Paul Farnsworth News

Menier Chocolate Factory's major revival of Barnum opens on 5 December, with previews from 25 November, and runs until 3 March 2018. Barnum tells the story of P.T. Barnum, the Greatest Showman on Earth, who combines razzle-dazzle with charm and brass to sell 'humbug' to cheering crowds. A joyful and moving musical portrait of the nineteenth century's greatest show-biz legend, Barnum is a colourful, dynamic spectacle full of circus, side-show legends and heart.

Public booking opens today at 9am today for the Menier Chocolate Factory's major revival of Barnum. Gordon Greenberg's production opens on 5 December, with previews from 25 November, and runs until 3 March 2018.

For those seeking festive revelry, but with an equally seasonal undertow of quiet melancholy, She Loves Me is the blissful solution. Joe Masteroff, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick's 1963 musical adaptation of Miklos Laszlo's play Parfumerie, which also inspired the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan vehicle You've Got Mail, is a sparkling Christmas bauble of a show that shone on Broadway earlier this year, and now comes to us in delectable intimate form in the small but mighty musicals powerhouse that is the Menier.

The explosive new production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's ground-breaking rock opera, is set to continue its major UK tour into the autumn, coming to the King's Theatre Glasgow from tonight 6 to Saturday 10 October 2015.

The explosive new production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's ground-breaking rock opera, is set to continue its major UK tour into the autumn, coming to the King's Theatre Glasgow from Tuesday 6 to Saturday 10 October 2015.

The Producers, a Mel Brooks musical, has been a favourite of mine since I saw the Las Vegas production years ago starring David Hasselhoff - who was surprisingly good, I might add! The show had been condensed into an hour and a half straight through which worked well in my opinion. The musical was adapted from the 1968 film of the same name and opened on Broadway in 1991, receiving 12 Tony Awards - a massive achievement by any standard. The 2005 film version was also very enjoyable and starred original Broadway cast members Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick.

Based on Mel Brooks' beloved Academy Award winning movie, The Producers is a hilarious musical comedy that has taken Broadway and the West End by storm, winning a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards and 3 Olivier Awards; it opens its UK tour in March 2015.

Annie Get Your Gun premiered on Broadway nearly 70 years ago and many productions have graced stages across the world ever since then, plus a major MGM film in 1950 starring Betty Hutton. There has been a wide array of leading ladies who have played Annie Oakley including Ethel Merman, Dolores Gray, Suzi Quatro, Bernadette Peters, Jane Horrocks to name but a few and the show has been a huge international hit.

Written by Ray Cooney in 1984, Two Into One focuses on one of Cooney's favourite topics -infidelity - this time among England's political elite. Cooney depicts politicians as hypocritical sex fiends far more concerned with satisfying their hormonal urges than serving their constituents.

From Westphalia to the far reaches of the New World, Candide's journey of discovery is anything but dull. Through anguish, happiness, loss and love this is a whirlwind adventure that seeks to prove 'life is happiness indeed'. Leonard Bernstein's joyous musical comedy features a now-classic Overture, 'Make Our Garden Grow' and 'Glitter and Be Gay'.

Following on from Sunday in the Park with George, Little Shop of Horrors, La Cage aux Folles, A Little Night Music, Sweet Charity, Pippinand Merrily We Roll Along, the Menier Chocolate Factory is delighted to announce that its Christmas musical will be Candide with music by Leonard Bernstein, book adapted from Voltaire by Hugh Wheeler, lyrics by Richard Wilbur and additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John Latouche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Park and Leonard Bernstein.

Jackie Clune is to play the Old Lady and James Dreyfus is to play Dr Pangloss in the Menier Chocolate Factory's upcoming production of Candide.

Fra Fee, Cassidy Janson, Ben Lewis, Scarlett Strallen and David Thaxton have been cast in the Menier Chocolate Factory's Christmas musical Candide with music by Leonard Bernstein, book adapted from Voltaire by Hugh Wheeler, lyrics by Richard Wilbur and additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John Latouche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker and Leonard Bernstein.

Afraid of the Dark is making its World Premiere in London this autumn, playing at The Charing Cross Theatre now through 26 October, with a press night tonight 11 September. Afraid of the Dark is a new brand of theatrical terror that paralyzes the audience with fear. Everyone is afraid of something. What scares you when the lights go out? Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

Afraid of the Dark is making its World Premiere in London this autumn, playing at The Charing Cross Theatre now through 26 October, with a press night on Wednesday 11 September. Afraid of the Dark is a new brand of theatrical terror that paralyzes the audience with fear. Everyone is afraid of something. What scares you when the lights go out? Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

Following on from Sunday in the Park with George, Little Shop of Horrors, La Cage aux Folles, A Little Night Music, Sweet Charity, Pippinand Merrily We Roll Along, the Menier Chocolate Factory is delighted to announce that its Christmas musical will be Candide with music by Leonard Bernstein, book adapted from Voltaire by Hugh Wheeler, lyrics by Richard Wilbur and additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John Latouche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Park and Leonard Bernstein.

Afraid of the Dark is a new brand of theatrical terror that paralyzes the audience with fear. Everyone is afraid of something. What scares you when the lights go out? Afraid of the Dark has its World Premiere in London, playing at The Charing Cross Theatre, beginning today, 2 September - 26 October.

Afraid of the Dark is a new brand of theatrical terror that paralyzes the audience with fear. Everyone is afraid of something. What scares you when the lights go out? Afraid of the Dark will have its World Premiere in London this autumn, playing at The Charing Cross Theatre from 2 September - 26 October, with a press night on Wednesday 11 September.

Beginning tonight, October 24 and running through January 5, Tommy Steele will return to the West End once again headlining SCROOGE, with direction from Bob Tomson and design from Paul Farnsworth.