Riotous musical comedy Potty the Plant makes its hilarious London debut Tuesday 24th – Saturday 28th June 2025 Wilton’s Music Hall, 1 Graces Alley, London E1 8JB
Following two riotous, critically acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe runs, the hilarious musical comedy Potty the Plant will make its much-anticipated London debut this summer at Wilton’s Music Hall before heading back to Edinburgh for its 2025 Fringe encore. Bursting with chaotic charm and irreverent humour, it is a riotous, genre-blending experience that refuses to take itself seriously – and insists the audience doesn’t either.
Set in the surreal world of a twisted children’s TV show, Potty the Plant is a darkly comic, offbeat musical centred around its unlikely star — a singing, talking, tap-dancing potted plant. The story unfolds at Little Boo Boo’s General Hospital where a string of strange disappearances throws the already chaotic staff into further disarray. As the dysfunctional team of nurses struggle to keep up with events, deeper tensions and bizarre revelations begin to surface around the hospital’s staff and patients.
Potty the Plant is a madcap collision of comedy, music, and mutant houseplants, drawing inspiration from the musical anarchy of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the irreverence of Tenacious D, and the theatrical likes of Andrew Lloyd Webber. At the centre of the chaos is Potty, a lovingly hand-crafted puppet, toying with tongue-in-cheek humour, subverting expectations through wit, absurdity, and irresistibly catchy songs. Potty the Plant feels like StarKid meets Teletubbies after dark — strange, silly, and strangely sincere.
The production is directed by Baden Burns (Grease, Newcastle Musical Theatre Company), who also stars as Potty and serves as co-writer and musical composer. Alongside him is Musical Director Zach Burns (The Sandman, Netflix; Yungblud, 2025 Album), Producer Sarah Oakland (Fringe! The Musical; Cinderella, Majestic Theatre ) who is assisted by Stephanie Cubello and Aeddan Sussex (The Wonton Warrior, BBC Snaps) as Co-writer and Assistant Director. On stage, a fearless cast will include Lucy Appleton (The Fireplace; The Boys in the Boat, MGM) as Miss Lacey, Ash K-B (brecht:fragments, Raven Row Gallery) as Dr. Acula, and Stephanie Cubello who returns in her role as Nurse Mel. They will also be joined by Joe Winter (Pop Off Michaelangelo!, Gilded Balloon; Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, Sondheim Theatre) as Nurse Dave and Sam Ridley as Nurse Stephen.
Director, co-writer, musical composer Baden Burns comments, The world of Potty The Plant is a madcap fever dream, where nothing is off limits. It is the perfect setting for my sarcastic, demented humour to thrive. This shows music is the perfect blend of my most influential musical inspirations, from growing up watching old musicals with my grandmother like Anything Goes and Guys and Dolls, to my love of rock music, especially comedic bands such as Tenacious D. This production has been a labour of love for many years. I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to work on this show so closely with my good friend Aeddan and my wife Sarah. Without both of them, this show would not be where it is today. It’s my hope that audiences will fall in love with Potty and allow this daft muppety character to make himself as at home in their hearts as he is in mine
MATT MILBURN ‘SY SPECTOR’ IN THE UK AND EUROPE TOUR
OF
THE AWARD-WINNING
SMASH HIT MUSICAL
THE BODYGUARD
OPENING AT BIRMINGHAM ALEXANDRA THEATRE ON SATURDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2025
Producers Michael Harrison and David Ian are delighted to announce that the UK and Europe tour of the award-winning smash hit musical THE BODYGUARD will star international leading lady Sidonie Smith as Rachel Marron, Olivier Award nominee Adam Garcia as Frank Farmer, Sasha Monique as Nicki Marron and Coronation Street and Hollyoaks star Matt Milburn as Sy Spector. At certain performances, the role of Rachel Marron will be played by Mireia Mambo. The production opens at Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre on Saturday 20 September 2025.
Sidonie Smith is an international musical theatre artist and no stranger to the role of Rachel Marron, having starred in The Bodyguard in Stuttgart, Germany, to critical acclaim. Her other theatre credits include the role of Kala in Disney’s Tarzan at the Colosseum, Stuttgart, Anita in West Side Story at Schlossfestspiele Schwerin, Sally Bowles in Cabaret at Theater Trier, Deloris van Cartier in Sister Act at L’theatre Switzerland, Velma Kelly in Chicago at Staatstheater Augsburg, Aida in Aida at Clingenburger Festspiele, Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar at Bad Hersfelder Festspiele, Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde at Theater an der Rott, Pilar in Legally Blonde at Ronacher Theater Vienna, Maureen in RENT at Theater Trier, and Johanna in Sweeney Todd and Felicia Farrell in Memphis, both on German tours.
Adam Garcia recently starred as Caractacus Potts in the UK tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. His musical theatre credits include Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever and Bill Calhoun in Kiss Me, Kate, for which he received Olivier Award nominations for both roles. His other theatre credits include Fiyero in Wicked, The Artilleryman in The War of the Worlds, Damien Karras in The Exorcist and Julian Marsh in Curve and Sadler’s Wells production of 42nd Street. His film credits include Kenneth Branagh’s Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Coyote Ugly and Riding in Cars with Boys. Adam recently appeared as a finalist in the UK series of The Masked Dancer, finishing in second place.
Sasha Monique recently starred in the UK tour of Hairspray as one of the Dynamites and cover Motormouth Maybelle. Her other theatre credits include The Book of Mormon at The Prince of Wales Theatre, and on its UK and European tour.
