The world premiere of *My Neighbour Totoro* triumphed at the 2023 Olivier Awards, winning six categories out of its nine nominations at the ceremony. It’s a good time for the Studio Ghibli stage adaptation, too, as *My Neighbour Totoro* will open in the West End next year, with performances at the [Gillian Lynne Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/gillian-lynne-theatre) from 8 March.

Based on Hayao Miyazaki’s 1988 Studio Ghibli film, *My Neighbour Totoro* follows Satsuki and Mei,...

Here's why 'My Neighbour Totoro' deserved all the Oliviers

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Based on Hayao Miyazaki’s 1988 Studio Ghibli film, *My Neighbour Totoro* will return to London later next year, opening at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.

Next year, the [Royal Shakespeare Company’s](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/stars-on-stage/royal-shakespeare-company) triumphant 2022 stage adaptation of [*My Neighbour Totoro*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/25389-my-neighbour-totoro) heads to the West End's [Gillian Lynne Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/gillian-lynne-theatre) for a third run due to enormous popular demand. The show won six Olivier Awards and broke the Barbican’s box office record for the most tickets...

What to expect from London shows based on Studio Ghibli films

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Studio Ghibli is a renowned Japanese animation film studio founded in 1985. They are known for creating imaginative movies, including *My Neighbour Totoro* and *Spirited Away*.

A stage adaptation of television comedy *Inside No 9* will arrive in the West End next year. The show opens for a 12-week run at Wyndham's Theatre from 18 January 2025.

The TV show's original writers and performers Steve Pemberton (*The Pillowman*) and Reece Shearsmith (*A Very Expensive Poison*) will star in the West End show, titled *Stage/Fright*, which will blend original material with familiar characters from the series. 

Speaking about the announcement, Pemberton and Shearsmith said:...

Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith's 'Inside No 9' to be adapted for the West End 

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The TV show's original creators Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith will star in the West End adaptation when it opens next year. 

The hit musical comedy *Titanique* has confirmed plans for a West End run later this year. The show is currently performing at Off-Broadway venue the Daryl Roth Theatre.

The musical, which is co-written by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle, and Constantine Rousouli, has received critical acclaim and multiple awards since its premiere off Broadway at Asylum Theater in 2022.

The parody of James Cameron's Oscar-winning *Titanic* film features a raft of Celine Dion’s iconic songs including “My Heart Will...

'Titanique' confirms planned West End run

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The musical has received critical acclaim and multiple awards since its premiere off Broadway at Asylum Theater in 2022. It is currently at the Daryl Roth Theatre.

The British writer James Graham is on an incredible run at the moment. He just won the Olivier Award for Best New Play for *Dear England*, a fantastic drama about football manager Gareth Southgate, which enticed new audiences into theatre, and the musical *Tammy Faye*, for which he supplied the book, is opening on Broadway this autumn.

He’s also a prolific screenwriter, with recent hits including the crime series *Sherwood* and the dystopian drama *The Way*. Graham has that rare combination of...

Learn more about James Graham’s career ahead of 'Boys from the Blackstuff'

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From plays *Dear England* and *This House* to TV hits like *Sherwood*, Graham is unstoppable – and now his *Boys from the Blackstuff* is coming to the West End.

The bright lights of West End theatres are always appealing, but there are also a number of exciting Off-West End venues in the capital, such as the small but mighty [Bush Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/bush-theatre), which is nestled in west London.

This theatre has always punched above its weight, launching the careers of hugely successful writers such as James Graham and Lucy Kirkwood, as well as actors like Victoria Wood, Alan Rickman, Andrew Scott, and Phoebe...

A complete guide to the Bush Theatre

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Get to know this exciting new-writing venue in west London, which has launched the careers of Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Victoria Wood, among others.

The acclaimed screen and stage actor Ben Whishaw is back in town, starring in the premiere of Margaret Perry’s *[Bluets](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/39930-bluets)* at the Royal Court. The play is an adaptation of Maggie Nelson’s book and follows someone obsessed with the colour blue – taking in artists like Joni Mitchell and Billie Holiday as they navigate a devastating heartbreak.

Whishaw is joined in *Bluets* by *House of the Dragon* star Emma D’Arcy and *The Girl Before*’s Kayla...

Learn more about Ben Whishaw's career ahead of 'Bluets' at the Royal Court

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The James Bond and *Paddington* actor is co-starring in this new adaptation of Maggie Nelson's book *Bluets* with Emma D'Arcy and Kayla Meikle.

