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FULL CAST ANNOUNCED
FOR THE MAJOR NEW UK TOUR
OF THE WORLDWIDE SMASH HIT MUSICAL
MAMMA MIA!
BEGINNING FROM 24 OCTOBER 2025

Full casting is announced for the sensational feel-good musical MAMMA MIA! which embarks on a new UK tour from 24 October 2025.

Jenn Griffin (Donna Sheridan), Ashleigh Jones (Alternate Donna Sheridan), Rosie Glossop (Rosie), Sarah Earnshaw (Tanya), Luke Jasztal (Sam Carmichael), Richard Meek (Harry Bright), Mark Goldthorp (Bill Austin), Lydia Hunt (Sophie Sheridan), Joe Grundy (Sky), Bibi Jay (Ali), Eve Parsons (Lisa), Joseph Vella (Pepper), Ethan Casey-Clothier (Eddie) and William Hazell (Father Alexander) lead the cast.

Further casting includes Brook Blackford-Jenkins, James Brice, Aled Davies, Rebecca Donnelly, Ryan Ebbrell, Erin-Sophie Halliday, Marisa Harris, Natorii Illidge, Jay Jobarteh, Sarah McFarlane, Jacob Morrish, Rachel Oates, Megan Speirs, Cameron Sutherland, Richard Vorster and Maisy Wignall complete the cast.

The cast will open the tour at Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (24 October – 8 November 2025) before continuing to Bristol Hippodrome (11 – 22 November 2025), New Theatre Oxford (25 November – 6 December 2025), Edinburgh Playhouse (9 December 2025 – 4 January 2026) Swansea Building Society Arena (13 January – 24 January 2026), His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen (27 January – 7 February), Newcastle Theatre Royal (11 – 28 February), Palace Theatre Manchester (3 – 21 March), Curve, Leicester (24 – 29 March), Hull New Theatre (7 – 18 April), Venue Cymru, Llandudno (21–25 April), Blackpool Opera House (28 April –3May), Birmingham Hippodrome (12–30 May), Hall for Cornwall, Truro (2 –13 June), Leeds Grand Theatre (16 – Sat 27June), Norwich Theatre Royal (30 June –11 July), Eastbourne Congress Theatre (14 –19 July) and Bournemouth Pavillion Theatre (28 July – 2 August).

Casting for further tour dates and venues are to be announced. For more information and to book visit mamma-mia.com.

From West End to global phenomenon, MAMMA MIA! is Judy Craymer’s ingenious vision of staging the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs with a sunny, funny tale of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads unfolding on a Greek island idyll.

Judy Craymer, Creator and Producer of MAMMA MIA!, said, “I’m delighted to announce this 2025 UK tour cast of MAMMA MIA! and excited for them to step into these roles. Our much-loved musical tells the story of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads, inspired by ABBA’s irresistible hits. We can’t wait for audiences across the country to escape to our Greek island idyll and have the time of their lives!”

This irresistibly funny show has been thrilling audiences all around the world and now there’s never been a better time to see this unforgettable musical. Whatever age you are, you can’t help but have the time of your life at MAMMA MIA!

Now in its 26th year, MAMMA MIA! has been seen by over 11 million people and has played over 10,000 performances in London’s West End. The MAMMA MIA! International Tour has visited 42 countries in the past 20 years, performed more than 3,900 shows and has been seen by over 7.7 million people. MAMMA MIA! became the 9th longest running show in Broadway history where it played a record-breaking run for 14 years and recently returned to Broadway this summer playing at the Winter Garden Theatre. In 2011, it became the first Western musical ever to be staged in Mandarin in the People’s Republic of China. MAMMA MIA! has been seen live on stage by over 70 million people across the world and turned into two record-breaking movies.

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 became 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.

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.

The MAMMA MIA! UK Tour is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East & Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal Music Group and NGM.

OLIVIER AWARD WINNING TITANIQUE EXTENDS BOOKING TO 7 JUNE 2026 DUE TO PHENOMENAL DEMAND

AT CRITERION THEATRE

london.titaniquemusical.com

Producers Eva Price and Michael Harrison are delighted to announce their must-see Olivier Award Winning splash hit West End musical Titanique will extend booking at the Criterion Theatre through to Sunday 7 June 2026 due to phenomenal demand. Tickets for the new dates are on sale now at london.titaniquemusical.com.

Currently starring in Titanique are Luke Bayer (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie)as Jack, Richard Carson (Les Misérables)as Cal, Hiba Elchikhe (The Time Travellers Wife) as Rose, Astrid Harris (Titaníque – Théâtre du Lido, Paris) as Céline Dion, Carl Mullaney (La Cage Aux Folles) as Ruth, Jenny O’Leary (The Great British Bake Off) as Molly Brown, Tim Walton (Matilda the Musical) as Victor Garber / Luigi and Tosh Wanogho-Maud (Robin Hood – Palladium Pantomime)as The Iceberg until Sunday 5 October. Ryan Carter (Bat Out Of Hell) takes over the role of The Iceberg from Tuesday 7 October.

Completing the company are on-stage background vocalists Adrianne Langley (Sixties Girls, Dusseldorf), Madison Swan (We Will Rock You)andRodney Vubya (Frozen) and offstage understudies Freddie King (Heathers), David Ouch (Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Australia) and Caitlin Tipping (SIX).  

★★★★★
The Times, Daily Mail, Sunday Express, Sunday Mirror, Gay Times, London Theatre

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. See you aboard the Ship of Dreams, girlfriends!

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 20 November 2022 where it played until 15 June 2025. As well as London and New York, the musical comedy has had smash hit runs in Paris, Sydney, Montreal and Toronto.

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 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.

