Annie Get Your Gun starring Emma Williams & Jason Donovan confirms tour dates

As previously reported by West End Fame, a major new production of Annie Get Your Gun will embark on a UK Tour later this year starring Emma Williams as Annie Oakley, Jason Donovan as Frank Butler and Norman Pace as Buffalo Bill.

As part of The Ambassador Theatre Group’s ‘Manchester Gets It First’ initiative, this production will receive its premiere at Manchester Opera House on 12th May 2014 prior to a National Tour, ending on 4th October at Torquay's Princess Theatre.

A star of stage and screen, and having performed on the musical theatre stage across the globe, Jason Donovan has appeared in hit musicals including Priscilla Queen of the Desert, The Sound of Music, War of the Worlds and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. 

Tracie Bennett to star in The WestEnders UK Tour

Tracie Bennett

Olivier Award-winning actress Tracie Bennett will lead the cast of The WestEnders; The World’s Most Popular Musicals in Concert, a brand new gala concert which will tour the UK for 8 dates only, opening at Princess Theatre Torquay on Wednesday 9th April 2014.

The WestEnders celebrates the world’s most popular musicals including Les Misérables, The Lion King, Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon. A company of past performers from the record-breaking West End production of Les Misérables draw on that show's passion and music to create an inspired evening accompanied by a live seven-piece band playing exciting new arrangements.

The cast will be lead by Olivier-Award winning and Tony-Award nominated actress Tracie Bennett, who will reprise her legendary performance as Judy Garland for which she received an Olivier-Award nomination whilst starring in the West End production of End of the Rainbow. 

Gavin Spokes, Shaun Williamson, Jasmyn Banks & Emma Barton to star in One Man, Two Guvnors UK Tour

Casting has been announced for the upcoming UK Tour of One Man, Two Guvnors.

Gavin Spokes takes the central role of loveable chancer, Francis Henshall. Shaun Williamson (best known for playing Barry from Eastenders) will play Charlie Clench. 

The cast also includes EastEnders actresses Emma Barton as Dolly and Jasmyn Banks (pictured right) as Pauline Clench, as well as: Alicia Davies as Rachel Crabbe, Michael Dylan as Alfie, Derek Elroy as Lloyd Boateng, Edward Hancock as Alan Dangle and Patrick Warner as Stanley Stubbers. Further casting is to be announced.

The show opens at the Sheffield Lyceum Theatre on 14th May 2014 and tours the UK until 14th March 2015 (including The Waterside, Aylesbury: 11th August – 16th August 2014, The Churchill Theatre, Bromley: 2nd February – 7th February 2015 & New Wimbledon Theatre: 2nd March – 7th March 2015).

Wicked UK Tour confirms final tour dates & venues

Emily Tierney & Nikki Davis-Jones

The UK Tour of Wicked has confirmed its final tour dates and venues. 

The record breaking show will play at the Theatre Royal Plymouth (20th January to 14th February 2015) and Sunderland Empire Theatre (31st March to 25th April 2015). The tour will conclude at The Lowry in Salford in the summer of 2015.

Michael McCabe (UK Executive Producer) said: "With the announcement of our remaining tour dates, in Plymouth and Sunderland in 2015, we are delighted to confirm that audiences in the South West and North East of England will also have the opportunity to experience this spectacular new production of Wicked. 

"We’re also thrilled that we’ll conclude this record-breaking tour in Greater Manchester in the summer of 2015 having hosted the critically acclaimed premiere there in September 2013".

The UK touring production of Wicked  has broken countless Box Office records, won multiple five star reviews across the UK and Ireland and has already been seen by 150,000 people. 

Jason Donovan & Emma Williams to star in Annie Get Your Gun UK Tour

Jason Donovan and Emma Williams will star in a major new touring production of the Tony award-winning version of Irving Berlin’s musical Annie Get Your Gun. 

Jason Donovan, who is currently starring in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, will play as Frank Butler opposite West End regular Emma Williams as Annie Oakley. Norman Pace will play Buffalo Bill until September when he joins the cast of One Man Two Guvnors.

When Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show comes to town, it only takes one glance for sharp-shooting country girl Annie Oakley to fall head over heels for its star marksman, Frank Butler. Both have truly met their match, revealing their competitive natures as they vie for best shot - and each other’s hearts.

