Home

OLIVIER AWARD WINNING TITANIQUE
ANNOUNCES NEW CAST MEMBERS
JOINING THE SHIP OF DREAMS

london.titaniquemusical.com

Eva Price and Michael Harrison are delighted to announce new cast members joining their Olivier Award Winning splash hit West End musical Titanique.

From Tuesday 15 July, Astrid Harris will take over the role of Céline Dion. Astrid has been performing as Celine to great acclaim in the French production of the show and now joins the West End company following Lauren Drew’s Olivier Award-nominated performance in the role.

From Tuesday 22 July, Jenny O’Leary (We Will Rock You) will begin performances as Molly Brown, having also performed the role in the production in Paris. Jenny takes over as maternity cover for Charlotte Wakefield.

Astrid and Jenny join the rest of the cast on the West End’s ship of dreams: Luke Bayer as Jack, Darren Bennett as Victor Garber / Luigi, Richard Carson as Cal, Hiba Elchikheas Rose, Carl Mullaney as Ruth, Tosh Wanogho-Maud as The Iceberg, Adrianne Langley, Madison Swan andRodney Vubya as on-stage background vocalists, as well as offstage understudies Freddie King and Caitlin Tipping.

Tickets to “The West End’s funniest new musical” (Smooth Radio) are currently booking until Sunday 4 January 2026 at london.titaniquemusical.com.

Titanique won the 2025 Olivier Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play.
 

★★★★★
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, off Broadway’s most award-winning splash hit that turns one of the greatest love stories of all time into a hysterical musical fantasia.

Want to find out what really happened to Jack and Rose on that fateful night? Just leave it to Céline Dion to enchant the audience with her totally wild take, recharting the course of Titanic’s beloved moments and characters with her iconic song catalogue. Sailing on fierce 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!

Co-written by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle and Constantine Rousouli, Titanique celebrated its Off-Broadway premiere in June 2022 at Asylum Theater, starring the musical’s co-authors Mindelle and Rousouli as Céline Dion and Jack Dawson. After several sold-out extensions, the musical transferred to the Daryl Roth Theatre on 20 November 2022 where it continues to play until 29 June 2025.

As well as New York and London, the musical comedy just concluded a twice-extended engagement in Sydney, Australia and is currently playing in Paris until 6 July. The first additional US Production is a critically acclaimed smash-hit, running in Chicago until 13 July.

Titanique is directed by Tye Blue and choreographed by Ellenore Scott. Music Supervision, Arrangements and Orchestrations are by IRNE Award-Winner Nicholas James Connell,Scenic Design for Titanique is by Gabriel Hainer Evansohn and Grace Lauchbacher for Iron Bloom Creative Production; Costume Design is by Alejo Vietti; and Lighting Design is by Paige Seber; and Sound Design is by Lawrence Schober with casting by Pearson Casting CDG.

In addition to its recent Olivier Award wins, Titanique won seven major awards during the 2022/23 theatre season, including three Lucille Lortel Awards, the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best New Musical, Las Culturistas’ Culture Award for Best Indoor Performance and two Dorian Awards.

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

Seven Dials Playhouse Partners with David Elms’ ‘leapday’ to Expand Improv Training in the West End

Seven Dials Playhouse is delighted to announce a new partnership with leapday, the improv training company founded by acclaimed comedian and creative trainer David Elms. The collaboration strengthens the venue’s commitment to providing high-quality, accessible training opportunities for performers at all stages of their careers – a key part of the organisation’s evolving artistic mission.

leapday specialises in playful, welcoming improv sessions that work just as well for total beginners as for seasoned performers – no pressure, just skilled guidance and friendly atmosphere. Regular activities include improv jams, structured courses, deep-dive workshops, and even a choir, all designed to foster confidence, creativity, and connection among playful adults. In the past year alone, leapday has facilitated over 2,000 hours of adult play and earned an Excellent Trustpilot rating of 4.8/5 –  proof that people really do love mucking about (as long as it’s well facilitated).

From September 2025, leapday will relocate its activities to Seven Dials Playhouse. Through a subsidised space arrangement, the partnership ensures that leapday can continue to grow, contributing to a growing ecosystem of training and support at Seven Dials Playhouse.

As part of the move, leapday will also be launching a monthly live showcase, offering participants the chance to test their skills, share their work, and take to the stage – for some, it might be their first time performing for an audience; for others, a chance to stretch their style and see what lands. Further details will be announced soon, with the showcases offering a glimpse into the kind of playful, generous work leapday is known for.

“I’m pinching myself pink with excitement and gratitude to be moving into Seven Dials Playhouse this September,” said David Elms, founder of leapday. “Life is hard and weird, and we don’t play nearly enough. Not only that, when we do play we’re not playful enough. I started leapday, first and foremost, as a place for playful adults to find each other, and getting to do that in the heart of The West End, and with the support and encouragement of the incredible team at Seven Dials Playhouse, is a dream come true.”

