Angela Thomas rounds up all the latest news in regional and touring theatre in the UK and Ireland.
Cast and creatives for Theatre Royal Plymouth’s new Fame
The full cast and creative team have been confirmed for the upcoming revival production of Fame The Musical which will open at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.
Directed and choreographed by Theatre Royal Plymouth’s associate artistic director Tom Jackson Greaves, the production is due to play a strictly limited run in Plymouth from 28 July to 15 August.
Award-winning West End star Shanay Holmes (Miss Saigon, Sheffield Crucible; Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Apollo Theatre; Thriller Live, Lyric Theatre) will lead the cast as Miss Sherman. She will be joined by Alasdair Buchan (That Bastard Puccini!, Park Theatre, UK, Broadway; The Mousetrap, St Martin’s Theatre, West End; Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain, Birmingham Stage Company) as Mr Sheinkopf, Waylon Jacobs (Once On This Island, Drury Lane; Hadestown, Lyric Theatre; Hamilton, Victoria Palace) as Mr Myers, Rachel Jayne Picar (Pacific Overtures, Menier Chocolate Factory; The King And I, London Palladium; You’ll Never Walk Alone, West End Unites) in the ensemble/Teacher/Cover Teacher and Edwin Ray (The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Theatre Royal Haymarket; The Book Thief, Prince of Wales Theatre; The Creakers, Theatre Royal Plymouth and Southbank Centre; Hello, Dolly!, London Palladium) as Mr Bell and Dance Captain.
The students of The High School of Performing Arts will include: Joe Boyle as Nick Piazza, Toby De Salis as Goodman ‘Goody’ King, Megan Ellis as Serena Katz, Olivia Foster-Browne as Mabel Washington, James Hastings as Schlomo Metzenbaum, Shoko Ito as Iris Kelly, Amonik Melaco as Tyrone Jackson, Talia Palamathanan as Carmen Diaz, Georgia Leila Stoller as Grace ‘Lambchops’ Lamb and Harrison Wilde as Joe (Jose) Vegas.
They will be joined by Alicia Maynard (Ensemble/cover Mabel Washington), Jago Mottart (Ensemble/Cover Joe (Jose) Vegas), Anu Ogunmefun (Ensemble/Cover Grace ‘Lambchops’ Lamb), Samantha Shuma (Ensemble/Cover Carman Diaz) and Patrick Wilden (Ensemble/cover Tyrone Jackson). The Swings are Elise Marnie (also cover Iris Kelly) and Kieron O’Donnell (also cover Schlomo Metzenbaum and Nick Piazza).
Brian Conley to return as Doc Brown in Back to the Future touring production
Comedian turned Olivier Award-nominated musical theatre star Brian Conley will step back into the role of Doctor Emmett Brown early next year when he joins the first national tour of the multi-award-winning Back to the Future The Musical.
Conley will take on the role of the ultimate eccentric inventor when the tour plays Milton Keynes Theatre from 9-27 March 2027.
As previously announced Tony Award-winning stage and screen star Roger Bart will reprise his acclaimed performance as Doc Brown when the tour launches at the Bristol Hippodrome from 8 October to 21 November and will play the Christmas season at the Edinburgh Playhouse from 2 December 2026 to 2 January 2027.
After originating the role on the West End, on Broadway and internationally, Bart (You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, The Producers, Young Frankenstein) will take the wheel of the DeLorean again alongside Australian rising star Axel Duffy (Oklahoma!, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Grease The Musical) as Marty McFly. Duffy previously played Marty opposite Bart’s Doc Brown in the Australian production.
The confirmed dates and venues include Liverpool Empire (12 January to 6 February 2027), Milton Keynes Theatre (9 to 27 February 2027), Birmingham Hippodrome (9 March to 10 April 2027), Sunderland Empire (13 April to 8 May 2027), Alhambra Theatre, Bradford (11 May to 5 June 2027), Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (8 June to 3 July 2027), Manchester Opera House (13 July to 21 August 2027), Theatre Royal, Plymouth (24 August to 11 September 2027) and Wales Millenium Centre, Cardiff (19 October to 13 November 2027).
