NEWS ROUNDUP: 13 - 19 July

After a comparatively quiet week, during which we spent more time trying to cool off from the heatwave than paying attention to stagey news, we are back to round up the biggest news stories from the past week, as well as one or two from the previous week...

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RENT

More cast members announced for upcoming west end revival

Further casting has been revealed for the upcoming west end revival of Jonathan Larson’s musical “RENT”, to open at the newly christened Tom Stoppard Theatre this autumn. Joining previously announced Gaten Materazzo (Sweeney Todd) as Mark will be Travis Ross as Roger, Bella Brown (Evita) as Mimi, Billy Nevers (Jesus Christ Superstar) as Collins, Lazy Violet (Six: The Musical) as Maureen, Danielle Fiamanya (Brigadoon) as Joanne, Jeevan Braich (Starlight Express) as Angel and Joaquin Pedro Valdes (The Frogs) as Benny, with further casting to be revealed at a later date.

“RENT” will open on the 26th of September, with tickets now on sale up until and including the 27th of March 2027, following an extension due to phenomenal demand from fans. You can find out more about the production, as well as book tickets for all performances, via the ATG website.

HADESTOWN

Latest cast announced for west end production

Wait for them, they’re coming! New principal casting has been revealed for the west end production of Anaïs Mitchell’s award-winning folk musical “Hadestown”, to join the show in the autumn. Joining the cast will be Danielle de Niese as Persephone, Shaun Dooley as Hades, Fayth Ifil as Eurydice, Malinda Parris as Hermes, and Nathan Sykes as Orpheus. They all join Melanie Bright, Spike Maxwell and Lauran Rae as the Fates, Femi Akinfolarin, Michelle Andrews, Gabriela Benedetti, Ollie Bingham and Sebastian Lim-Seet as Workers, and Juan Jackson, Oisín Nolan-Power, Lindo Shinda, Jasmine Triadi and Milly Willows as Swings.

The new recruits, commencing performances on the 15th of September, will take over from the departing Rachel Adedeji (Persephone), Bethany Antonia (Eurydice), Marley Fenton (Orpheus), Alastair Parker (Hades) and Clive Rowe (Hermes), who will give their final performance at the Lyric Theatre on the 13th of September, and you can buy tickets for all performances up to and including the 27th of June via the Nimax website.

OLIVER!

Matt Lucas to join the west end show for limited run

It has been revealed by Cameron Mackintosh Productions that Matt Lucas (Les Miserables) is set to take on the role of Fagin in the current west end revival of Lionel Bart’s “Oliver!” at the Gielgud Theatre this autumn, whilst Simon Lipkin is on leave. Winner of BAFTA and Emmy awards, Lucas is best known for comedies like "Little Britain" and "Come Fly With Me", but also has a stage career that has included “Taboo”, “Me and My Girl”, and of course his much reprised role of Thénardier in Les Miserables.

Lucas will begin performances on the 22nd of September, and conclude his run on the 1st of November in a strictly limited 6 week engagement. Lipkin will return to the show on the 3rd of November, following the birth of his child. You can find out more about the production, as well as book tickets, via the Delfont Mackintosh and official Oliver production websites.

TITUSS BURGESS

Broadway star to perform solo concert in London

This autumn, broadway star Titus Burgess (Songs for a New World) is set to return to London for a solo concert, following his residency at the Phoenix Arts Club in 2024. Burgess has a stage career spanning two decades, including featuring in the original broadway casts of "Jersey Boys", "The Little Mermaid", and "Good Vibrations", in addition to appearances in "Moulin Rouge!", "Guys & Dolls", and most recently "Oh, Mary!" Burgess is also Emmy-nominated for his role in "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt", as well as for his voiceover work in "Central Park: A Fish Called Snakehead".

The concert will take place at Cadogan Hall on the 6th of September at 6:30pm, and you can expect “soaring Broadway anthems. Soulful classics. Jaw-dropping vocals. Hilarious behind-the-scenes stories. A little mischief. A lot of heart. And plenty of moments that only Tituss can deliver.” Tickets for the concert are now on sale from the Cadogan Hall website.

OH, MARY!

Hit play to be filmed, original broadway cast members to return

It has been revealed that the west end production of Cole Escola’s Tony winning and Pulitzer finalist “Oh, Mary!” is set to be professionally filmed in the west end, with Escola to reprise the role they originated in New York. The two performances on the 28th of July will be filmed, and original London cast member Giles Terera is set to return to reprise the role of Abe Lincoln, alongside former broadway cast member Michael Urie as Mary’s Teacher, and original off-broadway cast members Bianca Leigh as Mary’s Chaperone, and Tony Macht as Mary’s Husband’s Assistant, also joining the cast.

Tickets are now on sale for both performances at the Trafalgar Theatre via the ATG website, where you can also find more information about the show, as well as tickets for all other performances up to and including the 2nd of January 2027.

THE CHERRY ORCHARD

Further cast revealed for west end revival

Following the announcement of its lead, further casting has been revealed for the upcoming west end revival of Anton Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard” has been revealed. Previously announced Kristin Scott Thomas as Lyubov will be joined by Stephen Mangan (The Truth) as Lopakhin, as well as Ruby Bentall (Industry) as Sharlotta, Megan Cusack (Playboy of the Western World) as Dunyasha, Karl Johnson (King Lear) as Firs, Noof Ousellam (Macbeth) as Yasha, Nadia Parkes (Kidnapped) as Anya, Jack Riddiford (Stereophonic) as Trofimov, Vinette Robinson (Emilia) as Varya, Shubham Saraf (An Enemy of the People) as Yepikhodov and Peter Wight (Three Sisters) as Gaev.

“The Cherry Orchard” will open at the Harold Pinter Theatre on the 3rd of October, where it will run until the 9th of January 2027. Complete casting will be announced in due course, and tickets for the show can be found via the ATG website.

SYLVIA

Full cast announced for UK tour and London return

The complete cast for the upcoming UK tour and London return of “Sylvia: A Musical Revolution” has been revealed, the show will open on the 24th of September at Leicester Curve, before performing in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Salford, Norwich and Canterbury, before three days of shows at the Royal Albert Hall. Previously announced Beverley Knight as Emmeline Pankhurst being joined by new co-star Naomi Katiyo (Hamilton) as Sylvia, alongside Kelly Agbowu (Mrs Flora ‘The General’ Drummond/Betty Savoy), Kirstie Skivington (Adela Pankhurst) and Ellena Vincent (Christabel Pankhurst), as well as swings Claudia-Rose Carlier and Jaye Marshall, all returning to the show.

New faces joining the cast are Lauren Azania (Swing), Zion Battles (Swing), Ebony Clarke (Emily Davison/Daisy Parsons), Eloise Davies (Annie Kenney/Norah Smyth), Solomon Davy (Prime Minister Asquith/Richard Pankhurst), Collette Guitart (Clementine Churchill/Julia Scurr), Leah Hill (Edith Garrud/Mollie Bird), Nathan Louis-Fernand (Swing), Tachia Newall (Keir Hardie/Lord Cromer), Uzuazo O’David (Harry Pankhurst), Castell Parker (Winston Churchill/George Lansbury), Cleve September (Lloyd George/Lord Curzon), Kenedy Small (Jennie Churchill/Edna Payne/Sophia Singh) and Ivano Turco (Silvio Corio/Sir Almroth Wright). Head over to the official Sylvia website to find out more.

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY

Major revival set to open in the west end

A new revival of the Tony and Pulitzer winning Tracy Letts play “August: Osage County”, starring Lesley Manville (Les Liaisons Dangereuses) and Anna Maxwell Martin (Constellations) is set to open in the west end early next year. The play premiered in Chicago back in 2007, transferring to Broadway the following year, where it won 5 Tony Awards including best play, quickly making the journey across to London with much of the same cast, including Ian Barford, Deanna Dunagan and Kimberly Guerrero. This marks the first time the play has been revived in the west end, after its initial run at the National Theatre 18 years ago.

“August: Osage County” will open at the Noël Coward Theatre on the 17th of January, and will run until the 10th of April. You can find out more about the show, as well as book tickets for all performances, via the Delfont Mackintosh website.