David Elms is a CIPD-qualified Learning & Development professional and a critically acclaimed comedian, improviser, and writer, with over a decade of experience teaching improv and leading workshops. He has worked with organisations including Channel 4 and Greenpeace, and has appeared on Netflix and the West End stage. This summer, he takes his cult solo show David Elms Describes A Room to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The partnership with leapday complements Seven Dials Playhouse’s growing suite of artist support programmes, including first steps, Next Step, and the Sketch Comedy Collective. Together, these initiatives help ensure the venue continues to support theatre-makers not just as performers, but as creative professionals honing their craft.

“We’re so excited to welcome David and the leapdaycommunity to Seven Dials Playhouse” says Katie Pesskin, Creative Director, Seven Dials Playhouse. “Their work is full of joy, generosity and creativity – everything we want this building to represent. This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting artists and theatre-makers through a rich mix of opportunities to train, develop, create and connect with each other. We can’t wait to see the brilliant things that grow from it.”

To explore upcoming leapday events and workshops, visit:

https://www.sevendialsplayhouse.co.uk/partners/leapday

RSC’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED TITUS ANDRONICUS TRANSFERS TO HAMPSTEAD THEATRE

The RSC’s critically acclaimed production of Titus Andronicus, directed by Max Webster,transfers to Hampstead Theatre for a strictly limited run this Autumn with Olivier, Tony and BAFTA award-winner Simon Russell Beale returning to the title role.

Direct from a hugely successful run in Stratford-upon-Avon the ‘brutally powerful’ (Telegraph) and ‘thrilling’ (WhatsonStage) production will play Hampstead Theatre from Friday 5 September to Saturday 11 October. Priority booking opens for Hampstead Theatre Patrons and Friends Plus from Tuesday 1 July and Hampstead Theatre Friends and RSC Members from Thursday 3 July. Public booking opens on Friday 4 July.

Director Max Webster’s bold and brilliant production of Shakespeare’s bloodiest play is examined through the lens of 21^st century aggression. When victorious general Titus Andronicus executes his enemy’s son in a merciless show of vengeance, he has no idea of the evil his actions will incite. As the two sides trade violent acts of retribution, one man revels in the bloodbath.

The production marks Simon Russell Beale’s return to Hampstead Theatre after his much-praised appearances in the sell-out productions of Tom Stoppard’s The Invention of Love and Mr Foote’s Other Leg. As part of Hampstead’s autumn season, Titus Andronicus will be followed by five new productions including the European premiere of The Assembled Parties by Richard Greenberg, the world premieres of The Billionaire Inside Your Head by Will Lord, Fatherland by Nancy Farino and A Ghost in Your Ear by Jamie Armitage and a major revival of Tom Stoppard’s Indian Ink starring Felicity Kendal.

Greg Ripley-Duggan, Producer and Chief Executive at Hampstead Theatre said:

“I am overjoyed that Hampstead Theatre will present Max Webster’s production of Titus Andronicus– it’s a truly special piece of theatre, fashioned by a creative team at the absolute top of their game, and it’ll be a thrill to host the extraordinary company of actors led by Simon Russell Beale. It’s great that Hampstead has been given the opportunity to welcome London audiences to this once-in-a-lifetime production of a play that is often disregarded, but is here rendered immediate and brilliantly relevant.”

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

“We are absolutely thrilled that Max Webster’s powerful production of Titus Andronicus will transfer to London following its acclaimed run in The Swan Theatre earlier this year. We are particularly delighted that Hampstead Theatre and London audiences will have the opportunity to welcome back Sir Simon Russell Beale, magnificent in the eponymous role.

“As one of Shakespeare’s first and bloodiest plays, Titus Andronicus continues to compel and horrify us in equal measure with its audacious blend of brutality, gallows humour and hot-blooded intensity. In Max Webster’s production, we see Shakespeare’s study of state-sponsored violence and inter-generational retribution bought sharply and tragically into focus for our times. We look forward to sharing its visceral power with London audiences.”

Also returning to the production alongside the ‘sublime’ (Guardian) Simon Russell Bealeare: Emma Fielding as Marcia Andronicus and Wendy Kweh as Tamora. They are joined by Danny Collins (Martius / Messenger), Thomas Josling (Bassianus / Publius), Joel MacCormack (Lucius), Jerone Marsh-Reid (Alarbus / Leader of the Goths) and Sharita Oomeer (Nurse / Goth). Further casting is to be announced.

Director Max Webster’s recent theatre credits include The Importance of Being Earnest (National Theatre), Macbeth (Harold Pinter / Donmar Warehouse) and Henry V (Donmar). His production of Life of Pi won 5 Olivier and 3 Tony Awards.

