Carrie Dunn - Page 13

June is the time when the theatre fan's eyes typically turn to Broadway, what with the glamour and excitement of the Tony Awards. So whatever's going on in the UK tends to fly under the radar a little.

To be honest, if you're interested enough to read this review, I'm fairly sure you'll enjoy Scooby-Doo - The Mystery of the Pyramid (now touring the UK). It may not be groundbreaking theatre, but that's not what it's there for - it's a brisk romp through your typical Scooby-Doo story, with songs and audience participation thrown in.

Maureen Lipman and Harry Shearer join Oliver Cotton in the West End transfer of his play,Daytona. Directed by David Grindley, Daytona will begin performances at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 28 June and will complete its strictly limited 8 week run on 23 August 2014. Press night is on 7 July 2014. Daytona received its world premiere at London's Park Theatre in 2013 and this production marks the Theatre Royal Haymarket's first collaboration with an off West End theatre venue.

Brid Brennan's about to make her debut at the Open Air Theatre in All My Sons, and unsurprisingly she's looking forward to it. She's worked outside at the Globe before, but Regent's Park is an entirely different matter.

Take a look at comedy stars Mark Heap and Robert Webb as Jeeves and Wooster in the five-star hit Perfect Nonsense!

Jacqueline Tate is returning to a role she's done before - and she couldn't be happier about it. She's playing Christmas Eve in Sell-A-Door's new production of Avenue Q, which is about to head off around the UK after a run at the Greenwich Theatre, and so far it's proving a resounding success.

It's the start of the UK tour of 20th Century Boy, and Warren Sollars is euphoric. 'It's going really great. Everyone's really excited - it's the start of the tour, and we're getting great receptions. We're looking forward to bringing it to different parts of the country.'

It's a week on from the announcement of I Can't Sing!'s closure, and leading lady Cynthia Erivo is philosophical. 'We've had the best time,' she says. 'The whole run has been wonderful.'

We speak to Siubhan Harrison, who played Lorene in From Here To Eternity, about the show - and her involvement in the forthcoming charity gig at Cadogan Hall to raise money for Target Ovarian Cancer.

As a Tudor history obsessive, it's a source of constant professional frustration to me that I can never ask some of the key players the questions that would establish the truth behind the myths and mysteries. Performers taking on roles of iconic real-life people, however, get to sift through the sources to understand the figure they're portraying.

The legendary Elaine Paige has given a brand-new exclusive interview to Attitude magazine, out today, in which she reflects on her career and suggests that she might be returning to theatre soon.

The Ministry of Entertainment Limited is thrilled to announce the world premiere of Brilliant - The Dinosaur, a new musical for children, with words and music by Richard Stilgoe, narrated by Bernard Cribbins.

Miss Saigon, one of the epic mega-musicals of the 1980s, returns to London next month. After its original record-breaking West End run, the new cast has the task of reinventing the show for a new generation. Are they nervous? 'I'm just happy to be here!' says Jon Jon Briones

The letters of Oscar Wilde to his young lover Bosie are the source material of a new musical, De Profundis, opening at the Leicester Square Theatre this week. Writer Paul Dale Vickers was the winner of the theatre's inaugural New Musical Project, and as his prize gets a six-week run there.

The World Premiere of The Nightmares of Carlos Fuentes runs at the Arcola Theatre from 23 July until 16 August, with press night on 29 July 2014. Design is by Ellan Parry, lighting by Matt Eagland and sound by Andy Graham. Further casting will be announced shortly.

Nathan Amzi is on a break from rehearsals for the London premiere of In The Heights when we speak - and he is very much enjoying the challenge of creating his own version of Piragua Guy for a British audience. In fact, he hadn't seen the Broadway production, so the material is all new to him.

Noel Sullivan and Ben Richards are excited. In fact, it's amazing how chipper they are bearing in mind how hard they're working - and bearing in mind they're spending their weekends in technical rehearsal for the new UK tour of Rock of Ages.

The theatre world was stunned on Saturday night as news broke that I Can't Sing! Would be closing in two weeks' time. Much anticipated, the Harry Hill and Steve Brown creation will be leaving the London Palladium in May after its March opening.

Following the phenomenal success of West End Heroes, which saw the casts of many of the biggest West End musicals unite with the finest UK military bands and musicians in a stunning performance that raised over £88,000 for the Help for Heroes charity, the newly refurbished Dominion Theatre is to once again host the event, this year on Sunday 28 September at 8.00pm.

"It was never going to be South Pacific. It's the same place at the same time - but it's not the same." It's a very different experience talking to Stuart Brayson, creator of From Here To Eternity. He's not a cautious, guarded first-time West End composer; he's outspoken, funny and honest.