Yvonne Arnaud – until 10^th October 2026

Reviewed by Heather Chalkley

5*****

This epic production has all the ingredients of an ancient tale of love and loss, with a contrasting focus on the unloved. Director Emma Rice has resurrected this brilliant piece of art after it lay dormant for 9 years. It has the richness and timelessness of a classic piece that will last forever. Running through its core is humour that is surprising and essential for this play’s uniqueness. 

The Love Spotters (Stu Barker, Harry Miller, Pat Moran, Philippa Hogg, Nigel Sudarkasa, Jack Heydon) wearing their anoraks, woolly balaclavas and binoculars interact with the audience before the show begins. Their joyful innocence is beguiling. As the play unfolds, we discover that it hides a desperate hopefulness to be loved. The Love Spotters bring humour, fluidity and an undercurrent of yearning that bonds them together and with the audience. The effortless timing and flow as one body replaces the need for many spoken words.

The story is skilfully told more with choreography than the spoken word. The physicality of the performers is inspirational and takes you on an emotional journey in a unique way that transcends time and place. Love is at the centre, amplified by betrayal, loss and yearning.  

Matthew Churcher gives his character Frocin an edge of desperation and dark desire. Churcher’s (Frocin) ability to translate this into physical humour, gives the audience cause to laugh and feel his pain all at the same time!

John Leader’s (Tristan) body is like liquid, flowing effortless through love scenes, fight scenes and in unison with his fellow players. Nandi Bhebhe (Yseult) matches him in strength and independence, whilst giving her character an element of childish abandon at times. Together they are like one body, in perfect harmony. 

Branigan (Tom Fox) is the jester of the piece, disguised as the king’s maid. In traditional style, Branigan’s character carries the darkest truths, sacrificing herself out of loyalty. You laugh out loud and want to cry at the same time. Brilliantly played. 

Whitehands (Stephanie Hockley) is the anomaly in the cast, keeping the audience wondering, ‘who is she?’ Hockley (Whitehands) narrates and carries herself with poise, not entering into any of the physical performance. All is revealed at the end!

The Love Spotters are musicians and stagehands, keeping the performance flowing dynamically and with precision. Choreographer Etta Murfitt has understood the piece and the players perfectly, playing to their strengths. It feels like the whole creative team has melded together to deliver this unique and epic legend like no other.

FULL CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM CONFIRMED FOR

WEST END TRANSFER OF

WATCH AN EXCLUSIVE TEASER OF

‘YOU’ PERFORMED BY JAMIE MUSCATO HERE

Book by David Greig

Music and lyrics by Abner and Amanda Ramirez

Additional Material by Jeremy Sams

Based on the novel by David Nicholls

and the Focus Features film

Directed by Max Webster

Produced by arrangement with Universal Theatrical Group

A BREATHTAKING NEW MUSICAL BASED ON THE GLOBAL BESTSELLING NOVEL.

Every day matters. But some days change everything.

www.onedaymusical.com

Ahead of One Day‘s highly anticipated transfer to London’s West End, Melting Pot today announces its full cast and creative team and releases an exclusive teaser of Jamie Muscato’s stunning performance of ‘You’ in celebration. Marking the moment ‘Dex’ realises his true feelings for ‘Em’ the song is an intimate and emotionally charged introduction to the music of the highly anticipated new musical, capturing the emotions at the story’s heart. Tickets are on general sale now at www.onedaymusical.com

Performancesfor the London transfer are set to start at the Garrick Theatre on Tuesday 17 November, 2026 and welcome the return of Jamie Muscato (Cabaret, Playhouse Theatre; The Great Gatsby, London Coliseum; Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Piccadilly Theatre) and Sharon Rose (Sylvia, Old Vic Theatre; Hamilton, Victoria Palace Theatre) as they reprise their celebrated roles as ‘Dex’ and ‘Em.’

Further casting announced today includes Dan Buckley as ‘Ian’, Dougie Carter as ‘Callum’, Anna-Jane Casey as ‘Alison Mayhew’, Ross Dawes as ‘Mr Godalming’, Christopher Dickins as ‘Stephen Mayhew’, Vanessa Fisher, Ensemble, Kelly Hampson as ‘Sylvie’, Jennifer Louise Jones as ‘Miffy’, Romona Lewis-Malley as ‘Tilly’, Rosalía Morales, Understudy, Ewan Murphy, Ensemble and Tom Mussell, Understudy. ‘Jasmine’ and ‘Sonia’ are played by Bonnie Harper, Esmae Kevany, Hannah McIntyre and Ava-Rae Timewell. Please see biogs and headshots here .

One Day’s band features: Musical Director and Keys, Nigel Lilley; Drums, Luke Baxter; Violin and Synth, Shelley Britton; Cello, Gemma Connor; Guitar, Matt Isaac and Bass and Double Bass, Marcus Pritchard.

This brand-new adaptation of the beloved story is written by The Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh’s former Artistic Director David Greig (Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Touching The Void, The Lorax), with music and lyrics by Abner and Amanda Ramirez (of acclaimed US band Johnnyswim), with additional material by Jeremy Sams, and directed by Tony and Olivier award nominee Max Webster (Macbeth with David Tennant and Cush Jumbo, The Importance of Being Ernest with Ncuti Gatwa, Life of Pi, Sheffield Crucible, West End and Broadway). 

