Author: FairyPoweredProductions

LEADING THEATRICAL PRODUCERS

ROYO

RECRUIT NEW PRODUCER

NICK MORRISON

One of the UK’s leading theatrical production companies ROYO are delighted to announce the recruitment of Nick Morrison as the company takes on several new large-scale productions in 2025.

Nick will work closely on delivering existing 2025/6 productions as well as developing new projects for the stage, including 10 new musicals currently under commission.

Nick Morrison spent six years at the Donmar Warehouse, where he was Lead Producer of over a dozen productions including the UK premieres of Next to Normal and The Band’s Visit. He has more recently been General Manager for Sonia Friedman Productions (2023-2025) where he worked on West End productions including Mean Girls (Savoy Theatre), Oedipus (Wyndham’s Theatre), Shifters (Duke of York’s Theatre) and The Hills of California (Harold Pinter Theatre), as well as multiple projects in development. Prior to this, he worked in production and business affairs at Fiery Angel. Nick graduated from the University of Cambridge with a degree in Law.

Nick said “I’m thrilled to be working with Tom, Hamish and the brilliant team at ROYO. With so many exciting projects in development, including a slate of new musicals, I’m delighted to have joined the company and to bring more original and entertaining work to the stage in 2025 and beyond.”

ROYO produces theatre and live entertainment for audiences throughout the UK and around the world. 

Their founding ambition was to create and produce new commercial musicals and we now act as one of the largest commissioners of new musicals in the UK. 

They have since expanded to produce and present high-quality re-inventions of well-known classics, star driven entertainment and brand-led family theatre. 

Organised across three divisions, their theatre productions as lead producer include original musicals, HERE & NOW – The Steps Musical, 13 Going On 30 – The Musical, Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical, NOW That’s What I Call A Musical, The Osmonds: A New Musical, Police Cops: The Musical and OSCAR At The Crown, as well as newly imagined productions of Kinky Boots and The Cher Show. 

Their Live Entertainment and Family properties include Disney’s Winnie The Pooh, Johannes Radebe’s tours of Freedom, Freedom Unleashed and House Of Jojo, Oti Mabuse – I Am Here, Nikita Kuzmin – Midnight Dancer and Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show. 

They have an established expertise in exporting productions internationally, in particular in Asia where we have presented and financed And Then There Were None, Life Of Pi, The Last 5 Years, Once and The Reunion with Ramin Karimloo.

X: @RoomOnYourOwn 
Facebook: /RoomOnYourOwn
Instagram: @roomonyourown 

www.royo.co.uk

RIVERSIDE STUDIOS ANNOUNCES ITS SPRING PROGRAMME FOR THE RIVER ROOM 

WITH A REVAMPED WEEKLY SCHEDULE WITH EACH DAY DEDICATED TO A SPECIFIC KIND OF PERFORMANCE, INCLUDING THEATRE, COMEDY, MUSIC, SCRATCH NIGHTS, PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITIONS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS 

TICKETS AND FURTHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE HERE 

The team at West London’s premiere arts centre Riverside Studios is delighted to announce a new weekly schedule for its flexible and in-demand performance space, The River Room.  Different days of the week will be devoted to specific types of performances and activities; from new writing on Mondays to community events and workshops on Sundays, the new River Room calendar will give audiences an idea of what to expect and will enable its visitors to engage quickly with their areas of interest.  

Head of Programming Rhys Williamson said: “For nearly a century, Riverside Studios has been a space for artistic innovation and bold storytelling, from its early days as a film and television studio to its current role as a dynamic cultural hub. The new River Room programme reflects this heritage, offering a diverse line-up that encourages creativity and community. By structuring our weekly events with specific days associated with certain kinds of performance, we aim to make it easier for audiences to engage with new work, whether it’s cutting-edge theatre, live music, or stand-up comedy.” 

SPRING 2025 RIVER ROOM PROGRAMME 

MONDAYS: EMERGING ARTISTS & CREATIVES 

Hatch & ScratchBi-monthly(from 10 March onwards; next event 12 May) 

A vibrant new monthly writing night by Pathway Theatre, showcasing the most exciting and fresh work from both resident and guest writers. The next edition (12 May) features short plays by Riverside’s very own ‘Resident Geese’ Temisanren Uwawah and Alison Viña, alongside guest writer Patch Harris and co-founders Kelly Long and Lauren Donoghue. 

