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On the Wire

Latest news from the West End and beyond.

Last updated: Thursday, 28 March 2024 at 16:51

Monday, 17 August 2020
10:33

ROMEO AND JULIET @ Regent's Park Open Air Theatre 2021 dates are now on-sale.

Friday, 14 August 2020
13:36

New dates are now on sale for PRETTY WOMAN THE MUSICAL: Monday 8th of February, 2021 to Saturday 27th March, 2021

12:38

New Adventures announced today that the forthcoming 2020/2021 National tour and the 2020/2021 Christmas season at Sadler’s Wells of Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! has been postponed until 2021/2022.

10:40

TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is now booking for performances from Monday 7 June 2021 until Saturday 29th January 2022.

Tuesday, 11 August 2020
17:50

Nimax have advised they have now cancelled Nimax shows up to the following dates:

There will be a further announcement regarding the The Drifters Girl next week.

Monday, 10 August 2020
15:33

The Lyric Hammersmith have postponed all performances of the Aladdin pantomime for 2020.

All performances of Aladdin will now be taking place in the 2021 festive season.

Monday, 3 August 2020
14:18

MATILDA will be cancelled from 1st September through to 2nd November 2020.

Thursday, 23 July 2020
17:28

Mamma Mia is off sale until 3 January 2021. All performances from 7 September 2020 to 3 January 2021 are to be cancelled. Booking will remain open for performances from 4 January to 6 March 2021.

Tuesday, 21 July 2020
15:31

All performances up to and including 3 January 2021 of The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre are cancelled.

Thursday, 25 June 2020
11:22

Due the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic, performances of THE BOOK OF MORMON at the Prince of Wales Theatre are cancelled up to and including 5 September 2020.

Tuesday, 23 June 2020
09:37

ABBA: Super Troupers The Exhibition at The O2 will be closing effective immediately. Exhibition visits had already been suspended until 28th June 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the exhibition was due to end its run at The O2 on 31st August 2020.

The producers are investigating potential new opportunities for the exhibition to re-open in near future.

08:29

The 101 Dalmatians is back on sale (15th May-20th June 2021).

Prices remain the same as they were prior to the show being taken off sale in March.

Monday, 22 June 2020
10:34

The new booking period for THE PRINCE OF EGYPT is from Monday 2nd November 2020 to Saturday 4th September 2021.

The shows from Monday 3rd August to Saturday 31st October are suspended from sale.

09:31

Following a review of the latest government guidance, the producers of Mamma Mia! The Party have decided to cancel all performances to 6th September 2020.

Friday, 19 June 2020
12:41

SIX the Musical at the Arts Theatre has been extended to 5 September 2021.

11:46

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL is extending until 6th of February next year at the Piccadilly Theatre.

10:44

Performances of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT will now begin on Thursday 1 July 2021 and play a strictly limited 10-week season to Sunday 5 September 2021.

Jason Donovan and Jac Yarrow will star in the production when it returns next year.

Monday, 15 June 2020
09:59

In-line with the recent SOLT announcement THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will be cancelling all performances through to the 2nd of August.

Tuesday, 9 June 2020
09:59

WICKED has now been suspended to 31st October 2020.

Current status for all WICKED performances:

CANCELLED
16th March 2020 – 1st August 2020 (Exchange, or refund if requested)

SUSPENDED
3rd August 2020 – 31st October 2020 (Exchange only)

ON SALE
2nd November 2020 – 22nd May 2021

Wednesday, 3 June 2020
14:20

In line with the SOLT directive of Wednesday 3 June, all performances for THE PRINCE OF EGYPT are now confirmed as cancelled up to and including Saturday 1 August 2020. We are continuing to refund all bookings in chronological order.

13:35

Performances for TINA - The Tina Turner Musical have been cancelled until Saturday 29 August 2020 and we are going to start refunding all bookings in chronological order from Monday 29 June 2020.

Tina The Musical is booking until June 2021.

Tuesday, 3 March 2020
15:02

MARY POPPINS at the Prince Edward Theatre is now booking to Sunday 20 September 2020.

Monday, 2 March 2020
16:09

THE BOOK OF MORMON has been extended until 27 June 2020 and tickets are now on sale.

11:46

Directed by Mike Alfreds, Five Characters In Search Of A Good Night's Sleep will play at the Southwark Playhouse from the 29th April-23rd May 2020.