The creative team is completed by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, Choreographer; Nigel Lilley, Musical Supervisor, Musical Director and Co-Arranger; Rae Smith, Set and Costume Designer; Bruno Poet, Lighting Designer; Simon Baker, Sound Designer; Lewis den Hertog, Video Designer; Carole Hancock, Wigs, Hair and Make Up Designer; Simon Hale, Orchestrator and Co-Arranger, Stuart Burt CDG, Casting Director, Ingrid Mackinnon,Intimacy Director; Barbara Houseman, Voice Coach and Chris Hay, Production Manager. Children’s Casting is by Keston and Keston and Orchestral Management is by Andy Barnwell and Rich Weeden for BW Musicians Ltd.

Emma walks into Dexter’s life on the night of their graduation. One unsuspecting day that changes them both forever. But where will they be on this day next year? And the year after that? And every year that follows? As Em and Dex’s lives intertwine through joy and heartbreak, missed opportunities and second chances, they navigate love, ambition, and the unpredictable twists of life.

One of the most treasured romances of the 21^st century, which has sold over five million copies worldwide and inspired both film and television adaptations, is brought to life as never before in the life-affirming ONE DAY – The MUSICAL. The fresh and emotionally rich interpretation captures the intensity of youthful romance, the moments that define us forever, and the enduring hope that love will find its way.

ONE DAY is produced by Simon Friend & Hanna Osmolska for Melting Pot, by arrangement with Universal Theatrical Group with Joshua Andrews, Kevin McCollum, The John Gore Organisation, Jenny King, Stuart McAlpine, Robson Entertainment, Vibecke Dahle Dellapolla, Ramin Sabi, Richard Batchelder, Umeda Arts Theatre Company and the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh.

Wilton’s Music Hall Unveils Bold and Eclectic Spring 2027 Season

●        Canvey Rock Productions Ltd in association with Cahoots Theatre Company present Not the Benny Hill Show, premiere of Jonathan Maitland’s dark comedy starring Keith Allen

●        Proteus Theatre Company presents The Law of Mayhem, Tabby Lamb’s new play exploring the lives of two transgender trailblazers

●        Sally Homer and John Mackay present Stewart Lee’s Pea Green Boat his darkly comic tale for one night only

●        La Perla 29 presents The Tiger Lillies in A Macbeth Song, Shakespeare’s tragedy reimagined through dark cabaret

●        Lee Management for Gag Reflex Management presents Tape Face: 20

●        Charles Court Opera presents The Mikado, Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic masterpiece

●        The Production Garden, in association with Cube Room Productions, presents Eric and Ern the critically acclaimed West End hit

Wilton’s Music Hall today announces its Spring 2027 season, reflecting its enduring commitment to adventurous, distinctive and eclectic live performance and bringing established artists, comedy, new theatre and unique theatrical experiences to its historic stage.

Highlights include Jonathan Maitland’s provocative new comedy Not the Benny Hill Show, starring Keith Allen; Tabby Lamb’s new play The Law of Mayhem, exploring the lives of two transgender trailblazers; Elizabeth Godber’s new comedy Wolf Country; Charles Court Opera’s The Mikado; the critically acclaimed West End hit Eric and Ern; Tape Face:20 celebrating twenty years of Tape Face, stand-up with no talking, which has to be seen to be believed.

The season opens with a Wilton’s favourite: Tom Carradine and his six‑piece band, The China Plates, bringing the ever‑popular Carradine’s Cockney Sing‑along (11 January) back to the stage. Then Private Eye journalist Richard Brooks will discuss his book Post Mortem: The Post Office Horizon IT Scandal (12 January), examining the political, institutional, professional, and personal failures behind the scandal and the lessons that must be learned to prevent future abuses.  There will be more spoken word presented by Perrier and Fringe First winner Will Adamsdale and Fuel;Will Adamsdale: AI, AI, Oh… (Or How I Wrote a Hit Sitcom with ChatGPT But We’re Not Talking Now) (13 January), a hilarious true(ish) exploration of AI-aided creativity.

January continues with Opera della Luna’s semi-staged presentation of the Edwardian musical comedy The Arcadians (14–15 January). Arbeau Productions presents Paradise Lost (19 January), a theatrical staging of Milton’s epic performed by William Spaulding and directed by Olivier Award winner Keith Warner. By popular demand, for one night only Sally Homer and John Mackay present Pea Green Boat (21 January), Stewart Lee’s darkly comic tale inspired by Edward Lear’s The Owl & the Pussycat, with live improvised musical accompaniment.

A special Variety Gala for Cabaret vs Cancer (22 January) celebrates ten years and more than £500,000 raised to support people affected by cancer. Bringing together some of the UK’s and international cabaret scene’s leading artists, the gala promises a one-off evening of performance and celebration.

The following night, James Seabright presents David Alnwick in The Signalman (23 January), combining Victorian illusion with Dickens’ classic ghost story. The John Godber Company then presents Wolf Country (25–27 January), Elizabeth Godber’s hilarious and heartwarming comedy about friendship, fear and the supernatural, featuring a toe-tapping country music score and directed by Jane Thornton. January concludes with The Fourth Choir’s atmospheric presentation of James Joyce’s The Dead (28–30 January     .

February opens with The Lucky Dog Picturehouse celebrating the centenary of Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (4–5 February) with live accompaniment, followed by the silent classics Man with a Movie Camera and Buster Keaton’s Steamboat Bill Jr. (6 February). The Production Garden brings Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility (8–9 February) to the Hall, followed by contemporary music hall night Tiddley Pom (10 February), presented by Kit Green Productions and hosted by Ida Barr with musical director Tom Carradine.

The Brian Clemens Big Band featuring Francesca Confortini return with 20th Century Jukebox (11–12 February), before The Production Garden, in association with Cube Room Productions, presents Eric and Ern (16–20 February), the critically acclaimed West End hit celebrating the centenary of the nation’s much-loved comedy legends Morecambe & Wise. A warm, nostalgic celebration of two of Britain’s greatest comedy double acts, the show invites audiences of all ages back to a world of sunshine and laughter.