Tickets: £8 

Taking Centre Stage: A Scratch Cabaret (31 March and 12 May) 

A high-energy mix of short scenes, spoken word, and live music from London’s most exciting talents. Previous performers include Ché Walker, Danny Sapani, and Gloria Obiyano. 
Tickets: from £7 

Riverscribes Scratch NightMonthly (7 and 28 April) 
A unique opportunity for writers to test and refine their work in front of a live audience, featuring four or five ten-minute script extracts curated by host Nadine Gray. 
Tickets: £3 

In Focus – A Photography EveningMonthly – March Edition(24 March) 
This month, Janine Wiedel and Gabrielle Motola explore documentary photo books through visual anthropology and psychological studies, hosted by Sabrina Merolla and Cinzia D’Ambrosi.  The talk will then be followed by a Q&A and chance to mingle and socialise.  

Entry: free  

Novel London ReadingsMonthly (from 14 April) 
An open mic night for novelists – whether published, unpublished, or in progress—to share their work with a liver audience. 
Tickets from £7 

TUESDAYS: STAND-UP AND COMEDY EVENTS 

The Clown JewelsBi-monthly (from 11 March, next event 13 May) 
An inclusive, unpredictable and provocative clowning showcase hosted by Athena Amoret, celebrating the serious business of being silly. 
Tickets: £10 

High Dive Improv – Live ComedyMonthly (29 April and 27 May) 
An unscripted night of laugh-out-loud comedy led by improv veteran of over 14 years, Rhys Collier. 
Tickets: £6.50 

Esther Manito: Slagbomb (work-in-progress)(18 March) 
Esther Manito returns with her latest work-in-progress, an unfiltered, hilarious look at dignity – or lack thereof, whether it’s her less-than-graceful posture, cringe-worthy encounters with shady drug deals, or the painful realities of waxing gone wrong. 
Tickets: £6 

WEDNESDAYS: EMERGING TALENTS & WORKS-IN-PROGRESS 

C’est Moi30 April 
Giulia Asquino’s one-woman show delves into her personal and artistic journey with Edith Piaf’s music.  Through her evocative performance, Giulia explores how Piaf’s iconic songs became the soundtrack to her own life, as she traces the intertwining paths of art, love, and self-discovery. 
Tickets: £10 

Riverscribes: Work in ProgressMonthly (from 26 March onwards) 
Following the Scratch Night success, Riverscribes return with 30-minute performances, incorporating lighting, sound, and costumes.  As these are still works in progress, the night includes live feedback with writers and cast, helping shape these pieces into full-length plays. 
Tickets: £6 

Odyssey of OdditiesBimonthly (12 March and 7 May) 
An eclectic night of experimental short performances by new-wave international artists, pushing creative boundaries. 
Tickets: from £7 

TRS: The River SessionsMonthly (19 March onwards)  
A monthly platform for emerging musicians, offering an intimate live music experience.  Anyone is welcome to play, contact Any if you would like to perform: [email protected]  
Tickets: £6.50 

Riverside RhymeMonthly (16 April and 14 May) 
Hammersmith’s go-to open mic night, hosted by spoken word artist Kid Anansi.  A fun monthly open mic night welcoming any form of spoken word – from poetry, to song, to stand-up comedy, to ranting about your day at work!   
Tickets: from £7 

Chaotic Cabaret (26 May) 
A celebration of the bizarre and a wild mix of music, burlesque, stand-up, and more. Plus, it’s dog-friendly!  
Tickets: £10 

THURSDAYS: MONTHLY THEATRE RESIDENCES 

MARCH: ASBO BOZO (15, 20, 22, 27, 29 March) 
In a forgotten northern town, an Antisocial Behaviour Officer listens to the complaints of local residents. She’s very good at her job. And she cares. She cares so much.  Which is why it’s such a pisstake when everyone forgets her 30th birthday…  ASBO BOZO is a play about isolation, responsibility, and the emotional toll of supporting people at society’s forgotten fringes. A day in the life of someone who gives her all to others – and gets nowt back. 
Tickets from £12 

