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BILL KENWRIGHT’S

MULTI AWARD-WINNING PRODUCTION OF

BLOOD BROTHERS

AUTUMN CASTING AND NEW DATES 

ANNOUNCED

Bill Kenwright’s legendary, award-winning production of the international smash hit musical, Blood Brothers has announced cast for the upcoming Autumn tour which will open at The Playhouse Theatre, Weston-Super-Mare on Tuesday 8 September 2026. It also announces further dates for the 2027 Spring tour. 

Vivienne Carlyle will return to the role of Mrs Johnstone. With nightly standing ovations, Carlyle’s rendition of the finale song ‘Tell Me It’s Not True’ will be performed at the 10^th Anniversary of Magic at the Musicals at the Royal Albert Hall on 20 September 2026. This concert will then be broadcast at a later date on Magic Radio. 

Kristofer Harding will reprise his role as the Narrator between Weston-Super-Mare and Chester before handing over the mantle to Richard Munday who will perform between Birmingham and Northampton. Sean Jones and Joe Sleight will continue as the twin brothers, Mickey and Eddie. 

Joining the tour will be Tricia Adele Turner as Mrs Lyonsand Beth Danher as Linda.

The Autumn cast also introduces Jamil Abbasi (Neighbour), Sarah Moss (Donna Marie/Miss Jones), Amelia Poggenpoel (Brenda) and Jack Anthony Smart (Perkins). Reprising their roles will be Tim Churchill (Mr Lyons), Michael Gillette (Sammy), Alex Harland (Policeman/Teacher) and Graeme Kinniburgh (Bus Conductor/ Postman).

Following its first week at The Playhouse Theatre, Weston-Super-Mare, the tour will continue to Cambridge, Oxford, Chelmsford, Grimsby, Chester, Birmingham, Leicester, Crawley, Malvern and will conclude 2026 in Northampton. 

The 2027 Spring tour will begin at the Cliffs Pavillion in Southend on Tuesday 12 January 2027 and move to Southampton, Dartford, Sheffield, New Brighton, Cardiff, Eastbourne, Woking, Blackpool, Norwich, Billingham, Skegness, Torquay, Manchester, Croydon, Bath, Leeds before concluding in Shrewsbury on Saturday 22 May 2027. Casting for the Spring 2027 tour to be announced.

Written by award-winning playwright Willy Russell, few musicals have been received with such acclaim as the multi-award-winning Blood Brothers. Considered ‘one of the best musicals ever’ (Sunday Times), Bill Kenwright’s production surpassed 10,000 performances in London’s West End and has been affectionately christened the ‘Standing Ovation Musical’, as inevitably it “brings the audience cheering to its feet and roaring its approval” (Daily Mail).                            

This epic tale of Liverpool life started as a play, performed at a Liverpool comprehensive school in 1981, before opening at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983. The musical has since triumphed across the globe, completing sell out seasons in the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan, and scooping up four awards for Best Musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway.  

Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins separated at birth, who grow up on the opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with tragic consequences.  

When Mrs Johnstone, a young mother, is deserted by her husband and left to her own devices to provide for seven hungry children she takes a job as a housekeeper in order to make ends meet. It is not long before her brittle world crashes around her when she discovers herself to be pregnant yet again – this time with twins! In a moment of weakness and desperation, she enters a secret pact with her employer which leads inexorably to the show’s shattering climax. 

Willy Russell is one of this country’s leading contemporary dramatists. His countless credits include Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine. Educating Rita, originally commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, enjoyed a two-year run in the West End and was made into a movie starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters. Shirley Valentine also made the move from stage to screen in an enormously popular film starring Pauline Collins and Tom Conti. The production made a triumphant return to the West End in 2023 with Sheridan Smith.

LISTINGS 

Bill Kenwright Ltd presents 

BLOOD BROTHERS 

2026 and 2027 UK Tour 

Written by Willy Russell 

Directed by Bob Tomson & Bill Kenwright  

Resident Director Tim Churchill

Music Supervisor Matt Malone 

Sound by Dan Samson  

Set & Costumes by Andy Walmsley  

Lighting by Nick Richings 

Running Time: 2 hours 45 minutes (including interval)  

Autum Tour 2026

Weston-Super-Mare The Playhouse                                   parkwoodtheatres.co.uk

Tues 8 – 12 Sep

Cambridge The Arts Theatre                                                artstheatre.co.uk

Tues 15 – 19 Sep

Oxford Playhouse                                                                   oxfordplayhouse.com

Tues 22 – 26 Sep

Chelmsford Theatre                                                               chelmsfordtheatre.co.uk

Tues 29 Sep – Sat 3 Oct

Grimsby Auditorium                                                              grimsbyauditorium.org.uk

Tues 6 – Sat 10 Oct

Chester Storyhouse Theatre                                                  storyhouse.com

Tues 13 – Sat 17 Oct

Birmingham Hippodrome                                                      birminghamhippodrome.com

Tues 20 – 24 Oct

Leicester Curve                                                                       curveonline.co.uk

Tues 27 – Sat 31 Oct

Crawley The Hawth                                                                parkwoodtheatres.co.uk

Tues 10 – Sat 14 Nov

Malvern Theatre                                                                    malvern-theatres.co.uk

Tues 17 – Sat 21 Nov

Northampton Royal and Derngate                                      royalandderngate.co.uk

Tues 24 – Sat 28 Nov

Spring 2027 Tour

Southend Cliffs Pavillion                                                        trafalgartickets.com

Tues 12 – Sat 16 Jan

Southampton Mayflower                                                      mayflower.org.uk

Tues 19 – Sat 23 Jan

Dartford Orchard Theatre                                                     trafalgartickets.com

Tues 26 – Sat 30 Jan

Sheffield Lyceum                                                                    sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Tues 2 – 6 Feb

New Brighton Floral Pavillion                                                floralpavillion.com

Tues 9 – Sat 13 Feb

Cardiff Wales Millenium Centre                                            wmc.org.uk

Tues 16 – 20 Feb

Eastbourne Congress Theatre                                               trafalgartickets.com

Tues 23 – Sat 27 Feb

Woking Theatre

On sale from 15 September 2026

Tue 2 – Sat 6 March                                                                  atgtickets.com/Woking  

Blackpool Winter Gardens                                                     wintergardensblackpool.co.uk

Tues 9 – Sat 13 Mar

Norwich Theatre Royal                                                          norwichtheatre.org

Tues 16 – Sat 20 Mar

Billingham Forum Theatre                                                     forumtheatrebillingham.co.uk

Tues 23 – Sat 27 Mar

Skegness Embassy Theatre                                                    embassytheatre.co.uk

Wed 31 Mar – Sat 3 Apr

Torquay Princess Theatre

On sale from 15 September 2026

Tue 6 – Sat 10 Apr                                                                  atgtickets.com/Torquay

Manchester Palace

On sale from 15 September 2026

Tue 13 – Sat 24 Apr                                                                atgtickets.com/Manchester