Devised by Alfreds, Sonja Linden and the company - including Geraldine Alexander, Andrew Hawkins, Sally Knyvette, Gary Lilburn and Vincenzo Nicoli- the narrative follows a group of insomniacs as they wade through a restless night.

11:38

Andrew Lloyd Webber's School Of Rock - The Musical is set to embark on a major UK Tour next year. A smash-hit on both the West End and Broadway, the production will open at the Birmingham Alexandra Theatre on the 13th of February 2021. 

11:33

From the 15th April 2020, Emma Reeve's critically acclaimed adaptation of Jaqueline Wilson's Hetty Feather is to be screened in cinemas across the UK. 

Directed by Sally Cookson, the production was filmed live at Nuffield Southhampton Theatres and produced by Broadway HD. Having enjoyed its premiere the Rose Theatre in Kingston before a sell-out West End transfer in 2014, Hetty Feather had another successful run at The Duke of York's the following year. 

The full cast includes Matt Costain (Jem/Matron Bottomly), Sarah Goddard (Peg/Ida), Mark Kane (Gideon), Isaac Stanmore (Saul), Phoebe Thomas (Hetty Feather) and Nikki Warwick (Madame Adeline).

Friday, 28 February 2020
11:24

This September, Bat Out Of Hell The Musical will begin its UK Tour in Manchester. Sharon Sexton and Rob Fowler will return as the characters of Sloane and Falco respectively, introducing new stars: Glenn Adamson (American Idiot) as Strat and Martha Kirby (Grease, Rags the Musical) as Raven.

They are joined by Jordan Frazier (Nina Simone) as Zahara, Jonathan Bishop (Hamilton) as Jagwire, Killian Thomas Lefevre (Stranger Things Secret Cinema) as Tink, Alex Lodge (The Book of Mormon) as Ledoux and Kellie Gnauck (Evita West End and UK & International tour) as Valkyrie. Also in the cast are Emily Beth Harrington as Kwaidan, Amy Matthews as Vilmos, Rebecca Lafferty as Scherrzo, Samuel Pope as Hoffmann, Andy Prosser as Markevitch, Jack Heasman as Denym, James Chisholm as O'Dessasuite, Andrew Carthy as Hollander, Rob Maguire as Astroganger and Billie Hardy as Goddesilla.

At certain performances the role of Strat will be played by Samuel Pope.

11:15

Following on from performances in 2020 in Bristol, Milton Keynes, Blackpool, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Birmingham, Dreamgirls will continue its UK Tour into 2021, travelling to Sunderland, Hull, Nottingham, Liverpool, Norwich, Canterbury and Leeds. 

Casting to be announced soon, along with further venues and dates.

11:09

Just as the hit musical Come From Away celebrates its first birthday on the West End, more tickets have been released, with the Pheonix Theatre now taking bookings until the 17th of October 2020. 

Wednesday, 26 February 2020
11:13

On the 25th of February 2020, the Alexandra Palace opened their new Creativity Pavilion to the public. Situated in the East Wing of the building, it will act as a home for the charity's Creative Learning Programme. 

The pavilion is a flexible space, designed to adapt to a range of activities including interactive workshops, music and theatrical performances, community-curated exhibitions and creative sessions for families and those with disabilities. 

Louise Stewart, Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust chief executive, said:

“We’re delighted to be opening the Creativity Pavilion. Having a dedicated and specially designed space for these activities means we will be much better placed to deliver a creative programme to inspire people. It’s going to be exciting to see how this space will support the charity to benefit more people in new ways.

The Creativity Pavilion also marks the latest phase in our restoration of the park and palace. To see how much this space has changed in the last few years is almost unbelievable, and we’d like to thank everyone who has worked with us to make this possible.”

10:44

Fragments by Potential Difference kicks off the Playground Theatre's early summer season. Here recieving its world premiere, the production will run from the 30th April-16th May 2020.

Next, is Jean-Paul Satre's The Respectable Prostitute. Directed by Lisa Forrell and due to run from the 21st May-6th June 2020, the event marks 75-years since its last staging.

Finally, comes Blue Electric. Written by Alba Arikha and Tom Smail, the production will play from the 8th-14th June 2020.

