IN THE WINGS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

This is your backstage pass to the latest announcements, press releases, entertainment news, and exclusive features. Dive into behind-the-scenes stories, performer highlights, and venue spotlights—this is where the magic of our shared creative journey unfolds.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

POLKA THEATRE PREMIERES THREE BRAND-NEW SHOWS IN THEIR SPRING/SUMMER SEASON, AND UNVEILS 2026/27 FESTIVE PRODUCTIONS

POLKA THEATRE PRESENTS ARTHUR - A BRAND-NEW LEGEND FOR GREAT ADVENTURERS THE RAPPING PRINCESS - A NEW MUSICAL ADAPTATION OF THE BOOK BY HANNAH LEE & ALLEN FATIMAHARAN PETER PAN – REMIXING THE FAMILY CLASSIC, ADAPTED FOR STAGE WITH MUSIC BY CONRAD MURRAY TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT POLKATHEATRE.COM Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director and Joint CEO Helen Matravers , Executive Director and Joint CEO Lynette Shanbury , and the whole team at the Wimbledon venue are pleased to annou

BRAINIAC LIVE! OLIVIER-AWARD WINNING SHOW TO TOUR THE UK IN 2026

TICKETS AND MORE INFORMATION HERE Brainiac Live! images available to download here. Fresh from winning the 2025 Olivier Award for Best Family Show, the science sensation Brainiac Live! will tour the UK in 2026, following its festive run at Birmingham Town Hall on 28 & 29 December 2025 . Brainiac Live! More mischievous than ever before, the UK’s original and favourite family science show explodes on stage and takes audiences on a breathless ride through the wild world of the

FULL CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR THE RETURN OFSH!T-FACED SHOWTIME®’SA PISSEDMAS CAROL

LEICESTER SQUARE THEATRE TUESDAY 9 DECEMBER – SUNDAY 4 JANUARY Sh!t-faced Showtime® are delighted to announce the full cast and creative team for their festive production A Pissedmas Carol running at Leicester Square Theatre from Tuesday 9 December – Sunday 4 January with a press night on Thursday 11 December . A Pissedmas Carol Stumbling and slurring its way back to Leicester Square Theatre for a triumphantly tipsy sixth year, the boozed-up boffins at Sh!t-faced Sh

ANRPR SPONSORS THE 26TH ANNUAL WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS!

We’re so excited to share that ANRPR is sponsoring the 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards! The awards return to the iconic London Palladium on Sunday 8 March 2026 , celebrating the productions, performers and creative teams who’ve truly captured audiences’ hearts this year. ANRPR sponsoring WHATSONSTAGE awards Now in its 26th year, the WhatsOnStage Awards remain the only major UK theatre awards voted for entirely by audiences – the people who make theatre what it is. 💛

BELGRADE THEATRE COVENTRY AND CHINA PLATE ANNOUNCE NEW PARTNERSHIP

Belgrade Theatre , Coventry and China Plate are delighted to announce a major new partnership which will see China Plate supporting the Belgrade on the delivery of future productions, including Nanny of the Maroons , which is due to open in Spring 2027. China Plate This partnership marks the next step in the Belgrade’s ambition to become a truly People-First organisation, with co-creation at the centre. Building on the success of their first co-created production Romeo and

MICHAEL LONGHURST WILL DIRECT NEW VERSION OFBOY GEORGE’S TABOO

ACCLAIMED DIRECTOR JOINS BOY GEORGE , BOOK WRITER JACK HOLDEN AND PRODUCER THOMAS HOPKINS , AS DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES ON A BOLD NEW VERSION OF THE CULT MUSICAL Taboo An utterly FABULOUS new take on the original musical that sparked conversations everywhere! Producer Thomas Hopkins is delighted to announce that Michael Longhurst – acclaimed Olivier nominated director of award-winning productions including Constellations , Next to Normal , Caroline, or Change , and former Arti

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - MAJOR NEW PRODUCTION, DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY TONY AND OLIVIER AWARD NOMINATED CARRIE-ANNE INGROUILLE

Thomas Hopkins& The Hope Mill Theatre PRESENT LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Music by HOWARD ASHMAN Book and Lyrics by ALAN MENKEN MAJOR NEW PRODUCTION, DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY TONY AND OLIVIER AWARD NOMINATED CARRIE-ANNE INGROUILLE TO PLAY AN EXTENDED CHRISTMAS SIT DOWN SEASON AT THE LIVERPOOL PLAYHOUSE NEXT YEAR THURSDAY 3 DECEMBER 2026 – SATURDAY 9 JANUARY 2027TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW Little Shop the Musical [Friday 31 October 2025] Following its major revival at Manches

THE ARTS THEATRE ANNOUNCES SLEEPING BEAUTY CAST AND MATT CROSBY’S TWENTIETH YEAR IN CAMBRIDGE

THU 27 NOV 2025 – SUN 4 JAN 2026 The Arts Theatre Cambridge is thrilled to announce the cast and creative team for this year’s spectacular Christmas pantomime Sleeping Beauty , celebrating reopening after a transformational redevelopment project and resident dame Matt Crosby’s twentieth year on the Arts Theatre stage. Matt Crosby honours his twenty years performing in The Arts Theatre Cambridge pantomimes by starring as Nanny Nutkins. Over two decades Crosby will have perfor

SNEAK PEEK WITH COMPOSER AMIE PARSONS PERFORMING HUMAN FOR A DAY, FROM THE LITTLE MERMAID

THE LITTLE MERMAID WATERMILL THEATRE WEDNESDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2025 – SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2026 Human for a Day Written and performed by Amie Parsons VIDEO AVAILABLE TO VIEW HERE VIDEO AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD HERE Composer Amie Parsons said "Human for a Day explores the longing to experience life from a fresh perspective, whilst also appreciating what's already yours." Amie Parsons AMIE PARSONS BY LEE PARSONS (IMAGES AVAILABLE HERE ) Far beyond the Cornish coast, deep beneath

FANTASIA ORCHESTRA LAUNCHES RESIDENCY AT SMITH SQUARE HALL WITH LUCY CROWE OBE

SUNDAY 23 NOVEMBER 7PM THE BIRDSONG-INSPIRED PROGRAMME WILL ALSO SEE THE ORCHESTRA MAKING THEIR DEBUT AT THE VENUE Fantasia Orchestra , the dynamic and versatile ensemble of some of the UK’s most promising musicians, will make its debut performance at Smith Square Hall on Sunday 23 November with Birdsong , a specially-curated programme inspired by the beauty of nature and of avian song. The landmark concert also marks the beginning of a four-performance residency at the hist

RIVERSIDE STUDIOS’ HAMMERSMITH CINEMA ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF OCTOBER-NOVEMBER PROGRAMME

SPECIAL SCREENINGS COINCIDE WITH THE MELODRAMA WONG KAR-WAI SEASON (12 – 19 OCTOBER), BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL, BLACK HISTORY MONTH (25 – 30 OCTOBER), AND LONDON PALESTINE FILM FESTIVAL (21 – 28 NOVEMBER) TICKETS AND FURTHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE HERE The team at Riverside Studios is excited to announce a huge range of films coming to the West London venue over the next two months. The venue’s two screens – a 200+ seat main auditorium with 4K projection and a 48-seat scree

KING’S HEAD THEATRE & JAMES QUAIFE PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCE FULL CASTING FOR JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, INCLUDING DRAG RACE UK STAR VICTORIA SCONE

FURTHER CASTING INCLUDES ELLIOTT BAKER-COSTELLO, PRISCILLE GRACE, MIA ITO SMITH, JOSEPH LUKEHURST, & PAVANVEER SAGOO King’s Head Theatre...