In addition to winning the 2025 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, 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 Titanique is produced by Eva Price and Michael Harrison.

Cast revealed for

INTO THE WOODS

Major new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s musical plays a strictly limited 20-week run at The Bridge from December

Casting has been announced for a brand-new staging of Into The Woods at the Bridge Theatre .The production, helmed by director Jordan Fein with set and costume designer Tom Scutt,will begin previews on Tuesday 2 December 2025 with opening night set for Thursday 11 December. Into The Woods will play for 20 weeks until Saturday 18 April 2026.

Taking to the stage will be Valda Aviks (The Addams Family Musical – original UK tour) as Grandmother/Giant, Geoffrey Aymer (The Wizard of Oz – London Palladium) as Cinderella’s Father, Katie Brayben (Tammy Faye – Broadway & Almeida; Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical) asthe Baker’s Wife, Bella Brown (Evita – London Palladium) as Rapunzel, Chumisa Dornford-May (Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812 – Donmar Warehouse; Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical) as Cinderella, Kate Fleetwood (London Road – National Theatre; Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical)as the Witch, Jo Foster (Why Am I So Single? – Garrick Theatre)asJack, Michael Gould (Oedipus – Wyndham’s Theatre)asthe Narrator/Mysterious Man, Jennifer Hepburn (Mamma Mia! – Novello Theatre) as Cinderella’s Stepmother, Hana Ichijo (The Baker’s Wife – Menier Chocolate Factory) as Lucinda, Julie Jupp (A Christmas Carol – Old Vic) as Jack’s Mother, Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson (42^nd Street – Theatre Royal Drury Lane) as Florinda, Gracie McGonigal (The Little Big Things – Soho Place) asLittle Red Ridinghood, Hughie O’Donnell (King Lear – Wyndham’s Theatre) asthe Steward, Jamie Parker (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Palace Theatre; Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Play) as the Baker, Oliver Savile (Wicked – Apollo Victoria)asCinderella’s Prince/Wolf and Rhys Whitfield (The Phantom of the Opera – His Majesty’s Theatre) as Rapunzel’s Prince.

Completing the cast are Standbys Taite-Elliot Drew (Cabaret – The Kit Kat Club), Jacob Fowler (Heathers – The Other Palace), Sophie Linder-Lee (Wicked – Apollo Victoria)and Chloe Saracco (Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812 – Donmar Warehouse).

Director Jordan Fein commented:
“I’m thrilled and honoured to direct this new production of Into The Woods at The Bridge. It’s a musical that speaks to the necessity and power of community through the brilliant music and words of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. To create this production with such an extraordinary cast and creative team is an actual dream come true.”


Why would you go into the woods?

To sell the cow
To visit mother
To see the king
To lift the spell

In Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s dazzling musical, the Baker, the Baker’s Wife, the Witch, Jack, Little Red Ridinghood, Cinderella and Rapunzel take us beyond happy ever after to discover what really matters.

Sondheim and Lapine’s second collaboration after Sunday in the Park with George brilliantly weaves together four Grimms’ fairy-tales. On its Broadway debut in 1986, Into The Woods won Tony awards each for Sondheim (Best Original Score) and Lapine (Best Book). In London it has had productions by Richard Jones (Phoenix Theatre, 1990), John Crowley (Donmar, 1998) and Timothy Sheader (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, 2010). This will be its first major London production since 2016.

Joining director Jordan Fein and set and costume designer Tom Scutt on the creative and production team are musical supervisor and musical director Mark Aspinall, sound designer Adam Fisher, lighting designer Aideen Malone, video designer Roland Horvath, movement director Jenny Ogilvie, wigs, hair & make-up designer Sam Cox, production manager Chris Hay, props supervisors Jonathan Hall and Chris Marcus, associate director Georgia Green, associate musical director Alex Beetschen, associate sound designer Ollie Durrant, associate lighting designer Lucy Adams, associate set designer David Allen, associate costume designer Lucy Martin, assistant costume supervisor Lydia McDonald, wigs, hair & make-up supervisor Charlie Watson, costume associate Dan Campton, make-up consultant Guy Common, orchestra management is by Andy Barnwell and Richard Weeden for BW Musicians and casting director is Stuart Burt CDG.

Into The Woods is produced by London Theatre Company.
Tickets are on sale at bridgetheatre.co.uk.

LES MISÉRABLES
 

IS 40!

THE WORLD’S LONGEST RUNNING MUSICAL IS
CELEBRATING ITS 40^TH ANNIVERSARY
WITH A SPECIAL CHARITY GALA PERFORMANCE
ON 8 OCTOBER AT LONDON’S SONDHEIM THEATRE

GUESTS WILL INCLUDE PATTI LUPONE, MICHAEL BALL,
ALFIE BOE, SAMANTHA BARKS, MATT LUCAS
AND MANY MORE STAR ALUMNI
FROM THE FIRST 40 YEARS IN A SPECIAL FINALE

THE GALA PERFORMANCE WILL SUPPORT TWO CHARITIES
THAT FIGHT HUNGER IN LONDON
AND AROUND THE COUNTRY:
‘THE FELIX PROJECT’ AND ‘UKHARVEST’

Cameron Mackintosh is delighted to announce that Boublil and Schönberg’s musical sensation LES MISÉRABLES will celebrate its 40^th Birthday in London’s West End on Wednesday 8 October 2025 with a special charity gala performance.

A company of nearly 100 performers, including a star-studded line up of guest artists from the first 40 years of Les Mis such as Patti LuPone, Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Samantha Barks, Matt Lucas, Frances Ruffelle, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Gerónimo Rauch, Jeremy Secomb and Bonnie Langford plus many more will join the Anniversary Celebration Cast in a special finale.

