VALENTINE’S DAY CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT

JENA Pandya & ASHLEY DAY

to play the ROMANTIC LEADS in

the NEW MUSICAL COMEDY

COME FALL IN LOVE

The DDLJ Musical

Manchester Opera House
29 May – 21 June 2025

It was announced today that Jena Pandya and Ashley Day will play the iconic lovers Simran and Rog (Roger) in Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical, the new musical comedy based on one of the biggest blockbuster films in the history of Indian cinema, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ).

The show makes its UK premiere at Manchester Opera House on Thursday 29 May 2025 and runs until Saturday 21 June 2025.

Jena Pandya (Bhangra Nation, Mamma Mia) said: ‘I’m so thrilled to be playing Simran in Come Fall In Love – The DDLJ Musical. It is amazing to be part of telling a story that means so much to so many people. The original film has become a part of the cultural fabric of India, and to get to bring this story to life on stage in Manchester is such a joy.’

Ashley Day (An American in Paris, Dynasty) added: ‘Come Fall In Love – The DDLJ Musical is a true romantic comedy. The script is incredibly funny and full of heart and what l love most is how it shows two cultures, each staying true to their roots while embracing something bigger than themselves. The music has this unbelievable mix of musical theatre and Punjabi pop-something l’ve never seen done on stage. The show is about Family, Love, empathy and fighting for what truly matters. TRUE HONEST LOVE! Especially in today’s world, that message feels more relevant than ever. It’s a timeless story, and I’m thrilled to be bringing Rog to life on stage.’

Jena Pandya recently played the lead in the new musical Bhangra Nation at Birmingham Rep to incredible reviews.  Prior to this, Jena played Sophie in Mamma Mia. Jena has worked with screen and stage director Andy Fickman multiple times, including playing Arlene in 13 Going on 30.

Ashley Day is an actor, singer, and dancer known for his leading performances in both the UK and the USA.  On screen, Ashley can be seen as a recurring character, Colin McNaughton, in the hit series Dynasty (Netflix).

Ashley’s theatre career includes leading roles such as: Bob Wallace in White Christmas (5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle); Robert Martin in The Drowsy Chaperone (Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, Pittsburgh); Nick Arnstein in Funny Girl (Théâtre Marigny, Paris); Billy Lawlor in 42nd Street (Theatre Royal Drury Lane, West End); Jerry Mulligan in An American in Paris (Dominion Theatre, West End); Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Kilworth House Theatre); Bill Calhoun/Lucentio in Kiss Me, Kate (National Tour); Troy Bolton in High School Musical (National Tour); and Curly in Oklahoma (National Tour), for which he received a nomination for Best Performer in a Musical at the UK Theatre Awards.

Other stage credits include: Freddie Falls in Freddie Falls in Love (Joyce Theater, New York); The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre, West End); The Wizard of Oz (London Palladium, West End); Babes in Arms (Chichester Festival Theatre); On The Town (English National Opera); Evita (Adelphi Theatre, West End); Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre, West End); and Matthew Bourne’s The Nutcracker (National Tour).

Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical is set in the UK and India and directed by Aditya Chopra, the original director of the record-breaking, award-sweeping Hindi-language film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, also known as DDLJ. DDLJ is the longest-running title in Indian cinema, playing continuously in Mumbai since its release in 1995.

Cultures will collide in the stage musical adaptation of the beloved hit romantic-comedy film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, set to the exuberant beat of 18 all-new English songs created for the production.

The award-winning creative team for Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical includes Book and Lyrics by Nell Benjamin (Mean Girls with Tina Fey, Olivier Award winner for Legally Blonde with Laurence O’Keefe), Music by Vishal Dadlani and Sheykhar Ravjiani (popularly called Vishal & Shekhar in India), Choreography by Rob Ashford (Tony, Olivier and Emmy Award winner whose credits include Frozen, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway), Co-Choreography – Indian Dances by Shruti Merchant (Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl, Taj Express), Scenic Design by Derek McLane (two-time Tony Award winner whose credits include MJ the Musical and Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Broadway and West End), Casting is by David Grindrod CDG for Grindrod Burton Casting, Lighting Design by Japhy Weideman, Sound Design by Tony Gayle, Video Design by Akhila Krishnan, the Musical Supervisor and Arranger is Ted Arthur and Musical Direction is by Ben Holder.

Further casting information will be announced at a later date.

