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TOP HAT
CHRISTMAS SEASON AT SOUTHBANK CENTRE’S

 QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL ANNOUNCED

12 DECEMBER 2025 – 17 JANUARY 2026

PHILLIP ATTMORE, CLIVE CARTER & SALLY ANN TRIPLETT REPRISE THEIR ROLES IN THE CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE PRODUCTION 

AMARA OKEREKE TO JOIN AS DALE TREMONT 

The producers are today delighted to announce that Chichester Festival Theatre’s production of Irving Berlin’s Top Hat will have a Christmas season at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. Performances will begin on Friday 12 December 2025 and continue to Saturday 17 January 2026. Phillip Attmore, Clive Carter, Sally Ann Triplett, James Clyde and Alex Gibson-Giorgio reprise their roles from Chichester Festival Theatre with Amara Okereke joining the cast in London as Dale Tremont.

Tickets go on sale to Southbank Centre Members Thursday 7 August at 10am and general booking opens Friday 8 August at 10am. Tickets are available from www.southbankcentre.co.uk.

★★★★★

 “Sparkling, Joyous, Blissfully Effervescent” – Daily Mail

Top Hat is currently playing at Chichester Festival Theatre, where it opened to rave reviews, until Saturday 6 September. The show then embarks on a UK tour including visits to Woking (New Victoria Theatre), Milton Keynes (Milton Keynes Theatre), Edinburgh (Edinburgh Playhouse), Nottingham (Theatre Royal), Wimbledon (New Wimbledon Theatre), Canterbury (Marlowe Theatre), Liverpool (Liverpool Empire Theatre), Cardiff (Wales Millennium Centre), Sunderland (Sunderland Empire Theatre), Manchester (Manchester Opera House) before taking up residence in London for the holiday season at Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall.  

In 2026 the tour will continue to Sheffield (Lyceum Theatre), Dublin (Bord Gais Energy Theatre), Glasgow (Kings Theatre), Eastbourne (Congress Theatre), Southend (Cliffs Pavilion), Birmingham (Birmingham Hippodrome), Aberdeen (His Majesty’s Theatre), Norwich (Theatre Royal).

★★★★

 “Ravishing musical taps immaculately off the silver screen” – The Guardian

Taking to the stage in London will be Phillip Attmore (So You Think You Can Dance) as Jerry Travers, Amara Okereke (My Fair Lady) as Dale Tremont, Clive Carter (Moulin Rouge! The Musical) as Horace Hardwick and Sally Ann Triplett (Cabaret) as Madge Hardwick.

James Clyde (Matilda the Musical) will return as Bates with Alex Gibson-Giorgio (Mamma Mia!)as Alberto Beddini.

Phillip Attmore – one of Broadway’s most exciting performers, winner of the Fred and Adele Astaire Award for Best Male Dancer for Shuffle Along and a Playbill Breakout Performance Award for On the 20^th Century – in his UK debut as Jerry Travers. His US credits also include Hello, Dolly!, Cheek to Cheek: Irving Berlin in Hollywood and TV’s The Marvelous Mrs Maisel.

Amara Okereke – winner of the 2018 Stage Debut Award for her role as Cosette in Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre. Further theatre credits include Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady at London Coliseum, Oklahoma! at Chichester Festival Theatre, A Streetcar Named Desire at Sheffield Crucible and Spring Awakening at the Almeida Theatre. Film credits include the upcoming The Choral (directed bySir Nicholas Hytner).

Clive Carter – three-time Olivier Award nominee for Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Come From Away and Into The Woods. His many West End credits also include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Wicked and Priscilla Queen of the Desert (WhatsOnStage Award nominee).

Sally Ann Triplett – among her many distinguished London roles are Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, Gran in The Witches and Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes for which she won a WhatsOnStage Award (National Theatre), and Aunt Eller in Oklahoma!.

James Clyde – among his extensive theatre credits are Mr. Wormwood in Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge Theatre, and various roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company including in King Lear, Cymbeline, Tamburlaine, Tartuffe, Timon of Athens, Romeo and Juliet, Days of Significance, Comedy of Errors and Twelfth Night.

Alex Gibson-Giorgio – theatre credits include Sinatra The Musical at the Birmingham Rep, Zorro The Musical at Charing Cross Theatre, Rags at the Park Theatre and Mamma Mia! Australia Tour, TV credits include: One Day for Netflix and Taika Waititi’s Time Bandits for Apple TV+.

The London company is completed by Lindsay Atherton, Rhiannon Bacchus, Jeremy Batt, Freddie Clements, Pedro Donoso, Bethan Downing, Autumn Draper, Tilly Ducker, Laura Hills, Maddie Harper, Connor Hughes, James Hume, George Lyons, David McIntosh, Jordan Oliver, Emily Ann Potter, Joe Press, Molly Rees Howe, Kirsty Sparks and Toyan Thomas-Browne.

Based on the classic 1935 film which starred Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, the stage adaptation’s original West End production won the 2013 Olivier Award for Best New Musical and the Evening Standard Award for Best Night Out.

There may be trouble ahead,

But while there’s moonlight, and music, and love, and romance…
Let’s face the music and dance.

The musical equivalent of the finest vintage champagne – effervescent, elegant and exhilarating – Top Hat is a heady romantic cocktail laced with sparklingly witty dialogue, stunning choreography, lavish sets and gorgeous costumes. Irving Berlin’s irresistible score includes some of Hollywood’s greatest songs: the immortal Cheek to Cheek, Let’s Face the Music and Dance, Top Hat White Tie and Tails and Puttin’ on the Ritz.