Tuesday, 25 February 2020
17:29

The Prince of Egypt has already extended its run at London's Dominion Theatre by seven weeks. On account of its 20 sold-out preview performances, 100,000 new tickets are now on sale, with booking until Saturday 31st October 2020 to limited engagement. 

Friday, 21 February 2020
20:05

Written and performed by 2019 Scotsman Fringe First Winner Daniel Bye and singer-songwriter Boff Whalley, These Hills Are Ours will premiere at the Shoreditch Town Hall, running from the 31st March-3rd April 2020 ahead of a UK Tour.

19:59

Following a successful run at last years Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Last Of The Pelican Daughters will be returning to the Royal & Derngate this spring as part of their Made In Northampton Season. A newly extended 90-minute version, the production will be playing from the 3rd-7th March 2020 ahead of a UK Tour.

19:45

Robert Harling's romantic comedy Steel Magnolias will be playing at the Rose Theatre from the 6th-23rd May 2020. 

Directed by Anthony Banks, the production will star Kara Tointon in the role of Shelby. 

Further casting to be announced. 

Wednesday, 19 February 2020
13:45

The newly restored Alexandra Palace will play host to a recently revived version of Tennessee Williams' Cat On A Hot Tin Roof from the 30th September-11th October 2020. The production will then go on to play at the Rose Theatre before a UK Tour.

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof will be directed by Anthony Almeida, with casting to be announced. 

13:38

Adapted by The Wardrobe Ensemble, Judith Kerr's Mog The Forgetful Cat will have its world premiere at Nuffield Southhampton Theatres from the 16th-25th July 2020. The production will then go on to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where it will play from the 5th-30th August.

Further dates and casting to be announced. 

13:30

Playing from the 19th March-18th April 2020, Harold Pinter's The Dumb Waiter celebrates its 60th anniversary at the Hampstead Theatre. 

Alice Hamilton directs Philip Jackson (Poirot) and Harry Lloyd (Game of Thrones), who will play the roles of Ben and Gus respectively. 

Tuesday, 18 February 2020
11:36

Written by Andy Walker, Delivery will be playing at the Chiswick Playhouse from the 12th March-4th April 2020. Inspired by the life of paratrooper Stuart Cardy (who served at the time of The Falklands War), this is the tale of one man's journey to the brink.

Lesley Manning directs Lizzie Aaryn-Stanton (Angela), Emilio Iannucci (Fruitfly/Sheep/Argentinian Soldier), Gordon Peaston (Sergeant Major/Padre/Slug) and Alex Walton (Joe).

11:31

Mark Hawes will be succeeding Sian Alexander as the Chair of Frantic Assembly on the 1st of March. To the Board, he brings his experience in charity governance, years of legal expertise and a passion for diversity and inclusion.

11:29

Grammy Award-winner Sara Bareilles and Olivier and Tony Award-winner Gavin Creel have extended their West End run as Jenna and Dr Pomatter in Waitress, with the pair now playing for an additional two weeks through to the 21st March 2020.

Saturday, 15 February 2020
14:10

Harvey Virdi has been cast in the title role of Beverley in Mike Leigh's satire Abigail's Party. The production will play at the Watford Palace Theatre from the 29th April-23rd May 2020, with further casting to be announced soon.

14:04

Carrie Hope Fletcher will be playing the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's highly-anticipated adaptation of Cinderella, which is due to run at the Gillian Lynne Theatre from the 28th August-12th December 2020.

13:59

After securing smash-hit status both on Broadway and in London's West End, Waitress will be touring the UK and Ireland for the first time. 

The production will open at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on the 14th of November 2020 and is currently set to tour until the 3rd April 2021.

Further dates and casting to be announced soon.

Friday, 14 February 2020
11:29

Ahead of the 2020 Olivier Awards, five individuals have been recognised for their outstanding contribution to the industry. Each of the following will recieve a Special Recognition Award: Jo Hawes CDG, Thelma Holt, Stephen Jameson, Sarah Preece and Peter Roberts. 

11:20

Running from the 19th March-30th May 2020, Lucy Prebble's The Effect will see its first London revival at The Boulevard Theatre. Directed by Anthony Neilson, the cast includes: Eric Kofi Abrefa in the role of Tristan Frey, Christine Entwisle as Lorna James, Tim McMullan as Toby Sealey and Kate O’Flynn as Connie Hall.

