Monday, 20 October 2025
The Producers Extends Smash-Hit Run at the Garrick Theatre Due to Phenomenal Demand
London’s theatre lovers can’t get enough of The Producers. The critically acclaimed revival of Mel Brooks’ legendary musical comedy has officially extended its run at the Garrick Theatre due to extraordinary public demand, with performances now booking through to 19 September 2026.
Having transferred from the Menier Chocolate Factory after a sold-out run, the West End production has been met with glowing reviews and packed audiences. Directed by Patrick Marber, this revival retains the razor-sharp satire and musical brilliance that made The Producers a Broadway phenomenon.
With a book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan and music and lyrics by Brooks himself, the show tells the uproarious story of struggling producer Max Bialystock and nervous accountant Leo Bloom, who set out to stage a guaranteed flop. Instead, their outrageous scheme delivers one of the funniest and most successful shows in London theatre today.
Artistic Director David Babani praised Marber’s revival for its sharp humour and contemporary resonance, noting that audiences still find themselves laughing at themes that feel as fresh as ever.
The cast includes Andy Nyman, Marc Antolin, Trevor Ashley, Raj Ghatak, Harry Morrison, Joanna Woodward and more, all bringing Brooks’ larger-than-life characters to dazzling life.
As one of the West End’s most in-demand musical theatre experiences, The Producers continues to delight both seasoned theatregoers and newcomers alike, cementing its place as a must-see in the London theatre calendar.
Tickets for the extended run are available now.
Sunday, 19 October 2025
Jordan Luke Gage’s New Musical Redcliffe to Open at Southwark Playhouse in 2026
After eight sold-out workshop performances at The Other Palace, Redcliffe a new original musical by and starring West End favourite Jordan Luke Gage will premiere in a fully staged production at Southwark Playhouse Borough in 2026.
Set in 18th-century Bristol, Redcliffe tells the powerful and tragic true story of William Critchard and Richard Arnold, two men whose forbidden love defied the social norms of their time. The musical explores the courage it took to love openly in an era when being oneself could mean risking everything.
Jordan Luke Gage, known for his acclaimed performances in Bonnie & Clyde, Heathers, and &Juliet, returns to the role of William, a man caught between fear and passion.
Reflecting on the show, Gage said:
“Creating Redcliffe has been my greatest fulfilment. To tell this story, one that has never been brought to the public stage, and to hopefully move and uplift audiences, means the world to me.”
With book, music, and lyrics by Gage, Redcliffe has been developed with support from MTFestUK, The Other Palace, and Bill Kenwright Limited. Further casting will be announced soon, but excitement is already high among musical theatre fans anticipating this heartfelt new production.
Bringing together haunting melodies, historical realism, and deeply human emotion, Redcliffe promises to be one of the most moving additions to the London theatre landscape next year. Southwark Playhouse, known for championing new British musicals, provides the setting for Gage’s story of love, bravery, and hope in the face of persecution.
Saturday, 18 October 2025
Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2025 Announces Record-Breaking Longlist and Launches New Development Programme
The Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2025 has unveiled its longlist of 41 outstanding new scripts, chosen from a record-breaking 1,275 submissions. Produced by Ellie Keel Productions and Paines Plough, the prize continues to champion exceptional female and non-binary playwrights across the UK and Ireland.
Alongside the longlist announcement, organisers have introduced Future Light, a new talent development initiative designed to nurture longlisted writers. Supported by Arts Council England, Future Light offers one-on-one dramaturgical guidance, writing workshops led by some of the UK’s most acclaimed playwrights, and an industry-focused Futures Day in Spring 2026.
Now in its sixth year, the Women’s Prize for Playwriting has become one of the UK’s most important literary awards for theatre. It aims to elevate underrepresented voices and ensure their stories reach national stages. The winner, selected by a judging panel chaired by Indhu Rubasingham, Director of the National Theatre, will receive £20,000 and the option for a full co-production with Ellie Keel Productions, Paines Plough, and Sheffield Theatres.
Founder Director Ellie Keel and Literary Manager Charlie Coulthard praised this year’s entries, calling them “extraordinary in range and ambition,” while Paines Plough’s Joint Artistic Director Katie Posner described reading the submissions as “a joy” that showcased “a breathtaking range of human experience.”
Previous winners, including Amy Trigg (Reasons You Should(n’t) Love Me), Ahlam (You Bury Me), and Karis Kelly (Consumed), have gone on to critically acclaimed national runs. The most recent winner, Sarah Grochala (Intelligence), is currently in development with Paines Plough.
The prize’s 2025 longlist reflects the creativity, diversity, and dynamism of British playwriting- and its future looks brighter than ever with initiatives like Future Light helping to pave the way for new voices in London theatre and beyond.
