Matt Lucas News

The National Youth Theatre (NYT) has announced Audition Open Days around the UK - a free workshop giving young people audition advice and introducing them to the NYT ethos and the world of theatre making.

Kicking off the month on January 1st is the 1945 musical comedy film Ziegfeld Follies, featuring Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball, Gene Kelly, Judy Garland, Fanny Brice, Lena Horne and more. The How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying film, based on the musical of the same name, is set to debut on January 4th.

Sky Arts will broadcast a new documentary Cameron Mackintosh - The First 50 Years on Monday 27 December 2021 at 7pm, a two-hour programme featuring Mackintosh’s life as a producer told through his own eyes and those of his friends and colleagues including his most famous writer collaborators.

Netflix has released a new trailer for The Great British Baking Show: Holidays season four. Deck the halls with sugar, butter and chocolate as competitors from past seasons bake wondrous winter treats for judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. Watch the new trailer now!

After months of refurbishments and closure due to coronavirus, the Royal Albert Hall is back open and ready to celebrate its 150th anniversary. Part of its full re-opening programme was the return of Letters Live, an event which has taken place at various venues across the world (from the Union Chapel in Islington to the Calais refugee camp to Los Angeles), and made its debut at the Royal Albert Hall back in 2019.

Charlie Kristensen, the 11 year old passionate anti-bullying campaigner and much-loved host of the online chat show Musical Chairs with #CheerUpCharlie, will be joined by an exciting line-up for his fundraising gala #CheerUpCharlie – The Show on Sunday 31 October 2021 at 7.30pm at The Actor’s Church in Covent Garden, London.

The film is a prequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and serves as an origin story of the Willy Wonka, played by Timothee Chalamet, who later created an elaborate house of confectionary creations.

Just last night, West End actress turned television's favorite new star, Hannah Waddingham, accepted her first Emmy Award for her outstanding performance as Rebecca Welton on Ted Lasso. In her speech, she gave a shoutout to her fellow stage performers. 'West End musical theatre performers need to be onscreen more,' she cried. 'Please then a chance, because we won't let you down!' 

RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Graham Norton and Alan Carr will all be returning to the judges’ panel this season, alongside special guest judges Oti Mabuse, Matt Lucas, Kathy Burke, Steps, Charity Shop Sue, and Jay Revell. Additional guest judges will be announced at a later date.

This week, on Thursday, August 19th, at 9 pm, THE PLAYERS CLUB, a historic club founded by Edwin Booth, will present Ernie Bird: A Composer's Night. The first concert dedicated to Ernie Bird's music, and his life as a theatre composer, will include songs from the musicals he composed for.

Hannah Waddingham may now be best known for her role in Game of Thrones, and most recently, her Emmy-nominated role as Rebecca in Ted Lasso, but she has been known to theatre fans since long before her television stardom.

Having been mentally and physically bullied severely for over 18 months, in part due to his love of performing, Charlie couldn't take any more. When he opened up to his performance coach West End actress Jacqueline Hughes and broke down during one of his singing lessons, she rallied support from the theatre industry via Twitter.

Boogie woogie piano genius and vocalist Tom Seals is hitting the road with his debut UK theatre tour. The 45s Tour will see Tom travel to venues across England and Scotland as he entertains audiences with a variety of genres from blues and jazz to swing and soul with his much-celebrated boogie-woogie style.

Following the news that Gina Beck is pregnant, Chichester Festival Theatre has announced that in the forthcoming production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific, she will rehearse and open the role of Nellie Forbush as planned with performances from 5 July and a press night on 13 July. From 5 August, Alex Young will share the role of Nellie and take over full-time from 23 August for the remainder of the run.

New York-based musical theatre writing team Bird & Mirabella have announced two new episodes of their free, family-friendly musical podcast “What Will She Do Next?,” celebrating key moments in the lives of history's greatest women.

Performances of Les Miserables: The Staged Concert have been cancelled between 16 – 28 February 2021.

James Corden is celebrating the imminent departure of the Trump administration with a Les Miserables parody!

Today's top stories: James Corden is joined by Patti LuPone and more in Trump-themed 'One Day More', Laura Benanti returns as Melania Trump one final time, and more!

New York-based musical theatre writing team Bird & Mirabella have announced two new episodes of their free musical podcast “What Will She Do Next?,” both celebrating notable women in the military. These family-friendly podcasts use interactive storytelling and Broadway-style songs to celebrate key moments in the lives of history's greatest women.

Visit our list of the best musicals & shows you can watch from home! We've got you covered with all the must-sees on streaming sites including Tony-award winners, favorite stars and top performances.