CRUCIBLE THEATRE

A Sheffield Theatres production

SHEFFIELD THEATRES ANNOUNCES JOANNA VANDERHAM AS
BLANCHE DUBOIS AND A FIRST LOOK AT NEW ARTWORK FOR

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Director Josh Seymour

Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
Saturday 1 – Saturday 29 March 2025

Sheffield Theatres today announces Joanna Vanderham (Double Feature, Richard III, Crime for Britbox, The Runaway for Sky) as Blanche DuBois with a first look at new artwork for their upcoming production of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire.

The new production of the award-winning play will be directed by Josh Seymour (Spend, Spend, Spend) and runs fromSaturday 1 – Saturday 29 March 2025, with further casting and full creative team to be announced.     

“How strange that I should be called a destitute woman! When I have all of these treasures locked in my heart.”

In the sultry back streets of 1940s New Orleans, fading Southern belle Blanche DuBois seeks solace with her estranged sister Stella.

Blanche’s delicate sensibilities create instant suspicion in Stella’s unrestrained husband Stanley, as they collide in a struggle for Stella’s heart. As their simmering feud escalates, past truths begin to surface and both sisters must choose between fantasy and reality.

Passions ignite and illusions are shattered in Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

Tickets for A Streetcar Named Desire are on sale now. Tickets can be booked through the Box Office in person, over the phone on 0114 249 6000 or at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.

New musical from Tina Treadwell, producer of the West End hit The Drifters Girl

Tina Treadwell (The Drifters Girl), Kenny D’Aquila,  
Totus Tuus Family Trust and Treadwell Entertainment Group present

Charlie McCullagh, Chelsea Halfpenny and Daniele Alan-Carter
head the cast for the UK premiere showcase
of the new romantic comedy musical
IF I HAD YOU
Music By Joel Spineti  
Book & Lyrics Kenny D’Aquila

Charlie McCullagh (42 Balloons, Jesus Christ Superstar), Chelsea Halfpenny (Waitress, 9-5: The Musical) and Daniele Alan-Carter (Dance of the Vampires, Oh What A Night!) are to lead the cast for two showcase performances of the new romantic comedy musical If I Had You at The Actors’ Church, Covent Garden on Monday 27 January at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

The rest of the cast includes: Dante Palminteri (Brunettes), Emma Kingston (The Band’s Visit), Gabriella Palminteri (New World Comin’), Alison Jiear (Jerry Springer the Opera – Olivier Award nomination Best Actress in a Musical), Maggie Lynne (Wicked), Sue Kelvin (Wicked), Sebastian Torkia (A Chorus Line), Simone Pavesio, Max Rizzo (Starlight Express), Gabriel Constantin (The Tattooist of Auschwitz), Mia Raggio (The Sound of Music), Hubert Hogarth (The Wizard of Oz), Faith Delaney (Stranger Things – The First Shadow), Dexter Pulling (Les Miserables).

The showcase is being produced by Tina Treadwell (co-producer of the West End hit The Drifters Girl), Kenny D’Aquila, Totus Tuus Family Trust and Treadwell Entertainment Group.

 If I Had You is a story of love, loss and hope set in the eternal city of Rome as one man’s heart takes him on the journey of a lifetime. It is a fantastical story that shows that love never goes away even though the years have.

This is a semi-staged scripts-in-hand workshop.

Age Guidance: Suitable for anyone aged 12+
Running Time: 140 minutes
Interval: 20 minutes

Tickets are available to the public at £17.50 and go on sale with this link: https://actorschurch.org/whatson/if-i-had-you/

Creative team
Music: Joel Spineti
Book & Lyrics: Kenny D’Aquila
Producers: Tina Treadwell, Kenny D’Aquila
Executive Producers: Totus Tuus Family Trust, Treadwell Entertainment Group
Casting: Debbie O’Brien Casting
General Management: Thomas Hopkins Productions

Kenny D’Aquila (Book & Lyrics, Producer) made his mark as Grantaire in the critically acclaimed production of Les Miserables directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird at the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles. Later, D’Aquila was featured as Grantaire in the International Cast Album with the London Philharmonic. As a writer, D’Aquila’s first play, Uptown, opened in Los Angeles and won eight Drama- Logue Awards including Best New Play. His second play, Unorganized Crime, caught the eye of Oscar nominee Chazz Palminteri who went on to perform the play with Kenny at the Elephant Theatre in Los Angeles. D’Aquila then partnered with composer Joel Spineti to write Bats On The Moon, a new musical that follows the trials and tribulations of Richard Locke, a writer from the UK who created the great moon hoax in 1835. Bats On The Moon was one of six new musicals presented at the 2023 Florida Festivals of New Musicals.

Joel Spineti (Composer) is an American composer, music director and music educator who has travelled extensively throughout the United States as music director/performer for the national tours of Oil City Symphony, Forever Plaid and Pump Boys and Dinettes. He has served as musical director and conductor for over 30 regional musical productions. Spineti’s editors’ choice concert band compositions are available by international publishers, Alfred Music and the FJH Music Company Inc. In his capacity as educator, Spineti has travelled to X’ian, China and Limassol, Cyprus to coach and direct multiple musical theatre productions. If I Had You marks the third collaboration with longtime friend and award-winning playwright, Kenny D’Aquila. Previous works include Bats On The Moon (the story of London author Richard Locke) featured at the Winter Park Playhouse Festival of New Musicals and In The Key of Dee.

