Broadway musical Amelie to premiere in UK next spring

The Broadway musical based on the hit film Amélie will have its UK premiere in 2019 opening at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury in  April before heading off on tour across the UK from  May, When UK tour ends  in August 2019, the plan is to tour it internationally. Tickets for Amélie go on sale at 10:00 am on Tuesday 30 October.

A Watermill Theatre production in association with Hartshorn–Hook productions, Selladoor Worldwide and Asia Broadway Company, Michael Fentiman (The Importance of Being Earnest) will direct. He said, As a theatre maker, staging Amélie as a musical is one of those exciting, terrifying challenges, that you absolutely cannot turn down. It is a gentle, magical and uncynically joyous piece - that takes its audience on a surreal flight of fancy, into the mind of an extraordinary young woman, Amélie Poulain. It's going to be a huge pleasure to open the show at the beautiful Watermill Theatre before then taking our extremely talented actor musician cast around the UK.  Star casting and the creative team for the show is still to be announced.

The musical has music by Daniel Messé, lyrics by Messé and Nathan Tysen and a book by Craig Lucas. It first opened  at the Berkeley Rep Theatre in September 2015 starring Samantha Barks (Les Misérables, Pretty Woman) before running on Broadway in 2017 starring Phillipa Soo (Hamilton).

Amelie the Musical  is based on the 2001 romantic comedy film by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, which won two BAFTA Awards telling the story of Amélie, an imaginative dreamer who lives in Paris.  She is  an extraordinary young woman who lives quietly in the world but loudly in her mind improvising  small but surprising acts of kindness that bring joy and mayhem. But when a chance at love comes her way, she  realizes that to find happiness she’ll have to risk everything and say what’s in her heart.  By finding her voice, she discovers the power of connection, finding possibilities  around every corner.

Siobhan Dillon, Ben Forster, Tyrone Huntley, Rosanna Hyland, Ria Jones, Stephen Leask, Anna O'Byrne and Michael Xavier: UNMASKED, The Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical

Andrew Lloyd Webber's career is being played out on  stage with a public workshop of UNMASKED, The Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical at The Other Palace from Thursday 29 November - Saturday  1 December

Written by Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral) , Unmasked is described as "a not so reverential look at Webber's life and career." offering  a funny and warm musical portrait drawing from Andrew's extensive body of work, with intimate and sometimes unexpected interpretations of his best-loved songs, rediscovered gems and some new material specially written for this production.

Laurence Connor will direct the UK workshop which is for an  upcoming production in the USA. It is highly experimental, and expected to change from performance to performance.

The cast of the UK run features Siobhan Dillon, Ben Forster, Tyrone Huntley, Rosanna Hyland, Ria Jones, Stephen Leask, Anna O'Byrne and Michael Xavier.

Tickets for Unmasked are now on general sale

Rachel John, Lauren Samuels and Celinde Schoenmaker : West End Women - A Celebration of Women in Musicals

Lambert Jackson has just announced West End Women - A Celebration of Women in Musicals starring  Rachel John, Lauren Samuels and Celinde Schoenmaker  for one night only at Cadogan Hall on 2nd February.

Performing some of the most famous musical theatre hits from across the decades they will take you on a journey through time from Lerner and Loewe to Lloyd Webber, Gershwin to Guettel.

Jamie Lambert, CEO of Lambert Jackson, "After the phenomenal success and fantastic critical response for There's Nothin' Like a Dame, which has been nominated for a BroadwayWorld Award for Best Theatrical Event of 2018, we are thrilled to be continuing our celebration of women in musical theatre with West End Women"

Rachel John's theatre credits include Hamilton (Victoria Palace Theatre - for which she received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical), The Color Purple in Concert (Cadogan Hall), The Bodyguard (Dominion Theatre/UK tour), Memphis (Shaftesbury Theatre), Rent (UK tour), We Will Rock You, Sister Act (The Palladium)and The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre/international tour).

Lauren Samuels' theatre credits include Romantics Anonymous (Shakespeare's Globe), La Ronde (Bunker Theatre - which received a 2018 WhatsOnStage Award nomination for Best Off West End Production), Bend It Like Beckham (Phoenix Theatre - for which she was nominated for a WhatsOnStage Award for Best Supporting Actress In A Musical), We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre/ international tour), The Buskers Opera (Park Theatre), Love Story (Bolton Octagon), Water Babies, Peter Pan A Musical (Curve), Vampirette (Manchester Opera House), Children of Eden (Prince of Wales Theatre), The Last Five Years (Tabard Theatre) and Grease (Piccadilly Theatre).

Celinde Schoenmaker's theatre credits include Barnum (Menier Chocolate Factory), The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty's Theatre), Les Misérables (Queen's Theatre), Musicals in Concert (Ziggo Dome), Hundred City Story (Prince of Wales Theatre) and Ghost (Landestheater Linz, Holland).

Buy tickets for Wes End Women

New Il Divo new Timeless Tour

To celebrate their 15th Anniversary, the classical crossover group Il Divo (Spaniard Carlos Marin, Swiss Urs Buhler, French Sebastien Izambard and American David Miller) released their 8th studio album, TIMELESS, on August 10th, marking their first recording for Decca Gold. 

Their  global 15th Anniversary “TIMELESS” tour kicked off in Mexico on April 26th and by the end of 2018 the group will have performed in the US, China, Russia, Japan, Australia, Europe, Latin America and South Africa.

Il Divo return to the UK in June and July 2019 with their Timeless Tour, which will see them perform their greatest hits live. 

Tickets are now on sales  for the following UK dates:

• June 20th - Brighton Centre
•  June 21 - Southend Cliffs Pavilion
•  June 22 - Bournemouth International Centre
•  June 24 - SEC Armadillo - Glasgow
•  June 25 - Newcastle City Hall
•  June 27 - Liverpool Echo Arena
•  June 28 - Motorpoint Arena Cardiff
•  June 29 - Birmingham Arena 
•  July 1 -  Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
•  July 2 - LONDON Royal Albert Hall 
•  July 3 - Sheffield City Hall

Official Cast Recording and documentary of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's hit musical Company?

Baz in today's Mail is reporting that  Marianne Elliott's hit  West End revival of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Company is aiming to release an official cast recording of the  production. No release date has been announced but it is hoped to be as early as late November/December.

