NEWS Archives - North West End UK

London’s West End Set for a Spectacular 2027 as Major Musicals, Star Names and New Productions Prepare to Take Centre Stage

27Oct

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London’s West End Set for a Spectacular 2027 as Major Musicals, Star Names and New Productions Prepare to Take Centre Stage

London’s West End is already shaping up for an exciting 2027, with a mixture of much-loved musicals returning to the capital, acclaimed productions making the journey from Broadway and beyond, and ambitious new plays bringing some of the biggest names in entertainment to the London stage. From the long-awaited return of Billy Elliot the Musical to a new stage adventure from filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, theatre audiences will have plenty to look forward to. Established favourites will continue to attract visitors from across the UK and overseas, while fresh adaptations and revivals promise to give theatregoers new reasons to visit Theatreland. With productions spanning comedy, drama, romance, dance and spectacular musical theatre, 2027 looks set to be a year in which nostalgia and the...

Is a Drag Act Suitable for the Role of Mother Superior in Sister Act the Musical

22Oct

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Is a Drag Act Suitable for the Role of Mother Superior in Sister Act the Musical

The casting of Mother Superior in Sister Act the Musical raises interesting questions about character authenticity, theatrical tradition, audience expectations and the distinction between artistic freedom and suitability for a particular role. While drag performers have demonstrated considerable talent across musical theatre, comedy and live entertainment, there are arguments for why casting a drag act as Mother Superior (Craig Revel Horwood) may not always be the most appropriate creative decision for this particular production. At the heart of the debate is the nature of the character, the dramatic purpose she serves and the delicate balance between comedy and sincerity that makes Sister Act such an enduringly popular musical. Mother Superior is not simply a comic authority fi...

Harry Judd to star in the final two shows of Disney’s High School Musical at Lowry

4Sep

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Harry Judd to star in the final two shows of Disney’s High School Musical at Lowry

Hope Mill Theatre and Chris Harper Productions in association with Lowry are delighted to announce that Harry Judd will star in the final two shows of Disney’s HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL at Lowry, Salford on Saturday 19th September 2026 before transferring to London’s Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre from 12th October 2026 – 3rd January 2027. Harry takes over from Jason Donovan who is currently starring as Coach Bolton. Harry Judd will play Coach Bolton in all performances at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre. Starring in both venues are Disney icon KayCee Stroh as Ms Darbus, Tobias Turley as Troy Bolton, Leonor Correia as Gabriella Montez, Caitlin Tipping as Sharpay Evans and Luke Bayer as Ryan Evans with Char Burnett (Frozen; The Book of Mormon, West End) as Taylor McKessie, Jordan Benja...

Announcing North West End UK and Theatre Muse UK Festivals Collaboration

2Aug

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Announcing North West End UK and Theatre Muse UK Festivals Collaboration

As we approach the biggest single month of the year for North West End UK in terms of reviews volume, we have an exciting announcement – North West End UK (NWE) is beginning a partnership with Theatre Muse UK (TM), who will manage and develop our festival coverage. Theatre Muse’s founder Caroline Worswick, has worked with North West End for eight years, developing and managing the London and Edinburgh teams, and has already developed our existing festival exposure. In January of this year, Caroline founded Theatre Muse, a theatre site that is dedicated to championing theatre-makers, specialising in fringe, festivals, and improv, as Caroline believes that these particular areas of theatre are under-represented with press coverage. As Caroline continues to develop Th...

CQD to SOS: A Titanic Story Sails into Edinburgh Fringe

1Aug

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CQD to SOS: A Titanic Story Sails into Edinburgh Fringe

This reimagining of the last hours in the Titanic’s communications room is taut with desperate hope on the part of the radio operators: Jack Phillips and Harold Bride on the Titanic and Harold Cottam who heard the distress messages on The Carpathia. The narrative details the quiet heroism of men doing their job to the very best of their ability in the face of futile hope. It paints duty and despair in the context that the RMS Titanic is, to this day, cradled on the floor of the North Atlantic Ocean, lying 3,800 metres deep. The slow engulfment of this vessel and the loss of life is as immutable as the icebergs the ship encountered. The three actors, Daniel Drever, Stephen McParland and Declan John Anthony are well cast. They embody tension in very different ways...