The creative team also includes set and costume designer, Joanna Scotcher, lighting designer, Lee Curan; composer, Matthew Herbert; sound designer, Tingying Dong;movement director, Jade Hackett;fight and intimacy directors, Rachel Bown-Williams and Ruth Cooper-Brown; and casting director, Matthew Dewsbury CDG. The revival director is Kwame Owusu.

For more information and tickets visit hampsteadtheatre.com

Tickets Now On Sale For The World Premiere of The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy Immersive Adventure

 Don’t panic! A new live version of Douglas Adams’ mind-blowingly imaginative comedy (mis)adventure lands at Riverside Studios

15 November 2025 – 15 February 2026

Tickets for The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy Live Show are now available from the official website. From 15th November, step into Douglas Adams’ mindblowingly imaginative world at London’s Riverside Studios for an all new adventure based on Douglas Adams’ novels and the Touchstone Pictures film. Tickets start from £42, of course!

The show will transform Riverside Studios 2 & 3, the connecting corridors, loading docks and bar space into Douglas Adams’ improbable and wondrous universe. The beloved London venue has a long history in British science fiction dating back to early Doctor Who and, in recent years, has been a launching pad for West End hits like Operation Mincemeat.

Rhys Williamson, Head of Programming at Riverside Studios said: “We’re thrilled to welcome The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy to Riverside Studios. This production is set to use the building in ways no show has ever done before – creating a truly out-of-this-world experience for audiences. As a venue with deep sci-fi roots, Riverside feels like the perfect venue to premiere this immersive adventure, before it takes over the galaxy.”

Immersive experience powerhouse and co-director of the show, Simon Evans of Myriad Entertainment said “My introduction to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was a (slightly battered) cassette of the radio version, which I borrowed from my school library and listened to on an old Walkman. I remember hearing the voice of the Guide, then The Eagles’ “Journey of the Sorcerer”, and I was hooked. From an immersive perspective, it is such an incredible world to build and pull an audience into: strange and expansive, silly and moving, filled with unique characters and tackling things which are still very much relevant today with a quintessentially British sense of humour.”

Join Arthur Dent, Zaphod Beeblebrox, Fenchurch and the most unlikely crew in the history of galactic adventure as you escape the destruction of Earth with seconds to spare and begin a search for answers to the mystery of Life, the Universe and Everything, armed only with a towel and one VERY depressed robot.

The night begins in a rather unusual pub as you settle in, drink in hand, for an evening of storytelling and spectacle. From there, the story lifts off – quite literally – as you hitch a ride on a passing spaceship, discover the meaning of life, and join a quest to persuade a group of inter-dimensional mice to give the Earth a second chance.

The show is created by award-winning writer, producer and protégé of Douglas Adams, Arvind Ethan David (Lenny Henry’s Boy With Wings, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency on Netflix) and Emmy Award-winning stage designer Jason Ardizzone-West (Redwood, Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, Jesus Christ Superstar Live). It will be co-directed and choreographed by Lorin Latarro (The Producers, Mrs. Doubtfire)and co-directed by Simon Evans (Staged, Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright), Georgia Clarke-Day (Monopoly Lifesized, The Traitors: Live Experience) and David Frias-Robles (Taskmaster: The Live Experience, Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright) for Myriad Entertainment. Based on Douglas Adams’ iconic novels and the Touchstone Pictures film, the show is presented by special arrangement with Buena Vista Theatricals.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy live show is produced by Tony Award®–winning Broadway and West End producer Tamar Climan of Climan Producing, whose credits span more than 80 shows, and Prodigal Entertainment (Broadway’s Jagged Little Pill), with general management by Smart Entertainment.

Upon being reached in his maximum security prison cell on Frogstar Planet B, former Galactic President Zaphod Beeblebrox responded “A show about me? It’s going to be big. Mind bogglingly-big. The biggest thing since the big bang! Wait a minute, am I getting paid royalties on this?”

THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY LIVE SHOW RUNS FROM 15th NOVEMBER UNTIL 15th FEBRUARY AT RIVERSIDE STUDIOS LONDON.

BOOK NOW – before the end of the Earth! | Tickets from £42 | Riverside Studios

Warning: Side effects may include sudden existential dread, unexpected hyperspatial detours and a burning desire for a really good cup of tea.

LISTINGS INFO

World Premiere: Riverside Studios, 101 Queen Caroline Street, London, W6 9BN

Website and Social

www.hitchhikerslive.com
https://www.instagram.com/hhgglive

Tweets by HHGGLive

https://www.facebook.com/hhgglive

HIT OFF-BROADWAY PLAY

DANIEL’S HUSBAND

TO MAKE UK PREMIERE AT

MARYLEBONE THEATRE

FOR LIMITED SEASON

FROM 4 DECEMBER 2025 – 10 JANUARY 2026

Plastered Productions is delighted to announce that Michael McKeever’s hit off-Broadway play DANIEL’S HUSBAND will make its UK Premiere at the Marylebone Theatre in London for a limited season from 4 December 2025 – 10 January 2026, directed by Alan Souza. There will be a national press night on 9 December 2025.