11:14

After having opened at the Richmond Theatre on the 14th of January 2020, new adaptation of the classic thriller Dial M For Murder is set to embark on a tour of the UK.

From the 14th of April, Samantha Womack will be taking over the role of Margot from Sally Bretton during the play's run in Milton Keynes, from which point she will tour with the company until the 27th of June.

Thursday, 13 February 2020
11:51

Ade Apetian MBE - gold-medal winning wheelchair basketball player and BBC Presenter - is to be a patron for Blue Sky Actors. Resident creatives at The Stratford Circus Arts Centre for adults with learning disabilities, the company has been creating work professionally since 2011. Apetian will also be joined by footballer Vince Hilaire, one of the first black players to be established in the sport in England.

11:41

Will Eno's award-winning Broadway hit The Realistic Joneses is due to have its UK premiere at the Theatre Royal Bath's Ustinov Studio. Playing until the 7th of March 2020, the full cast includes Corey Johnson as Bob, Sharon Small as Jennifer, Jack Laskey as John and Clare Foster as Pony, with direction by Simon Evans.

11:35

Award-winning songwriter Ross Golan will be performing his acclaimed concept album The Wrong Man at The Other Palace on Thursday the 20th of February 2020, at 8pm. It will be the first time the work has been performed in the UK, and will play for one night only.

Tuesday, 11 February 2020
16:39

For one night only, Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden will play in concert form at The London Palladium.

With book and lyrics by Marsha Norman and music by Lucy Simon, the full company includes: Lucie Jones, Ramin Karimloo, and Jac Yarrow are Sarah Bakker (Rose), Bianca Baykara (Alice), Adam J Bernard (Ben Weatherstaff), Lucy Drever (Narrator), Louise Ellard-Turnbull (Mrs Winthrop), Ben Forster (Neville Craven), Sejal Keshwala (Ayah), Melanie La Barrie (Mrs Medlock), Johndeep More (Fakir), Michael Riseley (Captain Albert Lennox), Celinde Schoenmaker (Lily), and sharing the roles of Colin Craven are Finley Glasgow and Isaac Lancel Watkinson, and of Mary are Aoife Hughes and Darcy Jacobs, with Trinity Laban Musical Theatre forming the ensemble.

The Secret Garden will play on the 4th of April 2020, with performances at 3pm and 7:30pm.

16:33

In the most hotly-contested category of the year, the Critics’ Circle awarded the 2020 Best Actress Award to both Juliet Stevenson for The Doctor and Sharon D Clarke for her role in Death Of A Salesman

16:28

Those returning to the West End transfer of Robert Icke's The Doctor alongside the previously announced Juliet Stevenson are: Mariah Louca, Daniel Rabin, Joy Richardson, Naomi Wirthner and Hannah Ledwidge on drums. New cast members include: Chris Colquhoun, Shelley Conn, Anni Domingo, Liv Hill, Jamie Parker and Millicent Wong. 

The Doctor will run at the Duke of York's Theatre from the 18th April-18th July 2020.

Sunday, 9 February 2020
16:10

The one-woman show Everywoman will feature at the Bunker Theatre as part of its closing season. Written anonymously, the peice stars Jade Williams with direction by Amelia Sears.

The production will run from the 18th-22nd February 2020, with a host of creatives having been commissioned for a post-show series, Everywoman: Confessions, dedicated to themes of parenthood and identity.

These include: Robyn Addison and Jenny Worton performed by Addison on 17 February, Tinuke Craig on 18 February, Anna Jordan on 19 February, Hannah Khalil performed by Rendah Haywood on 20 February, Eve Leigh performed by Nadia Clifford on 21 February and Leo J Skilbeck performed by Griffyn Gilligan on 22 February.

15:59

After just completing a sold-out run at London's Park Theatre, the company of Rags The Musical will be releasing a cast recording. It will be the first since Sony's 1991 Broadway album.

This new album will be released by Ghostlight/Sh-K-Boom Records with Stephen Schwartz as Executive Producer, Nick Barstow as Music Producer and Orchestrator and Joe Bunker as Musical Director. It will also be recorded, mixed & mastered by Joe & Nikki Davison at Auburn Jam Music.

Schwartz said of the recording: “I could not be more pleased that this beautifully sung production of Rags is being recorded by this group of terrific actors and musicians. I and my fellow authors consider ourselves lucky indeed!"

