DEFYING GRAVITY:

THE ROYAL MINT CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF WICKED WITH OFFICIAL 50P COMMEMORATIVE COIN

• The beloved West End musical Wicked has been honoured on an official UK 50p coin from The Royal Mint, marking 20 years since the show first opened at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre.
• Wicked celebrates its anniversary this weekend with ‘Pink’ and ‘Green’ performances on Saturday 26^th September, in celebration of all things Glinda and Elphaba, and a Gala performance on its 20^th Anniversary, Sunday 27^th September
• To bring the launch to life, the coin was pictured in the hands of Emma Kingston (Elphaba) and Zizi Strallen (Glinda), capturing the friendship at the heart of the story alongside the design that celebrates it.
• The gold version of the coin is produced using recycled gold, reflecting The Royal Mint’s ongoing commitment to sustainable and responsible sourcing across its collectable coin range.

The Royal Mint is defying gravity with the launch of an official UK 50p coin collection celebrating 20 years of Wicked, released in partnership with the West End production to mark the anniversary of the musical’s first performance at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre.

Two decades on, Wicked’s popularity shows no sign of fading, cementing its place as one of the longest-running and most successful productions in West End history. Performed over 7,500 times in London and seen by almost 14 million people in the capital alone, the show has also captivated audiences worldwide, with over 72 million people having seen it globally.

To mark this milestone, the coin has been brought to life through photography featuring Emma Kingston (Elphaba) and Zizi Strallen (Glinda), capturing the friendship at the heart of the story alongside the design that celebrates it.

The reverse design, created by The Royal Mint’s Ffion Rees, brings the world of Oz to life. At the centre, Elphaba’s hat and broomstick form the hands of a Roman numeral clock face, encircled by further icons from the production, including Glinda’s wand and shoes, the Grimmerie spellbook, a flying monkey and the Wizard of Oz in his hot air balloon. The design draws on the show’s distinctive green and pink palette, echoing the colours long associated with Elphaba and Glinda, to create a coin that fans will instantly recognise and love.

The coin is available in a variety of editions, with prices starting from £15. Select editions in the range feature colour printing, allowing the show’s iconic green and pink to be reproduced in vivid detail on the coin’s surface. The gold edition is struck using recycled gold, reflecting The Royal Mint’s ongoing commitment to sustainable and responsible sourcing across its collectable coin range, with the coin maker aiming to extend this to all collectable gold coins by the end of 2026

Each coin is presented in bespoke packaging inspired by the London stage production, pairing recognisable elements from the musical with a vibrant colour palette that echoes the show’s theatrical tone, making the collection as striking to display as it is to own.

Tim Mulhall, Head of Fandom at The Royal Mint, said: “For millions of fans around the world, Wicked isn’t just a musical, it’s a story that stays with you long after the curtain falls. This collection lets fans hold a piece of that magic in their hands: a coin that captures the friendship, the flying broomsticks and the unforgettable colours of Oz. Whether you’re a coin collector, you’ve seen the show a hundred times or you’re simply drawn to the story of Elphaba and Glinda, this is a way to carry a little bit of that wonder with you, wherever you go.”

Wicked London, celebrating its 20^th year, said: “We are proud to have Wicked immortalised on an official UK coin as part of our landmark anniversary, offering fans and collectors alike a magical opportunity to commemorate the date long after the curtain falls on the celebrations.”

The collection offers something for long-standing devotees and new collectors alike, combining premium craftsmanship with the nostalgia and collectability that Wicked fans cherish. Perfect for display alongside existing memorabilia, added to a 50p coin collection, or given as a gift, the coins offer a limited-edition way to mark this special anniversary.

The coin launches at 9am on 17 September 2026 and is available to purchase from www.royalmint.com. as Limited edition Wicked prints are also available, and Wicked advent calendars will be available soon, with a colour coin behind door 24.

SPLASH HIT OLIVIER AWARD WINNING 

ANNOUNCES

FINAL BOARDING AT CRITERION THEATRE 3 JANUARY 2027

FIRST EVER UK TOUR TO LAUNCH AT
THEATRE ROYAL NEWCASTLE ON 17 SEPTEMBER 2027 WITH MYRA DUBOIS SET TO STAR AS RUTH

WILLIAM HANSON TO RETURN TO WEST END AS RUTH FROM 10 NOVEMBER 2026 – 3 JANUARY 2027

Thursday 17 September 2026 10am, London: Producers Eva Price and Michael Harrison today confirm that following the conclusion of its splash hit West End run, TITANIQUE will embark on its first ever UK tour next year starting at Theatre Royal Newcastle on 17 September 2027 with Myra DuBois set to star as Ruth on the road. Final boarding for TITANIQUE at Criterion Theatre will be Sunday 3 January 2027 with William Hanson returning to the role of Ruth from 10 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.

Titaníque made a triumphant West End debut when the production opened at the Criterion Theatre in January 2025 to widespread critical acclaim. Going on to win two Olivier Awards – Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play, and Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Layton Williams – from three nominations, including a Best Actress in a Musical nod for Lauren Drew, as well as four WhatsOnStage Award nominations. From a basement Off-Broadway to an international phenomenon, Titaníque picked up seven major awards during the 2022/23 season including three Lucille Lortel Awards and was nominated for four Tony Awards including Best Musical for its 2026 Broadway season.

