Theatre

What’s Up Wilma? Beverly Knight to join Cats, plus more West End news

Hello dears!

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for me. I’m in the planning stages for this year’s West End Wilma Awards, recognising the best in London Theatre! Lots of exciting news to come about that in a few weeks! Until then though, here are some of the most exciting things that have been happening this week….

Beverley Knight will play Grizabella in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats the Musical when it returns to the London Palladium on 23 October for a ten-week season until 2 January 2016. Beverley is currently starring in Memphis the Musical, which is set to close at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 31 October. It is not yet clear what date Beverley will leave the cast of Memphis. Read more here.

Beverley Knight Cats

Pixie Lott is set to star as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s next year, when it will play a twelve week run at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 30 June 2016 following a UK tour. The iconic 1961 film starred Audrey Hepburn and has now been adapted for the stage. Read more here.

Impossible – ‘the biggest magic show in decades’ – is coming to London’s West End. The show will feature escapologist Jonathan Goodwin, mind reader Chris Cox, trickster Katherine Mills, magician Ben Hart and digital marvel Jamie Allan. The show will be magically appearing at the Noel Coward Theatre from 24 July for a four week run. Read more here

Master of psychological illusion, Derren Brown, is bringing his one-man show, Miracle, to the West End’s Palace Theatre this Christmas from 11 November – 16 January 2016. This will be his seventh show since 2003, for which he has won two Olivier Awards. Read more here

It has been announced that Jason Donovan will return to play Tick in the upcoming UK tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert (watch the 2013-2014 trailer above). The role will be shared with the previously announced Duncan James from Blue. Jason will play various cities between September 2015 and January 2016, when he will then embark on a solo concert tour promoting his hit 1989 album Ten Good Reasons. Read more here

Jersey Boys, the musical based on the 1960’s pop group Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, has announced it is extending its booking period at the Piccadilly Theatre until 14 February 2016. The show has now been seen by over 22 million people worldwide and has won 57 major awards. Packed with hits including Walk Like A Man, Big Girls Don’t Cry and Bye Bye Baby, this is one show you don’t want to miss. Read more here

Jersey Boys 2015

I’ve seen some great shows in the last couple of weeks, including the new cast of Miss Saigon, The Elephant Man starring Bradley Cooper, and the hilarious Carry On film star Just Jim Dale who, despite being seventy years old, is still carrying on like a twenty-year-old. I’ve also been to see an Opera! You didn’t know I was so sophisticated, did you?! It’s actually a British comedy opera about a refugee trapped in an airport. If you want to give opera a go but don’t really know where to start, this is a great choice. Check out all of my reviews as well as latest news and interviews at westendwilma.com.

Follow me on Twitter and Like my Facebook page to keep fully updated with my crazy stagey life!