It’s that time again! We’re back with our top 10 theatre news stories from 26 May to 1 June, brought to you by Theatre and Tonic. This week’s roundup includes some exciting news on the UK cinema release for Next to Normal, a plethora of exciting cast announcements and the news of The High Life - The Musical. 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!

**Full cast announced for Inter Alia at the National Theatre**

Kicking things off is the announcement of the full cast for the world premiere of Inter Alia by Suzie Miller at the National Theatre, set to run from 10 July to 13 September. Actress Rosamund Pike, known for Saltburn and Gone Girl and nominated for both an Oscar and a BAFTA, will make her stage debut in the lead role.

Inter Alia follows London Crown Court Judge Jessica Parks, whose life is dramatically changed by a single incident. The play marks another collaboration between writer Suzie Miller and director Justin Martin, following their successful work on Prima Facie, previously staged at the same venue.

Next to Normal to receive UK-wide cinema release in September

Next is the news that the 2024 West End production of Next to Normal, which was filmed last year and recently featured in PBS’ Great Performances series, is set to hit UK cinemas later this year. It will be screened across select Vue, Cineworld, and independent cinemas nationwide on 11 and 14 September 2025.

Starring Caissie Levy, Jamie Parker, Jack Wolfe, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Eleanor Worthington-Cox and Jack Ofrecio, the production was directed for the screen by Michael Longhurst and Austin Shaw and filmed at the Wyndham’s Theatre during its West End run.

This musical, has music by Tom Kitt and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, first debuted on Broadway in 2010 and went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama along with three Tony Awards. Its London production earned six WhatsOnStage Award nominations, including Best New Musical, with Wolfe winning for his role. The story follows Diana Goodman, a suburban mother dealing with bipolar disorder, and delves into topics such as mental health, family relationships, and loss.

The Almeida Theatre reveals Rupert Goold’s final season as Artistic Director

In other news, Rupert Goold has announced that his final season as Artistic Director of The Almeida Theatre will include a brand new play by Alice Birch as well as the work of acclaimed writers Alan Hollinghurst and Jack Holden. Goold said, “Today we announce my final season as Artistic Director at the Almeida. A season that, I hope, captures the spirit and values of our past 12 years. We present 10 productions including four world premieres, four revivals of classic plays and a revisit of the musical from my first season at the Almeida”.

Goold revealed that he will also be revisiting his production of American Psycho, the show which launched his tenure at the Almeida back in 2013. You can find out further information on the Almeida Theatre website.

**Full cast announced for Top Hat at Chichester Festival Theatre**

Another full cast announcement was made this week, this time for Irving Berlin’s Top Hat at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Lucy St Louis (Wicked, Phantom of the Opera) will play Dale Tremont, and Phillip Attmore, winner of the Fred and Adele Astaire Award for Best Male Dancer and a Playbill Breakout Performance Award, will be making his UK debut as Jerry Travers. They will be joined by Olivier-award nominee Clive Carter (Moulin Rouge, Into The Woods, Come from Away) as Horace and Sally Ann Triplet (Oklahoma, Cabaret, Anything Goes) as Madge. The show will begin previews in July.

The High Life - The Musical to premiere in 2026

High Life - The Musical has announced that it is set to take flight next year. After three decades on hold, the Scottish cult classic is making a return as a brand-new musical, featuring all four original cast members. Launching in Glasgow in spring 2026, the production will tour theatres across Scotland. Alan Cumming, Forbes Masson, Siobhan Redmond, and Patrick Ryecart will step back into their roles as Sebastian Flight, Steve McCracken, Shona Spurtle, and Captain Hilary Duff.

**Cast announced for Follies at Grand Opera House in Belfast**

In another exciting announcement, leading the cast of Northern Ireland Opera’s upcoming revival of Stephen Sondheim’s hit Broadway musical Follies are West End stars Anna-Jane Casey and Annette McLaughlin. Casey (Cats, Chicago) and McLaughlin (Matilda The Musical, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) will take on the roles of former roommates and showgirls Sally Plummer and Phyllis Stone. Also joining the cast are Belfast’s own Mark Dugdale (Come From Away, Jesus Christ Superstar) and West End actor Alasdair Harvey (Come From Away, Sunday in the Park With George), who will play best friends Buddy Palmer and Benjamin Stone.

The show will run at Belfast’s Grand Opera House from 13 to 20 September. This will be the first professional production of the iconic theatre-set musical in Northern Ireland and the first UK revival in eight years.

**Jamie Armitage’s A Ghost In Your Ear to Premiere at Hampstead Theatre**

For those (mad) theatregoers who enjoy being scared senseless, a new play by Jamie Armitage, A Ghost in Your Ear, will make its debut at the Hampstead Theatre in December. Following the successful run of An Interrogation, which sold out earlier this year, this chilling and immersive new play employs binaural sound technology and audiences will wear headphones to be fully immersed in the play. The plot follows an actor arriving in a sound-recording studio to record an audiobook of a ghost story. This is a show intentionally designed to scare, so not one for the faint hearted! The play will run from 6th December 2025 to 24th January 2026.

**Cast announced for The Enormous Crocodile at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre**

For those who prefer their festive entertainment a little less scary, The Roald Dahl Story Company has announced the full cast for The Enormous Crocodile The Musical ahead of its return in summer 2025. After successful runs at Leeds Playhouse in 2023 and Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2024, it will open at Theatre Royal Windsor on 8 August 2025, then return to Regent’s Park from 15 August to 7 September 2025. A festive run will follow at the Lowry in Salford from 9 December 2025 to 4 January 2026.

The lead roles include Taya Ming as the crocodile, Nia Stephen as Trunky the Elephant, Ryan Crellin-Simpson as Humpy Rumpy the Hippopotamus, Alison Arnopp as Roly Poly Bird, Siobhan Athwal as Muggle Wump the Monkey, and Eleanor Ambekar as the swing. The show brings Roald Dahl’s darkly funny story to life about a greedy crocodile searching for a child-sized meal to the stage.

Graeae and Live Theatre Newcastle to present new play, Bad Lads

In other news, Bad Lads, a new play by Mike Kenny, created from the testimonies of the Medomsley boys, will play in The Drum at Theatre Royal Plymouth (TRP) on 15th – 18th October 2025. Directed by Jenny Sealey, the play is described as ‘a story of oppression and resilience’. World class accessible theatre company Graeae has joined forces with Live Theatre, Newcastle, to present the world premiere of this gripping and devastating true story of the boys held at Medomsley Youth Detention Centre in County Durham in the 1980s.

Cast announced for 13 Going on 30 The Musical

And finally, further casting was announced this week for 13 Going on 30 The Musical. Joining previously announced West End star Lucie Jones as Jenna Rink will be David Hunter (Kinky Boots, Waitress, Once) as her love interest Matt and Grace Mouat (SIX, & Juliet, Mean Girls) as her best friend Lucy. Also joining the company is Caleb Roberts (Passing Strange) as Richard, Andrew Berlin (Muriel’s Wedding) as Kyle, Dominic Andersen (Heathers) as Alex, Ross Dawes (The Time Traveller’s Wife) as Wayne, Suzie McAdam (Much Ado About Nothing) as Bev and Iván Fernández Gonzáles (Heathers) as Darius. The show will open on 21st September at Manchester Opera House for a limited run until 12th October.