An unflinching look at the nature of love. DANIEL’S HUSBAND asks us—among other things— to consider where our strongest convictions live: in our hearts or in our minds.

Daniel and Mitchell live a meticulously curated life; they have successful careers, a beautifully appointed home, devoted friends, and a profound love for one another.  But an unexpected crisis jeopardises their boundlessly bright future, shaking the foundation of their relationship and testing the strength of their devotion. DANIEL’S HUSBAND wrestles with the nature of commitment and the complexities of our intricately layered beliefs.

Plastered Productions believes in the power of theatre to amplify voices, bridge divides, and act as a catalyst for compassion; we make plays with purpose. In that light, we know that DANIEL’S HUSBAND is the perfect play for our inaugural production in London. We hope that this production inspires vital reflections on the nature of marriage, companionship, and the morality of our choices in the face of uncertainty.

Alan Souza said “I always think the best plays allow a wealth of insight into the human condition, acting as powerful stimulants for personal reflection and evolution.  At its core, DANIEL’S HUSBAND seems both a humanist parable as well as a persuasive polemic for marriage.  It challenges audiences in essential ways, urging us to confront and re-evaluate our most personal ideas of what family means.  Intricately layered and emotionally gripping, I look forward to bringing the play to London audiences.”

DANIEL’S HUSBAND had its world premiere at Wilton Manors’ Island City Stage in 2015, and won three Carbonell Awards, including Best New Work.In 2017 the show was produced by the historic Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City, where it was nominated for an Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best New Work and returned in 2018 to New York City in a commercial production at the Westside Theatre Upstairs. It has since had various productions across the United States and around the world.

DANIEL’S HUSBAND will be directed by Alan Souza with set & costume design by Lee Newby, lighting design by Jamie Platt, sound design by Sarah Weltman, casting by Arthur Carrington, artwork by Steph Pyne Design, general management by James Steel Productions and production management by Charlie Rayner for Production Solutions Group.

DANIEL’S HUSBAND is produced by Plastered Productions LTD and executive produced by James Steel.

Website: DanielsHusband.co.uk

Instagram: @DanielsHusband / @Plastered_Productions 

LISTING INFORMATION

DANIEL’S HUSBAND

‍Marylebone Theatre

Rudolf Steiner House

35 Park Rd,

London

NW1 6XT

Box Office: 02077237984

Full cast announced for the world premiere of Sarah Shelton’s play
Blessings

starring Gary Webster with his son Freddie Webster
at Riverside Studios from 30 September to 26 October 2025

Artful Entertainment has announced casting for the world premiere of Blessings, a darkly funny and deeply moving new family drama by acclaimed playwright Sarah Shelton. The production will play Riverside Studios from 30 September to 26 October 2025.

Beloved screen and stage actor Gary Webster, best known for his leading roles in Minder, Family Affairs and numerous television shows over the past five decades, will play the role of Frank. He is joined by television and radio favourite Jane Slavin (Call the Midwife) as Dorie, Hannah Traylen (Boiling Point) as Frances, Milly Roberts as Penny and rising talents Freddie Webster and Freya Taylor-Lester as Martin and Sally.

Blessings marks Freddie Webster’s professional stage debut after graduating from Mountview, appearing opposite his father Gary in a casting choice that echoes the play’s exploration of family dynamics.

Gary Webster said: “As soon as I read the play Blessings by Sarah Shelton I knew that I wanted to do it. After I met Sarah I knew I HAD to do it. To work on a great script with such terrific actors is the reason why I became an actor. Throwing in the fact that I’ll be working with my son Freddie on his professional theatrical debut makes this opportunity all the more exciting. I can’t wait to get started.”

An emotionally charged observation of family dysfunction, Blessings made its acclaimed debut as a shortened piece at last year’s Riverside Bitesize Festival. Bold, brilliant and blisteringly honest, this must-see new work explores faith, family, control and the lies we tell to keep everything from falling apart. 

Behind the polished front door of the Deacon household, tradition is crumbling, secrets are festering, and change is coming – whether they like it or not. In a small English town in the 1960s, formidable matriarch Dorie Deacon is determined to keep her Catholic family respectable while Frank, her husband, maintains a silence that suggests he sees more than he’s ever let on. But as her children return home to celebrate their traditional family Easter, their carefully constructed image begins to crack. From smug eldest son Martin to razor-sharp Penny, rebellious Frances to watchful youngest daughter Sally, the Deacons are anything but united. And with a new boyfriend on the scene, a family priest who knows more than he’s saying, and plenty of unspoken truths lying under the surface, the household is a pressure cooker ready to blow. As secrets inch toward the surface and confessions are avoided, tension mounts toward a devastating and unforgettable climax. Is truth always the best policy? And what would you do for love?

