NEWS ROUNDUP: 29 June - 5 July

We have made it to the halfway point of 2026, temperatures have mercifully dropped, and the news updates just keep on coming, as we have cast to announce, more venues to rename, and beloved comedy institutions being brought to the stage for the first time. Here is your weekly news digest to round off another seven days of stagey goodness...

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HAMLET

New revival starring James Norton to open in the west end

A new staging of Willam Shakespeare’s masterpiece “Hamlet”, is to open in autumn of 2027, starring Olivier nominee James Norton (A Little Life) in the title role. The production is conceived and directed by German director Thomas Ostermeier, whose previous work in London includes Ibsen's "An Enemy of the People" starring Matt Smith, as well as the Cate Blanchett-fronted production of Anton Chekhov's "The Seagull" at the Barbican. More details, including full cast and creative team, as well as information regarding ticket sales, will be revealed at a later date, for which you can sign up via the official website.

Shakespeare's great masterpiece had its last major staging in the west end back in 2017, in a production directed by Robert Icke, and starring Andrew Scott as the titular prince of Denmark; others to have taken on this most gargantuan of theatrical roles include Laurence Olivier, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Kenneth Branagh, David Tennant, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jude Law and Tom Hiddleston. The exact dates and venue have yet to be revealed, so stay tuned for updates...

JANE EYRE

Full cast announced for UK premiere of musical

The complete cast of the upcoming musical production of "Jane Eyre" has been revealed, to perform off-west end from the end of the summer. As previously announced, the roles of Jane and Rochester are to be played by Charlie Burn and Ashley Gilmour respectively; they will be joined by Claire Greenway as Abbot / Grace Poole, Melad Hamidi as St John / Lord Ingram, Connor Wood as John Reed / Vicar, Jonathan Andrew Hume as Brocklehurst / Mason, Izzi Levine as Agnes / Leah / Jane’s Mother / Mary Ingram, Hannah Lindsey as Scatcherd / Bertha Mason, Isabelle Methven as Helen Burns / Bessie, Gemma Page as Reed / Fairfax, and Eve Shanu-Wilson as Blanche / Sophie, with Young Jane / Adele shared by Poppy Jason and Emily-Rose Samuel.

Following the eponymous heroine from orphanhood to adulthood, the musical follows the same plot as the classic novel by Charlotte Brontë, written by John Caird & Paul Gordon, and to be co-directed by Caird and Megan McGinnis. It will open at Southwark Playhouse Elephant on the 28th of august, where it will run until the 24th of October, with tickets available from the venue's website.

SPIRITED AWAY

Studio Ghibli stage adaptation to return to London once again

It has been revealed that the stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s “Spirited Away” is set to return to the London stage as part of a world tour, that also includes a further run in Tokyo, as well as in Los Angeles and Toronto, in the play’s North American premiere. Based on the 2001 Ghibli film of the same name, the stage show is adapted by John Caird and Maoko Imai, also featuring the original score by Joe Hisaishi. It originally premiered in Japan during early 2022, and later made its European premiere at the London Coliseum two years later, being nominated for 4 Olivier Awards in the process.

“Spirited Away” will return to the London Coliseum in 2028 as the final stage of this world tour, opening in March and then concluding its run in July. Tickets will go on sale in due course, and you can sign up for updates via the official Coliseum website, including notifications for casting announcements, ticket release dates and more.

DINNERLADIES

New stage adaptation of Victoria Wood comedy to tour UK

A new stage adaptation of Victoria Wood’s “Dinnerladies” is set to open early next year, to tour the UK during much of 2027, with initial casting already confirmed. Fresh off appearing in the Waitress UK tour, Les Dennis is set to take to the stage once again, this time as maintenance man Stan; further casting will be revealed at a later date. The sitcom, starring Wood, alongside the likes of Shobna Gulati, Celia Imrie, Maxine Peake, and regular collaborator Julie Walters, ran on TV in the UK from 1998 until 2000, winning a BAFTA for bes tcomedy programme, as well as a British Comedy Award.

Adapted by Beth and Emma Kilcoyne, and to be directed by double Olivier winner Sean Foley, “Dinnerladies” will open at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley, before runs in Manchester, Llandudno, Bath, York, Birmingham, Stockton, Milton Keynes, Eastbourne, Blackpool, Cardiff, Hull, Nottingham, Wimbledon, Ipswich, Torquay, Truro, Bournemouth, Northampton, Stoke, Guildford, Canterbury, Leeds, Wolverhampton, Liverpool, Reading, Sheffield, and finally Southend, to conclude in August 2027. You can find out more about the show, as well as how to book tickets, via the official Dinnerladies website.

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

Full casting set for 40th anniversary performances

The full cast for the upcoming 40th anniversary celebration performances of “Phantom of the Opera” has been revealed, with Broadway legends and home grown favourites alike to feature. Leading the cast in the title role will be Jordan Donica (Camelot), with Christine being played by Beatrice Penny Toure (Les Miserables), in her return to the role. Also featured will be Rhys Whitfield (The Devil Wears Prada) as Raoul, Sierra Boggess (Love Never Dies) as Carlotta, Ian Pirie (Notre Dame de Paris) as Monsieur Firmin, Joseph Millson (Mary Poppins) as Monsieur André, Joanna Riding (Sondheim's Old Friends) as Madame Giry, Matt Bateman (Pretty Woman) as Ubaldo Piangi, and Millie Lyon (pro debut) as Meg Giry, with Colleen Rose Curran (pro debut) continuing as alternate Christine.

The cast is completed by Harry Apps, George Arvidson, Michael Baxter, Embla Bishop, David Burilin, Polly Clarke, Leonard Cook, Hywel Dowsell, Connor Ewing, Lila Falce-Bass, Florence Fowler, James Gant, Emily George, Melanie Gowie, Molly Hall, Will Hawksworth, Matt Hayden, Nino Hepher, Mandy Kwan, Verity Marlow, Tim Morgan, Inguna Morozova, Skye November, Taylor Pardell, Johnny Randall, Rachel Spurrell, Jasmine Wallis, Victoria Ward, and Alicia Wong. You can find out more the production, including the current cast, via the official website.

DUKE OF YORK'S THEATRE

Venue to be named for legendary playwright Sir Tom Stoppard

For the second time in the space of a month, it has been confirmed that a west end theatre is to change its name, this time the Duke of York’s Theatre is set to be named in honour of Oscar, Tony and Olivier-winning playwright Sir Tom Stoppard, whose play “Arcadia” is presently being performed at the venue. Born in 1937 as Tomáš Sträussler, the Czech-born theatre writing legend has a long history within the west end, having his first works performed in London in 1966, including his breakthrough play “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead”, which catapulted him into the spotlight.

Currently owned and operated by ATG, the theatre first opened in 1892 as the Trafalgar Square Theatre, later being named as the Trafalgar Theatre, and then finally as the Duke of York’s in 1894. The renaming after Stoppard, who passed away in November 2025 aged 88, is set to take place over the coming weeks, including a new canopy and signage out front.

HAIRSPRAY

New UK tour to commence next summer, initial casting confirmed

I can hear the bells coming from Baltimore, as the multi-award winning musical “Hairspray”, with a score by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, and book by Thomas Meehan & Mark O'Donnell, is once again set to hit the road around the country, in the second outing for the production co-directed by Brenda Edwards and Paul Kerryson, with initial casting already confirmed. Neil Hurst is to reprise the role of Edna Turnblad that he last played in 2024; further casting will be revealed at a later date.

The tour will commence at Manchester Palace Theatre on the 2nd of July 2027, before moving on to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Dublin, Belfast, Southend, Wimbledon, Liverpool, Bradford, Sunderland, Milton Keynes, Malvern, Birmingham, York, Leicester, Brighton, Woking and Bristol, with additional stops to be confirmed.