Strictly favourite Anton Du Beke will make his National Theatre debut in the NT’s acclaimed production of Ballet Shoes when the family favourite embarks on a major UK tour next summer.
Tag Archives | National Theatre
National Theatre’s 2027 season includes new musical Glorious Madness and West Side Story revival
The world premiere of a new British musical featuring the music of Joan Armatrading and a major revival of West Side Story will be part of the National Theatre’s 2027 season
Bridge Theatre transfer for hit musical Pride
Following sold-out seasons in Cardiff and London, the National Theatre’s world premiere production of the new musical based on the award-winning film Pride will transfer to London’s Bridge Theatre from November.
Pride – Dorfman, National Theatre
Pride continues at the Dorfman, National Theatre, London until 12 September 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ To celebrate their story so vividly and joyously is a privilege. Forty years on, it’s as inspiring and as beautiful as ever.
Cast for National Theatre Pride musical premiere
The full cast has been unveiled for the National Theatre’s world premiere of the highly anticipated new musical based on the award-winning film Pride later this year.
Ballet Shoes – Olivier, National Theatre
Ballet Shoes continues at the Olivier, National Theatre, London until 21 February 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ It’s a powerful thing, discovering something you enjoy. Noel Streatfeild’s beloved story Ballet Shoes returns to the Olivier Theatre after a glittering run in 2024. This new version by Olivier-nominated playwright Kendall Feaver is […]
Details of musical world premiere based on the acclaimed film Pride are revealed
Director Matthew Warchus has reunited with writer Stephen Beresford for the world premiere of a musical based on their award-winning film Pride next summer.
Bacchae – Olivier, National Theatre
Bacchae continues at the Olivier, National Theatre, London until 1 November 2025. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ This is an irreverent and enjoyable entry point to classical tragedy that suggests Indhu Rubasingham’s National Theatre tenure will be anything but dull.
Here We Are – National Theatre
Here We Are continues at the National Theatre (Lyttelton) until 28 June 2025. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Stephen Sondheim’s final staged work – a musicalisation of two movies by Spanish-Mexican auteur Luis Buñuel – has opened at the 890-seat Lyttelton in the National Theatre.
Ballet Shoes to dance back into the National Theatre this Christmas
The National Theatre’s family favourite Ballet Shoes will return to play a Christmas season in the Olivier Theatre as part of incoming director and co-CEO Indhu Rubasingham’s inaugural season.
Ballet Shoes – National Theatre
Ballet Shoes continues at the National Theatre (Olivier) until 22 February 2025. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ A heartwarming show which, right down to the energetic curtain call, will inspire younger audience members and give the whole family a great night out.
London Tide – National Theatre
London Tide continues at the Lyttelton at the National Theatre, London until 22 June 2024. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ London Tide delivers a typically compelling Dickensian story, yet the music feels ineffective. Ben Power’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ last completed novel Our Mutual Friend is brought to the stage by director Ian […]
Watermill Theatre and National Theatre jointly crowned Theatre of the Year at The Stage Awards
The National Theatre and Newbury’s 200-seat Watermill Theatre are the joint winners of The Theatre of the Year Award at The Stage Awards 2024.
Full cast for West End’s Standing at the Sky’s Edge
The full cast has been confirmed for the West End transfer of the double Olivier Award-winning Sheffield Theatres production of Standing at the Sky’s Edge.
Musical Theatre Review contributors pick their top shows of 2023
A selection of critics have chosen their ‘show of the year’ although some struggled to pick just one. The shows represent just a small percentage of productions staged this year, but we hope these ‘top picks’ bring back some happy memories.
The Witches – National Theatre
The Witches continues at the National Theatre (Olivier) until 27 January 2024. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ This show is an incredible addition to the canon of uniquely British family musicals – even if it did reach across the Atlantic for some key components – and deserves all the future success it will most certainly see.
First casting news for West End transfer of Standing at the Sky’s Edge
A mixture of newcomers and returning actors will feature in the cast for the West End transfer of the double Olivier Award-winning Sheffield Theatres production of Standing at the Sky’s Edge.
Newsfeed: 6 November 2023 – National Theatre’s London Tide, Bronco Billy – The Musical, Pitlochry’s The Sound of Music and more
First casting has been revealed for the National Theatre’s London Tide, a new play with music based on Charles Dickens’ Our Mutual Friend which will debut in the Lyttleton Theatre in April 2024.
Full cast for The Witches at the National Theatre
The National Theatre has unveiled the full cast of 53 for the highly anticipated new musical version of Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
The Odyssey: Episode 5 – The Underworld – Olivier, National Theatre
The Odyssey: Episode 5 – The Underworld was reviewed at the Olivier, National Theatre, London. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ An incredible achievement, both logistical and artistic.
