NEWS ROUNDUP: 16 - 22 February
- James Tradgett
- Feb 23
- 6 min read
It has been a comparably quiet week this week, however we still have a handful of exciting news announcements to bestow upon you, so here's what has been making waves in the world of theatre since the beginning of this week...
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KINKY BOOTS
Full cast announced for London return
The complete cast for the upcoming west end revival of Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper musical "Kinky Boots" has been revealed, with previously announced Johannes Radebe and Matt Cardle being joined by Courtney Bowman (Legally Blonde) as Lauren, Billie-Kay (Burlesque) as Nicola, Billy Roberts (Military Wives) as Don, Rachel Izen (Billy Elliot) as Pat, Jessica Daley (Military Wives) as Trish, Jonathan Dryden Taylor (London Tide) as Mr Price, Scott Paige (Great British Bake Off) as George, and Liam Doyle (Heathers) as Harry. The adult cast is completed by Andy Barke, Kathryn Barnes, Cerys Burton, Kaya Farrugia, Nay–Nay, Keith Alexander, Nathan Daly, Kofi Dennis, Ru Fisher, Darnell Mathew-James, Liam McEvoy, Ashley-Jordon Packer, Cole Dunn, Annell Odartey, Jordan Isaac and Tori McDougall.
The young company will comprise Sean Garcia Madiba, Noah Ronkainen Phillips, and Rio-Blake Power as Young Lola, and Archie John Allen, Joshua Beswick, Louis Cohen and, Callum George as Young Charlie. After a hugely successful UK tour commencing at Leicester Curve, this marks the first major London revival of "Kinki Boots" since it ran at the Adelphi Theatre between 2015-2019, in a production led by Killian Donnelly, Matt Henry and Amy Lennox. It will begin with a week of previews back in Leicester, starting on the 3rd of March, before opening at the London Coliseum on the 17th of March, where it will run until the 11th of July. You can find out more, as well as book tickets, via the official Kinky Boots website.
SWEENEY TODD
Casting announced for Mrs Lovett in Birmingham revival
Fleet Street has found its Mrs Lovett, as it has been revealed by Birmingham Rep that Meow Meow (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Globe) is set to join the cast of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”, taking on the iconic role made famous by the likes of Angela Lansbury, Sheila Hancock, Patti Lupone, Imelda Staunton and Annaleigh Ashford. She joins previously announced Ramin Karimloo in the production, with further casting to be revealed at a later dTe.
The show will be the first major UK revival of the Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler musical in almost a decade and a half, since it ran at the Adelphi Theatre in London, in a production helmed by Michael Ball. The show will run at Birmingham Rep from the 4th of July until the 9th of August 2026, with tickets now on sale from the venue’s website.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
London return announced for Aaron Sorkin adaptation
All rise in London, as it has been revealed that Bartlett Sher-directed play “To Kill a Mockingbird”, adapted by Aaron Sorkin from the bestselling novel of the same name by Harper Lee, is to return to the west end this summer. The play is currently embarking on a UK tour, featuring Richard Coyle as Atticus Finch, which will conclude in May at the Milton Keynes Theatre. This will be followed by a limited run at Wyndham’s Theatre from the 25th of June until the 12th of September, where Coyle will reprise the role he is currently performing on tour.
The play first premiered on Broadway in 2018, with a cast led by Jeff Daniels as Atticus, opening in the west end four years later, after an initial slated opening in May 2020 that was postponed due to Covid. Further details about the London return, including full cast, will be revealed at a later date, and ticketsare now on sale from the Delfont Mackintosh website.
TITANIQUE
Further casting announced for broadway, including west end favourite
It has been revealed that, following his Olivier-winning performance in the west end, Layton Williams (Cabaret) is set to join the Broadway company of “Titanique”, opening next month; this will mark the Strictly finalist’s Broadway debut, during which he’ll reprise the role of the Iceberg. Also joining the cast will be Melissa Barrera (In The Heights), who is also making her Broadway debut in the role of Rose, with John Riddle (Frozen) reprising the role of Cal he originated off-Broadway. Continuing to run in the west end, the show is set to transfer to broadway's St. James Theatre on the 26th of March for a limited 16-week run.
The new trio join previously announced Marla Mindelle (Céline Dion), Jim Parsons (Ruth), Constantine Rousouli (Jack), Deborah Cox (Molly) and Frankien Grande (Victor Garber). You can find out more about the production, as well as how to book tickets, via the official Titanique website.
GAME OF THRONES
New prequel play to receive world premiere in the UK
The Royal Shakespeare Company have revealed that a new stage play based on the novel series "A Song Of Ice And Fire" by George R. R. Martin, and the subsequent hit TV phenomenon it spawned "Game of Thrones" is set to receive its world premiere this summer. Subtitled "The Mad King", the play is an adaptation by Duncan MacMillan (People, Places & Things), to be directed by Dominic Cooke (Hello, Dolly!), and is set prior to the events of the start of Game of Thrones, during the reign of "mad king" Aerys II Targaryen, beginning at the fated tournament at the ruins of Harrenhal. According to the RSC co-artistic director Tamara Harvey, it is set to be an "immersive experience".
The play is to open at the Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon during the summer of 2026, with priority booking for RSC members to open on the 14th of April. Tickets are expected to sell quickly, however you can sign up as a member now for as little as £20 via the RSC website.
IN PIECES
New musical by Joey Contreras to get London concert
Following successful trial in New York, Joey Contreras’ new musical “In Pieces” is to have its first staged presentation in London, with a concert performance set to play at The Other Palace next month. It is set to star Antonio Cipriano (Jagged Little Pill) in the role of Peter, with further casting to be revealed at a later date. The concert will perform on the 30th of March, with tickets for the event having already sold out, however you can check the Other Palace website for return tickets.
The concert presentation will be directed by Martha Geelan (Babies: The Musical), with further creatives yet to be revealed. You can listen to songs from the musical now on streaming services, with an 18-track hour long deluxe edition having been released in 2024, featuring the likes of Broadway favourites George Salazar, Solea Pfeiffer and Andrew Barth Feldman.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Jamie Lloyd-directed production to transfer to broadway
It has been confirmed by the Jamie Lloyd Company that the Tony and Olivier winning director's recent London staging of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" is set to transfer to broadway in the autumn of this year, with Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell reprising their respective roles of Benedick and Beatrice. The play ran at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in the spring of 2025, in a production that also featured Mason Alexander Park and Forbes Masson, to roaring critical success (including a 5* review on this blog), and will be the second play directed by Jamie Lloyd to receive a direct London to New York transfer, following the success of his revival of Harold Pinter's play "Betrayal" in 2019.
"Much Ado About Nothing" has been confirmed to be running for a limited 10-weeks only, at an unnamed Shubert Organisation venue, with exact details, including dates, venue and further casting, to be confirmed at a later date. You can sign up now for updates, as well as for priority ticket access, via the production's website.
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