NEWS UPDATE – 30th September 2024

• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – celebrates the 75th anniversary of the publication of C.S. Lewis’ novel with a new tour which will visit Mayflower Theatre Southampton from 18^th to 22^nd November 2025. Award-winning Southampton born Katy Stephens who is an Associate Artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company will play The White Witch. Playing the Pevensie Children are: Joanna Adaran as Susan, Jesse Dunbar as Peter, Kudzai Mangombe as Lucy and Bunmi Osadolor as Edmund. The cast is completed by: Archie Combe (Mr Pope and Foxtrot), Andrew Davison (Mr Wilson Schroedinger, Jack Rabbit, Aslan Puppeteer and Head Cruel), Anya de Villiers (Mrs Beaver), Molly Francis (Mrs Pevensie, Aslan Puppeteer and Robin) Ruby Greenwood (Onstage Swing) Ffion Haf (Miss Gumley-Warmley and Phoenix), Rhiannon Hopkins (Miss Chutney and Blue Badger), Joe Keenan (Mr Granville, Spirit of the Moon and Red Squirrel), Oliver Magor (Onstage Swing), JB Maya (Onstage Swing), Luca Moscardini (Onstage Swing), Alfie Richards (Mr Tumnus, White Mouse and Badger), Kraig Thornber (The Professor, Father Xmas and Wise Owl), Ed Thorpe (Mr Beaver), Rhodri Watkins (Mr Brinkworth, March Hare and Aslan Puppeteer), Shane Anthony Whiteley (Maugrim, Satyr and White Stag) and Stanton Wright as Aslan. C.S. Lewis’ book first published in October 1950 has sold over 85 million copies in 60 languages becoming one of the top ten best-selling books of all time. The stage adaptation of Lewis’ iconic book enjoyed a hugely successful, critically-acclaimed London run in 2022/3 following its visit to Mayflower Theatre in 2021. The show is directed by Michael Fentiman based on the original production by Sally Cookson. The Set and Costume Designer is Tom Paris, Composers are Barnaby Race and Benji Bower, the Choreographer is  Shannelle ‘Tali’ Fergus, the Lighting Designer is Jack Knowles, the Sound Designer is Tom Marshall, the Original Puppetry Director is Toby Olié, the Original Puppetry Designer is Max Humphries, the Aerial Director is Gwen Hales, the Fight Director is Jonathan Holby, the Illusionist is Chris Fisher, the Musical Director is Ben Goddard, the Hair and Make-Up Designer is Susanna Peretz. The Associate Director is Pip Minnithorpe, the Associate Lighting Designer is Emily Irish, the Associate Director and Associate Puppetry Director is Oliver Grant, Associate Magic and Illusions is by Spooky Nyman, the Associate Fight Director is Owain Gwynn, the Associate Movement Director is Jasmin Colangelo, the Production Manager is Phoebe Bath. The production will open at Leeds Playhouse (18 November 2024 to 25 January 2025) and as well as visiting Mayflower Theatre Southampton it will play Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London and Leicester Curve, Cardiff Millennium Centre, Liverpool Empire, Theatre Royal Newcastle, Theatre Royal Brighton, New Victoria Theatre Woking, Princess Theatre Torquay, Wycombe Swan Theatre, Cliffs Pavilion Southend-on-Sea, Grand Opera House York, Grand Opera House Belfast, Bord Gais Energy Theatre Dublin, Festival Theatre Edinburgh, Alexandra Theatre Birmingham, Regent Theatre Stoke-on-Trent, King’s Theatre Glasgow, His Majesty’s Theatre Aberdeen, Eden Court Highlands Inverness, Norwich Theatre Royal, Marlowe Theatre Canterbury, Milton Keynes Theatre, Winter Gardens Blackpool, Venue Cymru Llandudno, Congress Theatre Eastbourne, Bristol Hippodrome, Alhambra Theatre Bradford, Hull New Theatre, Waterside Theatre Aylesbury, Grand Theatre Wolverhampton, Nottingham Theatre Royal, Sunderland Empire, Plymouth Theatre Royal and The Lowry Salford.
• Figaro: An Original Musical – will have its world premiere at the London Palladium in two fully-staged concert performances on 3 and 4 February 2025. The musical, conceived by Ashley Jana and Will Nunziata, features music and lyrics by Jana and direction by Nunziata. It tells the story of Sienna, a young woman longing for a life beyond her father’s farm. When she meets the charismatic Figaro, her path takes an unexpected turn, leading her into the world of performance and fame, with life-changing consequences. Aimie Atkinson (Six, Pretty Woman and Death Note in Concert), will play the role of Lucia. Cayleigh Capaldi, who led the cast recording of Figaro and currently stars in Titanique Off-Broadway, will make her West End debut as Sienna. Sophia Goodman, seen in Matilda The Musical and Les Misérables, will take on the role of Amelia. Maggie Solimine will also make her West End debut as part of the ensemble. The creative team includes musical director Caitlin Morgan, costume designer Sophia Pardon, set designer Justin Williams, and lighting designer Alex Musgrave. Further casting will follow.
• 2024 Debut Awards – recognising emerging talent in UK theatre were revealed at a ceremony hosted by Divina De Campo. The list of 2024 Winners are: Best Performer in a Play – Louis McCartney for Stranger Things: The First Shadow at Phoenix Theatre, London – Best Performer in a Musical – Jeevan Braich for Starlight Express at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London and Grace Hodgett Young for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre, London – Best Director – Sophie Drake for The Bleeding Tree at the Southwark Playhouse Borough, London – Best Designer – Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom (video) for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre, London – Best Writer – Sam Grabiner for Boys on the Verge of Tears at Soho Theatre, London and Azuka Oforka for The Women of Llanrumney at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff – Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer – Jack Godfrey for 42 Balloons at the Lowry, Manchester – Best West End Debut Performer – Jack Wolfe for Next to Normal at Wyndham’s Theatre, London – Best Creative West End Debut – Daniel Bailey (director) for Red Pitch at @sohoplace, London.
• Dame Maggie Smith – the lights will be dimmed across West End theatres for two minutes at 7pm on Tuesday 1 October. Smith was nominated for an Olivier Award six times, winning the 2010 Special Award for her contributions to all things London stage.
• 2024 UK Theatre Awards – the nominationshave been announced, recognising theatre excellence across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This year’s awards ceremony will be held on Sunday 20 October hosted by Faye Tozer.
