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Alphabetti Theatre Newcastle – Wednesday 6th August 2025

Reviewed by Sandra Little

4****

This show was written and performed by Mohit Mathur and directed by Phill Willmott

This one man show, performed by Mohit Mather tells the story of Uday Kumar (UK). Uday works in a call centre in New Delhi helping people with their queries about investments in Goldmine Crypto GB. Whilst working at the call centre, Uday dreams of living in England and becoming a British citizen; he spends his spare time posting videos on his YouTube channel where he fantasies about a wonderful new life in England.

Although the performance does not follow a chronological order, the play reveals that Uday eventually realises his dream and arrives in Hounslow where he works in a care home and strikes up a relationship with an elderly resident suffering from dementia. Uday continues to post videos on his YouTube channel, including his visit to “The London Eyeball.” Despite describing himself as an influencer, there seems to be little influence involved in the videos that Uday posts and sadly it becomes very clear that life in Hounslow for an immigrant falls far short of the dream that Uday had when working in India.

Despite the comedic, light hearted style of this performance, the pitfalls facing immigrants are clearly highlighted in the narrative which indicates that England is not, “a land of milk and honey” as many immigrants are led to believe. Scattered within the lighthearted narrative, there are references to illegal visas, poor accommodation, loneliness and racism.

This story is told with minimum props, namely a mobile phone, a call centre headset and some black and white photographs; however, this does not limit from the impact the script has.

This very funny and energetic short piece of drama certainly makes you question assumptions about immigration and the racist views held by some members of society. The subject matter couldn’t be more relevant given the current news articles and political agenda surrounding this topic.

Mohit Mathur is a new playwright and a West End performer. He is currently performing this play in Edinburgh and describes it as an evolving piece of work. Judging from this performance at Alphabetti, I would say that Mohit is definitely an emerging talent and someone well worth watching in the future.

CAST ANNOUNCED FOR

RONNIE LARSEN’S HAPPY ENDING

AT WATERLOO EAST THEATRE

Producer Adam Roebuck today announces the cast for Ronnie Larsen’s Happy Ending. Ronnie Larsen directs Jimmy Essex (Andrew) and Billy Walker (Mr Miller). After sell-out seasons in the US, the acclaimed play will transfer to Waterloo East Theatre for a strictly limited 4-week run. The production opens on 30 September, with previews from 27 September, and runs until 26 October.

Ronnie Larsen’s Happy Ending invites audiences into the private world of Andy, a gay massage therapist whose routine is upended by the arrival of an unexpected client.This provocative comedy-thriller unpacks all in an encounter where nothing is quite as it seems.

Adam Roebuck presents

HAPPY ENDING            

By Ronnie Larsen

Cast: Jimmy Essex (Andrew), Billy Walker (Mr Miller)

Director: Ronnie Larsen; Set and Costume Design: Waterloo East Theatre; Casting by: Sarah Goggin for Anne Vosser Casting

27 September – 26 October

Mr. Miller, a seemingly straight Trump supporter with a mysterious agenda. As the session unfolds, tensions rise, secrets surface, and what begins as a routine appointment spirals into something far more unpredictable.

Packed with razor-sharp wit, provocative twists, and a seductive dose of suspense, Happy Ending keeps you guessing until the very last moment— because every good massage includes a happy ending… or does it?

Ronnie Larsen’s writing credits include All Male Peep Show, 3 Card Stud, Charlie the Sex Addict, An Evening with Divine, PrEP’d, 10 Naked Men, Grindr Mom, Truck Stop Sally’s Sex Party, Daniel’s Husband and The Timekeepers. His director credits include The Sound of Music (Richardson Park, Wilton Manors) and Making Porn (Wilton Theater Factory). His work as a producer includes six Off-Broadway productions, among them The Actors (Theatre Row, New York), which he wrote and starred in. He has also produced internationally in Canada, Australia, Italy and the UK. His productions have received 17 Carbonell nominations, winning four Carbonell Awards and three Silver Palm Awards.