APRIL: PER-VERSE (3, 5, 10, 12, 17 April) 
As she embarks on a “typical” date night in London, writer and performer Georgie Wedge is haunted by ghosts of colourful past liaisons. Blending stand-up with poetry, storytelling and physical comedy, prepare to be seduced by a dangerous kiss and tell. This is dating in 2025…  
Tickets from £10 

MAY: A STAN IS BORN!(10, 15, 17, 22, 24 May) 
After a sold-out Soho Theatre preview, a successful five-star run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a sold out run at the Camden People’s Theatre, A STAN IS BORN! returns to London.  A musical comedy exploring queer identity and pop culture obsession, join Alexis Sakellaris as he navigates the culture clash and finds out what it truly means to be a stan…  
Tickets from £15 

It’s Your RoleMonthly (13 March, 24 April) 
Immerse yourself in a world of magic, and mayhem, where YOU could be the hero who tips the scales of fate.  Answer the call and become a hero in a madcap adventure like no other, as our troupe of professional actors brings the world of Dungeons & Dragons to life! But there’s a twist—one lucky audience member will be chosen to step into the story. 
Tickets: £10 

FRIDAYS: STAND-UP COMEDY NIGHTS 

Live Next To The ApolloWeekly 
An ever-popular stand-up night featuring the hottest, rising UK comedians.   See the best acts from the circuit at the legendary Riverside Studios before they get their own Netflix special.  

Tuesdays: £6.50 | Fridays: £12 

SATURDAYS: LIVE MUSIC FROM AROUND THE WORLD 
Amore: Jazz & World Music NightMonthly 
A stellar and always-eclectic line-up of jazz, funk, soul and spoken word artists. 
Tickets: £15 

Kanda Bongo Man – King Of African Soukous (22 March) 
A legend of Congolese soukous music, championed by John Peel and Andy Kershaw.  He is most famous for his entrancing and mesmerizing guitar solos and riffs, that gave birth to the famous Kwasa Kwasa dance. 
Tickets: £25 

Tales of Timeless Tim(29 March, 3 May) 

Tales Of Timeless Tim is the first release from the “Van Morrison of Bleggae” (a fusion of blues and reggae), a title bestowed upon him by Chris Kimsey who mentored and mixed this collection, and also produced the Rolling Stones, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Frampton and  Peter Tosh. 
Tickets: £15 

Mario Bakuna(5 April, 31 May) 
One of the leading figures in the Brazilian jazz scene in the UK, Mario Bakuma brings his acclaimed show to Riverside Studios. 
Tickets: £15 

Sweet Sounds Of The South(26 April) 
Come on down to the crossroads and enjoy the Winter Holiday edition of Sweet Sounds of the South. Have yourself a glass of bourbon, and let loose to songs from the deep south and the wild west featuring country/blues classics and a couple holiday classics. Global Mosaic Foundation presents the second London-based fundraising cabaret, promoting local artists and harbouring the art of funding art by making art. 
Tickets: £15 

SUNDAYS: COMMUNITY EVENTS AND CREATIVE WORKSHOPS 

Burnt Orange Theatre: Scratch NightMonthly (16 March) 
The only scratch night created exclusively with and for young artists and creatives.  A platform for bold, urgent and game-changing new work, Burnt Orange Theatre put young voices centre stage, testing fresh ideas and writing the future of theatre in real time.   

Tickets: from £6 

Psychonaut Theatre Workshops 

From playwriting to performance art, these sessions are aimed at helping artists refine their craft. 

