Emma Reeves News

Musical Theatre Network (MTN), Mercury Musical Developments (MMD), and Octagon Theatre, Bolton have announced that Dylan Townley will be the next Cameron Mackintosh Resident Musical Theatre Composer on placement at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton commencing in October 2023. Learn more about Townley here!

Musical Theatre Network, Mercury Musical Developments and Oxford Playhouse has announced details of the 29 musicals that will be showcased in BEAM2023.  

Writers behind some of the most critically acclaimed works over the last two years were honoured at the 29th Writers' Guild of Great Britain Awards ceremony, including Russell T Davies, Kevin Dyer, Emerald Fennell, Andrea Gibb, Chinonyerem Odimba, Simon Blackwell and Armando Iannucci and Jack Thorne

Chance Theater has announced its next Chance Cyber Chat will be about the family hit Hetty Feather, adapted by Emma Reeves from Jacqueline Wilson's book, which is available to watch on BroadwayHD.

BroadwayHD's CEO Bonnie Comley has announced a new initiative to put the spotlight on underrepresented voices in the theater community, with a special Trailblazers Category.

The critically acclaimed West End production of Jacqueline Wilson's Hetty Feather will be screened in cinemas across the UK from 15 April, directed by Sally Cookson and adapted for the stage by Emma Reeves.

BroadwayHD, the premiere streaming service for theater fans, is kicking off September with everyone dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock. Making its streaming premiere exclusively on BroadwayHD, Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller, an infectiously fun and riotous rock and roll time capsule of top 40 hits captured live-in-performance on Broadway will debut September 12 . Grammy Award winners Jerry Leiber and Michael Stoller wrote hit songs for great artists such a King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley, The Drifters, The Coasters and Peggy Lee. Subscribers can dance and sing-along to classics including: 'Jailhouse Rock,' 'Love Potion #9,' 'Hound Dog', 'On Broadway', 'Stand By Me' and other favorites. If swiveling your hips to the music of Smokey Joe's Cafe has you wanting more, continue your musical journey through the 1950s with the Best Musical Tony Award-winning performance of Memphis, featuring Tony Award-nominees Chad Kimball and Montego Glover, beginning September 26.

Casting a spell on the West End this summer, the critically acclaimed production of The Worst Witch must complete its run at the Vaudeville Theatre on 8 September 2019. Budding young witches and wizards have less than 3 weeks left to catch this hit production before it flies off into the night.

BroadwayWorld UK reporter Jamie Body goes backstage at the Vaudeville Theatre with some of the cast to find out what it takes to be the worst witch in the West End. 

Move over, Hogwarts a?' Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches is in town! Fresh from a UK tour, Emma Reeves' adaptation of Jill Murphy's The Worst Witch comes slipping and sliding into the West End for a summer residency at the Vaudeville Theatre. This musical stage version of the much-loved books is directed by Theresa Heskins and features an all-female cast.

London is never short of temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From Robert Icke's latest to Fleabag, Evita and witchy adventures, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld's reviews, interviews and features!

Full casting has been announced for the West End transfer of The Worst Witch, adapted for the stage by Emma Reeves from Jill Murphy's original books. The Worst Witch opens at the Vaudeville Theatre from 24 July - 8 September 2019, following a hugely successful nationwide tour.

Packed with cauldrons full of original songs, magic and mayhem, The Worst Witch flies on to the Birmingham Hippodrome stage for the first time from Wed 22 - Sun 26 May.

With Home, I'm Darling currently running in the West End, and rehearsals underway for Orpheus Descending, Theatr Clwyd today announce the full cast for the world première of Jacqueline Wilson's Wave Me Goodbye, adapted by Emma Reeves. Christian Patterson directs Courtney George (Shirley), Victoria John (Chubby/Doris/Mrs Henshaw), Sean Jones (Kevin/Will Waverley/Male Doll), Kerry Peers (Mrs Mad/WVS Volunteer/'Charlie Chaplin'/Marilyn Henderson/Landlady) and Sam C Wilson (Shirley's Dad (Pete Smith)/Mr Bentley/ Kevin's Dad (Joe Moffatt), Gerald Pendleton/Uncle Mick). The production opens on 25 April, with previews from 23 April, and runs until 4 May.

The Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, announced today that it will debut Tribeca X: A Day of Conversations, a look at storytelling at the intersection of advertising and entertainment, during the 2019 Festival on Friday, April 26. The event will bring together industry leaders and creators from brands, agencies, and filmmaking to examine the achievements that are adventurous and distinctive in their work. Participants include keynote speaker P&G Chief Brand Officer Marc Pritchard; AT&T Communications Chief Brand Officer, Fiona Carter; Patagonia Founder Yvon Chouinard; TBWA Worldwide Chief Diversity Officer Doug Melville; President & CEO of The Ad Council Lisa Sherman; Actress/Creator Natasha Lyonne, and more. Tribeca X, sponsored by PwC, takes place during the 18th Tribeca Film Festival, which runs April 24-May 5.

The Worst Witch will fly into the West End for 7 weeks only, over the summer holidays, from 24 July * to 8 September (*all tickets for the 24 July performance are just £20.00!) following its hugely successful premiere at Royal & Derngate and hit UK tour. This new story, adapted for the stage from Jill Murphy's original books by Emma Reeves (who won a Royal Television Society Award for Best Children's TV Programme and 2017 British Screenwriters Award for Best Children's Programme for the televised version of The Worst Witch) was launched last November as Royal & Derngate's Made in Northampton 2018 Christmas show.

Long before Harry Potter or Hermione Grainger there was Mildred Hubble - an ordinary girl who found herself enrolled in a school for witches. Now audiences are invited to join her on her biggest and most important adventure yet when The Worst Witch comes to the Belgrade Theatre this Easter.

With Home, I'm Darling currently running in the West End, and rehearsals underway for Orpheus Descending, Theatr Clwyd today announce the full cast for the world premiere ofJacqueline Wilson's Wave Me Goodbye, adapted by Emma Reeves. Christian Patterson directs Courtney George (Shirley), Victoria John (Chubby/Doris/Mrs Henshaw), Sean Jones(Kevin/Will Waverley/Male Doll), Kerry Peers (Mrs Mad/WVS Volunteer/'Charlie Chaplin'/Marilyn Henderson/Landlady) and Sam C Wilson (Shirley's Dad (Pete Smith)/Mr Bentley/ Kevin's Dad (Joe Moffatt), Gerald Pendleton/Uncle Mick). The production opens on 25 April, with previews from 23 April, and runs until 4 May.

Royal & Derngate announces another world premiere production, a musical staging of Pippi Longstocking, for the venue's Made in Northampton 2019 Christmas show. Meanwhile, the venue's 2018 Christmas production of The Worst Witch continues to tour the UK. Pippi Longstocking is adapted for the stage for the first time by Mike Akers from Astrid Lindgren's much-loved books, with original music by Stu Barker. It will be directed by The Wardrobe Ensemble's Jesse Jones and Helena Middleton who co-directed Education, Education, Education for Royal & Derngate in 2017.

From Main Stage musicals to interactive pre-school shows, there's plenty for families to look forward to at the Belgrade Theatre this Easter, with a range of shows on offer for kids of all ages to enjoy.