Category: Uncategorized

Birmingham Hippodrome- until 15th August 2026

Reviewed by Emma Millward

4****

Every summer, Birmingham Hippodrome plays host to National Youth Music Theatre, giving its young performers the opportunity to take to the stage of one of the UK’s major theatres. This year’s programme features West Side Story, Just So and Everyday. Under the direction of Georgie Rankcom, Just So, with music by George Stiles and lyrics by Anthony Drewe, brings Rudyard Kipling’s much-loved animal stories to life, following Elephant’s Child on a journey of discovery as he encounters a colourful collection of creatures. In the hands of NYMT’s young company, it becomes an entertaining celebration of curiosity, individuality and finding your place in the world.

The three central performances are definite standouts. Daniel Lee captures Elephant’s Child’s insatiable curiosity and awe as he discovers the world around him. Sophie Ellis-Kemp gives Kolokolo Bird a wonderfully distinctive personality, as a straight-talking Scouser with plenty of attitude and humour. Stanley Searl brings a sassy presence to the Eldest Magician, proving an engaging narrator throughout.

Around the central trio, the wider cast bring their own personalities to the animal kingdom. Millie Henderson’s Giraffe and Daisy Winbolt-Robertson’s Zebra find themselves pursued by Kit Barnes’ Jaguar and Samuel Palliser Kehoe’s Leopard in an amusingly flirtatious dynamic. Archie Elliot is suitably menacing as the Crocodile who attempts to capture the oblivious Elephant’s Child. Joshua Simango gives a wonderfully blustering performance as the Rhino, while Lucas Theodorou’s Kangaroo and Florence Swann’s Dingo Dog bring a zany energy to the stage as they race each other. Sam Darcy and Victoria Mokumo give entertaining performances as the Parsee Man and his perpetually frustrated Cooking Stove.

The catchy score gives the main characters their moments to shine, while Sam Wilson-Freeman’s choreography covers a broad range of styles. The ensemble move confidently between the numbers. There is even room for a few gloriously well-placed jazz hands!

The stripped-back set by Libby Todd is very effective. Rather than disguising the theatre’s mechanics behind elaborate scenery, the stairs and gantry are left exposed, creating an intentionally undressed backdrop. Backstage flight cases, storage boxes and clothes rails are cleverly incorporated into the action. A large red case bearing the NYMT logo becomes the boat carrying Elephant’s Child and Kolokolo Bird, while smaller flight cases are transformed into individual tap-dancing platforms for a memorable tap routine. It is a wonderfully inventive approach, proving how a little imagination can turn functional backstage objects into something entirely different on stage.

Costumes by Claire Thomas adopt a similarly imaginative approach. Clever details and embellishments identify the animals without resorting to elaborate costumes. A sparkly jacket and top hat give the Rhino plenty of personality, while animal-print tops distinguish the Giraffe and Zebra, as well as the Leopard and Jaguar. Kolokolo Bird’s outfit features subtle feathers running down the arms. The Kangaroo’s sporty orange tracksuit with added pom-poms representing his growing leg muscles is a particularly clever design.

As with any live performance, there were a few moments when lines slipped up, but the performers recovered quickly. Some of the faster passages of dialogue were occasionally difficult to catch, but these were minor moments in an otherwise confident performance. What shines through most strongly is the enthusiasm of the young company. Just So may have a simple visual aesthetic, but it is bursting with ambition and creativity. With its catchy score, clever staging, and fully committed young cast, it is an enjoyable showcase of what NYMT’s performers can achieve.

Just so joyful!

G Live, Guildford – until Saturday 15 August 2025

Reviewed by Rebecca Scott

4****

Well this production brought by the G Live Youth Project 2026 was full of family fun, and you certainly didn’t leave feeling green!

The original 2001 classic alternative fairytale from DreamWorks is vibrantly brought to the stage by a wonderful cast, ensemble and crew. For those who need a refresher, Shrek is a Scottish Ogre who is content living alone in his swamp. That is until he wakes up to find his home has been overtaken by a lot of fairytale characters, due to Lord Farquaad evicting them from his kingdom of Duloc.

To get his swamp back Shrek strikes a deal with Lord Farquaad. He must complete a hero’s quest, alongside the very chatty Donkey to rescue Princess Fiona from a tower…but just like any fairytale it isn’t plain sailing and there’s a few hiccups along the way!

The stage adaptation remains true to the film’s scenes and scripts, ensuring to keep the brilliant one liners audience know and love. I must praise the staging, costume, orchestra, set design and lighting. They really brought the scenes to life and gave the stage that magical feel.

The show incorporated all the characters we know and love. Ethan Kethero who played Shrek was the perfect choice for the role, and his side kick Donkey (Naru Sivaganeshamoorthy) was as animated as you’d expect! I must give a shout out to the brilliant Lord Farquaad (Jessie Scothern) who had brilliant comedic timing and stage presence, and Eliza Edworthy’s singing voice as Dragon was stunning!

There were times the scenes lacked a little energy, and at first, I didn’t think Shrek and Fiona (Olivia-Mai Stevens) had much chemistry, but this did change after they sang ‘I Think I Got You Beat’. Also, some of the transitions between scenes were a little slow. But this did not spoil the overall production at all. Some of the songs were so fun (especially This Is Our Story) where it teaches you that you are perfect the way you are, but some songs were a little lacklustre and not that memorable. My family loved when they sang ‘I’m a believer’ at the end, and you got to see the cast and ensemble have a little party.

I must point out that this is a youth production, of which the cast, crew and ensemble had two weeks to put together the musical – you would not have known! And even with the hiccup of the national emergency alert setting off phones, and the musical having to restart after 5 minutes in. The whole team handled it professionally, and I want to praise them for this.

You could tell every cast member loved being on that stage, and their dedication shone through, which in the end brought some wonderful fairy tale magic!

This is the moment you’ve waited for…

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

TO OPEN AT THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE

IN LONDON’S WEST END IN SPRING 2027

OLIVER TOMPSETT AND SAMANTHA BARKS LEAD THE COMPANY

AS P.T. BARNUM AND CHARITY BARNUM

FEATURING THE GRAMMY® AWARD-WINNING AND ACADEMY AWARD® NOMINATED MUSIC AND NEW SONGS BY BENJ PASEK AND JUSTIN PAUL

BOOK BY TIM FEDERLE

DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY CASEY NICHOLAW

Disney Theatrical Group today announces that, following its sell-out run at The Bristol Hippodrome earlier this year, their brand-new stage adaptation of The Greatest Showman, based on the 2017 smash-hit film, with songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul,book by Tim Federle and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw, will premiere at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in Spring 2027. The Greatest Showman continues DTG’s longstanding association with LW Theatres’ historic venue since it reopened following its extensive restoration completed in 2021.

The Greatest Showman stars Oliver Tompsett (P.T. Barnum), Samantha Barks (Charity Barnum), Ben Joyce (Phillip Carlyle), Vajèn van den Bosch (Jenny Lind) and Malinda Parris (Lettie Lutz). Further casting to be announced.

The musical will feature the GRAMMY® Award-winning and Academy Award®-nominated songs by EGOT winners Pasek and Paul(La La Land, Dear Evan Hansen), including “The Greatest Show,” “A Million Dreams,” “Come Alive,” “Rewrite the Stars,” “Never Enough” and the Golden Globe® Award-winning “This Is Me,” together with their brand-new songs written especially for the musical.

Based on the 20th Century Studios motion picture with story by Jenny Bicks, The Greatest Showman is the first 20th Century Studios (formerly 20th Century Fox) title to be adapted for the stage by Disney Theatrical Group. The Seelig Group, a producer of the original film, is also a producer of the musical.

Audiences are invited to learn more about The Greatest Showman and to sign-up for priority booking at www.thegreatestshowman.co.uk. Performance schedule and on sale dates will be announced in due course.

Anne Quart and Andrew Flatt forDisney Theatrical Group said today, “It’s rare for a new film musical to capture the world’s imagination in the way The Greatest Showman has – both for its story and record-breaking soundtrack. The piece is fearless in its emotion: open-hearted, exuberant, and unapologetically joyous, celebrating those considered outsiders and dreamers. While its storytelling draws on classic traditions, its score is unmistakably of today — bold, infectious songs that feel they were always destined for the stage.

