NEWS UPDATE – 29th September 2025

By: pHayward 29th September 2025

• Amber Davis – following on from the announcement from producers ROYO and Curve, that Amber Davies will be staring as Elle Woods in the brand-new Made at Curve production of the West End and Broadway smash-hit musical comedy, Legally Blonde The Musical, it has been announced that Amber Davies will join the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing line up as a contestant with partner Nikita Kuzmin.
• Legally Blonde The Musical – producers ROYO and Curve are delighted to announce Amber Davies as Elle Woods in the brand-new Made at Curve production of the West End and Broadway smash-hit musical comedy LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL. The musical will tour and visit Mayflower Theatre from 24 – 28 February 2026. Amber Davies most recently originated the role of Jordan Baker in the London production of The Great Gatsby, prior to this she starred as Vivian Ward in the UK Tour of Pretty Woman, Lorraine Baines in the West End production of Back to the Future The Musical and Campbell in Bring It On at London’s South Bank Centre. Amber made her professional theatre debut as Judy in the Original West End cast of 9 to 5 the Musical at the Savoy Theatre which she then continued to play on the UK tour. Based on the novel by Amanda Browning and the 2001 film of the same name starring Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Coolidge, the multi-award winning musical features a book by Heather Hach and original music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin. It will be directed by Curve’s Artistic Director Nikolai Foster (Kinky Boots, The Wizard of Oz, A Chorus Line) and choreographed by Leah Hill (Kinky Boots, UK and Ireland tour, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Curve & UK Tour, The Wiz, Hope Mill Theatre) with musical supervision by Matt Spencer-Smith (Here & Now, Birmingham Alexandra & UK and Ireland tour, Dear Evan Hansen, UK tour), set design by Colin Richmond (The Little Big Things, Soho Place, The Wizard of Oz, UK tour), lighting design by Ben Cracknell (Clueless, Trafalgar Theatre, The Wizard of Oz, London Palladium) and sound design by Adam Fisher (Here & Now, UK & Ireland tour, Evita, London Palladium).
• Wicked – celebrated its 19th anniversary in the West End on Saturday, 27 September at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. The award-winning musical features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, with a book by Winnie Holzman. Wayne Cilento handles musical staging, and Joe Mantello directs. Now it has announced its landmark 40th public booking extension through to 3 January 2027. Currently Emma Kingston leads the cast as Elphaba, while Zizi Strallen takes on the role of Glinda. Carl Man, recently seen as Fiyero on tour, has now moved into the West End with the same role. Sarah Ingram joins the principal cast as Madame Morrible alongside Michael Matus as the Wizard – the fourth time the pair have worked on a musical together. Hannah Qureshi stars as Nessarose (and understudy Glinda), David McKechnie as Doctor Dillamond (and understudy the Wizard) and Ross Carpenter as Boq. Laura Emmitt returns to Wicked as alternate Elphaba, while Lydia Gerrard joins the West End production as standby for Glinda. The 2025/26 company is completed by Iroy Abesamis, Zac Adlam, Steph Asamoah (understudy Morrible), Meg Astin, Rebecca Bowden (understudy Morrible), Shaun Chambers (understudy Wizard and Dillamond), Erin Gisele Chapman, Grace Durkin, Onyemachi Ejimofor, Aaron Elijah, Aimee Hodnett (undestudy Glinda), Nat Ingham, Holly Lawrence, Jemima Loddy, Josh Lovell (understudy Fiyero), Rory Maguire (understudy Boq), PaddyJoe Martin, JoJo Meredith (understudy Boq), Ayden Morgan, Rina Punwani, Abbie Quinnen, Jemma Revell (understudy Elphaba and Nessarose), Jeanie Ryan, Charlotte Anne Steen (understudy Elphaba), Chris Tarsey, Hannah Taylor (understudy Nessarose), Titchener and Jacob Young (understudy Fiyero). A record-breaking movie musical starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo bubbled into cinemas in November last year, with a second part due on 21 November.
• Maid Marian and Her Merry Men – a new musical based on Tony Robinson’s hit TV series, and has book, music and lyrics by Vikki Stone while Benji Sperring directs. Expected to premiere in the UK next year, the comedy follows Maid Marian as the true rebel leader. Robinson has signed on as executive producer. There will be an industry presentation on 30 October. Leading the cast will be Bronté Barbé in the title role, alongside Rufus Hound as King John and Natalie Casey as Sheriff of Nottingham. Mateo Oxley will play Robin Hood, Ashley Samuels will play Barrington and Jennie Jacobs will play Graham/Old Tony. On the creative team is also musical supervisor and arranger, Paul Schofield, musical director Gabriel Chernick, movement director Sundeep Saini, sound designer Dan Samson, producers Hopkins and John Rogerson, and general management by Thomas Hopkins Productions.
• Cinderella – a new musical adaptation of the favourite children’s story will premiere at the Rose Theatre Kingston where it will run from 26 November 2025 to 4 January 2026. Written by Olivier Award winner Chris Bush (Standing at the Sky’s Edge) with Roni Neale, and featuring new songs by Matt Winkworth the production will star Joaquin Pedro Valdes (as Prince Chadley), Maddy Hunter (as Ella), Hannah Akhalu (as Snotterella), Corrina Buchan (as Groterella), and Simon Yadoo (as Richard / Lord Richard) alongside young people from Rose Youth Theatre. Complete casting will be announced shortly. Under the direction of Owen Horsley, the creative team also includes Ryan Dawson Laight (set and costume designer), Bretta Gerreke (lighting designer), Dan Balfour (sound designer), Shay Barclay (movement director), Yvonne Stone (puppetry director), Claire Llewellyn (intimacy and fight director), Josh Mathieson (voice and dialect coach), Arthur Carrington (casting director) and Pippa Dykes (associate director).
• Mamma Mia! – the upcoming tour of the much-loved musical which sets out from Mayflower Theatre in Southampton on 24^th October has added even more stops. Following its visit to King’s Theatre Glasgow (13 to 29 August) the new tour dates are SSE Arena Belfast (9 to 12 September 2026), Sheffield Lyceum Theatre (15 to 26 September), Nottingham Royal Concert Hall (29 September to 10 October), Milton Keynes Theatre (13 to 24 October), Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (27 October to 7 November), Alhambra Theatre, Bradford (10 to 21 November), Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff (30 November to 5 December), Liverpool Empire (8 December 2026 to 3 January 2027), and Plymouth Theatre Royal (12 to 30 January 2027).
• Zog – will return for a major UK tour and a London summer season in 2026. The much-loved story by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. A mix of live music, with songs by Joe Stilgoe and puppetry, designed by Little Angel Theatre, the story follows an accident-prone dragon. The tour dates for Zog include Northern Stage, Newcastle (19 to 22 February), Gala Theatre, Durham (24 to 26 February), The Victoria, Halifax (6 to 8 March), The Everyman, Cork (11 to 14 March), The Carriageworks, Leeds (16 to 21 March), Watford Palace (27 to 28 March), Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch (31 March to 2 April), Pavilion Theatre, Worthing (3 to 5 April), Liverpool Playhouse (7 to 11 April), the Lowry, Salford (14 to 19 April), Lancaster Grand Theatre (28 to 29 April), The Atkinson, Southport (1 to 2 May), Royal and Derngate, Northampton (7 to 10 May), Mayflower Studios, Southampton (14 to 17 May), Rose Theatre, Kingston (26 to 31 May), Hull Truck Theatre (4 to 7 June), New Theatre Royal, Lincoln (13 to 14 June), Harlow Playhouse (16 to 17 June), Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford (19 to 21 June), Swan Theatre, Worcester (22 to 24 June), Lyceum Theatre, Crewe (26 to 28 June), Sands Centre, Carlisle (30 June to 2 July), Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow (3 to 5 July), Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh (7 to 12 July), Grand Opera House, York (14 to 15 July), Wyvern Theatre, Swindon (18 to 19 July), Oxford Playhouse (21 to 25 July) and Mercury Theatre, Colchester (28 to 29 July). The summer season at Cadogan Hall, London plays from 2 to 23 August 2026.