More dates and venues announced for Just For One Day tour
Further 2027 tour dates have been announced for next year’s UK and Ireland tour of the critically acclaimed Live Aid-inspired Just For One Day.
As previously announced the tour which is presented by Jamie Wilson Productions in association with Curve, will launch at Leicester Curve in March 2027 before visiting Cardiff, Canterbury, Manchester, Oxford, Edinburgh, Plymouth, Sunderland, Birmingham, Nottingham, Hull, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool Empire and Southampton.
The tour will also visit Woking Theatre, Bromley Churchill, Milton Keynes Theatre, Belfast Grand Opera House, Southend Cliffs Pavilion, Wolverhampton Grand, Sheffield Lyceum and Newcastle Theatre Royal.
Picture: Simon Turtle
Waitress encore for Lucie Jones
West End star Lucie Jones will reprise her acclaimed and award-nominated performance as Jenna when she joins the cast of the second UK and Ireland tour of the Broadway and West End hit Waitress in the autumn.
The musical theatre favourite will return to the role she first played in the West End in 2019 and on the first UK tour in 2021, when the tour reaches the King’s Theatre in Glasgow (6-10 October). Jones (13 Going On 30 The Musical, Manchester Opera House, The Baker’s Wife, Menier Chocolate Factory) will remain with the production when it visits the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield (13-17 October) and The Lowry in Salford (27-31 October).
Emma Lucia will step into the role of Jenna at the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre (24-29 August) and Hull New Theatre (1-5 September). Carrie Hope Fletcher’s final performance as Jenna will be on 29 September.
Disney Princess – The Concert to embark on first UK and Ireland tour
The hit show Disney Princess – The Concert will tour the UK and Ireland for the first time next year.
Presented by Disney Concerts and Cuffe & Taylor, the tour will include five performances over the Easter break at London’s Royal Festival Hall from 28 -30 March 2027.
The UK and Ireland tour will launch at Warwick’s Butterworth Hall on 12 March 2027 before heading for Brighton, Swansea, Portsmouth, Leicester, Torquay, Norwich, Peterborough, Nottingham, Hull, Oxford, Sunderland, Bradford, Manchester, Northampton, Sheffield, York, Birmingham, Southend, Carlisle, Stoke, Ipswich, Cardiff, Belfast, Dublin, Bath, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Gateshead.
Hit Singin’ in the Rain production to follow Sheffield Christmas season with major tour
The acclaimed Chichester Festival Theatre, Stage Entertainment and Sheffield Theatres’ production of Singin’ in the Rain will embark on a new UK and Ireland tour in 2027 following its previously announced Christmas season at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
Presented by Jonathan Church Theatre Productions, the extensive tour which will launch at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley from 28 January to 6 February 2027 will include an encore summer season at London’s Sadler’s Wells from 2 June to 3 July 2027.
The 2027 tour will also visit Cliffs Pavilion, Southend (9-13 February), Grand Opera House, Belfast (16-20 February), Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin (23-27 February), Sunderland Empire (2-6 March), Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (9-13 March), Orchard Theatre, Dartford (16-20 March), Milton Keynes Theatre (23-27 March), Leeds Grand Theatre (30 March-3 April), New Victoria Theatre, Woking (6-10 April), Empire Theatre, Liverpool (13-17 April), King’s Theatre, Glasgow (20-24 April), Wycombe Swan (27 April to 1 May), Edinburgh Playhouse (4-8 May), Birmingham Hippodrome (11-15 May), Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (25-29 May), Norwich Theatre Royal (6-10 July), Lowry, Salford (20-31 July), Congress Theatre, Eastbourne (3-7 August), Nottingham Theatre Royal (10-14 August) and New Theatre, Cardiff (24 August-4 September).
