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OLIVIER AWARD WINNING MUSICAL TITANIQUE
TEAMS UP WITH PRIDE IN LONDON FOR GALA PERFORMANCE AT CRITERION THEATRE

London’s Olivier Award-winning splash-hit musical Titaníque, teamed up with Pride in London for a special Gala Performance at the Criterion Theatre on Thursday 3^rd July, and a week of fundraising efforts. The gala performance, in support of Pride in London’s mission to promote visibility, unity and equality in society for all LGBT+ people and allies, was attended by celebrities including Charlie Condou, Russell Tovey, Self Esteem and Ian ‘H’ Watkins.

The performance also marked the launch of a limited-edition Titaníque Pride Pin which will be available from the Criterion Theatre whilst stocks last, with 100% of the proceeds from sales going to Pride in London. The producers of Titaníque are also currently offering an exclusive Pride Offer of £50 for best seats on performances through 6^th July.

Pride in London is a majority volunteer-led organisation responsible for delivering the capital’s flagship LGBT+ Pride parade and events since 2013. Pride in London’s mission is to promote visibility, unity and equality in society for all LGBT+ people and allies. They do this by producing LGBT+ Pride events that inspire, celebrate, educate, and commemorate the community. The annual event now welcomes over 1.7 million LGBT+ people and allies onto the streets of London.

Pride in London on Saturday 5^th July will mark 53 years of Pride events in the capital with a parade scheduled to start at 12pm running from Hyde Park Corner, through Piccadilly Circus, down Haymarket along Cockspur to Trafalgar Square, culminating at Whitehall Place. The parade will see over 500 groups, made up of LGBT+ Community Groups, LGBT+ businesses, and partners, forming together to make a total of over 33,000 participants.

There will also be a stellar line-up of artists performing across six performance areas around Central London. Pride in London’s six stages, including Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Golden Square, Soho Square, Dean Street, and a Family Stage, will play host to over 100 performers including icons from the LGBT+ community.

Titanique’s Lauren Drew will appear as a guest host on the iconic Trafalgar Square stage.

The gala performance also celebrated the arrival of new West End cast members who boarded Titanique on Tuesday 10 June: Luke Bayer as Jack, Richard Carson as Cal, Hiba Elchikhe as Rose, Carl Mullaney as Ruth, Tosh Wanogho-Maud as The Iceberg and Caitlin Tipping asoffstage Understudy.  

They joined original West End cast members Darren Bennett as Victor Garber / Luigi, Lauren Drew as Céline Dion, Charlotte Wakefield as Molly Brown, Adrianne Langley, Madison Swan andRodney Vubya as on-stage background vocalists, as well as offstage understudy Freddie King.

From Tuesday 15 July and 22 July respectively, Astrid Harris will take over the role of Céline Dionand, Jenny O’Leary will begin performances as Molly Brown.

★★★★★
The Times, Daily Mail, Sunday Express, Sunday Mirror, Gay Times, London Theatre

When the music of Céline Dion makes sweet Canadian love with the eleven-time Oscar®-winning blockbuster film Titanic, you get Titanique, the two-time Olivier award-winning splash hit that turns one of the greatest love stories of all time into a hysterical musical fantasia.

Featuring powerhouse voices in show-stopping performances of such hits as My Heart Will Go On, All by Myself and To Love you More – backed by a full live band – Titanique is a one-of-a-kind theatrical voyage bursting with nostalgia, heart and campy chaos. See you aboard the Ship of Dreams, girlfriends!

The London production of Titanique is produced by Eva Price and Michael Harrison.

Titanique is currently booking until Sunday 4 January 2026 at london.titaniquemusical.com.

For more information on Pride in London visit www.prideinlondon.org.

WEST END & BROADWAY SMASH-HIT

ELF THE MUSICAL

TO RETURN TO LONDON

FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED SEASON

AT THE ALDWYCH THEATRE

FROM 28 OCTOBER UNTIL 3 JANUARY 2026

ELF the smash hit musical returns to the West End for a strictly limited, 10-week season this winter at the Aldwych Theatre, running from 28 October 2025 to 3 January 2026. Tickets are available now at elflondon.com.

