Casting announced for Heathers the Musical return to London in November

Heathers the Musical will return for a new run at The Other Palace in London from 25 November to 20 February 2022.

 

This follows news that the venue had been bought by Bill Kenwright and it will be the first show there since it was closed by the pandemic.

Directed by Andy Fickman, Laurence O'Keefe and Kevin Murphy's musical is based on the iconic film of the same name, following schoolgirl, Veronica, who tries to fit in with the elitist clique of "Heathers".

It previously ran at the same venue and in the West End in 2018, earlier this summer it returned to Theatre Royal Haymarket for a limited season. The show is also currently on its first tour, which ends in  December

Produced by Paul Taylor-Mills and Bill Kenwright, the show features choreography by Thriller Live's Gary Lloyd, design by David Shields, lighting by Ben Cracknell and sound by Dan Samson.

The show will star Ailsa Davidson as Veronica Sawyer and Freddie King as JD who are both making their West End debuts.

The  trio of "Heathers" will be played Emma Kingston as Heather Chandler, Inez Budd as Heather Duke and Teleri Hughes as Heather McNamara (she  understudied the role at the Theatre Royal Haymarket). Also in the show are Vicki Lee Taylor as Ms Fleming / Veronica's Mom, Lizzie Bea as Martha Dunnstock, George Maddison as Kurt Kelly, Tom Scanlon as Ram Sweeney and Kieran Brown as Ram's Dad / Coach Ripper.

Also in the cast are Iván Fernández González (U/S Ram Sweeney / Preppy Stud / Officer), Jacob Fowler as Beleaguered Geek / understudy JD, Jordan Cunningham as Hipster Dork / Officer / U/S Ram Sweeney, Eliza Waters as Young Republicanette / U/S Heather Duke, Mary-Jean Caldwell as Stoner Chick / U/S Martha Dunnstock, Ms Fleming and Veronica's Mom, Hannah Lowther as New Wave Party Girl / U/S Heathers Chandler and McNamara and Kayleigh McKnight as Drama Club Drama Queen / U/S Veronica.

A few further cast and creative team members will be confirmed later this week.Buy tickets for Heathers the Musical

ALW Cinderella special gala performance for Malala Fund

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cinderella is to hold a special gala performance to raise money for Malala Yousafzai’s work to empower women and girls around the world who with the worsening global refugee crisis have lost everything to retain access to the opportunities they need to build a better future

More than 130 million girls are out of school today and Malala Fund is working for a world where every girl can learn and lead through access to a free, safe and quality education.

The Cinderella gala performance will be held on Monday 22nd November. The show has been donated by Andrew Lloyd Webber and every penny raised will be donated directly to Malala Fund.

Malala Yousafzai: “Since age 10, I've been fighting for a world where every girl can learn and lead. But in the past two years, girls in many countries have faced enormous setbacks to their education – from Covid to economic pressures to conflict and displacement. I am grateful to my friend Andrew for all his support, and I want to thank the cast and crew of Cinderella for arranging this special performance to support Malala Fund.”

Andrew Lloyd Webber said: “I am an enormous admirer of Malala. She is an extraordinary person and you can imagine my delight when I discovered that she loved musical theatre. Malala and her fund work to empower women and girls to be the best version of themselves and the people they truly want to be. Recent events in Afghanistan, and the worsening of the global refugee crisis, which will be inevitably exacerbated by climate change in the years to come, have brought into sharp focus the importance of Malala’s work.We wanted to do this gala performance of Cinderella because our heroine is a strong-willed and mischievous young woman whose lesson is: don’t change to please others. I want to thank everyone who supports this gala and enables us to do more to help women and girls to achieve their dreams.

The Cinderella gala event will also feature the work of a contemporary Afghan artist, Shamsia Hassani and the stories of female Afghan musicians.

 

Buy tickets for the Malala gala performance of Cinderella 

Hex musical at the National Theatre announces full cast led by Rosalie Craig and Tamsin Carroll

Complete casting has been revealed for the National Theatre's new musical Hex. 

The cast is led by Tamsin Carroll as Queenie, Rosalie Craig as Fairy, Michael Elcock as Bert and Kat Ronney as Rose, with  Christopher Akrill, Delroy Atkinson, Esme Bacalla-Hayes, Madeline Charlemagne, Ebony Clarke, Sonya Cullingford, Hanna Dimtsu, Tamsin Dowsett, Joe Foster, Ben Goffe, Eleanor Kane, Daisy Maywood, Kody Mortimer, Joseph Prouse, Shaq Taylor and Sargon Yelda.

Beginning previews in the round  at the Olivier Theatre on 4th December and running until 22nd January 2022 , the piece transforms the tale of Sleeping Beauty to tell the tale of the fairy trying to undo the hex placed on the princess. Deep in the wood, a lonely fairy longs for someone to bless.When she is summoned to the palace to help the princess sleep, her dream turns into a nightmare and her blessing becomes a curse.Soon, she is plunged into a frantic, hundred-year quest to somehow make everything right.Rosalie Craig plays the fairy in this vividly original retelling of Sleeping Beauty: a mythic, big-hearted new musical that goes beyond the waking kiss. 

Rufus Norris directs and provides lyrics for the piece, with music by Jim Fortune, book by Tanya Ronder, designs by Katrina Lindsay and choreography by Jade Hackett with Orchestrations by Simon Hale, music supervision by Marc Tritschler, music direction by Tarek Merchant, lighting design by Paul Anderson, choreography by Jade Hackett with consultant choreography by Bill Deamer, sound design by Simon Baker and video design by Ash Woodward. 

