After the excitement of last week’s Olivier Awards, this week has been comparatively subdued in the world of stagey news. Nevertheless, there remains plenty to discuss. From major casting announcements and long-awaited transfers to unusual Fringe ventures and Broadway mishaps, the theatrical landscape continues to move at an astonishing pace. If you have found yourself slightly out of the loop, allow me to catch you up; here are this week’s standout stagey headlines.

High School Musical transfer and leading cast announced

Initial news of the new production of High School Musical at the Lowry in Manchester sent the theatre world into something of a frenzy; this week, that excitement has only intensified with the announcement of a London transfer. Following its initial run, the production will move to Troubadour Wembley Park from 12 October 2026 to 3 January 2027, with Harry Judd stepping into the role of Coach Bolton for the London engagement.

For many, High School Musical represents a particular era of childhood nostalgia, and the prospect of seeing it reimagined on stage – particularly on such a scale – feels perfectly timed. I, for one, could not be more excited, and will absolutely be seated.

Further casting announced for RSC’s Cyrano de Bergerac

The previously announced Adrian Lester as Cyrano and Susannah Fielding as Roxane will be joined by Levi Brown, reprising his role as Christian. Alongside them are Joseph Christain, Sunny Chung, Philip Cumbus, Rachel Dawson, Greer Dale-Foulkes, Oliver Grant, Scott Handy, Taiva Hove, Robert Jackson, Elim Mapira, Joshua Maduike, David Mildon, Matt Mordak, Chris Nayak, Daniel Norford, Christian Patterson and Josh Sneesby.

Cyrano de Bergerac follows the titular poet, soldier and philosopher: a man overflowing with wit, intelligence and eloquence, yet paralysed by insecurity surrounding his appearance. As Roxane falls for the handsome but inarticulate Christian, Cyrano finds himself lending his words to another man’s romance, watching from the shadows as the woman he loves is seduced by language that is ultimately his own.

The production will run at the Noël Coward Theatre from 13 June to 5 September 2026. Get your tickets here.

My Son’s a Queer to return to the West End

Rob Madge’s beloved autobiographical musical has announced what is being described as its final limited West End engagement this autumn at the Apollo Theatre.

The production will return for 23 performances from 16 September to 3 October 2026, following previous runs at the Garrick Theatre, Ambassadors Theatre, and a celebrated stint in New York. Few contemporary productions have captured audiences with the same combination of warmth, humour and sincerity as My Son’s a Queer, and its continued success feels entirely deserved.

Get your tickets here.

The UK’s first sauna theatre announced for the Edinburgh Fringe

One of this week’s most unexpected theatrical announcements came courtesy of Sauna Sessions Arts Club, whose new project – Sauna Theatre – is set to debut at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The purpose-built 80-seat venue will host performances, dance parties and literary salons, all within what is being described as the UK’s largest sauna.

If nothing else, it feels quintessentially Fringe: eccentric and slightly absurd. Whether it becomes a genuine artistic innovation or simply one of the festival’s strangest novelties remains to be seen, but it has certainly captured attention.

Read more about the story here.

Fire on Broadway closes the Eugene O’Neill Theatre

Elsewhere, Broadway faced disruption this week after a fire broke out in an electrical room at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre – current home of The Book of Mormon – on 4 May.

The venue has since closed temporarily for repairs. One firefighter reportedly sustained minor injuries, though thankfully no further injuries or fatalities have been confirmed. Though the incident appears to have been contained quickly, it nevertheless serves as a reminder of the immense infrastructure required to sustain large-scale commercial theatre.

Tony Award nominees announced for 2026

Rounding off the week is perhaps its most exciting development: the announcement of the 2026 Tony Award nominees. Among the most celebrated productions are Schmigadoon! and The Lost Boys, both earning an impressive twelve nominations, closely followed by Ragtime with eleven.

Following its unfortunate treatment during Olivier season, I was particularly thrilled to see Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York receive eight nominations, with both Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts receiving acting nominations. It is always satisfying to see productions that resonate so strongly with audiences receive recognition on an international scale.

The Tony Awards will take place on 7 June 2026 – exactly one month from today.

And there we have it: another fascinating week in the theatrical world, culminating in the excitement of awards season once again. As always, I would love to hear your thoughts on any of this week’s headlines.