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COOL RIDER: 10^TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
STARRING

AARON SIDWELL AS MICHAEL CARRINGTON

ASHLEIGH GRAY AS STEPHANIE ZINONE

KITTY SCOTT-CLAUSAS THE FRENCH ONE

AND

GREASE 2 STAR MAXWELL CAULFIELD JOINS THE FACULTY

TuckShop, in association with Christopher D. Clegg and James DP Drury, has today announced that they will bring Cool Rider back to the stage for a reunion concert at The London Palladium on Sunday 14 April at 7pm to mark the tenth anniversary of the cult-concert.

The cult musical sequel, which is a loving, unofficial parody and tribute to everyones favourite follow-up movie, played at the Lyric Theatre for two sold out shows, followed by a smash hit run at Duchess Theatre in April 2014 and was immortalised in May 2015 with the Original Studio Cast Recording, which was funded by fans through a Kickstarter.

West End stars Aaron Sidwell (Lord of the Rings, Wicked) and Ashleigh Gray (Wicked, Only Fools and Horses The Musical) will reunite and reprise their roles of ‘Michael Carrington’ and’ Stephanie Zinone’ respectively with RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Kitty Scott-Claus (Death Drop) taking on the role of ‘The French One’ and Grease 2 star Maxwell Caulfield (Chicago, Guys & Dolls), aka the original Michael Carrington, joining the faculty. 

The cult film told the heady and daring love story of two unlikely lovers and their road to romance from bowling alley to burger joint, sing-a-long-a-sex education class to talent show, and long (beautifully lit) romantic motorcycle rides to a slightly incongruous luau ending. Much like its musical prequel, the story follows the ancient High School motto: if you want the guy/girl, change your personality beyond recognition and wear overly tight leather in the finale.

This concert is a loving, unofficial parody, tribute, celebration of the music from the greasiest sequel ever made and (arguably) the best musical score ever committed to cinema… Featuring the songs: BACK TO SCHOOL SCORE TONIGHT COOL RIDER WHO’S THAT GUY? REPRODUCTION DO IT FOR OUR COUNTRY CHARADES PROWLIN’ GIRL FOR ALL SEASONS (LOVE WILL) TURN BACK THE HANDS OF TIME ROCK-A-HULA-LUAU (SUMMER IS COMING) WE’LL BE TOGETHER and more!

From the company who brought you Death Drop: Back In The Habit, Miz Cracker in Who’s Holiday, GALS ALOUD and  sell out drag pantos at the Harold Pinter, Trafalgar, and Phoneix theatres, the concert will be directed by Christopher D. Clegg, musical direction and orchestrations by Lee Freeman, choreography by Matt Krzan, original direction by Guy Unsworth, lighting design by Toby Darvill and sound design by Will Thompson. Cool Rider was originally conceived and co-produced by Christopher D. Clegg and James DP Drury.

THE JAMIE LLOYD COMPANY BECOMES

AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION COMPANY

Jamie Lloyd today announces that The Jamie Lloyd Company is now a fully independent production company, following his successful 10-year partnership with Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG).

A multi-award-winning West End and Broadway production company, The Jamie Lloyd Company will continue to create adventurous productions with the very best acting talent in the world. The company’s productions of Sunset Boulevard and The Effect are transferring to New York later this year, with further productions to be announced.

Jamie Lloyd said today, “It has long been the intention for The Jamie Lloyd Company to become an independent production company and I am delighted to be beginning this new era with some very exciting new projects that will be announced soon.

Our partnership with ATG has been truly special and I am very grateful for their remarkable support over the last decade. I am looking forward to continuing our relationship with Adam Speers and everyone at ATG Productions when we collaborate on projects in the future.

The company will work on a slate of current commissions and new projects created with some of the incredible collaborators I’ve worked alongside throughout my career — and, indeed, those artists I’ve yet to have the chance to work with.”

ABOUT THE JAMIE LLOYD COMPANY

The Jamie Lloyd Company is the multi-award-winning West End and Broadway production company led by Artistic Director and Executive Producer Jamie Lloyd. The company creates groundbreaking productions with the very best acting talent in the world.