Matt Milburn most recently appeared on screen in ITV’s Coronation Street, returning to the role of Tommy Orpington. He is best known for his role as Joe Spencer in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks, alongside its spin-off series Hollyoaks: After Hours. His other television credits include the role of Nicky Pritchard in ITV’s Emmerdale, as well as roles in Doctors and Brassic. Matt’s theatre credits include The House On A Cold Hill, Heartbeat, The Merchant of Venice, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and To Kill a Mockingbird.
Mireia Mambo was recently seen as Richie Walters in Curve’s production of A Chorus Line at Sadler’s Wells and on a UK tour. Her other theatre credits include Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre, Newsies at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, West Side Story at Curve Leicester, Hairspray at the London Coliseum, Motown the Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre, the original cast of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and Ragtime and Evita, both at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Mireia has also starred in Spanish tours of Sister Act as Deloris Van Cartier and The Bodyguard as Rachel Marron.
Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don’t expect is to fall in love. A romantic thriller, THE BODYGUARD features a host of irresistible classics including Queen of the Night, So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, Run to You, I Have Nothing, I Wanna Dance with Somebody and one of the biggest hit songs of all time – I Will Always Love You.
Based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Oscar nominated Warner Bros. movie starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, THE BODYGUARD, directed by Thea Sharrock with book by Oscar winning Alex Dinelaris, had its world premiere at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End and was nominated for four Olivier Awards. A sell out 18 month UK and Ireland tour followed, before the show returned to the West End at the Dominion Theatre ahead of two further sell out tours of the UK and Ireland in 2018/19 and 2023.
To date, THE BODYGUARD has played to over 3.9 million people in 15 countries and 45 US cities. Countries include the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, Canada, Italy, Australia, Spain, France, the US, Austria and Japan.
Birmingham Hippodrome’s Fringe-bound musical previews in Brum
Birmingham Hippodrome’s New Musical Theatre department have today (Wednesday 7 May) announced local preview performances of romcom musical, Hot Mess, ahead of its world premiere at Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer.
The High-energy original romcom will preview at the Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio Thu 24 Jul – Fri 25 Jul before playing at Pleasance Two in Edinburgh from Wed 30 Jul – Mon 25 Aug.
Leading the production are acclaimed West-End stars Danielle Steers (SIX The Musical, The Cher Show, Just for One Day, Bat Out of Hell: The Musical) and Tobias Turley (winner – ITV’s Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream). The powerhouse cast play the roles of Earth and Humanity respectively and tell a story of love, hope and the ultimate break-up.
After a billion years of bad dates, Earth’s finally found the one… Humanity. Sparks fly. Wheat is harvested. Technology flourishes. But what begins as a passionate love affair between the universe’s most iconic couple quickly descends into a Hot Mess.
Created by the award-winning creative duo behind 42 Balloons, the pop comedy musical takes us to the heart of the tempestuous relationship between Earth and Humanity.
Joining the team alongside 42 Balloonscreative duo Ellie Coote and Jack Godfrey are Tony and Grammy nominated Paul Gatehouse (Sound Designer), Joe Beighton (Musical Supervisor and Co-orchestrator), Alexzandra Sarmiento (Movement Director), Shankho Chaudhuri (Set and Costume Designer), Ryan Joseph Stafford (Lighting Designer), Issie Osborne (Musical Director), Deirdre O’Halloran (Dramaturg), Lex Kaby (Intimacy Director), Caroline Mirfin (Costume Supervisor), James Ashfield (Producer), Vicky Graham for Vicky Graham Productions (Executive Producer), Finlay Carroll (Assistant Producer), Emily Humphrys (Deputy Stage Manager), Christopher Ball and Emily Obasohan (Production Managers) with casting by Pearson Casting CDG.
Hot Mess is the first Edinburgh Festival Fringe production from the UK’s only in-house New Musical Theatre Department at Birmingham Hippodrome. The new musical is presented in association with Vicky Graham Productions.
Deirdre O’Halloran, Head of New Musical Theatre at Birmingham Hippodrome said: “We are so excited for Birmingham audiences to get a sneak peak of this fantastic new musical ahead of the Hippodrome’s Edinburgh Fringe debut. Ellie and Jack have written a terrifically witty show, and we can’t wait for Danielle and Tobias to bring these unusual characters to life! Join us in the Patrick Studio for a show full of humour, catchy tunes and a love story for the ages.”
Hot Mess comes to Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio on Thursday 24 July and Friday 25 July 2025 for its Edinburgh Festival Fringe preview performances. Tickets go on sale to Friends of Birmingham Hippodrome on Wednesday 7 May at 11am and on general sale on Wednesday 7 May at 4pm.
Tickets can be purchased at birminghamhippodrome.com or by calling 0121 689 3000.
IN ASSOCIATION WITH NICA BURNS AND PAINES PLOUGH PRESENT THE WEST END PREMIERE OF
EVERY BRILLIANT THING
WRITTEN BY DUNCAN MACMILLAN WITH JONNY DONAHOE
DIRECTED BY JEREMY HERRIN AND DUNCAN MACMILLAN
OPENING @SOHOPLACE FROM 1 AUGUST 2025
SEASON INCLUDES LENNY HENRY, JONNY DONAHOE, AMBIKA MOD AND SUE PERKINS
Second Half Productions in association with Nica Burns and Paines Plough today announce the West End premiere of Every Brilliant Thing, written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe and directed by Jeremy Herrin and Duncan Macmillan. Running @sohoplace theatre for a strictly limited run from 1 August – 27 September.