When Broadway star Jerry Travers arrives in London to open a new show, he crosses paths with model Dale Tremont, whose beauty sleep is rudely interrupted by Jerry tap dancing in the hotel suite above hers. Instantly smitten, Jerry vows to abandon his bachelor life to win her heart – but the path of true love never does run smooth. Especially since Dale has mistaken Jerry for his hapless producer Horace, who’s trying to avoid the wrath of his formidable wife Madge, and Dale’s own fiery Italian admirer is planning a trip to Venice for her to showcase his couture gowns…

Acclaimed American director and choreographer Kathleen Marshall stages this brand-new production. A nine-time Tony nominee and three-time winner for her choreography on the Broadway productions of Wonderful Town, The Pajama Game and Anything Goes, her most recent revival of Anything Goes – which played at London’s Barbican, on a UK tour, and was also televised – received nine Olivier Award nominations in 2022 and Kathleen herself received the award for Best Choreographer. She has worked on more than twenty Broadway shows and she is the first woman to have directed a play, directed a musical and choreographed a musical on Broadway.

With Music & Lyrics by Irving Berlin, Top Hat is adapted for the stage by Matthew White & Howard Jacques. Joining director and choreographer Kathleen Marshall on the creative team are set designer Peter McKintosh, costume designers Yvonne Milnes and Peter McKintosh,musical supervisor Gareth Valentine, musical director Stephen Ridley,orchestrator & arranger Chris Walker, lighting designer Tim Mitchell, sound designer Paul Groothuis, casting director Natalie Gallacher CDG for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting, associate director & choreographer Carol Lee Meadows, associate director Cameron Wenn, associate set designer Ben Davies, associate lighting designer Imogen Clarke, associate sound designer Rich Pomeroy and resident director & choreographer Richard Pitt.

The UK tour of Top Hat is produced by Kenny Wax Productions and Jonathan Church Theatre Productions.

Further information and full details of the UK tour can be found at tophat-musical.com.

SUSAN HILL’S ICONIC

THE WOMAN IN BLACK

JOHN MACKAY TO PLAY ‘ARTHUR KIPPS’

DANIEL BURKE TO PLAY ‘THE ACTOR’

UK TOUR OPENS

AT STORYHOUSE, CHESTER

ON 24 SEPTEMBER 2025

BEFORE VISITING A FURTHER 21 VENUES

PW Productions is delighted to announce casting and full tour dates for Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black,as it returns for a 22-venue UK Tour. The production will star John Mackay as Arthur Kippsand Daniel Burke as The Actor, opening at Storyhouse, Chester on Wednesday 24 September 2025.

It will then play at Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury ahead of a 3-week run at London’s Alexandra Palace before touring to Barnstaple, Plymouth, Brighton, Richmond, Bath, and in 2026, Darlington, York, Glasgow, Birmingham, Chelmsford, Oxford, Poole, Liverpool, Nottingham, Bradford, Peterborough, Malvern, Southampton and Guildford.

John Mackay’s West End credits include The Doctor at the Duke of York’s Theatre, which he also appeared in at the Park Avenue Armory in New York. His other theatre credits include Witness for the Prosecution at County Hall, Home at Chichester Festival Theatre, Richard II,  Machinal and Oresteia at the Almeida Theatre, Occupational Hazards, Wild, Drawing the Line, and 55 Days at Hampstead Theatre, The Sewing Group at the Royal Court, Measure for Measure and Going Dark at the Young Vic and many productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company including The Histories, Antony and Cleopatra, King Lear, The Winter’s Tale, Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Hamlet and Macbeth. His television credits include Doctor Who, Great Expectations, The Hollow Crown II, The Honourable Woman, Landscapers, Nolly, The Canterville Ghost, Black Earth Rising, The Crown and Bridgerton for Netflix. His film credits include Hamnet, Living, Judy, Cruella, Ammonite and Blitz.

Daniel Burke’s theatre credits include the UK Tour of The Girl on the Train, Troilus and Cressida for the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Imperium Part I and Part II, also for the Royal Shakespeare Company, and at the Gielgud Theatre in the West End. His other theatre credits include Bang Bang at the Exeter Northcutt Theatre and on a UK Tour, Romeo and Juliet and Richard III at the Shakespeare Rose Theatre, Hamlet, Richard II and Romeo and Juliet for the Guildford Shakespeare Company, Comedy of Errors at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, Love All at Jermyn Street Theatre, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Great Gatsby at Storyhouse’s Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, and The Circle at Theatre Royal Bath and on a UK Tour. His television credits include The Witcher for Netflix and Lord of the Rings Rings of Power for Amazon Prime.

For 33 years THE WOMAN IN BLACK played a record-breaking run in the West End, with over 13,000 performances at the Fortune Theatre before its final performance on Saturday 4 March 2023. It has also been seen by over 7 million people in the UK.

Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s best-selling novel tells the story of a lawyer obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over his family by the spectre of a ‘Woman in Black’. He engages a young actor to help him tell his story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul. It begins innocently enough, but as they delve further into his darkest memories the borders between make-believe and reality begin to blur and the flesh begins to creep.

Following a Christmas production in the bar of the Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough in 1987, THE WOMAN IN BLACK was brought to Hammersmith’s Lyric Theatre in January 1989. Reviews were sufficiently encouraging to warrant a West End run. Its West End tour started at the Strand (now Novello) Theatre in March and moved to the Playhouse in April, finally lodging at the Fortune on June 7, 1989.

Throughout the production’s run in the West End and during its many tours the producer has been determined to keep ticket prices within the range of students and young people, a policy that continues today.

THE WOMAN IN BLACK is directed by Robin Herford, with designs by Michael Holt and lighting by Kevin Sleep.

