The news that has had theatre land talking this week includes...
Casting announced for West End production of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
Casting has been announced for the London run of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which opens at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on 18 July, running until 8 January 2023.
Samantha Womack will play the White Witch, with Ammar Duffus as Peter, Shake Kalokoh as Edmund, Robyn Sinclair as Susan and Delainey Hayles as Lucy. Chris Jared will play Aslan.
Scott Brooks will play Mr Pope and Fox Trot, with Rachel Dawson as Miss Chutney, Blue Badger and Spirit of the Moon, Oliver Grant as Mr Wilson, Schrodinger, Red Squirrel, Head Cruel and puppeteer, Matthew James Hinchcliffe as Mr Marsden and Mauve Mole, Shaun McCourt as Mr Granville, Jack Rabbit and puppeteer, Christine Tedders as Mrs Beaver, Jez Unwin as Mr Tumnus and Johnson Willis as Professor Kirk, Father Christmas, wise Owl and White Mouse.
Julian Hoult joins the show as Mr Beaver alongside Sean Lopeman as Mr Brinkworth, March hare and puppeteer, Micha Richardson as Mrs Pevenshie and Robin, Charlotte Kate Warren as Mrs Gumley Warmly and Phoenix. Myla Carmen, Jasmin Colangelo, Ashlee Irish and Ciaran Roger join the cast as swings.
Further dates announced for UK Tour of Charlie and Chocolate Factory
Further dates have been announced for the upcoming UK Tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which opens at Leeds Playhouse on 18 November. It will then visit Milton Keynes, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Norwich, Cardiff and Canterbury
New dates announced this week include stops in Plymouth, Manchester, Sunderland, Southampton, Hull, Bristol, Birmingham and Liverpool .
New Frozen casting announced
Casting has been announced for the second year of Frozen the musical at theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Samantha Barks will be continuing in the role of Elsa, with Craig Gallivan staying on as Olaf, alongside Oliver Ormson, Richard Frame, Mikayla Jade and Ashely Birchall who stay on as Hans, Duke of Weselton and the shared role of Sven respectively.
Emily Lane, currently second over Anna, will step up to play the role full time from 28 September.
Jeremy Batt, Laura Emmitt, Matt Gillett, Justin-Lee Jones, Jacqui Sanchez, Jak Skelly, Kerry Spark, Anna Woodside and Luke Fraser Yates are also staying with the show.
The cast is completed by Rhianne Alleyne, Danny Becker, Marianne Bardgett, Rebecca Botterill, Char Burnett, Collette Coleman, Davide Fienauri, Jemal Felix, Jordan Fox, Molly Francis, Harriet Samuels, Isabella Glanznig Santos, Ben Irish, Aoife Kenny, Jordan Livesey, Joshua Robinson, Caitlin Tipping, and Rodney Vubya.
Back to the Future sets sights on Broadway
Plans have been revealed for the award winning musical adaptation of Back to the Future, currently playing at the Adelphi Theatre, to open on broadway
Although not much information is available at this time, it is believed that the show will open in a Broadway venue next year with casting and dates to be announced.
New casting announced for The Phantom of the Opera
New casting has been announced for the west end production of The Phantom of the Opera.
Killian Donnelly will stay on as the Phantom with Lucy St.Louis as Christine. Matt Blaker will join the show as Raoul alongside Kelly Glypstis as Carlotta.
Matt Harrop will continue as Monsieur Firmin, with Adam Linstead as Monsieur Andre, Greg Castiglioni as Ubaldo Piangi, Francesca Ellis as Madame Giry and Ellie Young as Meg Giry. Holly-Anne Hull will play Christine at certain performances.
The cast also includes Hollie Aires, Connor Carson, Corina Clark, Edward Court, Michelle Cornelius, Lily De-La-Haye, Hywel Dowsell, Serina Faul, James Gant, Eilish Harmon-Beglan, Emma Harris, Yukina Hasebe, Thomas Holdsworth, Olivia Holland-Rose, Jacob Hughes, Grace Hume, James Hume, Tim Morgan, Michael Robert-Lowe, Eve Shanu-Wilson, Tim Southgate, Anouk Van Laake, Jasmine Wallis, Rafe Watts, Skye Weiss, Simon Whitaker, Lizzie Wofford and Andrew York.