Michal Ball to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspects of Love, reimagined for the 21st century

Michael Ball is to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspects of Love, reimagined for the 21st century and directed by Jonathan Kent. With lyrics by Don Black and Charles Hart, and produced by Nica Burns, Aspects of Love will play at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue with performances from 12 May to  Saturday 11 November 2023 with a press night on  25 May.Tickets go on sale today
 

Michael Ball said: “Aspects of Love holds a very special place in my heart.  I am absolutely delighted to revisit Andrew Lloyd Webber’s glorious score in a re-imagined chamber production in the West End from May next year.  I am so happy to be collaborating again with the brilliant director Jonathan Kent who was so inspiring when we worked together on Sweeney Todd. We are just at the start of our journey so the big question is will I be singing my favourite song Love Changes Everything – what do you think? All will be revealed soon…”



 

Sir Ian McKellen. John Bishop and Mel Giedroyc to appear in Mother Goose

It has just been announced that Sir  Ian McKellen is appearing  of pantomime this year taking Mother Goose out on tour, with a number of weeks in the West End! Mother Goose (Ian McKellen) and her husband Vic (John Bishop) are running an Animal Sanctuary for waifs and strays, they live a wholesome life inside an abandoned Debenhams. But when a magical goose (Mel Giedroyc) comes a-knocking, will fame & fortune get the better of them?

 

The show is penned by Jonathan Harvey (Coronation Street) with direction by Cal McCrystal (Paddington). Set and Costume design is by Liz Ascroft, Choreography by Lizzi Gee, Lighting design by Prema Mehta, Sound design by Ben Harrison and Puppet Design and Creation by Chris Barlow. Casting is by Anne Vosser and the Production Manager is Ben Arkell.

The show will also star Oscar Conlon-Morrey as Jack, Simbi Akande as Jill, Sharon Ballard as Evil Fairy Malignia and Karen Mavundukure as Good Fairy Encanta. The cast also includes Adam Brown, Gabriel Fleary, Richard Leeming and Genevieve Nicole. Further casting to be announced soon.

 

McKellen was last in pantomime at the Old Vic, where he played Widow Twankey in Aladdin.

Mother Goose will run at Theatre Royal Brighton (3- 11 December) before moving to Duke of York's Theatre in the West End (15 December-29 January 2023) and on to Chichester Festival Theatre (7-11 February), Sheffield Lyceum (4-18 February)Wolverhampton Grand (22-26 February)Liverpool Empire (28 February-3 March) and New Theatre Oxford (7-11 March) Bord Gais Energy Theatre Dublin (22 – 26 March 2023), and Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff (28 March – 1 April 2023) with further venues to be announced soon.

New cast members join Six the Musical in London

Six the musical continues its run at the Vaudeville Theatre, where it has extended its booking period until 29 October 2023.

Joining the principal line-up from Tuesday 18 October are Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky (Bat Out of Hell, Grease) as Catherine of Aragon, Baylie Carson (Jagged Little Pill) as Anne Boleyn and Koko Basigara as Katherine Howard with Monique Ashe-Palmer (Jersey Boys, Aladdin) as Alternate Aragon/Cleves and Leah Vassell (West Side Story in Slovenia) as Alternate Seymour/Parr.

Their first performance will be on Tuesday 18 October when they join current cast members Claudia Kariuki, Dionne Ward-Anderson and Roxanne Couch (who was previously the Alternate Jane Seymour and Catherine Parr) as Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves and Catherine Parr respectively.

Super Swings Rachel Rawlinson and Esme Rothero also continue their roles.

Tour of Bugsy Malone to move into London over Christmas

The current tour of Bugsy Malone is coming  to London this Christmas,  running at the Alexandra Palace Theatre in north London from 3rd December-15th January, with tickets now on sale

Presented by Theatre Royal Bath Productions, Birmingham Rep and Kenny Wax Productions and produced for its festive run by Wax, Alan Parker's stage show features a score by Paul Williams and is based on the 1976 movie of the same name. Songs include the likes of "You Give A Little Love", "My Name is Tallulah", and "Fat Sam's Grand Slam".

