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.

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Rehearsal images released for the Watermill Theatre's summer musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Featuring the cast: Tasha Chu, Mark Curry, Sameer Dhanjee, Theo Diedrick, Christian Edwards, Reuben Greeph, Georgie Hales, Mairi Ikegami, Javai James, Maya Khatri Chhetri, Lydia Louise, Samuel Morgan-Grahame, Sam Pay, Josh Rosewood, Susannah van den Berg andn Alexander Zane Goran.

The production will run from Tuesday 26 May to Sunday 13 September.

📷 Pamela Raith

Olivier Award-winning Jeeves Takes Charge returns to London in a new production, playing the Charing Cross Theatre 13 August – 16 September.

Adapted by James Duke, Edward Duke and Hugh Wooldridge, and starring West End, Chichester and RSC favourite Sam Harrison, this dazzling one-man adaptation of P.G. Wodehouse’s beloved Jeeves and Wooster stories sees Harrison play all twenty-two characters in a bravura tour-de-force performance.

Two-week extension for critically acclaimed sell-out production of Arthur Miller’s The Price.

Following widespread critical acclaim, Arthur Miller’s The Price at Marylebone Theatre has extended its run by an additional two weeks, with performances now on sale until Sunday 21 June 2026.

First look! Production images released for Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] 4 at Park Theatre featuring celebrity guest sheriff Gaby Roslin.

At every performance, a different celebrity will take on the central role of Sheriff – completely unrehearsed! Armed only with an earpiece feeding them lines moments before they speak, each guest must attempt to solve the murder, survive the mayhem and keep the show on track, while the audience watches events spiral in gloriously unpredictable ways.

Set in the lawless Wild West town of Graveside, Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] 4 will see Park Theatre transformed into a fully immersive world – taking over the entire building for the first time, from the street outside to the bars, foyers and both auditoria as a new sheriff rides into town, tasked with solving the mystery of the missing gold.

Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] 4 is a vital fundraiser for Park Theatre, which receives no regular public subsidy. Proceeds from the production directly support the running of the building, the development of new work, and the theatre’s extensive community and education programmes – helping Park Theatre remain an accessible, creative hub for artists and audiences alike.

Cast announced for Olivier-award winning family show Brainiac Live in the West End this summer.

Casting is announced today for the 2025 Olivier Award-winning BEST FAMILY SHOW, science’s greatest and most volatile live show Brainiac Live, for its limited season at the Garrick Theatre from 26 July – 30 August.

Packed with thrilling experiments and mind-blowing demonstrations, the show is a fast-paced celebration of science that promises liquid nitrogen clouds, vortex smoke rings, exploding hydrogen balloons, spinning CO₂ chairs and plenty of spectacular surprises along the way.

Returning from the Olivier Award-winning cast to perform at The Garrick are Rik Warren and Tracy Rahi who will be joined by alternating Andy Joyce, and Jack Edwards.

Produced by Dan Colman for Dan Colman Creative, the show has been written and directed by Creative Director Andy Joyce and with Design by Damien Stanton. The original production direction and writing was provided by Ben Keaton.

Counterminers in collaboration with the King’s Head Theatre announce ‘As Yet Unscene’ writing programme to return for 2026-27 season.

This funding will allow the program to support additional writers workshops, with the first beginning in May 2026, with applications for directors and actors open until 29th April. Additionally, they will now be hosting two showcases in Autumn 2026 and Spring 2027.

As a result of ACE funding, Countermines CIC also announced that participation in the writing workshops will now be completely free of charge. Selected pieces from the workshop will be presented in ticketed showcases, with creatives receiving producing and technical support, free rehearsal space, will have basic production costs covered and will receive a bursary of £300 each.

Newbury Spring Festival returns this week with world-class music across West Berkshire.

Newbury Spring Festival returns from 9–23 May 2026 with more than 45 events across West Berkshire, bringing world-class music and live performance to churches, country houses, concert halls and community spaces across the region.

Now in its 47th year, the festival combines internationally recognised artists with emerging talent across a programme spanning orchestral music, chamber performance, jazz, choral works, folk, cabaret and contemporary crossover.

Alongside major concerts at St Nicolas Church and Newbury Corn Exchange, this year’s festival places a particular emphasis on intimate performances in distinctive local settings, from rural churches and historic houses to outdoor community events in the heart of Newbury.