Blessings is presented by Artful Entertainment. It is written and directed by Sarah Shelton, with lighting design by Dan Terry and sound design by Andy Graham, with set and costume design to be announced. The producer is Justin Savage and the Casting Director and General Manager is Denise Silvey.

Tickets are now on sale: https://riversidestudios.co.uk/see-and-do/blessings-177622/.

-LISTINGS-

Show: Blessings

Venue: Riverside Studios (Studio 3), 101 Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, London, W6 9BN.

Dates: 30 September – 26 October 2025; Evenings: Tuesday – Saturday at 7.45pm; Matinees, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday at 2.45pm

Previews: 30 September and 1 October

Running Time: 90 minutes approx (no interval)

Box Office: https://riversidestudios.co.uk/see-and-do/blessings-177622/;  phone bookings 020 8237 1010

Age Guidance: 16+
Content Warnings:  none

Access information: the venue is fully wheelchair-accessible on all levels.

https://riversidestudios.co.uk/plan-your-visit/supporting-your-access-needs

Category: theatre / drama

GET READY, MORTALS: THE GODS HAVE CHOSEN THEIR CAST!

BRINGING OLYMPIAN ENERGY TO AUDIENCES ACROSS THE UK

THIS AUTUMN AND INTO 2026

“A bolt of stage magic.

A show that whisks you to another dimension.”
The Times

“A heartfelt musical romp that joyously entwines modern-myth with a story of self-acceptance”
The Stage

To celebrate the 20^th Anniversary of the publication of The Lightning Thief on 28 June, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musicalreveals its heroic cast. The quest is about to begin with the first-ever UK tour of the musical. Leading the charge (and wielding the lightning bolt!) is Vasco Emauz (Back To The Future: The Musical) as the one and only Percy Jackson, joined by Kayna Montecillo (Starlight Express) as the wise and fearless Annabeth, and Cahir O’Neill ([title of show]) as everyone’s favourite satyr sidekick, Grover.

They will be joined by Simone Robinson (Coming to England) as Sally Jackson, Niall Sheehy (Miss Saigon) as Mr Bruner, Aidan Cutler (Back to the Future: The Musical) as Mr D, Ellie-Grace Cousins (Mamma Mia!) as Clarisse, Paolo Micallef (who was cast following open auditions) as Luke with Alex Anderton (making his professional stage debut), Abe Armitage (The Wizard of Oz), Joseph Connor (Sister Act), Ellouise Delooze (making her professional stage debut),Becca Francis (Iolanthe at ENO) and Amy McEvoy (making her professional stage debut) as the ensemble, Camp Half-Blood is officially open for more adventures!

The Lightning Thief will embark on an electrifying UK tour this autumn, bringing the hit stage adaptation of Rick Riordan’s bestselling novel to audiences across the country. The tour will open at Theatre Royal Windsor from 15 – 23 August 2025 and then play Newcastle, Milton Keynes, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Brighton, Stoke-on-Trent, Coventry, Bradford, Wimbledon and Portsmouth in 2025. Venues in 2026 include Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre (14 – 17 January) and Birmingham Hippodrome (24 – 28 February) with many more dates to be announced.

Based on the beloved book series (with over 180 million copies sold worldwide), Percy Jackson’s story has been adapted into both films and a major hit TV series for Disney+. The musical first premiered off-Broadway in 2014 to rave reviews and went on to have two US tours, another off-Broadway run in 2017 and a 16-week limited run on Broadway in 2019. The Lightning Thief made waves in the West End during its critically acclaimed, record-breaking run at The Other Palace. 

When New York City teenager Percy Jackson discovers that he is the half-blood son of the Greek god, Poseidon, his life takes a dramatic turn as he is plunged into a world much bigger than he could possibly have imagined.

With newly discovered powers he is unable to control, an unwanted destiny and a whole textbook’s worth of mythical monsters on his trail, Percy must learn what it means to be a hero.

The future of the world hangs in the balance as Percy and his friends embark on an epic adventure that will have you on the edge of your seat.

This dynamic musical adaptation of Rick Riordan’s bestselling The Lightning Thief has a book by Joe Tracz (Be More Chill), music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki (Monstersongs) and is directed and choreographed by Lizzi Gee (Groundhog Day). Set and costume design is by Ryan Dawson Laight (Burlesque), lighting design by Tim Deiling (SIX), sound design by Dan Samson (Heathers The Musical), video design by Matt Powell (Chess), musical supervision is by Jeremy Wootton (Heathers The Musical) with musical direction by Will Joy (Cruel Intentions – The 90s Musical),illusions by Richard Pinner (Ghost) and fight direction by Lisa Connell (Heathers). Associate Director & Choreographer is Libby Watts (Wicked) and Associate Set & Costume Designer is Christophe Eynde (Your Lie In April)

