Mayflower Theatre Southampton – until 4th January 2026
Reviewed by Lucy Hitchcock
4****
Peter Pan is in Southampton and he needs your help to find the pixie dust keeping Neverland alive, in order to help him fly again! Captain Hook has mysteriously escaped the dreaded croc and is set on causing mayhem, stopping Peter and his friends, but with your help – I think Hook can be defeated!
Noah Harrison and Carly Joan Furlong as Peter and Tink lead the story, navigating us through Neverland to complete their mission. With multiple songs and brilliant dances, this duo are superb. Furlong is the perfect Tink, bringing magic and excitement, whilst Harrison is the epitome of Peter Pan – a little bit wild, but altogether magically charming. Alexandra Burke stars as Captain Hook – and my goodness does she play a perfect villain! She was revelling on stage and completely entrancing, with her magnificent vocals to boot, she is a perfect cast. With the added addition of some of her most well known songs (sung with Captain Hook’s flair!), it was hard to take your eyes off her on stage. Dr Ranj makes an appearance as the Magical Merman, one I was confused about prior to entering the auditorium but it quickly became clear as to why he was cast. He was elaborate, elegant and vocally he was extremely good! The star of the show for me however, was Max Fulham as Smee, accompanied by his monkey friend Gordon. These two were incredibly funny, with Fulham having me believe that Gordon was an independent person as he used his fabulous ventriloquism skills to entertain the audience. At points, I was unable to comprehend how he was doing it, he certainly is a master of his craft. He managed to get the audience onside within a split second and kept us completely engaged until the very end-it was truly magical!
As always, the costumes in Mayflower Pantomimes are mind blowing. From Crossroads Pantomimes, they are the perfect mix of pantomime camp, sequins, glittering and extravagance!
This is a perfect example of pantomime and one that will have you and your family entranced. The songs are modern and easy to recognise, the audience participation is just as expected (and even better!) but above all, the entire company looked as if they were enjoying every second-there was not a moment on stage when a smile quivered or dropped, it was superb! A definite add on to your Christmas Plans this year!
DAME MAUREEN LIPMAN will star in the world premiere of ALLEGRAa new comedy by Peter Quilter
Touring the UK from Tuesday 12 May, 2026 prior to the WEST END
Thomas Hopkins Productions and SAMS Entertainment are delighted to announce that national treasure Dame Maureen Lipman DBE will tour the UK for the first time in 20 years, opening at Theatre Royal Brighton in the week she celebrates her 80th birthday.
Dame Maureen will star in the world premiere of Allegra, a new comedy by Tony Award and double Olivier Award nominated playwright Peter Quilter. Following her acclaimed performance in Rose in the West End in 2023, Dame Maureen now leads this joyful heartwarming comedy on her first major UK tour in many years.
Dame Maureen said today: “To find a comedy which can turn our current face of gloom into an upturned grin of happiness, is rare. Allegra is about a woman who is relentlessly upbeat – in more ways than one. Ibsen it isn’t’’
Allegra (Maureen Lipman) is full of joy. So much of it that she cannot stop herself from bursting into song. At home, in the street, even in shops and restaurants. Sometimes the music is only a fantasy in her head. But at other times, it results in a loud and disruptive performance that causes chaos in the village where she lives. Allegra’s brother, Ronen, and her carer, Anna, must somehow control her eccentricities and avoid angry visits by the local policeman. But is this possible without destroying the great happiness that fills Allegra’s heart?
Allegra is a moving comedy with spectacular song and dance sequences, but is also a touching and emotional examination of how, sometimes, the most beautiful of minds can start to disappear.
Peter Quilter said: “Maureen is one of the great theatrical treasures of this country, and to have her bring Allegra to life is a joy and an honour.”
Producer Thomas Hopkins said: “Working again with Maureen after the remarkable West End success of Rose is an absolute privilege. Allegra is sure to be one of UK theatre’s highlights of 2026.”
