Missed what’s going on in the world of theatre this week? Don’t worry, we’ve put together a list of all the biggest theatre news stories to hit the headlines in the last seven days. From new musicals, concert announcements and panto announcements it has been a very busy week!
Full company for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tour revealed
We’ve finally learnt who has won the golden tickets! That’s right, the full company for the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tour has been revealed. Opening at Leeds Playhouse in November, this is certainly a sweet cast.
The famous five golden ticket winners include Kazmin Borrer (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as Veruca Salt, Teddy Hinde (Anyone Can Whistle) as Mike Teavee, Marisha Morgan (Top Boy) as Violet Beauregarde and Robin Simões Da Silva (Bedknobs and Broomsticks) as Augustus Gloop. Grandpa Joe will be played by Michael D’Cruze (The Wheel of Time), Grandpa George by Christopher Howell (The Witches of Eastwick in Concert), Grandma Josephine by Kate Milner Evans (Brief Encounter), Grandma Georgina by Julie Mullins (Neighbours) and Mrs Bucket by Leonie Spilsbury (Heartstopper).
The fully company includes Lydia Bradd, Darcie Brown, Josh Donovan, Ewan Gillies (last seen at Leeds Playhouse in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Lucy Hutchinson, Patrick King, Jodie Knight, Jonathan Macdonald, Julie Mullins, Victoria Nicol, Katherine Picar, Lewis Rae, Emma Robotham-Hunt, Ty-Reece Stewart and Natasha Volley.
This cast join the previously announced Gareth Snook who will be playing Willy Wonka as well as Amelia Minto, Isaac Sugden, Kayleen Nguema and Noah Walton, who will be taking on the role of Charlie Bucket in Leeds.
Tickets are on sale now!
Bugsy Malone to run in London this Christmas
© Johan Persson
So you wanna be a boxer? Well, for six weeks you can! Bugsy Malone is heading back to London this Christmas and taking over the Alexandra Palace Theatre in north London from 3 December to 15 January. The cast will remain the same as the current touring company, who will then continue to tour through to February 2023.
The much-loved revival of the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre production (first seen in 2015), currently on tour, has a combined cast of 39 (including three teams of seven performers aged between 9 and 16).
Wickies: The Vanishing Men of Eilean Mor announced at Park Theatre
Paul Morrissey, Christopher Wheeler, and Molly Morris in association with Park Theatre are pleased to announce the cast for the World Premiere of Wickies: The Vanishing Men of Eilean Mor. Based on the true story of James Ducat, Thomas Marshall, and Donald MacArthur: a supernatural thriller that seeks to unravel the enduring mystery of the lighthouse keepers who, on 15 December, 1900, disappeared without a trace.
The producers are delighted to be returning to the Finsbury Park theatre this festive season, with the show running from Wednesday 30 November 2022 and runs until Saturday 31 December 2022. Tickets are available from www.parktheatre.co.uk
Emojiland to have one-off concert in the West End
Award-winning musical Emojiland, which premiered off-Broadway in 2020, is coming to the West End in October for a one-off concert on 31 October 2022. The show centres on a diverse community of archetypes who live in our smart phones. They take one another at face value – but are far more complex: a smiling face dealing with depression; a princess who doesn’t want a prince; a skull dying for deletion; a nerd face too smart for their own good; a face with sunglasses who can’t see past their own reflection; and a police officer who struggles to break ranks for what’s right.
Staged at the Garrick Theatre, the performance will feature a cast including: Blake Patrick Anderson (Be More Chill), as Nerd Face, Laura Baldwin (Cinderella) as Smize, Louise Dearman (Wicked) as Princess, Olly Dobson (Back to the Future) as Skull, Hiba Elchikhe (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as Pile of Poo, Renee Lamb (Six) as Police Officer, Hannah Lowther (Heathers) as Kissy Face, Tim Mahendran (& Juliet) as Guard, Natalie Paris (Six) as Construction Worker, Oliver Savile (Rocky Horror Show) as Prince, Jonny Weldon (101 Dalmations) as Person in Suit Levitating and Dean John-Wilson (Aladdin) as Sunny.
Applications now open for annual Luke Westlake Scholarship
Just Add Milk (JAM) are pleased to announce that the applications are now open for The Luke Westlake Scholarship. This year’s award is supported by The Foundry Personal Management. First launched in 2019, The Luke Westlake Scholarship was set up by the charity JAM for working class actors in their second year at either a drama school or university in the UK.
As they complete their training and graduate, the winner will receive over £6000 in financial and developmental assistance. Prizes include a one-year spotlight membership and lunches with leading industry professionals such as Becky Paris (Head of Casting at The Globe). Applications are open now and will close on Monday 24 October 2022 at 6pm. More information can be found on the JAM website: justaddmilkjam.com
Jordan Gray to perform in the West End next month
(© Dylan Woodley)
Much-loved comic Jordan Gray will bring her hit show Is it a Bird to the London Palladium on 28 October! Jordan Gray, who some may recognise from The Voice, has spent a decade working in the music industry and started presenting comedy in 2017. She was also responsible for hit web series Transaction which is soon to be adapted into a TV series. Heading from Edinburgh Fringe to a sold out two week run at Soho Theatre, the show is billed as a deep dive into the world of “babies, boobies, bigots and Batman” covering everything from Essex to the LGBTQ+ community. Tickets are on sale now.