Tina Treadwell (Producer) is a celebrated talent manager, casting executive and theatre and Film producer. As president of Treadwell Entertainment Group, Ms Treadwell, with business partner Kim Rena Coleman, develops and manages the careers of acting, music and literary talent, including If I Had You playwright Kenny D’Aquila. As the former VP of Talent and Music Specials at Disney Channel, Ms. Treadwell oversaw the casting of series and movies and was the creative executive behind Disney’s In Concert Series, which helped launch the careers of Britney Spears, LeAnn Rimes, Backstreet Boys and most notably NSYNC. A graduate of Princeton, Tina is proud to have collaborated with West End producer Michael Harrison on the Olivier Award-nominated production of The Drifters Girl at the Garrick Theatre. She also enjoys a successful partnership with producer/artist, Navi, with whom she co-manages The Drifters

Greg Blanchard (Executive Producer) is Executive Producer of Totus Tuss Trustee. Blanchard enjoyed a highly successful modeling and acting career which included playing the role of Enjolras in the Los Angeles production of Les Miserables at the Shubert Theatre, where his friendship with Kenny D’Aquila began over 30 years ago. After acting, Greg added to his impressive resume, building businesses as an entrepreneur whose focus is on health and assisting humanity.

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR

THE PARENT AGENCY – THE MUSICAL

THE NEW MUSICAL BASED ON DAVID BADDIEL’S BEST-SELLING CHILDREN’S BOOK WITH MUSIC BY DAN GILLESPIE-SELLS

OPENS AT STORYHOUSE CHESTER NEXT MONTH

PLAYS SATURDAY 15 FEBRUARY – SUNDAY 2 MARCH 2025

www.storyhouse.com

Thursday 9 January: Producers John Berry and Anthony Lilley of Scenario Two and Suzie Henderson and Helen Redcliffe of Storyhouse are delighted to today announce the full cast for The Parent Agency – The Musical. This brand new musical adapted by comedian and author David Baddiel from his best-selling book with music and additional lyrics by the composer of Everybody’s Talking about Jamie’s Dan Gillespie Sells, will receive its world premiere at Storyhouse Chester on Saturday 15 February 2025, where it will be playing for two weeks until Sunday 2 March 2025. Before a planned national tour and London run.

Max Bispham (Les Miserables, Mrs Doubtfire), Osian Salter (Les Miserables, The Osmonds a New Musical), Eli Sowden-Mehta (Wonka, Blitz, Wicked) and Louis Wilkins (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) will share the role of Barry.

Rebecca McKinnis (Dear Evan Hansen, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) will play Susan and Rakesh Boury (Matilda, The Creakers) will play Geoff.  

Completing the cast are Kazmin Borrer (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), Elliot Broadfoot (Kathy and Stella Solve A Murder), Natasha Cayabyab (Shrek the Musical), Dylan Collymore (Shrek The Musical), Sarah McFarlane (SIX), Joshian Angelo Omaña (Why Am I So Single?) Alan Vicary (Girl From The North Country), Ralph Birthwell (Life of Pi), Althea Burey (The Gruffalo), Elliot Copeland (Becoming Nancy), Jessica Daugirda (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), Sophia Lewis (Around The World in 80 Days) and Robbie Scott (Sunshine on Leith).

The Parent Agency – The Musical will appeal to anyone who is, or has been, a child.
And also, to anyone who is, or has had, at least one parent.
And definitely, to anyone who wishes they weren’t called Barry.

Eleven-year-old Barry Bennett hates his name. In fact, it’s number one on the list of things he blames his parents (Susan and Geoff) for along with “being boring, never buying him cool stuff, being tired all the time and being too strict”. So, he makes a wish for a better mum and dad and finds himself whisked away to Youngdon in the ‘United Kid-dom’, an alternate universe where kids get to pick out their perfect parents with the assistance of the staff of the eponymous Parent Agency.

For Barry, this seems like a dream come true, although he soon learns that choosing a new mum and dad isn’t as simple as it sounds…

David Baddiel’s books have achieved exceptional success and been translated into 30 languages. His children’s books have received huge critical acclaim and won some of children’s literature’s highest accolades including the inaugural Laugh Out Loud Award, for The Parent Agency.

Dan Gillespie-Sells, best known as the lead singer and songwriter of The Feeling, has enjoyed widespread critical acclaim for his work in musical theatre. He composed the music for the hit West End musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, which received multiple Olivier Award nominations, toured internationally and was adapted in to an Amazon Original Film. Dan’s work has earned him an Ivor Novello Award, Olivier, BAFTA and BRIT nominations, and he was named Stonewall’s Entertainer of the Decade in 2015 for his contributions to the LGBT community.

