A statement has been issued by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) on behalf of the major commercial West End theatre operators and the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR) to provide clear information for theatre customers in light of this week’s shutdown and help ease the unprecedented strain on box offices and ticket agents.
NEWS: Coronavirus pandemic – An update on theatre closures in the West End & across the country
My Theatre Mates have been collecting official announcements of theatre closures up and down the country in the Twitter thread below and will continue to add updates as they come in.
NEWS: West End & UK theatres to close with immediate effect
In light of the continued coronavirus emergency and advice from Prime Minister Boris Johnson that people should avoid “pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues” during the pandemic, SOLT and UK Theatre has announced that member venues will close from the evening of Monday 16 March 2020.
‘The performances are outstanding’: THE PIRATE QUEEN – West End ★★★★
While audiences may find The Pirate Queen too repetitive to work as a fully realised production, it provides an evening of outstanding vocal talent and swashbuckling storytelling.
‘Mixes sharp wit & clever satire with utter silliness & slapstick’: UPSTART CROW – West End ★★★★★
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never seen Ben Elton’s TV comedy series Upstart Crow (I hadn’t) as the stage play is a stand-alone piece
‘It almost feels more relevant now than it was when it first was first conceived’: Rachel Tucker stars in The Pirate Queen
Rachel Tucker is taking on the role of Grace O’Malley in the one night only London premiere of the musical Pirate Queen. Rachel told us all about the show, her favourite moments and what it’s like to bring real life characters to life on stage.
‘It is Cumming’s performance which you are drawn to’: ENDGAME – Old Vic ★★★★
It is stuffed dogs, ladders and individual performances in Endgame which stay with me rather than anything more philosophical about the human condition.
‘The satisfying bleakness of the text is allowed to breathe’: ENDGAME – Old Vic
A star cast led by Daniel Radcliffe, Alan Cumming and Jane Horrocks make light work of the Beckett classic Endgame.
‘Delights & inspires in equal measure’: EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE – West End ★★★★
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is a show which delights and inspires in equal measure and is sure to retain its spot in theatre lovers’ hearts for the foreseeable future.
PHOTOS: Kinky Boots stars reunite for cast screening ahead of the musical’s cinema release
Matt Henry and other members of the Kinky Boots cast reunited yesterday, a year after the multi-award-winning musical finished in the West End, for a private screening of the forthcoming cinematic release. And Mate Terri Paddock got a sneak-peek too. Time to get booking!
MISSED THE BOAT: Stephen Ward
I very nearly did see this one, but it opened and closed so swiftly that I didn’t really have the chance – I wasn’t living in London at that point, so a bit more planning was required for my theatre trips.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: As Kinky Boots returns to the big screen, remember the musical’s ★★★★ critical reception
On 4 and 9 February 2020, Kinky Boots The Musical, the multi-award-winning stage hit based on the hit 2005 Britflick, will be screened at more than 650 cinemas across the UK and Ireland care of More2Screen. Critics enjoyed strutting their stuff when the Broadway blockbuster first transferred to the West End in 2015. As a reminder, we’ve rounded up highlights from reviews and other media coverage at the time.
NEWS: Kinky Boots struts into 650+ cinemas across the UK & Ireland on 4 & 9 Feb
Kinky Boots returns to the big screen in February. More2Screen has announced the cinema release of the critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning West End and Broadway musical based on the hit 2005 Britflick. Kinky Boots The Musical, the winner of every major Best Musical award, will be screened at more than 650 cinemas across the UK and Ireland on 4 and 9 February 2020.
‘A barnstorming show with laughs by the bucketload’: CURTAINS – West End ★★★★
Curtains is a toe-tapping, giggle-inducing spectacular that stays just as true to the whodunnit – Samuel Holmes absolutely steals the show.
‘There’s just a whole lot of arrestingly good fun to be had here’: CURTAINS – West End
A Kander & Ebb premiere in the West End you say? Curtains makes its bow at the Wyndham’s Theatre and I had an arrestingly good time with it.
CASTING: Joel Montague takes over from Joe Sugg as Ogie in West End Waitress
After finishing in Falsettos at The Other Palace tonight (23 November 2019), Joel Montague will return to the West End to take over from YouTube star Joe Sugg as Ogie in Waitress at the Adelphi Theatre. His first performance takes place on Monday 2 December 2019.
CASTING: Preeya Kalidas becomes first British Asian to play Miss Hedge in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
BAFTA and Olivier Award nominee actress, singer and radio presenter Preeya Kalidas has this week joined the West End cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at the West End’s Apollo Theatre, becoming the first British Asian to play the role.
‘Quintessential tale of survival against the odds’: TOUCHING THE VOID – West End
David Greig’s much-lauded mountaineering survival story fails to reach the dizzy heights.
‘A show that will have a long life in the West End’: DEAR EVAN HANSEN – West End ★★★★
A suicide. A lie. The unexpected… Dear Evan Hansen is an entertaining – and filled with talent – show, that will have a long life in the West End. And this is not a lie.
NEWS: Full 41-strong cast announced for premiere of Tom Stoppard’s Leopoldstadt
Final casting is announced today for the world premiere of Tom Stoppard’s new play Leopoldstadt.