15:18

Willy Russell's Educating Rita celebrates its 40th Anniversary this year. After a highly-acclaimed tour in 2019, Max Roberts' stage production is set to journey across the UK once again.

Educating Rita will star Stephen Tompkinson as Frank, and Jessica Johnson as Rita. The play has already begun touring, having just completed its run at the Oxford Playhouse. It will be on the road until the 23rd of May 2020.

Saturday, 8 February 2020
12:00

On the 12th of May 2020, there will be a special sing-a-long performance of the acclaimed & Juliet at London's Shaftesbury Theatre.

Complete with screens displaying the lyrics to every song, this is the perfect opportunity for fans of the show to fully immerse themsleves in the production.

11:44

Holly Gladwell has now been appointed as the Executive Producer for Paines Plough, newly led by Joint Artistic Directors Charlotte Bennett and Katie Posner.

Holly Gladwell said: “I am both thrilled and humbled to be joining Charlotte and Katie at Paines Plough at the start of their first season packed full of new stories and exciting voices. I am passionate about new writing and hugely inspired by their collaborative vision that champions and empowers writers to create truthful plays. I bring with me a commitment to contributing to this vision to build a truly inclusive theatre that celebrates unheard voices and invites audiences from every corner to experience the best in new British theatre.”

11:36

Zubin Varla and Robert Tripolino will complete the cast of Zorro in Concert at the Cadogan Hall on the 23rd of February 2020. They join previously announced company members: Ricardo Afonso (Jesus Christ Superstar, We Will Rock You) in the titular role and Diego, Olivier Award-winning actress Lesli Margherita (Matilda on Broadway, Dames At Sea on Broadway, Zorro original West End cast) reprising the role of Inez, and four-time Olivier-nominated actress Emma Williams (Half A Sixpence, Mrs Henderson Presents, Zorro original West End cast) who will also reprise her role as Luisa.

Friday, 7 February 2020
18:17

Performance dates from 7th July to 4th October 2020 of THE LION KING at the Lyceum Theatre is now on sale.

Thursday, 6 February 2020
10:44

Today, Jamie Lloyd announces the full casting for Anya Reiss' adaptation of Chekhov's The Seagull. Joining the previously announced Emilia Clarke (Nina) are Danny Ashok (Medvedenko),Robert Glenister (Sorin), Tom Rhys Harries (Trigorin), Daniel Monks (Konstantin), Tamzin Outhwaite (Polina), Patrick Robinson (Dorn), Seun Shote (Shamrayev), Indira Varma (Arkadina), and Sophie Wu (Masha).

The production opens at The Playhouse Theatre on the 19th March and runs until the 30th of May 2020.

10:38

Jamal Gerald's new play Idol will run at The Yard Theatre next week (from 11th-15th February 2020), before embarking on a tour of the UK. 

Idol will travel to the Derby Theatre on the 28th of February, then to the MAC Birmingham (13th-15th March), the Royal Exchange Theatre (19th-21st March), Sheffield Theatres (8-9th March), Cambridge Junction (7th May), Brighton Festival (11th May), before concluding at the Leeds Playhouse (22nd-23rd May).

10:18

Following a highly successful premiere tour in 2017, musical comedy The Addams Family is set to embark on a new UK & Ireland Tour. The production opens at the Newcastle Theatre Royal on the 30th of July 2020 and will conclude on the 14th of November at New Theatre, Oxford.

Samantha Womack and Cameron Blakely will be reviving their roles as Morticia and Gomez Addams, with further casting to be announced.

Wednesday, 5 February 2020
16:16

March 2020 sees the return of Million Dollar Quartet, the Tony-award winning, smash hit musical, for a UK and Ireland tour.

Full casting is as follows: Robbie Durham (Johnny Cash), Ross William Wild (Elvis Presley), Matthew Wycliffe (Carl Perkins) and Katie Ray (Dyanne), with the role of Jerry Lee Lewis shared across the tour by Ashley Carruthers, Martin Kaye and Matthew Wycliffe. All return to the stage in their much celebrated roles, as will actor-musician Peter Duncan.

16:08

Iris Theatre's 2020 Summer Season Escape To The Forest will include: A Midsummer Night's Dream (17th June-18th July) and Tessa Burns' adaptation of Robin Hood (23rd July-30th August), along with two arts initiatives: Platform (which will be showcasing the talent of Dylan Wynford on the 14th of March) and Start, a development scheme centred around direction and design.

