Young people across the North East of England are taking part in nationwide celebrations of National Theatre Connections’ 30th anniversary
To celebrate 30 years of Connections, the National Theatre’s annual landmark youth theatre festival, young people from across the North East will perform new plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal from 7-11 April as part of their Connections Festival.
The ten participating youth theatre groups are Bright Minds Youth Theatre, Newcastle Performance Academy Acting Company, Jarrow School, The Witham Youth Theatre, Gateshead College, River Tees Secondary Academy, Stockton Riverside College, Carmel Performing Arts, Theatre Royal Youth Company, and Page2stage performing Arts.
As part of the nationwide celebration, over 5,500 young people from over 270 companies and schools across the UK will perform one of ten specially commissioned plays for young people at theatres nationwide. Connections champions the power of youth theatre, bringing together some of the UK’s most exciting contemporary writers with the theatre-makers of tomorrow.
Ten youth groups will then be selected to perform their play on the Dorfman stage at the National Theatre Connections Festival in June, representing the vast amount of talent across the UK.
Marking the milestone 30th anniversary of the programme, these young people join over 125,000 people nationwide who have taken part in Connections over the past three decades, including esteemed alumni such as David Oyelowo, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Callum Scott Howells and Keira Knightley. Former playwrights include Jack Thorne, Chris Bush, Lenny Henry, James Graham and Alice Birch.
There are just 4 more chances to see this Standing Ovation nominated performance
Emma Wilkinson Wright as Liz Truss photo Elliott Franks
Following two sold-out critically-acclaimed runs The Last Days of Liz Truss? by Greg Wilkinson, directed by Anthony Shrubsall with award-nominated Emma Wilkinson Wright as Liz Truss and Steve Nallon of Spitting Image as the voice of Margaret Thatcher
has extended this week due to overwhelming demand at the White Bear Theatre
There are just 4 more chances to see this Standing Ovation nominated performance Wednesday April 2 at 7.30pm Thursday April 3 at 7.30pm Friday April 4 at 7.30pm* *with aftershow Q & A hosted by Terri Paddock Saturday April 5 at 7.30pm
Prime Minister Liz Truss is navigating her last morning at Number 10. But can a fighter ever quit?
The Last Days of Liz Truss? garnered five-star reviews and an “outstanding” from The Guardian’s Mark Lawson during its sold out premiere in December. Now this highly topical play by BBC Writers Room Award-nominated writer Greg Wilkinson, performed by Emma Wilkinson Wright as Liz and featuring Spitting Image’s Steve Nallon as the voice of Margaret Thatcher (and others), is coming back to the White Bear for a strictly limited run.
A tragic-comic exploration of the tensions in politics between ambition and ability, vision and reality, going short and playing it long, the play also takes a much broader look at broken systems and the tensions and contradictions at the heart of British and global politics.
Produced by Oxia Theatre.
Emma Wilkinson Wright (Liz Truss) Emma is a British born, half-Roma actor, and the Artistic Director of twice Off West End award-nominated Oxia Theatre. Alongside her recent 5-star rated one-woman show Rika’s Rooms (Playground Theatre, Off-Comm Award), she featured in the recent BBC Radio 4 production of Assisted with Tamsin Greig and Jude Owusu, and in the TV series Lost Women Spies as Irene Ward. Theatre includes: Billie in The Moral Women (Hen and Chickens), Vermandera in The Changeling (Southwark Playhouse); The Mitford Sisters in The Mitfords (Playground Theatre /EdFringe – Off-Fest nominated); Helen Reed in Secret Thoughts(Omnibus Theatre), Adelaine Hain in The Only White (Chelsea Theatre); JS in Necessary Targets (Southwark Playhouse); Hazel in Patterns (Leicester Curve), Trish in Meal With Friends (White Bear Theatre); Connie in Assisted (Edinburgh Fringe). Emma is represented by Robert Fucilla at Imperial Artists Agency, UK & US. X/Insta @emmamaywright
Steve Nallon (the voice of Margaret Thatcher, and others) Steve is an actor, writer, voice artist and impressionist. He began his career as a stand-up performer on the northern club circuit in the 1970s. After gaining a degree in Drama and English at the University of Birmingham, Steve became a foundering member of the television series Spitting Image, where he provided the voices of many of the programme’s iconic characters including Margaret Thatcher. Steve’s acting credits include Jacque in Carnival (Barbican Theatre), John Bland in Chinese Whispers (Greenwich Theatre), Kenneth Williams in Screaming Queens (Waterloo East), Field Marshall Lord Montgomery and Sir John Gielgud in the documentary comedy In the Life (St James Theatre, now The Other Palace), the Narrator in The Rocky Horror Show (Leicester Haymarket) and Roy Barraclough/Cissie in Cissie and Ada (Lowry and national tour).
Anthony Shrubsall (Director) Anthony Shrubsall is a freelance director, founder member of And Tomorrow Theatre Company and the Entire Theatre Company and former academic. Theatre direction includes Four Funerals and a Wedding (The Bread and Roses Theatre) Storming, Rika’s Rooms (Playground Theatre – OFFCOMM award), The Only White (Chelsea Theatre) Lear Alone (The Space, Edinburgh – Off West End Award ONCOMM winner and winner Best Director for Scenesaver Awards, Power Luncheon, The Good Dad (Hope Theatre – OFFCOMM nomination Best Director), A Boy Called Porro (Pleasance), Edred The Vampyre (Old Red Lion Theatre), An Absence Of (Old Court, Windsor – winner of the Kenneth Branagh New Writers Award), It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (0ld Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham) Death of a Hunter (Finborough Theatre – ONCOMM nominee).
