Eva Price and Michael Harrison are today delighted to announce their hit West End musical Titanique – which opened last week to critical acclaim and plays to nightly standing ovations – has extended its booking period to Sunday 8 June 2025.
Tickets to “The West End’s funniest new musical” (Smooth Radio) are on sale at london.titaniquemusical.com
“An inspirational cast led by Lauren Drew, playing Dion” (The Times, ★★★★★) currently includes Darren Bennett (Singin’ in the Rain, Grease) as Victor Garber / Luigi, Jordan Luke Gage(Bonnie & Clyde, & Juliet) as Cal, Stephen Guarino (Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here, Netflix’s Eastsiders) as Ruth, Rob Houchen (Les Misérables) as Jack, Kat Ronney (Hex) as Rose, Charlotte Wakefield (The Great British Bake Off Musical) as Molly Brown and Layton Williams (Cabaret, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as the Iceberg.
Adrianne Langley (Sixties Girls), Madison Swan (The Book of Mormon),Rodney Vubya (The Book of Mormon) are on stage background vocalists and completing the company are offstage understudies Freddie King (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes),and Kristina Walz (Titanique, New York).
When the music of Céline Dion makes sweet Canadian love with the eleven-time Oscar®-winning blockbuster film Titanic, you get Titanique, off Broadway’s most award-winning splash hit that turns one of the greatest love stories of all time into a hysterical musical fantasia.
Want to find out what really happened to Jack and Rose on that fateful night? Just leave it to Céline Dion to enchant the audience with her totally wild take, recharting the course of Titanic’s beloved moments and characters with her iconic song catalogue. Sailing on fierce powerhouse voices in show-stopping performances of such hits as My Heart Will Go On, All by Myself and To Love you More – backed by a full live band – Titanique is a one-of-a-kind theatrical voyage bursting with nostalgia, heart and campy chaos. “Fantastique! 100 minutes of cast iron hysteria!” (The Daily Mail, ★★★★★)
Co-written by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle and Constantine Rousouli, Titanique celebrated its Off-Broadway premiere in June 2022 at Asylum Theater, starring the musical’s co-authors Mindelle and Rousouli as Céline Dion and Jack Dawson. After several sold-out extensions, the musical transferred to the Daryl Roth Theatre on November 20, 2022 where it continues to play.
Titanique is directed by Tye Blue and choreographed by Ellenore Scott. Music Supervision, Arrangements and Orchestrations are by IRNE Award-Winner Nicholas James Connell. Scenic Design for Titanique is by Gabriel Hainer Evansohn and Grace Lauchbacher for Iron Bloom Creative Production; Costume Design is by Alejo Vietti; and Lighting Design is by Paige Seber; and Sound Design is by Lawrence Schober with casting by Pearson Casting CDG.
Titanique won seven major awards during the 2022/23 theatre season, including three Lucille Lortel Awards, the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best New Musical, Las Culturistas’ Culture Award for Best Indoor Performance and two Dorian Awards.
The London production of Titaniqueis co-produced by Eva Price and Michael Harrison.
National Theatre’s nationwide tour of The LeftBehinds to visit schools across Sunderland to inspire creativity in local students
Young people across Sunderland will have the opportunity to watch a new theatre production in their school hall as the National Theatre brings a nationwide school touring production of The LeftBehinds directly into local schools from 20-24 January.
In partnership with Sunderland Culture and Sunderland Empire, the tour will visit Sunderland College, Oxclose Academy, Southmoor Academy and others. These schools will also host young people from over ten other local school, college and home education settings to watch the production.
Co-created by Bristol playwright Ross Willis and director Ned Bennett, The LeftBehinds is a new production set in a post-apocalyptic future. The LeftBehinds must race across a desolate wasteland in a high-octane quest to rebuild an android, unlock its power and save the planet. This new production gives students in Sunderland access to a genre-pushing theatrical experience in their school hall. In addition to seeing the show in their school hall, pupils will take part in an interactive workshop exploring the technical elements to produce the show and teachers will receive accompanying education resources.
Part of the Theatre Nation Partnerships programme, the tour will be seen by 10,000 young people, visiting secondary school halls in 11 areas from 13 January – 28 March 2025. In partnership with local theatres, the production will also tour to schools across Outer East London and South Essex, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton, North Devon, Wakefield, Doncaster, Greater Manchester, Leicester and Peterborough.
The Theatre Nation Partnerships network combines local expertise with nationally delivered activity, creating more opportunities for local communities and schools to engage with cultural and creative experiences. Other activity delivered in Sunderland through this network in partnership with Sunderland Culture and Sunderland Empire includes the upcoming new production Public Record that will celebrate the people and music of Sunderland as part of the National Theatre’s Public Acts programme. Schools in this area are also taking part in Speak Up, a secondary schools programme that encourages young people to explore issues that are important to them and think, see and bring about change by creating artistic responses.