LISTINGS

THE WOMAN IN BLACK

WEDNESDAY 24 – SATURDAY 27 SEPTEMBER

CHESTER STORYHOUSE

www.storyhouse.com/

PERSONALITY:
THE LLOYD PRICE MUSICAL

 STARRING CEDRIC NEAL   
TO PLAY TWO CONCERT PERFORMANCES AT THE SOUTHBANK CENTRE’S QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL

SATURDAY 11 OCTOBER, 2.30 & 7.30PM

The producers are today delighted to announce Personality: The Lloyd Price Musical in concert will be staged for two performances on Saturday 11 October (2.30pm and 7.30pm) at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. Cedric Neal (Hadestown, Guys & Dolls) will star in the titular role. Following a critically acclaimed run in Chicago and showcase in London last year Personality: The Lloyd Price Musical makes its much-anticipated London stage debut.

Tickets go on sale to Southbank Centre members tomorrow 7 August at 10am and general booking opens Friday 8 August at 10am. Tickets are available from www.southbankcentre.co.uk.

The musical celebrates the life and career of Lloyd Price, known for hits like “Personality,” “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” and “Stagger Lee,”. Price was a pioneering figure in rock ‘n’ roll, becoming the first teenager to sell over a million records and founding his own label. His music and influence transcended race, inspired generations, and reshaped popular culture, with legends like Amy Winehouse, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney recording his work.

Cedric Neal will star at Lloyd Price. Reprising his role from workshops last year. Neal is currently starring in Hadestown (Lyric Theatre) and his previous theatre works includes Natasha, Pierre And The Great Comet Of 1812 (Donmar Warehouse); Guys And Dolls – Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical (Bridge Theatre); 42nd Street (Théâtre du Châtelet); Back To The Future (Adelphi Theatre); The View Upstairs (Soho Theatre); Chess (London Coliseum) Motown (Shaftesbury Theatre); After Midnight (Brooks Atkinson Theatre); The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bees (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Dreamgirls (Signature Theatre); Stagger Lee; Death of a Salesman and It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane…It’s Superman (Dallas Theatre Centre).

Cedric Neal said:
“Lloyd Price’s story is not just about his hits; it’s about perseverance, talent, and the power of music to bring people together. I’m honored to be a part of sharing his legacy with audiences”

Director Sheldon Epps commented:
“Almost everybody knows his music, but very few know his name. And even fewer know his story. PERSONALITY brings both to the stage, introducing the man who changed the world through his songs. He is a true unsung hero who influenced many generations on his own and touched the lives of many other great entertainers during his remarkable decades long career. It has been a great honor to bring his story to the stage, and audiences have responded with gratitude, enthusiasm and the desire to know even more about this wonderful artist.”

Book Writer and Lead Producer B. Jeffrey Madoff added:
“Lloyd and I met through a mutual friend who saw our immediate connection and asked me to produce a documentary about Lloyd’s life. I loved his music but knew nothing about the man behind it. As I got to know more about him, I discovered a fascinating life that nobody knew about. It was a story that was important to tell, and it needed the intimacy and energy that only live theater can deliver. It had to be completely honest, showing both triumphs and struggles. When I told Lloyd I wanted to write a play about his life, he simply said, “The truth needs no defense. Tell the story.” Personality is the untold story about an unsung hero.”

B. Jeffrey Madoff (Book Writer and Lead Producer), with Music & Lyrics by Lloyd Price, and Sheldon Epps (Director) are joined on the creative team by Edgar Godineaux (Choreography) and Shelton Becton (Musical Supervisor). UK Casting is by Pearson Casting.

Personality: The Lloyd Price Musical is executive produced in the UK by Tegan Summer Theatricals. General Management is by New Road Theatricals.

HIGHTIDE AND PENTABUS ANNOUNCE CAST FOR 

EVEN MORE… GHOST STORIES BY CANDLELIGHT

HighTide and Pentabus today announce the cast for the upcoming tour of Even More… Ghost Stories by Candlelight, which will travel across the East of England, and for the first time, the West of England, before a London run at Battersea Arts Centre. Elle While the BAFTA winning Artistic Director of Pentabus, will direct Ben Castle-Gibb and Sarita Gabony.

Now in its third consecutive year, the show brings together four contemporary ghost stories from Florence Espeut-Nickless, Simon Longman, Anne Odeke and Rosa Torr. This production will complete HighTide’s trilogy of contemporary ghost stories, set amongst flickering candlelight,  reimagining the genre for the 21st century.    

Director Elle While said today, ‘Growing up in rural Herefordshire, the supernatural was forever around the corner and I’ve always loved the possibilities of stories that question beyond the rational.  Getting to know the people and places of these contemporary ghost stories by the immeasurable talents of Anne, Flo, Rosa and Simon has already been a great joy and I can’t wait to delve deeper and hopefully bring about a show filled with intrigue and surprises.’

Joining Elle While to complete the creative team are Lu Herbert (Set and Costume Designer), Anna Short (Sound Designer), Jonathan Chan (Lighting Designer), Thomas Quine (Production Manager), former HighTide Artistic Director Clare Slater (Dramaturg), and Olivier Award winning John Bulleid (Illusion Designer).

The tour begins at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds on 6 October, with press night at Key Theatre, Peterborough on 11 October. It will then tour to 15 venues before concluding its run at Battersea Arts Centre from 4 – 8 November 2025. The performance at The Seagull, Lowestoft on 15 October will also feature a pre-show rehearsed reading of Libby Ruffles’ Be Still and Know – which won HighTide’s Ghost Story Writing competition.

HighTide Artistic Director Titilola Dawadu said, ‘There’s something so special about coming together to share stories that have themes that will resonate and are deeply moving, and full of heart – all with a haunting twist! Elle has brought together a wonderful cast, and I look forward to seeing Ben and Sarita move, delight and frighten audiences across the country this autumn.”