February culminates with La Perla 29 presenting The Tiger Lillies in A Macbeth Song (23 February–6 March). Cult dark cabaret band The Tiger Lillies join forces with the acclaimed Barcelona company to retell Shakespeare’s tragedy in a unique concert-performance directed by Oriol Broggi. Featuring new songs by Martyn Jacques, the production journeys through power, war, guilt, death, spells and the devastating consequences of Macbeth’s pursuit of the crown.

March begins with FB Music and Media Ltd presenting the 1920 silent film adaptation of      Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (8 March), accompanied by the FB Pocket Orchestra performing an original live score. This is followed by storytelling and music show OneTrackMinds (9 March), Steve Pretty (and Friends) in On the Origin of the Pieces (10 March), and improvised murder mystery CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation (11 March).

Lee Martin for Gag Reflex Management then presents Tape Face: 20 (12–13 March), celebrating more than two decades of the international comedy sensation. The anniversary production revisits highlights from Tape Face’s extraordinary career, from his street-performance beginnings to international touring success and appearances on America’s Got Talent.

Charles Court Opera returns with its acclaimed five-star production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado (16–20 March), followed by The Actress (22–23 March), presented by The Long Lane Theatre Company and inspired by the true story of the first women to appear on the English public stage.

Mark Farrelly presents Kenneth Williams: A Celebration (24–25 March), exploring the extraordinary life, wit and work of the much-loved national treasure. Featuring scenes and sketches from his most iconic work alongside moving and revealing extracts from his private diaries, the production offers a personal portrait of one of Britain’s most distinctive performers, performed by Mark Farrelly, Russell Davies and Madeline Smith.    

The Lucky Dog Picturehouse closes March with Harold Lloyd’s The Freshman (30 March) and the silent version of Alfred Hitchcock’s Blackmail (31 March), both accompanied by live scores, including a world-premiere score for Blackmail.

April opens with the return of Tricity Vogue’s All Girl Swing Band (1 April), followed by Ida Barr: Slipped Disco (2 April), a new production from Kit Green Productions blending music hall, hip hop and R&B.

Canvey Rock Productions Ltd, in association with Cahoots Theatre Company, presents Not the Benny Hill Show (6–17 April), Jonathan Maitland’s provocative new comedy starring Keith Allen. Directed by Dugald Bruce Lockhart, this dark comedy is a timely look at cancel culture, shifting sensibilities and evolving attitudes which asks what happens when the world stops laughing along and whether a legacy can survive the verdict of later generations.Loosely based on real people and events, the audience is transported to 1989, when Benny Hill is the biggest comedian in the UK. Summoned to the office of ITV’s Controller of Comedy (played by Allen) he expects a warm welcome after making the channel millions of pounds, but the meeting doesn’t quite go as planned.

Proteus Theatre Company follows with The Law of Mayhem (20–24 April), Tabby Lamb’s new play exploring the lives of two pioneering figures in British transgender history. Meeting in 1949, racing driver and RAF pilot Roberta Cowell and ship’s doctor Michael Dillon would become trailblazers in the history of gender transition. Using circus as a physical language, the production explores their lives and the remarkable relationship that brought them together before ultimately driving them apart.

The season concludes with Fake Escape’s Don’t You Forget About Me (26 April), a nostalgic one-person show inspired by The Breakfast Club, and mind readerAlex McAleer in Reads the Room (27 April). The Lucky Dog Picturehouse returns with Harold Lloyd’s Speedy (28 April) and Sergei Eisenstein’s Battleship Potemkin (29 April), both accompanied by live scores, before The Production Garden closes the Spring season with Cocktails with Joyce Grenfell (30 April), celebrating the songs, monologues and unmistakable wit of one of Britain’s most beloved entertainers.

Darlington Hippodrome – until Saturday 10 October 2026

5*****

On the hottest day of the year, twelve men find themselves locked in a stifling jury room after hearing three days of testimony in the trial of a sixteen-year-old boy accused of murdering his father. The evidence appears overwhelming: a troubled relationship, eyewitness testimony, and a background that encourages easy assumptions. A guilty verdict seems inevitable.

As the judge reminds the jury that a conviction will carry the death penalty, the men retire to deliberate. A quick vote should settle matters – one juror is already thinking about the evening’s baseball game. Yet the first ballot reveals a single dissenter. Juror Number 8 (Gray O’Brien) is not convinced, and because the verdict must be unanimous, he begins the painstaking process of examining every piece of evidence and every assumption that has led his fellow jurors to their conclusions.

What follows is one of the most compelling and thought-provoking dramas ever written. Reginald Rose’s script is a masterclass in tension, logic and character development, exposing prejudice, personal bias and the dangers of rushing to judgement. Piece by piece, certainty begins to unravel as reasonable doubt emerges from the most unexpected places.

Michael Pavelka’s superb set design perfectly captures the claustrophobic atmosphere of the jury room, making the audience feel every degree of the oppressive heat and mounting pressure. The masterful use of a slow revolve ensures that every juror has their moment in the spotlight, subtly shifting perspectives and allowing the audience to scrutinise each character as alliances form and fracture. The period costumes convincingly evoke 1950s America, while Christopher Haydon’s assured direction expertly balances moments of explosive confrontation with quieter scenes of reflection. Particularly effective in the second half is the rhythmic thud of the fan, which resonates like a heartbeat beneath the action or the relentless ticking of a clock counting down towards a verdict. This understated but powerful sound motif heightens the tension, reinforcing the sense that time is running out for both the accused boy and the men tasked with deciding his fate. The tension never dissipates, maintaining an almost unbearable sense of anticipation throughout.

