LATEST NEWS – 4th MAY 2026

P Hayward 4th May 2026

• Disney’s High School Musical – the new production, presented by Hope Mill Theatre and Chris Harper Productions, marks the first UK non-replica staging of the musical and is set for a summer run at the Lowry in Salford from 22 August to 19 September before moving to the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre from 12 October 2026, with performances running until 3 January 2027. Harry Judd, best known as a member of McFly, will play Coach Bolton in London, taking over the role from Jason Donovan, who appears in the Salford engagement. The cast transferring to London includes Tobias Turley, Leonor Correia, Caitlin Tipping and Luke Bayer as Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay and Ryan respectively, alongside KayCee Stroh as Ms Darbus. Further casting is to be announced. The production is co-directed by Joseph Houston and William Whelton, with choreography by Aaron Renfree, set design by Andrew Exeter, sound design by Matt Peploe, video design by George Reeve, lighting design by Rory Beaton, costume design by Sophia Pardon, musical supervision by Katy Richardson, musical direction by Audra Cramer, casting by Pearson Casting, production management by Ammonite Studios and general management by Chris Harper Productions.
• To Kill a Mockingbird – will be returning to the West End running from 25 June to 12 September at Wyndham’s Theatre on Charing Cross Road. Directed by Bartlett Sher (The King and I), Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s seminal text was seen in the West End in 2022, going on to run until the summer of 2023. It then kicked off a tour in Leeds in September. The ongoing tour, led by Richard Coyle as Atticus Finch, is currently in Norwich, and will visit Empire Theatre, Liverpool (12 to 16 May 2026), and Milton Keynes Theatre (19 to 23 May 2026). Coyle stay with the show for its London run, joined by David Kennedy, Charlotte Luxford, Dylan Malyn, Anna Munden, Tiwai Muza, John J O’Hagan, Oscar Pearce, Jonathan Rubin, Gabriel Scott, Aaron Shosanya, Carole Stennett, Paul Albertson, Harry Attwell, Stephen Boxer, Tom Brace-Jenkins, Cheryl Burniston, Colin R Campbell, Andrea Davy, Richard Dempsey, Sarah Finigan, Phillipa Flynn and Evie Hargreaves. The creative team includes by Louisa Muller (associate director), Miriam Buether (set designer), Ed Pierce (design supervisor), Ann Roth (costume designer), Jennifer Tipton (lighting designer), Scott Lehrer (sound designer), Adam Guettel (original score), Kimberley Grigsby (musical supervisor), Serena Hill (casting director), Campbell Young Associates (hair and wigs designer), Laurence Belcher (resident director), and Tavia Jefferson (cultural coordinator).
• Fun Home – will receive its UK regional premieres at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre where it will run from 3 July to 1 August 2026. The production with music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by Lisa Kron, and is directed by former artistic director Sarah Frankcom. The piece is based on the graphic novel by Alison Bechdel, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The musical follows Alison Bechdel as she reflects on her upbringing in a family-run funeral home, her sexual awakening, and her attempts to understand her father and the complexities within her family. Jodie McNee takes on the role of Alison, joined by Nigel Harman as Bruce Bechdel. Alice Audrey O’Hanlon will play Medium Alison, while the role of Small Alison will be shared by Lillie Babb, Felicity LJ Moore and Harriet O’Shea. Natasha Cottriall appears as Joan, with Alex Young as Helen Bechdel. Lucca Chadwick-Patel completes the principal cast as Roy, Bobby, Mark and Pete. The role of John will be alternated by Reggie Kempson, Finley Litchfield and Reuben Shepherd, while Christian will be played by Arthur Lyons, Morris McKinley and Theo Wake. Jennifer Caldwell and Alfie Richards join as offstage covers. The creative team includes choreographer and intimacy director Jenni Jackson, music supervisor Matthew Malone, designer Peter Butler, lighting designer Bethany Gupwell, sound designer Tony Gayle, associate director Emma Baggott and casting director Natalie Gallacher.
• Hercules – has announced the new company for its the final weeks of its West End run at Theatre Royal Drury Lane where it opened last summer. From 29 June, Bradley Gibson will return to the role of Hercules for the show’s final dates at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, joined by Mae Ann Jorolan (Meg), Leslie Beehann (Terpsichore), Kimmy Edwards (Clio), Candace Furbert (Thalia), Malinda Parris (Calliope), Paige Peddie (Melpomene), Emile Ruddock (Phil), Stephen Carlile (Hades), Craig Gallivan (Bob), Matt Overfield (Charles), Felipe Bejarano (Standby Hercules), Psalms-Nissi Myers-Reid and Francessca Daniella-Baker (Standby Muses). Also in the cast are Lana Antoniou,Daisy Barnett, Sarah Benbelaid, Courtenay Brady, Jack Butcher, Grace Chan, Jonathan Cordin, Sophie Cullen, Marie Finlayson, Nathan Louis Fernand, Ryesha Higgs, Barney Hudson, DeAngelo Jones, Joshua Lear, Serina Mathew, Lamoi Leon, Liam Marcellino, Harriet Millier, Ellie Mitchell, Saffi Needham, Ingrid Olivia, Patrick Robinson, Stephen Rolley, Ope Sowande, and Blake Tuke. The production closes on 5^th September 2026.
• The Harder They Come – will return to Stratford East from 16 May to 4 July and the casting has been decided. Natey Jones reprises his role as Ivan and Madeline Charlemagne also returns as Elsa until 6 June, sharing the role with Chanice Alexander-Burnett, who will take over as Elsa from 8 June. Also returning to the cast are Danny Bailey (José), Ashh Blackwood (ensemble), Craig Blake (Ray), Aisha Davis (ensemble/cover Daisy), Kage Douglas (ensemble/on stage swing/dance captain), Robert Grose (ensemble/cover Ray), Jack Matthew (ensemble/cover José and Pedro), Simon-Anthony Rhoden (Pedro) and Thomas Vernal (Mr Hilton). New company members include Llewellyn Jamal (ensemble/cover Ivan), Rachel John (Daisy), Grace Kanyamibwa (ensemble/2nd cover Elsa/cover Elsa from 8 June), Sophia Mackay (ensemble/on stage swing), Nathaniel Morrison (ensemble/cover Preacher and Mr Hilton) and Ashley Samuels (Preacher). Adapted by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks, the reggae musical is based on the cult 1970s Jamaican film, which follows Ivan, an aspiring singer who arrives in Kingston, Jamaica, determined to live out his dreams on his own terms and make it as a music superstar. The musical features a soundtrack of Jimmy Cliff hits alongside brand new songs. Olivier Award-winner Matthew Xia directs the piece and brings together a creative team that includes Simon Kenny (set designer), Jessica Cabassa (costume designer), Shelley Maxwell (choreographer and intimacy director), Ciarán Cunningham (lighting designer), Tony Gayle (live sound designer), Nicola T. Chang (sound designer – sound effects and soundscape), Ashton Moore (music supervisor and vocal arrangements), Benjamin Kwasi Burrell (orchestrator and music arrangements), Luke Bacchus (musical director), Gino Ricardo Green (video designer), Heather Basten(casting director), Emily Aboud (associate director), Dominique Hamilton (wigs, hair and makeup designer and supervisor), Neisha-Yen Jones (associate choreographer), Claire Llewellyn for RC Annie (fight director), Aundrea Fudge (voice and dialect coach), David Beckham (associate live sound designer), Christopher Reid (associate sound designer – sound effects and soundscape), Sophie Fuller (costume supervisor) and Justine Henzell (creative and cultural consultant).