“The show is born of a collaboration with an incredible group of artists. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul return with the songs audiences will know and love, alongside exhilarating new numbers created especially for the stage; Tim Federle’s book captures a heartfelt love of theatre and show business; and two-time Tony® Award-winning Casey Nicholaw directs an extraordinary cast led by the incomparable Oliver Tompsett and Samantha Barks.

“We’re thrilled to begin this next chapter in our long association with Theatre Royal Drury Lane – this feels like a very special homecoming.”

Completing the creative team are Alex Lacamoire (Music Supervision, Incidental & Dance Music Arrangements and Orchestrations), David Korins (Scenic Design), Gregg Barnes and Sky Switser (Costume Design); Natasha Katz (Lighting Design); Peter Hylenski (Sound Design), George Reeve (Video Design), Lorenzo Pisoni (Circus Creation & Design), Josh Marquette (Hair & Wig Design), Milagros Medina-Cerdeira (Make-Up Design), Jeremy Chernick (Special Effects Design), Skylar Fox (Illusions Design), Natalie Gallacher CDG for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting (Casting Director) and Keston & Keston (Children’s Casting Director & General Manager). Acrobat Casting by The 7 Fingers. Justin Paul is also providing Vocal and Incidental Music Arrangements.

Instagram: @thegreatestshowmanuk

Facebook: @greatestshowman

www.thegreatestshowman.co.uk

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

Songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

Book by Tim Federle

Based on the 20th Century Studios motion picture The Greatest Showman, with story by Jenny Bicks

Cast includes: Oliver Tompsett (P.T. Barnum), Samantha Barks (Charity Barnum), Ben Joyce (Phillip Carlyle), Vajèn van den Bosch (Jenny Lind) and Malinda Parris (Lettie Lutz)

Directed and Choreographed by: Casey Nicholaw; Music Supervision, Incidental & Dance Music Arrangements and Orchestrations: Alex Lacamoire; Vocal and Incidental Music Arrangements: Justin Paul; Scenic Design: David Korins; Costume Design: Gregg Barnes and Sky Switser; Lighting Design: Natasha Katz; Sound Design: Peter Hylenski; Video Design: George Reeve;  Circus Creation & Design: Lorenzo Pisoni; Hair & Wig Design: Josh Marquette;  Make-Up Design: Milagros Medina-Cerdeira; Special Effects Design: Jeremy Chernick; Illusions Design: Skylar Fox; Casting Director:  Natalie Gallacher CDG for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting; Children’s Casting Director & General Manager: Keston & Keston; Acrobat Casting: The 7 Fingers. 

Welcome to The Greatest Showman, where the ordinary is left behind and dreamers, outsiders, and trailblazers take centre stage.

A restless maverick refuses the life everyone expects of him. Determined to build the greatest show on earth, he brings together those the world never expected to shine, creating something far bigger than he ever imagined.

Featuring the songs that defined a generation and the story that captivated audiences around the world, this bold stage adaptation of The Greatest Showman invites you in to enjoy the pure joy of the live theatrical experience, where the unimaginable feels within reach.

From Spring 2027 London becomes home to The Greatest Showman. Featuring an acclaimed score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, Dear Evan Hansen), including “This Is Me”, “Rewrite the Stars”, “The Greatest Show” and “Never Enough”, and direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (Book of Mormon, Mean Girls), experience the story you know like never before. 

Oliver Tompsett plays P.T. Barnum. His theatre work includes A Knight’s Tale (Opera House Manchester), Ghost (Adelphi Theatre – concert), & Juliet (Broadway and Shaftesbury Theatre), Wild About You (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), In Dreams (Leeds Playhouse), Pretty Woman (Savoy Theatre), Kinky Boots (Adelphi Theatre), Starlight Express (The Other Palace), Guys and Dolls (Phoenix Theatre), The World Goes Round (St James Theatre), White Christmas (West Yorkshire Playhouse), We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre), Rock of Ages (Shaftesbury Theatre), Wicked (Apollo Victoria), The Royal Hunt of the Sun (National Theatre), Mamma Mia! (Prince of Wales Theatre), Kismet (Arcola Theatre), Over My Shoulder (Wyndhams’ Theatre), Our House (Cambridge Theatre), and West Side Story (Cannizaro Park). His film work includes Show Dogs and The Hard Way.

Samantha Barks plays Charity Barnum. For theatre, her work includes Les Misérables (Arena Tour, Queen’s Theatre), Live at the London Palladium (London Palladium), Frozen (Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and also filmed for Disney+), Chess (Umeda Arts Theater Main Hall / Tokyo International Forum Hall), Pretty Woman (Chicago and Broadway), The Last Five Years (St James Theatre), Amelie (Berkley Rep), City of Angels (Donmar Warehouse), Chicago (Hollywood Bowl), 24 Hour Plays (The BroadStage, California) Oliver! (UK tour), and Cabaret (Birmingham Rep). She was one of the participants on the BBC series I’d Do Anything and won the 2025 series of The Masked Singer. She was a judge on Mamma Mia! – I Have a Dream. For film, her credits include Tomorrow Morning, For Love or Money, Bitter Harvest, Interlude in Prague, The Christmas Candle and as Eponine in Les Misérables (recipient of Empire Award for Best Female Newcomer; and nomination for Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture). She also reprised her performance as Eponine for Les Misérables in Concert: The 25^th Anniversary.

Ben Joyce plays Phillip Carlyle. His theatre work includes The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Prince Edward Theatre – concert), Shucked (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Back to the Future (Adelphi Theatre – nominated for Best Takeover at the 2023 WhatsOnStage Awards), and Jersey Boys (Trafalgar Theatre – nominated for Best Performer in a Musical and Best West End Debut at the 2022 The Stage Debut). His television work includes The Power.

Vajèn van den Bosch plays Jenny Lind. Her theatre credits include Disney’s Frozen (AFAS Circustheater, Scheveningen – 2025 Dutch Musical Award for Best Leading Actress), Disney Musical TARZAN® (Stage Palladium Theater, Stuttgart), Les Misérables, Murder Ballad, Kinky Boots, Grease, The Sound of Music, Shrek (Dutch national tours), Wicked (Stage Theater Neue Flora, Hamburg), Cirque du Soleil Musical Paramour (Stage Theater Neue Flora, Hamburg), On Your Feet!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Beatrix Theater, Utrecht), Droomvlucht (Efteling Theater, Kaatsheuvel), and Disney’s Mary Poppins (AFAS Circustheater, Scheveningen). Her television work includes The Passion 2025, Nieuwe Tijden, Ghostrockers, Spangas, and The Voice Kids. She received the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award for ‘Favourite TV Star’ in 2017 (NL). For film, her work includes Eb, Bledders, Onze Jongens 3, First Kiss, Hart Beat, Spangas in Actie; and voice work includes Wicked: For Good, Wicked, Disney’s Moana 2, Disney’s Encanto, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, The Addams Family, Disney’s Moana, and Maya the Bee.