Producers Eva Price and Michael Harrison commented: “It has been such a thrill to bring Titaníque to the West End and share this gloriously outrageous show with London audiences. We’ve had an incredible time making waves in the West End, and we couldn’t be more excited to now take our Olivier Award winning show on the road. And what better way to do it than with the incomparable Myra DuBois joining us for the tour? We are absolutely thrilled to welcome her aboard and cannot wait for audiences across the country to experience the uniquely fabulous world of Titanique.”

William Hanson returns to the Ship of Dreams as Ruth for its final 8 weeks in London, taking over the role from Myra DuBois who is currently playing Ruth until 8 November. They join cast members Ailsa Davidson as Rose, Lewis Francis as The Iceberg, Astrid Harris as Céline Dion, Freddie King as Jack, Cameron Vear as Cal, Michael Vinsen as Victor Garber / Luigi and Nikki Wheeldon as Molly Brown; with AJ Lewis, Joi Lurrie and Sophie-Rose Middleton as on-stage background vocalists. Finton Flynn, Josh Lovell and Charlotte Soo complete the cast as offstage understudies.

On returning to the West End William Hanson said: “As a great diva once opined, “it’s not a comeback, it’s a return”! And one I’m thrilled about. My original seven-week run onboard the RMS Titaníque sailed by only too quickly and was a voyage of never-ending fun with the most gorgeous and talented company. To be able to go back and work with them again, and to close what has been one of my favourite shows on the West End for some time, is an honour and a privilege.” 

On going on tour Myra DuBois added: “I’ve adored playing Ruth in the West End, how thrilling to get to spend a few more months with her around the country in this screamingly hilarious show!”

The critically acclaimed splash hit is playing until 3 January 2027 with tickets on sale at london.titaniquemusical.com. Please note Myra DuBois will not be performing on 14 & 15 October and William Hanson will not be performing on 20 – 22 Nov & 5 Dec 2026.

Full details and casting information for the UK tour will be announced in due course. To keep up to date with tour info follow uktour.titaniquemusical.com.

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

 Titaníque is the hysterical musical comedy bursting with nostalgia, non-stop laughs and killer vocals. Featuring all your favourite Céline Dion hits, including My Heart Will Go On, All by Myself and To Love You More, all backed by a sensational live band.

Celebrated as ‘The West End’s Funniest Musical’ (Smooth Radio), Titaníque is brilliant and bonkers fun. ‘If you love the film Titanic or Celine Dion, you’ll love Titaníque. Hell, if you couldn’t care less about them, you’ll love it’ (Mail on Sunday).

It’s the musical that’s making hearts go on… and on, so get on board as this ship of dreams is one voyage you simply can’t miss!

Co-written by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle and Constantine Rousouli, Titaníque 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 New York and London, the musical comedy has had smash hit runs in Paris, Sydney, Montreal and Toronto. Titaníque made its Broadway debut at the St. James Theatre in March 2026, receiving four Tony Award Nominations.

Titaníque 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; Lighting Design is by Paige Seber; and Sound Design is by Lawrence Schober with casting by Pearson Casting CDG and Richard Johnston.

The London production of Titaníqueis produced by Eva Price and Michael Harrison with Winkler & Smalberg, Diamond Dog Entertainment LLC, Echo Lake Entertainment, Jay Marcus, Sonia Friedman Productions, Willette and Manny Klausner, and Lorne Michaels.

‘A SINATRA CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT’

TO PLAY

THE ALDWYCH THEATRE

ON 6 DECEMBER 2026

STARRING

JOEL HARPER-JACKSON

Simon Gordon and Daniel Wood of Kinda Dusty Ltd. and Joel Harper-Jackson are delighted to present A Sinatra Christmas By Candlelight starring Joel Harper-Jackson from Sinatra the Musical at the Aldwych Theatre on Sunday 6 December 2026 at 7.30pm.

Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday 18 September.

Step straight into New York, New York, as the West End sensation Joel Harper-Jackson takes centre stage for A Sinatra Christmas By Candlelight.

Currently starring as Frank Sinatra in the smash-hit Sinatra the Musical in London’s West End, Joel Harper-Jackson brings his acclaimed portrayal of Ol’ Blue Eyes to the stage, for this very special Christmas concert celebration.

Joel says “I am so excited to be doing this very special Christmas Sinatra concert at The Aldwych! I have been working with Concerts by Candlelight for many years now performing at iconic venues including Carnegie Hall, The London Palladium and even St Paul’s Cathedral. It is so lovely that my two worlds have now collided for this incredible concert that is going to get everyone singing along and feeling really festive!”

Joel will be joined by special guest stars Lauren Byrne (pop girlband ‘Remember Monday’), Lloyd Daniels (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, UK tour) and Sharlene Hector (Hercules, Theatre Royal Drury Lane).

Backed by a 17-piece big band, with musical direction by Dave Rose and surrounded by hundreds of candles, Joel will perform Sinatra’s greatest classics including My Way, Fly Me to the Moon, New York, New York and That’s Life and some of his biggest Christmas hits including Rudolph, The Christmas Song, White Christmas, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and Let it Snow!

Expect sophistication, swing, romance and plenty of Christmas cheer as we celebrate the music of the legendary Frank Sinatra in a truly unforgettable way!

Come Fly With Me this Christmas… and let Joel Harper-Jackson take you on a journey through the songs of Frank Sinatra.

