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

Four 1950s men playing guitars and singing on a purple background

THE BARN THEATRE’S PRODUCTION OF MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET TO TRANSFER TO LONDON THIS AUTUMN

Darren Day leads the cast for a limited season at The Arts At Marble Arch: powered by Todaytix, 4 September - 6 December 2026

FULL CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR YES, PRIME MINISTER AT THE BARN

Full cast and creative team announced for Yes, Prime Minister playing between Friday 28 August – Saturday 3 October 2026

A grid of production images featuring actors in 1950s costumes playing guitars and singing

PRODUCTION IMAGES RELEASED FOR MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET AT THE BARN THEATRE, CIRENCESTER

Production photos by Alex Tabrizi, featuring Darren Day, Connor Payne, Christopher Erasmus, Joe Bence, Jenay Naima and the rest of the cast.

A grid of rehearsal images featuring actors, the designer showing a model box.

REHEARSAL IMAGES RELEASED FOR MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET AT THE BARN THEATRE, CIRENCESTER

Photos of the rehearsal room by Alex Tabrizi, featuring Darren Day, Connor Payne, Christopher Erasmus, Joe Bence, Jenay Naima and cast and creatives.

A series of actors headshots on a dark purple background

FULL CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

Joining Darren Day, are Connor Payne, Christopher Erasmus, Joe Bence, Joey Bradick, Jenay Naima, Geraint Downing, and Josh Haberfield

Four Production shots in a grid - a glamourous actor and actress in a modern and swanky looking apartment. There are balloons

PRODUCTION IMAGES RELEASED FOR DOUBLE DOUBLE AT THE BARN THEATRE, CIRENCESTER

Production images taken by Alex Tabrizi have been released, featuring actors Daniel Brocklebank and Faye Brookes

A series of images of two caucasian actors in a rehearsal room in various states of rehearsal

REHEARSAL IMAGES RELEASED FOR DOUBLE DOUBLE AT THE BARN THEATRE, CIRENCESTER

Rehearsal images taken by Alex Tabrizi have been released, featuring actors Daniel Brocklebank and Faye Brookes

A caucasian actor in a black t-shirt on a grey background

DARREN DAY TO STAR AS SAM PHILLIPS IN MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

Darren Day will be performing in the Barn Theatre’s musical which returns for an extended run this summer between 15 June – 22 August

A caucasian woman in a blue dress stands on a stage with a luscious red curtain behind her, and her hands outstretched in song

PRODUCTION IMAGES RELEASED FOR OTTILIE AT THE BARN THEATRE, CIRENCESTER

See a selection of production images of Jolene O'Hara in the title role. Photos by Alex Tabrizi

A greying caucasian man with a beard and a brunette caucasian women both against grey backgrounds look to the camera. Actor's headshots

CORONATION STREET STARS DANIEL BROCKLEBANK AND FAYE BROOKES TO STAR IN DOUBLE DOUBLE AT THE BARN THEATRE, CIRENCESTER

Weeks before his 37th birthday, Philippa’s husband Richard dies – the birthday that the terms of his inheritance required him to be alive and married. In the throes of grief, Philippa hatches a plan: find someone she can pass off as Richard and split the £2million windfall.

Text based poster images for Million Dollar Quartet and The King's Speech - gold writing on blue/purple backgrounds

BARN THEATRE ANNOUNCES FINAL DETAILS OF ITS 2026 BUILT BY BARN SEASON

Back by popular demand, Million Dollar Quartet, and a Built By Barn revival of The King’s Speech.

FIRST LOOK! PRODUCTION IMAGES RELEASED FORMEN BEHAVING BADLY: THE PLAY RUNNING UNTIL SATURDAY 7 MARCHBARN THEATRE, CIRENCESTER

CEO and Artistic Director Iwan Lewis, Executive Director Liam McMullan, and the whole team at the Barn Theatre in Cirencester, are delighted to share the production photos for Built By Barn World Premiere of Men Behaving Badly: The Play, (Friday 30 January – Saturday 7 March, with a national press night on Tuesday 3 February).

CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR MEN BEHAVING BADLY THE PLAY AT BARN THEATRE, CIRENCESTER

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 cast and creative team for Built By Barn World Premiere of Men Behaving Badly: The Play, (Friday 30 January – Saturday 7 March).

LINE UP ANNOUNCED FOR CELEBRITY WEAKEST LINK WITH ANNE ROBINSON AT BARN THEATRE AS PART OF HATHEROP BIG BUILD CAMPAIGN, SATURDAY 18 JANUARY

Line up announced for Celebrity Weakest Link with Anne Robinson at Barn Theatre.

BARN THEATRE TO HOST CELEBRITY WEAKEST LINK WITH ANNE ROBINSON

The Barn Theatre is delighted to announce a very special charity event on Saturday 18 January 2025: a one-of-a-kind live celebrity edition o

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The Barn Theatre production of Million Dollar Quartet will transfer to London this autumn for a strictly limited season. The critically acclaimed production, currently playing a summer season in Cirencester, will play at The Arts at Marble Arch: powered by TodayTix from Friday 4 September to Sunday 6 December 2026.

Stage and screen favourite Darren Day will reprise the role of ‘Sam Phillips’, the visionary producer who discovered the sound of rock ’n’ roll, with full casting for the London season to be announced shortly.

Watermill Theatre are delighted to announce the cast and creative team of the world premiere stage adaptation of Reverend Richard Coles’ bestselling mystery novel Murder Before Evensong, playing from Friday 25 September – Saturday 14 November.

The cast for Murder Before Evensong will feature Ian Hallard, Ajani Cabey, Caroline Gruber, David Hounslow, Kate Russell-Smith, Jaz Singh Deol, Julie Teal, Alex Wilson.

Murder Before Evensong has been adapted for stage by Paul Hart and Shaun McKenna – who were behind the multi-award winning 2023 production of The Lord of the Rings.

The Barn Theatre in Cirencester, are delighted to announce the full cast and creative team for Yes, Prime Minister playing between Friday 28 August – Saturday 3 October.

Jim Hacker and Sir Humphrey are back in the prequel to the Barn Theatre’s 2023 show I’m Sorry, Prime Minister, which has recently had a West End residency before going on tour across the UK.

The cast will include Clive Hayward as ‘Sir Humphrey’, playing ‘Sir Jim Hacker’ will be Jay Villiers, William Owen will play ‘Bernard Wooley’, Ruth Gibson will play ‘Claire Sutton’, playing both ‘Gordon The American Ambassador’ and ‘Cameraman’ will be Maurey Richards and playing both ‘Jeremy Burnham’ and ‘Simon Chester’ will be Mark Stratton.

Yes, Prime Minister will have an all-female creative team made up of director Charlotte Westenra with set and costume design from Anna Kelsey, lighting design from Jodie Underwood and sound design from Elizabeth Purnell.

Kongo Dia Ntotila to headline Brassworks as Woolwich Works' festival of horns returns for its third year

Brassworks, Woolwich Works' hugely popular festival celebrating the power, colour and joy of brass music, returns on Saturday 5 September with its biggest programme yet, bringing together internationally acclaimed musicians, street performers, workshops and family activities for a full day of free entertainment.

This year's line-up is headed by Congolese Afro-jazz collective Kongo Dia Ntotila (KDN), alongside Brass Funkeys, Crystal Palace Band, Balkanatics, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO), DJ BobaFatt and Mr Burn.

Riverside Studios celebrates 50 years of landmark theatre with Flywheel Theatre’s five play repertory season

Plus more star names including Simon Callow CBE and Lindsay Duncan CBE return to Riverside for in conversation events in celebration of the venue's 50th anniversary.

West End musicals Six and Hot Mess join forces for exclusive musical mash-up.

Nia Stephen, who currently plays Catherine Parr in the West End production of SIX at the Vaudeville Theatre, and Danielle Steers, who stars as Earth in HOT MESS at @The Other Palace, and previously played Catherine Parr in the West End, have recorded a new mash-up of I Don’t Need Your Love from SIX and Happy from HOT MESS.

The mash-up has been jointly arranged by Joe Beighton, musical supervisor of SIX and music supervisor and co-orchestrator of HOT MESS, and HOT MESS composer, lyricist and co-orchestrator Jack Godfrey. Sam Featherstone is recording engineer and mix engineer for the collaboration, having previously produced the Six UK studio album.

Announcing the cast of the new musical stage adaptation of Szpilman’s internationally acclaimed memoir, the inspiration behind Roman Polanski’s Academy Award-winning film.

In addition to previously announced lead Daniel Krikler playing Wladyslaw Szpilman, the cast is Rosalind Ford (Coven, Kiln Theatre) as ‘Mother’; Oliver Grant (Cyrano De Bergerac, RSC) as‘Hosenfeld’; TJ Holmes (Wuthering Heights, Wise Children, National Theatre) as ‘Father’; Mischa Jardine(101 Dalmatians, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre) as ‘Janina’; Elżbieta Kalicka (The Bear Who Went To War, Albany Theatre) as ‘Regina’; Nitai Levi (The Holy Rosenbergs, Menier Chocolate Factory and Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Donmar Warehouse) as ‘Henryk’; Melania Maggiore (Sister Act, Stage Entertainment, National Theatre, Milan) as ‘Halina’; Max Roll (Good Night, Oscar, Broadway and Barbian London) as ‘Gimpel/Majorek’; and they are joined by ensemble Oliver Magor (The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, Leeds Playhouse and tour) and Erin Rowlatt, making her professional stage debut.

Written and directed by Thom Southerland (Titanic the Musical), The Pianist will run at Park Theatre, London, from 15 October to 28 November 2026, with a national press night on Thursday 22 October. Before its London opening, the production will play a limited run at Mayflower Studios, Southampton, from 9 to 12 September 2026.

Riverside Studios announces full autumn programme for their 50th anniversary year. Highlights include Andy Sandberg’s 5-show Mainstage Season, Rep: Radical Classical, and a special season of shows celebrating 50 years of Riverside Studios.

The theatre programme showcases a dynamic line-up of new writing, returning hits and contemporary performance from emerging and established voices that celebrate the anniversary of the iconic West London venue.

Head of Programming, Rhys Williamson said: “We're incredibly proud to welcome such a diverse range of artists to Riverside for our 50th anniversary year, and we can't wait to share these exciting new productions with audiences over the coming months.”

Cast announced for Holy Fool - the world premiere of a thrilling new play about Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich at Park Theatre

Written by by Rosalind Adler and Lea Sellers, and directed by Kate Fahy, the production runs at Park Theatre, London, from 27 August to 10 October 2026.

Benjamin O'Mahony stars as Dmitri “Mitya” Shostakovich. He is joined by Jenna Augen as ‘Nina’, Phoebe Pryce as ‘Katya’ and Fergus O’Donnell as ‘Izaak’.

At the height of Stalin’s reign of terror, celebrated composer Dmitri Shostakovich walks a perilous tightrope. One wrong note could topple him; one perfectly judged crescendo might save his life. Under the constant threat of torture and death, he must appease a brutal despot – while quietly resisting him.

Announcing Franz & Marie, a new musical inspired by Georg Büchner's Woyzeck with book & lyrics by Chris Broderick, newly adapted by Teresa Howard with additional music arrangements and orchestrations by Steve Edis running at Charing Cross Theatre and The Players Bar from 28 September to 14 November.

Franz & Marie is a unique and visceral musical that breathes new life into Georg Büchner’s classic German tragedy, Woyzeck, with soul-rattling Indie Raw Folk. It was originally commissioned two decades ago by the award-winning Korean company Acom and created by key members of the Kentish underground cult band, The Singing Loins. Franz & Marie is Teresa Howard’s adaptation of that Singing Loins show, reimagined with a 14 strong cast of actor-musicians for Charing Cross Theatre in 2026.

FIRST LOOK! Production images are released for The Smile of Her, the acclaimed autobiographical play by Academy, Emmy, and Golden Globe Award winner Christine Lahti, which plays a strictly limited engagement at the Marylebone Theatre from Friday 10 July to Saturday 29 August 2026, with a national press night tonight: Thursday 16 July.

Produced by Nina Tassler, Jenny Warburg and Wild Yak Productions, in association with Gloria Steinem The Smile of Her is directed by Mêlisa Annis and designed by Sarah Beaton, with sound design by David Gregory, lighting design by Matt Haskins and projection design by Matt Powell.

Production stills by Mark Senior.

Jenny Seagrove and Simon Shepherd return to Theatre Royal Windsor in Royce Ryton’s acclaimed thriller, The Anastasia File. Following critical acclaim last year, the production will return to the theatre from 30 September –3 October 2026.

Jenny Seagrove (A Woman of Substance with Portman-Artemis Productions, Local Hero with Goldcrest Films, Judge John Deed with One-Eyed Dog Limited) reprises her role as Mrs Manahan, alongside Simon Shepherd (Peak Practice with Central Independent Television, Midsomer Murders with Bentley Productions) as The Inspector. They are joined by returning cast members Ashley D. Gayle and Rosie Thomson.

Inspired by the true story of Anne Manahan, whose thirty-year battle for recognition as the last surviving Romanov was one of the most popular historical mysteries of the twentieth century.

Faulty Towers The Dining Experience is excited to launch new discounted tickets for families, making a fun family night out with Basil, Sybil and Manuel more affordable this summer for a limited time only as part of the government's Great British Summer Savings scheme.

The government initiative, which runs until 1 September 2026, temporarily cuts VAT from 20% to 5% on children's and family tickets for theatres, shows and experiences, helping families enjoy more of the moments that matter during the school holidays.

Faulty Towers The Dining Experience is proud to be passing this saving directly on to customers, with new discount children’s ticket prices in London from £40.69, and discounted family tickets from £166.

Charing Cross Theatre and The Players Bar today announces a limited season of two one-woman operas, The Seven Deadly Sins and The Human Voice, performed together as a double bill for 10 performances only 11 – 19 September 2026.

Starring Katherine McIndoe, directed by Alejandro Bonatto and with musical direction by Adrian Salinero (The Seven Deadly Sins) and Elspeth Wilkes (The Human Voice), the double bill brings together two extraordinary works exploring female identity, ambition, emotional endurance and self-betrayal.

The Seven Deadly Sins, with music by Kurt Weill and libretto by Bertolt Brecht, is a biting and sharp-edged satire of ambition and self-betrayal, set to a score steeped in Weimar cabaret and 1930s American jazz.

The Human Voice, with music by Francis Poulenc and libretto by Jean Cocteau, is a harrowing one-woman opera, unfolding through a single, unbroken phone call that becomes the last conversation of a love affair.

Production images released for Our Man In Havana at Theatre Royal Windsor ahead of UK Tour.

Our Man in Havana, adapted by Clive Francis from Graham Greene’s novel, follows the hilarious exploits of James Wormold, a British vacuum cleaner salesman in pre-revolutionary Havana, Cuba. Struggling financially to support his spoiled daughter, Wormold is recruited by MI6 agent Hawthorne to be a spy. Lacking any actual spy skills or intentions, Wormold fabricates an entire network of fictional agents and reports, using his imagination and local bar conversations.

📷 Jack Merriman @jackmerrimanphotography

Tickets on sale now for Hackney Empire’s 2026 artist development programme production Threads, directed by award-winning director Stef O'Driscoll, with a creative team bringing together returning ADP alumni and collaborators alongside new artists for 2026.