All proceeds from the Gala Performance will go to two UK charities whose work particularly resonates with Victor Hugo’s timeless story about the young Jean Valjean who needed to steal a loaf of bread to feed his family: The Felix Project and UKHarvest, who both work tirelessly to rescue fresh and healthy food and redistribute to those in need in London and around the country.

Cameron Mackintosh said:

“It is an extraordinary feeling to be celebrating our 40^th Anniversary of Les Misérables on London’s Shaftesbury Avenue. Having staged several of our other milestone performances in iconic venues like the Royal Albert Hall for our 10^th or the o2 Arena for our 25^th, I wanted to bring this special celebration home back to its roots, in the theatre, where the British version first started at the Barbican in October 1985.

Unlike any other musical in history, Les Misérables has continuously triumphed in, not one, but two different and equally successful stagings of the musical, a hugely successful Oscar-winning movie, and spectacular staged concerts in both vast arenas and theatres around the world. Victor Hugo’s creation has proved to have no bounds, continuing to reach new corners of the Earth, playing to different races in their own languages, swept along by Boublil and Schönberg’s inspirational musical score. The reaction of the audience, wherever they are on the planet, is always uplifting; just as Victor Hugo hoped it would be when he first published the novel in 1845. Wouldn’t I love to be around for that bi-centennial!

So, for our actual anniversary on October 8th, I am thrilled that our wonderful company will be joined for one night only by some of our most celebrated, ever-growing family of alumni from the last 40 years in a special finale. We are limited by the 1,100-seat capacity of the Sondheim Theatre and the number of guests who have been involved in Les Mis over the past four decades, but we wanted to make at least 500 tickets available to fans.

This country, like many other parts of the world, continue to face the critical issues at the core of Victor Hugo’s story: hunger and poverty. So, everybody involved in Les Misérables wished to donate all the proceeds of what promises to be an extraordinary evening to two charities that continually fight to end hunger in England by redistributing fresh and healthy food to those in need: The Felix Project and UKHarvest.”

For this very special 40^th Anniversary Gala performance of Les Misérables, at least 500 tickets (approximately half of the house) will be available to purchase with prices ranging from £25 to £250. A very limited number of £500 Platinum Anniversary tickets, to include pre and post-show hospitality at the theatre as well as a limited-edition print, will also be available to buy. All proceeds from this Anniversary Gala performance will be donated to the British charities The Felix Project and UKHarvest.

To sign-up for priority access, please go to www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/LesMis40. Registration closes at 4pm on Thursday 18 September, after which patrons who have registered will receive full details of how to book.

The box office for patrons who have signed up for priority access will open at 11am on Friday 19 September 2025 with general tickets going on sale at 1pm.

The Felix Project is London’s largest food redistribution charity. It rescues in date, good quality surplus food from suppliers in the UK food industry and delivers it for free to local charities, schools, and other community organisations. The charity’s mission is to fight hunger and reduce food waste by providing fresh, nutritious food to those in need. The Felix Project has grown exponentially since its founding, distributing approximately 38 million meals in 2024 alone across its four London depots, and network of over 1,200 community organisations. www.thefelixproject.org

UKHarvest is a leading environmental and social impact charity dedicated to preventing food waste and increasing food security. By enriching and educating our communities, UKHarvest helps nurture those most food insecure, to live well, age well and to help combat social isolation. From food rescue and redistribution operations to education programmes, to award-winning Nourish Hub in London, every initiative UKHarvest offers brings people together for the most meaningful impact.
HM The Queen is the Patron of UKHarvest. https://www.ukharvest.org.uk

As previously announced, Cameron Mackintosh has put together a special company of artists who will perform in the show until 1 November 2025, including the special anniversary performance on 8 October. The role of ‘Jean Valjean’ is played by Killian Donnelly alongside Bradley Jaden as ‘Javert’, Katie Hall as ‘Fantine’, Jac Yarrow as ‘Marius’, Shan Ako as ‘Éponine’, Jordan Shaw as ‘Enjolras’, Beatrice Penny-Touré as ‘Cosette’ and welcoming to the Sondheim Theatre celebrated British actor Adam Gillen as ‘Thénardier’ and Australian theatre legend Marina Prior as ‘Madame Thénardier’. Ian McIntosh plays the role of ‘Jean Valjean’ at certain performances.

The company is completed by Hollie Aires, Aidan Banyard, Ella May Carter, Nicholas Carter, Matthew Dale, Irfan Damani, Lila Falce-Bass, Sophie-May Feek, Jessica Johns-Parsons, Seán Keany, Chris Kiely, Sam Kipling, Mia Lamb, Sarah Lark, Ollie Llewelyn-Williams, Matthew McConnell, Aaron-Jade Morgan, Adam Pearce, William Pennington, Jordan Simon Pollard, Lewis Renninson, Danielle Rose, Georgia Tapp, Noah Thallon, Imaan Victoria, and Danny Whelan.

Boublil and Schönberg’s magnificent iconic score of LES MISÉRABLES with lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer includes the classic songs, I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, Stars, Bring Him Home, Do You Hear the People Sing?, One Day More, Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, Master Of The House and many more. Several of its songs have become real life anthems of revolution wherever in the world people are fighting for their freedom.

Les Misérables has been seen by over 150 million people worldwide in 55 countries, 452 cities, and has been translated into 22 languages. It has won over 270 major awards around the world, among which 5 Olivier Awards (including a special recognition award in April 2025), 8 Tony Awards and 5 Helpmann Awards, and the movie won 3 Oscars.

Les Misérables is the longest running and indisputably one of the most popular musicals in the world.