A Sinatra Christmas By Candlelight is produced by Daniel Wood and Simon Gordon on behalf of Kinda Dusty Ltd and Joel Harper-Jackson.

With special thanks to Universal Music Group, Tina Sinatra and the Frank Sinatra Enterprises, Chris Harper, Scott Landis and Rodeo Productions.

Website: concertsbycandlelight.com

Instagram: @concertsbycandlelight

LISTINGS INFORMATION

A SINATRA CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT

Sunday 6 December 2026, 7.30pm

The Aldwych Theatre

49 Aldwych,

London

WC2B 4DF

0345 200 7981

nederlander.co.uk/aldwych

Tickets: from £45

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2026-27 TOUR OF

AS THE OLIVIER AWARD-WINNING PRODUCTION RETURNS FOR ITS 30^TH ANNIVERSARY

OPENING AT THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH

ON MONDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2026

THEN PLAYING LOWRY, SALFORD

AHEAD OF NEW ADVENTURES’

24^TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SEASON

AT SADLER’S WELLS, LONDON

AND A 14-VENUE 2027 TOUR

AN OFFICIAL PARTNERSHIP WITH

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUMS ALSO ANNOUNCED TODAY

New Adventures is delighted to announce the full cast for the 2026-27 UK tour of Matthew Bourne’s CINDERELLA as it returns for its 30^th anniversary, visiting 17 venues across 24 weeks.

The role of Cinderella will be performed by Hannah Kremer and Katrina Lyndon, alongside Reece Causton and Rory Macleod as Cinderella’s heroic Pilot, Harry, James Lovell, Andy Monaghan and Kingston Taylor as The Angel (Cinderella’s ‘Fairy GodFather’) and Michela Meazza and Daisy West as Cinderella’s Step-Mother, Sybil (with Nicole Kabera joining to play the role for the UK Tour).

Completing the cast as Cinderella’s Step-Brothers and Sisters, and the people of 1940’s London, are Mark Austin, Benjamin Barlow Bazeley, Tom Barnes Standing, Isabella Chandler, Carla Contini, Adam Davies, Christina Gibbs, Louis Harris, Thomas Ireson, Rosanna Lindsey, Maisie Mwebe, Matthew Petty, Matthew Potulski, Holly Saw, Molly Shaw-Downie and Shakiera Ward.

Making their New Adventures debuts in this production are Cameron Allan, Ethan Fairclough, Woody Freeman and Harry Hincks.

Matthew Bourne said today: “It’s thrilling to welcome an almost entirely new cast to bring our epic wartime love story back to life for its 30th anniversary. In fact, apart from the wonderful Michela Meazza (who performed in the original production in 1997), all the Principals will be taking on these coveted roles in Cinderella for the first time this season. We are immensely proud that 73% of the Cinderella company have come through our New Adventures talent development programmes, created to ensure that our productions always present a combination of the finest world-class dance artists and the most exciting emerging talent that the UK has to offer.”

Also announced today is that Imperial War Museums will be an official partner of the 2026-27 tour of Matthew Bourne’s CINDERELLA. As part of the partnership, New Adventures will run dance workshops based on Cinderella during the museum’s Big Story Festival on Sunday 25 and Monday 26 October, inspired by their latest exhibition Childhood in War. The museum will also host the Cinderella cast for a research day at its exhibitions, and the Cinderella programme will feature a discussion with set and costume designer, Lez Brotherston, and IWM curator, James Taylor, around wartime artefacts and how they influenced the show’s design.

The tour will open at Theatre Royal Plymouth (16 – 21 November 2026) before playing Lowry, Salford (24 – 28 November 2026), ahead of the annual Christmas season at Sadler’s Wells (1 December 2026 – 17 January 2027), marking New Adventures’ 24^th Christmas season at the venue. It will then play a further 14 venues in 2027, touring to Milton Keynes, Woking, Birmingham, Liverpool, Hull, Nottingham, Southampton, Cardiff, Canterbury, Bradford, Norwich, Glasgow, Newcastle and Edinburgh.

One of New Adventures’ most popular and beloved productions, Matthew Bourne’s CINDERELLA is a thrilling and evocative love story, set in London during the Second World War.

This epic interpretation of the classic fairytale, has, at its heart, a true war-time romance. A chance meeting results in a magical night for Cinderella and her dashing young RAF pilot, together just long enough to fall in love before being parted by the horrors of the Blitz.

With Lez Brotherston’s glorious Olivier Award-winning designs, lighting by Olivier Award-winning Neil Austin and video and projection designs by Duncan McLean, CINDERELLA features sensational sound design by Paul Groothuis which will take the audience into the heart of Prokofiev’s magnificent score, and the sights and sounds of war-torn London.

CINDERELLA is both a tribute and a testament to the spirit of London during a time when every second counted and lives were changed forever.  Bourne’s vivid storytelling has never been more heart-stopping and touching, creating a unique and unforgettable depiction of a familiar but timeless fable.

