On the second anniversary of her death on World Theatre Day 2024, eight leading industry figures have come together to launch the Imogen Kinchin Fellowship, a funded leadership programme built to accelerate and support brilliant doers to become decision‑makers and help launch the next generation of cultural leaders.
The programme is built in the spirit of Imogen — who died of bowel cancer on World Theatre Day 27 March 2024, aged 44 — who broke ceilings, then helped others break their own.
Nominations for the first cohort of eight would-be leaders opens today.
The eight mentors are some of Imogen’s closest industry friends and represent many of the organisations where she worked during her career. The mentors are: Emma Brünjes – Producer, ebp and Producer, Edinburgh Comedy Awards; Jo Danvers – CEO, Mischief Worldwide; Georgia Gatti – Independent Producer & Producer for Neal Street Productions; Glenn Graham – Resident Director, New Adventures; James Grieve – Freelance Director; ex Artistic Director, Paines Plough; Nia Janis – Partner & Founder of Playful Productions; Nicholai La Barrie – Associate Director, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre; James Mackenzie-Blackman – Chief Executive & Artistic Director, Theatre Royal Plymouth.
The Fellowship programme is launched in partnership with: Half Moon Young People’s Theatre; Lyric Hammersmith Theatre; Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures; National Theatre; Playful Productions and Theatre Royal Plymouth. All of the organisations where Imogen worked during her career.
Commencing in September 2026, each year the fellowship will support between six to eight emerging cultural leaders, with no upper age limit. The intention of the pilot cohort is to reflect the breadth of Imogen’s career, aiming for representation from the varying geographic, sector areas and artforms in which Imogen worked: the South West; Young People’s Theatre; Fringe; West End/commercial producing; subsidised theatre; dance; a practicing artist in theatre or dance.
Each successful mentee will receive a £3,000 fund to support their engagement in the programme, a one-to-one mentor and access to the wider mentor group through expenses paid events and networking dinners.
Georgia Gatti, Theatre Producer at Neal Street Productions said:
“Imogen had a fierce loyalty and an instinct to champion the people around her. She was always on the end of the phone when I needed her, offer considered advice and helping you see you could do more than you think you could. Our career paths are rarely linear, and having peers and mentors to talk to, listen to, and learn from is invaluable. That’s what this Fellowship is for.”
Nicholai La Barrie, Associate Director, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre said:
“Imogen was a force of nature; if she believed in you, she would be your greatest champion. That is what mentorship is at its best: making space, offering challenge, and backing someone to keep going. Our industry can still feel like a closed club – the sustained, long-term mentoring this Fellowship provides will open doors to different kinds of people, talent, and creativity.”
George Perrin MBE, Leadership Coach and Imogen’s husband said:
“Imogen was both the light that dazzled and the light that illuminated. She saw things in you that you could not yet see in yourself, and she brought people together, in life and in work. It is wholly fitting that her professional legacy will be to support and spotlight a new generation of courageous, generous and ambitious cultural leaders.”
SOLT & UK Theatre Welcome Arts Minister Ian Murray’s strong commitment to tear down barriers to EU touring
Responding to a panel of speakers, including Sadlers Wells’ Executive Producer Suzanne Walker, Culture Minister Ian Murray said that the UK government was fully committed to removing the barriers to EU touring that are making theatre touring across the EU challenging for UK theatre companies.
At the inaugural event of the Cultural Exchange Coalition (CEC), in Brussels on Wednesday (March 24), Minister Murray said:
“There’s very much a will to try and find a way through this – and to do it as quickly as we possibly can.”
“Cultural exchange is hugely important not only for us to tell our own stories but also tell each other’s stories, to learn from each other. If we lose that, we’ll be much diminished particularly with the geopolitical situation at the moment.
“There are forces out there that want to retell the story and culture gives us the way in which we maintain our history and tell the story about today and the future. So, there’s a full commitment from the UK government to try and resolve these issues.”
SOLT & UK Theatre Co-CEO, Hannah Essex said:
“There is clearly a business case for improving opportunities for British companies and artists in the EU. But there is also a social and cultural imperative. It’s hearts and minds”.
“In these divisive and challenging times culture can be a bridge – an opportunity to see the world through someone else’s eyes. And in a time where some of our other international relationships have got more turbulent and unpredictable, breaking down the barriers to this cultural exchange in Europe is more important than ever”.
Anita Debaere, CEC Co-Chair and Director of Pearle*-Live Performance Europe, said: “Meeting colleagues from across the EU and the UK was a powerful reminder of the value of cultural exchange. We look forward to continuing a dialogue on cultural relations between the EU and the UK.”
MEP Bogdan Zdrojewski said: “Culture has always been one of the strongest bridges between societies. This event will reflect on the importance of connections. I am very happy that the UK will be part of Erasmus Plus for 1 January next year, I hope we can achieve the same with the Creative Europe programme.”
Lord Brennan of Canton said: “It has been refreshing to hear that both the UK and the European Union want to make touring easier for creatives. The Cultural Exchange Coalition is leading the way in finding solutions and the talks we have been having in Brussels are a source of hope for the future.”
Baroness Bull said: “There is now clear evidence that the failure to include provision for touring artists and crews in the post-Brexit arrangements means artists and audiences across the entirety of Europe are missing out: not just on the cultural, social and economic benefits of intercontinental touring, but also the artistic and technical innovations that arise from cultural exchange.
Pick Me Up is an independent, well regarded York theatre company. Their current production of Next To Normal is currently playing at the cosy Theatre@41 in York. Under the direction of Andrew Isherwod, Next To Normal is an American rock musical, with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt.
Though Next To Normal is a musical, this production stands apart from standard American rock musicals, it comes with extra trigger warnings. It addresses topics such as adult themes, mental health issues and disorders, bereavement, and the effects these experiences have on family life.
Initially, the family appears to be a typical, well-functioning unit, with the added dynamics of raising teenagers. The day begins with Diana (Monica Frost) preparing sandwiches for her family to take to school and work. However, the morning quickly becomes chaotic when the bread falls onto the floor, and Diana is seen manically buttering each slice while on her hands and knees. It soon becomes evident that she is experiencing challenges related to bipolar disorder, and her condition is deteriorating. Her husband Dan (Dale Vaughan), feels helpless and doesn’t quite understand his wife’s turmoil, but he is unwavering in his support. Natalie (Niamh Rose), their daughter, experiences feelings of neglect and misunderstanding. Despite being a grade A student with a strong interest in music and a new boyfriend, Henry (Fergus Green), who provides moments of respite amongst the turmoil. She becomes increasingly frustrated, especially after a no show by both parents to her recital. Natalie begins to exhibit rebellious behaviour as her mother’s condition deteriorates. There is a son (Matthew Warry), who has a close connection with his mum and only really interacts with her. It is not until much later in the play that you learn his name is Gabe.
The cast is outstanding. Every actor gives a performance that adds real depth and emotion to each character they play. Frost’s portrayal of Diana is particularly gripping, realistically portraying her bipolar journey. Vaughan is full of energy, full of hope, then desperation and hopelessness. You can’t help but feel his pain. Rose is fabulous as Natalie, full of depth and her vocals are rich, raw and heavy with emotion. Warry gives an outstanding performance as Gabe, he is a raw talent. His interactions with his mother Diana are authentic and his presence on the stage is compelling to watch. Ryan Richardson plays both psychiatrists, embracing his inner Rock God for Dr Fine.
The multi-level set presents a straightforward, moody atmosphere, representing the family home. Throughout the performance, the live band, under the direction of James Robert Ball, remains visible at the rear of the stage, seamlessly incorporated into the production. Their interpretation of the rock-influenced score significantly adds depth to the story telling. Experiencing live music in the theatre always enhances the overall performance.
This show is not afraid to explore the complexities of mental health disorders, and it doesn’t soften the reality of Diana’s experience and the impact on all around her.. The constant adjustments of medication, the feeling of forever popping of pills, just to stay stable, then the portrayal of controversial electroconvulsive therapy, which is unsettling to watch. It is brutal to witness a person losing essence of themselves, where everything feels invasive and desperate, making these moments intensely powerful.
I must confess that I had not previously heard of this show and all I read about it before I attended was the trigger warnings. When I do go to see a new show I like to go in blind, so as not to be unduly influenced. I anticipated the content mentioned in the warnings, but I didn’t expect how personally affected I would feel. The show touched on an experience that my close family has gone through, and I don’t want to reveal too much of the shows storyline. He had the same thing, the same outcome, was the same age then and now. As the similarities became clear, I felt my stomach drop, that was heart wrenching.
This production of Next To Normal delivers raw, emotional, and powerful performances that draw out strong emotions, and at times is an uneasy watch. Nevertheless, it is compelling to watch, I was mesmerised from start to finish. It is a must-see for anyone who appreciates powerful storytelling and outstanding theatre.
At a ceremony at the National Theatre today, the Critics’ Circle announced the winners of the 2026 Theatre Awards, sponsored by Finito. These are the only prizes to be entirely voted for by the professional theatre critics who are members of the Circle.
Both Ivo van Hove’s production of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons and Jordan Fein’s production of Sondheim’s Into the Woods received two awards each. Van Hove won the award for Best Director, with the production also receiving Best Revival of a Play or Musical. Into the Woods won the inaugural award for Best Ensemble or Cast, with Tom Scutt taking Best Designer.
Paddington The Musical with music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher and book by Jessica Swale, currently running at the Savoy Theatre, won Best New Musical; with James Graham’s Punch awarded Best New Play; and Ava Pickett Most Promising Playwright for 1536 which will shortly transfer to the Ambassadors Theatre in the West End.
Credit: Johan Persson
Completing the acting categories, Rosamund Pike won for her acclaimed performance in Suzie Miller’s Inter Alia – which is currently in previews at the Wyndham’s Theatre having transferred from the National Theatre; with Brendan Gleeson receiving the Best Actor award for his West End debut performance in The Weir, which has recently been adapted by playwright Conor Macpherson into a film with Gleeson reprising his much celebrated performance. The Most Promising Newcomer Award went to Ruby Ashbourne-Serkis for Tom Stoppard’sIndian Ink at Hampstead Theatre.
2026 Chair of the Critics’ Circle Drama Section, Mark Lawson said today, “In the first year that our members voted from long lists and shortlists – an attempt to extend the range of work considered – around 250 candidates were considered across the process, of which 179 received at least one vote. These came down to the 11 winners honoured today. Some categories were won by a landslide, but others were tight five-or six-way contests eventually decided after a recount, suggesting strong quality among the quantity. Overall – and with the winner of the Empty Space…Peter Brook Award, decided by a separate panel – they show an exhilarating range of work across a vast variety of venues and genres – all achieved in challenging economic times. It is particularly pleasing that the array of talents in the Most Promising Playwright and Best Newcomer categories indicate that the current high quality of theatre here is guaranteed to continue.”
This is the fourth year of the acclaimed Empty Space…Peter Brook Award being part of the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards. Founded by Blanche Marvin MBE, who died earlier this year just short of her 101st birthday, the award recognises a theatre that embodies the spirit of Peter Brook, both in its use of space and in relationship to its locality. Blanche’s daughter, Niki Marvin, an Oscar-nominated director/producer, has taken over the running of the award. From this year, the award has been renamed The Empty Space…Peter Brook Award (In Memory of Blanche Marvin), Sponsored by Nica
Burns. Decided by a separate panel of critics chosen by the Marvin family, the 2026 Award was given to Red Rose Chain, Ipswich.
The Awards are made possible through the generous support and encouragement of Finito.
“After a long-standing support of The Jack Tinker Award for Best Newcomer, we are delighted to become the main sponsor of the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards” said Ronel Lehmann, Chief Executive, Finito.
Other individual awards are sponsored by 5RB,NLP and Nica Burns. The awards are also generously supported by Nick Hern Books and by an anonymous philanthropic donation. We also gratefully acknowledgethe participation of the Trewin Family who created the Best Shakespearean Performance Award.
Producers Darren Bell and Cuffe & Taylor for Live Nation are delighted to announce the addition of two final performances of the WhatsOnStage Award-winning concert production of Love Never Diesat the London Palladium. The concert will now run at 7.30pm on 16 October and 2.30pm and 7.30pm on 17 & 18 October.
Tickets for all performances go on general sale on Friday 27 March.
As announced at his sold-out concert, Jamie Muscato (Dexter in One Day, Royal Lyceum Edinburgh; Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby, London Coliseum) will play Phantom and Celinde Schoenmaker (Sarah Brown in Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre; Fantine in Les Misérables, Sondheim Theatre) returns to the role of Christine with further casting to be announced. The concert will be directed by Shaun Kerrison.
The concert forms part of the celebrations for the 40th anniversary of Phantom of the Opera.
Love Never Dies – Phantom of the Opera’s spectacular sequel – returns to the story 10 years after the Phantom’s disappearance from the Paris Opera House. Escaped to a new life in New York, he has finally found a place for his music to soar. All that is missing is Christine Daaé – the young soprano whose sensational talent enchanted the Phantom and saw him fall deeply and dangerously in love.
In a final bid to win her back, the Phantom lures Christine, her husband, and their young son Gustave to America to perform one final time. As old wounds are reopened and forgotten memories unlocked, the Phantom sets out to prove that, indeed, Love Never Dies.
This concert production comes as Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera celebrates its 40th yearin London’s West End, marking four extraordinary decades at His Majesty’s Theatre. Phantom of the Opera is widely considered one of the world’s most beautiful and spectacular musicals. Since 1986, the global phenomenon has played to over 160 million people in 217 cities, 58 territories and 23 languages.
REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE ANNOUNCES FULL CAST FOR
THE BRAND-NEW PRODUCTION OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S
CATS
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre,with Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, today announce the full cast for the brand-new production of CATS, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie. The production runs from Saturday 25 July – Saturday 12 September 2026
The cast are Fin Adams (Alonzo), Carla Bertran (Electra / Co-Dance Captain), Elliot Broadfoot(Bustopher Jones), Grace Burrows (Offstage Swing), Matthew Caputo (Skimbleshanks), Josie Chambers-Sims (Syllabub (Jemima)), Briana Craig (Rumpleteazer), Katie Dunsden (Bombalurina), Joshua-Samuel Freeman (Tumblebrutus (Bill Bailey)), Regan Garcia (Pouncival (Carbuckety)), Aaron Jenkins (Offstage Swing), Hannah Joseph (Victoria), Taziva-Faye Katsande (Tantomile), Melanie La Barrie (Old Deuteronomy), Diante Lodge (Macavity / Admetus), Owen McHugh (George ), Danny Nattrass (Mungojerrie), Millie O’Connell (Demeter), Andrew Parfitt (Coricopat), Charlotte Riby (Jennyanydots (Gumbie Cat)), Nathan Rigg ( Offstage Swing), Lucie-Mae Sumner (Jellylorum (Griddlebone)), Jaydon Vijn (Rum Tum Tugger), Jack Wilcox (Munkustrap), Gary Wilmot (Gus), Rachael Wooding (Grizabella), Jet Yau (Mr. Mistoffelees / Quaxo), Taela Yeomans-Brown (Offstage Swing / Co-Dance Captain) and Patricia Zhou (Cassandra).
Drew McOnie said: ‘I’m so excited to welcome this astonishing group of performers to Regent’s Park. CATS has always celebrated the unique talents of its performers, and I can’t wait for our audiences to experience this company’s brilliance in this brand-new production. Each of these cast members will play their own special part in creating animalistic harmony under the Jellicle Moon. It’s going to be quite an adventure and we look forward to welcoming you to join us.’
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
with Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals presents
CATS
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot
Creatives include Lucy Adams (Associate Lighting Designer); Josh Baker (Resident Director & Choreographer); Tim Blazdell (Associate Set Designer); Will Burton (Casting Director); Guy Common (Makeup Designer & Supervisor); Ollie Durrant (Associate Sound Designer); Sami Fendall (Set, Costume and Wigs Designer); Adam Fisher (Sound Designer); Jessica Hung Han Yun (Lighting Designer); Ingrid Mackinnon (Intimacy Director); Kev McCurdy (Fight Director); Fiona McDougal (Voice Coach); Drew McOnie (Director & Choreographer); Ebony Molina (Associate Choreographer); Georgia Nosal (Associate Wigs and Hair Designer and Supervisor); Geraint Owen (Musical Director); Alex Parker (Musical Supervisor).
Saturday 25 July – Saturday 12 September 2026
‘Another day is dawning.’
From Euston station to Victoria Grove, the strays and rebels of London gather under the Jellicle moon in the hope they’ll be the chosen one. And each of them asks, because each of them dares, who will it be?
With a legendary score featuring Old Deuteronomy, Macavity: The Mystery Cat, The Jellicle Ball and the chart-topping hit Memory, this brand-new production of CATS, directed and choreographed by Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Artistic Director Drew McOnie (Brigadoon, Jesus Christ Superstar), is sure to be one of the theatrical events of 2026.
By arrangement with LW Entertainment.
Andrew Lloyd Webber | Music
Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed the scores of some of the world’s most famous musicals. His shows have run continuously in London’s West End for 50 years and ran for 43 uninterrupted years on Broadway.
When the original Sunset Boulevard joined School of Rock, CATS, and The Phantom of the Opera he equalled Rodgers & Hammerstein’s record of four shows running simultaneously on Broadway. He is one of the select group of artists with EGOT status, having received Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards.
Lloyd Webber owns six London theatres including the iconic London Palladium and Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Reopened in July 2021, the latter was completely restored and renovated at a cost of over £60 million. This was one of the biggest projects ever undertaken by a private theatre owner in recent times. His mantra is that every penny of profit made from his theatres is ploughed back into the buildings for their conservation and development.
Lloyd Webber is passionate about the importance of musical education and diversity in the arts. Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation provides 30 performing arts scholarships every year for talented students with financial need, and supports a range of projects such as the Music In Secondary Schools Trust (MiSST).
In academic year September 2025 – 2026, 14,885 children are being given free musical tuition and instruments as part of MiSST’s Andrew Lloyd Webber Programme. The Foundation also commissions research into diversity in theatre.
Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed music for globally significant moments. Most recently, he was asked to compose “Make a Joyful Noise”, the anthem for the Coronation of King Charles III.
Andrew Lloyd Webber was knighted in 1992, created an honorary life peer in 1997, and made a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter by King Charles III in 2024. He is the only person in the arts ever granted this personal honour by a monarch.
Drew McOnie | Director & Choreographer
For Regent’s Park as Director/Choreographer:Brigadoon, On The Town (Director & Choreographer); Jesus Christ Superstar, Carousel (Choreographer).
For McOnie Company: The Artist (Theatre Royal Plymouth – UK Theatre Award Winner for Best Direction); Nutcracker (Southbank Centre – National Dance Award Winner for Best Independent Company); Jekyll and Hyde (Old Vic Theatre – Broadway World Award Winner for Outstanding Achievement in Dance); DRUNK (Bridewell Theatre); Making Midnight (Jermyn Street Theatre/Latitude Festival).
As Director/Choreographer:King Kong (Broadway Theatre – Broadway); Strictly Ballroom (Piccadilly Theatre – West End – What’s On Stage Award Nominee, Best Theatre Choreography); The Wild Party (The Other Palace); Torch Song Trilogy (Turbine Theatre).
As Choreographer:In the Heights (Southwark Playhouse/Kings Cross Theatre – Olivier Award and Offie Award Winner for Best Theatre Choreography); Hairspray (Broadway World Award Winner for Best Theatre Choreography); Oklahoma (UK National Tour); Bugsy Malone (Lyric Hammersmith/UK National Tour); The Lorax (Old Vic Theatre); Sound of Music, Chicago (Curve Leicester).
Film includes:Greatest Days – The Official Take That Movie (Choreographer).
Ballet includes:Merlin (Northern Ballet – National Tour); XYZ (Classical Creative Project); Little Red (NYB, Hackney Empire); Old Man of Lochnagar (NYB, Sadler’s Wells).
Drew McOnie became the Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in January 2024. He is also the Artistic Director of The McOnie Company and a proud Associate Artist of The Old Vic Theatre.
Theatre includes: Bat Out Of Hell (UK Tour); Jesus Christ Superstar (UK Tour); The Cher Show (UK Tour).
Elliot Broadfoot| Bustopher Jones
Training: Leeds Conservatoire.
Theatre includes:Kathy & Stella Solve a Murder! (Original West End Cast, Ambassadors Theatre); Romeo & Juliet (Liverpool Everyman); The Parent Agency (Storyhouse Chester); I Should Be So Lucky (National Tour); Annie Get Your Gun (Lavender Fields); Of Mice and Men (Leeds Playhouse).
Concerts includes: Once on This Island (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Acorn Antiques: The Musical! (Shaftesbury Theatre, West End/Manchester Opera House).
Elliot is Co-Director of Theatre North, an initiative supporting accessible and sustainable theatre careers for young people across the North of England.
Grace Burrows | Offstage Swing
Training:Laine Theatre Arts
Theatreincludes: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Kilworth House Theatre); Jack and the Beanstalk (Mayflower Theatre); Life in the Golden Laine (Epsom Playhouse); Pinocchio (Grand Opera House Belfast); Witches of Eastwick (Laine Theatre Arts).
TV includes: Silence is Golden (U&Dave)
Matthew Caputo | Skimbleshanks
Training: Bird College
For Regent’s Park: On The Town (2017).
Theatre includes:The Book Thief: Concert Production (Prince of Wales Theatre), Alfred Hitchcock Presents – The Musical (Theatre Royal, Bath); The Artist (Theatre Royal, Plymouth); The Book Thief (Belgrade Theatre, Coventry/Curve Theatre, Leicester); Hamilton (Victoria Palace Theatre); City of Angels (Garrick Theatre); White Christmas (Dominion Theatre); Matilda (UK Tour); 21 Chump Street (Courtyard Theatre); Scrooge, Gypsy, 42nd Street (Curve Theatre, Leicester); The Life (Southwark Playhouse); Mary Poppins (UK Tour); Top Hat (UK Tour); CATS (UK Tour); White Christmas (The Lowry, Manchester); West Side Story (The Sage, Gateshead).
Workshops include:One Day The Musical, Feet Keep Me Flyin’, Midnight, Miss Saigon,The Artist, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, King Kong.
Other credits include:You Shall Go To The Ball (Bridgerton/Netflix); D-Day 80: The Allies Prepare (BBC), My Favorite Things – Rodgers and Hammerstein Celebration, Anton Du Beke and Giovanni Pernice’s Him&Me (Drury Lane); The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals (BBC); All Star Musicals (ITV).
Josie Chambers-Sims | Syllabub (Jemima)
Training: Bird College (BA Hons Dance and Musical Theatre), Emil Dale Academy.
Credits whilst training: 42nd Street, Divinity.
CATS marks Josie’s professional debut
Briana Craig | Rumpleteazer
Training: The Dance School of Scotland, Laine Theatre Arts.
Theatre includes:Snow White (New Victoria Theatre, Woking); A Chorus Line (Japan Tour); The Artist (Theatre Royal, Plymouth); Snow White (Theatre Royal, Plymouth); 42nd Street (National Tour/Sadler’s Wells/Toronto); Singin’ in the Rain (Sadler’s Wells/Japan/National Tour/Toronto); Jack and the Beanstalk (London Palladium); Dick Whittington (New Wimbledon Theatre).
Workshops include: Ballet Shoes (National Theatre); The Artist (Playful Productions/The McOnie Company).
Other credits include: Festival of Remembrance (BBC/Royal Albert Hall).
Katie Dunsden | Bombalurina
Training: Performers College.
Theatre includes: Diamonds & Dust (Emerald Theatre); Grease (Dominion Theatre); Moulin Rouge! (Piccadilly Theatre); On Your Feet! (London Coliseum); Pretty Woman! (Theatre11, Zurich); Peter Pan, Robin Hood, Sleeping Beauty (London Palladium); Anton Du Beke & Giovanni Pernice’s – Him & Me, Let Me Entertain You, Tango Passions, Anton Du Beke & Giovanni Pernice’s – Together (Strictly Theatre Co); Mamma Mia! (UK/International Tour).
TV includes: Britain’s Got Talent, Good Morning Britain, The Royal Variety Show, The Oliver Awards, The Late Late Show.
Katie is also a co-producer and choreographer of Sinematic Show.
Training: The Urdang Academy Trinity College London (Undergraduate), Rambert School RCM (Postgraduate).
Theatre includes:Sleeping Beauty, Little Wolf (Royal Tunbridge Wells); Where Eagles Fly (Workshop); World of Musicals in
Concert (Australia, Ireland, New Zealand Tour).
TV includes: Mama Mia! I Have A Dream – Live Final Episode, Britain’s Got Talent – Here & Now Musical with STEPS (ITV)
Britain’s Got Talent – Audition & Semi Final with Dane Bates Collective
Other credits include: Ferrari Grand Prix Fan-zone, World Winterfest (Abu Dhabi); Popup Global & Evolution
Events; Kids Again Music Video (Sam Smith); Capitol Records; Pop Magazine No.45; Beetlejuice 2 (Warner Bros).
Regan Garcia | Pouncival (Carbuckety)
Training: Laine Theatre Arts, Sylvia Young Theatre School.
Theatre includes: Robin Hood (New Wimbledon Theatre); Jack and the Beanstalk (Mayflower Theatre); Sandi Toksvig – One Night Only (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ The Musical (Ambassadors Theatre); A Very, Very, Very Dark Matter (Bridge Theatre); Matilda The Musical (Cambridge Theatre); Mary Poppins (UK Tour); West End Live.
TV includes:Endeavour (ITV); The Crown (Netflix); Blue Peter (BBC); Silence is Golden (U&Dave); LEGO Friends (Final Pixel).
Film includes:Snow White (Marc Platt Productions); Big Boys Don’t Cry (6 From 8 Productions)
Other credits include: Google (Social Media Commercial).
Aaron Jenkins | Offstage Swing
Training: Laine Theatre Arts.
Theatre includes: Cats (European & International Tours); Matilda the Musical (Cambridge Theatre, London); Chicago (UK & Ireland Tour); Cats (Kilworth House Theatre); Mary Poppins (Hamburg, Germany); Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre, London).
Film & TV includes: Cats (Universal Pictures/Working Title Films); Big Night of Musicals by the National Lottery (BBC); Miranda: My Such Fun Celebration (BBC).
Workshops include: Matilda the Musical (Netflix).
Hannah Joseph | Victoria
Training: Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance.
For Regent’s Park: Dream Ballets: A Triple Bill (2025).
Companies include: Company Wayne McGregor, Dickson Mbi Company.
Choreographers worked with include: Botis Seva, Russell Maliphant, Alesandra Seutin, Alexander Whitley, Matthew Bourne, Julia Cheng, Holly Blakey.
Performances includes:TELLUS (Dickson Mbi Company); UniVerse: A Dark Crystal Odyssey, AutoBiography, Deepstaria (Company Wayne McGregor); Matthew Bourne’s Romeo+Juliet (New Adventures, Sadler’s Wells); Moschino SS24 Milan Fashion Week; London Fashion Week 2024; Hermès Brides de Gala; Robyn Talk to Me music video.
As Choreographer and Performer: BBC Young Dancer 2022 (The Roundhouse); AX2 for Legacy (Royal Ballet, Linbury Theatre).
As Choreographer:Kaleidoscope of Time (Royal Ballet); Gridlock (Royal Ballet School); Nothing But This (Ballet D’Jèrri); still, here (English National Ballet); SUN (Nowness); Ax.One for Festival of New Choreography (Royal Ballet)
Hannah was a finalist on BBC Young Dancer 2022.
Taziva-Faye Katsande | Tantomile
Training: Sylvia Young Theatre School, Bird College
Theatre includes: Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Crossroads (Darlington Hippodrome); Jack and the Beanstalk (The Capitol, Horsham); Bugsy Malone (UK Tour); Annie (UK Tour); Matilda the Musical (Cambridge Theatre); Luisa Miller (Opera).
Dance includes: Homage to Happiness (Wilton’s Musical Hall); Royal Variety Performance, Adventures of Peter Pan (Anthony Vanlaast).
Advertisements include: Virgin Atlantic – Seize the Holiday LIVE ITV Commercial, Apple Education Tech photoshoot, Pearson ELT, RBA’s ELT songs.
Film and TV includes:Beetlejuice; The Big Audition – Episode 6 (ITV); The Proms (BBC).
Other credits include:Matilda the Musical reading
Melanie La Barrie | Old Deuteronomy
Theatre includes:Mary Page Marlowe, The Lorax (Old Vic); Hadestown (Lyric Theatre); Once On This Island (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); The Book Thief (Prince of Wales Theatre); Roam (Shaftesbury Theatre); We Aren’t Kids Anymore (Savoy Theatre); &Juliet (West End/Broadway); Wicked (Apollo Victoria); Dick Whittington (National Theatre); The Everyman Season (Everyman Playhouse); Matilda The Musical (RSC/Cambridge Theatre); Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre); Les Misérables (London’s Sondheim Theatre); Play Mas (Orange Tree Theatre); The Bakkhai (Almeida Theatre)
TV includes: EastEnders, Casualty, Riot Women.
Film includes:London Road.
Diante Lodge | Macavity / Admetus
Training: Laine Theatre Arts
Theatre includes:Les Liaisons Dangereuses (National Theatre); Evita, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty (London Palladium); Original London Cast of MJ The Musical (Prince Edward Theatre); Matilda (Cambridge Theatre); Carousel (Kilworth House Theatre); Best Of West End (Royal Albert Hall); Coppelia (Cockpit Theatre).
Film and TV include:Snow White (Disney); Drag Race UK (BBC); Royal Variety Performance (ITV).
Music videos include: You 4 Me (Tiwa Savage); Hip Neck Spine (Daphne Guinness); Twisted & Black British (V V Brown).
Workshops include:Midnight, Burlesque, Play On!, Sinbad, KIN.
As Movement Director/Choreographer:Remembrance Monday (Seven Dials Playhouse); Falling In Love With Mr Dellamort (Edinburgh Fringe); Charity (BFI Short Film).
Owen McHugh | George
Training: Laine Theatre Arts, The Dance School of Scotland.
For Regent’s Park: Brigadoon (2025).
Theatre includes:Why Am I So Single? (Garrick Theatre); Clueless the Musical (Churchill Theatre, Bromley); Symphony of Sorrowful Songs (English National Opera, London Coliseum); White Christmas (UK Tour); But I’m a Cheerleader (The Turbine Theatre); Beauty and the Beast (Civic Theatre); Memories of the Musicals, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Kilworth House); The Snowman (UK Tour/Peacock Theatre, London); Me And My Girl (Frinton Summer Theatre); Doctor Dolittle The Musical (UK Tour); Peter Pan (Hull New Theatre); Cinderella (Wyvern Theatre).
Workshops include:Why Am I So Single?.
TV includes: BBC Children in Need (BBC).
Music videos include:Girl Crush (Self Esteem).
Danny Nattrass | Mungojerrie
Training: The Arts Educational School.
For Regent’s Park:Brigadoon (2025).
Theatre includes:Elf (Aldwych Theatre); Grease (European Tour); Close Up – The Twiggy Musical (Menier Chocolate Factory); We Will Rock You (London Coliseum); Pump Up The Volume (Turbine Theatre); The Osmonds: A New Musical (National Tour); Pantoland at the Palladium,Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (London Palladium); Mamma Mia! (Novello Theatre).
TV includes: The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals (BBC); All Star Musicals (ITV).
Millie O’Connell | Demeter
Training: Laine Theatre Arts. Theatre includes:Come Fall In Love (Opera House Manchester); Cake (The Other Palace); The Cher Show (UK Tour); Rent (Hope Mill Theatre); Hair (Turbine Theatre); Be More ChiIl (Shaftesbury Theatre/The Other Palace); Soho Cinders (Charing Cross Theatre); SIX: The Musical (UK Tour/Arts Theatre, London); Thoroughly Modern Millie (UK Tour); 42nd Street (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); 42nd Street (Theatre Du Chatelet).
Workshops include: Why Am I So Single?, On The Team, Sunshine. Film and TV include:SIX The Musical Live (Universal Pictures); Doctor Who (BBC); Wonka (Warner Bros); The Entire Universe (BBC); Endeavour (ITV); The People’s Strictly (BBC).
Andrew Parfitt | Coricopat
Training: London Studio Centre, Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, MEPA Academy, Kreative Dance Academy.
Theatre includes:Disney’s The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre, West End)
Dance includes: Wicked, Wicked: For Good (Universal); Britain’s Got Talent (Dane Bates Collective); London Fashion Week (Richard Quinn/Dane Bates Collective); Ballet Under The Stars (Covent Garden Dance/The Project Dance Company).
Charlotte Riby | Jennyanydots (Gumbie Cat)
Training: Laine Theatre Arts.
For Regent’s Park:Jesus Christ Superstar (2016-17); Carousel (2021).
Theatre includes: Midnight (Sadler’s Wells East); Me & My Girl (UK Tour); Hairspray (Shaftesbury Theatre); Priscilla Queen of the Desert (The Place); Billy Elliot (Victoria Palace Theatre); Waitress (Adelphi Theatre); Annie Get Your Gun (Palladium); Midnight (London and New York Workshop/Showcase).
Film includes:Wonka (Warner Bros); Snow White (Disney); The Blitz (Apple TV).
Adverts and voiceovers include: The Sun, Hotels4U, Vauxhall, Better, Morrisons, Thomas Cook, TUI.
Nathan Rigg | Offstage Swing
Theatre includes:A Chorus Line (Curve/Japan Tour); Guys and Dolls (Bridge Theatre); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (London Palladium/UK Tour); What’s New Pussycat (Birmingham Rep Theatre); Mother Goose (Mercury Theatre); Sleeping Beauty (Norwich Theatre Royal).
Film includes:London Road (BBC).
Workshops include: Bliss The Musical (ATG Productions).
Lucie-Mae Sumner | Jellylorum (Griddlebone)
Training: Royal Academy of Music, National Youth Theatre of Great Britain.
Theatre includes: Mary Poppins (UK Tour); Singin’ In The Rain (Kilworth House); I Should Be So Lucky (UK Tour); Titanic (UK & International Tour); Mary Poppins (West End, Prince Edward Theatre); Chicago, Quality Street, Travesties (Pitlochry Festival Theatre); Barnum (Menier Chocolate Factory); Guys and Dolls (UK Tour/Savoy Theatre); A Damsel in Distress (Chichester Festival Theatre); Avenue Q (UK Tour); Barnum (Chichester Festival Theatre); Sister Act (UK Tour).
Concerts include:Love Never Dies (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Trump The Opera (Cadogan Hall); Kerry Ellis’ Anthems, Danny Elfman’s Music From the Films of Tim Burton, BBC Prom Sondheim at 80 (Royal Albert Hall); West End Prom (Lytham Festival).
Workshops include:The Odyssey (National Theatre); Bedknobs and Broomsticks (Michael Harrison/Disney); Mort (Royal Academy of Music); Goodbye Barcelona.
TV includes:Humans – Series 3 (Kudos/Channel 4)
Jaydon Vijn | Rum Tum Tugger
Training: Wilkes Academy of Performing Arts
For Regent’s Park: The Sound Of Music (2013).
Theatre includes: Starlight Express (Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre); Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre); MAMMA MIA! (International Tour/UK Tour); Starlight Express Das Musical (Bochum, Germany); Pippin (Charing Cross Theatre); Jack & The Beanstalk (London Palladium); Aladdin, Cinderella (Regent Theatre, Stoke); Oliver! (UK Tour); The Sound of Music (Doha, Qatar); Matilda the Musical (Cambridge Theatre), Oliver! (Theatre Royal Drury Lane).
TV includes: I Like The Way U Move – Series 1 (BBC); Royal Variety Performance 2024 (ITV); I Can Do it, You Can Too (CBeebies); Children In Need Performance 2025 (BBC).
Film includes: Wonka (Warner Bros); Snow White (Disney); Larissa (Short Film).
Other credits include: The Roller Boys, Noise Boys Trailer, Starlight Express 2024 Cast Recording.
Jaydon was nominated for Best Supporting Performer in a Musical at the WhatsOnStage Awards for the role of Hydra which he originated in Starlight Express.
Jack Wilcox | Munkustrap
Training: Tring Park School for the Performing Arts.
Theatre includes:Little Dancer (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Singin’ in the Rain (Kilworth House Theatre); Crazy For You (Gillian Lynne Theatre, London); Saturday Night Fever (UK Tour); Anything Goes (The Barbican/UK Tour); White Christmas, An American in Paris 0 Original London Cast (Dominion Theatre); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (London Palladium); Kiss Me Kate (London Coliseum/Leeds Grand Theatre); Cinderella (Cambridge Arts Theatre); Sweeney Todd (Mercury/Derby Theatre); Cinderella (QDOS Manchester Opera House); Travels With my Aunt,Singin’ in the Rain (Chichester Festival Theatre); Titanic (Princess of Wales, Toronto); The Sound of Music, 42nd Street (Leicester Curve); West Side Story (UK Tour); Singin’ in the Rain (Palace Theatre); Kiss Me Kate (Theatre Du Chatelet); A Chorus Line (Tel Aviv Opera House); Shoes (Peacock Theatre); Wicked (Victoria Apollo); High School Musical 2 (UK Tour); Cinderella (Bournemouth Pavillion); Apollo Victoria 80th Gala (Apollo Victoria); Kerry Ellis Sings the Great British Songbook (Shaw Theatre); Night of 1000 Voices, Handel’s Messiah (Royal Albert Hall).
Workshops include: Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (ATG); Send for Mr Plim (Soho Theatre); Night of the Prom (Hackney Empire Theatre).
TV includes: All Star Musicals, Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Surprise Surprise (ITV); Anything Goes (BBC); An American in Paris (Sky Arts).
Soundtrack includes:Singin’ in the Rain (London Cast Recording 2012).
Gary Wilmot | Gus
For Regent’s Park:A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Pirates of Penzance (2001), HMS Pinafore (2005).
Theatre includes: A Man For All Seasons (National Tour/West End), Something Rotten (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane); The Artist (Plymouth Theatre Royal); The Wizard of Oz (Palladium/National Tour); OldFriends (The Gielgud); Peter Pan, Jack & The Beanstalk, Pantoland at the Palladium, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, Dick Whittington, Wind in the Willows, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Palladium);
Wicked (Apollo Theatre); Anything Goes (Barbican); Prince of Egypt (Dominion); Mr Gumand the Dancing Bear (National Theatre); Little Miss Sunshine (Arcola); Flowers for Mrs Harris (Chichester Festival Theatre); Big – the Musical (Theatre Royal Plymouth/Bord Gais, Dublin); End of the Rainbow (National Tour); Oklahoma (National Tour);Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Savoy Theatre/National Tour); The Pajama Game (Shaftesbury Theatre); Radio Times (The Watermill/National Tour); A Bowl Of Cherries (Charing Cross Theatre); The Invisible Man (Menier Chocolate Factory); Arthur Saville’s Crime (National Tour); Chicago (National Tour); The Wizard of Oz (Royal Festival Hall); Half A Sixpence (National Tour); Santa Claus The Musical, The Wizard of Oz (Mayflower); Oliver (National Tour); The Pirates of Penzance (National Tour); Confusions (National Tour); Travels With My Aunt (National Tour); The Goodbye Girl (The Albery); Copacabana (National Tour/Prince of Wales Theatre); One for the Road (Bristol Old Vic); Carmen Jones (Old Vic); Me and My Girl (Adelphi Theatre).
TV and Film includes:Death in Paradise, Would I Lie To You, Midsomer Murders, House of Games, The Grinch, Showstoppers, Cue Gary, The 6’ O’Clock Show, The Saturday Gang, Copycats, So You Wanna Be Top, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, The Tony Ferrino Phenomenon, The Bob Monkhouse Show, Don Black – Diamonds Are Forever, One Drop (Short Film).
Rachael Wooding | Grizabella
Training: Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts.
Theatre includes:Military Wives (York Theatre Royal); Standing at the Sky’s Edge (Gillian Lynne Theatre/National Theatre/Sheffield Crucible); Well Behaved Women (Cadogan Hall); Pretty Woman (Savoy Theatre); Fat Friends the Musical (UK Tour); Wonderland (UK Tour); Another Night Before Christmas (Bridge House Theatre); We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre); Street of Dreams (Manchester Evening News Arena); Jersey Boys (Prince Edward Theatre); Bright Lights, Big City (Hoxton Hall); Evita (UK Tour); Hairspray (Shaftesbury Theatre); Loveshack (UK Tour); Saturday Night Fever (Apollo Victoria Theatre); Footloose (UK Tour); Return to the Forbidden Planet (Lincoln Theatre Royal); A Chorus Line (Sheffield Crucible); Fame (Aldwych Theatre); Starlight Express (Bochum, Germany); Cats (Operettenhaus, Hamburg); Spirit of the Dance (US Tour); My Father’s Son (Sheffield Theatre).
TV includes:Girlfriends (ITV); Britain’s Got Talent (ITV); Al Murray’s Happy Hour (ITV); Doctors (BBC); Coronation Street (ITV); The Royal Variety Performance (ITV).
Radio includes: Friday Night is Music Night (BBC Radio 3).
Other performance includes: Christmas in New York (Broadway); Momentous Musicals (Wimbledon Theatre); Music of ABBA, Music of Queen, Musicals Rock (Liverpool Philharmonic Hall); Queen Symphonic (UK/International Tour).
Jet Yau | Mr. Mistoffelees / Quaxo
Training: Base Performing Arts College, I Got Soul Performing Arts.
Theatre includes:Gerry and Sewell (Aldwych Theatre).
Film includes: Matilda the Musical (2022).
Other credits include: Love me again (again) Music Video (John Newman); Saint Etienne Music Video (Alasdair McLellan); L’Oréal Color Trophy Award Show; JD Sports Christmas Advertisement; JD Sports Retail Conference; Homme Magazine.
Training: Bird College Conservatoire for Dance and Musical Theatre.
Theatre includes:Robin Hood (Birmingham Hippodrome); Quadrophenia: A Mod Ballet (UK Tour/Sadler’s Wells/New York City Centre); Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre); Mary Poppins (The Prince Edward Theatre); Lion King (Lyceum Theatre); Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Richmond Theatre).
TV includes: Royal Variety Performance (ITV)
Other credits include: Resilience (Short Film directed and choreographed by Stuart Winters); Starlight Express London (R&D).
Patricia Zhou | Cassandra
Training: Kirov Academy of Ballet, Washington D.C.
Dance includes:Romeo and Juliet (Benjamin Millipied, Walt Disney Concert Hall); Herrumbre, Multiplicity: Forms of Silence and Emptiness, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, White Darkness (Nacho Duato); Jewels, Ballet Imperial (George Balanchine); Yag, Secus (Ohad Naharin); Closer (Benjamin Millepied); GLASS/HANDEL (Justin Peck, Printworks); Petite Mort (Jiri Kylian); The Nutcracker (Yuri Burlaka/Vasily Medvedev); Giselle, Swan Lake (Patrice Bart); Onegin (John Cranko); Namouna (Alexei Ratmansky); Nights—nach 1001 nights (Anjelin Preljocaj); Altro Canto (Jean-Christophe Maillot); Romeo und Juliet (John Cranko); La Bayadere (Vladimir Malakhov); The Sleeping Beauty (Monica Mason, Royal Opera House); The Nutcracker (Sir Peter Wright, Royal Opera House).
BOX OFFICE INFORMATION
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Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4NU
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#OAT2026
2026 SEASON AT A GLANCE
A Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production
SHERLOCK HOLMES
Saturday 2 May – Saturday 6 June 2026
Access Performances:
BSL Interpreted: Thurs 4 June, 7.45pm
Captioned: Fri 5 June, 7.45pm
Audio Described: Sat 6 June, 2pm
Age Recommendation: 12+
Tickets from: £15
OPEN AIR THEATRE SUNDAY EVENT: FAMILY DAY Sunday 24 May 2026
Established in 1932, the multi-award-winning Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is one of the largest theatres in London (at a capacity of 1,304). Passionate about producing popular, enriching and unexpected theatre that provides a lens into the here and now, the scale and ambition of our productions together with our magical outdoor setting, makes us unique in the capital’s cultural landscape. In 2025 we welcomed just under 177,000 people to our 20-week summer season.
Drew McOnie assumed the role of Artistic Director in January 2024, and James Pidgeon was appointed Executive Director in 2021.
Over the last fifteen years, our productions have won ten Olivier Awards, ten WhatsOnStage Awards, and four Evening Standard Awards. We were named London Theatre of the Year in 2017 by The Stage, and received the Highly Commended Award for London Theatre of the Year in 2021. Our productions have toured the UK, and have transferred to both the West End and the United States. Our 2016 revival of Jesus Christ Superstar has just finished tours of the UK, North America and Australia. Our Olivier Award-winning revival of Fiddler on the Roof transferred to the Barbican Centre in May 2025 ahead of a major tour of the UK & Ireland which ended earlier this year.
As a registered charity that receives no regular public subsidy, we rely entirely on earned income and charitable contributions. Nevertheless, we have over 46,000 tickets at £25 or under available across the whole of 2026’s summer season, and we regularly work with a range of local charities. Each year, on average, we subsidise tickets for 6,000 school pupils.
Food and drink plays a significant role in the Open Air Theatre experience, with our in-house bars and restaurants including Covered Dining (certified as a Sustainably Run Restaurant), The Grill and The Pizza Oven. We also have our own picnic lawn and the West End’s longest bar!
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has become one of the most independently sustainable and financially successful producing theatres in the country, and we’re proud to embark on the next stage of our vision with ever-increasing artistic ambition and entrepreneurial spirit.
West End musicals include: Titaníque (Criterion); Hello, Dolly! (The London Palladium); The Little Big Things (@sohoplace); Crazy For You (Gillian Lynne); The Wizard of Oz (The LondonPalladium and Gillian Lynne); Oklahoma! (Wyndham’s); The Drifters Girl (Garrick); twoseasons of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (The London Palladium); MelBrooks’ Young Frankenstein (Garrick); Annie (Piccadilly); Gypsy (Savoy); The Bodyguard (Adelphi and Dominion).
Over 1 million people have seen Michael’s London Palladium pantomimes.
In 2022, with Andrew Lloyd Webber, Michael formed Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals to produce both new musicals and revivals of Andrew’s existing work. Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals productions include: Starlight Express (Troubadour); Sunset Blvd.(Savoy and St James, Broadway) and Evita (The London Palladium) starring Rachel Zegler.
With Cameron Mackintosh, he produced the Chichester Festival Theatre production of Barnum and this year, the major revival of the legendary musical Miss Saigon.
Michael produced Disney’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks on tour in the UK.
He is the Chief Executive of Crossroads Pantomimes, responsible for many of the major number one pantomimes across the UK.
Michael was awarded a companionship to the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts by Sir Paul McCartney and the Freedom of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne in recognition of his services to theatre in the region.
Crossroads Live and Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures Present
CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE NETHERWORLD
BEETLEJUICE! BEETLEJUICE! BEEEEEE …
OLIVIER-AWARD NOMINEE DAVID FYNN TO PLAY EVERYONE’S FAVOURITE GHOST-WITH-THE-MOST
PERFORMANCES BEGIN AT THE PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE WEDNESDAY 20 MAY, 2026
Crossroads Live and Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures. have summoned first casting for the highly anticipated West End premiere ofBeetlejuice The Musical. Having pored over the Handbook For The Recently Deceased and chanted his name three times in a dimly lit room, the afterlife now binds them to reveal that Olivier-nominated actor David Fynn (School of Rock, Gillian Lynne Theatre; Am I Being Unreasonable, BBC) will unleash chaos in the iconic title role of Beetlejuice.
The veil between the living and the dead will tear open when performances rise from the grave at the Prince Edward Theatre from Wednesday 20 May, 2026.
Set to bring a fresh dose of supernatural mayhem to the West End, David Fynn’s varied and diverse credits include Theatre: Dewey Finn in School of Rock (Really Useful Group / New London Theatre, West End); Tony Lumpkin in She Stoops to Conquer (National Theatre); William Barfée in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Donmar Warehouse); Dromio of Ephesus in Comedy of Errors (Washington Shakespeare Company); Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing (National Theatre); Sweets in Mojo (RSC); Ray in After the Party (Criterion, West End).
Television includes: Derek in Daddy Issues (Fudge Park Productions / BBC Three); Seth McGovern in Lazarus (Quay Street Productions / Amazon Prime Video); Ross in Belgravia: The Next Chapter (Carnival Film & TV / ITV); Alex in Am I Being Unreasonable? (Lookout Point / BBC One); Jonathan Hill in The Pembrokeshire Murders (World Productions / ITV); Dave Leigh in The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe (Story Films / ITV); Judd in Avenue 5 Series II (HBO); Jos Sedley in Vanity Fair (ITV / Amazon); Brett in Undateable Series 1–3 (Warner Bros / NBC); Wolfie in The Inbetweeners (Bwark Productions).
Film includes: Leo in Here (Sony); Kent in The Mauritanian (Wonder Street); Sam in I’d Like to Be Alone Now (Different Duck Films); Justin in Deviation (Silver Leaf Pictures); Agent in Leap Year (Spyglass Entertainment).
Fynn brings an electrifyingly devilish presence to the mischievous and irreverent character made famous on screen and stage. This new West End production promises to deliver the same offbeat humour, heartfelt moments and dazzling spectacle that has made Beetlejuice a global phenomenon.
David Fynn says of stepping into the iconic striped suit: “It’s a show I’ve admired for a long time – bold, funny, and totally chaotic. Getting the chance to step into such an iconic role is both a huge honour and a slightly surreal experience. I’m looking forward to bringing my own take to it while staying true to what makes the character so much fun. Plus, I do look good in stripes, and I am a little dead inside.”
Following three smash hit Broadway hauntings, Beetlejuice crosses the pond this year, making its West End debut at London’s Prince Edward Theatre, a Delfont Mackintosh Theatre, where it plays a strictly limited run from Wednesday 20 May, 2026 – Saturday 17 April, 2027.
Based on Tim Burton’s beloved movie classic, this wildly funny – and weirdly life-affirming – musical tells the tale of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager sharing her home with a pair of newly-deads and the demonic ghost-with-the-most, Beetlejuice. He’s dead trouble, but if you really want to feel alive, just say his name three times…
With a gleefully irreverent book, head-spinning set design and a score that’s out of this Netherworld, Beetlejuice is a ‘feast for the eyes and soul’ (Entertainment Weekly). Outrageous, but with a big (cold) heart, this is ‘screamingly good fun!’ (Variety) that’ll make you want to live – and make the most of every Day-O!
The West End production resurrects its otherworldly Broadway creative team, featuring a Book by Scott Brown and Anthony King withMusic and Lyrics by Eddie Perfect and will be directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers (Moulin Rouge! The Musical).
The London production brings together Beetlejuice The Musical’s celebrated Broadway team: Book by Tony Award nominee Scott Brown (Castle Rock) & Tony and Emmy Award-nominee Anthony King (Broad City), an original score (Music and Lyrics) by Tony Award-nominee Eddie Perfect (King Kong), Tony Award-winning Director, Alex Timbers (Moulin Rouge! The Musical), Choreography by Connor Gallagher (The Robber Bridegroom), Music Supervision, Orchestrations and Incidental Music by Kris Kukul (Joan of Arc: Into the Fire) with Additional Arrangements by Kris Kukul and Eddie Perfect.
Beetlejuice The Musical features Scenic Design by four-time Tony Award nominee David Korins (Hamilton), Costume Design by six time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long (The Producers), Lighting Design by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner (Kinky Boots), Sound Design by Tony Award winner Peter Hylenski (Moulin Rouge!), Projection Design by five-time Tony Award-nominee Peter Nigrini (Dear Evan Hansen), Puppet Design by Drama Desk Award winner Michael Curry (The Lion King), Special Effects Design by Jeremy Chernick (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), Illusions by Michael Weber (Forrest Gump), Hair & Wig Design by Drama Desk Award nominee Charles G. LaPointe, Make-Up Design by Joe Dulude II, Dance Arrangements by David Dabbon, Music Producer, Matt Stine, Casting by Harry Blumenau CDG CSA, UK General Management, Crossroads Live UK and US General Management by Bespoke Theatricals.
Beetlejuice The Musical is based on the 1988 Academy Award-winning cult Geffen Company motion picture presented by Warner Bros., Beetlejuice, with Story by Michael McDowell and Larry Wilson. The hit comedy was directed by Tim Burton and starred Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O’Hara, and Winona Ryder.
Beetlejuice The Musical opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre in 2019 and again at the Marquis Theatre in 2022 – following the COVID-19 shutdown – playing 679 combined performances. The first national US tour just concluded an 88-city tour with a final Broadway resurrection having taken place at the Palace Theatre, last year. Beetlejuice: The Musical has played internationally in Tokyo, Seoul and Melbourne and Abu Dhabi.
Beetlejuice The Musicalis produced in the UK by Crossroads Live and Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures.
Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals is today thrilled to announce further casting for Jesus Christ Superstar at The London Palladium this summer.
Tyrone Huntley* will return to his critically acclaimed Olivier Award nominated role of Judas Iscariot, Desmonda Cathabel (Hadestown) will play Mary Magdalene and David Thaxton (Sunset Boulevard) will return to the role of Pontius Pilate.
They join the previously announced Sam Ryder as Jesus and six performers sharing the role of King Herod: Jesse Tyler Ferguson (20 Jun – 11 Jul); Simon Russell Beale (13 – 25 Jul); Richard Armitage (27 Jul – 1 Aug); Boy George (3 – 15 Aug, except 8 Aug); Layton Williams (17 – 29 Aug); and Julian Clary (31 Aug – 5 Sep 2026).
Jesus Christ Superstar will play from Saturday 20 June to Saturday 5 September 2026. Tickets are on sale atlondon.jesuschristsuperstar.com.
You can catch a first glimpse of Sam Ryder performing Gethsemane when The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals airs on BBC One and iPlayer this Saturday 28 March at 7.45pm.
Tyrone Huntley is an award-winning actor, singer, and director. He returns to the role of Judas that brought him acclaim in Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), earning him Olivier and WhatsOnStage Award nominations in 2017. His extensive West End credits include Dreamgirls,The Book of Mormon, Hairspray, and The View Upstairs. His directorial debut: Ain’t Misbehavin’ earnt him a Stage Debut nomination. He recently made his US stage debut as Simon in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl.
Desmonda Cathabel most recently starred as Eurydice in Hadestown (Lyric Theatre, West End). She was awarded the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year 2022 and in 2023 she was a quarter-finalist on ITV’s talent competition Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream. Her further stage credits include: Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin (UK & Ireland Tour); Alternate Kim in Miss Saigon (Sheffield Crucible); Lorene in From Here To Eternity (Charing Cross Theatre).
David Thaxton returns to the role of Pontius Pilate, having been part of the original Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre company. His extensive theatre credits include: Sunset Boulevard (West End & Broadway; Olivier Nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical), Passion (Donmar Warehouse; Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical), Les Misérables (Sondheim/Queen’s) and The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s).
Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic global phenomenon is directed by Tim Sheader with choreography by Olivier Award-winner Drew McOnie and design by Tony and Olivier Award-winner Tom Scutt. Reuniting the creative team of the 2016 production 10 years on to create a unique staging of their Olivier award-winning, worldwide smash-hit production. The production which was originally created and produced at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, will play a limited 11-week season at The London Palladium.
Jesus Christ Superstar follows the events of the last days of the life of Jesus Christ, as seen through the eyes of Judas. Reflecting the rock roots that defined a generation, the legendary score includes ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’, ‘Gethsemane’ and the iconic title number ‘Superstar’.
Originally released as a concept album, Jesus Christ Superstar opened on Broadway in 1971, at the Mark Hellinger Theatre, where it was nominated for 5 Tony Awards including Best Original Score. The original London production ran for over eight years. By the time it closed, after 3,358 performances, it had become the longest-running musical in West End history at that time.
Joining director Tim Sheader, choreographer Drew McOnie and designer Tom Scutt on the creative team aremusical supervisor Tom Deering (Standing at the Sky’s Edge – Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Contribution), lighting designer Lee Curran (A Streetcar Named Desire – Olivier Award Nomination for Best Lighting Design), sound designer Adam Fisher (Sunset Boulevard – Olivier Award for Best Sound Design), fight director Kate Waters (Othello) and casting directors Grindrod Burton Casting.
Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals’ recent productions include the smash hit Evita at The London Palladium last Summer, the seven-time Olivier-Award and three-time Tony-Award winning revival of SUNSET BLVD., and Starlight Express, which will embark on a World Tour in spring 2027 after concluding it’s London run. This year they bring CATS: The Jellicle Ball to Broadway, opening at the Broadhurst Theatre, and a brand-new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s global sensation CATS to Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre ahead of a major UK Tour.
Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals presents the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production by arrangement with LW Entertainment.
Bridge Theatre New cast members joining INTO THE WOODS at Bridge Theatre from 20 April announced
London Theatre Company have today announced new cast members joining the company of Into The Woods.From Monday 20 AprilMelanie La Barrie (Hadestown) will play the Witch, John Owen-Jones (Les Misérables) will play the Narrator/Mysterious Man, Jack Quarton (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)will play the Steward, Rachel Tucker (Wicked) will play the Baker’s Wife and Jodie Jacobs (Fiddler on the Roof) joins as Standby. Hughie O’Donnell (King Lear), currently playing the Steward, will play the role of the Baker.
They join original cast members Valda Aviks as Grandmother/Giant, Geoffrey Aymer as Cinderella’s Father, Bella Brown as Rapunzel, Chumisa Dornford-May as Cinderella, Jo Foster (Olivier Award nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical) as Jack, Jennifer Hepburn as Cinderella’s Stepmother, Hana Ichijo as Lucinda, Julie Jupp as Jack’s Mother, Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson as Florinda, Gracie McGonigal asLittle Red Ridinghood, Oliver Savile (Olivier Award nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical)asCinderella’s Prince/Wolf, Rhys Whitfield as Rapunzel’s Prince and Standbys Taite-Elliot Drew, Jacob Fowler, Sophie Linder-Lee and Chloe Saracco.
Playing their final performances on Saturday 18 April 2026 are Katie Brayben (Olivier Award nominated for Best Actress in a Musical) asthe Baker’s Wife, Kate Fleetwood (Olivier Award nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical)as the Witch, Michael Gould as the Narrator/Mysterious Man and Jamie Parker (Olivier Award nominated for Best Actor in a Musical) as the Baker.
Into The Woods,directed by Jordan Fein with set and costume design by Tom Scutt,plays the Bridge Theatre until Saturday 30 May 2026. Tickets are on sale at bridgetheatre.co.uk.
Into The Woods has recently been nominated for 11 Olivier Awards – the joint highest tally of 2026 – including Best Musical Revival, Best Director, Best Set Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design and Best Sound Design, as well as across all four performer categories in which it is eligible.
________
Why would you go into the woods?
To sell the cow To visit mother To see the king To lift the spell
In Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s dazzling musical, the Baker, the Baker’s Wife, the Witch, Jack, Little Red Ridinghood, Cinderella and Rapunzel take us beyond happy ever after to discover what really matters.
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Sondheim and Lapine’s second collaboration after Sunday in the Park with George brilliantly weaves together four Grimms’ fairy-tales. On its Broadway debut in 1986, Into The Woods won Tony awards each for Sondheim (Best Original Score) and Lapine (Best Book). In London it has had productions by Richard Jones (Phoenix Theatre, 1990), John Crowley (Donmar, 1998) and Timothy Sheader (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, 2010). This is its first major London production since 2016.
The creative team headed up by director Jordan Fein and set and costume designer Tom Scutt, are musical supervisor and musical director Mark Aspinall, sound designer Adam Fisher,lighting designer Aideen Malone, video designer Roland Horvath, movement director Jenny Ogilvie, wigs, hair & make-up designer Sam Cox, puppetry designers Cheryl ‘Chuck’ Brown, Max Humphries and Tom Scutt, production manager Chris Hay, associate director Georgia Green, scenic associate David Allen, associate musical director Alex Beetschen, associate sound designer Ollie Durrant, associate lighting designer Lucy Adams, associate costume designer Lucy Martin, wigs, hair & make-up supervisor Charlie Watson, props supervisors Jonathan Hall and Chris Marcus for Marcus Hall Props, orchestral management is by Andy Barnwell and Rich Weeden for BW Musicians and casting director is Stuart Burt CDG CSA.
Into The Woodsis produced by London Theatre Company and presented in association with Jamie Wilson Productions.
[London, 25 March] After its London premiere and a series of triumphant, award-winning, sold-out Australian seasons — including a five-star run at the Sydney Opera House – producers announce a one-off performance of Kadimah Yiddish Theatre’s Yentl, a bold and acclaimed new adaptation of Isaac Bashevis Singer’s short story.
On 1 April, audiences can attend a special one-off queer night of Yentl at the Marylebone Theatre, celebrating all things LGBTQ+ in theatre, with an exclusive queer-focused post-show Q&A with the cast and director/writer Gary Abrahams hosted by the fabulous Ralph Bogard. The Q&A discussion is entitled “Understanding Queer Shame and our relationship to spirituality and religious orthodoxy”, and will go further into depth on the show’s queer themes.
Ralph Bogard is as an accomplished actor and singer as well as a director and host. Notably hosting at legendary venues such as ‘The Prince Charles Cinema’ and ‘Camp John Waters’ where he has interviewed many creatives such as Stephen Dorff, Debbie Harry, Johnny Knoxville and Ricki Lake. Recently Ralph was the alternate for ‘Tevye’ in the Olivier Award winning production of Fiddler On The Roof (Regents Park Open Air Theatre) and originated the role of ‘Hassan’ in the UK tour of ‘I Should Be So Lucky. He has directed award winning plays such as The Importance Of Being Anxious (Encore Award winner at Hollywood Fringe Festival) and recently ‘It Never Rains’. Alongside this he is also a performance and cabaret artist whose work has been seen at the Tate Modern and with the National Trust and National Archives.
Furthermore, LGBTQ+ audience members can attend the performance of Yentl at a discount. The code YENTLANDBENTL grants 30% off tickets, and is applicable to only the 1 April performance.
Yentl is directed and co-written by Gary Abrahams with co-writers Galit Klas and Elise Hearst, with set and costume design by Dann Barber, lighting design by Rachel Burke, and original composition and sound design by Max Lyandvert. Yiddish translation is by Professor Rivke Margolis.
Gary Abrahams, Executive Director of Kadimah Yiddish Theatre said, “It’s been fascinating and deeply rewarding to see how queer and queer aligned audiences have responded to the show over its various seasons. Yentl – as a figure and a fable- has taken on a life of their own within queer culture and folklore. Giving the story this Yiddish treatment – in style, tone, and high theatricality- furthers this aspect. We’re thrilled to host a specific LBGTQI+ performance.”
Lew Forman, Associate Producer said, “Bringing Yentl over to the UK has been a journey that so many have supported – we have been overwhelmed by the positive response to the show so far, and in the last few weeks of our run, we are really keen to reach further audiences, especially the LGBTQIA+ audiences that I think Gary and the creative team have done such a fantastic job of representing in the show. I am so grateful that we can join forces with Ralph Bogard to bring this special evening to our audience, which of course is open to all with incredible value tickets including the post-show discussion.”
Under the leadership of award-winning directors Evelyn Krape (Artistic Director) and Gary Abrahams (Executive Director), Kadimah Yiddish Theatre (KYT) has re-emerged as one of Melbourne’s most courageous and thought-provoking theatre companies. As the only contemporary bilingual Yiddish-English theatre company in Australia and one of only a handful worldwide, KYT is known for telling urgent, universal stories through a distinctly Yiddish lens.
The Kadimah has championed Yiddish language, culture and theatre since its establishment in Melbourne in 1911 and staged its first in-house production in October 1925, making Kadimah Yiddish Theatre the oldest theatre company in Australia. The London international premiere of Yentl is a major highlight of its 100th anniversary year.
Yentl is presented and managed in the UK by award-winning international production company Wild Yak Productions (The Mongol Khan, London Coliseum; Slava’s SnowShow, West End & UK Tour; What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank, Marylebone Theatre) in association with Counterminers CIC, a younger production company focused on artistic development and industry outreach.
