NEWS UPDATE – 24th November 2025

By: pHayward 24th November 2025

• The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind – The Royal Shakespeare Company, Kenny Wax Limited and Chuchu Nwagu Productions have announced the full cast and creative team for, the new musical based on the true story of William Kamkwamba. The production will open at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon on 14 February and run to 21 March 2026 before a West End transfer to @sohoplace for a 12-week season from 25 April to 18 July 2026,..Based on the novel by Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, as well as Potboiler Productions and Chiwetel Ejiofor’s film, the new musical features a book and lyrics by Richy Hughes and music and lyrics by Tim Sutton, with direction by Lynette Linton. The musical tells the story of Kamkwamba, a Malawian teenager who, during a time of famine and poverty, built a wind turbine from scrap materials to bring electricity and water to his village. His ingenuity and determination became a symbol of resourcefulness and the power of education. Alistair Nwachukwu will make his RSC debut as William Kamkwamba. The company also includes Madeline Appiah as Agnes Kamkwamba, Tsemaye Bob-Egbe as Annie Kamkwamba, Owen Chaponda as Mike Kachigunda/Blessings, McCallam Connell as Chief Wimbe, Eddie Elliott as Jeremiah Kamkwamba/Patience, Shaka Kalokoh as Charity, Idriss Kargbo as Gilbert Mofat, Newtion Matthews as Mister Ofesi, Sifiso Mazibuko as Trywell Kamkwamba, Choolwe Laina Muntanga as Mika Kamkwamba, Tomi Ogbaro as Mizeck, Lori Barker as Ensemble, Alex Okoampa as Ensemble, Yana Penrose as Khamba and Helena Pipe as Edith Sikelo. Offstage understudies are Tad Hapaguti and Daniel Haswell. Joining Linton, Hughes and Sutton on the creative team are set and costume designer Frankie Bradshaw, choreographer Shelley Maxwell, lighting designer Oliver Fenwick, sound designer George Dennis, video designer Gino Ricardo Green, wigs, hair and make-up designer Cynthia De La Rosa, musical supervisor Liam Godwin, orchestrator Benjamin Kwasi Burrell, puppet designer Nick Barnes, puppetry director Laura Cubitt, fight director Kate Waters, dramaturg George Harrison, dramatherapist Wabriya King, casting director Heather Basten, musical director Ashton Moore, voice and dialect coach Joel Trill, associate director TD Moyo, Chaponda as assistant dramaturg and executive producer Ejiofor. Ejiofor wrote, directed and starred in the 2019 film adaptation of the same story.
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – will be the summer 2026 musical at The Watermill Theatre. The award-winning venue will mount a new production of the musical which will run from 26 May to 13 September.. The production will be directed by Paul Hart, with music and lyrics by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman and a stage adaptation by Jeremy Sams. Creative team members include set and costume designer Katie Lias, musical supervisor and orchestrator Stuart Morley, choreographer Anjali Mehra, puppet designer, maker and director Marc Parrett, and lighting designer Jai Morjaria. Further appointments and casting will follow in the spring.
• Olympia Theatre – the new West End venue to be managed by The Shubert Organization and Trafalgar Entertainment have announced that the Theatre’s naming rights have been acquired by British Airways. The venue, under a 70-year lease with Trafalgar Entertainment, will be the largest new theatre to open in London since the National Theatre in 1976. It forms part of the £1.3 billion redevelopment of the 140-year-old Olympia exhibition site into a cultural and entertainment destination near the Royal Albert Hall. The 1,575-seat venue is set to open in 2027. The Olympia redevelopment will also include exhibition and conference facilities for up to 20,000 people, a 3,800-capacity live music venue operated by AEG Presents, revealed today as the British Airways ARC, as well as hotels, offices, restaurants, a school, and a community theatre. Partnerships with organisations such as the BRIT School will form part of the site’s broader cultural offer.
• Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage – which has pushed back its opening from this autumn to next year will now open at a new purpose-built, 620-seat auditorium Capital Theatre in West London on Friday 16 October 2026. The theatre, designed by the same team responsible for notable London venues including the Bridge Theatre and the transformed Kit Kat Club, home of Cabaret will host the musical which has enjoyed a decade of sold-out runs across the UK.
• Heathers the Musical – will return to the UK from summer 2026 for a brand-new tour. Based on the 1989 film starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, the show, penned by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe, 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. The musical has played three West End runs and three UK and Ireland tours to date. The tour will take in Theatre Royal Windsor (26 to 29 August), Leeds Grand Theatre (1 to 5 September), Nottingham Theatre Royal (8 to 12 September), Darlington Hippodrome (22 to 26 September), Poole Lighthouse (29 September to 3 October), Peterborough New Theatre (13 to 17 October) and Blackpool Grand (27 to 31 October). The show is directed by Andy 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.
• The High Life – a musical – co-produced by Dundee Rep Theatre with National Theatre of Scotland, Aberdeen Performing Arts and Capital Theatres will reunite Alan Cumming, Forbes Masson, Siobhan Redmond and Patrick Ryecart for the production, directed by Andrew Panton, running in Dundee from 27 March to 4 April before touring. The new musical is based on the 1990s television show The High Life and will tour Scotland in spring 2026. First broadcast in 1995 following a pilot the year before, The High Life was created by and starred Cumming and Masson. The sitcom followed the antics of Air Scotia flight attendants Steve, Sebastian and Shona, as well as their captain Hilary Duff. The musical picks up with the characters several decades later as they face new challenges in a changing world. The show is the first title confirmed as part of the National Theatre of Scotland’s 20th anniversary programme. The musical features a script and lyrics by Cumming, Masson and Johnny McKnight, with music by Masson and additional contributions from Cumming. Andrew Panton directs, with design by Colin Richmond, choreography by Emily Jane Boyle, musical supervision by Sarah Travis, and lighting design by Grant Anderson. The musical will tour visiting His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen, Festival Theatre in Edinburgh, Eden Court Theatre, and King’s Theatre in Glasgow concluding on 16 May. Redmond reprises her role as Shona Spurtle, with Ryecart returning as Captain Hilary Duff. The new production reimagines the original setting, presenting the crew in a story about holding onto relevance, dealing with change and reconciling old friendships.
• The Singer – a new musical to be produced by Dundee Rep Theatre collaboration with Solar Bear, Aberdeen Performing Arts and the Traverse Theatre. Written by Cora Bissett and Jamie Rea, with songs by KT Tunstall, it previews in Dundee in July before its Edinburgh Festival Fringe premiere and subsequent tour.