After two sold-out runs at the Dominion Theatre and a record-breaking holiday run at the Marquis Theatre on Broadway, ELF will bring holiday cheer to London with a brand-new set, adapted for the dimensions of the Aldwych Theatre by Tim Goodchild.

This production of ELF will once again be directed by Philip Wm. McKinley, with choreography by Liam Steel, set and costumes by Tim Goodchild, lighting by Patrick Woodroffe, sound by Gareth Owen and video by Ian William Galloway. Casting will be by Grindrod Burton Casting.

The cast will be announced at a later date.

Based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit starring Will Ferrell, ELF features a book by Tony Award-winners Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone), with songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer).

ELF is the funny and charming tale of Buddy, who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag as a baby and was raised as an elf! Way too tall and not so great at his job, Buddy is the North Pole’s biggest misfit… and knows he’ll never belong. When Santa tells him the truth, Buddy heads to New York City to find his birth father (who turns out to be quite high on the naughty list). After causing some merry mayhem in Manhattan, Buddy finally discovers the gift of family and falls in love. And when Santa’s sleigh crashes in Central Park, it’s Buddy who finds a way to save Christmas forever!

First staged at the Dominion Theatre in 2022, this production became the fastest selling show in the venue’s history, going on to break its own box office records during the subsequent 2023 run at the same house. When this production ran at the Marquis Theatre in 2024, it marked the musical’s first return to Broadway in over a decade and went on to break the venue’s box office’s record for weekly grosses in two consecutive weeks.

ELF is produced by Temple Live Entertainment.

Website: elflondon.com

Instagram: @elfmusicalLDN

Facebook: @elfmusicalLDN

Twitter: @elfmusicalLDN

LISTINGS INFORMATION

ELF the Musical

28 October 2025 – 3 January 2026

Aldwych Theatre

49 Aldwych, London

WC2B 4DF

Box Office:  0845 200 7981

Performances: Tuesday – Saturday 7pm, Thursday and Saturday 2pm

There will be additional matinees on: 9 December & 16 December at 2pm

Christmas 2025 Performance Schedule

Monday 22 December – 2pm & 7pm

Tuesday 23 December – 2pm & 7pm

Wednesday 24 December – 2pm

Thursday 25 December – No Performance

Friday 26 December – 2pm & 7pm

Saturday 27 December – 2pm & 7pm

Sunday 28 December – No Performance

Monday 29 December – 2pm & 7pm

Tuesday 30 December – 2pm & 7pm

Wednesday 31 December – 2pm

Thursday 1 January – 7pm

Friday 2 January – 7pm

Saturday 3 January – 2pm & 7pm

FINAL TICKETS RELEASED WITH FOUR WEEKS TO GO TO OPENING

GREASE: THE IMMERSIVE MOVIE MUSICAL

BATTERSEA PARK

Friday 1 August to Sunday 7 September 2025

SIX WEEKS ONLY

www.greasetheimmersivemoviemusical.com

MEET THE CLASS OF ’25 AS FURTHER CASTING ANNOUNCED

Get ready to rub shoulders with Danny, Sandy, the T-Birds and Pink Ladies at Secret Cinema’s GREASE: The Immersive Movie Musical. With rehearsals now underway, meet the Class of ’25 as Secret Cinema and Today Tix announce further casting and final tickets go on sale for the capital’s biggest immersive summer event. The ever-innovative team returns to London with a brand-new format to bring the beloved movie musical from Paramount Pictures to life as never before. The doors to Rydell High will open for a strictly limited term of just six weeks from Friday 1 August to Sunday 7 September at Evolution London, in Battersea Park. Tickets can be purchased at www.greasetheimmersivemoviemusical.com

