NEWS UPDATE – 26th January 2026

P Hayward 26th January 2026

• The Pianist – the world premiere of the new musical will play a limited run at Mayflower Theatre, Southampton this September. Based on the memoir of Polish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman, the musical features his compositions arranged for the stage by Simon Lee, with direction by Thom Southerland. The production is performed by an ensemble of 11 actor-musicians who play multiple roles and a range of instruments, with Szpilman’s music heard on stage outside of Poland for the first time. The story follows his experiences in Warsaw before and during the Second World War, told through music and performance. The musical was first developed as a workshop at Mayflower MAST Studios in April 2025. It will now be fully staged at Mayflower MAST Studios in September 2026 ahead of plans for a London run at an off-West End venue in winter 2026.
• Hadestown – will welcome a new cast at the Lyric Theatre in the West End from 10 March 2026 as the production enters its third year in the West End. Rachel Adedeji will join the company as Persephone, with Bethany Antonia cast as Eurydice and Marley Fenton as Orpheus. Alastair Parker will take on the role of Hades, while Clive Rowe joins the production as Hermes. Spike Maxwell will join Melanie Bright and Lauran Rae as the Fates. Gabriela Benedetti joins Femi Akinfolarin, Michelle Andrews, Ollie Bingham and Sebastian Lim-Seet as Workers, with Juan Jackson, Oisín Nolan-Power, Lindo Shinda, Jasmine Triadi and Milly Willows as swings. The musical has also extended its booking period through to Sunday 13 December 2026.
• Little Shop of Horrors – Derby Theatre and Northern Stage have announced lead casting for their new production. Opening at Northern Stage from 8 to 23 May 2026 before transferring to Derby Theatre from 30 May to 20 June 2026 it will star Kristian Cunningham as Seymour, while Audrey will be played by Amena El-Kindy. 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.
• Waitress – further casting has been confirmed for the new tour. Award winner Carrie Hope Fletcher will take on the lead role of Jenna for a limited run appearing in Wimbledon, Brighton, Bradford, Woking, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Dublin, Manchester, Wolverhampton, Cardiff and Southend next year, she will be joined by Les Dennis as Joe. Evelyn Hoskins will reprise her role as Dawn, with Sandra Marvin also returning as Becky (until 29 June).
• Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella – will return for a UK tour in 2026 and 2027 to mark the production’s 30th anniversary. The production first premiered in the West End in 1997 and later returned in a revised version in 2010, which went on to tour the UK. Set in London during the Second World War, Cinderella reimagines the fairytale against the backdrop of the Blitz, with music by Sergei Prokofiev. The story follows a brief meeting between Cinderella and an RAF pilot, whose relationship unfolds amid air raids and wartime disruption. The tour will commence at Theatre Royal Plymouth from 16 to 21 November 2026, before visiting Lowry, Salford from 24 to 28 November. The production will then form New Adventures’ annual Christmas season at Sadler’s Wells, running from 1 December 2026 until 17 January 2027, marking the company’s 24th consecutive Christmas season at the venue. Dates for 2027 include Mayflower Theatre in Southampton 9^th to 13^th March.
• Troubadour Greenwich Peninsula Theatre – planning permission has been given for this major new venue on the Greenwich Peninsula, featuring two 1,500-seat auditoriums. The development is planning to open in late 2026. The new complex follows the company’s existing sites at Wembley Park, currently home to the Award-winning production of Starlight Express, and Canary Wharf, hosting the first stage adaptation of The Hunger Games. The Greenwich venue will serve as a receiving house for large-scale productions and international live entertainment. The theatre will be located in the heart of the Greenwich Peninsula development, which already includes over 5,500 residents and 180 businesses.
• Mean Girls the Musical – has announced further casting for its upcoming UK and Ireland tour. Opening on 23 February at the Manchester Opera House and continuing through to the end of January 2027. Set to star in the new tour are Emily Lane as Cady Heron, Vivian Panka as Regina George, Sophie Pourret as Karen Smith, Georgie Buckland as Janis Sarkisian, Max Gill as Damian Hubbard, Karim Zeroual as Kevin Ganatra and Joshua Elmore as Mr Duvall. Meanwhile, Faye Tozer will play Ms Heron/Ms Norbury/Mrs George in Manchester, Cardiff, Stoke, Sunderland, Milton Keynes, Eastbourne, Woking, Leicester, Aberdeen, Cheltenham, Hull, Bournemouth, Belfast, Wolverhampton, Glasgow, Southend, Llandudno, Canterbury and Blackpool, with casting for Ms Heron/Ms Norbury/Mrs George for the rest of the tour to be announced Ben Oatley will play love interest Aaron Samuels and Kiara Dario will play Gretchen Wieners. Also in the cast are Charlie Barnard, Rebekah Bryant, Michael Dean-Wilson, Savannah Ffrench, Fergie Fraser, Thomas Gotobed, Jenny Huxley-Golden, Trisha Kumar, Sadie Levett, Arjun Mudahar, Jessie Odeleye, Stefanos Petri, Charlotte Pourret, Jack Rose, Tori Louise Ryan, Lillia Squires, Jayd’n Tyrone and Chay Wills. 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.
• Flyby – a new musical by Theo Jamieson will have its world premiere at Southwark Playhouse Borough from 3 April to 16 May 2026. Directed and co-created by Adam Lenson, the production was developed at the National Theatre in 2025 and follows the relationship between an engineer named Daniel and a documentary film maker named Emily, exploring Daniel’s disappearance into space and shifting time periods. It will be running Poppy Gilbert will play Emily opposite Stuart Thompson as Daniel. The cast also features Rupert Young as Jonathan Jay, Gina Beck as Amy Greenwood, and Simbi Akande as Grace Adams. The creative team includes set designer Libby Todd and lighting designer Ben Jacobs. Jamieson previously composed the BBC musical U.Me and wrote the score for the stage adaptation of The Famous Five. Lenson’s directing credits at Southwark Playhouse include Cable Street and The Rink.
