Category: Uncategorized

BRAVE AND BELTY VIRAL POP MUSICAL 

THE MAD ONES to transfer to  

The Other Palace for four weeks only May 2025 

Electric Press Productions in association with West End Best Friend Productions are thrilled to announce that the Drama Desk-nominated Outstanding Musical, THE MAD ONES will play a limited run at the Other Palace Studio from Wednesday 7th May – Sunday 1st June 2025. 

Tickets are on sale now at: https://theotherpalace.co.uk/the-mad-ones/. 

Following a 5-Star run at the Old Joint Stock Theatre in Birmingham last April, The Mad Ones will transfer to The Other Palace Studio for a four-week run in May 2025, where it will make it’s London debut.  

The musical, which was an instant viral hit on YouTube, tells the tale of Samantha Brown – a senior in high school who, after the tragic death of her vivacious best friend Kelly in a car wreck, loses not only her closest confidante, but also the part of herself that was learning to be brave. Now, Sam has to make a decision: to follow the path her mother has set out for her, or to summon the courage to drive away from her friends and family into a future she can scarcely imagine.  

Featuring music by Bree Lowdermilk, with book and lyrics by Kait Kerrigan, this touching and hilarious musical traverses the complexities of mother-daughter dynamics and the universal experience of high school relationships, and will have its audience members connecting with the true meaning of ‘Freedom’ (and perhaps even asking each other to ‘Run Away with Me’!)  

This announcement comes hot on the heels of news that Kerrigan’s The Great Gatsby will be transferring to the West End from Broadway next April, which means a double whammy of London shows for the Broadway Lyricist and book writer next spring.  

The Mad Ones, formerly known as The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown, opened off-Broadway (Prospect Theater Company at 59E59) on November 17, 2017. 

Even before licensing rights became available in December 2019, The Mad Ones sold 15,000+ individual pieces of digital sheet music, amassed millions of YouTube views, and inspired thousands of fan videos. 

Theatre Fan: ‘Beautiful, Soulful, Heartbreaking… Welcome to your new Musical Theatre 

Obsession!’ 

Theatre & Tonic: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Curtain Call Reviews: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Adventures in Theatreland: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Whats on Live: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Musical Theatre Review: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

THE MAD ONES is helmed by director Emily Susanne Lloyd, with musical direction by Callum Thompson, and artwork by Tom Mann of Ghostlight Studios. 

The show’s Producer, Samantha Creswick, says “We are so proud and excited to be bringing this show to a London audience, and connecting with a wider group of fans, many of whom have been listening to it in their bedrooms and cars since before the pandemic! It’s such a rich and resonant coming-of-age story that is perhaps even more relevant to audiences now than when it was first written, and we couldn’t be more proud to have found its perfect home in The Other Palace Studio.”  

This is an Electric Press & West End Best Friend production, presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Limited. 

LISTINGS INFORMATION 

The Mad Ones 

Wednesday 7th May – Sunday June 1st 2025 

The Other Palace Studio – Tickets are available NOW. 
 
SOCIAL MEDIA

@themadones_uk – Instagram
@themadones_uk – Tiktok
The Mad Ones UK – Facebook

The Swan Theatre Stratford-Upon-Avon – until 19th January 2025

Reviewed by Amarjeet Singh

4****

The RSC’s rendition of The Red Shoes is a devilishly delicious treat. The Hans Christian Anderson tale has been revamped and reworked in a way to tantalise and terrify. Permeated with loss and laughter, its gruesome and gripping from its theatrical opening to its touching ending. Directed by Kimberley Rampersad and written by Nancy Harris, this version employs wonderful regional accents, cinematic scores and deceptively simple sets to enhance the storytelling.

16-year-old orphan Karen is left alone and temporarily mute by the devastating loss of her mother. Adopted by the wealthy, self-absorbed and self-serving Nugent Family, she soon realises she is their badge of philanthropy. Karen finds no love or care from her adoptive parents, Bob and Mariellla, and she is terrorised by her adoptive brother Clive, who is obsessed with chopping up and stuffing animals. Her only solace is the family’s kind housekeeper Mags, and her love for dancing. Needing new shoes for a charity event, Karen encounters the mysterious shoemaker Sylvestor, who persuades her to reject the sensible shoes Mariella insists she buys and instead offers her a pair of alluring red shoes. The shoes fit her perfectly and turn her world upside down, allowing her to express herself fully through dance and be seen, but they are not all that they appear to be.

This production presents some beautiful scenes to tell the story. Aside from the stunning dance pieces there are some moving moments and surprisingly hilarious retort amongst the characters. The dinner party scene is a triumph, the ball scene is dreamy, and the final dance will touch your heart.