Croydon Fairfield Halls                                                          fairfield.co.uk

Tues 27 Apr – Sat 1 May

Bath Theatre Royal                                                                theatreroyal.org.uk

Tues 4 – Sat 8 May

Leeds Grand Theatre                                                              leedsheritagetheatres.com

Tues 11 – 15 May

Shrewsbury Theatre Severn                                                  theatresevern.co.uk

Tues 18 – Sat 22 May

HENRY SHIELDS & ALLIE DART,

AGAINST ALL SENSIBLE ADVICE,

 JOIN THE ORIGINAL UK CAST OF

CHRISTMAS CAROL GOES WRONG

CRASHING INTO MANCHESTER & PORTSMOUTH

BEFORE

CHAOS HITS LOS ANGELES

By Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields

Directed by Matt DiCarlo

www.ChristmasCarolGoesWrong.com

Wednesday 26 August 2026 – We have been warned by MISCHIEF, the multi-award winning company behind The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and The Comedy About Spies, that most of the original UK cast plus co-writer Henry Shields and Allie Dart,  will perform in Christmas Carol Goes Wrong at Manchester Opera House (17-21 November 2026), Portsmouth’s Kings Theatre (24-28 November 2026) and at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles (12 December 2026-January 10 2027).   Prepare for a theatrical catastrophe like no other this Christmas.

The full cast responsible for the chaos this Christmas in these three venues is Matt Cavendish (Max), Allie Dart (Annie), Sasha Frost (Sandra), Henry Lewis (Robert), Chris Leask (Trevor) and Jonathan Sayer (Dennis), Henry Shields (Chris) and Greg Tannahill (Jonathan).

The understudies are Matthew Biddulph,  Siobhan Cha Cha, Orla O’Sullivan and Josh Patel-Foster.

The performances in Manchester and Portsmouth are part of the show’s second UK tour which begins in Bromley on 27 October 2026 and continues to bring a cacophony of chaos and Christmas cheer around the country until 7 March 2027.

The cast is yet to be announced for the remaining tour venues and for the production’s West End run at the Wyndham’s Theatre which begins on 18 December 2026 and runs until 23 January 2027.

The North American premiere sees Mischief return to the Ahmanson Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles, where Peter Pan Goes Wrong shocked audiences in 2023.  Alongside the Australian production in the Gold Coast and Sydney, this will be the first time yuletide mayhem has attempted to be performed outside the UK.  Christmas Carol Goes Wrong in LAisproduced by Kenny Wax, Stage Presence and Kevin McCollum.

The cast for the show in Australia (Hota in the Gold Coast from 4-12 December 2026, and at Sydney Opera House from 17-29 December)  is also yet to be announced.  Christmas Carol Goes Wrong is brought to Australia by GMG Productions & Stoddart Entertainment Group. The Mischief production of Christmas Carol Goes Wrong is presented globally in arrangement with Mischief Worldwide Ltd. 

Christmas Carol Goes Wrong brings tidings of chaos and joy as The Cornley Amateur Drama Society return and attempt to tackle the Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol. The Cornley crew battle miscommunication, delays to their set, actors missing in action and a growing feud over who will play the lead. This disastrous take on the much loved classic Christmas story of Ebenezer Scrooge is a festive slice of pure escapism. 

Christmas Carol Goes Wrong played to sell-out houses, when it premiered at the Apollo Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue last year.  It is written by original Mischief Members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields and the production is directed by Matt DiCarlo, who also helmed the award-winning The Comedy About Spies which is on its second mission at London’s Adelphi Theatre where it is running until 26 September 2026.

The creative team joining the authors and director are set designer Libby Todd,  costume designer Roberto Surace,  lighting designer David Howe and sound designer and composer Alexandra Faye Braithwaite.

A 15 minute short documentary is available on YouTube, where you can go behind the mayhem and chaos and discover how this disastrous festive treat has been created by MISCHIEF.

Christmas Carol Goes Wrong in the West End and on tour in the UK  is produced by Kenny Wax and Stage Presence.

FOR ALL TICKET INFORMATION:

www.ChristmasCarolGoesWrong.com

LONDON’S WEST END

Wyndham’s Theatre

A Delfont Mackintosh Theatre

18 December 2026 – 23 January 2027

THE UK TOUR

Churchill Theatre Bromley

27-31 October 2026

Norwich Theatre Royal

3-7 November 2026

Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton

10-14 November 2026

Manchester Opera House

17-21 November 2026

Kings Theatre, Portsmouth

24-28 November 2026

Leeds Grand Theatre

8-12 December 2026

Grand Opera House, York

26-30 January 2026

Milton Keynes Theatre 

2 – 6 February 2027

New Theatre, Cardiff

9-13 February 2027

Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

16-20 February 2027

Theatre Royal Newcastle

23-27 February 2027

The Arts Theatre, Cambridge

2-7 March 2027

NORTH AMERICA

Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles

12 December 2026 – 10 January 2027

AUSTRALIA

HOTA, Gold Coast 

4-12 December 

Opera House Sydney 

17-29 December 

Social Media:

Facebook and Instagram                       @ChristmasGoesWrong

TikTok, YouTube                                  @MischiefComedy

Full cast announced for York Theatre Royal panto Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs…  

York Theatre Royal have today announced that actress Marcavia McCarthy will be taking on the titular role of Snow White in this year’s panto.  

Marcavia has previously starred in Evolution Productions’ Cinderella and has a wide variety of theatre credits including Luna Loves Library Day the Musical (UK Tour); Dad Is Not My Friend (The Cockpit Theatre London) and Sleeping Beauty: The Pantomime (Worthing Pavilion Theatre). 

Marcavia joins the talented cast which includes CBBC and CBeebies’ Richard David-Caine (Horrible Histories, Swashbuckle, Horrible Science) and West End star Jenny Gayner (Chicago, Gangsta Granny)  – alongside returning audiences favourites Robin Simpson, Tommy Carmichael and Christian Mortimer.  

Alongside the all-important Snow White, the cast of the fabulous Seven Dwarfs will be led by Dean Whatton (Game of Thrones) – with Lucy Blenkiron, Richard Blenkiron, Willie Coppen, StijnKeuleers, Maria Popska and Harrison Taylor joining the YTR panto family this Christmas. 

Juliet Forster, Creative Director at York Theatre Royal, said: “We are so delighted to have such a brilliant cast lined up for the show. It is the first time Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has been performed on our stage and audiences can expect something really special! I can’t wait to get started on rehearsals and see this fabulous show come to life with this amazing team.”  

The show is written by Paul Hendy, directed by Juliet Forster and co-produced with award-winning Evolution Productions – the team behind previous York pantomime smash hits Jack and the Beanstalk, Aladdin and last year’s Sleeping Beauty. 

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is at York Theatre Royal from 4 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. With lavish costumes, stunning sets, hilarious jokes and dazzling special effects, the show is set to be an unmissable treat for the whole family. 

