WEEKLY NEWS ROUNDUP: 5 - 11 January
- James Tradgett
- Jan 12
- 7 min read
It's a new year, and news roundups are back after a naturally quiet festive period, so what better way to kick off a fresh season of theatre than with a summary of the biggest news stories from the past couple of weeks! We've had cast announcements, transfers and closures to keep our interests piqued, so here's the stories we've had circulating since the start of the year...
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LEGALLY BLONDE
Full cast announced for UK tour
The cast joining Amber Davies (Elle Woods) in the UK and Ireland tour of the Heather Hach, Nell Benjamin and Laurence O’Keefe musical “Legally Blonde” has been revealed. The cast will comprise George Crawford (Newsies) as Emmett, Jamie Chatterton (The Little Big Things) as Warner, Karen Mavundukure (Bronco Billy) as Paulette, Adam Cooper (A Chorus Line) as Professor Callahan, Jocasta Almgill (Grease) as Brooke, Hannah Lowther (Six) as Margot, Rosanna Harris (The Funny Girls) as Serena, Remi Ferdinand (Hamilton) as Pilar, Ty-Reece Stewart (Footballers’ Wives) as Kyle, and Bradley Delarosbel (Cats) as Carlos.
Completing the cast will be Keanna Bloomfield, James Lim, Aaron Shales, Jaime Tait, Daisy Twell, Louie Wood, Raiaz Fisher, Dylan Gordon-Jones, Lauren Hampton and Ollie Hart-Bradford. “Legally Blonde” begins its tour at Leicester Curve, before heading out to Southampton, Sheffield, Milton Keynes, Canterbury, Birmingham and beyond.
LES MISERABLES
Lucie Jones to return to west end production
Following three previous runs in the role, stage favourite Lucie Jones is set to return to the west end production of Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil's musical theatre colossus "Les Miserables" as Fantine. Jones first took to the stage in the musical back in 2010, when she performed as Cosette in the UK and Ireland tour, and later made her debut as Fantine in the west end production in summer 2021. After two further runs at the Sondheim theatre, as well as performing the role during the 2025 World Concert Tour, Jones now returns to the London production for a fourth time, beginning performances on the 19th of January, and leaving the production once again on the 11th of April.
She joins the 2025-26 cast led by Ian McIntosh as Jean Valjean, Sam Oladeinde as Javert, Amena El-Kindy as Eponine, Izzy Levine as Cosette, Thiago Phillip Felizardo as Marius, Adam Gillen as Thénardier, and Claire Machin Madame Thénardier; Katie Hall will give her final performance as Fantine on the 17th of January. The show is currently booking up until the 3rd of October 2026, and you can see the full cast, as well as book tickets, via the official Les Miserables website.
MIDNIGHT
Todrick Hall musical to return to London
Following its sold out workshop run, new musical “Midnight”, written by Todrick Hall (Burlesque) is set to return to Sadler’s Wells East for a fully staged second development run from next month. In addition to having written its book, music and lyrics, Hall also acts as the musical’s director and choreographer, and will return to the role of Rail, with the full cast to be revealed at a late date. The show had its first workshop run at the same venue in October 2025, performing seven shows following its initial closed-doors presentations in London and New York.
The strictly limited run of the show will begin on the 20th of February, and play until the 8th of March, and tickets can now be purchased for the run via the Sadler’s Wells website; Further details about the production will be revealed in due course.
THE BATTLE
Full cast revealed for premiere of Oasis/Blur musical
The full cast for the upcoming world premiere of “The Battle” has been revealed, with the lineup being led by Matthew Horne (Noises Off) as Andy Ross. Written by novelist John Niven, and directed by Matthew Dunster (2:22 A Ghost Story), the new piece will have its world premiere at the Birmingham Rep, where it will run from the 11th of February until the 7th of March, before setting off on a UK tour, beginning at Manchester Opera House.
Horne will be joined by Brandon Bendell (The Lord of The Rings) as Alex, Iona Champain (Earthquakes) as Jo, Harriet Cains (Bridgerton) as Justine, Billy Dunmore (Surface) is Guigsy, Tommy Garside (Sexy Beast) is Bonehead, George Greenland (Empire of Light) as Alan White, Oscar Lloyd (Stranger Things: The First Shadow) as Damon, Louisa Lytton (The Girl on the Train) as Meg, James Oates (The Other One) as Alan McGee, Paddy Stafford (Mojo) as Noel, Will Taylor (The Play That Goes Wrong) as Graham, and George Usher (pro debut) as Liam. To find out more, and to book tickets, head over to the official production website.