• Best Design
  • Emma Bailey for Sunset Song
  • Kenneth MacLeod for Dracula: Mina’s Reckoning
  • Michael Taylor for Bhangra Nation
• Best Director
  • Drew McOnie for The Artist
  • Conrad Nelson for One Man, Two Guvnors
  • Emma Rice for The Buddha Of Suburbia
  • Roxana Silbert for The Girls Of Slender Means
• Best Musical Production
  • The Big Life at Stratford East
  • Oliver! at Leeds Playhouse
  • Starter For Ten at Bristol Old Vic
• Best New Play
  • A Child Of Science at Bristol Old Vic
  • Peanut Butter and Blueberries at Kiln Theatre
  • Swim, Aunty, Swim! at Belgrade Theatre
• Best Play Revival
  • The Deep Blue Sea at Ustinov Studio at Theatre Royal Bath
  • Rhino at Lyric Theatre Belfast
  • A Taste Of Honey at Royal Exchange Theatre
• Achievement in Dance
  • London City Ballet for the company relaunch
  • Mehek by Aakash Odedra Company and Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company
  • Minotaur, Metamorphoses and Echo and Narcissus by Kim Brandstrup
• Achievement in Opera
  • Thomas Allen for his career with Glyndebourne
  • Buxton International Festival 2024 at Buxton Opera House and Pavilion Arts Centre
  • Death In Venice by Welsh National Opera in collaboration with NoFit State
• Best Supporting Performance (in a Musical or Play)
  • Chumisa Dornford-May for Evita
  • Tania Mathurin for Barnum
  • Andrew Schofield for Boys From The Blackstuff
• Best Performance in a Musical
  • Matt Doyle for Sinatra The Musical
  • Jenny Fitzpatrick for Oliver!
  • John Hopkins for My Fair Lady
• Best Performance in a Play
  • Heather Agyepong and Tosin Cole for Shifters
  • Ian McDiarmid for The Caretaker
  • David Shields for Punch
  • Keith Singleton for The Pillowman
• Best Show for Children and Young People
  • Beauty And The Beast at Stephen Joseph Theatre
  • Flip! at Soho Upstairs at Soho Theatre
  • Starchitects Save Santa! at Midlands Arts Centre
• Excellence in Arts Education
  • Lyric Hammersmith
  • Mayflower Theatre and MAST Mayflower Studios
  • Royal Shakespeare Company
• Excellence in Touring
  • ETT
  • Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru
  • Wise Children
• Excellence in Inclusivity
  • Antony and Cleopatra at Shakespeare’s Globe
  • Bristol Old Vic
  • Punch at Nottingham Playhouse
• Excellence in Sustainability
  • Chichester Festival Theatre
  • Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre
  • Nottingham Playhouse
• Workforce Award
  • Buxton Opera House
  • Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse
  • Nottingham Playhouse
• UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre
  • Hall for Cornwall
  • Octagon Theatre Bolton
  • Polka Theatre
  Leading the nominations is Nottingham Playhouse with four nods, including Best Performance in a Play, Excellence in Inclusivity, Excellence in Sustainability, and the Workforce Award.
• Hamlet Hail To The Thief – Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, alongside celebrated directors Steven Hoggett and Christine Jones, will oversee a new adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet infused with Radiohead’s hit 2003 album Hail to the Thief. Set to be a blend of theatre, music and movement, the piece is titled and will see a deconstructed version of the Radiohead album, reworked by Yorke, performed live alongside 20 musicians and actors. Tunes on the 2003 album include “There There”, “2+2=5” and “Go to Sleep”. It will see Elsinore transformed into a surveillance state, where two individuals, Hamlet and Ophelia, have their eyes open to a world of lies and corruption. Hoggett and Jones previously collaborated on shows like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, American Idiot and Let The Right One In. The show will play first at Factory International in Manchester from 27 April to 18 May 2025, before transferring to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, where it runs from 4 to 28 June 2025. The production also features arrangements by Justin Levine, set design by AMP Collective featuring Sadra Tehrani, sound design by Gareth Fry, music supervision by Tom Brady, video design by Will Duke, light design by Jessica Hung Han Yun, costume design by Lisa Duncan, text consultancy and dramaturgy from Ayanna Thompson and casting by Charlotte Sutton for the RSC.

NEWS UPDATE – 23rd September 2024

• Come Fall in Love – the musical adaptation of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, one of the biggest blockbuster films in the history of Indian cinema will be helmed by Aditya Chopra, the original director of the Hindi-language film (also commonly known as DDLJ), the stage version will be set in the UK. It follows Simran, a young British Indian woman who finds herself engaged to a family friend in India as an arranged marriage. However, the plot thickens when she falls in love with a British man named Roger. The production will feature an original score, complete with 18 songs. Music is by Vishal Dadlani and Sheykhar Ravjiani and the book and lyrics are by Nell Benjamin (Mean Girls, Legally Blonde). An American version was previously staged in San Diego in 2022. The creative team also includes choreographer Rob Ashford (Disney’s Frozen), associate choreographer for Indian dances Shruti Merchant (Taj Express), scenic designer Derek McLane (Moulin Rouge! The Musical) and casting director David Grindrod for Grindrod Burton Casting. The show is produced by Chopra’s Yash Raj Films. The musical will open at Manchester’s Opera House on 29 May 2025, where it will play through 21 June 2025.
• Only Fools And Horses – the musical version of the long-running tv show, seen until last year in the West End, has announced a Hollywood star will join its cast alongside star Paul Whitehouse at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith for Christmas, beginning its run on 17 December 2024, as part of a major tour. Joining him as Danny Driscoll will be ex-footballer and big screen villain, Vinnie Jones. Directed by Caroline Jay Ranger, Only Fools and Horses has musical supervision and arrangement by Stuart Morley. The show ran for four years at Theatre Royal Haymarket – with over 1000 performances, making it the longest-running production in the venue’s history. Alongside the pair are Sam Lupton (Del Boy), Tom Major (Rodney), Georgina Hagen (Raquel), Craig Berry (Boycie), Nicola Munns (Marlene / Cassandra), Lee VG (Trigger), Bradley John (Denzil), Darryl Paul (Tony Driscoll / Mike the Barman), Peter Watts (Mickey Pearce), Richard J Hunt (Dating Agent), Gloria Acquaah-Harrison (Mrs Obooko), Philip Childs (Alternate Grandad / Phil), Andrew Bryant (Jumbo Mills), Amanda Coutts (Tina), Christopher Arkeston (Monkey Harris), Rhys Owen (Em), Kieran Andrew (Skinner), Katie Paine (Sharon) and Oscar Dobbins (Roy Taylor).
