It’s that time again! We’re back with our top 10 theatre news stories from 28 April to 04 May 2025, brought to you by Theatre and Tonic. This week’s roundup includes the National Theatre’s exciting season launch, a fresh cast announcement for the West End’s Titanique from June, and a behind-the-scenes look at rehearsals for upcoming productions. From major West End debuts to standout regional gems, our bite-sized bulletin has something for every theatre fan. Stay tuned—another round of the week’s hottest headlines is coming your way next week!

Acorn Antiques The Musical to return to the stage this November

Acorn Antiques The Musical, which was written by Victoria Wood and is based on the iconic sketch from her show Victoria Wood As Seen on TV, heads to the Manchester Opera House later this year. It will be staged for one night only on Sunday 2 November in a special fundraising concert, directed by Hope Mill Theatre’s Joseph Houston and William Whelton, with musical direction and supervision by Nigel Lilley and choreography by Sammy Murray. The star cast for the concert is to be announced.

Rehearsal images released for Shucked at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Cast in rehearsals for Shucked - (c) Pamela Raith (026).jpg

Cast in rehearsals for Shucked - (c) Pamela Raith (046).jpg

Earlier this week, we got our first look at the cast of Shucked in rehearsals ahead of the London premiere at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre this month. The Tony Award-winning musical comedy features a great cast, including Georgina Onuorah (Little Shop of Horrors, Crucible Sheffield), Steven Webb (Here You Come Again, UK Tour), Ben Joyce (Back to the Future The Musical, Adelphi Theatre) and Jonathan Andrew Hume (Guys and Dolls, Bridge Theatre). We can’t wait to see how well a musical about corn is received by audiences from 10 May.

New cast announced for West End production of Titanique

More passengers are to embark on the ship of dreams from next month with Luke Bayer (DIVA: Live From Hell), Richard Carson (Les Misérables), Hiba Elchikhe (Here and Now: The Official Steps Musical) , Carl Mullaney (La Cage Aux Folles), Tosh Wanogho-Maud (Ain’t Too Proud The Musical) and Caitlin Tipping (SIX) joining the West End production of Titanique. The production, which presents a hilarious parody of Titanic, recently won the 2025 Olivier Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play. Titanique is currently booking at the Criterion Theatre until 4 January 2026.

Cast announced for The Winter’s Tale at The RSC

Yaël Farber’s upcoming RSC debut production of The Winter’s Tale will run from 12 July 2025, following acclaimed productions of King Lear and the Olivier-nominated Macbeth for the Almeida Theatre. The production will see Bertie Carvel (Matilda The Musical) return to the RSC in the role of Leontes alongside Madeline Appiah (TINA - The Tina Turner Musical) in the role of Hermione, Aïcha Kossoko (Kyoto) as Paulina and John Light (Little Foxes, Young Vic) as Polixenes. Further casting will be announced later this month.

John Niven’s first comedy play The Battle to embark on UK tour

A new comedy play based (mostly) on real events, The Battle is set to embark on a UK tour before the West End in 2026. The production which relives the summer of 1995 when heavyweights of Britpop, Blur and Oasis, went head-to-head in the greatest chart battle of all time. Directed by Matthew Dunster (Hunger Games: Live On Stage), the production will open at the Birmingham Rep on 11 February 2026.

Hannah Dodd and Rob Madge to star in West End production of CABARET

Hannah Dodd and Rob Madge. Photo by Gina Manning

Last we reported that Rob Madge’s My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) will be running in New York and it seems as though 2025 is the year that keeps on giving for them as they join the West End production of CABARET later this month. Madge will take on the role of the Emcee and will be joined by Bridgeton star Hannah Dodd, who will play the role of Sally Bowles. They join the production from 29 May and their final performance will be on 20 September 2025.

Indhu Rubasingham unveils her first season as Artistic Director of National Theatre

This week, Indhu Rubasingham unveiled her first season at the helm of the National Theatre. A whopping 16 productions, including 9 world premieres and a season of repertory theatre, were announced. The Playboy of the Western World, a story of youth and self-discovery, will run at the Lyttelton Theatre and star Nicola Coughlan. Two 20th Century classics will be played in a repertory season, with Paul Mescal making his National Theatre Debut and a new version of Euripides’ tragedy Bacchae will be played, with Rubasingham directing Nima Taleghani’s new version. The full announcement of ‘The Next Chapter’ can be found on their website.

Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical to release Original Cast Recording

With the West End transfer of Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical to get underway at the Shaftesbury Theatre later this month, the cast recording is to be released on 11 July. The musical, which ran at The Old Vic, will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Live Aid during its West End run, with a very special performance planned for 13 July. The cast recording has been produced by Olivier-nominated arranger Matthew Brind and Jon Bath, and engineered by Grammy-nominated Jeremy Murphy, the album boasts a modern, expansive sound while staying true to the energy and emotion of the originals, even featuring new lyrics penned by Sir Bob Geldof himself. You can catch Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical will play at the Shaftesbury Theatre from 15 May.

Rehearsal images released for West End run of Stereophonic

Nia Towle - Stereophonic - Rehearsal Images - Photo credit Marc Brenner (0197).jpg

The Tony Award-winning play by David Adjmi makes its way to the West End stage this month, and we’ve had a sneak peek inside the rehearsal room! Stereophonic portrays an ambitious rock band struggling to record their new album during the 1970s. Zachary Hart, Lucy Karczewski, Jack Riddiford and Nia Towle star alongside Andrew R. Butler, Eli Gelb and Chris Stack. The production plays at the Duke of York’s Theatre from 24 May - 20 September 2025.

Brendan Gleeson to make West End debut in The Weir

Conor McPherson (The Brightening Air, Girl from the North Country) will direct a new production of his play The Weir at the Harold Pinter Theatre this Autumn, after it opens in Dublin, with Brendan Gleeson making his West End debut. The multi-award-winning actor plays Jack, one of the four men who gather in an isolated pub in rural Ireland. The Weir is a testament to the need for human connection, the possibility of hope, and the enduring power of storytelling. It opens at the 3Olympia Theatre from 8 August to 6 September before opening at the Harold Pinter Theatre on 12 September.

Before you go, why don’t you read one of this week’s reviews? Highlights this week include Giant at the Harold Pinter Theatre, Muriel’s Wedding The Musical at Curve, Leicester and the Kinky Boots UK Tour. We’ll see you next week for more exciting news!