Shaun Williamson Joins The Railway Children Cast

Shaun Williamson to join the cast of The Railway Children

It has been announced that Shaun Williamson will join the cast of The Railway Children playing Mr Perks. This casting announcement comes as the show celebrates it’s first anniversary at London’s purpose built Kings Cross Theatre. Best known for his long-standing role as Barry in television soap Eastenders, Shaun has recently completed a national tour of the musical Love Me Tender. Also joining the cast of The Railway Children on 16 January will be Sophie Ablett as Bobbie, Beth Lilly as Phyllis, Matt Jessup as Peter and Lindsay Allen as Mrs Perks. Sophie Ablett and Beth Lilly are both making their West End debuts with The Railway Children. The new cast members will join Caroline Harker as Mother, Peter Gardiner as Doctor/Butler, Mark Hawkins as Jim/District Super, Connie Hyde as Mrs Viney, Blair Plant as Father/Schepansky, and Moray Treadwell as the Old Gentleman, as well as Helen Brampton, Rebecca Brierley, … Read more

The final whistle for West End’s Bend It Like Beckham

Bend It Like Beckham

Bend It Like Beckham will play its final performance in London’s West End in six weeks. Meanwhile, producers of the critically acclaimed musical are finalising plans for tours of India, Dubai and the UK. The musical, directed by Gurinder Chadha, with original music by Howard Goodall, lyrics by Charles Hart and a new book by Paul Mayeda Berges & Gurinder Chadha, has played at the Phoenix Theatre since May 2015 and will close on 5 March 2016. Gurinder Chadha said: ”I am incredibly proud of the Bend It Like Beckham cast, musicians, production and creative teams. “We opened at the Phoenix Theatre to the most amazing five star reviews and we’ve inspired and entertained people of all ages and all backgrounds, something I have not seen in the West End for many years. “Whether in the UK or abroad, Bend It Like Beckham will continue to defy expectations and proudly represent … Read more

Shit-faced Shakespeare Hits Leicester Square For 7 Weeks

Shit-faced Shakespeare

Following sell-out runs at the Brighton and Edinburgh Fringe festivals, Magnificent Bastard Productions will be bringing their irreverent hit Shit-faced Shakespeare to London for a seven-week run, their longest London lock-in. Each night, the company will be performing Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with one member of the cast toasting the bard’s 400th anniversary by playing their role completely, blisteringly drunk. Producer and performer Stacey Norris said, “As we lay out the barmats and party hats for the Bard’s 400th anniversary, we’re delighted to be introducing a new generation of theatre goers to Shakespeare with an ale in one hand and a wine in the other and a vodka in the other, just the way he would have wanted. Our livers would like to remind our audiences to always enjoy Shakespeare responsibly” Artistic Director of Leicester Square Theatre Martin Witts said, “For the first time at Leicester Square Theatre we’re … Read more

Shakespeare’s Globe Announces First Season Under Emma Rice

Emma Rice - Artistic Director Shakespeare's Globe

Shakespeare’s Globe today announced Emma Rice’s inaugural season as Artistic Director which will be entitled the Wonder Season. The season will comprise A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Taming Of The Shrew, Macbeth, 946 The Amazing Story Of Adolphus Tips and Imogen, whilst Jonathan Munby’s The Merchant Of Venice starring Jonathan Pryce will open at the Liverpool Playhouse, tour nationally and internationally and return to the Globe stage in October. The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse will host a touring production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Kneehigh’s The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk. Designer Les Brotherston will install a magical forest which will spill from the piazza onto London’s Bankside welcoming everyone to the Globe’s season of Wonder. A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Emma Rice will play from 30 April – 11 September, Caroline Byrne’s The Taming Of The Shrew will play from 13 May – 6 August, and Macbeth will … Read more

Cast Announced For Motown The Musical

Motown The Muiscal

BOOK NOW FOR MOTOWN Full casting has been announced for the West End production of Motown The Musical which opens at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre on 11 February 2016. Motown the Musical tells the story of how Berry Gordy turned a loan of $800 into the musical powerhouse that was Motown Records. Motown the Musical will star Cedric Neal as Berry Gordy, Lucy St Louis as Diana Ross, Charl Brown as Smokey Robinson and Sifiso Mazibuko as Marvin Gaye. They are joined by Keisha Amponsa Banson as Mary Wells, Cindy Belliot as Anna Gordy, Samuel Edwards as Jackie Wilson, Tanya Nicole Edwards as Florence Ballard, Portia Harry as Teena Marie, Aisha Jawando as Martha Reeves, Joshua Liburd as Eddie Kendricks, Simeon Montague as Jermaine Jackson, Cleopatra Rey as Gladys Knight, Brandon Lee Sears as Tito Jackson, Jordan Shaw as Stevie Wonder, Cherelle Williams as Mary Wilson. other members of the cast … Read more