Greg Wilkinson (Writer) Greg is Writer in Residence at Oxia Theatre (www.oxiatheatre.com) – a company seeking to explore vital and urgent issues through original writing and innovative productions. The Last Days of Liz Truss? is his third play. Insomnolent received a table reading from RADA graduates in 2019. Assisted opened the Golden Goose’s Emerge Festival in 2021, was longlisted for the Popcorn/BBC New Writing Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2022, and recorded for Radio 4 featuring Tamsin Greig, Jude Owusu and Emma Wilkinson Wright. . Male Arcucci (Set Design) Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Malena Arcucci is a theatre designer and costume supervisor based in London. She is co-artistic director of Mariana Malena Theatre Company. Design credits include: When You Pass Over My Tomb (Arcola); The Wolf, The Mouse and The Duck (Unicorn), Strangers Like Me (NT Connect and Hackney Shed); The Bit Players (Southwark); Friday Night Love Poem (Zoo Edinburgh); Point of No Return (Actor ’s Centre); La Llorona (Dance City Newcastle); The Two of Us (Theatre Deli); Playing Latinx (Camden People’s Theatre) and various productions in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Sarah Lawrie (Associate Producer) Producer Sarah Lawrie has been making theatre since 2013. Most recently she produced Good Boy and In Defiance of Gravity (The Space UK/Summerhall, Edfringe), the European premiere of 1979 (Finborough Theatre), Stitches (Hope Theatre), three-time Off West End Award nominated The Quality of Mercy (Courtyard Theatre/EdFringe), The Good Dad (Edinburgh Fringe/Playground Theatre), Shutters: A Lesbian Rock Opera (Omnibus Theatre) and Arts Council funded web series Lear Alone which won Best Series at Off West End’s OnComm Awards 2022.
LISTINGS INFO
Oxia Theatre presents
The Last Days of Liz Truss? by Greg Wilkinson
directed by Anthony Shrubsall
White Bear Theatre 138 Kennington Park Road LONDON SE11 4DJ
Just 4 more chances to see this Standing Ovation nominated performance Wednesday April 2 at 7.30pm Thursday April 3 at 7.30pm Friday April 4 at 7.30pm Saturday April 5 at 7.30pm
Wales Millennium Centre Reveals Landmark Production of Owain & Henry Starring Michael Sheen
Wales Millennium Centre proudly announces Owain & Henry, an ambitious new production that brings to life one of Wales’ most defining stories. Written by acclaimed playwright Gary Owen, this epic play will chart the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr against King Henry IV in a battle that could change the course of Welsh history. Starring Michael Sheen as the last Welsh-born Prince of Wales, this landmark production will take to the Donald Gordon Theatre stage in November 2026 as part of a co-production with Welsh National Theatre.
This announcement reaffirms Wales Millennium Centre’s long-standing commitment to championing bold, world-class storytelling from Wales. Owain & Henry is the latest in a series of landmark productions that embody its mission to connect Wales and the world through extraordinary stories. While its scale and ambition make it a truly special moment, it also continues a proud tradition of bringing iconic Welsh narratives to the stage in a way that resonates both locally and globally.
Graeme Farrow, Artistic and Creative Director of Wales Millennium Centre, said:
“Wales Millennium Centre is dedicated to working with artists to tell powerful stories that captivate and inspire. Owain & Henry builds on our commitment to producing high-quality theatre and supports Welsh and Wales-based artists in being ambitious in their work. In 2024, audiences from 28 countries came to see Nye and 25% of the total audience had never attended a show at Wales Millennium Centre before. This co-production with Welsh National Theatre will share another iconic story deeply rooted in our national identity and history; we can’t wait for audiences worldwide to experience it.”
Michael Sheen, Artistic Director of Welsh National Theatre, added:
“Owain & Henry is one of the origin stories of our nation, as relevant in today’s complex world as it was when Glyndŵr declared Wales an independent nation six hundred years ago. Gary Owen’s play is one of the most ambitious Welsh plays I’ve read; and is the biggest and boldest of Gary’s career. That’s the creative benchmark and ambition we want to set with Welsh National Theatre. This co-production model suits our early stage of working and it’s a thrill for Wales Millennium Centre to join us on this journey.”
Owain & Henry is part of Wales Millennium Centre’s wider strategy to create and champion major Welsh-led productions that engage audiences at home and abroad. The Centre has a proud legacy of supporting artists and companies who push creative boundaries, and this production exemplifies its mission to celebrate Welsh history and culture through the power of theatre.
Alongside Owain & Henry, Welsh National Theatre will also present Our Town, a co-production with the Rose Theatre, relocating Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play as a small Welsh town. Michael Sheen will take on the leading role of Stage Manager, with Swansea-born Francesca Goodridge directing and Russell T Davies as the creative associate. The production will open at Swansea Grand, followed by a short tour to North Wales before heading to London.
These productions mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Welsh theatre, bringing world-class storytelling to audiences in Cardiff, across Wales, and beyond. Owain & Henry tickets are available from 4 August for WMC Members and 8 August for General Public. Tickets for Nye are on sale now.
Global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! will extend its booking period to Saturday 28 March 2026 at London’s Novello Theatre, a Delfont Mackintosh Theatre, with tickets on sale from Friday 4 April.
MAMMA MIA! celebrated its 25th birthday on 6 April 2024 and is now the third longest running West End musical of all time.
Since premiering in London’s West End in 1999, the exhilarating smash-hit has become a global phenomenon, with a staggering 70 million people having seen it worldwide.
The sunny, funny tale of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads on a Greek island idyll, all unfolding to the magic of ABBA’s timeless pop masterpieces, has been seen in over 50 productions in 16 different languages grossing more than £4.5 billion at the box office and turned into two record-breaking movies – MAMMA MIA! The Movie and MAMMA MIA! Here We Go Again.
The London cast stars Mazz Murray as Donna, Kate Graham as Tanya, Nicola-Dawn Brook as Rosie, Luke Jasztal as Sam, Christopher Dickins as Harry, Stephen Beckett as Bill, Izi Maxwell as Sophie, Ben Irish as Sky, Harriet Samuels as Ali, Zaynah Ahmed as Lisa, Jamie Landmann as Eddie and Thomas Walton as Pepper, with Natalie Langston playing Donna at certain performances. Also in the cast are Mia Anthony Coffield, Franky Attard, Matthew Barrow, Jack Bromage, Maddy Cameron, Dennis Cousins, Timmy Driscoll, Andrew Gallo, Lawrence Guntert, Lauren Hall, Samantha Ivey, Genevieve Jameson, Flyn Mullins, Hayley-Jo Murphy, Emma Odell, Tom Parsons, Adam Scotland, Jonah Sercombe, Ella Tweed and Maisie Waller.