• Sinatra The Musical – will make its West End debut this summer. The production, which previously ran at the Birmingham Rep in 2023, charts the life of Frank Sinatra, tracing his early rise in the 1940s, his personal relationships and the challenges that shaped his career. Set on New Year’s Eve 1942, the musical follows Sinatra as he prepares to walk onto the stage of the Paramount Theatre in New York, a moment that propels him into national fame. The score includes more than 20 Sinatra songs such as “That’s Life”, “One for My Baby”, “The Best Is Yet To Come” and “Come Fly With Me”. It will run at the Aldwych Theatre in summer 2026, with performances set to begin on 3 June ahead of a press night on 24 June. The creative team includes director and choreographer Kathleen Marshall, with set design by Peter McKintosh. Gareth Valentine will supervise an orchestra of seventeen musicians, joined by Jon Morrell on costumes, Bruno Poet on lighting, Jonathan Deans on sound and Akhila Krishnan on video. Hair, wigs and make‑up are by Campbell Young, with orchestrations by Larry Blank and John Clayton, arrangements by Ian Eisendrath and dance arrangements by David Chase. Casting is by David Grindrod for Grindrod Burton Casting, with Jim Carnahan and Jason Thinger handling US casting. Carol Lee Meadows serves as associate choreographer. The show is produced by Michele Anthony and Bruce Resnikoff for Universal Music Group Theatrical, alongside Tina Sinatra and Charles Pignone for Frank Sinatra Enterprises. Executive producers are Scott Landis and Chris Harper, with UK general management by Short Street Productions Ltd and a wide co‑producing team. It marks the first in a new series of projects from Frank Sinatra Enterprises and Universal Music Group aimed at introducing the artist’s work to new audiences.
• Pride – the premiere of the new musical production of the 2014 film is being presented by P&P Productions with the National Theatre. It will open at Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre and run from 31 March to 18 April 2026. It will then run in London at the National’s Dorfman Theatre from 11 June to 12 September 2026. The show reunites director Matthew Warchus (who also directed the original film) and writer Stephen Beresford, who return to the true story that inspired the original screenplay. Set during the miners’ strike of 1984, the musical follows Mark, a young man who joins a group of lesbian and gay activists who lend their support to the striking mining communities. Set to star will be Samuel Barnett as Jonathan, Lewis Cornay as Bromley, Matthew Durkan as Mike, Gillian Elisa as Gwen, Robin Hayward as Martin, Chris Jenkins as Gethin, Darren Lawrence as Cliff, Jhon Lumsden as Mark, Kirsty Malpass as Hefina, Sarah Pugh as Sian, Jordan Shaw as Reggie, Courtney Stapleton as Steph, Caroline Sheen as Maureen, Mared Williams as Margaret and Matthew Woodyatt as Dai. They are joined by an ensemble that includes Daniel Forrester, Madeleine Morgan, Catherine Morris and Graham Vick. Pride has a book and lyrics by Beresford, music by Christopher Nightingale, Josh Cohen and DJ Walde, and is developed and directed by Warchus. The artistic team is completed by set and costume designer Bunny Christie, choreographer Lizzi Gee, lighting designer Hugh Vanstone, sound designer Bobby Aitken, music supervisor Tom Kelly, music director Jo Cichonska and casting director David Grindrod.

NEWS UPDATE – 19th January 2026

P Hayward 19th January 2026

• CATS – A spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s multi award-winning musical is embarking on a major UK & Ireland Tour. From Euston station to Victoria Grove, the strays and rebels of London gather under the Jellicle moon in the hope they’ll be the chosen one. And each of them asks, because each of them dares, who will it be? Based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, and with a legendary score which inspired generations featuring Old Deuteronomy, Macavity: The Mystery Cat, Jellicle Ball and the chart-topping hit Memory, this brand-new production of CATS, directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie (Brigadoon, Jesus Christ Superstar), is a magical musical like no other. Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals presents this Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production. By arrangement with LW Entertainment. The tour is scheduled to open at Hull New Theatre on 20 Oct 2026 and then visit Birmingham Hippodrome 27 Oct; Manchester Palace 10 Nov; Bristol Hippodrome 24 Nov; Llandudno Venue Cymru 1 Dec; Glasgow Theatre Royal 8 Dec and then in 2027 Southampton Mayflower Theatre 30 Mar; Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre 25 May; with further dates to be announced.
• Midnight – the musical written by Todrick Hall, will play in London for a second time, this time at Sadler’s Wells East from 20 February to 8 March 2026. The sung-through piece is set in America’s South during the 19th century and was described as “a sweeping story of love, conflict, and the search for understanding.” It received public workshops late last year following two closed-door showings in London and New York. Forming the cast are Hall as Rail, Jeremy Beloate as Richard, Rachel Webb as Lily Rose, Maia Gough as Scarlet, Ayana George as Ethel, Rachel Tucker as Charlotte, Marisha Wallace as Happy, Charlotte Jaconelli as Violet, Ahmed Hamad as Squeak, Isaac J Lewis as Harry, Nick Rashad Burroughs as Horace, George Maguire as Sylvester, and Brandon Lee Sears as Rehearsal Rail. Making up the ensemble will be Aaron Archer, Callum Macdonald, Charles Tatman, Dammi Aregbeshola, Deja Linton, India Thornton, Jenni Thomasson, Lashane Williams, Mukeni Nel, Psalms-Nissi Myers-Reid, Talia Duff, and Xavier Thomas.mCallum Bell, Jamel Matthias, Jenny Richardson, and Zarina Thompson act as swings, while Christian De Gallerie, Durone Stokes, Kelly Agbowu, and Liv Alexander are stand-bys. Hall also directs and choreographs. He is joined by musical supervisor Mark Crossland, casting director Harry Blumenau, casting associate Laura Seaborn, associate choreographer Jenni Thomasson, associate director Jaconelli, musical director Laurence Stannard, assistant musical director Miguel Esteban, dance captain Thornton, and assistant dance captain Linton..
• Kinky Boots – is returning to the West End at the London Coliseum from 17 March to 11 July 2026. Johannes Radebe will reprise the role of Lola, which he played on tour, and Matt Cardle will play Charlie Price in Nikolai Foster’s revival. Tosh Wanogho-Maud, who is currently starring as Lola in the European leg of the touring production, also joins the cast as Alternate Lola. He will play the role of Lola on all Monday performances from 6 April 2026. There will be a week of previews at Curve, Leicester (where the tour first opened), from 3 March 2026.