EMPIRE STREET PRODUCTIONS LAUNCH new MONTHLY conversation series
LIVE FROM SOHO

WITH first guests announced as
SELF ESTEEM, MARIANNE ELLIOTT AND ROBERT ICKE
empirestreetproductions.com

10am Wednesday 17 September, London: Empire Street Productions (ESP) launch a new conversation series LIVE FROM SOHO. This monthly series of creative conversations with artists about their life, work and process will take place at the Underbelly Boulevard Soho on the first Wednesday of every month led by ESP CEO & Producer James Bierman. All tickets will be £5 and proceeds will be donated to charity organisations The Schools Consent Project and Everyone’s Invited. 

The first three guests have today been announced as Rebecca Lucy Taylor AKA Self Esteem on Wednesday 1 October, Marianne Elliott on Wednesday 5 November and Robert Icke on Wednesday 3 December.

Tickets will go on pre sale to ESP members 10am Thursday 18 September with general on sale from 6pm Friday 19 September here: underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/esp-live-from-soho. Sign up for pre sale access and future information at: empirestreetproductions.com

One of the UK’s most exciting breakout stars of the past decade, musician, songwriter and actress Rebecca Lucy Taylor AKA Self Esteem said:

“I’m delighted to be asked to kick off the Live From Soho conversations with James Bierman and Empire Street Productions, it’s going to be a really special night. I’m looking forward to chatting about the creative process and other gossip.”

Renowned Olivier and Tony Award winning director and producer Marianne Elliott commented: 

“If there’s anything I can do to help aspiring artists in the theatre then I’m more than happy to be there. And chatting with James Bierman is a favourite pastime of mine. Here’s hoping both can combine in one night.”

LIVE FROM SOHO is produced by Empire Street Productions.

MENIER CHOCOLATE FACTORY

ANNOUNCES NEW SEASON FOR 2025/2026

With its critically acclaimed production of Mel Brooks’ The Producers having opened at the Garrick Theatre in the West End earlier this week, the Menier Chocolate Factory today announces its forthcoming season for 2025/2026.

The season opens with a major revival of Noël Coward’s Fallen Angels, directed by Christopher Luscombe who returns to the Menier having previously directed Travels with My Aunt.

The season continues with two plays directed by Lindsay Posner – who also returns to the venue after productions of Alan Ayckbourn’s Communicating Doors, Mike Leigh’s Abigail’s Party and Florian Zeller’s The Truth, the latter two of which transferred to the West End – Ryan Craig’s The Holy Rosenbergs and Peter Shaffer’s modern classic Equus. Equus is presented in a co-production with Theatre Royal Bath where the production will run after performance at the Menier.

The Menier also continues its work in the US with the upcoming Off-Broadway production of Stephen Schwartz’s The Baker’s Wife, which Gordon Greenberg directs for Classic Stage Company. The cast includes Ariana DeBose, Scott Bakula and Judy Kuhn.

Artistic Director of the Menier Chocolate Factory David Babani said today, “It’s been quite a week for the Menier with our production of The Producers opening in the West End, and now announcing a season of British classics for our home in Southwark. These three wonderful plays – Fallen Angels, The Holy Rosenbergs and Equus – tackle the very contemporary and compelling themes of the power of female friendship; faith and tradition in the core of the Jewish community, and the exploration of the human psyche.”

Fallen Angels is available via priority booking for Supporters of the Menier from today, with public on sale on 24 September. On sale dates for the rest of the season will be announced shortly.

FALLEN ANGELS

By Noël Coward

Directed by: Christopher Luscombe

21 November 2025 – 21 February 2026

First performed exactly 100 years ago, Noël Coward’s outrageous comedy remains one of his funniest creations. Best friends Jane and Julia, now settled in happy marriages, receive an unexpected visit from a glamorous shared ex-boyfriend, and passions are rekindled with explosive results.  This is the first London revival of the play in 25 years.

Noël Coward was one of the premiere entertainers of the 20th century. A prolific actor, lyricist, composer, singer, director, producer and playwright, Fallen Angels was one of four Coward productions performed on the West End at the same time in 1925 alongside On With The Dance, Hay Fever, and The Vortex. Famed for his acerbic wit as much as his fashion sense, the quartet of productions would promote him to one of the defining British voices of the 1920s. His more than fifty published works also include Cavalcade, Private Lives, Design for Living, Tonight at 8:30, Present Laughter, This Happy Breed and Blithe Spirit.

Christopher Luscombe’s directing credits include Twelfth Night, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Much Ado About Nothing and The Shakespeare Revue (Royal Shakespeare Company), Star Quality, The Madness of George III (Apollo Theatre), Home and Beauty (Lyric Theatre), Fascinating Aïda – Olivier Award nomination for Best Entertainment (Harold Pinter Theatre), The Comedy of Errors, The Merry Wives of Windsor and Nell Gwynn – Olivier Award for Best New Comedy (Shakespeare’s Globe), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Enjoy (Gielgud Theatre), Alphabetical Order (Hampstead Theatre), When We Are Married – Olivier Award nomination for Best Revival (Garrick Theatre), Travels With My Aunt (Menier Chocolate Factory), The Rocky Horror Show (UK tour) and Spamalot (Playhouse Theatre), Hay Fever (Minneapolis), Henry V (Chicago), Candide, Falstaff (Grange Festival Opera), L’Elisir d’Amore (Garsington Opera), Sweeney Todd (Bergen) and The Winter’s Tale (Cincinnati).

THE HOLY ROSENBERGS

By Ryan Craig

Directed by: Lindsay Posner

27 February – 2 May

The Rosenbergs of Edgware are in family in crisis.  Father David is desperately trying to save a failing catering business; mother Lesley is trying to save a failing husband, and their daughter Ruth is facing public vilification for investigating war crimes in Gaza for the UN.  When tragedy strikes, the family is thrown into even deeper turmoil. Ryan Craig’s play, premiered at the National Theatre in 2011, is now even more timely and painfully pertinent.

Ryan Craig’s work for theatre includes 1984 (Theatre Royal Bath), Charlotte and Theodore (Theatre Royal Bath and UK tour), Games for Lovers (The Vaults), Filthy Business (Hampstead Theatre), We Lost Elijah (NT New Connections), How To Think the Unthinkable (Unicorn Theatre), Talk Talk Fight Fight (Tricycle Theatre – as part of The Tricycle Goes Nuclear),  The Glass Room (Hampstead Theatre), Broken Road (The Hush Car, Edinburgh – Fringe First Award), What We Did to Weinstein (Menier Chocolate Factory – nomination for the Evening Standard Award’s Most Promising Playwright Award), Portugal (National Theatre), Three Servants (Jet Theatre), Vintage Stuff (UK tour) Happy Savages (Lyric Studio, Hammersmith), and The Sins of Dalia Baumgarten (Etcetera Theatre). For television his work includes Betrayal, The Brixton Disorders, Hustle, Waterloo Road, Robin Hood, Saddam’s Tribe, Mile High, Hollyoaks, Dream Team. Night and Day and Family Affairs.

Director Lindsay Posner has directed in every major London theatre as well as the RSC and on Broadway. His recent credits include Endgame (Bath’s Ustinov Studio), the double bill of Pinter’s The Lover and The Collection (Ustinov Studio), The Deep Blue Sea and A View from the Bridge (both at Theatre Royal Bath and Theatre Royal Haymarket), Noises Off (Theatre Royal Bath, Phoenix Theatre and UK tour), and Edward Albee’s classic Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Theatre Royal Bath).

EQUUS

By Peter Shaffer

Menier Chocolate Factory: 8 May – 27 June

Theatre Royal Bath: 13 – 25 July (on sale early October)

Directed by: Lindsay Posner

Presented in a co-production with Theatre Royal Bath

What prompts a 17-year-old boy to blind six horses?  This is the challenge presented to psychiatrist Martin Dysart as he delves into the psyche of his young patient Alan Strang to search for the answers and at the same time questioning whether the cure is more dangerous than the crime.  Peter Shaffer’s brilliantly intriguing award-winning play is now considered a modern masterpiece.

Peter Shaffer’s (1926 – 2016) plays include Five Finger Exercise (Evening Standard Drama Award), The Private Ear/The Public Eye, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, Black Comedy, The White Liars, Amadeus (Evening Standard Drama Award and Tony Award for Best Play), Yonadab, Lettice and Lovage,and The Gift of the Gorgon.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

MENIER CHOCOLATE FACTORY

FALLEN ANGELS

21 November 2025 – 21 February 2026

THE HOLY ROSENBERGS

27 February – 2 May

EQUUS

8 May – 27 June

Theatre Royal Bath: 13 – 25 July

Box Office: 020 7378 1713 (£2.50 transaction fee per booking)

Website: www.menierchocolatefactory.com (£1.50 transaction fee per booking)

www.menierchocolatefactory.com

Instagram: @menierchocolatefactory

The 90th anniversary of Friends of The Royal Marsden, Chelsea 

will be celebrated at a star-studded gala concert 

at Cadogan Hall on Monday 20 October 2025

A special gala concert at Cadogan Hall, London, on Monday 20 October will celebrate 90 years of Friends of the Royal Marsden, Chelsea. The unique event will take the audience on a journey of music and reflection in honour of the award-winning charity’s history, from the formation of the Ladies’ Association in 1935 to the flourishing Friends of The Royal Marsden, Chelsea today. 

Dominic Ferris, internationally acclaimed pianist, singer and Steinway & Sons Ambassador, will host. He will perform solo, as well as alongside his piano partner Elwin Hendrijanto as The Piano Brothers in a special tribute to Steinway & Sons. Also on the line-up are No.1 vocal group BLAKE, West End soprano Georgi Mottram, ITV Britain’s Got Talent winner Colin Thackery MBE, soloists Joseph & Benjamin from Libera Choir, The Chelsea Pensioner Singers, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra guest leader Stephen Morris and Glyndebourne’s Jack Redman. There will be songs from the Great American Songbook and West Side Story as well as standalone classics such as You Raise Me Up, I Dreamed A Dream and What A Wonderful World.

Guest readers will present short segments illustrating the evolution of Friends of The Royal Marsden, Chelsea and the volunteers’ invaluable work. They will include author and former Politician Lord Jeffrey Archer, Consultant Gynaecological Oncology Surgeon MRCOG MBBS BSc John Butler, acclaimed author and journalist Sophia Money-Coutts and broadcaster and Psychologist Dr Sian Williams. There will also be recorded readings from former professional tennis player and television presenter Annabel Croft, and stage and screen actress Charlotte Ritchie. 

In 1935, a group of women came together to support the work of the world’s first ever hospital dedicated to the study and treatment of cancer. Called the Ladies Association, these women oversaw the canteen, tended to the garden, created a hospital library, manned a trolley that circulated the wards, handed out Christmas presents to patients, and in general provided patients and hospital staff with much-needed support. Over the decades, the association grew and changed its name but it has continued its vital work. 

Friends of The Royal Marsden, Chelsea, is now an award winning charity with over 170 volunteers who annually give around 20,000 hours of their time, commitment, energy and dedication to support the work of the hospital, while also raising funds to purchase equipment, services and amenities for the benefit of patients, their carers and staff.In 2019 the Friends was awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award given to any voluntary group in the UK and the equivalent of an MBE. On average the Friends contribute c.£250,000 each year to the hospital, raised through a combination of fundraising, subscriptions, donations, and legacies. 