Rock Of Ages UK Tour announces full casting

Full casting has been announced for the upcoming UK Tour of Rock Of Ages. 

Daniel Fletcher (Dennis) and Rachel McFarlane (Justice) are reprising the roles they played in the West End production. Cordelia Farnworth (Sherrie) and Cameron Sharp (Franz) will both play roles they understudied in the West End. 

New cast members include: Stephen Rahman-Hughes (Lonny), Jack Lord (Hertz), Jessie May (Regina), Tom Andrew Hargreaves (Joey Primo) and Rakesh Boury (Mayer).

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time to launch UK Tour in December

The National Theatre has announced that The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time will launch a UK touring production in December.

The tour will open on 18th December 2014  at the Lowry in Salford where it will run until 10th January 2015. Further dates and venues will be announced shortly.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is adapted from Mark Haddon's bestselling novel by Simon Stephens, and directed by Marianne Elliott. 

Review: Rent in Concert (UK Tour) at the Hackney Empire

Rent In Concert (UK Tour)

Hackney Empire

Reviewed on Saturday 1st February 2014

Daniel Wood's production of Broadway musical Rent is back for the third and final leg of its UK Tour. Despite the production being billed as a concert production, it is seemingly a fully staged production of the show with an extremely basic set. The exceptionally talented cast do not let this hold them back and perform full-out.

Review: Wicked (UK Tour) at the Milton Keynes Theatre

Wicked (UK Tour)
Milton Keynes Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 5th February 2014

Whilst continuing to delight audiences at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in the West End, last year Wicked launched a UK Touring production. Featuring a cast full of West End talent, it is astounding to see how such a huge production has been adapted for life on the road. Although elements of Wicked have been tweaked, I certainly wouldn't describe it as largely scaled down, as so many touring productions often are.

Editor’s Blog: Playing a cameo role in Happy Days the Musical…

It’s not every day that an email arrives in your inbox inviting you to play a cameo role in a musical, but the feeling I had whilst reading an email asking if I would be interested in playing the Onstage Announcer in Happy Days, a new musical currently touring the UK, felt all too familiar.

Let me explain. Around a year ago I was invited to play a small cameo role, ‘Sir Not Appearing’, in the West End production of Spamalot. All I had to do in Spamalot was literally walk on stage, perform a short head sequence with the rest of the cast, shout “SORRY” and run back into the wings. Simple. However, as the Onstage Announcer in Happy Days I was given a small paragraph to read meaning there would be more opportunity for something to go wrong… terrifying! But I accepted…

Robert Powell to star in UK Tour of Agatha Christie's Black Coffee

The Agatha Christie Theatre Company have announced that Robert Powell (pictured right) is to star as Hercule Poirot in a new touring production of Christie's first ever play, Black Coffee.

The production opens at the Theatre Royal, Windsor on January 7th 2014 and tours the UK until July 2014.

Robert Powell, who recently starred in the West End production of Singin' in the Rain, has received multiple awards for his work in television, including the BAFTA for Best Actor for playing the title role in Franco Zefferelli’s Jesus of Nazareth. He played Mark Williams in the BBC’s Holby City for six years and David Briggs in the BBC’s The Detectives opposite Jasper Carrott. On film Powell played Richard Hannay in the 1978 film version of The Thirty Nine Steps as well as roles in Tommy, Harlequin, The Jigsaw Man and Jane Austen in Manhattan.

Jenny Seagrove and Sara Crowe to star in 2014 tour of Noël Coward’s Fallen Angels

It has been announced that, following a successful autumn tour last year, Bill Kenwright's production of Noël Coward’s Fallen Angels will once again tour next spring. Jenny Seagrove and Sara Crowe (pictured below) will reprise their roles as best friends Julia and Jane.

Between January and March 2014 Fallen Angels will visit the Theatre Royal in Windsor, Rose Theatre in Kingston, Civic Theatre in Darlington, Royal Theatre in Northampton, Theatre Royal in Bath, Theatre Royal in Brighton, Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Milton Keynes Theatre and New Victoria Theatre in Woking.