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BRAINIAC LIVE!

OLIVIER-AWARD WINNING SHOW TO TOUR THE UK IN 2026

Fresh from winning the 2025 Olivier Award for Best Family Show, the science sensation Brainiac Live! will tour the UK in 2026, following its festive run at Birmingham Town Hall on 28 & 29 December 2025.

More mischievous than ever before, the UK’s original and favourite family science show explodes on stage and takes audiences on a breathless ride through the wild world of the weird and wonderful. Watch from the safety of your seat as the Brainiacs delve fearlessly into the mysteries of science and do all of those things on stage that you’re far too scared (and definitely not allowed) to do at home.

Following the Birmingham run the tour will visit Wolverhampton Grand (31 March), The Hafren, Newtown (1 April), Hull New Theatre (2 April), Royal Concert Hall Nottingham (7 April), Watford Palace Theatre (11 April), Marlowe Theatre Canterbury (13 April), Mayflower Studios Southampton (26 May), Bristol Old Vic (28-29 May), Theatre Royal Brighton (4 July – on sale soon), Grand Opera House York (13 September – on sale soon) Queens Theatre, Barnstaple (18 October), Chelmsford Theatre (28 October – on sale Jan 26), Lighthouse, Poole (29 October – on sale Jan 26), Anvil Arts Basingstoke (30 October – on sale 14 November), St Georges Hall, Bradford (31 October – on sale soon), New Theatre Peterborough (1 November), with further dates to be announced.

DAVID HUNTER TO STAR IN THE WORLD PREMIERE OF
BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOL
ALONGSIDE LAUREN WARD AND HANNAH CORNEAU

SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE BOROUGH
THURSDAY 15 JANUARY – SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY

Producers are delighted to announce that David Hunter - whose extensive musical theatre roles include Waitress, Once, Kinky Boots and The Time Traveller’s Wife - will star as ‘F. Scott’ in the world premiere production of Beautiful Little Fool, alongside the previously announced Lauren Ward (Matilda, Dear Evan Hansen, Stranger Things: The First Shadow) as ‘Scottie’, Hannah Corneau (Wicked, Renascence, Frozen) as ‘Zelda’.

FULL CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR THE RETURN OF
SH!T-FACED SHOWTIME®’S
A PISSEDMAS CAROL

LEICESTER SQUARE THEATRE
TUESDAY 9 DECEMBER – SUNDAY 4 JANUARY

Sh!t-faced Showtime® are delighted to announce the full cast and creative team for their festive production A Pissedmas Carol running at Leicester Square Theatre from Tuesday 9 December – Sunday 4 January with a press night on Thursday 11 December, please enquire for availability.

Stumbling and slurring its way back to Leicester Square Theatre for a triumphantly tipsy sixth year, the boozed-up boffins at Sh!t-faced Showtime® cordially invite you to witness Dickens’s classic tale of miserly old Scrooge visited by three spirits to learn the true meaning of Christmas. With the aid of performance enhancing
(or more appropriately, debilitating) intoxication of course!

Join them this Christmas for a sozzled Scrooge, boozed-up Bob Cratchit or a tipsy Tiny Tim and charge your glasses as a genuinely inebriated actor treats you to a festive knees-up like no other!

🎭✨ We’re so excited to share that ANRPR is sponsoring the 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards!

The awards return to the iconic London Palladium on Sunday 8 March 2026, celebrating the productions, performers and creative teams who’ve truly captured audiences’ hearts this year.

Now in its 26th year, the WhatsOnStage Awards remain the only major UK theatre awards voted for entirely by audiences – the people who make theatre what it is. 💛

It’s always a joyful night full of live performances, celebration and community… and this year’s ceremony promises to be no exception.

🌟 Nominations open today!
🎟️ Tickets are on sale now!

We can’t wait to celebrate the connection between audiences and performers – the heartbeat of theatre.

#WhatsOnStageAwards #Theatre #LiveEntertainment #ANRPR #TheatreAwards #LondonPalladium #TheatreCommunity

BELGRADE THEATRE COVENTRY AND CHINA PLATE ANNOUNCE NEW PARTNERSHIP

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry and China Plate are delighted to announce a major new partnership which will see China Plate supporting the Belgrade on the delivery of future productions, including Nanny of the Maroons, which is due to open in Spring 2027.

This partnership marks the next step in the Belgrade’s ambition to become a truly People-First organisation, with co-creation at the centre. Building on the success of their first co-created production Romeo and Juliet earlier this year, the Belgrade continues to champion a model of theatre-making that places communities at the heart of the creative process.

Belgrade Theatre and China Plate have already enjoyed a successful creative relationship, having co-produced Casey Bailey’s Please Do Not Touch, which premiered at the Belgrade in Autumn 2024 and will embark on a national tour in Spring 2026.

Through this new partnership, the organisations will deepen their shared commitment to developing innovative, inclusive and community-led approaches to theatre-making, creating space for new voices and stories to flourish both in Coventry and on stages across the UK.

MICHAEL LONGHURST WILL DIRECT NEW VERSION OF BOY GEORGE’S TABOO

ACCLAIMED DIRECTOR JOINS BOY GEORGE, BOOK WRITER JACK HOLDEN AND PRODUCER THOMAS HOPKINS, AS DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES ON A BOLD NEW VERSION OF THE CULT MUSICAL

An utterly FABULOUS new take on the original musical that sparked conversations everywhere!

Producer Thomas Hopkins is delighted to announce that Michael Longhurst – acclaimed Olivier nominated director of award-winning productions including Constellations, Next to Normal, Caroline, or Change, and former Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse – has joined the creative team for the new version of Boy George’s hit musical Taboo, that Thomas Hopkins Productions (THP) has had in development for the past few years.

RIVERSIDE STUDIOS ANNOUNCES DECEMBER PROGRAMME

INCLUDES THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (15 NOVEMBER – 15 FEBRUARY), OLD FAT F**K UP (5 NOVEMBER – 20 DECEMBER) , AND F**KING LEGEND (20 NOVEMBER – 4 DECEMBER)

Head of Programming, Rhys Williamson said: “We’re thrilled to close out the year with such a vibrant and varied programme that truly captures the spirit of Riverside Studios. From bold new writing like Olly Hawes’ F**king Legend and Old Fat F**k Up, to the immersive adventure of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, this season brings together humour and imagination in equal measure.”