Playwright Peter Quilter will have the rare distinction of four plays running across the UK in 2026: Allegra; the 20th anniversary tour of Glorious! starring Wendi Peters and Matthew James Morrison; Step By Step on UK tour with an all-star cast; and Jinkx Monsoon will star as Judy Garland in a revival of End of the Rainbow at Soho Theatre in Walthamstow.
More cast and creative team to be announced. Dame Maureen Lipman DBE At the start of a long and distinguished theatre career in theatre, Dame Maureen Lipman DBE spent three years with the National Theatre Company at The Old Vic led by Sir Laurence Olivier. Her acclaimed one-woman tribute to Joyce Grenfell, Re: Joyce, ran several times over five years in the West End. Other self-written one-woman shows include Live and Kidding (Duchess Theatre) and Up For It (Edinburgh Fringe and Purcell Room). Other theatre credits include: See How They Run (Shaftesbury Theatre): As You Like It (RSC); Outside Edge and Martin Sherman’s Messiah (Hampstead); Aunt Eller in the National Theatre’s Oklahoma!; Lost in Yonkers (Strand Theatre); Daytona (Park Theatre & Theatre Royal Haymarket); Harvey (Birmingham Rep & Theatre Royal Haymarket) and The Best Man (Playhouse Theatre). She has been nominated for seven Olivier Awards across categories commending acting in plays, musicals and comedy, winning in 1984 for See How They Run. Her film credits include: Oklahoma!, the Oscar-winning The Pianist and Educating Rita. Her extensive TV credits include playing agony aunt Jane Lucas in the groundbreaking series Agony (1979 – 81); playing Evelyn Plummer in Coronation Street since 1981 (winning seven TV awards including Best Soap Actress in the TV Choice Awards, and Celebrity Gogglebox alongside Gyles Brandreth.She was married for thirty-three years to the late writer Jack Rosenthal, appearing in three of his TV plays including the Emmy-winning The Evacuees. She was awarded a Damehood in 2021. Peter Quilter – Playwright Peter Quilter’s plays have been presented in 50 countries around the world and translated into over 30 languages. He has had a hit show on Broadway and three successful plays in London’s West End. Peter has twice been nominated for the Olivier Award (Best New Play and Best New Comedy) and his Broadway debut was nominated for three Tony Awards. His best known works are End of the Rainbow (a musical drama about the life of Judy Garland), Glorious! (the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the worst singer in the world) and Duets (a comedy for two actors). Peter’s first movie Judy starring Renée Zellweger received the Golden Globe, the Bafta and the Oscar for Best Actress. His first international success was End of the Rainbow (a musical drama about Judy Garland) which had its premiere in 2005 at Sydney Opera House. The show later played a sold out run in the West End starring Tracie Bennett. The play transferred to the Belasco Theatre on Broadway in 2012, where it was nominated for three Tony Awards. It has since been performed worldwide and in 2019 was adapted as the movie Judy, which won Renée Zellweger the Bafta, Golden Globe and the Oscar for Actress in a Leading Role. Glorious!, the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the worst singer in the world, premiered at Birmingham Rep in 2005 before transferring to the Duchess Theatre in the West End starring Maureen Lipman. The comedy has since been seen by over two million people in theatres across five continents. There will be further new productions this year in China, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Estonia, the USA and Spain. Peter’s other work includes the two-actor comedy Duets which has been performed in 20 countries and was broadcast “live” on television in Paris. The show is currently enjoying the third year of a record-breaking success in Brazil. He is also author of the all- female comedy Step By Step and the 1999 West End show Boyband (Gielgud Theatre). Official website for Peter Quilter www.peterquilter.net
Thomas Hopkins Productions (THP) – Producer Thomas Hopkins Productions (THP) was founded in 2019 by award-winning theatre, film, television, and radio producer Thomas Hopkins. Since its inception, THP has worked on over 150 live theatrical productions and numerous productions created and filmed specifically for platforms such as Sky, BBC, Amazon Prime, BroadwayHD, Broadway On Demand, and the educational platform Digital Theatre Plus. THP is recognised as an industry leader, specialising in transatlantic partnerships and supporting productions through its full-service organisation.