For more information please visit: www.new-adventures.net

Facebook /MBNewAdventures  Instagram @MBNewAdventures   TikTok @MBNewAdventures

LISTINGS

www.new-adventures.net

MONDAY 16 – SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2026

THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH

www.theatreroyal.com

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 24 – SATURDAY 28 November 2026

THE LOWRY, SALFORD

www.thelowry.com

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 1 DECEMBER 2026 – SUNDAY 17 JANUARY 2027

SADLER’S WELLS, LONDON

www.sadlerswells.com

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 26 – SATURDAY 30 JANUARY 2027
MILTON KEYNES THEATRE
www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre
ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 2 – SATURDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2027
NEW VICTORIA THEATRE, WOKING
www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre
ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 9 – SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2027
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME
www.birminghamhippodrome.com/
ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 16 – SATURDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2027
LIVERPOOL EMPIRE
www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire
ON SALE NOW

WEDNESDAY 24 – SATURDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2027
HULL NEW THEATRE
www.hulltheatres.co.uk
ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 2 – SATURDAY 6 MARCH 2027
THEATRE ROYAL NOTTINGHAM
www.trch.co.uk
ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 9 – SATURDAY 13 MARCH 2027
MAYFLOWER THEATRE, SOUTHAMPTON
www.mayflower.org.uk
ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 16 – SATURDAY 20 MARCH 2027
WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE, CARDIFF
www.wmc.org.uk/en
ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 23 – SATURDAY 27 MARCH 2027
MARLOWE THEATRE, CANTERBURY
www.marlowetheatre.com 
ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 30 MARCH – SATURDAY 3 APRIL

ALHAMBRA THEATRE, BRADFORD

www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 6 – SATURDAY 10 APRIL 2027
NORWICH THEATRE ROYAL
www.norwichtheatre.org
ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 13 – SATURDAY 17 APRIL 2027
THEATRE ROYAL GLASGOW
www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-glasgow
ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 20 APRIL – SATURDAY 1 MAY 2027
NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL
www.theatreroyal.co.uk
ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 4 – SATURDAY 8 MAY 2027
FESTIVAL THEATRE, EDINBURGH
www.capitaltheatres.com
ON SALE NOW

• BARN THEATRE, CIRENCESTER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TINY GIANT ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES FULL CAST FOR THE UK TOUR OF THE KING’S SPEECH DIRECTED BY LOVEDAY INGRAM

• CAST INCLUDES STEFAN DENNIS (NEIGHBOURS) AS LIONEL LOGUE AND GEORGE RAINSFORD (CASUALTY) AS BERTIE KING GEORGE VI.

• THE KING’S SPEECH WILL OPEN AT THE BARN THEATRE FROM 9 OCTOBER – 7 NOVEMBER AND THEN TOUR THE UK FROM OXFORD PLAYHOUSE ON 13 JANUARY 2027 TO MALVERN THEATRE IN JULY 2027.

Today, the Barn Theatre in Cirencester, in partnership with Tiny Giant Entertainment, has announced casting for their new production of The King’s Speech by David Seidler. Loveday Ingram will direct the show, which will play at the Barn from 9 October – 7 November 2026 and then embark on a major UK tour, opening in Oxford on 13 January 2027 and touring through to July 2027.

Tickets are available from www.thekingsspeechplay.com.

Casting includes Stefan Dennis (Neighbours, River City) as Lionel Logue, George Rainsford (Casualty, BBC; Dear England, National Theatre) as Bertie King George VI, Rosanna Miles (Haywire; What the Butler Saw) as Queen Elizabeth, Lucy Bromilow (Glengarry Glen Ross, The Old Vic; Mary Page Marlowe, The Old Vic) as Myrtle Logue/ Wallis Simpson, Tim Hudson (Bonhoeffer; Exe Men) as King George V / Winston Churchill, Ian Kirkby (Dear England; Straight Line Crazy, Bridge Theatre) as Archbishop Cosmo Lang and Mark Hammersley (The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, RSC; Ballet Shoes, National Theatre) as David/ King Edward VIII/ Stanley Baldwin.

Set and costume design is by Adam Wiltshire, Lighting Design is by Hector Murray, Music and Sound Design is by Elizabeth Purnell and Casting Director is Marc Frankum.

The production will visit Cirencester, Oxford, Coventry, Cheltenham, Clwyd, Darlington, Blackpool, Bath, Guildford, Aberdeen, Nottingham, Windsor, Eastbourne, Leicester, Bromley, Wolverhampton, Southend, Salisbury, Sheffield, Winchester, Northampton, Carlisle, Ipswich, Cambridge, Liverpool and Malvern.

The world is listening…

A country on the precipice of another terrible war. An abdicated king. A constitutional crisis. And the only man who can provide hope for the nervous British public is Bertie – a man who is shy, unprepared for monarchy and, worst of all, has a debilitating speech impediment.

With the future of the monarchy, and Britain itself, on the line, an historic radio address looms over a man who can barely stammer through full sentences. Desperate, Bertie and his family turn to an unconventional speech therapist from Australia to turn him into the king Britain can believe in.

As royal protocol meets unorthodox challenges, what emerges is an unlikely but deeply meaningful friendship. Adapted from the Oscar-winning film, this exciting new production from the acclaimed Barn Theatre blends humour, heart and high stakes in a beloved drama about duty, courage and finding one’s voice.

