Confirmed: Miss Saigon West End revival to open at the Prince Edward Theatre in May 2014

After months of speculation, it has finally been confirmed that Miss Saigon will open at the West End's Prince Edward Theatre in May 2014, following the transfer of Jersey Boys to the Piccadilly Theatre. Tickets go on sale 9th September 2013.

Producer Cameron Mackintosh said: "I find it hard to believe that it is already 25 years since I first premiered Miss Saigon in London, where it became the greatest success ever in the long history of the Drury Lane Theatre and went on to be a phenomenal success around the world."

"Ten years ago I decided to reconceive the show in a completely re-imagined physical production that could play a far greater number of theatres than the original but still retains Bob Avian's legendary musical staging and the same scale of cast. As well as touring the UK with enormous success the new production directed by Laurence Connor has been seen in numerous countries around the world where it has been embraced by audiences and critics alike with as much enthusiasm as the original."

"If anything the tragic love story of Miss Saigon has become even more relevant today. In the last 25 years our country has become involved in similar wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in the way we weren't in Vietnam and the American Dream has been buffeted by the reality of recent history. The new production has taken a more gritty and realistic approach to the design than the operatic original but still delivers the power and epic sweep of Boublil and Schönberg's great score."

Louise Dearman, Kerry Ellis & Ramin Karimloo help launch new musical theatre radio station

Wise Buddah and Mothership Management have announced plans to launch a brand new online online radio station, Stage Door, for fans of musical theatre. An Indiegogo campaign has been launched today (19th June) to help make Stage Door a reality. Some of the biggest West End stars have already agreed to present programmes which, as well as playing musical theatre songs, would broadcast the latest news, backstage gossip and interviews.

Louise Bowden (Singin’ In The Rain), Louise Dearman (Wicked), Kerry Ellis (Wicked), Mark Evans (The Book of Mormon), Hadley Fraser (Les Misérables), Alex Gaumond (Top Hat), Ramin Karimloo (The Phantom of the Opera) and Oliver Tompsett (We Will Rock You) have already signed up to host a show on Stage Door when it launches.

Sheridan Smith to become the first female Doctor Who?

According to the Daily Star, Sheridan Smith could become the first female actress to play Doctor Who.

An article claims that the West End star is at the top of the BBC's wish list as bosses think she'll "go down a storm" with die-hard fans of the popular sci-fi series. Please remember nothing has yet been confirmed, many other actors are also rumoured to be in line for the role.

An 'insider' told the Daily Star “Sheridan’s popularity is at an all-time high, and there’s a strong feeling that the next Doctor should be a woman. They think she’d be perfect and are planning to put a lot of effort into convincing her to consider the iconic role.”

As well as having a hugely successful television and film career, Sheridan's theatre credits include Hedda Gabler (Old Vic), Flare Path (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Legally Blonde (Savoy), Little Shop Of Horrors (Menier/Duke Of York’s), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), The People Are Friendly (Royal Court) and Into The Woods (Donmar). 

Review: Payback the Musical at Riverside Studios

Payback The Musical

Riverside Studios (studio 3)

Reviewed on Friday 14th June 2013

It is always exciting when you sit down in a theatre to see a brand new show as you simply do not have a clue what to expect. From beginning to end, Payback is a high energy musical with a strong score and a funny script.  

NT Live announces live broadcasts of Othello, Macbeth, Coriolanus & War Horse

War Horse

Last week Peter Morgan's Olivier Award-winning new play The Audience was broadcast around the wold. The play was seen by nearly 30,000 people in North America and nearly 80,000 people in the UK - the largest audience ever for a live broadcast from National Theatre Live.

Following this success,  many encore screening have been added with some further dates yet to be announced. In North America, there are currently 700 screenings scheduled and in the UK nearly 800 screenings will take place - the largest number of screenings for a National Theatre Live broadcast in both North America and the UK ever. 

Jude Law joins Luke Treadaway's charity gala 'A Curious Night at the Theatre'

It has been announced that Jude Law will perform live on stage with actors Luke Treadaway and Niamh Cusack as part of 'A Curious Night at the Theatre', a charity gala which takes place at the Apollo Theatre on 1st July 2013. 

Jude will join Luke and Niamh who are currently starring in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time as part of a star-studded mix of theatre, comedy, music as well as live auction to raise money for two charities: Ambitious about Autism and the National Autistic Society.

Review: Patti LuPone at the Leicester Square Theatre

Patti LuPone 

Leicester Square Theatre

Reviewed on Sunday 16th June 2013

Patti LuPone is theatrical royalty. Not only did she win a Tony for playing Eva Perón in Evita on Broadway, create the role of Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard in the West End and win a second Best Actress Tony Award as Mama Rose in the 2008 Broadway revival of Gypsy, but she also won an Olivier award for creating the role of Fantine in the original London production of Les Miserables, the most successful musical in the world. Therefore it is understandable that the Leicester Square Theatre was buzzing with anticipation last night. It seemed everybody was incredibly excited to witness Patti's triumphant return to London. After two and a half hours and three standing ovations it seemed nobody was left disappointed.