Famous for casting children in adult roles, the musical is set in prohibition era New York and features a gang of mobsters, showgirls, a penniless boxer, a seductive songstress and a plethora of flying custard pies.

The musical will then continue on its tour through to February 2023. 

Ruthie Henshall to join Lee Mead, Matthew Kelly and Brenda Edwards in Snow White Panto at Wimbledon

It has just been confirmed that  West End leading lady Ruthie Henshall is to play the Wicked Queen to join Lee Mead, Matthew Kelly and Brenda Edwards in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Panto which runs at Wimbledon Theatre from Sat 3 Dec - Sat 31 Dec 2022. 

The all star cast also includes comedy television presenters Dick & Dom, Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist John Archer and TikTok sensation Hannah Lowther.

More casting for the Palladium's pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk

Further casting has been revealed for The London Palladium's pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk. 

Louis Gaunt (Mary Poppins) will play Jack, with Rob Madge (My Son's A Queer) as Pat the Cow and Natalie McQueen (Bonnie and Clyde) as Princess Jill. They will join previously announced Dawn French playing Jack's mum Dame Trot in a £2 million show that will run  for five weeks from 10th December to 15th January 2023. Alexandra Burke will be playing the villainous Mrs Blunderbore wih regulars Julian Clary/the Spirit of the Beans, Paul Zerdin/Simon Trot, Nigel Havers/King Nigel and Gary Wilmot as Queen Nigella.

Get Up, Stand Up! Bob Marley musical extends booking period and welcomes new cast members

Get Up, Stand Up! Bob Marley musical  at the Lyric Theatre, has again extended its booking period until 8th January 2023 and announced some new cast members from 4th October  2022 when it  will star David Albury  in the titular role,  with Cleopatra Rey  (Rita Marley).

Joining the company are Ivano Turco (Alternate Bob Marley), Tom Bowen (Doctor), Newtion Matthews (Coxsone Dodd/Lee Perry/Bucky), Philip Kamau (Little Bob), Kristiano Ricardo (Little Bob), Zack Richards (Little Bob), Jack Matthew (Ensemble), Andrè Antonio (Swing), Cartell Green-Brown (Swing), Michael Jeremiah (Swing), Summer Priest (Swing) and Lauran Rae (Swing). 

Continuing in the show in the same roles are Craig Blake (DJ Sway/Claudie Massop), Melissa Brown-Taylor (Marcia Griffiths), Shanay Holmes (Cindy Breakspeare), Sophia Mackay (Judy Mowatt), Julene Robinson (Mama), Jacade Simpson (Bunny Wailer), Nate Simpson (Intermediate Bob Marley), Callum Jaye (Cover Intermediate Bob Marley), Jaime Tait, Luke Buck, Viquichele Cross, Llewellyn Jamal, Kieran McGinn and Pharrell Marshall-Green. Continuing in the show but taking on different roles are Charles Blyth (Chris Blackwell), Rohan Pinnock-Hamilton (Peter Tosh), Cleopatra Rey (Rita Marley), Amarra Smith (Mrs Grey/Aunty Viola) and Athena Collins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full cast announced for new tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

The full company has just  been revealed for the tour of  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which opens at Leeds Playhouse in November

With the already announced Willy Wonka being played by Gareth Snook, the role of Charlie Bucket will be shared in Leeds by Amelia Minto, Isaac Sugden, Kayleen Nguema and Noah Walton.

The famous five golden ticket winners include Kazmin Borrer (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as Veruca Salt, Teddy Hinde (Anyone Can Whistle) as Mike Teavee, Marisha Morgan (Top Boy) as Violet Beauregarde and Robin Simões Da Silva (Bedknobs and Broomsticks) as Augustus Gloop. 

