DR CHRIS AND DR XAND RETURN TO LONDON WITH BRAND NEW SHOW
OPERATION OUCH: QUEST FOR THE JURASSIC FART!
STRICTLY LIMITED SEASON
AT THE SOUTHBANK CENTRE’S ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL
FROM 22 DECEMBER 2025 – 2 JANUARY 2026
TV’s favourite doctors return to London this December with a brand new show, OPERATION OUCH: Quest for the Jurassic Fart!, which will play a strictly limited season at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall from 22 December 2025 to 2 January 2026.
Following four sell-out Australian tours and two smash hit seasons in London’s West End, Dr Chris and Dr Xand are back with the epic “Quest for the Jurassic Fart!”. Join the twins on a dino-mite adventure to unearth the most dangerous, most powerful, most important fart in history—the Jurassic Fart!
This roarsome show, live on stage, will be packed with new crazy experiments that will take you back to the age of the dinosaurs, as the doctors explore the fascinating world of science like never before. It’ll make you laugh and gross you out all at the same time!
Dr Chris and Dr Xand van Tulleken are Oxford University-trained doctors, who still work in medicine. Dr Chris is an infectious diseases doctor at University College London Hospital, as well as being one of the BBC’s leading science presenters and a New York Times bestselling author. Dr Xand’s main interest and expertise lies in public health medicine, humanitarian aid and anthropology and he is the resident doctor on BBC1’s Morning Live, as well as being a presenter on many flagship health and science programmes.
As well as 13 seasons of CBBC’s BAFTA-winning Operation Ouch!, Chris and Xand have presented an incredible variety of television specials and podcasts, including their current podcast, What’s Up Docs?, available on BBC Sounds.
OPERATION OUCH: Quest for the Jurassic Fart! is written by Xand van Tulleken, directed by Peter Adams and designed by Richard Dinnen. It is presented by Andrew Kay and Margot Teele for Andrew Kay & Associates.
*Booking fees apply online (£3.50) and over the phone (£4). There are no booking fees for in-person bookings, Southbank Centre Members and Supporter Circles.
WESSEX GROVE, GAVIN KALIN PRODUCTIONS, PLAYFUL PRODUCTIONS
TOM GLYNN-CARNEY AND HAYLEY SQUIRES
TO JOIN
BRYAN CRANSTON, MARIANNE JEAN-BAPTISTE
AND
PAAPA ESSIEDU
IN ARTHUR MILLER’S ALL MY SONS DIRECTED BY
IVO VAN HOVE
AT WYNDHAM’S THEATRE
IN LONDON’S WEST END
LIMITED SEASON EXTENDED BY FOUR WEEKS
Producers Wessex Grove, Gavin Kalin Productions and Playful Productions are delighted to announce that Tom Glynn-Carney will play George Deeverand Hayley Squires will play Ann Deever in Arthur Miller’s ALL MY SONS, directed by Ivo Van Hove. Also joining the cast will be Aliyah Odoffin as Lydia Lubey, Richard Hansell as Dr Jim Bayliss and Zach Wyatt as Frank Lubey.
They join the previously announced Bryan Cranston as Joe Keller, Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Kate Keller and Paapa Essiedu as Chris Keller.
It was also announced today that the limited season will extend by four weeks and now play at Wyndham’s Theatre, a Delfont Mackintosh Theatre, in London’s West End from Friday 14 November 2025 to Saturday 7 March 2026. allmysonsplay.com
Tom Glynn-Carney made his feature film debut in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk. He most recently starred as King Aegon II Targaryen in HBO’s House of the Dragon. His other TV credits include The Jetty, SAS: Rogue Heroes and Mayflies, all for the BBC. On stage, Tom most recently appeared in the West End revival of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie at the Duke of York’s Theatre. He notably starred as Shane Corcoran in The Ferryman both in the West End and on Broadway earning the Evening Standard Theatre Emerging Talent Award as well as the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play. His film credits also include The King, Rialto and Tolkien.
Hayley Squires earned international recognition with her BAFTA-nominated performance in Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or winning I, Daniel Blake. Her other film credits include Ben Wheatley’s Happy New Year, Colin Burstead, Peter Strickland’s In Fabric and Will Sharpe’s The Electrical Life of Louis Wain. On television, Hayley’s acclaimed performance as Jolene Dollar in Channel 4’s Adult Material earned her a BAFTA nomination and an International Emmy Award for Best Actress. Other recent television credits include David Hare’s mini-series Collateral for the BBC, Philip K Dick’s Electric Dreams for Channel 4 and Apple’s The Essex Serpent. Hayley recently starred as the lead role in Death of England: Closing Time at the National Theatre. Other stage credits include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Young Vic and Jamie Lloyd’s The Collection/The Lover at the Harold Pinter Theatre. She was recently seen in Ari Aster’s Beau Is Afraid, Luna Carmoon’s Hoard for BBC Films and Steve McQueen’s Blitz. Hayley recently completed filming on season 2 of The Night Manager for the BBC and Amazon and is currently filming Legends for Netflix.
Aliyah Odoffin’s first role after graduating was Amara in Working Title’s television series, Everything I Know About Love, for which she received a nomination for Best Breakthrough Talent at the Edinburgh TV Awards. Her theatre debut was in Clybourne Park at the Park Theatre, followed by Sleepova at The Bush theatre, with the production winning an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre. She most recently completed filming two series of A Thousand Blows for Disney+
Richard Hansell’s recent theatre credits include The 47th at the Old Vic theatre. His West End theatre credits include the Young Vic’s production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The Madness of King George III, both at the Apollo Theatre, Macbeth at Trafalgar Studios, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, School For Scandal and Hamlet, all at the New Ambassadors Theatre and A View From the Bridge at both the Wyndham’s Theatre and on Broadway. His other theatre credits include Lazarus at the King’s Cross Theatre, As You Like It and The Tempest for The Bridge Project at the Old Vic and the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Troilus and Cressida for Shakespeare’s Globe and A Patriot For Me and Two Gentlemen Of Verona for the Royal Shakespeare Company. His television credits include Anne, Traces, And Then There Were None, Downton Abbey, Spooks, The Royal, Miracle Landing On The Hudson, E=MC2, and his film credits include Stella, The Secret Garden, Shine, The Wolfman, and Hamlet.
