Theatre News

Everything happening across London's Theatreland, gathered in one place. Opening nights, closures and transfers, casting news, industry talking points and the stories shaping the West End — updated as the news breaks.

Theatreland News

Inès Mazdon Delas, Mya Fox-Scott, Ricardo Castro and Alice Keedwell, the cast of Toto at Polka Theatre
Cast Changes and Announcements

Inès Mazdon Delas to play the title role in Toto at Polka Theatre

Inès Mazdon Delas leads a company of four in Toto, the world premiere musical made from Ximo Abadia's picture book about a donkey with ambitions in space, which opens at Polka Theatre in Wimbledon on 10 October.

Daniel Ings and National Youth Theatre members in rehearsal for Letters to My Younger Future Self. Photo by Rich Lakos
Upcoming and New Shows

Daniel Ings in rehearsal for National Youth Theatre’s Letters to My Younger Future Self

The first rehearsal images are out for Letters to My Younger Future Self, the National Youth Theatre’s one-night 70th anniversary show at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday 20 September, with Daniel Ings at work…

UK Theatre Awards with Encore artwork. Image courtesy of UK Theatre
Awards

Adrian Lester, Hadley Fraser and Michael Sheen’s Our Town among the UK Theatre Awards 2026 nominees

Adrian Lester, Hadley Fraser and Julianne Pundan are among the performers in contention at the UK Theatre Awards 2026, whose shortlists were announced today, with Nottingham Playhouse ahead of every other theatre on…

Stefan Dennis, George Rainsford, Rosanna Miles, Lucy Bromilow, Tim Hudson, Ian Kirkby and Mark Hammersley, the cast of The King’s Speech at the Barn Theatre and on UK tour
Cast Changes and Announcements

Stefan Dennis and George Rainsford lead the cast for The King's Speech UK tour

Stefan Dennis and George Rainsford head the seven-strong company announced for The King’s Speech, which opens at the Barn Theatre in Cirencester on 9 October before a UK tour running from January to July 2027.

The cast of Deep-Heat Rivalry at The Other Palace Studio. Photo by Mark Senior
Theatre News

First look at Deep-Heat Rivalry, Trevor Ashley and Phil Scott's ice-hockey parody at The Other Palace

Production photographs are out for Deep-Heat Rivalry, the adults-only hockey romp from Trevor Ashley and Phil Scott now running at The Other Palace Studio until 11 October.

The auditorium and stage of Hackney Empire. Photo by Mark Senior
Theatre News

Hackney Empire opens its 125th anniversary year with new opera, dance and a season of partnerships

Hackney Empire is 125 this year, and the first ten months of its anniversary programme are now public: a new opera by Renell Shaw, the return of Ballet Black, a Talawa gala and the annual pantomime are among the…

Stick Man key art for the Bloomsbury Theatre season, with Wills Mercado, Lalany Samuel, Liam Bradbury and Erin Rowlett. Illustration by Axel Scheffler
Cast Changes and Announcements

Wills Mercado and Sam Makepeace-Beach to lead Stick Man in London and Sheffield

Wills Mercado will play the title role in Stick Man at the Bloomsbury Theatre this Christmas, while Sam Makepeace-Beach leads a second company for the show's first festive season in Sheffield.

The cast of Monument, top row from left: Crystal Condie, Ifan Huw Dafydd, Joshua Griffin and Anna Lundberg; bottom row: Sharon Morgan, Lisa Palfrey and Gwydion Rhys, beside the show artwork by Guy J Sander
Cast Changes and Announcements

Lisa Palfrey and Sharon Morgan join the cast of Rhys Warrington's Monument at the Royal Court

Lisa Palfrey, Sharon Morgan and Ifan Huw Dafydd are among the seven actors cast in Monument, the world premiere by Rhys Warrington that brings the Royal Court’s 70th anniversary year to a close this December.

Artwork for A Sinatra Christmas By Candlelight, starring Joel Harper-Jackson, at the Aldwych Theatre on 6 December 2026
Upcoming and New Shows

Joel Harper-Jackson to headline A Sinatra Christmas By Candlelight at the Aldwych Theatre

Joel Harper-Jackson, the current star of Sinatra the Musical, will front A Sinatra Christmas By Candlelight, a one-night festive concert at the Aldwych Theatre on Sunday 6 December 2026.