Nottingham Theatre Royal- until Saturday 8 November 2025

Reviewed by Amy V Gathercole

3***

“Here and Now Brings the Beat, but not every step lands”

Cheeky, camp and cute, bursting with sparkle, Here and Now is the latest jukebox musical to hit the stage, celebrating the hits of pop supergroup Steps’ brought to us from director Rachel Kavanaugh.

As a bit of a Steps fan myself, (I even saw them at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena as a teen), I wasn’t alone in the infectious nostalgia. The audience was peppered with superfans, proudly donning vintage tour T-shirts and out-sparkling the show’s own backing dancers at times.

The story centres on four friends, Caz (Lara Denning), Vel (Jacqui Dubois), Robbie (Dean Rickards), and Neeta (Rosie Singha) who work at a UK seaside superstore called Better Best Bargains. When ringleader Caz rallies the gang to chase a “summer of love,” for her 50th birthday gift, their lives take a series of surprising turns. The mainly light-hearted plot explores friendship, dreams, and reinvention – all played out with dance routines in the store aisles around and on top of checkouts 5, 6, 7, 8 (see what they did there?).

There’s a lively mix of supporting characters, romantic entanglements and even a few well-placed villains to keep things interesting.

Lara Denning stands out as Caz, delivering vocals that blend beautifully with the signature harmonies of Steps, particularly as she sings ‘Heartbeat’. Her grounded performance gives the show its heart and lends real vocal credibility to the musical numbers. That said, the standout voice of the night belonged to Dean Rickards as Robbie. As the sole lead male vocalist, his rich, deeper tone added texture and drew the audience in with every solo. They both have voices that genuinely gel with the harmonies of Steps original sound.

The show embraces LGBTQIA+ representation with refreshing ease. Robbie’s relationship with local drag queen Jem (played with flair by River Medway) is tender, funny, and joyfully unapologetic. Rather than feeling like a box-ticking exercise, this and other storylines are woven naturally into the fabric of the plot, celebrating queer love and friendship in a way that feels both current and heartfelt. Watch out for a particularly memorable number from Gem in the second act.

The comedy drew plenty of laughs throughout. For Steps fans, the show delivers a generous helping of their biggest hits—‘Stomp’, ‘Tragedy’, and ‘Chain Reaction’ among them, alongside a few lesser-known tracks that keep the energy high and the audience tapping their feet.

Visually, the production sticks to a bold palette of hot pink and electric blue (from the set designer Tom Rogers) reflecting the vibrant, over-the-top world of the superstore setting. The choreography from Matt Cole is playful and well-paced, though occasionally repetitive and sometimes the ensemble just feel like they have no purpose in the scene.

As with many jukebox musicals, the challenge lies in marrying the songs with a coherent storyline. At multiple times, the plot feels too stretched to accommodate the lyrics and you can certainly sense the creative team scratching their heads, working hard to make the pieces fit. The second act, however, picks up the pace and delivers a more satisfying rhythm.

Ultimately, Here and Now is a feel-good night out that Steps devotees will adore. For those less familiar with the band’s back catalogue, it may lack depth, but it’s hard to resist the show’s glittery charm and infectious beat.

It’s a glitzy feel-good tribute that will delight Steps fans, even if it doesn’t quite hit every note for the uninitiated.

Hall for Cornwall, Truro – until 15 November 2025

Reviewed by Kerry Gilbert

4****

‘A Charming and Classic Murder Mystery!’

The play follows Agatha Christie’s most successful character, detective Hercule Poirot (Mark Hadfield. Poirot is invited to be part of an expedition along the Nile River to return an ancient artefact. Wealthy Linnet Ridgeway (Libby Alexandra-Cooper) asks Poirot for help, as her honeymoon with Simon Doyle (Nye Occomore) is being disrupted by his ex-fiancée Jacqueline De Bellefort (Esme Hough) who, bitter at being rejected, is stalking the couple. Poirot refuses at first, but this does not matter as, once the steamer has set sail, Linnet is found shot to death by a pistol apparently owned by Jacqueline. Tensions rise as it’s revealed that many passengers had motives – jealousy, betrayal and greed. Poirot exposes the crime in classic Christie fashion, bringing justice to a carefully staged deception.