• Fly More Than You Fall – the cast has been announced for the UK premiere of the new US musical opening at Southwark Playhouse Elephant on 18 October and running through 23 November 2024. The show tells the moving story of Malia, a young girl whose life is upended when her mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer. To cope with her grief, Malia turns to her writing, creating an imaginative world. The cast includes Broadway star Keala Settle, best known for her role in The Greatest Showman, who plays Malia’s mother, Jennifer. Robyn Rose-Li, whose credits include The Baker’s Wife at Menier Chocolate Factory and Tammy Faye The Musical at Almeida Theatre, takes on the role of Malia. Other cast members include Cavin Cornwall (Jesus Christ Superstar, Disney’s Aladdin), Sara Bartos (Barista the Musical), Maddison Bulleyment (Six, The Witches), Edward Chitticks (Hairspray, Mamma Mia!), Bessy Ewa (Back to the Future, & Juliet), Max Gill (Fangirls, The Boy in the Dress), Harry Mallaghan (Grease), JoJo Meredith (Your Lie in April, Death Note the Musical), Zasha Rabie, and Kieran Usher, both recent graduates of the Guildford School of Acting. The musical features a book and lyrics by Eric Holmes, known for his work on TV’s The Good Fight and Smash, with music and lyrics by Nat Zegree. Christian Durham directs the production, with Georgie Rankcom serving as associate director and Heather Douglas as movement director. Orchestrations and arrangements are by Daniel Edmonds, while set and costume design is by Stewart J Charlesworth, lighting design by Jack Weir and is produced by Tony and Olivier Award winner Marc David Levine.
• Here You Come Again – the musical comedy featuring Dolly Parton’s greatest hits will interrupt its UK tour to play a limited festive season at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, from 10 December to 18 January. The production, authorised by Dolly Parton, brings together hits like “Jolene”, “9 to 5”, and “I Will Always Love You”. It follows a diehard fan who imagines Dolly helping him through difficult times. The musical was co-written by Emmy award-winning Bruce Vilanch, director Gabriel Barre, and actor-writer Tricia Paoluccio, who stars as Dolly. Jonathan Harvey provides additional material for the UK run. Here You Come Again is directed by Gabriel Barre with set and costume design by Paul Wills, choreography by Lizzie Gee, and sound by Tom Marshall. Lighting design is by Tim Deiling, with Richard Pinner as illusion designer, Eugene Gwozdz handling the orchestrations, while the associate director and assistant choreographer is Teenie MacLeod, while Maurice Cambridge is the orchestra manager. Ben Arkell takes on the role of production manager, and Stuart Burt leads the casting. The UK tour will continue in 2025, with new dates including the Grand Opera House in York, Sunderland Empire, and the New Theatre in Wimbledon.
• Miracle on 34th Street – the musical adaptation of the traditional Christmas classic, directed by Sara Joyce, will run at HOME Manchester from 6 to 31 December 2024. Set in New York City at a major department store on the brink of collapse, the musical follows a kind-hearted stranger who steps in as a last-minute replacement for the store’s Santa. After claiming, however, to be the real deal, and a subsequent arrest, it is in the hands of a young girl named Susan to restore the world’s belief in him. In this, Meredith Wilson’s brilliant musical adaptation of the original movie, New York meets Manchester, tradition meets new ways of thinking, and nothing is more powerful than the belief of children. Leading the cast and sharing the role of Susan will be Harriet (High School Musical, Matilda), Karis (Les Misérables, Oliver!), and Lillie (Steve McQueen’s Blitz, Les Misérables). Their surnames have been omitted. The adult company includes Adam Vaughan (BBC’s Outlaws) as Kris Kringle, Christopher Jordan (BBC’s The Jetty) as Mr Macy, Ida Regan (Brief Encounter) as Sawyer, Jessica Joslin (A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic) as Doris, Matthew Hawksley (Guy Richie’s The Gentlemen) as Fred, Stephanie Hockley (Blue Beard) as Shellhammer, and Zweyla Mitchell Dos Santos (Little Shop of Horrors) as Judge Harper. The creative team features set and lighting designer Ciaran Bagnall, costume designer Lara Booth, sound designer Julian Starr, choreographer Kevin Turner and casting director Nadine Rennie.
• One-Man Musical – comedy writing duo Flo and Joan will bring their new rollercoaster ride through the life of the “man”, who is none other than musical impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber to London for two week-long spells at the Soho Theatre, from 29 October to 2 November and from 25 to 30 November. First seen at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, the production will once more star George Fouracres (Daphne, Hamlet) as “the man”, and Flo and Joan as “the band”, while direction is by Georgie Staight (Operation Mincemeat). Avalon are the producers.
• Road Show – the musical by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman, will open at Upstairs at the Gatehouse this winter where it will run from 12 December 2024 to 12 January 2025. Directed and choreographed by Amanda Noar, the production tells the true story of the Mizner brothers, tracing their journey through the highs and lows of early 20th-century America, from the Gold Rush to the Florida real estate boom. It was first seen in 2003 (under its original title Bounce), with an off-Broadway production coming in 2008 and a Menier Chocolate Factory run in 2011. It will now be presented by Chromolume at the north London venue. Noar is joined by associate director Isaac Bernier-Doyle and musical director Harry Style. The creative team includes set designer Ruby Boswell-Green and costume designer Holly Louise Chapman, while orchestrations are by Jonathan Tunick. Casting will be announced soon.

NEWS UPDATE – 16th September 2024

• MAMMA MIA! – will launch a new UK tour next year opening at Mayflower Theatre, Southampton where it will run from Friday 24 October until Saturday 8 November 2025. Now in its 26th year, the musical has been seen by over 11 million people and has played over 10,000 performances in London’s West End. The MAMMA MIA! International Tour has visited 42 countries in the past 20 years, performed more than 3,750 shows and has been seen by over 7.3 million people. It became the 8th longest running show in Broadway history where it played a record-breaking run for 14 years. In 2011, it became the first Western musical ever to be staged in Mandarin in the People’s Republic of China and has been seen on stage by over 70 million people across the world and turned into two record-breaking movies. Following the Southampton opening the 2025/26 UK tour will move on to Bristol, Oxford and Edinburgh, with further dates still to be announced. Produced by Judy Craymer, with music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast the production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch. The new UK Tour is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East & Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal and NGM.