Colin Richmond’s set and costume design is striking. The stage predominantly set in red is beautifully juxtaposed by costumes being on the other end of the colour palette in shades of green. A garish portrait of the Nugent’s doubling as a mirror fully exposing their ego’s is a joy to behold. Actors depicting taxidermy animals, disembodied legs displaying shoes and animatronic feet, all the stuff of true nightmares. Ryan Day’s lighting is atmospheric, bathing the stage in red, casting shadows and highlighting/lowlighting to add some true eeriness to the piece.

Nikki Cheung is wonderful as Karen whose exceptional dancing skills makes us believe that the shoes are imbued with magic. Dianne Pilkington balances her performance as hideously hypercritical Mariella perfectly. James Doherty completely embodies Bob’s conceitedness matching Mariella as the truly awful adoptive parents. Joseph Edwards is fascinating to watch as creepy Clive. Sebastien Torkia excells as Sylvestor/Priest, rhyming and scheming, plotting and preening. Sakuntala Ramanee is delightful as Mags, master manipulator of Mariella, but for all the right reasons.

Where this production struggles a little is with the songs. They don’t fully fit. Reminiscent of Hadestown but not as evocative, they struck an odd chord. However, Marc Teitler’s music, along with the band of seven, sat above the stage was majestic.

The RSC’s adaptation of The Red Shoes is entertaining, enchanting and an exciting alternative traditional Christmas production.

HADESTOWN – LIVE FROM LONDON

THE ORIGINAL LIVE WEST END CAST RECORDING OF
MULTI AWARD-WINNING HIT MUSICAL HADESTOWN
WILL BE RELEASED ON FRIDAY 6 DECEMBER 2024.

PRE-SALE FEATURING “POP-UP” VINYL EXCLUSIVE  COMMENCES FRIDAY 15 NOVEMBER

MUSIC, LYRICS AND BOOK BY ANAÏS MITCHELL

HADESTOWN AT THE LYRIC THEATRE IN LONDON
NOW BOOKING UNTIL 28 SEPTEMBER 2025
uk.hadestown.com

It is announced today, that HADESTOWN – LIVE FROM LONDON, the highly anticipated original West End cast album for Tony®and Grammy® Award-winning ‘Best Musical’ Hadestown, recorded live at the Lyric Theatre in London where it is currently performing, will be released by Sing It Again Records on Friday 6 December 2024, with pre-orders from Friday 15 November 2024.

HADESTOWN – LIVE FROM LONDON will be released in three physical formats – standard black vinyl, a limited-edition deluxe gatefold “pop-up” vinyl and compact disc  – alongside digital download and streaming services.

Anaïs Mitchell said:I’m so thrilled to share this audio document of our glorious, once-in-a-lifetime, original West End company and all the ways they made this show their own! Almost the entirety of the recording comes from one single show- the final matinee performance of Dónal and Grace- and is a record of the company as it bids goodbye to two beloved members. You can hear it in the performers giving their all, as much to each other as to the audience. I’m so grateful we caught this magic on tape- a definitive moment in an ever-evolving show.  

FORMATS AND PRE-ORDER INFO:

DELUXE GATEFOLD POP-UP VINYL: Hand-numbered limited edition of just 3,000 copies complete with a unique “pop-up” scene featuring the London cast and stage set. 47 minutes of highlights plus plot precis, credits and exclusive production photos. Pre-order from Friday 15 November exclusively from the official online Hadestown store hadestown.lnk.to/LiveFromLondon

VINYL: 47 minutes of highlights from the West End production with exclusive production photos, plot precis, credits and exclusive production photos. Pre-order from Friday 15 November from hadestown.lnk.to/LiveFromLondon

CD: 69 minutes of highlights, packaged with exclusive featuring essay by Hadestown  composer / author Anais Mitchell, plot précis, credits and exclusive production photos. Includes more than 20 minutes of additional music not included on the vinyl. Pre-order from Friday 15 November from hadestown.lnk.to/LiveFromLondon

STREAMING: 69 minutes of highlights can be experienced in surround sound via one of the very first dedicated Dolby Atmos mixes to be created for a West End musical.

While stocks last, fans pre-ordering the album from the official UK store in any one of the three physical formats will receive an exclusive print of the cover art signed by Anais Mitchell. This offer is limited to one print per order.