LISTINGS

BILL KENWRIGHT LTD & PAUL TAYLOR-MILLS PRESENT

THE LIGHTNING THIEF
THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL

Book by Joe Tracz
Music & Lyrics by Rob Rokicki
Adapted from the book The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Lizzi Gee                                           Director & Choreographer

Ryan Dawson Laight               Set & Costume Designer

Tim Deiling                                     Lighting Designer

Dan Samson                                 Sound Designer

Matt Powell                                   Video Designer

Jeremy Wootton                         Musical Supervisor

Will Joy                                              Musical Director

Richard Pinner                            Illusions

Lisa Connell                                  Fight Director

Libby Watts                                   Associate Director & Choreographer

Christophe Eynde                     Associate Set & Costume Designer

Run Time: approximately 2hrs 10 minutes including interval

UK TOUR

2025

15 – 23 Aug                      Theatre Royal Windsor                            01753 853888                               

27 – 31 Aug                      Newcastle Theatre Royal                       0191 232 7010              

3 – 6 Sep                            Milton Keynes Theatre                                                            

16 – 20 Sep                      Liverpool Empire

23 – 27 Sep                      Edinburgh Festival Theatre                   0131 529 6000                              

30 Sep – 4 Oct               Brighton Theatre Royal                                                           

7 – 11 Oct                         Regent Theatre Stoke-on-Trent                                         

14 – 18 Oct                      Coventry Belgrade                                      024 7655 3055              

21 – 25 Oct                      Bradford Alhambra Theatre                  01274 432000                               

28 Oct – 1 Nov               New Wimbledon Theatre      

4 – 9 Nov                           Portsmouth The Kings Theatre           023 9282 8282

2026

21 – 24 Jan                       Wales Millennium Centre                      029 2063 6464

27 Jan – 1 Feb                 Hull New Theatre                                        01482 300306

24 – 28 Feb                      Birmingham Hippodrome                      0121 689 3000                              

Further dates through 2026 to be announced

Socials:
Instagram and Tiktok: @percyjacksononstage
Facebook: @percyjacksonlondon
Twitter/X: @PercyOnStage

The Birmingham Rep – until Saturday 5th July 2025

Reviewed by Nadia Dodd

4****

Marriage Material is based on the debut novel by journalist Sathnam Sanghera exploring the complex relationships within one Asian family when the obligations of cultural traditions clash with the modern opportunities of life in Britain.

Directed by Iqbal Khan, set in Wolverhampton, it centres on the Sikh Punjabi Bains family. Sisters Kamaljit and Surinder work in their father’s corner shop, living with one foot in their community and the other in 1960s Britain. The sisters’ lives go off in opposite directions, which has far-reaching consequences for future generations.

This is a tender and touching tale, the script has moments of sadness but is also sharply funny.

There is an impressive strong cast, several of them multi-roleing. Avita Jay is wonderfully acerbic as Mrs Bains, showing love through both insults and roti. She herself is torn as she sees the opportunities that a life in England can give her daughters but is also constrained by her roots and traditions.

Kiran Landa’s Kamaljit embraces the expectations of her cultural identity and then deftly echoes her mother’s caustic behaviour as her older self. Anoushka Deshmukh is initially wide-eyed innocence as the highly intelligent Surinder, who pushes to break boundaries.

Jaz Singh Deol is convincing as the traditional Mr Bains, focused on ‘izzat’ (honour) and marriage for his daughters. He’s also a very likeable character as Kamaljit’s conflicted son Arjan. Irfan Shamji is a huge presence as ‘uncle’ Dhanda, echoing the view that women belong at home and in the kitchen. Omar Malik shows great adaptability as the nervy, kind Tanvir and later wide-boy Ranjit.

Compressing a complex multi-generational story into a stage production is a challenge. The first half feels more developed, if a little too long. However, there are too many strands to get to the heart of every character in the second half. We have to assume why Arjan left his family and their shop. His return and internal struggle to reconcile his metropolitan life, complete with a one-dimensional white fiancée, is a complete play alone.

The set is endlessly flexible, using movable elements to take us from the street to the family home and the shop, complete with shelves stacked with egg boxes and period-appropriate cereal packets. Holly Khan’s (composer and sound designer) thoughtful sound design mixes traditional Indian music with bouncy 60s pop tracks that the audience around me were toe tapping to.

The family characters were instantly likeable, and I dare say relatable to a huge percentage of Sikh families. Surinder is one character within the first act that we grow to love, growing into an extremely clever 16 year old who has dreams and wants to become a ‘somebody’. A shame that she is missing in most of the second act which also feels like it could have been developed further although that would be the draw back as making the play much longer.

Overall, the play is a timely and much entertaining piece that does end with great hope

Dr Who and The Archers legends
COLIN BAKER and TERRY MOLLOY
will star together in a national UK tour of

Sherlock Holmes and The Sign of Four 
The radio play live on stage

Directed by Martin Parsons

“When you have eliminated the impossible
then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth!”

