Rent continues at the Tom Stoppard Theatre, London until 29 May 2027. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Larson’s great work encourages a new generation not only to learn more about the era in which it was written, but to question what is going wrong now.
Tag Archives | Luke Sheppard
Full cast for West End run of Jonathan Larson’s rock musical RENT
Full casting has been confirmed for the upcoming West End run of Jonathan Larson’s rock musical RENT.
Lead cast confirmed for new West End production of RENT
Principal casting has been confirmed for the upcoming West End run of Jonathan Larson’s rock musical RENT.
Broadway debut for Paddington The Musical
The Olivier Award-winning and record-breaking Paddington The Musical will find a new home on Broadway in 2027.
Launch date for Starlight Express world tour
Following on from the successful London revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s innovative Starlight Express, the first initial dates and venues have been revealed for the musical’s eagerly anticipated first world tour.
West End debut for Gaten Matarazzo in new production of RENT
Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo will make his West End debut in a new production of Jonathan Larson’s rock musical RENT.
Paddington The Musical is the biggest winner at the Olivier Awards 2026
This year’s biggest winner at the Olivier Awards 2026 was Paddington The Musical, with seven awards including Cunard Best New Musical.
Paddington The Musical and Evita are the big winners at the 26th annual WhatsOnStage Awards
The critically acclaimed smash-hit Paddington The Musical triumphed at the 26th annual WhatsOnStage Awards, winning nine awards.
Seventh and final extension for Starlight Express and world tour announced
The London revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s innovative Starlight Express has been extended for the final time with tickets now on sale for performances in the Starlight Auditorium at Troubadour Wembley Park through to 3 May 2026.
Paddington The Musical – Savoy Theatre
Paddington The Musical continues at the Savoy Theatre, London, booking until 25 October 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ When Paddington is found, his label reads ‘please look after this bear’. And that is exactly what everyone involved in this production has done.
Paddington Bear makes his musical debut in London
The producers of Paddington The Musical have finally revealed the identity of those charged with bringing the marmalade sandwich-loving bear to life.
Paddington The Musical – the almost complete company
The producers of the eagerly-anticipated Paddington The Musical have announced the newest additions to the cast ahead of the show’s world premiere at London’s Savoy Theatre this autumn.
Paddington The Musical premiere – rehearsals begin
The principal cast has been assembled for the eagerly-anticipated Paddington The Musical ahead of the show’s world premiere at London’s Savoy Theatre this autumn.
Just For One Day – Shaftesbury Theatre
Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical continues at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London until 10 January 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ The production at the Shaftesbury Theatre follows a record-breaking world premiere at London’s The Old Vic back in January 2024.
Starlight Express – Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
Starlight Express continues at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London, currently booking until 1 March 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Starlight Express celebrated its first full year back in London with a gala performance.
Paddington musical to premiere at the Savoy Theatre
The eagerly-anticipated Paddington The Musical will receive its world premiere at London’s Savoy Theatre this autumn.
& Juliet – Milton Keynes Theatre and Touring
& Juliet was reviewed at the Milton Keynes Theatre where it continues until 12 April 2025. The tour continues until 28 June 2025. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Its witty script, compelling performances and lively musical numbers make it an enjoyable experience.
& Juliet – Curve Leicester and Touring
& Juliet was reviewed at Curve Leicester where it continues until 22 February 2025. The tour continues until 28 June 2025. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Feel-good theatre at its best.
& Juliet – Wimbledon Theatre and Touring
& Juliet was reviewed at the New Wimbledon Theatre, London where it continues until 1 February 2025. The tour continues until 28 June 2025. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ A rammed first-night Wimbledon audience had an absolute ball, waving their arms around and singing along as if they knew every word.
& Juliet – New Theatre, Oxford and Touring
& Juliet was reviewed at the New Theatre, Oxford. The tour continues until 28 June 2025. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Featuring the music of songwriter Max Martin, this is such a feel-good show (directed by Luke Sheppard) and arguably one of the best jukebox musicals around.
Starlight Express – Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
Starlight Express continues at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, currently booking to June 2025. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ When it’s full steam ahead, Starlight Express pulls you into the race and brings you along for the ride, and it’s thrilling.
My Son’s A Queer, (But What Can You Do?) new UK tour
Award-winning solo show My Son’s A Queer, (But What Can You Do?) will return for a new UK tour this summer.
The Little Big Things – National Theatre at Home
The Little Big Things streams on National Theatre at Home from 7 May 2024. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ It’s an opportunity to return to the welcoming arms of a show, and a company, full of warmth and generosity of spirit.
The Little Big Things to stream on National Theatre at Home
The world premiere production of The Little Big Things, the acclaimed new British musical based on Henry Fraser’s Sunday Times bestselling memoir, will be available to stream on National Theatre At Home from 9 May 2024.
Casting announced for London return of Starlight Express
With rehearsals underway, casting has been announced for the new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express, returning to London on 8 June 2024 at the specially designed Starlight Auditorium at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.
First casting news for & Juliet tour
Initial lead casting has been confirmed for this summer’s UK touring production of the award-winning musical & Juliet.
Just For One Day – The Old Vic
Just For One Day continues at The Old Vic, London until 30 March 2024. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ With so many globally threatening scenarios playing out nightly on the news, we need to remember that we, too, can be heroes.
& Juliet to tour the UK in 2024
Award-winning musical & Juliet will follow its successful West End run by embarking on an extensive UK tour next summer.
Old Vic world premiere for Live Aid-inspired musical
The game-changing music event Live Aid is the inspiration for major new musical Just For One Day which will receive its world premiere at The Old Vic in early 2024.
Starlight Express returns in 2024
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s innovative hit Starlight Express will steam back into London next summer with a major new production which will take up residence in the specially designed Starlight Auditorium at Troubadour Wembley Park.
