NEWS ROUNDUP: 26 January - 1 February
- James Tradgett
- Feb 1
- 7 min read
Well somehow the first month of the year is already over, so while we ponder over where on earth the time went, we may as well look back on a jam packed week of theatre news, with some big announcements having made the headlines!
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THE TRAITORS
Hit BBC show to be adapted to the stage
It has been announced by Studio Lambert and Neal Street Productions that a new stage adaptation of global tv phenomenon “The Traitors” is in development, to open in London next year. It is being written by John Finnemore (Good Omens), and directed by Olivier winner and Drama League nominee Robert Hastie (Operation Mincemeat). The announcement comes off the back of the most successful series yet of the UK TV show, and the production is being described as a "bold and surprising" new adaptation.
Very few details have been shared, however it is understood that the adaptation will be staged as a play. Further details will be revealed at a later date, and you can sign up for updates now via the official website.
TITANIQUE
Tom Allen to join west end cast
It has been revealed that comedian Tom Allen is set to join the west end cast of “Titanique”, playing the role of Ruth. He will join the current cast led by Astrid Harris (Celine Dion), Rose Galbraith (Rose), Luke Bayer (Jack), Richard Carson (Cal), Michael Vinsen (Victor Garber/Luigi), Ryan Carter (Iceberg), and Charlotte Wakefield (Molly). Allen will play his first performance at the Criterion Theatre on the 4th of March, and will leave the company on the 12th of April, in a strictly limited 6 week run.
"Titanique" recently celebrated its first anniversary since opening in the west end, and is also set to open on broadway next month featuring Marla Mindelle reprising the role she originated at the Asylum Theatre. You can find out more about the show, as well as book tickets for all performances, including those featuring Allen, via the Titanique website, where you can also find out about international productions.
HADESTOWN
Year 3 cast announced for west end production
The new cast for the west end production of Anaïs Mitchell's folk musical “Hadestown” has been revealed, with new faces taking on all five principal roles. Joining the show as Orpheus will be Marley Fenton (Hamilton), and Eurydice is to be played by Bethany Antonia (Lava), with Clive Rowe (The Baker’s Wife) as Hermes, Rachel Adedeji (Passing Strange) as Persephone, and Alastair Parker (The Crucible) as Hades. Also joining will be Spike Maxwell (pro debut) as fate 3, Gabriella Benedetti (Hamilton) as worker, and Milly Willows (Six) as swing.
They join fates Melanie Bright and Jasmine Rae, workers Femi Akinfolarin, Michelle Andrews, Ollie Bingham and Sebastian Lim-Seet, and swings Juan Jackson, Oisín Nolan-Power, Lindo Shinda and Jasmine Triadi. The new cast will begin performances at the Lyric Theatre on the 10th of March, with tickets available from the Nimax Theatres website.
THE PIANIST
New musical adaptation to have world premiere
The world premiere of a new musical adaptation of the award winning Wladyslaw Szpilman memoir “The Pianist” is set to run in Southampton in the autumn, featuring a cast of 11 actor musicians; further details to be revealed at a later date. The book was originally adapted to the screen by Roman Polanski, winning the Academy Award for best picture in 2003, with leading actor Adrien Brody also winning an Oscar for his portrayal of Szpilman. The fully staged premiere follows an original workshop presentation at the Mayflower MAST Studios back in April 2025, and is presented by Wolk Transfer Company.
"The Pianist" will perform at the Mayflower Studios in Southampton from the 8th until the 12th of September 2026, ahead of a planned off-west end transfer in the winter. Tickets for the event can be purchased via the Mayflower Theatre website.
ROMEO & JULIET
Full cast announced for latest west end production
Further casting has been announced for the upcoming production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet” at the Harold Pinter Theatre, to run from the 16th of March until the 6th of June, as produced by Empire Street. The production will be directed by Olivier-winning Robert Icke (Oedipus), with a creative team including Hildegard Bechtler (set and costumes), Jon Clark (lighting), Tom Gibbons (sound) and Ash J. Woodward (video). Tickets are now available from the ATG website, where you can also find more details about the production. The production has also announced that they will offer a limited number of on the day tickets, ten for each performance, and limited to two per person. Additionally there will be 30 “pay what you can” tickets per show, released every week the Wednesday before.
