TGIF! As usual, here’s your weekly round-up of all the latest news in the London theatre scene.
The Everybody’s Talking About Jamie movie will premiere 23 October, 2020. The movie stars Max Hardwell as Jamie New, with Richard E. Grant as Hugo/Loco Chanelle, Sharon Hogan as Miss Hedges and Sarah Lancashire as Margaret New.
A musical called The Impossible Man, about Harry Houdini, is in development. Producer Kary Sydow (The Last Ship) and Federico Bellone (Mary Poppins) are currently working on the musical, which will feature stage illusions and a Hungarian-inspired score. The workshop is set for next year, with a world premiere planned for Detroit: the last city Houdini performed in.
Joe Sugg joins the cast of Waitress. The vlogger known on YouTube as ThatcherJoe, who also appeared on the 16th season of Strictly Come Dancing, will make his acting debut as Ogie in Waitress. He takes over the role starting 9 September.
The Watsons at Menier Chocolate Factory announces full casting. The Chichester cast will reprise their roles, with Joe Bannister, Louise Ford, Grace Molony and Laurence Ubong Williams in the lead roles. Rhianna McGreevy joins the cast as Margaret Watson, with Isaac Forward, Sonny Fowler and Teddy Probets sharing the role of Charles Howard.
The Great Gatsby will transfer to an immersive 1920s pop-up bar. Starting 18 October, the immersive production of The Great Gatsby will run at 56 Davies Street in Mayfair. The new immersive space will feature a pop-up 1920s bar that opens in September.
Peter Pan Goes Wrong announces casting. The production from Mischief Theatre will star Romayne Andrews, Tom Babbage, Georgia Bradley, Connor Crawford, Katy Daghorn, Phoebe Ellabani, Ciaran Kellgren, Ethan Moorhouse, Oliver Senton and Patrick Warner.
BIG the Musical cancels its first four performances due to refurbishment at the Dominion Theatre. The producers had hoped that they would be able to load their equipment into the Dominion Theatre early, despite the ongoing refurbishment work occurring. Unfortunately this has not been possible, so they have had to make the difficult decision to cancel the first few previews.
Afterglow will return to the West End this fall. S. Asher Gelman’s play recently ran at Southwark Playhouse for seven weeks. Now, it’s coming to the Waterloo East Theatre from 17 October to 24 November. Steven Kunis directs, with casting to be announced.
Sir Bryn Terfel will headline Love Classical 2020 at the Royal Albert Hall. The Grammy-winning Welsh bass-baritone will lead give a one-night concert on 17 April, as part of the Love Classical 2020 season. The season will also include a piano concert; an orchestral concert featuring the music of Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Saint-Saens; and an evening of choral classics by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the City of London Choir.
The Royal Shakespeare Company announces casting for new musical The Boy in the Dress. The comedy musical about a star striker and fashion lover will feature Rufus Hound, Irvine Iqbal, Natasha Lewis and Forbes Masson. Further casting is yet to come. Adapted by Mark Ravenhill from David Walliams’ comedy, the musical includes songs by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers. Gregory Doran directs, with performances starting 8 November.
John Godber’s This is not Right will premiere 2 October at Trafalgar Studios. John Godber directs, with Frazer Hammill and Martha Godber starring in this play about a young woman with an over-protective father.
Did you catch Sir Ian McKellen’s star-turn in Les Misérables? Last Saturday, in Newcastle, the actor popped in for a one-day cameo in the touring production. Looks like he enjoyed himself!