A HighTide and Pentabus Co-production 

in association with Harlow Playhouse

EVEN MORE…GHOST STORIES BY CANDLELIGHT

Written by Florence Espeut-Nickless, Simon Longman, Anne Odeke, and Rosa Torr

Cast: Ben Castle-Gibb and Sarita Gabony

Director: Elle While; Set and Costume Designer: Lu Herbert; Sound Designer: Anna Short;

Lighting Designer: Jonathan Chan; Production Manager: Thomas Quine; Dramaturgy: Clare Slater; Illusion Designer: John Bulleid; Stage Manager: Jodie Jasmin-Hicks.

6 October – 8 November 2025

Ghosts don’t always stay in the past.

The sell-out success returns with four brand new spooky stories from award-winning writers. In an ambitious co-production between HighTide and Pentabus, this year’s Ghost Stories by Candlelight will draw you into the secretive corners of the East and West of England. Join us by the candles. Just don’t let the light go out.

Ben Castle-Gibb’s theatre credits include Biscuits for Breakfast (Hampstead Theatre), Frankenstein (UK tour), and & Folk (Frinton Summer Theatre); and for television, Hollyoaks (as semi-series regular Kane) and You.

Sarita Gabony’s theatre credits include Love’s Labour’s Lost (RSC), Our Generation (National Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre), That Face (Orange Tree Theatre), James IV: Queen of the Fight (National Theatre of Scotland), Deciphering (New Diorama Theatre), The Treatment, Little Revolution (Almeida Theatre), The Divide (The Old Vic), and The Sound of Music (The London Palladium); for Radio, The Family Business and The Nobodies, and for film, Mothering Sunday and Spectrum.

Florence Espeut-Nickless is an award-winning writer and actor from Wiltshire. Her playwriting credits include Little Red & Other Tales (Bristol Old Vic), Bernadette & Other Teenage Folk Tales (Restoke), The Odyssey (National Theatre, Trowbridge Town Hall), DESTINY (Tobacco Factory Theatres and UK tour) and Miracle on 34 Seymour Street (Trowbridge Town Hall) which is currently being adapted for TV. Espeut-Nickless was 2024 Writer in Residence at Bristol Old Vic (as part of the FILM 4/Peggy Ramsay Playwrights Awards) and is currently under commission to Bristol Old Vic, National Theatre Connections, Ardent Theatre and BBC Radio 4. She was CRF Writer in Residence at Pentabus and an associate artist at Strike a Light, as part of the Let Artists Be Artists programme. She took part in the BBC Voices scheme and Dancing Ledge’s High End TV writer’s programme.

Simon Longman is a playwright originally from the West Midlands. His work has been produced, performed and translated around the world. His plays include Falling Falling Falling Falling (RWCMD/Young Vic); (Circle Dreams Around) The Terrible, Terrible Past (National Theatre, Connections); Patient Light (Eastern Angles); Island Town (Paines Plough); Gundog (Royal Court); Rails (TBTL); White Sky (RWCMD/Royal Court); Sparks (Old Red Lion) and Milked (Pentabus Theatre Company).

He was awarded the 49th George Devine Award for Most Promising Playwright and was also a recipient of the Channel 4 Playwright’s Scheme. He is an Associate Artist at Kestrel Theatre Company, which works within prisons around the UK, teaching and exploring playwriting. His plays are published by Bloomsbury.

Anne Odeke is an actor and emerging playwright. Her playwriting credits include Princess Essex (Shakespeare’s Globe, in which she also starred – nominated for Best New Play and Best Performer in a Play at the WhatsOnStage Awards 2025). Anne has also written for Storyhouse Chester, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Almeida Theatre and BBC Radio 4. She has also recently completed a year with the Orange Tree Theatre’s Writer’s Collective.

Rosa Torr is a Norwich-based interdisciplinary writer and producer. Her writing credits include , RATTUS RATTUS: the epic tale of man vs rat (Norfolk and Norwich Festival, National Centre for Writing), The Creation Station (First Light Festival), Sea Her (Directors Cut Theatre), Bump (TARA Arts, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Smock Alley Theatre). She was Dramaturg and producer for Gun to Your Head by Simon Jaggers. She is associate producer of Collusion, and cofounder of Dakota Collective, Torr also has an MA Dramaturgy and Writing for Performance from Goldsmiths.

Elle While is a BAFTA winning director, the Artistic Director of Pentabus Theatre and an Associate Artist of Shakespeare’s Globe. Directing credits include Driftwood, Make Good, One Of Them Ones & Idyll (Pentabus Theatre); Pinocchio (Watermill Theatre), Private Peaceful (Nottingham Playhouse & UK Tour), The Silence & The Noise, & Destiny (Pentabus and Rural Media), Richard III, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merry Wives of Windsor, As You Like It, Hamlet (Shakespeare’s Globe), As You Like It – BAFTA winner and International Kidscreen Nomination (Shakespeare’s Globe and cbeebies), Blue Stockings (Storyhouse Theatre, Chester), Glory Dazed (Soho Theatre, Adelaide Festival and Underbelly, Edinburgh – Winner of Holden St. Theatre Award and Critics Choice Award); Country Music (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Frisky and Manish: Just Too Much (Udderbelly, London and Edinburgh), and recording director for The Old Vic’s production of Cause Celebre on Radio 4.