SPECIAL GUEST STARS ANNOUNCED FOR ADULTS ONLY PERFORMANCES OF KING’S HEAD PANTO JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

27, 28, 29 November 2025

4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 23, 27, 30 December 2025

3 January 2026

(Family Show: 23 November 2025 – 4 January 2025 )

King’s Head Theatre & James Quaife Productions are thrilled to announce details of the musical theatre icons and drag superstars who will be guest starring in the Adults Only performances of their 2025 pantomime Jack & the Beanstalk. The adult version of the show will be a no holds barred naughty version, making it the perfect event for a festive friends’ night out – this year, extra Adults Only performances have been added due to demand.

Each of these one-off performances will include one special guest star, who will join the cast as the ‘Magic Harp’, performing their own featured number as part of the show. They will also go on to join the cast for the all-singing, all-dancing closing number. Jack and the Beanstalk: Adults Only will take place across selected evenings from 27 November - 3 January, with the adult show press night taking place on 28 November.

The musical theatre stars performing will be West End star Cassidy Janson (Beautiful; &Juliet; Chess) on Thursday 4 December; Francis Haugen (Legally Blonde; Instagram influencer) on Thursday 6 December; Steven Webb (Shucked; The Book of Mormon) on Thursday 11 December; and Oliver Award Nominee Adèle Anderson (Fascinating Aida; The Cabinet Minister) on Saturday 13 December. Also performing are Georgina Onuorah (Brigadoon; Shucked) on Tuesday 23 December; and SIX alumnae Danielle Steers (Hot Mess) on Saturday 27 December.

BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOL
CONCEPT ALBUM AND NEW VIDEO SINGLE RELEASED AND AVAILABLE ON ALL STREAMING PLATFORMS

LISTEN NOW ON BOTH SPOTIFY AND AMAZON AHEAD OF WORLD PREMIERE AT SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE BOROUGH

With music and lyrics by Hannah Corneau and a book by Mona Mansour, directed by Michael Greif, Beautiful Little Fool tells the story of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald through the eyes of their daughter Scottie, as she rediscovers the lives and writings of her brilliant and tempestuous parents.
THURSDAY 15 JANUARY – SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY

FIRST LOOK!

PRODUCTION SHOTS RELEASED FOR THE UK PREMIERE OF ANNA ZIEGLER’S ACCLAIMED PLAY THE WANDERERS

MARYLEBONE THEATRE

FRIDAY 17 OCTOBER- SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2025

In a writer’s studio, reality and fiction collide. A mysterious email from a Hollywood star. A marriage tested. A story within a story. But who is really writing whom?

THE ARTS THEATRE ANNOUNCES SLEEPING BEAUTY CAST AND MATT CROSBY’S TWENTIETH YEAR IN CAMBRIDGE

THU 27 NOV 2025 – SUN 4 JAN 2026

The Arts Theatre Cambridge is thrilled to announce the cast and creative team for this year’s spectacular Christmas pantomime Sleeping Beauty, celebrating reopening after a transformational redevelopment project and resident dame Matt Crosby’s twentieth year on the Arts Theatre stage.

Matt Crosby honours his twenty years performing in The Arts Theatre Cambridge pantomimes by starring as Nanny Nutkins. Over two decades Crosby will have performed over 1,200 performances to over half a million audience members and is adored by families of all ages across Cambridgeshire.

Rachel Tackley and Victoria Beechey, Co-Chief Executives of The Arts Theatre Cambridge say: “For two decades Matt Crosby has given The Arts Theatre pantomime joy, laughter and sparkle. We’re delighted to celebrate this major milestone and his contribution to The Arts with him – our Dame who is the Queen of the panto!”

Steven Roberts returns to star as Happy Harry, following his UK Pantomime Award-winning performance as Wicked Stepsister Tess in 2024’s Cinderella.

Joining the cast are a host of West End performers including Tricia Adele-Turner (Stranger Things: The First Shadow), Matt Harrop (The Phantom of the Opera), Tanisha Butterfield (Mamma Mia!), Joseph Hewlett (Madagascar the Musical) and Daisy Twells (Heathers).

Completing the cast are ensemble dancers Taylor Alman, Charlie Barnard, Danielle Cato, Oliver Imeson, Sophie Karaolis and Morgan Broome.

THE LITTLE MERMAID WATERMILL THEATRE

WEDNESDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2025 – SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2026

TAKE A SNEAK PEEK WITH COMPOSER AMIE PARSONS PERFORMING HUMAN FOR A DAY, FROM THE LITTLE MERMAID WHICH BEGINS REHEARHALS NEXT WEEK!

‘Human for a Day’ Written and performed by Amie Parsons

VIDEO AVAILABLE TO VIEW VIA OUR WEBSITE ANNOUNCEMENTS PAGE

FIRST LOOK!

PRODUCTION IMAGES RELEASED FOR
CALUM FINLAY’S RIOTOUS COMEDY
FANNY

WRITTEN BY CALUM FINLAY
DIRECTED BY KATIE-ANN MCDONOUGH

KING’S HEAD THEATRE
UNTIL SATURDAY 15 NOVEMBER

STARRING MISCHIEF’S CHARLIE RUSSELL

Following its acclaimed world premiere at The Watermill Theatre in 2024, this “life enhancing comedy” (**** Whatsonstage.com) brings Fanny Mendelssohn’s long-overlooked story to the London stage with a new company, once again led by Mischief’s Charlie Russell as ‘Fanny’ – fresh from her most recent West End season in A Comedy About Spies.

CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

ANNOUNCED FOR

THE BARN THEATRE’S 2025 CHRISTMAS SHOW A CHRISTMAS CAROL

ADAPTED BY ALAN POLLOCK

DIRECTED BY JESSICA DANIELS

MONDAY 1 DECEMBER – SUNDAY 4 JANUARY

CEO and Artistic Director Iwan Lewis, Executive Director Liam McMullan, and the whole team at the Barn Theatre in Cirencester, are delighted to announce the creative team for their 2025 Christmas show, Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol.

The show stars Jack Lord (The Book Thief, Prince of Wales Theatre; War Horse, National Theatre Tour) as ‘Scrooge’, Paul Kemble (Top Hat, The Mill at Sonning; To The Streets, China Plate and the Birmingham Hippodrome) as ‘Narrator 4’, ‘Fezziwig’ and ‘Bob Cratchit’, Sam Lightfoot-Loftus (Twelfth Night, Stafford Gatehouse; Wishmas, Secret Cinema) as ‘Narrator 5’, Fred’ and ‘Young Scrooge’, Louise Faulkner (Eastenders, BBC; Lady Windermere’s Fan, BKL) as ‘Narrator 1’, ‘Mrs Cratchit’ and ‘Mrs Fezziwig’. The cast is completed by Rachael Kendall Brown (Get Down Tonight, ATG Productions; Where Eagles Fly, Irish Musicals & GFD Promotions) as ‘Narrator 3’ and ‘Belle’, and Claire Lee Shenfield (Little Women, UK Tour; A Christmas Carol, Derby Theatre) as ‘Narrator 2’ and ‘Fan’.

