Jack and the Beanstalk

Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive Helen Matravers has announced details of their new Autumn – Winter season, running from 27 September 2023 through to 21 January 2024.

Full casting has been announced for the world première production of the heart-warming, original musical Then, Now & Next, written by Christopher J Orton (My Land's Shore) and Jon Robyns (currently playing the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera) in a first-time collaboration for the pair.

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and the Unicorn Theatre announced the full cast and creative team for The Tempest re-imagined for everyone aged six and over, revised and directed by Jennifer Tang. Learn how to purchase tickets!

TV presenter, actor and Strictly winner Ore Oduba and actress and soap star Wendi Peters will head up the cast for this year’s spectacular Christmas pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, at Northampton’s Royal & Derngate, with the hilarious Bob Golding returning as Dame.

The cast has been announced for THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL’s London run at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. The production will star Divina de Campo as Plankton with Gareth Gates and Tom Read Wilson alternating the role of Squidward.

UK Productions and BH Live have announced casting for this year's enchanting pantomime Aladdin, which will play at Fairfield Halls, Ashcroft Theatre from 16 Dec 2023 – 07 Jan 2024.

De Montfort Hall and Imagine Theatre have announced that everyone’s favourite radio DJ Scott Mills will make his pantomime debut this festive season as he takes to the stage in Leicester’s giant family pantomime Jack and The Beanstalk from 15 December – 07 January.

Delicious Regency farce Quality Street comes to Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre next month. A co-production from Northern Broadsides and the New Vic Theatre, it can be seen in the Round from 6 to 10 June.

With The Tempest about to open this year's Salisbury International Arts Festival, Wiltshire Creative has announced full programming for their Autumn 2023 season.

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre has announced further casting for the spectacular family pantomime, SNOW WHITE, with Eternal, Loose Women and Hollyoaks' Kelle Bryan, CBeebies' Gyasi Sheppy and X Factor and Blood Brothers' Niki Colwell Evans. 

Michael Harrison for Crossroads Pantomimes has announced the return to the West End of The London Palladium Pantomime for an eighth year, with Jennifer Saunders and Julian Clary leading the cast in a brand new production of Peter Pan.

Tickets are on sale now for Tulsa Opera's production of Stephen Sondheim's beloved musical 'Into the Woods' at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center.

Dianne Pilkington, Louis Gaunt and Christina Bianco will join the cast of The Wizard of Oz this summer. Dianne will play the Wicked Witch of the West, Louis will be the Scarecrow and Christina will play Glinda The Good Witch.

Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive of Polka Theatre, Helen Matravers, has announced details of their 2023 Christmas offering: The Snow Queen will run from 11 November – 21 January in the Main Theatre for ages 6-12, alongside The Night Before Christmas for children aged 2-6, playing in the Adventure Theatre from 18 November – 14 January, returning to Polka after a highly successful run in 2021. 

'Into The Woods' took me on a rollercoaster ride of 'high and lows'. It differs from the Disney-themed fairytales in that it is geared more to an adult audience and the good guys do not win.

American Repertory Theater will develop Julia Riew’s musical Dive, previously known as Shimcheong: A Folktale. See the creative team, and more.

Forte Theatre Company is inviting Wisconsinites 'Into the Woods' at Franklin's Saber Center for the Performing Arts, led by Artistic Director Randall Dodge and Executive Director Brenda Dodge. I recently chatted with Brenda Dodge about the upcoming production.

The UK Pantomime Association (UKPA) has announced the winners of The Pantomime Awards 2023 in association with Butlin’s at a star-studded ceremony which took place at the Trafalgar Theatre in London’s West End on the evening of Tuesday 11 April 2023.  

The biggest night in theatre, the Olivier Awards, was celebrated at the Royal Albert Hall on 2 April. Hosted by renowned stage and screen actor Hannah Waddingham, a three-time Olivier Award nominee herself, the Olivier Awards celebrate the world-class status of London theatre, and are Britain's most prestigious stage honours. Here are this year's award winners!

Mercury Theatre has announced the full cast for their upcoming production of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations. Adapted by Gale Childs Daly, McBryde directs Stanton Wright as Pip, alongside Bessy Ewa, Jim Fish, Gareth Kennerley, Sam Lupton and Emily Pollet.

Yale Repertory Theatre will conclude its 2022–23 season with the ripple, the wave that carried me home by Christina Anderson, directed by Tamilla Woodard.

Newly formed production company, Joy Productions, led by producer Julie Clare and co-producer Chuchu Nwagu have entered into a five-year partnership with the newly refurbished Grade II listed Broadway in Catford to programme their annual pantomime for the coming five years.

All new photos have been released from the Gala performance of Disney's WINNIE THE POOH THE MUSICAL at Riverside Studios yesterday, Sunday 26 March. Guests included Alex Jones, Anneka Rice, Charlene White, James & Ola Jordan, Rachel Riley & Pasha Kovalev, Tamara Ecclestone and Vanessa Feltz.

Stephen Sondheim (Music and lyrics) and James Lapine’s (Book) INTO THE WOODS Is given a small stage adaptation and an Australian voice at Belvoir St Theatre.  Presented as a co-production between Belvoir St Theatre and Hayes Theatre Co, this new production is directed by Belvoir’s Artistic Director, Eamon Flack.

