NEWS ROUNDUP: 7 - 13 July
- James Tradgett
- Jul 14
- 5 min read
As we hit the height of summer, we can always count on the theatre to distract us from the heat, here are the biggest stagey news stories from the past week, and there are some good ones!
KINKY BOOTS
New London revival planned
It has been revealed that the recent record-breaking UK touring production of the Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein musical “Kinky Boots”, starring Johannes Radebe reprising his role as Lola, is set to perform at the London Coliseum next spring, marking Radebe’s west end debut. The non-replica staging made its debut at Leicester Curve in January 2025, followed by a tour around the UK, to huge critical acclaim.
The show will return to Leicester for a week of previews from the 3rd of March, and will then perform at the London Coliseum from the 17th of March until the 11th of July 2026. Tickets for all performances will go on members presale on the 16th of July, with general sale opening on the 17th of July, and more details including further casting will be revealed at a later date. You can keep up to date via the London Coliseum website.
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
New major revival to play the Lowry
Time to get your head in the game, as the Wildcats are headed back to the stage! A major new revival of Disney’s “High School Musical” produced by Hope Mill Theatre is set to open at the Lowry in Salford next year, in the UK’s first non-replica production. The musical has a book by David Simpatico, and adapted and arranged music from the original film by Bryan Louiselle.
First staged in 2007, the year after the beloved film premiered, this marks the first major UK production since summer 2008 when it was staged at the Hammersmith Apollo. It will play at the Lyric Theatre at the Lowry from the 21st of August until the 13th of September 2026, with full casting and creative team to be revealed at a later date. You can find out more, and sign up to access member's presale, on The Lowry website.
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
New stage show set to open in the west end
A new stage adaptation of the film "Paranormal Activity" has been announced to open in the west end this winter. Penned by playwright Levi Holloway (Grey House), the play's full title will be “Paranormal Activity: A New Story Live on Stage”, with direction by Felix Barrett (Sleep No More). The film franchise, now comprising 7 films, has been going strong since 2007, grossing almost $900m worldwide, and have spawned plenty of other media, including web series, comics, video games and a podcast.
The stage play first premiered at Leeds Playhouse in 2024, running for a limited four week run, and, following a tour of the USA, will open at the Ambassador's Theatre on the 5th of December, running for a limited 12 weeks, closing on the 28th of February 2026. Further information, including full cast and creative time, will be revealed at a later date, and tickets are now on sale for all dates on the ATG website.
EVITA
New single released from 2025 London revival
It has been announced that the single version of “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina”, as performed by Evita star Rachel Zegler, will this week be available to listen to on streaming services, after having earlier been released on a limited edition blue vinyl (get yours now). The single was released on streaming services, including Spotify and Apple Music, on the 11th of July; no plans have yet been revealed for a full cast album for the production. The musical continues to perform at the London Palladium until the 6th of September, with tickets available from the LW Theatres website.
MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO
New trailer released for west end production
The RSC and Joe Hisaishi, in collaboration with Nippon TV/Improbable Today, have released a new trailer for the Olivier winning play “My Neighbour Totoro”, based on the beloved Studio Ghibli property. The show first performed at the Barbican Theatre in 2022, and broke the box office record for the most ticket sales in a day (a record previously held by Benedict Cumberbatch in Hamlet). It later returned to the Barbican for a second run, before making its west end bow earlier this year.
You can view the trailer on the Official London Theatre's YouTube Channel, and the play currently runs at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London’s west end, currently booking until the 29th of March 2026, with tickets available from the LW Theatres website.
JOE LOCKE IN CLARKSTON
Heartstopper star set to make his west end debut
It has been revealed that Joe Locke (Heartstopper) is set to make his first appearance in London’s west end, in the Samuel D. Hunter play “Clarkston”, to be directed by Jack Serio (Grangeville). Starring alongside him will be Ruaridh Mollica (What Next?) and Sophie Melville (Cowbois).
Locke made his professional stage debut in “The Trials” at Donmar Warehouse, before starring in the 2023 broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s epic musical “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” as Tobias, taking over from departing Gaten Matarazzo. Clarkston will open in an unconfirmed west end venue this autumn, further details will be revealed at a later date.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL GOES WRONG
Cast announced for new Mischief Comedy show
Mischief Comedy have revealed who will be starring in their newest upcoming project “A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong”, including a number of original Mischief cast members. Writers Henry Lewis and Jonathan Sayer will star as Robert and Dennis respectively, along with Chris Leask as Trevor, Nancy Zamit as Annie (a role shared with Dumile Sibanda), Matt Cavendish as Max, and Greg Tannahill as Jonathan.
Completing the cast are Daniel Fraser as Chris, Sasha Frost as Sandra, and understudies Alex Bird, Will Bishop, Siobhan Cha Cha, Colm Gleeson and Ashley Tucker. The show will open at the Lowry in Salford, and tour the UK prior to opening at the Apollo Theatre in the west end for a festive run from the 6th of December until the 25th of January. Tickets are on sale for all dates, and are selling fast, so don’t miss out! More information, including how to book, can be found on the Mischief website.
CLUELESS: THE MUSICAL
West end closing date set/UK tour announced
It has been revealed that the KT Tunstall and Glenn Slater musical “Clueless”, based on the 1995 film of the same name, is set to close in the west end, and will subsequently tour the UK. The show first played off-broadway in 2018 as a jukebox musical, however it was later revised and new music written, and this new version premiered in Bromley last year, in a two week pre-London preview period.
It transferred to the west end in March 2025, running at the Trafalgar Theatre with an initial closure date of June set, however it was extended to February 2026 due to high demand. It will now close on the 23rd of August this year, and a tour will open in autumn of 2026, with further details, including dates and venues, still to be revealed; you can still purchase tickets for the west end production from the ATG website.
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