This is an ensemble piece in the truest sense, and every cast member delivers a finely judged performance. At its heart is Juror 8, whose remarkable restraint, intelligence and quiet authority make him the lone voice prepared to challenge the consensus. His measured reasoning provides the moral centre of the play, but what makes 12 Angry Men so compelling is the way each juror is forced to confront their own prejudices and assumptions.

Particularly striking is the heavily implied but never explicitly stated suggestion that the accused boy is not white, exposing the ugly racism simmering beneath the surface of the jury room. Tristan Gemmill is chilling as Juror 10, whose certainty of guilt appears rooted less in evidence than in prejudice, culminating in one of the production’s most uncomfortable and powerful moments. Bill Ward gives a formidable performance as the volatile Juror 3, whose personal anger and stubbornness are skilfully baited by Juror 8 until he is finally forced to confront the flaws in his reasoning. Ben Nealon brings a fascinating uncertainty to Juror 12, whose repeated shifts between guilty and not guilty reflect the ease with which opinions can be influenced, while Ricky Norwood’s Juror 7 initially appears more concerned with getting to a baseball game than delivering justice. Yet even he gradually comes to appreciate the enormous responsibility resting on the jurors’ shoulders.

As the discussion unfolds, the dawning realisation that there is reasonable doubt becomes almost tangible. The performances feel authentic and deeply human, ensuring every change of heart carries genuine dramatic weight. By the final vote, the audience has witnessed not only a jury deliberation but a profound examination of conscience, responsibility and the courage required to stand against the crowd.

Despite being set over seventy years ago, Twelve Angry Men remains strikingly relevant. Its exploration of justice, bias and the responsibility that comes with judging others feels every bit as urgent today as when it was first written. The dialogue is dense and demanding, but Rose’s script is so tightly constructed that every word matters, drawing the audience ever deeper into the debate.

Intelligent, gripping and superbly acted, this production of Twelve Angry Men is a riveting piece of theatre that commands attention from beginning to end. A timeless classic brought vividly to life, it leaves audiences questioning not only the verdict on stage but their own assumptions and prejudices. Quite simply, this is five-star theatre.

NEW NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO INSPIRE READING, WRITING AND STORIES

BY CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE  

LAUNCHES WITH THE STORY THAT MOVES

The Story that Moves project aims to champion the story-maker in every child and will travel around the UK beginning this autumn in east London and will tour to Oxford, Rotherham, Liverpool, Manchester, Exeter and Cornwall until April 2027.

The Story that Moves is a giant, 1.5m high story book which will be hosted by eight partner ‘Story Venues’, each rooted in their local communities and united by a shared commitment to empowering children and young people. From London to Yorkshire, and from Cornwall to the North-West of England, The Story that Moves is a joint project which moves between the network of Story Venues in celebration of the National Year of Reading 2026. A permanent home will be found for the finished story book artwork as the project concludes next year and aims to offer a national snapshot of children’s relationship with stories. Additionally, The Story that Moves will endure as a published book which includes story ideas for readers to build their own pick and mix stories.

Forming a centrepiece for bespoke writing workshops facilitated by writers, performers and storytellers, the project is designed to collect original stories created by young participants and their families. The Story that Moves book is a large, specially commissioned artwork by Will Atkins of Make Relief, which will grow as each venue on the national tour adds their distinctive story contribution. Arriving with a kit of story parts, the adaptable book offers the freedom for participants to choose a different story genre, from adventure to mystery to science fiction, but adheres to the essentials of story – setting, character, plot – with the intention of generating a kaleidoscope of child-led stories, unleashed from young imaginations across the country. 

Award-winning and bestselling children’s author and Ministry of Stories Ambassador, Piers Torday, commented: “The Story that Moves is a thrilling project which will spark connections and increase self-confidence for children and young people everywhere. Stories, storytelling and writing have the power to increase empathy, to deepen understanding and to build a sense of belonging and a better idea of who we are and why we matter. To all those story writers of the future: go for it!”

The Story Venues is a group of creative venues and story spaces, which together engage over 380,000 children and young people each year through the delivery of immersive programmes, creative writing workshops, exhibitions, performances and community-led initiatives. The work of the cohort began during lockdown in 2020, supported by Arts Council England, and has developed into the forging of the Story Venues partnership as an ambitious network capable of delivering at national scale and reach, whilst fostering vibrant local impact in a diverse range of communities.

There are eight Story Venues collaborating on The Story that Moves, all passionate about championing the voices of young people: Alibi (Exeter), Discover (East London), Grimm & Co (Rotherham), Ministry of Stories (East London), The Reader (Liverpool), The Story Museum (Oxford), The Writer’s Block (Cornwall) and Z-Arts (Manchester). Through the unique, immersive environments of each organisation, this joint project is a key next step in longer-term collaboration to develop the creativity of children, young people and families in the UK, encouraging their engagement with reading, writing and story.

This project is funded and supported by Arts Council England.