RIVERSIDE STUDIOS’ HAMMERSMITH CINEMA ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF OCTOBER-NOVEMBER PROGRAMME

SPECIAL SCREENINGS COINCIDE WITH THE MELODRAMA WONG KAR-WAI SEASON (12 – 19 OCTOBER), BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL, BLACK HISTORY MONTH (25 – 30 OCTOBER), AND LONDON PALESTINE FILM FESTIVAL (21 – 28 NOVEMBER)

The team at Riverside Studios is excited to announce a huge range of films coming to the West London venue over the next two months. The venue’s two screens – a 200+ seat main auditorium with 4K projection and a 48-seat screen with 2K projection – will host a diverse mix of films, from Hollywood blockbusters and international festival favourites to cult classics and family screenings. Tickets start at £7, complementing the cinematic quality with a sleek bar serving craft beers and cocktails, and a bakery offering gourmet toasties and snacks.

See website for more details!

FIRST LOOK!

PRODUCTION IMAGES RELEASED FOR
THE BELGRADE THEATRE AND BUSH THEATRE CO-PRODUCTION AFTER SUNDAY

WRITTEN BY SOPHIA GRIFFIN

DIRECTED BY BELGRADE THEATRE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR COREY CAMPBELL

BELGRADE THEATRE, COVENTRY
FRIDAY 10 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER

BUSH THEATRE, LONDON

MONDAY 10 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 20 DECEMBER

FANTASIA ORCHESTRA LAUNCHES RESIDENCY AT SMITH SQUARE HALL WITH LUCY CROWE OBE

SUNDAY 23 NOVEMBER 7PM

THE BIRDSONG-INSPIRED PROGRAMME WILL ALSO SEE THE ORCHESTRA MAKING THEIR DEBUT AT THE VENUE

The landmark concert also marks the beginning of a four-performance residency at the historic 18th century Westminster venue.

Renowned soprano and close friend of the orchestra Lucy Crowe OBE joins Fantasia under the stewardship of conductor and founder Tom Fetherstonhaugh. Together they trace birdsong in music across the ages – from Handel’s doves and Haydn’s hen to the kaleidoscopic colours of Messiaen, Berg’s exquisite The Nightingale and the jazz-infused lyricism of Gershwin. Sherwin’s timeless A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square and Kosma’s evocative Autumn Leaves add to a programme that soars through centuries of repertoire, blending elegance, modernism, and jazz-tinged warmth.

PRODUCTION IMAGES RELEASED FOR POLKA PLAYWRITING AWARD WINNING SHOW DWEEB-A-MANIA

RUNNING IN POLKA’S ADVENTURE THEATRE FROM SATURDAY 4 OCTOBER UNTIL SUNDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2025

Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive Helen Matravers, Executive Director and Joint Chief Executive Lynette Shanbury, and the whole team are pleased to announce the cast and creative team for Dweeb-A-Mania – the winner of the inaugural Polka Playwriting Award, which champions playwriting and the creation of new work for young audiences aged 7-13 years. The show will run in Polka’s Adventure Theatre from Saturday 4 October until Sunday 9 November.

Dweeb-A-Mania is a punchy, powerful new comedy which celebrates being exactly who you want to be. Get ready for flying kicks, body slams and a mind-blowing number of barbecued chickens!

KING’S HEAD THEATRE & JAMES QUAIFE PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCE FULL CASTING FOR JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, INCLUDING DRAG RACE UK STAR VICTORIA SCONE

FURTHER CASTING INCLUDES ELLIOTT BAKER-COSTELLO, PRISCILLE GRACE, MIA ITO SMITH, JOSEPH LUKEHURST, & PAVANVEER SAGOO

King’s Head Theatre & James Quaife Productions are thrilled to announce the cast for their pantomime production of Jack and the Beanstalk, co-produced by both companies. Bringing modern magic to the traditional family spectacular, the show will run from 23 November 2025 - 4 January 2026.

Leading the cast as Dame Trott will be Victoria Scone, who rose to fame as the first AFAB drag queen to be a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and was later a finalist on Drag Race: Canada vs The World. On stage, Victoria has recently played Pluto in The Frogs (Southwark Playhouse), as well as appearing in several Tuck Shop adult pantomimes in the West End.

Playing leading man Jack is Elliott Baker-Costello, who recently starred as Pepper in the international tour of Mamma Mia!, as well as covering Rolf in the Chichester production of The Sound of Music. He is joined by Priscille Grace as Jill – an experienced panto leading lady, she played the titular role in the Oxford Playhouse’s 2024 Cinderella pantomime. Grace’s credits also include Reputation at The Other Palace, Legends: The Divas Tour at the Adelphi, and Much Ado About Nothing at the Watermill.

Mia Ito Smith plays Fairy Fullobeans, and has recently performed in the South-East Asian Premiere of Dear Evan Hansen as Alana Beck (Victoria Theatre, Singapore). Pat the Cow will be played by Pavanveer Sagoo, whose credits include Macbeth (Shakespeare North Playhouse, The Dukes Theatre, Hope Mill Theatre & Lawrence Batley Theatre, 2025) and Sleeping Beauty (Storyhouse, 2024). Completing the cast is Joseph Lukehurst as villain Nightshade, who returns to King’s Head Theatre’s pantomime having played Prince Charming in 2024’s Cinderella.

POLKA THEATRE ANNOUNCES CASTING FOR THE FIREWORK-MAKER’S DAUGHTER AND REVEALS ITS 2025 FESTIVE LINEUP – ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL THE FAMILY

THE FIREWORK-MAKER’S DAUGHTER – A STORY OF ADVENTURE, BRAVERY, AND CHASING DREAMS AGAINST ALL ODDS – 15 NOVEMBER – 18 JANUARY

THE SNOWFLAKE – A HEARTWARMING CHRISTMAS STORY ABOUT FINDING WHERE YOU BELONG – 29 NOVEMBER – 25 JANUARY

THE BIG BASH – POLKA’S SPECTACULAR CHRISTMAS PARTY – 7 DECEMBER

PLUS, A RANGE OF FESTIVE WORKSHOPS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

The cast for The Firework-Maker’s Daughter is Tika Mu’tamir (Mrs. Armitage On Wheels, Farnham Maltings; Love’s Labour’s Lost, RSC) as ‘Lila’, Chand Martinez (Life of Pi, UK & International Tour; Story Makers, CBeebies; Little Angel Theatre) as ‘Lalchand’, Jules Chan (The Gardener, Greenwich Theatre; English Ako, Camden People’s Theatre) as ‘Chulak’, and Rose-Marie Christian (Marvin’s Binoculars, Unicorn Theatre; Santi & Naz, The Vaults) as ‘Auntie Rambashi’, with Ajjaz Awad (Arabian Nights, Bristol Old Vic) as ‘Hamlet’.