The newly announced cast join previously announced Pink Ladies and T Bird, Stephanie Costi as Sandy, Liam Buckland as Kenickie and Lucy Penrose as Rizzo. Liam Morris leads the T Birds as Danny alongside Andilé Mabhena as Putsie, Darragh Rochford as Doody and Myles Thomas as Sonny. Donning Pink Ladies jackets alongside Sandy and Lucy are Toni Pais as Marty, Brooke Ramsay as Jan and Gerardine Sacdalan as Frenchie,who all appear alongside schoolmates Imogen Kingsley-Smith as Patty Simcox and Jacob Stebbings as Eugene Felsnic.Imposing order on the halls of Rydell High are staff members Colleen Daley as Principal McGee, Julie Cloke as her secretary, Blanche and Rhys Owen as Coach Calhoun. David Fearn will appear as Teen Angel/Choir Master with Waylon Jacobs as television teen-dance show host, Vince Fontaine.

The company is completed by the ensemble cast, Morgan Baulch, Dylan Blake-Colbet, Ziki Buswell, Erin Corfield, Leah Dane, Bella Donald, CJ Driver, David Heal, Reece Kerridge, Sunny Lee, Kelly Mbarga, Rose Mary O’Reilly and Aaron Shales

Each performance of Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical will be a two-and-a-half-hour spectacular which blurs the line between screen and reality, and for the very first time, the entire film is brought to life all around you with actors and immersive elements seamlessly blending with the on-screen action. Step into the ultimate director’s cut and live at the very heart of Grease as screens play the fan-favourite film whilst a 30-strong cast and live band bring to life all of the songs from the film’s hit soundtrack including ‘You’re The One That I Want’, ‘Beauty School Dropout’, ‘Greased Lightnin’, ‘Look At Me I’m Sandra Dee’, ‘Summer Nights’, and ‘We Go Together,’ fusing the film and its iconic moments with a modern live action experience.

From the moment you enter Rydell High, you are invited to join all the action – follow your favourite characters, cheer on the T-Birds, share secrets with the Pink Ladies, learn to hand jive, join choir practice, get a taste of 1950s American diner-inspired delights and visit the fun fair as dazzling live performances and sensational dance numbers enthrall ahead of the sensational collective finale.

This exhilarating new production will be staged with all the Secret Cinema finesse and attention to detail that film fans have come to know and love, and legendary locations will include the Frosty Palace, The Beauty School, The Carnival, The Gym, The Autoshop and La Cafury Beauty School.

Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical’s theatrical magic will be spectacularly realised by a multi-award-winning creative team renowned for their West End and Broadway credits including Matthew Costain, Director; Tom Rogers, Set Designer; Jennifer Weber, Choreographer; Howard Hudson, Lighting Designer; Gareth Fry, Sound Designer; Ian William Galloway, Video Designer; Casting Director, Grace McInerny for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting; Music Supervisor, Steve Sidwell; Costume Designers, Susan Kulkarni and Martina Trottman; Wigs Hair and Make Up Design by Farida Ghwedar and Jessie Deol. 

GREASE: The Immersive Movie Musical also sees the introduction of a new event ticketing structure. General Admission (Free Roam) tickets start at £49 offering general access. VIP Seated (Roam and Return) tickets will, for the first time, allow attendees to join the world of Rydell High with the option to return to designated seating throughout the event and start at £79. Premium Immersive (Join the Cast) tickets begin at £149 and offer an experience like never before, with ticket holders learning choreographed routines in advance of the performance, before joining the crowd-dazzling company.

The 2025 production marks the first of three consecutive summer events from the masters of immersive entertainment, at Evolution London, their most central London venue to date.Future productions based on other iconic titles for 2026 & 2027 will be announced later in the year.

Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical is produced by Secret Cinema & TodayTix (Merritt Baer, Producer and President; Ben Hosford, Executive Producer), Sander Jacobs, Grove Entertainment, Elizabeth Williams & Jack M. Dalgleish, Sing Out, Louise! Productions, Remmel T. Dickinson, Front Row Productions, Inc., Willette and Manuel Klausner, James Yeoburn, Mickey Liddell / Pete Shilaimon, Hugo Six, Creative Partners Productions, Eastern Standard Time, Fiona Rudin, Barry & Fran Weissler.

