Author: FairyPoweredProductions

Dash Arts has announced full casting for Our Public House, a funny, moving and uplifting new play by Barney Norris, inspired by voices from across the UK, opening this Spring at Leeds Playhouse before touring nationwide.

Dash Arts in association with Leeds Playhouse presents

OUR PUBLIC HOUSE 

By Barney Norris 

Created and directed by Josephine Burton

Music by Jonathan Walton

Lyrics by Jonathan Walton and people across the country
Set and Costume by Good Teeth Design

Sound by Bella Kear and creative captions by Ben Glover

Friday 15 May to Saturday 23 May at Leeds Playhouse 

then touring to Prescot, Coventry, Cornwall, Sheffield and London (Marylebone Theatre)

Full casting is announced for Dash Arts new play OUR PUBLIC HOUSE, which will open to press at Leeds Playhouse before travelling to Prescot, Coventry, Cornwall, Sheffield and finishing the tour at London’s Marylebone Theatre. 

Josephine Burton directs Chaya Gupta (Anika), Gabriella Leon (Mary), Lauren Moakes (Jo), Bharti Patel (Sanjana), Feargus O’Donnell (Scott) and Kit Esuruoso (Tom) in award-winning playwright Barney Norris’s funny and big-hearted new play with live music about community, connection and what might change if everyone had their say.

Set in The Albion, a struggling pub at the heart of a town that has turned its back on politics, Our Public House begins when an entire community spoils its ballot papers and refuses to vote. As a storm rages outside, landlady Sanjana brings together a family in mourning, familiar regulars and unexpected visitors for a night of debate, confession and open-mic speeches.

Inspired by the real words of more than 600 people across the UK, the production converts  lived experiences of frustration, hope and disconnection into a moving and uplifting story of a community, ripped apart by politics (and a love affair), finding its voice. With original live music woven through the action, the play is both a celebration of the public house as a shared civic space and a timely exploration of what happens when people feel unheard.

Told through spoken English, British Sign Language (BSL), Sign Supported English (SSE), creative captioning and music, Our Public House brings together a cast of hearing and deaf performers.  At each tour location, a local ensemble of community participants will join the production, ensuring that local voices become part of the story on stage.

At a time when trust in democratic systems is under strain, Our Public House transforms a state of the nation into a warm, funny and deeply human drama.      

Barney Norris’s work has received awards from the International Theatre Institute, the Critics’ Circle, the Evening Standard, the Society of Authors, and the South Bank Sky Arts Times Breakthrough Awards, among others, and been translated into nine languages. His plays include Visitors, Eventide, Nightfall, The Wellspring, The Band Back Together, and adaptations of Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day and Second Best by David Foenkinos; his novels include Undercurrent and Five Rivers Met on a Wooded Plain.

Josephine Burton directs, theatre credits include Offie-nominated The Reckoning (Arcola), Dido’s Bar (Royal Dock/Oxford Contemporary Music/Journeys Festival), The Great Middlemarch Mystery (Coventry City of Culture) and Songs for Babyn Yar (Munich Kammerspiele/Theatre Podil/JW3).  She has also served as dramaturg on Lyrical Alliance (Roundhouse) and Renegade Orchestra (British Library). A playwright and Artistic Director of Dash Arts, she co-founded the company to create award-winning cross artform work connecting audiences with global stories and she hosts its podcast OffScript.

Jonathan Walton is a songwriter (NYTimes Critics Top Ten, Edison International Album of the Year, BBC World Music Award nominations) who has worked in theatre (Tim Supple, Tall Stories), television (DC Legends of Tomorrow) and with record producers Mike Spencer (Jamiroquai), Paul Epworth (Adele) and Ben Mandelson (3 Mustaphas 3). A singer, trumpeter and linguist with an interest in vocal improvisation and social activism (Ukraine), he now lives back in London after a decade immersed in the music of South India and former Yugoslavia.

Tour Information

Friday 15 May to Saturday 23 May

Leeds Playhouse 

Tickets: https://www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk/

Tuesday 26 to Sat 30 May 2026
Shakespeare North Playhouse
Tickets: https://shakespearenorthplayhouse.co.uk/

Thursday 4 to Saturday 6 June 2026
Belgrade Theatre
Tickets: https://www.belgrade.co.uk/

Friday 12 to Saturday 13 June

Sterts Arts & Environmental Centre
Tickets: https://sterts.co.uk/

Wednesday 17 to Saturday 20 June

Sheffield Theatres
Tickets: https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/

Tuesday 30 June to Saturday 4 July

Marylebone Theatre

Tickets: https://www.marylebonetheatre.com/productions/our-public-house

The UK Pantomime Association announces the nominations for
The Pantomime Awards 2026
which will take place on Sunday 19 April at Wycombe Swan

The UK Pantomime Association has announced the nominations for The Pantomime Awards 2026, marking the Awards’ 5th year. The star-studded awards ceremony will take place on Sunday 19 April at Wycombe Swan in High Wycombe, staged in partnership with Trafalgar Entertainment and ATG Entertainment (ATGE).

The Pantomime Awards 2026 nominees exemplify the breadth of talent, skill, enthusiasm and hard work from the creative forces, production teams and cast members who work tirelessly year-round to deliver outstanding entertainment to theatres across the country. 

Full list of nominations for The Pantomime Awards 2026:

Best Choreography

• Kevan Allen: Sleeping Beauty, The Arts Theatre Cambridge (In-House)
• Claire Cassidy: Sleeping Beauty, Harlow Playhouse (KD Theatre Productions)
• Jevan Howard-Jones: Aladdin, Hall for Cornwall, Truro (Cornwall Playhouse Productions)
• Stephanie MacDonald: Weans in the Wood, Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling (In-House)
• Sundeep Saini: Jack and the Beanstalk, Watford Palace Theatre (In-House)

Best Lighting (sponsored by Production Light and Sound)

• Rory Beaton: Jack and the Beanstalk, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh (Crossroads Pantomimes)
• Harvey Ebbage: Cinderella, The Woodville, Gravesend (Wicked Productions)
• Nic Farman: Sleeping Beauty, Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells (Little Wolf Entertainment)
• Matt Ladkin: Sleeping Beauty, Wyvern Theatre, Swindon (Imagine Theatre)
• Callum MacDonald: Beauty and the Beast, New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich (In-House)

Carmen Silvera Award for Best Magical Being (sponsored by Barry Burnett)

• Rachel Flynn: Sleeping Beauty, Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock (In-House)
• Helen George: Cinderella, Richmond Theatre, London (Crossroads Pantomimes)
• Jade Hackett: Jack and the Beanstalk, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, London (In-House)
• Joe McElderry: Aladdin, Newcastle Theatre Royal (Crossroads Pantomimes)
• Oluwalonimi (Nimi) Owoyemi: Beauty and the Beast, Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield (In-House)

Barbara Windsor Award for Best Principal Lead (sponsored by Scott Mitchell)

• Emilie Du Leslay: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Palace Theatre, Mansfield (UK Productions)
• Lewis Kerr: Aladdie, Gaiety Theatre, Ayr (In-House)
• Sario Solomon: Aladdin, Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield (Evolution Productions and Sheffield Theatres)
• Josh Harrison Yellop: The New Adventures of Peter Pan, Thameside Theatre, Grays (Polka Dot Pantomimes)
• Kian Zomorodian: Aladdin, Anvil Arts, Basingstoke (UK Productions)

Best Script

• Ian Adams and Tam Ryan: Sleeping Beauty, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (In-House)
• David Bown: Jack and the Beanstalk, Harrogate Theatre (In-House)
• Joyce Branagh: Mother Goose and the Golden Egg, South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell (In-House)
• Andrew Pollard: Beauty and the Beast, Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield (In-House)
• Vikki Stone and Tonderai Munyevu: Mama Goose, Stratford East, London (In-House)

Best Secondary Lead

• Ruth Betteridge: Jack and the Beanstalk, Festival Theatre, Malvern (UK Productions)
• Stuart Edgar: The Snow Queen, Perth Theatre (In-House)
• Ross Forbes-Mackenzie: Oor Wee Mammy McGoose, The King’s Kirkcaldy (In-House)
• Lauren Hampton: Robin Hood, New Wimbledon Theatre, London (Crossroads Pantomimes)
• Finlay McKillop: Sleeping Beauty, Gatehouse Theatre, Stafford (Imagine Theatre)

Best Villain (sponsored by Breckman and Company)

• Danny Beard: Sleeping Beauty, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (In-House)
• Nigel Harman: Jack and the Beanstalk, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre (UK Productions)
• Louise McCarthy: Gallus in Weegieland, Tron Theatre, Glasgow (In-House)
• Steven Serlin: Dick Whittington and his Cat, Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage (Jordan Productions)
• Grant Stott: Jack and the Beanstalk, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh (Crossroads Pantomimes)

Best Comic (sponsored by The Twins FX)

• Jez Edwards: Sleeping Beauty, Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds (Paul Holman Associates)
• Max Fulham: The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan, Mayflower, Southampton (Crossroads Pantomimes)
• Helen McAlpine: Weans in the Wood, Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling (In-House)
• Charlie Stemp: Cinderella, Richmond Theatre, London (Crossroads Pantomimes)
• Ben Thornton: Cinderella, Lichfield Garrick (Evolution Productions and Lichfield Garrick)

Best Costumes

• Morgan Brind: Dick Whittington, Derby Arena (Little Wolf Entertainment)
• Stewart J Charlesworth: Robin Hood and his Merry Men, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham (In-House)
• Katie Lias: Jack and the Beanstalk, Salisbury Playhouse (Wiltshire Creative)
• James MacIver: Sleeping Beauty, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry (Belgrade Theatre and Imagine Theatre)
• Jasmine Swan: Mother Goose, Mercury Theatre, Colchester (In-House)

Stanley Baxter Award for Best Dame (sponsored by John Good)

• Matt Crosby: Sleeping Beauty, The Arts Theatre Cambridge (In-House)
• Steve Elias: Snow White, Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen (Theatrau Sir Gâr & Imagine Theatre)
• Simon Nock: Aladdin, City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds (In-House)
• Edward Rowe: Aladdin, Hall for Cornwall, Truro (Cornwall Playhouse Productions)
• Allan Stewart: Jack and the Beanstalk, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh (Crossroads Pantomimes)

Best Direction

• Suzi Budd: Oor Wee Mammy McGoose, The King’s Kirkcaldy (In-House)
• Sally Reid: Gallus in Weegieland, Tron Theatre, Glasgow (In-House)
• Clive Rowe: Cinderella, Hackney Empire, London (In-House)
• Flik Swan: Sleeping Beauty, Princess Theatre, Torquay (Jordan Productions)
• Gary Wilmot, Cinderella, Richmond Theatre, London (Crossroads Pantomimes)

Best Ensemble

• Sophie Baker, Gustave Die, Nicholas Leon Jones, Megan Little, Flyn Mullins, Jarryd Nurden, Callum Quinnen, Holly Skiggs, Ellie-May Wilson and Taela Yeomans-Brown: Robin Hood, Birmingham Hippodrome (Crossroads Pantomimes)
• Lyndan Barclay, Bebe Fox, Rhiannon Mackay and Sam Scott: The Adventures of Peter Pan, Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne (Jordan Productions)
• Lianha Cooke, Gemma Davis, Chloe Davies, Olly Gooch, Thomas Marc Toombs, Richard Womersley, Erin Harrison and Finlay Tozer: Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne (Made to Measure Productions)
• Jessica Donnelly and Aidan MacColl: Gallus in Weegieland, Tron Theatre, Glasgow (In-House)
• Ellie Greenway, Connor McGwyre, Hermani Harry and Ben Maddison: Mother Goose, The Courtyard, Hereford (In-House)

Best Contribution to Music

• Tom Benjamin and Rebekah Hughes: Aladdin, City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds (In-House)
• Steve Clark and Shaun Critten: Cinderella, Venue Cymru, Llandudno (Imagine Theatre)
• James Harrison: Aladdin, Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield (Evolution Productions and Sheffield Theatres)
• Richard Healey: Aladdin, Hall for Cornwall, Truro (Cornwall Playhouse Productions)
• Paul Leno-Putt: Sleeping Beauty, Royal Hippodrome Theatre, Eastbourne (In-House)

Best Set (sponsored by Blue-i Theatre Technology)

• Emily Bestow: Peter Pan: A New Pantomime Adventure, Greenwich Theatre, London (In-House)
• Morgan Brind: Dick Whittington, Derby Arena (Little Wolf Entertainment)
• Kenny Miller: Gallus in Weegieland, Tron Theatre, Glasgow (In-House)
• Jasmine Swan: Mother Goose, Mercury Theatre, Colchester (In-House)
• Karen Tennent: Weans in the Wood, Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling (In-House)

Best Sisters

• Luke Adamson and Matthew Siveter: Cinderella, Loughborough Town Hall (Little Wolf Entertainment)
• Kat B and George Heyworth: Cinderella, Hackney Empire, London (In-House)
• Celia Cruwys-Finnigan and Alice McKenna: Cinderella, Theatr Clwyd, Mold (In-House)
• Harrison MacNeill and Leo MacNeill: Cinderella, Eastwood Park, Giffnock (Spillers Pantomimes)
• Hannah Roberts and Fran Cottington aka Han and Fran: Cinderella, Venue Cymru, Llandudno (Imagine Theatre)

Best Sound (sponsored by Orbital Sound)

• Mike Beer: Cinderella, Theatr Clwyd, Mold (In-House)
• Andy Graham: Cinderella, Cast, Doncaster (In-House)
• David Hart: Jack and the Beanstalk, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre (UK Productions)
• Conrad Kemp: Dick Whittington, St Helens Theatre Royal (Regal Entertainment)
• Nico Menghini: Dick Whittington, Lighthouse, Poole (In-House)

Best Supporting Artist

• Ada Campe: Growled: Beauty and the Beast continues…, Royal Vauxhall Tavern, London (In-House)
• Joe Feeney: Cinderella, Lichfield Garrick (Evolution Productions and Lichfield Garrick)
• Will Jennings: Robin Hood, The Capitol, Horsham (Horsham District Council)
• Dean Raymond: Beauty and the Beast, Theatr Colwyn, Colwyn Bay (Magic Light Productions)
• Pavanveer Sagoo: Jack and the Beanstalk, King’s Head Theatre, London (King’s Head Theatre Productions and James Quaife for Luminous Entertainment Group in association with Joly Black)

Best Newcomer to Pantomime

• Jeevan Braich: Cinderella, Norwich Theatre Royal (In-House)
• Sarah Hadland: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (Evolution Productions and the Marlowe Theatre)
• Jack ‘Hobbit’ Hobbs: Dick Whittington, De Montfort Hall, Leicester (Imagine Theatre and De Montfort Hall)
• George Webster: The All New Adventures of Peter Pan, Royal & Derngate, Northampton (Evolution Productions and Royal & Derngate)
• Will Young: Jack and the Beanstalk, Bristol Hippodrome (Crossroads Pantomimes)

Best Newcomer to Industry

• Emily Falkner: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Rotherham Civic Theatre (Blue Genie Entertainment)
• Amy Lyons: Sleeping Beauty, Swan Theatre, Worcester (Worcester Repertory Company)
• Ella McLaughlin: The New Adventures of Peter Pan, Thameside Theatre, Grays (Polka Dot Pantomimes)
• Caitlin O’Shea: Sleeping Beauty, Central Theatre, Chatham (Jordan Productions)
• Christopher Patten-Walker: Mother Goose and the Golden Egg, South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell (In-House)

Best Pantomime (Under 550 Seats) (sponsored by KB Event)

• Dick Whittington and his Cat, Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage (Jordan Productions)
• Mama Goose, Stratford East, London (In-House)
• Rumpelstiltskin, Contact Theatre, Manchester (The Big Tiny)
• Sleeping Beauty, Harlow Playhouse (KD Theatre Productions)
• Weans in the Wood, Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling (In-House)

Best Pantomime (550 to 950 Seats) (sponsored by Showtime, part of Howden)

• Cinderella, Theatr Clwyd, Mold (In-House) 
• Dick Whittington, Lighthouse, Poole (In-House)
• Dick Whittington, St Helens Theatre Royal (Regal Entertainment)
• Sleeping Beauty, The Arts Theatre Cambridge (In-House) 
• Snow White, Eden Court, Inverness (Imagine Theatre and Eden Court) 

Best Pantomime (Over 950 Seats) (sponsored by Unusual Rigging)

• Aladdin, Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield (Evolution Productions and Sheffield Theatres)
• Jack and the Beanstalk, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre (UK Productions)
• Jack and the Beanstalk, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh (Crossroads Pantomimes) 
• Sleeping Beauty, Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells (Little Wolf Entertainment)
• Sleeping Beauty, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (In-House)

The Special Recognition Awards, which celebrate productions, individuals or initiatives representing the values that the Association seeks to promote, and also an award for Outstanding Achievement, will be announced at the ceremony.

As well as celebrating the winners, The Pantomime Awards 2026 will feature special guest performances from some of pantomime’s biggest stars, alongside exceptional up-and-coming talent from across the industry. Public tickets for the glamorous event will go on sale in the coming weeks.

Anita Harris, President of the UK Pantomime Association said: “In the 2025-26 pantomime season, our 64 judges travelled the length and breadth of the country, visiting 234 venues and seeing over 603 performances. It is a glorious privilege to witness the passion, hard work and extraordinary talent behind pantomime and the joy it brings to audiences. I’m so proud that The Pantomime Awards 2026 will celebrate this wonderful artform and their fifth anniversary at the Wycombe Swan in April.”   

Chris McGuigan, Commercial & Business Development Director, Trafalgar Entertainment said:“The Pantomime Awards are well and truly back! We’re delighted to be working once again with the UK Pantomime Association and ATG Entertainment on the 2026 ceremony as part of our ongoing partnership, and this year it’s our turn to host the event at Wycombe Swan as we celebrate the very best performers, venue teams, and productions from the 2025-26 pantomime season.” 

Claire Dixon, Business Director of UK Venues, ATG Entertainment: “We’re delighted to continue our partnership with the UK Pantomime Association and Trafalgar Entertainment in supporting The Pantomime Awards for a second year. At the heart of family theatre across the UK, pantomime brings local communities together and delights audiences of all ages. We’re proud to play a part in championing and celebrating one of the UK’s most enduring and joyful theatre traditions.’’

Founded in 2021, the UK Pantomime Association is a charity that explores, shares and celebrates pantomime by investigating the genre’s rich past, engaging with contemporary practice and inspiring the future.  For more information, visit: https://www.pantomimeassociation.co.uk/. 

‘THE ARCHERS: LIVE AT 75’
 CAST ANNOUNCED FOR 2026 NATIONAL TOUR

Timothy Bentinck (David Archer), Charles Collingwood (Brian Aldridge), Annabelle Dowler (Kirsty Miller), Ryan Kelly (Jazzer McCreary), Charlotte Martin (Susan Carter), Ben Norris (Ben Archer), Sunny Ormonde (Lilian Bellamy) and Susie Riddell (Tracy Horrobin) confirmed to appear in live tour celebrating 75 years of the iconic radio drama

 www.fane.co.uk/the-archers

BBC Radio 4’s The Archers will mark its 75th anniversary this summer with a major live stage tour and today Fane Productions are delighted to announce which much-loved and iconic members of the Radio 4 cast will be appearing live on stage.

Joining the tour are eight of Ambridge’s most beloved voices, performing in two rotating casts of four. Named in a nod to the show’s setting, the Flower Cast brings together Timothy Bentinck (David Archer), Charlotte Martin (Susan Carter), Ben Norris (Ben Archer) and Annabelle Dowler (Kirsty Miller), while the Produce Cast features Charles Collingwood (Brian Aldridge), Ryan Kelly (Jazzer McCreary),  Susie Riddell (Tracy Horrobin) and Sunny Ormonde (Lilian Bellamy). For the full date list of cast appearances, see below, or fane.co.uk/the-archers.

Produced by Fane Productions and licensed by the BBC, The Archers: Live at 75 tours from June to November 2026. Hosted by award-winning comedian and Archers devotee Angela Barnes, each performance will feature a cast of four actors and Vanessa Nuttall, The Archers’ live sound-effects specialist.

First broadcast on 1st January 1951, The Archers is the world’s longest-running drama. Broadcasting six times a week to millions of listeners, the programme follows the lives, loves and evolving fortunes of the residents of the fictional village of Ambridge. Over more than 20,000 episodes, it has reflected social change in Britain while remaining rooted in the rhythms of rural life, and continues to be one of the BBC’s most popular titles on BBC Sounds.

Set within a playful reimagining of the Ambridge Flower & Produce Show, the live production blends theatricality, nostalgia and behind-the-scenes insight. The evening includes on-stage interviews, insider stories, live performances of a specially written episode created exclusively by The Archers’ scriptwriters for the tour, demonstrations of the foley artistry that creates Ambridge’s distinctive soundscape, archive material from the BBC vaults, audience questions, a pub quiz inspired by The Bull, and a sing-along to the programme’s theme tune.

Quote from Charlotte Martin (Susan Carter): “I’m so thrilled to be part of The Archers tour – bringing 75 magical years of Ambridge to the stage is an absolute dream come true! Can’t wait to share the laughter, tears and heart of Ambridge with fans everywhere!”

Quote from Timothy Bentinck (David Archer): “I’m so excited to be part of the upcoming The Archers national tour of the UK. We’ll be on stage but the show will be very interactive, and Archers listeners and fans will be just as much a part of it as us. So come and join us at the Flower and Produce Show, and as an added treat get to see how the clever sound effects are achieved. Hint, it’s all done with yoghurt and ironing boards!”

Quote from Serena Brett and James Albrecht, Directors at Fane Productions: “When we put our minds to the casting for this tour, we knew it had to truly represent the world of Ambridge. We worked closely with the programme’s Editor, Jeremy Howe, and the wider team at the BBC to bring together actors whose characters span generations of village life – from the Archer family at its heart, to the Aldridges, the Horrobins and beyond. We’ve aimed to reflect the full breadth of the programme: heritage and newer voices, different ages and perspectives, and some of the most iconic characters alongside those driving its current storylines. We hope audiences feel we have done Ambridge justice – and we can’t wait to bring them together on stage!”

 CAST BIOGRAPHIES

Timothy Bentinck (David Archer)
Timothy Bentinck joined The Archers as David Archer in 1982. A graduate of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and winner of the Carleton Hobbs Radio Award, his television credits include The Crown, Ted Lasso, Gentleman Jack, Andor, Renegade Nell, The Nevers and Bergerac. He was awarded an MBE for services to drama in 2018.

Charles Collingwood (Brian Aldridge)
Charles Collingwood has portrayed Brian Aldridge since 1975. Trained at RADA, his career spans radio, television and film, with credits including The Dark Crystal, ITV Playhouse and Hotel Babylon. He remains one of the longest-serving members of the cast.

Annabelle Dowler (Kirsty Miller)
Annabelle Dowler is best known as Kirsty Miller in BBC Radio 4’s The Archers. A former member of the BBC Radio Drama Company, her extensive radio work includes Wuthering Heights, Tumanbay and Take Me to Hope Street. Television credits include Unforgiveable, Ludwig,  Outlander – Blood of My Blood, The Suspect, The Reckoning, Brexit: An Uncivil War, Doctor Who, Silent Witness, and Lewis, with upcoming series The Blame. Film includes Suffragette and Your Christmas or Mine? Her theatre work spans the National Theatre, Birmingham Rep and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse. She also plays May in the multi-award-winning video game It Takes Two.

Ryan Kelly (Jazzer McCreary)
Ryan Kelly has portrayed Jazzer McCreary since 2000. A graduate of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, he won the inaugural Tyzack Award in 2011 presented by Dame Maggie Smith. Over more than two decades, Jazzer has evolved from tearaway to devoted family man, becoming one of Ambridge’s most enduring characters. A lifelong Archers fan, he has been listening since the age of eleven and is now living the dream from the inside.

Charlotte Martin (Susan Carter)
 Charlotte Martin has played Susan Carter (née Horrobin) since the early 1980s through iconic storylines, including the 1993 imprisonment that sparked the “Free the Ambridge One” campaign. Alongside her acting career in television, theatre and radio, she holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Birmingham and previously worked as an Assistant Professor in Youth Mental Health.

Ben Norris (Ben Archer)
Ben Norris is an actor, poet and filmmaker whose work spans stage, screen and radio. He co-created and starred in the Olivier Award–nominated The Choir of Man, plays Rogier in the global hit video game Elden Ring. and voices Ben Archer in The Archers. His short film Toad in the Hole screened at the 2025 BFI London Film Festival and is both BAFTA- and BIFA-qualifying, following earlier BBC and Channel 4 shorts that earned international festival selections and an RTS nomination. His acclaimed solo show, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Family won the IdeasTap Underbelly Award and toured worldwide, while his play Autopilot was named a Stage Best Show of 2022.

Ben also appeared in Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes on Disney+ released in 2025.

Sunny Ormonde (Lilian Bellamy)
Sunny Ormonde has played Lilian Bellamy for over 25 years, becoming one of the programme’s most recognisable voices and one of the listeners’ favourite characters. A seasoned theatre performer, she has appeared in everything from pantomime to Shakespeare and has created two One Woman Shows: the first An Evening With…, and the second Dorothy (The Airings of an Archers Actor’s Aunt). She has also appeared with fellow Archers cast members in stage shows, Come Rain, Come Shine; Larkin About and Wicked Women. Her most recent television appearances include Casualty, Christmas at Plumhill Manor and Doctors. Sunny also has a very successful podcast, One Stiletto in the Grave.

Susie Riddell (Tracy Horrobin)
Susie Riddell joined The Archers in 2011 as Tracy Horrobin, having previously played Kate Aldridge from 1989-1994. Her television work includes Grace and Coronation Street, the feature film THE PEOPLE BEFORE; and a world premiere production of THE WHISTLING at the Mill at Sonning Theatre. She co-hosts the award-winning podcast Limited Time Only alongside Esther Stanford. A former member of the BBC Radio Drama Company, Susie has narrated more than 70 audiobooks and appeared extensively across BBC Radio drama including ULYSSES; THE GREAT GATSBY; MRS DALLOWAY; TAMBURLAINE; and the live broadcasts D-DAY AT 70, THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN AT 75 (BBC Radio 2 / TBI Media); VE DAY AT 70 (Classic FM / TBI Media).

Angela Barnes (host)

Angela Barnes swapped a career in health and social care for stand-up in 2010, winning the BBC New Comedy Award just a year later. She has since toured the UK extensively and become a familiar face on television, with appearances on Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, House of Games, Hypothetical, and Mock the Week.

A firm favourite on radio, Angela co-hosts The Jon Richardson Radio Show on Absolute Radio on Saturday mornings. She also co-hosted the hit podcast We Are History with John O’Farrell, which amassed over a million downloads across six series.

In 2026 Angela will appear on Celebrity Bullseye, rejoin the panel for Mock the Week‘s upcoming return, host BBC Radio 4’s brand-new series Live from the UK, and continue her tour Angst.

Vanessa Nuttall (live spot sound effects artist)

Vanessa is a freelance sound engineer creating real-time sound effects for The Archers, part of a three-person technical team. Passionate about painting pictures through listeners’ ears, she brings scenes to life using creative and sometimes surprisingly unlikely props.

During 16 years at the BBC, she began as a production assistant in religious broadcasting before retraining as a sound assistant. She worked across radio and television — from drama and classical music to current affairs — with radio drama always her greatest passion. She has been a regular part of The Archers technical team for ten years.

Outside work, she enjoys walking, swimming, and gardening.

EXTRA PERFORMANCE ADDED FOR

SOLD OUT LONDON PREMIERE STAGED CONCERT OF

JOEY CONTRERAS’ NEW MUSICAL IN PIECES

Ailsa Davidson also announced to join the cast

The London premiere staged concert of Joey Contreras’ In Pieces today adds a fourth and final performance at The Other Palace on Tuesday 31 March at 11am due to unprecedented demand with all tickets throughout the house priced at £35.

This is the last chance for audiences to secure tickets to the exclusive London concert following the previously announced performances on 30 and 31 March selling out within 24 hours of on sale.

Joey Contreras said today, “I’m thrilled that this extra performance opens the door for even more audiences to experience In Pieces in person. We’ve been so excited to bring this production across the pond and have been overwhelmed at the incredible support from UK audiences.”

Also announced today Ailsa Davidson joins the cast as Sam. She replaces the previously announced Aimie Atkinson who, due to personal reasons, will no longer appear in the concert performances. Directed by Martha Geelan and choreographed by Sam Wilson-Freeman, the cast also features Antonio Cipriano, Ryan Kopel, Alex James-Hatton, Emilie Louise Israel and Romona Lewis-Malley.

Regular People alongside Arielle Smith, Sandie Browne, Ken Davenport, Brianna DaVault, David Lipowicz and Might Be Smart Productions presents

IN PIECES

By Joey Contreras

Cast: Antonio Cipriano (Peter), Ailsa Davidson (Sam), Ryan Kopel (Charlie), Alex James-Hatton (Grey), Emilie Louise Israel (River), Romona Lewis-Malley (Alex) with Sarah Freer and Jacob Atkins

Director: Martha Geelan; Music Director: Brian Russell Carey; Orchestrations: Joey Contreras and Brian Russell Carey; Choreographer: Sam Wilson-Freeman; Casting direction by: HJB Casting Ltd (Harry Blumenau CDG CSA), Lighting Designer: Adam King; Sound Designer: Alistair Penman, Prop Design by Justin Williams.

Monday 30 March 2026 at 5:30pm and 8pm

Tuesday 31 March at 11am and 2:30pm  

In Pieces is a love story about the people you don’t end up with.

Written and composed by Fred Ebb Award and Jonathan Larson Grant Finalist, Joey Contreras, In Pieces is a bold, contemporary new musical featuring a pop-driven score that dives into echoes of love, loss, and self-discovery by weaving the romantic journeys of six characters across three-chapters of life. As friends, family, and former lovers confront old wounds and unresolved feelings, will they learn to coexist with the joy and pain of the past?

In Pieces has become a global sensation with a massive social media fanbase, tens of millions of streams, and licensed productions internationally. NOW, the team is bringing the staged concert to premiere in London for a one-night-only event.

Joey Contreras’ other musicals include Forget Me Not (co-written with Kate Thomas), Robby Green Is All Grown Up, and Heartbreakers in Hell (a modern-day adaptation of Dante’s Inferno, co-written with Benjamin Halstead). He is also developing multiple new projects, including commissions with Storyboard Entertainment and RGN Theatrical/Talnek Communications. Additional composing credits include work for the Walt Disney Company, The 5th Avenue Theatre, and various short films. 

Ailsa Davidson plays Sam. Her theatre credits include, Heather’s The Musical, Bill Kenwright Ltd; Marie Curie The Musical, Charing Cross Theatre; Dracula: Mina’s Reckoning, National Theatre of Scotland; Lipsync, Summerhall; Elegies for Angels Punks and Raging Queens, Union Theatre; Grease (UK Tour), David Ian Productions; Peaches Americana, Theatre Royal Stratford East; Our House, Union Theatre. For screen, Outlander: Blood of my Blood; Halo, Heathers: The Musical.

Listing Information

THE OTHER PALACE

The Other Palace

12 Palace Street, London

SW1E 5JA

Box Office 020 7592 0302

https://theotherpalace.co.uk/

Monday 30 March 2026 at 5:30pm and 8pm

Tuesday 31 March at 11am and 2:30pm  

https://www.inpiecesmusical.com

Instagram/TikTok: @inpiecesmusical

REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE ANNOUNCES

A SERIES OF ONE-OFF SUNDAY EVENTS
AS PART OF ITS 2026 PROGRAMME

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre today announces further details for the series of one-off Sunday events as part of its 2026 programme. Family and Comedy performances will play across the full season, running from Sunday 24 May – Sunday 6 September 2026, celebrating some of the finest talent of today – set against the beautiful backdrop of Regent’s Park.

This year sees the return of the Family Day (including Bach To Baby Concert and The Marvellous Myth Hunter), as well as comedians James Acaster and Tim Key. Full line-up details can be found below.

Tickets for the various Sunday events go on sale for Members’ priority booking at 2pm today Thursday 12 March with general on sale at 12 noon on Monday 16 March 2026.

Further events and the line-up details for the return of the Live Music Week presented in partnership with Communion ONE will be announced later in the spring.

Visit openairtheatre.com for more information.  

The full line-up for the Family Day on Sunday 24 May 2026 includes:

FAMILY DAY
9.30am & 2pm
A day for all the family in the beautiful surroundings of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Our Family Day includes a ticket to The Marvellous Myth Hunter and access to a host of events, including Harp in the Park at the Bach to Baby Family Concert, a daytime party with Fly-Kid and more. Choose morning or afternoon entry and enjoy fun, food and family entertainment, all in the open air. 

               Location: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
               Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
               Suitable for all ages

PLAY BUILD PLAY
9.30am & 2pm

Play Build Play is bringing its immersive kit of sensory loose parts for all ages to Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Together we will play, invent, collect, sort, build, explore, touch, design, collaborate and dream. Can’t wait to see you there.           

Location: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Bar Area

Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
Most suitable for under 5s, but all ages welcome

A LINE ART – FINGERS SPORTS  
10am & 4.30pm              
Finger Sports is an exciting, interactive activity perfect for children and their families. Step into an illustrated world and wriggle, skip and twirl your fingers in an array of hilarious games based on your favourite hobbies. You are invited to play these fantastic games, as well as to create your own finger puppets and games which you can take home at the end of the day.

Location: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Studio 1

Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes     
Most suitable for ages 3 – 8, but all ages and abilities welcome

BACH TO BABY FAMILY CONCERT: HARP IN THE PARK     
10am & 2.30pm              
Featuring Cecilia de Maria on the harp, let the shimmering sounds of the harp fill the open air. From the cascading petals in the Flower Duet to the sparkling ripples of Hassleman’s La Source, we’ll drift through Beethoven’s moonlit calm and duet with the birds in Vivaldi’s Spring. Bring a blanket, gather the family, and enjoy live music under the bright blue sky – a day out to remember.

Bach to Baby is the critically-acclaimed concert series for babies, toddlers and you. Tots dance, roam about and revel in the wonder of live music, while you take a moment out of your busy day to hear top notch performances by outstanding musicians with your young babes in tow.

As seen at Royal Albert Hall and Buckingham Palace. As featured in The Times, The New York Times, Classic FM and Time Out.

Location: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Picnic Lawn

Duration: 45 minutes     

Suitable for all ages

THE MARVELLOUS MYTH HUNTER: IN THE BEGINNNING
11am

Love Heroes, Monsters & Mythical Tales? The Marvellous Myth Hunter needs YOU!

It’s time to dust off your maps and strap on your jetpacks for a journey around the world.  The Myth Hunter needs your help to find the most treacherous, the most astounding – and the most disgusting stories known to human-kind.

We’ll travel to ancient Congo to meet a god with an upset stomach, dodge the foul ice giants of Norse mythology, and voyage to the lands of the Anishinaabe in Canada.

Bring your best adventure outfit and join us for daring escapes, swordfights, weird creatures, interactive games and the chance to become an honorary member of The Myth Hunter Academy.

Presented by Amari Harris (Storyteller/Writer) and Andy McKeane (Writer/Director).

Location: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Main Auditorium
Duration: 50 minutes
Suitable for ages 5 – 11

FLY-KID FAMILY RAVE
12pm & 4.30pm

Fly-Kid is the family RnB, Soul, HipHop & Pop party for London’s flyest kids and grown-ups from Emily Rawson, the creator of Supa Dupa Fly.     

“London’s best HipHop & RnB night” – Time Out & Evening Standard         

Featuring Emily Rawson (BBC 1Xtra DJ) & friends, and hosted by Pranksta (Just Vibez) this family rave brings you dance games, free facepainting, confetti, props and more!                             
Have you had children, but really miss going out & hearing the music you love? We do, so we’ve created Fly-Kid – the daytime party from Supa Dupa Fly you can bring your kids to & introduce them to the tunes you grew up on!   

Location: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Studio 2
Duration: 1 hour
Most suitable for under 10s

THE MARVELLOUS MYTH HUNTER: FAMILY FEUD
3.30pm

Ready for an adventure? Grab your family and familiars, strap on your jetpacks and join the Myth Hunter in search of family feuds and sibling squabbles from ancient cultures across the world.

First stop – Japan, and the sun goddess Ameterasu. She banishes her mischievous brother, Susanoo, the god of wind, who looks for redemption – and a dragon.

Then to Nigeria, and the land of the Orisha, where Oduduwa earns his brothers respect by creating the earth with only four things; a golden chain, a snail shell of sand, some palm nut seeds, and a giant chicken.

And finally to ancient Egypt, where the jealous Set overthrows his brother Osiris and Queen Isis. Years later, their son – Horus – returns for an epic, shapeshifting showdown. 

Bring your best adventure outfit and join us for daring escapes, weird creatures, games and interactive storytelling.

No shapeshifting in the theatre, please.

Presented by Weird Folk, including Amari Harris (Storyteller/Writer) and Andy McKeane (Writer/Director).

Location: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Main Auditorium
Duration: 50 minutes
Suitable for all ages

Tickets for the Family Day are £15 – £18 and are available now:www.openairtheatre.com.              

JAMES ACASTER              

Sunday 31 May 2026, 7.45pm

A brand new show, full of everything you love about James Acaster and more!

Location: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Main Auditorium
Duration: 1 hour without an interval

Suitable for ages 14+

Tickets for James Acaster are £30 and are available now:www.openairtheatre.com.

               TIM KEY: LOGANBERRY

               Sunday 6 September 2026, 7.45pm

Tim Key (Alan Partridge, The Ballad of Wallis Island, Tim Key’s Late Night Poetry Programme) again pops his suit on, plods about, in a brand new show.    

Bit gutted he’s old. Guzzling continental lager. Magnetic lol. Decent reviews for previous shows. Played a pigeon in Bong Joon Ho’s latest movie. Been on Richard Herring’s podcast. Book out: “L.A. Baby!”. Met Steffi Graf in 1998/9.         

This show has poems in, and he’ll stamp and howl. Won the Perrier Award in 2009!               

               Location: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Main Auditorium
               Duration: 70 minutes without an interval
               Suitable for ages 14+

Tickets for Tim Key: Loganberry are £30 and are available now:www.openairtheatre.com.

BOX OFFICE INFORMATION

Box Office 0333 400 3562* | openairtheatre.com                              

Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4NU

* Lines open Monday – Sunday, 10am – 4pm. A £2.50 per transaction booking fee applies. 0333 numbers are charged at the same rate as calls to 01 and 02 numbers as regulated by Ofcom. Please check with your provider for further details.

Visit openairtheatre.com for latest ticket prices, concessions and discounts.

#OAT2026

2026 SEASON AT A GLANCE

A Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production

SHERLOCK HOLMES

Saturday 2 May – Saturday 6 June 2026

Access Performances:

BSL Interpreted: Thurs 4 June, 7.45pm

Captioned: Fri 5 June, 7.45pm

Audio Described: Sat 6 June, 2pm

Age Recommendation: 12+

Tickets from: £15

OPEN AIR THEATRE SUNDAY EVENT: FAMILY DAY
Sunday 24 May 2026

Age recommendation: All ages welcome

Day Entry Tickets: Adults £18, Children £15

OPEN AIR THEATRE SUNDAY EVENT: JAMES ACASTER

Sunday 31 May 2026

Age recommendation: 14+

Tickets: £30

A Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production

A LIFE IN FOUR SEASONS

Thursday 11 – Sunday 14 June 2026

Age Recommendation: 8+

Tickets from: £15

A Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

Saturday 20 June – Saturday 18 July 2026

Access Performances:

BSL Interpreted: Sat 11 July, 12.30pm & Thurs 16 July, 7.45pm

Captioned: Fri 17 July, 7.45pm

Audio Described: Sat 18 July, 12.30pm

Age Recommendation: 10+

Tickets from: £15

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

with Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals presents

CATS

Saturday 25 July – Saturday 12 September 2026

Access Performances:

Relaxed: Thurs 27 August, 2pm

BSL Interpreted: Tue 1 September, 7.45pm

Captioned: Fri 4 September, 7.45pm        

Audio Described: Sat 5 September, 2pm

Age Recommendation: 5+

Tickets from: £15

A Unicorn Theatre and Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production

ANANSI THE SPIDER

Saturday 15 August – Sunday 6 September 2026

Age recommendation: 4+

Tickets from: £15

OPEN AIR THEATRE SUNDAY EVENT: TIM KEY: LOGANBERRY

Sunday 6 September 2026

Age recommendation: 14+

Tickets: £30

BEYOND THE PARK

Roald Dahl Story Company present

The family musical based on Roald Dahl’s
THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE

UK Tour                                                             27 March – 26 July 2026

Lyric Hammersmith, London                        28 July – 22 August 2026

Originally produced by Roald Dahl Story Company, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and Leeds Playhouse

enormouscrocodilemusical.com

David Ian for Crossroads Live and Work Light Productions present

The Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
Solaire Theatre, Manila                                2 – 24 May 2026

National Theatre, Taipei                               18 – 21 June 2026

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore                     17 August – 13 September 2026
Further dates and venues to be announced.
tour.jesuschristsuperstar.com

Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals presents

The Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
London Palladium                                          20 June – 5 September 2026
london.jesuschristsuperstar.com

Trafalgar Theatre Productions, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and Brian & Dayna Lee presents

The Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

Theatre Royal Sydney                                    31 July – 6 September 2026
Further dates and venues to be announced.

fiddlerontherooftour.com

Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals presents

The Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of

CATS

Theatre Royal Plymouth                               6 – 17 October 2026

Hull New Theatre                                           20 – 24 October 2026

Birmingham Hippodrome                            27 October – 7 November 2026

Palace Theatre Manchester                        10 – 21 November 2026

Bristol Hippodrome                                       24 – 28 November 2026

Venue Cymru Llandudno                             1 – 5 December 2026

Theatre Royal Glasgow                                 8 – 27 December 2026

Royal Concert Hall Nottingham                   6 – 16 January 2027

His Majesty’s Theatre Aberdeen                 9 – 13 February 2027

Theatre Royal Norwich                                 16 – 27 February 2027

Grand Opera House Belfast                         2 – 13 March 2027

Mayflower Southampton                             30 March – 10 April 2027

Alhambra Theatre Bradford                         27 April – 1 May 2027    

Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff               25 – 29 May 2027

Theatre Royal Newcastle                              8 – 19 June 2027
Further dates and venues to be announced.

catsthemusical.com

ABOUT REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE

Established in 1932, the multi-award-winning Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is one of the largest theatres in London (at a capacity of 1,304). Passionate about producing popular, enriching and unexpected theatre that provides a lens into the here and now, the scale and ambition of our productions together with our magical outdoor setting, makes us unique in the capital’s cultural landscape. In 2025 we welcomed just over 176,000 people to our 20-week summer season.

Drew McOnie assumed the role of Artistic Director in January 2024, and James Pidgeon was appointed Executive Director in 2021.

Over the last fifteen years, our productions have won ten Olivier Awards, ten WhatsOnStage Awards, and four Evening Standard Awards. We were named London Theatre of the Year in 2017 by The Stage, and received the Highly Commended Award for London Theatre of the Year in 2021. Our productions have toured the UK, and have transferred to both the West End and the United States. Our 2016 revival of Jesus Christ Superstar has just finished tours of the UK, North America and Australia. Our Olivier Award-winning revival of Fiddler on the Roof transferred to the Barbican Centre in May 2025 ahead of a major tour of the UK & Ireland and will tour Australia from July 2026.

As a registered charity that receives no regular public subsidy, we rely entirely on earned income and charitable contributions. Nevertheless, we have over 46,000 tickets at £25 or under available across the whole of 2026’s summer season, and we regularly work with a range of local charities. Each year, on average, we subsidise tickets for 6,000 school pupils.

Food and drink plays a significant role in the Open Air Theatre experience, with our in-house bars and restaurants including Covered Dining (certified as a Sustainably Run Restaurant), The Grill and The Pizza Oven. We also have our own picnic lawn and the West End’s longest bar!

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has become one of the most independently sustainable and financially successful producing theatres in the country, and we’re proud to embark on the next stage of our vision with ever-increasing artistic ambition and entrepreneurial spirit.

openairtheatre.com

Facebook: RegentsParkOpenAirTheatre

Instagram: @RegentsParkOAT

TikTok: @regentsparkoat

DON’T BE RIDICULOUS, EVERYBODY WANTS THIS, EVERYBODY WANTS US

TO STAY LONGER

WILL EXTEND ITS WEST END REIGN UNTIL 06 FEBRUARY 2027 

WITH VANESSA WILLIAMS AND MATT HENRY EXTENDING THEIR RUNWAY TENURE UNTIL 17 OCTOBER 2026

AT THE DOMINION THEATRE 

Opening in the West End in December 2024 and already a cover‑story sensation, The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical has become the fastest‑selling show in the Dominion Theatre’s history and following unprecedented front‑row buzz the musical will now extend until 6 February 2027.

The undisputed Queen of fashion, Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty; Desperate Housewives), will continue her reign as the formidable Miranda Priestly until Saturday 17 October. Matt Henry, MBE (Kinky Boots; The Drifters Girl), who plays her right‑hand man and Runway’s Creative Fashion Director, Nigel, will also remain with the production until this date. 

The current cast is completed by Stevie Doc (winner of ITV’s Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream) as the fish-out-of-water Andy, with Taila Halford (Shucked; School of Rock) as Miranda’s fiery and fashion-forward first assistant Emily, and Keelan McAuley (Clueless; Heathers) as Andy’s boyfriend Nate, and James Darch(Mamma Mia!; Wicked) as the devious journalist, Christian.

The ensemble are: Gabby Antrobus, Georgia Aspinall, Anta Bah, Selena Barron, Evonnee Bentley-Holder, Pamela Blair, Jenna Bonner, Xenoa Campbell-Ledgister, Lloyd Davies, Jinny Gold,Selina Hamilton, Kimberley Hoyle, Luke Jackson, Emma Johnson, Justin-Lee Jones, Debbie Kurup, Mark Lamb, Ethan Le Phong, Brandon Lee Sears, Nathan Lorainey-Dineen, Dean Makowski-Clayton, Shannon Molloy, Eleanor Peach, Joshua Robinson, Joshua Steel, Kayleigh Thadani, Harry Tunningley, Alex Woodward andTara Yasmin.

Hilariously fun and fabulously stylish, The Devil Wears Prada tells an inspiring story about discovering what kind of person you truly want to be. Choose your outfit carefully and get ready for a new musical that’s hautter than hell! 

Opening with record breaking sales and playing to rapturous audiences, this milestone-setting musical continues to take the West End by storm having also released its first original cast recording last year, available HERE, which includes two unheard Elton John original demos and charted as the #1 new release on the compilations chart. In the last month the production welcomed its millionth customer through its doors.

The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical has anaward-winning creative team led by Elton John (Tammy Faye; Billy Elliot: The Musical; The Lion King), new direction & choreography by Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots; Legally Blonde; Pretty Woman; Hairspray), lyrics by singer-songwriter Shaina Taub (Suffs) and Mark Sonnenblick (Theatre Camp),book by Kate Wetherhead (Ever After; Submissions Only), set design by Tim Hatley (Life of Pi; Back to the Future), costume design by Gregg Barnes (Some Like It Hot; Legally Blonde), lighting design by Bruno Poet (The Tina Turner Musical; Frankenstein), sound design by Gareth Owen (Come From Away; & Juliet) and casting by Jill Green CDG. 

The production opened at Theatre Royal Plymouth prior to arriving in the West End last summer, from 06 July – 17 August 2024.

Fresh out of college, aspiring journalist Andy scores a job at the prestigious Runway magazine working for fashion’s most powerful and terrifying icon — editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly. Sacrificing her personal life to meet Miranda’s impossible demands, Andy finds herself seduced by the glamorous world she once despised. How far will she go to succeed… and will it be worth selling her soul to get what she’s always wanted?

The musical is based on Lauren Weisberger‘s best-selling 2003 novel and the 2006 blockbuster film from Twentieth Century Studios which went on to gross $326 million worldwide and received two Academy Award nominations. The sequel The Devil Wears Prada 2 will released on 01 May 2026 with its original leading cast, Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci all reprising their roles. 

The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical is produced by four time Tony Award winner Kevin McCollum (Mrs. Doubtfire; In the Heights; Avenue Q; Rent), David Furnish (Tammy Faye; Billy Elliot: The Musical) and Jamie Wilson (Into The Woods; Mrs Doubtfire; Two Strangers)as a co-production with Theatre Royal Plymouth, and presented by special arrangement with Buena Vista Theatrical. 

STORYHOUSE, CHESTER – UNTIL SATURDAY 21ST MARCH 2026

REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN

5*****

I’ve had a deep appreciation for Shakespeare since my school days. My English teacher brought his plays to life with such enthusiasm that the language, drama, and humour were truly captivating. As a result, I seize any chance to see his work performed. This Thursday, I was thrilled to attend the press night of Macbeth at Storyhouse.

The main theatre at Storyhouse features two auditorium layouts, enabling it to cater to large West End-style productions as well as more intimate performances. Macbeth was performed in the cozier arrangement, which was a perfect fit for the play. The smaller environment allowed the action to unfold close to the audience, enhancing their engagement with the drama. Some actors even moved through the audience, creating a wonderfully immersive and immediate experience for everyone present.

Before the show began, I had a lovely chat with a member of the theatre staff who shared that Macbeth is featured in this year’s GCSE curriculum. Several schools have already enjoyed the matinee performances, and it’s been a great success. Watching the production, it was clear why—as it brings Shakespeare to life in a relatable and exciting way.

Macbeth tells the story of a Scottish general who receives a prophecy from three witches, predicting he will become king. Driven by ambition and spurred on by his wife’s encouragement, he takes a dark and violent route to seize power. It’s fascinating to see how the themes in this play, first performed in the early 1600s, are still so relevant today. Shakespeare dives into the dangers of unchecked ambition and the lengths people will go to for power, illustrating how these choices can lead to their own downfall. Sound familiar?

Upon entering the theatre, what really caught my eye was the impressive set and projection design by Andrew Exeter and Daniel Denton. The long neon tube lights hung from the ceiling, changing colours throughout the show, while a large black wall at the back of the stage acted as a great canvas for projections. These added to the atmosphere and created a sense of place during key moments, all while allowing the actors plenty of space to move about. In this more intimate theatre, it worked beautifully to keep the focus on the performances. I must say, I particularly enjoyed the bathroom set sequence!

Shakespeare can be quite challenging to perform due to its fast-paced language and deep emotions, but the entire cast truly rose to the occasion. Yolanda Ovide stood out in her role as Lady Macbeth. Often shown as more ruthless and determined than Macbeth himself, she cleverly manipulates him into killing King Duncan by questioning his bravery and masculinity. Ovide’s powerful portrayal captivated the audience, taking them on a journey through Lady Macbeth’s fierce ambition, her downward spiral into guilt, madness, and ultimately, her tragic end.

Roly Botha truly impressed me by taking on several roles, including Witch 1, the Porter, and Lady Macduff. They effortlessly transitioned between characters, showcasing a strong presence and confidence that made each performance feel unique and engaging.

This production wonderfully highlighted what makes Shakespeare special, while also showcasing the creative flair that Storyhouse is famous for. Modern elements fit together beautifully with classic Shakespeare, enhanced by superb sound and lighting effects and striking costume designs.

I really enjoy Shakespeare’s clever insults, and this performance had a fantastic selection. My standout line from the evening was, “Thou cream-faced loon! Where did you get that goose look?”

THE LADY BOYS OF BANGKOK BRING THEIR DAZZLING “FULL MOON” TOUR TO CENTRAL LONDON  

SABAI PAVILION, SHEPHERD’S BUSH GREEN

27 JUNE – 12 JULY 2026

One of the UK’s most colourful and long-running cabaret spectaculars arrives in central London this summer as The Lady Boys of Bangkok bring their brand new show Full Moon to Shepherd’s Bush Green from 27 June to 12 July 2026, with a press night on 30 June.

Staged inside the company’s glamorous Sabai Pavilion – a custom-built, heated pink cabaret tent with table seating, plush carpeting and well-stocked bars – the show promises a dazzling night of music, comedy and high-energy performance inspired by Thailand’s vibrant cabaret traditions.

Featuring nine ladyboy performers, four male dancers and a drag host, the show is a dazzling cabaret spectacular featuring elaborate costumes, choreographed routines and show-stopping theatrical moments.  Expect chart-topping pop hits and around 400 glittering costumes in a fast-paced celebration of glamour, identity and pure escapist entertainment.  While London has a growing cabaret scene, The Lady Boys of Bangkok offers a large-scale international revue experience that is genuinely unlike anything else currently playing

Since first premiering in 1998, The Lady Boys of Bangkok has become a touring phenomenon, entertaining more than one million people across the UK and internationally, including runs in Australia and South Africa. The show has also become a regular fixture at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it has returned almost every year since its debut.

While the production made a limited short appearance in London’s West End at the Queen’s Theatre in 1998, the spectacular Sabai Pavilion experience has never before appeared in central London, making this Shepherd’s Bush run a rare opportunity for London audiences to experience the full touring show in its signature venue.

Creative Director Hayley Gandey said: “There’s something very special about bringing Ladyboys of Bangkok back to London. The show has entertained over a million people since it began, and audiences come for the glamour, the comedy and the joy of the experience. It’s a celebration of performance, and we’re excited to invite London audiences to join the party.”

Thai Company Manager and performer Oak (Taweesak Samdangrit) also commented: “For many of us, performing in Ladyboys of Bangkok is a way of sharing a part of Thai cabaret culture with audiences around the world. It’s wonderful to see people from different backgrounds come together and enjoy the show. Our goal every night is simple — we want people to forget about their worries, laugh, dance in their seats and leave with a big smile on their faces.”

Over the years the show has welcomed a host of celebrity visitors including Rylan Clark, Russell Tovey, Gail Porter, Katie Price, Chelsea Healey and stars from shows including Coronation Street, Geordie Shore and Gogglebox.

Expect outrageous humour, iconic music, dazzlingcostumes and unforgettable performances in what has become one of the UK’s most exuberant touring cabaret experiences.

Tickets and information for all shows are available here.

Emmerson & Ward Productions presents 

RUM 

LONDON PREMIERE

Set pre manosphere, this impactful solo show exploring society’s expectation of men and the impact on their mental health, is back by popular demand

Written and performed by Joe Mallalieu (Coronation Street) 

Directed by Tess Seddon (Say Yes To Tess) 

WINNER: Broadway Baby Bobby Award (Edinburgh Fringe 2024) 

UK TOUR 2026: Wednesday 22 April – Tuesday 9 June 2026, various times, 16+

RUM: an insult and a compliment; Having no care for the consequences of an action; Acting larger than life. 

“Mallalieu’s storytelling is captivating and impassioned” ★★★★★ Broadway Baby  
“Dazzlingly authentic” ★★★★ The Scotsman
“A blistering play” The Mirror
“A powerful, intimate play.” ★★★★★ The Reviews Hub

“This plaster will outlive me. I shape these rooms but in turn they have moulded me. Hiding secrets. Weak spots made to look strong.”

Returning to tour further across the UK, this moving solo show is inspired by playwright and plasterer Joe Mallalieu’s real-life experiences of the building trade. RUM received strong critical praise following a brief 2024 Edinburgh Fringe run where it captured the interest of TV producers (development discussions are well underway). 

RUM follows Danny who has been plastering since he was a kid, he’s not scared of anything, he’s RUM. He’s been up all night and now he’s rushing to finish a job before he has to give the speech of his life. The biting play explores what happens when you lack the language or tools to speak about your emotions, interrogating how poor mental health, the celebration of violence and stigma around vulnerability often go hand-in-hand. The debut, which toured the UK last year capturing the interest of scores of non theatre goers as it went venue to venue, is written and performed by plasterer and actor Joe Mallalieu whose family have been in the building trade for three generations. 

Writer and performer Joe Mallalieu said: “I think RUM pre-dates the Andrew Tate view point, it’s not born with the rise of social media or an uncertainty of what men should be or how they could grow up like we saw in Adolescence. 

“It’s about how working class men have been growing up for generations. I think that’s why it did so well last tour, why we’re bringing it back and also why TV production companies have shown interest.” 

Director Tess Seddon said: “‘When I first started working with Joe on RUM I was struck by the rich complexity of the main character of Danny. He feels love and loyalty so deeply and yet the only acceptable way to express it is through destruction and violence. He’s trapped by the very culture that he loves so much. Now four years later, the play is more relevant than ever. With the rise of the manosphere Danny’s story is happening on a massive scale as young men are learning limiting and hate filled ideas of what a man should be. I’m thrilled to be bringing such an emotional, funny and politically charged show on a nationwide tour at a time when conversations about masculinity are so badly needed.’ man who both wears the culture as a badge of honour and suffers within it.”

Lucas Whitehead, Head of Marketing and Partnerships, ANDYSMANCLUB, said: ”We’re proud to be supporting RUM, a no holds-barred take on mental health and suicide in the construction industry. It is no coincidence that britain’s most male-dominated industry has a problem with male suicide, and anything that artists, professionals or the public can do to shine a light on this is massively beneficial. 700 people a year take their lives in construction-related suicides. It is important to make noise about the importance of talking and openness and to create things that men who may be struggling can relate to. If this production can inspire one person to make a change in their life, and in turn prevent their suicide or suffering, then the production has done its job.” 

Company Information

Writer & Performer Joe Mallalieu (he/him)

Director & Dramaturg Tess Seddon (she/her)

Designer Rūta Iribīte (she/her)

Lighting Designer Amy Mae (she/her)

Composer & Sound Designer Lee Affen (he/him)

Photography & Graphic Design Grant Archer (he/him)

Technical Stage Manager & Production Manager Tom Blackband (he/him)

PR SM Publicity

Assistant Producer Sasha Dowdy (she/her)

Producer Emmerson & Ward Productions 

Web and social media links: 

Facebook: facebook.com/Emmerson&WardProductions / Instagram: @emmersonandward / X: @EmmersonWard

#RUMJoeMallalieu

West End LIVE returns to Trafalgar Square for 2026 

Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 June 2026 

WestEndLive.co.uk  

·         Hailed as ‘Glastonbury for theatre lovers’, Europe’s largest free musical theatre festival returns on Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 June 

·         West End LIVE continues its commitment to delivering an environmentally responsible event 
 

West End LIVE will return to Trafalgar Square on Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 June, with a packed line-up of top West End shows yet to be announced. Hailed as ‘Glastonbury for theatre lovers’, West End LIVE is Europe’s largest free musical theatre festival which, each year, showcases outstanding performances from over 50 London musicals. 

Tens of thousands of theatre fans are set to descend on the capital for this unique event, presented by Westminster City Council and the Society of London Theatre, with support from the Mayor of London, partners and sponsors. West End LIVE brings audiences of all ages into the heart of the city to celebrate the very best of the West End – from its world-class theatre and culture to its vibrant food, drink, fashion, nightlife and retail scene – delivering a significant boost to Westminster’s local economy and championing the creative industries. 

For the first time in West End LIVE history, 100 queue jump places per day are up for grabs via an online competition. Each lucky winner will access West End LIVE via a separate entrance, plus one winner will get the chance to go backstage and see the magic of West End LIVE from behind the curtain, receive a £50 merchandise voucher and £200 in Theatre Tokens to redeem on OfficialLondonTheatre.com or at the Official London Theatre Ticket Booth in Leicester Square. Entrants must complete an online form at OfficialLondonTheatre.com to be in with a chance of winning this exclusive prize.  

West End LIVE is also committed to delivering the event in a way that is environmentally responsible. In 2025, the festival pioneered a large-scale battery-powered production model in Trafalgar Square, significantly reducing carbon emissions while maintaining the high-energy performances and technical excellence audiences expect. This innovative approach – delivered in collaboration with Film and TV Services – demonstrated how world-class live entertainment can be staged sustainably in the heart of the capital. The 2025 event also saw a 90% reduction in single-use plastics across the site. 

By embedding sustainability and inclusivity at its core, West End LIVE is setting a benchmark for how major cultural events can responsibly serve audiences, artists and the city alike. 

Cllr Sara Hassan, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Ecology, Culture and Air Quality, said:  

“West End LIVE is one of the highlights in London’s cultural calendar, and we’re delighted to welcome it back to Trafalgar Square this June.  

“Through our partnership with the Society of London Theatre, we are increasing access to world‑class culture for residents and young people in Westminster, while welcoming thousands of visitors from across the UK to enjoy this free celebration of musical theatre.   

“We’re also proud to build on last year’s sustainability achievements from cutting carbon emissions with innovative battery‑powered staging to reducing single‑use plastics across the site. Each year we’re finding smarter, greener ways to deliver this much‑loved event, ensuring West End LIVE continues to thrive in a more sustainable future.” 

West End LIVE would not be possible without the ongoing commitment shown by Westminster City Council and the Society of London Theatre, with the support of Art of London, ATG Entertainment, The Crown Estate, Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, Disney on Stage, Gascoyne Estates, Heart of London Business Alliance, London Heritage Quarter, LW Theatres, Mayor of London, New West End Company, Nimax Theatres, The Noël Coward Foundation, Regent Street and St James’s, Shaftesbury Capital, Theatre Royal Haymarket, Theatrical Rights Worldwide, Trafalgar Entertainment and Veolia.   

West End LIVE is free to attend. Throughout the weekend, performances and exclusive backstage content are streamed on Official London Theatre’s YouTube and social media channels. 

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