This week’s video is available on YouTube:
This week’s news includes:
Lucie Jones and Jamie Muscato join the cast of Les Misérables West End Concert
The principal cast are Jon Robyns as Jean Valjean, Bradley Jaden as Javert, Lucie Jones as Fantine, Gerard Carey as Thénardier, Josefina Gabrielle as Madame Thénardier, Shan Ako as Éponine, Harry Apps as Marius, Jamie Muscato as Enjolras, Charlie Burn as Cosette and at certain performances Dean Chisnall will play the role of Jean Valjean.
The company also includes Kelly Agbowu, Joseph Anthony, Will Barratt, Cameron Blakely, Earl Carpenter, Richard Carson, Danny Colligan, Rodney Earl Clarke, Matthew Dale, Matt Dempsey, Harry Dunnett, Nic Greenshields, Jessie Hart, Holly-Anne Hull, Jenna Innes, Ebony Jonelle, Connor Jones, Jessica Joslin, Luke McCall, Leo Miles, Corinne Priest, Aaron Pryce-Lewis, Grainne Renihan, Helen Walsh, Emma Warren and Samuel Wyn-Morris.
Les Misérables – The Staged Concert will return for a limited run at the Sondheim Theatre from 20 May - 5 September, 2021.
Linzi Hately will appear at special performances as the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium.
Thirty years after starring in the original London Palladium production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Linzi will be reunited with Jason Donovan who is now playing the Pharaoh. Linzi who was nominated for an Olivier Award for her performance as the Narrator, will perform at special performances, in the new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s musical.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will begin performances on Thursday 1 July with Linzi Hateley’s first performance on Saturday 17th July after the proposed “Step Four” in the Government’s roadmap to easing restrictions, when audiences will return to full-capacity.
Michael Harrison said: “This dream just keeps getting better. It was special enough to announce Alexandra Burke recently as the Narrator, but to now have the added bonus of Linzi playing the role at special performances – and to reunite her with Jason Donovan again at the London Palladium – turns Joseph into a dream ticket. The combination of nostalgia for the original Palladium production, coupled with the excitement of our new critically acclaimed version, means we all have a summer to look forward to.”
Linzi Hateley is scheduled to perform Sat 17th July Matinee and Evening, Wednesday 18th August Matinee, Sunday 22nd August 5pm, Wednesday 25th August 2.30pm, Saturday 28th August Matinee and Evening, Sunday 29th August Matinee and Evening, Wednesday 1st September Matinee, Saturday 4th September Matinee.
Andrew Wright will direct a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Glatonbury Abbey.
Presented at the iconic Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset, the revival of the hit musical is based on the Kilworth House production which ran in 2019. It is directed by Andrew Wright, with musical direction by Kat Stevens and associate direction and choreography by Jaye Elster.
Full cast and creative team to be revealed, with Sarah Neale, Maxine Ridout, Shelley Smith, Hannah Switzer initially announced as appearing in the piece.
Joseph will play from 29 to 30 August, with a matinee performance on 30 August. Audiences are advised to bring chairs and blankets, and to prepare for any potential weather conditions.
Les Denis replaces Paul Merton in Hairspray at the London Coliseum.
In a statement the show said: "Following the delay to the production because of the pandemic, Paul is unfortunately not able to join the company due to long-standing scheduling commitments."
Dennis will play the role of Wilbur Turnblad in the show, joining Michael Ball, Lizzie Bea, Marisha Wallace, Rita Simons and more.
The full company includes Georgia Anderson, Kimani Arthur, Dermot Canavan, Lori Haley Fox, Mari McGinlay, Ashley Samuels, Michael Vinsen and Imogen Bailey, Pearce Barron, Jordan Benjamin, Joel Cooper, Luke George, Christopher Gopaul, Bradley Judge, Winny Herbert, Lily Laight, Madeleine Lawton, Holly Liburd, Will Luckett, Mireia Mambo, Kody Mortimer, Robyn Rose, Tinovimbanashe Sibanda, Amy West and Natalie Woods.
Jack O'Brien will direct, with book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman, choreography by Jerry Mitchell, costumes by William Ivey Long, set by David Rockwell and casting by Jill Green.