• Beetlejuice – will finally get to see the musical when it opens at the Prince Edward Theatre in May 2026, following the closure of MJ. Its limited London season will come on the heels of a third Broadway spell, which commences in October. Based on Tim Burton’s macabre 1988 film, Beetlejuice is about a young woman who summons a mischievous ghost after meeting the recently deceased couple who previously inhabited her big, creepy house. Beetlejuice earned several Tony nominations, including Best Musical. It is directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers, with an original score by Tony Award nominee Eddie Perfect, a book by Tony Award nominee Scott Brown and Tony nominee Anthony King, music supervision, orchestrations, and incidental music by Kris Kukul, and choreography by Connor Gallagher. It features scenic design by three-time Tony Award nominee David Korins, costume design by six-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner, sound design by Tony Award winner Peter Hylenski, projection design by Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award winner Peter Nigrini, puppet design by Drama Desk Award winner Michael Curry, special effects design by Jeremy Chernick, illusions by Michael Weber, hair and wig design by Drama Desk Award nominee Charles G LaPointe, make-up design by Joe Dulude II, and physical movement coordinator Lorenzo Pisoni. The musical is produced in the UK by Crossroads Live and Warner Bros Theatre Ventures.
• Fallen Angels – The Menier Chocolate Factory has announced the revival the 1925 comedy by the English playwright Noël Coward, when the central theme of two wives admitting to premarital sex and contemplating adultery met hostility from the office of the Lord Chamberlain. Set to star are Janie Dee (as Julia Steroll), Alexandra Gilbreath (Jane Banbury), Christopher Hollis (Bill Banbury), Richard Teverson (Fred Steroll), Sarah Twomey (Saunders), and Graham Vick (Maurice Duclos). It is set to be directed by Christopher Luscombe. Joining the creative team are set designer Simon Higlett, costume designer Fotini Dimou, lighting designer Oliver Fenwick, sound designer Adam Cork, composer Nigel Hess and movement by Nicola Keen. Fallen Angels will play from 21 November 2025 to 21 February 2026.
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – a new revival of has been confirmed for next year. The multi-award-winning musical by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler follows a barber hell-bent on revenge. It was announced as centrepiece of the new season from Birmingham Rep.

NEWS UPDATE – 22nd September 2025

By: pHayward 22nd September 2025

• Mamma Mia! – a new touring production of the smash hit musical is set to premiere at Mayflower Theatre in Southampton on 24^th October 2025 where it will run until 8^th November before moving on to visit Bristol Hippodrome (11 to 22 November 2025), New Theatre Oxford (25 November to 6 December 2025), Edinburgh Playhouse (9 December 2025 to 4 January 2026), Swansea Building Society Arena (13 to 24 January 2026), His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen (27 January to 7 February 2026), Newcastle Theatre Royal (11 to 28 February 2026), Palace Theatre Manchester (3 to 21 March 2026), Curve, Leicester (24 to 29 March 2026), Hull New Theatre (7 to 18 April), Venue Cymru, Llandudno (21 to 25 April), Blackpool Opera House (28 April to 3 May), Birmingham Hippodrome (12 to 30 May), Hall for Cornwall, Truro (2 to 13 June), Leeds Grand Theatre (16 to Sat 27 June), Norwich Theatre Royal (30 June to 11 July), Eastbourne Congress Theatre (14 to 19 July), Bournemouth Pavillion Theatre (28 July to 2 August) and King’s Theatre Glasgow (13 to 29 August 2026). The musical which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, is one of the longest-running musicals in theatre history. Since its premiere in 1999, the show has become a global sensation, with over 70 million people having seen it worldwide. The musical has grossed over £4.5 billion at the box office and inspired two successful films. The full cast for this new tour has been confirmed: Jenn Griffin (as Donna Sheridan), Ashleigh Jones (alternate Donna Sheridan), Rosie Glossop (Rosie), Sarah Earnshaw (Tanya), Luke Jasztal (Sam Carmichael), Richard Meek (Harry Bright), Mark Goldthorp (Bill Austin), Lydia Hunt (Sophie Sheridan), Joe Grundy (Sky), Bibi Jay (Ali), Eve Parsons (Lisa), Joseph Vella (Pepper), Ethan Casey-Clothier (Eddie) and William Hazell (Father Alexander). Brook Blackford-Jenkins, James Brice, Aled Davies, Rebecca Donnelly, Ryan Ebbrell, Erin-Sophie Halliday, Marisa Harris, Natorii Illidge, Jay Jobarteh, Sarah McFarlane, Jacob Morrish, Rachel Oates, Megan Speirs, Cameron Sutherland, Richard Vorster and Maisy Wignall complete the cast. Produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East, and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal, the show features ABBA’s timeless hits, written by Benny Andersson and Ulvaeus, and the story by Catherine Johnson. The show is directed by Phyllida Lloyd, with choreography by Anthony Van Laast, design by Mark Thompson, lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material and arrangements by Martin Koch.
• Half Man Half Bull – a new musical from Rewrites, a partnership programme, led by The Lowry, Birmingham Hippodrome, Mayflower Studios and Norwich Theatre. Telling two linked stories of hope and loss by reimagining the classic Greek myths of Theseus and The Minotaur and Daedalus and Icarus, the gig-theatre piece was first seen at Edinburgh Festival Fringe last summer.This new extended version will be presented at Mayflower Studios in Southampton from 12th November before moving on to Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio ahead of visits to the other co-producing venues Previous Rewrites hits include the award-winning Operation Mincemeat.
• Mayflower Transport Subsidy Scheme – Since Mayflower Theatres launched their new initiative in partnership with Xelabus in January, over 1,000 students have been able to experience live theatre, many for the first time. The subsidy scheme helps to fulfil Mayflower’s aim that every person has the right to attend live theatre and experience the joy and opportunity this can bring. The Transport Subsidy Scheme supports schools as well as community groups funding their transport to both Mayflower venues. In 2023, UK Theatre’s Theatre for Every Child campaign was introduced to amplify national voice about the importance of theatre visits for schools and the subsidy scheme is just one way in which Mayflower supports this national campaign. Mayflower recognises that for many schools, lack of finances acts as a barrier to children attending live theatre and already have schemes in place to help the most disadvantaged schools. Nationwide, whilst schools may be able to afford the discounted ticket prices, they cannot afford the transportation costs to get to the venues. These costs are usually redirected to parents, and result in many disadvantaged children not being able to participate, which results in schools deciding not to commit.
