Joanna Riding News

Today, December 1 2008, twelve year old Brad Wilson from Doncaster joins the London cast of Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre to play the title role, making him the thirtieth boy to play the iconic role worldwide, first performed by Jamie Bell in the original movie.

From 1 December 2008, twelve year old Brad Wilson from Doncaster will join the London cast of Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre to play the title role, making him the thirtieth boy to play the iconic role worldwide, first performed by Jamie Bell in the original movie. He is joined by Joanna Riding who will play Mrs Wilkinson and Joe Caffrey who returns to the production to play Jackie Elliot, Billy?s Dad.

Pop Idol Finalist & Dancing on Ice Star Gareth Gates Makes His West End Debut in Spoonful Charity Gala.

Celebrating 25 years of songwriting by the Olivier Award winning duo of musical theatre composer George Stiles and lyricist Anthony Drewe, A Spoonful of Stiles & Drewe is a one night only charity gala performance at Her Majesty's Theatre in the West End on Sunday 6 July 2008, in support of Mercury Musical Developments, a unique organisation working to nurture new British musical theatre writing.

This summer the Watermill Theatre in Newbury will revisit the Boublil/Schonberg musical, 'Martin Guerre', which will play from July 11 to September 1. The show will be directed by Craig Revel-Horwood, who was at the helm of last summer's critically acclaimed staging of 'The Hot Mikado' in Newbury. Musical direction will be handled by Tony award winner, Sarah Travis, who - along with former Watermill guru, John Doyle - pioneered the actor/singer/musician style of musical theatre at the Watermill, notably with the production of Sondheim's 'Sweeney Todd', which eventually found its way to Broadway in 2005.

Performances of the upcoming London gala benefit of Stephen Sondheim's and James Lapine's Into the Woods, previously scheduled for Sunday, October 22nd at 3 PM and 7:30 PM at the Royal Albert Hall, have been moved back

Contrary to a previous report, pop icon Madonna will not play the Witch in the Royal Albert Hall's gala benefit performance of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods, for which casting will be announced in a few days

Eric Schaeffer will helm the American premiere of the musical The Witches of Eastwick; due to a postponement of Signature Theatre's move into a new theatre in Shirlington, VA, the musical has been added to the acclaimed theatre's 2006-2007 season line-up

Bonnie Langford stars in Chicago, Wicked sets box office records, The Crucible transfers and casting is confirmed for the UB40 musical

'Anna-Jane Casey will now headline the cast of Not(es) from New York at the Duchess Theatre on Sunday 19 March, alongside Dougal Irvine, Julie Atherton and Paul Spicer. Casey, who has recently won rave reviews for her performance as Dot in the revival of Sunday in the Park with George, replaces Joanna Riding who has reluctantly been forced to withdraw from her role due to unforeseen personal circumstances.'

Avenue Q hopes for good word-of-mouth, Christian Slater returns in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Sunday in the Park with George transfers and Guys and Dolls gets a new cast

Following a year-long absence, the West End's first and only platform for contemporary musical theatre returns with an unexpectedly British twist. Double Olivier Award winner Joanna Riding and West End regular Richard Dempsey join series stalwarts Julie Atherton and Paul Spicer in Not(es) from New York, a one-off show focusing on songs by a duo of London based composers, at the Duchess Theatre on Sunday 19 March 2006.

Jason Robert Brown will be busy with a slew of events in 2006, including concerts, a workshop of his musical 13, and playing Jamie in Reprise!'s one-night-only concert of The Last 5 Years

Joined by Joanna Riding and Frances Ruffelle, Jason Robert Brown and the Caucasian Rhythm Kings will perform in London from December 7th through December 11th

Judi Dench returns to the Theatre Royal Haymarket, Jerry Springer and Mike Leigh go on tour and Nicole eyes up a London Hedda Gabbler

Jason Robert Brown offers his latest musings about his current goings on.

Jason Robert Brown and his band the Caucasian Rhythm Kings will perform in London from December 7th to 11th

Casting beings for Michael Grandage's production of Evita, Jason Robert Brown does more concerts before a possible Last Five Years production and Joanna Riding does another play

Edward finally cuts his Scissorhands on stage, Sheffield revives Assassins and Rebecca Thornhill Gets Her Gun on tour

Details of the National's Spring/Summer season, Kiss Me Kate closes on tour, Chitty goes on tour and McKellen makes a comeback..