Director, Lucy Bailey did a splendid job of keeping the audience engaged as the show builds suspense and intrigue. She adds perfect timing to the plot twists so the audience can take them in and feel the shock of it all. A standout moment for me was when Poirot delivered his big ‘reveal’ of who the murderer was, and the characters reenacted the scenes seamlessly that Poirot was referring to.

Designer, Mike Britton’s elegant split level set design captures the luxury of the steamer in the 1930’s and realistically provides a means where Poirot can eavesdrop while the passengers on the lower level make incriminating remarks. It is the perfect backdrop consisting of a series of sliding venetian screens and doors and cruise ship railings, especially when moving it creates an immersive experience with smooth scene transitions. Lighting designer (Oliver Fenwick) has created a reflective atmosphere assisted by subdued lighting which moodily bounces shafts of light that glitter off sequin dresses and a golden sarcophagus.

Costume supervisor, Sarah Holland has created outfits for the show which are classy and elegant. The artistic Salome Otterbourne (Camilla Anvar) an artist with aspirations for the stage is gloriously flamboyant with costumes to match.

Ken Ludwig’s adaption trims the original story and has slipped in some humour which prevents the show taking itself too seriously. It is a charming and classic murder mystery, which makes excellent viewing.

Credit goes to Manuel Harlan for the fantastic production images.

Scouts! The Musical & A Jaffa Cake Musical
Now Available to Stream Online!

Following their final performances this Summer, multi-award winning Gigglemug Theatre have made their two latest smash hit shows available to watch online: Scouts! The Musical, created in partnership with the Scouts, and A Jaffa Cake Musical, inspired by the 1991 court case which decided once and for all whether a Jaffa Cake is a cake or a biscuit! Both productions received multiple sell-out runs, with over 8,000 people seeing the shows this Summer alone.

Scouts! The Musical premiered at The Other Palace in 2023 before embarking on a tour earlier this year, and received a Standing Ovation Award as well as nominations for a WhatsOnStage Award, an Offie Award & four Fringe Theatre Awards. Meanwhile, A Jaffa Cake Musical first appeared in workshop form in 2024 as part of MTFest and went on to enjoy two sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, where it accumulated well over 50 four & five star reviews.

Artistic Director of Gigglemug Theatre, Sam Cochrane, said “I am thrilled that our two
most successful productions will now find a new life online. We could only tour the shows
to a handful of places, but now wherever you are in the world you’ll be able to watch
Scouts! The Musical and A Jaffa Cake Musical from the comfort of your own home
whenever you like! We were lucky enough to regularly sell out which meant that people
often missed out on tickets, so it’s wonderful that those who missed the productions will
now get to see them and those who enjoyed the shows before can watch them again!”
£10 digital tickets for both shows are available exclusively on Lounges.TV from
Wednesday 12th November: lounges.tv/profile/gigglemug

As ‘Gigglemug’ means someone who is always smiling, Gigglemug Theatre want to give
their audiences a chance to do just that. Their debut show was the Edinburgh Fringe hit
Timpson: The Musical (sponsored by everyone’s favourite high street shop, Timpson)
which won The Stage Award. Their follow up show was the critically-acclaimed
RuneSical, an interactive musical based on the BAFTA-winning online game RuneScape
and supported by the game makers themselves.

Twitter, Facebook & Instagram: @TheGigglemug
Digital Tickets: lounges.tv/profile/gigglemug

Richmond Theatre – until Saturday 15th November 2025

Reviewed by Carly

4****

Richmond brings you the psychological thriller, The Talented Mr. Ripley, based on the book written by Patricia Highsmith, adapted for the stage by Mark Leipacher. Also made into a film in 1999 and more recently turned into a Netflix series.