The World Premiere of Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical was produced in 2022 at The Old Globe, San Diego, California.

Barry Edelstein, Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director.

Timothy J. Shields, Audrey S. Geisel Managing Director.

THE BRIDGE THEATRE
RELEASE NEW PRODUCTION PHOTOS OF

RICHARD II

STARRING JONATHAN BAILEY
DIRECTED BY NICHOLAS HYTNER

NOW PLAYING UNTIL 10 MAY 2025

bridgetheatre.co.uk

London Theatre Company have today released production photos of Richard II. Starring Jonathan Bailey and directed by Nicholas Hytner,this fresh take on Shakespeare’s subtle, caustic and powerful play is currently playing the Bridge Theatre until 10 May 2025.

Joining Jonathan Bailey (Wicked, Bridgerton, Company) as Richard II, is Royce Pierreson (The Witcher, Judy, Line of Duty) as Henry Bullingbrook, Christopher Osikanlu Colquhoun (Absentia, The Doctor – Duke of York’s Theatre, Comedy of Errors – RSC) as Earl of Northumberland, Olivia Popica (The Wheel of Time, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, The Tattooist of Auschwitz) as Queen Isabel, Amanda Root (Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream,  Macbeth – RSC, Persuasion) as Alice Green and the Duchess of York, Phoenix Di Sebastiani (The Great, Top Boy, Anne Boleyn) as Thomas Mowbray and Groom, and Clive Wood (London’s Burning, The Tempest – Theatre Royal Haymarket, Antony and Cleopatra – Shakespeare’s Globe) as John of Gaunt. Returning to the Bridge Theatre is Michael Simkins (Guys & Dolls – Bridge Theatre, The Crown, Silent Witness) as the Duke of York.

The cast is completed by Adam Best (Peaky Blinders, The Crown, Twelfth Night – National Theatre) as Sir John Bagot, Seamus Dillane (Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, The Invention of Love – Hampstead Theatre) as Lord Surrey, Vinnie Heaven (Cowbois –  RSC, A Midsummer Night’s Dream –  Shakespeare’s Globe, Cuckoo – Soho Theatre) as Aumerle, Jordan Kouamé (Wolf Hall 2, The Mirror and the Light –  RSC) as Sir John Bushy and Harry Percy, Gerard Monaco (A Small Family Business, Children of the Sun, The Kitchen – National Theatre, A View from the Bridge – Duke of York’s Theatre) as Sir Stephen Scroop and Keeper, George Taylor (The Lady In The Van, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows) as Lord Fitzwater, and Badria Timimi (Our Girl, My Brilliant Friend – National Theatre) as Abbess of Carlisle. Understudies are Emma Bown (Romeo and Juliet – Original Shakespeare Co, Sex Education), Martin Carroll (Twelfth Night, Richard III – The Apollo, The Royal Hunt of the Sun – National Theatre) and Stephan Boyce (Aladdin – Lyric Hammersmith, The Coloured Valentino – Arcola Theatre).

Richard II is charismatic, eloquent, and flamboyantly witty. And a disastrous King – dishonest, dangerous, and politically incompetent. Echoing down the centuries is the perennial problem: how to deal with a ruler who has a rock-solid right to rule but is set on wrecking the country he leads. Shakespeare’s subtle, caustic, and powerful play revolves round two startlingly modern figures: Richard, an autocrat who believes he is divinely sanctioned, and Henry Bullingbrook, a hard-headed pragmatist who has genuine authority.

Richard II is designed by Bob Crowley (for the Bridge Theatre: Straight Line Crazy; The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage; in the West End: Olivier Award-winning An American in Paris) with Lighting Design by Bruno Poet (for the Bridge Theatre: Julius Caesar; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; in the West End: Tina – The Tina Turner Musical) and Sound Design by Carolyn Downing (Olivier Award-winning: Chimerica, Summer and Smoke and Life of Pi). Grant Olding (For the Bridge Theatre: The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage, A Christmas Carol; Two Ladies; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Alys, Always and Young Marx) is the Composer. Jeannette Nelson is the Voice and Text Coach.James Cousins (for the Bridge Theatre: The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage; Olivier Award-winning Guys & Dolls) is the Movement Director and Kate Waters (for the Bridge Theatre: Guys & Dolls; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Julius Caesar) is the Fight Director. The Casting Director is Robert Sterne (for the Bridge Theatre: Straight Line Crazy; The Southbury Child; for screen: Game of Thrones; The Crown) with Christopher Worrall as Casting Associate. Lily Dyble is Associate Director, Jaimie Todd is Associate Designer, Max Narula is Associate Lighting Designer, Charlie Smith is Associate Sound Designer.Eleanor Dolan is the Costume Supervisor and Lily Mollgaard is the Props Supervisor.

