Damian Humbley & Ben Caplan join Salisbury's Hedda Gabler

Full casting has been announced for Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler at the Salisbury Playhouse adapted by Brian Friel.

Directed by artistic director Gareth Machin, the production opens in the Main House on 18th March (previews from 17th March) and runs until 2nd April 2016.

As previously announced, Kirsty Bushell will play the title role with Jane Wymark as Juliana and Petra Markham as Bertha.

The play will also star Damian Humbley (Forbidden Broadway/Merrily We Roll Along) as Eilert Loevborg and Ben Caplan (Call the Midwife/Sunny Afternoon, pictured) as George Tesman. Completing the cast are David Bark-Jones and Kemi-Bo Jacobs.

Review: Songs For A New World at the St James Theatre

Songs For A New World 
St James Theatre
Reviewed on Friday 24th July 2015
★★★★

Written by Jason Robert Brown when he was only twenty-five, Songs For A New World has become truly iconic. I had forgotten just how many incredibly written numbers are in the show, which is celebrating twenty years since its off-Broadway premiere.

Cynthia Erivo, Jenna Russell, Damian Humbley & Dean-John Wilson to star in Songs for a New World

Casting has been announced for the London revival of Songs for a New World by Jason Robert Brown.

Directed by Adam Lenson, the musical runs at the St. James Theatre between 22nd July and 8th August 2015.

The cast includes Cynthia Erivo, Jenna Russell, Damian Humbley and Dean-John Wilson, alongside a five piece band.

Cynthia Erivo is set to reprise her performance in The Colour Purple on Broadway this autumn, starring alongside Jennifer Hudson. Her other theatre credits include Henry IV (Donmar Warehouse); Dessa Rose (Trafalgar Studios); Sister Act: The Musical (UK Tour); The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Gielgud Theatre). Her television credits include The Tunnel (Kudos) and Mr Selfridge (ITV).

Forbidden Broadway extends run at the Menier Chocolate Factory

It has been announced that Forbidden Broadway has extended its run at the Menier Chocolate Factory. The production, which runs for an extra two weeks, will now close on Saturday 30th August 2014.

This updated version of the show, from Broadway director Phillip George, showcases (and makes fun of) some of the best productions from both Broadway and the West End including The Book of Mormon, Once, Matilda, Wicked and Miss Saigon.

Review: Forbidden Broadway at the Menier Chocolate Factory

Forbidden Broadway
Menier Chocolate Factory
Reviewed on Thursday 3rd July 2014

Have you ever wondered what the stagiest person on earth dreams about when they fall asleep? If so, Forbidden Broadway is the show with all the answers!

Anna Jane-Casey, Sophie-Louise Dann, Damian Humbley & Ben Lewis to star in Forbidden Broadway at the Menier

It has been announced that Anna Jane-Casey, Sophie-Louise Dann, Damian Humbley and Ben Lewis to star in Forbidden Broadway at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

Forbidden Broadway return to the Menier from Thursday 19th June, running until Saturday 16th August 2014. It is claimed New York's longest running comedy revue will return to London "bursting with brand new material."

A theatrical institution, Forbidden Broadway has received national and international notoriety, racking up over 9,000 performances in more than 200 US cities as well as engagements in London (including the Chocolate Factory in 2009), Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney.

Caroline O’Connor, Damian Humbley & Summer Strallen to star in Andrew Lippa celebration at the Menier Chocolate Factory

Andrew Lippa

It has been announced that the Menier Chocolate Factory will host a celebration of the works of Andrew Lippa. 

Life Of The Party: A Celebration Of The Songs Of Andrew Lippa opens on Friday 30th May (previews from 27th May) and runs until Saturday 14th June 2014.

Caroline O’Connor, Damian Humbley and Summer Strallen will star in the show, hosted by Andrew Lippa. 

He will showcase songs from some of his most successful musicals including; The Wild Party, The Addams Family and Big Fish. Audiences should also "expect some surprises" as Andrew and the cast "explore these stories and their characters, sharing their journeys in this funny, poignant and joyous musical celebration".

