NEWS ROUNDUP: 3 - 9 March 2025
- James Tradgett
- Mar 10
- 4 min read
Another week draws to a close, so it's time to look back at the hottest headlines in the world of theatre from the past 7 days.
THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
World Premiere Venue Confirmed
A million dreams are coming true, as it has been revealed that the world premiere of the staged production of Michael Gracy’s “The Greatest Showman” will take place at Bristol Hippodrome in the spring of 2026. The film has a story by Jenny Bicks and screenplay by Bicks and Bill Condon, with a score by John Debney and Joseph Trapanese, and songs written by Benji Pasek & Justin Paul.
The musical will be produced by the Disney Theatrical Group, in their first ever staging of a 20th Century Fox film. Further details, including cast and creative team, will be announced at a later date. If you wanna go, then keep your eyes peeled for further announcements!
THE LIGHTNING THIEF
UK Tour Announced
Percy is going on tour! Following a hugely successful London debut at the Other Palace, Rob Rokicki and Joe Tracz’ musical “The Lightning Thief” is set to tour the UK from this summer, with the first two stops overlapping with the final weeks of its London run.
The show will kick off at Theatre Royal Windsor from the 15th of August, before playing Newcastle Theatre Royal (27-31 August), Milton Keynes Theatre (3-6 September), Liverpool Empire (16-20 September), Brighton Theatre Royal (30 September-4 October), Regent Theatre Stoke (7-11 October), Coventry Belgrade (14-18 October), Bradford Alhambra (21-25 October), and New Wimbledon Theatre (28 October-1 November).
Further venues and dates into 2026, as well as full cast and creative team, will be revealed at a later date. Tickets remain on sale for the Other Palace run, and will be released for the first venues in due course.
GIANT: HAROLD PINTER THEATRE
Full Cast Announced
The full cast for the west end premiere of Mark Rosenblatt’s play “Giant” has been revealed, with Tessa Bonham Jones (The Young Woman and the Sea) reprising her role as Hallie, Aya Cash (The Boys) to play Jessie Stone in her west end debut, Richard Hope (Hijack) as Wally Sanders, Elliott Levey (Patriots) as Tom Maschler, John Lithgow (Conclave) returning as Roald Dahl, and Rachael Stirling (The Divine Mrs S) as Felicity Crosland.
“Giant” ran at the Royal Court Theatre in autumn 2024, and has been nominated for five Olivier Awards in next season’s bestowal ceremony. It will transfer to the Harold Pinter Theatre on the 26th of April, and run for a strictly limited 14 weeks until the 2nd of August, with tickets now on sale.
MISCHIEF COMEDY
New Show Announced
Mischief Comedy have revealed a new staged production, bringing “A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong” to the stage later this year, with a UK tour and a festive run in the west end planned. Penned by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, this will be the second new Mischief show of 2025, following the premiere of their “Comedy About Spies”.
A televised version of a similar show aired in 2017 featuring David Suchet, however this is the first time it has been given a full stage premiere. It will premiere at the Lowry on the 2nd of November, followed by performances at Cheltenham Everyman Theatre, Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff and Theatre Royal Bath.
It will make its west end debut at the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, running from the 6th of December 2025 until the 25th of January 2026, followed by several other dates in the new year, performing at Nottingham Theatre Royal, the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury, the Edinburgh Festival Theatre, the King’s Theatre in Glasgow and the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury. Tickets will go on sale on the 17th of March at 10am, so keep your eyes peeled!
TICK, TICK...BOOM!: THEATR CLWYD
Full Cast Announced
The full cast for the North Wales revival of Jonathan Larson's musical "Tick, Tick...Boom!" has been revealed, with Ryan Owen (Mother Goose) playing Jon, Christina Modestou (Fantastically Great Women) playing Susan and Tarik Frimpong (the Drifters Girl) playing Michael. This production marks the venue's first following a major redevelopment, and also the first under new artistic director Kate Wasserberg, who will also be directing this new production. The show will run from the 2nd until the 28th of June, with tickets now on sale.
OLIVIER AWARDS 2025
Nominations Revealed
Full nominations for the 2025 Olivier Awards have been revealed, with the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre production of "Fiddler On The Roof" leading the way with thirteen total nominations, a new record. There are also a healthy number for Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, receiving six in total, including best new musical, followed by The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Oliver! with four nominations each, and heavily tipped for the awards for best new musical and best musical revival respectively.
The awards ceremony will take place at the Royal Albert Hall on the 6th of April, and will be hosted by Billy Porter and Beverley Knight; the full list of nominees can be found on the Official London Theatre website.
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