The cast are hoping to go into a studio next month to record the cast album for the gender-swapped production with producers apparently  negotiating with TV networks for rights to a documentary featuring footage of the two years it took to put the show together.

The show has extended its run to 30th March 2019 with a cast including  Rosalie Craig as Bobbie, Patti LuPone as Joanne, Mel Giedroyc as Sarah, Jonathan Bailey as Jamie, George Blagden as PJ,Ashley Campbell as Peter, Richard Fleeshman as Andy, Alex Gaumond as Paul, Richard Henders as David, Ben Lewis as Larry, Daisy Maywood as Susan, Jennifer Saayeng as Jenny, Matthew Seadon-Young as Theo and Gavin Spokes as Harry. Joining them are: Michael Colbourne, Francesca Ellis, Ewan Gillies, Grant Neal and Jaimie Pruden.

Layton Williams to take over from John McCrea in Everybody's Talking About Jamie

A replacement has been named for the title role in the hit musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie has been confirmed with Layton Williams stepping into Jamie's fabulous shoes on 28th January after original star John McCrea leaves the production on the 26th.

His musical theatre  credits include being one of the boys who played the title role in Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace and as Kylie in the BBC TV series Beautiful People. In late 2016 he  played Angel in the 20th UK anniversary tour of Rent  followed by appearing as Seaweed in the last tour of Hairspray.

The hit show Everybody's Talking About Jamie has extended its run several times and is currently booking until April  2019 at the Apollo Theatre.

Back to the Future in Concert announces UK tour

Back to the Future in Concert is coming to the UK on a short tour in April 2019, with tickets on sale from  10:00  Thursday 25th October 2018. 

The blockbuster film with Alan Silvestri’s iconic score will be conducted live by Czech National Symphony Orchestra playing in sync with the film projected on the big screen.  In this time-traveling coming-of-age story, Marty McFly (Michael J Fox) suddenly finds himself transported back to 1955 where he struggles to change the destiny of his parents (Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover), rescue an eccentric friend (Christopher Lloyd) from terrorists, and solve an alternative-plutonium crisis while trying to ensure he has a future to get back to!

There is also approximately twenty minutes of brand new music added by award-winning composer Silvestri to the film’s score especially for these unique live orchestra presentations.

Buy tickets for Back to the Future in Concert Tour dates:

• Saturday 13th April -   London Royal Festival Hall
• Tuesday 16th April  -  Birmingham Symphony Hall
• Wednesday 17th April  -  Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
• Thursday 18th April - Manchester Bridgewater Hall
• Friday 19th April - Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
• Sunday 21at April - Gateshead Sage

New tour of Mrs Brown's Boys D'Musical?

Mrs Brown’s Boys has just announced a new arena tour – as Mrs Brown's Boys D'Musical? Creator Brendan O’Carroll's new show is visiting 48 gigs across 12 cities kicking off in Glasgow on March 29th 2019 before visiting Newcastle, Manchester, Nottingham, Cardiff, Birmingham. Leeds, London O2 Arena, Belfast,  Liverpool, Sheffield and Dublin. 

He said: ‘Mrs Brown’s Boys D’Musical? will have you crying with laughter, tapping your toes and you will leave the show singing and smiling to yourself. We are having such fun doing this and can’t wait to share it not just with fans of Mrs Brown’s Boys, but to anyone who needs a good night out.'

When news of the project first emerged in December, O’Carroll said that Noddy Holder of Slade, The Script, and new band  Picture This were helping with the music.  He said at the time ‘I’m lucky that everybody in the cast of Mrs Brown already sings. Some of them have beautiful voices. And the ones that don’t, well one or two will be rapping.’

Mrs. Brown’s Boys staged several live tours since 1999, long before it transferred to TV. The last UK one was the 2017 revival of Good Mourning Mrs Brown, while the family-led team has toured  across the globe including the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, breaking box office records.

In the UK the TV series has been a rating success with more than 11 million people tuning in to see the 2013 Christmas special during the show's peak. This was followed by the release of a spin-off full length feature film which grossed more than £14 million.

Buy Tickets for Mrs Brown's Boys D'Musical?  at the following venues:

• Friday 29, Saturday 30, Sunday 31 March- Glasgow The SSE Hydra   
• Friday 05, Saturday 06, Sunday 07 April - Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
• Friday 12, Saturday 13, Sunday 14 April - Manchester Arena
• Friday 19, Saturday 20, Sunday 21 April - Nottingham Motorpoint Arena 
• Friday 14, Saturday 15, Sunday 16 June - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
• Friday 21, Saturday 22, Sunday 23 June - Birmingham Resorts World Arena
• Friday 28, Saturday 29, Sunday 30 June - Leeds First Direct Arena
• Friday 05, Saturday 06, Sunday 07 July- London The O2 
• Friday 22, Saturday 23, Sunday 24 November - Belfast The SSE Arena
• Friday 29, Saturday 30 Nov, Sunday 01 December - Liverpool Echo Arena
• Friday 06, Saturday 07, Sunday 08 December - Sheffield Flydsa Arena
• Friday 13, Saturday 14, Sunday 15 December - Dublin 3 Arena
•            

Rumpelstiltskin at Southbank Centre this Christmas

This Christmas, the UK premiere of Windmill Theatre Company and State Theatre Company South Australia's Rumpelstiltskin is coming to Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall from 13 December - 6 January. 

This joyful, anarchic fairy tale is reinvented for a new generation reimagined with lashings of magical mayhem, rocking music and supreme silliness. starring  mercurial Australian singer and cabaret legend Paul Capsis stars as a shape-shifting imp whose thirst for vengeance may well undo him. He joins the team that brought you the award-winning Pinocchio, as they reinvent a new and equally fantastic fairy tale, stamped with their unique brand of storytelling.

 It offers visually stunning costumes, hyper-modern set and larger-than-life characters that delve into a fantastical world, fizzing with fun and laughs. (for ages 8+).

Buy tickets for Rumpelstiltskin



 

Little Miss Sunshine musical announces tour dates

The musical adaptation of Little Miss Sunshine comedy drama is to have its UK premiere in London in March 2019 before embarking on a UK tour in May. The musical had its world premiere in San Diego in 2011 before performing Off-Broadway at the Second Stage Theatre in October 2013.

