NEWS ROUNDUP: 11 - 17 May

A very happy Sunday to you all, as a special treat I'm going to run through all the biggest stage news stories of the past week, and my goodness have they come thick and fast this week; from cast announcements to new UK tours, there's bound to be something that will pique your interest...

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TRAINSPOTTING THE MUSICAL

Full cast announced for world premiere, musical set to tour

The full cast for the upcoming world premiere of “Trainspotting The Musical”, set to open in the west end this summer, has been revealed; the show’s premiere will mark 30 years since the original Danny Boyle film came out in 1996. Joining previously announced Robbie Scott as Renton (a role originated by Ewan McGregor) will be Sheridan Townsley as Sick Boy, Kieran Andrew as Spud, Frankie O’Connor as Begbie, Finlay Paul as Tommy, Rebecca McKinnis as Cathy Renton, Gordon Cooper as Davie Renton, Ashley J Russell as Colleen, Rosie Dignan as Alison, Yana Harris as Kelly, and Sophie Hutchinson as Lizzie.

The cast is completed by ensemble members Ally Kennard, Kieran Brown, Melanie Marshall, Lewis Kidd, Samuel Stewart, Finlay McKillop, Ciara Ennis, Victoria Nicol, Kyra Fyvie, and Chris O’Mara. “Trainspotting” will open at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on the 15th of July, where it will run until the 5th of September; this limited season will be followed by a UK tour, opening in Stoke in January 2027 before playing in Aberdeen, Nottingham, Cardiff, Southend, Bradford, Oxford, Sunderland, Dunfermline, Brighton, Glasgow and Edinburgh. You can find out more about both productions, as well as book tickets, via the production's website.

PRETTY WOMAN

Musical to return for a second UK tour

A brand new touring production of the musical of “Pretty Woman: The Musical” is set to open next spring, having previously toured the UK during 2023, starring Amber Davies, Ore Oduba and Natalie Paris. The tour will open in Wimbledon in March 2027, before going on to play in Manchester, Minton Keynes, York, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Sunderland, Southampton, Hull, Stoke, Leeds, Oxford, Bristol, Liverpool, Nottingham, Woking and Aberdeen.

The musical has an original score by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, and a book by Garry Marshall and J F Lawton, the original film's director and screenwriter respectively. Further details, including additional venues and casting, will be revealed at a later date, and you can find out more, including tour dates and how to book, via the official Pretty Woman website.

JERSEY BOYS

Full cast announced for upcoming UK tour

The new touring production of the musical adaptation of "Pretty Woman" has revealed its full cast, ahead of its opening in Wimbledon this summer. Leading the show will be Luke Baker (Billy Elliot) as Frankie Valli, with Carlo Boumouglbay (Miss Saigon) as Tommy DeVito, Lewis Kennedy (the Rat Pack Live) as Nick Massi and Toby Miles (Mamma Mia!) as Bob Gaudio. Additionally Ellis Kirk (Dear Evan Hansen) will act as alternate Frankie Valli. Also featuring are Aiden Carson as Joey, Artemis Chrisoulakis as Francine, Sydnie Hocknell as Mary Delgado, Michael Levi as Bob Crewe, Olivia Mitchell as Lorraine, Jarryd Nurden as Hank Majewski, Oliver Tester as Norm Waxman, Damien Winchester as Barry Belson, and Fed Zanni as Gyp DeCarlo.

Completing the cast are swings Scott Goncalves, Melissa Potts, Zach Sorrow and Joshua Spencer-Pepper. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the show's first premiere, the tour begins in Wimbledon on the 17th of June, later playing in Nottingham, Bristol, Bradford, Llandudno, Cardiff, Wycombe, Manchester, Hull, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Stoke, Birmingham, Southampton, Eastbourne, Oxford, Belfast, Glasgow, Wolverhampton, Norwich, Canterbury, Leicester, Woking, Truro, Southend, Blackpool, Sunderland, Leeds, Sheffield, Milton Keynes and Liverpool. You can find more about the tour from the Jersey Boys website, with tickets on sale for all venues except Sheffield; it will also play Dartford, however this has been delayed due to venue refurbishments.

HOLE!

Hit musical returns to Edinburgh Fringe after London run

Following its sold-out run at last year’s festival, new musical “Hole!” is set to return to the Edinburgh Fringe this summer, on the back of its North American premiere run at Playwright’s Horizons. Prior to its fringe return, it will make its London debut, playing at Soho Theatre from the 17th of July until the 1st of August. The musical is written by Jake Brasch and Nadja Leonhard-Hooper, and there is a full live cast album from the show available, recorded live at Joe’s Pub in New York, which can be streamed and downloaded now, including on Apple Music and Spotify.

The musical’s Edinburgh fringe run will begin on the 5th of August, and finish on the 31st of August, performing at Underbelly Cowbarn at 9:30pm on every day except the 17th of August. Previews on the 5th - 7th will have reduced rate tickets, and performances on the 10th and 11th will be 2 for 1. You can find out more via the Edinburgh Fringe website, where you can also find plenty of other productions performing.