Jimmy Essex plays Andrew. His theatre credits include GHBoy (Charing Cross Theatre). His television credits include, as a series regular, Adam Donovan in Hollyoaks, The Sandman and Trailblazers; and for film, A Dark Path.

Billy Walker plays Mr Miller. His theatre credits include Joan Collins Blocked me on Twitter (Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Men in Suits, Spoon River Movie Mash-Up (Playhouse West, LA), Frigid Bitches (Sidewalk Studio Theater, LA), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The Big Girls Night Out (UK tours). His television credits include Nepotista and Linda Evans is my Spirit Animal; and for film, Bleed Like Me, Psycho Therapy, ReBroken, Pieces and Night Shift.

HAPPY ENDING 

Listings

Waterloo East Theatre

Brad Street, London SE1 8TN

https://www.waterlooeast.co.uk

27 September – 26 October

Tues – Fri Evenings at 7.30pm

Sat – Sun matinees at 3pm and Evenings at 6pm

Age Recommendation: 18+

Contains strong language and nudity

Ticket Prices 

£20 – £40

Holly Lovelady presents:

Topless the Musical

A dark comedy, one-woman musical journeying through London’s sordid past from an open-top bus

Created and performed by Holly Lovelady | Based on the play by Miles Tredinnick | Directed by Emma Rucastle

Underbelly Boulevard, 29^th September, 13^th & 20^th October

“A brilliantly witty dark comedy” **** North West End

Instagram: @topless_the_musical 

A London bus tour guide takes unsuspecting tourists on a journey through the city’s history and her own illicit past in a dark comedy, one-woman musical. Based on the 1999 play by Miles Tredinnick, Topless the Musical comes to Underbelly Boulevard, which was previously the original Soho strip club Raymond Revuebar, which inspired the setting of Tredinnick’s play. Sandie, an ex-topless table dancer at Madame Bridget’s strip club, now works as a London bus tour guide, taking the daily mass of tourists on a journey through the history of the city. As she travels through the sites of London, memories of her own history spark revealing a sordid past, her rogue womaniser husband and a revenge plot to rattle the streets of Soho. Topless the Musical is a bare-all tour stripping down London’s past where the final destination is anything but expected.

Miles Trendinnick’s Topless was first performed in 1999 on the open-top of a double-decker bus driving around the streets of London. Topless the Musical makes its London premiere after debuting at Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2023, also performed atop an open-top bus.

Writer and performer Holly Lovelady said, “As the show’s original birthplace atop an open top bus in 1999, bringing Topless the Musical to London is immensely exciting. Underbelly Boulevard was originally the Raymond Revuebar, the strip club our leading lady Sandy worked at as a tabletop dancer, so is the perfect setting for the show’s London debut. I’m so excited for our audience to step into the mind of Sandie and hear her life as they journey with her through London.”

Holly Lovelady is an actor and singer-song writer based across the Lake District and Liverpool. Holly has recently been on tour with Chris De Burgh throughout North England including performing at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. Her previous acting work includes the independent The Freaks of Fancy by Elliot Leon at Fright Fest 2024. Topless the Musical is her debut show and premiered at Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2023.

Running Time: 70 mins (no interval) | Suitable for ages 15+

Company information

Director Emma Rucastle                               Creator Holly Lovelady

Stage designer Junction4 Productions   Costume design Laura Appleton
Music assistant Nicki Bailey

Cast

Holly Lovelady

Listings information

29th September, 13th & 20th October

Underbelly Boulevard, 6 Walker’s Court, Soho, London W1F 0BT

Mon, 2pm & 7:30pm

£40.00 – £30.00 | underbellyboulevard.com | 020 7432 3860

Social media

Instagram         @hollyloveladyofficial @topless_the_musical

Facebook          www.facebook.com/Hollyloveladyofficial

TikTok               @hollylovelady

#ToplessTheMusical

Thunder Road reveals Cast and Creatives for sci-fi horror, The Void

Thunder Road Theatre, in association with Watford Palace Theatre, proudly announce the cast and creative team for its hotly anticipated new production The Void – a thrilling sci-fi horror story created for the stage, touring across the UK from Autumn 2025.