First presented by Paines Plough at Roundabout at Summerhall in 2014, this wildly popular, one-person play has delighted audiences in over 80 countries worldwide, been adapted into a highly successful HBO film and now debuts in the West End @sohoplace, performed by four exceptional actors. The season opens with Lenny Henry (August in England, Bush Theatre; Othello, Northern Broadsides) followed in date order by Jonny Donahoe (co-creator and original performer Every Brilliant Thing), Ambika Mod (One Day, Netflix; This is Going to Hurt, BBC) and Sue Perkins (The Great British Bake Off, BBC; Just a Minute, BBC Radio 4).
Every Brilliant Thing is designed by Vicki Mortimer with lighting design by Jack Knowles, sound design by Tom Gibbons and casting by Jessica Ronane CDG.
Opening nights on Thursday 7 August (Lenny Henry), Thursday 21 August (Jonny Donahoe), Wednesday 10 September (Sue Perkins) and Thursday 11 September (Ambika Mod). Please find link to the performance schedule: https://ticketing.sohoplace.org/tickets/series/SPEBT01M
You’re seven years old. Mum’s in hospital. Dad says she’s ‘done something stupid’. She finds it hard to be happy. You start a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world. Everything worth living for. You leave it on her pillow. You know she’s read it because she’s corrected your spelling.
A child attempts to ease their mother’s depression by creating a list of all the best things in the world. Through adulthood, as the list grows, they learn the deep significance it has on their own life. Every Brilliant Thing is a comedy about the lengths we will go for those we love.
Tickets are on sale now via sohoplace.org, with 50 tickets per show at £35.
Lenny Henry said, “I am thrilled to be working with the creative geniuses Duncan Macmillan and Jeremy Herrin. Duncan’s brilliant script is so touching and celebrates the importance of finding joy in the everyday – despite life’s obstacles. I cannot wait to perform this important play in the intimate setting of @sohoplace.”
Jonny Donahoe said“It’s actually, properly BRILLIANT to be finally bringing Every Brilliant Thing to the West End @sohoplace with Duncan, Jeremy and everyone at Second Half Productions. It’s been 12 years since Duncan and I did two little scratch shows at a Shropshire poetry festival and a rural community centre; a decade since we ran off-Broadway for four and a half months; and a year since we started putting it back together at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe. I am over the moon to be back performing this show that Duncan and I are so proud of, and to be joined by such an array of talent in Lenny, Sue and Ambika: it’s a dream come true.”
Ambika Mod said“I have loved this play since first seeing it at the Fringe as a student comedian when I was 19 years old, so it’s a dream come true to now be able to bring it to the West End with the original team, as an adult actor, almost exactly 10 years later.”
Sue Perkins said“I was blown away when I read Duncan’s sparkling script and I’m so excited and honoured to get the chance to perform it @sohoplace.”
Jeremy Herrin, Founding Director of Second Half Productions said, “I first encountered Every Brilliant Thing 11 years ago and it has stayed with me ever since. I am therefore thrilled that Second Half Productions together with Nica Burns and Paines Plough are bringing Duncan and Jonny’s extraordinary show to the West End for the first time, and to such a beautiful theatre at Soho Place. It’s an enormous privilege to be collaborating with the ever brilliant Duncan again to direct these exceptional performers – Lenny, Jonny, Ambika and Sue – who will each bring their own unique take on this moving, witty and joyful show. This is a modestly profound, genuinely uplifting piece of theatre magic that we need now, more than ever.”
Nica Burns said, “This joyful and entertaining play is perfect for our beautiful, intimate auditorium @sohoplace as we share and celebrate all the reasons to enjoy life. Each of our outstanding actors will bring their own special magic to Duncan Macmillan’s funny and heart-warming writing under the direction of award-winning Jeremy Herrin. An utterly delightful evening.”
Every Brilliant Thing is produced by Second Half Productions, Gavin Kalin Productions, Rodeo/Tilted, and Winkler & Smalberg, in association with Nica Burns and Paines Plough.
CAST
Lenny Henry
Lenny Henryhas risen from being a cult star on children’s television to becoming one of Britain’s best known television performers, as well as a writer, philanthropist and award-winning stage actor. Lenny’s recent acting screen credits include Netflix’s Missing You, The Witcher: Blood Origin, Rings of Power, Broadchurch, The Syndicate and the biographic film Danny and The Human Zoo. In theatre, Lenny has starred in The Comedy of Errors at The National, Fences at the Duchess Theatre and The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui at the Donmar Warehouse.
As a co-founder and public face of Comic Relief he has played a central role in the charity raising over £1.6 billion since 1985. Lenny is a leading advocate for diversity in the arts and has established his production company, Esmerelda, a centre for Media Diversity at Birmingham City University, written two books on the topic and co-hosted the podcast Black British Lives Matter. He was awarded a Knighthood in 2015 for services to drama and charity and was a Trustee of the National Theatre from 2016 to 2023.
Lenny has written two memoirs with Faber alongside a series of children’s books published through Pan Macmillan. In 2023, his “innovative” ITV1 drama series Three Little Birds received critical acclaim as did his five star, one man play August in England which Lenny wrote and performed in at The Bush Theatre.
JonnyDonahoe
Jonny Donahoe is a comedian, writer and performer. He is the co-creator and original performer of Every Brilliant Thing, which has now played in over seventy countries across six continents. He has also written and performed for over ten years with his touring comedy group Jonny & The Baptists. They have performed their shows at the Royal National Theatre, Manchester Royal Exchange, Barrow Street Theatre, New York, Soho Theatre, Downstage Theatre Wellington, Liverpool Everyman and Battersea Arts Centre amongst many others.
Jonny was nominated for a Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, and an Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Every Brilliant Thing. Jonny and the Baptists have been nominated for a Chortle Award, Hackney Empire New Act of the Year and the Musical Comedy Awards. He won a BBC Audio Drama Award for his work on Sound Heap (Max Fun/Auddy).