• Mrs. Doubtfire – the West End production of the nusical has set its final performance date at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Based on the film that starred Robin Williams and followed a divorced man who tries desperately to see his children, the show is currently led by Gabriel Vick (Avenue Q) as Daniel Hillard. It is booking until 26 April 2025, at which point it will close. It is expected that there will be a UK regional tour as part of a number of international dates.
• Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical – following its successful run at the Old Vic, the musical will move to the West End opening on 15 May 2025 at the Shaftesbury Theatre, with a special gala performance planned for 13 July, marking 40 years since the original Live Aid concerts in London and Philadelphia. It is currently booking until 10 January 2026. Ten percent of all ticket sales will be donated to the Band Aid Charitable Trust. The production, which became the fastest-selling musical in the Old Vic’s history, tells the story of the iconic 1985 concerts that united audiences worldwide in support of famine relief. it features music by artists such as Queen, U2, David Bowie, and Madonna, and is written by John O’Farrell and directed by Luke Sheppard. Craige Els (Matilda the Musical) will reprise his role as Bob, with further casting to be announced. The creative team includes musical supervision, arrangements, and orchestration by Matthew Brind, choreography by Ebony Molina, set design by Soutra Gilmour, costume design by Fay Fullerton, lighting design by Howard Hudson, sound design by Gareth Owen, video and animation by Andrzej Goulding, and casting by Stuart Burt.Just For One Day is produced by Jamie Wilson Productions, Kevin McCollum, Sonia Friedman Productions, Gavin Kalin Productions, Kenny Wax Ltd, the Ambassador Theatre Group, Mirvish Productions, Nederlander Theatres, No Guarantees, Burnt Umber Productions, Stephen C Byrd, Willette and Manny Klausner, and The Old Vic by permission of The Band Aid Charitable Trust.
• Muriel’s Wedding the Musical – the UK premiere of the Made at Curve production in collaboration with Global Creatures and Sydney Theatre Company, will open at Curve Leicester where it will run from 10 April to 10 May 2025. The musical had its world premiere in 2017 in Sydney, winning numerous awards including five Helpmann Awards and seven Sydney Theatre Awards. The story follows Muriel, who dreams of the perfect wedding but is stuck in a dead-end life in Porpoise Spit. She moves to Sydney, finds unexpected success, and discovers the importance of being true to oneself. The musical features a book by the film’s writer and director PJ Hogan, with music and lyrics by Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall, as well as additional songs by ABBA’s Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson. Leading the UK production will be Megan Ellis as Muriel Heslop, her recent credits include Spring Awakening at Frogmore Paper Mill and Careen at Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Joining Ellis in the show will be Annabel Marlow, who originated the role of Katherine Howard in Six at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017, who will take on the role of Rhonda Epinstal. It is directed by Simon Phillips and choreographed by Andrew Hallsworth. Set design is by Matthew Kinley (Les Misérables), costume design by Gabriela Tylesova (Love Never Dies), projection design by Andrzej Goulding (Starlight Express), lighting design by Natasha Chivers (Sylvia) and sound design by Adam Fisher (Evita). Isaac Hayward, who won the Helpmann Award for Best Musical Direction in 2018 for the show, joins as musical supervisor.
• My Fair Lady – Curve, Leicester has announced full casting for its upcoming revival set to play over the festive season. The new staging of Lerner and Loewe’s classic is directed by Curve’s artistic director, Nikolai Foster and as previously reported, Molly Lynch (The Last Five Years, A Little Night Music), will take on the role of Eliza Doolittle, returning to Curve after her performance as Betty Schaefer in Foster’s production of Sunset Boulevard. Joining her on stage will be David Seadon-Young (The Baker’s Wife) as phonetics professor Henry Higgins, Minal Patel (Billy Elliot) as Colonel Pickering, Steve Furst (Oliver!) as Alfred P Doolitttle, BAFTA Award winner and Golden Globe nominee Cathy Tyson (Kaos) as Mrs Higgins, Sarah Moyle (Jerusalem) as Mrs Eynsford-Hill and Mrs Pearce and Djavan van de Fliert (Disney’s Frozen) as Freddy Eynsford-Hill. Also in the cast are Damian Buhagiar (West Side Story) as Zoltan Karpathy, Jonathan Dryden Taylor (The Wizard of Oz) as Harry, Ying Ue Li (Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club) as Jamie and Joanna O’Hare (Kiss Me, Kate) as George. Completing the company are Andy Barke (Pretty Woman), Keanna Bloomfield (A Very Very Bad Cinderella), Ashley Gilmour (Evita), Lucas Koch (The Choir of Man), Ritesh Manugula (Shirly), Nell Martin (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert), Abigail Matthews (The Wizard of Oz), Jack Skelton (Aladdin) and Kenedy Small (Six).
• Kinky Boots – casting has been confirmed for the brand-new Made at Curve production of the musical which opens in Leicester in January 2025, will be led by Johannes Radebe (Strictly Come Dancing) in his musical theatre debut as Lola and Dan Partridge (Grease) as Charlie Price. Courtney Bowman (Legally Blonde) will take on the role of Lauren in the show. Her other credits include the likes of Closer to Heaven, Pretty Woman, Six and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, as well as CBeebies’ Big Cook Little Cook. Under the direction of Nikolai Foster (Billy Elliot), the new production will feature choreography by Leah Hill, set and costume design by Robert Jones, musical supervision by George Dyer, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Adam Fisher, casting by Harry Blumenau, wigs, hair and make up design by Campbell Young Associates with associate direction by Michaela Powell, associate choreography by Johnny Bishop, associate sound design by Harry Barker and production management by Setting Line. The tour launches at Leicester Curve (17 to 25 January 2025), before heading to New Victoria Theatre, Woking (28 January to 1 February), Manchester Palace Theatre (4 to 8 February), Glasgow Kings Theatre (11 to 15 February), Edinburgh Playhouse (18 to 22 February), Truro Hall for Cornwall (25 February to 1 March), Norwich Theatre Royal (4 to 8 March), Milton Keynes Theatre (11 to 15 March), Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff (18 to 22 March), Brighton Theatre Royal (25 to 29 March), Birmingham Hippodrome (15 to 19 April), Plymouth Theatre Royal (22 to 26 April), Stockton Globe (29 April to 3 May), Newcastle Theatre Royal (6 to 10 May), Bristol Hippodrome (13 to 17 May), Leeds Grand Theatre (20 to 24 May), Southampton Mayflower Theatre (27 to 31 May), Cliffs Pavilion, Southend (3 to 7 June), Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (10 to 14 June), Belfast Grand Opera House (17 to 21 June), Sheffield Lyceum Theatre (24 to 28 June), Nottingham Theatre Royal (1 to 5 July), Liverpool Empire (8 to 12 July), Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin (15 to 19 July), and Oxford New Theatre (22 to 26 July).
