These Theatre Thoughts

  THE WEST END SMASH-HIT TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL ANNOUNCES FIRST EVER UK AND IRELAND TOUR OPENING AT CURVE, LEICESTER FROM 6 MARCH 2025 Photo credit: Manuel Harlan The producers of the hit West End production, TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL are delighted to announce the first ever UK and Ireland tour, opening at Curve Leicester from Thursday 6 March 2025 to Saturday 22 March 2025. Tour schedule below with further dates and casting to be announced soon. www.tinathemusical.com/uktour TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL continues to run in the West End at the Aldwych Theatre, where it has played for over 5 years following its world premiere, receiving critical acclaim, and breaking all Box Office records at the venue. It is currently booking until 31 May 2025, making it the longest running show to ever run at the Aldwych. The production is also a global success, with 8 productions having opened worldwide since 2018, including on Broadway and across North America, G

Date: 23rd February 2024 Seat: Unallocated Tickets: Gifted Rating: 4 Stars  It’s almost impossible to believe that it’s coming up for four years since the UK’s first lockdown was looming. But don’t worry if your memories of that strange time are starting to fade, as James McDermott ’s Jab will bring them all straight back again. It’s not a comfortable journey to take.  Married couple Anne ( Kacey Ainsworth ) and Don ( Liam Tobin ) have been together for 29 years, and they’re mostly happy. They bicker and, yes, jab at one another, but it’s all in good fun. In fact, the play starts with the pair drunkenly laughing and dancing to Sweet Dream (Are Made Of This) by the Eurythmics, a throwback to when they first met in a nightclub in Skeggy.  Anne is an NHS worker on the frontline as the COVID-19 pandemic starts to spread, and Don has a vintage shop, although it doesn’t make much (if any) money, and Anne’s the one who has to pay for everything. That’s not a problem at first – it’s what the

  REHEARSAL IMAGES RELEASED FOR RICHARD, MY RICHARD NOVELIST PHILIPPA GREGORY’S PLAYWRIGHTING DEBUT OPENING AT SHAKESPEARE NORTH PLAYHOUSE ON 8 MARCH UNTIL 30 MARCH THEN PLAYING AT THEATRE ROYAL BURY ST EDMUNDS 11 – 27 APRIL The full cast has today been announced for best-selling historical author Philippa Gregory’s playwright debut Richard, My Richard . This world premiere – a co-production between Shakespeare North Playhouse and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds - is an innovative new stage play. Inspired by the real life of Richard III; which challenges the reputation of one of history’s most enigmatic characters: a passionate, tender portrait of the man in his time, and the women who determine his fate.   Richard, My Richard , directed by Katie Posner , will launch at Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot 8 – 30 March, and then play from 11 – 27 April at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds. Photo credit: Meg Terezza  With an explosion of tarmac, a Leicester Car park erupts

  TICKETS ON SALE TODAY FOR LUCIAN MSAMATI AND BEN WHISHAW IN SAMUEL BECKETT’S WAITING FOR GODOT DIRECTED BY JAMES MACDONALD OPENING AT THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET 13 SEPTEMBER - 14 DECEMBER 2024 The Producers today announce performance dates and on sale for the new production of Samuel Beckett ’s Waiting for Godot , directed by James Macdonald , starring Lucian Msamati (Estragon) and Ben Whishaw (Vladimir). Waiting for Godot will play a limited run at Theatre Royal Haymarket from 13 September until 14 December 2024 , press night Thursday 19 September 2024 .   Tickets go on general sale today with 25,000 tickets across the run priced at £25 and under, spread throughout the house, of which 5,000 are held for under 30s and key workers   Lucian Msamati said , “The wait has been worth it!  I look forward to making merry mischief with James Macdonald for the first time and a too long overdue reunion with the creative brilliance and genuine spirit that is Ben Whishaw”.

  ★ ★★★★ "A West End spectacle of the most magical kind" The Telegraph DISNEY’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED PRODUCTION OF FROZEN ADDS SOME EXTRA SPARKLE FOR A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE TO MARK LONDON PRIDE WEEKEND   Disney Theatrical Group  today announces a special performance of  Frozen the Musical  to kick off  Pride Weekend  in the capital. Gather your favourite people, wear your best Elsa blues, and get ready to really  Let It Go   at a celebratory performance packed with surprises   beginning at  8pm on Friday 28 June  at  Theatre Royal Drury Lane .   Throughout the week,  Frozen  will host a bucket collection for  Diversity Role Models ( https://www.diversityrolemodels.org/about-us ) whose mission is to end LGBTQ+ bullying by harnessing the power of storytelling to build empathy and celebrate difference.  Disney Theatrical Group  is proud to continue this long-standing relationship since it began in 2021.    Tickets for the 28 June, can be purchased here .  

  Chase Away Those Winter Blues Come and Party With Buddy Holly and the Cricketers!   The Boys are back on the road to celebrate this incredible show’s 32 nd year, starting with the Winter Tour that kicks off at the end of January and runs until March. Join  Buddy Holly and the Cricketers  on this highly anticipated tour as the boys once again hit the stage to delight audiences with their dynamic show, featuring authentic arrangements, driving rhythms, energetic performances and skilled musicianship that always have audiences dancing in the aisles! To celebrate the joy Buddy has brought millions of people worldwide, the band will play a brilliant and vibrant show appearing at the Orchard West in Dartford on 2nd March 2024. If you like Rock and Roll you’ll definitely love this. Songs include all Buddy’s big hits such as:  That’ll Be The Day , Peggy Sue, Heartbeat , It Doesn’t Matter Anymore Raining In My Heart , Oh Boy ! -  plus some super stunners from other chart-topping