The company’s work includes radical reappraisals of Sunset Boulevard, The Effect, A Doll’s House, The Seagull, Cyrano de Bergerac, Betrayal, The Maids and Macbeth, with casts including Uzo Aduba, Zawe Ashton, Hayley Atwell, Gemma Chan, Jessica Chastain, Emilia Clarke, Paapa Essiedu, Claire Foy, Martin Freeman, Kit Harington, Tom Hiddleston, James McAvoy, Arian Moayed, Simon Russell Beale, Taylor Russell and Nicole Scherzinger.

Forthcoming productions include the US transfers of The Effect (The Shed, New York) and Sunset Boulevard (Broadway).

thejamielloydcompany.com

X: @JamieLloydCo

Instagram: @jamielloydco

Edinburgh Festival Theatre 27^th January, and on tour across the UK and worldwide in 2024

 Reviewed by Rachel Farrier

4****

Full disclosure at the start of this review: I don’t participate in any adventure sports myself and was clearly not the target demographic in a theatre full of an audience who arrived in a dazzling array of the latest in outdoor wear. However, my preconceptions about the kind of films (and protagonists who would star in them) were firmly blown away as the afternoon progressed. 

The Banff Mountain Film Festival is an annual event in Banff (the one in Canada), which showcases the best in travel and adventure short films, with a selection being taken on tour thereafter, with two different programmes: the red and the blue; I watched the blue programme. This comprised six short films which took us to the heights and depths of our planet, and across a breath-taking diversity of terrain with a selection of incredibly brave (or stupid, as several of them say themselves) individuals relentlessly pursuing their own quests. I will admit that I was braced for a certain type of TV adventurer-vibe, so it was refreshing and also somehow encouraging to watch really average, normal people attempting to achieve remarkable things: people like Mustafa, whose passion for skiing was matched by his undimmable cheerfulness, or Katie, whose ungroundable high spirits complemented her drive to break the record for the deepest caving expedition. (Viewers with claustrophobia should note that my husband had his eyes closed for much of Subterreanean, the longest film in the programme which also records an expedition to reach the longest cave in Canada.)

The programme doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects. Adventure tourism comes with a carbon cost, and Going Greenland, which records the efforts of US adventurers Rachael and Jessica to travel to Western Greenland in a solar-powered sailboat, acknowledges that both took long-haul flights. But who isn’t compromised when it comes to our complicated relationship with fossil fuels? The purpose, they said, was to show what is possible.

The films, needless to say, are truly astonishing: from Go-Pro footage para-base jumping from one of the highest peaks in Pakistan to climbing the walls of fresh-water sinkholes in Mexico, the programme continually puts you right at the heart of the action; thankfully (for me), from the comfort and safety of your seat.

New Images of Michelle Visage & Ramin Karimloo in The Addams Family

Please find brand new set up images of Michelle Visage as Morticia Addams and Ramin Karimloo as Gomez Addams in THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A Musical Comedy live in concert at the London Palladium on 12 & 13 February. 

Photo Credit: Craig Sugden

The cast of THE ADDAMS FAMILY includes Michelle Visage as Morticia Addams, Ramin Karimloo as Gomez Addams and Lesley Joseph as Grandma. Also in the cast are Sam Buttery as Uncle Fester, Nicholas Mclean as Pugsley Addams, Dickon Gough as Lurch, Sean Kingsley as Mal, Ryan Kopel as Lucas and Kara Lane as Alice. In the ensemble are Leeroy Boone, Abigail Brodie, Gavin Eden, Chloe Gentles, Katie Hutton, Matthew Ives, Jessica Keable and Castell Parker and introducing Chumisa Dornford-May as Wednesday Addams. 

Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and has a shocking secret that only Gomez knows; she’s fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family! Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before — keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents. All the usual clan are present – Uncle Fester, Lurch, Pugsley et al.

Old Red Lion Theatre – 25 January 2024

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

Laura Mugford’s semi-autobiographic one-woman show is an emotional and exhilarating insight into living with chronic illness and the transformative effects of running. Staged as part of FreshFest 2024 by Just a Regular House Productions, this is 60 minutes of powerful storytelling, expertly judged and slickly directed by Connor McCrory to draw the audience in and invest in the Runner (Laura Mugford) and her attempt to run the London Marathon.