LISTINGS 

EVEN MORE… GHOST STORIES BY CANDLELIGHT

6 October – 8 November 2025

Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds

6 October

Box office: 01284 769505 / www.theatreroyal.org

Eastern Angles, Ipswich

7 October
Box office: 01473 218202 / www.easternangles.co.uk

Harlow Playhouse, Harlow

8 October

Box office:  01279 431945 / www.harlowplayhouse.co.uk

Clifftown Theatre, Southend
9 October
Box office: 01702 328335 / www.clifftowntheatre.co.uk

Well Maltings, Wells-next-the-Sea
10 October
Box office:  01328 710885 / www.wellsmaltings.org.uk

Key Theatre, Peterborough
11 October
Box office: 01733 852992 / www.keytheatre-peterborough.com

The Corn Hall, Diss
13 October
Box office: 01379 652241 / www.thecornhall.co.uk

St Georges Theatre, Great Yarmouth
14 October

Box office: 01493 331484 / www.stgeorgestheatre.com

The Seagull, Lowestoft

15 October

Box office: 0333 666 3366 / www.theseagull.co.uk

The Cut, Halesworth

16 October

Box office:  0300 303 3211 / www.thecut.org.uk

Dragon Hall, Norwich

17 October

Box office: 01603 877177 / www.nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk

Bristol Old Vic

21 – 25 October

Box office: 0117 987 7877 / www.bristololdvic.org.uk

Ludlow Assembly Rooms, Ludlow

28 October
Box office: 01584 878141 / www.ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk

Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham
29 October
Box office: 0121 446 3232 / www.macbirmingham.co.uk

Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prescot
30 October – 1 November
Box office: 0151 433 7156 / www.shakespearenorthplayhouse.co.uk

Battersea Arts Centre

4 – 8 November
Box office: 020 7223 2223 / www.bac.org.uk

CÔTE BRASSERIE BRINGS PARISIAN GLAMOUR TO THE WEST END WITH THE SPECTACULAR SPECTACULAR MOULINROUGE! THE MUSICAL DINING EXPERIENCE

Exclusive new theatre menu designed by Gordon Ramsay’s former executive chef which includes a glass of fizz!

London, July 2025

Prepare for the spectacular spectacular as Côte Brasserie unveils a dazzling new partnership with the West End hit Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

The popular French brasserie is inviting diners to step into a world of romance, elegance, and indulgence with a specially created pre-theatre dining experience. Available exclusively at Côte’s central London restaurants – Covent Garden, Soho and St Martin’s Lane – the limited-edition Moulin Rouge! The Musical menu celebrates the flair of the French capital with four stylish courses and a complimentary glass of Crémant de Bourgogne included.

To toast the occasion, Côte has also launched Can-Can Sour, a glittering, limited-edition cocktail inspired by the dazzling drama of Moulin Rouge! The Musical and named after the show’s iconic choreography. This collaboration between Côte and one of the West End’s most lavish productions blends the brasserie’s Parisian heritage with theatrical decadence, creating the perfect way to elevate your night out whether you’re off to the Piccadilly Theatre or simply soaking up the city’s summer buzz.

Crafted by Steve Allen, Côte’s Executive Chef (and former Executive Chef to Gordon Ramsay) the exclusive four-course menu (£38.95 per person) channels the mood of Parisian bohemia through a refined selection of French-inspired dishes. Starters include Crab Maison with avocado and capers, golden Calamari with Provençal mayo, and rich Chicken Liver Parfait served with pink pepper butter and toasted sourdough. Mains range from a hearty Confit Pork Belly to a showstopping Sirloin Steak (with a £8 supplement), while vegetarian options like the vibrant Tomato & Harissa Tagine and Tarte Tatin à la Provençale offer flair for every palate. Desserts are unapologetically indulgent, from Lemongrass & Lime Leaf Crème Brûlée with burnt peaches and raspberries, to velvety Chocolate Mousse, a Cheese Plate, or the irresistibly rich Chocolate Praline Tart.This partnership brings together two iconic expressions of French culture – food and theatre – in a way that’s celebratory, elegant, and effortlessly fun.

A Côte spokesperson said: “Moulin Rouge! The Musical is pure Parisian spectacle – vibrant, glamorous, and full of heart. It made perfect sense to partner with such an iconic show to create a menu that celebrates the richness of French cuisine and the magic of a night out in London. Whether you’re heading to the theatre or just in the mood for a little sparkle, this experience captures everything we love about dining the French way.”

Moulin Rouge! The Musical is now playing at the Piccadilly Theatre, just minutes from Côte’s Covent Garden, Soho and St Martin’s Lane locations. Booking highly recommended.

For full menu details and reservations, visit: www.cote.co.uk

About Côte Brasserie

French taste is great taste. Since 2007, Côte Brasserie has brought the best of French cuisine to over 60 restaurants across the UK. With an ever-evolving menu of classic and contemporary dishes, crafted from quality, seasonal ingredients, Côte offers a stylish, accessible way to experience the elegance of French dining.

About Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Enter a world of splendour and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur and glory! A world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Pop the champagne and prepare for the spectacular spectacular… Welcome to Moulin Rouge! The Musical!

Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. A theatrical celebration of truth, beauty, freedom and — above all — love, Moulin Rouge! is more than a musical; it is a state of mind.

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

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

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

Variety Club Showbusiness Awards announces annual ceremony and celebration of ITV’s 70th anniversary

Sunday 19th October 2025

The Londoner Hotel, 38 Leicester Square, London WC2H 7DX

The Variety Club Showbusiness Awards will make a showstopping return on Sunday 19th October 2025 at the capital’s iconic The Londoner Hotel in Leicester Square. Hosted by Katie Piper and Mark Wright, it will be a night of glamour and great entertainment, which will also commemorate a monumental milestone — the 70th anniversary of ITV.

The Awards have maintained their twin purpose of celebrating exceptional talent and supporting the charitable work of Variety, the Children’s Charity, raising millions of pounds for children with disabilities and disadvantages across the United Kingdom.