• The Dance of The Actor: Building Stage Presence(23 March)  
• What is the future of performance art?  Exploring innovation and legacy in the UK (30 March) 
• Intro to Playwrighting: Character and Dialogue (13 April) 
• The Artists As Producer (27 April) 
• Creative Collaboration: Running an Artistic Company (4 May) 
• Interactive Theatre Now! (11 May) 

Tickets: from £10 

OTHER EVENTS 

I’m a Philosopher! Why the F* am I Here? (20, 21 and 23 March) 
Join our studio audience for the filming of I’m a Philosopher! Why the F*** am I Here? and witness legendary philosophers facing ridiculous challenges, confronting existential dilemmas and eating some very strange things – while constantly bickering with each other. This is reality TV – and philosophy – as you’ve never seen them before!  

Tickets: from £10 

Cast announced for major London revival of Jez
Butterworth’s Parlour Song at Greenwich
Theatre
Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ES
Friday 2nd May – Saturday 24th May 2025

The cast has been announced for Parlour Song from multi-award-winning playwright Jez Butterworth (The Ferryman, 2017; Jerusalem, 2009; Mojo, 1995); this darkly comic play will receive its first major London revival since 2009 at Greenwich Theatre in May. Following their acclaimed production of the playwright’s The River in 2024, this exploration of deceit, paranoia and desire will star Naveed Khan (Death on the Nile, 20th Century Studios; Humans, Channel 4; Survivor, Survivor Productions) as Ned.

Set in leafy suburbia, Parlour Song follows the story of demolition expert Ned and his seemingly perfect life in the English countryside. Outwardly his life is entirely unremarkable, but things slowly start to unravel from half a year of no sleep, to missing objects, and Ned’s irrational fear of his attractive wife Joy.

Kellie Shirley (In The Long Run, Sky One, Now TV and Starz; Casualty, BBC; Eastenders, BBC) will play Joy, a woman who tolerates her husband of 11 years while longing for escape from life in their new estate. Completing the cast of this compelling show about madness and melancholy in suburbia, screen sensation Jeremy Edwards (The Locke Inn, Wild Street Productions; Hollyoaks, Channel 4; Holby City, BBC) will perform as Dale

Jez Butterworth is a British playwright, celebrated for his distinctive voice and exploration of complex themes in his works. His most famous play, Jerusalem earned widespread acclaim for its portrayal of modern British life through the character of Johnny “Rooster” Byron, a charismatic, rebellious figure living on the fringes of society. Butterworth’s work is characterised by its rich language, sharp wit, and a blend of mythic and contemporary elements. His plays often delve into the tensions between personal freedom and societal constraints, and his work continues to be a major influence in contemporary theatre.

Artistic Director James Haddrell comments, We are delighted to be continuing our relationship with Jez Butterworth after the success of last year’s production of The River. Parlour Song is a theatrical comedy of manners wrapped up in an unsettling satire of suburban life. These three characters are utterly real, but there are very blurred lines between reality and the gradual breakdown of Ned’s mental state. I honestly think that, though rarely produced, Parlour Song offers a glimpse of Jez Butterworth at his best.

Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield – until 15th March 2025

Reviewed by Alison Beaumont

5*****

Ghost The Musical is based on the 1990 film Ghost starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg. It tells the story about a couple, Sam and Molly, whose love is tragically cut short. Whilst walking back to their apartment late one night Sam is murdered. Sam is trapped between this world and the next and when he realises that his love, Molly, is in danger he tries to communicate with her via a Psychic called Oda Mae Brown.

The staging for this musical is excellent and the transitions from one scene to another are flawless. There were bodies miraculously appearing on the stage without you seeing how they got there, and the lighting and special effects are great especially at the end when Sam walks into the light.

Molly Jenson was played by Rebekah Lowings who is absolutely phenomenal both vocally and dramatically. My favourite being when she sang With You. Not only can she sing and act but there were various times when she was at the pottery wheel showing off her skills.

Sam Wheat was played by Josh St. Clair who gave a brilliant performance and good vocals. Both were strong leads who had a real chemistry between them.

When Molly, Sam and Carl (James Mateo-Salt) all sang Here Right Now in the first act it was amazing as they were all singing different but at the same time and it really showed off their professionalism.

The musical had lots of comedy in it which was mostly down to Jacqui Dubois who played the hilarious Oda Mae Brown and had her character down to a tee. Oda Mae’s sisters, Clara (Tanisha Butterfield) and Louse (Keiahna Jackson-Jones) were so funny with their dancing and made a great addition to the scene.