• Already Perfect – the UK premiere of the new musical will take place at the King’s Head Theatre from 9 January to 15 February 2026. The musical is written by Levi Kreis, who also appears in the production along with Killian Thomas Lefevre and Yiftach “Iffy” Mizrahi. The musical follows a performer on the brink as he prepares for the filming of his Broadway show. A visit from his sponsor prompts an encounter with his younger self, setting off a confrontation between past and present. Kreis won a Tony Award for playing Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet on Broadway and has also appeared in Violet, Hadestown, and Rent. His screen credits include Frailty, The Divide and A Very Sordid Wedding, and he has released 11 albums. Already Perfect marks his debut as a musical theatre writer. The creative team includes Dave Solomon, who directs and contributes additional book material, with music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations by Matthew Antonio Perri. Scenic design is by Jason Ardizzone-West, sound design by Jessica Paz, lighting design by Ian Scott and costume design by Jason Antone. Jennifer Rooney is movement director, with Alfred Taylor-Gaunt as assistant director. Casting is by Will Burton for Grindrod Burton, with Larry Lelli producing and Katy Lipson as executive producer and general manager.
• Trompe l’Oeil – the new musical by Henry Parkman Biggs, will run at Contact, Manchester next spring from 18 April to 2 May 2026. The production arrives following a sold-out run in St Louis and will be presented in a 70-minute version that draws on its earlier off-Broadway and London stagings. The show reimagines The Wizard of Oz through a 2015/16 American lens, with a narrative centred on a drag queen navigating a shifting political and cultural landscape. The musical includes circus elements and features lyrics with embedded messages that expand on the story’s themes. The creative team includes Blair Anderson and Thomas Ashton as choreographers, Sarah-Jane Price as casting director, and producers Funky Tickle Productions, Michael Silverman, Scott and Staci Valley, Steve Sonnette and Henry Parkman Biggs.
• The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals – will make its full-length West End debut next spring with this new musical playing for two weeks at the Apollo Theatre from 14 to 30 May 2026. The show, which first appeared online in 2018, follows Paul Matthews, who finds his everyday life upended when a mysterious alien arrival causes his town to break into song. The production is directed by Lauren Lopez with a book by Nick and Matt Lang, music and lyrics by Jeff Blim and choreography by James Tolbert. The cast includes Jon Matteson, Joey Richter, Jeff Blim, Jaime Lyn Beatty, Mariah Rose Faith Casillas, Corey Dorris and Lopez. Producers StarKid rose to prominence in 2009 with A Very Potter Musical, which became a viral hit and launched the company’s online following. The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals has accumulated more than 9.4 million views on YouTube since its 2018 release and was recently revived in California. This marks the first time the show has appeared on a London stage. The company previously appeared in the UK at The London Palladium with It’s StarKid Innit in 2024 and I Can’t Believe It’s Been a Little Less Than a Year in 2025.

NEWS UPDATE – 17th November 2025

By: pHayward 17th November 2025

• Mayflower Theatre – celebrating the return of their iconic auditorium chandeliers following an extensive restoration project that began in November 2024. The fully refurbished chandeliers have been reinstalled this week, once again taking pride of place in the Grade II listed theatre. Originally designed in 1928 by architects W and T.R. Milburn for Moss Empires, the chandeliers have been a defining feature of the theatre’s auditorium for nearly a century. As part of Mayflower Theatre’s rolling Planned Preventative Maintenance Programme, and with the centenary of the building in sight, the chandeliers were identified for a complete refurbishment to preserve their historic beauty and ensure their longevity. The restoration has been carried out by Crystal Light Chandeliers LTD, a company renowned for its expertise in the care of fine chandeliers, including those found in royal residences. Their specialist craftsmanship has ensured that the chandeliers, which have dazzled audiences for generations, will continue to shine for hopefully another 100 years.
• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – the new production of the play, adapted by Simon Stephens from Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel, will be directed by Ned Bennett and co-produced by Melting Pot and the Birmingham Rep will open at Birmingham Rep in September 2026 before embarking on a major UK tour, whichwill visit Woking’s New Victoria Theatre from 22 to 26 September, Brighton’s Theatre Royal from 29 September to 3 October, Milton Keynes Theatre from 6 to 19 October, Nottingham’s Theatre Royal from 13 to 17 October, Leicester’s Curve Theatre from 20 to 24 October, York’s Grand Opera House from 27 to 31 October, Liverpool’s Empire Theatre from 3 to 7 November, and Bath’s Theatre Royal from 24 to 28 November. Into 2027, the tour will visit Edinburgh, Festival Theatre from 12 to 16 January, Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre from 19 to 23 January, Sunderland’s Empire Theatre from 2 to 6 February, Cambridge’s Arts Theatre from 9 to 13 February, Richmond Theatre from 16 to 20 February, Northampton’s Derngate Theatre from 22 to 27 February, Manchester’s Opera House from 2 to 6 March, Glasgow’s Theatre Royal from 9 to 13 March, Chester’s Storyhouse Theatre from 16 to 20 March, Aberdeen’s His Majesty’s Theatre from 23 to 27 March, Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn from 13 to 17 April, Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre from 20 to 24 April, Cardiff’s Wales Millennium Centre from 27 April to 1 May, Aylesbury’s Waterside Theatre from 4 to 8 May, Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre from 11 to 15 May, Malvern Theatre from 18 to 22 May, and Darlington’s Hippodrome Theatre from 25 to 28 May 2027. Stephens’ original adaptation premiered at the National Theatre in 2012 and went on to win seven Olivier Awards, including Best New Play, before transferring to the West End and Broadway. It has since been seen by more than five million people worldwide.
• An American In Paris – after an absence of several years, the American musical returns to Geneva’s Grand Théâtre stage with Gershwin and his American in Paris: three artists after the same muse… In bohemian post-war Paris, who will win the heart of the beautiful dancer Lise: Jerry, the former GI who’s trying to make a living from his painting; Adam the kind, impecunious pianist; or Henri, the music-hall star? It wasn’t until 2014 that the world premiere of a staged An American in Paris finally took place… in Paris, at the Théâtre du Châtelet, in a production by the star of the British and American dance scenes, Christopher Wheeldon. Trained at the Royal Ballet in London, and a former principal of New York City Ballet, Wheeldon managed to modernise the film’s dramaturgy while remaining faithful to it, asserting his own style while paying homage to the legendary choreography of Gene Kelly, and also of French and American masters of the 1950s such as Roland Petit and Jérôme Robbins. After Paris he production played more than 600 performances on Broadway, a whole year on the London stage, and numerous tours to the United States, Asia and Europe. The production returns to Europe and with it comes Ashley Day recreating the role of Jerry, the former GI, he successfully played on the West End stage. He will be leading the talented troupe of performers equally adept at singing, dancing who will be finally setting their suitcases down in Switzerland, for the first time. Under the baton of the charismatic Wayne Marshall, this masterful score is performed by no less than full-strength Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. It will run at the Grand Théâtre until New Year when the theatre closes for significant modernisation works.
