NEWS ROUNDUP: 3 - 9 November

Writing from New York, you can perhaps understand why my news updates have been more limited over the past week, but fear not, I am here to make up for that with a summary of what's been going on while I've been away...

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SOMETHING ROTTEN!

Full UK premiere announced

Official "Something Rotten!” artwork featuring Jason Manford

Following two hugely successful west end concerts last year, the Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick musical “Something Rotten!” is finally set to receive its full UK premiere in summer 2026. The show first premiered at the St. James Theatre on broadway in 2015, where it ran for just short of two years, and starred Christian Borle, Heidi Blickenstaff and Brian d’Arcy James.

Its first UK staging was in summer 2024, when it had a concert performance at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, with Jason Manford as Nick Bottom, Marisha Wallace as Bea, and Richard Fleeshman as Shakespeare. “Something Rotten!” will run at the Manchester Opera House from the 16th of June until the 19th of July, with a press night on the 24th of June, and Manford to reprise his role as Nick Bottom. Further details, including full casting and creative team, will be revealed at a later date, and tickets are now on sale from the ATG website.

PRIDE

New musical to premiere in Cardiff and London

The cast of the original film "Pride"

Details for the world premiere of the musical adaptation of the Stephen Beresford film “Pride” have been revealed, including dates and venues. The musical will first run at Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre, before transferring to the Dorfman at the National Theatre. It is set during the 1984 miner’s strike, and follows a group of lesbian and gay activists who declare and display their allegiance to the striking communities of miners.

“Pride” has a book and lyrics by Beresford, and music by Christopher Nightingale, Josh Cohen and DJ Walde, with direction by Matthew Warchus, who also directed the original 2014 film, and musical direction by Jo Cichonska. It will run in Cardiff from the 31st of March to the 18th of April 2026, before running in London from the 11th of June until the 12th of September 2026, with tickets on general sale from the 14th of November. You can find out more about the show from the National Theatre website.

AVENUE Q

West end revival set for beloved puppet musical

The puppets of "Avenue Q"

The sun is shining, it’s a lovely day, and London is about to welcome back everyone’s favourite foul-mouthed puppets to the west end, with a new revival of the Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez musical “Avenue Q” set to open in the spring. Originally opening in London in 2006, this revival will celebrate 20 years since the show’s west end premiere, during which it ran for 4 and a half years across three different theatres, first opening at the newly renamed Noël Coward Theatre, and closing in 2010 at Wyndham's theatre via the Gielgud, totalling four years and over 2600 performances; it has also toured the UK on numerous occasions, most recently in 2019

The musical first premiered on broadway from 2003 until 2009, and later ran off-broadway for a further ten years, finally closing at New World Stages in 2019. Following the hugely successful London reunion concert at the Sondheim Theatre in November 2024, this will be the first revival of the Tony-winning best musical, which is set to play at the Shaftesbury Theatre from the 20th of March until the 29th of August, in a strictly limited run; it will again be directed by Jason Moore, who also worked on the original broadway and west end productions. Further details will be revealed at a later date, and tickets can now be purchased via the Shaftesbury Theatre website.

HIGH NOON

Full cast announced for world premiere

The full cast of "High Noon"

The rootin', tootin' varmints taking to the stage in the new Eric Roth play "High Noon", set to open in the west end next month, have been revealed, with previously announced Emmy/Tony winner Billy Crudup and Olivier winner Denise Gough being joined by Billy Howle (Roots) as Harvey, Rosa Salazar (Cyrano de Bergerac) as Helen, Simon Chandler (Wild Honey) as Howe/Minister, James Doherty (Come From Away) as Judge/Frank/Gillis, Misha Handley (Fanny and Alexander) as Johnny, Joshua Hill (Dear England) as Ben/Station Master/Cooper, Jonah Russell (A Raisin in the Sun) as Robert/Scott/JP, Rebecca Lee (Jerusalem) as Tanya, and Tim Steed (Much Ado About Nothing) as Henderson/Clerk/Charlie.

Directed by Thea Sharrock, "High Noon" will receive its world premiere at the Harold Pinter Theatre from the 17th of December 2025 until the 7th of March 2026, in a strictly limited run. Ticket are now on sale for all performances, and you can find out more about the show, as well as how to book, from the official High Noon website.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

New London revival to star Eurovision singer

Official “Jesus Christ Superstar” artwork - Sam Ryder

It has been revealed that Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” is set to return to the west end next summer in a strictly limited run, with Eurovision star Sam Ryder to make his west end debut in the title role. It will be directed by Tim Sheader, with choreography by Tim McOnie, and design by Tom Scutt; further casting, as well as the full creative team, will be announced at a later date.

"Jesus Christ Superstar" last played in the west end 30 years ago, and more recently was revived at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, in a production that subsequently played the Barbican Theatre and toured the UK. This staging will run at the London Palladium from the 20th of June until the 5th of September 2026, and tickets will go on presale on the 25th of November, with general sale opening the following day. You can find out more about the production, as well as how to sign up for presale, via the production's website.

I'M SORRY, PRIME MINISTER

Political comedy to tour the UK following London run

Official artwork for "I'm Sorry, Prime Minister"

Following on from Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, the concluding part of the renowned Jonathan Lynn and Antony Jay comedic series "I'm Sorry, Prime Minister" is set to tour the UK from spring 2026, following its west end debut at London's Apollo Theatre in the early part of next year. The series follows former Prime Minister Jim Hacker and Sir Humphrey Appleby, revisiting the pair as they make the arduous journey towards retirement.

The tour will commence at the Arts Theatre in Cambridge in May 2026, followed by runs at Richmond Theatre, Theatre Royal Bath, New Victoria Theatre in Woking, Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, Cheltenham Everyman Theatre, Milton Keynes Theatre, Grand Opera House in York and Theatre Royal Brighton. You can find out more about the production, as well as how to book tickets, via the official website.

THE BALLAD OF JOHNNY AND JUNE

New musical to tour the UK

Official promo material for "The Ballad of Johnny & June"

Following its world premiere in North America, with runs at La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, and Canada's Citadel Theatre, new jukebox musical "The Ballad of Johnny & June" will have its UK premiere next year, with a touring production set to open in Bromley during March 2026. It will then go on to perform in Cardiff, Dublin, Brighton, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Wycombe, Southend, Newcastle, Salford, Plymouth, Bradford, Richmond, Hull, Blackpool, York, Belfast, Glasgow, Eastbourne, Canterbury, Southampton and Leeds, concluding in September of the same year.

Featuring beloved classics by Johnny and June Cash, such as "I Walk the Line" and "Ring of Fire", the musical tells the story of the country music pairing through the eyes of their son John Carter Cash. It will be directed by two-time Tony winner Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys) and produced by Howard Panter. you can find out more information, including all tour dates, via the official production website.