The famous train scene was cleverly done with the subway ghost being played by Garry Lee who did a bit of rapping. I did feel that some of his vocals were not very clear.

Of course I must mention the famous Unchained Melody song. The first time you hear this in the musical it is a bit of an upbeat version when Sam is playing the guitar (another talent of Josh’s) ending with another rendition of it with Sam and Molly dancing to it in the second act.

It is a very emotional musical and at times you may need your tissues.

I would definitely go and watch this musical again.

Hall for Cornwall, Truro, Cornwall – until 15 March 2025

Reviewed by Kerry Gilbert

5*****

‘An earnest and enthusiastic portrayal of this classic thriller’

An Inspector Calls returns to the Hall for Cornwall this week to an excited audience. I’ve never read the book, seen the film or any other productions, so I jumped at the chance to witness this earnest and enthusiastic portrayal of this classic thriller.

It is a play which is set in the dining room of the Birlings, an affluent family living within the fictional and industrial city of Brumley, in the north of England. The play is set in 1912, just two years before the First World War. Inspector Goole is the stranger who visits the affluent Birling family and confronts them with their complicity in the suicide of a young woman named Eva Smith. Inspector Goole arrives just as the Birlings are celebrating Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft’s engagement. While the Inspector informs that a young woman committed suicide by drinking disinfectant, the family is bewildered as to how they are connected. As the plot progresses, each character begins to realise their connection to Eva, and as the play concludes and the mysterious Inspector departs, an ominous phone call notified them that another police inspector is on his way.

Directed by Stephen Daldry, the key theme for the play is social responsibility. JB Priestley wanted his audience to be responsible for their own behaviour and responsible for the welfare of others. The performance explored ‘class’ between the wealthy land and factory owners and the poor workers. Priestley wanted to highlight that inequality between the classes still existed and that the upper classes looked down upon the working-class.

From the moment the curtain goes up to reveal the rain quite literally falling on a cobbled street in Brumley, the audience are captivated by Ian MacNeil’s ingenious designs. The Birlings grand house stands raised above the street below, and the class commentary is made clear immediately as the Birlings, in all their finery, enjoy their party enclosed in the privacy of their house, while dirty clothed children play in the street below. Melodrama is not held back, plot points are emphasised by dramatic music (which at some points I thought was a bit too loud) and by speeches made direct to the audience.

Tim Treloar’s masterful portrayal of Inspector Goole oozes with confidence and superiority, enlisting the help of the brilliant children, Caleb Munday, Piran Griffin, IIiana Cooper and the ensemble to assist him in giving the Birlings the moral dressing down that they so desperately deserve. Jackie Morrison commands the stage as the indomitable matriarch Sybil Birling, swanning in halfway through the action to try and uphold the family’s honour, but also sensitively captures the grief of a parent devastated by the trust about her not so perfect children.

Jeffrey Harmer’s Arthur Birling reeks of the arrogance and need for acceptance which characterises middle class social climbers, desperate to maintain his image as a prominent and affluent businessman in line for Knighthood. Harmer captures Mr Birlings growing frustration with Inspector Goole’s persistent questioning.

Tom Chapman is brilliant as Gerald Croft; he absolutely nails the upper-class swagger. Eric Birling provides much of the comedy in the first half of the play (there is no interval, though the curtain does fall and rise again to indicate the beginning of the second act) and George Rowlands gives an endearing performance as the Birlings’ slightly alcoholic son.

Leona Allen triumphs as the initially petulant and entitled Sheila Birling, who quite quickly becomes the voice of reason in the play after accepting her own guilt and imploring others to do the same. Allen is most believable as she gives her account of how her own vanity and jealousy contributed to the girl’s downfall, appealing to the audience to understand it from her perspective.

The use of lighting stands out to me as particularly effective, as we are subtly taken from late evening, through to sunrise and back again; all cleverly designed by Rick Fisher. Credit also goes to Mark Douet for the stunning production images which captures the set and characters incredibly well.