MAMMA MIA! originally opened in London at the Prince Edward Theatre on 6 April 1999, before transferring to the Prince of Wales Theatre in 2004, and then to the Novello Theatre in 2012. The London production of MAMMA MIA! has been seen by over 10 million people, played over 9,500 performances and has broken box office records in all three of its London homes and in February 2024 set a new record for the highest ever weekly gross in the musical’s London history. As part of MAMMA MIA!’s 25th year celebrations, Judy Craymer was Executive Producer of ITV’s MAMMA MIA! I Have a Dream, which searched for new young talent to join the stage musical.
MAMMA MIA! continues to have great success around the world and recently announced its return to Broadway, with performances beginning at the Winter Garden Theatre on 2 August 2025 for a six-month limited engagement. A new UK Tour will begin on 24 October 2025 at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre.
Produced by Judy Craymer, MAMMA MIA! The Movie became the highest grossing live action musical film of all time upon its release in 2008. A second film, MAMMA MIA! Here We Go Again, opened in July 2018 and is the most successful live musical movie sequel of all time. Both films starred Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper, with Lily James, Andy Garcia and Cher joining them in the second film.
MAMMA MIA !
London Cast 2024/2025
With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch.
MAMMA MIA! is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East & Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal Music Group.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Novello Theatre
Aldwych
London WC2B 4LD
Ticket Prices: from £17.75*
*All prices include a £2.75 per ticket booking fee and £1.50 restoration levy
Early Bird Pricing – anyone booking 16 weeks or more in advance of the performance they are attending (Monday to Thursday performances only) will save £20 on Band B, Band A and Premium tickets, but only through Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, either online or by calling the Novello Theatre Box Office.
Family Ticket Rate – £199 for a group of four on Band B or Band A tickets (up to a saving of £151), OR £99 for a group of four on Band D and Band C tickets (up to a saving of £111), for Monday to Thursday performances, excluding peak performances, but only through Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, either online or by calling the Novello Theatre Box Office.
Performance Times:
Monday – Saturday 7.30pm
Matinees – Thursdays & Saturdays 3.00pm*
*Extra 3.00pm matinee on Tuesday 15 April, Tuesday 8 July, Tuesday 5 August, Tuesday 19 August and Tuesday 28 October 2025 and Tuesday 17 February 2026
Captioned performance: Saturday 17 January 2026 at 3.00pm
Audio described performance: Saturday 31 January 2026 at 3.00pm
Christmas 2025/26 Performance Schedule
Monday 22 December 3.00pm and 7.30pm
Tuesday 23 December 3.00pm and 7.30pm
Wednesday 24 December NO PERFORMANCE
Thursday 25 December NO PERFORMANCE
Friday 26 December 7.30pm
Saturday 27 December 3.00pm and 7.30pm
Sunday 28 December 2.30pm
Monday 29 December 3.00pm and 7.30pm
Tuesday 30 December 3.00pm and 7.30pm
Wednesday 31 December NO PERFORMANCE
Thursday 1 January 2026 7.30pm
Friday 2 January 3.00pm and 7.30pm
Saturday 3 January 3.00pm and 7.30pm
Sunday 4 January NO PERFORMANCE
Booking to 28 March 2026
The performance lasts 2 hours and 35 minutes (including a 15-minute interval)
Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham – until 5th April 2025
Reviewed by Jacqui Radford
4****
Inspired by the iconic album, Jim Steinman’s Bat Out of Hell the Musical is a perfect excuse for Meatloaf fans to rock and roll to their heart’s content. At Cheltenham this explosive production unapologetically fills the stage.
The production has a storyline, but it is secondary to the music and the vast majority of the audience are definitely there for the music. Central to the production are Strat, Raven, Falco and Sloane, all entwined by Strat’s fascination with Raven who is fiercely protected by her father (Falco). Strat is an eternally youthful member of an underground gang ‘The Lost’, smitten by the idea of rebellion, passion and power.
On this tour, Sharon Sexton and Rob Fowler return to the roles of Raven’s parents, Falco and Sloane that they brought to the stage in 2017. They each bring a mature depth to the storyline, add a nostalgic edge to the music and abounding energy to the choreography.
Strat and Raven, played by Glenn Adamson and Katie Tonkinson are almost a younger version of Falco and Sloane’s love story. Glenn certainly doesn’t hold back on the rock and roll vibes (think swinging microphone, huge leaps and adrenaline fuelled manoeuvres).
The stage production for this show adds an edge that elevates the importance of excellent camera work and lighting. The camerawork is projected on screens that add another dimension to your focus on the stage choreography. The lighting and confetti cannons add to the mood of each musical piece.
As you’d expect from anything linked with Meatloaf the band are centre stage at Cheltenham, resulting in a concert feel that nobody can complain about. At the end of the performance, the entire audience was on its feet. It is a fully immersive experience that anyone familiar with Meatloaf will appreciate and maybe even get the urge to pull the album out of their archive.
The producers of the award-winning global smash hit SIX are thrilled to announce the release of a brand-new track, My Girls, from writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, and recorded by the by the original West End cast of SIX – Jarnéia Richard-Noel, Millie O’Connell, Natalie Paris, Alexia McIntosh, Aimie Atkinson and Maiya Quansah-Breed, alongside original Alternate Grace Mouat.
The track will be released on Thursday 3 April under the 6 Music label – the in-house imprint behind both of the show’s chart-topping albums – and will be available to stream and download across all major platforms.
A shimmering, empowering female friendship anthem, My Girls celebrates the bond forged between the Queens through their years of shared history – from rehearsal rooms and fringe stages to Olivier nominations, cast recordings, Broadway and beyond.
SIX the Musical Live!, filmed at the Vaudeville Theatre with the original cast reprising their roles, opens in cinemas nationwide on Sunday 6 April.
