NEWS ROUNDUP: 4 - 10 August

Have you missed any big news stories over the past week? Don't worry, we've got you covered, here are some of the biggest and most exciting news stories to have rocked the theatre world in the past seven days.

THE HUNGER GAMES ON STAGE

Full casting announced for world premiere

The lead cast for "The Hunger Games: On Stage"

They volunteer as tribute! We now know the complete cast for the world premiere of the stage adaptation of "The Hunger Games", after they were revealed gradually throughout the week. Previously announced were Mia Carragher leading the line as Katniss Everdeen, alongside Euan Garrett as Peeta Mellark and Joshua Lacey as Haymitch Abernathy, they will be joined by Tristan Waterson (Dear England) as Gale Hawthorne, Sophia Ally (The Hill of California) as Primrose Everdeen, Ruth Everett (Blithe Spirit) as Mrs Everdeen, Tamsin Carroll (Rock Follies) as Effie Trinket, Stavros Demetraki (Oklahoma!) as Caesar Flickerman, and Nathan Ives-Moiba (Cabaret) as Cinna.

Completing the cast are Aiya Agustin, Geo Bailey, Alexandra Barredo, Imogen Brooke, Liana Cottrill, Kyerron Dixon-Bassey, Lewis Easter, Felix Garcia Guyer, Marcellus Hill, Matthew Ives, Jessica Lee, Mariana Lewis, Kiera Milward, Felipe Pacheo, Redmond Rance, Nathanael Saleh, Mark Samaras, Artemis Stamouli, and Rory Ttheatreoms. "The Hunger Games" will premiere at the brand new Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre from October 2025, More information, including how to book tickets, can be foudn on the Hunger Games: On Stage website.

HERE AND NOW

Full cast announced for Steps musical

The original Birmingham production of "Here And Now"

The complete cast for the Steps musical “Here & Now” has been revealed; the show had its world premiere in Birmingham last year, and the tour will commence in Aylesbury Waterside at the end of this month. Already announced are Rebecca Lock (Heathers) as Caz McGovern, Hiba Elchikhe (The Time Traveller’s Wife) as Neeta Thakkar, Sharlene Hector (Dreamgirls) as Vel King and Blake Patrick Anderson (Be More Chill) as Robbie Davies.

Joining them will be Finty Williams (The Baker’s Wife) as Patricia, Dan Partridge (Grease) as Ben, Helen Colby (Sinatra the Musical) as Tracey, Gary Milner (Kiss Me, Kate) as Gareth, River Medway (House of Cleopatra) as Jem, Edward Baker Duly (The King and I) as Max, and John Stacey (Kiss Me, Kate) as Lesley. The cast is completed by Olivia Bella, Jabari Braham, Michael Carolan, Alex Christian, Kade Ferraiolo, Jemma Geanaus, Charlie-Jay Johnson, Serina Mathew, Jago Mottart, Markus Sodergren and Genevieve Taylor. You can find further details, including all tour dates, on the Here And Now website.

KENREX

Play to return to London in the winter

Jack Holden

Following enormously successful sold-out runs at Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse in Sheffield and Southwark Playhouse in London, Jack Holden and Ed Stambollouian play “Kenrex” is set to return to London this winter. The play tells the story of Ken McElroy, a smalltown bully in Skidmore, Missouri, who terrorised the townspeople in the 1970s and 80s until they reached their breaking point, after 21 indictments but no convictions.

The show, performed by Holden and featuring a live music soundtrack, will run at the Other Palace from the 3rd of December until the 1st of February, with Holden and Stambollouian stating “We are true crime fanatics and KENREX is an ode to the genre. We can’t wait to share this thrilling story with even more people.” Tickets are now on sale from the box office, as well as the Other Palace website.

TOPLESS: THE MUSICAL

London premiere announced for one-woman musical

Official artwork for “Topless: The Musical”

The dark-comedy, one woman musical “Topless: The Musical” is set to open in London this autumn, with three performances to be performed at Underbelly Boulevard in Soho across September and October. The show is written and performed by Holly Lovelady, and directed by Emma Rucastle; it is based on a play by Miles Tredinnick.

The musical, which tells the story of a woman’s journey through London’s sordid past on an open topped bus, had its world premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023, and will play at the Underbelly Boulevard on the 29th of September, and the 13th & 20th of October, with tickets available from the Underbelly Boulevard website.

STARTER FOR TEN

New recorded tracks released

Official artwork for "Starter For Ten”

A new EP, entitled “The Bristol Mixtape”, has been released of songs from the new upcoming musical production of “Starter For Ten”, based on both the Nicholls novel and the subsequent film it inspired. The playlist comprises four tracks from the musical, these are "Weightless”, “Time to Quiz”, “For the Story” and “Lucy’s Turn (feat. Stephen Fry)”.

The musical will run at the Bristol Old Vic from the 10th of September to the 11th of October 2025, later transferring to Birmingham Rep from the 22nd of October to the 1st of November. Further details, including how to book tickets for both venues, can be found on the official Starter For Ten website.

MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO

New artwork released for west end production

Artwork as provided by the RSC

For the first time, we have been treated to the titular forest spirit in all its glory, as the producers of "My Neighbour Totoro" have this week released new artwork for the show. Currently playing in the west end, the Tom Morton-Smith play, based on the Studio Ghibli film of the same name written by Hayao Miyazaki, broke the Barbican Centre's box office record for most tickets sold in a single day when it was first announced and premiered in 2022, followed by a subsequent run at the same theatre, as well as a flurry of awards, including six Oliviers.

The new artwork features Totoro alongside the two sisters waiting for a bus, in a recreation of the iconic scene from the beloved animated feature film. Until this point, the gigantic puppet, as designed by Basil Twist, has very much remained a well guarded secret, only being revealed to audience members. The show continues to run at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, where it is currently booking until late March 2026; you can find out more and book tickets through the LW Theatres website.

HAMILTON

Filmed performance to air in UK cinemas

The original broadway company of "Hamilton"

In the week when we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the musical opening on broadway, it has been revealed that "Hamilton: An American Musical" is set to air in cinemas around the world, including across the UK. The musical was filmed for public release at the Richard Rodgers Theatre during June 2016, featuring the original broadway cast starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, Philippa Soo, and Leslie Odom Jr. (the latter of whom is set to return to the broadway production this autumn), and this was released on Disney+ in July 2020, during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hamilton will be shown in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on the 26th of September, following its initial screenings in the USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico on the 5th of September, with screening sin Australia to occur on the 13th of November. The performance can still be viewed on Disney+, including a singalong version featuring full dynamic subtitles.