Richy Hughes

Campaign Launched to Help Save BOOK Music & Lyrics Development Programme For Musical Theatre Writers
by Stephi Wild - Jan 24, 2025

BOOK Music & Lyrics, the UK's only professional development programme for musical theatre composers, lyricists and librettists, is at risk of closure after 15 years and is appealing to musical theatre fans and funders across the UK to help secure its future.

Lineup for Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize Concert Announced
by Aliya Al-Hassan - Oct 11, 2023

Stiles + Drewe and Mercury Musical Developments are delighted to announce the star-studded cast that will appear at this year’s Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize, which will be celebrated in concert at The Other Palace on Monday 13 November at 7.30pm. 

Finalists Announced for Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize 2023
by Aliya Al-Hassan - Aug 22, 2023

Mercury Musical Developments and Stiles + Drewe are delighted to announce the finalists of this year’s Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize, which will be celebrated in concert at The Other Palace on Monday 13 November 2023. 

Review: NEW UK MUSICALS - LIVE IN CONCERT, The Other Palace
by Katie Kirkpatrick - Jul 8, 2022

One year on from theatres being allowed to fully reopen, where is the new writing? This is a problem Darren Clark has set out to tackle with his project New UK Musicals. Set up during the pandemic, the project's website makes sheet music and backing tracks to new original musical theatre songs by British writers widely available.

OI FROG & FRIENDS! Olivier Award Nominated Stage Show Leaps Into London For The Easter Holidays
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 24, 2022

Kenny Wax Family Entertainment's hit musical production of Oi Frog & Friends! which is currently touring the UK, following its critically acclaimed West End run in 2019/20, will play artsdepot in North Finchley, London, from Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 April 2022. 

Belgrade Hosts A Season Of Children's Treats This Spring
by Stephi Wild - Jan 24, 2022

This season, the Belgrade Theatre hosts a fantastic range of shows for children of all ages. Little ones can take a stroll through the deep, dark wood with The Gruffalo, and enjoy magical puppetry with Oi Frog and Friends! Live on Stage. There's something for older ones too, with brand new stage adaptations of George Orwell's Animal Farm and Michael Morpurgo's Private Peaceful.

OI FROG & FRIENDS! Will Tour the UK in 2022
by Stephi Wild - Dec 9, 2021

Kenny Wax Family Entertainment's hit musical production of Oi Frog & Friends! will tour the UK in 2021/2022, following its critically acclaimed West End run in 2019/20.  

Line-up Announced For BEAM2020
by Stephi Wild - Jan 13, 2020

Today, Mercury Musical Developments and Musical Theatre Network, in partnership with Royal & Derngate Northampton, are delighted to announce the line-up for their upcoming BEAM2020 showcase. BEAM2020 is the UK's leading showcase for new British musical theatre writing and will take place on Thursday 26th March and Friday 27th March 2020 at Royal & Derngate, Northampton.

Photo Flash: Inside the Press Party For OI FROG & FRIENDS!
by Stephi Wild - Dec 13, 2019

Several special guests joined FROG, DOG and CAT at the West End premiere of Oi Frog & Friends! this week at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, with Matt Henry, Hannah Waddingham, MC Grammar and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, as well as author Kes Gray and illustrator Jim Field, amongst those attending the brand new family show.

Photo Flash: First Look at OI FROG & FRIENDS! at the Lyric Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Oct 29, 2019

Kenny Wax Family Entertainment shared production shots of its new family stage show Oi Frog & Friends!. As previously announced, the musical production will make its West End premiere at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue for a strictly limited season from 29 November 2019 to 5 January 2020, as part of a national UK Tour.

Photo Flash: Inside Rehearsal For OI FROG & FRIENDS!
by Stephi Wild - Sep 26, 2019

Kenny Wax Family Entertainment has announced the full cast and creative team of its new family stage show Oi Frog & Friends!. As previously announced, the musical production will make its West End premiere at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue for a strictly limited season from 29 November 2019 to 5 January 2020, as part of a national UK Tour.

OI FROG & FRIENDS! Comes to the West End This Winter
by Stephi Wild - May 17, 2019

Kenny Wax Family Entertainment presents the premiere of Oi Frog & Friends! the highly anticipated stage show which brings together Kes Gray and Jim Field's bestselling and award-winning picture books Oi Frog!, Oi Dog! and Oi Cat! published by the Hachette Children's Group, into one action-packed musical production.

BWW Review: 'I've Got the Chills' For CTC'S Charming MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS
by Peggy Sue Dunigan - Jan 23, 2019

In the depths of Minnesota's January cold, Children's Theatre Company (CTC) presents a story based on a town in England, with a name similar to one outside of Minneapolis, Stillwater. Here, the musical adapted from the 1938 Newbury Honor Book 'Mr. Popper's Penguins.' comes to life under Director Emma Earle. While the entire musical originally premiered through Pins and Needles Productions, Bristol, UK, CTC transports its cast and crew to the Minneapolis stage though numerous charming evenings and afternoons to savor.

Photo Flash: Children's Theatre Company's Presents MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 15, 2019

Children's Theatre Company presents Mr. Popper's Penguins in association with Kenny Wax Family Entertainment and TC Beech.

Photo Flash: Winners Announced for the Stephen Sondheim Student Society Performer of the Year
by Stephi Wild - Jun 18, 2018

This afternoon the winners of the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year and Stiles + Drewe Prize were announced at the 12th anniversary West End Gala at the Savoy Theatre which was hosted Olivier Award winner Tracie Bennett.

Winners Annouced For The Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer Of The Year And Stiles + Drewe Prize At 12th Anniversary West End Gala
by Stephi Wild - Jun 11, 2018

This afternoon the winners of the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year and Stiles + Drewe Prize were announced at the 12th anniversary West End Gala at the Savoy Theatre which was hosted Olivier Award winner Tracie Bennett.

CTC Announces Its 2018-19 Season
by Stephi Wild - Feb 16, 2018

Children's Theatre Company is proud to announce its 2018-2019 Season, which includes eight productions, four commissioned premieres, three musicals, and one preschool production. The season consists of 3 ½ more weeks of performances over last year's schedule and includes summer programming.

Coming Up At The Kimmel; Events Announced for February 2018
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 19, 2017

See the newly announced lineup of events for this February at the Kimmel Center! Listings below!

Rebecca Trehearn and Jon Robyns Discuss New Musical Theatre Album!
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 29, 2017

Following a target-smashing Kickstarter campaign this October, Iris Theatre's Xmas Factor All Stars album drops this Friday, just in time for the festive season.

MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS Hop Into Casa Manana
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 8, 2017

President and Executive Producer Wally Jones is thrilled to announce that Mr. Popper's Penguins will kick off the 2017-2018 Children's Theatre season, presented by Regions and sponsored by Frank Kent Cadillac.