Listings:

Barn Theatre Cirencester

9 October – 7 November https://barntheatre.org.uk/the-kings-speech

Oxford Playhouse

From 13 January 2027 https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/the-kings-speech

Coventry Belgrade

w/c 18 January 2027 https://www.belgrade.co.uk/events/the-kings-speech/

Cheltenham Everyman

w/c 25 January 2027 https://www.everymantheatre.org.uk/shows/the-kings-speech/

Theatr Clwyd

w/c 1 February 2027

On sale soon

Darlington Hippodrome

w/c 8 February 2027 https://www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk/whats-on/The-Kings-Speech

Blackpool Grand

w/c 15 February 2027 https://www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/event/the-kings-speech

Bath Theatre Royal

w/c 22 February 2027 https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/events/the-kings-speech/

Guildford Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

w/c 1 March 2027 https://www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/whats-on/kings-speech

Aberdeen His Majesty’s

w/c 8 March 2027 https://www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/whats-on/the-kings-speech/

Nottingham Playhouse

w/c 15 March 2027 https://nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/events/the-kings-speech/

Windsor Theatre Royal

w/c 22 March 2027 https://theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk/king-27/

Eastbourne Devonshire Park Theatre

w/c 29 March 2027 https://trafalgartickets.com/eastbourne-theatres-eastbourne/en-GB/event/play/the-kings-speech-tickets

Leicester Curve

w/c 5 April 2027 https://www.curveonline.co.uk/whats-on/shows/the-kings-speech/

Bromley Churchill Theatre

w/c 12 April 2027 https://trafalgartickets.com/churchill-theatre-bromley/en-GB/event/play/the-kings-speech-tickets

Wolverhampton Grand

w/c 19 April 2027 https://www.grandtheatre.co.uk/whats-on/the-kings-speech/?v=6a4cb09aeb610

Southend Palace Theatre

w/c 26 April 2027 https://trafalgartickets.com/southend-theatres/en-GB/event/play/the-kings-speech-tickets

Salisbury Playhouse

w/c 3 May 2027 https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/events/the-kings-speech

Sheffield Lyceum

w/c 10 May 2027

On sale soon

Winchester Theatre Royal

w/c 17 May 2027 https://www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk/events/the-kings-speech/

Royal & Derngate Northampton

w/c 24 May 2027 https://royalandderngate.co.uk/whats-on/the-kings-speech/

Carlisle The Sands Centre

w/c 31 May 2027 https://betterboxoffice.co.uk/whats-on/the-king-s-speech

Ipswich Regent Theatre

w/c 7 June 2027 https://ipswichtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/the-kings-speech-2/

The Arts Theatre Cambridge

w/c 14 June 2027 https://www.artstheatre.co.uk/whats-on/the-kings-speech/

Liverpool Playhouse

w/c 21 June 2027 https://everymanplayhouse.com/event/the-kings-speech/

Malvern Theatres

w/c 28 June 2027 https://malvern-theatres.co.uk/event/the-kings-speech/

Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield – until 26th September 2026

Reviewed by Sophie Dodworth

5*****

Whether old or young, you are bound to have heard of an Abba song or two at some point in your time on this wonderful planet. And if you like what you hear then step in to the Sheffield Lyceum this week, as those beautiful notes will be lining the enthralling storyline which helps form the world-famous Mamma Mia! Stopping in Sheffield for just over a week and with matinees included, there is still opportunity for you to make a visit.

Mamma Mia! is a joyful, romantic comedy set on a beautiful Greek island. Focused around Sophie (Hazel Baldwin), a young girl making wedding preparations for her special date coming up. She is in desperate need of a father to walk her down the aisle, but she doesn’t know who her father is. So, she sets on a mission to find out. Will she be able to find out in time? And will she be able to convince her mother, Donna (Jenn Griffin) that her inviting three of her ex-partners to ‘sift through’ is the right thing to do…

Even if you are an avid Abba fan, the songs sang in this production, in their musical theatre style, are revived! They create such a great atmosphere that compliments the storyline so perfectly, you could almost be left thinking that Abba planned for them ending up in this musical, right from the start. The old classics speedily become new favorites.

The musical numbers come thick and fast, the whole show is jam-packed with them. The audience goes wild right from the start. Money Money Money leaves you in awe as the ensemble sweep you off your feet with their first group number, alongside lead Griffin. Lots of mesmerising and intricate choreography. Voulez-Vous is another big number with all the cast, using the entire stage, the actors bring all their energy to deliver some great chorography and a supremely polished number.

There are some extremely funny moments in this show. With comedy duo Tanya (Sarah Earnshaw) and Rosie (Lauren Woolf) leaving the auditorium in stiches regularly. They have impeccable comedic timing and seem to have been made for these roles. Potentially some of the best female comedy actors out there. Both also have wonderful voices, triple-threats all round! Dancing Queen in the bedroom with the pair singing into a hairdryer and straighteners is simply hilarious.

Even though the recommended age is five and up, it is questionable at that. There are around eight profanities and lots of innuendos (these do go straight over the children’s heads though so not really an issue). All round, it is a real solid piece of theatre, suitable for the majority of the family and if you are after a laugh, a cry and lots of heartwarming theatrical moments, this one is for you.

FORTY YEARS OF PHANTOM

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

CAMERON MACKINTOSH’S PRODUCTION

CELEBRATES FOUR DECADES IN THE WEST END

WITH A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE ON 9 OCTOBER

 A STRICTLY LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS WILL BE RELEASED

FOR SALE TO THIS SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY PERFORMANCE

PRODUCTION PHOTOGRAPHY RELEASED AS 

JORDAN DONICA, PLAYING THE PHANTOM, 

COMPLETES THE ANNIVERSARY CAST

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE, LONDON | phantomoftheopera.com

Cameron Mackintosh announces today that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s phenomenally successful PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will celebrate its landmark 40^th Anniversary, with a special gala performance on Friday 9 October 2026 at its original London home, His Majesty’s Theatre. 

