Dateline 9th September, 2001
King and I to close
The revival of The King and I will close on 5th January, two days before the new booking period, announced in July. It is expected that the show will then go on a national tour.
There are rumours that the next show at the London Palladium will be a stage version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Mamma Mia! extends
A new booking period for the musical Mamma Mia! - 18th March to 28th September, 2002 - has been announced. In just under two years, the show has taken £42m in London.
Kidman is coming back
Nicle Kidman has to the "Evening Standard" that she will definitely be returning to the Donmar Warehouse to do two plays under the direction of Sam Mendes, in addition to appearing in Ibsen's The Lady from the Sea at the RNT.
A late Homecoming
The revival of Pinter's The Homecoming at the Comedy has been delayed because star Ian Holm's is recovering from a minor operation. The previews from 11th to 15th September have been cancelled and the play will now open on 19th September, previewing from 17th.
Harris replaces Barber
Amanda Harris is to replace Frances Barber in Closer to Heaven at the Arts Theatre. Barber is leaving because of film commitments.
Top Girls to tour
The Oxford Stage Company is to tour a rveival of Caryl Churchill's Top Girls. It will open at Leicester's Haymarket on 13th September and then go on to Bury St Edmunds, Brighton, Poole, Bracknell and Cheltenham. It will star Elizabeth Berrington.
South Pacific
The National's revival of South Pacific will open at the Olivier on 12th December (previews from 3rd). It will run until 27th April, 2002.
No casting has yet been announced for the show, which will be directed by Trevor Nunn with musical staging by Matthew Bourn.
Coming to the Young Vic
The Young Vic and the Royal National Studio are to co-produce two revivals this autumn: David Rudkin's Afore Night Come will open on 25th September (previews from 21st) and Max Frisch's Andorra opens on 19th October.
Plater TV hit for the West End
Alan Plater's TV hit Last of the Blonde Bombshells, which won BAFTA and Golden Globe Best Actress awards for Judi Dench, is to arrive on the West End stage in Autumn 2002. It has been adapted by Plater himself.
New TV series for Lumley
Joanna Lumley is to star in a new BBC2 series, consisting of six ten minute monologues. Called Up Town, it is written by Hugh Blick.
Elton and Stewart, possibly
Rock star Rod Stewart is considering a new musical based on his life and music, written by Ben Elton, the "Sunday Mirror" reports. The story has been written and Elton has chosen the songs he wishes to use, and now it is up to Stewart and his management to decide whether or not the project (working title Rod: the Musical) goes ahead.
Top student company in Bristol double bill
cpa@uwe, the theatre company I chose as my Best Student Company at the 2000 Fringe, is to present a double bill of their Fringe hit Have-a-Go Hero and a new play Christmas with Johnny and Dee at Bristol's QEH Theatre on 26th and 27th October. Both plays are written by Tim Massey.
Macbeth at Chester Gateway
Chester Gateway's education company are presenting a production of Macbeth in the theatre's studio from 20th to 24th November, after a week's tour of schools.