Other plays include Anna/Anastasia (Oran Mor/Traverse/APA), 30 Christmases, (New Diorama, London/ OFS, Oxford), Forgiveness (UK & International Tour), short plays include The Sound Ours Hearts Made (Trafalgar Studios/Paines Plough) and There Was an Old Woman (Soho Theatre).
He has appeared regularly on The Now Show, Sketchorama, Fresh from the Fringe, and Infinite Monkey Cage (all BBC Radio 4), and Live from TV Centre (BBC TV/Battersea Arts Centre), amongst many others. His performance in Every Brilliant Thing was recorded at Barrow Street Theatre by World of Wonder, and released as a special on HBO.
Ambika Mod by Pip
Ambika Mod
Ambika Modisan actor, comedian and writer. She began her career as a stand-up, sketch and improv comedian aged 19, writing and performing her own material around the country and at several Edinburgh Fringe Festivals.
Her breakout role came in 2022 in the hit, widely acclaimed BBC One series This is Going to Hurt as junior doctor ‘Shruti Acharya’, starring opposite Ben Whishaw. For her performance, Ambika won the Royal Television Society Award for Best Supporting Actress, the Broadcast Press Guild Award for Best Actress, and was selected for the highly prestigious BAFTA Breakthrough programme.
In 2024, Ambika starred in the lead role of ‘Emma Morley’ in the massively popular Netflix series One Day, based on David Nicholls’ best-selling novel of the same name. The show was a critical and public success, becoming Netflix’s #1 viewed show globally shortly after its release, and remaining in the top 10 for several weeks. For her performance, Ambika was nominated for a Gotham Award for Outstanding Performance in a Limited Series and a Royal Television Society Award for Leading Actress. In 2024, she was also named as one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Europe and included on the Time NEXT100 and Sunday Times Young Power lists.
Ambika is currently starring in the TV series The Stolen Girl for Disney+ and later this year she will star alongside Chris Evans, Anya Taylor-Joy, Vincent Cassel, and Salma Hayek in the Romain Gavras directed adventure comedy film, Sacrifice.
Sue Perkins
Sue Perkins is one of Britain’s best-loved presenters; her quick-fire, self-deprecating wit making her a household name and firm favourite on British television for over twenty years. She’s probably best known for being one half of Mel & Sue, a duo who stole the nations heart on The Great British Bake Off. Sue has been Grierson and BAFTA nominated for her travel documentaries and is the host of Radio 4’s flagship comedy show, Just a Minute. She has written two Sunday Times best-selling memoirs and starred in two series of hit comedy Hitmen for Sky One, as well as roles in Caitlin Moran’s How To Build A Girl and Paul Feig’s Last Christmas.
CREATIVES
Duncan Macmillan
Duncan Macmillan is a writer for theatre, television and film. His theatre work includes The Seagull (adapt. Chekhov, with Thomas Ostermeier); Lungs; People, Places and Things; Every Brilliant Thing; Rosmersholm (adapt. Henrik Ibsen); 1984 (adapt. George Orwell, co-written and co-directed with Robert Icke); City Of Glass (adapt. Paul Auster) and 2071 (co-written with Chris Rapley). Other work includes The Forbidden Zone; Wunschloses Unglück (adapt. Peter Handke); Reise Durch die Nacht (adapt. Friederike Mayröcker) and the English language version of Thomas Ostermeier’s An Enemy Of The People (Duke of York’s Theatre). His work has been performed throughout the world, including the National Theatre, the Old Vic, the Royal Court, Almeida, Barbican, St Ann’s Warehouse, Melbourne Theatre Company, Berliner Ensemble, Hamburg Schauspielhaus, Schauspielhaus Köln, Burgtheater Wien, Vesturport, Kansallisteatteri, Nationaltheatret Oslo and in the repertory of the Schaubühne Berlin, as well as the Edinburgh Festival, the Manchester International Festival, Salzburg Festival, Festival d’Avignon and Theatertreffen, in the West End and on Broadway. His screen work has appeared on the BBC, HBO, Netflix and at the Berlin and London Film Festivals. Reise Durch die Nacht was awarded the Nestroy Preis for Best German Language Production. Both 1984 and People, Places and Things were nominated for Best New Play at the Olivier Awards, and Rosmersholm was nominated for Best Revival.
Jeremy Herrin Theatre includes: Fool for Love (Steppenwolf); The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (Chichester); People, Places and Things (Trafalgar Theatre); Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Wyndham’s Theatre); A Mirror (Trafalgar Theatre); Ulster American (Riverside Studios); A Mirror (Almeida); Best of Enemies (Young Vic/ West End, South Bank Show Award for Best Theatre Production); All My Sons (The Old Vic); The Visit, or the Old Lady Comes to Call; The Plough and the Stars; Statement of Regret (National Theatre); People, Places and Things (National Theatre/ Headlong/ West End/ UK tour/ St Ann’s Warehouse, New York); This House (National Theatre/ Chichester Festival Theatres/ West End); Labour of Love (Olivier Award for Best Comedy); The Nether; That Face; South Downs; Absent Friends; Death and the Maiden; The Glass Menagerie (West End); Wolf Hall; Bring Up the Bodies (RSC/ West End/ Broadway, Evening Standard Award for Best Director); Junkyard; The Absence of War; The Nether (Headlong); Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme (International Tour); The Tempest; Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare’s Globe); Almost Famous (Old Globe, San Diego); Noises Off (Lyric Hammersmith/ West End); Haunted Child; The Heretic; Kin; Spur of the Moment; Off the Endz; The Priory (Olivier Award for Best Comedy); Tusk Tusk; The Vertical Hour; That Face (Royal Court); South Downs; Uncle Vanya (Chichester Festival Theatre); The Moderate Soprano (Hampstead Theatre); Marble (The Abbey, Dublin); The Family Reunion (Donmar Warehouse); Blackbird (Market Theatre, Johannesburg).