Zach Wyatt’s theatre credits include Pericles for the Royal Shakespeare Company, A Little Life in the West End, Bartholomew Fair and The Merry Wives of Windsor at The Globe, Wild East at the Young Vic and I And You at Hampstead Theatre. Film credits include Timestalker, and Blithe Spirit. His television credits include Karen Pirie Series 1 and 2 for ITV, The Witcher : Blood Origin for Netflix and Urban Myths: Hendrix and Handel for Sky.
ALL MY SONS reunites Bryan Cranston with director Ivo Van Hove following their critically acclaimed production of Network which premiered at the National Theatre in 2017 before transferring to Broadway. For his performance as Howard Beale in the show, Bryan won both the Olivier Award and Tony Award for Best Actor.
ALL MY SONS marks the third Arthur Miller play for Ivo Van Hove, having previously directed A View from the Bridge with Mark Strong and Nicola Walker at the Young Vic, in the West End in 2014 and on Broadway in 2015 and The Crucible with Ben Whishaw, Sophie Okonedo and Saoirse Ronan on Broadway in 2016.
Arthur Miller’s ALL MY SONS is his first and most abiding hit play. Respected, self-made businessman Joe prides himself on providing for his wife and their two sons. While wartime delivers profits for the family, it comes at a price when his partner is charged with criminal manufacturing deals, and his eldest son goes missing in action. Peacetime brings little peace of mind as Joe’s true involvement in the activity begins to surface, and he is suddenly confronted by the consequences of his actions. Arthur Miller skewers the dishonest promise of the American Dream in this disturbingly prescient play.
Bryan Cranston is an Academy Award nominee, and an Emmy, Screen Actors Guild, Tony, and Olivier Award winner. He made his Broadway debut as President Lyndon B. Johnson in All the Way, in which he won a Tony Award, and went onto star in Ivo Van Hove’s Network at the National Theatre and on Broadway – winning the Olivier and Tony Award. He is well known for his portrayal of Walter White on Breaking Bad, from Showtime’s hit drama series, Your Honor, which he also executive produced, and for his role in Trumbo, which garnered him an Academy Award and BAFTA nomination. He can currently be seen in Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s comedy, The Studio, on Apple TV+; and will be re-teaming with Wes Anderson in The Phoenician Scheme; and starring in Everything’s Going To Be Great opposite Allison Janney. He will soon begin production on the Malcolm in the Middle revival for Disney+, and the upcoming dark comedy feature Chili Finger opposite John Goodman and Judy Greer.
Marianne Jean-Baptiste most recently starred as Pansy in Mike Leigh’s critically acclaimed film Hard Truths for which she was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role and swept the Best Actress trifecta at the New York Film Critics Circle, Los Angeles Film Critics Association and National Society of Film Critics. She received international acclaim for her role in Mike Leigh’s Secrets & Lies receiving nominations for Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes and the BAFTA Awards. She is also known for her role as Vivian Johnson in the TV series Without a Trace and has starred in multiple TV dramas including Blind Spot, Homecoming and The Following Events Are Based on a Pack of Lies. On stage she has appeared in The Amen Corner at the National Theatre.
Paapa Essiedu is an acclaimed British actor with a career spanning television, film, and theatre, garnering many nominations throughout his career including a Primetime Emmy nomination and BAFTA TV nomination for his breakout performance in Michaela Coel’s era defining show, I May Destroy You. Essiedu also earned a Best Actor BAFTA TV nomination for his work in Joe Barton’s time loop thriller series, The Lazarus Project in which he starred for two seasons. Essiedu’s upcoming work includes Babies, a six-part drama series for the BBC opposite Siobhán Cullen, written and directed by Stefan Golaszewski. Paapa is celebrated for his theatre work; his most recent performance in Death of England: Delroy, the second play in Clint Dyer and Roy Williams’ state-of-the-nation trilogy, earned him an Olivier nomination for Best Actor. Prior to this, Paapa starred in Jamie Lloyd’s critically acclaimed production of Lucy Prebble’s play, The Effect at the National Theatre in 2023, starring opposite Taylor Russell. The Effect transferred to The Shed, New York. Other theatre work includes, A Number directed by Lyndsey Turner, starring opposite Lennie James, and Simon Godwin’s lauded production of Hamlet at the RSC. Further screen credits include season 6 of the cult anthology series, Black Mirror, in Demon 79 (Netflix); The Capture (BBC1/NBC Universal); Alex Garland’s Men (A24); Gangs of London (Sky).