Co-creators Ned Bennett and Ross Willis said “We are thrilled to be collaborating again on this new incarnation of The LeftBehinds. From its beginnings at LAMDA to its development with the NT, this production has continually evolved, and we’re delighted to now share it with young people. We couldn’t be more excited that the National Theatre is bringing this production directly into school halls across the country.”
Sarah Marsden, Creative Learning Producer at Sunderland Empire said: “Working in partnership with The National Theatre gives us the ability to provide young people in the region access to high-quality, inspirational theatrical productions which schools and students may not ordinarily be able to afford. For many young people, the National Theatre schools tour is the first time they have experienced a professional production, and the additional interactive workshops and Q&A sessions provided have proven to inspire and lead young people to pursue further immersion in theatre both on stage and behind-the-scenes.”
The LeftBehinds cast includes Ryn Alleyne as Kit KnightShade, Tanaka Mpofu as Bandit, Julian Brett as Shadow, Gabriella Foley as Rot, Francis Nunnery as the Android, Ethan Hughes as Beandigo, Emma Gray as Ducky, and Brandon Kimaryo as swing.
The creative team includes Associate Director Rachel Lemon, Movement Director Jackie Kibuka, Puppetry Designer, Builder and Director Matt Hutchinson, Production Manager Jordan Harris, Set and Costume Designer Georgia Lowe,Lighting Designer Jessica Hung Han Yun, Composer & Sound Designer Giles Thomas, Casting Director Abby Galvin, Associate Designer Jasmine Araujo, Associate Lighting Designer Lucy Adams and Trainee Resident Director Rrita Pula.
Reaching a record number of young people last year, the National Theatre’s Learning & National Partnerships Department aims to inspire young people nationwide, widen access to creative experiences in schools and boost skills to support the next generation of theatre-makers.
For more information about Theatre Nation Partnerships and the schools tour, visit the NT Website.
Theatre on the River presents the world premiere of Toy Soldier with Helen Goodman and Joseph Dewey making their writing collaboration debut, the play opens at the Waterloo East Theatre on 22 January with previews from the 21st and runs until 2 February. Making her London directorial debut, HelenGoodman directs Lucy Bromilow playing Jane, Nico Conde playing Alejo, Spin Glancy playing Mark and Michael Tantrum playing Billy.
This new play is set against the backdrop of the 1982 battle for the Falklands, exploring a family struggling to ensure their own survival during the 10-week conflict.
Theatre On The River Presents
TOY SOLDIER
By Joseph Dewey and Helen Goodman
Director, Helen Goodman, Lighting Designer, Vittorio Verta.
21 January – 2 February
The Falkland Islands, July 2002. Jane has been keeping a secret for 20 years, and amidst the grip of patriotism as the islanders celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, Jane returns to pack up the family home following the death of her mother.
Jane takes the audience on a journey through the Falklands conflict of 1982, which she shared with her younger brother, where isolation and fear became the daily norm.
Toy Soldier is a play about family and survival set against the backdrop of one of the most harrowing conflicts in modern history.
Cast: Lucy Bromilow, Nico Conde, Spin Glancy and Michael Tantrum
Helen Goodman is the founder of Theatre on the River who previously held a three-month residency as Assistant Director in Residence at Rugby School’s Macready Theatre. also worked extensively as a freelance peripatetic Speech and Drama instructor in many of London’s leading senior and preparatory schools.
Joseph Dewey is a writer/director/actor, his actor credits include Wings for Philomel (The Southwark Playhouse), In The Eyes Of My Heart (The Stockwell Playhouse). For film his credits include Turn Back, Danny Boy, Alice In Underland: Through The Looking Glass and Jessia Jones. Joseph is also an Award Winning Director having recently won Best Director of a Feature Fashion Film at the Cinemoi Fashion Film Awards for his directorial debut Pink Feathers (Amazon Prime).
Nico Conde plays Alejo. His theatre credits include Steve (The Seven Dials Playhouse), West Side Story, Les Miserables (St Marys Theatre). His international theatre credits include Romeo y Julieta, Aladdin and Transitos. For television his credits include Westworld, El Inocente, Loco por ti, Warrior nun; for film, his credits include Avellaneda’s Moon, Chic & Chambray, Joaquin, Desayuno para Tres.
Lucy Bromilow plays Jane. Her stage credits include The Independent Socialist Republic of the Upper End of the Lower Breck Road (Royal Court Liverpool), Unsettled (Stockroom), Watch on the Rhine (Donmar Warehouse), Karaoke Play (Bunker Theatre), Too Many Men (The Seven Dials Playhouse), Anna of the Five Towns (New Vic Theatre). For television, her credits include Malpractice and for film, Adventures or a Mathematician.
