Nikolai Foster Archives - Matinee Musicals

Michael Ball to play Willy Wonka in new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

02-09-26 Michael Ball is heading back to the London Coliseum to take on one of musical theatre’s most famous roles, Willy Wonka. The double Olivier Award winner will lead a brand-new production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, opening for a strictly limited London season from 4 June to 18 September 2027. The production will originate at Curve, Leicester before transferring to the London Coliseum, with Curve Artistic Director Nikolai […]

September 2, 2026 31 6

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Rob Madge and Pippa Cleary bring Bank of Dave to the stage in 2026

Rob Madge and Pippa Cleary bring Bank of Dave to the stage in 2026 22-09-25 The banks may not always say yes, but the theatre certainly has. The world premiere of Bank of Dave the Musical will open in May 2026, playing Salford’s Lowry (2–16 May) before heading to Leicester’s Curve (20–30 May). Based on the Sunday Times best-selling book, the BAFTA Award-winning documentary, and the hit Netflix film, the […]

September 22, 2025 50

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Johannes Radebe to make West End debut in Kinky Boots

Johannes Radebe to make West End debut in Kinky Boots 07-07-25 Following a sold-out UK and Ireland tour, Kinky Boots the Musical will strut its way into the West End next spring for a strictly limited 17-week season at the London Coliseum. Stepping back into the iconic red boots is Strictly Come Dancing star Johannes Radebe. The Olivier, Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical will run from 17 March to 11 […]

July 7, 2025 68 27

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Cast News: My Fair Lady

Cast News: My Fair Lady 14-08-24 The Curve Leicester has today revealed Molly Lynch will play the role of Eliza Doolittle in the upcoming Made at Curve production of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe’s classic musical My Fair Lady. Directed by Curve’s Artistic Director (and Matinee Favourite) Nikolai Foster, My Fair Lady will run in Leicester from Saturday 23 November 2024 to Saturday 4 January 2025. Molly Lynch returns […]

August 25, 2024 92

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On Tour: My Beautiful Laundrette

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxLJ5XC4mmk On Tour: My Beautiful Laundrette The spring 2024 tour of Hanif Kureishi’s My Beautiful Laundrette has begun, which runs at Leicester’s Curve theatre 17 to 24 February, before touring to Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch 28 February to 9 March, Theatre Royal Wakefield 11 to 14 March, The Lowry, Salford 19 to 23 March, Liverpool Playhouse 26 to 31 March and Blackpool Grand Theatre 2 to 6 April. Gordon Warnecke, who played […]

February 24, 2024 84

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Review: The Wizard of Oz

Review: The Wizard of Oz Liverpool Empire - 15th December 2023 by Jamie Griffiths Join Dorothy, Toto and friends on an unforgettable adventure down the yellow brick road to the merry old land of Oz. Featuring the iconic original score from the Oscar-winning MGM film, including Over The Rainbow, Follow The Yellow Brick Road and We're Off To See the Wizard - with additional songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber […]

December 23, 2023 92

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42nd Street comes to the Curve

42nd Street comes to the Curve 20-04-23 The stars of the brand-new Curve and Sadler’s Wells co-production of 42nd Street have taken a break from rehearsals to visit Leicester, as they prepare to open the iconic song-and-dance spectacular in the city next month. West End royalty and Olivier Award-winner Ruthie Henshall (Dorothy Brock), Olivier Award-nominee and film star Adam Garcia (Julian Marsh), stage and screen personality Les Dennis (Bert Barry), […]

April 20, 2023 39

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Cast news: The Wizard of Oz

Cast news: The Wizard of Oz 15-03-23 Michael Harrison and the Really Useful Group have announced that Gary Wilmot, one of the all-time legends of The London Palladium and a star of the annual Palladium Panto, will play the title role in The Wizard of Oz this summer. Gary will star as The Wizard and Professor Marvel, joining the previously announced Jason Manford (the Cowardly Lion) and Ashley Banjo (the […]

March 15, 2023 47

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Cast News: Wizard of Oz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi6Inr-0o-w Cast News: Wizard of Oz 23-02-23 Michael Harrison and the Really Useful Group have announced that Jason Manford and Ashley Banjo will star in the The Wizard of Oz, the musical based on the iconic story by L. Frank Baum, which plays a strictly limited season at the world famous London Palladium this summer. Jason Manford, who is a multi-award-winning stand-up Comedian, Actor, Singer, Writer, Radio and Television Presenter, […]

February 24, 2023 47