Previously announce leads Sadie Sink and Noah Jupe will be joined by Jamie Ankrah (Christmas Day) as Peter, Dylan Corbett-Bader (King Lear) as Benvolio, Eden Epstein (Mary Page Marlowe) as Lady Capulet, Alex Felton (All’s Well That Ends Well) as Abraham, Clark Gregg (Good Night, and Good Luck) as Capulet, Ada Grey (Chicago Fire) as First Servant, Kasper Hilton-Hille (Troilus & Cressida) as Friar John / Mercutio, Aruna Jalloh (For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy) as Tybalt, John Marquez (Doc Martin) as Friar Laurence, Caroline Moroney (All’s Well That Ends Well) as Second Servant, Clare Perkins (Player Kings) as Nurse, David Shelley (Player Kings) as Apothecary/Montague, Lewis Shepherd (Dear England) as Paris, and Alexander Uzoka (Macbeth) as Gregory.
THE OUTSIDERS
Tony winning musical to transfer to London
It has been revealed, following news that the broadway production has recouped its initial investment, that the Adam Rapp musical “The Outsiders”, with music and lyrics by Zack Chance, Jonathan Clay and Justin Levine, is set to transfer to the west end. The producers have yet to confirm details of dates, venue or casting for the transfer, which will be revealed at a later date, however there are several major west end houses, such as the Adelphi and the Shaftesbury Theatres, that have upcoming vacancies.
The show opened at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on broadway in the spring of 2024, with a cast led by Brody Grant, Sky-Lakota Lynch, Emma Pittman and Brent Comer, winning that year’s Tony award for best musical, among a flurry of other awards. The show is approaching its second anniversary at the Jacobs, and also has a North American tour on the go. Stay tuned for updates…
AVENUE Q
Full cast revealed for west end revival
The full cast moving into the block for the upcoming west end revival of Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx’s musical “Avenue Q” has been revealed. Featuring will be Emily Benjamin (A Knight’s Tale) as Kate Monster/Lucy The Slut, Noah Harrison (Grease) as Princeton/Rod, Meg Hateley (Mamma Mia!) as Mrs T/Bad Idea Bear, Oliver Jacobson (Choir of Man) as Brian, Charlie McCullagh (42 Balloons) as Nicky/Trekkie Monster/Bad Idea Bear, Amelia Kinu Muus (Kiss Me, Kate) as Christmas Eve, and Dionne Ward-Anderson (Book of Mormon) as Gary Coleman.
Completing the cast will be Jasmine Beel, Jonathan Carlton, Angelis Hunt, Lesley Lemon, Jessica Niles Kadi and Joshua Williams-Ward as swings. Originally opening in 2003 on Broadway, and famously beating “Wicked” to the best musical Tony award, it later transferred to the west end in 2006, where it played at the Noël Coward, Gielgud and Wyndham’s Theatres, closing in October 2010. It will open at the Shaftesbury Theatre on the 20th of March, marking 20 years since it originally opened in the west end. You can find out more, and book tickets, via the official Avenue Q website.
SWEENEY TODD
Casting for lead role announced for Birmingham run
The Rep have found their barber, as it can now be revealed that Ramin Karimloo (Pirates! The Penzance Musical) will take on the titular role in the upcoming revival of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”, written by Hugh Wheeler and Stephen Sondheim. It will be the first time Karimloo has featured in a musical by the late, great Sondheim, and his first time performing a musical in Birmingham since the 2005 UK tour of Miss Saigon. Further casting for this production will be revealed at a later date.
“Sweeney Todd” will open at the Birmingham Rep from the 4th of July, and run until the 9th of August, and it will be the first major revival of the musical in 14 years, since it performed at the Adelphi Theatre, starring Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton. To find out more, and book tickets for the show, head over to the Rep’s website and/or social pages.
BURLESQUE
New musical to return to London in the autumn
It has been announced that Steven Antin’s new musical “Burlesque”, with music by Sia, Diane Warren, Christina Aguilera, Jess Folley and Todrick Hall, is set to return to London this autumn. Originally premiering at the Manchester Opera House in 2024, with a subsequent run in Glasgow and return to Manchester later that year, the musical opened in the west end in July 2025, in a production starring writers Hall (who also acted as director following the departure of original director Antin) and Folley.
“Burlesque” will reopen at the brand new temporary space Arts Theatre at Marble Arch on the 12th of September 2026, where it will run until the 31st of January 2027. Separately, a second production is also set to tour the UK, beginning in Woking on the 25th of July. You can find out more, including all tour dates and venues, via the production’s website.
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