NEWS ROUNDUP: 25 - 31 August
- James Tradgett
- 7 hours ago
- 6 min read
It's been a long, hot summer, jam packed full of terrific theatre, from emerging fringe shows to the biggest summer blockbusters. To round it all off, here are a handful of news stories from the past week to take us into the autumn.
SINGIN' IN THE RAIN
Full cast announced for Manchester run
What a glorious feeling! The Royal Exchange Theatre have revealed the full cast for their festive production of Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed’s musical “Singin’ in the Rain”. Louise Gaunt (Brigadoon) will star as Don Lockwoood, alongside Danny Collins (Cats) as Cosmo Brown and Carly Mercedes Dyer (Anything Goes) as Kathy Selden. They’re joined by Laura Baldwin (101 Dalmatians) as Lina Lamont, Carl Sanderson (Sweet Charity) as Roscoe Dexter, Clancy Ryan (South Pacific) as Dora Bailey, and Julius D’Silva (& Juliet) as RF Simpson.
The cast is completed by Tanisha-Mae Brown, Adam Davidson, Frances Dee, Zac Frieze, Jessica Keable, Gregor McCann, Benjamin Mundy, Ria Tanaka and Thomas Walton. The musical, based on the original 1952 film starring Gene Kelly, will be directed by Raz Shaw, who previously staged The Producers at the Royal Exchange in 2018; the production will run from the 29th of November until the 18th of January, with tickets now on sale from the Royal Exchange website.
STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW
New cast and west extension announced
There are new faces heading to Hawkins, and they're sticking around for longer than planned! Joining the London cast of "Stranger Things: The First Shadow" from the 12th of November will be Jack Christou in role of Henry Creel, along with Stewart Clarke as Dr Brenner, Avril Maponga as Patty Newby, Max Potter as Bob Newby, Adam Wadsworth as James Hopper Jr and Edie Wright as Joyce Maldonado. They will help the show celebrate its second anniversary of playing at the Phoenix Theatre, having first opened in the west end in December 2023. Additionally, the production has announced a partnership with "Go Live Theatre", and will host an education matinee on the 21st of November, for students from London state schools, with tickets being charged at £10 each.
Originally written by Kate Trefry, with an original story by the Duffer Brothers, writers of the original Netflix series on which the play is based, "Stranger Things: The First Shadow" continues to run at the Phoenix Theatre in London, and has now extended into the spring, with tickets now available until the 6th of April 2026. The play also currently runs at the Marquis Theatre on broadway, Henry Creel being played by Louis McCartney who originated the role in London; the production was the most successful play at the 78th Tony Awards, winning for scenic, lighting and sound design in a play. Tickets for both productions can be found on the Stranger Things On Stage website.
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
Original London cast recording to be released
The producers of the London production of “The Devil Wears Prada” have finally revealed plans for an original cast recording, after it having been teased in various guises. The show's original cast features Vanessa Williams as Miranda, Georgie Buckland as Andy, Amy Di Bartolomeo as Emily, Matt Henry as Nigel, Rhys Whitfield as Nate and James Darch as Christian; it features a score by Elton John (Billy Elliot) and Shaina Taub (Suffs), a book by Kate Wetherhead (Burlesque), and direction/choreography by Jerry Mitchell.
"The Devil Wears Prada", based on the 2006 film of the same name, had its world premiere in Chicago in 2022, before a pre-west end preview period at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth; it opened at the Dominion Theatre in October 2024, where it continues to run open-ended. The album will be released digitally and on CD and vinyl from the 18th of September, and tickets to performances of the live show can be purchased on the Nederlander website, currently booking until the 3rd of January 2026.