Jonathan Bailey shot to global fame as Lord Anthony in the popular period drama Bridgerton. He has recently starred in the critically acclaimed Showtime series Fellow Travelers and as lead love interest, Fiyero in the global hit film adaptation of Wicked. Bailey has recently wrapped production on Jurassic World, leading the film alongside Scarlett Johansson. His prolific and acclaimed stage career includes playing Edgar in Ian McKellen’s King Lear and winning an Olivier Award for his portrayal of Jamie in Company.  

For the Bridge Theatre, Nicholas Hytner has directed Young Marx; Julius Caesar; Allelujah!; Alys, Always; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Two Ladies; Beat the Devil; The Shrine; Bed Among the Lentils; A Christmas Carol; Bach & Sons; The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage; Straight Line Crazy; The Southbury Child; John Gabriel Borkman; and Guys & Dolls. Previously he was Director of the National Theatre from 2003 to 2015.

Richard II will play the Bridge Theatre until 10 May 2025 having started preview performances on 10 February.

STRATFORD EAST THEATRE – UNTIL 8th MARCH 2025

REVIEWED BY JACKIE THORNTON

4****

“All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others.” As George Orwell’s iconic fable turns 80, this bold and energetic new staging swaps the original’s critique of Stalinism for a wider study of societal inequalities that lays bare the best and worst of human nature. Though the content may be focused on imbalances of power and participation, this production has skilfully integrated British Sign Language and audio description into the show, ensuring no audience member’s experience is less equal than others. Award-winning playwright Tatty Hennessy’s adaptation doesn’t shy away from unsettling scenes of violence and despair but also injects warmth, humour and intimacy.

Particular highlights are pigeon Milo (Em Prendergast) scootering in to bring us up to date with local gossip and some great animal puns; Farshid Rokey’s laddish and hilarious portrayal of Minty the sheep; Shakeel Kimotho as Molly the prized horse who refuses to dispense with her ribbons.

Working with the National Youth Theatre, director Amy Leach’s vision strives to ensure modern resonance by lingering on how the circumstances we are born into are never our
choice yet impact massively on our ability to thrive or not. A cast of varying regional accents, ages, ethnicities and disabilities all labouring as animals with little hope of reward reinforces this point. It’s also beautifully illustrated in Gabriel Paul’s raw and captivating performance as Boxer the horse with his unwavering desire to die knowing he built something. Brydie Service’s Clara, the tragic mother hen who must surrender her young, is just as charged while Tianah Hodding as Clover, the ever-loving yet gullible horse, earns our affection and sympathy and anchors us to the story throughout.

Hayley Grindle’s clever set and costume design draws on industrial farming, employing large mesh cages for the animals to painstakingly move around the stage in demonstration of their toil. Split level staging positions the comfortable living room of nemesis Farmer Jones (Kaya Ulasli) in a glass box above the exposed, grim barn and farmyard below. A constant reminder of the glaring inequality.

What really shines through is the brutality of farm labour and the relentlessness of a life lived with no autonomy. Indeed Benjamin the donkey (David Nellist), aptly dressed in adonkey jacket, glumly states that if you’re at the bottom of the pile, the daily grind never lets up regardless of who’s in charge. So after the animals revolt and when Snowball the pig (Robin Morrissey) is every bit the political idealist) and brother Napoleon (the very watchable Tachia Newall) vie for leadership, it’s safe to say the heady days of full rations, democratic decrees and joyous singing of ‘Beasts of England’ don’t last long. as Squealer plays the part of the sly pig with relish and Joshua-Alexander WIlliams makes a ferocious yet loyal Blue the dog. We may be watching humans play animals but human nature is there to be exposed in all of its facets: greed, grief, loyalty, anger, love, revenge.

A gripping and thought-provoking rendition of the much studied novella, full of youthful energy and ripe to cause sparks in the 21st Century

Theatre Royal, York – until 22nd February 2025

Reviewed by Katie Brewerton

4****

‘Oh My God You Guys!’ York Light Opera Company once again grace the stage of the York Theatre Royal, this time with their adaption of Legally Blonde, the musical. 