THE ARTS THEATRE CAMBRIDGE ANNOUNCES REOPENING 2026 SEASON AFTER NINE MONTH CLOSURE

The Arts Theatre Cambridge is thrilled to announce its Spring 2026 season, as the theatre prepares to reopen after a transformational redevelopment project.

The reopening begins with The Arts Theatre Cambridge’s homegrown Christmas pantomime, Sleeping Beauty (27 Nov 2025 – 4 Jan 2026). Cambridge’s favourite panto dame Matt Crosby celebrates his twentieth year on The Arts Theatre stage and will be joined by UK Pantomime Award-winning actor Steven Roberts. The cast is completed by a host of West End performers including Tricia Adele-Turner (Stranger Things: The First Shadow), Matt Harrop (The Phantom of the Opera), Tanisha Butterfield (Mamma Mia!), Joseph Hewlett (Madagascar the Musical) and Daisy Twells (Heathers).

Two highlights of the season include visits from Sir Derek Jacobi and Trevor Nunn, who both have special connections to The Arts Theatre Cambridge. Sir Derek Jacobi in Conversation with Richard Clifford (29 Jan) will be a one-night-only opportunity of incredible insight and joy of Shakespeare, and Trevor Nunn’s production of Noël Coward’s glitteringly risqué comedy Easy Virtue (19 Feb – 7 Mar) will brim with Coward’s mischievous charm and wit.

As part of its first ever UK tour, the phenomenally popular musical Operation Mincemeat (19-24 Oct) dubbed the best-reviewed show in West End history, will visit Cambridge. Musical fans can also enjoy Guys and Dolls (14-17 Jan) by Cambridge Operatic Society, Rock and Roll Man (16-21 Mar), the West End hit The Choir of Man (31 Mar – 4 Apr) and Blood Brothers (15-19 Sep).

Families can enjoy a host of brilliantly engaging children’s theatre; There’s A Snake in my School (4-5 May), A Squash and a Squeeze (27 – 31 May) and The Gruffalo (17-21 Jun).

Star-studded dramas include The Rivals (3-7 Feb) starring Robert Bathurst and Patricia Hodge, Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts (10-14 Feb) starring Tom Chambers, Single White Female (10-14 Mar) starring Kym Marsh, The Constant Wife (23-28) starring Kara Tointon and Death on the Nile starring Mark Hadfield.

See website for more fantastic shows!

KING’S HEAD THEATRE ANNOUNCES
2026 SPRING SEASON

Sofi Berenger, Executive Producer and CEO, and the whole team at King’s Head Theatre are delighted to announce their upcoming season from January to August 2026. The new season features two musical premieres, as well as a revival of a celebrated gay play, a piece from a Bruntwood Prize winner, the new play from the writers of 2025 hit The Gang of Three, and the new venue’s first dance piece.

See website for more details of all shows!

WATERMILL THEATRE ANNOUNCES
SPRING 2026 SEASON

WITH A CO-PRODUCTION WITH THEATRE BY THE LAKE IN ASSOCATION WITH HAMMERPUZZLE THEATRE COMPANY: LARK RISE TO CANDLEFORD, FRIDAY 6 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 14 MARCH

SWALLOWS & AMAZONS, THURSDAY 19 MARCH – SATURDAY 21 MARCH

TWO HALVES OF GUINNESS, THURSDAY 29 JANUARY – SATURDAY 31 JANUARY

Julia Samuels, Artistic Director of Theatre by the Lake says, “We are excited to be creating this imaginative new production of Lark Rise to Candleford with such brilliant partners and creative team members. It’s a beautiful story, embedded in the English countryside - and both the Watermill and Theatre by the Lake feel like perfect settings for this atmospheric tale.”

REHEARSAL IMAGES RELEASED
FOR THE BELGRADE THEATRE AND BUSH THEATRE CO-PRODUCTION
AFTER SUNDAY

WRITTEN BY SOPHIA GRIFFIN
DIRECTED BY BELGRADE THEATRE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
COREY CAMPBELL

BELGRADE THEATRE, COVENTRY
FRIDAY 10 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER

BUSH THEATRE, LONDON
MONDAY 10 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 20 DECEMBER

Belgrade Theatre Artistic Director Corey Campbell said, “At the Belgrade, we are committed to creating new work that reflects the world around us and resonates with our communities. Our co-production with the Bush Theatre on After Sunday embodies that spirit of collaboration, bringing together powerful storytelling and a shared dedication to platforming new voices. We are thrilled with this and we can’t wait to share it with everyone.”

REHEARSAL IMAGES RELEASED FOR CALUM FINLAY’S RIOTOUS COMEDY FANNY

DIRECTED BY KATIE-ANN MCDONOUGH
STARRING MISCHIEF’S CHARLIE RUSSELL

KING’S HEAD THEATRE
FRIDAY 10 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 15 NOVEMBER

NATIONAL PRESS NIGHT: THURSDAY 16 OCTOBER

Following its acclaimed world premiere at The Watermill Theatre in 2024, this “life enhancing comedy” (**** Whatsonstage.com) brings Fanny Mendelssohn’s long-overlooked story to the London stage with a new company, once again led by Mischief’s Charlie Russell as ‘Fanny’ – fresh from her most recent West End season in A Comedy About Spies.

MADDIE MOATE’S VERY CURIOUS CHRISTMAS CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE OLIVIER NOMINATED HIT SHOW

RETURNING TO THE WEST END THIS CHRISTMAS AT THE GARRICK THEATRE
FRIDAY 12 DECEMBER 2025 – SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2026

This Christmas, Maddie Moate brings her Olivier Award-nominated festive adventure back to the West End – and she won’t be alone! Casting is now confirmed for MADDIE MOATE’S VERY CURIOUS CHRISTMAS returning this December.

Beloved children’s TV presenter Maddie (CBeebies’ Maddie’s Do You Know?) will once again lead the show, joined by returning workshop helpers Kira MacCarter as ‘Tinker’, and Zain Abrahams as ‘Goggles’, with CBeebies star Jennie Dale reprising her role as ‘Mrs Claus’ via a special virtual appearance.

Created and written by Maddie, the show takes audiences on an exciting STEM adventure inside Santa’s workshop, with performances at the Garrick Theatre from Friday 12 December to Sunday 4 January, with a press performance on Sunday 14 December at 3.30pm.

Anna Ziegler’s award-winning new play The Wanderers gets its UK premiere at Marylebone Theatre in London.

Written by award-winning playwright Anna Ziegler (Photograph 51) and directed by Ukrainian-born, award-winning director Igor Golyak (Our Class), The Wanderers comes to London following a successful Off-Broadway run at the Laura Pels Theatre in New York.

The production will star Katerina Tannenbaum (And Just Like That, Gossip Girl), Paksie Vernon (People, Places and Things), and Anna Popplewell (The Chronicles of Narnia).

In The Wanderers, two narratives intertwine in a story about longing, connection, and the invisible threads that bind us across generations.

The Wanderers is playing at Marylebone Theatre from 17 October to 29 November 2025.

ZOG RETURNS FOR 2026 UK TOUR AND SUMMER SEASON AT CADOGAN HALL

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF EVERYONE’S FAVOURITE DRAGON

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved story Zog will fly back onto the stage in 2026 for a major UK tour, followed by a special summer season at London’s Cadogan Hall from 2 – 23 August 2026.

The announcement comes on the very day that Freckle Productions’ adaptation of Stick Man kicks off its 2025 UK tour in Brighton – marking an exciting double milestone as two of Donaldson and Scheffler’s best-loved stories take flight together.

First published in 2010, the book celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2025, making this the perfect way for families to celebrate with the keenest – and most accident-prone – dragon of them all.

First staged in 2019, Freckle Productions’ adaptation of Zog has become a family favourite, delighting young audiences with its mix of live music, puppetry, and laugh-out-loud storytelling. With joyful songs by Joe Stilgoe, puppets designed by Little Angel Theatre, and direction that brings Donaldson and Scheffler’s world vividly to life, Zog is a theatrical treat for all ages.

FIRST LOOK!

PRODUCTION IMAGES RELEASED FOR THE BARN THEATRE, READING REP THEATRE AND THEATRE ROYAL BATH PRESENTATION OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS

The Barn Theatre, Reading Rep Theatre and Theatre Royal Bath are delighted to announce that Martha Kirby (Club NVRLND, Evita) and Guy Woolf (The Cher Show, As You Like It) will star in the Built by Barn Musical of The Last Five Years. A Barn Theatre, Reading Rep Theatre and Theatre Royal Bath Co-Production written by Tony Award winning Jason Robert Brown.

The Last Five Years will appear at Reading Rep Theatre between Friday 19 September – Saturday 12 October, moving onto the Barn Theatre, Cirencester on Friday 17 October - Saturday 15 November before heading to Theatre Royal Bath’s Ustinov Studio from Thursday 25 November – Saturday 3 January, with a National press performance at Reading Rep Theatre on Tuesday 23 September.

FAULTY TOWERS THE DINING EXPERIENCE - CELEBRITY GALA CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF THE ICONIC SITCOM

Faulty Towers The Dining Experience celebrated in style this weekend with a glittering celebrity gala at the President Hotel in London, marking 50 years of Fawlty Towers. Stars, fans and industry friends joined Basil, Sybil and Manuel for a night of chaos, comedy and a 70s-style three-course meal in honour of Britain’s most iconic sitcom.

Familiar faces spotted at the event included Gemma Whelan, Dame Kelly Holmes, Julia Bradbury, Zoe Birkett, Kimberly Hart-Simpson, Corinna Brown, all raising a glass to one of TV’s most enduring comedies.

On Friday, the London gala was one of eight simultaneous performances staged across the UK and Australia to mark the exact 50th anniversary of the first episode of Fawlty Towers airing on 19 September 1975. From Brisbane and Sydney to Colchester, Newark and Torquay itself, audiences across two continents celebrated the sitcom’s golden milestone in style.

REHEARSAL SHOTS RELEASED FOR THE UK PREMIERE OF ANNA ZIEGLER’S ACCLAIMED PLAY
THE WANDERERS

Full casting has been announced for the highly anticipated UK premiere of The Wanderers, written by revered U.S. playwright Anna Ziegler and directed by Igor Golyak, following a sold-out, critically acclaimed Off-Broadway run in New York. Inspired by real events, the show will run at the Marylebone Theatre from 17 October until 29 November, with a national press night on 22 October.

As previously announced, Anna Popplewell (The Chronicles of Narnia, Halo, The Nun 2) will star as ‘Julia’, alongside Katerina Tannenbaum (Netflix’s AJ and the Queen, HBO’s And Just Like That, Gossip Girl, Better Call Saul) as ‘Esther’ and Paksie Vernon (Casualty, Eve, People Places and Things at Trafalgar Studios) as ‘Sophie’.

Now joining them will be Alexander Forsyth (Casualty, The Man Who Knew Infinity) who will feature as ‘Abe’ and Eddie Toll (World War Z, The Little Stranger, Casualty) as ‘Schmuli’.

Abe is a prizewinning novelist, attempting to capture his parents’ untold history whilst his own life unravels. When famous actress Julia Cheever begins writing to him, their electric correspondence blurs the boundaries between imagination and betrayal, between the stories we create and the ones that create us.

As Abe’s parents, Schmuli and Esther materialise from his pages - young, passionate, caught between tradition and desire - we begin to question; are these memories or inventions? And whose hand truly holds the pen?

OTANOSHIMINI!

SIX THE MUSICAL ANNOUNCES SPECIAL WORKSHOPS TO CELEBRATE THE JAPANESE CAST’S WEST END DEBUT THIS NOVEMBER

This November, SIX the Musical makes herstory once again, as the members of the original Japanese cast take to the Vaudeville Theatre stage for one week only – performing the global phenomenon entirely in Japanese (with English captions) from Tuesday 4 to Sunday 9 November 2025.

Following sold out seasons in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya earlier this year, the critically acclaimed Japanese Queens now bring their celebrated performances to London, making their West End debuts.

Original producers Kenny Wax, Wendy & Andy Barnes and George Stiles, by special arrangement with Umeda Arts Theater, the producers of the Japanese production, are delighted to invite the cast to London following their acclaimed run in Japan.

To celebrate this landmark moment, audiences can also take part in two special cultural experiences. On Thursday 6 November from 5.15 – 6.45pm, Dear Asia will host a Japanese Language Workshop, inviting participants to explore the language and culture of Japan through the songs of SIX. Fans will have the chance to learn the lyrics to their favourite numbers in Japanese, while also trying their hand at traditional arts and crafts in this fun and immersive session suitable for ages 10+.

Then, on Saturday 8 November from 12 – 1.30pm, acclaimed illustrator Chie Kutsuwada will lead a Manga Workshop with a SIX-inspired twist. This beginner-friendly class introduces participants to the fundamentals of manga drawing before guiding them to create their own manga-style portraits of the Queens. All drawing materials will be provided, and the workshop is also suitable for ages 10+.

BRAINIAC LIVE EXPLODES INTO BIRMINGHAM THIS CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY

BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL
27 – 30 DECEMBER 2025

The 2025 Olivier Award, Best Family Show -winning science sensation Brainiac Live! bursts into Birmingham Town Hall from 27–30 December 2025 with four days of mayhem and explosive experiments for the whole family. Tickets will be on sale to B:Music members Thursday 18 September at 10am, and general on sale on Friday at 10am.

