PRODUCTION NEWS
This month’s news round-up from our Production Teams.
CLARKSTON CONFIRMED FOR TRAFALGAR THEATRE
With Clueless the Musical in its final weeks in London and the production now preparing for a 2026 UK Tour, a new show has just been announced for Trafalgar Theatre.
Joe Locke (Heartstopper, Agatha All Along) stars in a stunning new production of CLARKSTON – an emotionally intimate play by critically acclaimed writer Samuel D. Hunter (The Whale), directed by award-winner, Jack Serio. Joining the cast is rising star and BIFA nominee Ruaridh Mollica and Evening Standard Theatre Award nominee Sophie Melville.
On a journey West to rediscover himself, Jake unexpectedly meets Chris – a kindred soul hiding in a night shift at a Costco in a rural American town. As their bond deepens, so does their sense of adventure. Maybe they could finally give life new meaning by chasing something more – like the intrepid explorers Lewis and Clark before them.
CLARKSTON is a modern frontier story that blazes a trail through friendship, acceptance, love and the hope of new discoveries. Opening at The Traf for a strictly limited 9-week run from Wednesday 17 September – Saturday 22 November.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Aaron Sorkin’s riveting, award-winning stage adaptation of the seminal American novel about racial injustice and childhood innocence became a Broadway and West End sensation with star-studded sell-out seasons on both sides of the Atlantic.
Now this thrilling courtroom drama is touring the UK & Ireland in 2025/26, kicking off at the Leeds Playhouse on 8 September. The tour is produced by Jonathan Church Theatre Productions in association with Karl Sydow and Tulchin Bartner.
Acclaimed stage and screen actor Richard Coyle (The Player Kings, Macbeth, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore) returns to this iconic production of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird as Atticus Finch, reprising the role he played to great critical acclaim in the 2022 West End Production. Encouraging kindness and empathy in his children, Atticus is pushed to the limits of these qualities himself when he resolves to uncover the truth in a town that seems determined to hide it.
Set in 1934 Alabama, To Kill a Mockingbird was inspired by novelist Harper Lee’s own childhood and has sold more than 45 million copies worldwide. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature and was long at the top of the banned book lists.
SELL OUT BARBICAN SUCCESSES!
Trafalgar’s ongoing partnership with the Barbican is continuing to prove successful with another sold out summer season!
Following the critical acclaim of Fiddler on the Roof, which sold out its entire London run, and has now commenced a UK Tour this week, we’re delighted to bring audiences another spectacular award-winning show – Good Night, Oscar.
Direct from Broadway and playing for a strictly limited season of 7 weeks only, Good Night, Oscar sees Tony Award-winner Sean Hayes (Will & Grace) reprise his role from Broadway alongside West End royalty Rosalie Craig (COMPANY) in an evening of hilarity, heartache and a virtuosic live piano performance from Hayes himself.
Tickets are selling fast for this strictly limited 7-week season at the Barbican Theatre from 31 July – book now for best availability throughout August.
YOUNG STARS SHINE AT IMAGINE AUDITIONS
Imagine Theatre has been spreading festive cheer early this year as Junior Ensemble auditions take place across the country ahead of their 2025 pantomime season. From Glasgow to Swindon, hundreds of talented young performers have been stepping into the spotlight, hoping to secure a place in this year’s magical productions.
The Junior Ensemble is a cherished part of every Imagine Theatre panto, giving young people the opportunity to perform on a professional stage alongside seasoned actors, learn from industry professionals, and experience the excitement of live theatre during the most wonderful time of the year.
Artistic Director Steve Boden, said: “We are constantly amazed by the energy, enthusiasm, and raw talent we see at these auditions. For many children, it’s their first time performing on such a big stage, and it’s a joy to watch them grow in confidence and skill throughout the process.”
Successful auditionees will soon be donning sparkly costumes, learning choreography, and helping bring festive joy to audiences of all ages. For Imagine Theatre, it’s about more than just the performance—it’s about creating unforgettable memories, nurturing future talent, and inspiring a lifelong love of the arts.
With shows opening from late November, the Junior Ensemble is once again set to be a shining part of Imagine Theatre’s Christmas magic.
