After the excitement of last week’s Olivier Awards, this week has been comparatively tame in the realm of stagey news. However, there are still a plethora of exciting bits to cover. If you are feeling out of the loop, let me catch you up; here are this week’s standout stagey headlines: from cast announcements, to show announcements, event announcements and everything in between.

OCTET CAST ANNOUNCEMENT

Perhaps the most exhilarating news of the week… Lin-Manuel Miranda’s new directorial feat, Octet, has announced its stagey star-studded cast. Octet charts the story of eight people struggling with internet addiction who have been gathered together by a figurehead to cure themselves of their habits.

The cast is made up of Amanda Seyfried as Jessica, Rachel Zegler as Velma, Sheryl Lee Ralph as Paula, Phillipa Soo as Karly, Gaten Matarazzo as Toby, Jonathan Groff as Henry, Tramell Tillman as Marvin and Paul-Jordan Jansen as Ed.

I, for one, am very excited about the making of this film.

New date announced for the West End Flea Market

The arrival of spring is becoming synonymous with the arrival of the West End flea market – an exciting day for theatre fans to purchase memorabilia from their favourite shows, meet cast members, and take part in the ‘best dressed’ competition. Previously announced for Saturday, 16th May 2026, it will now take place on Saturday 25th July 2026 in the same place, St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden from 10am-2pm.

This date change comes following a concern for the safety of attendees with the original date overlapping with several other events taking place in the city. Early bird tickets will go on sale in April, while general admission tickets will also be available on the day, priced at £5 entry.

White Rabbit Red Rabbit to return to the West End with lead casting announced

Following its successful run in 2024, White Rabbit Red Rabbit is set to return to the West End, playing Monday evenings at the Duchess theatre from 8 June to 2 November 2026.

White Rabbit Red Rabbit is a theatrical experiment in which a different performer appears at each performance, encountering the script for the first time on stage. With no rehearsal and no director, each performance unfolds as a unique, one-off extravaganza.

The initial line-up of guest performers includes David Harewood on 8 June, David Tennant on 15 June, Jo Joyner on 22 June, Asim Chaudhry on 29 June, Luke Thompson on 6 July, Jodie Whittaker on 13 July, Kathryn Hunter on 20 July, Kunal Nayyar on 27 July, Archie Madekwe on 21 September and Riz Ahmed on 28 September. Further casting is yet to be announced.

Musical Theatre Market SET TO return

It has been announced that Musical Theatre Market number 3 will be taking place on Sunday 3rd May at The Box at FarGo Village in Coventry.

Musical Theatre Market is the UK’s only stagey craft market, with a host of businesses and crafters vending this year; from Eve Leoni Art, Amelia Stitches, LettersToJuly and others set to participate.

With an entry fee of just £2.50 online, or £3 on the door (with children under 10 going free), this event sets out to be a wonderfully accessible day of celebrating theatre through craft. Get your tickets online here.

13th cast for The Play That Goes Wrong announced

In true Mischief spirit, the 13th cast of The Play That Goes Wrong bears the promise of thirteen new cast members.

Joining the company from 2nd June will be Ruby Ablett as Annie, Matthew Spencer as Chris, Raphael Bushayas Robert, Luke Wilson as Jonathan, Lucinda Turner as Sandra, Alex Bird as Dennis, Joshua Lendon as Max and Kieron Michael as Trevor, alongside understudies Paige Round, Harry Al-Adwani, Tom Quinn, Will Bishop and Phoenix Edwards. Most importantly, Winston the dog will return to play Winston the dog, if he is ever found.

New musical, Thelma & Louise, announced alongside lead casting

As part of the Young Vic’s newly announced season, the world premiere of new musical adaptation, Thelma & Louise, will run from 3rd September – 24 October 2026.

Following two friends who embark on a spontaneous trip that escalates after an encounter at a roadside bar, the show charts an altering of the course of their lives and their relationship. The show will star Rachel Tucker as Louise and Amy Lennox as Thelma.

Lead casting announced for Hay Fever, set to hit the West End

Noël Coward’s Hay Fever follows Judith Bliss, a retired actress who invites a young admirer to her country home, only for her husband David and their children Sorrel and Simon to each invite guests of their own for the same weekend – resulting in pandemonium.

Christine Baranski will play Judith Bliss, with Richard E. Grant playing David Bliss. Further cast and creatives are yet to be announced.

Queer writing festival to run this summer

Running for four weeks, featuring eight productions, BokFest is returning to London this June to showcase new queer writing.

Created by artistic directors Josh Maughan and Freddie Acaster, this festival is in response to barriers faced by early-career playwrights in bringing new work to production. It will be hosted at the Hope Theatre, working with the venue to support writers through the full process of staging new work.

The festival opens with Baleen (1 to 3 June) by Mio Lobban, followed by Rosalie Roger-Lacan’s EAT YOU (4 to 6 June), Wayne Middleton’s The Last Halloween of Diablo (8 to 10 June), Chloe Casel’s MUD (11 to 13 June), Giulia Fincato’s MOTHERTONGUE (15 to 17 June), Silas Thomas’s Ketchup & Mayo (18 to 20 June), Tom Homer’s The Worst Possible Nice Thing (22 to 24 June), and the programme concludes with George Rennie’s Tartarus (25 to 27 June).

BokFest runs from 1 to 27 June at The Hope Theatre.

There you have it! A week’s worth of some of my favourite stagey news stories condensed into one article. Let me know which you are most excited about! Here’s to another stagey week.