Family tickets are available for all performances with savings of up to £61 on bookings with 4 tickets. Find out more on the York Theatre Royal website.  

Tickets are available at Box Office 01904 623568 | yorktheatreroyal.co.uk  

Richard David-Caine plays Herman Von Badapple. His TV credits for BBC include CBBC’s Horrible Histories and Horrible Science, Shakespeare Live!, Horrible Histories: The Movie, Class Dismissed and Big Fat Like. Other Film/TV credits include Steal (Amazon), Masters of the Universe (MGM/Mattel), Cruella (Disney), Father Brown (BBC), Better Things (FX), Avenue 5 (HBO), Midsomer Murders (ITV), Murder, They Hope (UKTV Gold); Finding Alice (ITV), Dead Air (BBC), Skins: Redux (E4), Doctors (BBC), Big Field (BBC) and People Just Do Nothing (BBC). 

Theatre credits include The Importance of Being Earnest (Mercury Theatre), The Witches (National Theatre), Soho Cinders (original West End cast recording, Queens), Horrible Histories: The Concert (National Tour), Taming of the Shrew (Derby Theatre), The Tempest (Orange Tree), Potted Panto (Vaudeville) and Jihad! The Musical (Jermyn Street), as well as his award-winning, one-man show, Tall, Dark and Anxious (Soho). 

Robin Simpson plays Dame Dolly. It is Robin’s seventh York Theatre Royal pantomime. His theatre credits include Footloose, Beautiful: The Carol King Musical, Sense & Sensibility (Pitlochry Festival Theatre), Gaslight and Men of the World (Devonshire Park Theatre), Guy Fawkes (York  Theatre Royal), Abigail’s Party (Harrogate  Theatre), Classic (Edinburgh Fringe & Hope Mill Theatre/Her productions), Macbeth/ Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre), Dirty Laundry (Claybody Theatre), Almost a Sacred Duty,  Anna of the Five Towns, Beryl, A Voyage Round my Father and Laurel and  Hardy (New Vic), Chamaco (HOME), Neverland (Lakeside Arts), Boeing  Boeing, Bedroom Farce, David Copperfield, The Hound of the  Baskervilles; The Road to Nab End and Travels with my Aunt (Oldham Coliseum), The Travelling Pantomime, The Wind in the Willows, To Kill a  Mockingbird, The Seagull, Hansel and Gretel, The Railway Children;  Pinocchio, Pygmalion and The Little Mermaid (York Theatre Royal), Inside  Out of Mind (Meeting Ground Theatre Co.), Grandpa in my Pocket  (Nottingham Playhouse), Lost Boy Racer (Lawrence Batley Theatre), We Love You City! (Coventry Belgrade), Me, as a Penguin, It’s a Lovely Day Tomorrow, Flat Stanley (West Yorkshire Playhouse), A Passionate Woman (Chester Gateway and Theatre by the Lake), Frankie and Tommy, The Rivals, Red Skies over the Severn, The Century Plays (The Swan Theatre). His television credits include The Continental (from the world of John Wick), Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Doctors, Holby City, Waterloo Road, Liverpool 1, Home Fires, and See No Evil – The Moors Murders. 

Tommy Carmichael plays Muddles. His theatre credits include Big Strong Man (National Tour), Charlie, Sleeping Beauty and Aladdin (York Theatre Royal), Robin Hood (The Maltings, Ely), The Wind In The Willows (National Tour), Big Strong Man (CAST, Doncaster), Cinderella (The Maltings, Ely), Alice In Wonderland (National Tour), The Jungle Book (National Tour), Dick Whittington (Alderford Lake), Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs (Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple),  Bleak House (National Tour), Orphan (South West Tour), Lord of the Flies (Greenwich Theatre), BackPAGE (The Lion & Unicorn), Sleeping Beauty (National Tour), Howl (The Nest, Bath),  Jack and the Beanstalk (Dearne Playhouse, Goldthorpe), The Shed Man (The Lion & Unicorn) and Where There’s a Will (The Egg Theatre, Bath). 

Jenny Gaynor plays The Wicked Queen. Her theatre credits include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (UK Tour), Singin’ In The Rain (Sadlers Wells Theatre & UK/International tour), ANNIE (UK tour), Gangsta Granny (West End & UK Tour), The Girls (West End-Original London cast), A Christmas Story (Waterloo East Theatre),  Singin’ in The Rain & Legally Blonde (Kilworth House Theatre),  CHICAGO (West End and UK Tour), A Chorus Line (Lowry Theatre), Spamalot! (West End), Relatively Speaking (International Tour), Before The Night is Through (Landor Theatre), The Rocky Horror Show (European Tour and UK Tour), Sleeping Arrangements (Landor), The Boyfriend (Southwold), I Am a Camera (English Theatre of Hamburg), Annie (Arts) and 42ND Street (Octagon Theatre). Her film and TV credits include The Power (Amazon Prime), The Trial (Ch5), Entanglement (Amazon Prime), Material Girl (BBC), Sex & Drugs & Roll (Netflix), The Special Relationship (BBC & HBO) The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns (HBO) Charismata (Netflix), The Addicted (Netflix) Coming Up (Channel 4) PERCEPTIONS (London Live) All About The McKenzies (Freeview) All in The Method & Rules Of Life (BBC3 pilot) Network Failure (Virgin Media) A Soldier’s Story (BBC Wales). For pantomime Jenny has appeared in leading roles in Aladdin, Snow White and Cinderella at theatres across the UK. 

Christian Mortimer plays Prince Charming. His theatre credits included Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella (York Theatre Royal),Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Gaiety Theatre).  

Marcavia McCarthy plays Snow White. Her theatre credits include Cinderella (Evolution Productions), Luna Loves Library Day the Musical (UK Tour), Dad Is Not My Friend (The Cockpit Theatre London) and Sleeping Beauty: The Pantomime (Worthing Pavilion Theatre). 

Dean Whatton plays Sarge. His theatre credits includeSee How They Run (UK tour), Snow White The Musical (France/Belgium tour), Love Labours Lost and Richard the III (Northern Broadsides, UK tour), Macbeth (Derby Shakespeare Company), Pericles, A Midsummer Nights Dream, Life of Galileo, The Tales of Hans Handerson, The Class of 77 and Viking Tales. TV credits include Game of Thrones (HBO), Call the Midwife (BBC), Little Britain (BBC), Life’s Too Short (BBC), The John Bishop Rollercoaster Tour (BBC), PANTO! (ITV), An Bronntanas (TG4 Ireland), The Paul O’Grady Show (ITV), The Pheonix Club Live Show Performance (Children in Need – BBC), The One Show (BBC), This Morning (ITV), Celebrity Juice Christmas Special (ITV), Come Dine with me Christmas Special (Channel 4), Dick and Dom in Da Bungalow (CBeebies), Peak Practice (ITV), and I am Spazticus (Channel 4).  