Following the success of their critically acclaimed show Shock Horror: A Ghost Story, Thunder Road returns with their most ambitious production to date – fusing multimedia, illusion, cinematic design and live performance to plunge audiences into an otherworldly nightmare.

Eight million miles from Earth, a mysterious distress call crackles through the ether and draws Flint, a haunted space ranger, towards the Odyssey – an ageing research vessel in the grip of a nightmare. Boarding the craft, he finds a failing ship, a missing crew, and a deadly force running out of control…

The Void is a chilling sci-fi horror created for the stage – a decaying future of desperate humans, all-seeing AI, and memories of a distant, dangerous past. Combining powerful illusions, atmospheric projections and a creeping sense of dread, this story asks… what are you afraid of?

Writer and Director Ryan Simons, known for blending horror, drama and cinema, will act in the production as the enigmatic scientist, Blair. Simons’ film and television credits include Seizure, Demon Eye, Eastenders and Spooks. Joining him on stage as the haunted space ranger, Flint, is Alex Moran, Thunder Road founder and producer, whose credits include the UK/Ireland & South Africa tour of War Horse (National Theatre) and Quality Street (Northern Broadsides).

The voice of the ship’s omnipresent AI, NOVA, is recorded by celebrated stage and screen actor Olwen May (Happy Valley, The Bay). Further voiceover artists are: Sophie Mensah (The Cage, BBC) as Phebus, Clementina Allende Iriarte (The Farmer and the Clown, Bristol Old Vic), as Malek, Kanfing Camara (Violating Peace, Mad World), Alexa Lee (Casualty, Eastenders, BBC) as XI, and Nimisha Odedra (Silo, Apple TV) as Ru.

Steve Marmion (Watford Palace Theatre, Soho Theatre) joins as dramaturg, and award-winning designer Caitlin Mawhinney (National Theatre, Leeds Playhouse) leads the visual world of the show, with an eerie sound design by Nick Sagar (Horrible Histories, Awful Auntie, Jungle Book) and lighting from Andrew Crofts, who returns following his work on Shock Horror. Composer Ben Parsons – Emmy-nominated for The Hidden Lives of Pets – provides a cinematic score.

Thunder Road will collaborate with magic double act Jay & Joss of Fine Entertainments for illusion design – the team behind magic consultancy on Britain’s Got Talent and winners of the Magic Circle Champions of Stage Illusion 2024 award.

The show’s visual storytelling is amplified through filmed sequences by Director of Photography Dave Hackney (Polterheist, Tea with the Reaper), while construction and scenic design are brought to life by Will T Hunter and Sophia Constance

Alex Moran, Producer and Actor, said:

“I’d like to shout out to our extraordinary creative team for The Void – their combined talents span the very best of stage, screen, and beyond. This collaborative approach is allowing us to push the boundaries of what live theatre can achieve and create something really special for audiences.”

Ryan Simons, Writer, Director and Actor, said:

“The Void plunges you into a terrifying nightmare where horror and breathtaking visuals create our unique style of cinematic theatre that will haunt you long after the lights go down. We can’t wait to showcase the talents of this incredible team.”

