May 10 UPDATE: Theatre that’s returning & ahead

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This weekly column keeps track of the shows that are coming back, or are newly being announced, as theatres prepare to re-open from next Monday (May 17) in London and at other theatres in the UK: initially on a socially-distanced basis, but from June 20 possibly with no social distancing in place any longer.

Meanwhile last week saw Broadway cleared to begin promoting its return, from September. A new section for Broadway shows has been added this week, and will be updated as more shows are announced to return.

NB: CHANGES SINCE LAST WEEK ARE INDICATED BY:
>>NEW or >>UPDATED

LONDON’S WEST END AND BEYOND
(Dates shown are for first performances, with press nights separately indicated where announced)

RETURNING SHOWS:

  • The Mousetrap (St Martin’s) Resuming performances May 17, with two sets of casts that include established West End names like Danny Mac, Cassidy Janson, Derek Griffiths, Susan Penhaligon, Louise Jameson, David Rintoul and EastEnders actors Charlie Clements, Nicholas Bailey and Paul Bradley, among their number. Producer Adam Spiegel comments: “I am thrilled today to announce the award winning company of actors that have assembled to lead The Mousetrap back to the West End. The production is an enduring symbol of London theatre and I hope that its return signifies the first steps in the restoration of live theatre in London. I am so pleased that these hugely accomplished performers have chosen to participate in this historic moment.” Press Contact: David Bloom a Storyhouse PR. www.uk.the-mousetrap.co.uk
  • Death Drop (Garrick Theatre) Resuming performances May 19, with RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Willam and Latrice Royale joining the company, as well as Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Myra Dubois; LoUis CYfer, Anna Phylactic and Holly Stars return from last year’s run. Press contact: Jack Collins, at Neil Reading PR. www.deathdropplay.com
  • Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo) Resuming performances from May 20, with Shane Richie returning to play Hugo/Loco Chanelle (to July 18); joined by Noah Thomas as Jamie New, Melissa Jacques as his mum Margaret, Sejal Keshwala as Ray, Hiba Elchikhe as Pritti Pasha and Gillian Ford as Miss Hedge. Press contact: Jo Allan PR. www.EverybodysTalkingAboutJamie.co.uk
  • >> UPDATED WITH FURTHER PRINCIPAL CASTING & STATEMENT FROM CAMERON MACKINTOSH: Les Miserables — The Staged Concert (Sondheim Theatre) Resuming performances from May 20, this run will feature Jon Robyns as Jean Valjean, Bradley Jaden as Javert, Lucie Jones as Fantine, Shan Ako as Eponine and Harry Apps as Marius. Gerard Carey and Josefina Gabrielle will play the Thenardiers. Newly announced: Jamie Muscato and Charlie Burn will respectively play Enjolras and Cosette; and Dean Chisnall will play Valjean at certain performances. It will run to September 5, then the theatre will close for three weeks in order to re-mount the full production, which will re-open on September 25. New press statement from Cameron Mackintosh: “Les Misérables has been the star attraction of London’s Shaftesbury Avenue for over 35 years, so we are delighted to once again be the first big musical to reopen in the West End after over 14 months of closure. The spectacular Staged Concert was presciently put together, unknowingly socially distanced, over two years ago at the Gielgud Theatre. Every performance has been a sell out and this time, our wonderful Company drawn from the current stars of both the new acclaimed West End and National touring companies of Les Mis, which will both reopen in the autumn, will ensure that the world’s most loved musical will raise the roof of the theatre once more and help the restaurants, bars, hotels and shops bring our great city back to life. Let the People Sing with joy again!” Press contact: Janine Shalom at Premier. ww.lesmis.com

  • Six the Musical (Lyric) [pictured above left] Resuming performances from May 21, booking to August 22, with a schedule of nine performances a week. Musical celebration of 21st century girl power: “These Queens may have green sleeves but their lipstick is rebellious red.” Press contact: Kevin Wilson PR. www.sixthemusical.com
  • Prince of Egypt (Dominion Theatre) Resuming performances from July 2. The epic stage version of the film musical that tells the Moses story, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (‘Wicked’, ‘Pippin’, ‘Godspell’). Press contact: Amanda Malpass PR. https://www.theprinceofegyptmusical.com

  • The Comeback (Noel Coward Theatre) Resuming performances for a run from July 7-25. After having its original West End run curtailed by the imposition of the December lockdown following only nine performances, comedy duo The Pin (Ben Ashenden and Alex Owen, pictured above) return to complete the season of their backstage comedy. Press contact: Clair Chamberlain/ Ben Chamberlain at Bread and Butter PR, clair@breadandbutterpr.uk, ben@breadandbutterpr.uk. https://thecomebackcomedy.co.uk/

  • Pretty Woman (Savoy Theatre, transferring from Piccadilly) Resuming performances from July 8, with Aimie Atkinson and Danny Mac [pictured above right] reprising their roles as Vivian Ward and her client Edward Lewis from when the show originally opened at the Piccadilly Theatre last March, but now in a new venue — the Savoy. They are joined by Rachael Wooding, Bob Harms, Neil McDermott and Mark Holden. Press contact: Simon Raw, Emily Webb, Stacey Pedder at Raw PR. https://prettywomanthemusical.com/
  • Come from Away (Phoenix Theatre). Resuming performances from July 22, with a cast that includes Jenna Boyd, James Doherty, Mark Dugdale, Alice Fearn, Kate Graham, Alasdair Harvey , Jonathan Andrew Hume, Harry Morrison, Emma Salvo and Cat Simmons. Press contact: Lewis Jenkins at Storyhouse PR.

  • The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s). Resuming performances from July 27. Though Andrew Lloyd Webber promised that the original production would return to Her Majesty’s (after it was revealed that the original set had been removed from the theatre and the entire existing cast and orchestra had been released from their contracts), it is not quite the original that is returning, but a newly-revised version created for its last national tour. In the words of co-producer Cameron Mackintosh, “Although many of our brilliant original creative colleagues including, Hal Prince, Maria Björnson and Gillian Lynne are sadly no longer with us, their work lives on inspiring our new creative team to stage the Phantom afresh, as if it was a brand new production.” This includes the reduction of the orchestra from 27 players to 14, and what Lloyd Webber calls “our first entirely new cast for The Phantom of the Opera in London in over 35 years”, led by Killian Donnelly in the title role (who was playing the role on the national tour that had just launched before Covid shut it down), Lucy St Louis as Christine and Rhys Whitfield as Raoul. (They are pictured above: left to right are Whitfeld, St Louis and Donnelly). Press contact: Simon Raw/Emily Webb at Simon Raw PR, simon@rawpr.co.uk. https://uk.thephantomoftheopera.com

  • Witness for the Prosecution (London County Hall, Belvedere Road, London, SE1) Resuming performances August 3, Agatha Christie’s courtroom drama returns to the former council debating chamber of what used to be the seat of London’s local governance. Lucy Bailey’s production (pictured above) had already run for over two and a half years and had just played to its 1000th performance when Covid forced it to suspend performances. Press contacts: Laura Myers and Chloe Pritchard-Gordon at About Grace PR. http://www.witnesscountyhall.com/

  • Leopoldstadt (Wyndam’s Theatre). Resuming performances from August 7, for a run to October 30. Tom Stoppard’s latest (and arguably most personal) play, which premiered in February 2020 before having its run abbreviated when the pandemic shut down theatres the following month, returns to complete its run. In a press statement, producer Sonia Friedman comments, “I am deeply relieved that after a year of immense loss and struggle for so many, including the unthinkable shutdown of our theatre industry, to announce the new dates for the return of Tom’s astonishing play to the West End. Leopoldstadt is a passionate drama of enduring love and familial bonds that asks us to bear witness to our pasts, no matter how painful that may be. The audience response throughout our seven weeks of sold-out performances before the pandemic struck in March 2020 was incredibly moving and humbling to witness. Over a year later and now having won the 2020 Olivier Award for Best New Play, Leopoldstadt could not be more pertinent. I so look forward to returning to the Wyndham’s Theatre, to welcome back our very special audiences as we continue to share this epic, truly great new play.” Press contact: Janine Shalom at Premier Communications. https://leopoldstadtplay.com

  • Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre). Resuming from August 7, Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s co-production of their stage version of the hit film returns to its original London home, where it was originally premiered in 2004, before being revived there in 2019. Zizi Strallen and Charlie Stemp return in the title role and Bert respectively. Press contact: Janine Shalom/Ella Taibel at Premier Communications. https://www.marypoppinsonstage.co.uk/

  • Hamilton (Victoria Palace Theatre). Resuming from August 19, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical returns to London. As the composer has stated, “For over a year the lights on the West End have been dark and our friends, family and colleagues on and off the stage have been out of work. It is with tremendous gratitude that we announce the return of Hamilton to London’s Victoria Palace Theatre this August. We will safely gather to tell this story again. We’ll be back.” Press contacts: Janine Shalom at Premier Communications/ Simon Raw at Raw PR. https://hamiltonmusical.com/london/home/

  • The Woman in Black (Fortune Theatre) Resuming performances from September 7. The West End’s second-longest running play (after The Mousetrap) returns. In response to the show’s enduring popularity with young people, the producers have announced that those aged 18 and under will be able to see the West End production free of charge, alongside each full paying adult ticket. Additionally, persons aged 25 and under will be eligible for a £25 ticket rate. A new national tour will also embark from Cambridge’s Arts Theatre  from June 17. Press contacts: Emily Webb or Simon Raw at Simon Raw PR.