It’s another fantastic year for [Shakespeare plays](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/whats-on/shakespeare) in London, and as the weather (finally!) improves, you can start getting those outdoor shows in the diary, as well as all of the brilliant productions in the West End and beyond.

If you’re after a fresh take on the Bard, you’re definitely in luck. Sir Ian McKellen is already wowing audiences, giving his Falstaff a dynamic new spin in Robert Icke's adaptation of *Henry IV*, *[Player...

See modern adaptations and outdoor productions of Shakespeare plays in London

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From Ian McKellen in *Player Kings* to an incredible open-air season at Shakespeare's Globe, there's a wide variety of shows on offer in London.

You just can’t beat family when it comes to riveting drama. Perhaps that’s because no one gets under your skin quite like the people you love and who know you best – and who are bonded to you by blood, like it or not. From Greek tragedy through Shakespearean slanging matches and contemporary clans, shows with family drama at their centre have always ruled our stages.

That’s certainly true of London theatre this year, which features a range of bickering families – from plays like *[Long Day's...

Watch West End family dramas on the London stage

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Enter the homes of these loving but fraught families in West End plays such as *Long Day's Journey Into Night* and musicals like *Back to the Future*.

Get ready for what promises to be the most talked-about play of the year. Hollywood star John Lithgow will play Roald Dahl in a new drama, *[Giant](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/39984-giant)*, which sees the famous author about to release his children’s book *The Witches*, but then rocked by a scandal surrounding anti-Semitic comments he made in an article.

Mark Rosenblatt’s debut play, directed by Nicholas Hytner (artistic director of the Bridge Theatre), also stars Elliot Levey...

Learn more about John Lithgow's career ahead of him playing Roald Dahl in 'Giant'

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The Tony and Emmy-winning Hollywood actor is starring in Mark Rosenblatt’s provocative new play *Giant* at the Royal Court in London this autumn.

Get ready to seize the day with these pictures of the [*Newsies*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/24908-newsies-tickets) cast. The UK premiere of *Newsies* is at the [Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/troubadour-wembley-park-theatre) with performances currently scheduled to 16 April. 

Based on the New York paperboy strike of 1899, *Newsies* follows Manhattan paperseller Jack Kelly as he rallies his fellow colleagues to form a union against media tycoon, Joseph Pulitzer. Matt Cole directs and choreographs the musical, featuring songs by Alan Menken including “King Of New York,” “Watch What Happens,” and “The World Will Know.” [Find out more about Alan Menken musicals.](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/a-complete-guide-to-alan-menken-musicals)

*Newsies* is at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.

Book *Newsies* tickets on London Theatre.

[![LT - CTA - 250](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/1t6HRGmhlYl70k6PmR0mOZ/3caac861bc1d4233cd7844652c925623/LT-CTA-250.png)](https://ticket.londontheatre.co.uk/booking/calendar?product_id=24908&content_product_id=24908&venue_id=15)

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See the 'Newsies' cast in action in latest photos

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Watch what happens when a beloved show gets a whole new look. The award-winning *Newsies* musical made headlines on Broadway and now makes its UK premiere at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre. Now is the time to seize the day. *Newsies* tickets are available on London Theatre now. 

*Newsies* brings audiences into the heart of 19th-century New York, where a scrappy group of newsboys hawks the day's papers, barely scraping by. These teenagers' dreams of a better life go further out of reach when their boss, newspaper tycoon Joseph Pulitzer, charges them more money just to work.

Led by Jack Kelly, newsies from across the city band together as an unofficial union and go head-to-head with the powerful Pulitzer to fight for their rights as workers. Meanwhile, Katherine Plumber, one of the rare female reporters on the scene, faces her own challenge to be recognized as she covers the newsies' strike.

Menken and lyricist Jack Feldman won the Tony Award for Best Original Score when the *Newsies* musical came to Broadway in 2012. The show also won Best Choreography and got six additional Tony nominations, including Best Musical. Thanks to its awards success and ever-growing base of "fansies," *Newsies*'s planned 100-performance run repeatedly got extended, and the show ultimately played over 1,000 performances in its two-plus years on Broadway.

The *Newsies* London production takes place in the round, with the high-energy song and dance, and the world of New York, unfolding all around the audience. Olivier Award nominee Matt Cole directs and choreographs — Cole won an Olivier Award for Best Choreography for *Newsies.*

### Is *Newsies* based on a true story?

The [true story of the 1899 newsboy strike](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/learn-about-the-real-newsboys-strike-that-inspired-the-newsies-musical) in New York inspired the plot of *Newsies*. Before it was a stage musical, though, *Newsies* was a Disney movie musical starring Christian Bale as Jack Kelly. Alan Menken composed the songs for the Newsies film, many of which made it in the musical, like "Carrying the Banner," "Santa Fe," "Seize the Day," and "King of New York."