The 2025 Variety Club Showbusiness Awards will raise funds to transform children’s lives through the work of Variety, the Children’s Charity, while celebrating the milestone of 70 years of ITV, the UK’s largest commercial broadcaster which launched in 1955. The ceremony will honour the occasion by spotlighting ITV’s enduring impact on British television and entertainment.

The evening promises a dazzling line-up of glamour, celebrity and exceptional entertainment, maintaining the tradition of recognising outstanding achievements across various fields, including Film, TV, Comedy, Theatre and Music. The event consistently draws a distinguished assembly of international celebrities, industry leaders, and influential personalities.

The ceremony will be hosted by the brilliant best-selling author, broadcaster, speaker and charity campaigner, Katie Piper, alongside beloved broadcaster, actor and TV personality Mark Wright.

Professor Jonathan Shalit OBE, Chairman of Variety, the Children’s Charity comments, The Variety Club Showbusiness Awards stand as one of the UK’s most prestigious honours, conceived to recognise outstanding contributions to British entertainment. The Awards have maintained the dual purpose of celebrating exceptional talent and supporting the charitable work of Variety, raising millions of pounds for children with disabilities from disadvantaged backgrounds across the UK. The 2025 Awards will be extremely special, celebrating 70 years of ITV while once again making a vital difference in transforming the lives of vulnerable children and young people.

ITV CEO Dame Carolyn McCall shares, I am delighted that ITV will be marking our 70th birthday with Variety, the Children’s Charity, and celebrating seven decades as a world-class broadcaster and streamer.

In recent years, the event has been made an unforgettable evening with performances from Katherine Jenkins OBE, Beverely Knight MBE, Gary Barlow OBE, Marisha Wallace and the cast of Mamma Mia. Previous attending award winners included Alfie Boe, Naomi Cambell, Abbey Clancy, Dame Joan Collins, James Corden OBE, Simon Cowell, Peter Crouch, Edward Enninful OBE Kate Garraway MBE, Kelly Hoppen CBE. Michelle Keegan and Sheridan Smith OBE.

The Variety Club Showbusiness Awards are produced for Variety, the Children’s Charity, by Green Room Ents Ltd.

Theatre Royal, Nottingham – until Saturday 9th August 2025

Reviewed by Chris Jarvis

5*****

Having never seen The Rocky Horror Show I set off for Nottingham Royal Concert Hall wondering what to expect! Friends who aren’t RHS virgins like me, suggested I wear a red and black lace basque, stockings and suspenders with heavy Goth style makeup!!! Not a chance! However, on arrival it was great to see that absolutely anything goes!

One might expect those dressed in skimpy outfits to hide them under coats on public transport, but no-one seemed to bother. The Rocky Horror Show is in town and its cult following seemed almost ‘the norm’!

Still popular more than 50 years after the first performance in 1973 to an audience of 60, The Rocky Horror Show is a humorous tribute to various B movies associated with the science fiction and horror genres from the 1930s to the early 1960s bringing together aliens from transexual Transylvania, monsters and lovesick humans. The musical tells the story of a newly engaged, clean-cut couple whose car breaks down in a storm outside a spooky mansion – the home of a mad transvestite scientist, Dr Frank-N-Furter played tonight by none other than Jason Donovan. The original book, music and lyrics by Richard O’Brien, this production was directed by Christopher Luscombe.

The show opens with an usherette (Natasha Hoeberigs) singing Science Fiction Double Feature setting the scene for some of what was to come. We meet the young couple travelling from a wedding where Janet (Laura Chia) had managed to catch the bouquet and her partner Brad (Connor Carson) decides to ‘pop the question’! Then follows a tyre puncture so they ring the bell of the mansion and are met at the door by the somewhat scary manservant, Riff Raff (Job Greuter)

The play is narrated brilliantly by Nathan Caton who tries to keep the audience on track with what is happening. This was no mean feat as he was repeatedly interrupted by wisecracks from the initiated regulars in the audience. However, his totally unscripted responses had the audience laughing and cheering him on. He also brought the humour into 2025 with his witty references to Donald Trump, Harvey Weinstein and other current issues.

Other occupants of the creepy mansion appear as the bewildered couple wonder if they’ve made the right decision to seek help. We meet Riff Raff’s sister Magenta (Natasha Hoeberigs) and Columbia (Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli) who is in love with Frank.

Dr Frank-N-Furter makes a very dramatic appearance on stage to terrify and welcome Brad and Janet and invites them to his laboratory to meet his new creation Rocky (Arthur Janes), a Frankenstein-style monster in the form of an artificially-made, fully-grown, ripped muscle man.

Jason Donovan gave a brilliant performance as a crazy doctor with maniac tendencies. I was interested to learn that he’d requested to play Frank when he heard the musical was having a 50th Anniversary Tour, having played the part 25 years earlier.

The set was fantastic and atmospheric, and the actors were all brilliant in their outrageous costumes that were reflected by so many members of the audience. Basques, fishnet stockings and suspenders were everywhere, and various versions of the Time Warp dance erupted in the audience every time it was played, particularly at the end when everyone stood for a Dancing Ovation.

There were jumps to the left and steps to the right, hands on hips and knees in tight – but it was the pelvic thrusts that drove us insane!!

There are still tickets available for most performances this week so whether you’re a RHS virgin like me or a frequent flyer, it’s a wild and entertaining night out! Whether you decide to dress up or not just doesn’t matter but do get there early and enjoy ‘people watching’ the frivolous outfits of those who do.

WEST END STAR

JAMIE MUSCATO

ADDS SECOND PERFORMANCE

OF SOLO CONCERT AT

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE 22 MARCH 2026

2.30PM & 7PM

Darren Bell with arrangement from Westway Music are delighted to announce that due to overwhelming demand, West End star JAMIE MUSCATO will now present both a matinee and an evening performance of his solo concert at Theatre Royal Drury Lane at 2.30pm & 7pm on 22 March 2026. Tickets on sale now!