The loving Bucket family all live happily together in a tiny house with only one bed, which the four grandparents share. Grandpa Joe will be played by Michael D’Cruze (The Wheel of Time), Grandpa George by Christopher Howell (The Witches of Eastwick in Concert), Grandma Josephine by Kate Milner Evans (Brief Encounter), Grandma Georgina by Julie Mullins (Neighbours) and Mrs Bucket by Leonie Spilsbury (Heartstopper). 

The full company includes Lydia Bradd, Darcie Brown, Josh Donovan, Ewan Gillies, Lucy Hutchinson, Patrick King, Jodie Knight, Jonathan Macdonald, Julie Mullins, Victoria Nicol, Katherine Picar, Lewis Rae, Emma Robotham-Hunt, Ty-Reece Stewart and Natasha Volley. 

Leeds Playhouse artistic director James Brining, who also helms the new production, said: “We’re thrilled to have assembled such a fantastic cast and creative team for this new version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in Leeds and for the UK tour. They are an exciting company that includes some brilliant fresh faces and rising stars with some hugely talented and experienced artists. 

"I am really looking forward to working with them all in creating the world of this production. It is such a special story, loved by many generations, and we’re seeking to create a joyful, spectacular production for all. It’s a real privilege to have the opportunity to revisit the successful West End and Broadway versions and create a new production for audiences here in Leeds and on tour."

The Broadway Musical AIN'T TOO PROUD - The Life and Times of The Temptations to open at the Prince Edward Theatre from 31 March 2023

The Broadway Musical AIN'T TOO PROUD - The Life and Times of The Temptations is to open  at the Prince Edward Theatre from 31 March 2023.

The smash hit Tony Award-winning Broadway musical AIN’T TOO PROUD – The Life and Times of The Temptations, will bring the incredible true story of the greatest R&B group of all time to the West End. Reuniting many of the award-winning creative team behind the musical Jersey Boys, AIN’T TOO PROUD – The Life and Times of The Temptations begins performances at the Prince Edward Theatre on 31 March 2023. Casting is to be announced soon with tickets on general sale at 12 noon today.

Otis Williams, the group’s founding member and an executive producer of the show said today, “I am truly thrilled that our Tony Award-winning musical Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, which was a smash hit on Broadway and is currently touring to 50 cities in the U.S., will be opening in the West End next Spring. The UK has always loved our music and embraces it as much today as it did 60 years ago. All of us involved with the show can’t wait to share this very production with you all."

AIN’T TOO PROUD is produced in the West End by Ira Pittelman, Tom Hulce, Stephen Gabriel and Jamie Wilson. It won the 2019 Tony Award for Best Choreography is the electrifying new musical that follows the remarkable journey of THE TEMPTATIONS from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. With their signature dance moves and unmistakable harmonies, they rose to the top of the charts creating an amazing 42 Top Ten Hits with 14 reaching number one. The rest is history – how they met, how they rose, the ground-breaking heights they hit, and how personal and political conflicts threatened to tear the group apart as the United States fell into civil unrest. This thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty and betrayal is set to the beat of the group’s Grammy Award-winning music including the hits My Girl, Just My Imagination, Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone and so many more.

 AIN’T TOO PROUD has a book by Kennedy Prize-winning playwright Dominique Morisseau and reunites two-time Tony Award winning director Des McAnuff with Tony and Olivier Award winning choreographer Sergio Trujilio, whose previous collaborations include the Tony Award winning hit show Jersey Boys. It has Scenic design by Tony Award nominee Robert Brill with Costume design by Tony Award winner Paul Tazewell. Tony Award winning lighting designer Howell Binkley and Tony Award winning sound designer Steve Canyon Kennedy unite once again following their success working together on Jersey Boys. Projection design is by Drama Desk Award winner Peter Nigrini, Hair and Wig design by Charles G. LaPointe. Music Supervision and Arrangements are by Kenny Seymour, Orchestrations by Drama Desk Award winner Harold Wheeler and Music Direction by Matt Smith.

 

Wicked! cast changes

Gary Wilmot (The Prince of Egypt) will play his final Wicked!  performance on 16 October 2022, with Mark Curry, (who previously appeared in the show from 2016 to 2017) taking over the role  from 18 October.

Also currently in the show are Lucie Jones (Elphaba), Helen Woolf (Glinda), Ryan Reid (Fiyero), Sophie-Louise Dann (Madame Morrible), Carina Gillespie (Nessarose), Nicholas McLean (Boq), Simeon Truby (Doctor Dillamond), Amy Webb (Standby for Elphaba) and Lisa-Anne Wood (Standby for Glinda).

Further cast includes Yuki Abe, Kofi Aidoo-Appiah, Meg Astin, Alishia-Marie Blake, Pàje Campbell, Michael Colbourne, Fergus Dale, Nolan Edwards, Nicola Espallardo, Danny Fogarty, Laura Harrison, Amie Hibbert, Lucie Horsfall, Samuel How, Christian Knight, Nick Len, Jasmine Leung, Maggie Lynne, Rhidian Marc, PaddyJoe Martin, Jessica-Alice McCluskey, Stacey McGuire, Harry Mills, Lewis Newton, Natalie Spriggs, Samantha Thomas, Joe Thompson-Oubari and James Titchener.

Curry said today: "I'm thrilled to be returning to Oz after five years away and to have this opportunity to play The Wizard again in the incredible Wicked. I look forward to joining this brilliant cast and working again with the fantastic creative team and producers."

The remainder of the cast is subject to change from Tuesday 7 March 2023.

More casting announced for Elf the Musical

Further casting has been revealed for the  return of Elf the Musical  at London's Dominion Theatre for a strictly limited eight-week season from 14th November 2022 to 7th January 2023.

Based on the  the much-loved festive film of the same name, is already set to star Simon Lipkin (Nativity!) in the lead role, alongside Georgina Castle (Millennials) as Jovie. Joining them and announced today is Tom Chambers (White Christmas, Top Hat) taking on the role of Walter Hobbs, the father of Buddy (the lost elf who is returned home).

Also appearing will be Kim Ismay (Wicked) as Debs, Nicholas Pound (Les Misérables) as Santa and Dermot Canavan (Fiddler on the Roof) as the Store Manager.

Also in the cast are Evonnee Bentley-Holder, Kyle Cox, Jade Davies, Bethan Downing, Francis Foreman, Morgan Gregory, Ryan Jupp, Ellis Linford-Pill, Shane O'Riordan, Theo Reece, Chloe Saunders, Heather Scott-Martin, Jessica Spalis, Michael Tyler, Katie Warsop and Natalie Woods. Dexter Barry, Logan Clark, Alfie Morwood and Frankie Treadaway will alternate the role of Michael, with further casting still to be revealed.

 

Take That Greatest Days musical to tour next summer

To coincide with  the release of the new Take That film Greatest Days, comes the announcement of a new musical tour of the same name which is going on the road  next summer.

Based on the tale of a group of friends who reunite to see their favourite boy band performing live, the new production will mark 30 years since Take That's first UK number one single: "Pray". It features 15 of the band`s greatest hits.

Originally produced in 2017 as The Band by David Pugh, Daffyd Rogers and Take That, that version also being staged in the West End.

The new tour is  produced by Adam Kenwright and will open on 5th May in Bromley, before heading to Manchester, Newcastle, Woking, Sheffield, Cardiff, Milton Keynes, Liverpool, Wolverhampton and Cheltenham- Additional dates will also be announced for Blackpool, Glasgow, Bristol, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Southampton, Truro, Leeds, Leicester and Birmingham.

Take That said: "We are so thrilled that this new production now titled Greatest Days is launching next year. We had an enormous amount of fun working on the original version and can't wait to help bring this new production to over 30 cities across the UK and Ireland from May 2023."

Cast and creative team for the show, which has a book by Tim Firth, are to be revealed. Tickets go on sale soon.