Joining David and Dan on the creative team are director Tim Jackson (Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York), Merrily We Roll Along), designer Jon Bausor (Spirited Away, Bat Out of Hell), choreographer Carrie-Anne Ingrouille (SIX, Dear Evan Hansen), costume designer Sarah Mercadé (Jesus Christ Superstar, 101 Dalmatians, The Spongebob Musical), lighting designer Zoe Spurr (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World, Bonnie & Clyde) and Assistant Director Francesca Hsieh (VANYA),with Music Supervisor Nick Finlow (Back to The Future, The Book of Mormon), Music Director Ellen Campbell (Waitress, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Sound Designer Paul Gatehouse (Mary Poppins, The Little Big Things), Associate Sound Designer Richard Jones, Wig, Hair and Make-Up Designer Craig Forrest-Thomas (Mrs Doubtfire, Buyer & Cellar). Casting Director Olivia Laydon CDG for Jill Green Casting and Children’s Casting by Amy Beadel CDG for Grindrod Burton Casting.

GINA AND MAZZ MURRAY TO HOST THE

25^TH ANNUAL WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS

WhatsOnStage today announce that Gina and Mazz Murray will co-host the 25^th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards in association with AudienceView – the only major theatre prize giving decided by the theatregoers themselves – on 9 February 2025 at The London Palladium.

Both have some major theatre credits to their names: Gina Murray‘s stage credits include Chicago, Fame, The Roy Orbison Story (all in the West End) as well as Hairspray on tour, while on screen she has appeared in The Hunt for Raoul Moat, and Sorted.

Meanwhile, Mazz Murray is currently portraying Donna Sheridan in the West End production of Mamma Mia!, with other West End credits including We Will Rock You, Chicago and Fame. Her television credits include EastEnders and The Quest.

The hit revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express leads nominations this year with nine nods including Best Musical Revival, Best Supporting Performer in a Musical for Jaydon Vijn, Best Professional Debut for Jeevan Braich, Best Set Design (Tim Hatley), Best Lighting Design (Howard Hudson), Best Sound Design (Gareth Owen), Best Video Design (Andrzej Goulding), Best Costume Design (Gabriella Slade) and a nomination for Jackie Saundercock and Campbell Young Associates in the new category for Best Wigs Hair and Make-up Design. Also featuring strongly in the Musical Theatre categories are The Artist at Theatre Royal Plymouth with six nominations and Oliver! at Chichester Festival Theatre with five nominations.

Leading the straight play categories with six nominations is the Donmar Warehouse’s production of Macbeth starring David Tennant and Cush Jumbo, currently running at the Harold Pinter Theatre, with both lead actors nominated for Best Performer in a Play alongside nominations for Best Play Revival, Best Sound Design (Gareth Fry), Best Musical Direction/ Supervision (Alasdair Macrae) and Best Casting (Anna Cooper). In terms of straight plays Spirited Away closely follows with five nominations.

In addition to seeing winners crowned across a range of categories, theatregoers will also enjoy a host of exclusive live performances from top stage talent, accompanied by a 24-piece orchestra in a one-night-only showcase co-produced with creative directors Alex Parker and Damian Sandys.

awards.whatsonstage.com

lwtheatres.co.uk 

Twitter: @WhatsOnStage #WOSAwards
Instagram: @WhatsOnStage

TikTok: @WhatsOnStage

WhatsOnStage would like to take this opportunity to thank the 2025 awards ceremony sponsors: 5RB, Above Title Finance, AKA Promotions Ltd, AudienceView, Avalon, Boulevard Events, Concord, Dewynters, Disney’s Hercules, Edwardian Hotels, Hexagon Print, Go Live Theatre Projects, LOVEtheatre, Music Theatre International, Newman Displays, Outernet Venues, Preevue, PRG, Re:Water, RSVP-ify, SINE Digital, Steeldeck Rentals, Tandem Marketing, Theatrical Rights Worldwide, Ticketmaster, TikTok, Travelzoo and White Light.

Cast Announced for Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s National Tour of Moira Buffini’s Handbagged as part of National Theatre’s Theatre Nation Partnerships network

• Moira Buffini’s fly-on-the-wall comedy about Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher has been reimagined with music featuring reworkings of 80s pop classics
• Casting includes Emma Ernest (Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare’s Globe)and Morag Cross (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Palace Theatre) as Margaret Thatcher and Helen Reuben (Cabaret, English Theatre Frankfurt) and Sarah Moyle (BBC’s Doctors) as Queen Elizabeth II

National Tour 6^th February – 24^th May 2025

@QueensTheatreH | #HandbaggedTour | www.queens-theatre.co.uk

A reimagined revival of Moira Buffini’s comedy Handbagged will tour across England from February to May produced by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch in partnership with the National Theatre. The England-wide tour is part of the Theatre Nation Partnerships network which is led by the National Theatre and aims to support regional arts organisations in strengthening their relationships with local audiences, communities and schools.

Imagining the conversations between two of history’s most revered female leaders, Handbagged is a fly-on-the-wall look at what might have happened when Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher came face-to-face in the privacy of the palace. Directed by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s Alex Thorpe, this fresh interpretation of the play will feature new music composed for the show, a cappella singing, and remixed pop classics of the iconic era. A clever and fiercely funny comedy, Handbagged explores the intense relationship that two female powerhouses formed over a decade, and the legacy they each left behind.