To mark this extraordinary milestone, celebrated alumni artists from the last four decades will join the current company on stage for a special curtain call, following this anniversary performance.

A limited number of tickets for this anniversary performance will go on sale in late September, with further detail to follow. To receive a link to book tickets, fans should sign up to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Box Five Club HERE.

All proceeds from the ticket sales of the Gala Performance will be matched by both the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation and the Mackintosh Foundation. Collectively, the proceeds will be used to launch a new Phantom 40th Scholarship Programme. The Programme will fund professional training at leading performing arts schools across the UK, removing barriers to entry and supporting talented young students pursuing a career in music and the performing arts.

The Programme will be run by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation and will open for applications for the 2027-28 academic year. More details on how to apply will be announced in due course.

The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation is one of the UK’s leading charities funding arts education scholarships. Beatrice Penny-Touré, who will play Christine Daaé at the Gala Performance, is a former Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation scholar.

Formed in 1988, The Mackintosh Foundation supports a wide range of charitable activities. Its core focus is theatre training and education, whilst also supporting a diversity of causes including medical research, community development, the environment, homelessness and education.

As previously announced, a sensational international cast has been assembled to play for a limited birthday season including Jordan Donica as The Phantom and Beatrice Penny-Touré as Christine Daaé, Rhys Whitfield as Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny. Sierra Boggess as Carlotta, Matt Bateman as Piangi, Joseph Millson as Monsieur André, Ian Pirie as Monsieur Firmin, Joanna Riding as Madame Giry and Millie Lyon as her daughter, Meg. At certain performances the role of Christine will be played by Colleen Rose Curran.

The cast is completed by Harry Apps, George Arvidson, Michael Baxter, Embla Bishop, David Burilin, Polly Clarke, Leonard Cook, Hywel Dowsell, Connor Ewing, Lila Falce-Bass, Florence Fowler, James Gant, Emily George, Melanie Gowie, Molly Hall, Will Hawksworth, Matt Hayden, Nino Hepher, Mandy Kwan, Verity Marlow, Tim Morgan, Inguna Morozova, Skye November, Taylor Pardell, Johnny Randall, Rachel Spurrell, Jasmine Wallis, Victoria Ward, and Alicia Wong. 

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA tells the haunting story of Christine Daaé, a young soprano whose extraordinary voice enchants a mysterious masked figure known as The Phantom. A brilliant yet tormented musical genius, The Phantom dwells in the depths of the Paris Opera House, casting fear over all who inhabit it.

Drawn to Christine’s sensational talent, The Phantom becomes her mentor, believing she alone can truly bring his music to life, and as he guides her from the shadows, he falls deeply and dangerously in love. When Christine is reunited with her childhood sweetheart, Raoul, now the young patron of the Opera House, she must wrestle with the unpredictable nature of a powerful love triangle. The Phantom’s obsession with his new star sets off a dramatic turn of events where devotion, jealousy and passions collide.

Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is widely considered one of the world’s most beautiful and spectacular musicals. Since 1986, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has become a global phenomenon with productions playing to 160 million people in 217 cities, 52 territories and in 23 languages. Lloyd Webber’s celebrated romantic and soaring score includes The Music of the Night, All I Ask of You, Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, Masquerade and the iconic title song. 

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has won over 70 major awards all over the world. In 1988, the Broadway production was nominated for twelve Tony Awards and won seven including Best Musical. The original London production in its 1986 debut won the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Musical and two Olivier Awards including Best New Musical. The original cast recording was the first in British musical history to enter the charts at Number One.

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA – Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lyrics by Charles Hart, and Additional Lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. Book by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the novel ‘Le Fantôme de l’Opera’ by Gaston Leroux, with Orchestrations by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Musical Supervision is by Simon Lee. The Production Design is by Maria Björnson and the Set Design is adapted by Matt Kinley with Associate Costume Design by Jill Parker, Lighting is by Andrew Bridge with Associate Lighting Design by Warren Letton, Sound is by Mick Potter. The Musical Staging and Choreography is by Dame Gillian Lynne, recreated and adapted by Chrissie Cartwright. Originally Directed by Harold Prince, this production is Directed by Seth Sklar-Heyn.

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is a Cameron Mackintosh and LW Entertainment production.

NO DAY BUT TODAY SEATS!

100 TICKETS AVAILABLE AT £20

FOR THE FIRST PREVIEW

ON SATURDAY 26 SEPTEMBER

£30 FRONT-ROW TICKETS AVAILABLE DURING ALL OTHER PREVIEWS

FOR

AT LONDON’S TOM STOPPARD THEATRE

Jonathan Larson’s Tony Award^® and Pulitzer Prize winning musical RENT, at The Tom Stoppard Theatre, has announced a day seat ticketing initiative for the upcoming preview performances.

100 tickets in the stalls will be released for £20 each for the first preview performance on Saturday 26 September, echoing the musical’s pioneering Broadway rush policy, which famously offered $20 front-row tickets on a first-come, first-served basis. The tickets will only be available to purchase in person at The Tom Stoppard Theatre’s Box Office from 12.00noon on the day. Tickets are limited to two per person.