Woolwich Works launches major new circus & cabaret programme for 2026, marking a major new chapter in the South East London venue’s artistic development.

The new programme has been spearheaded by Woolwich Works Programmer Ade Berry, formerly of renowned circus venue Jacksons Lane, and reflects a growing commitment from the venue to establish itself as a significant new home for circus and cabaret in London.

Programme includes:
Aircraft Circus (30 May)
Queer Euphoria (19 June)
100 Watt Club (3 October)
Ethiopian Dreams (7–8 November)
Neon Sun – Roller Circus (29 November)

Zog soars to London’s iconic Cadogan Hall for summer residency from 2 – 23 August.

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved story Zog flies onto the stage at London’s Cadogan Hall following its major UK and Ireland tour, marking the sixth year that Freckle Productions have had a summer residency at this iconic venue.

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 by Ryan McBryde that brings Donaldson and Scheffler’s world vividly to life, Zog is a theatrical treat for all ages.

Scrum Theatre announces summer workshop programme at Riverside Studios, marking new chapter in its Riverside residency.

Bringing leading industry voices into direct conversation with early-career artists, this season of workshops will be focussed on writing, with acclaimed practitioners providing entry points into their craft.

The programme forms a central part of SCRUM’s new residency at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith.

Guests include Philip Shelley on Screenwriting, David Hare in conversation, Louis Emmitt-Stern on Crafting compelling plays, World Building with Josh Azouz, Redrafting with Beth Flintoff, Character led by Sonali Bhattacharyya, Scene Study Gym led by SCRUM founding member Rebecca Banatvala, Clown Gym with Claire Parry, and a five-day intensive led by Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu - Tell Me a Tale x Black Phantastic: Play in a Week.

Glenn Adamson and Lauren Jones perform 'Wildflower' from upcoming musical Dark Of The Moon.

The world premiere of new musical Dark of the Moon, based on the classic 1941 play by Howard D Richardson and William Berney, playing at Charing Cross Theatre from Monday 18 May to Saturday 8 August 2026.

A supernatural tale of powerful witchcraft, small-town prejudices and the power of love. This timeless, spellbinding new musical portrays the clash of two dynamically polarized worlds—a charming rural Appalachian town and the mystical world of witches and warlocks from the Smoky Mountains that loom high above. The show’s unique musical score reflects those conflicting worlds using a thrilling blend of country/bluegrass and rock. Barbara Allen - a human girl and John - a curious witch-boy - find each other and defy their communities to build a life together. But will love conquer all - or will they be haunted by a deal that was made by the dark of the moon?

Ruby Hughes & Ian Shaw lead Newbury Spring Festival highlights.

Now in its 47th year, Newbury Spring Festival returns from 9–23 May 2026 with more than 45 events across West Berkshire, bringing world-class music to churches, country houses and cultural venues throughout the region.

Alongside its large-scale orchestral concerts, this year’s festival places a particular emphasis on intimate, close-up performances, offering audiences the chance to experience leading artists in distinctive and atmospheric settings.

Founded nearly five decades ago, Newbury Spring Festival has become a cornerstone of the UK’s regional cultural calendar, combining internationally recognised artists with emerging talent and a strong connection to its local community.

Ron – a bold and genre-defying solo show at Riverside Studios 13 June – 5 July.

Tony Foot presents his latest stand-up show about life, love and friendship. Or - at least - he tries to... Tony seems to have something else on his mind. What starts in McDonald's stays in McDonald's, except in this story where it doesn't.

Sometimes you're just the Ron person in the Ron place at the Ron time…

An absurd, violent, genre-bending queer odyssey exploring the nature of unrequited love; how far would you go to show someone you love them?

RON marks the first in-house co-production from Riverside Studios, signalling a new chapter in the organisation’s producing work, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026.

Woolwich Works reveals a packed programme of family fun, culture and creativity throughout 2026.

Woolwich Works, South East London’s leading arts and entertainment venue and cultural hub, has announced a vibrant programme of family-friendly events, live performance and hands-on creative workshops for all ages. Including:

Nick Sharratt’s Picture Book Drawalong (10 May)
Claytime (29 May)
The Bubble Show (14 June)
The Museum Of Marvellous Things (11 October)
There’s A Monster In Your Show (24 October)
Out Of The Box (25 October)
Mr Sleepybum’s Dream Machine (8 November)
Captain Cauliflower & Marvin The Mischievous Moose (15 November)

Production images released for Double Double at the Barn Theatre, Cirencester.

Coronation Street stars Daniel Brocklebank and Faye Brookes to star in a Built By Barn Revival of Rick Elice and Roger Rees’ Double Double.

Weeks before his 40th 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 £10 million windfall.

Runs until Saturday 30 May 2026

📷 Alex Tabrizi @iskander_dop

Polka Theatre announces details of the 2026 Polka Playwriting Award
championing bold new writing for young audiences - the only award of its kind, a major initiative dedicated to championing original theatre for young audiences aged 7–13 years old.

Submissions will be accepted until midday on 19 July. The winning playwright will be announced in late 2026, and a full staging of the production is part of the award prize, with the winning play being published by Methuen Drama.

Alongside the award, Polka Theatre will host a series of free online masterclasses on writing for young audiences across May and June, led by leading theatre-makers including Nina Segal, Patrick Hughes and Sarah Middleton, offering practical insight into the process of writing for this age group and encouraging new writers to engage with the form.

Woolwich Works celebrates Pride 2026 with a bold programme of Cabaret, Comedy and Circus.

A vibrant programme of live performance celebrating queer creativity, identity and expression - from boundary-pushing circus and cabaret to sharp, joyful stand-up comedy.

Across late-May and into early July, South East London’s most-connected venue presents a variety of distinctive events that highlight the breadth and brilliance of LGBTQ+ artists working across disciplines, bringing together established voices and emerging talent in a spirit of celebration, provocation and fun.

Riverside Studios announces further events as part of their 50th Anniversary Celebrations.

The whole team at Riverside Studios is thrilled to announce details of more special events being staged to celebrate the West London venue’s 50th anniversary:

- An Evening With TFI Friday (29 May)
- Robert Lindsay In Conversation (31 May)
- An Evening With Top Of The Pops (5 June)

This anniversary season takes inspiration from the past in the form of special performances and creative partnerships, while welcoming back some of the key figures who have helped shape the iconic venue’s rich history.

Alice In Wonderland returns to London this summer at Riverside Studios and Soho Theatre Walthamstow

Tumble down the rabbit hole this summer into the fantastical world of Wonderland, where up is down and nonsense reigns supreme.

The critically acclaimed production of Alice in Wonderland will return to London this summer, following its UK premiere at the Marylebone Theatre in 2025 and its recent Easter season at Riverside Studios this spring. The production will return to Riverside Studios 16 July - 2 August, before moving to Soho Theatre Walthamstow from 5 - 16 August, as part of the venue’s Summer Slam season.

Rehearsal images released for Double Double at the Barn Theatre, Cirencester.

Starring Faye Brookes and Daniel Brocklebank, this revival of Double Double celebrates 40 years of the show.

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.

Double Double is at Barn Theatre, Cirencester, 28 April – 30 May

📷 Alex Tabrizi

Big Dreams, Polka Theatre’s early years festival, returns 18-20 September 2026.

Building on the success of previous years, Big Dreams 2026 will once again celebrate the very best in Early Years theatre and creativity. Audiences are invited to enjoy an array of imaginative and playful experiences, including a programme of performances specially created for children aged 0–8 years, alongside interactive installations and opportunities to explore and create together.

Shows include MC Grammar, The Tale of the Loneliest Whale, Multicolore, Hopeful Monsters, Family Rave, Nick Sharratt’s Once Upon a Drawalong, Hurly Burly’s After Party, and Dancing with Colours from Mind The Gap.

Fantasia Orchestra marks tenth anniversary with BBC Proms return interpreting a diverse repertoire from Dvořák and Vaughan Williams to Meredith Monk, Coltrane and Radiohead.

Fantasia Orchestra returns to the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in its landmark tenth anniversary year. Founded in 2016 by conductor Tom Fetherstonhaugh, Fantasia has gained a reputation as one of the country’s most distinctive and forward-thinking orchestral ensembles, known for its collaborative spirit and boundary-crossing programming. The Proms performances mark a significant milestone in Fantasia’s evolution over the past decade, from a self-starting collective of young musicians to one of the UK’s fastest-rising orchestras, now performing on its most prominent stages.