  • Wicked (Apollo Victoria) Resuming performances from September 15, with a celebratory performance planned for September 28 to mark its imminent 15th anniversary in the West End. Casting is yet to be announced. Press contacts: Rebecca Byers/David Bloom at Storyhouse PR. https://www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/

  • >> NEW ENTRY: Matilda The Musical (Cambridge Theatre) Resuming performances from September 16, as this autumn marks its 10th anniversary since its transfer to the West End. Press statement from Catherine Mallyon, executive director of The RSC: “It is fantastic to see London’s West End re-opening and for our company, freelance colleagues, and creative team to be back at the Cambridge Theatre, preparing for performances in the autumn. We all know how challenging the past year has been, and that makes this moment even more special and important. We will not only celebrate 10 brilliant years of Matilda The Musical in the West End but also that our audiences can join us once again to experience the power of live theatre.”  Press contact: Chloe Pritchard-Gordon, at About Grace PR.
  • & Juliet (Shaftesbury Theatre) Resuming performances from September 24. The new Shakespearean musical based on the back catalogue of pop hit maker Max Martin, including such iconic songs as ‘Baby One More Time’, ‘Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)’, ‘Love Me Like You Do’ and ‘Can’t Feel My Face scored three Olivier Award wins for cast members Miriam-Teak Lee (Best Actress in a Musical) as Juliet, with Cassidy Janson and David Bedella winning Best Actress and Actor in a Musical in a supporting role respectively. https://www.andjulietthemusical.co.uk/

  • Only Fools and Horses (Theatre Royal, Haymarket) Resuming performances from October 1. As the TV show it is based on celebrates its 40th anniversary year (it first aired on September 8, 1981 on the BBC), the musical version returns, with Paul Whitehouse returning as Grandad, alongside Tom Bennett as Del Boy and Ryan Hutton as Rodney. In a press statement, Whitehouse comments: “I’m over the moon because, finally, the West End is coming back to life and Only Fools and Horses The Musical will return to the Theatre Royal Haymarket this October. The last year or so has been very difficult for a lot of people, so I know I speak for the whole cast when I say that we genuinely cannot wait to get back on stage in front of a live audience – we’ve missed it so much. Roll on 1st October, we can’t wait to see you. Mange tout!” Press contact: Neil Reading PR. https://onlyfoolsmusical.com/

NEW PRODUCTIONS:

  • Flight (Bridge Theatre) May 17-,June 6. Return run for a theatre installation by Vox Motus, which made its London debut at the Bridge last year before lockdown halted the run.  Audiences are seated individually and given headphones for this intimate experience staged by Candice Edmunds and Jamie Harrison who is magic and illusions designer for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.  Like a 3-D graphic novel brought to life, the revolving scenes contain detailed sets and figures which are accompanied by binaural sound and narration. Press contact: Freddie Todd Fordham at Barbican Centre. https://bridgetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/flight/
  • New Musical Theatre Festival (Turbine Theatre) May 17-29, then touring digitally from May 31-July 4. Rescheduled for a third time, eight new musicals will be presented in two weeks: * Far From Heaven (with music by Scott Frankel and lyrics by Michael Korie, whose collaboration on Grey Gardens played on Broadway, and book by Richard Greenberg; cast: Cory English, Tiffany Graves, Aimee Hodnett, Melanie La Barrie, Ako Mitchell, Bryce Pinkham and Scarlett Strallen); * The Man In the Ceiling (with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, and book by Jules Feiffer; cast: Matthew Croke, Jazz Jenkins, Andrew Lippa and Sharon Rose) * Tony! The Tony Blair Rock Opera (with music by Steve Brown, and book and lyrics by Brown and Harry Hill, cast: Jenna Boyd, Scott Garnham, Gemma Knight Jones, Marie Lawrence, Simon Lipkin, Nicola Sloane and Paul Thornley); * #50days (Created and written by Thabo Stuck; cast: Aminita Francis, Nadine-Rose Johnson, Reuben Joseph, Kyran Mitchell-Nanton, Robert Saunders, Cleve September), * Millennials (Music, Book & Lyrics by Elliot Clay; cast: Luke Bayer, Allie Daniel, Beth Hinton-Leve, Nathan Lorainey-Dinner, Tim Mahendran, Grace Mouat, Jodie Steele) * Cake (By McManus, Lloyd Malcolm & Taylor-Johnson; cast: Tori Allen-Martin, Emma Kingston, Phoebe Panaretos, Sebastien Torkia), * Housefire (by P Burton-Morgan & Felix Hagan; cast: Alex Cardall , Eleanor Kane and Robin Simões da Silva) * Daisy (by Caroline Kay; cast: Jessica Cervi , Chris Chung, Caroline Kay and Sharon Sexton). Press contact: Emma Holland PR. https://www.theturbinetheatre.com/whatson
  • Harm (Bush Theatre) May 17-June 26, opens May 21. Phoebe Eclair-Powell’s comedy on the corrosive effects of social media and isolation, a filmed version of which was broadcast on BBC4 on April 13 and is now available on iPlayer as part of BBC Arts Lights Up season which partnered with theatres across the country to produce plays for audience at home. Press contact: Martin Shippen. https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/event/harm/

  • Cruise (Duchess Theatre) May 18-June 13, opens May 20. World premiere of a play written and performed by Jack Holden, based on a true story he was told whilst volunteering for Switchboard, the LGBTQ+ Listening Service, that pays tribute to a generation decimated by HIV and AIDs. A filmed version will still be available to watch from April 15-25 at Stream.Theatre before it arrives in the West End. Nica Burns of Nimax Theatres comments: “Hard as it is to find anything to celebrate in the theatre in this incredibly difficult pandemic year, being able to invite a talented new team of theatre-makers to reopen the Duchess theatre is a delight.  A warm welcome to producers Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment, Jamie Lambert and Eliza Jackson of Lambert Jackson and their playwright Jack Holden, all making West End debuts.” Press contact: Chloe Pritchard-Gordon and Laura Myers at About Grace PR. www.cruisetheplay.co.uk
  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare’s Globe) May 19-October 30, opening w/c May 25. Sean Holmes’s 2019 production returns, with the same company also set to perform Twelfth Night (see July below). Michelle Terry, artistic director, comments: “To even be announcing a season means that we are inching ever closer to getting back to doing the thing that we love, the thing that the Globe was built for, and the thing that so many of us, artists and audience alike, have lost during this time: sharing time, space and story with as many people as is safe. This is a historic moment, and not to be underestimated; we have a long way to go as we emerge and heal from this, but theatre can help us get there: that’s what it’s for. To express the often inexpressible, bear the often unbearable, laugh, cry, be – safely – together. The readiness is all and Shakespeare’s Globe is ready.” Press contacts: Claudia Conway at Claudia Conway, or Jessica Strawson at the Globe. https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/a-midsummer-nights-dream-2019/
  • Amélie The Musical (Criterion Theatre) From May 20, opens June 2. Michael Fentiman’s production of the 2017 Broadway musical version of the 2001 film, first seen in London at the Other Palace Theatre in 2019, transfers to the West End, with Audrey Brisson reprising her performance in the title role. Press contact: Arabella Neville-Rolfe at ANPR. https://ameliethemusical.com
  • Reasons You Should(n’t) Love Me (Kiln Theatre) May 21-June 12, opens May 26. The Kiln re-opens with a play written and performed by Amy Trigg that won The Women’s Prize for Playwright 2020. Press contact: Kate Morley PR. www.KilnTheatre.com
  • Abba Mania! (Shaftesbury) May 21-June 6. Long-touring Abba tribute concert show, which previously played an 18 week West End season at the Strand (now the Novello Theatre, and home to Mamma Mia!), returns to town for a short season. The cast will comprise Rhiannon Porter, JoJo Desmond, Edward Handoll and Loucas Hajiantoni. PR: Chloe Nelkin Consulting. https://www.abbamania.com/

  • Re-Emerge season: Walden (Harold Pinter Theatre, May 22-June 12): New season of plays introducing new voices and fresh talent to the West End, curated by Sonia Friedman Productions (who are producing) and Ian Rickson, opens with Amy Berryman’s Walden. Press contact: Kate Morley PR. Sign up for priority booking:  www.sfp-reemergeseason.co.uk.