After their hugely successful portrayals as Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson in last year’s stage adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound Of The Baskervilles, Colin Baker (the sixth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, 1984 to 1986) and Terry Molloy (The Archers’ Mike Tucker for over 40 years) are back on stage together in another classic adventure featuring the world’s only consulting detective and his trusty sidekick – The Sign Of Four.

What has become of Captain Morstan and why does his daughter now receive a valuable pearl every year from an anonymous benefactor? What begins as a curious puzzle soon becomes a terrifying murder hunt, with the discovery of a missing fortune, a locked room and the murdered body of Bartholomew Sholto. But who committed these heinous, inexplicable crimes and how do they involve a map of the far-off Agra Fort?

The case of The Sign Of Four stretches all of Sherlock Holmes’ powers of deduction in a mystery that was born in war-torn India and now stalks Victorian London, fuelled by the vengeance of a seemingly unstoppable, cut-throat gang.

With the help of the Baker Street Irregulars and Doctor Watson’s new love Mary, can Holmes finally bring the gang’s malicious leader to justice, recover the stolen treasure, and reveal the hideous truth behind the riddle of The Sign Of Four?

This classic tale from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the father of the modern detective story, is presented by Crime and Comedy Theatre Company as a radio play live on stage. The setting is a radio studio, the actors ready as if for a radio broadcast, and all sound effects created live, transporting the audience to the streets of Victorian London.

Cast
Colin Baker – Sherlock Holmes
Terry Molloy – Doctor John Watson
Kate Ashmead – Mary Morstan
David Sandham –  Jonathan Small
Martin Parsons – Athelney Jones
Imogen Jones – Stage Manager & Live Sounds Effects Operator
All other parts are played by members of the Company

Colin Baker said:
“When I was at school, if you won a prize, it was always a book. You were allowed to choose your own book and I chose the complete stories of Sherlock Holmes, which I still have at home with the little Upper Fourth Handwriting Prize certificate, because I enjoyed reading them avidly. I love the writings of Conan Doyle and Charles Dickens, so the idea of bringing Sherlock Holmes to life is something I never anticipated. They’re such cracking good stories, they really stand the test of time, and I’m portraying him now – it’s all rather exciting!”

Terry Molly said:
“Colin and I are great friends and we’ve worked together many, many times since we met on Doctor Who in 1984, when we hit it off from the start. That was in Attack Of The Cybermen, and I then played Davros, leader of the Daleks. It was Colin who suggested I play Doctor Watson to his Sherlock Holmes when we toured in The Hound Of The Baskervilles in 2022, and after the success of that it’s wonderful to recreate our partnership in another classic adventure, The Sign Of Four.”

Colin Baker (Sherlock Holmes)
Colin played ruthless banker Paul Merroney in the BBC TV series The Brothers from 1974 to 1976 and was the sixth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction TV series Doctor Who from 1984 to 1986. He also still plays the sixth Doctor in audio plays published by Big Finish Productions. Since leaving Doctor Who, Baker has spent much of his time on the stage with appearances throughout the country in plays as diverse as Peter Nichols’ Privates on Parade, Ira Levin’s Deathtrap, Ray Cooney’s Run for Your Wife, Ariel Dorfman’s Death and the Maiden and Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations. For many years he was a pantomime stalwart, while in 2003 he starred in the Carl Rosa Opera Company’s production of operetta H.M.S. Pinafore, directed by Timothy West. Other theatre appearances have seen Baker play Inspector Morse in House of Ghosts and a UK tour of The Woman in White. Most recently he has appeared on TV in I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, Emmerdale, and he made a triumphant return to Doctor Who for the BBC’s 100th anniversary episode in 2022.

Terry Molloy (Doctor Watson)
Terry is best known for playing ‘the milkman from hell’, Mike Tucker, in The Archers for over 40 years, plus mad scientist Davros, the creator of the Daleks, in Doctor Who during the 1980s, appearing opposite Colin Baker, Peter Davison and Sylvester McCoy. He has since reprised the role of Davros in numerous audio dramas for Big Finish Productions and won awards for his work as an actor on radio and in audio productions. These range from Hamlet to Space 1999 to The Survivors for Big Finish and include The Scarifyers for Bafflegab Productions and a five-part audio series of 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea for Audible as Professor Arronax.