My Girls had its first public listen at the premiere of SIX the Musical Live! at London’s Ham Yard Hotel yesterday, ahead of the film’s release.
Creators Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss said: “When the seven queens asked us to write a song that celebrated their incredible bond, we had never been more excited about anything in our lives. We adore this group of performers so much and we have been on such an amazing journey with them, so the chance to write a song that celebrated their friendship was truly an honour. When we listen to ‘My Girls,’ we think you can hear how much we love and admire these seven brilliant artists. We just can’t wait for everyone to hear this song!”
Producer Andy Barnes said, “It’s always a joy to work with Toby and Lucy, and My Girls is a particularly special moment – a track that celebrates everything these seven extraordinary women have shared together on and off stage. The original cast have a unique chemistry that helped launch SIX into the world, and it’s wonderful to bring them back together for something new. We’re thrilled to be releasing it under our 6 Music label and can’t wait for fans to hear it.”
Think you know the six Wives of Henry VIII? Think again…
Prepare to lose your head and experience the Tudor Wives’ lives as they turn back the clock and take to the stage to reclaim their crowns and retell their stories of love, loss and the infamous ex they all have in common.
Join Aragon, Boleyn, Seymour, Cleves, Howard and Parr, backed by their fierce on-stage band, the Ladies in Waiting, and Get Down to a royal retelling of the sassiest story in British Her-story.
SIX is written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, with direction by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage. Choreography is by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, with set design by Emma Bailey, costume design by Gabriella Slade, lighting design by Tim Deiling, sound design by Paul Gatehouse, musical orchestration by Tom Curran, and musical supervision by Joe Beighton, and casting by Pearson Casting.
SIX is produced by Kenny Wax, Wendy & Andy Barnes and George Stiles.
Six the Musical Live! was directed for film by Liz Clare, and produced by Kenny Wax, Wendy & Andy Barnes, George Stiles. It was Executively Produced bv Kevin McCollum and Produced for film by Dione Orrom.
Winner of over 35 international awards, including two 2022 Tony Awards, four WhatsOnStage awards, and nominated for five Oliviers, SIX can also be seen live on stage worldwide: as well as London’s West End, SIX continues to tour the UK (with new 2025 dates just announced), and throughout Europe and internationally. An Australian tour launched in August 2024, whilst dates in Manila, Singapore, Japan and South Korea have recently been completed, with forthcoming dates in China.
SIX is currently playing at Broadway’s Lena Horne Theatre, the tour continues to play cities throughout the US. In 2024, the show both achieved 1.5million followers globally – across YouTube, Instagram, X, TikTok and Facebook in the UK, US, Australia, Korea and beyond – and hit another milestone achievement, with SIX the Musical (UK Studio Cast Recording) and the Grammy Award®-nominated SIX: LIVE ON OPENING NIGHT (the first Original Broadway Cast Recording ever recorded live on opening night) songs having been streamed in excess of one billion times.
Tickets to all international productions of SIX are available via sixthemusical.com
John Donnelly’s new play set in a contemporary London complete with all the anxieties of the day follows Mia (Sophie Melville) as she is at breaking point with a crying newborn, a tween son, and an absent husband who does a mysterious job for the police. Her noisy neighbours are driving her mad, she hasn’t slept in months, and her son Alfie (played by Callum Knowelden for this performance) is showing some troubling signs at school. Luckily, his lovely teacher Ana (Laura Whitmore) is here to help with some extra tutoring and a shoulder to cry on (amongst other things). However, it turns out that Ana has an ulterior, centuries old motive.
Mutilated bodies are washing up on the banks of the Thames and it soon becomes apparent that the murders are not dissimilar to that of vampire killings of old. The vampire forums on the dark web are abuzz with chatter of how to get a passport if you are hundreds of years old and speculation about who is committing the crimes. Mia’s husband Joe (Bryan Dick) works in surveillance and is part of the team trying to track down the killer which doesn’t help with Mia’s sleeplessness induced paranoia and fears.
Whilst out having a drink with a loud banker (one of many victims played hilariously by Leander Deeny), Ana reveals that she is in fact a vampire and that she can solve all of Mia’s problems, plus those of society. Blanche McIntyre’s production puts many of the anxieties that exist today front and centre with violence towards women and girls, climate change, and gender dynamics being brought to the fore.
The claustrophobic nature of Tom Piper’s clever ever changing set puts Mia’s postpartum depression into sharp focus, and the forboding scaffolding towering over the stage creates a sense of constant construction and change. Sound design by Christopher Shutt is jarring and loud, and the atmospheric lighting from Jack Knowles creates tension and some fun jump scares.
The plot is pacey and peppered with humour, and Sophie Melville is fantastic as Mia, all rage, fear, and love. Laura Whitmore is great as the smooth talking vampire, and really seemed to settle into the role in the second half.
Apex Predator is an enjoyable watch and it’s a clever way to explore postpartum depression and psychosis. The acting is superb and even though it did at times seem a bit rushed plot wise and the interval seemed a bit pointless, the commentary is current and the anxieties are real despite it being a story about vampires. But hey, I wouldn’t be surprised if they turned out to be real too.
This afternoon, I attended the ENCORE Festival at the beautiful Crewe Lyceum Theatre. The whole day was filled with captivating performances, puppet-making workshops, and storytelling, culminating in an outdoor screening of The BFG! A highlight of the afternoon was the performance of The Tale of Nobody Nose, presented by Goofus Theatre and produced by Jane Williams, with direction by Paul Barnhill. This enchanting tale follows three clowns: Boz, portrayed by Paul Barnhill, Yolo, played by Gemma Bond, and Flo, enacted by Katy-Anne Bellis. With the assistance of their magical map of dreams, they guide the audience through a series of enchanting landscapes across land, sea, and sky, all in an effort to help a lonely puppet discover his very own red nose.
This charming, non-verbal show was filled with moments that elicited laughter, such as when the puppet, with the assistance of the artists, ventured into the audience and performed a dance on the bald head of a gentleman in the front row. There were instances of pure delight, particularly when the puppet soared through the air with its umbrella, gliding over the audience’s heads. A moment of astonishment ensued when a puppet, twice the size of an adult, made her grand entrance onto the stage.