### How long is *Newsies the Musical*?

*Newsies* runs 2 hours and 30 minutes, including an interval. Matinee performances begin at 1 or 2:30 p.m., and evening performances begin at 5:30 or 7:30 p.m.

There will be no Newsies performances from 1 - 7 May, and 26 June - 2 July.

Don't just read about the show in the news — experience *Newsies* for yourself. Tickets to *Newsies* are available now. Book your *Newsies* tickets on London Theatre today.

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Newsies Tickets | London Theatre

Now is the time to seize the day! Join the paperboys as they embark on a life-changing strike for their rights. The U.K. premiere of *Newsies* will stun and delight audiences at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre. See Matt Cole's Olivier-winning choreography. Find out more about *Newsies* tickets in London today.

Composer Alan Menken and lyricists Jack Feldman wrote the *Newsies* music, which first appeared in the 1992 Disney movie of the same name. They wrote 12 original songs for that film, many of which remain in the musical: "Santa Fe," "Carrying the Banner," and "King of New York" are a few. 

Menken in particular is a Disney legend, having composed music for iconic films like *The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast,* and *Aladdin* (along with their stage adaptations), and other hit musicals like *Little Shop of Horrors* and *Sister Act*.

Harvey Fierstein, a Tony-winning writer and actor, adapted the film's screenplay (by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White) for the stage. Christian Bale starred as Jack Kelly in that movie, and while the *Newsies* film got mixed reviews, the musical has surpassed its success tenfold and become popular on its own among Disney and theatre fans.

## What to Watch For:

- *Newsies* in London is being performed in the round, with the action not just unfolding on stage, but all around the theatre and among the audience.
- *Newsies* has a "performer flying" designer on its creative team. Get ready to see some gravity-defying stunts!
- *Newsies* is based on a real-life 1899 newsboys' strike in New York, but similar events took place in the U.K. around the same time. In 1888, young workers at Bryant and May's match factory went on strike to protest poor conditions there.
- The character of Jack Kelly is based on Kid Blink, the leader of the 1899 newsboys' strike. The union president and Kid Blink's right-hand man, David Simmons, is likely an inspiration for the character of Davey.
- Matt Cole directs and choreographs *Newsies* in London. He previously earned an Olivier Award nomination for choreographing *Fiddler on the Roof* in the West End.

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Buy tickets for Newsies at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in London. Find official theatre tickets to Musicals with Box Office.

Newsies Tickets | Box Office

Extra, extra! Read all about it! Disney musical *[Newsies](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/24908-newsies-tickets)*, which began life as a notorious film flop starring Christian Bale and was miraculously reborn as a Tony-winning Broadway show, is finally making its UK premiere at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre. Based on the [real-life Newsboys’ Strike](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/learn-about-the-real-newsboys-strike-that-inspired-the-newsies-musical) of 1899, its tale of unionising and campaigning for workers’ rights comes at a particularly apt time, as we see industrial action on multiple fronts.

That’s an added element to what is already a thrillingly immersive show, with the audience seated on three sides and the “newsies” (kids who sell newspapers) making great use of all the gangways and staircases. They’re constantly dashing into the crowd, either fleeing from the corrupt authorities or furthering their revolution - which kicks off when venal publisher Joseph Pulitzer unfairly raises the price of their bundles of papers in order to increase profits for himself.

Leading the strike is veteran newsie and natural leader Jack Kelly, played with a pitch-perfect combination of street-smart charisma and a vulnerable yearning to belong and be valued by rising star [Michael Ahomka-Lindsay](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/interviews/newsies-star-michael-ahomka-lindsay-anything-is-possible) (also a standout in this summer’s *[Legally Blonde](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/reviews/legally-blonde-review-regents-park-open-air-theatre)*). Jack voices his dreams in the show’s breakout ballad “Santa Fe”, which Ahomka-Lindsay delivers with spine-tingling conviction.

The score, by Disney’s beloved composer [Alan Menken](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/a-complete-guide-to-alan-menken-musicals) and lyricist Jack Feldman, is otherwise on the generic side, but its many stirring anthems (like “Carrying the Banner”, “The World Will Know”, “Seize the Day”) do the job of conveying a gathering storm. It’s a bit like a junior *[Les Mis](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/300-les-miserables-tickets)*. And while that musical was famously built on the barricades, Morgan Large’s monumental set revolves around a giant scaffolding structure that houses the newsies, evokes New York fire escapes, and opens out to reveal singer Medda’s club.

Not only that, but set pieces whoosh down from the ceiling or are whisked on by the dynamite ensemble, who turn every scene change into a mini dance number. As for the big numbers, director/choreographer Matt Cole (building on Mark Hummel’s original dance arrangements) has put together a simply jaw-dropping series of routines - the most propulsive, skilful and genuinely surprising that you’ll see anywhere this Christmas. 

Cole uses an astonishing mix of styles and vocabulary on top of a classical base (à la Jerome Robbins) to convey the toughness of the newsies, but also their youthful enthusiasm: they’re still just kids at heart. Jump rope and leapfrog meet one-handed cartwheels, split leaps, jetés, breakdance moves like whirling windmills, even cheerleading stunts. 

When they’re in the fight of their lives, they add kicks, stomps and punches too, and when they’re celebrating in the buoyant “King of New York”, we get glorious tap-dancing on tabletops and actual swinging from the light fixtures - aerial work to rival [Cirque du Soleil](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/26120-cirque-du-soleil-kurios-tickets). When the whole ensemble moves as one, it’s a force to be reckoned with, and a fantastic physical expression of the show’s themes: we are stronger together.

But I must just pick out one individual to praise. Mark Samaras, who has worked with Matthew Bourne and Crystal Pite, supplies almost otherworldly pirouettes - turn after glorious turn without moving an inch. He leads the seriously impressive balletic sections, but, like the whole fantastic company, adds cheeky rambunctiousness as well.

The scale of Cole’s numbers make phenomenal use of the cavernous Wembley Park Troubadour. The more intimate moments of the show are less well served here, and the lyrics often fall victim to an uneven sound balance and the sheer exuberance of the accompanying movement. But then the musical itself is better on generalised feeling than nuance, with Harvey Fierstein’s book telling this David and Goliath tale in big, bold brushstrokes.

The romance between Jack and pioneering, quick-witted female reporter Katherine is rather undercooked, but Ahomka-Lindsay and Bronté Barbé add heft to it, making it a real meeting of minds as well as hearts. Barbé also makes her solo number, where she wrestles with how best to write this important story (obviously, I felt seen), a real highlight thanks to her thoughtful character work and pristine, clearly projected vocals.

There’s also good work from Moya Angela as the brassy Medda, Matthew Buckett as Jack’s plucky pal Crutchie, Ryan Kobel as thoughtful newcomer Davey, and Cameron Blakely as a sharkish, steely Pulitzer. Plus it’s heartening to see the female ensemble given more to do in the second half. 

Natalie Pryce’s striking period costumes should spark a rise in flat caps (if they ever went out of style post-*[Peaky Blinders](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/25895-peaky-blinders-the-rise-tickets?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1sucBhDgARIsAFoytUt8mnzR5m_ocOhC13TvzMPYbXbGpKkGOmEI61YXY-rhUd3odT6tMu8aAiMLEALw_wcB&utm_campaignid=11060757766&utm_adgroupid=140567314064&utm_adid=623318585033&utm_term=peaky%20blinders%20london&utm_matchtype=e&utm_campaign=TTG_LT_g_uk_acq_search_shows&utm_adgroup=Shows_Peaky_Blinders_All&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1sucBhDgARIsAFoytUt8mnzR5m_ocOhC13TvzMPYbXbGpKkGOmEI61YXY-rhUd3odT6tMu8aAiMLEALw_wcB)*), and Mark Henderson’s lighting directs our attention in this mighty arena and changes the mood superbly - from vast dramatic shafts of light to an evocative sequence with lanterns.

While this underdog tale doesn’t have the most sophisticated of narratives, I can absolutely see its themes resonating with audiences, particularly its inspiring message that the next generation of social justice warriors can change the world. We could do with that hope right now - and with a huge, spectacular show which proves, once and for all, that musical theatre is good for the soul. Seize the day and get your tickets while you can: *Newsies* is going to be hitting the headlines for all the right reasons.

*Newsies is at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre through 16 April. Book Newsies tickets on London Theatre.*

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*Photo credit: Newsies at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre (Photo by Johan Persson)*

'Newsies' review – the inspirational Disney musical has the most thrilling dancing in town

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The Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre is an off-West End theatre that has a seating capacity of 2,000. The theatre is located on the former site of Fountain Studios. Fountain Studios formerly hosted *The X Factor* and *Pop Idol*. 

See the 'Newsies' cast in action in latest photos

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