• Bank Of Dave the musical – based on the real-life story of Dave Fishwick will have its world premiere at the Lowry from 2 to 16 May 2026 before moving to Curve from 20 to 30 May 2026 and then setting out on tour. The musical will feature a book by Rob Madge and music by Pippa Cleary (The Great British Bake Off Musical), with lyrics by the duo. Based on the BAFTA Award-winning documentary, best-selling book, and hit film, with a screenplay by Piers Ashworth, the new musical is set to be directed by Curve’s artistic director, Nikolai Foster. The musical is produced by ROYO, Future Artists Entertainment, Curve and Lowry. Katie Lander is the consultant for Finestripe Productions.
• Dracapella –Bram Stoker’s gothic classic has been reimagined with a score of a cappella renditions of jukebox hits, including “Somebody to Love” and “The Great Pretender”.Written by Dan Patterson and Jez Bond, it will play at the Park Theatre this Christmas. Set to star will be Ako Mitchell as Dracula. He’ll be joined by Olivier Award winners Stephen Ashfield as Harker and Lorna Want as Mina, while Keala Settle will play Lucy. The cast is completed by Ciarán Dowd, Philip Pope and world champion beatboxer, Alex Hackett, aka ABH. Dracapella will play London’s Park Theatre from 3 December 2025 to 17 January 2026.
• Waitress – will embark on a major new tour next year. With songs from composer-lyricist Sara Bareilles, and a book by Jessie Nelson, the musical follows Jenna Hunterson, a waitress and expert pie maker in a small town and a loveless marriage. The show has enjoyed runs worldwide, including on Broadway, in the West End, and on previous tours. The new tour, produced by Barry and Fran Weissler and David Ian for Crossroads Live, will open at the New Wimbledon Theatre on 28 March 2026, and the full set of announced tour dates can be found below. Multi Award winner Carrie Hope Fletcher will take on the lead role of Jenna for a limited run when the musical travels across the UK next year and is scheduled to appear in Wimbledon, Brighton, Bradford, Woking, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Dublin, Manchester, and Cardiff.
• Les Misérables – will celebrate its 40th birthday in the West End with a special gala performance on 8 October at Sondheim Theatre. All proceeds from the gala performance will go to two UK charities whose work particularly resonates with Victor Hugo’s story about the young Jean Valjean, who needed to steal a loaf of bread to feed his family: The Felix Project and UKHarvest, who both work to rescue fresh and healthy food and redistribute it to those in need in London and around the country. A company of nearly 100 performers from the past 40 years of the hit musical will unite at the Sondheim Theatre on the night with performers including Patti LuPone, Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Samantha Barks, Matt Lucas, Frances Ruffelle, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Gerónimo Rauch, Jeremy Secomb and Bonnie Langford set to feature alongside the 40th anniversary cast who are performing until 1 November 2025. It sees Killian Donnelly as Jean Valjean, with Bradley Jaden as Javert, Katie Hall as Fantine, Jac Yarrow as Marius, Shan Ako as Éponine, Jordan Shaw as Enjolras and Beatrice Penny-Touré as Cosette. Adam Gillen will appear as Thénardier and Marina Prior as Madame Thénardier. The company is completed by Hollie Aires, Aidan Banyard, Nicholas Carter, Ella May Carter, Matthew Dale, Irfan Damani, Lila Falce-Bass, Sophie-May Feek, Jessica Johns-Parsons, Seán Keany, Chris Kiely, Sam Kipling, Mia Lamb, Sarah Lark, Ollie Llewelyn-Williams, Matthew McConnell, Aaron-Jade Morgan, Adam Pearce, William Pennington, Jordan Simon Pollard, Lewis Renninson, Danielle Rose, Georgia Tapp, Noah Thallon, Imaan Victoria, and Danny Whelan. In addition to the alumni joining the celebration, there will be a number of guests who have been involved with the show in attendance.
• Into The Woods – the upcoming revival of the musical at the Bridge Theatre directed by Jordan Fein and with set and costume design by Tom Scutt, will begin on 2 December 2025 and continue until 18 April 2026. Joining Kate Fleetwood whio plays the Witch will be Valda Aviks as Grandmother/Giant, Geoffrey Aymer as Cinderella’s Father, Katie Brayben as the Baker’s Wife, Bella Brown as Rapunzel, Chumisa Dornford-May as Cinderella, Jo Foster as Jack, Michael Gould as the Narrator/Mysterious Man, Jennifer Hepburn as Cinderella’s Stepmother, Hana Ichijo as Lucinda, Julie Jupp as Jack’s Mother, Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson as Florinda, Gracie McGonigal as Little Red Ridinghood, Hughie O’Donnell as the Steward, Jamie Parker as the Baker, Oliver Savile as Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf and Rhys Whitfield as Rapunzel’s Prince. Completing the cast are standbys Taite-Elliot Drew, Jacob Fowler, Sophie Linder-Lee and Chloe Saracco. The creative team includes musical supervisor and musical director Mark Aspinall, sound designer Adam Fisher, lighting designer Aideen Malone, video designer Roland Horvath, movement director Jenny Ogilvie, wigs, hair and make-up designer Sam Cox, production manager Chris Hay, props supervisors Jonathan Hall and Chris Marcus, associate director Georgia Green, associate musical director Alex Beetschen, associate sound designer Ollie Durrant, associate lighting designer Lucy Adams, associate set designer David Allen, associate costume designer Lucy Martin, assistant costume supervisor Lydia McDonald, wigs, hair and make-up supervisor Charlie Watson, costume associate Dan Campton, and make-up consultant Guy Common. Orchestra management is by Andy Barnwell and Richard Weeden for BW Musicians and the casting director is Stuart Burt. Into the Woods is produced by the London Theatre Company.
• Fun Home – is to be revived as part of Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre’s new season for next year. The Tony Award-winning musical will play from 3 July to 1 August 2026. Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron’s coming-out and coming-of-age musical follows cartoonist Alison Bechdel on a journey into her childhood memories, remembering what it’s like to grow up in a funeral home, undergo a sexual awakening in college, and try to make sense of the secrets at the heart of your family. The production will be directed by former artistic director Sarah Frankcom and mark the 20th anniversary of Bechdel’s own graphic novel on which the show is based. Also on the creative team are designer Peter Butler, lighting designer Bethany Gupwell, sound designer Tony Gayle, music supervisor and musical director Matthew Malone.
• A Little Night Music – is to be revived at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre playing from 5 December 2026 to 30 January 2027. The much-loved musical by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler was inspired by a film by Ingmar Bergman and originally produced and directed on Broadway by Harold Prince. Selina Cartmell will direct the production over the 2026 festive period. Set in turn-of-the-century Sweden, the Tony Award-winning musical comedy follows mismatched couples who waltz through a series of self-delusions in search of a happy ending. The piece features key numbers, including “Send in the Clowns” and “Night Waltz” and is suitable for families.
• Mean Girls the Musical – has revealed additional dates for its upcoming UK and Ireland tour. Based on the 2004 Paramount Pictures film, the musical follows Cady Heron as she attempts to navigate the social politics of North Shore High and disrupt the rule of the so-called “Plastics”. Hitting the road from early 2026, kicking off on Mar 07 2026 at Opera House, Manchester and then opens on Mar 10 2026 at Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre before moving on to Stoke-on-Trent Regent Theatre (Mar 30 2026); Sunderland Empire Theatre (Apr 06 2026); Milton Keynes Theatre (Apr 14 2026); Congress Theatre, Eastbourne (Apr 21 2026); Woking New Victoria Theatre (Apr 28 2026); Leicester Curve (May 05 2026); Aberdeen His Majesty’s Theatre (May 12 2026); Cheltenham Everyman Theatre (May 19 2026); Hull New Theatre (May 25 2026); Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre (Jun 01 2026);Belfast Grand Opera House (Jun 09 2026); Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (Jun 23 2026);Glasgow King’s Theatre (Jun 29 2026); Llandudno Venue Cymru (Jul 20 2026); Southend-on-Sea Cliffs Pavilion (Jul 28 2026); Canterbury Marlowe Theatre (Aug 03 2026);Blackpool Winter Gardens and Opera House Theatre (Aug 18 2026);Dublin Bord Gais Energy Theatre (Aug 25 2026): Bristol Hippodrome (Sep 08 2026); Crawley The Hawth (Sep 28 2026), Bradford Alhambra Theatre (Oct 05 2026);Norwich Theatre Playhouse (Oct 13 2026); Liverpool Empire Theatre (Oct 19 2026); Nottingham Theatre Royal (Nov 03 2026); Edinburgh Playhouse (Nov 17 2026); New Wimbledon Theatre (Nov 24 2026); Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (Jan 11 2027); and finally, Newcastle upon Tyne Theatre Royal (Jan 18 (2027). The production features a book by Tina Fey, music by Jeff Richmond, lyrics by Nell Benjamin, and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw. The show’s design team credits include Scott Pask (set), Katrina Lindsay (costume), Kenneth Posner (lighting), Brian Ronan (sound), and Josh Marquette (hair), with musical supervision and arrangements by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, orchestrations by John Clancy and additional arrangements by Glen Kelly.The tour is produced by Lorne Michaels, Crossroads Live and Sonia Friedman Productions.
• Cable Street – the musical will play at Marylebone Theatre from 16 January 2026 to 28 February 2026. The piece, written by composer and lyricist Tim Gilvin and playwright Alex Kanefsky, tells the story of the people of London’s East End in 1936, focusing on three young workers: Sammy, a Polish Jew; Mairead, an Irish Catholic; and Ron, a Lancastrian Brit. The pivotal moment in their lives occurs on Sunday 4 October 1936, during the Battle of Cable Street, with the musical raising the question of which side the young protagonists and their families will be fighting for. It had its first run last year and.the production includes direction by Adam Lenson, choreography by Jevan Howard-Jones, musical supervision by Tamara Saringer, orchestrations and arrangements by Tim Gilvin, vocal arrangements by Gilvin and Saringer, set design by Yoav Segal, lighting design by Sam Waddington and Ben Jacobs, sound by Charlie Smith, and costume design by Lu Herbert. Casting is by Olivia Laydon for Jill Green Casting. Cable Street is produced by Dylan Schlosberg’s 10 to 4 Productions with associate producer Neil Marcus.

NEWS UPDATE – 15th September 2025

By: pHayward 15th September 2025

• We Caliban – an inventive, sideways look at Shakespeare’s The Tempest is being premiered by Shobana Jeyasingh Dance, one of the most dynamic and distinctive forces in UK dance. The Company’s vivid and powerful productions live long in the memory, applauded by audiences and critics alike across the globe. Co-produced by Sadler’s Wells, with support from DanceEast and DANSOX, the new production is based on Shakespeare’s last play, The Tempest, written as Europe was taking its first step towards colonialism. It’s a tale about power – exercised weakly, usurped violently, and regained through strategy and showmanship as seen through the eyes of Caliban, a minor character in the play whose life is changed forever when the power games of distant lands and unknown peoples are played out in his own remote island, making him a “monstrous” servant to a new master and his young daughter. Jeyasingh’s bold and imaginative new work is partnered by visually stunning projections by Will Duke and captivating music by Thierry Pécou. Lighting design is by Floriaan Ganzevoort with set and costume design by Mayou Trikerioti and dramaturgy by Uzma Hameed. We Caliban is performed by eight of Britain’s most talented dancers. The world premiere takes place at Snape Maltings on 20 September 2025 and then vists New Theatre Royal Portsmouth 25 September 2025, Mayflower Studios, Southampton – 2 & 3 October 2025, York Theatre Royal – 17 & 18 October 2025 and Warwick Arts Centre – 21 October 2025.
• The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale – the award-winning production won’t be returning to the UK this autumn as its run has been cancelled. Although the initial plan was to launch an international tour with an exclusive UK date in Plymouth, unexpected changes to the international tour routing schedule required the UK-based production company to secure alternative post-Plymouth touring dates. Directed by Paul Hart, the production began life at the Watermill Theatre in England in the summer of 2023. Since then, it has been seen in Chicago in an augmented production, and has also been staged in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. This musical adaptation was first performed at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto in 2006, which was followed by a run at the Drury Lane in London’s West End in 2007.
• Annie – a new tour of the musical has been revealed. The revival is directed by Curve’s artistic director Nikolai Foster with set and costume design by Colin Richmond, choreography by Nick Winston, lighting by Ben Cracknell and sound design by Richard Brooker. Casting for the tour is yet to be revealed. The tour will open in Wimbledon on 23 May 2026, before visiting Birmingham, Manchester, Plymouth, Canterbury, Cardiff, Milton Keynes, Blackpool, Newcastle, Dublin, Bristol, Nottingham, Hull, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Truro, Cheltenham, Stoke-on-Trent, Crawley, Belfast, Aberdeen, Woking, Bradford, and a festive season in Oxford. Into 2027, the show will visit Sunderland, Norwich, Wolverhampton, Glasgow, and Leicester. Further dates are to be added.
• Elf the Musical – has announced the company for its West End holiday season which opens at the Aldwych Theatre, running from 28 October 2025 to 3 January 2026. Joel Montague, Carrie Hope Fletcher and Aled Jones will star as Buddy, Jovie and Walter Hobbs respectively. Also in the cast are Rosanna Hyland (Back to the Future: the Musical) as Emily Hobbs, Martyn Ellis (Wicked, The Lion King) as Santa/Mr Greenway, Lucinda Lawrence (9 to 5) as Deb and Dermot Canavan (Fiddler on the Roof) as Store Manager with Mollie Cleere, Farirayi Garaba, Sophie Pourret, Lucy Rice, Biancha Szynal, Kyle Cox, Zack Guest, Ryan Jupp, Dominic Lamb and Danny Nattrass. The cast is completed by Sophie Camble, Amy Punter, Samuel John Humphreys and Michael Tyler as swings. The role of Michael Hobbs will be played by Ayrton English, Max Garlick, Harry Georgiou and Samuel Sturge. The show previously ran at the Dominion Theatre in both 2022 and 2023, setting box office records on each occasion. It also had a recent run at the Marquis Theatre on Broadway in 2024, marking its first return to New York in over ten years and setting new weekly gross records. The production is directed by Philip Wm McKinley, with choreography by Liam Steel, set and costume design by Tim Goodchild, lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe, sound design by Gareth Owen, and video design by Ian William Galloway. A new set has been designed for the Aldwych Theatre by Goodchild to accommodate the venue’s dimensions. The production is presented by Temple Live Entertainment.
• Major West End Extensions – Several West End productions have announced further extensions to their already succesful runs. Hamilton at the Victoria Palace – is now set to run until 3 October 2026. Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre will extend its run to Saturday 3 October. The show will celebrate its 40th anniversary in London on Wednesday 8 October 2025. The Phantom of the Opera has extended its run at His Majesty’s Theatre in London through to Saturday 3 October 2026. Oliver! has announced a major extension through to 4 October 2026,
• Treasure Island: A New Musical Adventure – the new musical interpretation created by Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary, the team behind The Great British Bake Off Musical and The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ The Musical, is a version of Robert Louis Stevenson’s tale. It will run at Bristol Old Vic from 4 December 2025 to 10 January 2026 and will be directed by Paul Foster, whose previous work includes The Cabinet Minister at Menier Chocolate Factory and White Christmas at Sheffield Crucible. Jayde Adams, who grew up in Bristol and first took part in Bristol Old Vic Young Company, will play Benita Gunn and Jim Hawkins’ mother. Joining her at Bristol Old Vic this Christmas will be a company of multi-instrumentalist actors. They include Adryne Caulder-James as Jim Hawkins, while comedian and actor Colin Leggo will play Long John Silver. Morgan Val Baker will portray Squire Trelawney/Black Dog, with Lloyd Gorman as Captain Smollett/Jim’s Father and Jack Heydon as O’Brien/Billey Bones, while Philippa Hogg will play Hands, and Sioned Saunders will play Dr Livesey. Completing the creative team are designer Tom Rogers, lighting designer Jai Majaria, sound designer George Dennis, musical director Matthew Spalding, musical supervisor and orchestrator Sarah Travis, choreographer Chi-San Howard, associate director Lisa Gregan, fight director Kate Waters, dialect and voice coach Aundrea Fudge and casting director Annelie Powell.
• Matilda The Musical – the second UK and Ireland tour of the musical has added further dates. Based on Roald Dahl’s book, the production is set to begin performances at Curve, Leicester, on 6 October 2025 where, alongside the continuing West End production, it will celebrate its 15th anniversary. The tour will continue to Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre (30 October to 23 November), Liverpool Empire (2 December to 4 January 2026), Theatre Royal Plymouth (13 January to 7 February), Sunderland Empire (11 to 28 February), Edinburgh Playhouse (4 to 22 March), Manchester Palace Theatre (26 March to 25 April), Mayflower Theatre in Southampton (29 April to 17 May), before visiting Bristol Hippodrome (2 to 27 June), Birmingham Hippodrome (1 July to 2 August), Norwich Theatre Royal (6 August to 6 September), Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin (15 September to 18 October 2026), Milton Keynes Theatre (28 October to 14 November) and Theatre Royal Glasgow (18 November to 5 Decemeber 2026), it will then return to Roald Dahl’s birthplace, Cardiff, where it will run at Wales Millennium Centre from 9 December 2026 to 17 January 2027.
• Sunny Afternoon – the musical will return for a brand new tour later this year. Based on the early life of The Kinks’ Ray Davies, the Olivier Award-winning musical has music and lyrics by Davies, with a book by Joe Penhall and original story by Davies. It is directed by Edward Hall and designed by Miriam Buether with choreography by Adam Cooper. Lighting design is by Rick Fisher with sound design by Matt McKenzie and musical supervision by Elliott Ware. Musical and vocal adaptations are by Ray Davies and Elliott Ware based on original Kinks’ recordings. Casting is by Natalie Gallacher for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher The show first opened at the Hampstead Theatre before transferring to the West End in 2014, where it ran for two years ahead of a tour in 2016. Danny Horn will play Ray Davies, Oliver Hoare plays Dave Davies, Harry Curley plays Peter Quaife and Zakarie Stokes plays Mick Avory. Joining them will be Ben Caplan as Eddie Kassner and Tam Williams as Grenville Collins, who both appeared in the original Hampstead Theatre and West End companies. Reprising their roles from the original UK tour will be Victoria Anderson as Gwen, Deryn Edwards as Mrs Davies, Joseph Richardson as Robert Wace, Lisa Wright as Rasa and James Hudson. The company is completed by Alicia Ally, Morgan Burgess, James Chisholm, Phil Corbitt, Alasdair Craig, Dominic Gee-Burch, Kristian Jacobs, Robin Johnson, Sorrel Jordan, Jada Langley, Timothy Roberts, Georgiana Wainwright-Jones and Emily Whitby-Samways. The tour will open at Manchester Palace Theatre on 10 October, playing until 18 October. It’ll then visit Birmingham, Glasgow, Sunderland, York, Woking, Wimbledon, Swansea, and Brighton. Into 2026, the musical will play Alexandra Palace in London, before visiting Canterbury, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Leeds, Malvern, Torquay, Oxford, Richmond, Stoke on Trent, Stockton, Leicester, Blackpool, Edinburgh, Inverness, Liverpool, and Cardiff.
• Bluey’s Big Play – returns to Mayflower Theatre in Southampton from 20^th February 2026, before continuing on a major tour with stops at Nottingham Royal Concert Hall (26 February – 01 March 2026), The Alexandra, Birmingham (04 – 08 March 2026), New Theatre Oxford (12 – 15 March 2026), Grand Opera House York (19 – 22 March 2026), Sunderland Empire (25 – 29 March 2026), Leicester Curve (02 – 05 April 2026), outhend Cliffs Pavilion (08 – 12 April 2026). Marlowe Theatre Canterbury (15 – 19 April 2026), Belfast Waterfront Hall (23 – 26 April 2026), Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff (07 – 10 May 2026), Sheffield Lyceum (14 – 16 May 2026), Lowry, Salford (22 – 31 May 2026), Venue Cymru (12 – 14 June 2026), Edinburgh Playhouse (18 – 21 June 2026), Liverpool M&S Bank Arena (03 – 05 July 2026), Brighton Centre (10 – 12 July 2026), Aylesbury Waterside Theatre (16 – 19 July 2026), Wolverhampton Grand (23 – 26 July 2026), Bournemouth Pavilion (06 – 09 August 2026), Bristol Beacon (13 – 16 August 2026) and Dublin 3Olympia (20 – 30 August 2026). Bringing the title role of Bluey to life are Shakira Alleyne (Hey Duggee/ Bluey’s Big Play UK & Ireland Tour), Shea Ellen Roberts (To the Moon and Back / Captain Birdbrains Birthday) and Laura Wingrove (The Stranger Things Experience/ Girl Scouts vs Aliens). Starring as Bingo are Shanaye Flanagan (Bluey’s Big Play, International Tour/Smurfs Live on Stage, CBeebies & Friends-It’s Party Time!), recent graduate Reanne Hewitt, and Tess Oliver (Bluey’s Big Play UK & Ireland/Europe Tour). Taking on the role of Dad are Adam Ryan (Bluey’s Big Play UK & Ireland /Europe Tour, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show), Aarod Vawser (Bluey’s Big Play Australia, US, UK & Ireland & Europe), and Rhys Wild (Zog Live UK Tour). Sharing the role of Mum are Miroe Fuches (Bluey’s Big Play UK & Ireland / International Tour, The Wizard of Oz), Olivia Rainbow (The Paddington Bear Experience, Thor the Walrus), and Evie Whybrow (The Jungle Book, Magic at the Musicals). With Helena Mitchell (Milkshake Live, The Dinosaur Show), who also joins as Off-Stage Swing.
• The Bodyguard – the full company for the UK and European tour of the award-winning smash hit musical which returns to Mayflower Theatre in Southampton on 21^st to 25th April 2026, has been announced. Sidonie Smith will star as Rachel Marron, Sasha Monique as Nicki Marron and Matt Milburn as Sy Spector, will be John Macaulay as Bill Devaney, Jonathan Alden as Tony, James-Lee Harris as Stalker and Ryan Bennett as Ray Court. The role of Fletcher will be shared by Rio Chigwedere, Cale Cole, Prince Conteh and Mason Dyett. The role of Frank Farmer will be announced in due course. The company is completed by Taylor Bridges, Kayne Gordon, Ohaana Greaves, Mireia Mambo, Alice Readie, Theo UK Rose, Emma-Jane Smith, Yiota Theo, Luke Walsh, Luke Woollaston and Zirihi Zadi. At certain performances, the role of Rachel Marron will be played by Mireia Mambo. Based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Oscar nominated Warner Bros. movie starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, THE BODYGUARD, directed by Thea Sharrock, with book by Oscar winning Alex Dinelaris, had its world premiere at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End and was nominated for four Olivier Awards. A sell out 18-month UK and Ireland tour followed, before the show returned to the West End at the Dominion Theatre ahead of two further sell out tours of the UK and Ireland in 2018/19 and 2023. Producers Michael Harrison and David Ian are delighted to report that to date, the musical has played to over 3.9 million people in 15 countries and 45 US cities. Countries include the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, Canada, Italy, Australia, Spain, France, the US, Austria and Japan.

NEWS UPDATE – 8th September 2025

By: pHayward 8th September 2025

• Back To The Future The Musical – is set to embark on its first ever UK tour, opening in Bristol on 8^th October 2026. Subsequent dates are Edinburgh Playhouse from 2^nd December for the Christmas season and then on to Liverpool Empire from 12^th January 2027, Milton Keynes from 9^th February, Sunderland Empire 13^th April and then Mayflower Theatre in Southampton from 8^th June until 3^rd July 2027. The production is based on the 1985 Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment film Back to the Future, which starred Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Dr Emmett Brown. Written by Bob Gale, the stage adaptation features new music and lyrics by Emmy and Grammy Award winner Alan Silvestri and six-time Grammy winner Glen Ballard, alongside classics from the film such as “The Power of Love” and “Johnny B Goode.” The musical continues to run in London’s West End at the Adelphi Theatre, where it is entering its fifth year, having broken box office records and entertained more than two million people since its 2021 premiere. It has won multiple awards, including the Olivier Awards for Best New Musical. Internationally, the show has been staged in North America, Japan and on Royal Caribbean Cruises, with productions in Australia and Germany also planned. To date, it has been seen by over four million people worldwide. The show is directed by Tony Award-winner John Rando, with set and costume design by Tim Hatley, choreography by Chris Bailey, illusions by Chris Fisher, lighting design by Tim Lutkin and Hugh Vanstone, sound by Gareth Owen and video design by Finn Ross. Musical supervision and arrangements are by Nick Finlow, with orchestrations by Ethan Popp and Bryan Crook, dance arrangements by David Chase, and casting by David Grindrod for Grindrod Burton Casting.
• Don Black – will return to the West End later this year with his new revue show. The multi-award-winning lyricist will celebrate his lifelong love of cabaret and the New York cabaret scene. The Oscar winner has created classics including “Diamonds are Forever”, “Born Free”, “Sunset Boulevard”, and “Aspects of Love” across his fifty-year career. From The Heart will feature music from some of his most celebrated collaborators, including Gary Barlow, Natasha Bedingfield, David Arnold, Alan Menken, Mike Batt, and more. Performing the numbers will be Sydnie Christmas, Preeya Kalidas and Clive Rowe, alongside three other guests to be confirmed. Nick Winston will direct, with musical direction and arrangements by Nick Barstow. The revue will play at the West End’s Fortune Theatre on Sunday, 26 October, and Sunday, 2 November.
• The Secret Garden – The Musical – a revival of the musical has been announced. This new production will be directed by Tony Award winner John Doyle, who returns to York Theatre Royal, where he served as artistic director from 1993 to 1997. Based on Frances Hodgson Burnett’s beloved classic, the story follows the newly orphaned Mary Lennox, who is sent to live on the moors with her widower uncle and discovers Aunt Lily’s mysterious yet neglected garden. Featuring music by Lucy Simon and book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman, the original Broadway production premiered in 1991, winning three Tony Awards and three Drama Desk Awards. The Secret Garden opens at York Theatre Royal on 19 March 2026, with previews from 17 March. It plays until 4 April.
• Lovers Actually – will run at London’s The Other Palace Studio this Christmas. The new parody reunites the team behind last year’s production Homo Alone and is written by Jodie Prenger and Neil Hurst. The cast includes Joseph Beach, Ross Clifton, Martha Pothen and Holly Sumpton, who will take on multiple roles including characters made familiar by the original film. Direction is by Alex Jackson, with choreography by Kim Healey, set and costume design by Louie Whitemore, lighting design by Sherry Coenen, sound design by Hannah Bracegirdle and musical direction by Lauren Hopkinson. The show runs from 21 November to 4 January 2026.
• Barnum – has extended its tour which opens at the Theatre Royal Windsor on 3 February 2026. The tour, produced by Bill Kenwright Ltd, launches with Lee Mead starring as PT Barnum. Mead will lead the production through to July, playing at Manchester Palace Theatre (10 to 14 February), York Grand Opera House (24 to 28 February), Brighton Theatre Royal (3 to 7 March), Portsmouth Kings Theatre (10 to 14 March), Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre (17 to 21 March), Aylesbury Waterside Theatre (24 to 28 March), Bradford Alhambra Theatre (31 March to 4 April), Cheltenham Everyman Theatre (7 to 11 April), Dublin Bord Gáis Energy Theatre (14 to 18 April), Birmingham Hippodrome (21 to 25 April), Sheffield Lyceum Theatre (28 April to 2 May), Swindon Wyvern Theatre (5 to 9 May), Woking New Victoria Theatre (19 to 23 May), Nottingham Playhouse (26 to 30 May), Hull New Theatre (2 to 6 June), Blackpool Opera House (9 to 13 June), Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre (16 to 20 June), Richmond Theatre (23 to 27 June) and Southend Cliffs Pavilion (30 June to 4 July). Then the role of PT Barnum gets taken on by Matt Rawle who reprises his acclaimed 2024 Watermill Theatre performance for the newly added autumn leg which opens at Newcastle Theatre Royal in August and continue across further UK venues until the end of November, with full casting and dates to be confirmed. The production, directed by Jonathan O’Boyle (Picture You Dead, The Last Five Years) and choreographed by Oti Mabuse (Strictly Come Dancing), is billed as a spectacular staging featuring over 20 actor-musicians performing on 150 instruments, alongside acrobats and international circus acts. The creative team features Lee Newby (set and costume design), Matt Nicholson (co-choreographer), Jai Morjaria (lighting design), Tom Marshall (sound design), George Dyer (musical supervisor, arrangements and orchestrations) and Amy Panter (circus director).
• Beautiful Little Fool – casting has been revealed for the world premiere of the new musical exploring the lives of Zelda and F Scott Fitzgerald. It will open on 15 January 2026 and ru to 28 February 2026 at Southwark Playhouse Borough. With music and lyrics by Broadway’s Hannah Corneau and a book by Mona Mansour, the production is directed by Michael Greif (Rent, Next to Normal, Dear Evan Hansen). Told through the eyes of Scottie Fitzgerald, the story revisits the turbulent marriage of her parents.Lauren Ward will play Scottie, alongside Declan Bennett as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Corneauas Zelda. The creative team features orchestrations by Adam Rothenberg, musical direction by Jerome van den Berghe (Stereophonic), set design by Shankho Chaudhuri (Macbeth at the Donmar Warehouse), lighting by five-time Tony nominee Ben Stanton (Fun Home, The Notebook), and sound by Domnic Bilkey (The Lehman Trilogy). No casting director has been disclosed by the produciton.Originally commissioned by New Works Provincetown, the musical is produced by Mark Cortale, Jonathan Murray and Harvey Reese.