For further details of The Void tour, cast and creative team, visit: www.thunderroadtheatre.org/thevoid

Tour listings:

Sat 6 Sep, 7.30pm Hull Truck Theatre Buy Tickets

Tue 9 – Wed 10 Sep, 7.30pm BEAM, Hertford Buy Tickets

Thu 11 – Fri 12 Sep, 8pm The Exchange, Twickenham Buy Tickets

Tue 16 Sep, 7pm New Bury Theatre, Hurstpierpoint Buy Tickets

Thu 18 Sep, 7.30pm Middlesbrough Theatre Buy Tickets

Mon 22 – Tue 23 Sep, 7.30pm Mansfield Palace Buy Tickets

Wed 24 – Thu 25 Sep, 7.30pm Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury Buy Tickets

Fri 26 – Sat 27 Sep, 7.30pm Connaught Theatre, Worthing Buy Tickets

Tue 30 Sep – Thu 2 Oct, 7.30pm, 2.30pm (Thu) Theatre Royal Windsor Buy Tickets

Fri 3 – Sat 4 Oct, 7.30pm Watford Palace Theatre Buy Tickets

Wed 8 – Thu 9 Oct, 7.30pm Arts Centre EHU, Ormskirk Buy Tickets

Fri 10 Oct Uppingham Theatre, 7pm Buy Tickets

Sat 11 Oct, 7.30pm Plowright Theatre, Scunthorpe Buy Tickets

AMERICAN CANDY DOCUMENTS MYSTERIOUS OPENINGS OF EMPTY AMERICAN CANDY STORES ACROSS THE UK IN NEW PLAY HEADING ON TOUR

From producers The Mango Ensemble finalists for prestigious 2025 National Diversity Award to advocate for more diversity in the arts

American Candy, a new comedy-crime play by Tom Murray and directed by Francesca Hsieh (I‘m Sorry I’m Not Lucy Liu; Don’t Call Me China Doll), will tour the UK from 8 September, including London, Oxford, Bedford, Bolton, Newcastle and Birmingham. The play’s producers, The Mango Ensemble, are finalists for the prestigious 2025 National Diversity Awards to support diverse, young emerging artists priced out of the theatrical landscape.  

Inspired by the opening of mysterious American Candy Stores that take up prime real estate across the UK that no one seems to go in and yet many have been reported as fronts for criminal activity, American Candy is a thrilling dark comedy about capitalist corruption, “bullshit jobs”, and the distrust it generates. 

Zaynab and Connor work in an American Candy store. It’s closing time and a customer still hasn’t left. 10 minutes later, they’re hiding her unconscious body in a basement. What they discover next will change their lives forever.

At the heart of the play, American Candy asks: what does it take for us to trust one another, and why are societal anxieties in the UK increasingly projected onto minorities?

Playwright Tom Murray said: “American Candy is a sociological exploration of the ‘bullshitisation’ of the modern workplace. Technological developments should have relieved us of the burden of most work, but we find ourselves doing more work than ever, which has proved a useful distraction from the widening inequality in society. A busy population is an unthinking population, and the ‘American Candy store’ was a perfect metaphor for this. The shop for which no one asked, of which no one knows the true purpose, and the ‘front’ that is increasingly becoming all of our lives. In American Candy, I wanted to explore how this corruption creates a climate of suspicion, which is then projected onto minorities.”

Winner of the Peter Shaffer Award and a Charlie Hartill Finalist, producer of The Mango Ensemble, Layla Chowdhury, said following the company being shortlisted for the National Diversity Awards: “We need to spend care and attention on diversity in the arts. When it doesn’t happen, programming becomes ‘safe,’ white and middle class; both in the emerging art world and the established theatre world. More companies need to think with diversity as a priority, not an after-thought or a box to tick.” 

Tour dates:

8 – 10 September, Omnibus Theatre, London

11 – 12 September, Oxford Playhouse Studio, Oxford

https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/american-candy

13 September, The Place Theatre, Bedford

16 September, Octagon Theatre, Bolton

https://octagonbolton.co.uk/events/american-candy

17 September, Northern Stage Studio, Newcastle 

https://northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/american-candy

20 September, MAC, Birmingham 

https://macbirmingham.co.uk/events/american-candy-studio-tour

Hall for Cornwall, Truro, Cornwall – until 9 August 2025

Reviewed by Kerry Gilbert

5*****

‘Calamity Jane is a charming, feel-good production with toe-tapping tunes and heartfelt performances’

I was thrilled to review Calamity Jane at the wonderful Hall for Cornwall. Nikolai Foster and Nick Winston’s direction with orchestrations by Olivier award winner Catherine Jayes brings this whip-cracking musical to life.