THE STORY THAT MOVES                                                                                                          

Schedule

LONDON, Discover Children’s Story Centre

383-387 High Street, Stratford, London E15 4QZ

LONDON, Ministry of Stories

Second Floor, 138 Shoreditch Stables (North), Kingsland Road, London E2 8DY

OXFORD, The Story Museum, from 23 October

42 Pembroke Street, Oxford OX1 1BP

ROTHERHAM, Grimm & Co, w/c 16 November

Ship Hill, Rotherham, Yorkshire S60 2HG

LIVERPOOL, The Reader, w/c 11 January 

The Mansion House, Calderstones Park, Liverpool L18 3JB

MANCHESTER, Z-arts, w/c 29 January

335 Stretford Road, Hulme, Manchester M15 5ZA

EXETER, Theatre Alibi, w/c 19 February

Emmanuel Hall, Emmanuel Road, St Thomas, Exeter, Devon EX4 1EJ

CORNWALL, The Writer’s Block, Redruth, w/c 12 March

The Ladder, 2-4 Clinton Road, Redruth, Cornwall TR15 2QE

Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre Award to be awarded to the late Alan Finch CBE at the UK Theatre Awards 2026 sponsored by Encore

Alan Finch CBE (1965-2026) will be posthumously awarded this year’s Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre Award at the UK Theatre Awards 2026, sponsored by Encore, on Monday 12 October. The ceremony will take place at 8 Northumberland Avenue, hosted by La Voix, where Alan’s family will accept the award in his honour.

Alan Finch was a monumental force in regional British theatre. Beginning his career as a teenage theatre electrician, he went onto become a production manager before moving into senior theatrical leadership. Alan established his formidable reputation through senior management roles at major regional cultural hubs, including Nottingham Playhouse and Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Arriving at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2005, he was tasked with a major artistic and financial turnaround. Alongside Artistic Director Jonathan Church, he transformed the venue into a powerhouse. Together, they staged over 100 productions – including 22 new plays – which won more than 40 awards and achieved a staggering 95% audience capacity. Crucially, Alan masterminded a landmark £22 million capital redevelopment of the iconic building. 

Kathy Bourne, President of UK Theatre and Executive Director of Chichester Festival Theatre, said:

“Alan’s contribution to Chichester Festival Theatre was immense; it would not be overstating it to say that, together with his long-time friend and colleague Jonathan Church, he saved the theatre from closure. Not only was he instrumental in restoring CFT to artistic and financial health, he also established its future prosperity.

“Alan wasn’t only an inspirational and brilliant executive director; he was an unswervingly loyal, kind, encouraging and supportive colleague, leader and friend.”

Alan was awarded a CBE for services to theatre in 2015 before joining Cameron Mackintosh Ltd in 2016 where he launched extensive UK and international tours, proving that world-class, commercially viable theatre could thrive well beyond the capital. 

Cameron Mackintosh said:

“I met him almost 40 years ago when he was running Theatre Royal Plymouth. I knew he was special then. Alan had many talents beyond his business acumen – most importantly he was a wonderful human being, naturally brilliant with people and a great communicator.”

Serving on the board of UK Theatre’s sister organisation, the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) since 2022, Alan was a critical member of the Olivier Awards Committee, providing guidance and advice with his signature dry sense of humour and positivity. A kind, generous and widely respected heavyweight in the theatre community, Alan has left a legacy on every venue and company he worked at. 

Claire Walker & Hannah Essex, Co-CEOs of Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre, said:

“Alan Finch was a remarkable leader who made an extraordinary contribution to British theatre, both regionally and nationally, combining his exceptional business sense with a deep understanding of what makes theatre thrive.

“His transformative work at Chichester Festival Theatre was testament to his vision and determination, and he brought that same expertise to the commercial sector, overseeing productions and tours that reached audiences in all corners of the UK.

“Alan was also a hugely valued member of our own community as a board member of SOLT and a trusted adviser to us both. He was generous with his time, wisdom and humour, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have worked alongside him. This award rightly recognises his exceptional career and the lasting mark Alan leaves on British theatre.”

The UK Theatre Awards 2026 are sponsored by Encore, the premier provider of lighting equipment for theatre productions across the UK, including London’s West End, Off-West End, Europe, and Asia, as well as numerous UK and international tours.

Additional thanks to Award Sponsors Theatre Tokens and Tysers Live in association with Ecclesiastical; Official Partners John Good, Marquee TV, The Noël Coward Foundation, SINE, Theatrical Rights Worldwide, and Trafalgar Entertainment; and Official After Party Partner Preevue.

The full list of nominees for the UK Theatre Awards 2026 sponsored by Encore can be found at uktheatre.org.

@UK_Theatre               #UKTAwards

LEGENDARY ACTOR

GLENN CLOSE

ANNOUNCED TO PLAY HEROD

IN THE FINAL WEEK OF RECORD-BREAKING
LONDON SEASON

OF

TIM RICE AND ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

EMMY, GOLDEN GLOBE & TONY AWARD WINNING

STAR TO PLAY ICONIC CHARACTER

FROM MON 4 – SAT 9 JANUARY 2027

london.jesuschristsuperstar.com

Tuesday 6 October, 11am: Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals has today announced that legendary actor Glenn Close will perform the role of Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar for the final week of the record-breaking season at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

The smash-hit production, starring Sam Ryder as Jesus, played a sell-out summer season at The London Palladium and extends its West End run for 12 weeks at Theatre Royal Drury Lane from Friday 16 October 2026 to Saturday 9 January 2027, ahead of a UK tour from February to October 2027. Tickets are available via london.jesuschristsuperstar.com

Glenn Close is a three-time Emmy, Golden Globe and Tony Award-winning actor, whose memorable screen roles include Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction, Marquise de Merteuil in Dangerous Liaisons, Cruella de Vil in 101 Dalmatians, and Patty Hewes in Damages.

An acclaimed stage performer, she made her Broadway debut in Love for Love and earned Tony Awards for The Real Thing, Death and the Maiden, and Sunset Boulevard, in which she famously played Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s celebrated musical.

She will perform in the role of Herod from Monday 4 – Saturday 9 January 2027.