Jeremy Herrin was previously Artistic Director of Headlong and is a Founding Director of Second Half Productions.
The theatre has a large cloakroom that can be used by all patrons free of charge. Out of respect for patrons and the auditorium, we request that large bags are checked into the cloak room.
Feedback @sohoplace
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Robert Daws (Jeeves and Wooster, Poldark), will bring to life the humour and heart of one of Britain’s greatest comic writers, when he stars in William Humble’s play Wodehouse in Wonderland, at the Tabard Theatre in West London, from Sunday 20 until Tuesday 22 July. This one-man play, which coincides with the commemorations marking 50 years since P.G. Wodehouse’s death, is directed by Robin Herford (The Woman in Black).
These London performances will serve as previews for a longer run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where it will play at Assembly George Square Studios from Wednesday 30 July to Sunday 24 August.
Based on the life and writings of P.G. Wodehouse, Wodehouse in Wonderland takes place in P.G. Wodehouse’s New York State home in the 1950’s. Plum, as he is known to family and friends, is working away at the latest adventures of Bertie Wooster but is interrupted by a young would-be biographer, his adored wife, daughter Snorkles, and his two Pekingese. He shares stories about how Jeeves entered his life, how he became addicted to American soap operas and why he wrote books that were ‘like musical comedies without music’. He sings songs composed by Broadway legends such as Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Ivor Novello with lyrics written by himself, and entertains the audience with characters including Bertie Wooster, Jeeves, Lord Emsworth, Gussie Fink-Nottle and the squashily romantic Madeline Bassett…but there’s also a darker story ahead for Wodehouse beneath the fun.
Robert Daws said: “Seven years ago, I called my friend of several decades, the BAFTA-winning screenwriter and playwright William Humble, and asked him if he fancied working on a theatre project about the life of Pelham Grenville Wodehouse. To my pleasure and happy surprise, Bill instantly replied, “That would be spiffing”.
“Having already researched the world of Wodehouse for a film script he had been commissioned to write, Bill presented the first draft of Wodehouse In Wonderland within weeks. Workshops, readings, and first performances at Literary Festivals at Oxford, Blenheim Palace, and Gibraltar followed, and Bill was in his element. His love of Wodehouse and the theatre spurred him forward, helping, as he often told me, to fight against the ill health he was increasingly battling to keep at bay. Sadly, Bill lost this battle at the end of 2024, leaving his beloved family and friends to mourn the passing of a loving, passionate and hugely creative man.
“From the beginning of Wodehouse In Wonderland, Bill had expressed the wish that his play might be performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on the 50th Anniversary of Plum’s death. It is bittersweet that Wodehouse In Wonderland will make it to London and Scotland this year but without its author.Neither Bill nor his literary hero Plum was much given to sentimentality. Still, I hope they would both forgive me the indulgence of imagining the two of them looking down on our Tabard and Festival run and enjoying a spiffing time together.”
Wodehouse in Wonderland is produced by Cahoots Theatre Company Ltd and performed by arrangement with the Wodehouse Estate.
Written & Directed by Simon Stone After Henrik Ibsen Starring Alicia Vikander & Andrew Lincoln
London Theatre Company today announces a new production of The Lady from the Sea written and directed by Simon Stone after Henrik Ibsen, opening at The Bridge in September. Alicia Vikander will play Ellida and Andrew Lincoln will play Edward.
The Lady from the Sea will begin previews on Wednesday 10 September and open on Thursday 18 September. The production, which is in collaboration with Wouter van Ransbeek, will play for 9 weeks until Saturday 8 November 2025.
The Lady from the Sea is Henrik Ibsen’s most radically modern portrayal of a woman’s fight for autonomy in her relationship. Fearful she may have settled too easily for a comfortable life married to a well-off doctor, Ellida searches for a way to break the predictable routine her existence has become. When a lover from her past appears at their remote country house, she has to choose between the life she has now built and the one she left behind long ago.
Simon Stone, acclaimed Australian theatre and film director known for his radical reimagining of classic works including Yerma at the Young Vic and Phaedra at the NT, makes his debut at the Bridge Theatre. He said:
“I’m over the moon to have found a new London home in the beautiful Bridge Theatre. The space is exhilarating, versatile, incredibly intimate.
Alicia was born to play this role. She grew up watching Ibsen in his original language. His myths course through her veins. She’s totally mesmerising to watch inhabit a character. The truth emanates from her. At a young age she’s already built an impressive career of emotionally and physically astonishing performances. Theatre audiences now have the chance to soak up that unique talent live.
I’ve been a fan of Andrew since I was a teenager. His effortless emotional access; the ugly truth underneath his handsome, charming exterior; the vulnerability that he’s willing to let us watch, thereby transforming itself into awe-inspiring strength. Open, raw, honest: my kind of actor.”
Alicia Vikander, an Academy Award winning Swedish actress and producer, known for The Danish Girl, Ex Machina and Tomb Raider said:
“I’m so excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Simon and Andrew. Ibsen was one of the first playwrights I was introduced to, and his plays have always spoken to me on a deeply personal level, so it felt right that The Lady from the Sea should be my theatre debut.
As a long admirer of Simon’s work and his unique vision, I can’t wait for him to bring this play to life.”