West End transfer of Standing At the Sky’s Edge – dates confirmed
Tickets are going on sale for the West End transfer of the double Olivier Award-winning Sheffield Theatres’ production of Standing At the Sky’s Edge.
London encore for award-winning Hadestown
American folk singer Anaïs Mitchell’s record-breaking and multi-award-winning Hadestown will return to the UK for the first time since its sold-out National Theatre premiere run in 2018.
Cinema release for the Olivier Award-winning Oklahoma! starring Hugh Jackman
Trafalgar Releasing, in partnership with Concord Originals and The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, has announced the international cinema release of the National Theatre’s acclaimed, Olivier Award-winning production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!
New musical version of Dahl’s The Witches to debut at the National Theatre
Triple Olivier nominee Katherine Kingsley and BAFTA Award-winner Daniel Rigby will lead the cast of a new musical version of Roald Dahl’s The Witches at the National Theatre later this year.
Five Questions With: Stavros Demetraki
Stavros Demetraki is reprising the role of Ali Hakim in the West End transfer of the critically acclaimed production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, following the show’s run at the Young Vic.
West End transfer for Olivier Award-winning Standing at the Sky’s Edge
The National Theatre and Various Productions have confirmed double Olivier Award-winning Sheffield Theatres’ production of Standing at the Sky’s Edge will transfer to the Gillian Lynne Theatre from February 2024.
Standing At The Sky’s Edge and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! win flagship musical prizes at the Olivier Awards
RSC’s My Neighbour Totoro triumphs with six awards including the Noël Coward Award for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play and the Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director Best Actress was awarded to Jodie Comer and Paul Mescal took home the Best Actor award Standing At The Sky’s Edge won Mastercard Best New Musical Rodgers […]
Broadway sensation A Strange Loop to open in London
The smash hit Broadway musical sensation A Strange Loop will transfer from New York to London this summer, running at the Barbican Theatre from 17 June to 9 September 2023 (press night is 28 June). Nominated for 11 Tony Awards and winner of every Best Musical award in New York, Michael R. Jackson’s critically acclaimed […]
Standing At The Sky’s Edge and Oklahoma! top musical theatre nominations at Olivier Awards 2023
Nominations have been announced for the Olivier Awards 2023 with Mastercard which will take place on 2 April 2023 at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Standing At The Sky’s Edge at the National Theatre received eight nominations, the most for a musical. Garnering seven nominations – including Best Musical Revival – was Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!
Standing at the Sky’s Edge – National Theatre
Standing at the Sky’s Edge continues at the National Theatre (Olivier) until 25 March 2023. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
Hex – National Theatre
Hex continues at the National Theatre (Olivier) until 14 January 2023. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ Ultimately, all the style in the world can’t cover that the story of Hex is a bit of a mess. When this show goes back to sleep in January, it would be wise not to try to wake it.
Musicals Mash-Up 6-14 November 2022
Welcome to Musicals Mash Up in which we catch up with lots of the week’s stories that haven’t yet appeared on the Musical Theatre Review pages. News editor Angela Thomas reports
Musicals Mash Up: 23-30 October 2022
Welcome to Musicals Mash Up in which we catch up with lots of the week’s stories that haven’t yet appeared on the Musical Theatre Review pages. We hope you approve! News editor Angela Thomas reports.
Cast for encore season of NT’s Sleeping Beauty inspired Hex
The full company has been confirmed as rehearsals begin for the festive return of the National Theatre’s new musical Hex.