LISTINGS INFORMATION 

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 
www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/show/snow-white-and-the-seven-dwarfs/  
A York Theatre Royal and Evolution Productions co-production  
York Theatre Royal, Main House  
Fri 04 Dec, 7pm 
Sat 05 Dec, 2.30pm, 7pm 
Sun 06 Dec, 11am, 3pm 
Tue 08 Dec 10.30am, 7pm (Press Night) 
Wed 09 Dec 10.30am, 5.30pm 
Thu 10 Dec 10.30am, 5.30pm (Relaxed Performance) 
Fri 11 Dec 10.30am, 7pm 
Sat 12 Dec 2.30pm,7pm 
Sun 13 Dec 11am,3pm 
Tue 15 Dec 10.30am, 7pm 
Wed 16 Dec 10.30am, 5.30pm (Dementia Friendly Performance) 
Thu 17 Dec 2.30pm, 7pm 
Sat 19 Dec 2.30pm,7pm 
Sun 20 Dec 11am, 3pm 
Mon 21 Dec 1pm, 5.30pm (British Sign Language Interpreted Performance) 
Tue 22 Dec 2.30pm, 7pm 
Wed 23 Dec 2.30pm, 7pm 
Thu 24 Dec, 11am, 3pm 
Sat 26 Dec 2.30pm, 7pm 
Sat 27 Dec 11am, 3pm 
Mon 28 Dec 2.30pm, 7pm  
Tue 29 Dec 1pm (Audio Described Performance), 5.30pm 
Wed 30 Dec 2.30pm (Captioned Performance), 7pm  
Thu 31 Dec 11am, 3pm 
Sat 02 Jan 2.30pm, 7pm 
Sun 03 Jan 11am, 3pm 

Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe – until Saturday 29th August 2026

Reviewed by Rachel Clark

5****

This is an Iconic Broadway Classic and the tour is Celebrating 20 years of Jersey Boys and the best of it is – it is in High Wycombe for the week. It is an award-winning show and you will see why when you watch it, it is a must.

The book was written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, so we have a big thank you them both.

This is the musical of the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons they had numerous top 40 hits and were successful on stage and the radio BUT what about their private life? The boys came from New Jersey and had a colourful life, prison plenty of women, debt.

The group had plenty of previous names one being the Four Lovers!!! the last and successful one being the Four Seasons and when Bob Gaudio joined and wrote the music and the lyrics were by Bob Crewe, this made them more successful along with the voice of Frankie Valli – Valli spelt with an ‘I’ rather than a ‘Y’ as it would be a more successful name as he was told.

The Wycombe Swan theatre was truly brought alive to this 20th Anniversary tour of Jersey Boys.

The stage set was very good and what I liked was when the set was 180 degrees, so it went from us watching them from the stalls to being at the back of the stage, looking out to the stalls, very clever , mainly done with the lighting.

Luke Baker was Frankie Valli and his voice was amazing he kept the audience captured. He was faultless, hit after hit and for me the voice and the hits got better as the show went one, I just didn’t want it to end – Walk Like a Man, Rag Doll, Sherry just a few of the famous hits.

The other Four Seasons cast were Carl Boumouglbay – Tommy DeVito – the biggest rogue of the group and got them into debt, Lewis Kennedy – Nick Massi and Bob Gaudio was played by Toby Miles, all were exceptional.

The band were brilliant, faultless music, there is nothing quite like live music and a shout out to the director Des Mcanuff for the great show. A must go and see.

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

NOËL COWARD’S

A COMEDY OF BAD MANNERS

JOINING THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED

CHRISTINE BARANSKI AS JUDITH BLISS

AND

RICHARD E. GRANT AS DAVID BLISS

WILL BE

NANCY CARROLL AS MYRA ARUNDEL,

WILL CLOSE AS SIMON BLISS,

CHARLES EDWARDS AS RICHARD GREATHAM,

OPHELIA LOVIBOND AS SOREL BLISS,

ASH HUNTER AS SANDY TYRELL,

LUCY KARCZEWSKI AS JACKIE CORYTON

AND JO MCINNES AS CLARA

DIRECTED BY
EMILY BURNS
AT

WYNDHAM’S THEATRE
FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED SEASON FROM
22 SEPTEMBER TO 12 DECEMBER 2026

FURTHER TICKETS RELEASED

Wessex Grove and Gavin Kalin Productions are delighted to announce full casting for a stinging new production of Noël Coward’s irresistible comedy Hay Fever.

Joining the previously announced two-time Tony Award^® winning Christine Baranski as Judith Bliss and Academy Award nominee Richard E. Grant as David Blisswill be Nancy Carroll as Myra Arundel, Will Close as Simon Bliss, Charles Edwards as Richard Greatham, Ophelia Lovibond as Sorel Bliss, Ash Hunter as Sandy Tyrell, Lucy Karczewski as Jackie Coryton and Jo McInnes as Clara. The cast is completed by Helena Antoniou, Charlotte Avery and Shaun Mendum.

Directed by Emily Burns, Hay Fever will play at Wyndham’s Theatre, a Delfont Mackintosh Theatre, for a strictly limited season from 22 September to 12 December 2026. Further tickets from £30 have been released for the production today. hayfeverplay.com

Nancy Carroll’s theatre credits include After the Dance, for which she won both the Olivier Award and Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress, The Enchantment, Man of Mode, The Voysey Inheritance, The False Servant, The Talking Cure Manor and The Magistrate, all at the National Theatre. Her West End credits include Arcadia, You Never Can Tell, See How They Run and The Duck House. Her other theatre credits include Broken Glass at the Young Vic, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 and The Winter’s Tale all at the RSC, The Cabinet Minister and Marjorie Prime at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Rock ‘n’ Roll and The Moderate Soprano at Hampstead Theatre, Betrayal at Theatre Royal Bath, Closer and The Recruiting Officer at the Donmar, House of Games, Waste and King Lear at the Almeida, Mammals at the Bush Theatre, A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Sheffield Theatres and Still Life/Astonished Heart at Liverpool Playhouse. Her television credits include The Diplomat, Dalgleish, Ghosts of Beirut, Father Brown, The Crown, Murder in Provence, Stephen, Will, Suspicions of Mr. Whicher; Lewis, Queens of Mystery, Call the Midwife and Cambridge Spies. Film credits include Clayface, F1, Happy and Glorious, Fantastic Four, The First Steps, Magic Mike – The Last Dance, The Gathering Storm, Iris and An Ideal Husband.

Will Close won the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Harry Kane in the hit play Dear England, both at the National Theatre and in the West End. His other theatre credits include Porn Play at the Royal Court, Man Mountain, Bad Altitude, 1599, Great British Mysteries? all at Soho Theatre, Mediocre White Male at the Park Theatre and Golem at the Young Vic. His film credits include Beware Boiúna and Falling and his television credits include The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾, Silent Witness, Midsomer Murders, Death in Paradise, Dalgliesh and Buffering.

