Remember it’s not just the West End where excellent shows can be found. Here’s a guide to some of the shows we can’t wait to catch on tour.
‘A show to lift your spirits’: SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN – Touring
Based on the iconic 1952 musical film featuring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O’Connor, Singin’ in the Rain has both a great pedigree and a lot to live up to. Now touring after successful runs in Chichester and at Sadler’s Wells, this joyous show taking affectionate aim at the moment the movies learned to talk is both a homage to its source and an entertaining show in its own right.
‘A fast-footed feast that’s full of charm & keeps its wow factor’: SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN – Touring ★★★★
It’s been 10 years since Jonathan Church’s stage version of Singin’ in the Rain was brought to life at the Chichester Festival theatre, showering the front rows during the title number and delighting audiences with its sheer spectacle.
‘Beverley Knight once again proves what a powerhouse she is’: THE DRIFTERS GIRL – West End
This new musical is filled with style, but it does feel as though more attention could have been paid to the story itself in places.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: The Drifters Girl at the West End’s Garrick Theatre
On LoveLondonLoveCulture, Emma Clarendon rounds up the reviews for the world premiere of new music industry bio-musical The Drifters Girl.
‘Each number is sensationally staged’: THE DRIFTERS’ GIRL – West End
The nostalgia musical is back in full force with crowd-pleasing easy listening stories that looks back to the 1950s and 60s for their inspiration.
‘Reveals just how timeless this musical is’: SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN – Sadler’s Wells ★★★★★
Bringing plenty of Hollywood glamour and class, Jonathan Church’s production of the classic musical Singin’ in the Rain is stunning from start to finish.
‘Making a splash’: Anything Goes – Barbican / Singin’ in the Rain – Sadler’s Wells
Two classic revivals — both coincidentally first launched in the spring and summer of 2011, one on Broadway (Anything Goes, in a production directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall), the other at Chichester, before transferring to the West End’s Palace Theatre (Singin’ in the Rain, directed by Jonathan Church with choreography by Andrew Wright) — have returned in triumph on consecutive nights this week.
NEWS: Adam J Bernard, Tarinn Callender, Matt Henry & Tosh Wanogho-Maud join The Drifters Girl cast
Adam J Bernard, Tarinn Callender, Matt Henry and Tosh Wanogho-Maud will play The Drifters in brand new musical The Drifters Girl, also starring Beverley Knight, which tells the remarkable story of one of the world’s greatest vocal groups and the woman who made them. The show begins performances at Newcastle Theatre Royal on 9 October 2021, playing until 23 October, before transferring to London’s Garrick Theatre on 4 November (press night is 25 November).
Mark Shenton’s weekly chart of forthcoming theatrical comings & goings has some new entries
This weekly column keeps track of the shows that are coming back, or are newly being announced, as theatres prepare to re-open from next month onwards. It will be updated weekly until such time as it becomes a reality, and from then on will provide a weekly update to that week’s openings and future ones.
Mark Shenton picks out his favourite regional theatres for the latest ShenTens podcast
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The post ShenTens: My Top 10 Favourite Regional Theatre Venues first appeared on Shenton Stage.
Returning & new productions heading for the West End & beyond post-lockdown: Are you up to date?
Meanwhile, I want to start keeping track of the shows that are coming back, or are newly being announced, in a new feature here that will be updated weekly until such time as it becomes a reality, and from then on will provide a weekly update to that week’s openings and future ones.
NEWS: Theatre Royal Bath will reopen in autumn 2020 with classic plays by Pinter, Frayn & Mamet
Theatre Royal Bath will reopen its main house in autumn 2020 with the Welcome Back Season of plays, beginning with Harold Pinter’s Betrayal directed by Jonathan Church from 14 October to 31 October, followed by Michael Frayn’s Copenhagen, directed by Polly Findlay from 4 November to 21 November, and lastly David Mamet’s drama Oleanna directed by Nicole Charles which will run from 25 November to 12 December.
NEWS: Sherlock creators Steven Moffat & Mark Gatiss collaborate in Chichester Festival Season packed with world premieres
World premieres in Chichester Festival Theatre’s Festival 2020 include first plays by Steven Moffat and Kate Mosse and new work by Suhayla El-Bushra and Christopher Shinn.
NEWS: Director Jonathan Church launches new production company with Trafalgar Entertainment
Award-winning theatre director and producer Jonathan Church CBE, has announced the launch of a new production company Jonathan Church Theatre Productions supported by Trafalgar Entertainment’s Joint CEOs Sir Howard Panter and Dame Rosemary Squire.
NEWS: UK tour & West End run announced for Blithe Spirit starring Jennifer Saunders
Noël Coward’s classic comedy Blithe Spirit, directed by Richard Eyre and starring Jennifer Saunders, will return next year for a UK tour followed by a strictly limited six-week engagement at the West End’s Duke of York’s Theatre following a celebrated reception at the Theatre Royal Bath earlier this summer.
NEWS: Singin’ In The Rain will be back in London for a summer season at Sadler’s Wells in 2020
Chichester Festival Theatre’s Olivier Award-nominated production of Singin’ in the Rain will play a strictly limited five-week season at London’s Sadler’s Wells in the summer of 2020, running from 24 July to 30 August 2020 with a press night on 30 July 2020.
NEWS: Katherine Parkinson & Vanessa Redgrave join line-up for Theatre Royal Bath’s summer season as new productions are announced
Jonathan Church, artistic director of Theatre Royal Bath’s summer season, has announced further productions and new casting for the 2019 programme. Katherine Parkinson joins Rupert Everett in the cast of Uncle Vanya which he also directs.
NEWS: Felicity Kendal stars in William Boyd’s play The Argument at Theatre Royal Bath
Theatre Royal Bath today announces The Argument by William Boyd, its third Summer Season production, with Felicity Kendal starring in the role of Chloe.
‘A stellar production of an intriguing play’: THE PRICE – West End ★★★★
The Price is a stellar production of an intriguing play about family tensions – the set is breathtaking and Miller’s insights remain as perceptive as ever.