Created with and performed by a company of over 50 young artists and creatives aged 14–19, Threads is a newly devised production with live, original songs and music, that reflects the voices, questions and creativity of young people today, while continuing Hackney Empire’s long-standing commitments to championing marginalised and global majority creatives, and developing meaningful pathways into the creative industries.

King’s Head Theatre, Islington, has appointed Amber Massie-Blomfield as Interim Executive Director and CEO and James Quaife as Interim Executive Producer.

Massie-Blomfield will oversee the theatre’s executive management, finance, operations and governance during the interim period. She will be in post from July on a part-time basis, alongside her work developing her organisation Fern Culture.

Quaife will focus on artistic and producing leadership, helping to ensure a compelling programme and strong creative relationships within the industry.

Following sold-out concerts at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Keaka Productions LLC and Charing Cross Productions with Eric McCormack, Michael Scott and Second Set LLC are proud to announce that Wild About You will run at the Charing Cross Theatre from 18 January to 10 April 2027.

On the day of his high school graduation party, Billy, a young man feeling at odds with his future before it has even begun, finds a trunk of letters written to him by his late mother, whom he’d been told had abandoned him as a child. The discovery sets Billy and his best friend Scoot on a journey to uncover the truth about his past, and his connection to a woman he never knew, who might just be the key to understanding where he stands in the world.

Full casting and creative team to be announced in due course.

Ahead of tonight’s press night, producers Vicky Graham, Birmingham Hippodrome, and Aria Entertainment are delighted to release the production images for Hot Mess.

Created by the award-winning duo behind 42 Balloons, Jack Godfrey and Ellie Coote, Hot Mess is a high-energy original romcom that reimagines the climate crisis as a turbulent love story between Earth and Humanity.

After a billion years of bad dates, Earth has finally found the one… Humanity. Sparks fly. Seeds are sown. Ground is broken. But what begins as a passionate love affair between the universe’s most iconic couple quickly descends into a hot mess.

An original pop musical about love, hope, and the ultimate break up. Playing The Other Palace until 6 September 2026.

https://lnkd.in/e95T_3Pb
📷 Pamela Raith

King's Head Theatre announces its 2026 Autumn Season; with three new shows on sale.

Using the lens of technology, politics, and sexuality, this season asks a timely question: who are we behind our public face? Some of the biggest stories are told in the smallest rooms - and this autumn, each of these stories is about the distance between the public face and the private truth.

Opening the season is the London premiere of the award-winning South Korean musical You & It (Thursday 20 August – Saturday 26 September) by Seoeun O and QLee.

Following it is the return of the box-office record-breaking The Gang of Three, back at King’s Head Theatre for a strictly limited run (Thursday 1 to Sunday 11 October) before it launches a UK tour.

Finally, a critically acclaimed dynamic double bill of ’s tell me straight and aggy (Thursday 15 October – Saturday 14 November) transfers to King’s Head Theatre, following smash-hit runs at the Park Theatre.

Rounding off the autumn season is the previously announced pantomime, Dick Whittington (Saturday 21 November – Sunday 3 January 2027).

FIRST LOOK: Rehearsal images for The Smile of Her, the acclaimed autobiographical play by Academy, Emmy, and Golden Globe Award winner Christine Lahti have been released. The production plays a strictly limited engagement at the Marylebone Theatre from Friday 10 July to Saturday 29 August 2026.

They also announce the young actresses who will be playing the role of “Girl” alongside Lahti. They are Jesamine-Bleu Gibbs, previously seen in Matilda at the Cambridge Theatre and The Sound of Music at Chichester Festival Theatre, alongside Isabella Ford who is making her professional stage debut in the show, following advertising work including Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo) and theatre training with Spirit Young Performers Company. The two young actresses will be sharing the role across the 7-week run of performances.

Directed by Mêlisa Annis, the production marks Lahti’s first UK stage appearance and the first London presentation of the deeply personal solo work she wrote and performs herself.

📷 Mark Senior

Woolwich Works has announced the return of Brassworks, its annual celebration of brass music, street performance and community involvement, on Saturday 5 September 2026. Taking place as a flagship event in the venue's fifth anniversary year, the free festival will once again bring together some of the most renowned names in brass, the local community and music enthusiasts for a day of diverse live music and fun.

See the website for full line-up.

Producers of Hot Mess announce series of post-show events curated by Pollinate, exploring musical theatre, climate and cultural change.

Ahead of London Climate Action Week next week, producers Vicky Graham, Birmingham Hippodrome, and Aria Entertainment are delighted to announce a new series of post-show panel events and a workshop for multi-award-winning 5-star new musical Hot Mess, curated by Pollinate, a new organisation developing musical theatre focused on climate and nature.

Songwriting for Climate Recovery – Friday 26 June
Staging Climate Themed Shows – Tuesday 7 July
Love Songs for the Planet – Saturday 18 July
Better With Time: Building an Equal and Habitable UK – Tuesday 28 July

Hot Mess runs at The Other Palace until 6 September 2026.

Production images released for Million Dollar Quartet at the Barn Theatre, Cirencester until 22 August.

On the night of December 4th 1956, four men walked into a recording studio in Memphis and made musical history. Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley were brought together by pure chance for a jam session which would go on to shape the trajectory of rock ‘n’ roll music across the world.

Production photos by Alex Tabrizi, featuring Darren Day, Connor Payne, Christopher Erasmus, Joe Bence, Jenay Naima and the rest of the cast.

Cast announced for Alice In Wonderland, returning to London this summer, at both Riverside Studios and Soho Theatre Walthamstow.

The production will feature Ailsa Erskinem, Kate Malyon, Clare Brice, Honey Gabriel, Sean Garratt, Tom Giles, Skye Hallam, Thomas Hewitt, Grace Hussey-Burd, Daniel Page and Sophie Wilkinson.

Adapted by Penny Farrow and directed and designed by Nate Bertone, with co-direction and movement by Eva Sampson, this "delightfully imaginative retelling" (Broadway World) brings Lewis Carroll's much-loved classic to life with lighting by Jack Weir, sound by Ella Wahlström, and puppets designed by Chris Barlow and Nate Bertone with puppetry direction by Katriona Brown.

Polka Theatre announces Kalee Talvitie-Brown appointed as new chair of the board.

Kalee is a former strategy partner at PwC where she held a number of senior leadership roles. Her work focused on advising boards of private and public sector organisations as well as charities. Kalee brings deep expertise in strategy, transformation, and people leadership. For 8 years she was a Trustee at the PwC Foundation, which is focused on promoting social inclusion and sustainable development in the UK. She was also Vice President of the Management Consultancies Association. Kalee has lived and worked in multiple countries, including Finland, Russia, Belgium and the US, before settling in Wimbledon with her family. All four of her children have enjoyed theatre at Polka, and she enjoys the theatre herself and is a Patron at the Royal Academy of Arts and the V&A.

Italia Conti, one of the UK’s longest-established performing arts institutions, has announced an evolution of its senior leadership structure as the organisation continues its 115th anniversary year celebrations and enters a new phase of development.

Bradley Hawkins will move from his current position of Co-Principal to become Principal of Italia Conti, with Hayley Newton-Jarvis moving from her dual role as CEO and Principal to focus solely on her position as Chief Executive Officer. The revised structure is designed to further strengthen the organisation’s strategic leadership as Italia Conti continues to expand its higher education provision, industry partnerships and long-term vision for performer training.

Daniel Krikler will star as Wladyslaw Szpilman in the new musical stage adaptation of Szpilman’s internationally acclaimed memoir The Pianist, the inspiration behind Roman Polanski’s Academy Award-winning film.

Written and directed by Thom Southerland (Titanic the Musical), The Pianist will run at Park Theatre, London, from 15 October to 28 November 2026, with a national press night on Thursday 22 October. Before its London opening, the production will play a limited run at Mayflower Studios, Southampton, from 9 to 12 September 2026.

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