Spin Glancy plays Mark. His theatre credits include Forty Years On (Chichester Festival Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night (Petersfield Shakespeare Festival).
Michael Tantrum plays Billy. His film credits include Wonder Woman.
Daniel Schumann and Lee Dean today announce the world première of By Royal Appointment – the debut play of Daisy Goodwin, creator of hit ITV historical drama Victoria – directed by Dominic Dromgoole.
Starring Anne Reid and Caroline Quentin this new play explores the relationship between Queen Elizabeth II (Reid) and her Dresser (Quentin) and how the pair created the public image of the world’s longest reigning monarch.
By Royal Appointment opens at Theatre Royal Bath on 5 June and runs until 14 June before touring to Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House, Malvern Festival Theatre, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton and Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford.
Further casting and venues to be announced shortly.
Daniel Schumann and Lee Dean present
BY ROYAL APPOINTMENT
By Daisy Goodwin
Directed by: Dominic Dromgoole;Designer: Jonathan Fensom
The late Queen Elizabeth II was famous for her discretion. She never said anything in public that could ruffle the lightest of feathers. But she had one way of expressing what she really thought – through her wardrobe.
By Royal Appointment is a funny, poignant and celebratory new play about the kind of power that only a Queen can wield – she charms the world through coats and admonishes her family through a carefully chosen hat. But the Queen herself is uninterested in fashion, her look is managed by her Designer, her Milliner and most powerful of all, her Dresser who was a working-class girl who goes from advising the Queen on the colour of her lipsticks to the real power behind the throne. But the Dresser, like all royal favourites is living on borrowed time.
By Royal Appointment is a behind the scenes peek into the world of our most popular monarch and the image she presented to the world.
Starring national treasure Anne Reid as The Queen and star of stage and screen Caroline Quentin as The Dresser. The play is written by Daisy Goodwin who created the hit ITV series Victoria, and directed by former Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe, Dominic Dromgoole.
By Royal Appointment is Daisy Goodwin’s debut play. For television, her writing credits include ITV historical drama series Victoria. Her novels include The Last Duchess, The Fortune Hunter, The American Heiress, Victoria and Diva, she has curated eight poetry anthologies. Also, as a producer, her many credits include Grand Designs and Escape to the Country.
Veteran of the stage and screen, Anne Reid plays The Queen. For theatre, her credits include Marjorie Prime (Menier Chocolate Factory), A Woman of No Importance (Vaudeville Theatre), Fracked!, Out of this World (Chichester Festival Theatre), Hedda Gabler (The Old Vic), Dimetos (Donmar Warehouse), Happy Now?, Wild Oats (National Theatre), Into the Woods (Royal Opera House), The Epitaph of George Dillon (Comedy Theatre), The York Realist (Royal Court) and A Family Affair (Theatre Royal Bath). For television her extensive credits include The Sixth Commandment, Sanditon, Years & Years, Hold the Sunset, Last Tango in Halifax, Our Zoo, The Last Witch, Upstairs Downstairs, Marchlands, Moving On, Five Days, Ladies of Letters, In Love with Barbara, Shameless, Affinity, The Bad Mother’s Handbook, Doctor Who, Jane Eyre, Bleak House, Life Begins, Dinnerladies, Sweet Charity and Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV; and for film, SAS Red Notice, Aeronauts, The Nest, The Snowman, Romans, Kaleidoscope, Believe, Foster, Cemetery Junction, Faintheart, Savage Grace, Hot Fuzz, Little Trip to Heaven, and The Mother (Critics’ Circle Award for British Actress of the Year).
Caroline Quentin plays The Dresser. Her stage credits include Jack Absolute Flies Again, The London Cuckolds (National Theatre), Mrs Warren’s Profession (UK tour), The Provoked Wife (RSC), Me and My Girl (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Hypocrite (Hull Truck, RSC), The Life and Times of Fanny Hill (Bristol Old Vic), Relative Values (Theatre Royal Bath), Oh! What A Lovely War (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Terrible Advice (Menier Chocolate Factory) and Life After Scandal (Hampstead Theatre). Her television credits include Extinction, Bridgerton, The Other One, Doc Martin, Dickensian, Cockroaches, Big And World, Sooty, Dancing On The Edge, Extreme, Little Crackers, Switch, Dead Boss, In Love with Wilde, Life of Riley, Just William, Blue Murder, Humf, Life Begins, Little Briain, Footprints in the Snow, Von Trapped, Blood Strangers, Hot Money, Goodbye Mr. Steadman, Kiss Me Kate, The Innocent, Jonathan Creek, The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything, Men Behaving Badly, Entertainment Cops, All Or Nothing At All, Paul Merton: The Series, Don’t Tell Father, Mr Bean, Harry Enfield’s Television Programme, Hale and Pace, One on Two, Shadow of the Noose, This Is David Lander, The Nihilists Double Vision, Up Line, Dream Stuffing, Video Stars, The Squad and The Other ‘Arf. Her film credits include Love me Tender. As a presenter, her world’s Ugliest Pets, Caroline Quentin’s National Parks, Cornwall with Caroline Quentin, A Passage Through India.