The musical is is created by James Lapine (Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George) and William Finn (Falsettos, 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee) and based on the Academy Award-winning 2006 film , following the Hoover family who are determined to get their young daughter Olive into the finals of a beauty pageant and  travel from New Mexico to California in their rickety yellow VW bus. Can it survive the 800-mile trip – and more importantly, can they?This uplifting, modern classic celebrates the quirks of every family, the potholes in every road, and the power of overcoming our differences.

The new production will be directed by Mehmet Ergen, artistic director at the Arcola, with design by David Woodhead, lighting design by Richard Williamson, choreography by Anthony Whiteman and musical supervision by Mark Crossland.

The musical is a co-production between Selladoor Worldwide and London's Arcola Theatre  where will run for seven weeks at from 21st March, and then kick off  a UK  tour at Ipswich  New Wolsey  on 20th  May before visiting Salford Lowry, YorkGrand Opera House, Brighton Theatre Royal,  Bradford, Woking, Glasgow King's , Birmingham New Alexandra, Canterbury Marlowe, Blackpool Winter Gardens, Malvern, Leicester, Aberdeen Performing Arts, Exeter Northcott and Eastbourne Congress with further dates to be announced. Tickets for London are on sale now and  tickets for the tour go on sale from 26th October

More casting news for film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats starring Dame Judi Dench

Updated 2 November: Royal Ballet principal dancer Francesca Hayward is to play Victoria (the white cat) who acts as a liaison to the different breeds of cat who gather in a junkyard ruled over by Old Deuteronomy,

Dame Judi Dench is to play Old Deuteronomy, ancient leader of the Jellicle tribe,  in the film version of the Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats - 40 years after injury saw her withdraw from the original production after she tore her Achilles tendon when she was due to play the faded glamour puss Grizabella  and Elaine Paige stepped into the role.  She will appear  in the Tom Hooper directed film with a star studded cast so far including Jennifer Hudson/Grizabella , Idris Elba/Macavity the Mystery Cat, Sir Ian McKellen/gus the theatre cat, James Corden and Taylor Swift.

The movie has a shceduled release dae for 20th December 2019 with rehearsals for the large ensemble of singers and dancers  already under way.  Dame Judi  is due to join them in a couple of weeks. But first she will get her singing voice in shape and learn the songs with Lord Lloyd Webber and screenwriter Lee Hall currently discussing how to update her verses, as the part was originally written for a man (Brian Blessed in the original production).

Casting news for new tour of American Idiot

Green Day's  rock musical American Idiot is returning to mark the show's 10th anniversary and the 15th anniversary of the Grammy Award winning original album. 

The new anniversary tour is being presented by  Selladoor Productions (Flashdance, Fame, Avenue Q and Little Shop of Horrors) and opens on 17th January 2019 at the Grove Theatre, Dunstable, with press night at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton on Thursday 24th January.

Casting includes Tom Milner (Waterloo Road) Luke Friend (X Factor 3rd place runner up) and Sam Lavery (X Factor finalist ) as Johnny, St Jimmy & Whatsername respectively.

The cast is completed by Glenn Adamson (Sleeping Beauty the Musical) as Theo, Laura Marie Benson (Thoroughly Modern Millie) as Lesley, Jennifer Caldwell (Knights of the Rose) as Swing, Joshua Dowen (Footloose) as Tunny, Raquel Jones (Hairspray) as Extraordinary Girl, Daniel Law (Aladdin) as Swing, Rory Maguire (Summer Holiday) as Gerard, Shekinah McFarlane (Hair) as Alysha, Siobhan O'Driscoll (making professional stage debut) as Heather, Samuel Pope (All or Nothing) as Will, Alexandra Robinson (La Cage aux Folles) as Libby and Christian Tyler-Wood (Jersey Boys) as Declan.

Tickets for Michael Ball Live From The Savoy In Aid Of BBC Children In Need

Michael Ball will be performing his BBC Radio 2 show live from the London’s  Savoy Theatre on Sunday 18th November in aid of BBC Children in Need, along with his special guests including Alfie Boe, Boyzone and the Kingdom Choir.

After the show, Michael will be hosting an intimate lunch with a selection of Radio 2 presenters and some of the guests from Michael’s show hosting their own tables raising money for BBC Children In Need. If all the tickets sell the profit is expected to be at least £20,000. BOOK YOUR TICKETS TO JOIN MICHAEL AND GUESTS

Details for the  day are:

Michael Ball Show

•     10.30am Arrive at the Savoy Theatre

•     11.00am-1.00pm Michael Ball Live from the Savoy Theatre

Michael Ball’s Children In Need Lunch (limited tickets)

•     1.15 pm Champagne Reception (lunch ticket holders only)

•     2.00 pm Children In Need Lunch (lunch ticket holders only)

•     Intimate live performance from Michael

•     Children in Need Auctions

•     5.00pm Carriages

Dress code for drinks and lunch: Smart Casual

Sheridan Smith announces one off O2 Concert in March

Following her debut UK tour that included a  show at the Royal Albert Hall, Sheridan Smith and has today announced a ONE NIGHT ONLY show at The O2 Arena at 6:30 pm on Saturday 30th March.

On this special one off show Sheridan will be performing  tracks from her discography as well as new music from her new album A Northern Soul, which is to be released on 2nd November. Sheridan’s debut album saw huge success and shot into the charts at #9 where it commenced a seven-week run in the Top 20, and it subsequently reached Gold status with over 140,000 sales. Despite being released in November it became one of the ten best-selling debut albums of 2017, and was the year’s second biggest debut from a British female artist after Dua Lipa. The album is today previewed with the release of the lead single ‘Priceless’.

Sheridan is also notably known for her prominence on television for her roles in comedy shows Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Love Soup, Gavin & Stacey, Grownups, Benidorm and her BAFTA award-winning role in Mrs Biggs (in which she played Ronnie Biggs’ wife).

“I’ve loved getting back into the music,” says Sheridan. “It feels great to be able to sing a song while telling a story in three minutes.  I’ve been working with some amazing people who can get inside my head and help me write these great songs about my life.”

