The news that has had theatre land talking this week includes...
Les Miserables role swap saves performance
To ensure that the show could go on against all the odds of covid enforced cancellations, performer Bradley Jaden, who normally plays the role of inspector Javert in Les Miserables reverted to the role of enjolras which he has played on numerous occasions in the past.
Although not new to the role of the revolutionary leader, this was the first time that Jaden had played the part with the shows new blocking and staging
The Jungle Book to run online
The Watermill Theatre has confirmed a digital version of its current production of The Jungle Book has been made available to watch online
Filmed live at the venue, the show can be rented for a period of either three or seven days from now until Tuesday 28 December. Audio description and captions are available.
Beautiful uk tour casting announced
Casting has been announced for the new tour of Beautiful: the Carole king musical which kicks off in February
Molly-Grace Cutler will play Carole King with Tom Milner as Gerry Goffin, while Seren Sandham-Davies and Jos Slovick will play husband and wife song-writing duo Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann. Garry Robson will star as Don Kirshner.
Clare Greenway will play Carole’s mother Genie Klein, and The cast is completed by Naomi Alade, Kemi Clarke, Chris Coxon, Amena El-Kindy, Louise Francis, Dylan Gordon-Jones, Jessica Jolleys, Sorrel Jordan, Myles Miller, Peter Mooney and Adrien Spencer.
Roles we’ll never play to return to London
Hit concert Roles We’ll Never Play will return to the West End next year.
Featuring musical stars performing numbers they’d never normally take on, the show has previously taken place at the vaudeville and Apollo. It will now play at its largest venue to date, the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, on March 7th 2022.
Casting for the evening is to be unveiled.
Musicals on tv this Christmas
There will be a plethora of recorded shows running on Sky Arts this Christmas including Les Misérables – The Staged Concert on Christmas Eve at 7.30pm, The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall on 27 December at 4.15pm and the 25th-anniversary production of Miss Saigon also on the 27th at 10pm
Furthermore, there’ll be a retrospective on famed producer Cameron Mackintosh’s life, titled Cameron Mackintosh – The First 50 Years, running on 27 December at 7pm.
Images found via Google, not my own