West End Weekly (28 February 2026): Catherine Tate, Stephen Mangan, Chris Pine & more

Welcome to this week’s issue of West End Weekly, featuring news about Catherine Tate, Stephen Mangan, Chris Pine and the top West End stories from across Theatreland.

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Catherine Tate to storm the White House this April!

Catherine Tate is stepping into the deliciously unhinged role of former US First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln in the smash-hit West End comedy Oh, Mary! From 27 April, Tate brings her razor-sharp comic flair to this outrageous and acclaimed show – find out who else is joining the cast.

The Truth - All-Star comedy hits the West End

Stephen Mangan, Ardal O’Hanlon, Sarah Hadland and Janie Dee are set to star in Florian Zeller’s razor-sharp comedy The Truth, coming to the West End’s Apollo Theatre from 9 June 2026. Lies, love and lethal honesty collide in this wickedly funny battle of wits. Tickets on sale 4 March.

Hamilton, Les Mis, Oliver! & Phantom add more dates

Cameron Mackintosh has announced blockbuster extensions for four of the West End’s biggest shows, with Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Hamilton and Oliver! extending to March 2027. There’s never been a better time to secure tickets to these theatrical giants.

Chris Pine’s Ivanov postponed until 2027

Chris Pine’s hotly anticipated London stage debut in Ivanov has been pushed back to 2027 due to a scheduling clash. The bold new take on Chekhov will now premiere at the Bridge Theatre in July 2027 – with new dates now on sale.

Death Note The Musical lands at the Barbican in a major new production

The cult manga phenomenon Death Note The Musical arrives at the Barbican from 30 July in a major new production. Featuring new songs, a revised script and its most ambitious staging yet, this supernatural thriller follows record-breaking, sold-out concert runs. Sign-up for ticket alerts – on sale 4 March.

New West End cast announced for My Neighbour Totoro

New faces join the magic of My Neighbour Totoro next month, as new principals and puppetry ensemble start from 10 March. The Olivier Award-winning hit, based on the much-loved animated film, is now booking to 30 August 2026.

Six stars to play Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar

A glittering line-up of guest stars will take turns as King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium from 20 June. Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Simon Russell Beale, Richard Armitage, Boy George, Layton Williams and Julian Clary join Sam Ryder, who makes his West End debut as Jesus, for this must-see summer run.

News Headlines

The Queen meets Paddington at Windsor Castle as BBC 500 Words hits its Grand Final - More >

Olivier Awards 2026 – Everything you need to know about this year’s awards - More >

The Snowman new West End production announced for Christmas 2026 at the Peacock Theatre - More >

Jonathan Groff stars in As You Like It all-male RSC production - More >

World Book Day 2026 & West End Shows - More >

The Old Vic’s A Christmas Carol to return for 10th year in London - More >

Photos: Romeo & Juliet in rehearsals starring Sadie Sink & Noah Jupe - More >

Trevor Ashley: A Million Years of Minnelli to play the Garrick Theatre - More >

Toby Stephens to star in Equus in London - More >

Shows Opening & Closing

Shows Opening:

Marie & Rosetta: Starts 28 Feb
It Walks Around the House at Night: Starts 4 Mar
Ancient Grease: Starts 4 Mar
Sugar Daddy: Starts 5 Mar
I’m Every Woman The Chaka Khan Musical: Starts 5 Mar
Summerfolk: Starts 6 Mar
Teeth ‘n’ Smiles: Starts 13 Mar

More new openings >

Shows Closing:

MJ The Musical: Closes 28 Feb
Woman in Mind: Closes 28 Feb
Maggots: Closes 28 Feb
The Playboy of the Western World: Closes 28 Feb
Cable Street: Closes 28 Feb
Cirque du Soleil OVO: Closes 1 Mar
All My Sons: Closes 7 Mar
High Noon: Closes 7 Mar

More shows closing >

Latest News

Stage performance with a guitarist on a platform amid sparks, surrounded by actors and a seated audience in a theater setting.