In celebration of the musical’s 30^th anniversary, for all other preview performances until 7 October, front-row seats will be available to purchase for £30 each, in person at the Box Office from 10.30am on the day.

For all future performances from Friday 9 October a digital lottery for day seats will be launched, with further details to be announced.

The production stars Gaten Matarazzo as Mark, Travis Ross as Roger, Alexa Lopez as Mimi, Billy Nevers as Collins, Lazy Violet as Maureen, Olivier Award nominee Danielle Fiamanya as Joanne, Jeevan Braich as Angel and Joaquin Pedro Valdes as Benny.

The cast is completed by Baylie Carson, Laura Delany, Ryesha Higgs, Montoya Holloway-Johnson, Rhys Hopkins, Shem Omari James, Hannah Macpherson, TJ Matara-Holloway, Ryan Nixon, Leah Vassell, James Wilkinson-Jones and Kevin Yates.

Celebrating 30 years since the musical premiered on Broadway, RENT will begin performances at the Tom Stoppard Theatre on 26 September 2026 with an opening night on 8 October 2026. The production is booking until 27 March 2027.

Set in New York’s East Village, RENT follows a group of young artists, musicians and friends, navigating love, ambition and creativity while trying to build lives on their own terms. Inspired by Puccini’s La Bohème, this iconic musical captures the joy, uncertainty and resilience of a generation determined to make every moment count. Featuring an unforgettable score and a story that continues to resonate, RENT is a powerful celebration of community, connection and a call to live every minute as if it were your last. No day but today.

RENT has music, lyrics and book by Jonathan Larson. Itis directed by Luke Sheppard with choreography by Tom Jackson Greaves. Set design is by David Woodhead, costume design by Gabriella Slade, lighting design by Howard Hudson, audio production and sound design by Paul Gatehouse, video design and cinematography by George Reeve and Nathan Amzi, make-up and hair design by Jackie Saundercock, UK Casting by Pearson Casting CSA, CDG, CDA and US Casting by Jim Carnahan CSA. The musical supervisor and orchestrator is Bill Sherman and the musical director and associate musical supervisor is Katy Richardson, the intimacy director is Asha Jennings-Grant, the associate director is Priya Patel Appleby and the dialect coach is Joe Trill.

This production of RENT will be produced in the West End by Chris Harper Productions, Sonia Friedman Productions, Winkler & Smalberg and Julie Larson in association with the Hope Mill Theatre.

RENT was originally produced on Broadway by Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, Allan S. Gordon, and the New York Theatre Workshop.

The homeless Welshman whose body became ‘Major William Martin’ in the audacious WWII deception is remembered with a special performance and memorial bench

“[Operation Mincemeat] swerves into heartfelt sincerity — and somehow honours these quiet heroes, whose pivotal deeds were kept secret, as well as (in a beautiful climactic moment) the man who gave his life for his country: the borrowed corpse, Glyndwr Michael.”
Marianka Swain, London Theatre

“Amid the mayhem, it’s touching to see the actors pay homage to the memory of the homeless man, Glyndwr Michael.”
Clive Davis, The Times

“The show achieves a level of poignancy… particularly in its respectful commemoration of Glyndwr Michael, the man whose body was used in the operation.”James Ballands, British Theatre Guide

“The respect given to Glyndwr Michael was what made this musical truly brilliant.”
Lizzie Loveridge, WWReviews

Operation Mincemeat, the Tony and double Olivier Award®-winning musical, yesterday honoured Glyndwr Michael, the homeless Welshman whose body was used to create the fictional ‘Major William Martin’ in one of the most audacious deceptions of the Second World War, with a special performance and the unveiling of a memorial bench in Cardiff’s Alexandra Gardens.

The touring cast and creative team were joined by a specially formed choir made up of local and military community volunteers, including Cardiff Military Wives Choir, Cowbridge Male Voice Choir, St Patrick’s Church Choir and Choir for Good for a special rendition of Sail On, Boys, the song from the musical accompanying Glyndwr’s body as it is carried aboard HMS Seraph towards Spain.

Following the performance, David Cumming, one quarter of SpitLip, the writers and composers of Operation Mincemeat, unveiled a bench dedicated to Glyndwr’s memory in Alexandra Gardens, home to the Welsh National War Memorial.

David Cumming said: “Glyndwr Michael is at the heart of the true story of Operation Mincemeat, yet his own identity was almost lost behind the legend of Major William Martin. We wanted to honour him not just for the part his body played in the deception, but to recognise that he had a life and family of his own. To have this bench here in Cardiff, alongside the Welsh National War Memorial and in his home country, means a great deal to us. We hope it will help people remember Glyndwr and the part he played in Operation Mincemeat.”

LINK TO FULL DOWNLOADABLE VIDEO AND IMAGE HERE

Operation Mincemeat is widely known for the extraordinary deception that helped pave the way for the Allied invasion of Sicily. In 1943, British intelligence officers used the body of the recently deceased man and created an elaborate false identity for him: Major William Martin, a Royal Marines officer carrying secret documents suggesting that the Allies intended to invade Greece rather than Sicily.

The body was transported by submarine to Spain, where the planted documents were recovered and ultimately passed to German intelligence. The deception contributed to German forces diverting troops towards Greece and Sardinia rather than concentrating them in Sicily, helping make the Allied invasion less perilous, and turning the tide of World War II.