In The Wings – A New Series Celebrating Theatre’s Unsung Heroes, Launching Soon On Theatre Channel

Streaming Free Globally | Sponsored by Trafalgar Entertainment 

Produced by Mickey Jo Boucher

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Theatre Channel is proud to unveil its upcoming original docu-series, In The Wings, a heartfelt celebration of the extraordinary individuals whose work brings theatre to life from behind the scenes. 

Produced by theatre critic and influencer Mickey Jo Boucher and sponsored by Trafalgar Entertainment, In The Wings will be available to stream worldwide, for free, exclusively on Theatre Channel

While actors and performers often bask in the spotlight, every production is powered by a dedicated team of creatives, technicians, strategists, and specialists whose names may never appear on a marquee but without whom, the curtain wouldn’t rise. 

In The Wings shines a spotlight on these essential roles, offering a rare and intimate glimpse into the work, passion, and precision behind the curtain.

Featured in the series:

• Danny Kaan – Photographer
• Debra Tidd – Stage Manager
• Eleni Cashell – Social Media Strategist
• Haruka Kuroda – Fight & Intimacy Director
• John Bulleid – Illusion Designer
• Nadine Grey – Front of House
• Rebecca Pitt – Graphic Designer
• Sarah Lark – Swing & Dance Captain
• Tome Levi – Injury Prevention Consultant

In The Wings  is not just a behind-the-scenes series. It is a love letter to the wider theatre community. It celebrates the whole ecosystem that makes live performance possible and reminds audiences of the countless hands that contribute to every standing ovation.

Chris Wheeler, Managing Director and Co-founder for Theatre Channel said:  “At Theatre Channel, we believe every story told on stage is powered by countless untold stories behind it. With In The Wings, we’re shining a light on the extraordinary people whose talent, skill, and dedication make theatre possible. We hope this series inspires audiences and future generations alike to appreciate and celebrate the entire ecosystem that brings the magic of live performance to life.”

Chris McGuigan, Commercial Director for Trafalgar Entertainment, said: “We’re delighted to be sponsoring the In the Wings series from Theatre Channel. We love the fresh approach and uniqueness of the series, as it gives our industry’s unsung heroes a much-deserved moment in the spotlight.

“We have one of the best creative industries in the world, with some of the most talented, passionate, and dedicated people both on and off the stage. In the Wings is a huge celebration of those people and will help to promote the kind of career opportunities available within the industry whilst hopefully inspiring a whole new generation of theatre makers.”

Mickey Jo-Boucher, producer of In The Wings, “I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to help point the spotlight towards the remarkable, and often undersung, individuals within the theatre industry who help to make sure the show goes on. Seeking out this group of talented, fascinating, and experienced industry professionals and empowering them to share the stories of their time spent onstage, backstage, and offstage was an enormous privilege, and I’m delighted those stories will now be shared with the world.”

Theatre Channel invites viewers worldwide to observe, educate themselves, and appreciate the unseen artistry that brings shows to life. In The Wings, sponsored by Trafalgar Entertainment, is a poignant and profoundly human homage to theatre’s unsung heroes, regardless of whether you’re a lifelong theatregoer, an aspiring professional, or just interested in the tales that go on behind the scenes. 

In The Wings, watch for free on Theatre Channel from Friday 18 July 2025

North East theatre company announce casting for Come From Away

Darlington Operatic Society announces cast for upcoming production of Come From Away

Darlington Operatic Society is thrilled to announce the successful casting of its highly anticipated next production, the Olivier and Tony Award-winning musical Come From Away. This inspiring true story of kindness and humanity will take to the stage at Darlington Hippodrome from Wednesday 22 October to Saturday 1 November.

Directed by Jo Hand and with musical direction by Steven Hood, this powerful production promises to capture the heart and spirit of audiences across the North East. Come From Away tells the remarkable true story of 7,000 airline passengers stranded in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland in the wake of 9/11 – and the community that welcomed them with open arms.

“We are absolutely delighted with the exceptional talent we’ve brought together for this show,” said director Jo Hand. “The casting process was incredibly competitive, and we were moved by the passion and dedication of every performer. We can’t wait to begin bringing this story to life.”

