NEWS ROUNDUP: 15 - 21 December
- James Tradgett
- Dec 22, 2025
- 5 min read
Where on earth has the year gone? It barely feels like 2025 has begun, yet somehow we are already on the home stretch, heading into the uncharted waters of a new year. That doesn't, however, mean that we have been short on news announcements, or even juicy rumours to keep our appetites whetted.
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JUST FOR ONE DAY
Live Aid musical to embark on UK and Ireland tour
Following runs at London’s Old Vic, and subsequently the Shaftesbury Theatre in the west end, the John O’Farrell musical “Just For One Day” is set to hit the road and tour around the UK and Ireland from 2027. The show is a modern-day telling of the events surrounding the Live Aid concert, as organised by the Boomtown Rats frontman Bob Geldof, as a means of raising money to combat famine in Ethiopia. It continues to run in the west end until the 7th of February, and you can book tickets via the Shaftesbury Theatre website.
Though the narrative is made up of various fictionalised sub-plots, its overriding story is based on real life, featuring music from artists who performed at the event, such as Queen, The Who, Style Council, Elton John, Ultravox, and David Bowie, from whose song “Heroes” the title of the musical is taken. The tour will start at Leicester Curve, and then go on to perform in Cardiff, Canterbury, Manchester, Oxford, Edinburgh, Plymouth, Sunderland, Birmingham and Nottingham, with further dates, as well as casting, to be announced.
TITANIQUE
New casting announced for west end production
Time to set sail once again, as a group of new faces are to join the HMS "Titanique" from early 2026. Taking over as Rose will be Rose Galbraith (13 Going On 30), with the dual role of Victor Garber and Luigi taken on by Michael Vinsen. Additionally, Corrine Priest and Damien Winchester will join as onstage vocalists. They join Luke Bayer as Jack, Richard Carson as Cal, Astrid Harris as Céline Dion, Carl Mullaney as Ruth, Jenny O’Leary as Molly Brown, and Ryan Carter as the Iceberg, all of whom continue in their respective roles.
"Titanique" first opened at the Criterion Theatre on the 9th of December 2024, and is currently booking until the 7th of June 2026. It was also announced this week that a broadway transfer was in the works, with performances set to begin at the St James Theatre in March 2026, with original Celine Dion Marla Mindelle set to reprise the role she originated off-broadway. You can find out more about all production of the musical via the official Titanique website.
I WAS A TEENAGE SHE-DEVIL
Hit 80s teen horror-comedy to get London transfer
Following its roaringly successful run at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe, Sean Matthew Whiteford 80s rock horror-comedy musical “I Was A Teenage She-Devil” is set to transfer to London in the spring. Directed and choreographed by Rachel Klein, this wild 80s high school horror comedy took Edinburgh by storm this summer, receiving rave reviews (including 4* from TheatreTradge), and will now play at the Other Palace from the 2nd - 26th of April 2026. The show follows shy, bespectacled wallflower Nancy Nelson who, after being picked on one too many times by school bullies, reaches out to a higher power for help...it's just that higher power turns out to be Satan, taking the guise of an 80s rocker.
With a story heavily inspired by B-movies and American high school culture, and a score featuring 80s rock and punk anthems, "I Was A Teenage She-Devil” has backing from Feuille Dooley Productions, the Tony Award-nominated co-producers of the Broadway production of "Operation Mincemeat". Further details for the production, including cast and creative team, will be revealed at a later date, and tickets are now on sale from the Other Palace website.
THE JONATHAN LARSON PROJECT
Posthumous revue to receive UK premiere
Following its critically acclaimed off-Broadway run, John Simpkins-directed revue “The Jonathan Larson Project”, conceived by historian Jennifer Ashley Tepper, is set to make its UK premiere next summer, to commemorate 30 years since the untimely passing of the Broadway legend. It will run at Southwark Playhouse Borough from the 9th of July until the 22nd of August 2026.
Larson’s career stalled significantly during his life, but following his death at the age of 35, the night before the first preview of his seminal work “RENT”, his star began to shine brighter than ever. He posthumously won two Tony Awards, four Drama Desk Awards, and a Pulitzer Prize for the musical, that ran for 12 years on broadway. His other major work, “Tick, Tick…Boom!” gained further widespread attention following its 2021 movie adaptation as directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda. “The Jonathan Larson Project” contains obscure or previously unheard songs by the composer, including cut songs from his two major works, and you can book tickets now via the Southwark Playhouse website.
ONE DAY
New musical announces its full cast
The full cast for the upcoming world premiere of “One Day” in Edinburgh has been revealed, with previously announced Jamie Muscato (The Great Gatsby) and Sharon Rose (Hamilton) being joined by Josefina Gabrielle (Nine) as Alison Mayhew, Miracle Chance (Unfortunate) as Tilly, Kelly Hampson (Ghost) as Sylvie, David Birrell (Witness for the Prosecution) as Stephen, Matthew McKenna (Bananaman) as Mr Godalming, Dan Buckley (Eugenius!) as Ian, and Peter Hannah (Then, Now & Next) as Callum.
Completing the cast will be Tanisha Butterfield, Ewan Murphy and Kirsty Anne Shaw. Based on the 2009 novel by David Nicholls, “One Day” will have its world premiere at Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre on the 27th of February 2026, and will run until the 5th pf April, with tickets for all performances now on sale via the Royal Lyceum website.
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RUMOUR: SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
Stars of "Wicked" movie reportedly set to star in Sondheim musical
It has been reported that a London revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony and Pulitzer winning musical "Sunday in the Park with George", starring Jonatthan Bailey and Ariana Grande as Georges Seurat and Dot respectively, is in early conversations. Though not confirmed for certain, early reports state that the pair are keen to take on the project, with Tony and Olivier winner Marianne Elliott (Company) set to direct.
After a planned transfer of the 2017 broadway revival starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford was postponed indefinitely due to Covid-19, this would see the first return to London for the musical in over 20 years, since it performed at Wyndham's Theatre starring Dan Evans and Jenna Russell. The current plan is reported to be a summer 2027 run at the Barbican Theatre; we will share more on this story as it develops, so stay tuned...
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