This week’s news round-up includes the return of War Horse, casting for several exciting new productions–and Bernadette Peters! Get the full scoop below.
War Horse returns to London. The National Theatre production of War Horse will return to London for a limited run at Troubador Wembley Park Theatre from 18 October to 23 November. Tickets go on sale in February.
Matthew Broderick will make his West End debut in The Starry Messenger. Kenneth Lonergan’s play features an astronomy teacher having a mid-life crisis when the planetarium he works at is closing, his marriage is rocky and his father has recently died. But Angela, a trainee nurse, might be able to help. Broderick starred in The Starry Messenger Off-Broadway in 2009, and now he’s back to reprise his role at the Wyndham’s Theatre starting in May–opposite Elizabeth McGovern. Tickets are on sale now!
Full casting is announced for Trevor Nunn’s Agnes Colander. Reprising their roles from the Bath production will be Naomi Frederick in the title role, Sally Scott as Emmeline Majoribanks, Matthew Flynn as Otho Kjoge and Cindy-Jane Armbuster as Martha and Suzon. Harry Lister Smith will join the cast as Alexander Flint. Agnes Colander runs at the Jermyn Street Theatre starting 12 February.
Amanda Abbington will star in Florian Zeller’s play The Son. Best known for her TV roles in Mr. Selfridge and Sherlock, Abbington has also appeared in numerous stage productions, including God Bless This Child, Love Me Tonight and A Little Princess. Joining Abbington in the UK premiere of Zeller’s play will be Laurie Kynaston, Amaka Okafor, Martin Turner and Oseloka Obi. Michael Longhurst (Caroline, Or Change) will direct. Originally performed in France, where it was nominated for nine Molière awards, The Son forms the final piece in Zeller’s trilogy that includes The Father and The Mother, and will be translated into English for its UK premiere at the Kiln Theatre in February.
Tina the Musical extends until 21 December. Adrienne Warren and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith will continue in their current roles as Tina Turner and Ike Turner until 13 April.
Six extends its run to January 2020. The new musical about the wives of King Henry VIII extends yet again at the Arts Theatre, with tickets now on sale for performances through 5 January. The production has also announced its American premiere at the Chicago Shakespeare Festival in May and June.
Caroline Sheen will replace Louise Redknapp in Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5. Due to an injury, Redknapp has withdrawn from the production, with Sheen replacing her in the role of Violet. Sheen’s credits include the title role in UK and US tours of Mary Poppins, an understudy in the original Mamma Mia! production, Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium and Fantine in Les Misérables. Based on the 1980 film, 9 to 5 begins performances at the Savoy Theatre 28 January.
The Rubenstein Kiss announces full casting. Ruby Bentall (Verity in BBC’s Poldark) will star as Esther Rubenstein. Henry Proffit will play her husband, Jakob Rubenstein, with Sean Rigby (Endeavor, Gunpowder) as David Girshfeld, Stephen Billington (Hollyoaks, Coronation Street) as FBI Agent Paul Cranmer, Dario Coates as Matthew, Katie Eldred as Anna and Eva-Jane Willis as Rachel Girshfeld. Joe Harmston will direct this new production, which begins performances at Southwark Playhouse 14 March.
Bernadette Peters is launching a new international tour–and she’ll be stopping in London! Catch the legendary stage and screen actress at the Lyceum Theatre 10 June.
After a sell-out run last year, Laura Linney returns to the Bridge Theatre to reprise her role in Richard Eyre’s My Name is Lucy Barton. For 26 performances, starting 23 January, Linney will reprise her performance in this production based on Rona Munro’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.
The Other Palace will host a concert series featuring West End stars. As part of the MT Fest UK in February, The Other Palace will hold informal, late-night concerts featuring a line-up of 12 West End stars: Louise Dearman (Wicked), Jordan Luke Gage (Bat Out of Hell), Sophie Isaacs (Heathers the Musical), Nathan Amzi, Luke Bayer, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Evelyn Hoskins, Rob Houchen, Emma Kingston, Claudia Kariuki, Laura Pitt-Pulford and Tosh Wanogho-Maud. In addition to the concert series, the MT Fest will present eight brand new musicals. Sounds good to us!
