Stage Whispers UK
Issue 1- For those who share our passion for the Theatre
Introduction
Stage Whispers UK is a newsletter covering the latest productions in The West End and on Regional Tours and seeks to cover the UK Theatre scene with a passionate fresh eye promoting what is worth seeing and celebrating the activities that underpin successful shows and venues. Nick Wayne has been going to the theatre for nearly sixty years since those early experiences of Gilbert and Sullivan with his parents in the Sixties. In that time, he has collected over 1500 programmes from shows he has seen and visits a theatre at least once a week. Whether it’s a mainstream musical or play , a pantomime or Fringe show, it is the joy of being part of a live theatre audience that keeps him going back. We believe that excitement and experience needs to be shared with young people today ( a few hours without their phone in hand) so they too catch the live theatre bug and become the regular audiences of tomorrow.
Why Stage Whispers ?
Defined as “a loud whisper uttered by an actor on stage, intended to be heard by the audience but supposedly unheard by other characters in the play. Or any loud whisper intended to be overheard by the audience”. We seek to connect theatre loving audiences to the business of theatre, to what makes it a success, as the sector needs the support of its audiences in many ways, not just buying a ticket for a show if it is to thrive, experiment and draw in audiences from a wider demographic by offering lower prices.
The aim is to chat about the UK Theatre scene, including West End, Regional Tours and Fringe shows We will reflect the Stage Whispers views as well as other respected views from those we trust, aimed at potential audience members who share our passion for live theatre. We will include opinions, reflections, and reactions to shows we have seen.
Star Ratings
Stage Whispers will not give its own star ratings . We recognise the value of star ratings to producers in promoting their shows and for some ticket buyers in deciding which show to book for, but these are a personal opinion of the reviewers on the particular performance they saw. Stage Whispers will report star ratings of mainstream media and leading blogs but will not give its own star ratings. We enjoy reading reviews after seeing shows to see whether we agree with the opinions and regard this as part of the Theatre going experience. We like to make our own mind up about which shows we book for based on the Venue, the Producer, The Title (or subject matter), The Author, The Cast and the dates. When the production ticks all these elements we will definitely book early!
When you see a star rating how should you interpret it? We think that this depends on the reviewer and publisher. Over time one builds up a view of whose opinion we trust, and which align with our views. Some Blogs seem to handout Four- and Five-star reviews to most shows even when others are awarding Two or Three stars and these while undoubtedly well intended are not terribly helpful in selecting a show although undoubtedly, please the Producers ! Mainstream Press remains in our view the most dependable in the Daily Mail, The Times , The Guardian, and The Telegraph. A five-star review from them is worth paying attention to. The Industry rag The Stage has the most comprehensive set of reviews each week but seems to have a particular point of view , leaning to more Avant Garde, edgy or challenging works rather than strong commercial works. Of the Blogs, British Theatre Guide, What’s on Stage, West End Best Friend , Broadway World UK, and Theatre Weekly are review sites that we check in with regularly.
When we see star ratings, we interpret them as follows:
No stars- A production to avoid.
1 star- Go only if you like someone in the cast or have an interest in a particular aspect.
2 star- There will be elements you like but it could be improved. Fun to speculate what you might have done differently.
3 star- Worth seeing. This should be par for the Stage. What you should expect for the price of the ticket.
4 star- Strong production with some stand out moments that send you home chatting about or reflecting on its message.
5 star- Outstanding Production. Must See Theatre if you can get a ticket at a reasonable price.
Top Recommendations
The West End seems buoyant after a turbulent May 2025 when tickets sale dipped alarmingly, and the Stage Whispers hears that there are many productions queuing up to find a venue. With long running shows sitting happily in many of the larger venues, the choice of venue for new shows is limited.
Harry Potter and The Cursed Child continues at The Palace Theatre and will shortly begin rehearsing its year 9 cast (a process that takes from August to December each year to fully complete). It remains the most magical show in the West End with spectacular illusions that brings the Harry Potter Film Franchise magic to the stage. Definitely worth seeing more than once. 5 stars from The Telegraph, Daily Mail, The Times, and Stage when it first started and it is still as good today.