Dominic Dromgoole directs. He launched a new theatre company, Classic Spring, which produced a year-long celebration of Oscar Wilde in 2017/18 directing the first play in the season, A Woman of No Importance, at the Vaudeville Theatre.Dromgoole was Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe from 2006 to 2016. In that time the Globe grew into an international theatre of progressive ambition and radical scope. Amongst other projects, he created a UK-wide touring operation and grew this touring internationally, culminating in a two-year tour of Hamlet which travelled to every country in the world. In 2012, he directed the Globe to Globe Festival, which hosted companies from 37 different countries. He was previously Artistic Director of the Bush Theatre – during his tenure between 1990-1996 he nurtured upcoming talents by premiering 65 new plays from a host of now influential writers such as Billy Roche, Irvine Welsh and Naomi Wallace. He then moved onto the Oxford Stage Company which he ran from 1999 to 2005. He launched a new film company, Open Palm Films, and made his first feature, Making Noise Quietly, in the summer of 2016. The film, released by an adaptation of Robert Holman’s play of the same name, starred Deborah Findlay, Barbara Marten, Trystan Gravelle and Matthew Tennyson, and was released by Verve in 2019. He is the author of the recently published Astonish Me! First Nights That Changed the World as well as Hamlet: Globe to Globe, The Full Room: An A-Z of Contemporary Playwriting and Will and Me: How Shakespeare Took Over My Life, which won the inaugural Sheridan Morley award.
York Theatre Royal today announces the world premiere of Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman’s The Psychic opening at York Theatre Royal in 2026. Following the success of Ghost Stories, Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman reunite for this brand-new production – opening on 6 May 2026, with previews from 29 April 2026, and running until 23 May 2026.
Creators Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman, said today, “We are so thrilled to have the world premiere of our new play at York Theatre Royal and to be part of their exciting next chapter. We cannot wait to unleash The Psychic at this remarkable venue.”
Paul Crewes, Chief Executive at York Theatre Royaladded, “We are very proud to be producing the world premiere of The Psychic here at York Theatre Royal. Andy and Jeremy have created this wonderful edge-of-your-seat script that we can’t wait to bring to life on our stage in 2026.”
The Psychic adds to York Theatre Royal’s impressive list of produced and co-produced work on its main stage in the next year. The 2025 season includes their co-production with Wise Children of North by Northwest and Gary Oldman’s return to York Theatre Royal in Krapp’s Last Tape.
Tickets for The Psychic go on sale to York Theatre Royal members on Friday 10 January at 1pm; with public on sale from Wednesday 15 January at 1pm.
Popular TV psychic Sheila Gold loses a high-profile court case, which brands her a charlatan. It costs her not only her reputation, but a fortune in legal fees. When a wealthy couple ask Sheila to conduct a séance to attempt to make contact with their late child, Sheila senses an opportunity to bleed them for money. What follows makes her question everything she’s ever believed and leads her on a journey into the darkest corners of her life.
This twisted new thriller from the creators of the international smash hit Ghost Stories, brings thrills, laughs and shocks back to the stage – in the World Premiere of this electrifying and unmissable play.
Jeremy Dyson is an award-winning writer and director.His writing credits for theatre include Ghost Stories (Lyric Hammersmith, nominated for Olivier Award for Best Entertainment), The League of Gentlemen are Behind You (UK tour), The League of Gentlemen: A Local Show for Local People (UK tour, Theatre Royal Drury Lane – nominated for Olivier Award for Best Entertainment) and The League of Gentlemen. His co-writing credits for television includePsychobitches (winner of the Rose d’Or for Best TV Comedy and nominated for two British Comedy Awards), The Armstrong & Miller Show (winner of the BAFTA Award for Best Comedy), Billy Goat, Funland (nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Drama Serial), The League of Gentlemen (winner of the BAFTA Award for Best Comedy, Golden Rose of Montreux and RTS Award for Best Entertainment). His co-writing credits for film include Ghost Stories and The League of Gentlemen’s Apocalypse.