Set in the 1950’s the play opens in New York City where we are introduced to Tom Ripley (Ed McVey) a small-time con artist living day by day. When he is approached by a stranger by the name of Herbet Greenleaf (Christopher Bianchi) a father who’s worried about his wayward son Dickie Greenleaf (Bruce Herbelin-Earle) who left for Italy and has no intention of returning home. His father, on the other hand, wants him to come back home as his mother is poorly and would desperately like to see her son. Herbet then offers Tom an all-expenses paid trip to Italy to track down his son and bring him home. Tom accepts Herbet’s offer, however after arriving and finding Dickie, Tom finds himself enthralled by Dickies lifestyle and freedom which leads to a deadly obsession, resulting in a web of lies and deceit.  

Although this production only had a small cast, they all had a great ability to take on different roles, delivering remarkable depth and greatness. Alongside a simple set, of a stage on a stage only offering dark surroundings with a few props and lighting that set different moods and a great atmosphere.  

This was a good production, that was enjoyable to watch; I personally felt the first half was done exceptionally well and left the audience on the edge of their seats in anticipation for the second act. In contrast I was unfortunately left feeling disappointed at the end of the second act; I had the sense that the production was slightly elongated and perhaps could have been finished in a more succinct way. Due to this I was almost inclined to mark this production at 3 stars, however, Ed McVey’s innate talent, which showcases his ability to fully embody the character that he is playing, making his performance believable and unforgettable, raised this production in my opinion.  

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton – until 15 November 2025

Reviewed by Gemma Gibson

5*****

If you enjoy thrillers filled with secrets, suspense and the supernatural, 2:22 A Ghost Story needs to be on your must-see list.

Written by comedian and broadcaster Danny Robins, the award winning production has returned to Southampton for one week only, and, being one of the most talked about plays in recent years, I could not wait to see what it was all about.

Jenny (currently played by Stacey Dooley) believes her new home is haunted, but is met with scepticism and disbelief from logical astronomer husband Sam (Kevin Clifton). When old friend Lauren (Shvorne Marks) and partner Ben (Grant Kilburn) come for dinner, views about the supernatural clash, but all agree to stay up to 2:22 to uncover what’s been terrifying Jenny every night.

Starting its Westend run in 2021 this modern play is known for its spooky themes, jump scares and iconic set. Arguably it is most known for its revolving cast of brilliant and talented household names, and the latest line up is no exception. 

When it comes to portraying Jenny, Dooley is effortless, reprising the role from her 2024 debut, transforming into her anxious but strong character with emotions that feel natural and genuine. Confusion, anger, fear and motherly instincts are executed with perfect timing and levels, helping push the spooky narrative forwards. This is complimented by Clifton’s enjoyably dislikable interpretation of Sam, who expertly brings rational thinking and sarcasm to the plot. 

Edging closer and closer to the time 2:22, the play would not be complete without Kilburn and Marks bringing important tales and themes about life after death to the table. Amidst the shock and intensity, they also bring hilarity and warmth. This is of course a ghost story, but Robins’ sinister storytelling with a sprinkle of humour keeps audiences fully gripped, leaving no emotional stone unturned.

Alongside a fantastic, spine chilling script and cast, it is the set, lighting and music that truly amplify the spook factor. Flashes of red lights, creepy music, razor jolts of sound, all while watching the clock tick closer and closer to 2:22, the atmosphere is nothing short of eerie but electric throughout. 

As the curtains draw following a climatic and clever ending, feelings of excitement and adrenaline are left in the air. Leaving Mayflower Theatre there was one question on everyone’s lips – what do you believe in?

Hall for Cornwall, Truro, Cornwall from Tue 18 – Wed 19 Nov 2025

Preview by Kerry Gilbert

Get ready for the ultimate festive experience with ‘That’ll Be Christmas’!

Get into the festive spirit with That’ll Be the Day’s Christmas Show! As part of their UK Tour, ‘That’ll Be Christmas’ is on the road and will be at the wonderful Hall for Cornwall from Tues 18 – 19 Nov 2025. This year is extra special, as the cast of ‘That’ll Be the Day’ celebrate their 40-year anniversary.