Charles Edwards’ theatre credits include The Line of Beauty at the Almeida, Best of Enemies at the Young Vic, for which he received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor, The Ballad of Hattie and James at the Kiln Theatre and Absolute Hell, Waste, Strange Interlude, Twelfth Night, The Duchess of Malfi, and All My Sons, all at the National Theatre. He has been nominated three times for the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor for his performances in Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare’s Globe, The King’s Speech at the Wyndham’s Theatre and This House at the National Theatre. His other theatre credits include Copenhagen at Chichester Festival Theatre, My Fair Lady at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, Richard II at Shakespeare’s Globe, Blithe Spirit in the West End and the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles and The 39 Steps in the West End and on Broadway. His film credits include Elsinore, The Duke, The Witches, Philomena and Mansfield Park. His television credits include War, Patience, The Lord of the Rings – The Rings of Power, The Gentlemen, Dreaming Whilst Black, The Lady, The Crown, Downton Abbey, The Terror, Holy Flying Circus, The Halcyon, Henry IX, Under the Vines, Sherlock and Arthur and George.

Ophelia Lovibond’s theatre credits include The Hills of California at the Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End and the Broadhurst Theatre on Broadway, Nightfall at The Bridge Theatre, The Bay at Nice at the Menier Chocolate Factory, The Effect at Sheffield Crucible, The Libertine at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and The Stepmother at Chichester Festival Theatre. Film credits include Here, Real Love (Yes, It’s Real Love!), Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made, Rocketman, The Autopsy of Jane Doe, Tommy’s Honour, Man Up, Guardians of The Galaxy, A Single Shot, Eight Minutes Idle, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, No Strings Attached, London Boulevard, 4.3.2.1., Chatroom, Nowhere Boy, Shadows in The Sun, Popcorn, Oliver Twist, Crusade in Jeans. Television credits include W1A (series S1, 2 and 3), Mobland, The Lady, Partygate, This England, Minx, What If…?, Trying, Roadkill, Feel Good, Elementary, Whiskey Cavalier, Hooten & The Lady, Mr. Sloane, Inside No.9, The Poison Tree, Titanic: Blood & Steel, FM, Inspector Lewis, Messiah: The Rapture, Delta Forever, Heartbeat, Nathan Barley, Single, Loving You and The Wilsons.

Ash Hunter’s theatre credits include, for the National Theatre, Grenfell: In The Words of Survivors (also at St. Ann’s Warehouse in New York), Wuthering Heights and Light Shining in Buckinghamshire. His West End credits include Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre and his other theatre credits include Pitcairn at Shakespeare’s Globe, HY Brasil at The Old Vic, Anthony & Cleopatra for the RSC and at the Public Theatre in New York, A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Almeida Theatre, The Meat Kings! (Inc.) of Brooklyn Heights at the Park Theatre, Macbeth at Leeds Playhouse, God’s Property at Soho Theatre, Unrivalled Landscape at Orange Tree Theatre, Gravity at Birmingham Rep and A Clockwork Orange at Theatre Royal Stratford East. His film credits include Intrigo: Dear Agnes and The Thief, and his television credits include Maya, Alma’s Not Normal, Grace, Father Brown, Bridgerton, Harlots, The Trial of Christine Keeler, Death in Paradise, The Secret Agent, Wolfblood, Switch and Good Times Rolled.

Lucy Karczewski won The Stage Debut Award for Best Performer in a Play for her performance in Stereophonic at the Duke of York’s Theatre, for which she also received an Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and a nomination in the Emerging Talent category for the London Standard Theatre Awards. Her other theatre credits include The Seagull at the Barbican, and The Caucasian Chalk Circle, The Glass Menagerie, Romeo and Juliet, The Cherry Orchard, The Government Inspector and A Monster Calls, all at LAMDA. She will soon make her television debut in the Peaky Blinders sequel.

Jo McInnes’ theatre credits include 4.48 Psychosis for the Royal Court Theatre and RSC, and at St Ann’s Warehouse, Coram Boy at Chichester Festival Theatre, Romeo and Julie at the Almedia Theatre, Medea at SohoPlace, The Corn is Green, The House Of Bernarda Alba, and The Children’s Hour, all at the National Theatre, The Jungle at The Young Vic, the Playhouse Theatre and St Ann’s Warehouse, Wastewater, Fleshwound, and Bluebird, all at the Royal Court, The Herbal Bed, As You Like It, and General from America for the RSC, Uncle Vanya at the Young Vic, M.A.D at the Bush Theatre, On Blindness and Dirty Butterfly at the Soho Theatre, and Edward II at the Sheffield Crucible. Her television include This England, Eternal Law, Five Daughters, Material Girl, Recovery, Afterlife, Sorted, The World Of Impressionists, Spooks, Living It, and Playing The Field.  Her film credits include Me and Orson Welles, The New Romantics, My Wife is an Actress, Birthday Girl, and Gangster No. 1.

Noël Coward’s HAY FEVER is directed by Emily Burns with set and costume design by Frankie Bradshaw, lighting design by Oliver Fenwick and sound design by Tingying Dong. The fight and intimacy director is Bethan Clark, the dialect coach is Danièle Lydon the Associate Director is Blythe Stewart and Casting is by Jim Carnahan CSA and Liz Fraser CSA.

It’s LOATHSOME being looked after. Last year, Judith retired from her life-on-stage. Already, she misses the applause. Idling away at their country home, the rest of the family – reclusive novelist husband David and failure-to-launch children Sorrel and Simon – are too self-involved to be a good audience. So, Judith invites a young fan as her guest for the weekend.  But unbeknownst to her, each of the Blisses have a guest of their own arriving at the very same time. Completely unsuited to hosting and allergic to compromise, the house quickly erupts into a chaos of parlour games, put-downs and unrequested encores.

BROADWAY & WEST END STAR

CAISSIE LEVY

TO PERFORM LIVE IN CONCERT AT

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE

ON SUNDAY 13 DECEMBER 2026

TICKETS ON SALE 28 AUGUST 2026

Producers Darren Bell and Cuffe & Taylor are proud to announce that Broadway and West End star Caissie Levy will perform her solo concert at Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Sunday 13 December 2026, at 7pm. Tickets on sale Friday 28 August.

Caissie Levy Live at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane will see one of Broadway’s most celebrated voices bring her unmistakable sound, artistry and emotional force to the concert hall, blending iconic tunes from her Broadway career (Ghost, Frozen, Wicked, Les Misérables, Hair), with contemporary classics and personal storytelling. It’s an intimate, electrifying night of fearless vocals, iconic songs and connection.

On returning to London Caissie said: “London has always felt like a second theatrical home to me, so it means everything to be coming back. Some of the most meaningful chapters of my career happened here, and I’m so excited to reconnect with the London theatre community and audiences who have always been so incredibly supportive. It feels like the perfect place to share my new solo show.”

Caissie Levy has most recently starred in the acclaimed revival of Ragtime on Broadway for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical as well as the 2026 Drama Desk Award and was the recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award from the Drama League Awards. In 2024, she earned an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for starring in the UK premiere of Next to Normal at the Donmar Warehouse and the West End transfer.

Caissie is known to Broadway and West End audiences for creating the iconic role of ‘Elsa’ in Disney’s Frozen on Broadway and originating the roles of ‘Sheila’ in the Tony Award-winning revival of Hair and ‘Molly’ in Ghost. She also starred in the Tony Award-winning Broadway production of Tom Stoppard’s Leopoldstadt and as ‘Rose’ in the Tony nominated Broadway revival of Caroline, or Change, for which she was nominated for a Grammy Award. Further Broadway credits include Fantine in Les Misérables, Elphaba in Wicked (also in LA) and her Broadway debut as Penny in Hairspray.

Caissie has been featured on many singer/songwriter’s records, and her solo EP, With You, is available wherever you can buy or stream music. In concert, she backed up Sir Rod Stewart in his Las Vegas residency, headlined Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops twice, and has played solo across the US, UK and Canada.

Caissie Levy Live at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane is presented by Darren Bell Productions and Cuffe & Taylor.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Caissie Levy Live at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

13 December 2026, 7pm

The Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Catherine Street

London

WC2B 5JF

Box Office: 020 3925 2998

Instagram: @caissielevy / @darrenbellproductions / @cuffeandtaylor

NEW CAST MEMBERS ARE ANNOUNCED

AS
MOULIN ROUGE!

THE MUSICAL

CELEBRATES FIVE SPECTACULAR, SPECTACULAR! YEARS IN THE WEST END

Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life

Global Creatures, Producers of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, are delighted to reveal new West End casting as the hit show celebrate 5 years at the Piccadilly Theatre in London this autumn.

From Monday 12 October 2026, current cast Karis Anderson as Satine and Alistair Brammer as Christian will be joined by James Doherty (Come From Away) as Harold Zidler and Daniel Fraser  (Christmas Carol Goes Wrong) as The Duke. Richard Lloyd King continues to play Toulouse-Lautrec, alongside Ivan De Freitas as Santiago and Lindsey Tierney as Nini.  Nick Len (Matilda the Musical) will play Baby Doll, and Billie-Kay (Kinky Boots) will play Arabia, joining Athena Collins as La Chocolat and Angela Marie Hurst as Alternate Satine.

The full cast is completed by Gabriela Acosta, Andy Barke, Callum Bell, Alexandros Beshonges, Emily Bolland, Taylor Bradshaw, Robson Broad, Lucy Campbell, Bethany Chan, Lucia Coleman, Katie Deacon, James Davies-Williams, Kelly Downing, Onyemachi Ejimofor, Myles Hart, Annabelle Laing, Holly Liburd, PaddyJoe Martin, Jacob McLay Reid, Jago Mottart, Marios Nicolaides, Ben Rutter, Hassun Sharif, Jamie Shields, Risha Tavernier, Kalila Khan, Hakeem Tinubu and Tija Tkalcevic.

Set in Paris, 1899, a world of indulgent beauty and unparalleled extravagance, of bohemians and aristocrats, of boulevardiers and reprobates, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is the story of a lovesick American writer, Christian, and Satine, the dazzling star of the Moulin Rouge nightclub. 

When their lives collide at the Moulin Rouge, they fall hopelessly in love, only to be thwarted by the nightclub’s host and impresario, Harold Zidler, and The Duke of Monroth, the wealthy and entitled patron of the club who thinks he can buy anything he wants, including Satine. Together with his Bohemian friends – the brilliant and starving artist Toulouse-Lautrec, and the greatest tango dancer in all of Paris, Santiago – Christian stages a musical spectacular in an attempt to save the Moulin Rouge and win the heart of Satine.

Baz Luhrmann’s iconic film comes to life onstage, remixed for today in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. Moulin Rouge! The Musical invites you to enter a world of passionate romance and eye-popping splendour… a place where Bohemians and aristocrats revel together in electrifying enchantment… a place where all your wildest dreams come true! 

The Grove Theatre, Eastbourne – until August 23rd 2026

Reviewed by Mike Linane

4****

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest is the story of a wisecracking outsider sent to a mental institution, whose rebellious spirit disrupts the oppressive regime of Nurse Ratched and inspires fellow patients to challenge their routines. It is a masterful mix of drama, dark comedy, and social commentary, and features a powerhouse performance by Leigh Hollidge as Randle P. McMurphy, a man who has been arrested for the rape of a minor (though he insists she told him she was older than she actually was) and who feigns mental illness to prevent himself from being sent to prison. From the moment Hollidge arrives he takes total control of the stage and all around him. He is ably supported by Claire Bolt as Nurse Ratched who is determined that McMurphy will not get the better of her or the system that she has built up around her to ensure that the inmates are totally under her strict control.

The play is excellently directed by Maurice Thorogood who makes use of every inch of the theatre space available to him having completed redesigned the auditorium for this production. This works very well allowing the actors to come and go from all different areas including amongst where the audience is sitting.

The tension of the play builds nicely until, in the second half of the second act, all hell breaks loose in the institution leading to an emotional and harrowing finale. The lady in the seat next to me was in tears as she left the theatre and I can totally understand why – the drama builds to such a crescendo of horror that it is impossible to be unmoved by what you have seen performed before you.

This may sound like a grim play to go to see and for the most part it is, although there is also plenty of humour in it, but it is a play that you simply cannot afford to miss. The acting of Hollidge is so good it is worthy of any West End theatre stage. If you live in or near Eastbourne you must make the effort to go to see this – I guarantee you will not be disappointed by it.

Birmingham Hippodrome – until 19th September 2026

Reviewed by Emma Millward

5*****

Fresh from a successful West End run, Mrs Doubtfire The Musical began its first UK and Ireland tour last week, and Birmingham Hippodrome is the perfect setting for its tour debut. Based on the much-loved 1993 film, Mrs Doubtfire follows Daniel Hillard, an out-of-work actor whose divorce leaves him struggling to maintain a relationship with his three children. When he can no longer see them as often as he would like, Daniel comes up with an increasingly elaborate solution. He transforms himself into the Scottish nanny Mrs Doubtfire. Gabriel Vick is excellent as Daniel, bringing impeccable comic timing to the role. His performance as Mrs Doubtfire embraces the physical comedy without simply attempting to imitate Robin Williams’ iconic film performance. Vick gives Daniel a genuine vulnerability, ensuring the character has emotional depth beyond the comedy.

Kara Lily Hayworth brings an endearing strength to Miranda, making sure she is never made to feel like the villain, while Aaliya Mai perfectly portrays Lydia’s struggles to keep her family together. The family relationships provide the emotional centre of the production, allowing the story to explore the impact of divorce and separation on both parents and children. The other children, Christopher (Alexander Beaumont) and Natalie (Hattie Leddington Wright), are given plenty to do, with their individual relationships with Daniel and Miranda adding further depth to the story.

The supporting cast bring plenty of energy and laughs. James Darch brings warmth to Miranda’s new boyfriend Stuart, a character who could easily become a stereotypical love rival.  Kiera Haynes brings dry humour to Janet Lundy, Daniel’s deadpan television studio boss, who he must impress to secure his own show. Mrs Sellner (Samuelle Durojaiye) has many comic moments, especially during the famous ‘meringue face-mask’ scene, as Daniel’s deception becomes harder to maintain. Rhianne Alleyne makes a memorable impression as the flamenco singer in the restaurant scene, with her performance of ‘He Lied to Me’ so infectious that the song stayed in my head all the way home.

Carl Patrick is a delight in the dual roles of Mr Jolly and the Judge, with Mr Jolly’s recurring line, “I’m so confused” becoming one of the show’s most memorable moments. Ryan Pidgen and Jairus McClanahan are hilarious as Daniel’s brother Frank and his partner Andre, especially during the disco-infused song ‘Make Me A Woman’. The ensemble work is consistently strong, bringing Lorin Latarro’s choreography to life with precision and enthusiasm.

One of the production’s biggest theatrical strengths is its transformation magic. The speed of the costume changes, particularly during the final restaurant scene, is impressive. Catherine Zuber’s costumes, Sam Cox’s hair and wig design, and Craig Forrest-Thomas’ make-up design work together seamlessly to bring Mrs Doubtfire to life. Watching Daniel repeatedly transform between his two identities is a reminder of exactly what live theatre can achieve.

Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick’s music and lyrics, with a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, expand the original story rather than simply recreating it. One of the most enjoyable changes is the looping sequence, which replaces the memorable Dinosaur rapping section from the film.

Jerry Zaks’ direction keeps the production moving at a lively pace, while David Korins’ set design creates a suitably colourful and adaptable world. There is plenty of humour throughout, but importantly, the more emotional moments are given space to breathe. Mrs Doubtfire succeeds because it understands what made the original story so enduring while making full use of the possibilities of the stage. It never relies entirely on nostalgia and avoids becoming too sentimental.

A thoroughly enjoyable production that delivers plenty of laughs alongside a genuinely touching story about family and the lengths we go to for the people we love. Mrs Doubtfire is funny, heartfelt and fabulous.

THE STAGE DEBUT AWARDS 2026, IN ASSOCIATION WITH NETFLIX SHORTLIST IS ANNOUNCED

•  Sadie Sink, Noah Jupe, Brendan Gleeson, Tom Fletcher, Robert Aramayo and Ralph Fiennes among nominees for The Stage Debut Awards 2026 in association with Netflix
• This year’s nominees range from 21 to 71 years old, with some embarking on stage careers at the beginning of their adult lives, and others embracing work on and off stage after a career in other areas of the arts 
• The shortlist celebrates breakthrough theatre talent from across the UK, with nominees recognised for work in the West End, at regional venues from Cardiff and Mold to Bath, Doncaster and Colchester, and on tour
• Previous winners of the awards who have gone on to have glittering careers in theatre include Rob Madge, Jack Wolfe, Rachel Zegler, Sam Tutty and Grace Hodgett Young
• The winners will be announced at the ninth annual awards ceremony on Sunday 27^th September, with the public invited to vote for the Best West End Debut performer by Sunday 13^th September 

The Stage Debut Awards, in association with Netflix, today announces its 2026 shortlist, celebrating the performers and creatives making standout professional and West End debuts across UK theatre.

This year’s nominees includeStranger Things star Sadie Sink and actor Noah Jupe, both shortlisted for their West End debuts in Romeo and Juliet; Oscar-nominated Brendan Gleeson for his West End debut in The Weir; and BAFTA and Tony-winning actor Ralph Fiennes, recognised for his directorial debut with As You Like It at Theatre Royal Bath.

The winners will be revealed at the ninth annual The Stage Debut Awards ceremony at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London, on Sunday, 27th September 2026.

Across eight categories, the shortlist recognises breakthrough talent on stage and off, spanning performance, writing, directing, design, composition, lyrics and book writing. Nominees come from productions staged in the West End, at major regional theatres, on tour and at fringe venues, underlining the breadth of new talent emerging across the UK. 

Several productions received multiple nominations this year. Romeo and Juliet earns nominations for Noah Jupe in both Best Performer in a Play and Best West End Debut Performer, while The Weir sees both Brendan Gleeson and Kate Phillips shortlisted for their West End debuts. New musical Paddington the Musical receives nominations for Arti Shah and composer-lyricist Tom Fletcher, while Sing Street is recognised across performance and composition categories. Elsewhere, Redcliffe, 1536 and The Fifth Step also feature across this year’s shortlist.

The public-voted Best West End Debut Performer category once again showcases an exceptional mix of established screen talent making their first West End appearances alongside exciting newcomers. Contenders include Oscar-nominated Brendan Gleeson, Stranger Things’ Sadie Sink, Noah Jupe, Liv Hill and Kate Phillips, alongside performers Levi Brown, Cormac McAlinden, Ntombizodwa Ndlovu, Alistair Nwachukwu and Arti Shah.

The Best Performer in a Play category, sponsored by Encore, showcases an exceptional range of breakthrough performances, spanning intimate new writing, Shakespeare, classic revivals and landmark productions. This year’s nominees include BAFTA Rising Star Robert Aramayo for his performance in Guess How Much I Love You? at the Royal Court Theatre, London, Zoë Armer for The Virgins at Soho Theatre, Noah Jupe once more for his acclaimed stage debut in Romeo and Juliet at the Harold Pinter Theatre, Assa Kanouté for Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare’s Globe, Erin Kellyman for Evening All Afternoon at the Donmar Warehouse, Dylan Malyn for To Kill a Mockingbird at Leeds Playhouse and on tour, Ruaridh Mollica for Clarkston at the Trafalgar Theatre, London and Amber van der Brugge for Vincent in Brixton at the Orange Tree Theatre. 

The Best Performer in a Musical category,sponsored byMichael Harrison Entertainment, celebrates six standout debut performances that have captivated audiences. The nominees are Jess Douglas-Welsh for Redcliffe at Southwark Playhouse Borough, Jess Folley for Burlesque at the Savoy Theatre, Lydia Louise for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Watermill Theatre, Julianne Pundan for Miss Saigon at the Palace Theatre, Manchester and on tour, James Spence for Thespians at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester and on tour, and Sheridan Townsley for Sing Street at the Lyric Hammersmith. Together, they reflect the breadth of musical theatre talent emerging across the UK, from exciting new writing to large-scale commercial productions. 

The creative categories highlight the diversity of artists making their professional theatre debuts. Theatremakers in the running for Best Writer, sponsored by Sonia Friedman Productions, include Georgie Dettmer for Are You Watching?, Danielle Phillips for Children of the Night and Fran Kranz for Mass alongside Chris Ashworth-Bennion, Hannah Doran, Leo Drayton, John Morton and Jack Nicholls.  

BAFTA and Tony-winning actor Ralph Fiennes receives a nomination for his directorial debut for As You Like It, competing alongside Douglas Clarke-Wood for THIS IS NOT ABOUT ME, at Summerhall, Edinburgh, Tommaso Giacomin for The Uncontainable Nausea of Alec Baldwin at the New Diorama Theatre, London and Michelle McTernan for HOP – The Hopeful Hare at Swansea Grand Theatre for Best Director.

The Best Designer category, sponsored by Preevue, celebrates three exceptional creative debuts that demonstrate the transformative power of design in theatre – from Lev Govorovski and Ted Walliker’s inventive set and lighting design for RON to Alex Mullins remarkable costume design for Teeth ‘n’ Smiles, and Natalie Roar’s bold costume design for Les Liaisons Dangereuses.

Original scores and bold storytelling take centre stage in this year’s Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer category, sponsored by Theatrical Rights Worldwide. This year’s nominees are John Carney and Gary Clark for Sing Street, Jordan Luke Gage for Redcliffe, Guido García Lueches and Sergio Antonio Maggiolo for Jeezus!,  Ed Zanders for Thespians.

The Best Creative West End Debut category, sponsored by Jamie Wilson Productions, celebrates work from writer Ava Pickett, director Finn den Hertog,McFly star and composer-lyricist Tom Fletcher and the creative team behind The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Rachel Joyce and Passenger.

Chair of the judges and The Stage reviews editor Sam Marlowe said:

‘It’s never an easy task, narrowing down the wealth of theatrical talent across the UK into a shortlist – but it is an immense pleasure and a privilege. This year’s nominees have made work of stunning breadth and ingenuity – and, as ever, we recognise and salute those flexing their talents in our smallest spaces, on shoestring budgets, as well as those creating on a much larger scale. From the tiniest fringe venues to the West End stage, they all have one thing in common: a palpable passion for the art form, and limitless vision, both of which continue to make our theatre culture vibrant, challenging, thrilling and beautiful. These are artists taking their first steps with their gaze firmly fixed on the future – and the Debuts celebrates not only their achievements so far, but all those still to come.’

Voting for Best West End Debut Performer opens on Thursday 20th August and can be cast online here. Voting closes on Sunday 13th September.

Winners will be announced at the ninth annual awards ceremony, in association with headline sponsor Netflix, on Sunday 27th September at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London.

The ceremony’s host will be announced soon, alongside the line-up of  guest presenters and performers.

THE FULL LIST OF 2026 NOMINEES IS

Best Performer in a Play (sponsored by Encore)

• Robert Aramayo for Guess How Much I Love You? at Royal Court Theatre, London 
• Zoë Armer for The Virgins at Soho Theatre, London 
• Noah Jupe for Romeo and Juliet at Harold Pinter Theatre, London 
• Assa Kanouté for Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London 
• Erin Kellyman for Evening All Afternoon at Donmar Warehouse, London 
• Dylan Malyn for To Kill a Mockingbird at Leeds Playhouse, and touring 
• Ruaridh Mollica for Clarkston at Trafalgar Theatre, London 
• Amber van der Brugge for Vincent in Brixton at Orange Tree Theatre, London 

Best Performer in a Musical (sponsored by Michael Harrison Entertainment)

• Jess Douglas-Welsh for Redcliffe at Southwark Playhouse Borough, London  
• Jess Folley for Burlesque at Savoy Theatre, London 
• Lydia Louise for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Watermill Theatre, Newbury 
• Julianne Pundan for Miss Saigon at Palace Theatre, Manchester, and touring
• James Spence for Thespians at Mercury Theatre, Colchester, and touring
• Sheridan Townsley for Sing Street at Lyric Hammersmith, London 

Best Writer (sponsored by Sonia Friedman Productions)

• Chris Ashworth-Bennion for The Red Rogue of Bala at Theatr Clwyd, Mold 
• Georgie Dettmer for Are You Watching? at Royal Court Theatre, London
• Hannah Doran for The Meat Kings! (Inc.) of Brooklyn Heights at Park Theatre, London 
• Leo Drayton for Dynolwaith at Sherman Theatre, Cardiff 
• Fran Kranz for Mass at Donmar Warehouse, London 
• John Morton for Eclipse at Chichester Festival Theatre
• Jack Nicholls for The Shitheads at Royal Court Theatre, London 
• Danielle Phillips for Children of the Night at Cast, Doncaster 

Best Director 

• Douglas Clarke-Wood for THIS IS NOT ABOUT ME. at Summerhall, Edinburgh 
• Ralph Fiennes for As You Like It at Bath Theatre Royal 
• Tommaso Giacomin for The Uncontainable Nausea of Alec Baldwin at New Diorama Theatre, London 
• Michelle McTernan for HOP – The Hopeful Hare at Swansea Grand Theatre

Best Designer (sponsored by Preevue)

• Lev Govorovski and Ted Walliker (set and lighting design) for RON at Riverside Studios, London 
• Alex Mullins (costume design) for Teeth ‘n’ Smiles at Duke of York’s Theatre, London 
• Natalie Roar (costume design) for Les Liaisons Dangereuses at National Theatre, London

Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer (sponsored by Theatrical Rights Worldwide)

• John Carney and Gary Clark (music, lyrics) for Sing Street at Lyric Hammersmith, London
• Jordan Luke Gage (book, music, lyrics) for Redcliffe at Southwark Playhouse Borough, London 
• Guido García Lueches and Sergio Antonio Maggiolo (book, music, lyrics) for Jeezus! at Underbelly Cowgate, Edinburgh and New Diorama Theatre, London 
• Ed Zanders (music, lyrics) for Thespians at Mercury Theatre, Colchester, and touring 

Best Creative West End Debut (sponsored by Jamie Wilson Productions)

• Finn den Hertog (director) for The Fifth Step at @sohoplace 
• Tom Fletcher (composer/lyricist) for Paddington the Musical at Savoy Theatre
• Rachel Joyce (book) and Passenger (composer/lyricist) for The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry at Theatre Royal Haymarket 
• Ava Pickett (writer) for 1536 at Ambassadors Theatre 

Best West End Debut Performer 

• Levi Brown for Cyrano de Bergerac at Noël Coward Theatre 
• Brendan Gleeson for The Weir at Harold Pinter Theatre
• Liv Hill for 1536 at Ambassadors Theatre 
• Noah Jupe for Romeo and Juliet at Harold Pinter Theatre 
• Cormac McAlinden for Inter Alia at Wyndham’s Theatre 
• Ntombizodwa Ndlovu for Marie and Rosetta at @sohoplace 
• Alistair Nwachukwu for The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind  at @sohoplace 
• Kate Phillips for The Weir at Harold Pinter Theatre
• Arti Shah for Paddington the Musical at Savoy Theatre
• Sadie Sink for Romeo and Juliet at Harold Pinter Theatre

With thanks to our sponsors Netflix, Encore, Michael Harrison Entertainment, Preevue, Sonia Friedman Productions, Theatrical Rights Worldwide and Jamie Wilson Productions and our supportersTheatre Royal Haymarket, LAMDA and Cameron Mackintosh.