  • Here Come The Boys (London Palladium), May 25-June 9, press night May 26. Aljaž Škorjanec, Pasha Kovalev, Graziano di Prima, Robin Windsor, and Strictly finalist Karim Zeroual are joined by special guest star Nadiya Bychkova. Gareth Walker directs and choreographs. Press contact: Kevin Wilson PR. https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/here-come-the-boys-2/

  • Shaw Shorts: How He Lied to Her Husband and Overruled (Orange Tree Theatre, May 22-June 26, press night May 26) Orange Tree artistic director Paul Miller directs two short plays by Shaw, whose plays Candida, Misalliance, The Philanderer and Widowers’ Houses he has previously directed here to acclaim. Press contact: Riona Kelly/Freya Cowdry at Kate Morley PR. https://orangetreetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/shaw-shorts

  • Public Domain (Vaudeville) May 27-30, press night May 27. Verbatim musical, co-written and performed by Francesca Forristal and Jordan Paul Clarke, originally seen as a livestream digital version only direct from Southwark Playhouse, now transfers to the West End for a run of five performances only. Press contact: Kevin Wilson Public Relations. https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/shows/public-domain/

  • Death of a Black Man (Hampstead Theatre, main house), May 28-July 10, opens June 3. Dawn Walton directs a revival of Alfred Fagon’s play that was originally premiered at Hampstead in 1975. Fagon was a soldier, boxing champion, a welder, actor, poet and playwright.  The Alfred Fagon Award, the leading theatre award for Black British writers, is named in his honour. The cast has now been announced, and will comprise Nickcolia King-N’da, Natalie Simpson and Toyin Omari-Kinch. Press contact: Clare McCormack at Hampstead Theatre. https://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/whats-on/2021/the-death-of-a-black-man/

  • Forever Plaid (Upstairs at the Gatehouse) June 1-27, opens June 3. John Plews directs the Off-Broadway revue of 50s classics, sung by a vocal close harmony group that includes Cameron Burt, George Crawford and Alex Zane. Press contact: Katie Plews at Upstairs at the Gatehouse. https://www.upstairsatthegatehouse.com/forever-plaid
  • The Sun, The Moon and the Stars (Theatre Royal Stratford East) June 2-19, press night June 4. Nadia Fall, the theatre’s artistic director, directs Dipo Baruwa-Etti’s play about trauma, rage nad the extent a woman called Femi (played by Kibong Tanji) will go in her quest for justice, after her brother is murdered. It will also be streamed from June 15-20. Press contact: Hannah Stockton at Jo Allan PR. https://www.stratfordeast.com/whats-on/all-shows/the-sun-the-moon-and-the-stars
  • After Life (National’s Dorfman Theatre) June 2-July 24. Adapted from Hirokazu Kore-eda’s award-winning film, After Life is presented in a new co-production with Headlong that’s written by Jack Thorne from a concept by designer Bunny Christie, and directed by Jeremy Herrin. https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/after-life

  • Alyssa, Memoirs of A Queen! (Vaudeville Theatre) June 7-13. Alyssa Edwards (pictured above), star of the 5th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race and recently seen in the Netflix series Dancing Queen, Alyssa Edwards brings her ” fully realized autobiographical extravaganza, complete with iconic costumes, high kicks and splits, phenomenal dancers and outrageous tongue pops” to the West End for a week. Press contact: Kevin Wilson Public Relations. https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/shows/alyssa-memoirs-of-a-queen/

  • Raya (Hampstead Theatre Downstairs), June 11-July 24, opens June 17. World premiere of a play by Deborah Bruce, whose play Godchild was previously produced at Hampstead Downsatirs. Artistic director Roxana Gilbert directs a cast that comprises Claire Price, Bo Poraj and Shannon Hayes. Press contact: Clare McCormack at Hampstead Theatre. https://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/whats-on/2021/raya/

  • >> UPDATE: Re-Emerge season: J’Ouvert (Harold Pinter Theatre, June 16-July 3): New season of plays introducing new voices and fresh talent to the West End, curated by Sonia Friedman Productions (who are producing) and Ian Rickson, continues with Yasmin Joseph’s J’Ouvert. Originally seen at Theatre 503, the play is set at the Notting Hill Carnival, in the wake of the Grenfell tragedy. In a FT feature, it is described as “a play flecked with grief and anger, but one that bursts with the defiant joy and love of its young female characters as they assert their right to be there. It needs to spill over and embrace the audience, says [playwright Yasmin] Joseph — including in the West End. ‘The audience always felt like the final character in this play. So it’s trying to find ways to dispel the idea of the well-behaved audience and telling them, Yes, you are allowed to laugh, you are allowed to call out, sing, laugh and shout back. On a night when that clicks, it can be magical’.” Press contact: Kate Morley PR. www.sfp-reemergeseason.co.uk.

  • Shedding a Skin (Soho Theatre) June 17-July 17, press night June 22. Soho Theatre re-opens with Amanda Wilkins’s play, which she also performs (pictured above), that won Soho’s 2020 Verity Bargate Award and is described as being “about joy, healing and protest. And having a good belly laugh.” Press contact: Diana Whitehead at Fourth Wall PR. https://sohotheatre.com/shows/shedding-a-skin/
  • Romeo and Juliet (Open Air Theatre), June 17-July 24, press night June 23. Kimberley Sykes directs the opening production of this year’s Open Air Theatre season. Press contact: James Lever at Jo Allan PR. https://openairtheatre.com/production/romeo-juliet

  • Constellations (Vaudeville) June 18-September 12. Four new casts. One relationship. Infinite Possibilities.Four different casts take turns to journey through the multiverse exploring the infinite possibilities of a relationship; each refracting the play afresh, in Michael Longhurst’s revival of his original Royal Court production of Nick Payne’s play that subsequently transferred to the West End’s Duke of York’s and Broadway. The couples (pictured above) are Sheila Atim and Ivanno Jeremiah (18 June – 1 August) Peter Capaldi and Zoë Wanamaker (23 June – 24 July), Omari Douglas and Russell Tovey (30 July – 11 September), and Anna Maxwell Martin and Chris O’Dowd (6 August – 12 September). Press contact: James Lever at Jo Allan PR. https://www.donmarwarehouse.com/production/10047/constellations/

  • Heathers (Theatre Royal, Haymarket) June 21-September 11. Originally seen at the Other Palace before transferring to the Haymarket in 2018, Heathers now returns for another season to the Haymarket for a limited season; while a new touring production hits the road, opening in Leeds from July 28. Press contact: Emma Holland. https://trh.co.uk/whatson/heathers-the-musical/

  • >> UPDATED WITH FURTHER CASTING: Hairspray (London Coliseum) June 21 to September 29, with press night on June 29. Michael Ball reprises his Olivier winning role as Edna Turnblad that he first gave in the show’s original West End transfer from Broadway in 2007, with Lizzie Bea as daughter Tracy. Further casting will include Les Dennis as Wilbur Turnblad, Marisha Wallace as Motormouth, Rita Simons as Velma Von Tussle and Jonny Amies as Link Larkin, Jack O’Brien and Jerry Mitchell, director and choreographer of the original production, reprise those duties. Press contact: David Bloom at Storyhouse PR. https://www.hairspraythemusical.co.uk/