Malinda Parris plays Lettie Lutz. Her theatre credits include Hadestown (Lyric Theatre), Hercules (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), The Enormous Crocodile (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), The Little Big Things (sohoplace), & Juliet (Shaftesbury Theatre), Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre), Matilda (Cambridge Theatre, RSC), Aladdin (Lyric Hammersmith Theatre), Caroline, Or Change, The Light Princess (National Theatre), Anansi Trades Places (Shaw Theatre), Little Shop Of Horrors (New Wolsey Theatre), Parade (Donmar Warehouse). Her film credits include Wicked and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are known for their Oscar, Grammy, and Tony-winning work on La La Land, The Greatest Showman and Dear Evan Hansen, each of which spawned albums that landed in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200, including multiple weeks at #1 for The Greatest Showman, which in 2018 was the world’s best-selling album. In 2024, they achieved EGOT status with their first Emmy Award win for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for the song “Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It”, co-written with Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, for Hulu’s musical-themed third season of Only Murders in the Building, on which they also served as consulting producers. Their song “City of Stars” (co-written with Justin Hurwitz) from La La Land won the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Original Song, with “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” from the film also nominated for the Academy Award in the same category. They won their second Golden Globe for “This Is Me” (Academy Award and Grammy Award nominations) from The Greatest Showman, for which they also won the Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media. For their original musical Dear Evan Hansen — which won six Tony Awards including Best Musical — the duo received an Obie Award, a Drama Desk Award, an Olivier Award, a Grammy Award, and the Tony Award for Best Score. Their recent film and television credits include writing Sesame Street‘s heartwarming anthem “That’s Why We Love Nature”, performed by Brandi Carlile (2025 Children’s and Family Emmy Award), Apple’s original live-action musical Spirited, for which their song “Good Afternoon” was shortlisted for the Oscar for Best Original Song; a full song score for Sony’s live-action hybrid musical Lyle, Lyle Crocodile, with songs performed by Shawn Mendes; Disney’s live-action Aladdin, featuring the Oscar-shortlisted song “Speechless”, and Snow White; Dreamworks Animation’s Trolls; Amazon’s comedy series Harlem; Apple TV+’s Dear Edward; NBC’s Smash; The CW’s musical episode of The Flash; the Amazon concert documentary Pink: All I Know So Far (Grammy nomination for “All I Know So Far” co-written with Pink); and FX’s sports documentary television series, Welcome to Wrexham. Pasek and Paul also co-founded Ampersand, a media production company through which they produce theatrical, immersive, film, television and digital content, including the two-time Webby award-winning digital show Celebrity Substitute. Their other theatre work includes as co-producers for A Strange Loop (Tony Award for Best Musical, Pulitzer Prize for Drama), their Tony-nominated score for A Christmas Story, Dogfight (Lucille Lortel Award for Best New Musical), the children’s musical James and the Giant Peach and the popular song cycle Edges. Among their numerous honours, they became the youngest winners ever of the Jonathan Larson Award and the first writers for stage or screen to be honoured with the ASCAP Vanguard Award.

Tim Federle is an award-winning writer, director and producer whose career spans television, film, stage and publishing. He created and served as the showrunner of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series on Disney+, which earned fourteen Emmy® nominations, including Outstanding Teen Series. Federle wrote and directed the feature film Better Nate Than Ever, adapted from his debut novel, which brought him Emmy nominations for Outstanding Feature and Outstanding Screenplay, in addition to a Directors Guild of America nomination. He co-wrote both Ferdinand (Oscar® and Golden Globe nominations for Best Animated Feature, Humanitas Prize winner) and the libretto for Tuck Everlasting on Broadway. He began his career as a dancer, appearing in the original Broadway casts of Gypsy, directed by Sam Mendes, and Disney’s The Little Mermaid. As an author, he has published the best-selling cocktail recipe book of all time, Tequila Mockingbird, and a series of award-winning novels for young readers, which garnered New York Times Notable Book and Lambda Literary Award accolades. Federle is the creator of the forthcoming Disney+ series Coven Academy.

Casey Nicholaw is the Director and Choreographer. His production of Hercules is currently running at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and his production of Mean Girls is on UK tour following a run at the Savoy Theatre and previously was on Broadway for which he received Tony Award® nominations for Direction and Choreography. His other work in the West End includes Dreamgirls, The Book of Mormon (Olivier Award winner for Best Choreography), Aladdin and The Drowsy Chaperone. On Broadway, his productions include Some Like It Hot (2023 Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for Best Choreography), Disney’s Aladdin (2014 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle award nominations for Best Choreography) and co-director and choreographer of The Book of Mormon (2011 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for co-director and nominations in the same categories for choreography). His other Broadway credits include The Prom (2019 Tony nomination for Best Direction), Tuck Everlasting; Something Rotten! (2015 Tony nomination for Best Direction), Elf: The Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations), Monty Python’s Spamalot directed by Mike Nichols (2005 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for Best Choreography). Additional New York credits: for City Center Encores!, the highly acclaimed productions of The Most Happy Fella, Anyone Can Whistle and Follies (direction/choreography).

Royal Albert Hall, London – 11th August 2026

Reviewed by Celia Armand Smith

4****

The BBC Proms are such a special thing, but there is something about the Late Night Proms that feels extra exciting. Crowds of people heading into the Royal Albert Hall at 10:15 on a Tuesday Night buzzing with excitement. The programme for the evening featured 7 living composers and 2 living arrangers, and included a Tam-Tam solo and a beautiful excerpt from Morton Feldman’s Rothko Chapel. Conductor Tom Fetherstonhaugh guides us through the theme of “Listening” which may sound obvious for a Prom however we are taken on an unconventional mixtape adventure of sounds, music and movement.

Percussionist Evelyn Glennie and the Fantasia Orchestra are joined by the always amazing BBC Singers. John Coltrane’s Welcome kicks off proceedings followed by an upbeat and jazzy It Don’t Mean a Thing by Duke Ellington. Then it’s the turn of Héloïse Werner and a new piece called The Wood Pigeon commissioned by the BBC – a performance within a performance featuring Werner’s voice as if she was giving feedback at a rehearsal. I found this piece hardest to get on with but it was charming and different, and did in fact make you listen. It is then the turn of the Tam-Tam solo played by Evelyn Glennie. An unexpected and frankly gorgeous work of rattles, taps, and vibrations by Vincent Ho.

A beautifully intense excerpt from Morton Feldman’s otherworldly Rothko Chapel and a compelling acapella piece called Partita by Caroline Shaw sung by the BBC singers create an otherworldliness that is in contrast to the more classic Dvořák and Vaughan Williams that followed. What it demonstrated was the incredible range of the Fantasia Orchestra and the BBC Singers.

Surprisingly one of my favourite moments of the night was the rhythmic and melodic handpan piece by Evelyn Glennie called Orologeria aureola created with Philip Sheppard. Followed by an elegant and mesmerising arrangement Radiohead’s Pyramid Song and then finally Panda Chant II by Meredith Monk. The orchestra, the BSL interpreter, the singers and Evelyn Glennie were on their feet chanting and using their bodies for sound and movement to great effect. Special mention should go to BSL signer Sean Chandler who added another dimension to this listening project with his characterful and joyous interpretation of the music.

If listening is what they wanted, listening is what they got. Every piece was a surprise and each whimsical direction and decision was a delight and it is always so special to see and hear Evelyn Glennie perform. A peculiar and wonderful way to spend an evening.

Available to listen again on BBC Sounds.

FULL CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED

FOR THE UK PREMIERE OF ROMANTIC COMEDY

TABLE 17

PLAYING AT KILN THEATRE THIS AUTUMN

Kiln Theatre in association with Jamie Wilson Productions and Mark Cortale today announce the full cast and creative team for the UK premiere of Douglas Lyons’ hit play and romantic comedy Table 17, directed by 2026 Tony Award-winner Zhailon Levingston. The production runs at Kiln Theatre from 17 September – 24 October 2026 (Press Night: Thursday 24 September) following sold-out runs in New York and LA.

Jamael Westman (originated title role of Hamilton in the West End) takes on the role of Dallas and joins previously announced Olivier Award-nominee Marisha Wallace (Cabaret, Guys & Dolls)in her play debut as Jada, and Michael Rishawn (Ain’t No Mo’, Handjob)whoreprises his award-winning role as River/Eric. 

The full creative team includes Douglas Lyons (Writer), Zhailon Levingston (Director), Amy Jane Cook (Set & Costume Designer), Matt Haskins (Lighting Designer), George Dennis (Sound Designer), Nicholai La Barrie (Associate Director), Maybelle Laye (Costume Supervisor) and Dominique Hamilton (Wigs, Hair & Make-Up Supervisor).

Douglas Lyons, writer, said: “I am beyond excited for Table 17 to make its UK debut at the legendary Kiln Theatre with this dynamite cast, directed by my friend and recent Tony Award-winner Zhailon Levingston. After our sold-out NYC and Los Angeles engagements, we are building an all new production for British audiences. With personality and comedy chops all in their back pockets, this UK cast is not to be missed.”

Zhailon Levingston, director, said: “What a dream it is to bring this beautiful play to the Kiln. I’m So excited to lead a new configuration of cast members through the hilarious and poignantly romantic waters of Table 17. London, meet your new favorite threesome!”

Amit Sharma, Artistic Director and CEO of Kiln Theatre, said: “I’m totally thrilled to be bringing Douglas Lyons’ Table 17 to Kiln for its UK premiere, alongside our fantastic collaborative partners Mark Cortale and Jamie Wilson Productions. Table 17 is a brilliant night out – Marisha, Jamael and Michael are such a fabulous cast and they are going to have you absolutely howling with laughter. With the very brilliant director Zhailon Levingston at the helm, I honestly can’t wait for the first performance!”

