Here’s your round-up of all the latest buzz in the world of London theatre. Enjoy!
Rhys Ifans will star in the West End transfer of To Kill A Mockingbird. Aaron Sorkin’s new play, directed by Bartlett Sher, comes to the Gielgud Theatre from 21 May 2020. The play is currently running on Broadway as well. More casting will be announced later.
Noah Thomas (pictured above) will step into the title role of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. From 6 January he’ll play Jamie New in the West End. Meanwhile, Layton Williams will take the show on a U.K. tour staring February 2020. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is currently playing at the Apollo Theatre.
Jane Horrocks and Karl Johnson join Alan Cumming and Daniel Radcliffe in Endgame. Directed by Richard Jones, Samuel Beckett’s dark comedy will play at the Old Vic from 27 January 2020.
Courtney-Mae Briggs and Will Haswell join Back to the Future. Briggs, who starred in Hamilton on the West End, will play Jennifer Parker, with Haswell (The Braille Legacy, Jersey Boys) as Dave McFly. In addition, Aidan Cutler will play Biff and Emma Lloyd will play Linda McFly. The new musical is now fully cast.
The Bridge Theatre announces its 2020-2021 season, including productions starring Roger Allam, Colin Morgan and Simon Russell Beale. The lineup will include Paula Vogel’s They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (directed by Marianne Elliott), Caryl Churchill’s A Number starring Roger Allam and Colin Morgan, Philip Pullman’s The Book of Dust–La Belle Sauvage and Henrik Ibsen’s John Gabriel Borkman starring Simon Russell Beale. Casting for other productions will be announced later.
Ian Ashpitel and Jonty Stephens will play Eric & Ern in the West End. The two actors are known for their portrayal of the comedy duo Eric Morcambe and Ernie Wise. On 2 and 9 February 2020, they’ll return to the West End as Eric & Ern, performing at The Duke of York Theatre alongside Ruthie Henshall.
The Watsons will transfer to the West End. Currently finishing up its run at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Laura Wade’s play based on Jane Austen’s unfinished novel will run at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 8 May through 26 September 2020. Samuel West directs, with casting to be announced later.
Sandra Marvin and Kelly Agbowu will host the next Waitress karaoke night on 19 November. Marvin plays Becky and Agbowu plays Nurse Norma in the current cast.
Lee Knight will star in Coming Clean at Trafalgar Studios 2. Joining him will be Elliott Hadley, Stanton Plummer-Cambridge and Jonah Rzeskiewicz. Adam Spreadbury-Maher directs the return of Kevin Elyot’s play, produced by the King’s Head Theatre. Coming Clean runs at Trafalgar Studios 2 from 9 January to 1 February 2020.
Shakespeare’s Globe announces casting for Swive [Elizabeth]. The world premiere of Ella Hickson’s play, directed by Natalie Abrahami, will star Nina Cassells, Abigail Cruttenden, Michael Gould and Colin Tierney. Exploring the relationship between beauty, sex and power in the reign of Elizabeth I, Swive [Elizabeth]Â runs at Shakespeare’s Globe from 6Â December 2019 to 15 February 2020.
Follies is getting the movie treatment. Stephen Sondheim’s and James Goldman’s musical will be adapted into film format by director Dominic Cooke. Since Cooke received an Olivier nomination for the 2017 National Theatre revival of Follies, we’d say it’s in good hands.
National Theatre Live will broadcast Cyrano de Bergerac and The Welkin to cinemas. Cyrano, starring James McAvoy, will broadcast 20 February, with The Welkin on 21 May. If you’re in London, you can catch Cyrano live at the Playhouse Theatre and The Welkin at The National Theatre.