The Little Big Things – @sohoplace
The Little Big Things continues at @sohoplace, London until 25 November 2023. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Between the excitement of seeing a brilliant new piece of writing, the undeniable quality of the production, and the heavenly venue, there may be no better night out in the West End than The Little Big Things.
In Dreams – Leeds Playhouse
In Dreams continues at the Courtyard Theatre, Leeds Playhouse until 5 August 2023. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ A rollicking musical about imminent death is scarcely the most obvious premise for a feel-good show in these troubled times.
New British musical The Little Big Things to debut at London’s @sohoplace
Michael Harrison and Nica Burns have announced the world premiere of new British musical The Little Big Things based on the Sunday Times best-selling memoir by Henry Fraser.
First casting news for world premiere of In Dreams at Leeds Playhouse
Tony Award-winner Lena Hall will join West End star Oliver Tompsett in new musical In Dreams at Leeds Playhouse this summer.
My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) – Ambassadors Theatre
My Son’s A Queer (But what can you do?) continues at The Ambassadors Theatre, London until 18 March. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Second West End run for My Son’s a Queer
Award-winning show My Son’s a Queer, (But what can you do) will follow its Garrick Theatre debut West End transfer run with a strictly limited season at the Ambassadors Theatre in January.
Roy Orbison catalogue to feature in new musical In Dreams at Leeds Playhouse
The team behind the hit show & Juliet, writer David West Read and director Luke Sheppard, have turned their attention to the music of the late, great Roy Orbison for new musical In Dreams.
My Son’s a Queer, (But what can you do?) – Garrick Theatre
My Son’s a Queer, (But what can you do?) continues at the Garrick Theatre, London until 6 November 2022. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
& Juliet bids farewell to the West End in March 2023
& Juliet, the award-winning musical which has been entertaining audiences in London since opening in 2019, will play its final performance at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre on 25 March 2023. The musical first opened at the Manchester Opera House in October 2019 and transferred to London the following month. As well as three Olivier Awards, & […]
My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) is Westway’s first cast album release
The original cast recording of award-winning show My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) will be first original cast release from new London-based musical theatre record label Westway. Due for release on 21 October 2022 as the musical becomes the Turbine Theatre’s first West End transfer when it begins a limited season at […]
West End transfer for My Son’s A Queer, (But What Can You Do?)
Award-winning show My Son’s A Queer, (But What Can You Do?) will become the Turbine Theatre’s first West End transfer when it plays the Garrick Theatre this autumn. Written and performed by Rob Madge (Les Misérables, 25th anniversary tour and O2 concert, Millennials, The Other Palace Studio) and directed by Luke Sheppard (& Juliet, Shaftesbury […]
& Juliet is Broadway bound
Multi-award-winning musical & Juliet will make its Broadway debut at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre this autumn. Currently playing its North American debut run in Toronto, the production will begin preview performances in New York on 28 October ahead of an opening night on 17 November. The production stars Lorna Courtney (Dear Evan Hansen) who will […]
& Juliet singalong performance announced
The producers of multi-award-winning musical & Juliet have announced the first singalong performance of the feel-good show at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 6 June 2022. Announcing the special performance which will feature screens displaying the lyrics to every song, director Luke Sheppard said: “During our hugely successful run at the Shaftesbury Theatre, we’ve been reminded […]
New cast members for West End’s & Juliet
Tom Francis and Julius D’Silva will join the previously announced Keala Settle in the cast of multi-award-winning musical & Juliet at the Shaftesbury Theatre from 29 March 2022. Francis (Rent, Hope Mill Theatre) will step into the role of Romeo following the departure of Jordan Luke Gage with D’Silva (What’s New Pussycat? Birmingham Rep) taking […]
Theatre rising stars recognised in The Stage 25 list
Twenty-five individuals or partnerships tipped to be future stars of the UK theatre industry feature on a new list unveiled to celebrate 25 years of the prestigious The Stage 100. Backed by titans of the theatre including Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cameron Mackintosh and Sonia Friedman, The Stage 25 is made up of 25 theatre-makers with […]
Get a real taste of what it’s like to be a musical theatre performer: BYMT’s National Auditions go on tour in 2022
Great news for young people dreaming of being on stage, preparations are now well under way for the British Youth Music Theatre’s National Audition Tour, taking place in January and February 2022 and visiting 15 different cities across the UK and Ireland. Every year BYMT, the leading youth musical theatre organisation for young people, auditions […]
What’s New Pussycat? – Birmingham Rep
What’s New Pussycat? continues at Birmingham Repertory Theatre until 14 November 2021. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Surely it was only a matter of time until a ‘jukebox’ musical featuring the back catalogue of Welsh singing superstar Tom Jones came along. And now it has, in the shape of the highly impressive What’s […]
Rent – Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Rent continues at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester until 19 September 2021. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Rent has always been a show about triumphing over adversity. From the tragedy that marked its early development – with creator Jonathan Larson passing away just before the show’s Off-Broadway premiere in 1996 – to its […]
Cast and creatives for What’s New Pussycat? premiere
The full cast and creative team for the world premiere of What’s New Pussycat? at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre this autumn. Featuring the songs of national treasure Sir Tom Jones, the new musical which is directed by Luke Sheppard (& Juliet, In The Heights) will star Dominic Andersen (The Rocky Horror Show, Playhouse Theatre, Heathers, […]
New cast members added to Hope Mill’s Rent – rehearsals begin
Hope Mill Theatre’s hit production of Jonathan Larson’s rock musical Rent has welcomed six new cast members as rehearsals begin for the production’s imminent return to live performances. Luke Bayer (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Apollo Theatre, Soho Cinders, Charing Cross Theatre) is joining the cast as Mark alongside Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Andrew Lloyd […]
