London return for Rehab The Musical
Following a sold-out, critically acclaimed debut run at The Playground Theatre in 2022, Rehab The Musical will return to London early next year to play new venue Neon 194.
Featuring music and lyrics by songwriter Grant Black and poet Murray Lachlan Young, and a book by Olivier nominee Elliot Davis (Loserville), Rehab The Musical was inspired by the personal experiences of its creators. Set in 1999, the musical follows the fortunes of pop star Kid Pop, who chooses rehab over jail after being charged with drug offences.
Performances at the new venue at 194 Piccadilly in St James’s will begin on 12 January 2024 ahead of an opening night on 17 January 2024.
Original cast members Keith Allen (Celebration, Almeida Theatre, Trainspotting), Jodie Steele (Six The Musical, Heathers) and John Barr (Les Misérables, Queens Theatre, Bat Boy The Musical, Shaftesbury Theatre) will be joined by Christian Maynard (Miss Saigon, & Juliet), Maiya Quansah-Breed (Six The Musical, Lizzie), Mica Paris (Fame, Love Me Tender), Carly Burns (Blood Brothers, Hairspray!), Oscar Conlon-Morrey (Only Fools and Horses the Musical, Mother Goose), Ben Mabberley (Hollyoaks, Tarantino Live!), Simon Shorten (Les Misérables, Matilda) and Rebecca Thornhill (Gypsy, Matilda).
Presented by Blacklist Entertainment, the production is directed and choreographed by Gary Lloyd. The creative team also includes musical supervisor and arranger Katy Richardson, costume designer Rob Jones, lighting designer Tim Oliver, sound designer Chris Whybrow, orchestrator and music copyist Jude Obermüller, casting director Debbie O’Brien, assistant director/choreographer and resident director Alex Codd, producer Clive Black, co-producers Don Black and Nicola Martin, associate producer Jane Savidge and assistant producer and general manager for Blacklist Entertainment, Jayne Meegan. The general managers are Peter Huntley and Callum Runciman for Smart Entertainment.
2024 return for Musical Con
The producers of musical theatre fan convention Musical Con have confirmed the popular event will return for the third consecutive year in 2024.
ExCel London will once again be turned into a haven for musical theatre-lovers on 19 and 20 October 2024.
Over 10,000 musical theatre-lovers from across the globe attended the first two Musical Cons with this year’s event featuring 140 hours of programming and over 100 special guests.
Following a successful debut in 2022, the 2023 event last month was held in a larger space within the ExCel London with multiple stages and areas offering everything for the musical theatre fanatic.
Highlights from this year’s event included the star-studded opening and closing ceremonies, cosplay, lip-sync battle and Star Of Musical Con competitions. Featured shows included The Lion King, Operation Mincemeat, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Lizzie, while legendary composer Claude-Michel Schönberg and renowned choreographer Arlene Phillips were among the big names under the spotlight.
The event also featured special performances by Rachel Tucker and the cast of Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical movie, and selections from new musicals The Book Thief, Ride, Babies, Super You and Bronco Billy. Cast reunions included Bat Out of Hell, Newsies and a surprise reunion of the cast of Sheffield Crucible’s Miss Saigon.
Musical Con is produced by Chris Steward and Shanay Holmes for West End Musical Productions.
Ricky Tomlinson to return to Irish Annie’s in 2024
Actor and comedian Ricky Tomlinson will be back at the bar when Irish Annie’s, the musical comedy which celebrates the best of Irish culture, returns to mark St Patrick’s Day 2024.
Set in a traditional Irish pub and featuring live six-piece band The Shenanigans and Catherine Rice as pub landlady Irish Annie with Royle Family favourite Tomlinson as a celebrity pub guest, the tour will launch on 11 March 2024 at the William Aston Hall in Wrexham.
Co-produced by Bill Elms Productions and the show’s creator and director Asa Murphy’s Asa Murphy Productions, the tour will visit a further 25 venues across England, Scotland and Wales and will also premiere in Ireland, visiting five venues across the country. The UK and Ireland tour will come to an end with a special homecoming night at Liverpool Olympia on 4 May 2024.
The show features classic Irish songs including ‘Whiskey in the Jar’ and ‘Danny Boy’ along with originals tracks written for the show by Murphy who also appears as Seamus Murphy. The cast of regulars also includes Michael Alan-Bailey as Porky The Postman and Joe, Richard Barry as Noel Singen-Smithe and Maria Lovelady as Moira The Money Lender. Additional celebrity special guests will appear at some venues.