Wendy de Capell Brooke, President, said:“Following the success of our collaboration with Steinway & Sons last year, which was marked by a concert featuring Min-Jung Kym, it felt only fitting to partner with Steinway once again as we celebrate our 90th anniversary. This gala concert reflects nine decades of support for The Royal Marsden, Chelsea, through music and narrative in the form of ‘letters live.’ We are very grateful to Dominic Ferris and Sophia Money-Coutts for bringing to life the vision of long standing volunteers Emily Eban,  Sarah Phipps and June Torrance.”

Sarah Phipps, Vice Chair of Friends of the Royal Marsden and Meet & Greet Co-Ordinator for the charity, said: “The Marsden saved my life in 2015 and like many volunteers I joined to make a difference. I wanted to give back and enhance the patient experience, raising awareness of the work we do which in turn enables us to give money to the hospital for essential equipment.”

For more information, and to book, call the Box Office on 020 7730 4500 (Monday to Friday 12pm–6pm) or visit the Cadogan Hall website: https://cadoganhall.com/whats-on/friends-of-the-royal-marsden-chelsea-90th-anniversary-gala-concert/.

-LISTINGS-

Show: 90th Anniversary Gala Concert – Friends of the Royal Marsden, Chelsea

Venue: Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, London, SW1X 9DQ

Dates: Monday 20 October 2025 at 7pm

Running Time: 2hrs 30mins(including a 20-minute interval)

Tickets: £55. All tickets include a special edition 90th anniversary concert programme. A single £4.50 transaction fee applies to all online bookings (per order, not per individual ticket). Orders made in person at the box office are exempt from transaction fee.

Box Office: call 020 7730 4500 (Monday to Friday 12pm–6pm) or visit the Cadogan Hall website: https://cadoganhall.com/whats-on/friends-of-the-royal-marsden-chelsea-90th-anniversary-gala-concert/.

Access information:  https://cadoganhall.com/your-visit/access-information/

Britain’s Got Talent Winner Jai Mcdowall joins cast of I Screamed a Scream – A Villains Cabaret which is being Resurrected for a Nation Tour this Halloween

West End Best Friend Productions proudly presents I Screamed A Scream – A Villains Cabaret to tour the UK this Halloween!

Cast Announcement:

We are thrilled to introduce the exceptional cast for this production, featuring three outstanding performers: JAI MCDOWALL (Britain’s Got Talent Winner 2011), JESS LIM  (Dear Evan Hansen, Be More Chill) and hosted by JAMES EDGE (Founder of West End Best Friend) these three performers are sure to make this production an absolute scream.

This show will open at Phoenix Arts Club before heading to St Georges Theatre, Trinity Theatre, The Wales Millennium Centre and finishing with a week long run at the Old Joint Stock.

About the Show:

Everybody loves a villain…don’t they?

Be prepared for a poor unfortunate evening as the West End Best Friend presents I Screamed a Scream, a concert featuring songs from the best baddies of stage and screen. 

From well-known barbarous ballads to horrible hidden gems, get yourself ‘uncomfortable’ on the edge of your seats as frighteningly good performers from the musical theatre industry lead you through an evil art gallery of black hearted bops. 

Why come along? Because we all know, it feels so good to be bad

– Frankly put, this is exactly what a cabaret should be. ★★★★★ – Theatre & Tonic

– An evening of hair-raising hilarity and happiness. ★★★★★ – Reviews Hub

– There’s simply no better way to spend Halloween. ★★★★ – All That Dazzles

Nominations announced for the UK Theatre Awards 2025 sponsored by Encore 

        Sheffield Theatre leads the nominations, securing three across On Stage categories 

      Ten additional venues closely follow, with two nominations each 

The nominees for the UK Theatre Awards 2025 sponsored by Encore have been announced. For over 30 years, this annual event has celebrated the creative excellence and outstanding achievements seen on and off stage throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The winners will be announced at this year’s ceremony, taking place on Sunday 12 October at 8 Northumberland Avenue, hosted by Faye Tozer. 

This year’s shortlist, featuring nominees from all four nations, highlights the originality and creativity of theatre across the UK. Sheffield Theatres leads the way with three nominations: Best Performance in a Play (Jack Holden in Kenrex, a co-production with Aria Entertainment), Best Supporting Performance (in a Musical or Play) (Sam Buttery in Little Shop Of Horrors) and Best Show for Children & Young People (Pig Heart Boy, a co-production with Children’s Theatre Partnership & Unicorn Theatre). 

Ten venues received two nominations each: Birmingham Hippodrome (Best Show for Children & Young People for The Jingleclaw and Excellence in Arts Education), Birmingham Rep (Best Musical Production for Becoming Nancy and UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre), Chichester Festival Theatre (Best Musical Production for The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry and Best Supporting Performance (in a Musical or Play) for Ntombizodwa Ndlovu in Marie And Rosetta, a co-production with Rose Theatre & ETT), Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse (Best Performance in a Play for Helen Carter in Shirley Valentine and Excellence in Arts Education), Lyric Theatre Belfast (Best Play Revival for Our New Girl and Best Performance in a Play for Michael Patrick in Richard III), National Theatre of Scotland (Best New Play for Through The Shortbread Tin and Excellence in Touring), Royal Shakespeare Company (Best Play Revival for The Constant Wife, in association with David Pugh Ltd, and Best Director for Prasanna Puwanarajah for Twelfth Night), Storyhouse (Best Performance in a Musical for Rakesh Boury & Rebecca McKinnis in The Parent Agency, a co-production with Scenario Two, and Excellence in Inclusivity), Stratford East (Best Play Revival for Animal Farm, a co-production with Leeds Playhouse in association with Nottingham Playhouse, and Best Director for Nadia Fall for Abigail’s Party) and Watermill Theatre (Best Musical Production for Jesus Christ Superstar, by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Ltd, and Best Design for Yoav Segal for Set & Costume Design for Pinocchio). 