THE WESTWAY SESSIONS

AT THE VAUDEVILLE

SIX LEADING STARS OF THE WEST END AND BROADWAY WILL PERFORM 5 EXCLUSIVE CONCERTS AT THE VAUDEVILLE THEATRE NEXT SPRING

CASSIDY JANSON IN CONCERT – MONDAY 3 FEBRUARY

A COUPLE OF SWELLS STARRING JOE STILGOE WITH LIZA PULMAN – MONDAY 10 FEBRUARY

AIMEE ATKINSON IN CONCERT – MONDAY 17 FEBRUARY

LEE MEAD THE BEST OF ME – MONDAY 10 MARCH

KERRY ELLIS QUEEN OF THE WEST END – MONDAY 17 MARCH

Westway Music is pleased to announce details of the Westway Sessions, a series of Monday night concerts featuring six leading stars of the West End and Broadway at the Vaudeville Theatre in 2025.

Westway Sessions celebrates the very best talent of musical theatre and the recording label Westway Music that in the past three years has become the home to leading stars of the West End, Broadway, and musical theatre. 

The series opens on 3 February with West End Leading Lady and award winning actress and singer Cassidy Janson in concert. Star of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and & Juliet for which she was awarded the 2020 Oliver Award for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical.

Cassidy Janson said, “I cannot wait to perform at the Vaudeville! I’ll be singing my favourite songs and sharing stories from my career in show business over the decades!”

On 10 February, a musical match made in heaven follows with the inspired pairing of Liza Pulman and Joe Stilgoe performing their hit show A Couple of Swells.

“Saw this last night. Ooooh it’s SO good.” Dawn French. 

Liza and Joe said, “We are thrilled to be bringing our show back to the West End as part of Westway’s season of Monday evening concerts at The Vaudeville theatre . With its history of vaudeville and musical revues there couldn’t be a better venue in town than this one for a Couple Of musical Swells!”

On 17 February, Aimie Atkinson, star of Six the Musical and Pretty Woman, returns to the West End stage performing songs from her new album due for release next year, alongside career defining songs that have propelled her to leading lady status.

Aimie said, “Absolutely thrilled to be joining the Westway sessions at the incredible Vaudeville Theatre. I’m so looking forward to sharing new music with you all, along with songs that have shaped my career.”

Aimie is followed on 10 March by TV star and award-winning West End actor Lee Mead and his brand-new show The Best of Me, where he introduces audiences to some of the musical influences that help define him as a performer, including classic songs alongside a sneak peek of his brand-new EP.

Lee said, “Following my recent successful sell out tour of the UK I’m thrilled that I’ve been approached to bring my show to the heart of the West End again. The last time I played London with my show was four years ago at the London Palladium. I’ve always wanted to play the Vaudeville after performing there with a concert called The West End Men in 2013. It will suit my more intimate show perfectly, so I hope to see you all there for a great evening of music and another sell out!”

The season closes on 17 March with Kerry Ellis in her acclaimed touring show Queen of the West End.  From My Fair Lady to We Will Rock You, from Les Misérables to Wicked, Kerry looks back at her illustrious career performing songs and telling stories of her journey to become the Queen of the West End.

To access the exclusive pre-sale for all performances, sign up to the Westway mailing list before 10am on Monday 18 November here.

Tickets go on general sale on the Thursday 21 November at 10am and can be accessed here:

All Concerts Start at 7.30pm.

For more information about Westway Music please visit www.westwaymusic.com

THE LOWRY THEATRE, SALFORD – 13TH NOVEMBER 2024

REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN

4****

This season (2024 – 2025), Opera North is on tour with a selection of exceptional operas, with drama taking centre stage in productions like Mozart’s enchanting masterpiece, The Magic Flute, and Gilbert and Sullivan’s extraordinary ghostly tale, Ruddigore. Last night, I had the pleasure of attending the remarkable operatic adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, composed by Benjamin Britten.

Opera North’s rendition offered a captivating and creative interpretation of Shakespeare’s cherished comedy, seamlessly intertwining its enchanting elements with the musical brilliance of Britten’s renowned opera.

Last night, the beautiful combination of Benjamin Britten’s rich, atmospheric score and Shakespeare’s enchanting story of love, mischief, and mistaken identities was expertly brought to life. Opera North’s production, directed by Martin Duncan for the original staging and Matthew Eberhardt for the revival, was not only visually stunning but also vibrant with physical theatre and musically captivating elements.

The set design by Johan Engels, which features translucent Perspex and large bubbles, creates a dreamlike atmosphere that amplifies the story’s ethereal qualities. Coupled with vibrant and imaginative costumes by Ashley Martin-Davis and innovative lighting by Bruno Poet, the audience is fully immersed in the enchanted forest, where the interplay of fairy magic and human folly unfolds beautifully. The staging choices do not overshadow the essence of the opera; rather, they enrich the timeless themes of love, jealousy, and transformation by introducing a new dimension. Originally composed by Britten in 1960, this production by Opera North draws inspiration from that era.

