NEWS ROUNDUP: 22 - 28 September
- James Tradgett
- Sep 28
- 6 min read
As we pass the autumn equinox and nights start drawing in, that certainly doesn't mean the theatre world will be doing the same, and the past seven days have certainly yielded some particularly exciting announcements...announcements, announcements...
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CABARET
New production images released of new cast
New photographs from the current west end revival of Kander and Ebb's musical “Cabaret” at the Kit Kat Club have been released by the production, and feature new cast members Reeve Carney (Hadestown) as the Emcee, Eva Noblezada (The Great Gatsby) as Sally Bowles, Ruthie Henshall (Passion) as Fraulein Schneider, Robert Hands (Come From Away) as Herr Schultz, Lucas Koch (Kiss Me, Kate) as Herr Ludwig, and Baker Mukasa (Standing at the Sky's Edge) as Clifford Bradshaw. The full collection can be viewed on the official Cabaret website, where you can also find information about the show, including how to book tickets.
"Cabaret" opened at the Playhouse Theatre in autumn of 2021, and will soon celebrate 4 years of performances back in the west end, with the 60th anniversary of its first production on broadway to come next year. With its first cast comprising Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley, the Rebecca Frecknall has a history of bold casting, with performers such as Fra Fee, Aimee Lou Wood, Cara Delevingne, Jake Shears and Marisha Wallace all having featured as either the Emcee or Sally Bowles.
BE MORE CHILL
Reunion concerts to be staged
Time to log back on and get ready to play, as the original cast of Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz’s musical “Be More Chill” are set to reunite in a one-off staged concert in London’s west end, 5 years after the show first opened at the Other Palace in London, and 10 years since its world premiere in New Jersey. It will be directed by Christopher D Clegg, with musical direction by Louisa Green.
The concert is to be produced by original London cast member Scott Folan's new production company Teal Moon Productions, in their debut production, and they expect many of the original London cast and team to be involved, with Folan, Miracle Chance and Blake Patrick Anderson all already confirmed to appear. The concert will stage two performances, to take place at the Arts Theatre on the 10th and the 17th of November, with all profits to be donated to Young Minds; further details, including complete casting, will be revealed at a later date, and you can book tickets through the Arts Theatre website.
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET
Major UK revival to be staged in Birmingham
As part of their stacked new season, the Birmingham Rep have announced that they are to stage a major revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s musical masterpiece “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”. The musical was last seen in a major UK production in 2012, when it ran at the Adelphi Theatre in a production led by Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton, and earned both leads Olivier Awards at that year's ceremony. The show is part of an impressive lineup of productions to be staged at the Rep next year, including "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time", "Peter Pan" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream".
Since first premiering at the Uris Theatre (now the Gershwin) on broadway, starring Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury, Sweeney Todd has become a musical theatre juggernaut, being performed all over the world across six continents, including three revivals apiece in both London and New York. The Birmingham revival will run from the 4th of July until the 9th of August 2026, with further details, including casting and creatives, to be announced at a later date. You can find more about all upcoming productions on the Birmingham Rep website.
LEGALLY BLONDE
Lead casting announced for UK tour
Omigod you guys! The touring production of “Legally Blonde” have today revealed that Amber Davies is set to lead the cast as Elle Woods, a role first made famous on screen by Reese Witherspoon in the 2001 movie. Davies first rose to prominence after winning Love Island in 2017, following which she has become a UK professional stage mainstay, with appearances in "Back To The Future", "Pretty Woman" and, most recently, as Jordan in the London premiere of “The Great Gatsby”.
Based on the 2001 Amanda Brown novel, and subsequent film adaptation, of the same name, "Legally Blonde" first opened on stage in 2007 on broadway, and later at London’s Savoy Theatre in 2010, starring Laura Bell Bundy and Sheridan Smith respectively. This is the show’s third UK tour, having last performed around the country in 2017-18; more details about the tour, including further casting, will be revealed at a later date, and you can find out more through the official Legally Blonde website.
PADDINGTON: THE MUSICAL
Trailer released for "Explorer and the Bear"
The producers of the upcoming world premiere of “Paddington: The Musical” have released a clip from one of the show’s songs entitled “Explorer and the Bear”, performed by its writer Tom Fletcher; the full track was released on Friday the 26th of September across social media, including on the production’s YouTube channel. With the majority of the cast announced, there is still the mystery surrounding the titular bear to solve, a closely guarded secret that will be revealed at the show's first preview.
Paddington is set to begin performances at the Savoy Theatre on the 1st of November, and you can purchase tickets through the ATG website.
BEETLEJUICE
West end transfer (finally) announced for 2026
At long last, it's showtime! The long awaited London premiere of Eddie Perfect, Scott Brown and Anthony King musical adaptation of “Beetlejuice” has finally been confirmed. Based on the cult classic 1988 film of the same name, the musical opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on broadway in 2019, earning eight Tony nominations including for best musical, returning in 2022 to play the Marquis Theatre, and is set to have its a third run in New York later this year at the Palace Theatre.
The musical, like the film, tells the story of troubled teenager Lydia Deetz, who summons the titular bio-exorcist ghost after meeting the spirits of a recently deceased couple who used to inhabit her new house, all while contending with the recent loss of her mother, and her neglectful father. It will run at the Prince Edward Theatre following the closure of "MJ: The Musical", opening in May 2026 and running until April 2027, with tickets going on sale next month. You can find out more, and sign up for presale, via the Delfont Mackintosh website.
MEGAN HILTY
Broadway star to perform pair of London concerts
Tony nominee Megan Hilty, star of the hit TV series "Smash", is set to perform two concerts in west end next spring, marking her return to London for the first time since she performed at Cadogan Hall in 2018. Currently starring alongside Jennifer Simard in the broadway smash hit musical "Death Becomes Her", having previously performed in broadway productions of "Wicked", "9 to 5" and "Noises Off!", this will mark the first time Hilty has performed in the west end, and has stated that you can expect to hear songs from her own personal theatrical history, as well as some backstage stories.
Originally announced as a single performance, a second was added due to phenomenal demand from fans. These will perform at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on the 24th of May 2026, with shows at 2:30pm and 7pm; tickets for both shows can be purchased via the LW Theatres website, where you can also find further information about the concert.
BANK OF DAVE
New musical by Rob Madge and Pippa Cleary
Following the enormous success of "My Sons a Queer (But What Can You Do?)", writing duo Rob Madge and Pippa Cleary are teaming up once again for a brand new musical about the life and times of self-made Burnley entrepreneur Dave Fishwick, entitled "Bank of Dave". The show is set to have its word premiere at the Lowry theatre in Salford, followed by a run at the Leicester Curve, and is being jointly produced by the two venues, as well as ROYO, Future Artists Entertainment, with direction by the Curve's artistic director Nikolai Foster.
"Bank of Dave" will have its world premiere at the Lowry on the 2nd of May 2026, running until the 16th of May, following which it will run at Leicester Curve from the 20th to the 30th of May 2026. You can book for Salford here, whilst tickets for Leicester will go on sale next week, and you can find out more here.
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