Buy tickets which go on   general sale at 09:00 Friday 19 October  

Beverley Knight, Tom Chaplin and Peabo Bryson Friday Night Is Music Night Shows At The London Palladium

BBC Radio 2 has announced a star line-up For Friday Night Is Music Night Shows At The London Palladium in November with  Beverley Knight, Keane's Tom Chaplin and Peabo Bryson celebrating the music of Stevie Wonder, Queen and Barry White in concerts being recorded for broadcast in January 2019

Backed by a 24-piece orchestra, Tom Chaplin,  front man of Keane, will  perform the songs of Queen on November 7th , while multi-Grammy-winning US soul star Peabo Bryson is paying homage to Barry White on 21st November and platinum-selling Beverley Knight celebrates the songs of Stevie Wonder on 22nd November.

Tickets go on sale at 9:00 am on Friday October 12th and are available from www.livenation.co.uk and www.palladium.theater

Casting news for Chicago the Musical

Alexandra Burke and Duncan James have extended  their runs in CHICAGO the Musical  which will end its run at the Phoenix Theatre on 5th January 2019

Alexandra Burke will play Roxie Hart until 10th November 2018 ( Sarah Soetaert between 15th – 24th October 2018) and Duncan James will play Billy Flynn until 17th November 2018. Laura Tyrer plays Velma Kelly until 20th October followed by Josefina Gabrielle who returns to the role from 22nd October until the production ends its run. Mazz Murray continues to play Mama Morton and Paul Rider continues to play Amos Hart.

 NB:  Alexandra Burke will not appear between 15 – 24 October 2018 when  Sarah Soetaert will play the role.Duncan James will not appear between 6 - 12 November 2018.

More casting announced for Fiddler on the Roof at the Menier Chocolate Factory

Further casting has just been announced for  Fiddler on the Roof, at  the Menier Chocolate Factory in a new staging by Trevor Nunn which runs from 23rd November 2018 - 9th March 2019 .

Joining the previously announced ANDY NYMAN  who is playing Tevye,  the local milkman in the village of Anatevka are JUDY KUHN as his sharp-tongued wife, MOLLY OSBOURNE as Tzeitel the oldest daughter, HARRIET BUNTON as Hodel the intelligent and spirited middle daughter, KIRSTY MACLAREN as Chava their shy book loving youngest daughter , DERMOT CANAVAN as Lazar Wolf the Butcher,  JOSHUA GANNON is Motel Kamzoil, a poor but hardworking tailor,MATT CORNER is   Fyedka a Christian and Chava's eventual husband, STEWART CLARKE is Perchik a scholar and Bolshevik revolutionary and LOUISE GOLD plays the gossipy village matchmaker Yente with further cast details to be released shortly.

Andy Nyman returns to the Menier Chocolate Factory having previously performed in Assassins, Abigail’s Party and Terrible Advice. Other theatre work includes Hangmen (Wyndham’s Theatre) and Ghost Stories (Duke of York’s Theatre/Arts Theatre).

Harriet Bunton's theatre credits include Mamma Mia! (Novello Theatre) and Sunny Afternoon (Harold Pinter Theatre).

Stewart Clarke last appeared at the Menier Chocolate Factory in Assassins. Other theatre credits include The Rink (Southwark Playhouse) and A Streetcar Named Desire (Leicester Curve).

Joshua Gannon's theatre credits include Cilla - The Musical (UK tour) and The Wind in the Willows (London Palladium).

Louise Gold returnsthe Menier Chocolate Factory after having performed in Pippin. Other theatre credits include Gypsy (Chichester Festival Theatre/Savoy Theatre), Oliver (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) and Follies (Royal Festival Hall).

Judy Kuhn's numerous Broadway credits include Fun Home, Les Misérables, She Loves Me and Chess. She sang the title role in Disney's Pocahontas.

Kirsty MacLaren's theatre credits include Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour (International Tour/National Theatres of Scotland and Great Britain/West End) and The Crucible (Royal Lyceum Theatre).

Molly Osborne will be making  professional debut. She a recent graduate of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

Bryn Terfel and Kelsey Grammer to appear in ENO Concert Version of Man Of La Mancha?

According to Baz Bamigboye in today's Mail,  Kelsey Grammer (best known for his  portrayal of psychiatrist Dr Frasier Crane in  sitcoms Cheers and Frasier, Broadway's La Cage Aux Folles and Finding Neverland) and opera star Bryn Terfel (Lincoln Center Sweeney Todd) are currently in negotiation to join a concert production of the musical Man of La Mancha being presented by the English National Opera at the  London Coliseum, produced by Michael Linnit and Michael Grade.

Based on the classic tale of Don Quixote. Terfel is in talks to play Quixote (his bass-baritone is perfect for the show's signature song The Impossible Dream), with Grammer up for the role of his companion Sancho Panza.

Man of La Mancha is famous both for its inspiring story exploring the noble themes of idealism and courage in the face of despair with  classic numbers including  Dulcinea,  It's All The Same and The Impossible Dream.

Charlie Stemp and Danielle Hope to play Prince and Snow White in Palladium panto

Baz in the Mail has just announced the final bit of casting for Snow White which is the at  Palladium panto this year running for a limited period from Saturday 8 December 2018  until Sunday 13 January 2019. Snow White has so far sold a staggering 100,000 seats for its five-week run, taking nearly £6 million.

Charlie Stemp is returning  to the London Palladium to star as Prince Charming  opposite Danielle Hope who is playing  the title role.

They will join  Dawn French who is starring as The Wicked Queen with  Julian Clary as The Man in The Mirror, Paul Zerdin as Muddles,Nigel Havers as The Understudy and Gary Wilmot as Mrs Crumble with Strictly Come Dancing's Vincent Simone  and Flavia Cacace as The King and  Queen,and Josh Bennett, Simeon Dyer, Craig Garner, Ben Goffe, Jamie John, Blake Lisle and Andrew Martin as The Magnificent Seven.

Charlie Stemp has just appeared on Broadway as Barnaby Tucker in the hit revival of Hello Dolly! starring Bette Midler and Bernadette Peters. He received  critical acclaim for his  performance in the West End revival of Half A Sixpence and is due to play Bert in the new production of Mary Poppins which opens at the Prince Edward heatre nest autumn.

