WEEKLY NEWS ROUNDUP: 12 - 18 January
- James Tradgett
- Jan 19
- 6 min read
What a week it's been, cast announcements, new trailers, and confirmation of a major Sondheim revival we all knew was happening anyway. Here are all the top stories that have been rocking the theatre world over the past seven days...
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LES MISERABLES
New faces to join London cast
The latest new recruits to join the barricade have been revealed, as the west end production of Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil’s cultural phenomenon “Les Miserables” is set to welcome Harry Hepple (Hello, Dolly!) as Thenardier, Lizzie Bea (Sister Act) as Madame Thenardier, and Jess Folley (Burlesque) as Eponine. They join Ian McIntosh (Jean Valjean), Sam Oladeinde (Javert), Lucie Jones (Fantine - until Saturday 11 April), Thiago Phillip Felizardo (Marius), Joe Griffiths-Brown (Enjolras) and Izzi Levine (Cosette).
The three new recruits will join the cast on the 2nd of February, on the heels of the show’s 40th anniversary in the west end. "Les Miserables" currently runs at the Sondheim Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, where it is currently booking until the 3rd of October 2026. You can find out more, including the full current west end company, via the official production website, where you can also book tickets for all performances.
THE CHOIR OF MAN
Full cast announced for first ever UK tour
Time to give a warm welcome to the jungle to the cast joining the UK & Ireland tour of Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay musical “The Choir of Man”, with several familiar faces from the west end returning to the show. Reprising their performances from the London production are Levi Tyrell Johnson (Hard Man), Rob Godfrey (Beast), Joshua Lloyd (Barman), and Sam Walter (Romantic), as well as swings Sam Ebenezer and Jared Leathwood.
They are joined by new faces Gustav Melbardis (Maestro), Oluwalonimi Owoyemi (Poet), Ben Mabberley (Joker), Jack Skelton (Handyman) and Aaron Pottenger (Bore), with Niall Woodson and Lewis Dragisic joining as swings. "The Choir of Man" tour begins in Wimbledon on the 14th of March, and you can find out more about where the show will be performing, as well as book tickets for all dates, via the official Choir of Man website.
THE SECRET GARDEN
Full cast announced for York production
The full cast for the UK regional revival of Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon’s musical adaptation of “The Secret Garden” has been revealed. Leading the cast will be Catrin Mai Edwards (12) as Martha, Joanna Hickman (The Nutcracker) as Lily, Henry Jenkinson (Last Days) as Archibald, Elliot Mackenzie (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) as Dickon, Ann Marcuson (These Demons) as Mrs Winthrop, Elizabeth Marsh (The Threepenny Opera) as Mrs Medlock, André Refig (The Hypochondriac) as Neville, and Steve Simmonds (Cinderella) as Ben.
Estella Evans and Poppy Jason will share the role of Mary Lennox, and Cristian Buttaci and Dexter Pulling are to share the role of Colin. The cast is completed by ensemble members Stephanie Cremona (Cinderella: A Fairytale), Matthew James Hinchliffe (The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe), Lara Lewis (Calamity Jane), and Melinda Orengo (Precipice). The musical will run at York Theatre Royal from the 17th of March until the 4th of April, with tickets on sale from the venue’s website.
INTO THE WOODS
New trailer and production photos released
The Bridge Theatre have this week released a brand new trailer for their production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s musical “Into The Woods”, currently in performances until the 30th of May 2026. The cast features Chumisa Dornford-May as Cinderella, Jo Foster as Jack, Jamie Parker as the Baker, Katie Brayben as the Baker's Wife, Bella Brown as Rapunzel, Kate Fleetwood as the Witch and Gracie McGonigal as Red Riding Hood.
The production began performances in December 2025, and is currently booking until the 18th of April 2026, in a strictly limited run. The producers also released new photos from the show, which can be viewed on the the Bridge Theatre’s website, where you can also find out more about the production, and book tickets.
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
Sondheim musical to be revived, featuring "Wicked" stars
After months of speculation, it has been confirmed that Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Pulitzer-winning musical “Sunday In The Park With George” will be revived in London next summer, with Jonathan Bailey (Richard II) and Ariana Grande (13 The Musical) set to star as George and Dot respectively, the latter for whom it will be her west end debut. The musical was originally set to revive in 2021 at the Savoy Theatre, in a direct transfer of the broadway production starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford, however this fell through due to Covid-19.
Directed by Marianne Elliott, and designed by Tom Scutt, the musical will play during summer 2027 at the Barbican Theatre, with further details to be revealed at a later date. Tickets for the show will go on sale in May 2026, via the official website and box office only. Head over to the Barbican website to find out more about how to sign up for updates.
MIDNIGHT
Full cast announced for Sadler's Wells return
The complete cast for the full staged premiere of Todrick Hall’s new musical “Midnight” has been revealed, following the announcement that the musical would return to Sadler’s Wells East later this year. Hall himself will return to play Rail, with Rachel Tucker (Wicked) as Charlotte, Ayana George (MJ The Musical) as Ethel, and Charlotte Jaconelli (Burlesque) as Violet all returning to reprise their respective roles from the show's original workshop run.
They will be joined by newcomers Marisha Wallace (Guys & Dolls) as Happy, George Maguire (Burlesque) as Sylvester, and Ahmed Hamad (Just For One Day) as Squeak. The cast will be completed by Jeremy Beloate as Richard, Rachel Webb as Lily Rose, Maia Gough as Scarlet, Isaac J Lewis as Harry, Nick Rashad Burroughs as Horace, and Brandon Lee Sears as Rehearsal Rail. Tickets for “Midnight” can be purchased via the Sadler’s Wells website, where you can also find out more about the show.
KINKY BOOTS
Further casting announced for London revival
Additional performers taking to the stage in Nikolai Foster's upcoming London revival of Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein's musical "Kinky Boots" have been revealed, with previously announced Johannes Radebe as Lola being joined by Matt Cardle (& Juliet) as Charlie Price, as well as Tosh Wanogho-Maud (Ain't Too Proud) who will play alternate Lola, performing the role during every Monday evening show from the 6th of April onwards. The remaining cast will be revealed at a later date.
This new, non-replica staging of the show first appeared on stage in January 2025 at Leicester Curve, with Radebe also performing as Lola, alongside Dan Partridge as Charlie and Courtney Bowman as Lauren. It will return to the Curve for a week fo previews prior to opening at the London Coliseum, where it will run from the 17th of March until the 11th of July 2026. You can find out more about the produciton, as wll as how to book tickets, via the official Kinky Boots website.
BEETLEJUICE
Open auditions to be held for the role of Lydia
In the leadup to its west end premiere, the producers of Scott Brown, Anthony King and Eddie Perfect musical "Beetlejuice" have announced that they are to stage open auditions for the lead role of Lydia Deetz, to take place on the 22nd of January from 10am until 6pm, at a central London location; you can register for these auditions here. The requirements of candidates are of a female-presenting actor to play the role, playing age late teens (16–18), no taller than 5’4”, and of any appearance. The musical originally premiered on broadway in 2019, starring Alex Brightman as Beetlejuice, and Sophia Ann Caruso as Lydia, with the former reprising his title role after the show returned to broadway in the spring of 2022.
"Beetlejuice" opens at the Prince Edward Theatre in the west end on the 20th of May, where it will run for a limited time until April 2027, with casting still ongoing for all roles. You can find out more about the production via the official Beetlejuice website, where you can also book tickets and sign up to the mailing list for future updates.
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