• Sunday in the Park with George – Jonathan Bailey and Ariana Grande are set to star in a new stage production of the musical that features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Lapine. It has not had a major London production in almost two decades. Bailey and Grande reunite after their blockbuster turns in the big-screen Wicked adaptation. Olivier winner and WhatsOnStage Award nominee Bailey was recently on stage last year in Richard II at the Bridge Theatre, with multi-award-winning Grande last on the stage in 2012 in A Snow White Christmas at Pasadena Playhouse. The new production will be directed by Marianne Elliott, reuniting with Bailey after their work on Cock and Company, with design by the award-winning Tom Scutt. Scutt has recently won acclaim for his work on another Sondheim musical, Into the Woods, while Elliott’s Company was the toast of the West End and Broadway. The production is produced by Empire Street Productions and presented in association with the Barbican, and will open at the Barbican Centre in London in summer 2027.
• Rock & Roll Man – a new musical that will open at Salisbury Playhouse in February ahead of a tour which will include visits to Windsor, Cambridge and Poole. The show charts the life and influence of Alan Freed, the Cleveland radio DJ credited with popularising the term “rock & roll”, and explores his role in bringing Black and white artists to shared audiences during the early years of the genre. Constantine Maroulis will play Freed. Maroulis originated the role of Drew in Rock of Ages on Broadway, for which he received a Tony Award nomination. He is joined by Gary Turner as Leo Mintz and Morris Levey, while Jairus McClanahan will appear as Little Richard, with Joey James playing Chuck Berry. Marquie Hairston takes on the role of Frankie Lymon, Cherece Richards plays LaVern Baker, and Joe Bence appears as Buddy Holly. Mark Pearce plays J Edgar Hoover. Dominique Scott joins the cast as Jerry Lee Lewis and also serves as musical director, leading the onstage band. The ensemble includes Shelby Speed and Anton Stephans, with Xorael Harrison, Jessica Ncube and Grant Zavitovsky as understudies. The musical is written by Gary Kupper, Larry Marshak and Rose Caiola, with direction by Randal Myler. The score combines original songs written for the production with music associated with artists featured in the story. Choreography is by Stephanie Klemons, with Christian Knight as associate choreographer. Set design is by Morgan Large, with lighting design by Tim Mitchell and sound design by Tony Gayle. Casting is by Harry Blumenau. The production is produced by Wiltshire Creative, Rose Caiola for Caiola Productions and Julian Bird for Green Room Ents.
• The Secret Garden – The Musical – will be revived at York Theatre Royal on 19 March 2026, with previews from 17 March, playing until 4 April. Based on Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 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. This new revival will be directed and designed by Tony Award winner John Doyle, who returns to York Theatre Royal, where he served as artistic director from 1993 to 1997. It will be performed by a company of actor-musicians. Leading the cast are Catrin Mai Edwards (12) as Martha, Joanna Hickman (Harold and Maude) as Lily, Henry Jenkinson (Player Kings) as Archibald, Elliot Mackenzie (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) as Dickon, Ann Marcuson (Two Ladies) as Mrs Winthrop, Elizabeth Marsh (The Threepenny Opera) as Mrs Medlock, André Refig (The Hypochondriac) as Neville, and Steve Simmonds (Alice in Wonderland) as Ben. Estella Evans (Matilda The Musical) and Poppy Jason (Les Misérables) will share the role of Mary Lennox, while Cristian Buttaci (The Witches) and Dexter Pulling (Mary Page Marlowe) will share the role of Colin. The ensemble is completed by Stephanie Cremona (Cinderella: A Fairytale), Matthew James Hinchliffe (Amélie), Lara Lewis (Calamity Jane), and Melinda Orengo (Precipice). Completing the creative team are Catherine Jayes (musical supervisor and orchestrator), David L Arsenault (co-designer), Gabrielle Dalton (costume designer), Johanna Town (lighting designer), Tom Marshall (sound designer), and Ginny Schiller (casting director).
• The Choir of Man – the award-nominated musical has announced casting for its first UK and Ireland tour. The production will open at New Wimbledon Theatre on 14 March before moving on Mar 24 to Bath Theatre Royal; Mar 31 2026 Cambridge Arts Theatre; Apr 07 2026 Coventry Belgrade Theatre; Apr 14 2026 New Theatre Peterborough; Apr 21 2026 Brighton Theatre Royal Brighton; Apr 28 2026 Theatre Royal Glasgow; May 05 2026 Opera House, Manchester; May 12 2026 Sunderland Empire Theatre; May 19 2026 Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre; May 26 2026 Milton Keynes Theatre; Jun 09 2026; Nottingham Theatre Royal; Jun 16 2026 Sheffield Theatres; Jun 30 2026; York Grand Opera House; Jul 07 2026 Leicester Curve; Jul 14 2026 Birmingham Alexandra Theatre; Jul 21 2026 Malvern Theatres; Jul 28 2026 Canterbury Marlowe Theatre; Aug 04 2026 Colchester Mercury Theatre; Aug 11 2026 Cheltenham Everyman Theatre; Aug 18 2026 Chester Storyhouse; Aug 25 2026 Richmond Theatre; Sep 01 2026 Aylesbury Waterside Theatre; Sep 15 2026 Southend-on-Sea Cliffs Pavilion; Sep 22 2026 Guildford Yvonne Arnaud Theatre; Sep 29 2026; Swindon Wyvern Theatre; Oct 06 2026 Northampton Royal & Derngate; Oct 20 2026 Wolverhampton Grand Theatre; Nov 03 2026 Southampton Mayflower Theatre; Nov 24 2026 High Wycombe Wycombe Swan; Dec 01 2026 Edinburgh Festival Theatre. Created by Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay, and directed by Doodson, the show recently closed in London after playing over 1000 performances at the Arts Theatre – where it received an Olivier nomination for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play. Featuring a cast of nine performers, the piece combines harmonies, singalongs, tap dance and storytelling, with music from artists including Queen, Adele, Paul Simon, Avicii and Katy Perry. Audience members are also offered free beer during the performance. The cast is composed of Gustav Melbardis as Maestro, Oluwalonimi (Nimi) Owoyemi as Poet, Levi Tyrell Johnson as Hard Man, Ben Mabberley as Joker, Rob Godfrey as Beast, Jack Skelton as Handyman, Joshua Lloyd as Barman, Sam Walter as Romantic and Aaron Pottenger as Bore, with Sam Ebenezer (The Mousetrap), Jared Leathwood (Billionaire Boy), Niall Woodson (Frankie’s Guys) and Lewis Dragisic (Twelfth Night) as swings. The creative team also features Jack Blume (musical supervision, vocal arrangements and orchestrations), Freddie Huddleston (movement direction and choreography), Ben Norris (monologues), Oli Townsend (scenic design), Richard Dinnen (lighting design), Verity Sadler (costume and co-scenic design), Sten Severson (sound design) and Debbie O’Brien (casting). The tour is produced by HH Productions, Nic Doodson, Andrew Kay, Global Creative and Kenny Wax.

