NEWS ROUNDUP: 19 - 25 January

Time once again to have a look back at the week in theatre news, and although it has been far quieter than usual, there have still been a healthy handful of announcements to keep us on our toes, including plenty of casting news...

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SINATRA

Jukebox musical to transfer to the west end

Official artwork for "Sinatra"

A new musical about the life, career and music of legendary crooner Frank Sinatra is due to transfer to the west end this summer, following its premiere at Birmingham Rep in 2023. The show will feature over 20 timeless classics to be featured, including “My Way” and “Come Fly With Me”, with a book by Joe Dipietro (The Toxic Avenger), and direction/choreography by Tony and Olivier winner Kathleen Marshall (Anything Goes).

“Sinatra: The Musical” will begin performances at the Aldwych Theatre on the 3rd of June, with an initial booking period through to the 27th of April. It is presented by Michele Anthony and Bruce Resnikoff for Universal Music Group Theatrical, Tina Sinatra and Charles Pignone for Frank Sinatra Enterprises. You can sign up now for priority tickets via the production’s website.

INTER ALIA

Further casting revealed for west end transfer

Official poster featuring Rosamund Pike

The National Theatre have announced more casting for the upcoming west end transfer of Suzie Miller's newest play "Inter Alia", which originally premiered at Lyttelton at the National last year to huge critical acclaim. Rosamund Pike as Jessica, Jamie Glover (The Invention of Love) as Michael, and Thomas Michaelson and Luke Garner-Greene as ensemble members (also understudies for Michael and Harry respectively) all return from the play's original run. They will be joined by  Cormac McAlinden (Little Brother) as Harry; with the full cast to be revealed at a later date.

"Inter Alia", which tells of crown court judge Jessica Parks, whose professional life and personal life intertwine, will be directed by Justin Martin, with a creative team that includes Miriam Buether (set/costumes), Natasha Chivers (lighting), Ben and Max Ringham (sound), Willie Williams (video) and Erin LeCount/James Jacob (composers). The play will run at Wyndham's Theatre from the 19th of March until the 20th of June, in a strictly limited run. You can find out more, and book ickets, via the Delfont Mackintosh website.

PRIDE

Full cast announced for world premiere

Official artwork for "Pride"

The complete casting for the upcoming production of "Pride", performing in both Cardiff and London later this year, has been revealed. The cast will feature Samuel Barnett (The History Boys) as Jonathan, Lewis Cornay (SpongeBob SquarePants) as Bromley, Matthew Durkan (A Christmas Carol) as Mike, Gillian Elisa (Billy Elliot) as Gwen, Robin Hayward (War Horse) as Martin, Chris Jenkins (Groundhog Day) as Gethin, Darren Lawrence (The Ferryman) as Cliff, Jhon Lumsden (Heathers) as Mark, Kirsty Malpass as Hefina, Sarah Pugh (Finding Home) as Sian, Jordan Shaw (Oklahoma!) as Reggie, Courtney Stapleton (The Mad Ones) as Steph, Caroline Sheen (Plaza Suite) as Maureen, Mared Williams (Les Miserables) as Margaret, and Matthew Woodyatt (Fiddler on the Roof) as Dai.

Set in summer 1984 at the height of the miner's strike, and centring around the formation of the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM), the show will have its world premiere at Cardiff's Sherman Theatre, running from the 31st of March until the 18th of April. It will then open at the Dorfman at the National Theatre, where it will run from the 11th of June until the 12th of September. For more information, including how to book, visit the National Theatre website.

BABYFACE

Cast announced for new wrestling musical

The cast for the work-in-progress musical "Babyface - the Fierce Wrestling Musical", written by Seiriol Davies, has been announced. Joining the show will be James Ifan (Kinky Boots), Rex Hayes (To Kill A Mockingbird), Genesis Lynea (Six) and Iestyn Arwel (The Arcola), alongside Cadi Mullane (The Amazing Adventure of Little Red), Nic Myers (Cruel Intentions) and Elis Myers-Sleight (Eye of the Storm). They’re joined by professional wrestlers Nightshade, KM Lane, Cassius The Neon Explosion and Darcy Stone.

With direction by Debbie Hannan and Matthew Holmquist, musical direction by Sioned Evans, and wrestling choreography by Ed Gamester, "Babyface" will have its first public performance at Chester Storyhouse on the 11th of February, with an additional performance on the 13th of February at Pleasance in London. You can find out more via the production's website.