Andrew Lincoln, award-winning British actor of stage and screen, making a return to the stage for the first time following his performance as Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic added:
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Bridge Theatre with The Lady from the Sea this Autumn. Simon Stone’s Yerma with Billie Piper and the rest of the astonishing cast was one of the greatest plays I’ve seen in years and reminded me of why I became an actor. So to be able to be back on stage alongside Alicia Vikander, with Simon’s direction, writing and all-round brilliance was too irresistible an opportunity to miss.”
The Lady from the Seagoes on sale to priority members of The Bridge today at 10am. Public booking opens on Tuesday 13 May, 10am via bridgetheatre.co.uk.
MULTI AWARD-WINNING JAZZ ARTIST JAMIE CULLUM TO COMPOSE MUSIC FOR RSC’S THE CONSTANT WIFE
20 JUNE – 2 AUGUST 2025
Multi-million-selling British pianist, singer and broadcaster Jamie Cullum will make his theatrical debut with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) this summer, composing new music for The Constant Wife by Olivier Award-winning playwright Laura Wade (Posh, The Riot Club, Rivals) based on W. Somerset Maugham’s original play of the same title. The production will be directed by RSC Co-Artistic Director Tamara Harvey and feature Rose Leslie (Vigil, Miss Austen, Game of Thrones) in the lead role.
Jamie Cullum said: “I am thrilled to be composing the music for The Constant Wife and so excited to be working in theatre like this for the first time. As a composer who often works within the jazz genre, I am very familiar with the idea of evolving traditions and searching for new ways to play classic material. I feel honoured that the brilliant RSC are entrusting me with this opportunity to bring some musical ingenuity to Laura’s deliciously funny and subversive adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham’s original 1926 script. It’s already been a joy working with Tamara Harvey and bouncing ideas around with her. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into rehearsals.”
RSC Co-Artistic Director and director of The Constant Wife, Tamara Harvey said: “It’s brilliant to be working with Jamie on the music for The Constant Wife. Jamie’s contribution has invigorated contemporary jazz and engaged a new generation of listeners. Who better to help us create the world of The Constant Wife, 100 years after it was written? Laura Wade has injected this brilliant classic play with her modern sparkle and bite and Jamie’s music promises to bring another dimension to the story. I’m so excited to see where we go together – it’s already sounding incredible.”
Jamie Cullum is a globally acclaimed singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for his unique blend of jazz, pop, and rock. Most famous for his dynamic stage presence and prodigious musical talent, Cullum first came to prominence with his major label breakthrough Twentysomething whose multi-million sales make it one of the UK’s best-selling albums of all time.
Jamie continues to win over audiences worldwide, earning a reputation as one of the most versatile and innovative musicians of his generation. His legendary concert performances have seen him tour over forty countries and grace the stages of festivals from Glastonbury to Coachella to Fuji Rock in Japan in addition to accepting invitations from President Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth II to play at The White House and Buckingham Palace respectively.
He approaches all aspects of his career as he has from the beginning, as a fan and a student with seemingly boundless energy and enthusiasm. In addition to his enduringly successful recording career (nine studio albums and counting), he has established himself as a multi-award-winning radio presenter via his weekly show on BBC Radio 2. Over fourteen years and 1k shows, Jamie has interviewed the likes of Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Norah Jones and Lars Ulrich and introduced new talent such as Laura Mvula, Gregory Porter, Ezra Collective and Laufey to his million-strong listenership.
Cullum’s radio show affords him the opportunity to collaborate with musicians young and old, something Jamie also does across a variety of other projects, both live and recorded, charitable and commercial. Jamie Cullum is held in rare esteem by his peers, this is obvious whenever he goes to where musicians congregate-in studios, at award ceremonies or a festival’s backstage. Amongst his proudest achievements was winning the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for Best Song, one of the industry’s highest achievements, and voted for by his fellow songwriters including the likes of Lilly Allen. Furthermore, he has been invited back 5 years in a row now to sit on the judging panel for the Mercury Music prize amongst legendary musicians and music industry bods alike from Stormzy to Annie Mac.
Following a 14 date SOLD OUT UK wide tour in October 2024, Jamie conquests further headline dates in Europe throughout early 2025. Plus, he plays a run of magical festivals across summer from Henley Music Festival to the stunning Jazzaldia Festival in San Sebastian as well as shows across Germany, Austria and France to boot.
The Constant Wife will open at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from 20 June – 2 August, with press night on 1 July 2025. The full company will be announced soon.
Joining Wade and Harvey on the creative team are Set and Co-Costume Designer, Anna Fleischle; Co-Costume Designer Cat Fuller; Lighting Designer, Ryan Day; Composer Jamie Cullum; Sound Designer, Claire Windsor; Movement Director Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster and Casting Director, Charlotte Sutton CDG.
This production is commissioned by and presented in association with David Pugh Limited.
For further press information please contact: Bethany Arnold, Senior Publicist, [email protected]
X: @TheRSC
Instagram: @thersc
LISTINGS INFORMATION
THE CONSTANT WIFE
by Laura Wade
Based on the play by W. Somerset Maugham
Swan Theatre
Friday 20 June – Saturday 2 August
Tickets from £10
RSC Co-Artistic Director Tamara Harvey and playwright Laura Wade reunite after their Olivier Award-winning collaboration, Home, I’m Darling, to reimagine W. Somerset Maugham’s subversive comedy, The Constant Wife, in a sparkling new version.
Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey, Vigil) plays Constance, a 1920s heroine with a decidedly modern spirit.
Audio Described performance: Saturday 12th July, 1.30pm and Friday 1st August, 7.30pm
BLAIR RUSSELL PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCES EXTENSION OF POP OFF, MICHELANGELO!
