It’s World Theatre Day! So let’s talk about the shows that are still to come in 2024 that i’m excited for

MARY POPPINS

On the 8th January 2023, Mary flew out of the Prince Edward for the final time, had i known then that she’d be back on tour a year later i probably wouldn’t have cried as much as i did that day!

My absolute favourite musical is coming back on a UK tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of the stage show and the 60th anniversary of the orginal film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. Based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film, the story of the World’s favourite nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane is even brought to life on stage with incredible choreography, magical effects and a timeless reimagined score with additional music and lyrics by the Olivier award-winning British team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.

Australian tour principles Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers reprise their roles as Mary Poppins and Bert and i’m looking forward to seeing them.

The tour kicks off on the 4th November at the Bristol Hippodrome and i’m looking forward to being front and centre on opening night celebrating Mary coming back with the same people i shared closing night with.

Tickets and tour dates here

KISS ME KATE

The Barbican have surprised everyone with their Summer musical this year with a big revival of Kiss Me Kate, directed by Broadway’s Bartlett Sher.

But cast is what excites me abiout this production; Stephanie J Block, Line of Duty’s Adrian Dunbar, Charlie Stemp and Georgina Onuorah. STUNNING

Cole Porter”s comedy is loosely based on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. Two actors with a romantic past are thrown together when working on a new musical and discover they might still have feelings for each other.

Kiss me Kate is a limited run so be quick!

Previews begin on Tuesday 4th June, Tickets here

MEAN GIRLS

Tina Fey’s Broadway musical based on her original 2006 film finally gets a UK transfer!

Home-schooled Cady Heron is thrown into a different wild when she moves from Africa to America but being close to dangerous animals is nothing compared with US high school, a whole new level of savage. She is soon taken in by the Plastics led by Regina George, who rule the school. When Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a queen bee without getting stung.

The show has just been extended into 2025 with 45,000 tickets under 40! The cast was announced this morning:

Previews begin on Wednesday 5th June, Tickets here

OLIVER!

I’m incredibly lucky to call Chichester Festival Theatre my local and have been blessed with incredible productions over the years.

The Dickens novel turned classic musical Oliver! is being revived at CFT this Summer. Orphan Oliver begins life at a Victorian workhouse before befriending fellon Fagin and his gang of young pickpockets causing mayhem around the streets on London, landing him in great danger,

With the backing of producer Cameron Mackintosh and choreography from Matthew Bourne there are strong rumours circling already that the show will eventually transfer to the West End. I love Oliver! and i’m very excited to see it in a space like Chichester because of the immersive feel.

The cast includes Simon Lipkin as Fagin, Shanay Holmes as Nancy, Aaron Sidwell as Bill Sikes, Billy Jenkins as the Artful Dodger and Philip Franks as Mr Brownlow.

Previews begin on Monday 8th July, TIckets here

Remember if you’re under 30 to sign up to Prologue for £5 seats!

STARLIGHT EXPRESS

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express opens summer 2024 in the specially designed auditorium at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre and is set to blow your mind!

Loosely inspired by Thomas the tank engine, Starlight Express is the story of a child’s train set magically comes to life and the engines race to become the fastest in the world, Rusty the steam train has little hope of winning until he is inspired by the legend of the ‘Starlight Express’.

With actors famously playing the trains by skating round on roller-skates, the show celebrates it’s 40th anniversary in 2024 and has huge success in Europe. It is the longest running show ever in Germany, with a muti-million pound purpose built arena housing the musical.

Casting has just been announced and includes: Jeevan Braich as Rusty, Kayna Montecillo as Pearl, Jade Marvin as Momma McCoy, Al Knott as Greaseball, Eve Humphrey as Dinah and Tom Pigram as Electra.

It looks completely insane having seen footage of previous productions, I can’t wait to see it for myself!

Previews begin on Saturday 8th June, Tickets here

HELLO DOLLY!

The London Palladium likes to put on a big song and dance every summer and this year is no expection.

The big Broadway classic Hello Dolly! Returns to London for a limited time with Imelda Staution playing the lead. Other casting includes Andy Nyman, Jenna Russell, Tyrone Huntley and Harry Hepple.

Meddlesome socialite turned matchmaker Dolly Levi travels to Yonkers, New York to find a match for the miserly, unmarried ‘half-a-millionaire’ Horace Vandergelder, but everything changes when she decides that the next match she needs to make is for herself.

I saw an amateur production when I was very young and I love the classic feel of the score. So I’m interested to see how this show is made for a prestigious venue like the Palladium.

Previews begin on Saturday 6th July, tickets here

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

The Devil Wears Prada based on the movie with the same name, has a huge team of creatives behind it, with the score written by music legend Elton John, lyrics by Shaina Taub, a book by Kate Wetherhead and direction & choreography by 3-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell.

Aspiring journalist Andy gets a job at the prestigious Runway magazine working for the scariest, most iconic women in fashion— editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly. Andy soon realises that her personal life must be sacrificed if she is to meet Miranda’s impossible demands but is soon drawn in to her fast-paced new lifestyle. How far will she go if she wants proceed in her career… and will it be worth the ride?

I LOVE the film and I’m very excited to see this show with music. Casting includes Tony Award nominee Vanessa Williams as Miranda and Matt Henry as Nigel.

The production will play an exclusive preview engagement in Summer 2024 at Theatre Royal Plymouth prior to opening in the West End.

West End begin on Thursday 24th October, Tickets here