• My Fair Lady – Pitlochry Festival Theatre will stage a new chamber version of the Lerner and Loewe musical, adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion and Gabriel Pascal’s film of the same name. It will be directed by Maria Friedman and Alan Cumming will star as Professor Henry Higgins. Friedman, whose recent work includes the Tony Award-winning revival of Merrily We Roll Along, is set to bring an intimate approach to the story of Eliza Doolittle, the flower seller who meets phonetics expert Higgins. It will play in the Auditorium from 21 November to 31 December 2026.
• Once – Pitlochry Festival Theatre will stage the Scottish premiere of the musical, written by Enda Walsh with music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová and based on John Carney’s 2007 film, which featured the Oscar-winning song Falling Slowly. The production will be directed by John Tiffany, with design by Bob Crowley, movement by Steven Hoggett, and music supervision and orchestrations by Martin Lowe. Premiering on Broadway in 2012, Once went on to win eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It runs from 23 May to 27 June 2026 in the venue’s main auditorium. Once marks the opening production in Alan Cumming’s first season as artistic director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre.
• Ceilidh – Pitlochry Festival Theatre will present the UK première of the new musical created by Scott Gilmour and Claire McKenzie of Noisemaker. Directed and choreographed by Sam Pinkleton, the production runs in the Auditorium from 24 September to 17 October 2026. The production invites audiences into one of Scotland’s long-standing traditions, combining music, storytelling and dance. Guided by a caller and live folk band, the event unfolds as a family story of love, legacy and connection during a night that carries particular significance for those involved.
• Scrooge The Musical – will be revived in a new production which will run at Glasgow’s SEC Armadillo from 12 December 2026 to 10 January 2027. The production will be directed by Thom Southerland, whose credits include Titanic The Musical, Grand Hotel and Mack and Mabel. Marti Pellow will play Ebenezer Scrooge in the show, adapted by the late Leslie Bricusse from his own 1970 film score. It was first staged in Birmingham in 1992 with Anthony Newley in the title role and has since been revived at The London Palladium and internationally. Pellow’s career spans chart-topping pop hits with Wet Wet Wet, solo albums and stage performances in Chicago, Evita, Chess, The Witches of Eastwick and Jekyll and Hyde. This production marks his return to musical theatre in his home city.
• Pippin – is to be revived in north London later this month. It will run at Upstairs at the Gatehouse from 11 December 2025 to 11 January 2026. The musical, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson, follows a troupe of travelling performers who tell the story of a young prince’s search for purpose. Lewis Edgar (Les Misérables) will play Pippin, while Emily Friberg will return to the venue as the Leading Player following her appearance in the theatre’s production of Road Show. They are joined by Clare Brice as Berthe, Helena Caldas as Fastrada, Oliver Wood as King Charlemagne and Mia Quimpo, making her professional debut as Catherine. The ensemble features George Kipa, Imogen Amos and Daniel North, who also makes his professional debut. The production is directed and choreographed by Amanda Noar, with Isaac Bernier-Doyle as associate director, Harry Style as musical director and Hannah Danson as set and costume designer. It is produced by Annlouise Butt for Chromolume, with artwork by Sam Cannon.
• Beautiful Little Fool – a new musical at Southwark Playhouse Borough from 15 January to 28 February 2026. David Hunter will play F Scott Fitzgerald, joining Lauren Ward as Scottie and Hannah Corneau as Zelda. With music and lyrics by Corneau and a book by Mona Mansour, the new musical is directed by Michael Greif. The piece explores the lives of Zelda and F Scott Fitzgerald through the eyes of their daughter Scottie as she revisits her parents’ legacy. It runs. The cast also includes David Austin-Barnes as ensemble and cover F Scott, Amy Parker as ensemble and cover Scottie and Zelda, and Jasmine Hackett as swing. Hunter replaces Declan Bennett, who has withdrawn due to other professional commitments. A concept album of Beautiful Little Fool has already been released, featuring Jessie Mueller, Ryan Vasquez and Corneau. Following the single “So Alive”, performed by Mueller, the track “One Night in July”. The album was recorded in New York with orchestrations and musical direction by Adam Rothenberg. For the London production, orchestrations are by Rothenberg, musical direction by Jerome van den Berghe, set design by Shankho Chaudhuri, costume design by Laura Hopkins, lighting design by Ben Stanton and sound design by Domnic Bilkey. The musical was originally commissioned by New Works Provincetown and is produced by Mark Cortale, Jonathan Murray, Harvey Reese, and Willette and Manny Klausner.

NEWS UPDATE – 10th November 2025

• The Greatest Showman – tickets for the musical’s 8 week world premiere run at the Bristol Hippodrome sold out within 24 hours. All eyes are now on the announcement for a West End opening.
• The Ballad of Johnny & June – a new musical will tour the UK and Ireland in 2026 following runs at La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego and Canada’s Citadel Theatre. The production features songs made famous by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, including “I Walk the Line”, “Ring of Fire”, “Hey Porter”, “Jackson” and “I’ve Been Everywhere.” Directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff, whose previous credits include Jersey Boys, The Who’s Tommy and Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, the show opens at Bromley’s Churchill Theatre on 2 March 2026 and will visit Cardiff, Dublin, Brighton, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Wycombe, Southend, Newcastle, Salford, Plymouth, Bradford, Richmond, Hull, Blackpool, York, Belfast, Glasgow, Eastbourne, Canterbury, Southampton and Leeds, running until 19 September 2026. Told through the perspective of their son, John Carter Cash, The Ballad of Johnny & June explores the relationship between the two musicians, whose partnership shaped much of 20th-century country music. Johnny Cash sold over 90 million records worldwide and received 13 Grammy Awards, while June Carter Cash won five Grammy Awards across her career. The pair married in 1968 and remained together until June’s death in 2003.