AT UNDERBELLY BOULEVARD SOHO
Blair Russell Productions today announces a 3-week extension of Pop Off, Michelangelo! by Dylan MarcAurele, now completing its run at Underbelly Boulevard Soho on 13 July.
Joe McNeice directs Aidan MacColl (Leonardo da Vinci), Aoife Haakenson (Mother), Kurran Dhand (Salai), Laura Sillett (Savonarola), Max Eade (Michelangelo), Michael Marouli (Pope), and Sev Keoshgerian (Italian Chef).
www.popoffmichelangelo.com
Instagram, TikTok: @popoffmichelangelo
Blair Russell Productions present
POP OFF, MICHELANGELO!
By Dylan MarcAurele
Cast: Natalia Brown (Understudy), Kurran Dhand (Salai), Max Eade (Michelangelo), Aoife Haakenson (Mother), Sev Keoshgerian (Italian Chef), Aidan MacColl (Leonardo da Vinci), Conn McGirr (Dance Captain/Understudy), Michael Marouli (Pope), Laura Sillett (Savonarola)
Keys/MD: Aron Sood; Bass: Felix Barrett; Percussion: Paul J Forster
Director: Joe McNeice; Choreographer & Intimacy Director: Sundeep Saini;
Dramaturg: Rose Oser; Production Manager: James Anderton;
General Management: Paul Virides Productions; Set Designed in Collaboration Between Joe McNeice, Emily Bestow, and PJ McEvoy
17 May – 22 June 2025
at Underbelly Boulevard Soho
The high-camp musical comedy that stole the Fringe makes its limited West End debut season.
Pop Off, Michelangelo!tells the story of best-pals-turned-bitter-rivals Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. A bloodthirsty friar is on the hunt for homosexuals in Renaissance Italy at the exact moment when childhood friends Mike and Leo realise they both like boys. Terrified, they devise a foolproof plan to gain God’s forgiveness: they simply need to become the greatest religious artists of all time. Can Michelangelo gaslight, gatekeep, and girlboss his way to the Vatican? Will Leonardo ever shut up about his helicopter? Featuring an original electropop score as infectious as the bubonic plague, Pop Off, Michelangelo!is an unhinged adventure that you won’t want to miss.
Dylan MarcAurele is a New York-based writer and recent winner of the Jonathan Larson Grant and the Richard Rodgers Award. His credits for Book, Music, and Lyrics include MEG4N (2024 US Tour starring Rosé of RuPaul’s Drag Race), and The Real Housewives of NYC: The Musical (featured on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live). As a composer, his work includes Lewis Loves Clark (NAMT Festival), Tea with G (reading directed by Scott Schwartz), and The Land of Forgotten Toys (Broadway Licensing). In playwriting, his piece God Gives Ryan a Very Important Job premiered at the 2023 Samuel French OOB Festival. MarcAurele has also written music and lyrics for Miley Chase: The Science Ace (Broadway Licensing) and the song “Say Bravo!” (sung by Andy Cohen with the cast of Vanderpump Rules at the Paris Theater, Las Vegas).
Kurran Dhand plays Salai. His theatre credits include Aladdin (Royal Hippodrome Theatre) and Rishi Sunak’s Doing a Musical (Waterloo East Theatre). Dhand graduated from Brighton Academy in 2023.
Max Eade reprises his role as Michelangelo, which was his stage debut. Eade graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in 2024.
Aoife Haakenson plays Mother. Her theatre credits include Six (UK and international tour) and The Crucible (National Theatre); and for television, Downforce.
Sev Keoshgerian plays Italian Chef. His theatre credits include I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical (UK tour), The Rocky Horror Show (European tour), Little Women the Musical (Park Theatre), Little Miss Sunshine (Arcola Theatre), The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) (Above the Stag) and Jack and the Beanstalk (Corn Exchange Newbury).
Aidan MacColl reprises his role as Leonardo. His other theatre credits include The Little Mermaid (UK tour), Jack and the Beanstalk and Beauty and The Beast (Eastwood Park Theatre).
Michael Marouli plays Pope. Marouli is an international drag performer, actor, host, stand-up comedian and show producer. He finished as runner-up in season five of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and has since toured the world as both a solo artist and with his drag group Angels of the North. He has also starred in BobThe Drag Queen: This is Wild! World Tour (Adelphi Theatre), and guest starred in Paramount Plus’s The Road Trip.
Laura Sillett plays Savonarola. Her theatre credits include Barnum, Sweet Charity, Assassins (The Watermill Theatre), Ordinary People (The Farnham Maltings), Sunday in the Park with George (Mill Studio, Guildford), Hair, Dreamboats & Miniskirts (UK tour), A Night at the Oscars (Upstairs at The Gatehouse), The Selfish Giant (Vaudeville Theatre and Royal & Derngate, Northampton), Footloose (UK and international tour), The Railway Children (Electric Theatre, Guildford), Dick Whittington, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin (Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch), Dick Whittington, Robin Hood & Babes in the Wood and Jack & The Beanstalk (Gatehouse Theatre); and for film, Matilda.
Joe McNeice directs. He is the founding Artistic Director of the Lavender Theatre and the founder of Lavender Productions Ltd. In 2023, he launched the 250-seat open-air Lavender Theatre in Epsom, opening the venue with a revival of Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun, starring Eurovision’s SuRie. His other directing credits include DIVA: Live From Hell! (Turbine Theatre), DIVA (King’s Head Theatre and Underbelly Cowgate). As a producer and writer, he co-wrote and produced the 2020 charity Christmas single Christmas Again: The Show Must Go On! for the Theatre Support Fund+, and worked on Magic Mike Live (US tour). He is also the creator of On Hope, A Digital Song Cycle, and co-wrote the full-length musical Twilight Robbery with composer Matthew Spalding. Writing credits include Songs in the Key of Springfield, Des Ludo’s Good Clean Fun, and Sugar and Smoke, all performed at the University of York.
CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE WEST END TRANSFER OF THE SMASH-HIT PRODUCTION
TILL THE STARS COME DOWN
AT THE THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET THIS SUMMER FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED RUN
The National Theatre today announces casting for the West End transfer of the smash-hit production, Till the Stars Come Down.Co-produced with Eleanor Lloyd Productions, Fiery Angel, Short Street Productions and Access Entertainment, this ‘excellent family drama’ (★★★★★ Daily Telegraph) will be staged at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 1 July until 27 September 2025. Audience members will be given the opportunity to sit up close and immerse themselves in this ‘wedding of the year’ (★★★★★ The Guardian) with on-stage seating available throughout the run. Tickets are available from £20.
Joining the cast are Dorothy Atkinson (Ludwig, BBC; Saltburn, Warner Bros) as Aunty Carol, Adrian Bower (Gangs of London, Sky; Teachers, BBC) as John, Julian Kostov (The White Lotus, HBO; Shadow and Bone, Netflix) as Marek, Aisling Loftus (Girls and Boys, Nottingham Playhouse; Sherwood, BBC)as Maggie and Ruby Thompson (Three Sisters, Shakespeare’s Globe; Aftersun, Mubi) as Leanne.
Reprising their roles are Lucy Black (Top Girls, National Theatre; The Durrells, ITV) as Hazel, Sinéad Matthews (The Antipodes, National Theatre, Hullraisers, Channel 4) as Sylvia, Philip Whitchurch (Boys from the Blackstuff, Royal Court Liverpool/National Theatre; Peterloo, Entertainment One) as Uncle Pete and Alan Williams (Faith, Hope and Charity, National Theatre; Chernobyl, Sky) as Tony. Further casting to be announced.
Till the Stars Come Down is a passionate, heartbreaking and hilarious portrayal of a larger-than-life family. Written by former National Theatre writer-in-residence, Beth Steel, this critically acclaimed production ‘fizzes with sharp comic observation’ (★★★★ Financial Times) and is ‘laugh out loud funny’ (★★★★★ WhatsOnStage). Other credits include The House of Shades (Almeida Theatre), Wonderland (Hampstead Theatre) and Ditch (HighTide Festival and Old Vic Tunnels). She has also previously won the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Most Promising Playwright (2014).
Till the Stars Come Down is a ‘beautifully observed and bruisingly hilarious’ production by Bijan Sheibani (★★★★Time Out). This Olivier Award-winning director was previously Artistic Director of the Actors Touring Company and is a former associate director of the National Theatre. Other credits include Barber Shop Chronicles, A Taste of Honey (National Theatre) and The Arrival (Bush Theatre).
It’s Sylvia and Marek’s wedding and you’re all invited. Over the course of a hot summer’s day, a family gathers to welcome a newcomer into their midst. But as the vodka flows and dances are shared, passions boil over and the limits of love are tested. What happens when the happiest day of your life opens the door to a new and uncertain future?
Sheibani is joined by set and costume designer, Samal Blak; lighting designer, Paule Constable; choreographer and movement director, Aline David; sound designer, Gareth Fry; revival director, Elin Schofield;original casting director, Alastair Coomer CDG; casting director, Juliet Horsley CDG; dialect coach, Charmian Hoare; intimacy director, Asha Jennings-Grant, fight director, Kev McCurdy and resident director, Alex Pritchett.
Till the Stars Come Downwas originally commissioned by the National Theatre and developed with the theatre’s New Work department whilst Steel was writer-in-residence (2019-2021). It had its world premiere on 31 January 2024 in the Dorfman Theatre and was Steel’s debut play at the National Theatre running until 16 March. Following a sold-out run, Till the Stars Come Down was nominated for ‘Best New Play’ at the 2024 Olivier Awards.
Till the Stars Come Down in the West End is supported by American Express, the National Theatre’s Official Payment Partner.
2025 sees The Castle Players make a bold return to its summer tradition of outdoor performances with a spectacular production of ‘Shakespeare in Love – the Play’. Touring to five venues on five consecutive nights it opens on Whorlton Village Green on Tuesday 1 July at 7pm before visiting All Saints & Salutation Church, Darlington on 2 July, Mickleton Village Green on 3 July, TCR The Hub, Barnard Castle on 4 July and finally, on Saturday 5 July, the stunning walled gardens of Raby Castle.
Directed by Gordon Duffy-McGhie, the play is based on the Oscar®-winning film, ‘Shakespeare in Love’, and follows young Will Shakespeare as a penniless playwright struggling with writer’s block. Everything changes, however, when Will meets the daring Viola de Lesseps, a noblewoman with a secret passion for acting at a time when women were banned from the public stage. Disguised as a man, Viola auditions for Will’s play, and when a whirlwind romance follows it inspires the legendary story of ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
Expect sword fights, mistaken identities, and a barrel of laughs in this enchanting tale of poetic love!
Rehearsals are already underway with a cast of thirty-seven, and just out of town local set builder, Simon Pell, is preparing for an especially busy time. A design competition with degree students from Northern School of Art in Hartlepool has already produced many innovative ideas and visuals for the set. The competition winner will be announced at Northern Stage in Newcastle on May 8th.
Tickets go on sale on 7 May – please visit www.castleplayers.co.uk to book your tickets and for further information.
