NEWS ROUNDUP: 23 - 29 March
- James Tradgett
- Mar 29
- 7 min read
After a week off due to a mix of a quiet week and general personal burnout, we are back with another roundup of the most notable stories from the past week, and there are some good ones to make up for missing out on last week!
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THE LAST FIVE YEARS
New rehearsal photos released ahead of Palladium run
New images from the rehearsal room of the upcoming concert run of Jason Robert Brown’s musical “The Last Five Years” have been released. Set to star Ben Platt (Parade) as Jamie Wellerstein, and Rachel Zegler (Evita) as Cathy Hiatt, the show ran for a week at the London Palladium from the 24th until the 28th of March, musically directed from the piano by Brown himself, featuring an orchestra of 9 players and expanded orchestrations. The show first premiered in 2001 at Chicago's Northlight Theatre, before running off-broadway the following year, in a production starring Norbert Leo Butz and Sherie Rene Scott.
After its run at the Palladium, the production will later perform for. onenight only at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on the 3rd of April, then a two night engagement at New York's Radio City Music Hall. This run of shows celebrates the musical's 25th anniversary, the second major milestone of a Jason Robert Brown musical in the space of a year, after last year's performances of "Songs For A New World" in London, celebrating 30 years since the show first premiered.
PANTO AT THE PALLADIUM
French & Saunders to star in 2026 London pantomime
It has been revealed that the comedy duo Dawn French (Jack & the Beanstalk) and Jennifer Saunders (Sister Act) are to star as the ugly sisters in this year’s festive pantomime production of “Cinderella” at the London Palladium. They join previously announced Julian Clary, Hope Dawe, Nigel Havers, Dex Lee, Rob Madge and Paul Zerdin in the cast, with further additions to be revealed at a later date. This year marks 10 years since the Palladium first began staging annual panto productions, and they have since become a staple of the city's theatrical calendar.
The panto will run at the London Palladium from the 5th of December 2026 until the 10th of January 2027, with tickets going on sale at a later date. You can find more information, as well as sign up for ticketing updates, via the LW Theatres website.
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
Additional casting announced for summer revival
Further cast have been revealed for the upcoming production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock musical “Jesus Christ Superstar”. Joining the cast will be Tyrone Huntley (Hairspray) who returns to the role of Judas Iscariot, with Desmonda Cathabel (Hadestown) as Mary Magdalene, and David Thaxton (Sunset Boulevard) also returning to once again play Pontius Pilate. Further casting will be revealed in due course.
They join previously announced Sam Ryder as Jesus Christ, and a sextet of performers playing Herod that includes Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Simon Russell Beale and Richard Armitage. The show will open at the London Palladium on the 20th of June, where it will run until the 5th of September. You can find out more about the production, as well as book tickets, via the LW Theatres website.
INTO THE WOODS
New additions to the cast at the Bridge Theatre
The Bridge Theatre have revealed a handful of new faces joining the current revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s fantastical musical “Into The Woods”. Taking over the role of the Witch is Melanie La Barrie (Hadestown), with the Baker’s Wife to be played by Rachel Tucker (The Great Gatsby), and the Narrator/Mysterious now portrayed by John Owen Jones (Les Misérables). Also joining the cast are Jack Quarton (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) as the Steward, with previous Steward Hughie O’Donnell to take over the role of the Baker, with the new cast completed by Jodie Jacobs (Fiddler on the Roof) as Standby.
They all join original cast members Valda Aviks as Grandmother/Giant, Geoffrey Aymer as Cinderella’s Father, Bella Brown as Rapunzel, Chumisa Dornford-May as Cinderella, Jo Foster as Jack, Jennifer Hepburn as Cinderella’s Stepmother, Hana Ichijo as Lucinda, Julie Jupp as Jack’s Mother, Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson as Florinda, Gracie McGonigal as Little Red Ridinghood, Oliver Savile as Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf, Rhys Whitfield as Rapunzel’s Prince, and standbys Taite-Elliot Drew, Jacob Fowler, Sophie Linder-Lee and Chloe Saracco. You can find more information about the show, as well as how to book tickets, through the Bridge Theatre website.
BEETLEJUICE
Casting of title role announced ahead of London premiere
It’s showtime! The producers of the upcoming west end premiere of “Beetlejuice” have finally revealed initial casting for the show ahead of its west end transfer this spring. Our titular ghost with the most will be played by Olivier Award nominee David Fynn (School of Rock), following in the same footsteps as prior performers to portray Dewey Finn such as Alex Brightman and Justin Collette among others. Further casting for the show will follow at a later date, including for lead role of Lydia Deetz, for which the production held an open casting call in London earlier this year.
With a score by Eddie Perfect and book by Scott Brown and Anthony King, “Beetlejuice” opens at the Prince Edward Theatre on the 20th of May, where it will run until the 17th of April 2027. You can find out more about the show, as well as book tickets, via the Delfont Mackintosh website, as well as via the Beetlejuice social pages.
CATS
Full cast announced for Regent's Park production
The invites to the Jellicle Ball have been dispatched, and the cast for the upcoming Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of “Cats” have sent in their RSVPs. The cast will feature Fin Adams (Alonzo), Carla Bertran (Electra), Elliot Broadfoot (Bustopher Jones), Matthew Caputo (Skimbleshanks), Josie Chambers-Sims (Syllabub (Jemima)), Briana Craig (Rumpleteazer), Katie Dunsden (Bombalurina), Joshua-Samuel Freeman (Tumblebrutus (Bill Bailey)), Regan Garcia (Pouncival (Carbuckety)), Hannah Joseph (Victoria), Taziva-Faye Katsande (Tantomile), Melanie La Barrie (Old Deuteronomy), Diante Lodge (Macavity / Admetus), Owen McHugh (George), Danny Nattrass (Mungojerrie), Millie O’Connell (Demeter), Andrew Parfitt (Coricopat), Charlotte Riby (Jennyanydots (Gumbie Cat)), Lucie-Mae Sumner (Jellylorum (Griddlebone)), Jaydon Vijn (Rum Tum Tugger), Jack Wilcox (Munkustrap), Gary Wilmot (Gus), Rachael Wooding (Grizabella), Jet Yau (Mr. Mistoffelees / Quaxo) and Patricia Zhou (Cassandra).
The cast is completed by offstage swings Grace Burrows, Aaron Jenkins, Nathan Rigg, and Taela Yeomans-Brown (also Co-Dance Captain). With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Trevor Nunn and Richard Stilgoe, as well as T. S. Eliot, "Cats" will open at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre on the 25th of July, and will run until the 12th of September, and you can find out mor, as well as book tickets, via the Regent's Park website.
THE ORESTEIA
New revival of ancient Greek play to open
It has been announced that a new staging of “The Oresteia”, originally by Ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus and reimagined by writer and director Simon Stone (The Lady From The Sea), is set to open at the Bridge Theatre this summer. It will open on the 2nd of July, with a press night on the 14th of July, and will run until the 19th of September in a strictly limited 11-week run. Tickets for the production will go on sale to members and access patrons on the 31st of March, with general sale opening on the 1st of April.
Stone is also set to direct the play, and the creative team includes set design by Lizzie Clachan, costume design by Mel Page, music by Stefan Gregory, lighting design by Nick Schlieper, and casting by Jessica Ronane CDG, with further details, including full cast, to be revealed at a later date. You can head on over to the Bridge Theatre website now to find out more, including timings and price ranges for performances, as well as schedule for tickets going on sale.
HADESTOWN
Initial premiere date set for recorded performance
Following its professional filming with the original cast in early 2025, initial premiere plans for the first "Hadestown" proshot have been released, with the film set to open in US movie theatres this summer. Written by Anaïs Mitchell, the musical was recorded during the week commencing the 24th of February 2025, including three performances with audiences across the 28th of February and 1st of March. The proshot is to feature the original five principals from both the National Theatre and the Walter Kerr Theatre on broadway, with Reeve Carney as Orpheus, Andre De Shields as Hermes, Amber Gray as Persephone, Eva Noblezada as Eurydice, and Patrick Page as Hades.
The recording will be released in US cinemas on the 24th of July 2026, with the UK release date to be announced in due course. If you can't wait to see the show, you can always book tickets for the Lyric Theatre in the west end, or the Walter Kerr Theatre on broadway. Head on over to the official Hadestown website to book tickets.
WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION
Play extends London run, releases new photos
Following the first week of performances of the new cast, the 15th different set of performers to take on this courtroom drama, the producers of Agatha Christie's "Witness for the Prosecution" have revealed that the show is to extend into spring 2027, with brand new production photography also having been released. the new cast features Owen Warner (pro stage debut) as Leonard Vole, alongside Eleanor Sutton (Amadeus) as Romaine Vole, Simon Cotton (Murder on the Orient Express) as Sir Wilfrid Robarts, Matthew White (Murder on the Orient Express) as Mr Mayhew, Michael Mears (The Woman in Black) as Mr Myers and David Whitworth (Pride & Prejudice) as Mr Justice Wainwright.
"Witness for. theProsecution" runs at London County Hall, and you can now book tickets up to and including the 25th of April, with more information, as well as ticket sales, available from the official production website.
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