The concert coincides with the release of Jamie’s new album Live London 2024 which was recorded from his sell-out shows at Cadogan Hall last year. The album is available now on all streaming platforms and can be ordered in physical form from Amazon or Westway Music.

Jamie Muscato is currently starring in The Great Gatsby where he originated the role, in the UK, of Jay Gatsby at the London Coliseum and is widely known for his portrayal of JD in the original UK cast of Heathers at The Other Palace and the Haymarket Theatre.

Jamie’s numerous theatre credits include Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby (London Coliseum); Anatole in Natasha Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812 (The Donmar Warehouse) – 2025 Olivier Award nominee for Best Actor in a Musical; Christian in Moulin Rouge! (Piccadilly Theatre); Guy in Once (London Palladium); Enjolras in Les Misérables The Staged Concert (Sondheim Theatre); Tony in West Side Story (Leicester Curve); JD in Heathers (Theatre Royal Haymarket/ The Other Palace) – 2019 WhatsOnStage Awards nominee for Best Actor in a Musical; Story Edward in Big Fish (The Other Palace); Ben in Lazarus (Kings Cross Theatre); George Jacob Holyoake in A Subject of Scandal and Concern (Finborough Theatre); Jake in Stay Awake Jake (The Vaults); Joe in Bend it Like Beckham (Phoenix Theatre); Anthony in Sweeney Todd (Welsh National Opera); Nathan in House of Mirrors and Hearts (Arcola Theatre); Eddie in Dogfight (Southwark Playhouse); The Light Princess (National Theatre); Rock of Ages (Shaftesbury Theatre); Love Story (Duchess Theatre); Jean Prouvaire in Les Misérables (25 Anniversary tour) and Spring Awakening (Novello/ Lyric Hammersmith).

His TV and film credits include What We Wished We Could Be (Slick Films), Chemistry of Death (Paramount+); The Undeclared War (Channel 4/Peacock); Pistol (FX Network); The Colour Of Spring (Winterlight Productions); The Trial of Christine Keeler (BBC); The Nun (New Line Cinema/ Warner Bros); Cilla (ITV); Les Misérables (Working Title Films).

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Sunday 22 March 2026, 2.30pm, 7pm

Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Catherine Street
London
WC2B 5JF

Box Office: 020 3925 2998

Website: lwtheatres.co.uk/theatres/theatre-royal-drury-lane/

Instagram: @jamiemuscato

X: @jamiemuscato
Tiktok: @jamiemuscato

Festival Theatre, Malvern – 2nd August 2025

Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau

5*****

Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love is a comic opera (1832) revolving around Nemorino being besotted with Adina, who doesn’t notice him. Well, she does, but she prefers to avoid romantic entanglements as she values her freedom. Cue a snake oil salesman with an Elixir which he claims solves all ailments, including love. Nemorino, by now desperate, takes a chance on this miracle concoction and due to a series of surprising events begins to believe in the elixir’s efficacy.

The first notable feature of the evening was the orchestra being on stage. I found this rather interesting and gave a focus during all those repeats that composers are enamoured with. Being a musician I loved watching the players, marveling at their technique and the part writing. Wild arts know how to make the best use of economy; with this being a chamber orchestra of one person per instrument, giving a lovely intimate feel.

The aforementioned economy also extends to the set, which was more a hint than a fully fledged set. Basically a couple of chairs and a table to convey all scenes necessary. All this focused the attention on the singers. The ensemble opened proceedings in wonderful fashion, setting the scene perfectly. All very strong of voice and full of expression, they really were integral to the story and added to the atmosphere enormously.

Our leads; Xavier Hetherington (Nemorino) and Galina Averina (Adina) made a strong, believable and attractive couple. Both had beautiful voices which commanded our attention and I really enjoyed their journey arc. Xavier had an incredibly powerful voice and his aria “a furtive tear” was the highlight for me – especially beginning with a stunningly gorgeous melody on cello played by Leo Popplewell. The lover’s duet late on, meanwhile, was rather sensational, heartwarming and a satisfying conclusion to their tale.

The villain of the piece, Captain Belcore (Timothy Nelson), had an impressive voice which certainly hit the back wall! Full of Naval pomposity and arrogance, he was a sheer joy and gave a focal point and urgency to the love interest.

Last, but by no means least, Doctor Dulcamara – purveyor of the elixir. Alex Jones produced a light, frothy concoction with just the right level of used car sales man style gravitas. He also had much of the humour (I tittered heartily at the wonderful use of the elixir bottle deployed in very Carry On fashion). It’s not often you see an accordion in an opera and Inigo Mikeleiz-Berrade really stood out in the song that Dr Dulcamara had written. Another rare treat!

Sung in English – it’s not often you hear “easy peasy” in anything nowadays so this also make me smile thanks to the translation by Joseph Morris. Conductor Orlando Jopling did a wonderful job wringing every last drop of pleasure and emotion from this sumptuous score and his musicians really rose to the occasion, as did the entire cast.

If you like Gilbert and Sullivan you will love this, being full of wit and charm, having a fanciful story and sparkling tunes. So, a superb night at the opera done in exemplary fashion – what more could one want? It’s a wholehearted bravo and recommendation from me.

Jason Durr, Susie Blake, Max Bowden and Katie McGlynn

will star in the world premiere of Torben Betts’ comedy thriller 

Murder at Midnight

On tour from September 2025

Original Theatre in association with Joshua Beaumont and Huw Allen present Murder at Midnight, the brand-new comedy thriller from Torben Betts following his smash-hit success Murder in the Dark, on tour from September 2025 with a star-studded cast. 

