NEWS ROUNDUP: 1 - 7 September

As summer turns to autumn, and we all think about going back to work/school, it’s safe to say we’ve started this month with a bang; here are the biggest news stories that have rocked the theatre world during the first week of September.

NEXT TO NORMAL

Regional premiere announced at Old Joint Stock

Official artwork for "Next to Normal" at the Old Joint Stock

After having being teased by the venue during its latest production of “Be More Chill”, the Old Joint Stock Theatre have finally revealed that they will stage the UK regional premiere of Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey’s Tony and Pulitzer winning musical “Next To Normal”, following a hugely successful recent London run, during which it was recorded by PBS, and broadcast all over the world.

Following a massively successful recent season, during which the venue staged critically acclaimed productions of “Ordinary Days” and “Be More Chill”, and with an exciting final run into the end of 2025 including Frank Wildhorn’s “Bonnie & Clyde”, this will mark the venue’s first major production of the new year, and arguably their most ambitious to date under artistic director James Edge. “Next To Normal” will run from the 8th - 26th of April 2026, with tickets now on sale from the Old Joint Stock website.

HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL

UK tour in 2026, plus international tours planned

Poster for "Heathers: The Musical"

Dear Diary: here we are, another tour of Heathers: The Musical is coming to a theatre near you! The show, based on the 1989 cult classic Winona Ryder film of the same name, has had three separate London runs, as well as three further tours of the UK and Ireland, and is preparing to hit the road once again in the new year. Further details, including venues, exact dates and casting, are yet to be revealed, and will be announced at a later date.

The musical is also set to tour Australia and New Zealand next year, and a new USA tour is also scheduled from spring 2027, following the success of the current off-broadway revival. Heathers last ran in London at @sohoplace in summer 2024, and has also played at The Other Palace and the Theatre Royal Haymarket. You can find out more about the international productions, including how to book for New World Stages, through the Heathers website.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Director and choreographer revealed

Official artwork for "Little Shop of Horrors" at Hope Mill Theatre

It has been revealed by Hope Mill Theatre that Tony and Olivier nominee Carrie-Anne Ingrouille is set to direct and choreograph the new regional revival of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman musical “Little Shop of Horrors”, playing in Manchester next autumn. Ingrouille is best known for her work on “Six: The Musical”, and is also currently the resident choreographer for the West End production of “Hamilton”.

Based on the cult 1960 Jack Nicholson film of the same name, telling the story of Seymour, his relationship with downtrodden Audrey, and his carnivorous plant from outer space thats named after her, Little Shop of Horrors is set to open at Hope Mill Theatre on the 25th of September, and run until the 29th of November. Full cast and creatives will be revealed at a later date, and tickets can be purchased from the Hope Mill Theatre website.

BALLAD LINES

New musical to have world premiere in London

Official artwork for "Ballad Lines"

Southwark Playhouse have revealed that a new folk musical, entitled “Ballad Lines” will premiere early next year. It is written by Scottish singer-songwriter Finn Anderson (Islander), and will be directed by Tania Azevedo (& Juliet); a 17 track concept album is also set to be released later this month, with a guest cast featuring Rebecca Trehearn (Show Boat), Frances McNamee (Girl From The North Country) and Dylan Wood (Hadestown).

Inspired heavily by both Scottish, Irish and Appalachian folk music, Ballad Lines is set between 17th-century, 18th-century and present day Scotland, and focusses around three women, separated by time but bound by blood, song and choices. The show is a joint commission between the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Northwestern’s American Music Theatre Project, and will run at Southwark Playhouse Elephant from the 23rd of January until the 21st of March 2026. Tickets can now be purchased through the Southwark Playhouse website.

TO SIR, WITH LOVE

Further casting announced for London concert

Wayne Brady and Lulu, to star in "To Sir, With Love” at the Gillian Lynne Theatre

Following the previous initial casting of Lulu, it has been revealed that Emmy winner and Grammy nominee Wayne Brady (Moulin Rouge) is set to join the cast of the musical concert staging of “To Sir, With Love”, to play two performances in the west end this autumn. This will mark the west end and UK theatre debut for the “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” star, following performances in various broadway shows, including Chicago, Kinky Boots and The Wiz.

Brady is set to star as Rick Braithwaite, a role played by Sidney Poitier in the 1967 film on which the musical is based; he joins original star of the iconic movie Lulu, who returns to retell the story that launched her career almost 60 years ago. The new musical will play at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on the 24th of November, with performances at 2:30pm and 7:45pm; tickets can now be purchased through the LW Theatres website.

THE BOOK THIEF

Staged concert to play the west end

Official artwork for "The Book Thief"

Following a teaser earlier in the week, it has been revealed that a new concert staging of “The Book Thief” is set to play next month, with Melanie La Barrie (Hadestown) having been announced as portraying the character of Death; further casting for the concert will be revealed at a later date.

Originally premiering in 2022 at Bolton’s Octagon Theatre, and subsequently playing in Coventry and Leicester, “The Book Thief” is based on the best-selling novel by Markus Zusak. It has a book by Jodi Picoult and Timothy Allen McDonald, and music and lyrics by Kate Anderson and Elyse Samsel. The concert will perform one night only on the 19th of October, at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London; more information, including how to buy tickets, can be found the Delfont Mackintosh website.

EVITA

Limited cast recording to be released

Rachel Zegler as Eva Perón in "Evita"

It has been announced that the 2025 London Palladium revival of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Evita”, starring Rachel Zegler, will release a selected 10 track cast recording from the show later this year. A single of “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” was released in July, and a second single “Rainbow High”, also featuring Zegler, has been made available for CD, vinyl and online purchase, as well as digital streaming. Both will feature on the album, whose release date will be revealed in due course.

The other songs to feature will be “Oh What A Circus”, “Buenos Aires”, “I’d be Surprisingly Good for You”, “Another Suitcase in Another Hall”, “A New Argentina”, “High Flying Adored”, “And The Money Kept Rollin In (And Out)” and “You Must Love Me.” Featuring alongside Zegler are Diego Andres Rodriguez as Che, James Olivas as Juan Perón, Aaron Lee Lambert as Agustín Magaldi, and Bella Brown as The Mistress / Alternate Eva; Evita ran at the Palladium from the 14th of June until the 6th of September 2025, and you can pre-order the album from the production's official store.