Picture: Marc Brenner
Pretty Woman The Musical to tour again in 2027
Following a record-breaking West End run and a sold-out UK tour in 2023, hit show Pretty Woman The Musical will take to the road again early next year.
Launching at the New Wimbledon Theatre on 10 March 2027, the tour will visit Manchester, Milton Keynes, York, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Sunderland, Southampton, Hull, Stoke-on-Trent, Leeds, Oxford, Bristol, Liverpool, Nottingham, Woking and Aberdeen.
Cast and creatives for Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s premiere of I Can Die Too
Casting has been confirmed for the world premiere of Frances Ruffelle, Sally George and Alan Cumming’s I Can Die Too.
Part of Cumming’s inaugural season as artistic director of the Pitlochry Festival Theatre, the play with music inspired by Cocteau’s La Voix Humaine will make its debut from 11 July to 2 August.
Directed by Bill Buckhurst, the production will star Ruffelle (Les Misérables, Starlight Express) in the central role of Lily. She will appear alongside Stephen Ashfield (The Book of Mormon/Jersey Boys, West End) as James, Melinda Orengo (The Secret Garden, York Theatre Royal, Police Cops: The Musical, Southwark Playhouse/Edinburgh Fringe) as Lee, Flora Spencer-Longhurst (The Forsyte Saga, Royal Shakespeare Company, Once, Phoenix Theatre) as Georgie and Maya Rugen (Paranormal Activity, Melting Pot/The Ambassadors Theatre) as Young Girl. They will be joined by musical director and arranger Frew.
Written by Ruffelle, George and Cumming, I Can Die Too features music and lyrics by Ruffelle, Sam Kelser, Mark Kelser, Simon Alexander, Robin Hancock, George de Angelis, Natti Vogel, Rafi, Dan McDougal, Eliza Caird, Blair Mackichan and Jim Duguid.
Cast for Landmark Theatre’s 9 to 5 The Musical UK tour
The full cast has been confirmed for Landmark Theatres upcoming new UK touring production of Dolly Parton’s feelgood show 9 to 5 The Musical.
Directed by Landmark Theatres CEO and creative director Paul Jepson, the production will feature Jessica Martin (Me and My Girl, Adelphi Theatre, Jerry’s Girls, Menier Chocolate Factory) as Roz, Karla Tracey (Irish Affair/A Love Story for All Time, National Opera House Ireland) as Doralee, Kayla Carter (Military Wives, York Theatre Royal/I Should Be So Lucky, UK and Ireland tour) as Judy, Tim Rogers (West Side Story, West End/UK tour, Jesus Christ Superstar, UK and European tour) as Hart and Jade Marvin (Starlight Express, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre/SIX, Norwegian Cruise Line) as Violet.
They will appear alongside Sammy Graham as Kathy, Ceris Hine as Margaret, Bradley Judge as Dwayne/Detective/Tinsworthy, Benjamin Karran as Joe, Colin Kiyani as Bob/Dick/Doctor, Alicia Mencía as Maria, Rodney Vubya as Josh and Jemima-Jane Willcox as Missy/Candystriper.
The ensemble will include Jamie Chidzey, Beth Woodcock and Ashley St John who is also Dance Captain.
The production will launch at Peterborough New Theatre from 4-11 July before heading for the Queen’s Theatre in Barnstaple, the Blackpool Grand Theatre, the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, the Darlington Hippodrome, Bridlington Spa, Ipswich Regent Theatre, Worthing Pavilion Theatre, Coventry Belgrade Theatre and White Rock Theatre Hastings.
Birmingham Hippodrome Christmas debut for One Tiny Penguin
Birmingham Hippodrome’s New Musical Theatre department has confirmed One Tiny Penguin will be the third production in its popular My First Musical series.
Jordan Li-Smith (music and lyrics) and Julie Tsang’s (book and lyrics) musical will play the Patrick Studio from 5 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.
Suitable for youngsters aged over three years, the family-friendly Christmas story of Lumi the penguin and the Northern Lights will be directed by Laura Ryder.