A Kiln Theatre production in association with Jamie Wilson Productions and Mark Cortale

TABLE 17

by Douglas Lyons

directed by Zhailon Levingston

17 September – 24 October 2026

Two exes. One dinner. What could go wrong?

Would you go to dinner with your ex? The one you were engaged to, but haven’t spoken to in years? You’re over them – right?!

Jada and Dallas are hashing things out in this sharp, hilarious new comedy. Can they leave 7 years of baggage at the door to give their love a second chance? Is the spark even still there? Or will the weight of their past pull them apart before the night ends?

Following sold-out runs in New York and LA, Douglas Lyons’ (Chicken & Biscuits) award-winning play, directed by Zhailon Levingston (CATS The Jellicle Ball), makes its UK premiere at Kiln. Featuring Marisha Wallace as Jada, Jamael Westman as Dallas, and Michael Rishawn as River/Eric, get ready to give love a second chance this autumn.

CAST BIOGRAPHIES

Michael Rishawn | River/Eric

Michael Rishawn is an award-winning, classically trained actor whose work spans theatre, television, film, and voiceover. He is the recipient of a Lucille Lortel Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, and Drama Desk recognition. He appeared on Broadway in Ain’t No Mo’ and originated roles in Table 17 (MCC Theater, Geffen Playhouse) and Handjob (Echo Theater Company). Additional stage work includes performances with L’Alliance New York at Florence Gould Hall and at Carnegie Hall.

Screen credits include And Just Like That…, FBI: Most Wanted, Raising Dion, Survival of the Thickest, Bunk’d and Crutch. He received classical theatre training in England as part of his formation at The Hartt School, trained at Shakespeare Theatre Company of DC under Michael Kahn, and holds an M.F.A. from UC San Diego.

Marisha Wallace | Jada

Marisha is a double-Olivier nominated actress and singer, hailing from North Carolina, USA. Her most recent credits include starring in Something Rotten! at the Manchester Opera House. In 2025, she returned to Broadway to take on the role of Sally Bowles in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club – her performance was featured as one of the 16 best theatre moments of 2025 by the New York Times. She is double Olivier Award nominee for her work in Guys and Dolls (directed by Sir Nick Hytner – for which she was also nominated for an Evening Standard Award) and Oklahoma! (Young Vic Theatre).

Later this year, Marisha will be headlining a sold-out set of concerts at the world-famous Jazz Club, Ronnie Scott’s. 

Theatre credits include Bea in Something Rotten! (Manchester Opera House), Sally Bowles in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, Broadway & the West End, Miss Adelaide in Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre, where she was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, Ado Annie in Oklahoma! at the Young Vic where she was nominated for WhatsOnStage, Evening Standard and Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, Becky in Waitress (Adelphi Theatre), Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray (Coliseum), Effie in Dreamgirls (Savoy Theatre), Aladdin (Broadway), and Something Rotten (Broadway).

Television/Film credits include Feel Good (Netflix), Jingle Jangle (Netflix), Almost Never (CBBC), and Aladdin (Disney).

Music credits: Marisha is an international singer-songwriter.  She frequently collaborates on new music with songwriting legends Toby Gad (Beyoncé, John Legend) and Steve Anderson (Kylie Minogue). TV appearances include Royal Variety Show, Strictly Come Dancing, The Festival of Remembrance, and Dancing on Ice.

Instagram/X/TikTok – @MarishaWallace

Jamael Westman | Dallas

Theatre credits include An Ideal Husband (Lyric Hammersmith & Bristol Old Vic), Wolves on Road (Bush Theatre), London Tide (National Theatre), Imposter 22 (The Royal Court), Patriots (Almeida Theatre), Hamilton Eliza Tour (Pantages Theatre-LA), The Lorax (The Old Vic), Hamilton (Victoria Palace Theatre, West End), The White Devil (Shakespeare’s Globe), and Torn (Royal Court Theatre).

Film credits include Star Wars: Star Fighter, Hedda, Good Grief, Munch, and Animals.

Television credits include The Witcher, Get Millie Black, The Essex Serpent, Anne Boleyn, and BBW.

CREATIVE TEAM BIOGRAPHIES

Douglas Lyons | Writer
Douglas Lyons is a GLAAD, NAACP and Emmy nominated writer, an Audelco award-winning playwright, actor, and composer whose work has spanned Television, Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Film. Douglas served as a writer and composer on Apple TV’s Fraggle Rock. His Broadway playwriting debut Chicken and Biscuits was the 2nd most produced play in the U.S. in 2022-23. His other theatrical works include the Off Broadway hit: Beau, the Lucille Lortell award-winning Table 17, Don’t Touch My Hair, Polkadots, Five Points, Pure Glitter, and Mother. Daughter. Father. Son. Douglas’ Broadway acting credits include Beautiful, the Tony award-winning revival of Parade and the Book of Mormon. He is currently developing television with SkyDance and Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort as well as writing the script for the stage adaption of the Warner Brothers animated classic Happy Feet. 

Zhailon Levingston | Director

Zhailon Levingston is a 2026 Tony Award nominee for Outstanding Direction of a Musical for co-directing the NY Times critics pick and hit revival of Cats: The Jellicle Ball, an immersive reimagining of the classic musical that first premiered in 2024 at NYC Perelman Arts Center. The production earned Levingston an Obie Award (co-Directing), as well as Drama Desk, Drama League x 2 and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations for Outstanding Direction of a Musical. Now playing on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theater, Cats: The Jellicle Ball has received 9 Tony Award nominations, including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Direction of a Musical for Zhailon alongside co-director Bill Rauch.

Zhailon’s first “Broadway” job was selling tickets to Broadway shows in Times Square. In 2017, he sold concessions for multiple Broadway theatres. At 27 years old, he became the youngest Black director in Broadway history, directing the Broadway production of Chicken and Biscuits. His other directing credits include Wonderful Town at New York City Center Encores; Reconstructing at Brooklyn Academy of Music (co-directed with Rachel Chavkin); Little Miss Perfect (Olney Theatre Center); Patience at Second Stage Theatre; and Table 17 at MCC Theater (Lortel Award nominee for Outstanding Direction) and Los Angeles’ Geffen Playhouse (NAACP Theater Award nominee for Best Director of a stage play).

Levingston is the board chair of the Broadway Advocacy Coalition, Artistic Director of Inheritance Theatre Project, and co- created a ‘Theatre of Change’ course at Columbia University School of Law that is still being taught today. Once a year he returns to his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana to direct theatre as a way to stay connected to his roots.

Kiln Theatre Listings

269 Kilburn High Road, London, NW6 7JR

Box Office: 020 7328 1000

www.KilnTheatre.com

KILBURN HIGH ROAD FESTIVAL (until 15 August 2026):

–        CAPTURING KILBURN – OUTDOOR INSTALLATION

31 July – 15 August 2026, 11am-6pm, dependent on business opening hours

Tickets:                               Free, no ticket needed

–        PASSAGES: THIS ROAD

31 July – 15 August, Every hour, 1pm – 7pm

Tickets:                               Free, ticketed

–        PASSAGES: MEET ME HERE

11 – 15 August, 1.30pm, 3pm, 5.30pm & 7pm

Tickets:                               From £5

–        THE HIGH ROAD: UNFRAMED – OUTDOOR INSTALLATION

31 July – 15 August 2026, 11am – 6pm

Tickets:                               Free, no ticket needed

–        KILN CINEMA: BABYMOTHER

13 August, 8pm

Tickets:                               £5 – £10

TABLE 17

17 September – 24 October 2026

Tickets:                               £15 – £45

Access performances:

Audio Described               22 October, 7.30pm, preceded by a Touch Tour

Captioned                           8 October, 7.30pm

Relaxed                               14 October, 2.30pm

Special performances:

Alcohol Free                      5 October, 7.30pm

Post show Q&A                 1 October, 7.30pm

NINE NIGHT

12 November – 19 December

Tickets:                               £15 – £45

Access performances:

Audio Described               17 December, 7.30pm, preceded by a Touch Tour

Captioned                           3 December, 7.30pm

Relaxed                               12 December, 2.30pm

Special performances:

Alcohol Free                      23 November, 7.30pm

Post show Q&A                 1 December, 7.30pm

Schools                                9 December, 1.30pm

BERLIN

10 March – 17 April 2017

Tickets:                               £15 – £45

Access performances:

Audio Described               15 April, 7.30pm, preceded by a Touch Tour

Captioned                           1 April, 7.30pm

Relaxed                               7 April, 2.30pm

Special performances:

Alcohol Free                      22 March, 7.30pm

Post show Q&A                 25 March, 7.30pm

There is a 25% Multibuy Season Discount when booking tickets for more than one show this season, excluding All The Things We Can’t Explain.