Review: Priscilla Queen of the Desert (UK Tour) at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

Priscilla Queen of the Desert (UK Tour)
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

Reviewed on Monday 18th November 2013

Two drag queens and a transsexual embark on a journey across the remote Australian desert... what could possibly go wrong? Following a hugely successful West End run, Priscilla Queen of the Desert is currently touring the UK and continuing to sell out night after night. Before the show had even begun the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre was buzzing, packed with ladies strutting around with bright pink feather boas and clutching a glass of wine.

Review: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK Tour) at the New Wimbledon Theatre

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK Tour) 

New Wimbledon Theatre

Reviewed on Tuesday 29th October 2013

One of Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice’s most famous collaborations, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat could not be more different from their other biblical musical. A curious mix of upbeat (albeit random) songs in the style of a calypso, country and western... and (strangely) Elvis, this is a production where cultures collide and the past and future meet.

Review: Cats (UK Tour) at the Milton Keynes Theatre

Cats (UK Tour)
Milton Keynes Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 26th June 2013

Despite Cats being one of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history, this was my first time seeing it. From the moment that the house lights go down and the orchestra begin to play the iconic melody, you cannot help but be transported into a very weird but wonderful world.

Review: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK Tour) at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK Tour)

Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

Reviewed on Thursday 14th March 2013

Unlike many shows, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat does what it says on the tin. It is indeed a 'colourful retelling of the biblical story about Joseph, his eleven brothers and the coat of many colours'. The best thing about Joseph is that you always know what to expect as over the years the show has changed very little. It is no secret that the price of theatre tickets is soaring through the roof, and as Joseph remains a bright show with a catchy score and wide appeal, I think it is the safest choice you could possibly make when booking a family outing.

Priscilla Tour Details Announced

More details for the Priscilla Queen Of The Desert UK Tour, opening at the Manchester Opera House on Saturday 9th February 2013, have been announced. 

Based on the smash-hit movie, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert is the heart-warming, uplifting adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship and end up finding more than they could have ever dreamed of. With a dazzling array of outrageous costumes and a hit parade of dancefloor favorites including ‘It’s Raining Men’, ‘Say a Little Prayer’, ‘Go West’, ‘Hot Stuff’ and ‘Always on My Mind’, this wildly fresh and funny new musical is a journey to the heart of FABULOUS!   

The 39 Steps announce UK Tour beginning January 2013 at the Cambridge Arts Theatre

As it celebrates its sixth year at the West End's Criterion Theatre, producers of The 39 Steps have announced that it will embark on a UK tour next year. The show is based on the 1914 novel by John Buchan, and was adapted for the stage by Patrick Barlow. The tour will launch on 19th January 2013 at the Cambridge Arts Theatre. 

The comedy whodunit follows handsome Richard Hannay in his attempt to clear his name and discover the mystery of the 39 steps. The fast paced show features only four actors that portray 139 different characters in 100 minutes.

Yes, Prime Minister announces 2013 UK Tour

Opening at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford on 7th February 2013, the widely acclaimed production of Yes, Prime Minister will then tour to: Cornwall, Bromley, Cheltenham, High Wycombe, Brighton, Salisbury, Bradford, Durham, Ipswich, Sheffield, Wolverhampton, Richmond, Bristol and Tunbridge Wells. This will be the final chance to see one of the twenty-first century’s most successful new stage comedies at regional venues across the UK. 

As the coalition beds in but with little hope of harmony, Prime Minister Jim Hacker is struggling to keep international troubles at bay. To add to squabbles over the collapsing euro and the push for greater austerity, he is now faced with a moral dilemma caused by dubious diplomatic demands. Meanwhile, Sir Humphrey is in favour of greater austerity for ordinary people but not for senior civil servants. 

Neil Morrissey returns to Oliver UK tour to play Fagin

Neil Morrissey will play the role of ‘Fagin’ for the final week of the Newcastle run  of  the currently UK tour of Oliver!. His short run will begin Monday 29th October and end Saturday 3rd November 2012. Brian Conley’s final performance in the role will be on Saturday 27 October. Oliver! has becomes a box office smash at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle and had added an extra matiness, due to public demand. 

Neil Morrissey played ‘Fagin’ when the tour opened in Cardiff in December 2011. He also played the part in Manchester and Birmingham, sharing the run with Brian Conley. Morrissey was due to return to the role after the Newcastle run, but now takes over for the final week.