Producer Michael Harrison commented:
“I am thrilled that we will welcome such an esteemed actor as Glenn Close in the final week that audiences will have to experience Tim Sheader’s spectacular production in London. After a run of magnificent Herods, I am certain Glenn will bring the season at Theatre Royal Drury Lane to a triumphant close, following our London Palladium run where there wasn’t a single empty seat or standing place in the house.”

Director Tim Sheader added:
“Wow, what a blast to have Glenn Close Superstar in the house for our final week in London. I can’t wait for her artistry and imagination to meet the show.”

The full cast for Theatre Royal Drury Lane are Sam Ryder as Jesus, Tyrone Huntley* as Judas Iscariot; Desmonda Cathabel as Mary Magdalene; David Thaxton as Pontius Pilate; nine performers sharing the role of King Herod: Matt Bomer (16 – 31 October); Rob Brydon (2 – 7 November); Reece Shearsmith (9 – 14 November); Bob The Drag Queen (16 – 21 November); Michael Ball (23 November – 5 December); Simon Russell Beale (7 – 12 December); Omid Djalili (14 – 19 December); Layton Williams (21 December 2026 – 2 January 2027) and concluding the season, Glenn Close (4 to 9 January 2027). Bob Harms plays Caiaphas; Matty J* plays Annas/Alternate Judas, Phil King plays Peter, Eric Lewis plays Simon and Matthew Harvey is Standby Jesus.

The company is completed by: Koko Alexandra, Jasmine Jules Andrews, Courtney Arango, Amy Barker, Alistair Beattie, Daniel Bowskill, Jahlil M Burke, Martha Burton, Marcelo Cervone, Sarah Freer, Sebastian Goffin, Alexander Kranz, Owen Lloyd, Milo McCarthy, Dan Moore, Cherece Richards, Kyle Richardson, Olivia Saunders, Toyan Thomas-Browne, Charley Warburton and Lillie-Pearl Wildman.

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic global phenomenon is directed by Tim Sheader with choreography by Olivier Award-winner Drew McOnie and design by Tony and Olivier Award-winner Tom Scutt. Reuniting the creative team of the 2016 Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production 10 years on to create a unique staging of their Olivier award-winning, worldwide smash-hit production. 

Following the conclusion of these London engagements Jesus Christ Superstar starring Sam Ryder, will tour the UK from 11 February 2027. Further casting for the tour is to be announced. Full details are available at uktour.jesuschristsuperstar.com.

Jesus Christ Superstar follows the events of the last days of the life of Jesus Christ, as seen through the eyes of Judas. Reflecting the rock roots that defined a generation, the legendary score includes ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’, ‘Gethsemane’ and the iconic title number ‘Superstar’.

Originally released as an album, Jesus Christ Superstar opened on Broadway in 1971, at the Mark Hellinger Theatre, where it was nominated for five Tony Awards including Best Original Score. The original London production ran for over eight years. By the time it closed, after 3,358 performances, it had become the longest-running musical in West End history at that time. 

Sam Ryder’s recordings of Gethsemane and What’s The Buzz? are available to listen to on all streaming platforms and purchase from Theatre Royal Drury Lane. With lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the record was produced by music legend Fraser T. Smith (Adele, Raye, Dave) alongside Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sam Ryder, recorded live to tape at British Grove Studios earlier this year. 

Joining director Tim Sheader, choreographer Drew McOnie and designer Tom Scutt on the creative team are musical supervisor Tom Deering,lighting designer Lee Curran, sound designer Adam Fisher, wigs, hair and makeup designers Sam Cox & Maria Johal, fight director Kate Waters and casting directors Grindrod Burton Casting. With orchestrations by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals’ recent productions include the smash hit double Olivier Award-winning Evita at The London Palladium last summer which transfers to Broadway in spring 2027, the seven-time Olivier Award and three-time Tony Award-winning revival of SUNSET BLVD. and the award-winning Starlight Express, which will embark on a World Tour in spring 2027 after recently concluding its London run. They produced CATS: The Jellicle Ball on Broadway which opened to huge critical acclaim and three Tony Award-wins; and recently opened a brand-new critically acclaimed production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s global sensation CATS at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre ahead of a major UK Tour.

Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals presents the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production by arrangement with LW Entertainment.

JOEY CONTRERAS’ IN PIECES SELLS OUT IN TWO HOURS

AND EXTENDS RUN BY FIVE WEEKS

Regular People and RJG Productions today announce that Joey Contreras’ musical In Pieces will extend by a further five weeks after its first week of performances sold out in just two hours. The production will now complete its extended run on 21 March 2027 at London’s The Other Palace, with the press night set for Tuesday 16 February. All six weeks of performances are now on sale.

This 2027 production will mark the first fully staged production of In Pieces, following the musical’s sold-out staged concerts at The Other Palace and New York City’s Joe’s Pub in 2026. Its digital live-capture concert release was purchased 20,000 times in 151 countries and has amassed more than 100,000 views while a deluxe highlights album released with Broadway Records has now surpassed 70 million streams. 

Martha Geelan will return to direct, with the creative team also comprising Sam Wilson Freeman as Choreographer, Brian Russell Carey as Music Supervisor and Harry Blumenau CDG CSA as Casting Director. The production is produced by Andrew Patino and Jacob Stuckelman of Regular People and Rebecca Gwyther of RJG Productions.

Casting will be announced at a later date.

Regular People and RJG Productions presents

IN PIECES

By Joey Contreras

Director: Martha Geelan; Choreographer: Sam Wilson Freeman; Orchestrations: Joey Contreras and Brian Russell Carey;

Music Supervisor: Brian Russell Carey

6 February – 21 March 2027

In Pieces is a love story about the people you don’t end up with.