Based on the smash hit film of the same name Legally Blonde focuses on Elle Woods played by Emma Swainston. After a difficult break up from the man she hoped to marry, Warner (Zander Flick) Elle decides she must become more serious if she wants to win him back. She knuckles down and gets herself accepted to Harvard Law school to join Warner in Professor Callahan’s class. Elle soon learns it’s not going to be easy and she will need to at least open a law book if she wants to remain in the class. With the help of Emmett (Zander Fick) she works her way to the top of the class and earns one of Professor Callahan’s prestigious internships, resulting in working on the case of fellow Delta Nu alum Brooke ‘Pippa Elmes’ who has accused of murdering her husband. Elle soon learns that helping clients while keeping her integrity in tact is what she wants to do and she doesn’t need a man by her side. 

This production is a fun feel good musical which will soon have you laughing and singing along. Fans of the film won’t be disappointed as the musical version sticks closely to the original story.  York Light have produced a fantastic musical to a very high standard, some of the cast namely Neil Wood as Professor Callahan and Zander Fick as Emmett wouldn’t be out of place on a west end stage. The music is fun and catchy with great songs including ‘Omigod You Guys‘ and ‘Legally Blonde‘ and the humorous ‘Gay or European‘. If you get a change to see this fabulous show be sure to take it and you won’t regret it

Octagon Theatre, Bolton – until Saturday 8th March 2025

Review by Rebecca Hampson

5*****

Directed by Lotte Wakeham and reset in Lancashire by Mina Anwar, this glorious reprisal of Shirley Valentine with Mina Anwar in the title roll of Shirley once more is an absolute must see.

Following the story of housewife Shirley, stuck in a rut and living solely to please others, when the opportunity to escape it all for two weeks in Greece arises it takes every ounce of courage and strength she has to take the leap. 

From the moment this play began I could not stop laughing. Anwar’s resetting of the play in Lancashire was authentic and resonated well with its northern audience. Her whitty one liners and dialogue ‘to the wall’ left every member of the audience around me in hysterics as we grew to love Shirley right from the very beginning.

As a one woman show, set and props played a key role in keeping the pace of the play and allowing us to get to know Shirley by the way she moved and interacted with the world around her. Sitting down at the table she spoke to the audience (the wall) peeling potatoes and telling us about her husband Joe. It became clear soon after that she was preparing his dinner, chopping potatoes into chips which were placed into a chip pan which began to fill the entire theatre with the aroma of freshly cooked chips. To me this choice was genius. Smelling the chips I was completely and entirely enthralled forgetting the audience around me and zoning solely onto Shirley.

During the interval the set was switched from Shirley’s home to Greece as she traveled for her adventure. As the backdrop was pulled across the stage a sound effect of a plane flying over was timed perfectly with the flow of the curtain. This was another extremely impressive choice which I felt elevated the level of this performance. The attention to detail was phenomenal.

This performance highlighted the sheer talent of Anwar with her ability to hold the attention of every audience member in a 2 hour solo show. She truly deserved the standing ovation she recieved at curtain close.

Shirley Valentine is on tour with dates at Bolton Octagon until Saturday 8th March and further dates at The Dukes, Lancaster: Wednesday, March 12, 2025 to Saturday, March 22, 2025 and closing in Blackpool Grand Theatre, Blackpool: Tuesday, April 1, 2025 to Saturday, April 5, 2025. 

Riverside Studios, London – until 9 March 2025

Reviewed by Phil Brown

5*****

It has to be said that Ordinary Madness is mostly a repackaging of the content originally presented as Life With a Little “L” at the Riverside Studios in the summer of 2024 (also reviewed by Fairy Powered Productions).  I was rather hoping, possibly naively, that it would be a further exploration of Charles Bukowski’s writings with entirely new content.  There is certainly some new content  – Ordinary Madness runs to 110 minutes without interval – 20 minutes longer than Life With a Little “L”.  (The change of title is an improvement although I can’t help thinking that Bukowski would have preferred something with “crazy” in it).

The new content consists of a well chosen selection of Bukowski poems – brim full of sharp wit and dark humour.  There are three to introduce the show (Hello, How Are You, Bluebird and The Crunch) and several others (A Challenge to the Dark, Style, Confession,  and Trapped) used as bridges between the longer scenes – essentially playlets – based on Bukowski’s prose.  The show concludes with the final poem, Curtain.

It is pleasing that Bukowski’s work is still getting recognition (he died aged 73 in 1994), but he remains as far from the UK mainstream as his native Los Angeles is from Hammersmith.  He deserves far wider appreciation, on a par with Hemingway, say, who was an influence and had similar tough guy, hard living characteristics.  Occasionally mistaken as being part of the beat poet scene, as he sometimes appeared in the same journals, I suspect his uncompromising exploration of life’s grittier side, portraying the chaos and beauty of ordinary human existence is too brutal and direct for widespread acceptance.  He himself said “I don’t like the clean-shaven boy with the necktie and the good job. I like desperate men, men with broken teeth and broken minds and broken ways. They interest me. They are full of surprises and explosions”.

Bukowski was born in Germany, but grew up in LA pursuing a career as an author and poet, with some impact on underground and mainstream American culture, particularly popular music.  Time magazine named him “laureate of American lowlife” and it’s easy to imagine that living in Tinseltown would have exposed him to a wide spectrum of the desperate to fuel his writing.

Ordinary Madness is described in the programme as “about the beauty in the dirt, the extraordinary in the mundane, the hard shell with the soft centre, about that bluebird in our soul that wants to get out”.  It’s set in, and with music from, the 1950s to the 1970s.  It is certainly an intriguing sequence of snapshots of man-woman transactions of varying degrees of desperation that occasionally veer off into the surreal. But according to Bukowski, “In my work, as a writer, I only photograph, in words, what I see”.  One common feature throughout is a palpable sense of menace – jeopardy and risk are ever-present.  This is a compelling and relateable, but not always comfortable watch.  It’s not all craziness though, there are moments of pure comedy.

The ambitious adaptation to the stage (Art Theatre) shows flair and serious expertise, with each story mixing explanatory narration and dialogue cleverly. The new content gives further insight into the Bukowski mind and definitely enhances the overall experience (director – Anya Viller).  The choice of soundtrack and music in the stories is nostalgic and effective, but can on occasion drown out some of the spoken word.  The simple set and imaginative use of props (Alexandra Dashevskaya), well chosen costumery (Joseph Nigoghossian), and atmospheric lighting (Benjamin Vetluzhskikh) are all well judged and support each of the performances well.  The focus is always firmly on the two or three actors on stage. 

Perhaps more than most, this impressive production rests on individual performing ability, and the 5 exceptionally versatile players are superlative and mesh beautifully on stage  The cast of three women (Amy Leeson, Francesca Wilson Waterworth and Victoria Valcheva) and two men (James Viller, Andrew Buzzeo) bring these stories to life with considerable skill, energy and nuance.  I particularly enjoyed the thoroughly convincing American accents – this show would not work as well using any other diction.

The six stories at the heart of Ordinary Madness are: 

• ‘Loneliness’ – a woman mulls over and then responds to a “Woman Wanted” ad she sees in a car window, leading to a spooky encounter 
• ‘A Man’ – a woman escapes an abusive husband and visits a down and out acquaintance in a trailer park and he gradually succumbs to his lust for her legs
• ‘Hard without music’ – a man advertises his music collection and eventually sells it to two nuns for $35
• ‘Love for $17.50’ – a man becomes obsessed with a mannequin in a shop window and eventually buys her for company (and more?)
• ‘A .45 to pay the rent’ – a man and his daughter have a surreal relationship during the normal day.  He then prepares to “work the night shift” of crime.  
• ‘Post Office’ – Bukowski’s first, autobiographical novel covering work for the US Post.  As Hank Chinaski, it focuses on his relationship with his first wife Joyce 

These brief descriptions give only a flavour of what to expect and clearly can’t do justice to the richness of the material, the searing, unfiltered prose and the subtle qualities of the outstanding performances which make the ordinary, extraordinary.

This brilliantly realised show highlights the vast possibilities of adapting prose for the stage with imagination and skill.  It deserves praise for originality and reviving an overlooked author.   I sincerely hope there is more to come.   A thoroughly absorbing and irresistible show.  I can’t recommend it highly enough.

FURTHER WEST END AND BROADWAY STARS JOIN THE CAST OF

 THE GREAT GATSBY

JOINING THE PARTY AT LONDON COLISEUM FROM 11 APRIL ALONGSIDE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED
JAMIE MUSCATO AND FRANCES MAYLI McCANN ARE:

CORBIN BLEU (High School Musical)

     AMBER DAVIES (Pretty Woman)

JOEL MONTAGUE (Hamilton)

JOHN OWEN-JONES (Les Misérables)

  JON ROBYNS (Phantom of the Opera)

RACHEL TUCKER (Wicked)

londongatsby.com

Thursday 13 February 2025, London: Producer Chunsoo Shin is thrilled to announce full casting for his smash hit new musical adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s landmark novel. The Great Gatsby makes its West End debut at The London Coliseum this spring. Preview performances will begin on Friday 11 April. The show will run until Sunday 7 September 2025. Tickets are on sale via londongatsby.com.

Joining the previously announced Jamie Muscato (Moulin Rouge! The Musical) as Jay Gatsby and Frances Mayli McCann as Daisy Buchanan, are Corbin Bleu (High School Musical) as Nick Carraway, Amber Davies (Pretty Woman) as Jordan Baker, Joel Montague (Hamilton) as George Wilson, John Owen-Jones (Les Misérables) as Meyer Wolfsheim, Jon Robyns (Phantom of the Opera) as Tom Buchanan and Rachel Tucker (Wicked) as Myrtle Wilson.

Completing the cast are George Crawford (Waitress), Jordan Crouch (Anything Goes), Kiara Dario (Miss Saigon), Frances Dee (Matilda), Aimée Fisher (Waitress), Tom Andrew Hargreaves (Pretty Woman), Alyn Hawke (Come From Away), Ediz Mahmut (Hadestown), Jamel Matthias (Why Am I So Single?), Nevé McGuiness-Dyce (Starlight Express), Rose Ouellette (The Wizard of Oz), Sophie Pourret (Guys and Dolls), William Richardson (Les Misérables) and Lily Wang (Burlesque) as ensemble. As well as swings Liv Alexander (Cabaret), Taylor Alman (Greatest Days), Lauren Hampton (Mamma Mia!), Jared Irving (Aladdin), Samuel John-Humphreys (Sister Act) and Millie Mayhew (Wicked).

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s timeless, seminal novel comes to the West End stage in a dazzling new musical. The Great Gatsby opened at The Broadway Theatre in April 2024 direct from a record-breaking, sold-out world premiere at Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey in late 2023. 

Chunsoo Shin, the lead producer of The Great Gatsby musical, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to announce the full cast for The Great Gatsby in London. Each and every one of these performers bring extraordinary talent, energy, and passion to this production, capturing the glamour, drama, and excitement of the Roaring Twenties. We cannot wait for West End audiences to experience the magic, music, and spectacle of this iconic story like never before.”

One of the most popular novels of all time, The Great Gatsby has sold over 30 million copies worldwide since its release in 1925 and continues to sell over 500,000 per year. The novel has been translated into over 42 different languages, and has been adapted for TV, radio plays, video games, and multiple films – including the acclaimed Baz Luhrmann feature film starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Get ready to roar because the Tony Award®-winning new musical The Great Gatsby is coming to London and will be the party of the century. Fresh from its current smash-hit success on Broadway, this “shimmering, sparkling spectacle” (Variety) “explodes with life and energy” (Entertainment Weekly).

Meet mysterious millionaire, Jay Gatsby. He entertains the rich and famous with riotous parties at his Long Island mansion yet never joins in. Gatsby longs instead to reunite with his former flame Daisy Buchanan, but Daisy comes from another lifetime, long before the money…

The show features book by Jonathan Larson Grant winner Kait Kerrigan (The Mad Ones), music and lyrics by Tony Award® nominees Jason Howland (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Little Women) and Nathan Tysen (Paradise Square) and is directed by award-winning Marc Bruni (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) with choreography by Dominique Kelley (So You Think You Can Dance), Tony Award®-winning costume design by Linda Cho (Anastasia, A Gentleman’s Guide…) and Outer Critics Circle Award winning scenic and projection design by Paul Tate de Poo III (Spamalot, Tommy at The Kennedy Center).

The creative team is completed by lighting designer Cory Pattak (Spamalot), sound designer Tony Award® winner Brian Ronan (Beautiful, The Book of Mormon), hair and wig designers Drama Desk Award winner Charles G. LaPointe (The Cher Show, Spongebob Squarepants) & Rachael Geier. Arrangements are by Jason Howland, Orchestrations are by Jason Howland and Kim Scharnberg (Jekyll & Hyde), and the music producer is Grammy Award winner Billy Jay Stein for Strike Audio (Beautiful – cast album)and UK Musical Director is Chris Ma (Why Am I So Single?). Casting is by Jill Green Casting, CDG (The Devil Wears Prada, Aladdin, Warhorse).

The Great Gatsby is produced by Chunsoo Shin, acclaimed Korean musical producer, 5-time winner of Korea’s most prestigious theatrical award and OD Company president. Mark Shacket serves as Executive Producer, with General Management by Short Street Productions Ltd. Worldwide management of The Great Gatsby is by Foresight Theatrical.

Hull Truck Theatre – until 1st March 2024

Reviewed by Dawn Bennett

5*****

Mary and the Hyenas was presented by Hull Truck Theatre and Pilot Theatre. Written by Maureen Lennon with music by Billy Nomates (aka Tor Maries) and lyrics by Maureen Lennon and Billy Nomates (aka Tor Maries).

With a byline of “Six microphones and one electrifying musical score” they weren’t wrong the music just added to this fabulous story.

Mary Wollstonecraft (Laura Elsworthy) was raised in Beverley near Hull. We join her story just as she has given birth to her second daughter, Mary, (Ainy Medina) who becomes the renowned author Mary Shelley in later life, complications arise and she only has 10 days with her daughter before she dies at the age of 38. We see the story of how Mary Wollstonecraft became the acclaimed author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, how she was involved in the French Revolution, set up her own school, and how her life unfolded in the 18th century.

The cast of this production were excellent, Laura Elsworthy was a magnificent lead as Mary Wollstonecraft, she held the story together seamlessly. Laura was the only actor not to play numerous parts. Kate Hampson, Ainy Medina, Elexi Walker, Beth Cram and Kat Johns-Burke switched effortlessly between the different characters they played from wearing different costumes, a jacket here a hat there, and changing how they stood and spoke was very clever. Also, their costumes, which were brilliantly designed, and the simple but effective set (both designed by Sara Perks) added to the effectiveness of the production.

You would think that musical drama about this subject would be dark and dreary but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It was informative, funny and very entertaining and the music was up to date and fitted well with the story.

Mary Wollstonecraft only became well known after her untimely death her views of the treatment of women and women’s rights, or lack of, were views that were not agreed with in the 18th century by men and also some other women. I think that at lot of young people could benefit from watching this production as it would give them an awareness and an insight into some of the problems women encountered in history. By doing this in such an interesting and entertaining way, I feel, that it would keep their attention right to the end.

Mary and the Hyenas is at Hull Truck Theatre until 1st March. If you don’t catch it in Hull, which I really recommend you try to, you’ll be able to see it in London at Wilton’s Music Hall from 18th until 29th March when it transfers there.

A five-star production from a five-star cast.

Aylesbury Waterside – until the Saturday 15th Feb 2025 with a captioned performance Saturday at 14.00

Reviewed by Rachel Clark

5*****

Very powerful and emotional

This is play of the book written by Sebastain Faulks’s and the stage version by Rachel Wagstaff, directed by Alastair Whatley. The novel was first published in 1993 and is about a Soldier Stephen Wrayford in the First world War and his emotions through the war and his love for Isabelle Azaire – a married woman along the way.

The play is over 3 hours long – though it doesn’t feel like it and is across three parts. The stage is very simple and you wonder how they are going to do all the set changes but it works and the the set changes blend from one scene and the next scene, it is a fairly sparse set but when watching it it doesn’t feel that way and you are totally immersed with the play. You hear the ticking of a clock, birdsong and the noises export you to the set you feel part of, be prepared for gun shot later on the play!

The first scene starts with the modern day and great grandson in a bar looking for the link with the pictures drawn of places and people, as the family had found an old note book, it them moves to the 1900’s.

The play then opens with the years before the war when Stephen Wraysford – played brilliantly by James Esler, travels from England goes to work at the Azaire’s home in France. Rene Azaire is a textile factory owner, and the company is in financial trouble. Stephen is writing up a report and then goes to live with the family which includes Isabelle Azaire – played by Charlie Russell (superbly) and the stepdaughter of Isabelle Lisselle – played by Gracie Follows. Stephen then falls for Isabelle and they end up with raunchy scenes – showing some nudity and sexual scenes. The daughter who has eyes for Stephen finds out.

Stephen and Isabelle leave and live together, but for reasons unknown to Stephen Isabelle leaves, he then goes to war and doesn’t see her again, only in his imagination and memories.

The second part starts in the war, where you get to know the characters the miners and the soldiers. One of the miners is Jack Firebrace – played by Max Bowden (know for his part as Ben Mitchell in Eastenders), Tipper a young lad from the infantry -played my Raif Clake, you follow their own stories of the war and family life as they read their letters from home, it is emotional . The scenes are set in the trenches , even though intense there are some humorous parts which I think you need to take away some of the darkness of the play. The play continues with injuries and loss of comrades.

The war takes Stephen back to the town of the Azaire’s and he meets Isabelle’s sister in a bar and she arranges Stephen to meet with Isabelle , but she has changed.

There is a scene when Brennan – played by James Findlay sings a powerful chant, his voice so clear and it mesmerises you, and gets to you emotionally, it is quite haunting and as with most of the play the theatre was silent.

Near the end of the thirds part you are transported back to the modern day, with talk of the drawings, and then as he flicks through the note books the characters come on stage.

ALL of the cast where outstanding,

A very powerful play that I am so glad I have seen it and would definitely recommend it, it is recommended for 15+.

FURTHER TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED FOR

MATTHEW BOURNE’S

DOUBLE OLIVIER AWARD-WINNING

SMASH HIT PRODUCTION OF

Based on the film by MICHAEL POWELL and EMERIC PRESSBURGER

and the HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN fairytale

Music by BERNARD HERRMANN

OPENING AT PLYMOUTH THEATRE ROYAL

ON 17 NOVEMBER 2025

THEN PLAYING AT THE LOWRY, SALFORD

AHEAD OF NEW ADVENTURES’ 23^RD

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SEASON

AT SADLER’S WELLS, LONDON

AND A 2026 UK TOUR

New Adventures is delighted to announce further tour dates for Matthew Bourne’s double Olivier award-winning, smash hit production of THE RED SHOES which returnsfor a 2025/26 tour for the first time since its 2020 tour was cut short due to the pandemic.

The Red Shoes will open at Theatre Royal Plymouth from 17 November until 22 November before visiting The Lowry, Salford from 25 November until 29 November, ahead of the previously announced 7-week annual Christmas season at Sadler’s Wells from 2 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, marking New Adventures’ 23^rd consecutive Christmas season at the venue. In 2026, The Red Shoes will tour to Nottingham and Southampton, with further tour venues to be announced. Listings information below.

A sell-out before its world premiere season opened in 2016, Matthew Bourne’s triumphant adaptation of the legendary film went on to win Best Entertainment at the 2017 Olivier Awards, with Matthew Bourne winning the award for Best Theatre Choreographer. The show then returned for a national tour in 2019.

A timeless fairytale and Academy Award-winning movie, The Red Shoes has captivated audiences and inspired generations of dancers with its powerful tale of obsession, possession and one girl’s dream to be the greatest dancer in the world. Victoria Page lives to dance but her ambitions become a fierce struggle between the two men who inspire her passion.

Matthew Bourne’s magical double Olivier Award-winning production of the legendary Powell and Pressburger film is set to a score orchestrated by Terry Davies, featuring the mesmerizing music of golden-age Hollywood composer Bernard Herrmann, with sumptuous designs by Lez Brotherston (set and costumes), Paule Constable (lighting) and Paul Groothuis (sound).

An intoxicating drama where life imitates art with fateful consequences, The Red Shoes will dazzle your senses and break your heart.

THE RED SHOES is supported using public funds by Arts Council England.

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

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LISTINGS

www.new-adventures.net

MONDAY 17 – SATURDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2025

Theatre Royal Plymouth

www.theatreroyal.com

ON SALE MONDAY 3 MARCH 2025

TUESDAY 25 – SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2025

THE LOWRY, SALFORD

www.thelowry.com

on sale FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2025

TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2025 – SUNDAY 18 JANUARY 2026

SADLER’S WELLS, LONDON

www.sadlerswells.com

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 3 – SATURDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2026

THEATRE ROYAL, NOTTINGHAM

www.trch.co.uk

ON SALE FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2025

TUESDAY 10 – SATURDAY 14 MARCH 2026

MAYFLOWER THEATRE, SOUTHAMPTON

www.mayflower.org.uk/

ON SALE THURSDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2025

FURTHER TOUR DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED