New West End concert production of Roles We'll Never Play now on sale

A new West End concert production of Roles We'll Never Play will take place at the Apollo Theatre on 7th December 2020 at 7.30pm. It will feature West End performers singing roles they'd never normally be able to take on.

Directed by Sasha Regan and produced by Tom Duern with musical direction by Flynn Sturgeon and hosting by Carl Mullaney, the concert will be performed with full Covid compliancy rules as set out by venue owners Nimax. The full cast will include  Kelly Agbowu (Les Misérables / Waitress), Laura Baldwin (Waitress, Eugenius!), Pearce Barron (Hairspray), Luke Bayer (Soho Cinders / Everybody's Talking About Jamie), Courtney Bowman (Six / Everybody's Talking About Jamie), Lauren Byrne (Six / Beautiful), Mary-Jean Caldwell (Les Misérables), Lloyd Daniels (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat / The X Factor), Nicole Raquel Dennis (Dreamgirls / Waitress), Tom Duern (Gretel / Pirates Of Penzance), Matt Facchino (Sweeney Todd / Pirates Of Penzance), Alice Fearn (Come From Away / Wicked), Chris Howell (Hairspray / Wicked), Idriss Kargbo (Wicked / Five Guys Named Moe), and Caroline Kay (The Space Between / The Clockmakers Daughter). 

Also featuring are Josie Kemp (Les Misérables) Renée Lamb (Be More Chill / Six), Michael Mather (Soho Cinders / Mythic), Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky (Tina The Musical / Bat Out Of Hell), Billy Nevers (JCS / & Juliet), Trevor Dion Nicholas (Hamilton / Aladdin), Eve Norris (Be More Chill / Bat Out Of Hell), Oliver Ormson (Frozen / The Addams Family), Natalie May Paris (Six), Maiya Quansah-Breed (Rent / Six), Alan Richardson (Chicago / Pirates Of Penzance), Lauren Soley (Les Misérables) Danielle Steers (Six / Bat Out Of Hell) and Rodney Vubya (Evita / Tina The Musical). There will  be two graduates as a featured ensemble – Karen Wilkinson (Mountview) and Markus Sodergren (ArtsEd)

Buy tickets for Roles We'll Never Play 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everybody's Talking About Jamie returning to the Apollo Theatre with a six-month run beginning November 28th

The  West End musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie is making its West End return next month with a full cast and orchestra - and Covid-19 secure in all areas  - at the Apollo Theatre with  a six-month run  from  November 28th 2020-February 28th 2021 and extend as demand warrants.

Changes have been made to the show's staging to 'reflect a new Covid world' including the ensemble members playing school kids wearing masks.The full  cast includes  Noah Thomas as Jamie and Melissa Jacques as his mum Margaret, Sejal Keshwala as Ray, Hiba Elchikhe as Pritti Pasha, Gillian Ford as Miss Hedge and  Phil Nichol will play Loco Chanelle (taking over from Rufus Hound, who has committed to Dancing On Ice).

With Alexander Archer (Mickey), Zion Battles (Levi), Ebony Clarke (Swing), Marlon G. Day (Jamie's Dad), James Gillan (Tray Sophisticay), Zahra Jones (Becca), Emily Kenwright (Vicki), Keenan Knight (Sayid), Jordan Laviniere (Cy), Garry Lee (Sandra Bollock), Brian James Leys (understudy), David O'Reilly (Laika Virgin), Harriet Payne (Bex), Jordan Ricketts (Dean Paxton), Rachel Seiran (Fatimah) and Joe Wolstenholme (Swing).

Tickets for the limited return go on sale today 

The tour of Everybody's Talking About Jamie is due to start in January next year st Wolverhampton

OTI MABUSE: I AM HERE at London Coliseum in June

Reigning Champion of Strictly Come Dancing and the Greatest Dancer  OTI MABUSE is performing a night of electrifying choreography joined by some of the world’s greatest dancers and the West End’s finest singers and musicians at the London Coliseum at 7:00 pm on 14th June 2021

OTI MABUSE – I AM HERE is a whistle stop celebration of the influences and inspirations that took her on a journey from growing up in South Africa to following her dream. This explosive night of dance features spectacular jives, pumping sambas and South Africa’s exhilarating Kwaito

Buy tickets foi OTI MABUSE: I AM HERE

Alice Fearn, Sophie Evans, Ben Forster, Shanay Holmes, Rachel John, Jamie Muscato, Trevor Dion Nicholas and Layton Williams to appear in "West End Musical Christmas"

Eight West End stars  including Alice Fearn, Sophie Evans, Ben Forster, Shanay Holmes, Rachel John, Jamie Muscato, Trevor Dion Nicholas and Layton Williams will appear in "West End Musical Christmas" concerts at London's Palace Theatre for four nights from 17 - 20 December, with tickets from £22.50.

 With special guests still to be revealed a portion of profits will also be donated to Acting for Others.

The line-up features the West End’s biggest stars including:

Alice Fearn - Beverly in ‘Come From Away’ and Elphaba in ‘Wicked’
Sophie Evans - Glinda in ‘Wicked’
Ben Forster - The Phantom in ‘The Phantom Of The Opera’, Jesus in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’
Shanay Holmes - Rachel in ‘The Bodyguard’, Joanne in ‘Rent’, who was recently nominated for a Black British Theatre Award, and hosts the evening
Rachel John - Angelica Schuyler in ‘Hamilton’, Mimi in ‘Rent’
Jamie Muscato - Jason Dean in ‘Heathers’, Tony in ‘West Side Story’
Trevor Dion Nicholas - the Genie in ‘Aladdin’ and George Washington in ‘Hamilton’
Layton Williams - Jamie New in ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’, Angel in ‘Rent’

Capacity at the Palace Theatre has been reduced to comply with COVID-19 Secure guidelines for social distancing plus robust risk mitigation. In addition to hand sanitation, face coverings and track and trace, other measures will include contactless tickets, temperature testing and the deep clean and sanitation of the theatre.

Buy tickets now for West End Musical Christmas

David Walliams and Sheridan Smith in twisted take on Jack and The Beanstalk

David Walliams and Sheridan Smith are teaming  up again for a different  take on Jack and The Beanstalk in the new series of After Ever After, which reveals the not-so-rosy future of the story’s characters once the love has ended.  Joining them in the cast is Inbetweeners Blake Harrison, who will play the dodgy dealer who sold Jack the infamous beans in the first place. 

Sheridan will star as The Woman With No Name, who stakes her reputation on being the best giant slayer in the land, while David plays the Giant. 

The reimagining will see the very concussed giant surviving his great fall from the beanstalk, trying  to recruit his enemy Jack  to get back home away from the angry villagers.

Speaking of the new show, David said: ‘I often wondered what happened to Jack after ever after, so I decided to write a sequel because I can’t stop writing books! ‘This is a star-studded festive treat – a comedy sequel to one of the best loved English fairy tales. I am delighted to be playing the Giant, alongside some of the biggest names in British TV.’

Sheridan added: ‘This is a brilliantly funny piece and I’m so excited to be working with David again. ‘My part is a really fun part and like every baddie, she gets her comeuppance in the end! ‘After the year we’ve had it’s the perfect story for Christmas that the whole family can enjoy together.’

Will publish TV broadcast details when they are released.

An evening with Kevin and Joanne Clifton

Strictly Come Dancing Champion siblings, KEVIN and JOANNE CLIFTON present  ‘An Evening with Kevin & Joanne Clifton’.

Due to scheduling, this is the only opportunity for you  to catch the successful brother and sister duo in London presenting an evening of song, performing  some of your favourite Ballroom and Latin dances plus  dancing memories at the Palace Theatre London on 1st December 2020 at 7.30pm

This production is suitable for a socially distanced audience and is being created and toured with the audience, theatre staff, cast and crew safety at the forefront.

Kevin Clifton said : "Although we all miss performing and producing live shows and it is great to be able to get back on stage, we know people's health and safety is paramount. Myself, Joanne and our producers feel a responsibility to the theatre industry to help rebuild audience confidence, so that one day theatres will be full again."

Buy tickets for An Evening with Kevin & Joanne Clifton (Please note you will be contacted by the venue 48 hours before the performance with instructions on how to check-in and retrieve your e-ticket)

Chichester Festival Theatre announce Autumn 2020 Programme

Chichester Festival Theatre have just announced they will present an autumn season of socially distanced shows in its main space from next month. The season will feature musical events including:

On 1 November at 3;00pm and 7:00 pm, the theatre will celebrate the 90th birthday of Stephen Sondheim with a special concert led by artistic director Daniel Evans. Appearing in the concert,will be Gabrielle Brooks, Clive Rowe, Hannah Waddingham and Jenna Russell. Proceeds from this fundraising concert will support Chichester Festival Theatre's work with vulnerable young people.

Patricia Routledge, Sheila Hancock and Michael Ball will be talking to  writer Edward Seckerson about their lives and careers on Wednesdays from 11 to 25 November.

Also in November, will be concerts from soprano Kate Royal, award-winning actor Henry Goodman and pianist Lucy Parham, while Joe Stilgoe will present his intimate solo show. 

Musical comedy duo Frisky and Mannish will perform for one evening on 12 November, while on the subsequent two days Le Gateau Chocolat and Jonny Woo wcelebrate their favourite shows in A Night at the Musicals. 

From 30 November to 3 December, Daniel Evans, Rebecca Caine and Rebecca Trehearn  & special guests will perform A Merry Little Christmas Celebration launching the yuletide season with  a series of festive concerts of music, poems and prose.

Anna Ledwich will present a brand new version of Pinocchio, directed by Dale Rooks from 12 to 31 December.With music and orchestrations by Tom Brady, Pinocchio will have set design by Simon Higlett, costumes by Ryan Dawson Laight, lighting by James Whiteside, musical direction by Colin Billing, sound by Gregory Clarke and movement by Lauren Grant. 

Friends priority online booking for Autumn 2020 opens 30th September; general online booking opening on 2nd October at 9am.

Magic Radio and Magic at the Musicals featuring John Owen Jones, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Ruthie Henshall and Nicole Raquel Dennis

On September 17, Magic Radio will bring together over 70 leading figures from across the musicals industry at the London Palladium  to shine a spotlight on theatre at a time when its very existence is under threat. Produced by Magic together with TBI Media there will be a special three-hour show airing  on Magic Radio and Magic at the Musicals at 7pm on Wednesday 23rd Sepetember on digital radio, the Magic app, online or via your smart speaker.

There will  interviews throughout the day with  West End stars recording exclusive ‘live’ performances from supporting musicals including MAMMA MIA!; Dreamgirls; Disney’s: The Lion King; &Juliet.  11 performances in all will be recorded, uniquely with a live, 23-piece orchestra, comprising some of the West End’s finest musicians, together with members of the London Musical Theatre Orchestra with  Musical Director Jon Ranger.

Nicole Raquel Dennis ( Dreamgirls and Dear Evan Hansen) will be talking to performers about  what it’s like to be back on stage again. Ruthie Henshall will be conducting interviews with some of the industry's  leading producers including Judy Craymer (producer of Mamma Mia); Rebecca Kane (CEO LW Theatres) and Sonia Friedman (multi-award-winning producer of shows including Dreamgirls, Harry Potter, Book Of Mormon) who will give a voice to the leading creatives, producers, composers, artists and musicians who are currently facing financial hardship. 

John Owen Jones will host round tables with creatives from both on-stage and behind the curtain including Trevor Dion Nicholas, (Aladdin and Hamilton) and Kenny Wax,(producer of SIX The Musical).

Six Musical to transfer to Lyric Theatre for a socially distanced 11-week run from 14th November

The Tudor girl-band concert Six is set to be first musical to reopen in West End with  a simultaneous run at  Salford Lowry

Created by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss when they were undergraduates at Cambridge University, Six ran at the Arts theatre in London from September 2018 to March of this year when venues closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. It will now move temporarily to the larger Lyric Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue for a socially distanced 11-week run from 14th  November to 31st January 2021 where it will perform 9 shows a week. 

 

Capacity has been reduced to comply with COVID-19 Secure guidelines for social distancing plus robust risk mitigation. In addition to hand sanitation, face coverings and track and trace, other measures will include contactless tickets, temperature testing and the deep clean and sanitation of the theatre.

Simultaneously the tour of SIX  will resume performances in the Lyric Theatre at the Lowry in Salford from Friday November 27 for a 6-week Christmas season until 10th  January 2021 (tickets now on sale)

SIX will return to the Arts Theatre in March 2021 subject to the lifting of social distancing, and ‘Get Up, Stand Up!  The Bob Marley Musical’ opens at the Lyric. 

Tickets for SIX at the LYRIC THEATRE will go on sale at 8:00 am Friday 18 September

 

  

 

A new UK & Ireland tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast to start in May 2021

The Mail's Baz Bamigboye has just announced a new UK & Ireland tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is due to start in May 2021, opening with a five week run at the Curve Leicester. Casting is currently underway and further information including tour dates will be announced in the autumn

Producers Disney Theatrical have confirmed the original Broadway creative team is set to return, led by director Robert Jesse Roth and choreographer Matt West, bringing new designs and choreography to the show. Adapted from Walt Disney Pictures' Academy Award-winning 1991 animated musical film of the same name Beauty and the Beast is a musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton.

Beauty and the Beast is a musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton. Adapted from Walt Disney Pictures’ Academy Award-winning 1991 animated musical film of the same name.

It tells the story of a cold-blooded prince who has been magically transformed into an the beast as punishment for his selfish ways. To revert into his true human form, the Beast must first learn to love a bright, beautiful young woman whom he has imprisoned in his enchanted castle with servants candelabra footman Lumiere, clock majordomo Cogsworth, feather-duster maid Plumette, teapot housekeeper Mrs. Potts, and her teacup son Chip.

 

Back to the Future Musical opening in London next May

Breaking news this morning is that Back to the Future Musical is opening in London at the Adelphi Theatre on 14th May next year and currently booking  26th September 2021.

Casting news so far is that  Olly Dobson ( Bat Out of Hell and Matilda) will be starring as Marty McFly with Hugh Coles (The Festival) as George McFly, Cedric Neal (Chess) as Goldie Wilson and Rosanna Hyland (Sister Act) as Lorraine Baines. Tony Award-winner Roger Bart (The Stepford Wives)  makes his UK stage debut as Doc Brown. with Courtney-Mae Briggs as Jennifer Parker and Aidan Cutler as Biff Tannen will reprise the roles they played in the Manchester run earlier this year with more news to follow.

It is based on the highly successful 1985 film when Marty McFly  is accidentally transported back to 1955 . Before he can make his way back to 1985, where he belongs, Marty needs to , or he might not have a future to go back to. the show features original music alongside hits from the film, including "The Power of Love" and "Johnny B. Goode".

West End Musical Drive-In new dates and line up from Six, Aladdin and Wicked! musicals for September

West End Musical Drive-In has just announced new dates and a star-studded line up at The Drive In,Troubadour ,  Meridian Water, Harbet Road,London,N1 83Q for September 5th,12th,19th and 26th:

Joining the previously announced events including two Six star reunions will be nights dedicated to three West End shows – Aladdin, Wicked and Everybody's Talking About Jamie, with the last of them revealed a number of weeks ago.

Layton Williams will be joined on 29 August by current Jamie star Noah Thomas, with more still to be revealed.

On 5th September a variety of musical performers who have appeared in Six the Musical including  Courtney Bowman, Maddie Bulleyment, Collette Guitart, Sophie Isaacs, Vicki Manser, Shekinah McFarlane, Natalie Paris, Jarneia Richard-Noel, Courtney Stapleton, Jen Caldwell, Cassandra Lee, Zara MacIntosh, Hana Stewart, Lauren Byrne, Danielle Steers, Cherelle Jay and Lauren Drew  will be performing numbers from a variety of stage shows across the evening (NB: it  will not be a production of Six the Musical). The previously announced concert (12th September) sold out within 24 hours.

On 19 September, Aladdin's Trevor Dion Nicholas, Matthew Croke and Hiba Elchikhe will come together for an evening of performances from a range of musicals.

On 26 September, three Elphabas – Alice Fearn, Emma Hatton and Laura Pick – will unite with recent Glinda, Sophie Evans, to perform live tunes from across the canon. 

Buy tickets for the West End Musical Drive-In