SHEER LUCK HOLMES

BRAND-NEW COMEDY MURDER MYSTERY FROM THE TEAM BEHIND FAULTY TOWERS THE DINING EXPERIENCE EMBARKS ON UK NATIONAL TOUR THIS OCTOBER

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Following years of delighting audiences with the Faulty Towers The Dining Experience, Interactive Theatre International is bringing a brand-new immersive dining experience to the UK this October. Sheer Luck Holmes – The Case of the Floating Fiancée, created by Kat Mary Productions in collaboration with Interactive Theatre International, will visit Chatham, Oxford, Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent for a series of strictly limited performances.

Part immersive theatre, part murder mystery and entirely ridiculous, Sheer Luck Holmes invites audiences to join Holmes, Watson and Mrs Hudson as they attempt to recreate one of the great detective’s most recent cases. There is just one problem: Watson and Mrs Hudson are not exactly seasoned actors. Expect outrageous characters, theatrical disasters, slapstick mayhem, missed cues, questionable accents and enough mishaps to make Holmes question his own powers of deduction.

Alongside a delicious three-course meal, guests will be challenged to solve the shocking murder of the young heiress Miss Tessa Lowe, found dead on the eve of her wedding. Was it the jealous cousin? The philandering groom? The embittered housekeeper? Or the love-struck suitor? Will you use your powers of deduction and catch the killer, or will it be down to sheer luck?

The 2026 tour will visit the Bridgewood Manor Hotel & Spa, Chatham (Tuesday 13th October), Hawkwell House Hotel, Oxford (Wednesday 14th October), Birmingham Council House (Thursday 15th and Friday 16th October), and DoubleTree by Hilton, Stoke-on-Trent (Saturday 17th October). All performances begin at 7.30pm with doors opening at 7pm. Tickets include a three-course meal and two-hour interactive show.

The cast features Jonathon Saunders as Holmes, Rafe Moon as Watson, and Kat Mary as Mrs Hudson.

The production has been created by writer, performer and producer Kat Mary, Artistic Director of Kat Mary Productions and a long-standing performer with Interactive Theatre International. Known for playing Sybil in Faulty Towers The Dining Experience amongst other acting credits, Kat has crafted a fast-paced theatrical experience inspired by classic British comedy and the enduring appeal of Sherlock Holmes.

Kat also has a family connection to the famous detective. Her great-grandfather, playwright J.E. Harold Terry, co-wrote The Return of Sherlock Holmes, which opened at London’s Prince’s Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue in 1923 and ran for 130 performances. The production starred renowned Holmes actor Eille Norwood and was performed with the personal blessing of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself.

Kat Mary said, “Sherlock Holmes has always been part of my family story, so creating a comedy murder mystery around the character felt like a natural fit. I wanted to combine my love of immersive theatre, audience interaction and classic British comedy to create something that feels both familiar and completely unexpected. This isn’t your standard murder mystery evening. It’s a fully-fledged comedy show that has already toured extensively throughout the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands, with upcoming performances in Canada and Sweden. It’s packed with theatrical chaos, larger-than-life characters and plenty of opportunities for audiences to get involved. If you’ve enjoyed the chaos of Faulty Towers The Dining Experience, you’re sure to love the mayhem of Sheer Luck Holmes. Fans of The Play That Goes Wrong, Mel Brooks, The Naked Gun and classic British farce will find plenty to enjoy in this delightfully daft murder mystery.”

Jared Harford, Executive Producer of Interactive Theatre International added, “If you’ve ever been to Faulty Towers The Dining Experience, you’ll know there is nothing quite like the energy in the room when an audience is fully invested in the chaos happening around them. Sheer Luck Holmes delivers exactly that — from the moment you sit down, you are part of the story. A genuinely funny, completely unpredictable and utterly brilliant, and we cannot wait for audiences across the UK to get their hands on it this October.”

The show is produced in collaboration with Interactive Theatre International, the company behind Faulty Towers The Dining Experience – the multi award-winning immersive dining phenomenon which has appeared in 43 countries and welcomed over a million guests since 2008.

Tour dates and venues: 

• Tuesday 13th October — Bridgewood Manor Hotel & Spa, Chatham, Kent, ME5 9AX — Tickets £58pp

• Wednesday 14th October — Hawkwell House Hotel, Oxford, OX4 4DZ — Tickets £56pp

• Thursday 15th October — Birmingham Council House, Victoria Square, B1 1BB — Tickets £56pp

• Friday 16th October — Birmingham Council House, Victoria Square, B1 1BB — Tickets £56pp

• Saturday 17th October — DoubleTree by Hilton, Stoke-on-Trent — Tickets £58pp

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR 

WEST END TRANSFER OF 

OLIVIER AWARD WINNING, CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED SMASH-HIT

INTO THE WOODS

Jamie Wilson Productions, Alchemation and New Ventures Entertainment today announce the full cast for the West End transfer of multi-award-winning Bridge Theatre production of Into The Woods. Sondheim and Lapine’s iconic production marks the first West End transfer for The Bridge Theatre and the first time Into The Woods has been in the West End since 1991. Jordan Fein’s production opens at the Noël Coward Theatre, a Delfont Mackintosh Theatre, on 7 October 2026, with previews from 22 September, running until 9 January 2027. 

Simbi Akande (Cinderella), John Dagleish (Baker), Fiona Finsbury (Rapunzel), Lucas Koch (Rapunzel’s Prince), Laura Pitt-Pulford (Baker’s Wife), Jack Quarton (Steward), Keith Ramsay (Jack), Matthew Seadon-Young (Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf), and Michael S. Siegel (Narrator) join the previously announced Valda Aviks (Grandmother/Giant), Geoffrey Aymer (Cinderella’s Father), Kate Fleetwood (The Witch), Jennifer Hepburn (Cinderella’s Stepmother and Alternate Witch), Hana Ichijo (Lucinda), Julie Jupp (Jack’s Mother), Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson (Florinda) and Gracie McGonigal (Little Red Ridinghood), with Hollie Aires, Sabrina Aloueche, Jacob Fowler, Adam Robert Lewis, Sophie Linder-Lee, Toby Turpin, and Elsie Watson as Standbys.

The production opened late last year at the Bridge Theatre, going on to win Best Ensemble or Cast and Best Designer at the Critics’ Circle Awards, and Best Musical Revival and Best Lighting Design at the Olivier Awards.

Producer Jamie Wilson said today, “We have been blown away by the public reaction to the West End transfer of Into The Woods. With the cast who have joined this transfer and those who have been with the production since 2025, we have a phenomenal group of performers. Having won multiple Olivier Awards, over the last months we have enjoyed collaborating on how we adapt the Bridge Theatre production into its new life at one of the West Ends most beautiful playhouses, the Noël Coward Theatre.”

For tickets, please visit intothewoodsonstage.com

intothewoodsonstage.com

@intothewoodsonstage

Jamie Wilson Productions, Alchemation and New Ventures Entertainment

The Bridge Theatre Production of

INTO THE WOODS

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and Book by James Lapine

Cast: Simbi Akande (Cinderella), Valda Aviks, (Grandmother/Giant), Geoffrey Aymer (Cinderella’s Father), John Dagleish (Baker), Fiona Finsbury (Rapunzel), Kate Fleetwood (The Witch), Jennifer Hepburn (Cinderella’s Stepmother and Alternate Witch), Hana Ichijo (Lucinda), Julie Jupp (Jack’s Mother), Lucas Koch (Rapunzel’s Prince), Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson (Florinda), Gracie McGonigal (Little Red Ridinghood), Laura Pitt-Pulford (Baker’s Wife), Jack Quarton (Steward), Keith Ramsay (Jack), Matthew Seadon-Young (Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf), Michael S. Siegel (Narrator), and Hollie Aires, Sabrina Aloueche, Jacob Fowler, Adam Robert Lewis, Sophie Linder-Lee, Toby Turpin, and Elsie Watson as Standbys. 

