UK / West End Theatre Newsroom

Newbury’s The Watermill Theatre welcomed Dame Judi Dench on Friday 10 May for exclusive, one-off fundraising event - Shakespeare: Judi Dench in conversation with Brendan O’Hea​​​​​​​. Check out photos here!

Fool’s Moon is “an anarchic, genre-bending cabaret night where the mischievous come out and play. Expect extravagant costumes, elaborate props and multiple left feet that may alleviate, if only momentarily, your existential crisis.” The cabaret, hosted by Paulina Lenoir as Puella Eterna, has a different theme each night, making for a unique show.

From Tuesday 25 June 2024 Karis Anderson, who is currently starring as Tina Turner, will share the title role with new cast member Zoe Birkett. Joining them is Rolan Bell as Ike Turner! Meet the cast in an all new video here!

WICKED ACTIVE LEARNING, the acclaimed cultural and social education programme for the London stage production of Wicked, will launch a new, free, on-demand Anti-Bullying Workshop.

From a Tony Award® and GRAMMY Award winning producing team, Ashley Jana and Will Nunziata’s Figaro: An Original Musical will receive its world premiere at the London Palladium with two fully staged concert performances on Monday 3 February & Tuesday 4 February 2025.

For a sitcom that only lasted for 12 episodes, Fawlty Towers left an indelible mark on British comedy. Discourteous hotel owner Basil Fawlty and his shrewish wife Sybil became legends, along with long-suffering chambermaid Polly and hapless waiter Manuel. Previously staged in Australia, this nostalgic and tightly choreographed play is adapted by the series’ original co-writer John Cleese.

Love Letter to the Big Yin from the People of Scotland among shows in line for prestigious awards.

Welsh ragga metal legends Skindred have announced a UK headline tour for autumn 2024. Tickets are on sale now (May 15th), apart from shows in Leicester and Oxford which will be available from 5pm on Friday 17th May. Skindred played their largest headline show to date at Wembley Arena in 2024, while they have also continued to prove the hunger for the band internationally.

All new photos have been released from the opening night of People, Places & Things at the Trafalgar Theatre and post-show party at Sophie's Soho. Check out the photos here!

A Song of Songs has been placed within a traditional Middle Eastern beat by Ofra Daniel, writer, composer, director, and lead actor as Tirzah, unfulfilled wife. Whether through the stamps and flowing skirts of flamenco or thumping percussive beats, the physicality of the piece takes centre stage. What may be missing is an emotional connection.

“What we need is harmony, fresh air, stuff like that.” Almost 40 years after it first graced the big screen, cult classic film Withnail and I has been adapted for the stage – and it is currently in the middle of a limited engagement at the Birmingham Rep.

It’s nearly a decade since Denise Gough set the stage alight in Duncan MacMillan’s starkly raw study of addiction. She now reprises her Olivier and Critics' Circle Theatre Award-winning role as Emma for this harrowing and completely absorbing new production of People, Places & Things. 

Irish National Opera bring a touring production to London in what might prove to be a show for the purists

Walter Washington is stuck. Stuck in his recently deceased wife’s wheelchair. Stuck in “a rent-controlled palace ruled by a grieving despot king” that he can ill afford. Stuck waiting for City Hall to pay him what he considers his due after a thirty year-long cop career ended in a shooting incident. That’s a whole lot of stuck.

Judi Dench is the latest performer to speak out on the topic of the usage of trigger warnings in the theater. Dench expressed her understanding for the reason why they are used, before going on to criticize people who need them.

Allan Stewart (Stones in His Pockets, West End, UK Tour, Toronto; STV Hello, Good Evening, Welcome) and Alex Bourne (Annie, West End, UK Tour, Toronto; Hairspray, UK Tour) will reprise their touring roles as The Wizard when The Wizard of Oz concludes its major UK and Ireland tour this summer. 

Tony award-nominee J. Smith-Cameron will star as Juno Boyle opposite Mark Rylance as ‘Captain’ Jack Boyle in a new production of Seán O’Casey's Juno and the Paycock, directed by Tony and Olivier award-winner Matthew Warchus.

Dr Ranj Singh will make his musical theatre debut playing the role of Lance in the upcoming UK and Ireland tour of & JULIET. The tour opens at Manchester Opera House on 8 July 2024.   

Tamsin Greig is a marvel as Hester Collyer in Lindsay Posner's new revival of Terence Rattigan's 1950s classic, The Deep Blue Sea, at Theatre Royal Bath's intimate, 126-seater Ustinov Studio.

All new behind the scenes photos have been released of Mark Strong and Lesley Manville during the cast photoshoot for Oedipus.

Further casting has been announced for the Tony Award nominated hit musical A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN which makes its UK premiere at the Peacock Theatre, Sadlers Wells' home in the West End, running from 21 August until 28 September 2024.

Acting for Others has announced the leading West End theatre shows participating in this year's West End Flea Market. The event will take place on Saturday 18 May at St Paul's Church and Churchyard, Covent Garden from 10am – 2pm.

Equity has responded to Welsh National Opera chorus cuts. 

In the summer of 1962, Sir Laurence Olivier invited lighting designer Richard Pilbrow to 'sort out the bloody awful lighting' at Chichester Theatre two days before it opened. Pilbrow replied there was nothing he could do in so short a time. 'Well, you're no bloody use, are you?' Olivier quipped.

Masterclass is a powerful production which provides some genuine discussion on privilege and opportunity within theatre and arts.