FIRST LOOK: Lucie Jones, Ryan Reid, Sophie-Louise Dann & Gary Wilmot join the London cast of WICKED

Wicked, the West End and Broadway musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, is pleased to release the first production images, by photographer Matt Crockett, of Lucie Jones (Elphaba), Ryan Reid (Fiyero), Sophie-Louise Dann (Madame Morrible) and Gary Wilmot (The Wizard) who will lead the new London cast at the Apollo Victoria Theatre from Tuesday 1 February 2022.

They join Helen Woolf, who returns from maternity leave to continue her acclaimed performance as Glinda, Carina Gillespie (Nessarose), Nicholas McLean (Boq), Simeon Truby (Doctor Dillamond), Amy Webb (Standby for Elphaba) and Charli Baptie* (Standby for Glinda), who all continue in their starring roles.

The complete new London cast from Tuesday 1 February 2022 will be: Lucie Jones(Elphaba), Helen Woolf (Glinda), Ryan Reid (Fiyero), Sophie-Louise Dann (Madame Morrible), Gary Wilmot (The Wizard), Carina Gillespie (Nessarose), Nicholas McLean (Boq), Simeon Truby (Doctor Dillamond), Amy Webb (Standby for Elphaba), Charli Baptie* (Standby for Glinda), Yuki Abe, Kofi Aidoo-Appiah, Meg Astin, Alishia-Marie Blake, Pàje Campbell, Grace Chapman**, Michael Colbourne, Fergus Dale, Nolan Edwards, Nicola Espallardo, Danny Fogarty, Laura Harrison, Amie Hibbert, Lucie Horsfall, Samuel How, Christian Knight, Nick Len, Jasmine Leung, Rhidian Marc, PaddyJoe Martin, Jessica-Alice McCluskey, Stacey McGuire, Harry Mills, Lewis Newton, Natalie Spriggs, Samantha Thomas***, Joe Thompson-Oubari and James Titchener.

COMING HOME: Lucie Jones, just finished touring in Waitress and soon to be starring in Wicked

Pocket Size Theatre and Liza Heinrichs (Captured by Liz) have teamed up again and created our new series 'Coming Home'. In this new piece, we look at the reopening of Theatres in London and around the country and celebrate our industry coming back. We got together some performers who will be some of the first to return to theatres and created this piece to bring some positivity to the theatre industry which has been through one of the toughest years in our lifetime. Whilst it is important to acknowledge the hardships we've all gone through, it's important we pull together as a community and celebrate our beloved industry finally coming back!

Lucie Jones has become one of the top leading ladies of our time, proving time and time again, with every show she does, just how much talent she exudes. Recently she turned her hand once again to a role she knows pretty well, playing the role of Jenna in the touring production of Waitress, a role she played her last performance in last week before heading into play Elphaba in the West End production of Wicked in the new year. 

Lucie is absolutely no stranger to leading a company with a plethora of credits to her name, after appearing on the X Factor as a contestant she made her West End debut as Cosette in Les Miserables at the then called Queen’s Theatre. Most recently she has returned to the show as Fantine in the concert version of the show at the newly named Sondheim Theatre. In fact, she opened the tour of Waitress on the Sunday and then returned to Les Mis to complete her run! 

Lucie’s other credits include Martha Percy in Treason at Cadogan Hall, Heidi in Title of Show at the London Coliseum, Maureen in Rent at The Other Palace and on the UK Tour, Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at the Leicester Curve, UK Tour and South Korea Opera House, Victoria in American Psycho at the Almeida Theatre, Molly in Ghost on the International Tour, Emily in A Christmas Carol at the Lyceum, Meatloaf in We Will Rock You on the International Arena Tour and Holly in The Wedding Singer on tour across the UK. 

COMING HOME: Sandra Marvin, currently on tour with Waitress

Pocket Size Theatre and Liza Heinrichs (Captured by Liz) have teamed up again and created our new series 'Coming Home'. In this new piece, we look at the reopening of Theatres in London and around the country and celebrate our industry coming back. We got together some performers who will be some of the first to return to theatres and created this piece to bring some positivity to the theatre industry which has been through one of the toughest years in our lifetime. Whilst it is important to acknowledge the hardships we've all gone through, it's important we pull together as a community and celebrate our beloved industry finally coming back!

