Douglas Mayo

Douglas Mayo has had a life long love affair with musical theatre. He has authored several books on publicity and marketing for amateur theatre groups. He is in the process of developing a musical based on his original story concept.

Happy Birthday Agatha Christie

News, Touring, West End
Agatha Christie 125th Birthday

Today (15 September 2015) marks what would have been Agatha Christie’s 125th birthday had she (or anyone else for that matter) been blessed with exceptional longevity. Agatha Christie continues to be one of the World’s most beloved writers of the classic whodunnit. Asides from the enormous volume of novels that continue to be sold each year, Agatha Christie is responsible for the world’s longest running theatre show in The Moustrap which continues to run in London’s West End and on tour, along with a stage adaptation of perhaps her most popular novel And Then There Were None which is currently touring the UK. We thought we’d bring you this great infographic on And Then There Were None as a way of congratulating Dame Agatha on keeping us guessing for over a century. Happy Birthday Agatha Christie. Infographic source: agathachristie.com

Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company Release Sexy Season Trailer

News, Video, West End
A Winter's Tale with Judi Dench

With the imminent arrival of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company in the West End, we are thrilled to bring you what we consider to be one of the sexiest theatre company season trailers ever! This amazing short trailer is primarily aimed at the cinema going audience for the live broadcasts of the plays in the innaugural season of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company but it’s got us excited. First up is Judi Dench in Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. This production is practically now SOLD OUT. There are some tickets still available as part of theatre breaks though. Rehearsals are also well underway for Harlequinade and On Her Own which will feature the wonderful Zoe Wannamaker in this unique Rattigan double bill. For up to date ticketing links please keep an eye on our Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company page. We will ensure that links to suppliers with good seats remains updated. … Read more

New Mary Poppins Movie Sequel Announced

Mary Poppins the musical, News
Mary Poppins the film

Whilst not strictly on the subject of British Theatre, we thought this news item might be of interest with the new national tour of Mary Poppins kicking off in a few short weeks. It has been announced today that Disney is developing a new live action film that will be a sequel to the studios beloved 1964 original film Mary Poppins. The film is to be directed by Rob Marshall (Into The Woods, Chicago, Nine) with Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Smash, Hairspray, Catch Me If You Can, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) in charge of writing original songs. David Magee (Finding Neverland) will write the screenplay. Marc Shaiman today in a post to his Facebook page said “Scott & I have been holding onto this secret for a month and I can finally now post …the greatest news I could have ever imagined. For those who saw the video … Read more

Danny Boyle Presents Star Studded Dramatic Fund-Raiser

News, West End
Danny Boyle

Fifteen children growing up in a poor and remote part of rural South Africa have inspired Academy Award winner Danny Boyle to bring their stories to life in London as part of a hard hitting special theatre production starring James McAvoy, Academy Award Nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kit Harington, Josh Hartnett, Christopher Eccleston, Zawe Ashton and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. The Children’s Monologues dramatise the testimonies of young children growing up in Rammulotsi, a small rural township in the Free State province of South Africa. Invited to write about a day they will never forget, the Children’s Monologues retell the stories of young people expressing personal experiences in their own words, in their native Sesotho language. While some monologues capture moments of childish joy and wonder, many stories tell of desperate circumstances: what it is like to watch their parents die because of inadequate medical treatment, discover their mother has been gang raped … Read more

Dogfight in Concert at St James Theatre

News, Off West End
Dogfight in Concert at the St James Theatre

Exactly a year after Dogfight’s acclaimed European premiere season ended at Southwark Playhouse, the original cast and creative team are to reunite for a special concert version of the musical in the main theatre at St James Theatre on Sunday 11 October. Dogfight was showered with praise by the critics and the production was nominated Best Musical and Laura Jane Matthewman named Outstanding Emerging Talent in the Evening Standard Awards. Dogfight also received three Off West End Award nominations including Best Musical, Best Female and Best Male, and it was shortlisted Best Off West End Production in the Whatsonstage Awards. Producer Danielle Tarento said today: “Dogfight was such a special project for everyone involved. Now we have a wonderful opportunity to reunite the Dogfight family to once more sing the magical score by Pasek and Paul and relive again the heartbreaking love story between Eddie and Rose. As the lyrics … Read more

First Look At New Cast Of Sunny Afternoon

News, West End
New cast for Sunny Afternoon starts on 5 October 2015

It has been announced today that the new cast of Sunny Afternoon, the musical based on the music of The Kinks, will start in the Olivier Award-winning musical on 5th October 2015. The new cast is Danny Horn (Doctor Who; The Dead Dogs), who will play Ray Davies, with Oliver Hoare (Antony and Cleopatra, Chichester) as Dave Davies, Tom Whitelock (Times Square Angel, Union) as bassist Pete Quaife and Damien Walsh (Dreamboats and Petticoats) as drummer Mick Avory. At certain performances, the role of Ray Davies will be played by Ryan O’Donnell (Romeo and Juliet, RSC; Quadrophenia). Cast includes: Jason Baughan, Niamh Bracken, Christopher Brandon, Harriet Bunton, Alice Cardy, Oliver Hoare, Danny Horn, Gillian Kirkpatrick, Jay Marsh, Megan Leigh Mason, Ryan O’Donnell, Stephen Pallister, Charlie Tighe, Gabriel Vick, Damien Walsh and Tom Whitelock. With a book by Joe Penhall, music and lyrics and original story by Ray Davies, and directed … Read more

Oompa Loompas Set Loose at Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Gallery, News, West End
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory at Theatre Royal Drury Lane

It’s not the ghosts at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane that you have to worry about. As these great pictures show someone has been letting the Oompa Loompas out to celebrate Roald Dahl Day at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and the result is mayhem. Today would have been Roald Dahl’s 99th birthday and we’re celebrating alongside these crazy Oompa Loompas. Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has quickly become one of the West End’s most popular and successful stage musicals. It has broken multiple records at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, where it has been seen by over more than 1.25 million people since it opened in June 2013. Photos: Matt Crockett BUY YOUR TICKETS TO CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY NOW!

Buy Tickets To Matilda and Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical, Features, Matilda the musical West End, News, West End
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical London

Tickets are available through BritishTheatre.com for the West End productions of both Matilda and Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. Both musicals are based on the original novels by Roald Dahl are are extremely family friendly. Matilda – BUY TICKETS Matilda’s parents think she is a nuisance and she thinks, quite rightly, they are only interested in watching telly. Life is not much better at school, where the monstrous headmistress Miss Trunchbull terrifies both students and teachers alike. Then one day Matilda discovers she has a very special power and decides it’s time the grown-ups were taught a lesson. Be warned, the children are revolting! Charlie And The Chocolate Factory – BUY TICKETS On winning a much sought after golden ticket, Charlie is invited to visit Wonka’s Chocolate Factory – something every child has dreamed of. But once inside the strange and mysterious world of Willy Wonka’s Factory, Charlie and the … Read more