GREASE
Dominion Theatre, London
Booking now until 29 October 2022
The first new production of GREASE in 29 years returns to London’s West End. The musical features beloved songs, including Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin’, Hopelessly Devoted To You and You’re The One That I Want. GREASE is directed by Nikolai Foster, choreographed by Arlene Phillips and stars Dan Partridge as Danny, Olivia Moore as Sandy, Peter Andre as Vince Vontaine, Jocasta Almgill as Rizzo and Paul French as Kenickie.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes Age Guidance: 7+ www.greasemusical.co.uk
THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK IN CONCERT
Sondheim Theatre
20 June 2022
Maria Friedman will direct a one-off concert of THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK. This will be the first time the musical has been seen in London since it originally played at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 2000. Bored with their small town lives in Eastwick, three women – Alexandra (Alex), Sukie, and Jane – share a desire for “all manner of man in one man” to provide excitement and variety. That man arrives in the devil-like form of Darryl Van Horne (played by Olivier Award-winner Giles Terera). Darryl seduces the women and teaches them powers, which they never knew they had. www.sondheimtheatre.co.uk/whats-on/the-witches-of-eastwick-in-concert
FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS THE MUSICAL
UK & Ireland Tour
1 September 2022 – 19 November 2022 (further dates to be announced)
FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS: THE MUSICAL is based on the true story of the Cornish singing sensations, Fisherman’s Friends, and the hit 2019 film about their life. When a group of Cornish fishermen came together to sing the traditional working songs they’d sung for generations, they hoped to raise a few quid for charity. Nobody, least of all the fishermen, expected their story to end on the Pyramid stage of Glastonbury. Packed with sea shanties, FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS: THE MUSICAL is a feel-good voyage about friendship, community and music. Featuring hit shanties made famous by the band including Keep Haulin’, Nelson’s Blood, No Hopers Jokers & Rogues and many more. www.fishermanonstage.com
STEPPING OUT
UK & Ireland Tour
5 September – 12 November 2022
Richard Harris’s modernised production of STEPPING OUT stars Rita Simons, Harriet Thorpe, Hayley Tamaddon, Leanne Jones and Wendi Peters. STEPPING OUT won the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Comedy when it originally opened in London’s West End in 1984 and the film version in 1991 was directed by Lewis Gilbert and starred Liza Minnelli and Julie Walters. Mavis, a former professional dancer, teaches a troupe of adult would-be tappers, but before the dancing starts, she must mediate the drama that erupts between this group of students of different ages and from disparate backgrounds until love and friendship unites them all.
THE MIRROR CRACK’D
UK Tour
8 September – 3 December 2022 (further dates to be announced)
The award-winning Original Theatre Company is delighted to present Miss Marple’s return to the stage in a brand new production of Rachel Wagstaff’s acclaimed adaptation of Agatha Christie’s THE MIRROR CRACK’D, with Susie Blake starring as Miss Marple. Directed by Philip Franks, set in 1960s England, a wind of change is blowing through the land. It has even reached the sleepy village of St Mary Mead. There’s a new housing estate, which alarms the villagers as much as it intrigues them and, even more unsettling, a rich American film star has bought the manor house. Jane Marple, confined to a chair after an accident, is wondering if life has passed her by. Then there is a shocking murder, and Miss Marple must unravel a web of lies, danger and tragedy. www.originaltheatre.com
THE TIME TRAVELLER’S WIFE
Storyhouse, Chester
30 September – 15 October 2022
THE TIME TRAVELLER’S WIFE: THE MUSICAL, based on the best-selling novel by Audrey Niffenegger and the New Line Cinema film screenplay by Bruce Joel Rubin, will premiere at Storyhouse in Chester from 30 September to 15 October 2022. The two-week season will precede a West End transfer, to be announced at a later date. THE TIME TRAVELLER’S WIFE: THE MUSICAL weaves a heart-breaking and soaring original musical score by multi Grammy Award-winning composers Joss Stone and Dave Stewart with one of the most beloved novels of the last 50 years. All couples ask how to truly know one another, to trust, to commit, to build a family, to work at something bigger than ourselves. Not all of us are time travellers. How do you love across time? www.timetravellerswife.com
SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR
UK Tour
15 – 26 October 2022