Musical Director Steven Hood added, “The score of Come From Away is rich with emotion and energy. Our cast is already proving themselves more than capable of delivering the vocal and musical demands of this extraordinary show.”

Following an extensive and high-quality audition process, Darlington Operatic Society has assembled a hugely talented cast. Due to the remarkable strength of the auditions, a number of roles will be double cast, giving even more performers the opportunity to shine on stage during the ten night run.

Cast includes: Charlotte Sisson, Emma Louise Dickinson, Jenni Wilkinson, Sarah Harland, Lucy Adams, Zoe Kent, Samantha Wright, Kirsty Furness, Katherine Marton, Samantha Morrison, Joanne Johns, Orla Sinead Mulcahy, Lucy Ivison, Zoe Cullen, Katie Spencer, Amy Fudali, Cameron Jackson, James Bearpark, Eddie Taylor-Jones, Joshua Kay, Jack Machin, Julian Cound, Christopher McCann, Christian Brabin, Liam Gilbert, Harrison Bateman, Jordan Hamilton-Leighton, Jason Slater, Tom Kentfield-Wells, Scott Edwards, and Hamish Sams.

This dedicated company of performers is already hard at work preparing for what promises to be a heartfelt and unforgettable theatrical experience.

Come From Away is a celebration of the best of humanity under the most challenging circumstances. With its uplifting score and moving narrative, the show has captivated audiences worldwide – and now, Darlington audiences will have the chance to experience it live at the beautiful Darlington Hippodrome.

Come From Away will run at Darlington Hippodrome from Wednesday 22 October to Saturday 1 November. Tickets are on sale now, to book call the ticket hotline on 01325 244659 or book online at darlingtonos.org.uk

Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue – until 13 September 2025

Reviewed by Phil Brown

4****

Fifty years on from the debut of the Fawlty Towers sitcom on TV, this brilliantly realised farce from the school of Monty Python humour about life in a seaside hotel, has lost none of its coruscating power to make you laugh. 

The original show written by John Cleese and Connie Booth is famously based on the experience of the Python team staying in the Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay.  Cleese called the proprietor “the rudest man I have come across in my life”.  His underlying philosophy of hotel management seems to have been – if it weren’t for the customers and the staff, I could really run a decent place. 

John Cleese (along with others), had already started the Video Arts management training business by this time and one can’t help thinking this perspective informed the writing of Fawlty Towers.  For such a memorable and influential sitcom, one that has somehow become embedded in British culture, it’s astonishing that only 12 half hour episodes were ever made.  

So what is it about Fawlty Towers – The Play that makes it stand up today?  

Yes, it’s a completely different world now –  many of us first watched it on a rented black and white television, at a time when a docile general public was routinely expected to know its place.  But modern hospitality chains haven’t entirely squeezed out family run seaside hotels and they all rely on casual international staff.  So the setting remains feasible.  And, whilst the customer service ethos has made the relationship between business owner and a far less docile and ever more entitled public outwardly more politic, the ebb and flow of hope and despair in everyday situations as well as the trials and tribulations of interpersonal and marital friction, remain fundamentally timeless.

Fawlty Towers – The Play takes us back to the days of classic sitcoms before sensitivity readers were even a glint in a publisher’s eye.  On the very sound basis of don’t try and fix it if it ain’t broke, we have a wonderfully faithful stage adaptation of three classic BBC episodes—The Hotel Inspectors, The Germans, and Communication Problems (the one with the deaf woman, the missing money and a win on the horses)—cleverly woven together by Cleese and director Caroline Jay Ranger into a high energy coherent whole with all the favourite characters and catchphrases present and correct.  It’s 2 hours (with interval) of uproarious entertainment and nostalgia on steroids.  If anything, Fawlty Towers – The Play actually breathes vital new life into the original TV show for those of us who had to make do with small screen monochrome sets. 

It’s true that cliched devices are used to create the moments of misunderstanding and slapstick that are key to the show (circumlocution, language disconnect, failing memory, failing hearing aids etc).  However, this doesn’t grate being well disguised by the quality and skill of the writing and performing.