Andy Nyman is an award-winning actor, director and writer who has earned acclaim from both critics and audiences for his work in theatre, film and television. As an actor, his theatre work includes The Producers, Assassins (Menier Chocolate Factory), Fiddler on theRoof (Menier Chocolate Factory and Playhouse Theatre – Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical), Abigail’s Party (Menier Chocolate Factory and Wyndham’s Theatre), Hello, Dolly! (The London Palladium), Martin McDonagh’s Hangmen (Wyndham’s Theatre/Broadway), and the original production of Ghost Stories (Duke of York’s Theatre/Arts Theatre) which he starred in, co-wrote and co-directed with Jeremy Dyson – later adapted into a film, in which he also starred. His extensive television credits include Lockerbie, Wanderlust, The Eichmann Show, Campus, DeadSet as well as his highly acclaimed performance as Winston Churchill in Peaky Blinders. Nyman’s extensive film credits include Jungle Cruise, Judy, The Commuter, Death at a Funeral, Kick-Ass2, Black Death, The Brother’s Bloom, Severance and Shut Up & Shoot Me, for which he won the Best Actor award at the Cherbourg Film Festival in 2006. In addition, he has collaborated with Derren Brown for almost 20 years, co-writing and co-creating much of Brown’s early TV work. He has also co-written and directed Brown’s stage shows, winning the Olivier Award for Best Entertainment for Derren Brown – Something Wicked This Way Comes and a New York Drama Desk Award for Best Unique Theatrical Event 2017 for Derren Brown – Secret.
YORK THEATRE ROYAL
LISTINGS St Leonard’s Place, York YO1 7HD
NORTH BY NORTHWEST
York Theatre Royal
18 March – 5 April 2025
THE STORM WHALE
15 – 19 April 2025
KRAPP’S LAST TAPE
14 April – Sat 17 May 2025
HIS LAST REPORT
19 July – 3 August 2025
SLEEPING BEAUTY
2 December 2025 – 4 January 2026
THE PSYCHIC 29 April – 23 May 2026 Tickets from £15
Post Show Discussion Friday 08 May at 7:30pm BSL Interpreted performance Friday 15 May at 7:30pm Audio Described performance Saturday 16 May at 2:30pm Captioned performance Saturday 23 May at 2:30pm
SHEFFIELD THEATRES ANNOUNCES JOANNA VANDERHAM AS BLANCHE DUBOIS AND A FIRST LOOK AT NEW ARTWORK FOR
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Director Josh Seymour
Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Saturday 1 – Saturday 29 March 2025
Sheffield Theatres today announces Joanna Vanderham (Double Feature, Richard III, Crime for Britbox, The Runaway for Sky) as Blanche DuBois with a first look at new artwork for their upcoming production of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire.
The new production of the award-winning play will be directed by Josh Seymour (Spend, Spend, Spend) and runs fromSaturday 1 – Saturday 29 March 2025, with further casting and full creative team to be announced.
“How strange that I should be called a destitute woman! When I have all of these treasures locked in my heart.”
In the sultry back streets of 1940s New Orleans, fading Southern belle Blanche DuBois seeks solace with her estranged sister Stella.
Blanche’s delicate sensibilities create instant suspicion in Stella’s unrestrained husband Stanley, as they collide in a struggle for Stella’s heart. As their simmering feud escalates, past truths begin to surface and both sisters must choose between fantasy and reality.
Passions ignite and illusions are shattered in Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play.
Tickets for A Streetcar Named Desire are on sale now. Tickets can be booked through the Box Office in person, over the phone on 0114 249 6000 or at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.
New musical from Tina Treadwell, producer of the West End hit The Drifters Girl
Tina Treadwell (The Drifters Girl), Kenny D’Aquila, Totus Tuus Family Trust and Treadwell Entertainment Group present
Charlie McCullagh, Chelsea Halfpenny and Daniele Alan-Carter head the cast for the UK premiere showcase of the new romantic comedy musical IF I HAD YOU Music By Joel Spineti Book & Lyrics Kenny D’Aquila
Charlie McCullagh, Chelsea Halfpenny, Daniele Alan-Carter
Charlie McCullagh (42 Balloons, Jesus Christ Superstar), Chelsea Halfpenny (Waitress, 9-5: The Musical) and Daniele Alan-Carter (Dance of the Vampires, Oh What A Night!) are to lead the cast for two showcase performances of the new romantic comedy musical If I Had You at The Actors’ Church, Covent Garden on Monday 27 January at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.
The rest of the cast includes: Dante Palminteri (Brunettes), Emma Kingston (The Band’s Visit), Gabriella Palminteri (New World Comin’), Alison Jiear (Jerry Springer the Opera – Olivier Award nomination Best Actress in a Musical), Maggie Lynne (Wicked), Sue Kelvin (Wicked), Sebastian Torkia (A Chorus Line), Simone Pavesio, Max Rizzo (Starlight Express), Gabriel Constantin (The Tattooist of Auschwitz), Mia Raggio (The Sound of Music), Hubert Hogarth (The Wizard of Oz), Faith Delaney (Stranger Things – The First Shadow), Dexter Pulling (Les Miserables).
The showcase is being produced by Tina Treadwell (co-producer of the West End hit The Drifters Girl), Kenny D’Aquila, Totus Tuus Family Trust and Treadwell Entertainment Group.