Casting for Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth II includes, as ‘Mags’, Emma Ernest who has previously appeared as Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare’s Globe, 2024), and portraying ‘Liz’, Helen Reuben after previously playing Sally Bowles in Cabaret (English Theatre Frankfurt, 2019) and the title role in Pictures of Dorian Gray (Jermyn Street Theatre, 2019). Appearing as ‘T’ and ‘Q’, the older versions of the main characters, are Morag Cross who previously appeared in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Palace Theatre, 2016, 2018 & 2022) and Sarah Moyle best known for playing the much-loved series regular ‘Valerie’ in BBC’s Doctors. Further casting includes Cassius Konneh and Gerard McDermott who will multirole the 17 other characters in the play. Completing the ensemble is Tiajna Amayo and Jane Quinn.

Director Alex Thorpe said, “I am thrilled to welcome this multi-talented cast to Hornchurch as we prepare to embark on the most ambitious TNP tour to date. As we reexamine these fierce and famed women, joining this ensemble company is some of the UK’s most exciting creative talents, realising Moira Buffini’s satirically funny comedy. Performed on Katie Lias’ golden contemporary set and propelled by Kate Marlais’s reworking of 80’s pop classics and the award-winning Ryan Day’s lighting – this truly extraordinary team is not to be missed.”

Theatre Nation Partnerships is a collaboration between 13 partners across 14 areas, combining local expertise with nationally-delivered activity to build and sustain audiences for theatre across England.

Activity includes touring to local venues and into schools, participatory opportunities and in-depth engagement with community groups.

Between 2022 to 2025, the network’s focus is on welcoming new audiences to theatre and creating more opportunities for people to engage, supporting the long-term health of local theatre audiences. The Theatre Nation Partnerships network will reach 500,000 targeted audiences, young people, and community groups over this three-year period.

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is a vibrant producing theatre, working in Outer East London, Essex and beyond. As a cultural hub, over 210,000 people enjoy the programme each year. Audiences are guaranteed a warm welcome from a three-year winner of UK Theatre’s Most Welcoming Theatre (2016 – 2018) and London Theatre of the Year 2020 (The Stage Awards), the first Outer London theatre to receive this prestigious award.

Suitable for ages 10+

Company information

Playwright Moira Buffini                             Director Alex Thorpe                                   

Designer Katie Lias                                       Lighting Designer Ryan Day                    

Musical Director and Arranger Kate Marlais                  

Sound Designer Owen Crouch                               Movement Director Jonnie Riordan    

Assistant Director Chani Merrell

Costume Supervisor Chantal Short    Casting Director Chloe Bake                  

Accent Coach Danièle Lydon                  Design Assistant Victoria Maytom       

Production Manager James Dawson   Company Stage Manager Debs Harlow

Deputy Stage Manager Lizzie Bond      Assistant Stage Manager Sofie Mirza

Cast

Tiajna Amayo, Morag Cross, Emma Ernest, Cassius Konneh, Gerard McDermott, Sarah Moyle, Jane Quinn, Helen Reuben

Social media

X                      @QueensTheatreH

Instagram         @QueensTheatreHornchurch

Facebook          www.facebook.com/QueensTheatreH

#HandbaggedTour

Listings information

6– 22 Feb                             Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Hornchurch

Billet Ln, Hornchurch RM11 1QT

Times and prices vary
https://queens-theatre.co.uk | 01708 443333

27Feb – 1March                 The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton

Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV1 1DE

Times and prices vary
www.grandtheatre.info | 01902 429212

4 – 8 March                                          Cast, Doncaster

                                                                        Cast, Waterdale, Doncaster DN1 3BU

                                                                        Times and prices vary

                                                                        www.castindoncaster.com‎ | 01302 303 959

13 — 15 March                    Key Theatre, Peterborough

                                                Embankment Road, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE1 1EF

                                                Times and prices vary

www.vivacity-peterborough.com | 01733 207 239

18 — 22 March                    Lowry, Salford

Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, Manchester, Greater Manchester M50 3AZ

Times and prices vary
www.thelowry.com | 0843 208 6010

25 — 29 March                    Curve Theatre, Leicester

                                                Rutland Street, Leicester LE1 1SB

Times and prices vary                            

www.curveonline.co.uk | 0116 242 3595

1 — 5 April                           Theatre Royal, Wakefield

Drury Lane, Town Centre, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF1 2TE

Times and prices vary
www.theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk | 01924 211311

8 — 12 April                         Grand Theatre, Blackpool

33 Church St, Blackpool, Lancashire FY1 1HT

Times and prices vary
www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk | 01253 290190

22 — 26 April                       Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds

                                                6 Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 1QR

                                                Times and prices vary        

                                                www.theatreroyal.org | 01284 769505

29 April — 3 May Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

                                                Belgrave Square, Coventry, West Midlands CV1 1GS

Times and prices vary

www.belgrade.co.uk | 024 7655 3055

6 — 10 May                          The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford

Millbrook, Guildford, Surrey GU1 3UX

Times and prices vary

www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk | 01483 44 00 00

13 — 17 May                                       Northern Stage, Newcastle

                                                                        Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear NE1 7RH

                                                                        Times and prices vary

                                                                        www.northernstage.co.uk | 0191 230 5151

20 — 24 May                        Oxford Playhouse, Oxford

                                                11-12 Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2LW

Times and prices vary

www.oxfordplayhouse.com | 01865 305305

ONLY A PLONKER WOULD MISS THIS!