• The Bodyguard – the new tour has announced full casting for the musical. Sidonie Smith will star as Rachel Marron with Adam Garcia as Frank Farmer, Sasha Monique as Nicki Marron and Matt Milburn as Sy Spector. At certain performances, the role of Rachel Marron will be played by Mireia Mambo. Joining them will be John Macaulay as Bill Devaney, Jonathan Alden as Tony, James-Lee Harris as Stalker and Ryan Bennett as Ray Court. The role of Fletcher will be shared by Rio Chigwedere, Cale Cole, Prince Conteh and Mason Dyett. The ensemble includes Taylor Bridges, Kayne Gordon, Ohaana Greaves, Mireia Mambo, Alice Readie, Theo UK Rose, Emma-Jane Smith, Yiota Theo, Luke Walsh, Luke Woollaston and Zirihi Zadi. At certain performances, Rachel Marron will be played by Mireia Mambo. Directed by Thea Sharrock, the musical features a book by Alex Dinelaris and Whitney Houston’s greatest hits. The new tour will launch at Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre, running from 20 to 27 September 2025 – before visiting Blackpool, Oxford, Aberdeen, Milton Keynes, Stoke, Zurich, Munich, Southend, Manchester, Truro, Sheffield, Wimbledon, Berlin, Frankfurt, Southampton, Sunderland, Belfast, Leicester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Llandudno, Bradford, Liverpool, Norwich, Woking, Plymouth, Nottingham, Cardiff, Newcastle, Dublin and Eastbourne. The Bodyguard has played to almost four million people in 15 countries including the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, Canada, Italy, Australia, Spain, France, the USA, Austria and Japan.
• To Sir, With Love – A New Musical – will debut withtwo concert performances at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on 24 November 2025. Wayne Brady will make his West End musical debut, the five-time Emmy Award winner and Grammy nominee will star opposite Lulu. Brady takes on the role of Rick Braithwaite, first played on screen by Sidney Poitier in the 1967 film. Lulu, who made the title song “To Sir, with Love” an international hit, returns to the story in a special appearance. The musical adaptation of E R Braithwaite’s memoir features a score by John Farrar and Kara DioGuardi, with direction by Sheldon Epps, arrangements by Eve Nelson, musical supervision and orchestrations by Joseph Joubert, dramaturgy by Shereen Jasmin Phillips and choreography by Edgar Godineaux. Casting is by Debbie O’Brien. To Sir, With Love is produced by Lythgoe Productions and Darren Bell, with Alex Day, Willette and Manny Klausner, Jonathan and Jennifer Yaek and Rebecca Bahling-Lythgoe. The show has been developed through the Ogunquit Playhouse New Works Program.
• The Sound of Music – will return to Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 14 November to 21 December 2025. The cast will include Kirsty Findlay and Ali Watt who will reprise their roles as Maria Rainer and Captain Georg von Trapp, while other casting and the creative team will be announced in the coming weeks.
• Little Shop of Horrors – Derby Theatre and Northern Stage will collaborate on a new production of the musical opening at Northern Stage from 8 to 23 May 2026 before transferring to Derby Theatre from 30 May to 20 June 2026. The production, directed by Derby Theatre’s artistic director and CEO Sarah Brigham, will feature a company of actor-musicians and integrate creative captions throughout every performance. Artist Ben Glover will design captions inspired by B-movie aesthetics, aiming to make the show more accessible for Deaf and hard of hearing audiences while enhancing the production for all. With music by Alan Menken and book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, the cult musical follows flower shop worker Seymour who discovers a plant that feeds on human blood, leading to fame, fortune and deadly consequences.
• Ballad Lines – a new folk musical will receive its London premiere at Southwark Playhouse Elephant, running from 23 January to 21 March 2026. The musical is co-created by Finn Anderson (Islander) and Tania Azevedo (But I’m A Cheerleader). With a book by Anderson and Azevedo and music and lyrics by Anderson, Ballad Lines weaves together original songs with reimagined traditional Scottish, Irish and Appalachian ballads, performed by an all-female band. The musical follows Sarah, a queer woman living in New York who has turned her back on the folk traditions of her childhood. Her rediscovery of these songs leads her on a journey across time, connecting her with Cait, a minister’s wife in 17th-century Scotland, and Jean, a teenager navigating 18th-century Ireland. The show was first commissioned in 2014 by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Northwestern’s American Music Theatre Project, and premiered under the title A Mother’s Song at Macrobert Arts Centre in 2023. The creative team includes TK Hay (set design), Shonagh Murray (music direction), Tinovimbanashe Sibanda (choreography), Simon Wilkinson (lighting), and Andy Johnson (sound). Eliza Beth Stevens is assistant director, James Anderton is production manager, Kristie Winsen is general manager and Jane Deitch is casting director. Ballad Lines is lead produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and Kate Taylor for KT Producing, and co-produced with Wolk Transfer Company and TRW Production.
• Moulin Rouge! The Musical – has announced new West End casting as the production extends into its fifth year at the Piccadilly Theatre. From 13 October 2025, Karis Anderson will take on the role of Satine and Alistair Brammer will play Christian. They join Craig Ryder, who continues as Harold Zidler, while Richard Lloyd King joins as Toulouse-Lautrec. Ben Richards is continuing as the Duke, Ivan De Freitas as Santiago and Lindsey Tierney as Nini. Hannah Jay-Allan and Helen K Wint will alternate the role of Arabia, with Matteo Johnson as Baby Doll, Athena Collins as La Chocolat and Angela Marie Hurst as alternate Satine.

NEWS UPDATE – 1st September 2025

By: pHayward 1st September 2025

• Next to Normal – the regional premiere of the musical will be the 2026 spring production of The Old Joint Stock Theatre in Birmingham. The Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical, with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt, will run from 8 to 26 April. The piece, which recently played in the West End (and will shortly be shown in UK cinemas), follows a suburban family coping with the impact of mental illness and loss. The production is directed by the venue’s artistic director James Edge. The creative team also includes Emily Susanne Lloyd as associate director and producer, Liam Alexandru as marketing director, with artwork by Tom Mann/Ghostlight Studios and digital media from Perro Loco Productions.
• Heathers the Musical – will return to the UK from summer 2026 for a new tour. The musical has played three West End runs and three UK and Ireland tours to date. It was also filmed for streaming on The Roku Channel in 2022. The show first premiered in Los Angeles in 2013 before transferring to New York’s New World Stages in 2014. A revised version opened in London in 2018, featuring new material that has since been incorporated into the current New York production. Bill Kenwright Ltd and Paul Taylor-Mills, the producers, have said that UK tour dates and venues are to be announced in due course. Meanwhile, international audiences will also be able to catch the production in Australia and New Zealand from April 2026, with stops in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Canberra, Perth, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. In New York, the current production opened in June 2025 at New World Stages, where it has been extended until 25 January 2026 following record-breaking sales.Looking ahead, the musical will tour the United States from spring 2027. The show is directed by Anndy Fickman, with choreography by Gary Lloyd, design by David Shields, lighting by Ben Cracknell, sound by Dan Samson and musical supervision by Jeremy Wootton and Will Joy.