For lovers of the classic Doris Day film, it certainly didn’t disappoint. I’ve never seen the film, and as the show opened with the audience humming along to a familiar tune, you know you’re surrounded by real long-time fans.

Calamity Jane (Carrie Hope Fletcher) attempts to save the reputation of saloon owner Henry Miller (Peter Peverley) when he mistakenly hires a male actor, Francis Fryer (Samuel Holmes) instead of a female one. Jane promises to save the day by luring who she believes to be a famous Hollywood actress Adelaid Adams (Molly-Grace Cutler) to the saloon. In fact, it is none other than her maid Katie Brown (Seren Sandham-Davies) who aspires to being on the stage and returns with her after convincing Jane she’s the real Adelaid Adams. Jane’s gung-ho determination brings Katie back to her hometown of Deadwood, Dakota.

The cast are strong, Carrie Hope Fletcher leads with aplomb as Calamity Jane, delivering a performance that is both vocally flawless and emotionally layered. Her chemistry with Vinny Coyle (playing Wild Bill Hickok) gives their scenes a welcomed spark. Coyle brings charm to the role, and his rendition of ‘Higher than a Hawk’ is a standout, holding the audience’s attention.

Samuel Holmes injects the show with a much needed dose of comedic energy, playing Francis Fryer with wit and charisma, and his comic timing is pitch perfect. I admit to being unfamiliar with the majority of the songs though opening number ‘Deadwood Stage’, was every bit as (whip) cracking as you would hope. ‘Black Hills of Dakota’ provided a sweet singalong moment feeling like a time capsule for many around me in the audience.

A particular joy of this production is that much of the music is played live by the cast themselves. The use of creative staging, such as using an upright piano as a stagecoach and incorporating actor-musicians creates a dynamic, fluid movement and is a positive of the production.

Credit must also go to Mark Senior for the fabulous production images.

Calamity Jane is a charming, feel-good production with toe-tapping tunes and heartfelt performances. It’s an enjoyable evening for fans old and new.

Queer Diary CIC presents:

Hasbian

Written & performed by Beth Watson

Hasbian is a comedy told through real teenage diary readings, about growing up queer in Brighton under Section 28. On tour in 2025, following a successful London run.

@Hasbianshow | queerdiary.org.uk/hasbian

Using true stories from a teenage diary kept by Beth Watson, Hasbian (noun: a former lesbian) is an autobiographical comedy about coming out as a lesbian, only to discover that boys are also appealing.

Created using Beth’s real diaries, nineties/noughties music, and animated projections of teen-movie actors from the era, Hasbian tells a story of growing up queer in Brighton under Section 28 (the 1988 – 2003 law prohibiting the “teaching of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”).

Dripping in equal measures with heartfelt earnestness and sharp irony, Hasbian exposes prejudice in seemingly the most liberal of cities.

The creation of the show is inspired by the popular Queer Diary reading events hosted by Beth, where LGBTQIA+ adults are invited to read extracts from their teenage diaries to a live audience, in the spirit of celebration, solidarity and silliness.

Reviews for Hasbian in London, 2024

“Watson strikes an expert balance between including the cringeworthy teenage experience we all remember, and creating a unique insight into growing up queer in the 90’s… Hasbian feels very much like a story for our times” ★★★★★ – A Young(ish) Perspective

“Skillfully integrates both audio description and surtitles… It’s a bit ‘Clarissa Explains It All’, if Clarissa was talking about having gay sex at sleepovers and seeing their Geography teacher in hot pants at Brighton Pride.” ★★★★ – To Do List

“An incredibly funny, charismatic performer, who absolutely embraces the silliness of the piece, whilst bringing earnest truth throughout.” ★★★★ – West End With Me

Beth Watson said:

“Making Hasbian felt like a time-travelling collaboration with my teenage-self. Reading my old diary is like jumping back to the 00s (but with an adult perspective, to help unpick what was really going on).

