Arts “I’m going into my wicked era!” STEPS icon Faye Tozer cast as Cruella de Vil in new 101 Dalmatians tour STEPS icon Faye Tozer will be playing Cruella de Vil in Norwich, Canterbury, Leicester and Wolverhampton, joining the previously announced dates of fellow Cruella Kym Marsh, who opens the UK and Ireland tour in June. The new musical version of Dodie Smith’s classic book, 101 Dalmatians is written by By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Arts INTERVIEW: Frances Ruffelle to head cast in new production of iconic queer musical, Closer to Heaven Broadway and West End star Frances Ruffelle will head the cast in a new production of the iconic queer musical Closer To Heaven, Scene can exclusively reveal. The show, written by gay icons Jonathan Harvey and the Pet Shop Boys, will run at Battersea’s Turbine Theatre from 31 May – 30 June. Frances, By Brian Butler • 3 min read
Arts REVIEW: Cluedo 2 @ Theatre Royal Brighton If there’s one silver lining to be found in this tangled web of theatrical missteps, it’s the brevity of the production. Like a swift accusation in the final moments of a Cluedo game, the end mercifully arrived, sparing the audience any further agony. By Eric Page • 3 min read
Arts REVIEW: ‘The Faggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions’ @ Southbank Centre This retelling and centring of queer history is a searing read of patriarchy and the audience buzzed as they left, entertained but unapologetically magically queered up by these faggots and their friends. By Eric Page • 4 min read
Musical Theatre Take a chance on a happy ending… Iconic pop band STEPS announces Here & Now musical to premiere in Birmingham in November Iconic UK pop band Steps has announced the world premiere of HERE & NOW, a brand-new musical using their iconic music, with an original book by Shaun Kitchener. HERE & NOW, which will open at The Alexandra, Birmingham for a limited engagement from 9 – 24 November 2024, will feature Steps’ most belov By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Arts Cinderella Remixed: Brighton’s alternative panto boasts cast made up of cream of Brighton’s queer scene Brian Butler gets ready for drag stars, solo singers and boy dancers By Brian Butler • 2 min read
Musical Theatre Musical Theatre Writers’ Group programme launched by Birmingham Hippodrome The Birmingham Hippodrome’s New Musical Theatre Department has announced the launch of a Musical Theatre Writers’ Group which will offer the opportunity for five writing teams to develop a new musical over the course of 12 months. Open to musical theatre artists across the UK, Musical Theatre Writer By Catherine Muxworthy • 2 min read
Arts REVIEW: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie @ Theatre Royal Brighton It’s a triumphant toetapping trumpeting of gender diversity, celebrating untrammelled queerness as the core of being. By Eric Page • 4 min read
Arts REVIEW: ‘Simply Barbra’ – simply amazing! Brian Butler finds a legend re-created By Brian Butler • 2 min read
Cabaret Brighton Alternative Panto to return with CINDERELLA: REMIXED in January to raise funds for the Sussex Beacon Under completely new artistic direction and production, the much anticipated Brighton tradition is back and Remixed with a live band, professional dancers and of course a cast of Brighton’s favourite cabaret stars. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Musical Theatre Legendary drag artist Divina de Campo announced as host of The Stage Debut Awards 2023 Since competing in the very first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019, Divina, who is currently performing in the nationwide tour of The SpongeBob Musical, has starred in a series of major theatrical productions, most recently enjoying critical acclaim cast as Mary Sunshine in Chicago and also i By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Arts REVIEW: A Strange Loop @ Barbican Theatre Loop lives up to the hype and effortlessly surpasses the publicity and cant, using originality wit and tenderness to offer up an almost unique theatrical experience wrapped in a comforting familiar style. By Eric Page • 7 min read