• Little Shop of Horrors – a new revival of the musical will run in Manchester from 25 September to 29 November 2026. The Hope Mill Theatre and Thomas Hopkins Production will be directed and choreographed by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, who is currently represented in the West End and on Broadway with her Tony and Olivier Award-nominated choreography for Six. The Manchester run will be the longest sit-down staging of the show in the UK since the 2007 West End production. This new production marks the latest collaboration between Hopkins and the Manchester venue, following previous partnerships including Rose which starred Maureen Lipman and transferred to the West End in 2023, and Peter Quilter’s comedy Glorious!, which will tour the UK in 2026. With music by Alan Menken and book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, Little Shop of Horrors is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International. The show tells the tale of a carnivorous alien plant with an insatiable desire for consuming human flesh.
• The Capital Theatre – in west London has pushed back its opening date to 2026. The theatre will feature a 620-seat auditorium, designed by the same team responsible for notable London venues including the Bridge Theatre and the transformed Kit Kat Club, home of Cabaret. The venue’s owners have said that the delay is due to “planning and design issues during the early stages of construction.” They also now intend to “take the opportunity to further enhance the venue, adding a full-size double height rehearsal studio and additional backstage and front of house facilities.” Covering 35,000 square feet, the venue will include an intimate auditorium where no seat is more than nine rows from the stage. The theatre will debut with Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage, a production that has enjoyed a decade of sold-out runs across the UK. Performances will now begin next year, with further details to be revealed in due course.
• Top Hat – the cast has been announced for the UK tour of Top Hat, opening on 18 September 2025 at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking. Produced by Kenny Wax and Jonathan Church Theatre Productions’ stage version of the 1935 Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film will retain many of the cast from the Chichester Festival Theatre run including Phillip Attmore as Jerry Travers, Sally Ann Triplett as Madge Hardwick, James Clyde as Bates and Alex Gibson-Giorgio as Alberto Beddini. Amara Okereke joins as Dale Tremont with James Hume as Horace Hardwick. The touring company also features Lindsay Atherton, Rhiannon Bacchus, Jeremy Batt, Freddie Clements, Pedro Donoso, Bethan Downing, Autumn Draper, Tilly Ducker, Maddie Harper, Stuart Hickey, Laura Hills, Connor Hughes, George Lyons, David McIntosh, Jordan Oliver, Emily Anne Potter, Joe Press, Molly Rees Howe, Kirsty Sparks and Toyan Thomas-Browne. The production is directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall, with music and lyrics by Berlin and a book by Matthew White and Howard Jacques. The creative team includes Peter McKintosh (set design), Yvonne Milnes and Peter McKintosh (costume design), Gareth Valentine (musical supervision), Stephen Ridley (musical direction), Chris Walker (orchestration and arrangement), Tim Mitchell (lighting), Paul Groothuis (sound), Natalie Gallacher CDG for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting (casting), Carol Lee Meadows (associate director and choreographer), Cameron Wenn (associate director), Ben Davies (associate set designer), Imogen Clarke (associate lighting designer), Rich Pomeroy (associate sound designer), Luke Holman (associate musical director) and Richard Pitt (resident director and choreographer). Following its Woking run, Top Hat will visit Milton Keynes, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Wimbledon, Canterbury, Liverpool, Cardiff, Sunderland and Manchester before a five-week Christmas season at the South Bank Centre in London and will then continue to Sheffield, Dublin, Glasgow, Eastbourne, Southend, Birmingham, Aberdeen, Norwich, Salford and Southampton.
• Starlight Express – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s award-winning musical will extend once again at the Starlight Auditorium at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, located within Wembley Park. This marks the show’s sixth extension since opening at the venue and is now set to run until 19^th April 2026. The current company features Jeevan Braich and Gavin Adams as Rusty, Jade Marvin as Momma McCoy, Olivia Ringrose as Greaseball, Asher Forth as Electra, Sophie Naglik as Pearl and Georgia Pemberton as Dinah and Jaydon Vijn as Hydra. Also in the cast are Jamie Addison, Jessie Angell, Ollie Augustin, Evan Taylor Benyacar, Charles Butcher, Cletus Chan, Tamara Verhoven Clyde, Jamie Cruttenden, Kelly Downing, Isaac Edwards, Maddy Erzan-Essien, Sam Gallacher, Lucy Glover, Amiyah Goodall, Scott Hayward, Dante Hutchinson, Iwan James, Lewis Kidd, Hannah Kiss, Nicole Louise-Lewis, Bethany Rose Lythgoe, Temi Olawole, Harrison Peterkin, RED, Ashley Rowe, Sheridan, Dieuwke Tonissen, Nicky Wong Rush, Charlie Russell, Lara Vina Uzcatia and Amber Weston.
• Get Down Tonight – The Official KC and the Sunshine Band Musical – will have its initial UK run at the Charing Cross Theatre in London from 19 September to 15 November 2025. The musical is based on the early life of Harry Wayne Casey, founder of KC and the Sunshine Band, set in 1970s Miami and following four friends during the early years of Casey’s career. It features more than 20 songs from their back catalogue, including “Give It Up”, “That’s The Way (I Like It)” and “Get Down Tonight.” The production, developed with Casey, features music and lyrics by Casey and a book by J. F. Lawton (Pretty Woman). It will be directed and choreographed by Lisa Stevens. The cast includes Ross Harmon (Shucked) as Harry Wayne Casey (KC), alongside Adam Taylor (Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club) as Orly, Paige Fenlon (Pretty Woman) as Dee and Annabelle Terry (Scissorhandz) as Gina. Fenlon and Terry are both reprising their roles from the show’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe run in 2024. Making up the ensemble are Aaron Archer (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat), Eve Drysdale (Fame the Musical), Rachael Kendall Brown (Pretty Woman) and Finley Oliver, marking his professional debut. Get Down Tonight was previously staged under the title Who Do Ya Love? in Edinburgh. It has been reworked into a 90-minute format without an interval. The production is presented by ATG Productions, Gavin Kalin Productions, Casey, CTK Enterprises and LPO.
• Singin’ in the Rain – The Royal Exchange Theatre has revealed the cast for its Christmas show based on the seminal film of the same name, it will be directed by Raz Shaw, who previously helmed The Producers at the venue. The production will run from 29 November 2025 to 18 January 2026. The musical, by Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed, will be staged in the round. Leading the cast will be Louis Gaunt as Don Lockwood, Laura Baldwin as Lina Lamont, Danny Collins as Cosmo Brown and WhatsOnStage Award winner Carly Mercedes Dyer as Kathy Selden. They’ll be joined by Carl Sanderson as Roscoe Dexter, with Clancy Ryan as Dora Bailey and Julius D’Silva as RF Simpson. Completing the cast are Tanisha-Mae Brown, Adam Davidson, Frances Dee, Zac Frieze, Jessica Keable, Gregor McCann, Benjamin Mundy, Ria Tanaka and Thomas Walton. Choreography is by Alistair David, with music supervisor, orchestrations and additional arrangements by Matthew Malone, set and costume design by Richard Kent, lighting design by Jack Knowles and sound design by Yvonne Gilbert.