By Douglas Mayo Last Updated on 30th March 2023 Stranger Things: The First Shadow tickets are now on sale for this new story Live on Stage with performances starting November 2023 at the Phoenix Theatre, London. Based on an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne and Kate Trefry, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a new play written by Kate Trefry, will receive its world premiere at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End, directed by Stephen Daldry with co-direction by Justin Martin. The production previews from 17 November, with an official opening night on 14 December 2023 ..read more

By Douglas Mayo Last Updated on 27th March 2023 The musical adaptation of Pigs Might Fly from Michael Morpurgo’s Mudpuddle Farm with book, music & lyrics by Caroline Wigmore and Jen Green will embark on a UK Tour from 30 May 2023 Michael Morpurgo’s Pigs Might Fly Tour This bold and energetic new musical follows the air-raising adventures of Pintsize, the youngest and most daring piglet on Mudpuddle Farm. Pintsize loves nothing more than playing with his neighbour and best friend Diana the sheep, until one day Pintsize wakes up to discover a tall fence built between their two farms. Deva ..read more

By Douglas Mayo Last Updated on 26th March 2023 The upcoming revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Aspects Of Love opening at the Lyric Theatre in May 2023 at the Lyric Theatre have announced that Laura Pitt-Pulford and Danielle De Niese are amongst the cast joining Michael Ball and Jamie Bogyo. 34 years after having starred in the original West End production, Michael Ball returns to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s celebrated musical Aspects of Love at the Lyric Theatre for a strictly limited season, this time playing the role of George. It was announced today that Olivier A ..read more

By Douglas Mayo Last Updated on 26th March 2023 Showstopper! The Improvised Musical has announced that it is moving to the Cambridge Theatre from 22nd May 2023. The hugely popular Showstopper! The Improvised Musical has announced they will move to the Cambridge Theatre (Home of Matilda the Musical) from 22nd May 2023. BOOK SHOWSTOPPER! TICKETS Adam Meggido and Dylan Emery Artistic Directors of Showstopper! said “After a wonderful seven years at the Lyric, we are delighted to begin a new residency at the Cambridge Theatre. We can’t wait to make up dozens more brand-new spontaneous musicals righ ..read more

By Libby Purves Last Updated on 26th March 2023 Our very own TheatreCat Libby Purves reviews Noel Coward’s Hay Fever currently playing at The Mill at Sonning. Hay Fever The Mill at Sonning 4 Stars Book Tickets BLISS WITH THE BLISSES I don’t always make it through the Oxfordshire lanes to the gorgeous, eccentric, water-wheeled Mill, but the thought of Issy van Randwyck as Judith Bliss lured me. Caught the last preview en route to the airport, so I started writing this on a Croatian long-distance bus. Fitting maybe, as Noel Coward wrote it on the road and in a rush, inspired by amusement after v ..read more

By Paul T Davies Last Updated on 25th March 2023 Paul T. Davies reviews They Don’t Pay? We Won’t Pay!, a contemporary update of the farce by Dario Fo and Franca Rame. Tesni, Marc Pickering and Laura Doddington. Photo: Pamela Raith They Don’t Pay? We Won’t Pay! Mercury Theatre, Colchester. 23 March 2023 3 Stars BOOK TICKETS It takes a brave theatre to stage a comedy about a cost-of-living crisis during an actual cost-of-living crisis. Originally Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay! By Dario Fo and Franca Rame, the Italian political farce is given a contemporary update by adaptor Deborah McAndrew. Refusing to ..read more

By Douglas Mayo Last Updated on 21st March 2023 Double Olivier Award winner and four-time Olivier Award nominee and Tony Award nominee Tracie Bennett is to star in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and she’s playing the boss J. B Biggley! When this revival of How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying opens at Southwark Playhouse in May 2023, Tracie Bennett will take on the role of J B Biggley in the musical which took a satirical look at the world of male-dominated office politics in the 1960’s. Currently working on a film in New York, Tracie recorded a video saying: “I’m ..read more

By Paul T Davies Last Updated on 20th March 2023 Paul T Davies reviews Ian Hallard’s play The Way Old Friends Do which is now playing at the Park Theatre, London. Photo: Darren Bell The Way Old Friends Do. Park Theatre (and touring) 17 March 2023 4 Stars A play about first generation ABBA fans who create a gender reversing drag tribute act to the band, with women performing Bjorn and Benny and friends Peter and Edward taking on Anni- Frid and Agnetha, is clearly going to appeal to this first-generation ABBA fan! I can’t think of any other group that evokes so much love and affection, and this ..read more

By Douglas Mayo Last Updated on 20th March 2023 Mike Faist and Lucas Hedges are to make their West End stage debuts in the world premiere stage adaptation of Annie Proulx’s Brokeback Mountain opening in May 2023 @SohoPlace. Photography: Mark Seliger. Graphic Design: Feast Creative The world premiere stage adaptation of Annie Proulx’s Brokeback Mountain by Ashley Robinson with songs by Dan Gillespie Sells opens @SohoPlace in May 2023 directed by Jonathan Butterell. The production will run @SohoPlace for a limited season from 10 May – 12 August 2023. Tony and BAFTA Award nominated Mike Faist (De ..read more

By Douglas Mayo Last Updated on 20th March 2023 Devised, directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, Edward Scissorhands returns for the first time since 2014 with a season at Sadlers Wells  London and on tour. Edward Scissorhands Tour New Adventures, Martin McCallum and Marc Platt are delighted to announce that Edward Scissorhands, devised, directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne will return in 2023. The tour opens at Theatre Royal Plymouth on Monday 20 November and runs until Saturday 25 November before going to The Lowry, Salford from Tuesday 28 November to Saturday 2 Decembe ..read more