Winner of the 2019 Grammy Award for Best World Music Album for their album “Freedom”, a collection of songs which celebrate and commemorate South Africa’s democratic movement’s struggle for freedom, SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR will bring their “Freedom” concert to the UK – a rousing programme of freedom songs celebrating the life of the father of their Rainbow Nation, Nelson Mandela. Comprising a line-up of South Africa’s best vocalists, these amazing performers have been spreading sheer joy to audiences across the globe for nearly two decades. The Choir has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in music including U2, the late Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Robert Plant, Celine Dion, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Josh Groban. www.sowetogospelchoir.com
ELF
Dominion Theatre
14 November 2022 – 7 January 2023
ELF, the smash hit musical, returns to London in a new production for a strictly limited 8-week season. Based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit starring Will Ferrell, ELF is the funny and charming tale of Buddy, who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts as a baby and is transported back to the North Pole and raised as an elf! Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities finally cause him to face the truth and realise he’ll never belong in the North Pole. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York to find his birth father, discover his true identity and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. Age Guidance: 5+. www.elflondon.com
NEWSIES
Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
28 November 2022 – 18 February 2023
Disney’s NEWSIES, the Tony Award®-winning Broadway musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman and book by Harvey Fierstein, will have its UK premiere at London’s Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre. Based on a true story, NEWSIES is set in New York City at the turn of the 19th century. It’s the rousing tale of a ragged band of teenage newspaper sellers, who dream of a better life far from the hardship of the streets. After newspaper magnate Joseph Pulitzer hikes up the prices for his papers charged to the newsies, Jack Kelly rallies his fellow newsboys in an attempt to protest the change, falling in love with young reporter Katherine along the way. These young newsies from across the city come together and rise up against the exploitation of wealthy publishing tycoons and fight for justice using the only power they have – solidarity. www.newsiesthemusical.co.uk
BAT OUT OF HELL
Peacock Theatre
17 February – 1 April 2023
Jim Steinman’s BAT OUT OF HELL – The Musical, featuring Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf’s greatest hits, are delighted to announce the musical’s return to London in 2023. The production wowed critics and public alike when it played limited seasons at London Coliseum and London’s Dominion Theatre from 2017 to 2019. In BAT OUT OF HELL – The Musical, the electrifying rock songs of Jim Steinman propel an epic story of rebellious youth and passion as Strat, the immortal leader of The Lost, has fallen in love with Raven, the beautiful daughter of the tyrannical ruler Falco. BAT OUT OF HELL – The Musical is currently touring the UK and Ireland.
Duration: 2 hours 40 minutes Age Guidance: 13+ https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/jim-steinmans-bat-out-of-hell/
ON-GOING SHOWS (in alphabetical order)
BACK TO THE FUTURE – THE MUSICAL
Adelphi Theatre
Currently booking until 23 October 2022
Marty McFly is a rock ‘n’ roll teenager who is accidentally transported back to 1955 in a time-travelling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr Emmett Brown. But before he can return to 1985, Marty must make sure his high school-aged parents fall in love in order to save his own existence. BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical, produced by Colin Ingram, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the creators of the three Back to the Future films, is directed by Tony Award®-winning director John Rando, with book by Bob Gale and music and lyrics by Emmy and Grammy Award-winning Alan Silvestri and six-time Grammy Award-winning Glen Ballard, with additional songs from the film including The Power of Love and Johnny B. Goode. The cast is led by Olly Dobson as Marty McFly and Roger Bart as Doc Brown.
Duration: 2 hours 40 minutes Age Guidance: 6+ www.backtothefuturemusical.com
BAT OUT OF HELL – The Musical
UK & Ireland Tour
Touring until: 5 November 2022
BAT OUT OF HELL – The Musical stars Glenn Adamson as Strat, Martha Kirby as Raven and the original leading cast members Rob Fowler as Falco and Sharon Sexton as Sloane. The electrifying rock songs of Jim Steinman propel an epic story of rebellious youth and passion as Strat, the immortal leader of The Lost, has fallen in love with Raven, the beautiful daughter of the tyrannical ruler Falco. BAT OUT OF HELL – The Musical has a book, music and lyrics by Jim Steinman, direction by Jay Scheib, choreography adapted by Xena Gusthart, with musical supervision and additional arrangements by Michael Reed.
