The Hottest Theatre News This Week (24 Feb - 2 Mar 2025)
The weather has been absolutely stunning as the week comes to a close. Could spring finally be making an appearance?! This week has also delivered some incredible news from the theatre world, so it’s time for your essential roundup of the latest and greatest!
In this weekly edition, we bring you the most exciting theatre updates—brand-new show announcements, cast reveals, and maybe even a tantalising rumour or two. Whether it's a groundbreaking West End debut or a hidden gem from the regional stage, this bite-sized bulletin has it all. This week has 10 different things to tell you about so get stuck in!
Stay tuned every week for your must-read dose of all things theatre!
Military Wives The Musical to premiere at York Theatre Royal
A new musical based on the true story of the Military Wives choir and the 2019 film, Military Wives is heading to the York Theatre Royal this Autumn. Debbie Isitt (Nativity The Musical, I Should Be So Lucky) will write and direct the UK premiere. The musical follows the story of a group of women who come together to form a choir while their partners are deployed. Isolated and struggling with the uncertainty of military life, the women find strength and company through music. It will run from 10 - 27 September 2025.
Cast announced for Hamlet Hail to the Thief
Hamlet Hail to the Thief is an exciting new adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet which will have the music of Radiohead integrated into the format. Premiering at the Aviva Studios in Manchester before transferring to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, this production will have Shakespeare’s text performed alongside reworked versions of songs from Hail to the Thief, the band’s 2003 album. The cast includes Samuel Blenkin, Ami Tredrea, Paul Hilton, Claudia Harrison, Annabel Baldwin, Brandon Grace, James Cooney, Felipe Pacheco, Tom Peters, and Romaya Weaver . Daniel Davids, Kieran Garland, and Marienella Phillips are the off-stage swings. It opens in Manchester on 27 April 2025.
New season of work announced at Sheffield Theatres
Sheffield Theatres’ new Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman revealed her first season this week. Some of the season’s biggest work includes Dancing at Lughnasa, a revival of Brian Friel’s play which was first performed in 1990. Set in 1930s rural Ireland, this production will launch the season in September. Other highlights include the festive production of A Christmas Carol, Karis Kelly’s Consumed and The Ladies Football Club. If you want to see the full line up, check out the Sheffield Theatres website.
Watermill Theatre announces 2025 season
The award-winning venue has announced its programme for the summer and autumn season. It’ll kick off this summer with a revival of an actor-musician production of Jesus Christ Superstar which will run from 24 June - 21 September. Other highlights include a glamourous glow-up new adaptation of Charley’s Aunt by Rob Madge (My Son’s a Queer (But what can you do?)) and The Little Mermaid which will be presented as their annual festive production from November. Further information on the season can be found on the Watermill Theatre website.
Bridge Theatre reveals Into the Woods revival and return of A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The Bridge Theatre have announced two productions for their 2025 season and we’re so excited! Jordan Fein will direct and Tom Scutt will design a major new revival of Sondheim and Lapine’s musical Into the Woods from 2 December. The production will run for 20 weeks until 18 April 2026. Before that though, the 2019 immersive production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Nicholas Hytner will return from 31 May, following their current production of Richard II which stars Jonathan Bailey.
Rehearsal images released by My Neighbour Totoro ahead of West End transfer
Ahead of its West End transfer opening in March, we got a first look inside the rehearsal room of My Neighbour Totoro. The stage adaptation of the celebrated 1988 animated feature film by Hayao Miyazaki snapped up multiple awards when it performed for two runs at the Barbican Theatre. Victoria Chen has joined the company to play the role of Mei. Returning to their roles are Ami Okumura Jones as Mei’s older sister Satsuki, Dai Tabuchi as Tatsuo, Jacqueline Tate as Granny, and Ai Ninomiya as the Singer. My Neighbour Totoro will play at the Gillian Lynne Theatre from 08 March - 02 November 2025.
The Global Stage Premiere of The Hunger Games: On Stage is announced
Back in 2023, we shared the exciting news that a stage adaptation of The Hunger Games was set to hit London in 2024. Now, in 2025, it's finally official—the production is coming to London this autumn! Even more exciting, it will be staged in a brand-new venue. The Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre is a brand new 1,200 seat venue that will being Suzanne Collins’ internationally acclaimed book to life. We cannot wait!
The Producers will transfer to the West End
When our writer reviewed the Menier Chocolate Factory’s revival of The Producers at the tail end of last year we were hoping for some great news when it closed in February. Lucky for those who were unable to grab a ticket - The Producers is transferring to the West End! With performances kicking off at the Garrick Theatre from 30 August and some of the cast reprising their roles in the transfer (including Andy Nyman and Marc Antolin), this is great news for the production!
OSCAR at the Crown announces London Run
After captivating audiences in New York and at the Edinburgh Festival, OSCAR at the Crown is finally making its way to London this summer. Written by Mark Mauriello, this electrifying underground musical will be staged in a brand-new venue on Tottenham Court Road. I’d honestly recommend you give the soundtrack a listen after reading this post - it’s incredibly catchy! Performances are set to begin on 17 May 2025.
Whilst you are here, why don’t you read one of this week’s reviews? Our highlights this week were Back to the Future The Musical at Adelphi Theatre, The Last Laugh at the Noel Coward Theatre and The Shark is Broken (UK Tour). We will see you again next week!