Elsewhere in the performing categories, Molly Lynch (My Fair Lady, a Curve production) and Dawn Sievewright (Wild Rose, a Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Caledonia Productions & Gavin Kalin Productions co-production) are nominated for Best Performance in a Musical, with Georgie Henley (The Ministry Of Lesbian Affairs, a Kiln Theatre, Antic Productions & Damsel Productions co-production) and Thea-Jo Wolfe (The Mad Ones, an Electric Press Productions & Samantha Creswick co-production at The Other Palace Studio) receiving nominations for Best Supporting Performance (in a Musical or Play). 

As previously announced, nominated alongside Birmingham Rep for the UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre Award are Royal & Derngate and Shakespeare North Playhouse. Venue visits by the judging panel are now underway, and the winner will be revealed at the ceremony on 12 October. The recipient of this year’s Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre Award is Carlos Acosta CBE, Director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet. 

Claire Walker & Hannah Essex, Co-CEOs of Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre, said: 

“This year’s UK Theatre Awards nominations are a testament to the astonishing talent and dedication of our members. Across the country theatres are creating incredible work on-stage and providing welcoming spaces for their local community off-stage.  

“Congratulations to all the nominees and thank you to our sponsors and partners for their fantastic support. We look forward to celebrating with everyone on Sunday 12 October.” 

The UK Theatre Awards 2025 are sponsored by Encore, the premier provider of lighting equipment for theatre productions across the UK, including London’s West End, Off-West End, Europe, and Asia, as well as numerous UK and international tours.  

  

Special thanks to our partners ATG Entertainment, ConcepTonic, Harbottle & Lewis, John Good, Nimbus Disability, Theatre Tokens, Theatrical Rights Worldwide, Trafalgar Theatres, Tysers Live in association with Ecclesiastical, and Unusual Rigging. 

Full list of nominations for the UK Theatre Awards 2025 

On Stage Awards: 

Best Musical Production sponsored by Tysers Live  

Becoming Nancy, a Birmingham Rep production  

Come Fall In Love, a Yash Raj Films production at Opera House Manchester  

Jesus Christ Superstar, a Watermill Theatre production by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Ltd  

The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry, a Chichester Festival Theatre production   

  

Best New Play sponsored by Ecclesiastical  

Flumps, a Mercury Original production in association with The Thelmas  

Grace Pervades, a Theatre Royal Bath, Len Blavatnik and Danny Cohen for Access Entertainment & Second Half Productions co-production  

Through The Shortbread Tin, a National Theatre of Scotland production  

  

Best Play Revival  

Animal Farm, a Leeds Playhouse & Stratford East co-production in association with Nottingham Playhouse  

The Constant Wife, a Royal Shakespeare Company production in association with David Pugh Ltd  

Our New Girl, a Lyric Theatre Belfast production  

  

Best Director  

Nadia Fall for Abigail’s Party, a Stratford East production  

Theresa Heskins & Vicki Amedume for Angela Carter’s The Company Of Wolves, a New Vic Theatre production  

Prasanna Puwanarajah for Twelfth Night, a Royal Shakespeare Company production   

  

Best Performance in a Musical  

Rakesh Boury & Rebecca McKinnis for The Parent Agency, a Scenario Two & Storyhouse co-production  

Molly Lynch for My Fair Lady, a Curve production  

Dawn Sievewright for Wild Rose, a Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Caledonia Productions & Gavin Kalin Productions co-production  

  

Best Performance in a Play  

Helen Carter for Shirley Valentine, a Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse production  

Jack Holden for Kenrex, an Aria Entertainment & Sheffield Theatres co-production  

Michael Patrick for Richard III, a Lyric Theatre Belfast production   

  

Best Supporting Performance (in a Musical or Play)  

Sam Buttery for Little Shop Of Horrors, a Sheffield Theatres production  

Georgie Henley for The Ministry Of Lesbian Affairs, a Kiln Theatre, Antic Productions & Damsel Productions co-production  

Ntombizodwa Ndlovu for Marie And Rosetta, a Chichester Festival Theatre, Rose Theatre & ETT co-production  

Thea-Jo Wolfe for The Mad Ones, an Electric Press Productions & Samantha Creswick co-production at The Other Palace Studio  

  

Best Design  

Kei Ishihara for Scenography, Sacico Ito for Costume Design, Simon Wilkinson for Lighting Design and Ailie Cohen for Puppet Design for Confessions Of A Shinagawa Monkey, a Vanishing Point & Kanagawa Arts Theatre co-production in association with Tramway at Dundee Rep  

Yoav Segal for Set & Costume Design for Pinocchio, a Watermill Theatre production  

Grace Smart for Design for Spend, Spend, Spend, a Royal Exchange Theatre production  

  

Best Show for Children & Young People  

The Jingleclaw, a Birmingham Hippodrome production   

The Jungle Book, an Octagon Theatre Bolton production  

Pig Heart Boy, a Children’s Theatre Partnership, Unicorn Theatre & Sheffield Theatres co-production  

  

Achievement in Dance  

BalletLorent for Snow White/Snow White: The Sacrifice  

Natural Behaviour by Thick & Tight  

Songs Of The Wayfarer by Claire Cunningham  

StopGap for Lived Fiction  

  

Achievement in Opera  

Opera North for Simon Boccanegra, an Opera North production  

Scottish Opera for Trial By Jury, a co-production by Scottish Opera, D’Oyly Carte Opera and Opera Holland Park and A Matter Of Misconduct!, a co-production by Scottish Opera and D’Oyly Carte Opera  