  • Bach & Sons (Bridge Theatre) June 23-September 9, press night June 29. Simon Russell Beale returns to the Bridge, where last year he appeared in A Christmas Carol, to play JS Bach in the world premiere of Nina Raine’s play, directed by Nicholas Hytner. Press contact: Janine Shalom, Premier Communications. https://bridgetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/bach-and-sons/

  • Bad Nights and Odd Days (Greenwich Theatre) June 23-July 10, press night June 25. A trio of short, rarely-seen Caryl Churchill plays (Abortive, Seagulls, and Three More Sleepless Nights) re-open Greenwich Theatre, with artistic director James Haddrell directing a cast that includes Paul McGann. Press contact: Daniel O’Carroll at Chloe Nelkin Consulting. https://greenwichtheatre.org.uk/events/bad-nights-and-odd-days/

  • Cinderella (Gillian Lynne Theatre) From June 25, opens July 14. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical version of the classic tale, with a book by Emerald Fennell and lyrics by David Zippel, starring Carrie Hope Fletcher in the title role, with Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as Stepmother, and new graduate Ivano Turco as Sebastian. Also newly announced, the principals also include Rebecca Trehearn as The Queen, Georgina Castle and Laura Baldwin as Cinderella’s stepsisters Marie and Adele, and Gloria Onitiri as The Godmother. Press contact: David Bloom at Storyhouse PR. https://andrewlloydwebberscinderella.com/
  • Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare’s Globe) June 26-October 17, opening w/c July 5. Ola Ince, artistic associate at the Royal Court, directs Alfred Enoch as Romeo and Rebekah Murrell as Juliet, who were in rehearsal in 2020 to do the play when the theatre was shut down by the pandemic. Press contacts: Claudia Conway at Claudia Conway, or Jessica Strawson at the Globe. https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/romeo-and-juliet-2021/
  • Twelfth Night (Shakespeare’s Globe) June 29-October 30 opening w/c August 6. The same company as A Midsummer Night’s Dream (see above) performs, joined by artistic director Michelle Terry as Viola. Press contacts: Claudia Conway at Claudia Conway, or Jessica Strawson at the Globe. https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/twelfth-night-2021/
  • Extinct (Theatre Royal, Stratford East) June 30-July 17, press night July 2. Kirsty Housley directs a play about the climate emergency by April de Angelis, based on a tapestry of testimonials from members of the Extinction Rebellion community. It will also be sreamed from June 15-20. Press contact: Hannah Stockton at Jo Allan PR. https://www.stratfordeast.com/whats-on/all-shows/extinct
  • Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (London Palladium) July 1-September 5. The 2019 hit revival, originally scheduled to return last summer, now returns, with Jac Yarrow reprising the title role and Jason Donovan – who played that role in its 1991 London revival at this same theatre — returning as Pharaoh. Alexandra Burke has been newly announced to play the Narrator. Press contact: David Bloom at Storyhouse PR. https://www.josephthemusical.com/
  • The Invisible Hand (Kiln Theatre) July 1-31, opens July 7. Ayad Akhtar’s play, first seen in the UK at the Kiln in 2016, returns in India Rubasingham’s production, with Daniel Lepaine reprising his performance as Nick Bright, an American banker confined to a cell in rural Pakistan who knows that his freedom comes at a price. Who will decide his fate: his captors, or the whims the market? Tony Jayawardena returns to play Imam Salem again, with Scott Karim as Bashir. Press contact: Kate Morley PR. https://kilntheatre.com/whats-on/the-invisible-hand/

  • Last Easter (Orange Tree Theatre, July 3-August 7, press night July 7) Tinuke Craig directs the London premiere of Bryony Lavery’s play about the true nature of friendship. Press contact: Riona Kelly/Freya Cowdry at Kate Morley PR. https://orangetreetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/last-easter

  • >> NEW ENTRY: Changing Destiny (Young Vic Theatre) July 9-August 21, 2021, press night July 16. The Young Vic re-opens with a new adaptation of the 4,000 year-old Egyptian poem of Sinuhe the Warrior King by Ben Okri, directed by Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah and designed by award-winning architect Sir David Adjaye. In a press statement, Kwei-Armah comments: “This pandemic has wielded an unquantifiable wound to theatre-makers and theatres, the repercussions of which we will continue to feel for a long time. We have seen a year of racial reckoning reverberate through our sector, a cry of pain and a call to do better. To announce a new season of work fills my heart with optimism, as it comes with the hope that artists can return to their craft, and as we rebuild, we improve on what was good, and take time to undo the broken systems and structures. My message with this new season is Welcome Back and Welcome Home. The Young Vic is a civic centre and a home-away-from-home for our community. It is a space for us to hear extraordinary stories told by the world’s finest artists that help us see the world through someone else’s eyes. With Ben Okri’s Changing Destiny and Shakespeare’s Hamlet we bring you the tales you thought you knew, and present them afresh. These stories have withstood the test of time because they continue speak to what it means to be human, and I believe now, more than ever, they deliver messages we need to hear. ” Press contact: Emma Hardy at the Young Vic. https://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/changing-destiny

  • Lava (Bush Theatre) July 9-August 7, press night July 14. Debut play by Congolese-British writer Benedict Lombe that started life in 2020 as part of the Bush Theatre’s The Protest Series, a digital artistic response to the murder of George Floyd. It has now been re-imagined as a full-length play for the stage. Press contact: Martin Shippen. https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/event/lava/

  • >> UPDATE: Re-Emerge season: Anna X (Harold Pinter Theatre, July 10-August 4) New season of plays introducing new voices and fresh talent to the West End, curated by Sonia Friedman Productions (who are producing) and Ian Rickson, concludes with Joseph Charlton’s Anna X. First seen at the Vaults (below Waterloo station), it is (in the words of a feature in the FT), about “a con artist who passes herself off as a super-rich art curator and the tech CEO behind an exclusive dating app. Inspired by (but not about) the fake heiress Anna Delvey, it becomes a sort of Great Gatsby for our era, exploring self-reinvention through the internet, Instagram fame and what constitutes success.”  www.sfp-reemergeseason.co.uk.

  • Wonderment (Palace Theatre) July 16-August 30, press night July 19. Described as “a vaudevillian journey of illusion”, Wonderment will feature mind-reader Chris Cox and magician Josephine Lee (who starred in Britain’s Got Talent in 2017), both of whom starred in The Illusionists. Press contact: Chloë Abley, Chloé Nelkin Consulting. https://www.wondermentlive.com/

  • Anything Goes (Barbican Theatre) July 23-October 17. Megan Mullaly plays nightclub singer Reno Sweeney, with Robert Lindsay as Moonface Martin, Felicity Kendal as Evangeline harcourt and Gary Wilmot as Elisha Whitney, in Cole Porter’s classic musical. Press contact: Neil Reading PR. https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2021/event/anything-goes

  • Jersey Boys (Trafalgar Theatre) July 28-January 2. The Broadway hit musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, originally due to start performances June 2, now returns to London from July 28 to re-open the newly-reinstated Trafalgar Theatre (formerly Trafalgar Studios, when it had been converted into two auditoria from the Whitehall Theatre; now it will once again be one theatre). Press contact: Amanda Malpass PR. http://www.jerseyboyslondon.com/

  • Jon & Jen (Southwark Playhouse) July 28-August 21, press nights August 2/3. Andrew Lippa and Tom Greenwald’s musical two-hander about a brother and sister, performed by Lewis Cornay and Rachel Tucker, directed by Guy Retallack. Press contact: Kevin Wilson Public Relations. https://www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/show-homepage/john-jen/
  • Carousel (Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park) July 30-September 18, opens August 9. Artistic director Timothy Sheader directs with choreography by Drew McOnie, reuniting the team behind the theatre’s hit production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Press contact: James Lever, Jo Allan PR. https://openairtheatre.com/production/carousel

  • Singin’ in the Rain (Sadler’s Wells, logo below) July 30-September 5, opens August 5. Jonathan Church’s production, which originated in Chichester in 2011 and subsequently played at the West End’s Palace Theatre, returns with Adam Cooper reprising the Gene Kelly role of Don Lockwood. Press contact: David Bloom at Storyhouse PR. https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/2021/singin-in-the-rain/
  • Back to the Future — the Musical (Adelphi Theatre), from August 20. The film’s co-writers Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis adapt a stage musical version, with a cast led by Olly Dobson as Marty McFly and Broadway’s Roger Bart as Doc Brown. With original music byAlan Silvestri and Glen Ballard (Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror), alongside hit songs from the movie including The Power of Love, Johnny B. Goode, Earth Angel and Back in Time, it is directed by John Rando. Press contact: Amanda Malpass PR. https://www.backtothefuturemusical.com/

