NEWS ROUNDUP: 17-23 February 2025
- James Tradgett
- Feb 24
- 5 min read
It's been another week of hugely exciting news in the world of theatre, here is a roundup of some of the highlights.
DEAR ENGLAND - National Theatre Return/UK Tour
Following a hugely successful world premiere and subsequent west end run that yielded an Olivier award for best new play, James Graham's critically acclaimed "Dear England" will return to the National Theatre for a limited 11-weeks, followed by a 4-week run at the Lowry in Salford, and then a 16 venue UK tour. Tickets are now on sale for London and Salford, and you can sign up for news updates and priority booking for all other venues via the production’s website. Further details, including casting, will be revealed at a later date.
The 2025 arm of the tour will start at Plymouth Theatre Royal, running from 15 to 20 September, and then go on to Nottingham Theatre Royal (23 - 27 September), Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (7 - 18 October), Sheffield Lyceum Theatre (21 - 25 October), Leeds Grand Theatre (4 - 8 November), Newcastle Theatre Royal (11 - 15 November) and Chichester Festival Theatre (20 - 29 November). The first dates in 2026 are at Southampton Mayflower Theatre (13 - 17 January), followed by Milton Keynes Theatre (20 - 24 January), Oxford New Theatre (27 - 31 January), Norwich Theatre Royal (3 - 7 February), New Victoria Theatre, Woking (10 - 14 February), Alhambra Theatre, Bradford (17 - 21 February), New Wimbledon Theatre (24 - 28 February), Liverpool Empire (3 - 7 March), and finally Birmingham Hippodrome (10 - 14 March).
BALLET SHOES - National Theatre Return
It has been announced that, following its initial critically acclaimed sold out run at the Olivier over winter 2024-25, Kendall Feaver’s staged version of “Ballet Shoes” is to return to the National Theatre this winter for another festive run. The Katy Rudd directed production opened in autumn last year, and was one of this winter’s biggest sellers, with tickets for the whole run difficult to come by. Exact dates and full cast will be announced in due course.
The initial run began on the 26th of November 2024, with performances playing until the 22nd of February 2025. It features an original score by Asaf Zohar, and was choreographed by Ellen Kane, with Gavin Sutherland providing the dance arrangements and orchestrations.
THE LIGHTNING THIEF (OTHER PALACE) - New cast announced
The Other Palace production of "The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical" have announced new casting to take effect from next month; understudy Percy Morgan Gregory (Back To The Future), will take over from departing Max Harwood in the title role from the 5th of March. Also remaining in the cast are Paisley Billings (SIX) as Sally Jackson/Medusa, as well as Philip Catchpole (The Book of Mormon) and Alex Waxman (pro debut) continuing in the ensemble.
Joining them will be new cast members Lizzy-Rose Esin-Kelly (Frozen) as Annabeth, Angus Benstead (Blippi) as Grover, Jazz Evans (Spamalot) as Mr Brunner / Poseidon / Hades, Joshua Lay (A Chorus Line) as Mr D, Kenedy Small (SIX) as Clarisse, and Xander Pang (Dear Evan Hansen, South East Asia) as Luke/Ares. Owen Lloyd (Girl from the North Country) and Rachel Moran (Just For One Day) also join as ensemble members.
The Lightning Thief is currently booking until the 31st of August 2025.
THE SOUND OF MUSIC - New production at Leicester Curve
After a UK professional absence of almost 10 years, Rodgers & Hammerstein musical "The Sound of Music" is set to be revived this winter at Leicester Curve. This "Made at Curve" production will be part of the 60th anniversary celebrations of the 1965 film adaptation's release, and will be directed by Nikolai Foster (A Chorus Line). The production will run from the 22nd of November 2025 to the 11th of January 2026, with tickets on general sale from the 25th of February.
The venue are offering a range of accessible performances during the run, including British Sign Language interpreted, captioned, dementia-friendly, audio-described, and relaxed performances; additionally there will be various engagement activities and events accompanying the production, including a Theatre Day on 4 December.
PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT - New UK tour announced
Having previously toured three times between 2013 and 2021, Stephan Elliott and Alan Scott's musical "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" is set to return to theatres across the UK and Ireland in a new touring production. It will begin at Manchester Opera House in February 2026, running for 10 days before heading to Glasgow, Liverpool, Southampton, Birmingham, Norwich, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Nottingham, Aylesbury, Woking, Canterbury, Belfast, Dublin, Brighton, Leicester, Bradford and Truro, finishing in July 2026.
Tickets are currently on presale in Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Brighton, with general sale at all venues to open over the next couple of weeks; the tour's website with full dates and booking info will be linked below.
ABIGAIL'S PARTY (ROYAL EXCHANGE) - Full cast announced
Ahead of its run at Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre this spring, the full cast has been revealed for "Abigail's Party", with previously announced Kym Marsh (101 Dalmatians) being joined by Graeme Hawley (Our Town) as Laurence, Tupele Dorgu (La Cage Aux Folles) as Susan, Kyle Rowe (Let The Right One In) as Tony, and Yasmin Taheri (Tartuffe) as Angela; the show will run from the 4th of April until the 17th of May, and will be directed by Natalie Abrahami.
First premiering in 1977 at the Hampstead Theatre in London, this intimate play by Mike Leigh is almost universally revered critically, with its most notable production being the one staged at the Menier Chocolate Factory in 2012, starring Andy Nyman and Jill Halfpenny and subsequently transferring to Wyndham's Theatre in the west end.
THE MAD ONES - Full cast announced
The star studded cast for the London premiere of Bree Lowdermilk and Kait Kerrigan’s new musical “The Mad Ones” has been revealed; Jacob Fowler (Heathers) and Courtney Stapleton (Beauty and the Beast) will lead the line, and will be joined by Eliza Bowden (Heathers), Dora Gee (Ordinary Days) and Thea-Jo Wolfe (Little Red Riding Hood).
Following a world premiere at the Old Joint Stock in Birmingham in 2024, “The Mad Ones” will make its London debut at the Other Palace Studio for a limited four week run, opening on the 7th of May and running to the 1st of June, with tickets now on sale.
Book tickets:
Dear England - Official Website
The Lightning Thief - The Other Palace
The Sound of Music - Leicester Curve
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert - Official Website
Abigail's Party - Royal Exchange Theatre
The Mad Ones - The Other Palace
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