Two performances are scheduled at the Royal Albert Hall: a Relaxed Prom on Sunday 9 August and a Late Night Prom on Tuesday 11 August.

Huge Congratulations to the @watermilltheatre for winning Best Regional Production at the @stallstostage Awards last night for their production of Jesus Christ Superstar last year. A well deserved accolade for a brilliant show.

Production shots released for The Price.

Arthur Miller’s searing family drama comes to the Marylebone Theatre in a powerful new production directed by Olivier Award-nominated Jonathan Munby.

Double Olivier Award-winner Henry Goodman (Yes, Prime Minister, Fiddler On The Roof, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui) stars as Gregory Solomon and is joined by Faye Castelow (Leopoldstadt, After the Dance, The Witch of Edmonton) as Esther Franz, Elliot Cowan (A Little Life, Da Vinci’s Demons, Peaky Blinders) as Victor Franz and John Hopkins (Dr Strangelove, The 39 Steps, Poldark, Midsomer Murders) as Walter Franz.

On the eve of selling their late father’s possessions, two estranged brothers meet in a cluttered New York attic for the first time in years. What begins as a simple transaction becomes a fierce emotional reckoning, as decades of resentment, sacrifice and buried truth erupt into the open.

By turns darkly funny and devastatingly human, The Price is one of Miller’s most intimate and explosive dramas: a gripping portrait of family where memory, regret and emotional inheritance collide.

It was a win for TWO Sleeping Beautys this weekend as ANRPR clients @belgradetheatre and @artstheatrecambridge won at The Pantomime Awards 2026 (oh yes they did!).

BEST COSTUMES:
James MacIver – Sleeping Beauty, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry (Belgrade Theatre and Imagine Theatre)

BEST PANTOMIME: (550 TO 950 SEATS)
Sleeping Beauty, The Arts Theatre Cambridge (In-House)

Huge congrats to both!

Theatre Royal Windsor announces All-Star Casting For The Marquise

The all-star cast features Juliet Aubrey, Simon Shepherd, Tristan Gemmill, Albie Marber, Eva O’Hara, Martin Carroll, Barnaby Tobias, Lee Peck, Holly Smith, James Smalley and Amy Utting.

When a widowed Count tries to marry off his daughter to the son of his best friend, it seems like a perfectly sensible plan. But with both young lovers secretly pining for others, their entangled affections cause chaos.

Originating in Windsor and touring the UK in 2026 from 27 May

Casting Announcement: Darren Day will be playing the role of ‘Sam Phillips’ in the Barn Theatre’s Million Dollar Quartet which returns for an extended run this summer between 15 June and 22 August.

Darren Day first gained recognition after winning Opportunity Knocks in 1988, before achieving major West End success as ‘Joseph’ in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the London Palladium. The role cemented his reputation as a leading musical theatre performer. His stage career includes Les Misérables, Grease, The Rocky Horror Show, Chicago, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, We Will Rock You, Carousel, Beauty and the Beast, White Christmas, and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.

Million Dollar Quartet will be directed by Jonathan O’Boyle with a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux.

Additional cast and creative team will be announced soon.

Full casting announced for Polka Theatre’s The Rapping Princess.

Anu Akinseye will play the role of ‘Shiloh’ and Grace Venus is ‘Queendom Storyteller’.

This world premiere musical adaptation of the book by Hannah Lee & Allen Fatimaharan will play Polka’s Adventure Theatre, 16 May – 21 June 2026.

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IN THE WINGS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

JEEVES TAKES CHARGE - OLIVIER AWARD-WINNING SHOW RETURNS TO LONDON

LET'S GET SOCIAL

BE PART OF THE STORY

Want to stay in the loop?

Proudly representing UK theatre, arts, and live entertainment.
London, United Kingdom

IN THE WINGS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

JEEVES TAKES CHARGE - OLIVIER AWARD-WINNING SHOW RETURNS TO LONDON

LET'S GET SOCIAL

BE PART OF THE STORY

​

Want to stay in the loop?

Proudly representing UK theatre, arts, and live entertainment. London, United Kingdom

Proudly representing UK theatre, arts, and live entertainment.
London, United Kingdom