• A Christmas Carol – the Hope Mill Theatre production of the musical will run at the Lowry Quays Theatre in Salford from 6 December 2024 to 5 January 2025.Based on Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella, the 1994 musical features music by Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors), lyrics by Lynn Ahrens (Anastasia) and book by Mike Ockrent (Me and My Girl) and Ahrens. It was staged in New York annually until 2003 and was adapted for television in 2004, starring Kelsey Grammer as Scrooge. Claire Moore, whose previous credits include The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Les Misérables, Oliver!, The King and I, The Great British Bake Off Musical and Calendar Girls, will take on the lead role of Scrooge in the production which is directed by Joseph Houston and William Whelton who also serves as choreographer. Additional casting and creative team information will be announced shortly.
• Twiggy the Musical – based on the life, times and styles of the iconic fashion personality, will open as part of the Cheltenham Everyman’s 2025 season where it will run from 4 to 13 September 2025 ahead of a national tour. Penned and directed by Ben Elton (We Will Rock You, Blackadder), he show was first seen in a different form at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London (who are associated with this new production), it will feature classic tunes like “The Air That I Breathe”, “You Don’t Own Me”, “Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher”, “Somebody to Love”, “Downtown” and “Just One Look”. This will be a new production.
• RSC’s Matilda the Musical – now in its 13th year at London’s Cambridge Theatre has extended its run until 24^th May 2026. The show, based on the classic Roald Dahl novel features a book by Dennis Kelly and a score by Tim Minchin. The announcement coincides with new cast members joining the company. From tonight, Angelica Scott will join current cast members Anna Deikalo, Ava Posniak and Sophia Saravanan to share the title role. In addition, Tiffany Graves (But I’m A Cheerleader!), Neil McDermott (Pretty Woman) and Eve Norris (Groundhog Day) will join the production, taking on the roles of Mrs Wormwood, Mr Wormwood and Miss Honey, respectively, while Kieran Hill continues as Miss Trunchbull. Newly performing adult cast members are Pearce Barron, Alex Louize Bird, Reece Budin, Dan Cooke, William Elijah-Lewis, Issy Khogali, Sam Lips, Sam Jeffrey Parkes, Jak Skelly, Ralph Watts and Dawn Williams, who join current members Esme Bacalla-Hayes, Ronan Burns, Karina Hind, Sam Lathwood, Gabrielle Davina Smith and Deborah Tracey. The other young performersNesim Adnan, Ryo Appadu, Amelia-Grace Cambridge, Max Garlick, Jesamine-Bleu Gibbs, Kaylen Luke, Charlie Man-Evans, Yvie Moore and Marnie Rae Warren-Baker are joined by Pasquale Aben-Danan, Elyza Alderton, Beatrice Armitage, Joseph Burrows, Maddy Collings, Sienna Culm, Joey Grady, Blake Graham, Alexandra Horner, Adam Hussain, George Jones, Amber Koduah-Hutchison, Tristan Marwa, Isabelle McLatchie, Anayah Thomas and Kobe Warmington. Under the direction of Matthew Warchus, the creative team features choreographer Peter Darling, designer Rob Howell, lighting designer Hugh Vanstone and sound designer Simon Baker. Orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision are by Christopher Nightingale and special effects and illusions are by Paul Kieve. Adult casting is by Will Burton, while Amy Beadel serves as children’s casting director.
• The Baddies – the musical will premiere at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and will run from 4 to 20 October 2024. Directed and choreographed by Katie Beard, the show will feature original songs by Joe Stilgoe and an adaptation for the stage by David Greig based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s 2022 story, with dramaturg Jackie Crichton.The cast includes James Stirling as Ghost, Rachel Bird as Witch, Dyfrig Morris as Troll, Lottie Mae O’Kill as Mama Mouse, and Yuki Sutton as Girl. Swings Ellie Shove and Ben Simon complete the company. The Baddies follows a witch, troll, and ghost as they try to scare a young girl, only to discover she may be braver than they think. The creative team includes set and costume design by Jasmine Swan, lighting design by Simon Hayes, fight direction by Carlotta De Gregori, and puppetry by Edie Edmundsen. The illusions are by Kevin Quantum, with sound design by Richard Brooks and musical direction from Paul Herbert. Heather Scott Martin serves as associate choreographer, with Cleo McCabe as costume supervisor and Craig Fleming as production manager. After its run in Edinburgh, the show will move to the Warwick Arts Centre, the Rose Theatre Kingston, and then tour to various UK venues through 2025. Freckle Productions, known for stage adaptations of Stick Man, Tabby McTat, and Zog, is producing the show.