Liz Ascroft’s set, just as we remember it, and costumes create a brilliant period backdrop for the expertly choreographed comic action which at times is fast paced and complex but negotiated expertly. 

Casting by Anne Vosser is a particular strength of the show – on paper it seems busy with 17 members but this is across 3 main scenes (except possibly for the intentionally chaotic fire drill scene).  Whilst each member plays their part distinctively, there are some stand out individual performances.

Danny Bayne plays Basil Fawlty ‘fawltlessly’ right down to the Nazi walk in The Germans scene.  His passive aggressive is so good, and there are some priceless one liners delivered to perfection :  “You seem very jolly Basil, sort of happy”  “Oh, yes, happy – I remember that”  or “just my way of getting through the day dear – the Samaritans were engaged”.  Another killer line with Basil talking to himself  is loaded with pathos “Zhoom! What was that? That was your life, mate! Oh, that was quick. Do I get another? Sorry, mate. That’s your lot.” 

Mia Austen’s portrayal of ‘higher authority’ Sybil Fawlty (and her cackle) is equally enjoyable and both Paul Nicholas as the bewildered Major with the unreliable memory and Helen Lederer as the formidable but deaf Mrs Richardson are delightfully convincing as the old duffers of the piece.  Greg Haiste’s verbose Mr Hutchinson was suitably infuriating whilst Strictly’s Joanne Clifton (Polly) impressed in a very straight acting role.  For me though Hemi Yeroham’s “I remember nothing” Manuel is a comic masterclass that, at the risk of being heretical, outshines the original.  

Fawlty Towers – The Play is wonderful, richly humorous entertainment – not only an evening of unabashed nostalgia, but a proper celebration of British comedy and culture.  As Nica Burns of Nimax Theatres says in the programme –  as an antidote to the seriousness of the world outside, we offer an evening of laughter…

Sounds good to me!

Old Red Lion Theatre – until 26 July 2025

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

3***

Riley Elton McCarthy’s slow burn horror has many chilling moments and sly dark humour.

Playwright Sloane (Riley Elton McCarthy) has returned to their dying grandmother’s house a month after their father’s death to care for her. Husband Gwyn’s (Matthίas Hardarson) arrival doesn’t distract Sloane from their writing, but when Beckham (Daniel Neil Ash) turns up to help with the house’s listing, secrets and tensions between the trio – and a deeper, darker sense of dread permeating the house – begin to take their toll.

The slow burn set up is perhaps a little too slow and expositional setting up the history between non-binary Sloane, bisexual Gwyn, and Gwyn’s ex Beckham. Sloane’s father didn’t come to their wedding, so trauma is hinted at, but the true depths of the family’s secrets aren’t revealed until much later. When the facts are revealed, it raises questions about why Sloane hasn’t shared this information with Gwyn. Sloane’s time in the house may have affected them before Gwyn arrives, as after confrontations, they ask how that monologue was and frantically scribbles their words down trying to complete their play. While Beckham creates sarcastically enthusiastic videos describing various aspects of the house, he becomes more uncomfortable and concerned with the effect living there has on Gwyn, and amid thunder and lightning and electricity blackouts, Becks’ quips provide the laughs to break the tension. The haunted house trope is skewed nicely – we get weirdly acting neighbours (Ashley M. Cowles), possessed sleepwalking, a séance and an ever-changing portrait of the never seen grandmother dying in the next room while Gwyn’s history with Beckham and Sloane ensures a level of psychological warfare between the pair as Sloane tries to get Beckham to admit the truth.

The cast all impress, with great chemistry and excellent timing. Elton McCarthy is almost otherworldly as Sloane, playing their drive, obsession/possession and loss sensitively. Georgie Rankcom’s inspired direction allows the house and Sloane to almost meld together as both start to fight against Beckham’s presence. Verity Johnson’s set oozes dilapidated and decaying character and Skylar Turnbull-Hurd’s lighting and Adam Lenson’s sound design create an increasingly eerie atmosphere and jump scares. As Sloane’s grandmother’s portrait changes, so does Sloane, and the third act gets satisfyingly demonic as the cellar door is finally opened.