Written and composed by Fred Ebb Award and Jonathan Larson Grant Finalist, Joey Contreras, In Pieces is a bold, contemporary new musical featuring a pop-driven score that dives into echoes of love, loss, and self-discovery by weaving the romantic journeys of six characters across three chapters of life.  As friends, family, and lovers confront old wounds and unresolved feelings, one question remains: can they find a way to hold both the joy and the pain of the past?

In Pieces has become a global sensation, with over 70 million streams, licensed productions internationally, and digital concerts reaching more than 150 countries.

Joey Contreras’ other musicals include Forget Me Not, Robby Green Is All Grown Up, and Heartbreakers in Hell. He is also developing new projects with Storyboard Entertainment and RGN Theatrical/Talnek Communications. Additional composing credits include work for the Walt Disney Company, The 5th Avenue Theatre, and various short films.

Martha Geelan directs. Her theatre credits include In the Land of Eagles, The Psychosocial Gathering (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Jane, Babies (The Other Palace), Agatha (Pleasance Theatre), St Anne Comes Home (The Actors Church), Macbeth, The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet (Young Shakespeare Company, UK tours), Between The Sheets, Potato Salad, When I Wake (Waterloo East), Spring Awakening, Love and Money, The Vagina Monologues (Studio Theatre Norwich). As an associate director her credits include The Producers, Indecent, The Bridges of Madison County, The Lie (Menier Chocolate Factory), The Book Thief (Coventry Belgrade, Leicester Curve), The Shark is Broken (UK tour, Ambassadors Theatre, Royal Alexandra Theatre Toronto), Identical (Nottingham Playhouse, Theatre Royal Bath), Fiddler on the Roof (Menier Chocolate Factory, Playhouse Theatre), God of Carnage, Agnes Colander (Theatre Royal Bath) and Love in Idleness (Menier Chocolate Factory, Apollo Theatre); and as an assistant director Top Hat, Thoroughly Modern Millie, West Side Story (Kilworth House Theatre), She Loves Me (Menier Chocolate Factory) and The Patriotic Traitor (Park Theatre).

Listing Information

THE OTHER PALACE

The Other Palace

12 Palace Street, London

SW1E 5JA

Box Office 020 7592 0302

https://theotherpalace.co.uk/

6 February – 21 March 2027

Press performance: Tuesday 16 February at 7.30pm

Tickets from £35

https://www.inpiecesmusical.com

Instagram/TikTok: @inpiecesmusical

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY EXTENDS FOR A SIXTH TIME

AND ANNOUNCES LATE NIGHT EXTRA

HALLOWEEN PERFORMANCE

www.paranormalonstage.com

Written by acclaimed playwright Levi Holloway

and directed by Felix Barrett, visionary director behind Punchdrunk

Based on the Paranormal Activity films, first written and directed by Oren Peli and brought

to the screen by Blumhouse and Solana Films

Melting Pot today confirms a sixth booking extension for London’s theatrical scare-fest, Paranormal Activity. Now playing at the Ambassadors Theatre through to Saturday 27 February 2027, the nerve-shredding show also confirms a special late Halloween performance to take scare-seekers through to the witching hour. The additional show on Saturday 31 October will begin at 10.30pm and is scheduled alongside the two previously scheduled Halloween performances at 2.30pm and 7pm. Tickets are on sale now at www.paranormalonstage.com.

Please note that from week commencing 4 January 2027,Paranormal Activity’s weekday matinee will take place on Thursdays at 2.30pm.

Paranormal Activity opened a 20-week Broadway season this summer at the August Wilson Theatre, opening to stellar reviews following a US tour and also opened a major UK and Ireland tour at London’s Richmond Theatre in early September.

The masterclass in supernatural suspensestars Ty Fanning (Othello,Ethel Barrymore Theatre, opposite Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal)as ‘James’, Ami Okumura Jones (My Neighbour Totoro, Barbican; Hostage,the Netflix political drama) as ‘Lou’, Kirsty Bushell (BBC, Motherland; King Lear, Chichester Festival Theatre) as ‘Etheline Cotgrave’ and welcomes the return of Pippa Winslow in her role as ‘Carolanne’ following her celebrated runs in the Leeds Playhouse and first West End season.

Blurring the line between cinema and live theatre, Paranormal Activity has been hailed as a ‘relentlessly frightening – arm-clutchingly, stranger-embracingly so’ (Metro) theatrical experience— leaving audiences jumping out of their seats and questioning what’s lurking in the dark long after the curtain falls.

Praised for its inventive storytelling and terrifying atmosphere, Paranormal Activity is a must-see event for thrill-seekers and theatre lovers alike. Following its original run at Leeds Playhouse and its first West End engagement, which saw the show play at the Ambassadors Theatre from Friday 5 December 2025 – Saturday 25 April 2026, Paranormal Activity began a North American tour last autumn visiting the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington DC, American Conservatory Theatre, San Francisco, CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, Toronto, and Boston’s Emerson Colonial Theater, before opening its critically lauded 20-week Broadway season at the August Wilson Theatre on August 14 2026.

James and Lou move from Chicago to London to escape their past, but they soon discover that places aren’t haunted, people are… Inspired by the iconic, terrifying film series, Paranormal Activity is a new story live on stage.

A new story inspired by the worldwide horror phenomenon Paranormal Activity is directed by immersive theatre pioneer and Punchdrunk’s Founder and Artistic Director Felix Barrett and written by playwright Levi Holloway, whose pulse-pounding theatrical thriller Grey House chilled Broadway audiences.