Arthur Miller (1915–2005) was born in New York City and studied at the University of Michigan. His plays include The Man Who Had All the Luck (1944), All My Sons (1947), Death of a Salesman (1949), The Crucible (1953), A View from the Bridge and A Memory of Two Mondays (1955), After the Fall (1964), Incident at Vichy (1964), The Price (1968), The Creation of the World and Other Business (1972), The Archbishop’s Ceiling (1977), The American Clock (1980) and Playing for Time (1980). Later plays include The Ride Down Mt. Morgan (1991), The Last Yankee (1993), Broken Glass (1994), Mr. Peters’ Connections (1998) and Resurrection Blues (2002). Among his other works are Situation Normal (1944), the novel Focus (1945), screenplay The Misfits (1960), and texts for In Russia (1969), In the Country (1977), and Chinese Encounters (1979), three books in collaboration with his wife, photographer Inge Morath. Memoirs include ‘Salesman’ in Beijing (1984), and Timebends, an autobiography (1987). Short fiction includes the collection I Don’t Need You Any More (1967), the novella Homely Girl, a Life (1995) and Presence: Stories (2007). Essay collections published in his lifetime include The Theater Essays of Arthur Miller (1978) and Echoes Down the Corridor: Collected Essays 1944–2000, as well as individually published volumes ‘The Crucible’ in History (2000) and On Politics and the Art of Acting (2001). He was awarded the Avery Hopwood Award for Playwriting at University of Michigan in 1936. He twice won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, received two Emmy Awards and three Tony Awards for his plays, as well as a Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement. He was named Jefferson Lecturer for the National Endowment for the Humanities in 2001. Among other honors, he received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the John F. Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ivo Van Hove is an award-winning auteur director who has served as the General Director of the prestigious International Theatre Amsterdam (formerly Toneelgroep Amsterdam) from 2001 until 2023. From 2024 until 2026 he is Artistic Director of Ruhrtriennale festival. His acclaimed productions continue to tour around the world and have earned him many international accolades, including a Tony Award, an Olivier Award, two Obie Awards, and multiple others in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Van Hove is dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France, a Commander of the Order of the Crown in Belgium, and the recipient of the 2019 Johannes Vermeer Award, the Dutch state prize of the arts. Broadway & West End highlights include Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life, West Side Story, The Human Voice with Ruth Wilson; Network with Bryan Cranston; The Crucible with Saoirse Ronan, Ben Whishaw, and Ciarán Hinds; A View from the Bridge with Mark Strong; All About Eve with Gillian Anderson and Lily James; and Lazarus, which he created with David Bowie and Enda Walsh. Select International credits include Shakespeare’s Roman Tragedies and Kings of War, Ingmar Bergman’s Scenes from a Marriage, Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead, Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler with Ruth Wilson, Luchino Visconti’s Obsession with Jude Law, Anne Carson’s translation of Antigone with Juliette Binoche, and Tennessee Williams’ La menagerie de Verre with Isabelle Huppert. Opera directing highlights include Opera credits include Salome for Dutch National Opera; Boris Godunov and Don Giovanni for Paris Opéra; the world premiere Brokeback Mountain for Teatro Real Madrid; Macbeth for Opéra de Lyon; La clemenza di Tito and Idomeneo for La Monnaie De Munt; Lulu and Der Ring des Nibelungen at Opera Antwerp; Mazeppa for Komische Oper Berlin; Mahagonny in the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence.
ALL MY SONS is directed by Ivo Van Hove, with Scenic and Lighting Design by Jan Versweyveld, Costume Design by An D’Huys, Sound Design by Tom Gibbons and Casting by Julia Horan CDG. The Dramaturg is Ola Animashawun.
Melting Pot and Birmingham Rep co-present The Battle, a new comedy based (mostly) on real events and are today thrilled to announce first casting as actor and comedian, Mathew Horne (star of the beloved BBC comedy Gavin and Stacey,The Catherine Tate Show and in the West End, productions of The Tempest and Noises Off) confirms to play influential Britpop music executive, Andy Ross, caught in the crossfire of one of the most notorious rivalries in British music history. Opening at Birmingham Rep on Wednesday 11th February ahead of a major UK tour and a West End run, The Battle is a blistering and darkly funny exploration of fame, ego, and the cultural clashes of 1990s Britain. The Battle offers an electrifying window into a moment that defined a generation – and changed the face of British music forever.
Mathew Horne will appear as Andy Ross until Saturday 30th May 2026
Mathew says of joining the cast of the play: “This play is right in the sweet spot of my teenage cultural experience. I’m thrilled to be exploring this iconic era in music on stage with such a talented creative team involved.”
Mathew is a British actor and writer. Best known for his portrayal of Gavin in the beloved BBC 1 show, Gavin and Stacey, he is a brilliant comedy performer with numerous credits to his name.
Theatre Credits Include: Endgame (Theatre Royal Bath), The Lover / The Collection (Theatre Royal Bath), Noises Off (Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Homecoming (Theatre Royal Bath & UK Tour), Rain Man (UK Tour), The Miser (Garrick), The Pride (Trafalgar Studios & UK Tour) and Charley’s Aunt (Menier Chocolate Factory & Theatre Royal Bath).
Film Credits Include: Bad Education (Cavebear Productions), Breaking the Bank (BTB Productions Ltd.), Horrid Henry (Vertigo Films) and Vanity Fair (VF Films).
Television Credits Include: Gavin and Stacey (BBC), Dad’s Army: The Lost Episodes (UKTV), Agatha Raisin (Sky), Worried About The Boy (BBC Two), Chekhov: Comedy Shorts (Baby Cow / Sky Arts), Catherine Tate’s Nan (Tiger Aspect) and Bad Education (BBC Three).
Reliving the heady summer of 1995 when heavyweights of Britpop, Blur and Oasis, went head-to-head in the greatest chart battle of all time, The Battle is the first stage play by screenwriter and Sunday Times best-selling novelist John Niven Best known for his razor-sharp novels including Kill Your Friends and The Second Coming, John Niven brings his uncompromising voice to the stage for the first time. The Battle draws on his deep insider knowledge of the music industry, shining a satirical light on the chaos behind the cool Britannia façade. The Battle is directed by Matthew Dunster (2:22 A Ghost Story, The Pillowman).
London, 1995. Two of the country’s biggest bands release singles on the same day, commencing the battle of Britpop. On one side, clean-cut, art-school intellectuals from the South. On the other: raw and unapologetic lads from the North. Rivalries flare, friendships fracture and at the centre of it all a mania that would define an era – were you Blur or Oasis?
From the chaos of the Brit Awards to the infamous chart war, The Battle is a wickedly funny dive into one of the greatest rivalries in rock history. Featuring legendary personalities and unforgettable clashes, it was never just about the music, but power, pride, and uncontrollable competitiveness. Expect filthy language and razor-sharp dialogue in this cut-throat new comedy that puts you right at the heart of the feuding, the fame, and the fallout. Get ready to roll with it.
The creative team also includes Fly Davis as Set and Costume Designer, Jessica Hung Han Yun as Lighting Designer, Ian Dickinson as Sound Designer, Tal Rosner as Video Designer and Casting Director, Claire Bleasdale.
