NEWS ROUNDUP: 30 March - 5 April
- James Tradgett
- Apr 6
- 7 min read
The clocks have gone forward, the days are getting longer, and there’s a fresh helping of news stories on which we need to catch up, so let's dive right in; here are the news stories from the past week that have rocked the world of theatre...
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BANK OF DAVE
Full cast announced for world premiere in Salford
The complete cast for the upcoming world premiere of new musical “Bank of Dave” has been announced, with the title role having been filled. Leading the cast as Dave Fishwick will be Sam Lupton (Only Fools and Horses), who joins previously announced Hayley Tamaddon, who will play Nicky, with Lucca Chadwick-Patel as Hugh, Claire Moore as Maureen, and Lauryn Redding as Alex. Samuel Holmes (Curtains) also features as Sir Charles Denbigh.
Completing the cast are Zachary Willis as Danny / Andy, Mark Peachey as Cher / Clarence, Joni Ayton-Kent as Megan/Mary, Adam Colbeck-Dunn as Marco, Hannah Nuttall as Mavis, Rosie Strobel as Barbara, Minal Patel as Ali, Elliot Broadfoot as Omari, Althea Burey as Betty, and Jhanaica Van Mook as Claire. “Bank of Dave” has a book by Rob Madge, music by Pippa Cleary, and lyrics by both, and it is to be directed by Nikolai Foster. The show will run from the 2nd - 16th of May at the Lowry, before a run from the 20th - 30th of May at Leicester Curve. You can find out more, and book tickets for both venues, via the official Bank of Dave website.
THE CHERRY ORCHARD
Kristin Scott Thomas to star in revival of Chekhov classic
A west end return for Dame Kristin Scott Thomas has been announced, with the award winning actress set to return to the Harold Pinter Theatre to lead a new production of Anton Chekhov's play "The Cherry Orchard", to open in the autumn. Scott Thomas reunites with director Ian Rickson for this revival, with the pair having previously collaborated on Chekhov's "The Seagull" in 2008, which ran in both London and New York, earning the former an Olivier Award for her performance. The creative team includes set designer Chloe Lamford, lighting designer Bruno Poet, and movement director Shelley Maxwell, with full casting and creatives for the production to be revealed at a later date.
The play has been revived regularly in recent years, including at the Old Vic, the National Theatre, the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, and most recently at Donmar Warehouse in 2024 directed by Benedict Andrews. Tickets for the production are now on sale, and can be purchased through the ATG website.
PADDINGTON
Release date announced for cast recording of musical
The waiting is almost over, as the release of the official cast recording for "Paddington: The Musical" has been brought forward by a whole month, and will now release on the 10th of April, coinciding with the release of the broadway cast recording of "Chess". The musical, with music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher and a book by Jessica Swale, first opened at the Savoy Theatre on the 1st of November 2025, and has since become the hottest ticket in town, with all performances sold out until the end of June, with limited availability for the remainder of the year. The show recently extended once again, and is now booking until the 39th of May 2027, with tickets available from the ATG website.
The original cast who will feature on the album includes James Hameed as Paddington, with Timi Akinyosade as Tony, Delilah Bennett-Cardy as Judy Brown, Amy Booth-Steel as Lady Sloane, Tarinn Callender as Grant, Adrien Der Gregorian as Mr Brown, Tom Edden as Mr Curry, Brenda Edwards as Tanya, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as Millicent, Teddy Kempner as Mr Gruber, Bonnie Langford as Mrs Bird, and Amy Ellen Richardson as Mrs Brown, with the role of Jonathan Brown played by Joseph Bramley, Leo Collon, Stevie Hare and Jasper Rowse.
WICKED
20th anniversary cast revealed for west end production
Ahead of the celebration of twenty years since "Wicked" opened at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in the west end, the producers of the show have revealed the cast who will be performing in the show for this two decade anniversary run. Joining the cast from the broadway company will be Jordan Litz, the longest serving Fiyero in the show's history, reprising the role he first played at the Gershwin Theatre in 2023. His arrival marks an exchange programme between the west end and broadway, with Carl Man having taken over from Litz in New York, with the pair becoming the first to perform in both the west end and broadway productions of "Wicked". Also joining the cast are Claire Machin as Madame Morrible, and Yara Fabricante as Nessarose, the latter making her west end debut.
They join the cast from the 19th of May 2026, with Zizi Strallen as Glinda, Emma Kingston as Elphaba, Michael Matus as the Wizard, Ross Carpenter as Boq, and David McKechnie as Doctor Dillamond, all continuing in their respective roles, with Laura Emmitt also continuing as the alternate Elphaba, and Lydia Gerrard remaining as Glinda standby. There will be a pair of special anniversary performances, on the 26th and 27th of September 2026, the latter marking the exact date since the show officially opened in the west end in 2026. "Wicked" is currently booking until the 3rd of January 2027, with tickets available via the ATG website.
GAME OF THRONES: THE MAD KING
Further details revealed for world premiere at the RSC
Ahead of tickets going on sale for the upcoming premiere of “Game Of Thrones: The Mad King” in Stratford-upon-Avon, the RSC have confirmed production dates, and released new artwork for the show. It will open on the 20th of July, and run until the 5th of September 2026, with tickets to go on sale later this month, with Dominic Cooke to direct Duncan Macmillan's new stage adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s original novels, with much of the action taking place prior to the events of the award winning TV series.
Also joining the creative team will be puppetry/movement coordinators Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell (Lume), set designer Chloe Lamford, costume designer Georgia McGuinness, lighting designer Jon Clark, composer Will Stuart, and sound sesigner Tom Gibbons. Casting is by Amy Ball CDG, with the full cast to be revealed at a later date. Tickets go on priority sale on the 14th of April, with general booking opening on the 22nd of April; you can find out more about the production, as well as the booking schedule, via the RSC website.
OCTET
Lin Manuel Miranda to direct movie of Dave Malloy musical
The next directorial project of "In The Heights" and Hamilton" composer Lin-Manuel Miranda has been revealed, with the Tony, Grammy, Emmy and Pulitzer winning writer and actor set to adapt the Dave Malloy musical "Octet" to the big screen. Miranda made his feature directorial debut in 2021 with his adaptation of Jonathan Larson's "Tick, Tick...Boom!" starring Andrew Garfield, in which he also made a cameo appearance; the film earned two Academy Award nominations including best actor for Garfield. Casting and additional details for the film will be confirmed at a later date.
The musical's writer Malloy is best known for works like the Tony winning musical "Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812" adapted from Leo Tolstoy, and his musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's children's novel "The Witches", which premiered at the National Theatre in 2023. "Octet" first premiered in 2019 off-broadway, winning three Lucille Lortel Awards and two Drama Desks in the process, which was followed by several regional US productions and a Canadian premiere. Though the staged version has yet. tomake it across the Atlantic, this new movie musical may well generate enough interest to make it happen, so stay tuned...
THE GUY WHO DIDN'T LIKE MUSICALS
Full cast revealed for StarKid's full UK premiere
The full cast for the upcoming London premiere of StarKid’s “The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals” has been revealed, and will feature Jon Matteson as Paul Matthews, Joey Richter as Ted Spankoffski, Jeff Blim as Sam Sweetly, Jaime Lyn Beatty as Charlotte Sweetly, Mariah Rose Faith Casillas as Melissa / Zoe / Alice, Corey Dorris as Bill Woodward, Lauren Lopez as Emma Perkins, Iván Fernández González as Professor Hidgens, alongside Oonagh Cox, Connor Keetley, Emily Ooi, and Davis Weaver as ensemble members.
StarKid first came to prominence with “A Very Potter Musical” in 2009, bringing actor and founder Darren Criss into major public prominence, and they have since built a strong following with online performances of their musicals such as “Twisted”, “Firebringer” and “Nerdy Prudes Must Die” garnering millions of views. Following a run of performances in Los Angeles, “The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals” will run at London's Apollo Theatre from the 14th - 30th of May, with all shows already sold out. You can find out more via the Nimax Theatres website.
THE LAST FIVE YEARS
Full live cast recording from the Palladium to be released
Following an enormously successful sold out run at the London Palladium, it has been revealed by Lambert Jackson Productions that the 25th anniversary performance of “The Last Five Years” is set to be released in full on streaming services later this month. Directed by the show's composer Jason Robert Brown from the piano, the production featured Tony winner Ben Platt (Parade), Golden Globe winner and Olivier nominee Rachel Zegler (Evita), performing as Jamie Wellenstein and Cathy Hiatt respectively.
The production ran at the London Palladium from the 24th until the 29th of March, with subsequent performances at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, and early next week at the Radio City Music Hall in New York. You can pre-save on both Apple Music and Spotify via Atlantic Records, ahead of its official release on the 20th of April, just two weeks away.
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