NEWS UPDATE – 12th January 2026

P Hayward 12th January 2026

• Starlight Express – the revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s award-winning musical has set its final performance date at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre of 13 May 2026, ahead of setting out on a world tour in 2027. By the time it closes, the show will be the longest-running revival of a Lloyd Webber musical in the capital in 20 years. A new London cast album, released in November 2024, has had over 17 million streams.
• Theatre Royal Windsor – has announced a new touring initiative for 2026, with three productions originating at the venue and visiting theatres across the UK under the banner of the “Theatre Royal Windsor Season on Tour.” The programme will include Noel Coward’s comedy The Marquise which will open at Theatre Royal Windsor from 27 May to 6 June 2026 before touring to Oxford Playhouse, Theatre Royal Bath and the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, with further venues to be announced. Clive Francis’s stage adaptation of Graham Greene’s Our Man in Havana will run at Theatre Royal Windsor from 1 to 11 July 2026, ahead of a tour including Salisbury Playhouse, Oxford Playhouse, Theatre Royal Bath, the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford and Cheltenham Everyman, with additional dates to be announced. The Anastasia File will return to Theatre Royal Windsor from 30 September to 3 October 2026 before touring to Salisbury Playhouse, Malvern Theatres and the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, with further venues to follow.
• The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals – takes place on Monday 26 January at Manchester’s AO Arena. Now in its fifth year, the event will be hosted by Jason Manford and brings together performances from West End productions, touring shows and National Lottery-funded organisations. The evening marks more than £1.4 billion of funding awarded to over 29,000 theatre-related projects across the UK over the past 31 years. Productions joining the programme include The Lion King, Oliver!, Sunny Afternoon, Paddington The Musical, Miss Saigon, Jesus Christ Superstar featuring Sam Ryder, The Producers, Wicked and I’m Every Woman: The Chaka Khan Musical, with Alexandra Burke playing Chaka Khan. The night will also feature a performance from Annie, with La Voix appearing as Miss Hannigan, alongside a Disney medley and a special number involving a National Lottery-funded choir with The Choir of Man. It will be broadcast on BBC One later in 2026.
• Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch – has confirmed the full cast for its upcoming London opening at The Other Palace from 6 February to 5 April 2026. This London season marks the fourth version of the musical parody, which gives the legendary Ursula a chance to share her backstory, in a tell-all tale of sex, sorcery and suckers. Previous productions have played across the UK on tour following its first premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019. This version enjoyed a recent festive season at the Lowry and a Swedish-language staging is currently running in Linköping. The new production will include new sets, costumes, material and characters, and has a running time of two hours and 15 minutes including an interval. Returning to the show are Sam Buttery as Ursula, Allie Dart as Sebastian and others, Blair Robertson as King Triton and others, James Spence as Eric and Others and Freya McMahon as ensemble. Julie Yammanee joins the cast as Ariel, alongside ensemble members Jacob Whawell and Kelly Sweeney. Unfortunate has a book and lyrics by Robyn Grant and Daniel Foxx, music by Tim Gilvin, direction by Grant, set and costume design by Jasmine Swan, choreography by Melody Sinclair-Marsh, puppetry and movement direction by Laura Cubitt, orchestration, music production and supervision by Nikki Davison and Joe Davison for Auburn Jam, sound design by Ian Dickinson for Autograph, lighting design by Adam King, and puppet design by Mikayla Teodoro and Jasmine Swan and puppet makes by Teodoro. The producers are Wildpark Entertainment, Runaway Entertainment, The Vaults, Stoddart Entertainment and Dianne Roberts.
• Sea Witch – a new musical, will receive its world premiere in concert format at Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Sunday 1 March 2026, with shows at 3pm and 7.30pm The musical is created and conceived by Kristopher Russell and Michael David Glover, with music and lyrics by Segun Fawole and a book by Glover. It is based on Sarah Henning’s novel Sea Witch and is adapted with permission of HarperCollins Publishers. Russell also directs the Drury Lane performances. Sea Witch is a prequel inspired by The Little Mermaid and reimagines the origins of one of the sea’s villains. The story follows Evie, a witch living in a world where magic is outlawed, whose life becomes intertwined with Annemette, a mermaid with a secret of her own, leading both characters towards a turning point that reshapes their futures. The cast includes Michelle Visage as Tante Hansa, Jay McGuiness as Iker, Natalie Paris as Evie, Mazz Murray as Queen Charlotte, Amy Di Bartolomeo as Annemette and Natalie Kassanga as Malvina. Choreography is by Dean Lee, with music production by Jeff Nang. The production is produced by Russell and Glover Theatrical and Pictures alongside the Nederlander Organization, the Shubert Organization, John Gore Organization and Willette Klausner. Casting is by Peter Noden.
• Pinocchio – Shakespeare’s Globe has confirmed that the musical version will return later this year. Based on Carlo Collodi’s original stories, the musical is directed by Sean Holmes, with a book and lyrics by Charlie Josephine and music and lyrics by Jim Fortune. It premiered over the past festive season. The original run continued the Globe’s tradition of winter shows in its open-air theatre. It was designed by Grace Smart, with Peter O’Rourke as puppetry director and designer, Tony Gayle as sound designer, Zac Gvi as orchestrator, Roberta Zuric as associate director, Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu as choreographer, and Benjamin Holder as musical director. Casting and dates have yet to be confirmed.