Duration: 2 hours 40 minutes Age Guidance: 13+ www.BatOutOfHellMusical.com
THE CHER SHOW
UK & Ireland Tour
Touring until: 18 March 2023
From a young child with big dreams, the shy daughter of an Armenian American truck driver, to the dizzying heights of global stardom, THE CHER SHOW tells the incredible story of Cher’s meteoric rise to fame. The musical introduces the audience to the influential people in Cher’s life, from her mother and Sonny Bono, to fashion designer and costumier Bob Mackie, showing how she fought the conventions and, above all, was a trailblazer for independence. Packed with 35 of her biggest hits, including If I Could Turn Back Time, I Got You Babe, Strong Enough, and Believe, THE CHER SHOW has a book by Tony® and Olivier Award-winning Rick Elice, direction by Arlene Phillips, choreography by Oti Mabuse and costume design by Gabriella Slade. Debbie Kurup, Danielle Steers and Millie O’Connellallstar as Cher – Star, Lady and Babe respectively.
Duration: 2 hours 40 minutes. Age Guidance: 12+ www.cheronstage.com
GARY BARLOW: A DIFFERENT STAGE
UK & Ireland Tour / Duke of York’s Theatre, London
Touring until: 15 November 2022
West End run: 30 August – 18 September 2022
A DIFFERENT STAGE, which acclaimed singer, songwriter, composer and producer, Gary Barlow created with his long-time friend and collaborator, Tim Firth, is an intimate evening with Gary, as he recounts with humour, some tears and unflinching honesty, his life story. In a project unlike anything he’s done before, Gary will take the audience behind the curtain, with nothing off limits in this special performance. Of course, along the way, there will be music, but some of which will be a surprise to many.
Age Guidance: 14+. www.adifferentstage.show
JERSEY BOYS
Trafalgar Theatre, London
Currently booking until 2 October 2022
JERSEY BOYS, the remarkable true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and their rise to stardom from the wrong side of the tracks, is back in the West End. The show is packed with hits, including Beggin’, Sherry, Walk Like A Man, December 1963 (Oh What A Night), Big Girls Don’t Cry, My Eyes Adored You, Let’s Hang On (To What We’ve Got), Bye Bye Baby, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Working My Way Back to You, Fallen Angel, Rag Doll and Who Loves You. JERSEY BOYS is the winner of 65 major awards worldwide including Broadway’s Tony®, London’s Olivier and Australia’s Helpmann Awards for Best New Musical. Starring a young and dynamic cast led by Ben Joyce as Frankie Valli, Adam Bailey as Bob Gaudio, Karl James Wilson as Nick Massi and Benjamin Yates as Tommy De Vito.
Duration: 2 hours 40 minutes. Age Guidance: 12+. www.jerseyboyslondon.com
JERSEY BOYS TOUR
UK & Ireland Tour
Touring until: 1 April 2023
Go behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in the Tony® and Olivier Award-winning, true-life phenomenon, JERSEY BOYS. They were just four guys from New Jersey, until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard… and the radio just couldn’t get enough of. But while their harmonies were perfect onstage, off stage it was a very different story—a story that has made them an international sensation all over again. From the streets of New Jersey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this is the musical that’s too good to be true. The show is packed with their hits, including Beggin’, Sherry, Walk Like A Man, December, 1963 (Oh What a Night), Big Girls Don’t Cry, My Eyes Adored You, Let’s Hang On (To What We’ve Got), Bye Bye Baby, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Working My Way Back to You, Fallen Angel, Rag Doll andWho Loves You. Starring Michael Pickering as Frankie Valli, Blair Gibson as Bob Gaudio, Lewis Griffiths as Nick Massi and Dalton Wood as Tommy DeVito.
