Production news round-up: Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Steve Pemberton to star in The Pillowman and Denise Van Outen to host London cabaret show

This week’s round-up includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Steve Pemberton starring in the West End production of The Pillowman, and Denise Van Outen hosting a cabaret show at London’s Proud Embankment.

Musicals

School of Rock – the Musical is to tour the UK in 2021, opening at the Birmingham Alexandra Theatre. It will open there on February 13, 2021, and will also visit venues in locations such as Aberdeen, Glasgow, Wales, Milton Keynes and Newcastle. It is currently scheduled to tour until January 2022, when it plays at the New Oxford Theatre.
Author: Julian Fellowes (book), Andrew Lloyd Webber (music), Glenn Slater (lyrics)
Director: Laurence Connor
Producer: David Ian Productions

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock to tour

The Prince of Egypt has extended its West End run by 7 weeks, the show’s producers have announced. The musical is now booking until October 31 at the Dominion Theatre.
Author: Philip LaZebnik (book), Stephen Schwartz (music and lyrics)
Director: Scott Schwartz
Producers: DreamWorks Theatricals, Michael McCabe, Neil Laidlaw

The Prince of Egypt at the Dominion Theatre, London – review round-up

The producers of Be More Chill have confirmed a six-week extension to the show’s run at the Other Palace. The musical is now booking until June 14.
Author: Joe Tracz (book), Joe Iconis (music and lyrics)
Director: Stephen Brackett
Design: Beowulf Borritt (set), Tyler Micoleau (lighting), Ryan Rumery (sound), Bobby Frederick Tilley (costume)
Producers: Jerry Goehring, Lisa Dozier King (executive)

Be More Chill review at the Other Palace, London – ‘fizzes with feel-good energy’

The full cast has been announced for Bat out of Hell‘s UK tour. Sharon Sexton will return to the role of Sloane, with Rob Fowler as Falco. They will be joined by Glenn Adamson and Martha Kirby. The show will open at Manchester Opera House on September 10, running until 26, before visiting venues including New Wimbledon theatre, Glasgow King’s Theatre and Liverpool Empire. Each venue on the tour will be staging sing-along performances on selected dates.
Author: Jim Steinman (book, music and lyrics)
Director: Jay Scheib
Producers: David Sonenberg, Michael Cohl, Tony Smith, with executive producer Julian Stoneman

Plays

Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Steve Pemberton are set to star in the West End premiere of The Pillowman. The black comedy will run at Duke of York’s theatre from July 24 for a 12-week run, with a press night on August 5. Every performance will feature tickets available on a pay what you can basis.
Author: Martin McDonagh
Director: Matthew Dunster
Productions: Empire Street Productions

Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Steve Pemberton to star in The Pillowman in the West End

Maria Friedman will lead the cast of Hay Fever at Salisbury Playhouse. She will play the role of Judith Bliss, alongside Simon Dutton, Hollie Edwin and Kwaku Mills. The comedy will run from April 22 to May 16, with a press night on April 24.
Author: Noël Coward
Director: Gareth Machin
Design: Rebecca Brower (set), Sally Ferguson (lighting), Andrea J Cox (sound)
Producer: Wiltshire Creative

New comedy Angels of the North will transfer to Trafalgar Studios 2 from May 14 until June 6, with previews from May 12. The play previously ran at Theatre Royal Wakefield and East Riding Theatre.
Author: John Godber
Cast includes: John Godber, Adrian Hood, Martha Godber
Producer: John Godber Company

Plant Fetish, a one-woman show about suffering with anxiety and plants, is set to have its London premiere at the Vault Festival. The show will run for one night at the festival’s Cage venue on March 21, before touring to other venues including Hull Truck Theatre, Salisbury Playhouse and the Holbeck, where the tour concludes on June 30.
Author/Actor: Chanje Kunda
Director: Darren Pritchard
Design: Sidnie Pantry (costume), Nigel Edwards (lighting)
Producer: Switchflicker Productions

Full casting has been confirmed for the world premiere of Five Characters in Search of a Good Night’s Sleep. The play follows five insomniacs as they fill their nights with “distracting activities, desperate sleep techniques, evaluations of their lives, delusions, fears, panics and utter foolishness”. It will run at Southwark Playhouse from April 29 to May 3.
Authors: Devised by Mike Alfreds and Sonja Linden
Director: Mike Alfreds
Cast includes: Geraldine Alexander, Andrew Hawkins, Sally Knyvette, Gary Lilburn and Vincenzo Nicoli
Producer: ViSiBLE theatre company

Sharon Small will make her Chichester debut in the title role of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Based on Muriel Spark‘s novel of the same name, the play will run at the Chichester Festival Theatre from May 29 to June 30.
Author: Jay Presson Allen (adaptation)
Director: Rachel Kavanaugh
Design: Robert Jones (set), Howard Harrison (lighting), Catherine Jayes (music), Fergus O’Hare (sound)
Producer: Chichester Festival Theatre

The cast of Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad has been announced. The play, which “explores loneliness and love in small town North America”, will run at London’s Finborough Theatre from March 31 to April 25, with a press night on April 2.
Author: Michael Melski
Director: Jimmy Walters
Cast includes: Sean Rigby, Kristin Atherton
Design: Daisy Blower (set and costume), Adam King (lighting), Julian Starr (music and sound)
Producer: Proud Haddock in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre

London’s Omnbibus Theatre has announced its new season, which features a revival of Peter Gill‘s Small Change, new work Angry Yellow Woman by Vera Chok, and 96 Festival, the venue’s annual queerness celebration. Confirmed performers at the festival include Cocoa Butter Club’s MisSa Blue, Katie Bonna, Monica Gaga, Beth Watson, Amie Taylor and The Family Jewels. The season runs from April to June.

English Touring Theatre has confirmed its 2020 programme of work, which includes the UK premiere of Kate Attwell‘s Testmatch, a play that explores “power, history, colonialism, gender and sexuality – all through the lens of women’s cricket”. Also announced is Mugabe, My Dad and Me written and performed by Tonderai Munyevu, and touring productions of Tennessee Williams‘ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Gatsby, adapted by Maria Aberg and Joel Horwood.

Other

Denise Van Outen is set to host a cabaret show at London’s Proud Embankment, running for six weeks from March 5. Confirmed performers include burlesque artist Missy Fatale, mime performer Pi the Mime and identical twin cabaret duo the L’Sheila Sisters.
Director/choreographer: Jess Talbot-Smith

Denise Van Outen to host London cabaret show