Director: Jordan Fein; Set and Costume Designer: Tom Scutt; Musical Supervisor: Mark Aspinall; Orchestrations by: Jonathan Tunick; Sound Designer: Adam Fisher; Lighting Designer: Aideen Malone; Video Designer: Roland Horvath; Movement Director: Jenny Ogilvie; Wigs, Hair & Make-Up Designer: Sam Cox; Puppetry Design: Cheryl ‘Chuck’ Brown, Max Humphries & Tom Scutt; Musical Director: Alex Beetschen; Casting Director: Stuart Burt CDG CSA; Production Manager: Chris Hay; Associate Director: Georgia Green; Scenic Associate: David Allen; Associate Musical Director: Cat Beveridge; Associate Sound Designer: Ollie Durrant; Associate Lighting Designer: Lucy Adams; Associate Costume Designer: Lucy Martin; Associate Video Designer: Hayley Egan; Wigs, Hair & Make-Up Supervisor: Charlie Watson; Costume Supervisor: Lydia McDonald; Props Supervisors: Jonathan Hall & Chris Marcus for Marcus Hall Props; Orchestral Management: Andy Barnwell & Rich Weeden for BW Musicians Resident Director: Anna Marsland, Associate Movement Director: Anjali Mehra 

Noël Coward Theatre 22 September 2026 – 9 January 2027

Why would you go into the woods?

To sell the cow

To visit mother

To see the king

To lift the spell

In Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s dazzling musical, the Baker, the Baker’s Wife, the Witch, Jack, Little Red Ridinghood, Cinderella and Rapunzel take us beyond happy ever after to discover what really matters.

Sondheim and Lapine’s second collaboration after Sunday in the Park with George brilliantly weaves together four Grimms’ fairy tales. On its Broadway debut in 1986, Into The Woods won Tony Awards each for Sondheim (Best Original Score) and Lapine (Best Book). In London it has had productions by Richard Jones (Phoenix Theatre, 1990), John Crowley (Donmar, 1998) and Timothy Sheader (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, 2010). This is its first major London production since 2016 and its first West End production in 30 years.

Simbi Akande plays Cinderella. Her theatre credits include Hamilton (Victoria Palace Theatre), My Fair Lady (The Mill at Sonning Theatre), A Marvellous Party: A Charity Gala in Celebration of Noël Coward (Prince of Wales Theatre), Mother Goose (Duke of York Theatre, UK tour), The Great British Bake Off Musical (Noël Coward Theatre), The Prince of Egypt, A Christmas Carol (Dominion Theatre), The Light in the Piazza (Royal Festival Hall, LA Opera), Violet the Musical (Charing Cross Theatre), Putting It Together (Hope Mill Theatre), Company (Aberdeen Arts Centre), Fiddler on the Roof (Chichester Festival Theatre), Ghost the Musical (UK tour), and Show Boat (Gillian Lynne Theatre).

Valda Aviks returns as Grandmother/Giant. Her theatre credits include The Addams Family (UK Tour), On The Twentieth Century (Union Theatre), Into the Woods (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), The Full Monty (English Theatre, Frankfurt), Mary Poppins (UK Tour), Blithe Spirit (English Theatre, Vienna), Caroline or Change, Jerry Springer: The Opera (National Theatre), The Witches of Eastwick (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), When Florence met Isadora (Rosemary Branch Theatre), Beauty and the Beast (Dominion Theatre), Oliver! (London Palladium), Sweeney Todd (Curve, Leicester), The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre), Les Miserables (Palace Theatre), and Cats (New London Theatre). Her screen credits include Doctor Who, Bad Penny, Little Britain, Words of Love, and Nightbreed. 

Geoffrey Aymer returns as Cinderella’s Father. His theatre credits include Hamlet, The Taxidermist’s Daughter (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Crucible (Sheffield Theatres), Romeo and Juliet (Royal Exchange Theatre), The Wizard of Oz (Curve, Leicester and London Palladium), Clutch (Bush Theatre), Jitney (The Old Vic, Headlong, Leeds Playhouse), The Color Purple (Curve, Leicester Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Young Vic), To Kill a Mockingbird (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Barbican), The Lightning Child, and Macbeth (Shakespeare’s Globe). His screen credits include Mr Winner, Guerrilla, Club Class, The A Force, The Real McCoy, Ragtag, Sket, and Wicked. 

John Dagleish plays Baker. His theatre credits include The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Ambassadors Theatre), Spike (The Watermill Theatre), Cratchit (Park Theatre), Sylvia (The Old Vic), Common (National Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Young Vic), The Winter’s Tale/ Harlequinade (Garrick Theatre), Sunny Afternoon (Harold Pinter Theatre, Hamstead Theatre), and The Mother (Royal Court Theatre). His television credits include Legacy of Spies, 3 Body Problem, Sexy Beast, The Third Day, The Bisexual, The Moorside, The Last Dragon Slayer, Silent Witness, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Siblings, Truckers, Beaver Falls, Henry V, Starlings, Lark Rise to Candleford, and Any Human Heart; and for film, Elsinore, The Scurry, The Little Mermaid, Matilda the Musical, The Gentlemen, Judy, All is True, Farming, Christopher Robin, Mary Poppins Returns, Justice League, The Monuments Men, Age of Heroes, Frankie Teardrop, and The Priest. 

Fiona Finsbury plays Rapunzel. Her theatre credits include The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre), The Secret Garden (The King’s Head Theatre), The Merry Widow, La Voix Humaine, La Donna Del Lago, Viva La Diva, The Dancing Master (Buxton International Festival), The Mikado, Cinderella’23 (UK tours), Trail by Jury (Opera Holland Park), Hansel and Gretel, Lambs (Royal Ballet and Opera), Ainadamar (Welsh National Opera), Tosca (Trafalgar Studios), The Young Ones (Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch), and The Comedy of Errors (The English Theatre of Hamburg). Her television credits Victoria; and for film, Dead for Life. 

Kate Fleetwood returns as the Witch. Her theatre work includes My Master Builder (Wyndham’s Theatre), A View From the Bridge (Theatre Royal Haymarket), 101 Dalmatians (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Absolute Hell, Ugly Lies the Bone, King Lear, London Road – Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical, Love’s Labour’s Lost (National Theatre), Bug (Found111), Medea (Almeida Theatre), High Society (The Old Vic), Life is a Dream, Hecuba (Donmar Warehouse), Macbeth – Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Chichester Festival Theatre, Gielgud Theatre, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Broadway), Twelfth Night (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Winter’s Tale, Pericles (RSC), Othello (Northampton Theatre Royal), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bristol Old Vic). For television, her work includes Big Mood, Mary and George, Rain Dogs, The Wheel of Time, Fate: The Winx Club Saga, Brave New World, Victoria, Harlots, War and Peace, The People Next Door, The Widower, Way to Go, Touch of Cloth, Sarah Jane Adventures, Hustle and After Thomas; and for film, Scoop, Choose or Die, Beirut, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, London Road, Philomena, Les Miserables, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Macbeth, The Golden Age, 77 Beds, Vanity Fair, A Changed Man and Beautiful People. 

Jennifer Hepburn returns as Cinderella’s Stepmother and Alternate Witch. Her theatre credits include The Buccaneer (Finborough Theatre), Moonshadow (Anders Albien/Chris Nightingale), Jekyll and Hyde (UK tour), Opening Night (Gielgud Theatre), Mamma Mia! (Novello Theatre), Corbyn: The Musical (Waterloo East), Van Winkle: A Folk Musical (SimG), Taboo (End of the Pier Productions), A Tale of Two Cities (Upstairs at the Gatehouse), Anything Goes (New York City), Les Miserables (Queens Theatre), and Cats 25^th Anniversary Tour (Live Nation). 

Hana Ichijo returns as Lucinda. Her theatre credits include The Baker’s Wife, The Producers (Menier Chocolate Factory), The Sound of Music (Chichester Festival Theatre), George Takei’s Allegiance (Charing Cross Theatre), A Christmas Carol (The Old Vic), Anyone Can Whistle (Southwark Playhouse), Little Women (Park Theatre), and The Pirate Queen (London Coliseum). 

