NEWS ROUNDUP: 18 - 24 August
- James Tradgett
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
As festival season begins to draw to a close, and touring venues begin picking up their autumn schedules, it's time to have a look at what's been going on in the world of theatre news over the past week.
BONNIE & CLYDE
Cast announced for Old Joint Stock production
This world will remember them! The full cast for the Old Joint Stock Theatre production of Frank Wildhorn’s musical “Bonnie & Clyde” has been revealed, and the two title roles will be portrayed by India Lily Cooper (The Changing Room) and Samuel Murray (pro debut) respectively. Joining them will be Killian Thomas Lefevre (Dear Evan Hansen) as Buck, Faye Campbell (Hamnet) as Blanche, Hannah Victoria (Six) as the Preacher, and Davis Weave (Nerdy Prudes Must Die) as Ted.
The cast is completed by Hannah Willars (Roles We’ll Never Play) who was originally cast as Blanche in the cancelled UK tour, understudying Bonnie and Blanche, with Thomas Oxley (Merrily We Roll Along) understudying Clyde, Buck and Ted. Steven Rostance, Kurran Dhand, Charlotte Neale and Charlotte Dixon form the ensemble. The young company comprises Tessy Hawkesford, Beau Eaton, Evie Pavlovs and Dan Dare, who will share the roles of young Bonnie and young Clyde respectively. The show will be directed by Emily Susanne Lloyd, with musical direction by Ben Barrow; it will run from the 1st of October until the 2nd of November, and tickets are on sale from the venue’s website.
PADDINGTON: THE MUSICAL
Initial cast announced for world premiere
The principal cast for the world premiere of Tom Fletcher and Jessica Swale musical adaptation of “Paddington” has been revealed, and will comprise Timi Akinyosade (Tony), Amy Booth-Steel (Lady Sloane), Tarinn Callender (Grant), Delilah Bennett-Cardy (Judy Brown), Adrian Der Gregorian (Mr Brown), Tom Edden (Mr Curry), Brenda Edwards (Tanya), Amy Ellen Richardson (Mrs Brown), Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (Millicent Clyde), Teddy Kempner (Mr Gruber) and Bonnie Langford (Mrs Bird).
The role of Jonathan Brown will be shared by Joseph Bramley, Leo Collon, Stevie Hare and Jasper Rowse, whilst casting and design plans for the titular bear will be revealed at a later date. Paddington will have his world premiere at the Savoy Theatre, playing from the 1st of November with an initial run until the 25th of May 2026; tickets can be purchased from the ATG website.
CHOIR OF MAN
New cast announced for west end production
Welcome to the jungle to some of these new faces, and welcome back to others, as the west end production of "The Choir of Man" reveal their new(ish) cast for autumn/winter 2025-26. Featuring from the 2nd of September will be new additions Aled Pennock (Bore), Cal T King (Beast) and Sam Ebenezer (Swing), joining the continuing Jason Brock (Romantic), Ifan Gwilym-Jones (Maestro), Oliver Jacobson (Barman), Benji Lord (Joker), and Paul McArthur (Poet). Additionally Tom Carter-Miles, Alex Mallalieu and Dave Shute all also continue as swings.
Additionally, the roles of Hardman and Handyman will be split, with Hardman being played by Matt Beveridge from the 2nd to 21st of September, and Levi Tyrell Johnson from the 23rd of September to the 4th of January. Meanwhile the Handyman role will be shared by Ben Goffe (2nd of September to 12th of October), Adam Hilton (14th of October to 2nd of November), and George Knapper (4th of November to 4th of January), returning after his current run as Handyman will conclude on the 31st of August. Choir of Man continues to perform at the Arts Theatre, with tickets available from the venue's website.
INSIDE NO. 9 STAGE/FRIGHT
Full cast revealed for UK tour
The compete casting for the touring production of the Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith black comedy "Inside No. 9 Stage / Fright", with the pair themselves being joined on stage by Rebecca Bainbridge (Knights of the Rose) Mark Extance (Yes, Prime Minister) Gaby French (Hangmen), Miranda Hennessy (Hennessy & Friends), Bhav Joshi (Cyrano de Bergerac) and Toby Manley (Table Manners), all reprising their roles from the original west end production. Completing the cast are new additions Sarah Moyle (My Fair Lady) and Sophie Suddaby (Do I Love You).
The show first performed at Wyndham's Theatre in the west end earlier this year, earning a nomination at the Olivier Awards for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play. the tour will begin in Bromley on the 5th of September, before going on to perform in Milton Keynes, Sunderland, Canterbury, Birmingham (two separate runs inOctober and December), Manchester, Woking, Hull, Oxford, Stoke-on-Trent, Liverpool and Edinburgh. You can find full details, including how to book tickets, on the official production website.
KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN
New trailer released for new film starring J-Lo
Ahead of its release on the silver screen, a new trailer for the upcoming movie musical adaptation of Kander and Ebb's "Kiss of the Spider Woman" has been revealed. Though lesser known than their two biggest hits, the musical still had a hugely successful initial outing when it premiered in the 1990s, first in the west end after a tryout in Toronto, and later to broadway, where it ran for two years and over 900 performances, winning 7 Tony awards from 11 nominations; all three productions featured Chita Rivera, Brent Carver and Anthony Crivello as the three leads.
The movie musical is set to have its public premiere in October 2025, after having been first screened for critics at the Sundance Film Festival on the 26th of January. Joining international music artist and actress Jennifer Lopez in the titular role will be Diego Luna, Tonatiuh, Tony Dovolani and Josefina Scaglione among others; you can watch the full trailer now on YouTube.
UNFORTUNATE
Full cast announced for Lowry return
We now know the poor unfortunate souls who will be setting sail for the return of the musical telling the story of Ursula the Sea Witch, with the titular villain being portrayed by Sam Buttery (Little Shop of Horrors), and she will be joined by Miracle Chance as Ariel, Allie Dart as Sebastian, both of whom return from previous productions, as well as Blair Robertson as King Triton and James Spence as Prince Eric. The ensemble cast members are Freya McMahon and Fionan O’Carroll.
The musical, which has music by Tim Gilvin, and a book and lyrics by Daniel Foxx and Robyn Grant, first premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019; following a return to the Fringe three years later, it transferred to Southwark Playhouse Elephant for a festive run in 2023, followed by a UK tour the following year. "Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch" will run at the Lowry from the 5th of December until the 11th of January, with tickets on sale from the Lowry website.
Comments