If I Had You is a story of love, loss and hope set in the eternal city of Rome as one man’s heart takes him on the journey of a lifetime. It is a fantastical story that shows that love never goes away even though the years have.
This is a semi-staged scripts-in-hand workshop.
Age Guidance: Suitable for anyone aged 12+ Running Time: 140 minutes Interval: 20 minutes
Creative team Music: Joel Spineti Book & Lyrics: Kenny D’Aquila Producers: Tina Treadwell, Kenny D’Aquila Executive Producers: Totus Tuus Family Trust, Treadwell Entertainment Group Casting: Debbie O’Brien Casting General Management: Thomas Hopkins Productions
Kenny D’Aquila (Book & Lyrics, Producer) made his mark as Grantaire in the critically acclaimed production of Les Miserables directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird at the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles. Later, D’Aquila was featured as Grantaire in the International Cast Album with the London Philharmonic. As a writer, D’Aquila’s first play, Uptown, opened in Los Angeles and won eight Drama- Logue Awards including Best New Play. His second play, Unorganized Crime, caught the eye of Oscar nominee Chazz Palminteri who went on to perform the play with Kenny at the Elephant Theatre in Los Angeles. D’Aquila then partnered with composer Joel Spineti to write Bats On The Moon, a new musical that follows the trials and tribulations of Richard Locke, a writer from the UK who created the great moon hoax in 1835. Bats On The Moon was one of six new musicals presented at the 2023 Florida Festivals of New Musicals.
Joel Spineti (Composer) is an American composer, music director and music educator who has travelled extensively throughout the United States as music director/performer for the national tours of Oil City Symphony, Forever Plaid and Pump Boys and Dinettes. He has served as musical director and conductor for over 30 regional musical productions. Spineti’s editors’ choice concert band compositions are available by international publishers, Alfred Music and the FJH Music Company Inc. In his capacity as educator, Spineti has travelled to X’ian, China and Limassol, Cyprus to coach and direct multiple musical theatre productions. If I Had You marks the third collaboration with longtime friend and award-winning playwright, Kenny D’Aquila. Previous works include Bats On The Moon (the story of London author Richard Locke) featured at the Winter Park Playhouse Festival of New Musicals and In The Key of Dee.
Tina Treadwell (Producer) is a celebrated talent manager, casting executive and theatre and Film producer. As president of Treadwell Entertainment Group, Ms Treadwell, with business partner Kim Rena Coleman, develops and manages the careers of acting, music and literary talent, including If I Had You playwright Kenny D’Aquila. As the former VP of Talent and Music Specials at Disney Channel, Ms. Treadwell oversaw the casting of series and movies and was the creative executive behind Disney’s In Concert Series, which helped launch the careers of Britney Spears, LeAnn Rimes, Backstreet Boys and most notably NSYNC. A graduate of Princeton, Tina is proud to have collaborated with West End producer Michael Harrison on the Olivier Award-nominated production of The Drifters Girl at the Garrick Theatre. She also enjoys a successful partnership with producer/artist, Navi, with whom she co-manages The Drifters
Greg Blanchard (Executive Producer) is Executive Producer of Totus Tuss Trustee. Blanchard enjoyed a highly successful modeling and acting career which included playing the role of Enjolras in the Los Angeles production of Les Miserables at the Shubert Theatre, where his friendship with Kenny D’Aquila began over 30 years ago. After acting, Greg added to his impressive resume, building businesses as an entrepreneur whose focus is on health and assisting humanity.
Thursday 9 January: Producers John Berry and Anthony Lilley of Scenario Two and Suzie Henderson and Helen Redcliffe of Storyhouse are delighted to today announce the full cast for The Parent Agency – The Musical. This brand new musical adapted by comedian and author David Baddiel from his best-selling book with music and additional lyrics by the composer of Everybody’s Talking about Jamie’s Dan Gillespie Sells, will receive its world premiere at Storyhouse Chester on Saturday 15 February 2025, where it will be playing for two weeks until Sunday 2 March 2025. Before a planned national tour and London run.
Max Bispham (Les Miserables, Mrs Doubtfire), Osian Salter (Les Miserables, The Osmonds a New Musical), Eli Sowden-Mehta (Wonka, Blitz, Wicked) and Louis Wilkins (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) will share the role of Barry.
Rebecca McKinnis (Dear Evan Hansen, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) will play Susan and Rakesh Boury (Matilda, The Creakers) will play Geoff.
Completing the cast are Kazmin Borrer (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), Elliot Broadfoot (Kathy and Stella Solve A Murder), Natasha Cayabyab (Shrek the Musical), Dylan Collymore (Shrek The Musical), Sarah McFarlane (SIX), Joshian Angelo Omaña (Why Am I So Single?) Alan Vicary (Girl From The North Country), Ralph Birthwell (Life of Pi), Althea Burey (The Gruffalo), Elliot Copeland (Becoming Nancy), Jessica Daugirda (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), Sophia Lewis (Around The World in 80 Days) and Robbie Scott (Sunshine on Leith).