THP’s recent productions include; the critically acclaimed UK tour of The Talented Mr. Ripley and on Broadway; Robert Icke’s Oedipus, new musical Two Strangers (Carry a Cake) Across New York, Liberation and seven-time Tony®-nominated John Proctor is the Villain. In London, THP produced This Bitter Earth, directed by Grammy Award, Emmy, and three-time Tony Award®-winning Billy Porter, at Soho Theatre in London’s West End; as well as the highly regarded Rose, starring Dame Maureen Lipman at the Ambassadors Theatre.
THP is passionate about creating new theatrical experiences and productions. Among THP’s current slate of development, some of the highlights include a new version of Boy George’s autobiographical musical Taboo, with plans to open in 2027; a new family musical by Olivier Award-winning composer Vikki Stone, based on the iconic BAFTA-winning BBC TV show Maid Marian and Her Merry Men by Sir Tony Robinson.
In 2026, THP will be producing the 20th Anniversary tour of the hit comedy Glorious! starring Wendi Peters, along with the major UK revival of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s hit musical Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Tony®-nominated Carrie-Anne Ingrouille.
SAMS Entertainment- Producer Sam Houlihan & Sam Biondolillo are Tony Award winning producers based in New York City. Previous Broadway productions include: Thornton Wilder’s Our Town; Merrily We Roll Along; Gutenberg! The Musical and Hell’s Kitchen. Most recently, the Sams produced Stephen Sondheim’s The Frogs at Southwark Playhouse and The Talented Mr Ripley on UK tour. www.samsent.com
ALLEGRA 2026 UK TOUR DATES
Brighton Theatre Royal Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 May
High Wycombe Wycombe Swan Monday 18 – Saturday 23 May
Aberdeen His Majesty’s Theatre Tuesday 26 – Saturday 30 May
Malvern Malvern Theatre 1 – 6 June
LONDON Richmond Theatre Monday 8 – Saturday 13 June
Windsor Theatre Royal Monday 15 – Saturday 20 June
Glasgow Theatre Royal Monday 22 – 27 June
Bath Theatre Royal Monday 29 June- Saturday 4 July
Alphabetti Theatre Newcastle – until 20th December2025
Reviewed by Sandra Little
3***
A Queermas Carol is billed as, “The gayest ghost story ever told,” and is very loosely based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This production gives this traditional story a modern twist and explores issues relating to the gay community. This version of Dickens’ story is predominantly told by two Marley’s ghosts played by Mack Sproates and Rhianne Bowes meanwhile Charles Dickens (Micky Cochrane) is also presented as a ghost who complains about this interpretation of his “traditional and melancholy ” story.
The production begins with a high energy rap style dance routine from Marley and Marley and the audience are told that they will be embarking on a, “chain shrinking” journey with some audience participation included in the process. At one point in the interpretation of Christmas past, Marley (Mack Sproates) is dressed as a combination of a Tamagotchi and a Furby. He performs a dance routine to, “Push the Button” and then the other Marley (Rhianne Bowes) takes part in an episode of Mastermind where she is asked intrusive and uncomfortable questions about her past. This was quite a poignant moment included in a generally light hearted show.
Part two of this production introduces the audience to the ghost of Christmas present. Rhianne changes into a traditional Victorian dark green costume and gives a great version of, “Santa Baby.” Meanwhile Mack becomes Bob Cratchit with his son being played by a puppet. There are lots of references in this sketch to ‘80s films including Terminator and Indiana Jones and also intense emotions are explored with references to issues faced by young people struggling with identity and sexuality. Eventually it becomes clear that Bob Cratchit’s son is trans gender and chooses to be called Tim.
As the story moves to the future and Christmas yet to come, the traditional phantom is played by Carmen Silk, who was the guest artist on Wednesday evening. A different artist will perform this part each evening for future performances. Carmen ditched her black garb and informed everyone that she was bringing hope and joy to the future. The audience were then treated to three great traditional songs including, “Life is a Cabaret” and “Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
The final part of this production involved a conversation with a puppet of a ghostly Charles Dickens and the final message from Marley and Marley was that we need space to tell everyone’s story and we shouldn’t listen to voices that dim our light.
Needless to say, this was an interesting version of a tale everyone knows so well and I must say there were some serious issues explored, however for me the contrast between light hearted and serious was too sharp and there were times when I wasn’t sure what the intention was.
However if you are looking for alternative Christmas entertainment then this could be for you.
The West End’s original Elphaba in Wicked Whatsonstage Award winner
Broadway.com Audience Award winner KERRY ELLIS
completes the star cast for the world premiere semi-staged West End concert of Jo – The Little Women Musical
Sunday January 25, 2026 at 7pm Theatre Royal Drury Lane Catherine St, London WC2B 5JF Final star casting is announced today for the world premiere semi-staged concert of Jo – The Little Women Musical in Concert at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Sunday January 25, 2026.
Kerry Ellis will play Marmee.
Kerry, widely recognised as a leading lady of West End and Broadway musicals, with a number of starring roles in London, New York, and around the world, made musical theatre history as the first British Elphaba in the worldwide smash, Wicked, for which she won the 2008 Whatsonstage.com Award for ‘Best Takeover in a Role’. She then headed to Broadway to play Elphaba, where she won the Broadway.com Audience Award for Favourite Female Breakthrough Performance, before returning to London in the role.
Kerry originated the role of Meat, in Queen’s We Will Rock You and her other leading West End credits include Grizabella in Cats, Nancy in Oliver!, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Ellen in Miss Saigon, Fantine in Les Miserables, Sara in Murder Ballad and Alice in Wonderland. In 2022 Kerry played Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes at the Barbican to huge acclaim. She continues her long term working relationship with Brian May and they have toured the UK and Europe extensively.
She joins the previously announced GRAMMY Award® nominee Christine Allado (Hamilton) as Jo March. Double Olivier Award® winner Tracie Bennett (Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow) as Aunt March. Eleanor Grant (Avatar LIVE) as Beth March. Chris Mann (Phantom in 25 The Anniversary Tour of The Phantom of the Opera) as Professor Bhaer. West End star Kelly Mathieson (The Phantom of the Opera) as Meg March. Miyuki Miyagi (Beau the Musical) as Sallie Gardiner. Julian Ovenden (from TVs Bridgerton and The Crown) as Father. TV star Sophie Pollono (the Showtime series, I Love That For You) as Amy March. Yazdan Qafouri (The Kite Runner) as Fred Vaughn. Tobias Turley (Mamma Mia!) as Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence. Liam Tamne (Ramses in Prince of Egypt, Raoul in Phantom Of The Opera) as John Brooke. Barry James (West End roles include Ladislav Sipos in She Loves Me – Olivier nominated; Beadle Bamford in Sweeney Todd – Olivier nominated) as Grandfather/Mr. Laurence.
Ensemble/chorus performers will be provided by Vocals Unlimited with Tom Pearce serving as Choirmaster.
Orchestral management is by Isobel Griffiths Ltd.
General Managers are New Road Theatricals. The concert, featuring a 27-piece orchestra, follows the global release in May of a Studio Album released on Center Stage Records and recorded at London’s iconic Abbey Road Studios, produced by five-time GRAMMY Award® nominee and three-time Emmy winner Nigel Wright and Dan Redfeld. The album is available on all platforms including Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music and Amazon Music and as a special 2-CD set available on Center Stage Records.
A Universal Story. A Cultural Moment. Jo – The Little Women Musical in Concert is a once-in-a-lifetime star-studded event that will bring Louisa May Alcott’s classic story Little Women to life in a bold new musical adaptation with a sweeping, timeless score that will leave you spellbound.
At the heart of this iconic coming-of-age story is Jo March, the original literary heroine – a fiercely passionate young writer whose grief over losing her sister inspires a story that continues to resonate with audiences everywhere. This enchanting new musical is for anyone who has dreamed big, questioned their path, or yearned to share their story.
Jo – The Little Women Musical has music by Dan Redfeld, book and lyrics by Christina Harding and John Gabriel Koladziej, and is directed and choreographed by JoAnn M. Hunter (20 Broadway shows to her credit as a choreographer including Bad Cinderella and School of Rock).
Randy Jones Toll & Steven Toll (Broadway: Waiting for Godot, Glengarry Glen Ross, Our Town, The Hills of California), 2 On The Aisle BDWY, LLC (West End: The Producers, Broadway: Just In Time, Chess) and award winning actress, Peri Gilpin and her daughter, graphic artist, Ava Vincent, have joined as Associate Producers for the concert.
LISTINGS INFO
March Hare Entertainment, LTD., Little Women Enterprises, LLC., Brian Purcell (4 Times Entertainment, Inc.), Rob O’Neill (O’Neill/Snow, LLC.), Willette and Manny Klausner (WMK Productions), Pulau Sisters, LLC present
Jo – The Little Women Musical in Concert
Music by Dan Redfeld Book and Lyrics by Christina Harding and John Gabriel Koladziej
Directed & Choreographed by JoAnn M. Hunter
Musical Director Dan Redfeld
Theatre Royal Drury Lane Catherine St, London WC2B 5JF
including a West End performance on Sunday 29 March
In celebration of Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise’s joint centenary – both entertainers would have celebrated their 100th birthdays in 2026 – a series of special performances has been announced for Eric and Ern, the new show from Ian Ashpitel and Jonty Stephen, the Olivier nominated duo behind the hugely celebrated critically acclaimed West End hit Eric & Little Ern.
Following a previously announced limited run at Curve, Leicester from Tuesday 6 to Saturday 17 January, Eric and Ern will visit the Lowry, Salford from Tuesday 24 to Saturday 28 March, Garrick Theatre in London’s West End on Sunday 29 March, and Morecambe Winter Gardens on Saturday 16 May for a special performance coinciding with Eric Morecambe’s birthday weekend.
Eric and Ern takes audiences back to the times when whole families would huddle around the telly to watch the fantastic Morecambe and Wise Christmas specials. This brilliant homage to the two national comedy heroes is crammed full of renditions of those famous comedy sketches, and hits all the right notes – from Greig’s Piano Concerto to Mr Memory, “Arsenal!”, Eric and Ern is a show full of Morecambe and Wise’s most loved routines, songs and sketches – and of course a musical guest – suitable for all the family from 8 to 80.
Eric and Ern is created by Ian Ashpitel and Jonty Stephens based on the writing of Eddie Braben with additional material by Morecambe and Wise. It is presented by Martin Clarkson and The Production Garden in association with Cube Room Productions.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Show title: Eric and Ern
Running time: 1 hour and 50 minutes (including a 20 minute interval)
Age guidance: 8+
LIST OF TOUR DATES
Tuesday 8 – Saturday 17 January 2026 Curve, Leicester
Royal Shakespeare Theatre Stratford-Upon-Avon – until 31st January 2026
Reviewed by Amarjeet Singh
4****
Roald Dahl’s beloved classic The BFG has been delighting readers since its publication in 1982, and now, thanks to Tom Wells and Jenny Worton’s vibrant new stage adaptation, the story leaps from page to stage with dazzling creativity. Directed by Daniel Evans, this production at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre is a feast of humour, heart, and theatrical ingenuity.
From the outset, the show captures Dahl’s signature blend of gruesome absurdity and tender warmth. The narrative, while condensed from the original book, retains its essence, a tale of giants, dreams, and the unlikely friendship between Sophie the orphan and the Big Friendly Giant. Wells and Worton sprinkle in fresh jokes, additional characters and clever twists, ensuring the adaptation feels both faithful and refreshingly original. Designer Vicki Mortimer’s minimalist set is anything but bare. Through ingenious lighting by Zoe Spurr and vivid costume work from Kinnetia Isidore, the stage transforms into a playground of imagination creating a world of whimsy and wonder. Toby Olié’s puppetry and Akhila Krishnan’s video projections elevate the production to another level. The seamless transitions between live actors and puppets create a sense of scale that is both magical and believable. Giants loom large without breaking the spell, dreams swish around the stage and illuminated model buildings flying by in a chase sequence evoke otherworldliness.
John Leader’s portrayal of the BFG is enchanting. Mostly eschewing Quentin Blake’s iconic illustrations, this BFG is younger, and brims with energy, bringing a curious mix of innocent charm and giant gentleness. Leader’s mastery of Dahl’s mangled language and his physicality make the character irresistibly endearing. Elsie Laslett as Sophie strikes the perfect balance of cheek and courage, while Charlotte Jones as Kimberley adds depth to the dynamic. Both young actors impress not only with their acting but also with their agility, as they perform physical acrobatics assisted by puppeteers, with remarkable grace. Helena Lymbery’s Queen is a delightful surprise, a monarch yearning for adventure rather than mere royal protocol, she has a remarkable transformation. Sargon Yelda’s uptight butler Tibbs provides a foil of comic rigidity, while the double act of Captain Smith, Philip Labey, and Captain Frith, Luke Sumner, lampoon military paranoia with gusto. Their scenes are laugh-out-loud funny, especially when Frith’s dialogue disappears behind his bristling moustache.
Beneath the fart jokes and fantastical giants beats a heartwarming story of friendship, bravery, and the power of dreams. A cacophony of whizzpopping wonder, delivering the kind of joyous chaos that Dahl fans crave, the production succeeds at balancing spectacle with sincerity. Daniel Evans has orchestrated a production that is as inventive as it is heartfelt. With its stunning puppetry, clever design, and pitch-perfect performances, The BFG is a splendiferous triumph of imagination, a theatrical treat for audiences of all ages.
Make It Beautiful bring a modern twist to the Arthurian legend of Gawain and the Green Knight in this quirky and warm-hearted comedy.
Since the death of the CEO of Camelot Corp, his daughter has taken over and gone all in on the Arthurian ethos for the cybersecurity company, insisting on staff using Arthurian names and shouting “Huzzah” at every opportunity. The medieval warfare jargon used in customer calls is hilarious and Arthur (Cara Steele) and Lance’s (Gabriel Fogarty-Graveson) management style is hardly chivalrous.
Gary (Felix Grainger) hates being called Gawain, is unhappy in his job but can’t be bothered to leave and is viewed as a boring disappointment by management. The only ray of light in his day is Gwynne (Laura Pujos), who shares his opinion that the Arthurian schtick is nonsense. Handed his marching orders on the day of the compulsory Christmas party, Gawain is the only person to accept the mysterious stranger’s challenge to strike him with his axe and be prepared to accept the same in one year and a day. Gawain continues working, waiting for the arrival of the Green Knight, but as his time draws near, he finally decides to search for the knight and face his fate head-on.
This setup takes an hour before the interval, during which Simon Nicholas’s versatile set was redressed. Although lots of satisfying callbacks to throwaway lines in the second act worked brilliantly, this hour could have been cut back and a 90-minute show could be better balanced and paced. The change to the quest lands could possibly have been achieved with lighting effects (Caitlin MacGregor’s lighting design and Kezia Tomsett’s sound design create wonderfully atmospheric dynamics throughout.)
Writers Grainger and Fogarty-Graveson hit their stride once Gawain’s search for the Green Knight begins, via the magic elevator, and director Kelly Ann Stewart picks up the pace nicely. The characters Gawain meets are frankly insane but straight out of the original story. Think Monty Python/Maid Marian and her Merry Men/Horrible Histories and that’s the tone of this madcap nonsense. The writing partners have a wonderful eye for the absurd and Grainger’s reactions are wonderful as Gawain tries to cope with the medieval shenanigans surrounding him. Fogarty-Graveson is brilliantly deadpan as a range of bonkers characters; Cara Steele nails the role of the deluded and cruel Arthur and Laura Pujos is the show’s calm anchor as Gwynne. Shawn Chambers voices Merlin – the corporation’s AI that seems to be even crueller than Arthur, but Gawain still finds meaning in his life despite the digital devilry.
This smart and funny Arthurian tale could do with a little streamlining but has exciting potential.
Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham – until 11th January 2026
Reviewed by Jacqui Radford
5*****
Billed as an extravaganza, this year’s Everyman Theatre pantomime is exactly that. Robin Hood is not a traditional pantomime choice but with the addition of Tweedy and a ‘Gloucestershire dimension’, the well-known tale delivers perfectly on the brief of a family pantomime.
Tweedy, playing the role of Friar Tuck takes comedy and clowning around to the highest level. His humour hits the mark with the children in the audience, evoking fits of giggles at the mention of farts or admonishing the adults in the audience. Every bit of clowning around is carefully planned to provoke gasps and cheers, drawing everyone into the spirit of panto, including a comedic performance of ‘Bolero’ alongside Dame Nursie, played by Kevin Brewis
Alongside the clowning around we have all come to expect of a pantomime at Everyman Cheltenham, the remaining cast bring more cheer and glamour than you could ever hope for. Dan Wilshire as Robin Hood plays the role of a wholesome hero alongside Maid Marian and the obligatory villain, Sheriff of Gloucestershire.
The chemistry between the whole cast is obvious, enabling a few spontaneous moments and shared moments of laughter between them. It is clear that they really enjoy the script and all the opportunities they have to kick back and enjoy performing.
This year’s set and costume design surpassed previous productions. Bright colours, dazzling lighting effects, snowstorms and confetti all add a real Christmas experience that every child and adult can’t help but enjoy. Add to that the participation of panto, singing and dancing, you’ll leave this production with a spring in your step.
Bill Kenwright’s legendary, award-winning production of the international smash hit musical, Blood Brothers has announced its Spring 2026 tour dates, opening at Churchill Theatre, Bromley on Wednesday 14 January 2026.
Vivienne Carlyle will continue as Mrs. Johnstone having gained widespread critical acclaim and nightly standing ovations on the show’s most recent tours.
Richard Munday rejoins Blood Brothers as the Narrator, at certain venues, after playing the role on the 2022–2023 UK tour. He will share the part with Kristofer Harding, a role he first played in 2016 and returned to in the most recent 2025 tour.
Fresh from alternating the role of Elphaba in Wicked (Apollo Victoria) and covering Norma Desmond in Jamie Lloyd’s production of Sunset Boulevard (Savoy), Laura Harrison returns to Blood Brothers. Harrison previously played Donna Marie in the 2015 tour and is now taking on the role of Mrs Lyons.
For performances in Derry and Dublin, Mrs Johnstone will be played by Ireland’s own musical theatre legend, Rebecca Storm. Rebecca is thrilled to return to a role she has truly made her own and join the Blood Brothers company for a limited run at the Millenium Forum followed by the Bord Gais Energy Theatre.
Sean Jones and Joe Sleight will also be returning as the twin brothers, Mickey and Eddie and Gemma Brodrick will continue to play Linda.
Also reprising their roles are Michael Gillett (Sammy), Tim Churchill (Mr Lyons), Francesca Benton-Stace(Donna Marie/Miss Jones), Latesha Karisa (Brenda), Danny Knott (Perkins), Dominic Gore (Neighbour), Alex Harland(Policeman/Teacher) and Graeme Kinniburgh (Postman/Bus Conductor).
For further information on casting at each venue, please visit kenwright.com.
Written by award-winning playwright Willy Russell, few musicals have been received with such acclaim as the multi-award-winning Blood Brothers. Considered ‘one of the best musicals ever’ (Sunday Times), Bill Kenwright’s production surpassed 10,000 performances in London’s West End, and has been affectionately christened the ‘Standing Ovation Musical’, as inevitably it “brings the audience cheering to its feet and roaring its approval” (Daily Mail).
This epic tale of Liverpool life started as a play, performed at a Liverpool comprehensive school in 1981, before opening at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983. The musical has since triumphed across the globe, completing sell out seasons in the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan, and scooping up four awards for Best Musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway.
Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins separated at birth, who grow up on the opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with tragic consequences.
When Mrs Johnstone, a young mother, is deserted by her husband and left to her own devices to provide for seven hungry children she takes a job as a housekeeper in order to make ends meet. It is not long before her brittle world crashes around her when she discovers herself to be pregnant yet again – this time with twins! In a moment of weakness and desperation, she enters a secret pact with her employer which leads inexorably to the show’s shattering climax.
Willy Russellis one of this country’s leading contemporary dramatists. His countless credits include Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine. Educating Rita, originally commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, enjoyed a two-year run in the West End and was made into a movie starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters. Shirley Valentine also made the move from stage to screen in an enormously popular film starring Pauline Collins and Tom Conti. The production made a triumphant return to the West End in 2023 with Sheridan Smith.
BBC Radio 4’s long-running drama ‘The Archers’ celebrates 75th anniversary and steps out of the studio for a new live theatrical experience,
touring the UK from June–November 2026.
First airing on 1st January 1951, BBC Radio 4’s The Archers is the world’s longest-running drama. Today Fane is delighted to announce that the programme will mark its 75th anniversary in 2026 with a national live tour, inviting audiences to experience the village of Ambridge as they’ve never seen – or indeed heard – it before.
Touring from June to November 2026, this brand-new live production brings the beloved iconic radio drama out of the studio and onto stages across the UK. Hosted by award-winning comedian and Archers devotee Angela Barnes, each performance will feature a rotating cast of Archers actors, a BBC archivist and a live sound-effects specialist.
For 75 years, broadcasting six times a week to millions of listeners, The Archers follows the everyday lives, loves, and dramas of the residents of the fictional village of Ambridge, deep in the heart of the English countryside. Over the course of more than 20,000 episodes, the show has chronicled significant social and cultural changes in Britain, dealing with complex contemporary issues alongside the traditional rhythms of rural life, earning its place as a cornerstone of the British cultural landscape. Today, it remains one of the BBC’s most popular programmes and is currently the top on-demand show for listeners of all ages – as well as regularly topping the list of most popular on-demand programmes for listeners under 35 – on BBC Sounds.
Set within a playful reimagining of the Ambridge Flower & Produce Show, The Archers: Live at 75 blends theatricality, nostalgia, comedy and behind-the-scenes insight. The evening will include on-stage interviews, insider stories and gossip,live performances with live foley sound effects of specially written scenes created exclusively for the tour, archive treasures spanning seven decades from the BBC vaults, fascinating demonstrations of the sound-effects artistry that brings the fields, kitchens and barns of Ambridge so vividly to life, audience questions, an interactive pub quiz straight out of The Bull and of course, a sing-along to the programme’s famous theme tune.
This is a theatrical, one-of-a-kind celebration of, and a unique insight into, the people, stories and distinctive production craft that have cemented The Archers as a beloved British institution for three generations.
The tour offers newcomers an accessible introduction to the drama’s world, while giving long-time listeners a rare look into how Ambridge is created – revealing the artistry behind the character work, development of storylines, and the unmistakable soundscape that define the series.
The full list of cast appearances will be announced in early 2026 and will feature both much-loved long-standing Ambridge actors and the newer voices shaping the drama today.
“I am not just an Archers superfan, I am obsessed with all things Ambridge. So to be asked to host The Archers: Live at 75 is like winning a prize at the Flower and Produce Show and being cast as the lead in a Lynda Snell production, all rolled into one. I can’t wait to hang out with all of my favourite characters and really immerse myself in Borsetshire life.” Angela Barnes, Host
“Marking 75 years of The Archers is a rare privilege, and we’re thrilled to work with the BBC to create a live experience that honours the programme’s extraordinary legacy. Taking one of the BBC’s most precious and established brands, which has lived almost entirely in listeners’ imaginations, and working so closely with Angela, the editorial team, and the cast to make it leap out of the studio and onto the stage is a wonderfully fun creative challenge. We can’t wait to share this special experience with the audiences who’ve loved The Archers for generations.” James Albrecht and Serena Brett, Directors of Fane
Alison Hindell, Drama and Fiction Commissioner, BBC Radio 4, says, “The Archers is one of the BBC’s most-loved programmes and we are tremendously proud of it as it reaches the astonishing broadcasting milestone of its 75th year. We hope that The Archers live show will give fans even more of what they love, joining in the celebrations with an extra slice of Ambridge life.”