Looking back to that era has been surprisingly joyful: Considering we weren’t allowed to be taught anything outside of heteronormativity, it’s affirming to see how clear it is that I was always Queer. There was nothing the government could do to stop me!

My coming-of-age years were unusual – growing up in Brighton, I got to see But I’m A Cheerleader at the cinema, and experimented with both girlfriends AND boyfriends (sometimes simultaneously). But despite a relatively liberated upbringing, Hasbian reveals adolescent angst that’s relatable for many people – when life doesn’t provide the happy-ever-after arc that teen movies sold us.

When I host Queer Diary nights, audiences often want to hear more of my weird (sometimes wild) teenage diary. It’s been a dream working with a team of incredible Queer creatives to create Hasbian. I hope this rollercoaster ride through 00s Brighton will bring laughs to Queer audiences across the country, as well as prompting a timely reflection on how important it is for young people to have proper access to inclusive education and positive cultural representation, reflecting all the identities and histories under the LGBTQIA+ rainbow.”

Beth Watson is the performer/writer of Hasbian, and the host of Queer Diary. Beth is also the founder of queer feminist theatre organisation Bechdel Theatre and co-host of Bechdel Theatre Podcast. Beth has performed for a decade in LGBTQIA-led work, as a drag king, performer, and poet, and recently contributed a chapter for TWENTY-EIGHT: Stories from the Section 28 Generation, published to commemorate the abolishment of the law.

Company information

Writer/Performer: Beth Watson

Creative Producer: Josephine Shipp

Projection designer: Edalia Day

Director: P Burton Morgan

Full company credits

Tour dates

Worcester Swan Theatre Studio

Sat 27 Sept 19:45

Durham Gala Theatre Studio

Fri 3 Oct 20:00

Oxford Old Fire Station

Fri 10 Oct 19:30

Norwich Theatre Stage Two

Sun 12 Oct 19:00

Basingstoke Proteus Theatre

Thu 16 Oct 19:30

Exeter Phoenix Theatre

Sat 18 Oct 18:45

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Thu 23 Oct 19:30

Salford New Adelphi Theatre

Wed 19 Nov 19:30

Access: All performances are relaxed (audiences are free to come-and-go, and move about the space). The show contains audio description creatively integrated as part of the show’s script (in consultation with Quiplash UK), and projected creative captioning designed by Edalia Day.

Running Time: 70 mins | Recommended for ages 16+

Social media

Instagram: @Hasbianshow

TikTok: @HasbianQueerDiary Facebook: www.facebook.com/queerdiarycic

Bluesky: @queerdiary.bsky.social

Twitter: @Hasbianshow

#Hasbian

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre – until 9^th August 2025

Reviewed by Heather Chalkley

5*****

Inspired writing by Paul Hendy, brings three giants of comedy together in a touching and funny window into their lives. The old gags are still funny and Hendy certainly packs them in.

Damian Williams brings Tommy Cooper brilliantly to life, stood in his underpants for most of the play! Tommy Cooper’s physical presence was a big part of his act. The attention to detail Williams puts into his performance is impressive, with every Cooper facial twitch and expression, his body language, delivering every comedy line sublimely.

Bob Golding’s timing and understanding of Eric Morecambe’s comedy style is outstanding and a true tribute to Morecambe’s comedy genius. Golding delivers some of Morecambe’s well known lines with expertise and pure joy. 

Simon Cartwright has the unenviable task of portraying a man that honed his comedy skills and jokes to perfection. Not only does Cartwright capture the tone and mannerisms of Bob Monkhouse, he also delivers the lines with perfect timing. 

The very human conversation between the three men gives you an insight into life on the road, the hardships of not seeing family and the drive to perform. Cartwright (Monkhouse) bares a broken soul as they talk about the difference between a naturally funny comedian like Cooper and Morecambe and someone who has to work at it. Monkhouse’s famous books are on set, with every honed and chiselled joke written down. The provenance of jokes and who wrote them are important to Monkhouse.  

This play is a conversation that never happened. Hendy manages to bring these three great actors together, packing in all the well known punchlines of three great comedians. You will laugh your way through the whole performance. The late Cooper, Morecambe and Monkhouse are honoured by this tribute to their comedy heritage.

Battersea Park, London – until 7 September 2025

Reviewed by Elizabeth Smith

5*****

A Dream Come True for Grease Fans – A Truly Immersive Experience

When I was 13 years old, my life was changed forever by one film: Grease. Now an iconic classic, Grease continues to capture hearts across generations. Thanks to Secret Cinema and TodayTix, fans can now step into the world of Rydell High like never before with the most immersive experience of this fabulous film.

From the moment you enter the arena, you’re transported to the final scene of the movie—the carnival. Complete with a Ferris wheel, fun house, and vibrant carnival stalls, you’re instantly swept into the magic of the film’s atmosphere. The attention to detail is phenomenal, making you feel like you’re truly part of the scene.

After enjoying the fairground attractions, the doors to Rydell High open, and you’re welcomed into a vast, ingeniously designed set. Every iconic location is brought to life—from the diner tables and car workshop to the bandstand and, my personal favorite, the drive-in.

At first, I wasn’t sure how the whole experience would work—but it absolutely does. As the original film plays on surrounding screens, live actors interact with the audience, drawing you into the story. You’re no longer just a spectator—you’re part of the show, with “extras” (us!) being ushered into the action on the main stage.

Liam Morris as Danny and Stephanie Costi as Sandy truly embodied their characters. Their solo performances—Hopelessly Devoted to You and Stranded at the Drive-In—were showstoppers, met with a chorus of enthusiastic audience singing. And Danny swinging above the drive-in in full dramatic flair? Fabulous.

The entire cast was electric—fun, committed, and completely immersed in the world of Grease. They never dropped character, making every audience member feel part of something special. I even got a personal shout-out from Principal McGee (Colleen Daley) for dancing on the main stage!

The grand finale brings you back outside to the carnival for a joyous performance of We Go Together. With dancing, singing, and laughter all around, the energy is infectious. And even after the curtain call, the fun doesn’t stop—you can ride the Ferris wheel, explore the fun house, and soak in the nostalgia.

Grease may be set in 1959 and released in 1978, but it still resonates deeply with audiences today.

So dust off your Pink Ladies jacket, roll up your t-shirt sleeves, pull on that leather jacket, and head to Battersea Park for the experience of a lifetime.

NETFLIX STAR HARRISON OSTERFIELD JOINS THE CAST OF MAIA NOVI’S INVASIVE SPECIES

Ella Blackburn, Max Percy and Kalifa Taylor complete the full cast.

Following its critically acclaimed Off-Broadway run, Eric Kuhn Productions today announces the full cast and creative team for the UK première of Maia Novi’s semi-autobiographical play Invasive Species.Directed by Pulitzer Prize finalist Michael Breslin, Novi will reprise the lead role alongside Harrison Osterfield best known for his breakout role in Netflix’s The Irregulars. They are joined by Ella Blackburn, Max Percy and Kalifa Taylor.

Invasive Species’ successful run at The Vineyard’s Dimson Theatre in 2024 garnered attention as it touched on poignant issues of immigration, identity politics and mental health. This darkly comic and moving playopens at King’s Head Theatre on 5 September 2025, with previews from 3 September, and runs until 3 October.

Michael Breslin said today, “After a thrilling run in New York last summer, I am excited for London audiences to experience Maia’s hilarious and moving play. I am also excited to welcome a new company of brilliant UK actors into the whip smart, electric, and heartfelt world of Invasive Species.”