Showing at the Hall for Cornwall for only 2 nights, be sure not to miss out on the all-time favourite Christmas classics past and present and experience some festive fun. The show is packed full of world class performances, a highly talented ensemble cast, hilarious comedy sketches, and heart-warming festive cheer which will whisk you away on a musical journey like no other.

This show is the perfect family night out and a chance to experience the magic of the season where you’re guaranteed to have fun! Make sure you book your tickets; it’s the perfect way to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year!

Finborough Theatre – until 22 November 2025

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

5*****

Friday 21st October 1966 is a date that is seared into the collective memory of the mining communities of Wales. Hundreds of men and boys had died in terrible pit disasters since the coalfields had been mined, but the collapse of one of the colliery spoil tips above Aberfan, sweeping down the hillside and engulfing Pantglas Junior School and a row of houses killing 116 children and 28 adults was a devastating event that changed the village forever.

In the land of song and poetry, there have been many artistic works about the disaster, most notably Owen Shears’ The Green Hollow and Karl Jenkins’ Cantata Memoria (with the damning words of a grieving father “Buried Alive by the National Coal Board”) commemorating the 50th anniversary, and Neil Anthony Docking’s The Revlon Girl focussing on the grieving mothers of the village. Liam Holmes’ stunning debut Mr Jones concentrates on two young people and the effect of the disaster on their lives.

Juliette Demoulin’s atmospheric set evokes rock strata and ledges lit beautifully by Alastair Tombs to mark the periods before (vivid green) and after (bleak blue) the disaster while James “Bucky” Barnes’ sound design expertly conveys Stephen’s initial innocence and passion and the horrific rumble of the slip. Michael Neri directs with empathy and a light touch, weaving the humour of Holmes’ play gently through the devastating trauma.

Stephen (Liam Holmes) and Angharad (Mabli Gwynne) have a close relationship – she lived with his family and practically raised his younger brother Daf after his mother died. But while she views Stephen as a kid brother, he has developed a huge crush on her. Their sibling-like teasing and arguing, and Stephen’s awkward attempts at suave flirting, are wonderfully written in the rhythm and cadence of Merthyr. This was a time when you could tell which valley and village someone came from by their different accents, and social mobility was non-existent. Moving down to Cardiff was an adventure, and Swansea was a step too far! Holmes’ grasp of the gossip and village nicknames the two share is fantastic – to be fair, nothing much has changed in the valleys in that respect – and the sense of a close-knit community is vividly drawn through their conversations. Stephen is happy playing rugby, his chance to really make a name for himself in the village, but Angharad wants more, even dreaming of Australia.

The psychological impact on the two is portrayed with great insight. Gwynne delivers a gloriously nuanced performance as Angharad shuts down and wants to leave Aberfan behind, while Stephen desperately wants to connect with his father after losing Daf. Holmes captures Stephen’s loss of innocence, fear, guilt and devastating grief with every gesture and expression in a heartbreaking performance as it becomes clear how his father’s grief is manifesting.

An unmissable, intimate examination of trauma and grief, Mr Jones is an emotional, heartbreaking play. As the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster approaches, this play serves as a beautiful tribute to those lost, and those left behind.

THE OLD LAUNDRY THEATRE

Bowness-on-Windermere

to be RENAMED

And WORLD PREMIERE BRAND-NEW MUSICAL

FOURTEEN AGAIN

Music & Lyrics Victoria Wood and Book Tom MacRae

Victoria Wood’s long-standing friendships, love of the Lake District and close connection to The Old Laundry Theatre in Bowness-on-Windermere comes full circle, as the intimate theatre is to be renamed THE VICTORIA WOOD THEATRE in honour of the much loved and talented star, who will continue to shine brightly, when the theatre is officially renamedin January 2026.

Victoria Wood’s dear friends, the husband-and-wife team, Charlotte Scott and Roger Glossop MBE, who run The Old Laundry Theatre could not have wished for a more joyous name change for their theatre. Victoria had opened the venue, was a Trustee of the theatre, performed there many times, produced and directed her own show Talent (2008) there, and in 2013 her television film Housewife 49 was adapted for the stage especially for The Old Laundry Theatre.

In 2026, it will be ten years since Victoria died, and to keep her name alive at the newly named, THE VICTORIA WOOD THEATRE, what could be more perfect than to bring her genius music and lyrics back to life, with a brand-new musical at the theatre, FOURTEEN AGAIN, using songs from her Victoria Wood Song Book Lucky Bag! With a book by Tom MacRae writer and lyricist of the global hit Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, all is set for a magical new musical, FOURTEEN AGAIN. Booking opens Sunday 9 November 2025. Previews from Friday 1 May 2026; with a Gala Night on what would have been Victoria’s birthday, Tuesday 19 May 2026.

Victoria, Charlotte and Roger’s paths first crossed professionally in 1978, and they quickly became firm friends, living close to each other in Morecambe and Bowness-on-Windemere. They collaborated throughout their careers, starting with Roger designing Good Fun at the Crucible Theatre Sheffield. Roger and Charlotte bought a former Edwardian laundry in Bowness-on-Windemere, where the hoteliers of Bowness had once sent their sheets for washing,and there they opened The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction in 1991, and, of course, Victoria officially opened it on 28 July 1991 and the following year, the Old Laundry Theatre was opened by Alan Ayckbourn.

Charlotte says “With young families in tow (hers & ours) we followed Vic’s career as she toured up and down the country always returning to re-charge in the Lake District. By the time we opened the venue in 1991, followed by the theatre in 1992, Vic, together with Alan Rickman, Griff Rhys Jones, Andre Ptaszynski, Peter James, and Alan Ayckbourn all became Trustees and the journey began. Vic was always supportive – performing at The Old Laundry in her stand up, doing benefits in larger venues, and productions of her own shows Talent and Housewife 49 at the theatre. So now 10 years after her death it is a great delight to be putting on this show, and Vic’s name is on the theatre – we are set for the next 30+ years!”

The musical FOURTEEN AGAIN begins when Peggy is reunited with Lou at the local Slimming Club, her best friend from school, who she hasn’t seen since they were teenagers. As kids, no two friends were ever funnier or more fun, but here, now, today they are shadows of their younger selves – and a story unfolds of looking back to the future, full of comedy, love and pain, with Victoria’s amazing songs moving the musical fast forward. Casting to be announced.

Producer Charlotte Scott has brought together a top creative team for FOURTEEN AGAIN, with all roads somehow leading back to Victoria and/or The Old Laundry Theatre; to bring Victoria’s glorious talent through Tom MacRaes’ storytelling, to a whole new generation of fans.

Double BAFTA-nominated screenwriter, producer, Olivier-nominated playwright, author and songwriter Tom MacRae says, “I was honoured to write Victoria’s final TV show, we got to swap stories about working at The Crucible – a theatre where she had cut her teeth and where my first ever stage show, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, was about to open. Working with Vic again on a brand-new stage show feels like we’ve come full circle – and yes, creating Fourteen Again has felt very much like working with Vic, even though we sadly can’t collaborate in person anymore. Her joy and genius loom large over everything we’ve built. I wanted to create a show that is genuinely dramatic and surprising, with high stakes and real tension, as well as celebrating Vic’s innate sense of comedy and the warmth of her world, populated with loveable, relatable characters and celebrating friendship.  

“My starting point was The Ballad Of Barry And Freda – what if my central character shared Vic’s love of telling hilarious stories about ordinary people. Also, Vic wrote several songs about being a child again, which got me thinking about adding a time travel element with a Scrooge-like opportunity to live your life again, but this time do it better. The one song that was tricky to place was Litter Bin about a teenage mum abandoning a child in a bin in a multistorey carpark. It was just so sad. How could I introduce that idea into a comedy? And then I had a brainwave – and that brainwave unlocked an idea that the entire show is now built around. Left to my own devices, I don’t know if I ever would have integrated such a tragic element into such an upbeat story. So, thanks Vic, my amazing and inspirational collaborator – I owe you one.” 

Nigel Lilley, Victoria‘s Musical Director and close friend, will MD & Musical Supervise FOURTEEN AGAIN says “After having such a hit with Talent in 1978 it seems crazy that it took Vic over 25 years to venture back into the world of musicals with Acorn Antiques. By the time we worked on That Day We Sang in 2014 it felt like she was absolutely in her happy place, and I have no doubt that had she lived longer she would have had so many more glorious musicals to offer us. Vic’s ability to flip between side-splitting comedy and devastating pathos in an instant remains unmatched for me. Going back to her songs in preparation for Fourteen Again I was struck again by the exquisite and meticulous skill in her writing – and yet the music and lyrics still feel so effortless on the ear. Vic was always on the search for new and original projects. I think she’d be cheering us on loudly with Tom’s brilliant new script which honours her songs so beautifully.”

Award-winning Director Jonathan O’Boyle says “I am over the moon to be working on a new musical from Victoria Wood and Tom MacRae. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and it’s a privilege to be able to work with Victoria’s fantastic songs and Tom’s extraordinary book. I grew up in Derby, watching Victoria Wood’s Dinner Ladies on TV. Her humour and joy spoke to me and inspired me to work in theatre. Tom has managed to somehow seamlessly write a new work whilst honouring Victoria and it feels so very human and relatable”. 

THE VICTORIA WOOD THEATRE and FOURTEEN AGAIN – the start of a legacy so truly deserved for the legend that is Victoria Wood.

FOURTEEN AGAIN

at

THE VICTORIA WOOD THEATRE

Friday 1 May 2026 – Saturday 23 May 2026

22 performances only!

Performances: 7.30pm- Tuesday – Saturday

Matinees: 2.30pm – Wednesdays & Saturdays + Thursdays (from 14/05)

Box Office:                 015394 40872

Website:                     www.oldlaundrytheatre.co.uk

Address: Crag Brow, Bowness-on-Windermere LA23 3BX

Tickets:                                  £25 / £35 / £40
Group discounts available, Hardship & Student tickets £15

Preview tickets:             £20, £30, £35 (1-6 May)

FOURTEEN AGAIN CREATIVE TEAM

Victoria Wood                     Music and lyrics    

Tom MacRae                        Book

Double BAFTA-nominated screenwriter, producer, Olivier-nominated playwright, author and songwriter, book-writer and lyricist of the global hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie in both its stage & screen incarnations, TV includes Doctor Who, The Librarians: The Next Chapter. @tommacwriter

Jonathan O’Boyle              Director

Award-winning theatre director Jonathan O’Boyle: The Last Five Years – West End, Hair 50^th Anniversary – London, Barnum – Watermill Theatre/UK Tour, The Hunchback of Notre Dame: In Concert – Prince Edward Theatre; Cruel Intentions – The Other Palace, Pippin: 50^th Anniversary Concert – Theatre Royal Drury Lane. @jonathanoboyle

Nigel Lilley                           MD & Musical Supervisor

Acorn Antiques – West End, TV for Victoria Wood – That Day We Sang, Here We Are, Victoria Christmas Special; Talent – Old Laundry Theatre, Follies – RNT, Hello Dolly – Lido de Paris, Next to Normal – West End, Trustee Victoria Wood Foundation. @nigelilley

Jason Taylor                        Lighting Design

Nomination Tony Award Journey’s End, West End RNT + 15 seasons at Regents Park Open Air Theatre, Waitress, Evita, Love Never Dies, Billy Elliot, Anything Goes – Copenhagen, over 20 productions for Alan Ayckbourn in Scarborough.

Roger Glossop                   Set Design

Started his career at the Crucible Theatre Sheffield, over 65 productions for Alan Ayckbourn, West End includes: The Nerd , Chicago, Song & Dance, Arturo Ui, Annie Get Your Gun, Funny Turns – Victoria Wood & Geoffrey Durham, By Jeeves – Ayckbourn / Lloyd Webber, + RSC, RNT including House & Garden, The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction, Where is Peter Rabbit?, awarded the MBE for Services to Theatre & Live Performance in 2025.