Stick a pony in your pocket – The Trotters are back and they’re coming to Newcastle! Smash hit show, Only Fools and Horses The Musical – direct from a record-breaking, four-year sold-out run-in London’s West End – visits Newcastle Theatre Royal Mon 10 – Sat 22 Feb 2025.

As writers of the hit West-End musical, Only Fools and Horses, Paul Whitehouse and Jim Sullivan have taken John Sullivan’s 64 unforgettable television adventures of Del and Rodney and blended them into one perfect night out.

Did you start from scratch when you started your collaboration or is any of the musical based upon earlier developments?

Jim: When we began developing the idea back in 2015, the first thing I did was to search my dad’s notes. I knew from talking with him that he wanted to focus on the Dates episode (his personal favourite), where Del and Raquel first met. I also found a two-page opening scene, which our opening scene is based on.

I also came across an old audio cassette tape with the words “This Time Next Year” written on it. We played the tape and heard Chas and Dave (as Del and Rodney) singing “We’re gonna be alright, the good times are on their way!” So, we had the beginning of an opening scene and what I felt would make a great and uplifting final song. This was around about the time that Paul came on board, and it really took off from there.

Paul, how did you become involved with co-writing the musical?

Paul: I met Jim, and I was very conscious of how precious the legacy was to him and his family, and for me too as someone who loved the series. But the fact that Chas Hodges and John Sullivan had already written a song together for it struck me as a positive element!

Only Fools and Horses is such a cherished series, was it a little daunting to take characters and events that generations of viewers knew so well?

Jim: The story of the Trotters of Peckham spanned over two decades and included births, deaths and marriages. Our job was to boil that down into a single two-hour story… with songs! Ultimately, we are not trying to reinvent the series but rather to pay homage to it. We couldn’t include everyone, but we tried to give all the main characters a fair shout. What we’ve ended up with is something that captures and celebrates the heart and spirit of what the series was all about.

Was it ever tempting to go back to the beginning of the series or did you always want the musical to start with the Trotter’s world firmly established?

Jim: I followed my dad’s cue here. The series and the characters were developed over decades, and it was important to include all the key characters at key moments. We were focusing on the Dates episode, by which time a lot was changing in the lives of the Trotters. This timing also helped to inspire other ideas.

Paul: I thought that we shouldn’t just revisit Only Fools and Horses. It might sound a bit pretentious, but I thought one of the unsung stars of the show was London itself. I came up with the idea for a song called ‘Where Have All The Cockney’s Gone?’, a phrase I’d heard around, and it struck me as something that Grandad could empathise with and give voice to. I also had the idea that Trigger could look into the future in his Granny’s crystal ball and see the London we live in now.

Paul, did your paths ever cross with John, David, Nick and the gang?

Paul: I never met John, but I did meet David and Nick at a couple of BBC do’s and they were both lovely. Because The Fast Show was really at its height when I met them, and they really liked it, they were doing my characters back to me!

Finally, can we expect to see the old man of the sea and ancient mariner himself Uncle Albert make an appearance in the musical?!

Paul: Well, you never know, Uncle Albert might pop up in the show when things get tricky!

With musical contributions from the iconic Chas & Dave, the beloved theme tune as you have never heard it before, and an array of brand-new songs full of character and cockney charm, Only Fools and Horses The Musical is a feel-good family celebration of traditional working-class London life.

Only Fools and Horses plays Newcastle Theatre Royal Mon 10 – Sat 22 Feb 2025. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR RSC’S EDWARD II

EDWARD II by Christopher Marlowe

Directed by Daniel Raggett

Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

21 February – 5 April 2025

Press Night: Wednesday 5 March, 7pm

BOX OFFICE: rsc.org.uk, 01789 331111

Casting is announced for the RSC’s forthcoming production of Christopher Marlowe’s rarely performed tragedy, Edward II, which runs in the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon between 21 February – 5 April 2025. This will be the first RSC production of the play since 1990.

Directed by Daniel Raggett, Marlowe’s tender, yet violent play about King Edward II and the man he loves features Daniel Evans – the RSC’s Co-Artistic Director and double Olivier Award-winner -in the title role. This will be the first time Daniel has appeared on stage in a full acting role for 14 years, since he played Bobby in Sondheim’s Company at The Crucible in Sheffield in 2011.

Daniel Evans’ work as an actor spans Shakespeare, Sondheim and Sarah Kane, at the RSC, National Theatre, Royal Court, Donmar Warehouse, Menier, Sheffield and on Broadway. He was Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres between 2009-2016, and Chichester Festival Theatre between 2016-2023, and became the RSC Co-Artistic Director with Tamara Harvey in 2023.  Daniel last appeared on stage at the RSC in 2003; his acting credits for the Company include Measure for Measure, Cymbeline, A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream and Coriolanus. In June 2025 Daniel will re-unite with his fellow, original cast members for a major revival of Sarah Kane’s seminal play, 4.48 Psychosis in co-production with the Royal Court which will run in London and Stratford-upon-Avon.