The Parent Agency – The Musical will appeal to anyone who is, or has been, a child. And also, to anyone who is, or has had, at least one parent. And definitely, to anyone who wishes they weren’t called Barry.
Eleven-year-old Barry Bennett hates his name. In fact, it’s number one on the list of things he blames his parents (Susan and Geoff) for along with “being boring, never buying him cool stuff, being tired all the time and being too strict”. So, he makes a wish for a better mum and dad and finds himself whisked away to Youngdon in the ‘United Kid-dom’, an alternate universe where kids get to pick out their perfect parents with the assistance of the staff of the eponymous Parent Agency.
For Barry, this seems like a dream come true, although he soon learns that choosing a new mum and dad isn’t as simple as it sounds…
David Baddiel’s books have achieved exceptional success and been translated into 30 languages. His children’s books have received huge critical acclaim and won some of children’s literature’s highest accolades including the inaugural Laugh Out Loud Award, for The Parent Agency.
Dan Gillespie-Sells, best known as the lead singer and songwriter of The Feeling, has enjoyed widespread critical acclaim for his work in musical theatre. He composed the music for the hit West End musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, which received multiple Olivier Award nominations, toured internationally and was adapted in to an Amazon Original Film. Dan’s work has earned him an Ivor Novello Award, Olivier, BAFTA and BRIT nominations, and he was named Stonewall’s Entertainer of the Decade in 2015 for his contributions to the LGBT community.
Joining David and Dan on the creative team are director Tim Jackson (Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York), Merrily We Roll Along), designer Jon Bausor (Spirited Away, Bat Out of Hell), choreographer Carrie-Anne Ingrouille (SIX, Dear Evan Hansen), costume designer Sarah Mercadé (Jesus Christ Superstar, 101 Dalmatians, The Spongebob Musical), lighting designer Zoe Spurr (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World, Bonnie & Clyde) and Assistant Director Francesca Hsieh (VANYA),with Music Supervisor Nick Finlow (Back to The Future, The Book of Mormon), Music Director Ellen Campbell (Waitress, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Sound Designer Paul Gatehouse (Mary Poppins, The Little Big Things), Associate Sound Designer Richard Jones, Wig, Hair and Make-Up Designer Craig Forrest-Thomas (Mrs Doubtfire, Buyer & Cellar). Casting Director Olivia Laydon CDG for Jill Green Casting and Children’s Casting by Amy Beadel CDG for Grindrod Burton Casting.
WhatsOnStage today announce that Gina and Mazz Murray will co-host the 25th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards in association with AudienceView – the only major theatre prize giving decided by the theatregoers themselves – on 9 February 2025 at The London Palladium.
Both have some major theatre credits to their names: Gina Murray‘s stage credits include Chicago, Fame, The Roy Orbison Story (all in the West End) as well as Hairspray on tour, while on screen she has appeared in The Hunt for Raoul Moat, and Sorted.
Meanwhile, Mazz Murray is currently portraying Donna Sheridan in the West End production of Mamma Mia!, with other West End credits including We Will Rock You, Chicago and Fame. Her television credits include EastEnders and The Quest.
The hit revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Expressleads nominations this year with nine nods including Best Musical Revival, Best Supporting Performer in a Musical for Jaydon Vijn, Best Professional Debut for Jeevan Braich, Best Set Design (Tim Hatley), Best Lighting Design (Howard Hudson), Best Sound Design (Gareth Owen), Best Video Design (Andrzej Goulding), Best Costume Design (Gabriella Slade) and a nomination for Jackie Saundercock and Campbell Young Associates in the new category for Best Wigs Hair and Make-up Design. Also featuring strongly in the Musical Theatre categories are The Artist at Theatre Royal Plymouth with six nominations and Oliver! at Chichester Festival Theatre with five nominations.
Leading the straight play categories with six nominations is the Donmar Warehouse’s production of Macbeth starring David Tennant and Cush Jumbo, currently running at the Harold Pinter Theatre, with both lead actors nominated for Best Performer in a Play alongside nominations for Best Play Revival, Best Sound Design (Gareth Fry), Best Musical Direction/ Supervision (Alasdair Macrae) and Best Casting (Anna Cooper). In terms of straight plays Spirited Away closely follows with five nominations.
In addition to seeing winners crowned across a range of categories, theatregoers will also enjoy a host of exclusive live performances from top stage talent, accompanied by a 24-piece orchestra in a one-night-only showcase co-produced with creative directors Alex Parker and Damian Sandys.