With just a treadmill, a rack of clothes and a couple of boxes, Mugford takes us from the battle of Marathon, musing at what the ancient Greeks would say about 21st century athletes desperate to run in an event that killed the first competitor, to pounding the streets of London in the race itself, taking time to hop off her treadmill and stop off at haunting childhood memories along the way.

Mugford’s writing and acting are relatable and sympathetic, with her descriptions of the endless cycle of chronic illness and its impact on her mental health honest and often hilarious. The childhood vignettes – her first running race at sports day, a delightful Bob the Builder dance recital – effortlessly build a heartbreaking picture of a little girl full of joy being crushed little by little by the cruelty of bullies and heartless adults, and as she runs, these ghosts from her past are on her heels.

The verbal imagery of hitting the wall is particularly impressive, and the Runner’s struggle with the physical and mental pain, as well as the pain she carries from the walls she has hit in her life but has never run through, just away from, is heart stopping. Spoiler alert: when she overcomes the pain and describes the release she feels, it is a cathartic, energising and hope-filled moment for the audience too, as this wonderful piece of theatre has swept us along, with the joyful cheers and applause as sincere as if Mugford had just crossed the actual finishing line.

RACHEL TUCKER & TORI ALLEN-MARTIN JOIN ERIC McCORMACK & OLIVER TOMPSETT

IN

WORLD PREMIERE OF NEW MUSICAL ‘WILD ABOUT YOU’ IN CONCERT

We are delighted to announce that Rachel Tucker and Tori Allen-Martin will be joining Eric McCormack and Oliver Tompsett in the new musical in concert Wild About You,which is making its World Premiere at Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 25^th and 26^th March.

Wild About You is a new musical with music and lyrics by Chilina Kennedy and book by Eric Holmes.

When Olivia finds herself in the hospital with limited memory, she must dig through her messy past to figure out which of the loves of her life is her emergency contact, only to understand that her desire to make everyone happy has left no one happy. Through a series of realizations, she reclaims her right to be flawed and loved in all her human complexity. However, as she regains clarity, tragedy strikes, but that is when Olivia literally moves Heaven and Earth to reconnect with her greatest love – her son.

Eric McCormack:

Best known for his eleven seasons as “Will Truman” on NBC’s Will & Grace, Eric McCormack was nominated for four Emmy Awards and six Golden Globes, receiving the Emmy for Lead Actor in a Comedy in 2001. He served as a producer, director and leading actor on three seasons of Travelers, for Netflix, and for three seasons of Perception. Other series include Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years, Atypical, Trust Me, Departure and Slasher. Born in Toronto, McCormack got his start in theatres across Canada, including five seasons with the Stratford Festival, eventually starring on Broadway in Tony-nominated productions of The Music

Man, Gore Vidal’sThe Best Man and in this year’s hit comedy, The Cottage. Films include Holy Man, The Architect, Free Enterprise and the award winning Canadian comedy, Drinkwater.You can hear Eric and his old Will & Grace pal, Sean Hayes, on their new hit show “Just Jack & Will”. Eric splits his time between Vancouver and Los Angeles and has been honored with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Rachel Tucker:

Rachel Tucker is an Olivier Award nominated Actress who has just guest starred as Norma Desmond in Jamie Lloyd’s production of Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre. She recently starred in Come From Away at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on Broadway, playing the role of Annette/Beverley Bass: the role she originated in London. Rachel received her Olivier Nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical at the 2019 Olivier Awards and Best Supporting Actress in a Musical at the 2020 WhatsOnStage Awards for her performances in this role.

An experienced screen actress – she can be seen playing the role of Siobhan O’Hare in Northern Irish Television series Hope Street for BBC One.

Theatre credits include: Songs For a New World (London Palladium & Streaming), Elphaba in Wicked (West End, Broadway and the London 10th Anniversary Cast); Meg Dawson in Sting’s musical The Last Ship (Neil Simon Theatre, New York and Bank of America Theatre, Chicago); Communicating Doors (Menier Chocolate Factory); Jen in John and Jen (Southwark Playhouse) for which she won Best Lead Performance In A Musical in the Off West End Awards OFFIES 2022; Farragut North (Southwark Playhouse) and Meat in We Will Rock You (Dominion).