Eloka Ivo makes his RSC debut as Gaveston, Edward’s lover.  Eloka’s previous theatre credits include Backstairs Billy (Duke of York’s), Black Superhero (Royal Court), The Glass Menagerie (Royal Exchange), The Gods Are Not to Blame (Almeida) and The End of Eddy (BAM New York).

Also making their RSC debuts are Ruta Gedmintas and Enzo Cilenti, as, respectively, Edward’s wife Queen Isabella, and Mortimer, who plots against the King.  Ruta’s work on screen credits includes His Dark Materials (HBO/BBC), Sandman (Netflix), The Strain (FX) and A Street Cat Named Bob (Sony). Theatre credits include Backbeat (Duke of York’s) and What Every Woman Knows (Royal Exchange). Enzo’s TV and film credits include: The Crown (Netflix), Luther, Wolf Hall (BBC), Bridget Jones’ Baby (Miramax) and In The Loop (BBC Films).  His stage credits include Present Laughter (Old Vic) and Berberian Sound Studio (Donmar).

The cast comprises: Jacob James Beswick (Lightborn), Enzo Cilenti (Mortimer), Michael Cusick (Ensemble), Stavros Demetraki (Spencer), Emilio Doorgasingh (Pembroke), Amy Dunn (Ensemble), Daniel Evans (Edward II), Ruta Gedmintas (Isabella), Eloka Ivo (Gaveston), Geoffrey Lumb (Warwick), Kwaku Mills (Baldock), Evan Milton (Lancaster), Christopher Patrick Nolan (Bishop of Coventry), Henry Pettigrew (Kent), Joseph Rowe (Ensemble) and Neil Sheffield (Ensemble). Full bios can be seen here.

Talking about the play director, Daniel Raggett said:

“I’m thrilled and deeply privileged to be working with this incredible cast on Edward II. This major Elizabethan drama hasn’t been seen at the RSC for over 30 years, and our production will breathe new life into it: honouring Marlowe’s razor-sharp writing whilst embodying everything that gives the original the propulsive energy of a thriller. 

“A love story with a political edge – this 400 year old play has plenty to say about the
supposedly liberal and progressive times in which we now live: when King Edward wants to rule alongside the man he loves, how much change can the establishment tolerate, and at what cost?”

Daniel Raggett was nominated for the Emerging Talent award at 2022 Evening Standard Theatre Awards. In 2025, besides directing Edward II for the RSC, he will direct The Estate, a new play by Shaan Sahota at the National Theatre.  His previous directing credits include Brace Brace (Royal Court), ANNA X (Harold Pinter Theatre, West End, Sky Arts), Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Sheffield Theatres, Lyric Hammersmith, Theatre Royal Haymarket, where it was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play), The Vortex (Chichester Festival Theatre), and The Human Voice (which he also adapted, Gate Theatre, nominated for Best Director, Off West End Awards).

Joining Daniel Raggett on the creative team are: Leslie Travers (Set and Costume Designer); Tim Lutkin (Lighting Designer); Roddy Hart and Tommy Reilly (Composers); Tingying Dong (Sound Designer); Anthony and Kel Matsena (Movement Directors); Kev McCurdy (Fight Director); and Julia Horan CDG (Casting Director).

JASON DONOVAN

RETURNS TO

SOUTHAMPTON’S MAYFLOWER THEATRE, IN

He reprises his regal role as Pharaoh for one week only 13 – 18 May 2025

http://uktour.josephthemusical.com/

Michael Harrison is delighted to announce that Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat favourite Jason Donovan will return to Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre this spring. For one week only, he will reprise his celebrated role as Pharaoh. Playing from 13 – 18 May 2025, these dates mark the only opportunity to see Jason on the 2025 UK tour. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased from www.mayflower.org.uk.

Jason returns to this sensational production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat having most recently starred in two triumphant seasons of the new London Palladium production in the summers of 2019 and 2021. Swapping his loin cloth for gold leathers, his show-stopping rendition of ‘Song of the King’ raised the roof night after night, ahead of a major UK Tour in 2022 which included a rapturously received week at Mayflower Theatre, Southampton. Jason was last seen as The Evil Ringmaster at the venue in the 2022 pantomime season Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Jason Donovan says of his return to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: “Joseph will always hold a special place in my heart and to return to the show in the new Palladium production and later UK tour as Pharaoh was an incredible experience. Southampton’s audiences were electrifying and I can’t wait to revisit the city later this year when I play my only dates on the 2025 tour. Be sure you don’t miss out on your ‘dream’ ticket!”

Jason Donovan came into our lives in the late 1980s as Scott Robinson in the hit Australian series, Neighbours. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, he had several chart hits, and his album Ten Good Reasons was the best-selling UK album of 1989. His hits included ‘Too Many Broken Hearts’, ‘Especially For You’ (with Kylie Minogue), and of course, ‘Any Dream Will Do’. Since then, he has rarely been away from the stage or screen.