• Jersey Boys – will return for a 20th anniversary UK and Ireland tour, opening at New Wimbledon Theatre on 17 June 2026. The musical, written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice with music by Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe, tells the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. It follows the group from their beginnings in New Jersey to their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, featuring songs including “Sherry”, “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Walk Like a Man”, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, “Beggin’” and “Oh What a Night. The tour moves on opening on Jun 30 2026 Nottingham Theatre Royal and then Jul 06 2026 at Bristol Hippodrome, Jul 20 2026 Bradford Alhambra Theatre, Aug 03 2026, Llandudno Venue Cymru (formerly – North Wales Theatre), Aug 11 2026, Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre, Aug 24 2026 Wycombe Swan. Sep 07 2026 Manchester Palace Theatre, Sep 28 2026 Hull New Theatre, Oct 06 2026, Aberdeen His Majesty’s Theatre. Oct 12 2026, Edinburgh Playhouse, Oct 26 2026 Stoke-on-Trent Regent Theatre, Nov 02 2026 Dartford, The Orchard, Nov 09 2026 Birmingham Alexandra Theatre, Nov 23 2026 Southampton Mayflower Theatre, Nov 30 2026 Congress Theatre, Eastbourne, Jan 26 2027 Oxford New Theatre, Feb 02 2027 Belfast Grand Opera House, Feb 16 2027 Glasgow King’s Theatre. Mar 15 2027 Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Mar 30 2027 Norwich Theatre Playhouse, Apr 13 Leicester Curve, Apr 26 2027 Woking New Victoria Theatre, May 04 2027 Truro Hall for Cornwall, May 11 2027 Southend-on-Sea Cliffs Pavilion, May 17 2027 Blackpool Grand Theatre, May 25 2027 Sunderland Empire Theatre, Jun 07 2027 Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House, Jun 21 2027 Sheffield Theatres, Jul 05 2027 Milton Keynes Theatre, Jul 19 2027 Liverpool Empire Theatre. The tour will be staged by the entire original Broadway creative team, led by the Tony Award-winning team of director Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo, with scenic design by Klara Zieglerova, costume design by Jess Goldstein, lighting by Howell Binkley, sound by Steve Canyon Kennedy and projections design by Michael Clark. The orchestrations are by Steve Orich and the music supervision and vocal arrangements by Ron Melrose.
• The Car Man – Matthew Bourne’s award-winning dance thriller will embark on a UK tour in 2026 for the first time since 2015. The New Adventures piece is loosely based on Bizet’s popular opera Carmen, and is set in a garage diner in the 1960s. It will visit 17 venues next year, including a 5-week summer season at Sadler’s Wells in London. The tour will open at Curve, Leicester, in June before visiting Salford, Hull, Milton Keynes, Plymouth, Sheffield, London, Bristol, Newcastle, Southampton, Nottingham, Norwich, Birmingham, Bradford, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Canterbury. Directed and choreographed by Bourne, The Car Man has music by Terry Davies and Rodion Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite (after Bizet’s Carmen), with sound by Paul Groothuis, lighting by Chris Davey and design by Lez Brotherston. Inspired by vintage movie film noir classics, it holds a unique and special place in the New Adventures repertory as the only piece based on an opera and possibly the first ballet to feature a bisexual anti-hero!
• Beautiful Little Fool – David Hunter has joined the cast for its premiere run at Southwark Playhouse Borough from 15 January to 28 February 2026. Hunter will play F Scott Fitzgerald, joining Lauren Ward as Scottie and Hannah Corneau as Zelda. With music and lyrics by Corneau and a book by Mona Mansour, the new musical is directed by Michael Greif. The piece explores the lives of Zelda and F Scott Fitzgerald through the eyes of their daughter Scottie as she revisits her parents’ legacy. The cast also includes David Austin-Barnes as ensemble and cover F Scott, Amy Parker as ensemble and cover Scottie and Zelda, and Jasmine Hackett as swing. Hunter replaces Declan Bennett, who has withdrawn due to other professional commitments. A concept album of Beautiful Little Fool has already been released, featuring Jessie Mueller, Ryan Vasquez and Corneau. Following the single “So Alive”, performed by Mueller, the track “One Night in July” and the full album are now available to stream on major platforms. The album was recorded in New York with orchestrations and musical direction by Adam Rothenberg. For the London production, orchestrations are by Rothenberg, musical direction by Jerome van den Berghe, set design by Shankho Chaudhuri, costume design by Laura Hopkins, lighting design by Ben Stanton and sound design by Domnic Bilkey. The musical was originally commissioned by New Works Provincetown and is produced by Mark Cortale, Jonathan Murray, Harvey Reese, and Willette and Manny Klausner.
• Hercules – Disney Theatrical Group has announced that will extend its run at Theatre Royal Drury Lane until 18 July 2026. The production features music by Alan Menken, lyrics by David Zippel, and a new book by Robert Horn and Kwame Kwei-Armah. Directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, with co-choreography by Tanisha Scott, Hercules is based on the 1997 Walt Disney Studios animated film directed by John Musker and Ron Clements. The film won Best Animation Feature at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Go the Distance.” Leslie Beehann, who starred in the show in Germany, will join the company from 8 December as Calliope, appearing alongside fellow Muses Candace Furbert (Thalia), Sharlene Hector (Clio), Brianna Ogunbawo (Melpomene), and Robyn Rose-Li (Terpsichore). She replaces Malinda Parris, who is slated to star in The Greatest Showman next spring. The cast includes Luke Brady as Hercules, Mae Ann Jorolan as Meg, Trevor Dion Nicholas as Phil, and Stephen Carlile as Hades. Craig Gallivan and Lee Zarrett play Bob and Charles. The company also features Rhianne Alleyne, Lana Antoniou, Daisy Barnett, Felipe Bejarano, Sarah Benbelaid, Joel Benjamin, Jack Butcher, Nicole Carlisle, Francessca Daniella-Baker, Marie Finlayson, Ryesha Higgs, Cruz-Troy Hunter, Travis Kerry, Stefan Lagoulis, Lamoi Leon, Serina Mathew, Jason Leigh Winter, Jordan Livesey, Harriet Millier, Ellie Mitchell, Saffi Needham, Ben Nicholas, Ingrid Olivia, Matt Overfield, Patrick John Robinson, Ope Sowande and Rhys West. The cast also includes Kamilla Fernandes and Kimmy Edwards as Standby Muses. Designs are by Dane Laffrey (scenic and additional video), Gregg Barnes and Sky Switser (costume), Jeff Croiter (lighting), Adam Fisher (sound), and George Reeve (video), with special effects by Jeremy Chernick. The creative team also includes David Chase (dance music arrangements), Mia M Neal (hair and wig design), Kirk Cambridge-Del Pesche (make-up design), Michael Kosarin (music supervision and arrangements), Danny Troob and Joseph Joubert (orchestrations), and Natalie Gallacher for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting. The show’s cast album is currently available for digital download, with a CD release on 21 November and a vinyl edition on 5 December.
• Fourteen Again – a new musical featuring music and lyrics by Victoria Wood with a book by Everybody’s Talking About Jamie writer Tom MacRae will run at the newly rechristened Victoria Wood Theatre (currently the Old Laundry Theatre in Bowness-on-Windermere) from 1 to 23 May 2026, with a gala performance on what would have been Wood’s birthday, 19 May. The musical follows Peggy, who reconnects with her former best friend Lou at a local slimming club, exploring friendship, nostalgia and renewal through Wood’s songs. The creative team includes director Jonathan O’Boyle, musical supervisor Nigel Lilley, set designer Roger Glossop, lighting designer Jason Taylor and costume designer Caroline Hughes.
• I’m Sorry, Prime Minister – the comedy will open in the West End run, the first for The Barn Theatre, at the Apollo Theatre from 30 January to 9 May 2026. It will then tour calling at the Arts Theatre Cambridge on 19 May 2026 before visiting Richmond Theatre, Theatre Royal Bath, New Victoria Theatre in Woking, Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, Cheltenham Everyman Theatre, Milton Keynes Theatre, Grand Opera House York and Theatre Royal Brighton. Written and directed by Jonathan Lynn and co-directed by Michael Gyngell, the play marks the conclusion of the long-running political satire created by Lynn and Antony Jay, revisiting former Prime Minister Jim Hacker and Sir Humphrey Appleby as they navigate retirement.The creative team includes set and costume designer Lee Newby, lighting designer Mark Henderson, sound designers Ben and Max Ringham, and casting director Marc Frankum. I’m Sorry, Prime Minister premiered at The Barn Theatre in 2023 before touring to Theatre Royal Bath and Cambridge Arts Theatre.
• Christmas Carol Goes Wrong – the Mischief production which opened at the Lowry in Salford is now on tour calling at Cheltenham Everyman Theatre (11 to 16 November), the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff (18 to 22 November) and Theatre Royal Bath (25 to 30 November), ahead of a West End run at the Apollo Theatre (6 December to 25 January). It will then visit Nottingham Theatre Royal (27 to 31 January), the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury (3 to 7 February), the Edinburgh Festival Theatre (10 to 15 February), the King’s Theatre in Glasgow (17 to 22 February) and the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, where the tour finishes on 1 March 2026. The show sees the return of the fictional Cornley Amateur Dramatic Society, last seen bringing mishaps to The Play That Goes Wrong and The Comedy About Spies. The group will attempt to stage Dickens’ A Christmas Carol while managing missing actors, set problems and disagreements over casting. Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, the production is directed by Matt DiCarlo. The cast includes Matt Cavendish as Max, Daniel Fraser as Chris, Sasha Frost as Sandra, Chris Leask as Trevor, Lewis as Robert, Sayer as Dennis and Greg Tannahill as Jonathan. Nancy Zamit and Dumile Sibanda share the role of Annie. The understudies are Alex Bird, Will Bishop, Siobhan Cha Cha, Colm Gleeson and Ashley Tucker.
• Jesus Christ Superstar – will run for a limited season next summer at The London Palladium from 20 June to 5 September 2026. The rock opera will be directed by Tim Sheader after he previously presented the show at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2016 and 2017. He reunites with creatives designer Tom Scutt and choreographer Drew McOnie. The creative team is joined by musical supervisor Tom Deering, lighting designer Lee Curran, sound designer Adam Fisher, fight director Kate Waters and BAFTA Award-winning casting director David Grindrod. Set to star will be Sam Ryder, making his official West End debut in the role of Jesus. The show premiered on Broadway in 1971, with a West End premiere the following year. It was last seen in London at the Barbican Theatre in 2019, with a regional tour in 2024 and a recent actor-musician revival at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury.
• The Old Vic – has officially opened its new creative hub, Backstage, marking the first expansion of the theatre’s footprint in over two centuries. The new building, located next to the venue on Waterloo Road, is designed to house education, community and artistic activity, and to make the theatre more accessible to the public. Backstage includes a new café and bar, a free-to-use Script Library, an outdoor terrace and an events space. The building also houses the Greene Studio, a rehearsal and performance space supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the Clore Learning Centre, which will enable The Old Vic’s education and outreach work to take place on-site for the first time. A Writers’ Room, Green Room and education offices are also part of the new facilities. Designed by Haworth Tompkins Architects, Backstage has been awarded BREEAM Excellent certification for its sustainable approach, featuring low-carbon timber, passive ventilation and the reuse of salvaged materials, including old theatre lighting repurposed into the building’s façade. The £17.2 million project was funded through a combination of public and private support, with major contributions from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Clore Duffield Foundation, the Wolfson Foundation, and the Mayor of London through the Good Growth Fund.
• 9 to 5 the Musical – a new touring production is set to open at Peterborough New Theatre on 4 July 2026. The show will then visit Barnstaple (14 to 18 July), Blackpool (21 to 25 July), Guildford (27 July to 1 August) and Darlington (4 to 8 August). Based on the 1980 film of the same name, 9 to 5 the Musical features music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and tells the story of three office workers who decide to take revenge on their overbearing boss. Marking producer Landmark Theatres’ first in-house production to tour nationally, the musical is directed by Paul Jepson, with musical supervision by Mark Crossland and set and costume design by Amanda Stoodley.
• Avenue Q – will return to the West End to mark its 20th anniversary, with a new production set to open at the Shaftesbury Theatre and run from 20 March to 29 August 2026. Produced by Kevin McCollum and Jamie Wilson Productions, the show will feature the original Broadway puppets and reunite members of the creative team behind the musical’s debut. The revival will once again be directed by Jason Moore, with puppet design by Rick Lyon, orchestrations and arrangements by Stephen Oremus and set design by Anna Louizos. Choreography will come from Ebony Molina, with casting by Pearson Casting and further UK creatives to be announced. Written by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, with a book by Jeff Whitty, Avenue Q follows Princeton, a recent college graduate who moves into a rundown New York apartment block and learns life lessons from his eccentric neighbours.
• The Shaftesbury Theatre – in London’s West End, the current home of Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical, is set to undergo refurbishment works from February 2026 until early 2027. During this time, the venue will remain open, performing to two levels (instead of three) until completion. This next phrase of the renovation will include restoration of the auditorium’s dome, with the addition of a specifically commissioned painting, renewal of some of the decorative designs, some auditorium redecoration and recarpeting, enhancement of the backstage areas, auditorium ventilation and theatre foyer accessibility. Previous work on the building includes a new RIBA award-winning fly tower in 2016 and extensive work between 2020 and 2023 to the front of house spaces, with a new stalls bar, two hospitality rooms and an increased number of toilets. Built in 1911, the Shaftesbury Theatre was the first steel-frame theatre in the West End. It is a grade II-listed building and is still the only London theatre featuring a dome that opens.
• Calendar Girls the Musical – written by Gary Barlow and Tim Firthwill be revived in a new cp-production between the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Theatre by the Lake, New Wolsey Theatre and Octagon Theatre Bolton. It will run at Keswick venue Theatre By The Lake from 6 August to 5 September, with dates for the other venues to be confirmed. It is based on the true story of a group of women from a Yorkshire W I, who decide to raise money for charity by posing for a nude calendar. It began its life as a 2003 film, starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, before being adapted into a 2008 stage play and then again into a musical which debuted in 2015. The new production is directed by Paul Robinson, with set and costume design by Helen Coyston. Simon Slater serves as composer and sound designer, with Alex Weatherhill as musical director and associate director. Choreography is by Stephanie Dattani.
• Something Rotten! – is set to make its fully-staged UK premiere next year following its sold-out concert performances at Theatre Royal Drury Lane last year, which went on to win an award for Best Concert Event. Set to star will be Jason Manford, returning after the show’s concert run, playing Nick Bottom. The show will open in Manchester next year, playing at the Opera House from 16 June to 19 July 2026, ahead of a planned West End run. Something Rotten! features a book by John O’Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick and a score by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick, and is directed by Tim Jackson. Set in 1595, it follows the Bottom brothers, Nick and Nigel, playwrights in the shadow of one William Shakespeare, who attempt to stage the world’s first-ever musical. The show ran for over 700 performances on Broadway and was nominated for ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It has also been staged across the USA and internationally.

NEWS UPDATE – 3rd November 2025

By: pHayward 3rd November 2025

• The Boy at the Back of the Class – New dates have been announced for the 2026 UK tour. It will now visit Mayflower Studios in Southampton (10-14 March 2026), Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre (18-21 March), Eastbourne’s Devonshire Park Theatre (24-28 March), , Bristol Old Vic (31 March-4 April) and the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall in London (7-12 April). Adapted by Nick Ahad from Onjali Q. Raúf’s award-winning novel, the play is produced by Children’s Theatre Partnership and Rose Theatre and directed by Monique Touko. The tour begins with a two-week run at the Kingston Rose Theatre (6 to 22 February 2026) before moving on to Coventry Belgrade Theatre (25-28 February). The final tour dates are Salford Lowry (15-18 April), Truro Hall For Cornwall (28 April-2 May), Blackpool Grand (5-9 May), Cardiff New (12-16 May) and finally Bradford Alhambra (19-23 May). Told from a child’s perspective, The Boy at the Back of the Class follows a group of classmates who learn that their new friend Ahmet has fled a war-torn country. Determined to help him reunite with his family, they set out on an unexpected adventure that explores themes of friendship, kindness and belonging. The creative team includes director Monique Touko, co-revival director Amy Crighton, set and costume designer Lily Arnold, lighting designer Ryan Day, composer and sound designer Giles Thomas, movement director Kloé Dean and casting director Sophie Parrott. The cast will be announced in due course. The original novel won both the Blue Peter Book Award and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize in 2019.
• Little Shop of Horrors – following its revival at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre next autumn, the musical will transfer to the Liverpool Playhouse for a Christmas season where It will play from 3 December 2026 to 9 January 2027. The Manchester run, which takes place from 25 September to 29 November 2026, together with Liverpool, marks the longest sit-down production of the musical in the UK since the 2007 West End run. Directed and choreographed by Tony and Olivier Award-nominated Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, the new staging of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s musical comedy features set and costume design by Morgan Large, musical supervision and arrangements by Paul Schofield, lighting design by Rory Beaton, sound design by Kelsh Buckman-Drage, and casting by Rob Kelly. Little Shop of Horrors features music by Alan Menken and book and lyrics by Howard Ashman. The production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International.
• Disenchanted! – a new musical comedy will receive its UK premiere next year at Lichfield Garrick from 24 April to 2 May 2026. before a UK tour. The show seeks to debunk the myth of the “damsel-in-distress” and be done with the familiar fairytale trope of insecure princesses. Showing a new side to Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Hua Mulan, the Princess (Who Kissed the Frog), the Little Mermaid, Pocahontas, Rapunzel, Belle, and Princess Badroulbadour, the piece is written by Dennis T Giacino and Fiely Matias. It has previously enjoyed a successful Off-Broadway run.
• The Hunger Games – the long-awaited stage adaptation based on the novels which have sold over 100 million copies worldwide in 52 languages is in previews now. The production is at the Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre, a newly designed 1,200-seat venue built to host the world premiere. Staged in the round, audiences are seated in one of the districts, with District 12 notably missing. Already the show has extended its run until 18 October 2026. Adapted by award-winning playwright Conor McPherson and directed by Matthew Dunster, the production is based on Suzanne Collins’ first novel in her series, and the Lionsgate films whichhave grossed more than $3.4 billion globally. A new novel in the series, Sunrise on the Reaping, was released earlier this year with a film adaptation scheduled for November 2026. The creative team has been workshopping the play for over a year, developing a theatrical approach to bring the world of Panem to life in an immersive, in-the-round setting. Watch a teaser video from the workshops here. The central role of Katniss Everdeen is played by Mia Carragher, joined by Euan Garrett as Peeta Mellark and Joshua Lacey as Haymitch Abernathy. Tristan Waterson plays Gale Hawthorne, Sophia Ally plays Primrose Everdeen and Ruth Everett plays Mrs Everdeen. Tamsin Carroll plays Effie Trinket, while Stavros Demetraki plays Caesar Flickerman and Nathan Ives-Moiba plays Cinna. The role of President Snow is played by John Malkovich, appearing via video screen. The cast is completed by Aiya Agustin (Rue), Geo Bailey (swing), Alexandra Barredo (ensemble), Imogen Brooke (ensemble), Liana Cottrill (Clove), Kyerron Dixon-Bassey (Swing), Lewis Easter (Marvel), Felix Garcia Guyer (Chief of Staff, ensemble and fight captain), Marcellus Hill (Thresh), Matthew Ives (swing and swing captain), Jessica Lee (Tippet), Mariana Lewis (Glimmer), Kiera Milward (swing), Felipe Pacheo (Cato and fight captain), Redmond Rance (Stele), Nathanael Saleh (Swing), Mark Samaras (Drove), Artemis Stamouli (Fossa and movement captain) and Rory Toms (Fila). Joining McPherson and Dunster on the creative team are Miriam Buether (set designer), Moi Tran (costume designer), Charlotte Broom (choreographer), Lucy Carter (lighting designer), Ian Dickinson for Autograph (sound designer), Tal Rosner (video designer), Chris Fisher (illusions), Kev McCurdy (fight director), Suspended Illusions (performer flying), James Maloney (arranger, musical director and additional compositions), Amy Ball (casting director), James Robert Moore (associate director), Robyn Grant (creative assistant director), Luke Smith, (associate set designer) and Lloyd Thomas (production manager).
• Ballad Lines – casting has been revealed for new folk musical, which will receive its London premiere at Southwark Playhouse Elephant, running from 23 January to 21 March 2026. The piece 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. The musical weaves together original songs with reimagined traditional Scottish, Irish and Appalachian ballads, performed by an all-female band. It 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. A 17-track concept album of Ballad Lines was released on 12 September 2025, for anyone wanting an early sample of the show. Set to appear are Frances McNamee as Sarah, Rebecca Trehearn as Betty and Kirsty Findlay, who is reprising her role as Cait from an earlier iteration of the Scottish musical. All three performers also appeared on the concept album, released in September 2025. Completing the cast is: Sydney Sainté (The Great Privation, Or How to Flip Ten Cents into a Dollar) as Alix, Ally Kennard (The Creakers) as Jamie, Thomas, Ronan/dance captain, Yna Tresvalles (Six) as Jean, Gracie Lai (Jersey Boys) as Morna/Ancestor (and covers Betty, Alix, Jamie, Thomas, Ronan and Shona), and Siân Louise Dowdalls (Diana: The Musical) as Shona/Ancestor (plus cover for Sarah, Cait, Jean and Morna). The creative team includes TK Hay (set design), Shonagh Murray (music direction), Tinovimbanashe Sibanda (choreography), Simon Wilkinson (lighting), Andy Johnson (sound) and costume designer Carly Brownbridge. 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.
• Paddington The Musical – hasn’t even started performances, but it’s already extended. The musical is now booking at the Savoy Theatre until 25 October 2026. Adapted from Michael Bond’s books and the hit films, the new musical features music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher, as well as a book by Jessica Swale and direction by Luke Sheppard. The principal cast is made up of Timi Akinyosade (Tony), Amy Booth-Steel (Lady Sloane), Tarinn Callender (Grant), Delilah Bennett-Cardy (Judy Brown), Adrian Der Gregorian (Mr Brown), Tom Edden (Mr Curry), Brenda Edwards (Tanya), Amy Ellen Richardson (Mrs Brown), Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (Millicent Clyde), Teddy Kempner (Mr Gruber), Bonnie Langford (Mrs Bird), and the role of Jonathan Brown is played by Joseph Bramley, Leo Collon, Stevie Hare and Jasper Rowse. The ensemble are Esme Bacalla-Hayes, Tiago Dhondt Bamberger, David Birch, Aimée Fisher, Jacqueline Hughes, Kellianna Jay, Sam Lathwood, Natasha Leaver, Katie Lee, Sunny Lee, Vicki Lee Taylor, Jáiden Lodge, Andilé Mabhena, Rose Mary O’Reilly, Ben Redfern, Hugo Rolland and Simon Shorten. The creative team working with Sheppard includes Matt Brind as musical supervisor, orchestrator and arranger, Ellen Kane as choreographer, Tom Pye as scenic designer, Gabriella Slade as costume designer, Neil Austin as lighting designer, Gareth Owen as sound designer, Ash J Woodward as video designer and animator, Campbell Young Associates as hair, wig and make-up designers, Majid Adin for illustration and additional animation, Laura Bangay as musical director.
• The Talented Mr Ripley – the touring stage adaptation has announced more dates. It will start the new year in York, before travelling to Aylesbury, Aberdeen, Guildford, Windsor, Poole, Eastbourne, Colchester, Coventry, Wolverhampton, and Salisbury, with further tour dates to be confirmed before a West End transfer. Patricia Highsmith’s novel, well known thanks to the hit 2000 film adaptation starring Matt Damon, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow, and more recently through a 2024 Netflix series with Andrew Scott, follows Tom Ripley, a man who becomes dangerously entangled in a mission involving a wealthy acquaintance from Italy. Currently starring in the tour are Ed McVey and Maisie Smith, taking on the roles of Ripley and Marge, respectively, with Bruce Herbelin-Earle as Dickie Greenleaf. It has been confirmed that the trio will stay in their roles in the new dates into 2026. They are joined by Christopher Bianchi as Herbert Greenleaf/Roverini, Cary Crankson as Freddie Miles/Alvin McCarron, Leda as Cleo/Dottie and Jason Eddy as Peter/Fausto. The cast is completed by Lachlan McCall, Hollie Sullivan and Aldous Ciokajlo-Squire. The play is a Faction production, adapted and directed by Mark Leipacher. Producers Jack Maple and Thomas Hopkins are behind the tour, with design by Holly Piggott, associate set and costume design by Ellen Farrell, lighting design by Zeynep Kepekli, sound design by Max Pappenheim, movement direction by Sarita Piotroswki, wigs, hair and make up designed by Craig Forrest-Thomas, fight and intimacy direction by Haruka Kuroda and casting by Marc Frankum. The show will visit Bristol, Richmond, and Salford in the remainder of 2025.
• Six – new dates have been announced for the UK and international tour of the award-winning show reimagines the lives of Henry VIII’s six wives as pop stars, blending historical heartbreak with modern empowerment in an 80-minute musical experience.Six is continuing its reign in the West End, and can currently be seen on tour at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff to 8 November. It will then head to Cliffs Pavilion, Southend (11 to 15 Nov 2025), Festival Theatre, Malvern (18 to 22 Nov 2025), Wycombe Swan Theatre (25 to 29 Nov 2025), Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (2 to 6 Dec 2025), New Theatre Oxford (9 to 13 Dec 2025), Winter Gardens, Blackpool (22 Dec 2025 to 4 Jan 2026). Into the new year, the show carries on to visit Eastbourne Congress Theatre (6 to 10 Jan 2026), Manchester Palace Theatre (13 to 17 Jan 2026), Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (20 to 31 Jan 2026), Liverpool Empire (3 to 7 Feb 2026), Canterbury Marlowe Theatre (10 to 14 Feb 2026), Norwich Theatre Royal (3 to 7 Mar 2026), Swindon Wyvern Theatre (10 to 14 Mar 2026), Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent (25 to 28 Mar 2026), Birmingham Hippodrome (31 Mar to 11 Apr 2026), Theatre Royal Bath (14 to 25 Apr 2026), Nottingham Theatre Royal (28 Apr to 9 May 2026), Northampton Royal & Derngate (12 to 16 May 2026), Hull New Theatre (19 to 23 May 2026). Bromley Churchill Theatre (15 to 19 Jul 2026), Salford Lowry (1 to 15 Aug 2026), Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells (18 to 22 Aug 2026), Sheffield Lyceum (1 to 12 Sep 2026), Edinburgh Festival Theatre (15 to 26 Sep 2026), Glasgow Kings Theatre (29 Sep to 3 Oct 2026), Inverness Eden Court (6 to 10 Oct 2026), Darlington Hippodrome (13 to 17 Oct 2026), Woking New Victoria Theatre (20 to 24 Oct 2026), returning to Southampton Mayflower Theatre (27 to 31 Oct 2026), Leeds Grand (3 to 7 Nov 2026), Milton Keynes Theatre (24 to 28 Nov 2026), Brighton Theatre Royal (1 to 5 Dec 2026). The touring cast are backed by the show’s all-female band, the Ladies in Waiting, led by musical director Rosabella Gregory. Six is written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, co-directed by Moss and Jamie Armitage, and features choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille. The design team includes set designer Emma Bailey, costume designer Gabriella Slade, lighting designer Tim Deiling, and sound designer Paul Gatehouse. The score features orchestrations by Tom Curran, with music supervision and vocal arrangements by Joe Beighton. Musical director Yutong Zhang and associate UK musical supervisor Lauren Hopkinson round out the team. Casting is by Pearson Casting. Six is produced by Kenny Wax, Wendy and Andy Barnes, and George Stiles.
• I’m Every Woman The Musical – a new musical that follows the life of Chaka Khan aims to reveal the woman behind the diva, and her rise to stardom. The show will star Alexandra Burke, who was outstanding in the stage version of the Whitney Houston film The Bodyguard and this will be the first time she has originated a role. The musical will feature Khan’s songs as a solo artist as well as from her time leading Rufus. Numbers include “I Feel For You”, “Tell Me Something Good”, “Ain’t Nobody”, “Sweet Thing”, “Higher Love”, and “Through the Fire”. Joining Burke are Jordan Frazier as alternate Chaka Khan, Paige Peddie as Taka Boom, Chanice Alexander-Burnett as Tammy Michelle/Paulette McWilliams, Charlotte St Croix as Milini Khan/Whitney Houston, Maryla Abraham as Sandra Stevens, Chrissie Bhima as Marie, Sophie Earl as Joni Mitchell, Duane-Lamonte O’Garro as Hassan Khan/Luther Vandross, Miles Anthony Daley as Richard Holland/Prince, Teddy Wills as Fred Hampton/Miles Davis/Grand Master Melle Mel, Chris Breistein as Steve Winwood and Oliver Jacobson as Bob Monaco. Completing the cast in the ensemble are Samuel Sarpong-Broni, Kayleigh Stephenson, Peter Houston, Earl Gregory, Vanessa Dumatey, Gregory Armand, Harry Robinson, Zinzilé Tshuma, Oskarina O’Sullivan and Tarik Frimpong, who is also resident choreographer. The musical will feature direction by Racky Plews, musical supervision by Mark Crossland, choreography by Ebony Clarke, set design by Sara Perks, sound design by Chris Whybrow, costume design by Natalie Pryce, wigs, hair and make up designed by JJ Wigs, casting by Debbie O’Brien, associate direction by Oliver Lidert, production management by Toby P Darvill, and general management by Emily Obasohan. It is produced by Adrian Grant Productions in association with Chaka Khan, while the co-producers are Willette Klausner Murphy for WMK Productions, Tammy Michelle, Mahben Quddus, and Dave Lumby. The show will play at London’s Peacock Theatre from 5 to 28 March 2026.
• Thespians – a new musical and the first from Mischief, the team behind The Play That Goes Wrong, will debut at Mercury Theatre Colchester from 9 to 23 May before embarking on a short tour –May 26 2026 Bath Theatre Royal; Jun 02 2026 Swindon Wyvern Theatre; Jun 09 2026 Guildford Yvonne Arnaud Theatre; Jun 16 2026 Cheltenham Everyman Theatre; Jun 23 2026 Cardiff New Theatre;Jul 07 2026 Manchester Home. Written by Jonathan Sayer and Ed Zanders, the piece is a comic reimagining of ancient Greece and the accidental invention of acting. Set in 534 BC, the piece follows Greece’s smallest island as it competes in a nationwide prayer competition led by a tyrant, where the losing team faces execution. Things take a turn when Thespis accidentally invents acting, sparking the world’s first play and the birth of theatre. The show is written by Jonathan Sayer, co-writer of The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, with music by Ed Zanders, musical director of Mischief Movie Night.
• Caroline – A New Musical – inspired by the story of pirate radio station Radio Caroline. Written by Vikki Stone and directed by Douglas Rintoul and Alex Thorpe, the musical will feature a cast of actor-musicians performing 1960s hits. The show is part of the East Anglian Touring Consortium, a new partnership between regional theatres. It opens at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich on 17 April 2026 before visiting Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch (6 to 16 May), New Theatre Peterborough (19 to 23 May), Mercury Theatre Colchester (3 to 13 June) and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds (16 to 20 June).The show is produced by the East Anglian Touring Consortium, a new partnership between Eastern Angles, HighTide, Landmark Theatres, Mercury Theatre Colchester, New Wolsey Theatre, Norwich Theatre, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds. Supported by Arts Council England, the consortium aims to create original work that supports local talent and reaches audiences across the region. Written by Vikki Stone and directed by Douglas Rintoul and Alex Thorpe, the production follows Caroline, a young woman whose life changes when her boyfriend takes a job with Radio Caroline, the offshore station that broadcast pop and rock music from a ship off the Essex coast during the 1960s. The musical features a cast of actor-musicians and includes songs from the period.