My Neighbour Totoro has returned to West End at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. This RSC production based on the Studio Ghibli characters is beautifully staged and a joy for all ages. It earned 5 stars from The Guardian and Stage with 4 stars from Daily Mail and the Times.
Back to the Future continues at the Adelphi Theatre bringing another Film Franchise to the stage with fresh music adding to the clever storytelling and a spectacular Flying De Loreen car. Five stars from the Daily Mail and The Telegraph although some others only gave it Three stars it remains a very enjoyable and amusing night in the Theatre.
Witness for the Prosecution at the County Hall is another long running success with its brilliant adaptation of Agatha Christie’s court room drama. It may have been challenging for Producers to launch this idea back in 2017, but it is still going strong and provided wonderful financial return to its backers. It was a Four-star review from The Guardian and The Telegraph and described as “criminally good” in the Daily Mail Five-star review.
Of course, there are many other long runners that are worth seeing but these are our current top picks.
Out in Regions there are brilliant shows to recommend:
Jesus Christ Superstar plays at The Watermill Theatre, near Newbury until 21st September and is a stunning reimagining of the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice Seventies rock musical with wonderful Actor Musician and six new drama school graduates. It earned Five-star reviews from The Stage, The Guardian, What’s on stage and West End Best Friend among a host of fabulous reviews.
The Last Laugh, on a regional UK Tour until 27th September, is a hilarious recreation of the last performances of three legendary British comics Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe, and Bob Monkhouse. It earned Five stars from the Daily Mail, and four stars from What’s on stage, West End Best Friend, and Theatre Weekly.
Death comes to Pemberley is on tour until 13th September. Writers Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel have adapted PD James’s novel to continue the story of Jane Austen’s 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice, and it is sure to attract Austin fans in the 250th anniversary year of her birth. It earned Four-star reviews from West End Best Friend, and three stars from London Weekly and the Times.
Upcoming London shows.
Punch , the latest brilliant piece of writing by the prolific James Graham arrives in the West End at The Apollo Theatre on 22ND September for a 10-week season. Given Five-star reviews by the Telegraph, What’s on Stage and The Times, it is another modern-day must-see play.
A Man for all seasons, the classic Robert Bolt play about Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellor to Henry VIII transfers to the Harold Pinter Theatre in West End on 6TH August for short season. At Bath Theatre Royal and on tour the production earned Four stars from the Guardian, The Daily Mail and West End Best Friend.
Titus Andronicus, Shakespeare bloody tragedy transfers from RSC Stratford upon Avon to London’s Hampstead Theatre on 5th September until 11th October, with Simon Russell Beale. It got Four-star reviews from The Guardian, West End Best Friend, and What’s on stage.
Upcoming Regional tours
Prima Facie, Suzie Miller’s clever one woman play starring Jodie Comer begins its regional tour in Richmond on 23 January 2026 through to 21st March in Liverpool. It sold out in the West End in 2022 and is sure to sell out on tour. The Guardian, Times, and Telegraph all gave it Four stars with many blog sites giving it 5 stars.
Inside No 9 ,Stage/Fright also goes out on tour from 9th September through to the end of the year and Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith sketch show is sure to attract new fans as well as Loyal TV watchers. Its West End run attracted four stars from The Guardian, The Telegraph and What’s on stage.
Fiddler on the roof also embarks on a regional tour after successful runs at Regent Park Open Air Theatre and the Barbican. This stunning production is wonderful with Five stars from The Times, Daily Mail, and Four stars from The Stage and What’s on stage.
Fawlty Towers The play goes on an extensive tour from 30th September in Bromley right through until July 2026 in Canterbury. It secured Four-star reviews from The Times, Daily Mail and a Five-star review from West End Best Friend.
Coming up from Stage Whispers
These are our top recommendations for 2025 but there is much more to supporting your local theatre than simply buying a ticket to see a show. There are so many ways to get involved to experience or share the joy of live events whether as a Front of House volunteer, a young participant in a confidence building outreach programme, a member of the venue, a philanthropic supporter of productions, or simply spreading the word among friends and family about what is worth seeing. In future articles we will explore the challenges regional theatre faces to survive and we hope bring insight from those involved in how they tackle them in order to serve the local community they operate in.
Let us know your thoughts.