If you’re a fan of psychological thriller you’ll be delighted to learn that Anthony Horowitz's MINDGAME will run for three weeks in the West End this month at the Ambassadors Theatre from 15 May to 2 June.
In 1999 the play ran for a year in the West End with a US premiere off-Broadway in 2008 at the Soho Playhouse directed by Ken Russell. This revival started life in 2016 at Nottingham Theatre before embarking on a UK tour late last year. It concerns crime-writer Mark Styler who interviews a notorious serial killer to help with a new book.
I love Horowitz’s novels which include the ALEX RIDER and POWER OF FIVE series and two original Sherlock Holmes novels, THE HOUSE OF SILK and Moriarty. He’s also the guy behind TV’s FOYLE'S WAR, COLLISION, INJUSTICE and NEW BLOOD.
A new cast has been announced for the West End production of LES MISÉRABLES.
The producers remind us, as if anyone needs reminding, that “Les Misérables is Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's musical based on Victor Hugo's novel. Songs featured in the show include "I Dreamed a Dream", "On My Own", "Stars", "Bring Him Home", "Do You Hear the People Sing?" and "One Day More"”.
Here’s the low down on the new cast from the press release.
From 11 June 2018 Dean Chisnall will take over as Jean Valjean, Toby Miles will play Marius, Elena Skye will be Eponine, Vivien Parry as Madame Thenardier and Amara Okereke as Cosette. Steven Meo will continue as Thenardier and Carley Stenson will continue as Fantine. David Thaxton plays Javert until 21 July, and Bradley Jaden will star as Javert from Monday 23 July. The full company will be Tegan Bannister; Emma Barr; Adam Bayjou; Ciarán Bowling; Oliver Brenin; Dean Chisnall; Grace Farrell; Sophie-May Feek; Adam Filipe; Antony Hanson; Sam Harrison; Barnaby Hughes; James Hume; Ciaran Joyce; Katie Kerr; Rebecca Lafferty; Sarah Lark, Hannah Grace Lawson; Jessica Lee; Jo Loxton; Anna McGarahan; Steven Meo; Toby Miles; James Nicholson; Amara Okereke; Vivien Parry; Carley Stenson; Elena Skye; David Thaxton; Ben Tyler; Joe Vetch; Raymond Walsh and Andrew York.
The long running West End hit THE WOMAN IN BLACK has announced that a new cast will be beginning from 22 May 2018.
Robin Herford’s production of Stephen Mallatratt’s script has been running for an impressive 30 years thanks, in part, to the fact that it’s studied in schools and is cheap to produce.
It’s a stage adaptation of Susan Hill's novel in which two actors play all the characters in a tale of a lawyer obsessed with a curse that has been cast over his family by a ghost.
Richard Hope is to star as Arthur Kipps, while Mark Hawkins will play The Actor who helps him relive his ghostly encounter.
David Witts, best known for playing Joey Branning in the BBC's EASTENDERS, is to take over the lead role of Fiyero in the musical WICKED from Bradley Jaden who plays his final performance on Saturday 21 July 2018.
On being cast in Wicked David said: "After three amazing years living and working in Los Angeles, I am excited to be getting back on stage again and to be coming home to make my West End debut in the incredible musical Wicked. I can't wait to start rehearsals and to join everyone at the Apollo Victoria Theatre from 23 July".
Alongside Jaden, the current cast features Alice Fearn (Elphaba), Sophie Evans (Glinda), Melanie La Barrie (Madame Morrible), Andy Hockley (The Wizard), Martin Ball (Doctor Dillamond), Sarah McNicholas (Nessarose), Jack Lansbury (Boq), Laura Pick (standby for Elphaba) and Carina Gillespie and Maria Coyne (standby for Glinda).
Producers remind us that WICKED is based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire which re-imagines the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ, Wicked tells the untold story of an unlikely friendship between Glinda The Good and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. It has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman, and features the songs "Defying Gravity", "Popular" and "The Wizard and I".
It feels far too early to be thinking about Christmas shows but none the less star casting has been announced for this year’s pantomime at the London Palladium, Snow White. It will run for five weeks from 8 December to 13 January 2019.
Last year, Dick Whittington, was absolutely hilarious thanks to its star Julian Clary who had the audience in stitches at his risqué jokes, filthy enough to amuse the adults without alienating younger audiences who didn’t understand them.
So it’s great to hear he’s back alongside TV comedy star Dawn French who will be making her pantomime debut.
The rest of the impressive line up will be Paul Zerdin as Muddles, Nigel Havers as The Understudy and Gary Wilmot as Mrs Crumble. Strictly Come Dancing's Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace-Mistry will also star as The King and The Queen.
The magnificent seven will be played by Josh Bennett, Simeon Dyer, Craig Garner, Ben Goffe, Jamie John, Blake Lisle and Andrew Martin.
Final casting for the roles of the prince and Snow White will be announced at a later date.
Fantastic News! Matthew Lopez's THE INHERITANCE, will transfer into the West End later this year following its critically acclaimed run at The Young Vic which has been booked out solid.