The show will run from 22 June to 29 September 2021. The first four weeks will play with social distancing.
Lee Mead will celebrate his 40th, with a concert Live at the London Palladium in June.
West End star Lee Mead has announced a special show at the London Palladium to celebrate his 40th birthday.
The singer will perform highlights from his musical career including songs from Miss Saigon, The Phantom of the Opera, and Wicked.
He will also perform songs from Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat – the coveted role that he won on the TV series Any Dream Will Do which catapulted him into the public eye.
The concert is on June 10 and tickets are on sale now.
The Palladium show will be the precursor to Lee’s forthcoming 35-date UK tour which starts on 3 September and runs through 31 October – all dates and ticket sale links are on Lee’s website www.leemead.co.uk
The Addams Family have confirmed their UK and Ireland tour dates.
Returning in 2021 and directed by Matthew White. Samantha Womack and Cameron Blakely will revive their much loved roles as Morticia and Gomez Addams, based on the characters created by Charles Addams. Kingsley Morton will play Wednesday Addams, Grant McIntyre Pugsley Addams, Valda Aviks Grandma, Sean Kingsley Mal Beineke and Kara Lane Alice Beineke. Also in the cast will be Abigail Brodie, Sophie Hutchinson, Luke Byrne, Matthew Ives and Sean Lopeman. Further casting is to be announced.
The Addams Family has a book by Marshall Brickman (Annie Hall, Manhattan), and Rick Elice (Peter And The Starcatcher, Jersey Boys), with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party, Big Fish). The show is produced by United Theatrical, Aria Entertainment and Music and Lyrics Limited in association with the Edinburgh Festival Theatre.
17 – 21 August 2021
New Victoria Theatre Woking
31 August – 4 September 2021
Milton Keynes Theatre
7 – 11 September 2021
The Orchard Theatre Dartford
14 – 18 September 2021
The Lowry, Salford
21 – 25 September 2021
King’s Theatre Glasgow
12 – 16 October 2021
Regent Theatre Stoke
19 – 23 October 2021
Liverpool Empire
9 – 13 November 2021
Nottingham Theatre Royal
16 – 20 November 2021
New Theatre Cardiff
23 – 27 November 2021
Lyceum Theatre Sheffield
2022 Dates
18 – 22 January 2022
The Alexandra Birmingham
25 – 29 January 2022
Festival Theatre Edinburgh
1 – 5 February 2022
Alhambra Theatre Bradford
8 – 12 February 2022
Newcastle Theatre Royal
15 – 19 February 2022
New Theatre Oxford
1 – 5 March 2022
Churchill Theatre Bromley
AJ and Curtis Pritchard will perform together in Wolverhampton’s panto, Cinderella from Saturday 4 December 2021 – Sunday 9 January 2022.
The duo have recently joined the cast of Hollyoaks and are highly regarded for their professional dancer positions on Strictly Come Dancing and Ireland’s Dancing With The Stars.
The pantomime, which was previously planned for 2020, had to be postponed until this year due to the national closure of all theatres. Cinderella will be produced by Imagine Theatre, in partnership with Wolverhampton Grand.
Tickets for Cinderella from Saturday 4 December 2021 – Sunday 9 January 2022 are on
sale now.
Sasha Regan will direct Lady Chatterley’s Lover, adapted by John Robinson and Phil Willmott.
A musical version of Lady Chatterley's Lover based on D H Lawrence's classic will run in the West End.
John Robinson (Behind the Iron Mask) has crafted the libretto for the piece, playing at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 18 and 19 June 2021. The show will also be filmed fo future streaming, with plans for further live performances as well.
Lady Chatterley's Lover is directed by the award-winning Sasha Regan (Blondel) with original libretto by Phil Willmott (Relativity: The Einstein Musical), and production design by Andrew Exeter (High Fidelity).
Lighting is by Nic Farman, with movement by Chris Whittaker and musical direction by Michael Bradley. Casting is to be revealed.
Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley are in talks for a new production of Cabaret.
The production is expected to begin performances at Playhouse Theatre in November 2021.
Tickers are on sale for Godspell at Ye Old Rose and Crown Theatre in September.
An electrifying new professional revival of Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak’s hit musical Godspell will be performed at Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre in Walthamstow for 16 performances from September 25th – October 10th 2021, following a scheduled postponement from its planned May 2021 opening.