• Loving You: The Untold Sondheim – a new 12-part podcast celebrating the life and work of Stephen Sondheim will be released on all streaming platforms on Thursday 5 March 2026. It is hosted by Martin Milnes and Peter E Jones, and draws on personal recollections from Sondheim’s close friends, family and collaborators. Milnes and Jones have spent two years developing the project, bringing together contributors from Broadway, the West End, Hollywood and elsewhere to share memories of the composer away from public view. Across the episodes, the podcast explores different aspects of Sondheim’s life, interests and relationships. The series marks the first time in more than 25 years that Jones has spoken publicly about his former romantic relationship with Sondheim and their long-standing friendship. Contributors include Julie Andrews, Jamie Bernstein, Judi Dench, Mia Farrow, Ronan Farrow, Maria Friedman, Adam Guettel, John Kander, James Lapine, Patti LuPone, Maltby and Shire, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bernadette Peters, Jonathan Tunick, John Weidman and Maury Yeston, alongside memories from Sondheim’s half-brother, Walter E Sondheim. Further participants are set to be announced. The podcast is written, devised, directed and co-produced by Milnes, with Jones also serving as co-producer and composer of the original score. Jason Caffrey acts as executive producer. The first two episodes will be released on 5 March 2026, followed by two more on 12 March, with subsequent episodes released weekly.

NEWS UPDATE – 5th January 2026

P Hayward 5th January 2026

Overtures Live On Stage have listed the musicals that we know will be playing in London and across the country during the coming year. So, welcome to 2026 and enjoy deciding which shows you might book tickets for – but most importantly – Happy New Year!

• 9 to 5 the Musical – The popular musical, based on the1980 film featuring the tunes of Dolly Parton and telling the story of three office workers who decide to take revenge on their overbearing boss. Paul Jepson will direct Peterborough Landmark Theatres’ first in-house production to tour nationally. Plays at Peterborough New Theatre from 4 July before touring.
• A Little Night Music – Selina Cartmell will direct Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s musical comedy about mismatched couples. The piece features the musical theatre staple “Send in the Clowns” and will surely dazzle. Plays at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre from 5 December 2026 to 30 January 2027.
• Annie – The sun will come out tomorrow, because Annie is back! Nikolai Foster’s much-loved revival will return, and with the production previously welcoming the likes of the late, great Paul O’Grady, Miranda Hart and Craig Revel Horwood in the role of Miss Hannigan, next to head down to Easy Street is La Voix! Tour opens at New Wimbledon Theatre in May.
• Anything Goes – An open-air revival of Cole Porter’s musical Anything Goes features his classic songs and follows the comedic misunderstandings of nightclub singer Reno Sweeney and a cast of passengers set aboard the SS American. Plays at Leicestershire’s Kilworth House Open Air Theatre from 23 June to 2 August.
• Anything Goes – Another revival at the Mill at Sonning over the festive period, running from19 November 2026 to 17 January 2027.
• Avenue Q The original Broadway puppets and members of the creative team behind the musical’s debut will reunite for the 20th anniversary – we can’t wait to see the naughty updates! Plays at Shaftesbury Theatre from 20 March to 29 August 2026.
• Back to the Future the Musical – The award-winning musical, Back to the Future, will be bidding farewell to the West End and flying out on its first-ever UK tour, opening at Bristol Hippodrome in October.
• Ballad Lines – This new folk musical (developed under its old name A Mother’s Song), co-created by Finn Anderson and Tania Azevedo, 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. Rediscovering 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. Plays at Southwark Playhouse Elephant from 23 January to 21 March.
• Bank of Dave the Musical Dream duo Rob Madge and Pippa Cleary have penned the book and tunes for the world premiere of Bank of Dave. Self-made Burnley businessman Dave Fishwick and the subsequent documentary book and film about his Burnley Savings and Loans company are the inspiration for this new Nikolai Foster-directed musical, debuting up north! Plays at the Lowry from 2 to 16 May before moving to Curve from 20 to 30 May.
• Barnum – Roll up, roll up! The Watermill production of Barnum is visiting theatres across the UK. Directed by Jonathan O’Boyle and choreographed by Oti Mabuse, expect over 20 actor-musicians performing on 150 instruments, alongside acrobats and international circus acts. Across the tour, you’ll see either Lee Mead or Matt Rawle sporting the black tophat. Tour opens at Theatre Royal Windsor in January.
• Beautiful Little Fool – This piece explores the lives of Zelda and F Scott Fitzgerald through the eyes of their daughter, Scottie, as she revisits her parents’ legacy. David Hunter, Lauren Ward and Hannah Corneau are directed by Michael Greif in this new musical by Corneau and Mona Mansour. Eager to hear more? Check out the concept album, which features the lovely voices of Jessie Mueller and Ryan Vasquez. Plays at Southwark Playhouse Borough from 15 January to 28 February.
• Beetle Juice – the spectacular Broadway sensation crosses over to the Prince Edward Theatre from May 2026.
• Blood Brothers – written by Willy Russell, the legendary musical tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences. Tour continues at Bromley Churchill 14 Jan.
• Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story – continues in the UK into 2026. This sensational multi award-winning West End show first opened in 1989 and has been thrilling audiences around the world ever since. Tour is resuming at Bath Theatre Royal on 13 Jan.
• Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club – continues at London’s Playhouse Theatre.
• Calendar Girls – Tim Firth and Gary Barlow’s musical is based on the true story of a group of women from a Yorkshire WI who decide to raise money for charity by posing for a nude calendar. Plays at Theatre By The Lake from 6 August to 5 September before touring.
• Caroline: A New Musical Tune in to a wad of ’60s tunes in a new musical written by Vikki Stone and featuring a cast of actor-musicians! Caroline’s 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. Paying tribute to East Anglia, the “bold, loud and joyfully defiant show” will play at the New Wolsey Theatre from 17 April before touring.
• Cats – The Jellicle ball is headed outside for a new revival under the stars. Drew McOnie will direct and choreograph Lloyd Webber’s landmark musical at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre from 25 July to 12 September before it moves out on a national tour opening at Theatre Royal Plymouth in October
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – An actor-musician production sounds “Truly Scrumptious” and after what Paul Hart and the Watermill team accomplished with The Lord of the Rings, Barnum and Jesus Christ Superstar in recent years this should be fun. Plays at Watermill Theatre from 26 May to 13 September.
• Dirty Dancing – a new production of The Classic Story On Stage, directed by Federico Bellone and choreographed by Austin Wilks will set out on a new tour opening at Milton Keynes Theatre in September and will visit a brand new theatre The Capital Theatre in west London from 16 October.