Television credits: Siobhan O’Hare in Hope Street (BBC1/BritBox); Sharon Collins in Informer (BBC1/Neal Street productions) and I’d Do Anything (BBC), where she reached the semi-final stages for the role of Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh’s Oliver.

Oliver Tompsett:

THEATRE: Ramsey in In Dreams (Leeds and Toronto); Edward Lewis in Pretty Woman (Savoy Theatre); Shakespeare in &Juliet (Shaftesbury); Charlie Price in Kinky Boots(Adelphi); Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls (Phoenix); Galileo in We Will Rock You (Dominion); Drew Boley in Rock of Ages (Dominion); Fiyero in Wicked (Apollo Victoria); Phil Davis in White Christmas (West Yorkshire Playhouse); Starlight Express (The Other Palace); The World Goes Round (St. James); The Royal Hunt of the Sun (The National); Mamma Mia! (Prince of Wales); Our House (Cambridge); Caliph in Kismet (Arcola); Harry Lytton in Over My Shoulder( Wyndham’s) and Tony in West Side Story (Canizzaro Park Festival).

WORKSHOPS: Ghost; The Wall and Hoods The Musical.

FILMS: Chauncey in Showdogs (Open Road Films) and Jake in The Hard Way (Fireapple).

Tori Allen-Martin

Tori is a regular in BBC 1 comedy Here We Go and was previously seen as a leading regular in 4 series of BBC’s London Kills and as a regular on Channel 4’s Pure.

Further television credits include Mrs Sidhu Investigates (Acorn); Significant Other (Hatrick); Plebs: The War (the finale) (Rise films); The Other Half( Ranga Bee Productions); Flatshare (42 for Paramount+); Back To Life (Two Brothers Pictures); and Pandemonium (BBC).

Recent stage credits include Samuel Takes a Break (The Yard Theatre); Then, Now and Next (Southwark Playhouse); Park Bench (Park Theatre); One Man, Two Guvnors (New Wolsey, Ipswich/Nuffield Southampton); The Season (Glass Half Full Productions and Tim Johanson); The Hardest One (The Other Palace/ Criterion); and Hair the Musical (European tour).

TheWorldPremiereRecording

The album was released on 17^th November under the Broadway Records label. The all-star recording includes Jackie Burns (Wicked), Kennedy Caughell (Paradise), Jenn Colella (Come From Away), Rachel Ling Gordon (How the Grinch Stole Christmas), Aisha Jackson (Once Upon a One More Time), Joaquina Kalukango (Tony Award^® winner for Paradise Square), Chilina Kennedy (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Eric McCormack (Emmy Award winner for Will & Grace), Jay McKenzie (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Katherine McPhee (Smash), Jessie Mueller (Tony Award^® winner for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Alex Newell (Tony Award^® winner for Shucked), Paul Alexander Nolan (Parade), Noah J.Ricketts (Frozen) and Lea Salonga (Tony Award^® winner for Miss Saigon).

Wild About You Album Tracks:

1. Floating and Falling – Katharine McPhee
2. Bad Day Box – Jackie Burns & Paul Alexander Nolan
3. Wild About You – Jenn Colella & Chilina Kennedy
4. Gold -Jessie Mueller
5. Fast Train – Jay McKenzie
6. High – Noah J.Ricketts, Chilina Kennedy, Eric McCormack & Jenn Colella
7. What I’m Here To Find – Joaquina Kalukango
8. WithoutYou – Kennedy Caughell & Rachel Ling Gordon
9. I Wouldn’t Call It Love – Aisha Jackson
10. Take Us Down – Chilina Kennedy & Noah J.Ricketts
11. Dangerous Lines – Alex Newell
12. Here – Lea Salonga

The album is produced by two-time Tony Award^® winner Brian Spector (www.keakaproductions.com) and Daniel Edmonds, who also serves as the album’s Music Supervisor/Director, Arranger and Orchestrator.