  • Frozen (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), from August 27, opens Sept 8. Michael Grandage brings his Broadway stage version of the Disney film to the West End, with a cast led by Samantha Barks as Elsa and Stephanie McKeon as Anna (pictured above). Press contact: Kate Morley PR. https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/frozen-musical/

  • The JMK Award-winning production (Orange Tree Theatre, August 28-October 2, press night September 2) The annual JMK Award for emerging theatre directors showcases a contemporary play staged by this year’s winner. The finalist directors are still to be announced; they will choose a play from a list that includes plays by Alice Birch, Athol Fuguard, Franz Xaver Kroetz, Sharman Macdonald, Mustapha Matura, Winsome Pinnock and Roland Schimmelpfennig. Press contact: Riona Kelly/Freya Cowdry at Kate Morley PR. https://orangetreetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/jmk-award-winning-production/about/

  • The Last 5 Years (Vaudeville Theatre), September 17-October 13, press night September 23. Southwark Playhouse’s 2020 production, which played two runs there last March and September but was shut down on both occasions early by the arrival of lockdowns, moves to the West End, with Molly Lynch and Oli Higginson reprising their roles in Jonathan O’Doyle’s production. Press contact: Alexandra Buchanan at Amanda Malpass PR. https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-last-five-years/

  • Shining City (Theatre Royal Stratford East) September 17-October 23, press night September 23. Nadia Fall directs the first London revival of Conor McPherson’s play since it was riginally premiered at the Royal Court in 2004, now starring Brendan Coyle. Press contact: Hannah Stockton at Jo Allan PR. https://www.stratfordeast.com/whats-on/all-shows/shining-city

  • Hamlet (Young Vic) September 27-November 13, opens October 4. Greg Hersov directs Cush Jumbo [pictured above] in the title role of Shakespeare’s play, postponed from 2020. Kwame Kwei-Armah, artistic director, comments: “I am delighted that this extraordinary new version of Hamlet will play at the YV this autumn. I want to take this opportunity to thank each audience member who kept their tickets in the show through this period of uncertainty; I can’t wait to have you back into our house, to step into the extraordinary world Cush, Greg and the company will create.” Press contact: Emma Hardy at Young Vic. https://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/hamlet-cush-jumbo
  • Metamorphoses (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, at Shakespeare’s Globe) September 30-October 30, opens w/c October 4) A new piece of theatre inspired by Ovid’s myths of chaos and creation, written by Globe writers-in-residence Sami Ibrahim, Laura Lomas and Sabrina Mahfouz. Press contacts: Claudia Conway at Claudia Conway, or Jessica Strawson at the Globe. https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/metamorphoses-2021/

  • White Noise (Bridge Theatre) October 5-November 13, press night October 12. Polly Findlay directs the European premiere of Suzan-Lori Parks’s new play, originally premiered at New Yorl’s Public Theater in 2019. Press contact: Janine Shalom at Premier Communications. https://bridgetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/white-noise/

  • Rice (Orange Tree Theatre, October 9-November 13, press night October 13) Matthew Xia directs the UK premiere of an award-winning Australian play about globalisation, politics and family by Asian-Australian writer Michele Lee. Press contact: Riona Kelly/Freya Cowdry at Kate Morley PR. https://orangetreetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/rice/about

  • Get Up Stand Up! – The Bob Marley Musical (Lyric Theatre) From October 1, opens October 20. With a script by Lee Hall (Billy Elliot), direction by Clint Dyer (new deputy artistic director of the National Theatre) and Arinzé Kene (as Bob Marley), this musical will feature such Marley standards as ‘Exodus’, ‘No Woman No Cry’, ‘Waiting in Vain’, ‘Three Little Birds’, ‘I Shot the Sheriff’, ‘Could You Be Loved’ and ‘Redemption Song’. Press contact: Ben Chamberlain at Bread and Butter PR. https://getupstandupthemusical.com
  • The Drifters Girl (Garrick Theatre) November 4-March 26, 2022, opens November 25. Beverley Knight to star as Faye Treadwell, the legendary manager of The Drifters in Jonathan Church’s production. Press contact: David Bloom at Storyhouse PR. https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-drifters-girl/
  • While the Sun Shines (Orange Tree Theatre, November 20-January 8, press night November 24) Orange Tree artistic director Paul Miller’s 2019 production of Terence Rattigan’s 1943 play set during the London blitz returns. Press contact: Riona Kelly/Freya Cowdry at Kate Morley PR. https://orangetreetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/while-the-sun-shines/about
  • Red Riding Hood (Theatre Royal Stratford East) November 27-December 31, press night December 4. This year’s pantomimehas book and lyrics by Carl MIller and music and lyrics by Robert Hyman. Press contact: Hannah Stockton at Jo Allan PR. https://www.stratfordeast.com/whats-on/all-shows/red-riding-hood
  • >> NEW ENTRY: Best of Enemies (Young Vic Theatre) December 2-January 22, 2022 (press night to be confirmed). The Young Vic and Headlong co-produce James Graham’s new play, inspired by the documentary by Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon. Set in 1968 — a year of protest that divided America — it revolves around the battle between the conservative William F Buckley Jr and the liberal Gore Vidal, who feuded nightly in a new television format. Little did they know that they were about to open up a new frontier in American politics, and transform television news forever. It will be directed by Jeremy Herrin. Press contact: Emma Hardy at the Young Vic. https://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/best-of-enemies
  • Bring It On (Queen Elizabeth Hall) December 8-January 22, 2022. The Broadway cheerleading musical, due to run here last Christmas, has been re-booked for this Christmas, starring Amber Davies and Olympic gymnast Louis Smith. The songs are by Hamilton composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Next to Normal’s Tom Kitt, plus lyricists Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q) and Amanda Green. PR: Emily Webb or Simon Raw at Raw PR. https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/bring-it

REGIONAL THEATRE OPENINGS (at selected venues only)

  • Neville’s Island (Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, from May 20-June 12 and June 22-July 3, press night May 22) Emma Baggot returns to Hornchurch, where she previously directed Misfits and Stiletto Beach, to stage a new production of Tim Firth’s Olivier winning play., with a cast that includes Beruce Khan, Philip Cairns, Sean Michael Verey and Stephen Leask. Press contact: Sarah Soliman at the Queen’s Theatre. https://www.queens-theatre.co.uk/whats-on/show/nevilles-island/

  • >> NEW ENTRY: Outdoor Theatre Season at Newbury’s Watermill Theatre, from May 21 to September 4. Following the success of last year’s outdoor summer season, the Watermill will present three productions; the return of last year’s three-person adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles, from May 21-June 19 (with a press night on May 24), https://www.watermill.org.uk/the_hound_of_the_baskervilles_2021; As You Like it, performed by twelve actor-musicians, from June 24-July 24 (with a press night on June 28), https://www.watermill.org.uk/as_you_like_it; and a semi-staged concert version of Stiles and Drewe’s Just So (a musical that began its life at this theatre in 1989, when it was co-produced with Cameron Mackintosh), from July 30-September 4 (with a press night on August 2), https://www.watermill.org.uk/just_so_the_musical. Press contact: Arabella Neville-Rolfe at ANR PR.

  • Four Quartets (Bath Theatre, Royal, from May 25-June 5, then touring) Ralph Fiennes directs and stars in a new stage adaptation of TS Eliot’s Four Quartets, touring after Bath to Northampton, Oxford and Cambridge, with further dates to be announced. Press contact: Lewis Jenkins at Bread and Butter PR. https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/event/four-quartets/

  • Van Gogh Alive (Birmingham Hippodrome, from May 25 to July 11) After the UK premiere of the immersive, multi-sensory experience Van Gogh Alive took place here last October, it returns to re-open the theatre. Live performance will resume from August 24-28 with hosting a touring date for Tell me on a Sunday (see below). Press contact: Jenna Hadley at Birmingham Hippodrome.