• Sadler’s Wells East – has announced the programme for the inaugural season which is set to open in February 2025. The new theatre is located in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and is part of the East Bank cultural development. Its opening season will feature over 20 productions from February to July, including eight UK premieres and ten Sadler’s Wells co-productions and commissions, spotlighting a diverse range of artists from across the UK and beyond. The season will open with Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu’s Our Mighty Groove, a production that celebrates the power of the dance floor and community. It will feature a cast from east London alongside professional dancers from Uchenna Dance. Igbokwe-Ozoagu, known for her work as Mass Movement Choreographer at the 2012 London Olympics, brings her longstanding relationship with Sadler’s Wells into this production. The venue will collaborate with Stratford East on a new production of Romeo and Juliet, adapted by Kwame Owusu and featuring community casts. This co-directed production by Emily Ling Williams and Malik Nashad Sharpe (marikiscrycrycry) will include community casts of actors and dancers from the local area. The production forms part of Stratford East’s 140th anniversary celebrations. Sadler’s Wells associate artist and Dagenham-born choreographer Botis Seva will present Until We Sleep. The work, created for his company Far From the Norm, follows a lone warrior guiding a wandering community through passages of time, offering a raw and immersive experience in contemporary dance. Artist and performance maker Eve Stainton will share their new choreographic work, Impact Driver, a Sadler’s Wells co-commission, which features live welding, movement and sound. South London dance artist Ivan Michael Blackstock bring the award-winning TRAPLORD, a co-production with Sadler’s Wells. The piece reflects on life, death, and rebirth, exploring the stereotyping of Black men in contemporary society. Over and Over (and over again), commissioned by Candoco Dance Company, comes from Dan Daw Creative Projects and takes inspiration from rave culture. East London-based choreographer Alexander Whitley will present a double bill that includes his radical interpretation of The Rite of Spring, utilising digital technology. Whitley’s innovative approach combines dance and digital media, and this double bill will also feature a new collaboration with Australian composer Ben Frost. Sadler’s Wells East will also provide a platform for regional talent across the UK, with productions from artists based in Manchester, Birmingham, Ashford, Leeds, Newcastle, Leicester, and Cardiff. BRB2, Birmingham Royal Ballet’s young company, will present Ballet Celebration, a programme that includes The Firebird, Spectre de la Rose, Les Sylphides, and Scheherazade. HUMANHOOD, a Birmingham-based company, brings ∞ {Infinite}, a dance theatre meditation exploring the elements of water, fire, air, and earth. Manchester’s Benji Reid presents Find Your Eyes, which blends photography and hip hop theatre to reflect on vulnerability and resilience. Phoenix Dance Theatre from Leeds will mount Inside Giovanni’s Room, a work inspired by James Baldwin’s novel, exploring themes of love, sexuality, and self-acceptance. Leicester-based Aakash Odedra will present The Captive Bulbul, a work rooted in the Sufi tradition, blending kathak and Islamic poetry. Other shows across the season include Skatepark by Danish choreographer Mette Ingvartsen features dancers and skateboarders in a unique exploration of movement, with local skate communities involved in prelude performances. US choreographer Trajal Harrell’s latest work, set to Keith Jarrett’s Köln Concert and the music of Joni Mitchell, debuts in the new venue. She’s Auspicious by Los Angeles-based bharatanatyam artist Mythili Prakash will explore the interplay between worship and the treatment of women in society. Israeli choreographer Sharon Eyal and London-based Young join forces for R.O.S.E., an immersive dance and music night, transforming the auditorium into a club-like atmosphere. Birdboy by Irish choreographer Emma Martin presents an introspective journey through the inner world of an outcast, performed by Kévin Coquelard. Sadler’s Wells East will also host the YFX Youth Festival in summer 2025, which includes Making Moves, a choreography and performance project for school and youth groups across England. The festival will also showcase the work of the National Youth Dance Company, choreographed by Boy Blue, as part of the U.Dance National Showcase in collaboration with One Dance UK. Fifty per cent of all tickets are priced at £25 or less and £10 tickets are available for under-30s. Executive director Britannia Morton highlighted that the venue was created expressly for both the local community, with open and accessible spaces, as well as dance makers, with six large rehearsal spaces as part of the new venue. Sadler’s Wells East also has a stage size to match that of the main Sadler’s Wells theatre in Angel, but now with a smaller capacity of 550 seats to enable work for mid-scale artists. The auditorium also has retractable seating for added flexibility.

NEWS UPDATE – 9th September 2024

• The Producers – Mel Brooks musical adaptation of the film which is set to run at London’s Menier Chocolate Theatre this Christmas opening on 9 December 2024, and set to run until 1 March 2025. Tony Award-winning director Patrick Marber (Leopoldstadt), has announced his initial cast and creative team for this, the musical’s first major London revival. With music and lyrics by Brooks, and book by Brooks and Thomas Meehan, the show tells of two (less than) enterprising producers who attempt to bluff their way to a Broadway fortune. Andy Nyman, known for his roles in Fiddler on the Roof (Menier Chocolate Factory) and Hello, Dolly! (The London Palladium), and as the co-creator of Ghost Stories, will play Max Bialystock. Joining him as Leo Bloom is Marc Antolin, who recently appeared in The Band’s Visit at the Donmar Warehouse and Emma Rice’s Romantics Anonymous. Harry Morrison, who has performed in Beetlejuice on its international tour and in Menier’s productions of The Third Man and Assassins, also stars as Franz Liebkind, while Joanna Woodward, known for her performances in The Time Traveller’s Wife: The Musical at the Apollo Theatre and Merrily We Roll Along at the Menier, will play Ulla. Other cast members include Charis Alexandra, Michael Franks, Matt Gillett, Leah Harris, Hana Ichijo, Esme Kennedy, Josh Kiernan, Alex Lodge, Kelsie-Rae Marshall, and Chloe Saunders, with additional names to be revealed. The musical features choreography by Lorin Latarro, set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Paul Farnsworth, lighting design by Richard Howell, and sound design by Niamh Gaffney and Terry Jardine for Autograph. Musical supervision is by Gareth Valentine, with musical direction by Matthew Samer and orchestrations by Larry Blank and Mark Cumberland.
• Mayflower Theatre and MAST Mayflower Studios – have launched a brand new magazine this summer. The magazine is a coffee table companion comprising of meaningful stories from the arts and culture sphere in Southampton, backstage interviews and behind-the-scenes takes, and a showcase of the great work that both venues do in engaging with the local community. Both Mayflower venues are known for bringing the very best performances to the South Coast, however many people don’t know about the organisation’s charitable status and all the work that they do to serve the local community. Mayflower’s mission is to offer inspiring experiences and their aim is to enhance the arts for all in Hampshire. The brand new magazine offers a look at how Mayflower makes a difference in the wider community. This new magazine highlights how much more the theatres do as charities on top of bringing the best performances to the area. The magazine comprises of articles which shine a light on the venues’ impact and includes pieces on the venues partners, environmental impact, artist development and youth and participation work. In addition to this, the magazine features exclusive interviews with Ashley Banjo who will be returning to Mayflower Theatre in this year’s pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, producer Kenny Wax, following the fifth sold out run of SIX at Mayflower Theatre and co-producing with Mayflower for Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World, which opened at MAST Mayflower Studios, and Sasha Lovett, the company manager for the first ever UK tour of Hamilton which tours to Mayflower Theatre next March. Also, readers can find out more about MAST’s Shout Season, which challenges stereotypes and engages with the stories in our community. The magazine is free from both Mayflower Theatre and MAST Mayflower Studios.
• Clueless – based on Jane Austen’s hit novel Emma, has been adapted from the hit 1995 movie of the same name. It follows Cher Horowitz, the most popular student at Beverley Hills High, who revels in setting up relationships and generally meddling with her fellow classmates’ lives. The musical is scored by the multi-platinum singer-songwriter KT Tunstall and the lyrics are by Grammy Award winner Glenn Slater (Sister Act, Tangled) while direction is by Rachel Kavanaugh (Half a Sixpence), with choreography by Kelly Devine (Come From Away). The show will open at the Trafalgar Theatre on 15 February 2025.