Chilina Kennedy (Music & Lyrics) is an award-winning actress, writer, composer, and the Artistic Producer of Eclipse Theatre Company. She has been writing original music for over 20 years and most recently contributed an original song to the new Canadian song cycle ‘Til Then’. Chilina is the longest running “Carole King”in Beautiful:The Carole King Musical on Broadway, playing over 1,200 performances. Other Broadway roles include “Annie” in Paradise Square and “Mary” in Des McAnuff’s Jesus Christ Superstar (2012). Chilina played “Dina“ in the North American Tour of The Band’s Visit (Toronto Theatre Critics’ Award), originated “Phoebe” in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder( CT and San Diego Critics’ Circle Nominations) and “Binky” in This Ain’t No Disco (Atlantic Theatre Company). Film: With Me (Bravo Fact, NY Shorts and Whistler Film Festivals) and “Elle” in The Human Voice( OAC).

Chilina honored Carole King at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors by playing and singing Aretha Franklin, James Taylor, Sara Bareilles and Janelle Monáe.

Multiple award winner Eric Holmes (Book) has a proven track record of success on both stage and screen. Eric was a writer on the critically acclaimed TV series The Good Fight on Paramount+ for four seasons. His musical Fly More Than You Fall, co-written with Nat Zegree, received nine regional BroadwayWorld Awards, including Best Musical and Best New Work, at its premiere at the NOORDA Center in Orem, Utah. His musical, Born Country, that he wrote with his wife Erin Holmes, received a NYC workshop in 2023 helmed by Kenneth Ferrone (Grease Live! and the Broadway bound musical The Wanderer). Eric has received the David S. Hawes Scholarship for his farce Nearly Departed and was nominated for the Otis Guernsey New Voices Play writing Award for his play Black Friday. He participated in the LARK’s Writer’s Retreat and was a writer in residence at The New Harmony Project. Other credits include Evil (CBS), Smash (NBC).

NickWinston-Director & Choreographer:

Nick has over 100 production credits to his name, and his work has been seen in 25 countries across four continents. His West End musical credits include “Bonnie & Clyde” (Whats On Stage Award for Best Musical), “Fame”, “Annie”, “Loserville” (Olivier Award nomination for Best New Musical), and the acclaimed concert productions of “Chess” and “The Secret Garden”.

Casting: Harry Blumenau

General Management: CarterDixonMcGillProductions Tickets: https://lwtheatres.co.uk/

More information about Wild About You can be found at wildaboutyoumusical.com

Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse, Sheffield – until 10^th February 2024

Reviewed by Carol Crann

5*****

Wish You Weren’t Here tells the story of a 16-year-old daughter named Mila, played by Olivia Pentelow, and her 30-something Mum, Lorna (Eleanor Henderson). It details their attempt to recreate the holidays of their past by going to stay in a B&B in Scarborough. Their reason? Not only to celebrate Mila’s, initially unknown, GCSE results but also in an attempt to reconnect a mother and daughter relationship that clearly has a lot of issues to resolve.

The characters are played brilliantly by both Eleanor and Olivia, a pair who leave the audience drawn into numerous conversations around many of the big issues facing the world; body image, climate change and racism to name but a few, but also the day-to-day challenges faced by a teenager with more than her fair share of teenage angst, and a mother still struggling with the guilt of having a baby at a very young age and dealing with bringing that child up as a single parent.

The one-liners and retorts that were delivered perfectly by the pair – and with excellent comic timing – had the audience in fits of laughter within minutes of the play opening.

Equally, though, the performance’s more poignant moments left an impact. The conversations couldn’t fail to resonate with anyone who has had the pleasure of forming any sort of relationship with a teenager, myself included. They managed to create a very believable relationship on stage as it quickly became apparent that neither of them considered themselves ‘good enough’ – it was a factor that posed a very real threat to their relationship.

Mila’s struggles were multi-faceted; understanding what her role in the future would look like, her very real concerns about the ecological dangers the world was having to contend with, and how a young mixed race woman may be treated by the society around her.

Lorna, meanwhile, was hampered with the guilt of the hours she had to work in order to support them both, but also a complex belief that having had a child so young, that somehow she had missed out on life.

I really enjoyed that there was very little to distract the audience from the emotional dialogue taking place on stage. The set was minimal, with limited props, but also key moments were given added emphasis by videos that were shown on three screens at the back of the stage. A particularly poignant one showed them on the beach with Nan, Lorna’s mother, who plays quite a large role in the performance – though maybe not quite in the way you would expect.

I highly recommend this play, with my only regret being that it was only an hour long.  If you get chance, go and see it, it is definitely worth it!

The Stage Door Theatre is proud to announce that  its inaugural production will be Stephen Sondheim’s Marry Me a Little, directed by Robert McWhir

28th Feb – 13th April 2024

A charming and bittersweet musical revue featuring songs by Stephen Sondheim, the undisputed master of the contemporary Broadway musical.

Two urban singles share a Saturday night of sweet fantasies and deep yearning while never leaving the confines of their solitary apartments. Together they breathe new theatrical life and meaning into a collection of trunk songs that were culled from the final productions of Anyone Can Whistle, Follies, Company, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and A Little Night Music.

Two single strangers, left alone in their studio apartments on a Saturday night, pass their time with sweetly secret, unshared fantasies, never knowing that they’re just a floor away from each other and the end of their lonely dreams.

Directed by Robert McWhir, the artistic director of the new Stage Door Theatre, who is no stranger to Sondheim musicals having produced and directed both Follies and Into the Woods at his former home, the Landor Theatre, in North Clapham.

Cast to be announced

Creative team includes

Director Robert McWhir
Musical Director Aaron Clingham
Designer David Shields
Lighting Designer Richard Lambert

LISTINGS INFO

MARRY ME A LITTLE
Songs by Stephen Sondheim
Conceived and Developed by
Craig Lucas & Norman Rene
Directed by Robert McWhir

Stage Door Theatre
The Prince of Wales pub
150-151 Drury Lane
Covent Garden
London WC2B 5TD

28th Feb – 13th April 2024

Dinner Tickets: £36
Show only: £18
Box Office: 07917 221639
stagedoortheatre.co.uk

All performances at 19:30
except 2/3/24 at 20:30
matinee 3/3/24 at 15:00

Show length 90 minutes
(no interval)

Southbank Centre, London – until 28th January 2024

Reviewed by Celia Armand Smith

4****

As we enter the Queen Elizabeth Hall at the Southbank Centre, the audience is buzzing. There is chatter and laughter as everyone takes their seats, the cast is already on the stage, moving props, talking to one another. It feels like an event. The lights dim and a complete silence immediately falls over the auditorium. In the middle of stage, a performer hums a haunting yet mesmerising tune which transforms into a soft song with the words “It’s been a long time and we are still not free” repeated over and over again. We all know we are in for a strange and beautiful treat.

The Faggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions is based on the 1970s book of the same name by Larry Mitchell and Ned Asta. It is part manifesto, part fairytale fantasy. In this musical adaptation by composer Philip Venables and writer/director Ted Huffman which premiered at HOME Manchester last year, the story is set in “Ramrod” where “the men” are dominating, oppressive, paper obsessives, and “the faggots” with the help of their friends – “the women”, “the queens”, “fairies”, “women who love women” – are seeking liberation through revolution and community.

The staging is simple and not dissimilar to a rehearsal room or dance hall. Instruments and wooden chairs fill the edges of the stage, and a solitary bell hangs in the middle. The incredibly talented performers sing, act, narrate, use their bodies as percussion, play an instrument or four, all while dancing or moving props. Each musician is given their chance to shine in solos and spotlights before returning to the ensemble, constantly supported by their peers. Though the pacing could be a bit snappier towards the end with a few minutes shaved off here and there, it is no less compelling. There are laugh out loud moments and an audience sing a long that keep everything moving.

This show is chaotic, uplifting, and most importantly powerful. Much like the communal living it is based on, you feel like you are part of something rather than just an onlooker, and you come away with a fire in your belly, and joy in your heart.

NEW CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

LES MISÉRABLES

PETER JÖBACK AS ‘JEAN VALJEAN’
FROM 13 FEBRUARY – 9 MARCH 2024

MILAN VAN WAARDENBURG AS ‘JEAN VALJEAN’

FROM 11 MARCH 2024

AT THE

SONDHEIM THEATRE

Cameron Mackintosh is delighted to announce new casting for LES MISÉRABLES at the Sondheim Theatre, with Swedish star, Peter Jöback and Dutch leading artist, Milan van Waardenburg taking on the role of Jean Valjean respectively in the critically acclaimed production. Peter Jöback will star as Jean Valjean from Tuesday 13 February to Saturday 9 March 2024. Milan van Waardenburg will then take on the role from Monday 11 March 2024. Killian Donnelly’s final performance as Jean Valjean will be Saturday 10 February 2024.

Peter Jöback returns to the West End making his Jean Valjean and LES MISÉRABLES debut at the Sondheim Theatre. For Cameron Mackintosh, previous theatre credits include Chris in Miss Saigon and Michael in The Witches of Eastwick both at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera both in the West End and on Broadway, where he led the 30^th anniversary Broadway cast. He also originated the role of Robert in Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ musical Kristina at the Malmö Opera. As an internationally successful actor and crossover artist Peter has achieved multiplatinum record sales and tours in Scandinavia and beyond. He is also the Swedish voiceover in hit films such as Aladdin, Stuart Little, and more recently as King Magnifico in Disney’s Wish.

Milan van Waardenburg will be making his West End debut havingrecently led the award-winning Netherlands and Belgium production of LES MISÉRABLES as Jean Valjean, receiving critical acclaim anda nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Musical in the 2022 Dutch Musical Awards. Milan’s previous theatre credits include the role of Prince Hans in Disney’s Frozen in Germany, Dimitri in Anastasia both in Germany and The Netherlands, Lieutenant Frederic Charles and Quasimodo in Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Herbert in Tanz der Vampire, both on tour across Germany.

LES MISÉRABLES currently stars Bradley Jaden as Javert until 27 January (with Stewart Clarke returning to the role from 29 January 2024), Katie Hall as Fantine, Will Callan as Marius, Amena El-Kindy as Éponine, Lulu-Mae Pears as Cosette, Luke Kempner as Thénardier, Claire Machin as Madame Thénardier and Djavan van de Fliert as Enjolras.

The company is completed by Annabelle Aquino, Hazel Baldwin, Brad Barnley, Michael Baxter, Emily Olive Boyd, Rosy Church, Ben Culleton, Matthew Dale, Matt Dempsey, Sophie-May Feek, Matt Hayden, Tom Hext, Christopher Jacobsen, Jessica Johns-Parsons, Yazmin King, Sam Kipling, Anouk van Laake, Harry Lake, Sarah Lark, Ellie Ann Lowe, Ben Oatley, Adam Pearce, Jordan Simon Pollard, Jonathan Stevens, Phoebe Williams and Ollie Wray.

Since Cameron Mackintosh first conceived this acclaimed new production of LES MISÉRABLES in 2009, to celebrate the show’s 25^th anniversary, it has taken the world by storm. The record-breaking US production continues to tour North America in 2024 and the new Korean production, currently playing in Seoul, opens in Daegu in March 2024. In December 2024, the Japanese production of Les Misérables will open at the Imperial Theatre in Tokyo.

The world tour of Les Misérables – The Arena Spectacular, an expanded version of the hugely successful Les Misérables – The Staged Concert, will open this year at the SSE Arena Belfast on 19 September 2024. This spectacular production will play a strictly limited number of performances at six UK arenas before travelling to over 15 countries and regions worldwide.

Boublil and Schönberg’s magnificent iconic score of LES MISÉRABLES includes the classic songs, I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, Stars, Bring Him Home, Do You Hear the People Sing?, One Day More, Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, Master Of The House and many more. Several of its songs have become real life anthems of revolution wherever in the world people are fighting for their freedom. Seen by over 120 million people worldwide in 53 countries and in 22 languages, LES MISÉRABLES is undisputedly one of the world’s most popular and contemporary musicals.

Cameron Mackintosh’s production of LES MISÉRABLES is written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg and is based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, additional material by James Fenton and adaptation by Trevor Nunn and John Caird. Orchestrations are by Stephen Metcalfe, Christopher Jahnke and Stephen Brooker with original orchestrations by John Cameron. The production is directed by James Powell and Laurence Connor, designed by Matt Kinley inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo with costumes by Andreane Neofitou, Christine Rowland and Paul Wills, lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Mick Potter, projections realised by Finn Ross & Fifty Nine Productions, musical staging by Geoffrey Garratt, and music supervision by Stephen Brooker and Alfonso Casado Trigo.