  • Touching the Void (Bristol Old Vic, May 26-29) Tom Morris’s production, which originated at Bristol in 2018 when it re-opened the theatre after its redevelopment, before touring and transferring to the West End, returns home for a one-week run to re-open the theatre again after lockdown. The West End cast, including Josh Williams, Angus Yellowlees, Patrick McNamee and Fiona Hampton, return for this run that will also be live-streamed nightly. Press contact: Amanda Adams at Bristol Old Vic. https://bristololdvic.org.uk/touching-the-void

  • The Girl Next Door (Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, June 4-July 3, press night June 8) Alan Ayckbourn directs his 85th play at his ‘home’ theatre, in a production that will rehearse two separate companies – a plan designed to keep the show running if any of the company exhibit symptoms of Covid-19. The primary company — Bill Champion, Linford Johnson, Alexandra Mathie and Naomi Petersen — will make up a bubble with their stage management team. But should any of that bubble show symptoms, the entire group will have to self-isolate – and a second bubble comprising Georgia Burnell, Michael Hobbs, Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong, Eliza McClelland and a second stage management team will be ready to step in. (That second company will also perform the show on a number of dates throughout the run) Press contact: Jennie Swales at the theatre. https://www.sjt.uk.com/event/1131/the_girl_next_door

  • Six (Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, June 8-27, then touring) 2021/22 UK and Ireland tour of the cult new British musical launches at Canterbury, with a cast comprising Lauren Drew (Catherine of Aragon), Maddison Bulleyment (Anne Boleyn), Caitlin Tipping (Jane Seymour), Shekinah McFarlane (Anna of Cleves), Vicki Manser (Katherine Howard) and Elèna Gyasi (Catherine Parr), Press contact: Helen Snell PR. https://www.sixthemusical.com/uk-tour

  • >> NEW ENTRY: Copenhagen (Theatre Royal, Bath, June 9 to July 3, press night June 15, then touring to Southampton, Malvern, Cambridge and Kingston) Philip Arditti, Malcolm Sinclair and Haydn Gwynne appear in a revival of Michael Frayn’s play, originally premiered at the National, about a a clandestine encounter that is known to have taken place between two Nobel Prize winning physicists, Dane Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg, a German, under the watchful eye of Bohr’s wife. Press contact: Lewis Jenkins, at LJ Publicity.

  • Tell Me on a Sunday (Malvern Festival Theatre, June 15-19, then touring) The Watermill, Newbury’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black’s one-act musical for one actor, portraying a single British woman’s romantic (mis)adventures in New York, is revived for a tour, with Jodie Prenger reprising her performance as Emma. Press contact: Simon Raw, Stacey Pedder or Emily Webb at Raw PR. https://tellmeontour.co.uk/

  • The Woman in Black (Cambridge’s Arts Theatre, from June 17-26, then touring) The West End’s second-longest running play (after The Mousetrap) launches a new national tour (and will also resume in the West End in from September 7, see above). Following Cambridge, it will visit Bath, Guilford, Oxford, Malvern, Shrewsbury, Manchester, Brighton, Glasgow, York, Blackpool, Stoke and Edinburgh, with further tour dates to be announced. Press contacts: Emily Webb or Simon Raw at Simon Raw PR.

  • Hamlet (Windsor Theatre Royal, June 21-September 4). Ian McKellen, now aged 81, returns to a role he previously played fifty years ago, in a new production by Sean Mathias that is age, colour and gender-blind. The company also includes Steven Berkoff, Jenny Seagrove, Francesca Annis and Jonathan Hyde. The company will also perform The Cherry Orchard from September — see below. https://theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk/hamlet

  • Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, June 23-July 3, then touring). Tour, first launched in September 2019, resumes in Cheltenham, before continuing to Leeds, Hull, Oxford, Bath, Northampton, Glasgow, Wimbledon, Birmingham, Southend, Leicester, Bristol and Southampton, “prior to a much hoped for return to the West End”, according to the press release. Press contacts: Hannah Clapham at HC Publicity, Ben Chamberlain at Bread and Butter PR. http://priscillauktour.com/

  • Hairspray (Theatre Royal, Plymouth, June 24-July 3, then touring). Paul Kerryson’s production, with choreography by Drew McOnie, that was first seen at Leicester’s Curve in 2015 and then toured twice, embarks on a new tour. This is a different production to the original Broadway production that is being revived at London’s Coliseum in June (see above). After Plymouth, it will visit Southampton, Manchester, Sheffield, Ipswich, Aylesbury, Edinburgh, Bradford, Brighton, Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham, Wolverhampton, Leicester, Nottingham, Wolverhampton, Dublin, Belfast, Woking, Milton Keynes, Blackpool, Sunderland, High Wycombe, Northampton, Bromley, Edinburgh and Dartford. Press contacts: Hannah Clapham at HC Publicity, Ben Chamberlain at Bread and Butter PR. www.hairsprayuktour.com

  • Talent (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, June 30-July 24, opening night, July 2). Paul Foster, who has previously directed Annie Get Your Gun and Kiss Me, Kate at the Crucible, returns to direct the late Victoria Wood’s play with music about friendship, ambition and the lower rungs of the showbiz ladder. The cast comprises Richard Cant, Daniel Crossley, Jamie-Rose Monk, Jonathon Ojinnaka, James Quinn and Lucie Shorthouse. Press conact: James Lever/Hannah Stockton/Jo Allan at Jo Allan PR. https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/
  • Piaf (Nottingham Playhouse, July 2-17, opens July 6; with dates at Leeds Playhouse to be confirmed) Jenna Russell stars in the title role of Pam Gems’s play, joined by Sally Anne Triplett. Press contact: David Burns PR. https://nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/events/piaf/

  • South Pacific (Chichester Festival Theatre, from July 5-August 28). Artistic director Daniel Evans directs Gina Beck as Nellie Forbush, Julian Ovenden as Emile de Becque in a new production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, originally planned for last summer and now being staged this year. he cast also includes Joanna Ampil as Bloody Mary, Rob Houchen as Lt Cable, and Keir Charles as Luther Billis. Press contact: Lucinda Morrison at Chichester Festival Theatre. https://www.cft.org.uk/whats-on/event/south-pacific

  • Rent: The Concert (Curve, Leicester, August 10-21) Artistic director Nikolai Foster directs a concert version of Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer and Tony winning musical in the Curve’s reconfigured in-the-round auditorium. In a press statement, Foster and chief executive Chris Stafford comment, “As we emerge from this pandemic, it feels timely to reflect on the resilience and courage which defined the lives of so many during the 1980s HIV/AIDS pandemic. Jonathan Larson’s astonishing Pulitzer Prize winning musical Rent represents one of musical theatre’s greatest triumphs, defining an entire era through its blazing music and iconic characters. It is simply one of the greats and we are thrilled to present it in a staged concert at Curve, in our epic, in-the-round arena. Celebrating community, the exhilarating joy of music, the power of artists and the sheer life force of young people, we are looking forward to literally raising the roof this summer at Curve.” Press contact: Arabella Neville-Rolfe at ANPR. https://www.curveonline.co.uk

  • Rock of Ages (Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, August 19-21, then touring) Tour resumes for the Broadway musical comedy that features 25 classic rock anthems, directed and choreographed by Nick Winston. Press contacts: Simon Raw, Stacey Pedder or Emily Webb at Raw PR. https://www.rockofagesmusical.co.uk/

  • Beauty and the Beast (Bristol Hippodrome, August 25-September 18, then touring) Brand-new production of Disney’s stage version of their animated film classic, with a cast led by Courtney Stapleton and Emmanuel Kojo in the title roles (pictured above), and also featuring Gavin Lee (Lumiere), Tom Senior (Gaston), Sam Bailey (Mrs Potts), Nigel Richards (Cogsworth), Martin Ball (Maurice), Samantha Bingley (Wardrobe), Emma Caffrey (Babette) and Louis Stockil (Le Fou). A national press night will be held at Liverpool Empire on September 29. Press contact: David Bloom at Storyhouse PR. https://www.beautyandthebeastmusical.co.uk/