• Unbound – following its debut at Birmingham Hippodrome earlier this year, Matthew Harvey’s new musical will have its London debut in concert form at Hoxton Hall on 27 October. The musical was commissioned and performed for the first time as part of BYMT’s 20th anniversary season. It follows Iris, a home-schooled teenager who persuades her mother to let her attend Black Lake High. Her plans for a typical high school experience take a turn when a prank goes awry, releasing an ancient witch. The creative team includes Ryan Carter as creative director, having previously collaborated with Harvey on his debut song cycle Now or Never in 2021. Alex Musgrave (lighting design) and Ryan James (sound design) also return, following their work on the show’s initial run. Mark Hartley from the Production Office serves as consultant production manager.
• Piaf – will feature in Newbury Watermill Theatre’s 2025 season. Directed by Kimberley Sykes, it will run from 4 April to 17 May. Audrey Brisson will return to the Watermill stage to to take on the role of the French chanteuse, Édith Piaf, telling the icon’s rags-to-riches stories alongside an ensemble cast of actor-musicians.. She previously garnered critical acclaim playing the titular role in Amélie in 2019, which subsequently transferred to the West End.
• Here And Now – the complete cast has been confirmed for the world premiere of the Steps musical at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham on 9 November 2024, where it will run until 30 November. Penned by Shaun Kitchener and directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, the piece follows the trials and tribulations of the workers and patrons of a seaside superstore named Better Best Bargains. It is produced by Steps, theatre company ROYO and music mogul Pete Waterman.The cast will be led by Rebecca Lock (Elf, School of Rock, Heathers) as Caz McGovern, Hiba Elchikhe (The Time Traveller’s Wife, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Aladdin) as Neeta Thakkar, Basement Jaxx lead vocalist Sharlene Hector (Standing at the Sky’s Edge, A Strange Loop, Dreamgirls) as Vel King and Blake Patrick Anderson (Rent, Hair, Be More Chill) as Robbie Davies. Joining them will be Finty Williams (The Baker’s Wife), Dan Partridge (Grease), Helen Colby (Sinatra the Musical), Gary Milner (Kiss Me, Kate), River Medway (House of Cleopatra) Edward Baker Duly (The King and I) and John Stacey (Kiss Me, Kate), will join the cast as Patricia, Ben, Tracey, Gareth, Jem, Max and Lesley respectively. The cast is completed by Olivia Bella (professional debut), Jabari Braham (Hello, Dolly!), Michael Carolan (Shrek), Alex Christian (Disney’s Newsies), Kade Ferraiolo (I Should Be So Lucky), Jemma Geanaus (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), Charlie-Jay Johnson (Company, Bird College), Serina Mathew (The Time Traveller’s Wife), Jago Mottart (Jesus Christ Superstar), Markus Sodergren (Heathers the Musical) and Genevieve Taylor (Wicked). Choreographed by Matt Cole, the show has musical supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Matt Spencer-Smith, while set design is by Tom Rogers, costume design is by Gabriella Slade, lighting design by Howard Hudson, sound design by Adam Fisher, wigs, hair and makeup design by Sam Cox, casting by Will Burton for Grindrod Burton Casting, associate direction by Matt Hassall, associate choreography by Jane McMurtrie, associate sound design by Ollie Durrant, Music Technology by Phij Adams with Production Management by Setting Line. Steps, who are all set to appear in the show, are composed of Claire Richards, Faye Tozer, Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Lee Latchford-Evans and Lisa Scott-Lee, have number one singles including “Tragedy”/”Heartbeat” and “Stomp”, as well as the likes of “One For Sorrow”, “Better Best Forgotten”, “5,6,7,8”, “Last Thing On My Mind”, “Love’s Got a Hold of My Heart” and “Chain Reaction”.
• The Choir of Man – a new company has been announced for the West End production of the pub-set show that follows a male choir as they reflect on their lives through song. It has played on tour, at the Edinburgh Fringe and in Earl’s Court, settling into a run at the Arts in 2021. The show has now extended its booking through to 29 December 2024. Remaining with the show from 17 September will be Luke Conner Hall (Bat Out of Hell) as Romantic, Sam Pope (Bat Out of Hell) as Joker, Rob Godfrey (The Choir of Man) as Beast and Seán Keany (Once in Concert) continuing as a swing. Joining the West End company will be Tyler Orphé-Baker (The Lion King) as Pub Bore, Shane McDaid (Titanic the Musical) as Poet, Ifan Gwilym-Jones (The Choir of Man) as Maestro, Kristian Morse (The Corn is Green) as Barman, George Knapper (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat) as Handyman with Bradley Walwyn (We Will Rock You) as Hardman. David Shute (Once), Tom Carter-Miles (Frankenstein), and Paul Deegan (The Choir of Man) join as swings. The show is is created by Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay, directed by Doodson, with Daniel Harnett as associate director and resident director. The on-stage band has Jacob Evans on drums, Jack Hartigan on guitar, Darius Luke Thompson on violin and Sam Tookey on bass.
• Stratford East – has announced its 140th anniversary season, which will be the final season under artistic director Nadia Fall. The season will feature the new British musical Lovestuck, conceived and written by James Cooper, with music by Bryn Christopher and Martin Batchelar, and directed by Jamie Morton. The show runs from 6 June to 12 July 2025. Cooper and Morton are probably best known as the co-creators of hit podcast My Dad Wrote A Porno. The season concludes in autumn 2025 with a new production of the reggae musical The Harder They Come, based on the cult film by Perry Henzell and co-written by Trevor Rhone. The show will feature songs by Jimmy Cliff and a new book by Suzan-Lori Parks, with direction by Xia. It runs from Saturday 13 September to Saturday 25 October 2025. The musical was seen at the Public Theater in New York in 2023, where it garnered critical praise, after first being performed at Stratford East in 2006. It ran again there in 2007 before transferring to the Barbican in spring 2008.
• Titanique – is set for a run at the London’s Criterion Theatre beginning on 9 December 2024. Combining the music of Celine Dion with the blockbuster film Titanic, Titanique has become an off-Broadway sensation, receiving critical acclaim and multiple awards since its premiere. It features a raft of Dion’s iconic songs including “My Heart Will Go On”, “All by Myself”, and “To Love You More”. Co-written by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle, and Constantine Rousouli, Titanique premiered off-Broadway in June 2022 at Asylum Theater, starring Mindelle and Rousouli as Celine Dion and Jack Dawson. After several sold-out extensions, the musical transferred to the Daryl Roth Theatre on 20 November 2022. The musical is directed by Blue (RuPaul’s Drag Race) and choreographed by Ellenore Scott (Funny Girl, Little Shop of Horrors), with music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations by IRNE Award-winner Nicholas James Connell. The creative team also includes set designers Gabriel Hainer Evansohn and Grace Laubacher, costume designer Alejo Vietti, lighting designer Paige Seber, sound designer Lawrence Schober and casting directors Pearson Casting.