  NEW COMPANY ANNOUNCED FOR OLIVIER AWARD NOMINATED WEST END SENSATION THE CHOIR OF MAN PLUS THOUSANDS OF NEW TICKETS RELEASED! NOW BOOKING AT THE ARTS THEATRE UNTIL 29 SEPTEMBER 2024 TICKETS AVAILABLE TO BOOK HERE   Opening hours extended again! The Olivier-nominated international stage sensation THE CHOIR OF MAN, now in its second singsational year, continues its sell-out West End run at the Arts Theatre, with new tickets released for dates until 29 September 2024. Welcome to THE JUNGLE, the best pub in the world. Here, an (extra)ordinary cast of nine guys combines beautiful harmonies and foot-stomping singalongs with first-rate tap dance and poetic meditations on the power of community. Brimming with hits from artists such as Queen, Luther Vandross, Sia, Paul Simon, Adele, Guns & Roses, Avicii, and Katy Perry, to name but a few, this is a pub like no other! An uplifting celebration of community and friendship with something for everyone - including free beer! E

Date: 19th February 2024 Seat: N2 (Stalls) Tickets: Gifted Rating: 2 Stars  Two directors and two actors walk into a room… it sounds like the beginning of a joke, but it’s actually the setup for John Logan’s Double Feature , currently playing at Hampstead Theatre. And whereas a joke would be funny (ideally, at least), Double Feature is a serious look at the dynamics between said directors (Alfred Hitchcock and Michael Reeves) and actors (Tippi Hedren and Vincent Price). The idea is a clever one – we have two sets of people (Hitch (Ian McNeice) and Hedren (Joanna Vanderham) in one story and Reeves (Rowan Polonski) and Price (Jonathan Hyde) in another) acting out a rehearsal scene for the movies they happen to be working on ( Marnie and The Witchfinder General respectively), and although they’re all on stage at the same time, they’re not there together. The two pairs never acknowledge one another, and the stories play out separately, intertwining without any of the characters knowing

  THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR   BRAND NEW PRODUCTION OF GOGOL’S SATIRICAL MASTERPIECE TO OPEN AT THE MARYLEBONE THEATRE 3 MAY – 15 JUNE 2024   TICKETS ON SALE NOW HERE A brand-new production of Nikolai Gogol’s satirical masterpiece, THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR , will premiere at the Marylebone Theatre from 3 May – 15 June 2024, with a press night on Wednesday 8 May. The Government Inspector is Nikolai Gogol’s masterful comedy about how corrupt power destroys itself, exposing the tragi-comic consequences of collective delusion and the swindlers who would exploit it.     “There’s no money in honesty!” A comedy about hypocrites, hysterics and hustlers. An over-privileged, vainglorious liar is mistaken for a high-ranking government inspector by the corrupt local officials of a parochial town. Desperate to cover up their crimes and escape censure, the town’s Governor and his cronies pull out all the stops to try and bribe this dishonest buffoon with money, wine and women.

  ACTING FOR OTHERS ANNOUNCES 2024 WEST END FLEA MARKET DATE   Photo credit: Bonnie Britain Theatrical charity, Acting for Others , today announces West End Flea Market 2024 will take place on Saturday 18 May at St Paul’s Church and Churchyard, Covent Garden . Following last year’s most successful West End Flea Market to date, where they raised more than £70,000 , the event returns for its fourth year. 150 early bird tickets will be available for £15 giving people automatic entry into a theatrical prize draw and early access to the flea market. Release date for early bird tickets will be announced on Acting for Others socials media platforms.  Top West End shows will set up a variety of uniquely designed stalls offering theatrical memorabilia, signed items, and the chance for selfies and autographs. Each will be tailored by the company to celebrate their productions, with themed merchandise and special limited-edition collectables with the Best Dressed Stall to be judged b

  MENIER CHOCOLATE FACTORY ANNOUNCES CASTING FOR THE UK PREMIÈRE OF PAUL GRELLONG’S POWER OF SAIL   The Menier Chocolate Factory today announces casting the European première of Paul Grellong ’s Power of Sail . Dominic Dromgoole directs Julian Ovenden (Charles Nichols), Tanya Franks (Amy), Katie Bernstein (Maggie), Georgia Landers (Quinn) and Paul Rider (Frank).  This production - co-produced with Daryl Roth who previously collaborated with the Menier on the critically acclaimed production of Indecent - opens on 28 March, with previews from the 20 March, and runs until 12 May.  Full cast will be announced shortly.  The Menier Chocolate Factory POWER OF SAIL By Paul Grellong   20 March – 12 May Direction: Dominic Dromgoole; Design: Paul Farnsworth ; Lighting Design: Oliver Fenwick; Sound Design: Ella Wahlstrőm All hell breaks loose when Harvard professor Charles Nichols invites a contentious white nationalist to his yearly symposium. His colleagues are

Photo credit: Danny Kaan Date: 9th February 2024 Seat: Unallocated (Front Row) Tickets: Gifted Rating: 4 Stars  Before After has the potential to be a complex and befuddling musical, but in the gentle hands of writers Stuart Matthew Price (music and lyrics) and Timothy Knapman (book and additional lyrics), director Georgie Rankcom, and performers Grace Mouat and Jacob Fowler, it instead becomes a piece of art, a beautiful story of love, loss, love found again, and the changes that people go through along the way.  Ben and Ami were a couple once, and very much in love, but after an accident leaves Ben with no memory of his old life, it all falls apart. Yet when Ami finds him again on the same hilltop they used to visit in their other life, it turns out that the old spark remains, even if one of them doesn’t remember the other.  The tension in the story comes from the fact that Ami remembers everything and wants to change what happened before, and Ben remembers nothing and can only focus