15:58

After securing sell-out, smash hit status at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Joseph Nixon and Ian Shaw's The Shark Is Broken will be playing at The Ambassadors Theatre for a strictly limited run from 11th May-18th June 2020.

Tickets on sale from Friday 7th February 2020.

Tuesday, 4 February 2020
14:59

Cordelia O'Neill's Anything Is Possible If You Think About It Hard Enough will enjoy its world premiere at the Southwark Playhouse from the 1st-25th April 2020.

Kate Budgen directs Gemma Lawrence (Alex) and Huw Parmenter (Rupert).

14:54

Due to popular demand, Mamma Mia! The Party - the new immersive theatrical and dining experience at The O2 London - will be extending its booking period to Sunday 28th March 2021. 

New tickets will go on sale from 9.00am on Friday 7 February 2020.

Monday, 3 February 2020
14:35

Following a world-premiere in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Museum In Baghdad will be running at London's Kiln Theatre from 22nd April-3rd May 2020.

Full cast as follows: David Birrell (Professor Leonard Woolley), Houda Echouafni (Layla Hassan), Emma Fielding (Gertrude Bell), Ali Gadema (Kidnapper, Prime Minister), Rendah Heywood (Ghalia Hussein), Zed Josef (Salim), Nadi Kemp-Sayfi (Nasiya), Debbie Korley (Sam York), Riad Richie (Mohammed Abdullah), and Rasoul Saghir (Abu Zaman).

14:30

Running at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester from the 14th March-18th April 2020, Zorro The Musical sees the adventures of this legendary hero reimagined through the lens of immersive performance.

Full cast includes: Antony Costa as Garcia, Alex Gibson-Giorgio as Ramon, Emma Kingston as Luisa, Genevieve Nicole as Inez, Kit Orton as Don Alejandro and Benjamin Purkiss as the masked hero, Zorro. The cast is completed by Ajjaz Awad, Amy Bastani, Isobel Bates, Ben Boskovic, Maxwell Griffin, Matthew Heywood, Jessica Pardoe, Thomas Ping, Seren Sandham-Davies and Stylianos Thomadakis.

14:18

A new programming iniative by The Kings Head Theatre, Opera Undone: Tosca & La Boheme, opens at the Trafalgar Studios 2 this week, running from the 5th of February-11th March 2020. 

Friday, 31 January 2020
15:23

Best known for playing the roles of Glinda and Elphaba (the only actor to have starred as both) in Wicked on London's West End, Louise Dearman is due to perform her biggest solo concert yet. The date is set for the 31st of May at Cadogan Hall, with tickets on sale now. 

15:17

The Hampstead Theatre will mark its 60th anniversary with their 2020 Spring/Summer Programme, Hampstead Classics. This comprises of four plays: Harold Pinter's The Dumb Waiter, Tennesse Williams' The Two Character Play, Alfred Fagon's The Death Of A Black Man, and Marsha Norman's 'Night, Mother.

14:55

The hosts of the next Waitress Cast Album Karaoke Night on the 24th of February will be Sara Bareilles and Gavin Creel. 

Audience members can sign up before the show for the chance to sing one minute of any song from Waitress live on stage at the Adelphi, accompanied by the show’s musical director Katharine Woolley.

Thursday, 30 January 2020
15:59

Today, Theatre Royal Bath announce the appointment of internationally acclaimed, multi award-winning theatre and opera director Deborah Warner as the new Artistic Director of their Ustinov Studio. 

Warner said: “I am delighted to be joining the team in Bath and very excited to be working on a small and intimate scale once more. The Ustinov Studio has become a major force in British theatre and I look forward to the opportunity to present challenging and questioning theatre in all its many forms as we enter this new decade.”

Her inaugural season will begin in Autumn 2020, with full details and programming to be announced.

15:53

Young performers Leo Babet, Jonah Collier, Taylor Jenkins, Mia Lakha, Iman Pabani and Hannah Selk are due to join the 42-strong cast of The Prince of Egypt, which is set to open at London's Dominion Theatre on the 5th of February 2020. 