  • Waitress (New Wimbledon Theatre, September 4-11, then touring) Jessie Nelson and Sara Bareilles’s Broadway musical, whose West End run was curtailed by Covid, launches a UK national tour, with Lucie Jones and Evelyn Hoskins reprising the roles of Jenna and Dawen respectively that they played at the Adelphi, joined by Sandra Marvin as Becky and Matt Willis (from the pop group Busted) as Dr Pomatter. After Wimbledon, it will tour to Leeds, Crawley, Sheffield, Milton Keynes, Eastbourne, Sunderland, Manchester, Aberdeen, Stoke-on-Trent, Northampon, Edinburgh, Leicester, Hull, Bristol, Woking, Bromley, Belfast, Newcastle, Plymouth, Llandudno, Inverness, Glasgow, Oxford, Liverpool, Birmingham, Southampton, Cardiff, Dublin, Torquay, Wolverhampton, Dartford, Brighton, Nottingham, Bradford, Canterbury, Southend and Norwich. Though Lucie Jones is announced for the whole tour, there will be cast changes after Hull. Press Contact: Simon Raw, Stacey Peddler, Emily Webb at Raw PR. https://www.waitressthemusical.co.uk/
  • The Cherry Orchard (Theatre Royal, Windsor, September 10-October 23) Francesca Annis stars as Ranevskaya, Ian McKellen as Firs and Jenny Seagrove as Gaev, after also previously featuring in Hamlet (see above). https://theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk/thecherryorchard/
  • Missing Julie (Theatr Clwyd, September 16-October 9, press night September 21) World premiere of a play freely adapted from Strindber’g Misss Julie by Kaite O’Reilly. The production’s director is to be recruited as part of the #OpenHire campaign. Press contact: Kate Morley

  • What’s New Pussycat? (Birmingham Rep, October 8-November 14) Luke Sheppard, who is represented by the Max Martin jukebox hit & Juliet in the West End, directs Joe DiPietro’s new musical that folds the hits of Welsh troubadour Tom Jones into Henry Fielding’s comic novel The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling, including such hits as Green, Green Grass of Home, It’s Not Unusal, Delilah and the title track. Arlene Phillips will choreograph. Presented by Birmingham Repertory Theatre in association with Flody Suarez, Joshua Andrews and Stuart Galbraith from Kilimanjaro Theatricals, with Donna Munday as Executive Producer. Press contact: Ben Chamberlain at Bread and Butter PR. https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

  • Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical (Hall for Cornwall, Truro) October 13-30. World premiere of a new musical based on the true story of the Cornish singing sensations and the hit 2019 film, reopening Hall for Cornwall after a period of closure for a multi-million-pound transformation. Written by Brad Birch, directed by James Grieve, designed by Lucy Osborne and with musical supervision by David White, it will feature hit shanties made famous by the band including Keep Haulin’, Nelson’s Blood, No Hopers Jokers & Rogues and Sweet Maid Of Madeira. The show will be produced by Royo, in association with Hall for Cornwall’s new in-house producing company, Cornwall Playhouse Productions. Press contact: Amanda Malpass. https://www.fishermanonstage.com/
  • Isla (Theatr Clwyd, October 16-November 6, press night October 21) Clwyd artistic director Tamara Harvey directs the world premiere of Welsh playwright Tim Price’s Isla. Press contact: Kate Morley.

  • The Wiz (Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester, November 24-January 16, 2022) Matthew Xia directs a new outing of the 1975 Broadway re-telling of The Wizard of Oz story, with an all-black cast, that has music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls, book by William F. Brown and original orchestrations by Harold Wheeler. Press Contact: Jo Allan PR. https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/events/the-wiz

  • Les Miserables (Glasgow’s King’s Theatre, November 24-January 1, then touring) National tour resumes for the blockbuster musical, in the production that was first conceived in 2009 to celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary year. After Glasgow, in 2022 it will visit Liverpool, Dublin, Southampton, Salford, Milton Keynes, Plymouth, Hull, Bristol, Birmingham, Norwich, Canterbury, Sunderland, Leeds and Cardiff (running into 2023). https://www.lesmis.com/uk-ireland-tour

  • Dreamgirls (Liverpool Empire, December 14-January 1, then touring) The 1981 Broadway musical embarks on its first-ever UK tour, in the production first seen at the West End’s Savoy Theatre in 2016, directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw. Nicole Raquel Dennis, a finalist on the 2019 season of The Voice and who was in the original London cast of Dear Evan Hansen, will play Effie White. Following Liverpool, it will tour into 2022 to Bristol, Milton Keynes, Sunderland, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Wimbledon, Nottingham, Norwich, Leeds, Canterbury, Plymouth, Lladudno, Aberdeen, Manchester, Oxford, Glasgow, Blackpool, Southampton, Northampton, and Birmingham, with further dates to be announced in 2023. Press contact: Lewis Jenkins at Storyhouse PR. https://www.dreamgirlsthemusical.co.uk/

POSTPONED PRODUCTIONS (DATES TBC):

  • Sunday in the Park with George (Savoy) Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford reprise their roles from the Broadway revival.
  • Sister Act (Eventim Apollo) Whoopi Goldberg can no longer star in the production now that it has been postponed twice, but it is due here in 2022 now.
  • Good (Pinter) David Tennant in a revival of CP Taylor’s play originally premiered at the Donmar Warehouse under the RSC’s auspices in the 1980s.
  • 4,000 Miles (Old Vic) Eileen Atkins and Timothée Chalamet are due to star in Amy Herzog’s Pulitzer nominated play.
  • The Doctor (Duke of York’s) Juliet Stevenson in Rob Icke’s production originally seen at the Almeida.
  • Life of Pi (Wynham’s) Lolita Chakrabarti’s stage version of Yann Martel’s epic story of endurance and hope, first seen at Sheffield’s Crucible in 2019 in a production directed by Max Webster, is finally due to transfer to the West End in November, after being delayed by COVID-19.

ARTS FESTIVALS

  • Coventry UK City of Culture 2021. Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture kicks off from May 15, running for 12 months. Events include Observations on Being (June 22-August 15), a major new commission by leading art and technology studio Marshmallow Laser Feast that is an installation of music, voice, ground-breaking visual worlds, sensory effects and technologies located in Coventry’s London Road Cemetery and Charterhouse Heritage Park. Paines Plough and Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre will will present a festival of new plays (by Chris Bush, Phoebe Eclair-Powell, Frankie Meredith and Chinonyerem Odimba and community-led activities in the world’s first plug-in, pop-up and play theatre Roundabout (July 27-August 8).  Press contacts: Laura Steele/ Zoe Poulton at Four Communications. For full details, visit https://coventry2021.co.uk/

  • Manchester International Festival (July 1-18) The biannual festival of original new work and special events, most of which has been created in the past year, provides — in the words of the press release — “a unique snapshot of these unprecedented times. Artists have reflected on ideas such as love and human connections, the way we play, division and togetherness, equality and social change, and the relationship between the urban and the rural. As one of the first major public events in the city, MIF21 will play a key role in the safe reopening of the city’s economy and provide employment for hundreds of freelancers and artists.” Events include a new dance piece by choreographer Boris Charmatz for the opening night of the festival on July 1 called Sea Change, “a huge human flipbook sprung to life on the streets of Manchester” and Deborah Warner presenting Arcadia, a new sound and light installation that will use the immense open spaces of the site of Factory, MIF’s new home that is in the process of still being built, on July 10-11. Press contacts: Maisie Lawrence/ Kate Hassell/ Ben Chamberlain at Bread and Butter PR. https://mif.co.uk/

  • Edinburgh Fringe Festival (August 6-30): Show registration for this year’s Fringe will open May 5, and events will be published and bookable on https://www.edfringe.com/. According to a press release issued April 14, “As Scotland navigates its roadmap out of lockdown, much is still unknown about what the Fringe will look like this August. However, a range of scenarios are being prepared for, from socially distanced live events to digital offerings. The Fringe Society is supporting artists and audiences to find and book work online across a range of platforms, including the brand-new Fringe Player. This online platform aims to bring some festival magic into homes across the world, while providing a secure platform for artists, companies and venues to host their shows. The platform is available to any registered 2021 Fringe show or venue to use if they wish”. Press contact: Rebecca Monks at Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.