Cast for Calendar Girls The Musical at Theatre by the Lake
Casting has been confirmed for the upcoming summer run of a major new production of Gary Barlow and Tim Firth’s Calendar Girls The Musical at Theatre by the Lake.
Due to play the distinctive Keswick venue in the heart of the Lake District from 6 August to 5 September, the production will feature returning actors Sarah Groarke (The Borrowers, 2022, The Blonde Bombshells of 1943, 2023), Matt Ian Kelly (Brassed Off, 2024) and Alicia McKenzie (Quality Street, 2023).
They will be joined by Angela Caesar, Pippa Duffy, Rachel Hammond, Matt Heslop, Karen Holmes, Annie Kirkman, Christina Meehan, Neil Moors and Fenella Norman.
Co-produced by Theatre by the Lake, the Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough, the New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich and the Octagon Theatre Bolton, the production will make its debut in Scarborough (running to 25 July) before heading for Keswick, Ipswich (10-26 September) and Bolton (8-31 October).
2027 return for Grease tour
Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey’s Grease The Musical will return to UK theatres. Directed by Curve’s artistic director Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Arlene Phillips, the 2027 tour will launch at the Theatre Royal Plymouth from 23 April 2027. The production will then visit Cardiff, Newcastle, Wolverhampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Liverpool, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Sunderland, Nottingham and Birmingham.
New Scottish witch trial-inspired musical Witch Hunt to tour UK
A new musical inspired by the 16th century Scottish witch trials will embark on its first tour this autumn.
Written by Anton Davis, Irene Harris and Alyson Orr, with musical arrangements by Dovski, Witch Hunt has been developed through a series of well-received workshop performances.
Described as ‘Lady Gaga meets SIX The Musical’, the electronic dance music-fuelled musical tells the story of three women fighting for survival after a ruthless king declares war on witches.
Confirmed tour dates include Airdrie Town Hall (16 October), Macrobert Arts Centre in Stirling (17 October), Reconnect Regal Theatre in Bathgate (18 October), Byre Theatre in St Andrews (21 October), Eastgate Theatre in Peebles (22 October), East Kilbride Arts Centre (23 and 24 October), Cottiers Theatre in Glasgow (25 October), Theatre Royal in Dumfries (28 October), Adam Smith Theatre in Kirkcaldy (29 October), Paisley Arts Centre (30 October), Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock (31 October) and Eastwood Theatre in Giffnock (1 November).
Maisie Smith to star as Audrey in Hope Mill Theatre debut of new Little Shop of Horrors
EastEnders favourite and former Strictly finalist Maisie Smith will take on her first leading musical theatre role as Audrey in the upcoming major new revival of classic monster musical The Little Shop of Horrors.
Presented by Thomas Hopkins Productions and Hope Mill Theatre and directed and choreographed by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, Smith will take to the stage for the production’s premiere season at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre from 25 September to 29 November.
The production will then play a special Christmas transfer season at the Liverpool Playhouse with Emmerdale’s Jessie Elland (101 Dalmatians, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) stepping into the role from 3 December to 9 January 2027.
Joining them in both venues will be Brookside legend Michael Starke (Hollyoaks, Sister Act, Hairspray) who will take on the role of Mr Mushnik.
They be joined by Jed Berry (Back to the Future, Adelphi Theatre; Shucked, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) as Seymour and Marcus Ayton (Shrek, UK tour; Lovestuck, Theatre Royal Stratford East) as the voice of the monstrous Audrey II, with Benjamin Yates (Emmerdale, ITV; The Wizard of Oz; Jersey Boys) as Orin Scrivello, the Dentist.
The trio of streetwise narrators are: Psalms-Nissi Myers-Reid (& Juliet; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) as Crystal, Gabrielle Davina Smith (Matilda; Sister Act) as Ronnette and Rio Maye (Grease, European tour) as Chiffon.
The ensemble company will feature Ella Howlett (Tina, Madagascar the Musical), Joseph Peacock (Muriel’s Wedding, Dear Evan Hansen), Nathen Scott (Mamma Mia!) and Kai Cameron Jay (Starlight Express).