Danielle Hope made her professional debut as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium, after winning the BBC’s smash hit Over The Rainbow.  She went on to play Eponine in the West End production of Les Miserables, the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (National Tour); Maria Rainer in The Sound of Music (National Tour); and Sandy in Grease (National Tour). She is currently playing Sherrie until 24th November in the new Rock of Ages Tour

Eugenius! cancels transfer to Ambassadors Theatre

According to Matt Hemley of  The Stage, it has been confirmed that the musical Eugenius! has cancelled a planned West End transfer to the Ambassadors Theatre where it was due to run from  October 27th until January 5th, 2019.

Producer Kevin Wood revealed that a key investor had pulled out at the last minute due to the wider economic conditions saying: "The past few days has been spent frantically trying to replace them but time has run out. In the New Year we will take stock and come again.  We have spent too much time and money on this project to just let it die."

Eugenius! written by Ben Adams and Chris Wilkins,will continue its current run at the Other Palace until October 21st.

Ticketholders should contact their point of sale for a refund.

BUTTONS new musical film starring Dick Van Dyke, Angela Lansbury, Robert Redford and Kate Winslet

Buttons is a new musical fairy tale film which is like the old MGM classics. It is set during a time of robber barons, mills, and rising industry, with  two orphaned children meeting two unexpected visitors (Dick Van Dyke and Angela Lansbury) who turn the tide of events and change their lives forever.

The proceeds of the film will go to benefit Kate Winslet's Golden Hat Foundation, helping those living with autism.

It includes a cast featuring Abigail Spencer, Jane Seymour, Roma Downey, Ioan Gruffudd, Katie McGrath, Robert Picardo, Charles Shaughnessy, Paul Greene and  John de Lancie with  "Nova" a song written by Sir Paul McCartney. It has narration by Robert Redford and Kate Winslet.

Watch a trailer for Buttons here  

  

Following the film, there is a one off tribute to legendary dancer, director, and choreographer Gene Kelly, hosted Patricia Ward Kelly who is Kelly’s wife and biographer,  .

The film is being shown for one night only on Saturday December 8th.

Buy tickets for Buttons which go on sale on Friday 12th October

Joe McElderry leading cast in tour of Club Tropicana

The cast has just been announced for the new tour of Club Tropicana which starts in Bromley on 24th January.  

It will star X Factor Winner, Joseph and musical theatre star Joe McElderry as Garry, Neil McDermott (EastEnders, Eugenius!) as Robert, Kate Robbins (The Imitation Game) playing Consuela, Emily Tierney (Eugenius! Wicked) as Christine and former Sugababe star Amelle Berrabah makes her professional stage debut playing Serena.

They will be joined by Karina Hind/Lorraine, Calvin Hudson/ensemble/cover Robert/Olly, Cellen Chugg Jones/Olly, Megan Louch/swing/dance captain, Rebecca Mendoza/Tracey, Alexanda O'Reilly/swing, Joshua Pearson/ensemble/cover Garry, Rory Phelan/Drew, Nye Rees/ensemble/Cover Drew/Blaine, Camilla Rowland/ensemble/cover Serena/Christine, Christina Shand/ensemble/cover Tracey/Consuela, Courtney-Brogan Smalley/ensemble/cover Lorraine/Andrea, Tara Verloop/Andrea and Kane Verrall/Blaine.

Joe McElderry

In the decade since he stormed to victory in The X Factor watched by 19.7 million viewers, Joe has become the sweet-singing hero and heart-throb of hundreds of thousands of fans aged from five to 95. He is the first The X Factor winner to release four albums - with sales of 550,000 in just a single year - he has sold out 60-date concert tours and was recently hailed as the greatest Joseph ever in Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. On TV he also won Popstar To Operastar with a landslide victory taking 80% of the votes, and Channel Four’s dangerous skiing programme The Jump.

Neil McDermott

Neil is a household name as Ryan Malloy in EastEnders, which saw him nominated Most Popular Newcomer at the National Television Awards. He has received rave reviews and an Off West End Award nomination as Evil Lord Hector in Eugenius! the Musical at The Other Palace. His previous West End roles include Chief Weasel in The Wind in the Willows and Lord Farquaad in Shrek the Musical. He was Bill Sykes in Oliver! at Grange Park Opera.

Kate Robbins
Kate is a fabulous funny actress known for her amazing impressions for a decade on Spitting image and most recently  ITV’s The Imitation Game. She has featured in iconic TV shows such as The Harry Enfield Show, Last Of The Summer Wine, Phoenix Nights, Holby City, Citizen Khan and Victoria Wood’s Dinnerladies, where she famously played Babs from Urmston

Emily Tierney

Emily has just starred as Super Hot Lady in Eugenius! the Musical. She was Glinda in Wicked (Original UK No.1 tour); Glinda in the original cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Wizard Of Oz (London Palladium), she was in All The Fun Of The Fair in the West End and Molly Jensen in Ghost (Asia Tour). On TV she played the lead character of Lydia in the Channel 5 series Push.

Amelle Berrabah

Amelle  is best known as one third of the girl group the Sugababes, who had worldwide success selling over 12 million albums, with 26 top 10 singles, including two number one hit records. Amelle is also the first - and only - member of the group to achieve a solo number one with ‘Never Leave You’ - her collaboration with Tinchy Stryder, which was the biggest selling single of 2009. She appeared in the movie Plastic, starring Game of Thrones star Alfie Allen. She has presented TV shows including the BBC’s Tumble. Club Tropicana The Musical is her musical theatre stage debut.

 

Directed by Nick Winston and Samuel Homes, the show features  of some of the most iconic, chart-topping pop anthems of the decade all performed live on stage, including: ABC's The Look of Love, Bucks Fizz’s Making Your Mind Up, Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Relax, Tight Fit’s Fantasy Island, A-ha’s Take On Me, Culture Club’s Church of the Poison Mind and Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes Up Where We Belong.

JUST ANNOUNCED: Sir Matthew Bourne's New Adventures tour of Romeo & Juliet

New Adventures have announced the world premiere of Matthew Bourne’s “ROMEO AND JULIET” opening at Curve, Leicester on Monday 13th May 2019 before touring to 13 UK venues with a four-week summer season at Sadler’s Wells in London from 7th-31st August 2019.

Matthew Bourne’s “ROMEO AND JULIET” is a passionate and contemporary re-imagining of Shakespeare’s classic love story. Bursting with youth, vitality and Matthew Bourne’s trademark storytelling, Britain’s brightest young dance talent join the New Adventures company for this World Premiere production. Directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, collaborating with his entire New Adventures Associate Artistic team; Etta Murfitt, Associate Artistic Director, set and costume design by Lez Brotherston; lighting by Paule Constable; sound by Paul Groothuis; and new orchestrations of the Prokofiev score by Terry Davies, played live by the New Adventures Orchestra conducted by Brett Morris.

Matthew Bourne said today “New Adventures’ Romeo and Juliet will be a celebration of youthful energy, talent and creativity both on and off-stage and, uniquely, in all aspects of Choreography, Design and Music through the appointment of a series of “Young Associate Artists”.   As we enter our fourth decade as a company, I’m finding the development of young talent ever more important and fulfilling. Our current company of “Swan Lake” features 29 young dancers making their debuts with us, many of those have come through our Company initiatives such as “Swan School”, “A Summer Adventure” and of course, our production of “Lord of the Flies” which inspired so many young men to seek careers in dance. This time we are focusing on nurturing young male and female dancers, and I have been overwhelmed by the talent that we have had to choose from throughout the UK. I’m particularly happy to be working alongside my Young Associate Choreographer, Arielle Smith, an exceptional young dancemaker of great maturity and vision. In turn, after 30 years as a professional choreographer, I look forward to being refreshed and inspired by what this team of young artists will bring to Shakespeare’s classic tale of tragic conflict and young love”.

The title roles of ‘Romeo’ and ‘Juliet’ will be played by six New Adventures rising stars and two exciting new dancers making their professional debuts.‘Juliet’ will be played by Cordelia Braithwaite,  currently performing as ‘Cinderella’ on the international tour; Seren Williams, who joined the company in 2016 with Matthew Bourne’s award-winning production of “The Red Shoes” and Bryony Harrison who is making her debut with New Adventures on tour with Matthew Bourne’s legendary production of “Swan Lake”.

‘Romeo’ will be performed by Andrew Monaghan, currently ‘The Pilot’ in “Cinderella”, Paris Fitzpatrick who is playing the ‘Angel’ in “Cinderella” and João Carolino who joined the company in 2017 with “Early Adventures”.

Making their professional debuts with the company are Harrison Dowzell, as ‘Romeo’, who auditioned for the Young Cast in Nottingham, and Bryony Wood, as ‘Juliet’, discovered during the Young Cast auditions in Southampton. Both are in their graduate years at Performers College and Tring Park School for the Performing Arts respectively. New Adventures is working in partnership with both vocational colleges to support the completion of their training during the tour.

The full cast will be announced shortly.

Kerry Ellis joins 1,000 West End Stage students to record A Million Dreams in aid of NSPCC Childline

Kerry Ellis, star of the West End and Broadway, has teamed up with 1,000 West End Stage students, for a special charity fundraising recording of A Million Dreams from the hit film, The Greatest Showman. 

Kerry Ellis, is the Patron of West End Stage and  has played many lead roles in shows in the West End and on Broadway including We Will Rock You, Oliver!, My Fair Lady, Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Cats and Rent.

The track is now available to download on iTunes. An official video for the track will be released soon. All proceeds will go to the NSPCC’s Childline service (0800 1111), which is there to give young people a voice when no one else is listening. Whatever problems or dangers they are facing, Childline is a place for them to turn for support – any time of day or night.  
 

West End Stage launched in 2006 in a bid to become the UK’s leading theatre summer school by igniting a global passion for theatre. Throughout the week-long course, students take part in drama, singing and dance classes led by West End stars, and then make their own West End debut in a showcase at Her Majesty’s Theatre. This year’s students, who all took part in the recording, ranged from just 8 years old through to 21, with 26% of them attending from outside the UK, from 52 different countries as far away as Australia, Cambodia and Indonesia.

Come From Away Casting Announcement

The musical Come From Away  which opens at the Phoenix Theatre on 30th January has just held a launch at Canada House with the following cast announcement:

Rachel Tucker (Wicked) will star in the production as Beverley and Annette alongside Jenna Boyd (Wind in the Willows) as Beulah, Nathan Campbell (Guys and Dolls) as Bob, Clive Carter (Wicked) as Claude, Mary Doherty (Henry VI) as Bonnie, Robert Hands (Spamalot) as Nick and Doug, Helen Hobson (Mamma Mia!) as Diane, Jonathan Andrew Hume (The Lion King) as Kevin J and Ali, Harry Morrison (Half a Sixpence) as Oz, Emma Salvo (The Toxic Avenger) as Janice, David Shannon (Les Misérables) as Kevin T and Garth and Cat Simmons (The Bill ) as Hannah.

They will be joined by  Mark Dugdale, Bob Harms, Kiara Jay, Kirsty Malpass, Tania Mathurin, Alexander McMorran, Brandon Lee Sears and Jennifer Tierney.

New Only Fools and Horses Musical to open at London Haymarket in February

The heroes of Only Fools and Horses are making a comeback in a musical version of the classic sitcom which will will run  at London's  Theatre Royal Haymarket from 9th February for an initial booking period to 22nd June 2019 with opening night on 19th  February.

It has been co-written by Paul Whitehouse and Jim Sullivan (son of the sitcom's creator John). The late Chas Hodges, of Chas and Dave fame, helped compose the show's 20 new tunes. The musical (which John Sullivan was working on at the time of his death in 2011) is "fully endorsed" by the late writer's estate. The show will be directed by Caroline Jay Ranger. Tickets are on sale now.

Initial casting includes Fast Show legend Paul Whitehouse  playing Grandad in the revival, with Tom Bennett (David Brent: Life on the Road) as wheeler-dealer Del Boy Trotter and Ryan Hutton (I Am Vengeance) as his hapless younger brother Rodney.

Featuring  material from the TV series, the musical takes a a trip back to 1989, where it's all kicking off in Peckham. While the yuppie invasion of London is in full swing, love is in the air as Del Boy sets out on the rocky road to find his soul mate, Rodney and Cassandra prepare to say 'I do', and even Trigger is gearing up for a date (with a person!). Meanwhile, Boycie and Marlene give parenthood one final shot and Grandad takes stock of his life and decides the time has finally arrived to get his piles sorted!

Most of the supporting characters will also appear, including Raquel, Cassandra, Boycie, Marlene, Trigger, Denzil, Mickey Pearce, Mike and the Driscoll Brothers. Though no Uncle Albert, who did not appear in the series until the departure of Grandad.

Buy tickets on presale for Only Fools and Horses Musical

West End Christmas Concert with Sharon D Clarke, Janie Dee, Jenna Russell, Michael Xavier and Alexander Hanson

West End stars Sharon D Clarke, Janie Dee, Jenna Russell, Reeve Carney, Sharon D Clarke, Janie Dee, Alice Fearn, Alexander Hanson, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Joanna Riding, Jenna Russell, Danielle Steers Rebecca Trehearn and Michael Xavier have been confirmed for A West End Christmas Concert which will take place at Cadogan Hall on 9th  December at 6.30pm

Alex Parker will conduct an 18-piece orchestra and ticket proceeds from the evening will be donated to Shelter, the national housing and homeless charity.
 

The concert is produced by Club 11 London, Brian Zeilinger and Jack Maple.

Buy tickets for A West End Christmas at Cadogan Hall

Dear Evan Hansen to open at Noel Coward Theatre next November

The Daily Mail 's Baz Bamigboye has revealed that the Tony Award-winning  musical, Dear Evan Hansen, will make its West End debut at the Noel Coward Theatre in November 2019 with  the creative team behind the show  "more committed than ever to make sure we have a British cast."

Dear Evan Hansen is about a fictional 17-year-old high school senior who lives in an unnamed American town with his divorced mother. He has a social anxiety disorder that is exacerbated when he is caught up in another family’s tragedy after their teenage son commits suicide. In America the musical  has provided  a platform  for discussion about youth suicide and premature storytelling by people with  mental illness.

The show has a score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who also wrote the lyrics for the film La La Land and the Hugh Jackman movie The Greatest Showman.

Broadway producer Stacey Mindich had already  announced that the lead for the London transfer will be a British actor. Casting is set to begin in early 2019.

Official dates and ticketing information will be released at a later date.

Eugenius! transfers into the West End later this month

The hit musical Eugenius! which ends its run at The Other Palace on 21st October is to transfer to the Ambassadors Theatre later this month to fill an empty slot left by Foxfinder which is  closing early. It will run for a strictly limited ten-week season from 27th October until 5th  January 2019.

The name of the cast appearing in the production when it transfers will be announced soon.

Produced by Harry Potter and Star Wars actor Warwick Davis, Ben Adams and Chris Wilkins' piece, has had two runs at The Other Palace, and tells the story of  teenage boy Eugene who is a brilliant comic book artist whose dreams of a distant world of heroes and villains lead him to creating his very own superhero movie in Hollywood. Joined on his amazing adventures by best friends Janey and Feris, our intrepid hero reaches for the stars, finds the superhero within, saves the world from earthbound villains - and those from distant galaxies - and along the way, falls in love!

The musical has direction by Ian Talbot, assistant direction by Anthony Houghton, musical supervision by Stuart Morley, musical direction by Paul Schofield, choreography by Aaron Renfree, lighting design by Andrew Ellis, sound design by Dan Samson, set and costume design by Hannah Wolfe, casting by Jim Arnold and creative consultancy by Michael Jibson.

Davis said: "With many fans – or, rather, Eugenies – seeing it multiple times, their love for the show, the characters and earworm songs created a wonderful online community and the social media reaction has completely blown us all away. That buzz and army of supporters is now propelling us to the heart of the West End and we look forward to seeing audiences on their feet at every performance, punching the air and singing in unison, ‘Go Eugenius!'."

Buy tickets for Eugenius!  (From 27 October to 10 November, all seats will be priced at £25. Rest of run: £25, £37.50, £55)

Full casting announced for Follies return to National next February

Full casting has been announced for the returning National Theatre production of Follies, which starts previews  on 12th February and it runs in repertoire until 6th April, with further performances to be added.

Sondheim's classic musical was revived last year with direction by Dominic Cooke and a cast featuring Imelda Staunton, going on to win two Olivier Awards.

Joining the previously announced Joanna Riding, Alexander Hanson, Janie Dee and Peter Forbes will be  Julie Armstrong (Christine Donovan), Lindsay Atherton (Young Carlotta),Josephine Barstow (Heidi Schiller from mid-April until the end of the run), Rosanna Bates (Young Emily), Jeremy Batt (Young Theodore), Tracie Bennett (Carlotta Campion), Billy Boyle (Theodore Whitman), Kaye Brown(Ensemble), Janie Dee (Phyllis Rogers Stone), Anouska Eaton (Young Deedee), Liz Ewing (Ensemble), Vanessa Fisher (Young Stella), Caroline Fitzgerald (Sandra Crane), Geraldine Fitzgerald (Solange LaFitte), Peter Forbes(Buddy Plummer), Bruce Graham (Roscoe), Adrian Grove (Sam Deems), Alexander Hanson (Ben Stone), Alyn Hawke (Ensemble), Harry Hepple (Young Buddy), Aimee Hodnett (Young Sandra), Dawn Hope (Stella Deems), Liz Izen (Deedee West), Jasmine Kerr (Ensemble), Alison Langer (Young Heidi), Felicity Lott (Heidi Schiller from 22 February until mid-April), Sarah-Marie Maxwell (Young Solange), Ian McIntosh (Young Ben), Ian McLarnon(Ensemble), Claire Moore (Hattie Walker), Tom Partridge (Ensemble), Gary Raymond (Dimitri Weismann), Michael Remick (Ensemble), Rohan Richards (Kevin), Joanna Riding (Sally Durant Plummer), Lisa Ritchie (Young Hattie),Myra Sands (Emily Whitman), Gemma Sutton (Young Sally), Monica Swayne (Young Christine), Christine Tucker(Young Phyllis) and Liam Wrate (Chorus/Swing).

Buy tickets for Follies

Six to tour and return to the West End in January

The smash-hit musical  SIX about the six wives of Henry VIII will return to the Arts Theatre in London  for an open-ended run from 16 January -  5 May 2019. Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss' high-octane pop concert musical has been programmed for 16 weeks.