A chillingly atmospheric horror that builds to a thrilling climax – Ivories is well worth a look.

SOHO THEATRE WALTHAMSTOW – UNTIL 5th JULY 2025

REVIEWED BY JACKIE THORNTON

4****

“It’s great to be back to celebrate pride in…in Walthamstow.” American drag cabaret duo Kiki and Herb have been absent from stages for eighteen years and it’s in the Soho Theatre’s new neighbourhood venue that they relaunch their unique brand of dark stories, offbeat musical covers and scathing wit.

Justin Vivian Bond plays Kiki DuRane, an aging, alcoholic female lounge singer and Kenny Mellman is her gay piano accompanist known only as Herb. Kiki instantly coaxes rapturous laughter from the adoring crowd by suggesting that east London is a bit of a comedown and it’s this bleak, acerbic tone that punctuates the whole performance.

There’s a wonderful absurd quality too as Kiki and Herb’s elaborate fictional biographies take them right back to a cruel children’s home in the 1940s. Kiki is in her element describing encounters with Sylvia Plath while constantly topping up the duo’s pints of whisky. Eclectic numbers like The Windmills Of Your Mind and Suede’s Pantomime Horse are belted out by Kiki as she dominates the stage, balancing the right amount of apathy and comical incompetence with musical prowess. Herb remains behind the piano, chipping in from time to time but Kiki is the one running the show. This is her confessional.

Some of the comedy cuts quite close to the bone and is not for everyone but Kiki is an
antagonistic force and that’s the appeal.

If you like your entertainment to be confronting and deranged with nostalgic musical medleys then get along to Walthamstow to witness the New York cabaret legends in the flesh. It was standing ovations all round from an appreciative audience.

Duchess Theatre, London – until 30 August 2026

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

5*****

Ten years in the West End, and still no sign of Tom Cruise. Writers and original cast members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields struck a vein of comedy gold that has been mined brilliantly. Mischiefs journey from a late-night slot at the Old Red Lion to the West End, television and global success has been phenomenal. This show is where it all started, and the orchestrated chaos and nonsense on stage still has audiences howling with laughter.

A wonderful parody of amdram, with loving nods to classic 1970s farce and television comedies, Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society’s production of an Agatha Christie-lite murder mystery is still a delight. Multiple viewings may dull the shocks and surprises, but not the laughter. The new cast fit perfectly into the Mischief mould – with some lovely little flourishes of their own as the disastrous night of theatre progresses.

The precision and skill to stage this show never fails to astonish, and under Mark Bell’s slick direction, Nigel Hook’s innovative set becomes another character that just can’t stick to the script. The clunky plot of Murder at Haversham Manor is ripe for slapstick and physical comedy, and every situation is used for laughs. The tropes of murder mysteries and the bloody-minded persistence of the “amateur” cast that the show must go on create a non-stop parade of nonsense that carries the audience along on a wave of laughter.

Jack Hardwick is wonderful as Chris Bean, the overbearing driving force behind the Society. His frustration and despair as everything goes wrong builds brilliantly into a wonderful tirade at the audience. Robert Jackson as the overacting thesp Robert is a hoot, while Mitesh Soni is wonderful as the hapless Dennis playing the elderly butler – expertly hangdog as he mucks up with props and pronunciations. Jonty Peach is lots of fun as the much-abused murder victim and Charlotte Scott is delightfully OTT as leading lady Sandra. Tom Wainwright almost steals the show as Max – a terrible actor but a generous donor – with his wonderfully bizarre gestures and aversion to romantic scenes. The backstage crew of the society are visible throughout – before the play starts there is a search of the auditorium for a lost dog and a missing Duran Duran CD – and Izzy Edmunds-Clarke is hilarious as Annie, trying to cope with scenery mishaps and later being forced into an onstage role. Ronnie Yorke is fantastically dry as techie Trevor, veering from boredom to mischief as he entertains himself by mucking up cues and effects.

A treat for all the family, The Play That Goes Wrong continues to delight audiences. It’s smart, slick and silly – and still one of the funniest shows in the West End.

KYM MARSH TO STAR IN

WORLD PREMIERE UK & IRELAND TOUR

OF 90S CLASSIC THRILLER

SINGLE WHITE FEMALE

JANUARY – JUNE 2026 TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT SWFONSTAGE.COM

JAS Theatricals, ATG Productions and Gavin Kalin Productions are proud to announce that the world premiere stage production of Single White Female – based on the iconic 90s psychological thriller – will embark on a major UK and Ireland theatre tour from January 2026.

Starring multi-talented actor and singer Kym Marsh (Coronation Street, Waterloo Road, Abigail’s Party), this brand-new stage play, written by author, journalist and broadcaster, Rebecca Reid, is a bold and modern reimagining of the hit 1992 movie from Columbia Pictures and bestselling book, by John Lutz, that thrilled audiences around the world and led a generation to fear a stiletto heel!

Opening on 9 January 2026 at Brighton’s Theatre Royal, the show then embarks on a tour across the UK and Ireland until 13 June. Tickets are available from 10am today (3 July) at certain venues at SWFonstage.com. Full casting to be announced.

Full of dark humour and sharp and suspenseful storytelling, this new play updates the original story to the age of social media and all that it brings, in a gripping tale of ambition, obsession, and the desperate need for belonging in an isolated world.

Allie is a recently divorced mum, balancing being a single parent with the launch of her tech start up. When she decides to advertise for a lodger to help make ends meet, the delightful Hedy offers her a lifeline. But as their lives intertwine, boundaries blur and a seemingly perfect arrangement begins to unravel.

Kym Marsh said: “I am so excited to be bringing this brilliant, brand new and thrilling play to theatres across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. I remember being totally gripped by the movie when I first saw it in the cinema and could never have imagined back then that I’d be starring in the world premiere of its life on stage. Get ready to be thrilled, shocked and entertained and watch out for those stiletto heels!”

Directed by Gordon Greenberg (Heart of Rock and Roll – Broadway, Guys & Dolls – West End, The Baker’s Wife – Menier, NYC) and from the producer of the hit stage adaptation of The Girl on the Train, Single White Female will captivate, shock, and explore just how far we’ll go to find – and keep – family together.

CREATIVE TEAM

Producers JAS Theatricals, ATG Productions and Gavin Kalin Productions

Adapted for the stage by Rebecca Reid

Director Gordon Greenberg

Designer Morgan Large

Lighting Designer Jason Taylor

Sound Designer Max Pappenheim

SINGLE WHITE FEMALE – UK TOUR 2026

9 – 17 January Theatre Royal Brighton ON SALE NOW

20 – 24 January Theatre Royal Nottingham ON SALE NOW

27 – 31 January Wales Millenium Centre, Cardiff ON SALE NOW

3 – 7 February Grand Opera House, York ON SALE NOW

10 – 14 February Opera House Manchester ON SALE NOW

17 – 21 February Blackpool Grand ON SALE NOW

24 – 28 February Sheffield Lyceum ON SALE SOON

3 – 7 March New Victoria Theatre, Woking ON SALE NOW

10 – 14 March Cambridge Arts Theatre ON SALE SOON

17 – 21 March Cheltenham Everyman ON SALE NOW

14 – 18 April Richmond Theatre ON SALE NOW

21 – 25 April Milton Keynes Theatre ON SALE NOW

28 April – 2 May Everyman & Playhouse, Liverpool ON SALE SOON

5 – 9 May Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham ON SALE NOW

19 – 23 May Bath, Theatre Royal ON SALE SOON

26 – 30 May Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent ON SALE NOW

2 – 6 June Theatre Royal, Glasgow ON SALE NOW

9 – 13 June Festival Theatre, Malvern ON SALE NOW

Further dates / venues to be announced.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Website: SWFonstage.com

Instagram: instagram.com/swfonstage/

Facebook: facebook.com/swfonstage/

X: x.com/SWFOnStage

YouTube: youtube.com/@SWFOnStage

Running time: TBC

Age guidance: PG 15