More mischievous than ever before, the UK’s original and favourite family science show explodes on stage and takes audiences on a breathless ride through the wild world of the weird and wonderful. Watch from the safety of your seat as the Brainiacs delve fearlessly into the mysteries of science and do all of those things on stage that you’re far too scared (and definitely not allowed) to do at home.

HACKNEY EMPIRE ANNOUNCES FULL CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM FOR CINDERELLA

RISING STARS WITH HACKNEY ROOTS TAKE CENTRE STAGE,
AS CREATIVE FUTURES ALUMNA SIOBHAN JAMES IS ANNOUNCED AS ‘CINDERELLA’

Following the success of 2024’s pantomime, Dick Whittington and his Cat, Hackney Empire is pleased to announce the full cast and creative team for the 2025 pantomime Cinderella, directed by Clive Rowe.
Cinderella will play from Saturday 22 November – Wednesday 31 December, with a press night on Thursday 4 December at 7pm

The cast of Cinderella, in order of appearance, are Jade Johnson (Cable Street, Southwark Playhouse, & Juliet, UK Tour) as the ‘Fairy Godmother’, Siobhan James (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, UK tour, Moulin Rouge, West End, An Officer and A Gentleman, UK tour) as ‘Cinderella’, Nicholas McLean (The Addams Family, London Palladium and UK Tour; Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre) as ‘Buttons’, Alexandra Waite-Roberts (The Witches, National Theatre; Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre) as ‘Oblivia’, the Wicked Stepmother, Kat B returns for his 20th Hackney Empire pantomime as ‘ Flatula’, an Ugly Sister, George Heyworth (Bourgeois & Maurice, Aladdin, Hackney Empire) as ‘Nausea’, an Ugly Sister, Chrissie Bhima (Tina! the Musical, Aldwych Theatre; The Witches, National Theatre) as ‘Dandini’ and Luke Latchman (Sunset Boulevard, The Savoy; 42 Balloons, The Lowry) as ‘Prince Charming’.
The ensemble joining them are Christian De-Gallerie, Alex Ferro, Vieve Hamilton, Anna Maria Barber, Eloise Simpson, Clio Tamai and Matthew Tratch.
Two cast members of Cinderella have risen through Hackney Empire’s creative development programmes: Siobhan James started out in its cornerstone Creative Futures programme, taking part in the Artist Development Programme, Young Producers, and a production of Macbeth which subsequently toured to Edinburgh. Christian De-Gallerie first appeared in pantomime at Hackney Empire as a member of the Young Ensemble and returns to be part of Cinderella, following his ensemble role in Aladdin (2023).

POLKA THEATRE UNVEILS MAGICAL NEW SHOWS FOR SPRING 2026

POLKA ALSO CONFIRMS THE RETURN OF ITS CATAPULT ARTIST DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, WITH INCREASED SEED FUNDING SUPPORTED BY THE GAREK TRUST

Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director and Joint CEO Helen Matravers, Executive Director and Joint CEO Lynette Shanbury, and the whole team at the Wimbledon venue are pleased to announce details of additional shows coming to Polka in 2026.

Get your dessert spoons ready for a tale of perseverance, princes, palace balls, glass slippers and, um, ice cream? Cinderella Ice Cream Seller, from Little Seeds Music Productions, comes to Polka’s Adventure Theatre from Wednesday 18 - Sunday 29 March. Recommended for ages 5-10, this exciting musical retelling of a fairytale classic promises a delightful blend of storytelling, stunning live music, and theatrical magic that will capture hearts and tickle taste buds.

Celebrating cultural connections and the joy of play, Kish Kush arrives at the Adventure Theatre from Friday 13 – Sunday 15 March. A gentle production for ages 3–8 from Teatro Distinto with Giuseppe Palesciano and Ettore Chiummo, it follows two strangers separated by a paper wall. Though they speak different languages, they draw the shadows they see, listen to the sounds they hear and watch each other’s movements, connecting through a universal language to share their cultures and stories.

For the very youngest audiences aged 6–24 months, toooB from Angel Exit Theatre returns to the Adventure Theatre from Wednesday 25 February – Sunday 8 March following a sell-out run in 2023. A wordless, sensory adventure designed as a first introduction to theatre and dance, toooB invites little ones and their grown-ups into a playful world of empathy, wonder and interaction.

Alongside new shows, Polka also announces the return of Catapult, its artist development programme designed to support underrepresented voices in the Theatre for Young Audiences sector.

OCTOBER HALF TERM 2025 AT POLKA THEATRE – ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL THE FAMILY

DWEEB-A-MANIA – PUNCHY AND POWERFUL NEW COMEDY FOR 8 – 13 YEAR OLDS IN THE ADVENTURE THEATRE

4 OCTOBER – 9 NOVEMBER

WELL DONE, MUMMY PENGUIN – A CREATIVE AND HEARTWARMING ADVENTURE FOR AGES 3 - 7 IN THE MAIN THEATRE

18 OCTOBER – 2 NOVEMBER

PLUS, A RANGE OF THEMED WORKSHOPS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Artistic Director Helen Matravers, Executive Director Lynette Shanbury and the whole team at Polka Theatre are pleased to announce details of the exciting shows and activities families can enjoy this October Half Term at the Wimbledon venue. This season at Polka offers a vibrant programme of theatre and workshops, continuing its mission to empower, inspire and ensure theatre is accessible for all children.

Step into a high-energy new comedy with Dweeb-A-Mania, running in the Adventure Theatre from Saturday 4 October – Sunday 9 November, recommended for 8-13 year-olds. Written by Sarah Middleton and directed by Hannah Stone, this is the story of two teenage girls who set out to become champion wrestlers, after cool kid Bentley refuses to invite them to his wrestling-themed party on the grounds that they’re ‘dweebs’. This punchy and powerful new play celebrates being exactly who you want to be.

Dweeb-A-Mania has a press performance on Friday 10 October at 6pm - please enquire.

Dweeb-A-Mania is the winner of the Polka Playwriting Award 2025, generously funded by The Garek Trust and supported by Cockayne and London Community Foundation. The award’s publishing partner is Methuen Drama, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc.

In the Main Theatre, Well Done, Mummy Penguin plays from Saturday 18 October – Sunday 2 November for ages 3–7. This Can’t Sit Still production, commissioned by ARC and The Albany, is a joyful stage adaptation of the latest picture book by award-winning writer and illustrator Chris Haughton.

STICK MAN CAST ANNOUNCEMENT!

FROM THE BOOK BY JULIA DONALDSON WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY AXEL SCHEFFLER, STICK MAN TAKES ON A TRIO OF FESTIVE PRODUCTIONS
AND A UK WIDE TOUR THIS AUTUMN

This Christmas, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved Stick Man returns with an exciting new season of live shows. Families across the country can enjoy three magical festive residencies in London, Leeds and Milton Keynes, plus a nationwide tour starting later this month.