Welsh National Opera for Peter Grimes, a Welsh National Opera production 

Off Stage Awards: 

Excellence in Arts Education  

Bristol Hippodrome   

Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse  

Lyric Hammersmith Theatre 

Excellence in Touring sponsored by Theatre Tokens  

Emma Rice Company  

National Theatre of Scotland   

Theatre by the Lake   

Excellence in Inclusivity sponsored by ATG Entertainment  

Birmingham Hippodrome   

New Wolsey Theatre   

Storyhouse   

Excellence in Sustainability  

ATG Entertainment   

BEAM   

Northern Broadsides Theatre Company  

Excellence in Workforce Culture  

Orchard Theatre & Orchard West  

Stephen Joseph Theatre   

Theatr Clwyd   

UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre sponsored by Encore  

Birmingham Rep 

Royal & Derngate 

Shakespeare North Playhouse 

Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre  

Carlos Acosta 

@UK_Theatre               #UKTAwards  

The Grange Theatre, Hartford, Northwich – until 4 October 2025

Reviewed by Carla Whittaker

5*****

Taking on Shakespeare is never an easy undertaking, and Macbeth is perhaps one of the most daunting of all his plays. Audiences inevitably arrive with expectations, shaped by grand Stratford-upon-Avon productions or smaller local interpretations, and the standard is always set high. The Grange Theatre’s latest staging, however, rose confidently to the challenge. With a cast of exceptionally talented North West actors, the production remained faithful to Shakespeare’s text while brimming with energy and psychological intensity. To enjoy such a high-quality performance in such a beautiful theatre, only minutes from home, felt like a real privilege.

At its heart, Macbeth is a story of ambition, power, and moral decline. When a prophecy promises Macbeth the crown, he and his wife set in motion a spiral of manipulation, violence, and paranoia that changes both their fate and that of Scotland. This production leaned heavily into the psychological aspects of the tale, highlighting the corrosive pull of ambition, the torment of guilt, and the devastating cost of unchecked desire. It was a stark reminder of why the play still resonates more than 400 years after it was first performed.

The cast brought Shakespeare’s words to life with clarity, conviction, and remarkable emotional depth. Matt Concannon’s Macbeth was commanding from his first entrance, capturing the soldier’s initial assurance before slowly unravelling into fragility and paranoia. His performance after Banquo’s death was layered with desperation and torment, embodying a man consumed by conscience.

Opposite him, Daneka Etchells was magnetic as Lady Macbeth. She commanded the early scenes with icy determination, only to let us witness her gradual disintegration. Her sleepwalking scene was chillingly effective – a masterclass in silence, tension, and broken fragility that left the audience spellbound. Etchells managed to make Lady Macbeth both terrifying and strangely pitiable.

Ben Simon delivered a deeply moving performance as Macduff, his grief palpable when confronted with the loss of his family. His transformation from nobleman to avenger was powerfully drawn, and his final confrontation with Macbeth carried weight because of the emotional journey he had taken us on.

As Banquo, Lamin Touro gave a grounded, authentic performance marked by loyalty and quiet strength. His ghostly return was one of the evening’s most striking moments, unsettling Macbeth and shifting the entire energy of the stage. Meanwhile, Isobel Coward made a strong impression in the roles of Ross and Donalbain, particularly as Ross, reminding us of the importance of characters who are often overlooked yet vital in driving the story forward.

What stood out most was the cohesion of the ensemble. Each actor lifted the others, creating a synergy that kept the production taut and compelling from beginning to end.

Under the assured direction of Thomas Frith, with support from Ben Simon, the production never lost momentum. The decision to bring the stage close to the audience made the performance intimate and immersive, drawing us directly into the psychological world of the characters. Frith’s vision emphasised the darker, unsettling edges of the play, without overplaying them, so that every scene was charged with meaning and tension.

The staging was both elegant and symbolic. A large, upturned crown dominated the set, reimagined throughout as a crown, a forest, and a castle – a powerful reminder of ambition’s fragility and the inevitability of downfall. Sound design added further atmosphere, with a steady drumbeat welcoming the audience and building anticipation before the play even began. Credit must go to Emily Stone, whose work heightened tension at just the right moments. Lighting and effects were equally well-judged, enhancing the mood while keeping focus firmly on the performances.

The Grange Theatre itself proved the perfect setting. Intimate yet airy, it created a sense of closeness without the “stuffy” feel that some theatres can have. Audience reactions – gasps, silences, and applause – reflected how deeply the production struck its mark. Personally, I was captivated throughout. The stripped-back set, psychological focus, and calibre of the performances made it feel both raw and refreshing. Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking scene was, for me, the most unforgettable moment: harrowing, moving, and hauntingly beautiful. If I had one complaint, it was simply that the production ended too soon – such was the strength of the performances, I would gladly have watched more.

The warmth of the theatre’s atmosphere was mirrored by its staff. From the front of house team to the beverage bar, everyone was friendly, approachable, and genuinely passionate about what they do. The bar was reasonably priced, and the complimentary interval drink was a thoughtful gesture that added to the experience. Parking was excellent, with plenty of accessible spaces for disabled visitors. It all contributed to the sense that The Grange Theatre is a hidden gem – inclusive, welcoming, and a place you’ll want to return to again and again.

This was Shakespeare at its very best: authentic, engaging, and emotionally powerful. The Grange Theatre’s Macbeth was a triumph of direction, staging, and performance – a production that will linger long in the memory.

Last night was truly an unmissable experience for Shakespeare enthusiasts and anyone ready to be immersed in a gripping psychological tragedy.

Macbeth runs at The Grange Theatre until 4 October 2025. Don’t miss it.