UNFORTUNATE
Full cast set for London return
They may not make it to Disney, but they’re certainly making it to London, as we now know who will be taking to the stage in “Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch” at the Other Palace. Returning to the role of Ursula will be Sam Buttery (Little Shop of Horrors), with Allie Dart (2:22 A Ghost Story) as Sebastian and others, Blair Robertson (Mamma Mia!) as King Triton and others, James Spence (pro debut) as Eric and others, and Freya McMahon (Hairspray) as ensemble all also returning to the cast from their runs on tour.
Joining them will be new faces Julie Yammanee (Young Frankenstein) as Ariel, as well as new ensemble members Jacob Whawell (Cats) and Kelly Sweeney (Heathers). The show will run at the Other Palace from the 6th of February until the 5th of April, with tickets now on sale from the venue’s website.
PRIVATE LIVES
Jill Halfpenny to star in Royal Exchange run
It has been announced by the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester that Jill Halfpenny is set to lead the charge in their spring production of Noël Coward's play "Private Lives", to run at the theatre from the 27th of March until the 2nd of May, marking the second production under the tenure of new artistic director Selena Cartmell. Directed by Blanche McIntyre, this production marks a return to the Royal Exchange for Halfpenny, after she performed in the 2024 revival of Shelagh Delaney's play "A Taste of Honey".
This highly popular exponent of Coward's canon sees "sparks fly on a honeymoon from hell and sexual chemistry is always only a heartbeat away from an explosion" (RXT website), as we follow each half of a formerly married couple taking a trip with their respective new spouses, however they inadvertently wind up in the same French hotel. You can find out more, as well as book tickets, via the Royal Exchange website.
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
West end production extends run into April
Following its critically acclaimed west end premiere in late 2025, Levi Holloway's stage adaptation of the "Paranormal Activity" film series, directed by Felix Barrett, is set to haunt the Ambassador's Theatre for just a little longer. Originally slated to close in February 2026, the play, currently led by Melissa James and Patrick Heusinger as Lou and James respectively, will now run at the west end venue until the 25th of April, with tickets now on sale for all performances up until the new closing date.
Originally premiering at Leeds Playhouse in 2024, the play embarked on a mini-tour of the US, beginning at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, before arriving at the Ambassador's Theatre on the 5th of December, with an initial 12-week run booked in. You can find out more about the play, as well as book tickets, via the official Paranormal Activity website.
HADESTOWN
Nicola Roberts drops out due to medical reasons
It is with regret that Nicola Roberts is set to depart "Hadestown" a week early, due to needing to undergo a small surgical procedure. In a public statement, she assured fans that "everything is okay", but also that she is "heartbroken I won’t get to share the stage with my incredible cast who I love dearly and perform for the passionate Hadestown audiences I’ve had the privilege to get to know over these last 5 months". Originally slated to depart on the 18th of January, Roberts gave her final performance at the Lyric Theatre on the 8th of January, ten days prior to her initial slated departure date.
Roberts joined the cast at the Lyric on the 16th of September 2025, taking over from the departing Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, and ended a four month run at the weekend. She had previously made her west end debut in "City of Angels" at the Garrick Theatre in march 2020, a run that was halted after just 11 days due to Covid-19. Michelle Andrews will perform as Persephone during the week ending the 18th of January, after which Joy Wielkens will take over the role until the 8th of March. Our thoughts are with Roberts, and we wish her well in her recovery.
STARLIGHT EXPRESS
Wembley Park production to close, world tour announced
Following an impressive run of just short of two years at the unique Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Richard Stilgoe musical “Starlight Express” is set to close in the spring of 2026. It was a big winner at the 2025 WhatsOnStage awards, as well as being nominated for three Olivier Awards, winning for Gabriella Slade’s costume design; it also released a full cast album later in the year, which can now be streamed on all music streaming services, including Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music.
The show will later embark on a world tour, starting in 2027, the first time the show has ever toured as such, with initial details to be revealed at a later date. It continues to perform in London until the 3rd of May, and you can find out more and book tickets for all performances via the Troubadour Theatres website.
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