10 fantastic shows touring the UK and Ireland this spring and summer that you won’t want to miss.
Spring has finally sprung, and with it, a new theatre season has begun. We’re all looking forward to seeing some old favourites and brand-new productions in our regional theatres across the UK.
From exciting new musicals to classic plays, there’s something for everyone up and down the country. Here are 10 new theatre shows coming to a town near you over the next few months:
‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’
The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang UK tour kicked off earlier this year in Southampton and continues to wow audiences nationwide with this exciting new production. Its all-star cast, brought together by casting director and Spotlight member Debbie O’Brien, includes Spotlight member Adam Garcia as ‘Caractucus Potts’ and Spotlight members Charlie Brooks and Elaine C. Smith, sharing the iconic role of ‘The Child Catcher’.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will pass through Newcastle, Milton Keynes, and Belfast, among others, before wrapping up the tour in Plymouth in May next year.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang tour dates
Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle
A new hilarious two-man show comes from Mischief Theatre, the company that brought us The Play That Goes Wrong, A Comedy About a Bank Robbery and Peter Pan Goes Wrong. ‘The Mind Mangler’ is back, after previously appearing in Magic Goes Wrong, and will be attempting to read the audience’s mind in this comedy-fuelled magic show.
Jonathan Sayer and Spotlight members Henry Lewis will entertain audiences this June as they visit Hull New Theatre, Milton Keynes Theatre, Liverpool Empire Theatre and Theatre Royal Bath.
Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle tour dates
‘Heathers the Musical’
After its unbelievably popular run on London’s West End at both the Theatre Royal Haymarket and The Other Palace, Heathers the Musical is going back on the road.
Kicking off its nationwide tour at the Theatre Royal, Windsor on 24 July, the show will visit 15 regional theatres, including Cardiff’s Millennium Centre and The Storyhouse in Chester and finish at Cambridge Arts Theatre in November.
Based on the cult-classic 1980s film starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, Heathers tells the story of the price of popularity in an American high school. The cast for the tour has yet to be announced but watch this space – it’s likely to be a sell-out tour.
Heathers the Musical tour dates
‘101 Dalmatians the Musical’
This new production of the Dodie Smith classic novel first hit the stage back in summer 2022 at London’s Regents Park Open Air Theatre. After the rave reviews, taking it out on tour is the natural next step.
Kym Marsh and Spotlight member Faye Tozer, who will split the role, will lead the cast as the ever-feared Cruella DeVille. No other cast has been announced yet.
The 101 Dalmatians tour will be setting off from Wimbledon New Theatre on 22 June and grace the stages of The Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton and His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen, among others. It will finish at the Theatre Royal in Brighton in January 2025.
101 Dalmatians the Musical tour dates
David Walliams’ ‘Awful Auntie’
David Walliams’ hugely popular children’s books have often found their way onto the stage. Titles like Billionaire Boy, Gangsta Granny and Grandpa’s Great Escape have entertained audiences for years. His latest production to tour the country is Awful Auntie, which tells the story of Stella and her Aunt Alberta as they unveil the mystery of what happened to Stella’s parents.
Already on the road, this exciting production will tour up and down the country, stopping at The Liverpool Empire, Brighton’s Theatre Royal, and more, before finishing at the Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent. Casting by Spotlight member Anne Voser.
‘Hamilton’ UK and Ireland Tour
This critically acclaimed musical, which tells the story of the founding fathers of the United States with music and lyrics by Lin Manuel Miranda, is currently touring the UK and Ireland. It kicked off in November at the Manchester Palace Theatre and will pass through several locations, including The Alhambra Theatre in Bradford and Bord Gais Theatre in Dublin, before wrapping up Norwich’s Theatre Royal in September 2025.
This award-winning production is sure to wow audiences all over the country with its incredible cast, including Spotlight member Shaq Taylor as ‘Alexander Hamilton’, Spotlight member Sam Oladeinde as ‘Aaron Burr’ and Spotlight member Daniel Boys as ‘King George’. Casting by Spotlight member Lucy Casson CDG.
‘Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby’
The Rambert Dance Company presents this thrilling theatre event, which tells the story of Thomas Shelby and the rest of the Peaky Blinders. It was written by Steven Knight, the creator of the award-winning television series.
A live on-stage band carries this production of breathtaking dance routines and powerful storylines, which is sure to be a hit for fans of the television phenomenon.
The tour will kick off at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury and travel around the country before finishing off at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre.
Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby tour dates
‘Madagascar the Musical’
Based on the brilliantly funny animated film from 2005, Madagascar the Musical is a fun production filled with songs, dance and a lot of laughs. The cast, brought together by casting director and Spotlight member Sarah-Jane Price, features TV’s Karim Zaroual, Spotlight members Joseph Hewlett, Francisco Gomes, Joshua Oakes-Rogers and Jarneia Richard-Noel.
The tour started at the Wimbledon New Theatre in May and will perform at several theatres across the country, including Dartford’s Orchard Theatre and Queen’s Theatre Barnstaple. It will wrap up at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre in August this year.
Madagascar the Musical tour dates
‘Murder on the Orient Express’
The timeless Agatha Christie novel Murder on the Orient Express is making its way to the stage in this new production, directed by Fiery Angel and Lucy Bailey. Their previous successes include the West End production of Witness for the Prosecution and the sell-out touring production of And Then There Were None. The cast has yet to be announced.
This tour kicks off in September at The Lowry in Salford and will travel across the country, stopping at Plymouth’s Theatre Royal, Curve in Leicester and Hall for Cornwall in Truro, among others.
Murder on the Orient Express tour dates
‘A Chorus Line’
In this exciting new tour, the Broadway smash hit A Chorus Line is making its way around the UK, featuring all the hit songs from the award-winning original. This mesmerising production originated at Curve in Leicester and will feature returning stars and Spotlight members Adam Cooper and Carly Mercedes Dyer as lead characters ‘Zach’ and ‘Cassie’. Casting by Spotlight member Olivia Laydon for Jill Green Casting.
The tour will open at Curve in June, stopping at Sadler’s Wells in London, Birmingham’s Hippodrome Theatre, New Theatre Cardiff and finishing off at Wycombe Swan in High Wycombe in October.
These are just a few of the fantastic productions currently on tour in the UK and Ireland. Visit your local theatre’s website to see what’s on near you.
Join Spotlight to see castings for stage shows, musical theatre and more. Find out more about our membership options and start looking for auditions today!
Get discounted tickets to London shows thanks to our partnership with London Theatre Direct.