The Drifter’s Girl announces first UK tour dates
(© The Drifters Girl)
The smash hit musical has this week announced that the UK tour of The Drifter’s Girl will kick off at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton on 12 September 2023. Following a shock announcement of an early closure earlier in the year, the production reassured audiences that this was not the end of the show, and that tour dates were imminent. We can expect to see the show heading to Theatre Royal Norwich, Lyceum Theatre Sheffield, Bradford Alhambra Theatre, Manchester Opera House, Milton Keynes Theatre, Curve in Leicester, Cliffs Pavilion in Southend, Theatre Royal Newcastle, New Victoria Theatre Woking, Dartford Orchard Theatre and Bristol Hippodrome. Further dates and casting are still to be announced.
Mamma Mia! The Party announces new London cast
The hit immersive musical, running at the O2, in east London, has revealed a variety of new faces will be joining the production as it extends its run through to February 2023.
Appearing will be Javier Rasero as Nikos, Scarlet Gabriel as Debbie, Luke Friend as Adam, Noah Sinigaglia as Konstantina, Rosie Rowlands as Bella (at certain performances), Jamie Birkett, Caline Hampartzoumian, Robban Hogstrom, and Maison Kelley.
They join existing cast members Lorraine Chappell who will continue in the role of Kate, Dawn Spence as Grandma, Allie Ho Chee as Bella (at certain performances), Claudia Bradley and Ellis Dackombe. Tamara Perks will play the role of Nina, and Oscar Balmaseda will play Fernando. Tickets are on sale now.
Six the Musical reveals new West End company
Divorced, beheaded, LIVE! We have a brand new set of Queens gracing the Vaudeville Theatre where booking has been extended until 29 October 2023. Joining the principal line-up are Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky (Bat Out of Hell, Grease) as Catherine of Aragon, Baylie Carson (Jagged Little Pill) as Anne Boleyn and Koko Basigara as Katherine Howard with Monique Ashe-Palmer (Jersey Boys, Aladdin) as Alternate Aragon/Cleves, Leah Vassell (West Side Story in Slovenia) as Alternate Seymour/Parr and Danielle Rose (Alternate Boleyn/Howard).
Their first performance will be on Tuesday 18 October when they join current cast members Claudia Kariuki, Dionne Ward-Anderson and Roxanne Couch (who was previously the Alternate Jane Seymour and Catherine Parr) as Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves and Catherine Parr respectively. Super Swings Rachel Rawlinson and Esme Rothero also continue their roles. A new sing-along performance will take place on Sunday 14 May 2023.
Menier Chocolate Factory announces autumn season and Pacific Overtures revival
The Menier Chocolate Factory in London has announced its autumn season as it prepares to reopen its doors with a host of new theatre, including a world premiere. The season will include brand new play The Sex Party (4 November to 7 January), Just For Us (11 January to 26 February), and Pulitzer Prize finalist Majorie Prime (9 March to 6 May).
The Lion King extends UK and Ireland tour
(© Brinkhoff/Mogenburg)
Be prepared! The Lion King will be continuing its hit tour with new dates and venues added this week. The award winning show is currently running at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre until 15 October, and has this week confirmed it will be heading to Manchester, Sunderland and Birmingham through until September 2023. Tickets for both tour stops go on general sale on 14 October 2022.
New RSC season to include The Tempest starring Alex Kingston
Marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio, the RSC has announced details of the company’s programming for 2023. The RSC will stage five titles that would have been lost if the First Folio had not been published in 1623 – The Tempest, Julius Caesar, Cymbeline, As You Like It and Macbeth.
They will run consecutively in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from January to October 2023 in a break from the company’s usual repertory model, kicking off from 26 January to 4 March with Elizabeth Freestone’s production of The Tempest. It stars Alex Kingston (Doctor Who), who returns to the RSC, as Prospero, alongside Jessica Rhodes making her company debut as Miranda.
Following this is Julius Caesar, directed by Atri Banerjee in his RSC debut. The production premieres in Stratford from 18 March to 8 April, and will visit nine venues across the country including RSC Partner Theatres.
First look at the West End’s Theatre Café Diner with singing staff
(© Jack Malin)
Opening on 8 October 2022 at 12pm is the most stagey diner in London – that’s right we have an official opening date for the Theatre Café’s brand new Diner which comes complete with theatrical memorabilia and singing staff! The new venue will also host special events, including West End musical brunches and live performances. It will also host a menu including classic puns on musical tunes like “I’m Getting Calamari-ed in the Morning” (battered calamari served with sweet chilli mayo) and “The B.L.T. That Goes Wrong” (wholemeal toast sandwich with vegan rashers, vegan mayo, lettuce & tomato).
Wicked extends West End booking to November 2023
(© Matt Crockett)
Wicked has extended in the West End until 26 November 2023, and put an extra ten matinees on sale in the current booking period. The show, which is celebrating its 16th birthday at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, has added extra shows on 27 October, 20 December, 23 December, 27 December, 30 December 2022, 16 February, 6 April, 3 August, 17 August, and 26 October 2023, all at 2:30pm. The London production recently welcomed its 11 millionth theatregoer, and is now the ninth longest-running West End musical in history.
Cast for Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime at the London Palladium announced
(© Jack and the Beanstalk)
Further casting has been revealed for The London Palladium’s pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk. Louis Gaunt (Mary Poppins) will play Jack, with Rob Madge (My Son’s A Queer) as Pat the Cow and Natalie McQueen (Bonnie and Clyde) as Princess Jill.
The event, running from 10 December to 15 January, sees comedy legend Dawn French return to the venue, alongside the usual Palladium cohort of Julian Clary, Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers and Gary Wilmot. Tickets are on sale now.