• With Courage – the cast and creative team has been revealed for the upcoming London run of the new British folk musical to be staged at the Other Palace from 17 to 22 September, with a special gala night on 18 September. The run coincides with the 200th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). The musical is written by Jon Hare, known for Charming and Never Again, and produced by Steph Weller for PlayWell Productions. It is directed by Olivier Award-winning director and dramaturg Charlotte Westenra, whose previous credits include The Wicker Husband and The Agreement. The show weaves together life-saving stories from across two centuries, developed through research and interviews with RNLI volunteers and crew. It focuses on two narratives: in 1886, Charles and Marion Macara rally a town in grief, inspiring a nationwide movement after witnessing a tragedy. In the present day, Shannon, a navigator, grapples with her family’s legacy of life-saving. The cast features Hannah Azuonye (Girl From The North Country) as Marion Macara / Alex, Lara Lewis (Brief Encounter) as Shannon / Annabelle, Gerard McDermott (Much Ado About Nothing) as Eddie / Captain, Tom Moores (The Trial of Josie K) as Charles Macara / Jack Ross, and Olivia Thompson (Whose Life Is It Anyway?) as Mrs Johnson / Liz Ross. The production team includes musical direction by Mary Erskine, choreography by Jane McMurtrie, design by Anna Kelsey, lighting design by Sam Bernstein, and sound design by Joe Dines.

NEWS UPDATE – 2nd September 2024

• SuperYou – casting has been announced for the fully-staged UK premiere of rock opera musical, which opens at Curve in Leicester on 22 October. Vicki Manser (Six) will lead the show as Katie. Joining her, and reprising their roles from the sold-out West End concert last November, is writer and composer creator Lourds Lane as Rise, Aaliyah Monk (School Of Rock) as Young Katie and Lightning Girl and Will Bozier (Moulin Rouge!) as Mi Roar. Completing the cast are Kingsley Morton (Heathers) as Ima-Mazing, Courtney Stapleton (Beauty and The Beast) as Blast, B. Noel Thomas (Sister Act) as Seven, Damien Walsh (Dreamboats And Petticoats) as Jay, Owen Lloyd (Clueless the Musical) as Matty, Belinda Lee Chapman (Nutcracker!) as Mom, with Lu Anthony (Trapped Between Stories) as SuperYouman and cover Seven. Also in the cast are Elizabeth Chalmers (A New World) as cover Katie and Young Katie, Ellen Eckersley (Snow White) as alternate Rise, Jacob Fisher (Singin’ in The Rain) as SuperYouman and cover Mi Roar, Jay and Matty, Bayley Hart (Greatest Days) as SuperYouman and cover Ima-Mazing and Blast and Catherine Saunders (Bat out of Hell) as SuperYouman and cover Mom. Lane’s musical has been seen in a variety of different formats since its first inception, having first been staged on socially distanced pick-up trucks when its off-Broadway run was derailed by the pandemic lockdowns. It went on to perform two concerts at Carnegie Hall in 2022, before a West End concert at the Lyric Theatre in 2023. SuperYou features an entirely female band consisting of musical director Jenny Deacon, associate musical director Issie Osborne, Maria Rocha, Laura Williams and Ashley Young. It has direction and choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter (Bad Cinderella, School Of Rock), music supervision by Wendy Bobbit Cavett (Come From Away, Hamilton), set design by Tony-nominated Anna Louizos (In The Heights, School of Rock), costume design by Cynthia Nordstrom (Rocktopia), sound design by Tony Gayle (My Neighbour Totoro), lighting design by Ryan O’Gara (Thoughts Of A Colored Man), and video design by Caite Hevner (Derren Brown: Secret). Bozier will once more associate choreograph and Billy Mitchell joins as associate director. Casting is by Pearson Casting, produced by Melissa M. Jones / All Awesome LLC with general management by Anthology Theatre Productions.
• Pitlochry Festival Theatre – has unveiled its summer season for 2025. The main auditorium will open with Grease (18 June to 27 September), co-produced with Blackpool Grand Theatre. Other musicals included in the season are Sunshine on Leith (25 July to 27 September) which will also feature in the main auditorium programme before heading out on a new tour. The musical, featuring the songs of The Proclaimers, tells the story of two soldiers returning to Edinburgh from Afghanistan as they adjust to civilian life. The Studio season will present several premières will include Nessie (9 July to 16 August), a new Scottish musical by Shonagh Murray. Co-produced with Capital Theatres, the musical tells the story of a young biologist’s encounter with the Loch Ness Monster, celebrating themes of bravery and friendship.
• Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical – will embark on a UK tour, Birmingham Hippodrome confirmed in its new season release. The major producing house mapped out its plans for the coming year, including shows like Six, Mary Poppins, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Musical and Calamity Jane. Cruel Intentions will be visiting the venue from 3 to 7 June 2025. This confirmation comes after a number of dates have already been placed on sale, including York’s Grand Opera House (running from 18 February), New Wimbledon Theatre (running from 25 February), Manchester’s Palace Theatre (running from 25 March) and Leeds Grand Theatre (running from 6 May). You can see more information in the link below. Based on the cult 1999 movie by Roger Kumble, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Phillippe and Selmar Blair, the stage show is created by Jordan Ross, Lindsey Rosin and Kumble. Inspired by the French novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, the piece revolves around step-siblings and privileged Manhattan high school students Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil, who engage in a cruel bet to seduce the headmaster’s virtuous daughter, Annette Hargrove. It received a glowing review from WhatsOnStage earlier this year during its run at the Other Palace in London, describing the piece as “dark, rollicking and stylish”. It features a wealth of ’90s pop hits from artists such as Christina Aguilera (“Genie in a Bottle”), Britney Spears (“Sometimes”), Boyz II Men (“I’ll Make Love to You”), TLC (“No Scrubs”), Natalie Imbruglia (“Torn”), The Verve (“Bittersweet Symphony”), *NSYNC (“Bye Bye Bye”), Ace of Base (“‘I Saw the Sign”), and R.E.M. (“Losing My Religion”), among others.