After its World Premiere in Birmingham, Wednesday 11 February – Saturday 7 March, the tour then visits Leicester, Curve Theatre, Tuesday 10 – Saturday 14 March; Manchester, Opera House, 17 – Saturday 21 March; Bromley, Churchill Theatre, Tuesday 24 – Saturday 28 March; Woking, New Victoria Theatre,Tuesday 31 March – Saturday 4 April; Cheltenham, Everyman Theatre,Tuesday 14 – Saturday 18 April; Edinburgh, Festival Theatre, Tuesday 21 April – Saturday 25 April; Cardiff, Wales Millennium Centre,Tuesday 28 April – Saturday 2 May; Sheffield, Lyceum Theatre,Tuesday 5 – Saturday 9 May; Ipswich, Regent Theatre,Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 May; London, Richmond Theatre, Tuesday 19 – Saturday 23 May; Glasgow, Theatre Royal, Tuesday 26 May – Saturday 30 May; York, Grand Opera House, Tuesday 9 – Saturday 13 June; Norwich, Theatre Royal, Tuesday 16 – Saturday 20 June; Nottingham, Theatre Royal, Tuesday 23 – Saturday 27 June; Milton Keynes Theatre, Tuesday 30 June – Saturday 4 July; Newcastle, Theatre Royal, Tuesday 7 – Saturday 11 July; Brighton, Theatre Royal, Tuesday 14 – Saturday 18 July; Chester, Storyhouse Theatre, Tuesday 28 July – Saturday 1 August.
The Battle is produced by Melting Pot, Birmingham Rep and Gavin Kalin.
New dates have been added to the nationwide tour of DerrenBrown’s brand-new stage show, Only Human. The hugely successful tour, which opened in April 2025 has been extended to take the live experience to a further 20 cities and towns in the UK and Ireland in 2026, and brand-new production photographs of his new show by Pamela Raith have been released today.
The multi award-winning master of mind control and psychological illusion Derren Brown said:
“I’ve toured with different shows for 20 years and it’s such a joy. Only Human seems to be going down very well, and people are keeping the show secret for which I’m very grateful. I’m delighted the show is continuing into 2026 and it’s going to be a joy to take it into Ireland and places we couldn’t get to this year. Try and come without knowing anything about it.”
2025 tour venues coming up are the previously announced: Norwich Theatre Royal (24-28 June 2025), Cliffs Pavilion, Southend (1-5 July 2025), Milton Keynes Theatre (15-19 July 2025), the Grand Theatre, Leeds (22-26 July 2025), Sunderland Empire (29 July – 2 August 2025), Theatre Royal Brighton (5-9 August 2025), Bournemouth Pavilion (19-23 August 2025), the Hall for Cornwall, Truro (26-30 August 2025) and The Lowry, Salford (2-13 September 2025).
And the 20 new venues announced today are: Churchill Theatre, Bromley (5 – 7 February 2026), Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (10 – 14 February 2026), Grand Theatre, Blackpool (24 – 28 February 2026), Congress Theatre, Eastbourne (3 – 7 March 2026), Alhambra Theatre, Bradford (10 – 14 March 2026), Hull New Theatre (17 – 21 March 2026), Liverpool Empire Theatre (24 – 28 March 2026), Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (7 – 11 April, 2026), Regent Theatre, Ipswich Regent Theatre (14 – 18 April 2026), De Montfort Hall, Leicester (21 – 25 April 2026), Wycombe Swan (28 April – 2 May 2026), The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin (12 – 16 May 2026), Grand Opera House, Belfast (19 – 23 May 2026), Theatre Royal Plymouth (26 – 30 May 2026), Birmingham Hippodrome (2 – 13 June 2026), Edinburgh Playhouse (23 – 27 June 2026), Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent (30 June – 4 July 2026), Stockton Globe (7 – 11 July 2026), Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield (14 – 18 July 2026) and Royal & Derngate, Northampton (21 – 25 July 2026).
Only Human is written by Derren Brown, Andrew O’Connor and Stephen Long.
It is directed by Andrew O’Connor, with set design by Simon Higlett, video design by Simon Wainwright, lighting design by Charlie Morgan Jones and sound design by Beth Duke. The age recommendation for the show is 12+.
Only Human is Derren Brown’s 11th show. Amongst his many previous productions are Derren Brown Showman, Something WickedThis Way Comes, Enigma, Derren Brown Svengali and Derren Brown Miracle.
His shows have garnered a record-breaking five Olivier Award nominations for Best Entertainment, winning twice – the largest number of nominations and wins for one-person shows in the history of the Awards. His 2017 show, Secret,won the New York Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience and returned for a sell-out run on Broadway in 2019.
Only Human is presented by arrangement with Vaudeville Productions, Michael Vine, Andrew O’Connor, Paul Sandler and Derren Brown for Only Human Productions Ltd.
CASTING ANNOUNCED AND REHEARSAL IMAGES RELEASED FOR REMAINING TOUR DATES FROM 10 JULY UNTIL 8 NOVEMBER
The National Theatre today announces casting for the remaining tour dates of the smash hit UK and Ireland tour ofWar Horse. Based on Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel, ‘one of British theatre’s most phenomenal creations’ (★★★★★ The Guardian) plays until 8 November 2025.
War Horse,adapted by Nick Stafford and originally directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris,has become the most successful play in the history of the National Theatre, winning more than 25 major awards and has been seen by over 8.4 million people worldwide. This new tour, ‘one of the greatest theatrical experiences of the 21st century’ (★★★★★ The Stage), is co-produced with Michael Harrison, Fiery Angel, and Playing Field.
Joining the company are Danny Hendrix (101 Dalmatians, UK Tour) as Veterinary Officer Martin, Clara Lioe (The Three Musketeers, New Vic Theatre) as Emilie / Joey as a Foal and Christopher Naylor (The Woman in Black, Fortune Theatre)as Private Klausen / Priest.
