Special guest stars, thrilling new shows–we’ve got all that and more in the headlines this week. Plus, Mary Poppins is finally back in London! Catch up on all the latest West End news below.
Peter Andre will guest star in Thriller Live from 10 to 22 December. The award-winning pop artist (pictured above) will perform as the first in a series of guest stars the show plans to host during its final six months at the Lyric Theatre.
Jessica Chastain will star in A Doll’s House. The new production by Frank McGuinness, directed by Jamie Lloyd, will run at the Playhouse Theatre from 10 June to 5 September 2020.
Whoopi Goldberg and Jennifer Saunders will star in Sister Act. Whoopi stars as Deloris, with Jennifer Saunders as Mother Superior. The reworked version of the musical comes to the Eventim Apollo 29 July through 30 August 2020.
Lizzie Bea and Marisha Wallace join Michael Ball in Hairspray. Lizzie Bea, currently performing in the U.K. tour of Kinky Boots, will play Tracy Turnblad, with Marisha Wallace, known for Dreamgirls and Waitress, as Motormouth. Hairspray runs at the London Coliseum for 18 weeks from 23 April 2020.
Aimee Lou Wood, Rosalind Eleazar and Ciarán Hinds join Uncle Vanya. Wood, known for her roles in Sex Education and Downstate, will play Sonya, with Eleazar as Yelena and Hinds, known for her role in Girl from the North Country, as the Professor. Also joining are Dearbhla Molloy (The Ferryman), Anna Calder-Marshall (LOVE) and Peter Wight (The Birthday Party). Directed by Ian Rickson and starring Richard Armitage and Toby Jones, this new adaptation from Conor McPherson runs for 16 weeks from 14 January 2020.
Hannah Tointon joins the cast of Waitress from 2 December. Known for her roles in The Inbetweeners, Mr. Selfridge and Hollyoaks, Hannah Tointon will play Dawn in the London production of Sara Bareilles’ musical. Meanwhile, Lucie Jones has extended her run as the title character to 25 January 2020. Waitress is currently running at the Adelphi Theatre.
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s Evita will transfer to the Barbican. The summer 2019 production will play at the Barbican Theatre for 8 weeks from 27 June 2020, with casting to be announced later.
Jeremy O’ Harris’ play Daddy will get its U.K. premiere next year at the Almeida Theatre. For its spring 2020 season, the theatre will also perform Mike Bartlett’s Albion, starring Victoria Hamilton, and new play The House of Shades.
The Boy Friend announces further casting for its run at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Joining Amara Okereke, Jack Butterworth and Janie Dee will be Tom Bales, Ryan Carter, Chloe Goodliffe, Matthew Ives, Bethany Huckle, Emily Langham, Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson, Annie Southall, Peter Nash and Robert Portal. The revival runs from 22 November 2019 to 7 March 2020.
Robin Ince’s Sea Shambles comes to the Royal Albert Hall on 17 May. The sea-themed spectacular is slotted as The Cosmic Shambles Network’s biggest show ever. The Royal Albert Hall will transform into a virtual underwater playground, featuring special guests like oceanographer Dr. Helen Czerki, Naturalist Steve Backshell, comedian Josie Long and poet Lemm Sissay MBE.
Elliot Levy and Ellen Robertson will reprise their roles in Snowflake at the Kiln Theatre. The two starred in the production of Mike Bartlett’s play at Old Fire Station in Oxford. Joining them for the London transfer will be Amber James. Clare Lizzimore directs the play, which opens 16 December.
Mary Poppins began previews on Wednesday! The new production stars Zizi Strallen and Charlie Stemp at the Prince Edward Theatre, with an opening scheduled for 13 November.
