NEWS ROUNDUP: 6 - 12 October
- James Tradgett
- Oct 12
- 5 min read
Happy sunday, what better way to wind down after a long week than to look back on what's been going on in the world of theatre, here are the latest stagey news stories making waves.
-----
TO SIR, WITH LOVE
Full cast announced for staged concert
The full cast for the upcoming concert performance of “To Sir, With Love” has been revealed, with previously announced Lulu and Wayne Brady being joined by Jess Folley (Burlesque) as Pamela, Chelsea Halfpenny (Waitress) as Gillian, Kara Lane (The Addams Family) as Mrs Dare, George Maguire (Bonnie & Clyde) as Mr Weston, Elijah Millar (pro debut) as Sears, and Michael Vinsen (Hairspray) as Mr Bell.
The young adult company will comprise Jamie Molloy as Denham, Ben Salter as Buckley, Vivien Farkas-Haholt as Barbara Pegg, Sophia Oram as Tara Joseph, Thomas Stocks as Graham Potter, Toby Foetu-Foster as Titch Jackson, Matthew Navas as Sapiano, Isobelle Tolson as Pupil 1, Katie Mitton as Pupil 2, and Rosie Hernandez-Lawrence as Reserve Pupil. The concert will take place at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on the 24th of November 2025, with tickets on sale from the LW Theatres website.
PIPPIN
New London revival to open in 2026
He’s back, and he’s on the right track! Following the success of the recent staged concert, Stephen Schwartz and Roger O Hirson musical “Pippin” is set to be staged at Upstairs at the Gatehouse this winter, in a new staging that draws on the show’s rich history spanning over 50 years. The production will be directed and choreographed by Amanda Noar, with musical direction by Harry Style, and will run from the 11th of December 2025 until the 11th of January 2026, with further details to be confirmed at a later date.
The musical was last fully staged in London in 2021, when it was performed at the Charing Cross Theatre with a cast featuring Ian Carlyle, Alex James-Hatton and Ryan Anderson, and more recently a concert performance was given at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, starring Alex Newell. Tickets for this new staging can be purchased now from the Gatehouse website.
WOMAN IN MIND
Full cast announced, including Romesh Ranganathan
Starring Sheridan Smith (Opening Night), the full cast for the upcoming revival of the Alan Ayckbourn play "Woman In Mind" has been revealed. Joining Smith will be Romesh Ranganathan as Bill in the comedian's professional theatrical debut, alongside Louise Brealey as Muriel, Tim McMullan as Gerald, Sule Rimi as Andy, Chris Jenks as Tony, Safia Oakley-Green as Lucy, and Taylor Uttley as Rick, with understudies Katie Buchholz and Michael Woolfitt completing the cast.
The revival will be staged at the Duke of York's Theatre, where it will run from the 9th of December until the 28th of February, in a strictly limited run; it will be directed by Michael Longhurt, and produced by Wessex Grove and Gavin Kalin Productions. Tickets can be purchased now through the ATG website.
DOUBLE INDEMINTY
New play starring Mischa Barton to tour
Star of the OC Mischa Barton is set to make her UK stage debut in a new adaptation of the James M. Caine novel “Double Indemnity”, which is set to tour in the new year. Barton will play the role of Phyllis Nirdlinger, the central role in this story of lust, greed and murder. The play is adapted by Tom Holloway, and will be directed by Oscar Toeman, with further details, including casting, to be revealed at a later date.
The show will open at Devonshire Park Theatre in Eastbourne in February 2026, before running in Nottingham, Crewe, Richmond, Brighton, Dublin, Southend, Wycombe, Bromley, Manchester and Cardiff. Tickets are now on sale for Eastbourne, Crewe, Southend, Wycombe, Bromley and Cardiff, keep your eyes on the production’s website and social pages for updates regarding ticketing and further casting.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
Full cast revealed for Leeds revival
The full cast of Leeds Playhouse’s upcoming winter production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” has been revealed; it will feature Hedydd Dylan (The Comedy of Errors) as Hippolyta/Titania, Jack Humphrey (pro debut) as Quince/Egeus, Lou Jackson (pro debut) as Demetrius/Cobweb, Pria Kalsi (Oxford Gurks) as Flute/Child, Danny Kirrane (Jerusalem) as Bottom, Tiwa Lade (Great Expectations) as Hermia/Mustardseed, Michael Marcus (Who Killed My Father) as Theseus/Oberon, David Olaniregun (Romeo and Juliet) as Lysander/Moth, Tara Tijani (The Merry Wives of Windsor) as Helena/Peaseblossom, and Sergo Vares (People, Places & Things) as Puck.
The play will be produced by Shakespeare’s Globe, Headlong and Bristol Old Vic, alongside Leeds Playhouse, directed by Holly Race Roughan, and co-directed by Naeem Hayat. It will run from the 14th to the 28th of February 2026, and tickets are on sale for all performances from the Leeds Playhouse website.
MIDNIGHT
New musical by Todrick Hall to premiere
Following the closure of his staged production of “Burlesque”, it has been announced that Todrick Hall has a new original musical planned to workshop next month in London. “Midnight” was written with the intention of bringing the world together, quoted as being a “celebration of empathy, unity, and love at a time when we need it most”, and will blend together various music genres, including blues, rock, classical and folk, and will be fully sung through. The workshop will play at Sadler’s Wells East from the 11th to the 15th of November, with tickets now on sale from the venue’s website.
The full cast has also been revealed for the performances, with Hall himself taking on the role of Rail, alongside Jeremy Beloate as Richard, Charlotte Odusanya as Lily Rose, Ailsa Davidson as Scarlet, Jaconelli as Violet, Georgina Onuorah as Happy, Barney Wilkinson as Harry, Ashlee Irish as Clyde, Jill Marie Cooper as Charlotte, Watkins Smith Jr as Billy, Craig Armstrong as Sylvester, and Brandon Lee Sears as Rehearsal Rail. The ensemble will comprise Callum Bell, Callum Macdonald, Christian Knight, Cruz-Troy Hunter, Elly Jay, Elizabeth Armstrong, Hollie-Ann Lowe, India Thornton, Jaime Taite, Jenni Thomasson, Joel Benjamin, Kamilla Fernandes, Lewis Mortier, Lizzy Rose Esin Kelly, Marlee Jay, Michael Anderson, Milan Cacacie, Oliver Adam Reynolds, Takaiyah Bailey, Theo Reece, and Zarina Thompson.
BE MORE CHILL
Full cast announced for anniversary staged concerts
The full cast for the reunion concert of Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz’s musical “Be More Chill” has been revealed, previously announced Scott Folan, Miracle Chance and Blake Patrick Anderson will be joined by original west end run cast members Christopher Fry, Grace Mouat and Miles Paloma, alongside Brandon Lee Sears, Eve Norris, Gabrielle Hinchcliffe and Jessica Lim.
Playing at the Arts Theatre on the 10th of November, the concert will be directed by Christopher D Clegg, and the musical director will be Louisa Green. Tickets can be purchased from the Arts Theatre website, with all profits from ticket sales going to the charity Young Minds.
Comments