Remaining cast members are Rianna Ash (Joey/Topthorn Head), Alexander Ballinger (Captain Friedrich Müller/Allan), Eloise Beaumont-Wood (Joey as a Foal), Ike Bennett (David Taylor/Thomas Bone), Haydn Burke (Billy Narracott/Sergeant Klebb), Sophie Cartman (Matron Callaghan), Jo Castleton (Rose Narracott), Owen Dagnall (Alternate Albert Narracott / Geordie), Felicity Donnelly (Joey/Topthorn Hind), Tom Gilbey (Sergeant Fine and Movement & Puppetry Captain), Thomas Goodridge (Joey/Topthorn Hind), Karl Haynes (Ted Narracott), Robin Hayward (Joey/Topthorn Heart), Michael Larcombe (Joey/Topthorn Hind), Matthew Lawrence (Joey/Topthorn Head), Madeleine Leslay (Paulette/Sarah Carter), Damian Lynch (Carter/Strauss), Lewis McBean (Joey/Topthorn Heart), Chris Milford (Joey/Tophorn Heart and Co-Fight Captain), Jordan Paris (Joey as a Foal and Co-Fight Captain), Anne-Marie Piazza (Nell Allan/Schnabel and Song Captain), Tea Poldervaart (Joey/Topthorn Head), Tom Quinn (Joey/Topthorn Head), Gareth Radcliffe (Arthur Narracott/Sergeant Thunder), Daniel Rock (Captain Stewart/Ludwig), Simon Stanhope (Manfred), Tom Sturgess (Albert Narracott), Gun Suen (Joey/Topthorn Hind), Sally Swanson (The Singer), Lucy Thorburn (Jenny Bone/Annie Gilbert), Chris Williams (Lieutenant Nicholls/Dr Schweyk and Voice Captain) and Rafe Young (Joey/Topthorn Heart).
The remaining tour dates of this UK and Ireland tour are Birmingham Alexandra Theatre (10 – 19 July 2025), New Wimbledon Theatre (5 – 16 August 2025), Leeds Grand Theatre (19 August – 6 September 2025), Newcastle Theatre Royal (10 – 20 September), Edinburgh Festival Theatre (2 – 11 October 2025), Wales Millennium Centre (15 – 25 October 2025) and Norwich Theatre Royal (28 October – 8 November 2025).
Assisted performances are available throughout the run at each venue. For more information and to book tickets visit WarHorseOnStage.com.
War Horse tells the remarkable story of a young boy called Albert and his horse Joey, set against the backdrop of the First World War. This powerfully moving and imaginative drama is a show of phenomenal inventiveness, filled with stirring music and songs, featuring ground-breaking puppetry work by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, which brings breathing, galloping, charging, horses to thrilling life on stage and has inspired a generation of theatre-makers since its premiere in 2007.
At the outbreak of World War One, Joey, young Albert’s beloved horse, is sold to the Cavalry and shipped to France. He’s soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary journey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man’s land. Albert, who remained on his parents’ Devon farm, cannot forget Joey. Though still not old enough to enlist he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home.
This tour of War Horse marks 110 years since the start of the First World War and follows the 40th anniversary of the publication of Michael Morpurgo’s global best-selling novel, which has now sold over 2 million copies worldwide and in 44 different languages.
Creative development for the tour has been led by Tom Morris with revival director Katie Henry, featuring reimagined designs by Rae Smith and additional music by Adrian Sutton. Puppet design and fabrication is by Adrian Kohler for Handspring Puppet Company, lighting design is by Rob Casey, movement and horse choreography is by Toby Sedgwick with puppet direction by Matthew Forbes. Animation and projection design is by Nicol Scott for 59 Productions, John Tams is songmaker and sound design is by Christopher Shutt. Casting is by Jill Green CDG.They are joined by associate designer William Fricker and associate costume designer Johanna Coe, associate lighting designer Tom Turner, assistant lighting designer Charly Dunford, music associate Matthew Gough, associate sound designer Rob Bettle, associate sound designer Raffaela Pancucci, musical director Dom Coyote, fight director Paul Benzing,voice coach Carol Fairlamb, dialect coach Rebecca Daltry, associate director Anna Marshall, assistant puppetry director Lewis Howard and dramatherapist Samantha Adams. Casting associates are Olivia Laydon and Tom Shiels.
War Horse received its world premiere on 9 October 2007 at the National Theatre, where it played for two seasons before opening at the New London Theatre in March 2009. Since then, War Horse has been seen in 100 cities in 14 countries, including productions on Broadway, in Toronto and Berlin, with touring productions in the UK and Ireland, North America, the Netherlands and Belgium.
The National Theatre’s Partner for Financial Wellbeing, Charles Stanley, is supporting War Horse on tour.
Calamity Jane has just blown in from the American Wild West and landed at the Winter Gardens Blackpool and will be showing until Saturday 28th June.
This classical musical from the Watermill Theatre’s ‘whip crackin’ production company returns to the UK for the first time in 10 years with Nikolai Foster and Nick Winston’s direction bringing the town of Deadwood to life with some creative and often comedic choices. It features the long-awaited musical theatre return of Carrie Hope Fletcher as the notorious sharpshooting frontierswoman Calamity Jane.
The stage adaptation of Calamity Jane premiered in 1961 and is based on the popular movie first seen in 1953 starring Doris Day and Howard Keel. The Watermill Theatre production company last brought this musical to the UK back in 2015 and its return has been received with mixed reviews, however for me it was a truly fun and enjoyable production.
Calamity Jane is based on an actual person who was described as the biggest mouth in Dakota territory and always up for a fight as can be seen with her relationship with the notorious Wild Bill Hickok where they constantly shoot insults at each other. However, things change when Calamity brings Chicago stage star Adelaid Adams to Deadwood and much to her annoyance, the men go wild for her and jealousy shoots out of her like a bullet, especially as she has her heart set on the dapper Lieutenant Gilmartin. Will Calamity work out who has her heart a thumpin, then come on down and find out for yourself.
This musical has been adapted for the stage by Charles K Freeman and brings a rip-roaring show to entertain with the topmost enjoyment. As this is based on one of my favourite films and brings back many happy memories for me, it was great to see the same joyous reaction from the audience who loved the nostalgia of this new take up of a classic.
