from 22 October – 5 January 2019.
Please note: Alexandra Burke will not appear between 15 – 24 October 2018 and Duncan James will not appear between 6 - 12 November 2018. Sarah Soetaert will play the role of Roxie Hart between 15 – 24 October 2018.
Caroline, Or Change extended until April 2019
the production of Caroline, or Change at The Playhouse Theatre has now extended public bookings until Saturday 6th April 2019.
Grief Is The Thing With Feathers opens at the Barbican
Wayward Productions, led by Judith Dimant, today announce their inaugural production of Enda Walsh’s adaptation of Max Porter’s award-winning novel Grief is the Thing with Feathers. Walsh also directs, reuniting him with Cillian Murphy, following the huge success of their past collaborations: Disco Pigs, Ballyturk and Misterman.
World Premiere of Matthew Bourne's ROMEO AND JULIET announced
New Adventures announced today the world premiere of Matthew Bourne’s ROMEO AND JULIET opening at Curve, Leicester on Monday 13 May 2019, as part of a UK tour to 13 venues including a four-week summer season at Sadler’s Wells from Wednesday 7 August to Saturday 31 August 2019.
Bat Out Of Hell West End season must end 5 January 2019
The West End season of the award-winning Bat Out Of Hell - The Musical must end at the Dominion Theatre on Saturday 5 January 2019. Meanwhile, the North American Tour opens in Toronto, Canada on 16 October 2018 and the German language premiere will open in Oberhasuen, Germany on 2 November 2018.
Only Fools and Horses musical starring Paul Whitehouse to premiere in the West End
A musical based on the classic British sitcom Only Fools and Horses is set to premiere in the West End, written by and starring Paul Whitehouse.
The Twilight Zone now on sale
The Almeida's theatre transfer of The Twilight Zone to the Ambassadors is now on sale on London Box Office.
Caroline, or Change extended at The Playhouse Theatre until Saturday 6th April 2019
The Ambassador Theatre Group just announced that the production of Caroline, or Change at The Playhouse Theatre has now extended public bookings until Saturday 6th April 2019. The new dates are now available on London Box Office.
Sheffield Theatres announce further programming to complete current season
As Robert Hastie’s new production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream opens at Sheffield Theatres, he announces further programming to complete the current season.
Joining the previously announced co-production with Out of Joint – Kate Bowen’s Close Quarters; the Christmas musical Kiss Me, Kate directed by Paul Foster; Caroline Steinbeis’ production of Rutherford and Son; debbie tucker green’s hang and the world première of Standing at the Sky’s Edge with book by Chris Bush and music and lyrics by the internationally acclaimed musician Richard Hawley;are the world première of a major new stage adaptation of Yann Martel’s Man Booker Prize winning Life of Pi by Lolita Chakrabarti,directed by Max Webster; and Third Angel’s The Department of Distractions – a co-production with Northern Stage, produced in association with Sheffield Theatres.
Dear Evan Hansen to open in London Autumn 2019
Producer Stacey Mindich announced today that the Tony award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen will open at the Noël Coward Theatre in Autumn 2019, reuniting the original Broadway creative team for this West End production.
Directed by Michael Greif and winner of six Tony awards including Best Musical as well as the 2018 Grammy award for Best Musical Theatre Album, Dear Evan Hansen features book by Tony award-winner Steven Levenson and a score by Tony, Grammy and Academy Award-winning composers Benj Pasek & Justin Paul.
Further information including on sale dates will be announced later this year.
Foxfinder to close early in the West End
Foxfinder, the Dawn King play currently running at the Ambassadors Theatre in London, will close early in the West End, playing its final performance later this month.
The play, which opened last month, was set to run until 5th January 2019. It will now close in the West End later this month, on 20th October.
Foxfinder received mixed reviews when it opened at the Ambassadors, despite the play receiving a positive response from critics when it premiered at the Finborough Theatre in 2011, and winning the Papatango Playwriting Prize.
Eugenius! the Musical set to transfer to the Ambassadors Theatre
Following numerous runs at The Other Palace, Eugenius! the Musical is set to transfer to the West End for a limited run over Christmas.
Produced by Warwick Davis, with a book, music and lyrics by Ben Adams and Chris Wilkins, the musical tells the story of Eugene, a teenage boy and avid comic book fan with dreams of getting a superhero he’s created on the silver screen.
Eugenius! the Musical will run at the Ambassadors Theatre from 27th October to 5th January.
Wayne Sleep to play Abanazar in Aladdin panto at Cambridge Arts Theatre
Wayne Sleep will lead the cast of its 2018 family pantomime, Aladdin, in the role of Abanazar from 29 November to 6 January 2019 at the Cambridge Arts Theatre.
Simon Callow's A Christmas Carol adapted to the screen
Following three critically-acclaimed, sold-out seasons on stage in London’s West End, Simon Callow (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Shakespeare in Love) brings Charles Dickens’ beloved classic A Christmas Carol to the big screen in December 2018. On Tuesday 11 December the stage-to-film adaptation, reimagined especially for cinema, will be released in 444 cinemas across the UK and Ireland by leading event cinema distributors CinemaLive.
Come From Away - Launch
Come From Away makes its European premiere at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, before opening at London's Phoenix Theatre on 30 January 2019. The launch will be celebrated at Canada House on Trafalgar Square on Wednesday 10 October. By invitation only.
The Twilight Zone - Transfer
The Almeida's The Twilight Zone is rumoured to transfer to the Ambassadors Theatre from March 2019.
Waitress - Press Night Change
The Press Night for Waitress has been changed from the 5th March 7.30pm to the 7th March at 7.30pm.
The 7.30pm performance on the 5th March has now been put on-sale at the Off Peak Preview pricing.
Please note, although the 6th March performances (matinee and Evening) are now classed as ‘Previews’, these will still be sold at the RUN prices.
Any individual bookings already made for the 7th March Press Night will be honoured and we hope to make some further seats available for sale in the next few days.
Nine Night - Studio 1 - extension
The National Theatre transfer of Nine Night will now play for an additional two weeks at Trafalgar Studios (11/02/2019 to 23/02/2019).
Schedule and pricing will remain exactly the same as the main run already set up.