Before Coronation celebrations begin in London this weekend, it's time for a stagey catch-up of all the latest West End news.
From anticipated revivals and exciting cast announcements, to transfers of much-loved productions, here's your round-up of the last seven days.
Cast announcements in the West End
Find out who's coming to the West End stages and book your tickets to see them!
A Strange Loop
Tickets for A Strange Loop at the Barbican are now on sale
The critically acclaimed Pulitzer Prize-winning musical A Strange Loop is heading to the Barbican Theatre this summer for a limited 12-week season.
The cast of this London premiere will be:
- Kyle Ramar Freeman as Usher (his London debut reprising his Broadway role)
- Sharlene Hector (lead vocalist in Basement Jaxx) as Thought 1
- Jason Pennycooke (Hamilton) as Thought 2
- Tendai Humphrey Sitima (The Play That Goes Wrong) as Thought 4
- Danny Bailey (Jesus Christ Superstar) as Thought 5
- Eddie Elliott (The Lion King) as Thought 6
Nominated for 11 Tony Awards and winner of every Best Musical award in New York, don't miss this incredible production.
Every Leaf A Hallelujah
The cast of Every Leaf A Hallelujah
This brand-new adaptation of Ben Okri's Booker Prize winning fairy tale plays at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre this summer. Directed by Chinonyerem Odimba, the full cast are:
- Hannah Akhalu (Jack V Giant) as Mangoshi
- Rosemary Annabella Nkrumah (Waitress) as Mummy
- Florence Odumosu (2:22 A Ghost Story) as Boabab Tree
- Fred Smiley (The Book of Mormon) as Daddy
Running from 22 May till 10 June, grab your tickets for this enchanting children's show about extraordinary but endangered trees.
Book Every Leaf A Hallelujah tickets
Macbeth
David Tennant will star in Macbeth at the Donmar
Returning to the Donmar for the first time in over 20 years, David Tennant (Good, Doctor Who) is starring in a new staging of Macbeth at the Donmar Warehouse from 8 December 2023 till 10 February 2024.
Directed by the Donmar's associate director Max Webster (Life Of Pi), other confirmed creatives include sound design by Gareth Fry and movement direction by Shelley Maxwell. Further cast and creatives will be announced at a later date.
Scouts! The Musical
Scouts! The Musical opens at the Other Palace Studio in June
Running at The Other Palace Studio between 20 June till 9 July 2023, the full cast of Scouts! The Musical are:
- Sydney Spencer as Ayesha
- Kemi Clarke (UK tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) as Scout Leader Dylan
- Joel Nash as Joe
- Katie Pritchard as Rosie
- Emily Kitchingham as Charlotte
- Rob Gathercole as Luke/Linus Lionheart (and is also the musical director)
Creatives on the production are to be confirmed.
Produced by Stage Award-winning company Gigglemug Theatre in partnership with the Scouts, don't miss this exciting new musical.
Book Scouts! The Musical tickets
Closing shows in the West End
You've not got long to book your tickets to these shows - they're all closing in the next seven days!
For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy
For Black Boys closes this weekend
Following its sold-out premiere at the New Diorama Theatre and Royal Court, this Olivier Award nomination production comes to an end at the Apollo Theatre this weekend.
Ryan Calais Cameron's new play follows six young black men who meet in group therapy. As their hearts and imaginations run wild, you’ll be immersed in a world of music, movement, storytelling and verse.
The Great British Bake Off Musical
The Great British Bake Off Musical is closing soon
Closing: 13 May
Cooking up a delicious musical of humour, heart and joy, this is your last chance to catch The Great British Bake Off Musical. Featuring 16 memorable songs written by Pippa Cleary (My Son's A Queer), the musical follows the trials and tribulations of fictional Bake Off contestants as they come together to compete and share a special journey together.
Starring Scott Paige (The Addams Family), John Owen Jones (Les Miserables), Zoe Birkett (Moulin Rouge! The Musical) and Grace Mouat (Six), don't miss this delectable musical.
Book The Great British Bake Off Musical tickets
The Good Person of Szechwan
It's your last chance to book The Good Person of Szechwan tickets
Closing: 13 May
Marking the 80th anniversary of Brecht's play, The Good Person of Szechwan has been updated in a new production by Nina Segal and director Anthony Lau.
Set in a busy modern-day metropolis, Shen Te is doing all she can to get by. So, when three gods reward her with a life-changing amount of money, Shen opens a tobacco shop and gains the stability she's always wanted. But she's soon forced to question the cost of her own survival and whether to resort to scheming to survive in a capitalist world.
Book The Good Person of Szechwan tickets
New shows in the West End
Get your diaries out and add this upcoming production to your diary!
Mrs Doubtfire The Musical
Mrs Doubtfire The Musical opens on 12 May
Opening next week, Mrs Doubtfire is coming to London! Running at the Shaftesbury Theatre, this stage adaptation of the classic 90s film is directed by four-Tony winning Jerry Zaks. The cast are:
- Gabriel Vick (Avenue Q) as Daniel Hillard
- Laura Tebbutt (School of Rock) as Miranda Hillard
- Carla Dixon-Hernandez (Matilda the Musical) as Lydia Hillard
- Cameron Blakely (Newsies) as Frank Hillard
- Marcus Collins (Kinky Boots) as Andre
- Samuel Edwards(Anything Goes) as Stuart Dunmire
- Ian Talbot OBE (Hairspray, and Director of The Mousetrap) as Mr. Jolly
- Kelly Agbowu (Sylvia) as Wanda Sellner.
Further cast include Nicole Carlisle, Joshua Dever, Joseph Dockree, Rebecca Donnelly, Amy Everett, Maria Garrett, Kiera Haynes, Vicki Lee Taylor, Adam Lyons, Lisa Mathieson, Corey Mitchell, Ellie Mitchell,Matt Overfield, Rhys Owen, Christopher Parkinson, Micha Richardson, Tom Scanlon, Paulo Teixeira and Samuel Wilson-Freeman.
Accidental Death of an Anarchist
Daniel Rigby will reprise his role in Accidental Death of an Anarchist
Following critical acclaim and sold-out performances at the Lyric Hammersmith earlier this year, Accidental Death of an Anarchist is transferring to the West End this summer.
Adapted from Dario Fo's classic farce by Tom Basden (Plebs), this farcical comedy with a moral tale arrives at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 12 June. A sharp commentary on the incompetence and corruption of the police force, both Daniel Rigby and Tony Gardner are reprising their roles from the original production.
The show follows the story of an anarchist who falls to his death from a police station window. As the police scramble to avoid another scandal, a mysterious imposter is brought in for questioning, and he's about to cause some serious chaos.
Book Accidental Death of an Anarchist tickets
Tickets for Sister Act the Musical go on general sale on 15 May
On sale dates have been announced for the West End return of the Olivier Award nominated production of Sister Act. Running at the Dominion Theatre from 15 March to 31 August 2024, the show will see the return of Beverley Knight in the role of Deloris Van Cartier until 8 June 2024, after which best-selling artist and musical theatre star Alexandra Burke will then take on the role.
Tickets go on general sale from 10am on 15 May 2023.
What are you seeing in the West End this week? Tag us on social media in your theatre trips and share your memories with us!
From cast changes in Olivier Award winning productions and revival announcements, to much-anticipated on-sales for upcoming shows, it's been another busy week in the West End!