The young ensemble cast at DreamWrights brought the book to life and made the packed audience of families laugh this weekend with their cast of colorful characters and animals. My own teenager loved this book as a child and giggled through out the performance! Stinky Cheese Man has lots of physical comedy that kids will laugh out loud at even if they don’t quite get the verbal humor of the parody yet. Sprinkled throughout the show is a few unique songs and even a puppet. Even the intermission was entertaining. Kids were getting their wiggles out dancing to music as the clocked counted down the minutes left before Act II.

After two years of record-breaking sales, Mercury Theatre today announce their new pantomime for Christmas 2023, Sleeping Beauty, which is now on sale.  The production will star pantomime royalty and Mercury Theatre regulars Antony Stuart-Hicks and Dale Superville.

Step into an enchanted world of beautiful princesses, handsome princes and evil fairies at Liverpool's Epstein Theatre this Easter.

Television star Tom Read Wilson will star as Squidward in the UK Premiere of THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL, joining the previously announced Divina de Campo as Plankton.

St Helens audiences are guaranteed a fantastic Easter treat when Beauty and the Beast sweeps into the Theatre Royal next month.

The UK Pantomime Association has announced the nominations for The Pantomime Awards 2023 in association with Butlin’s, ahead of the awards ceremony at the Trafalgar Theatre, in London’s West End, on Tuesday 11 April 2023 at 7pm, hosted by Christopher Biggins.  

To spotlight women in leadership, the Broadway Women’s Fund has announced the fourth annual Women to Watch on Broadway.

Last week, the cast of  Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Adaptation went on a trip to Hundred Acre Wood and visited Pooh Corner, Poohsticks Bridge and Ashford Park Hotel.  Check out photos and video footage from the day here!

The biggest night in theatre, the Olivier Awards, celebrates the brightest and best of London's world-leading theatre industry with a starry ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 2 April. Check out a full list of nominations!

The full cast and creative team have been announced for Noël Coward's Brief Encounter, adapted for the stage by Emma Rice. Learn more about the show here!

Lyric Hammersmith Theatre has announced Its Autumn/Winter 2023-24 season. Learn more about the full lineup here!

Opening the Spring season at Polka Theatre is a new musical adaptation of Jack and the Beanstalk from the team behind We're Going on a Bear Hunt. Co-written by Polka's outgoing Artistic Director, Peter Glanville with music by Barb Jungr, and directed by Roman Stefanski, Jack v Giant offers a gender-swapped take on the fairy tale for ages 4 to 8.

Every element of this production of Into the Woods at Open Stage comes together to create an incredible experience for the audience. The multi-talented cast and production team fully deserve the standing ovation they received on opening night.

As the show today celebrates its 100th performance, the critically acclaimed production of My Son's a Queer, (But what can you do?) announces its extension at the Ambassadors Theatre in London's West End due to popular demand.

Heathers the Musical, will be ushering in a new cast from 21st February at The Other Palace, with the show now booking until 3 September 2023.

Open Stage, a theatre company in downtown Harrisburg, will present Into the Woods on its Capital Blue Cross Main Stage from Feb. 18 – Mar. 11.

The stage adaptation of best-selling novel The Book Thief, with libretto by Jodi Picoult and Timothy Allen McDonald and music and lyrics by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson, will be presented at Coventry's Belgrade Theatre and Leicester's Curve Theatre in autumn 2023.

A new documentary musical from Breach Theatre examines the dark period of UK history when Section 28 prohibited the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality in schools, and the knock-on effect on the queer community today.

The full cast has been announced for Disney's Winnie the Pooh. The UK and Ireland premiere will begin performances at London's Riverside Studios (Hammersmith) from 17 March, with an official opening on 26 March.

Theatre company Double Telling, led by Director Marlie Haco, have announced the full cast for their new production of Good Day, playing at VAULT Festival in March 2023. Haco directs Annie Davison (Zara), Olivia Barrowclough (Alex) and Sam Newton (Joe).

Mercury Theatre has announced the full cast for their upcoming production They Don't Pay? We Won't Pay!, Deborah McAndrews' adaptation of Dario Fo and Franca Rame's Sottopaga? Non si paga!. Mercury Theatre Creative Director Ryan McBryde directs Joseph Alessi (Jack), Olatunji Ayofe (Lewis), Laura Doddington (Anthea), Tesni Kujore (Maggie) and Marc Pickering (Constable/ Sergeant/Undertaker/Pops).

Gareth Gates and Divina de Campo will star in the UK Premiere of the Tony Award nominated, award-winning THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL which opens at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton* on Wednesday 5 April 2023.

The Downtown Cabaret Theatre has announced the cast and creative team for their original Theatre for Young Audiences musical Jack and the Beanstalk, which will have its world premiere on February 18, 2023. 'Fe fi fo fum, I smell a brand new DCT show that is fun for the whole family!' Artistic Director and writer Phill Hill says.

Ahead of opening the world première adaption of Manjeet Mann's Carnegie Medal-winning young adult novel Run Rebel, Mercury Theatre has announced their new production of Charles Dickens' novel, Great Expectations, as part of their Spring/Summer season.

Filled with epic fairytales that will take audiences into the woods and under the sea and poignant stories of faith, love and acceptance, Slow Burn Theatre Company announces its 2023/2024 season of five Broadway musicals in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. The five musicals are Into the Woods, Disney's The Little Mermaid, Sister Act, The Prom and Spongebob The Musical.