Directed by Philip Franks, Murder at Midnight will star stage and screen favourites Jason Durr (Heartbeat,Casualty) as Jonny ‘The Cyclops’, Susie Blake (Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV, Coronation Street) as Shirley, Max Bowden (best known for his role as Ben Mitchell in EastEnders) as Paul and Katie McGlynn (Coronation Street, Hollyoaks) as Lisa. They are joined by Callum Balmforth as Russell, Peter Moreton as Trainwreck and Iryna Poplavska as Cristina, with Bella Farr and Andy McLeod as Police Officers/Understudies.

It’s New Year’s Eve in a quiet corner of Kent and a killer is in the house. We meet Jonny ‘The Cyclops’ – the notorious gangster, his glamorous wife, his trigger-happy sidekick, his mum – who’s seeing things, her very jittery carer, plus a vicar who’s hiding something, and a nervous burglar dressed as a clown. Throw in a suitcase full of cash, a stash of deadly weapons, and one infamous unsolved murder…what could possibly go wrong? Join the murder mystery with a difference. One house. Seven suspects…and a murder at midnight.

Written by acclaimed playwright Torben Betts and produced by the award-winning Original Theatre (Birdsong, Murder in the Dark, The Mirror Crack’d), Murder at Midnight is a gripping murder mystery filled with twists, chilling suspense and wickedly dark humour – guaranteed to keep you guessing until the final stroke of midnight.

Murder at Midnight will play Derby Theatre (5-13 September), Birmingham Rep (16-20 September), Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham (23-27 September), Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford (30 September-4 October), Malvern Theatres (7-11 October), Palace Theatre, Southend (13-18 October), York Theatre Royal (21-25 October), Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne (27-31 October), New Theatre, Cardiff (4-8 November), Fareham Live (18-22 November) and Churchill Theatre Bromley (25-29 November), followed in 2026 by the Lowry, Salford (19-24 January), The Grand Theatre Blackpool (27-31 January), New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich (2-7 February), Royal & Derngate, Northampton (16-21 February), Floral Pavilion New Brighton (23-28 February), Belgrade Theatre Coventry (3-7 March), Salisbury Playhouse (9-14 March), Theatre Royal Bath (16-21 March), and Darlington Hippodrome (31 March-4 April).  (Please note: Max Bowden is confirmed for 2025 venues only).

The creative team of Murder at Midnight is Director Philip Franks, Writer Torben Betts, Designer Colin Falconer, Lighting Designer Jason Taylor, Sound Designer and Composer Max Pappenheim, Casting Director Ellie Collyer-Bristow, Associate Director Barney McElholm, Sound Associate Joe Dines, Fight and Intimacy Director Ruth Cooper-Brown for Rc-Annie and Associate Fight Director Carlotta De Gregori for Rc-Annie. The Production Manager is Brian Watson, the Costume Supervisor is Chrissy Maddison and the Props Supervisor is Robyn Hardy.

Murder at Midnight blends razor-sharp wit with chilling suspense, proving that even the best-laid plans can unravel spectacularly when the wrong people are in the wrong place at exactly the wrong time. 

Watch the Murder at Midnight trailer on YouTube: https://youtu.be/acPx1VuJ1ws

For more information, and to book tickets, visit: www.murderplay.com

LISTINGS – 2025/2026 TOUR DATES

2025 VENUES

5 – 13 September – Derby Theatre

derbytheatre.co.uk/event/murder-at-midnight

16 – 20 September – Birmingham Rep

www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/whats-on/murder-at-midnight

23 – 27 September – Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham

www.everymantheatre.org.uk/shows/murder-at-midnight

30 September – 4 October – Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford

www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/whats-on/murder-at-midnight

7 – 11 October – Malvern Theatres

malvern-theatres.co.uk/event/murder-at-midnight

13 – 18 October – Palace Theatre, Southend

trafalgartickets.com/palace-theatre-southend/en-GB/event/play/murder-at-midnight-tickets

21 – 25 October – York Theatre Royal 

www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/show/murder-at-midnight

27 – 31 October – Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne

trafalgartickets.com/eastbourne-theatres-eastbourne/en-GB/event/play/murder-at-midnight-tickets

4 – 8 November – New Theatre, Cardifftrafalgartickets.com/new-theatre-cardiff/en-GB/event/play/murder-at-midnight-tickets

18 – 22 November – Fareham Live

trafalgartickets.com/fareham-live-fareham/en-GB/event/play/murder-at-midnight-tickets

25 – 29 November – Churchill Theatre, Bromley

trafalgartickets.com/churchill-theatre-bromley/en-GB/event/play/murder-at-midnight-tickets

2026 VENUES 

19 – 24 January – Lowry, Salford

thelowry.com/whats-on/murder-at-midnight-fvyq

27 – 31 January – The Grand Theatre Blackpool

www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/event/murder-at-midnight

2 – 7 February – New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich

www.wolseytheatre.co.uk ON SALE SOON

16 – 21 February – Royal & Derngate, Northampton

royalandderngate.co.uk/whats-on/murder-at-midnight

23 – 28 February – Floral Pavillion New Brighton 

www.floralpavilion.com/event/murder-at-midnight

3 – 7 March – Belgrade Theatre Coventry

www.belgrade.co.uk ON SALE SOON

9 – 14 March – Salisbury Playhouse

www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/whats-on/category/salisbury-playhouse ON SALE SOON

16 – 21 March – Theatre Royal Bath

www.theatreroyal.org.uk ON SALE SOON

13 March – 4 April – Darlington Hippodrome

www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk/whats-on/Murder-at-Midnight