Henry Waddington shines as Nick Bottom, showcasing his exceptional theatrical instincts and remarkable vocal talent, which remain the standout features of the performance. He is wonderfully complemented by his fellow mechanicals during their lively Bergamasque dance!

The opera is performed in English, accompanied by subtitles displayed on screens on both sides of the stage. It lasts just over three hours and consists of three acts, with two intervals.

Whether you are a fan of Britten or Shakespeare, this production provided something truly unique—an enchanting fusion of opera, theatre, and visual storytelling that brought the mystical world of the play to life in the present moment.

“The Brits have made the year’s funniest musical…Against the odds, the “Operation Mincemeat” gang has found its way to the big time.”

Peter Marks, The Washington Post

#1 2023 Theatre Show

“Despite all that Hollywood firepower, my top pick was a homegrown musical about the UK’s role in World War II”

Sarah Rappaport, Bloomberg

“a little show with a very big future”

David Benedict, Variety

“My far-and-away favorite production—and a complete surprise to me—was the musical “Operation Mincemeat… a comedy that has been cheerfully dismantling jingoism builds a stirring vision of real fellowship in its place.”

Helen Shaw, The New Yorker

“the feel-good West End musical of the summer… The reviews for the show have been ecstatic… the overwhelming impression is of hopefulness, expansiveness, possibility and joy.”

Alexis Soloski, The New York Times

74 ★★★★★ reviews and counting

Friday 15^th November – Following back-to-back tenth and eleventh extensions at the West End’s Fortune Theatre and the announcement of Operation Mincemeat’s Broadway debut with the original cast at the Golden Theatre on 20^th March 2025, ATG has now granted an incredible twelfth extension until 7^thJune 2025 in London — its third announced within just two months.

Until 15^th February, when Broadway previews begin, tickets will be available exclusively in London. After that, Operation Mincemeat will run simultaneously in both New York and London.

West End Extension tickets are available on General sale on Friday 29^th November at 10am from the Official Box Office here. Broadway’s fan pre-sale is on Monday 18^th November, ahead of the General on- sale on 20^th November. More info and tickets here.

Following the success of the Monday ballot, it has now expanded to include Tuesday and Saturday shows to ensure tickets get into the right hands. Monday ticket prices remain frozen at £39.50, and the popular fortnightly £25 ticket lottery continues here. The first ballot draw for the new booking period from 21^st April to 7^th June 2025 will take place on Thursday 28^th November at 2pm. Link here.

The announcement comes shortly after the release of the show’s Christmas schedule, which, for the first time, features a special New Year’s Eve event, The New Year’s Eve That Never Was. The celebration will involve bottomless drinks, including the iconic Sparkling Sangria, along with cheese and charcuterie boxes, plus other surprises, until 1 a.m.

Operation Mincemeat began as a tiny (and tiny-budgeted) production at the London Fringe New Diorama Theatre in 2019. The show quickly gained a devoted following, spurring sold-out runs at venues including Southwark Playhouse and Riverside Studios. It finally premiered in the West End on 9^th May 2023 at the Fortune Theatre, where it won the Olivier and WhatsOnstage Awards® for ‘Best New Musical’, alongside garnering 74 five-star reviews and counting, and has become the ‘Best reviewed show in West End history.’

The decision to write the musical was the last roll of the dice from a quartet of young British creatives after years of performing sketch shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and echoes the journey of Beyond the Fringe from the world-famous quartet Alan Bennett, Peter Cook, Jonathan Miller, and Dudley Moore, which premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1960, before moving to the Fortune Theatre and later to the Golden in 1962.

Operation Mincemeat entered its second year in London on the 13^th May 2024 with a debut performance of the new cast, Emily Barber, Seán Carey, Chlöe Hart, Christian Andrews and Claire-Marie Hall , with George Jennings and Jonty Peach joining Holly Sumpton and Geri Allen to form the Company.

The year is 1943 and we’re losing the war. Luckily, we’re about to gamble all our futures on a stolen corpse. 

Singin’ in the Rain meets Strangers on a Train, Noel Coward meets Noel Fielding, Operation Mincemeat is the fast-paced, hilarious and unbelievable true story of the twisted secret mission that won us World War II. The question is, how did a well-dressed corpse wrong-foot Hitler? 

The production is directed by 2023 Olivier Award nominated  Robert Hastie (Standing at the Sky’s Edge, National Theatre – 2023 Best New Musical Olivier Award winner), following providing directorial support for the Riverside Studios run, while Olivier Award nominated Jenny Arnold (Jerry Springer: The Opera, National Theatre) continues as Choreographer. Also from Standing at the Sky’s Edge at theNational Theatre on the creative team are: 2023 Olivier Award nominated  Ben Stones (Sylvia, The Old Vic) as Set and Costume Designer, Tony Award, six-time Olivier Award and Bafta Award winning Mark Henderson (Girl From the North Country, Broadway & Noël Coward Theatre) as Lighting Designer and Olivier Award winning Mike Walker (Jerry Springer: The Opera, National Theatre) as Sound Designer.  Grammy Award winning and Tony, Emmy & 2024 ‘Outstanding Musical Contribution’ Olivier Award nominated Steve Sidwell (Beautiful: The Musical, Broadway & Aldwych Theatre) is Orchestrator and Vocal Arranger, while 2024 ‘Outstanding Musical Contribution’ Olivier Award nominated Joe Bunker is Musical Director. Georgie Staight is Associate Director and Paul Isaiah Isles is Associate Choreographer. Casting is by Pearson Casting. The extraordinary debut musical is written and composed by SpitLip – David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts.

Operation Mincemeat won the 2024 ‘Best New Musical’ and ‘Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical’ Olivier Awards, following receiving six nominations. These awards trail winning the 2024 ‘Best New Musical’ WhatsOnStage Award and the ‘Best West End Show’, ‘Rising Star’ and ‘Best Understudy’ West End Wilma Awards. Previously on the show’s journey, Operation Mincemeat has picked up the Off-West End award for ‘Best Musical Production’ and ‘Best Company Ensemble’ and The Stage Debut Award for ‘Best Composer/Lyricist’.

Operation Mincemeat is produced in the West End and Broadway by Avalon (in association with SpitLip). The show was commissioned by New Diorama Theatre, co-commissioned by The Lowry, and also supported by the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat.

‘WICKED’ CELEBRATES ITS 7000^TH 

WEST END PERFORMANCE

AND EXTENDS BOOKING INTO 2026

550,000 new tickets are now on sale with public booking extended to Sunday 4 January 2026 

Ten extra shows added including Christmas 2025/26

www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk

WICKED, the West End stage musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, will tonight play its 7000^th performance at the Apollo Victoria Theatre London, where it continues as the 10th longest-running West End production in history. 

To celebrate,550,000 new tickets have been released, extending public booking to Sunday 4 January 2026. It is the long-running production’s 38^th extension.

Performances continue Tuesday – Saturday at 7.30pm, and Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2.30pm. The following ten added shows are also now on sale, including Christmas 2025: Thursday 7 August 2:30pm, Thursday 21 August 2:30pm, Thursday 30 October 2:30pm, Friday 19 December 2:30pm, and Monday 22 December 7:30pm, Tuesday 23 December 2:30pm, Monday 29 December 2:30pm & 7:30pm, Tuesday 30 December 2.30pm 2025 and Friday 2 January 2:30pm 2026.

Groups and Trade tickets are also on sale exclusively to the Groups and Travel Trade market for all performances until 31 May 2026.

“One of the most successful musicals of all time” (BBC News), Wicked opened in London in 2006 and is already the 10^th longest-running West End production in history. Winner of more than 100 global awards, the production has now been seen by more than 12 million people in London alone.

Wicked currently stars Alexia Khadime (Elphaba), Lucy St. Louis (Glinda), Ryan Reid (Fiyero), Sophie-Louise Dann (Madame Morrible), Michael Fenton Stevens (The Wizard), Caitlin Anderson (Nessarose), Graham Kent (Doctor Dillamond), Joe Thompson-Oubari (Boq), Laura Harrison (Standby for Elphaba), Christine Tucker* (Standby for Glinda), Zac Adlam, Conor Ashman, Meg Astin, Jessica Aubrey, Jeremy Batt, Felipe Bejarano, Rebecca Botterill, Asmara Cammock, Joshua Clemetson, Conor Crown, Effie Rae Dyson, Aston Newman Hannington, Aimee Hodnett, Kate Leiper, Jemima Loddy, Josh Lovell, Rory Maguire, PaddyJoe Martin, Darnell Mathew-James, Millie Mayhew, Ayden Morgan, Rishard-Kyro Nelson, Aiesha Naomi Pease, Jeanie Ryan, Natalie Spriggs, Charlotte Anne Steen, James Titchener, Micaela Todd, Taela Yeomans-Brown, and Jacob Young.  *Maternity cover for Lisa-Anne Wood.

Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman are collaborating on the forthcoming two-part Universal Pictures film version of Wicked, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, to be released in November 2024 and November 2025.

A spectacular touring production of Wicked continues engagements until January 2025. Currently playing at Cardiff’s Wales Millennium until 23 November, the critically acclaimed production will then continue to Manchester, where it concludes its year-long tour with a Christmas season at the Palace Theatre.

Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s celebrated stage musical is based on the acclaimed novel by Gregory Maguire and imagines a beguiling backstory and future possibilities to the lives of L. Frank Baum’s beloved characters from ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’. Wicked reveals the decisions and events that shape the destinies of two unlikely university friends on their journey to becoming ‘Glinda The Good’ and the ‘Wicked Witch of the West’.

Wickedhas music and lyrics by multi-Oscar® and Grammy® Award winner Stephen Schwartz (‘Godspell’, ‘Pippin’, ‘The Prince of Egypt’, Disney’s ‘Pocahontas’, ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’and ‘Enchanted’). It is based on the multimillion-copy best-selling novel ‘Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of theWest’ by Gregory Maguire and written by Emmy® and Tony Award® nominee Winnie Holzman (creator of the landmark American television series ‘My So-Called Life’). Musical staging is by Tony Award®winner Wayne Cilento with direction by two-time Tony Award® winner Joe Mantello.

The stage musical Wicked is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, and David Stone. Executive Producer (UK) Michael McCabe.

Through its ‘For Good’ charitable endeavours and acclaimed Wicked Active Learning cultural and social education programme, the London production of Wicked proudly supports and champions the work of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, the National Literacy Trust, and Theatre Works!, the charity providing theatre tickets to disadvantaged children across the UK.

The Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1LG

Official UK website: www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk 

Education programme: www.WickedActiveLearning.co.uk

‘X’ (Twitter): @WickedUK  |  Facebook: /WickedUK  |  Instagram: @WickedUK

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
MOULIN ROUGE!

THE MUSICAL

Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life

AT BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME
FROM 15 OCTOBER 2025

Tickets are now on sale for the only West Midlands dates to be announced for the first ever world tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Themulti-award-winning hit stage show will be welcomed by Birmingham Hippodrome from Wednesday 15 October until Saturday 15 November 2025.

Tickets can be booked at www.birminghamhippodrome.com or by calling 0844 338 5000*

Enter a world of splendour and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur, and glory! Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. A celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and — above all — Love, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is more than a musical — it is a state of mind.

As in the film, Moulin Rouge! The Musical celebrates over 160 years of music – from Offenbach to Lady Gaga. The stage musical features over 70 iconic songs, many from the movie as well as recent hits released since the movie premiered over 20 years ago.

Set in Paris, 1899, a world of indulgent beauty and unparalleled extravagance, of bohemians and aristocrats, of boulevardiers and reprobates, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is the story of a lovesick American writer, Christian, and Satine, the dazzling star of the Moulin Rouge nightclub. 

When their lives collide at the Moulin Rouge, they fall hopelessly in love, only to be thwarted by the nightclub’s host and impresario, Harold Zidler, and The Duke of Monroth, the wealthy and entitled patron of the club who thinks he can buy anything he wants, including Satine. Together with his Bohemian friends – the brilliant and starving artist Toulouse-Lautrec, and the greatest tango dancer in all of Paris, Santiago – Christian stages a musical spectacular in an attempt to save the Moulin Rouge and win the heart of Satine.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical is the winner of ten 2021 Tony Awards including Best Musical, an Olivier Award, two Drama League Awards including Outstanding Production of a Musical, five Drama Desk Awards and ten Outer Critics Circle Award Honor citations including New Broadway Musical.  

Casting is still to be announced.

Tickets for Moulin Rouge! The Musicalcan be booked at www.birminghamhippodrome.com or by calling 0844 338 5000*

 *0844 calls will cost you 4.5p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

STAR CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE

WORLD PREMIERE & MAJOR UK TOUR OF PETER JAMES’

‘PICTURE YOU DEAD’

BASED ON THE BESTSELLING DSI ROY GRACE SERIES BY PETER JAMES TICKETS ON SALE NOW FROM PETERJAMES.COM

A multi star cast has been announced for the World Premiere of the brand new stage production, Picture You Dead – adapted from the bestselling novel of the UK’s number one crime writer Peter James’– which opens on 6 February 2025 at High Wycombe’s Swan Theatre before embarking on a major UK Tour.

2024 National Television Award winning actor, Peter Ash, will return to the stage, following his acclaimed and unforgettably emotional exit from Coronation Street in September. Peter’s other numerous credits include Footballers’ Wives and the lead role in the National Theatre’s War Horse. Joining Peter is Fiona Wade who, following 11 years in Emmerdale, took to the stage earlier this year in the hit 2:22 A Ghost Story and she will soon be seen in the highly anticipated Fox comedy series, Going Dutch. West End favourite Jodie Steele (Bonnie & Clyde, Wicked, Heathers, SIX) will star as Roberta Kilgore and one of the nation’s favourite TV doctors, George Rainsford, (Casualty, Call the Midwife and All’s Well That Ends Well at the National Theatre), will return to reprise the role of Peter James’ famous literary detective, DSI Roy Grace, which he played in the 2023 hit production of Wish You Were Dead. George will also reunite with Fiona, who he starred alongside in 2:22 A Ghost Story. And from 20 May 2025, the week after Peter Ash ends his run, actor, presenter and Strictly Come Dancing champion, Ore Oduba (Pretty Woman and Rocky Horror Show), will join the cast in the role of Stuart Piper

The World Premiere of Picture You Dead is the seventh Peter James book to be adapted for the stage by award-winning writer Shaun McKenna and is directed by Jonathan O’Boyle who has previously directed two Peter James stage adaptations, Wish You Were Dead (2023) and Looking Good Dead (2021-2022).

Peter James said: “It is truly incredible for me to see the seventh stage adaptation of my books coming to theatres in 2025. I am so grateful to the hundreds of thousands of people around the country who have come to their local theatre and enjoyed the plays over the last 10 years, and I am thrilled to tell you all that personally, I think this brand new play, is the best one so far! On top of that, I could not be more delighted by the fantastic cast that we have assembled to star in the World Premiere production of Picture You Dead – they are all brilliant actors and it’s going to be a great and thrilling night at the theatre!”

The story of Picture You Dead was inspired by Peter’s meeting with real life art forger and now acclaimed copyist, David Henty: set in Brighton, DSI Grace investigates a cold case that leads him to the rarified air of fine art, but beneath the respectable veneer lurks a dark underworld of greed, deception and murder. When an unsuspecting couple unwittingly buy a potentially long-lost masterpiece in a car boot sale, they discover that their dream find is about to turn into their worst nightmare and only Grace can stop them from paying the ultimate price.

Roy Grace is a crime fiction phenomenon – the books have sold over 23 million copies worldwide, been previously adapted for six hugely successful stage productions, and transformed into ITV’s critically acclaimed primetime drama about the Brighton-based detective, GRACE. Season four of the crime series was another ratings smash-hit, with season five currently in production. And earlier this year, GRACE was declared by Her Majesty Queen Camilla herself, as her favourite literary detective!

Peter James has 20 Sunday Times number one bestselling crime novels to his name. The world premiere tour of Picture You Dead marks the latest and seventh thrilling theatre adaptation of his books and is once again produced by Joshua Andrews and Peter James cementing the adaptations of James’ Grace books, as the most successful modern-day crime franchise on stage, since Agatha Christie.

‘PICTURE YOU DEAD’ UK TOUR 2025

6 – 8 February High Wycombe, Swan Theatre

10 – 16 February Swindon, Wyvern Theatre

18 – 22 February Woking, New Victoria Theatre

27 February – 1 March Southampton, Mayflower Theatre

4 – 8 March Brighton, Theatre Royal

11 – 15 March Nottingham, Theatre Royal

18 – 22 March Richmond Theatre

25 – 29 March Malvern, Festival Theatre

1 – 5 April Norwich, Theatre Royal

16 – 19 April Salford, The Lowry

29 April – 3 May Shrewsbury, Theatre Severn

6 – 10 May Milton Keynes Theatre

13 – 17 May Newcastle, Theatre Royal

20 – 24 May New Brighton, Floral Pavilion

27 – 31 May Cheltenham, Everyman Theatre

3 – 7 June Sheffield, Lyceum Theatre

10 – 14 June Glasgow, Theatre Royal

17 – 21 June Bath, Theatre Royal

24 – 28 June Birmingham, Alexandra Theatre

1 – 5 July Truro, Hall for Cornwall

8 – 12 July Bradford, Alhambra Theatre

22 – 26 July Southend, Palace Theatre

Please note, Peter Ash’s final scheduled performance is 17 May. Ore Oduba’s first scheduled performance is 20 May

KING’S HEAD THEATRE ANNOUNCES SPECIAL GUEST STARS OF STAGE AND SCREEN FOR THE ADULTS ONLY PERFORMANCES OF

CINDERELLA

5,11,12,19,30 December 2024 & 5 January 2025

King’s Head Theatre, Elphin Productions and Little Angel Theatre, are delighted to announce details of the very special guest stars of stage and screen who will be appearing on and off stage in the adults-only performances of Cinderella, its first ever pantomime in its new and flexible 250-seat auditorium this Christmas, as well as design input from Dame Zandra Rhodes and artist Andrew Logan MBE.

The King’s Head brings you its first ever family pantomime!

Full of comedy, romance, slapstick and sing-a-longs!

In London, it’s hard to find romance these days. Everyone is so busy!

Will love and friendship find our two lost souls?

Cinderella needs help to leave her life of drudgery and explore a world full of adventures.

A shy Prince needs someone to help bring him out of his shell and find his mojo.

Could they help each other to find the courage to change their lives?

The Fairy Godmother thinks so! So, join her on this roller-coaster ride of romance and rock’n’roll!

Boo the selfish step-sisters, Peckham and Dalston.

Cheer on Cinderella and the Prince!

Boogie on down with Buttons and his daffy duck, Quackers!

You’re all invited to the big Disco Ball this Christmas! So wave your hands in the air, like you just don’t care – and have the time of your lives at the King’s Head’s intimate, immersive panto spectacular!

Each of these special one-off performances will include one special guest star, who will have their own featured number as the entertainment at the Prince’s ball. They will also go on to join the cast for the all-singing, all-dancing closing number.

Cassidy Janson (Carole King, Beautiful; Anne Hathaway, &Juliet; Florence, Chess)will perform on Thursday 5 December; Drag Race UK Season 1’s Vinegar Strokes on Wednesday 11 December; Six alumnae Danielle Steers on Thursday 12 December; musical theatre legend and record breaking John Owen-Jones (Les Misérables & Phantom of the Opera) on Thursday 19 December; Fresh from Menier Chocolate Factory’s The Producers, Australian cabaret and drag diva Trevor Ashley will perform on Monday 30 December (original Miss Understanding, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert The Musical); and award-winning artist Christina Bianco on Sunday 5 January (The Narrator, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat). Sunday 5^th January also marks the new theatre’s one-year birthday and closing night for the pantomime.

As previously announced, Dame Judi Dench – Patron of Little Angel Theatre – will also feature in the show, lending her vocal talent as ‘The Narrator’. The producers are thrilled to announce that the legendary Miriam Margolyes will now be doing the same, lending hers as the ‘Wicked Stepmother’.

These guest stars will be performing alongside the previously announced main cast: Ugly Stepsisters Drag Race UK Star Ella Vaday (Nick Collier) ‘Peckham’, 2023 OFFIES Best Newcomer Nominee Harry Curley (Buddy Holly and the Cricketers, Christmas in Exeter Street, Oh What A Lovely War) ‘Dalston,’ ITV’s Mamma Mia: I have a Dream contestant Maddy Erzan-Essien as ‘Cinderella’, Joseph Lukehurst (Shatter Box, Enact, Dreamboats and Petticoats: Bringing On Back the Good Times, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Urinetown), as ‘Prince Charming’, Verity Kirk (Pleasance Theatre’s all-female POSH, Cautionary Tales, Much Ado About Nothing, Treasure Island and Twelfth Night/Christmas Carol at the RSC) as ‘Dandini’. Robert Rees (Beirut, Ladies in Lavender, Peter Pan, The Mousetrap) as ‘Buttons’ and Lucia Vinyard (Cinderella, Flora the Red Menace, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Before (Again)) as ‘Fairy Codmother’.

Executive Producer (Acting CEO) of King’s Head Theatre Sofi Berenger explains, “We are so excited to welcome these wonderfully talented performers to join us for panto joy this Christmas, and to be bringing some West End and Drag royalty to Islington. While the adults-only performances will have the same script as the main pantomime, we’ll be adding a little King’s Head magic with a sprinkle of swearing and innuendo bound to make for a great night out. We’re super pleased to be able to offer both something for families and something a bit naughtier.”

The producers are also delighted to have the input of iconic designers Dame Zandra Rhodes – who’ll be designing Cinderella’s costume in collaboration with Gregor Donnelly – and that artist Andrew Logan MBE will be designing the Fairy Godmother’s wand. These will be auctioned off once the show finishes, as a fundraiser for the King’s Head Theatre.

Produced by King’s Head Theatre Productions, Elphin Productions and Little Angel Theatre in association with the Angels of Angel, with General Management by New Frame Productions, Cinderella will be written and directed by Andrew Pollard (writer of CBeebies’ Robin Hood). During Andrew’s 15-year run as writer, director and Dame at Greenwich Theatre, he won two OFFIE awards and was the winner of Best Ugly Sister at the 2023 British Panto Awards. 

Set and costume design is by Gregor Donnelly, with lighting by Aaron J Dootson and puppetry by Little Angel Theatre. Hollie Cassar is musical director, alongside musical supervisor Ben Barrow. The creative team is completed by production manager Dan Weager and casting director Marc Frankum.

Cinderella features puppets from Little Angel Theatre, sensational songs, hilarious slapstick comedy, romance and plenty of audience participation; firmly rooted in Islington, the panto will celebrate the borough’s rich history. Cinderella will play from 30 November to 5 January, with press performances on Friday 6 December at 6pm (all / family friendly) and Thursday 12 December at 7pm (adults only).   Tickets are on sale now here.