The Choir of Man to release a Christmas EP
Fans of the West End and international hit The Choir of Man are being treated to an early Christmas present with the release of a six-track seasonal EP.
Featuring an all-star line-up of Choir of Man cast members from stages across the world, ‘Christmas with The Choir of Man’ is being released by musical theatre specialist Westway Music.
Announcing the release of the EP which features classic Christmas songs including ‘This Christmas’ and ‘Driving Home For Christmas’, Westway Music’s Neil O’Brien said: “I am incredibly excited to be releasing this great collection of Christmas music on Westway. The show is just perfect for the festive season and already one of go to shows for Christmas this year in the West End and beyond!”
Jack Blume, the music producer, arranger and orchestrator of ‘Christmas with The Choir of Man’ added: “It’s been an absolute joy bringing the unique sound of The Choir of Man to some of the season’s most beloved songs and working on our second ever original song. After living and breathing this festive record for 10 months, I can’t wait for everybody to hear what we’ve been cooking up.”
The EP will be available from 1 December both digitally and as a CD which can be purchased at The Choir of Man’s West End home, the Arts Theatre where the current West End run has recently been extended again with new tickets released for performances up to June 2024.
Created by the team behind hits including a cappella and beatbox show Gobsmacked, Andrew Kay (Soweto Gospel Choir, Noise Boys, and the award-winning North by Northwest) and Nic Doodson (The Magnets, Noise Boys), and featuring a nine-strong cast, the feel-good show has been described as ‘the best pub concert you’ve ever been to’.
Doodson directs the innovative song and dance show with musical arrangements and supervision by Jack Blume, choreography by Freddie Huddleston, monologues written by Ben Norris, scenic design by Oli Townsend, lighting design by Richard Dinnen, costume design and associate scenic design by Verity Sadler, sound design by Sten Severson and casting by Debbie O’Brien. The musical director and associate musical supervisor is Hollie Cassar.
BYMT to present new musical reimagining of Animal Farm
A new stage musical inspired by George Orwell’s allegorical novella Animal Farm will make its debut at the Birmingham Hippodrome in April next year.
Presented by the British Youth Music Theatre (BYMT), the folk flavoured contemporary musical re-imagining of Orwell’s classic work will premiere at the Birmingham venue from 5-7 April 2024.
Written and directed by Ellie Jones (Macbeth, RSC) with writer, composer and lyricist Josh Kemp (Educating Yorkshire, Square Chapel) and lyricist Tom Ling (The Little Big Things @Soho Place), Animal Farm A Twisted Musical Tail will be choreographed by Bradley Charles.
Commenting on the production writer and director Jones said: “By replacing Communism with Capitalism we watch the animals play out our world’s current ideology to what seems to be its inevitable divisive and destructive conclusion. Who better to ask the question, ‘what role in this do we want to play’ than the next generation? A generation that don’t have to be sheep or bow down to the notion that the only way to win is to put the self before the herd. A generation with the opportunity to make change.”
Robin Hood will follow Peter Pan at the Rose Theatre next Christmas
As this year’s production Christmas production of Peter Pan takes flight at the Rose Theatre, the Kingston upon Thames venue has announced next year’s festive offering will be Robin Hood.
Written by 2023 Olivier Award-winner Chris Bush (Standing at the Sky’s Edge) and directed by Elin Schofield (2022 UK Theatre Award-winning director of Rock/Paper/Scissors), the Rose Original Production will run from 30 November 2024 until 5 January 2025.
Commenting on the chance to take a new look at one of Britain’s favourite heroes, Bush said: “Robin Hood is the most enduring and appealing figure from all British folklore. At times like this, when the days are short, the nights are cold, and we often find ourselves with not quite enough to go round, we need figures like Robin to see us through the winter. I’m thrilled to bring a fresh twist on this iconic figure to the Rose next Christmas, for a night full of derring-do, festive cheer, and collective endeavour.”
The Rose Theatre’s artistic director Christopher Haydon added: “It feels like it’s always Christmas at the Rose – as we gear up to open this year’s extravaganza, Peter Pan, we are also looking forward to next year’s show – Robin Hood! This thrilling Christmassy adventure will be written by Olivier Award winner Chris Bush and directed by Elin Schofield. As ever it will bring professional performers together with our vibrant Rose Youth Theatre to create a show that is joyful, mischievous, and merry.”
Angela Thomas
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