STARLIGHT EXPRESS

World tour announced, with initial dates on sale

Following its critically acclaimed, award-winning run at Wembley Park, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Richard Stilgoe’s rollerskate-clad musical “Starlight Express” is set to embark on a major tour, with initial UK stops having been announced. The tour will open at Leicester Curve in May 2027, before moving on to Liverpool, Glasgow, Sunderland, Birmingham and Southampton; further dates will be announced in due course, and tickets for the initial dates go on sale on Friday the 22nd of May.

The production opened at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in June 2024, where it ran for two years, winning an Olivier award and seven WhatsOnStage awards in the process. The show’s original 16-year west end run remains one of the longest running musicals of all time, and this will mark the third time the show has toured the UK.

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME

Initial casting announced for new non-replica revival

Initial casting has been revealed for the upcoming UK tour production of Simon Stephens’ adaptation of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”, originally written by Mark Haddon. Joining the cast as Mr and Mrs Boone will be Joe McFadden (The Shawshank Redemption) and Charlie Brooks (Ocean at the End of the Lane), in a production directed by Ned Bennett; further casting will be revealed at a later date. The play originally premiered at the National Theatre in 2012, transferring to the Apollo Theatre the following year.

It experienced a subsequent three-year run at the Gielgud Theatre, and later revivals at the Piccadilly Theatre in 2018, and the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in 2021; it has also run on broadway, spending two years at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre from 2014-16, winning 5 Tony Awards, including for best new play. The new staging, produced by the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, will be the first ever non-replica revival of the show, opening at the Rep in September 2026 before touring the UK into 2027. Head on over to the official production website to find out more.

SINGIN' IN THE RAIN

Hit musical set to tour the UK, following winter run in Sheffield

It has been revealed by Sheffield Theatres that a festive engagement of “Singin’ in the Rain” is set to open at the Crucible this November, marking the second festive regional revival of the musical in as many years. Following a run from the 26th of November until the 16th of January 2027, the production will then tour the UK and Ireland. This production will be directed by Jonathan Church, with choreography by Andrew Wright and Jayne Elster, set and costume design by Simon Higlett, lighting design by Tim Mitchell, sound design by Gareth Owen, video dsign by Ian Galloway, musical supervision by Robert Scott, and orchestration by Larry Blank.

The tour, starting in February 2027, will play in Southend, Belfast, Dublin, Sunderland, Canterbury, Dartford, Milton Keynes, Leeds, Woking, Liverpool, Glasgow, Wycombe, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Southampton, Norwich, Salford, Eastbourne, Nottingham and Cardiff, concluding the tour in September 2027. The musical has a book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and a score and songs by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed, and is based on the classic 1952 MGM movie of the same name, starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor. Further details about the production, including cast, will be revealed at a later date.

HOT MESS

Cast announced for London return of Jack Godfrey musical

Ahead of its London return this summer, the full cast has been announced for Ellie Cootes and Jack Godfrey’s latest musical “Hot Mess”, to open from next month. Returning to the show is Danielle Steers (Just For One Day) as Earth, a role she originated in both Edinburgh and London last year. Playing opposite her as will be newcomer Morgan Gregory (42 Balloons), who takes on the role of Humanity. Also joining the cast will be Mia Quimpo and Nathan Shaw, both of whom will act as covers.

“Hot Mess” is directed by the show’s writer Coote, with musical direction by Sara De Sanctis, and is produced by Vicky Graham Productions, Birmingham Hippodrome and Aria Entertainment with TRW Production and Pascal Ultee Productions. It will run at The Other Palace from the 13th of June until the 6th of September, and tickets are available from the venue’s website.

MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO

Final extension and closure date announced for west end production

The west end production of Studio Ghibli’s stage adaptation of “My Neighbour Totoro”, adapted by Tom Morton-Smith, has extended one last time and set their closing date. The beloved Japanese tale of the titular gigantic forest spirit, and the family whom he befriends, first opened at the Barbican Theatre in 2022, breaking box office records, winning 6 Olivier awards, and later transferring to the west end in March 2025.

The play will have its final performance at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on the 10th of January 2027, concluding a 22-month, highly critically acclaimed run. You can purchase tickets for all performances, up to and including this date, via both LW Theatres and the official production website.

THE ORESTEIA

Complete casting announced for Bridge Theatre revival

The full cast has been revealed for the upcoming production of "The Oresteia", set to open this summer at the Bridge Theatre. Featuring in the cast will be David Morrissey (Hangmen) as Christopher, Tom Glynn-Carney (The Glass Menagerie) as Augie, Mary-Louise Parker (The Sound Inside) as Montie, Rosie Sheehy (Machinal) as Alice, Lloyd Hutchinson (Dear England) as Melville, John Macmillan (Phaedra) as Jerome, and Archie Madekwe (Further than the Furthest Thing) as Lorenzo. The play will follow the closure of "Into The Woods", which concludes its run at the Bridge on the 30th of May, later transferring to the Noël Coward Theatre next year.

Directed by Simon Stone (The Lady from the Sea), "The Oresteia" is a trilogy of plays by Aeschylus, originally performed in the mid 5th century CE. This new production will open at the Bridge Theatre on the 2nd of July, where it will run until the 19th of September, in a strictly limited 11-week run. You can find out more, as well as book tickets, via the Bridge Theatre website.