The show utilised a smoke machine and gently swirling lights to transform the stunning theatre space. Even before it began, the children in the audience could be heard expressing their amazement at the surroundings. The music played throughout not only complemented but also enhanced the storytelling. A white backdrop adorned with draped fabric and a tippee tent provided a creative set that effectively projected images and cast intriguing shadows.
Last year, and more recently, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend another performance by Goofus Theatre titled “Where Do the Noses Grow.” This enchanting non-verbal puppetry show is designed for young audiences and follows Lucy on a fantastical journey. With music woven throughout, the central theme revolves around the intriguing question of where noses actually grow. Julia Frost, the performer and puppeteer, delivers an extraordinary performance, complemented by the talented Rachel Priest. Both puppeteers demonstrate remarkable versatility as they adapt the same captivating story for different aged audiences they encounter. This production is part of Goofus Theatre’s ‘Reach Work’ initiative, which brings theatre to communities and audiences that might not typically have access to live performances. I also participated in a ‘Creative Learning’ session, where we crafted child-sized puppets using brown paper and tape.
I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact these talented artists have on audiences of all ages, from the very young to the elderly. Since most of their performances are non-verbal, the stories unfold through their exceptional skills, drawing from diverse backgrounds such as street theatre, circus arts, clowning, puppetry, and mask work.
BASED ON THE BOOK ‘RIGHT FROM WRONG’ BY JACOB DUNNE
WILL TRANSFER TO LONDON’S WEST END FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED 10-WEEK RUN
OPENING AT THE APOLLO THEATRE FROM 22 SEPTEMBER 2025
KPPL Productions, Mark Gordon Pictures and Eilene Davidson Productions in association with the Young Vic and Nica Burns today announce the West End transfer of the critically-acclaimed Nottingham Playhouse production of Punch by Olivier Award-winning playwright, James Graham, based on the book ‘Right From Wrong’ by Jacob Dunne, following sold-out runs at Nottingham Playhouse and the Young Vic.
The ‘powerful’ (Mail on Sunday) production, for which David Shields won the 2024 UK Theatre Award for Best Performance, brings Jacob Dunne’s real-life story to the stage, directed by Nottingham Playhouse Artistic Director, Adam Penford. It will open at the Apollo Theatre for a strictly limited 10-week run playing from Monday 22 September to Saturday 29 November 2025, with an Opening Night charity performance on Friday 26 September.
Jacob, a teenager from Nottingham, spends his Saturday nights seeking thrills with his friends. One fateful evening, an impulsive punch leads to fatal consequences. After serving prison time, Jacob finds himself lost and directionless. Searching for answers, Joan and David – the parents of his victim James – ask to meet, sparking a profound transformation in Jacob’s life. A powerful true story of hope, humanity, and the possibility of change.
The original cast comprising of Alec Boaden (Masters of the Air) as Raf/DS Villers/Sam, Julie Hesmondhalgh (Mr Bates vs the Post Office) as Joan/Nan, Tony Hirst (Boiling Point) as David/Derek/Tony/Raf’s Dad, Shalisha James-Davis (I May Destroy You) as Clare/Nicola, Emma Pallant (Queenie)as Wendy/Sandra/Jacob’s Mum, and David Shields (Black Mirror) as Jacob will reprise their roles in the West End.
James Graham, Playwright, said today, “The honour and responsibility of telling Jacob, Joan and David’s story, and witnessing the impact their real-life journey has on audiences night on night – in Nottingham, and at the Young Vic – I can honestly say it makes Punch one of the most moving and meaningful plays I’ve ever had the privilege to create. Having a further opportunity to see this Nottingham story on a national and now global stage is also, on a personal level, a deeply moving and surprising turn of events.
We want Punch to grab audiences and entertain them, but we’re also pleased to see it contributing to wider conversations about justice and masculinity. In the last week alone we visited Parliament to introduce the issues of Punch to lawmakers, and led a screening and Q&A at HMP YOI Isis as part of a Taking Part project from the Young Vic Theatre, KPPL Productions and Untold Creative Training. I’m grateful to our producers for their wider advocacy, to Adam Penford, and to our incredible cast.”
Adam Penford, Director and Artistic Director of Nottingham Playhouse, said “It’s been an honour developing this play over the last few years with the incredibly talented James Graham. We’re both proudly from Nottingham and it’s a credit to the team at Nottingham Playhouse that this homegrown production continues to gather pace. The story of redemption and hope moves audiences in a way that only theatre can. To witness an audience collectively holding their breath, laugh and cry together, is an unforgettable experience. I’m so pleased that more people will get the opportunity to see the outstanding original cast. I want to thank the West End producers for their support, particularly their dedication to ensuring the community and charitable work offstage remains just as important as the work onstage. I also wanted to acknowledge a debt of gratitude to Joan, David and Jacob, and all the real-life people who appear in the play, for their generosity and trust.”
Kate Pakenham, Producer,also commented, “Phyllida, Mark, Eilene and I feel hugely privileged to be bringing James Graham’s extraordinary play, Punch, to the Apollo Theatre this Autumn. Audiences have shown their need for this story being told in the theatre with standing ovations every performance in Nottingham and now at the Young Vic.
Great storytelling – Mr Bates vs The Post Office and Adolescenceas examples – can change the national, and even international, conversation around urgent issues of the moment. Punch does the same, asking profound questions about who we are to one another and offering a story of immense hope about our capacity for kindness. It is thrilling to be able to bring the production to the West End as it opens simultaneously on Broadway. This will be a trans-Atlantic theatre event of an important and hugely relevant play.
In recognition of the very special nature of this play and production, the West End producers have committed that any producer profit will be used to provide future access to Punch for young people.
We present the play in honour of the incredible people at the centre of the story, with our deepest respect for them all, and in memory of James Hodgkinson.”
Opening on Broadway simultaneously, Punch will also be playing at the Samuel J Friedman Theatre this autumn, produced by Manhattan Theatre Club. Performances at the Young Vic continue through until 26 April 2025.