The Sign of Four 2025 tour dates

Tuesday 23 September
Tamworth
Assembly Rooms
tamworthartsandevents.co.uk

Wednesday 24 September
Harrogate
Harrogate Theatre
harrogatetheatre.co.uk

Thursday 25 September
Newark
Palace Theatre
palacenewark.com

Saturday 27 September
Bishop’s Stortford
South Mill Arts
southmillarts.co.uk

Tuesday 30 September & Wednesday 1 October Winchester
Theatre Royal
theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk

Thursday 2 October
Henley
Kenton Theatre
thekenton.org.uk

Wednesday 15 October
Neath
Gwyn Hall
gwynhall.com

Thursday 16 October
Taunton
Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre
tacchi-morris.com

Friday 17 October
Paignton
Palace Theatre
palacetheatrepaignton.co.uk

Saturday 18 October
Andover
The Lights
thelights.org.uk

Monday 20 October
Runcorn
Brindley Theatre
thebrindley.org.uk

Tuesday 21 October
Scunthorpe
Plowright Theatre
scunthorpetheatres.co.uk

Thursday 23 October
Newtown
The Hafren
thehafren.co.uk

All ticket booking details are at
www.crimeandcomedytheatrecompany.co.uk/dates

Theatre Royal Drury Lane – until March 2026

Reviewed by Ava Clarkson

5*****

Disney’s Hercules the Musical, is inspired by the animation feature film from 1997 based on the ancient Greek God Hercules, the son of Zeus. You cannot walk through London at the moment without seeing an advert for this highly anticipated show. Adverts are everywhere promising us an electrifying new musical.

Having refreshed my memory by watching the cartoon in the afternoon, I arrived at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, the oldest theatre still in use today! “The Lane” as it is fondly called, houses 1981 seats and contains a total of four bars and cafes with a wide range of food and drink options in lavish surroundings. Owned by Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber, this beautiful venue has recently had a huge refurbishment finishing in 2021. Since then, the theatre has been home to another Disney hit musical triumph Frozen, which completed its 3-year run in September 2024.

The stage is set with sparkling white giant columns, the orchestra conducted by the ever amazingly enthusiastic Daniel Whitby starts the show. The opening number is bright and vibrant and full of energy. We meet “The Muses”, Thalia (Candace Furbert), Clio (Sharlene Hector), Melpomene (Brianna Ogunbawo), Calliope (Malinda Parris), and Terpsichore (Robyn Rose-Li) who are our narrators throughout. They tell us the story of the sons of Zeus – Hercules (Luke Brady) and his evil brother Hades (Stephen Carlile). How as a baby, Hercules is poisoned by his evil twin making him part-God and part-human, in Hades bid to rule Olympus. The first scene stuns in its energy, loud, colourful, characters everywhere, giant stage props which move around the stage seamlessly, costumes glitter and float around in swirls – this feels like a finale… and we have only just begun!

We fall in love with the goofy adult Hercules, with his cheeky smile, clumsiness, and flawless pecks in his fishnet clad torso! As he finds out he is part god, he is determined to return to Olympus. But his evil brother has other ideas. Stephen Carlile is fantastic in the role of Hades. His quick one-liners and facial expressions bring a comedic aspect to his evil character. He looms over the stage and makes us wish for his downfall. We see inside the Underworld, where he holds the beautiful and feisty Meg (Mae Ann Jorolan) who he plans to use in his new quest – to make Hercules human and kill him once and for all. Gigantic puppets arrive on stage, rat like and fear inducing. The puppeteers are outstanding in their craft and should receive a special mention, as they do not feature in the roll call of the cast. Head of Puppets, Jennifer Dingwall, is an outstanding puppet-maker who has worked with large-scale theatrical puppets for stage productions for many years. The monsters in this show and later on set – giant hands, should be commended.

After the interval, we see the well-established Disney storyline come to the fore, a hero rescuing his love interest from the villain. Hercules is helped and trained on his journey by Phil (Trevor Dion Nicholas). As we are told “It’s one thing flexing those pecs, but going from zero to hero requires a different kind of strength” and Phil helps Hercules to achieve this by carrying out a heroic deed using his heart.

The stage show stays largely true to the 1997 film, with a few characters being given a new lease of life – indeed Meg has become more hard-headed in her outlook. She is gutsy and independent and certainly doesn’t need rescuing… but still manages to soften and fall in love with our hero. She keeps Hercules at arm’s length and affectionately calls him “wonder boy”. The film characters of Pain and Panic have been replaced with Bob and Charles (Craig Gallivan and Lee Zarrett) who bring the slapstick humour and “Laurel and Hardy” style comedy to the show.

Featuring music by Alan Menken and lyrics by David Zippel, the much-loved songs from the film including “Go the Distance” and “Zero to Hero” appear in this musical adaptation. The casts voices are all impeccable, however there were times throughout the show when it was hard to understand the words. If you do not know the storyline, this may have become a slight issue during the singing parts of the story.

The dancing, directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholshaw, was spectacular throughout. Tap dancing, acrobatics and large group dances along with numerous costume changes, meant this show is truly a feast for the eyes. Costume Designers Gregg Barnes and Sky Switser have clothed the cast in stunning outfits from head to toe. The costume changes come thick and fast until the finale when everyone is dressed in glittering gold.

I truly enjoyed this show! The colours, sounds, energy and magnificent set design is fitting to the Disney brand. You are transported into the magical world and come out feeling ready to conquer your own heroic deed. A 5-star night out for all the family.