London Theatre News

Alan Bennett’s Habeas Corpus to be revived at Menier Chocolate Factory

Currently directing the world premiere of Leopoldstadt at the Wyndham's Theatre, Patrick Marber will direct a revival of Habeas Corpus. The 1970s comedy will be revived at the Menier Chocolate Factory, with performances from May 2020.Habeas Corpus at the Menier In a tweet by Baz Bamigboye, Habeas Corpus will be revived at the Menier Chocolate Factory with performances from 15th May, ahead of an official opening night on 21st May and a final performance on 4th July.Details on casting and a full...

Six extends booking period at the Arts Theatre to January 2021

Celebrating its first birthday in the West End today, an extended booking period for Six at the Arts Theatre has been announced. The five-time Olivier Award-nominated musical will now run at the Arts Theatre to 31st January 2021, with tickets for the new booking period on sale from 17th January.Six extends in the West EndSix will now play at the Arts Theatre for an extended booking period to 31st January 2021, with tickets for performances from August 2020 available from 2pm on 17th January. As...

Les Miserables: Making a new version of the West End's longest-running musical in history

Early on in the producing career of Cameron Mackintosh, he opened an original musical called The Card. In an introduction to the published lyrics of the legendary Alan Jay Lerner, Mackintosh recalls a conversation he had with Lerner after it opened. Lerner asked him how it was going; and Mackintosh remembers replying, "Not bad, but the problem was some weeks it made a little money, and other weeks it lost money." Lerner answered: "Ah, a succès d'estime - a success that runs out of steam."...

Full cast announced to star alongside Bill Ward in The Glee Club

Ahead of the national touring production of The Glee Club which will play a limited engagement at the Kiln Theatre, the full cast has been announced. They will perform alongside Bill Ward in the show's revival, with performances at the Kiln Theatre from 4th June to 27th June.Bill Ward to play Bant in The Glee Club The role of Bant will be played by Bill Ward, who recently starred as Hugo/Loco Chanelle in Everybody's Talking About Jamie at the Apollo Theatre. In the West End, Ward has also...

Louise Redknapp and Brian Conley to return to 9 to 5 at the Savoy Theatre

Louise Redknapp and Brian Conley will rejoin the West End cast of 9 to 5 at the Savoy Theatre. They will reprise the roles of Violet Newstead and Franklin Hart Jr in the musical's West End premiere, with performances to 23rd May 2020.Louise Redknapp to play Violet NewsteadLouise Redknapp will return to 9 to 5 to play Violet Newstead, previously appearing in the musical last year. Redknapp's debut performance in 9 to 5 last year was delayed due to injury in rehearsals, with Caroline Sheen...

Desi Oakley to make West End debut as Jenna in Waitress

Following the recent indisposition of Lucie Jones, as well as Jenna alternates Olivia Moore and Sarah O'Connor, American actress Desi Oakley will make her West End debut in Waitress at the Adelphi Theatre. She will join the cast from 13th January 2020, reprising her performance from the United States touring production.Desi Oakley to join cast of WaitressBroadway actress Desi Oakley will make her West End debut as Jenna, following her performance as Jenna in the American touring production of...

David Fynn to reprise role of Dewey Finn in School of Rock

Following the recent news that School of Rock will close at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, David Fynn will reprise his performance as Dewey Finn. He'll star in the musical from 20th January for the show's final weeks, with a final performance on 1st March.David Fynn to play Dewey FinnFynn will return to the Gillian Lynne Theatre to reprise the role of Dewey Finn in School of Rock from 20th January. He previously originated the role in the West End, earning an Olivier Award nomination for best actor...

School of Rock set to close at the Gillian Lynne Theatre

The Olivier Award-winning musical School of Rock will close at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on 1st March 2020. The musical has been performed in the West End over 1,400 times, and will close in order to make way for the West End premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella, which is set to open in September 2020.School of Rock to close in the West EndSchool of Rock will play its final performance at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on 1st March 2020. The musical made its West End premiere on 24th October...

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella to receive West End premiere at the Gillian Lynne

A new production of Cinderella will receive its West End premiere later this year. The musical will feature music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and will begin performances at the Gillian Lynne Theatre from September 2020, with School of Rock closing at the West End venue in March 2020.Cinderella to open in the West EndAndrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella will begin performances from September 2020, with details on casting, performance dates and a performance schedule to be announced. Reinventing the...

Friday Briefing: Giving credit to understudies and revisiting favourite shows

The West End's singing unsung heroesOne of my favourite twitter accounts is @WestEndCovers, which issues daily alerts of which West End and touring understudies are getting the chance to show their wares - and sometimes also applauds the unexpected. Last night, for instance, they tweeted:<a href="https://twitter.com/WestEndCovers/status/1215390663614877696?s=20"Last month it was @WestEndCovers who announced:<a href="https://twitter.com/WestEndCovers/status/1207438125439574016?s=20" On Twitter,...