The West End production will build on the significant education and partnership work around the production at Nottingham Playhouse and at the Young Vic.
This will include post-show conversations with special guests every Tuesday night of the run, performances for school and special interest groups curated by charity partner Go Live Theatre, and the creation of a free learning pack available to all offering insights into the themes of the play and the making of the production. Further detail around these and other initiatives will be announced in due course.
This production is dedicated to James Hodgkinson and all victims of one-punch.
Tickets are on sale now, with Group and Education rates available, via www.PunchThePlay.com.
To register interest for the special performances for school and special interest groups, please contact: [email protected].
KPPL Productions, Mark Gordon Pictures and Eilene Davidson Productions present
The Nottingham Playhouse production of
PUNCH
in association with the Young Vic and Nica Burns
Written by James Graham
Based on the book Right From Wrong by Jacob Dunne
Directed by Adam Penford
Production Design by Anna Fleischle
Lighting Design by Robbie Butler
Sound Design and Composition by Alexandra Faye Braithwaite
Television credits include:Masters of the Air (Apple TV), Random Acts (Channel 4) and Jamie Johnson (CBBC).
Alec attended The Television Workshop from 2008-2020 and was a part of Nottingham Playhouse’s Homegrown programme in 2019.
Julie Hesmondhalgh | Joan / Nan
Theatre credits include: An Oak Tree (Young Vic), Punch (Nottingham Playhouse and Young Vic), White Rabbit Red Rabbit (Soho Place),Blue Now (Factory International), The Jungle (St Ann’s Warehouse New York); The Greatest Play in the History of the World (Trafalgar Studios and National Tour); The Report with Lemn Sissay (Royal Court); Mother Courage and Her Children, The Almighty Sometimes, Black Roses: The Killing of Sophie Lancaster, Blindsided (Manchester Royal Exchange); Wit (Manchester Royal Exchange – winner of Best Female Performer 2017 MTAs); There Are No Beginnings (Leeds Playhouse); God Bless the Child (Royal Court).
Television credits include:Alma’s Not Normal; Mr Bates vs the Post Office; You & Me; The Pact; The A Word; The Trouble with Maggie Cole; Dr Who; Catastrophe; Broadchurch (BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress); Happy Valley; Black Roses (BBC4 – Royal Television Society Best Actress 2014); Moving On; Inside No 9; Cucumber; Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street 1998-2014 (National TV Award 2014, Royal Television Society Award 2013).
Writing: An Actor’s Alphabet (NHB); A Working Diary (Methuen); These I Love, a one woman show.
Julie co-runs Take Back theatre company in Manchester and the fundraising group, 500 Acts of Kindness. She is a supporter of Arts Emergency.
Tony Hirst | David / Derek / Tony / Raf’s Dad
Theatre credits include: Maryland (Take Back Theatre); My White Best Friend North, Hobson’s Choice, Bruntwood Prize Ceremony (The Royal Exchange, Manchester); Hangmen (Wyndam’s Theatre, West End & The Royal Court); I Know Where The Dead Are Buried (Second City Productions) and Strangeways: The Inside Account (Contact Theatre, Manchester).
Television credits include: Riot Women, Boiling Point, Better, Everything I Know About Love, Red Rose, Broken (BBC); Brassic (SKY); Pistol (FX/Disney+); Stephen, Coronation Street, Law & Order: UK (ITV) and Glue, Shameless (Channel 4).
Film credits include:Old Guy (Paramount Movies)
Shalisha James-Davis | Clare / Nicola
Theatre credits include: Romeo and Juliet (Royal Exchange – Nominated, Ian Charleson Awards 2024); The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe (London Theatre Company); Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare’s Globe); Alfred Fagan Award (National Theatre Studio); If We Were Older (Royal National Theatre); The Wolves (Stratford East); Our Country’s Good, Notre Dame (National Theatre).
Television credits include: Casualty, Silent Witness (BBC); Crossfire, Vera (ITV); I May Destroy You (HBO); The Split 2 (Sister Pictures); Alex Rider (Eleventh Hour Films); Next of Kin (Mammoth/ITV) and Class (BBC America).
Film credits include: Mary Queen of Scots (Working Title); Bay of Silence (Silent Bay Films) and Night Out (Unit 9 Films).
Emma Pallant | Jacob’s Mum / Wendy / Sandra
Theatre credits include: Cowbois (RSC/Royal Court); Faustus: That Damned Woman (Storyhouse); A Christmas Carol, Tamar’s Revenge, As You Like It, Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, Laughter in the Dark (RSC); The Dog in the Manger, House of Desires, Pedro, the Great Pretender (RSC/West End); Celebrated Virgins (Theatr Clwyd); Ravens: Spassky Vs Fischer (Hampstead Theatre); An Enemy of the People, LAVA (Nottingham Playhouse); Intra Muros (Park Theatre); William Wordsworth (ETT); The Wind in the Willows (Rose Theatre); Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Comedy of Errors, Macbeth (Shakespeare’s Globe); It Just Stopped, Alison’s House (Orange Tree Theatre); Bell, Book and Candle, Bleak House, Great Expectations, Romeo and Juliet (New Vic Theatre); The Cherry Orchard, His Dark Materials, Katherine Desouza (Birmingham Rep); An Ideal Husband (Theatre of Frankfurt); The House of Bernada Alba (Belgrade Theatre); Top Girls (Watford Palace); Cymbeline (Regent’s Park) and Precious Bane (Pentabus).
Television credits include: Queenie; Responsible Child; Casualty; Holby City; Father Brown and Doctors.
Film credits include: All This Time; Heavenly Village Hall and Our Life Together.
David Shields | Jacob
Theatre credits include:Hush (The Gate Theatre); Monster Party (Arcola Theatre) and Arcadia (Oxford Playhouse).
Television credits include: Masters of the Air (Apple TV); Black Mirror (Netflix); Van Der Valk (ITV); The Liberator, Treadstone, The Crown (Netflix); and Doctor Who (BBC).
Film credits include: Freud’s Last Session, Judy and The Bad Education Movie.
CREATIVES
James Graham | Writer
James Graham is a playwright and screenwriter.