This adaptation includes the majority of songs from the film including the opening number ‘Deadwood Stage’, which was every bit as (whip) cracking as you would hope and a singalong moment with the ‘Black Hills Of Dakota’. Other classics include ‘Just Blew in from the Windy City’, ‘Higher Than A Hawk’, ‘I Can Do Without You’ and the Oscar-winning ‘Secret Love’.
The cast of the show includes the multi-award-winning West End actor and singer Carrie Hope Fletcher (Cinderella, Les Misérables) as Calamity Jane who has become a well-loved name in theatre with her versatility and ability as a performer which can be seen in this production where she brings sass and comedy into the role.
Carrie is joined by Vinny Coyle (Hugo in Aspects of Love) as Wild Bill Hickok who’s thrilling stage presence requires eyes on him throughout, Luke Wilson (Much Ado About Nothing) as the lovelorn Danny, Seren Sandham-Davies (Charlie and The Chocolate Factory) who standouts with their impressively strong performance as Katie Brown and by no means the least, the rest of such an incredibly talented cast. Their voices can only be described as out of this world and along with their acting talents created such a presence on stage with a standing ovation at the end.
The production also needs special thanks to Matthew Wright for creating such an adaptable set and authentic costumes, Olivier, Grammy and Tony Award winner Catherine Jayes for the musical supervision & orchestrations, Tim Mitchell for the lighting design, Ben Harrison for the sound design and Nick Winston for the streamlined choreography which elevated the production with ensemble numbers proving the most captivating moments.
So, all there is left for me to say, is shoot on down to the Winter Gardens Blackpool and book yourself a ticket to a wild but enjoyable evening.
TIK TOK SENSATION AND ACTOR MADDIE GRACE JEPSON TO PLAY ‘LORRAINE BAINES’
ALONGSIDE
BRIAN CONLEY
AS ‘DOCTOR EMMETT BROWN’
AT THE ADELPHI THEATRE
FROM WEDNESDAY 13 AUGUST 2025
Lead producer Colin Ingram, together with Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the creators of the Back To The Future film trilogy, are delighted to announce that Tik Tok sensation and actor Maddie Grace Jepson will play Lorraine Baines in BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical at the Adelphi Theatre from Wednesday 13 August 2025, making her West End and professional stage debut.
Maddie Grace Jepson said, “Looks like I’m in my debut era! I’m beyond excited to be joining the cast of this brilliant, award-winning production. Musical Theatre was my first love, I trained in it before my digital career, so joining this incredible show for my West End debut is like a full circle moment. It feels like fate. I’m so ready to return to my roots and share this side of Maddie Grace Jepson with the world. Lorraine – I’m coming for you!”
Maddie Grace Jepson is best known for her online content creation, with a global digital following of over 2.1 million across her platforms, as well as hosting red carpets for major events including the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. On screen, Maddie played the role of Jade in Channel 4’s Big Mood, alongside Nicola Coughlan.
Maddie will star alongside the previously announced Brian Conley as Doctor Emmett Brown, who joins the production for a strictly limited 12-week run.
Cory English will return to the role of Doctor Emmett Brown from Wednesday 5 November 2025.
Brian Conley’s many West End credits include Franklin Hart in 9 to 5 The Musical at the Savoy Theatre, Edna Turnblad in Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre, Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium, the title role in Jolsonat the Victoria Palace, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award, and Bill in Me and My Girl at the Adelphi Theatre. His touring credits include the title role in Barnum and Fagin in Oliver!. Brian’s TV credits include An Audience with Brian Conley, The Grimleys and The Brian Conley Show, as well as appearing a record eight times on The Royal Variety Performance. Most recently he was on screen as Tom ‘Rocky’ Cotton in BBC’s EastEnders.
The production currently stars Caden Brauch as Marty McFly, Cory English as Doctor Emmett Brown, Sarah Goggin as Lorraine Baines, Orlando Gibbs as George McFly, C.J. Borger as Goldie Wilson and Marvin Berry, Alex Runicles as Biff Tannen, Talia Palamathanan as Jennifer Parker, Lee Ormsby as Strickland and alternate Doctor Emmett Brown, Liam McHugh as Dave McFly, Patricia Wilkins as Linda McFly, and Ellis Kirk as alternate Marty McFly. The cast is completed by Kofi Aidoo-Appiah, Billie Bowman,Ella Beaumont, Gracie Caine, Charlotte Coggin, Lauren Dawes, Alexander Day, Helen Gulston, Matthew Ives, Connor Lewis, Adam Margilewski, Bryan Mottram, Anna Murray, Samuel Nicholas,Louis Quinn, Zachkiel Smith and Grace Swaby-Moore.
The critically acclaimed Olivier, WhatsOnStage and Broadway World Award-winning Best New Musical enters its 5th year in London from 13 September 2025. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the original movie, which was released 3 July 1985 in the US.
Performances also began on Broadway on 30 June 2023, with its final performance on 5 January 2025. The North American tour opened in Cleveland, OH, in June 2024 and is currently running in cities across the US and Canada. In addition to the newly announced German and Royal Caribbean productions, the production is also now open in Japan and will open in Australia later this year.
The Original Cast Recording, released on Sony Music’s Masterworks Broadway label, is now available and has had over 20 million streams. It features the new music by multi-Grammy Award-winners Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard alongside classic songs from the movie including The Power of Love and Johnny B. Goode.
In celebration of last year’s Back to the Future Day, Sony Masterworks Broadway released a Deluxe Edition of the Original Cast Recording both digitally and as a 2-CD set. Available everywhere now, the Deluxe Edition includes 13 never-before-heard demos, alternate and early versions of many of the show’s major numbers, most performed by Glen Ballard himself.
In July 2023, a brand new behind-the-scenes book documenting the of the show, Creating Back to the Future by Michael Klastorin, was released worldwide, published by abrams&chronicle books.
BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical, four WhatsOnStage Awards, including Best New Musical, and the Broadway World Award for Best New Musical. The musical has broken box office records at the Adelphi Theatre in London and has been seen by 3.8 million people worldwide.
BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical has tickets available from £19.55, with the overall average ticket price at £56.78. The show is currently booking until Saturday 3 January 2026.
Based on the Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment film, BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical has a book by Bob Gale and new music and lyrics by Emmy and Grammy Award-winning Alan Silvestri and six-time Grammy Award-winning Glen Ballard, with additional songs from the film including The Power of Love and Johnny B. Goode.
Marty McFly is a rock ‘n’ roll teenager who is accidentally transported back to 1955 in a time-travelling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr Emmett Brown. But before he can return to 1985, Marty must make sure his high school-aged parents fall in love in order to save his own existence.
BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical is directed by Tony Award-winning director John Rando (Urinetown, On The Town), alongside the multi Tony and Olivier Award-winning design team of Tim Hatley (set and costume design), Tim Lutkin (lighting), Hugh Vanstone (lighting consultant), Gareth Owen (sound) and Finn Ross (video), with choreography by Chris Bailey, musical supervision and arrangements by Nick Finlow and Illusions by Chris Fisher. Orchestrations are by Ethan Popp and Bryan Crook, with dance arrangements by David Chase. Casting is by David Grindrod CDG for Grindrod Burton Casting.
Back to the Future the movie was released in 1985, starring Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Dr Emmett Brown. The film grossed $360.6 million (£279 million) at the box office worldwide and the total box office for all three films in the Back to the Future franchise was $936.6 million (over $1.8 billion in today’s money).
BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical is produced by Colin Ingram, Donovan Mannato, Frankel/Viertel/Baruch/Routh Group, Hunter Arnold, Gavin Kalin Productions, Playing Field, Crush Music, CJ ENM, Teresa Tsai, Ivy Herman/Hallee Adelman, Robert L. Hutt, Universal Theatrical Group, Ricardo Marques, Augury, Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale, in association with Kimberly Magarro, Stage Entertainment, Glass Half Full Productions/ Neil Gooding Productions.
N.B BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical has partnered with Gala Pro – a revolutionary app for accessibility and translation to enhance accessible experiences at live performances so you can enjoy any performance of Back to the Future with audio description and closed captioning.
Tickets: from £19.55
Please book via the website: BackToTheFutureMusical.com – no booking fees
Theatre Channel is pleased to announce its ongoing partnership with ChewBoy Productions, an award-winning creative studio.
Their partnership celebrates the unadulterated energy, diversity, and audacious inventiveness of the finest UK fringe theatre by presenting new voices and ground-breaking stories on a global scale.
More than just a content update, the most recent release makes a strong statement about the role fringe theatre will play in shaping the performing arts’ future. ChewBoy Productions and Theatre Channel are committed to elevating independent voices, pushing the boundaries of creativity, and making sure that great theatre is seen by a wider range of people.
“We’re really proud to be partnering with the Theatre Channel to platform these 4 brand-new works. From our catalogue of recorded shows, these titles present a plethora of talent, incredible creative ingenuity and crucial stories that deserve to be shared.” Georgie Bailey – ChewBoy Productions
Fringe theatre has traditionally been a breeding ground for innovation, risk-taking, and extreme honesty. It’s the birthplace of today’s theatrical trailblazers, as well as the starting point for future classics. This partnership guarantees that these pieces will continue to exist in digital form, enabling audiences to discover and rediscover them, rather than being restricted to a festival run or a single location.
The New Titles:
Ten Men, The Lives of John Bindon: A gritty, darkly comic one-person show by Franklyn McCabe exploring the life of notorious British actor, criminal, and ladies’ man John Bindon. Performed by Matthew Platt, this memory play journeys through fame, infamy, and self-destruction in a story as outrageous as it is poignant.
The Grand Duke: A rare and riotous staging of Gilbert & Sullivan’s final operetta. Full of wit, whimsy, and sausage rolls, this production invites audiences into a hilarious theatrical coup filled with farce, love triangles, and backstage chaos.
The Godless War: written in poetic Shakespearean verse by Arif Silverman, is a sweeping, 75-minute epic that tackles faith, war, and cultural identity in a powerful allegory. It is a hauntingly relevant tale for modern times, performed with visceral urgency.
Statues: A lyrical and moving solo show by Azan Ahmed. After discovering a mixtape left behind by his late father, Yusuf embarks on a journey through memory and music that reveals the vibrant past of a man he barely knew. A poignant exploration of grief, legacy, and identity.
Ten Men, The Lives of John Bindon, The Grand Duke, The Godless War, and Statues are the four newest released shows available to stream from Monday 30 June 2025.
ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE AND DIRECTED BY GUY UNSWORTH
BASED ON THE CAROLINE GRAHAM NOVEL AND THE ITV SERIES
UK TOUR OPENS IN OCTOBER 2025
Joining the previously announced Daniel Casey as Inspector Tom Barnaby, more casting has been announced today for the world premiere of Guy Unsworth’s stage adaptation of Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift, based on the book by Caroline Graham, The Killings at Badger’s Drift, and the television series Midsomer Murders produced by Bentley Productions [for ITV] in association with All3Media International. The residents of Midsomer will be played by a multi-roling ensemble of actors: Nathalie Barclay, Chandrika Chevli, John Dougall, Julie Legrand, Rupert Sadler, Chris Agha and Rhîan Crowley-McLean. The actor who is playing Sergeant Troy will be announced at a later date. The tour will open at Richmond Theatre on 24 October, with a national press night on Thursday 30 October, and will tour through to May 2026. New dates have been added to the tour, in Cheltenham, Cardiff, Bromley, Darlington and Manchester.
When well-loved spinster Emily Simpson is found dead in the picturesque village of Badger’s Drift, her friend Lucy Bellringer refuses to accept it was an accident. DCI Tom Barnaby and Sergeant Gavin Troy are called in to investigate, uncovering a world of hidden passions, long-buried secrets and deadly rivalries.