Jason’s record-breaking run in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in the early 1990s preceded his performance as Frank N Furter in the 25th Anniversary Production of The Rocky Horror Show, then Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, The Sound of Music, Annie Get Your Gun, The King’s Speech, Million Dollar Quartet andJeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds. In December 2019 he was called home to Australia to appear as the charismatic and cunning celebrity lawyer, Billy Flynn in Chicago. Jason’s recent TV credits also include ITV’s Dial M for Middlesbrough and Dave’s Meet the Richardsons.

In the spring of 2022, Jason performed ‘Any Dream Will Do’ outside the gates of Buckingham Palace as part of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Over the summers of 2022 and 2023, he completed two consecutive runs as the Teen Angel in Greasein the West End.

In 2022, along with Kylie Minogue, he rejoined the cast of Neighbours one final time as Scott Robinson. In 2023, Jason donned his fishnets and heels to reprise his role as Frank N Furter for the 50th Anniversary of the production in Australia performing for audiences in both Sydney and Melbourne to critical acclaim. Starting February 2025, Jason will embark on his next solo music tour, the ‘DOIN’ FINE’ tour which will span locations across the UK and Ireland.

Christina Bianco stars as Narrator and Adam Filipe as Joseph. Christina Bianco is a two-time Drama Desk Award nominee, who made her West End debut starring in the Menier Chocolate Factory’s production of Forbidden Broadway at the Vaudeville Theatre. She captured international acclaim as a YouTube sensation with her ‘diva’ impression videos gainingover 25 million views and more recently delighted audiences as Glinda in The Wizard of Oz at The London Palladium. Adam Filipe’s credits include Titanic The Musical (UK Tour); Prince Of Egypt, Original West End Cast and Les Misérables (Queens Theatre). Concert Credits: vocalist for Lea Salonga: Stage, Screen & Everything In Between (UK Tour) and Houdini in Side Show: in Concert (London Palladium).

The 2025tour completing company are Hugh Cotton asReuben and Will Haswell as Simeon alongside Aaron Archer; Bella Baldock; Daniel Bowskill; Imogen Bowtell; Taylor Bridges; Joseph Brownlie-Johnson; Joseph Craig; Davide Fienauri; Ellie Greenway; Oliver Hawes; Kiera Haynes; Siobhan James; Ben Lancaster; Nicole Lupino; Bradley Perret; Harvey Shulver; Jessica Sutton; Charley Warburton; Jenna Warne and Alex Woodward.

The production’s children’s company consists ofLuke Beggs, Sofija Bele, Sidney Bond, Chloe Boyle, Coco Chapman, Charlie Cox, Max Crisp, Shae Marie David, Isabelle Chiara Dawodu, Josh Desai, Erin Donovan, Jasper Eglin, Safia Francis, Ernie Seiji Fransella, Marisia Georgiannaki, Poppy Graham, Coco-Lili Hodder, Poppy Kunorubwe, Eliott Marsden, Alex Neophytou, Shyanne Ononiwu, Rio-Blake Power, Leia O’Sullivan, Zachary Richardson, Daniel Rodriguez Castillo, Felix Schmitt, Dexter Seaton, Azalea-Belle Sharp, Arthur Tennant and Raine Williamson.

Released as a concept album in 1969, the stage version ofJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoathas become one of the world’s most belovedfamily musicals. The multi-award-winning show – which marked Tim Rice (Lyrics) and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s (Music) first major collaboration – has been performed hundreds of thousands of times including multiple runs in the West End and on Broadway, international tours in over 80 countries worldwide. Today, it is one of the world’s most beloved family musicals and features much-loved pop and musical theatre classics, including Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door, There’s One More Angel In Heavenand Go, Go, Go, Joseph.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is directed by Laurence Connor. Laurence’s credits include the acclaimed London production of School of Rock and the Tony-Award nominated production on Broadway, the recent London productions of Miss Saigon, Chess and Cinderella, the international arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar and he is also the Co-Director of the new version of Les Misérables which has enjoyed worldwide success including Broadway, UK and US tours.

JoAnn M Hunter (who has 20 Broadway shows to her credit, including School of Rock and On A Clear Day You Can See Forever) is the show’s choreographer, set and costume design are by the award-winning Morgan Large with Ben Cracknell as Lighting Designer and Gareth Owen as Sound Designer.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is produced by Michael Harrison.

For further information, please see http://uktour.josephthemusical.com/

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT

LISTINGS

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton

13 – 18 May 2025

www.mayflower.org.uk

Starring Jason Donovan as Pharaoh

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Tim Rice – Lyrics

Andrew Lloyd Webber – Music

Laurence Connor – Director

JoAnn M. Hunter – Choreographer

Morgan Large – Set & Costume Designer

Ben Cracknell – Lighting Designer

Gareth Owen – Sound Designer

Sam Cox – Wigs, Hair & Make Up Designer

John Cameron – Orchestrator

John Rigby – Musical Supervisor

Nikki Woollaston – Associate Director

Thalia Burt – Associate Choreographer

David Grindrod CDG – Casting Director

Amy Beadel – Children’s Casting Director

Westway Music present

HADLEY FRASER
‘THINGS THAT COME AND GO’

ALBUM TO BE RELEASED ON CD/DIGITAL 7 FEBRUARY 2025

Preorder/Presave now.