This is an exceptional production and one well worthy of all its accolades. It remains as audacious and engaging as when it was first staged, and still effective in communicating the author’s compassionate viewpoint. I would highly recommend going to see it, you will not be disappointed.

Nottingham Theatre Royal – until Saturday 16 March 2025

Reviewed by Louise Ford

3***

What lies beneath the veneer?

This week’s offering at the Theatre Royal is by the successful thriller writer, Peter James.

This is the seventh of James’ novels to be adapted (stage adaptor Shaun McKenna) for the stage, and features his most successful detective Roy Grace (George Rainsford). In this adaptation the detective and his side kick Bella (Gemma Saroyan) are secondary to the main story. They play their roles in a solid enough fashion and are times slightly Columboesque, clad in raincoats and of course the iconic line “just one more question “, guaranteed to wrong foot the suspect!

The main story has two main threads which twist and turn through the play. The two stories are brilliantly portrayed with a split stage design ( Designer Adrian Linford). On one side we have the artist’s studio of Dave Hegarty (Peter Ash); on the other the apartment of the Kiplings (Fiona Wade and Ben Cutler)(no relation to Rudyard or cakes); the overlap of these two is the Manor House of Mr Piper(Nicholas Maude). The police procedural action takes place, on the whole, at the front of the stage without any props or scenery. This inspired set design means that there is minimal set or prop movement which allows the action and the story to move seamlessly.

Having said that there are very few prop changes there is one item that does a lot of travelling around the stage and this is the “picture” which is central to the story!

Having set the scene of the artist  studio and the apartment we are introduced to the main characters. The Kiplings, a hardworking couple (he’s a builder with a soft centre) and she has dreams of being a jewellery designer. The Kiplings are counting their pennies and are kitting out their home with bargains from car boots. Their latest acquisition is a chair with a mind  of its own and an ugly picture that they’ve bought for £20, as they like the frame. Harry decides to dismantle the picture and suspects that there is a picture hidden underneath. They cannot decide on the best way to do this so they contact an old customer Dave Heagarty. He’s only too willing to help. He offers his professional advice and is willing to take a look at the unveiled picture. Is he being helpful because Harry went that extra mile when carrying out the building work or is there a more sinister motive? Is he really a forger with a heart of gold? The clues are all around Heagarty’s studio.

Dave Heagarty is based on the copyist David Henry who Peter James met in 2015. In this production the role is played with energy and skill by Peter Ash.

There’s a vignette of the Kiplings taking the uncovered picture to the Antiques Roadshow. The role of the expert Oliver De Souza is nicely played  by Adam Morris, all cravat and shiny loafers.

Running alongside the story of the painting is the opening of a twenty year old “cold case” the murder of a shady art dealer. Talking of shady characters, there’s the dubious art collector and dealer Stuart Piper, who’s played as a camp pantomime villain with great relish by Nicholas Maude. It’s nice to see the role of the henchman  played by a woman. Jodie Steele plays Piper’s expert fixer with thuggish relish.

The production is nicely paced, suspenseful and at times surprisingly funny and camp. However  I think on balance that the detective drama somehow got lost in the story and at times the dialogue was a little stilted.

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY’S

MULTI-AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL

ANNOUNCES NEW TOUR DATES IN 2026

The internationally acclaimed

production ADDS

southampton, bristol, Birmingham,

norwich & milton keynes

to the UK & Ireland TOUR

All tour information & tickets at

WWW.MATILDATHEMUSICAL.COM

It was announced today (12 March 2025) that the Royal Shakespeare Company’s smash hit production of Matilda The Musical, based on Roald Dahl’s beloved book, will add five further dates to its upcoming tour of the UK and Ireland.

The show, which this year celebrates 15 years on stage, opens at the Curve, Leicester on 6 October 2025, before travelling to Bradford, Liverpool, Plymouth, Sunderland, Edinburgh and Manchester where it will run through March and April of 2026. 

The new tour dates begin in April 2026 at the Mayflower Theatre Southampton, followed by performances in Bristol, Birmingham, Norwich and Milton Keynes where the show will play until 14 November 2026.

The internationally renowned musical continues to play to packed houses in the West End at the Cambridge Theatre and has been seen by 12 million people across 100 cities around the world.

Priority Booking for Bristol, Birmingham and Milton Keynes will be from 11am on Monday 24 March, and general on sale from 11am on Wednesday 26 March.  For Southampton – Priority Booking is from 10am on Thursday 27 March, and general on sale from 10am on Wednesday 2 April.  In Norwich, Priority Booking starts from Monday 24 March, with general on sale from Friday 25 April.

For all tour booking information visit www.matildathemusical.com.

This anarchic production, about a strong and determined heroine with a vivid imagination, has won over 100 global awards, including 24 for Best Musical.  A film adaptation made by the core creative team received its World Premiere at the London Film Festival in October 2022 and can now be watched on Netflix.

Written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and developed and directed by Matthew Warchus, the production is designed by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and special effects and illusions by Paul Kieve.

Writer Dennis Kelly said:

“It’s great to get the chance to bring this little girl’s story to people in their home cities and towns, and to all those theatres where theatre really matters.”

Composer and lyricist Tim Minchin said:

“When we first started working on the show, our aim was to make a lovely little jewel of a musical for the RSC’s Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.  We never imagined that all these years later it would still be running in the West End, have been made into a film, and is now about to embark on its second tour of the UK and Ireland. I’m deeply proud of Matilda The Musical, and every single talented person who continues to work on it with passion and enthusiasm.”

Director Matthew Warchus said:

“I’m delighted that our production of Matilda The Musical is about to be seen live by a whole new generation of children and families in theatres across the UK and Ireland.  It’s a show we’re really proud of, and an inspiring story of courage that we really care about, so it’s genuinely wonderful to see it continue bringing joy to audiences of all ages.”

RSC Co-Artistic Directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey said:

“After its premiere so many years ago in Stratford-upon-Avon, Matilda Wormwood’s genius is still teaching us that ‘sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty’. We can’t wait to share her story with audiences up and down the country.”

Casting, further tour dates and further creative team details will be announced in due course.

Social Media:

Facebook: @MatildaTheMusical
Instagram: @MatildaTheMusical

TikTok: @thersc

#TimeToBeRevolting

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton – until 15 March 2025

Reviewed by Jo Gordon 

5*****

It has been 30 years since Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake first spread its wings at Saddlers Wells,London. Back in the heady days of 1995,based on  Tchaikovsky’s world renowned masterpiece, Matthew switched up the classic line up of female swans, replacing them with a predominantly male cast. Although this did ruffle some feathers, it has become a huge global success and changed the Genre forever for the better.  

A love deprived Prince, ruled by his cold hearted Mother, seeks comfort and freedom. To be free from the constraints that duty impose on him and for once, feel the warmth of someone who sees his worth for who he really is, not his status in society. At a drunken low point, he encounters a swan who reaches out to him and shows him what true love can feel like, through the most beautiful, passion filled, gentle dance sequence. 

Sadly, when the Prince is reunited with the Swan in his human form, he is rebuffed and spirals into behaviour which sees him locked away by his mother in an institution with very questionable forms of “therapy”. 

Throughout the whole performance we do see humour, some real belly laugh moments, usually on the periphery of what’s going on centre stage. The characters are very recognisable with those we currently see, and how some think social stature and fame is the aim in life. 

Of course, the biggest delight is Matthew’s choreography of the male swans. Breathtakingly beautiful, strong yet delicate. The perfect balance. 

Then that final scene … oh that final scene!  I’ve seen this several times over the years, and it always leaves my cheeks wet with tears and an ache in my chest, every single time. 

Even if you never see another Ballet again, this one is a must, only you can decide if you believe the Swan is real or a part of the Princes imagination. 

Sublimely beautiful, yet gritty.

Hampstead Theatre Downstairs, London – until 5th April 2025

Reviewed by Celia Armand Smith

4****

Dungeons and Dragons is not a world I inhabit, however it is a world I can appreciate for the community and creativity it provides its players. It is this community that is at the heart of The Habits, the debut play by Jack Bradfield. Set in WarBoar, a board games cafe in Bromley, we meet Jess, Maryn, and Milo. A slightly odd trio who come together to explore fantastical worlds as goblins, elves and wizards, making decisions and changing narratives or fates at the throw of a dice.

Jess (Ruby Stokes) is the schoolgirl Dungeon Master who rules over the table, whilst also grieving the loss of her fantasy loving brother, Matt. With a well thumbed notebook in her hand, she guides Milo and Maryn (Jamie Bisping and Sara Hazemi) through an unending story that revolves around finding The Nightmare King. Milo and Maryn were school friends of Matt and are both navigating early adulthood and struggling to find their place in the world. Milo is drifting from job to job and Maryn is on a daunting trajectory through the world of corporate law. A somewhat motley crew all looking for community and place which they find in WarBoar, the cafe owned by Dennis (Paul Thornley), a cargo shorts wearing role-play game enthusiast who enters the game with his lute and boundless enthusiasm. Last to enter is Bev (Debra Baker), Dennis’s straight talking police officer girlfriend who loves monopoly but is drawn into the world of magical goblins and singing dwarves.

The cast are fantastic and Ed Madden’s production dances along with heart and humour. At the centre is a teenager dealing with a huge darkness that enveloped her brother, and in her grief surrounds her also, but with the help of four willing participants, some gentle coaxing and some LARP costumes, she is able to see the light. Alys Whitehead’s design is minimal yet effective – a simple pentagonal table set in the round with dice, notebooks and a laptop playing a D&D playlist through tinny speakers. D&D is already so colourful and full of drama that a table is all you need. Max Pappenheim’s soundscapes blend reality and fantasy seamlessly, working with Laura Howard’s atmospheric lighting which amps up as the team reach the conclusion of the story.

Bradfield’s writing is smart and kind, and all of the characters are likable and funny. The Habits is so much more than a play about Dungeons and Dragons. It is a thoroughly enjoyable and heartwarming examination of navigating loss and grief, finding your tribe, and the wonderful power of creativity and imagination. As Dennis says “Who knows what adventures await?”

NEW REHEARSAL PHOTOGRAPHS

RELEASED FOR

THE WORLD PREMIERE OF

MISCHIEF’S

THE COMEDY ABOUT SPIES

PERFORMANCES BEGIN AT THE NOËL COWARD THEATRE

ON MONDAY 14 APRIL 2025

www.spiescomedy.com

Tuesday 11 March  – New rehearsal photographs of Mischief’s brand new West End show,  The Comedy About Spies have been released today. 

The Comedy About Spies stars members of the original Mischief Company – Dave Hearn,Chris Leask, Henry Lewis, Charlie Russell, Henry Shields, Greg Tannahill and Nancy Zamit. They are joined by Adele James, who is making her Mischief debut.  

Mischief, the multi award-winning company behind The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and The Comedy About a Bank Robbery bring an uproarious 1960’s spy escapade, bursting with bungled missions, tangled identities, and miscommunication that’s anything but covert to London’s Noël Coward Theatre from Monday 14 April 2025.

When a rogue British agent pilfers plans for a top-secret weapon, CIA and KGB spies converge on London’s Piccadilly Hotel in pursuit of the elusive file. Add to the mix a clueless young couple, a hapless actor angling for the role of James Bond, and enough double agents to confuse even the sharpest operative, and you’ve got a mission that’s hilariously out of control.

Tickets are available from www.SpiesComedy.com

Written by original Mischief Company members Henry Lewis and Henry Shields, The Comedy About Spies will have its Gala Night on Tuesday 6 May 2025 and finish its limited run on Friday 5 September 2025.

The director is Matt DiCarlo, set design is David Farley, costume design is by Deborah Andrews, and the sound design and composer is Jon Fiber for JollyGoodTunes.   

A sneak-peak of the opening scene from The Comedy About Spies brought the house down at The Royal Variety Performance in the presence of His Majesty The King at the Royal Albert Hall last year.  It was broadcast on ITV1 on Sunday 15 December and is currently available on ITVX.

The Comedy about Spies is presented by Kenny Wax and Stage Presence in association with Jo Danvers.