For more than 50 years, the identity of the man behind ‘William Martin’ remained a secret. In 1996, historian Roger Morgan uncovered his identity in previously secret government records.

He was Glyndwr Michael, born in Aberbargoed, South Wales, in 1909.

Glyndwr left the Welsh valleys for London during the hardship of the 1930s. He eventually fell into poverty and died in 1943, aged just 34, after being found seriously ill in an abandoned warehouse near King’s Cross.

His body was taken from a London morgue and transformed into ‘Major William Martin’, complete with a fictional identity and carefully planted personal possessions – including love letters, a photograph of his supposed fiancée and a receipt for a diamond engagement ring.

For decades, much of what was known about Glyndwr Michael came from the wartime intelligence files surrounding Operation Mincemeat. But a recent investigation by The Telegraph’s Patrick Sawer has shed new light on the man behind the legend, tracing his surviving family in South Wales and revealing family memories of Glyndwr sending money home from London to help his sister Gladys raise her son Dennis.

A surviving member of Glyndwr’s family will attend one of the musical’s performances in Wales, with the production at the New Theatre, Cardiff, until 19^th September 2026, followed by Swansea Grand Theatre from 21^st –26^th September 2026.

Today, Glyndwr is buried in Huelva, Spain, beneath a gravestone which reads:

“Glyndwr Michael
Served as Major William Martin, RM”

The new memorial in Cardiff gives him a place of remembrance in the country where he was born.

The tribute also reflects Operation Mincemeat’s commitment to remembering the real people whose lives became part of the wartime story. In 2023, the show’s devoted fan community helped uncover the previously little-known history of MI5 secretary Hester Leggatt, tracing her life and wartime service through extensive archival research. Their discoveries were subsequently confirmed by MI5 and led to a plaque being unveiled in her honour. Earlier in 2026, the production also paid tribute in the United States to American pilot Willie “Bill” Watkins, the only American featured in the musical, unveiling a replica of the P-39 Bell Airacobra he flew as part of Fleet Week and America250.

Tony Award winner Warren Carlyle


to direct Victoria Smurfitt and Jeremy Swift 


in the world premiere of


For the Love of Miss Lucy

The darkly comic gothic thriller by Mary Lynn Dobson will get a rehearsed presentation to an invited audience at Underbelly Boulevard Soho on Thursday 1 October 2026 at 11am and 2pm.

Tony Award‑winning director and choreographer Warren Carlyle (Broadway credits include The Music Man starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster and Hello, Dolly! starring Bette Midler) will direct the workshop presentation.

The company includes Victoria Smurfitt (Maud O’Hara in Disney+ drama Rivals), Emmy Award‑nominated Jeremy Swift (Leslie Higgins in Ted Lasso, Septimus Spratt, the butler of the Dowager Countess, in Downton Abbey), Morgan Watkins (HBO’s Under Salt Marsh), Harry Peacock (Ray Purchase in C4’s Toast of London), Sally Rogers (DC/Sgt Jo Masters in ITV’s The Bill), BAFTA Award‑winning Luke Rollason (Jizzlord in the Disney+ series Extraordinary), Bailey Patrick (Allegra, West End) and Stephen Boxer (Joe Fenton in the BBC drama Doctors).

Produced by Black Irish Productions, with Tony Award winning Executive Producer Thomas Hopkins and general management by THP and casting by Emmy Award Nominated Rob Kelly CDA, the event will comprise two readings for invited investors, agents and creatives.
For the Love of Miss Lucy is a darkly comic gothic thriller set in a 1920s English sanitarium, where wit, romance and horror collide.

When the elegant and devoted Lucy Seward suddenly falls gravely ill following the arrival of a mysterious Count, her brother Dr. Seward has summoned the world’s leading authority on inexplicable afflictions, Professor Abraham Van Helsing, to investigate. As strange behaviours begin to emerge amongst the sanitarium’s residents, Van Helsing becomes convinced that something far more sinister than illness is at work.

Blending razor‑sharp comedy with gothic suspense, For the Love of Miss Lucy reimagines the Dracula mythology through the lens of a sophisticated Noël Coward‑style comedy, full of eccentric characters, biting wit and dangerous seduction. Set between drawing rooms, candlelight and creeping shadows, the play balances genuine heart with theatrical flair and escalating mystery.

Rehearsals are scheduled to begin on 24 September 2026, ahead of the invited presentation on 1 October.

CAST
Morgan Watkins — Dracula
Victoria Smurfitt — Lucy
Jeremy Swift — Dr Seward
Harry Peacock — Jonathan Harker
Sally Rogers — Nurse
Luke Rollason — Renfield
Bailey Patrick — Beetleston
Stephen Boxer — Graves

CREATIVE AND PRODUCING TEAM
Playwright: Mary Lynn Dobson
Director / Choreographer: Warren Carlyle
Casting Director: Rob Kelly
Producer: Black Irish Productions
Executive Producer: Thomas Hopkins
General Management: THP

Warren Carlyle has been nominated for four Tony Awards, eight Drama Desk Awards and an Emmy Award (Carousel, Live at Lincoln Center), and has won a Tony Award, three Outer Critics Circle Awards, two Drama Desk Awards and the prestigious Astaire Award for choreography.

Mary Lynn Dobson is the award‑winning playwright of The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood, Two on the Aisle—Three in a Van and Skin Deep, a winner of the Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival.