Proudly presented by

Howard Panter for Trafalgar Theatre Productions and Brian and Dayna Lee

in association with the Barbican

FREDDIE FOX, JULIAN OVENDEN,

CARLY MERCEDES DYER, NIGEL LINDSAY & MALCOLM SINCLAIR

TO JOIN HELEN GEORGE & FELICITY KENDAL STARRING IN

“COLE PORTER’S MUSICAL MASTERPIECE”

HIGH SOCIETY

AT LONDON’S BARBICAN THEATRE THIS SUMMER

Additional Lyrics by Susan Birkenhead

Based on the play ‘The Philadelphia Story’ by Philip Barry

BARBICAN THEATRE, LONDON

FROM 19 MAY 2026

STRICTLY LIMITED SEASON UNTIL 11 JULY 2026

TICKETS ON SALE FROM HIGHSOCIETYMUSICAL.COM

Final casting is announced today for “this year’s guaranteed gem” (Metro), a dazzling new production of “Cole Porter’s musical masterpiece” (Heart FM) HIGH SOCIETY, revealing an exciting line-up of stars from both stage and screen set to join the company. From the producers of Cole Porter’s Anything Goes and Kiss Me Kate, the highly anticipated run at the Barbican Theatre opens on 19 May for a limited eight-week season, followed by a major 20-week UK & Ireland tour. Tickets are on sale now, with performances already selling out from HighSocietyMusical.com.

Starring alongside Helen George (Call the Midwife, The King and I) and Felicity Kendal (The Good Life, Anything Goes) are Freddie Fox (Slow Horses, House of the Dragon) making his musical theatre debut as the charismatic and unpredictable Mike Connor, Julian Ovenden (Downton Abbey, Bridgerton) as the suave sophisticated Dexter Haven, Carly Mercedes Dyer (Anything Goes, A Chorus Line) as the sharp-witted Liz and Nigel Lindsay (Mobland, The Capture) as Uncle Willie and Malcolm Sinclair (Pie in the Sky) as Seth Lord, completing the star-studded line-up of this dazzling must-see musical event of the summer.

This sumptuous new production is brought to life by an multi-award winning creative team, including renowned director Rachel Kavanaugh (currently directing Hugh Bonneville in the smash hit Shadowlands at the Aldwych Theatre), legendary choreographer Anthony Van Laast (Mamma Mia, Kiss Me, Kate) with musical supervision by Stephen Ridley (The King and I, Anything Goes) leading a full orchestra. Audiences will be immersed in a dazzling world of champagne-sparkled evenings, razor-sharp comedy, and the timeless sophistication of Cole Porter in one of the great classic musicals of all time.

Freddie Fox makes his musical theatre debut in HIGH SOCIETY marking an exciting new chapter in a career that already spans acclaimed television roles in Slow Horses and House Of The Dragon, as well as work behind the camera as a director and producer. A member of one of Britain’s most distinguished acting dynasties, he brings both pedigree and versatility to the stage with screen credits that have firmly established him as one of his generation’s most compelling performers. He said: “I couldn’t be more excited to be making my musical theatre debut in HIGH SOCIETY at the Barbican Theatre. It’s the realisation of a boyhood dream for me, and I can’t wait to dive into this world, the music and the sheer joy of Cole Porter.”

Julian Ovenden returns to musical theatre this summer following a celebrated screen career that includes roles in The Crown, Downton Abbey and Bridgerton. Renowned for his rich baritone and stage presence, he has previously earned an Olivier Award nomination for South Pacific, alongside other acclaimed musical performances, making his return in HIGH SOCIETY highly anticipated. He said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be returning to musical theatre; there’s nothing quite like the energy of a live audience and this show is pure delight from start to finish.”

Carly Mercedes Dyer is back at the Barbican for a second summer season, following her WhatsOnStage award-winning performance in Anything Goes for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical and Olivier Award nomination. With recent credits including Singin’ in the Rain and A Chorus Line, she continues to establish herself as one of the UK’s most exciting musical theatre talents.

They are joined by Nigel Lindsay who also returns to the Barbican for his second Cole Porter summer season, alongside acclaimed actor Malcolm Sinclair. The cast for this new production of the beloved Cole Porter musical is made up of Naomi Pacquette, David Seadon-Young, James Hume, Bethany Adamson, David Austin-Barnes, Jabari Braham, George Bray, Andrew Coshan, Jordan Crouch, Frances Dee, Aaron Elijah, Tosca Fischer, Jacob Fisher, Heather Jackson, Aoife Kenny, Nell Martin, Isabel Snaas, Thomas Inge, Robin Kent, Imogen Bailey, Lucy Rice.

Producer Sir Howard Panter said: “HIGH SOCIETY is a musical that sparkles with wit, romance and sheer theatrical joy, and we’re absolutely thrilled that the extraordinary talented actors Freddie Fox, Julian Ovenden, Carly Mercedes Dyer, Nigel Lindsay and Malcolm Sinclair will be joining Helen George and Felicity Kendal at the Barbican this summer. Alongside the rest of our fabulous cast, each of these performers brings a unique brilliance, charisma and musicality that will truly capture the glamour and sophistication of this beloved Cole Porter musical for London audiences from May onwards.”

With music and lyrics by Cole Porter and a book by Arthur Kopit, this glittering new production promises a heady cocktail of romance, wit, mistaken identity and irresistible musical charm. Featuring Porter classics such as Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, I Love Paris, Well Did You Evah?, Just One Of Those Things, Let’s Misbehave, You’re Sensational, and the swooningly romantic True Love, HIGH SOCIETY is the unmissable musical event of the year

Clear your diary, because you’re invited to the most swell party of the year, Cole Porter’s HIGH SOCIETY. Join the 28-strong cast for this lavish new production as plans for the society wedding of the year descend into chaos, with old flames and new flames vying for attention as a sharp-eyed tabloid reporter hunts for scandal at the waterfront estate.

CREATIVE TEAM

Rachel Kavanaugh – Director

Anthony Van Laast – Choreographer

Stephen Ridley – Music Supervisor & Director

Tom Rogers – Set Designer

Adam Fisher – Sound Designer

Howard Hudson – Lighting Designer

Jon Morrell – Costume Designer

Helen Keane – Wigs Designer

The full creative team list is available from HighSocietyMusical.com

Website: HighSocietyMusical.com

Facebook: @highsocietymusical

Instagram: @highsocietymusical

YouTube: @highsocietymusical

TikTok: @highsocietymusical

Also based on the Turner Entertainment Co. Motion Picture “High Society”

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Barbican Theatre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS

First Performance: 19 May 2026

Final Performance: 11 July 2026

Performances: Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm & Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm

Running time: Approx 2 hours 30 minutes (including interval)

Age guidance: 8+

Tickets from £25

Barbican Box Office: Barbican.org.uk or 020 7870 2500

(Telephone lines open Monday to Friday, 12.00 – 5.30pm)

OLIVIER AWARD WINNER &WEST END LEGEND

JENNA RUSSELL

JOINS THE CAST OF SINATRA THE MUSICAL

FULL CAST REVEALED TODAY FOR NEW MUSICAL BASED ON

THE LIFE OF THE LEGENDARY ARTIST AND CULTURAL ICON

FEATURING OVER 20 TIMELESS HITS INCLUDING “THAT’S LIFE”,

“ONE FOR MY BABY”, “THE BEST IS YET TO COME” & “COME FLY WITH ME”

PERFORMANCES BEGIN WEDNESDAY 3 JUNE 2026

ALDWYCH THEATRE, LONDON

www.sinatramusical.com

(Wednesday 8 April 2026) Olivier Award winning Jenna Russell, who is currently Olivier-nominated for the 4^th time, is to play Dolly, Frank Sinatra’s mother, in the West End premiere of Sinatra The Musical, the new musical based on the life and career of the legendary artist and cultural icon.

Jenna Russell can currently be seen playing her Olivier nominated role of Maureen Fry in The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Her extensive theatre work also includes Sunday in the Park with George in London and on Broadway, for which she won an Olivier Award and was nominated for a Tony Award; Hello Dolly! (London Palladium); and Flowers for Mrs Harris (Riverside Studios). She previously appeared at Chichester in Woman in Mind and Celebrating Sondheim. Her television work includes Midsomer Murders, Gentleman Jack, EastEnders and Call The Midwife.

She joins the already announced Joel Harper-Jackson as Frank Sinatra, Ana Villafañe as the movie goddess Ava Gardner and Phoebe Panaretos as Frank’s first wife, Nancy Sinatra. 

The company is completed by: Oliver Adam-Reynolds (Nat King Cole/Ensemble) Becky Anderson (Lana Turner/Ensemble), Carl Au (Lee Mortimer/Ensemble), Sam Brown (Tommy Dorsey/Ensemble), Helen Colby (Hedda Hopper/Ensemble), Emma Crossley (Swing), Adam Davidson (Gene Kelly/Ensemble), Alexander Day (Swing and Dance Captain), Christopher GoPaul (Swing), Stuart Hickey (Swing), Jenna Innes (Judy Garland/Ensemble), Marty Maguire (Marty Sinatra), Mia Musakembeva (Ensemble), Melissa Nettleford (Billie Holiday/Ensemble), Samuel Nicholas (Ensemble), Nardia Ruth (Swing), Christina Shand (Swing and Assistant Dance Captain), John Stacey (Mitch Miller/Harry Cohn/Ensemble), Allana Taylor (Marlene Dietrich/Ensemble) and Lee Zarrett (George Evans). Sylvie Regan, Mia Savident and Felicity Walton share the role of Little Nancy.

Director and choreographer Kathleen Marshall said: “I’ve been a huge fan of Jenna Russell’s ever since I had the great pleasure of seeing her astonishing performance in Sunday in the Park with George on Broadway. I’m so excited to be collaborating with Jenna and with our entire brilliant cast on Sinatra the Musical. We can’t wait to welcome audiences into Sinatra’s world at the Aldwych Theatre this summer!”

Sinatra The Musical, which features over 20 timeless hits including That’s Life, One For My Baby, The Best Is Yet To Come & Come Fly With Me, is to begin performances at Aldwych Theatre, London on Wednesday 3 June 2026.  Tickets are on sale from www.sinatramusical.com

It is New Year’s Eve, 1942, and a skinny 27-year-old Italian American singer is about to step onto the stage of New York’s Paramount Theatre and give a performance that will change music history. As Frank Sinatra’s career suddenly skyrockets, he struggles with balancing the love of his wife, Nancy, against the demands and temptations of being the most popular singer in America. But when he begins a torrid affair with movie goddess Ava Gardner, his records stop selling and the press turns against him, sending his career into a tailspin. Driven by his devotion to his family, Sinatra employs his peerless artistry and dogged determination to stage the greatest comeback in showbiz history.

Sinatra The Musical is written by the two-time Tony award-winning writer Joe DiPietro (Memphis the Musical, What’s New Pussycat?), directed and choreographed by three-time Tony Award-winning Kathleen Marshall (Top Hat, Anything Goes) and the set is designed by Olivier Award-winning Peter McKintosh (Top Hat, When We Are Married).  The orchestra of seventeen musicians will be supervised byGareth Valentine (My Fair Lady, 42^nd Street).  They are joined by Jon Morrell (Costume Designer), Bruno Poet (Lighting Designer), Jonathan Deans (Sound Designer), Akhila Krishnan (Video Designer), Campbell Young Associates (Wigs, Hair and Make-up Designer), Larry Blank (Orchestrator), Gareth Valentine & Ian Eisendrath (Arrangements),   David Chase (Dance Arrangements), David Grindrod, CDG for Grindrod Burton Casting (Casting Director), Jim Carnahan (US Casting Director), Jason Thinger (US Casting (Carnahan), and Carol Lee Meadows (Associate Director/Choreographer).

Sinatra The Musicalwas originally produced at The Birmingham Rep in 2023.

Sinatra The Musicalis presented by Michele Anthony and Bruce Resnikoff for Universal Music Group Theatrical, Tina Sinatra and Charles Pignone for Frank Sinatra Enterprises, Executive Producer Scott Landis, Executive Producer Chris Harper and UK General Management by Rodeo Productions. Co-Producers are Julie Boardman, Victoria Lang, Tom Perakos, Tina Sinatra, Stephen Byrd, Wendy Federman, Lisa Wolofsky & Robert Soldera, Willette & Manny Klausner, Simon Hunt, No Guarantees, Richard Batchelder, Ken & Janet Shur, Larry Magid, Kate Cannova, Mario Carbone, Carl Moellenberg, Wendy Gillespie, Tom Kleinman, Michael Saperstein, Morwin Schmookler and Mark Rubinstein.

SinatraThe Musicalis developed by Frank Sinatra Enterprises in partnership with Universal Music Group, the world leader in music-based entertainment.

Crossroads Live and Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures Present

SUMMONED.

CAST.

SHOWTIME.

FROM THE NETHERWORLD TO THE WEST END, BEETLEJUICE THE MUSICAL ANNOUNCES

STRANGE AND UNUSUALLY TALENTED

 CASTING FOR ITS UPCOMING HAUNTING AT THE

PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE

What a Day-O! Crossroads Live and Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures. are delighted to announce full casting for this summer’s most anarchic Broadway transfer, Beetlejuice The Musical. The veil between the living and the dead will tear open in the West End, when performances rise from the grave at the Prince Edward Theatre from Wednesday 20 May, 2026.

Following the recent announcement that David Fynn will appear as the West End’s new best fiend, Beetlejuice, it is today revealed that Tom Xander will join the cast as alternate ‘guide to the other side’, Beetlejuice. Tom received an Olivier Award nomination in 2025 for his role in Mean Girls (Savoy Theatre).Other theatre credits include Wendy & Peter Pan (Barbican) andThe Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre). 

They will be giving a hell of a time to everyone’s favourite dark darling of the dearly departed, Hannah Nordberg as Lydia Deetz. Hannah’s television credits includes: Emma in Euphoria (HBO), Betty Parris in The Devil You Know (HBO), Olivia Parr in Longmire (Netflix). Stage roles include: Olive Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine, Second Stage Theatre, Broadway Film includes: Merry Levov in American Pastoral (Lionsgate) and Emily Sullivan in Overboard (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer).

Newly-dead homemakers and amateur after-lifers, Adam and Barbara Maitland will be played by David Hunter (Time Traveller’s Wife, Apollo Theatre; Waitress, Adelphi Theatre and UK Tour; Kinky Boots, Adelphi Theatre) and Chelsea Halfpenny, best-known for her on-screen roles in Emmerdale and Casualty. Stage credits include 9 to 5: The Musical and Waitress.

Alasdair Harvey (The Little Big Things, Soho Place; Come From Away, Phoenix Theatre) appears as Lydia’s bereaved father trying to find his way, Charles Deetz. His fiancée, life coach Delia, will be played by Aimie Atkinson. Best known as one of the original ‘Queens’ in Six The Musical – for which she was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical at the 2019 Olivier Awards – Aimie’s recent theatre credits include Death Note (London Palladium/ Lyric Theatre) and Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman (Savoy Theatre).

Making her West End debut, Chasity Crisp is Maxine Dean / Juno. Previous stage roles include Hamilton (UK & Ireland Tour) for Cameron Mackintosh Limited and performances in shows throughout Germany and Austria, including: Disney’s Hercules, The Bodyguard, Ghost: The Musical and Tina: The Musical.

Otho will be played by Richard Frame whose credits include Frozen the Musical, Theatre Royal Drury Lane; The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre).

Irvine Iqbal is Maxine’s investor husband, Maxie Dean. Theatre credits include the West End production of Disney’s Aladdin – The Musical (Prince Edward Theatre), Bend It Like Beckham (Phoenix Theatre) and East Is East (National Theatre).

Rachel Macdougall (The King and I, Dominion Theatre and UK Tour) is Girl Scout and Vanessa Aurora Sierra will play Miss Argentina, having previously appeared in the role on Broadway.

The company is completed byJemma Alexander, Samuel Bangs, Natasha Cayabyab, Chris Draper, Harley Emmitt, Catherine McCormick, Robbie McMillan, Kieran Mellish, Elliott Parry, Jacob Smith, Adam Taylor, Tyler Timmins and Issie Wilman.

Following three smash hit Broadway hauntings, Beetlejuice crosses the pond this year, making its West End debut at London’s Prince Edward Theatre, a Delfont Mackintosh Theatre, where it plays a strictly limited run from Wednesday 20 May, 2026 – Saturday 17 April, 2027.

Based on Tim Burton’s beloved movie classic, this wildly funny – and weirdly life-affirming – musical tells the tale of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager sharing her home with a pair of newly-deads and the demonic ghost-with-the-most,  Beetlejuice. He’s dead trouble, but if you really want to feel alive, just say his name three times…

With a gleefully irreverent book, head-spinning set design and a score that’s out of this Netherworld, Beetlejuice is a ‘feast for the eyes and soul’ (Entertainment Weekly). Outrageous, but with a big (cold) heart, this is ‘screamingly good fun!’ (Variety) that’ll make you want to live – and make the most of every Day-O!

The West End production resurrects its otherworldly Broadway creative team, featuring a Book by Scott Brown and Anthony King withMusic and Lyrics by Eddie Perfect and will be directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers (Moulin Rouge! The Musical).

The London production brings together Beetlejuice The Musical’s celebrated Broadway team: Book by Tony Award nominee Scott Brown (Castle Rock) & Tony and Emmy Award-nominee Anthony King (Broad City), an original score (Music and Lyrics) by Tony Award-nominee Eddie Perfect (King Kong), Tony Award-winning Director, Alex Timbers (Moulin Rouge! The Musical), Choreography by Connor Gallagher (The Robber Bridegroom), Music Supervision, Orchestrations and Incidental Music by Kris Kukul (Joan of Arc: Into the Fire) with Additional Arrangements by Kris Kukul and Eddie Perfect.

Beetlejuice The Musical features Scenic Design by four-time Tony Award nominee David Korins (Hamilton), Costume Design by six time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long (The Producers), Lighting Design by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner (Kinky  Boots), Sound Design by Tony Award winner Peter Hylenski (Moulin Rouge!), Projection Design by five-time Tony Award-nominee Peter Nigrini(Dear Evan Hansen), Puppet Design by Drama Desk Award winner Michael Curry (The Lion King), Special Effects Design by Jeremy Chernick (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), Illusions by Michael Weber (Forrest Gump), Hair & Wig Design by Drama Desk Award nominee Charles G. LaPointe, Make-Up Design by Joe Dulude II, Dance Arrangements by David Dabbon, Music Producer, Matt Stine, Casting by Harry Blumenau CDG CSA, UK General Management, Crossroads Live UK and US General Management by Bespoke Theatricals.

Beetlejuice The Musical is based on the 1988 Academy Award-winning cult Geffen Company motion picture presented by Warner Bros., Beetlejuice, with Story by Michael McDowell and Larry Wilson. The hit comedy was directed by Tim Burton and starred Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O’Hara, and Winona Ryder.

Beetlejuice: The Musical opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre in 2019 and again at the Marquis Theatre in 2022 – following the COVID-19 shutdown – returning to Broadway’s Palace Theatre in 2025 for a third engagement playing 808 combined performances on Broadway. The first national US tour played an 88-city tour, and Beetlejuice: The Musical has played internationally in Tokyo, Seoul and Melbourne and Abu Dhabi.

Beetlejuice The Musicalis produced in the UK by Crossroads Live and Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures.

FULL CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR WORLD PREMIERE OF CULT KOREAN ROCK MUSICAL THE LAST MAN

NEO, Inc. (Hyunjae Lee) presents

THE LAST MAN

Book & Lyrics by Jishik Kim

Music by Seungyeon Kwon

Dramaturgy by Jethro Compton

Directed by Daljung Kim

Lyrics, Musical Supervisor, Co-Orchestrator and Arrangement by Gabriel Chernick

Set Design by Shankho Chaudhuri

Lighting Design by Cheolmin Cho

Sound Design by Liam McDermott

Costume Design by Anna Kelsey

Casting by Grace McInerny for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher

Supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS), the Korean Cultural Centre UK, the Korea Tourism Organization, and the Seoul Performing Arts Company

Friday 8 May to Saturday 13 June 2026 at Southwark Playhouse Elephant

A mysterious virus spreads across the globe. Cities fall silent. The undead roam.

Casting has been announced for the world premiere of cult Korean one-person rock musical The Last Man, as director Daljung Kim brings together Lex Lee and Nabi Brown, who share the central role across the run, performing on alternate nights and offering distinct interpretations of the survivor.

Lex Lee is a Kiwi-Korean actor based in London. With a background spanning theatre and performance across New Zealand, Australia, and Berlin, credits include works Handel’s Messiah, War Hero and West Side Story. Nabi Brown is a recent graduate of Trinity Laban and her credits include Dick Whittington and His Cat (Greenwich Theatre) and Diana The Musical (Lambert Jackson productions).

Joining the previously announced creative team are lyrics, musical supervisor co-orchestrator and arranger Gabriel Chernick, set designer Shankho Chaudhuri, lighting designer Cheolmin Cho, sound designer Liam McDermott and costume designer Anna Kelsey.

A lone survivor seals themself inside bunker B-103 after a mysterious virus wipes out humanity. As isolation takes hold, the line between survival and living begins to blur. Now they must decide: is survival enough — or should they open the bunker door.

The cult hit that has built a passionate fanbase not only in Seoul but also in China, The Last Man has been newly reimagined for English-speaking audiences in this premiere, inviting audiences deep into a bunker for an intimate experience of one individual’s struggle to hold on to hope, connection, and humanity.

In this new English-language adaptation by Jishik Kim and Seungyeon Kwon, with dramaturgy by Jethro Compton, the piece blends gig, existential thriller, and social commentary, following the eponymous survivor who appears to be the last human alive after a zombie apocalypse. Driven by a live rock score, dark humour, and psychological tension, The Last Man tells an intimate and thrillingly suspenseful story of survival, resilience, and what it takes to remain human in a frightening and uncertain world.

This show is a popular work now entering its third season in Korea as of March 2026. Following its selection for the Seoul Performing Arts Company’s web musical development program in 2020, it went through further development by NEO, Inc. During the Korean production phase, it was selected for and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization’s performing arts tourism program ‘Welcome Daehakro’ in 2021 and 2022. It was subsequently chosen and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS)’ program ‘Global Expansion and Distribution Program for Korean Musicals’ in 2023 and 2024, leading to the full-scale development of an English-language production.

This world premiere of cult Korean one-person rock musical The Last Man is also supported by the Korean Cultural Centre UK.

The running time is approximately 1 hour 40 plus interval. Age guidance is 14+

LISTING INFORMATION

Southwark Playhouse Elephant1 Dante Place, London SE11 4RXClosest Tube Station: Elephant & Castle (Northern Line & Bakerloo Line) Take the Shopping Centre exit.

Box Office

Online https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/the-last-man/

No Booking Fee Online or by Telephone

By Telephone 020 7407 0234

Performance Dates & Times:

Friday 8 May to Saturday 13 June 2026 Monday – Saturday: 7pm,

Thursday and Saturday Matinees: 2.30pm.

Captioned performance, Tuesday 26 May: 7pm.

Ticket Prices: from £24 Standard | from £19.50 Concessions | Previews £16 | Pioneers’ Preview £10

Age Guidance: Recommended for ages 14+. The Last Man’s depiction of solitary survival in a harsh and confined environment might make certain scenes in the production feel psychologically unsettling for some audience members.

Southwark PlayhouseSouthwark Playhouse is a registered charity that delivers a year-round programme of entertaining and enriching work. Southwark Playhouse operates two separate venues ‘Southwark Playhouse Borough’ and its newest theatre ‘Southwark Playhouse Elephant’ which opened in January 2023. Southwark Playhouse has always prided itself in telling stories and inspiring the next generation of storytellers and theatre makers, where support for the community has been rooted at the core of the organisation.

Instagram: @swkplay @thelastman_uk

Tiktok: @thelastman_uk

Facebook: The Last Man UK

BlueSky: @swkplay.bsky.social

Website: southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

Facebook: SouthwarkPlayhouse

YouTube: southwarkplayhouse

Daljung Kim is a Seoul-based director with a prolific career spanning film, musicals and plays. His recent work focuses on developing and directing original Korean musicals including The Last Man, Mahagonny and Gloomy Sunday. His other stage credits include the successful Korean productions of An Iliad, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and The Spitfire Grill.

Jethro Compton is an award-winning Cornish director, designer, independent theatre producer and writer for stage and screen. His directing credits include, for Jethro Compton Productions, The Bunker Trilogy and The Capone Trilogy, as well as his own writing including The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Frontier Trilogy, Sirenia, Wolf’s Blood and the Olivier Award-winning musical The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

NEO, Inc. is a production company dedicated to exploring the emotions and questions faced by individuals and society today through original musicals. Through works such as The Last Man, Gloomy Day, and Vanishing, the company has engaged with themes including youth isolation, existential anxiety, and fractured human relationships, connecting personal emotions with wider social issues. The UK production of The Last Man portrays the survival of an individual in an extreme state of isolation, revealing the growing sense of loneliness and disconnection in contemporary society. It seeks to open a broader conversation around these themes and share this with audiences.

Internationally acclaimed cabaret star Hersh Dagmarr presents

Dagmarr’s Cabaret

an intimate evening of song, from Edith Piaf to Kylie Minogue

at the Circle & Star in North London, Friday 24 April 2026

Hersh Dagmarr, the cabaret singer-songwriter and visual artist who has earned a reputation as one of the most distinctive and compelling voices on the international cabaret circuit, will star in Dagmarr’s Cabaret, an evening of song at the Circle & Star theatre in Hampstead, North London, on Friday 24 April (7:30pm).

Hersh Dagmarr was a fixture of the 1920s Weimar Berlin cabaret scene until, quite suddenly, they weren’t. The circumstances of their disappearance remain unclear. What is clear is that Dagmarr’s ghost returns this April at the Circle & Star to reminisce through song, accompanied on piano by George Webster. 

With a programme in French, German, and English drawn from across a century of cabaret, chanson, Sprechgesang and popular song, audiences can expect numbers from Edith Piaf, Kurt Weill, Marlene Dietrich, Cole Porter, Iggy Pop, the Pet Shop Boys and even Kylie, amongst many others.

Hersh Dagmarr is a London-based French singer/songwriter, cabaret star and Weimar Berlin revenant who never really left. They have performed at some of the world’s leading cabaret venues, including London’s Crazy Coqs, with their unique blend of expressionist and theatrical avant-pop cabaret taking inspiration from the grand German kabarett era mixed with their own background as a jazz singer and experience as a French club kid from the noughties.

To book for Dagmarr’s Cabaret, visit: www.tickettailor.com/events/circleandstar/2105501 

LISTINGS INFORMATION:

Title: Dagmarr’s Cabaret

Venue: Circle & Star Theatre, 28 Heath Street, Hampstead, London NW3 6TE

Date/time: Friday 24 April 2026, 7:30pm

Duration: 70 mins (approx)

Tickets: £22

Access information: circleandstar.com/accessibility 

Category: cabaret / music

Peter Hinwood, ‘Rocky’ in The Rocky Horror Picture Show,
will make a rare West End public appearance for one night only in London!

He will join co-stars Barry Bostwick, Nell Campbell and Patricia Quinn
to celebrate the cult movie’s 50th Anniversary in
The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary Spectacular Tour

Dominion Theatre
268-269 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7AQ
Sunday 19 April at 7.30pm

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is celebrating its 50th anniversary with original cast members, Barry Bostwick (the iconic Brad Majors), Nell Campbell (the effervescent Columbia) and Patricia Quinn (the incomparable Magenta), visiting 13 cities across the UK and appearing together for the time first time in The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary Spectacular Tour.

Audiences in each city will have an opportunity to meet the stars from the movie; participate in a costume contest; while a Shadow Cast performs scenes from the movie on stage with a stunning 4k
remastered version of the full un-edited film shown behind them.

And for one night only in London, on Sunday 19 April, they will be joined on stage by Peter Hinwood*, who starred as ‘Rocky’. Nell Campbell said this week: “Peter was like a Greek god. No one in Europe had a body like him at that time.”

Peter was a professional model when he was chosen in 1975 to be the blonde muscle hunk ‘Rocky’. He had little or no acting experience and does not even sing his own songs in the film (he was dubbed in post-production by Australian singer Trevor White). But his portrayal of ‘Rocky’ turned out to be the most significant role of Hinwood’s acting career.

He had played the Greek god Hermes in the Adventures of Ulysses mini-series on British television in the late 1960s. After Rocky Horror, he capped his cinematic career in Paul Humfress and Derek Jarman’s Roman historical drama, Sebastiane, in 1976 then retired from acting for a career as an antiques dealer.

He told People Magazine in America 2000 “I cringe with embarrassment every time I see myself on film and I relish a quiet, peaceful life.”

Producer Scott Stander said today: “I am thrilled that Peter Hinwood has agreed to come out of self imposed retirement to join the Rocky company for one unforgettable reunion night only in London. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime night to remember for any Rocky Horror fan.”

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the iconic little movie that conquered Hollywood – and has gone on to become the longest-running theatrical release in the world.

The movie stars Tim Curry as the devious and fabulous ‘Frank-N-Furter’; Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon as everybody’s favourite nerdy couple, ‘Brad’ and ‘Janet’; Meatloaf as ex-delivery boy ‘Eddie’ who dates a groupie, ‘Columbia’ played by Nell Campbell; and Patricia Quinn as ‘Magenta’, servant to ‘Riff Raff’, played by the film’s creator Richard O’Brien, with Peter Hinwood as Frank-N-Furter’s creation, ‘Rocky’.

Limited VIP tickets are available in London and include a meet and greet with Hinwood, Bostwick, Campbell and Quinn. Meet & Greet package includes a special V.I.P. laminate, autographed photo or personal item, and picture with all three stars on your own camera.

An audience participation prop bag is included with every ticket for use throughout the show.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s International Tour is produced by Scott Stander and The Stander Group.The Stander Group is a global boutique production and talent agency headed by siblings Scott and Jackie Stander. Together, they have over 30 years of experience producing celebrity events, concerts, plays, dance & variety shows, as well as a talent development and representation division with clients
worldwide.

*Please note there will be an additional cost to  attend a meet and greet with Peter Hinwood

Tour dates
please note that  Peter Hinwood
only appears at the Dominion Theatre, London

Friday 10th April
Manchester
Bridgewater Hall

Sunday 12th April
Hull
Connexin Live Hull

Thursday 16th April
Leicester
De Montfort Hall

Friday 17th April
Brighton
Dome

Saturday 18th April
Nottingham
Royal Concert Hall

Sunday 19th April
London
Dominion Theatre

Saturday 25th April
Sheffield
City Hall

Sunday 26th April
York
Barbican

Tuesday 28th April
Bristol
Beacon

Wednesday 29th April
Liverpool
Philharmonic Hall

Thursday 30th April
Bournemouth
Pavilion Theatre

Friday 1st May
Birmingham
Symphony Hall

Sunday 3rd May
Edinburgh
Festival Theatre

Tickets from £25.00

Booking info
https://www.scottstander.com/rocky.html

AMAR CHADHA-PATEL TO MAKE STAGE DEBUT

IN THE WORLD PREMIERE OF

TITAS HALDER’S FOAL

Amar Chadha-Patel will make his professional stage debut in the world premiere of Foal by Associate Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse, Titas Halder at Finborough Theatre this May. Known for starring in the Netflix series The Decameron and Disney+ series Willow, Chadha-Patel will be directed by Annie Kershaw in this one-man production. This urgent new play opens on 8 May, with previews from 5 May and runs until 30 May.

The creative team is completed by Cara Evans (Set and Costume Design), Pierre Flasse (Composer and Sound Design), Rajiv Pattani (Lighting Design) and Becky Paris CDG (Casting Consultant).

The world premiere of

FOAL

By Titas Halder

Directed by Annie Kershaw

Presented by HFH Productions in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre

Cast: Amar Chadha-Patel

Director: Annie Kershaw; Set and Costume Design: Cara Evans; Composer and Sound Design: Pierre Flasse; Lighting Design: Rajiv Pattani; Casting Consultant: Becky Paris CDG

5 – 30 May 2026

at Finborough Theatre

“Corner an animal, make him feel scared, that’s when he’s dangerous.

Tell a creature he’s a beast, one day he’ll bite back”

A.K. wants to escape the Island. Live a good life. But the sea draws you back.

When a dreadful secret comes to light, A.K. returns to his home town to confront the shadows of his childhood and put right a terrible wrong. The thing is, he’s worried about the other version of himself, the one who lives inside his ribcage.

An exhilarating fever dream, Foal is a revenge thriller set in the era of the sony walkman; a lyrical, urgent new play about masculinity, compassion, and retribution.

Amar Chadha-Patel plays A.K marking his professional stage debut. His television credits include Love, Death & Robots, William Tell, The Decameron, Fifteen-Love, Slip, Willow, The Wheel of Time, Sex Education, The Third Day, Flack, The Windsors, Year of the Rabbit and Beecham House; and for film, William Tell, The Creator, True Love, Dashcam, House Hack, Aladdin, Doom: Annihilation, Army of One, It’s a Wonderful Afterlife and Bhaji on the Beach. He also starred in Motor City which premiered at Venice International Film Festival last year.

Titas Halder is a writer and director working across theatre, film and music. He is currently Associate Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse. As a writer he trained on the Royal Court Theatre Young Writers’ Programme.

Halder’s first two plays saw him nominated for Best Writer at the inaugural Stage Debut Awards; his next play The Basement was a finalist for the Verity Bargate Award. His writing credits include Replica (National Theatre Connections, Länk Festival Riksteatern), Escape the Scaffold (Theatre 503 and The Other Room) and Run the Beast Down (Finborough Theatre, Marlowe Theatre, Strawdog Theatre Chicago).He was part of BBC Voices 2024 and is currently writing his first feature film for Storyteller.

As a director, his work includes The Lemon Table – co-directed with Michael Grandage (Salisbury Playhouse, UK tour), A Boy and His Soul (Kiln Theatre) and The Dance of Death (Donmar Trafalgar). He will also be directing the upcoming production of King Lear at Sheffield Theatres. Halder also performs and records as musical artist Titas and the Fox.

Annie Kershaw’s directing credits include Educating Rita, Hedda Gabler (Reading Rep Theatre),Private View (Soho Theatre) and Girl in the Machine and Light (Young Vic). Her Associate/ Assistant directing credits include Juniper Blood (Donmar Warehouse), Best of Enemies (Noël Coward Theatre, Young Vic), Jekyll & Hyde, Dorian (Reading Rep Theatre) and Henry II (Rabble Theatre).

Kershaw was previously the Carne Deputy Director at Jermyn Street Theatre. She won the Young Vic’s 2024 Genesis Future Director’s Award for which she directed Girl in the Machine. In 2025, she was shortlisted for the Arts Foundation Futures Award.

LISTINGS

FOAL

Finborough Theatre

118 Finborough Road, London SW10 9ED

www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk

Box Office: 020 7244 7439

Tuesday, 5 May – Saturday, 30 May 2026

Tuesday to Sunday evenings at 7.30pm | Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3.00pm

Prices from £27

Preview performances: £15

Running time: approx. 90 mins, no interval

VICKY GRAHAM PRODUCTiONS, BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME, AND ARIA ENTERTAINMENT

WITH GLOBAL CREATIVE AND TRW PRODUCTION

PRESENT

THE BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME PRODUCTION OF
 

HOT MESS: A NEW MUSICAL

MUSIC AND LYRICS BY JACK GODFREY

BOOK AND DIRECTION BY ELLIE COOTE

MULTI AWARD-WINNING NEW MUSICAL RETURNS TO LONDON FOLLOWING SELL-OUT EDINBURGH FRINGE PREMIERE AND SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE TRANSFER

THE OTHER PALACE

Saturday 13 JUNE – SUNDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 2026

WWW.hotmessmusical.com

Producers Vicky Graham, Birmingham Hippodrome, and Aria Entertainment are delighted to announce that the multi-award-winning 5-star new musical Hot Mess will return to London this summer for a strictly limited season at The Other Palace, running from Saturday 13 June to Sunday 6 September 2026

Following its world premiere at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025 and subsequent London transfer to Southwark Playhouse last September, the show has quickly become one of the most exciting new British musicals, winning a Fringe First Award, the Popcorn Writing Award and Musical Theatre Review’s Best Musical Award, alongside widespread critical acclaim.

Created by the award-winning duo behind 42 Balloons, Jack Godfrey and Ellie Coote, Hot Mess is a high-energy original romcom that reimagines the climate crisis as a turbulent love story between Earth and Humanity.

After a billion years of bad dates, Earth has finally found the one… Humanity. Sparks fly. Seeds are sown. Ground is broken. But what begins as a passionate love affair between the universe’s most iconic couple quickly descends into a hot mess.

An original pop musical about love, hope, and the ultimate break up.

Jack Godfrey and Ellie Coote said: “We are over the moon that Hot Mess will be coming to The Other Palace this summer! We’ve been hard at work developing and expanding the show since its run at the Edinburgh Fringe last year, and we can’t wait to share the story of Earth and Humanity’s messy romance with audiences again very soon!”

The producers said: “We are immensely proud to be bringing Hot Mess to London for a 12-week season this summer and giving audiences another chance to experience Jack and Ellie’s sharp, fresh and unapologetically funny writing. We can’t wait to share further details of the production, to build on the success of the premiere and original cast album and lift the roof off The Other Palace this summer.”

Full casting and creative team to be announced soon.

Hot Mess is produced by Vicky Graham Productions, Birmingham Hippodrome, and Aria Entertainment, with Global Creative and TRW Production, and RJG Productions as General Managers.

Instagram: @hotmessmusical

Tiktok: @hotmessmusical

Original cast recording available here: https://slinky.to/HotMess

Hull New Theatre – until 18th April 2026

Reviewed by Dawn Bennett

5*****

I make no apologies for my love of Abba and this musical. Having had the good fortune to see it several times, I can confidently say that this production was the best I have experienced. The performance was polished, brimming with humour, and the cast delivered magnificent portrayals throughout.

While some jukebox musicals force songs into the narrative, often disrupting the flow or detracting from the story, Mamma Mia stands out in how its musical numbers truly drive the plot forward. Here, the songs are integral, shaping the story and enhancing the overall experience.

For those unfamiliar with the tale, it unfolds on a small Greek island, where we are introduced to Sophie Sheridan (Lydia Hunt). Sophie is preparing to marry Sky (Joe Grundy), and her greatest wish is to have her father present at the ceremony. Unfortunately, her mother, Donna (Jenn Griffin), doesn’t know who he is. After reading Donna’s diary, Sophie discovers that her father could be one of three men: Harry Bright (Richard Meek), Sam Carmichael (Luke Jasztal), or Bill Austin (Mark Goldthorp). To uncover the truth, Sophie invites all three to her wedding.

Sophie’s two closest friends, Ali (Bibi Jay) and Lisa (Eve Parsons), travel to the Greek island to celebrate her upcoming wedding. When they arrive, they are shocked not only by Sophie’s plan to invite all three potential fathers but also by the fact that they had all turned up! They are surprised when they realise that Donna remains completely unaware of what her daughter has done.

When the three men arrive on the island, Donna is taken aback and visibly shocked at them being there, so she turns to her lifelong friends, Tanya (Sarah Earnshaw) and Rosie (Rosie Glossop), for support. Hearing Donna’s revelation about the men and the possibility of one being Sophie’s father, Tanya and Rosie are surprised to say the least.

During the Hen and Stag nights, the three men realise that each one could indeed be Sophie’s father. And what follows is both funny and heartwarming.

The storyline of Mamma Mia unfolds at a brisk pace, making sure that audiences remain captivated throughout. Each musical number is performed with skill, showcasing both the vocal talents of the cast and the outstanding band, led by conductor Carlton Edwards. The seamless integration of songs and the energetic performances contribute greatly to the vibrant atmosphere, making the show a joyous and memorable experience.

Mamma Mia is a truly uplifting musical that guarantees to leave audiences grinning from ear to ear and humming their favourite tunes as they leave the theatre. The show is running at Hull

New Theatre until 18th April, and there are still some tickets available. Be sure to try and to see this fabulous production while you can—you certainly won’t regret it.

Cambridge Arts Theatre, Cambridge – until Saturday 11th April 2026

Reviewed by Steph Lott

5*****

Fly anything to anywhere. That was the objective of the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) a civilian organisation founded to fly warplanes between factories, maintenance units and the front line.

I had no idea what the ATA was before last night. By the time the lights came up at the Cambridge Arts Theatre, I felt deeply grateful to have my ignorance corrected in such a moving, beautifully crafted way.

Spitfire Girls, a Tilted Wig production, written by Katherine Senior, tells the story of the ATA’s remarkable female pilots — women who flew Spitfires, Hurricanes and a bewildering variety of other aircraft during the Second World War, navigating under the clouds without instruments, and without radio. It is a slice of history that has been shamefully overlooked, and this production does it proud.

Senior herself plays Bett, and it is a performance of quiet, steely conviction. But for me, the evening belonged to Hannah Morrison as Dotty. She lit up the stage — all infectious energy and warmth — and made the relationship between the two sisters feel utterly real. The sibling dynamic at the heart of this play is its greatest strength: the love, the rivalry. It’s about two women navigating not just the skies but a world that kept trying to put them back in the kitchen. Morrison and Senior struck sparks off each other in the best possible way, and it gave a story already rich in historical interest a genuine emotional core.

The supporting cast filled out the world around them with colour and confidence. There was not a weak link on stage, and every character felt like a real person with a life beyond the script. Credit too to Stephen Moynihan, whose movement direction and choreography were quietly extraordinary. The physical language of the production — the way the cast used their bodies to suggest flight, effort, and freedom — added a dimension that words alone could not have achieved.

What struck me most was how the play holds two worlds in balance. On one side, the cramped domesticity of 1940s womanhood. On the other, the vast, exhilarating freedom of being thousands of feet up in a Spitfire. The contrast is never laboured, but it is always there, and it makes the achievements of these women feel all the more extraordinary.

This is theatre that entertains and educates in equal measure — a tribute to a forgotten generation. Do not miss it.