• Disenchanted! – These princesses are no damsels in distress! See the real Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Hua Mulan, the Princess (Who Kissed the Frog), the Little Mermaid, Pocahontas, Rapunzel, Belle, and Princess Badroulbadour, in this new piece written by Dennis T Giacino and Fiely Matias, which has already been performed on five continents! Plays at Lichfield Garrick from 24 April to 2 May.
• Fame – Theatre Royal Plymouth has announced a “bold, new” production of Fame the Musical, marking 30 years of the show at the venue where it all started. It’s gonna live forever! Plays at Theatre Royal Plymouth from 28 July to 15 August.
• Fourteen Again – a new musical featuring tunes by Victoria Wood and a book by Everybody’s Talking About Jamie writer Tom MacRae? Sign us up! Exploring friendship and nostalgia, the show follows Peggy, who reconnects with her former best friend, Lou, at a local slimming club. It’ll play at a theatre newly rechristened in Wood’s honour. Plays at the Victoria Wood Theatre (currently the Old Laundry Theatre in Bowness-on-Windermere) from 1 to 30 May.
• Frankie Goes To Bollywood – Back on tour for 2026, this bold, joyous and spectacular musical blends British storytelling with the irresistible magic of Bollywood. Tour kicks off 2^nd April at Hertford Beam.
• FRIENDS! The Musical Parody – the hit New York and Las Vegas sensation, is a side-splitting musical comedy packed with iconic moments from all ten seasons of the beloved television series. Featuring an entirely original musical score, the show follows the escapades of the world’s most famous group of twenty-somethings. The tour resumes at Mayflower Theatre on 6^th Jan in Southampton.
• Fun Home – Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron’s coming-out and coming-of-age musical will receive its professional regional premiere in 2026, marking the 20th anniversary of Alison Bechdel’s own graphic novel on which the show is based. Plays at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre from 3 July to 1 August.
• Hadestown – at West End’s Apollo Theatre and booking until September 2026.
• Hamilton – continues it’s record breaking run at Victoria Palace.
• Heathers the Musical – The Award-winning musical will set out on a new UK tour from Theatre Royal Windsor in August.
• Here And Now – UK pop band Steps are delighted to announce that their official musical which has been wowing audiences for the last few weeks, will resume on its major UK and Ireland tour at Mayflower Theatre on 20^th Jan in Southampton.
• Hercules – Disney’s latest musical is running at Theatre Royal Drury Lane and is booking until July 2026.
• High School Musical – The first-ever non-replica production of High School Musical will mark two decades since the release of the original Disney film. It’ll be co-directed by Hope Mill founders Joseph Houston and William Whelton, boasting an immersive basketball court setting that includes on-stage seating and an extended playing space. Here and now, it’s time for celebration! Plays at the Lowry from 21 August to 13 September.
• High Society – Cole Porter and Arthur Kopit’s High Society is receiving a glitzy revival to spend a summer at the Barbican! The story follows preparations for a society wedding that begin to unravel as past relationships resurface and an intrusive reporter arrives… It’ll have you saying: “You’re Sensational”! Plays at the Barbican from 19 May to 11 July before touring.
• Honk! – George Stiles and Anthony Drewe’s musical Honk! is back! Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling, the musical centres on Ugly, a duckling who embarks on a journey of self-discovery after being singled out for his appearance. Plays at Cirencester’s Barn Theatre from 21 November to 3 January 2027.
• I’m Every Woman – The Chaka Khan Musical Alexandra Burke will “reveal the woman behind the diva, and her rise to stardom,” in a new bio-musical featuring Chaka Khan’s hits and those from her famous friends, too! It will be directed by Racky Plews, choreographed by Jade Hackett and written by Nia T. Hill. Plays at the Peacock Theatre from 5 to 28 March before touring.
• Into The Woods – is running at London’s Bridge Theatre and is booking through the end of May 2026.
• Jersey Boys – A new 20th anniversary tour of smash-hit jukebox musical Jersey Boys opens at the New Wimbledon Theatre in June.
• Jesus Christ Superstar – A holy revival will take place in the West End next summer! Sam Ryder will be making his stage debut in Tim Sheader’s Jesus Christ Superstar at The London Palladium. Previously seen outside at Regent’s Park, this production could follow the footsteps of another Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice revival, Evita. that had audiences flocking to the theatre last summer as it plays The London Palladium from 20 June to 5 September.
• Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical tells the behind-the-scenes story of how Live Aid came together on 13 July 1985, when concerts in London and Philadelphia were broadcast to an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide. The UK tour sets out on 31^st March at Leicester Curve after completing it’s lengthy run at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre on 4^th Feb 2026.
• Kimberly Akimbo – The Tony Award-winning Best Musical is heading to London for its European premiere! A new production, directed by Michael Longhurst, will have a “Great Adventure” at the Hampstead Theatre in the summer, so you can meet teen Kim, navigating her rare genetic disorder, which causes her to age rapidly, with her turbulent family life and new relationships. Plays at Hampstead Theatre from 28 August to 7 November.
• Kinky Boots – The Broadway and West End phenomenon, Kinky Boots The Musical, is strutting out again with Strictly Come Dancing’s Johannes Radebe and rising star Dan Partridge! Reopens at Curve Leicester on 3^rd March ahead of West End season at London Coliseum opening on 17^th March.
• Kiss of the Spider Woman The Musical – A Curve, Bristol Old Vic and Mayflower Southampton production starring award winner Layton Williams, Anna-Jane Casey and George Blagden are set to star in a rare revival of Kander and Ebb’s hit Broadway musical Kiss of the Spider Woman. It’s the first major revival since 1992 and will be staged in an intimate setting directed by Paul Foster. Sets out on tour from Curve’s Studio Theatre where it plays from 3 to 25 April 2026.
• Legally Blonde Elle Woods is back in a brand new production of Legally Blonde. Amber Davies will hop from the Strictly ballroom to Harvard Law to play Elle Woods on tour. Tour opens at Curve, Leicester on 7 February.
• Les Miserables – continuing it’s world record-breaking run for a musical at London’s Sondheim Theatre.
• Little Shop of Horrors – There are plenty of opportunities to go “Somewhere That’s Green” in 2026, with a couple of productions of Little Shop of Horrors confirmed. First up is Derby Theatre and Northern Stage’s collaboration, directed by Sarah Brigham. It’s set to feature a company of actor-musicians and integrate creative captions throughout every performance. Plays at Northern Stage from 8 to 23 May 2026 before transferring to Derby Theatre from 30 May to 20 June 2026.
• Little Shop of Horrors – another revival – following on from their 2025 production of Young Frankenstein, Hope Mill have announced that their 2026 anti-Christmas offering will be Little Shop of Horrors! Carrie-Anne Ingrouille will direct the new staging of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s musical comedy. Plays at Hope Mill Theatre from 25 September to 29 November before transferring to Liverpool.
• Matilda – continues it’s run at London’s Cambridge Theatre in parallel with continuing its UK tour at Plymouth Theatre Royal on 13 Jan 2026.
• Mamma Mia! – from West End to global phenomenon, is Judy Craymer’s ingenious vision of staging the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs with a sunny, funny tale of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads unfolding on a Greek island idyll. Continuing it’s UK tour from 13 Jan at Swansea Building Society Arena and it’s West End run at the Novello Theatre.
• Mean Girls – The Award-winning new musical is going on tour. Emily Lane and Vivian Panka will lead the Tina Fey-Jeff Richmond-Nell Benjamin musical as it roars across the country, and Steps star Faye Tozer joins the ride. Tour opens at Manchester Opera House in February.
• Miss Saigon – the UK tour of the latest revival resumes at Llandudno Venue Cymru on 6^th January and continues touring through August 2026.
• MJ the musical – completes its West End run at the Prince Edward Theatre on 28^th February.
• Moulin Rouge – continues its West End run at the Piccadilly Theatre as well as continuing a worldwide tour which returns for a further UK leg, opening at Sunderland Empire on 5^th June.
• Mrs Doubtfire – A tour is on the way, dears! Gabriel Vick will reprise his acclaimed role of Daniel Hillard in the musical comedy stage adaptation, and we can’t wait to find out who else joins the cast. Tour opens at Birmingham Hippodrome in August.
• My Fair Lady – A loverly new chamber revival of My Fair Lady will play in Pitlochry! Alan Cumming will star as Professor Henry Higgins and it will be directed by Maria Friedman in the Lerner and Loewe musical. Plays at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 21 November to 31 December.
• Oliver! – continues its run at London’s Gielgud Theatre where it is booking until October 2026.
• Once – The original creative team are reuniting to revive Once as part of Alan Cumming‘s inaugural season as artistic director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre. It follows Guy, a Dublin street musician on the verge of giving up his craft, and Girl, a Czech immigrant who persuades him to keep going. Together, they form an unlikely partnership with a group of musicians as they set out to record an album. Plays at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 23 May to 27 June.
• One Day – Meet Dexter (played by Jamie Muscato) and Emma (Sharon Rose) as each day on St Swithin’s Day, we see them grow from students into adults. It’s based on David Nicholls’ 2009 novel, which has enjoyed a solid film adaptation and a more recent Netflix series. Bring tissues. Plays at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh from 27 February.
• Operation Mincemeat – will head out on its first ever UK tour. Tour opens, where it all started – at the Lowry – in February, whilst it continues its record breaking run in the West End at the Fortunr Theatre.
• Paddington the musical – is running at London’s Savoy Theatre and some tickets may still be available as it is now booking until February 2027.
• Phantom Of The Opera – the West End production at His Majesty’s Theatre continues and is booking through October 2026.
• Pride – A long-awaited adaptation of Pride will finally hit stages in 2026! The show reunites director Matthew Warchus (who also directed the original film) and writer Stephen Beresford, who return to the true story of the miners’ strike of 1984 and the group of lesbian and gay activists who lent their support to the communities, which inspired the original screenplay. Plays first at Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre from 31 March to 18 April, before London’s National Theatre’s Dorfman Theatre from 11 June to 12 September.
• Priscilla Queen of the Desert – “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”, and fun will surely be had in this new production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert! Adèle Anderson, Kevin Clifton, Nick Hayes and Peter Duncan will hop on board for a road trip of a lifetime. Tour opens at the Palace Theatre in Manchester in February.
• Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show – Since it first opened in London in June 1973, Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show has become the world’s favourite Rock ‘N’ Roll musical, having been performed worldwide for over 50 years in more than 30 countries and translated into 20 languages. Resuming its UK tour on 6 Jan at Edinburgh Playhouse.
• Ruth – A new musical dramatising the life of the last woman executed in Britain, Ruth Ellis, arrives in 2026. The peroxide blonde nightclub hostess shot and killed her violent upper-class lover, and this piece will mark 70 years since her death. Reimagining her story as a noir-inspired piece about class and gender, it’ll feature a score by John Cameron, Francis Rockliff and James Reader, and lyrics by Caroline Slocock and Cameron. Plays at Wilton’s Music Hall from 18 to 28 March.
• Scrooge the Musical – Marti Pellow will play Ebenezer Scrooge in a new production of Scrooge The Musical next Christmas! The musical will be directed by Thom Southerland and will play Glasgow’s SEC Armadillo from 12 December 2026 to 10 January 2027.
• Six The Musical – the six wives of Henry VIII finally take the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of her-storical heartbreak into a 75-minute celebration of sisterly sass-itude.  Powered by an all-female band and with songs including Ex-Wives, Haus of Holbein and Don’t Lose Ur Head. Resuming at Eastbourne Congress Theatre from 6 Jan and continues its West End run at Vaudeville Theatre.
• Something Rotten! – It’s a musical! after its award-winning concert, Something Rotten will receive its fully-staged UK premiere, with two cast members confirmed to be reviving their roles. It will open at Manchester Opera House from 16 June to 19 July.
• Starlight Express – the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical continues at the Troubador Theatre in Wembley and is booking until April 2026.
• Summer Holiday – Under the new artistic director, Elizabeth Newman, Sheffield Crucible will have a summer holiday! Based on the 1960s film, the piece will be directed by Newman with Ben Occhipinti. Plays at Sheffield Crucible from 20 June to 18 July.
• Sunny Afternoon – The Kinks Musical is finally back! Touring the UK for the first time in nearly a decade. Following a phenomenal two-year run in London’s West End and a sell-out UK & Ireland tour in 2016/17, the winner of four Olivier Awards – including Best New Musical and Outstanding Achievement in Music resumes its UK tour on 15 Jan at London Alexandra Palace.