Paranormal Activity reimagines the modern ghost story with an unsettling intimacy only theatre can provide. Immersing audiences in an atmosphere of creeping dread, unseen forces, and psychological tension, Levi Holloway’s script offers a bold reinterpretation of the original, blending domestic horror with mind-bending theatricality.

Felix Barrett, known for breaking boundaries between audience and performer, brings his signature visionary style to the production. With innovative staging and chilling soundscapes, Paranormal Activity invites audiences to witness the inexplicable up close—and feel the fear in real time.

The creative team also includes Fly Davis as Set and Costume Designer, Illusions by Chris Fisher, Anna Watson as Lighting Designer, Gareth Fry as Sound Designer, Video Design by Luke Halls and Casting Direction by Stuart Burt CDG and Ginny Schiller CDG and Associate Director, Anna Marshall.

‘Will I be scared? Yes. How scared? Very. Cleverly, too.’ 

Chicago Tribune

Released by Paramount Pictures in 2009, the original Paranormal Activity is a master class in psychological terror.  Reimagining the found footage genre for a new generation, the film became a global sensation, grossing nearly $200 million worldwide and kicking off a blockbuster franchise spanning seven feature films.  Now, the legacy of fear comes to the intimate world of the theatre as the terrifying phenomenon transitions to the West End stage. Get ready to experience Paranormal Activity in real life.

Paranormal Activity is produced by Simon Friend & Hanna Osmolska for Melting Pot in association with Gavin Kalin, Ken Davenport, Jenny King, Patrick Gracey, Jonathan & Rae Corr and Leeds Playhouse.

Age recommendation – 15 +

FINAL AUTUMN DATES FOR


DAVID BENSON’S


MY LIFE WITH KENNETH WILLIAMS

Celebrating one hundred years of Kenneth Williams
 and the 30th anniversary of Benson’s acclaimed solo show

David Benson brings MY LIFE WITH KENNETH WILLIAMS to five venues this October for the final autumn dates of his centenary celebration of the much-missed Carry On star, radio favourite and outrageous chat show raconteur.

The final autumn dates kick off with a return to London’s Circle & Star theatre, where the show held its sold-out premiere earlier this year, on Sunday 11 October. The tour then visits Twickenham, Barnard Castle, Mansfield and Walsall, running until 30 October 2026.

“We all miss Kenneth Williams but thanks to David Benson, we’ve got him back!” – Mark Gatiss

“An exhilarating one-man tour-de-force”  Independent on Sunday


“A masterpiece of comic timing”  Evening Standard“Brilliant… truly remarkable”  The Mail on Sunday

THIRTY YEARS OF AN ACCLAIMED PORTRAIT

In 1996, David Benson took the Edinburgh Fringe by storm with his debut solo show, Think No Evil of Us: My Life with Kenneth Williams, winning a coveted Scotsman Fringe First Award. Thirty years on, and in the year that marks the centenary of Williams’ birth on 22 February 1926, Benson revisits his classic performance in a new and revised version of the hit show.

In a dazzling display of impeccably honed stagecraft, Benson gives an unsparing portrayal of the tormented comic genius, moving from hilarity to self-pity in public and in private. His uncanny portrayal has won praise from Williams’ closest friends, including Dame Maggie Smith and Dame Barbara Windsor.

“How did you know all that? That’s just what it was like having dinner out with Kenny. A bloomin’ nightmare!” – Dame Barbara Windsor

After hearing Benson impersonating Williams in a radio interview, Dame Maggie Smith immediately wrote to the young actor: “You ‘put the heart across me,’ as the Irish say – for I thought it was Kenneth!”

THE JACKANORY CONNECTION

In 1975, at the age of 13, Benson wrote a short story, The Rag-and-Bone Man, for a competition on the BBC children’s programme Jackanory. Chosen as a winner from 15,000 entries by Kenneth Williams himself, the story was then performed by Williams on national television.

Benson recalls: “At the time, it was a huge embarrassment to me. I was now associated in the minds of my enemies at school with the most outrageously camp man in England. For a schoolboy desperately struggling with his sexuality in the hostile environment of 1970s Britain, the connection was mortifying. As I found out at school next day…

The publication of Williams’ diaries in 1994 later revealed a man every bit as terrified of his sexual nature as the Birmingham schoolboy whose writing had caught his eye.

This new edition includes extracts from the only surviving recording of that 1975 broadcast. With characteristic honesty, Benson also tells of the day a visiting BBC researcher inadvertently captured on tape the terrifying reality of his home life: his mother’s descent into paranoid psychosis.

PRAISE FOR THE 2026 TOUR

“Benson’s Williams is extraordinary.”  The Guardian

“For anyone who wishes to remember what Kenneth Williams was like live, look no further than David Benson.”  A Youngish Perspective

★★★★★ “A tour de force if ever there was.”  ReviewsGate

★★★★ “There was nobody quite like him, but nobody will get closer than
Benson – and that is a delight.”  Broadway World

★★★★ West End Best Friend

★★★★ The Spy in the Stalls

★★★★ Jack The Lad Magazine

LONDON – CIRCLE & STAR
Sunday 11 October 2026 at 2pm

TWICKENHAM – THE EXCHANGE
Thursday 15 October 2026 at 2pm and 7.30pm

BARNARD CASTLE – THE WITHAM
Wednesday 21 October 2026 at 7.30pm

MANSFIELD – MANSFIELD PALACE THEATRE
Thursday 22 October 2026 at 7.30pm

WALSALL – WALSALL ARENA AND ARTS CENTRE
Friday 30 October 2026 at 7.30pm