Duration: 2 hours 40 minutes. Age Guidance: 12+. www.jerseyboysmusical.co.uk/tour/
MAGIC MIKE LIVE
The Theatre at the Hippodrome Casino
Currently booking until 1 February 2023
Channing Tatum’s MAGIC MIKE LIVE is a large-scale, live production show based on the hit films Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL. A complete evening of unparalleled entertainment for guests as they enter Magic Mike’s club and marvel as a group of extraordinary artists perform a 360-degree dance and acrobatic spectacular in front of, behind and above them. Sexy dance routines are intertwined with one-of-a-kind acts, presented by a diverse cast of performers from around the world. MAGIC MIKE LIVE is co-directed by Channing Tatum and Alison Faulk, with Luke Broadlick as associate director, and choreographed by Alison Faulk, Teresa Espinosa and Luke Broadlick.
Duration: 90 minutes (no interval)
Age Guidance: 18+ – appropriate photo ID will be requested on arrival at the venue. www.magicmikelondon.co.uk
MAMMA MIA!
Novello Theatre
Currently booking until 3 March 2023
From West End to global phenomenon, MAMMA MIA! is Judy Craymer’s ingenious vision of staging the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs with an enchanting tale of family and friendship unfolding on a Greek island paradise. To date, it has been seen by over 65 million people in 50 productions in 16 different languages grossing more than $4 billion at the box office. With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The cast is led by Mazz Murray as Donna, Josie Benson as Tanya, Gemma Goggin as Rosie, Richard Trinder as Sam, Neil Moors as Harry, Stephen Beckett as Bill, Emma Mullen as Sophie and Jack Danson as Sky.
Duration: 2 hours 35 minutes. Age Guidance: 5+. www.mamma-mia.com
MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY
London’s The O2
Currently booking until 2 October 2022
MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY is an immersive theatrical and dining experience in a specially-adapted venue within London’s The O2, with music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (some songs with Stig Anderson), adapted for the UK by writer, comedian and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig. MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY is set in a taverna on the island of Skopelos, where most exteriors of the first MAMMA MIA! film were shot. Nikos and his wife Kate run this exotic and wonderful restaurant together with their family and friends. Told through dialogue and ABBA songs, a warm, romantic and funny story evolves and unfolds during the evening and takes place around the guests as they sit at their tables enjoying a delicious Greek meal. The evening ends with the main floor transforming into a 1970s disco, where audience members are welcome to stay and sing and dance to ABBA.
Duration: 3.5+ hours. Age Guidance: 5+. www.mammamiatheparty.co.uk
SOME MOTHERS DO ‘AVE ‘EM
UK Tour
Touring until: 13 August 2022
Joe Pasquale returns as the loveable but accident-prone Frank Spencer in the stage production of the classic 1970s TV comedy, SOME MOTHERS DO ‘AVE ‘EM. Sarah Earnshaw returns as his long-suffering wife Betty and Susie Blake his disapproving mother-in-law, Mrs Fisher. The stage adaptation is directed by Guy Unsworth and designed by Simon Higlett, with lighting design by Matt Haskins, sound design by Ian Horrocks-Taylor and choreography by Jenny Arnold. www.somemothersdoaveem.com
THE OSMONDS: A New Musical
UK & Ireland Tour
Touring until: 3 December 2022
THE OSMONDS: A New Musical, with story by Jay Osmond, tells the true story of the five brothers from Utah who were pushed into the spotlight as children and went on to create smash hits, decade after decade. From their star residency on The Andy Williams Show from 1962 to 1969, to pop stars and ‘Osmondmania’ from 1971 to 1975, to the arrival of The Donny & Marie Show, a popular variety TV show, from 1976 to 1979, The Osmonds lived a remarkable life recording chart-topping albums, selling out vast arena concerts and making record-breaking TV shows – until one bad decision cost them everything. Starring: Ryan Anderson as Merrill Osmond, Jamie Chatterton as Alan Osmond, Alex Lodge as Jay Osmond, Danny Nattrass as Wayne Osmond and Joseph Peacock as Donny Osmond. THE OSMONDS: A New Musical has a book by Julian Bigg and Shaun Kerrison, and is directed by Shaun Kerrison, with choreography and musical staging by Bill Deamer.
Duration: 2 hours 40 minutes www.theosmondsmusical.co.uk
Lead Photo: Fishermman’s Friends the Musical