Godspell will be the third production produced by Brendan Matthew (who also directs), Laurel Dougall and Laura Hyde for CR8TRACT Theatre and Jim Shields. Benjamin Levy will musical direct and the show will feature choreography by Matthew, Laura Hyde and Connor Lewis, Ashen Gupta will associate direct, with lighting by Matthew Swithinbank and sound design by Daniel Mawson.
Tickets are on sale and you can book online
Happily Ever Poofter returns to the Two Brewers in June, with two performances on 3rd June.
The “Untold Story of a Gay Fairytail Prince” written by Rich Watkins, produced and directed by Denholm Spur with associate producer and choreographer Simone Murphy, will also be part of Manchester Pride, at the Brewers between 25th to 30th August 2021.
Check out their website:
Matilda the Musical will reopen in the West End from 16th September.
The Royal Shakespeare Company musical, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and a book by Dennis Kelly, will resume performances at the Cambridge Theatre is booking until February 13, 2022.
RSC executive director Catherine Mallyon said: “It is fantastic to see London’s West End reopening and for our company, freelance colleagues and creative team to be back at the Cambridge Theatre, preparing for performances in the autumn. We all know how challenging the past year has been, and that makes this moment even more special and important. We will not only celebrate 10 brilliant years of Matilda the Musical in the West End, but also that our audiences can join us once again to experience the power of live theatre.”
The musical premiered at the RSC’s Stratford-upon-Avon home in 2010, before transferring to the West End in October 2011.
The show is directed by Matthew Warchus, designed by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and special effects and illusions by Paul Kieve.
Matilda the Musical is produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company with Denise Wood and Griselda Yorke as executive producers.
Full casting will be announced soon.
An upcoming film adaptation is also being directed by Warchus, adapted for the screen by Kelly. Sony Pictures/TriStar Pictures will release the film in the UK and Netflix will release the film in the rest of the world.
The cast have been announced for The Play That Goes Wrong Tour.
To include Tom Babbage (Max), Tom Bulpett (Chris), Seán Carey (Jonathan), Leonard Cook (Robert), Edward Howells (Dennis), April Hughes (Sandra), Laura Kirman (Annie), Gabriel Paul (Trevor), with understudies: Katie Hitchcock, Damien James, Edi De Melo and Aisha Numah.
Following three previously sold out tours, the production will open on Tuesday 13 July 2021 at Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury where it first premiered in 2014, before visiting Cheltenham, Bath, Salford, Nottingham, Eastbourne, Dartford, York, Woking, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Brighton and Aylesbury. Further dates soon to be announced.
The Play That Goes Wrong is co-written by Mischief company members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields. The tour is directed by Sean Turner, originally directed by Mark Bell, with set designs by Nigel Hook, costumes by Roberto Surace, lighting by Ric Mountjoy and sound design by Andrew Johnson. Resident Director Hannah Sharkey. The Play That Goes Wrong is produced by Kenny Wax Ltd and Stage Presence Ltd. Mischief's tours are produced by Kenny Wax Ltd and Stage Presence Ltd.
And A Killer Party is available on stream theatre now.
The series of 9 episode series is available to watch on-demand, until 23 May.
The full cast includes Ben Forster, Oscar Conlon-Morrey (Only Fools and Horses, Nativity The Musical) as Shea Crescendo, Debbie Kurup (The Prince of Egypt, Sweet Charity) as Vivika Orsonwelles, renowned comedian, actor and presenter Jason Manford (Curtains, Sweeney Todd, The Producers) as Varthur McArthur, Cedric Neal (The Voice, Motown The Musical) as George Murderer, Amara Okereke (Les Misérables, The Boyfriend) as Lily Wright, Lucas Rush (The Merry Wives of Windsor, Les Misérables) as Clarke Staples, Emma Salvo (Come From Away, The Toxic Avenger) as Justine Case, Ashley Samuels (Motown The Musical, The Book of Mormon) as Cameron Mitchelljohn, Harriet Thorpe (Wicked, Les Misérables) as Detective Case and Rachel Tucker (Come From Away, Songs From a New World) as Joan McArthur.
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