Eric Kuhn adds, “Invasive Species was created by a group of New York’s most dynamic and innovative theatrical artists who are actively defining contemporary American theatre. We are thrilled to bring this groundbreaking production to the UK with a brilliant new cast, and we can’t wait for London audiences to experience this visionary show after its triumphant run Off-Broadway.”

Producers Eric Kuhn and Adam Rodner also announce new co-producers. Writer, director and co-creator of SIX Lucy Moss, signs up to support the productions alongside Salem Productions, John Voege, Amauta M. Firmino and María Inés Olmedo Projects. The show is general managed and executive produced by James Quaife.

Instagram and TikTok: @invasivespeciesplay
www.invasivespeciesplay.com

Eric Kuhn Productions presents
INVASIVE SPECIES

Written by and starring Maia Novi

Cast: Ella Blackburn, Maia Novi, Harrison Osterfield, Max Percy, Kalifa Taylor.

Director: Michael Breslin; Dramaturg: Amauta M. Firmino; UK Set Designer & Costume Supervisor: Damien Stanton; UK Associate Lighting Designer: Ben Jacobs; UK Associate Sound Designer: Dominic Brennan; Production Manager: Carrie Croft; General Manager and Executive Producer: James Quaife.3 September – 3 October 2025

Maia will stop at nothing to be in the American movies, even if it means losing her mind. Following the journey of an Argentinean actor as she tests the limits of her American dream, Invasive Species is an outrageous dark comedy about how immigrating to the US maybe the role of a lifetime.

Maia Novi is a playwright and actor. As a writer, her stage play Invasive Species was named one of the ‘Top 10 Cultural Moments of 2024’ by The Hollywood Reporter, with the play currently in development for a feature with Film4 and Wayward Pictures. Her recent acting credits include 5 Models in Ruins, 1981 at Lincoln Center, and Invasive Species at Vineyard’s Dimson Theatre.

Ella Blackburn plays Performer 5. Her theatre credits include The Thing (White Bear Theatre), Julius Caesar – Primary Shakespeare (Orange Tree Theatre), The Merchant of Venice (Roman Theatre), Mewling and Puking (Hen and Chickens Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing (UK tour), and Windfall (Southwark Playhouse).

Harrison Osterfield plays Performer 3. His theatre credits include Chatroom and Much Ado About Nothing (White Bear Theatre). For television, his credits include The Phoebus Files, The Irregulars and Catch-22; and for film Chaos Walking. Harrison is represented by United Agents and Podwall Entertainment.

Max Percy plays Performer 4. His theatre credits include Baklâ (The North Wall), Dumbledore is So Gay (Pleasance Theatre, Vaults Festival), My Dad’s Gap Year (Park Theatre), My Mind is Free (UK tour) and Peter Pan (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre). He is co-artistic director of Papergang Theatre, Artistic Associate at Roots Touring and New Earth Theatre.

Kalifa Taylor plays Performer 2. Her theatre credits include The Taming of the Shrew, All’s Well That Ends Well (Shakespeare in the Squares), A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story (Birmingham Rep), Noises Off! (Theatre Royal Haymarket), 1000 Ways The World Will End (And How It Starts Again) (King’s Head Theatre), Feel More X Lately (Proforca Theatre, Lion and Unicorn Theatre), Laura and Sophia (Pistachio Theatre Company), and Selected Recordings of Us (The Space).

Michael Breslin directs. Breslin is a writer, director, and actor. His writing credits include The Last Bimbo of the Apocalypse (The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre), Circle Jerk (Livestreamed online production – Pulitzer finalist and Obie Award) and This American Wife (Livestreamed online production), and for screen, The Wives and Bikini. He also co-wrote the book for Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical with Patrick Foley which streamed on TodayTix, in aid of The Actors Fund.

INVASIVE SPECIES

LISTINGS
King’s Head Theatre
116p Upper St, London, N1 1QP

Box Office: 0207 226 8561

https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/invasive-species-q1qt

3 September – 3 October 2025

Tickets from £10