WhatsOnStage would like to take this opportunity to thank the 2025 awards ceremony sponsors: 5RB, Above Title Finance, AKA Promotions Ltd, AudienceView, Avalon, Boulevard Events, Concord, Dewynters, Disney’s Hercules, Edwardian Hotels, Hexagon Print, Go Live Theatre Projects, LOVEtheatre, Music Theatre International, Newman Displays, Outernet Venues, Preevue, PRG, Re:Water, RSVP-ify, SINE Digital, Steeldeck Rentals, Tandem Marketing, Theatrical Rights Worldwide, Ticketmaster, TikTok, Travelzoo and White Light.
Cast Announced for Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s National Tour of Moira Buffini’s Handbagged as part of National Theatre’s Theatre Nation Partnerships network
Moira Buffini’s fly-on-the-wall comedy about Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher has been reimagined with music featuring reworkings of 80s pop classics
Casting includes Emma Ernest (Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare’s Globe)and Morag Cross (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Palace Theatre) as Margaret Thatcher and Helen Reuben (Cabaret, English Theatre Frankfurt) and Sarah Moyle (BBC’s Doctors) as Queen Elizabeth II
A reimagined revival of Moira Buffini’s comedy Handbagged will tour across England from February to May produced by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch in partnership with the National Theatre. The England-wide tour is part of the Theatre Nation Partnerships network which is led by the National Theatre and aims to support regional arts organisations in strengthening their relationships with local audiences, communities and schools.
Imagining the conversations between two of history’s most revered female leaders, Handbagged is a fly-on-the-wall look at what might have happened when Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher came face-to-face in the privacy of the palace. Directed by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s Alex Thorpe, this fresh interpretation of the play will feature new music composed for the show, a cappella singing, and remixed pop classics of the iconic era. A clever and fiercely funny comedy, Handbagged explores the intense relationship that two female powerhouses formed over a decade, and the legacy they each left behind.
Casting for Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth II includes, as ‘Mags’, Emma Ernest who has previously appeared as Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare’s Globe, 2024), and portraying ‘Liz’, Helen Reuben after previously playing Sally Bowles in Cabaret (English Theatre Frankfurt, 2019) and the title role in Pictures of Dorian Gray (Jermyn Street Theatre, 2019). Appearing as ‘T’ and ‘Q’, the older versions of the main characters, are Morag Cross who previously appeared in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Palace Theatre, 2016, 2018 & 2022) and Sarah Moyle best known for playing the much-loved series regular ‘Valerie’ in BBC’s Doctors. Further casting includes Cassius Konneh and Gerard McDermott who will multirole the 17 other characters in the play. Completing the ensemble is Tiajna Amayo and Jane Quinn.
Director Alex Thorpe said, “I am thrilled to welcome this multi-talented cast to Hornchurch as we prepare to embark on the most ambitious TNP tour to date. As we reexamine these fierce and famed women, joining this ensemble company is some of the UK’s most exciting creative talents, realising Moira Buffini’s satirically funny comedy. Performed on Katie Lias’ golden contemporary set and propelled by Kate Marlais’s reworking of 80’s pop classics and the award-winning Ryan Day’s lighting – this truly extraordinary team is not to be missed.”
Theatre Nation Partnerships is a collaboration between 13 partners across 14 areas, combining local expertise with nationally-delivered activity to build and sustain audiences for theatre across England.
Activity includes touring to local venues and into schools, participatory opportunities and in-depth engagement with community groups.
Between 2022 to 2025, the network’s focus is on welcoming new audiences to theatre and creating more opportunities for people to engage, supporting the long-term health of local theatre audiences. The Theatre Nation Partnerships network will reach 500,000 targeted audiences, young people, and community groups over this three-year period.
Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is a vibrant producing theatre, working in Outer East London, Essex and beyond. As a cultural hub, over 210,000 people enjoy the programme each year. Audiences are guaranteed a warm welcome from a three-year winner of UK Theatre’s Most Welcoming Theatre (2016 – 2018) and London Theatre of the Year 2020 (The Stage Awards), the first Outer London theatre to receive this prestigious award.
Suitable for ages 10+
Company information
Playwright Moira Buffini Director Alex Thorpe
Designer Katie Lias Lighting Designer Ryan Day
Musical Director and Arranger Kate Marlais
Sound Designer Owen Crouch Movement Director Jonnie Riordan
Assistant Director Chani Merrell
Costume Supervisor Chantal Short Casting Director Chloe Bake
Accent Coach Danièle Lydon Design Assistant Victoria Maytom
Production Manager James Dawson Company Stage Manager Debs Harlow
Deputy Stage Manager Lizzie Bond Assistant Stage Manager Sofie Mirza
Cast
Tiajna Amayo, Morag Cross, Emma Ernest, Cassius Konneh, Gerard McDermott, Sarah Moyle, Jane Quinn, Helen Reuben
