NEWS ROUNDUP: 11 - 17 August
- James Tradgett
- Aug 17
- 4 min read
From casting to recordings to major transfer news, we have had plenty to keep our theatrical appetites whetted over the past week or so, here are the biggest news announcements that have been making ripples, tsunamis, and everything in between.
CABARET
Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney to join cast
Wilkommen, bienvenue, welcome to the newest additions to the London company of Kander & Ebb’s musical “Cabaret”. Following a critically acclaimed run on broadway, Eva Noblezada (The Great Gatsby) is set to reprise the role of Sally Bowles at the Kit Kat Club in London. She will be joined by fiancé Reeve Carney (Hadestown) as the Emcee. Also joining the cast are Ruthie Henshall (Passion) as Fraulein Schneider, Baker Mukasa (Standing at the Sky’s Edge) as Clifford Bradshaw, Robert Hands (Witness for the Prosecution) as Herr Schultz, and Lucas Koch (Evita) as Ernst Ludwig.
Joining the ensemble are Joe Atkinson, Xavion Campbell-Brown, Olivia-Rose Deer, Anya Ferdinand, Danny Fogarty, Manu Sarswat, Tom Scanlon and Eva-Rose Tanaka. Remaining in the company are Jessica Kirton as Fraulein Kost/Fritzie, alongside Adrian Grove, Ela Lisondra, Hícaro Nicolai, Andy Rees, Alexandra Regan, Marina Tavolieri and Lucy Young. The new cast members begin performances on the 22nd of September, following the departure of incumbent Emcee Rob Madge and Sally Bowles Hannah Dodds; tickets for all performances up to and including the 23rd. ofMay 2026 are available on the ATG website.
HADESTOWN
Nicola Roberts to join London cast
From sound of the underground to our lady of the underground, it has been revealed that Nicola Roberts is set to join the cast of Hadestown, taking on the role of Persephone. This is Roberts’ second appearance in the west end, after previously appearing in the Donmar Warehouse produced transfer of “City of Angels” at the Garrick Theatre, to critical acclaim.
The former Girls Aloud star will begin performances at the Lyric Theatre on the 16th of September, and remain with the production until the 18th of January 2026; Victoria Hamilton-Barritt will remain in the role in the meantime, giving her final performances on the 14th of September. Tickets for all performances up to and including the 15th of February can be purchased via the Nimax website.
TWO STRANGERS (CARRY A CAKE ACROSS NEW YORK)
Kiln Theatre production to transfer to broadway
Are you ready for them in New York? Dougal and Robin are finally gonna stroll up the broadway, as it has been announced that Jim Barne and Kit Buchan musical “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)” is set to open at the Longacre Theatre in the famed theatre district this coming autumn, following a successful regional premiere at ART in Boston, Massachusetts. Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts are set to reprise their respective roles of Dougal and Robin, with Tutty making his broadway debut, having been involved with the show since 2023.
The show originally played in both Ipswich and Northampton in November 2019, before a run at the Kiln Theatre, and subsequent west end transfer to the Criterion Theatre, where it ran for 16 weeks. “Two Strangers” will begin previews at the Longacre Theatre on the 1st of November, with official opening night on the 20th of November; tickets are now on general sale, with initial presale having opened earlier in the week for “fans first” on Spotify, for those who have listened to the cast album featuring Tutty and Dujonna Gift. Tickets can be purchased via the Telecharge website.
HOT MESS
New recorded tracks released
A selection of three songs from the new Jack Godfrey and Ellie Coote musical “Hot Mess” was today released on streaming services, including Spotify and Apple Music. The three tracks released are “Better With Time”, “Tomorrow” and “Happy”, with the musical’s stars Tobias Turley and Danielle Steers both featuring.
Following its world premiere at Birmingham Hippodrome, “Hot Mess” is currently running at the Pleasance Courtyard as part of the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe, with all performances currently sold out; the show will transfer to Southwark Playhouse Elephant on the 18th of October for a strictly limited three-week run, with tickets now on sale for all performances from the Southwark Playhouse website.
THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY
Further details announced for west end transfer
The west end transfer of singer-songwriter Passenger’s new musical “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” has revealed its venue and dates, with the show set to perform at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, opening on the 29th of January, and running until the 18th of April. The show first premiered at the Chichester Festival Theatre earlier this year, and its full west end premiere was announced last month, along with the release of a track from the show entitled "Song For The Countryside", featuring Passenger and original Chichester cast member Jack Wolfe.
Initial casting has also been revealed for the transfer, with Mark Addy (Collaborators) and Jenna Russell (Hello, Dolly!) set to reprise their roles as Harold and Maureen respectively from the show’s Chichester premiere. Further casting will be revealed at a later date, and tickets will go on presale on the 9th of September, with general sale open from the 10th of September; further information on how to sign up can be found on the official production website.
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