MD Neil O’Brien, and the whole team at Westway Music, are pleased to announce the full details of the upcoming release of Hadley Fraser’s album ‘Things That Come and Go’. The album is produced by Donald L Anderson for Palm Haven Studios and Hadley Fraser with arrangement and co-production by Sam Young, to be released on CD and digital platforms on 7 February 2025, pre-save here.

Hadley Fraser is an incredibly accomplished performer, having starred in some of the world’s most famous theatre productions including Les Misérables (West End; 25^th Anniversary Concert) and The Phantom of the Opera (25^th Anniversary Concert)as portraying ‘Anatoly’ in the West End Concert of Chess The Musical at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 2022. Recently he was cast in The Lehman Trilogy and Opening Night, both on the West End. Fraser is also known for his recurring concerts with friend and co-star Ramin Karimloo (Phantom Of The Opera; Les Misérables), currently the pair are joined by a hugely talented cast of West End/Broadway Performers as they tour the world in The Reunion concert.  

The track list includes covers of world-renowned Frank Sinatra tracks ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ and ‘I’m A Fool To Want You’ alongside Jane Brown Thompson’s ‘I Get Along Without You Very Well’ that have been given a new life by Sam Young’s arrangement and Hadley Fraser’s signature vocals.

Audiences who pre-order the album will also be able to able to enjoy two preview songs in the lead up to the full album release; ‘Fly Me To The Moon’ and ‘Accustomed To Her Face’.

TRACK LISTING

1. In The Wee Small Hours
2. I Get Along Without You
3. World On A String
4. Accustomed To Her Face
5. Fly Me To The Moon
6. How Are You Fixed For Love (feat. Maiya Quansah-Breed)
7. How Glory Goes
8. Goodbye (feat. Maiya Quansah-Breed)
9. I’m A Fool To Want You
10. You Must Believe In Spring

Hadley Fraser said, “Having made a career  largely out of smashing music and speech together on stage and seeing what comes out, I had  gone a little further and experimented with music and poetry on my last album (Lights around the Shore with pianist Will Butterworth) and was keen to do so again. Things That Come And Go is  the result of my input into a larger project (called Odysseys) together with Don Anderson and the actor Jamie  Thomas King. Odysseys as a whole will emerge in time, but we felt that the music could stand on  its own two feet too. And so here it is, without the spoken word for now. 

I had worked with Sam Young before  – only briefly – but I knew he was the person I wanted above all else to arrange these songs. Sam has a ridiculous ear, prodigious talent and attention to detail. But all that aside, he also makes  songs feel like they were written yesterday. That’s not straightforward at all. He lifted the whole  project up and is wonderful human to boot.

I hope you enjoy listening to the record as much as we enjoyed making it.”

Donald L Anderson said, “I wanted to create an audio experience where the comforting, encouraging, wise and heartfelt words of the Ages were presented to tell the story of one’s shared life experiences and that these Works were paired with more familiar songs that also combine to guide us through the ‘Odysseys’ of life. A happy result, is the music-only version, presented here and known as “Things That Come and Go”. 

The Lyceum, Sheffield – until 11 January 2025

Review by Sharon Farley

4****

The combination of grace and movement, fairy tale sets, beautiful theatre architecture and a live orchestra works to transport you back in time to when Tchaikovsky’s now familiar classical score was first being heard. Then, the thud of strong ballet feet on stage boards brings you back to reality and the realisation of the incredibly hard work that a production of this standard demands.

Not only is the live orchestra practised to the point of perfection, the dancers’ movements synchronise with every note with precision timing. The sets are delicate and dreamy, but clearly deeply thought through to create depth as well as backdrops, with every element as functional as it is beautiful. The many varied costumes also help define the changing scenes, catching the light and delicately sparkling to complete this dazzling performance.

In a Netflix dominated culture that expects words to explain a story these cues are essential to help fill the gap, but despite the absence of dialogue it is easy to follow the themes of love, betrayal and forgiveness being narrated by movement alone. Even when the character of Prince Seigfried is tricked by the dastardly von Rothbart and his daughter, Odile, into believing he is presenting his beloved Odette as his intended bride to his mother, and winning her approval, the skilful depiction by the dancer playing the two contrasting characters – Odette and Odile – shows us they are not the same. Odette flutters and glides, while Odile is evidently more brazen and conflictive; one wonders how the lovestruck Prince could ever have confused the two? The image is the same, but the two characters illustrated by movement alone are worlds apart.

Accustomed as we are to being spoon fed our stories, it is good to challenge the senses to unravel what, for many, is now an alternative form of entertainment. Any classics buff will revel in the grace and strength of the talented array of international dancers brought together by the Mergaliyev Classical Ballet and their interpretation of this timeless piece; but this elegant production is easily accessible even to those of us less accustomed to the performances our grandparents – or even great, great grandparents – were once inspired by. Catch it while you can on this short UK tour.