With eccentric villagers, shocking twists and an unforgettable reveal, The Killings at Badger’s Drift is a classic whodunit that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Bringing to life the wit, charm and chilling suspense of the beloved television series and original series of books, this gripping and thrilling new show will entrance theatre audiences.
Nathalie Barclay’s television credits include The Agency (Paramount), FBI: International (CBS), The Diplomat (Netflix), Surface (Apple TV), Killing Eve (BBC) and Trigonometry (BBC). Her recent theatre work includes Macbeth (The Curtain, New York), Don’t Destroy Me (Arcola), Visitors (Watermill), Boeing-Boeing (UK Tour), Mariupol (Cockpit Theatre & Edinburgh, Pleasance Theatre), Antigone (The Lowry & UK tour), Positive (Park Theatre), Here I Belong (Pentabus) and The Class Ceiling (Southwark Playhouse).
Chandrika Chevli’s television credits include Unforgotten (ITV),The Following Events are Based on a Pack of Lies (BBC), Inside No. 9 (BBC), Not Going Out (BBC), Holby City (BBC), Derren Brown Presents: Twisted Tales (C4) and Yes, Prime Minister (UKTV). Her theatre work includes The Cherry Orchard (English Touring Theatre) and numerous Edinburgh Fringe shows including Four for Jericho (Pleasance) and the self-penned solo show Where’s My Bike?.
John Dougall’s television credits include Holby City, Waking The Dead, Taggart, He Knew He Was Right, Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased), Monarch of the Glen, The Negotiator, As Time Goes By and The Houseman’s Tale. For the Royal Shakespeare Company, John appeared in The Merry Wives of Windsor, The School For Scandal, Hamlet, Macbeth, The Merchant of Venice, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Measure For Measure, The Cherry Orchard and Faust, amongst others. For Shakespeare’s Globe, he appeared in Hamlet (two-year world tour), Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII, The Winter’s Tale, Coriolanus, Measure for Measure (also US tour) and The Duchess of Malfi. For the English Shakespeare Company, he appeared in The Wars of the Roses: Richard II, Henry IV Parts I & II, Henry V, Henry VI Parts I & II and Richard III. Other more recent theatre credits include the UK tours of A Voyage Round My Father, The Lavender Hill Mob and The Girl On The Train.
Julie Legrand’s television credits include Ludwig, Romantic Getaway, Silent Witness, Call the Midwife, Paula Burrow in Holby City, Doctor Who, Nurse Bradshaw in Night and Day, Jeanette Dunkley in Footballers’ Wives, North Square, Bad Girls, Marji in Starting Out, Kavanagh QC, Inspector Morse, The House of Bernarda Alba and El CID. Her theatre credits include theatre credits include The Forest, The Cherry Orchard, The Critic, The Duchess of Malfi, Way Upstream, The Trojan War Will Not Take Place and Don Quixote (all for the National Theatre), Romeo and Juliet, Cymbeline, The Revenger’s Tragedy and Oedipus (all for the Royal Shakespeare Company), West End shows To Kill a Mockingbird, The House of Bernarda Alba, An American in Paris, Gypsy, The Fiddler on the Roof and Wicked and the recent UK Tour of Filumena.
Rupert Sadler’s theatre credits include Deep Blue Sea (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Jekyll & Hyde (National Theatre), The Odyssey (Jermyn Street Theatre) and Orlando (Barbican).
Chris Agha’s theatre credits include In and Out of Chekhov’s shorts (Southwark Playhouse), Tales from a Thousand and One Nights (Greenwich Theatre and UK Tour) and Peter Grimes, Lohengrin, Aida and The Marriage of Figaro (Royal Opera House).
Rhiân Crowley-McLean’s recent theatre credits include Witness for the Prosecution (West End), The Kite Runner (UK Tour & Dubai Opera House), Faulty Towers The Dining Experience (Adelaide Fringe Festival & Sydney Opera House), Spring Reign (Lowry & UK Tour) and Taming of The Shrew (China & European Tour).
Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift will be directed by Guy Unsworth, with design by David Woodhead, lighting design by Matt Haskins, sound design by Ella Wahlström and casting by Ginny Schiller CDG.
The UK tour is produced by Nicholson Green Productions and Colin Ingram Ltd.
Succession star BRIAN COX announces UK tour for autumn 2025
BRIAN COX – IT’S ALL ABOUT ME!
UK & IRELAND TOUR 2025
TICKETS ON SALE WEDNESDAY 25 JUNE AT 10:00AM FROM BRIANCOXONTOUR.COM
Multi award-winning actor Brian Cox will embark on his first ever one-man show It’s All About Me! this autumn. Brian will take to the road for the 18-date tour on 1 October at Northampton’s Royal & Derngate Theatre and visit venues all over the UK and Ireland, culminating in London’s West End at the Adelphi Theatre on 4 November. Tickets are on sale on 25 June at 10:00am from BrianCoxOnTour.com.
Brian will take audiences on a journey through his life and incredible career – from the backstreets of Dundee to the glittering lights of Hollywood – a journey that is full of laughter and pathos. Expect candour, searing honesty, and hilarious stories. In act II, Brian will be joined on stage by producer Clive Tulloh, who will put questions from the audience to him.
Brian Cox said: “I am looking forward to this tour as it marks something a little different for me – sharing the stage with myself. As the title indicates, the show will focus more than ever on my life and career. In the second half, the tables are turned and the audience will have the chance to put their questions to me. It should be a lot of fun.”
Brian Cox – All About Me! will play Northampton, Bristol, Ipswich, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, Dundee, Brighton, Nottingham, Oxford, Plymouth, Southend, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester, York, and London.
One of the greatest actors of his generation and winner of numerous prestigious awards for both stage and screen, Brian is now a household name due to his embodiment of the infamous character Logan Roy from the international hit TV show Succession, for which he won a Golden Globe. Over Brian’s 65 years in the acting business, he has also been the recipient of a Primetime Emmy Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and two Olivier Awards.
BRIAN COX – IT’S ALL ABOUT ME! UK & IRELAND TOUR 2025