Game of Thrones alumni to feature in Canterbury production of Bugsy Malone
Olivier Award-winning Game of Thrones actor Kerry Ingram will star as Tallulah in a new semi-immersive production of Alan Parker’s exuberant musical Bugsy Malone The Musical at the Malthouse Theatre.
The Canterbury theatre will be transformed into Fat Sam’s Grand Slam for the production which will feature a cast of more than 30 of Kent’s young performers and a spectacular 1920s-themed pre-show.
Ingram will appear opposite Alfie Boylan and Tyler Butcher who will share the title role, while the role of Blousey will be shared by Immi Alsop and Lexi Hunt and Fizzy will be played by Arianna Lock and Sienna Wick.
The ensemble will include Ella-Mia Dexter, Maddison Gault, Maxwell Speller, Benjamin Colley, Kerryn Innes, Amy Hooper Mitchell, Scarlett Sedgwick, Katie Parkinson, Ayla Fahie and Eloise Barnes.
Directed by Joseph Hodges, with choreography by Jay Gardner, the production will play the Malthouse Theatre from 5-8 August.
Claire Sweeney cast as Miss Hannigan in Annie tour
Coronation Street’s Claire Sweeney is playing the monstrous Miss Hannigan in the UK and Ireland tour of Michael Harrison and David Ian’s hit production of Annie, directed by Nikolai Foster.
The actress and singer who first found fame on Phil Redmond’s fondly remembered Brookside before going on to star on stage in musicals including Chicago, Guys and Dolls and 9 to 5: The Musical joined the production on 7 July at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff. Following dates include Milton Keynes, Blackpool, Newcastle, Dublin, Bristol, Nottingham, Hull, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Truro, Cheltenham, Stoke, Crawley, Belfast, Aberdeen, Woking, Bradford, Oxford, Sunderland, Southampton, Norwich, Wolverhampton, Sheffield, Glasgow and Leicester.
She will join returning star Alex Bourne (The Wizard of Oz, Gillian Lynne Theatre/UK tour, Hairspray, UK tour) as Oliver Warbucks, and Tanisha-Mae Brown (Singin’ in the Rain, Royal Exchange Theatre, Brigadoon, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) as Grace Farrell, Christian Cooper (The Sound of Music, Curve Leicester) as Rooster and Amber Kennedy (Sister Act the Musical, UK tour, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, UK and international tour) as Lily St Regis.
The company will also include Jack Buchanan, Harrison Burley, Zoë Canham, Sophie Elmes, Belle Kizzy Green, Issy Khogali, Yujin Park, Elliot David Parkes, Carl Sanderson, Michaela Stern, Matthew Sweet and Jessica Wright.
The Grinch to steal Christmas at Leeds Playhouse
Leeds Playhouse will unwrap a major new production of the record-breaking Broadway smash Dr Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical this Christmas.
Directed by Leeds Playhouse’s artistic director Tom Wright, the festive family-friendly production will play the venue’s Quarry Theatre from 19 November 2026 to 16 January 2027.
With music and a book by Mel Marvin and Timothy Mason, the musical version of the classic tale of the Great Green Party Pooper and the Christmas-loving Whos was first seen in Minneapolis in 1994.
Exeter Northcott Theatre to bring musicals back with new Little Shop of Horrors
A major new production of classic monster musical Little Shop of Horrors will become Exeter Northcott Theatre’s first full-scale musical for over two decades this autumn.
The venue will partner with Lighthouse Poole and the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry to produce the musical which will be directed by Northcott Theatre’s creative director and joint chief executive Martin Berry.
The production, which will premiere in Exeter from 1-17 October, will also feature a community ensemble at its heart, performing alongside a professional cast in a fully realised mainstage musical. Following its Exeter debut, the production will play Lighthouse Poole from 20-24 October and the Belgrade Theatre 27-31 October.
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