Julie Jupp returns as Jack’s Mother. Her theatre credits include A Christmas Carol, The American Clock, Groundhog Day (The Old Vic), La Cage Aux Folles (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Jack and the Beanstalk (Hackney Empire), Man of La Mancha (English National Opera), Thor+Loki (Vicky Graham Productions), Urinetown (St James Theatre/Apollo Theatre), Richard III (Trafalgar Studios), Merrily We Roll Along (Harold Pinter Theatre), Finding Neverland (Curve, Leicester), and Road Show (Menier Chocolate Factory). For television, her credits include Silent Witness, Unforgotten, Friday Night Dinner, and Serious & Organised.

Lucas Koch plays Rapunzel’s Prince. His theatre credits Cabaret (Playhouse Theatre), Evita (The London Palladium), My Fair Lady (Leicester Curve), Kiss Me Kate (Barbican), Choir of Man (New Wimbledon Theatre), Crazy for You (Gillian Lynne Theatre), and Million Dollar Quartet (Barn Theatre). 

Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson returns as Florinda. Her theatre credits include Dorian: The Musical (Southwark Playhouse), Identical (Nottingham Playhouse, The Lowry, Salford), Pippin (Charing Cross Theatre), The Boy Friend (Menier Chocolate Factory), 42^nd Street (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), and Billy Elliot: The Musical (Victoria Palace). Her film credits include Cats. 

Gracie McGonigal returns as Little Red Ridinghood. Her theatre credits include The Little Foxes (Young Vic), Fangirls (Lyric Hammersmith), The Phase (VAULT Festival), The Little Big Things (@sohoplace), The Crucible (National Theatre, Gielgud Theatre), Cinderella (Theatre Royal Stratford East), and Aladdin (Lyric Hammersmith).  For television, her credits include The Power, Father Brown, and Bridgerton – as series regular Hazel.

Laura Pitt-Pulford plays Baker’s Wife. Her theatre credits include Standing at the Sky’s Edge, The Light Princess (National Theatre), Gypsy – A Musical Fable In Concert (Alexandra Palace), Falsettos (The Other Palace), Little Miss Sunshine (Arcola Theatre), Flowers for Mrs Harris (Sheffield Crucible, Chichester Festival Theatre), The Gronholm Method, Barnum (Menier Chocolate Factory), Nell Gwynn (Shakespeare’s Globe, UK tour), Platinum (Hampstead Theatre), Side Show, Mack & Mabel, Parade (Southwark Playhouse), Oliver!, The Sound of Music (Leicester Curve), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Follies in Concert (Royal Albert Hall), Marry Me a Little (St James Studio), Guys and Dolls (UK tour), Aspects of Love (Lyric Theatre), The Witches of Eastwick in Concert (Sondheim Theatre), A Little Night Music in Concert (Palace Theatre), and Sunset Boulevard (Savoy Theatre). Her television credits include Mallory Towers, Unforgotten, The Split, Free Rein, and Father Brown. 

Jack Quarton returns to play Steward. His theatre credits include A Christmas Carol, Song of the Scythe (Claybody Theatre), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Ambassadors Theatre, Southwark Playhouse), Much Ado About Nothing, The Wicker Husband (Watermill Theatre), Amélie The Musical  (Criterion Theatre), Assassins (Watermill Theatre, Nottingham Playhouse), Coram Boy, Wonderland (Nottingham Playhouse), Hansel amd Gretel, Great Expectations, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland (Derby Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing, Swallows and Amazons, The Tempest (Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre), On The Mend (Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham), Ovid’s Metamorphoses (VAULT Festival, The Crescent), An August Bank Holiday (Northern Broadsides), Punk Rock (Liverpool Actors Studio), and The Master & Margarita (Unity Theatre, Liverpool); and for film, Peterloo.

Keith Ramsay plays Jack. His theatre includes The Play That Goes Wrong (Duchess Theatre), All About Her (Soho Theatre), Young Frankenstein (English Theatre, Frankfurt), Preludes (Southwark Playhouse), Amour (Charing Cross Theatre), The Cereal Cafe (The Other Place), Portia Coughlan (Old Red Lion Theatre), Julius Caesar, Doctor Scroggy’s War (RSC), Lost in Yonkers (Watford Palace Theatre), Billy (Union Theatre), and Peter Pan (Darlington Civic Theatre). His television credits include Shetland, The Awkward Age, Pistol, and New Tricks.

Matthew Seadon-Young plays Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf. His theatre credits include Shucked (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), The Baker’s Wife (Menier Chocolate Factory), Rockets and Blue Lights (Royal Exchange, National Theatre), Death of a Salesman (Young Vic, Piccadilly Theatre), Company (Gielgud Theatre), Assassins (Gate Theatre, Dublin), Big Fish (The Other Palace), Beautiful : The Carole King Musical (Aldwych Theatre), Billy Elliot the Musical (Victoria Palace), Sweeney Todd (London Coliseum), Urinetown: The Musical (The Other Palace, Apollo Theatre), The School for Scandal (Theatre Royal Bath), She Stoops to Conquer (National Theatre), and Les Misérables (Queen’s Theatre); and for film, Les Misérables and Pride.

Michael S. Siegel plays Narrator. His theatre credits include Fidler on the Roof (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Barbican, UK tour), The Finellis Musical (Wonderville London), Gypsy (Royal Exchange Manchester), Rags the Musical and An Evening with Stephen Schwartz (Hope Mill Theatre). His television credits include Silo, Lockerbie: A Search for Truth, Foundation, Hapless, The Search, The Power, Portal, Where There’s a Will, Comedy Club, Thirtysomething, Arsenio, and Santa Barbara; and for film, Back to Black, Monsternado, In a Perfect World, Love Unemployed, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Far Out Man, Three Fugitives, and Killer Klowns From Outer Space. 

Hollie Aires is Standby. Her theatre credits include Les Misérables (Sondheim Theatre), Phantom of the Opera (His Majesty’s Theatre), Starlight Express (Bochum, Germany), and Unmasked (The Other Palace).

Sabrina Aloueche is Standby. Her television credits include Her (National Theatre), Les Misérables (Sondheim Theatre), We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre),Starlight Express (The Other Palace), Brooklyn the Musical (Greenwich Theatre), Chess (London Coliseum), Rent (The Cockpit), The Great American Trailer Park the Musical (Edinburgh Festival Fringe).

Jacob Fowler returns as Standby. His theatre credits include The Addams Family (UK Tour), Heathers the Musical (UK Tour, The Other Palace), [title of show], Before After (Southwark Playhouse), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Hope Mill Theatre), Dreamboats and Petticoats: Bringing on Back the Good Times (UK Tour),  Vanara (Hackney Empire) and In Pieces (Turbine Theatre). Concert credits include his New York debut solo show Jacob Fowler: Direct From London (The Green Room 42), Cool Rider (London Palladium), Comparing Notes with Edward Seckerson, Jacob Fowler: Intimate and Live, Scott Alan (Crazy Coqs), Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize (Hackney Empire) and Kings of Broadway (Palace Theatre). His television credits include in 2020, Jacob won the BBC One show Little Mix: The Search with his band Since September. The band subsequently supported Little Mix on their sold-out 2022 UK arena tour, Confetti, and released three singles.

Adam Robert Lewis is Standby. His theatre credits include Les Misérables (International tour, Sondheim Theatre), Kin (Theatro Technis), Passion (Hope Mill Theatre), The Phantom of the Opera (His Majesty’s Theatre), Three Phantoms in Concert (Cardiff City Hall), and Movies to Musicals (Glasgow City Halls). His television credits include The Crown; and for film, Dream Hackers, The Magical World of Miracles, and White Island. 

Sophie Linder-Lee returns as Standby. Her theatre credits include Muriel’s Wedding (Curve), Magic Mike Live (Hippodrome), Biography Girl (Finborough Theatre), Big Fish (Other Palace), Rocky Horror Show (UK Tour, Playhouse Theatre), Wicked (Apollo Victoria), Silence the Musical (Barons Court Theatre) and Mamma Mia! (Prince of Wales). TV credits include Royal Variety Performance, Dancer in The Slammer and Top of the Pops. Recordings include Voiceover in Magic Mike Live TV/Radio Commercials and Vocalist in Don’t Stop Believing (UK tour).

Toby Turpin is Standby. His theatre credits include Fiddler on the Roof (Barbican, UK tour), Cabaret (Playhouse Theatre), and The Malcontent (Shakespeare’s Globe).

Elsie Watson is Standby. Her theatre credits include Legally Blonde (Edinburgh Festival Fringe). 