Some may know Sandra Marvin best from her run in Emmerdale playing Jessie Grant but if you’re a hard core theatre fan, you’ll know her from her extensive career on the stage. One of the most explosive talents we have to offer in this country, she played the role of Becky in Waitress at the Adelphi Theatre and is now reprising her role of the UK tour of the show. 

Most recently she was seen playing Brenda in Bagdad Cafe at the Old Vic. Some of her other credits include A Christmas Carol at the Dominion Theatre, Romantics Anonymous at the Bristol Old Vic and on the US Tour, Carly in The Thunder Girls at the Lowry Theatre, Camila Batmanghelidjh in Comittee and City of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse, Rose in Stepping Out at the Theatre Royal Bath and the Vaudeville Theatre, Queenie in Showboat ahh the New London Theatre and Sheffield Crucible, Mama Morton in Chicago at the Leicester Cruve, Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre and on its UK Tour, Ragtime and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Mary in Cool Hand Luke at the Aldwych Theatre and Porgy and Bess at the Savoy Theatre. 

Chatting about the important conversations that have been happening and the movement towards a more open and inclusive industry with Sandra, she tells us that this must continue and we must see a change in diversity on the creative side of the industry, not just in the casting. “It is important that true representation is reflected throughout all tiers of our industry for progress. I also find it encouraging that we are having more open and compassionate conversations regarding mental health, and providing support. This needs to continue.” 

COMING HOME: Evelyn Hoskins, currently on tour with Waitress

Pocket Size Theatre and Liza Heinrichs (Captured by Liz) have teamed up again and created our new series 'Coming Home'. In this new piece, we look at the reopening of Theatres in London and around the country and celebrate our industry coming back. We got together some performers who will be some of the first to return to theatres and created this piece to bring some positivity to the theatre industry which has been through one of the toughest years in our lifetime. Whilst it is important to acknowledge the hardships we've all gone through, it's important we pull together as a community and celebrate our beloved industry finally coming back!

Before the pandemic hit and forced theatres to close, Evelyn Hoskins was appearing as Dawn in the London production of Waitress at the Adelphi Theatre. The show never reopened in the West End and Evelyn never got to finish her run in the show but don’t fear, you can now see this incredibly talented actress on the UK touring production of the show in the same role. 

Aside from Waitress, Evelyn has a very impressive CV behind her. With credits that include her playing Lynette ‘Spueaky’ Fromme in Assassins at the Nottingham Playhouse and Watermill Theatre, Cecile Caldwell in Cruel Intentions at the Edinburgh Fringe, Loops in Mayfly at the Orange Tree Theatre, Bonnie in Bonnie and Clyde at the Other Palace, Maureen in Mrs Henderson Presents at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, Molly Aster in Peter and the Star Catcher at the Theatre Royal Northampton, the title role in Carrie at the Southwark Playhouse, Alice in Alice’s House of Cards at the Royal Festival Hall, Wendy in Peter Pan on a US Tour, Martha in The Secret Garden at the Birmingham Rep and Thea in Spring Awakening at the Lyric Hammersmith and Novello Theatre. 

Chatting to Evelyn, she tells us how much she has missed theatre. Once again being able to return brings her so much enjoyment and the chance to see her friends back on the stage, “I love going to the theatre and it’s been very missed. I can’t wait to go and support friends again.”

10 Year Challenge: Some of our Favourite West End Performers!

There's a craze going around at the moment called 'The 10 Year challenge' and as we're welcoming in the new decade, we looked back at some of our favourite performers and did it for them! Check our the list of amazing actors below and the journey they've gone on from 2010 to 2020 and tweet us your favourite 10 year challenge or send us ones we've left off!

