Stagey Catch Up: Andrew Wright's dream show, Jason Denton saves the day & Jordan Lee Davies plays the Pheasantry

Summer is upon us and theatreland has been set alight! Catch up with some stagey stories you may have missed below.

Andrew Wright to helm Moby Dick

Earlier this year Andrew Wright spoke to West End Frame about how gutted he was when a production of Moby Dick he was working on got cancelled. Well... West End Frame makes dreams come true and it has been revealed that Wright will direct and choreograph a production of Moby Dick at the new Union Theatre, running between 12th October and 12th November 2016!

Jordan Lee Davies to play the Pheasantry

This Sunday (26th June) West End actor Jordan Lee Davies, who recently left Les Miserables, will perform his new one-man show Treat Yourself at the Pheasantry. Special guests include Phantom's Celinde Schoenmaker and recent graduate Lauren Drew. Musical direction is by the one and only Alex Parker with backing vocals by Samantha Thomas and Charlotte Kennedy.

Another West End transfer for the Menier Chocolate Factory

Photo Credit: Marc Brenner 

The Menier Chocolate Factory is officially unstoppable! With The Color Purple winning Tonys, The Truth about to open in the West End and Into The Woods about to begin a summer season, it has been revealed that David Baddiel's show My Family: Not the Sitcom is transferring to the Vaudeville Theatre. Performances will begin on 12th September 2016.

Jason Denton saves the day once again

Back in April Jason Denton made a last minute return to the UK tour of Save The Last Dance For Me, reprising his performance of Curtis due to the indisposition of Wayne Robinson. Now the actor has temporarily returned to the ensemble of Show Boat at the New London Theatre until 9th July covering cast absence. Denton previously appeared in the musical at the Sheffield Crucible. 

The Railway Children confirms closure 

Photo Credit: Johan Persson

It has been confirmed that The Railway Children will play its final performance at the King's Cross Theatre on 8th January 2017.  BAFTA award–winning presenter, actor and voice-over artist Justin Fletcher is taking over as Mr Perks for a limited two month run between 31st August and 30th October 2016. The production's hugely successful run began in December 2014. 

Mark Ravenhill’s Shopping and F***ing

Mark Ravenhill’s Shopping and F***ing is being revived at the Lyric Hammersmith, 20 years after its premiere at the Royal Court. Directed by Sean Holmes, Shopping and F***ing will open on 12th October (previews from 7th October) and run until 5th November 2016. Casting for the play, which is said to feature a "raw mixture of black humour and bleak philosophy", will be announced soon.

Arlene Phillips to direct world premiere of 27

Director/choreographer Arlene Phillips will direct the world premiere of 27, an "intoxicating" new British rock musical by Sam Cassidy who is also co-directing the production. 27 will open at the Cockpit Theatre in Marylebone on 12th September (previews from 8th September) for a limited run to 22nd October 2016. The piece is a "shattering exploration of the fragility of life and the unwitting connections that bind us together". 

Scooby-Doo heading to the London Palladium!

Following its U.S. tour, family musical Scooby-Doo Live! Musical Mysteries will open at the London Palladium for a limited run between 18th and 21st August 2016 with tickets on sale from 22nd June. The original Australian tour’s creative team will be reuniting, including writer and director Theresa Borg, composer Craig Bryant and choreographer Katie Ditchburn.

Imogen Stubbs & Natalie Casey star in Things I Know To Be True

Matthew Barker, Natalie Casey, Richard Mylan, Kirsty Oswald, Ewan Stewart and Imogen Stubbs will star in the UK premiere of Things I Know To Be True by Andrew Bovell, a an international co-production between Frantic Assembly and State Theatre Company of South Australia. The play will run at the Lyric Hammersmith from 10th September until 1st October 2016 before embarking on a UK tour. Things I Know To Be True will be co-directed by Scott Graham and Geordie Brookman. 

Michelle Collins to star in pantomime this Christmas

Casting has been announced for this year's pantomime at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre which runs between 9th and 31st December 2016. The cast of Aladdin will include Michelle Collins as Genie of the Ring, Andy Collins as Wishee-Washee, TOWIE's Jasmin Walia as Princess Jasmine and La Voix as Widow Twankey.

Hannah Grover & Gloria Onitiri star in The Stripper

Hannah Grover, Gloria Onitiri, Marc Pickering, Michael Steedon and Sebastien Torkia are in rehearsals for The Stripper. The show opens at the St James Studio on 11th July  (previews from 7th July) for a run until 13th August. Based on the pulp fiction story by Carter Brown, with music and lyrics by The Rocky Horror Show creators Richard Hartley and Richard O’Brien, The Stripper is directed by Benji Sperring.