Caroline Hughes                Costume Design

By Jeeves, Where is Peter Rabbit?, Housewife 49 – Old Laundry Theatre, + RSC, Sheffield Crucible, Grange Park Opera, Hampstead Theatre.

Charlotte Scott                   Producer

Charlotte, with her husband, Roger Glossop, created The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction (1991), TheOld Laundry Theatre (1992), Trustee Victoria Wood Foundation. @OLTheatre

Casting announced for premiere of imitating the dog’s bold, contemporary retelling of The War of the Worlds

The award-winning imitating the dog have today announced full casting for the premiere of their bold and contemporary retelling of H.G Wells’s iconic science fiction tale The War of the Worlds which will be touring from 5 February till 2 May.

War of the Worlds’ cast will feature Bonnie Baddoo (All of Us, Royal National Theatre and Alex Rider, Eleventh Hour Films), Morgan Bailey (Night of the Living Dead™ – Remix, imitating the dog and SAS: Rogue Heroes, BBC), Gareth Cassidy (Marvellous, @sohoplace and The Card, Claybody Theatre and New Vic Theatre) and Amy Dunn (Edward II, Royal Shakespeare Company and Hushabye Mountain, Hope Mill Theatre).

Four performers enter the stage and construct an epic road movie before our eyes. 

It’s a story we know or think we know – an apocalyptic tale of alien invasion and the unfolding destruction of everything we hold dear. Extraterrestrial lifeforms land from the skies. Lines of Brits scrabble to flee across the channel while their cities and towns lie in smouldering ruins. It’s all of our worst nightmares. 

What would you do if order broke down? What would you do to survive? How far would you go to protect your own?

Using miniature environments, model worlds, camera tricks and projection, imitating the dog mix the live and the recorded, the animate and the inanimate to create a thrilling, audacious and timely retelling of H. G. Wells’s classic novel.

Following their acclaimed adaptations of literary classics Heart of Darkness (2018), Dracula (2021), Macbeth (2023) and Frankenstein (2024), imitating the dog are set to push their creative storytelling to new heights.

imitating the dog have been making ground-breaking work for theatres and other spaces for 27 years. Their work, which fuses live performance with digital technology, has been seen by hundreds of thousands of people in venues, outdoor festivals, and events across the world. Past productions have included Hotel Methuselah, A Farewell to Arms, Heart of Darkness, Night of The Living Dead™– Remix, the award-winning Dracula: The Untold Story, Frankenstein, and most recently, All Blood Runs Red. In 2022 the company staged Cinema Inferno, a ground-breaking new show for the Parisian haute couture house Maison Margiela, based on an original concept by creative director John Galliano, for Maison Margiela’s Artisanal 2022 collection, presented on the official Paris Haute Couture Calendar.

Created by imitating the dog’s co-artistic directors Andrew Quick, Simon Wainwright and Pete Brooks, imitating the dog’s retelling of War of the Worlds will premiere at Cast, Doncaster from 5-7 February before touring to BEAM, Hertford (11-14 February); The Dukes, Lancaster (18-21 February); Lowry, Salford (25-28 February); Liverpool Playhouse (4-7 March); New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich (11-14 March); Belgrade Theatre, Coventry (18-21 March); Theatr Clwyd, Mold (15-18 April); Blackpool Grand Theatre (22-25 April) and The Arts Theatre Cambridge (29 April-2 May). The production will also tour to Switzerland in April.

War of the Worlds is supported by Lancaster Arts and Cast, Doncaster

For more information on War of the Worlds visit imitatingthedog.co.uk

DISNEY’S SMASH-HIT PRODUCTION OF

HERCULES

EXTENDS UNTIL 18 JULY 2026

ALSO INTRODUCING LESLIE BEEHANN WHO JOINS THE MUSES

Disney Theatrical Group today announces that their production of Hercules will extend its run at Theatre Royal Drury Lane until 18 July 2026 due to public demand. General on sale is from 10am on 17 November with tickets available via LW Theatres and Disney Tickets from 10 November. The cast album is currently available for digital download, with the CD going on sale on 21 November, and the vinyl on 5 December.