Planning a theatre trip over the holidays? Here are 11 shows to see during your time off

Three carnival performers in glittering costumes on stage: a dancer posing with a large disco ball, an owl(costume) character, and a queen in an ornate gown and crown.

A jaunt through the history of panto: how a flexible theatre form transformed Britain’s Christmas theatre scene

West Side Story. Photography by Adam Fussell. Art direction and design by National Theatre Creative Studio

Everything you need to know about West Side Story at the National Theatre

10 reasons we can’t wait for West Side Story

Musical 42nd Street in Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London, England (September 2017). Photo by Theaterbilder123

A brief history of Theatre Royal Drury Lane, the West End’s oldest theatre

From left to right: A performer in vibrant pantomime costume with colourful feathered headdress, a character in dark gothic clothing holding a lantern, and an animated snowman in winter attire.

Why the West End at Christmas isn’t just for pantos

Nickcolia King-N'da (Will Scarlet), Kandaka Moore (FT), Eshan Gopal (Lil John Jr) and Helen K Wint (Marian) in rehearsals for Robin Hood and the Merry Mandem. Photography by Mark Senior

See new rehearsal photos for Robin Hood and the Merry Mandem, Stratford East’s rip-roaring panto

Back view of a girl with two braids wearing a white shirt and black backpack, a booklet titled

Birdcatcher unveils trailer ahead of run at London’s Park Theatre as part of extended UK tour

Matt Henry, Amy DiBartolomeo and LucyBenjamin (Credit Chris Davis)

Matt Henry leads the cast of To Sir, With Love – A New Musical, touring the UK from April 2027

Theatrical performer in historic costume stands on a wooden platform with arms outstretched inside a brick-walled theater set, dramatic lighting overhead.

Hamnet hits the road: the RSC’s hit play tours the UK in 2027

Woman with curly hair sits on an orange studio floor, opening a lit decorative box containing maps; tangled cords lie around her.

Carrie Hope Fletcher to star in new musical Ballad Lines at The Other Palace for limited 12 week run

A Christmas Carol - The Old Vic 2023 - Christopher Eccleston first look. Photo by Hugo Glendinning

Everything you need to know about A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic

James Graham on hit play Punch: “I’m hoping to turn that into television.”

Woman in a dramatic black gown seated on a white rug outdoors, with two wicker baskets beside her in a dimly lit forest setting.

Cloud 9 reviews: critics hail a “ferocious takedown” of Victorian imperialism, but one questions whether its content has aged well

Older man in a dark bathrobe being helped by a younger woman in a red-and-gray sweater in a church-like room with pews in the background.

First look at Sir Ian Mckellen in rehearsals for Lear at The Yard

Three portrait shots in a vertical triptych: left a smiling man in a dark suit, middle a man in a blue denim shirt with arms crossed, right a glamorous drag queen in a gold sequined dress posing with a hand on her face.

Drag, opera and Elvis: Monét X Change heads to the West End in The Legend of Georgia McBride

Saving Alan Turing: new play about the codebreaker’s final years to premiere at the King’s Head Theatre

Two women in a bright studio, one raises an arm while the other leans in with an arm around her shoulders near a small exercise bar.

First look: rehearsal photos for Victoria Wood musical Fourteen Again at the Menier Chocolate Factory

The Mousetrap’s Artistic Director to step down after 32 years at the end of 2026

Bo Poraj and John Ramm in rehearsals for Sherlock Holmes and the Twelve Days of Christmas. Photo by Marc Brenner

Rehearsal images released for Sherlock Holmes and the Twelve Days of Christmas at Alexandra Palace Theatre

BILLY ELLIOT The Musical. Rafferty Smale (Billy) and Company. Photo Tristram Kenton

See newly released images from Billy Elliot the Musical, as UK and Ireland tour commences

Christmas Carol Goes Wrong - London. Photo by Mark Senior

Christmas Carol Goes Wrong releases additional front row tickets at Wyndham’s Theatre in the West End

Man in a dress shirt and tie stands on a hill with a dog, set against a giant full moon and colorful space backdrop in a surreal collage.

Matt Smith to star in the 2027 world premiere of The Humans in the West End

The best pantos in London to book this Christmas

Cast announced for Father Christmas at Lyric Hammersmith

Full cast announced for Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas at the Lyric Hammersmith

The Snowman, Birmingham Rep 2026. Photo by Johan Persson

Everything you need to know about The Snowman on stage ahead of its 29th year in the West End

ABBA VOYAGE. Vernon Kay and Pudsey Bear. Children In Need Gala Performances (8 November 2026). Photo Craig Sugden

ABBA Voyage raises over £325,000 for BBC Children in Need after gala performances hosted by Vernon Kay

JOY: A New Musical to have UK premiere at Southwark Playhouse Elephant in February 2027

Old Vic New Season annouced. Damien Lewis, Milly Allock. Photos by Photo by Nadav Kander

Rupert Goold’s first Old Vic season announced, with Damian Lewis, Milly Alcock and more

Two men sit close together on a blue sofa against a green paneled wall; older man has a gray beard and plaid jacket, younger man wears a yellow shirt and jeans.

Amadeus trailer released starring Michael Sheen and Callum Scott Howells ahead of West End run in 2027

Tony Hale, Jessie Mueller and Karen Ziemba lead the Broadway cast of Paddington The Musical

Three-panel collage: left woman in a purple sweater stands in a kitchen, center bald man with a glass of blue liquid, right smiling woman in a Labyrinth shirt in a library.

7 West End theatre shows closing in November 2026

Three women in 19th-century costumes on a dim stage; center figure wears a bonnet and striped dress, looking distressed.

New production images released for Cranford at the Orange Tree Theatre starring Tamsin Greig

L-R Felipe Pacheco (Guildenstern), Claudia Harrison (Gertrude) & Miles Barrow (Rosencrantz) and the company of Hamlet Hail to the Thief at Barbican Theatre. Photo by Manuel Harlan

See newly released production images for Hamlet Hail to the Thief

From left to right: Young person viewed from behind wearing a black backpack and navy skirt, standing on a residential street with stone houses in the background, close-up portrait of a young woman with dark hair and bold red lipstick, with water splashing across her face against a teal background, and a viintage wooden-framed tennis racket photographed against a dramatic red and green gradient background.

Three new plays set to premiere at Park Theatre in 2027

Operation Mincemeat - The first preview of its new UK tour. Photo via PR

Operation Mincemeat UK tour announces additional performances in Birmingham, Salford and Plymouth

PRIDE the Musical: How Matthew Warchus and Stephen Beresford reimagined PRIDE for the stage

How Matthew Warchus and Stephen Beresford reimagined PRIDE for a new audience

Three actors in period costumes stand on an outdoor stage at night; a seated woman holds a child, flanked by two standing performers in Victorian gowns.

First look photos: Dominic Cooke’s new staging of Cloud 9, starring Rebecca Humphries and Eloka Ivo

A production photo of Buena Vista Social Club on Broadway

Havana comes to London: Tony-winning Buena Vista Social Club confirms West End debut

Jamie Muscato and Sharon Rose star in One Day the Musical Photo: Matt Crockett

Everything you need to know about One Day the Musical at the Garrick Theatre

Avenue Q at the Shaftesbury Theatre London. Photo by Matt Crockett

Last minute theatre in London: 10 must-see shows to book right now

LOVEthetre Top Picks. Oh, Mary (Manuel Harlan). The Play that Goes Wrong (Matt Crockett). The Hunger Games (Johan Persson). Beetlejuice (Johan Person)

Top Picks: 10 shows to book during LOVEtheatre Week

Triptych of three black-and-white portraits: a man with glasses in a suit, a woman with dark hair, and a woman with light hair looking into camera.

Jessica Hynes and Reece Shearsmith join White Rabbit Red Rabbit’s final line-up

Six teenagers sit around desks in a photography studio with a gray backdrop, engaged in conversation as a group photo is taken.

The cast of John Proctor Is the Villain talk about bringing the show to the West End

John Lithgow and Elliot Levey in Giant at the Harold Pinter Theatre. Photo by Johan Persson

First clip released from Giant, starring John Lithgow as Roald Dahl, screening in 900 cinemas from 19 November

Promotional banner advertising family-friendly Christmas shows, with a collage of posters on a purple background and a large white figure in the foreground.”,

11 Family-friendly shows to see in London this Christmas

The Cast of Ceilidh. Photo by Luke Dyson

Ceilidh the Musical extends its Shoreditch Town Hall residency due to popular demand, now booking into February 2027

Adam Garcia, Lauren Oakley and Sam Bailey in Chicago. Photo by Matt Crockett

Lauren Oakley, Adam Garcia, Mica Paris and Sam Bailey to star in Chicago UK and Ireland Tour 2027

Theatrical confrontation: a chained, ragged performer lunges toward a seated woman in a bonnet on a stage with a clock on the wall behind them

Christmas Carol Goes Wrong: first look at the festive mayhem

Colin Burnicle, Liza Stevenson, Sameer Dhanjee, Ellie Seaton, Ashh Blackwood in rehearsals for Cinderella at Lyric Hammersmith. Photo by Alex Brenner.

Take a behind-the-scenes look at the Lyric Hammersmith’s Cinderella pantomime in rehearsal ahead of Christmas premiere

Sukania Venugopal & Nipuni Sharada in Counting and Cracking. Photo by Pia Johnson

Acclaimed Australian Sri Lankan epic Counting and Cracking to make its London debut at Soho Theatre Walthamstow

Three-panel collage: a man leans on a railing in a library, a dancer swirls a red-edged black gown on stage, and another dancer in a striped dress leaps with red shoes.

Sadler’s Wells announces 2027 season with Wuthering Heights, The Breakfast Club and more

PLAY WITHOUT WORDS. 2012 Company. Photo by Simon Annand

Matthew Bourne’s Play Without Words returns for 25th anniversary with a season at Sadler’s Wells

Jordan Donica as the Phantom. Phantom of the Opera 40th Anniversary cast. Photo by Johan Persson

The Phantom of the Opera welcomes new principals and extends following celebration of 40 years in the West End

One the Musical Interview. Background Image - Jamie Muscato and Sharon Rose in One Day the Musical at Lyceum Edinburgh. Photo by Mihaela Bodlovic

How One Day the Musical found its voice: the cast and creative team on translating a beloved novel for the stage

Two women stand indoors and smile while presenting a framed award with a red seal.

Renowned West End producer Sonia Friedman receives Freedom of the City

Matt Willis as The Emcee in Cabaret. Photo by Marc Brenner

Matt Willis returns as Emcee in Cabaret opposite Sarah Hyland for a limited six-week run

Gloria Obianyo, Janie Dee.jpg in Speculations at Marylebone Theatre. Photo by Helen Maybanks

See Janie Dee take on Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy and Lee Harvey Oswald in newly released images for Torben Bett’s Speculations

The Choir of Man Production Image. Photo by The Other Richard

The Choir of Man announces full cast ahead of return this Christmas at The Arts at Marble Arch

Collage of ten portraits featuring diverse drag performers and performers in bold, colorful outfits posing together.

Rufus Hound, Vikki Stone, Danielle Steers and more join King’s Head Theatre’s Dick Whittington: Adults Only panto

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Main photo: West End Weekly (28 February 2026). Catherine Tate (Photo via agent), The Phantom of the Opera (Photo Johan Persson), My Neighbour Totoro (Photo Matt Crockett)