NEWS ROUNDUP: 8 - 14 September
- James Tradgett
- Sep 14
- 5 min read
Another week comes and goes, as we get into the latter stages of 2025, however that doesn't by any stretch mean that we are done with the exciting stagey news, so here are the stories that have rocked the theatre world over the past week.
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BACK TO THE FUTURE
Musical to tour the UK, plus further international productions
Great Scott! Marty and Doc Brown are hitting the road in their DeLorean, as Bob Gale, Alan Silvestri and Robert Zemeckis musical adaptation of “"Back to the Future” is set to head out on tour around the UK for the first time ever next year. The show premiered at the Manchester Opera House in 2020, with an initial three month run cut short due to covid. It subsequently opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London, where it is currently in its fourth year of performances.
The show has also had a Tony-nominated run on broadway, as well as in Australia and Japan, with a German run set to open next year. The UK tour will open in Bristol in October 2026, and then go on to play in Edinburgh into 2027, Liverpool, Milton Keynes, Sunderland and Southampton, with further dates, as well as cast and creative team. to be announced at a later date. You can find out more about all global productions, including the UK tour, on the official Back To The Future website.
PADDINGTON
More casting announced for world premiere
The (almost) full cast for the upcoming world premiere of “Paddington: The Musical” has been revealed. Previously announced are Timi Akinyosade (Tony), Amy Booth-Steel (Lady Sloane), Tarinn Callender (Grant), Delilah Bennett-Cardy (Judy Brown), Adrian Der Gregorian (Mr Brown), Tom Edden (Mr Curry), Brenda Edwards (Tanya), Amy Ellen Richardson (Mrs Brown), Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (Millicent Clyde), Teddy Kempner (Mr Gruber) and Bonnie Langford (Mrs Bird); the role of Jonathan Brown will be shared by Joseph Bramley, Leo Collon, Stevie Hare and Jasper Rowse.
Completing the cast are Esme Bacalla-Hayes, Tiago Dhondt Bamberger, David Birch, Aimée Fisher, Jacqueline Hughes, Kellianna Jay, Sam Lathwood, Natasha Leaver, Katie Lee, Sunny Lee, Vicki Lee Taylor, Jáiden Lodge, Andilé Mabhena, Rose Mary O’Reilly, Ben Redfern, Hugo Rolland, and Simon Shorten. Casting and design for the titular bear remains close to the chests of the producers, details of which will be revealed during the first preview. Performances will begin on the 1st of November at the Savoy Theatre, with tickets available from the ATG website.
ELF: THE MUSICAL
Full cast announced for festive return
Buddy and his friends have been found! We now know who will be taking to the stage in this year’s winter west end staging of “Elf: The Musical”. The cast is led by Joel Montague (The Great Gatsby) as Buddy, Carrie Hope Fletcher (Calamity Jane) as Jovie, and Aled Jones (White Christmas) as Walter Hobbs. They are joined by Rosanna Hyland (Back to the Future) as Emily Hobbs, Martyn Ellis (Wicked) as Santa/Mr Greenway, Lucinda Lawrence (9 to 5) as Deb, and Dermot Canavan (Fiddler on the Roof) as Store Manager; the role of Michael Hobbs will be played by Ayrton English, Max Garlick, Harry Georgiou and Samuel Sturge.
The cast is completed by ensemble members Mollie Cleere, Farirayi Garaba, Sophie Pourret, Lucy Rice, Biancha Szynal, Kyle Cox, Zack Guest, Ryan Jupp, Dominic Lamb and Danny Nattrass, with Sophie Camble, Amy Punter, Samuel John Humphreys and Michael Tyler as swings. “Elf” will play at the Aldwych Theatre this Christmas, opening on the 28th of October, and running until the 3rd of January. This is the show’s third staging in the west end since 2022, with it having previously played the Dominion Theatre on two occasions, as well as at the Marquis Theatre on broadway in 2024. Tickets for this upcoming festive run can be purchased via the official Elf website.
ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
Complete 2025/26 season productions announced
Further productions for the 2025/26 RSC season have been revealed, with Kenneth Branagh, Helen Hunt and Mark Gatiss all featuring. Already announced for this season are “Measure for Measure”, “Cyrano De Bergerac” starring Adrian Lester, “Macbeth” starring Sam Heughan and Lia Williams, new musical “The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind”, “The Forsyte Saga Parts 1 & 2”, “All Is But Fantasy”, “Henry V”, and the world premiere of Roald Dahl’s “The BFG”.
Branagh will star first in Sir Richard Eyre’s new staging of “The Tempest”, following which he’ll be joined by Hunt in Chekhov’s play “The Cherry Orchard”. Also playing in the new year will be “The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui” starring Gatiss, marking the veteran actor’s RSC debut, as well as Martina Laird’s play “Driftwood”, and finally Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in a first collaboration with the Unicorn Theatre. Priority booking for members opens on the 22nd of September, more information about all upcoming productions, as well as how to become a member, can be found on the RSC website.
TEETH 'N' SMILES
Self Esteem to star in London revival
A new re-staging of David Hare's musical play "Teeth 'n' Smiles" is set to open in London next spring, with Rebecca Lucy Taylor (Cabaret), also known by her stage name Self Esteem, to star. The show first premiered 50 years ago at London's Royal Court Theatre, subsequently transferring to Wy
ndham's Theatre, and most recently playing at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre in 2002. This is the first time the show has played in London since the 1970s. Music and lyrics are by Nick Bicât and Tony Bicât respectively, with Taylor providing new additional music and lyrics.
This will be Self Esteem's first appearance in a west end play, having previously written the music for the critically acclaimed Suzie Miller play "Prima Facie" starring Jodie Comer. She also starred as Sally Bowles in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club alongside Jake Shears as the Emcee, from September 2023 until March the following year. "Teeth 'n' Smiles" will play at the Duke of York's Theatre from March until June 2026, with further details, including exact dates and casting, being revealed at a later date. You can sign up for presale through the ATG website.
DRACULA
Further details revealed for Cynthia Erivo led production
Kip Williams directed production of Bram Stoker's "Dracula", to play at the Noël Coward Theatre in 2026, has announced further details, with producers Michael Cassel and Bill Kenwright having revealed booking details. Performance dates, times, runtimes and age suitability have are now available; the play will have a runtime of 1 hour, 50 minutes with no interval, and is set to run from the 4th of February until the 30th of May 2026, with performances on Mondays through Saturdays.
The team behind the production also helmed the recent critically acclaimed staging of Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" starring Sarah Snook, with the Australian singer winning both an Olivier and a Tony for her performances in London and New York respectively. Priority booking for "Dracula" will open on the 22nd of September, at 11am for DMT+ members and 1pm for general presale, you can sign up for priority booking via the Delfont Mackintosh website.
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