• Sweeney Todd – Fleet Street comes to Birmingham as a new revival of Sondheim and Wheeler’s Sweeney Todd will play at the Rep. It’ll be directed by the theatre’s artistic director Joe Murphy and feature design by Elin Steele. Plays at Birmingham Rep from 4 July to 9 August.
• Sylvia – The Olivier-nominated musical production of Sylvia, from The Old Vic and ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company in association with Sadler’s Wells, will return, alongside Sharon Rose and Beverley Knight, who is confirmed to reprise her Olivier Award-winning role as Emmeline Pankhurst. Tour opens at Curve, Leicester, in September.
• The Ballad of Johnny & June – Featuring tunes including “I Walk the Line”, “Ring of Fire”, “Hey Porter”, “Jackson” and “I’ve Been Everywhere,” learn everything you could have ever wanted about the two musicians from the perspective of their son, John Carter Cash. This new musical is directed by the King of jukebox musicals, Des McAnuff, whose previous credits include Jersey Boys, The Who’s Tommy and Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, and will star Christopher Ryan Grant and Christina Bianco. Tour opens at Bromley’s Churchill Theatre on 2 March.
• The Bodyguard – based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Oscar nominated Warner Bros. movie starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, the international, award-winning, smash-hit musical is back on a UK tour which restarts on 19^th Jan at Manchester Palace Theatre.
• The Book Of Mormon – continues its incredible West End run and is now booking into its 13^th year at the Prince of Wales Theatre.
• The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind – Based on the true story of William Kamkwamba, this is the first new musical from the RSC’s co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey. Directed by Lynette Linton, it tells the story of the 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. Plays at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from 14 February to 21 March before transferring to @sohoplace from 25 April to 18 July.
• The Choir of Man – the West End hit opens in the regions in 2026 as it sets out on a major Uk tour, opening at the New Wimbledon Theatre in March.
• The Devil Wears Prada – continues at London’s Dominion Theatre and is now booking through September 2026.
• The Enormous Crocodile – A new tour for an enormous croc! Roald Dahl’s children’s tale will be greedily scaling the country, impressing with its snappy puppetry and tunes. Tour opens at Theatre Royal Brighton in March.
• The Greatest Showman – An all-star cast has assembled for the highly anticipated world premiere stage adaptation of The Greatest Showman! Pasek and Paul’s award-winning songs, including “The Greatest Show”, “A Million Dreams”, “Come Alive”, “Rewrite the Stars”, “Never Enough” and “This Is Me”, will all feature alongside new material written for the stage. This major new musical has already sold out its run in Bristol, but it’s worth keeping an eye out for any returns or its future life. Plays at Bristol Hippodrome from 15 March to 10 May.
• The High Life – Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson‘s 1990s sitcom followed the antics of Air Scotia flight attendants Steve, Sebastian and Shona, as well as their captain, Hilary Duff. The new musical picks up with the characters several decades later as they face new challenges in a changing world – and sees the original cast reunite! Plays at Dundee Rep Theatre from 28 March before touring Scotland.
• The Karate Kid – The Musical Four years after its world premiere in St Louis, the stage adaptation of the 1984 movie arrives in London, widening the much-loved franchise! This new production is written by the original film’s writer, Robert Mark Kamen, with music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini. Plays at New Wimbledon Theatre from 28 April before touring.
• The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical – a high-energy, rock-fueled adventure based on Rick Riordan’s best-selling novel. Gods, monsters, and epic quests await as the UK tour resumes on 21^st Jan at Wales Millenium Centre in Cardiff.
• The Lion King – opened at the Lyceum Theatre in Covent Garden in 1999 and it is still running, with tickets on sale through October 2026.
• The Producers – this revival of the Mel Brook’s musical opened at London’s Garrick Theatre following a run at the Menier Chocolate Factory early in 2025. It is now booking until September 2026.
• The Secret Garden – A major revival of The Secret Garden will play in its native York. The rarely staged but adored musical 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. Plays at York Theatre Royal on 19 March until 4 April.
• The Singer – With songs by the award-winning musician KT Tunstall, this piece of gig-theatre follows Joe, a Deaf artist who performs with his hands and Andy, a washed-up musician hungry for a comeback. It opens at Dundee Rep Theatre in late July, before visiting the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Citizens Theatre Studio in Glasgow and the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen.
• Thespians – A Mischief musical? Jonathan Sayer‘s latest work is set in 534 BC. It 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. Tour begins at Mercury Theatre Colchester on 9 May.
• Tina – The Tina Turner Musical – ran in the West End at the Aldwych Theatre for over 5 years following its world premiere, receiving critical acclaim, and breaking all Box Office records at the venue. It’s UK tour continues on 13 Jan at Norwich Theatre Royal.
• Titanique –the award-winning Céline Dion jukebox musical, continues on the London stage at Criterion Theatre where it is booking until June 2026.
• Top Hat The Musical – featuring Irving Berlin’s timeless songs and dazzling dance numbers, returned to the UK stage for the first time since 2015 and the UK tour resumes on 20^th January at Sheffield Lyceum Theatre following a Christmas run at the Southbank Queen Elizabeth Hall.
• Waitress – The successful Sara Bareilles musical is opening up again and setting out on tour. Carrie Hope Fletcher will play expectant mother, pie baker, and dream chaser, Jenna, on select dates. The tour opens at the New Wimbledon Theatre in March.
• Wallace: A Musical A William Wallace hip hop musical aims Scotland’s most familiar national myth, interrogating whether William Wallace should be remembered as a hero, a rebel or a story shaped by the centuries that followed him. Expect a hip-hop score that fuses rap, folk, pop and rock while keeping a distinctly Scottish voice. Tour opens at Beacon Arts Centre on 23 September before touring.
• Weird – continuing the wickedly fun trend of retelling tales through another character’s lens, it’s the turn of the three witches from Macbeth! Accompanied by a soundtrack of new pop anthems, an impressive creative team is responsible for this one – and we expect there to be a long future life planned. Plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal from 28 to 31 January.
• Wicked – opened at the Apollo Victoria over 20 years ago and continues into 2026 with tickets on sale through January 2027.