Review: Putting It Together at the St James Theatre

Putting It Together

St James Theatre

Reviewed on Tuesday 21st January 2014

Question: What do you get when you cast five of the most renowned performers in musical theatre, give them the music of one of the greatest theatrical composers of all time, gather a young and fresh group of musicians and hire the shiniest new theatre in London?

Answer: A classy, must-see production.

Alistair Brammer, Killian Donnelly, Fra Fee, Samantha Spiro & more for Jule, Jerry & Steve concert

Following the success of A Little Night Music in Concert, Alex Parker is staging 'Jule, Jerry & Steve' at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre for one night only on Sunday 16th February, showcasing the music of three of Broadway’s greatest composers. 

Alistair Brammer, Killian Donnelly, Fra Fee & Samantha Spiro

Some of the musicals represented in the evening include: La Cage Aux Folles, Hello Dolly, Mame, Dear World, Mack & Mabel, Funny Girl, Gypsy, Follies, Company, Sunday In The Park With George and Road Show. The evening is in aid of the charity MENCAP, and is the premier performance of the 42‐ piece Alex Parker Orchestra. 

Big Interview: Damian Humbley

Damian Humian has had a very busy year! This time last year he was starring as Charley Kringas in Maria Freedman’s production of Merrily We Roll Along by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Following a sold-out, critically acclaimed run at the Menier the production transferred to the West End’s Harold Pinter Theatre where it received more five star reviews than any other musical in West End history. Digital Theatre and Cinema Live teamed up to film the production, which also starred Mark Umbers and Jenna Russell, and broadcast it in cinemas all over the world for one night only throughout October and November. The recording is released on Digital Theatre later this month.

Damian is currently starring in Dickens Abridged, a fast-paced musical comedy from the co-creator of The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged), which runs at the West End’s Arts Theatre until 5th January 2014. It was also recently announced that he will star in the London premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s Putting it Together at the St. James Theatre next year.

His other recent theatre credits include: Harry in Company at Sheffield Crucible, Lend Me A Tenor at the Gielgud Theatre, Shoes at the Peacock Theatre, Seymour in the UK Tour of Little Shop of Horrors and Jamie in the UK Premiere of The Last Five Years at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

I recently spoke to Damian about why Dickens Abridged has been such a fun show to work on and who it appeals to, as well as what it was like to watch himself on screen in Merrily We Roll Along and why he thinks Maria Freedman’s production was so special…

Dickens Abridged is completely different to other shows you have recently starred in. What attracted you to it?

It’s over the Christmas period, it’s good fun and I’ve worked with the guy who wrote it, Adam Long, before and he’s a very fun director and very fun man so I jumped at the chance to work with him. That’s usually what attracts me to things – the people you are working with. And then we’ve got an amazing cast who are so much fun to work with!

Review: Dickens Abridged at the Arts Theatre

Dickens Abridged

Arts Theatre

Reviewed on Monday 2nd December 2013

Dickens Abridged is the most exciting show I have seen for a very long time, it is incredibly refreshing to see such a creative production in the West End. Adam Long's piece thinks outside the box in every way possible.

David Bedella, Daniel Crossley, Janie Dee, Damian Humbley and Caroline Sheen to star in London premiere of Sondheim’s Putting It Together

It has been announced that the St James Theatre will host the London premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s Putting it Together next year. The production will run between 14th January and 1st February 2014 before Urinetown opens at the theatre.

First produced by Cameron Mackintosh in New York with Julie Andrews over 20 years ago, the London premiere (which is being produced by Robert Mackintosh, the St. James Theatre and Hilary A Williams) will star West End regulars David Bedella, Daniel Crossley, Janie Dee, Damian Humbley and Caroline Sheen. The production will be directed by Alastair Knights, choreographed by Matthew Rowland with Musical Supervision by Alex Parker.

Damian Humbley, Jenna Russell and Mark Umbers to star in Merrily We Roll Along

The Menier Chocolate Factory has announced casting for its hugely anticipated revival of the Sondheim / Furth musical Merrily We Roll Along, its Christmas 2012 show. The cast will include include Damian Humbley, Jenna Russell, Mark Umbers, Josefina Gabrielle, Clare Foster, Glyn Kerslake and Zizi Strallen.