Theatre includes: Olivier award winning play Dear England (National Theatre 2023, West End and NT Live. An updated version is currently running at the National Theatre this year, before a national tour, and it is being adapted for TV with the BBC); Tammy Faye (Almeida Theatre 2022, Broadway 2024); Boys from the Blackstuff (adapted from Alan Bleasdale’s seminal TV drama, Liverpool Royal Court 2023, The National Theatre 2024); This House (National Theatre, West End 2017, Olivier-nominated and chosen by popular vote as the best play of the 2010’s for the major theatre publisher Methuen).
Television credits include: Sherwood (BBC, won the Royal Television Society Award for Best Drama and 2 BAFTAS); Quiz (ITV and AMC); Brexit: An Uncivil War (Channel 4 and HBO, nominated for an Emmy and a BAFTA).
Adam Penford | Director
Adam Penford is Artistic Director at Nottingham Playhouse. He trained at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA).
For Nottingham Playhouse credits include:Dear Evan Hansen (& UK Tour), The Clothes They Stood Up In, A Christmas Carol (& Alexandra Palace & Birmingham Rep & worldwide cinema release), Piaf, Bubble, Holes (& UK Tour), An Enemy of the People, Coram Boy, The Madness of George III (& NT Live), Dick Whittington, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, and Wonderland.
For the National Theatre credits include:A Small Family Business (Olivier); Dorfman Opening Gala (Dorfman); Island (Cottlesloe); One Man Two Guvnors, Revival Director (West End/Broadway/UK and International Tour); and NT 50 Years on Stage, Associate Director (Olivier and BBC2).
Other Directing credits include:The Sound of Music (Chichester Festival Theatre); Committee (Donmar Warehouse); The Boys in The Band (Vaudeville/Park Theatre); Platinum (Hampstead Theatre); Unfaithful (Found 111); Watership Down (The Watermill Theatre); Deathtrap (Salisbury Playhouse/UK Tour); Ghost the Musical (The English Theatre, Frankfurt); Stepping Out (Salisbury Playhouse); The Machine Gunners and Run! (Polka Theatre).
Assistant/Associate Director credits include:The Winter’s Tale (Propeller at The Watermill Theatre); The Vagina Monologues (National Tour); 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover (Bush Theatre); Imagine This (Theatre Royal, Plymouth); Dying For It (Almeida) and Charley’s Aunt (Oxford Playhouse).
Anna Fleischle | Production Designer
Anna Fleischle is an Olivier award–winning and Tony-nominated production set and costume designer.
Theatre includes: A Face In The Crowd, Nachtland (Young Vic), The Collaboration (Young/Vic/Broadway), Death Of A Salesman (Young Vic/Broadway/West End), What we talk about when we talk about Anne Frank (Marylebone Theatre); Red Speedo (Orange Tree Theatre); A Child Of Science (Bristol Old Vic); Punch (Nottingham Playhouse); The Pillowman (West End); Death Of A Salesman (Broadway/West End); 2:22 A Ghost Story (West End/LA/Tour/Melbourne); Hangmen (Broadway/West End/Royal Court), Tony Award Nominee 2022, Winner of Olivier Award For Best Set Design, Critic’s Circle Award ‘Best Designer’, Evening Standard Award ‘Best Design’); Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (West End/ UK tour/ LA); House of Shades, The Writer, Before the Party (Almeida); The Kid Stays In The Picture (Royal Court & Complicité); A German Life; A Very Very Very Dark Matter, John Gabriel Borkman, Two Ladies (Bridge Theatre); Much Ado About Nothing, Home I’m Darling (National Theatre/ West End/UK Tour – 2019 Olivier Award Nominee For Best Set Design And Best Costume Design); Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (Old Vic); Beware Of Pity (Schaubühne, Berlin/Complicité).
Opera includes:L’Orfeo (Vienna Staatsoper); Weimar Nightfall (LA Philharmonic/Complicité).
Dance includes: A Christmas Carol (Finnish National Opera); Message In A Bottle (International Tour); John; Can We Talk About This? (DV8 Physical Theatre/ International tour).
Fellowships include: Trustee Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Founding Member of Scene/Change.
Robbie Butler | Lighting Designer
Originally from Ireland and based in the UK, Robbie is one of only a handful of Life Members of the Association for Lighting Production and Design. Having trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, he won the inaugural Profile Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera, an Off West End award for Best Lighting Design, and was also the winner of the 2015 ETC Award. More info at www.robbiebutler.com Design credits include:Punch (Broadway, Young Vic, Nottingham Playhouse); Keli (National Theatre of Scotland); Reverberation, How to Win Against History (Bristol Old Vic); Death In Venice (Welsh National Opera); The Makropulos Affair (Scottish Opera). As well as work with The Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh; The Tron Theatre, Glasgow; The Mercury Theatre, Colchester; Greek National Opera, Polish National Opera; Den Norske Opera and Ballet; Hofesh Schecter Company; and The English Theatre, Frankfurt. Upcoming work includes projects with Malmö Opera and Teatro Real, Madrid.
Alexandra Faye Braithwaite |Sound Designer and Composer
Recent credits include Giant, Sound of the Underground, Purple Snowflakes and Titty Wanks (Royal Court); Underdog: The Other Other Brontë (National Theatre); The Real Thing (Old Vic); A Streetcar Named Desire, Chariots of Fire, Anna Karenina, Operation Crucible, Chicken Soup (Sheffield Theatres); A Taste of Honey, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Wuthering Heights, Light Falls (Royal Exchange Theatre); Falkland Sound (Royal Shakespeare Company); The Good Person of Szechwan (Lyric Hammersmith/Sheffield Theatres); Bloody Elle (Lyric Theatre/Traverse Theatre/Royal Exchange); Never Have I Ever, The Narcissist (Chichester Festival Theatre); The Creakers (Southbank Centre/Theatre Royal Plymouth); Abigail’s Party, Shining City, How Not To Drown, The Wonderful World of Dissocia (Theatre Royal Stratford East); Things of Dry Hours (Young Vic); Lost and Found (Factory International); Groan Ups (Mischief Theatre/Vaudeville Theatre/UK Tour); The Cavalcaders (Druid); Good Luck, Studio (Mischief Theatre/Mercury Theatre); Kes (Bolton Octagon); The Climbers, Tom’s Midnight Garden (Theatre By The Lake); A Pretty Shitty Love, A Christmas Carol (Theatr Clwyd); My Name Is Rachel Corrie (Al Madina Theatre, Beirut); Cougar, The Rolling Stone, Dealing with Clair (Orange Tree Theatre); Dublin Carol (Sherman Theatre); Hamlet, Talking Heads, Rudolph (Leeds Playhouse); The Audience, Juicy and Delicious (Nuffield Theatre); The Remains of Maisie Duggan (Abbey Theatre); Toast, Enough (Traverse Theatre); When I Am Queen (Almeida).