The touring cast features Milan Sangar (Macbeth, Uncle Vanya, Betrayal, Chicken Soup and Barley) as ‘Stick Man’; Ella Tekere (Fame, European Tour, Redlands, Chichester Festival Theatre) as ‘Stick Lady Love’, with Will Hamilton (Mountview Academy of Theatre Art graduate) as actor/musician and Rosie Malone (Stick Man Singapore, UAE & UK Tour, A Soldier’s Woman, and As You Like It) as Swing.
The Leeds company features Sam Makepeace-Beach (Sleeping Beauty, the EMC; Snow White, Maltings Theatre) as ‘Stick Man’, Maya Bassi Curtis (Make It Happen, National Theatre of Scotland, Edinburgh International Festival, Dundee Rep Theatre) as ‘Stick Lady Love’, with Hannah Baker (Pride and Prejudice; The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes) as Swing and Jack Ward (Bridgerton, Netflix) as actor/musician.
The London cast features Shaun Mendum (CATS the Musical; Romeo & Juliet) as ‘Stick Man’, Eleni Papaioannou (Dear Santa, UK Tour; Stick Man, UAE and The Lowry) as ‘Stick Lady Love’, Elizabeth Ellen as Swing and Peter Shipway (Stick Man, The Lowry, Salford) as actor/musician.

AFTERNOON TEA FIT FOR A QUEEN AT THE SOHO HOTEL IN HONOUR OF SIX THE MUSICAL

The award-winning global smash hit SIX has teamed up with The Soho Hotel to unveil a regal new SIX the Musical Afternoon Tea experience, inspired by the six Queens and the musical that continues to reign over the West End.

Until the end of the year, Refuel at The Soho Hotel will serve a limited-edition Afternoon Tea menu daily, 12pm – 4:45pm. Created in collaboration with the hit West End show celebrating the six wives of Henry VIII, the hotel’s pastry chefs have devised a royal selection fit for a Queen.

The crowning glory of the Afternoon Tea is a line-up of six pastries, each inspired by one of the Queens: Aragon’s Crown of Honour; Boleyn’s Strawberry Biscuit; Seymour’s Heart of Stone Blueberry Choux; Black Forest Cake of Cleves; Howard’s All You Want is Rice Pudding; and Parr’s Tudor Rose and Lemon Curd Macaron.

Bookings for the SIX the Musical Afternoon Tea are available from £45 per person.

Alessandro Paoloni, Head Pastry Chef at The Soho Hotel, said, “This Afternoon Tea is our homage to the fabulous Queens of SIX! Watching the Musical, gave me the chance to really understand their stories. I have tried to distil the essence of each Queen into a pastry and I hope that guests enjoy our tribute.’’

THOMAS HOPKINS PRODUCTIONS LAUNCHES SCREEN DIVISION: END CARD

PAUL MCKENZIE APPOINTED HEAD OF TELEVISION ALONGSIDE GIO MESSALE AS LIVE CAPTURE CONSULTANT

Thomas Hopkins Productions (THP), the award–winning company renowned for its work across theatre and live performance, has announced the launch of its screen-focused division End Card, appointing Paul McKenzie as Head of Television and Gio Messale as Live Capture Consultant.

The creation of End Card marks the next significant new chapter for THP as it expands into scripted television and live capture. Building on THP’s reputation for bold theatrical storytelling, the division will develop and produce original projects alongside adaptations of existing stage IP, with a focus on work of cinematic scale and international reach.

#thomashopkinsproductions #endcard #screenproduction

FULL CASTING OF FABULOUS FOOLS ANNOUNCED FOR UK TOUR OF SLAVAS SNOWSHOW THIS AUTUMN

PLUS NEW IMAGERY RELEASED

Slava’s Snowshow will travel the country, dazzling audiences at The New Theatre Cardiff (15-18 October), Manchester Opera House (22-26 October), Nottingham Concert Hall (29 October-2 November), Richmond Theatre (5-9 November), Birmingham Alexandra (12-15 November), Grand Opera House York (19-23 November) and Bradford Live (27-30 November).

This company of chaotic comics from around the world share the roles of the yellow and green clowns. This year’s touring company includes Slava’s son Vanya Polunin, and his long-time collaborator, Artem Zhimo. They are joined by Aelita West and Bradford West from the USA, Francesco Bifano from Italy, Yury Musatov from the Netherlands and Christopher Lynam from the UK.

Slava Polunin, the mastermind behind it all, will join the tour and will, for select surprise performances, return to the role he first originated over thirty years ago.

#slavassnowshow #slavapolunin #clowns #comedy #snowstorm #clouningaround #oldschoolcomedy #familytheatre #familyshow

LAUREN WARD AND DECLAN BENNETT TO STAR ALONGSIDE BROADWAY’S HANNAH CORNEAU IN WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION OF BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOL

RUNNING AT SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE BOROUGH THURSDAY 15 JANUARY – SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY

With music and lyrics by Hannah Corneau and a book by Mona Mansour, directed by Michael Greif, Beautiful Little Fool tells the story of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald through the eyes of their daughter Scottie, as she rediscovers the lives and writings of her brilliant and tempestuous parents.

Beautiful Little Fool will be directed by Michael Greif with orchestrations by Adam Rothenberg, musical direction by Jerome van den Berghe, set design by Shankho Chaudhuri, lighting design by Ben Stanton, and sound design by Domnic Bilkey.

Tickets go on sale today, Thursday 4 September via Southwark Playhouse

#beautifullittlefool #southwarkplayhouse #southwarkplayhouseborough #declanbennett #hannahcorneau #laurenward

LIVE NEXT TO THE APOLLO CELEBRATES SECOND ANNIVERSARY AT RIVERSIDE STUDIOS ANNOUNCES EXPANSION PLANS

Friday 26 September sees smash-hit comedy night Live Next To The Apollo mark its second birthday with an anniversary special gig featuring Thor Stenhaug, Jeff Innocent, Darren Harriott, plus one more to be announced.

Since launching in 2023, Live Next To The Apollo has become one of London’s most talked-about comedy nights — selling out week after week, building a loyal local following, and generating over one million Instagram views this summer. Hosted and curated by TV producer Jonathan Stadlen, the show has already featured more than 200 of the UK’s top stand-ups, from rising stars to big-name headliners. Tickets are famously affordable — just £12 on Fridays — with all profits going directly to the comedians, a transparent profit-share model that has won the night huge respect in the industry.

To mark its second anniversary, Live Next To The Apollo has announced major expansion plans. From early 2026, the show is looking to increase its number of weekly performances at Riverside Studios to meet audience demand, while also touring to larger venues and festivals across the South East — bringing its trademark warmth, affordability and top-class comedy to new towns including Bromley, Kingston, Berkhamsted, Henley-on-Thames and Tunbridge Wells.

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