Also announced today, Leslie Beehann will join fellow Muses Candace Furbert (Thalia), Sharlene Hector (Clio), Brianna Ogunbawo (Melpomene), Robyn Rose-Li (Terpsichore) to play Calliope from 8 December.

With music by Alan Menken and lyrics by David Zippel, and a brand-new book by Robert Horn and Kwame Kwei-Armah, Casey Nicholaw’s production of Hercules, co-choreographed with Tanisha Scott, is inspired by the 1997 animated film of the same name from Walt Disney Studios. The feature film, directed by The Little Mermaid filmmakers John Musker and Ron Clements, and written by Clements, Musker, Donald McEnery, Bob Shaw and Irene Mecchi, won Best Animation Feature at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards and was nominated for the Academy Award® for Best Original Song for Go the Distance.

The cast is Luke Brady (Hercules), as the Muses, Candace Furbert (Thalia), Sharlene Hector (Clio), Brianna Ogunbawo (Melpomene), Malinda Parris, and from 8 December Leslie Beehann (Calliope), Robyn Rose-Li (Terpsichore), and Kimmy Edwards and Kamilla Fernandes (Standby Muses); Mae Ann Jorolan (Meg), Trevor Dion Nicholas (Phil), Stephen Carlile (Hades), and Craig Gallivan and Lee Zarrett (in the roles of Bob and Charles), with Rhianne Alleyne, Lana Antoniou, Daisy Barnett, Felipe Bejarano, Sarah Benbelaid, Joel Benjamin, Jack Butcher, Nicole Carlisle, Francessca Daniella-Baker, Marie Finlayson, Ryesha Higgs, Cruz-Troy Hunter, Travis Kerry, Stefan Lagoulis, Lamoi Leon, Serina Mathew, Jason Leigh Winter, Jordan Livesey, Harriet Millier, Ellie Mitchell, Saffi Needham, Ben Nicholas, Ingrid Olivia, Matt Overfield, Patrick John Robinson, Ope Sowande and Rhys West.

DISNEY’S

HERCULES

Music by Alan Menken

Lyrics by David Zippel

Book by Robert Horn and Kwame Kwei-Armah

Director and Choreographer: Casey Nicholaw; Co-Choreographer: Tanisha Scott;

Scenic and Additional Video Design: Dane Laffrey; Costume Design: Gregg Barnes, Sky Switser;

Lighting Design: Jeff Croiter; Sound Design: Adam Fisher; Video Design: George Reeve;

Special Effects Design: Jeremy Chernick; Dance Music Arrangements: David Chase;

Hair and Wig Design: Mia M. Neal; Make-Up Design: Kirk Cambridge- Del Pesche;

Music supervisor and Arranger: Michael Kosarin; Orchestrations: Danny Troob and Joseph Joubert;

Dance Arrangements: David Chase; Casting: Natalie Gallacher CDG for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting

The musical, inspired by the animated film, based on the ancient myth.

It’s what classical civilisation would have wanted.

Ancient Greece. A time of gods, mortals… and Hercules, who isn’t quite either. But if he’s not a god, how can he possibly save the world from Hades? It’s one thing flexing those pecs, but going from zero to hero requires a different kind of strength. 

Get ready for a wise-cracking, column-shaking, underworld-rocking ride of adventure, self-discovery, and love. In tunics. 

Facebook /HerculesOnStage

Instagram @herculesonstage

www.herculesthemusical.co.uk  

LISTINGS

HERCULES

Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Catherine Street, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5JF

www.herculesthemusical.co.uk  

From £29.50

 Group rates and education rates are available – please see the website

PERFORMANCES:

Monday to Saturday 7:30pm

Thursday and Saturday matinees 2:30pm 

ACCESS PERFORMANCES: 020 3925 2998 or access@lwtheatres.co.uk

Relaxed performance                   1.30pm on 15 November

Audio Described performance    2.30pm on 29 November

Audio Described                            7.30pm on 15 May

Captioned Performance               7.30pm on 20 April