Into The Woods

Listings

Noël Coward Theatre, 85-88 St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4AP

22 September 2026 – 9 January 2027

Box Office: delfontmackintosh.co.uk / 0344 482 5151

Access booking on 0344 482 5137 (lines open Monday to Saturday 10am – 7.30pm)

Access Performances:

Audio Described Performance: Friday 9 October 2026 7.30pm

Captioned Performance: Monday 9 November 7.30pm

intothewoodsonstage.com

TikTok: @intothewoodsonstage | tiktok.com/@intothewoodsonstage

Instagram: @intothewoodsonstage | instagram.com/intothewoodsonstage/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/IntoTheWoodsOnStage

Tickets from £15

DATE AND VENUE CONFIRMED FOR THE 27TH ANNUAL WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS

IN ASSOCIATION WITH AUDIENCEVIEW

WhatsOnStage today announces that the ceremony for the 27th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards, in association with AudienceView, will return to The London Palladium for the fourth year in 2027.

Taking place at 6.30pm on Sunday 28 February 2027, the evening will see winners crowned across a variety of categories. Theatregoers can expect a starry line-up of exclusive live performances from leading stage talent.

Now in their 27th year, the WhatsOnStage Awards are the only major theatre awards decided by the theatregoers themselves. 

WhatsOnStage’s Darius Thompson and Alex Wood said today: “We’re overjoyed to be returning to The London Palladium for a fourth year. We’ve already seen so many blockbuster productions across this eligibility period, with UK theatre once again proving it’s a vibrant, evolving ecosystem that wows audiences up and down the country. We’re so delighted to be offering not only a platform for ticket holders to celebrate their favourite shows, but to highlight the incredible work being done by creatives – be they casting directors, WHAM designers or those taking to the stage night after night. Bring on 28 February!”

Tickets go on sale in September. Sign up to WhatsOnStage’s newsletters for the latest updates.

Nominations will open at a later date, with further information to be announced shortly.

The event is supported by a wide range of partners across the theatre industry and beyond, including platinum sponsors Disney Theatrical, Preevue, AudienceView, and White Light, alongside The Londoner (Official Hotel Partner), AKA, Concord, Dewynters, Go Live Theatre, ROYO, SINE Digital, Studio Twenty, Theatrical Rights Worldwide, Ticketmaster, Trafalgar Entertainment and Travelzoo.

www.whatsonstage.com/guide/the-whatsonstage-awards/

lwtheatres.co.uk 

Twitter: @WhatsOnStage #WOSAwards
Instagram and TikTok: @WhatsOnStage

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR CURVE’S PRODUCTION OF

WILLY RUSSELL’S EDUCATING RITA ALEXANDRA MARDELL AS RITA DOMINIC MAFHAM AS FRANK

DIRECTED BY CARA NOLAN

PLAYING IN CURVE’S STUDIO THEATRE 26 SEPTEMBER – 17 OCTOBER

Leicester’s Curve theatre has today announced casting for its upcoming Made at Curve production of Willy Russell’s drama EDUCATING RITA, running in Curve’s Studio Theatre from Saturday 26 September to Saturday 17 October.

Susan ‘Rita’ White, the bright-eyed twenty something with dreams of making more of her life will be played by Alexandra Mardell. Best known for her role as Emma Brooker on ITV’s CORONATION STREET, for which she won the British Soap Award for Best Newcomer in 2019, Mardell is also known for playing Lucinda in BBC’s cult comedy SMOGGIE QUEENS, as well as legal drama WAR (HBO/Sky) and sitcom THE FAMILY PILE (ITV). In 2022, she was crowned winner of STRICTLY COME DANCING’s Christmas special.

Mardell said:

“I am so honoured to have the opportunity to play Rita this autumn. She is iconic, and still so relevant today. A dream role for a Northern actress to play. I’ve already learned so much from Rita and I can’t wait to start rehearsals and begin to explore her character further.”

Dominic Mafham will play opposite Mardell as her self-proclaimed ‘appalling teacher’, Frank. Mafham’s longstanding stage and screen career includes roles in VIGIL (BBC), KILLING EVE (BBC), THE FRAGILE HEART (Channel 4), OUR MUTUAL FRIEND (BBC), JOURNEY’S END (Duke of York’s Theatre, West End and national tour), THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (Shakespeare’s Globe, US and China tour) and THAT FACE (Orange Tress Theatre).

Mafham said:

“I’m thrilled to be taking on the role of Frank. Educating Rita is a very funny but also deeply moving play, and Frank is such a rich and complex character. I’m also really looking forward to working at Curve for the first time and playing in this amazing space with some wonderful people!”

The roles of Rita and Frank will be covered by Helena Rimmer and Earl Carpenter respectively.

EDUCATING RITA will be directed by Curve’s Associate Director Cara Nolan (WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?), with set and costume designs by Michael Taylor (THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, Curve), lighting design by Katy Morison (PUBLIC – THE MUSICAL, Curve) and sound design by Jack Baxter (WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, Curve). Casting is by Richard Johnston for Pippa Ailon and Natalie Gallacher Casting. The Assistant Director is Curve Resident Creative Martha Kent, alongside Curve’s Birkbeck Resident Assistant Director Bentleigh Nesbit.

It’s never too late to start again…

Bright-eyed twenty-something Susan ‘Rita’ White dreams of making more of her life. Armed with an interest in literature and unwavering determination she enrols in the Open University, forming an unlikely friendship with disillusioned and dishevelled Frank – her self-proclaimed “appalling teacher”. Through their weekly tutorials, they challenge each other into a life-changing journey of self-discovery.

Hailing from Liverpool, Willy Russell is one of our most celebrated playwrights. With a career spanning over five decades, Russell’s plays and musicals include the epoch defining BLOOD BROTHERS, OUR DAY OUT and SHIRLEY VALENTINE. EDUCATING RITA first premiered in 1980 at the Donmar Warehouse, with Julie Walters in the titular role. The play catapulted Walters to stardom and she went on to reprise the role in the 1983 film adaptation opposite Michael Caine, for which both actors earned respective BAFTA and Golden Globe Awards, alongside Oscar nominations. Russell himself also received BAFTA, Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for his screenplay.

The run of EDUCATING RITA at Curve will be accompanied by educational activity including a free digital Learning Pack and a Theatre Day on Thursday 15 October, where audience members of all ages can learn more about the play and the show’s creation.

Accessible performances include Captioned (8 October, 7pm), British Sign Language Interpreted (9 October, 7pm) and Audio Described (17 October, 2pm with a Touch Tour from 12:30pm).

EDUCATING RITA runs at Curve Saturday 26 September to Saturday 17 October 2026. Tickets are on sale now. To find out more, visit www.curveonline.co.uk, call the Box Office on 0116 242 3595, or visit in-person

C-Alto, Venue 40 – 5 to 30th August (not 17th, 18th, 24th and 25th), Multiple
times throughout the day

Reviewed by Marcus Richardson

4****

What is True? Can we trust? Is this real? Questions that both thrill and terrify me. Truthmachine is a 30 minute experience where people are taken into a room and sat at a table to find the truth as one member is hooked up to a polygraph test.

Counterpilot is an Australian theatre company known for their immersive and interactive shows. Truthmachine has won awards at the Melbourne and Adelaide Fringes, and I can see why.

This isn’t a welcoming experience, its cold and clinical, there’s very little in the way of formalities. The room is dark, the table is full with headphones voting devices and ambient lights. This is where I’m really impressed with Truthmachine, the atmosphere felt so intentional, everything worked together to put the audience into an uneasy state where it becomes hard to find what is real and what is performance.

In our slot we were a group of 7, we sat down at the table and put our headphones on. It was clear to see on the expressions of the others that they felt uneasy answering questions, scared that they were going to be caught out on a lie. Some questions were simple like, ‘do you floss’, others were incredibly personal and taboo. The person connected up to the polygraph was an American man who attended with his father and son. I have to admit I found this so entertaining, some of the questions were something I would not want to answer in front of my family.

As a self proclaimed post-modernist myself, I found this show to be exciting and rich in what it’s trying to achieve. It brings forth many questions, is this performance even real, were my team of 7 real, were they even Australian? All of it felt very contained, which
with all the technical elements makes sense, I just wish it went further. I’m unsure if this show has always been 30 minutes in length, but I would be keen to be in the room longer, maybe I would feel different if I knew the person hooked up to the test.