UK REGIONAL THEATRE NEWSROOM - Page 44

Cheshire's most spectacular live stately home outdoor concerts are set to return in 2026 - with audiences promised even more big names and brilliant music.

Birmingham Rep has announced the complete cast for the World Premiere of the much anticipated play-with-songs, Sherlock Holmes and The Twelve Days of Christmas, written by Humphrey Ker and David Reed.

Talented by name, talented by nature: Ed McVey is a perfectly cast Mr Ripley, deftly juggling paranoia, wild optimism, self-pity and bouts of violence, while never losing either his sense of humour or the audience's tolerance.

Underbelly Boulevard has announced its summer and autumn 2025 programme, featuring Tweedy’s Massive Solo Show, queer musical hit Jeezus!, Marie Faustin’s Good Girl, Bad Laugh, Bar Burlesque, Belly Scratch, and more.

Equity has urged the UK government to support collective bargaining in the arts following Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy MP’s Labour Party Conference speech, stressing the need for stronger protections for freelance artists and union involvement in shaping industry growth.

Polka Theatre has renamed its Main Theatre as the Y C Chan Theatre, recognising a landmark gift from the Chan Yin Chuen Memorial Charitable Foundation.

Further casting has been announced for Don Black’s From The Heart, premiering at London’s Fortune Theatre on October 26 and November 2, 2025.

Bristol Old Vic has announced additional shows for its Winter/Spring 2026 season, including The Woman in Black, The Boy at the Back of the Class, and Showstopper! The Improvised Musical.

BAFTA and Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated, Broadcast Award winning comedy duo Ada & Bron are bringing their debut show The Origin of Love to London's Soho Theatre this October.

W Somerset Maugham's The Constant Wife was written in 1926 and described as ‘a sparkling comedy of ill manners'.

Following a sold-out performance last year, CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT, a magical evening of beloved festive songs performed by candlelight, will return to the Adelphi Theatre.

James Phelan’s latest production, The Man Who Was Magic, arrives at the Adelphi Theatre for one night only after a triumphant Edinburgh run and confirms his reputation as a magician with both flair and heart.

Leicester’s Curve theatre is continuing its support for Midlands theatre-makers as applications open for the second wave of Curve Resident Creatives, the theatre’s artist development programme.

Coronation Street star Calum Lill is set to embark on a giant adventure this Christmas as he headlines a pantomime at a new Scarisbrick venue.

English National Opera (ENO) will bring a new production of the compelling death row opera Dead Man Walking to the London Coliseum stage this November.

Acclaimed Korean play India Blog will take its next steps towards internationalisation with a London showcase next month at the Bush Theatre, Shepherd's Bush.

Following its successful presentation at the prestigious BEAM 2025 Showcase in May, the new musical 'Ready to Wear' will receive a lunchtime reading at The Other Palace as part of the Musical Bites series.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe will return to The Lowry in Salford from December 3, 2025, through January 11, 2026.

Coyote Ugly Live, a rollicking immersive comedy based on the world-famous bar, will open a new production in London in Spring 2026.

East Anglian gender-fluid spoken word artist Alice d'Lumiere will bring the show The Trans Lady Sings! to the Mercury Theatre Studio next month.

The Theatre Chipping Norton and Selladoor Worldwide will present a new version of the West End classic, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) – rebooted and reimagined for 2026.

The world premiere of Black Power Desk, a new Black British musical by critically acclaimed playwright Urielle Klein-Mekongo (Old Vic 12, Roundhouse, Bush Theatre), will take place at Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio from Wednesday, October 22 through Saturday, October 25, 2025.

The worldwide smash-hit musical MAMMA MIA! will play Milton Keynes Theatre from October 13–24, 2026, as part of its major new UK tour.

Play on Words – a musical celebration of PG Wodehouse on Broadway will take place at Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre.

This November, Southbank Centre's London Literature Festival will continue, featuring a day of curated events by Rebecca Lucy Taylor (a.