FLYBY

New musical to open off-west end

Official artwork for "Flyby" featuring Poppy Gilbert and Stuart Thompson

A daring new musical, written and composed by Theo Jamieson, co-created and directed by Adam Lenson, is set to premiere at Southwark Playhouse in the spring, with principal cast having already been announced. Originally developed by the National Theatre in 2025, the show is described as “fusing an intimate and exhilarating love story with the vast and endless loneliness of space”.

The cast will be led by Stuart Thompson (Radiant Boy) as Daniel, and Poppy Gilbert (Wedding Band) as Emily; they will be joined by Simbi Akande (My Fair Lady) as Grace, Gina Beck (Acorn Antiques) as Amy, and Rupert Young (Dear Evan Hansen) as Jonathan. “Flyby” will open at Southwark Playhouse Borough on the 3rd of April, and run for a limited time until the 16th of May, with tickets now on sale from the Southwark Playhouse website.

WAITRESS

Further casting announced for UK tour

(L-R) Sandra Marvin, Les Dennis, Carrie Hope Fletcher and Evelyn Hoskins

New faces joining the upcoming UK and Ireland tour of Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson’s Tony and Olivier nominated musical “Waitress” have been revealed, with the show having just celebrated its 10th anniversary. Joining previously announced Carrie Hope Fletcher as Jenna will be Les Dennis (42nd Street) as Joe, with Evelyn Hoskins (Something Rotten!) and Sandra Marvin (Sister Act) both returning to the show, reprising their roles of Dawn and Becky respectively; full casting will be revealed at a later date.

The show first premiered at the American Repertory Theatre in Massachusetts in 2015, making the move to Broadway the following year, and transferring to the west end in 2019. The tour will commence on the 28th of March at Wimbledon New Theatre, and you can find full tour dates, as well as more information about the show, on the official Waitress website.

THE BALLAD OF JOHNNY AND JUNE

Full cast announced for UK tour

Christopher Ryan Grant and Christina Bianco

The upcoming premiere of new musical "The Ballad of Johnny & June" has announced its complete cast, ahead of a UK tour commencing in the spring. Reprising his role as Johnny Cash from the show's original run in San Diego will be Christopher Ryan Grant (The Iceman Cometh) as Johnny Cash, with wife June being portrayed by Christina Bianco (The Wizard of Oz). They are joined by Ryan O’Donnell (Jesus Christ Superstar) as John Carter Cash, Christopher Short (Hadestown) as Man One, Chomba S. Taulo (Pretty Woman) as Man Two, Peter Peverley (Once) as Man Three, Abigail Matthews (War Horse) as Woman One, Anne-Marie Wojna (Cabaret) as Woman Two, and Celyn Cartwright (Lord of the Dance) as Woman Three.

The cast is completed by swings Denis Grindel, Lenny Turner, Michael Mahony, and Mia Jae. The show is directed by two-time Tony winner Des McAnuff, with a book by McAnuff and Robert Carey, and a score featuring mostly music by Johnny Cash, including "Ring of Fire", "I Walk The Line" and "Jackson". The UK tour will commence in Bromley on the 2nd of March, later performing in Cardiff, Dublin, Brighton, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Wycombe, Southend, Newcastle, Salford, Plymouth, Bradford, Richmond, Hull, Blackpool, York, Belfast, Glasgow, Eastbourne, Canterbury, Southampton and Leeds. Head over to the production's website to find out more about tour dates.

ONE DAY

First look into rehearsals of new musical

Jamie Muscato and Sharon Rose

An exclusive look into the rehearsal room of the upcoming world premiere of David Greig, Abner Ramirez and Amanda Ramirez musical "One Day" has been released, ahead of its first performance at the Edinburgh Royal Lyceum. The cast features Jamie Muscato as Dexter, Sharon Rose as Emma, Josefina Gabrielle as Alison Mayhew, Miracle Chance as Tilly, Kelly Hampson as Sylvie, David Birrell as Stephen, Matthew McKenna as Mr Godalming, Dan Buckley as Ian, and Peter Hannah as Callum; with the cast completed by Tanisha Butterfield, Ewan Murphy and Kirsty Anne Shaw.

The show will open on the 27th of February at the Royal Lyceum, where it will run until the newly extended date of the 19th of April, with press night on the 11th of March. You can find out more, as well as purchase tickets, via the Royal Lyceum website.