Lucie Jones

As Cosette in the London production of Les Miserables and as Jenna in Waitress at the Adelphi Theatre. Other credits include Emily in A Christmas Carol (Lyceum); Lou in Girlfriends (LMTO); Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (UK tour); Maureen Johnson in RENT the Musical (The Other Palace and UK tour); Holly in The Wedding Singer (UK tour); Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (Leicester Curve/South Korea – DIMF Best Actress in a Musical Award); Molly Jensen in Ghost: The Musical (Asian tour); Victoria in American Psycho the Musical (Almeida) and Meatloaf in We Will Rock You (world arena tour).

Melanie La Barrie 

As Mrs Phelps in the original cast of Matilda and as the Nurse in the original London cast of & Juliet at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Other credits include Madame Morrible in Wicked (Apollo Victoria); Mrs Phelps in Matilda (RSC Stratford and Cambridge); The Lorax (Old Vic); Martha Watson in White Christmas (West Yorkshire Playhouse); General Cartwright in Guys & Dolls (Chichester Festival Theatre); Ma Rainey in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Liverpool Playhouse); Madame Thernardier in Les Miserables (Queens); Pearl in Daddy Cool (Shaftesbury) and Mrs Corry in Mary Poppins (Prince Edward).

DREAM CASTING: Friends the Musical

If you're like me or the majority of people on my timeline, you'll have watched the entire series of Friends on Netflix a number of times. I think I may be on my 6th rerun of it?! But it got me thinking, If there was a musical who could be in it? So I took to the internet and made my dream cast list. Tweet us and let us know who you would like to see in the musical version of Friends! @PocketSizeBlog

Rachel Green | Emily Tierney 

Ross Geller | Gerard McCarthy 

REVIEW: Legally Blonde at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley

OMIGOD OMIGOD YOU GUYS! Lucie Jones should win a prize for staring as Elle Woods in the National Tour of Legally Blonde: written by Heather Hatch and music from the man who brought us Batboy and Heathers, Laurence O’Keefe. The energy in the theatre tonight was electric with what was sure to be a high octane journey through Harvard Law School, I was wearing pink and ready to click along with the sorority girls of UCLA’s Delta Nu. 

From the get go the energy bar is set pretty high, girls riding on spin bikes and talking on the phone (Pre-emptively) celebrating Elle Woods and Warner Huntingdon the Thirds’ engagement. Which quickly spirals down hill when he breaks up with her. This set her on a new path, one that will challenge her Disney expectation of the power of love. Through trials (excuse the pun) and tribulations she realises it’s actually a good thing she is doing, practicing law and becomes the serious type of girl Warner laments about at the beginning of the first act. By the end there is cheering, and whooping and a mega mix (why?). Directed and choreographed by Anthony Williams the the use of set is very effective yet minimalistic, just what you need for a tour. 

INTERVIEW: Lucie Jones, currently playing Maureen in the 20th Anniversary Production of RENT

What a year! From Legally Blonde to RENT, nothing like variety? 

Variety is the spice of life! My whole career has been varied to the max so this year has been no different. I really loved Legally Blonde!

Tell us a little bit about your character in RENT...

Maureen. She’s a tricky one to put into words but she’s definitely feisty for sure. She’s an activist – constantly trying to change things for the better, whilst unashamedly self-promoting!

Is RENT a show that you'd seen or heard before? 

I’d heard some of the tunes and loved them but didn’t know it very well. I’m well and truly a Renthead now!

Lets hear it for the Reality Stars!

Within the theatre industry we could all name at least five major shows who have stunt casting in them; wether thats an Ex-Girls aloud member or a TOWIE star trying to make a name for themselves.  Reality TV stars have a bad reputation for coming into musical and 'stealing' other peoples jobs, so we decided to take a look at the reality TV stars who are NAILING it in the world of Theatre.  Take a look and let us know what you think... Tweet us your thoughts! @PocketSizeBlog 

Alexandra Burke 

Alexandra won the 2008 series of The X Factor, she later appeared in the West End and international touring productions of The Bodyguard. She is currently playing Deloris Van Cartier in the UK tour of Sister Act. 

Darius Campbell 

Darius appeared on Pop Idol in 2002, since then he has gone on to appear in many West End musicals including Chicago, Guys and Dolls, From Here to Eternity and most recently Funny Girl alongside Sheridan Smith.