 

Monica Bellucci to perform Maria Callas: Letters and Memoirs for one night only in London

Actress Monica Bellucci is to  appear in the West End for one night only at Her Majesty's Theatre on the revised date of Sunday, 24th April 2022. 

Tom Volf will direct her in a performed set of readings from Maria Callas: Letters and Memoirs, a new book that delves into the life of the American-born Greek opera legend who  rose from a modest upbringing in New York and war-time Athens to become one of the most recognised opera performers of a generation, though her experiences were marred by scandal.

Italian actress Bellucci has appeared in some of the most recognised films of the last few decades, including Francis Ford Coppola's' Dracula, The Apartment, The Passion of Christ, two Matrix movies and, more recently, James Bond adventure Spectre.

Buy tickets for Maria Callas: Letters and Memoirs

Jersey Boys tour cast announced

The full cast for the new tour of Jersey Boys which kicks in November at Wimbledon Theatre has just been revealed.

Michael Pickering and Lewis Griffiths will be returning as Frankie Valli and Nick Massi , with Blair Gibson as Bob Gaudio and Dalton Wood as Tommy DeVito. Luke Suri will play Frankie Valli at certain performances.

Also in the cast are Dougie Carter (Hank Majewski), Ryan Carter-Wilson (Swing), Emma Crossley (Mary Delgado), Jordan James (Gyp DeCarlo), Norton James (Norm Waxman), Michael Levi (Bob Crewe), Tom O'Brien (Swing), Nathan Routledge (Swing), George Salmon (Joe Pesci), Ellie Seaton (Lorraine), Daisy Steere (Francine), Amy West (Swing), and Damien Winchester (Barry Belson).

Full cast announced for the UK and Ireland tour of THE LION KING

The Walt Disney Company UK and Ireland has today announced the full cast for the new tour of  THE LION KING, including a first look at their new Simba played by Stephenson Ardern-Sodje. Who worked behind the scenes at ITV’s Coronation Street's story room and with Idris Elba’s production company Green Door Pictures, 

befoe making  his stage debut in the first West End cast of Hamilton and is currently part of the Globe Theatre 2021 tour.

THE LION KING touring company will also be welcoming Nokwanda Khuzwayo as Nala, who previously played the role in Germany and Brazil. Ireland’s Alan Mchale will be returning in a new role as Timon with Cardiff born newcomer Owain Rhys Davies taking the role of Ed. They will join returning principals Matthew Forbes as Zazu, Jean-Luc Guizonne as Mufasa, Richard Hurst as Scar, Rebecca Omogbehin as Shenzi, Thandazile Soni as Rafiki, Carl Sanderson as Pumbaa and Simon Trinder as Banzai.

They will be joined by  Lwando Bam, Mamido Bomboko Souchu, Khanyisani Beato, Jorell Coiffic-Kamall, Rushand Chambers, Tau-En Chien, Elisa Chou, Tevin Daniel, Tim Driesen, Oraine Frater, Adebunmi Gabriel, Brian Gilligan, Daniel Griffith, Alicia Hayward, Zalika Henry, Caleaf Henson, Olivia Jones, Melvin Le Blanc, Jochebel Maccarthy, Zanele Mazibuko, Fallon Mondlane, Zanele Ndlovu, Buhle Nkomo, Craig Pedro, Joaquin Pedro Valdes, Connor Pelé Williams, Tara Price, Kyle Richardson, Cristiane Santos De Jesus, Lukin Simmonds, Sherry Tay, Francesca Thompson, Maria Yim and Bukiwe Zinganto.

The tour will re-open in Dublin this December before moving on to Bristol, Bradford, Cardiff, Southampton and Manchester. Further cities to be announced in due course. 

New West End Cast announced for Six The Musical

The new West End cast for Six the Musical was revealed at a photoshoot at the Tower of London yesterday. The current Queens will play their final two shows on Sunday 14th November at the Vaudeville Theatre.

The six new Queens and five additional company members joining the show from 16th  November will be Amy Di Bartolomeo (Bat Out of Hell) as Catherine of Aragon, Amanda Lindgren (South Pacific) as Anne Bolyen, Claudia Kariuki (Ragtime) as Jane Seymour, Dionne Ward-Anderson (Footloose) as Anna of Cleves, Tsemaye Bob-Egbe (Tina – The Tina Turner Story) as Katherine Howard and Meesha Turner (making her professional and West End debut) as Catherine Parr with  Paisley Billings as alternate Catherine of Aragon and Anna of Cleves, Roxanne Couch as alternate Jane Seymour and Katherine Parr, Danielle Rose as alternate Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, Rachel Rawlinson/swing and Esme Rothero/ swing and dance captain.

Ground Hog Day Musical to return to London

While chatting to Claudia Winkleman on her BBC Radio 2 show yesterday, writer, performer and comedian Tim Minchin revealed plans for the musical  Ground Hog Day to return to London next year saying that "although I'm not allowed to announce specifically, Groundhog Day is coming back for a limited run in London, probably in a year from now." He said he is hoping to "reboot" the piece, due to a pent up "unresolved ambition". He  also revealed that the plans were held up after the death of beloved producer André Ptaszynski, who helped shepherd some of the biggest productions on to stages across the world.

The award-winning musical is based on the iconic 1993 film penned by Danny Rubin (who also wrote the book) about a man trapped in a time loop and unable to escape unless he finds true love. It first premiered at the Old Vic in London in 2016, going on to win a number of awards including the Critics' Circle and Olivier Awards for Best New Musical. Star Andy Karl gave an acclaimed performance as Phil Connors, the role made famous by Bill Murray.

Next month, Minchin will be in London to celebrate the tenth anniversary of multi-award-winning musical Matilda, which is playing at the Cambridge Theatre and is currently being adapted for the big screen

Sally Ann Triplett to replace Sheila Ferguson in tour of White Christmas

Jamie Wilson, Mark Goucher, Gavin Kalin and Kevin McCollum have just  announces Broadway and West End star Sally Ann Triplett will join the Curve’s production of Irving Berlin’s tour of WHITE CHRISTMAS as Martha Watson. She replaces the previously announced Sheila Ferguson who has withdrawn from the production. 

The show also stars Dan Burton as ‘Phil Davis’, Matthew Jeans as ‘Bob Wallace’, Jessica Daley as ‘Betty Haynes’, Emily Langham as ‘Judy Haynes’ and Duncan Smith. The tour opens on Thursday 28 October at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking,

 

New tour of Beautiful Carole King Musical to open next year

A new tour  of Beautiful - The Carole King Musical is to open at Curve in Leicester on 28th February 2022.

Based on the life and back-catalogue of Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil (with book by Douglas McGrath) the show originally ran in the West End for two and a half years prior to  two UK tours.

Dates so far are Theatre Royal Bath and Mayflower Theatre Southampton with additional venues  and casting to be announced soon.

Directed by Curve's Nikolai Foster, the piece has orchestrations by Steve Sidwell and adaptation and musical supervision by Sarah Travis. Choreography is by Leah Hill, with the creative team completed by set designer Frankie Bradshaw, costume designer Edd Lindley, lighting designer and Curve associate Ben Cracknell, sound designer Tom Marshall and casting director and Curve associate Kay Magson CDG.

Chelsea Halfpenny to play Jenna in Waitress tour from January

Producers Barry & Fran Weissler and David Ian are delighted to announce that Chelsea Halfpenny will join the cast as Jenna in the tour of the  romantic musical comedy WAITRESS  from 10th  January 2022.  taking  over the role from Lucie Jones who leaves the production to move on to a soon to be announced new project.

Chelsea will join Sandra Marvin as ‘Becky’, Evelyn Hoskins as ‘Dawn’ and Busted’s Matt Willis as ‘Dr Pomatter’. with George Crawford as ‘Ogie’, Michael Starke ‘Old Joe’,  Tamlyn Henderson as ‘Earl’ and Christopher D. Hunt as ‘Cal’. 

 

The company also includes Monique Ashe-Palmer, Amelia Atherton, Donal Brennan, Aimée Fisher, Scarlet Gabriel, Nathanael Landskroner, Charlie Martin, Liam McHugh, Olivia Mitchell, Ben Morris and Brian Roland.

Chelsea Halfpenny began her career in the popular children’s television series Byker Grove. She appeared as ‘Amy Wyatt’ in Emmerdale for three years and ‘Alice Munroe’ in Casualty, a part she played for four years. Chelsea recently made her West End debut as ‘Judy Bernly’ in 9 to 5 The Musical at the Savoy Theatre.

 

Broken Wings Musical announces initial cast for London run

The new musical based on Kahlil Gibran's Broken Wings, adapted for the stage by Nadim Naaman and Dana Al Fardan, has announced a full staging in London at the Charing Cross Theatre from 26th January (previews from 21st January) until 5 March 2022, the piece has been seen a number of times in concert form – but the new production will mark the first full staging of the musical.  

The story begins in New York in 1923, where an ageing Gibran looks back on his life in Beirut and a fated love affair there. Directed by Bronagh Lagan, the piece will be staged in the round with initial casting including Yasmeen Audi (Layla Bawab/Ensemble), Haroun Al Jeddal (Mansour Bey Galib), Lucca Chadwick-Patel (Young Kahlil Gibran), Soophia Foroughi (Mother), Alex Kais (Ensemble), Naaman (Kahlil Gibran), Ayesha Patel (Dima Bawab) and Noah Sinigaglia (Selma Karamy).

Full casting will be announced shortly, with the piece featuring musical direction by Erika Gundesen, orchestrations by Joe Davidson, set and costume by Gregor Donnelly, choreography by Philip Michael Thomas, lightig by Nic Farman, sound by Andrew Johnson and casting by Jane Deitch. Assistant direction is by Riwa Saab.

Naaman said t: "Nearly four years after our semi-staged concert debut, I am frankly ecstatic that Broken Wings is returning to London. This new production will be the first time our musical is fully staged.It feels particularly special to be bringing Gibran and a piece of Lebanon back to the London stage, following the many difficulties faced by the Lebanese people over the past few years. We are so grateful to Katy [Lipson, producer] for her longstanding support and belief in Broken Wings, and we can't wait to welcome audiences early next year.

Buy tickets for Broken Wings Musical

Line up for Overture: Luminaire Orchestra concert in November

Casting for the Luminaire Orchestra concert at Cadogan Hall on 1 November celebrating all things overture in musical theatre, has been announced. The Orchestra's aim is to recreate the sound you would have heard in the original productions of the  shows.

The evening is to be compèred by broadcaster Charlene White, with an orchestra directed by Alex Parker and led by Emily Davis.

Showcasing 12 of the greatest overtures ever penned, the piece will feature numbers from My Fair Lady, South Pacific, Gypsy, Candide, The Light in the Piazza and new musical The Danish Girl.

Performing on the night will be Millie O'Connell (Rent) presenting "My Man" from Funny Girl, alongside Danielle Fiamanya (The Color Purple), with "The Light in the Piazza" from The Light in the Piazza, Julian Ovenden (South Pacific) with "Nothing More Than This" from Candide, Laura Pitt-Pulford (Flowers for Mrs Harris) with "Stay" from The Danish Girl and Billy Nevers (& Juliet) with "'Til I Hear You Sing" from Love Never Dies. Ovenden and Pitt-Pulford will also perform "Too Many Mornings" from Follies.

 Buy tickets for Overture - the Luminaire Concert

Les Miserables Full Tour Cast Announced

Cameron Mackintosh has just announced full casting for his production of Boublil and Schönberg’s “LES MISÉRABLES”  UK and Ireland tour which reopens at Glasgow Theatre Royal on 23rd November 2021 followed by a tour running into 2023.

Joining the previously announced Dean Chisnall as ‘Jean Valjean’, Nic Greenshields as ‘Javert’ and Katie Hall as ‘Fantine’ will be Ian Hughes as ‘Thénardier’, Will Callan as ‘Marius’, Nathania Ong as ‘Eponine’, Helen Walsh as ‘Madame Thénardier’, Barnaby Hughes as ‘Enjolras’ and Paige Blankson as ‘Cosette’.

The cast is completed by George Arvidson, Aidan Banyard, Will Barratt, Adam Boardman, Rebecca Bolton, Emily Olive Boyd, Olivia Brereton, Earl Carpenter, Harry Chandler, Rebecca Ferrin, Aimee Good, Steven Hall, Jenna Innes, Tessa Kadler, Damien Kneale, Caleb Lagayan, Abel Law, Joseph McDonnell, Zabrina Norry, Emily Owens, Jordan Simon Pollard, Jamie Pritchard, Dean Read and Rebecca Ridout.

 

MUSICAL THEATRE PERFORMERS IN PANTOS &CHRISTMAS SHOWS

Below is a listing of stars of the West End and musical theatre including Lee Mead, JoeMcElderry and Brian Conley listing where they are appearing in Christmas Shows and pantos in 2021/2.

To find out which West End musical theatre performers are appearing in panto at the end of this year, click on the left hand column of the table for full show and booking details.

Alexandra Burke	Aladdin Manchester Opera House
Alice Fearn	West End Musical Celebration
Anita Harris	Jack and the Beanstalk Windsor
Anton du Beke	Cinderella Richmond
Ben Forster	West End Musical Celebration
Bonnie Langford	Sleeping Beauty Bromley
Brian Conley	Cinderella Southend
Carrie Hope Fletcher	ALW Cinderella
Charlie Stemp	Mary Poppins
Christopher Biggins	Jack and the Beanstalk Dartford
Courtney Stapleton	Beauty and the Beast Tour
Craig Revel Horwood	Cinderella Southampton
Dan Burton	White Christmas Tour
Dianne Pilkington	Bedknobs and Broomticks Tour
Donny Osmond	Pantoland, London Palladium
Emma Hatton	West End Musical Christmas
Emmanuel Kojo	Beauty and the Beast Tour
Faye Brooks	Snow White Hull
Faye Tozer	Cinderella Darlington
Gavin Lee	Beauty and the Beast Tour
Gareth Gates	Aladdin Cardiff
Gary Wilmot	Pantoland, London Palladium
Georgina Castle	ALW Cinderella
Giovanni Spano	ALW Cinderella
Gloria Onitiri	ALW Cinderella
Hayley Tamaddon	Cinderella Rhyl
Idriss Kargbo	West End Musical Christmas
Ivano Turco	ALW Cinderella
Jodie Steele	West End Musical Christmas
John Owen Jones	West End Musical Christmas
Jac Yarrow	Pantoland, London Palladium
Jacqui DuBois	Bedknobs and Broomticks Tour
Jodie Prenger	Robin Hood Nottingham
Joe McElderry	Snow White Newcastle
Joe Pasquale	Aladdin Plymouth
Jonathan Wilkes	Cinderella Stoke Regent
Laura Baldwin	ALW Cinderella
Layton Williams	West End Musical Celebration
Lee Mead	Sleeping Beauty Bromley
Lesley Joseph	Snow White Bristol Hippodrome
Liz Robertson	Mary Poppins
Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker	Nutcracker Tour
Matthew Croke	Aladdin Manchester Opera House
Matthew Jeans	White Christmas Tour
Michelle Collins	Beauty & the Beast Poole
Obioma Ugoala	West End Musical Christmas
Oliver Ormson	West End Musical Christmas
Petula Clark	Mary Poppins
Rachel John	West End Musical Celebration
Rebecca Trehearn	ALW Cinderella
Rosemary Ashe	Cinderella Richmond
Sabrina Aloueche	Sleeping Beauty Bradford
Sam Bailey	Beauty and the Beast Tour
Samantha Barks	Frozen
Shane Richie	Dick Whittington Wimbledon
Sheila Ferguson	White Christmas Tour
Sophie Evans	West End Musical Celebration
Sophie Isaacs	Pantoland, London Palladium
Stephanie McKeon	Frozen
That´ll Be The Day	Christmas Show
Trevor Dion Nicolas	West End Musical Celebration
Victoria Hamilton-Barritt	ALW Cinderella
Zizi Strallen	Mary Poppins

 

Initial Line Up Announced for West End Musical Christmas

A West End Musical Christmas will be live at the Lyric Theatre for one night only at 8.00 pm on 20th December 2021, when musical theatre performers will sing Christmas tunes as well as musical numbers, with a live band and dance ensemble.

The line up so far includes John Owen-Jones (Les Misérables), Emma Hatton (Wicked), Oliver Ormson (Frozen), Jodie Steele (Heathers), Obioma Ugoala (Frozen) and Idriss Kargbo (Wicked). The show's host will be Shanay Holmes (Get Up Stand Up!) with more special guests and the creative team to be announced.

Buy tickets for A West End Musical Christmas 

 

Click here to find out which musical theatre performers are appearing in pantos and Christmas Shows this year

Tiller Girls to join Pantoland cast at Palladium

The high-kicking Tiller Girls are making a comeback at the theatre that helped make them famous during the 1960s and 70s, when millions used to tune in to watch them on the Sunday Night At The London Palladium Show. The world’s longest running dance troupe the Tiller Girls are amongst the most highly trained dancers in the country, with a repertoire that ranges from traditional high kicks, to jazz, tap and ballet all performed with split second precision. They are also accomplished singers

The troupe of a dozen dancers will join the Pantoland Christmas show at the London Palladium, along with Donny Osmond, Julian Clary, Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers, Gary Wilmot, Jac Yarrow and Sophie Isaacs.

Producer Michael Harrison is already helping to write the gags. 

Click here to find out which musical theatre performers are appearing in pantos and Christmas Shows this year 

ANYTHING GOES – CINEMA RELEASE CONFIRMED

The revival of the outstanding  Anything Goes which ends its run at the Barbican on 6th November is to  be shown in cinemas,with Sutton Foster as Reno Sweeney leading a filmed version of the Cole Porter musical about high jinks on the high seas. 

Director Kathleen Marshall and camera crews have spent the week filming the production, which also stars Robert Lindsay as Moonface Martin, Felicity Kendal as Evangeline Harcourt and  Gary Wilmot as Elisha Whitney.

 It will be shown in cinemas across the UK on November 28th and December 1st. Tickets for screenings go on sale next Friday, October 15, via AnythingGoesMusicalCinema.com.

 

First casting news for tour of The Osmonds - a New Musical

A new musical based on The Osmonds show business family is beginning a 30 week tour opening at the Leicester Curve next February.

The Osmonds - A New Musical has a book by Shaun Kerrison and Julian Bigg, from a story by Jay Osmond. Kerrison will also direct the show, which will feature choreography by Bill Deamer.

Casting news so far is that young actor Joseph Peacock is cast as Donny Osmond with Ryan Anderson as Merrill Osmond, Alexander Lodge as Jay Osmond, Jamie Chatterton as Alan Osmond and Danny Nattrass as Wayne Osmond with more names still to come.

50 years after the boy band were at the height of their success this  new musical shows the flip side of fame. Based on the memoirs of Jay Osmond,  tells how their father George, a former army sergeant, would drill and discipline them daily 'until they dropped', how they were swindled out of millions by their financial advisers, leaving them massively in debt, and how they worked for years to pay back every penny.

This brand new musical takes you back to relive the 60s…the 70s…the 80s…featuring a chart topping list of anthems including Love Me For A Reason, Crazy Horses, Let Me In, Puppy Love, One Bad Apple, Long Haired Lover From Liverpool andPaper Roses .

 

More casting for Kay Mellor`s tour of Fat Friends the Musical starring Lee Mead

 

Following a highly successful sell-out tour in 2017, producer Joshua Andrews is delighted to announce that Kay Mellor’s smash hit FAT FRIENDS THE MUSICAL will return to tour the UK and Ireland opening at Dartford Orchard Theatre on 14 January 2022.

With original music by Nicholas Lloyd Webber, the show will star Lee Mead as Kevin (Kelly's fiancé, a big lad but not the sharpest knife in the drawer, he's lovable and adores Kelly) who will be joined by Jessica Ellis as Kelly Stevenson (Big, bubbly, bride to be, works in her dad's fish and chip shop.), Sherrie Hewson as Julia Fleshman (Ambitious slimming guru, media savvy, business woman. A bit of a bitch), Les Dennis as Fergus (Kelly's dad, runs a fish and chip shop in Headingley, loves his family but is not without a few worries), Marc Akinfolarin as Alan (Ambulance driver, loves his food, struggles with his weight, good hearted, solid man.) and Alex May-Roberts as Val (Works for local TV, and has recently replaced men for chocolate! Has put on nearly 2 stone) with more casting news to follow.

Lee Mead is a much loved actor of stage and screen. Having won the nations hearts when they voted him their Joseph in BBC One’s ‘Any Dream Will Do’, Lee has gone on to star in the West End in ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’, ‘Legally Blonde’ and ‘Wicked’ before establishing himself as a TV favourite on ‘Casualty’ and then ‘Holby City’ in the role of Lofty.

 
Sherrie Hewson is probably best known as the iconic Maureen Holdsworth in ITV’s ‘Coronation Street’ and Joyce Temple-Savage in six series of ‘Benidorm’. Her other TV credits include ‘Russ Abbot’s Madhouse’ and ten years as the comedy cornerstone of ‘Loose Women’. No stranger to the stage, her many theatre credits include ‘Stepping Out’, ‘Billy Liar’, ‘Run For Your Wife’ and ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’.

 
Jessica Ellis played Tegan Lomax in Channel 4’s ‘Hollyoaks’ for five years. She most recently filmed the feature film ‘Catherine Called Birdy’, written and directed by Lena Dunham. She has appeared on stage in ‘Bedroom Farce’ at Theatre by the Lake and in three Old Vic New Voices productions in New York.  Fat Friends marks her musical theatre debut.

 
Les Dennis most recently starred as Wilbur in ‘Hairspray’ opposite Michael Ball at the London Coliseum. His other West End credits include Amos Hart in ‘Chicago’ and Bill in ‘Me and My Girl’. His touring theatre credits include ‘Art’, ‘Legally Blonde’, ‘High School Musical 2’ and Uncle Fester in the musical comedy ‘The Addams Family’.  His many TV credits include Michael Rodwell in ‘Coronation Street’ and a fictional version of himself in ‘Extras’. 

Jason Manford announces Christmas Concerts with Joe Stilgoe

Jason Manford is performing a few concerts around the country to celebrate the festive season, joined by acclaimed pianist and singer Joe Stilgoe with his bnd. The pair met when they both starred in Guys and Dolls at the Royal Albert Hall in 2018 and have been desperate to perform together ever since.

So come and celebrate with this Christmas cracker of a night for all the family, singing favourite festive songs whilst having some laughs along the way.

Tickets go on sale at 10am Friday 8th  October for the following dates:

• 5th December Lowry Salford

• 6th December Drury Lane, London`s West End 

• 7th December  Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham

The Rocky Horror Show to be shown live in cinemas later this month !

The Rocky Horror Show stage musical is to be broadcast live from Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre in London's West End on Thursday 28th October to over five hundred cinemas across the UK and Europe.

With a cast led by Ore Oduba (Brad), Stephen Webb (Frank 'n' Furter), Philip Franks (The Narrator) and Mary Flaherty (Janet), also in the piece are Kristian Lavercombe as Riff Raff, (following more than 1800 performances around the world), with Lauren Ingram as Columbia. Ben Westhead plays Rocky, with Joe Allen as Eddie and Dr Scott.

The Phantoms are Reece Budin, Jordan Fox, Rachel Grundy, Darcy Finden, Danny Knott (male swing) and Stefania Du Toit (female swing and dance captain).

Oduba said today: "I am thrilled to be part of the Halloween live cinema screening of The Rocky Horror Show. It's been a wild ride so far on tour, the audiences have been incredible.

Alexandra Burke and Matthew Croke to star in Aladdin at Manchester Opera House this Christmas

Manchester Opera House has announced that Alexandra Burke will star as The Spirit of the Ring in their pantomime Aladdin, running from 11th December 2021 – 2nd January 2022. 

Burke has established herself as one of the UK’s most sought-after West End leading ladies having starred in The Bodyguard, Sister Act, Chess, Chicago and has just finished  playing The Narrator in the Palladium production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - a role she is bout to reprise on the 2022 tour  

She will be joined by returning comedian Ben Nickless as Aladdin’s hapless brother Wishee Washee and West End leading man Matthew Croke who played Aladdin in London.
 

The pantomime  is produced by the world’s biggest pantomime producer, Crossroads Pantomimes and will feature spectacular special effects, live music, beautiful costumes and stunning sets.

Chief Executive of Crossroads Pantomimes, Michael Harrison said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Alexandra has agreed to join us in panto this year. She’s a first-class performer and her stunning vocals are going to add a whole new dimension to this year’s show. Coupled with the quick-wit of the talented Ben Nickless, Manchester audiences are in for a real treat this Christmas.”

Buy tickets for Aladdin at Manchester

 

Charlie Kristensen, reveals the top West End musical theatre performers who will be joining him for his fundraising gala CheerUpCharlie – The Show

Charlie Kristensen, the 11 year old passionate anti-bullying campaigner and much-loved host of the online chat show Musical Chairs with #CheerUpCharlie, will be joined by an exciting line-up for his fundraising gala CheerUpCharlie – The Show on Sunday 31 October 2021 at 7.30pm at The Actor’s Church in Covent Garden, London.

Produced by Mark Robert Petty and hosted by Ben Stock and Hilary O’Neil, with Musical Direction by Tom Knowles, the evening will feature a whole host of the West End’s much-loved top musical theatre performers: Lewis Asquith, Lizzie Bea, Nikki Bentley, Daniel Boys, Kieran Brown, Robin Cousins, Maria Coyne, Ferris & Milnes, Adrian Hansel, Jacqueline Hughes, Sophie Isaacs, Melissa Jacques, Alison Jiear, Gemma Knight Jones, Carolyn Maitland, Nadim Naaman, Sara Poyzer, Oliver Savile, Jon Tarcy, Shona White and Jacinta Whyte as well as Joseph Fletcher and Natasha Volley from DMD+ (Deaf Men Dancing+, founded by Mark Smith), country cross-over duo One Trick Pony, This One's For You - A Tribute To Elton John (with Dougie Carter, Ben Barrow and Sam Ebenezer), the cast of Rumi: The Musical, mind-reader Matt Daniel-Baker and ventriloquist Max Fulham. They will be joined by students from ASA Theatre Arts, London School of Musical Theatre, MX Masterclass and The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Charlie also has some special surprises up his sleeve.

Profits from ticket sales will be split between Acting For Others, which provides financial and emotional support to all theatre workers in times of need through the 14 member charities, and The National Deaf Children’s Society which is the leading charity for deaf children. They support the UK’s 50,000 deaf children and young people and their families, and they are there for every deaf child who needs them – no matter what their level or type of deafness or how they communicate. (Charlie overcame a severe infection, which has left him mainly deaf in his left ear and required 15 operations).

Box office: https://actorschurch.ticketsolve.com/shows/873612837. Standard tickets: £40. Restricted view: £30 (pulpit partially obscures sight lines). VIP tickets: £60 (includes a meet-and-greet with Charlie, second row seating, programme, glass of champagne and a #CheerUpCharlie T-Shirt (various sizes available).  Running time: 2hrs 30mins. The show will be BSL signed by Paul Whittaker and another signer (to be announced). The venue is wheelchair accessible. Please wear a mask (unless exempt) and use the hand sanitizer provided. There are no on-site public toilets.

Full casting and touring dates for Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker!

New Adventures has just announced full casting and touring dates for 30th Anniversary, newly designed production of Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! which opens at Theatre Royal Plymouth on Monday 15 November 2021 ahead of a Christmas Season at Sadler’s Wells, London from Tuesday 7 December 2021 to Sunday 30 January 2022. The tour then continues until April 2022, visiting a total of 14 venues across the UK. 

Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! features a cast of well-loved New Adventures stars along with many stars of the future! Cordelia Braithwaite and Katrina Lyndon will play Clara with Ashley Shaw and Monique Jonas as Princess Sugar. Harrison Dowzell will play the title role, along with Ben Brown and Reece Causton and Fritz will be played by Dominic North, James Lovell and Stephen Murray. Playing the formidable Dr Dross we have Neil Westmoreland, Reece Causton and Danny Reubens with his wife, Mrs Dross performed by Madelaine Brennan, Daisy May Kempand Steph Billers.

The citizens of Sweetieland are performed by New Adventures’ dancers Jonathon Luke Baker, Benjamin Barlow Bazeley, Alistair Beattie, Isaac Peter Bowry, Kayla Collymore, Keenan Fletcher, Cameron Flynn, Rose Goddard, Shoko Ito, Harry Ondrak-Wright, Catrin Thomas, and Bryony Wood. Making their debuts with New Adventures are Jade Copas, Jessica Crompton, Gabrielle de Souza, Kurumi Kamayachi and Rory Macleod. New Adventures are thrilled to announce and welcome their first Emerging Artist Apprentice, Enrique Ngbokota who joins the company having been supported and mentored by New Adventures throughout their third year of training

Latest news on rescheduled dates for West End and touring Musicals

Updated 31st October 2021 listed below are latest updates we have  for openings and rescheduled dates for West End and touring musicals . 

 

Please check back regularly as we update this page on a daily basis.

 

WEST END MUSICALS

-  Andrew Lloyd Webber's new version of Cinderella starring Carrie Hope Fletcher at the Gillian Lynne Theatre  is now open and booking until 29th May 2022

- A new UK production of Anything Goes from Tony-winner Kathleen Marshall  is running  at the Barbican  until 6th November 2022. Starring Robert Lindsay, Felicity Kendal, Gary Wilmot  and  Tony Award-winning actress Sutton Foster who will be reprising her role as Reno Sweeney with Rachel York and Haydn Gwynne taking over from Sutton Foster and Felicity Kendal during the final weeks.

-  &Juliet at the Shaftesbury Theatre is  booking from 24th September  until 25 June 2022

-  Back to The Future - The Musical  is now running at the  Adelphi Theatre and booking until 3 July 2022

-  New production of Cabaret the Musical opens at the Playhouse on 15th  November  starring Eddie Redmayne as the  ‘The Emcee’ with  Bafta Nominee and British Independent Film award winner Jessie Buckley as ‘Sally Bowles’

 

-  Chichester Festival Theatre has just announced its winter 2021/2 season 

-  Come From Away has a new cast and is now booking at the Phoenix Theatre  to February 2022 2021.

-  Dear Evan Hansen  is now reopening on 26th October 2021

-  Everybody's Talking About Jamie hasno ended its London run and is currently on tour

-  Frozen starring Samantha Barks as  ice Princess Elsa with Stephanie McKeon playing her sister Princess Anna is now running in London and  currently booking to 26th June 2022

-  Hamilton the Musical   reopened on 19th August and is booking until 13th February 2022.

- Jersey Boys at the Trafalgar Theatre is now open and booking until  2 January 2022 followed by a tour.

-  Les Miserables Musical  at the Sondheim has reopened 

-  Magic Mike Live Channing Tatum's show has  reopened and booking until  Sunday 26 June 2022. at the London Hippodrome

-  Mamma Mia! at the Novello is open and booking to 2nd April 2022

 -  Mary Poppins  at the Prince Edward Theatre has reopened and is booking 13 February 2022 with Zizi Strallen, Charlie Stemp and Petula Clark back in the leading roles.

 -  Matilda The  Musical has reopened  and is currently booking until 13 February 2022

-  Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker! has a 2021/2022 National tour and Christmas season at Sadler’s Wells
-  Moulin Rouge the Musical  previews at the Piccadilly Theatre previews at the Piccadilly Theatre from November 12th (Opening night December 8th ). It is booking until Saturday 12 March 2022

-   Only Fools & Horses at the Haymarket is now booking  until 26th February 2022

-  Phantom of the Opera has reopened  at Her Majesty's starring Killian Donnelly in the title role with tickets now on sale to 13th February 2022.

 -  Pretty Woman the Musical returns to the West End this Summer in its new home the Savoy Theatre, with performances until 2 April 2022.

- Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's entire summer season will now run in 2021, including the Carousel revival. The  new 101 Dalmatians musical has been postponed until 2022.

-  Singin in the Rain' – The Sadler's Wells run ended on 5 September 2021, with 2022 tour dates now on sale.

-  Sister Act  Jamie Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg, the producers of Sister Act The Musical, have sadly come to the decision that it is impossible to open the show in London this summer and have postponed performances at the Eventim Apollo until  19 July  – 28 August 2022.This necessary change of date now means that Whoopi Goldberg and Jennifer Saunders will no longer be appearing.

-  Six the Musical has now transferred  to the Vaudeville Theatre on The Strand

-  Sunday in the Park with George starring  Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford will not run  in the West End in 2021 with dates still  to be confirmed.
 
-  The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre is planning to reopen on 15th November 2021.

-  The Drifters Girl new musical starring Beverley Knight has been postponed and will now run at the Garrick Theatre from 4th November 2021 to 26th March 2022.

-  The Lion King is booking until April 2022 at the Lyceum

-  The Prince of Egypt  is open and booking until Saturday 8 January 2022 when the production will end its run

-  Tina the Musical  is open and booking until  December 2022

  -  Wicked!  is booking until 22nd May 2022.

 TOURING MUSICALS 

See at a glance which are the number 1 UK touring musicals with all their latest rescheduled dates.

- Ambassador Theatre Group announce pantos in Manchester, Bristol and Milton Keynes

-  Bat Out of Hell is restarting its tour again opening in Manchester in September 2021

- Dirty Dancing is heading out on tour again

-  Disney’s Beauty and the Beast new UK and Ireland tour is now due to  open in Bristol on 25th August.

-  A new UK & Ireland tour of Disney’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks is due to open at the Theatre Royal Newcastle from August 2021.

- Bring it On  the Lin Manuel Miranda musical will now play at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall in December, following eight performances at the New Theatre, Peterborough with 2022 tour dates now announced.

- Chicago the Musical  has a new tour due to start in September with tickets now on sale

- Cilla The Musical starring Sheridan Smith has been cancelled

- Dreamgirls the musical tour scheduled for the beginning of 2021 has been postponed until December

-  Everybody's Talking About Jamie tour dates have been rescheduled  starting in September 2021

-  Fat Friends the Musical starring Lee Mead is to go on a new tour starting in January 2022

 -  Footloose  tour  starring Jake Quickenden and Darren Day will now begin in February 2022

-  Friends! The Musical Parody  has rescheduled some tour dates to 2021.

-  Grease the Musical  starring Peter Andre has released rescheduled tour dates and now kicks off at end of July at Leicester Curve

- Hairspray the Musical Tour - postponed until July 2021.  New dates now on sale.

- Heathers the Musical - postponed until August 2021.  New dates now on sale.

- Jersey Boys the Musical is due to tour the UK again starting in November 2021

- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Palladium production is touring in 2022

-  Les Miserables has some rescheduled 2021 tour dates on sale starting in November.

- Mamma Mia! has announced new tour dates for 2022/23

- Matthew Bourne`s new show The Midnight Bell is going on a  UK tour starting in September 

- Matthew Bourne`s Nutcracker national tour and Christmas season at Sadler’s Wells  has been postponed until 2021/2022 with new dates now on sale.

- My Best Friends Wedding starring Alexandra Burke - 30th June 2021. THIS TOUR HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

 -  9 to 5 the Musical second tour of Dolly Parton's  hit musical  now begins at the end of August  2021 with Louise Redknapp joining playing Violet Newstead  at certain venues with more casting news to follow

- Priscilla Queen of the Desert is touring again 

 -  Riverdance, the New 25th Anniversary Show will return to complete its tour of the UK. The show will visit 25 venues from 27th August 2021. All the 2020 tour dates have successfully been replaced and NEW SHOWS have been added

-  Rock of Ages has a new tour starting in September 2021 with tickets now on sale.

- School of Rock new 2021/22 tour dates

- Singin`in the Rain has announced rescheduled 2022 tour dates

- Six the Musical has rescheduled its tour dates

- Strictly Ballroom the new  tour of the Baz Luhrmann musical, starring Strictly Come Dancing's Kevin Clifton, has been postponed and will now open in 20222

 - Sunny Afternoon tour of the Kinks Musical has been postponed

- The Addams Family tour postponed until November 2021 with dates and casting now announced.

- The Book of Mormon tour  has rescheduled tour dates to start October 2021

- The Cher Show goes on a year long tour starting in August 2022

- The Commitments tour of the Roddy Doyle Musical will now run in 2022/23

-  The Lion King tour has been postponed until March 2022

- The Osmonds - a New Musical Tour has announced an extensive UK tour which will open in February 2022

- The Rocky Horror Show to tour again in August 2021 starring Ore Oduba as Brad

 - Thriller Live! the Michael Jackson musical has rescheduled some tour dates and added new ones to 2021

- Waitress Musical has  new dates on sale for the 2021/2 tour which now begins in September

- White Christmas has a new tour opening in October 2021 with dates now on sale

- We Will Rock You  has postponed its tour until 2022 with more new dates added.

- Whitney – Queen of the Night  has rescheduled its West End date to December 2021


CONCERT TOURS

-  Collabro have rescheduled their Concert Tour 

 - David Essex has rescheduled his concert tour dates to 2022 

- Jane McDonald has rescheduled her Leave a Light On 

  - Ruthie Henshall has moved her In My Life Tour

- Michael Ball and Alfie Boe have announced their Together At Christmas 2021 Concert Tour 

- Gary Barlow has rescheduled his Music Played by Humans tour to November and December 2021