The longlist in full is:
- Wold Meteor by Kate Attwell
- Weeping Woman by Ellen Bannerman
- The Fingerprint Bureau by Sonali Bhattacharyya
- while we burn by Olga Braga
- An Effigy Burning in the Arctic by Mareth Burns
- HIDE AND SEEK WITH JIMMY LING by Naomi Sumner Chan
- Ordinary Time by Evie Chandler
- I LOVE STRANGERS by Nurit Chinn
- Hefted by Eireann Devlin
- Sapling by Georgina Duncan
- THE (YELLOW) WALLPAPER by Phoebe Eclair-Powell
- Fucking Jane Austen by Billie Esplen
- Froggy by Sasha Frost
- A Patent Lie by Sarah Jane Gordon
- Exceptional by Afsaneh Gray
- First Gravedigger by Kayleigh Mai Hinsley
- THREE BOYS by Danielle James
- Unbirth by Christy Ku
- Down Side Up by Mei Leng Yew
- Northern Folk by Natalia Lewis
- Witch Play by Cordelia Lynn
- A Straw House by Jane McCarthy
- Car Crash by Sarah Ann McCay
- Am I Next? by Rachel McKay
- We’re Gonna Kill Billy by Alex Medland
- To The Earth You Shall Return by Hannah Mirsky
- A to B by Tia-Renee Mullings
- Yes Chef by Laurie Ogden
- If The Sea Should Part by Chloe Palmer
- VENUS: The Body by Sadie Pearson
- A Bit Salty by Mwansa Phiri
- CROSSINGS by Hannah Salt
- Przewalski’s Horses by Silva Semerciyan
- A Search for the End by Stef Smith
- WHAT I THINK OF MY HUSBAND by Amy Tobias
- Slime by Rachel Tookey
- Belongings by Jane Upton
- Up in the Mango Trees by Britny Virginia
- THE ROOM by Manjinder Virk
- Wide Open Spaces by Jane Wainwright
- The Children of Glyndwr by Emily White
Friday, 17 October 2025
Gok Wan to Join Back to the Future The Musical for One-Night Cameo in London
Fashion icon and television personality Gok Wan is heading to the West End for one night only to join the award-winning Back to the Future The Musical at the Adelphi Theatre. To celebrate global Back to the Future Day, Gok will make a special cameo as Principal Strickland, adding his trademark charm and energy to the beloved sci-fi comedy.
The Olivier Award-winning musical, based on the 1985 Universal Pictures classic, continues to be one of London theatre’s most popular shows. Featuring Caden Brauch as Marty McFly and Brian Conley as Doc Brown, the production combines spectacular design, time-traveling special effects and a heart-pounding rock score by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard.
Gok said,
“I’m thrilled to be joining the cast for this special celebration. Returning to the stage alongside my good friend Brian Conley is such a treat- it’s going to be fabulous!”
Since its London premiere, Back to the Future The Musical has been seen by over two million people and is now in its fifth year at the Adelphi Theatre. The show has earned critical acclaim and numerous awards, including Best New Musical at the Oliviers.
photo credit: Mark Senior
Jo- The Little Women Musical in Concert to Premiere at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
A beloved literary classic is heading to the West End. Jo- The Little Women Musical in Concert will receive its world premiere at London’s historic Theatre Royal Drury Lane, promising a spellbinding evening that celebrates sisterhood, ambition, and the enduring power of storytelling.
Inspired by Louisa May Alcott’s timeless novel Little Women, this semi-staged concert brings Jo March and her family to life through an emotional and beautifully orchestrated new musical score. With music by Dan Redfeld and book and lyrics by Christina Harding and John Gabriel Koladziej, the production is directed and choreographed by JoAnn M. Hunter, whose extensive Broadway credits include Bad Cinderella and School of Rock.
The initial casting announcement has theatre fans buzzing. Grammy nominee Christine Allado (Hamilton) will star as Jo March, joined by two-time Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole (42nd Street) as Aunt March. West End favourite Kelly Mathieson (The Phantom of the Opera) joins as Meg, with Sophie Pollono, Eleanor Grant and Tobias Turley completing the March family ensemble.
The musical follows the release of the critically acclaimed studio album, recorded at Abbey Road Studios and produced by Nigel Wright and Dan Redfeld. Redfeld said:
“Following the amazing response to the album, we’re thrilled to finally bring this magical musical to life in London.”
Theatre Royal Drury Lane, lovingly restored by Andrew Lloyd Webber, provides the perfect home for this new West End concert event. Fans can expect an unforgettable night of soaring vocals, emotional storytelling and a celebration of one of literature’s most cherished heroines.
Roam: New West End Musical to Premiere in Concert at Shaftesbury Theatre
A thrilling new musical is set to light up the West End. Roam will make its debut at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre in a special one-night-only concert performance. Directed by Rupert Hands (Evita, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) with choreography by Olivier Award winner James Cousins (Guys and Dolls), this ambitious production promises a night of emotion, power and musical innovation.
Featuring a genre-blending rock-pop-Romani score by Alexander Sage Oyen and a book by Michael Dovid, Roam tells the story of a nomadic family forced to confront the ghosts of their past when their caravan breaks down in hostile territory. Themes of love, family and legacy intertwine as the family wrestles with grief, identity and belonging.
The cast features some of musical theatre’s brightest stars, including Ramin Karimloo (Les Misérables), Frances Mayli McCann (Bonnie & Clyde), Diego Rodriguez (Evita, Sunset Blvd), Jordan Luke Gage (&Juliet, Bonnie & Clyde), Melanie La Barrie (Hadestown, &Juliet), Hope Lavelle (The Phantom of the Opera) and Olivier Award winner David Thaxton.
Director Rupert Hands said,
“We’re so excited to be premiering this brand-new musical in the West End with this extraordinary cast and team. Roam is the journey of a lifetime, full of soaring songs… It’s a story of love, family, and legacy in a totally original, funny, timely, and powerful script by Michael Dovid. We can’t wait to share it with London audiences.”
Developed with Romani theatre company Giuvlipen and the National University of Theatre and Film in Bucharest, Roam combines cultural authenticity with powerful theatrical storytelling.
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