  • Edinburgh International Festival (August 7-29): A ‘re-imagined’ EIF for 2021 will use ‘bespoke outdoor venues to safely reunite artists and audiences to rediscover the magic of live performance.’ According to a press release issued April 13, “a selection of performance spaces across the city will include three temporary outdoor pavilions designed especially for live performance. The pavilions will be situated at iconic city locations including Edinburgh Park and the University of Edinburgh’s Old College Quad [pictured above in an artist impression] and will feature covered concert stages and socially distanced seating.” Full details of the 2021 programme, which spans opera, orchestral and chamber music, theatre and contemporary music, will be announced June 2, before general booking opens June 11. Press contacts: Emma Goodacre (media manager), Hugo Mintz (head of communications). https://www.eif.co.uk/

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ONE-OFF PERFORMANCES & OTHER LIMITED RUNS

  • Roles We’ll Never Play (Vaudeville Theatre) May 22-23, 7.30pm. Tom Duern, who previously presented a night at the Apollo in December 2020, now reprises this concert presentation featuring actors singing songs outside their casting brackets. Some cast members will appear both nights, including Christopher Howells, Luke Bayer, Alan Richardson, Lauren Byrne and Danny Becker. Appearing on Saturday only will be Rebecca Rideout, Caroline Kay and Tim Mahendran; appearing on Sunday only will be Jodie Steele, Sam Tutty and Emmanuel Kojo. https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/shows/roles-well-never-play/

  • The Show Must Go On! (Palace Theatre) June 2-6. A concert featuring members of the castes of 18 current and yet-to-open West End shows, with all profits going to Acting For Others and The Fleabag Support Fund. Bonnie Langford and Trevor Dion Nicholas will host, with appearances from actors that will include Lucy St Louis and Rhys Whitfield, yet to begin performances in The Phantom of the Opera, John Owen Jones from Les Miserables, Christine Allado and Alexia Khadime from Prince of Egypt, Alice Fearn from Come from Away, Jordan Luke Gage from & Juliet, Dom Simpson and Tom Xander from The Book of Mormon and Zizi Strallen from Mary Poppins. Olly Dobson, soon to star in Back to the Future, will debut a song from the show. Also featured will be a choir of 16, made up of Musical theatre graduates from 2020d. https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-show-must-go-on-live-at-the-palace/

  • Showstopper! The Improvised Musical (Garrick Theatre) Monthly Monday West End residency for the Olivier winning improvisational show, with dates on June 7 (press performance), July 5, August 9, September 13 and October 11. Press contact: Kevin Wilson PR.

  • West End Musical Celebration Live at the Palace Theatre (Palace Theatre), June 10-13, 7pm, with additional matinees June 12-13 at 2pm. Shanay Holmes & Chris Steward for West End Musical Productions in association with Nica Burns for Nimax Theatres present a concert that is due to feature Sophie Evans, Alice Fearn, Ben Forster, Rachel John, Jamie Muscato, Shanay Holmes, Trevor Dion Nicholas and Layton Williams. https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/shows/west-end-musical-celebration/

  • West End Live Lounge – The Greats (Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue) June 14, 7.30pm) An event that began at Southwark’s Union Theatre in 2017 now comes to the West End, with proceeds to be split between two theatrical-based charities Equity Charitable Trust and the Graham Martin Bursary Appeal. Samuel Holmes will host, with artists due to appear (subject to availability) set to include Zoe Birkett, Louise Dearman, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Alice Fearn, Joel Harper-Jackson, Emma Hatton, Sophie Isaacs, Rachel John, Christina Modestou and Cedric Neal. Press contact: Shaun McCourt (producer). https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/shows/west-end-live-lounge-the-greats/

  • The Distance You Have Come (Apollo Theatre), June 21 & 28, 7.30pm. A song cycle of songs by composer/lyricist Scott Alan, originally premiered at Marylebone’s Cockpit Theatre in 2018, comes to the West End for two nights only, with original cast members Andy Coxon, Adrian Hansel, Emma Hatton, Jodie Jacobs, Dean John-Wilson and Alexia Khadime newly joined by Alice Fearn. https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-distance-you-have-come/

  • Jenna Russell solo concert (Cadogan Hall) November 7, 6.30pm. The Olivier winner — soon to play Piaf at Nottingham Playhouse (see regional, above) — will perform a solo show, with musical director Nigel Lilley. Also in Fourth Wall Live’s season: Shoshana Bean (December 4, 7.30pm) and Jessica Vosk (February 27, 6.30pm) will appear. Press contacts: Simon Raw or Emily Webb at Raw PR. https://cadoganhall.com/whats-on/jenna-russell-live-in-concert-2021/

BROADWAY 2021/22 (NEW SECTION)

  • >> NEW ENTRY: Chicago (Ambassador Theatre) Resuming performances from September 14, Broadway’s longest-running American musical of all time resumes performances, as it approaches its 25th anniversary since opening on Broadway in November 1996, after transferring from New York CIty Center, where this Encores! revival was first seen earlier that summer. Press contacts: Adrian Bryan-Brown/Heath Schwarz at Boneau/Bryan-Brown. https://chicagothemusical.com/

  • >> NEW ENTRY: Six The Musical (Brooks Atkinson Theatre) Six, the British musical whose Broadway opening night was cancelled two hours before it was due to take place on March 12, 2020 when all of Broadway was shut down, will finally open officially, after resuming performances from September 17, prior to a new opening night on October 3. Press contacts: Adrian Bryan-Brown, Heath Schwartz, Imani Punch at Boneau/Bryan-Brown. http://www.sixonbroadway.com/

  • >> NEW ENTRY: Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations (Imperial Theatre) will resume performances October 16. In a press statement, producers Ira Pittelman and Tom Hulce said, “Ain’t Too Proud has been one of the most rewarding experiences of our career, but over the past year, the Temptations’ story of strength, hope, and standing up for justice has taken on an added significance. Our return to the Imperial on Saturday, October 16 will be an epic performance full of love, laughter, and tears of joy, but we know the hard work still lies ahead and we embrace the task whole heartedly.” Press contact: Rick Miramontez / Aaron Meier at DKC/O&M. https://www.ainttooproudmusical.com/

  • >> NEW ENTRY: The Phantom of the Opera (Majestic Theatre) The longest-running musical in Broadway history — which has been running since transferring from the West End in 1987 — resumes performances from October 22. Press contact: The Publicity Office. https://us.thephantomoftheopera.com

  • >> NEW ENTRY: Mrs Doubtfire (Stephen Sondheim Theatre) The new Broadway musical version of the 1993 film comedy resumes performances from October 21, after a hiatus brought about by the closure of Broadway in March 2020, prior to an official opening December 5. Rob McClure plays the title role, originally played on screen by Robin Williams, in Jerry Zaks’ production. Press statement from producer Kevin McCollum: ““Broadway is about celebrating a shared experience together and after 18 months away there is no one better to bring us all together again than Mrs. Doubtfire. I’m thrilled that the Mrs. Doubtfire company will reunite on Broadway this fall bringing their indomitable spirit and talent to this new production based on one of the most beloved films of all time. After just three preview performances, Mrs. Doubtfire was shut down along with the rest of Broadway. Now, it’s time to re-launch this hysterical new musical comedy that reminds us there is nothing more important than love and finding your family.” Press contact: Adrian Bryan-Brown at Boneau/Bryan-Brown. https://mrsdoubtfirebroadway.com/

  • >> NEW ENTRY: Diana: The Musical (Longacre Theatre) Previews will resume December 1 for this new musical (with book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music and lyrics by David Bryan), after its original 2020 run was curtailed by the closure of Broadway, ahead of the show’s original planned opening. It will now have an opening night on December 16. Celebrating the life of Princess Diana and the light of her legacy that continues to shine across the world, it will premiere two months ahead of its Broadway return as a special presentation on Netflix of a filmed version of the stage production that was filmed after Broadway was locked down. In a joint press statement, the Diana producers said, “The chance to share our show, first with Netflix’s global audience, and then welcoming a live audience back on Broadway, is something we’ve all been dreaming about for more than a year. We could not be more thrilled to finally share both the film and the Broadway musical with the world.” The cast is led by Jeanna de Waal as Diana, Roe Hartrampf as Prince Charles, Erin Davie as Camilla Parker Bowles, and Judy Kaye as Queen Elizabeth. Press contact: Rick Miramontez / Pete Sanders at DKC/O&M.

  • >> NEW ENTRY: The Music Man (Winter Garden Theatre) Beginning performances December 20, prior to an official opening February 10, Hugh Jackman plays ‘Professor’ Harold Hill, the music man of the title, in a revival of Meredith Willson’s 1957 musical, co-starring Sutton Foster as Marian Paroo. Jerry Zaks directs, with choreography by Warren Carlyle, the same team behind the 2018 revival of Hello, Dolly! Press contact: DKC/O&M.

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