15:48

The 2020 UK Tour of Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em begins at Churchill Theatre, Bromley on Wednesday 26 February 2020, before playing at Theatre Royal Windsor (24 – 28 March), The Beck Theatre Hayes (31 March – 4 April), Stoke Regent Theatre (14 – 18 April), Aylesbury Waterside Theatre (28 April – 2 May), The Gordon Craig Theatre Stevenage (5 – 9 May), Swansea Grand Theatre (9 – 13 June), Leeds Grand Theatre (23 – 27 June) and Kings Theatre Portsmouth (30 June – 4 July).

Full cast includes: Moray Treadwell, David Shaw-Parker, Ben Watson, Joe Pasquale, Sarah Earnshaw, Susie Blake, Peter F Gardiner and Jayne Ashley. 

Tuesday, 28 January 2020
15:27

This year sees the return of Peter Andre to the cast of Grease. As well as reprising his role as Teen Angel - a part for which he garnered critical acclaim in 2019 - he will also be taking on the parts of Vince Fontaine and The Sergeant. The production will tour across the UK from the 22nd May-28th November 2020, with further venues to be announced. 

15:16

Brian Cox is set to direct the UK premiere of Joshua Sobol's Sinners - The English Professor. Running from the 25th February-14th March 2020 at The Playground Theatre, the piece will star Nicole Ansari (as Layla) and Adam Sina (Nur).

15:03

Following its sold-out debut at the Shoreditch Town Hall in 2018, Tim Cowbury's The Claim returns, running from the 18th February-7th March 2020. 

Full cast is as follows: Nick Blakeley (as A), Tonderai Munyevu (Serge) and Indra Ové (B), with direction by Mark Maughan. 

Saturday, 25 January 2020
13:47

On the 5th of April, Jason Manford will be hosting the 2020 Olivier Awards at London's Royal Albert Hall. Public tickets are now on sale for Mastercard cardholders via Priceless.com.

Further announcements to be made soon. 

13:39

Comedy icon Paul Merton (best known for the popular TV programme Have I Got News For You), is set to join the cast of Hairspray, which begins its run at the London Coliseum on the 23rd April 2020, where it will run for 18 weeks. This appearance will mark his West End debut.

Cast includes: Michael Ball (who will returning to his Olivier Award-winning role as Edna Turnblad), Lizzie Bea (Kinky Boots), Marisha Wallace (Dreamgirls, Waitress), Rita Simons (Eastenders) and Jonny Amies (Sex Education).

Friday, 24 January 2020
21:16

THE COMEDY ABOUT A BANK ROBBERY will be closing early on Sunday 3rd May 2020.

16:13

On Sunday 14 June 2020 at London’s Eventim Apollo, there will be two more concerts of The Best of Rock Musicals for the benefit of the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

It's cast will feature New York’s Adam Pascal (Rent); Europe’s Kristina Love (Tina), Sabrina Weckerlin (Wicked), Elvie Ellis (The Little Shop of Horrors), Christian Lund (Phantom of the Opera) and David Michael Johnson (Jesus Christ Superstar); and London’s Kerry Ellis (Wicked), Ricardo Afonso (Jesus Christ Superstar), Patrick Smyth (Strictly Come Dancing) and Debbie Kurup (The Prince of Egypt) together with a host of Broadway and West End talent. This includes the West End Chorus, as well as the City of London Philharmonic AllStars.

16:04

The full cast has now been announced for Jonathan Maitland's The Last Temptation of Boris Johnson, which is set to embark on a national tour from 22nd January-14th March 2020.

Cast list as follows: Will Barton returns to lead the cast as Boris Johnson, with Bill Champion as Michael Gove / Winston Churchill, Emma Davies as Margaret Thatcher / Sarah Vine / Chief Whip, Claire Lichie as Marina Wheeler / Boris’s Girlfriend, along with Tim Wallers, who returns to the roles of Evgeny Lebedev / Tony Blair / Huw Edwards.

15:55

Due to an injury suffered by one of its cast, the opening of Ida Rubenstein: The Final Act at the Playground Theatre has now been rescheduled for Autumn, 2020. 

Thursday, 23 January 2020
14:13

Direct from its run on the West End in 2018, James Graham's hit comedy Quiz is set to embark on a 20-week tour of the UK and Ireland from August 2020.

Tour venues and dates to be announced. 

14:06

Rose Theatre Kingston today announce the opening of The Creature [Frankenstein Retold]a new production based on the classic by Mary Shelley. Adapted for the stage by Ciaran McConville and directed by Lucy Morrell, the production wil run from the 27th-29th February. 