When its current sold out run ends on 14th October  it will embark on a short UK tour, visiting venues including the Rose Theatre, Kingston, Salford, Glasgow, Kingston and Southampton. 

The SIX wives of Henry VIII finally take the mic to tell their tale, remixing 500 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.

Six is co-directed by Moss and Jamie Armitage, with choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, set design by Emma Bailey, costume design by Gabriella Slade, lighting design by Tim Deiling, sound design by Paul Gatehouse, musical supervision by Joe Beighton and orchestrations by Tom Curran.

You can see a clip of Six here

Buy tickets for Six the Musical 

New Tour of Hair the Musical

Following a highly successful run at the Hope Mill Theatre and in London's Vaults, the 50th-anniversary production Hair the Musical is to go on a new tour next spring directed by Jonathan O'Boyle (Pippin, Rain Man, Aspects Of Love), who is reunited with the creative team from Hope Mill Theatre: Gareth Bretherton (Musical Director), William Whelton (Choreographer), Maeve Black (Designer), Ben M Rogers (Lighting Designer), Calum Robinson (Sound Designer) and producers Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment, Joseph Houston & William Whelton for Hope Mill Theatre, Ollie Rosenblatt for Senbla, and associate producer Guy James. The production will be cast by the previous BBC Head of Casting Jane Deitch, and will be announced in due course.

The tour will open at the New Wimbledon Theatre on 22nd March before visiting Cheltenham, Manchester, Cardiff, Plymouth, Birmingham, Sunderland, Dartford, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Edinburgh, Oxford, Sheffield, Brighton and Milton Keynes, with further dates still to be announced.

The musical, which is written by Gerome Ragni, James Rado and Galt MacDermot,  tells the story of a country boy from Oklahoma who arrives in New York in the 1960s and falls in with a group of hippies called the Tribe. Their free love and drug-enhanced happiness is disrupted by his Vietnam draft orders.

Hair is a celebration of life, love and freedom, but with a passionate cry for hope and change featuring some of the greatest songs ever written for the stage with  a Grammy-winning score including the numbers "Aquarius", "Let the Sun Shine In", "I Got Life" and "Good Morning Starshine".

Buy tickets for Hair UK tour

Joe McElderry, Eva Noblezada, Ben Forster, Willemijn Verkaik and Louise Dearman among great line up in West End Does:Christmas

On Saturday 1st  December at Cadogan Hall,  a great line up of top West End stars will appear in Forty Four Productions' concert, West End Does: Christmas.

Warwick Davis, star of Star Wars, Harry Potter and producer of Eugenius!, will host the event, which also features the 16-piece West End orchestra conducted by Alfonso Casado celebrating the best festive tunes from the past and present, with  performances at 2:00pm and 7:00 pm.

Appearing in the shows will be Wicked stars Willemijn Verkaik and Louise Dearman, Joseph's Joe McElderry, Miss Saigon and Hadestown's Eva Noblezada and Les Mis' Jade Davies.

Also appearing are former West End Phantom Ben Forster, Heathers lead Jamie Muscato, Eugenius! star Rob Houchen and Evita lead Emma Kingston.

Buy tickets for West End Does: Christmas

Casting for new tour of Ghost the Musical

Bill Kenwright is again producing a tour of Ghost the musical which originally ran  at London's Piccadilly Theatre from June 2011 to October 2012 and then toured the UK in 2014 and 2017. The new international tour opens in Dubai later this month before coming to  the UK at the beginning of January 2019.

Casting news to far is that Niall Sheehy (Miss Saigon, Titanic) is playing Sam Wheat, Rebekah Lowings (Mary in Jesus Christ Superstar and Narrator in Joseph tours)  is Molly, Jacqui Dubois is reprising the role of  Oda Mae Brown with Sergio Pasquariello as Carl and Jules Brown as Willie Lopez with James Earl Adair/Hospital Ghost , Lovonne Jahzev/Subway Ghost, Patrick Richards/Zeus, Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy/Louise, Sadie Jean-Shirley/Clara, with ensemble members Josh Andrews/Understudy Carl, Samantha Noel/1st Understudy Molly , Charlotte Kate Warren/2nd Understudy Molly, Kage Douglas/Understudy Subway Ghost and Chanelle Anthony and Dance Captain Michael Ward.

Ghost is a story all about the power of love. Couple Sam and Molly (played in the film by the late Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore) are mugged one night on the way home to their apartment and Sam dies on the dark street. He becomes trapped as a ghost between this world and the next, unable to leave Molly who he learns is in grave danger. With the help of a phoney psychic, Oda Mae Brown (played in the film by Whoopi Goldberg), he tries to communicate with Molly in the hope of saving and protecting her.

It has the very moving and intimate scene that everyone remembers with Molly at her potter's wheel with Sam appearing as a ghost and helping her throw a pot to the background music of The Righteous Brothers' Unchained Melody.

Bruce Joel Rubin had adapted his screenplay for the stage and new music and lyrics have been provided by Grammy Award winners Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard: writer of Michael Jackson's Man In The Mirror and producer of artists including Michael Jackson, Aerosmith, Van Halen and Alanis Morissette.

Adèle Anderson of Fascinating Aïda joins cast of Dr Dolittle Tour

The final cast member  has been announced for the tour of Doctor Dolittle  which opens in Bromley on  9th November. 

Joining Mark Williams, who is playing the tile role,  is Adèle Anderson, of Fascinating Aïda, playing Lady Bellowes/Poison Arrow at the first six venues of the tour – Bromley, Salford, Oxford, Wolverhampton, Newcastle and Hull.As previously announced, they will be joined by  Brian Capron, Vicky Entwistle (Richard Hillman and Janice Batersby from Cornoation Street) Mollie Melia-Redgrave and Patrick Sullivan . Brian will play Albert Blossom/Straight Arrow, Vicky is  Polynesia, Mollie is Emma Fairfax and Patrick is Matthew Mugg. Brian Capron and Mark Williams will appear from 9 November – 4 May at Bromley, Salford, Oxford, Wolverhampton, Newcastle, Hull, Aberdeen, Northampton, Nottingham and  Sheffield only. Vicky Entwistle will play the full tour dates.