Johan Persson News

Prohibition era, New York. A city full of mobsters, showgirls and dreamers. Rival gangster bosses Fat Sam and Dandy Dan are at loggerheads. The custard pies are flying and Dandy Dan’s gang has gotten the upper hand since obtaining the new-fangled “splurge” gun. Now, Fat Sam and his bumbling buffoons are in real trouble!

Christopher Shinn's play brims with interesting politics but is too often bogged down in overly-familiar personal issues

The show is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Tales of the South Pacific and made its Broadway debut in 1949; it is surprisingly progressive, despite its age, making it a relatively unproblematic revival. It also helps that it contains some of musical theatre’s most recognisable songs, including “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair”, “Some Enchanted Evening”, and “There Is Nothing Like a Dame”.

Matt Blaker recently starred in Carousel at Kilworth House Theatre. He is now returning to The Phantom of the Opera as the newest resident Raoul. We spoke with Blaker about his career, as well as taking on the role of the Vicomte de Chagny.

It's Prohibition-era New York, but not as you know it. The speakeasies and gang tensions are present and correct, but the mobsters and showgirls look like children, and the machine guns fire cream instead of bullets.

New production images have been released for the UK and Ireland tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s SOUTH PACIFIC, ahead of its London run at Sadler’s Wells. Check out the photos here!

This July, Covent Garden, the central London home of entertainment, dining and shopping, and Disney on Stage have joined forces to bring magic and wonder to visitors through a series of exclusive experiences inspired by spectacular West End productions including Frozen, The Lion King, Mary Poppins and newly launched Beauty and the Beast.

100,000 new tickets have been released for the final booking period of the West End production of Life of Pi. Nuwan Hugh Perera, who is currently the alternate Pi, will take over the title role on 7 September 2022 with Chirag Benedict Lobo joining the cast as the new alternate Pi.  

New production photographs of the cast of the Theatre Royal Bath Productions, Birmingham Rep and Kenny Wax revival of Lyric Hammersmith Theatre’s universally acclaimed production of Bugsy Malone were just released.

All new photos have been released from rehearsals for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s SOUTH PACIFIC. Check them out here!

Previously unseen items from the V&A’s theatre and performance collections will be displayed as part of a new musical theatre exhibition.

The tale as old as time returns to the West End. The 1991 animated film is doubtlessly one of the most beloved out of the Disney catalogue and saw a number of live-action films of varied quality developed over the years. Now, its musical adaptation takes over the Palladium in a grand spectacle directed and choreographed by Matt West. It’s big, it’s theatrical, it’s magical.

The new Dublin & UK Tour production of Girl From The North Country is opening tonight in Dublin at the 3 Olympia Theatre. Written and directed by celebrated playwright Conor McPherson with music and lyrics by Bob Dylan. The production embarks on its first UK tour in August following its opening tonight. Get a first look at photos here!

As rain threatens to stop play down the road at Wimbledon's famous tennis club, it seems appropriate to be stopping by the theatre to watch Jonathan Church's stage version of Singin' In The Rain. Re-emerging after the pandemic at Sadler's Wells, the light-hearted and brightly cheerful show is now touring.

New rehearsal images of the cast of the Theatre Royal Bath Productions, Birmingham Rep and Kenny Wax revival of Lyric Hammersmith Theatre’s universally acclaimed, sell-out production of Bugsy Malone  by Johan Persson were released today.

All new rehearsal images has been released from the new Dublin & UK Tour production of Girl From The North Country.

From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power. These Queens may have green sleeves but their lipstick is rebellious red.

Second Half Productions just celebrated opening night of The Glass Menagerie, a new revival of Tennessee Williams's celebrated memory play, directed by award-winning director Jeremy Herrin. Performances will run at The Duke of York's Theatre until 27 August.

Whether it’s all a big scheme to get bums on seats or these actors are all of a sudden genuinely interested in being in plays, it’s working. The West End is swarming with film and tv stars at the minute and patrons are flocking to see them. Read our BWW critic's review.

Second Half Productions has today released production images for The Glass Menagerie, a new revival of Tennessee Williams's celebrated memory play, directed by award-winning director Jeremy Herrin.