Cast includes: Billy Brown (Henri/Landlord), Eleanor Clark (The Creator), Katherine Liley (Flic/Safi), Louis Mertens (Mr Kirwin/Elias/Aleksei), Joshua King Milne (Professor Waldman/Fira/ Moritz), Frankie Oldham (Mr Kremp/Vadim), Anna Pryce (The Creature), Francis Redfern (Ralf Wile) and Daisy Tucker (Elizabeth) - all Rose Youth Theatre alumni. 

13:58

Today, it is announced that Samuel Bailey's Shook will transfer to London's West End. Following a record-breaking run at the Southwark Playhouse and a national tour in 2019, the production will play at the Trafalgar Studios from 14th April-9th May. 

Wednesday, 22 January 2020
14:50

Sam Crane (Farinelli And The King, 1984) will star as Sergio Blanco in the UK première of The Rage of Narcissus, directed by Daniel Goldman. The production opens at Pleasance Theatre on the 21st of February 2020, where it will run until the 8th of March.

14:37

Following a sold-out run at the Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival, New Voices Theatre will be perfroming Cirque: Voila for one night only at Jackson's Lane, on the 15th of February 2020 at 7:30pm. 

14:30

Following sell-out performances at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and The Bush Theatre, Richard Gadd's Baby Reindeer will transfer to the Ambassadors Theatre for a strictly limited season from April 2nd-May 2nd 2020 before heading to BAM, in New York.

Tuesday, 21 January 2020
14:55

Adapted for the stage by Joseph O'Connor, Theatre Royal Bath's production of Daphne du Maurier's My Cousin Rachel is to continue its tour of the UK.

Currently playing at the Sheffield Lyceum until the 5th of January, the play will run at the Chichester Festival Theatre from the 28th of January-1st of February, before opening at London's Richmond Theatre on the 4th of February 2020. 

Saturday, 18 January 2020
10:22

From the 6-8th March 2020, London's Southbank Centre will play host to the WOW (Women Of The World) Festival.

This year marks WOW's 10th anniversary, with the line-up including a range of Day Pass and ticketed events featuring some of the world’s most exciting performers, activists and voices. 

10:14

From the makers of Thor and Loki and We Can Make You Happy, comes a brand-new musical about anxiety. Everything is Absolutley Fine will play at the Camden People's Theatre from the 7th-11th of April, before embarking on a UK Tour until the 18th.

Tour Venues as follows: Cast, Doncaster (14th April), EM Forster Theatre, Tonbridge (16th April), Theatre Clwyd, Mold (17th-18th April). 

10:02

This summer, the world premiere of The Garden Of Words, a new theatrical adaptation based on the anime from Makoto Shinkai/ CoMix Wave Films, comes to London's Park Theatre. 

The production will run from the 16th of July-15th August 2020. 

Friday, 17 January 2020
13:49

Nick Afoa is set to join the touring production of The Lion King as the character of Simba from the 30th of April. Afoa is currently starring in London’s West End production, where he has performed as Simba for three years.

10:04

God of Carnage - Yasmina Reza's award-winning examination of middle-class parenting - celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Now playing at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre until 18 January 2020, the production will continue on to Theatre Royal Bath (20 – 25 January), then to Theatre Royal Glasgow (27 January – 1 February), Cambridge Arts Theatre (3 – 8 February) and Rose Theatre Kingston (10 – 15 February).

09:54

Comedian, actor and singer Jason Manford has been announced as the host of the Olivier Awards 2020 with Mastercard. It will be Manford's third time hosting this most prestigious of ceremonies, celebrating the best of London’s world-leading theatre.

The event will take place at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 5 April.

Thursday, 16 January 2020
10:32

Due to personal reasons, Stephanie J. Block has had to cancel her performance at London's Cadogan Hall on the 12th of April 2020. 

Of the upheaval, Block says:

"The last few days have been a whirlwind of unexpected events and, sadly, I must reschedule my Sunday, April 12th 2020 concerts. HOWEVER, within those last 48 hours, the producers, Cadogan Hall and I have worked hard to secure another date this season. So hold onto those tickets because I’m comin’ for you this summer! Everyone who has purchased seats will be automatically transferred to the corresponding matinee or evening performance for August 30th, 2020."

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