Step Behind the Scenes at Shakespeare North Playhouse’s Free Open Day

14Jul

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Step Behind the Scenes at Shakespeare North Playhouse’s Free Open Day

Shakespeare North Playhouse opens its doors for a community heritage celebration FREE Open Day with activities for all ages on Saturday 19th September. On Saturday, 19th September, Shakespeare North Playhouse will welcome visitors for a special Open Day, inviting the community to explore the stories, skills and traditions that have shaped Prescot in the past and continue to shape its future. Coinciding with this year's Heritage Open Days and inspired by their theme, Everyday Histories, the FREE event will celebrate the people, places and everyday moments that connect us across generations. From the crafts and industries that built Prescot's reputation, including watchmaking, cable manufacturing and farming, to the enduring legacy of Shakespeare's work, the Charity's Open Day will ...

The Cherry Orchard Starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Playing at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 3rd October

7Apr

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The Cherry Orchard Starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Playing at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 3rd October

The BAFTA and Olivier Award-winning actor Kristin Scott Thomas (Electra, Slow Horses, Four Weddings and a Funeral) reunites with renowned director Ian Rickson (Uncle Vanya, Jerusalem, The Weir) for Conor McPherson’s (The Weir, Girl from the North Country, Uncle Vanya) new adaptation of The Cherry Orchard, playing the role of Lyubov Ranevskaya. The production will run at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 3rd October 2026 until 9th January 2027, with press night on 13th October. Further casting will be announced in due course. Ian Rickson and Kristin Scott Thomas reunite to bring another Chekhov classic to the stage, with Scott Thomas having previously played Arkadian in Rickson’s acclaimed production of The Seagull which ran both in London and on Broadway; a role for which Kristin won the O...

Sam Lupton to play Dave Fishwick in the world premiere production of Bank of Dave the Musical opening at Lowry in May

7Apr

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Sam Lupton to play Dave Fishwick in the world premiere production of Bank of Dave the Musical opening at Lowry in May

Producers ROYO, Future Artists Entertainment, Curve and Lowry are delighted to announce Sam Lupton (Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses UK tour, Boq in Wicked, West End) as Dave Fishwick in the world premiere of BANK OF DAVE THE MUSICAL which will open in May 2026 at Lowry. The show will run at the Lowry from May 2nd to 16th before heading to Curve, Leicester where it will run from May 20th to 30th. Sam joins Samuel Holmes (Calamity Jane, UK tour) as Sir Charles Denbigh, alongside the previously announced Hayley Tamaddon as Nicky, Lucca Chadwick-Patel as Hugh, Claire Moore as Maureen and Lauryn Redding as Alex. Also in the cast are Zachary Willis (After The Act, Royal Court, New Diorama), as Danny / Andy, Mark Peachey (The Wizard of Oz, Curve), as Cher / Clarence, Joni Ayto...

Sally Ann Matthews Joins The Cast of Here & Now

24Jan

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Sally Ann Matthews Joins The Cast of Here & Now

The producers of the UK and Ireland tour and Whatsonstage Award-nominated musical HERE & NOW, presented by UK pop sensation, Steps, are delighted to announce that Coronation Street star Sally Ann Matthews will take over the role of Patricia from 23rd January 2026. Sally takes over the role from originator Finty Williams who finished her run in December 2025. Sally Ann Matthews is best known for playing the role of Jenny Bradley in ITV’s Coronation Street. She joined the show in 1986 through to 1991, she returned for a brief return in 1993 before coming back as a regular in 2015 staying with the show until October 2025. Outside of the role that spanned 39 years Sally has starred in various theatre productions including: Mum’s The Word (UK Tour), The Business of Murder (UK Tour), ...

Royal Exchange Announces 50th Anniversary Season

16Sep

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Royal Exchange Announces 50th Anniversary Season

Announcing her first season of work on the 49th birthday of the Theatre, Selina Cartmell, Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange Theatre, welcomed Sir Tom Courtenay, after 24 years, back to the theatre to celebrate its iconic history alongside a brilliant group of other artists connected to the Exchange, to launch A HOMECOMING - a season that celebrates the theatres past and re-defines its future. A HOMECOMING, Selina Cartmell’s inaugural season for the Royal Exchange’s 50th Anniversary includes: •Selina Cartmell opens the season with ROAD by Jim Cartwright, starring Johnny Vegas, Lucy Beaumont and Shobna Gulati, with a special appearance on film by Sir Tom Courtenay, his 17th time performing at the Exchange since its opening in 1976. •PRIVATE LIVES by Noël Coward directed by Bla...