Shows to close on the day of The Queen’s State Funeral
Theatres across the country will stay dark on 19 September 2022, with performances halted on the day of the state funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as a mark of respect. The Ambassador Theatre Group, Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, the National Theatre and the RSC are among a number of major organisations and venues who […]
The Doncastrian Chalk Circle – Cast Theatre, Doncaster
The Doncastrian Chalk Circle, a CAST production in partnership with the National Theatre’s ‘Public Acts’ initiative at Cast Theatre, Doncaster. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ With a gargantuan cast of more than a 100 performers, The Doncastrian Chalk Circle – a new musical adaptation from Chris Bush of Bertolt Brecht’s seminal […]
Wuthering Heights – National Theatre
Wuthering Heights continues at the National Theatre (Lyttelton Theatre), London until 19 March 2022 and then tours until 4 June 2022. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Like many people with impeccable taste in music, my first exposure to Wuthering Heights was not the classic Emily Brontë novel, but Kate Bush’s 1978 debut […]
Refurbished Theatre Royal Drury Lane named theatre building of the year at The Stage Awards
Lloyd Webber’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane has been crowned Theatre Building of the Year at The Stage Awards. Sponsored by Concord Theatricals, the award is in recognition of the £60 million investment in the refurbishment of the historic building ahead of its reopening last year as the London home of Frozen. In a first for […]
Emma Rice’s Wuthering Heights to play NT before UK tour dates
Emma Rice’s new adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights will arrive at the National Theatre next month ahead of a UK tour. Co-produced by the National Theatre, Bristol Old Vic and York Theatre Royal and also directed by Rice, the re-imagining of the classic story which debuted at the Bristol Old Vic in October 2021 […]
National Theatre’s Hex will be remounted in November 2022
The National Theatre’s festive production of Hex which has been blighted by Covid will be remounted with a full run, including an official press night, in November 2022. Performances of the new musical were sadly cancelled up to 4 January 2022 with opening night twice postponed. The show has now begun its run but only […]
NT releases Hex highlights album as it cancels performances up to 28 December 2021
With performances of Hex at the National Theatre cancelled until 28 December due to company illness, the NT has released a highlights recording on Broadway Records. Now available from all major digital music retailers, the 16-track ‘Hex: Highlights from the National Theatre production’ follows the October release of music videos of the studio session recordings […]
First look and listen to National Theatre’s new musical Hex
The National Theatre has released studio recordings of three songs from its Sleeping Beauty-inspired musical, Hex ahead of its premiere run in the Olivier this Christmas season. Released to coincide with the announcement of the full cast for the production, the songs which are accompanied by videos of the studio session recordings are: ‘Probly’ sung […]
Wuthering Heights – Bristol Old Vic and Touring
Wuthering Heights continues at the Bristol Old Vic until 6 November 2021 and then tours until 28 May 2022. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ Daredevil director Emma Rice is back on home territory for the launch of this in-your face musical version of Wuthering Heights, a co-production with Bristol Old Vic, York […]
Full cast and more tour venues announced for Wise Children’s Wuthering Heights
Wise Children has announced the full cast and further tour dates for the world premiere of artistic director Emma Rice’s eagerly awaited adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. Ash Hunter (Hamilton, Victoria Palace Theatre) will play Heathcliff opposite the previously announced Lucy McCormick (Life:LIVE! Battersea Arts Centre) as Cathy. They will be joined by Sam […]
Cast unveiled for National Theatre’s Hex
Rosalie Craig, Tamsin Carroll, Kat Ronney and Michael Elcock will lead the company assembled for Hex – the new musical inspired by the story of Sleeping Beauty which is due to premiere at the National Theatre this Christmas. Craig (The Light Princess, Company) will play Fairy with Carroll (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Oliver!) as Queenie, […]
New dates for world premiere of Emma Rice’s Wuthering Heights
Wise Children has announced new launch dates for the world premiere of artistic director Emma Rice’s eagerly-awaited adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. Co-produced by the National Theatre, Bristol Old Vic and York Theatre Royal and also directed by Rice, the re-imagining of the classic story will begin preview performances at Bristol Old Vic on […]
NT reopening season to include new musical based on the story of Sleeping Beauty
Rufus Norris will direct and provide the lyrics for Hex, a new musical inspired by the story of Sleeping Beauty which will debut at the National Theatre this Christmas. Announced as part of a diverse programme of live theatre at the Southbank venue, on tour and on Broadway along with major cinema releases including the […]
Musical Theatre Review critics offer their Top 5 theatre picks from 2020
As each year draws to a close, Musical Theatre Review usually pulls together a round-up of all the productions covered that have received four and five star reviews. After such an extraordinary year, during which any production staged has been a triumph over adversity, such an approach seemed inappropriate. Instead, I asked a small group […]
New designer group unites with theatres for ‘Missing Live Theatre’ ribbon campaign
Newly launched theatre creatives’ group #scenechange is joining forces with theatres across the UK and Ireland in a new campaign to focus attention on the industry’s continuing Covid-closedown as other parts of the entertainment and hospitality industries start to reopen. The #MissingLiveTheatre initiative will wrap theatre buildings with pink barrier tape reading ‘Missing Live Theatre’ […]
Open letter to theatre and performance makers
Just hours before the first meeting of the Government’s new recreation and leisure taskforce, a wide-range of companies and venues signed an open letter to theatre and performance makers urging them to become part of a new industry-led freelancers’ task force. Amid warnings that over 1,000 theatres across the country will be closed permanently by […]