Leanne Pinder |Movement Director
Movement Director and Choreographer credits include: Punch (Samuel J Friedman Theatre, NYC/ Young Vic/ Nottingham Playhouse); Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Aberystwyth); Disruption (Park Theatre); Godspell (Wilkes Academy); Spring Awakening (ArtsEd); Pippin, Our House (Wilkes Academy); She Loves Me, The Wizard of Oz, Bare A Rock Opera (Mountview); Lasagna (Short film directed by Hannah Hill).
Associate Director credits include: CAGES (Riverside Studios).
Associate Choreographer credits include: Bugsy Malone (UK Tour); Waitress (UK Tour) and We Will Rock You (UK Tour).
Assistant Choreographer credits include: Groundhog Day (Broadway, NYC); Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Playhouse); American Psycho (Almeida) and Matilda (Broadway, NYC).
Other credits include:Frau Blücher in Young Frankenstein (English Theatre Frankfurt); Mrs Teavee in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Aberystwyth); Matilda (Workshop/ Feature Film); Strictly Ballroom the Musical (Piccadilly); Snow White (Palladium); Groundhog Day (Old Vic); Bend it like Beckham (Phoenix); Performance Captain for the 2014 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony; Matilda (Cambridge); We Will Rock You (Dominion); Fame (UK Tour); Saturday Night Fever (UK Tour) and Grease (UK Tour).
TICKETS ON SALE AT 12 NOON ON WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL FROM INSIDENO9ONSTAGE.COM
Following a sold out West End season, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith are taking the critically acclaimed Inside No.9 Stage / Fright, to theatres around the UK this autumn. Tickets for the 12 week tour go on sale at 12 noon on Wednesday, 2 April.
Pemberton and Shearsmith will once again star in the “Dazzlingly Entertaining” (The Sunday Times) stage version of their award-winning television comedy Inside No.9. Receiving rave reviews across the board, with the Mail on Sunday’s five star review lauding the show as “absurdly entertaining. There’s simply nothing like it”, this is the chance for fans outside of London to witness the “wildly clever” (Financial Times) show. “A Bold West End debut… Bravo” (The Daily Telegraph).
Nominated for a prestigious Olivier Award this year in the Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play category, Stage / Fright features comedic, spooky and dramatic moments as fans of the TV show have come to expect, with some familiar characters and stories mixing with brand new material. Further casting will be announced soon.
Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith said: “We have been bowled over by the success of Inside No 9 Stage / Fright at the Wyndham’s Theatre. Selling out every performance before the
run started and being nominated for an Olivier Award was fantastic enough, but the nightly reaction from fans and newcomers alike has been exhilarating and really quite moving.
So we are delighted to be able to bring the show to a wider audience around the country. The phrase ‘swan-song’ refers to a final performance, often associated with the ancient belief that swans sing beautifully just before their death. Which is a load of bollocks of course as all swans do is shit and honk. So come along to the swan-song tour of Inside No 9 and see for yourselves how we bow out. There won’t be a dry seat in the house.”
Each performance will see a different celebrity ‘hostage’ perform with Steve and Reece. The West End run included cameos from Stephen Fry, Lenny Henry, Mel Giedroyc, Matt Lucas, Michael Sheen, Tamsin Greig, Adrian Dunbar, Bob Mortimer, David Walliams, Micky Flanagan, Meera Syal, Mackenzie Crook, Emilia Fox and Rob Brydon, as well as many others. Which famous faces will join them on stage for the regional dates?
Kicking off in Milton Keynes on 9 September, Inside No. 9 Stage / Fright visits 11 theatres across the UK including Sunderland, Canterbury, Birmingham, Manchester, Woking, Hull, Oxford, Stoke and Liverpool, before culminating in Edinburgh on 29 November.
The ninth, and final, season of the critically acclaimed TV series – for which Steve and Reece have been nominated in the upcoming BAFTA Writer Award category – was screened last year and is now available on BBC iPlayer.
Inside No.9 Stage / Fright is presented by Phil McIntyre Live and IN9 Theatre Company.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“absurdly entertaining. There’s simply nothing like it”
Mail on Sunday
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“a thrilling ride that shouldn’t be missed”
Radio Times
★ ★ ★ ★
“Bravo”
Daily Telegraph
★ ★ ★ ★
“madly innovative”
Financial Times
★ ★ ★ ★
“dazzlingly entertaining”
The Sunday Times
★ ★ ★ ★
“this is one play you won’t be checking your watch in”
The independent
Inside No.9 Stage / Fright UK Tour 2025
Tuesday 9 – Saturday 13 September Milton Keynes Theatre
Tuesday 16 – Saturday 20 September Sunderland, Empire Theatre
Tuesday 23 – 27 September Canterbury, Marlowe Theatre
Tuesday 7 – 11 October Birmingham, Alexandra Theatre
Tuesday 14 – 18 October Manchester, Opera House
Tuesday 21 – 25 October Woking, New Victoria Theatre
Tuesday 28 October – Saturday 1 November Hull, New Theatre
Tuesday 4 – Saturday 8 November Oxford, New Theatre
Tuesday 11 – Saturday 15 November Stoke-on-Trent, Regent Theatre
Tuesday 18 – Saturday 22 November Liverpool, Empire Theatre