BRITISH INVASION
New musical to workshop, cast revealed
A brand new musical by Rick Elice, featuring the music of various 60s bands such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Dusty Springfield, The Kinks and more, is set to have a workshop presentation midway through September. The cast will feature Kyle Taylor Parker (Kinky Boots) as Geno, Jonny Amies (The Little Big Things) as Peter Noone, Stevie Doc (Mamma Mia!) as Marianne, Jordan Luke Gage (Saving Mozart) as Mick, Jenna Bonner as Suki, Daniel Bravo (Mean Girls) as Andrew, Melissa Jacques (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as Peter’s Mum, George Maguire (Burlesque) as Paul McCartney, Ashley Samuels (Fun Home) as the Dealer, and Taila Halford as Mary Quaint; Ying Ue Li, Tom Oliver and Rachel Rawlinson complete the cast.
Directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, the workshop performances of this new musical will take place in London at an undisclosed location on the 18th and 19th of September, with further details to be revealed at a later date; the venue and exact timings of the performances have yet to be disclosed, more information can be found on the website for Thomas Hopkins Productions.
STARLIGHT EXPRESS
London production extends into spring 2026
For the sixth time, the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre production of Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "Starlight Express" is set to extend its run due to popular demand, with the show now set to play into spring 2026. It first opened on the 8th of June 2024, which already makes it by far the longest run at the Wembley Park theatre that first opened its doors in 2019, and was nominated for three Olivier awards earlier this year, winning for Best Costume Design by Gabriella Slade.
Originally opening in 1984, this musical about varying types of locomotives, represented by actors on roller skates, ran for 18 years at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, making it the 9th longest running west end show of all time. The cast is currently led by Jeevan Braisch, Sophie Naglik, Olivia Ringrose, Asher Forth, Georgia Pemberton and Jade Marvin, and tickets can be purchased from the official Starlight Express website.
RACHEL ZEGLER
Solo concerts announced, sell out in minutes
Evita may be closing next weekend, but fear not Rachel Zegler fans, she’s sticking around the for one more day! A month after finishing performances as Eva Perón in her west end debut, the stage and screen star is due to return to the London Palladium for a one night, two-show only solo concert, staged by Lambert Jackson Productions, the team behind the upcoming concert production of “Songs For A New World”. Originally announced as a single performance, a second earlier on the same day was revealed after the first sold out in minutes; the second subsequently also sold out the same day.
Zegler, who also made her broadway debut last year in Shakespeare’s “Romeo + Juliet” at Circle In The Square alongside Kit Connor, is currently performing in the Jamie Lloyd directed revival of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical “Evita” at the Palladium, about to enter the final week of its limited twelve week summer run. Her solo concert will play on the 6th of October at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, with tickets for the both performances already sold out, but you can check the LW Theatres website for any returns.
TOP HAT
Full cast announced for UK touring production
It's time to find out who's going to be puttin' on the ritz this autumn, as we now know who will be taking to the stage for the upcoming revival tour of Irving Berlin's musical "Top Hat", currently running at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Leading the cast will be Phillip Attmore (Hello, Dolly!) as Jerry Travers, Sally Ann Triplett (Cabaret) as Madge Hardwick, James Clyde (Matilda) as Bates, and Alex Gibson-Giorgio (Zorro) as Alberto Beddini. Joining them will be Amara Okereke (Light in the Piazza) as Dale Tremont, and James Hume (Kiss Me, Kate) as Horace Hardwick.
Completing the cast are Lindsay Atherton, Rhiannon Bacchus, Jeremy Batt, Freddie Clements, Pedro Donoso, Bethan Downing, Autumn Draper, Tilly Ducker, Maddie Harper, Stuart Hickey, Laura Hills, Connor Hughes, George Lyons, David McIntosh, Jordan Oliver, Emily Anne Potter, Joe Press, Molly Rees Howe, Kirsty Sparks and Toyan Thomas-Browne. The show will begin its tour on the 18th of September at the New Theatre in Woking, Milton Keynes, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Wimbledon, Canterbury, Liverpool, Cardiff, Sunderland and Manchester, following which it will stage a five-week festive residency at London's South Bank Centre. Further info, including how to book, can be found on the official Top Hat website.
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