Another week, another incredible week in theatre. There’s been all sorts of exciting news in the West End from pop-up shops to charity performances. If you missed any theatre news this past week, don’t fret. We’ve put it all together in one place so you can find everything you need to know.
An Aladdin and The Lion King pop-up is coming to Covent Garden
For four weeks only, Disney is putting on a unique experience for lovers of Aladdin and The Lion King in Covent Garden. From 31 July to 26 August, you can explore the wondrous and beautiful world of these two sensational musicals at 25 Long Acre. There’ll even be interactive experiences and special events, too.
To find out more, including what you can expect from the pop-up, click here.
The 20 longest-running musical in the West End
This week, we gave West End musicals another long, hard look to determine which are the longest-running in history. But not just in years, in performances, too.
Click here to see which shows made the list.
The Lieutenant Of Inishmore opened
The Lieutenant Of Inishmore starring Aiden Turner has finally arrived in London. We went down to the Noël Coward Theatre for opening night last week to see why this ingenious satire of violence in contemporary culture is worth seeing.
Discover our five reasons to see The Lieutenant Of Inishmore.
King Lear offers £5 tickets to 16-25-year-olds
It’s one of the must-have tickets of the season. Ian McKellen plays King Lear at Chichester Festival Theatre’s hit production transfers to the West End. And the venue’s hugely successful Prologue scheme, which enables 16-25-year-olds to purchase £5 tickets across all productions in the theatre’s Festival season, has been extended to include the eagerly anticipated transfer.
Find out more and how you can get a £5 ticket, here.
Bonnie Langford joins 42nd Street
National treasure Bonnie Langford will join the cast of 42nd Street, as the production announces it will depart Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Saturday 5 January 2019.
Find out how to beat the heat in the West End
Things are well and truly hotting up in London. Between the rising heat, the soaring humidity, all the sport going on, and certain visits from certain world leaders, things are getting a little bit too hot to handle in our dear city. Yes, it’s all very exciting. But when you’re standing shoulder-to-shoulder in a packed bar when it’s 30° outside, everything’s just a little bit less fun. So we say skip it! Step out of the crowd, escape the mugginess and go to the theatre instead.
Explore all of London’s theatre with AC and how to cool down in the theatre, here.
9 ways to prepare your child for Kids Week
Kids Week is almost here! Whether it’s your child’s first time going to the theatre or it’s already a life-long habit, it’s a very exciting time. But, it’s important you prepare your young’un for their trip to the theatre. From what to expect to how to act, there are a few things you and your little one should know and do before stepping into the theatre.
Click here to find nine important things to do to prepare your child for Kids Week.
Hamilton holds a fundraising performance for Prince Harry’s charity
Hamilton will hold a fundraising performance for Sentebale, the charity founded by The Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, which raises vital funds towards their work with children and young people affected by HIV in southern Africa.
Every ticket sold to the evening performance of Hamilton on Wednesday 29th August will raise money for Sentebale.
How the West End celebrated Pride
Last Saturday, up to a million people lined the streets of our capital to watch and celebrate the Pride In London Parade. And along with the hundreds of thousands of people flying the rainbow flag high and applying a coat of glitter to their cheeks were London’s theatres. See how the West End celebrated Pride in 2018.
#InspiringFutureTheatre launched
Inspiring the Future of Theatre, the initiative to showcase the range of careers available in theatre to young people, officially launched yesterday (11 July) with an event at Northstead Community Primary School in Scarborough and a social media campaign which trended all day in the UK.
Find out more about the initiative, here. And see how London theatres celebrated the day, here.
There was plenty of other news this week. To see what else you missed, click here.