London Theatre Weekly Round-up: Cillian Murphy returns to the London stage, Come From Away announces casting, and more!

We all come from away…but some of us come from Broadway. That’s true for Come From Away, which just announced casting for its upcoming London transfer! We’ve also got news about Cillian Murphy, Eugenius! the Musical, and more. Check it out.

Peaky Blinders actor Cillian Murphy will star in Grief is the Thing With Feathers. Enda Walsh’s adaptation of Max Porter’s award-winning novel opens at the Barbican next March. This UK premiere reunites Walsh (directing) with Murphy. Previously, the two of them worked together on Disco Pigs, Misterman and Ballyturk.

Rachel Tucker will lead the cast of Come From Away London. If you haven’t heard, the Broadway hit is coming to the UK! This award-winning production premieres in Dublin ahead of a 30 January opening at London’s Phoenix Theatre. The production will star Rachel Tucker, known for playing Elphaba in the West End production of Wicked. Joining her will be Jenna Boyd, Nathan Campbell, Clive Carter, Mary Doherty, Robert Hands, Helen Hobson, Jonathan Andrew Hume, Harry Morrison, Emma Salvo, David Shannon, Cat Simmons, Mark Dugdale, Bob Harms, Kiara Jay, Kirsty Malpass, Tania Mathurin, Alexander McMorran, Brandon Lee Sears and Jennifer Tierney. Get your tickets now!

Rachel Tucker headshot
Rachel Tucker will lead the cast of Come From Away London

Eugenius! isn’t coming to the West End after all. That’s a no-go for the Warwick Davis-produced musical about a teen comic book artist in 1980s Hollywood. The show was set to replace Foxfinder at the Ambassadors Theatre later this month, but after key investors pulled out, the show’s West End run has been cancelled. Producers aren’t giving up, though, and say they’re still working on getting a West End transfer for the show at a later date. We hope to see you soon, Eugenius! Meanwhile, if you hurry, you can still catch the show at The Other Palace until 21 October.

Bat Out of Hell will close early next year. Jim Steinman’s musical featuring songs by Meat Loaf will play its last performance 5 January at the Dominion Theatre. If you don’t want to miss out, you can get your tickets with no fees right here.

The Twilight Zone will transfer to the West End. Based on the 1960s CBS series, The Twilight Zone premiered at the Almeida Theatre in 2017. Now, it’s set to run at the Ambassadors Theatre from 19 March to 1 June 2019, with Richard Jones directing.

Production photo from The Twilight Zone London
The Twilight Zone

The sold-out Edinburgh Fringe hit Brexit makes its London premiere this month. Starring Tim Bentinck of BBC’s The Archers, the production opens at The King’s Head 30 October.

Rob Rokicki’s Monstersongs makes its UK premiere next month! With a cast that includes George Damms, Amanda Flynn, Tyrone Huntley, Cleopatra Higgins, Bradley Riches and Sinéad Wall, this unique theatrical event flips the traditional monster story on its head–inviting audiences in for a closer look at what lurks below the surface. Featuring songs by Rob Rokicki (The Lightning Thief), Monstersongs plays The Other Palace on 5 and 6 November.

The record-breaking TV series Only Fools and Horses makes a comeback on the London stage. Jim Sullivan, son of the late John Sullivan who penned the TV series, teams up with comedian Paul Whitehouse to create a brand new script based on the 80s and 90s sitcom. Whitehouse stars as Grandad, with Tom Bennett as Del Boy and Ryan Hutton as Rodney. Only Fools and Horses opens at the Theatre Royal Haymarket 9 February 2019.

Only Fools and Horses London

Full casting is announced for the London Palladium pantomime Snow White. Joining Dawn French as the Wicked Queen will be Danielle Hope (Snow White), Charlie Stemp (The Prince) and Julian Clary (The Man in the Mirror). Danielle Hope previously starred in The Wizard of Oz at the Palladium, and as Maria in a UK tour of The Sound of Music. Charlie Stemp recently made his Broadway debut in Hello, Dolly!, opposite Bette Midler (and if you didn’t hear, he’ll soon be playing Bert in Mary Poppins).

Matthew Bourne’s ROMEO AND JULIET kicks off its world premiere tour in May 2019, with a four-week long stop at Sadler’s Wells in August. This production is a contemporary reimagining of Shakespeare’s passionate love story, complete with some of the most talented young dancers in the UK.

In the meantime, don’t miss the RSC production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, opening at the Barbican next month!